07 Oct
Blog

Wyze Light Strip Pro Review: Bang-for-the-Buck Light Shows

Wyze Light Strip Pro in pink.

Wyze light bar Pro

RRP $ 32.00

advantages

  • Cheap price

  • No bridge required; connects to WiFi

  • Can be cut to any length

disadvantage

  • Color saturation could be better

If there is one thing I love about smart lighting spaces, it has to be that they are more affordable than ever. There has been a sudden shift with many more players offering ultra-affordable smart lights that cover the full range. One of them is Wyze, who released its Wyze Bulb Color earlier this year, which I have called the most worthy cheap smart light bulb.

Well, the company hasn't missed a beat with the upcoming release of two new lighting offerings – the Wyze Light Strip and Light Strip Pro. Affordable pricing is the focus here again, starting at $ 27 and $ 32 respectively, but with so much competition in the room, they really need something special to stand out at this point. I will mainly focus on the Wyze Light Strip Pro for this test, as it can deliver up to 16 colors per strip – while the standard Wyze Light Strip can only produce one color at a time.

Installation and setup

Setting up the Wyze LED light strips was pretty straightforward, especially when the underside of the strips is covered with a tacky adhesive that makes it easy to attach to surfaces. In the end, I sketched my headboard and parts of my bed frame. Both the Wyze Light Strip and Light Strip Pro come in 16.4- and 32.8-foot options, but the Wyze Light Strip Pro is epoxy-coated – while the standard Wyze Light Strip is not and is not exposed. While I don't plan on using them outdoors, the Wyze Light Strip Pro seems to hold up better in the long run.

Exposed LED on the Wyze Light Strip Pro.John Velasco / Digital Trends

Depending on the project, you can adjust the length of the Wyze Light Strip Pro to any length you want for that custom fit. There are marks on the strip where to cut to make it easier to trim, but I've never been a fan of cutting strips of light. Before removing the cover for the adhesive, you should check beforehand that the entire strip is maximized.

Wyze Light Strip Pro in blue.John Velasco / Digital Trends

For harder surfaces where the adhesive on the underside is not enough to hold the weight of the entire strip, such as However, I would have liked screws for additional hold. That's because, in my experience, the glue on these clips tends to wear off. After all, it connects directly to Wi-Fi so I'm glad there aren't any additional bridges to connect with this setup.

Software and control

To interact with the LED light strips, you need to access the Wyze app – available for Android and iOS. It's largely divided into three main sections: design, scenes, and music. When designing, colors can be manually selected from the color wheel, scenes are preset color options, and music provides decent lighting effects that are controlled by music.

Speaking of lighting effects: A microphone is built into the controller on the light bar, which forms the bridge between the power supply unit and the actual light bars. To get the right response in music mode, I set the controller sensitivity to high – so that the effect matches the music properly. Setting it low doesn't do much good.

In addition to remote access to the intelligent LED light strips via the app, they support Alexa and Google Assistant for voice control. I sometimes find it easier to just speak the command on my smart speaker or display.

power

Between the two, the Wyze Light Strip Pro offers more lighting effects, as it can display up to 16 colors at the same time. If you really want to spice up the decor in your home, go for the Pro for its advanced effects. You get some really nice color combinations painting rooms in rainbow colors, but I crave lights that are a little more saturated in tone. The saturation is decent but doesn't produce the same deep reds and blues that I get from other LED light strips.

I long for lights that are a little more saturated in tone.

Even so, the Wyze Light Strip Pro's brightness output isn't overly shoddy. It's powerful enough to be used for reading when the strip is exposed, as opposed to a discreet installation as an accent light. Even if the light strip with music mode shines in an explosion of colors, I wish that these special light effects could be switched on at any time – without having to play music. Honestly, a preset for these effects would be ideal, but it annoys me why it isn't offered because it's an easy addition.

Multi-color effect with Wyze Light Strip Pro.John Velasco / Digital Trends

Plus, it has the basic features I expect from smart lights – like the option to set sleep routines, timers, and scenes. It goes one step further with the vacation mode, which automatically turns the lights on and off, and Sun Match, which mimics natural sunlight all day long.

Our opinion

Wyze takes everything it's known for in space and delivers a decent set of smart LED light strips that aren't too expensive. Between the two models, I'd recommend the Wyze Light Strip Pro for the simple fact that it offers more color effects. Whichever you choose, they are both affordable for all budgets and a reasonable length for the price.

Is there a better alternative?

One of the most interactive smart LED light strips I've used, the Twinkly Line offers users custom lighting effects and superior color saturation. However, you pay almost double the cost with a shorter length to play around with.

For a simple smart LED light bar, Govees options are easier on the wallet – often in the $ 20 range for 16.4 feet in length.

How long it will take?

Between the two, the epoxy coating over the Wyze Light Strip Pro gives me confidence that it will withstand wear and tear better, as dirt and debris wouldn't interfere with the components. In any case, there is a 1-year guarantee for both LED light strips, which covers defects.

Should you buy it?

You bet. Wyze's intelligent LED light strips may not only excel in one area, but they are inexpensive and offer enough standard features to accentuate any room in the house.

Editor's recommendations



07 Oct
Blog

Far Cry 6 Review: Less Predictable, More Political

A car and a large building in Far Cry 6.

Far Cry 6 Review: Less Predictable and More Political

RRP $ 60.00

"Far Cry 6 could be the most interesting and complex game that Ubisoft has developed recently."

advantages

  • Great mission design and mechanics

  • Remarkable attitude

  • Less formulaic than previous Ubisoft games

  • Strong sociopolitical issues

This review was originally published on Digital Trends Español by Raúl Estrada and translated into English.

There is a moment in the first few hours of Far Cry 6 that sets the tone of the game in terms of narrative and playability: a mission to destroy a tobacco plantation. In general, the task is simple: set the growing areas on fire and destroy tanks with chemicals while facing waves of enemies that steadily arrive until the destruction gauge fills up.

This mission design is a classic in Ubisoft games. The striking detail in Far Cry 6, however, is that while the plantation burns, a Caribbean and Spanish version of the song Bella Ciao is played in the background. This changes the rhythm and even adds more instruments as the chaos unleashes. Without music, the mission would be like any other. With the melody, it becomes a great moment in the game's campaign.

Far Cry 6 is no stranger to the Ubisoft formula that is featured in all of its open world games. But it hides the formula in the best possible way so the game doesn't feel like an endless to-do list. The mix between mechanics and mission design is more organic and that has a lot to do with the setting. Yara Island accommodates urban environments, rural areas, mountains and archipelagos. Overall, it's more varied than the flat, uniform map of previous Far Cry games.

Improve the familiar

Ubisoft has a signature with its open world games and Far Cry 6 is no exception. The map is divided into zones, each of which is controlled by a subordinate of the main villain. The goal is to take control of these areas by completing missions to defeat the boss of this zone and thus end the siege around the main villain.

A character shoots a Gatling gun in Far Cry 6.

What changes in Far Cry 6 compared to the previous titles in the saga is not the design as such, but the perception of what is being done. In this case, the point is to start a Yaran Revolution, and for that you have to recruit allies who have tried to move things on their own or who are disaffected and no longer interested in recapturing the country. A good protagonist of open world games, Dani Rojas spends hours helping other people until he convinces them to join the cause.

The interesting thing now is that the concept common in many Ubisoft games of clearing bases or conquering towers in order to unlock activities has almost completely disappeared. That doesn't mean you don't have to do it at certain times, but it's not the tone of the game. The “opening” of the map is done by simply scrolling through it and so new sights appear as well as enemy settlements, which you can pass in peace without having to eliminate them all.

A character reloads a large weapon in Far Cry 6.

Far Cry 6's campaign is at a good pace, alternating shallow missions with more explosive and spectacular moments. By nature, some of these tasks force you to face the enemy face to face, but the rest of the time you can opt for stealth as the mechanics are well implemented to accommodate different play styles. This includes many weapons and forms of customization that come in handy for the trickier moments.

Far Cry 6's campaign is at a good pace, alternating shallow missions with more explosive and spectacular moments.

On the other hand, there are also urban environments, a novelty for the saga. Far Cry 6 has multi-level cities and it is common to park between buildings and buildings. To make this easier, Ubisoft has added some new elements and mechanics that generally work very well and allow you to move around on roofs and platforms in a very similar style to Dying Light. The urban environments add a new dimension and refresh the more classic Far Cry playability.

In terms of mission design and mechanics, this title is the sum of Ubisoft's years of experience with open world games. The design is not revolutionary or radically changed, but much better camouflaged than before. This makes Far Cry 6 a game with a less predictable and rigid feel where the hours fly by.

Welcome to Yara (Cuba)

Far Cry 6 is set in Yara, a fictional country made up of several islands in the middle of the Caribbean. This nation is ruled by a President / Dictator named Anton Castillo (Giancarlo Esposito) who was elected by a questionable referendum and has been in power for several decades.

Yara is a world power in medicine and tries to develop a cure for cancer from his tobacco plants. The price for these advances, however, was an impoverished population that, according to Castillo's classification, was divided between the false and true Yarans. Fake Yaranos are considered outcasts and are forced to work as slaves on Viviro plantations, the result of modified tobacco plantations.

Anton Castillo's goal is to restore Yara to its former glory, while the nation has to deal with the blockade of the international community and, in particular, of a superpower like the United States, as best it can.

A banner for Anton Castillo in Far Cry 6.

Ubisoft has insisted that its games are not political (a point its narrative director later pushed back). In Far Cry 6, however, it acknowledges that these types of stories cannot be isolated from political discussion, even less if this title is not at all subtle with its staging. Yara is a fictional version of Cuba in which there are too many elements that relate to the history of this Caribbean island, such as decades of revolutions or cities that seem stuck in time due to the blockades.

Still, there are elements of Far Cry 6's narrative that are more complex. By and large, Yara is Cuba, but if you zoom in on more specific situations, sociopolitical elements emerge that are problematic not only in dictatorships but worldwide. For example, military control in cities with curfews, extreme nationalism or discrimination against minorities; Topics that become visible in the game and that don't just remain in stilted references.

In that sense, Far Cry 6 is more honest than Far Cry 5 as it says what it has to say in a less subtle way. In the previous title, the hints about what was happening in the rural and Protestant US remained exactly that. Far Cry 6, on the other hand, is not the most explicit game of all, but it has no problem with pointing out the consequences of fascism and nationalism.

Far Cry 6's setting is generally authentic, although there are some details that Spanish speakers will notice. Most obvious are the names of some places. Even the Spanish, which can be seen all over the island, seems to have been first written in English and then translated almost literally into Spanish.

Far Cry 6 is more honest than Far Cry 5 in that it says what it has to say in a less subtle way.

Something similar happens with the original voice actors who mix English with a Latin accent with Spanish words that are not pronounced in their native language, which is immediately noticeable. So one wonders how a company like Ubisoft, with all the resources available to create games that involve thousands of people, misses out on details like these.

Dani looks at a street sign in Far Cry 6.

It's not that all of Yara's Spanish is imperfect, but it is common to find meaningless phrases in street signs or place names that seem like a literal translation from English. In the long run this becomes a small and curious problem that does not tarnish the atmosphere, although the use of language is the least authentic of the environments created for the game.

Even so, the Spanish voice synchronization is generally good and is perhaps the best way to play Far Cry 6, which is complemented very well by a top notch soundtrack that makes the experience interesting and immersive from an audiovisual point of view.

A breakthrough in every way

Perhaps time changes the perspective on such a product, but it's not risky to say that Far Cry 6 is one of the best and most interesting in the series. It is important to emphasize that the game is not reinventing a formula. The advantage, however, is to make the entire adventure organic and get items like statistics, activity lists or experience levels out of the way. These elements are present, but second and only appear at certain moments, for example when Anton Castillo's regime realizes that the revolution is approaching and sends more soldiers onto the streets (and increases the difficulty of each zone).

A car and a large building in Far Cry 6.

The cast of the entire adventure deserves special mention. The villain is actually the one who gets all the attention – Giancarlo Esposito's face is perfectly captured – but the rest of the characters are more diverse than stereotypical. The script is simple and by no means far-fetched. It manages to keep the interest rate factor going until the end, mostly because it makes us want to know what the dictator's real intentions are.

