Framework vs XPS vs Galaxy Book4 Pro 360: Ultraportable Laptop Showdown 2025

by Marcin Frąckiewicz
in Laptops, Reviews, Technology
on 9 August 2025

Three cutting-edge laptops are vying for the crown of best ultraportable in 2025: the Framework Laptop 12, Dell XPS 13 (2024), and Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro 360. Each takes a very different approach. The Framework 12 is all about repairability and customization, letting you build and upgrade it yourself. Dell’s latest XPS 13 is an ultraportable powerhouse with an innovative ARM-based chip that delivers record-breaking battery life. Samsung’s Galaxy Book4 Pro 360 is a luxurious 16-inch 2-in-1 with a gorgeous AMOLED touchscreen and loads of features. We compare their performance, displays, battery endurance, design, connectivity, input devices, upgradability, software, pricing, and more – complete with expert review opinions. Which laptop best balances portability, power, and value? Let’s break it down.

Framework Laptop 12 (2025)

Framework’s 12-inch convertible is a unique DIY-friendly laptop that prioritizes longevity over bleeding-edge specs. It comes as either a $549 DIY kit (you provide your own RAM, SSD, OS, and even charger) or pre-built starting around $799 pcworld.com. Performance: It uses Intel’s older 13th-gen “Raptor Lake” U-series chips (Core i3-1315U or i5-1334U) pcworld.com. These are dual-performance-core CPUs a couple of years behind today’s fastest. In benchmarks, the Laptop 12 unsurprisingly scores below modern ultraportables – e.g. a modest PCMark 10 score ~5288 and a low Cinebench multi-core score ~2106 in tests pcworld.com pcworld.com. Heavily multi-threaded tasks or 3D graphics push it to its limits (3DMark Time Spy GPU score was only 1255) pcworld.com. That said, reviewers note it’s “plenty capable of solid day-to-day productivity” like web browsing, Office work, and streaming media pcworld.com. The cooling system can keep the keyboard area comfortable, though the bottom gets warm under load pcworld.com. Just don’t expect to do serious video editing or high-end gaming on this machine – it’s not built for that.

Display: The Laptop 12 has a 12.2-inch IPS touch display (1920×1200, 16:10). It’s small but fairly sharp for its size, and reasonably bright at over 400 nits max pcworld.com. Colors and viewing angles are decent (Wired noted the panel has some green tint and merely average color gamut for a budget screen) wired.com. The 60 Hz refresh rate is standard, not high-refresh, so animations and scrolling are fine but not buttery-smooth. One downside is the “chunky” bezels framing the screen theverge.com – they are unusually thick, making this 12-inch device nearly as large as some 13-inch laptops. The upside is that the screen is extremely easy to replace if cracked: Framework designed a dead-simple replacement procedure – great for schools or clumsy owners theverge.com. As a 2-in-1, the display supports touch and an optional active stylus (Framework’s own pen is slated for late 2025) pcworld.com. The glossy finish means some glare, though an anti-reflective coating is absent. Overall it’s a functional but unexceptional display, built with repairability in mind more than slim aesthetics.

Battery Life & Charging: Battery endurance is middling. There’s a 50 Wh battery inside pcworld.com – smaller than what larger laptops carry – and the older Intel CPUs aren’t very power-efficient. In a video rundown test, the Laptop 12 lasted about 11.5 hours pcworld.com, but in real-world mixed use (web, docs, Slack, etc.) expect closer to 5–6 hours before needing a charge pcworld.com. Wired’s reviewer similarly got “about five hours before I had to plug in” during a workday pcworld.com wired.com. That’s serviceable for school or coffee-shop work, but well below modern standards – by comparison, some competing ultrabooks now exceed 15–20 hours on a charge. Charging is via USB-C (you can use any PD charger; Framework sells one but it’s not included in DIY kits). It’s not the all-day battery champ, so keep a charger handy for extended outings.

Design & Build: This laptop’s design is deliberately different from the typical aluminum ultrabook. The frame is mostly plastic (available in fun colors like a pastel “bubblegum” pink/blue combo), with rubberized TPU edging for drop protection theverge.com theverge.com. It looks playful and almost like a durable school Chromebook. The build feels surprisingly solid despite the plastic: there’s minimal flex thanks to an internal metal frame reinforcing the chassis theverge.com. Reviewers describe it as “thoughtful plastic” that’s meant to handle bumps and scrapes theverge.com. At ~2.86 lbs (1.3 kg) it’s not the lightest 12-inch device, partly due to that robust build and modular parts. It’s also thicker than premium laptops – the bezels and casing make it “absurdly” chunky for a 12″ screen device wired.com wired.com. Still, many find the look “fun” and endearing theverge.com, especially for students or tinkerers who appreciate its distinctive character. It’s a convertible 360° 2-in-1, so you can fold the screen back into tablet or tent mode. The hinges are strong enough to hold the screen at any angle (though opening the lid requires two hands). Overall, the Framework 12 isn’t winning any awards for sleekness, but it stands out in a sea of silver metal slabs with its colorful, utilitarian charm arstechnica.com.

Ports & Connectivity: Here the Framework Laptop 12 truly shines. It features four modular expansion ports (two on each side) that you can customize on the fly pcworld.com. The base unit itself has just a 3.5mm audio jack and the expansion bay slots; you fill those slots with your choice of port modules: USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, DisplayPort, Ethernet, microSD, full SD, extra SSD storage – you decide! pcworld.com pcworld.com Each module clicks in securely (with a locking switch so it won’t pop out accidentally) pcworld.com pcworld.com. This modularity means the port selection is basically whatever you need – far more flexible than any fixed-port laptop. The only catch: all those modules internally connect via USB-C, so bandwidth is limited to USB 3.2 Gen2 speeds (10 Gbps). That’s fine for most uses, but it means no Thunderbolt 4 support or high-end video output beyond HDMI 2.0 pcworld.com pcworld.com. Still, having even the option of Ethernet or an extra drive or swapping ports around is a game-changer in this size class. Wireless connectivity is up-to-date with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 pcworld.com (no Wi-Fi 7, due to the last-gen Intel platform). In short, the Framework’s I/O is best-in-class custom – a major selling point for those who hate dongles.

Keyboard, Trackpad, Webcam & Audio: The Framework 12’s input devices are a mix of highs and lows. The keyboard is full-size and feels great to type on, with a generous 1.5 mm key travel that’s rare in thin laptops pcworld.com. Reviewers found it “solid” and quiet – excellent for long typing sessions pcworld.com. However, there’s no backlight on the keys pcworld.com, a notable omission in 2025. If you often work in dim conditions, that could be a deal-breaker. The trackpad is a pleasant surprise: it’s a smoothly gliding pad with a quiet, satisfying click action pcworld.com. In fact, The Verge said it feels nearly as good as the premium Surface Laptop’s mechanical trackpad theverge.com. That’s high praise given the price point. The webcam is a 1080p/2MP module – fairly standard – and produces a decent image (Framework thankfully avoided a cheap 720p cam) pcworld.com. What sets it apart are the physical privacy switches: you can flip hardware kill-switches to disable the webcam and the microphones at the circuit level pcworld.com. This is a rare privacy feature that security-conscious users will love. One thing you won’t find is any Windows Hello biometric – there’s no IR face unlock and no fingerprint reader pcworld.com. As for audio, the laptop has stereo speakers that are… fine. They get reasonably loud and clear without distortion, but lack bass punch and “crisp” separation pcworld.com. PCWorld found them a bit quiet and not particularly rich pcworld.com. For watching a video or casual music they’re serviceable, but they won’t wow you. Plan on using good headphones (the 3.5mm jack is ready, or Bluetooth).

