04 Jan
Blog

LG 27GN850 Review: The Perfect 4K Gaming Monitor?

LG 27gn950 Monitor Review dsc02946

"The LG 27GN950 is a 4K gaming monitor designed for the next generation of PC graphics."

  • Extremely good image quality

  • Excellent fast gaming performance

  • Intuitive, sharp and responsive OSD

  • Classy appearance

  • Easy access to I / O

  • No HDMI 2.1

  • Inconspicuous stand

If you're one of the lucky few who managed to get your hands on one of the latest graphics cards, you need a 4K gaming monitor to go with it too.

But even the best monitors have a hard time delivering both great image quality and a high refresh rate. LG's new 4K gaming monitor the 27GN950 claims to do just that. With nano IPS screen technology, it may be as close to perfection as possible without jumping all the way to an OLED TV.

design

As a 27-inch monitor, the first thing you notice about the 27GN950 is that it is not very large. Among the massive ultrawide monitors and 32-inch 4K giants, this 27-inch panel is a breath of fresh air as the focus is exclusively on a razor-sharp image.

The bezels around the panel are hair thin, with the lower one being slightly thicker than the others. There is no LG logo on the front of the panel. Without a curve, it looks surprisingly elegant – if you leave out the somewhat garish stand.

Looking at the back of the monitor, you'll find that the display case isn't made out of the fancyest materials. It's just cheap, scratchy plastics. Fortunately, it's in the back so it won't hit you too often.

Around the bracket and the entry / exit island there is a large RGB ring that lights up with the monitor and can adapt its colors to the colors displayed. This is a good party trick to add immersion despite the modest panel size.

Then there's the stand of the display, which I'm not a fan of. The adjustment mechanism has all the necessary settings for height, tilt and rotation. But with a panel that looks so elegant, I find that the stand itself is designed a little too aggressively. It's like a throwback to an older generation of gaming equipment, but I'm not nostalgic.

The front feet are strangely connected to the main pillar, and I wish LG had turned off the logo for a cleaner aesthetic. However, if you're a minimalist like me I would drop the stand and use a monitor arm. There are VESA 100 mounting holes to aid in this.

Connections and controls

If you're a pure PC gamer, the 27GN950's rear input / output panel is a good choice. It comes with a DisplayPort 1.4a connector that supports DSC (Display Stream Compression) to provide full 4K, 160Hz, 4: 4: 4 RGB support when using an RTX 20 GPU or later.

If you're someone who has a console in addition to your PC to get access to Sony's exclusive products, you may feel a little disappointed for one simple reason: the lack of HDMI 2.1. In fact, given the promising 4K gameplay from the Playstation 5 and Xbox Series X over HDMI 2.1, it seems a little strange that LG chose to only install an HDMI 2.0 controller, even though most of its latest TVs support HDMI 2.1 . This means that the maximum refresh rate supported by the 27GN950 through the HDMI ports is only 60 Hz. There are at least two HDMI ports here, so you can hook up two consoles if you're okay with the refresh rate being compromised.

There is also a USB hub with two ports and a headphone jack. The monitor is powered by an external 110 watt power supply module that is thin and easy to hide under your desk.

Having instant access to brightness controls is extremely valuable.

The OSD (On-Screen Display) control panel from LG is in a league of its own. The user interface is controlled by a single directional switch at the bottom of the display and is extremely clear, responsive and easy to navigate. To control the brightness of the display, simply press the switch forwards or backwards to jump directly into the brightness controls. To adjust the volume of the headphones, simply switch left or right to decrease or increase the volume.

The OSD is also easy to navigate. It has five main sub-menus including Game Mode with some presets and Game Customization with advanced options like Adaptive-Sync, a black stabilizer to improve detail in the dark, and a deceptive crosshair. The Image Adjustment menu provides options for adjusting the settings for brightness, contrast, sharpness, and color. Finally, there is a submenu for inputs and a submenu called General System.

The only complaint I have about the OSD is that it doesn't seem to render in high resolution. The 4K panel can display extremely sharp and razor-sharp images. So it's a little weird that the OSD is rendering a bit fuzzy even though you don't spend much time here anyway and it's still better than most of the others.

picture quality

LG's Nano IPS-based gaming monitors are characterized by high image quality, and the 27GN950 is no exception. The company promises that the 27GN950 will cover 98% of the DCI-P3 space, and while our device didn't quite hit that number, it wasn't far off with a tested value of 96%. Our sample included 100% of the sRGB space and 88% of the AdobeRGB.

We also tested the monitor's color accuracy, which resulted in an average Delta-E (difference from real) of just 0.69. Keep in mind that anything below a Delta-E of 2 is generally considered good enough for professional work, and you'll probably agree that the 27GN950 is great for creative graphics work, which we don't often see on gaming monitors see.

However, where the display gets stuck is the contrast performance. The fast Nano IPS panel is ideal for fast reactions, high frame rates, a wide range of colors and precise colors. However, one of the weaknesses of IPS is its poor contrast performance. Our sample achieved a value of 980: 1 at full brightness, which is pretty much the promised 1000: 1 ratio on the data sheet. If you like to play games at night and don't need the wide color gamut and color accuracy, you might opt ​​for a cheaper VA panel.

The 27GN950 is great for graphic work – something we don't see often on gaming monitors.

The maximum brightness we achieved with the 27GN950 was 462 nits, which is more than adequate for most use cases including brightly lit rooms and is more than promised on the spec sheet. Gamma performance was perfect right away too, and the 6900K white point is pretty close to the 6500K target, although this can be easily corrected with OSD settings or calibration.

After calibrating the monitor, I was able to pull out 1% more DCI-P3 cover, correct the white point and increase the color accuracy from 0.69 to just 0.63. While these are improvements, it's safe to say that calibrating the 27GN950 is of little use and that most users won't have to worry about it.

Gaming performance

When it comes to gaming on the LG 27GN950, there is one thing you need to consider before you take the plunge: this display requires a ton of GPU power if you're running modern titles at the full 4K resolution and want to take advantage of the high refresh rate.

This isn't that big of an issue with older games, but today's AAA titles, especially those with ray tracing, will be tough to push. You need at least a GeForce RTX 3070 or Radeon RX 6800 XT if you want smooth performance. Even with these cards, you won't get near the high end of the panel's 144Hz refresh rate when you run the games at maximum settings.

However, this is not a fault of the monitor. When it comes to panel performance, the 27GN950 puts on an impressive show. The Nano IPS control panel reacts extremely quickly and can easily be overclocked to 160 Hz after updating the firmware of the display with just one push of a button. The stuttering and tearing is dealt with by the compatibility of FreeSync Premium Pro and G-Sync, and the display has low frame rate compensation for the inevitable drops in modern titles.

In contrast to VA panels, the Nano IPS panel does not smear here.

The smaller 27-inch form factor is also good for competitive gameplay because you can keep an eye on the entire game. It's also a great monitor for those who want to get up close and personal during intense gaming thanks to the sharp image.

In contrast to VA panels, the Nano IPS panel does not smear here either. High refresh rate budget monitors often come with VA panels. Although they offer better contrast ratios, they can lead to noticeable color smudging, especially in dark scenes. The 27GN950 has no such error.

What is special about the 27GN950, however, is the combination of this outstanding gaming performance with the sharpness of 4K and the extremely wide range of colors offered by the 96% DCI-P3 coverage.

I've played a fair amount of Horizon Zero Dawn on this panel, and this game makes great use of its wide range. The way it portrays the colors of the sun, the intense red sunsets, the vibrant green for the foliage and the deep blue for the water, along with the sharp image … it was something to see.

The downside is that it's not as impressive as the LG 34GN850 Curved Ultrawide with the same nano-IPS technology, but not everyone wants a huge ultrawide monitor on their desk.

What to Expect from the HDR600

The 27GN950 is also supported by HDR600, which means it can produce a peak brightness of up to 600 nits with just one of the HDR zones. It comes with 16 edge-lit dimming zones, which is fine but not great. It is certainly not an OLED panel, and VA panels are usually better able to produce deep black levels.

Of course, if you want a true HDR experience on a gaming monitor, you'll have to find one with FALD (Full Array Local Dimming) lighting, but this LED arrangement behind the panel instead of edge lighting costs a lot of money. Think two big amounts of money.

Personally, I prefer to play with HDR turned off. It's nice to play around with what the 27GN950 can offer, but the cleanest picture is produced with the picture off. Also, Windows looks very hidden with HDR turned on, and you need to enable it in Windows in order to enable it in your game settings.

