Next up are the Samsung ATIV Smart PCs, which take on similar transforming appearances to a design used by both Lenovo and Asus.
Similar to the Transformer and an IdeaTab that’s missing release locally, the Smart PC will feature a switch that can detach the touchscreen from the rest of the laptop body, allowing you to use the tablet without the keyboard.
Both PCs will feature digitising pen – similar to the Galaxy Note – making it possible to take notes and draw things with 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity.
The ATIV Smart PC looks to be the more affordable of the two, even without a proper recommended retail price locally, with the computer sporting an 11.6 inch 1366×768 touchscreen, next-generation Intel Atom processor, Intel HD graphics, 2GB RAM, up to 128GB storage, WiFi, Bluetooth, USB 2.0 ports, either 3G or 4G connectivity, microHDMI, and microSD card slots.
Improving on that model is the ATIV Smart PC Pro, featuring an 11.6 inch screen with an even more impressive Full HD 1920×1080 touchscreen, Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB RAM, 256GB solid-state storage, WiFi, Bluetooth, USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports, either 3G or 4G connectivity, microHDMI, and microSD.
Both look to feature decent battery life, with roughly eight hours for the Smart PC Pro’s Core i5 processor and just over 13 hours for the less performance intensive Smart PC.
Then there’s Windows 8, which will be featured and come pre-installed on these new computers, fitting in the Ultrabook Touch segment of the market.
Finally, the last device of the four launched today is a phone, with the ATIV S pretty much the Galaxy S3 crossed with a Windows Phone 8 device.
With its 4.8 inch Super AMOLED display, 8 megapixel rear camera with LED flash, and NFC, there’s already a fair bit in common.
While it looks a little like what would happen if the Galaxy S2, Galaxy S3, and a Windows Phone joined forces, we’re keen to see how well Windows Phone 8 runs on a new device.
The recent versions of Windows Phone have actually been pretty good, and with the ATIV S supporting a 2300mAh battery – bigger than on the Galaxy S3 – we’re wondering just how much life we’ll be able to get out of the new handset.
Our expectations are a lot, but we’ll just have to wait and see.
None of these products have proper release dates or prices yet, though given Windows 8 is expected in late October, we’d hazard a guess that we’ll be seeing them then.
(Valens Quinn traveled to IFA courtesy of Samsung Electronics, Australia.)
