05 May
Blog

Stay Supported And Informed With These Spa Industry Associations

T.The professional spa industry has always been a close community, and we at Eminence Organics are committed to helping you find the support you need at this time and beyond. While every industry is affected by this pandemic in one way or another, the spa industry in particular – known for its human connection and wellbeing of body and mind – has to adapt.

Pandemic or not, there are a plethora of spa industry associations offering support and resources, and an entire network of spa professionals is ready to share their experiences and expertise. Your participation in these associations is growing and promoting the professional spa industry as a whole.

To help you navigate all of the spa industry associations, we've created a guide that will guide you to the support you need.

Spa industry associations for owners / directors

As a spa owner or director, you want to learn from the best in business: people with experience in running successful spas who know the industry inside out. You don't want to reinvent the wheel every time you make a business decision, with so much help available and a multitude of proven ones recommended procedure. Access to these resources starts here:

International Spa Association (ISPA)

The The International Spa Association (ISPA) is recognized worldwide as the professional voice of our industry and represents spas in over 70 countries. ISPA defines a spa as any place “dedicated to general well-being through a variety of professional services that promote the renewal of body, mind and soul”. This broad definition encompasses most spa experiences, from resorts to medicine to individual service providers, including doctors and nutritionists. ISPA membership shows spa visitors that they adhere to the ISPA Code of Conduct, including best practices regarding safety, disinfection, and hiring qualified personnel.

As a member, you get access to training such as the Certified Spa Supervisor Program, a research library, and webinars, courses, and textbooks on topics such as retail management and financial reporting. They also keep you up to date with the latest industry news and provide templates and guidelines for spas that may not have access to marketing or operations teams.

The ISPA network of spa operators, resource partners and providers is a big draw, and members have access to the full membership directory and ISPA job bank. You will also receive special prizes for the annual ISPA Conference & Expo, one of the leading networking events in the industry.

Forest and waterfall

Green spa network (GSN Planet)

Eminence is proud to be a "green" company and Certified B Corporation, which is committed to the highest standards of social and environmental responsibility. Given our many shared values, it's no surprise that the Green Spa Network or GSN Planet is very important to us. GSN Planet is committed to “promoting the critical links between personal wellbeing, economic sustainability and the health of our planet” and believes that the spa industry is particularly suited to be a catalyst for positive change.

GSN Planet memberships are tiered and begin with a free membership that includes access to webinars, newsletters and job search features. The higher levels include listings in the GSN Planet Spa Locator, access to the Sustainability Assessment Tool, the Green Toolkit, and industry research.

They also host the annual Green Spa Network Congress and recognize innovation and leadership in sustainability through the GSN Sustainability Awards.

Spa Industry Association (SIA)

In 2017 the Day Spa Association and meInternational Medical Spa Association consolidated their membership under the new one Association of the Spa Industry (SIA). Her mantra is: "Connect the community around the world" with a free membership that gives access to day spas and individual service providers.

SIA supports the professional spa industry by taking part in trade fairs, speaking at events and making industry tools more accessible. They gather resources and relevant information for their members – including spa and wellness research reports, industry news, and state legislative information. They also summarize accredited spa industry certifications, insurance options, and state spa associations.

Leading spas from Canada

The Leading Spas of Canada is a nonprofit organization founded by a group of "future-oriented spa professionals who saw great potential for spas in Canada to compete with the best in the world." Without national regulations, the organization developed standards and practices , a code of ethics, and a third-party quality assurance program to ensure that all members meet or exceed training, service, hygiene, and safety benchmarks.

The Leading Spas of Canada lead and connect the national spa industry, including spas, individual service providers, resource partners and educational institutions. Membership costs vary by category, from discounted student memberships to leading QA spa members (which indicates quality assurance for spa visitors).

Associations of the spa industry for beauticians / bodyworkers

While all of these associations are valuable to beauticians and service providers, many resources are aimed at spa owners and managers. The following organizations are aimed more directly at spa professionals at an individual level, including non-business owners and those in the early stages of their careers. You also focus on Training, certification and further training of beauticians – who we love!

Woman attending webinar on tablet

Associated Skin Care Professionals (ASCP)

The Associated Skin Care Professionals (ASCP) pride themselves on being an essential partner “for beauticians at every stage of the journey”. This includes membership options for students, educators, spa professionals, and employers developing their businesses.

ASCP publishes a bi-monthly magazine (ASCP Skin Deep) and continuously updates its news and video libraries to reflect the latest research, laws, events and trends in the industry. They offer on-demand webinars, marketing support, website building tools and the ASCP Career Toolkit, including costing and business resources.

ASCP members also receive discounts on training, beautician training, insurance, equipment and events.

Spa staff

Professional Beauty Association (PBA)

The The Professional Beauty Association (PBA) is open to a wider membership, including beauticians, hairdressers, makeup artists, freelancers and manufacturers. Her goal is to promote and expand careers within the broader beauty industry in the United States.

PBA members have access to an insurance market, industry research reports and business blueprints – various guides to compensation, operations, business planning, etc. Their visionary premium memberships include branding for your company, a marketing campaign and an account manager.

Finally, the PBA offers scholarship opportunities and supports a number of charities that benefit the professional beauty community.

While most of these associations have looked at COVID-19 and its impact on our community, it is important to remember that nothing that is proposed will replace your federal, state, or provincial government regulations. Check them frequently as the situation changes quickly. You can start here in the US and here in Canada.

In the meantime, we recommend that you contact your spa industry associations to obtain models for dealing with, adapting, and progressing. The most comprehensive is so far ISPA Spa Reopening Toolkit – a free guide for members and non-members with resources to prepare spas for safe reopening if the government allows it.

These professional associations are just a few of the organizations available in the industry. Which associations do you work with? Let us know in the comments below or share it with use on social media. Stay safe and check our blog as always Spa professional content

04 May
Blog

Samsung Galaxy Book Flex Review: QLED For the Big Win

"The Samsung Galaxy Book Flex offers incredible battery life and a vibrant QLED display."

  • Light, thin design

  • Good performance

  • Excellent battery life

  • The QLED display has great colors

  • Built-in S-pin

  • Cumbersome keyboard placement

  • Huge lower bezel

Samsung operates a tech empire. From phones and televisions to air purifiers and vacuum cleaners, Samsung has expanded everything down to the individual components that drive these products.

However, laptops have always been the only small domain outside their limits. Sure, there have been a lot of Samsung laptops over the years, but none that were really worth putting up Samsung's proud banner.

But 2020 is the year of conquering Samsung's laptops, and the Galaxy Book Flex is its war horse. It starts at $ 1,349, though my more expensive configuration comes with 16 GB of RAM, 512 GB of storage, and a Core i7 processor. No question, this is the best laptop Samsung has ever made. But is that one you should buy?

QLED display and battery life

The Galaxy Book Flex has some outstanding features that come from other areas of the Samsung empire. The most notable feature is the QLED display. This comes from Samsung's hugely successful TV business. As an alternative to the standard LED, the Galaxy Book Flex is the first laptop to use QLED that uses quantum dots. The results are groundbreaking.

It's bright (428 nits) and has a high contrast (1,080: 1), but QLED really makes a difference in color gamut and accuracy. It hits 92 percent of Adobe RGB, a color space that most laptop screens struggle with. This colorful, accurate screen is important for photographers. Perhaps it is one of the best photo laptops you can get at this price.

There is even an "outdoor mode" that increases the brightness to 600 nits. This can be useful if you work outdoors. This is Samsung that flexes its muscles.

The Galaxy Book Flex offers the best battery life you can get with a laptop.

However, Samsung has two competitors. The 13-inch MacBook Pro still has a brighter, more colorful screen and a higher-resolution display. OLED screens also offer better contrast and better colors, but are rare on 13-inch laptops. There is only one option for the HP Specter x360 13 and only available in 4K. It looks good, but it's expensive. The Specter is a $ 300 display upgrade, while the Galaxy Book Flex QLED is standard.

In addition, 4K OLED screens are expensive in terms of performance. The Galaxy Book Flex's QLED 1080p is far better in terms of battery life. In fact, the Galaxy Book Flex has some of the best battery life you can get in a laptop.

It delivers almost 14 hours of battery with low power consumption and a whopping 17.5 hours when playing local videos (no streaming). Many laptops promise such numbers, but none deliver as much as the Galaxy Book Flex. It overtook the Dell XPS 13 battery life champion by an hour and lasted more than twice as long as the 4K Specter x360.

Sticking to 1080p helps here, but Samsung also jammed a 69.7-watt-hour battery. It's a huge battery for a laptop of this size that pays off.

S pen and keyboard

The S Pen was also borrowed from another Samsung product – in this case the Galaxy Note. Earlier Samsung laptops also used the S Pen, such as the Notebook 9 Pen and the Galaxy Book 2 from 2018. The pen itself has not changed, but is now in a slot above the keyboard. Clicking on the pin in the slot ejects it, making it quick and easy to access (and you won't lose it). This accessibility has always been special about the S Pen: it is part of the device and not an additional peripheral.

The S Pen is suitable for all common pen functions such as notes, sketching and selecting. A button on the S Pen opens a familiar options menu that allows you to dive straight into the drawing on the screen. These simple apps are fairly simple, but provide a good entry point to try the S Pen for the first time.

A larger pen like the Surface Pen or the Apple Pencil fits better in the hand for illustrations and detailed work. The S-pen is just long enough to fit in my hand and doesn't mimic the feel of a real pencil as well. However, that was never the point. As with the Galaxy Note, the greatest strength of the S Pen is its convenience. It's always there and it's easy to take out and start writing.

The Galaxy Book Flex is a 2-in-1 device, meaning you can fold the screen flat with its 360-degree hinge. Unfortunately, the screen is pretty shaky and the hinge is a bit loose, so using it in a position other than completely flat makes it difficult to take notes.

The S Pen's convenient location also has a disadvantage. To make room in the case, Samsung had to impair the typing experience. The keyboard sits closer to you and leaves less space for the palm rests. They are one centimeter narrower than a MacBook Air and about half a centimeter narrower than the Dell XPS 13. The lack of support is just enough to make typing on the Galaxy Book Flex uncomfortable, as the edges of the aluminum case dig into your palms . The keyboard layout also feels tight, although the keycaps are no smaller than most laptops.

To make matters worse, the Galaxy Book Flex uses a keyboard with low travel. It's not as flat as the old MacBook keyboards, but the keystrokes could take a little more depth.

