That’s not all although: The Galaxy Chromebook Plus is the primary laptop computer to incorporate Google’s new Quick Insert Key, a bodily key that occupies the area that used to carry the launcher key. Urgent it offers you quick entry to shortcuts for emoji, GIFs, the clipboard, and up to date hyperlinks and paperwork. It’s additionally built-in with Google Drive to allow you to seek for something, and you’ll ask Gemini AI that can assist you write instantly from the pop-up menu.
It’s a superb addition, although it’s one thing you’ll must consciously keep in mind to make use of in the event you’ve used Chromebooks for some time. I largely ended up utilizing it as a GIF or emoji key, however it’s additionally a good way to shortly entry searching historical past. Given my job, it’s laborious to evaluate the usefulness of getting an AI writing assistant obtainable at a keypress, although I may see it being helpful for college kids or professionals engaged on shows or emails.
{Photograph}: Daniel Thorp-Lancaster
A giant characteristic Samsung promotes with the Galaxy Chromebook Plus is its battery life, claiming as much as 13 hours on a cost. I did not attain that quantity in regular use, however I regularly clocked 9 to 11 hours relying on what I used to be doing. Samsung despatched me a evaluation unit with a European charging brick, so I can’t communicate to its fast-charging capabilities. Nevertheless, my Anker charger managed to prime it again up in round 1.5 hours.
The one main weak point of the Galaxy Chromebook Plus? It is one shared by many different Chromebooks: middling audio system. They’re each downward-firing and sound fairly skinny it doesn’t matter what you’re listening to. It’s a sacrifice I’m OK with given the general thickness of the laptop computer, however it’s value noting if that’s a deal-breaker in your laptop computer alternative. Convey a good pair of wireless headphones, earbuds, or computer speakers in the event you care about sound high quality.
The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus is a singular possibility within the Chromebook area proper now. Regardless of its thin-and-light design, Samsung took the time to dial in an expertise with only a few sacrifices. For $700, it is a superb purchase for anybody who desires a premium clamshell Chromebook you possibly can take anyplace with little fuss. Notably, there’s no touchscreen, and the clamshell design received’t be for everybody. For those who want a 2-in-1 design or pen-and-ink capabilities, you may get a equally premium expertise across the identical value with the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714.
