As a tech enthusiast, I’ve had the opportunity to get hands-on with Samsung’s latest offering in the laptop specifications – the Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge. This sleek device marks Samsung’s entry into the world of AI-powered laptops, and I’m excited to share my thoughts on this innovative machine. Let’s dive into what makes the Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge stand out in the crowded laptop market.
Design and Build Quality
Sleek and Premium Aesthetics
The moment I unboxed the Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge, I was struck by its elegant design:
- Aluminum Chassis: The laptop boasts a full aluminum body that exudes premium quality.
- Color Option: Available in a sophisticated “Sapphire Blue” that looks more like a subtle silver-gray with a hint of blue.
- Impressively Thin: At just 0.48 inches (12.3mm) thick for the 16-inch model, it’s remarkably slim for its size.
- Lightweight: Weighing only 3.42 pounds (1.55kg) for the 16-inch version, it’s surprisingly portable for a large-screen laptop.
The tapered edge design adds to its sleek appearance, making it easy to pick up and carry. The build quality feels solid, with no flex in the chassis when held from a corner – a testament to Samsung’s engineering prowess.
Port Selection
While the Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge is thin, Samsung hasn’t skimped on connectivity options:
- Left Side:
- 2x USB4 ports (USB-C)
- 1x HDMI 2.1 port
- Right Side:
- 1x USB 3.2 Type-A port
- 1x microSD card reader (16-inch model only)
- 1x 3.5mm headphone jack
The inclusion of both modern USB4 and legacy USB-A ports is a thoughtful touch, catering to a wide range of peripherals without the need for dongles.
Display: A Visual Treat
The Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge’s display is undoubtedly one of its standout features:
- Size Options: Available in 14-inch and 16-inch variants
- Resolution: Crisp 3K (2880 x 1800 pixels) AMOLED panel
- Refresh Rate: Smooth 120Hz for fluid animations and scrolling
- Touch-Enabled: Full touchscreen functionality for added versatility
- Color Performance:
- 120% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage
- VESA DisplayHDR 500 True Black certification
- Brightness:
- 400 nits typical brightness
- Up to 500 nits peak brightness for HDR content
The AMOLED technology delivers deep blacks, vibrant colors, and excellent contrast ratios. Whether you’re working on productivity tasks, enjoying media content, or doing color-sensitive work, this display is a joy to use.
Performance: Snapdragon X Elite Power
At the heart of the Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge lies Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon X Elite chipset:
Processor Variants
- 14-inch Model: Snapdragon X Elite X1E-80-100
- 16-inch Model: Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100 (slightly higher clock speeds)
Both chips feature:
- 12-core CPU architecture
- Adreno GPU
- 45 TOPS NPU (Neural Processing Unit) for AI tasks
Real-World Performance
In my testing, the Galaxy Book 4 Edge proved to be a capable performer for everyday tasks:
- Productivity: Handles multiple browser tabs, Office applications, and light photo editing with ease.
- Multitasking: The 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM ensures smooth operation even with numerous apps open.
- AI Tasks: The dedicated NPU shines in AI-accelerated workloads, enhancing features like background blur in video calls.
Benchmarks
While synthetic benchmarks don’t tell the whole story, they provide a point of comparison:
- Geekbench 6:
- Single-core: ~1,800
- Multi-core: ~15,000
- Cinebench R24: ~800 (multi-thread)
These scores put the Galaxy Book 4 Edge in line with other high-end ultrabooks, though it falls slightly behind top-tier Intel and AMD offerings in some CPU-intensive tasks.
Graphics Performance
The integrated Adreno GPU is adequate for casual gaming and basic content creation, but it’s not designed for hardcore gaming or intensive 3D work. In 3DMark benchmarks:
- Time Spy: ~2,100
- Night Raid: ~27,000
While these scores are impressive for an ARM-based laptop, they still trail behind Intel’s integrated Arc graphics in x86 applications.
