Samsung Announces New Notebook 9 Pen and Three New Notebook 9 (2018) Laptops
by Joe Shields on December 15, 2017 8:00 AM EST
Just in time for, or before CES 2018, Samsung unveiled three new laptops in their Notebook 9 family, starting with the Notebook 9 Pen. The Pen is a 13.3-inch 2-in-1 notebook with a 360-degree convertible hinge, includes the built-in S-Pen for mixed laptop/tablet functionality. The other new laptops are updates of its Notebook 9 devices, the 13.3 and 15-inch models. They, like the Pen, will include 8th Generation Intel Core i7 processors and enhanced graphics capabilities as well as a larger battery for extended use while mobile. The new Notebook 9 models have exterior changes as well and are built out of a magnesium-aluminum alloy which Samsung calls “Metal12” which should give the laptops a more premium look and feel fitting for the updated internals inside.
A Microsoft Surface rival, the Notebook 9 Pen and its full metal alloy chassis provide a durable and lightweight shell with the unit weighing in at a mere 2.2 pounds. The convertible 360-degree hinge gives users the flexibility to convert from a tablet to a laptop by simply rotating the keyboard behind the screen. The Notebook 9 Pen, as its namesake surely implies, includes a built-in S-Pen for digitizing doodles, writing, sketching, and more. The S Pen is a battery-free device with a 0.7mm tip and able to recognize 4096 levels of pressure for a smooth writing/drawing experience. When the pen is removed from the notebook (its home is a hole in the front), the Air Command software will launch providing S Pen shortcuts for Samsung Notes and Autodesk Sketchbook to create immediately.
Hardware wise, the Samsung Notebook 9 Pen, will use a quad-core 8th generation Intel Core i7 Processor with up to 16GB of DDR4 RAM. Storage options are listed up to a 512GB NVMe PCIe SSD. Graphics duties are handled by Intel HD Graphics. The integrated GPU sends the pixels to a 13.3” Samsung RealViewTouch FHD (1920x1080) monitor able to display 95% of sRGB with a maximum brightness of 450 nits. This is the only screen option; no 4K UHD is available.
The 2-in-1 also includes integrated 720p and IR cameras supporting Windows Hello and facial recognition, two 1.5W speakers, as well as a fingerprint sensor for access security. Keeping the device powered on is a 39Wh battery and a 45W adapter. Last, external connectivity on the 9 Pen includes a USB 3.0 Type-C and Type-A port, HDMI for video, an SD Card reader, as well as a microphone. The Metal12 shell comes in one color, dubbed Light Titan which appears to be a lighter silver/white.
The Notebook 9 variants are updates from the previous version and include upgrades to 8th Generation Intel Core i7 quad-core processors and a much larger 75Wh Hexacell battery (up from 39Wh). It supports always-on power and fast charging for quick power ons and shorter charging times (no details given). The 13.3” models (900X3T & 900X3U) use the integrated Intel HD Graphics from the CPU to drive the RealViewDisplay monitor. The panel is able to display 95% sRGB coverage with a maximum brightness of 500 nits.
The ultrabook is 15.4mm thick making it one the thinnest notebook devices in its class. It also has a thin bezel measuring a small 6.2mm on the sides. The 15” models (900X5T, 900X5U, Discrete Graphics 900X5T) ups the ante for graphics and has an optional NVIDIA GeForce MX150 (GDDR5 2GB) for increased performance. The Notebook 9’s external connectivity will vary by model. The 13.3-inch has USB 3.0 Type-C and 2x Type-A ports, an HDMI port for video, a universal SD card reader, and audio ports. The 15-inch model adds Thunderbolt 3 support through the Type-C port. Exterior color options on the Notebook 9 (2018) are Titan Silver or Crush White.