Far Cry 6 is an outstanding game because it has a great design of mechanics and missions, its setting is authentic even with localization errors and the game does not drag on or repeat itself; On the contrary, just walking around the island and exploring the public and hidden routes is a satisfying activity.

In addition, this title presents more complex topics in the right way. Sometimes it's daring, sometimes it's shy. But the messages are there and not being hidden, which is a breakthrough in an industry that tends to be too conservative with global products like this one.

Editor's recommendations



07 Oct
Blog

2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Limited AWD: Extra Power and Efficiency

Exterior of the 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Limited.

2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Limited AWD

RRP $ 37,350.00

"The Tucson Hybrid sets the bar for efficiency and performance paired with technology."

advantages

  • Unique look

  • Luxurious cabin

  • Seriously efficient

  • Impressive technology

  • Charges

disadvantage

  • Intrusive touch controls

  • Wireless smartphone compatibility only with standard screen

Hyundai designers have made a name for themselves as some of the best in the business over the past few years. Fancy designs will only get you so far, however.

It's good that the completely redesigned 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid is so much more than just a pretty face. There is a lot of substance underneath. So much so that the Tucson Hybrid sets the high water mark in its class. In the pursuit of improved fuel economy, the Tucson Hybrid also comes with a healthy performance boost over the regular Tucson.

The compact hybrid scene is still relatively new. There are few competitors, and all of them match or improve the Tucson Hybrid's fuel economy. There is the Ford Escape Hybrid, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and the Honda CR-V Hybrid. Not exactly a crowded market, but there are some heavyweights. Seeing the Tucson Hybrid hold up against just such an established group speaks volumes for how far the model has come compared to the previous generation.

The base 2022 Tucson Hybrid starts at $ 30,235 with the required target fee of $ 1,185. Our test car with exceptionally soft carpeting was the top Tucson Hybrid Limited, which is priced at $ 38,730.

Interior and exterior design

2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Limited AWD Front

Joel Patel / Digital Trends

Exterior of the 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Limited.

Joel Patel / Digital Trends

2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Limited AWD taillights

Joel Patel / Digital Trends

2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Limited AWD rear end

Joel Patel / Digital Trends

With so many SUVs on the streets these days, designers are struggling to find ways to distinguish their models from others. Others may obviously have problems, but Hyundai designers are thriving, producing hits at an impressive rate. When we say the Tucson Hybrid looks different than anything else on the market, we mean it. Identical twins, the Tucson and Santa Cruz even look like weird ducklings in the Hyundai family.

Usually something that looks this good requires some kind of compromise on the inside.

It starts with the weird grille, which has a jewel-like finish and is part of what Hyundai calls a "Parametric Dynamics" design. The daytime running lights of the SUV are integrated directly into the radiator grille and provide a fascinating view at night. The rest of the package is just as impressive, with enough wedges and chiseled lines to cosplay as a 190s sports car.

Usually something that looks this good requires some kind of compromise on the inside. Fortunately, there are no compromises to be found. In contrast to the plug-in hybrid powertrain, which eats its way into the cargo space, the hybrid fits the regular Tucson. There is 38.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and a total of 74.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded down. Rear passengers get 41.3 inches of rear legroom, more space than any direct competitor for the Tucson Hybrid.

View of the interior of the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Limited 2022 from the driver's seat.

Joel Patel / Digital Trends

View of the interior of the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Limited 2022 from the driver's seat.

Joel Patel / Digital Trends

View of the interior of the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Limited 2022 from the passenger seat.

Joel Patel / Digital Trends

Views of the interior and rear seats of the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Limited 2022.

Joel Patel / Digital Trends

The Tucson Hybrid's interior design may not generate the same shock and awe as the exterior, but it feels especially upscale for a compact hybrid at this price point. Our limited test equipment included leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, a panoramic sunroof, an electric tailgate and ventilated front seats. The natural rounding of the air nozzles and the course of the center console appear modern and yet remain functional. Materials also feel classy as others in the segment tend to use hard plastics that look and feel unsightly. A couple of glossy black panels are a fingerprint magnet, but that's the biggest problem we could find.

Technology, infotainment and driver assistance

2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Limited infotainment system.Joel Patel / Digital Trends

Typically, automakers tend to reserve their best features for higher trim levels. That's not exactly the case with the Tucson Hybrid. The standard 8-inch touchscreen offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, satellite radio, two USB ports on the front and back, and Bluetooth. The Limited equipment we tested included a 10.25-inch touchscreen, 10.25-inch digital instrument, wireless device charging, navigation, and a Bose audio system. Oddly enough, the larger touchscreen loses compatibility with wireless smartphones for old-fashioned wired connectivity. That's an annoying decision given all of the other high-end features that the larger touchscreen is paired with.

While the 10.25-inch touchscreen is one of the reasons for upgrading to a higher level of equipment, the 10.25-inch digital instrument feels like it could be more useful.

The larger touchscreen offers crisp graphics and simple menus, but you lose rotary knobs and traditional buttons for functions like adjusting the volume and adjusting the radio. All buttons on the center console of the SUV are touch-sensitive and picky. The volume buttons have to be pressed several times, for example, in order to sensibly increase or decrease the system volume of the audio system. The smooth look of the center console is appealing, but we prefer a classic switchgear.

Inside view of the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Limited 2022.Joel Patel / Digital Trends

While the 10.25-inch touchscreen is one of the reasons for upgrading to a higher level of equipment, the 10.25-inch digital instrument feels like it could be more useful. For example, it lacks the customization that Volkswagen offers in its digital cockpit instrument cluster. The available Bose audio system sounds good, but I still fondly remember the old Harman Kardon system. However, if you're more interested in tuning things than pumping the cabin with noise, Hyundai offers a unique "nature sounds" setting to play quieter sounds like "rainy day", "warm fireplace" and "busy forest".

Hyundai offers its SmartSense suite with advanced security features for many of its vehicles, although the suite's features differ depending on the vehicle. The standard safety features of the Tucson Hybrid include front collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic warning. Also standard is the safe exit warning, which warns you if you open the door and if a vehicle is approaching from behind.

Higher equipment variants, such as the Limited we tested, are equipped with parking sensors, a parking camera with all-round visibility and a remote-controlled intelligent parking assistant. While the system doesn't work nearly as smoothly as it does in the displays, it can be helpful in making sure you leave enough room in tight spaces.

Experience at the wheel

The Tucson Hybrid comes with a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and a 44.2 kW electric motor for a combined output of 226 hp. The engine is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, with all-wheel drive as standard. This value makes the Tucson Hybrid one of the most powerful hybrids in its class. The CR-V Hybrid (212 PS), the RAV4 Hybrid (219 PS) and the Escape Hybrid (200 PS) all fall behind slightly. It even beats the regular Tucson gasoline engine by 39 horses.

Look at what's under the hood of the 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Limited AWD.Joel Patel / Digital Trends

Unsurprisingly, it also delivers more straight-line oomph than the regular Tucson. The hybrid powertrain lets most of its muscles play off the line, but still has a lot of pulling power on the autobahn. Unlike other hybrids, the Tucson Hybrid's powertrain uses a six-speed automatic transmission instead of a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). It delivers well-timed shifts, which can be a problem with CVTs, and even allows manual shifting with paddle shifters behind the steering wheel, although they feel out of place.

Whether you're driving around town or taking the final leg of a road trip, the Tucson Hybrid offers a comfortable, smooth ride. The sophisticated driving style of the SUV is reminiscent of some of the past classes. The hybrid powertrain ensures that it stays quiet inside, but a sharp step on the gas pedal brings a lot of engine noise into the cabin.

Take the Tucson Hybrid around a curve and it will surprise you with crisp steering and confident handling. Unlike other hybrids in the class, the Tucson Hybrid doesn't sway wildly around corners, making it one of the more athletic options in the class.

Gas mileage and safety

Exterior of the 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Limited.Joel Patel / Digital Trends

The Tucson Hybrid falls behind the competition in terms of fuel economy, but is still insanely efficient. The entry-level blue is rated at 38 mpg combined (38 mpg city, 38 mpg highway) while the rest of the lineup is rated at 37 mpg combined (37 mpg city, 36 mpg highway). The Escape Hybrid leads the segment with an overall rating of 41 mpg, while the RAV4 Hybrid follows just behind with an overall rating of 40 mpg.

In tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the 2022 Tucson received a “Top Safety Pick +” rating. The SUV received the grade “Good” and the top grade “Superior” for its front crash prevention technology in all crash tests. The headlight ratings range from “acceptable” to “good”. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not yet crash tested the 2022 Tucson.

Hyundai offers a 5-year base warranty of 60,000 miles and a 10-year powertrain warranty of 100,000 miles. A 10-year guarantee with 100,000 miles applies to the hybrid components of the SUV. These are above average for the guarantees for the segment. Honda, Toyota and Ford all offer their hybrids with a three-year base warranty of 36,000 miles and a five-year warranty of 60,000 miles. Toyota and Honda cover the battery components of their hybrid vehicles with a 10-year guarantee of 150,000 miles, depending on the purchase condition.

How DT would configure this car

Since the Tucson Hybrid has a slightly lower fuel consumption than its competitors and comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with the smaller touchscreen, we think the basic blue is the best choice. It's also not about sparing on features, as it comes with heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, four USB ports, Hyundai's SmartSense safety features and an electrically adjustable driver's seat.

Our opinion

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid isn't the most fuel-efficient compact SUV on the market, but it is one of the best options nonetheless. Not only is it more enjoyable to drive and more sophisticated than other options, but it also has more power and more impressive technology. It's the gold standard for the segment.

The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Ford Escape Hybrid, and Honda CR-V Hybrid all match or have better fuel economy values ​​than the Tucson Hybrid. But they all offer smaller cargo areas, less legroom in the rear, smaller touchscreens and only wired smartphone compatibility. The Escape Hybrid and RAV4 Hybrid are slightly cheaper than the Tucson Hybrid, but have interior materials that match their lower prices.

Unless you want to go upstream with a luxury hybrid from Lexus, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Lincoln or Volvo, the Tucson Hybrid is your best bet in the affordable compact class.

Should you get one?

Yes sir. The Tucson Hybrid is the best of its kind.

Editor's recommendations



06 Oct
Blog

Common Eye Disease: Dry Eye

Dry eye is a common and chronic condition that most people face at some point in their life. In fact, it affects up to a third of the world's population! The good news is that there are many remedies available to alleviate this common condition, including wearing an eye mask for dry eye.

What is dry eye?

When a person has dry eyes, they are not producing enough high quality tears to moisturize the eye. Although it can hit anyone, it gets stronger as you get older. Common causes of dry eyes can be:

  • Harsh weather conditions
  • Allergies
  • Some medication
  • An underlying disease
  • Computer, cell phone or television screens
  • Lack of quality of sleep
  • Wear contact lenses for too long

Common dry eye symptoms

Most people with dry eyes may experience symptoms such as stinging, scratching, or burning. It can also feel like there's always something in their eyes. Some of the other symptoms that people can experience include:

Redness

Red eyes are a common dry eye symptom because there aren't enough natural tears to keep your eye moist. When they get dry, they also get red and irritated due to the lack of moisture.

Blurred vision

Dry eyes can lead to blurred vision because the tear film either evaporates too quickly or becomes too slimy. When both happens, your tears may not be able to disperse smoothly and will not stay on the cornea long enough for you to have a clear view. Frequent blinking can temporarily help by redistributing the tear film over the cornea.

Photosensitivity

Dry eyes are a major cause of photophobia, or sensitivity to light. Medical researchers have not fully understood why dry eyes tend to be sensitive to light. However, some believe it could be due to inflammation of the trigeminal nerve through the cornea. Since dry eyes also trigger other symptoms, such as migraines, this could also contribute to sensitivity to light.

Watery eyes

You may be wondering why do you keep watering when your eyes are dry? This is because, due to the irritation that comes from dry eyes, your body's natural response is to produce more tears in order to get rid of them. After a while, your natural eye drainage can become too much, causing tears to overflow. The additional tear production is called a reflex tear.

How can an eye mask soothe dry eyes?

Eye masks are a good solution for managing dry eye symptoms, and different types can provide different reliefs. For example, heated eye masks are known to increase eye moisture, which could treat some of the underlying causes of dry eyes.

