22 Jul
Blog

OnePlus Nord 2 5G Review: Just Call It the OnePlus 9 Lite

OnePlus Nord 2 from behind, held in the hand.

OnePlus Nord 2 5G Review: Just Call It OnePlus 9 Lite

“The OnePlus Nord 2 offers everything we like about OnePlus phones, from fast charging and a great screen to a practical alert slider at an affordable price. It also looks stunning in the Blue Haze color. "

advantages

  • Compact design with nice color

  • Very attractive screen

  • Reliable software with guaranteed updates

The OnePlus Nord 2 is a particularly important new smartphone as it was the first time that OnePlus released a phone without a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip inside. The Nord 2 uses a modified version of MediaTek's flagship Dimensity 1200 chip and is arguably the company's best-known partnership to date, at least outside of Asia. While OnePlus is obviously looking for success, MediaTek will also be looking closely.

Plus, it's a big moment for the Nord series. The original Nord managed to bring OnePlus back to its value-based roots, but lacked identity. OnePlus gave the Nord 2 identity, but oddly enough, by doing so it accidentally created another OnePlus 9 phone, which makes me question what the Nord range is about.

So there is a lot to drive on the Nord 2 so how is it? I spent four days on the phone, enough time for a detailed pre-evaluation but not quite enough for a final, in-depth review. I will be returning to this review after a long time with the Nord 2 and so the score given at this point may change depending on how the phone continues to work.

design

Let's come to the color of our test model. It's called Blue Haze and it's absolutely stunning. OnePlus usually gets its colors right, but this may be for the best. The aquamarine hue has a glossy finish but does not attract fingerprints, and the Gorilla Glass 5 panel is very effective in hiding stains. It stays clean and sharp.

The OnePlus Nord 2 held in the hand, seen from the rear.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The camera module uses the same hue, but reflects the light differently because it is not made of glass, and gives the back of the Nord 2 a lot of character. The glass even manages to hide the ugly legal text that has to be stamped on the back. I think the Nord 2 looks amazing and I like how it blends in with the design of the OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro so that it feels like part of the family.

Another important family feature is the Alert Slider on the side of the Nord 2, which allows you to quickly switch between Silent, Vibrate and Ring modes. It's quick and convenient, and it's a feature that sets OnePlus apart from other brands. The presence of the slider and pretty design make it look and work like a real OnePlus phone, which I think wasn't the case with the OnePlus Nord CE.

The screen of the OnePlus Nord 2.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The construction – a fiberglass frame with a “metallized” surface – and the size are essentially the same as the first OnePlus Nord, with a width of 73 mm and a thickness of 8.2 mm, which makes the phone easy to use and one-handed is to use. It feels solid and solid, and the modest weight of 189 grams ensures that it fits in your pocket without disturbing.

There's no water resistance rating, but I vouch for the Nord 2's durability. It's quite slippery, and the first day the phone slipped out of my pocket and crashed on the cobblestones. It survived with only the slightest mark in the upper right corner of the chassis. The glass back and the screen are fine. I may have been lucky so a case is advisable if you're prone to dropping slippery phones.

The OnePlus Nord 2 and the OnePlus 9 Pro.OnePlus 9 Pro (left) and OnePlus Nord 2 (right) Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

I found the first Nord a little faceless, but OnePlus changed that for the Nord 2 and effectively turned it into a OnePlus 9 Lite. That's not a bad thing, and really, it's the name that would go better with the Nord 2. Leaving the Nord name on cheaper models like the Nord CE that lacks vital OnePlus elements could be a better strategy.

Aside from the confusing branding, the Nord 2 is well proportioned, well made and – if you can get one in Blue Haze – an absolute beauty too.

Screen and software

It's a 6.43 inch, 20: 9 aspect ratio, liquid AMOLED screen on the Nord 2, complete with a refresh rate of 90 Hz and a resolution of 2400 x 1080. It doesn't seem to have HDR10 + certification like the Nord, however it has two artificial intelligence (AI) modes called AI Color Boost and AI Resolution Boost. However, these only work with certain apps. Both cooperate with YouTube, but otherwise AI Color Boost only works with MX Player Pro and VLC, while AI Resolution Boost works with Snapchat and Instagram.

The Nord 2's screen is beautiful and its resemblance to the 9 Pro makes the phone very desirable.

The screen is brighter and more vibrant than the Nord CE's screen, and there is surprisingly little to split between it and the OnePlus 9 Pro when watching video. The AI ​​Color Boost increases the saturation and thus goes beyond the 9 Pro. Turn it off, and it's not quite as noticeable. The AI ​​Resolution Boost is less noticeable since so much YouTube content is already available over 1080p.

When I'm not watching video, the Nord 2's screen isn't as bright as I'd like it to be, but it is still legible outdoors in sunlight. Other than that, the Nord 2's screen is beautiful and its resemblance to the 9 Pro makes the phone very desirable. The sound comes from stereo speakers that are amazingly loud but not very sophisticated. I had no desire and actually no need to take it over about 40% volume.

OnePlus' Oxygen OS user interface version 11.3 is installed and based on Android 11. It is largely the same as the OnePlus 9 Pro, but there are some strange differences in the settings. For example, on the OnePlus 9 Pro you can change the environment display, icons and font in the customization menu, while on the Nord 2 you can do this in the customization menu. Performance is great so far, with smooth scrolling through apps and menus.

My test phone received a software update since I started using it, and I'm still in the process of evaluating the software and its day-to-day reliability.

camera

The Nord CE's camera was inconsistent and the first Nord's camera suffered from poor performance. The Nord 2's camera improves the specification with both a 50 megapixel main camera with optical image stabilization (OIS) and an 8 MP wide-angle camera with electronic image stabilization (EIS). A 2-megapixel monochrome camera completes the rear setup, along with a 32-megapixel selfie camera, also with EIS.

The camera module of the OnePlus Nord 2.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

So far I have only taken about 100 photos with the Nord 2, so we have yet to get deeper insights. However, at this point it is obvious that the Nord 2 is an improvement over the Nord and Nord CE, but since OnePlus always takes a while to really improve the performance of its cameras, there are still a few issues but updates are likely to arrive to speak to you.

The focus, color management and dynamic range of the Nord 2 are usually very good. Shooting outdoors on sunny days can result in a slight oversaturation, while edge enhancement and processing can be harsh and noticeable. There are differences in exposure between the main and wide-angle cameras, but it's not drastic. OnePlus annoyingly adds quick access in the camera app to 2x and 5x zoom, but these are digital zoom modes and the quality really suffers. It is worth mentioning the selfie camera which has a nice natural tone with lots of detail.

So far, the Nord's camera has taken some great shots that are very easy to share without editing, but it has also disappointed with its aggressive processing. The camera performance has not yet been included in the evaluation. It's also worth noting that unlike the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro, the camera was not edited by Hasselblad.

