Samsung Launches Galaxy Book Flex And Ion Project Athena Laptops, Teases Lakefield Galaxy Book S
Both devices use Intel's 10th generation Core processors, but they take slightly different approaches. The Galaxy Book Flex uses Intel's 10nm Ice Lake processors, while the Galaxy Book Ion uses 14nm+ Comet Lake processors. Both processors can be paired with up to 16GB of RAM, with the former using LPDDR4x, while the latter uses DDR4.
Both devices use 13.3-inch or 15.6-inch Full HD (1920x1080) panels that include QLED technology. QLED panels are usually found on Samsung's big screen televisions, and this is the first application of the technology in mobile devices. 13.3-inch models use Intel integrated graphics, while the larger 15.6 models have room to accommodate an NVIDIA GeForce MX250 discrete GPU.
Other features shared between the Galaxy Book Flex and Ion include up to 1TB of storage via a PCIe SSD, Wi-Fi 6, fingerprint biometric security, AKG stereo speakers, backlit keyboards, dual Thunderbolt 3 ports, and an integrated 69.7 Whr battery (which should be good for at least 9 hours of battery life). Another interesting feature is that there is Wireless PowerShare functionality built in the touchpad for charging your Qi-enabled smartphone or Galaxy Buds. That feature wouldn’t be of much use if you’re actively using your laptop, but we guess it could be beneficial if your laptop is sitting idle and unused.
Samsung hasn't announced pricing for Galaxy Book Flex or Galaxy Book Ion, but has indicated that they will ship in December.
In other Intel-related news, Samsung announced that it is also working on a Galaxy Book S device that uses a 10nm Lakefield SoC. For those unfamiliar with Lakefield, it uses Intel's Foveros 3D stacking technology to pack in Sunny Cove CPU cores and incredible amount of functionality (including LTE connectivity) into a tiny, low-power chip. Although Samsung hasn't given a launch date for the Lakefield-powered Galaxy Book S, it says that it will the first such device to arrive on the market, likely beating out Microsoft's Surface Neo.
