30 Oct
Blog

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3: The Same, Only Faster

Lenovo Thinkpad X1 extreme Gen 3 review

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3: The same, just faster

"The ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 is particularly fast because of its components and strikes against laptops with faster processors."

  • Gorgeous OLED display with the best HDR

  • Great keyboard and touchpad

  • Solid build quality

  • Excellent performance

  • Disappointing battery life

  • Expensive

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 2 made my list of favorite laptops that I checked for digital trends – and for good reason. It was fast, well built, and featured an outstanding OLED display. Now Lenovo has released the third generation model of the laptop and increased the performance to 11.

Lenovo equips this new model with 45-watt CPUs of the 10th generation from Intel to replace the 9th generation options of the previous version. My ThinkPad x1 Extreme Gen 3 tester wasn't quite as well equipped as my Gen 2 model – it has a Core i7-10850H with vPro this time around compared to a Core i9-9880H – but it still had 32GB of RAM and so on beautiful OLED display.

Note that the Core i9-10885H is still an option and the GPU has been upgraded from an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q to a GTX 1650 Ti Max-Q. The price? A whopping $ 2,404, though this starts at a retail price of $ 4,007. That's a lot of money. Does Lenovo's Gen 3 design still deserve my recommendation?

design

My test device still has a carbon fiber lid, which is part of the optional 4K display. Not only does this add structural integrity, but it also looks more noticeable. The bottom of the case is made of aluminum, with the usual soft-coated ThinkPad plastic for the keyboard deck, making it extremely comfortable to use.

In other words, the ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 is outwardly identical to the Gen 2. There is nothing wrong with that. No need to mess around with a good thing as the ThinkPad X1 Extreme has the same ThinkPad aesthetic as always. It's all black with just a few red accents, including the iconic blinking LED above the “i” in ThinkPad on the lid, the TrackPoint nubbin, and the edges of the TrackPoint buttons.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

ThinkPad fans will be very satisfied. It's not as modern as the new Dell XPS 15, however, as the ThinkPad has fairly large bezels. The XPS 15 has tiny bezels that disappear around the 16:10 aspect ratio. The HP Specter x360 15 is at the other end of the aesthetic spectrum. Its gem-cut design calls for attention, while the ThinkPad likes to sit quietly in the shade.

The build quality of the laptop is consistently first class, with a lid that doesn't warp under pressure, very little keyboard flex and a lower case that doesn't bend or twist. It exudes strength and endurance and inspires confidence that it can withstand a blow. My only complaint is that the hinge is stiff and requires two hands to break it open. However, there is no premium laptop that feels more durable than the ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 is 0.72 inches thin, almost identical to the 0.71 inch of the XPS 15 and slightly thinner than the 0.79 inch of the Specter x360 15. The ThinkPad weighs 4.0 with the touch display Pounds (3.75 pounds with a non-touch display) compared to the Dell's 4.5 pounds and the HP's 4.23 pounds.

Connectivity remains a strength: a proprietary power port (135 watts), two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 3, and a full-size HDMI 2.0 port on the left. On the right side you'll find two USB-A 3.2 ports and a full-size SD card reader (a welcome touch for creative professionals). The wireless connection is provided via Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1.

I will also find that the ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 is upgradeable. The back cover is relatively easy to remove. You can swap out the RAM and use a second SSD slot.

performance

I can't directly compare Gen 3 to Gen 2 due to the differences between the CPU and GPU, but the Dell XPS 15 and HP Specter x360 15 are good comparison devices. The XPS 15 we tested ran with a Core i7-10875H, an 8-core CPU compared to the 6-core Core i7-10850H in the ThinkPad X1 Extreme. The Specter x360 15 is equipped with a 6-core Core i7-10750H, which is clocked a little lower than the CPU of the ThinkPad.

The ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 ran as expected or better. In Geekbench 5, for example, 1,299 points were achieved in the single-core test and 6,372 points in the multi-core test. The XPS 15 scored 1,314 and 7,549 points, while the Specter x360 15 scored 1,237 and 5013 points, respectively.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

In our handbrake test, which encodes a 420 MB video in H.265, the ThinkPad took a little more than two minutes. That was surprisingly close to the XPS 15, which ended up only nine seconds faster despite two more cores and four more threads. The Specter x360 15 was finished in just over 2.5 minutes, making the ThinkPad significantly faster than the difference in clock speed suggests.

In Cinebench 20, the ThinkPad achieved 486 points in the single-core test and 2,888 points in the multi-core test. The XPS 15 was much faster with 488 and 3582 respectively, while the Specter x360 15 held its own against the ThinkPad with 469 and 2523. In this test, Dell's additional cores seem key.

It's worth noting that AMD's Ryzen 4000 chips also compete well with Intel's 45-watt CPUs. For example, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7 with the Ryzen 7 4800U took just two seconds longer to complete the handbrake test than the ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3, and it scored 482 and 3,255 in Cinebench 20 – it beat the ThinkPad and competed with that XPS 15.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Finally, I ran the ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 through our Premiere Pro review, which rendered a two-minute 4K video. It took four minutes and 52 seconds to complete. The XPS 15 finished in five minutes and the Specter x360 15 took more than seven minutes to complete the test. The ThinkPad excelled here and beat the XPS 15 despite the slower CPU and GPU (the XPS 15 uses the non-Max-Q version of the GTX 1650 Ti). My working theory is that Lenovo outperformed Dell in developing a thermal design that can sustain the combined CPU and GPU performance over a long period of time.

In short, the ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 is a fast laptop that can meet the demands of the most demanding creative. If your needs lead to more mundane productivity tasks, this is excessive – but is it ever a bad thing to have too much power? I do not believe that.

Play

The ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 can also handle games and competes strongly with the XPS 15 and Specter x360 15. In the 3DMark Time Spy test, the ThinkPad scored 3572 points, compared to the XPS 15 with 3860 and the Specter x360 15 with 2963 Points.

The ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 achieved Civilization VI with an average of 124 frames per second (FPS) with 1080p and medium graphics and 68 FPS with ultra graphics. The XPS 15 managed 114 FPS and 64 FPS, respectively, while the Specter x360 15 ran at 89 FPS and 60 FPS. Again, the ThinkPad outperformed its weight class, beating a laptop with a faster CPU and GPU in a game that relies on both to get the best performance. The same applies to 4K, where the ThinkPad averaged 66 FPS with medium graphics and 36 FPS with ultra graphics, compared to the XPS 15 with 51 FPS and 30 FPS and the Specter x360 15 with 55 FPS and 30 FPS.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

In Fortnite, the ThinkPad averaged 83 FPS with 1080p and medium graphics and 60 FPS with epic graphics. The XPS 15 achieved 74 FPS and 60 FPS, respectively, and the Specter x360 15 achieved 67 FPS and 47 FPS. Each of these laptops fell below 30 FPS at 4K, so I don't need to report the results at that resolution. Fortnite stays best at 1080p on laptops with discrete GPUs in the mid-range.

Next up is Assassin's Creed Odyssey, where the ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 reached 52 FPS at 1080p and medium graphics and 30 FPS at ultra-high graphics. The XPS 15 achieved 47 FPS and 26 FPS, respectively, while the Specter x360 15 achieved 40 FPS and 25 FPS. Again, none of the machines exceeded 30 FPS at 4K. It's noteworthy to see that the X1 Extreme Gen 3 averages 30 FPS at ultra high in this game as Odyssey is extremely demanding.

In Battlefield V, the XPS 15 took the lead at 60 FPS at 1080p and medium graphics and 50 FPS at ultra graphics, while the ThinkPad was at 56 FPS and 44 FPS, respectively, and the Specter x360 15 managed 55 GPS and 44 FPS. Once again, 4K was south of at least 30 FPS that we consider playable.

Overall, the ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 offers very good performance for a laptop in this category. The fact that it outperformed the XPS 15 in all but one game is impressive. While 4K gaming is not recommended, you'll be happy to use modern 1080p titles with the right graphics settings. Those looking for better gaming performance must consider a gaming laptop.

display

I love OLED displays. They are bright, colorful and without contrast. The ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3's OLED is no different, although it isn't the best OLED display we've tested.

The display of this ThinkPad is not as bright as some OLED panels and reaches 369 nits compared to the 426 nits of the HP Specter x360 15. Both laptops have anti-reflective glass, so that the HP looks a bit brighter. Additionally, the contrast on the Specter was 426,180: 1 compared to 369,390: 1 on the ThinkPad – a meaningless difference in real world usage, but a significant numerical difference nonetheless.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Dell's XPS 15 doesn't use OLED and instead opts for a more traditional IPS display. The brightness was 442 nits, and the contrast ratio reached 1480: 1 (which is excellent for an IPS display). The contrast gap isn't as noticeable in real life as the numbers suggest. Still, the OLED panel in the ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 is superior to the Dell XPS 15 when you are viewing movies or high quality photos in a dark room.

Note that according to the specs, Lenovo increases the brightness when running high dynamic range (HDR) content. I noticed this in my tests.

The color gamut is another area in which the ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 fell short. It covered 100% of sRGB and 96% of AdobeRGB. This is comparable to the Specter at 100% and 98% and the XPS 15 at 100% of both color bars. It's not a huge difference, but for a creative professional looking for the best AdobeRGB support, these few percentage points might matter.