Our opinion

If you are looking for a 4K monitor for gaming and creative work in the market, the LG 27GN950 is as good as your only option right now. If it offers a responsive panel with a refresh rate of up to 160 Hz, while maintaining a large color gamut and extremely good color accuracy that we don't see often. It is also one of the first 4K gaming monitors to use DSC.

The main drawbacks are the contrast performance, a nondescript booth, and the distinct lack of HDMI 2.1, which is an odd omission considering that LG has been using it on its OLED TVs since 2019, and next-gen consoles don't have enough bandwidth to run high To achieve frame rates.

Are there alternatives?

Currently the only two alternatives are the Asus XG27UQ and the Acer Nitro XV273K, both of which are a bit cheaper. They're not overclockable to 160Hz, but limited to 144Hz, and their overall look is a little stickier. Aside from the stand, the LG 27GN950 looks simple, clean, and refined.

How long it will take?

Although the low contrast ratio of IPS technology is showing its age, the 4K 160 Hz panel means this monitor should last a while as it will be a few more years before GPUs can reach their refresh rate.

The monitor should last as long as most monitors: at least 5 years. However, LG only offers a 1 year guarantee.

Should I buy it?

Yes, if you need a monitor for work and play and it has to be 4K, the LG 27GN950 is a great option.

Editor's recommendations




04 Jan
Blog

The most spectacular way of doing a good morning exercise daily

Many people hardly know what a Good morning exercise is. That's because this workout is being ignored because of its technical boost which is very daunting. There is of course a solution for this. Those who do this exercise correctly may not have encountered this problem. However, you need to be very precise with every move you make. Once you do that, the magic starts to happen.

A Good morning exercise helps improve squats as well as deadlift numbers. It also leaves a massive impact on your lower back, glutes and hamstrings, making you look like a fit model everywhere.

Good morning exercise benefits to take away

The good morning exercise is not a new discovery. It dates from a few years ago and is named after someone who bowed to say "Good morning". Although many people think that it is a useless exercise, it can work like magic in no time. The Good morning exercise benefits Your glutes, hamstrings, and upper back by making them stronger and more efficient for exercise.

It also has a massive impact on your lower body strength by helping you hit squats and deadlifts properly. A good morning exercise will also allow you to prevent muscle fluctuations that can cause serious injury. It also helps strengthen the rear muscles, which can encourage you to stay fit as an expert. With all of these Good morning exercise benefitsThis exercise turns out to be a dream for people who want a fantastic physique.

How do I do a good morning exercise with dumbbells?

We already mentioned how harmful it is Good morning exercise with dumbbells you may need to be careful when practicing this workout. Make sure that good morning exercise brings all the benefits unimpeded right to your doorstep. All you have to do is make sure that you follow each step carefully. Overall, you're good to go.

1. Hold the dumbbell properly. You either hold it in front of your chest or behind your neck.

2. Start with your feet shoulder-width apart. If you want to activate the thighs, make sure the shoulder width is wider. Then place the barbell on your chest with your leg slightly bent.

3. Now keep your back straight and your legs slightly bent. Once you do that, bend over your hips.

4. Once your torso is parallel to the floor, straighten your back with your back muscles to the starting position.

5. Perform the Good morning exercise with dumbbells regularly to get its benefits immediately.

The best alternative for a good morning

Many people are afraid to do good morning exercises because of their technical buoyancy. They also fear the risk of injury that will prevent them from practicing this exercise. If you are one of them, don't worry. We found the perfect way for you to get the same benefits without risking your life for this workout. Let's take a look at the best gGood morning exercise alternatives that will change the game for you.

1. Reverse hyperextensions

If you want to build strength in your hips and hamstrings, reverse strains are the perfect solution for you. With this variation, you can easily do a good exercise. It's also safer for you to practice. So, if you want to do a safe exercise with minimal obstruction, reverse overextension can be your perfect stop.

2. Glute hamstring lifts

If you want to do higher repetitions to strengthen your glutes, hamstrings, and other muscles, this is the perfect exercise for you. Since this exercise is useful for everyone, you must do this exercise daily for the best benefits. Something like that is one of the best Good morning exercise alternatives so that you practice.

3. Reverse the Chinese plank

In an inverted Chinese plank, you will need to use two benches or boxes for the best experience. The bench is under your shoulders and the other is under your heels. For the best experience, don't miss this exercise. It'll be the best ever Good morning exercise alternatives to you.

Take that away

These are some of the best Good morning exercises perform for you. If you like them give them a try and see how it helps you. We promise; It works out.

FAQ

1. Is a Good morning exercise alternative useful?

Yes, that Good morning exercise alternative is useful.

2. Are Good morning exercise with dumbbells useful?

Yes, that Good morning exercise with dumbbells is useful.

04 Jan
Blog

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold Review: Dual-Screen Fever Dream

Lenovo Thinkpad x1 Fold Review Center

  • Innovative design

  • Feels robust

  • Nice OLED screen

  • Very portable

  • Tight keyboard and touchpad

  • Chunky performance

  • Accessories cost extra

This should be the year of the foldable dual screen laptop. With Microsoft Surface Neo in the pipeline and a specially developed version of Windows, we felt we were entering a new era of PC design innovation.

Then happened in 2020. Like many things we have been looking forward to, all of this has either been delayed or canceled entirely. Microsoft itself seems to be bowing out of the running.

Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Fold is still the only laptop that can be brought to market with a flexible screen. It's one of the most unique PCs ever made, and allows for some new experiences that feel really fresh. But is the ThinkPad X1 Fold, as a first-generation product, now with no competitors, too strange to look at by itself?

design

When everything is folded up, the ThinkPad X1 Fold resembles a Folio notebook. With its synthetic leather casing and small footprint, you'd never guess that it could fold into a full PC – including a keyboard and 13.3-inch screen. The professional aesthetic fits right into the ThinkPad X1 line, which was designed for a discerning and modern businessman.

All of the elements of the X1 Fold hold tightly together and it is possibly the most impressive design feature. The screen closes just as well with the keyboard as it does without. This is important because the $ 2499 base model doesn't include it.

You don't have to worry about space either. The ThinkPad X1 Fold is half the size of a standard 13-inch laptop and fits easily in a handbag or small pocket. This is the first perk of a bendable screen laptop that Lenovo uses many of them.

As a problem with many foldable devices, the ThinkPad X1 Fold cannot be as thin as other tablets or laptops when folded. It is 1.09 inches thick, closed and 0.45 inches open. Portability is the main selling point of this device and it weighs only 2.2 pounds. This makes it one of the lightest laptops you can buy.

The real magic, of course, is when you bend the screen back and see the design in all its glory. The X1 fold uses a silicone hinge and many layers of plastic to ensure that the screen can "fold" without damaging the glass. Using leather to cover the unsightly hinge on the back is awesome. The Galaxy Z Fold 2's aluminum hinge looks classy, ​​but the ThinkPad X1 Fold makes you forget it's there itself.

The foldable screen enables a number of different “modes” for using the ThinkPad X1 Fold. The first is like a Windows tablet. You can open it flat and use it as a large screen or, easily folded, as a book. This is probably the mode I have least preferred. Windows just isn't a great platform for app-driven touch-only experiences. A bendable screen won't change that. We'll have to wait for Windows 10X to support a more rugged tablet experience.

The device has a built-in leather stand that lets the screen stand on its own and offers some helpful angles for things like zoom and YouTube. I've found that I don't use it any differently than a Surface Pro or iPad, except that the ThinkPad X1 Fold can be folded in half. The kickstand still feels a bit weak, however, and the 720p webcam above isn't as good as the 1080p options found on many tablets.

All in all, Windows software limitations would be a deal killer if only tablet use were good for the ThinkPad X1 Fold. There's even more to the story thanks to the innovative keyboard implementation.

Keyboard, touchpad and pen

The keyboard is important in making the ThinkPad X1 Fold a working product. The implementation itself is pretty clever. First, it can be magnetized to fit in the bottom half of the foldable screen, mimicking a mini laptop. The magnets feel strong enough to hold the keyboard in place but loose enough to be easily removed. With just half a 13-inch screen, it comes as close to a netbook as any laptop that hit the market in the past 10 years.

The wireless keyboard connects easily via bluetooth and charges the keyboard while it is at the top of the screen. Once the keyboard is in place, the system will automatically darken half of the lower screen and resize the screen to the upper half. It's a pretty fluid transition, switching between the different modes and orientations. Lenovo also created a manual mode switch in Windows. However, if everything is working correctly, you shouldn't have to use it.

