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| Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra |
In the world of premium multimedia laptops, there has long been a distinct divide between the Windows ecosystem and Apple’s walled garden. However, with the release of the new Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra, that line has become incredibly blurred. Samsung’s latest flagship doesn’t just compete with the MacBook Pro 16; aesthetically, it has almost become it.
Gone is the old wedge-shaped design language that Samsung has utilized for years. In its place is a precision-milled aluminum chassis with larger corner curves, a flat lid, and side-mounted speaker grilles that are undeniably reminiscent of the latest Apple MacBook Pro 16.
If you were to remove the Samsung logos from the lid, there is a genuine chance you would do a double-take. But does this shift in design philosophy result in the best Windows 11 multimedia laptop on the market? We got our hands on the unit to find out, and you can check out our in-depth review of the Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra here for the full benchmarks.
Design and Build: A Familiar, Premium Feel
The moment you lift the Galaxy Book6 Ultra, the quality of the aluminum chassis is undeniable. It exudes the same rigid, premium feel that users have loved in high-end ultrabooks for years. The fit and finish are excellent, with no sharp edges and a uniform anodized color that resists fingerprints reasonably well.
However, our time with the device revealed a slight ergonomic hiccup: the hinges. While they hold the screen in place during use, they could be a tad firmer. Users typing aggressively on their lap might notice a slight wobble on the display, which is surprising for a device in this price bracket.
Keyboard and Trackpad: A Tale of Two Inputs
This is where Samsung’s decision to ape the MacBook design has its pros and cons. The large haptic trackpad is fantastic. It offers a smooth, clickable surface with accurate palm rejection, rivaling the responsiveness of Apple’s Force Touch trackpad.
The keyboard, however, tells a different story. To achieve the thin chassis, Samsung has opted for very shallow key travel. While this makes for a sleek profile, typing feels a bit flat. For a device marketed as a "multimedia laptop" aimed at creators, the typing experience is serviceable but not class-leading.
If you are a writer or someone who types thousands of words a day, you might want to look at the competition. The Asus ProArt P16 and the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i 16 offer superior tactile feedback and a more cushioned typing experience.
Ports and Internals: The Upgrade Trade-Off
In a move that will please upgraders but frustrate future-proofers, Samsung has soldered the RAM to the motherboard. Depending on your region, you may be capped at 32GB configurations, though some markets will receive a 64GB SKU. We recommend checking local availability closely.
On the bright side, storage is highly versatile. The laptop features two M.2-2280 slots for SSDs. While they are still running on PCIe 4.0 rather than the newer 5.0, having dual slots allows for massive storage expansions or a redundant setup for video editors.
Display and Performance: OLED Brilliance Meets Next-Gen Power
Powering this machine is the new Intel Panther Lake processor combined with the GeForce RTX 5070 graphics card. This combination makes the Galaxy Book6 Ultra a powerhouse for video editing, 3D rendering, and high-end photo manipulation. The fan noise remains bearable even under load, which is a testament to the thermal management inside that slim chassis.
The display is, as expected from Samsung, stunning. The OLED panel delivers infinite contrast and deep blacks that make multimedia consumption a joy. However, there is one area where Apple still holds the crown: brightness. The MacBook Pro's Mini-LED panel can get significantly brighter, especially when displaying HDR content, making highlights pop more intensely. Samsung counters this by offering touchscreen capabilities—a feature notably absent from the MacBook lineup.
Battery and Audio: Holding Its Own
Despite housing a smaller physical battery than the MacBook Pro 16, the Galaxy Book6 Ultra holds its own. Battery runtime is very competitive, likely thanks to the efficiency of the new Panther Lake architecture. You can expect to get through a full day of mixed productivity without hunting for an outlet.
The audio quality is also surprisingly robust. The side-firing speakers produce clear mids and respectable bass for a Windows laptop, closing the gap on the excellent MacBook sound system.
Verdict: A Stunning but Expensive Contender
All in all, the new Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra is a very good multimedia laptop. It successfully bridges the gap between the Windows and Mac design languages while offering unique advantages like a touchscreen and dual SSD slots.
However, excellence comes at a price. It is very expensive, and the keyboard and hinge wobble might be sticking points for perfectionists. If you are in the market for a premium creator laptop and value the Windows ecosystem, the Galaxy Book6 Ultra deserves a spot on your shortlist.
For the full benchmark scores, thermal testing, and camera quality analysis, head over to our detailed review.
