Samsung - Notebook 9 Pro - 15” Touch-Screen Laptop – Intel Core i7 – 16GB Memory – AMD Radeon 540 – 256GB Solid State Drive - Titan silver

Pros +Flexible as a 2-in-1 and very portable +Included S-Pen works well and stores in the case +Comfortable keyboard and accurate touchpad +Has a USB-C port that supports charging +Excellent build quality Cons -Battery life is only average -Some bloatware, especially Samsung apps -Speakers could have more bass Summary This is a very good 2-in-1 from Samsung. It doesn't have any noticeable weak spots. It has a good mix of ports that includes USB-C, is light, and very well constructed. The pricing is on par as well when compared to others with similar build quality. This device is recommended for daily use, business travelers that want an ultrabook but with a larger screen, and students. Background I picked up the Samsung Notebook 9 Pro 15 with Intel 8th Gen CPU from my local Best Buy. I wanted a travel friendly Windows 2-in-1 with a good screen, keyboard, touchpad, USB-C compatibility, and battery life. My daily driver to this point has been a 2017 MacBook Pro 15 with Touch Bar and I have been testing out many recent Windows laptops including the 2017 models of the Dell XPS 13 (regular and 2-in-1), 2017 ThinkPad X1 Carbon, 2017 Surface Pro, 2017 Galaxy Book, 2017 Spectre x360 13, and others. My thoughts are based on being a frequent business traveler that spends a lot of time in Microsoft Office & Office 365 and the web. I also play some light games like World of Warcraft and League of Legends. Design I really like the design. It's a professional and clean silver aluminum body with a dark interior that makes the key lettering pop. The hinges are sturdy and fairly firm to minimize screen wobble. Fingerprints tend to show up on the inside in the keyboard deck area, but are easy to wipe clean. The rounded edges of the body make it easy to carry and nothing digs into your hands. It weighs under 4 pounds, is thin, and very easy to carry around or toss into a bag. The fit and finish is excellent. Display The laptop comes with a 15-inch touchscreen at 1080p resolution. It looks good and I think is still an adequate resolution for this screen size. A higher resolution would draw more power and I don't think the tradeoff is worth it for a mobile device. Plus, there is less of a chance of running into Windows text scaling issues. While it doesn't have the thinnest bezels, they are still quite slim and look good. Light bleed is a little more noticeable on this model versus the 13.3 inch model I also own. Text and video are both clear and HDR is supported. The panel is pleasing to look at and is plenty sharp for standard use. Input devices The 3-stage backlit keyboard has a good amount of travel, is relatively quiet, and is easy to type on. My biggest gripe with it is the fact that functions like volume and screen brightness are not the default action for the function key row. I checked the BIOS and there doesn't seem to be a way to enable these by default. The touchpad glides well and makes a satisfying click. It supports gestures and tracks accurately. The device includes the S Pen that slides into the case which is very convenient so you always have it with you and you don't have to worry about figuring out how to attach or secure it to the device like other similar devices. The S Pen does not require batteries and while thin, provides a good mark-up experience. Having used the Apple Pencil and new 2017 Surface Pen, I find it works just as well as those two for casual use. Ports 2 USB 3.0 1 HDMI 1 DC Power (1.5mm) 1 USB-C that supports charging and display port - Note - I use the Apple USB-C to HDMI adapter to charge the device and plug it into my monitor with one cable. 1 Headphone/Mic combo port 1 micro SD card Audio There are two downward firing speakers on the bottom of the case that get loud enough. The audio is clear, but there is a distinct lack of bass that is common in most laptops. They are fine most casual use, but not as good as the newer MacBook Pro models which have amazing audio. Performance A quad core i7-8500 powers the device and I have not run into any issues with daily tasks. It scored a 4883 on the single core and 14691 on the multi-core Geekbench 4 tests, which is on par with the 2017 MacBook Pro 15's i7-7700HQ processor. There are switchable integrated Intel UHD 620 graphics which are ok for light games, but you are going to have to turn details way down to achieve a decent frame rate. It also has a 2GB Radeon 540 dedicated graphics chip that helps run a bit better (about 50% more powerful than the integrated Intel chip) and both have no trouble driving my Dell 34 inch ultrawide monitor. The included 16GB of DDR4 RAM and SATA 3 256GB SSD are not upgradeable. Wireless performance is good and uses the Intel 8265 card. Bluetooth 4.1 works as expected. Battery Life Battery life is just ok. It has a decent sized 54Wh battery and gets about 6-8 hours of casual use with battery saver on. It's not quite as strong as competitors in the early stages of ownership, so I may need to dig into the power plan settings to see if I can make some tweaks. Since the device can charge over USB-C, a portable power bank is an option to help augment the battery. It is worth noting that the 54Wh battery is a bit on the small side when compared to other 15 inch machines, but it also does not have to drive a 4k screen. Webcam The front facing 720p webcam can best be describes as serviceable. It's fine for web conferences, but it's not going to win any awards. Windows Hello facial recognition is supported and works very well. Heat & Fans The device gets warm towards the middle back when under load, but the keyboard and touchpad are still comfortable to type on. If you are doing some heavy processing, it will get warm on your lap. The fans are not audible doing normal tasks, but do ramp up if playing a game or other processor intensive tasks. I was not able to detect any coil whine (the bane of every Dell laptop I have used). OS/Bloatware The device ships with Windows 10 Home and the Creator Update. There is quite a bit of bloatware installed including McAfee, Samsung Apps, and various Windows store games. The first thing I did was clear all of that stuff off. I would much rather have the Microsoft Signature edition install that you typically only get from the Microsoft Store and other vendors like Lenovo, but a little time doing app housekeeping or a fresh install resolves this. Samsung includes an app for driver updates, but it can also pull from the standard Windows 10 update process. For whatever reason, this newer Samsung Update app is not as good as previous versions as I constantly have to remind it what model of Samsung laptop I have. It also doesn't seem to indicate very well what drivers need updates versus what is already updated. I'd much rather they go back to the old version which was simpler to use and worked very well.

