Samsung updates its Galaxy Book Pro line with 1080p webcams

The two updates to the premium book line are the GALAXY Book 2 Pro and GALAXY Book 2 Pro. The devices will be available for pre-order on March 18th and will be on shelves on April 1st. A budget-oriented version of the regular Galaxy Book will be available for $899.99 on April 1st.

The regular Book 2 360 is only 13.3 inches in size, while the Pro models come in both 13.3 and 15.6 inch sizes. As you can probably guess from the names, the GALAXY Book 2 Pro is a clamshell and the GALAXY Book 2 Pro is a 2-in-1 convertible with a touchscreen and S Pen support.

The devices look and feel similar to the ones we reviewed last year. The smallest version of the book is 1.92 pounds and 0.44 inches thick. It's still one of the lightest laptops you can buy, and picking it up really messes with your mind. It makes very little compromises for that portableness. The 15-incher is able to squeeze an HDMI port into the tiny enclosure. Many laptops of this size are only compatible with theusb-c. The model you anticipate is a bit heavier.

The new models feature high definition webcams. There are some new features in the video-call software that are meant to enhance the experience, such as background and face-effect features, as well as an auto framing tool that keeps you centered as you move around. As more workers embrace remote and hybrid setup, this is a fairly predictable investment.

The displays are brighter than they were last year. I wasn't floored by the brightness on either of the book Pros, so I'm happy to see this change. I didn't have trouble seeing anything on the screens, but I did get some glare from the bright lights in the demo area. Many other premium lines have moved away from this year's 16:9 aspect ratio, because all of these devices still have it.

The Pro convertible is also available in a burgundy color. It is very pretty in person and feels very smooth, though I still prefer the graphite offering.

The devices can be configured with up to a 12th-Gen Core i7 with up to 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. According to the company, they will be certified through Intel's Evo program, which means that the device's performance, battery life, and other important features are up to snuff.

The Pro models meet Microsoft's requirements for a secured-core PC, which means that they include hardware-based security components like TPM 2.0, as well as features consumers might care more about. Both of these devices have power buttons.

Both Pro models support a few SAMSUNG-specific features, which has always been a major draw for GALAXY books. Single Sign-on, Smart switch, and support for the smart home dashboard are included.

Multi Control allows you to use the Tab S8 as a secondary screen with the Book 2 Pro. I tried this out with a 15-inch Book 2 Pro 360 and it was functional, I could drag and drop windows between the two devices, and I could move the cursor back and forth between them. The Tab S8 felt like it was having trouble keeping up with my gestures, though it did eventually follow them. As the release date approaches, I hope this is something that is worked out.

We will have more impressions of the new features of the devices when we have our full reviews.

Monica Chin is the photographer.