02 May
Blog

Xbox One X Review 2020: The Most Powerful Console Around

Xbox One X test controller in front

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

  • Improves performance for all games

  • Xbox One X Enhanced games look and run great

  • 4K UHD Blu-Ray player

  • Sleek design

  • Very easy to use

  • 4K recording options are limited

  • The timeliness of the Xbox One Enhanced Patches is unclear

  • Performance improvements can be unpredictable in non-expanded games

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

Short answer? It does.

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

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

In the black box

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

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

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

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

Les Shu / Digital trends

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

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

Still a solid home theater device

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

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

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

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

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

Xbox One improved, but some games more than others

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

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

Xbox One X checks bothLes Shu / Digital trends

Les Shu / Digital trends

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

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

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

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

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

X will give it to you

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

Xbox One X Review Controller HandLes Shu / Digital trends

Les Shu / Digital trends

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

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

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

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

4K video recordings are possible and not easy to share

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

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

Our opinion

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

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

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

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

Is there a better alternative?

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

How long it will take?

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

Should you buy it

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

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

Editor's recommendations




02 May
Blog

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

PlayStation 4 bundle

PlayStation 4 Pro 1 TB console

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

  • 4K games for less than $ 500

  • Improves the display of selected PlayStation VR titles

  • All games run a little better than the standard PS4

  • Also looks good on 1080p TVs

  • Supports all PS4 games

  • HDR can be very difficult to set up

  • Few titles offer 4K support at launch

  • No 4K Blu-ray player

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

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

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

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

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

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

We need a bigger box!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Radiant happy people

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

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

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

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

Julian Chokkattu / Digital Trends

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

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

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

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

Shinier, sadder people

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Become "Pro" in VR

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

Warranty information

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

Our opinion

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

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

Is there a better alternative?

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

How long it will take?

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

Should you buy it

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

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

Editor's recommendations




02 May
Blog

Monoprice Maker Select Mini V2 Review

Monopice Choose Mini V2

Monoprice Maker Choose Mini V2

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

  • Affordable

  • Robust construction

  • Reliable printing

  • Good print quality

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

Excellent functions and specifications

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

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

Monopice Choose Mini V2

Monopice Choose Mini V2

Monopice Choose Mini V2

Monopice Choose Mini V2
Riley Young / Digital Trends

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

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

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

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

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

Setup and configuration

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

Monopice Choose Mini V2Riley Young / Digital Trends

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

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

Design and build quality

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

Monoprice has redesigned everything aesthetically.

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

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

User interface and software

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

Monopice Choose Mini V2Riley Young / Digital Trends

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

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

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

Printing performance

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

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

Monopice Choose Mini V2Riley Young / Digital Trends

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

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

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

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

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

Our opinion

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

Is there a better alternative?

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

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

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

How long it will take?

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

Should you buy it

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

Editor's recommendations




02 May
Blog

PlayStation 4 Slim Review: The Default Choice

Sony PlayStation 4 Slim

PlayStation 4 Slim 1 TB console

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

  • Faster WiFi can make a big difference

  • Smaller chassis with a fun design

  • Same great PS4 game library

  • Cheaper than ever

  • No more optical connection

  • A more powerful PS4 console is also available

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

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

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

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

PlayStation gets a "fun" makeover

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wi-Fi friendly

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

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

Warranty information

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

Our opinion

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

Is there a better alternative?

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

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

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

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

How long it will take?

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

Should you buy it

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

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

Editor's recommendations




01 May
Blog

Garmin Vivimove Style Review: Smart, Timeless, Quirky

garmin vivimove style review intelligent timeless quirky vivoactive 28

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

  • Timeless aesthetics

  • Robust Garmin Connect app

  • Hands move to see statistics

  • HR and Pulsox sensors

  • No buttons

  • Dull AMOLED displays

  • Picky gesture control

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

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

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

Deceptive look

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

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

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

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

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

Disappointing screen

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

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

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

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

Our opinion

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

Is there a better alternative?

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

How long it will take?

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

Should you buy it

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

Editor's recommendations




01 May
Blog

Food Intolerances: Should I Get Tested?

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

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

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

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

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

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

What is the test?

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

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

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

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

So what's the problem?

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

Real food intolerances

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The IgG antibody

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

IgG Food Interolence Science

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Continue with caution

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

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

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

References

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

01 May
Blog

Nikon Coolpix P950 Review: Epic Zoom That’s Easy to Use

nikon p950

"The Nikon P950's 83x zoom lens captures great detail, but performance is slow at times."

  • 83x zoom lens

  • Bright wide angle with an aperture of 1: 2.8

  • Macro mode

  • Exposure compensation wheel

  • Easy to use auto modes

  • Slow buffer

  • Occasional autofocus is missing

  • Annoying battery life indicator

As the announcements of point-and-shoot cameras are becoming scarcer, the Nikon P950 is in a remaining category that smartphones cannot touch: the super zoom. With an 83X, 24-2,000 mm equivalent lens, the P950 can capture subjects that you simply cannot see with the naked eye.

As an update to the P900, the P950 offers 4K video and RAW photos, two new features that more advanced photographers will appreciate. Despite these updates, the P950 is still well suited to less experienced shooters in automated modes. A new exposure correction control on the lens barrel enables fundamental brightness adjustments that anyone can use, even without understanding how the exposure works.

Not everyone needs an 83x zoom, but for those who do, the P950 offers an affordable, if incomplete, solution.

Burly design

Nikon coolpix p950 rating 9400

Nikon coolpix p950 rating 9399

Not surprisingly, the housing of the Nikon P950 is dominated by this 83x zoom lens. The lens is so big that you can feel the weight of the camera shifting forward in your hands as you extend it. At 35.5 ounces, the P950 is the weight of a DSLR (but with a much smaller lens). I still managed to carry the camera on a 5 mile hike without feeling terribly uncomfortable. Unlike a DSLR, I didn't have to lug around multiple lenses to take both wide-angle and telephoto shots.

The body style mimics a DSLR, which means the P950 has a large, comfortable grip, extensive physical controls, and a hot shoe slot on the top. The control scheme is similar to that of the P900, with a mode dial and a dial at the top right and a well-known set of menu controls at the back.

Hillary Grigonis / Digital Trends

There's plenty of room for controls, but advanced photographers will have to dig a little more in the menu. ISO, a fairly common adjustment in one of the manual modes, is not one of the link options.

The lens barrel is so large that it contains its own controls. A zoom switch provides a second way to zoom in with your left hand while a button retracts the zoom so you can redesign the subject. A new feature of the P950 is an exposure compensation wheel on the lens barrel. This was one of my favorite controls, resting exactly where my left hand is carrying the weight of the camera, and offering easy access to lighten or darken the photos.

