Samsung releases new lightweight Galaxy Book

Samsung is re-entering the Australian notebook market for the first time since 2007 with an ultralight offering to rival MacBook Air.

More than a decade after the company stopped selling laptops in Australia, Samsung has revealed plans to win consumers back with a slender device to rival Apple’s MacBook Air.

The company unveiled its new notebook ambitions in New York this morning, showing off the Galaxy Book S that is less than 2mm thin and weighs under one kilogram.

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The device, which will arrive in stores later this year, will be the first Samsung laptop launched in Australia since 2007 after the company cited an “extremely competitive” market as a reason to abandon local sales.

Samsung Electronics Australia product and services director Eric Chou told News Corp the company’s decision to re-enter the Australian notebook market was partly due to a new partnership with Microsoft, and partly because the new laptop came with an always-on mobile internet connection that played to its strengths.

Galaxy Book S is Samsung’s answer to MacBook Air. Picture: Supplied

“We’ve spoke to Microsoft about this,” he said. “They do believe that clamshell has the potential to be more popular than detachable (tablet computers).”

Mr Chou said the new Galaxy Book S would be seen as an “extension” to its Windows tablet line-up, including the Galaxy Book2, and Samsung was in talks to sell the notebook through telcos, Microsoft stores, and electronics retailers.

The Galaxy Book S will be even slimmer than its rival, the MacBook Air. Picture: Supplied

The new Samsung computer will go head-to-head with its well known Apple rival, the MacBook Air, as its body will be slightly slimmer, 29 grams lighter, and promises to last 11 hours longer on a single charge.

The Windows notebook also features a 13.3-inch touchscreen, a magnesium alloy keyboard for durability, 8GB RAM, 256GB storage, and space for a SIM card and MicroSD card up to one terabyte in size.

Samsung did not reveal an Australian price for the upcoming laptop, however, though Mr Chou insisted it would be “competitive”.

Research indicates that ultra-portable laptops are making a comeback and Samsung wants a piece of the market. Picture: Supplied

New Gartner research shows ultraportable laptops are making a comeback, with an extra six million sales expected this year compared to 2018, rising by an additional 11 million sales by 2021.

Samsung will go head-to-head for a piece of the market with other, more established notebook manufacturers, however, including Dell, Lenovo, HP, and Microsoft itself.

Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson travelled to New York as a guest of Samsung.

Originally published as Samsung releases new lightweight Galaxy Book