Writer’s Workflow Comparison: M1 Macbook Air vs GalaxyBook3 Pro 360

As creatives, we spend a lot of our time perfecting our workflow. In fact, if we have a poorly optimized section in our workflow, it causes resistance.

I spent $1,800 on a Samsung GalaxyBook3 Pro 360 (affiliate) yesterday for a very unique use case. My Apple M1 Macbook Air (affiliate) is still the battery champ and the perfect machine to write on for long periods.

However, content creators need to consume more content than they produce. Therefore, the entertainment aspect of these machines is almost more significant than the production aspects.

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I will discuss my workflow and entertainment needs and how both machines handle them. Bear with me; I am not a tech reviewer but a writer.

My workflow needs. I have a 100% Chrome-based workflow. You can read about my entire process in my Publishing Chronicles series (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5).

I actually bought the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook to be my end-all-be-all device. However, the battery barely lasted three hours and had a horrible trackpad issue—ending its career early.

The death of my Galaxy Chromebook brought me to my M1 Macbook Air. Let’s be clear; I have zero issues with my Macbook. In fact, I love it. I have written at least 800 articles on the device.

My major workflow issue is when I don’t have a monitor nearby. I spend a lot of time with two Google Chrome tabs side-by-side, both opened to Google Drive.

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I spend 1-2 hours daily in this setup, copying and pasting my words to build books. This can be extremely cramped when I use the Macbook Air (with a 13-inch screen).

I can work with the Macbook Air in this form for a day, maybe two, then I start to build resistance. I do not want to do the work; we can’t have this.

Enter the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8 Ultra. Over Christmas break, I bought the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8 Ultra (affiliate), which changed my life.

The entertainment value I get from the Tab 8 Ultra is second to none. I can watch YouTube, watch FreeVee (my favorite channel), stream Halo on the Xbox app, read books on Kindle, and scroll through magazines on Zinio.

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The Galaxy Tab 8 Ultra is the perfect machine except for one thing—it can’t run desktop Chrome. This means I cannot perform any work on the device. 

Two machines for one outcome. So now I have a strange dilemma. I have a near-perfect work machine with my M1 Macbook Air and THE perfect entertainment machine with the Galaxy Tab 8 Ultra.

When it’s time to work, I pick up the Macbook. I pick up the Tab 8 Ultra when it’s time to play. However, this gets old real quick.

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I like to access multiple spreadsheets at various times. These include my budgets, spending, books, and dividends.

The Google Docs suite sucks on Android. I adore the full Chrome version of these apps, which I can’t access from my Tab 8 Ultra.

I like to read Kindle at random times, but the reading on my Macbook is terrible. I tried using it as my reading device for over three months, but it caused too much resistance. 

Combine work and entertainment with the GalaxyBook3 Pro 360. Since Samsung announced the GalaxyBook3 Pro 360 in January 2023, I have been ready to purchase it.

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Here is a rundown of why I purchased this device a few days after its release.

1. I love having access to the S-Pen for taking notes and coloring.
2. The second screen app allows me to use my Tab 8 Ultra as a second screen, solving my issue when traveling.
3. The screen is a massive OLED (I bought the 16-inch model).
4. I need a touchscreen. I love to interact with different sites and apps in different ways. I need options, and the Macbook lacks most options.

Using the GalaxyBook3 Pro 360 in the real world. Now that I have had the device for roughly 15 hours, I can say that it is incredible.

I fully charged and thoroughly drained the battery yesterday because I was obsessed with the entertainment value. I am writing my first article on the machine; the typing is impressive. The trackpad is a little wonky compared to the Macbook so I will play with the sensitivity settings.

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Using the second screen app. I tested the second screen functionality with my Tab 8 Ultra, and it worked incredibly well.

I can open two instances of chrome, one on each screen. I like to grind while watching YouTube, and I can squeeze in an additional Chrome instance on either screen.

So, I have enough room to perform my workflow and have YouTube running comfortably; this is a major win for me when I travel.

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Connecting my S22 Ultra phone. After five years, I finally upgraded my phone to a Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (affiliate). Have you noticed the Samsung theme yet?

I connected the phone and could use apps from the phone right inside the windows. I don’t have a use case for this yet, but I will find one.

I also installed the Samsung Dex app on Windows. I connected my phone via a USB-C cable and used the Dex environment. It was choppy, but it may be helpful in particular situations. I will keep pushing the boundaries with these Android situations.

