12 Nov
Blog

Sony Xperia 5 II Review: A Compact Flagship Phone for 2020

Sony Xperia 5 II review shutter

"The Sony Xperia 5 II is just the right size and specification, but the best of features are yet to be exploited and some frustrating omissions make it difficult to recommend."

  • Compact, lightweight design

  • Nice OLED screen

  • Powerful processor

  • Long battery life

  • No wireless charging

  • No. 5G in the US

  • Camera quirks are frustrating

The Sony Xperia 5 II is the compact flagship smartphone that many yearn for. However, to get the most out of this desirable combination of high quality and small packages, you have to work hard and pay a significant price. I've been living with the phone for a few weeks now and it really is.

design

Shiny, glassy and slippery like a well-oiled fish. This is the best way to describe the Xperia 5 II outside of its modest dimensions and light weight. Because of the 8mm thickness and the larger, not wider shape that the 21: 9 aspect ratio screen allows, it's really compact. It weighs only 163 grams and thanks to its slim design, people with small hands can reach the other side of the screen with their thumbs. It slips easily into pockets and pouches, and unfortunately almost any surface it touches.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The Xperia 5 II is made of glass with an aluminum frame and glides around with its own mind on anything that is not a perfectly flat surface. For this reason, you also need to hold on because the body does not offer much support. This brings me to the one thing I really don't like about the phone's design – a mass of buttons on the right side.

From top to bottom there's a small volume rocker, then the on / off switch with a built-in fingerprint sensor, then a Google Assistant button and finally a physical camera shutter button. Pick up the Xperia 5 II and it is almost certain that you will press a button. Usually it is the useless Google Assistant that cannot be remapped or simply disabled. A frustrating design decision that gets worse when I don't have the option to use the feature or not.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The fingerprint sensor is fast and reliable, but located a little too centrally on the side in my opinion, and I like the physical camera trigger that is placed on the bottom of the frame so as not to intrude. Finding a 3.5mm headphone jack on the top of the frame is great, despite the phone's slimness. I like the pull-out SIM card tray that doesn't require a SIM removal tool, but it doesn't compromise the phone's IP68 waterproof rating.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The Sony Xperia 5 II is easy to use, compact enough for everyone, made of high quality materials and is almost the perfect size for a smartphone. You just have to deal with all of the smoothness.

screen

The 21: 9 aspect ratio is great for watching super widescreen movies and contributes to the phone's small size. While there are 21: 9 movies, the reality is that they're a little rarer than 16: 9 videos. This means you are still watching the most with black bars on either side, although there are plenty of games that take advantage of the super widescreen view, including Minecraft, Asphalt 9, and Fortnite.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

However, this is the specification we want for 2020. The OLED screen offers a resolution of 2520 x 1080, a refresh rate of 120 Hz and 10-bit HDR support. It's not the 4K monster adapted for the Xperia 1 II, but under normal circumstances you won't really notice the lower number of pixels. Plus, it has the same creator mode and image enhancement technology as the more expensive phone. I like the look of it and I doubt many would wish they could get the Xperia 1 II instead.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The display is very nice. Dreamy indeed. Carfection's Audi e-Tron Sportback review is sharp and colorful, while Mnet's live version of WJSN Chocomes Hmph! pops off the screen with its electrified, ultra-vibrant colors. Music videos are great on the Xperia 5 II because of its stereo speakers that have loads of volume and a sweet, controlled sound. Sony's dynamic vibration feature adds vibration that matches what is displayed on the screen. It works well because you can adjust the intensity. Keep it low and it's a pleasing added effect.

And if you use the phone vertically, as you do most of the time, that extra screen real estate gives you more content in feeds and messaging apps without scrolling.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

No, the Xperia 5 II doesn't quite match the Xperia 1 II in terms of sheer, astounding visual appeal of a mobile device, but it's arguably all that anyone needs.

camera

There are three 12-megapixel cameras on the back of the Xperia 5 II: a f / 1.7 standard camera, a f / 2.4 telephoto camera, and a f / 2.2 ultrawide camera. Sony worked with Zeiss Optics on the lenses. Features include optical and electronic image stabilization, HDR, 4K video recording, eye tracking, 3x optical zoom and dual-pixel autofocus. It's almost the same setup as the back of the Xperia 1 II, but with a few changes.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Because it's so similar to the Xperia 1 II, it has the same problems. The photos it takes are often beautiful, with excellent balance and dynamics, but it finds it difficult to focus up close and the results can be inconsistent. There is no night mode for super bright night pictures, so pictures in low light are not as noticeable as some other phones, but there is a lot of realism and detail. The 8-megapixel selfie camera washes out skin tone to death in the default settings. So it is advisable to turn off any enhancements before starting there.

Overall, I edit my pictures a lot. It uses the Google Photos editing suite to make them look just right. It's worth it because the Sony camera captures a lot of delicious detail. I didn't get a chance to play with the Xperia 5 II's eye tracking feature due to the lack of living things (thank you 2020) but I've used it in the past and was very impressed. Proper focus of the eye is critical to accurately capturing portraits. Only a few other telephones have this feature.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Sony sells the Xperia cameras because of their Photo Pro and Cinema Pro apps, which have been tweaked by Sony's experienced camera and cinema teams and are essentially pimped-up manual modes. If you regularly use manual mode for your smartphone's camera, you will appreciate the depth and versatility of each one, and be able to use it to create stunning stills and videos. However, if you've never touched manual mode and are unfamiliar with the principles of shutter speed, white balance, ISO, and manual focus, the learning curve is very steep.

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  • 1.
    The Cinema Pro app from Sony
  • 2.
    Sony's Photo Pro app

It sounds like I'm on the Xperia 5 II's camera, but I'm not really. It's just frustrating. Some wonderfully atmospheric photos with beautiful colors can be taken. I like the combination of ultrawide and telephoto, and the physical camera shutter is a great tactile, ergonomic addition. But it's inconsistent, sometimes outperformed by other cameras on phones that cost less, and places too much emphasis on features beyond many potential owners.