The focus, color management and dynamic range of the Nord 2 are usually very good.

Performance and battery life

The MediaTek Dimensity 1200 that OnePlus uses for the Nord 2 is the first to emerge from MediaTek's Dimensity Open Resource Architecture (adorably known as DORA) initiative, which allows the phone maker to tweak the chip to do better with the hardware to work. You have the choice between 6 GB, 8 GB or 12 GB RAM and 128 GB or 256 GB storage space. My test phone is the 12GB / 256GB version.

The alarm slider of the OnePlus Nord 2.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

During the time I've been using the Nord 2, a software update has improved the phone's performance and reliability, which was a bit shaky at first. Nothing bad – notification support was a hit-or-miss and some apps were slow – but the issues seem to be resolved now. I've played Asphalt 9: Legends and haven't noticed any slowdowns or issues affecting gameplay. However, it gets a little warm after about an hour.

I have not yet put the Dimensity 1200 through its paces, but it has not yet made itself known for everyday use. This may sound like a disadvantage, but it isn't. Good processors just do their job and we shouldn't even notice them. You can quickly find out if a phone has a badly configured chip. For the Dimensity 1200 it currently looks positive.

However, it gets a little warm after about an hour.

Battery life so far suggests two days of moderate use is possible, but if you're playing a game, watching videos, and making video calls, it will likely drop to 30% by the end of the first day. The super-fast Warp Charge 65T charger from OnePlus brings the 4,500 mAh cell from flat to 100% in less than half an hour. This is the same system used on the OnePlus 9 Pro and an evolution of the Warp Charge 30T used on the Nord CE.

The alarm slider of the OnePlus Nord 2.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

I haven't tested the 5G connection yet, but it's good to see that both slots in the dual SIM tray support it. The under-screen fingerprint sensor is fast and reliable, but not as lightning-fast as the sensor on the OnePlus 9 Pro. There's Face Unlock too, and it's very quick to respond.

Price and availability

The OnePlus Nord 2 will hit the UK, Europe and India on July 29th. There are currently no indications of a US launch. It will cost £ 399 and will be sold through OnePlus' own online store, Amazon, John Lewis retail stores, and the Three and O2 networks.

Our opinion

The OnePlus Nord 2 is either at the top of the Nord range or at the end of the OnePlus 9 range, which isn't a bad position. It takes a lot of what I like about the OnePlus 9 models – nice design, great screen, good performance and software, very fast charging and the alert slider – then it charges less for it.

It's a great start. I have to use the camera even more, assess the battery life, try the MediaTek powered 5G connection, and use the phone longer before I can make a final judgment, but for now the Nord 2 has impressed. However, I can't help but think that OnePlus would sell more if it were called the OnePlus 9 Lite.

Is there a better alternative?

For a smartphone priced at $ 500 or £ 400, we recommend the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G. It has a few advantages over the Nord 2 with water resistance, two day battery life, a microSD card slot, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. It's similarly powerful and has a great screen with a refresh rate of 120 Hz.

Alternatively, the Apple iPhone SE (2020) and Google Pixel 4a both cost roughly the same price and offer something different. The iPhone SE is much smaller but still offers a great iOS experience, while the Pixel 4a has an excellent camera.

How long it will take?

OnePlus promises two years of version updates for the Nord 2 plus four years of security updates. For comparison: Samsung also offers four years of security updates plus three years of Android version updates for the Galaxy A52 5G. The phone is not waterproof and is made of glass but has proven to be quite durable in my anecdotal experience. It has 5G so you can connect to the newest and fastest network and quickly charge the battery. It should easily survive the version updates that are guaranteed for two years.

Should you buy it?

At the moment, the OnePlus Nord 2 5G can't quite beat the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G, but that may change if I've been using the phone for a longer period of time. The number of points received by the phone at the moment is not final and is subject to change. Look out for a review update very soon.

Editor's recommendations



22 Jul
Blog

Casio G-Shock GBD-200 Review: Perfectly Balanced

Casio G-Shock GBD-200 on the wrist, with hand in a pocket.

Casio G-Shock GBD-200 in the test: A perfectly balanced hybrid smartwatch

RRP $ 149.00

“The GBD-200 is a real hybrid smartwatch that protects the technology and goes overboard with a long service life. In combination with a slim case, a comfortable bracelet and without a battery for charging, it is ideal for all-day everyday life. "

advantages

  • All day comfort

  • Reliable, informative notifications

  • Very durable

disadvantage

  • Basic fitness tracking only

Casio has been making connected G-Shock watches with basic fitness tracking under the sporting nickname G-Squad for a while, and has been experimenting with smarter versions over the past year, complete with a permanent phone connection to enable notification assistance, and more recently, too a full Wear OS smartwatch. The new GBD-200 combines fitness tracking and permanent Bluetooth connection into a fully digital G-Shock hybrid smartwatch.

It's not the first G-Shock with this functionality, but it's the first to pack it all into a modest square case. It's a critical change and has been expertly combined with just the right amount of technology. We think this is how hybrid smartwatches should be, and here's why it works.

design

Casio has already added fitness tracking and full Bluetooth connectivity to several watches. Both the older GBD-100 and newer GBD-H1000 G Shock watches incorporate the functionality, but the design of both means they're not ideal for all-day everyday life. That's a problem because smartwatches, whether hybrid or full-touchscreen, offer the most benefits when you wear them all day.

The Casio G-Shock GBD-200 display.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The GBD-200 really is the first connected G-Shock you'll wear all day regardless of your wrist size. It is 58 grams and 15 mm thick, and for comparison: The 44 mm Apple Watch Series 6 weighs 36 grams without the strap and is 10.7 mm thick. It's modest in size for a G-Shock, won't stick to the cuff, can be worn snugly with no discomfort, and looks great in most situations. It's not too sporty and the different time slot options allow for a degree of personalization.

The square case is made of resin and is attached to a very soft and flexible urethane strap, complete with wrist guards attached to the eyelets to keep the watch centered on the wrist. The combination of all of these aspects makes the GBD-200 very portable indeed. I've been wearing it every day for over a week now and never once felt the need to take it off because it was annoying or too hot.

The case back of the Casio G-Shock GBD-200.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Casio is known for its square watch models, but the GBD-200 has adopted a design all of its own. The resin case has a central slot that runs around the side to highlight the color of the inner resin section, the start button is identified by its red stripe, and the light button has a light texture. Of course, it is shockproof and has a water resistance of 200 meters. Durability like this is important. The watch took some bumps and got pretty grubby while doing gardening so I washed it under the tap and now it looks like new.

I washed it off under running water and now it looks like new

I have a 6.5 inch wrist and the GBD-200 sits perfectly on it, at least to my eyes. It's not clumsy or weirdly large, and the square case means it fits a lot more wrist sizes than the GBA-900 or H1000 watches. People with narrower wrists might not appreciate the chunky look of the black GBD-200, but if you're used to large watches and can get past the design (alternative colors are available) then it's by far G-Shocks' best option current range of fitness watches and the bracelet is highly adjustable.