The keyboard layout is downright strange.

When developing the keyboard, it was clear that Lenovo was careful to keep the QWERTY distance known. My hands, of course, fell right on the size and shape of the keycaps, as opposed to some smaller layouts like the Surface Go 2 Type Cover. I am happy for that. The layout, however, has a major tradeoff.

For example, your right little finger lands on the Enter key instead of the semicolon. The colon, semicolon, apostrophe, and quotation mark are blocked by the P key, which requires many keystrokes. It took some getting used to, and I would have preferred a shortened Enter key instead. It is similar with the hyphen and the plus keys.

The biggest culprit is the question mark key. It no longer has its own key, which is very inconvenient and difficult to get used to. Again, I'd be happier with a shorter shift key.

Beyond the layout, the keyboard is surprisingly easy to type. The trip is very flat but it's about what I would expect from a device like this. After all, keeping it as thin as possible is of the utmost importance. It feels a bit thick to type as a laptop because the palm rests are almost non-existent. This also means that the touchpad is very small. That is unfortunate. It's going well enough, but it feels tight.

Fortunately, once you pull the keyboard away from the screen, the device thickness problem is resolved. This is my preferred way of using the ThinkPad X1 Fold. With the screen fully open and supported by the stand, you can sit back with the keyboard and use it however you want. This is an attitude that even the Surface Pro cannot replicate. I found it ideal for getting work done thanks to the 4: 3 13-inch screen.

Of course, you'll still face the limitations of the keyboard, but the freedom of movement is excellent. If only the ThinkPad X1 Fold could act as a secondary monitor! You can of course use one of the USB-C ports to connect to an external display while the other is used for charging.

The second problem with both the keyboard and the pen, however, is that none of them are included. As with other Windows 2-in-1 devices, I would be very disappointed if I only bought the ThinkPad X1 Fold without a keyboard. This is a bummer, especially when the keyboard feels like such an essential aspect of the device.

Adding both peripherals costs an additional $ 250. This is more than what Microsoft charges for the Surface Pen and Type Cover.

Display and speaker

The foldable OLED display is the star of the show. It's a 13.3-inch screen with a resolution of 2048 x 1536. This is an aspect ratio of 4: 3 and makes the screen so different from your standard 16: 9 or 16:10 laptop. The square shape makes for a better tablet and a wonderfully large work area. Lots of space to distribute apps and display the entire length of the web pages.

The screen has a pleasantly warm tint and the color accuracy is not the strength of this laptop. Thanks to the performance limitations, you shouldn't be doing much beyond basic photo editing here anyway. With the large color spaces (100% sRGB and 97% AdobeRGB) and the striking contrast of the OLED, the ThinkPad X1 Fold is a great device for watching videos and films on the go.

The folding aspect of the screen cannot be pulled off as seamlessly as on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2. In contrast to the single fold of this device, the ThinkPad X1 Fold has a double fold. This is especially noticeable when the brightness is lowered or when the touchscreen is used, similar to the Motorola Razr folding phone in this regard. Lenovo has got off to a good start with this technology, but the creases and the obvious layer of plastic on the screen feel a little cheap under your fingers. Samsung's implementation still feels higher quality. The ribs along the ThinkPad X1 Fold's bezels along the hinge don't help, and are highlighted by some of the thickest bezels you'll ever find on a product released in 2020.

But none of that takes away the cool factor of the ThinkPad X1 Fold. It feels futuristic every time you unfold this screen and it is sure to delight your friends. Do I wish Lenovo had cut off some fat and cleaned up the bezels? Sure. If we ever get a second generation of this, there is certainly room for improvement.

The speakers suck. They're labeled Dolby Atmos, but that doesn't mean much these days.

Many tablets have fantastic audio, like the iPad or the Pixel Slate. These benefit from the fact that the speakers are located at the front next to the display. The ThinkPad X1 Fold's speakers are on the sides, which is not ideal. In addition, they sound terribly thin. Unfortunately, you get richer audio with an iPhone.

performance

The ThinkPad X1 Fold is unique beyond its form factor. The processor inside is also an experiment. It is one of the first devices to run on Intel Lakefield chips. These are hybrid processors that combine elements from the mobile and desktop architecture. One “big” core for laptop-like performance and five “small” cores for tablet-like efficiency. The ThinkPad X1 Fold manages that, but in the end it feels more like a low-performance laptop.

Using PCMark 10 as a benchmark, the ThinkPad X1 Fold is about 25% slower than a standard laptop for basic tasks such as surfing the Internet and word processing. This has been tested on laptops like the HP Specter x360 and the Dell XPS 13, which are your standard class of Intel U-series Ultrabooks.

In Geekbench 5, it even loses to Core m3 laptops like Microsoft Surface Go 2 or Windows to ARM laptops like Lenovo Flex 5G. This applies to both single-core and multi-core processing. For a device valued at $ 2,499, that's not too promising.

The chunky performance was definitely felt when I used the ThinkPad X1 Fold for my daily work with web apps, multitasking, and productivity. Heavier tasks like 3D gaming or content creation are not allowed as this Lakefield chip does not benefit from Intel's improved Iris Xe graphics in 11th generation Tiger Lake.

The performance limitations seem reasonable when using the X1 Fold as a netbook or simple tablet. You probably don't want to do more than one task at a time with such a small screen. But when I was working with the keyboard unfolded, I wanted a faster processor.

My test unit came with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage, though you can upgrade that to 1TB for a whopping $ 3,099.

Battery life

The ThinkPad X1 Fold does not have a long battery life. Thanks to Android tablets and iPads, I always expect devices like the X1 Fold to have long-lasting batteries. You always disappoint.

It pales in comparison to an iPad, but also an average laptop. The ThinkPad X1 Fold lasted six hours and 13 minutes on a single charge when surfing the Internet very lightly – but with a full display and no keyboard. Get an hour and a half more in laptop mode. That's better, but still not quite as good as similar laptops or tablets.

The X1 Fold is used for a maximum of nine hours, which the device lasted for local video playback.

Our opinion

The ThinkPad X1 Fold is the kind of laptop I want to love. There were moments while using the device that I experienced the spark of innovation that makes it so unique. It remains one of the most exciting PCs to hit in 2020.

But between these exciting experiences lie moments of frustration, confusion and disappointment. Too many to make this one that can be recommended to everyone except the most adventurous early adopters.

Are there alternatives?

The ThinkPad X1 Fold is the first of its kind. However, the experience of using it is most similar to a 2-in-1 device like the Surface Pro 7, Surface Go, or even an iPad Pro. The ThinkPad X1 Fold is by far the most expensive of these devices – and the slowest.

But once you include its foldable screen, it stands alone. On the smartphone side, however, devices like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 or Motorola Razr could cause the same pliable screen scratch.

How long it will take?

Durability is an open question about the ThinkPad X1 Fold and not one that I can currently answer. You open and close it much less than on a smartphone, that's for sure. For what it's worth, the hinge feels sturdy enough for years to come.

The bigger problem is performance and software. The X1 Fold already feels chunky and that won't improve over time. With Microsoft's lighter Windows 10X operating system coming out next year, you might want to too

Should you buy it?

No. It's expensive, first-generation hardware that doesn't have the software support to be successful.

Editor's recommendations




03 Jan
Blog

Hemp Cigarettes: Will They Give You Cancer?

There is a lot of talk about the dangers of tobacco and how it can cause various forms of cancer. Aside from the carcinogenic nature of the tobacco plant, there are many additives involved, and many of them are not too friendly. That could be why virtually every smoker you meet is "trying to quit". The key word here is "try" as many of them are unsuccessful.

We already know that hemp is not as addicting as tobacco. We're still talking about smoke inhalation here, however, and some have claimed that cannabis is also carcinogenic. Are these claims true? Are hemp cigarettes really a safer alternative to cigarettes? Let's do some research.

Question 1: is hemp carcinogenic?

The term "carcinogenic" is just a fancy way of describing substances that are known to cause cancer. As you have probably noticed, there are many of them in the world. To find out whether they are actually safer than tobacco cigarettes, we need to ask ourselves the following question: is hemp a carcinogen? Because if so, it would eliminate one of its main advantages over tobacco.