However, the ThinkPad's color turned out to be accurate with a DeltaE of 0.91 (lower is better in this benchmark). The XPS 15 was 0.65 and the Specter x360 15 was 1.21. All three displays work fine, but the XPS 15's excellent accuracy makes it instantly ready for color-critical work.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

None of this should detract from the ThinkPad's display. It's great in practice. Movies and pictures have a high-contrast, vivid look that slopes off the screen, and the darkest scenes in HDR are clear thanks to the panel's support for Dolby Vision. As with the Gen 2 model, the ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 is one of the best devices you can find for watching Netflix in HDR, and it's way better than the other laptops I didn't enable for Dolby Vision.

If OLED isn't your thing, Lenovo has three alternative display options. There are two full HD options with 300 or 500 nits and a 4K IPS panel with 600 nits to choose from. We generally assume they all perform well for their respective prices, but OLED is our favorite.

Audio was a strong point as two downward facing speakers pumped out lots of volume without distortion. The mids and highs were clear and there was even a hint of bass. You can watch Netflix and YouTube videos fine alone or with a few friends, but good headphones are recommended for music as usual.

Keyboard and touchpad

ThinkPad fans are picky about their keyboards, but the X1 Extreme Gen 3 should satisfy. It has nicely shaped keycaps that are just the right size with excellent clearance. Personally, I find the mechanism a bit stiff, but it gives a lot of feedback and a very precise ground effect. If, like me, you like a lighter touch, the HP Specter keyboard might be more your style. However, if you want more feedback while you type, the ThinkPad's keyboard is for you. Oh, and it's leak proof if that matters to you.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The usual TrackPoint node is in the middle of the keyboard and works as expected. However, it forces a pair of buttons, which takes away some space from the touchpad. Speaking of which, the touchpad is a glass-covered Microsoft Precision touchpad that's great for swiping and using Windows 10's multi-touch gestures.

The display on this model is touch sensitive and precise and responsive. Fortunately, it has an anti-wipe coating that resists fingerprints. In this respect, this corresponds to the display of the HP Specter x360 15.

Windows 10 Hello support is provided by a fast and responsive fingerprint reader and an infrared camera with facial recognition support. There is a privacy lock that deactivates the latter. As a result, you may want to configure both methods to log on without a password.

Battery life

Here you pay the price for all this performance and the power-hungry OLED display. Simply put, the battery life of this ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 configuration isn't a forte.

In our demanding Basemark Web benchmark test, the ThinkPad managed about 3.5 hours, which is not terrible for a 45 watt CPU. The XPS 15 lasted 16 minutes less, while the Specter x360 15 didn't even last three hours.

In our web browser test, which is the best indicator of overall productivity longevity, the ThinkPad just exceeded 5.5 hours, which is 80 minutes less than the XPS 15 and 32 minutes less than the Specter x360 15. And in our video test, which is repeated over a Full HD Avengers trailer, the ThinkPad was 6.5 hours, 50 minutes less than the XPS 15, and 11 minutes longer than the Specter x360 15.

These aren't great results, but they are expected. If you want longer battery life, go for one of the Full HD display options. Otherwise you should be prepared to carry the Power Brick around.

Our opinion

Lenovo kept the best of the ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 2 and made it faster. That makes the Gen 3 model an incremental, yet meaningful, upgrade that simply improves on what was already an excellent 15-inch laptop.

Granted, it's most appealing to ThinkPad fans, and there's nothing wrong with that. If you are looking for a laptop that is as powerful as any other in its class, the ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 is a great choice.

Are there alternatives?

The Dell XPS 15 is the ThinkPad's most obvious competitor. They are both powerful, thin, and light, and well-built 15-inch machines that appeal to the same type of users. The XPS 15 gives you a 16:10 display and a more modern look and feel, but the ThinkPad has the better performance.

If you're a 2-in-1 gamer, the Specter x360 15 is an excellent choice. It's not that fast, but it has a sleeker look, a slightly better OLED display (unless you're watching Netflix in HDR), and the flexibility of a 2-in-1 device. The Specter is also several hundred dollars cheaper, though it isn't as powerfully configurable as the ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3.

Finally, you might consider the HP Envy 15, a 15-inch laptop that offers lots of power for little money. It can't quite compete with the ThinkPad, but it has a great OLED display of its own and costs hundreds of dollars less.

How long it will take?

The ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 is extremely durable, well configured and will provide many years of productive service. We'd like more than a year of warranty at these prices, but Lenovo offers a variety of warranty upgrade options.

Should you buy it?

Yes. Not only is the ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 the most powerful ThinkPad you can buy, it's also one of the most powerful 15-inch consumer laptops out there.

Editor's recommendations




30 Oct
Blog

iRobot Roomba i3 Plus Review: Self Emptying For Easier Life

iRobot Roomba i3 Plus dirt disposal unit

iRobot Roomba i3 + robotic vacuum cleaner

"Thanks to the automatic dirt disposal system, cleaning takes place efficiently and without intervention."

  • Excellent cleaning performance

  • Cleans efficiently to save time

  • Car dirt disposal system

  • Great for avoiding obstacles

  • Virtual boundaries cannot be created

  • Sounds disgustingly loud empty

You never have to have owned or used a Roomba to know the reputation that preceded the robotic vacuum cleaner. Much like Apple in the world of smartphones and DJI with aerial drones, iRobot has an immense, established presence that gives consumers a sense of trust.

The latest robotic vacuum cleaner, the iRobot Roomba i3 Plus, borrows a useful feature from its premium siblings – and at the same time bears significantly lower costs. This combination seems to be a direct response to the various units that have hit the market over the last year that have offered premium features at mid-range prices. Shark's IQ robot is one of them and offers the convenience of a self-draining system. However, the iRobot offer is an equally convincing argument in itself.

Smart cleaning without advanced sensors

I've never owned or used a Roomba, but I'm familiar with the various technologies implemented by today's sophisticated robotic vacuums that make them efficient cleaners. LiDAR, laser navigation and cameras have proven effective in turning today's robotic vacuums into efficient cleaners – the best models that still use the routine of navigating with bumps and movements. You don't get any of these fancy features with the Roomba i3 Plus, but I was still shocked by its performance.

iRobot Roomba i3 Plus on the floorJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

Instead, floor sensors are used on the underside for navigation. In this way, it can effectively track its movement in rooms, so that cleaning doesn't just happen in random formations. In many cases, when there are clear, wide open spaces, cleaning is carried out in straight lines. Additionally, I'm impressed that it can handle clutter with ease. Even with some charging cables on the floor and shoes lying around, the Roomba i3 Plus didn't need fancy sensors to navigate around them.

All of this brings me to its incredible cleaning performance which sweetens its value as an efficient cleaner. The double, multi-surface rubber brushes pull in dirt and debris perfectly – without getting tangled by animal hair and other long fibers. While it only has a single edge brush that helps it wick away debris, the powerful suction helps reduce the spread of debris throughout the funnel. Nooks and crannies are handled well, although they do tend to readjust their position.

I am impressed that it can handle clutter with ease.

Overall, for a robot vacuum cleaner based on floor sensors, the iRobot Roomba i3 Plus is a highly efficient and competent cleaner that meets all of my cleaning needs.

Convenience of automatic disposal

Automatic disposal robots are still few and far between, and even iRobot's own offerings, the Roomba i7 Plus and the s9 Plus, cost $ 800 and $ 1,100, respectively. They're not cheap, which is why the Shark IQ Robot's price tag under $ 600 was so attractive to many. Fortunately, the Roomba i3 Plus gets the same convenience with the iRobot Clean Base automatic debris removal system – all at almost the same cost as the Shark for under $ 600.

iRobot Roomba i3 Plus dirt disposal unitJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

The convenience of setting the robot to clean on its own and then return to base when it has self-emptied is a benefit that means one less thing on my to-do list. I don't really mind emptying the robot myself as this is all I've experienced before, but I fully understand the inclusion in the robot's automation. However, it sounds like a jet engine is starting at top speed – it's so deafening – albeit less than a minute. The disposal unit can absorb dirt and debris for up to 60 days. However, I wish there was a more accurate way to know about the app. If you're wondering, a 3-pack of the disposal bags is $ 20.

If the trash can on the robotic vacuum cleaner gets filled while it is cleaning, it will automatically stop and return to the base to dispose of it – and then return to where it left off to complete the cleaning. Again, it is this type of automation that reduces the need for intervention at my level. The battery life is also excellent as my apartment can be cleaned for an hour without any problems.

No restricted areas

Although I am delighted with the efficient cleaning of the Roomba i3 Plus, it lacks a feature that I can rely on – and that sets up the restricted areas in my apartment. With other bots, this is achieved in two ways: using magnetic stripes to set these boundaries, or placing them on a map via the app. Unfortunately, there is also no option for the Roomba i3 Plus. Quite simply, it gets clean everywhere and everywhere as soon as it starts.

If you have areas in the house that you do not want to be disturbed by a robot vacuum, the ability to set up virtual boundaries / restricted areas is vital. In addition, the robot vacuum cleaner cannot assign any rooms. I think I am spoiled by the way other vacuum cleaners can recognize and define rooms. This is very helpful when you just want a specific room to be cleaned instead of everything. Even so, there are options in the iRobot App that you can use to set schedules for cleaning and connect them to other devices and services. For example, you can set up Roomba i3 Plus to start a cleaning session when you are not at home.

The Roomba i3 Plus is a remarkable cleaner that made me worry less about cleaning it.