Casio G-Shock GBD-200 on the wrist.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The stealth black version seen here is complemented by a bright yellow model in the US, while a cool blue model is available in some other regions.

Screen and software

The GBD-200 does not have a touchscreen and you only interact with it using the buttons on the housing. There are a total of five, with the side buttons controlling the software and the front button for activating the backlight. All of them are easy to find but require a bit of force to push. However, this means that you don't accidentally do it.

As with most G-Shock watches, it takes a while to get used to using the watch as it doesn't always feel natural, especially if you are used to touch screens or no watch at all. The mode button scrolls through the menu and displays the interval training screen, stopwatch, activity data, and the notification window. A long press on the Adjust button opens a diverse settings menu, while a short press changes the layout of the main time display.

Casio G-Shock GBD-200 buttons.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The screen has a "negative" appearance, which means that it has a black background and gray color for text and numbers. It's small compared to smartwatches and there is no brightness adjustment. The size means it's not always easy to see notification details at a glance, especially if your eyesight isn't absolutely perfect like me. However, it's clear and legible even in sunlight, and if you're still having problems with the size, one of the alternative time layouts has very large numbers, making it easier to see.

I tested the watch connected to an iPhone 12 Pro which requires G-Shock's Move app to be installed. Notifications were very reliable, but don't expect them to be as eye-catching or actionable as they are on a touchscreen smartwatch. A notification consists of two stages. You will get a little warning showing the app and a few words of the message, which is enough to get an idea of ​​whether or not it requires your attention. To see more you will need to navigate through the menu to the notification page and then select the message you want to view in more detail.

It takes a lot of keystrokes to get to this point, and even more so to scroll through a single message, due to the screen's ability to display text alone, but you can see almost all of the information. You can't reply to or interact with messages on the watch, but it warns you of text messages and calls along with app messages. By default, the watch beeps when a message comes in, but it's pretty loud and irritating. It can be switched off in the menu or replaced by a vibration strong enough to be noticeable on the wrist.

It was really great to wear a G-Shock watch that shows notifications as well

The GBD-200 doesn't offer the same level of interaction or smartphone syncing as an Apple Watch or other full touchscreen smartwatch, but it is enough to be helpful. It was really great to wear a G-Shock watch that also shows notifications as it is exactly what you get from a fitness band, including a phone finder, without compromising on style.

Fitness tracking

While notifications and smartphone support come close to that of a simple fitness band, fitness tracking focuses on walking and running, and there are no options to track specific workouts or activities like golf, swimming, or yoga. Starting a run is as simple as pressing the Start button and the display will then show the elapsed time, distance and pace. Press the same button again to stop tracking.

That's it, apart from interval workout tracking. This requires some settings, but only needs to be done once. It can save up to 20 different intervals for a single workout and the time can be set individually for each phase. It's a shame that this can't be set up in the G-Shock Move app as it's lengthy on the watch. It's also easy to make a mistake, and since the operating system isn't very fast, the trial-and-error aspect can be frustrating.

The main screen of the G-Shock Move app.

Main screen of the G-Shock Move app Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

casio g shock gbd 200 Review Move App Log

G-Shock Move app activity log Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Activity screen of the Casio G-Shock GBD-200.

Activity screen Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The data is synced in the app when you open it. The Move app is highly customizable, right down to the order information is displayed on the screen. The number of steps can be viewed on the watch face or in the app, where you also get a breakdown of your workout with calories burned and distance. I really like the watch face, which shows the progress towards your goal for each day of the week, which helps you better understand your daily activities. The watch has neither a heart rate monitor nor its own GPS, but it can take data from your phone or another device. It's also linked to Apple Health, Google Fit, and Strava.

Combined with a smartwatch or a fitness band, fitness tracking on the GBD-200 is simple and not very informative. The accuracy is good and the watch matches the step count and distance tracked by other wearables. Whether the functionality is sufficient depends on your own needs. If you want a daily step count and a way to track a walk or run just to monitor your personal level of activity, this is perfectly acceptable. However, if you want deeper analysis, including data from a heart rate monitor, sleep tracking, or multiple exercise modes, this is not the watch for you.

Battery and charging

This will be a short section, as befits any hybrid smartwatch. The GBD-200 uses a single internal battery, which Casio says should last about a year before needing to be replaced if you use the Bluetooth connection all the time and record an hour of activity every day. Use it less and the lifespan can be up to two years.

The Casio G-Shock GBD-200 red and gray buttons.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The Casio G-Shock GBD-200 gray keys.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The strap of the Casio G-Shock GBD-200.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Not having to charge the battery is a huge benefit. The need for regular charging has become commonplace even with hybrid smartwatches as they become more technically complex. Casio balances just enough fitness tracking and smartwatch functionality with really long battery life. Yes, it would have been great to see solar charge on the GBD-200, but that would affect the price.

Price and availability

The GBD-200 is priced at $ 149, or £ 139. It will be available in both the US and the UK through G-Shock's online store and boutique retail stores.

Our opinion

The G-Shock GBD-200 is exactly what a hybrid smartwatch should be. It looks just like a regular watch – in this case a distinctive and desirable square G-Shock – and since it was made by a skilled watchmaker with decades of experience, the convenience is spot on. It has basic smartwatch connectivity, but manages to fit in reliable and informative notifications, as well as decent fitness tracking, assuming you don't want anything too in-depth. It does all of this without the need to charge the battery, so it wears out completely.

You pay less for it than most full-touchscreen smartwatches, and the price is similar to its closest competitor, the Skagen Jorn Hybrid HR. I find it better looking, however, and it's certainly more watch-like than the Jorn, which leans more towards a full smartwatch. This is where Casio actually succeeds. Many companies have gone beyond the traditional hybrid smartwatch and got carried away with adding technology with limited utility. The GBD-200 doesn't do that, and that's all the better.

Instead, the GBD-200 remembers that it is a G-Shock watch, so it's very sturdy and has a long-lasting battery, and sensibly avoids the size-related drawbacks of its other newer hybrid models, and doesn't try much on the either technical side. It is enough for anyone who is not an athlete or a hardcore fitness fan and does not want a touchscreen watch to be charged every day. It creates the right balance between design and technology and makes it a real hybrid smartwatch.

Is there a better alternative?

There isn't necessarily a better alternative, but what if you want more tech and fitness tracking capabilities? In that case, you have the option of Casio's hybrid connected G-Shock, the more expensive 400-GBD-H1000 with solar power and a bigger screen, plus a heart rate monitor and GPS. However, it is a much larger and heavier watch and needs to be charged externally if you use the GPS regularly.