We found a pretty good study that looked at this in depth. After testing the smoke from hemp and tobacco cigarettes, these researchers found that hemp is nowhere near as dangerous as tobacco. Although both technically contain carcinogens (just smoke, by the way), the tobacco had a lot more. This explains why we have never heard of a cancer case directly caused by cannabis.

Here's another important point: the tobacco tended to work with the carcinogens present in smoke, while the hemp worked against them. Basically, the cannabinoids inhibit the action of the enzymes that are necessary for these carcinogens to be absorbed by the body. So we can see that hemp could actually be an anti-carcinogen. The only carcinogenic aspect of hemp smoking is the carbon monoxide contained in the smoke itself.

Question 2: does hemp have cancer-fighting properties?

This study, Mr. Hanfblume examines, is very interesting because it shows us how cannabis can actually act as a carcinogen. Based on what we've seen so far, it appears that the nature of the plant and its constituents is capable of canceling out the carcinogenic effects of smoke itself. The question is how far can we go with this conclusion? Let's see if we can find hard evidence that hemp has cancer-fighting properties.

First, everyone knows that hemp and its relatives / derivatives are used in the treatment of cancer patients. However, it should be noted that it is not a direct treatment. Rather, it is a measure against nausea that combats the side effects of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy patients often experience chronic nausea, which makes it difficult for them to eat enough. Since cannabis is both an anti-nausea drug and an appetite stimulant, it is a natural choice. However, this is not an indication of a direct carcinogenic effect.

For this kind of evidence we have to turn to some clinical studies like this one. These researchers used slightly modified forms of cannabis on cancer cells while reviewing the work of others on the same topic. The important point is this: They showed that cannabis can actually kill or inhibit the growth of cancer cells. The researchers said they were quite surprised at the sensitivity they saw, suggesting that hemp can effectively kill cancer cells.

Here is another interesting point from this research. They tested different variations of cannabis, including some that were CBD dominant and some that were THC dominant. Obviously, legal hemp smoking is much more similar to the former. THC-dominant cannabis is still illegal in most states. However, our study found that CBD-dominant strains were more effective at inhibiting cancer growth without negative side effects. Many common cancer treatments also kill healthy white blood cells and / or healthy bone marrow cells. As a result, cancer patients often look thin and emaciated. However, hemp doesn't have this problem.

Has anyone ever got cancer from cannabis?

This, of course, is the million dollar question. To find out if this is possible, we need to find out if it ever happened. We're not aware of such cases, but we'll do a bit of digging to be sure. This article had a nice rundown of the evidence, so it was a good start.

It seems that there is some debate among scholars on this issue. It is true that hemp smoke contains some of the same carcinogens that are found in tobacco. That being said, we can't find a specific case where someone actually got lung cancer from smoking weeds (hemp, marijuana, or any other way). We also find it very telling that scientists cannot agree on this matter. If there was a clear link between cannabis and cancer, no debate would be required.

Conclusion

To answer the question asked in the title, it is extremely unlikely that hemp cigarettes will cause cancer. In fact, we would say the chance is slim to none. There are probably 10-20 other things in your daily environment that could cause you cancer long before hemp. The carcinogens in the smoke itself counteract the carcinogenic nature of the plant. So you don't have to worry or be paranoid.

03 Jan
Blog

Eufy RoboVac G30 Review: Won’t Break the Bank

Eufy robot on the floor

Eufy RoboVac G30 Hybrid Review: This robotic vacuum cleaner isn't going to break the bank

"This is a cute little robotic vacuum cleaner that you can use to keep your home clean without cleaning your wallet first."

  • App informs you when parts need to be serviced

  • Manual remote control for easy cleaning

  • Very comprehensive app

  • Inexpensive for a 2-in-1

  • Questionable brush durability

  • The wiping is a little weak

Finding a good robot vacuum is not difficult. It's harder to find a good one that won't break the bank. Eufy is trying to solve this second problem with its RoboVac G30 Hybrid. I have been testing this robot vacuum for two weeks and am very impressed with what the vacuum offers. It has good suction, a very comprehensive app and talks to you.

The $ 379 Eufy RoboVac G30 Hybrid, which our daughter named "Mando" because it looks a bit like Mandalorian armor, definitely does the job as efficiently as possible. This is demonstrated by the exact back and forth pattern it follows across the floor. I can appreciate this simplicity. The Bissell Spinwave follows its own algorithms that defy logic. Not this one.

Set everything up

The Eufy Spin brush may not last long

The setup is similar to most robot vacuum cleaners. Find a place free of obstacles, put down the charging mat and lock the charging stand. As with other robotic vacuum cleaners, you should leave plenty of space on both sides. I didn't and like other vacuum cleaners it worked just fine. The vacuum cleaner can clean my 172 square foot family room / office in about 34 minutes.

On the bottom is a single three-pronged spin brush that sweeps dirt into the path of the vacuum. Due to my two weeks of use, I am concerned about the longevity of the spin brush. My office has low-pile carpets and the brush looks a bit disturbed. The Eufy Home app, which we will get into in more detail later, has a useful feature that reminds you when to clean or replace various components. According to the app, I have to replace my side brush within 247 hours. I am not optimistic that it will take that long.

The vacuum hardware itself is very attractive and unobtrusive. The top is made of very shiny plastic with a neat pinstripe pattern. At just 2.85 inches high, the vacuum fits easily under my couch and the step plates in my kitchen. There is a single sided sweeper on the right and a trash can on the back. The vacuum cleaner also includes an attachable mop accessory that falls under the garbage can.

Wiping is too short

The wiping function is just fine. The attachment under the garbage can doesn't have much space for water, but it covered my kitchen well. In contrast to the Bissell Spinwave, however, the mop head does not move and does not move. It just pulls itself behind the vacuum. The mop is also designed for water only, which is similar to most robotic vacuum cleaners, but again different from the Spinwave, which actually comes with wiping agent in the box. The smaller mop head keeps the original trash can in place. So if you have a dusty, dirty floor, you can run the vacuum as usual and pick up the same amount of dirt. But honestly, I probably won't be using the mopping function anymore because you need more than just water on a high-traffic floor like a kitchen.

This is a good, solid vacuum cleaner that will clean your floors and carpets well.

The vacuum also comes with magnetic strips that you can use to block areas where you don't want the robot to travel. That's not really ideal. My office is carpeted and I really don't want to put tape over the carpet. In general, putting tape on the floor to cordon off certain areas is a thorn in the side. I prefer to put a board over the threshold to my son's room as I can just slide it away later.

The vacuum has a speaker and gives verval warnings and status updates which is very nice. Some vacuums use a series of beeps to alert you to problems. A vacuum speaking to you removes any doubts about what is wrong. It's a nice touch.

software

The app for the vacuum is just as nice. Since I mentioned above, I'll start with the fact that the app will notify you when it's time to swap out components or order new parts. In addition to the side brush, you will be informed about the roller brush, the filter, the sensors and the rubber strip. That is a core function. Robotic vacuums run on their own, so it's harder to tell when something isn't working as it should. In all honesty, all robotic vacuums should have this built into their apps.

You can also schedule cleans, adjust the suction and voice settings, and even use your phone as a remote control to get the vacuum where you want it. It can also do spot cleaning and show you the layout that the vacuum created for itself. This isn't particularly useful data, but it's fun to look at.

Our opinion

This is a really solid buy at $ 379. It's one of the cheapest robotic vacuums out there, and it has a wide variety of features that are usually offered at higher prices. The vacuum cleaner does a good job on my office carpet and a slightly better job on the tile floor of my kitchen. Overall, I have no complaints about how it does its job. I just want a better option for locking certain areas.

Is there a better alternative?

A better alternative is hard to imagine at this price. High-quality models of robotic vacuum cleaners such as the Roomba s9 + have self-emptying trash cans. For a little extra cash, you can opt for something like the Roborock S5, which also comes with wiping accessories and has more advanced sensors.

Will it take?

The build-up of the total vacuum is fixed. I ask the app's estimate of how long the side brushes will last, but that's about the only question mark I have when it comes to durability. Side brushes are $ 10 for a pack of 4, so I'm not too worried about that. Eufy robotic vacuum cleaners come with a 12-month guarantee and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Should I buy it?

Yes. This is a good solid vacuum cleaner that will clean your floors and carpets well. I like the voice and remote capabilities, and maintenance reminders in the app are perfect for me. Now all we need is one in green so we can call it Grogu.