Repairability & Upgradeability: This is Framework’s raison d’être. Simply put, no other mainstream laptop is as easy to repair or upgrade. Framework provides detailed instructions and all the parts are user-accessible with just a screwdriver (and often no tools at all) theverge.com. The RAM (one SODIMM slot supporting up to 16 GB currently) and M.2 SSD are user-replaceable in minutes. The battery, Wi-Fi card, keyboard, screen, mainboard, and even tiny things like the speakers can be swapped out. The keyboard attaches via magnets and pogo pins – no finicky ribbon cables – making assembly a snap theverge.com. In Wired’s words, this laptop “could chug along for well over a decade” if you keep replacing/upgrading parts wired.com. Down the line, Framework plans to sell newer CPU mainboards that you can install to boost performance – meaning the Laptop 12 “should be able to upgrade to a newer chip eventually” under Framework’s unique long-term support model theverge.com theverge.com. All of this makes the Laptop 12 a dream machine for tinkerers. As one review put it, “if you want a modular, repairable, customizable 2-in-1 laptop, there’s no other machine like this on the market. This is your dream machine.” pcworld.com. The flip side: you are paying a bit extra for this flexibility. The Verge notes that at $799, the Framework’s specs (older CPU, 8 GB RAM in base model) are weaker than some similarly priced rivals that lack repairability theverge.com. In other words, you trade raw specs for sustainability. For many, that trade-off is worth it – keeping devices out of landfills and in service longer wired.com.

Software Experience: The laptop supports Windows 11 and various Linux distributions. The DIY Edition comes with no OS pre-installed (you can choose to install your preferred OS). The pre-built version includes a clean Windows 11 Home setup with only Framework’s driver bundle – no bloatware to speak of, a refreshing change from big OEMs. There is no proprietary software hub or annoying trialware on Framework’s own install. This barebones software approach fits the product’s ethos of user control. Notably, Framework even avoids printing a Windows logo on the Start key (it’s a neutral “gear” icon) to make the keyboard friendlier to Linux users pcworld.com. Overall, expect a stock OS experience. One could even run ChromeOS Flex or other systems, thanks to the community’s tinkering spirit, but officially Windows and Linux are supported. The key point: the user is in charge – you won’t find McAfee pop-ups or unremovable OEM apps here.

Pricing & Value: At $549 (DIY base) or $799 (assembled base with OS) pcworld.com pcworld.com, the Framework Laptop 12 sits at the low-mid range of pricing. Our tested mid-tier config with Core i5, 16 GB RAM, and a 500 GB SSD came to about $1,176 pcworld.com. That’s not exactly “budget” territory, yet it’s reasonably affordable for a 2-in-1 – especially one with such unique capabilities. You do need to budget a bit extra for things like expansion cards (around $10–$20 each) and possibly an OS license if you go DIY. Considering it can potentially last far longer than sealed disposable laptops, many will find it a solid long-term value. Still, as multiple reviewers emphasize, buyers who aren’t interested in repairability can find laptops with better performance or battery life for similar cost theverge.com. The value really depends on how much you value the Framework’s philosophy. If you’re the type who would otherwise buy a cheap $600 laptop every 2–3 years, the Framework 12 might actually save you money over time – you can upgrade it piece by piece instead of replacing the whole thing. And the intangible value of supporting the right-to-repair movement is high for its fans.

Expert Opinions: The Framework Laptop 12 has won praise for being fun and innovative, tempered by acknowledgments of its niche appeal. “There isn’t another laptop as fun or as cute as this… [but] you’re still paying extra for repairability and upgradability,” writes The Verge theverge.com theverge.com, noting its appeal might be limited to “true believers” who prioritize those features. PCWorld’s review concluded that with a slightly newer CPU it’d be a slam-dunk; as is, it’s “an excellent (though niche) choice for tinkerers and students who value flexibility over raw performance.” pcworld.com Many reviewers love that it exists at all – a sentiment summed up by Wired highlighting that most cheap laptops are landfill-bound in a few years, whereas this one “could potentially last much, much longer than your average machine” wired.com. The consensus: Framework’s 12 is a breath of fresh air in an industry that often discourages repairs. It’s not the most powerful or longest-lasting laptop, but it offers something truly different – a laptop built to be yours, not just until the warranty expires, but for as long as you want to keep it running.

Pros:

Exceptionally easy to repair and upgrade (modular ports, replaceable components, future CPU upgrades) theverge.com pcworld.com
Customizable I/O – choose your ports (USB-C/A, HDMI, DP, Ethernet, SD, etc.) on the fly pcworld.com
Fun, durable design with colorful plastic chassis and rubberized edges (great for students/kids) theverge.com theverge.com
Comfortable, full-size keyboard with great travel, and a smooth trackpad (quality input feel at this price) pcworld.com theverge.com
Affordable starting price ($549 DIY or $799 pre-built) – good value considering its longevity potential pcworld.com pcworld.com

Cons:

Performance is underwhelming – uses older CPUs and integrated graphics, fine for basic tasks but slow for heavy work pcworld.com pcworld.com
Battery life is short for an ultrabook (~5–6 hours real use), trailing far behind newer efficient laptops pcworld.com wired.com
Thick and bulky for a 12-inch device (large bezels, above-average weight) – not as sleek or portable as rivals wired.com wired.com
No keyboard backlight and no biometrics (no easy log-in; also middling 1080p webcam and mediocre speakers) pcworld.com theverge.com
Not “cheap” with higher specs – adding RAM, storage, etc. raises price, and similarly priced mainstream laptops offer better specs if repairability is ignored theverge.com theverge.com

Dell XPS 13 (2024)

The Dell XPS 13 has long been a flagship of premium ultraportables, and the 2024 edition (model 9345) takes a bold leap by switching to an ARM-based processor. This new XPS 13 looks identical to the avant-garde XPS 13 Plus design, but inside it’s powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite chip instead of Intel tomsguide.com. The result is a remarkably fast and efficient laptop that some are calling “the best XPS 13 ever” techradar.com.

