Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 Review

In the past, you have to search very hard to find premium laptops running Google’s OS. But currently, there are so many of them from different top brands. 2018 was a very good year for those looking for such types of enterprise systems. And these brands have continued bringing more models into the market.

Today, Samsung has joined the party by manufacturing one of the best in the market right now. The Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 oozes quality in every area. The outward appearance, inner built, and performance is something any system enthusiast will be proud of. This system is incredibly fast as it comes with Intel’s 8th generation processor. If you’re about to get a Chromebook for your office use, this model could be the right one for you. Let’s find out why the model stands out among other options in the market.

 

Design

The Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 has one of the sleekest designs you will ever see in a Chromebook. It comes with a drab grey exterior that fits it perfectly. The weight of the Chromebook just 3 pounds, which makes it one of the lightest Chromebooks around. It is easy to carry while traveling. Besides, as a convertible laptop, you can use it as a laptop as well as an iPad. This convenient feature makes it an excellent choice for those looking for a portable laptop for both office and home use. However, it’s heavier than its predecessor that weighed just under 2.5 pounds. This is understandable considering the number of features this model possesses.

The display itself is another impressive feature of the Chromebook. When you compare this with the display features of other high-end laptops, you will realize that this model has a very bright display. It comes with Samsung’s AMOLED screen technology, which gives it a glossy finish and full HD resolution.

Although the laptop is designed for office tasks, the display makes it a nice machine for video streaming. The color temperature is a bit warmer than what you get from other models. It has a slightly reddish tint, which gives it an attractive look. Actually, the screen of this Samsung Chrome Plus V2 is what makes it stand out among other Chromebooks in the market.

However, if you’re in the market for this Chromebook because of its lighter weight, you should remember that it comes with a higher resolution as well. The 2400×1600 with an aspect ratio of 3:2 is quite rare. It could pose a viewing problem, especially when most movies are made in the 16:9 aspect ratio.  That means that the screen could have some dark patches at both ends of the screen when watching movies. This negative aspect is very common among Chromebooks because they are not designed for movies. They are built to enhance the experience of enterprise users. But the aspect ratio is just perfect for office users because it offers a broader and wider view when working with office tools.

That is why it’s important to know why you need a laptop before choosing one. If you’re looking for a laptop for games and movies, this model is not the right one for you. When you look at the design, display features, screen, and overall features, the Chromebook is just perfect for the office and business use.

Performance

Whatever you want to do with the system, you have to consider performance first. Fortunately, Samsung V2 Chromebook is high on the criterion. It has upgraded to the better Intel Celeron, which is pretty efficient on a wide range of tasks. The processor may not be the best, but it gives you exactly what you need – speed. With 4GB memory, there’s enough memory for multitasking or for running different apps at a time. The processor is designed in a way to keep the battery life a bit longer. Those who like running different browser windows and multiple apps will enjoy the speed of the system.

The battery capacity is also strong. If you are streaming videos, it can take you up to 6 hours. But it can last up to 10 hours if you’re surfing the net or working on Office Suite. That’s enough time for you to complete your tasks on the system, even when there’s no power supply for a long time.

Its screen has a top-quality panel as it offers 300 nits of brightness. The panel comes with a 1920 x 1200 screen resolution and a wide viewing angle. Its panel is solidly built and very responsive. It is one of the best panels on a Chromebook system. The 16:10 aspect ratio is the same as Apple’s Macbook line of products. It helps broaden the viewing angle of the screen, which is a good thing if you are gaming with the system. It’s different from the 3:2 aspect ratio, but the viewing size and viewing quality are impressive.

With the screen size and the resolution, the processor will not have to work too much, which conserves battery time for you. Chrome has an excellent scaling option, as it gives you so many options to reposition the screen size. However, the brightness may be a problem when working outdoors because of the rays. That will not be a big issue as you are more likely going to use the system under sunlight on rare occasions. When you focus on the performance that matters, the system delivers.

Connections

The connections for This model is quite moderate. It has a headphone/mic jack, a microSD card slot, USB type A slot, and 2 USB type C ports. The speakers are also pretty standard. Remember that Samsung Chromebook V2 is not designed for its sound output.

If you’re looking for a system with high sound output, your best bet would be a gaming laptop. This one comes with moderate speakers that perform relatively normal. The sound is still fuller and louder than many other Chromebook models. It delivers crisp and clear sounds that soothing to listen to. It has much depth than many other Chromebooks in the market.

The Chromebook comes with 32 GB of eMMC storage, 4GB of RAM, and an Intel Celeron 3965Y processor that retains good speed for all kinds of programs and applications. Although it would not be able to beat some other models for speed, the Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 will be enough for most word processing tasks. But if the purpose is for gaming, we advise you to consider other laptop models meant strictly for gaming. Those laptops have enough power in them. On the other hand, this model is specifically for office applications. That’s where it performs exceptionally well.