Reading on Kindle. Reading is a significant part of my entertainment and work process. I write reviews (over 140 now) of the books I read.

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I had to download the Amazon Appstore app on Windows before downloading the Kindle app. However, this process was more than worth it.

After reading on the Macbook for over three months, which was terrible, I returned to enjoying my reading situation.

The reason I love reading on tablets is the continuous scrolling option. I hate flipping pages. I love to use the touchscreen to highlight text and scroll downward. The Kindle App is a significant win on the GalaxyBook3 Pro 360.

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Gaming on the go. The poor Macbook doesn’t stand a chance here. Having Xbox integrated into the GalaxyBook3 Pro 360 is genius. 

I subscribe to Xbox Game Pass and use the cloud gaming options on my Tab 8 Ultra. The Macbook can also do cloud gaming, but it is less than ideal because of the screen size.

The GalaxyBook3 allows me to cloud games and download local copies of games. This helps when the internet is not good enough to stream games (like at a hotel).

I downloaded Burnout Paradise (2008), but it kept crashing. I’ll have to research a fix (welcome back to PC gaming). I also downloaded Dragon Quest Builders 2 (2018) to my hard drive, which worked like a charm.

I can also download and play Steam games and use emulators. I just purchased the brand game Octopath Traveler 2 (affiliate) on Stream. It runs like a champ and looks amazing.

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This is a fantastic gaming machine if you don’t want to play recent games with high-end graphics. However, you can stream those.

Using the S-Pen. I played around with Samsung Notes, and it was terrific, as always. On a side note, my S-Pen from my Tab 8 Ultra works perfectly on the GalaxyBook3. 

This means I don’t have to travel with two pens and risk losing the one on the GalaxyBook3. The GalaxyBook3 Pro 360 lacks a silo to hold the pen.

I always have the pen in my hand when using my touch-compatible devices. I love to navigate with a pen, trackpad, or touch. Options make me a happy man.

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Watching movies. I watched the entire movie “The Brain (1988)” on FreeVee via the Amazon Video web player. It looked so good I stayed up past bedtime to finish the film. This machine even beats the Tab 8 Ultra in the viewing department.

Additionally, it gives you unlimited ways to watch and position itself on your lap. If you are married (like me), this machine is like having an OLED TV in your lap.

Moving around the web. I read magazines on Zinio through the web reader. You can also download magazines through the web. It looks incredible on the screen, but I prefer the Android app on my Tab 8 Ultra.

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As a dividend investor, I spend a lot of time on the Seeking Alpha website. I love to zoom in with my fingers to read the comment section. I can read on the GalaxyBook3 Pro 360 forever. It’s just that good.

I downloaded the Facebook Messenger app from its website. I love Messenger because I can use it on all of my devices.

Conclusion. Did the GalaxyBook3 Pro 360 achieve my goal of combining my work (M1 Macbook Air) and play (Galaxy Tab 8 Ultra) machines into a lightweight, sexy device? Yes!

The GalaxyBook3 Pro 360 gives me more options than I know how to handle. The screen is beyond impressive; it’s relatively light (especially for 16 inches) and has a nice selection of ports.

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I will use this as my main machine for work and play. The battery is good; however, my other devices easily beat it in battery life.

As my GalaxyBook3 Pro 360 dies for the day, I will pull out my other machines. I want to push this machine to the max and see how much entertainment and work I can squeeze from it.

For reference, I paid $1,600 for the M1 Macbook Air (1 TB), $1,100 Galaxy Tab 8 Ultra (512 GB), and $1,800 for the GalaxyBook3 Pro 360 (1 TB).

If you love options as a writer, then the GalaxyBook3 Pro 360 may appeal to you. I know most people have a strong Apple-centric workflow. Luckily, I built my workflow around Google Chrome, so I can easily switch between Chromebooks, Macs, and Windows devices.

I adore all of these machines. I was thinking of giving my M1 Macbook Air to my 16-year-old son, but that may be a bridge too far. I love being a content creator; all my devices make my creation and consumption enjoyable. I am truly blessed.

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Disclosure: I am not a financial advisor or money manager, and any knowledge is given as guidance and not direct actionable investment advice. I am an Amazon Affiliate. Please research any investment vehicles that are being considered. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it.  I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. All Right Reserved Military Family Investing