While it is well-known for its smartphones, Samsung is seldom a huge player in the laptops market but its new Galaxy Book 2-in-1 laptop might change all that. The sleek Flex Alpha convertible laptop is a serious competitor to high-end sleek laptops from top brands.
The Samsung Galaxy Book Flex Alpha 2-in-1 is an ultra-lightweight laptop built with an aluminum chassis and features 10th Generation Intel Core processors. It passes for an affordable version of the standard Flex model and a high-value alternative to sleek laptops on the market.
At only 0.55-inches thick and 2.6 Pounds, the Galaxy Book 2-in-1 laptop comes in similar dimensions with most ultra-portables retailing at a higher price tag.
Surprisingly, the Flex Alpha hasn’t compromised on the QLED display, hardware, and overall build. This means Samsung has conveniently offered a mixed bag of features drawn from platinum models while making minimum tradeoffs. As a new entrant in this market segment and among the great Samsung laptops, it is set to become a competitive hybrid laptop challenging high-tier ultrabooks.
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Balancing Trade Offs with Innovative Technology
When it comes to flagship laptops, certain sacrifices are necessary when implementing the design. Samsung seems to have perfected the art of striking a delicate balance in the features available on the iconic QLED Flex Alpha. The designers were careful not to sacrifice too much thus making it an attractive 2-in-1 laptop featuring market entry display technology.
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Galaxy Book Alpha Trade Offs
The recently-launched 2.6-pound Flex Alpha is clearly not the lightest or slimmest laptop on the market but it’s definitely among the most attractive options in its category thanks to its price. It’s encouraging to see that Samsung made sure there are minimal sacrifices when making the Galaxy Flex Alpha.
Besides the smaller battery, Samsung has made some tradeoff in this laptop like limited storage options and graphics. The Galaxy Book 2-in-1 Flex Alpha only offers Integrated UHD graphics with no option to upgrade to the powerful NVIDIA MX 250 and Iris Pro graphics cards. However, getting the 10th Generation Intel Core processor is quite reasonable considering the price for Flex Alpha.
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Galaxy Book Flex Alpha Display Features
The Alpha features the long-awaited QLED touch display and it’s the first ever to be on a laptop. The tech giant says this display can produce over a billion colors with an outstanding brightness rated at 600 nits. Its 13.3-inch Full HD screen also has a 100% color volume.
In contrast to OLED displays which generated some buff in the laptop market recently, QLED display is based on LED-backlit arrays and LCD panels. The main difference is the Quantum Dots that emit and alter light. This feature makes it possible to produce precise color at a wide range which outperforms the normal LCDs.
While the Galaxy Book Flex Alpha sports a 1920×1080 Full HD resolution, higher resolution 4K displays and UHD are not available. However, you’ll still be getting accurate and vibrant colors on a screen that is bright enough for outdoor use on sunny days.
Galaxy Book 2-in-1 Laptop Performance Features
For the entry-level model, users will get a Core i5 10th Generation processor combined with 8GB of RAM and 256GB SSD of storage. On high-end models, the Flex Alpha will have a Core i7 processor, 12GB of RAM, 512 GB SSD storage, and Intel UHD Graphics under the hood.
As per Samsung’s testing, the 54Wh battery can power this laptop for a whopping 17.5 hours when unplugged from the charger. Samsung included a Fast Charging capability in this laptop but unlike the Flex and Ion, the Galaxy Book 2-in-1 doesn’t have the innovative Touchpad that is also used as a wireless charging spot for mobile devices.
This laptop is equipped with a 720p HD camera, two 1.5W stereo speakers, as well as the dual array digital inbuilt Mic. It features a standard keyboard with full-sized keys and ample spacing making it comfortable to work on. Notably, the keyboard implementation has deeper keystrokes compared to the standard Flex.
Connectivity features include an HDMI port, Wi-Fi 6, one USB Type-C Thunderbolt 3 port, two USB A, a headphone jack, and a Micro SD card port. Compared to other Flex models released previously, the Flex Alpha missed on features like the S-Pen and the wireless charging track pad.
Design Features Of the Galaxy Book Flex Alpha
The Alpha is more of a cross breed between Samsung’s Ion and the standard Galaxy Flex. While its design and build is more similar to the Ion, it has a convertible touchscreen just like the Flex. This blend explains why the laptop is slightly bigger and heavier than the two predecessors.
The obvious trade off here seems to be a smaller battery for the Flex Alpha. While this laptop is still compatible with the Active Pen stylus, you will have to purchase it separately. The slim bezels do a great job at drawing your attention to the colorful display while ensuring a minimal footprint.
This unibody laptop is designed with an aluminum chassis with a 360-degree hinge making it quite flexible to fold into tent or tablet modes as well as lie flat on surfaces. Although the design doesn’t appear extraordinary, Samsung has compensated with diamond cut edges to give the laptop some flair of elegance. The fingerprint sensor is embedded into the keyboard to save time and provide an additional layer of security.
As a cost-cutting measure, Samsung has omitted the inbuilt Qi wireless charging pad thus making it possible to get the laptop for less than $1000. At only 2.6 pounds in weight, the Flex Alpha is easy to carry around or travel with.
In the past, Samsung has introduced revolutionary color options in their gadgets but the Galaxy Book 2-in-1 comes with Royal Silver as the only option.
Conclusion
Based on the specifications, design, and what this laptop can do, it’s a decent device at a lower price tag in the category. The QLED display on the Flex Alpha is a game changer making it a value-packed option that can challenge long sitting competitors in this segment.