The Sony camera of the Xperia 5 II and Xperia 1 II has everything you need to take wonderful photos. Unlike the Pixel 5 or iPhone 12 Pro, however, this doesn't just happen by pressing the shutter button. If this sounds like something you like and you want to learn more about the mechanics of photography, you will appreciate the Sony phone more.

Software and performance

No performance issues were found when using the Xperia 5 II as a daily phone. It's as fast as you'd expect from a phone with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor, along with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Asphalt 9 Legends plays great and also makes use of the screen with an aspect ratio of 21: 9. The lightness of the phone makes it great for long games and movie sessions.

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Sony's user interface with Android 10 is unobtrusive and the software is fast and reliable. Various non-Sony apps are preinstalled, including LinkedIn, which annoy you with annoying notifications and make manual uninstallation difficult. The large screen takes a bit of getting used to once you've viewed a screen with a wider aspect ratio. Icons can appear tightly grouped, and scrolling apps like Twitter and Instagram feel limited at first, but the ergonomic benefits that the shape brings will soon be felt.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

I experienced some problems with the WiFi range and cellular connection. The Xperia 5 II dropped its signal more often than other phones I tested, and it lacks the Wi-Fi range of other models, including the Pixel 5 and iPhone 12 Pro. Calls are good, but it's easy to cover the microphone on the bottom of the phone with your finger, and the front camera retains the faded look that can be seen in their selfies on video calls.

The phone supports 5G in the UK but not in the US. While 5G isn't a reason to buy a phone right now, it does matter later and should be considered when purchasing an expensive device. It is also unfortunate that the phone still has Android 10 instead of Android 11 and there is also no confirmed date for the software update.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The 4,000 mAh battery has proven to be very powerful and easily lasts me a full day, with average screen time per day being between two and four hours. The battery performance of the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE that I had used before was very similar. Long days ended up about 30%. Without video calls, the battery should last two days without any problems.

Unfortunately, there is no wireless charging, and while it supports fast wired charging at 21 watts, you get an 18 W charger in the box. If you already have the higher powered charger, it will be reduced to 50% in 30 minutes. If not, allow at least 45 minutes. However, I like the adaptive charge mode that manages overnight charge cycles to help extend battery life.

Price and availability

The The Sony Xperia 5 II can be pre-ordered in the US. before a December 3 release for $ 949 (it's already discounted to $ 900). It is available now in the UK for £ 799.

Our opinion

If you like Sony's 21: 9 aspect ratio and design, and really should, the Xperia 5 II is the model to buy compared to the Xperia 1 II. It does almost everything for $ 250 less. The screen, battery life, build, and compact size are impressive, although you will have to put some effort into making the most of the camera's talents.

I like the quirky Xperia 5 II, but realize that there are better purchases for the same price or less. It's definitely part of an extinct breed: a really high quality flagship compact phone.

Are there any better alternatives?

Yes. At $ 949, the Xperia 5 II has a lot of competition despite its high specification. The $ 900 OnePlus 8 Pro is our pick of Android alternatives because of the great software and screen, while the $ 1,000 iPhone 12 Pro is a great alternative and has great software, camera, and design. The Galaxy S20 Plus is now available for roughly the same price. If you're happy with the plastic back, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is great value for money at $ 699.

All of these phones are bigger than the Xperia 5 II, however. If you're looking for a brilliant point-and-shoot camera in a compact smartphone, the $ 699 Google Pixel 5 is our pick.

How long it will take?

The technology ensures that the Xperia 5 II has at least a two-year contract or financing plan on before it can possibly feel old. The lack of 5G can lead you to update around this time anyway. The phone is made of glass, but has an IP68 rating and should therefore prove to be relatively durable in a housing.

Sony has been frustratingly dull about its Android software update schedule. It told Digital Trends that it committed to providing regular and timely updates when we asked about Android 11 on the Xperia 1 II, but without providing any specific dates. It's similarly unclear for the Xperia 5 II. Then expect an update, but just be patient.

Should you buy it?

No, there are better phones with a generally accessible camera for the same price. And the lack of 5G in the US hurts its longevity. However, in the UK this is a better option due to the slightly better price and 5G support.

Editor's recommendations




11 Nov
Blog

2020’s Most Overweight and Obese States in America

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month and things are not looking good for the nation. People can be offended by the wording, but the facts don't change. Fat is the new normal, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Aside from the obvious health problems, the cost of obesity threatens individuals and organizations as it puts a strain on the health system. It's like a perfect storm of a population that gets sicker and sicker as it literally grows, and with that comes more cost and the need to dedicate more health resources to a problem that may be itself

This is probably the point where a thousand personal trainers jump up and scream about comorbidity, health, and exercise.

This is great, but it cannot be overlooked that with the increase in gym and health club memberships over the past three decades, as more money has gone into the fitness industry, the rise in obesity rates has actually not declined adequately, quite the opposite.

Obesity has no effect from the increase in gym membership

Source: Axios

There are also some interesting factors influencing the level of obesity. For example, while West Virginia has the lowest percentage of overweight adults, it has the second highest percentage of overweight adults, which means there is no middle ground.

To be honest, the problem is very, very big. But at the end of the day, the data shows that high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholestrol pretty much coincide with the worst conditions on the charts. You can check out the interstate obesity factors infographic here.

The facts about the high cost of fat

  • $ 294.6 billion: Estimated medical costs for diabetes in the United States in 2019.
  • 9,506 USD: Average annual health care costs for patients with diabetes.
  • 2.3: The frequency with which a diabetic patient's healthcare costs increase.
  • 14 & 18 years: Reducing the average life expectancy of male and female type 1 diabetes patients.
  • 88 million: Number of American adults with "prediabetes" (84% of whom do not know they have diabetes).
  • 70%: Chances of Developing Diabetes If Both Parents Have Type 2 Diabetes.

The following data breaks the top 20 states by obesity prevalence, courtesy of Wallethub. Where is your state? And do you know why

It is worth asking the question of whether there is a culture of obesity that can be identified by the state and what demographic, socio-economic, and cultural factors determine the statistics.

Going to the gym or exercising more or eating better doesn't seem to resonate equally across national lines. Finding out why this is an important part of finding solutions that aren't just the fitness industry's usual quick fixes and promises.

