14 Jul
Blog

Ghost of Tsushima Review: Finding Peace In A Violent World

"There is a lot of pain in Ghost of Tsushima, but there is just as much healing."

  • Outstanding storytelling

  • Massively interactive open world

  • Well done fight

  • Unique tasks and side tasks

  • Cumbersome movement mechanics

Spirit of Tsushima combines effortlessly solid swordplay with a captivating story.

This new open-world role-playing game, exclusive to PlayStation 4, takes samurai Jin Sakai on a daunting search as he recaptures his home island of Tsushima from the Mongols. Its story is interesting, and it would be easy for developer Sucker Punch to use the ghost style as an excuse to call the mechanics. Instead, the game features one of the best sword fighting systems in recent times.

Ghost isn't perfect, but my grips are pale compared to the joy I had while playing. It, along with The last of us part II, enables the PlayStation 4 to go out with a bang. Both games illustrate the best titles of the late generation, albeit in very different ways.

Ghost of Tsushima screenshotPhoto courtesy of Sony

A world full of wonders

Tsushima Island is a wonder of the open world.

The world feels really open because you can enter every building, climb roofs and explore without tiredness.

The world shows different landscapes, from gentle fields to snow-capped mountains. The varied surroundings are very reminiscent of Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, but ghost goes a little further. The world feels really open as you can enter every building, climb the roofs and explore without tiredness. Every mountain is scalable and often worth climbing. The game features supplies and collectibles across the landscape, as well as small groups of enemies that you can take out to improve your standing.

Spirit of Tsushima includes small tasks to improve individual stats that felt well integrated into the game. For example, you can compose haikus or meditate on certain topics.

All of this made exploration, which some open world games make compulsory, an important pillar of the game. You can fully experience the game without feeling rushed to continue with the main story.

Ghost of Tsushima screenshotPhoto courtesy of Sony

A truly cinematic game

While crossing the world is magical, the game sometimes lacks environmental details. I was surprised to be able to walk straight through full-grown bamboo, which gave the “spirit” of Tsushima a new meaning. I understand that this will make traveling less cumbersome, but additional details, like bending the leaves away, would have felt more haunting.

Still, Ghost from Tsushima Otherwise takes the idea of ​​a “film game” to a new level and is inspired by the film author Akira Kurosawa. You have the option of increasing the contrast or activating Kurosawa mode, which is supposed to emulate the look of black and white samurai classics.

This visual setting is special because the image is not only converted to grayscale. The contrast is further increased. Projectiles and leaves floating in the wind multiply. The sound mimics that of an action film. It is clear that a lot of care has been put into this attitude.

Unfortunately, it's not the most useful look for combat and a lot of fun, and I doubt that you want to play the entire game with Kurosawa mode enabled (although this is possible). Fortunately, you can switch back and forth at will as the mode can be turned on or off via a simple menu and no game restart is required.

All of these functions, combined with an already impressive world, can easily be captured in photo mode. This feature is now common in console games with premium graphics, however Spirit of Tsushima offers more options than I've seen before.

In addition, Ghost offers serious (but not class-leading) input help. The last of us part II had many options to make the game playable for players with different skills. However, it is nice to see this kind of consideration again Spirit of Tsushima Options aren't that wideng. These controls make it easier to press keys in sequence or type once instead of holding down a key. For example, they also make it easier to recognize projectiles. However, The Last of Us Part II has specific controls for various actions and more customizable visual cues.

Ghost of Tsushima screenshotPhoto courtesy of Sony

Fighting fight

I couldn't spend all my time traveling or taking photos, and the gameplay and the fight didn't disappoint.

Parrying parades, figuring out how to defeat an opponent in a duel, and pulling combos all feel immensely rewarding. Most of the fight, especially at the beginning, takes place from sword to sword. If you set a block correctly, you can ward off an attack. As you progress through the game and defeat Mongolian leaders, you will unlock new positions that will help you fight different types of enemies. However, you will see all kinds of enemies from the start, so starting the game is a little more difficult than you might expect.

There are two main indicators you can track: your health indicator and your determination. You get determination through parades and by defeating enemies, and special attacks and weapons are unlocked. Parrying is important and you will likely rely on it more than in other games. However, you can also roll or run away from an enemy or come closer to take the final blow.

Ghost of Tsushima screenshotPhoto courtesy of Sony

It is possible to adapt your equipment and accessories to your preferred fighting style, be it melee, ranged or stealth. I've spent a lot of time looking at upgrade charts to see what my weapons or armor do, or what new skills I can learn. I have carefully planned my upgrade order according to my wishes (close combat until the end).

You can unlock spells by honoring shrines in the game. Hot springs increase your maximum health, and a series of quick keystrokes on a bamboo stand increases your determination. You'll unlock new weapons and armor by completing stories that include the main story and side quests. To upgrade your equipment, you need to stock up on the resources available worldwide.

Differences in armor and equipment are clearly visible, and you can easily switch weapons in combat. I was able to combine my experiences and often found myself changing charms or outfits depending on the task at hand.

Combat sequences are mostly a highlight, but there's nothing more frustrating than dodging an enemy blow just to roll into nowhere because you're on a slightly elevated platform. Many games are more forgiving and allow you to change heights, but there is no such luck here.

I found the game pretty easy. How easy it is depends on the player, of course, but I personally spent 75% of the game on the tough attitude. The game has only three options: easy, medium and hard. I started on Medium to hold out as much as possible, but I quickly became unchallenged. There is also no new Game + mode to unlock, although this could come later, much like Fallout 4's survival.

Open world, closed book

The story is less open than the world it is in, but I would argue that this is a good thing. In many open world games, players can take the liberty of how they want to go about it, but cannot back up their free-form efforts with reasonable consequences. Spirit of Tsushima gives players smaller choices so that their relatively low impact feels appropriate.

Still, I tried to maximize my selection. When I found out that it was against the samurai code to kill an enemy instead of giving them an opportunity to fight back, I tried to avoid stealth. However, the game still punished me for breaking code. I took every opportunity to do what I thought was good or right, and I felt that I should be rewarded for it.

But Spirit of Tsushima had a different story to tell. I was initially frustrated, but when I realized I was out of control, I relaxed. I played based on what was working right now, not what I thought the game wanted me to do.

This linearity is also not a mistake. I thought it made history more effective. Spirit of Tsushima is focused. It tells a story and tells it well.

However, there are many side quests, many of which are character-based. I often find side quests boring. Games like Fallout 4 and Death stranding, With its infinite amount of tasks, I was particularly exhausted from straying too long from the main story.

However, Spirit of Tsushima has finite side quests and each is its own self-contained story. The missions feel more unique than repetitive and have shaped the world around me. Non-player characters didn't feel like peasants on the hero's journey, no matter how heavily represented in the main story. It was easy to invest in their stories.

The biggest disappointment in Spirit of Tsushima is his facial animation. In a game that relies so much on emotional scenes and a character-based storyline, they should have been polished. Instead, the facial animation work is only functional.

Ghost of Tsushima screenshotPhoto courtesy of Sony

A philosophy lesson disguised as a game

During these stories Spirit of Tsushima asks the player a question. "What is the right way to win a war?" It's not about using your katana or bow. How do you kill and get the honor?

Jin grew up and learned the samurai's ways of killing with honor by looking your enemy's eyes instead of literally and figuratively stabbing him in the back. But the old methods don't work, and Jin begins to wonder whether it is more honorable to maintain traditions or to abandon them when fewer people die.

There is a crucial moment when Jin asks one of his allies if he has crossed a line. The answer is ambiguous but hopeful: "If so, we are on the right side."

Spirit of Tsushima does little to glorify the war. Memories of death and loss appear in every corner, and corpses shape the country. Nobody comes out unscathed. The invasion brings out the best in some, the worst in others.

It makes sense that you are forced to observe yourself when you draw haikus and meditate in hot springs. You cannot decide how Jin's story develops, but you can decide how you view loss, destruction, and rebirth. You can also determine how the haikus end at least.

Jin asks one of his allies if he has crossed a line. "If so, we are on the right side," replies his ally.

The problems you encounter are not always solved in a single side quest, and sometimes they are not solved at all. It’s very painful Spirit of Tsushima, but there is just as much healing. For example, after an area is liberated, people return to rebuild it. It feels great to see people returning to everyday life after so many tragedies.

I saw characters who felt in their hearts that they could be good, but didn't yet know how. I saw others overwhelmed with vengeance, but pulled away from the edge. Ultimately, I saw the Tsushima congregation coming together. Simple peasants took up arms or used their unique skills to help in every possible way.

These things point to the double nature of the game. On the one hand, it is extremely violent. On the other hand, it is mediative and thoughtful. This combination is not easy to implement and therefore makes Ghost of Tsushima worth playing.

Our opinion

Ghost of Tsushima is one of the beingsThe first games I played this year – it might have been my favorite if not The Last Of Us Part II. The story of Jin Sakai is violent but thoughtful and offers an experience that feels unique on the PlayStation 4, although 2020 is the last year of the console before the PlayStation 5 overtakes it.

Is there a better alternative?