The $ 195 Skagen Jorn Hybrid HR, along with Fossil's other Hybrid HR watch models, also features a heart rate monitor, as well as a clever e-ink screen for showing notifications and other information. They're a step up from the GBD-200 in terms of fitness tracking, but battery life is around a week. What if you want a full touchscreen smartwatch or a fitness band with more activity tracking without spending more than $ 150? The Amazfit GTR 2e is our recommendation, or you can spend around $ 60 or less and get the Honor Band 6, Xiaomi Mi Band 6, or Samsung Galaxy Fit 2 fitness band.

How long it will take?

The GBD-200 meets the usual G-Shock hardness standards, so it is shock and vibration resistant and waterproof up to 200 meters. The resin body is very durable and the urethane tape is very securely attached to the case, besides, it is strong and flexible. The battery can either be replaced yourself if you have the tools and knowledge to ensure its water resistance, or by taking the watch to a professional. The G-Shock GBD-200 will last for years without any problems, even if you don't treat it very well.

Should you buy it?

Yes. It's a very durable, very distinctive designed Hybrid G-Shock watch with just the right amount of activity tracking and smartwatch functionality.

Editor's recommendations



22 Jul
Blog

The Misunderstood Art of Mini-Cutting for More Muscle

How to grow taller and stay slim with strategic mini-cutting.

A mini cut is an essential tool in your tool kit for building muscle. Unfortunately, it is often misunderstood or used recklessly. Used strategically, mini-cuts are one of the best ways to help you build the bigger, leaner body you want.

A properly executed mini-cut is like robbing the fat bank.

Continue reading

22 Jul
Blog

Dell Latitude 7320 Detachable Review: The Business Tablet

Dell Latitude 7320 detachable 2

Dell Latitude 7320 detachable

RRP $ 2,189.00

"The Dell Latitude 7320 Detachable is the best Windows tablet for business users."

advantages

  • Solid build quality

  • Very good presentation

  • Competent productivity performance

  • Thin and light

  • Good range of business features

disadvantage

  • Expensive

  • The keyboard and pen are expensive add-ons

  • Below average battery life

Windows tablets are making a comeback in the business world. Microsoft released its Surface Pro 7+ for business users, and Lenovo released the ThinkPad X12 Detachable. The Lenovo is an especially strong competitor that makes it onto our list of the best 2-in-1s. Now Dell has jumped into the race with the Latitude 7320 Detachable, another business-centric laptop that aims to meet the needs of corporate users.

Dell sent me a $ 2,189 (retail price) $ 3,127 configuration with an 11th Generation Intel Core i7-1180G7 CPU with vPro support, 16 GB of RAM, a 256 GB PCIe Solid State Drive (SSD) , a 13-inch IPS FHD + (1920.). x 1280) 3: 2 display and the optional keyboard and pen. The detachable tablet has a very special shape developed by the Surface Pro, and the Latitude 7320 Detachable follows that format exactly. Is it enough to stand out in an increasingly dense field?

design

Dell Latitude 7320 detachableMark Coppock / Digital Trends

The Latitude 7320 Detachable and Surface Pro 7+ don't look exactly the same. They are similar, but Dell's aluminum case is more rounded at the edges than Microsoft's magnesium case. It's a darker gray color compared to Microsoft's lighter silver, and the bezels are smaller on the sides – a big plus. There is more resemblance to the Surface Pro X, which is also more rounded and has smaller margins. The Latitude 7320 Detachable is an attractive device, albeit a rather conservative design, with few decorations other than the Dell and Latitude logos on the back of the case.

The tablets from Dell and Microsoft have the same type of stand that opens along the back and expands to similar angles, and their detachable keyboards are almost identical (more on that later). I would like to note here that the stand of the Latitude 7320 Detachable opens further down and is not as stable as the Surface Pro 7+ the more upright you position the tablet. Lenovo's ThinkPad X12 Detachable also has a similar design, although it uses the iconic ThinkPad look and feel, with a soft-touch finish compared to the cold metal of the other two and an all-black aesthetic. Interestingly, the Lenovo is more similar to the Surface Pro 7+ on the sides, and its stand is also better positioned for a more solid feel.

Each of the tablets are remarkably similar in size, with the Latitude 7320 Detachable being 0.33 inches thick and 1.7 pounds (tablet only) compared to the Surface Pro 7+ at 0.33 inches and 1.7 pounds and the ThinkPad X12 Detachable at 0.34 inches and 1.67 pounds. Thanks to the slightly larger 13-inch 3: 2 display (compared to the 12.3-inch 3: 2 displays on Microsoft and Lenovo tablets), the Latitude 7320 Detachable is slightly taller. However, these are all very light and good-sized tablets, so none of them have an advantage here.

In terms of durability, the Latitude 7320 Detachable feels almost as sturdy as its competition, which says a lot. Both the Surface Pro 7+ and the ThinkPad X12 Detachable are rock-solid devices, and the Dell is following suit – for the most part. The only difference is in the stand. Again, the Dell version is inferior to the other two. It just doesn't feel as good as the others, and as we mentioned earlier, the tablet doesn't feel as stable at a certain vertical point.

A profile picture of the Dell Latitude 7320 Detachable with a charging port and power switches. Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Connectivity is limited to a USB-C port with Thunderbolt 4 support on each side of the tablet and a 3.5mm audio jack on the top left. If you opt for the optional WWAN LTE 4 support, you will also find a micro-SIM slot on the right-hand side. Wireless connectivity is Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1.

performance

Dell equipped the Latitude 7320 Detachable with low-power versions of Intel's 11th generation Core processors, and my test device was configured with the Core i7-1180G7 with vPro. This is the first laptop we tested with this specific CPU, despite testing slower versions. I expected the same performance from the Latitude 7320 Detachable; H. solid productivity performance, but not enough performance for CPU-intensive creative apps.

Unsurprisingly, that's exactly what I experienced. In Geekbench 5, for example, Dell performed a little slower than the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano with a Core i7-1160G7, but faster than the ThinkPad X12 Detachable with a Core i5-1130G7. The HP Specter x360 14 was slower, but I am reporting its performance in "Optimal" mode rather than "Performance" mode as set in the HP Command Center utility. This laptop is much faster in performance mode. Speaking of thermal and power management utilities, the Latitude 7320 Detachable uses the Dell Power Manager utility, but it made little difference in our benchmarks.

Dell Latitude 7320 Detachable Screen 2Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

In our Handbrake test, which encodes a 420 MB video as H.265, the Latitude 7320 Detachable came last in our comparison group. Four minutes is pretty long for modern CPUs in this test, and while the Specter x360 14 was also slow, it was significantly faster in performance mode. Next up is Cinebench R23, where Dell again came last. It's clear the tablet has to throttle the CPU to keep things cool in such a thin case. Note that I only added the Asus ZenBook 13 OLED to show how these slower Intel Core machines compare to AMD's contemporary Ryzen chips.