Performance: The Snapdragon X Elite is a laptop-class SoC with a focus on high performance per watt and on-chip AI capabilities tomsguide.com. In practice, it has delivered excellent performance rivaling or beating last year’s Intel i7 ultrabook CPUs, all while staying cool and fan-noise-free (the XPS’s improved ventilation and efficiency mean no significant throttling under load) techradar.com. It’s hard to compare across architectures, but benchmarks and hands-on use show the XPS 13 2024 is very fast at everyday tasks. TechRadar notes that “in both benchmark scores and day-to-day use, the new Dell XPS 13 is comparable to other recent Snapdragon-powered laptops”, holding its own against devices like Microsoft’s Surface Laptop with the same chip techradar.com. The XPS feels snappy for web browsing, office apps, and even heavier workloads like photo editing. One caveat: because it’s running Windows on ARM, some older or specialized x86 apps might have compatibility or performance issues. This is less of a problem now than in years past – most mainstream apps run fine via emulation or have native ARM versions, but it’s worth noting (TechRadar mentions some “odd connectivity issue with specific Bluetooth accessories” and general app compatibility still catching up in niche areas) techradar.com. Graphically, the integrated Adreno GPU can handle 4K video playback and casual games, but it’s not meant for high-end gaming. Still, the XPS 13 can even run some games: one test got ~22 fps in Civilization VI at 1080p, which isn’t smooth but shows it can attempt light gaming techradar.com. Overall, this XPS is blazing fast for an ultraportable – reviewers describe it as the most powerful XPS 13 yet tomsguide.com. And thanks to the efficient ARM chip, it does this without getting hot or loud. It’s a fanless design (no loud whir under strain) – a quiet achievement for such performance. In short, ultrabook users won’t miss Intel here; the XPS 13 (2024) is as quick or quicker in real-world use, and shockingly more efficient.

Display: Dell offers a few 13.4-inch display options for the XPS 13. The base configuration comes with a 1920×1200 IPS non-touch panel (500 nits, 60–120 Hz variable refresh) tomsguide.com pcworld.com. Higher-tier configs offer a stunning 3.5K OLED (3456×2160) touchscreen. In either case, you get the signature “InfinityEdge” nearly borderless design – the XPS pioneered ultra-thin bezels, and it still looks great. The IPS screen is already vibrant and sharp; PCWorld measured its brightness at 547 nits which, combined with an anti-reflective coating, makes it usable even in bright environments pcworld.com. It covers basically all of sRGB, though not the full wide DCI-P3 gamut pcworld.com (the OLED option would cover P3 fully and deliver punchier contrast). The refresh rate can reach 120 Hz on some configs pcworld.com, making scrolling and animations extra smooth – unusual in a non-gaming ultrabook. (The base non-touch IPS reportedly supports a dynamic 30–120 Hz range for improved fluidity pcworld.com.) Reviewers are impressed: “the display is phenomenal,” says TechRadar of the OLED version techradar.com, calling it gorgeous. Even the 1080p+ base panel is praised as “vibrant” and “sharp…with thin bezels ensuring you get as much screen real estate as possible” tomsguide.com. It’s not the largest screen, but at 13.4″ and 16:10 aspect ratio it’s comfortable for productivity on the go. One thing missing on the base model is touch input – only the OLED upgrade supports touch. But given the traditional clamshell form, that’s not a big loss for most. All told, the XPS 13’s display options are excellent, whether you prioritize battery life and matte finish (the IPS) or eye-popping quality (the OLED).

Battery Life: This is where the XPS 13 (2024) blows away the competition. Thanks to the efficiency of the Snapdragon X Elite, the XPS achieves record-setting endurance. In Tom’s Guide’s continuous web surfing test (150 nits brightness), it lasted an incredible 19 hours 41 minutes tomsguide.com – “the longest-lasting consumer-grade laptop we’ve reviewed to date”, beating even Apple’s M-series MacBooks in that test tomsguide.com. TechRadar got similar results: around 19.5 hours of web use, and about 17½ hours of video streaming on a charge techradar.com techradar.com. In practical terms, this means 2 full work days of use per charge for light productivity. Many reviewers were frankly astonished: “Even MacBooks can’t keep up with this laptop,” wrote one, noting it outlasted a MacBook Air M3 by over 4 hours in testing tomsguide.com. For context, the prior Intel-based XPS models struggled to hit ~8–10 hours. With this 2024 model, Dell has more than doubled that. It’s no exaggeration to call the XPS 13 (2024) a “battery life champ” tomsguide.com. You can truly leave your charger at home without anxiety tomsguide.com. When you do need to recharge, the XPS uses one of its USB-C ports for charging (it supports fast charging via USB-C PD, and Dell includes a compact adapter). The battery capacity is around 55 Wh pcworld.com, which shows just how efficient the platform is – other laptops need 70–80 Wh or more to approach these runtimes. In summary, if battery longevity is your priority, the XPS 13 (2024) is best-in-class (one expert even gave its battery life a perfect 5/5 score, noting it “surpasses some MacBook models” techradar.com).

Design & Build Quality: The XPS 13 (2024) inherits the radical design of the XPS 13 Plus. This means a very sleek, minimalist aluminum chassis (Dell uses CNC machined aluminum and Gorilla Glass for the palm rest) tomsguide.com. At 2.6 lbs (1.17 kg) and just 0.6 inches thin (14.8 mm) tomsguide.com techradar.com, it’s extremely portable – “criminally portable,” as TechRadar quipped techradar.com. The look is futuristic: an edge-to-edge keyboard with zero spacing between keys, a capacitive touch bar row instead of physical function keys, and a “invisible” haptic trackpad seamlessly integrated into the glass palm deck tomsguide.com pcworld.com. There are literally no demarcations – the entire input area is one flush sheet of glass and keys. This gives the XPS a very clean, avant-garde aesthetic that “readily rivals Apple” in build precision pcworld.com. However, these design choices are divisive. The flush touchpad means there’s no visible outline of where the pad ends, which can take getting used to (Dell’s haptic feedback and palm rejection are excellent though, so in use it works well once you learn the bounds) pcworld.com. The capacitive function strip is another Marmite feature – it replaces F1–F12 and media keys with backlit touch-sensitive buttons. Some users dislike the lack of tactile feedback and the fact that the virtual keys need to light up to be seen pcworld.com. If you weren’t a fan of this design in the XPS Plus, “the latest XPS 13 won’t win you over,” warns Tom’s Guide tomsguide.com. On the other hand, those who embrace the modern feel will love the look. The keyboard itself (aside from the tight spacing) types surprisingly well – it has a reasonably “bouncy” feel and isn’t cramped vertically tomsguide.com. Still, the key travel is shallow and the lack of gaps means less tactile indexing for touch-typing, which led some reviewers to report more typos until they adjusted pcworld.com. The trackpad has drawn praise for its smoothness and responsive haptics – PCWorld noted impeccable palm rejection and satisfying click feedback across the pad pcworld.com. Overall build quality is top-tier: the chassis is rigid, with no creaks, and the finish options (Graphite or Platinum) exude premium style tomsguide.com. It’s a lavishly designed machine that certainly turns heads. Just be aware that Dell prioritized form over some function in a few areas (the controversial input design). For many, that trade is worth it in a laptop that looks this cool.