1 = fattest Status total score Rank "Obesity & Overweight" Rank "health consequences" "Food & Fitness" rank
1 West Virginia 74.66 2 1 9
2 Mississippi 74.20 1 8th 1
3 Arkansas 69.37 3 11 7th
4th Kentucky 68.46 5 7th 2
5 Tennessee 68.41 4th 9 11
6th South carolina 65.85 8th 17th 4th
7th Louisiana 65.65 6th 27 6th
8th Alabama 65.15 9 15th 5
9 Oklahoma 65.00 7th 26th 13
10 Missouri 62.39 11 19th 17th
11 Iowa 61.03 13 16 34
12 Indiana 61.02 10 31 16
13 Delaware 61.00 21st 3 27
14th Ohio 60.70 16 14th 15th
15th Texas 60.23 12 39 12
16 Maine 59.81 28 2 44
17th Georgia 59.78 15th 36 10
18th Virginia 58.58 23 23 3
19th Kansas 58.56 22nd 6th 40
20th North Dakota 58.21 14th 28 46
11 Nov
Blog

Godfall Review: Repetitive Gameplay Hurts Next-Gen Spectacle

Godfall

Godfall Review: Repetitive Gameplay Harms Next Generation Spectacle

"Godfall's dazzling graphics and promising combat are held back by repeated crawling in the dungeon."

  • Impactful struggle

  • Useful skills and upgrades

  • Impressive graphics

  • Sparse dungeon creeps

  • Repeated missions

  • Flat booty

  • Limited world design

If there's one thing Godfall gets right, it's a spectacle. The PlayStation 5 launch title is filled with the kind of visual dazzling you'd expect from a next-gen game. There are a number of hyper-focused graphics options that are designed to push the new hardware to its limits.

The early buzz around new consoles usually focuses on performance, putting games like Godfall in the spotlight on day one when they might otherwise go completely under the radar. Return to every console launch, and it's easy to find a long-forgotten title for launch day that maximized performance but otherwise didn't leave a lasting impression.

Godfall takes advantage of the next-generation leap in power with its dazzling graphics, but relocates its promising combat system into a repetitive loot game where rewards rarely feel rewarding.

Less Fate 2, more Diablo

When Godfall was first announced, comparisons with Destiny 2 were immediately drawn. Part of this was due to the game's marketing spurt that branded the game as the first “looter slasher” and focused on flashy armor that didn't look out of place in Bungie's space epic.

Perhaps the most surprising discovery about Godfall is that it is not a live service game at all. Instead, it's more like a dungeon crawler like Diablo. Most of the game is spent on missions from the game's small hub. Players knock down masses of enemies, collect new loot and discover resources hidden around the world.

Godfall

It's a repetitive flush experience that prompts players to complete a limited number of tasks (most of which involve hacking enemies) while circling the same areas over and over. For example, players often have to survive a wave of enemies for 60 seconds or kill 16 enemies slowly emerging from statues. Big boss fights remove the boredom, but they are only unlocked by earning seals that you get as you progress through more missions like this one.

Like any dungeon crawler, loot is the real catch. Missions are full of rewards, from weapons to equipment, each with their own perks. The constant flow of goodies makes it so that players can quickly start customizing a build. However, after a few missions, I was completely overwhelmed by the amount of treasure I collected. Even saving resources felt like a monotonous time commitment.

It's a repetitive flush experience that prompts players to complete a limited number of tasks while drawing circles around the same areas over and over.

Exciting loot is only half the battle for a game like this. There is constant in-game power accumulation, but few compelling reasons to demonstrate it outside of some high-level post-game activity. Godfall has a lot to play with, but not a lot to play with.

Great battles

The weak gameplay loop is a shame because the combat has real potential. As with many modern action games, the battle revolves around light and heavy attacks. The main difference is that players use oversized weapons like hammers and spears. Every weapon has real weight, so every hit feels slower and more powerful than a normal sword swing. The downside is that players need to think more strategically about each hit, as too much engagement can lead to disaster. Every push of a button is important, which is rare in a hack-and-slash game.

There is also a heavy defensive component with a shield that plays an important role in combat. This can be used to block attacks, fend off enemies, or perform ranged attacks. Like primary weapons, the tool feels devastating and adds a real sense of power to combat. Throwing the piece of metal like Captain America's shield, knocking an enemy off their feet and opening it up for a brutal takedown is very satisfying.

Every push of a button is important, which is rare in a hack-and-slash game.

This strong foundation will evolve as the game progresses thanks to a number of upgrade systems. There is a skill tree that adds more combinations and colors to the experience and equipment upgrades that give certain perks. In addition, the game offers 12 unlockable “Valorplates”, which are various sets of armor that the players can equip. Each has their own special perk, like shock damage or poison, which offers countless ways to create character builds.

Godfall

Everything is successful up to a point. I found myself using almost every single tool in combat, spending a lot of time enchanting equipment, and changing my valorplate at every opportunity. But I still loaded on missions that felt indistinguishable from each other and mowed down the same types of enemies ad nauseum. I was all dressed and had nothing to do.

All strategies and nuances go out the window as the enemies get more numerous and the bosses' health bars get bigger. It is becoming increasingly tempting to just equip a faster weapon class and light spam attacks to take advantage of it. The weighty battle could probably be a thrill in a focused, set-piece action game on a large budget, but it's a disproportionate for a humble dungeon crawler based on loops.

Hide them

The game's design decisions seem to take a back seat to technical skills. It's a visual spectacle that feels like the video game at a Great Gatsby party. Valorplates are intricately detailed, particles fly in all directions and golden light shines on every surface to bring the wow factor home.

Godfall

It's instantly impressive, even when it's on a flat plain. As someone who is not that easily impressed by the visual flair, I was still amazed by the tiny details like gentle motion blur, as if I were a seasoned tech geek.

That surface sheen never really goes away, but the excitement is short-lived due to the game's lackluster world design. Godfall mainly offers three cards, each with its own elemental flavor. Despite thematic differences and motifs, the areas are structurally so similar that they rarely feel like radically different environments. That doesn't negate the impressive eye candy, but it does limit its tricks at times.

The underlying design decisions undermine the spectacle and bring the game of next-gen Cloud 9 to a standstill.