Let's call it a compromise, but its inability to accurately map rooms and set virtual boundaries exactly sets this model apart from iRobot's other premium robotic vacuums.

Our opinion

I first met an iRobot Roomba and was impressed with how well it cleans – both picking up dirt from floors and carpets and cleaning it efficiently. The idea of ​​being even more independent and automated is made even clearer by the automatic dirt disposal system. For a mid-ranger, the Roomba i3 Plus is a remarkable cleaner that leaves me less worrying about cleaning.

How long it will take?

Interestingly, the deliberate choice of tough, matt plastic with a dark gray fabric upper part makes the Roomba i3 Plus less prone to dirt and dust after every cleaning. I prefer it to the shiny glass panels I see in many other bots.

The construction feels solid for the most part, but a little maintenance will extend the life of this bot. In particular, long strands of hair can collect around the edge brush, so cleaning it after each use is helpful.

If something goes wrong internally due to a defect, a 1 year limited warranty applies with purchase.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes, if you are ready to lose the money. The older iRobot Roomba i7 Plus is the logical alternative, although it is already a few years old. It has the same automatic dirt disposal system and benefits from room allocation functions that can be used to identify rooms.

My personal all-round favorite recommendation is the Roborock S6 MaxV, partly because of its intelligent obstacle avoidance, the built-in security camera and the ability to mop floors. You pay more, but it's a 2-in-1 combo that gets your job done. If not, there are several more bots to consider covering the price range and features.

Should you buy it?

Thanks to its efficient cleaning and disposal system, you rarely have to interact with the iRobot Roomba i3 Plus. It is a powerful robot that can do the cleaning on its own. So it's definitely worth buying.

Editor's recommendations




30 Oct
Blog

Making Healthy Juices for Everyday Workout

Health is wealth! We must all have heard about it. Taking care of your body and eating a balanced diet are essential keys to getting on with everyday life. We should eat healthily since childhood. Good food, filled with food, is fuel for your mind and organs. Today's hectic lifestyle often prevents us from leading a healthy lifestyle.

Whenever we hear about a healthy diet, raw and whole vegetables and fruits come to mind. But sometimes it doesn't taste good to eat raw vegetables and fruits, so we make juice out of them. Juice is also a hassle-free food for everyday exercise. Nutritionists emphasize the importance of juices in our daily work. It gives you the right nutrients and makes you fresh along with delicious taste.

The benefit of juice is that it gives you a calculated diet and taste that might not have been possible if we had taken fruits or vegetables whole. Now the only problem is finding a suitable juicer that will provide a solution to your problems. Worry less because this article is all about the juicersplusblenders.com recommended juicers. Go through it quickly for a stress-free lifestyle and workout.

What is a juicer?

A question in general, it is an electronic device that extracts juice from vegetables, fruits and coffee beans. The juicer can be used at home and in the office. It's the most convenient and timeless way to extract on a busy day. It comes with motor and different types of blades for extracting and collecting juices.

Who should buy a juicer?

Anyone can buy a juicer to make a juice. Those who don't like vegetables as they are can make their juice with the help of a juicer and add something good that might taste better. The people who have less time to consume all of the nutrients can get a juicer.

What types of juicers are there on the market?

There are many juicers available, depending on the type of engine. There is:

Centrifugal juicer

The main feature of such a juicer is its high speed. The units are 1000-15000 RPM. It also has different speed levels. One thing that makes it dominant is that the juice preparation can be done in no time. Such juicers have different price ranges, so they are affordable for everyone.

Chew the juicer

A low speed juicer that does not operate at higher speeds (no more than 150 RPM). It's a type of juicer that chops the fruits and vegetables to deliver the juice. The special thing about it is that the juices can be stored for days.

Two gear juicer (trituration)

It has two blades which makes it beneficial by increasing yield, versatility, and keeping all nutrient levels exceptionally high.

Electric citrus press

They specialize in processing citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits and others. These can be both manual and electric.

Manual juicer

Manual juicers do not have a motor and juice is extracted by the hands and approaches various techniques. Apply force and squeeze the juice out of fruit or vegetables They are very convenient and easy to use.

How much time does a juicer take?

A timeless extraction of juices can only be done using juicers. It takes barely two minutes to prepare a juice that has the properties of an entire food. Eating and then digesting can take a few minutes. One benefit that we see medically is that juices digest quickly. And that can only be done with the help of juicer.

Conclusion

In the end, it is concluded that the description above talks about the best juicers available on the market and their characteristics.

30 Oct
Blog

Say YES to your fit body with dumbbell pullover exercises daily

Are you looking for the best lats exercise but in vain? Don't worry, we have what you are looking for!

The Dumbbell sweater Exercise is weight training that aims to work the lats and pecs. It also helps to engage the core muscles along with the upper arms for additional improvement. For those who love to train their bodies in the gym, this exercise is an absolute knockout. But did you know that this exercise offers a multitude of variations that promise to change the fitness game for you? Let's take a look at the variations of this workout that will make your health and fitness routine easier forever!

Advantages that set you apart from others

The dumbbell sweater is beneficial not only for the lats but also for the muscles in general. It enables muscles to gain strength and perform better. As a result, the muscles in the body are activated to function more effectively. The triceps are also involved in this process.

There is stunning upper body muscle balance that occurs when you do this exercise regularly. In this case, the chest muscles are the most well-trained muscles in the body when you perform this exercise.

Improved cardiopulmonary function is another great benefit you will get from this workout. Lung capacity and airway flow all seem to work better after doing this workout daily. As a result, respiratory muscle growth also improves. Core stability also improves dramatically as coordination, balance and strength in the body are improved. So, a straight-sleeved dumbbell sweater is an ace of all exercises for this purpose.

How do I perform a dumbbell sweater?

1. Hold the dumbbell in each hand. Extend your arms across your chest and let your palms face each other. Your elbows should be soft and slightly bent.

2. Maintain a strong back and core as you inhale. Pull the weights back over your head. Keep your elbows soft after three to four seconds after reaching an extended position.

3. When you have reached full extension, exhale gradually and bring your arms back to the starting position.

4. Repeat the exercise several times to maintain best practice.

How do I perform the dumbbell sweater?

The Slanting dumbbell sweater is a type of exercise that focuses on thickening and toning the upper muscles in your body. It helps improve flexibility in the body and multiply strength for various purposes. As a result, the level of performance in us increases. The stabilizer muscles are also strengthened if we do this exercise daily. No, it is not a professional workout so beginners can easily do it. The high endurance is also another benefit of this type of exercise.

1. Form a triangle handle to hold the dumbbell by your head and lift it up.

2. Lay your back and shoulders flat on the surface of the incline bench.

3. Put the dumbbell back on your chest and start counting.

4. Slowly pull the barbell behind your head and form an arch. Pull it back and forth in the same direction. Feel the pressure on your chest as you do the reps.

5. Repeat the process Slanting dumbbell sweater for best practices.

How to perform a dumbbell sweater with a curved arm

The Dumbbell sweater with curved arm is another flexible exercise that you can perform when you are in need. This workout is the best way to strengthen your bones, improve muscles, and achieve the body you want in no time. Follow the directions to achieve your dream body quickly. Thus, it is not difficult to do at all. With practical steps and easy-to-remember processes, this exercise fits perfectly into your daily fitness routine. Build this into your fitness routine and watch how the benefits hit your body.

1. Choose the ideal weight for your body. Lean your head and shoulders against the flat bench. Lie on it and use both hands to grab the dumbbell near the weight. Keep a shoulder-width grip when doing this. The knees must be perpendicular to the floor.

2. Now if you keep your upper body taut, your pelvis must be in a neutral position.

3. Hold the barbell with both hands and move it towards your chest.

4. Repeat the process Dumbbell sweater with curved arm daily for the best effects.

How do I perform the dumbbell sweater with a straight arm?

A straight-sleeved dumbbell sweater is a potential exercise you can do for the best benefit. If you follow the steps correctly you should be able to do it in no time. So let's find out how to do this training.

1. Place a dumbbell of the desired weight upright on a bench. Your feet are firmly on the ground. Hold the dumbbell just above your chest with both hands.

2. Gradually lower the dumbbells with an arch until you feel your pecs stretch. You need to breathe in during this movement. Push the dumbbells back to the starting position. After that, you need to exhale.

3. Repeat the process Straight-sleeved dumbbell sweater for the best benefits.

Take that away

The Dumbbell sweater is helpful in many ways, so don't give up. You are too sure to get many benefits from this workout!

FAQ

1. Is that Slanting dumbbell sweater helpful?

Yes. Follow the exercises for best practice.

2. It is important to perform a dumbbell sweater with a curved arm?

No, but if you want you can.

29 Oct
Blog

Bose Smart Soundbar 300 review: Sonos Beam-beater

Bose Smart Soundbar 300

"Packed with features and great sound, it's an investment you won't regret."

  • Expansive and rich sound

  • Either Alexa or Google Assistant

  • Elegant, minimalist design

  • Listen to private headphones

  • AirPlay 2

  • Expensive for a small soundbar

  • Some music services are not supported

  • No Chromecast option for Android

Bose has gradually expanded its portfolio of smart soundbars and its $ 400 Smart soundbar 300 is the newest addition. It's the smallest and most affordable product in the range, but it has most of the features of its more expensive siblings, the Soundbar 500 for $ 550 and the Soundbar 700 for $ 800.

It might be the perfect choice for those with smaller rooms (or just smaller budgets). Is it right for you Let's try it out.

