The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra is the latest addition to Samsung’s Galaxy Book lineup, offering a premium laptop experience with impressive features. This 16-inch laptop is designed to compete directly with the Apple MacBook Pro 16, featuring a high-resolution AMOLED display, powerful Intel Core Ultra processors, and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 Series graphics. The Galaxy Book4 Ultra is part of the new Galaxy Book4 series, which also includes the Galaxy Book4 360, Galaxy Book4 Pro, and Galaxy Book4 Pro 360. In this comprehensive review, we’ll take a closer look at the Galaxy Book4 Ultra and explore its features, performance, and overall value.
Table of Contents
Design and Build Quality
The Galaxy Book4 Ultra boasts a sleek and premium design, with a sturdy aluminum chassis available in the new Moonstone Gray color option. The laptop weighs 4.1 pounds, which is slightly heavier than some of its competitors but still portable enough for everyday use. The build quality is excellent, with minimal flex and a solid feel overall.
The laptop’s design is clean and minimalistic, with a subtle Samsung logo on the lid and a smooth, matte finish that resists fingerprints and smudges. The hinges are sturdy and allow for smooth opening and closing of the lid, with no wobble when typing or using the touchscreen.
The Galaxy Book4 Ultra’s slim profile and compact footprint make it easy to slip into a backpack or briefcase for on-the-go productivity. Despite its thin design, the laptop still manages to include a good selection of ports, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of peripherals and accessories.
Display
One of the standout features of the Galaxy Book4 Ultra is its 16-inch AMOLED touchscreen display. With a resolution of 2880 x 1800 pixels, the display offers crisp and vibrant visuals with deep blacks and rich colors. The display also supports a 120 Hz refresh rate, making it ideal for smooth scrolling and gaming. Additionally, the display features an anti-reflective coating, which helps reduce glare and improve visibility in bright environments.
The AMOLED technology used in the Galaxy Book4 Ultra’s display offers several advantages over traditional LCD panels:
- Deep blacks: AMOLED displays can achieve true black by turning off individual pixels, resulting in infinite contrast ratios and incredibly deep blacks.
- Wide color gamut: AMOLED panels can reproduce a wider range of colors compared to LCD displays, resulting in more vibrant and accurate visuals.
- Energy efficiency: By only illuminating the necessary pixels, AMOLED displays can be more energy-efficient than LCD panels, potentially leading to better battery life.
The Galaxy Book4 Ultra’s display also supports HDR content, allowing users to enjoy enhanced contrast and color depth when viewing compatible media. The touchscreen functionality is responsive and accurate, making it easy to navigate the Windows 11 interface and interact with applications using touch input.
Performance
The Galaxy Book4 Ultra is powered by the latest Intel Core Ultra processors, offering excellent performance for demanding tasks such as video editing, 3D rendering, and gaming. The laptop is available in two configurations:
- Intel Core Ultra 7 155H with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, 16GB RAM, and 1TB SSD
- Intel Core Ultra 9 185H with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, 32GB RAM, and 1TB SSD
Both configurations offer ample storage and memory, ensuring smooth multitasking and fast load times. The inclusion of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 Series graphics cards also makes the Galaxy Book4 Ultra a capable gaming laptop, able to handle modern titles at high settings.
The Intel Core Ultra processors used in the Galaxy Book4 Ultra are designed to deliver excellent single-core and multi-core performance, with high clock speeds and efficient power management. The processors also support Intel’s new Meteor Lake architecture, which brings improvements in AI processing, graphics performance, and power efficiency.
The Galaxy Book4 Ultra’s performance is further enhanced by its fast SSD storage, which offers quick boot times, rapid application launches, and speedy file transfers. The laptop also features Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, ensuring fast and reliable wireless connectivity for both internet access and peripheral connections.
In terms of thermal management, the Galaxy Book4 Ultra features an improved cooling system with larger fans and heat pipes, helping to keep the laptop running cool and quiet even under heavy loads. The laptop’s performance remains consistent over extended periods of use, with no noticeable throttling or performance drops.
Keyboard and Touchpad
The Galaxy Book4 Ultra features a full-sized keyboard with a numeric keypad, offering a comfortable typing experience with good key travel and tactile feedback. The keyboard also includes a built-in key for Microsoft’s Copilot generative AI assistant, allowing users to quickly access the assistant for various tasks. The touchpad is large and responsive, with support for multi-touch gestures and precise tracking.
The keyboard’s backlight is adjustable, with several brightness levels to choose from, making it easy to type in low-light conditions. The key layout is spacious and well-organized, with dedicated keys for volume control, screen brightness, and other frequently used functions.
The touchpad’s surface is smooth and glass-like, providing a pleasant tactile experience when navigating the Windows 11 interface or performing gestures. The touchpad also supports Microsoft’s Precision Touchpad drivers, ensuring accurate and responsive tracking with minimal latency.
Audio
The Galaxy Book4 Ultra comes equipped with AKG Quad speakers, delivering rich and immersive audio for media consumption and gaming. The speakers offer good clarity and depth, with decent bass response for a laptop. The laptop also features Dolby Atmos support, enhancing the overall audio experience.
