Samsung Galaxy Book Vs Surface Go

TechRadar Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy Volume 2 gets a lot of things correct, namely its fantastic new blueprint that brings it in line with manufacture norms, some impressive battery life and included accessories. However, this is all the same another Windows tablet that's largely held dorsum by its Qualcomm processor – not to mention supporting hardware.

Pros

+
Essential accessories included
+
New, sensible design
+
Gorgeous display
+
Lengthy bombardment life

Cons

-
Poor multitasking
-
Poor pure performance
-
Tiny touchpad

Since its first production in the category, Samsung has tried to differentiate its Windows tablets from the vast bulk to varying success. The firm'due south latest effort appears to swim more than with the tide than against it, but maintains some of that individual spirit that only ends up pain it in the cease.

This is the Samsung Galaxy Volume ii, a 12-inch tablet that gets on trend in its industrial design only decidedly off trend on the inside. Getting in line from a blueprint perspective may have been the all-time decision Samsung has ever fabricated for a computing production, but adopting a Qualcomm Snapdragon 850 processor may have been its worst mistake.

Even with congenital-in LTE connectivity, nosotros're left wondering whether the move to Qualcomm Snapdragon was … premature. But, hey, both the stylus and keyboard cover accessories are in the box, which can't be said of well-nigh Windows tablets.

Spec Canvas

Here is the Samsung Milky way Book 2 configuration sent to TechRadar for review:

CPU: 2.9GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 850 SoC (octa-core; 4 1.7GHz cores, four 2.9GHz cores)
Graphics: Qualcomm Adreno 630
RAM: 4GB RAM
Screen: 12-inch FHD+ (2,160 x 1,440) Super AMOLED touchscreen
Storage: 128GB SSD
Ports: two ten USB-C; 1 x microSD slot; 3.5mm sound jack
Connectivity: 802.11ac Wi-Fi (2.4GHz + 5GHz)
Camera: 5 megapixel (MP) webcam; 8MP rear camera
Weight: 1.75 pounds (793g)
Size: 11.32 x 7.89 x 0.30 inches (287.5 ten 200.4 10 vii.63cm; W x D 10 H)

Toll and availability

To get a Samsung Milky way Book 2 replete with an Due south Pen stylus and keyboard, it volition cost you $999 (about £757, AU$1,399) in the The states when it launches on Nov 2nd on AT&T, Microsoft and Samsung'due south online stores. The tablet is as well going straight to AT&T, Sprint and Verizon retail stores later on this month.

This is the only configuration for Galaxy Book 2 at the moment, which nets you a Qualcomm Snapdragon 850 processor backed up by 4GB of retentivity and 128GB of solid-country storage. This all sits backside a 12-inch Super AMOLED display with a 2,160 x 1,440-pixel resolution.

As for connectivity and imaging, the tablet offers up two USB-C 3.1 ports (for both charging and data transfer), a microSD slot, a headphone jack, one 5-megapixel (MP) webcam upwards front and an 8MP camera around the back.

Comparatively speaking, Apple tree's 12.ix-inch iPad Pro and Microsoft'due south 12.3-inch Surface Pro 6 call for $799 (£769, AU$i,199) and $899 (AU$1,349, about £690), respectively. Neither of these options include a stylus and keyboard cover, and therefore are already at a disadvantage from a toll perspective.

Pattern and display

For years, Samsung tried to differentiate itself when it came to ii-in-one tablet pattern, with mixed results. Now, the visitor appears to accept responded to feedback (including in TechRadar reviews) by falling in line with a redesign that looks and feels like any other Windows slate – but this isn't a bad thing.

This new design doesn't necessarily brand the Galaxy Book two that much more portable than previous editions, measuring 0.xxx inches (7.62mm) and weighing 1.85 pounds (839g). But, information technology certainly makes the device mode more versatile.

Rather than a keyboard case that doubles as stand, the new Galaxy Book 2 features a dedicated metallic kickstand. This design allows for the Galaxy Volume ii to subsist better as a tablet on its ain as well as perform better from an ergonomics standpoint when it's fourth dimension to do some typing. The stand is plenty sturdy and flexible, achieving a nearly 180-degree angle when fully bent backward.

Of course, the tablet has as well gained a magnetic keyboard encompass that clips onto bottom bezel for two different typing angles. Naturally, the typing and tracking vastly improved over the first Galaxy Book, and information technology largely comes downwardly to the typing angle. That said, the travel is plenty deep and each key resets with enough of strength, and the keys are well spaced.

Tracking on the included touchpad is just fine, with multi-affect gestures well supported, including the archetype method of tracking with an index finger and clicking with your pollex. However, nosotros wish the trackpad was simply a smidgen wider and deeper, as it'due south a footling tight – more than and so than on competing tablets.

Besides to the keyboard, the stylus fifty-fifty connects to the tablet magnetically. Though, the magnets aren't terribly potent and its circular shape makes poor contact with the flat sides of the tablet. Nosotros wouldn't exist confident just throwing this tablet into a bag without first securing the stylus.

That said, the Southward Pen works brilliantly hither, with strong force per unit area sensitivity and a real eraser button up superlative. The brandish likewise presents vivid palm rejection – altogether making for a sublime inking experience.

The major ways in which the Galaxy Book 2 design differentiates itself from the category leader are with rounded edges too a fingerprint sensor for secure login via Windows Hello. This is oddly placed around the rear of the tablet, but is nevertheless easy and intuitive enough to reach. Equally for speed and accuracy, it's enough authentic but isn't quite as fast as competitors – similar the Surface Pro half-dozen'south lightning fast infrared camera solution.

Surely, some will say that Samsung's move in this management is unoriginal or uninspired, but perhaps this is just the established mode for 2-in-1 tablets, much in the style that smartphones have all but homogenized in the past few years. With that, we're happy to see Samsung begin to swim with the tide here rather than against it.

Now, when looking at the 12-inch Super AMOLED brandish, all we can say is that it's absolutely a delight. The resolution is incredibly crisp, and competitively and then when rivals are considered. Plus, the color reproduction appears to exist as vibrant equally ever on Samsung displays.

Nosotros can barely see the pixels within the display when up close and doodling using the S Pen, and its responsiveness to touch gestures as well as pen input is instantaneous.

Joe Osborne is the Senior Technology Editor at Insider Inc. His role is to leads the engineering science coverage team for the Business concern Insider Shopping team, facilitating expert reviews, comprehensive buying guides, snap deals news and more. Previously, Joe was TechRadar'southward Us computing editor, leading reviews of everything from gaming PCs to internal components and accessories. In his spare time, Joe is a renowned Dungeons and Dragons dungeon principal – and arguably the nicest man in tech.