Samsung Series 5 535
Off the beaten path. Samsung expands its Series 5 family of compact notebooks with a fairly inexpensive 14-inch model. This time, the Korean manufacturer ventures in a new direction and uses AMD's Trinity architecture, which features switchable graphics. Unfortunately, things don't quite add up.
Time to break new ground. That's what Samsung's engineers must have decided when they collaborated on the technical specs of the newest member of the Series 5. Until now, all variants of the series incorporated processors from Intel - and, if available, dedicated GPUs from Nvidia. The Series Samsung Series 5 535, on the other hand, is powered by AMD. At the core of the compact 14-inch system is the AMD A6-4455 with the AMD Radeon HD 7500G for integrated graphics.
Should additional performance be required, the notebook can utilize the dedicated (middle-tier) AMD Radeon HD 7550M which supports DX11. Unlike AMD's Crossfire technology, the two cards don't work in parallel. Depending on the demands, either one or the other cards is supposed to tackle the workload: the integrated card being used for simple tasks (and conserves power) while the dedicated card comes into play when 3D power is required. AMD recently started calling their automatic graphics-switching technology "Enduro", behaving very similar to Nvidia's "Optimus" which has been on the market for a while and works quite reliably.
Even though the Samsung Series 5 535 is not an Ultrabook, Samsung pretty much adheres to Intel's guidelines. The CPU is a dual-core Ultra-Low-Voltage model with a clock speed of 2.1 to 2.6 GHz and has a TDP of 17 watts. Other essential specifications include 8 GB RAM, an optical drive, non-glare display, and fairly low weight of 1.84 kilograms (4.06 pounds).
The Series 5 535U3C’s 13.3-inch display is fairly good as budget laptop screens go, despite being at first glance a rather disappointing TN panel with a bog-standard 1,366 x 768 resolution. For starters, as we already mentioned it sports a matt finish, meaning no annoying reflections. Viewing angles, while nothing to write home about, are also decent by TN standards, so you can watch a movie when sitting off-angle as long as you tilt the display right.
Colours are fairly punchy and, though blacks are far from deep, at least dark detailing is superb. Topping it off is even backlighting with no obvious bleed, making this Samsung Series 5’s screen one of the better budget laptop efforts we’ve seen. Still we can’t help but hope that the superior, high-resolution IPS panels so common in even affordable tablets like the Google Nexus 7, will soon become standard on laptops too.
On the audio side of things the Series 5 535 holds up well too. Though they’re short on bass and suffer from the occasional bit of distortion, this ultraportable’s stereo efforts produce audio that’s loud, has a sense of depth, and decent clarity at the mid and high end; headphones are recommended but not required.
Connectivity is generous for a slim laptop. On the left you’ll find a slim Gigabit Ethernet jack, a USB 3.0 port, HDMI for video output, and a 3.5mm headphone/microphone jack. There’s also a discreet microVGA port which works with the included adapter.
On the right we have twin USB 2.0 ports along with a full-size SDXC card slot. Wireless is handled by the usual Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi N combo.
.jpg "Samsung Series 5 535")
Thankfully, this Series 5 offers a pretty nice typing experience and excellent layout that’s very similar to that found on most of the company’s other 13-inch laptops. As you might expect, what’s missing here is keyboard backlighting, but at its price point that’s forgivable.
The matt black chiclet keys give a decent amount of travel with a nice click, and though it doesn’t live up to the superb keyboards on most Lenovo laptops, it’s still ahead of some of the competition.
Unlike its higher-end siblings, the touchpad doesn’t integrate its buttons, an approach many will actually prefer since it prevents accidental clicks. There’s still plenty of room for multi-touch gestures on the comfy pad though, and its large buttons depress with just the right kind of click.
While not quite as stunning as its Series 9 laptops, it must be said that Samsung’s Series 5 535 need not be ashamed to be seen amongst rivals costing twice as much. At just 17.6mm thin at its thickest point and weighing just over 1.5kg, this is a remarkably slim and light ‘budget’ ultraportable made to look thinner still by its gently tapering edges.
Its materials also look the part with a brushed aluminium lid and fiber-glass re-enforced base. Fingerprints are not really an issue, though grease marks can be visible from certain angles. Basically, in terms of aesthetics the Series 5 535 shares a lot of its DNA with the Series 7 Chronos, and that’s no bad thing.
Build quality is concurrently good. Naturally it can’t match the solid slabs of aluminium that make up the Air and Series 9, but there’s no sign of unwanted creak or flex, panels are beautifully fitted, and it all feels very sturdy. The only exception is the hinge, which did protest audibly on occasion with our sample but still offered good action.
As already mentioned, this Series 5 has an AMD processor at its heart. Specifically, you’ll get a dual-core A6-4455M which runs at 2.1GHz, along with AMD graphics.
Unfortunately, as we already saw with the HP Envy 6-1006ea which uses the same AMD chipset, the processor part of this equation isn’t the strongest on the performance front and you’ll find that even an Intel Core i3 outperforms it regularly. Of course, you are paying less, and it’s important to remember that the A6-4455M is still good enough for daily performance and productivity.
