08 Jan
Blog

Why you should go to a vascular surgeon if you have varicose veins

Varicose veins are a common health problem. Around 20% of the population will suffer from it at some point. Over time, they can sometimes become painful. They also look unsightly. It is therefore not surprising that many people are seeking treatment for this condition.

Often they do this privately. Not all government health care providers treat the condition as a routine. Even if they offer treatment, the waiting list is likely to be quite long. A Houston vascular surgeon, for example, is usually very busy, but don't let that put you off. Often times, they work on serious cases where the disease has progressed, which means taking care to treat each patient properly.

Because of this, it is not surprising that people often turn to clinics that do not specialize in vascular problems for a quick fix. But the question is, should they do that? Is it safe? The simple answer to both questions is no, and it will be even if your varicose veins can be treated with lasers. Let's take a look at why.

Varicose veins are a health problem

There is a tendency to view varicose veins as a purely aesthetic problem. This leads some people to become beauticians to sort them out. In reality they are a disease.

The side effects of varicose veins can be very serious

Some people develop quite serious symptoms that go well beyond merely bulging and injuring veins. The lack of blood flow can lead to leg ulcers, skin thickening and bleeding. It is relatively easy to use the laser to remove the veins but cause other damage.

This can easily lead to more painful symptoms and other health problems. Even with adequate medical supervision, around 5% of patients develop other problems. It is therefore not advisable to allow someone without proper medical training to treat your varicose veins.

The risk of infection

If treatment is not given in an appropriate medical facility, there is also an increased risk of infection. It is always best to seek advice from someone who specializes in treating varicose veins to reduce the risk of infection and to make sure you have the correct follow-up plan.

It is easy to make a serious mistake

Vascular surgeons have a thorough understanding of anatomy. They know where the veins go and, more importantly, which ones can and cannot be treated safely. It is also easy to damage nerves and tissues if the laser or foam sclerotherapy needle is not used in the correct locations.

If you have varicose veins make sure that you only accept treatment from a qualified person. You can easily check their qualifications online. For example, if you live in America you would go here. In other countries, visit the appropriate Medical Board website and search there.

07 Jan
Blog

A Guide to Buy Exercise Equipment for Home

Experts believe that exercise is good for your physical and mental health. With the COVID-19 pandemic still raging, it is not advisable to get involved in any training. Better to stay at home and do the sports that you need right for Exercise equipment for the home. With a mind-boggling selection of devices, you can be very confused about what is best for you.

Most people prefer to go to the gym because they believe that fitness equipment costs a lot of money. The truth is you can build a home gym on a frugal budget. And it won't take up too much space either.

Here is a guide to buying fitness equipment for the home:

Foldable treadmill

A treadmill is an essential part of your home gym. Although it's a bit pricey, you may be able to find one under $ 300. Try using a foldable treadmill with enough running surface (approximately 50 "by 16") and cushioned deck technology to protect your joints from impact damage.

Folding_Treadmill_Gym_Equipment

The speed of the treadmill can be anywhere from 0.5 to 10 miles per hour, although most of these machines come with two to three manual incline settings. Most devices also have an LCD that shows the speed, time, distance and calorie consumption of a session.

Today's treadmills have sensors built into the handlebars to monitor your heart rate. Did you know that 20 minutes of walking every day is a great physical activity that has numerous health benefits?

Folding exercise bike

Next on your list of priorities for your exercise bike is a collapsible (space-saving) exercise bike. Many people prefer an exercise bike because it is light and easy to store, which is inexpensive, and helps burn more calories. Exercise bikes are the best way to get your daily constitution up by cardio. Depending on your purchasing power, you can opt for simple cyclists or expensive, multi-function machines.

Folding_Exercise_Bike_GYM_EQUIPMENT

A standard exercise bike can support a weight of up to 300 pounds and is suitable for people between 5 feet 3 and 6 feet 1. With many adjustments to the level of difficulty, an exercise bike can be adapted to individual needs. These motorcycles have an LCD with a display of the distance covered, the calorie consumption, the time and the speed. Hand sensors embedded in the handlebars monitor your heart rate.

Rowing machine

Rowing machines offer the best cardio and muscle building. However, cardiac patients need to consult a doctor before rowing as it is a strenuous exercise. It is suitable for normal people who want brisk cardio workouts every day.

Rowing_Machine_Gym_Equipment

Additionally, exercising on a rowing machine can help build muscle over time. These devices are great for full body training and work on arms, legs and back. In addition, rowing has less of an impact than walking or running on a treadmill. therefore it is easy on the legs and ankles.

A standard rowing machine has a 350 pound load capacity and many resistance levels (depending on the model). The seats are padded and the handles are designed to be non-slip to ensure a firm hold. The LCD shows the time, number of lines and calories burned.

In summary

During this COVID pandemic that has driven most of us indoors, setting up a home gym is one of the best ideas. The equipment does not take up too much space and is suitable for workouts at any time of the day. Most devices require little maintenance other than regular dusting.

07 Jan
Blog

How to Learn a Handstand and Fall Less

Knowing what to expect from your handstand journey is important. Most of us are not gymnasts or professional hand balancers, so we don't need to have a perfect handstand whatever that is.

With social media, we often feel discouraged because we are exposed to the best whose job it is to do a certain handstand.

There is no competition or judge for the regular person; You only train for yourself.

This article is for people who want to improve their kick-up consistency, that is, step into a handstand and hold it most of the time. I know from personal experience that it is frustrating to waste constantly falling energy not doing a handstand.

It is important that you are comfortable in your hands so that you can perform cool movements, such as walking::

I call this a trip because it is. You can have the best workout one day, nothing goes right the next day.

It doesn't matter how experienced you are. There will still be bad days. You will be better at reading your body and adapting.

Prepare your wrist

I have found during my personal training career that the majority of people have weak wrists. Don't be discouraged if you are, but you have to accept where you are. We live in a beautiful society, but it has its drawbacks. One of them is that we never use our wrists.

We don't hang, crawl, or put pressure on them (typing on the laptop doesn't count).

Remember the body is efficient. Use it or lose it. This applies to physical, technical and mental abilities.

Teaching large classes, I quickly realized that doing 2-3 exercises that put a little pressure on the wrist, the moaning I heard wasn't due to physical exertion, but rather from wrist pain.

When you start exercising your wrist, it will only take a few weeks for improvements to be seen. How do you strengthen your wrists?

Build habits in your daily life because doing just a day or two a week is not enough, even if it takes an hour.

I love this quote from Bruce Lee::

How to Learn a Handstand and Fall Less - Fitness, Balance, Endurance, Core, Alignment, Flexibility, Handstand, Walking Handstand, Push Up Handstand, Push Handstand, Wrist Pain, Shoulder Mobility, Neuromuscular, Pike, Spatial Skill

It takes 5-15 minutes every day to get the best results or to spread them over the day by creating cues or reminders.

For example, take a kit or timer every day before a meal or after a shower to make yourself comfortable by incorporating it into your life.