Editor's recommendations




03 Jan
Blog

5 Male Skincare Secrets that Models Rarely Reveal

If you've ever wondered how male models seem to have perfect skin without blemishes, you know that like women, they also follow careful skin care regimen. Products for men are specially designed for their specific skin type and pH level. Thanks to testosterone, male skin is at least 20% thicker and contains more collagen, which gives it a firmer texture. Because men have more sebum glands, their skin is less likely to dry out and wrinkle. On the other hand, regular shaving and sun exposure take a toll. Here are some of the secret male skin care tips that you want to know about.

1. Careful cleaning routine

Exposure to harsh UV rays and chemicals in makeup can damage even the toughest of skins. The ideal male skin care routine would include cleansing and exfoliating to remove dead skin cells and the build-up of dirt and pollutants. While having more sebum glands is great, you are more likely to develop acne. The best way to prevent bacteria from breaking out is to carefully cleanse them and let your pores breathe. Simple scrubs with sea salt or sugar crystals mixed with lather are good choices.

2. Nourishing face masks

Clay masks are exactly what you need to deal with excessive oils. Clay absorbs oil and leaves the skin clean. However, you will also want to receive masks that will nourish the skin cells. Use a CBD face mask with CBD oil and hemp seed oil. These oils are excellent antioxidants that help prevent cell damage and soothe irritated skin. Redness and rashes are common after shaving too thoroughly or using blunt razor blades. That's why you'll want to choose shaving creams that are fragrance-free, which can cause inflammation.

3. Beard management

While growing a beard or mustache, or wearing a stubble looks sexy, the excess hair can cause skin irritation, ingrown hairs, and beard flakes. Tiny bumps and rashes under the skin look unsightly and can be painful. Wash and moisturize your skin regularly, and watch out for small stubble that can grow inward and irritate your skin.

4. Regular hydration

Invest in a good moisturizer that suits your skin type and nourishes it from the inside out. If you are unsure which brand to buy, consult a good dermatologist for products that promote skin rejuvenation and collagen regeneration. Your skin needs every care to keep it looking youthful. A good moisturizer is an essential part of any gym bag.

5. Take care of your body

Your skin reflects the overall health of your body and it doesn't matter how many lotions you put on it. A well-trained body always has firmer skin. A gym is essential and doesn't have to be the fanciest place, but you do need to go there regularly. It doesn't matter if it's Planet Fitness, 24-Hour Fitness, or Anytime Fitness. All that matters is that you get to work. Find Anytime Fitness prices or Planet Fitness near you and log in anywhere to make sure you get regular exercise to keep blood flowing. Drink plenty of water for dehydration and eat more fruits and vegetables that act as antioxidants. Also, remember to get eight hours of sleep every night, which is vital for skin repair.

Try these secret tips and you are sure to get great looking skin modeling sports.

03 Jan
Blog

RHA TrueControl ANC Review: Fit For Every Ear

RHA TrueControl ANC real wireless earbuds

"Great sound and unique shape are held back by a low battery and a high price."

  • Full, rich sound

  • Responsive, customizable controls

  • Ergonomic design

  • Tons of earplugs included

  • Expensive

  • Mediocre call quality

  • Bad battery life

At the top end of the true wireless earbuds category, you can find some standout products like the Sennheiser Momentum 2 True Wireless, the Master and Dynamic MW07 Plus, and the Bose QuietComfort earbuds. If a company wants a seat at this table, it has to bring its A-Game with it.

That's what RHA is aiming for for the new $ 300 TrueControl ANC, a line of noise-canceling earbuds that defy conventional thinking in their shape, touch controls, and charging case. But are these innovations enough to earn our recommendation's TrueControl? Let's look at them.

What's in the box?

RHA TrueControl ANC real wireless earbudsSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

With the exception of a few very small plastic stickers, the packaging of the TrueControl is made from 100% recyclable paper and cardboard, which I think is very commendable.

In the packaging, the TrueControl ANC earphones are already in the charging case, a USB-C charging cable and 10 pairs of earplugs, three of which are made of memory foam and were manufactured by Comply.

design

RHA TrueControl ANC real wireless earbudsSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Typically, true wireless earbuds are built so that you insert the tip into your ear canal and then twist the earbud back and forth until you find the magical combination of comfort, safety, and sealing. The RHA TrueControl ANC takes a different approach. The earphones are made of a non-slip, matt black plastic and are asymmetrically shaped and contoured so that they can only be inserted directly into the ear.

The touch controls are some of the best I've tried.

Once seated, this shape prevents any twisting or turning. It's a bit of a risky design decision considering how differently everyone's ears are shaped, but RHA believes they were designed to "fit right in the ear". Although they stick out a bit from your ears, they're no bulkier than the Sennheiser and significantly less bulky than the Bose QuietComfort earbuds.

The touch controls also deviate from the norm. They look like physical buttons, but are actually tiny gesture-based touchpads that can be swiped or tapped.

The charging case is identical to the RHA used for the TrueConnect and TrueConnect 2 earbuds – a stunning and unique rotating barrel with a black aluminum frame – but this time with wireless charging. A tiny indicator with three LED battery life indicators on the barrel lights up when you open the case. Unfortunately, the unusual choice of design and materials makes the case large and heavy – it weighs 3.8 ounces with the earbuds, down from just 2 ounces for the Jabra Elite 85t.

The edges of the aluminum frame can scratch other items if you don't know exactly where to stow it. Another unique feature of the case design is that the earbuds are swapped out when you open them with the plastic case facing up (this is the only option if you want them to lie flat on a surface). The left is on the right and vice versa.

If they're new in the box, take a good look at the earbuds and case. It's probably the last time you'll see them without their fingerprints. The slightly rubberized matt plastic is an absolute magnet for fingerprints.

The earbuds are easy to remove and replace and are held in their charging sockets by strong, but not overly strong, magnets.

Comfort and control

RHA TrueControl ANC real wireless earbudsSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Due to their unusual shape, the TrueControl ANC have a large contact area. This means that they likely feel like they “fill” your ear more than other earbuds like Apple's AirPods Pro, which have a much smaller profile. Once you get used to it, it's surprisingly convenient. It's also very safe, so you no longer have to rely on ear fins or other support structures like those found on the Bose QuietComfort earbuds.

RHA's inclusion of a wide variety of earbud sizes and types is a big reason I was able to find a good fit, and this should be the industry standard. After using the standard silicone earbuds for a few hours, I eventually swapped them out for the largest size of Comply foam tips, which I think offer even more comfort and much better sound quality (more on this below).

I can't tell you with 100% certainty that the TrueControls will suit you, but given the number of tips to choose from, your chances are far better than if RHA had simply offered the same three sizes as the vast majority of real wireless earbuds. Yes, a few extra tips that you probably never will use are a little wasteful, but better than returning the earbuds as you can't get them to fit.

The touch controls are some of the best I've tried, probably because – unlike other so called touch controls – they use a capacitive touch surface rather than a motion sensor to detect when you're using them. Not only does this make it easier for custom typing (since you don't have to worry about how hard you hit them), it also enables TrueControl's swipe-based gestures.

Skipping forward a track will swipe the left earbud forward, and skipping backward will intuitively swipe backward. The volume is adjusted using the same procedure, but using the correct earbud.

Once you find the earplugs that give you a good seal, the TrueControl ANC sounds really great.

Not sure if you like the swipe control method? The RHA app lets you customize them and select swipe or tap gestures for volume, track skipping and ANC mode, as well as the earbud used to perform these tasks.

The infrared wear sensors are also very good at detecting when you've removed an earbud, pausing the music quickly and restarting it when you put the bud back in.

Sound quality

RHA TrueControl ANC real wireless earbudsRHA

Once you find the earplugs that give you a good seal (another reason I love that RHA has so many in it), the TrueControl ANC sounds very good. Using the factory EQ provides a very satisfactory frequency balance with plenty of warm low-end bass, detailed mids, and crisp highs. With the RHA app you can adjust these settings with four additional presets. However, there is no way to create your own settings. This is a surprising omission given that this feature is standard on so many other high-end models (and even some budget-friendly ones). .

Voices, more than music, can be drowned out by vehicles, and TrueControl has practically kept those interruptions at bay.

The stereo imaging is well rendered and I particularly like the resonant and authoritative feel of the bass response. But as good as they sound – and I think most people will enjoy them a lot – I don't think they do as well as some of their direct competitors. The $ 230 Jabra Elite 85t and $ 230 Sony WF-1000XM3 both offer a wider soundstage and overall greater clarity, especially for vocals. To be clear, there isn't much of a difference and you would have to listen to the same tracks over and over and switch between those models to find out the intricacies.