PCMark 07
General: 1477
Entertainment: 1509
Samsung also generously backs this CPU with 6GB of RAM rather than the usual 4GB. For storage, meanwhile, the Series 5 535U3C-A01 relies on a plain old 500GB, 5200rpm hard drive rather than one that enjoys some hybrid SSD love. This is probably the most limiting factor where everyday performance is concerned. The good news is that, unlike your average Ultrabook, this ultraportable is upgradeable. A simple flap at the bottom gives access to the RAM and hard drive, so it’s easy to swap in a pure SSD on the cheap.
On the graphics side of things there’s an integrated AMD Radeon HD 7500G, which no longer walks all over Intel’s integrated efforts as it used to. In fact we found it to win marginally in only a few cases over the HD 4000 you’ll find in Intel’s third-gen chips, meaning it’s just as ill-suited to ‘proper’ 3D gaming.
Gaming
TrackMania Nations Forever (average fps, 720p, Medium Detail)
37
S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Call of Pripyat (average fps, 720p, Medium Detail)
21.9
Our test model comes with Windows 7, and most of the models you’ll find for sale at the moment are likely to offer the same OS. To be honest that’s not necessarily a bad thing, as Windows 8 loses a lot of its appeal without a touch screen.
The bad: Samsung's price is the same or more than comparable Intel versions, although it's available from some retailers for a more reasonable price.
The bottom line: The 4-pound Samsung Series 5 535 isn't as light and portable as some slim 14-inch laptops, but this AMD-powered version can be found at a significant discount if you shop around.
Time to break new ground. That's what Samsung's engineers must have decided when they collaborated on the technical specs of the newest member of the Series 5. Until now, all variants of the series incorporated processors from Intel - and, if available, dedicated GPUs from Nvidia. The Series Samsung Series 5 535, on the other hand, is powered by AMD. At the core of the compact 14-inch system is the AMD A6-4455 with the AMD Radeon HD 7500G for integrated graphics.
Even though the Samsung Series 5 535 is not an Ultrabook, Samsung pretty much adheres to Intel's guidelines. The CPU is a dual-core Ultra-Low-Voltage model with a clock speed of 2.1 to 2.6 GHz and has a TDP of 17 watts. Other essential specifications include 8 GB RAM, an optical drive, non-glare display, and fairly low weight of 1.84 kilograms (4.06 pounds).
Samsung Series 5 535 Battery Life
Unfortunately, the Series 5 535 doesn’t match the Envy 6-1006ea’s battery life, but then it’s smaller, thinner and lighter so there’s less room for a battery. This Samsung Series 5 ‘only’ lasted five hours and 20 minutes. While that’s not terrible by any means, it does leave price as the Series 5 535’s only advantage over similar Intel models.
Battery
(40 percent screen brightness, wireless radios disabled, mixed productivity)
320minutes
Battery
(40 percent screen brightness, wireless radios disabled, mixed productivity)
320minutes
Samsung Series 5 535 Screen and Speakers
The Series 5 535U3C’s 13.3-inch display is fairly good as budget laptop screens go, despite being at first glance a rather disappointing TN panel with a bog-standard 1,366 x 768 resolution. For starters, as we already mentioned it sports a matt finish, meaning no annoying reflections. Viewing angles, while nothing to write home about, are also decent by TN standards, so you can watch a movie when sitting off-angle as long as you tilt the display right.Colours are fairly punchy and, though blacks are far from deep, at least dark detailing is superb. Topping it off is even backlighting with no obvious bleed, making this Samsung Series 5’s screen one of the better budget laptop efforts we’ve seen. Still we can’t help but hope that the superior, high-resolution IPS panels so common in even affordable tablets like the Google Nexus 7, will soon become standard on laptops too.
On the audio side of things the Series 5 535 holds up well too. Though they’re short on bass and suffer from the occasional bit of distortion, this ultraportable’s stereo efforts produce audio that’s loud, has a sense of depth, and decent clarity at the mid and high end; headphones are recommended but not required.
Samsung Series 5 535 Connectivity
Connectivity is generous for a slim laptop. On the left you’ll find a slim Gigabit Ethernet jack, a USB 3.0 port, HDMI for video output, and a 3.5mm headphone/microphone jack. There’s also a discreet microVGA port which works with the included adapter.On the right we have twin USB 2.0 ports along with a full-size SDXC card slot. Wireless is handled by the usual Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi N combo.
Samsung Series 5 535 Keyboard and Touchpad
.jpg "Samsung Series 5 535")
The matt black chiclet keys give a decent amount of travel with a nice click, and though it doesn’t live up to the superb keyboards on most Lenovo laptops, it’s still ahead of some of the competition.
Unlike its higher-end siblings, the touchpad doesn’t integrate its buttons, an approach many will actually prefer since it prevents accidental clicks. There’s still plenty of room for multi-touch gestures on the comfy pad though, and its large buttons depress with just the right kind of click.