I usually don't leave reviews but had to with this laptop, it is amazing! I was going to make a crazy long review on why i picked a 15" laptop over a 13" and how it took me over a week of reading articles, watching youtube videos, and reading reviews from buyers. Then i was going to talk about how i can never make up my mind when spending money especially when its over $1000 and that i dragged around many sales associates for over 3 hours at bestbuy while i handled every single laptop in the building. Now i will stop right there but now you have my backround If you are researching the Samsung Notebook 9 Pro be aware that some articles and youtube are for the last model with 7th gen intel or the non Pro model, and they look very similar but can be very different. Lets talk about the NP940X5N-01US that you are actually looking at on BestBuy 8th Gen i7 processor 8550 16gb Ram (this is DDR4 not DDR3 as listed on Bestbuy, bonus!) 256gb SSD 2gb DDR5 discrete video card 1080p LED screen (no 4k but 4k in a laptop doesnt make sense because drains your battery) Backlit keys and adjustable how bright Ports! 2x3.0 1xUSB-C Full HDMI, MicroSD These are basic stats when comparing but note the error above, it could be important. (DDR4 installed) Lets talk about other hidden features There is no fingerprint scanner on this laptop but does have a IR facial recognition to work with Microsoft Hello. So if you need a finger scanner sorry, but if you like facial recognition like most phones use you are in luck, i am signed it before i can even reach for the keyboard... flawless. This is also very thin, makes my old laptop look like a 1995 all over again, i handled many in store and i think it was the thinnest out of all the 15" laptops, i could be wrong though Ok lets go straight to what sets the Samsung Notebook Pro 9 apart from all other laptops. The S-PEN, there is NO OTHER laptop that offers a pen that mounts in the chassis. (should we call this a 3in1?) Its there wherever the laptop goes, never needs to be recharged, tips can be replaced. Samsung has mastered the pen and their screen because of Note phones and other devices that use it. 0.7mm Tip, tilt detection, and some rating of over 4000 for the pressure you use. This laptop is beautiful, metal finish outside, with black interior to look good over the years. It does attract finger prints but can be wiped away. The speakers are next to garbage, zero bass and not very loud. But they are very clear and if you have a Bluetooth surround system you will likely use that over a laptop anyway. I have only had for a few days and keep finding out more features and tips for this. I have owned Samsung phones for years so it almost made sense to get a Samsung laptop and was lucky to catch this with $100 off. I should have waited to leave a review but with some misleading articles i wanted to set some things straight. If you have a question you can comment my review and i will try to help within a day. Oh and also when you use 2in1 and flip it into tablet mode there is actually a magnet that helps snap it open when flipped.