There's nothing like Ghost of Tsushima. There are a few new elements, but the game is more than the sum of its parts. If you're looking for other open world games, the Fallout series or Breath of the Wild are good bets. But you can only get this story here.

How long it will take?

I finished Ghost of Tsushima in just under 60 hours. During this time I finished the entire main story, every side quest and got most of the collectibles. I expect it will take about 10 hours to find the rest of the game's collectibles.

Should you buy it

Yes. There are several big new titles to round off this generation, like Cyberpunk 2077, but this is one that PlayStation fans will surely keep in their back pockets as evidence of Sony's dominance.

Editor's recommendations




14 Jul
Blog

How to Grow Like a New Lifter After Lockdown

Calvin Huynh is a trainer, online coach and author. He is the founder of Awesome Fitness. Calvins delves deep into scientific research and distills the information into easy-to-understand and actionable guidelines.

His articles teach you everything you need to know to look good naked, live healthy, and act like a beast.

In this special episode, we'll discuss how to best approach your workout after locking. Have your pen and paper ready to take notes as you learn how to determine the number of days you should exercise, how many exercises to do, what intensity to work with, and how many sentences to do .

Calvin also identifies the surprising opportunities that come from being out of the gym and how you can use them to make new profits.

If you haven't been to the gym for a while and rely on body weight training or minimal equipment during the lockdown, don't miss this!

If you liked this podcast and you cared about it, rate and rate it so that we can spread the word and motivate and inspire others to take their performance to the next level. More podcasts of this kind can be found on the Six Pack of Knowledge page.

Your host Tom MacCormick is a personal trainer and online coach whose goal is to be the curator of the world's greatest hypertrophy experts. If you are interested in working with Tom or learning more about him, follow him on Instagram @tommaccormick or visit his website www.tommaccormick.com.

13 Jul
Blog

Abode Starter Kit Review: A decent but flawed home monitoring system

Residence Starter Kit rating upright in front

"The basic hardware with low specifications is disappointing, but with a smooth app experience, Abode is a smart home platform that shouldn't be ignored."

  • Beautifully designed web and app dashboard controls

  • Z-Wave, ZigBee, Wi-Fi and Abode RF connectivity

  • Support for more than 200 device integrations

  • Voice control via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant

  • Cheap, relatively weak hardware

  • Low resolution camera with blurry, smeared images

  • Inconsistent sensor connection

This year there was a revival of smart home security solutions, with August, Nest, Ring and Samsung SmartThings announcing all lines. Companies like Abode are, of course, old hands in intelligent security and sell gateways, sensors, remote key fobs and motion detection cameras after a successful Kickstarter start.

With Abode introducing a 1080p surveillance camera, door sensors, and a variety of third-party device integrations and compatibility with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, we thought it would be a good time to get the starter kit for $ 199 (originally $ 299 Dollars). You can find out how it developed in our test report for the Abode Starter Kit below.

The entire hardware range from Abode includes a comprehensive range of hardware, including a gateway alarm system, door and window sensors, motion and occupancy detectors, surveillance cameras, sockets, smoke detectors, temperature sensors and much more. The Abode Starter Kit is designed to introduce you to the ecosystem with a clear entry-level package that the bank does not break.

It contains the Abode Gateway, a relatively compact hub that serves as the heart of the security network and contains a siren with 93 decibels to deter even the bravest intruders. The gateway includes two door / window contact sensors, a motion camera and a remote control key to activate or deactivate the system with a simple push of a button.

Not a modest place of residence

The Abode Starter Kit is attractively packaged in a buff and cyan box, which describes itself as the "future of security at home". At first glance, it is certainly not a modest place to stay. The hardware itself is relatively well built, but does not quite match the premium feeling you experience with Nest or August products. The strict, modernist aesthetics of the black and white Abode Gateway will divide opinions. We're not big fans of the look of the device, which resembles a simple rectangular router from 2011 – fortunately without antennas. We were concerned about the sharp edges and sharp corners of the device. The Abode Gateway is covered with glossy acrylic, which easily takes fingerprints, stains and smudges. While it looks sharp (and literally feels that way), it also feels a little cheap.

Terry Walsh / Digital Trends

The remaining hardware that is included in the starter kit has a different build quality. The door / window sensors feel similarly weak, but the motion camera and two-tone key fob are more robust, with the latter feeling good in your hand.

Several radios connect a wide ecosystem of security devices with optional surveillance services

Perhaps the greater part of the construction costs were invested under the hood. With integrated Wi-Fi, Z-Wave, ZigBee and AbodeRF (the latter is a proprietary protocol for long-range connectivity), the Abode Gateway can be connected to a variety of sensors, intelligent sockets and controllers. Up to 155 devices can be connected. With Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, you can control some of your devices with your voice. You can also enable the Alexa Guard ability to enable and disable the system.

It's good to see a number of options, and the plans themselves are easy to understand

Some third-party devices also work with Abode, including Nest Cam, Nest Protect and the Nest Learning Thermostat, Philips Hue, Amazon Echo and IFTTT. In addition to the company's own devices, the gateway also plays with hardware from Aeon, Enerwave, Fibaro, GE, Kwikset, Leviton, Schlage and others.

In addition to this powerful 93 decibel siren, the Abode Gateway has a 10-hour battery backup that provides protection in the event of a power outage and an optional cellular network connection that is available for a monthly fee of $ 10.

Abode is billed as a professional security system. Therefore, it makes sense that the company also offers 24/7 professional monitoring bundled with a cellular backup for $ 30 a month. This Connect + Secure plan also includes a 90-day timeline and media storage, compared to just three days of storage available in the basic starter kit. You can decide whether professional surveillance is required for your home. However, it is good to see a number of options, and the plans themselves are easy to understand without temporary locks.

Smooth system installation with a little hiccup

As expected, installing a reasonably comprehensive security system at home is not a two-minute task, but Abode is clearly committed to making the process as smooth as possible. The gateway connects to your WLAN router via a replacement Ethernet connection. Pressing a quick button on the back of the device activates the backup battery.

From there you can configure the gateway with the free Abode app, which is available for iOS and Android devices. You need to create an Abode account and then continue the setup on your mobile device or desktop web browser.

Abode Starter Kit checking flat portsTerry Walsh / Digital Trends

Terry Walsh / Digital Trends

An activation code included in the scope of delivery identifies your gateway and is required to connect the starter kit to your account. After entering your Abode gateway will be found and activated quickly on the Internet. It's quick and easy.

Of course, you will then have the fun of installing the sensors and the camera at home. Fortunately, the Abode app guides you through the device installation with practical tips for placing and aligning the sensor. Depending on the size of your doors, windows, and frames, the sensors may be more than a little bulky. Although they increase safety, they certainly do not improve aesthetics. At the very least, they are easy to install, as double-sided adhesive strips ensure that no tools are required.

Abode clearly strives to make the installation process as smooth as possible.

The installation instructions for the motion camera was less successful. First we were asked to remove a clear plastic tab to activate the batteries, but the tab on the device could not be found. At this point we noticed that the batteries were in the box and were not installed. Not a drama, but a bit sloppy from a user experience perspective. Inserting the batteries was a quick task, but required a screwdriver to remove the back plate of the camera.

After switching on, you can try out different positions for the motion camera that takes still pictures when the integrated PIR sensor is triggered. Preview the resulting images and you're done.

A rear bracket snaps into the device for corner mounting. Adhesive strips stick to each wall to hold the camera in place. Alternatively, you can use another self-adhesive pad for the flat wall installation, which is included in the scope of delivery. While the adhesive pads are certainly practical and keep the equipment in place, we want wall anchors and screws to be supplied as a more permanent option as well. Attention tenants! The pads remove paint from the wall when removed. A stand for the camera that would allow more freedom in positioning as well as easy relocation would also be a great addition.

With the hardware set up, you can use the Abode app to grant family members and friends account access. Only two user accounts are supported in the free basic plan. However, if you sign up for one of Abode's monthly services, this restriction will be removed. A quick tour of the app and you're good to go. Allow at least 15 minutes to set up Abode, with more difficult camera positions requiring more time. Apart from this battery error in the camera, installing the Abode system was a breeze.

Simple and responsive hardware with little specification dilutes the experience

One aspect of living with Abode that we really liked was that you are not limited to monitoring the system through a mobile app. Log in to the Abode website using a desktop browser and you have full visibility and control over your home security. The system combines the convenience of controlling mobile apps with the convenience of desktop monitoring – a perfect combination.

When Abode first delivered its all-inclusive security package, it included an app for Android, which, to put it bluntly, was a first effort. Since then, Abode has been updated to version 5.0.4 and is miles better than the previous version. The first time you open the app, you will be asked for a PIN. You can also integrate your phone's fingerprint reader to bypass the lock.

As soon as you get into the app, you get access to your system status as well as quick actions and camera views via the dashboard. Quick actions allow you to create shortcuts to common tasks that prevent you from having to rummage through menus.

In the lower navigation bar you will find the most important information for the system. The timeline shows you all the events that have occurred. CUE is an automation function that we discussed in detail earlier. Your device list shows you what you have and what status you have, and all are just a tap away. Even the general app settings have been organized in a much better interface. The first edition of this app had most of what this version does, but the main difference is that they're in places that make sense. To put it cautiously, the last iteration of the app didn't quite reach this bar.

