The Samsung Galaxy Book S – the Galaxy label’s “first mobile PC” – was released back in February 2020 (ah, remember those pre-lockdown halcyon days?) to solid reviews, praising its ultra-light design and ultra-long battery life, which promised up to 25 hours of video playback.
Caveats came in terms of performance and compatibility limitations, though. The Galaxy S featured an ARM-based processor similar to those found in many smartphones – the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx. But rumours swirled about an x86-based variant that would feature a more laptop-standard Intel processor.
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Well, it seems that the rumours were true. Tech website Notebook Check reported that the x86-based version of the Galaxy Book S is now listed on the Samsung Canada website, complete with a rundown of its features and specs.
Here’s everything you need to know about the x86-powered Samsung Galaxy Book S 2020.
Samsung Galaxy Book S i5 specs
The x86-based variant of the Samsung Galaxy Book S 2020 features an Intel Core i5-L16G7 processor, bringing it more in line with standard laptop processing power. That seems to be the only main deviation from the version that hit shelves in February 2020.
Elsewhere under the hood is an Intel UHD graphics card, as well as a standard 256GB of storage and 8GB of storage. Sound and vision-wise, the Galaxy Book S comes with AKG stereo speakers (complete with Dolby Atmos) and a 13.3-inch Full HD touchscreen, along with a 1MP camera for those all-important video catch-ups.
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Samsung Galaxy Book S i5 features
The Samsung Galaxy Book S is all about portability – as the manufacturer puts it, “bringing the advantages of a smartphone to a new computing device”. So while it might not be the most powerful laptop out there, it’s designed for working on the go and looking good while you’re doing it.
The super-sleek aluminium chassis (available in ‘Mercury grey’ or ‘Earthy gold’) weighs just under 1kg, and the battery provides up to 17 hours of video playback from a single charge – not quite as much as its ARM-based sibling, but still pretty impressive.
The device is handily powered via a USB-C charger and, like many modern mobile computers, features a merged power button and fingerprint sensor for a fast start-up and login with one press. And if you own a Galaxy smartphone, it opens up a load of compatibility options thanks to a shared ecosystem.
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Samsung Galaxy Book S i5 price
There’s no word yet on how much the i5 version of the Samsung Galaxy Book S will set you back. For reference, the already available ARM-based version has an RRP of £999.99 but is currently selling for £799.99 on the official Samsung UK site.
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Samsung Galaxy Book S i5 release date
Again, there’s no word yet on a release date for the i5-powered Galaxy Book S, but judging by the Samsung Canada listing, you shouldn’t have too long to wait – expect it later this year.
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