Ports & Connectivity: Here lies perhaps the XPS 13’s biggest weakness. In pursuit of extreme minimalism, Dell equipped it with only two USB-C ports (one on each side) – and that’s it tomsguide.com. These do support Thunderbolt 4/USB4 (40 Gbps, DisplayPort alt-mode, PD charging), so technically you can connect anything via adapters. But out of the box, there’s no USB-A, no HDMI, no headphone jack – not even a microSD slot. Dell does include USB-C to USB-A and USB-C to 3.5mm audio dongles in the box, but it’s still a very sparse setup. TechRadar wryly calls it “the worst port selection imaginable” techradar.com. This means ultimate simplicity and few cutouts on the chassis, but most users will need a dongle or hub at some point (for an external monitor or old USB device, etc.). On the wireless side, the XPS has the latest Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.x, and because Snapdragon X Elite has 5G capabilities built-in, there’s potential for cellular models – however, Dell has not released a 5G-enabled unit as of yet, so it’s Wi-Fi only for now. The lack of a headphone jack forces you to use Bluetooth or the included adapter for audio, which is inconvenient to some. In summary, the port minimalism is a major compromise: great if you’re aiming for a clean, wire-free future; annoying if you regularly use legacy peripherals. This was a conscious design statement by Dell (carried over from the Plus series). As Tom’s Guide put it, “if you can overlook…this radical design, you’ll appreciate the laptop’s minimalist build and small footprint” tomsguide.com. But for those who need ports, the XPS 13 might frustrate out of the box.

Keyboard, Trackpad, Webcam & Audio: We covered the unusual keyboard and trackpad design above. To add, the keyboard has a short learning curve but is otherwise high quality – you can achieve fast typing speeds, though with a bit more effort to hit certain keys (the arrow keys are half-height and require precision) pcworld.com. There is a fingerprint reader integrated in the power button for Windows Hello, and the IR webcam also supports facial recognition login pcworld.com. The webcam is a 1080p camera and Dell actually managed to make it pretty good: it delivers sharp, natural-looking video and handles low light decently pcworld.com. (It can blow out highlights if there’s a bright light behind you, but overall it’s above average for a laptop cam pcworld.com.) That’s a welcome improvement, as past XPS 13s sometimes sacrificed camera quality for slim bezels. Audio on the XPS 13 is shockingly loud for such a small machine. It has a pair of speakers that Dell tuned well – because there was no room on the keyboard deck, they fire from the bottom/sides, yet still produce rich sound. “There’s no denying that the Dell XPS 13’s speakers are potent, with a nice balance to them and surprising bass,” raves PCWorld pcworld.com. At max volume they can make the chassis vibrate a bit, but stay below distortion threshold pcworld.com. Dialogue and music come through clear, and they outperform many larger laptops’ audio. So, while it has tiny bezels and minimal space, Dell didn’t neglect multimedia – the XPS is excellent for Netflix or Zoom calls without headphones. Finally, the microphones are decent, with some noise cancellation for background sounds (though they can’t fully eliminate other voices nearby) pcworld.com. All combined, the XPS 13 offers a strong input/output experience if you accept the modern rethinking of how a laptop should feel. It’s not a traditional keyboard/trackpad setup, but it is undeniably cool and forward-looking.

Repairability & Upgradeability: Traditionally, XPS laptops have limited upgrade options. In this model, the RAM is soldered (comes with 16 GB LPDDR5x in base, configurable up to 64 GB on high-end models techradar.com) and cannot be upgraded. The SSD is likely a small M.2 NVMe (Dell often uses a 2230 size drive) which might be replaceable, but given the tightly integrated ARM platform, it could also be soldered or difficult to access. Dell hasn’t emphasized any user-replaceable parts here. The battery could be replaced if you open it up (with screws and adhesive), but that’s considered a repair task, not an on-the-fly swap. Essentially, the XPS 13 is a sealed ultrabook – not designed for user tinkering. It’s built solidly and should last years, but if something goes wrong or you want an upgrade, you’ll probably need to rely on Dell’s service or just buy a new model. This is the polar opposite of Framework’s philosophy. It’s worth noting that because the Snapdragon SoC and memory are integrated, traditional upgrades aren’t possible, but the device likely won’t need much internal servicing given the lack of moving parts (no fan, etc.). Still, from a repair standpoint, it’s not very friendly – for instance, even replacing the keyboard or battery will be a non-trivial operation. If longevity and upgradability are priorities, the XPS 13 isn’t the best choice.

Software Experience: The XPS 13 (2024) runs Windows 11 (Home or Pro depending on configuration) but on the ARM architecture. Microsoft has optimized Windows 11 for ARM quite a bit by 2024, and most things feel normal to the end user. All the usual Windows features are there, plus the benefit of on-chip AI that Windows can leverage (e.g. for background noise reduction, auto-framing on the webcam, etc., thanks to the Snapdragon’s NPU). Dell does preinstall some of its utilities – e.g. Dell Premier or SupportAssist, and likely a trial of McAfee LiveSafe (Dell has a habit of including antivirus trials). There may also be some “PC Manager” app or My Dell app for battery and update settings. Reviewers didn’t call out any excessive bloat, so it’s relatively standard. One unique aspect: the “Dell Optimizer AI” software might be present, which uses AI to manage performance profiles and even face-detect when you’re in front of the screen (to automatically wake or lock the system). These features can be useful or can be turned off. The main software consideration is app compatibility: popular apps (Office, Chrome, Adobe Lightroom, etc.) run beautifully, many natively. But obscure or old x64 programs have to go through emulation, which in Windows 11 is fairly seamless but can incur a performance hit. The Snapdragon X Elite’s power largely mitigates that, making even emulated apps run at acceptable speed in most cases. Microsoft’s App Store also now offers more ARM versions of apps than before. Unless you rely on very niche software or certain drivers that only work on x86, you’ll likely find the experience on Windows-on-ARM nearly indistinguishable from any other Windows 11 PC – just with far longer battery life. And of course, you can’t (easily) install an alternate OS like Linux here due to the ARM CPU and locked-down boot; this device is very much meant for Windows 11 as provided.

Pricing & Value: The Dell XPS 13 (2024) starts around $1,299 for a base model (16 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD, FHD+ screen) tomsguide.com. Fully loaded configurations (with the OLED screen, 64 GB RAM, 2 TB SSD) can push above $1,800+. It’s undeniably expensive, but this line has always been a premium one. You’re paying for the cutting-edge tech (that Snapdragon chip and the engineering around it) and the premium materials/design. Is it worth it? For those who want the longest battery life in an ultralight plus strong performance, it might be. TechRadar notes the starting price is “quite reasonable considering the specs” and the improvements over past models techradar.com. Still, $1,299 isn’t exactly mainstream-affordable for a 13-inch laptop with integrated graphics. Value-wise, it undercuts the entry-level MacBook Pro and is about on par with a high-end MacBook Air. Given it beats many Macs in battery life and competes in performance, one could argue it’s a fair deal for what you get. However, you do have to accept the port limitations and unconventional design at that price. For people who simply want a reliable business laptop, some might prefer something like a Lenovo ThinkPad or HP with more ports and upgradeability, often at lower cost (albeit with worse battery). In summary, the XPS 13 (2024) offers premium value – you pay a premium, but you get arguably the best ultraportable hardware package of the year in return, especially if battery life has high value to you.