Finally, I ran the PCMark 10 Complete test which, as you can imagine, lagged the Latitude 7320 Detachable. These results were transferred to the Essentials, Productivity and Content Creation areas of the benchmark, with the latter being particularly slow. Interestingly, the Dell Power Manager utility made a bigger difference in this review than any other utility I've used. The difference wasn't significant, but the Latitude 7320 Detachable was faster than the ThinkPad X12 Detachable and ThinkPad X1 Nano in performance mode.

Overall, as I suspected, the Latitude 7320 Detachable is really quick for productivity tasks, which we can say for every modern laptop we've tested. You won't notice any slowdowns or delays while running your web browser, Office apps, and the like, but try to do anything that is CPU intensive and you will be disappointed. The tablet stayed cool even to the touch, with quiet and inconspicuous fans that revved up during hard work. We tested the Surface Pro 7 long before we switched our benchmark tests, so I can't make a direct comparison. The Surface Pro 7+ uses 11th Gen Intel Core CPUs at full speed and is therefore likely faster than the Dell.

Geekbench (single / multiple) Handbrake (seconds) Cinebench R23 (single / multiple) PCMark 10 3DMark time spy
Dell Latitude 7320 detachable
(Core i7-1180G7)		 1532/5031 247 1246/3339 4410 1443
Lenovo ThinkPad X12 detachable (Core i5-1130G7) 1352/4796 185 1125/3663 4443 926
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano
(Core i7-1160G7)		 1466/5139 180 1377/4550 4600 1549
HP Specter x360 14
(Core i7-1165G7)		 1214/4117 236 1389/3941 4728 1457
Asus ZenBook 13 OLED
(AMD-Ryzen7 5800U)		 1423/6758 124 1171/7824 6034 1342

I ran Fortnite on the Latitude 7320 Detachable to see how well the tablet can play, and in short, it can't. It only managed 14 frames per second (fps) with 1080p and high graphics and 8 fps with epic graphics. This is similar to the ThinkPad X12 Detachable and is to be expected for a tablet that is thermally limited and runs a GPU with low power consumption.

Display and audio

Dell Latitude 7320 Detachable ScreenMark Coppock / Digital Trends

Like the Surface Pro X, the Latitude 7320 Detachable has a 13-inch 3: 2 display that's slightly larger than the 12.3-inch displays on the Surface Pro 7+ and the ThinkPad X12 ThinkPad. It runs at 1920 x 1280 (like the ThinkPad), which is a lower resolution than the Surface Pro X'2 at 2880 x 1920 and the Surface Pro 7+ at 2736 x 1824. If you're a pixel peeper you might notice the difference, but I imagine most people will be happy with the resolution.

Fortunately, according to my colorimeter, Dell chose a nice panel for the Latitude 7320 Detachable. First, it's very bright at 397 nits, well above our threshold of 300 nits, which is compared to the ThinkPad with 364 nits and the Surface Pro 7 with 377 nits – we haven't tested the Surface Pro 7+ yet, but we can assume that it is that the ads are the same. The Dell beat our preferred contrast ratio of 1000: 1 by 1040: 1, while the ThinkPad missed by 940: 1 and the Surface Pro 7 came in at 1140: 1.

In terms of color, the Latitude 7320 Detachable has a slightly above average 77% AdobeRGB and 99% sRGB (most premium laptops are 75% and 95% respectively) compared to the ThinkPad X12 Detachable with 72% and 97% and the Surface Pro 7 at 70% and 93%. In terms of color accuracy, Dell also led the way with a Delta E of 1.17 (1.0 or less than excellent), the ThinkPad with 1.59 and the Surface Pro 7 with a disappointing 3.51.

Dell Latitude 7320 Detachable is used as a stylus tablet.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

I enjoyed the display during my testing and found that it showed vivid colors that weren't oversaturated and offered crisp black text and a comfortable media streaming experience. Creative types who want bold color might not like it, but everyone else is happy to use it.

Two side-firing speakers provide audio, and I found it extremely quiet even at maximum volume. The quality was fine, with balanced mids and highs (but no bass) and no distortion. The speakers are just too quiet. You'll need headphones or a bluetooth speaker if you want to do more than just listen to system sounds and occasionally watch YouTube videos.

Keyboard, touchpad and webcam

A close up of the Dell Latitude 7320 Detachable's pen and keyboard.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

In contrast to the ThinkPad X12 Detachable and just like the Surface Pro 7+ and X, the Latitude 7320 Detachable does not come with a keyboard and pen. While the slim active pen (more on that in a moment) costs a reasonable $ 70, the keyboard costs $ 200. Part of this cost is justified by the design, which includes a docking bay for the stylus that is hidden when the keyboard is set up. Otherwise, the detachable keyboard on the Lenovo is very similar to the Microsoft version. Aside from being a bit larger to accommodate the larger display, it's hard to tell them apart just by looking at them.

You'll notice a bigger difference once you start typing. The keyboard of the Latitude 7320 Detachable has a metal plate inside, which provides a certain rigidity. It's not as bouncy as the Surface Pro 7+ keyboard, but it's also not as solid as the ThinkPad X12 Detachable's keyboard. The typing feel is very similar to the Microsoft keyboard too, with plenty of travel and a mechanism that offers a nice click, but I found its bottom-through action weak and the overall experience less precise than the best of the best keyboards. You'll enjoy the HP Specter and Apple Magic Keyboard a lot more than this one, and you won't feel the keyboard wobble as you type. I would rate the typing experience as good, but not great, and a bit behind Lenovo's detachable keyboard.

The active pen is a slim version that fits into the keyboard docking station for magnetic storage and charging. According to Dell, the pen charges 100% in just 30 seconds and then offers 90 minutes of continuous use. This sounds good in theory, but 90 minutes may not be long enough in practice and other pens will last longer. For example, Microsoft estimates that the slim pen on the Surface Pro X will last 15 hours. The pen uses Wacom AES technology and supports Windows Ink (of course), and while I couldn't figure out the pen specifications like resolution, I found that it offers a smooth and responsive ink experience. As usual, the display is of course touch-enabled and responsive.

The case of the Dell Latitude 7320 Detachable.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

A prominent component of the Latitude 7320 Detachable is the webcam. Dell has taken note of the increasing use of video conferencing thanks to the coronavirus pandemic and has installed a 5 megapixel (MP) webcam that enables full HD videos (1,920 x 1,080) at 30 fps. This is significantly better than the usual 720p laptop webcam and puts the Latitude in a different category as a video conferencing device. There is also an 8 MP outward-facing camera on the back that can capture 1080p video at 30 fps.