Console launch games will always be in a tough spot because, at least on a technical level, they are the most heavily studied games of a generation. Godfall is doing everything in his power to cause a stir, but it's a short-term fix. The underlying design decisions undermine the spectacle and bring the game of next-gen Cloud 9 to a standstill. Once the color fades, players are left with a surprisingly easy looter that doesn't feel much more complex than Minecraft Dungeons.

Our opinion

Godfall holds great promise with its stunning graphics and combat, but those high points are lost in a sparse dungeon crawler that briefly sells its strengths. It's very different from what Destiny 2 clone fans expected, but this live-service style may better suit its dedication to grinding loot.

Is there a better alternative?

Warframe is more effective than "Scavenger Slasher" and Destiny 2 offers the same next-generation grind with greater rewards.

How long it will take?

The main campaign lasts up to 8-10 hours, but dedicated gamers can spend more time hunting for rewards and completing a small handful of post-game activities.

Should you buy it?

No. There are plenty of better next-gen games out there right now, even if you're just looking for a multiplayer game to try out on launch.

Editor's recommendations




11 Nov
Blog

The best reverse fly variations that will keep you fit forever

Sitting in the same position for long hours is the new smoking. It's harmful and terrible at the same time. Unfortunately, there is not much that most people can do about it as they spend long hours in their office seats. But that doesn't mean they should keep injuring themselves.

The Return flight is the perfect remedy for such a problem. This potential exercise promises not only to properly train your rear deltfly, but also to ensure that your upper back stays strong as always. So, let's get down to the best variations of this exercise to try them out now!

Why reverse flight variations? Back problems are the talk of the town today. With most of us sitting in front of the screens for hours, our attitudes face serious threats. Due to the long periods of sitting during office hours and the binge watching shows, most of us have no idea how to deal with our posture. Fortunately, we have a quick fix for you. Reverse fly variations are the perfect way to get rid of all of these previous problems freely. Not only does it target your entire back, but it also improves posture instantly. With an incredible range of variations, the return fly can spill magic in no time. Fly dumbbell backwards is one way to achieve this.

How do I perform a dumbbell backward fly?

The exercise we're about to talk about is insane. With a dumbbell backward fly, No need to stop and apply balm to your back before returning to your daily chores. If you continue to do this exercise daily, you will see results in a minimal amount of time. Before reaching any conclusion, be sure to follow the instructions. This way you can avoid complications for a safe experience.

1. Stand with feet hip width apart and knees soft. Make sure you have a light dumbbell in both hands. Hang your knees on your hips and keep your back flat. Don't forget to keep your neck neutral and your torso forward at a 45-degree angle. Your palms should be facing inward.

2. Keep your core busy. At this point, your elbows should be slightly bent. After lifting the dumbbell, remember to exhale. Your focus should be on squeezing your shoulder blades together. Something like this will help you follow the steps correctly.

3. When you get to the top, stop. Now inhale and gradually lower the dumbbells. How to return to the starting position.

4. Repeat the process Fly dumbbell backwards regularly to experience its benefits in no time.

How do I perform a curved return flight?

Since we had promised to develop a number of reverse-fly variants, we didn't stop with the previous one. For this reason, we are introducing another outstanding variant that will work wonders for you. Bent over backward fly Also known as a rear back fly, which aims at your shoulders and back. With this exercise there is nothing to fear. If you practice this exercise daily, you are sure to immediately gain the greatest possible strength, body balance and well-built posture.

1. Before starting the exercise, make sure you are adjusting the weight of the frame. Once you've done this, take a few steps back into an open area.

2. Hang by your hips until your body is almost parallel to the floor. Your arms should hang straight down from your shoulders with a neutral grip.

3. Now inhale and pull the dumbbells close to the ceiling. Do this with your deltoids.

4. Gradually lower the dumbbells back to the starting position.

5. Repeat the process bent back fly Exercise every now and then to reap the benefits as soon as possible.

How do I perform a cable reverse flight?

If you have a cable machine at home, this exercise is for you. The Fly cables backwards is a simple workout that is convenient for you to do if you follow the steps correctly. We promise you will get a number of benefits every time you exercise. If you follow the directions as given, there is nothing to worry about.

1. Stand between two pulley stations and grab the 2D handles. Make sure it's shoulder width apart and keep a neutral grip. Push your hips back while keeping your knees just above your ankles. Your torso should be parallel to the floor. Your trunk should be in a neutral position all the time. Don't forget that.

2. Squeeze your shoulder blades together and keep your arms straight. Raise your arms in the air on either side until they are aligned with your back. Make sure your head and trunk are stable at all times.

3. Stop at the top position for about 2 seconds. However, don't stop squeezing your shoulder blades together.

4. Gradually bring the weight back on the floor and breathe normally.

5. Repeat the process Fly cables backwards regularly for the greatest possible benefit.

Take that away

These were some of the most helpful Return flight Variations to try at home. Don't forget to give it a try if you haven't hit your fitness goals right away.

10 Nov
Blog

2020’s Most Overweight and Obese States in America

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month and things are not looking good for the nation. People can be offended by the wording, but the facts don't change. Fat is the new normal, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Aside from the obvious health problems, the cost of obesity threatens individuals and organizations as it puts a strain on the health system. It's like a perfect storm of a population that gets sicker and sicker as it literally grows, and with that comes more cost and the need to dedicate more health resources to a problem that may be itself

This is probably the point where a thousand personal trainers jump up and scream about comorbidity, health, and exercise.

This is great, but it cannot be overlooked that with the increase in gym and health club memberships over the past three decades, as more money has gone into the fitness industry, the rise in obesity rates has actually not declined adequately, quite the opposite.

Obesity has no effect from the increase in gym membership

Source: Axios

There are also some interesting factors influencing the level of obesity. For example, while West Virginia has the lowest percentage of overweight adults, it has the second highest percentage of overweight adults, which means there is no middle ground.

To be honest, the problem is very, very big. But at the end of the day, the data shows that high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholestrol pretty much coincide with the worst conditions on the charts. You can check out the interstate obesity factors infographic here.