Those with this uncomfortable condition could benefit from using an eye mask as it improves hydration, increases oil production, or reduces inflammation. Warmed eye masks increase oil production and thus reduce tear evaporation. Other masks can trap moisture inside, which improves eye moisture.

Are you looking for an eye mask for dry eye?

Nobody wants to deal with the unpleasant side effects of dry eyes! Fortunately, there are some helpful remedies that can help relieve these symptoms, including eye masks. Well worth trying if your dry eyes are an issue for you.

06 Oct
Blog

Metroid Dread Review: The Queen is Back, All Hail the Queen

Samus slips off an EMMI in Metroid Dread.

Metroid horror

RRP $ 60.00

"Metroid Dread sharpens everything that makes Metroid pleasant and at the same time realizes its horror ambitions."

advantages

  • Really creepy

  • Fine-tuned fight

  • Tough but fair bosses

  • Worthwhile exploration

  • Detailed environments

disadvantage

  • Slow start

  • Some repetitive bosses

Dread has always been a driving force in the Metroid franchise. It's what you feel in Metroid 2: Return of Samus as you leave planet SR388 in eerie silence as the last baby of a species you just lovingly wiped out follows after. It's a feeling that hangs in the air during Metroid Fusion as Samus helplessly hides from a parasitic, dead-eyed doppelganger who chases them. Metroid Dread, the first original 2D Metroid game in 19 years, doubles that kind of sci-fi fear to create a true Nintendo horror game.

The basics of the series are still completely in place. It is an adventure game in which Samus explores a mysterious planet sector by sector, constantly gets power-ups and searches every corner for secrets. But the backdrop is more annoying this time. Four games full of reckless missions return to haunt Samus in a more story-driven game where history actually matters.

Metroid Dread reclaims the throne of Metroidvania with one of Nintendo's most difficult, immersive, and stylish games in ages. New movement and combat techniques freshen up a classic formula, but history is its real secret weapon. This is a compelling science fiction thriller that exudes nervous energy and has a firm focus on the best qualities of the series.

The hunter becomes the hunted

The Samus story picks up where Metroid Fusion left off 19 years ago. After wiping out the brain sucking Metroid species and the X parasites, she is called to more dirty work that the Galactic Federation is too scared to do. It turned out that an X parasite had been sighted on the planet ZDR, so the Federation sent seven robots known as E.M.M.I. to extract it. The only problem? You went offline. In a horror film, this is the moment when you beg the hero not to enter the obviously haunted house. But a gig is a gig for an independent contractor.

Of course it goes south when Samus arrives at ZDR, and that's where the horror premise begins to take hold. In a surprising twist, the renegade E.M.M.I. serve as the game's main antagonist for much of the game while trying to hunt down Samus. It's a somewhat mixed hit that makes the game's two-hour opening feel a little slow at times. The eagerness to explain too much leads to a failed introduction to robots as Samus dodges you with ease, finds a powerful single-use alpha cannon, and blows the robot to pieces in a minute. That takes a bite out of the fear factor right away. Imagine Jaws opening up with someone killing Jaws and then everyone freaked out when a second shark showed up.

Samus shrouds himself up to avoid an EMMI in Metroid Dread.

Fortunately, Dread is recovering from that early misstep. E.M.M.I. Encounters become much more tense the more advanced the robots get. Soon they can squeeze through narrow passages or run much faster and it becomes more and more difficult to avoid them. They're a cross between the alien Xenomorphs and the robotics of Boston Dynamics – and as unsettling as either.

When Samus finally gets the alpha cannon, it's still not safe. She must be an E.M.M.I. Armor by carefully blowing it up with a heated beam before charging a shot that can kill with one hit. This leads to incredibly nerve-wracking sequences in which the players assert themselves and act as E.M.M.I. have to keep shooting. is getting closer. If a robot grabs Samus, she's dead unless she can hit a fraction of a second, so the tension is high (even if the consequences for death are minor inconvenience).

Metroid Dread gets into a gnarled body horror and sometimes gets full of David Cronenberg.

While the E.M.M.I. In fact, if they are the focus of the game's marketing material, they are not the most effective use of fear. Metroid Dread gets into a gnarled body horror and sometimes gets full of David Cronenberg. A boss shoots slimy stones out of gaping holes in his stomach. One setting shows a writhing monster being stabbed and pushed by machine arms. Moments like this reinforce throughout the experience as the story takes some harrowing twists and turns.

Samus is fighting a huge boss in Metroid Dread.

What makes the use of horror most effective in the game is the fact that it is rooted in history. Most Nintendo games have a tendency to perform a soft reset before a mascot's next adventure. That is not the case here. There are real ramifications for Samus’s actions in games like Metroid Fusion. She reaps what she sows here, which really makes Metroid Dread feel like a nightmarish climax in the Metroid saga.

Super Smash sister

The scary story is a major draw here, but it doesn't get in the way of what Metroid does best. Combat and exploration are as expertly blended as ever, thanks to developer Mercury Steam. During E3, longtime series producer and director Yoshio Sakamoto noted that the decision to revive the series was made after seeing how well the developer handled its Metroid 2 remake on Nintendo 3DS. That was the right decision; Mercury Steam gets Metroid.

Combat has been particularly improved here, thanks to a whole host of new and returning mechanics. Free aiming returns from Metroid: Samus Returns, allowing Samus to stop and aim in all directions. That brings a level of precision into both the battles and exploration, and lets Mercury Steam design puzzles and battles that aren't as rigid.

Samus shoots enemies in Metroid Dread.

The melee counter is also back and this time more finely tuned. Samus can parry enemies at the right moment, resulting in a satisfying blow. The melee this time is not limited to counterattacks. Players can hit it anytime to repel an enemy, giving them more space to fight and deepening standard cannon combat.

Mobility and combat go hand in hand here, as many techniques serve a dual purpose. As well as being a great way to hit an enemy, engaging in ongoing melee combat is an effective way to hop across platforms. Samus can slide here so she can zoom through tight spaces, but it's more exciting as a combat option. Typically, when an enemy is low to the ground you need to stop and shoot them before moving forward. Instead, Samus can whiz under it and shoot at it while it is sliding.

This time around it's a much more active experience that makes me feel like I am in control of the Super Smash Bros. version of Samus, acrobatics and everything.

The improved fights are especially noticeable in boss fights, which are some of the toughest I've played in a Nintendo game in a while. Major battles require mastering the entire set of movements from Samus. In an early fight, she must slide under a monster's legs to dodge an attack, carefully aim its flapping tail, and counter it at the right second to initiate a thrilling cinematic sequence in which players still get the action by firing control of missiles. Some bosses chewed me up and spat me out in seconds, forcing me to spend a dozen tries slowly learning their patterns and figuring out how my arsenal might counter each move. A few sub-bosses get recycled one too many times, but each milestone encounter feels completely different from the others.

Samus melee attacks an enemy in Metroid Dread.

The battles of Metroid Dread feel classic and modern in the same breath. I'm taken back to the original Metroid where I would have to pump dozens of missiles into Kraid to win. But this time around it's a much more active experience that makes me feel like I am in control of the Super Smash Bros. version of Samus, acrobatics and everything.

Explore ZDR

Exploration is at the core of Metroid's DNA, and that's preserved here, too, though it takes a bit of time to get started. The first few hours of railroad gamblers with more roadblocks than usual to move the story forward. It's a slow burn, but luckily the game opens up in a big way after some key tools are made available to players in quick succession.

As soon as I got off the beaten path, I was reminded why Metroid is especially good. Many of its secrets legitimately feel secret, hide behind tricky puzzles, or are completely out of sight. As I began my usual late-night collection hunt, I realized that my card had unusual loopholes. In fact, I started chasing around only to find a hidden entrance on a wall I'd passed that led me to a whole series of hidden puzzle rooms.

Samus shoots an enemy in Metroid Dread.

Metroid Dread offers players a few tools to make the process easier, such as: There are still elements that I can't quite reach because I don't have to crack their code yet.

It takes full advantage of some of its strengths to create a game that feels like the most complete vision of a Metroid game to date.

It helps that the game really invites players to explore and immerse themselves in its atmosphere. Planet ZDR features visually stunning biomes, from lush alien landscapes to hauntingly sterile E.M.M.I. Zones. Instead of feeling like a vague collection of corridors, each room actually feels like a living space. Lots of attention has gone into creating detailed backdrops in each room, to the point where I can't help but pause and watch. In one room I caught some kind of camouflaged enemy in the distance who was racing through the water and signaling an impending battle. In another, I observe a giant plant seemingly devouring a creature. The latter cannot even be guessed at; it is only there to give character to the biome.

Most Metroidvania games tend to choose sides when it comes to combat and exploration. Axiom Verge 2 offers ingenious traversal tools that surpass Metroid's, but its combat system feels comparatively flat. Metroid Dread makes no such compromises. It doubles everything the series is known for. More importantly, it takes full advantage of some of its strengths to create a game that feels like the most complete vision of a Metroid game to date. Let's just hope that the next adventure doesn't take another 19 years.

Our opinion

Metroid Dread is exactly the boost of energy the Metroid series needs. What's 19 years old feels new again thanks to sharp gameplay additions that enhance both battles and exploration. Most notably, it stands out for its atmosphere and storytelling, creating an alien-esque science fiction horror story that takes the space opera of the franchise to eerie new heights. The Queen is back to remind us who placed the Metroid in Metroidvania.

Is there a better alternative?

Indies like Axiom Verge and Hollow Knight are vastly cheaper options, but Metroid Dread is the best title on this scale alongside Ori and the Will of the Wisps.

How long it will take?

In eight and a half hours, I got 67% completion. A 100% play through takes between 10 and 15 hours and is therefore comparable in length to Metroid: Samus Returns.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. Metroid Dread is an exceptional entry on the series that is harder (and a lot more creepy) than your average Nintendo game.

Editor's recommendations



06 Oct
Blog

Nintendo Switch OLED Review: An Upgrade’s an Upgrade

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe runs on a Nintendo Switch OLED.

Nintendo Switch OLED

RRP $ 350.00

"The Nintendo Switch OLED may not be what gamers have dreamed of, but it is undeniably a technological advance for the Switch."

advantages

  • Improved screen

  • Improved onboard audio

  • Much better stand

  • Cleaner dock design

disadvantage

  • No upgrades for the TV

  • Memory is still small

Much of the discussion about the Nintendo Switch OLED model has centered on what it isn't as opposed to what it is. From the first announcement, fans were noisily disappointed with the lack of three main features of the upgrade: 4K graphics when docked, an improvement in resolution in handheld mode, and a battery boost. That left many to write off the system entirely as a minor midlife switch upgrade rather than the version they envisioned.

So let's talk about what the Switch OLED actually is: It's clearly a better version of the Nintendo Switch. It has a bigger, brighter screen that makes the old Switch look washed out. That alone would be enough to make this a notable improvement, and it's not the only novelty here. The question is whether or not the difference is enough, considering the Switch is a four-year-old console that has lagged behind technological advances in gaming for nearly half a decade. The answer is probably no, but it hardly matters if Nintendo plays by its own rules.

The Nintendo Switch OLED optimizes an already great console with a better screen, cleaner audio, and a stand that dwarfs the old Switch. For those who prefer to play their games in handheld or tabletop mode, it's an upgrade worthwhile as your Switch ages. However, those who play docked stay in the dust, making it a somewhat enigmatic addition to the Switch family.

See the light

The only major difference you need to know about here is the console's eponymous OLED screen. Given how unimaginative the name of the system is, you have to assume that Nintendo is pinning a lot of its hopes on this aspect. There is a good reason for this, however: the new OLED panel is undoubtedly better than the Switch's outdated LED panel.

For starters, it's bigger. While the normal switch has a 6.2-inch screen surrounded by a thick black bezel, the OLED extends to seven inches to make better use of the switch's space. There's a noticeable difference, especially since video games tend to use the smallest amount of text when it comes to the user interface.

A Nintendo Switch OLED and a 2019 Switch model side by side.

More importantly, everything is brighter on the OLED panel. You can see this clearly by simply launching the home menu on an old and a new console. The original Switch almost looks like it has a white haze over it and the colors are dulled a little. On the other hand, everything is crisp on the OLED screen; it doesn't feel like anything is lost in the digital translation. When testing the Metroid Dread on it, I switched back and forth between my TV and the OLED in handheld mode. I quickly found that the picture on the OLED was just looking clearer than it was on my aging TV. Because of this, I decided to play the entire game portable.