The P950 also has an electronic viewfinder with 2.36 million points. A viewfinder is almost a necessity with so much zoom, because the support of the camera with your face keeps it much more stable than if you hold it at arm's length to use the LCD screen. This screen measures 3.2 inches diagonally, but is somewhat unusual for 2020 and is not a touchscreen. The resolution of both the viewfinder and the screen is not crazy high, but sufficient and expected for the price.

The battery is designed for 290 shots, which was sufficient for hiking and bird watching. You will definitely need a spare part if you want to take the camera with you on long trips. The battery indicator also has only two notches – full and half. This is annoying because you don't know whether you still have 135 or only 5 shots left.

Easy to use but sluggish performance

Hillary Grigonis / Digital Trends

The ability to take a RAW photo is new to the P950. Although photographers with some experience have more options to control the shot, the camera's built-in automatic modes have given surprisingly good results.

I spent a lot of time in bird watching mode. Combined with the exposure compensation wheel on the side of the lens barrel, almost everyone can take good photos of wildlife in 90 percent of the cases. I occasionally had to switch to shutter priority mode and control the settings so that the long zoom didn't cause blurring, and it's a little annoying that the camera didn't automatically know this. However, the P950 could easily be an effective tool for the bird watcher who has almost no photo expertise.

Edited RAW photo Hillary Grigonis / Digital Trends

Despite the addition of RAW files, the P950 remains a camera designed primarily for casual photographers. The manual settings are limited. If you want to work faster than 1/2000 seconds or slower than 1 second, you must set the lens to a certain position and the ISO value to a certain setting and must not be in burst mode.

The camera was good for slow or quiet wildlife, but photographing animals in action was more of a crapshoot. Between slow autofocus and trying to keep the subject in the picture (not easy at 2,000mm), more of my action shots were disposable than goalkeepers.

The P950 can shoot at 7 fps, which is respectable for the class, but it can only process ten shots at that speed before the buffer fills up. Even worse, the camera controls are frozen while these images are being written to the card. For example, you can only adjust the zoom once the photos have been processed. It takes about eight seconds to process a full JPEG burst before recording can resume, while RAW takes about 12 seconds. Despite the long zoom, this isn't the best camera to photograph your child's tee game.

Using auto focus with contrast detection, the P950 focused on most slow or stationary subjects, but auto focus performance was somewhat inconsistent at full zoom. The camera accessed some subjects that I thought were too difficult, while occasionally it was difficult to take a clear picture of something that I thought would have been easier. It grabbed a bird through a jumble of branches, which is impressive, but it wouldn't focus on a sandhill crane in a meadow with the lens fully extended – perhaps because the colors were less contrasting.

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As a budget-friendly superzoom, the slower performance of the P950 is not unexpected, but it can still be annoying.

Sharp, bright pictures

The Nikon P950 has a 16-megapixel 1 / 2.3-inch sensor, the basic size for point-and-shoot. However, this small sensor makes the 83x zoom possible. And zoom performance isn't the only thing the lens has to offer. It also offers a bright one Aperture 1: 2.8 at the widest angle – ideal for point-and-shoot shots with so much zoom.

The story changes as you enlarge it. At the telephoto end, the aperture drops to 1: 6.5. Given that you are likely to only use as much zoom outdoors in sunlight, this may not be too much of a problem. Macro mode also makes the lens more versatile by shooting the subject in the wide-angle position up to 0.4 inches from the front of the lens.

Images come out of the camera with a surprising level of detail: enough to see the texture in the animal's fur and water drops adhering to the whiskers.

This detail is supported by a solid sharpness in real tests. While the P950 can't keep up with image quality with a mirrorless camera or DSLR that uses much larger sensors, of course, these cameras don't offer anything near 83x zoom.

Subjectively, the image quality of the P950 will not be particularly pleasant. At full zoom, the blurred areas either look like a blotchy mess or a painterly impression, depending on how you look at it. Instead of smooth bokeh, the background looks more like oil paints.

For JPEGs, the color is largely accurate directly from the camera without being oversaturated or excessively subdued on the other side. Even the white balance didn't seem to be tending towards green like most Nikon cameras do. However, some of the pictures took on a magenta color indoors. One of the advantages of RAW shooting is that you can now correct the white balance afterwards, which would not have been possible on the P900.

Sample art filter

Image stabilization also plays a role in taking detailed photos with such a long lens. With 5.5 stabilization stops, I was able to use the 83x zoom handheld for most shots. Dim light, however, is still a problem. When I was shooting an hour before sunset, I had to use the full capabilities of the camera to get a sharp shot at full zoom, which resulted in an image that was just too dark. If you don't need to extend the zoom fully, its brighter aperture can give you better results at the wide end of the lens.

With the smaller sensor, the P950 has problems with high ISO values. The noise creeps in early and photos are best at or below ISO 800, while ISO 1,600 and 3,200 are fine. The maximum ISO 6,400 should be avoided. None of this is surprising for a point in a shoot, but remember, just because the P950 looks like a DSLR doesn't mean it works like one.

In video, 4K resolution is an improvement over the P900. Despite all of these extra pixels, the video is still not particularly detailed, although the colors match the quality of still images. If you want to record videos with 2,000 mm, be sure to bring a tripod. There's simply no way to keep the camera steady enough to get a smooth video recording with such a long zoom.

Our opinion

The Nikon P950's zoom is essentially telescopic, making the camera ideal for taking pictures of objects that are normally far away, such as birds, wildlife or the moon. Images are sharp, even though the background is mixed up at full zoom. RAW photos and 4K are nice enhancements to the P900, along with the new exposure compensation wheel on the side of the lens.

While the benefits of such a long zoom lens cannot be denied, the P950 offers slow performance and an auto focus that occasionally fails. And while adding RAW is a start, you still have to reach into the menu to change settings like ISO. Photos in low light conditions are not possible with full zoom, although the bright aperture offers a certain user-friendliness with large settings.

Is there a better alternative?

Since one of the few types of point-and-shoot cameras cannot compete with discounts for smartphones, the Superzoom category offers many competitors. Aside from spending $ 1,000 on the 125x Nikon P1000, the P950 gets you the closest thing to your subject. The Panasonic FZ3000 offers faster performance and a brighter lens, but only with 25x zoom. The Canon SX70 offers 20 megapixels, but the 65x zoom lens is not as bright at 1: 3.4 to 6.5. With its larger sensor, the Sony RX10 IV offers better image quality and faster performance with a 25x Zoom – but at twice the price, it doesn't really try to compete with those of the P950.