We spend most of the day developing habits that we have developed. It's not a habit when it takes too much energy and willpower.

What if you don't get wrist pain?

Wrist work is still required.

You need to realize that handstands are not a natural position.

Your ankles are designed to support your full weight and gravity, but our tiny wrists are not.

This is why it is important to strengthen your wrists, fingers and forearms, as well as your elbows and shoulders.

Progress in handstands and weight training will depend on how strong your joints and tendons get, as these small areas must withstand the stress and force that goes through them.

You can find more mobility routines here Prehab / Rehab for:

Before you stand upside down, spend a week or two getting the joints ready.

Getting into handstands against the wall can cause discomfort to your wrists (these get stronger and adapt), but it shouldn't be painful.

Babies do it every day

There is no such thing as a perfect handstand program, but you will hear athletes / coaches say their path is the best, and I'm not saying my path is the best either.

I share how I taught myself and my clients to balance on their hands. Everyone is different and we all learn differently. That's what moves the world.

Two components make the difference regardless of the program or training style you use.

The first component is consistency

We hear this word all the time because without it there is no success. It doesn't matter how great your training session might have been.

Exercising once a week doesn't help.

You will not build the neural adaptation and spatial awareness to master the handstand.

When babies learn to walk / stand, they do it every day. You have the desire and curiosity to step into the unknown, learn and adapt. That's the kind of attitude you want to have.

You don't have to spend hours every day, you need to make a habit of standing on your head. If you're bored or doing simple tasks, practice your handstand instead. All it takes is five minutes.

Heck, one set a day will get the job done.

This is in addition to 2-3 workouts (around 1 hour) per week to practice various exercises and weak spots.

The second component is the time in your hands

The second component is the actual time you spend balancing on your hands. If you don't flip up and hold the handstand, it may be part of your workout, but not for the whole class, please. It teaches you very little.

You need to get the most out of your workout. You actually want to feel what it is like to carry weight on your hands, shift your center of gravity, and how your hands are constantly making small adjustments.

Do exercises on the wall or near the wall and that way you will have support if you fall.

Some people can only hold a handstand in one position. I'm not talking about creating shapes with your legs because their sphere of influence is bad:

It could be that they never spent time in these positions. How can you adjust if you don't know what position your body is in?

Spend some time in one::

  • Banana handstand (arched back)
  • For a pike (are your glutes too tight, your hands uneven?)

If you know what not to do, you can correct it.

  • When I learned the handstand, I was obsessed with being in a straight line. Otherwise it didn't count.
  • I would stop doing the handstand if I knew I wasn't straight.
  • This resulted in my being unable to navigate or adjust while in my hands.
  • My kick-up was bad and I didn't understand what was going on.
  • Then I focused on my hands, shoulders and hips.

I would kick, and whatever position my body was in, I would try to hold it.

Babies will try all sorts of things, spend ten seconds here, then fall, another ten seconds there, and then fall.

It's similar to a handstand ride. Spend ten seconds standing and another 30 seconds with a drill on the wall. Gather those precious seconds on your hands. If you do them often, you will make progress.

Guidelines

Don't overcomplicate it, be consistent and spend time with your hands.

Here is a training template that you can edit and customize.

  • Select exercises to focus on the areas I've described.
  • You will do most of the exercises as a superset.
  • A superset occurs when you perform a sentence in an exercise (B1) and then immediately switch to another exercise (B2).

You can rest when you have completed the set.

Handstand session template

How to Learn a Handstand and Fall Less - Fitness, Balance, Endurance, Core, Alignment, Flexibility, Handstand, Walking Handstand, Push Up Handstand, Push Handstand, Wrist Pain, Shoulder Mobility, Neuromuscular, Pike, Spatial Skill

Training units can be structured in this way or played irregularly.

You can change the exercises you do each month, week, or session after session.

Stretches during the session are good for loosening up muscles and calming breathing. The more relaxed you are, the better your handstands will be.

A handstand program for beginners can be found here Handstand 0-60.

Flexibility and handstands go hand in hand, as you can stack your feet, hips, and shoulders on top of your hands to make the handstand less deflated.

Without shoulder flexibility (+ 180 ° overhead lifting or backend), your wrists and forearms take most of the load. These areas tire quickly under your weight.

It's much better to let your shoulder carry most of the load, just like your hips are for your lower body.

Without hamstring flexibility, a forward crease, or the pancake stretch, you cannot control your kick-up and you will find it difficult to keep your legs straight in a handstand.

You can train your flexibility together or separately from your handstands.

There is no such thing as a perfect handstand

There is no such thing as a perfect handstand. There is only a desire and curiosity to step into the unknown, learn and adapt.

Spend five minutes a day with your hands exercising 2-3 times a week. Work on exercises to improve your balance, endurance, and consistency.

You can always improve your alignment. Take care of your joints because they determine how far you can go.

06 Jan
Blog

The World’s Strongest 70-Year Old

The word legend is thrown around too often, but this episode adds a legend of strength sports – Odd Haugen.

Odd was America's strongest man in 1999, breaking multiple world records, competing and winning national titles in bodybuilding, weightlifting and powerlifting, and organizing and judging numerous events around the world.

He trained Martins Licis for the title "Strongest Man in the World 2019". And if that wasn't enough, by the age of 70 he's stronger than you!

In this episode, we discuss the lessons he has learned in over 60 years of training.

We discover the secrets of its amazing grip strength and durability.

This is a fascinating glimpse into what it takes to get to the top and stay there.

You can also find this podcast on top of all of my other Six Pack of Knowledge podcasts (curated discussions with the world's greatest hypertrophy experts).

Or search for Breaking Muscle's channel and podcasts on the following services: iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, Stitcher, PlayerFM, PodBean.

06 Jan
Blog

How To Keep Your Gut Microbiome Healthy

Bacteria, fungi and viruses are found in your body and comprise the microbiomes. It seems that nothing can be picked out of these three but health problems. They may have panicked you as they are widely known to cause disease.

These microbiomes, or microbes, are present inside and outside our body, especially in the gut and skin. It may sound strange, but they are an essential part of maintaining good health and overall wellbeing provided they stay balanced.

In this article, we will tell you what a gut microbiome is and how we can manage its levels to stay healthy.

What is gut microbiome?

Microbes are found in the large intestine, called the appendix, and are collectively referred to as the gut microbiome. Bacteria are the most studied microorganisms and they are also abundant in our bodies at 40 trillion compared to only 30 trillion human cells.

How does it affect our health?

While bacteria are linked to disease, they can also help us stay healthy. In fact, gut health depends on how better your immune system, mood, and mental health are. Autoimmune diseases, endocrine disorders, skin conditions, and cancer are also related to the health of your gut.

Depending on how it affects our bodies, bacteria can be either good or bad. For example, bad bacteria cause you to get sick by upsetting the body's natural balance, and the good bacteria fight them to restore balance and regain health. In addition, a variety of good bacteria in your intestines improve the functions of the immune system, relieve symptoms of depression and help with weight management, among other things.