The new OLED panel is undoubtedly better than the Switch's outdated LED panel.

For disappointed fans, a better screen was only half what they'd hoped for. The console does not offer any resolution increase in handheld mode, which means that like its predecessor, it is limited to 720p. A lack of 1080p sounds like a big deal on paper, but ultimately doesn't make that much of a difference on a seven-inch screen. Instead, OLED gives Nintendo's gaming a boost where it really matters. A game like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, for example, shines on the console with its colors that appear in all their shining splendor.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe runs on a Nintendo Switch OLED.

I'm a Switch gamer who plays in handheld mode almost exclusively, even when I'm at home. From that perspective, the new screen is a remarkable improvement for me. I wouldn't have rushed to buy it based on the datasheet, but now that I'm using it I can't imagine going back to my old model.

Undeniable upgrade

The other upgrades to the OLED are more subtle in comparison, though they justify the $ 50 price tag. For one, the system has a completely redesigned stand that makes the flimsy plastic of the old switch look like a gruesome joke. The entire rear lower half of the console can be folded out and remains in place at every angle. It goes so far back that the console can lie almost flat with a slight incline. The Switch feels a lot more stable in tabletop mode, which makes the dream of playing on the plane feel a lot more realistic. It no longer feels like the switch is falling over in a strong gust of wind.

The stand of the Nintendo Switch OLED compared to the 2019 Switch model.

Audio also gets a boost here, which is a small but nice touch. When playing in handheld mode, the onboard speakers just sound a bit louder and crisper overall. Similar to the way the new display removes the washed-out haze of the switch, this also applies here to a more subtle degree. The audio upgrade doesn't make a difference if you're playing with headphones on the go, but it's nice for a lazy couch player like me.

The other changes here are less important, though it's hard to complain a lot. The internal memory of the switch has been doubled from 32 GB to 64 GB. That number is still pretty skimpy considering the upcoming Steam Deck has 512GB of storage if you go for the top of the line. Switch games are smaller than PC games, and you can still save space by physically buying Nintendo's game, but those who make a living from downloads will still need a microSD card anyway.

The other upgrades to the OLED are more subtle in comparison, though they justify the $ 50 price tag.

The aesthetic component is also a nice plus, but hardly a reason for an upgrade. The white Joy-Cons look particularly clean when they are attached to the screen so that it looks less like a toy. The white dock looks similarly good and goes particularly well with a PlayStation 5 in your entertainment center. The interior of the dock just looks cleaner, too, with a sleek black interior that doesn't feel quite as scratched as the regular dock. I wouldn't advise anyone buying a console for the colors (nothing different with the Joy-Cons so don't expect a drift fix here), but it's a good bonus if you get one.

A Nintendo Switch OLED model in its dock next to a regular Switch dock.

“Bonus” is the key word here, so to speak. Aside from the screen and stand, the OLED's new features are nice but negligible add-ons. The only other major boost here is the battery, though it depends on which Switch you already own. For those who bought a base Switch in 2017 and didn't upgrade to the new SKU in 2019, the OLED features its larger battery size. It wasn't worth spending $ 300 on an otherwise identical product back then, but it's more enticing now in the context of an actually polished system.

Neglect from television gamers

The most puzzling thing about the Switch OLED is that it doesn't really bring any real improvements to docked gaming. While handheld and tabletop modes get a nice boost here, they run exactly the same on your TV. Given that Nintendo previously released the handheld-focused Switch Lite, you'd think its next system would tackle the other side of the hybrid console's player base. Amazingly, that's not the case here.

What we are left with is a console upgrade that is a straightforward recommendation for some gamers but completely irrelevant to others.

There's only one real difference when it comes to TV gaming: the redesigned dock has a LAN port to support wired online gaming. Theoretically, this should make online experiences more stable, which the Nintendo Switch urgently needs. Of course, it's not that simple. Online multiplayer is a two-way (or four-way or 100-way) street. When I'm wired, I know I won't have Wi-Fi problems, but that doesn't mean my opponents won't have problems. Most of my testing with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate went smoothly, but every now and then I would jump into a four-player game and experience stutters or delays. A wired internet connection only really works if everyone has access to it, which requires gamers to extensively upgrade their docks. In more practical terms, the wired connection will be a niche advantage for competitive gamers.

The Nintendo Switch OLED Dock.

What we are left with is a console upgrade that is a straightforward recommendation for some gamers but completely irrelevant to others. Buying a console for the first time? The OLED is a breeze. Are you a handheld gamer looking to step up a notch? It's a good excuse to upgrade when you have the cash to spare. But for those who only play on TV, there's practically no reason to buy one – especially since the dock will be available separately through the Nintendo website.

With Nintendo denying reports that a 4K model is in the works, it's impossible to know if we'll ever get a real Switch Pro. For now, this could be the last upgrade we'll get in the life of the Switch. It's certainly not the change we were hoping for, but I'd be lying if I said the new display isn't impressive. This is the model that Nintendo should have brought out when it launched.

Our opinion

The Nintendo Switch OLED model is an improvement on an already good console, period. No, it can't do 4K and it doesn't feel like a midlife change to PS4 Pro size, but an upgrade is an upgrade. The new OLED panel is a huge improvement that makes the Switch's old screen look washed out in comparison. A new stand and better onboard audio both justify the additional $ 50, though the other enhancements are somewhat redundant. It may not be the upgrade the system needs after four years in the market, but it is the definitive model to buy if you don't already own a Switch.

Is there a better alternative?

It's certainly better than a regular switch if you're handheld gaming. If you want more power, the Steam Deck is just around the corner (if you can get one).

How long it will take?

The redesigned dock reduces the chance of hair scratches on the screen. Is your Switch still working four years later? Then expect it to chug on in a similar fashion.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. If you don't already have a Switch, there's no reason not to start here. It's also a worthwhile upgrade for those who play in handheld mode, though TV gamers won't get much benefit from it.

Editor's recommendations



06 Oct
Blog

Bose QuietComfort 45 Review: More (And Less) Of A Good Thing

Man wears Bose QuietComfort 45 noise-canceling headphones.

Bose QuietComfort 45

RRP $ 329.00

"The most popular headphones from Bose have a larger battery, but leave out some functions."

advantages

  • Super comfortable

  • Very good noise cancellation

  • Very good sound quality

  • Can be connected to multiple devices

disadvantage

  • No wear detection

  • No EQ settings

When Bose launched its $ 379 Noise Canceling Headphones 700 (NC 700), many wondered if the company had abandoned its time-honored QuietComfort 35 II (QC 35 II) design, which was by the time the NC 700 was released Flagship cans with active noise cancellation.

It turned out those fears were unfounded when Bose unveiled its $ 329 QuietComfort 45 (QC 45) earlier this year. But the QC 45 isn't your typical upgrade. Bose definitely made improvements, but also removed some features.

Has Bose removed too much? Let's check them out.

What's in the box?

Bose QuietComfort 45 noise canceling headphones with case and accessories.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Bose continues to do a good job with the packaging – the QC 45 box will be very easy to recycle on site thanks to its sleek but sleek cardboard box. The only exception are the foam inserts, with which the headphones cannot be moved during transport. Inside you will find the QC 45, a USB-A to USB-C charging cable, a 2.5mm to 3.5mm analog cable, and a zippered carrying case. Once again, Bose has chosen not to include its $ 9 airplane adapter, an odd choice given the loyalty of the QuietComfort line among air travelers.

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Bose QuietComfort 45 noise-canceling headphones.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

With the QC 45, Bose focused on evolution, not revolution. Because if you want something completely different, that's what the NC 700 is for. Aside from a few minor changes, the QC 45 is indistinguishable from the QC 35 II – you get the same fold-flat hinges and lightweight but sturdy construction – even the physical controls are identical, including the slide switch for power / bluetooth and playback Controls on the right earcup and the action button on the left.

The biggest change concerns the materials. Gone are the suede-like Alcantara material from the inside of the headband, instead the same synthetic leather has been used that Bose uses for its ear pads. The synthetic leather probably wears better than the Alcantara, but it also slides a little more on the head. This is an important consideration if you typically carry full size cans in the gym.

The ear cushions take the perfectly comfortable middle ground between firm and soft.

The ear pads have also been redesigned. They're just as comfortable, but Bose has swapped out the wrinkled pillows on the QC 35 II for a silky-soft set that is more like the pillows on the NC 700. While this has the effect of making the QC 45 look more like the competition from Sony and JBL, I applaud the move as I've never been a fan of the wrinkled look.

Bose has also gone for a slightly more conservative finish on the plastic, which is now almost matte, as it has lost some of the satin sheen of the older model. Even the logos of the ear cups have been highlighted more discreetly, with a discreet silver finish replacing the raised metallic lettering.

For some people, simply switching from MicroUSB to USB-C charging (which Bose should have used on the QC 35 II) is enough to consider the QC 45.

Comfort, controls and connections

Bose QuietComfort 45 noise-canceling headphones.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The QuietComfort line of headphones has always been one of the most comfortable over-ears you can buy, and the QC 45 continues that tradition. The ear cushions take that perfectly comfortable midway between firm and soft, while the size and shape of the ear cups make these cans the few that don't put any pressure on my ears. They're comfortable even with glasses on.

The headband exerts just enough clamping force to hold everything where it is needed. It also prevents the tape from creating a pressure point on your head. Oddly enough, the QC 45 is actually a bit heavier than the QC 35 II – 8.5 ounces versus 8.3 ounces – but you would never know. I still think the NC 700s are more comfortable overall (although they're a hair heavier at 8.9 ounces), but the difference is marginal.

I still can't understand why Bose designs its cans to sit flat against your collarbones with the ear pads facing up rather than down (like Sony does) which is much more convenient.

Wireless stability and range are excellent both indoors and outdoors.

There's not much to say about the controls – they are exactly what you need, and they work really well. The three buttons on the right earcup let you control calls, playback, volume and skip tracks, while the action button on the left lets you toggle between Active Noise Canceling (ANC) and transparency mode.

But there are two big differences between the QC 45 and the QC 35 II: First, the action button is no longer configurable to work with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. In fact, Bose has completely abandoned these two voice AIs, leaving you with everything built into your phone. If you want the extra power from Amazon or Google, you have to go for the NC 700.

And there are no longer multiple ANC levels. You only get the two modes – ANC and Transparency (more on that later).

I'm torn at the slider power button. On the one hand, you never switch it on accidentally, which is easily possible with the NC 700. On the other hand, you always run the risk of using a mechanical slide switch for a function that is as strained as electricity when it wears out, which probably explains why there are several guides on the internet that show you how to fix a broken power switch Replace QC 35.

The sound is really pleasant and suits all genres except the most bass-heavy genres.

The only thing missing is wear detection – the headphones' ability to tell when they're on your head. The Tour One from JBL has this function, as does the WH-1000XM4 from Sony. Even some very affordable noise-canceling models like that Wyze headphones got it. But Bose hasn't yet given its buyers the option to automatically pause music when they take off their headphones.

Connecting the QC 45 is a breeze, whether in Android or iOS, and it's even easier to use the Bluetooth multipoint capability to connect a second device such as a computer at the same time. Just slide the power button a little further and wait for the message that you are ready to pair with a second device. Wireless stability and range are excellent both indoors and outdoors. Do you have a Bose soundbar or wireless speaker? The QC 45's SimpleSync feature allows you to easily connect them to these other devices.

All current Bose headphone products, such as the NC 700, QuietComfort Earbuds, Bose Sport Earbuds and the new QC 45 use the Bose Music App instead of the Bose Connect App. The Music app gives you the same ability to update firmware, adjust settings, and view important information like remaining battery life, but it's not as full. You will no longer be able to access Bose's Music Share feature, which allows two compatible Bose headsets to share a single stream of audio from a phone, and there will be no “Find My Product” option. These features may not matter to you, but it's still strange that they go away.

