Samsung NP700Z5A-S03US Pro Reviews

A stylish laptop offering high-end performance – but it’s expensive

Samsung sure knows how to eye the competition, and by competition I mean, Apple. For $500 less than the MacBook Pro ($660 at some retailers this season), the Series 7 has a very good blend of performance, graphics muscle, and battery life. However, we knew there would be sacrifices, and while the Series 7 might come close to closing the gap with the MacBook Pro on performance, it simply isn't as well-built as Apple's machine. And that can be seen most notably in the keyboard, touchpad, and the screen quality. The Dell XPS 15z is definitely made of better parts, but for the same price as the Series 7 you'll be giving up the quad-core power and slightly better AMD graphics. My hope is that the new HP Envy 15 can round-out all those issues and provide a true MacBook Pro competitor on both those performance and build-quality levels, and some may want to hold out for that. However, if you can live with those shortcomings, and I suspect many can for the amount of performance and graphics power you get for $1,300, Samsung has crafted one of the best Windows 7 laptops out there. Now, we’ll just see if Apple's lawyers have anything to say about it.

With the Series 7 Chronos, Samsung has turned its talents to making a commoditised version of the Apple MacBook Pro. It has much of the same technology inside, and borrows heavily in certain design cues, but using cheaper materials to allow a lower price. Where the entry-level 15in MacBook Pro costs a handsome £1549, the Samsung can be had for £900. The screen is in some ways better (unless you specifically order an anti-glare for the Mac, at an extra £120) although build quality and ease of use trail some way behind the MacBook.

Samsung's Series 7 Chronos 700Z5A-S03 is the closest Windows equivalent to a MacBook Pro in terms of specs, power, and design and even nearly matches on battery life, but it's $500 less expensive than an entry-level Apple 15-incher.

A bit pricey by PC standards but $500 under a MacBook Pro, the Samsung Series 7 is a winning desktop replacement.