The AKG Quad speaker system consists of two speakers on either side of the laptop, providing a wide soundstage and good stereo separation. The speakers are tuned by AKG, a renowned audio company known for its high-quality headphones and professional audio equipment.
Dolby Atmos support allows the Galaxy Book4 Ultra to deliver a more immersive and three-dimensional audio experience, with sound that appears to come from all around the listener. This technology is particularly beneficial when watching movies or playing games that support Dolby Atmos audio.
The laptop also features a built-in microphone array, which provides clear and noise-free audio for video calls and voice recordings. The microphones are capable of picking up speech from a distance, making it easy to participate in conference calls or online meetings without the need for an external microphone.
Connectivity and Ports
The Galaxy Book4 Ultra offers a good selection of ports, including:
- 2 x Thunderbolt 4 ports
- 1 x USB Type-A port
- 1 x HDMI 2.1 port
- 1 x 3.5mm headphone/microphone combo jack
- 1 x microSD card reader
The inclusion of Thunderbolt 4 ports allows for fast data transfer and the ability to connect external displays and peripherals. The laptop also features Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 for fast and reliable wireless connectivity.
Thunderbolt 4 is a versatile and high-bandwidth connection standard that offers several benefits:
- High-speed data transfer: Thunderbolt 4 supports data transfer speeds of up to 40 Gbps, making it ideal for transferring large files or working with external storage devices.
- Multiple display support: A single Thunderbolt 4 port can support up to two 4K displays or one 8K display, providing a convenient way to expand your workspace.
- Power delivery: Thunderbolt 4 can deliver up to 100 watts of power, allowing you to charge your laptop or power external devices through a single cable.
- Daisy-chaining: Thunderbolt 4 supports daisy-chaining, enabling you to connect multiple devices through a single port, reducing cable clutter and simplifying your workspace.
The Galaxy Book4 Ultra’s HDMI 2.1 port is a welcome addition, as it allows for the connection of high-refresh-rate external displays, such as 4K 120 Hz or 8K 60 Hz monitors. This is particularly useful for gaming or video editing workflows that require smooth, high-frame-rate visuals.
The laptop’s Wi-Fi 6E support ensures fast and stable wireless connectivity, with reduced latency and improved performance in crowded wireless environments. Bluetooth 5.3 offers enhanced power efficiency and longer range compared to previous versions, making it easier to connect and manage wireless peripherals like headphones, mice, and keyboards.
Battery Life
The Galaxy Book4 Ultra offers impressive battery life, with Samsung claiming up to 21 hours of use on a single charge for the 16-inch model. While real-world usage may vary depending on the tasks performed, the laptop should easily last a full workday without needing to be plugged in. The laptop also supports fast charging, allowing users to quickly top up the battery when needed.
Several factors contribute to the Galaxy Book4 Ultra’s excellent battery life:
- Energy-efficient processors: The Intel Core Ultra processors used in the laptop are designed to balance performance and power consumption, helping to extend battery life without sacrificing speed.
- AMOLED display: AMOLED displays can be more energy-efficient than traditional LCD panels, as they only consume power for the pixels that are actively lit.
- Large battery capacity: The Galaxy Book4 Ultra features a high-capacity battery, providing ample power for extended use.
- Samsung’s power management software: The laptop includes Samsung’s proprietary power management software, which optimizes battery life by intelligently adjusting performance and power consumption based on the user’s needs.
The Galaxy Book4 Ultra’s fast charging capability is particularly useful for users who need to quickly top up their battery between meetings or while on the go. The laptop can charge from 0% to 50% in just 30 minutes, providing several hours of additional use with minimal downtime.
Security
Samsung has included its new Knox security chip in the Galaxy Book4 Ultra, providing an additional layer of protection against potential threats. The laptop also features a fingerprint reader for secure and convenient login, as well as support for Windows Hello facial recognition.
The Knox security chip is a dedicated hardware security module that operates independently of the laptop’s main processor. It provides several security features, including:
- Secure boot: The Knox chip verifies the integrity of the laptop’s firmware and operating system during the boot process, ensuring that the device has not been tampered with or compromised.
- Hardware-based encryption: The chip includes a secure encryption key storage, which is used to protect sensitive data and credentials from unauthorized access.
- Real-time protection: The Knox chip continuously monitors the laptop for potential threats, providing real-time protection against malware, viruses, and other security risks.
In addition to the Knox security chip, the Galaxy Book4 Ultra also features a fingerprint reader, which allows users to quickly and securely log in to the laptop without the need to enter a password. The fingerprint reader is fast and accurate, with a high success rate and low false rejection rate.
The laptop also supports Windows Hello facial recognition, which uses the laptop’s built-in camera to authenticate users based on their facial features. This provides an additional layer of security and convenience, allowing users to log in to the laptop simply by looking at the camera.