Sound quality

Man wears Bose QuietComfort 45 noise-canceling headphones.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

After spending time with many Bose products – speakers, soundbars, headphones, and earbuds – I believe there is a “Bose sound”. At its core, it's a nice balance of frequencies – not quite the "flat" or neutral sound that some audiophiles crave, but close. The bass is never missing in the formula, but neither does it trample its way through the songs like an elephant in combat boots. And at the top end there is that extra boost of energy, a brightness that fluctuates on the verge of sharpness but never makes you flinch. In short, the Bose sound is really enjoyable and suits all genres except the most bass heavy. And the QC 45 embodies the Bose sound.

This is great news if you like the sound of it, but if you don't, the company doesn't understand you very much. There's no way to customize the QC 45's EQ in the Bose Music Companion app, which you can do with the NC 700 and the company's wireless speakers.

Noise cancellation and transparency

Bose QuietComfort 45 noise-canceling headphones.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Bose fans already know how good the company's noise-canceling technology is. This is why so many of them bought previous QuietComfort models. The QC 45 does not set a new standard for ANC, but improves your usability, which is arguably more important. You still get the same pleasant silence as the cans filter out unwanted noise, but now you can toggle between full ANC and full transparency (called by Bose Aware mode) almost instantly using the action button on the left earcup.

Neither ANC nor transparency are quite as good as what you get with the Bose NC 700, and the QC 45 lacks the clever bells and whistles of Sony's WH-1000XM4 like speech recognition (which can automatically activate transparency mode when you start talking) . but that doesn't stop them from being a great range of noise-canceling cans.

Call quality

Compared to the QC35 II, the QC 45 should enable superior voice calls thanks to the integrated fourth microphone. That may be true, but they're still not as good as the NC 700 for phone calls.

External noise is effectively canceled, but the algorithm Bose uses to do this can sometimes interfere with your voice, especially when that external noise becomes particularly loud. When it's quieter, your callers will hear you with perfect clarity. However, whether in quiet or noisy environments, the QC 45 will make it sound like you're two or three feet from the microphone, which is unusual. This doesn't affect clarity, but it does tend to take away the low frequencies from your voice that add warmth and resonance.

If calls are a big factor, choose the NC 700 or JBL Tour One instead, which offer the best call quality of any full-size headphone I've tested.

Battery life

Bose headphones have never broken records in battery life, but the QC 45 outperforms both the QC 35 II and the newer NC 700 with 24 hours of continuous use (versus 20 hours). A very good quick charge will give you three hours more if you charge the headphones for 15 minutes.

The remaining battery life is announced when you turn it on, which is especially important if you are about to make a long Zoom call and are unsure whether the battery will last. You can also keep an eye on the battery using the Bose Music app.

Our opinion

The Bose QuietComfort 45 uses a proven formula and makes some much-needed improvements like longer battery life, USB-C charging, and easier / faster control of ANC modes, but some people might be missing the features that Bose left out.

Is there a better alternative?

If you're not stressed about having a MicroUSB charging cable on hand and want to be able to access the Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa through your headphones, you can save a few bucks and still get a great set of ANC headphones with the $ 299 QuietComfort 35 II.

If call quality is high on your list, then you should check out the very good ones JBL Tour One. They're not quite as convenient as the QC 45 and don't work as well with ANC, but they do offer hands-free access to voice assistants. They also have better battery life.

If you can afford it Bose noise canceling headphones 700 have many of the same features that the QC 45 left out, such as voice assistants, variable ANC, EQ controls, and great call quality.

How long will they last?

Bose products are very well built and the QuietComfort 45 is no exception. These cans should be used for many years, and even if the ear pads are worn out, you can easily purchase a replacement set. Since they lack any official water resistance rating, avoid getting them wet. Bose backs its powered products like the QC 45 with a one-year warranty.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. The QC 45s are a worthy, albeit small, upgrade to the legendary QuietComfort headphones from Bose, which make them even better travel and music companions.

Editor's recommendations



06 Oct
Blog

Microsoft Surface Go 3 Review: A Surprisingly Likable Tablet

Microsoft Surface Go 3 is sitting on the table.

Microsoft Surface Go 3

RRP $ 400.00

"The affordable Microsoft Surface Go 3 isn't a performer, but it's still fun."

advantages

  • Excellent workmanship

  • Superior display for a budget device

  • Excellent support for Active Pen

  • Small and light

  • Surprisingly good real world performance

disadvantage

  • Can get expensive

  • Mediocre battery life

  • The keyboard and touchpad are tight

The third generation is usually when Surface products catch on.

The Microsoft Surface Go is the smallest and cheapest Surface you can buy – the Surface Go 2 landed on our lists of the best budget laptops and the best 2-in-1s. It wrinkles the usual premium status of the Surface line and still offers a lot of what makes the Surface so attractive.

I have the high-end configuration of the Surface Go 3 with a 10th Intel Core i3-10100Y CPU. That configuration costs $ 630 with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of solid-state storage (SSD) – not too cheap compared to a budget range that has steadily improved over the years. Although the Surface Go 3 doesn't quite keep its promise of significantly improved performance, it still has its charms.

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Microsoft Surface Go 3 stand.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Especially at its entry-level price of $ 399, the Surface Go 3 is an impressively built tablet. Made of magnesium, it is soft but solid to the touch, showing that it was made with meticulous tolerances. It's far better built than most budget laptops, on par with the Apple iPad for $ 329, while it vastly outperforms the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet for $ 279. In fact, I'd keep the build quality of the Surface Go 3 with the Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable, which starts at over $ 1,000.

For aesthetics, think of a Surface Book 7, only smaller. The Surface Go 3 is the same color and shape, has slightly more rounded but still familiar corners, and shares the oversized bezels of its bigger brother. The stand, which can be used excellently, is similar. It can be folded out from the center back of the case and extends into a comfortable angle for using the (unfortunately) optional Surface Pen. It's a modern device in every way except for the large bezels, which look old-fashioned compared to many current laptops.

Microsoft Surface Go 3 connectivity. a single USB-C port, a 3.5mm audio jack, the Microsoft Surface Connect port for power and connection to a proprietary hub and microSD card readerMark Coppock / Digital Trends

While the Surface Go 3 is a small device, it's not as small as it could have been with smaller bezels. Even so, at 9.65 x 6.9 inches, it's almost identical to the iPad (9.8 x 6.8 inches, with its own large bezels on each end). And the Surface Go 3 has a larger 10.5-inch display compared to the 10.2-inch panel on the iPad. However, at 0.33 inches, it is thicker than the iPad at 0.29 inches. Some of that extra thickness will most likely accommodate the integrated stand. The Surface Go 3 is also slightly heavier than the iPad at 1.2 pounds versus 1.09 pounds.

Connectivity is limited as you can imagine with such a small and thin device. You get a single USB-C port, 3.5mm audio jack, Microsoft Surface Connect port for power, and connection to a proprietary hub and microSD card reader. Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 perform wireless tasks.

power

Microsoft Surface Go 3 tablet mode.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The Surface Go 3 offers an Intel Core i3-10100Y CPU, which is a step up from the 8th generation Core m3-8100Y of the previous generation, but not in this way. It hardly beats its predecessor (we'll get to that in a moment) in objective tests, and yet the Surface Go 3, subjectively, strangely enough, doesn't feel that slow.

I haven't used the Surface Go 2 so I can't directly compare the two, but the Surface Go 3 did well most of the tasks I asked it to do. That surprised me because I expected it to feel a lot slower. If I didn't open too many tabs in Edge or had too many apps running in the background, the Surface Go 3 worked just as well as many other budget laptops I've used.

Sure, some things are slower – it takes an extra split second to view an email, opening Edge with multiple standard tabs suffers from some additional initial loading times, and opening new apps with a full complement of running programs was a bit delayed. But overall, I was impressed with the subjective performance of the Surface Go 3. It's not as fast as an iPad, but then again, a fully functional operating system runs in Windows 11. Speaking of which, the Surface Go 3 is configured in Windows 11 S mode, which limits apps to those available in the Windows Store. To install our test suite, I left S mode, which was trivial.

Surface Go 3 lets you get your work done; just moderate your expectations when it comes to medium to heavy workloads.

Now for these benchmarks. In Geekbench 5, the Surface Go 3 managed a disappointing 920 in single-core mode and 1,704 in multi-core mode. These are some of the slower results in our database, and just ahead of the Surface Go 2's 868 and 1,626. We don't have any comparisons to this particular CPU, but even Chromebooks running the Android Geekbench 5 app with similar processors are twice as fast. In our Handbrake test, which encodes a 420MB video as H.265, the Surface Go 3 took a lethargic 612 seconds, just nine seconds faster than the Surface Go 2. These are the two slowest machines in our database. The next slowest laptop is the Lenovo Yoga C640 with a Core i3-10110U, which took 397 seconds to complete the process.

I ran PCMark 10 and the Surface Go 3 achieved 2,611 points in the Complete test, the lowest score in our database and well below the next lowest. However, we haven't tested many comparable laptops since using this benchmark. Surface Go 3 scores were consistently low, including essentials, productivity, and content creation. The latter result was miserable.

However, as I said, the real world performance is better than these benchmarks suggest. Surface Go 3 lets you get your work done; just moderate your expectations when it comes to medium to heavy workloads.

Geekbench 5 (single / multiple) Handbrake
(Seconds)		 PCMark 10 3DMark time spy
Microsoft Surface Go 3 (Core i3-10100Y) 920/1704 612 2611 320
Microsoft Surface Go 2 (Core m3-8100Y) 868/1626 621 N / A N / A
Lenovo ThinkPad X12 detachable (Core i5-1130G7) 1352/4796 185 4443 926
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 (Core i5-1035G4) 1237/4455 N / A N / A 487
Acer Aspire 5 2021 (Core i3-1115G4) 1215/2544 300 3752 652

The Surface Go 3 uses Intel UHD 615 graphics and is nothing more than a casual gaming system – and by that I mean simple Windows 10 games like Solitaire and the like. It scored a pathetic 320 in the 3DMark Time Spy benchmark, which is one of the lower scores we've seen. I just ran Fortnite to giggle and it was a four frames per second slideshow at 1280p with high graphics.

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Screen / display on Microsoft Surface Go 3.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Microsoft Surface Go 3 in tablet mode with stylus.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

In typical Surface fashion, the Surface Go 3 has a display with a higher aspect ratio of 3: 2, which makes it exceptionally convenient to use as a tablet in portrait mode – it is closer to the size of a sheet of paper compared to 16: 9 displays who are too tall and thin. It's a 10.5-inch display with a resolution of 1,920 x 1,280 that is sharp enough even for someone like me who prefers 4K displays. Thanks to its brightness and high contrast, I enjoyed using a display that produced black text that jumped off the page.

My colorimeter supported me. Put simply, this is an excellent display for a tablet, starting at $ 399. The colors were exactly on the premium laptop average of 75% AdobeRGB and 99% sRGB, which is more than enough for comfortable, productive work, even if it's not as wide as creatives are looking for. And the color accuracy was also very good with a DeltaE of 1.21 (1.0 or less is considered excellent) and was thus above the premium average. The contrast ratio of 1,360: 1 was well above our preferred threshold of 1,000: 1, and the brightness was excellent at 434 nits (again well above our desired value of 300 nits).

The Surface Go 2 had slightly wider colors at 77% AdobeRGB and 100% sRGB, but they were less accurate at 2.21. The brightness was also lower at 342 cd / m² and the contrast ratio was a disappointing 730: 1. Microsoft has improved its game with this display. The much more expensive Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable had fewer colors at 72% and 97% and was a little less accurate at 1.59. It wasn't as bright at 364 nits and its contrast ratio was lower at 940: 1.

I am impressed with the ad. It is objectively superior to many laptops that cost three times as much, and it was a pleasure to use during my test.

Two front-facing speakers provide the sound, and while the volume doesn't get as loud even at full volume, the sound is remarkably clear. The mids and highs are crystal clear and there's even a hint of bass. I was particularly impressed by the dialogues in TV programs and films. You can use these speakers to catch Netflix if you want, as long as you are okay with a medium volume level.

Keyboard and touchpad

Microsoft Surface Go 3 keyboard, trackpad and stylus.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The biggest problem with Microsoft's Type Cover – which applies to all Surface tablets – is that it doesn't come with it. You have two options for the Surface Go 3, the standard $ 100 Type Cover that comes in black, or the Signature Type Cover for $ 130 that is upholstered in (fairly comfortable) Alcantara fabric and in ice Blue, Platinum and Poppy Red is available. My test device came with the Ice Blue Signature Type Cover, which brought the cost to $ 760. I'll go ahead and point out that the Surface Pen isn't included either, and that's another $ 100 – which brings the overall evaluation package to $ 860, which is too high.

