Buying guide for Which Samsung laptop is best?
Samsung is a well-known brand for a reason — they've built a reputation for high-quality electronics. So, if you're considering a new laptop or upgrade, Samsung's latest computers are definitely worth exploring.
With so many options, choosing the right Samsung laptop can be overwhelming. Beyond price, focusing on specs and features is key. While Chromebooks offer affordability, standard laptops generally boast better processing power and battery life.
To help you decide on the right one for your needs, we've compared and analyzed the latest and greatest Samsung laptops, highlighting their key features to match your needs. Our top pick is the Samsung Galaxy Book3 2-in-1 Laptop, which offers lots of power, a clear, sharp picture and a lightweight design, making it ideal for working on the go.
Our top picks
Best of the best
Product Specifications: Display Size and Resolution: 15.6-inch AMOLED Touch Screen Full HD 1080p | Processor: Intel 13th Gen Evo Core i7-1360P | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 1TB | Battery Life: Up to 22 hours
The Samsung Galaxy Book3 360 is the best Samsung laptop, and it’s not hard to see why we hold it in such high regard. The AMOLED screen looks gorgeous whether you’re editing photos and graphics or streaming HD content, and the 15.6-inch size makes it suitable for home or office use but is still lightweight enough for traveling.
The full HD webcam is a nice touch for anyone who needs a reliable selfie camera to participate in video or conference calls, and the 1TB solid-state drive is a must for those who want to store thousands of videos, photos, songs, apps and documents locally.
You can’t go wrong with this model if you need a fast laptop for running power-intensive applications. Its long-lasting battery life makes it perfect for professionals who need to work for extended hours on the go, and the 360-degree touch screen offers more ways to work or play.
Best bang for the buck
Product Specifications: Display Size and Resolution: 14-inch HD LED 768p | Processor: Intel Celeron Processor N4500 | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 32GB | Battery Life: Up to 12 hours
Forget the myth that quality comes at a price premium. In today's tech landscape, fantastic options exist for budget-conscious users who prioritize everyday functionality and portability.
The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Go is an excellent example of a budget-friendly laptop with plenty to offer. Unless you’re a power user, this Chromebook will serve you well and tackle everyday tasks with ease. The battery life is excellent, lasting 12 hours on a full charge, and the lightweight design is perfect for traveling, whether by plane or public transit for conquering work on the go.
We can’t recommend this laptop enough if you want something lightweight and efficient for browsing the web and streaming your favorite shows. Unless you think you’ll make use of the premium features some of our other top picks offer, we suggest overlooking some of the more expensive models in favor of this one. Yes, it’s minimalist, but it’s more than enough for most users.
Best Chromebook
Product Specifications: Display Size and Resolution: 13.3-inch QLED Full HD 1080p | Processor: Intel Core i3-Processor | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 128GB | Battery Life: Up to 13 hours
Chromebooks might not be as popular as traditional laptops. However, they’re an excellent budget-friendly option for anyone who wants a lightweight computer for working, streaming or playing on the go.
Although it’s a lightweight laptop, the display renders full HD 1080p visuals, making it suitable for binging your favorite TV shows and movies. With 8GB of RAM, this laptop lets you seamlessly multitask without lag, making it perfect for busy days on the go. Plus, the impressive 13-hour battery life ensures you can stay productive even away from outlets. To top it off, Wi-Fi 6 GIG+ support boosts your wireless connectivity speed and reliability.
Ideal for everyday tasks and entertainment, this Samsung Chromebook is a great choice for casual users on a budget. Whether you're streaming videos, browsing the web, tackling schoolwork or office tasks, its smooth performance and long battery life keep you going. While Chrome OS requires an internet connection for most tasks, it offers fast startup times and automatic updates for enhanced security and peace of mind. If you primarily use your laptop online and value affordability, this Samsung laptop is definitely worth considering.
Best 2-in-1 laptop
Product Specifications: Display Size and Resolution: 15.6-inch Full HD LED 1080p | Processor: Intel Core i7-1355U/Intel Core i7-1360P | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 512GB | Battery Life: Up to 15 hours
The Galaxy Book3 Pro is one of the best Samsung laptops thanks to its speedy processor and crisp full HD display. We tested the Galaxy Book3 Pro, which features the same specs as the Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 but lacks the rotating screen.
We found that it performs well in various areas, and we think you can expect similar performance with the 360 model, plus the added convenience of a touch-screen display. During testing, we found it has solid processing speed, a high-quality screen that displays rich colors and fast charging that quickly juices up the battery from 0% to 100% in under two hours.
