Samsung Launch the Galaxy Book 10.6-inch and 12-inch: Windows Tablets with Kaby Lake
by Ian Cutress on February 26, 2017 1:00 PM EST
The announcements this year from Samsung are notably muted without the launch of a new Galaxy smartphone, but despite this being a mobile-focused conference in Barcelona this week, there were a few new Samsung devices to whet the appetite. The first is actually more of a PC, in a Windows-10 based tablet called the Galaxy Book, available in either 10.6-inch LCD or 12-inch Super AMOLED display, firing in the line of the Microsoft Surface range. Samsung is primarily aiming these new devices with a nod towards the professional market, but are keen to say that they’re suitable for consumers as well.
At the heart of each tablet is a Kaby-Lake CPU based on Core m for the 10.6-inch or Core i5 on the 12-inch, supported in various configurations of DRAM and storage but both having an integrated LTE Cat 6 modem for wireless support. Aside from the Core i5, and offering an 8GB DRAM/256GB storage model, the key element of the 12-inch device is the Super AMOLED display running at 2160x1440 which Samsung states supports videos in HDR 10-bit. The 10.6-inch version will use a 1920x1280 TFT LCD display.
The larger device will use a 13MP rear camera with autofocus, and both units have a 5MP front facing camera. Aside from microSD support, users will also get USB 3.1 Type-C ports. Both units will come with Windows 10, support for the next generation S Pen using a new 0.7mm tip and in ‘screen off’ mode which allows for note taking without the display being on.
Battery for the units comes in at 30.4 Wh for the smaller one, and 39.04 Wh for the larger display. Samsung is quoting around 10 hours of use for both and both will have access to fast charging. It is worth noting that with the specifications, Samsung lists the 10.6-inch display as supporting 4K30 playback but the bigger unit, with a faster processor, can handle 4K60 playback. Both units have vents for fans, it must be noted.
We’re awaiting more information about the modem support, pricing and availability. There might also be a chance for some hands-on time with the units, as it will be interesting to see how well that bezel measures up in normal use.
Edit - it seems the Core i5 is a U-series product. That's 15W normal, or 7W/9.5W in cTDP down mode.
Edit 2: The CAT 6 LTE modems are from Intel. Source: Brian Krzanich Twitter
Edit 3: All Books will come with a keyboard and S-Pen as standard.
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Valantar - Monday, February 27, 2017 - link
Margins on Core m chips are not small - they're priced the same as regular mobile chips. The three core m3/"core i5" 7.5W chips in Kaby lake all have $281 tray prices (for trays of 1000 units for OEM customers). For a ~50mm2 die. That's definitely not low margin. Not by a long shot. That's $50 from an 8-core Ryzen chip. I'm willing to bet quite a bit that AMD is willing and able to sell low-power mobile chips for less than this. Atom, on the other hand, is low margin. But this isn't Atom.Lolimaster - Tuesday, February 28, 2017 - link
Bobcat and Jaguar based APU's from AMD cost less than "top of the line" Atom's who were still shi*tty vs the AMD offerings.mkozakewich - Wednesday, March 1, 2017 - link
Not true, Atom has far better thermal and power-consumption properties.Meteor2 - Wednesday, March 1, 2017 - link
The only info on Raven Ridge is that they'll be 35+ W AM4 socket desktop APUs. I see no rumours of low-power BGA AMD parts to compete with Core M. I hope there will be, as Intel's monopoly is killing 2 in 1s, but I think Windows on ARM is going to be our saviour here, not AMD.Diji1 - Monday, February 27, 2017 - link
It isn't even out yet and he's claiming victory.If only he'd been around for all the other times AMD overpromised a whole lot ;)
BigDragon - Monday, February 27, 2017 - link
Ryzen in a tablet like this would be a HUGE deal. We could finally get away from the 2-core stranglehold Intel has had this form factor locked into. I was feeling set on buying the Surface Pro 5 once it came out, but if Ryzen APUs are only 6 months away then perhaps it's best to wait and see.Lolimaster - Tuesday, February 28, 2017 - link
I can see a more efficiency oriented Raven Ridge APU with 4c/4t.Lolimaster - Tuesday, February 28, 2017 - link
Raven Ridge can banish intel from Apple iMac/MacPro/Macbook altogether.Valantar - Monday, February 27, 2017 - link
I'm continually amazed at Samsung's inability to make an actually attractive industrial design. They've been at it for so long, yet they have _never_ made a product where I've actually thought "Oh, that looks nice." This keeps that trend going. The whole thing speaks of bleh and plastic and mediocrity.Specs for the 12" are okay, though. Although I take issue with only providing boost clocks in the specs (quite misleading IMO), they're at least using the 15W i5-7200u (only KBL chip with a 3.1GHz clock speed, whether base or boost, except for the 28W 7267U). EMMC in the 10" though? Bleh.
lilmoe - Monday, February 27, 2017 - link
Why? You want them to change a good design so that fools would claim they're "copying" someone else? What's wrong with the current design? IMO, Apple and Samsung make the least polarizing designs out of all OEMs. No one minds holding a device made by them, and you can tell them apart from a mile away. That's what good design is supposed to be.I've seen LOTS of people who didn't like MS Surface designs, for a reason or another. But never have I encountered anyone who doesn't like something lately designed by Samsung. That being said, no one cares for the _practicality_ of said designs, unfortunately. People paying premium prices want their stuff to just look good and "premium". Others wanting more practical stuff won't consider these price ranges at all. That's what the market has proven over and over.