The Windows-based ultra-portable competitors to the MacBook Air keep on coming, and the newest challenger from Samsung definitely has the chic look down.
Under 3 pounds and just 0.64 inches thick, the 9 Series laptop has the requisite svelte specs, but it adds some sexiness with the curved lines and brushed-metal case design. Samsung fashioned the notebook from duralumin, which it claims is twice as strong as aluminum. It’s also given the system a 13.3-inch LED-backlit display with a high 400-nit brightness and ambient light sensors that automatically adjust lighting levels to suit the environment in which you’re viewing the screen.
The base 9 Series innards are highlighted by an Intel Core i5-2537M processor, one of the new Sandy Bridge ultra-low-voltage chips. That configuration also comes with 4GB of RAM, 128 solid-state drive, and a 64-bit version of Windows 7. Versions with Core i7 CPUs, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD will also be available. Samsung claims 6.5 hours of battery life for the laptop.
Samsung can’t compete with the MacBook Air on price, however, as the Series 9 will start at $1,599 when it hits the market next month.