Overall, this is an important update to the software that is running your smart home security that was badly needed. The previous app relied heavily on using the in-browser interface while referring to mobile devices. You can still use the web interface, but it is much less reliant on it now. This app gives your phone a lot more control. This is the device most of us will turn to most anyway. This is a fundamental facelift for the app and the entire company.

Access Abode from a desktop browser and take advantage of an expanded range of features beautifully presented in a modern, web-based dashboard. Again, you can view a clear timeline of events and warnings, monitor and manage device status and settings, create quick actions (e.g. macros for multiple devices), and configure automatic home and away perimeters to activate the system based on or disable your smartphone location and more.

The gateway alarm was quickly triggered by the camera and was extremely loud.

On the other hand, you have to repeatedly deal with attempts to buy additional hardware or subscribe to one of the company's premium service plans. You can't blame Abode for starting a business, but once the plans are rejected at launch, these prompts really have to go away instead of popping up all the time. Overall, Abode supports a variety of monitoring and management functions that are well presented and very responsive on both mobile and desktop dashboards.

The starter kit hardware itself is a little less fancy. Images taken by the motion camera have a very low resolution (standard 320 x 240, maximum 640 x 480), which leads to blurry, smeared images that can be used to detect presence, but are not suitable for identification . Without night vision support, the camera relies on an integrated flash for pictures in the dark. The flash does a decent job of illuminating a dark room, even though the pictures are a little yellow. However, the low resolution is the main problem. You should definitely consider upgrading to Abode's newly announced 1080p indoor camera for $ 149, which offers live streaming video, triggered recording, and built-in night vision.

We also found the window / door sensors a bit spirited. While the system correctly recognized the opening of a door or window, it was far less successful in recognizing the same door or window. This caused complaints when we tried to activate the system. Abode repeatedly and incorrectly informed us that the door was open. Maybe with more time to fine-tune the positioning of the sensors, we could improve detection in both directions, but we were frustrated that the detection worked in one direction but not the other.

We had no complaints about the gateway alarm that was triggered by the camera or door window / sensor and was consistently loud. After triggering, we received a notification on the phone within seconds with practical options for notifying the police or disabling the alarm. The system responded quickly when we deactivated the alarm and the bat stopped in a few seconds.

Overall, we were pleased with Abode's simplicity and responsiveness, but as with any multi-device system, your experience will be determined to some extent by the smart home sensors and other hardware you choose to connect to. The Abode Starter Kit will certainly familiarize you with the basics, but it won't be long before you want to upgrade.

Add Alexa and other smart home devices for perfect partnerships

Of course, you can't start a smart home system these days without familiarizing yourself with a number of third-party devices. Since Google (via Nest) and Amazon both enter the smart home security game, startups like Abode have to deliver breadth, depth and quality when it comes to integration. At first glance, Abode seems to have hit the ground.

Abode's Alexa capability enables you to monitor and control the system with an Amazon Echo or other Alexa device. If you have security concerns, a verbal PIN number is used to confirm certain commands, e.g. B. deactivate the system or deactivate an alarm. In addition to core functions such as the gateway alarm, the capability supports a wide selection of commands, the control of connected locks, sockets, garage doors and configured quick actions.

We have found that Alexa integration works well. If you detect intrusion, you can verbally trigger (or disable) a panic alarm faster than when you search for your phone. It only takes a few seconds to activate the system using a voice command, and we have found that Abode is consistently very responsive.

We connected a Nest learning thermostat and were pleased to see that not only could you synchronize Abode's absence status with that of the thermostat, but that manual temperature control was also available through the Abode desktop dashboard and the mobile app. This is also not a quick and dirty implementation. In both dashboards it was clearly considered to create a simple, intuitive user interface that connects the overall design of Abode with the device to be controlled.

With a strong and flexible platform, Abode should not be ignored.

Abode has developed a strong and flexible platform that can easily serve as a control panel for many smart homes.

While the Abode Starter Kit isn't perfect, it does provide a convenient introduction to the company's smart home platform at a reasonable price. Given the Kickstarter roots, it's no surprise that the gateway hardware and sensors are a bit rough around the edges (sometimes literally) and we want second-generation devices from Abode to feel higher with higher specifications and higher reliability. The cameras and sensors included in the starter kit don't show the Abode ecosystem as well as it should, and although the gateway works well, it won't be the prettiest or best built device in your home.

However, if you look beyond these entry-level devices, you can see that significant investments have been made in Abode's underlying platform. The Abode app and the web dashboard are well designed and beautifully designed and support simple, intuitive control without being unnecessarily conspicuous. The third-party integrations we tested were easy to connect and worked well. This demonstrated Abode's potential as a comprehensive smart home solution that combines heating, lighting, entertainment and security.

Since large companies are now dominating the smart home market, Abode must certainly work on its hardware in order to continue the early dynamic. However, with a strong and flexible platform, Abode should not be ignored.

Warranty information

The Abode Starter Kit is covered by a one-year guarantee that covers material or processing defects.

Our opinion

The Abode Starter Kit offers a cost-effective introduction to the company's smart home platform. However, the included gateway, camera and sensors offer disappointing build quality and specifications. Abode's software platform, however, is simple, intuitive and can be connected to a variety of smart home devices. Abode may not be at the top of our list of smart home platform providers, but it's certainly one you should check out.

Is there a better alternative?

Before you decide to buy a Smart Home Security, you should opt for the higher-quality and more expensive Nest Secure system for $ 499 or the cheaper $ 199 ring alarm.

How long it will take?

After four years, Abode is doing an excellent job adding new features and upgrades to its platform. As a small company with installations of thousands instead of hundreds of thousands, time will tell whether the company can take over the power of Nest, Amazon and other technology giants. Smart home security is reviving and there will likely be casualties. So there is a certain risk of choosing a smaller provider that may be acquired or lost in the struggle for supremacy of smart homes. However, we are currently not aware of any specific problems that would indicate that Abode will not be available in the medium term.

Should you buy it

With a variety of companies announcing security solutions for smart homes this year, Abode would not be our first choice. The platform looks good, but the starter kit hardware is clearly Kickstarter class. Be sure to check out bigger competitors like Nest, Amazon, and Netgear before you get started.

Updated July 13, 2020: The updated app experience has been noted.

Editor's recommendations




13 Jul
Blog

Razer Blade 15 (2020) Review: A Trailblazing Gaming Laptop

"Razer's Blade 15 is the most attractive gaming laptop you can buy for money."

  • Sleek design

  • Comfortable keyboard and touchpad

  • Exceptional gaming experience

  • 300Hz refresh rate

  • Ideal port selection

All other gaming laptops swim in the course of the Razer Blade. It is a design that others want to emulate in both aesthetic and portable terms.

But with two years on the same chassis, the Razer Blade may not be as impressive as it used to be. The latest version is a refinement of the formula that offers more power and a faster 300 Hz screen with just a few minor adjustments to the formula.

Razer offers models for up to $ 1,600, but my test device costs $ 3,000. Does the Razer Blade still stand out to justify its premium, or has the competition caught up?

Design and keyboard

The Razer Blade's greatest achievement is not what it accomplishes, but what it completely avoids. It is a gaming laptop that defeats any design cliché that is normally associated with its competitors. It resists decorations and facades and instead focuses on straight lines and minimal chrome. Put it next to the Acer Predator Triton 500 or the Alienware m15 and you will see what I mean. The Razer Blade looks like a normal laptop.

This makes it a good option for someone who wants to use the device not only for games but also for other tasks, especially since it only weighs 4.6 pounds. It fits in your backpack as well as a MacBook Pro 16-inch or Dell XPS 15. The quality of machined aluminum is also exceptional as long as you can forgive how quickly fingerprints are captured.

There have always been exceptions to the blade's ethos and they include glowing lights. Razer's iconic green snakes still shine on the lid. It's dimmed on the silver version of this laptop, but it still glows outrageously here. The same applies to the RGB-loaded keyboard, which is backlit per key in a spectacular way and has become synonymous with the Razer brand.

Speaking of the keyboard: Razer has slightly adjusted the layout. The keyboard was previously equipped with full-size arrow keys, which forced a separation between question mark and shift key. Players may have appreciated the roomy arrow keys, but it was frustrating to type.

The layout is now more conventional, which I consider an upgrade. However, the keycaps on the Dell XPS 15 feel a bit small. It's a minor issue, but I would like to see less space between the buttons in a future design.

If you press a key, you will be rewarded with a fantastic key loss. There is a lot to travel with a satisfactorily springy mechanism that made me feel comfortable straight away. The glass touchpad is also a winner. It's big, responsive, and quiet. You won't find a better keyboard or touchpad on a gaming laptop.

Ports and security

All the bells and whistles are here, far beyond what your standard gaming laptop offers. Razer even throws an IR camera over the top bezel for Windows Hello face authentication. It is typical for gaming laptops to include HDMI and lots of USB 3.2 Gen 2. The blade contains both with a total of three USB-A and a single USB-C connector.