How do we keep our gut microbiome healthy?

What you eat doesn't just define who you are. It can also affect the diversity of your gut biome. This means it can either help you get well or get sick. If you are curious about how healthy or bad the microbial levels in your gut are, My Psomagen's services are a good place to check out.

Good_Microbiomes

06 Jan
Blog

Mapping Out Muscle Gain | Breaking Muscle

In this episode, I'll explain exactly how I think you should exercise to build as much muscle as possible. I'll explain what anabolic resistance is and why it means you need to change your training strategy to keep growing.

I identify the three key phases of training, P.B.S. in a nutshell::

  1. primer
  2. building
  3. solidification

And I'll tell you exactly how to structure and sequence each phase to maximize your results.

This sequence is exactly the framework I used myself and with my clients to get into photo shoot form.

I start the P.B.S. Framework as a 21-week online coaching program in January 2021. The program is called T21.

If you are interested in joining the T21 coaching program and working with me, read on.

When you listen to the end of the episode, you will also get an exciting announcement about how to get access to a special discount if you work with me to improve your training programs in the T21 coaching program using the P.B.S. Frame.

Discount code: BMDISCOUNT

DM me: @tommaccormick on Instagram

Email me: tom@tommaccormick.com

To get access to the T21 discount. The doors are closing for the first T21 recording on January 1st, 2021 so don't miss it!

You can also find this podcast on top of all of my other Six Pack of Knowledge podcasts (curated discussions with the world's greatest hypertrophy experts).

Or search for Breaking Muscle's channel and podcasts on the following services: iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, Stitcher, PlayerFM, PodBean.

05 Jan
Blog

Cambridge Audio Melomania Touch Review: Beautiful Bassy Brit

Cambridge Audio Melomania Touch review open case hand

Cambridge Audio Melomania Touch rating: throbbing bass, delicate appearance

"Cambridge Audio's true Melomania Touch wireless headphones provide wonderfully balanced sound for a strong emotional response, as well as long battery life that will keep you listening for days."

  • Strong, bassy, ​​balanced sound

  • Long battery life

  • Comfortable for long periods of time

  • No active noise cancellation

Cambridge Audio has updated its true Melomania 1 wireless headphones with the new Melomania Touch earbuds with a revamped, delicate design and soft charging case, without drastically increasing the price so as not to exceed the $ 150 mark.

The original Melomania 1 earbuds might not have the looks, but they definitely delivered Cambridge Audio's much-lauded “British sound”. Has Cambridge Audio changed this for the Touch models, and if so, is it for the better? Let's find out.

design

If you place the Melomania Touch next to the original Melomania 1, the two seem barely related. Cambridge Audio has replaced the cheap-looking plastic case with a larger, pill-shaped case covered in an appealing soft-touch material made of microfiber leather in black or white. There are five LED charging indicators on the front and a USB type C charging port on the back.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The case hinges, which are opened from the back and inside in the earphones, are held in separate charging docks by strong magnets. The teardrop-shaped buds are very light and modest at just under six grams – larger than the spherical Melomania 1, but smaller than the WF-1000XM3 from Sony. The outside is glossy, while the body has a matte finish and the buds are held in your ear by a silicone tip and wing.

The floating, rather delicate appearance is a world that differs from the useful package of the first Melomania 1 and in terms of presentation and the experience of the “first opening” is probably closer to the real wireless E8 headphones from Bang & Olufsen. The Melomania Touch comes with a selection of different silicone tips and wings to help you get the right fit. For me, I had problems with the tips as the media was a little too small and the big ones a little too big, which made an earbud feel less secure than I like and loosened up when I moved my face.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

None ever failed or even felt like a possibility, and it's not the first time I've come across this with real wireless earbuds. But I felt the need to put a bud back in regularly as it was slowly working its way out of my ear. The wings are small but nice. The outer control panel contains the touch sensor, which can be personalized with the associated app.

The earbuds are comfortable to wear and have not hurt my ears even after wearing them for several hours at a time. Overall, with the design, materials and presentation of the Melomania Touch, Cambridge Audio has successfully increased the appeal of its true wireless headphones without compromising portability or hitting us with a massive price hike.

sound

I used the earbuds connected to an iPhone 12 Pro and a pre-release version of the app and firmware that have been updated at least once since using Melomania Touch. However, the overall sound has remained constant throughout. The earbuds include a 7mm driver that uses graphs for strength and stiffness, Qualcomm's Clear Voice Capture technology for clear calls, a pair of microphones, and AptX and AAC codec support.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Cambridge Audio prides itself on delivering the "British Sound," commonly defined as a guitar-forward audio experience that doesn't exaggerate the bass or treble. In my experience, Cambridge Audio's British sound has an unmistakable purity that goes a step beyond the deliciously flat vocal-forward curve heard by Japanese brands like Audio Technica.

The Melomania Touch is not quite as pure as the original Melomania 1 due to its much stronger and harder bass reproduction, but it is still wonderfully balanced. When listening to The Police's Roxanne's DubXanne remix, the heavier sub-bass is extremely prominent, but it doesn't overwhelm the beautifully judged mid-bass throughout the track. Boris Blanks Electrified shows a wide soundstage, and the warm midrange is skilfully mixed with the hard bass kick. The guitars in Moses Mayfield's Fall Behind have a lot of emotional presence but never interfere with Mayfield's vocals.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

How about songs that prioritize the vocals? The synchronicity of Nogizaka46 doesn't sparkle the way it should, and Sakurazaka46's Nobody & # 39; s Fault stumbles and the background becomes confused as the bass overwhelms the vocals and mids. For example, the sequence of Iz * one sounds great with its bright vocals mixed with a complex bass line and little else. Really, really, get up and dance great.

The soaring orchestra and the emotional vocal power that define Aled Jones' interpretation of Handel's Did you Not Hear My Lady? Tell us everything you need to know about the Melomania Touch – it's a top notch act that perfectly balances a lot of power, strong and controlled bass, and a profound soundstage. How about the "British Sound" from Cambridge Audio? To my ears, it's there in spades, just with the bass amplified for greater impact.

App and touch controls

The Melomania Touch connection via Bluetooth 5.0 is complemented by an app for your phone with which you can provide firmware updates, adjust the equalizer, activate the transparency mode and adjust other functions. The earphones are controlled via touch panels and the functionality can be configured in the app.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

I usually don't like touch controls on headphones because they are difficult to locate and rarely respond very quickly. Functionality is kept to a minimum here, with one tap to play or pause and a double tap to go forward or backward. I've found the controls to be reliable. You can take calls and also choose your voice assistant. These additional functions can be deactivated in the app for the sake of simplicity. It's one of the better touch control systems I've used, aided by the relatively large and flat earphones.

The app is simple and easy to use. The battery level for each bud is shown, but not for the case. There's a graphic equalizer and some presets for changing the sound (I left the equalizer on the flat “Balanced” setting for checking) and the option to toggle between a low power and a high performance mode. Listening time is nine hours in energy-saving mode and seven hours in high-performance mode.