The touchpad is quiet, easy to track and can even be used as a wireless charger. Now there is something I have never seen in a laptop. A Qi-enabled phone or a pair of earphones will charge wirelessly, which is a nice addition. You can't use the laptop often when a phone is in the way, but I could imagine that this is a convenient option in a confined space.

design

In the past, Samsung made some of the lightest laptops. They were also some of the most flimsy. The Galaxy Book Flex manages to balance these two things by providing aluminum for stability and keeping the weight at just 2.5 pounds. It's lighter than the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 and the MacBook Air, but built just as well as the Galaxy smartphones with which it shares its brand.

The Galaxy Book Flex is pretty too. The silver-colored, diamond-cut edges subtly reflect the light, and of course the dark blue color is unforgettable. If you want something different, but even bolder, check out the red on the Galaxy Chromebook, the Chrome alternative to Flex.

Both are a little too brave for my preference. The flex resembles the HP Elite Dragonfly in tone, but is even brighter and more pronounced. Compared to the Flex's two main competitors, the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 and the HP Specter x360, the Galaxy Book Flex is the aesthetic that I least prefer.

It's more than just a color preference. The steady rests are my real touch. The top and bottom edges are narrow, and to make up for this, the Galaxy Book Flex has an unusually large lower chin. It is a real eyesore. When you sit next to the XPS 13, it's strange how high the screen starts. In addition to the MacBook Air, it even looks strange, which I often criticize for its large bezels.

These bezels spoil the otherwise attractive design.

On the silver sides you will find a selection of USB-C ports, but no full-size USB-A. Two Thunderbolt 3 ports flank the right side next to the power switch and S-pin. The headphone jack, the microSD card slot and a USB-C 3.1 port are on the left.

Next to these connections is a pair of speaker grilles. The audio output is branded by AKG and the result is impressive sound quality. The MacBook Air is in another league, but the Galaxy Book Flex has a fuller-bodied audio profile than some of its competitors and even offers a hint of bass in the mix. It blows the XPS 13 2-in-1 out of the water with thin, downward-facing speakers.

performance

The Galaxy Book Flex is powered by a standard mix of high-end components. On the processor side, the latest 10th generation Ice Lake processors from Intel are used, which provide the laptop with four cores, eight threads and a base clock speed of 1.3 GHz. My test device was the Core i7 variant with 16 GB RAM, although the only 13-inch model sold in the USA only has 8 GB RAM. It also comes with 512 GB SSD storage.

I would like to see more configurations in the future, but the one offered is a fairly fast computer. My daily routine consists of dozens of Chrome tabs, Spotify, Slack, Office and some light photo editing. The Galaxy Book Flex never flinched. It'll crank up its fans and seem to get a little warm by chance, but it was never loud or hot enough to distract.

There are faster laptops like the XPS 13 in this class. The Galaxy Book Flex was only 5 percent behind in Geekbench 5, but 24 percent slower in Handbrake video coding. You may not be planning much video encoding with the Galaxy Book Flex, but the ability to create content may be somewhat limited compared to the powerful XPS 13. Still, it's one of the more powerful laptops with these processors.

The Galaxy Book Flex also has Iris Plus graphics. This is the greatly improved integrated graphics from Intel, which promises twice the performance of the old Intel UHD graphics. The Core i7 model has the best of these Iris Plus graphics, which allow for improved content creation and even easy gaming.

It was still struggling with a game like Fortnite, which is unfortunate. You need to reduce the resolution to playable frame rates. But the Galaxy Book Flex can handle lighter games like Rocket League without too much trouble.

Our opinion

The Galaxy Book Flex is everything you could want in a modern laptop. It's slim, portable, and powerful – and outperforms some of the best laptops in key areas like display and battery life. Adding the S-pin to the case is just the icing on the cake.

Some minor user experience issues such as keyboard placement and front panel size prevent them from getting really great, but it is without a doubt the best laptop Samsung has ever made.

Are there alternatives?

There are tons of laptop options out there, but the Flex's closest rivals are the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 and the HP Specter x360 13. The Galaxy Book Flex gains battery life and display, even though I match the keyboard and frame size of the other options prefer. The Specter x360 is also a battery life champion and the cheapest of the three. I prefer the design and look of the XPS 13 2-in-1, although the Galaxy Book Flex's colorful QLED screen is ideal for photographers. I wish there was a 4K option as well as a cheaper Core i5 model.

When you're ready to go without the 2-in-1 element, the Dell XPS 13 remains the best laptop you can buy as it can be configured with a touchscreen.

How long it will take?

The Galaxy Book Flex should last for at least four or five years. The components are up to date and the build quality is excellent. Samsung offers a one-year limited warranty at the time of purchase.

Should you buy it

Yes. The first-class battery life and the display make it an outstanding 2-in-1 laptop.

Editor's recommendations




04 May
Blog

Food Intolerances: Should I Get Tested?

Food has a social component that is essential for every culture and society on our planet. However, food can be both enemies and friends, food intolerance can have a negative impact on our quality of life and can even be fatal in food allergies. When we ask Google, from headache to acne, almost every single disease can be attributed to one food or diet, and usually the cure is also attributed to another food or diet.

The "free of" industry is booming when I first moved to the city I currently live in, if I wanted gluten-free products I should have gone to a pharmacy and with a little luck they would be in the corner and would be together Collect dust These strange herbal candies that your grandmother loved.

Two years later, whole parts of the supermarkets are now devoted to gluten and lactose free products. This is obviously a great thing, especially for people with real diagnosed conditions like celiac disease. Increasing awareness of food-related issues has led many of us to wonder whether headaches / lack of energy / lack of sleep are caused by food intolerance.

There are many people who tell you that the answer is yes and that their advice is usually expensive. This article explains why the IgG antibody food intolerance test is a waste of time and money.

I want to make it very clear that this article is not about whether or not you should test for a suspected food allergy, although I will go into food allergies.

If you suspect that you have a food allergy, contact your doctor. By that I mean a real doctor working in a clinic or hospital, and not a charlatan on the Internet with MD by his name. What I'm going to discuss in this article are the blood tests for food intolerance that are advertised on the internet and in some pharmacies.

What is the test?

The test is fairly simple: you order a test kit online from one of the laboratories that offer the test. As soon as it arrives, take a blood sample and then send it back to the laboratory.

The laboratory tests your blood for IgG antibodies that are specific to a variety of foods, usually in the range of 200 different foods. What I mean by specific is that, for example, if you test your blood against a sample of chicken protein, some of the IgG antibodies bind to that protein, they are "specific" to that protein or food.

Once the laboratory has tested all foods, you will receive a report with the results. Different laboratories may do it differently, but the ones I've seen use a traffic light system.

Red for foods with high levels of IgG binding that should be avoided. Yellow for foods that are "borderline" and should only be eaten in moderation. Finally green for foods that contain little or no IgG, which means you can eat them to your heart's content.

So what's the problem?

It all sounds so easy, take the test and then avoid the red foods. However, there are two rather big problems with this method of food intolerance testing. The first relates to the test procedure and the second to the actual function of the IgG antibody.

Real food intolerances

We'll start with the method and assume that the IgG antibody is involved in food intolerance (which is discussed in the next section).

When I got my allergy certificate at university, we were repeatedly told that the most important part of an allergy diagnosis was the patient's medical history.

Without a detailed medical history, the results of the blood test are not helpful at best. The mere presence of antibodies is not enough to make a diagnosis. There must be a history of symptoms to ensure that you are actually allergic (or intolerant in this case) to a particular food.

Blood test results without a medical history will no longer be helpful. As I said, diagnosis and diagnosis require both symptoms and the presence of antibodies. Only the presence of antibodies (without symptoms) against a certain food protein is called sensitization. 1

When it comes to food allergies, when a person is sensitized to a food but has no allergic symptoms, the last thing they should do is stop eating that particular food.

If they stop eating the food they are sensitized to, it could detract from the immune system's tolerance to allergies, and the next time they come across this food, they may have a reaction. 2

For this reason, it is crucial in immunotherapy that the patient continues to eat the foods that he has been allergic to, even if, as so often, he does not like them.

If you come back to a food intolerance and only get a report on hundreds of foods, some of which you have now been told that you cannot eat, it is likely that you will be on an unnecessarily restrictive diet, leading to an increased risk of nutrient deficiency and worse, less leads to gains in the gym.

The IgG antibody

Before we look at antibodies in detail, I think it is important to clarify what allergy and intolerance are, as these words are often used interchangeably and cause confusion.

Both allergies and intolerances are referred to as hypersensitivity, which means that they are reactions to something that a “normal” person would not respond to. An allergy is a hypersensitive reaction that is triggered by the immune system, while an intolerance does not affect the immune system. 3

A good comparison would be lactose intolerance and a real milk allergy. A person with lactose intolerance produces no or insufficient amounts of the enzyme lactase, which helps us to digest sugar lactose. So if she consumes milk, she cannot break down lactose, which causes digestive problems. These problems are not caused by the immune system.

However, you can consume lactose-free milk. In the case of a person allergic to milk, their immune system has raised antibodies to milk proteins. When you consume milk, your immune system attacks it and the person has classic allergy symptoms, itchy rash, swelling and difficulty breathing.

A person allergic to milk could not consume lactose-free milk because it still contains milk proteins. However, you could consume a hydrolyzed or amino acid formula with lactose.

These are made by the B cells of our adaptive immune system. Our immune system consists of two parts, the innate and the adaptive. The innate is fairly simple in that it attacks everything that is not "we".

On the positive side, it is very quick to react. The adaptive immune system reacts a little slower, but has a “memory”, so to speak. The next time it encounters something bad, it will usually be treated before we even notice that we are sick.

One of the main weapons in the arsenal of the adaptive immune system is the antibody (or immunoglobulin). The B cells form different types of antibodies, each with a different role in the immune system. The best known antibody is probably IgE. IgE's original role was to treat parasitic infections, but it is more commonly known as the antibody behind allergic reactions. 4

When the B cell produces an antibody, it is “specific” to a particular protein (a food protein in the case of a food allergy). The next time the antibody encounters this protein, they bind to it and control an immune response.

In the case of IgE, they sit on certain immune cells (mast cells), and when they encounter the specific protein or antigen, they bind to them and cause these cells to release histamine. It is this histamine that causes your typical allergic reactions and why people with allergies usually carry antihistamines with them.

With IgG antibodies there are actually four subclasses of IgG antibodies, IgG1, IgG2 etc., each with slightly different functions. All IgG subclasses are very good at enhancing a process called phagocytosis, in which certain cells of the immune system (macrophages) devour and destroy bacteria.

For example, IgG1 is very good in a process known as ADCC (antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity). Here the IgG1 binds to a target cell and immune cells recognize this binding as a signal that this particular cell must be destroyed. 4th

IgG Food Interolence Science

Proponents of the IgG food intolerance test point to the ability of the antibody to activate multiple cells of the immune system as "evidence" that the antibody cannot and does not mediate allergic reactions to food.

