[Video] 360-Degree Folding and S Pen Included... Samsung Focuses on 'Galaxy Book'

Video Leak Ahead of Galaxy Unpacked on the 28th

Animation video of Galaxy Book Pro 360 [Source: IT tipster Evan Blass]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seulgina Jo] A video of Samsung Electronics' new laptop, the 'Galaxy Book Pro 360,' expected to be unveiled next week, has been released. It features a 360-degree rotating touch panel and an S Pen.

◆From the released video... folds 360 degrees like a book

According to industry sources on the 23rd, IT tipster Evan Blass posted short animation videos of the Galaxy Book Pro and Galaxy Book Pro 360 on his Twitter. These are products expected to be unveiled at Samsung Electronics' first-ever laptop PC Unpacked event on the 28th.

The video shows the Galaxy Book Pro 360 equipped with a 360-degree hinge, touchscreen display, and full-size keyboard. It also features three USB-C ports, a microSD card slot, and a headphone jack. The animation video of the Galaxy Book Pro shows two USB-C ports, one USB-A port, one HDMI port, and one headphone jack.

Both models come with OLED displays and support 4G and 5G connectivity. They are expected to be released in two versions: 13.3-inch and 15.6-inch. They run on Windows-based 11th generation Intel Core processors, with an optional NVIDIA GeForce MX450 GPU.

IT media outlets evaluated that "the addition of USB and HDMI ports significantly enhances connectivity." On the same day, besides the Galaxy Book Pro and Galaxy Book Pro 360, the 'Galaxy Book Go' is also expected to be unveiled.

◆First-ever laptop Unpacked event... strengthening the 'ecosystem' targeting COVID-19-driven demand

This is Samsung Electronics' first time holding a laptop PC Unpacked event. It is interpreted as a move targeting the surge in laptop PC demand following the spread of COVID-19.

Currently, Samsung Electronics' position in the laptop PC market is minimal compared to its smartphone market share. According to market research firm Gartner, the global PC market share in Q1 was Lenovo (27.1%), HP (19.8%), Dell (16.6%), Apple (8.7%), Acer (6.0%), with Samsung Electronics not ranking in the top tier. This contrasts with its status as the global smartphone market leader in annual shipments.

In particular, Samsung Electronics indicated its intention to expand the Galaxy Unpacked event, which was previously smartphone-centered, to include laptops and strengthen its own ecosystem. The Unpacked invitation stated, "We will unveil the most powerful Galaxy device that expands the Galaxy ecosystem to deliver the next-generation mobile experience."

This is interpreted as a plan to solidify and expand the connectivity of its own ecosystem, similar to competitors like Apple, which connects iPhone, MacBook, iMac, iPad, iPod, and Apple Watch. Samsung also judged that connectivity with other wireless devices such as the Galaxy smartphone, which ranks first globally in shipments, is crucial to aggressively target the laptop and tablet markets, which have recorded double-digit growth since the COVID-19 outbreak.

Recently, Apple blurred the lines between tablets and laptops by introducing a new iPad model equipped with its independently designed M1 semiconductor chip, comparable to the MacBook, ahead of Samsung Electronics' laptop Unpacked event.