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cambridge audio melomania touch review app power saving mode "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn4.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/melomania-touch-app-low- power-mode -640x640.jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAAABAAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

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I was unable to get this feature to work which may be due to my pre-release app. It seems like a five minute process to switch to low power, almost like a software update, but every time I tried it failed. This will likely be fixed on release. The transparency mode is good and lets in just enough ambient noise to be safe without creating an uncomfortable artificial feeling.

The Cambridge Audio Melomania Touch does not have active noise cancellation, but it seals well in your ears to block out ambient noise. The lack of ANC affects its appeal, as many other true wireless headphones offer this feature for little more money.

battery

In the high-performance mode set by default, the earbuds return seven hours of listening time and 33 hours from the case, which corresponds to a total of 40 hours. When the power consumption is low, the earbuds go up to nine hours on a single charge and the drop to 41 hours for a total of 50 hours.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

I have no reason to doubt these numbers. I used the earbuds for several hours every day and the case hit its last battery light on day 9 (there are five on the front of the case) and the app said the earbuds were still fully charged. I just don't worry about battery life at all. However, it takes more than three hours to fully charge the case itself.

Price and availability

The Melomania Touch is priced at $ 150 or $ 130 and will be available from January 1 through Amazon, Cambridge Audio itself, or from the retailer Richer Sounds if you are in the UK.

Our opinion

The lack of active noise cancellation is actually just a spec list issue, and I don't consider it essential at this price point. Also, the Melomania Touch naturally isolates very well, and the bassy, ​​emotional sound means you're turning up the volume regularly enough to drown out most of the annoyance anyway. The long battery life also makes up for this omission. I didn't want to switch to my usual real wireless earbuds during the entire test and really enjoyed the often bombastic sound of the Melomania Touch while listening to my favorite music.

Is there a better alternative?

The real world of wireless headphones is very busy. We recommend the Jabra Elite 85t headphones, which sometimes retail for less than $ 230, and active noise cancellation that comes with the great sound quality. However, the Jabra Elite 75t costs about the same as the Melomania Touch and is now equipped with active noise cancellation thanks to a software update, making it an excellent alternative.

The list goes on. I like the Panasonic RZ-S500W for $ 199, although it can't match the Melomania Touch's long battery life, but it has noise-canceling and a nice neutral sound. Spend more and the $ 299 Master & Dynamic MW07 Plus is wonderful, as is the consistently hard-to-beat Sony WF-1000XM3.

How long it will take?

Expect three or more years of useful life before considering upgrading. The case is solidly made and well protected. The earphones are made of strong plastic and are IPX4 waterproof for use in the rain and during training. Therefore, they should be durable. The long battery life also makes a difference because even as your usage increases over time, the Melomania Touch still has the power to keep up.

Should you buy it?

Yes, the Cambridge Audio Melomania Touch are affordable, good looking, comfortable to wear and deliver a great audio experience.

Editor's recommendations




05 Jan
Blog

Mirror Review: Connected Fitness for Any Experience Level

Mirror Fitness Home Gym Display

"Mirror's beautiful design offers exciting workouts for all skill levels."

  • Stunning looking design

  • Diverse training options

  • Provides 1-to-1 personal training

  • easy installation

  • The heart rate monitor is disconnected

  • You need to provide your own exercise accessories

It's been a minute since I took on a real fitness challenge. Having had foot issues for the past few years and being quarantined this year, I am far from the peak of my super-fit days. Despite all the setbacks, adjustment is key to overcoming the adversity we all face when trying to stay fit and active.

This is exactly what fascinates me about Mirror, a $ 1,500 home fitness solution that offers a wide range of on-demand and live workout classes. As the name suggests, it looks just like an ordinary full length mirror. It is one of the many connected fitness displays for the age that want to revolutionize the fitness experience. But is it enough to convince people that it is standard fitness membership?

Absolutely beautiful design

Mirror looks amazing! That's partly because it looks like a mirror you might already have. The reflective plate measures 52.6 x 21.1 x 1.7 inches, which is a little misleading on paper as it weighs a whopping 70 pounds. It's pretty heavy in any case, so I would recommend getting help if, like me, you choose to do it yourself – but every Mirror purchase comes with a white glove delivery service.

Mirror Fitness Home Gym DisplayJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

Installation was actually a breeze than I originally thought. The entire process took about 45 minutes from start to finish. I installed the mirror with the "wall anchor and stand" option because straight wall mounting requires a lot more drilling. Instead, all you have to do is drill two holes in the wall, insert the anchors and secure the mirror with a hook.

Back to the design, it is hard to believe that it is a technical device if you stand idly against the wall. I placed it in my living room right next to the front door – so it's the perfect thing to check myself out before leaving. It is interesting that this reflective plate has a 40-inch 1080p display with a viewing angle of 178 degrees, a 5-megapixel camera, two 10-watt speakers, a quad-core processor, Bluetooth and dual band 802.11 A / B / G / N has Wi-Fi. All of this is crammed into a seamless chalkboard with hard lines that blends beautifully with any decor.

Mirror Fitness Home Gym DisplayJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

The two speakers are a delight as they provide clear directions from the trainers – while producing some suitable melodies at the same time. You can use the Spiegel app to adjust the volume of the music and the teacher to suit your needs. And finally, with a 5 megapixel camera embedded in the top of the mirror, trainers can see you during the live class (if you log in). The mirror comes with a cover that extends over the camera if you have privacy concerns.

Diverse training variety

It's difficult to get into a solid workout routine. Ask an expert about the best training exercise. The answers can be very different. However, I know that what matters is what results you want to get. Living in quarantine has added a few extra pounds since the beginning, but I focused on micro-workouts. Despite my weight gain, constant strength training resulted in more muscle mass.

I thought I was in some shape before I used Mirror, but boy was I wrong – it kept kicking my butt! That's an understatement because now I see the benefit of doing these group classes at home: I'm just ashamed instead of people seeing me buzzing around while I struggle with some workouts. But that's understandable for anyone starting a new exercise routine.

Mirror offers a wide range of workouts, from full-body strength training that covers broad muscle groups to more specific classes like yoga and pilates. There is something for everyone, and I appreciate how you can customize workouts the way you want through the Mirror app. Don't have much time? You can filter classes by 15-, 30-, 45-, and 60-minute sessions. The lessons are entertaining and informative, which is only complemented by the helpful, motivating instructors.

It's convenient to watch them do exercises, but I wish there was a way to look at them side by side (front and profile) to better distinguish which shape is the right one. Though some instructors switch to a profile view to give me a better picture of the exercise. While some classes require equipment, like free weights, a chair, or yoga blocks, you can filter to leave them out.

If you are not shy, you can keep your camera active during live training. This gives the trainers a brief insight into you. Conversely, you can leave the camera switched off and even cover it with the supplied attachment to ensure that nobody can see you.