Samsung Series 5 535 Design and Build
While not quite as stunning as its Series 9 laptops, it must be said that Samsung’s Series 5 535 need not be ashamed to be seen amongst rivals costing twice as much. At just 17.6mm thin at its thickest point and weighing just over 1.5kg, this is a remarkably slim and light ‘budget’ ultraportable made to look thinner still by its gently tapering edges.Its materials also look the part with a brushed aluminium lid and fiber-glass re-enforced base. Fingerprints are not really an issue, though grease marks can be visible from certain angles. Basically, in terms of aesthetics the Series 5 535 shares a lot of its DNA with the Series 7 Chronos, and that’s no bad thing.
Build quality is concurrently good. Naturally it can’t match the solid slabs of aluminium that make up the Air and Series 9, but there’s no sign of unwanted creak or flex, panels are beautifully fitted, and it all feels very sturdy. The only exception is the hinge, which did protest audibly on occasion with our sample but still offered good action.
Samsung Series 5 535 Specs and Performance
Unfortunately, as we already saw with the HP Envy 6-1006ea which uses the same AMD chipset, the processor part of this equation isn’t the strongest on the performance front and you’ll find that even an Intel Core i3 outperforms it regularly. Of course, you are paying less, and it’s important to remember that the A6-4455M is still good enough for daily performance and productivity.
PCMark 07
General: 1477
Entertainment: 1509
Samsung also generously backs this CPU with 6GB of RAM rather than the usual 4GB. For storage, meanwhile, the Series 5 535U3C-A01 relies on a plain old 500GB, 5200rpm hard drive rather than one that enjoys some hybrid SSD love. This is probably the most limiting factor where everyday performance is concerned. The good news is that, unlike your average Ultrabook, this ultraportable is upgradeable. A simple flap at the bottom gives access to the RAM and hard drive, so it’s easy to swap in a pure SSD on the cheap.
On the graphics side of things there’s an integrated AMD Radeon HD 7500G, which no longer walks all over Intel’s integrated efforts as it used to. In fact we found it to win marginally in only a few cases over the HD 4000 you’ll find in Intel’s third-gen chips, meaning it’s just as ill-suited to ‘proper’ 3D gaming.
Gaming
TrackMania Nations Forever (average fps, 720p, Medium Detail)
37
S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Call of Pripyat (average fps, 720p, Medium Detail)
21.9
Our test model comes with Windows 7, and most of the models you’ll find for sale at the moment are likely to offer the same OS. To be honest that’s not necessarily a bad thing, as Windows 8 loses a lot of its appeal without a touch screen.
CONCLUSION
The 13-inch Samsung Series 5 535 is a great little Ultrabook competitor that manages to keep its price low thanks to AMD innards. It’s slim, sleek, light and very well-built. It offers a great user experience and its screen is a cut above most budget laptops. However, mediocre performance and average battery life mean you may be better off looking at pricier alternatives, especially those offering Windows 8 and touch.
The good: This AMD version of the Samsung Series 5 535 is a sharp-looking, full-featured 14-inch laptop, with an optical drive and decent graphics.The bad: Samsung's price is the same or more than comparable Intel versions, although it's available from some retailers for a more reasonable price.
The bottom line: The 4-pound Samsung Series 5 535 isn't as light and portable as some slim 14-inch laptops, but this AMD-powered version can be found at a significant discount if you shop around.
8 out of 10 based on 22 ratings.
Samsung Series 5 535
Category : Samsung
Off the beaten path. Samsung expands its Series 5 family of compact notebooks with a fairly inexpensive 14-inch model. This time, the Korean manufacturer ventures in a new direction and uses AMD's Trinity architecture, which features switchable graphics. Unfortunately, things don't quite add up.
Time to break new ground. That's what Samsung's engineers must have decided when they collaborated on the technical specs of the newest member of the Series 5. Until now, all variants of the series incorporated processors from Intel - and, if available, dedicated GPUs from Nvidia. The Series Samsung Series 5 535, on the other hand, is powered by AMD. At the core of the compact 14-inch system is the AMD A6-4455 with the AMD Radeon HD 7500G for integrated graphics.
Should additional performance be required, the notebook can utilize the dedicated (middle-tier) AMD Radeon HD 7550M which supports DX11. Unlike AMD's Crossfire technology, the two cards don't work in parallel. Depending on the demands, either one or the other cards is supposed to tackle the workload: the integrated card being used for simple tasks (and conserves power) while the dedicated card comes into play when 3D power is required. AMD recently started calling their automatic graphics-switching technology "Enduro", behaving very similar to Nvidia's "Optimus" which has been on the market for a while and works quite reliably.
Even though the Samsung Series 5 535 is not an Ultrabook, Samsung pretty much adheres to Intel's guidelines. The CPU is a dual-core Ultra-Low-Voltage model with a clock speed of 2.1 to 2.6 GHz and has a TDP of 17 watts. Other essential specifications include 8 GB RAM, an optical drive, non-glare display, and fairly low weight of 1.84 kilograms (4.06 pounds).
