For a higher-end device, built with 8th gen Intel Core i7 inside, Windows 10 Home, LED display, and a record-breaking battery, this could only be a new notebook from Samsung. Said to help bring versatility to the table by being flexible and multi-functional, this could be the perfect Notebook 9 refresh from Samsung (not to be confused with the Notebook 9 Pro with the S Pen). With multiple size options, focusing on the 15-inch model is best for folks who are really wanting to get serious biz done, that, and the less-than 3 pound footprint, makes it all the more enticing.

Although incomparable to the latest news in laptop and hybrid PC technology, a.k.a. the incorporation of all-day battery power and even ARM CPUs, it’s almost refreshing to talk about a new edition of one of the thinnest and lightest 15-inchers from 2017. No, it does not happen to sport 20-22 hours of battery life, but for an Intel-powered laptop, this had one of the longest battery lives of 2017, more than 12 hours (some of the longest batteries out there barely hit 12 hours, however the Dell XPS 13 9360 featuring InfinityEdge display maxed out at 14 hours). However, now Samsung is utilizing a bigger and better battery than ever. This 75WH Hexacell battery helps increase its lifeline without charge, and a fast charging port for a quick boost.

The 2018 Samsung Notebook 9 is more-or-less a commensurate to the 2017 edition, yet better, due to its increased power and performance. The design, encased in magnesium-alloy, dubbed Metal12, is lighter and more durable than the previous Notebook 9’s wrapped metal exterior. With a 15-inch Full HD 1920 x 1080 touchscreen display, a weight of just 2.48 pounds. Samsung wants its users to know this is quite the adaptable being, with a backlit keyboard and Precision touchpad. Using Windows Hello and a fingerprint reader for log-in isn’t new to notebooks, however, Samsung did add some software tools, including Samsung Message, a voice-activated note-taking app, and Studio Plus for media creativity.

Internal hardware is all good news, a trend so far in this report. The Intel inside is the latest 8th Gen Core i7 CPU processor, as well as Nvidia GeForce MX150 discrete graphics. These are great specs, and along with up to 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of NVMe PCIe SSD storage, this particular Samsung notebook should keep up with all types of your own work. Other key features include of course a USB-C port, a Thunderbolt 3 for charging, 1 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI output, and a microSD card slot.

Could the Notebook 9 be a representation of what an Ultrabook is meant to be? There are plenty of notebooks and laptops that provide easy transformation, so, perhaps the difference is surrounded more around the “largest and most powerful battery placed inside a notebook”. At least that’s what the Windows Central Editor-in-Chief seems to think so, dubbing it traditional, yet also exceptional. On its way soon, Samsung will also be updating its regular Notebook 9 models, in both 13.3-inch and 15-inch screen sizes. That’s 3 variations total, (including the one in this report), expected to release in the first quarter of 2018.