Expert Opinions: The tech press has been impressed. Tom’s Guide lauded the XPS 13’s combination of power and endurance, naming it one of the best Windows laptops you can buy tomsguide.com. Their verdict: “Thanks to Qualcomm’s new processor, the latest XPS 13 is not only the most powerful model yet, it has MacBook-shattering battery life.” tomsguide.com They even called it “one of the best laptops for battery life we’ve ever tested” tomsguide.com. TechRadar gave it 4.5/5 stars, calling it “easily the best of the XPS 13 line” due to “excellent performance and battery life”, improved thermals, phenomenal display, and top-notch build quality techradar.com. PCWorld was a bit more critical of the ergonomic compromises (referring to it as “an elegant stumble” due to the input design issues) but still praised its lavish construction and noted it “readily rivals Apple” in materials and looks pcworld.com. On the flip side, every reviewer points out the sparse ports as a downside – “minimal port selection (only 2 USB-C)” as Tom’s cheat sheet states tomsguide.com. Some also disliked the touch bar and would prefer physical keys. But these seem minor quibbles given the XPS’s overall strengths. The consensus: Dell took a risk moving to ARM, and it paid off big. The XPS 13 (2024) achieves a combination of ultralight, ultra-long-lasting, and fast that’s extremely compelling. It feels like the Windows world finally has a true MacBook Air competitor (or arguably, surpasser). As one reviewer summed up, “right now, it’s arguably the best XPS 13 ever released”, thanks largely to its “powerful performance and insane battery life.” tomsguide.com

Pros:

Industry-leading battery life – nearly 20 hours of real use on a charge, outlasting most competitors (even many MacBooks) tomsguide.com techradar.com
Excellent performance from the Snapdragon X Elite CPU – fast and responsive for productivity, with no fan noise or throttling techradar.com tomsguide.com
Gorgeous design and build – premium aluminum/glass chassis, ultra-thin and light (2.6 lbs), sleek edge-to-edge keyboard and glass haptic touchpad pcworld.com techradar.com
High-quality displays – options for high-res OLED or bright 120Hz IPS, all with tiny bezels and vibrant image quality techradar.com pcworld.com
Strong multimedia features – potent speakers for an ultrabook pcworld.com, good 1080p webcam with IR, dual mics, and convenient Windows Hello login (face or fingerprint) pcworld.com

Cons:

Very limited ports – only 2 USB-C Thunderbolt; no built-in headphone jack, USB-A, HDMI, or SD (reliance on adapters is a must) tomsguide.com techradar.com
Unconventional keyboard/trackpad – zero key spacing and touch capacitive function row can hinder typing comfort and require adjustment pcworld.com pcworld.com
Non-upgradeable (soldered RAM, not intended for user servicing) – not a repair-friendly device, unlike some competitors
High price – premium cost for base model and especially for higher trims (can be expensive relative to other 13-inch laptops) techradar.com
Windows on ARM compatibility quirks – most apps run well, but a few legacy or niche programs might have performance/emulation issues on ARM techradar.com

Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro 360 (2024)

Samsung’s Galaxy Book4 Pro 360 is a 16-inch 2-in-1 convertible that aims to deliver a high-end ultrabook and tablet experience in one. It’s essentially Samsung’s answer to the premium laptop segment, combining a large, stunning screen with a slim build, all-day battery, and the S Pen stylus for creatives. This model (launched in early 2024) is notable for debuting Intel’s 14th-gen “Meteor Lake” Core Ultra processors in Samsung’s lineup tomsguide.com.

Performance: Under the hood, the Book4 Pro 360 in its top configuration packs an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU (Meteor Lake architecture) with integrated Intel Arc graphics tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. This is a departure from past generations that used 13th-gen P-series chips – the new “Ultra” chips promise better efficiency and AI features thanks to a built-in neural processor. In practice, the Galaxy Book4 Pro 360 performs very well for productivity and moderate content creation. In Geekbench 6, for example, it scored around 2300 single-core and 12,000 multi-core, which is almost on par with a 14-inch MacBook Pro (M2 Pro) and just shy of a heavier Dell XPS 16 with a higher-watt chip tomsguide.com. This means everyday tasks are seamless: multitasking, Office apps, web, and light editing pose no issue. The “H”-series CPU designation might sound like a 45W powerhouse, but due to the thin design, the Book4 Pro 360 can’t sustain full tilt for extended periods – the cooling has limits. NotebookCheck found that under continuous heavy load, the system would throttle to keep temperatures in check notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net. So while short bursts (like exporting a video or running a quick computation) are fast, longer intense tasks will see performance dip to avoid overheating. That’s expected given this machine’s mere 13 mm thickness. For graphics, the integrated Arc GPU (with 8 Xe cores) is a step up from previous Iris Xe graphics. It’s sufficient for things like Photoshop, light video encoding, and could even “dabble” in some GPU workloads or older games. But it’s not a gaming laptop – in Cyberpunk 2077 for instance, it only managed ~21 fps at 1080p Low (about 30 fps with Intel’s XeSS upscaling) trustedreviews.com. So AAA gaming is largely out of reach, but titles like eSports games or older less demanding games run okay at lowered settings. The upside of Meteor Lake’s graphics is improved media engines and quick sync for video, plus decent multi-monitor support. Another positive: surface temperatures stay low – Samsung’s cooling might throttle performance somewhat, but it keeps the chassis cool to the touch even when the CPU is working hard notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net. Fan noise is also reportedly unobtrusive (NotebookCheck rated noise at 94%, indicating very quiet operation) notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net. Overall, the Galaxy Book4 Pro 360 offers “good system performance” for its class notebookcheck.net – more than enough for office, media, and moderate creation. It’s not the absolute fastest due to design constraints, but it’s well-balanced. Samsung also provides some of its own software like Samsung Studio Plus (a video editor) which the laptop handles well trustedreviews.com, indicating it’s geared to let users do creative projects comfortably, if not at workstation speeds.

Display: This is one of the standout features. The Galaxy Book4 Pro 360 sports a 16-inch AMOLED touchscreen with a crisp 3K resolution (2880×1800) and a smooth 120 Hz refresh rate tomsguide.com trustedreviews.com. Simply put, the screen is gorgeous. It offers deep blacks, vibrant colors, and HDR support. In fact, reviewers consistently praise it: “The AMOLED touchscreen looks lovely and feels good to tap or doodle on” tomsguide.com. It covers a wide color gamut – TrustedReviews measured 100% coverage of sRGB, Adobe RGB, and DCI-P3 – basically full accuracy for all major color spaces trustedreviews.com. This makes it suitable for serious photo or video editing where color fidelity matters. Samsung also added an anti-reflective coating, which helps a bit with glare (though it’s still a glossy screen, just slightly mitigated reflections) trustedreviews.com. At around 390–400 nits brightness (measured ~390 nits average in testing) tomsguide.com tomsguide.com, it’s not the brightest in absolute terms, but thanks to OLED’s contrast it’s very legible indoors and in moderate lighting. Apple’s MacBook screens get brighter (500+ nits), but for most uses the Samsung’s brightness is ample. The 120 Hz refresh makes every interaction feel fluid – scrolling web pages, drawing with the pen, or watching 120fps video content is silky. The large 16″ size and 16:10 ratio give you a ton of real estate, great for side-by-side windows or immersive media. And because it’s a 360° convertible, you can fold it into tablet mode to sketch or watch movies without the keyboard in the way. Samsung thoughtfully includes the S Pen stylus in the box (no extra charge) tomsguide.com. The S Pen magnetically sticks to the chassis when not in use notebookcheck.net. It’s a high-quality stylus with low latency, pressure sensitivity, and tilt – essentially the same tech as the Galaxy Note/S phones and tablets. Writing or drawing on the screen feels accurate and responsive; artists and note-takers will love it (though as with any glass screen, it’s slick – “you can still tell you’re writing on glass,” one reviewer noted trustedreviews.com). All told, the display experience is top-tier: a big, beautiful canvas that’s one of the best you’ll find on any laptop. It truly makes the Galaxy Book4 Pro 360 a joy for watching videos, working on visual tasks, or browsing in tablet mode.