The Notebook 9 and Notebook 9 Pen will be available in select countries starting in Dec 2017 in Korea, with the U.S availability during the 1Q 2018. Pricing was not listed. The new devices will be displayed at CES 2018.
| Samsung Notebook 9 and Notebook 9 Pen | |||
| Notebook 9 (2018) 13.3" | Notebook 9 (2018) 15" | Notebook 9 Pen 13" | |
| Warranty Period | 1 Year Warranty | ||
| Product Page | N/A | ||
| Price ($US) | N/A | ||
| Type | Ultrabook | 2-in-1 | |
| Processor Family | 8th Generation Intel Core i7 | ||
| Processors | N/A | ||
| Memory | Up to 16GB DDR4 | ||
| Network Connectivity | Wireless Only | ||
| Internal Storage | Up to 1TB SSD (NVMe PCIe) | Up to 512GB (NVMe PCIe) | |
| Graphics | Intel HD Graphics | Intel HD Graphics / NVIDIA Geforce MX150 (2GB GDDR5) |
Intel HD Graphics |
| Display | 13.3" or 15" RealViewDisplay, FHD (1920x1080) | 13.3: RealViewTouch, FHD (1920x1080) | |
| Camera | 720p | IR camera, 720p | |
| Battery | 75Wh | 39Wh | |
| Speakers | 2x 1.5W | ||
| Ports and Connectors | 1 x USB Type-C 2 x USB 3.0 1 x HDMI 1 x Univiseral SD Card Reader 1 x HP/Mic 1 x DC-in |
Thunderbolt 3 or USB Type-C 2 x USB 3.0 1 x HDMI 1 x Univiseral SD Card Reader 1 x HP/Mic 1 x DC-in |
1 x USB Type-C 2 x USB 3.0 1 x HDMI 1 x Univiseral SD Card Reader 1 x HP/Mic 1 x DC-in |
| Dimensions / Weight | 309.4 x 208 x 14.9mm / 995g (2.19 lbs) | 347.9 x 229.4 x 15.4mm / 1250 - 1290g (2.75 - 2.84 lbs) | 310.5 x 206.6 x 14.6-16.5mm / 995g (2.19 lbs) |
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Source: Samsung
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ads295 - Friday, December 15, 2017 - link
I think they've launched the battery they developed just a while back: http://mashable.com/2017/11/28/samsung-graphene-ba...Maybe that's what "HexaCell" is. Hope it doesn't end up in flames, though...
digiguy - Friday, December 15, 2017 - link
Yes and as I said above FHD+75Wh battery+8th gen chips: the longest battery life in any ultrabook ever. The 2017 15" had 66wh and was already on par with Surface book with performance base, so this one will be even betterdigiguy - Friday, December 15, 2017 - link
It's amazing that they managed to more than double the battery of the 13.3 version with only 0.4 pounds more, or 200gr more (1kg in total). Many manufacturers go all in with marketing and don't care about user experience (Asus I am talking to you and your crazy high resolutions, poor battery life and lack of ports) other are poor at marketing laptops, like Samsung, but produce what are probably the best ultrabooks on the market. I have the 2017 notebook 9 and I keep comparing it to the others and still can't find a and overall better one... And now they made it even better....Gadgety - Friday, December 15, 2017 - link
Love the S-pen, but adding it removes 36Wh of battery capacity.digiguy - Friday, December 15, 2017 - link
Yes, but it's not just the S pen, it's the 360° hinge and the touch screen glass. The 2017 modol (notebook 9 pro 13.3) weighted 3 pounds (1.3 kg) with a 54wh battery. Now it's 2.2 pounds (1kg). I think weight is more important that battery in a convertible if you use it as a tablet. Especially since you can charge with phone chargers and power banks, contrary to most usb c laptops...IntelUser2000 - Friday, December 15, 2017 - link
Efficiency is just as important as battery capacity. 39WHr would be perfectly acceptable if it achieves 8-9 hours of battery life. Just don't get back to the days of 5-6 hours please!hybrid2d4x4 - Friday, December 15, 2017 - link
Looks like a good lineup, definitely liking the big battery trend with this and the newly announced LG laptops. A higher dpi option wouldn't hurt for those that want it, but I'd be happy with 1080p at 13".But what is a "RealView" display? I wish instead of these BS marketing terms they'd just stick to specifying the panel type (ie: IPS, PLS, TN).
Also, hope these aren't overpriced, but not optimistic about this given their tablet and phone pricing.
nicolaim - Friday, December 15, 2017 - link
These battery capacities really make the current Macbook Pros with their shrunken batteries look bad!