The facts about the high cost of fat

  • $ 294.6 billion: Estimated medical costs for diabetes in the United States in 2019.
  • 9,506 USD: Average annual health care costs for patients with diabetes.
  • 2.3: The frequency with which a diabetic patient's healthcare costs increase.
  • 14 & 18 years: Reducing the average life expectancy of male and female type 1 diabetes patients.
  • 88 million: Number of American adults with "prediabetes" (84% of whom do not know they have diabetes).
  • 70%: Chances of Developing Diabetes If Both Parents Have Type 2 Diabetes.

The following data breaks the top 20 states by obesity prevalence, courtesy of Wallethub. Where is your state? And do you know why

It is worth asking the question of whether there is a culture of obesity that can be identified by the state and what demographic, socio-economic, and cultural factors determine the statistics.

Going to the gym or exercising more or eating better doesn't seem to resonate equally across national lines. Finding out why this is an important part of finding solutions that aren't just the fitness industry's usual quick fixes and promises.

1 = fattest Status total score Rank "Obesity & Overweight" Rank "health consequences" "Food & Fitness" rank
1 West Virginia 74.66 2 1 9
2 Mississippi 74.20 1 8th 1
3 Arkansas 69.37 3 11 7th
4th Kentucky 68.46 5 7th 2
5 Tennessee 68.41 4th 9 11
6th South carolina 65.85 8th 17th 4th
7th Louisiana 65.65 6th 27 6th
8th Alabama 65.15 9 15th 5
9 Oklahoma 65.00 7th 26th 13
10 Missouri 62.39 11 19th 17th
11 Iowa 61.03 13 16 34
12 Indiana 61.02 10 31 16
13 Delaware 61.00 21st 3 27
14th Ohio 60.70 16 14th 15th
15th Texas 60.23 12 39 12
16 Maine 59.81 28 2 44
17th Georgia 59.78 15th 36 10
18th Virginia 58.58 23 23 3
19th Kansas 58.56 22nd 6th 40
20th North Dakota 58.21 14th 28 46
10 Nov
Blog

Front Squats: not just a weightlifting exercise

Yes you read it right! Front crouch is more than just a weightlifting exercise, it is an exercise that is very widely used in weightlifting training, but unfortunately it is not used too much other than the weightlifters. But that is now changing. Well, that's because the front-loaded nature of the exercises requires a higher level of technical competence within the athlete. And because of that, it enables better movement and a more balanced athlete in the end. And if an athlete is struggling with the back squats, some of the issues can be resolved pretty quickly by adding more front squats to their program. What are the reasons? You are welcome:

  • Forces the athlete into a more upright position and recruits the muscles of the core
  • Allows for greater depth, which increases the function and strength of the joints of the lower body
  • Requires more flexibility and control over shoulders, arms and wrists
  • Does not overload the body and thus ensures a better balance when increasing strength

How do I do front squats?

The To install

  1. Start with the bar, which is in a crouched position and level with your mid-chest.
  2. With your hands, hold the bar wider than shoulder width apart. Bring yourself close to the bar and lower yourself into a 1/4 squat so the bar is level and touching your chest at the top and front of your shoulders.
  3. Without letting go of the bar, pull your elbows out and raise them as high as you can.
  4. Try to keep your elbows as high as possible throughout the squat – this will keep your body upright and the bar securely in the crook of your hand and against your chest and shoulders.
  5. Approach to pull the bar out of the frame.

How it goes

  1. Take a step back. Position your feet shoulder-width apart, with your toes pointing slightly diagonally from each other.
  2. Get ready, take a deep breath, keep your torso rigid, and bend your legs to lower yourself into a crouch. Keep your knees wide apart and your heels down.
  3. Lower until your legs are parallel to the floor, then slowly stand up to your original position.

Yes, this is the correct form to maintain while squatting. In case you're having trouble maintaining it, below are some tips and steps on how to do it.

The perfect shape of the front squat:

As mentioned earlier, below are some steps and tips to keep in mind as you attempt to properly pull a front squat.

The bar

It means that your goal is to raise the bar as close to your back as possible. And the higher the bar rests on your shoulders, the better it is to lay the foundation for an efficient mechanic. You should feel the bar literally resting on your shoulders and physically pressing against your neck. The second the bar slips off your neck and shoulders, you'll be pulled forward, making the squat far more difficult. This can be uncomfortable. So be sure to practice with an empty bar to adjust to the sensation. Of course, there's never fun shedding a crazy heavyweight and wishing you were suffocated. However, it is necessary.

The poor

Something incredibly common about this exercise where people forget to interact with their torso before lifting while doing a front squat. Squatting works your legs, but your whole body needs to get the most of it. This is especially true of the front squat. When softening your torso, the bar pulls you forward and you are not squatting with very efficient mechanics. To avoid this, take a deep breath, straighten your chest, tense your shoulders, and raise your elbows up. These tensions will stir up all of the muscles in your torso and along your midline, keeping your entire body involved throughout the lift.

Your account balance

It is common for you to back your butt into a squat as it forces athletes to recruit their glutes as this is the main cause of oversized exercise. The difficulty with this front squat hint, however, is that the second you pull your bum back, you allow your torso to lean forward and the bar pulls you forward, which creates the problem that the two primary points are generally have. The goal is to stay upright while simply falling straight down to perform that front squat. But you're wrong here. So don't push your bum back like hell, don't push your knees forward. Just break the crease of your hips and knees at the same time and let your bum fall straight to the floor. This enables a more active body during the entire lift. Push your bum back while squatting and keep yourself busy throughout the workout.

Your bum is the key

This is something you see all the time in weightlifters, and something quite challenging when you don't. But once you learn, this is a fantastic tool that will allow you to use your energy to do hip extension. The idea is that you crouch aggressively at the very bottom and then stand up with an intensity equivalent to a vertical jump. Although this can cause the body to loosen up on the floor and the hell out of the athletes losing tension trying to get out of the most challenging position of the squat. Stay in suspense! However, if you hold the tension and then bounce back like a superman from that lower position, you may be on the verge of jumping over a tall building in a single jump

Complete the train

Just don't try to release the tension until you have completed the elevator. Reason? Well, people tend to relax their upper body in a split second before fully expanding. Or worse, they start to break the bar after their final repetition. Stop rushing and release the tension! Stand in the loop, stand tension for a second, and choose to either take a breath and do your next rep, or control the bar again.