OVERALL: Likely an 8.5/10 Battery: 6.5/10 Power: 6/10 Capability: 8/10 Touch / Stylus Capability: 9/10 Design: 9/10 Price for what you get: 10/10 I have had this computer for over a year now as an engineering undergraduate student. I would say that using this, its stylus, and OneNote (Windows 10 version - not 2016 version) has allowed me to be consistently not only be more organized with my assignments and notes (having them all in one place in OneNote) but also allows me to take way better notes. The handwriting is fairly similar to writing on paper - a feature for which one usually looks when looking at 2 in 1 laptops or touch oriented devices. The note taking ability is great. One can easily flip the computer and take notes, then flip back and type other things or look up information online. I tend to color coordinate my notes with easy switches of the pen color. Green for formulae, blue for side notes, black for math. A great bonus over handwriting with pencil. There is also a graph paper feature in OneNote which is great for diagrams and graphs. I would recommend a cheap tv for a second monitor and a bluetooth keyboard and mouse to allow for more full capabilities when it is flipped to stylus mode. This is a great setup at my desk at home. HDMI to TV, wireless mouse and keyboard. Full computer capabilities while still being able to handwrite notes or homework on the laptop. The computing power is pretty strong. It can run SolidWorks 2017 and SolidWorks Simulation pretty well. I have done some finite element analysis and 3D CAD design on it. It runs best with nothing else RAM intensive open. Would not recommend for highly complicated assemblies. But, there are library computers on campus for this reason. I have also ran MATLAB on here with zero problems. The battery is ok. It lasts me through the day at full charge, but not much longer depending on the day. I would say 9/10 school days (taking over a max load of credit hours), I can get back home with 10-20% at least. But, a lot of universities have outlets at the desks anyway. The look, feel, quality, and design of the external hardware have all upheld greatly and makes the computer look very sleek and nice. It is about average for weight for its capabilities.

First, my computer arrived with lightening speed! Upon opening the box, everything was straight forward and easy to understand. Set up was quick. Updates were quick. I LOVE the touch feature and stylus! For those who cannot afford a drawing tablet, the Windows Ink feature is great! The pen pressure sensitivity and basic brushes are easy to use, and look very natural, like the real thing. Pencil does look like pencil etc. I'm very glad I went with the 16 gig RAM instead of 8g. This is where it really matters not to skimp out by getting a laptop with less RAM. I do a lot of multi-media and multitasking. And although I'm not a gamer, I need the functionality of a gaming computer to keep a quick pace for all the graphic arts programs I use. I am self employed and run 4 online retail stores. I have to have something that keeps up with the demands of all the tasks I have in a day. So far so good! I have already loaded several apps and two large multi gig programs on the SSD and have experienced no symptoms of bloat unless the app itself is glitchy. (some have been). The only thing that is strange, is the font keeps reverting back to a super tiny size (default) despite changing it in the computer settings and in my Chrome settings too. Hmm. Other than that, I at first had to put little railings underneath on the sides of the computer because even though it sits on a flat desk, and the computer has plenty of vents, it felt really, really hot. So I figured I'd give it more space underneath to prevent overheating. After doing that, and setting my screen brightness to about 65%, it doesn't get hot like it did when I first used it. So that could have been a fluke and caused by something I fixed. Some have mentioned the built in apps bloat the system but a lot of those can just be uninstalled. And live thumbnails deactivated. You can also change your start up settings and turn off a lot of what runs in the background if you notice lag. I really like the feel of the keyboard and it was easy to get used to compared my old one that had keys farther apart. I can actually type faster on this one which is nice. The backlit keyboard is an extra bonus that helps at night. And I didn't expect the little feature where you can set the lighting to nighttime settings which has a soft golden rosy hue instead of LED blue, so that helps eye strain. I would definitely recommend this for anyone that needs a multi-media, lightweight, portable laptop/tablet. And you don't have to worry about losing the stylus either. There's a little compartment built right in that it slides into, and extra nubs for future use.

This review is for the Samsung Notebook Pro 9 with the 8th Gen Intel i7-8550u processor and AMD Radeon 540 graphics. This is a touchscreen display. OVERALL - I must say that so far, I am quite pleased with this laptop. I have only had it for a few days but I have been putting it through its paces to ensure it is worth keeping and will suite my needs. It is light for a 15" laptop (yes it is 15" and not 15.6") and I think it hits a sweet spot on size. Big enough to work on papers and briefs and not strain my eyes. Form factor small enough to fit in my smaller backpack. PERFORMANCE - I am coming from another popular brand 13" 2-in-1 which was great for portability and media consumption but didn't have enough processing power for some of my professional needs. This Samsung does have the power needed. I have been able to simultaneously work on graphics intensive PowerPoints, Word documents, PDFs, and have multiple Chrome tabs open. GRAPHICS / SCREEN - Radeon 540. You are not going to play AAA game titles on this, but if you like eSports, lower requirement Indie titles, or AAA games that are a few years older, you'll have a decent go at things. Media consumption is enjoyable. It is a 1080p screen that is quite bright. I usually prefer bright displays and this is decently bright at 75-80% in a lit room and 100% is just a torch. I will say that the included "Samsung Setting" software is a nice feature that provides the ability to change the color profile of the display and includes an HDR mode. Think twice before getting rid of this pre-installed software. BATTERY - Okay, the power meter is the one quirky thing I haven't figured out yet. When first unplugged, the battery will show only 3-4 hours of remaining time. After 10-20 minutes or so when running on battery the laptop will adjust the time and, depending on brightness and running programs, will reflect anywhere from 6 to upwards of 10 hours or remaining battery. I've used it for hours on battery and have gotten over 7 hours of use time.

