The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge is a thin and light laptop that claims to offer advances in performance and battery life, but its practical use is hindered by several quality-of-life issues. While it boasts a large 16-inch screen and a vibrant OLED display, its keyboard, touchpad, webcam, and speakers fall short of expectations.
The Galaxy Book4 Edge is part of the Copilot+ PC lineup, which utilizes Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chips for improved performance and battery life. The 16-inch model reviewed here features the Snapdragon X1E-84-100 chip, the fastest in the lineup, and delivers impressive performance across various benchmarks. It surpasses the Surface Laptop 15-inch and Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x in both single-core and multi-core CPU tests, even reaching a new high for single-core performance in Cinebench R24.
However, despite its performance advantages, the Galaxy Book4 Edge suffers from a number of design flaws. The keyboard feels shallow and almost wooden, lacking a comfortable typing experience. The touchpad, while large, suffers from poor palm rejection and a stiff, loud click mechanism. The webcam, while 1080p, produces grainy and overly dark images, even in well-lit conditions. The speakers, although quad-speaker setup, are underwhelming and lack clarity.
Battery life is another area where the Galaxy Book4 Edge falls short of expectations. While still solid, it falls behind other Copilot+ PCs like the Surface Laptop 7, failing to reach the claimed 22 hours of battery life. The OLED screen and powerful chip may contribute to the reduced battery life, but this needs further investigation with other laptops using the same chip.
The Galaxy Book4 Edge is a mixed bag. It offers a vibrant OLED display, impressive performance, and a thin design, but its clunky usability due to its keyboard, touchpad, webcam, and speakers makes it a less-than-ideal choice for most users. While it may appeal to those deeply invested in the Samsung ecosystem, there are better options available for those seeking a well-rounded and user-friendly laptop experience.
The 14-inch version of the Galaxy Book4 Edge may offer a slightly better experience, but the issues mentioned remain a concern. If you’re looking for a Copilot+ PC with impressive performance and battery life, consider other options like the Surface Laptop 7, which offers a more balanced experience overall.
