Rating: 8.5/10
The Galaxy Book5 Pro positions itself as Samsung’s latest offering in the ultraportable productivity space, aimed at professionals who want a balance between performance, portability, and modern connectivity, with a dose of on-device AI features. It’s the successor to the Galaxy Book4 Pro, and while the design language remains familiar, Samsung is betting on Intel’s latest Core Ultra processors, advanced on-device AI features and Galaxy Ecosystem to set it apart from the competition.
Galaxy Book5 Pro comes in multiple variants, our variant has an Intel Core Ultra 5 processor and 16GB RAM, and all of this costs Rs 1,31,990. I used the Galaxy Book5 Pro for several weeks, and here are my final thoughts.
Design and display
Samsung hasn’t strayed far from its well-established design aesthetic. The Galaxy Book5 Pro continues with a slim aluminium chassis that weighs just 1.23kg and measures only 11.6mm thick. It’s built for those who are always on the move — light enough to slip into a backpack and compact enough to handle in cramped workspaces like flights or cafés.
For a slim laptop, the Galaxy Book5 Pro offers a generous range of I/O. You get 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports, a USB 3.2 Type-A, HDMI 2.1 (supporting up to 8K@60Hz), a microSD card reader, and a 3.5mm combo jack. It’s a welcome change from the dongle-heavy experience most ultraportables demand.
Wireless connectivity is future-ready, too — Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 are both onboard. While widespread Wi-Fi 7 infrastructure is still evolving, the laptop is future-proofed for faster local transfers and lower latency when networks catch up.
The 14-inch WQXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel is the star of the show. With a resolution of 2880x1800, it delivers crisp text and vibrant visuals with deep blacks. The anti-reflective coating does a good job of reducing glare, even under direct lighting. It also supports HDR content well and makes everyday media consumption — whether you’re working in spreadsheets or watching Netflix — feel immersive. However, the lack of higher refresh rate support may be a consideration for users who expect a smoother UI experience.
Samsung has also integrated the Vision Booster into the display, which enhances the overall viewing experience of the display. Not only that, the display automatically optimises the display quality like brightness for video calls which is another big and practical feature for most people.
The display’s colour calibration is good out-of-the-box, and it suits content creators who need accuracy, even if it’s not a full-on workstation-grade panel. Samsung also includes adaptive brightness via the ambient light sensor, which helps extend battery life without user intervention. The display quality and viewing experience is unmatched in this price segment or even a segment above.
Performance and battery life
The Galaxy Book5 Pro is powered by Intel’s Core Ultra 7 256V processor, a part of the new Meteor Lake generation. This chip brings a hybrid architecture, combining performance and efficiency cores with a dedicated NPU for AI workloads.
For most day-to-day tasks — web browsing, document editing, light photo editing, and even 4K video playback — the machine performs reliably. The 16GB LPDDR5X memory ensures smooth multitasking, while the 512GB NVMe SSD provides fast boot times and app launches. Samsung offers an extra SSD slot, which is useful if you plan to expand storage later.
Graphics needs are handled by Intel Arc 140v, which is a decent integrated GPU for light gaming or creative work. It handles 1080p video editing and some casual titles well, but it’s not meant for demanding 3D work or AAA games.
Considering Samsung is pitching this laptop more towards productivity needs, the need for a more powerful GPU is quite irrelevant here. However, the Arc GPU is powerful enough to handle basic video editing needs, edit photos, etc. I installed Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Pro on the laptop and both the applications worked without any issues. Despite multiple layers and effects in Photoshop, the laptop kept running without any issues or slowdown. The 4K video footage is also rendered well, unless you push it a little too hard with multiple layers, effects and VFX elements.
The gaming performance depicts a similar story here. Lightweight games worked fine, even games that require less demanding resources run well here. However, to be able to play triple-A titles, you’ll need to tone down the graphic settings to a minimum.
Samsung has paid attention to multimedia. The quad-speaker setup includes two 5W woofers and two 2W tweeters tuned with Dolby Atmos. The result is better-than-average sound for a laptop this size — loud, relatively rich, and well separated. The 2MP webcam and dual mics work well for video calls, with clear voice capture.
The backlit Pro keyboard offers a comfortable typing experience with decent travel. The touchpad is generously sized and responsive.
Battery life is another strong suit. The 63.1Wh battery consistently delivers a full day of moderate use — around 8 to 10 hours — and the 65W USB-C fast charger is compact enough for travel. Samsung’s battery-optimised modes, available via the Galaxy Book Experience suite, help squeeze out additional runtime depending on your workload.
AI and software
A key highlight of the Galaxy Book5 Pro this year is its enhanced AI capability, made possible by Intel’s dedicated NPU (AI Boost) and Samsung’s own software layer. The experience centres around tools that aim to reduce friction in everyday tasks.
AI Select is one such feature. Instead of typing, users can simply draw a selection around text, images, or even QR codes on screen — using either the touch display or the mouse — and trigger a visual search instantly. It’s designed to work across apps and browser windows, making it useful for quick lookups without breaking workflow. The feature does require internet access and a Samsung account, and accuracy can vary based on what’s selected, but it’s a handy addition once you get used to it.
The Photo Remaster tool taps into the NPU to enhance blurry or low-resolution images. Integrated into the Samsung Gallery app, it uses AI to sharpen details, adjust lighting, and improve overall clarity with a single click. It’s especially useful for users working with old photos or quickly editing visuals for reports and presentations.
Samsung also leans on Cocreator in Paint, allowing users to sketch rough concepts, like a room layout or visual draft, and let AI transform them into detailed illustrations or 3D-like renders. The process is interactive, with prompts enabling users to tweak or regenerate results, adding creative flexibility without needing third-party design software.
Beyond these, Samsung includes its ecosystem-focused suite — Second Screen, Multi Control, Flow, Notes, SmartThings, and more — all designed to deepen integration with Galaxy smartphones and tablets. Some might see these preloaded apps as excess, but for those invested in the Galaxy ecosystem, they enhance cross-device continuity and convenience.
Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro is a solid refresh that focuses on subtle improvements over its predecessor. It doesn’t overhaul the formula but adds value in the form of better AI integration, an updated processor with a dedicated NPU, and stronger connectivity options like Wi-Fi 7 and Thunderbolt 4.
If you’re looking for a thin and light Windows machine with a great display, competent performance, and cross-device perks — especially if you already use a Galaxy phone — this is one of Samsung’s most refined offerings yet. The only caveats are its premium pricing and limited upgrade options, but for most professionals and hybrid workers, it hits the right notes.
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