However, when we examine the role of IgG4, we see that it is not. In 2012, Norwegian researchers investigated the connection between IgG, IgG4 and IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). IBS is a food-borne disorder with many symptoms of food intolerance, bloating, and changes in bowel habits. An attempt was therefore made to link the disease with IgG antibodies. 5

In the Norwegian study, they compared food-specific IgG and IgG4 antibodies from IBS subjects with healthy, symptom-free subjects. Not only did the researchers find that the IBS group's IgG and IgG4 antibodies did not match their trigger foods (foods that they know made their symptoms worse), but there were no differences in IgG either and IgG4 levels between the IBS and control groups.

What the researchers found was that the higher levels of the antibodies matched foods that both groups ate regularly, in the case of the IBS group, their "safe foods" and in the control group, only foods they ate frequently.

The researchers concluded that IgG and IgG4 antibodies are unlikely to play a role in IBS, and that the presence of these antibodies only reflects diet.6

In other words, the more of something you eat, the more IgG is specific to the food you have. In recent years, it has been shown that IgG and especially IgG4 is not only a reflection of a diet, but also a tolerance marker and protects against allergic reactions.

For non-allergic people, we produce IgG4 antibodies (in contrast to IgE) against proteins in order to label them as "safe" and to prevent the possibility of an allergic reaction. This was called the IgG4 / IgE ratio. It has been shown that non-allergic beekeepers have a 1000 times higher IgG4 / IgE ratio than people who are allergic to bee venom. 7

During immunotherapy, allergic people do not gain tolerance by reducing their IgE number, but by increasing their IgG1 and especially IgG4 number. The IgG4 antibodies compete with the IgE antibodies and prevent them from attaching to the mast cells, thus preventing them from causing reactions. 8

Continue with caution

When it comes to food proteins, the IgG antibody, and especially the IgG4 subclass, appears to have anti-inflammatory effects that prevent allergic (and intolerant) reactions in both allergic and non-allergic people.

To paraphrase EAACI (European Academy of Allergy): Testing IgG for food intolerance is "irrelevant" and should not be done. 9

The companies that continue to promote the IgG blood tests either do not fully understand the function of the IgG antibody or sell their product anyway. I really hope it's not the latter.

References

1. Van Ree. R et al. 2014. Allergic sensitization: host immune factors. Clinical and translational allergy. 4:12.

2. James. LK et al. 2011. Long-term tolerance after allergen immunotherapy is associated with selective persistence of blocking antibodies. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 127: 509-; 516.

3. Johansson. SGO et al. 2004. Revised Allergy Nomenclature for Global Use: Report of the World Allergy Organization's Nomenclature Review Committee, October 2003. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 133 (5): 832-8. 836.

4. Owen. J et al. 2013. Kuby Immunology, 7th edition. Macmillan.

5. Philpott. H et al. 2013. Alternative studies on irritable bowel syndrome. Journal of gastroenterology. 28: 73-77.

6. Ligaarden. S et al. 2012. IgG and IgG4 antibodies in patients with IBS: A case-control study in the general population. BMC gastroenterology. 12: 166.

7. Carballido. JM et al. 1993. T cell epitope specificity in human allergic and non-allergic subjects against bee venom phospholipase A2. Journal of Immunology. 150: 3582-; 3591

8. Bischoff SC & Sellge G. 2014. Food allergy: side effects on food and food additives, 5th edition. Chapter 2: The immunological basis of IgE-mediated reactions. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

9th stack. SO et al. 2008. Testing for IgG4 against food is not recommended as a diagnostic tool: EAACI Task Force Report. Allergy. 63: 793-; 796.

03 May
Blog

Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro Review: Transform Your Tablet

Apple Magic Keyboard Review iPad Pro

Apple Magic Keyboard (11-inch iPad Pro 2020)

"For many users, the Magic Keyboard turns the iPad Pro into a real laptop alternative."

  • Tactile, precise typing experience

  • Responsive trackpad

  • Perfectly weighted for desk or lap

  • Productivity increases significantly on the iPad Pro

  • An expensive accessory

  • The screen angle setting is limited

These words are written on a magic keyboard that is connected to an iPad Pro. It is the third full product review I wrote using Apple's new keyboard accessories for the iPad Pro (2020). It has comprised at least 7,000 words since it arrived about a week ago. At the moment I am also typing with the iPad Pro and the magic keyboard on my lap and not at my desk.

Does this all mean that the iPad Pro has found the accessories that can really make it a laptop alternative? That may still be a stretch, but it was certainly never closer. I have been living with the iPad Pro with and without Magic Keyboard for a few weeks now and can say with certainty that this keyboard stands out from all previous competitors.

This is what it looks like. If you haven't decided to buy a new iPad Pro yet, check out our iPad Pro (2020) review.

design

You notice the weight of the Magic keyboard for the iPad Pro the second it arrives. Even in the box, it's a tough thing, and once it's unpacked, it's actually heavier than the iPad Pro itself. I used the 11-inch version with the 11-inch iPad Pro and together they weigh 2, 34 pounds, which is just a hair lighter than the 13-inch MacBook Air 2020. Don't buy this combination if you want to save weight in your pocket, as that's not really the case.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

This weight gives you security. It doesn't feel weak in any way, which makes it well suited for the round. There's no annoying flex that slows typing, and the heavily cushioned hinge holds the tablet securely in the position you choose. With the weight comes the air of quality, and while this would not be desirable in the iPad Pro itself, it is in the keyboard. When closed, the package is approximately 19 mm thick, while the 2020 MacBook Air is 21 mm thick.

Due to the current restrictions, I wasn't able to carry the iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard around in my pocket, so I can't judge their suitability as a pendulum tool, but I have no reason to doubt a convenient companion. What I know is the material from which the keyboard case is made – a pleasantly tactile plastic with a soft handle – that picks up all the fluff, dust and crumbs on the bottom of your bag. It already takes up enough dirt and fingerprints when sitting at home, and inevitably gets dirty when dragged around.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

The Magic keyboard is covered with magnets. A set in the top half holds the iPad Pro in place, and while it doesn't cover the entire back of the tablet, it does so with flaky enthusiasm. There is absolutely no risk of it slipping or falling, even with excessive shaking. Opening the case is easy and the top cover snaps into place quickly. Then set the viewing angle up to 130 degrees.

Once set, it doesn't go anywhere again, but I've found that I wanted it to go a little further back than it can take for a more dramatic viewing angle. There is also no way to use the iPad Pro "alone" with the Magic Keyboard case attached. It cannot be folded to become a 2-in-1 device. If you want to perform tablet tasks, you must first remove them from the case. The Magic Keyboard is designed to bring the iPad Pro as close as possible to a laptop, and it doesn't differ at all.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

The floating design of the Magic keyboard looks cool. Everything holds together as if it were a coherent product and not a hybrid of two. The solid body is also perfectly weighted and balanced for use in all seating situations. It is an excellent product, and to consider it a minor accessory is bad service for the work that has done all of this just right.

keyboard

Whether on your lap or on your desk, the Magic Keyboard is a pleasure to type. The keys have a spring travel of 1 mm. If that doesn't mean a lot to you, you just need to know that they feel great. I've managed to miss Apple's yearlong keyboard wilderness, and the Magic Keyboard types are similar to an evolution of the keyboard of my beloved 11-inch MacBook Air from 2014. It didn't take any customization time, I just sat down and typed right away at full speed.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

This is an essential part of the iPad Pro equipped with Magic Keyboard, which fits into your working life. I'm a "heavy guy" and found the keyboard to be quite loud, but not more than my MacBook Air. My wrists rest on the edge of the case, which is shaped so that it doesn't dig in or cause fatigue. The overall size is well judged, the keys are solid and responsive, and everything falls neatly on your fingers.

My entire Galaxy S20 test was written using the Magic keyboard on the iPad Pro. I had a deadline, so it was a risk to lock on a new device. I met the deadline and don't think I would have worked faster on my MacBook Air or desktop computer. I only wanted to switch once, and that was to edit and upload photos just because I was forced to learn a new workflow on the iPad Pro. However, I didn't give in and the iPad Pro worked just fine.

There were only a few minor irritations when typing on the Magic keyboard. The first is the placement of the alternate language button in the lower left corner. I lost the number of times I switched to a Japanese keyboard configuration instead of pressing the Shift key with my little finger. The little finger on my right hand also caused me some problems. Sometimes it extends as I type, and sometimes I accidentally tap the third suggested word in Pages on the screen, especially when it was set at its most extreme angle.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

After all, the arrow keys are quite small and cumbersome to press quickly, and there is no row of function keys. The way we type is often very individual, so the irritations I've had may not affect anyone and are relatively minor. The lack of volume or brightness function keys didn't bother me, as both are accessible via iPadOS or on the tablet body itself, but traditionalists may find this annoying. Eventually I had some keyboard issues that did not work after switching apps and forced myself to close the app to make it work again. This is not always the case and will likely be fixed in a future software update.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

The keys on the Magic keyboard are backlit and an ambient light sensor detects when they should be on or off. It is quite sensitive. On a cloudy day, they were lit in my living room when I don't think they're needed. The backlight was deactivated on brighter days to avoid additional stress on the battery. The last keyboard I used with an iPad was the Apple keyboard case for the first-generation iPad Pro, and the Magic keyboard is way ahead in terms of feel, ease of use, precision, convenience, and technology. Most of all, I didn't miss typing on my MacBook Air and didn't feel the need to come back to it.

Trackpad

The Magic Keyboard's trackpad is a headline builder, but has it changed the way you interact with the iPad Pro? No, and that's really intentional. Apple wanted the trackpad to expand the iPad Pro's touch-first operation, and that's exactly what it does. The 100mm x 50mm pad may not sound very large, but is well positioned and has the correct sensitivity for quick use. I haven't used it that often, but when I do, it speeds up my workflow a lot.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

Example? I'm having trouble positioning the cursor and selecting text quickly and correctly on iOS, and this issue is repeated on iPadOS. When I write and edit long pieces of text, it can slow me down a lot. The trackpad eliminates the need to touch the screen, and selecting, copying, pasting, and deleting text in Pages takes no longer than on my laptop. The keyboard shortcuts are also available so that my usual laptop workflow is repeated on the Magic keyboard.

It takes one click to position the cursor instead of typing, and the action is consistent across the surface of the pad. The screen cursor is an easy-to-spot blob, and everything that can be interacted with is clearly highlighted. I mostly use pages and the trackpad integrates very well, but some functions are missing in other apps like Google Docs. For example, you can't quickly click, select, and highlight text, just activate the usual iPadOS copy / paste menu. Oddly enough, however, you can do this in the Twitter app. The Magic keyboard is still new, so additional functions may become available in third-party apps over time.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

I never just relied on the trackpad and switched between use and the touchscreen to navigate and perform certain functions, just like a touchscreen laptop. However, because the screen is so close to your hands and the keyboard's space requirement is relatively small, the range is often minimal and therefore feels faster than a large laptop. Although the trackpad initially aroused the greatest interest in the Magic keyboard, it is only a small, albeit an integral part of what makes the product so good overall.