However, Razer goes one step further by including both Thunderbolt 3 and a full-size SD card slot. Creative professionals and content creators will appreciate it, which can support high-speed storage and quick access to camera files. Your photo shows how Razer wants to position the blade.

Although you can power the laptop through the Thunderbolt 3 port, Razer has a proprietary charging port on the left for full performance.

The Razer Blade even supports the latest connectivity standards like Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1.

performance

Owners like to use the Razer Blade for everything from video editing to gaming, but the balance of its performance tends towards the latter. This has ramifications for performance in productivity applications, which are not bad, but lag behind laptops that tend to work rather than play.

This year's model features the latest 10th generation Intel Core i7-10875H. The eight cores and 16 threads are a major advance over the six-core processors of previous generations. This is promising if you don't want to use the Razer Blade just for gaming.

In the Cinebench R20 multi-core benchmark, the latest Razer Blade 15 is a significant leap over the previous year. Again, it can thank these additional cores and threads for the bump. However, the Razer Blade lags behind some other non-gaming laptops that use the same processor. For example, it is 29% behind the Dell XPS 15.

Interestingly, the blade is a whopping 36% behind the Dell G5 SE. The G5 SE is a gaming laptop, but uses an AMD GPU and CPU, as well as SmartShift technology to share the performance between the components.

Handbrake video encoding tells a similar story. The Razer was 9% slower than the Dell XPS 15 and 19% behind the XPS 17.

That doesn't mean the Razer Blade 15 is a bad choice as a content creation laptop. If the GPU can be used, it is quite powerful. For example, it is a powerful video rendering rig in an application like Adobe Premiere Pro. It exported a 2 minute 4K video clip to ProRes 422 in 7 minutes and 42 seconds. This is much faster than the configuration I checked last year, which had an Intel processor with six cores and an RTX 2070 Max-Q .

Options like the Dell XPS 17 or the Microsoft Surface Book 3 are still unsurpassed in these tests. Although the Razer has a charged RTX 2080 Super, the XPS 17's RTX 2060 finished the same rendering in Premiere 46% faster. That's what a bigger chassis and improved thermal system mean to you.

All versions of the Razer Blade are equipped with 16 GB of dual-channel RAM as standard and no longer allow anything. Most other performance-oriented laptops offer up to 32 GB, including the Acer Predator Triton 500 and the Dell XPS 15.

Gaming performance

The greatest power of the Razer Blade is gaming. It comes with either the Nvidia RTX 2070 Super Max-Q or the 2080 Super Max-Q. These new Nvidia GPUs add just a few frames per second (fps) than the previous non-super versions. Fortunately, the Razer Blade was already an extremely powerful gaming laptop.

Assassin's Creed Odyssey is the most challenging test game, and the Razer Blade still reached an average of 60 fps with graphics details at Ultra High. This and Civilization VI were the only two games in which the Acer Predator Triton 500 came up a bit and offered up to 8% faster frame rates at the highest settings in both games. Still, you probably won't complain about the Razer Blade, which averages 134 fps.

Returning to a 60 Hz screen feels chunky by comparison.

Elsewhere, the Razer Blade dominates. Fortnite and Battlefield V performed spectacularly and exceeded the Triton 500 in both cases. In Battlefield V at Ultra, the blade achieved an average of 98 fps. When I pulled the settings back to medium, the system released 122 fps, which is a new record for 15-inch laptops. This is really impressive for such a small laptop.

Fortnite was similarly fast, and the Razer was again one of the fastest 15-inch laptops I've tested. With epic settings, it easily reaches 110 fps. But responsiveness really came alive with lower settings. For example, 161 fps with settings at high felt incredibly smooth. The return to a 60 Hz screen on my XPS 15 felt chunky by comparison.

I even tried the Rocket League, which had no problem reaching its maximum speed of 250 fps with the highest graphics quality. That's not quite 300, but the animations are still incredibly smooth.

These games were all played with the native screen resolution of 1080p. You could connect to a higher resolution external monitor and I suspect it would handle 1440p quite well. While 4K would be a stretch in some games, turn-based strategy games like Civilization VI shouldn't be a problem.

The Razer Blade is of course quite expensive. Though it's equivalent to the $ 3,000 Asus ROG Zephyrus S15, it's $ 400 more than the Triton 500, though the performance is very similar. With the Alienware m15, you get a similar package for almost $ 800 cheaper. Some of these options, such as B. the Triton 500, also offer G-Sync support. The Razer Blade lacks this feature, but the high refresh rate is surprisingly good to avoid tearing the screen.

In general, the Razer Blade is still running hot. Surface temperatures can be roasted during the game, but that's not too surprising. The frustrating part is idling temperatures. Since nothing is running, the palm rests and keyboard are still a bit warm, and this can be uncomfortable.

Display and speakers

Razer offers two 15.6-inch viewing options, one for content creation and one for gamers. The game-oriented screen I tested is a 1080p display with the above-mentioned refresh rate of 300 Hz. The option focused by the creator is a 4K display, which is intended for photographers and video editors who need this high number of pixels. The 4K screen also has a glossy surface, a touchscreen and a refresh rate of 60 Hz.

While the 4K screen undoubtedly offers a sharper picture, the 1080p screen looks great. The contrast is high at 1,010: 1, and although it is maximum at only 310 nits, the matte screen excellently blocks glare. The screen is also fairly color accurate, though if you need a wide range of colors you'll need to go with the 4K OLED panel.

The Razer Blade offers a decent set of speakers shooting up. They are on par with the Dell XPS 15, although they lag behind the MacBook Pro 16-inch. They still lack the bass and there is certainly room for improvement.

Battery life

Because the Razer Blade doesn't have G-Sync, its battery life doesn't suffer the same fate as other gaming laptops. These models, like the Predator Triton 500, only last a few hours in normal use.

The five hours of the Razer Blade are, of course, nothing to write home about. Despite the 97-watt-hour battery, you still can't get through a full working day without needing a charge. Less powerful laptops like the ROG Zephyrus G14 or the Dell G5 SE can last an extra hour. Even the 4K Dell XPS 15 lasts up to 7 hours.

Of course, it all depends on how you use it. In our lightest test, where a local 1080p video is repeated, the Razer Blade lasted almost 7.5 hours. If you run heavy applications or games, you can expect no more than 3 hours on a single charge.

That may not sound that impressive, but you won't find a laptop with an RTX 2080 Super that lasts that long.

The basic edition

The Razer Blade Base Edition

When you buy a Razer Blade, you will come across an "Advanced Edition" and a "Base Edition". I have reviewed the Advanced Edition and it is the version that gives you the latest parts.

However, the Base Edition has its advantages. It offers the same processor and memory options. You can even opt for the same 4K OLED screen if you want.

The differences depend on the housing and the refresh rate. The Base Edition reaches a maximum speed of 144 Hz for the 1080p model, and the case is slightly thicker and heavier. The Base Edition also offers a different selection of graphics cards, from the Nvidia GTX 1660 Ti to the RTX 2080 Max-Q.

Razer also offers a “Studio Edition” that supports Nvidia's RTX Quadro 5000 graphics and comes with Windows 10 Pro.

Our opinion

The Razer Blade does not require you to use it in any particular way. It tries to satisfy the modern player – the one who could also use his laptop for work or as a content creator. The design of the Razer Blade is no longer as revolutionary as it used to be, but there is no question that it is still the best.

Are there any better alternatives?

The Acer Predator Triton 500 offers similar performance at reduced costs to the Alienware m15. However, these laptops look brighter and do not work as well as everyday laptops.

If you're looking for a subdued design that matches the Razer Blade, the MSI GS66 Stealth is a close rival. The build quality is not that good and previous versions didn't work as well.

How long it will take?

Like most premium laptops, the Razer Blade should last at least four or five years. The build quality is second to none and the components are all up to date. It comes with a standard one-year warranty, but Razer offers three years of protection with its two different warranty plans, starting at $ 250.

Should you buy it

Yes. This is the best gaming laptop you can buy, and it works great in just about any other environment.

Editor's recommendations




11 Jul
Blog

Eufy Security Indoor Cam 2K Review: Covering The Basics

Eufy Security Indoor Cam 2K on the table

Eufy Security Indoor Cam 2K

"Eufy's Indoor Cam 2K delivers impressively sharp video quality."

  • Excellent 2K video footage

  • Inexpensive

  • Local storage option

  • Easy setup

  • Boring design

  • Weak internal speaker

Inexpensive cameras usually have a less than excellent reputation. But now and then someone comes and surprises us. One example is the Wyze Cam V2, which offers exceptional functions at a very low price.

We recently put Eufy's latest offering, the Indoor Cam 2K Pan and Tilt, through its paces and were amazed at what a $ 50 surveillance camera could offer. Now it's time for another affordable camera – the Eufy Security Indoor Cam 2K. It has all the functions of its sibling, minus the pan and tilt function. And it's only $ 40.

2K material that won't disappoint you

By far the best thing about the Eufy Security Indoor Cam 2K is the razor-sharp 2K video material that has a resolution of 2304 x 1296 pixels. The quality looks the same as in the pan-and-tilt version. This is not a big surprise as the same 1 / 2.7-inch sensor with a 125-degree field of view is used.

