Samsung Electronics has launched a new laptop that supports high-performance artificial intelligence features at a starting price of 1.19 million won ($819). With laptop prices rising sharply on surging memory costs, the company plans to target demand in the mid- to low-priced segment with a model that costs up to about 1 million won less than existing products.
Samsung Electronics (005930) said on the 1st that it had released the New Galaxy Book6 in South Korea. Retail prices range from 1.19 million won to 1.49 million won depending on specifications. That is 410,000 won to 1.02 million won cheaper than the standard Galaxy Book6, which had been the least expensive of this year's earlier models at 1.6 million won to 2.51 million won.
The New Galaxy Book6 cuts costs by lowering specifications from the standard model, strengthening its price competitiveness. For memory, a core component, it uses 8 gigabytes of LPDDR5X, or low-power double data rate memory. The standard model supports 16 to 32 gigabytes. Storage is also reduced to 256 gigabytes, compared with up to 1 terabyte on the standard model. The neural processing unit, the AI chip, delivers up to 15 TOPS, or 15 trillion operations per second, again below the standard model's maximum of 49 TOPS.
In return, the New Galaxy Book6 keeps the same 14-inch display as the standard model while adding value elsewhere. It weighs 1.35 kilograms, lighter than the standard version, and offers battery capacity for up to 25 hours of video playback, fast charging that reaches up to 33% in 30 minutes, and anti-glare technology to reduce reflections. It also carries the same AI features as existing models, including AI Cut Out, which quickly removes unwanted backgrounds from images.
Samsung is running a promotion through the 8th of this month offering cash-equivalent benefits worth up to 180,000 won, including 100,000 Naver Pay points, for purchases made on Samsung.com. A follow-up launch promotion offering 50,000 Naver Pay points and other benefits runs through the 22nd.
With the new model, the Galaxy Book6 series now spans four price tiers, joining the standard version, the Galaxy Book6 Ultra and the Galaxy Book6 Pro.
"The New Galaxy Book6 is a product that delivers the Galaxy Book experience to more consumers through a newly expanded Galaxy Book6 lineup," said Jung Ho-jin, executive vice president and head of Samsung Electronics' Korea operations. "At a reasonable price, it offers stable performance, long-lasting battery life, connectivity across Galaxy devices and the design DNA of the Galaxy Book6, providing value that continues well after purchase."