Connectivity

The Magic keyboard is powered by the iPad Pro and does not need to be charged separately. At the end of the main hinge is a single USB Type-C port that serves as a continuity for charging. This leaves the USB Type C of the iPad Pro free so that you can connect a USB hub or an external drive. However, you cannot do this at the connection of the Magic keyboard. Shame.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

I used a USB hub to extract all the photos from an SD memory card for my Samsung Galaxy S20 test and transfer them to the iPad Pro for editing and uploading. I used different apps during the process and it was seamless and fast. I had no problems with the USB Type-C hub at the time, but due to the short cable and the fact that it needed to be connected to the tablet, it wasn't lying flat on the table. I would also worry that it knocks because of the way it protrudes. I would not worry if it could be connected to the keyboard's USB port.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

It would also have been nice if Apple had included an extra long USB charging cable with the Magic Keyboard. Instead, it was decided not to include any cables at all. The tablet that came with the tablet is short and is not suitable for situations where a plug may not be near your work place. Yes, the battery life is long, but not infinite. Given the cost of the keyboard, this is pretty tight even by Apple's standards.

Price and availability

The Magic keyboard costs $ 300 for the 11-inch model and $ 350 for the 12.9-inch version. You can also buy it from the Apple Store and from various retailers. It is compatible with both the current iPad Pro Tablet 2020 and the iPad Pro 2018. If you have an iPad Pro 2018, there is no reason to update your tablet yet. This is great news for those who have just bought the previous model.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

You need an iPad Pro for your Magic keyboard. As a package, you pay at least $ 1,100 for the 11-inch iPad Pro and Magic keyboard and at least $ 1,350 for the 12.9-inch model. For comparison, a new 2020 MacBook Air starts at $ 1,000.

Our opinion

The hardware combination of the iPad Pro with the Magic Keyboard makes it an effective laptop alternative, but the software will still be an obstacle for those who have more complex work requirements. It comes closer to real, complete business than ever before. If your work requirements like mine are relatively simple, you don't have to grab your laptop often, if at all.

However, the slight lack of versatility of the keyboard case and the initially high price can make a laptop the most preferred device for you personally. Think carefully about how you use the iPad Pro every day, because at this price, a laptop can better meet your needs for less money.

Is there a better alternative?

The most logical alternative is a new MacBook Air for $ 1,000. A laptop offers everything the iPad Pro / Magic Keyboard can do, and much more. It also avoids some of the versatility problems, as there are often more ports, a longer charging cable and compatibility with almost all file types. Even the price isn't much different, and if you're only able to buy either, the MacBook Air may be the better long-term purchase depending on your work schedules.

Another alternative would be to find a 2018 iPad Pro and buy one for the Magic keyboard. You save a little money and work the same way. Outsider alternatives that may better suit your needs include Microsoft Surface Go for more than $ 400, or Surface Pro 7 for more than $ 750, or even Chromebooks like the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook for $ 1,000 2-in-1 design and Google for $ 650 Pixelbook Go.

However, the laptop is the only alternative that meets all the criteria, and the other alternatives often have to make the same or greater compromises than the iPad Pro and the Magic Keyboard combination.

How long it will take?

The iPad Pro easily lasts three to five years or even longer, depending on what you use it for. Adding the Magic keyboard only increases the lifespan. However, the keyboard has no water resistance or special durability. You should therefore make sure that nothing is spilled or dropped on it. If you are careless, a big bill may be waiting for you.

Should you buy one?

Yes. With the Magic keyboard, the iPad Pro comes closer than ever to its promise as a laptop alternative.

Editor's recommendations




02 May
Blog

Xbox One S Review 2020: Affordable 4K Entertainment

best cheap xbox one games 2017 s rating 9

"The Xbox One S is more than a console – it's a great Ultra HD Blu-Ray player."

  • Chic new look

  • Strong input / output selection

  • Ultra HD Blu-ray support

  • Improved compatibility with Windows 10

  • Attractive pricing

  • Not as small as expected

  • Hardware still slower than PlayStation 4

  • Cortana is disappointing

Xbox One S is Microsoft's cheaper update to Xbox One during the cycle. It offers both 4K media support and a better name for Xbox. On the hardware side, the miniaturization is said to overtake the PlayStation 4, which is still smaller and more subtle than the original Xbox One. On the software side, Xbox One S is the standard Microsoft carrier for Windows 10. While older Xbox One consoles can upgrade to the same software, there is still a lot of confusion about how Windows 10 and Xbox work together. The updated console ensures clarity.

There is a heavy load on the shoulders of this console that is too heavy for an incremental upgrade. Sony has not only launched a "slim" PlayStation 4, but also a much improved version of its console, the PlayStation 4 Pro. Microsoft also has its own powerful Xbox One X, which is currently the most powerful console, but Xbox One S is the much cheaper alternative.

Despite its low price, with exciting new features like Game Pass that complement Microsoft's vision for Xbox One, the One S doesn't have the improvements you'd expect from a console upgrade, nor is it the beginning of a new generation .

Smaller, but not that small

We liked the look of the original Xbox One and found it to look better than the PlayStation 4, which never looks right with its awkward angles. In practice, however, the Xbox One had a big problem. It was big – the biggest thing most people put in a home entertainment cabinet next to an A / V receiver.

Microsoft fixed this by reducing the Xbox One S by 40 percent. Sounds great, doesn't it? Nevertheless, the number is deceptive. The box is only a few centimeters narrower and about one centimeter shorter than the original. The power supply is now also internal.

The less-than-expected miniaturization means that the new Xbox is just catching up with the slim PlayStation 4. The Xbox One S is wider and a hair bigger, but not quite as deep.

The new Xbox isn't as small as the numbers suggest, but it is undeniably attractive. It's minimalist, uniform, and simple, with clean, sharp lines. The two-sided design of the original returns here – half of the Xbox One S is flat, while the other half is littered with exhaust ports.

In contrast to the original, the ventilated half uses a pit grille instead of diagonal slats. This is reminiscent of pixels and feels like home on a game console. A large cutout for the fan pointing upwards slightly affects the appearance from above, but is hardly noticeable due to its position in an A / V housing. Most people will only look at the Xbox One S from the front, and from that point of view, it's definitely the best looking console of this generation.

Fun and functional

The original Xbox One can be difficult to use due to its touch-sensitive power button. Other buttons, such as the controller sync button, were physically but unfavorably arranged.

The new Xbox isn't as small as the numbers suggest, but it is undeniably attractive.

Fortunately, the Xbox One S solves these problems. On the front are a physical power switch, a controller sync button and a disc eject button. All are easy to find and use, even in a dark media room. There's also a USB 3.0 port in advance – a little disappointing. However, the PlayStation 4 has two. Finally, the lower right corner hides the IR blaster, which allows you to control other IR devices through your Xbox One S by repeating the IR signal detected by those devices.

On the back of the Xbox One S there are two HDMI ports (one on, one off), two additional USB 3.0 ports (one for Kinect), S / PDIF and Ethernet.

Overall, with a notable exception, the connectivity is almost identical to the original. The Xbox One S deletes the dedicated Kinect port. You will need a USB adapter to connect an earlier Kinect to the new console. Aside from the hassle of having to purchase an adapter (Microsoft distributes it for free, at least if you contact Xbox support), this change means that Kinect users are effectively one less USB than before.

Xbox One S.Bill Roberson / Digital Trends

Bill Roberson / Digital Trends

Still, Xbox One offers more connectivity than PlayStation 4. Microsoft has selected Xbox One as a one-stop solution for everything from games to television. While it's questionable whether its mainstream features have prevailed, they remain something that the PlayStation 4 doesn't even try to emulate.

Once again, a console undercuts Blu-ray players

While previous Xbox One consoles were limited to 1080p video output for both games and videos, the Xbox One S offers support for 4K video and a 4K Blu-ray player that is not found in either PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 4 is professional to find.

Of course, 4K resolution support doesn't affect games. They are rendered with the same frame buffer as before. Unlike the original system, the Xbox One S can do native 4K output for the user interface and media. You can play 4K and HDR Blu-rays on the new UltraHD TV you bought, or you can download Netflix for 4K streaming.

HDR, short for "High Dynamic Range", works against it and improves the picture quality if your TV supports HDR. Still, strangely, HDR mixes with this console's 1080p target, as TVS with HDR usually also offer 4K resolution. In this case, the Xbox One X would make more sense.

Support for 4K remains largely unnoticed after switching on – and that's a good thing. You can set the Xbox One S to 4K and leave it there without having to worry about your source content. 4K movies look as detailed as you'd expect, but games rendered in the resolution they were originally designed for look just as good as on a 1080p display. Even Hyper Light Drifter's pixel art style looked pin sharp.

Xbox One S.Bill Roberson / Digital Trends

Bill Roberson / Digital Trends

This makes the Xbox One incredibly attractive to anyone with a 4K display. There are few standalone Ultra HD Blu-ray players, and the ones available are expensive. Ultra 4K Blu-ray players can be sold for the cheapest models for $ 200 to $ 249. This suddenly makes the Xbox One S, which is regularly available for $ 200, an economical purchase.

Oddly enough, a full-fledged console has managed to undercut dedicated home media players, but that has happened before. Some players may remember that the PlayStation 3, the first console with a Blu-ray player, undercut most dedicated players at the time of its release. The Xbox One S does the same trick and should draw the attention of every home theater enthusiast for this reason alone.

It is still an Xbox One

The Xbox One S is a new design, but not a completely new console. Apart from what is above, everything else remains the same.

That's a problem. The Xbox One sold poorly compared to the PlayStation 4 for a simple reason. Most games are played on both consoles, but Sony's is more powerful and the games look a little better. Sony also has some premium exclusive products that the Xbox will never see.

The Xbox One S does nothing to fix that. It is slightly faster due to higher clock speeds on the GPU and the associated ESRAM. This is enough to get a few extra frames in titles that run at an unlocked frame rate, and it can make up for the tearing in some games, but the difference isn't usually noticeable in gameplay. We only know everything thanks to the Digital Foundry from Eurogamer, one of the few publications that are equipped for frame-by-frame analysis of a console. Microsoft said nothing about improved in-game performance in its official Xbox One S press release.

Xbox One S.Dan Baker / Digital Trends

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

Microsoft has lost this generation of so-called "console wars". The Xbox One S hasn't changed a thing.

