Is Samsung's Flagship Laptop a MacBook Pro Clone Gone Wrong?
Samsung's latest flagship laptop, the Galaxy Book Pro 360, aims to rival Apple's MacBook Pro but falls short in key areas. While it borrows design cues from the MacBook Pro, including a sleek aluminum chassis and a high-resolution AMOLED display, it suffers from poor battery life, limited performance, and a confusing software experience. This article breaks down why this MacBook Pro clone misses the mark and whether it's worth your money.
Design and Build: Looks Like a MacBook, Feels Different
The Galaxy Book Pro 360 is undeniably thin and light, weighing just 2.3 pounds. Its 13.3-inch Super AMOLED screen offers vibrant colors and deep blacks, ideal for watching movies or editing photos. However, the build quality feels less premium than a MacBook Pro. The hinge is wobbly, the keyboard lacks tactile feedback, and the trackpad is smaller than expected. For a laptop priced at $1,200+, these compromises are frustrating.
Performance: Not Quite Pro-Level
Powered by Intel's 11th-gen Core i7 processor and integrated Iris Xe graphics, the Galaxy Book Pro 360 handles everyday tasks like web browsing and document editing smoothly. But for creative professionals—think video editing or 3D rendering—it struggles. The laptop lacks a dedicated GPU, unlike the MacBook Pro's M1 chip, which offers superior graphics performance. In benchmark tests, the Samsung laptop lags behind by up to 30% in multi-core tasks. If you need a machine for heavy workloads, this clone won't cut it.
Battery Life: The Biggest Letdown
Samsung claims up to 20 hours of battery life, but in real-world use, we saw just 8 to 10 hours on a single charge. That's half of what the MacBook Pro M1 delivers (around 17 hours). The 65W USB-C charger helps, but you'll still need to plug in mid-day. For a laptop marketed as portable, this is a major flaw.
Software: Samsung's Bloatware Problem
Windows 11 runs smoothly on the Galaxy Book Pro 360, but Samsung pre-installs too many apps—like Samsung Notes, Samsung Flow, and Samsung Update—that clutter the system. While some users might find these useful, they slow down startup times and eat into storage. The MacBook Pro's macOS is cleaner and more intuitive, with no bloatware.
Price and Value: Is It Worth It?
Starting at $1,199, the Galaxy Book Pro 360 costs nearly as much as a MacBook Pro (which starts at $1,299). For that price, you get a beautiful display and a lightweight design, but you sacrifice performance, battery life, and build quality. If you're a Windows fan, consider the Dell XPS 13 or Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon instead. If you want a true pro laptop, the MacBook Pro remains the better choice.
Final Verdict: A Clone That Falls Short
The Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 tries to mimic the MacBook Pro but fails to deliver the same experience. Its AMOLED screen is stunning, but poor battery life, underwhelming performance, and a wobbly build make it a hard sell. For most users, this MacBook Pro clone is a disappointment—stick with the original or explore other Windows alternatives.
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