First look: Samsung is targeting the lower-cost laptop market with the Galaxy Book6, a 14-inch Windows notebook starting at $799. Powered by Intel Wildcat Lake processors, the system is aimed at everyday work, school, web use, and streaming rather than the higher-end workloads handled by Samsung's premium Galaxy Book models. That puts the new laptop in competition with Apple's MacBook Neo, though Samsung is betting on a different mix of features.
Samsung's model starts at a higher price than the Neo, but it offers a larger display, more built-in ports, and a much higher claimed battery life rating. Apple's laptop does have a sharper and brighter screen, though.
Samsung has not identified the processors used in the Book6, though the available options are expected to be Intel's Core 3 304 and Core 5 315 chips from its Wildcat Lake lineup. The Core 3 model is the lower-end option, while the Core 5 version should provide more room for heavier daily workloads.
The base configuration includes 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. Samsung will also offer configurations with up to 16GB of memory and 1TB of storage.
Samsung says the Book6 can run for up to 25 hours on its 61.2Wh battery. Apple rates the MacBook Neo for up to 16 hours. Those figures are not directly comparable without independent testing, since battery life changes with screen brightness, workloads, software, and wireless use. Nevertheless, Samsung's rating is one of the most important parts of its pitch for the laptop.
The Book6 has a 14-inch display with a 1,920 x 1,200 resolution and a peak brightness rating of 350 nits. Apple's MacBook Neo uses a 2,408 x 1,506 panel rated at 500 nits. That gives Apple an advantage for users who place a premium on display sharpness and brightness, while Samsung is betting that battery life and a slightly larger screen will carry more weight with some buyers.
Samsung also gives the Book6 a more versatile port selection than many thin laptops. It includes two USB-C ports, a USB-A port, HDMI, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4 are included, along with stereo speakers that support Dolby Atmos.
The laptop measures 15.7mm thick and weighs 1.35kg, or about 2.97 pounds. That keeps it within the range of portable 14-inch systems while leaving room for HDMI and USB-A.
The Book6 differs from the Panther Lake-equipped Galaxy Book6 models Samsung previously introduced. Its use of Wildcat Lake places it in a more affordable part of the company's lineup.
Samsung will first sell the Book6 in select markets before expanding availability. Its ability to compete with the MacBook Neo will depend on final pricing for the better-equipped versions and on how the Wildcat Lake processors and battery hold up in real-world testing.