What's in the box?

In a mostly recyclable box (with some foam inserts that you may need to throw away), you get the Smart Soundbar 300, a power cable, an optical cable, a remote control and a quick start guide.

design

Bose Smart Soundbar 300Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Bose's soundbar design philosophy is one that I fully support: these speakers should be heard, not seen. The Smart Soundbar 300 is almost invisible with its completely matt black housing and its extremely flat shape.

It will look like home when I'm in front of virtually every television I can think of.

At just 2.25 inches tall and 27.5 inches wide, it won't block the bottom of your screen and (depending on the design of your TV) you might even be able to place it under the screen between your legs.

But it's also elegant. With clean lines, a button-free exterior, and a wraparound metal grille, it will look like home sitting in front of virtually every television I can think of. The $ 400 Sonos Beam – Bose's closest competitor – is a bit narrower, but also a bit bigger.

In the upper left corner, a small multi-colored LED light strip gives you visual feedback on the status of the speaker. Two white bars indicate a break, a single blue bar indicates Bluetooth and a small red point means mute. It would be cool if Bose used it to display the volume, but unfortunately not that lucky.

If you'd like to mount it on the wall, an optional bracket is available for $ 40.

The connection ports, which include an HDMI-ARC, an optical input, an Ethernet port, an infrared expansion port and a subwoofer output, are located on the rear. We'll discuss how these can be used in a moment.

Setup and connections

Bose Smart Soundbar 300Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

As with the Soundbar 500 and 700, the Smart Soundbar 300 is not just a TV speaker, it's also a wireless smart speaker that can be added to other Bose wireless speakers for a whole house audio solution. For this reason, the Bose Music app is required to set up (and use the non-TV features) (free on iOS and Android). Today, most people likely have a phone or tablet that can run the app. If you don't, consider one of the many soundbar systems that aren't based on Wi-Fi or app control.

The music app makes setup effortless. In a few minutes the soundbar will be connected to your wireless network and you can configure the soundbar 300 with either Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, or just skip this step (you can always change it later if you change your mind).

The advantage of connecting the speaker to your TV using the supplied optical cable is that you don't use any of your HDMI connections, which depending on the TV set can be scarce. Since the Soundbar 300 is not compatible with advanced audio formats like Dolby Atmos or DTS: X (which require HDMI ARC), an optical connection is really all you need.

Usually, using an optical connection means missing out on the HDMI enabled TV control features. Thanks to the infrared heater of the Soundbar 300, you can still use Alexa or Google Assistant to operate TV functions without HDMI. This is a neat trick that the Sonos Beam can't.

Oddly enough, Bose recommends using an HDMI cable, which is more reliable than using infrared. It's not included in the box, however, as most people already have an extra HDMI cable, while optical cables tend to be harder to come by.

The bass connector for wiring a subwoofer is proprietary, so it cannot be used with another company's subwoofer. However, if you're not a fan of cables, it makes more sense to upgrade the low-end of the Soundbar 300 to include Bose wireless subwoofers, which cost $ 400 Bass module 500and the $ 700 Bass module 700. If you want to create a more immersive surround sound atmosphere, the soundbar is compatible with the $ 299 wireless device too Bose surround speakers or $ 500 Bose surround speaker 700.

Streaming music from the Bose Music app over WiFi provides the best sound quality for Android users, but it's not a great music management app (more on this below). Instead, Apple users will be happiest with AirPlay 2, which gives every app on your phone or tablet a direct Wi-Fi connection to the speaker. Spotify subscribers can use the Spotify Connect feature to connect to the speaker from any Spotify app. There is also bluetooth on board which will be the best option for Android users.

Speaking of Bluetooth: The Soundbar 300 has the same Bose SimpleSync technology as the more expensive Soundbar 500 and 700. With SimpleSync you can pair a set of Bose Bluetooth headphones or a Bluetooth speaker with the soundbar and control the volume for the two devices independently of each other . It may work with third party headphones – I tried one set Bowers and Wilkins PX5 Headphones and it worked, if a little out of sync. However, your mileage may vary: The Sony WH-1000XM4 was not recognized by the soundbar.

Sound quality

Bose Smart Soundbar 300Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

If you're looking for room-filling sound, look no further. The Bose Smart Soundbar 300 delivers the goods, whether it's bigger, better sound for movies and TV shows, or just listening to your favorite music.

By default, the speaker's EQ is comfortably neutral and has a good frequency balance that works well with a wide variety of music genres and TV content. Given that soundbars are usually the tool of choice for those looking for a simple home theater upgrade, it's a good thing that you can dramatically increase the bass response using the Music app.

Don't get me wrong, the Soundbar 300 can't deliver the kind of bone-jarring bass a dedicated subwoofer can, but in a smaller space, like a bedroom, it has more than enough oomph to bring even the biggest blockbusters to life .

Not that it has to be confined to a small room – the soundbar can get very loud and does so without distortion.

The result is an impressive feeling that the Sonos Beam cannot quite keep up with.

For voice-heavy music or TV dialogues, the soundbar offers flawless, clear playback. Higher frequencies work freely and have both structure and airiness – an unusual combination, even with more expensive speakers.

I was particularly impressed by the sound stage width of the Soundbar 300. The angled full-range drivers impressively reflect the sound from your side walls in the direction of the display / listening zone and create an impressive feeling that the Sonos Beam cannot quite keep up with. The beam feels warmer and has more resonance when it comes to string instruments like bass or cello, but it's also a more reserved sound. The soundbar 300's dispersion pattern feels much more open.

Dialog enhancement mode is essentially a one-click EQ adjustment that brings higher frequencies to the fore and forces other bands to fade into the background. It's not a substitute for something as specific as the Zvox AV157 TV speaker, but it does go a long way in making cloudy speech easier to spot.

Multiroom audio and music sources

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Bose Smart Soundbar 300 and Sonos Beam "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn3.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/bose-smart-soundbar-300-00014- 640x640 .jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAABose Smart Soundbar 300 (right) and Sonos Beam Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Bose Smart Soundbar 300 and Sonos Beam "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn4.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/bose-smart-soundbar-300-00013- 640x640 .jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAABose Smart Soundbar 300 (right) and Sonos Beam Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The Bose Music app provides an easy way to manage multiple Bose wireless speakers in your home, including the ability to group them for shared or separate playback. It's not perfect – you can't pair stereo speakers or use them as surround to upgrade a soundbar like the 300 – but for most people it provides very good control.

However, this control does not extend very far into streaming music. The app supports a decent selection of music services including Apple Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, and SiriusXM. However, there is no consistency. Some services are searchable, others are not, and each has its own interface. There is no way to create playlists with the app. You are therefore dependent on the tools of each service. You can save playlists, albums, and songs as presets, but the app only gives you six presets to work with.

Not only is the Sonos system better, it's orders of magnitude better, with universal search, unlimited favorites, multi-source playlists, and support for every streaming service under the sun.

remote control

Bose Smart Soundbar 300 remote controlSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The Smart Soundbar 300 comes with a small and simple infrared remote control. It covers the basics: volume, mute, play / pause, power, and source selection (music, TV, bluetooth). The rubberized surface and the curved back make it easy to hold and use.

The only unusual aspect of this remote control is the ability to use the music app to synchronize the power button function with your TV and / or cable box. When you do this, pressing the power button turns the soundbar and these two other devices on and off.

Voice assistants

Bose Smart Soundbar 300Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

With the Soundbar 300 you can choose Alexa or Google Assistant as your voice. A.I. You can change your mind at any time, but just like a Sonos smart speaker, you can't do both at the same time.

Regardless of which A.I. If you choose, the soundbar's microphones are great at picking up the wake-up words and commands.

The feature you choose determines which features you can use. Here you will find an overview of the advantages of the individual systems. One important consideration for those who want to use their music to control their music: the service you want to control must be supported by the Bose Music app as well as the voice assistant you choose. Otherwise it won't work.

Bose Smart Soundbar 300 appAlthough the Google Assistant works well with YouTube Music, you won't be able to bring up YouTube Music tracks on the soundbar 300 (or currently with Bose smart speakers).

Regardless of which A.I. If you choose, the soundbar's microphones are also great at picking up wake-up words and commands from across the room – no shouting required. A tap on the microphone button gives you complete privacy. I especially like the fact that the LED light strip responds to let you know your wake word has been heard. The Sonos Beam can also confirm wake-up words, but instead uses an audio chirp, which I find more intrusive.

Those who set up Alexa in the soundbar can use Bose's Voice4Video technology, which extends the control and control of Alexa to your TV and cable box – even if those devices are not directly compatible with Alexa. Once configured, you can ask Alexa to turn on the TV and even switch to a specific channel.

I found this feature to be a bit successful. Basic commands like “Alexa, turn on the TV” worked fine, but channel changes were found to be more inconsistent. When I asked Alexa to switch to channel 33, I sometimes saw "333" on the screen. At other times the channel request would be correct, but the channel change itself was not performed. And sometimes it just worked.

It is possible that these glitches are related to my particular TV and cable box combination. However, since I was using HDMI rather than optical, I would have expected more consistency.

Our opinion

The Bose Smart Soundbar 300 is an excellent choice for music and movies in small to medium-sized rooms with an expansive sound and some really innovative additional features.

Is there a better alternative?

If you're looking to build a whole house audio system, the $ 400 Sonos Beam is a better choice. It sounds great and its software platform remains the best in the business for those who want complete control over their music and speakers.

