Samsung’s unpacked event brought plenty of fantastic Galaxy Books, including the Galaxy Book2 360, Galaxy Book2 Pro, and Galaxy Book2 Pro 360. Each of these devices features Samsung’s iconic Galaxy performance and has plenty of twists of their own. But what really caught our eyes is the Galaxy Book 2 Pro which boasts an ultra-thin chassis, powerful specs, and tons of perky features for the business and Student segment. However, there is a worthy alternative for this notebook from Dell, the XPS 13 Plus. Currently, it is one of the sleekest looking laptops with advanced performance and bears a close resemblance to the Galaxybook2 Pro. So, today we are going to compare these two laptops head-on to figure out which one has the upper hand over the other.
Design
Design-wise, both of these laptops look thin and minimalist, making them ideal for the student or business class. Galaxy Book 2 Pro boasts a clamshell design and is available in both 13 and 15-inch models. It comes in 2 color variants, Silver and Graphite, where both give off a premium vibe. Surprisingly, the 13-inch model weighs only about 1.91 Pounds, which almost feels weightless. You also get a Fingerprint sensor that offers seamless log-on.
As the name suggests, the Dell XPS 13 Plus comes in 13-inch size, has a flat appearance to it, and weighs about 2.73 Pounds. You get two color variants for this notebook which are silver and white. The most unique thing about this laptop is its Capacitive Touch Row which lets you save up a wide selection of commands. So comparably, Galaxy Book 2 Pro is lighter and has multiple models to choose from. But the Capacitive touch row is what makes the XPS 13 Plus unique.
Ports
Looking at the ports, you only get 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports on the XPS 13 Plus, which sums it up in terms of wired connectivity. Galaxy Book2 Pro, however, has a wide fleet of ports. It offers an HDMI, 1 USB-C, 1 Thunderbolt 4, a USB 3.2, a 3.5mm audio combo jack, and a MicroSD slot. Clearly, you get more connectivity options on the Galaxy Book 2 Pro. The 2 Thunderbolt 4 connections on the XPS 13 Plus might be limited but can also be broadened up with the help of an external USB-C dock.
Display
Galaxy Book 2 Pro can get as bright as 400 nits and 500 nits for HDR contents through its 1920 x 1080p AMOLED display. XPS 13 Plus, on the other hand, has plenty of display variations ranging from Full HD to 3.5K Oled panels. The price tag is also likely to escalate depending on your preference. Nonetheless, you can expect up to 500nits of brightness from the standard Full HD model.
Internal Specs
With that aside, let’s take a look at what these portable machines are packing under the hood. The 13-Inch Galaxy Book 2 Pro is equipped with Intel’s 12th Gen i5 or i7, up to 32 GB of DDR5 RAM, and 1 TB of PCIe SSD storage. A 63 Watt-hour battery powers it, and Samsung ensures up to 21 hours of backup from it. The most striking change is the 1080p webcam with Auto Framing feature that will come in handy for video calls and online meetings. Additional perks include Wifi 6E, Bluetooth 5.1, Backlit Keyboard, and 2, 4W AKG speakers. Moving on to Dell XPS 13 Plus, it shares the same specs as the GalaxyBook 2 Pro, with the only exception being 2TB of storage instead of 1. You also get a Quad 8 Watt stereo speaker setup, a 720p HD webcam, Wifi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity options.
Pricing
The base GalaxyBook 2 Pro 13-inch retails for about 1050 dollars, while the XPS 13 Plus has an approximate price tag of 1200 dollars.
Final Verdict
So? Which of these notebooks is the best? Truth be told, that is debatable. While you get more or less the same specs on these laptops, they have a certain twist of their own. For example, you get more storage on the XPS 13 Plus, a Capacitive touch bar, and a subtle speaker system, while the GalaxyBook 2 Pro costs less, has a better camera, and weighs less than the XPS 13 Plus. If you often participate in virtual meetings and want to save up some bucks, you can go for the GalaxyBook 2 Pro. Otherwise, XPS 13 Plus will suffice.