The Series 5 535U3C’s 13.3-inch display is fairly good as budget laptop screens go, despite being at first glance a rather disappointing TN panel with a bog-standard 1,366 x 768 resolution. For starters, as we already mentioned it sports a matt finish, meaning no annoying reflections. Viewing angles, while nothing to write home about, are also decent by TN standards, so you can watch a movie when sitting off-angle as long as you tilt the display right.
Colours are fairly punchy and, though blacks are far from deep, at least dark detailing is superb. Topping it off is even backlighting with no obvious bleed, making this Samsung Series 5’s screen one of the better budget laptop efforts we’ve seen. Still we can’t help but hope that the superior, high-resolution IPS panels so common in even affordable tablets like the Google Nexus 7, will soon become standard on laptops too.
On the audio side of things the Series 5 535 holds up well too. Though they’re short on bass and suffer from the occasional bit of distortion, this ultraportable’s stereo efforts produce audio that’s loud, has a sense of depth, and decent clarity at the mid and high end; headphones are recommended but not required.
Connectivity is generous for a slim laptop. On the left you’ll find a slim Gigabit Ethernet jack, a USB 3.0 port, HDMI for video output, and a 3.5mm headphone/microphone jack. There’s also a discreet microVGA port which works with the included adapter.
On the right we have twin USB 2.0 ports along with a full-size SDXC card slot. Wireless is handled by the usual Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi N combo.
Thankfully, this Series 5 offers a pretty nice typing experience and excellent layout that’s very similar to that found on most of the company’s other 13-inch laptops. As you might expect, what’s missing here is keyboard backlighting, but at its price point that’s forgivable.
The matt black chiclet keys give a decent amount of travel with a nice click, and though it doesn’t live up to the superb keyboards on most Lenovo laptops, it’s still ahead of some of the competition.
Unlike its higher-end siblings, the touchpad doesn’t integrate its buttons, an approach many will actually prefer since it prevents accidental clicks. There’s still plenty of room for multi-touch gestures on the comfy pad though, and its large buttons depress with just the right kind of click.
While not quite as stunning as its Series 9 laptops, it must be said that Samsung’s Series 5 535 need not be ashamed to be seen amongst rivals costing twice as much. At just 17.6mm thin at its thickest point and weighing just over 1.5kg, this is a remarkably slim and light ‘budget’ ultraportable made to look thinner still by its gently tapering edges.
Its materials also look the part with a brushed aluminium lid and fiber-glass re-enforced base. Fingerprints are not really an issue, though grease marks can be visible from certain angles. Basically, in terms of aesthetics the Series 5 535 shares a lot of its DNA with the Series 7 Chronos, and that’s no bad thing.
Build quality is concurrently good. Naturally it can’t match the solid slabs of aluminium that make up the Air and Series 9, but there’s no sign of unwanted creak or flex, panels are beautifully fitted, and it all feels very sturdy. The only exception is the hinge, which did protest audibly on occasion with our sample but still offered good action.
As already mentioned, this Series 5 has an AMD processor at its heart. Specifically, you’ll get a dual-core A6-4455M which runs at 2.1GHz, along with AMD graphics.
Unfortunately, as we already saw with the HP Envy 6-1006ea which uses the same AMD chipset, the processor part of this equation isn’t the strongest on the performance front and you’ll find that even an Intel Core i3 outperforms it regularly. Of course, you are paying less, and it’s important to remember that the A6-4455M is still good enough for daily performance and productivity.
PCMark 07
General: 1477
Entertainment: 1509
Samsung also generously backs this CPU with 6GB of RAM rather than the usual 4GB. For storage, meanwhile, the Series 5 535U3C-A01 relies on a plain old 500GB, 5200rpm hard drive rather than one that enjoys some hybrid SSD love. This is probably the most limiting factor where everyday performance is concerned. The good news is that, unlike your average Ultrabook, this ultraportable is upgradeable. A simple flap at the bottom gives access to the RAM and hard drive, so it’s easy to swap in a pure SSD on the cheap.
On the graphics side of things there’s an integrated AMD Radeon HD 7500G, which no longer walks all over Intel’s integrated efforts as it used to. In fact we found it to win marginally in only a few cases over the HD 4000 you’ll find in Intel’s third-gen chips, meaning it’s just as ill-suited to ‘proper’ 3D gaming.
Gaming
TrackMania Nations Forever (average fps, 720p, Medium Detail)
37
S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Call of Pripyat (average fps, 720p, Medium Detail)
21.9
Our test model comes with Windows 7, and most of the models you’ll find for sale at the moment are likely to offer the same OS. To be honest that’s not necessarily a bad thing, as Windows 8 loses a lot of its appeal without a touch screen.
The bad: Samsung's price is the same or more than comparable Intel versions, although it's available from some retailers for a more reasonable price.
The bottom line: The 4-pound Samsung Series 5 535 isn't as light and portable as some slim 14-inch laptops, but this AMD-powered version can be found at a significant discount if you shop around.