However, if you're really looking for a soundbar that can drastically improve the audio performance of your TV for movies and shows, and do an equally good job with your favorite music, the Bose Smart Soundbar 300 sounds better in my opinion.

How long it will take?

The Bose Smart Soundbar 300 comes with a one-year warranty. Bose has an excellent reputation for making quality products, and I trust the Soundbar 300 will last as long as you need it to be.

Should you buy it?

Yes. While the Bose Smart Soundbar 300 is expensive compared to many other TV speakers, its sound quality, customization, additional features, voice control, and expandability make it an investment you won't regret.

Editor's recommendations




29 Oct
Blog

The role of CBD against anxiety and depression

Anxiety and depression are very common health problems among people all over the world. These types of problems require natural solutions to avoid negative side effects. And people still have an option to consider lately, cannabidiol or CBD. Before making a decision to buy and use CBD products, however, there are a few answers you need to know. First, do you want to know what CBD is and is it safe to use? Second, and most importantly, what role does it play in treating anxiety and depression?

In this article, our main goal is to answer the questions above. This way, you will remove any doubts before taking any products containing CBD.

What is CBD and why is it safe to use?

CBD has been a very popular compound lately and is among the hundreds of cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. In fact, along with THC, CBD is the most active ingredient in the cannabis plant. Both compounds have therapeutic properties that can help humans and animals in many ways. But THC has one important negative property, it is psychoactive, so it causes addiction or "gets you up". CBD, on the other hand, is not psychoactive and does not cause addiction, but rather combats it.

Therefore, too much THC is illegal and not safe to use due to its psychoactive potential. Therefore, marijuana is illegal as one of the cannabis sativa strains as it can contain more than 20% THC. But Sativa has another strain, hemp, which if it contains less than 0.3% THC is safe to use, so it's legal. In addition, hemp or industrial hemp can contain more than 20% CBD. This is why hemp is the best way to get CBD, and many grow it for the same reason. The 0.3% THC rule is not the same in every country. Most of USA countries are the same state, but that may change in European countries, Asia, etc.

You don't have to worry about these conditions as they are regulated in most countries. We just recommend that you follow a simple CBD guide to help you take CBD before buying any CBD products.

Can CBD Help With Anxiety And Depression?

The market contains a wide variety of CBD products including shampoos, oils, creams, etc. There is ample evidence of the effectiveness of CBD in treating a wide range of health conditions. The list of benefits of CBD is vast, and the range of conditions it battles also varies greatly. CBD has many therapeutic properties related to, but not limited to, anxiety and depression. Cannabidiol is neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, antipsychotic, analgesic, etc.

As for the treatment of anxiety and depression, more research is underway, but we can't say that won't help. In fact, many people use it for this reason and get great results. However, this is not enough to support claims of an effective treatment, so more research will provide more evidence. Given some of the properties of CBD, the potential is real and after consulting with your doctor, you may really want to try it out.

In conclusion, we have to say that in this case, it is a must to consult your doctor. We say this because most people who have anxiety and depression may be taking or using other medications. Mixing CBD and other compounds can have negative side effects, and your doctor can really help you avoid them. Additionally, your doctor can help you choose a specific CBD product and set the starting dose.

29 Oct
Blog

Learn the ultimate Bruce Lee Workout to look like a total standout

Bruce Lee, an all-rounder of his time, was a man who turned the idea of ​​martial arts and physical fitness on its head. With unparalleled determination and strength that shook an entire city, he quickly earned his own standard. Even today, his unbeatable talent in the martial arts is the "talk of the city". If you are wondering the secret of its infinite endurance, this is what you have to see Bruce Lee workout. Let's see the ultimate ways to look like a total standout inspired by this incredible man!

Bruce Lee's groundbreaking workout routine

Training for this Bruce Lee body is no brainer. If you want to stand out like this best man of his time, you need to pull up your socks.

Bruce Lee's strength training plan included a variety of exercises. Kicks for kickboxing, running to speed up energy levels, and weapon training to master gun fights were some of Bruce Lee's favorite exercises. Below is a comprehensive one Bruce Lee workout routine that is undoubtedly helpful.

1. Crunches– Bruce Lee was a master at getting punched in his stomach. Now you may be wondering how that never hurt him. This is simply because he worked hard to keep his stomach strong so he could always be resilient regardless of the hits. Hats off to his crunch exercises that saved him from punching injuries. Crunches are therefore a must in your training routine. Whether you are a beginner or a professional, crunches are practically safe for you. Stick to a moderate number if you want to incorporate this workout into your daily routine. 10 to 12 repetitions are sufficient.

2. Kicks We all remember Bruce Lee for his high kicks. This is not only because he was exceptional at kung fu, but also because he did kick exercises for hours. If you want to learn this art too, it is important to incorporate this exercise into yours Bruce Lee workout routine. Kicks must be performed at least three times. Make sure to rest between each sentence. If after a few days you want to lengthen the duration of the exercise, you can continue with it. Since kicks are to be performed safely, the risk of injury is minimal.

3. Running and pushups Bruce Lee's training plan This included running and push-ups every day. Both running and push-ups allowed Bruce Lee to improve his physical endurance and endurance. It also promoted flexibility and stability in his body. As a result, he practiced running every day, followed by a few push-ups. As a result, he gained powerful chest and arms in no time. Make sure you practice both exercises daily to look like Bruce Lee in just a few months.

4th Weapons training As a master of weapons training, Bruce Lee had to practice with various harmful weapons throughout the day. Its constant weapon training bestowed the wing Bruce Lee training plan. Although Bruce Lee worked without safety precautions, we encourage you to do the opposite. This is important to avoid injury and health complications. Try to wear safety pads on your arms and knees to avoid injury. For starters, you could start with wooden sticks for weapon training exercises. 5. Beats – How can we talk about this? Bruce Lee training plan without including his favorite strokes? Everyone is aware of Bruce Lee's love for the beating that helped him become the household name he is today. If you want to do the same thing, practice hitting regularly. Pushes and hooks are some of the best punching exercises that can be done on a daily basis.

Unleash Bruce Lee's master diet plan

An effective training plan is not enough to achieve the unbeatable body of Bruce Lee. Following a strict diet is equally important to the success of this purpose. Check out Bruce Lee's workout and diet that will change the game for you!

Bruce Lee's diet consisted mostly of vegetables and meat. He avoided greasy food, which is why most of his meals were bland. Lee's meals were divided into five small servings that helped him maintain strength and performance. He also drank a lot of tea. However, cheese and other dairy products didn't make it into his diet because Lee didn't like them.

Refined flours and baked foods were a strict no-no in Lee's diet. Since these foods decrease stamina and cause harmful problems in the body, he stayed away from them as much as possible. So, Bruce Lee Training and Diet is one that will undoubtedly improve your body fitness. After all, Bruce Lee was a fan of protein shakes and made sure they were consumed every day.

Conclusion

Bruce Lee's training has always been a win-win situation. For everyone who wants to increase endurance, flexibility and performance in the body, this training plan will never fail.

FAQ

1. Is Bruce Lee's training plan helpful?

Yes. Bruce Lee's training plan is helpful in many ways. Make sure to follow the directions for instant results.

2. What fruits did Bruce Lee eat that made it? Bruce Lee's training plan?

Bananas, carrots, apples and celery are some of the fruits that are in it Bruce Lee training plan.

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29 Oct
Blog

Apple TV 4K Review: Stunning, But Strictly For Apple Fans

Apple TV 4K test: breathtaking, but exclusively for Apple fans

"The Apple TV 4K is a boon for Apple power users (but anyone else is better off with a Roku Ultra)."

  • Extremely intuitive user interface

  • Siri's search / control has been vastly improved

  • Powerful graphics and processing

  • Nice 4K HDR picture

  • In some cases the SDR content is dimmed slightly

  • No longer the only way to do AirPlay

  • Expensive compared to the competition

Apple introduced the Apple TV 4K in 2017. Despite ongoing software updates that can be expected as a streaming force, the hardware and price have stayed the same.

For the first year after its launch, Apple was able to justify the starting price of $ 179 for the 32GB model (the 64GB model costs $ 199). After all, it was one of the few streaming devices on the market that supported 4K, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos.

But it's 2020 now and Apple's competitors haven't stood still. Roku updated its flagship $ 100 Ultra, Amazon launched and continues to update its $ 120 Fire TV Cube, Nvidia is updating its game on the $ 150 Shield TV, and Google officially moved to the remote media category with the incredibly affordable $ 50 Chromecast with Google TV Streamer.

Apple's little black box does a few things better than these other products, but that list is dwindling, making it increasingly difficult to make an argument that you should be spending that much. Let's take an updated look at the Apple TV 4K and see if it's still the king of Streaming Device Hill.

Out of the box

Apple wrote the rulebook for the out-of-box experience, and the Apple TV 4K packaging proves that the company is still the master at this point. From the heavy cardboard box to the neat cable management to the first-class appearance of the box and the remote control, everything on the Apple 4K TV screams “premium”, which you should expect given the price of 180 US dollars.

For that sum, you'll get a streaming device that feels like loving care and attention has been put into its design. Most streamers are made of plastic, but Apple's is visibly superior. The remote control feels good too – it's just right in your hand and makes you want to swipe up on the touchpad.