Front squats versus back squats

Both back and front squats are useful. However, taking a look at your skills and goals can help you decide which exercise to include in your workout.

To perform a front squat efficiently and safely, you need good range of motion in your upper back, shoulders, wrists, hips, and ankles.

On the other hand, a squat doesn't require a lot of agility. Therefore, it's easier to start here and pay attention to your shape and strength building.

Although it would be a whole new story, one or maybe both movements in the back and front squats will make you feel comfortable. Before doing this, make sure your goals are listed. Since both vary, the squat effects vary, and so do their requirements. Here are some suggestions in case you have a hard time making up your mind.

  • Squats can help you gain weight faster while promoting strength and strength.
  • While front squats also increase strength and strength – albeit not as quickly – they're a great exercise for developing the quads.
  • If aesthetics is your goal, your focus should be on the front squats.

However, if you want to harness strength, power, and aesthetic benefits, include both the back and front squats in your routine.

A word of warning

Before diving into any of the workouts, fronts squats and back squats, you should consult an expert. This may be because these two workouts are exactly what you have been looking for and delve into them with no prior precautions and requirements. Such as having a thorough knowledge of your own strength, weakness and shape when performing squats. Speaking of which, if you break your form on the squats, you will regret it for the rest of your knees and pay for it with your knees and maybe even your shoulders. So, if you've tried cheating on this bargain, you'll be sorry that the price tag is just too high for a simple mistake. So don't give it a try without being rated by a trainer or expert.

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09 Nov
Blog

Acer Swift 5 2020 Review: Tiger Lake Comes Into Its Own

Acer Swift 5 in late 2020

Acer Swift 5 Intel EVO Thin & Light Laptop

"The Swift 5 is light and fast, making it a comfortable 14-inch workhorse to take with you."

  • A performance that fulfills Tiger Lake's promise

  • Very thin and light

  • Solid build quality

  • Good keyboard and touchpad

  • Below average battery life

  • A bit expensive

I haven't evaluated many Intel Tiger Lake systems, but I've seen enough to know that there are kinks that need fixing. So far, there hasn't been a Tiger Lake laptop (officially reviewed or just benchmarked) that performed as I expected. Now Acer has released its latest Swift 5 based on the Tiger Lake platform – this isn't the only update to this premium microlight – and there is one more example that needs to be evaluated.

Acer sent me a well-configured machine with an 11th generation quad-core Intel Core i7-1165G7, 16 GB of RAM, a 1 TB PCIe solid-state drive (SSD) and a Full HD 14 Inch IPS display. This Swift 5 configuration costs $ 1,300 on Amazon and includes some features that stand out from the crowd of premium laptops. My biggest question, however, is: has a Tiger Lake laptop finally got the performance of the chipset?

performance

Acer Swift 5 late 2020 ventMark Coppock / Digital Trends

Don't waste time answering this question: so far, the Acer Swift 5 is the fastest Tiger Lake system I have personally reviewed or rated, and in Digital Trends' experience, it only gets (hardly) from the Tiger Lake reference machine surpassed that Intel sent us to see (which uses the faster Core i7-1185G7).

Geekbench 5 tells part of the story. The Swift 5 achieved 1,580 points in the single-core test and 5,836 points in the multi-core test. The higher-clocked reference laptop scored 1,563 and 5,995 points, which means the Swift 5 could more than keep up. Compared to the Asus ZenBook Flip S, which managed 1535 and 4913, the Swift 5 was significantly faster in the multi-core test. In some contexts, consider that the Microsoft Surface Book 3 13 with a 10th generation Core i7-1065G7 only scored 1,316 and 4,825 points.

However, in our more realistic tests, the Swift 5 performed well. First off, in our handbrake test, which encodes a 420MB video as H.265, the Swift 5 took a little over three minutes to complete. The Intel reference machine was only 17 seconds faster. The Asus ZenBook 14 UX425EA with the Core i7-1165G7 lasted four minutes in normal mode and 27 seconds longer than the Swift 5 in performance mode. The ZenBook Flip S also lasted almost exactly four minutes. The Microsoft Surface Book 3 13 also took four minutes, which shows that Tiger Lake is not yet consistently impressive in the performance department.

Next, I tested the Swift 5 in Cinebench 20. He scored 2,091 in multi-core and 542 in single-core mode. The ZenBook 14 was slower in both normal (1,746 and 497) and performance modes (1,766 and 498), and the ZenBook Flip S fell behind at 1,264 and 482, respectively. The Surface Book 3 13 managed 1433 and 429, which means that only one of these other Tiger Lake laptops was slightly faster than the Ivy Lake Surface Book 3, the Swift 5 was a lot faster. Then consider that the Intel reference laptop scored 2092 and 570 in Cinebench 20, which means the Swift 5 managed to stay close to the higher-clocked Tiger Lake machine again.

It's also educational to compare the Swift 5 to AMD Ryzen 4000 laptops. In Handbrake, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7 with the Ryzen 7 4800U finished the test in about two minutes, a full minute faster than the Swift 5. The Cinebench scores were 3,255 and 482, much faster in multi-core mode than in the Swift 5 managed to improve it in single core mode. While Tiger Lake has the potential to beat its 10th generation predecessors, it can't compete with AMD's latest Ryzen chips on many tasks.

However, there is one area where Tiger Lake competes well with AMD's chips – Adobe applications. I ran our Premiere Pro test encoding a two minute 4K video on the Swift 5 and it took 11 minutes and 52 seconds. That's not fast compared to Intel's 45-watt parts, which can get the job done in under three minutes in some cases, but it's a lot faster than the Ryzen 7 CPU in the IdeaPad Slim 7, which is more than one Hour needed. The Intel Tiger Lake reference system lasted 11 minutes and 13 seconds, so the Swift 5 was competitive again. If you're an Adobe user, don't assume that an AMD system will better meet your performance needs.

