Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra
ZDNET’s Comprehensive Overview
Samsung’s highly anticipated Galaxy Book6 Ultra is slated to debut in the early months of spring, marking the arrival of one of the most significant laptop releases of the year. Featuring a luminous 16‑inch AMOLED 3K display and Intel’s cutting‑edge Panther Lake processor, the device is positioned squarely toward creative professionals, digital artists, and technically demanding users who require both aesthetic precision and computational strength. Yet, as promising as this next‑generation machine appears, it also inherits a few familiar shortcomings from its predecessor—most notably, aspects of its industrial design and a persistent inclination to run somewhat warmer under pressure.
I have spent the past several weeks thoroughly evaluating Samsung’s newest flagship notebook, and from the moment I lifted the lid of the Galaxy Book6 Ultra, it became apparent that the company was determined to refine what had already worked so well in the previous Galaxy Book5 Pro. Rather than reinventing the formula, Samsung has concentrated on expanding the elements that defined its success. This approach includes improvements to battery longevity, reinforced structural design, and a more polished user experience throughout.
At the same time, many of the device’s most compelling aspects coexist with vestiges of earlier frustrations, creating an experience that feels simultaneously familiar and elevated. To understand where Samsung has progressed—and where it continues to face challenges—let’s delve into the details of design, display, performance, and thermal management.
Refined Yet Familiar Design Language
At first glance, the Galaxy Book6 Ultra could easily be mistaken for the Galaxy Book5 Pro. The two models share a remarkably similar physical identity. The most noticeable alteration comes down to scale: the Book6 Ultra is marginally larger, measuring approximately 14.05 × 9.76 × 0.6 inches and weighing just under four pounds. While this expansion suggests additional heft, the device remains impressively slim for a machine of its category. Samsung even re‑engineered the internal printed circuit board (PCB) layout to distribute weight more evenly, an adjustment that ensures the laptop passes the notable ‘one‑finger lift test’—a hallmark of premium craftsmanship—with effortless ease.
The display, however, remains entirely unchanged from the former generation, which is by no means a criticism. The 16‑inch AMOLED touchscreen delivers a rich 3K resolution, dazzling color reproduction, and pristine contrast levels. Its peak HDR brightness of 1,000 nits enables vivid highlights even under strong ambient light, while the adaptive 120Hz refresh rate guarantees fluid motion whether you are designing, scrolling, or gaming. Protected by Corning Gorilla Glass with DXC coating, the panel retains durability while minimizing reflections. It is clear Samsung understood the display was one of the Galaxy Book5 Pro’s greatest triumphs, and wisely decided to preserve it intact.
The audio experience, in contrast, has received a meaningful overhaul. The six‑speaker configuration—comprising four force‑canceling woofers and two finely tuned tweeters—produces crisp, room‑filling sound that retains astonishing detail across frequencies. The tuning allows instruments, vocals, and environmental noises in cinematic content to remain distinct even at higher volumes, with minimal distortion thanks to the opposing woofers that cancel unwanted vibrations. Still, the bass response leaves a bit to be desired, particularly for genres such as hip‑hop or electronic music, where listeners expect more pronounced depth and punch.
Turning to ergonomics, the keyboard deck and trackpad present a mix of refinement and inconsistency. The wrist rest, though visually minimal, has edges that feel slightly abrupt during long typing sessions, occasionally pressing against the palms in a distracting manner. The keyboard itself is an incremental improvement—it is firmer and less spongy compared to the Book5 Pro—but the shallow key travel hampers overall comfort. During extended writing, I noticed a slight reduction in typing speed and an uptick in minor errors. Fortunately, these shortcomings are partially offset by the enormous, exceptionally responsive trackpad positioned below. Its generous dimensions make multi‑touch gestures seamless and precise, which significantly enhances navigation and productivity.
Performance and Panther Lake Power
The review configuration I tested came equipped with Intel’s Core Ultra 7 356H processor, 32 gigabytes of RAM, and NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 5070 dedicated GPU—an arsenal of components that solidly establishes the Galaxy Book6 Ultra in the upper tier of performance‑oriented laptops. To place its capabilities in perspective, I compared it against several market competitors, including the Asus ProArt P16, Dell 16 Premium, and Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i (2026 edition)—each designed for high‑performance creative workflows.
Benchmark analysis revealed that Samsung’s newest flagship generally outpaced both the Asus and Dell systems in multi‑threaded workloads, thanks to the efficiency of Intel’s Panther Lake architecture. Lenovo’s model eked out a narrow win only because of its slightly more robust configuration. The practical implications of these figures are notable: video editors and 3D artists will see faster 4 K exports, reduced rendering times, and smoother multitasking when switching between complex projects.
On single‑threaded performance, the Galaxy Book6 Ultra achieved an impressive score of 2,832—ample for fluid everyday computing. Applications launch rapidly, websites render swiftly, and interface responsiveness feels instantaneous. Though Apple’s M5 MacBook Pro registers a stronger 4,111 score, the distinction matters little for most workflows where Samsung’s system already provides snappy day‑to‑day execution. In essence, this laptop caters directly to productivity‑focused professionals who rely on consistency rather than record‑breaking benchmarks.
Thermal Engineering and Usability
Recognizing the heat management limitations of the Book5 Pro, Samsung has revamped the cooling mechanism in the Book6 Ultra. The system now incorporates a redesigned combination of outlet fans and broadened heatsinks that extract thermal buildup from the CPU and GPU more effectively. A larger intake grill underneath enhances airflow, permitting cooler operation during typical usage such as document editing, streaming, or light creative work. Under intensive stress tests—such as prolonged gaming sessions or running the Unigine Superposition benchmark—the machine’s surface temperature rises notably, particularly across the keyboard area. At peak load, it becomes warm enough to warrant brief breaks from direct contact, though during rendering or simulation tasks it stabilizes within tolerable limits. Overall, while significant strides have been made, there remains scope for additional refinement in the cooling solution.
Battery Endurance and Charging Efficiency
Samsung equips the Galaxy Book6 Ultra with an 80.2 Wh cell that demonstrates commendable endurance. In extended trials, the machine lasted just under 20 hours of mixed‑use operation—an outcome slightly below the company’s optimistic 30‑hour claim but still exceptional in real‑world conditions. Rapid‑charging capabilities further complement this longevity; during testing, the battery replenished to 65 percent in approximately 30 minutes, which is invaluable for professionals constantly on the move.
Availability and Pricing Outlook
Although Samsung has not yet disclosed a definitive release date or confirmed pricing, a company representative indicated that the Galaxy Book6 Ultra should reach consumers in early spring 2026. Drawing on precedent—the 32 GB RAM configuration of the Galaxy Book5 Pro currently retails for around $1,750—it is reasonable to anticipate that the enhanced Ultra model, with its upgraded silicon and expanded capabilities, will enter the market near the $2,000 mark.
Prospective buyers can already express interest via Samsung’s official Reserve portal, which offers notifications when the Galaxy Book6 Ultra, the slightly more accessible Book6 Pro, and the base Book6 variant become available. For creative professionals who prioritize display quality, computational muscle, and extended battery life—and who can accommodate a chassis that occasionally runs warm—the Galaxy Book6 Ultra stands as a meticulously refined evolution of Samsung’s premium Windows laptop vision.
Sourse: https://www.zdnet.com/article/samsung-galaxy-book6-ultra-review/