Apple TV ReviewBill Roberson / Digital Trends

Bill Roberson / Digital Trends

In addition to the Apple TV 4K, its power cord and its remote control, you also receive a lightning cable for charging the remote control and a quick start guide with all three sentences. That's all you need as setting up couldn't be easier.

configuration

If you own a relatively new iOS device (sorry, iPad 2 owners, you're excluded here), you can already experience the fastest set-up process we've seen from a set-top box so far. After selecting the language and country, simply hold your iPhone or iPad near the Apple TV 4K and a few clicks later your WiFi information and Apple ID have been copied. All of your iTunes purchases – music, TV shows, movies – are instantly available on your new Apple TV 4K.

Bonus, if you're a third or fourth generation Apple TV owner who saves device settings in iCloud, your tvOS layout will automatically sync so your new streamer looks almost exactly like your old one – only better.

If you don't own an iPhone or iPad, you'll quickly find that you're not getting the best that Apple TV 4K has to offer. As you would expect, the more you invest in the Apple universe, the more bonuses and amenities you will enjoy.

However, once you've manually connected to your WiFi router (or, better yet, plug in an ethernet cable for a better overall experience), you'll find that plenty of goodies are in stock. Either way, your Apple TV 4K will be set up in no time.

If this is your first Apple TV, or if you don't store your tvOS setting in the cloud, then Netflix, Hulu, and many of the other common suspects aren't pre-installed. So you have to go get them. Apple makes it a little easier for pay TV subscribers by collecting provider information and then automatically downloading the streaming apps that users can enjoy with their pay TV subscription.

You must also sign in to all of your apps. This is the most tedious process of setting up a streaming box or smart TV. Apple makes it easier by automatically offering text entry through iOS on the iPhone or iPad to enter usernames and passwords, or by using Siri to say the letters and numbers out loud and have them transcribed. Both methods are infinitely less of a chore than chasing and pecking through a virtual keyboard, although this option is also available.

User experience

Apple has always had a focus on user experience (known technically as "UX" because of acronyms), which has led to buzzwords like "it just works" and products that have a reputation for being easy for everyone to use . The Apple TV 4K is rich in UX, and the convenience and well-conceived features are deep. There is also a plethora of apps for Apple's set-top device. We cannot discuss all of them here, but we will address those who we consider to be the most notable.

Siri

Most people are already familiar with Apple's digital assistant, but Siri on Apple TV 4K is especially helpful.

Remote Tips and Key Features for Apple Digital Trends:

  • Ask Siri, "What should I see tonight?" A menu of suggested movies and shows is displayed in the lower third of the screen. All recommendations are selected daily by the editors to show what is particularly important.
  • Double tapping the Home button on the remote will bring up recently used apps. This allows you to seamlessly switch between apps without having to go back to the home screen.
  • Move your most used apps to the top line of the home screen for quicker access. For example, add Netflix to your mix. When the icon is selected, shortcuts to Netflix titles will appear at the top. Just click on a title to view it.
  • Easily organize apps on Apple TV with folders.
  • When you highlight a track in Next, hold the button and you'll get quick shortcuts like marking an episode as viewed.
  • You can add any iTunes movie to your Up Next queue using Siri by saying "Add Up to Up Next" on the movie page.
  • Press the play button on any song in Watch Now to start playing immediately.
  • Ask Siri to “Play TVShowX” from your Next list to continue watching.

One of Siri's most helpful uses is finding content that you want to watch – specifically, finding 4K and HDR content that you can watch.

Siri search results are no longer as exclusive as they used to be. Apple might have limited search results to iTunes listings, but Apple TV 4K now shows whether the TV show or movie you want to watch is available outside of iTunes. The quest for orange is the new black, and you have options to buy or rent through iTunes, or watch it for free on Netflix (assuming you have a Netflix subscription, of course). A search will give you similar results for The Handmaid & # 39; s Tale, which you can watch on iTunes but which is free with a Hulu subscription.

Additionally, a narrow search for a specific movie title or a more focused search for movies with specific actors will produce a long list of results from numerous streaming sources. We tried searching for “Movies With Charlize Theron,” and there were certainly many that we could only get through iTunes, but there were several available from other streaming services to which we subscribed. We even searched for “4K Movies on Netflix” and loved it when Apple TV 4K showed us a long list of titles we could watch in 4K.

Other search tricks include asking to see movies in 4K HDR from multiple sources and refining your search by saying, "Just show me the sci-fi movies."

If you miss a dialogue, ask Siri, "What did you say?" and it will backup the video for 15 seconds and enable subtitles for that period. You can also ask Siri to skip forward or forward for a specified amount of time instead of using the backward or fast forward buttons.

Layout: TV app or symbol grid

The layout of the Apple TV 4K is intuitive, especially for previous Apple TV users, with a big and bold grid of colored icons for each app. However, starting with tvOS 13, Apple TV users have a different way of using the Apple TV app as their home screen.

The TV app acts as a single point of contact for all of your streaming needs and has an interface that mimics what you watch on Netflix or Amazon Prime Video. The difference is that the TV app pulls content from all major services, not just one, and makes recommendations based on your viewing patterns and subscriptions.

Supported services include Apple TV +, Disney +, Hulu, HBO Max, Peacock, and Pluto TV. For some services, such as Netflix, the TV app shows the programs that are recommended. However, to actually watch them, you will be directed to the Netflix app instead of watching them in the TV app.

It can keep track of which movies or episodes you've watched, thus providing "Watch Next" and "Watch Next" lists.

If you're a Spectrum or AT&T cable customer, you can watch your subscribed channels in the TV app instead of having to switch inputs on your TV.

With sections dedicated to sports and kids, plus the ability to access the same content on the go with the Apple TV app for iPhone, iPad, or Mac, it's a very robust experience.

Gaming, fitness and more

Apple Fitness PlusApple

You have to hand it over to Apple: Although the Apple TV 4K is quickly approaching its fourth birthday, it keeps getting new features.

In 2019, Apple added Apple Arcade, a subscription service for casual gamers. To enhance the experience, support for gaming controllers has been expanded from the very restrictive list of devices designed for iOS to include both the Sony PlayStation 4 and Microsoft Xbox controllers. Unfortunately, developers and gamers haven't exactly made Apple Arcade a runaway success.

More recently, Apple announced its Fitness + subscription service, a virtual series of workouts guided by professionally hosted videos (via Apple TV, of course) and tied to the sensors built into the Apple Watch. We can't tell just how good Fitness + is (it will be rolled out later this year), but here's how it compares to Peloton on paper.

The latest version of Apple TV software, tvOS 14, has some cool extras like picture-in-picture, the ability to monitor HomeKit-compatible security cameras from your TV, and support for audio sharing if you have two Apple or two Pairing Apple Devices Suggests wireless headphones to Apple TV 4K.

The information

The Apple TV 4K makes it clear if 4K with HDR is available for the content you're watching, which is more than can be said for some of its competitors. There are also numerous reviews for TV shows and movies that are sourced from multiple outlets such as Rotten Tomatoes. You can also learn more about the cast and crew of your favorite movies and TV shows by clicking on the actors' profile picture. This is similar to Amazon's X-ray functionality, but is better implemented.

The speed

The Apple TV 4K is fast thanks to the A10X Fusion processor under the hood. If your internet connection can keep up, load times are lightning fast, info screens appear instantly when you click them, and even scrolling through long title tapes is remarkably smooth and fast.

The image quality

In HDR mode, the picture quality of the Apple TV 4K is excellent. The 4K content in Dolby Vision and HDR10 looks beautiful, especially with movies on iTunes. Most of the standard dynamic range (SDR) content also looks very good.

Pro Tip: Apple TV 4K converted 24fps movies to 60fps before they were delivered to the TV and there was no way to turn them off. Now there is an option to "match content" for audio and video in the settings we recommend.

Dolby Atmos

A key addition to Apple TV 4K, which was introduced with tvOS 12 in 2018, was support for Dolby Atmos, the leading surround sound format for home users. While not fully compatible with all apps (Plex can handle Dolby Atmos, for example, but only if the source is Dolby Digital Plus and not Dolby TrueHD), this was a huge win for home theater owners with Dolby Atmos sound systems. Here's how to find out if you're actually getting Dolby Atmos on your Apple TV 4K.

If you subscribe to Tidal's HiFi tier, you can use the Tidal app to listen to Dolby Atmos songs if you have a compatible home theater system or soundbar.

Dwindling benefits

There was a time when owning an Apple TV was the only way you could AirPlay screen mirroring or transfer content from an iOS device to your TV. It was also the only way to access iTunes movies and TV shows. Times have changed, however, and these once-exclusive features are increasingly being built into the latest generation of smart TVs and third-party streaming devices.

The iTunes Movies and TV app and the Apple Music app are available from 2018 and newer Samsung Smart TVs.

AirPlay 2 has been added to the latest smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Vizio, and Sony. There will also be 4K-capable Roku in the coming months. Along with AirPlay 2, most of these devices also get Apple's smart home platform, HomeKit, which Siri can use to control them.

The Apple TV app, arguably the nerve center for the overall Apple TV 4K user experience, also appears on the same devices as well as Amazon's Fire TV platform. The TV app isn't the entire Apple TV experience, but it's a significant part.

When you consider how much functionality is included in lower-cost streaming devices like Chromecast with Google TV, Fire TV Stick 4K, or Roku Ultra, how much value do you put in the exclusive features of Apple TV 4K like Apple Arcade? or Apple Fitness +.

warranty

The Apple TV 4K warranty provided by Apple protects against product defects for one year before purchase. Apple also offers an extended warranty for the AppleCare Protection Plan.