If you're an Android user, you'll also benefit from the aptX Bluetooth codec which, under the right circumstances, offers better audio quality than SBC or AAC, although that difference is negligible when streaming from very high quality sources like Tidal and HiFi.

Noise cancellation

The RHA TrueControl ANC can compensate for external noises very well. One of my favorite torture tests is wandering busy streets listening to podcasts. Voices can be drowned out more easily by overtaking vehicles than by music, and TrueControl has easily kept those interruptions at bay. When seated in an environment with persistent noise like a loud fan or vacuum cleaner, they don't display the amazing silent cone effect that the AirPods Pro offer, but I have yet to come across another set of ANC buds that can. High frequency sounds can still prevail, but low frequencies are canceled very effectively.

Oddly enough, the TrueControl does such a good job of passive noise isolation (especially when it comes with the Comply foam tips) that you might not need an ANC. However, you will feel the need for ambient mode which runs very well. This can be turned on as always, or just briefly selected for Quick Surround mode by tapping and holding the left earbud. You can adjust how much sound gets into the RHA app.

Battery life

RHA TrueControl ANC real wireless earbudsSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

ANC appears to be a serious problem for the battery life of true wireless earbuds. RHA's non-ANC TrueConnect 2 offers excellent playback of 9.5 hours and a total lifespan of 44 hours with the included housing, but the TrueControl barely does what I want for the minimum of endurance with just five hours per charge and a total of 20 hours keep up with the fall. RHA does not say how long they last if you turn ANC off.

For comparison: the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 receives seven hours per charge and a total of 28 hours with the charging case.

In this price range, only the Bose QuietComfort earphones achieve poorer performance with six hours per charge and only 18 hours of total playtime.

A 14 minute quick charge will give you an extra hour of life, which is roughly average.

Call quality

Call quality on the TrueControl ANC is good, but not great. Callers could hear me with acceptable clarity, but background noise – even moderately loud – tended to be annoying. When call quality is paramount, the Bose QuietComfort earbuds are a much better choice.

Oddly enough, I couldn't get the microphones on the TrueControl to work with voice recording apps on iOS or Android.

Our opinion

A solid set of features coupled with great sound quality and good ANC make the RHA TrueControl ANC a great set of noise canceling earbuds, but their unusual shape and high price tag might keep them out of the running for some people.

Is there a better alternative?

Because the TrueControl ANC is priced at $ 300, many of the best noise-canceling models make great alternatives, especially if price, battery life, and call quality are your primary concerns. This includes the $ 230 Jabra Elite 85t$ 230 Sony WF-1000XM3$ 280 Bose QuietComfort earphonesand if you're an iPhone user that's $ 249 AirPods Pro.

How long will they last?

The RHA TrueControl ANC and its charging case are built super solidly and I expect them to last for many years. RHA grants a three-year guarantee on them, which is by far the longest factory guarantee in the industry. With an IPX4 rating for water resistance, they should be able to handle moderate sweat with ease.

Should you buy it?

Yes. While the TrueControl ANC is expensive compared to the competition, it sounds great, offers a very secure and tight fit, and does a good job of canceling noise.

Editor's recommendations




03 Jan
Blog

What to Know Before Getting a Medical Marijuana Card

Cannabis is often surrounded by stigma, which makes people reluctant to use medical marijuana. Some people may have grown up when its use was strongly discouraged; others may remember the war on drugs. Today, however, things have changed and more and more patients are considering the use of medical marijuana.

What exactly is a card?

More than half of the states have medical marijuana programs, and some of these areas allow recreational use. Some programs are similar, but more lenient regulations may apply in certain areas. Medical marijuana cards are state-issued IDs that show that you have received a rating that has qualified you for the use of medical cannabis. Once you have a card, you can legally buy pharmacy products for the condition. Others who do not have valid cards may not be able to enter medical marijuana dispensaries.

The eligibility requirements depend on your state. For example, many states with medical marijuana programs give cards to patients with serious medical conditions such as terminal diseases. Some states have lists of qualification requirements. Even if you don't already have one on the list, you might be able to get a card. In many areas, doctors can decide whether someone can benefit from cannabis.

Often times, if you're wondering how to get a medical marijuana card in Ohio, getting it isn't difficult. You can apply for your card online in just 15 minutes and the process is quick and easy. You only pay if you've been approved and don't need to make an appointment. Regardless of where you live, you will need to provide proof of residence. This could include a driver's license or some other form of government issued ID card. Once you get the card, you can only use it in the state you live in. Whenever you travel, your best bet is to check the regulations in the region you are visiting.

Free time vs. medicine

Government regulations determine whether medicinal cannabis is cheaper than recreational use. However, patients often find that medical cannabis is cheaper because there are usually not that many taxes. You also need to check the quality of the product. Medical pharmacies test the herb for contaminants, unlike the illegal market. For example, let's say your state isn't legalized for leisure and you want to use it for a chronic condition. In this case, it is best to get a card. That way, you may not have to rely so much on potentially addicting opioid drugs. Buying your product from a pharmacy is the best option as you will know the exposure and THC level that you will be receiving. They may be better suited to treating medical conditions.

Don't forget to renew

Many people believe that after receiving their health card they no longer have to worry about getting a new one. But that's not true. Many states require you to renew it once a year, so you will need to reapply. Don't wait for the card to expire before renewing it. Otherwise, you risk losing the benefits.

03 Jan
Blog

Apple MacBook Air M1 Review: Fast, Fanless, and Fantastic

Macbook Air M1

"The MacBook Air M1 finally delivers on the promise of a small laptop with no performance restrictions."

  • Apple's M1 blows Intel around

  • Phenomenal battery life

  • Excellent keyboard and touchpad

  • Very solid build quality

  • Just good looking

  • Supports an external display only

Apple was never afraid to break with the past, even if the transition might be painful. For example, when it found the floppy disk was out of date, it dropped it and went all-in USB. The same thing happened with Motorola CPUs, which were dropped for Intel when the PowerPC could no longer keep up. Now it's that time again, this time the MacBook Air, the MacBook Pro 13 and the Mac mini will be equipped with their own ARM-based silicon and Intel will be left behind.

For some MacBook fans, this could be a scary proposition because how well could the Apple M1 work if ARM's only showcase to date has been the very overwhelming initiative of Windows 10 on ARM? If you've read our MacBook Pro 13 M1 review, you already know the answer to that question. At least on this machine there is nothing to be afraid of. I put the MacBook Air M1 through its paces to see if the fanless version of Apple's initiative works too.

For this review, I got the entry-level MacBook Air M1 for $ 1,000 with just 8GB of RAM, a 256GB solid-state drive, and a 7-core GPU. There's another version that gives you 512GB of storage and an 8-core GPU for $ 1,250. My experience didn't even include the maximum 16GB of RAM that can be configured for a few hundred more dollars. Was I disappointed or did Apple pull a rabbit out of my hat?

performance

OK, I know it's not fair to imply that the Apple M1 is doing some kind of magic trick. After all, it is an eight-core CPU with four high-performance cores and four more that come into play for smaller tasks and a sip of electricity. It's just that it's an ARM-based technology that has pushed Intel's core CPUs into the background in terms of perceived performance for some time now. If the MacBook Air performs well, it's no magic. Rather, it is an impressive new technology that promises wonderful things to the MacBook range.

Macbook Air M1Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

There's no reason to keep you going: the MacBook Air M1 surprised me in a good way with its performance. And that's not just a comparison with the current Intel MacBook Air, which uses a 9-watt version of the Intel Core i3 and i5 CPUs that lag behind their 15-watt Windows 10 equivalents. No, the MacBook Air with the 10-watt Apple M1 is using the latest 12 to 28-watt Tiger Lake processors from Intel (this time, Intel gives a range rather than a static value) and in many cases gives them a good old value-fashionable beating.

Before we get into the numbers, let's get something straight. The Apple M1-based computers run the fastest with software written for the M1 architecture. This makes sense and includes all of Apple's software plus a few other applications and utilities. If it wasn't written for the M1, it runs through Apple's Rosetta 2 emulation layer. That means, of course, that it won't be as fast as native software. And sometimes, especially with software that requires hardware drivers, an application may not run at all.