Software and Ecosystem
The Galaxy Book4 Ultra comes pre-installed with Windows 11 and includes various Samsung software enhancements, such as the Galaxy Connected Experience. This feature allows users to seamlessly integrate their Galaxy Book4 Ultra with other Galaxy devices, such as smartphones and tablets, for a more streamlined workflow. The laptop also supports Samsung’s S Pen, although it is not included in the box.
The Galaxy Connected Experience enables several useful features, such as:
- Samsung Flow: This feature allows users to seamlessly transfer files, photos, and other content between their Galaxy Book4 Ultra and Galaxy smartphone or tablet. Users can also use their Galaxy smartphone as a remote control for their laptop, or even as a secondary display.
- Samsung DeX: DeX allows users to connect their Galaxy smartphone to the Galaxy Book4 Ultra and use it as a portable desktop computer, with a full-screen interface optimized for productivity.
- Samsung Notes: This powerful note-taking application syncs seamlessly between the Galaxy Book4 Ultra and Galaxy smartphones or tablets, allowing users to create, edit, and access their notes from any device.
- Microsoft Your Phone: The Galaxy Book4 Ultra includes Microsoft’s Your Phone application, which enables users to access their smartphone’s notifications, messages, photos, and even apps directly from their laptop.
The laptop’s support for the S Pen opens up a range of possibilities for artists, designers, and note-takers. Although the S Pen is not included with the Galaxy Book4 Ultra, it can be purchased separately and used with the laptop’s touchscreen for precise drawing, sketching, and handwriting. The S Pen features 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity and low latency, providing a natural and responsive drawing experience.
Pricing and Availability
The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra is available for purchase in the U.S. through various retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy, and the Samsung website. The laptop starts at 2,399.99 for the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H configuration and goes up to2,399.99fortheIntelCoreUltra7155Hconfigurationandgoesupto2,999.99 for the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H model. Samsung is currently offering a free 2TB Portable SSD T7 Shield with the purchase of a Galaxy Book4 Ultra, as well as trade-in credits of up to $800 for eligible devices.
While the Galaxy Book4 Ultra’s price point is undoubtedly premium, it is in line with other high-end laptops in its class, such as the Apple MacBook Pro 16. The inclusion of a free 2TB Portable SSD T7 Shield (valued at $219.99) sweetens the deal, providing users with ample external storage for backups, file transfers, or additional media storage.
Samsung’s trade-in program can also help offset the cost of the Galaxy Book4 Ultra, with credits of up to $800 available for eligible devices. This can make the laptop more accessible to users who have an existing device to trade in, such as an older laptop, tablet, or smartphone.
It’s worth noting that the Galaxy Book4 Ultra’s pricing and availability may vary by region, so it’s always a good idea to check with local retailers or the Samsung website for the most up-to-date information.
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra is a premium laptop that offers impressive features and performance, making it a strong competitor to the Apple MacBook Pro 16. With its high-resolution AMOLED display, powerful Intel Core Ultra processors, and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 Series graphics, the Galaxy Book4 Ultra is well-suited for demanding tasks and gaming. The laptop also boasts excellent build quality, a comfortable keyboard, and impressive battery life. While the price may be steep for some users, the Galaxy Book4 Ultra delivers a top-notch laptop experience for those willing to invest in a high-end device.
Pros
- High-resolution AMOLED touchscreen display with 120 Hz refresh rate
- Powerful Intel Core Ultra processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 Series graphics
- Excellent build quality and premium design
- Impressive battery life with fast charging support
- Good selection of ports, including Thunderbolt 4 and HDMI 2.1
- Rich audio experience with AKG Quad speakers and Dolby Atmos support
- Knox security chip and fingerprint reader for enhanced security
- Seamless integration with Samsung’s Galaxy ecosystem
Cons
- Expensive compared to some competitors
- Slightly heavier than some other 16-inch laptops
- S Pen not included in the box
Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra is a top-tier laptop that delivers on performance, display quality, and features. If you’re in the market for a premium 16-inch laptop and can afford the price tag, the Galaxy Book4 Ultra is definitely worth considering. Its combination of powerful hardware, stunning display, and seamless integration with the Samsung Galaxy ecosystem make it a compelling choice for both professionals and enthusiasts alike.
| Specification | Galaxy Book4 Ultra (Core Ultra 7) | Galaxy Book4 Ultra (Core Ultra 9) |
| Processor | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | Intel Core Ultra 9 185H |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 |
| Display | 16-inch, 2880 x 1800, AMOLED, 120 Hz | 16-inch, 2880 x 1800, AMOLED, 120 Hz |
| Memory | 16GB RAM | 32GB RAM |
| Storage | 1TB SSD | 1TB SSD |
| Ports | 2x Thunderbolt 4, 1x USB Type-A, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x 3.5mm jack, 1x microSD | 2x Thunderbolt 4, 1x USB Type-A, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x 3.5mm jack, 1x microSD |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Battery | 76 Wh | 76 Wh |
| Dimensions | 355.4 x 250.4 x 16.5 mm | 355.4 x 250.4 x 16.5 mm |
| Weight | 4.1 lbs (1.86 kg) | 4.1 lbs (1.86 kg) |
| Price (USD) | $2,399.99 | $2,999.99 |
