Thứ Bảy, 1 tháng 6, 2019

Samsung Notebook 9 Pro (2019) review: Good value and sleek looks, but performance suffers

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Samsung's Notebook 9 Pro (2019) presents you with a study in contrasts. This 13.3-inch, stylish convertible offers the latest Intel Whiskey Lake chip, a generous number of ports, and strong performance in traditional office applications, all for an attractive price.

We did encounter a few quirks with our review unit, most of which were attributable to its pre-production status. As Samsung confirmed in a formal statement, "Samsung provided PC World with a pre-production device to ensure the product could be reviewed in a timely fashion, and as such, some of the devices features may not be final. Consumers purchasing the Samsung Notebook 9 Pro will have a full and complete experience out of the box." 

Others problems we encountered likely didn't apply. We didn't like the keyboard design, for instance, and the laptop's performance cratered under our more strenuous tests—likely due to the thermal compromises convertible laptops often suffer. Battery life was average, though an understated "battery plus" mode propelled it to the top of the heap. Even with those shortcomings, however, this $1,099 laptop could still be a good choice for someone sticking to mainstream applications.  

Samsung Notebook 9 Pro tent mode Mark Hachman / IDG

As a convertible, the Samsung Notebook 9 Pro (2019) flips easily into tent or tablet modes.

Samsung Notebook 9 Pro (2019) basic specs:

Samsung's Notebook 9 Pro has a pretty nice component list: an up-to-date Intel Core i7 processor, sufficient memory, and a somewhat roomy SSD. Samsung also added a pen stylus for free, a nice bonus. Here are the details: 

We last reviewed the Samsung Notebook 9 Pro as a 15-inch model. While a 15-inch version is still available, the model we're reviewing here is the smaller, 13-inch version.

The Samsung Notebook 9 Pro's aluminum chassis (in the solid color of "Platinum Titan") is stylishly etched with diamond-cut ridges along the edges. The flourish is functional, too, as the ridges make it easier to grip. 

Samsung Notebook 9 Pro primary Mark Hachman / IDG

At under 3 pounds, the Samsung Notebook 9 Pro (2019) is surprisingly light.

The Notebook 9 Pro is subtly sturdy. At 2.72 pounds, the weight reminds me more of a Chromebook's, but with premium construction. Structurally, there was no discernible flex in the chassis. It easily and smoothly folds back 360 degrees into tablet mode. A somewhat dense charger pushes the combined weight to 3.42 pounds, though you could likely day-trip without it, given the laptop's good battery life.

Samsung Notebook 9 Pro right side Mark Hachman / IDG

On the right-hand side of the Samsung Notebook 9 Pro (2019) sits a standard (5Gbps) USB-C port, plus a microSD slot and the power button that doubles as a fingerprint reader. 

The display on Samsung's Notebook 9 Pro has a few special features. Our review unit shipped with a Full HD (1920×1080) IPS display that yielded a good maximum brightness of 296 nits. (We consider 250 nits the minimum for everyday use.) A couple of display adjustments in the Samsung Settings (which we'll discuss in further detail below) let you tweak the color warmth through the Display tab. Configuring the Notebook 9 Pro into reading mode, for example, adds a yellowish cast to the display. There's also an AMOLED "photo mode" that aims to provide rich photo color. 

PCWorld Laptops

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