How long it will take?

Point-and-shoot cameras typically have a shorter lifespan before they're out of date – and the 16-megapixel sensor can overtake the P950 faster. However, the camera was only launched in early 2020 and should therefore be able to be used for a few years.

Should you buy it

Buy the P950 if you absolutely need an incredible zoom. If you want to photograph action, keep looking. The P950 is decent, but a niche camera for bird watchers and nature lovers, while its poor performance and limited usefulness in low light conditions prevent it from being a great all-round camera.

Editor's recommendations




01 May
Blog

Sparkmaker Review | Digital Trends

Sparkmaker rating

"Sparkmaker is definitely a fixer upper. In other words, you should steer clear unless you are ready to tinker with something."

  • Affordable

  • High print resolution

  • Compact and quiet

  • Favorable construction

  • Buggy software

  • Small build volume

  • Unreliable prints

When 3D printing was just beginning to become mainstream, the only printers available to consumers used a technique called filament deposition modeling (FDM). This is the type of 3D printing you've probably seen before: a printer passes a strand of plastic filament through a hot nozzle and carefully places the melted goose bumps layer by layer on a building board to create a 3D object.

This is by far the most popular and widely used style of 3D printer, but a technology known as stereolithography (SLA) has recently increased. SLA printers create objects by flashing light into a pool of photoreactive resin that hardens when UV light hits it. Because of the precision of this technique, SLA printers generally produce much better parts than FDM printers.

The only problem, however, is that this type of printer has been prohibitively expensive in recent years and therefore out of reach of the average consumer – but that is beginning to change.

A typical example? The $ 300 Sparkmaker Printer. The Sparkmaker was born from a Kickstarter project that started in early 2017. It is one of the first SLA / DLP printers to pass the $ 500 mark. So we got one to see how it stands out from the competition.

Excellent functions and specifications

The first thing you'll notice about the Sparkmaker is its small size and light weight. At just 6 pounds and 6 x 11 inches in size (it's a cylinder), it's definitely one of the smallest printers on the market. While it won't be hard to find a place for the little guy, it has a downside.

By lifting the orange UV protection hood, the tiny 4 x 2.2 x 5 inch construction envelope of the printer becomes visible. This is certainly not the smallest footprint we have ever seen, but you shouldn't expect large prints to be made on this device. On the other hand, Sparkmaker has a removable resin container that makes changing materials a breeze.

The Sparkmaker owes its low price to its relatively simple printing technology. Instead of using a laser like Formlabs' printers, Sparkmaker uses a UV-backed LCD screen to project an image into a resin container, which solidifies it – a process called DLP. Despite some minor disadvantages, this printing method offers the Sparkmaker a maximum resolution of ten micrometers. For those of you who want to score at home, this is ten times more detailed than an average FDM printer and about 1.5 times more detailed than the $ 3,500 Ultimaker 3 – arguably the best consumer-level FDM machine currently on the market.

Setup and configuration

In contrast to FDM printers, the Sparkmaker has only one moving component and does not require assembly. Therefore, the setup is extremely simple. After connecting, all you need to do is pour some resin into the tank and make sure the build plate is level. Once you've done this, you're ready to print.

You will definitely not find another SLA / DLP printer that matches Sparkmaker's $ 300 price tag.

Then there is the software. Like many printers today, Sparkmaker has its own cutting program that can be downloaded free of charge from the manufacturer's website. It's called Sparkstudio, and it's one of the most intuitive and accessible we've ever used compared to most other proprietary slicing programs.

Unfortunately, we encountered some bugs that affected the experience (more on that later), but overall this printer is a breeze.

Design and build quality

Sparkmaker is inexpensive for a reason. Most of the body is made of plastic and the parts feel a bit thin and cheap. The makers definitely made some cuts during manufacturing, and that shows it.

The biggest misstep in machine design is a tiny component called a "lead screw". It is a small threaded tube that moves the building board smoothly along the Z axis – or at least it should. Due to the faulty design of this component, the up and down movement of the build plate is susceptible to periodic jerks and jumps that cause problems during the printing process.

Sparkmaker ratingBill Roberson / Digital Trends

However, there is a fairly simple workaround for this problem. After some advice from the Sparkmaker Facebook group, we used another 3D printer to print a new lead screw. This simple exchange drastically improved the success rate and overall consistency of the printer. If you want to buy this printer, you should definitely plan to replace this screw.

Apart from the faulty lead screw, the rest of the printer works pretty well. The removable resin tank is easy to remove and replace, and the build plate itself is secured with a single button screw, simplifying the process of removing the finished print from the printer.

Another bonus is that the Sparkmaker is generally incredibly easy to disassemble and edit – which is good as it definitely requires some crafting.

User interface and software

Sparkmaker's integrated user interface is practically non-existent and consists of a single push button. Unlike other printers that use this design, however, that's all Sparkmaker has to offer. There is no associated screen that you can use to navigate, so the device lacks a number of helpful features. This includes: stopping printing, adjusting device settings without connecting to a computer, and selecting specific files on your SD card for printing. The latter is particularly annoying as you are then forced to either remove or rename old files. Sparkmaker only recognizes cut files with the name "Print.wow". It's not the worst problem you could ever have, but it's definitely one of those annoying quirks that make working with the machine a problem.

Due to software errors and hardware errors, this machine has an above-average failure rate.

Fortunately, the associated desktop software Sparkstudio partially compensates for these problems with an excellent user interface that is both feature-rich and easy to navigate. In other words, it's simple and accessible to beginners, but it also offers extensive customization options so that advanced and advanced users are not left out to dry.

To our great delight, Sparkstudio also offers a tool that is generally only available for high-end slicing software: customizable supports that you can place or remove manually. If this isn't your bag, the software will still include an automatic support placement that you can change posthumously. It is really neat and we want more slicing programs that offer this kind of functionality.

Despite all the good things, Sparkstudio suffers from a few debilitating mistakes that affect the experience. First, there is a scaling error that randomly adjusts the length, width, height, or size of the objects you cut into slices – without any advice or warnings. During our testing, this resulted in a 3DBenchy tug that was twice what it should have been, and a skull that was about a tenth of the height we originally set for it. This error, combined with an inconsistency in what caused our prints to fail, prompted us to use a completely different slicer program. In the end, we used SLAcer: a custom slicer that fixes Sparkstudio's mistakes above, but also doesn't offer many of its best features – including the custom support placement feature.

All in all, Sparkstudio has enormous potential, but is held back by a few obvious shortcomings. It is possible that WOW! These problems may be fixed in the future, but the software is frustratingly buggy in its current state. Until these problems are resolved, use a more reliable but less feature-rich slicing program.