Time to break new ground. That's what Samsung's engineers must have decided when they collaborated on the technical specs of the newest member of the Series 5. Until now, all variants of the series incorporated processors from Intel - and, if available, dedicated GPUs from Nvidia. The Series Samsung Series 5 535, on the other hand, is powered by AMD. At the core of the compact 14-inch system is the AMD A6-4455 with the AMD Radeon HD 7500G for integrated graphics.
Even though the Samsung Series 5 535 is not an Ultrabook, Samsung pretty much adheres to Intel's guidelines. The CPU is a dual-core Ultra-Low-Voltage model with a clock speed of 2.1 to 2.6 GHz and has a TDP of 17 watts. Other essential specifications include 8 GB RAM, an optical drive, non-glare display, and fairly low weight of 1.84 kilograms (4.06 pounds).
Samsung Series 5 535 Battery Life
Unfortunately, the Series 5 535 doesn’t match the Envy 6-1006ea’s battery life, but then it’s smaller, thinner and lighter so there’s less room for a battery. This Samsung Series 5 ‘only’ lasted five hours and 20 minutes. While that’s not terrible by any means, it does leave price as the Series 5 535’s only advantage over similar Intel models.
Battery
(40 percent screen brightness, wireless radios disabled, mixed productivity)
320minutes
Battery
(40 percent screen brightness, wireless radios disabled, mixed productivity)
320minutes
Samsung Series 5 535 Screen and Speakers
The Series 5 535U3C’s 13.3-inch display is fairly good as budget laptop screens go, despite being at first glance a rather disappointing TN panel with a bog-standard 1,366 x 768 resolution. For starters, as we already mentioned it sports a matt finish, meaning no annoying reflections. Viewing angles, while nothing to write home about, are also decent by TN standards, so you can watch a movie when sitting off-angle as long as you tilt the display right.Colours are fairly punchy and, though blacks are far from deep, at least dark detailing is superb. Topping it off is even backlighting with no obvious bleed, making this Samsung Series 5’s screen one of the better budget laptop efforts we’ve seen. Still we can’t help but hope that the superior, high-resolution IPS panels so common in even affordable tablets like the Google Nexus 7, will soon become standard on laptops too.
On the audio side of things the Series 5 535 holds up well too. Though they’re short on bass and suffer from the occasional bit of distortion, this ultraportable’s stereo efforts produce audio that’s loud, has a sense of depth, and decent clarity at the mid and high end; headphones are recommended but not required.
Samsung Series 5 535 Connectivity
Connectivity is generous for a slim laptop. On the left you’ll find a slim Gigabit Ethernet jack, a USB 3.0 port, HDMI for video output, and a 3.5mm headphone/microphone jack. There’s also a discreet microVGA port which works with the included adapter.On the right we have twin USB 2.0 ports along with a full-size SDXC card slot. Wireless is handled by the usual Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi N combo.
Samsung Series 5 535 Keyboard and Touchpad
The matt black chiclet keys give a decent amount of travel with a nice click, and though it doesn’t live up to the superb keyboards on most Lenovo laptops, it’s still ahead of some of the competition.
Unlike its higher-end siblings, the touchpad doesn’t integrate its buttons, an approach many will actually prefer since it prevents accidental clicks. There’s still plenty of room for multi-touch gestures on the comfy pad though, and its large buttons depress with just the right kind of click.
Samsung Series 5 535 Design and Build
While not quite as stunning as its Series 9 laptops, it must be said that Samsung’s Series 5 535 need not be ashamed to be seen amongst rivals costing twice as much. At just 17.6mm thin at its thickest point and weighing just over 1.5kg, this is a remarkably slim and light ‘budget’ ultraportable made to look thinner still by its gently tapering edges.Its materials also look the part with a brushed aluminium lid and fiber-glass re-enforced base. Fingerprints are not really an issue, though grease marks can be visible from certain angles. Basically, in terms of aesthetics the Series 5 535 shares a lot of its DNA with the Series 7 Chronos, and that’s no bad thing.
Build quality is concurrently good. Naturally it can’t match the solid slabs of aluminium that make up the Air and Series 9, but there’s no sign of unwanted creak or flex, panels are beautifully fitted, and it all feels very sturdy. The only exception is the hinge, which did protest audibly on occasion with our sample but still offered good action.
Samsung Series 5 535 Specs and Performance
Unfortunately, as we already saw with the HP Envy 6-1006ea which uses the same AMD chipset, the processor part of this equation isn’t the strongest on the performance front and you’ll find that even an Intel Core i3 outperforms it regularly. Of course, you are paying less, and it’s important to remember that the A6-4455M is still good enough for daily performance and productivity.
PCMark 07
General: 1477
Entertainment: 1509
Samsung also generously backs this CPU with 6GB of RAM rather than the usual 4GB. For storage, meanwhile, the Series 5 535U3C-A01 relies on a plain old 500GB, 5200rpm hard drive rather than one that enjoys some hybrid SSD love. This is probably the most limiting factor where everyday performance is concerned. The good news is that, unlike your average Ultrabook, this ultraportable is upgradeable. A simple flap at the bottom gives access to the RAM and hard drive, so it’s easy to swap in a pure SSD on the cheap.