Eufy Security Indoor Cam 2K camera close-upJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

Details are plentiful, while colors tend to get a little saturated. Overall, the footage is impressive, but the dynamic range could be better as the highlights tend to be overblown compared to the scene's neutral exposure. Impressively, there is no major deterioration even with night vision material. It's good to keep details, even in almost pitch-black conditions.

Not much to see

Eufy didn't think much about its design. The Security Indoor Cam 2K is made entirely of plastic and is lightweight and is supplied with power via a micro USB connection. The camera's square box is located on the top of the base so that it can be adjusted for the ideal view. It does the job, but there's nothing noticeable about the design.

It's good to keep details, even in almost pitch-black conditions.

Since it is a static camera, you have to be strategic when placing it, as the field of view is 125 degrees narrower than most other cameras. Corners are ideal and offer the best vantage point to cover rooms. It comes with a mounting plate with which it can be attached to a wall. However, you should still be careful (or bring an extension cable), as the power cord is only about 3 m long.

A basic surveillance camera

As is to be expected in view of the price, it is a basic surveillance camera. It marks all the markings in what you want to include so that a simple setup is done in no time and nothing more.

Once you've downloaded the Eufy Security app, you'll find controls for motion zones, notifications, and motion detection. It does a great job of detecting people and pets that appear as a notification with a small screenshot. You can set the sensitivity so that you are not bombarded every time something is discovered.

The choice is always a good thing, which is why I appreciate that the Eufy Security Indoor Cam offers 2K cloud and local storage options. If you choose the former, you get a free 30-day trial of Eufy's cloud storage, saving you up to 14 days of recordings. You will then see $ 2.99 per month for a single camera or $ 29.99 for an annual subscription.

Eufy Security Indoor Cam 2k Rating 7 out of 8

Eufy Security Indoor Cam 2k Rating 8 by

Whenever the camera is accessed for a live view, the camera's LED status indicator lights up blue.

The built-in speaker isn't particularly loud. So don't rely on the siren's alarm to scare someone away. However, your pets may be scared at first when the camera detects them and shouts, "Hey, what are you doing there?"

It is possible to switch off the camera in the app and effectively switch off the camera and microphone. If you're worried that Big Brother is watching, you can rest easy. However, Eufy is still missing two-factor authentication, and that's a privacy issue.

Our opinion

If you can exceed the additional $ 10, choose Eufy's other camera – the Eufy Security Indoor Cam 2K Pan and Tilt. I think Pan and Tilt's heading feature is worth the extra $ 10. Nevertheless, the Indoor Cam 2K works just as well as its siblings, and you can save yourself a Hamilton if you absolutely do not need the pan / tilt function.

How long it will take?

This should hold better than the rotating model because there are fewer moving parts. In the event of a malfunction, Eufy grants a 1-year limited warranty for defects.

Is there a better alternative?

As mentioned earlier, the Eufy Security Indoor Cam 2K Pan & Tilt is the better buy at $ 50. You pay a little more, but you get this 360-degree coverage – and more security in terms of privacy because the camera is not visible. Alternatively, the Wyze Cam V2 remains the benchmark to beat due to its outstanding cost of $ 20.

Should you buy it

Yes. The price is affordable and the image quality of the camera is impressive.

Editor's recommendations




11 Jul
Blog

The Right Way to Lose Fat: How to Exercise

In a previous article, The Right Way to Lose Fat: What to Eat, we looked at the nutritional component of sensible fat loss. A lot was presented, such as Low-carb / high-protein, high-carb / low-fat, micronutrient, and glycemic, but all indications indicated that a calorie deficit is occurring in order to optimally burn body fat. This article highlights how exercise should be done to maximize fat burning potential. Please note the following statement (imagine, I'm shouting to you through a megaphone at maximum volume):

80% of the fight against body fat is diet

Exercise itself doesn't burn much calories in relative terms. Not to diminish its value, but if you rely solely on exercise and disregard your eating habits (READ: you eat like crap), you won't get very far. As I always say, "A good 40-minute workout can be ruined by five minutes of bad food." Amen.

Let's take a look at the estimated calorie consumption of multiple exercises / activities. There are tons of calculators all over the internet that "burned calories from training" (there … I only gave you access to three of them). Are you accurate? I dont know. Remember, these are only estimates, but they will at least bring you closer. Using my body weight (190 pounds) as an example, here are the estimates from three different calculators:

Running / working at 5 miles per hour for 30 minutes:

Calories Burned = 344, 364 and 345.

Running / working at 10 miles per hour for 30 minutes:

Calories Burned = 713, 775 and 689.

Two points can be seen from the above:

  1. Estimates vary
  2. More effort burns more calories

I would like to emphasize this second point again with my megaphone:

More effort burns more calories

Other exercises / activities and estimated calories burned in 30 minutes (150 pound person):

  • Dancing (casual) = 197
  • Dance (down!) = 274
  • Walking at three miles per hour = 150
  • Walking at 4.5 mph = 233
  • Inline skating (casual) = 270
  • Inline skating (fast) = 319
  • Martial arts = 401
  • Frisbee = 206

Some of the most discouraging moments I see often are well-intentioned but misguided people who turn a bee line on the treadmill to “do their cardio”. It usually works like this:

  • Earphones in.
  • iPod attached to the arm.
  • Maury Povich switched on the tube.
  • Treadmill set at three miles an hour.
  • The sneaking begins.
  • 45 minutes pass and a whopping 270 calories are burned.
  • Phew, what a session!

Now it's time to go back to the crib, breathe in a 3-ounce sachet of nacho cheese tortilla chips, and put about 450 calories back in the tank.

If the importance of poor food and a relatively low value for exercise is currently undetectable, let's look at some more depressing factoids. Visit one of my favorite websites, calorieking.com. Enter your favorite cheat food and portion size (these nacho cheese tortilla chips sound pretty tasty right now). The website provides examples of how to burn the number of calories in the food selection entered.

To wipe out the 450 calorie tortilla chips, the following would be required:

  • 125 minutes on foot.
  • 51 minutes of jogging.
  • Swim for 37 minutes.
  • 69 minutes of cycling.

Is it worth eating poorly when you know that it takes some great effort to counteract this with exercise? I know the sentence was beaten to death, but it is certainly true: "You can't overdo poor nutrition."

All right, time to get to the point. If you want to maximize the exercise component to reduce body fat, do the following: Choose exercise modes that are physically demanding. Yes, they feel uncomfortable, but use more energy. Instead of a 45-minute treadmill walk with little effort, do 20-minute intervals with high effort. Try circuit training, do a half-hour boot camp, run hills, whatever – WORK HARDER.

Are you going to get out of the "fat burning zone" by working harder? Yes, but you will exhaust your glycogen stores with more effort. You could even add a low-carb diet. Glycogen deficiency forces your body to tap stored fat and use it as energy, both during exercise and after exercise during recovery.

With regard to the notorious fat-burning zone, it was previously assumed that one had to drive “slowly” to burn only fat. Getting faster would go to glycogen. True, but understand these facts:

  • We have an almost unlimited energy supply in the form of stored fat. Marathon runners get tired from glycogen deficiency, not fat.
  • If you want to get to the purest fat burning zone, take a nap. Sleeping is purely aerobic (unless you have violent nightmares – these require immediate energy).
  • As mentioned earlier, after training, you will burn more fat during the recovery process if you do a high-effort workout, with all other factors being the same.

Last but not least, STRENGTH TRAIN. Yes girls, that means you too. Having more muscles means having less fat. The process of building strength and building muscle is intense. Intensive workouts consume glycogen. And as you know, depleted glycogen can cause fat to be used as energy.

I will end with this information:

  • Delicious = a 12-ounce cola and 3 pieces of pepperoni pizza.
  • Ugh = a 90 minute run to burn them down.

Now that you know how to train for fat loss, you will also learn how to eat for fat loss.

11 Jul
Blog

The Right Way to Lose Fat: How to Exercise

In a previous article, The Right Way to Lose Fat: What to Eat, we looked at the nutritional component of sensible fat loss. A lot was presented, such as Low-carb / high-protein, high-carb / low-fat, micronutrient, and glycemic, but all indications indicated that a calorie deficit is occurring in order to optimally burn body fat. This article highlights how exercise should be done to maximize fat burning potential. Please note the following statement (imagine, I'm shouting to you through a megaphone at maximum volume):

80% of the fight against body fat is diet

Exercise itself doesn't burn much calories in relative terms. Not to diminish its value, but if you rely solely on exercise and disregard your eating habits (READ: you eat like crap), you won't get very far. As I always say, "A good 40-minute workout can be ruined by five minutes of bad food." Amen.

Let's take a look at the estimated calorie consumption of multiple exercises / activities. There are tons of calculators all over the internet that "burned calories from training" (there … I only gave you access to three of them). Are you accurate? I dont know. Remember, these are only estimates, but they will at least bring you closer. Using my body weight (190 pounds) as an example, here are the estimates from three different calculators:

Running / working at 5 miles per hour for 30 minutes:

Calories Burned = 344, 364 and 345.

Running / working at 10 miles per hour for 30 minutes:

Calories Burned = 713, 775 and 689.