Our opinion

Most players are unlikely to find the Xbox One S more attractive than before. It remains less powerful than its Sony rival. Aside from the smaller footprint, which, as mentioned earlier, is less impressive than suggested when it was released, there is nothing on the Xbox One S that could draw an enthusiast's attention.

Although Xbox One S isn't the best game console today, it's a great home theater appliance. The Xbox One S has a 4K-enabled Blu-ray player – a feature not available on the PS4 or PS4 Pro – that alone may be worth the price of admission, provided you have a 4K TV.

Is there a better alternative?

The Xbox One S achieves parity with the standard PlayStation 4 in almost every respect. However, the omnipresence of this console among gamers can cause the PlayStation 4 versions of multiplatform games to get more attention from their developers.

How long it will take?

It depends on how often you want to update your console. The more powerful version of Microsoft's Xbox One, the "Xbox One X", is already available at relatively low prices. And the next generation will appear later this year with the release of the Xbox X series. While most games like Halo Infinite will stay compatible with the Xbox One S for at least a year, time is ticking for this generation.

Should you buy it

No. The Xbox One S is an aging console that doesn't make sense for most players with a new generation along the way.

This article was last updated on April 27, 2020 by Cody Perez, a Digital Trends employee.

Editor's recommendations




02 May
Blog

Xbox One X Review 2020: The Most Powerful Console Around

Xbox One X test controller in front

"The hideous Xbox One X is the best way to play console games."

  • Improves performance for all games

  • Xbox One X Enhanced games look and run great

  • 4K UHD Blu-Ray player

  • Sleek design

  • Very easy to use

  • 4K recording options are limited

  • The timeliness of the Xbox One Enhanced Patches is unclear

  • Performance improvements can be unpredictable in non-expanded games

When Microsoft introduced Xbox One X, an updated version of Xbox One at an intimidating price of $ 500, the company claimed the new hardware was "the most powerful console ever made". Years later, with the console in hand, we can confirm that the Xbox One X is delivering on that promise. Well, at least until the Xbox Series X comes out later this year. However, performance does not always lead to improvements. Both loyal Xbox fans and potential PS4 owners want to know if the new Xbox really improves new and old games.

Short answer? It does.

Every game we played, regardless of whether it received an "Xbox One X Enhanced" patch or not, has seen a noticeable increase in performance over Xbox One and Xbox One S. This happens regardless of your setup – although the gain is most noticeable if you have a 4K HDR10 TV.

Even though games look better and run better, the differences aren't so big that you can't live without them. Like its PlayStation counterpart, the PS4 Pro, it is aimed at players who simply cannot tolerate a second best experience. Still, the Xbox One X is the best console for most multi-platform games until the next generation.

In the black box

The Xbox One X is a further development of the Xbox One design. It is, as Microsoft has often said, 40 percent smaller than the original Xbox One. It's about the size of the Xbox One S, though a little denser at 8.4 pounds. However, don't be fooled by the number "40 percent smaller". The PlayStation 4 Pro from Sony is about the same size and the PS4 Slim is even smaller.

We prefer the matte black finish of the Xbox One X over the white Xbox One S, which tends to show more wear over time. We also prefer the placement of the fans. The sides of the device are covered with small, subtle air holes, unlike the One S, which had numerous large fan holes over half of its case. This should make it easier to stack Xbox One X with other devices without restricting airflow.

Xbox One X verification controller on the system
Xbox One X test complete
Xbox One X verification ports
Xbox One X test logo "aria-descriptionby =" gallery-3-1267965

  • 4th
    The Xbox One X is the most power-hungry console of this generation.

Les Shu / Digital trends

However, you won't buy the Xbox One X because it looks like this. As previously reported, the Xbox One X has the most impressive console hardware to date. It has an 8 core 2.3 GHz x86 CPU, a custom AMD GPU that can produce 6 teraflops, and 12 GB DDR5 RAM. Even compared to the PS4 Pro, that's a lot of graphics processing power. The Pro, which is far more powerful than the standard PS4, has a GPU that calculates 4.2 TFLOPS and “only” 8 GB RAM.

The only disappointing hardware in the Xbox One X is the terabyte hard drive. Twice the storage space of the standard Xbox One model is an improvement, but it's still not enough to find storage space for anyone who frequently buys games online. Even if you only download the Xbox Live Gold games that the publisher provides every month, most players will fill this hard drive in no time. Even worse, 4K assets and uncompressed audio files can increase the file size of games. We recently saw several games slightly exceed the 100 GB mark. So it's fair to say that some big games take up this space pretty quickly.

Still a solid home theater device

The One X maintains all connections of the Xbox One S and for players who prefer to buy games in the store, it has a 4K UHD Blu-Ray player. The console has HDMI input and output if you want to filter your TV service via Xbox and want to switch channels with Cortana instead of your remote control. This function works just like the One S – and we still prefer a remote control. You will also find three USB 3.0 ports – two in the back and one in the front – which can be useful if you want to use the console's recently added mouse and keyboard support or if you want to connect an external hard drive to store more games. Finally, there are IR-Out and S / PDIF connections for advanced surround sound setups and of course a good, old-fashioned Ethernet connection.

Every game runs at least a little bit better on an Xbox One X.

Many of the above features don't directly contribute to games, but can be useful for your home theater setup. We liked how the Xbox One S can simultaneously serve as a 4K UHD Blu-Ray player, game console and TV streaming box. The Xbox One X can do the same. 4K Blu-Ray and HDMI pass-through are features you won't find on any PS4.

The console also supports advanced surround sound options like Dolby Atmos. Atmos, which reflects sound from walls and ceilings to simulate the effect of sound movements, can be spectacular, but an Atmos surround sound system is extremely expensive. There are headphones, including gaming headsets, that simulate the experience, but they are rare.

Like the Xbox One S, the One X does not have a dedicated Kinect port. Players upgrading from an original Xbox One will still be able to use it, but you'll need to purchase a Kinect USB port. It's a small but noticeable inconvenience to upgrade Xbox One players. Microsoft has already stopped producing the Kinect, so the lack of a port is not surprising.

Xbox One improved, but some games more than others

What does all the power do to make your video games better?

The important things first; The games that show the most improvements are the ones where developers spend extra time and are optimized for the hardware. These games, which Microsoft calls Xbox One Enhanced, show the maximum potential of the console. First and foremost, this means that you are working with 4K resolution in the high dynamic range without affecting the frame rate of the game. All Xbox One Enhanced Games we played showed great visual fidelity improvements and a smoother frame rate. At a time when it feels like bugs and performance issues are pulling games down, it's good to see games run better than before.

Xbox One X checks bothLes Shu / Digital trends

Les Shu / Digital trends

Microsoft has announced over 100 current and upcoming games that have or will have Xbox One X Enhanced Patches. While we have a handy list of enhanced games that are already available, you can use Microsoft to filter your game list to display only your Xbox One X Enhanced games. It may not help you decide what to play, but it's a nice touch, especially for new owners who want to put the console through its paces.

While playing Gears of War 4, one of the few games that we had access to and that received an Xbox One Enhanced patch before launching the console, we found that the game looked much sharper on the One X, even in the Compared to Xbox One S 4K upscaling. We found that non-essential details in the area, including brick walls and trees, retained their sharpness even when we weren't around. The face of JD Fenix, which usually has tremendous detail in cutscenes and is viewed from close up, retained its definition in combat sequences where the game's camera was further away.

The new console's increased fidelity can change the way you experience games in unexpected ways.

Super Lucky’s Tale, an Xbox One console-exclusive adaptation of the 3D platform by Oculus Rift, which is launched next to the One X, does not offer a high level of detail, but simply runs sharply with an incredibly high and uniform frame rate. It runs the way all games should run with no problems, stuttering or quirks. To be fair, it simply means that the game is well done. It's not like there have been significant issues with other Xbox One models – rather, the One X maximizes the game's colorful cartoon aesthetic.

The new console's increased fidelity can change the way you experience games in unexpected ways. In a section of Gears 4, we looked up at the moonlit sky and found that not only was the moon brighter and more detailed than on the Xbox One S, but we could also see streaks of light and energy around it. The Gears of War franchise takes place on a fictional, earth-like planet called Sera. When we first played the game, we ignored this fact – but with the increased fidelity of the Xbox One X, the game felt more like a fully realized world.

X will give it to you

Every game runs at least a little bit better on an Xbox One X. Even games that weren't optimized for Xbox One X and ran on a non-UHD monitor at 1080p ran a little better on the One X than on the One S. I think that's obvious, but it's anything but Of course. Even with the general "boost" mode added months after launch, the PS4 Pro's benefit is largely limited to platform-optimized games, and these benefits are often most noticeable only on a 4K screen. The Xbox One X does what most players expect from a more powerful device. This power is automatically used to make games run better.

Xbox One X Review Controller HandLes Shu / Digital trends

Les Shu / Digital trends

However, there is a catch. The way a game's performance improves, especially when playing on a 1080p television, varies from title to title. For example, DOOM showed slightly improved graphics and almost imperceptibly shorter loading times. But even on a monitor without HDR, the colors and lighting in Destiny 2 became brighter and the details on my ship were more clearly highlighted. Destiny 2 also showed a smoother frame rate on a 4K TV compared to the Xbox One S 4K upscaled graphics. Most games we tried showed one or two of the following – sharper graphics, improved frame rate, or slightly improved Loading time.

Would you rather buy the console with the best games or the console that great games can do their best with?

Simplicity is both a blessing and a curse. If you have a 4K HDR10 TV with a refresh rate of 60 Hz, the console automatically detects and adjusts your settings. At the system level, however, there are no options to customize or optimize how the console uses its additional performance. Especially for non-4K players, the option to choose between improving fidelity, smoothing a frame rate or minimizing loading times would be an advantage.

Since the PS4 Pro launched in 2016, some games have added additional options like this. None of the over 10 games we played on the console showed such options, although not all of them had received "Xbox One X Enhanced" patches that would likely add these features.

4K video recordings are possible and not easy to share

With Xbox One X, you can not only play games, but also take screenshots and record 30-second video clips in 4K. Although it's a nice touch, the functionality feels extremely limited. Video clips recorded in 4K will appear at a lower resolution when you publish them to Xbox Live. You can set your screenshots and videos to be recorded directly on an external hard drive. However, the hard drive must be NTFS formatted. This means that you cannot save your clips and videos on the same external hard drive that you would save additional Xbox One games on.

In other words, recording gameplay in 4K is primarily a feature for tech-savvy owners who are willing to take the extra steps required to bring their high-definition gameplay online.

Our opinion

Xbox One X is the best console for playing popular multi-platform games. Though the $ 500 price tag is hard to accept, the hardware is impressive enough to feel like it is money well spent, and it's regularly on sale for much, much less than that today, as the Xbox Series X is coming soon.