On the graphics side of things there’s an integrated AMD Radeon HD 7500G, which no longer walks all over Intel’s integrated efforts as it used to. In fact we found it to win marginally in only a few cases over the HD 4000 you’ll find in Intel’s third-gen chips, meaning it’s just as ill-suited to ‘proper’ 3D gaming.
Gaming
TrackMania Nations Forever (average fps, 720p, Medium Detail)
37
S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Call of Pripyat (average fps, 720p, Medium Detail)
21.9
Our test model comes with Windows 7, and most of the models you’ll find for sale at the moment are likely to offer the same OS. To be honest that’s not necessarily a bad thing, as Windows 8 loses a lot of its appeal without a touch screen.
CONCLUSION
The 13-inch Samsung Series 5 535 is a great little Ultrabook competitor that manages to keep its price low thanks to AMD innards. It’s slim, sleek, light and very well-built. It offers a great user experience and its screen is a cut above most budget laptops. However, mediocre performance and average battery life mean you may be better off looking at pricier alternatives, especially those offering Windows 8 and touch.
The good: This AMD version of the Samsung Series 5 535 is a sharp-looking, full-featured 14-inch laptop, with an optical drive and decent graphics.The bad: Samsung's price is the same or more than comparable Intel versions, although it's available from some retailers for a more reasonable price.
The bottom line: The 4-pound Samsung Series 5 535 isn't as light and portable as some slim 14-inch laptops, but this AMD-powered version can be found at a significant discount if you shop around.
8 out of 10 based on 22 ratings.
Laptops Review
Off the beaten path. Samsung expands its Series 5 family of compact notebooks with a fairly inexpensive 14-inch model. This time, the Korean manufacturer ventures in a new direction and uses AMD's Trinity architecture, which features switchable graphics. Unfortunately, things don't quite add up.
Time to break new ground. That's what Samsung's engineers must have decided when they collaborated on the technical specs of the newest member of the Series 5. Until now, all variants of the series incorporated processors from Intel - and, if available, dedicated GPUs from Nvidia. The Series Samsung Series 5 535, on the other hand, is powered by AMD. At the core of the compact 14-inch system is the AMD A6-4455 with the AMD Radeon HD 7500G for integrated graphics.
Should additional performance be required, the notebook can utilize the dedicated (middle-tier) AMD Radeon HD 7550M which supports DX11. Unlike AMD's Crossfire technology, the two cards don't work in parallel. Depending on the demands, either one or the other cards is supposed to tackle the workload: the integrated card being used for simple tasks (and conserves power) while the dedicated card comes into play when 3D power is required. AMD recently started calling their automatic graphics-switching technology "Enduro", behaving very similar to Nvidia's "Optimus" which has been on the market for a while and works quite reliably.
Even though the Samsung Series 5 535 is not an Ultrabook, Samsung pretty much adheres to Intel's guidelines. The CPU is a dual-core Ultra-Low-Voltage model with a clock speed of 2.1 to 2.6 GHz and has a TDP of 17 watts. Other essential specifications include 8 GB RAM, an optical drive, non-glare display, and fairly low weight of 1.84 kilograms (4.06 pounds).
The Series 5 535U3C’s 13.3-inch display is fairly good as budget laptop screens go, despite being at first glance a rather disappointing TN panel with a bog-standard 1,366 x 768 resolution. For starters, as we already mentioned it sports a matt finish, meaning no annoying reflections. Viewing angles, while nothing to write home about, are also decent by TN standards, so you can watch a movie when sitting off-angle as long as you tilt the display right.
Colours are fairly punchy and, though blacks are far from deep, at least dark detailing is superb. Topping it off is even backlighting with no obvious bleed, making this Samsung Series 5’s screen one of the better budget laptop efforts we’ve seen. Still we can’t help but hope that the superior, high-resolution IPS panels so common in even affordable tablets like the Google Nexus 7, will soon become standard on laptops too.
On the audio side of things the Series 5 535 holds up well too. Though they’re short on bass and suffer from the occasional bit of distortion, this ultraportable’s stereo efforts produce audio that’s loud, has a sense of depth, and decent clarity at the mid and high end; headphones are recommended but not required.
Connectivity is generous for a slim laptop. On the left you’ll find a slim Gigabit Ethernet jack, a USB 3.0 port, HDMI for video output, and a 3.5mm headphone/microphone jack. There’s also a discreet microVGA port which works with the included adapter.
On the right we have twin USB 2.0 ports along with a full-size SDXC card slot. Wireless is handled by the usual Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi N combo.
Thankfully, this Series 5 offers a pretty nice typing experience and excellent layout that’s very similar to that found on most of the company’s other 13-inch laptops. As you might expect, what’s missing here is keyboard backlighting, but at its price point that’s forgivable.