If you're expecting enhanced gaming from the Swift 5 thanks to Tiger Lake and Intel's Iris Xe graphics, you're in luck. You get better performance than Intel's previous Iris Plus graphics and almost as fast performance as a discrete GPU like the Nvidia GeForce MX350. I saw 53 frames per second in Civilization VI at 1080p and medium graphics and 27 fps on ultra graphics. This exceeds the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7 (Intel version) with the MX350 with medium graphics by 2 fps. In Fortnite, the only other game I tested, the Swift 5 managed 31 fps at 1080p and high graphics that dropped to 22 fps for epic graphics. The IdeaPad Slim 7 achieved 37 fps with high graphics and 24 fps with epic graphics. The bottom line is that you can play some modern titles at 1080p if you keep the graphical details in check – a serious improvement over the previous generation from Intel.

In short, the Swift 5 shows what Tiger Lake can do, at least when compared to the previous version of Intel CPUs. It's very quick in practice and I certainly didn't notice any slowdowns no matter what I threw at it during my review. As more Tiger Lake systems continue to be released and the inevitable initial issues with the chipset are fixed, this will be a significant upgrade for Intel users. And the Swift 5 will be hunting right there.

design

Acer Swift 5 in late 2020Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The Swift 5 was updated with 10th generation CPUs in early 2020, but was otherwise identical to the 2019 version. The latest model of the Swift 5 brings more changes than just an update for Tiger Lake.

First, it's a little heavier at 2.31 pounds compared to last time versus 2.18 pounds. That said, it's still a remarkably light 14-inch laptop, just not quite as much as the last version. However, it's still 0.59 inches thick, which makes it a very thin laptop too. That's comparable to the ZenBook 14 at 2.58 pounds and 0.54 inches. In the thin-and-light category, 14-inch laptops have clearly proven their worth. The latest Swift 5 also benefits from smaller bezels all around (the chin is only slightly larger than some laptops with tiny bezels, but not by much), resulting in a 90% screen-to-body ratio. This is competitive with the latest Dell XPS 13, which weighs 2.65 pounds and is 0.58 inches thick, and is better than the 84.5% of the previous Swift 5.

The low weight of the Swift 5 is due to its construction from magnesium-lithium and magnesium-aluminum alloys. According to Acer, these materials are two to four times stronger than aluminum, but weigh 20-35% less. Certainly the Swift 5 feels sturdy, with a lid that won't bend if you don't apply too much pressure, a keyboard deck that is as stiff as any other, and a lower case that is just as stiff as any Has compliance. So the Swift 5 feels light, but it doesn't feel cheap. This is what you get when you use plastic to cut the pounds. I would love to see the hinge redesigned so that it can be opened with one hand, but it stays nicely in place.

The laptop's durability extends to the case surface, where Acer used a micro-arc oxidation process to create a finish that is hard as ceramic and resists scratching and corrosion. That's a good thing, because my test device has the optional mist green color (gold is the other option), which is quite subtle and elegant and deserves protection. The case itself is relatively simple in the gem-cut design compared to extremes like HP's Specter x360 line, but the color – including the yellow accents and keyboard lettering – and angles make the laptop look good overall.

The surface of the housing is not only more durable, but also more resistant to microbes. Acer created the first complete antimicrobial laptop solution that includes two main features that I have never seen on any other computer. First, there is a silver ion antimicrobial agent in a coating on the surface of the case, keyboard, hinge, fingerprint reader, and even the labels attached to the laptop. Even the rubber feet are made from an antimicrobial silver ion material. Second, the screen uses Corning's Gorilla Antimicrobial Glass, the world's first to bake silver ions for antimicrobial properties.

I won't go into all the details here – you can visit this page to learn more – but the overall solution promises a reduction rate of greater than 99.9% that involves a "broad spectrum of bacteria". Note that this does not say anything about viruses, so to my knowledge the solution does not protect against the coronavirus that is causing COVID-19. Even so, Acer is the first to take you seriously if you want your laptop to be bacteria-free.

Note that the Swift 5 is Intel Evo certified. That promises a few things, including an 11th generation CPU (Natch), Thunderbolt 4 support, constant battery responsiveness, waking up from hibernation in less than a second, nine or more hours of battery life, and four hours with just 30 Minutes charging time. As we'll see later, I'm not sure if the laptop lives up to the promise of actual battery life, but it does seem to meet the rest of the Evo certification requirements.

Finally, connectivity with the thin and light Swift 5 is a strong point. On the left is a proprietary power port (but the laptop charges via USB-C), a full-size HDMI 2.0 port with HDCP support, a USB-A 3.2 port, and a USB-C port with Thunderbolt 4 -Support. On the right side there is a Kensington lock port, a USB-A 3.2 port and a 3.5 mm audio jack. Unfortunately, there is no SD card reader, which is disappointing.

display

Acer Swift 5 late 2020 adMark Coppock / Digital Trends

We have reached a point where most premium laptops (and many budget computers) have very good displays that fall within a relatively narrow range on most objective criteria. According to my colorimeter, this is almost exactly where the Swift 5 is rated – it's "average," but today's average makes a nice display for everyone but creatives who need the widest, most accurate colors.

First, the Swift 5's 14-inch touch-enabled display exceeded our preferred brightness threshold of 300 nits at 327 nits, and its contrast ratio barely missed our preferred 1000: 1 brightness at 950: 1. This is a great indicator for productivity work unless you are working outdoors in direct sunlight. An example of a similar laptop with a slightly better display in these metrics is the Asus ZenBook 14 UX425 with its 352 nits and a contrast ratio of 1060: 1. The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 Yoga is an example of that with just 274 nits and 720: 1 Opposite.

Next, the Swift 5's colors are good, but not great, just like most premium laptops. The coverage of the sRGB color gamut is 96% and 73% of the AdobeRGB color gamut. Most premium laptops are similar to the ZenBook 14 with 94% sRGB and 72% AdobeRGB. You have to jump to something like the Dell XPS 15's 4K display, with 100% coverage of both color gamuts, to get a display that creatives crave. The Swift 5 achieved a spot color accuracy of DeltaE of 1.27, with anything below 1.0 indistinguishable to the human eye and considered excellent. Note that the Dell XPS display had a DeltaE of just 0.73%, while the ZenBook 14 was slightly higher than the Swift 5 at 1.42%.