The rotating screen makes this laptop excellent for screen sharing, and the lightweight build makes it one of the most convenient for traveling. It’s an excellent computer for multitasking, and we recommend it to anyone who wants a fast, reliable 2-in-1 laptop.
Best for professionals
Product Specifications: Display Size and Resolution: 16-inch 3K AMOLED 1800p | Processor: Intel Core i7-13700H | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 1TB | Battery Life: Up to 9 hours
If you’re a professional looking for a laptop with incredible processing speed, plenty of local storage and a high-end display, look no further than the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra. There’s not much to dislike about this laptop, and the only thing not all shoppers might be onboard with is its high cost, as it’ll run you well over $2,000.
It’s a powerful unit with a high-end Intel Core i7-13700H processor equipped to handle various computing tasks, including running graphics-intensive software with minimal lag or latency issues. The 3K AMOLED display is among the best on any high-quality laptop and is perfect for streaming or graphic editing. Plus, it’s loaded with ports for optimal connectivity and supports the Galaxy ecosystem for a seamless experience.
The most powerful Samsung laptop might not be suitable for everyone because of its high price point and robust specs. However, it’s easily the best model for users who need something high-powered for running graphics-intensive apps or any software that requires fast processing.
Best mini laptop
Product Specifications: Display Size and Resolution: 12.4-inch LED 2-in-1 1600p Touch Screen | Processor: Intel Celeron | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 128GB | Battery Life: Up to 10 hours
This laptop strikes a perfect balance between portability and durability thanks to its lightweight yet sturdy build. Plus, the Samsung's innovative 360-degree hinge helps make it easier to collaborate on projects or find the perfect viewing angle for streaming your favorite shows and movies in stunning HD.
While the battery life might not compete with Samsung's top performers, 10 hours on a single charge offers plenty of juice for most daily tasks. Whether you're hitting the library or grabbing coffee, you'll have ample power to stay productive.
The camera's quality shines during video calls, keeping you looking your best for remote meetings or catching up with loved ones. Plus, a unique security feature lets you leverage your Samsung Galaxy smartphone as a remote control, allowing you to lock or unlock the laptop for added convenience and peace of mind.
Keep in mind this isn't the fastest laptop on the market, and it has a lower RAM capacity compared to some competitors. However, for under $500, it offers excellent value and portability for everyday use. Plus, its compact 12.4-inch display makes it the lightest and most portable Samsung laptop in its price range, meaning it’s perfect for students, casual users and anyone who needs a laptop on the go.
What to look for in a Samsung laptop
When shopping for a Samsung laptop, you will want to start by choosing between a laptop running Microsoft Windows and a Chromebook. You then can focus on some of the key components between these two types of PCs.
Chromebooks
Samsung Chromebooks are generally cheaper and smaller than laptops running Windows. They often use an affordable Intel Celeron processor as well as Google's streamlined Chrome OS, and their lightweight design makes them some of the best options for portable use. Also, some offer touch-screen capabilities in a versatile 2-in-1 design, which combines the best features of a tablet with a laptop. The primary caveat of a Chromebook is that they’re online-only devices, meaning files can only be stored and accessed through a cloud-based online service.
Laptops
For the best processing power and performance speed, you’ll want to stick with a Samsung notebook or laptop such as the Samsung Galaxy Book Go. Samsung's Windows 10 Home laptops are a bit different from their Chromebook counterparts, which use a completely different operating system and have access to a distinct set of apps. Samsung notebooks also generally feature larger displays and longer battery life than their Chromebook counterparts.
CPU
As with any PC, the central processor unit, or CPU, is the most important chip inside any Samsung laptop. All of the computer’s processes are handled by the CPU. You’ll need a fast, powerful processor for multitasking and enjoying any program you may want to use without slowdown or lag.
CPU power is measured by the clock speed of the chip and by the number of cores it has. Larger numbers for both measurements mean a better performance. However, the best CPUs are only found in Samsung laptops with high prices. So, you can use a lesser CPU if you want to save money and don’t need to run high-end software. Some examples of Samsung laptops with high-end processors, such as the Intel i7 Core, are the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro 360.
Screen size
Whether you need a simple, sharp FHD display for web browsing or a handsome 4K model for viewing streaming apps and games, it’s important to get a screen that fits your needs. Samsung's laptops typically measure between 11 and 16 inches. If you go with a Samsung Chromebook, your choices are often limited to screens of 10.1 to 11.6 inches. Note that a laptop screen is measured diagonally from one corner to the opposite corner.
Must-have features
After you’ve chosen the key components you want in your Samsung laptop, you can pick some other features. These will help you enjoy your laptop even more. Think about how you’ll use the machine and find features that match your desired use.
