Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra: A Closer Look

Zakaria Bouhachni

20 Aug, 2024

Explore Configuration and Design Options: Seek Out Limited-Time

While Samsung's website offers trade-in promotions for the Galaxy Book4 Ultra, be sure to uncheck the box for the optional 2TB external solid-state drive to avoid a surprise $90 charge.

The base model, priced at $2,399.99, boasts a stunning 2,880-by-1,800-pixel touchscreen, a powerful Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 graphics, 16GB of memory, and a spacious 1TB SSD, all pre-installed with Windows 11 Home.

For an extra $600, the flagship configuration upgrades to a Core Ultra 9 185H chip, GeForce RTX 4070 graphics, and a luxurious 32GB of RAM, bringing the price tag to $2,999.99.

Here's the key takeaway: Keep an eye out for limited-time sales! Samsung.com has recently offered temporary discounts of $400 on the base model and $500 on the flagship version. Checking their website periodically before purchasing could save you some significant money.

Housed in a sleek graphite aluminum chassis (dubbed Moonstone Gray by Samsung), the Book4 Ultra measures a slim 0.65 by 14 by 9.9 inches and weighs a relatively light 4.1 pounds. While heavier than the ultraportable Acer Swift Edge 16 at 2.73 pounds, it's half a pound lighter than the Gigabyte and a full pound less than the HP Envy 16. There's a slight flex noticeable when gripping the screen corners or pressing down on the keyboard.

The Galaxy Book4 Ultra sports moderately sized bezels around the display, though the bottom one is noticeably thicker. The centered webcam lacks IR for facial recognition and a privacy cover, but the included Samsung Settings app offers a camera and microphone disable option. A fingerprint reader embedded in the power button provides convenient Windows Hello logins. The laptop's bulky USB-C power adapter hogs three outlets but enables rapid charging, reaching 55% battery in just 30 minutes, according to Samsung.

The laptop's left side houses two high-speed Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports and an HDMI output for external displays. On the right, you'll find a standard USB 3.2 Type-A port, a microSD card reader for memory expansion, and a headphone jack. For wireless connectivity, the Galaxy Book4 Ultra includes Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth.

Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra: Technical Specifications

Core Components

Processor: Intel Core Ultra 9 185H (review unit)

Memory: 32GB LPDDR5x RAM

Storage: 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD

Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070

Display and Audio

Display: 16-inch touchscreen with a 2880x1800 resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, AMOLED 2X panel, and 120% DCI-P3 color gamut for vibrant and accurate colors.

Audio: Quad speakers fine-tuned by AKG, supporting Dolby Atmos for an immersive audio experience.

Design and Connectivity

Dimensions: 13.99 x 9.86 x 0.65 inches

Weight: 4.1 pounds, making it portable yet powerful.

Ports:

2 x Thunderbolt 4

USB Type-A

HDMI 2.1

microSD card slot

Headphone jack

Wireless: Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 for fast and reliable connectivity.

Security: Integrated fingerprint reader for secure access.

Additional Features

Camera: 1080p webcam for clear video calls and streaming.

Battery: 76Wh battery to support extended usage.

Operating System: Pre-installed with Windows 11 Home.

Color: Available in Moonstone Gray.

Price

Starting Price: $2,399.99

Review Unit Price: $2,999.99

Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra: Stunning Visuals

Samsung’s early adoption of OLED technology shines through in the Galaxy Book4 Ultra’s stunning AMOLED 2X display. While not quite 4K, its high resolution and vibrant colors remain a standout feature. The touchscreen functionality offers added convenience for those accustomed to on-screen interactions, but the display's pristine black levels may make users hesitant to smudge the screen with fingerprints.

The Book4 Ultra's 120Hz dynamic refresh rate enhances screen smoothness, particularly noticeable when moving the cursor. While the OLED panel is ideal for visuals, the lack of an S Pen and limited screen tilt angle hinder drawing capabilities. Samsung offers versatile display modes including Auto, AMOLED Profile, AdobeRGB, P3, and sRGB, along with adaptive color options and HDR+ for optimized viewing experiences.

Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra: Typing

The Galaxy Book4 Ultra's keyboard closely resembles its predecessor, featuring a full-sized layout with a condensed number pad to accommodate the limited space. This arrangement may feel cramped for users who rely heavily on the number pad, especially gamers who use it for WASD-like controls. The keyboard's backlighting offers adjustable brightness levels and helpful on-screen explanations for function keys. While Samsung provides a speed adjustment option through its settings app, it's worth noting that this overrides Windows 11's built-in performance controls.

Battery

The Galaxy Book4 Ultra delivers impressive battery life, lasting a substantial 11 hours and 40 minutes in our tests. While this is excellent performance, it falls slightly short of the endurance offered by the MacBook Pro.

While many powerful Windows laptops struggle to deliver substantial battery life, Samsung boldly claims the Galaxy Book4 Ultra can endure up to 18 hours of video playback. To test this assertion, we subjected the device to a demanding productivity benchmark with screen brightness set at 50%. The results were impressive, with the Galaxy Book4 Ultra lasting a commendable 11 hours and 40 minutes before depleting its battery.

The Galaxy Book4 Ultra’s battery life is exceptional, far surpassing the endurance typically expected from high-performance laptops. While it doesn't quite match the stamina of the 16-inch MacBook Pro, it stands out as a top performer among Windows competitors. Our tests revealed an impressive 11 hours and 40 minutes of battery life, a testament to Samsung's engineering.

To support this impressive battery life, the laptop includes a powerful 140W charger. Despite its size, it fits comfortably in a backpack and offers rapid charging, replenishing the battery to 34% in just 30 minutes. This rapid charging capability is particularly impressive considering the Galaxy Book4 Ultra's large 76Wh battery.

Software

Samsung aims to replicate the seamless Apple ecosystem experience with software designed to complement Galaxy smartphones and tablets. Features like using a Samsung phone as a second display and the ability to transfer files and share notifications through Samsung Flow can be convenient for Samsung device owners. While these integrations may be less appealing to users without a Samsung phone, the included Samsung Studio app offers a standalone benefit, providing a free video editing alternative to professional software.

The Galaxy Book4 Ultra comes pre-installed with McAfee antivirus, which includes a free trial followed by persistent subscription prompts. While these notifications can be annoying, they can be easily resolved by uninstalling the software.

The laptop also features Microsoft Copilot, an AI assistant similar to ChatGPT. This tool, which is becoming increasingly common on Windows devices, can perform various tasks and answer questions.