Samsung’s Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 delivers more power and a better webcam for WFH

Samsung’s Galaxy Book Pro and Galaxy Book Pro 360 are some of the more impressive laptops we’ve tested, and they’re about to get even better. The new Galaxy Book 2 series looks to improve on Samsung’s convertible and traditional laptops with better webcams, faster processors and a variety of new software features to keep you extra-productive. They also come in some especially eye-catching colors.

Will the Galaxy Book 2 360, Galaxy Book 2 Pro and Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 (yes, that’s a whole mouthful) be worth a spot in your home office? I got to go hands-on with Samsung’s entire line of new Windows 11 laptops ahead of their spring launch, so here are some early impressions.

Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 release date, price and preorders

Preorders for the Galaxy Book 2 Pro and Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 start on March 18, with retail availability kicking off on April 1. That’s also the same day Samsung is launching the Galaxy Book 2 360, which is a more affordable version of the Pro that ships without an S Pen and has slightly less-high-end configuration options.

Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360?
Colors: Burgundy, graphite and silver
Sizing options: 13.3-inch, 15.6-inch
Pricing: From $1,249 at Samsung

Galaxy Book 2 Pro
Colors: Graphite, silver
Sizing options: 13.3-inch, 15.6-inch
Pricing: From $1,049 at Samsung

Galaxy Book 2 360
Colors: Graphite, silver
Sizing options: 13.3-inch
Pricing: From $899 at Samsung

Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360

I got to see Samsung’s latest laptops in a ton of different flavors, but none caught our eye quite like the burgundy 13-inch Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360. This convertible was a joy to look at and play with, with slim edges and an airy 2.3-pound frame that made it easy to pick up and fold in and out of tablet mode. The new Pro 360 is even lighter than some of our favorite slim laptops, including the 2.8-pound Dell XPS 13. Samsung’s new notebook doesn’t look vastly different from the previous model, but that deep red option really adds some nice extra pop. More laptops in actual colors, please.

Both versions of the Book 2 Pro 360 had snappy keyboards that were comfortable to mash away on, and sloppily sketching away on the S Pen felt just as responsive as it did on the new Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra. I was especially impressed by the Super AMOLED displays on these laptops — the lush greens and oranges of an 8K nature video looked especially gorgeous on the larger 15-inch model.

It’s worth noting that the cheaper Galaxy Book 2 360 is largely identical to the Pro, sporting the same rich Super AMOLED display and core specs. You’re mostly missing out on an included S Pen and will be limited to up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. That sweet burgundy color is also exclusive to the Pro model.

One of the more notable changes on the Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 — and across the lineup — is a bump in webcam resolution from 720p to 1080p. While I didn’t try the new cameras out yet, I’m eager to see the difference, especially since the webcam in last year’s model was pretty average compared to the competition. Samsung says this upgrade is a direct response to feedback from the previous-gen PCs, and due to the fact that just about everyone is taking video calls from home these days.

Galaxy Book 2 Pro

If you’d rather have a traditional clamshell laptop than something that can fold into a tablet, the new Galaxy Book 2 Pro is worth a look. It’s shaping up to be a largely iterative update from last year’s model with a better camera and strong processor joining an already-great keyboard and overall design. I was especially drawn to how lightweight the 15-inch model felt at about 2.5 pounds (by comparison, a close rival in the Dell XPS 15 is a heavier 2.9 pounds). I also appreciate the fact that Samsung was able to cram in a fair amount of ports that you don’t always see on a slim mainstream notebook, including USB-A and HDMI ports.

Design changes aside, the Galaxy Books’ new software features could be the biggest upgrade. Improved phone compatibility will let you check on your Galaxy phone’s most recently used apps right from the Windows taskbar, while Samsung Multi Control will let you control a Galaxy Tab S8 tablet using your Galaxy Book’s keyboard and trackpad. The latter feature sounds a lot like Apple’s Universal Control with iPads and Macs, and I’m eager to see how the two compare.

Samsung is promising up to 21 hours of battery life on the new Pro models. Last year’s Pro 360 scored an impressive 11 hours and 20 minutes on our 4K playback test, so we’re looking forward to seeing how things have improved for real-world use. You’ll also get the latest 12th Gen Intel Core processors (which promise up to a 44% improvement on tasks such as photo editing), so we expect a boost to the already-strong performance we saw on last year’s model.

The takeaway

The Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360 is looking like a great fit for folks seeking an attractive and compact two-in-one that can double as a tablet for note-taking and sketching, while the Book 2 Pro is shaping up to be one of the sleekest traditional notebooks out there. And every Galaxy Book 2 model has improved 1080p webcams and the latest 12th Gen processors, which should make them well-equipped for long days of multitasking between apps and taking video calls from home.

The new Galaxy Books also once again seem best suited for those already in the Samsung world, with lots of preloaded Samsung apps and features that allow these laptops to work well with your Galaxy phone or tablet. I found the sheer amount of Samsung software on last year’s models to be a bit much (but not a complete dealbreaker), so I’ll have to see if the company has managed to reduce the bloat a bit for the Book 2.

Either way, I’m looking forward to spending more time with the Galaxy Book 2 series — and seeing how it stacks up to our best laptop picks — when it arrives on April 1. Preorders will open on March 18 for the Galaxy Book 2 Pro and Book 2 Pro 360, while the Book 2 will be shipping at the start of April.

Galaxy Book 2 Pro 360, Book 2 Pro and Book 360 specs