Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro Review: A MacBook Pro Rival with Impressive Performance and Features

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2025-02-22

The latest iteration of Samsung’s flagship laptop, the Galaxy Book5 Pro, is here, and it’s vying to be a serious competitor to the MacBook Pro. While its design and display quality are impressive, it’s the under-the-hood performance and thoughtful refinements that make this device stand out. But does it live up to the expectations for power users and professionals? Let’s dive into the details of what makes this laptop a formidable option in the premium laptop space.

The Galaxy Book5 Pro is equipped with Intel’s Lunar Lake chipset, offering performance improvements over its predecessor, the Galaxy Book5 Pro 360, launched in late 2024. The new model delivers on speed, performance, and multitasking capabilities, all while maintaining the sleek, lightweight design Samsung is known for. But is it enough to elevate it above previous models and other competitors, like the MacBook Pro? Here’s what we found after a comprehensive review.

Performance and Power

Under the hood, the Galaxy Book5 Pro boasts the Intel Ultra 7 256V CPU with 16GB of RAM. Performance testing shows that it handles heavy multitasking with ease. Running 50 open tabs in Chrome while streaming videos and downloading apps didn’t cause any noticeable slowdowns, making it a solid choice for productivity enthusiasts. Benchmark tests further highlight its capability. The Galaxy Book5 Pro outperforms its predecessor in processing power, scoring 10,293 in Cinebench R23 and 7,196 in PCMark 10. It also demonstrates superior image rendering performance compared to the earlier Galaxy Book5 Pro 360.

However, in terms of graphical output, it does fall slightly behind the Pro 360, although the difference isn’t major. Despite the difference in graphics, the laptop remains competitive in the high-end category, with excellent performance across the board.

Battery Life

Battery life is another strong suit for the Galaxy Book5 Pro. With up to 15.5 hours on a single charge in Best Power Efficiency mode, it offers an entire day’s worth of use and then some. Even when switching to an optimal performance mode, the battery lasts around 13 hours, which is still impressive for a device of this caliber. This long-lasting battery life is a key feature for users who need a reliable machine for all-day work sessions.

Design and Display

The design of the Galaxy Book5 Pro retains the sleek, modern look Samsung is known for. It weighs just 3.44 pounds, and the evenly distributed weight makes it easy to handle, whether you’re working at a desk or on your lap. A key design difference from last year’s model is the hinge: the Book5 Pro has a traditional clamshell hinge, as opposed to the flexible hinge of the Pro 360, which could transform into a tablet.

The 16-inch AMOLED touchscreen is arguably the

Keyboard and Trackpad

One area where the Galaxy Book5 Pro falls short is the keyboard. Despite its spacious design, it still retains a mushy feel, which can be a bit of a drawback for users who prefer a more responsive typing experience. On the bright side, the trackpad is large and responsive, taking up about 50% of the laptop’s lower half, allowing for more fluid scrolling and gesture-based controls.

Ports and Connectivity

Although the slim design leaves little room for ports, the Galaxy Book5 Pro includes a sufficient selection for most users. It offers two USB-C ports, an HDMI port, a headphone jack, a microSD card slot, and a USB-A port. This array covers the essentials, ensuring that users don’t feel constrained by the laptop’s compact form factor.

What Undercode Says: An Analytical Look

The Galaxy Book5 Pro stands as a promising contender in the premium laptop market, thanks to its robust performance, striking design, and impressive display. However, the device does face some challenges in terms of usability, particularly with the keyboard and slightly weaker graphics compared to its predecessor. Let’s analyze these aspects further.

  1. Performance & Multitasking: One of the key strengths of the Galaxy Book5 Pro is its ability to handle demanding tasks without breaking a sweat. The performance gains over the previous model are evident, particularly in processing power. This makes the laptop an ideal choice for professionals who need a reliable machine for multitasking and productivity. However, while the processing power is excellent, users who require top-tier graphics performance might still find the Pro 360 a better option.

  2. Display Quality: Samsung’s AMOLED displays have always been known for their exceptional color reproduction and clarity. The 16-inch screen in the Galaxy Book5 Pro lives up to those expectations. The addition of a 120Hz refresh rate ensures that the device feels smooth and responsive, whether you’re browsing the web or watching videos. This high-quality display is a huge selling point, making it ideal for creatives and content consumers alike.

  3. Battery Life: The battery life is certainly one of the standout features of the Galaxy Book5 Pro. With over 15 hours of use in power-efficient mode, it is clear that Samsung is prioritizing all-day usability. For users who spend long hours working on their laptops without the luxury of a charging outlet, this battery life is a major selling point.

  4. Keyboard Experience: The keyboard is where the Book5 Pro falls short. While it’s spacious and well-laid out, the mushy feel makes long typing sessions less enjoyable. For users who spend a lot of time writing or coding, this could be a dealbreaker. Improving the keyboard’s tactile feedback could elevate the user experience significantly.

  5. Port Selection & Connectivity: Given the slim profile of the laptop, the selection of ports is reasonable. Samsung managed to include all the essential connectivity options, from USB-C to HDMI, which means most users will have no trouble connecting their devices and peripherals.

  6. Build & Design: The laptop’s design is a winning feature. It’s lightweight, durable, and has an overall high-end feel. Despite the lack of major design changes from last year’s model, the Book5 Pro continues to impress with its portability and solid build quality. However, the traditional clamshell hinge could be a downside for users who valued the flexibility of the 360 model’s convertible design.

Final Thoughts

The Galaxy Book5 Pro is undeniably a strong player in the premium laptop category. It brings solid performance, an outstanding display, and long-lasting battery life to the table, all while maintaining the sleek, lightweight design that has made Samsung’s laptops popular among professionals. While it does fall short in a few areas, like the keyboard feel and graphical output, its strengths make it a compelling choice for anyone looking for a high-performance laptop that can handle both work and play.

Starting at $1,349.99, the Galaxy Book5 Pro offers significant value for its price. If you’re in the market for a laptop that can keep up with heavy workloads and provide an immersive media experience, this device is certainly worth considering.

References:

Reported By: https://www.zdnet.com/article/samsungs-new-flagship-laptop-rivals-the-macbook-pro-and-its-not-just-because-of-the-display/
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