Samsung announces its answer to the MacBook Pro
Newly announced Notebooks deliver next-generation graphics.
Today Samsung has announced the launch of two devices that aim to bring the performance of a PC to the laptop. With the Notebook 7 and Notebook 7 Force, Samsung promises that users will be able to run demanding graphic apps, view their work on a HD display, and enjoy a smoother content creation experience.
The sleek Notebook 7 laptops come in both 13-inch and 15-inch sizes, while the Notebook 7 Force measures in at 17 inches. Both devices run Windows 10, and thanks to a high screen-to-body ratio, users are also able to view their work as clearly as possible. But does this mean they're good enough to rank alongside our best laptops for graphic design?
Taking a look under the hood we can see that the smaller Notebook 7s both run 8th Gen Intel Core processors as standard. However the larger size has the capability to be customised to support NVIDIA's GeForce MX250 graphics card. Each laptop comes with 8GB RAM, 1080p screens, a pair of USB 3.0 ports, a USB-C port, HDMI, plus a microSD slot. Pricing for the Notebook 7 starts at $999.99.
Meanwhile, the beefed up Notebook 7 Force packs NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card, and boasts 16GB of RAM. An Ethernet port completes the upgrade from the regular Notebook 7 models, along with an additional two slots for storage expansion. For these extra features, shoppers can expect to pay $1,499.
"The new Notebook 7 and Notebook 7 Force blend elegant design with impressive power and top-notch speed to give consumers an unparalleled experience," said YoungGyoo Choi, Senior Vice President of the PC Business Team, Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics over on the Samsung news page.
"These devices expand our portfolio in new directions, giving consumers the opportunity to pick the device that perfectly suits their lifestyle."
In terms of features and design, the Notebook 7 range pitches itself into the same league as the MacBook Pro. And it's been observed by the Verge that the similarities range from small details such as the keyboard font, right the way through to construction of the display and the bezels that frame the screen.
Get top Black Friday deals sent straight to your inbox: Sign up now!
We curate the best offers on creative kit and give our expert recommendations to save you time this Black Friday. Upgrade your setup for less with Creative Bloq.
Meanwhile the Notebook 7 Force comes with a similar price tag to the MacBook Pro. Describing itself as a video editing and gaming specialist, the Notebook 7 Force finds itself going head to head with the contenders in our list of the best video editing laptops, including, you guessed it, the MacBook Pro 15".
But with a battery life that lasts nearly half the time as the Apple device, the Notebook 7 Force has some way to go to become a serious rival to the MacBook Pro.
The Notebook 7 and Notebook 7 Force are expected to start shipping in the US on 26 July.
Related articles:
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Dom Carter is a freelance writer who specialises in art and design. Formerly a staff writer for Creative Bloq, his work has also appeared on Creative Boom and in the pages of ImagineFX, Computer Arts, 3D World, and .net. He has been a D&AD New Blood judge, and has a particular interest in picture books.
Related articles
- Elon Musk will have been crying during the reveal of Jaguar's bold EV car concept
- 13 Apple Cyber Monday deals you don't want to miss – and stocks are low! Live
- Cyberpunk 2077 dev reveals why it really moved to Unreal Engine 5
- With PS5 deals like this, it's no wonder it's outselling the Switch 3 to 1 this Cyber Monday (apparently)