Administration, security and data protection

The Latitude 7320 Detachable is available with the optional vPro support that came with my test device. This increases manageability and security when connected to a corporate environment. Dell has also built in some of its optimization features, including ExpressConnect to automatically join the strongest network, Express Response to prioritize the most important apps, and ExpressSign-In. The latter uses an Intel Connect Sensing proximity sensor that can detect when a user is in front of the tablet and automatically wake it up and lock the tablet when the user leaves.

It's a nice feature that works well, although it can disrupt long processes – I had to turn it off to complete our longer benchmarks and run battery tests. There's also ExpressCharge for a 35 percent charge in 20 minutes or an 80 percent charge in an hour, and Intelligent Audio, which improves audio quality and reduces background noise.

Windows 10 Hello support is provided by both an infrared camera and facial recognition and a fingerprint reader located on the back of the case near the power button. If both work reliably and quickly, and you enable facial recognition, the Latitude 7320 Detachable can automatically recognize you when you return to work and log you directly into Windows.

What is missing is a way to turn off or cover up the webcam. This is common with modern laptops and tablets and is missing here.

Battery life

A profile picture of the charging port on the Dell Latitude 7320 Detachable. Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The battery capacity of the Latitude 7320 Detachable is 40 watt hours, close to the 42 watt hours of the ThinkPad X12 Detachable and further behind the 50 watt hours of the Surface Pro 7+. With the lower resolution display and the power-saving CPU, I expected a similar battery life to that of these two devices.

We didn't test the Surface Pro 7+, so I can't make this comparison. But the Dell outlasted the Lenovo in our tests, starting with the web browser test, in which the Latitude 7320 Detachable lasted a little over seven hours compared to the ThinkPad X12 Detachable, which shut down 12 minutes earlier. That's not a very strong score, with most modern laptops getting closer to 10 hours on this test. In our video test, which repeats a local Full HD Avengers trailer, the Dell lasted a stronger 13.5 hours, while the Lenovo only exceeded 11 hours.

In the PCMark 10 gaming test, which stresses the CPU, the Latitude 7320 Detachable was at the lower end of our database with 2.5 hours, where the ThinkPad X12 Detachable only managed 18 minutes more. In the PCMark 10 Applications test, which provides the best indication of the likely battery life, the Dell achieved an average of 10.75 hours, while the Lenovo lasted about 30 minutes less.

Overall, these aren't the best results. You might make a day of work if you keep your chores light but put a strain on the CPU and you'll be looking for the charger. This is common with Windows 10 tablets, however, and while the Latitude 7320 Detachable can't compete with larger convertible 2-in-1s and clamshell laptops, it's fine for a Windows 10 tablet.

Our opinion

The Latitude 7320 Detachable is a good Windows 10 tablet with features that will appeal to business users. It doesn't exactly stand out in terms of its performance or battery life, but it's just as well built as the competition (except for the stand) and offers a good typing and ink experience. It doesn't beat the Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable, but it is a stronger competitor to the Surface Pro 7+.

Really, any of these tablets are good choices. The Dell should be on your shortlist if you like its feature set and you probably will.

Are there alternatives?

The ThinkPad X12 Detachable is the strongest competitor. It's cheaper than the Dell and doesn't offer quite as many business features. But it's just as fast and has similar battery life, and the detachable keyboard is more solid.

The Surface Pro 7+ is another alternative tablet and a great choice if you're a Surface fanatic. It's likely a bit faster than the Latitude 7320 Detachable and may offer slightly longer battery life. It's also quite expensive and won't save you any money.

If you'd rather look at a convertible 2-in-1 and don't care too much about business features, then the HP Specter x360 14 is a solid contender. It's cheaper and better-looking, with a spectacular OLED 4K display and a larger 13.5-inch 3: 2 panel. It's bigger, heavier, and doesn't work as well as a tablet, but it's a better laptop.

The iPad Pro deserves a mention as it continues to add features that make it a stronger competitor to Windows 10 tablets. If you've shopped into the Apple ecosystem, the iPad Pro should be heavily considered.

How long it will take?

The Latitude 7320 Detachable is a rugged laptop with modern components that should stay with you for years. The one-year warranty is disappointing for a business-class device, but Dell offers several service upgrades.

Should you buy it?

Yes. The Latitude 7320 Detachable has enough features to make it a solid choice for business people.

Editor's recommendations



21 Jul
Blog

Tapping Into the Power of Identity Is the Secret to Sustainable Fitness

How to redesign your identity to fit who you are and who you want to be.

My father started waking my older brother and I a few days a week to practice karate and lift weights in the basement of the elementary school. While I wouldn't recommend starting weights at eight-year-olds, these experiences had a lasting impact on me.

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21 Jul
Blog

Liteboxer Review: Stimulating Workout, Difficult Design

A man using a liteboxer jumps while exercising.

"Its design may be challenging for some, but the Liteboxer offers immersive training at home."

advantages

  • Bulletproof design

  • Intuitive app

  • Excellent coaching courses

  • Invigorating training

disadvantage

  • On the expensive side

  • No speakers

In recent years, the typical workout in the gym has evolved into fitness programs that we create and follow at home. Companies like Peloton have long offered an option for high-volume cardio training at home, but specific muscle group machines are a little harder to find and harder to sell.

While we've tried multiple home fitness packages that hit the mark or missed the mark in one way or another, the one question we never wanted to ask ourselves is how exactly do we stack ourselves in the boxing ring? would? We didn't have to ask technically. Liteboxer did that for us.

Launched in 2020, Liteboxer is a home boxing workout device that combines music, LED light pulses, and educational content to provide a rapid-fire experience where you stab and cross your path to a high score. Is it a big upgrade over a basement-dwelling punching bag? Let's be the judge.

Built to be taken seriously, especially when it comes to size

Home fitness equipment usually strives for a compact design, even if the end product is relatively close to the stature of something you would find at your local gym. The liteboxer relies on the concept of a boxing experience at home and requires a lot of space. When fully assembled, it will measure 37.5 "by 55.5".

My demo unit was assembled in the living room of my apartment, and while it wasn't entirely unwieldy, the machine was sometimes difficult to use. Ideally, you want to make sure you have dedicated storage space to use the Liteboxer. Home gyms, garages, and open basements would be my suggestion.

At the end of every Liteboxer round, my party guests were sore, sweaty and short of breath.

In terms of the actual hardware, you can expect to receive your $ 1,595 Liteboxer kit in two separate boxes. Assembly is required unless you choose to use the company's white glove installation. Parts include the main punching shield, a height-adjustable base with a tablet mount, and the platform you stand on (two parts). If you want a little more exercise space, you can purchase a third platform section that gives you an additional 20 inches of boxing space. You also get boxing gloves, hand wraps, Allen keys, and general mounting hardware.

Rhythm gaming meets boxing basics

The Liteboxer's Smart Shield is your heavy-duty opponent, complete with six individual target zones with force sensors. As you box, runway lights emit from the center of the shield and head for one of the six hit zones. Your goal is to hit the target as soon as the runway LED hits the center. Direct hits will glow green, while Bad Lands will flash red.

