Samsung Notebook 9 (2018) review

Notebooks like the Samsung Notebook 9 tend make for interesting reviews, because while there are some flaws that can hold it back, they’re generally outweighed by the huge benefits they offer.

For instance, the Samsung Notebook 9 boasts quick performance and some of the longest battery life we’ve seen in a long time – but, its mushy keyboard and tiny SSD sour the deal a little.

This all adds up to a notebook that’s great enough in some aspects that it may just be the best laptop for a certain user – one that prioritizes raw power and longevity above all else – and can get used to a squishy keyboard. 

Specification

Here is the Samsung Notebook 9 (15-inch) configuration:

CPU: 1.8GHz Intel Core i7-8550U (quad-core, 8MB cache, up to 4.0GHz)
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce MX150 (2GB GDDR5); Intel UHD Graphics 620
RAM: 16GB DDR4
Screen: 15-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080) LED (350 – 500 nits brightness)
Storage: 512GB SSD (PCIe)
Ports: 1 x Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C), 2 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0 HDMI, headphone out/mic-in combo port, 3-in-1 card reader, DC-in port
Connectivity: Intel Dual-Band Wireless-AC 8265 Wi-Fi (2 x 2 antenna); Bluetooth 4.1
Camera: 720p HD webcam with internal mic
Weight: 2.82 pounds (1.28kg)
Size: 13.70 x 9.03 x 0.61 inches (347.98 x 229.36 x 15.49mm; W x H x D)

Price and availability

Configured as you see to the right, the Samsung Notebook 9 15 is priced at $1,499 (about £1,069, AU$1,959). However, a starting model with half as much memory and lacking the Nvidia MX150 graphics costs a cool $1,299 (about £929, AU$1,699).

Both models come housing Full HD (1080p) displays, as well as Thunderbolt 3 ports and fingerprint sensors for secure Windows Hello login via Windows 10. And, the only color option available for both models is the silvery Light Titan. So, not much has changed since last year save for graphics and processing power.

While it doesn’t have the Touch Bar and super-sharp Retina display, the Samsung Notebook 9 far out prices the $2,399 (£1,719, AU$3,129) MacBook Pro for more computational power. Having said that, however, the MacBook Pro’s AMD RAdeon Pro 555 GPU may outclass the Nvidia MX150 chip by a margin.

Starting at $999 (about £719, AU$1,299) the brand-new Dell XPS 15 handily outshines the Samsung Notebook 9 when it comes to value, putting forth half as much RAM but far stronger Nvidia GTX 1050 graphics and a 128GB SSD- plus-1TB HDD combo storage solution behind an FHD display. So, where does that leave the Notebook 9?  

In spite of a keyboard that isn’t quite punchy enough for our tastes and dimly backlit, and some lackluster audio performance as well as a small amount of storage, we found that the 15-inch Samsung Notebook 9’s benefits far outweigh its flaws.

You will absolutely be hard-pressed to find a laptop that performs this well, and which also lasts this long. Sure, that’s thanks in large part to a 1080p display in a time when high-resolution options are all but required, but depending on your specific needs this could be an incredible laptop for you.

In the name of immense battery life and versatility in performance, not to mention all the ports we could ever need in a laptop, we can easily recommend the Samsung Notebook 9 to most students and general users. You can expect to go far with this laptop – and for longer between charges.