At Computex 2017 today, Samsung announced its new Notebook 9 Pro convertibles, which will be offered in 13.3- and 15-inch variants. The new devices aren't quite as powerful as the Notebook 9 pro that's currently on sale - which includes a 4K display and quad-core processor - and instead seem to be more optimized for a convertible form factor.
Both of these devices will ship with a seventh-generation Intel Core i7-7500U chip (dual-core), a 1080p display, and a 256GB SSD. Graphics will be Intel HD Graphics 620 on the 13-inch model, and an AMD Radeon 540 with 2GB GDDR5 memory on the larger variant.
But one of the key features is the built-in S Pen. Samsung says that it has a 0.7mm tip and "can detect more than 4,000 levels of pressure" (presumably 4,096). It also comes with Air Command, which "lets you take notes, edit documents, and draw."
The company also points out that the S Pen "always stays on" and doesn't require charging. This is because Samsung uses Wacom technology in its pens, so it doesn't need a battery.
Also, you'll notice from the image above that the S Pen is actually stored inside of the device, rather than the magnetic solution that Microsoft uses, or the solution that many other companies use, which is that it's up to you to figure out how to carry the pen around. This is great news for many, but the downside is that it results in a narrower pen, which might not be comfortable to hold (we'll reserve judgment for when we get our hands on one).
There are a couple of other minor details. Despite being branded as a 'Pro' device, they do ship with Windows 10 Home. Also, the 13.3-inch model comes with 8GB RAM, while the 15-inch device has 16GB.
Samsung didn't formally announce pricing or availability of its new convertibles, but we should learn more soon.
5 Comments - Add comment