However, when we look at the players who are most likely to buy it – players who already have a game console – it becomes more difficult to sell. There are no exclusive Xbox One X games, and the console's greatest strength is an expensive peripheral: a 4K TV.

While we can absolutely recommend the Xbox One X at the hardware level over the $ 400 PS4 Pro, the PlayStation 4 platform offers a much larger number of exclusive games, including some of our favorite games of the year. In contrast, Microsoft software release from first-party vendors appears to have decreased in recent years.

Ultimately, the Xbox One X offers an interesting fold for serious gamers. Would you rather buy the console with the best games or the console that great games can do their best with? It's a decision console players have never had to make.

Is there a better alternative?

Not right now because we're still waiting for Xbox Series X and PS5 to be released. If all things are the same, Xbox One X offers the best technical experience of all game consoles. If you're ready to invest in a high-end gaming PC, this has its advantages, but it's also more complicated.

How long it will take?

The original Xbox One remains relevant even after the Xbox One X is introduced. The Xbox Series X will be released later this year. Fortunately, almost all games are expected to be compatible with the Xbox Series X at least in the first year the new generation comes out. However, it is getting faster and faster when the Xbox One X is not worth it, how backwards compatible the upcoming consoles are.

Should you buy it

Yes, if you don't have a console in this generation. The Xbox One X is regularly on sale. The price is easily justified by incredible performance, a wide range of functions and a huge library. However, the Xbox Series X will be available later this year and will be compatible with most if not all Xbox One games. So better wait for it or for the PS5.

This article was last updated on April 27, 2020 by Cody Perez, a Digital Trends employee.

Editor's recommendations




02 May
Blog

Sony PlayStation 4 Pro Review 2020: 4K at a Price

PlayStation 4 bundle

PlayStation 4 Pro 1 TB console

"PlayStation 4 Pro is the first console to take 4K UHD gaming seriously."

  • 4K games for less than $ 500

  • Improves the display of selected PlayStation VR titles

  • All games run a little better than the standard PS4

  • Also looks good on 1080p TVs

  • Supports all PS4 games

  • HDR can be very difficult to set up

  • Few titles offer 4K support at launch

  • No 4K Blu-ray player

Sony's PlayStation4 Pro was the first of its kind for game consoles when it launched in November 2016. Thanks to a better graphics card and other hardware improvements, she was able to process the gameplay with 4K UHD resolution and high dynamic range (HDR).

Unlike previous hardware leaps for game consoles, however, the Pro is still a PlayStation 4 at its core. Games or game modes that cannot be found on a standard start console cannot be played. Instead, the Pro gives players who care about graphics and resolution the privilege of knowing that their games are doing as well as they can.

The console doesn't offer everything you need to make it the heart of a high-end media system.

PlayStation 4 Pro has been largely successful in this regard. When played on a 4K TV, the PS4 Pro looks sharper and more detailed. The games also run more smoothly on a standard Full HD set. It's the best PS4 you can buy right now.

On the other hand, Sony's decision to give players the opportunity to maximize the performance of their consoles has opened Pandora's box. Outputting the console with 4K HDR is a complicated and expensive process that most people just won't do, at least not until 4K UHD TVs become cheaper and HDR becomes a widespread standard.

Nothing prevents you from buying a PlayStation 4 Pro and taking advantage of the performance advantages that it naturally offers. However, these improvements are minor: you may see more pixels and save a few seconds less load time, but the cost is an additional $ 100 to $ 150 that is missing in your pocket. More importantly, the complexity of setting up the PS4 Pro (which is not always easy) means that you are giving up the greatest strength that video game consoles have over PCs: the ability to plug and play.

We need a bigger box!

Physically speaking, the PS4 Pro does not differ significantly from its new counterpart, the PS4 "Slim". It has the same sharp, sloping design, but with three "slates" instead of two. The pro is not as big as you can imagine. At 295 x 327 x 55 mm, it's two inches wider and two inches lower than the original PS4. At 7.3 pounds, it's also a pound heavier than the original PS4 and almost three pounds more than the Slim. On the other hand, it's a console that just sits under your TV most of the time. Who cares?

It also has some additional ports: the optical drive and two USB 3.1 ports on the front are standard PS4, but the Pro has an additional USB 3.1 port on the back, which is useful if you have a PSVR headset . To record the 4K signal, the HDMI port of the Pro is HDMI 2.0. The Pro also has an optical port that was included in the original PS4 but was removed from the "Slim".

Interestingly, the PS4 Pro's optical drive is the same as the PS4's, which means that unlike the more powerful Xbox Series X, it doesn't support 4K Blu-ray. The console can stream 4K HDR content from apps like Netflix and Hulu, but lack of support means the console doesn't do everything you need to make it the heart of a high-end media system.

When played on a 4K UHD TV, the PS4 Pro looks sharper and more detailed.

The real changes are inside. The PS4 Pro has an AMD Radeon graphics card with 4.20 teraflop (TFLOP), which is a serious improvement. Like the standard PS4, it has an 8-core AMD x86-64 Jaguar processor, but the clock speed has been increased to 2.1 GHz. Like the original PS4, it has 8 GB of DDR5 RAM, but also has an additional gigabyte of DDR3 RAM to manage temporary memory states for open games and apps. The Pro comes with a 1TB hard drive that, like the PS4, can be replaced with any 2.5-inch SATA hard drive.

The bottom line is that the technical upgrade of the Pro is more than just cosmetic. Even without software support from individual developers, games and apps run more smoothly and loading times can be shortened. Some games that push the game hardware to its limits (or have been poorly optimized) stutter less or see less frame rate losses. At the same time, this isn't the kind of leap that a new generation of games like the PS5 will allow later this year with far more powerful specs than the PS4. Even if Sony allowed PS4 Pro exclusively, these games would not be much bigger or more content than what we are now playing with the next generation on the way to release. The improved graphics card could lead to sharper, more detailed games over time, but that's it.

Radiant happy people

The main advantage of the PS4 Pro is the ability to play games with 4K UHD resolution. Games look better in 4K UHD than standard 1080p Full HD games. The 4K advantage increases the details of every wall, every face, every weapon, every vehicle – everything looks sharper. Even older games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 3, one of the few 4K-compatible games before Pro launched, look much better. This detail mostly comes into play when you see objects up close – you can stare at a close-up of a person's face and see every pore – but you will still see less detailed textures if you are vigilant.

As long as you have a 4K UHD television, playing a game in 4K is very easy: the console automatically scales your resolution to 4K when connected, as does your resolution on the standard PS4.

Each game also requires a patch that enables 4K support. Before the console launched, there were minimal 4K-capable games, less than 10. This number has increased significantly in the years since the Pro launched, but the changes are not consistent at all levels.

PlayStation 4 Pro test "data-image-id =" 1076712Julian Chokkattu / Digital Trends

Julian Chokkattu / Digital Trends

When it comes to 4K support, every game is different. Although many suggested 4K patches just seem to activate high-resolution mode, some games offer new setting options. With The Witness, for example, you can choose to run the frame rate at 4K at a frame rate of 30 frames per second (fps) or 1440p at a scaling of 4K and a frame rate of 60 frames per second.

Xbox One S can also scale up games to 4K. However, there are currently no 4K native games, and most games continue to render at or below 1080p, just like the original Xbox One. Skyrim: Special Edition is rendered at 4K on the PS4 Pro, and other games like Titanfall 2 and The Last Of Us get a resolution boost.

In many cases, the increase in resolution increases the image quality to a certain extent in 4K and 1080p devices. When using a 4K set, the increased render resolution means less likelihood of softness or upscaled artifacts. And if you have a 1080p TV, the game can “Super Sample”, which means that it will be rendered at a higher resolution and then scaled down to 1080p. The result is a sharper and cleaner picture.

Of course, this is all a bit confusing. While many games “just look better” when you connect the PS4 Pro, you may have to tweak the settings to make the games “work properly”. This is not a problem – more choice is generally a good thing – but like adding patches and other PC-style system functions to consoles, the function transfers more decisions to you and you need to do more research on the technical aspects of games . After launch, Sony also added a “boost mode” to the Pro that supports games with no special support for the Pro with higher frame rates. Unfortunately, the function is far from perfect: the results of “boosting” vary from game to game, and Sony has recognized that there may be unforeseen errors that add more trial and error to your console. This is a blessing on the PC, where you can use these distinctions to customize your hardware, but on a console it feels more like a burden.

Shinier, sadder people

Both the PlayStation 4 and PS4 Pro support a high dynamic range, so this is not just an advantage of the PS4 Pro. However, since HDR is only available in a subset of 4K televisions and the PS4 Pro was originally shown with 4K and HDR to improve the picture consistency of the console, this is an important and very questionable aspect of the possibilities of the console.

With HDR support, Sony has led players into the complicated world of competing, unregulated software standards. HDR is a separate feature from 4K, which is largely unpublished and is difficult to identify when buying a TV. There are also different forms of HDR: The PS4 Pro requires HDR 10, which differs from "HDR Premium". There's also a competing standard, Dolby Vision, that is similar, but doesn't work with a PS4 Pro.

Even if you buy a compatible TV, there is a good chance that there will be frustrating technical issues that can affect or prevent your ability to play games with HDR. Although it varies from model to model and from brand to brand, it seems that models can have compatibility problems. Some of them seem to be related to the firmware. In November 2016, LG released a firmware patch for some of its TVs that specifically addressed issues with the PS4 Pro.

For this test, we tested the PS4 Pro with a set of Samsung 8 that meets the specifications of the console. The TV was able to register 4K and HDR in other devices. With the PS4 Pro, however, the device recognized the HDR connection, but was unable to maintain it properly. The problem was partially fixed when Samsung technicians replaced the TV's motherboard, but HDR was still not compatible with every setting.

All of these roadblocks render HDR practically unusable, which is a shame.

While it would be easy to attribute this to a defective TV, it should be noted that the problem would not have occurred without the PS4 Pro's technical eccentricities. While TV manufacturers have been working to make their HDR devices PS4 Pro compatible, it can be rightly said that each person has their own problems pairing the console with a television.

In addition, the PS4 Pro must be connected directly to your TV to support HDR. HDR content cannot be viewed through a switcher, receiver, or pass-through. This limitation, which I believe is rare, if not unprecedented, will be a serious barrier to entry for anyone using surround sound or other high quality home theater equipment. Given the specialization of technology, it's not crazy to think that many people who can use HDR want to use it in conjunction with a speaker system.