Printing performance

Despite the problems with consistency and splitting errors, the Sparkmaker prints surprisingly well – (when it's done). With its maximum resolution on the Z axis of 10 micrometers, this small device can print amazing details and super fine geometry. Some of our test prints show a slight voxel formation (a consequence of the printer's DLP printing technology). However, the effect is only noticeable when you search for it.

Sparkmaker ratingBill Roberson / Digital Trends

Overall, the virtues of the Sparkmaker outweigh its shortcomings in terms of print quality. It's definitely not on the same level as the Formlabs Form 2, for example, but let's not forget that it's a $ 300 printer we're talking about here. It is a tenth of the price of a top-of-the-range machine, but offers only slightly lower quality. It is quite impressive.

However, print quality is only part of the equation. Consistency and reliability are the other part of it, and unfortunately that's where Sparkmaker comes up short. Due to the software errors and hardware errors mentioned above, this machine has an above-average failure rate.

Despite all its shortcomings and shortcomings, we liked this printer.

Even after we fixed the lead screw problem and switched to a less faulty cutting program, we still experienced a high number of botched prints. According to our count, you have a 50/50 chance that the print will not adhere properly to the build plate. You can fix this problem by printing on the underside of your object with an improvised "raft". However, this raft cannot be removed and there is still a good chance that it will not stick anyway.

All in all, we would say that the Sparkmaker produces impressively detailed prints in about 30 percent of the cases. The other 70 percent make something that resembles postmodern glitch art. However, we will continue to work on and update this article as we figure out how to get better and more consistent prints.

Our opinion

Despite all its shortcomings and shortcomings, we liked this printer. It's compact, quiet, and the only printer we've ever tested that didn't drive everyone in the office with its vapors or noise. It is also very affordable, relatively easy to update, and occasionally produces outstanding prints.

Still, Sparkmaker is definitely not a good printer for beginners. In its current state, it is too flawed, too flawed, and too unreliable to recommend it to anyone just breaking into the 3D printing scene. However, if you're enjoying a little challenge and aren't afraid to get your hands dirty, the Sparkmaker is a fixer upper that could be worth your time.

Is there a better alternative?

You will definitely not find another SLA / DLP printer that matches Sparkmaker's $ 300 price tag. However, there are some competitors that you can buy for around $ 500 – like the Wanhao Duplicator 7 with a slightly larger build volume and a built-in menu navigation screen.

If you haven't chosen an SLA / DLP printer, there are a handful of good FDM printers on the market that you can put your paws on for around $ 300. For price-conscious buyers, we recommend Monoprice's $ 160 mini-delta printer. It may not match the Sparkmaker's print resolution, but it has a larger footprint and is far more reliable.

For those who don't mind spending a little more, you can also buy a Monoprice Maker Select Plus for $ 400. It's a little more expensive, but for that extra $ 100, you get a much larger footprint and a full range of high-end features.

How long it will take?

With its cheap parts and plastic case, the sparkmaker's lifespan is probably definitely dependent on how you treat it. Without regular maintenance, we would be willing to bet that things will fail after a year or two. However, if you keep it up to date and keep it well oiled, it will likely continue to tick after the age of 5 – assuming WOW! continues to release firmware updates and bug fixes.

On the positive side, there are numerous instructions for corrections and upgrades in the Sparkmaker community. We found endless support from the Facebook community when we encountered problems from both other users and the developers themselves.

Should you buy it

If you are new to 3D printing and want something that is easy to use, don't buy this printer. We guarantee that you will pull your hair out. However, if you're ready to get messy and do some DIY upgrades, Sparkmaker may be just the thing for you. With a little tinkering, you can definitely make this machine shine.

Editor's recommendations




30 Apr
Blog

Zortrax M300 Review | Digital Trends

Zortrax M300 test

"The Zortrax M300 prints beautifully, but urgently needs a new build plate and some software updates."

  • Robust, attractive frame

  • Excellent printing performance

  • Large building envelope

  • Perforated building board makes it difficult to remove parts

  • Onboard and offboard software are limited

  • Bowden tube anchors can fail

  • Expensive

When it comes to 3D printing companies, Zortrax is not as well known as Makerbot or Ultimaker – but it has been making 3D printers for quite some time. In fact, the company's M200 printer (which was released back in 2012) is generally considered one of the best FDM printers you can buy.

For this reason, we were very excited when the company launched the new M300: a larger, worse version of its flagship machine. To find out how it stacks, we put the printer through its paces over the course of a month. That's how it went.

Excellent functions and specifications

The first thing you'll likely notice about the M300 is that it's huge. This isn't exactly a desktop printer, so you should definitely plan to allocate some space for it. With a weight of 110.2 pounds and an outer dimension of 18.6 inches x 19.2 inches x 26.1 inches, this thing is a big, beefy bastard of a printer. Fortunately, this also means that it has a fairly large build area – with a spacious 11.8 "x 11.8" x 11.8 "envelope.

Some other nice features you'll find on this device are: a heated bed (which increases grip and prevents pressure deformation), semi-automatic bed leveling, a small LCD screen for navigation and removable front / side panels.

The otherwise great foundation of the M300 is adversely affected by a variety of small design flaws.

The M300 also comes with something that we have never seen before and that scratched our heads in confusion. This "function" is a perforated building board – something that makes little sense for a machine that squirts out molten plastic to make items. We'll discuss why shortly.

Unfortunately, this seemed to be an ongoing issue for the printer. While it is clearly well made and has admirable features, the otherwise great foundation of the M300 is adversely affected by a variety of small design flaws and mysterious oversights.

Setup and config

Setting up the M300 is relatively simple and straightforward, but requires a bit of assembly and heavy lifting. Once you have released the printer from its packaging and attachments, you will need to attach the printer's build plate. Fortunately, this is not particularly difficult and only requires attaching a few wires to a clearly marked outlet.

Zortrax M300 Check "data-image-id =" 1340217Bill Roberson / Digital Trends

Bill Roberson / Digital Trends

You can then start the printer and start inserting the filament to the hot end. Zortrax's instructions on board will guide you through the device. The semi-automatic bed calibration of the printer is also fairly simple and guides you through the leveling process before you start printing.

Overall, the M300 is certainly not the easiest machine we've ever set up, but it's still pretty darn easy. As long as you are able to read and follow basic instructions, you shouldn't have any problems.

User interface / software

While the built-in controls on the M300 are easy to use and understand, there are some minor issues in the built-in software interface that make printing difficult. For example, when printing starts, you can no longer interact with the device. There is no pause / resume function and no possibility to adjust settings during operation or to cancel printing immediately. The only way to stop printing is to turn off the device – which is puzzling because these features are standard on most modern printers. Needless to say, the M300's unfinished software later led to some annoying usage problems.

