SINGAPORE – This year has not started well for laptop makers. Sony has announced that it will be selling its Vaio division and online rumours suggest that Samsung will be halting the production of conventional notebooks next year.

But the Korean chaebols might have found the solution to maintaining profitability without depriving consumers of a large screen device necessary to succeed in the workplace with their first 12.2-inch tablet — the Galaxy Note Pro.
   
Just like the Note 3 phablet, the Note Pro sports a faux-leather back and still feels solid despite its plastic body. Its home, menu and back buttons are also placed in the centre of the tablet when it is held in landscape mode, making it very tricky to use in portrait. 

The Note Pro is only 7.95mm thin slim but its 12.2-inch screen is equal to that of two iPad Minis so you do need to allocate a fair amount of desk space when you are using for work or charging it. It is also impossible to use with one hand but that is a minor issue given the device’s power and performance. 

The LTE-version I reviewed was powered by a 2.3GHz quad-core processor and the 9,500mAH battery ensures users can enjoy lightning quick loading speeds for at least 10 hours on a single charge. 

The Note Pro runs on Android KitKat 4.4 — the latest version of Google’s operating system — with Samsung’s very own Magazine UX overlay.

The new user interface elegantly spreads apps and widgets in a Flipboard-like presentation across the screen, which is pleasing to the eye and very easy to navigate. 

Using the S Pen has also never been smoother or more intuitive. Samsung’s stylus technology always felt clumsy on the company’s smaller offerings but the Note Pro’s huge screen makes a world of difference. It is easier to write on the Note Pro and one can create and edit documents, pictures and videos with fewer errors simply because there is more space to work with.

The Note Pro also has a Network Booster function that allows users to download files larger than 30MB faster by using both WiFi and mobile networks. Business users can also utilise Samsung Knox — an Android security platform — to securely separate their personal and professional data. 

Samsung has taken a huge risk by introducing their first 12.2-inch tablet in a market dominated by 7 and 10-inch devices. But the gamble has certainly paid off as the Note Pro’s large screen, long-lasting power and improved S Pen performance make it the perfect laptop replacement.   

The Samsung Galaxy Note Pro will be available in black from Feb 22 at S$1,198 (without contract). The WiFi-only version will be available from March 1 at S$1,098 (without contract).