Even in ideal circumstances, enabling HDR can be more complicated than setting up 4K. Although the PS4 Pro makes it as easy as possible, enabling the feature on your TV may require a deep dive into the settings and a lot of trial and error. TV manufacturers seem to combine 4K UHD (Ultra HD) and HDR. This varies from sentence to sentence, but is complicated and there is no intuitive roadmap to get it going.

All of these roadblocks render HDR practically unusable, which is a shame. Based on what we saw at the PS4 Pro reveal event, where we saw the PS4 Pro along with 4K and HDR, and our review unit, where we only played in 4K, HDR is certainly the more impressive of the two upgrades. The more dynamic lighting allows you to see over long distances and see subtle details in light and dark places that would be hidden in standard HD.

Become "Pro" in VR

The PlayStation 4 Pro can also improve the way PSVR games work, regardless of what TV you have. According to Sony's Mark Cerny, the PS4 Pro does not automatically lead to technical improvements without special support that is integrated into individual games. Based on our testing, we have generally found that this is the case. Although games may try to use PS4 Pro to improve PSVR in different ways, the additional graphical performance seems to allow the headset to display more detailed renderings at a higher resolution.

Warranty information

The PlayStation 4 Pro comes with a one-year limited manufacturer warranty.

Our opinion

Before you buy a PS4 Pro, you have to ask and answer a lot of questions if you want to get the most out of the console. Do you have a 4K HDR 10 TV? Does this TV have an HDMI port on the physical device? Are you using a receiver or switcher for audio? Are you interested in 4K Blu-Rays? Do you own or plan to buy PSVR? Is it better to just wait for the PS5 to be released later this year?

If you don't answer all of these questions correctly, the improvements you'll see on the PlayStation 4 Pro can be costly. The PS4 Pro is undoubtedly the best version of the PlayStation 4, but it's not that much better that you should feel compelled to upgrade when a better new console is on its way soon.

Is there a better alternative?

It depends on your situation. The standard PS4 can play all games, so you won't miss any titles with the cheaper price. In this case, the Pro is only intended for those who want to get the most out of their 4K TV. Otherwise, the only alternatives at the moment are the Xbox One X or a gaming PC, but you'll miss out on amazing exclusive products like Persona 5 Royal and Final Fantasy 7 Remake.

How long it will take?

Not at all for very long. The release of the PS5 is planned for this holiday, provided there are no problems with the production or the start. Therefore, the clock on the PS4 Pro and this generation generally runs out. There will probably be some intergenerational games at the beginning of the next generation, but it will only take that long.

Should you buy it

Maybe if you don't have a PS4 yet and want to experience the huge library of excellent games. Otherwise, just wait for the PS5, which is backward compatible with many PS4 games and has its own set of exclusive games.

This article was last updated on April 28, 2020 by Cody Perez, a Digital Trends employee.

Editor's recommendations




02 May
Blog

Monoprice Maker Select Mini V2 Review

Monopice Choose Mini V2

Monoprice Maker Choose Mini V2

"It's more evolutionary than revolutionary, but Monoprices Maker Select V2 still offers a lot for your money."

  • Affordable

  • Robust construction

  • Reliable printing

  • Good print quality

A few years ago, Monoprice took the 3D printing world by storm with the original Maker Select Mini: a 3D printer that was only $ 200 and had all the bells and whistles we could ever want. Now it's back with version two of this revolutionary printer – so of course we took a jaunt to see how it stacks up to the original.

Excellent functions and specifications

Monoprices V2 builds on the solid specifications and features of the first generation and adds some minor (but important!) Upgrades.

These improvements include a hot metal end that improves warming and prevents clogging, and a heated / insulated print bed that increases pressure adhesion and prevents warping.

Monopice Choose Mini V2

Monopice Choose Mini V2

Monopice Choose Mini V2

Monopice Choose Mini V2
Riley Young / Digital Trends

In addition to this improved heated bed, the V2 surface has a special pad material (similar to BuildTak) that promotes adhesion during the printing process and makes it easier to remove parts after completion. Finally, MP has also equipped the V2 with an internal fan that prevents overheating.

There are also some things that have not changed. Just like the first generation, the V2's maximum resolution is 100 microns (0.1 millimeters), which is fairly average, but acceptable for the price. Like the first generation, the building shell is a perfect 4.7-inch cube. This specification is also somewhat average, but still not bad.

The setup of this V2 is probably the easiest we have ever seen.

The all-metal hot end maintains the same maximum temperature of 230, which allows you to print with a fairly wide range of filament types, but keeps you away from some of the more exotic, higher temperature materials. At the inputs and outputs, you can load your models onto the Mini V2 using a micro SD card, a direct USB connection or even via WLAN using the new mobile app from Monoprice.

All in all, the V2 is certainly more of an evolution than a revolution, but Monoprice's enhancements are smart enhancements that make a huge contribution to the reliability and overall performance of the printer – and they only cost an additional $ 20.

Setup and configuration

The setup of the V2 is probably the easiest we have ever seen. It is completely assembled and delivered calibrated at the factory. All you have to do is unpack it and supply some electricity. There's not even an on switch – just plug it in and you're good to go.

Monopice Choose Mini V2Riley Young / Digital Trends

From there, the super simple user interface of Monoprice makes the remaining setup steps almost child's play. Things like loading filaments and fine-tuning the print bed are extremely easy to do.

To make a comparison, setting up the V2 is about as complicated as setting up a brand new toaster. It's hellishly simple, but it can take a little while to find the ideal settings that will result in this perfect golden brown toast slice.

Design and build quality

Lifting this printer out of the box surprised us – it is surprisingly heavy for its size. This is mainly due to the all-metal construction of the Mini V2, which makes it an incredibly robust machine that doesn't wobble too much when printing.

Monoprice has redesigned everything aesthetically.

It is also quite easy on the eyes. Most of the mechanisms of the V2 are hidden behind its metal exterior and not visible, so the machine does not look as rudimentary and functional as some of its competitors. Even better, despite the slim design of the printer and the hidden components, the interior is still easily accessible.

To be fair, we never had to tinker with the V2 during our test process, but accessible design and easily replaceable parts are something we like to see on a printer. Ten points on Gryffindor Mono price.

User interface and software

Monoprice achieved good grades in this category. Both the onboard software and the desktop-based slicer programs are wonderfully easy to use – although the latter is not necessarily thanks to Monoprice.

Monopice Choose Mini V2Riley Young / Digital Trends

As with all printers, the Select Mini V2 from Monoprice works with the desired slicer program (the software that translates your 3D design into instructions that a printer can follow). We used Cura: one of the most powerful and customizable slicers in the world, which now includes pre-configured profiles for many of the most popular MP printers. This makes the whole process extremely convenient since you no longer have to manually configure your computer.

The integrated user interface is similarly simple and has not changed too much since the first generation. The V2 has the same button-based navigation scheme and intuitive menu trees – but Monoprice has aesthetically redesigned everything.

Suffice it to say that you have no problems with this device.

Printing performance

Don't be fooled by the price tag – the Select Mini V2 prints like a dream.

Our first print with the Mini was the infamous “Lucky Cat Model” that Monoprice pre-installed on the printer's SD card. Not surprisingly, it's gotten great since most models like this one have been fine-tuned by the manufacturer. To get a better idea of ​​the performance of the V2, we went through our standard benchmark suite.

Monopice Choose Mini V2Riley Young / Digital Trends

As always, the first of these was the 3DBenchy: a torturous torture test designed to highlight the strengths, weaknesses and quirks of a printer. To our great joy, the Mini V2 did a fantastic job. No matter what parameters we set, the tractor was always clean, precise and very consistent from shift to shift. Some of the boat's superfine details didn't come through as clearly as we'd like, but it's worth noting that almost all FDM printers have problems in this area, and the Select Mini V2 works just as well (if not better than). like most printers, which cost ten times as much. Other tricky elements such as steep overhangs and unsupported spans were also reproduced without significant errors.

After printing random (usually Star Wars-related) objects that we found on Thingiverse for a few weeks, we found that the Mini V2 is also quite reliable. While you are concerned about some 3D printers and unsure whether they will complete the job, we were very confident with this device.

The only real disadvantage here is the relatively small shell of the V2.

Thanks to the heated bed and the solid construction of the printer, it doesn't fail often during the printing process – unless you make a cut error and do not prepare the model properly. This printer is still subject to the laws of physics. We definitely recommend printing with support unless you are sure you don't need it.

Overall, the new and improved Select Mini from Monoprice receives good grades for its performance. We've seen a few bugs, dropouts, and funky-looking prints, but this was the exception, not the norm. The V2 prints just as well (and in some ways even better) than printers with much higher prices. The only real downside to this is the V2's relatively small build envelope, which limits the range of objects you can create with it.

Our opinion

The Maker Select V2 is definitely more of an evolution than a revolution – but in this case that's a good thing. Monoprice did not have to reinvent the wheel with this machine and luckily did not try it. Instead, a new profile was used and an absolutely solid product made that was better than the original – and the original was already pretty good. The V2 may not be the best 3D printer in the world, but it will be difficult for you to find a better mix of price and performance.

Is there a better alternative?

If your main concern is to get the best for your money, look no further. You will only find so many features in Monoprice that are included in such an affordable package.

If $ 220 is too expensive for you, we also recommend the MP Mini Delta, which is about $ 60 to $ 70 cheaper but has a slightly smaller shell.

If construction is your main concern, we recommend you check out the Monoprice Maker Select Plus – probably one of the best printers we've ever tested. In terms of printing performance, it's almost identical to the Maker Select Mini V2, but has a much larger footprint that allows you to print much larger objects. It also has a touch screen, which is nice.

How long it will take?

In return, if you treat this little guy well, you are likely to get a long life. Due to its all-metal construction, durable components, extensive spare parts and the continued software support of Monoprice, the Select Mini V2 seems to be well suited for a long life on your desktop.

Should you buy it

Yes, yes, a thousand times yes! This printer offers an almost perfect mix of price and performance. So if you've been patiently waiting for an affordable printer that isn't shit, your time has come.

Editor's recommendations




02 May
Blog

PlayStation 4 Slim Review: The Default Choice

Sony PlayStation 4 Slim

PlayStation 4 Slim 1 TB console

"The updated PlayStation 4 is now slimmer than ever and strengthens Sony's legendary gaming platform."

  • Faster WiFi can make a big difference

  • Smaller chassis with a fun design

  • Same great PS4 game library

  • Cheaper than ever

  • No more optical connection

  • A more powerful PS4 console is also available

Three years after the launch of PlayStation 4, Sony redesigned its outdated console to breathe new life into it. As with previous PlayStations, the updated console has a sleeker new look, some new features, and even some minor internal upgrades.