Removing a finished print from the M300 is like pulling Excalibur out of the stone while trapped in a broom cupboard.

With the offboard software, the M300 works exclusively with the Z-Suite slicing program developed by Zortrax. The serial code from the back of our printer was required to download the program and was requested again during installation. While this is not the worst thing in the world, we found it to be over the top, superfluous and slightly annoying.

After putting the Z-Suite into operation, we were satisfied with the clear user interface, the easy-to-navigate design and the entertaining graphics – and were immediately disappointed with the simplified printing options. The program seems to be aimed at beginners and is therefore very easy to use, but unfortunately omits a number of "advanced" print adjustment options that are extremely important. For example, there is no clear way to switch off support structures, rafts or to optimize the filling settings. This is extremely frustrating and generally means that you will burn the filament faster.

Design / build quality

The design of the M300 takes up one page of the Z-Suite book, and by that we mean that it has a strong foundation and is clearly well made, but also has annoying disadvantages. Individually, these problems are not a big deal, but together they are enough to spoil an otherwise outstanding machine.

We start with the good things. The M300 has one of the most stable frames we have ever seen in a 3D printer. It is built like an air raid shelter and would probably print well in an 8.7 magnitude earthquake. It also has a clean, attractive look and comes with side panels that allow you to hide the mechanical guts from view.

Zortrax M300 Check "data-image-id =" 1340208Bill Roberson / Digital Trends

Bill Roberson / Digital Trends

But then there is the perforated building board. It is a double-edged sword because it keeps prints stable while printing, but it also makes them a great pain when printing is finished. To make matters worse, there is also no easy way to remove the print bed from the printer. So you have to pry the print out of the limited limits of the inner chamber of the printer, scrape it off and provide it with a spanner. In other words, removing a finished print from the M300 is like pulling Excalibur out of the stone while trapped in a broom cupboard.

Most of our prints were incredibly clean, detailed, and almost flawless.

And another thing: the perforations on the build platform effectively prevent you from printing without a raft (a few layers of support structure printed under the object to improve adhesion and prevent warpage). When you do this, the best scenario is that you have a series of plastic hubs at the end of your object. The worst scenario is that when you try to pull it off the build plate, your pressure won't easily release and crack (which has happened to us a few times).

Most frustrating, however, is that this perforated design is completely unnecessary. We believe that Zortrax contains the perforations to improve bed adhesion. The thing is, however, that the M300 already has a heated bed and automatically prints with rafts – both of which would probably have done the trick and reduced adhesion / warping problems. The perforations are redundant and cause more problems than they solve.

Unfortunately, the M300's problems don't end there. Another major design flaw was the printer's Bowden tube assembly. The Bowden tube, which is used to guide the filament to the print head, is attached to the rear of the printer using adhesive pads on the back of the plastic clips. The glue on these pads eventually failed during printing, causing the filament to detach from the spool and knot – which ultimately blocked the printer and ruined 13 hours of printing.

Trying to use the M300 for large-format, multi-hour prints is a risky business with no sensors to detect that filaments may run out or jam or even pause when this happens.

Printing performance

Despite the problems on the hardware side as well as on the software interface, both the included print (a strange bottle without a bottom) and our standard 3DBenchy test print have proven themselves remarkably well.

With a maximum print resolution of 90 microns and excellent dimensional accuracy, most of our prints were incredibly clean, detailed and almost error-free. We have one of the best benchy boats we have ever printed.

The M300 also copes with gaps and overhangs, as well as some of the best FDM printers we have ever seen, and praised virtually all of the prints it has completed. Unfortunately, due to hardware problems, we weren't able to give him many chances to prove ourselves, but we were very impressed with the print quality we saw in the pieces we finished.

Zortrax M300 Check "data-image-id =" 1340218Bill Roberson / Digital Trends

Bill Roberson / Digital Trends

When it comes to reliability, the M300 definitely needs some work. When a print is complete, that print will undoubtedly look good – but the machine doesn't always do the print jobs you give it. Until you have secured the Bowden tube and prevent it from loosening and getting your filament tangled, you should not entrust the M300 with large prints lasting several hours. Fortunately, however, this is the only real reliability issue. We have never experienced any faults or prints that have come off the bed.

Our opinion

The M300 is like a chubby house on a solid foundation. In its current form, it's not something you want to live in, but if the landlord had made a few minor touch-ups, it would be a great place to hang your hat.

In other words, the M300 has the potential to be an amazing machine, but its design flaws mentioned above hold it back. With an update of the software and firmware, this printer could possibly be among the best in its class. Medium print options, more control in the Z-Suite and a print bed without holes would take the M300 to the next level.

Is there a better alternative?

Given the M300's price of $ 2,990, there are dozens of alternatives that offer better performance and reliability.

For a bit more money, you can get a Formlabs Form 2 SLA printer – a device that is far superior to the M300 in terms of print quality and is generally considered one of the best 3D printers for consumers on the market. It's worth noting, however, that Form2's resin-based printing technology makes it somewhat more difficult (and sticky) to work with.

If the SLA print does not sound appealing and you prefer to use an FDM printer, we recommend the Ultimaker 2+. It offers better printing performance, a comparatively large build area and none of the annoying problems that plague the M300. For $ 2,999, you even get the Extended Edition, which has a larger footprint and allows you to build larger parts.

Another good choice would be the Lulzbot Taz 6, which doesn't look nearly as good as the M300, but is far more reliable, upgradeable, and optimized. If you are looking for a workhorse that can do work for work, the Taz 6 is the printer for you. It is also a few hundred dollars cheaper and offers an almost identical turnaround.

How long it will take?

The M300's robust construction and excellent build quality will likely keep this printer running for a long, long time. However, the software, software, and firmware of this printer are already out of date and need to be updated. When Zotrax releases an update that fixes some issues, this printer keeps ticking for years.

Should you buy it

At this point, no. With other options that offer more for your money, the M300 is not a printer that we can recommend – at least not at the moment. The large build volume, impressive print quality, and robust structure are tempting, but the myriad design flaws and limited control over printing parameters make it one of the most frustrating printers we've ever used. If these problems were fixed, the M300 would be a dream, but at the moment you should spend your money somewhere else.

Editor's recommendations




30 Apr
Blog

Motorola Moto Edge Plus Review: Yet Another Android Flagship

Moto Edge Plus

Moto Edge Plus review: overshadowed by giants

"The Moto Edge Plus looks like the future."