The second most important problem with the Type Cover is its size. Of course, given the miniature size of the Surface Go 3, Microsoft couldn't have done anything about it, but the buttons are tiny and there isn't enough space between them. It's a cramped experience that takes some getting used to. I wrote this review with the Surface Go 3 to help familiarize yourself with fast typing on the keyboard, but there is a definite learning curve. Also note that the top row of letter keys is slightly off-center, and very sensitive typists may find this to be another adjustment. There's a decent travel, however, and the key switches are snappy, if a bit noisy, which makes the key presses themselves precise and consistent. The type cover has a bit of bounce, but it's not terrible.

The touchpad is small but has a faint click and thanks to the Microsoft Precision touchpad drivers it is responsive and accurate. I found the size to be an obstacle at times, but the overall experience was acceptable. The touch display is responsive and the Surface Pen supports its 4,096 pressure sensitivity and tilt support. The Surface Go 3 is an excellent note-taking device thanks to its small size and light weight.

An infrared camera and facial recognition provide Windows 10 Hello login support without a password. It was quick and reliable and clicks into place when you open the Type Cover. There's no way to block or turn off the webcam, which is an increasingly common privacy feature.

Webcam on the Microsoft Surface Go 3.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Battery life

The case of the tiny Surface Go 3 houses a 28-watt-hour battery. That's not much, even for a laptop with low-end components and a small display. Even so, I was expecting better battery life than what I saw.

Overall, I have to classify the battery life as mediocre at best.

In our web browsing test, the Surface Go 3 only lasted 5.5 hours, about half of what we prefer in a laptop. That's 40 minutes longer than the Surface Go 2, which is a significant improvement, but the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet lasted 13.7 hours and the iPad can be expected to last around 10 hours. In our video looping test using a local Full HD Avengers trailer, the Surface Go achieved a more robust 11.45 hours. That's close to the Surface Go 2's 11.25 hours and about an hour less than the IdeaPad Duet. It will likely outperform the iPad's longevity and be closer to what other budget laptops achieve.

In PCMark 10 Applications' battery test, probably the best indicator of productivity longevity, the Surface Go 3 lasted about 6.5 hours, which is a low score that suggests you probably won't be working off the laptop for a full day will get out. Most of the machines we tested lasted about twice as long. I also ran the PCMark 10 gaming battery test, which saw the Surface Go 3 last a little over two hours. That's about average, and this test seems to show how hard a laptop works on battery power.

Overall, I have to classify the battery life as mediocre at best. Again, you probably won't go through a full day of work without joining unless you watch videos. The results support the notion that the Surface Go 3 is best suited as a secondary device rather than a primary workhorse.

Our opinion

Screen / display on Microsoft Surface Go 3.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

When I started this review, I expected that I would not like the Microsoft Surface Go 3. The keyboard is small and cramped, the benchmark numbers aren't good, and those two factors taken together give me a bad first impression. That didn't last, however, as I adjusted to the keyboard and the real-world performance of the Surface Go 3 outperformed its benchmark results.

When I finished my test, I really liked the little tablet. It's a great size for casual use anywhere, I've enjoyed handwriting on the Surface Go 3 more than on many larger 2-in-1s, and the performance was good enough that I didn't notice any noticeable slowdowns. Of course, I'm describing casual or mainstream productivity workflows here – nothing demanding at all – and I wouldn't recommend it for anything more than surfing the web, checking email, running Office apps, and streaming media. Don't expect to plug it into an external display and use it as the main device.

However, it is a great device for all of these things. It's a bit pricey at $ 860 when fully configured with the fastest CPU, Type Cover, and Surface Pen – and that's a blow to it. I can't confirm the performance with the Pentium CPU alternative, so I don't know if the saving leads to performance issues. But if you're looking for a device that is easy to carry and convenient to use, then the Surface Go 3 is for you.

Are there alternatives?

The most notable alternative is the Apple iPad – the entry-level model that starts at $ 329. It has a great display, solid performance with iPad OS and millions of (mobile) apps. You can do the same things with it and enjoy faster performance. But you might be missing the full functionality of Windows 11.

You can also go up in size and price and opt for the Surface Pro 8. We're in the process of reviewing this detachable tablet and expect it to be a real step up from the Surface Pro 7. It will be faster and longer-lasting, and will also feature a larger display and keyboard.

Finally, if you're familiar with Chrome OS, you can save some cash and opt for the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet. This tablet offers reliable performance and a nice display, but it's not that well built. And again you have to come to terms with doing without a "real" operating system.

How long it will take?

The Surface Go 3 is exceptionally well made and should last for years. Whether the performance can keep up depends entirely on how Microsoft rates Windows 11, but considering that Windows 10 has never really slowed down, I would expect years of reasonably good performance. There is a one-year warranty that is standard and makes sense in this price range.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. If you want Windows 11 in a smaller tablet that is easy to carry around and can handle your less strenuous workflows, the Surface Go 3 is a great choice.

Editor's recommendations



05 Oct
Blog

Microsoft Surface Pro 8 Review: The iPad Pro’s Worthy Rival

The Surface Pro 8 with the stand extended.

Microsoft Surface Pro 8

RRP $ 1,600.00

"The Surface Pro 8 is by far the best Windows 2-in-1 you can buy."

advantages

  • Gorgeous 120 Hz screen

  • Impressive performance

  • Has two powerful Thunderbolt 4 ports

  • SSD is easily accessible

  • The Surface Slim Pen 2 is exceptional

disadvantage

  • More expensive

  • There is still a lack of mobile apps

For the past 6 years, every version of the Surface Pro has looked almost identical. And while Microsoft is taking its time with its product changes, an update is long overdue, especially for the Surface Pro.

That's exactly what the Surface Pro 8 is – and it couldn't have come at a better time. Pre-installed with the brand new Windows 11, the Surface Pro 8 feels like a device that can rival the iPad Pro. The price hike aside, the Surface Pro 8 is a near-perfect 2-in-1 that is finally a product category that is starting to realize its potential.

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The back of the Surface Pro 8.

If you haven't set up the Surface Pro 8 next to the previous year's model, you may not see the difference at first. It shares the same iconic stand, overall shape, and connects to the Type Cover keyboard in the same way.

However, the Surface Pro 8 is slightly larger and heavier than the Surface Pro 7. It's 0.04 inches thicker by 0.37 inches and 0.22 pounds heavier. This is never good when it comes to a tablet that is meant to be held with one hand.

But there are two legitimate reasons for the larger dimensions. First, the Surface Pro 8 is made from recycled aluminum instead of magnesium. According to Microsoft, this is a more sustainable method and gives the device a higher quality finish. The Surface Pro has always been a rigid device, but I'm sure switching to aluminum will help in that regard too.

The second reason for the bigger size? Well, it has a significantly larger screen. The Surface Pro 8 now has a 13-inch screen, compared to 12.3 inches on the previous model. By trimming the edges of the screen, Microsoft is pushing so much extra screen space into the device without adding too much to the overall dimensions.

On the Surface Pro 8, the keyboard is inclined upwards.

Compared to the iPad Pro, however, the additional size makes the Surface Pro 8 more difficult to use as a tablet. I'm not saying it's a chore to use the Surface Pro 8 as a tablet – far from it. But the 1.5-pound iPad Pro feels more portable in comparison and doesn't put as much strain on your wrist when you hold it with one hand.

The Type Cover, which is still available separately, has also been updated. The biggest change is that the new Surface Slim Pen 2 fits perfectly into the slot above the keyboard. It charges up here and can even be hidden if you lift the keyboard. It's nice to have a permanent place for the pen so as not to (hopefully) lose so much.

Many of these changes were first made in the original Surface Pro X, which launched back in 2018. Inch iPad Pro.

Ports

The two Thunderbolt 4 ports on the Surface Pro 8.

Microsoft doesn't have the best history with ports, but the Surface Pro 8 makes amends. The Surface Pro 8 finally has Thunderbolt 4, which is a first for the Surface Pro line. Thunderbolt 4 means the fastest transfers, the best docking experience, and the ability to connect to powerful external devices. Thunderbolt 4 can also charge and power the device.

The Surface Pro 8 includes two of these ports, along with the Surface Dock magnetic port and a headphone jack.

Unfortunately, all of these ports are on the same side, so you don't have a power port at all on the left. Like all newer Surface Pros, the Surface Pro 8 offers quick access to storage. There is a small panel under the stand that can be accessed via a SIM card eject pin. Accessing your storage doesn't get much easier.

Surface Slim Pen 2 and Type Cover

The original Surface Pen was round and heavy to simulate the feeling of using a real pen. But the Surface Slim Pen, first introduced with the Surface Pro X, is a fantastic alternative. The flat design sits comfortably in the hand and the lighter feel makes it less intimidating. The fact that it has a storage space is the icing on the cake.

But the Surface Slim Pen 2 brings an important update to the mix: haptic feedback. You have to feel something like this yourself to understand it, but the smallest haptic feedback is built into the pen to simulate the feeling of writing on paper. Slide the pen lightly over the glass and you won't notice. But if you press a little harder, you will feel the sensation of artificial friction.

The Type Cover and the Surface Slim Pen 2 are attached to the Surface Pro 8.

It's extremely subtle, but it adds a bit of realism to writing and illustrating. What's more, it's a brilliant idea that gets carried out well.

The new Type Cover looks and feels exactly like the previous model, except with a charging slot for the Surface Slim Pen 2. The keyboard and touchpad remain unchanged, which is good. The full-size keyboard is comfortable and tactile, and features the standard Surface keyboard layout.

The touchpad, on the other hand, feels precise and smooth. I always wish it was a little bigger, but considering it's a keyboard topper, it's surprisingly good.

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The display of the Surface Pro 8.

The display of the Surface Pro 8 is not only bigger, but also faster. The 13-inch panel now comes with a refresh rate of 120 Hz, even though it ships at 60 Hz. But trust me, once you're into the 120hz screen you won't want to go back. While the Surface Pro 8 isn't a gaming device, the faster screen is a quality of life improvement across the board. Animations are smoother, scrolling feels smoother and it even reduces the latency when drawing with the Surface Pen. All new animations in Windows 11 look buttery smooth. It's what the device needs to be competitive with the iPad Pro, but I hope more Windows devices follow suit.

The screen also has a slightly higher resolution of 2880 x 1920. However, it's still 3: 2 and still 267 pixels per inch. The Surface Pro devices have always had sharp screens, and this one is no different.

With a maximum of 409 cd / m², the screen of the Surface Pro 8 is brighter than the previous model. In the new “Vivid” color mode, the device offers better color saturation with 99% sRGB and 79% AdobeRGB. That's not quite as good as the Surface Laptop Studio, but it's fine for the type of device the Surface Pro 8 is intended for.

Across the board, the display feels like the main improvement on the Surface Pro 8 – and since it's a tablet, that's a big deal.

Windows 11 and software

The Start menu appears on Surface Pro 8.

The Surface Pro always had a big hitch: Windows 10. The lack of optimization for touch made the Surface Pro (and all Windows tablets) difficult.

Windows 11 goes a long way towards solving this problem. For the first time, the Surface Pro 8 feels like a usable tablet on its own. While almost everyone should still buy the corresponding Type Cover, I can only use it as a tablet and enjoy the experience. The small, gesture-based keyboard is great for one-finger typing, while grabbing and dragging windows is much easier.

It's still not an operating system designed primarily for the touch, like iPadOS, but Windows 11 has gone a long way in enhancing the tablet experience.

The only missing feature is Android apps which still haven't popped up. That leaves a void in the app ecosystem for mobile apps in which the iPad Pro excels. Even then, the inclusion of Android apps cannot magically fix the app situation for Windows tablets. Until then, the iPad Pro will always be the better tablet, even if the Surface Pro 8 has made significant strides.

Cameras and speakers

The Surface Pro has always had a great video conferencing experience thanks to its great webcam and speakers. Tablets tend to have much better webcams than laptops, and that stays here. The 5 megapixel front camera produces sharp images and smooth videos. Microsoft says it has made some tuning tweaks to keep your face in focus.