A couple of nuances

Long before I did more research on Mirror, I always thought it was a giant touchscreen – it isn't. A smartphone is required to interact with Mirror. You need it to start classes, send notes or emojis in real time during training, take selfies after training and rate classes. Luckily, it's minimal interaction during training, which I like because it is more important for me to focus on training, but instructors occasionally ask to hit that 100% or fire emoji in the app when you do that Feel the burning.

Mirror Fitness Home Gym DisplayJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

I ran into a few minor nuisances with Mirror. First, you need to be connected to the same wireless network in order to start Mirror. In one case, I didn't realize I was connected to my secondary wireless network and couldn't connect. It's strange in my opinion, but something to remember when you find yourself in this dire straits.

Second, I noticed Mirror randomly stop showing my heart rate on the screen while I was exercising. I later found that this was related to my smartphone's timeout, which is strange as you think the bluetooth connection will stay intact when my phone's display is turned off – but it is not. Finally, I set my Android smartphone to timeout after 30 minutes to prevent the heart rate monitor from disconnecting.

These are two problems that I would like to see solved. Because the last thing you want to do before jumping into a live class is messing around with the mirror.

Who is Mirror for?

I think this is the most basic question to ask yourself while looking for the best solution for your needs with in-home workouts. Mirror does a fantastic job appealing to a wide audience thanks in part to its diverse classes and the ability to tailor classes to suit your needs.

Since most of the classes are mostly about strength and cardio exercises, it's the type of workout that will make you sweat, burn yourself off, and burn off some calories. For most of the 45 minute classes I've taken, I generally burn around 550 calories. This is because the workout involves a mix of routines done in three to four sets that focus on different muscle groups. Full body training is a prime example of this. Of course, if you've never tried this type of workout, regardless of how physically fit you feel, they'll be challenging. I know this firsthand from a yoga session as I must have broken muscles and joints that I rarely test with my usual workouts.

Mirror Fitness Home Gym DisplayJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

While Mirror's workout can be supplemented with additional equipment like dumbbells, a skipping rope, kettlebells, and more, I love that without them you can still get a solid workout and make improvements. Sure, it would be nice if Mirror could somehow track the progress with these accessories, e.g. For example, if you know you will improve every week by adding more weight to your bench press exercises, but I hope this is a prospect to be considered in the future.

The best thing about Mirror is that it doesn't take much to get started, have fun, and feel comfortable while exercising.

Our opinion

Mirror has the foundation to offer a well-rounded training experience for every level of experience. You don't have to be a fitness junkie to enjoy this at home. The combination of beautiful design, various training courses and a proactive community make it one of the connected home gyms that should be on your radar.

I thought I was in a bit of shape, but Mirror's workouts kept kicking my butt!

It's priced at $ 1,495, which seems like a lot on paper, but the gear itself is on the lower end of the spectrum when compared to the alternatives – like the $ 3,000 tonal or the $ 2,300 carbon Trainer. The other cost involved in owning ownership is the $ 39 monthly membership cost, impressively enough to cover up to six household members in total. All in all, it's one of the cheaper options out there right now.

How long it will take?

Mirror's design deserves recognition; it looks beautiful and is pretty well done. Since it is stationary and doesn't necessarily contain moving components, it should hold up as it is wall mounted or anchored.

If something goes wrong internally, there is a one-year limited warranty that covers the mirror for defects and labor costs related to repairs.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes and no. There are other networked home fitness solutions that are similar to Mirror and can target a specific person. For example, if you are looking to gain muscle mass, you should try Tonal or Tempo, which is focused on lifting weights to increase muscle mass. Mirror does include weight training to some extent with some of its workouts, but it doesn't do it on the same level and focus as the alternatives above.

Should you buy it?

Yes, especially if you enjoy group classes in a traditional gym.

Editor's recommendations




05 Jan
Blog

Savant X2 Remote Control Review: Easy to Use, Great Looks

Savant x2 Remote Review Pro screen on

"There is no better remote control for the Savant Smart Home control."

  • Nice aluminum design

  • Big touch screen

  • Solid keys with a satisfactory click / feel

  • Faster response time

  • Two programmable buttons

  • Requires frequent charging

  • No DVR button

Smart home tech is everywhere. Once a thriving tech sector, there are now more brands, ecosystems. and A.I. Integrations than you can shake a stick. This is great news for home improvement, but bad news for large smart home integrators who now need to act quickly to ensure their systems are compatible with all of these new brands and devices while remaining relevant to consumers.

When you have decided on a professional, integrated smart home system, there are only three big brands to consider: Control4, which has the most third party partners in the field; Crestron, the old installer favorite that has proven very reliable but has less innovative third-party partners; and the new favorite, Savant, which is rapidly gaining popularity with installers as the focus is on beautiful interface and hardware design, as well as a growing list of third-party providers in the field.

A couple of years ago we decided to test two of these systems in some of Digital Trends' “test houses”, which included my personal home (as convenient as I know). I chose Savant because I loved the beauty and simplicity of the user interface and the sleek design of the hardware. With Savant you have the option of using your own tablet or phone to operate the Savant software or one of several Savant devices such as Savant Touch, wall keyboards or remote controls. You can even use the Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa to control basic scenes.

Savant x2 remote control review per page of 2

Savant x2 remote control review Savan Pro profile

Of all of these options, I personally prefer using a remote control to access the system. Unlike my phone, remote controls have dedicated buttons and are easier to use.

Compared to the larger remote controls from Control4 or Crestron, it was clear that I would forego the interface functionality for a more minimalist hardware design. I would have to use my tablet or phone to access more detailed settings and functions of the system. This is something to think about when choosing Savant. The system is easy to use, but if you want custom, detailed settings and access, it may not be for you.

In order to use Savant Pro Remote X2, I had to update my host software to Savant 9.3.2. If you have an older Savant operating system, you can spend even more money upgrading your system to take advantage of the latest hardware and software features.

Here is a list of the devices associated with this setup:

  • TiVo Bolt DVR with Comcast cable card access (I wouldn't recommend a TiVo setup as I wasn't happy with it)
  • Two TiVo Mini are connected to the primary screw
  • Apple TV
  • Roku TV
  • Sony PlayStation 4
  • Microsoft Xbox One X.
  • Two Sony Blu-ray players
  • Three Savant music servers
  • Two Savant door stations
  • Amazon Alexa Dots / Echo
  • Luma camera system with SNAP NVR servers

Welcome improvements

Savant made a decision to simplify its system interface as much as possible – that is its value proposition and why you might choose it over its competitors. The entire system is controlled by the beautiful hardware. The Savant Pro Remote X2 is the flagship user interface. From a design perspective, I find that both old and new remote controls are equally attractive to look at – both have large, beautiful color displays, and I like the way they stand in their “cradle” docking stations. I don't think one design is particularly attractive than the other, but they are vastly different.