Take Geekbench 5, for example, which runs natively on the M1. The fanless MacBook Air M1 performed slightly better than the fan-filled MacBook Pro 13 M1. We're talking 1,727 versus 1,707 in single-core mode and 7,585 versus 7,337 in multi-core mode, but it's still noteworthy that the less expensive and theoretically slower MacBook Air M1 was faster than the Pro. And with their four cores and eight threads, both machines achieved a significantly higher score than the currently fastest Tiger Lake laptops. The MSI Prestige 14 Evo, for example, has the fastest Tiger Lake CPU you can buy, the Core i7-1185G7, scoring just 1,593 and 5,904 points, respectively. Even the 45 watt Core i7-10850H with six cores in the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 couldn't keep up with the M1 and only managed 1,299 and 6,372.

Worried Apple would force you to give up performance on its transition? Do not be so.

Next, let's look at Cinebench R23, another benchmark app written for the M1. Here the MacBook Air M1 couldn't beat the MacBook Pro 13 M1, but it was in close proximity. And it came almost close to the Lenovo Yoga 9i with its 6-core Core i7-10750H in high-performance mode that cranks up the fans. Notably, the MacBook Air M1 was completely silent (no fans, duh) and barely got warm – I was able to comfortably hold it on my lap while it ran the test. I said before that it wasn't magic, but maybe I'm wrong.

I also did our handbrake test which encodes a 420MB file in two iterations in H.265. The first used Handbrake 1.3.1 which runs in emulation mode and the second used Handbrake 1.4.0 Beta which was written for the M1. In the first case, the MacBook Air M1 took about 4.5 minutes to complete the test. This is roughly the time it would take for laptops with the 10th generation Intel Core i5. In the latter case, the MacBook Air M1 completed the test in 2.8 minutes. This is comparable to 45-watt Intel laptops with six cores and Handbrake 1.3.1 and just eight seconds behind the MacBook Pro 13 M1 with the native version. Again, the laptop barely warmed up. These results provide an insight into the effects of a native on the M1 on an application.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, I ran some other tests in Adobe Premiere Pro (which is not yet optimized for the M1) using the PugetBench benchmark. MacBooks have been the go-to choice for many creatives in the past, but this has never been the game of the MacBook Air. Due to severe performance limitations on the Intel version, running one of Adobe's Creative Suites was a challenge. But the M1 changes all of that, even with the $ 999 MacBook Air.

The MacBook Air M1 competed heavily with the more powerful CPUs from Intel and made mince of the Tiger Lake laptops from Intel. I also ran a Premiere Pro encoding test that produced a 2GB 4K video and the MacBook Air M1 running in emulation was about 40 seconds faster than a Tiger Lake laptop.

Most impressive was that this level of performance ran through the emulation. Imagine how quickly Premiere Pro (and Photoshop, Lightroom, etc) will work if it's native in the M1. Getting that kind of performance on a laptop this thin, light, and fanless is a transforming moment for creative professionals who might want to carry around a smaller machine but don't want to compromise on performance. For the first time ever, you can get some serious creative work on a MacBook Air – and that's a big deal.

In practice, I've noticed some minor slowdowns in legacy applications like Microsoft Office (Microsoft released native versions right after the test report finished). This is especially true for the start: Office apps are only faster on Intel computers than on the MacBook Air M1. But the difference isn't so big that it bothered me, and if I didn't check the laptop, I probably wouldn't even notice. Of course, Mac OS itself and every application optimized for the M1 was incredibly fast.

What about games? I didn't run all of the gaming tests on the MacBook Air M1. This is supposed to be a productivity laptop, not a slot machine, after all. Fortnite ran at around 33 frames per second (fps), however, with a resolution of 1,680 x 1,050 and high graphics that are playable and faster than the Intel Iris Xe graphics from Tiger Lake. In Civilization VI, the MacBook Air achieved 51 fps with the same resolution and medium graphics and sank to 32 fps with ultra graphics. Again, this outperforms Intel Iris Xe laptops and competes with integrated low-end graphics such as the Nvidia GeForce MX350.

This completely silent, fanless laptop is a better slot machine than the equivalent Intel laptops, which you would never have expected from a MacBook Air. Note that I tested the seven-core GPU model. For $ 250 more, you can get an eight-core GPU model that will be … well … one core faster. This version also includes 512 GB of storage space.

Macbook Air M1Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Finally, I mentioned that not all applications will run on the MacBook Air M1, although I don't have many examples to give. The decisive factor was the software for my older colorimeter, which did not require the necessary drivers for the MacBook.

But most of the other apps I tried also ran in emulation and were as fast as I would get with at least a mid-range Intel laptop. There were outliers like the Epic Games Launcher, which was just as sluggish on the MacBook Air M1 as it was on the MacBook Pro 13 M1, but there were few.

Battery life

Performance is just one area in which the Apple M1 promises serious progress. The battery life is different – after all, it is essentially an ARM chip that is designed to be efficient. How efficient can a laptop be when it offers the same performance as CPUs that are purely designed for performance? Let's find out.

Macbook Air M1Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

First, I ran our standard web benchmark, which runs through a number of popular websites. This is the yardstick we use to emulate productivity longevity, and it works pretty well. The MacBook Air passed the 15.5-hour test, one of the longest results we've seen. The Lenovo Flex 5G with its own ARM processor – the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx – lasted about 50 minutes longer, but there is a catch. The Lenovo had a Full HD display (1,920 x 1,080), while the MacBook Air M1 has a Retina display with a resolution of 2,560 x 1,600. That's a huge perk for Apple – give it a Full HD display (not what you want) and we'd expect a few more hours of it.

Next, I ran our video benchmark, which runs through a Full HD Avengers trailer until the laptop shuts down. The MacBook Air M1 lasted 18.5 hours. Again, this isn't as long as some of the longest-lasting laptops we've tested, but it's by far the longest-lasting device with a high-resolution display. The Lenovo Flex 5G was stronger again with almost 28 hours, but it also benefited from its lower resolution display.

We usually use the Basemark web benchmark test to see how long a laptop with its CPU and GPU will last under heavy load. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to complete the test on the MacBook Air M1 so I won't be able to report on its longevity if you press it hard. However, given the M1's inherent efficiency, we expect that the MacBook Air M1 will allow you to spend a lot of time, even if you ask a lot of it.

design

Macbook Air M1Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The design of the MacBook Air M1 is unchanged from the Intel version. Literally. That said, it's the same wedge of machined aluminum that feels like an alchemical amalgamation of glass and metal. It is completely stable, without twisting, bending or bending. Apple is doing a few things right, and designing and manufacturing laptops that exude rugged elegance is one of them. You can choose from three colors – space gray, gold, and silver – and they all look beautiful.

It's also a very thin and light laptop that is 0.6 inches and 2.8 pounds. Windows 10 laptops like the Dell XPS 13 and HP Specter x360 13 have caught up and are either thinner and lighter or close to it, so the MacBook Air generally no longer maintains its superiority in that regard. And the MacBook Air M1 isn't as small in width and depth as some of its 13-inch rivals, either, as it still has the same relatively large bezels it struggles with. When you add a display with a 16:10 aspect ratio, you'll find that the MacBook Air M1 doesn't fit into the same tiny silhouette as some others.

Really, these are nits because the differences between these sizes are tiny. Perhaps the MacBook Air M1 would look a little more modern with smaller bezels, but it's not like you'll struggle to find room for it in your backpack.

Macbook Air M1Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Connectivity remains a weak point in the MacBook Air M1. You get two Thunderbolt 3 ports and a 3.5mm audio jack. That's it. There isn't even an SD card reader to get your photos and videos. Get ready to buy some dongles, and a Thunderbolt 3 dock would be a good idea. Note, however, that the M1 does not support external GPU cases.

The M1 version only supports a single external display, either via the Thunderbolt 3 ports or via a dock. The reasons are deeply technical and based on the M1 architecture. However, if you need more than one external display, the M1 version is not for you. Compare this to the typical Windows 10 laptop or Intel-based MacBook, which can support numerous displays of different resolutions. Even laptops in the same $ 1,000 price bracket can typically support more than one external display if they have a Thunderbolt 3 port, multiple USB-C ports, or even an HDMI port (hey, remember these?).

Display and speaker

Macbook Air M1Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Like the design, Apple kept the same display for the MacBook Air M1. It's a 2,560 x 1,600 IPS display that looks great. It's not in the same class as the MacBook Pro, but you still get good performance enough for everyone but the most demanding creative professionals.