But overall, the camera does a fantastic job of smoothing out skin tones and not blurring the background. Your coworkers will thank you for switching from a laptop camera to the Surface Pro 8. Seriously, it's already happened to me.

Though you'll likely never use it, the Surface Pro 8 also includes a 10-megapixel camera on the back that can record 4K video. But again please not.

The Surface Pro 8 combines these cameras with a fantastic set of speakers. Again, tablets tend to excel in audio when compared to laptops, and the Surface Pro 8 continues to demonstrate that trend. It's the same two-watt speakers as in previous models, but now they're physically bigger. I couldn't make a head-to-head comparison, but I can say that watching videos and listening to music on Surface Pro 8 is actually fun. I can't say that about almost every laptop that isn't a MacBook Pro.

Microsoft also highlighted its "volume-dependent EQ" function, which ensures that the sound still has plenty of bass even at lower volumes. The audio has a clarity and fullness that I want laptops to have. But hey, that's just another benefit of a 2-in-1.

power

Despite the name, the Surface Pro 8 is not a real “Pro” device. It doesn't have a separate GPU and the Intel quad-core processor is standard. My configuration came with a Core i7-1185G7, the same chip you use in all sorts of 13-inch laptops and tablets. Still, Microsoft has managed to make some significant changes that will result in improved performance.

The Surface Pro 8 has a new thermal, a system that Microsoft calls "active cooling". With carbon composite heat spreaders and fans, the Surface Pro 8 remains a fairly quiet yet powerful 2-in-1. The fanless configurations are gone, however, which means that all versions of the Surface Pro 8 have the same cooling system.

The result? Well, the multi-core performance and integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics performance were both highlights, with the Surface Pro 8 taking the lead among other convertible 2-in-1 and 13-inch laptops.

This resulted in solid real-world performance in an application like Handbrake, where the Surface Pro 8 is again among the fastest of its size. Calling it the most powerful Windows tablet or 2-in-1 feels right.

Underdog Bench 5
(Single / multiple)		 Cinebench R23 (single / multiple) Handbrake (seconds) PCMark 10 3DMark time spy
Surface Pro 8(Core i7-1185G7) 1296/5041 1287/5431 185 4169 1828
ThinkPad X12 detachable (Core i5-1130G7) 1352/4796 1125/3663 188 4443 926
Dell Latitude 7320 detachable (Core i7-1180G7) 1532/5031 1246/3339 247 4410 1443
Dell XPS 13 (Core i7-1185G7) 1549/5431 1449/4267 204 3859 1589
MSI Summit E13 Flip Evo (Core i7-1185G7) 1352/4891 1360/4392 203 4872 1751

Don't expect to be able to enjoy 4K video editing on the Surface Pro 8, however. The lack of discrete graphics is a problem there. This is where the more powerful Surface Laptop Studio comes in. The performance of the M1 on the iPad Pro also shines here. The graphics performance blows the tiny integrated graphics of the Surface Pro 8 out of the water.

This applies to games as well as to the creation of content. While the Surface Pro 8's discrete graphics are more admirable for what they are, it isn't capable of playing many modern games at high enough frame rates.

Battery life

The status of the battery life of the Surface Pro 8.

Microsoft says the Surface Pro 8 can now last up to 16 hours on a single charge thanks to a larger battery. That is quite a claim. Our lightest battery life test, which repeated a local 1080p video clip until the system crashes, hit 10 hours and 48 minutes. There are many laptops and tablets that lasted longer in this review, despite being the same as the ThinkPad X12 Detachable and the Dell Latitude 7320 Detachable.

I also tested the Surface Pro 8 browsing the web and going through a series of heavy websites until the battery ran out. The Surface Pro 8 lasted for 8.5 hours here. However, if your workflow involves multiple applications, tabs, and media streaming, you can expect the battery to drain by an hour or two, depending on your tasks. That means the Surface Pro 8 is unlikely to last the entire work day without charging.

It also doesn't have the incredible standby longevity that the iPad Pro does.

Still, the Surface Pro 8 is a couple of hours better than the previous configuration. It's an area I'd like to see improvements in, but it's not a big hook for me anymore.

Configurations and price

The Surface Pro 8 isn't just a major change in the design of the line – it changes the pricing scheme too. The Surface Pro 7 started at $ 750 for a basic Core i3 configuration. This wasn't the most powerful option, but it was a cheap way to get premium hardware.

The Core i3 model is gone, and the Core i5 model now starts at $ 1,100. That's $ 200 more expensive than the previous generation and is the equivalent of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro in one fell swoop. Unfortunately, like the iPad Pro, this base model still only contains 128 GB of storage.

Microsoft tends to be among the most expensive manufacturers when it comes to adding storage and RAM. With the Surface Pro 8, Microsoft is priced exactly the same as the iPad Pro's storage options, charging $ 100 for an upgrade to 256 GB or $ 300 for an increase to 512 GB.

The Surface Pro 8 with the Type Cover closed at the top.

From then on, things get wildly expensive and unnecessary. I can't think of any reason why you'd buy the $ 2,600 model with 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage – the Surface Pro 8 just isn't the type of device for this type of configuration. The $ 1,600 model I tested feels overpriced for the amount of storage you get, but the $ 1,200 or $ 1,400 configurations both seem like good options, depending on Your requirements.

And of course the Surface Pro 8 does not come with the Type Cover or the Surface Slim Pen 2. Adding these two accessories will cost you an additional $ 410.

Our opinion

The Surface Pro 8 is by far the best Surface Pro ever made. Its screen is bigger, faster and brighter, its performance is stronger than ever and even the battery life has improved. That alone will move Surface fans to upgrade.

But it's Windows 11 that really makes the Surface Pro 8 a compelling 2-in-1 device – in ways that have never been seen before. All of these changes taken together could eventually lead form factor skeptics to give it a try.

Are there alternatives?

The main competitor, the iPad Pro, is hard to beat. The Surface Pro 8 has the upper hand of running normal x86 Pro applications, but the iPad Pro is a much larger tablet app ecosystem.

The ThinkPad X12 Detachable uses a similar form factor for a cheaper price. If you really want to go cheap, the new Surface Go 3 is the real budget option.

How long it will take?

The Surface Pro 8 should last at least four or five years. Its build quality is exceptional while the features and components are all top notch. Since this is a Windows 11 product (and especially a Surface PC), it ensures that you will continue to receive timely updates in the future. The ability to simply swap out more memory is the icing on the cake.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. It's the most sensible update to the Surface Pro in a long time, and it finally feels like a worthy opponent of the iPad Pro.

Editor's recommendations



05 Oct
Blog

Surface Laptop Studio Review: It’s Weird and Wonderful

The front of the Surface Laptop Studio in Stage mode.

Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio

RRP $ 2,100.00

"The Surface Laptop Studio is finally the Pro-level Surface PC that many have always wanted."

advantages

  • The most powerful Surface PC

  • Gorgeous 120 Hz screen

  • Funny 2-in-1 design

  • Wonderful haptic touchpad

  • Excellent workmanship

disadvantage

  • CPU holds back performance

Surface devices play by their own rules. They shy away from conventions. You're pushing the boundaries.

This sometimes leads to products that prefer form to function, or others that fall completely on their face.

The Surface Laptop Studio could easily have been another of those stumbling blocks. To my delight, Microsoft expertly balances the need for a powerful laptop with the adventurous design that Surface devices are known for. As an alternative to the Dell XPS 15 or MacBook Pro, the Surface Laptop Studio has its strengths and weaknesses. But at face value, it's a winner as a device that offers a completely unique PC experience.

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The back lid of the Surface Laptop Studio.

From a distance, the Surface Laptop Studio looks pretty conventional. It's a silver 14-inch laptop with a Microsoft logo on the lid. Big deal right?

Then your eyes will be drawn to the ventilation slots on the side walls of the laptop. Next you will see the fold in the back of the lid. As you drag the screen forward across the keyboard, you'll realize that this is not an orthodox laptop.

The base of the laptop is cut in half and consists of two parts – one with ports hanging over the side and one with open air vents. It's unlike anything I've seen in a laptop design before.

It's rare to see this amount of airflow in general on a premium laptop like this one. Laptop manufacturers usually prefer a simpler design with less visible openings. The MacBook Pro and Dell XPS 15 are both examples of this philosophy.

A side view of the Surface Laptop Studio.

But the Surface Laptop Studio is allowed to bake and eat its cake. This airflow is a heat technician's dream scenario without affecting the connections or the minimalist design. In fact, the vents are completely hidden from most angles. It also provides a nifty place to magnetically store the Surface Pen (on the front) and could theoretically also be a way to keep the heat away from the palm rests. The cooling is inspired, although the top half of the vents are actually used to vent audio rather than hot air.

This design means that from a full side view, the Surface Laptop Studio appears thicker than it actually is. It's 0.7 inches thick, thicker than both the MacBook Pro and Dell XPS 15. The Surface Laptop Studio is also quite heavy at 4 pounds, though it's only slightly lighter than the XPS 15 and MacBook Pro 16 inches . A laptop with the same screen size as the Razer Blade 14 is both thinner and lighter.

The rounded corners of the Surface Laptop Studio stand out from the crowd, Microsoft goes one step further and also rounds off the corners of the display. This is even different from the other Surface products and combines it directly with Windows 11. For the first time in a long time, Surface hardware and Windows software feel like they go hand in hand.

Stage mode and studio mode

The Surface Laptop Studio from the side, pulled forward in stage mode.

While the Surface Laptop Studio opens and closes like any other laptop, Microsoft couldn't help but incorporate some crazy 2-in-1 modes as well. When open, the lower half of the lid can be pulled forward into "stage mode". It magnetizes on the keyboard deck, so the touchpad remains available for use but the keyboard is covered. This has also been demonstrated with other laptops, such as the leather-bound HP Elite Folio. It bears the greatest resemblance to the Acer ConceptD Ezel laptops, which also had a kind of pull-down "stage mode".

However, implementing it on the Surface Laptop Studio is the best attempt at making this type of hinge work smoothly. Although it often requires the use of two hands, switching the device from one mode to another feels fluid and easy. The magnetic fasteners feel secure and guide the movement of the hinge.

Once you know what's possible, it feels just as natural as other 2-in-1s like the Surface Pro 8 or the iPad Pro. In contrast to the ConceptD Ezel, you shouldn't use the Surface Laptop Studio in the phases between the different modes. That means it's more limited, yes, but it feels more robust.

The Surface Laptop Studio in stage mode.

So what is Stage Mode good for? Well, Microsoft envisions that you spend most of your time illustrating painterly masterpieces using the Surface Pen. That may apply to you, but I am not an artist or a designer. And yet, I've found plenty of cases where the stage mode came in handy. We all know that touchscreens on laptops are not convenient for long periods of time. Reaching up and touching a laptop screen with your index finger is (and always has been) an ergonomic nightmare. Touching the screen with your finger also causes the lid to wobble.

Stage mode fixes both of these problems. The angle is more comfortable for touch operation, whether with the finger or the Surface Pen, and it is much more stable than in laptop mode.

The Surface Laptop Studio was completely shut down in Studio mode.

There is also “Studio Mode” which is a little less useful. The screen can be folded almost flat on the keyboard. Here you only have the touchscreen as the main input. Due to the weight of the device, you are unlikely to use it as a "tablet", so to speak. Because of this, Studio Mode is primarily intended for dedicated time with the Surface Pen, whether you're working in Illustrator or writing notes in Whiteboard while holding it like a clipboard. I admit that artists may appreciate Studio Mode more than I do.

Finally, you can also flip the screen completely so that it faces away from the keyboard. This mode is great for watching movies or playing games with an external controller. One problem with this mode is that the speakers are facing away from you.

The best thing about these modes, however, is how easy it is to ignore them. If all you wanted was a Surface Laptop with an RTX graphics card inside, the Surface Laptop Studio doesn't sacrifice too much to take advantage of its experimental hinge feature.

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The Surface Laptop Studio moved forward in stage mode.

