Samsung Galaxy Guide 3 Extremely assessment: inventive energy behind gorgeous display screen | Samsung

The highest of Samsung’s new 2023 laptop computer line is the Galaxy Guide 3 Extremely: a powerhouse 16in machine aiming squarely at Apple’s 16in MacBook Professional for creatives and avid gamers.

A laptop computer known as Extremely clearly doesn’t come low cost, costing from £2,449 ($2,200), which is about the identical value as Home windows 11 rivals from Dell and Razer however barely cheaper than Apple’s high machines.

The Extremely appears to be like similar to Samsung’s different minimalist Galaxy Guide laptops from the previous couple of years, solely greater, in distinction to often garish gaming PCs. It’s surprisingly skinny and lightweight for a 16in laptop computer, weighing 1.78kg, which isn’t dramatically heavier than a lot smaller machines and far lighter than many of the competitors.

The star of the present is the merely gorgeous 16in 3K OLED show with a 120Hz refresh fee. It is without doubt one of the greatest shows I’ve seen, with inky blacks, superb distinction and correct colors that virtually burst out of the display screen. Its peak brightness of about 500nits for HDR content material is comfortably overwhelmed by the searing brightness of the LCD-based MacBook Professional however according to OLED rivals and definitely vibrant sufficient to look nice.

Beneath the display screen is a giant and good keyboard, with a stable typing expertise and a fingerprint reader within the energy button. Avid gamers might want extra suggestions however for writing it was wonderful. It has an honest however not class-leading 1080p webcam with numerous tips akin to auto-panning and blur results on the high of the display screen. The mics are excellent, and the set of 4 audio system is fairly immersive for a laptop computer.

Specs

• Display screen: 16in 3K AMOLED 2880 x 1800 (120Hz; 201 PPI)

• Processor: Intel Core i7-13700H or i9-13900H (thirteenth gen)

• Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX4050 (6GB) or 4070 (8GB) laptop computer GPU

• RAM: 16 or 32GB

• Storage: 512GB or 1TB

• Working system: Home windows 11 Residence

• Digicam: 1080P

• Connectivity: wifi 6E, Bluetooth 5.1, USB-A, 2x Thunderbolt 4, headphones, microSD, HDMI2.0

• Dimensions: 355.4 x 250.4 x 16.5mm

• Weight: 1.79kg

Two-stage energy

The Extremely is offered in a small selection of configurations that change by nation, together with fashions with an Intel Core i7-13700H processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX4050 graphics card, or a Core i9-13900H and RTX4070 on the high finish as examined. Be aware, a mannequin with 32GB of RAM or higher is just not accessible within the UK, which can be a deal killer for some.

As you’d count on for the {hardware}, the Extremely is an especially highly effective machine, maintaining tempo with Apple’s high laptop computer and gaming rigs throughout a spread of checks. It is ready to produce excessive body charges in quite a lot of demanding video games at 1080p decision with excessive graphics settings, which look implausible on the fantastic display screen. The bottom of the laptop computer will get fairly sizzling, nonetheless, so I’d not use it gaming on a lap. It additionally handles advanced picture and video modifying, transcoding and different demanding duties with aplomb for inventive purposes.

However its most energy is barely accessible when it’s plugged in and set to excessive efficiency mode. That’s typical of the sort of PC {hardware} it has inside however isn’t the case for Apple’s competitor.

Even at full tilt, the followers within the Extremely handle to keep away from being overly noisy in contrast with some hairdryer-like laptops. In additional mundane day-to-day productiveness work, it runs primarily silently, which is most appreciated.

Battery life for productiveness is pretty common, lasting about seven hours on a balanced workload of searching, video calls and writing, which isn’t fairly sufficient for a piece day. It holds up higher in contrast with the competitors beneath intense hundreds, lasting simply shy of three hours when pushed. A full cost takes about 75 minutes utilizing the included 100W energy adaptor.

Sustainability

Samsung doesn’t present an anticipated lifespan for the battery however it ought to final in extra of 500 full-charge cycles with at the very least 80% of its authentic capability.

The laptop computer is usually repairable priced on a case-by-case foundation however not upgradeable. The laptop computer comprises recycled plastic in its casing. Samsung affords trade-in and recycling schemes for some previous gadgets. The corporate publishes annual sustainability experiences however not affect assessments for particular person merchandise.

Home windows 11 + Samsung

The Extremely runs Home windows 11 out of the field however comes pre-installed with a wide variety of Samsung apps and instruments. Typically, it ran easily and with out situation. I eliminated the free trial of McAfee and a number of other different undesirable apps.

Chances are you’ll by no means use lots of the 22 included Samsung apps and may safely uninstall them. However some, akin to the short settings software, are very helpful, permitting you to alter system settings, efficiency modes, display screen modes and different bits shortly and painlessly.

About half of them are designed to hyperlink up with and sync content material throughout different Samsung gadgets, which is useful for those who occur to even have a trendy Galaxy telephone or any of the corporate’s equipment akin to earbuds. For instance, you may management a Samsung telephone utilizing the keyboard and mouse on the laptop computer.

Among the different instruments, such because the Intel connectivity efficiency suite, offer you a lot higher management over the {hardware} inside the laptop computer, which is welcome given it is a power-user machine.

Worth

The Samsung Galaxy Guide 3 Extremely begins at £2,449 ($2199.99) with an Intel Core i7, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage and a Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU. The Core i9 model with GeForce RTX 4070 prices £3,049.

For comparability, the equal Razer Blade 16 begins at £2,699, the Dell XPS 15 at £3,099, the Alienware m16 at £2,149, and the Apple 16in MacBook Professional at £2,699.

Verdict

The Galaxy Guide 3 Extremely is the primary Samsung laptop computer to actually compete on a stage with arch-rival Apple’s large MacBook Professional, delivering the uncooked energy, high quality construct and gorgeous display screen required by creatives and avid gamers alike.

It’s a totally spectacular machine, providing the flexibility to seamlessly change between easy productiveness work, severe photograph and video modifying, after which carry out as a correct gaming rig on the finish of the day, all with out trying misplaced. There are few machines that handle that fairly so efficiently, and in such a lightweight and compact physique for a 16in laptop computer.

The big trackpad is nice, and the keyboard is basically good for writing, however avid gamers may need a bit extra suggestions. It is vitally costly, even when competitively priced for one of these machine. It might do with longer productiveness battery life.

For these in search of a Home windows different to a 16in MacBook Professional for inventive work or a extra delicate gaming PC they will lug to the workplace when wanted, the Galaxy Guide 3 Extremely is true up there with one of the best accessible.

Execs: gorgeous 16in OLED display screen, highly effective selection of high Intel and Nvidia chips, huge trackpad, good keyboard for writing, delicate design, good audio system and mics, first rate webcam, compact and lightweight for a workstation.

Cons: costly, no 32GB RAM choice within the UK, solely HDMI2.0, max efficiency solely accessible when plugged in, productiveness battery life is a bit quick, design may be too businesslike for a gaming laptop computer.