For years, Apple’s MacBook Pro has set the gold standard for ultrabooks — a seamless blend of performance, premium design, and long-lasting battery life. But with the introduction of the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro, that dominance faces serious competition. Samsung’s latest flagship laptop aims to deliver a truly high-end Windows experience, complete with a stunning AMOLED display, excellent battery efficiency, and productivity-focused features — all at a price point that undercuts its Apple rival.
Having spent close to a month using the Galaxy Book5 Pro (16GB RAM / 512GB SSD / Intel Core Ultra 5) as my primary machine for work and play, this review will break down everything you need to know before deciding if it’s the MacBook killer Windows users have been waiting for.
Design and Build Quality: Lightweight Yet Professional
Aesthetically Premium, Functionally Practical
Weighing just 1.2kg, the Galaxy Book5 Pro is incredibly portable for a 16-inch laptop. The all-metal chassis feels durable and exudes premium quality without overdoing the aesthetics. The Graphite Gray finish gives it a modern, minimalist look that’s just as appropriate in a boardroom as it is in a coffee shop.
Where Samsung truly scores is in functionality. Unlike the port-starved MacBooks and even some premium Windows ultrabooks like the Dell XPS series, the Galaxy Book5 Pro comes equipped with:
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HDMI
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USB-A
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Thunderbolt 4
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USB-C
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MicroSD card reader
Keyboard and Trackpad Experience
Typing on the Galaxy Book5 Pro is a pleasure. The keyboard offers low but responsive key travel, making it ideal for long typing sessions. It’s also whisper-quiet — perfect for meetings or libraries. The trackpad is large, smooth, and highly responsive, although it lacks the haptic feedback of Apple’s trackpads.
Display: AMOLED Brilliance That Stuns
3K AMOLED That Outshines the Competition
The 16-inch 3K AMOLED touchscreen (2880×1800 resolution) is the star of the show. With 120Hz refresh rate, scrolling through documents or web pages feels incredibly fluid. Compared to Apple’s Liquid Retina, Samsung’s AMOLED panel produces:
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Deeper blacks
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Vivid, punchy colors
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Better contrast ratios
Thanks to the anti-reflection coating and adaptive color temperature, screen fatigue is significantly reduced — even after extended use.
Touchscreen Functionality
Initially considered a bonus, the touchscreen turned out to be surprisingly useful. Tasks like photo browsing, document zooming, and even casual web browsing become more intuitive with touch support.
Performance: Everyday Power, Seamlessly Delivered
Intel Core Ultra 5 with 16GB RAM – Real-World Efficiency
Under the hood, the Galaxy Book5 Pro features Intel’s Core Ultra 5 processor and 16GB LPDDR5X RAM. While not a top-tier chipset for gaming or heavy 3D rendering, it delivers blazing performance for typical professional workloads:
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Running 20+ browser tabs
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MS Office suite multitasking
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Zoom and Google Meet sessions
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Light photo editing via Canva
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1080p video editing using Adobe Premiere
For content creators dealing with Full HD media, the performance is more than satisfactory. Even basic 4K editing is doable, albeit with longer rendering times.
Battery Life: Surprisingly MacBook-Like
One of the most pleasant surprises was the battery life. On a standard workday involving multitasking, streaming, and Zoom calls, the Galaxy Book5 Pro lasted 10 to 11 hours without a charge.
In continuous video playback (Netflix binge test), the laptop managed over 17 hours. With 65W fast charging, a 35-minute charge replenishes about 50% battery — perfect for on-the-go professionals.
Software & Ecosystem Integration
Samsung Ecosystem Features Getting Closer to Apple
As an iPhone user, I’ve often felt locked into the Apple ecosystem. However, Samsung’s growing cross-device synergy is impressive:
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Link to Windows: View texts and notifications, transfer files seamlessly
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Samsung Notes & Gallery: Syncs well across Galaxy smartphones and tablets
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Quick Share: Functions similarly to Apple AirDrop
Though not quite as fluid as Apple’s ecosystem, Samsung is catching up fast — especially for users with other Galaxy devices.
Drawbacks and Minor Grievances
Room for Improvement
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Webcam Quality: 1080p resolution, but average in low light
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Speakers: Adequate but lack depth and bass
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Fingerprint Sensor: Not always consistent
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No S Pen Support: Some might miss this for a touchscreen laptop
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No Physical Webcam Shutter: A small but notable omission
Samsung’s AI Features: Hype or Help?
Samsung’s AI tools like photo editing assistance and Copilot integration are onboard. While useful, most features feel more like Windows-native capabilities rather than true Samsung innovations. That said, the laptop doesn’t suffer from bloatware and remains smooth and clean in operation.
Value for Money: Premium Performance at a Sensible Price
At around ₹1.4 lakh (often available for ₹1.3 lakh on sale), the Galaxy Book5 Pro is certainly a premium Windows ultrabook, but not overpriced. A similarly specced MacBook Pro with a 16-inch display and 512GB SSD would cost upwards of ₹1.8 lakh.
For what you get — AMOLED display, long battery life, solid build, versatile ports, and seamless performance — it’s a worthwhile investment for professionals and light creators.
Verdict: A Near-Perfect Windows Ultrabook
The Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro is the most well-rounded ultrabook Samsung has ever released. It checks nearly every box for professionals seeking MacBook-quality hardware with the flexibility of Windows. While not built for gaming or hardcore video editing, it shines in everyday productivity, content consumption, and mobile work environments.
Who Should Buy the Galaxy Book5 Pro?
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Professionals needing a powerful and portable Windows machine
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Content creators doing light-to-moderate editing
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Users who want MacBook-tier build and display on a Windows system
Who Should Skip It?
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Gamers or power users needing high-end GPUs
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Heavy-duty video editors or 3D designers
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Budget shoppers — plenty of solid options under ₹90,000
FAQs:
Q1: Is the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro good for students or professionals?
Yes. With a lightweight build, long battery life, and fast performance, it’s ideal for both professionals and college students.
Q2: Can the Galaxy Book5 Pro handle video editing?
It handles 1080p editing smoothly and light 4K edits, making it suitable for casual or social media content creators.
Q3: Does it come with an S Pen?
No, the Galaxy Book5 Pro does not support S Pen input, which may disappoint some touchscreen users.
Q4: How long does the battery last?
On mixed usage, the laptop lasts around 10–11 hours, and on video playback, up to 17 hours.
Q5: Is the display better than a MacBook?
The 3K AMOLED panel offers deeper blacks and more vibrant colors compared to Apple’s Liquid Retina. It’s subjective, but many will prefer Samsung’s display.
