Samsung Galaxy Pro 360 5G review: Solid Windows 11 laptop, but not without its faults

After months of endless lockdowns, millions of us are finally getting back out on the road and that means it could be time to invest in a new portable PC. And, right on cue, Samsung has released a laptop that could be exactly what some Windows fans have been waiting for. The South Korean firm’s new Galaxy Book Pro 360 5G not only features a pin-sharp display and lightweight design but, as the name clearly reveals, also arrives with access to the latest 5G data speeds. On paper, that makes this a very tempting proposition but what is really like to use? Express.co.uk has been putting the Pro 360 5G through its paces and here’s what we think of it.

Galaxy Book Pro 360 5G review

The new 5G-ready Galaxy Book Pro 360 looks almost identical to the standard model, which launched earlier this year. But that’s no bad thing. Pull it out of the box and you’re instantly struck by just how thin and light this laptop is. Weighing in at just 1.1 kg, it is ideal for those who want to work away from the home office as you’ll hardly notice this laptop when it’s stuffed inside your backpack.

Samsung is launching its new 5G-powered model in one colour, Mystic Silver, which looks really nice and is far more futuristic than the boring black that many Windows laptop users seem to be stuck with.

Of course, just like its sibling, the Pro 360 5G can be flipped open and transformed into a tablet, making this device perfect for some work and then a quick boxset binge when all the emails have been sent to the boss. It’s a really nice feature of these laptops and the hinge that allows this all to happen feels solid and sturdy enough to last years of usage.

As well as the design looking great, you’ll also be thrilled by the 13.3-inch Super AMOLED touch display. Samsung is still one of the best when it comes to screens and the Pro 360 5G offers an eye-pleasing experience with rich colours and deep blacks bringing plenty of punch.

It’s also nice and bright, which makes it just as easy to use outside as when sat at your desk. If you spend all day bashing out word documents and replying to endless emails then you’ll find a very nice backlit keyboard that is pleasant to use.

There’s also an embedded fingerprint scanner at the top left of the keyboard, which is useful …or it would be if it worked reliably. Although pressing the button sometimes has the desired effect, most of the time, tapping it simply turns off the screen, which is pretty infuriating.

Another thing that doesn’t exactly excel on this laptop is the trackpad, which feels pretty cheap and nasty. When clicking around the screen, it makes a really unpleasant hollow sound and we’ve definitely used better – especially at this high £1,300 price point.

Luckily things do improve when it comes to connectivity with this new laptop featuring 5G data technology. That means you can pop a SIM card and unlock access to some incredibly fast internet speeds when away from fixed-line broadband.

If you can find a 5G signal it’s easily possible to get 300Mbps downloads, which is faster than most fixed-line broadband.

It’s a really nice addition and ends the need to tether your laptop to a phone when trying to catch up with emails on the train. The only thing to note is the SIM isn’t included and will cost you extra. For example, a 120GB deal from EE will set you back around £20 per month.

Other features worth a mention include three USB-C ports which are placed on both sides of the case, loud AKG speakers and there’s a microSD card slot should you need it.

Samsung also ships its laptop with an S Pen stylus to help you scribble on the screen. It’s another nice touch although, rather annoyingly, there’s nowhere to store it inside the laptop and we have a feeling this digital pen is going to get lost pretty quickly.

With Samsung launching this laptop in October, you’ll find it runs the latest version of Windows 11 which mean you get new features such as new Start Menu, better compatibility with Teams plus info-packed and fully interactive widgets. The Microsoft Store – which offers access to games, applications and more – has also been completely redesigned from the ground up making it easier to find the things you want and something called Snap Layouts provide an even more powerful way to multitask and optimise your screen real estate.

If you want a laptop that’s supremely powerful, this might not be the device for you. Our model shipped with an Intel i5 processor which is fine for a bit of work and photo retouching but it does start to stutter once you begin pushing it with 4K video editing and top-end gaming.

Although that processor lacks some punch there is some solid battery life with it lasting a full day and once it does run low it can be charged from flat to full in around an hour.

Finally, if you make endless video calls on Zoom Samsung only includes a 720p webcam which is OK but isn’t going to make you look like a Hollywood superstar when chatting to the office.

Galaxy Book Pro 360 5G review: Final Verdict

There’s plenty to like about the Pro 360 5G including its sleek design, stunning screen, nice keyboard and that instant access to 5G data speeds. There’s also plenty of USB-C ports and the fact the display flips into a tablet will be a big bonus for those who want a laptop for both work and play.

It’s a solid machine, but it’s not without its faults.

The fingerprint scanner is a bit of a disaster, the trackpad could be better, there’s only a very average webcam, and the processor certainly isn’t going to win any races when it comes to speed.

At over £1,300, it’s also very expensive, especially for a machine with such a lengthy list of faults.

If you want a 5G-ready laptop that is ultra-portable then the Galaxy Book Pro 360 5G is worth considering. But be aware of its pitfalls before you buy.