The long wait is over after Samsung finally unveiled two brand new Chromebooks that were made in partnership with Google at CES 2017.
The two Chromebooks could very well be the two laptops that will expand Samsung's user base in the hybrid laptop space, and will compete against Microsoft's Surface hybrids: the Surface Book and Surface Pro 4.
All four devices will be great options for people who are looking into 2-in-1 laptops. All four models come with a stylus: the Samsung Chromebook Pro/Plus has a stylus similar to the one the company used in Galaxy Note 5, while the Microsoft models have the Surface Pen.
Appearance / Weight
The Samsung Chromebook Pro and Plus are built with an all-metal chassis, weighing in at almost 2.4 pounds. On the other hand, the Surface Pro is built with a magnesium silver casing and weighs in at 1.69 pounds at its lightest.
The Surface Book is the heaviest of the three as it weighs in at 3.34 pounds if a keyboard is included.
Display And Resolution
The Samsung Chromebook's 12.3-inch display is protected by a Gorilla Glass 3 LED touchscreen, but its 2,400 x 1,600 display resolution pales in comparison with the other two. The Surface Pro's 12.3-inch PixelSense display has a resolution of 2,736 x 1,824.
The 13.5-inch PixelSense display of the Surface Book is the clear winner in this department because of its 3,000 x 2,000 resolution.
Processor
The differences between the Chromebook Plus and Chromebook Pro are their processors and, of course, their price: the Plus comes with an ARM processor, while the Pro version packs a more powerful punch by using an Intel Core m3 dual-core Skylake chip.
Microsoft's Surface Pro comes in three variants: the Intel Core m3, i5, or i7, while the Surface Book has two: the i5 or the i7.
Memory And Storage
Samsung's Chromebook offers 4 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage. The Surface Pro, on the other hand, starts at 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of hard drive.
If you are looking for a lot of space in your laptop, the Surface Book is the best candidate among the three because it can have up to 16 GB of RAM and up to 1 TB of hard drive.
Connecting Ports And Expansion
The Samsung Chromebook Pro and Chromebook Plus come with two USB-Type C ports that can be used for charging and for 4K video output, as well as a MicroSD card slot. The Surface Pro has one USB 3.0 port and a microSD card reader as well.
Again, the Surface Book emerges as the clear winner in this aspect with its two USB 3.0 ports and a full-size SD card reader.
Price
The Samsung Chromebook is the cheapest among the three since the Plus model can be purchased for $449. The price for the Pro version remains a secret, but it should definitely cost more. The Surface Pro starts at $899, while the Surface Book starts at $1,499.
Modes
Both the Samsung Chromebook laptops and the Surface Pro have a 360-degree rotating hinge that allows users to use the device in different modes.
However, the Surface Book trumps both models when it comes to its spectacular dynamic fulcrum hinge when switching in between laptop, tablet, and drawing modes.