  • Beautiful "Endless Edge" display

  • Sleek, futuristic design

  • Sharp 108MP camera

  • Good performance

  • Massive battery

  • Fat and heavy

  • The aspect ratio of 21: 9 is cumbersome

  • Mediocre front and telephoto

Motorola's new flagship, the Moto Edge Plus, looks like something from the HBO Westworld series. The show shows handheld devices as edgeless displays, which, apart from a sharp, bright screen, largely lack any recognition features. Actually, they are not smartphones – just intelligent devices, a mixture of tablet, phone and PC.

The Moto Edge Plus feels like a big step towards Westworld's fiction. It's almost the entire screen, and thanks to a fast Qualcomm processor, 5G support, lots of RAM, and a smooth 90 Hz display, it responds to your touch with unnatural speed. There is a subtle Motorola logo on the back. Otherwise it is elegant and without branding.

Despite its futuristic design, Motorola also tries to undercut the competition. The Moto Edge Plus costs "only" $ 1,000. This is a lot, but also less than first-class flagships from Apple and Samsung. This is a daring, bold phone.

display

Motorola's Moto Edge Plus has an obvious, massive headline feature that you stare at every time you pick up the phone. This is the 6.7-inch "Endless Edge" display.

Phones with slim, curved-edge displays aren't brand new (believe it or not, the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge is five years old), but the Moto Edge Plus is part of a new generation that takes it to the extreme. The edges wrap a full 90 degrees around the sides, with the side panels being practically eliminated when looking directly at the phone.

Moto Edge PlusMatthew S. Smith / Digital Trends

Phones like the Huawei Mate 30 Pro adopted this design concept last year, but the Moto Edge Plus is all-in. Perhaps more importantly, it's widespread in the U.S., while Huawei and Oppo phones are hard to find and use in North America. This is practically a first for an average US smartphone buyer.

The Endless Edge display is a beautiful OLED touchscreen with a long list of features, including FHD + resolution, 90 Hz refresh rate, 10-bit color support, and HDR10 + certification. The unusual and dramatic aspect ratio of 21: 9 results in a phone that feels large and narrow. This is an advantage when writing SMS, surfing the Internet or reading, because it increases the content that you can see without increasing the width of the phone.

Moto Edge PlusMatthew S. Smith / Digital Trends

However, it can be a problem when streaming videos or games, since most are produced with an aspect ratio of 16: 9. A 21: 9 display shows black bars on the sides when 16: 9 content is displayed, effectively reducing the usable screen area. For most videos and some games, you can enlarge the content to take up the entire display. However, this cuts off part of the image.

The touchscreen can also be difficult to use. It looks seductive and futuristic, but it makes it difficult to handle the phone without activating touch when it is not intended to. This was not a problem for me while surfing the Internet, but it did become a problem when playing. I never found a handle in Minecraft that was comfortable and avoided accidental touches.

Moto Edge PlusMatthew S. Smith / Digital Trends

The display has two more quirks. First, when viewing a website or document, text is often displayed on both sides of the phone. Although it remains legible, it looks strange. The extreme curve also distorts color and brightness at the edges due to the odd viewing angle. This is obvious when you see a uniform color streak on the display, e.g. B. the pure white background of many websites. I got used to it, but I would certainly call it a mistake.

Your appetite for the Moto Edge Plus mainly depends on whether you fall in love with this screen. It's insane and futuristic, but not flawless. Phone freaks like to adapt to the quirks of the display and enjoy the striking look. However, if you're more interested in function than shape, consider a more traditional large-screen phone like the Galaxy S20 Plus.

design

The Moto Edge Plus is a phone that was developed around the display. Its large, narrow, blocky body is tailored to the high, narrow aspect ratio of 21: 9.

But wow, it's an eye catcher.

Would you like to know what the phone feels like? Get a Hershey chocolate bar. I admit that I didn't have a candy bar to do a side-by-side comparison, but my mind immediately jumped to that comparison.

Despite the rounded edges, the phone feels chunky compared to an Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus. According to official information, the size of the phone is bulky 0.37 inches. The iPhone 11 Pro Max is 0.32 inches thick, the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus is 0.31 inches and the OnePlus 8 Pro is 0.33 inches. This makes it more difficult to hold the phone than its slim profile suggests.

Moto Edge PlusMatthew S. Smith / Digital Trends

It's weirdly slippery. Even the slightest incline lets the phone slip slowly. It spontaneously threw itself from the edge of my desk, couch, and several chairs. It always feels ready to get out of your grip.

The phone also feels top-heavy because it is large and you naturally hold the phone near its bottom. My test device weighed 7.2 ounces on my kitchen scale. This is more than a Galaxy S20 Plus, but less than Apple's iPhone 11 Pro Max. This is a large phone that, like its competition, can be uncomfortable to hold in bed or while lying on a sofa.

But wow, it's an eye catcher. The entire Moto 2020 product line is clearly designed to offer luxury design at lower prices, and the Edge Plus is successful. The noble blue finish of my test device in combination with the slim appearance of the phone results in an elegant, professional device. The Moto Edge Plus seems to belong in a boardroom or private jet.

Optical fingerprint reader

The Moto Edge Plus uses an optical fingerprint reader for secure login. It appears in the lower quarter of the phone and is easy to use.

However, it does not avoid the shortcomings that have caused this technology. While fingerprint recognition usually worked, it often took a moment to recognize my fingerprint. This is sluggish compared to the almost instant login that traditional systems can offer. The system also has major problems with water, lint, or dirt on your hands.

5G, WiFi and ports

The Moto Edge Plus supports both mmWave and Sub-6 Hz 5G networks and, according to Motorola, can reach network speeds of 4 Gbit / s under ideal conditions. I couldn't test this myself because 5G wasn't deployed in my region. Still, it's good to see support for both 5G networks as this should improve connectivity and unlock access to the fastest speeds possible. New Android flagships will offer this feature in 2020, while the iPhone doesn't yet offer 5G support.

The phone is exclusive to Verizon. You must be a Verizon subscriber to use this phone or be ready to switch to the Verizon network.

You will also find support for Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1. I would expect to see the latest wireless connectivity standards in a new flagship phone, but it's good to see that Motorola didn't skip any features to keep the $ 1,000 price tag going.

The wired connectivity includes USB 3.0 Type C and a 3.5 mm audio jack, both of which are located on the bottom lip of the phone.

Camera quality

Moto Edge PlusMatthew S. Smith / Digital Trends

The camera is the other heading feature of Motos Edge Plus. The triple lens system features a 108-megapixel main shooter, a 16-megapixel ultrawide lens and an 8-megapixel telephoto lens. It also includes optical image stabilization, video stabilization and laser auto focus with a time-of-flight sensor.