Our opinion

The Apple TV 4K is a fast device with Apple's unique design stamp. Those deeply immersed in the Apple universe will be delighted by the way the streaming set-top box integrates with other Apple devices, as well as the Siri integration which offers convenient search and voice control , be thrilled.

Is there a better alternative?

For Apple power users, the Apple 4K TV is just the thing. For everyone else, devices like the Streaming Stick + from Roku, the Roku Ultra, the Fire TV Stick 4K from Amazon or Chromecast with Google TV offer a much better price-performance ratio.

How long it will take?

With the A10X Fusion processor inside, the Apple TV 4K still has a lot of untapped potential. And even if Apple announces new hardware this year, you can bet the company will continue to support the current generation for many years to come.

Should you buy it?

Buy the Apple TV 4K if you are heavily invested in the Apple universe and / or have a large library of movies, TV shows, and music in the iTunes Store – and you don't intend to buy a new smart TV anytime soon. Don't buy the Apple TV 4K if you just want to get 4K HDR content through an easy-to-use device that's priced well below $ 100.

Editor's recommendations




28 Oct
Blog

Bose QuietComfort 35 II Gaming Review: Lost In Translation

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Bose QuietComfort 35 II Play

"Bose is a noob in gaming audio, and it shows."

  • Pleasant, balanced sound

  • Light and comfortable

  • Excellent active noise cancellation

  • Lack of virtual surround sound

  • Lacks audio punch in action games

  • Not wireless when gaming

  • Bad value

I have four headphones. That may sound silly, but I suspect you're not far behind me. Here is my list:

  • Wireless PC gaming headset
  • Sony PlayStation 4 wireless headset
  • Wireless earbuds
  • Wired headphones

I blame this absurd situation with the clutter of audio compatibility that can be found on different devices. My PC gaming headset works great for my PC, but not well with the PlayStation 4, and not at all with something that lacks USB-A. My Sony PS4 headset is only useful for the PS4. My wireless earbuds technically connect to anything I own. However, due to their short battery life, I am reserving them for use with my phone. And my wired headphones, now 12 years old, are still the best choices for music, but they require a 3.5mm headphone jack and are too big to be used from the comfort of a desk.

Obviously, my life would be less cluttered with just one device to get it all done. Enter the Bose QuietComfort 35 II Gaming. Based on the popular QC 35 II wireless noise-canceling headphones, the gaming model has a wired microphone for lag-free PC games. They connect to everything I own and can even connect two devices at the same time.

At $ 330, however, the promise of all-round connectivity doesn't come cheap. Can QC 35 II Gaming keep its promise?

Audio quality

Crystal clear audio is the main goal of this headset. It is a conversion of a wireless headset that is usually aimed at audiophiles. So I was expecting an excellent experience.

I'll start with the bad news. The Bose QuietComfort 35 II Gaming begins its life as wireless headphones, so they lack the taste in sound that I expect from a wireless gaming headset. They're balanced and crystal clear, but lack surround sound virtualization, a feature that is now combined with games like butter on toast.

Matthew S. Smith / Digital Trends

Simply put, the QC 35 II Gaming is not trying to take your socks off. They're great for Final Fantasy XIV, where the game's amazing soundtrack can take center stage, or Microsoft Flight Simulator, where clear sound makes air traffic control chatter easier to hear and modest bass rewinding an airplane engine drone.

However, in Call of Duty: Warzone, the lack of punch was so noticeable that at first I thought my audio settings were wrong. It wasn't you. The QC 35 II Gaming can't keep up with the impressive virtual surround sound of headsets like the Logitech G733 or the SteelSeries Arctis 7.

The tradeoff for this is the great audio quality everywhere else, which is important. Modern gaming headsets are big bucks, but usually have a muddy sound that strips away details and nuances.

Matthew S. Smith / Digital Trends

Switching from a Logitech G733 to the QC 35 II is a day versus night difference – and I really enjoy the G733. The headset from Logitech is flawless in almost every situation. But put them against Bose on my Spotify Rewind playlist, and Bose will train the Logitech.

Your opinion on the sound of the QC 35 II Gaming depends on what you are playing. If all you want to do is gamble and play games that make adequate use of virtual surround mode, a dedicated gaming headset is better for you. If you're looking to listen to a wide variety of media or play games that have great soundtracks and audio design above volume, the Bose QC 35 II might make sense.

Microphone performance

The Bose QuietComfort 35 II games are defined by an additional microphone that is connected to the audio jack on the headset. The microphone is then connected to a puck using a 3.5mm audio jack. And this puck, which also functions as a volume control, is then connected to your PC via USB.

Confused? Here's the real head scratcher. The QC 35 II Gaming already has a built-in microphone. So why another corded microphone?

The answer to that question – which hardcore gamers have already guessed – is lag. Bluetooth is not a perfect solution for gaming due to latency. It is not ideal to hear an opponent's rifle 200 milliseconds after firing. Because of this, wireless gaming headsets come with proprietary wireless dongles instead of using Bluetooth. However, the QC 35 II Gaming already has Bluetooth, so Bose taps on a wired microphone that is also used to connect the headphones.

Matthew S. Smith / Digital Trends

It's not a good solution. At $ 330, the QC 35 II Gaming is at the high end of wireless gaming headsets. They're not actually wireless when playing games, however. More precisely, the QC 35 II Gaming are wireless Bluetooth headphones that can be converted into a wired gaming headset.

The company makes this clear in its marketing out of fairness to Bose. The QC 35 II Gaming is designed as a gaming headset that also has a "wireless lifestyle mode". Bose doesn't lead anyone astray. However, that doesn't make the wired microphone any less annoying.

At least the wired microphone is excellent. I compared it back to back to the Logitech G733, the Logitech G533, and the Razer Kraken. The QC 35 II Gaming was the clear winner. All four headsets are sufficient, but the QC 35 II Gaming has a clean, crisp quality that is a step above the norm.

Comfort and design

Alright. I've been banging on this evil for a while now – and rightly so. It's a cumbersome attempt to turn a great pair of wireless headphones into a gaming headset, and it doesn't quite work. The Bose QC 35 II Gaming, however, remains at its core the Bose QC 35 II. You can read our Bose QC 35 II review to get the expert perspective of our A / V editor, but I'll summarize the benefits.

The QC 35 II Gaming are compact, foldable for mobility and come with a travel bag. They are light and comfortable to wear. The ear cups, while still an over-ear design, are smaller than most gaming headsets and breathe well. The processing quality is excellent. The phone app that manages wireless connections (the QC 35 II Gaming can connect to two Bluetooth sources at the same time) is simple, but works well enough.

Matthew S. Smith / Digital Trends

It is in the so-called "lifestyle mode" that these advantages are most important to the gaming version, and this is not an unattractive pitch. You can use the QC 35 II Gaming at home with a gaming rig, listen to music on your phone while doing housework, or take them for a walk around the neighborhood.

You can now buy gaming headsets with lag-free wireless connectivity and built-in bluetooth like the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless. Just like the QC 35 II Gaming, these headsets can also serve as all-in-one audio devices. However, they're bigger, heavier, often don't work as well with mobile devices, and usually have a retractable (rather than detachable) microphone.

Don't forget the QC 35 II Gaming's active noise cancellation either. It's effective, eliminating most repetitive sounds, and making everything else much less loud. This is less useful for gaming than it is for traveling. Bose is the master of ANC and the ANC quality of the QC 35 II Gaming is superior to any gaming headset or wireless headphones I have used.

Battery life

The battery life of the QC 35 II Gaming underlines the cumbersome conversion of the headset. Bose claims up to 40 hours in wired game mode and up to 20 hours in wireless lifestyle mode.

That's right. Battery life is limited in wired mode. Forty hours is a long, long time. I usually don't play more than two hours a day, so the QC 35 II would theoretically last three weeks and I've never compromised its endurance while wiring it. On the other hand, gamblers who gamble a lot will eat through a fee in two or three days.

Bose quotes 20 hours of wireless battery life. They seem close to that number. The QC 35 II QC gaming headphones are so comfortable that I wore them more than usual. That's a good sign, although I charged it once every two to three days – more often than the less comfortable Logitech G533, which is my usual daily driver. Still, I can't knock on Bose for wanting to wear the QC 35 II Gaming.

Additional functions

The QC 35 II Gaming has a customizable button that can be used to control ANC. It can also call Alexa or Google Assistant. This is an important function for the QC 35 II wireless headphones, but irrelevant for a gaming headset. This can be useful when using the QC 35 II Gaming as wireless headphones. The built-in microphone is preferable to telephoning from anywhere in the room.

As already mentioned, the QC 35 II Gaming comes with a volume puck. Inclusion is a wise decision by Bose as it will ease the annoyance of using cables. Without the puck, you'd have to plug the headset directly into your desktop's 3.5mm audio, and that would be a chore. Adjusting the volume by rotating the puck is also more convenient than using the headphones' volume buttons.

However, wire length was still a problem. A short 3-foot 3.5mm audio cable connects the microphone to the puck. It's barely long enough for the job. I usually run the audio cable from my wired headphones on the side of my desk so it doesn't get caught on my keyboard or the HOTAS (Hands on Throttle-and-Stick) I use for Microsoft Flight Simulator. However, this is not possible here.