Unlike previous generations, however, the new version of the console came at a turbulent time for the PlayStation brand. There are currently not just one, but three new PlayStation devices: this revised PlayStation 4, a 4K-compatible version of the PS4 called PlayStation 4 Pro, and a PlayStation VR headset that works with any PlayStation 4 device. Not to mention the PS5, with which the next generation of consoles will start.

The "Slim" could appear overwhelming alongside such ambitious brothers. It was designed to attract players who have not yet bought a modern console than to appeal to current PS4 owners. After all, nobody wants to buy the smaller start console.

If you have strong feelings for the PlayStation 4 – good or bad – this console will not change your mind. Aside from a thinner figure, there are only one or two notable changes from the original model. The key elements – computing power, the feel of the controller in hand, and the game library available on the PlayStation Store – have not changed. The new PlayStation 4 is "better" than the original, but the difference is not necessarily worth the extra investment, especially with a more powerful version on the market.

PlayStation gets a "fun" makeover

The most noticeable changes to the new PlayStation 4 are shown while playing and are not noticeable.

Functionally, the new console is significantly smaller than the original PlayStation 4, just over two-thirds the total size of the original PS4. It's also a little lighter: the slim weighs 4.6 pounds versus the 6.2 pounds of the original.

More importantly, the Slim has been given an aesthetic makeover. The characteristic shape of the PS4, a sharp, oblique parallelogram, was slightly softened with rounded corners. At the front, the drive and two USB ports are now somewhat hidden in a flat indentation. The console also has the PlayStation logo. Underneath the console rests on "feet", which are shaped like triangles, circles and exes on the buttons of the console.

The on / off buttons, initially two thin black buttons on the front, are now much smaller and are located on the "lip" of the console in front of the drive. A large indicator light attached to the top of the console has been removed. The light that informs you when the console is starting up or shutting down can now be seen in a small series of dots on the console power switch.

If you already have a PlayStation 4, there are few reasons to upgrade to a PlayStation 4 Slim.

The DualShock 4 controller has also been slightly revised. The touchpad is now translucent and allows a light bar from the console's colorful indicator lamp to pass through. Although you won't notice the change too often, unless you routinely hold the controller in front of your face, it provides easier access to the light at a glance. The back, the analog sticks and the buttons on the directional pad are now gray and no longer black.

While each change feels slightly light, the PS4 together feels less self-serious than the original model. They feel that, although it is an essential piece of technology, this product is meant for gaming, not for business. The long strip of light on the top of the console gave the console a first-class feel and a bit of flair. Overall, the new console looks good and maintains a lower profile. People looking for it will enjoy the attention to detail. others won't notice when it pops up on a shelf of routers, streaming devices, and other set-top boxes.

Wi-Fi friendly

The most significant improvement to the PlayStation 4 – the only reason why you should buy one over the original – is the improved Wi-Fi compatibility. The Slim now supports 802.11ac Wi-Fi, which should result in faster download speeds and more stability when playing online for those whose routers support it. In my apartment in New York, I was finally able to play online via WiFi instead of connecting via an Ethernet cable.

There is another system change that most people don't notice: with the slim redesign, the PlayStation 4 loses its optical output. If this message doesn't make you scream immediately, it doesn't matter to you at all. The optical output is used for high-end home theater systems and makes no difference to the majority of players.

Warranty information

The PlayStation 4 comes with a one-year manufacturer’s warranty from the day the console is purchased.

Our opinion

Thanks to a few minor improvements and internal upgrades, the PlayStation 4 retains its place as one of the leading dedicated gaming platforms, if not as such. If you want to play video games and don't plan to make the little things work up a sweat, you've come to the right place.

Is there a better alternative?

Not at the moment and probably only when the next generation is released.

The Nintendo Switch is an excellent console, but it's hard to call it an alternative. The switch can be used as a handheld or docked console. To achieve this, the visual quality is compromised. The Nintendo console also has a completely different game library. So your choice depends on what you want to play.

However, Microsoft's Xbox One X is clearly a step behind the PlayStation 4, although it is much more powerful. Some players may still prefer it (for example, if you're a serious Gears fan), but most stick to the Sony console better.

However, the PlayStation 5 is almost there, and you'd better wait for it since it will play many of the same games on your system right from the start.

How long it will take?

PlayStation 4 is nearing the end of its lifespan, as PlayStation 5 will be released in late 2020 as long as production is not affected. If you don't mind being a generation behind, the hardware itself should take years, maybe decades, with a huge library full of great games.

Should you buy it

Maybe if you don't already have a PS4. The PlayStation 4 Slim is the cheapest version of the most popular console of this generation and therefore a great way to experience all the fantastic games of this generation on a budget. However, if you can wait a bit and have the money for it, you might just want to wait for the PS5 this Christmas season.

This article was last updated on April 28, 2020 by Cody Perez, a Digital Trends employee.

Editor's recommendations




01 May
Blog

Garmin Vivimove Style Review: Smart, Timeless, Quirky

garmin vivimove style review intelligent timeless quirky vivoactive 28

"Garmin does fitness without flash in its subtle Vivomove style."

  • Timeless aesthetics

  • Robust Garmin Connect app

  • Hands move to see statistics

  • HR and Pulsox sensors

  • No buttons

  • Dull AMOLED displays

  • Picky gesture control

Fitness watches usually look clear: chunky, colorful, rubberized. You send a message to the world that you make fitness a priority – or at least that you buy things that make fitness a priority.

For some, sending this message is part of the appeal. I'm the first to admit that putting on a watch that could help me sail around the world makes my day a little more fearless, even if I haven't left my neighborhood for weeks. However, if you're not the type to wear a 26.2 bumper sticker, the Garmin Vivomove Style may be right for you. It promises the entire inner life and the data of a full-fledged fitness tracker and a smartwatch, without the appearance.

When I got my hands on Vivomove Style for the first time, I was shocked at how light it was. With the nylon strap, the watch weighs at least 35 grams. With a case size of 42 x 42 x 11.9 mm, I expected it would be heavier, especially given the technology inside, but the all-aluminum construction is a watch that is the opposite of clunky. While the device I tested had the nylon strap "Black Pepper", the Vivomove Style offers several different options in terms of housing color and strap selection. For those who want to improve the quality a little, there is also a Vivomove Luxe line with stainless steel housings and high-quality strap options.

Deceptive look

At first glance, the face of the Vivomove Style looks incredibly simple. With physical hands and nothing that alludes to intelligent functions, it looks like a simple wristwatch. But these looks are pretty deceptive. The Vivomove Style is a touchscreen. At the top and bottom of the dial are AMOLED displays for displaying customizable data fields. The AMOLED displays are indistinguishable from the dial, so you don't get the usual obvious transition from the screen to the non-screen area, which enables the covert nature of the Vivomove style.

When you move your wrist to bring the watch to your face, the screen lights up with two data fields to take a quick look at some preselected statistics. Gesture control works most of the time and has the option of being completely off, on during an activity, or always on. If it doesn't work, it quickly becomes frustrating. The Garmin Venu had the same problem, but rescue grace was the "always on" option for its AMOLED screen. The Vivomove style does not get this option. You can tap the face twice to wake it up, but it diminishes the undercover nature of the Vivomove style and instead makes it look like you think your watch is broken.

Tapping the top and bottom of the glass made it easier for me to navigate, but it took almost three days to get used to it. Even then, my faucets were sometimes not always registered on the screen, and my once immaculate incognito smartwatch was covered with fingerprints, which drove me crazy. The question really arises, why no buttons? A single button on the side would do a lot to relieve the frustration I was having with the touchscreen. But unfortunately the Vivomove style is buttonless and not better for it.

Once the ads are on, you can swipe to see everything Vivomove Style has to offer. Here the Vivomove Style and the entire Garmin suite shine with tracking capabilities. You will find the usual statistics such as steps, inclines, calorie consumption and heart rate as well as intelligent notifications for iPhone and Android. Anyone familiar with Garmin's metrics will be happy with the automatic goal that learns about your current activity and sets daily goals to drive you forward. Sleep monitoring, intensity minutes, body battery, stress tracking and VO2 max are included as well as monitoring the fluid intake. Because of these metrics, joining the Garmin ecosystem is worthwhile.

The Vivomove Style does a neat party trick to display the data: The hands of the physical clock move to indicate your status, between the different levels of the heart rate zones, the battery etc. This is not really necessary after two weeks of playing Get the Vivomove Style I still get a kick out of the interaction between the physical hands and the AMOLED screens. Of course, this means that the hands of the watch no longer show the time. If this bothers you, you can lock it manually to show the time during an activity versus your heart rate. However, you have to repeat this every time you start a new activity.

Disappointing screen

On Garmin's Venu, the AMOLED displays are something nice. They are a bit boring with the Vivomove style. I'm not sure if it is due to the gap between the touchscreen and the surface of the AMOLED, but it is nowhere near as clear as the Venu. The AMOLED displays also consume more battery than the standard MIP (memory in pixels) display used by other Garmin watches. I had about four days of battery life with daily exercise and I can only wonder how much more life I would have had if Garmin had used different displays.

The Vivomove Style includes a heart rate monitor, a barometric altimeter, an accelerometer and a pulse ox sensor. Instead of your own GPS device, the Vivomove Style relies on the GPS of your smartphone to get location information. This means that the Garmin Connect app needs to be running in the background to get route, distance, and speed information. This makes starting activities like walking, running, cycling, or swimming a bit more cumbersome, as you'll need to pull your phone out when the Connect app isn't running.

Once in an activity, the Vivomove style can track you well with runs like cadence, time, pace and distance timers. In the meantime, strength training activities have a replay counter and swimming has an underwater heart rate monitor. There are a number of other Vivomove-style activity profiles, but none is particularly robust in the metrics provided. The Vivomove style is ideal for training with heart rate zones. However, if you are looking for more detailed data such as swimming stroke analysis, automatic break or training plans, you have to look elsewhere.

Garmin grants a one-year standard warranty on the Vivomove Style, which includes defects, but does not include cosmetic defects such as scratches and dents or accidents.

Our opinion

The Vivomove Style is possibly the most subtle fitness watch you can buy today. But the concessions on styling, including the lack of physical buttons, also make it more difficult to use. The task is largely done through the comprehensive Garmin Connect app, but the user interface could be a little more polished.

Is there a better alternative?

The Fossil Hybrid Smartwatch HR comes closest to the ability of the Garmin and does not have functions such as touchscreen, customizable data fields and the know-how of the Garmin Connect app.

How long it will take?

Garmin products are built to last, and I have no doubt that the Vivomove style can last for at least a few years.

Should you buy it

If you hate the look of standard fitness trackers and smartwatches, yes. The Vivomove Style is a very respectable option, which is strange, but has a large selection of health sensors and a rescue grace in the Garmin Connect app.

Editor's recommendations




«‹173174175176177›»