Two points can be seen from the above:

  1. Estimates vary
  2. More effort burns more calories

I would like to emphasize this second point again with my megaphone:

More effort burns more calories

Other exercises / activities and estimated calories burned in 30 minutes (150 pound person):

  • Dancing (casual) = 197
  • Dance (down!) = 274
  • Walking at three miles per hour = 150
  • Walking at 4.5 mph = 233
  • Inline skating (casual) = 270
  • Inline skating (fast) = 319
  • Martial arts = 401
  • Frisbee = 206

Some of the most discouraging moments I see often are well-intentioned but misguided people who turn a bee line on the treadmill to “do their cardio”. It usually works like this:

  • Earphones in.
  • iPod attached to the arm.
  • Maury Povich switched on the tube.
  • Treadmill set at three miles an hour.
  • The sneaking begins.
  • 45 minutes pass and a whopping 270 calories are burned.
  • Phew, what a session!

Now it's time to go back to the crib, breathe in a 3-ounce sachet of nacho cheese tortilla chips, and put about 450 calories back in the tank.

If the importance of poor food and a relatively low value for exercise is currently undetectable, let's look at some more depressing factoids. Visit one of my favorite websites, calorieking.com. Enter your favorite cheat food and portion size (these nacho cheese tortilla chips sound pretty tasty right now). The website provides examples of how to burn the number of calories in the food selection entered.

To wipe out the 450 calorie tortilla chips, the following would be required:

  • 125 minutes on foot.
  • 51 minutes of jogging.
  • Swim for 37 minutes.
  • 69 minutes of cycling.

Is it worth eating poorly when you know that it takes some great effort to counteract this with exercise? I know the sentence was beaten to death, but it is certainly true: "You can't overdo poor nutrition."

All right, time to get to the point. If you want to maximize the exercise component to reduce body fat, do the following: Choose exercise modes that are physically demanding. Yes, they feel uncomfortable, but use more energy. Instead of a 45-minute treadmill walk with little effort, do 20-minute intervals with high effort. Try circuit training, do a half-hour boot camp, run hills, whatever – WORK HARDER.

Are you going to get out of the "fat burning zone" by working harder? Yes, but you will exhaust your glycogen stores with more effort. You could even add a low-carb diet. Glycogen deficiency forces your body to tap stored fat and use it as energy, both during exercise and after exercise during recovery.

With regard to the notorious fat-burning zone, it was previously assumed that one had to drive “slowly” to burn only fat. Getting faster would go to glycogen. True, but understand these facts:

  • We have an almost unlimited energy supply in the form of stored fat. Marathon runners get tired from glycogen deficiency, not fat.
  • If you want to get to the purest fat burning zone, take a nap. Sleeping is purely aerobic (unless you have violent nightmares – these require immediate energy).
  • As mentioned earlier, after training, you will burn more fat during the recovery process if you do a high-effort workout, with all other factors being the same.

Last but not least, STRENGTH TRAIN. Yes girls, that means you too. Having more muscles means having less fat. The process of building strength and building muscle is intense. Intensive workouts consume glycogen. And as you know, depleted glycogen can cause fat to be used as energy.

I will end with this information:

  • Delicious = a 12-ounce cola and 3 pieces of pepperoni pizza.
  • Ugh = a 90 minute run to burn them down.

Now that you know how to train for fat loss, you will also learn how to eat for fat loss.

10 Jul
Blog

Nokia 5.3 Review: $199 Really Can Buy You a Good Smartphone

hmd global nokia 5 3 Review backhand

Nokia 5.3 test: $ 199 can really buy a great smartphone

"The Nokia 5.3 offers everyday performance and future-proof software at an affordable price."

  • Two days of battery life

  • Large screen size

  • Two years of software updates

  • NFC for Google Pay

  • Camera disappointed

  • The screen lacks brightness

High-performance smartphones that cost $ 400 can do everything that many people expect from a cell phone, but what about phones that cost half as much? The Nokia 5.3 from HMD Global only costs $ 199 or £ 149. After a week on the phone, however, I can safely say that you won't cut the quality and performance of a more expensive model in half – in most regions. at least.

The Nokia 5.3 will surprise you with its functions, its software and its general capabilities as an everyday smartphone. No, the camera and screen aren't the best models, but you shouldn't expect them to be. If you buy the Nokia 5.3 and know what it can and can't do, you get one of the best smartphone values ​​I've seen in a while.

design

The back of the Nokia 5.3 is made of a plastic composite that is easy to grip but has no pleasant texture. It also has some flex and curves around the side to hit the plastic frame, which then leads into the 6.55-inch screen. The phone is 8.5 mm thick and weighs only 185 grams. It feels good in the hand but is wide, so owners with small hands may find it uncomfortable.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

In addition to the volume rocker and the SIM compartment, there are two other buttons on the housing of the Nokia 5.3. The power switch is an obvious necessity and is located under the volume rocker. A notification light is built in that is bright and eye-catching. It pulsates when there are messages waiting for you on the phone. This is useful when there is no screen and the positioning is unusual and noticeable.

The second button feels superfluous. It's on the opposite side and calls Google Assistant. I often accidentally pressed it when I picked up the phone or juggled with one hand. This is annoying, because unlocking the phone adds several extra steps, or taking extra seconds to cancel at other times. There's a way to turn the button off, but there's no way to reconfigure it for something more useful. Nokia has added a 3.5mm headphone jack and a single speaker at the bottom. It has a lot of volume but no bass, which results in a hard and thin sound.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

On the back is a quad sensor camera module that protrudes very easily from the body and is attached over a fingerprint sensor. The design is no different from many other phones in recent years, including the OnePlus 7T and the Poco F2 Pro, and is harmlessly attractive.

This phone doesn't look like it will cost $ 199, and that's the big advantage here. You don't get an ugly phone that screams "cheap" when you take off or look at it, but a reserved and balanced design. I suggest that you buy the Nokia 5.3 in either cyan or sand instead of the boring charcoal color of my test model to make the phone more attractive.

screen

The 6.5-inch IPS LCD screen on the front shows where money was saved. The resolution is 1,600 x 720 pixels, which means that YouTube videos are played with a maximum of 720p. While this is perfectly acceptable for a phone at this price, I have found that it suffers from a lack of brightness. I had to crank up the brightness most of the time, and even then it is difficult to see in bright sunlight. The automatic brightness function is also annoyingly random and rarely settles on a single level before fluctuating again and never at the right point.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

With the selfie camera at the top of the screen there is a drop notch and at the bottom a small chin bezel with Nokia logo. Assuming the maximum brightness and the intrusive night light function that reduces the blue light (it affects the colors too much, especially when scrolling), the screen is suitable for everyday use. Just don't expect it to be a media powerhouse.

However, you can expect it to be satisfactory. The low resolution means that details are missing, but I found the screen to have a very cool color palette by default. It cries out for more brightness, and some videos may lack life and vibrancy. However, this is not the real aim of the phone, and the Nokia 5.3 works well for casual viewing. I also like that the screen is huge, so you don't feel that the low price has led to other visual compromises outside of resolution.

camera

Even phones that cost $ 199 now have four lens camera sensors, but they shouldn't. The main camera of the Nokia 5.3 has 13 megapixels and an aperture of 1: 1.8. There is also a 5-megapixel ultra-wide sensor, a 2-megapixel depth sensor and a 2-megapixel macro lens. The selfie camera in the teardrop notch has 8 megapixels.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

It's functional, but not inspiring. As with the screen, expectations have to be mitigated because it is inconsistent and rarely took a photo that I want to share without editing. Neither the wide-angle nor the standard lenses provide the right lighting every time, either over- or underexposed, and the dynamic range also varies greatly between the two. Macro shots are as overwhelming as you would expect from a 2 megapixel sensor.

There is a night mode, but the shots are only slightly better than those without, and also a portrait mode. Edge detection is decent, but you have to wait for the camera to process the shots. When you switch to the selfie camera, the results often look washed out in bright conditions. However, the results are acceptable indoors.

If you combine all of this with slow software, the Nokia 5.3's camera is a letdown. This is a cheap phone and it will never take the best in terms of the camera, but there should still be a standard that needs to be maintained. Fast software and constant performance are required at all costs. I would rather have a camera with a lens that takes good photos than a camera with four lenses that takes mediocre photos.

Software and performance

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 processor with 3 GB, 4 GB or 6 GB RAM supplies the Nokia 5.3 with power. My rating phone is 4 GB and can handle tasks like social networking apps, messaging and calls with ease. If you do something more intense, including using YouTube, speed can suffer. Switching from landscape to portrait mode takes a few seconds, for example, and quitting performance-hungry game apps leads to a longer pause while the phone sorts itself out.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The benchmark tests are as follows:

Geekbench 5: 308 single core / 1312 multi core

3DMark Sling Shot Extreme: 1129 (volcano)

It's the same chip used in the Motorola Moto G8, Moto G Fast, and G Power, and the results are similar. Do you think you cannot play on Nokia 5.3? Think again No, it's not a ROG Phone 2, but I played Asphalt 9 Legends happily enough. Sure, it's not the smoothest experience, but it never develops into a situation that makes it unplayable. 1945 and playing Hill Climb Racer was fine too.