Battery Life & Charging: Previous Galaxy Books often fell short in battery endurance, but this generation makes great strides. It has a 76 Wh battery – fairly large – and thanks to the efficiency of Intel’s new cores, Samsung touts up to “21 hours” of longevity (likely a very light-use scenario) bestbuy.com. In realistic tests, it’s not quite that miraculous, but still excellent. Tom’s Guide’s battery test (continuous web surfing at low brightness) clocked just over 12 hours tomsguide.com. TrustedReviews achieved about 15 hours in their benchmark (likely video playback or mixed use) trustedreviews.com. This is a huge improvement from last year’s model which managed only ~8 hours in similar tests tomsguide.com. In practical daily use, that means the Book4 Pro 360 “easily makes it through an intensive day’s work and beyond,” and is “in touching distance with the MacBook Air” M2 in battery longevity trustedreviews.com. It’s safe to say you can expect a solid full workday (8–10 hours of varied use) on a charge, possibly more if you’re just doing light tasks or lower brightness. This all-day battery was enough for Samsung to earn an Editor’s Choice from Tom’s Guide, who noted it’s “a proud return to form” with power efficiency that finally matches its portability tomsguide.com. Charging is via the included 65W USB-C fast charger. And it charges fairly quickly – you can top up a significant portion of the battery in an hour (Samsung claims ~50% in 30 minutes, though real-world it might be a bit lower). The USB-C charging also means you can use portable PD battery packs to extend runtime if needed. Compared to the XPS 13, the Samsung doesn’t reach the dizzying 18–20 hour heights (the XPS benefits from ARM efficiency and smaller screen). But for a 16″ laptop, ~12+ hours of wireless web is fantastic. It’s one of the best battery performers among large-screen convertibles, hands down. You no longer need to carry the charger for a day out, unless you plan a marathon session.

Design & Build Quality: Samsung has crafted a stunningly slim and premium chassis here. Despite the 16-inch screen, the Galaxy Book4 Pro 360 is only 13 mm (0.51″) thick when closed notebookcheck.net – that’s thinner than some smartphones and makes it the thinnest device in its class by a good margin notebookcheck.net. Its footprint (355×252 mm) is compact for a 16″ due to reasonably thin bezels, though the bottom bezel is a bit larger than ideal, giving a “wide chin” look notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net. The weight is ~1.67 kg (3.69 lbs) notebookcheck.net, which is very light for a 16″ 2-in-1 – lighter than many 15-inch laptops. Samsung achieved this with a high-strength magnesium-aluminum alloy (the chassis is billed as “Moonstone Gray” aluminum) notebookcheck.net. It feels premium and sturdy: there’s minimal flex in the keyboard area and none in the display; everything is tight and well-fitted notebookcheck.net. The aesthetic is understated – a clean gray finish, not much adornment apart from a Samsung logo. Impressively, even being so thin, it includes multiple ports (more on that next). The 2-in-1 hinge allows the screen to fold back a full 360°. One issue noted: the hinge tension could be better – at certain angles or with vibration, the screen has a bit of wobble notebookcheck.net. This can be noticeable when in laptop mode on a moving train or if you tap the touchscreen; it’s a byproduct of being thin and having a large display. But in normal use it’s a minor annoyance at most. For tablet mode, the large size makes it a bit unwieldy to hold one-handed, but great on a desk or lap for sketching. Samsung includes some nice touches: for instance, the S Pen can magnetically attach either on the lid or the base’s edge, so you have a spot to store it notebookcheck.net. The device also meets Intel Evo certification (instant wake, etc.) and Samsung highlights sustainability efforts – recycled plastics in the touchpad (which is made of 40% recycled material) and recycled paper packaging trustedreviews.com. Overall, the design is luxurious yet practical: you get a big screen in a surprisingly easy-to-carry form. It’s a stylish machine that wouldn’t look out of place next to the slimmest Ultrabooks, yet it offers tablet flexibility and a high-end feel.

Ports & Connectivity: Unlike many thin-and-light laptops that sacrifice ports, the Galaxy Book4 Pro 360 offers a refreshingly comprehensive selection. It has two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports, one USB-A 3.2 port, a full-size HDMI 2.1 output, a microSD card reader, and a 3.5mm headphone jack tomsguide.com notebookcheck.net. This means out of the box you can connect older USB devices, output to a monitor or projector via HDMI, and expand storage or transfer photos via microSD – no dongles required for most tasks. It’s notably better than the Dell XPS in this regard (the XPS had only USB-C). Reviewers appreciated this: “I’d give the port selection a solid above-average rating,” says TrustedReviews trustedreviews.com. The only thing they found “odd” was the lack of a full SD slot for a device that touts creative use (microSD is included, but some pros might prefer standard SD) trustedreviews.com. Still, microSD is great for phone camera cards or adding cheap storage. The Thunderbolt 4 ports support all the advanced features (40 Gbps data, USB4, charging, DisplayPort alt mode), so you can hook up multiple 4K monitors or fast external drives as needed notebookcheck.net. Wireless connectivity is cutting-edge with Intel Wi-Fi 6E (Gig+) and Bluetooth 5.3 notebookcheck.net. No Wi-Fi 7, but that’s still very bleeding-edge in 2025, so 6E is effectively top-tier and provides excellent speed and low latency on compatible routers. In summary, Samsung didn’t skimp on I/O – a huge plus for power users. You can travel with this machine and likely not need any adapters at all. It’s part of what makes the Book4 Pro 360 a strong productivity device: it acknowledges that even in 2025, many of us still use USB-A peripherals and HDMI displays regularly.