Punching the liteboxer.

I had initial doubts as to how much a glorified punch pad could withstand, but was immediately proven otherwise. I hosted a family reunion and invited everyone to pound the liteboxer. Man, it can take a beating. Even the toughest slams from those more muscular than me (everyone at the party) left the Smart Shield in place and the liteboxer platform firmly entrenched.

As you complete a round, your boxing statistics are recorded in the Liteboxer app (available for iOS and Android devices). The app tracks the total score for a single round as well as the accuracy and power of the hit (sensitivity can be adjusted in the app). Elements like these push the liteboxer into a more gaming domain, in contrast to the full-bodied boxing device that it is marketed as. I'm not saying this is a bad thing. Exercising can be a challenge, but gamifying fitness is an inspiring and engaging way to get more people into some form of physical activity – and Liteboxer will definitely get your heart racing.

At the end of every liteboxer round, my party guests were sore, sweaty and short of breath. Our homemade sangria was very much appreciated (there was also water).

Jab with a trainer, train to music, or master freestyle punches

Similar to Peloton bikes and other leading fitness hardware, there is an intuitive app that runs the show for the liteboxer. And like the competition, there are a number of features that are locked behind a monthly membership payment gate. After the first three months of free premium features, the courses and much of the music catalog charge $ 29 / month. Subscriptions are more natural nowadays when it comes to innovative workouts for at home, but with your Liteboxer membership you get a lot.

Images of the Liteboxer app screens.

To get started, there is an impressive range of training courses with real-time instruction. Trainers build their courses around multiple songs with classes broken down by music genre, length, and training style. On the “Build + Restore” tab you will find instructional videos for everything from 20-minute full-body workouts to targeted muscle group training.

When you step away from the instructors, there is a tab in the app called "Quickplay". Here you will find three categories: Punch Tracks, Freestyle and Thumboxer, the latter being more of a mobile "bonus" mini-game that recreates the Liteboxer experience on your phone screen. In Punch Tracks you will find the entire Liteboxer library with streamable songs that you can filter by genre and premium or non-premium levels. While there is a decent selection of non-membership titles, you should pay the $ 29 monthly fee to unlock the rest of the archive.

The idea of ​​Freestyle mode is that you box to the beats of your own music. As soon as the app is connected to your liteboxer, start a track and work on your strokes, combos and overall endurance.

Impressive bones, but a little lacking in technology

When you enter the Liteboxer platform, you will not see an interactive touchscreen of any kind. While the company is more than transparent that you need a cellphone or tablet to use the Liteboxer properly, that doesn't mean that some sort of built-in display isn't overlooked. I always appreciate being able to give up my devices in favor of my peloton's display. It gives me a break from flipping through my phone, prevents my device from being caked in sweat or damaged, and pushes out all the necessary functions and settings in a sleek and easy-to-reach user interface.

I wasn't that crazy about the Liteboxer's actual tablet mount either. Yes, the device is designed more for an audio-driven training experience, but the instructor-led courses are video lessons that you will want to watch during your class. The only way to watch this is by lowering your head and neck to pick up your tablet, which makes it difficult to aim properly and land your hits on the punch pad.

I wouldn't exactly say that these are deterrent deterrents to me, but they might be to some. For the price of $ 1,595, it would certainly be nice to at least have speakers on the Liteboxer. Sure, headphones are one of the most popular fitness tools in use, but if I plug my ears while I work out it gets annoying after a while, and not everyone has an external bluetooth speaker (or one that's loud enough to to hear about the sound of). Your fists hit the punch pad).

Our opinion

Photo of starting and pairing the Liteboxer.

If you ask me I think nailing down fitness equipment for the home is difficult. When a company works too hard on entertainment technology, the hardware can become a supreme gaming system rather than something that tightens our bodies. On the other hand, you need that element of fun to attract those who may not be so ready to hop on a stationary bike or weight trainer.

I actually think Liteboxer does a good job of landing comfortably in the middle. It's fun to use and it feels like you're getting a good workout. Is it a fully realized boxing simulator? I'm not a pro, but my guess isn't complete, especially considering how little you actually move around on the platform and that your opponent is stationary too.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes, but it mostly depends on what type of workout you want. Liteboxer specializes in boxing, of course, but another boxing alternative is FightCamp. It's a bit more traditional with its upright punching bag and offers some kickboxing workouts as well.

For more general workouts, you've hooked up fitness mirrors like Mirror and Tempo, both of which also offer their own boxing workouts with the help of instructors. Plus, there's a bit more tech behind it, as they use heart rate sensors, fancy displays to help you out, and built-in speakers for lots of music for your workout.

How long it will take?

The liteboxer is built like a tank and proper cleaning will help reduce wear and tear over time. In the event of a defect, there is a one-year limited warranty included with your purchase.

Should you buy it?

If you have to spend more than $ 1,000 (along with the membership cost of $ 29 / month) and want a cool centerpiece for your basement studio and party indulgence, the Liteboxer might be a great choice for you and yours. Now add in some onboard speakers, a screen, a few design tweaks and keep the price the same, and I think we'd see as many liteboxer setups as Pelotons. Here one hopes for a Liteboxer 2.0.

Editor's recommendations



21 Jul
Blog

The Misunderstood Art of Mini-Cutting for More Muscle

How to grow taller and stay slim with strategic mini-cutting.

A mini cut is an essential tool in your tool kit for building muscle. Unfortunately, it is often misunderstood or used recklessly. Used strategically, mini-cuts are one of the best ways to build the bigger, leaner body you want.

A properly executed mini-cut is like robbing the fat bank.

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21 Jul
Blog

Glute Activation in Your 70s Is a Thing

Mary Duffy is a champion powerlifter, 71 years old and deadlifting like a boss. That's all.

Activating the buttocks wakes up your gluteal muscles. It connects your brain to your muscle and gets the muscle going and ready to do something.

Activation of the glutes should be done before training, but it can also be done as an active break between sets. And trust me when I say that some activation of the buttocks before squats, lunges, and deadlifts will make for great glutes!

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21 Jul
Blog

4 Reasons to Ditch the App and Begin a Personalized Fitness Plan

If your fitness program isn't personalized, chances are that you might have problems with missing results or, worse, injury.

So you've signed up with the latest cool app that claims to deliver personalized workouts and promise results. You have been following diligently for two months, but are slowly getting bored and skeptical because you are not seeing the results you expected.

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20 Jul
Blog

Death’s Door Review: Bringing Life to a Dark, Dead World

Deaths Door Review laugh at the Reaper xbox game1

Death & # 39; s Door Review: Bringing Life to a Dark, Dead World

"Death's Door is a must-have Metroidvania game that combines intense combat with bright, hilarious characters."

advantages

  • Hilarious cast of characters

  • Exciting boss fights

  • Simple but complex fight

  • A world that wants to be explored

disadvantage

  • Repetitive enemies

  • Some unforgiving checkpoints

Dark, riddled with wit and adrenaline – Death’s Door is the Metroidvania that has finally got me hooked.