Yes, 108MP. As with the Endless Edge display, the phone's 108-megapixel camera isn't a unique feature, but it is up-to-date and somewhat unexpected on a $ 1,000 phone. If you're in the U.S., the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra is just a generally available phone with this feature. And it costs $ 1,400.

That's a lot of megapixels. But translated into an excellent camera?

Main camera quality

Although it has a 108MP sensor, pixel binning is enabled by default on the Moto Edge Plus. This technique, called Moto Quad Pixel Technology, combines the light of four pixels into one. This reduces the output to 27 MP, but increases the brightness, contrast and color of the image – at least in theory.

At first glance, the Moto Edge Plus makes a strong impression. When shooting outdoors, the camera vibrates with a lively, saturated appearance, as is common with flagship cell phones. These shots will surely draw your attention and look great on a variety of screens.

However, I feel that the Moto Edge Plus has color problems. My close-up of a flower makes it look almost fluorescent while it was lukewarm in real life. Colors can become so extreme that they destroy details and remove subtle patterns or flaws that would otherwise be visible. It's not bad for Instagram, but sometimes far from reality.

The color was distorted in the opposite direction when I took indoor pictures with moderate to dim lighting. While the pictures looked sharp and bright, the colors appeared. The camera seemed particularly confused by the yellow wall of my kitchen and often leaned towards a faint, dark pastel that is not accurate at all.

Portrait mode solidly improves the appearance of portrait photos and works quite well even in moderate lighting, although it is more grainy than photos taken with a Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus or Apple's iPhone 11 Pro Max. My curly hair is, as always, a mode stress test, and Motorola’s camera is sure to have problems with broken curls, but the slight halo that dances around the edges of my frizz is not uncommon. Every portrait mode I've ever tried had problems coping with my locks.

The Moto Edge Plus is best suited for taking photos at a moderate distance with moderate to bright lighting. Breathtaking pictures can be taken in these conditions, but the main camera is not as versatile as I hoped.

108MP Ultra-Res / Tele quality

While the 108MP sensor uses pixel binning by default, you can disable this mode and take full 108MP photos. However, if you do this, you will encounter some problems. Using the 108MP Ultra-Res mode significantly extends photo processing time. The photos themselves are huge and take up a lot more space than the standard photos with 27 MP.

You will be disappointed if you expect an obvious improvement in clarity. The 27MP photos are output with a resolution of 6,016 x 4,512 – already well above 4K. The 108MP photos are output with a resolution of 12.032 x 9.024. This is much higher, but you need a display with a resolution well above 4K to see the difference.

Motorola does not know this problem and quickly points out the additional versatility of a high-resolution photo. A high-resolution image can improve the digital zoom because, first of all, more details have to be edited. However, the Moto Edge Plus also has an 8 megapixel telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom.

I decided to compare them side by side by taking photos of text from a distance and then cropping them to see which ones showed the most detailed.

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The results are fascinating.

The telephoto lens clearly delivers superior sharpness. This is not an insult to Ultra Res mode because the detail here is impressive. These narrow crops contain less than 1 percent of the over 108,576,768 pixels in the 108MP photo. Nevertheless, the crop of the telephoto lens is easier to read.

However, you will notice a clear difference in the appearance of each shot. Photos from Ultra Res mode are significantly more colorful than those from the 8MP camera. This makes sense since the 108MP main camera has an aperture of 1: 1.8, while the telephoto camera has an aperture of 1: 2.4 and therefore captures less light.

Overall, these results lead to the assumption that experienced smartphone photographers will find a lot to discover. The ultra-res mode and the telephoto lens are each suitable for different situations. On the other hand, less experienced photographers (like me) are likely to ignore Ultra Res mode and use the telephoto lens when zoom is required.

Ultrawide and macro quality

A 16 megapixel ultrawide camera offers a field of view of 117 degrees for more expansive shots and works well. The dramatic photos you're likely to take with an Ultrawide lens go well with the Moto Edge Plus' tendency to oversaturate colors.

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Are the results realistic? No – but that's not what an ultra-wide smartphone camera is about. It's a fun, versatile option that gives a sense of scale and size that is normally not possible on a smartphone. I enjoyed it and the photos I took are easily some of the best I could take during my review.

The phone's macro mode has a job to do, but this job is probably more specific than expected. It can deliver solid quality if it comes very, very close to a subject. I speak at most a few inches away. Otherwise, I found that the main camera could take sharper, more colorful photos.

Front camera

The Moto Edge Plus has a 25-megapixel front camera that, like the main camera, has quad-pixel technology. 6.2MP images are output as standard.

My quarantine haircut doesn't make me the best subject, but I think the camera is solid. Photos of it are vivid, clear and crisp. The photo shows the overly saturated appearance of other cameras, but I think this is less of a problem for selfies. My skin tone certainly doesn't "glow", but here is a hint of warmth.

However, you need adequate lighting to get the most out of the camera. Even if pixel binning is activated, the front-facing camera cannot avoid a grainy appearance even with poor interior lighting, not to mention a really dark environment. There is no night mode or the like to improve quality with limited lighting.

Summary of camera quality

The Moto Edge Plus camera offers owners many options in the hope that some will stay. Some do it. Outdoor shots look great on the main camera, which does its best in good lighting with colorful landscapes. It's Instagram-friendly and sacrifices balance and realism for a lively, saturated look that stands out on every display.

I like the 108MP camera. This is not often used by most owners, but it increases the versatility of the phone. You can take pictures in 108MP Ultra-Res mode and crop them later for best results.

It's a great camera system, but it's not noticeable. All modern flagship phones offer excellent picture quality. The Moto Edge Plus can take spectacular photos, but it didn't blow me away.

Video quality

The Moto Edge Plus brings the warmth to the video specs. It can record videos with a resolution of up to 6K or 1080p videos with up to 60 frames per second (frames per second). Other features include optical image stabilization, video portrait mode, and a video snapshot function that can be used to retrieve 20 megapixel still images from the video while filming.

I have little experience with video recording on smartphones, so I cannot seriously test the video quality. Still, I found the video quality strong, with sharp details and vivid colors.

The phone continued to perform well when recording 6K video. I did not notice any significant delay or processing time before or after recording with 6K.

There is also a slow motion mode that captures up to 120 fps at FHD resolution or 240 fps at HD resolution.

Audio

Stereo speakers tuned by Waves, a Grammy award-winning audio technology company, give the Moto Edge Plus its voice. And, boy, does it really scream?

