Galaxy Book4 Edge vs. MacBook: Does It Outperform and Is ARM Compatibility Worth It?

Hey there, tech enthusiasts! Today, we’re diving deep into the Galaxy Book4 Edge, Samsung’s latest contender in the laptop arena, powered by the Snapdragon X Elite chipset. This isn’t just another Windows laptop—it’s an ARM-based machine promising MacBook-level performance with insane battery life. But does it really beat the MacBook M2 or M3 in terms of power? And more importantly, how does its ARM compatibility hold up for apps like Adobe Premiere Pro and Photoshop? I’ve tested it all—read on to find out if this sleek 14-inch beauty is worth your investment!

First Impressions: A MacBook Challenger?

Straight out of the box, the Galaxy Book4 Edge 14-inch screams premium. It’s thin, lightweight, and feels sturdy—Samsung’s design game is on point, as always. Available in 14-inch and 16-inch variants, it’s clear they’re targeting portability lovers and power users alike. The 16-inch model packs a higher-spec Snapdragon X Elite 84 chipset (versus the 80 in the 14-inch), but I went with the 14-inch for its unbeatable portability. Why? ARM’s biggest selling point is efficiency—think long battery life and low heat. If I’m sacrificing compatibility, I want the trade-off to feel worth it.

The big question: can it take on the MacBook M2 and M3? Qualcomm hyped up the Snapdragon X Elite as an Apple Silicon killer, so I put it through its paces—benchmarks, real-world tests, and compatibility checks. Let’s break it down.

ARM Compatibility: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

ARM-based Windows laptops aren’t new, but earlier models were budget-friendly and underpowered. The Galaxy Book4 Edge changes that with flagship-level performance. Still, ARM’s Achilles’ heel remains compatibility. Here’s what I found after testing popular apps as of July 2024 (note: this was March 2025, so expect some improvements by now):

• Adobe Suite (Premiere Pro, Photoshop, etc.): Mixed bag. Photoshop runs decently—good news for photo editors. Lightroom installs but crashes often, and Premiere Pro? Forget it—no native ARM support yet. Adobe promised updates for Illustrator and InDesign by mid-2024, but video editors should stick to MacBooks or Intel PCs for now. DaVinci Resolve 19 (public beta) offers hope, but it’s not fully stable.
• 3D Tools (3ds Max 2025, AutoCAD 2025, SketchUp, Blender 4.1): Surprisingly solid! Installation and basic execution worked fine. I’m not a 3D pro, so heavy workflows might reveal cracks, but this is promising.
• Everyday Apps (Office, KakaoTalk, Zoom): No issues here. Microsoft Office flies, and even KakaoTalk (after a slow first launch) runs smoothly. These are ARM-optimized, so expect a seamless experience.
• Gaming: Ouch. League of Legends? Nope. Diablo 2 Resurrection and Overwatch technically run, but resolutions are limited, and performance stinks. Gamers, look elsewhere.
• Financial Tools (HomeTax, Banking Apps): Good news—most work fine despite some security software failing to install. Samsung claims compatibility, and my tests back that up.

Verdict: If you’re into casual use—web browsing, streaming, or office work—this laptop shines. For creative pros or gamers, though, ARM’s growing pains are real. Check back in a few months—Adobe and others are catching up.

Performance: Can It Beat the MacBook?

Let’s talk numbers. I ran benchmarks against the Galaxy Book4 Edge (14-inch and 16-inch), Galaxy Book4 Pro (Intel-based), and MacBook Air M2/M3. Here’s the scoop:

• Geekbench 6 (Single-Core): M3 Air wins at ~3100. The Edge 16-inch (84 chipset) scores ~2900, while the 14-inch (80 chipset) lags at ~2700. The Intel-based Book4 Pro? A measly ~2200.
• Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core): Edge dominates! The 14-inch hits ~14,000, and the 16-inch ~14,500—beating M3 (~12,000) and crushing M2 (~8500). Intel’s Book4 Pro trails at ~10,000.
• Cinebench R23: Similar story—Edge models outpace M3 in multi-core tasks, thanks to their 12-core Snapdragon chips (vs. Apple’s 8-core M-series).
• GPU (3DMark): M3 ties the Edge 16-inch in Wild Life Extreme (~9500), but pulls ahead in Steel Nomad Light (~22% better). The 14-inch struggles against M2 here—GPU isn’t ARM’s forte yet.
• Storage: Edge uses eUFS (flash memory), not SSDs. Read speeds hit ~3GB/s (faster than M2/M3’s ~2.8GB/s), but write speeds vary—14-inch (~2GB/s) matches M2, while 16-inch (1TB) edges out slightly.

Takeaway: Multi-core performance is where the Edge shines—ideal for multitasking or CPU-heavy tasks. Single-core and GPU lag behind M3, so 3D rendering or gaming isn’t its strength. Compared to Intel’s Book4 Pro? It’s a massacre—ARM wins in power and efficiency.

Battery Life: The Real Star

Battery life is where ARM flexes. I tested 4K HDR YouTube playback at matched brightness:

• Galaxy Book4 Pro (Intel): 4 hours, 7 minutes.
• Galaxy Book4 Edge 14-inch: 5 hours, 15 minutes.
• MacBook Air M3: 7 hours, 37 minutes.

M3 takes the crown, but the Edge crushes Intel-based rivals. In real-world use (web browsing, light editing), I got nearly two days on a single charge—insane for a Windows laptop. Low-power mode is your friend here.

Design and Features: A Portable Powerhouse

The 14-inch model weighs just under 3 lbs, with a stunning AMOLED display (touch-enabled, minimal glare). The 16-inch adds a numpad and bigger trackpad, but it’s offset awkwardly to the left—ergonomics take a hit. Ports are sparse on the 14-inch (2x USB-C, HDMI, audio jack), while the 16-inch adds USB-A and microSD.

The Copilot+ AI features (40 TOPS NPU) are neat—live captions, page summaries, and sketch-to-image tools—but nothing groundbreaking yet. Privacy concerns delay the Recall feature, so don’t hold your breath.

Should You Buy the Galaxy Book4 Edge?

Who’s it for?

• Casual users needing portability and battery life.
• Office workers or students juggling docs and Zoom.

Who should skip it?

• Video editors, gamers, or 3D pros—compatibility isn’t there yet.
• Budget hunters—it’s pricey unless discounted.

14-inch vs. 16-inch: Go 14-inch unless you need the extra power (and don’t mind the bulk). The 80 vs. 84 chipset gap isn’t massive, and portability is king.

Final Thoughts: A Glimpse of the Future

The Galaxy Book4 Edge isn’t perfect—ARM compatibility needs time. But with stellar battery life, top-tier multi-core performance, and a gorgeous design, it’s a MacBook rival worth watching. As Adobe and others optimize for ARM, this could be a game-changer by late 2025. For now, it’s a stellar pick for light workflows—just don’t expect it to replace your gaming rig or Premiere Pro station yet.

What do you think? Tempted by the Edge, or sticking with MacBook? Drop your thoughts below—I’ll keep testing ARM laptops as they evolve. See you in the next review!