Metroidvanias has long escaped me as a genre. I've never been able to bother with the backtracking aspect of them; their maps have never fascinated me enough and their stories have always lost me. That all changed when the little crow from Death’s Door took control. Where other large, expansive maps had disinterested me, this one had my full attention. Where other stories have lost me, I was completely absorbed here.

Death & # 39; s Door presents players with an endlessly interlocking fantastic world full of secrets, exciting boss fights and a dark story that managed to get more than just a few laughs out of me. In between there is a simple but exciting combat system that proves once again that the right developer can achieve a lot with a few simple tools.

At its base, Death & # 39; s Door isn't complicated. It's not an emotional show of strength; It's not a blockbuster title with massive hype behind it. But it's a rarity, an indie title that surpasses its AAA counterparts in almost every way.

To reap laughter

The premise of Death & # 39; s Door is macabre. They fill the … claws, I suppose, of a reaper who's not a grim skeleton but a feathered crow. In the game world, death is a red tape and if you can't finish your job, you're out of luck. The Reaper is on a mission to find a stolen soul and sends it on a goose hunt through a meaninglessly hopeless world to harvest even more souls just to get to yours.

As I said, it's not exactly sunshine and lollipops.

But through its grim haze, light shines through the door of death. Despite all of the monster kills that leave blood and corpses behind to finish the job, the game gives players endless reasons to smile.

Pothead from the door of death.

Every character in Death & # 39; s Door has a certain charm, from bosses to friendly NPCs. While the underlying story is undoubtedly obscure, there is a warmth to every character, even if tragic themselves. Take, for example, my favorite character in the game, Pothead. Its head was turned into a pot by the magic of the urn witch, hence the name. But if you ask him, he doesn't see it as a disadvantage. Instead, he uses his pot head to store soup that he gives to passers-by.

No matter what I did, whether it was fighting my way through enemies or chatting with NPCs, Death & # 39; s Door always left a smile on my face.

Most of the characters have that kind of depth, even the NPCs that don't seem that important. They all have their own lives, interests, and passions. No matter what I did, whether it was fighting my way through enemies or chatting with NPCs, Death & # 39; s Door always left a smile on my face.

The remains of a world

While Death & # 39; s Door's funniest moments result from talking to NPCs, its most exciting moments are found in combat and exploration. None of these functions are overly complicated. In fact, both are extremely simple. Once you've explored the game's first area and defeated its first boss, you've pretty much seen what to expect in the rest of the game.

Death door urn witch house room.

However, it's the little tweaks in Death's Door that make everything more useful. Enemies are largely the same throughout the game, but there are a new villain or two in each area. Likewise, the exploration is pretty much the same everywhere until you unlock the game's four power-ups that can be used outside of combat to uncover new areas. Death & # 39; s Door starts with basic forms of these ideas and slowly builds on them, integrating every facet of its gameplay into one another.

Death & # 39; s Door starts with basic forms of these ideas and slowly builds on them, integrating every facet of its gameplay into one another.

Of course, the exploration isn't always positive. Each death sets you back, of course, and some of the game's shortcuts aren't that far apart. I just walked through some areas that I found too difficult, trying to get to the nearest ladder to lower or the path to uncover.

The more times I've played Death & # 39; s Door, the more the design choices, especially the structure of the world, reminded me of entries in the Zelda franchise. While Death & # 39; s Door encourages more backtracking, it shares some DNA with the earliest Legend of Zelda games. Players slowly unlock new power-ups and access new parts of the map from areas they've already been to. Even the top-down perspective of the game is reminiscent of Nintendo's classic franchise. The game's dark world is even offset by bright characters, a constant in most Legend of Zelda titles. Death & # 39; s Door has some distinct influences, but it uses them to create something completely original.

Growing struggle

Death & # 39; s Door's worldbuilding is best when it comes to a boss fight. Each boss is first given context by the area you go through to get them there. Maybe you speak to an NPC who says the boss killed her wife, or in the case of the urn witch, you're traveling through a mansion that was clearly a happy family home at one point or another.

The approach to each boss follows the same structure: explore an area, gain a new power, and then take on a boss. While this pattern repeats itself three times and eventually becomes predictable, the context for each keeps it fresh. Functionally, you do the same thing every time you build yourself into a boss fight. But each experience feels different because of the landscape, the enemies, and the boss's own interjections as you explore.

The game's boss fights are some of the most exciting I've ever fought thanks to the emphasis on evolution. Like the rest of the game, bosses build on themselves with different phases and become more difficult as the damage increases. Also, they don't know exactly how much damage you've done because Death & # 39; s Door thoughtfully left health bars out of the equation. Instead, enemies will be damaged and their skin will tear when you howl at them.

I didn't jump after beating a lot of bosses before. Sure, there might be a punch here or there, but actually cheering after I've won? Before facing the urn witch in Death & # 39; s Door, the last time was against Ornstein & Smough in Dark Souls.

Of course, normal enemies aren't nearly as addicting, and provide the same experience as punching bags, once you get used to the combat of the game. Even the game's mini-bosses aren't much of a challenge, especially if you face the same one multiple times. Enemies have simple attack patterns, and once you've learned how to move and weave between them, defeating an enemy is less an art than a science.

The game's boss fights are some of the most exciting I've ever fought thanks to the emphasis on evolution.

That being said, Death & # 39; s Door allows players to approach the battle in a wonderfully open manner. The game has multiple weapons, each with their own unique movesets and bonuses. The game's standard sword does solid damage, but you can swap it out for a pair of knives or a massive hammer. Simply switching your weapon will even affect how much you can use your skills, as you can use four charges that can only be replenished by hitting enemies. Once again, not a single part of Death & # 39; s Door is isolated; they all interlock.

Our opinion

With a world that practically begs you to explore every nook and cranny, and a cast of characters that will make you grin from the beginning to the end of the story, Death & # 39; s Door is one of those rare games to play with I struggled to find faults. It's addicting from start to finish (a journey that took about 10 hours) and lets players explore even more content after the story is complete. Death & # 39; s Door is beyond extraordinary and has solidified itself on my list of games of the year.

Is there a better alternative?

If you don't want to wait for Metroid Dread, there probably isn't a better Metroidvania right now.

How long it will take?

Death & # 39; s Door takes anywhere from 10-14 hours, depending on how much additional game content you want to complete. It also has a significant amount of post-game content that can add three or four hours to the total playing time.

Should you buy it?

Yes. Death’s Door is one of the best games released this year and is sure to be a nominee for Game of the Year by the end of 2021.

Editor's recommendations



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