Samsung is preparing to expand its line-up of Book-branded devices with a new Windows laptop dubbed that Galaxy Book S, based on newly leaked images from Evan Blass. The new device breaks with tradition in terms of design, suggesting that it might represent an entirely new member to the family when it lands.
That’s because there are some big differences in the expectations for the follow-up to the Samsung Galaxy Book 2. Namely, the Samsung Galaxy Book S doesn’t seem to follow the family’s traditional design at all.
Previous Galaxy Book devices have all been tablets with detachable keyboards. The newly leaked renders don’t appear to follow that trend. Viewed from the side, the Samsung Galaxy Book S has a hooked curve at the back. The shape would not only make the device awkward to hold as a tablet. The inside of that also seems to attach directly to the keyboard and t
The implication is that this won’t be a 2-in-1 either since that shape wouldn’t work well for that. When folded around into a tablet, the hook would leave a large gap at the leading edge.
There aren’t too many other details that can be derived from the leaked renders, either. A single USB-C port is pictured, placed next to a 3.5mm audio jack in the left-hand edge. Those are both set toward the back of the device. The rest of the edge is slimmed down to a blade-like design. Other ports may be included on the right-hand edge as well.
The addition of a Galaxy Book S to Samsung’s lineup of upcoming devices isn’t entirely unexpected or surprising. Branding for the new device was leaked late last month but this is the first time the device has shown up in renders.
Previous rumors have indicated that Samsung has been preparing an update to its Book-branded devices with a Samsung Book 3. That has been rumored to utilize a Snapdragon 855 SoC and at least 6GB of RAM as recently as last month.
Other widespread reports have suggested that the Windows-based laptop will feature as much as 8GB of RAM.
Samsung is revamping its Galaxy Note smartphone lineup this year with the release of multiple variants. So that seems to be a trend for the company right now.
Whether or not Samsung plans to announce the new device at IFA 2019 in early September or at its Unpacked event later this week remains to be seen.
Regardless, Samsung doesn’t seem to have embedded its iconic garaged S Pen in the frame of the new Galaxy Book, either. That doesn’t necessarily mean that there won’t be one included. There doesn’t seem to be anywhere that would be stored either in the angles shown. So this breaks with effectively every tradition of the “Book” brand.
So it may be the case that the new device isn’t intended as a direct successor to the Galaxy Book 2 at all. The Samsung Galaxy Book S may be a completely separate model in the family. It that’s the case, it’s likely meant to compete with traditional ultra-portable laptops running Windows or macOS instead of Surface-branded machines.
No details about pricing or availability have leaked out just yet.
