Samsung ATIV Book 5 Review

Samsung ATIV Book 5 Review: Sleek Design with Solid Performance

The Samsung ATIV Book 5, released in 2013, was a mid-range ultrabook designed for users who wanted a combination of portability, good performance, and solid build quality. Positioned between high-end and budget laptops, the ATIV Book 5 aimed to provide a balance of power and practicality, making it suitable for both students and professionals.

Design & Build

The ATIV Book 5 had a sleek aluminum and plastic design, giving it a premium look without the premium price tag. The lid was made of brushed aluminum, while the underside and palm rest were crafted from matte plastic. This combination kept the laptop lightweight at 3.6 pounds, making it easy to carry around for work or travel.

Its 0.82-inch thick profile was slim for its time, and the laptop felt sturdy and durable, even though it didn’t have the all-metal build of higher-end ultrabooks. The hinge was solid, and the overall construction felt premium despite being a mid-tier device.

Display

The ATIV Book 5 featured a 14-inch 1366×768 LED display. While the resolution was standard for mid-range laptops at the time, it wasn’t as sharp or vibrant as Full HD or higher-resolution displays found in more expensive ultrabooks. The display provided decent brightness, but the 1366×768 resolution was limiting for users who wanted sharper visuals or used the laptop for tasks like photo editing or watching HD content.

Viewing angles were adequate, and the display was fine for everyday tasks such as browsing, working with documents, and watching videos. However, users looking for more immersive media experiences might find the display resolution underwhelming.

Performance

Powered by an Intel Core i5-3337U processor (1.8 GHz, dual-core) with 4GB of RAM, the ATIV Book 5 offered good performance for most daily tasks. It was well-suited for activities like web browsing, office work, video streaming, and light multitasking. While it wasn’t a powerhouse for demanding applications or gaming, it handled everyday computing needs smoothly.

The Intel HD Graphics 4000 was sufficient for light gaming and casual media editing but struggled with more graphically intensive applications. Users looking for high-end gaming or heavy video editing would find the laptop underpowered for those tasks.

The ATIV Book 5 came with a 500GB hard drive paired with a 24GB SSD for fast boot times and quick access to frequently used programs. While the SSD cache helped improve performance, it didn’t offer the speed or responsiveness of a full SSD.

Battery Life

One of the key strengths of the ATIV Book 5 was its long battery life. The 5440mAh battery provided up to 6-7 hours of usage on a single charge with moderate use, making it a great companion for those who needed a laptop for a full day of work or study. Battery life could vary depending on usage, but for light tasks, the laptop delivered solid all-day performance.

Keyboard & Trackpad

The keyboard on the ATIV Book 5 was well-spaced and comfortable to type on, with good key travel. It was ideal for extended typing sessions, whether writing reports, emails, or coding. The inclusion of a backlit keyboard would have been a bonus, but unfortunately, it wasn’t available on this model.

The trackpad was large and responsive, supporting multi-touch gestures for navigating Windows 8’s interface. It was smooth and accurate, making it easy to scroll, zoom, and switch between apps.

Ports & Connectivity

The ATIV Book 5 had a solid selection of ports for a mid-range ultrabook:

  • 2 USB 3.0 ports
  • 1 USB 2.0 port
  • HDMI output
  • Ethernet port
  • SD card slot
  • 3.5mm audio jack

The inclusion of USB 3.0 ensured fast data transfers, and the HDMI port allowed for easy connection to external displays, making the laptop versatile for work, presentations, or multimedia use. It also had Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n for wireless connectivity.

Audio

The stereo speakers on the ATIV Book 5 were decent, offering clear audio for video calls, music, and video playback. While the sound quality wasn’t exceptional, it was adequate for most users. For more immersive audio, users would benefit from using external speakers or headphones.

Software

The ATIV Book 5 came preloaded with Windows 8, providing access to both traditional desktop applications and newer touch-friendly apps via the Windows Store. While Windows 8’s dual interface wasn’t universally loved, the ATIV Book 5 handled it smoothly.

Samsung included its own software suite, such as S Settings for easy control over system settings and SideSync, which allowed users to connect their Samsung Galaxy phones to the laptop, syncing notifications and even mirroring the phone’s display. These features added value for users within the Samsung ecosystem.

Conclusion

The Samsung ATIV Book 5 was a solid mid-range ultrabook that provided good performance, long battery life, and a sleek design. While its display resolution and hard drive performance might not have been cutting-edge, it delivered strong value for users looking for a portable, everyday laptop for work, study, and light multimedia use.

Pros:

  • Sleek and lightweight design
  • Good performance for everyday tasks
  • Long battery life
  • Solid selection of ports
  • Affordable price for a mid-range ultrabook

Cons:

  • Low display resolution (1366×768) for a mid-tier device
  • No full SSD, only SSD cache for faster boot times
  • Lack of backlit keyboard

Overall, the Samsung ATIV Book 5 was a reliable, stylish, and functional laptop for users who needed a balance of performance and portability without breaking the bank. It wasn’t designed for high-end gaming or heavy content creation but excelled as a versatile device for day-to-day tasks and productivity.

4o