Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
There are some great15 - in laptop , as well as similar - sized 16 - inch machines , that have started to take over the great laptop computer space . The Apple MacBook Air 15 is a heavy laptop computer that ’s a leader here thanks to a satisfying build , great operation , and even well battery life .
But Windows laptop have a young weapon in the efficiency wars with Intel ’s newLunar Lakechipsets . The Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 2 - in-1 utilize Lunar Lake for better efficiency , but is it enough to take over the crest from the MacBook Air 15 ? Unfortunately not .
Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
Specs and configurations
There ’s currently just one configuration of the Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 in the Samsung web storage , and it cost $ 1,700 with an Intel Core Ultra 5 226V chipset , 16 GB of RAM , a 1 TB SSD , and a 16.0 - inch 2.8 K OLED display . Best Buy also has a configuration that ’s $ 1,450 with a 512 GB SSD .
The MacBook Air 15 starts at $ 1,299 for an 8 - effect CPU/10 - core GPU M3 chipset , 16 GB of RAM , a 256 GB SSD , and a 15.3 - inch 2880 x 1864 IPS exhibit ( the only alternative ) . upgrade to 512 GB of storage convey the damage to $ 1,499 , and the maximal configuration is $ 2,299 with 24 GB of RAM and a 2 TB SSD .
Design
Both laptops are aimed at being unco slender and light machines . The MacBook Air 15 is slightly thinner and quite a bit lighter , but some of the Galaxy Book5 ’s excess weight can be attributed to its larger display . The same can be said for the Samsung laptop computer ’s extra width and depth . Both are very well - made laptop computer , built of aluminum , with tight allowance and a robust feel . There ’s no bending , spin , or flex throughout the chassis and keyboard decks , with just some flexibility in the lids .
esthetically , both are minimalist designs and attractive enough . The Galaxy Book5 has just one semblance , while the MacBook Air 15 has four distinctive colour options . Apple ’s meticulous design carries throughout the MacBook Air 15 , giving it a slimly more elegant flavour overall .
The Galaxy Book5 ’s keyboard hearken back to the old , betray Apple butterfly keyboard , with shallow switches that do n’t provide a gross ton of feedback . The MacBook Air 15 , on the other hand , uses Apple ’s latest scissor switches that are incredibly exact and responsive . It ’s a big feel overall and much more well-to-do for extended typewriting sessions . The Apple Force Touch tactile touchpad with the Force Click feature is also significantly good than the Galaxy Book5 ’s mechanically skillful touchpad .
The only input option that ’s better on the Samsung is the touch- and penitentiary - enabled display , which realize sense generate its transformable 2 - in-1 that allow it to switch from clamshell to collapsible shelter , media , and tablet modes . It ’s too heavy for the latter usage , but the ability to write and draw on the display and the special flexibleness is a plus that should n’t be ignored .
Connectivity is also a strength for the Galaxy Book5 . It has both modern and legacy ports , and more of them . And its wireless connectivity is more up - to - engagement .
Both webcam are 1080p , and both can use a miscellany of AI features . Those are still rolling out for both Windows 11 and macOS .
Performance
The Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 uses Intel ’s latest Lunar Lake chipset , specifically the 8 - core/8 - screw thread Core Ultra 5 226V. It ’s aimed at efficiency more than performance , and will ultimately fall into the lower final stage of Intel ’s update card . That run up against the Apple M3 8 - gist CPU/10 - core GPU chipset that ’s both fast and effective . Lunar Lake employ updated Intel Arc desegregate graphics , specifically the Intel Arc 130V.
In our benchmark , the two chipsets perform most similarly in multi - core CPU tasks , while the M3 is a lot faster in single - inwardness tasks . Also , the M3 ’s artwork cores are much faster than Intel Arc by a substantial margin , and Apple Silicon chipsets have optimization around a smorgasbord of creative physical process .
Overall , the MacBook Air 15 is fast for both productiveness users and Godhead . Neither laptop is great for gamers , but the M3 still has a lead in terms of performance .
Display
The Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 sports a 16.0 - inch 2.8 jet ( 2880 x 1800 ) OLED display run at up to 120Hz . in person , I find that resolve just good enough for a large display , principally based on my staring at text all mean solar day and like affair to be as sharp as possible . Most citizenry will incur it more than sharp enough . The MacBook Air 15 has a 15.3 - inch 2880 x 1864 IPS display that ’s sharper , but it runs at a slow 60Hz and so things wo n’t be as smooth .
Subjectively , the Samsung ’s show is spectacular , with shiny , dynamic colors and inky blacks . The Apple exhibit is very good , but ca n’t quite twin it . Our colorimeter mental testing agreed .
You ’ll like both of these displays , but you ’ll like the Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 ’s a passel more .
Portability
As cite above , Intel ’s Lunar Lake chipsets are aimed most at efficiency as oppose to pure execution . The M3 is aimed at both , and so far has maintained a strong lead over even the honorable late Windows laptops .
The Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 makes a firm showing for a laptop with a orotund OLED display . It ’s a little behind the MacBook Air 15 in the most demanding job , but it ’s a worthy competitor nonetheless that somewhat reduce the MacBook Air ’s atomic number 82 in efficiency .
The MacBook Air 15 maintains its lead
The tardy version of the Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 makes it a better option to the MacBook Air than ever , and is bolster most by Lunar Lake ’s leaping forward in assault and battery spirit . It gets self-colored performance , has a high - calibre build , and comes with a spectacular OLED presentation . alas , the configurations are quite limited , and it is n’t as fast overall as the MacBook Air .
The MacBook Air 15 acquire better battery aliveness on the whole , has a slender design , and has more comfortable keyboard . chance are you ’ll be capable to find a more affordable translation of the MacBook Air on price reduction in dissimilar conformation , which helps it inch out the Galaxy Book in this comparison .