The Surface Laptop Studio has a fabulous display. It's by far the best screen Microsoft has put in a Surface device outside of the Surface Studio All-in-One, regardless of what metric you're testing it with. The 14.4-inch screen (of course) has an aspect ratio of 3: 2 with a resolution of 2400 x 1600. That is 197 pixels per inch (ppi), which is not quite as sharp as the 227 ppi of the MacBook Pro 13 -Inch or the 290 ppi of the 4K Dell XPS 15. Still, the screen feels very sharp for its size.

However, the Surface Laptop Studio has the upper hand against these two laptops with its 120Hz refresh rate. For a long time, refresh rates above 60 Hz were reserved for gaming laptops only, but the Surface Laptop Studio (and Surface Pro 8) are finally bringing the benefits of ultra-smooth animation to the non-gaming world. Once you've spent time on a 120Hz screen, especially in Windows 11, you don't want to go back.

Of course, the Surface Laptop Studio can also use this refresh rate in games, which makes it a more legitimate gaming laptop compared to the Dell XPS 15, Asus Vivobook Pro 16X, MacBook Pro or Acer Swift X.

Once you've spent time on a 120Hz screen, you don't want to go back.

The display of the Surface Laptop Studio also has fantastic picture quality. Apart from the Surface Studio, the Surface Laptop Studio has the brightest screen from Microsoft with a maximum of 443 cd / m². There are lighter screens out there, but it's exactly what Apple currently has in its MacBook Pros and feels very bright even when working outdoors or next to a window.

The color space reaches 100% sRGB and 82% AdobeRGB. It's not perfect like some 4K laptops – the Dell XPS 15 or the HP Specter x360 come to mind. But when combined with the 1.3 Delta-E, this is a display suitable for serious creative work. These results were all achieved in the preset color profile "Vivid". The “sRGB” color mode option has a narrower color space and poorer color accuracy.

Ports

The connections of the Surface Laptop Studio.

Thunderbolt 4 coming to Surface Laptop Studio is a big deal and makes it competitive. The Surface Laptop Studio has two of these USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports on the left. On the right side you'll find a Surface Connect dock and headphone jack.

Despite the quality of these ports, their number is worrying. I'm not going to waste your time lamenting the lack of USB-A and HDMI, but it certainly would have been nice to have another USB-C port and even an SD card slot. It would have been a huge benefit for this laptop audience not to need an adapter to upload content directly from a camera, and that is something that the XPS 15 includes.

Microsoft is following the example of Apple, which only offers two Thunderbolt 4 ports on its M1 MacBook Pro. However, if the rumors about the upcoming 14-inch redesign prove to be true, the decision to cut older ports could be a little on the decline.

Webcam and speakers

The webcam has a resolution of 1080p, which is certainly a step up from the Surface Laptop 4, XPS 15, or other 720p laptops. It's not quite as crisp or smooth as the Surface Pro 8. The Surface Laptop Studio of course also has an IR camera in the top frame

The device uses a quad speaker setup – two under the keyboard and two subwoofers on the sides of the laptop. The result is a nice audio balance that's a solid upgrade over the Surface Laptop 4. But here, too, the powerful, front-facing speakers of the Surface Pro 8 run in circles around these speakers, as do those of the MacBook Pro.

power

The Surface Laptop Studio on a white table.

The promise of a truly "pro" level Surface device has been a long time coming. The Surface Book 3 came close, but it didn't quite have the performance and display quality required by creative professionals.

The Surface Laptop Studio tries to do two things to overcome the performance limitations of the Surface Book 3. First, it uses a slightly more powerful Intel processor than the Surface Book, Surface Pro, or Surface Laptop lines. The Core i7-11370H is a 35 watt instead of 25 watt chip. More power is always a good thing, and it results in improved CPU performance over the Surface Book 3. Improved multi-core performance is the key to improved performance in all kinds of creative and technical tasks is targeted.

However, 8-cores, 45-watt CPUs in laptops like the Dell XPS 15, MacBook Pro 16-inch and many others will always have the upper hand over the Surface Laptop Studio.

Microsoft says it developed its own custom framework for managing the power shared by the CPU and GPU, and insisted that this 35-watt CPU was the best solution. The Surface Laptop Studio's performance is disappointing in many synthetic benchmarks. As expected, laptops like the Dell XPS 15 consistently offer better single-core and multi-core performance.

Underdog Bench 5
(Single / multiple)		 Cinebench R23 (single / multiple) Handbrake (seconds) PCMark 10 Pugetbench Premiere Pro 3DMark time spy
Surface Laptop Studio (Core i7-11370H) 1321/5131 1304/5450 179 5091 417 4266
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4 (Core i7-11800H) 1520/7353 1519/10497 106 6251 432 6691
Dell XPS 15 (Core i7-11800H) 1556/7692 1513/9979 103 6024 509 4540
Acer Swift X (Ryzen 7 5800U) 1287/6663 1437/10135 99 6247 333 4073
Asus Vivobook Pro 16X (Ryzen 9 5900HX) 1544/8299 1486/11478 90 6486 571 4601

The ailing processor is most emphasized in Handbrake, which reveals the CPU performance for a practical test. Without the help of the discrete GPU, which the Surface Laptop Studio uses second to address performance issues, it falls short of the competition in a simple video encoding test, revealing the limitations of the quad-core processor. Surprisingly, the processor performance alone isn't much faster than the Surface Pro 8.

But here, too, Microsoft emphasizes the overall package – real performance that can balance the performance between CPU and GPU. Although it shares a lot in common with Nvidia's Dynamic Boost technology, Microsoft's own framework is homemade here. According to Microsoft, the system dynamically assigns both power (up to 50 watts for the RTX 3050 Ti) and fan speed, making moment-to-moment decisions to manage both the CPU and GPU.

The PugetBench Premiere Pro benchmark is good evidence of this claim as it tests a number of video editing tasks that use both components.

The Surface Laptop Studio certainly does better here than in CPU-related tests and benchmarks. For example, the Dell XPS 15 is 33% faster in multi-core Cinebench performance, but only 15% faster in PugetBench. While the Surface Laptop Studio's CPU is still holding back performance, the system undoubtedly does a good job of balancing the system's power distribution.

In comparison to similar laptops, the performance of the Surface Laptop Studio is in the midfield.

Compared to laptops with a similar mix of components, the Surface Laptop Studio is in the middle of the PugetBench performance. The fastest RTX 3050 Ti content creation laptop I've tested is the Asus Vivobook Pro 16X, which uses a Ryzen 9 5900HX.

Gaming is also a good test of overall performance and power distribution. Unsurprisingly, the Surface Laptop Studio does admirably in more GPU-heavy games and struggles with titles that rely more on CPU power. You can see this in a game like Civilization VI, which is heavily CPU dependent for fast frame rates, especially at lower resolutions and graphics settings. At 1920 x 1200 and medium settings, the Surface Laptop Studio is still fast with 105 frames per second, but clearly behind the Asus Vivobook Pro 16X and Dell XPS 15. This comparison is even out at higher resolutions.

Meanwhile, the Surface Laptop Studio copes well with internal temperatures and does not exceed 82 degrees Celsius for either the CPU or the GPU. The surface temperatures got warm, sometimes even on the right palm rest. It's not as outrageous as the Razer Blade laptops, but you will definitely feel the temperatures rise throughout the device as heavy-duty tasks are performed.

Keyboard and touchpad

To my surprise, there have been very few attempts to recreate the MacBook Pro's Force trackpad on a Windows laptop. Nobody came close. Then the Surface Laptop Studio comes and surpasses it. This is officially my favorite touchpad on any laptop, outperforming the MacBook Pro and the more conventional Surface Laptop 4.

First, the tracking and gesture support is second to none. The glass surface is incredibly smooth, the palm deflection is accurate, and it's big enough. But with the haptic feedback system it is really fun.

A top view of the Surface Laptop Studio keyboard.

According to Microsoft, it uses a similar haptic motor as the Force Trackpad and simulates the feeling of pressing a button. Microsoft's implementation is even more compelling, and the ability to adjust sensitivity is the icing on the cake. I've found the sweet spot to be around 75%, but when you turn it up to the max it almost feels like a physical click to the brain.

Microsoft has performed a similar miracle with its Surface Slim Pen 2, which simulates the feeling of friction through subtle haptic feedback in the stylus. While the Surface Slim Pen 2 didn't come with the Surface Laptop Studio, it's a fantastic supportive peripheral.

The keyboard isn't nearly as adventurous, but it's no less enjoyable. Choosing gray keycaps instead of black is a nice change of pace (and prevents it from looking like a MacBook rip-off.)

Meanwhile, the keystrokes feel similar to the Type Cover of the Surface Pro 8 – precise, with a lot of spring travel and a comfortable floor movement. The size and layout of the keyboard are almost identical to the Surface Pro 8 Type Cover, only the power button has been squeezed into the row of functions. I wouldn't have minded an extended keyboard with bigger keycaps, but I immediately felt comfortable on this keyboard.

Like all Surface devices, the Surface Laptop Studio doesn't include a fingerprint reader, but instead relies on Windows Hello functionality in the IR camera.

Battery life

I was pleasantly surprised at how long the Surface Laptop Studio would last on a single charge. Despite having a high-resolution screen (with a high refresh rate) and discrete RTX graphics, I had no problem using the Surface Laptop Studio away from an electrical outlet for most of a work day.

I tested the battery by browsing a number of websites until the battery ran out. The Surface Laptop Studio lasted over 10.5 hours in this test, which is better than both the Dell XPS 15 (4K OLED) and the Surface Book 3. The Surface Laptop Studio has a strong battery life, but champions like the Asus Vivobook Pro 16X lasted over 16 hours through this same test.

You can get up to 14 hours out of the Surface Laptop Studio for extremely light tasks like our video playback test, which runs a local 1080p clip until the battery runs out. I never quite reached the 18 hours required by Microsoft, but for a laptop of this size and performance, I can't complain.

Configurations and price

Like the Surface Book 3, the Surface Laptop Studio starts at $ 1,600. However, this basic configuration is unlikely to attract many buyers. Although it has 16GB of RAM, it doesn't have a separate graphics card, and with the CPU limitations discussed earlier, the $ 1,600 and $ 1,800 models remain a little underpowered.

As always, Microsoft charges a lot for upgrades. It costs an additional $ 600 to switch from 16GB to 32GB of RAM and 512GB to 1TB of storage. That's $ 200 more than Apple charges for the same upgrades (and $ 100 more than Dell)! That makes the $ 2,100 configuration a solid option, especially since you can upgrade your SSD for more if you really want to. It's actually a few hundred dollars cheaper than the Surface Book 3 in the high-end options.

And don't forget – the Acer Swift X is $ 1,000 cheaper than the Surface Laptop Studio, despite having very similar components.

When storage and storage are balanced, the Surface Laptop Studio is $ 500 more expensive than the M1 13-inch MacBook Pro. The Surface Laptop Studio is over $ 500 cheaper than the Intel-powered MacBook Pro, of course, but it's soon to be replaced.

Our opinion

The Surface Laptop Studio isn't perfect – its weakened quad-core processor is a problem. If you need that power more than anything, there are more powerful options out there.

You need to get into the overall vision of the product for the Surface Laptop Studio to be worth the price. The various 2-in-1 modes, integration with the Surface Slim Pen 2, the haptic feedback touchpad, and the gorgeous 120Hz screen are all things that set the Surface Laptop Studio apart from any other laptop you have right now able to buy.

Are there alternatives?

The Razer Blade 14 matches (or surpasses) much of what the Surface Laptop Studio does in terms of performance, size, and premium feel. It doesn't have the pull-forward hinge or stylus support, of course, but the option for an RTX 3080 and the eight-core Ryzen 9 5900HX make it a more powerful laptop.

Much is unknown about the upcoming M1X MacBook Pro 14-inch, although it will certainly be the main competitor of the Surface Laptop Studio when it launches later this year.

The Dell XPS 15 is also a good alternative. You can't directly compare it to the Surface Laptop Studio due to its different screen, but both laptops can be configured with the RTX 3050 Ti and are similarly powerful creative laptops.

How long it will take?

The Surface Laptop Studio should last for many years – hopefully up to five or six. The processor and graphics card will no doubt feel old after a few years, but the ability to upgrade the memory yourself – up to 2TB – helps

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. The Surface Laptop Studio offers a one-of-a-kind 2-in-1 laptop that you won't get anywhere else.

Editor's recommendations



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