Well, Samsung seems to be hell-bent on revealing all its new laptops even before CES starts. 1st there was the trio of Notebook 9 models announced last month. And currently, the company is talking up a brand new version of its Notebook 7 Spin. For those not aware, the original 13.3-inch Spin introduced in 2016 as a relatively cheap laptop that became a slightly unwieldy tablet. And this updated version does not stray far from Samsung’s original formula.
There is no firm word on pricing or availability yet — all we all know is that the machine will land in the U.S. someday in Q1 2018. However changes here are largely what you’d expect. Samsung dumped the i5-6200U chipset from the original Spin in favor of a more trendy. 8th-generation i5 processor paired with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. It also packs a fingerprint sensor for fast logins (thanks to Windows Hello). A feature that has quickly become de rigueur for mid-range machines. And like that tweaked Notebook 9s, the 2018 Spin packs a handful of arguably helpful software features. Most notably a tool that uses a built-in far field microphone to capture recordings from “meetings or lectures.”
We are a little less excited that the 2018 Spin has 1 fewer full-size USB port (leaving only 1 type C port, 1 USB 3.0 port, and 1 USB 2.0 port) and a somewhat smaller battery than its predecessor. Here is hoping those omissions are reflected in the machine’s final price tag. The Spin design is somewhat unusual, too — while the original had 1 long hinge that spanned almost the complete length of the display. The 2018 version has a more traditional 2-hinge setup. This probably will not pose issues for too several Samsung fans. But the original’s long hinge design was a neat flourish that also helped the machine feel a little more stable.
Strangely enough, there is no word on an updated 15-inch Spin model, but hey — using a device with a display that large as a tablet felt pretty clunky anyway. Neither of the new 15-inch Notebook 9s is 2-in-1s either. So if you are itching for a big slab of a Samsung machine that doubles as a tablet. The only real option available is that the Notebook 9 pro released earlier this year.