Battery Life: All-Day Endurance
One of the most impressive aspects of the Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge is its battery life:
- Capacity: 61.8 Watt-hour battery
- Claimed Battery Life: Up to 22 hours of video playback
In my real-world testing:
- Productivity Use: 12-14 hours of mixed use (web browsing, document editing, video calls)
- Video Playback: Nearly 20 hours of continuous local video playback
- Standby Time: Excellent, losing only 1-2% charge overnight
The efficiency of the Snapdragon X Elite chipset really shines here, providing exceptional battery life that easily outlasts a full workday.
Keyboard and Touchpad
Keyboard
The typing experience on the Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge is generally pleasant:
- Layout: Full-sized keyboard with a numeric keypad on the 16-inch model
- Key Travel: Decent travel distance for a thin laptop
- Backlighting: White backlight with adjustable brightness levels
- Comfort: Comfortable for extended typing sessions
Touchpad
The touchpad is one of the more controversial aspects of this laptop:
- Size: Exceptionally large, which some users find excessive
- Precision: Accurate tracking and good palm rejection
- Click Mechanism: Traditional “diving board” design (easier to click at the bottom)
- Comfort: Some users report discomfort due to the size, especially when wearing a watch
While the large size provides ample space for gestures, it may take some getting used to for those accustomed to more traditionally sized touchpads.
Audio and Webcam
Audio
The Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge delivers solid audio performance:
- Speaker System: Dual speakers with Dolby Atmos support
- Sound Quality: Clear and relatively full-bodied for a laptop
- Volume: Adequate for personal use, though not room-filling
Webcam
The built-in webcam is suitable for video calls:
- Resolution: 1080p Full HD
- AI Enhancements:
- Auto-framing
- Background blur
- Eye contact correction
- Quality: Good in well-lit environments, average in low light
While not exceptional, the webcam is a step above many laptop offerings and benefits from the AI-powered enhancements.
Software and AI Features
The Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge runs Windows 11 and comes with several AI-powered features:
Copilot Integration
- Dedicated Copilot Key: Easy access to Microsoft’s AI assistant
- AI Tasks: Summarization, content generation, and task automation
Samsung Ecosystem Integration
- Quick Share: Seamless file sharing with other Samsung devices
- Second Screen: Use a Samsung tablet as an extended display
- Phone Integration: Control your Samsung phone from the laptop
Galaxy AI Features
- Live Translate: Real-time translation in calls and messages
- Chat Assist: AI-powered writing suggestions
- Circle to Search: Visual search by circling objects on-screen
These AI features add significant value, especially for users already invested in the Samsung ecosystem.
Performance Considerations
While the Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge offers impressive performance in many areas, there are some considerations:
ARM Compatibility
As an ARM-based laptop, there may be some compatibility issues with certain x86 applications. However, this is improving rapidly:
- Most common applications run smoothly through Windows’ built-in emulation
- Native ARM64 versions of popular apps are becoming more common
- Some specialized software may still have issues or reduced performance
Thermal Management
The thin design necessitates careful thermal management:
- The laptop remains cool and quiet during most tasks
- Under heavy loads, there is some throttling to maintain temperatures
- Fan noise is noticeable but not overly intrusive during intensive workloads
Price and Value Proposition
The Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge is positioned as a premium device:
- 14-inch Model: Starting at $1,349.99
- 16-inch Model: Starting at $1,449.99
While these prices put it in the higher end of the ultrabook market, the Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge offers several unique selling points:
- Cutting-edge Snapdragon X Elite performance
- Exceptional battery life
- High-quality AMOLED display
- AI features and Samsung ecosystem integration
For users who value these features and are comfortable with the ARM architecture, the Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge presents a compelling package.
Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Design and Build | |
| Chassis | Full aluminum |
| Color Options | Sapphire Blue (subtle silver-gray with a hint of blue) |
| Thickness (16-inch model) | 0.48 inches (12.3mm) |
| Weight (16-inch model) | 3.42 pounds (1.55kg) |
| Port Selection | |
| Left Side | 2x USB4 ports (USB-C), 1x HDMI 2.1 port |
| Right Side | 1x USB 3.2 Type-A port, 1x microSD card reader (16-inch only), 1x 3.5mm headphone jack |
| Display | |
| Size Options | 14-inch, 16-inch |
| Resolution | 3K (2880 x 1800 pixels) |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz |
| Touch-Enabled | Yes |
| Color Performance | 120% DCI-P3 color gamut, VESA DisplayHDR 500 True Black certification |
| Brightness | 400 nits typical, up to 500 nits peak |
| Performance | |
| Processor (14-inch Model) | Snapdragon X Elite X1E-80-100 |
| Processor (16-inch Model) | Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100 |
| CPU Cores | 12-core |
| GPU | Adreno GPU |
| NPU | 45 TOPS |
| RAM | 16GB LPDDR5X |
| Benchmarks | |
| Geekbench 6 (Single-core) | ~1,800 |
| Geekbench 6 (Multi-core) | ~15,000 |
| Cinebench R24 (multi-thread) | ~800 |
| Graphics Performance | |
| 3DMark Time Spy | ~2,100 |
| 3DMark Night Raid | ~27,000 |
| Battery Life | |
| Capacity | 61.8 Watt-hour |
| Claimed Battery Life | Up to 22 hours video playback |
| Real-World Battery Life | 12-14 hours mixed use, nearly 20 hours video playback |
| Standby Time | 1-2% charge loss overnight |
| Keyboard | |
| Layout | Full-sized with numeric keypad (16-inch model) |
| Key Travel | Decent |
| Backlighting | White backlight with adjustable brightness |
| Touchpad | |
| Size | Large |
| Precision | Accurate tracking, good palm rejection |
| Click Mechanism | Traditional “diving board” |
| Audio | |
| Speaker System | Dual speakers with Dolby Atmos support |
| Sound Quality | Clear, full-bodied |
| Webcam | |
| Resolution | 1080p Full HD |
| AI Enhancements | Auto-framing, Background blur, Eye contact correction |
| Software and AI Features | |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| AI Integration | Copilot Integration, Samsung AI Features (Live Translate, Chat Assist, Circle to Search) |
| Ecosystem Integration | Quick Share, Second Screen, Phone Integration |
| Performance Considerations | |
| ARM Compatibility | Some compatibility issues with x86 applications |
| Thermal Management | Cool and quiet, some throttling under heavy loads |
| Price | |
| 14-inch Model | Starting at $1,349.99 |
| 16-inch Model | Starting at $1,449.99 |
Conclusion: A Glimpse into the Future of Laptops
After spending considerable time with the Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge, I’m impressed by what it represents – a bold step into the future of mobile computing. Here’s my final take:
Pros:
- Stunning Display: The 3K AMOLED screen is a visual treat
- Exceptional Battery Life: All-day and then some
- Sleek Design: Thin, light, and premium build quality
- AI Integration: Useful features that enhance productivity
- Ecosystem Benefits: Great for Samsung device users
Cons:
- ARM Compatibility: Some software may still have issues
- Graphics Performance: Not ideal for intensive gaming or 3D work
- Touchpad Size: May be divisive for some users
- Price: Premium positioning may not suit all budgets
The Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge represents an exciting direction for laptops, embracing AI capabilities and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with ARM architecture. It’s an excellent choice for users who prioritize battery life, display quality, and seamless ecosystem integration.
While it may not be the perfect fit for everyone, particularly those with specific software needs or gamers, it’s a strong contender in the ultrabook market. As the ARM ecosystem continues to mature, devices like the Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge will only become more versatile and powerful.
For those ready to embrace the future of computing and who align with its strengths, the Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge is a fantastic option that offers a glimpse into the exciting possibilities of AI-enhanced laptops.
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