Samsung’s latest addition to their product lineup is the ultra portable, entry-level laptop called the Notebook M. Its white chassis with low contrasting key lettering helps define an updated design language for the Korean electronics giant.
Review
In spite of the beautiful exterior, the Samsung NP110S1K-K01US model is still an entry-level device equipped with modest hardware components all across the board. It’s why I think the asking price for this laptop is a bit high at the moment: around $400 at the time of this review. However, the Notebook M will likely become more attractive when the price tag will have dropped under $350.
Performance
The Samsung Notebook M NP110S1K-K01US boasts a dual core Intel Celeron N3050 processor. It’s frequency range is between 1.60 GHz and 2.16 GHz, it has 2 megabytes of L2 cache, and more importantly has a thermal design power of just 6 Watts, which makes it great for small and inexpensive portable devices, such as this laptop. Of course, benchmark scores are mediocre at best: it managed to score just over 900 points. That means multitasking will be limited and many programs will struggle to operate smoothly. However, anything from document processing, Internet browsing, writing emails, posting on social media and watching videos will pose no threat to your sanity’s integrity while using the Samsung.
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System memory is rated at 4 gigabytes of DDR3L RAM running at 1600 MHz. It is not user extendable, since it’s soldered to the motherboard, but I don’t see the 4 gigs as being troublesome to anyone, since the CPU is the limiting factor here by some margin. So, the amount of memory will likely be sufficient for anything you’ll want to do with the laptop.
Storage space is a bit of an issue which can be overcome easily. Although it comes standard with 128 gigabytes of available space, you can always extend that amount by permanently plugging in a microSD card (64 or 128 gigabyte ones are very affordable and reliable nowadays). It’s worth mentioning that the solid state drive will aid the slow processor in every possible way to make your experience with the Samsung Notebook M smoother.
As you’d probably expect, the graphics card is integrated. The range of games you will be able to play is limited to some low requirements titles and in-browser games. HD content plays flawlessly, but you may experience some mishaps when attempting to view 4K videos.
Display
The Samsung Notebook M NP110S1K-K01US has a 11.6 inch screen with an LED-backlit display and a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. Viewing angles are OK for an entry level laptop and you should expect some washed out colors – but again, this is a ultra portable laptop, so I think the trade off is more than fair.
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Interface
The Samsung has a decent amount of plug-in options, pretty standard for a laptop in this category:
- 1 x USB 3.0 port
- 1 x USB 2.0 port
- 1 x HDMI-out port
- 1 x Audio combo jack
- 1 x MicroSD card reader
Connectivity
I would have wanted to see the newest wireless protocol being used, but the people at Samsung decided that it wasn’t worth it unfortunately. The small white laptop features a 802.11 bgn wireless card and Bluetooth 4.0 attached. It’s not terrible that they haven’t used 802.11ac, but it would have made the device more future proof.
Portability and battery life
The Samsung Notebook M excels when it comes to portability. Carrying it around likely won’t be burdensome no matter the situation you’ll find yourself in. I would travel with it, take it to work or everywhere I go honestly, since it’s small and light enough to fit inside a small bag or a backpack. At 2.65 pounds, this laptop is on the lightweight side and thin also, measuring just 0.7 inches.
Battery life is also a big plus of this new Samsung notebook. The 30 Whr non-removable battery pack will hold a charge for up to 9 and a half hours. Under everyday loads, I expect that value to drop to around 8 hours – still plenty of time to get your work done. Also, the extended battery life will likely aid when transporting it, since you won’t need to carry its charger everywhere you go, especially when considering short trips.
Final words
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As a conclusion, I think the Samsung Notebook M NP110S1K-K01US is a good device that sits on top of some competitors, but fails to differentiate enough to be considered great. The specs are modest, but battery life is great. Thin and lightweight, this notebook is perfect for the travelling writer or the salesman that’s always on the road, since it will do most basic tasks with ease and finesse.