The matt black chiclet keys give a decent amount of travel with a nice click, and though it doesn’t live up to the superb keyboards on most Lenovo laptops, it’s still ahead of some of the competition.
Unlike its higher-end siblings, the touchpad doesn’t integrate its buttons, an approach many will actually prefer since it prevents accidental clicks. There’s still plenty of room for multi-touch gestures on the comfy pad though, and its large buttons depress with just the right kind of click.
While not quite as stunning as its Series 9 laptops, it must be said that Samsung’s Series 5 535 need not be ashamed to be seen amongst rivals costing twice as much. At just 17.6mm thin at its thickest point and weighing just over 1.5kg, this is a remarkably slim and light ‘budget’ ultraportable made to look thinner still by its gently tapering edges.
Its materials also look the part with a brushed aluminium lid and fiber-glass re-enforced base. Fingerprints are not really an issue, though grease marks can be visible from certain angles. Basically, in terms of aesthetics the Series 5 535 shares a lot of its DNA with the Series 7 Chronos, and that’s no bad thing.
Build quality is concurrently good. Naturally it can’t match the solid slabs of aluminium that make up the Air and Series 9, but there’s no sign of unwanted creak or flex, panels are beautifully fitted, and it all feels very sturdy. The only exception is the hinge, which did protest audibly on occasion with our sample but still offered good action.
As already mentioned, this Series 5 has an AMD processor at its heart. Specifically, you’ll get a dual-core A6-4455M which runs at 2.1GHz, along with AMD graphics.
Unfortunately, as we already saw with the HP Envy 6-1006ea which uses the same AMD chipset, the processor part of this equation isn’t the strongest on the performance front and you’ll find that even an Intel Core i3 outperforms it regularly. Of course, you are paying less, and it’s important to remember that the A6-4455M is still good enough for daily performance and productivity.
PCMark 07
General: 1477
Entertainment: 1509
Samsung also generously backs this CPU with 6GB of RAM rather than the usual 4GB. For storage, meanwhile, the Series 5 535U3C-A01 relies on a plain old 500GB, 5200rpm hard drive rather than one that enjoys some hybrid SSD love. This is probably the most limiting factor where everyday performance is concerned. The good news is that, unlike your average Ultrabook, this ultraportable is upgradeable. A simple flap at the bottom gives access to the RAM and hard drive, so it’s easy to swap in a pure SSD on the cheap.
On the graphics side of things there’s an integrated AMD Radeon HD 7500G, which no longer walks all over Intel’s integrated efforts as it used to. In fact we found it to win marginally in only a few cases over the HD 4000 you’ll find in Intel’s third-gen chips, meaning it’s just as ill-suited to ‘proper’ 3D gaming.
Gaming
TrackMania Nations Forever (average fps, 720p, Medium Detail)
37
S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Call of Pripyat (average fps, 720p, Medium Detail)
21.9
Our test model comes with Windows 7, and most of the models you’ll find for sale at the moment are likely to offer the same OS. To be honest that’s not necessarily a bad thing, as Windows 8 loses a lot of its appeal without a touch screen.
The bad: Samsung's price is the same or more than comparable Intel versions, although it's available from some retailers for a more reasonable price.
The bottom line: The 4-pound Samsung Series 5 535 isn't as light and portable as some slim 14-inch laptops, but this AMD-powered version can be found at a significant discount if you shop around.
Time to break new ground. That's what Samsung's engineers must have decided when they collaborated on the technical specs of the newest member of the Series 5. Until now, all variants of the series incorporated processors from Intel - and, if available, dedicated GPUs from Nvidia. The Series Samsung Series 5 535, on the other hand, is powered by AMD. At the core of the compact 14-inch system is the AMD A6-4455 with the AMD Radeon HD 7500G for integrated graphics.
Even though the Samsung Series 5 535 is not an Ultrabook, Samsung pretty much adheres to Intel's guidelines. The CPU is a dual-core Ultra-Low-Voltage model with a clock speed of 2.1 to 2.6 GHz and has a TDP of 17 watts. Other essential specifications include 8 GB RAM, an optical drive, non-glare display, and fairly low weight of 1.84 kilograms (4.06 pounds).
Samsung Series 5 535 Battery Life
Unfortunately, the Series 5 535 doesn’t match the Envy 6-1006ea’s battery life, but then it’s smaller, thinner and lighter so there’s less room for a battery. This Samsung Series 5 ‘only’ lasted five hours and 20 minutes. While that’s not terrible by any means, it does leave price as the Series 5 535’s only advantage over similar Intel models.
Battery
(40 percent screen brightness, wireless radios disabled, mixed productivity)
320minutes
Battery
(40 percent screen brightness, wireless radios disabled, mixed productivity)
320minutes
Samsung Series 5 535 Screen and Speakers
The Series 5 535U3C’s 13.3-inch display is fairly good as budget laptop screens go, despite being at first glance a rather disappointing TN panel with a bog-standard 1,366 x 768 resolution. For starters, as we already mentioned it sports a matt finish, meaning no annoying reflections. Viewing angles, while nothing to write home about, are also decent by TN standards, so you can watch a movie when sitting off-angle as long as you tilt the display right.Colours are fairly punchy and, though blacks are far from deep, at least dark detailing is superb. Topping it off is even backlighting with no obvious bleed, making this Samsung Series 5’s screen one of the better budget laptop efforts we’ve seen. Still we can’t help but hope that the superior, high-resolution IPS panels so common in even affordable tablets like the Google Nexus 7, will soon become standard on laptops too.