I've had this laptop for 3 weeks now and I'm giving it 5 stars for a number of good reasons. Pros: -The 2-1 on this laptop is superb. I owned a Surface Pro 4 and used the pen every day for note taking and I love the Samsung's version of that 10 fold. The stylus it comes with is slightly small but its convenient to have a place holder for when yours done. -The screen very well to the stylus and feels very natural to writing and drawing, even better than my previous Surface Pro. I love taking notes in OneNote with this thing! -This laptop is fast, I had a lot of issues with the speed on the Surface pro's i5 processor but this i7 is TONS faster. Turns on in seconds, installs things fast, and has yet to blue screen on me or give me any issues when multitasking (surface did a number of times) -The keyboard feels nice, I like how it lights up too. -I like the port selection, especially the HDMI output. -I use this mostly inside, so I haven't had any issues with the screen brightness. The "Out door" mode does make it alot brighter -I think my ULTIME enjoyment with this laptop is the battery life. I can get 8-10 hours EASY with just surfing the web, using OneNote, Word, etc. The battery on my surface SUCKED, had to carry my chagrer every where, so its so nice not having to anymore. - This this is light (in weight) for the power it has. I haven't games with it but I've watched reviews were people said the Radeon card can handle some light gaming. I'll try someday I'm sure. - It doesn't come with a ton of unnecessary programs on it that needs to be uninstalled. Cons: -Speakers truly are my only con, and they are not that great, but luckaly I use headphones half the time anyhow I would recommend this laptop to anyone who is looking for fast reliable machine that doesn't do heavy gaming or NEED theater sound out of the speakers.

I got this computer to replace my Lenovo Y50 bought like 3 yrs ago. This laptop is light and size efficient, the weight about 2/3 of my previous one and it has 15" screen while having smaller size comparing to my previous 13" laptop. This one is also lighter and almost same size as the Inspiron 13" version. The built-in pencil is amazing and feels much better than the stylus pen. The battery is average, given the fact that the laptop is very light, it's natural to have a short battery life, but I believe the 8th i7 makes it better since it's more power efficient. By the way, the 8th i7 also makes this laptop superfast, it takes about 5 second to boost up, and maybe 1 second to recognize your face and log in to your account The graphics card is just slightly better than the intel integrated one. I play hearthstone sometime (the touch screen is perfect) and you could see that the Radeon card is making the board looks fresh and colorful. But it is not a high performance card, so don't expect it could run best quality DOTA2 or Overwatch. The sound card is not the best, actually the first time I got my laptop, I noticed that everytime I left the computer on for more than 3 to 4 hours, the speakers would give me some squeezing noise, and this could only be cured by disable and re-enable the speaker. Then I toke the laptop to Bestbuy and got another one. The new one works perfect and that sound issue has not been observed.

Overall, this laptop has been amazing, and if I could give a half or quarter star rating, it would get a 4.5 or 4.75 from me. I love Samsung products, and this one has not really disappointed, for the most part. My two complaints are the power button location and the sound. I often set my laptop down on its side, and because of where the charge cord inserts, I have to set it on the side where the power button is. It is not flush, so often setting it on its side causes the laptop to shutdown. Also, when I pick it up off my lap or table, I inadvertently push the button in, causing it to turn off again. Not a deal breaker for getting the laptop, but if you are moving around quite a bit, then it does get annoying. I am working on my masters degree online, which means I have to participate in discussions, watch online videos, listen to online textbooks, and even just personal stuff. Depending on the quality of the person who posted a video, sometimes, I have to pick up the laptop and hold the speaker up to my ear to be able to hear things. If a video or recording is not very loud, you're going to have difficulty hearing it with this laptop. I have not tried headphones or earbuds, but they are on my list to hopefully help out. Shouldn't need to do that, though, in my opinion for a laptop at this price point. Other than that, it has served my purposes well. I love the size and the quality, but Samsung could definitely do to change those two features in future editions of this laptop.