The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra aims high, targeting Apple’s M3 Max 16-inch MacBook Pro. Packing up to an RTX 4070 and a Core Ultra 9 185H processor, this isn’t just another thin-and-light Windows laptop. But does it truly challenge Apple’s dominance?
Specifications and Pricing
The Galaxy Book4 Ultra offers two configurations:
- $2,400: Core Ultra 7 155H, RTX 4050, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD
- $3,000: Core Ultra 9 185H, RTX 4070, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD
While potent, the $3,000 price tag raises eyebrows. Competitors like the ROG Zephyrus G16 offer similar performance for significantly less. However, the Galaxy Book4 Ultra undercuts the Dell XPS 16, a more direct competitor, by a considerable margin. The Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i 16 presents the stiffest competition, offering comparable performance with an RTX 4060 for $1,900.
Design and Build
The lid of the Galaxy Book4 Ultra.
The Galaxy Book4 Ultra sports a minimalist silver design. While some might appreciate its simplicity, it lacks the visual flair of some competitors. Rounded screen corners and slim bezels are welcome touches, aligning with modern design trends.
At 4.1 pounds and 0.65 inches thick, the Galaxy Book4 Ultra is remarkably portable for its power. It’s noticeably thinner than both the Dell XPS 16 and the 16-inch MacBook Pro. The metal frame feels sturdy and well-constructed.
Display
The screen of the Galaxy Book4 Ultra.
The 16-inch AMOLED display boasts a 2880 x 1800 resolution (212 ppi) and a 120Hz refresh rate. While not as sharp as the MacBook Pro or XPS 16, it’s still crisp and vibrant. The OLED panel delivers excellent contrast and vivid colors, covering 96% of AdobeRGB and 100% of DCI-P3. An anti-reflective coating minimizes glare, and while peak brightness is limited to 376 nits, it’s typical for OLED technology.
Connectivity
The ports of the Galaxy Book4 Ultra.
The Galaxy Book4 Ultra offers a good selection of ports: two Thunderbolt 4, one USB-A 3.2, HDMI 2.1, and a microSD card slot. The absence of a full-size SD card slot might disappoint some creators.
Keyboard and Touchpad
The keyboard of the Galaxy Book4 Ultra.
The keyboard’s short key travel can feel shallow, reminiscent of older MacBook keyboards. The inclusion of a number pad, while potentially useful for some, offsets the touchpad, potentially impacting ergonomics. The touchpad itself is large and responsive, but the click feels stiff.
Security features include a fingerprint reader in the power button and an IR camera for Windows Hello.
Webcam and Audio
The 1080p webcam produces grainy video quality, even in good lighting. The quad-speaker setup sounds tinny and lacks bass, falling short of the audio quality offered by the MacBook Pro and other competitors.
Performance
The Galaxy Book4 Ultra’s performance hinges on its “High Performance” mode. In the default “Optimized” mode, the RTX 4070’s performance is surprisingly close to the RTX 4060 in the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i 16. Enabling “High Performance” mode unlocks a significant performance boost, bringing it closer to its full potential, though still behind the M3 Max MacBook Pro.
The following table compares benchmark results:
| Geekbench 6 (single/multi) | Cinebench R24 (single/multi/GPU) | Pugetbench Premiere Pro | 3DMark Time Spy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra (Core Ultra 185H / RTX 4070) | 2373 / 13082 (Perf: 2331 / 13381) | 107 / 817 / 8,994 (Perf: 106 / 985 / 10569) | 3906 (Perf: 5669) | 7242 (Perf: 10207) |
| Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i 16 (Core Ultra 185H / RTX 4060) | 2373 / 13082 (Perf: 2,331 / 13381) | 110 / 1085 / 9859 (Perf: 112 / 1115) | 5774 (Perf: 6112) | 10733 (Perf: 12832) |
| Dell XPS 16 (Core Ultra 7 155H / RTX 4070) | 2196 / 12973 (Perf: 2238 / 12836) | 100 / 838 / 9721 (Perf: 102 / 895 / 10,477) | 5401 (Perf: 5433) | 8216 (Perf: 9352) |
| Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (Core Ultra 9 185H / RTX 4070) | N/A | 109 / 964 / 10979 (Perf: 110 / 1,069 / 11475) | 5073 (Perf: 5115) | 10828 (Perf: 12159) |
| Alienware m16 R2 (Core Ultra 7 155H / RTX 4070) | 2366 / 12707 (Perf: N/A) | 103 / 1,040 / 10884 (Perf: N/A) | 5590 (Perf: N/A) | 5590 (Perf: N/A) |
| Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M3 Max 16/40) | 3083 / 20653 (Perf: 3119 / 20865) | 140 / 1667 / 13146 (Perf: N/A) | 8046 (Perf: N/A) | N/A |
Gaming performance is respectable at 1200p with frame generation, especially with “High Performance” mode enabled.
Battery Life
The back of the Galaxy Book4 Ultra on a table outside.
Despite its 76 watt-hour battery, the Galaxy Book4 Ultra delivers impressive battery life, exceeding 11 hours in web browsing tests. This outperforms many Windows laptops with discrete GPUs, though it still trails the 16-inch MacBook Pro.
Conclusion
The Galaxy Book4 Ultra offers a compelling alternative to the MacBook Pro and Dell XPS 16, particularly with its competitive pricing and long battery life. However, the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i 16 poses a significant challenge with its lower price and comparable performance. Ultimately, the Galaxy Book4 Ultra’s appeal depends on individual priorities and budget considerations.