What I like about the older, first generation remote control is its matte black rubber finish and unconventional design – it's wide at the base and narrower at the top – which gives it a more artistic feel that sets it apart from any other remote on the market. I also like the big screen size and that it works like a TV remote first and then like a smart home remote.

Ian Bell / Digital Trends

Unfortunately there is a laundry list with things that are not important to me with the old remote control. The squishy buttons don't have a tactile click and sometimes force you to press the buttons multiple times before the system registers the action. The rubber cover on the remote started peeling off twice, forcing me to use the warranty twice to have it replaced. The old flagship remote also felt very slow and often showed a delay in the devices you wanted to control (as I understand the base of the old remote is connected to the system and the remote needed to communicate with the base). which then communicates with the host – not at all efficiently). The remote control battery life was also poor. I was lucky enough to work for two days before I had to put it back in the charging cradle. Eventually, the remote would occasionally lose connection with the host and wait a long time before trying to reconnect.

Better design

The new remote feels a bit heavier because of its aluminum body, and that's a good thing. You can also get the new remote in three different colors to match your home decor: rose gold ($ 1,200, jet black ($ 1,200), or space gray ($ 850). The X2 base station is great heavy and solid and uses a magnetic docking station to hold the remote in place while standing, this gives the remote and dock a very impressive presence with a beautiful design that calls for visibility.

Features of the Savant X2 remote control

Savant set out to fix the issues with the previous remote with its new Savant Pro Remote X2 and as far as I can tell it has accomplished that mission. The X2 is longer and slimmer, has an aluminum design and still retains the same large display. The buttons now have a solid click / feel and the button layout now includes new PG + and PG- buttons for your device manuals. There are also two buttons that can be custom programmed, or you can use one of the buttons to quickly activate an already set up scene. What is missing, however, is the DVR button, which I used a lot on the old remote control. You'll need to program one of the unnamed buttons to have direct access to your DVR guide if that's as important to you as it is to me.

To keep up with other remotes on the market, the X2 has built-in Siri voice control with Apple TV. It works when you know how to use Siri, but it's a nuisance if you don't take the time to learn Siri. The same applies to Alexa or any other hardware or software controlled by A.I. Do yourself a favor and take the time to learn how to use this feature.

Setup and use

In my testing, I found that the new Savant Pro Remote X2 is significantly faster in accessing my TV and other devices. The delay I experienced earlier seems to have completely disappeared. I found that when setting up the new remote and inserting it into the system, I didn't need to connect the charging cradle to the system, but rather that the remote connected directly to the system via Wi-Fi setup is much easier – this probably explains too the lack of delay. The Savant REM-1000 (BLE) remote control that came with my host, for example, still has to be connected via the docking station and is noticeably slower.

Ian Bell / Digital Trends

Switching between different functions like controlling a camera system and accessing a music server is intuitive – I only got lost occasionally, usually when jumping back and forth between too many screens. I found the remote to really stand out from the previous remote by controlling devices with an IR repeater. With the previous generation remote control, the delay here was unbearable for me. Controlling my Apple TV or Roku TV is now very easy and intuitive, as buttons such as "Menu", "Info" and "Instructions" are perfectly assigned.

Some things to watch out for

Not everything is perfect with the Savant X2 remote. I'm using a TiVo DVR setup for my home and wish I had either stayed with Comcast or investigated other options. Sometimes it takes a while for my TiVo device to go out of sleep mode, which causes my Savant system to time out and for example the TV to go blank. The workaround is to restart the scene activation. The good news is that this only happens after I have stopped using TiVo for a while. Is it the remote's fault? Or the savant system? Or TiVo? I'm not sure, and every technician I ask answers this question differently. Update 12/30/2020: Savants representative said that I should be able to go into the Tivo settings and adjust the time of sleep so that this doesn't happen. You can also let your integrator set a user-defined “trigger” that triggers a number of menu commands to activate the device. Problem solved.

The battery life is still not fantastic. I'd say you're lucky enough to be able to use it for 2.5 days before you have to dock the remote to charge. If you're like me and have moved from a regular consumer system on two AA batteries that lasted six months to a fancy remote control like this one with a color screen, set your expectations accordingly. This remote control is basically a small PC with a display that draws battery juice. If you combine this with a battery icon that is not on the main display but on a sub screen and you quickly forget to check the X2's battery life, have your phone ready as a backup control unit. Among other things, you can adjust the settings for the alarm sensitivity and the time at which the display is switched off. Both of these settings should help you extend the battery life, although I still found the X2 to be too sensitive on the lowest setting. When the remote control sits on a sofa cushion and a dog jumps on the sofa, the screen comes back to life!

One remote control to control them all and anyone can control them

I'm a huge car fanatic and one of the things I've always found funny is how some people complain that a luxury car doesn't have memory presets saved for the passenger seats – but even if they're saved there, hardly anyone uses them. The same applies to remote controls such as the Savant Pro Remote X2. It supports several user profiles in which you can save your channels and favorite scenes and thus control several rooms. I've spent a lot of time creating profiles, scenes, etc. for the family, but the truth is, they hardly remember changing profiles. And if you don't have a family of engineers who will appreciate those extra features, I recommend making the primary profile (yours?) As compatible as possible with everyone else in your family. For example, when you add your partner and children's favorite channels to the remote control, you are probably good to go.

Ian Bell / Digital Trends

While controlling multiple rooms with a single remote is a cool idea, I would recommend either installing Lutron custom scene light switches or using a tablet or your phone for rooms that aren't being used much. Otherwise you will be walking around with a remote control in your pocket, which will frustrate the other users in your household. Savant recently released its own lighting solution that competes with Lutron. It offers a range of cool options like WRGB full color, adjustable LED and even a special daylight mode that syncs with your daily rhythm. I would recommend considering the Savant lighting product when planning your smart home design so that you can compare it to others on the market.

Our opinion

If you are purchasing a new Savant system for your home and are considering adding the Pro Remote X2 or using your phone / tablet for control, do yourself a favor and buy the remote control. It's not cheap, but it's easy to use and looks amazing.

On the other hand, if you have a previous generation Savant remote, you probably don't need to upgrade unless you have money to burn and are fed up with the slow lag – something I can't stand. Keep in mind that you will need to update your host software in order for the X2 to work and this will add even more to the cost.

Is there a better alternative?

For a Savant system, there really is no other option outside of your own phone and other Savant remotes.

How long it will take?

Given that it has been in use for a few months, I'd say the aluminum design is tough enough to ensure a long life. The buttons on the X2 remote are so general that they can be used universally for any new device you add to the system. At the same time, the remote doesn't have any super-specific buttons for Savant OS 9 – which means the developers intended to use this remote for a long time. Savant grants a two-year warranty on the Pro Remote X2, which is above the industry average for a product of this type.

Should you buy it?

You have already spent a lot of money on a savant system. If you don't, you are buying a Porsche without a real steering wheel – you need it to get top performance.