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The Nokia 5.3 is an Android One phone. This means that the software is similar to Google Pixel phones, with no special user interface, additional apps, or other changes to Google's basic Android style. Android One also ensures regular and timely software updates. The phone receives Android 11 when it arrives and will be updated for the next two years in total. This is a serious selling point and ensures that your cheap smartphone purchase will not be out of date in the near future.

Aside from a few performance stutters, it runs very smoothly, and I think it's good that it has a dark mode and also comes with NFC for Google Pay. Again, this is another big advantage since some competing devices don't have this feature at all.

Battery and security

The 4,000 mAh battery in combination with the low resolution screen and the mid-range processor gave me great hopes for the battery life of the Nokia 5.3. In reality, it was nothing better than most other phones, regardless of the specification. I mostly tested the Nokia at home and therefore connected to Wi-Fi most of the time.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

For me, average usage includes social media, some photos, some video and voice calls, and news and a little bit of games. The Nokia lasted almost two full days, but only if the second day is less intense than the first. Video puts additional strain on the battery. The charging process takes place only via cable, and here too there is no quick charging.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Security is exactly what you want: a simple but secure fingerprint sensor on the back of the phone and a face unlock, both of which are fast and largely reliable. However, the rear fingerprint sensor didn't work well with wet fingers. It has a handy feature that swipes down to pull down the notification shadow on the screen.

Price, guarantee and availability

The Nokia 5.3 can be purchased in the US for $ 199 from Amazon. In the UK, it costs £ 149 and is available in Nokia's own online shop, Amazon and Argos.

The device is warranted for two years in the United Kingdom, but only for one year in the United States.

Our opinion

When reading this review, you run the risk of believing that the Nokia 5.3 is not worth buying. As with any phone, I've pointed out the drawbacks, but it's important to put them in context. The Nokia 5.3 costs $ 199, it does everything a smartphone could want, and it does some things quite well. You can find much better phones, but at the same time the Nokia 5.3 can easily handle what most people need a phone for.

It's refreshing to see that at $ 199 you buy an attractive, modern smartphone that plays top games, runs all your apps, and has enough power and battery to be a reliable companion for everyday life. Just be prepared for the fact that it doesn't have the excellent photography or display quality that you would expect from a model over $ 700.

Is there a better alternative?

For $ 199? The options are limited. Take a look at the Motorola Moto G Power for $ 249 or the Motorola Moto G Fast for $ 199 if you want similar alternatives. However, to really buy a better phone, you have to spend a lot more. We recommend the Apple iPhone SE for $ 399, the Poco F2 Pro for $ 500, or the OnePlus 8 for $ 600. Google has set the Pixel 3a. However, if you find another one, it is a solid buy.

How long it will take?

The Nokia 5.3 is not waterproof, but the composite back is scratch-resistant. Thanks to the Android One platform, HMD Global also promises software updates for the next two years. This is a significant advantage over the Motorola alternatives. Provided you don't expect your own phone to change use, Nokia 5.3 easily holds the entire two-year guaranteed software update period.

Should you buy it

Yes. Don't let the negatives catch you and instead rejoice that you can buy a powerful everyday smartphone for $ 199.

Editor's recommendations




09 Jul
Blog

How To Shrink Pores And Why They Get Bigger With Age

If you feel like your pores are getting bigger with age, you are not alone! Indeed, it is a common concern to find out how to minimize pores while fighting the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. But why is it like that? And what is the best skin care regimen to treat both problems at the same time? Here you will find the answers to these questions and let us know your thoughts in the comments section.

Aging skin

It's no secret that our skin changes with age – but why is that? Two main factors are a loss of elasticity and a decrease in oil production. With age, the production of collagen and elastin decreases (both are crucial for storage Skin firm and flexible), which leads to less "rebound" of your skin. This is due to hormonal changes and changes in the connective tissue. This is the reason why fine lines become wrinkled and the skin often becomes saggy. Sebaceous glands also produce less oil with age, making your skin look drier, itchier, firmer and feel like it did when you were young. The outer layer of skin (the epidermis) becomes thinner and more sensitive, so that this dry, itchy skin is also more easily irritated by environmental stressors.

Why do my pores look bigger?

How exactly does a decrease in elasticity and oil production enlarge your pores? The pores are also elastic, and when the collagen content decreases, the pores lose this elasticity. As you get older, the skin's natural peeling process Known as desquamation, slows down as your skin dries up. The result is more dead skin cells that sit longer on the surface of the skin and fill pores that are likely to remain stretched.

Aren't you helping this process? Sun damage and sun exposure, which we often see as symptoms of aging skin. How Livestrong points out: “Sun damage creates a cell margin around individual pores. Although this accumulation takes place on a microscopic level, the end result is noticeable … While genetics are responsible for 20 percent of the pore size, sun exposure is a whopping 80 percent. "Eminence Organics Mangosteen Lactic Pro Peel 10%

How do I reduce pores and smooth the appearance of wrinkles?

So what are the main treatments and techniques to minimize pores while reducing the appearance of wrinkles and sagging skin? Peeling, sun protection and professional treatments with a beautician are the best choice. To alleviate a slower desquamation process, include a gentle peel in your daily skin care routine, along with professional peels that remove dead skin cells.

We recommend booking a treatment with us Mangosteen Lactic Pro Peel 10%, which is safe for even the most sensitive skin types, minimizes the pore size and leaves the skin feeling deeply conditioned and supple. In addition, you should book a skin exam with a licensed beautician who can create a custom routine with you and address your main concerns. To help you get started, we've put together the following home skincare product that contains some of the most popular Eminence Organics products from fans.

Skin care routine

As mentioned earlier, exfoliation is key to minimizing pores and fighting the visible signs of aging, as is hydration to nourish the skin and keep it feeling healthy. The following six steps focus on these two principles so that the skin looks smooth and smooth.Eminence Organics Daily Resurfacing Cleanser

1. Clean

Our Mangosteen Daily Resurfacing Cleanser is a beautiful milky gel that contains ours Lactic acid complex let the skin shine. But our main reason to propose this cleaner? In a # AskNatalie video, Eminence Organics leads the Skin Care Trainer Natalie Pergar was asked: "What are the best products to help with … large pores, but also fine lines, wrinkles and aging skin?" Natalie recommended our Mangosteen Daily Resurfacing Cleanser because it removes impurities and prepares the skin for peeling . Watch their answer in the video below for more useful tips on how to shrink pores and reduce the visible signs of aging.

(embed) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mt0U4PifoOo (/ embed)

2. Peeling

Also recommended by Natalie? Eminence Organics Acai peeling with firm skin. Use this firming peeling solution up to three times a week to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and to remove dead skin. If you prefer a more physical peel, our Strawberry Rhubarb Dermafoliant ensures that the skin feels smooth, with rhubarb and BioComplex to improve the signs of aging. Our Dermafoliant is gentle enough for everyday use and can either be mixed with a few drops of water or with a cleaning agent such as Mangosteen Daily Resurfacing Cleanser.Eminence Organics Firm Haut Acai Peeling

3rd tone

To Balance the pH of the skin and prepare it for further treatment. Tightening is a crucial step in your skin care. We recommend our Stone Crop Hydrating Mist to soothe dry skin and make your complexion look radiant and youthful. This award-winning toner is deeply moisturizing thanks to ingredients such as stone harvest and aloe juice. Spray this mist directly on the skin or, if desired, first on a round of cotton and then gently rub it over the face.Eminence Organics Bamboo Firming Liquid

4. Treat

To treat the skin, ours Mangosteen Daily Resurfacing Concentrate and Bamboo Firming Fluid work together seamlessly. Apply Mangosteen Daily Resurfacing Concentrate first to refine pores and remove deposits. After absorption, massage a layer of our best-selling Bamboo Firming Fluid to moisturize the skin and improve the appearance of firmness and wrinkles.

5. Moisturize and protect

Moisture and sun protection are the key to fighting fine lines and shrinking pores. We recommend our Balancing Moisturizer Duo morning and evening to keep the skin hydrated without clogging the pores. Since this duo both a Green tea T-zone matting agent and a Grapefruit cheek hydratoryou can easily adjust to the moisture level your skin needs. During the day, a sun protection factor is the key. We recommend using our SPF 30 with red currant protective moisturizer over the duo to protect from the sun's rays while reducing the appearance of wrinkles.Eminence Organics Lotus detoxifying treatment overnight

6. Treat overnight

To give your skin extra love, consider including ours Lotus Detoxifying Overnight Treatment in your routine. This luxurious creamy treatment repairs dry skin during sleep and detoxifies the pores. Apply a generous layer on the face and neck before bed and massage it deep into the skin. You will wake up with skin that looks rejuvenated and restored.

With this routine, we are confident that you can shrink your pores and fight the visible signs of aging. Do you have any additional products that you would include? What other pore size problems do you have? Let us know in the comments or join the conversation on social media.

09 Jul
Blog

Klipsch The Fives Review: The Soundbar Killer

klipsch the fives review active speaker 6

"The Fives prove that the left and right channels beat most sound bars and look great at the same time."

