The Microsoft Surface Pro 4 and the Samsung Galaxy TabPro S were two of the best 2-in-1 laptops from previous years and they remain popular among consumers. Both companies have recently released updates to their hybrid laptops in the Microsoft Surface Pro and the Samsung Galaxy Book. Surely, both devices are better than their respective predecessors. The question now is which of the two is better.
Design and Display
The Samsung Galaxy Book, both the 10 and 12 models, weigh less than the Microsoft Surface Pro though both are still easy to handle. The Surface Pro comes with a kickstand that can extend to 165 degrees attached to the tablet. The Galaxy Book has its kickstand built into the keyboard preventing users to prop up the tablet on its own.
The Samsung Galaxy Book comes in 10.6-inch and 12-inch versions with the former sporting a TFT display with 1920 x 1280 pixel resolution and the latter with an AMOLED display with 2160 x 1440 resolution. The Surface Pro sports a 12.3-inch PixelSense display with 2736 x 1824 pixel resolution. Despite the lower resolution, the AMOLED display makes the Galaxy Book 12 look as great as the Surface Pro.
Performance
There are three versions of the Microsoft Surface Pro. The base model is powered by Intel's Core m3-7Y30 and comes with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of built-in storage. The Core i5-7300U variant has 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage while the high-end Core i7-7660U Surface Pro comes with 16GB of RAM and 512GB storage. The Galaxy Book 10 comes with Intel Core m3-7Y30 while the Galaxy Book 12 tops out at Core i5-7200U.
Camera
The Surface Pro has two cameras, a 5-megapixel one at the front and an 8-megapixel shooter at the rear. The Galaxy Book only comes with a 5MP front camera.
Other Features
Both the Galaxy Book and the Surface Pro retains the traditional 3.5mm jack and a microSD card reader which are good news for everyone. The Surface Pro also comes with a USB-A 3.0 port and its own Surface Connect. The Galaxy Book 10 has one USB-C port while the 12-inch Galaxy Book has two.
The Surface Pro has better battery life at 13.5 hours per charge while the high-end Galaxy Book lasts for 11 hours. Both 2-in-1 laptops can be used with a stylus while their keyboard covers have undergone some improvements and new designs as noted by Windows Central.
Price
The Microsoft Surface Pro starts off at $799 and will be available starting June 15. The Samsung Galaxy Book 10 is worth $630 while the Galaxy Book 12 is available for $1,130. Both are already being offered.
Verdict
Digital Trends pointed out that the Samsung Galaxy Book comes in two different sizes while the Microsoft Surface Book offers more choices with regards to specs. The high-end version of the Surface Pro beats the Galaxy Book counterpart in all categories. The Galaxy Book 10, meanwhile, almost has the same features as the low-end Surface Pro though the latter packs an additional punch with a rear camera, biometrics, and better battery life. To put it simply, the winner is - Microsoft Surface Pro.