On the audio side of things the Series 5 535 holds up well too. Though they’re short on bass and suffer from the occasional bit of distortion, this ultraportable’s stereo efforts produce audio that’s loud, has a sense of depth, and decent clarity at the mid and high end; headphones are recommended but not required.
Samsung Series 5 535 Connectivity
Connectivity is generous for a slim laptop. On the left you’ll find a slim Gigabit Ethernet jack, a USB 3.0 port, HDMI for video output, and a 3.5mm headphone/microphone jack. There’s also a discreet microVGA port which works with the included adapter.On the right we have twin USB 2.0 ports along with a full-size SDXC card slot. Wireless is handled by the usual Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi N combo.
Samsung Series 5 535 Keyboard and Touchpad
The matt black chiclet keys give a decent amount of travel with a nice click, and though it doesn’t live up to the superb keyboards on most Lenovo laptops, it’s still ahead of some of the competition.
Unlike its higher-end siblings, the touchpad doesn’t integrate its buttons, an approach many will actually prefer since it prevents accidental clicks. There’s still plenty of room for multi-touch gestures on the comfy pad though, and its large buttons depress with just the right kind of click.
Samsung Series 5 535 Design and Build
While not quite as stunning as its Series 9 laptops, it must be said that Samsung’s Series 5 535 need not be ashamed to be seen amongst rivals costing twice as much. At just 17.6mm thin at its thickest point and weighing just over 1.5kg, this is a remarkably slim and light ‘budget’ ultraportable made to look thinner still by its gently tapering edges.Its materials also look the part with a brushed aluminium lid and fiber-glass re-enforced base. Fingerprints are not really an issue, though grease marks can be visible from certain angles. Basically, in terms of aesthetics the Series 5 535 shares a lot of its DNA with the Series 7 Chronos, and that’s no bad thing.
Build quality is concurrently good. Naturally it can’t match the solid slabs of aluminium that make up the Air and Series 9, but there’s no sign of unwanted creak or flex, panels are beautifully fitted, and it all feels very sturdy. The only exception is the hinge, which did protest audibly on occasion with our sample but still offered good action.
Samsung Series 5 535 Specs and Performance
Unfortunately, as we already saw with the HP Envy 6-1006ea which uses the same AMD chipset, the processor part of this equation isn’t the strongest on the performance front and you’ll find that even an Intel Core i3 outperforms it regularly. Of course, you are paying less, and it’s important to remember that the A6-4455M is still good enough for daily performance and productivity.
PCMark 07
General: 1477
Entertainment: 1509
Samsung also generously backs this CPU with 6GB of RAM rather than the usual 4GB. For storage, meanwhile, the Series 5 535U3C-A01 relies on a plain old 500GB, 5200rpm hard drive rather than one that enjoys some hybrid SSD love. This is probably the most limiting factor where everyday performance is concerned. The good news is that, unlike your average Ultrabook, this ultraportable is upgradeable. A simple flap at the bottom gives access to the RAM and hard drive, so it’s easy to swap in a pure SSD on the cheap.
On the graphics side of things there’s an integrated AMD Radeon HD 7500G, which no longer walks all over Intel’s integrated efforts as it used to. In fact we found it to win marginally in only a few cases over the HD 4000 you’ll find in Intel’s third-gen chips, meaning it’s just as ill-suited to ‘proper’ 3D gaming.
Gaming
TrackMania Nations Forever (average fps, 720p, Medium Detail)
37
S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Call of Pripyat (average fps, 720p, Medium Detail)
21.9
Our test model comes with Windows 7, and most of the models you’ll find for sale at the moment are likely to offer the same OS. To be honest that’s not necessarily a bad thing, as Windows 8 loses a lot of its appeal without a touch screen.
CONCLUSION
The 13-inch Samsung Series 5 535 is a great little Ultrabook competitor that manages to keep its price low thanks to AMD innards. It’s slim, sleek, light and very well-built. It offers a great user experience and its screen is a cut above most budget laptops. However, mediocre performance and average battery life mean you may be better off looking at pricier alternatives, especially those offering Windows 8 and touch.
The good: This AMD version of the Samsung Series 5 535 is a sharp-looking, full-featured 14-inch laptop, with an optical drive and decent graphics.The bad: Samsung's price is the same or more than comparable Intel versions, although it's available from some retailers for a more reasonable price.
The bottom line: The 4-pound Samsung Series 5 535 isn't as light and portable as some slim 14-inch laptops, but this AMD-powered version can be found at a significant discount if you shop around.
8 out of 10 based on 22 ratings.
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