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Battery Life
SAMSUNG 900X3C-A04DE Laptop Battery, 900X3C-A04DE batteries fast shipping to UK, Europe and World.
A realistic measurement simulating everyday use is done through 'WLAN surf test' / AA-PBXN4AR batteries . While running a standard screen brightness of 150 cd/m2, every 40 seconds a new internet page is loaded via a page script. Bluetooth is deactivated and the power profile 'balanced' is used. The test model reached a good result of 6 hours and 47 minutes (407 minutes) in this scenario. The Samsung Serie 9 900X3B, the Asus Zenbook Prime UX31A and the Apple MacBook Air 13 Mid 2012 reach scores here of only 296 (-27 %), 282 (-31 %) and 363 minutes (-11%) respectively. In this area the revised series 9 performs very convincingly.
case
With the 900X3C-A04DE Samsung is offering the third generation of their own premium subnotebooks. With this update the device recieves and Intel dual core processor from the Ivy Bridge family. In more detail, it is the Intel Core i7-3517U with two cores, a base clock of 1.9 GHz and integrated Intel GMA HD 4000 Graphics. Our test model is the direct successor to the already tested Samsung Serie 9 900X3B-A01. The device is still based on a slim aluminium body, which is being used again without changes. This is why we have called this current review just a test-update, to see what kind of a difference the stronger hardware will make in each area of performance. We won't just take a look at power though, we will also be looking at emissions. The cooling system hasn't really been changed at all.
What should remain an important driving force for the the 13.3 inch subnotebooks (aka ultrabooks) is the display. The matte PLS screen uses 1600 x 900 pixels (HD+). The luminance should be 400 cd/m2 according to Samsung. Other specifications include 4 GB of DDR3 RAM, a mSATA-SSD with a 256 GB capacity, and current communications capability. You will find out in this test, whether or not 1,500 Euro would be well spent, and how the 900x3C-A04DE compares against the two main competitiors on the market.
Communications
All of the communication options are all up to todays current standard. Including WLAN with 802.11 a/b/g/n (Intel Centrino Advanced-N6235) and support for Bluetooth 4.0, the subnotebook is also equiped for wired transmissions (Gigabit). A standard RJ-45 plug doesn't have any room due to the slim design. The connection is made with the included adapter through a proprietary connector on the right hand side of the case. An intergrated module for mobile internet connection is not included with this subnotebook. A cheap USB stick would be the easiest solution.(SAMSUNG AA-PBXN8AR Battery)
After opening the white and rather large package, the device was not there waiting for us. Instead, there is another smaller black box. Next to the subnotebook you will find the appropriate power adapter (40 watt) with the cabel, the aforementioned RJ-45 adapter, some documents and a recovery DVD all included. A recovery device in the form of a USB stick would have made a lot more sense to us here, seeing as the device doesnt actually come with any optical drive. The adapter for HDMI or VGA output is unfortunately not included. Therefore the offered range here equates to a slightly elevated standard, which can be further extended with seperately sold products
Display
The display should continue to be a critical factor influencing purchase decisions for customers of subnotebooks. The screen measures 13.3 inches on the diagonal and works with 1600 x 900 pixels (HD+) in 16:9 format. The matte surface remains the same. Samsung is using a new edition panel from Seiko-Epsom, which according to the marketing facts, should have a luminance of 400 cd/m2. A screen from their own production line would probably not be profitable just yet. In comparison with cheaper alternatives this subnotebook uses PLS- display technology (Plane-to-Line Switching). This is an evelution from In-Plane-Switching (IPS). The main advantage is the reduced energy usage. Alternative displays to our tested models are not available.
Samsung did however show off a Prototype Series 9 with a so called WQHD-Display at IFA 2012. This panel is 13.3 inches and is packed with 2560 x 1440 pixels. In this region it is the only competition to the bigger display of the Apple MacBook Pro 15 mit Retina-Display. On the other hand is the Asus Zenbook Prime UX31A with a matte FHD dispay (1920 x 1080 pixels) which is tough competition to our test model. The also comprable Apple MacBook Air 13 Mid 2012 can't keep up with both of the notebooks, at least in terms of resolution. It utalizes a display with 'only' 1440 x 900 pixels and has a glossy surface.
The luminance of the panel type SEC0100 gives a good impression with the first glance at it. The maximum value of 420 cd/m2 is high, and meets the claims of Samsung. Also the average is pretty good with 378 cd/m2, although we did notice some uneven lighting here. The differences are generally unnoticable in daily use. (AA-PBYN4AB batteries)
The other values leave us with a good, but not amazing impression. The black point level is relatively little, meaning that the contrast ratio soars upwards. When watching movies is when this combination especially pays off. The UX31A from Asus performs better overall with display tests. The Series 9 is aimed at consumers who do not need a screen with a large color gamut. A comparison shows that the sRGB reference color space, which is important for professional users, is not met. This means that the rival from Asus gains a point here. The MacBook Air 13 Mid 2012 is on the same level as the 900X3C-A04DE.
With outdoor use the combination of a matte screen surface, good brightness and a high contrast ratio work well together. The device is usable both in the shade and in direct sunlight. In some scenarios you can even reduce the brightness a bit. In this section there is nothing to complain about.
The display lid balance is also made to please: Thanks to the PLS technololgy, the picture remains stable even at flat viewing angles. We couldn't identify any visible loss of light that results in distorted colors or inverted images. Normally the cheaper TN-panels have problems in this test.
Verdict
The Samsung Serie 9 900X3C packed with fresh hardware has left a good impression here. We were pleased by the case, the matte PLS display with a resolution of 1600 x 900 pixels is just about perfect, the input devices are well designed and you can see the running times for yourself. The Intel Core i7-3517U dual core processor with its intergrated graphics used here provides good application performance, meaning that an upgrade from the direct predecessor with the same case might actually be worthwhile. On the flip side, the problem with packing in new hardware without further adjustments can be seen in respect to the emissions. Under stress the fan is still clearly audible, and the surface temperature does rise to somewhat high levels when compared to its predecessor.
Aside from the current communications options, the interface range is still straightforward enough. In terms of usability, the hard to reach card reader and the missing adapter for VGA and HDMI does cause us a bit of grief. Cleaning the two case fans is fairly simple. On the other side, possibilities for expansion is greatly reduced.
Overall, with the Samsung 900X3C, we are talking about a very successful device, which at the moment can only be compared with two strong rivals in the premium subnotebook class. The prices from 1,500 Euro are quite justified in this case, although this sort of price range is definitely not available to everyone.
More info: laptop-batteries.com.au , laptop-battery.org.uk , battery-store.eu