Editor's recommendations




04 Jan
Blog

MSI Prestige 14 Evo Review: Tiger Lake Stretches Its Legs

msi prestige 14 evo review 01

"The MSI Prestige 14 Evo is a thin and light ultrabook with impressive performance."

  • Impressive performance

  • Solid build quality

  • Good battery life

  • Attractive design

  • The keyboard and touchpad are not precise enough

  • Dim the display

MSI is best known for its gaming equipment, but the company has repeatedly tried to go beyond its specialty. Like brands like Razer, MSI wants to use its gaming reputation to expand to more mainstream laptops.

The Prestige 14 Evo is the latest – and perhaps most ambitious – attempt at doing this. MSI worked closely with Intel on the 11th generation of Tiger Lake processors and the new Evo certification (hence the name).

My test device has an 11th generation Intel Core i7-1185G7, the fastest Tiger Lake CPU, as well as 16 GB of RAM and a 1 TB solid-state drive (SSD). The 14-inch laptop is priced at $ 1,199, a low price for such a high-end configuration. Some retailers even sell it for just $ 950. But is it enough to convince myself that MSI has a future beyond gaming?

design

Let's get "cheap" questions out of the way. The Prestige 14 Evo is made of aluminum and feels solid all around. That is, with the exception of the display, which has a certain flex when pressure is applied. Both the keyboard deck and the bottom of the case feel robust and leave an overall impression of solid workmanship. It's still half a step behind Lenovo and Asus in the 14-inch class and Dell and HP if you're looking for 13-inch alternatives. The Prestige 14 Evo doesn't feel "cheap", but it could certainly benefit from a firmer lid.

It's also an attractive device with three color options: Carbon Gray, Rose Pink, and Pure White. I received the Carbon Gray version which has a darker silhouette. Despite the beveled edges, it is a conservatively designed laptop without any gloss. Even the MSI logo is a dark shade on the lid and it's easy to miss if you're not looking at exactly the right angle. The lines are clean and elegant, with a sharp taper on the bottom from back to front.

There is no bling at all.

I will notice that the Carbon Gray surface is a fingerprint magnet and it's not that easy to remove stains.

The display hinge lifts the back of the case off the desk nicely and offers plenty of space underneath to allow air to move and noises to come out of the two-floor speakers. The Asus ZenBook UX425EA is similar, although Asus adds some flair with concentric rings engraved in the lid.

The Prestige 14 Evo is thin and light for a 14-inch, 0.63-inch, 2.85-pound laptop, though it's neither the thinnest nor the lightest you can get in this class of machine. The ZenBook 14 is 0.54 inches and weighs 2.58 pounds, while the Acer Swift 5 is another 14-inch notebook from Tiger Lake that is even lighter at 2.31 pounds. The thickness of 0.59 inches is between the MSI and the Asus.

Each of these machines has small bezels with a screen-to-body ratio of around 90% and therefore has a modern appearance when the lid is open. Speaking of the lid, the Prestige 14 Evo's hinge is well constructed and only needs one hand to open while it resists the wobbling.

Connectivity is a bit of light for the class. There are two Thunderbolt 4 ports on the left and a single USB-A 2.0 port (oddly enough) for a microSD card reader and a 3.5mm audio jack on the right.

As with the Acer Swift 5, you often get an HDMI 2.0 port, which is missing here. However, the wireless connectivity is cutting edge with both Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1.

performance

The MSI Prestige 14 Evo is one of the fastest laptops in its class that I have tested. That sounds impressive on the surface, but it's also the first laptop I've tested with the Core i7-1185G7. I'm still learning what to expect from the latest generation of processors from Intel, but one thing is certain: the MSI Prestige 14 Evo impressed me.

The first test I ran was PCMark 10, which I ran on a handful of newer laptops with Intel 10th and 11th generation CPUs. The Prestige 14 Evo achieved the second highest value in this group with 4866 and only lost to the Lenovo Yoga 9i with the 45 watt Core i7-10750H CPU with six cores and 5173.

The MSI Prestige 14 Evo is one of the fastest laptops in its class.

The Prestige 14 Evo was faster than any other Tiger Lake notebook we tested by a good margin. Interestingly, the Porsche Design Acer Book RS with its surprisingly fast Core i5-1135G7 was Tiger Lake's closest competitor. Looking at each element of the PCMark 10 Complete test, the Prestige 14 Evo was particularly productive (spreadsheet and word processing) and creation (photo editing, video playback and playback, and video editing), while lagging behind some other laptops in the Only category Essentials (starting the app, video conferencing, surfing the Internet).

These results make the MSI a relatively faster laptop for more demanding tasks than basic computing. So if your main focus is to browse the web and spend time zooming, you don't need the power of the MSI.

In our handbrake test, which encodes a 420 MB video at H.265, the Prestige 14 Evo took just under two and 45 minutes, a fast score that surpasses any other U-series CPU. You need to look at laptops like the Lenovo Yoga 9i for faster results on Intel laptops (AMD Ryzen 4000 series laptops are a bit faster too). However, if you're looking for a laptop with a Tiger Lake CPU, the Prestige 14 Evo is the fastest you can find right now.

The same was true for Cinebench R23, where the Prestige 14 Evo achieved a strong 1,513 points in the single core score (after the Apple Mac Mini with the new Apple M1 chipset) and 5,789 points in the multi-core test. I'll repeat myself here: the Prestige 14 Evo is the fastest U-series CPU we've tested, and it's not really close. MSI did an excellent job of setting the CPU and managing the thermals so that the Prestige 14 Evo is the best example of Tiger Lake's potential.

Given the Intel Iris Xe graphics provided by the Tiger Lake platform, we should also briefly touch on gaming. These integrated graphics have so far offered an almost discrete low-end graphics performance and are well above the previous integrated graphics from Intel.

The Prestige 14 Evo even masters Fortnite surprisingly well. (/

Given MSI's experience with gaming laptops, the Prestige 14 Evo didn't seem as strong in graphics performance as its processor at first glance. In the synthetic 3DMark Time Spy benchmark, it achieved a rather low value of 1,465 behind the Porsche Design Acer Book RS with 1,504 and the Acer Swift 5 with 1,686. It managed to beat the anemic value of the Asus ZenBook 14 UX425EA of 1,281.

However, I also ran Fortnite to test a real world game that would fit in with the capabilities of the Intel Iris Xe graphics performance. It handles it surprisingly well. The Prestige 14 Evo managed 42 frames per second (fps) at 1080p and high graphics, which in turn outperforms any other Tiger Lake laptop. The fastest so far, the Intel reference laptop, ran at 34 fps. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7 with an Nvidia GeForce MX350 achieved 37 fps. At Epic Graphics, the Prestige 14 Evo was 28 fps, the reference laptop 29 fps and the Lenovo 24 fps.

At least in a game like Fortnite, the MSI doesn't do justice to its low 3DMark score. And a game like Fortnite is definitely on the verge of what you'd want to play on a Tiger Lake laptop.

display

MSI was smart enough to equip the Prestige 14 Evo with a 1 watt IPS display with low power consumption and 1080p. This selection should help balance the fast CPU in terms of battery life, as we'll discuss later in the review.