The brightness was 389 nits, which is enough for a laptop with average productivity but not up to Apple's high-end standards. The color gamut is slightly wider than average at 100% sRGB and 79% AdobeRGB – most premium Windows 10 laptops are 98% sRGB and 73% AdobeRGB. These aren't that big of a difference, but if you're looking to edit photos and videos, you'll appreciate the extra percentage points. The accuracy is particularly good at 1.39, with 1.0 or less indistinguishable to the human eye and the quality standard and the contrast ratio of 1130: 1 is above average (we want to see at least 1000: 1, and so the MacBook Air M1 crosses our threshold here).

The bottom line is that you are going to love this display and you probably won't have many complaints. If you're a creative professional and need the widest color gamut, go for the Pro line. You can choose the MacBook Pro 13 M1, get the same performance, nearly the same battery life, and enjoy a higher quality display.

Macbook Air M1Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Another area where the MacBook Air M1 can't quite keep up with its Pro siblings is audio quality. The speakers are very nice, don't get me wrong. They are clear and bright, with excellent mids and highs and a hint of bass. There is no distortion at the maximum volume – the only problem is that the maximum is not very loud. So you're good at listening for yourself, but if you want to share with a crowd, you'll need external speakers. And when you want to rock, prepare to pull out your favorite headphones.

Keyboard and touchpad

The MacBook Air M1 features the new Magic Keyboard, which Apple designed to replace the unfortunate butterfly keyboard on previous models. And it's a damn good keyboard, maybe my favorite of all the laptops I've used and the only one that surpasses the excellent version that HP has added to its Specter range.

The keycaps are a nice size and there is enough travel that you don't feel like you are typing on a block of wood (I'm talking to you here, butterfly keyboard). Best of all, the switches are top notch, with superb precision and perfect ground action that lets you know you've pressed a button. I can type faster on this keyboard than any other, and I hate to give up on it when I switch to a Windows 10 computer.

Macbook Air M1Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The touchpad is also superior due to its haptic nature. It's bigger than most of the touchpads you'll find on 13-inch laptops, it's buttery smooth, and once you get used to the haptic aspect you probably have more control than most touchpads. Windows 10 touchpads have gotten a lot better over the years, but still haven't caught up.

Finally, use the Touch ID sensor embedded in the power button to sign in without a password. This works fine. It's comparable to Microsoft's Windows Hello technology, though you won't find facial recognition in the MacBook line-up yet. I missed this while using the MacBook Air M1, although I end up preferring to use a fingerprint reader.

Our opinion

We said the 2020 Intel MacBook Air is "a respectable choice for Mac fans on a budget". I'm going to change that here for the MacBook Air M1: it's a respectable choice for any MacBook fan looking for a smaller device that is perfectly quiet, charges forever, and is almost as fast as the MacBook Pro 13 M1. Not only will you save money anymore – you get a laptop that will blow your mind with its performance (especially since more apps have been developed for the M1) while being extremely thin and light.

However, there are some limitations. You can't get more than 16GB of RAM (neither with the Intel version) and are limited to just one external display.

Are there alternatives?

The same competition that applied to the Intel MacBook Air also applies here. Only you will find that in many cases they are slower and don't last as long on one charge. The Dell XPS 13 is the obvious choice that you can get for $ 980 with a Core i3-1115G4 CPU and the same amount of RAM and storage – but the MacBook Air M1 will blast it out of the water. Configure the XPS 13 with its fastest CPU and you will find that it is still slower than the MacBook in many applications.

The HP Specter x360 13 gives you the option of a better OLED display and the flexibility of a 2-in-1 for a few hundred more, depending on your configuration. But here, too, the MacBook Air M1 is the faster laptop.

Finally, the MacBook Pro 13 M1 is for anyone looking for the fastest M1 machine available (although the difference isn't nearly as big as you can imagine). The display gets better and the speakers will blow your mind. You'll also be spending at least $ 300 more.

How long it will take?

The MacBook Air M1 should have a lifespan of at least five years as Apple keeps its laptops up to date. Certainly the machine itself will last forever because of the build quality, and you'll love the support from Apple (if not the industry-standard 1-year warranty). And the MacBook Air M1 is getting faster and faster as more software is optimized for the M1 CPU.

Should you buy it?

Yes. The MacBook Air M1 isn't just for MacBook fans looking for something smaller. It is intended for any laptop buyer who is happy to move to Mac OS and wants to participate in the real future of ARM-based computing.

Editor's recommendations




03 Jan
Blog

The art of deficit deadlift for the perfect workout at all

The Deficit deadlift is an excellent deadlift option for those looking for some strength and stability. This exercise is also of great benefit to people with severe back problems as it provides immense relief. For those who love better strength production, this workout is an ideal choice.

The deadlift of the deficit is undoubtedly for the right reasons. However, many people do not know how to do the exercise well. Because of this, we'll walk you through this exercise quickly and easily so that you can reap its benefits in no time.

A Look At The Deficit Deadlift Benefits.

You can take a look at that Deficit Deadlift Benefits before approaching the exercise. This will help you understand what expectations you should have from this workout and how to get it right.

1. Builds incredible physical strength

Deficit deadlifts are known to increase rear and lower back strength. All you have to do is come to the starting position and use your upper body to lean into the train. You benefit from this like never before with every exercise. You also need to make sure that the range of motion is increased. Such a thing allows the lifter to improve the maximum tension and strength at the ends.

2. Improved leg and hip movement

A lifter needs to increase hip flexion to improve movement of the legs and hips. As a result, Deficit Deadlift Benefits both body parts by limiting the injury in them. You can also increase the movement of your quad this way to improve your body's performance.

3. Improved facility

When looking for potential and safe trains, an improved facility is extremely important. If you put in a little effort to improve strength, it will have several positive effects on your body. Thus it acts as a primary Deficit Deadlift Advantage to you.

4th Stimulates strength production

In the midst of all the others Deficit Deadlift BenefitsYou can also observe force production, which increases your chances of improved body fitness and health. When your strength increases in deeper areas. This is how you make the muscle fiber in your body.

How do I do a sumo deficit deadlift?

If you are looking for something that has more potential and will improve your fitness game, Deadlift of the sumo deficit will be your ultimate savior. The sumo deadlift variant helps to bring positional strength and stimulates mobility in the body. It is also performed by weight lifters, bodybuilders, and athletes. If you want to practice this workout, make sure you follow the directions as required.

1. Stand on a 1-2.5 platform that is slightly off the ground.

2. Make sure the bar is on top of your laces. Don't forget to take a broad stance.

3. Now slide your hips back and pivot them forward until your torso is almost parallel to the floor.

4. Now go down and hold the bar shoulder width apart. Also use a double overhand grip.

5. Now inhale and gently pull the bar up while letting your hips pull like a seesaw.

6. When you drop your hips and pull on the bar, adjust the lats. At the same time, remember that your armpits are above the bar.

7. Now drive through the entire foot and focus on pushing the floor away.

8. When you've locked your hips, reverse the movement by pushing your hips back. You'll also need to pivot forward at this point.

9. Put the pole back on the ground and start the Deadlift of the sumo deficit to back up.

Deficit Deadlift VS Deadlift – Which Is Better?

Lots of people are confused between Deficit Deadlift vs. Deadlift. Many people are unable to tell the difference between the two. However, for those who do, it is uncomfortable to know which is better. So let's discuss which of the two is best for you and why.

Both deficit deadlifts and deadlifts are potential exercises that add strength and stability to the body. However, there are a few differences that need thorough discussion.

A deficit deadlift is a little more complicated than a normal deadlift. Such a thing is because a deficit deadlift involves almost the same steps. However, the range of motion is better here. This can become daunting for people to focus on all other aspects. Thus, a deficit deadlift is more difficult than a normal deadlift.

With a deficit deadlift, the demand for better mobility and flexibility is also higher. It happens because of the improvement in a better range of motion. For people who lack stability here, the regular deadlift can be their option. For a better range of motion, the deficit deadlift offers more benefits. As a result, between the Deficit Deadlift VS DeadliftWe now have a winner!

The final result

These were some of the best details about Deficit deadlift you have to know that. If you have any further questions, please contact us through our website. We're here to help!

FAQ

1. Something else Deficit Deadlift Benefits is there?

Other Deficit Deadlift Benefits Include more time under tension and increase leg strength.

2. Is that Deadlift of the sumo deficit useful?

Yes, the suMo deficit deadlift is useful in many ways. However, you need to make sure that you do the exercise well to avoid complications.

3. Is diet important in these workouts?

Yes, if you eat right, these workouts will give you instant results.

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