After the successful Galaxy Book2, Samsung returns in 2023 with a variety of new PCs, from the basic Galaxy Book3 to the Book3 Ultra, a very high-end model equipped with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card.
We’re testing the Book3 360 13 here, a machine with a less muscular configuration than the very good Book3 Pro 360 we just reviewed. It is equipped with an Intel Core i7 processor and, as the name suggests, has a 360° rotating screen that can be used as a tablet.
Its price of €1700 is not among the most attractive and forces it to prove itself. Let’s see this through our full review of the Samsung Galaxy Book3 360. As a side note, a Core i5 version is available for €1500.
construction
The Galaxy Book3 360 is an attractive anodized aluminum PC that is only 13mm thick. The table is clouded by a very thick lower screen edge, which is no longer really up-to-date and brings the load to just 79.5%. In 2023 it’s a bit of a shame, especially as we find this issue across the range. The screen is mounted on hinges, so you can use this PC in tablet mode or as a tent to display content.
The Galaxy Book3 360 in tent mode.
A Samsung S Pen stylus is also included, useful for taking handwritten notes, drawing or working with graphics applications. A good point, because remember that some competitors offer the stylus as an option. The touchpad is fluid, but sags a bit too much under pressure. The keyboard is efficient and its backlight is adjustable in four levels. We notice a fingerprint reader in the upper right corner for quick unlocking of the PC, but this is not possible with the webcam, which is not compatible with Windows Hello.
The stylus is included with the Samsung Galaxy Book3 360.
The quality is good, but the picture is a bit noisy in bright light. And when the lighting conditions are more difficult, the scenery deteriorates greatly. Connections are quite complete for such a thin 13-inch model. On the left we discover an HDMI port, a USB-C port and a Thunderbolt 4 port, on the right there is a USB-A port, a microSD card reader and a mini jack. Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6E are on board for state-of-the-art wireless connectivity.
The connection is quite complete for such a thin PC.
To open the PC, the rubber feet must be removed. A simple operation because no glue is installed. After removing the four Phillips screws, the M.2 SSD and the battery can be replaced, but the rest is soldered and the scalability is limited as a result.
Only the SSD and the battery can be changed.
Despite a very thin chassis and the presence of a single fan, the temperature is managed fairly well by the computer, as we were able to spot a hotspot at 39.1C in the center of the keyboard when running CineBench. The PC remains silent even in this advanced case: We measured 36.9 dB(A) at a distance of 50 cm from the screen. Samsung may have intentionally throttled the processor to prevent overheating, but we’ll judge that now.
Temperatures and ventilation are controlled.
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Performance
For this Galaxy Book3 360, the manufacturer has opted for an Intel Core i7-1360P processor with four high-performance cores and eight efficient cores clocked at a maximum of 5 GHz. It is supported by 16GB of DDR5 RAM and a 512GB SSD.
Unfortunately, with a CPU index of 100, this processor only has a Core i7 in its name. It’s about 20% slower than the same i7-1360P in the 15-inch Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 we reviewed, no doubt due to the even more limited chassis of our 13-inch model. It is obviously a long way from the Core i7-12700H built into thicker PCs. In the end, it turns out to be barely more powerful than the small Core i5-1230U in the current Dell XPS 13, which we also tested.
Samsung has therefore clamped the thermal shell of the processor to prevent overheating. This is an advantage for working quietly in the office, but it shows in terms of performance…
While the result is disappointing, keep in mind that the Galaxy Book3 360 is actually intended for office automation and the processor will be more than sufficient for that. On the downside, you won’t really be able to complete very resource-intensive tasks if you’re not patient.
Finally, a quick word about the SSD, which was quite efficient especially when reading with an average of 4.9 GB/s and a little less when writing with 3.7 GB/s.
Screen
The 13.3-inch Amoled Full HD panel (1920 x 1080 pixels) in the Galaxy Book3 360 is very well calibrated ex works. Its Delta E of 1.6 is minimal, although the average color temperature is a bit cold at 7100K. AMOLED technology – identical to Oled, let’s remember – enables excellent contrasts with very deep blacks and zero persistence.
On the other hand, the maximum brightness is a bit disappointing, which only climbs to 371 cd/m², while the panel’s reflectivity is very high (54.5%). The user therefore runs the risk of being disturbed by reflections when using the PC outdoors or with unfavorably placed light points.
Audio
In small computers with thin cases, the quality of the speakers is often limited. The Galaxy Book3 360 13 is no exception. Its sound reproduction is very average, lacking bass and the stereophonic scene is narrow.
The headphone output cuts a good figure with low distortion (0.02%), a dynamic range of 95 dB on average and a non-existent crosstalk raised to -90 dB. On the other hand, the output power of 105 mVRMS is a bit weak, which prohibits the use of headphones or monitoring.
| Samsung Galaxy Book3 360 | Average tested PCs | |
|---|---|---|
| output volume | 105 mVRMS | 160mVRMS |
| distortion + noise | 0.02% | 0.015% |
| dynamic range | 95dB | 100dB |
| crosstalk | -90dB | -64dB |
Mobility / Autonomy
In this 13-inch format and with dimensions of 30.4 x 20.2 cm, the Galaxy Book3 360 13 is easy to transport. With a weight of 1.1 kg, it finally feels small in the backpack. In addition, its loading block is extremely compact and weighs only 160 g. In short, it’s perfect for nomads.
The charger is ultra compact.
In terms of autonomy, the PC performs quite well, as it lasted 8 hours and 34 minutes playing videos on Netflix using the Chrome browser, screen set to 200 cd/m², Bluetooth disabled and headphones connected. That’s better than many recently released PCs that have been affected by the increased power consumption of 12th and 13th Gen Intel processors, but still a far cry from Apple MacBooks and their M1 and M2 chips.
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strong points
Neat finishes.
Versatile 2-in-1 format.
Compact and light.
pen provided.
Well-calibrated Oled panel.
weak points
Disappointing performance from the Core i7.
Screen prone to glare.
Edges too thick.
Diploma
Global brand
How does the classification work?
The Galaxy Book3 360 will be a good PC for users who travel a lot. It benefits from a neat, compact and lightweight design as well as an AMOLED screen that swivels to be used as a tablet. On the other hand, its performances are a bit disappointing and it won’t be suitable for the most demanding. A disadvantage also on the thick edges, which are a stain in 2023.