Keyboard, Trackpad, Webcam & Audio: The Galaxy Book4 Pro 360’s keyboard is a typical chiclet backlit keyboard. It offers a decent typing experience – key travel is about 1 mm or so, not particularly deep (thin chassis constraint), but users report it’s comfortable and fairly quiet. NotebookCheck’s scoring indicates it as “average” (they gave the keyboard 77%, meaning it’s fine but not exceptional) notebookcheck.net. There’s a fingerprint reader built into the power button for easy logins (since there’s no IR camera for face unlock) trustedreviews.com. The omission of IR facial recognition is a slight letdown on a premium device, but at least fingerprint covers biometric login. The trackpad is large and made of glass with a smooth finish – it’s actually partially constructed from recycled ocean-bound plastics, which is neat trustedreviews.com. Tracking and gestures are precise (Microsoft Precision driver), and click action is good. It doesn’t have the fancy haptics like Dell’s, but it’s a quality touchpad. The webcam is a 1080p Full HD camera, centered above the screen. It’s pretty standard – reviews call it a “simple Full HD affair that won’t knock your socks off, but it’ll do the job” trustedreviews.com. It produces clear video in well-lit settings, on par with other 1080p laptop cams; in dim light it will get grainy. It’s a shame Samsung didn’t incorporate their smartphone camera prowess here, but it’s acceptable. One notable miss: no Windows Hello IR, as mentioned, which would have been nice for hands-free login. On the audio front, Samsung touts quad speakers with AKG tuning and Dolby Atmos support. However, this is where the laptop doesn’t impress as much. Reviewers found the speakers underwhelming: “astounding that the speakers are this poor, especially at this luxury price point,” says TrustedReviews, noting that it’s nowhere near the fullness of MacBook’s speakers trustedreviews.com. The sound is clear but lacks bass and volume – fine for casual listening, but not great for immersive media without external speakers or headphones. It seems Samsung prioritized thinness over resonant speaker chambers. So while audio isn’t bad, it’s definitely the weak link in an otherwise high-end package (perhaps a result of the extremely slim chassis – there’s just not much room for acoustics). That said, Dolby Atmos processing can help a bit to widen the soundstage, and for video calls or watching YouTube it’s sufficient. Just don’t expect it to fill a room with rich sound. On the flip side, fan noise is low, so at least the fans won’t compete with your audio.

Repairability & Upgradeability: The Galaxy Book4 Pro 360 is a tightly integrated ultrabook, so user upgrades are minimal. The RAM is soldered on the motherboard (Samsung offers 16 GB in most configurations, or a 32 GB model in some markets) notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net. The SSD is an M.2 NVMe (PCIe 4.0 x4, 512 GB or 1 TB options) and could theoretically be replaced – NotebookCheck noted the review unit had a Samsung PM9B1 drive that, while PCIe 4.0, only performed at PCIe 3.0 speeds (likely a power-saving tradeoff) notebookcheck.net. Swapping it for a faster drive might not yield huge benefits due to firmware settings, but at least storage isn’t soldered. To access it or the battery, you’d need to remove the bottom cover (likely Torx screws hidden under rubber feet, typical for Galaxy Books). Not impossible, but not “easy” for the average user either. The battery could be replaced with an identical unit if sourced, and perhaps the Wi-Fi card too if not soldered (though many 6E cards are soldered on thin laptops). Samsung doesn’t market any modularity here – it’s meant to be serviced by professionals if at all. In essence, upgradeability is limited to the SSD and that’s about it. On the plus side, the device’s build quality and Samsung’s reliability track record are good, so you hopefully won’t need to crack it open for years. It’s just not an enthusiast-friendly or repair-centric design (unsurprising for a convertible this slim). Samsung does deserve credit for durability though – the chassis material and overall construction seem built to last normal use (and they claim reductions in carbon footprint in manufacturing, which suggests they intend it to have a long service life) trustedreviews.com. Warranty is typically 1 year standard. If something like the screen or keyboard needed replacement, it would be a service center job. In summary, like most high-end ultrabooks, the Galaxy Book4 Pro 360 is not designed for user upgrades beyond perhaps storage; you should choose your specs wisely at purchase.

Software Experience: Out of the box, the Galaxy Book4 Pro 360 runs Windows 11 Home (or Pro on business SKUs) and comes with a suite of Samsung software. Samsung tries to create an ecosystem experience similar to Apple’s continuity features. For instance, there’s Samsung Multi Control (to seamlessly use a Galaxy tablet as a second screen or control your Samsung phone from the laptop), Quick Share (fast file transfer with Samsung devices), and apps like Samsung Notes which sync with notes on your phone. If you have a Galaxy smartphone, you can take advantage of features like syncing texts and calls to the laptop (via Microsoft’s Phone Link, enhanced by Samsung). All these can be very handy if you are “enmeshed in the Samsung Galaxy device ecosystem,” as Tom’s Guide puts it tomsguide.com. If not, some of these apps might feel extraneous. Indeed, for users without other Samsung devices, the preloaded Samsung apps might be “basically bloatware that you don’t need.” tomsguide.com They can generally be uninstalled if desired. The laptop also includes tools for the S Pen (Air Command, etc.), and a Samsung Settings app that duplicates some of Windows settings for things like the AMOLED color profiles, battery health mode, etc. There’s likely a trial of McAfee LiveSafe (Samsung has bundled that in past models). Overall, the software package is more involved than a clean Windows install, but nothing overly harmful – and many will appreciate the features if they have Samsung phones, tablets, or wearables. Samsung also updated their Galaxy Book Experience app, which serves as a hub/tutorial for these features. On the AI side, Intel’s Movidius NPU on the Core Ultra is leveraged for things like background blur in video calls or auto framing; some of this is exposed via the Samsung Settings or via Microsoft’s built-in effects in Teams. It’s relatively seamless. So, while not as bloat-free as a Surface or Framework might be, the Galaxy Book4’s software is feature-rich and can be beneficial, especially in a Galaxy-centric household. If unwanted, it’s removable. Do note one thing: because it’s a new platform (Meteor Lake), ensure you keep drivers and firmware updated (Samsung’s Update app or Windows Update will handle that) to squash any early bugs. There were reports of a software update causing slowness for some users (as hinted on Samsung forums), but these tend to get fixed quickly with patches. As it stands in mid-2025, the software experience is polished and adds value for many users.

Pricing & Value: The Galaxy Book4 Pro 360 is undeniably a premium-priced laptop. It launched at about $1,899 for the Core i7 model with 16 GB RAM and 1 TB SSD (often sold via Samsung or retailers like Costco in that config) tomsguide.com notebookcheck.net. There was also a slightly cheaper Core Ultra 5 version (with 512 GB SSD) around $1,699. These prices place it in the upper echelon of Windows laptops – comparable to Dell XPS 15s, 16-inch MacBook Pros (base models), or HP Spectre x360 16. You are paying for the AMOLED 120Hz display, the slim convertible design, and Samsung’s brand/features. Is it worth it? For those who will use the 2-in-1 tablet mode and pen, plus appreciate the beautiful screen, many say yes. It’s a unique offering – very few 16″ OLED convertibles exist with this level of portability. NotebookCheck gave it a very good 88% score but did note “the high RRP together with the poor storage specs” as a slight issue notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net – meaning at nearly $2k they expected maybe 32 GB RAM or a faster SSD by default. Compared to rivals: HP’s Spectre x360 16 was mentioned as a strong competitor that is “significantly better in many areas and even cheaper despite being better equipped” notebookcheck.net. For example, a similarly specced Spectre might undercut it by a couple hundred dollars. So, value is relative – if you can catch the Galaxy Book on sale (Samsung often does trade-in deals or seasonal discounts), it becomes more enticing. At full price, you’re paying a premium largely for the display and form factor. If those align with your needs (you want a high-performance, large canvas for work and creativity in a thin, stylish body), the Book4 Pro 360 delivers and justifies its cost. If you only need a traditional laptop and won’t use tablet mode or pen, there are certainly cheaper options with similar core specs. One more aspect of value: it includes the S Pen and a nice charger, so at least you don’t have to buy accessories separately (unlike some competitors that sell pens separately). Summing up, the Galaxy Book4 Pro 360 is expensive but packed with premium features – it’s for buyers willing to invest in a top-of-the-line convertible experience.