Battery
Most Samsung laptop computers can easily go for a full work day of eight hours before they need to be recharged. That said, Samsung laptops have a battery life of 12 to as much as 20 hours or more. A good example is the Galaxy Book Flex.
RAM
RAM is short for random access memory. RAM is the temporary storage area where the laptop keeps the data it is now using. The more RAM you have, the faster the Samsung laptop will perform. The average Samsung laptop will have 4, 8, or 16GB of RAM. The average Samsung laptop will have 4GB or 8GB of RAM.
Storage
Samsung laptops typically have a solid-state drive for storage. SSDs deliver above-average performance with reading and writing speeds for your laptop's data. So, they are preferable to older HDD (hard disk drive) technology. The average hard drive size for a Samsung laptop is from 64GB to 512GB.
Case color
Samsung laptops are available in a wide range of colors. You can always find standard black or silver tones. But there are also more colorful options such as the Fiesta Red Galaxy Chromebook, Royal Blue Galaxy Book Flex and Mystic Bronze Galaxy Book Pro 360.
Price range
Entry-level
If you want to save money, find a low-priced Samsung Chromebook for around $100 to $500. These laptops are usually excellent for basic computing tasks such as web browsing, telecommuting or at-home school via webcam. An excellent model to consider in this range is the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Go.
Mid-range
Mid-range Samsung laptops cost anywhere from $500 to $1,000. Laptops like the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 are versatile enough to perform a wide range of tasks, including basic gaming, quality video streaming and creating digital art.
High-end
The most expensive laptops from Samsung run from $500 to over $2,000. The top end of this range has laptops with reliable, smooth gaming and that can run high-end software. If you want the performance that comes with owning 11th-gen processors, energy-saving Exynos chip and visuals that rival a MacBook, look in this high price range. We recommend checking out the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra or the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro 360.
Tips
Take care of your Samsung laptop to get the most out of it. Here are some good tips:
- Use antivirus software you trust. Anyone with a laptop connected to a public Wi-Fi network risks getting a virus or malware. It’s especially risky when you’re out and about. Always have antivirus software running, and keep it up to date.
- Accidents happen. Consider getting a specialized laptop case to protect your Samsung laptop if you take it outside your home or office. Not only are the best laptop cases shockproof and ruggedly made, but some act as a clean stand to rest your laptop.
- Get Microsoft Windows updates. Many Samsung laptops run Microsoft's Windows 10 operating system. These PCs run at their best when they are regularly checked for updates. The updates improve the laptop computer's security, add features and enhance performance.
- Avoid rapid temperature changes. If you’re carrying your Samsung laptop with you to class or to an off-site meeting, don’t expose it to really high or low temperatures for long periods of time. Keep it out of direct sunlight. If it gets super cold, don’t turn it on until it has reached room temperature.
- Let the laptop breathe. A laptop cools its internal components with airflow from interior fans. If you block the machine’s vents, you could cause it to overheat. Always leave plenty of free space around a laptop's vents.
How we analyzed
We narrowed down the products for our curated list by putting in hours of research to find the best models available. Although not all products are tested before we include them, we confer with experts and gather data to make the best product recommendations possible. For the laptops we tested, we analyzed the design and build as well as observed loading times, processing speed and picture quality. We also ran various applications to test efficiency and test each spec for quality. For example, we test webcams with video calls and touch-screen responsiveness with gaming software. We also take into consideration customer reviews when building our list of top Samsung laptops.
FAQ
Q. How can I get a deal on a new Samsung laptop?
A. The best time to buy a Samsung laptop is during holiday sales, such as Labor Day or the weeks leading up to Christmas. You may be surprised to see massive discounts on laptops, so browse retailers like Amazon and the official Samsung website to find the deepest price cuts available.
Q. Does the S Pen come with all Samsung touch screen laptops?
A. Not all Samsung touch screen laptops include their versatile and precise S Pen stylus, but many of their models do. Read the product description carefully to see whether the S Pen is included if a touch screen is a must-have feature for you.
Q. How can I identify a Samsung laptop with quality parts?
A. One simple way to tell if a Samsung laptop is outfitted with a wider range of connectivity, speedy Wi-Fi 6 and a reliable Bluetooth connection is to check for models from the Intel Evo series. This includes the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro.
Our expertise
BestReviews has analyzed and tested countless products for design, quality and performance. With years of experience writing about tech, electronics and gadgets, BestReviews tech reporter Kevin Luna has gained unique insights on products that allow him to make informed recommendations to readers. He’s written many BestReviews articles on laptops, including models by top brands such as HP, Asus, Dell, Acer, Samsung and Apple. To make the best recommendations, he combines his own research and expertise with reports from our testers that are drafted after thorough analysis.
