Samsung ATIV Book 9 Lite review

Samsung gives its coveted Series 9 a budget makeover

Samsung ATIV Book 9 Lite
Samsung ATIV Book 9 Lite

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Benchmarks

  • Battery life – 4 hours 20 minutes
  • Cinebench 11.5 - CPU – 0.96pts
  • OpenGL – 9.77fps
  • 3DMark Ice Storm – 17,115
  • 3DMark Cloud Gate – 1438
  • 3DMark Fire Strike – 280

With a white-label processor built into the Samung ATIV Book 9 Lite, we were eager to check out its performance. So how did it fare in our benchmark tests?

First we tested graphics performance using 3DMark. Scores were well below par across the three tests, with renders struggling to top 7fps, making gaming out of the question (you need around 30fps for a decent gaming experience).

Stood on its open lid

What sort of performance does the 9 Lite offer?

Let's put those scores in context. Intel's entry-level, low-power Core i3 processor also failed miserably when it came to gaming performance, scoring 20,000 points in the first test. Consider that the Samsung scored 17,115 in the same test, and you'll have some idea of the (lack of) power on offer.

We tested SimCity on the ATIV Book 9 Lite, and while the game was playable on the lowest graphics settings, it wasn't an enjoyable experience. However, the same goes for the Acer Aspire P3, which packs an entry-level fourth-generation Intel Core processor.

Performance gulf

While the scores in the 3D tests were relatively close, the processor tests really exposed the gulf in performance. Recording a score of 0.96 in Cinebench 11.5, the Samsung ATIV Book 9 Lite's lack of processing grunt is laid bare.

The 9 Lite hand rest

It's quad-core, but the numbers don't impress

The benchmark tests backed up what we saw in real-world use too. Slow and sluggish performance was evident across the operating system, and tasks as simple as loading two programs at the same time caused huge bottlenecks. In fact, installing our benchmarking software was a hard enough job in itself: the system locked up for around 10 seconds before four instances of the installation appeared at once.

Overall we were able to eke nearly four and a half hours from the Samsung's battery, which is pretty decent on a budget. (We found similar levels in the much costlier Sony VAIO Pro 13 Ultrabook.) That time extended to five or six hours while performing basic word and internet tasks, so there are positives to the Samsung's performance after all.

Latest in Pro
Squarespace
Build a website for less with 10% off Squarespace subscriptions
An American flag flying outside the US Capitol building against a blue sky
The FCC is creating a security council to bolster US defenses against cyberattacks
UK Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer
UK PM says AI should soon replace civil servants
Image depicting hands typing on a keyboard, with phishing hooks holding files, passwords and credit cards.
Microsoft warns about a new phishing campaign impersonating Booking.com
Ransomware
Microsoft uncovers sleuthy new XCSSET MacOS malware campaign
An image of network security icons for a network encircling a digital blue earth.
Why effective cybersecurity is a team effort
Latest in Reviews
Alienware 27 AW2725Q monitor on desk displaying a scene from Cyberpunk 2077
I played games with Alienware's new 27-inch 4K OLED monitor and now I don't want to see another LCD panel
MacBook Air 15-inch with M4 chip on a creative's desk with screen open
I've reviewed the Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) - and it remains the best 15-inch laptop I'd recommend for most people
Samsung Music Frame on a table beside some books and a vase
I spent six weeks listening to the Samsung Music Frame and it kept missing the beat
GlocalMe KeyTracker
When I tested this global tracker, it trounced the Apple AirTag in so many ways
Groov-e Boston DAB radio on a wooden table
I tested this affordable DAB radio and, sadly, its tinny output made me think of every car garage I've ever been to
An AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D on its retail packaging
I've reviewed three generations of 3D V-cache processors, and the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is the best there is