Expert Opinions: Reviewers have generally been positive, often highlighting the screen, battery life, and design. Tom’s Guide gave it 4/5 and an Editor’s Choice, saying “those willing to accommodate its few shortcomings will be rewarded with an AMOLED-equipped 2-in-1 that’s easy to carry through a whole day of work or school.” tomsguide.com They praised its “potent combo of performance and power efficiency in a slim, lovely frame” tomsguide.com, noting only that it’s not for serious gaming and the power cable was oddly short (a minor quibble) tomsguide.com tomsguide.com. TrustedReviews liked the device as well, but called out the audio issues and noted the price is steep; they concluded that between the luxurious build, 120Hz OLED screen, and long battery, it’s a compelling premium laptop (rating 4/5). NotebookCheck’s verdict summarized it as “a stylish and pricey 2-in-1 for everyday situations that is particularly impressive due to its good OLED touchscreen and slim case.” notebookcheck.net They echoed that many aspects (keyboard, speakers, battery) are just average and that the soldered RAM and PWM flicker are negatives notebookcheck.net, but overall it gathered enough positives to score very high. Tom’s Guide and others were also thrilled to see battery life vastly improved from the previous gen – one reviewer noted it “deserves our Editor’s Choice” because it finally delivers the mix of performance, portability and endurance that was promised tomsguide.com. A common refrain is that the Book4 Pro 360 is almost like a Windows take on a MacBook Pro 16, but in a thinner, convertible form (albeit without discrete GPU). And indeed, the question “Better Than M3 MacBook Air?” was posed in at least one YouTube review, given its strong battery and OLED screen youtube.com. The consensus: Samsung has cemented itself as a top player in the premium laptop space with this model. It’s not perfect, but it’s one of the best choices if you want a big-screen convertible. Just be prepared to pay for it, and maybe invest in some good headphones to complement it.

Pros:

Stunning 16″ AMOLED touchscreen – high resolution (2880×1800), 120Hz refresh, vibrant 100% DCI-P3 colors, and HDR support trustedreviews.com tomsguide.com. Fantastic for creative work, media, and pen input (S Pen included).
Slim, premium 2-in-1 design – remarkably thin (0.5″) and light (~3.7 lbs) for a 16-inch, with a sturdy aluminum chassis. Converts to tablet mode smoothly; excellent build quality and aesthetics notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net.
Great performance for its class – new Intel Core Ultra processor handles productivity and light creative tasks easily. Feels fast in day-to-day use and compares well to other ultralights (plus runs cool and quiet) tomsguide.com notebookcheck.net.
Strong battery life – significantly improved efficiency yields ~12–15 hours on typical use, easily covering a full work/school day on one charge tomsguide.com trustedreviews.com. Also fast charging via USB-C.
Full-featured port selection – includes 2× Thunderbolt 4 USB-C, 1× USB-A, 1× HDMI 2.1, microSD slot, and headphone jack tomsguide.com. No dongles needed for most connections (rare in such a thin device).

Cons:

Premium price – one of the more expensive Windows laptops (~$1.8–$2k range), which may deter value-conscious buyers notebookcheck.net. Competing models can be cheaper for similar specs (though often lacking its OLED/premium build).
Not user-upgradeable – RAM is soldered (fixed at 16 GB on most configs) notebookcheck.net, and while SSD is replaceable, other components are not meant for end-user swaps. Limits future expandability.
Mediocre speakers – despite quad-speaker setup, audio output is underwhelming (thin sound, weak bass), falling short of other premium laptops’ sound quality trustedreviews.com.
Hinge wobble & large bezels – the screen’s bottom bezel is somewhat chunky, and the hinge could be stiffer (screen can wobble during touch use or vibrations) notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net. Minor nitpicks in an otherwise solid design.
Samsung software bloat (if unused) – many Samsung ecosystem apps are preloaded. Useful if you have Galaxy devices, but without them they amount to unnecessary bloatware (though removable) tomsguide.com.

Conclusion: Which Laptop Should You Choose?

Each of these three laptops excels in different areas, so the “best” depends on your priorities:

Framework Laptop 12: Choose this if you value repairability, modularity, and DIY flexibility above all. It’s perfect for students or tech enthusiasts who want a laptop they can upgrade and keep for many years. You’ll get decent everyday performance in a fun, sturdy little package, and the satisfaction of supporting the right-to-repair movement. Just be aware you’re trading off battery life and high-end performance – it’s not as long-lasting or speedy as the others. As one reviewer put it, the Framework 12 is a “laptop for the true believers” theverge.com – an excellent niche machine, but a tougher sell if you don’t plan to tinker with it. If longevity and customization matter more to you than slim design or raw power, the Framework is in a class of its own.
Dell XPS 13 (2024): Choose this if you want the ultimate ultraportable experience – extreme battery life, strong performance, and a cutting-edge design – and you don’t mind paying for it. The XPS 13 will appeal to professionals and road warriors who need a super-light laptop that can literally run all day (and then some) without a charge. It’s also a fit for those who appreciate innovative design and are okay with using a few dongles. If you require lots of built-in ports or upgradability, look elsewhere. But if you want arguably the best blend of power and portability in 2025, the XPS 13 is hard to beat. It basically delivers a MacBook-like experience (even outlasting some Macs) in the Windows ecosystem techradar.com tomsguide.com. Just factor in the premium price – and maybe buy a USB-C hub – and you’ll have a superb little machine that sets a new standard for battery endurance in its class.
Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro 360: Choose this if you’re after a premium large-screen 2-in-1 that can do it all – work, creativity, and entertainment – and you want a device that impresses in any mode. The Galaxy Book4 Pro 360 is ideal for creative professionals, designers, or media lovers who will make use of that gorgeous 16-inch OLED and the S Pen functionality. It’s also great for anyone who wants a big display but still values portability and battery life (rare combination). If you’re in the Samsung ecosystem (Galaxy phone/tablet), the seamless integration is a bonus. Its drawbacks (cost, soldered RAM, so-so speakers) are typical for an ultra-slim flagship. If you can live with those, the Book4 Pro 360 offers a luxurious, versatile computing experience – essentially a high-end desktop canvas that you can fold up and carry under your arm. It’s pricey, but as Samsung proved this round, you do get what you pay for in screen quality and all-around capability.

In terms of current developments (as of August 2025): No immediate successors have been announced for these models yet. However, the tech landscape moves fast. Intel’s next-gen chips and Qualcomm’s follow-ups could see updated versions of the XPS or Galaxy Book in 2026, and Framework might release upgraded mainboards to keep the Laptop 12 current. For now, though, these three represent some of the best and most interesting laptops of 2024–2025. Whether you prioritize a laptop that’s built to last, built to last all day, or built to do it all, you have a fantastic option on this list. Each brings something unique to the table, and all have earned praise from experts in the field. Consider what matters most for your use case, and you’ll be well on your way to picking the perfect ultraportable partner.

Tags: Laptops, Tech Comparison, Ultraportable