Our opinion

The Bose QuietComfort 35 II Gaming are great wireless headphones that are built into a disappointing gaming headset. They look great, sound great, and have an excellent ANC. The wired implementation of gaming connectivity isn't ideal, however, and it's difficult to balance that with the $ 330 price tag.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes. The SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless, Sennheiser GSP 670 and HyperX Cloud Flight S are examples of great gaming headsets that can connect via WiFi or Bluetooth. If all you want is a gaming headset, solid entries like the Logitech G733 start at $ 130.

The Bose QC 35 II Gaming beat them as everyday headphones. But when you buy a gaming headset, gaming is a priority. Other gaming headsets are easier to use, support wireless gaming, and have 7.1 virtual surround sound.

How long it will take?

The QC 35 II Gaming are exceptionally well built and personally I have never broken a headset or headphones (despite washing my AirPods). Accidents aside, you can assume that the QC 35 II Gaming will last as long as the battery life lasts. Heavy users might want a new pair in three years, but I think most owners will be in use for at least five years.

Should you buy it?

No. The Bose QuietComfort 35 II are great wireless headphones, but disappointing as a gaming headset. Gamers should stick to headsets that are designed from the ground up for gaming.

Editor's recommendations




28 Oct
Blog

Google Chromecast 2020 Review: What We Always Wanted

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Google Chromecast 2020 review: what we always wanted

"Google's Chromecast with Google TV is a huge hit in our book."

  • Affordable

  • Support Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos

  • Slick UI

  • Responsive

  • Integrated Google Assistant

  • Dolby Vision is always activated by default

  • Recommendation algorithm is still learning

I am impressed. The new Google Chromecast with Google TV looked pretty good on paper, but now that I've been using one for the past few weeks I can safely say it's even better than expected.

I never warmed myself to the original Chromecast. You call me old school, but I like a remote control and screen surface – the original Chromecasts didn't have one. I just couldn't handle my phone, tablet, or PC, which was the main controller for my television. The $ 35 Google Chromecast, which has been around for 7 years, was never for me, and the Google Chromecast Ultra's $ 70 4K resolution wasn't enough to attract me. To my surprise, I'm really excited.

However, this doesn't necessarily mean that the Google Chromecast with Google TV is for everyone. Let's examine what this little dongle can and can't do and if it's right for you.

Out of the box

Google Chromecast with Google TV has an unnecessarily long name, although technically it makes sense to distinguish what is different from previous Chromecast versions (more on that in a minute). Fortunately, almost everything else on the device is very simple.

Caleb Denison / Digital Trends

It all starts with the packaging and what's in the box. The packaging appears to be almost entirely recyclable – and there isn't much of it. Inside the box is the Chromecast dongle, a remote control, a small USB-A chip, a USB-A to USB-C cable, and two AAA batteries – and folks, I love the batteries.

Yes, you read that right. The AAA batteries that Google ships with the new Chromecast share the same silky, rubbery silicone casing as the Chromecast dongle, remote control, and power cord. I actually giggled with glee as I slid it out of its plastic cocoon to place in the remote. Nice touch, Google. Win unboxing.

Features and Specifications

As is well known, the original Chromecast and Chromecast Ultra (4K) allow users to find content on their phones and cast it on their TV for viewing on the big screen. The original devices were essentially invisible. The big improvement here is the addition of an on-screen interface and remote control.

The remote has power and volume buttons that you can use to control your TV. Oddly enough, the power button is on the bottom left of the compact remote, but the volume buttons on the side are familiar to anyone who has used a Roku or Amazon Fire TV remote with similar buttons.

There is a circle on the top of the remote that you can click up, down, left, and right with. Below the circle is a Google Assistant button, a back button, a mute button, two hotkeys for accessing YouTube and Netflix, and a home button. The remote feels great, but the button layout took a bit of getting used to, if only because I've been using other streaming remote controls for so long.

Caleb Denison / Digital Trends

The Chromecast dongle plugs directly into the HDMI port on a TV, so there is no need to worry about a high-speed HDMI cable that supports 4K HDR and Dolby Vision.

That brings up two of the most amazing features of the new Google Chromecast, especially for the $ 50 price tag: Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. Dolby Vision content libraries are growing rapidly with services like Netflix, Disney +, and Amazon Prime Video. This content looks amazing on a Dolby Vision enabled television. Dolby Atmos surround sound support is also available, but availability varies from streaming app to streaming.

Google doesn't publish much about the new Chromecast's antenna, but in my experience it did an above-average job of getting Wi-Fi signals for steady streaming.

configuration

As easy as it is to use the new Chromecast, it will take some time to set up. This is true of many streaming devices today as they evolve. There are a few hoops to jump through here that are unique to the new Chromecast, however.

If you don't already have the Google Home app for iOS or Android, you'll want to download it. You need to set up the Chromecast. Once the Chromecast with Google TV is on, it will appear as a new device that can be set up in the Google Home app. Just follow the instructions and the device will be connected to your network in no time. Most people will be using Wi-Fi, but there is an ethernet adapter accessor available as an additional purchase.

From there, Chromecast will offer some apps to install (others will have to be installed manually at a later date), test that your TV's power and volume are working, get updates, restart a few times, and set up Google Assistant voice tracking. and finally the device is set up. This will take a while. But wait, there's more.

Caleb Denison / Digital Trends

This is where Google could significantly improve the Google TV experience: By registering users with their streaming apps. Google saves all of my passwords. I am signed in to my apps on my Android phone. It's not a huge challenge for Google to automate the login process. So … please, Google?

Right now, users have to go through the tedious process of entering usernames and passwords for all of the streaming apps they subscribe to. In all fairness, this is probably the most time consuming part of the setup.

One last and very important note: By default, the new Chromecast is delivered with Dolby Vision always active. This means that if your television supports Dolby Vision, everything will be displayed in Dolby Vision and your picture preferences will therefore be limited. Additionally, non-Dolby Vision content will not look right. Even the colors of apps on Google TV don't look right. To fix this, navigate to Settings and under Video Settings select Synchronize content. This ensures that the TV will only switch to Dolby Vision mode when it is playing Dolby Vision content.

The Google TV part

The new Google Chromecast with Google TV is all about the screen surface of Google TV. Although it is very different from Sony's Android TV interface and some Hisense TVs, as well as the Nvidia Shield, it looks familiar with differences despite a few buttons.

Google TV is heavily focused on content recommendations. It learns what you like to see over time and tries to put the focus you want on the content you want. Plus, you don't have to go into a specific app to view it. At least not manually. You just see a place where you can click Captain Marvel, right next to a slide to click Stranger Things. There is no evidence that the content is on HBO Max or Netflix. At least not until the next screen when you press the play button.

Caleb Denison / Digital Trends

If you want to explore content available on a specific platform like Netflix or HBO Max, the apps are all arranged on a strip just below the “For You” section. Whether you need / want to do this may depend on how well Google determines your display settings and habits.

For households with multiple viewers, the support of individual profiles is vital and don't worry, the new Chromecast supports it.

performance

The new Google Chromecast with Google TV works well as streaming hardware. It does a pretty good job of keeping up with my quick clicks and scrolls, although I can certainly tell if I press it hard, much like I did with the Amazon Fire TV Stick and Roku Streaming Stick +.

Apps and content also load quickly. The casting is the same as ever, so there are no changes there. Overall, given its $ 50 price tag, the device is perfectly capable. You'll need to upgrade to an Amazon Fire TV Cube or the new Roku Ultra to get something significantly faster or more powerful.

For me, however, the actual performance metric here is that of the Google TV experience. And on this front I have to say: So far, so good.

Google TV didn't completely set my display preferences, but to be fair, I've only been using it for a few weeks. I also expect Google to throw a few things against the wall to see what sticks with me. The process takes time and I will update this section as I learn more.

Caleb Denison / Digital Trends

I also enjoy having my YouTube suggested videos look the same on my TV as they do on my phone. It's the little things.

The new Chromecast can also be combined with many other smart home devices from Google. This allows you to view video feeds from Google Nest cameras and Google Nest doorbells and act as part of a whole house audio solution. You can also control the new Chromecast using a Google Home or Google Nest speaker.

The Chromecast with Google TV clearly offers more value to Android phone users and fans of Google products in general. If you're a die-hard Apple fan, the Apple TV 4K offers a similar experience – for about three times the cost.

I think the new Google Chromecast with Google TV is a fantastic choice for just about anyone who isn't married to a smart TV platform yet.

Our opinion

The new Google Chromecast with Google TV is a smart step in the right direction for a large tech company that needs a little more presence in the streaming hardware space. The original Chromecast sold well because it was so cheap, but I think this new model will sell even better because it's a device that you can interact with. If Google can evolve its content recommendation engine, it could be the world's best-selling streamer in a matter of months.

Is there a better alternative?

The Roku Streaming Stick + offers a simple streaming platform with its own perks, but doesn't offer the kind of content recommendation that Google TV does. At $ 40 and 4K / HDR capabilities, this is a good option, but I hesitate to call it "better". In comparison, Amazon Fire TV 4K also supports Dolby Vision, is firmly connected to the Amazon universe with Alexa integration and costs 50 US dollars. If the specs are similar, the choice depends on whether you are with Team Google or Team Amazon.

How long it will take?

It's hard to imagine the new Google Chromecast with Google TV going irrelevant within four or five years. This is roughly how long you want to use the device before you get the new latest version.

Should you buy it?

Yes. The new Google Chromecast with Google TV is an outstanding product.

Editor's recommendations




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