Samsung 9 Series Notebook Sets its Sights on the Macbook Air
Samsung Series 9 13.3"
So, a brand other than Pansonic has arrived to deliver a product that can compete with the MacBook Air. Panasonic has long been involved in the lightweight PC market, but has never been able (nor really tried) to come close to the price point of the MacBook Air. The Panasonics can deliver i7 processors, weigh less than 3lbs, and go for 15 hrs on a charge; but it will cost you (usually between 3k and 5k). The new Samsung Series 9 comes somewhere in between the MacBook Pro and the high-performance Panasonics. Check out the new offering from Samsung in the video below.
- Screen: 13.3″ 1366 x 768 (Super Bright 400 nit)
- Processor: Intel Core i5 2537M 1.4 Ghz (2.3 Ghz Turbo Boost)
- SSD: 128 GB
- RAM: 4 GB
- Ports: MicroSD Card Slot, USB 2.0 (x3), HDMI Input
- Battery: 6.5 hrs
- Dimensions: 12.9″ x 8.9″ x .64″
- Weight: 2.88 lbs
- Material: Duralumin
- Starting Price: $1599
13" MacBook Air
The closest comparable configuration of the MacBook Air comes in at $1,799.
13″ MacBook Air Specs ($1799 custom)
- Screen: 13.3″ 1440 x 900
- Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.13 Ghz
- SSD: 256 GB
- RAM: 4 GB
- Ports: SD Card Slot, USB 2.0 (x2), Mini-Display Port
- Battery: 7 hrs
- Dimensions: 12.8″ x 8.94″ x .68″
- Weight: 2.9 lbs
- Material: Aluminum
- Starting Price: $1299
How They Stack Up:
The thing that Apple does best is hardware. Whether or not you’re a fan of Apple you can’t deny that their hardware is always top of the line and always looks clean and professional. That being said, Samsung has done it right too. Samsung has used Duralumin to make their new Series 9 notebooks. That’s cool…but what’s Duralumin? According to a Laptop Magazine interview, “Duralumin is a strong, reliable, and lightweight material normally used in advanced aircraft.” It’s pretty cool to think that your computer is made of the same material used to make the planes flying thousands of feet above your head.
The new Samsung Series 9 even manages to best the MacBook Air in dimensions and weight. And processors? The MacBook Air doesn’t even come close. A second generation i5 wipes the floor with the very out-dated Core 2 Duo. Even the upgraded Core 2 Duo of the MacBook Air can’t compete. Some people might not care about the additional computing power offered by the i5, but I would expect most would want the option to run heavier programs even when they are on the go.
The 13″ MacBook Air has a lower entry price which gives it an advantage with cost-conscious consumers. You have the option to build up the Air, but the Series 9 comes almost fully loaded (only option is Win 7 Pro). When I customized the Air to be able to best compare to the Series 9 it ended up coming a bit ahead of the Samsung ($100 over). But, as you can see, it manages double the storage. That’s a big deal. It also has a slightly higher pixel screen and a slightly better batter life (30 min).
In the end it’s pretty much a toss-up. It comes down to deciding whether you want more storage and a slower processor or vice versa. Oh, and of course your preference for OS X or Win 7. Either way you’ll end up with a great ultra-portable PC.
Back in the old days, each new generation of processor was at least twice as fast as the outgoing generation. But times have changed. I don’t think you can say that the Samsung’s i5 “wipes the floor” with the MBA’s Core 2 Duo at all.
I’m linking to a page that benchmarks two models of the Alienware M11X, one with an i7 and the other with a C2D. Not exactly the same as the Samsung vs. MBA but should be in the same ballpark, and the i7 turns out to be only ~15% faster on PCMark. Admittedly on more esoteric tests such as 3D rendering it’s up to 50% faster but that’s hardly an earth shattering difference.
I tried to find specific benchmarks for the i5-2537M relative to the Mac’s Core2 Duo, but was unable to do so. I do know that the i5 is second generation Sandy Bridge, which is more efficient and faster than the first generation i5s. I believe the Air is running the P7450 Intel Core2 Duo.The Core2 Duo is from 1/09 while the 2nd gen i5 is from 1/11. As I’m sure you know 2 years can make a massive difference in the tech world. Because I don’t have the actual benches you may be right that it might not wipe the floor, but I’m sure you would agree that there would be a noticeable difference in performance especially over time.
Hi there. Just wanted to say thanks for the article. I’m interested in buying one of these two computers and your comparison is very helpful.
Glad to be of service Tom. Good luck with your new notebook!
The Air looks like the right fit for a girl while the Series 9 looks like it packs a sophisticated, masculine punch.
Seriously, I agree with Tom on the “need” issue. I’m running a C2D (2.5GHz, 6MB cache) system together together with a 128GB SSD HDD and am wracking my brains as to the “why” of a new laptop. Three years and no complaints. None.
Wait, could it be the styling, materials, and Sandy Bridge punch? YES. I might take a road trip and visit one of those Microsoft stores when this finally arrives.
Hey, that’s a clever way of tnikhing about it.