  • Powerful, balanced, real stereo sound

  • Excellent multimedia audio experience

  • Stellar Phantom Center Canal

  • Beautiful design

  • Multiple connection options

  • May not fit in every home theater setup

The soundbar was designed as a simple plug-and-play solution to provide good audio quality in a simple device that didn't ask you to do a degree in audio design at the local community college. Since then, sound bars have dominated home theater audio and displaced loudspeakers in most households.

But Klipsch disagrees that the sound bar is the best and only option here. It is believed that a soundbar cannot deliver high quality stereo sound because it is limited by a single speaker in the middle. Instead of doing what was popular, Klipsch decided to create The Fives, a $ 799 response to the soundbar craze.

Are you clapping back successfully? Let's go into that.

Jaron Schneider | Digital trends

Stylish and attractive

Sound bars have a consistent problem. They are not the most attractive devices. With rare exceptions like the Bose Soundbar 700, they are generally huge blocks of black plastic. Even in the case of the Bose, which looks pretty good, soundbars rarely work alongside the living room decor. Black is not the dominant color in my particular home setup and can conflict with the white and wood accents in my living room.

Jaron Schneider | Digital trends

Although you can get The Fives in black, I was delighted to see that walnut is also a color option. It's just that my media stand has a walnut veneer and The Fives looks great on it. They fit in so well that they go into my media setup unless you try to notice the speakers.

Overall, the Fives kill it with their aesthetics.

For most active bookshelf style speakers, the device with all controls and cable inputs must be a specific speaker, either the left or the right speaker (in my experience, it is usually the right speaker). While I've set it up with the main speaker as the right speaker, the fives have a switch on the back of the main speaker that allows you to switch between left and right. Where the main controls and cables lead is entirely up to you and your setup.

Jaron Schneider | Digital trends

There are two dials on top of the main speaker, one for tactile volume control (if you wish) and the other for switching connection options. None of these dials are required because all of these functions can be accessed via the infrared remote control. Still, it's nice to have them as an option and they feel good. They have a wide design, a serrated handle and a slightly notched feel, which makes them remarkably satisfactory.

Overall, the Fives kill it with their aesthetics. In my opinion, they look better than any soundbar I've come across.

The five: Connected

The Fives offer easy connectivity to your TV as they are the first stereo bookshelf speakers to offer HDMI ARC compatibility. Setting up is as easy as connecting a soundbar.

Jaron Schneider | Digital trends

In addition to HDMI ARC, The Fives also support optics, Bluetooth, phono, USB and aux via a mini jack. There is also an output socket for an optional subwoofer. Thanks to the numerous options, you can connect your audio-specific device like a turntable. Switching between these devices is very easy using the above-mentioned setting wheel or the remote control.

It is clear that Klipsch is an audio company that is used to catering to the needs of music fans and that the connection options will definitely come through.

Two are better than one

Sound bars do a decent job with stereo sound, but even if they have the left and right surround speakers that come with some devices, your primary audio will come from a middle-weighted source. Single soundbar solutions like the Bose Soundbar 700 and Sonos Arc do their best to deceive your ears that there is a large gap between the soundbar drivers if this is not the case. However, digital tricks can only go so far.

Jaron Schneider | Digital trends

Klipsch intends to use The Fives as a soundbar alternative for people who enjoy the simple plug-and-play nature of soundbars but crave better stereo sound. Because The Fives divides their left and right channels into physically separate speakers, you have complete freedom to distribute The Fives to the sides of your TV, regardless of their size, and enjoy the benefits of this true separation.

Where sound bars try to restore sound from the left and right, The Fives have to recreate the sound of a center. This "phantom center channel" is reproduced extremely well in my tests. I was on both sides of my 65-inch Sony TV and felt covered in sound. Even though there is no actual center channel, my ears believe that they are listening to audio directly from me, like from the center of my TV.

The Fives do something that only a few sound bars can successfully achieve – they deliver fantastic home theater sound.

The result is an audio experience that delivers great studio sound without loss. The Fives offer fantastic home theater sound, engaging and impressive video game audio and great music. If you use your home entertainment center as a real multimedia hub, The Fives can meet this demand.

Avengers: Endgame felt like a theater experience when the rumble of Thanos' army crashed into the Avengers, leaving me almost breathless with the clarity and depth of the bass.

Playing The Last of Us: Part II was a comprehensive experience. Every step, every whistle, every dog ​​bark and every infected click radiated from a certain direction on the screen and allowed me to get lost in the gameplay.

The survival of Jimmy Eat World, the dark necessities of the Red Hot Chili Peppers or Lady Gaga's stupid love were all beautifully reproduced. I will go into the details in the next section on how best to set up The Fives. However, once you select them, you will be rewarded with an exceptionally balanced sound.

The Fives really showed their skills with the volume. At the lower volumes, the sound output between the channels was much less pronounced and possibly somewhat cloudy. When I used them at these low volumes, the Fives felt like driving a Lamborghini at the speed limit in a school zone. Sure, it can go slowly, but that's not really the point.

The Fives also want to be pushed and driven to top speed. Turn up the fives a little and you will be blessed with the best they can offer. Not only do they get loud (although yes, they get incredibly loud), they become a better listening experience as the volume increases.

Balance the bass

Since The Fives are a speaker pair, their placement is important. Most people don't leave much space between a wall and a media console to save space in the room or to hide cables. In most cases, the fives will not shine to the fullest.

These are ported speakers, which means that the lion's share of the bass comes from behind and is reflected by the wall. A certain distance is required to bring the low frequencies into phase (time alignment) with the mids and highs. To maximize their effectiveness, you should give these speakers about a foot and a half to work. When pressed closer, the perceived strength of the bass will overwhelm the mids, making it sound like these mids are below average.

When you have this kind of space, you can pump The Fives bass to the max and get serious power out of them. It won't be the mere rumble factor of a dedicated submarine, but it will effectively round off music and cinema.

If you don't have enough space, you can still enjoy high quality bass. You must use Klipsch's Bass Boost feature, which is enabled by default on The Fives. Bass Boost is a function that increases the performance of the bass. Between switching on and off, I strongly recommend leaving it switched on.

Since the bass was set to maximum, but the bass boost was switched off, the fives did not give me enough power in the depths to satisfy me (regardless of their placement distance). But if this option is activated, the speakers only need to have a bass volume of 50% in order to produce a very even, balanced audio at closer distances.

If you crave deeper bass and don't have enough room to give The Fives space to breathe, you can attach an optional sub. The fives recognize when a sub has been connected and automatically send all lows to the sub, with the entire performance of these main drivers dedicated to the mids.

Decorate your ears with excellent sound quality

I tested this with the Klipsch R-100SW subwoofer, a mid-priced 10-inch subwoofer, and the result literally rocked the foundation of my house with rumbling, chest-rattling basses while being blasted with one of the most beautifully balanced sounds I could think of can imagine. Music was a powerful beneficiary that the sub was added to this arrangement. It should be noted that if you choose a sub with The Fives, it needs to be wired.

The difference between using and not using a submarine is obvious, but I'm happy with the performance of The Fives. At least they match a single soundbar solution and in many cases exceed it.

At the start and until later this year, there is no way to optimize The Fives with app support. According to Klipsch, an app is in the works and should be available before the end of 2020.

No Dolby decoding required

The Fives do not support Dolby decoding. So if you're like me and channel all your content through something like the Roku Ultra, you'll need to go into the Roku's audio settings and switch it to PCM instead of the default. If you don't, content sent in Dolby Digital or Dolby Atmos will not deliver audio. Netflix & # 39; Dark and Avengers: Endgame, which is streamed over Vudu, are two examples of this.

You might think at first that this is a disadvantage of The Fives, but au contraire it is not. A Dolby Atmos soundbar with real drivers is nice, but not yet a standard, and we don't hold it against a specific sound system if it doesn't support it. By default, Dolby Digital does not need this signal because it does not require separation of the audio channel information. The fives do not have to decode the subwoofer, the center, the surrounds or the like. You get two-channel digital audio playback with full bandwidth via PCM. This is all The Fives need to decorate your ears with excellent sound quality.

Jaron Schneider | Digital trends

Our opinion

The Fives are the dream of an audiophile in a soundbar killer. Not only will you outperform a single soundbar solution, you will also give soundbar systems with multiple speakers a chance. If you're interested in the quality of your home theater sound, the price of $ 799 is fair. The fives kill in every situation.

Is there a better alternative?

If you are looking for real left and right monitors that can be easily combined with your TV setup via HDMI ARC and without an A / V receiver, The Fives are currently your only option. They are the first and only speaker set to fill this role.

If you're open to soundbars, both the Sonos Arc and Bose Soundbar 700 are good choices. The Sonos Arc is the only sound bar in this price range that supports Dolby Atmos. All three are like The Fives in that they don't come with the included submarine, but still offer excellent sound quality.

How long will they last?

All active Klipsch speakers come with a one-year warranty, but you should expect them to last much longer. Klipsch is a respected brand and The Fives should offer you sound quality for at least a decade, if not more.

Should you buy them

Yes. They are an absolute home run and you will want them.

Editor's recommendations




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