However, it’s faster than the previous model of the Samsung Chromebook. The needed upgrade made on the Chromebook was a good thing for office users. It gets around 70-75 on the speedometer and around 14,000 on Octane. This puts it at par with other high-end laptops when it comes to speed. And the fact that it’s more affordable makes it an even better bargain.

It is strong enough to deal with several tasks at the same time, including music playback, IDE, graphics editor, and the handling of multiple other tabs.

Keyboard and trackpad

Chromebooks are designed mainly for office use. The keyboard is well designed for soft touch typing. It is very responsive to the fingers, and still stiff enough. However, the keyboard lacks backlighting. This is not a big deal, but its still a negative aspect of the system. The keys have impressive ravel and click. If you have a marathon typing task, it keeps the fingers in the right shape until your work is done. Some laptop keyboards are somehow stiff, which will not be great for long bouts of typing. The keyboard that comes with this model is quite responsive.  That makes it ideal for long hours of typing.

The trackpad is also great. It stays smooth and resists oils to give you an enjoyable experience. Also, the click system is responsive and quiet, which makes the trackpad one of the best from Chromebooks.

Also, the pen is smooth on the screen and responds very well. It may be a bit out of place for you if you’re not familiar with the function. But once you master the use of the pen, you would prefer writing on the screen rather than typing, especially when you’re are not having a big typing job. It’s great to have all these features when you are looking for a high-performing system. And when it comes to performance, the Samsung Chromebook V2 surely lives up to expectations.

Tablet Feature

The Chromebook comes with two hinges that help it to rotate 360 degrees. It means you can make use of the system in tablet mode, tent, stand, or laptop mode. With more options to use the system, you have the convenience to use it on the desk, on the sofa, or even while lying on the bed. When you rotate the lid pas 180 degrees, the system automatically takes the shape of a Tablet and provides tablet features.

It expels the cursor and provides the onscreen keyboard. When the system is in tablet or stand mode, the rubber stand at the deck of the keyboard keeps the laptop in place. This prevents it from sliding out. It’s a safety feature designed to keep the system secure while you are working. If you want to use the stylus for taking notes, sketching, or drawing, all you need to do it pull it out from the laptop’s right edge. The pen is small and may break if you’re forcing it out from its slot. So, you have to be careful when you want to use a pen. Yes, some pens from some other systems are stronger.

But none of these systems can compete favorably with this one in terms of cost. Actually, most laptops sold within the price range of this model do not come with a touchscreen pen. So, it’s an additional feature to have a pen in this model.

Second Camera

This is one of the highlights of the Samsung Chromebook Plus V2. It is an additional camera, which is different from the main camera the system has. It is placed at the upper left side of the keyboard’s deck. It will come in handy for someone who wants to take notes as lessons are going on in the class. You can use the laptop in tablet mode and easily capture whatever the teacher has scribbled on the board.  It will help you easily get the notes before the teacher cleans them.

With a resolution of 13 MP, the camera can produce clear and bright photos. The second camera is one feature you are not likely going to see in many other Chromebooks within the same grade as this model.

Conclusion

Chromebooks are now the main choice for a select group of users who are not looking for laptops with heavy built. They are designed to help office workers, business people, and students perform better in their tasks. There are different models and brands of these types of laptops in the market. We have explored the features of the Samsung Chromebook Plus V2. From the above, we can see that the laptop has impressive features that will work fine for all types of office tasks. It is the master of multitasking, based on its high memory capacity. You will also love the fact that its battery lasts for nine good hours. Moreover, it remains one of the least expensive Chromebooks in the market right now. We recommend the laptop if you’re looking for a fast and efficient chromebook for work, school, or business.

Frequently Asked Questions

The following are the most common questions about the Samsung Chromebook Plus V2.

What is Chromebook plus?

It’s the next generation of high-end Chromebooks that are fast and flexible. They are sleek and offer better performance than the previous models.

It is the Chromebook Plus V2. Good for office tasks?

Yes. The Chromebook Plus V2 is designed specifically for office and business use.

Is Chromebook Plus V2 worth it?

Considering the cost and loads of features the Chromebook poses, yes, it is certainly worth it.

What is the best Chromebook?

Acer Chromebook Spin 13, Samsung Chromebook Plus V2, and HP Chromebook 14 are some of the best options in the market.

Why should I buy the Chromebook Plus V2.?

One benefit of having the Chromebook Plus V2 is the speed and strength of the battery. Moreover, it’s less expensive than many other models.