At full volume, the phone delivers a strong, balanced sound that can handle a wide range of content, from bass-heavy tracks to the most hectic action films. The phone doesn't deliver most of the bass, but it does offer a clear, distortion-resistant experience. Dialogues or vocals can also be distinguished from the roar of a jet engine or a constant, deep bass beat.

performance

A Qualcomm 865 processor supplies the Moto Edge Plus with power. This is the latest and best offer from Qualcomm, which serves eight cores. This is paired with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage connected via the UFS 3.0 storage standard. Motorola does not offer models with more storage space, and SD card expansion is not an option.

Since most Android phones are based on Qualcomm processors, the Moto Edge Plus has no particular advantage over the competition. Still, this is a fast processor. Only Apple's excellent A13 Bionic will defeat him.

  • Geekbench 5 single core: 910
  • Geekbench 5 multi-core: 3,297
  • 3DMark Sling Shot: 9,415

I noticed in previous reviews that smartphone performance has reached the point where most phones are "good enough". Still, you will feel the difference between a flagship like the Moto Edge Plus and any phone with a mid-range Qualcomm 600 processor.

The Moto Edge Plus flies through content and rarely hesitates even when you scroll through large lists of high-resolution images or videos. It's not flawless, but it's close. Combine this with the 90 Hz screen, which is more responsive than the 60 Hz screens that used to dominate flagship phones, for a pleasant experience.

The Moto Edge Plus flies through content.

I mentioned that Apple's A13 Bionic is faster, which you can see from benchmarks. For example, the iPhone SE from Apple scored 1,324 points for Geekbench single-core and 3,192 points for Geekbench multi-core. This means that the $ 400 Apple phone is significantly faster than the Moto Edge Plus in terms of per-core processor performance. The iPhone SE is also competitive in the multi-core area. But do you see this speed in practice?

I only noticed it when using the camera. For example, if you take a lot of pictures in succession, I noticed that current-generation iPhones can take multiple photos quickly and feel a little more responsive. I also notice a more responsive feeling in multitasking applications (despite the RAM memory in the Moto Edge Plus).

Nevertheless, "good enough" remains in force. Does a modern iPhone feel more responsive? Yes. Is it really important with 99% of usage? No, it doesn't.

Qualcomm's 865 has a built-in Adreno 650 GPU and can handle any game Android can give you. After all, this is Qualcomm's current top tier component. There is no superior chip for an Android game developer. Games fly, run with high frame rates and excellent quality settings.

I don't have an iPhone 11 Pro Max for direct comparison, but 3DMark's benchmark results make me believe that the iPhone 11 Pro Max and Moto Edge Plus offer an approximately equivalent experience. And since many other Android flagships have the same Qualcomm 865 part with the same Adreno GPU, you probably won't notice a big difference between them either.

As I said earlier, I have some complaints about how the design of the phone can make playing games more difficult when I rely on touchscreen controls, but I can not degrade performance in any way.

Battery life

A massive 5000 mAh battery powers the Moto Edge Plus. Batteries of this size are not uncommon in 2020, but this still gives the Edge Plus a capacity advantage over most of its competitors. The OnePlus 8 Pro has a 4,510 mAh battery, the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus has a 4,500 mAh battery and the Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max has a 3,969 mAh battery.

I assume that most people will end the day with 30 to 50 percent of the remaining battery.

Motorola gives the battery life after two days, and in my experience, that was the case. You can extend it to three days if you make little calls, or use it in a single day if you do everything you can to play games. I assume that most people will end the day with 30 to 50 percent of the remaining battery.

The phone supports an included 18-watt quick charger or 15-watt wireless charging. It also supports wireless power distribution up to 5 watts. These numbers aren't impressive for a flagship phone because the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus can charge up to 25 watts and the OnePlus 8 Pro supports 30 watts. However, given the long battery life, I don't think mediocre charging is worth worrying about.

software

Motorola ships the Moto Edge Plus with a relatively flawless version of Android 10. Much of the bloatware on my device came from Verizon, not Motorola, but even this mess was minimal. Apps like My Verizon can be largely ignored if you don't want to watch them.

The Moto Edge Plus has Moto promotions, a special bonus that can be found in all Motorola phones. These gesture-based shortcuts provide quick access to some common functions. For example, a quick double-chop process opens the flashlight, or you can quickly twist your wrist twice to open the camera.

Moto Edge PlusMatthew S. Smith / Digital Trends

I've been a Moto fan for many years after jumping on board the Moto G3 for the first time, and Moto promotions are a major reason for my preference. I love her. They are simple, reliable and affect functions that you use every day.

The camera app is my biggest complaint. The rudimentary look is not uncommon on Android phones, but it looks unaffected. It's not as attractive as the iOS camera app or the one you find on Google's pixel phones, and the tendency to rely on small icons and option lists can be anything but intuitive. It's usable, but not as user-friendly as some of its competitors.

Motorola informed me that the Endless Edge display is being used for notifications during my briefing over the phone, and I noticed that it was lighting up. However, I have not gained any value from the light show. I was hardly surprised. Any phone that offers a curved edge display has in some way claimed to provide helpful notifications, and it has never shown me a real utility.

Our opinion

Motorola's Moto Edge Plus is solid, but struggles to stand out from a crowded field. Apple, Samsung, LG, OnePlus, Oppo and Huawei offer their own flagships. In most cases, these companies offer several. They all have huge screens and lots of functions. You can opt for the Moto Edge because of the 108-megapixel camera or the extreme display, but these features aren't a must for most buyers.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes. That is the problem with the Moto Edge Plus.

It's a nice phone, but there's a lot to choose from. Most buyers in this price range will likely opt for the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus, a reliable choice with a stunning yet functional design. There is also the OnePlus 8 Pro, which loses some ground in the camera specifications, but makes up for it with a larger 120 Hz screen.

If you want a flagship experience on a budget, Google Pixel 4 XL is a great choice. You can also wait for the Moto Edge to come later this year. It's a stripped-down version of the Moto Edge Plus that retains the screen, but is downgraded to a 64-megapixel camera, among other things. However, Motorola has not announced its price.

The iPhone Pro Max from Apple is another top choice. Here, too, the iPhone offers a design that better combines form and function. It outperforms the Edge Plus and, in my opinion, offers superior camera quality overall. However, since it is an iPhone, Android users need to consider changing the operating system in their decision.

Do you want more options? Check out our favorite 2020 smartphones.

How long it will take?

The Moto Edge Plus is a fast, full-featured phone that runs the latest version of Android. Therefore, it should perform well in the coming years. Support for new Android operating system versions will stop working after a few years, a problem that is common with Android smartphones.

Should you buy it

No. The Moto Edge Plus is a good phone that doesn't stand out in the impressive lineup of Android flagships from 2020.

Editor's recommendations




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