It comes in a 16: 9 aspect ratio, which feels a bit dated at this point. Dell, HP, and Lenovo have started turning to higher displays in their premium laptops that offer either 16:10 or 3: 2. In comparison, 16: 9 feels stocky, especially with the large lower bezel.

According to my colorimeter, this is an average display for a premium laptop with only one obvious weakness. In fact, "glare" is the wrong word because while the display does well on other metrics, its brightness is only 228 nits. This is well below the 300-nit threshold we love to see on premium displays, and it may be too dark for many brightly-lit offices.

The color range of the display is 97% of sRGB and 73% of AdobeRGB. Most other premium laptops can be found here. Some brands like Dell and Lenovo offer 4K displays with much larger gamuts (up to 100% of sRGB and AdobeRGB). Creative users who need lots of color will want to check out these brands.

The display of the Prestige 14 Evo scored quite well in terms of color accuracy with 1.3, whereby 1.0 and less are indistinguishable to the human eye and are the standard for excellent displays. Finally, the contrast ratio was 940: 1, just below the 1000: 1 we like to see on premium laptops.

Compare this display to the very good ones on the Acer Swift 5 and Asus ZenBook 14 UX425EA and you will find that brightness is the only differentiator – albeit an important one. Note that the Lenovo Yoga 7i, in contrast, was an outlier, only scoring 690: 1 and making for a muted panel.

Overall, if you're not in an overly bright environment, you'll love this display for productivity work and Netflix. However, if you turn up the ambient lighting, you will be disappointed. If you work in bright environments, the MSI can be a problem for you.

Keyboard and touchpad

The keyboard of the Prestige 14 Evo is in the typical island style with spacious key caps, comfortable key spacing and a lot of spring travel. My only complaint is that the switches were a little soft which made them feel light but without a precise floor effect. This reduced my accuracy and speed as I wasn't quite so sure that I had registered the correct keystroke.

I found the keyboard just one step behind my favorites, the HP Specter line of keyboards, Dell's latest XPS 13, and the best of them, Apple's Magic Keyboard on the latest MacBooks. But it's not so blatant that the average person would disapprove of the typing experience.

The problems with the touchpad are a bit more noticeable. It's pretty wide, although not as big as I'd like it to be. I also found it too deep in terms of key movement. You really need to learn to register a click. While that click is one of the quieter ones you'll experience, the touchpad could be streamlined for me.

However, the touchpad is a Microsoft Precision version, which means that it responds well to Windows 10's multi-touch gestures. My device was not equipped with a touch display and a touch version is not offered. I regularly use Touch for scrolling long web pages and the like, and I missed it here.

MSI chose to place the fingerprint reader, which supports passwordless Windows 10 Hello login, in the upper left corner of the touchpad. This is my least favorite place for a fingerprint reader and worse than placing it directly on the power button (like on the Dell XPS 13) or at least a separate area on the keyboard deck. Still, it worked well and signed me up quickly and without a lot of fuss.

Battery life

MSI equipped the Prestige 14 Evo with just 52 watt hours of battery life, which is a bit sparse for a 14-inch laptop with such a powerful CPU. Part of Intel's Evo certification is the ability to achieve nine or more hours of battery life for typical tasks. From my testing, the Prestige 14 Evo will likely do this – hardly.

First, I ran our web browsing test, which iterated over a number of popular websites. It gives a fair estimate of light productivity consumption, and the Prestige 14 Evo lasted about 7.25 hours. This is a below average duration for the class. The ZenBook 14 UX425EA lasts 10 hours and the Acer Swift 5 a less impressive eight hours.

Switch to the PCMark 10 Applications score, which provides a more direct comparison with productivity longevity, and the Prestige 14 Eve did a significantly better job at almost 10.5 hours. This is a new test for us so we don't have that many computers to compare it to. However, this value is only 22 minutes behind the Dell XPS 13 9310, the longest-lasting we tested and the laptop outperforms the older XPS 13 7390 with a 10th generation Core i7. Combine these two and the MSI can take the nine hours required for Evo certification.

I also ran the PCMark 10 gaming battery test which put a strain on the CPU and GPU. It replaces the Basemark web benchmark test that we ran in the past and that cannot be completed on Tiger Lake laptops. The Prestige 14 Evo took a little over 1.5 hours on the lower end of our limited database. The Acer Swift 5 lasted just under two hours, while the XPS 13 9310 was strong with almost four hours in this test.

Finally, I used our video test grinding a Full HD Avengers trailer and the Prestige 14 Evo took a little over 16 hours to complete. This is a strong score that surpasses the XPS 13 9310, Acer Swift 5, and ZenBook 14 UX425EA – largely thanks to the low-power display that MSI selected for the machine.

Ultimately, the Prestige 14 Evo gives you a full day of work unless you hit the CPU and GPU. And it will likely meet the Evo certification requirements of nine hours of typical use.

Our opinion

The MSI Prestige 14 Evo is the fastest Intel U-Series notebook we tested and outperforms any other example by a lot. It competes more strongly with the latest offerings from AMD than the rest of the class while offering decent battery life.

You won't indulge the build quality of the Prestige 14 Evo either, because for $ 1,199 you get a very well configured laptop with just one slightly flexible display that you can complain about. The laptop's biggest weakness is its display brightness, but it's a competitor everywhere else.

Are there alternatives?

The Asus ZenBook 14 UX425EA is a viable alternative to the MSI. Keep it in Performance mode and it'll stay in close proximity to the much faster Prestige 14 Eve, but you have to deal with louder fans. It's a bit more solid than the MSI, with an HDMI port and a better display. You spend about $ 100 more on the Asus and get the slightly slower Core i7-1165G7.

The Acer Swift 5 is another solid alternative to the Prestige 14 Evo. It's the next fastest Tiger Lake laptop, and it's about $ 100 more expensive too, while also sporting the slower Core i7. The Swift 5 is also lighter than the MSI and the display is brighter.

If you like the idea of ​​a 2-in-1 then the HP Specter x360 13 is a great choice. It can also be outfitted with Tiger Lake, although we haven't had a chance to test the latest version yet, and features a stunning OLED display that will blow the Prestige 14 Evo's display away. You'll spend a little more on the same configuration, but you'll get a wonder that's a little smaller than the MSI.

Finally, the Dell XPS 13 remains one of the best laptops out there and should always be considered. The Tiger Lake update shows what may already be the perfect laptop. As you spend more on the XPS 13 and give up some of the MSI's performance, you get a great design to go with it.

How long it will take?

The Prestige 14 Evo is so well built you don't have to worry about years of downtime, and it's built with components designed to keep Windows 10 running for just as long. You only get a one year warranty, but this is industry standard.

Should you buy it?

Yes. The MSI Prestige 14 Evo is the fastest ultrabook you can buy, and it's a great choice in the 14-inch laptop class.

Editor's recommendations




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