In real use, the Swift 5's display was a pleasure, with lots of brightness for my needs and black text that jumped off the side thanks to the (almost) excellent contrast ratio. Binging Netflix was pleasant enough thanks to a perfect gamma of 2.2 that nothing was too light or too dark. I have no complaints about the display.

The audio quality wasn't quite up to standard. First, the two speakers couldn't produce much volume even though they were 100% undistorted. The mids and highs were fine, but (as usual) the bass was missing. The audio system works well for occasional viewing of YouTube videos. However, if you want to watch TV shows, movies, or listen to music, consider using headphones or external speakers.

Keyboard and touchpad

Acer Swift 5 late 2020 keyboard and touchpadMark Coppock / Digital Trends

The standard island keyboard is well spaced and has keycaps that were a little too small for my taste. The mechanism had a nice click but was a little loose, so I didn't find it quite as precise as my favorite keyboards, HP's Specter keyboard and the Magic keyboard on Apple's latest MacBooks. As a writer, I'm particularly sensitive to this aspect of laptop design, and while I wasn't thrilled with the Swift 5, it will likely make most users happy.

I like the color scheme with pale yellow letters and backlighting (only on and off unfortunately) that works in both light and dark environments. This is an improvement over some keyboards, like that of the latest Dell XPS 13, which has a backlight that makes it almost impossible to read the letters when they are on and with ambient lighting.

The touchpad is medium in size and uses Microsoft's Precision touchpad drivers. As such, it was able to swipe and use Windows 10's multi-touch gestures – something that can be said about most touchpads lately. The touch display was accurate, responsive, and very welcome.

Windows 10 Hello support was provided by a fingerprint reader on the top right of the touchpad. It was quick and accurate during my tests.

Battery life

Acer Swift 5 late 2020 side viewMark Coppock / Digital Trends

The Swift 5 packs 56 watt hours of battery capacity into its thin frame, an average amount for a laptop with a 14-inch full HD display. We don't have that much experience with Tiger Lake efficiency so I wasn't sure what to expect.

We usually use the Basemark web benchmark to test a laptop's battery life when the CPU and GPU are under stress. So far, however, every Tiger Lake laptop I've tested, including the Swift 5, won't complete this review. So I can't tell how long the laptop will last if you work hard.

In our web benchmark, which runs through a number of complex websites and is the best indicator of battery life in our tests, the Swift 5 lasted just under eight hours. This is an average score topped by the Dell XPS 13 with its 10th Gen Core i7 that lasted over 11 hours and the Tiger Lake Asus ZenBook 14 UX425EA that lasted almost 10 hours. It is debatable whether the Swift 5 meets the Evo requirement of nine hours of productivity life – that depends entirely on your workflow.

Finally, the Swift 5 lasted 11.5 hours in our video test grinding a Full HD Avengers trailer. The XPS 13 lasted 14.5 hours and the ZenBook 14 12.25 hours, which means the Swift 5 also fell behind in this test.

Ultimately, the battery life was a little disappointing, but not terrible. If you don't put that heavy load on the CPU and GPU, you might be able to do it for a full day. However, if your tasks are demanding, you need to keep your power adapter with you.

Our opinion

The Swift 5 is better than the previous generation in everything but weight and isn't exactly heavy. It makes extensive use of Intel's Tiger Lake platform and uses some innovative techniques to make the case surface more robust and resistant to microbes.

It's also a nice looking laptop and has some weaknesses. When it comes to 14-inch laptops, the Swift 5 is one of the best on the market today.

Are there alternatives?

The Asus ZenBook 14 UX425EA is an obvious competitor to the Swift 5. It's almost as fast if you hold it in Performance mode, but then the fans spin louder and more frequently than the Swift 5. It's just as well built and looks just as good and also offers excellent input options.

If you want the flexibility of a 2-in-1 device, the HP Specter x360 13 is a great alternative. It uses Intel's latest generation of chips, so it's not as fast, but it has a more eye-catching appearance, stunning OLED display, and the morphing nature of a 2-in-1 device.

Finally, you can consider the Dell XPS 13, one of the best laptops out there. It was recently updated to Tiger Lake and features one of the best laptop designs out there. It's a bit more expensive and has a slightly smaller screen, but those may be tradeoffs worth making.

How long it will take?

The Swift 5 is well built and robust, with modern components that will meet your productivity needs for years to come. The one-year warranty is disappointing on a premium laptop, but it is industry standard.

Should you buy it?

Yes. The Swift 5 is thin, light and powerful. It is the first Tiger Lake notebook we tested that lives up to the chip's performance promise.

Editor's recommendations




09 Nov
Blog

OnePlus Nord 10 5G Review: Bringing 5G to the Masses

oneplus nord 10 5g rating 4

  • Solid display

  • Simple software

  • Good battery life

  • Headphone jack

  • 128 GB storage

  • Performance can feel sluggish

  • Camera is a weak point

  • Start on Android 10

OnePlus has long been the bastion of value for money in the Android world, but as the prices of its flagship phones rise, more room has been made for lower-cost devices that still have some great features. The original OnePlus Nord is an example of this, with a solid design and good battery life. OnePlus is now expanding the series – with the new OnePlus Nord N10 5G.

The new device is currently only available in Europe and the UK. However, OnePlus announces that it will soon be brought to North America along with the also new OnePlus Nord N100. At £ 329, it's still not a cheap phone, but it's definitely budget conscious. Should you buy it? We tested the OnePlus Nord N10 5G to find out.

Editor's note: Since the Nord N10 5G is first available in Europe, we have received a European model to test. When tested in the United States, the phone had technical limitations related to 5G bands and other network technologies. The North American model should not encounter any of these problems.

Design and display

Midrange phones have gotten a lot better, and many of the best midrange devices now feature a modern design with an edge-to-edge display. The OnePlus Nord N10 5G is no exception to this rule. The display has nicely rounded corners, there is a (relatively large) hole cutout on the top left of the display for the front-facing camera, etc. The only thing that breaks the illusion is a big chin at the bottom of the display, but it certainly isn't Deal breaker.

The back of the phone looks a lot like other modern OnePlus devices. At the top left of the back of the phone is a circular camera module that houses the quad lens camera. The only difference, at least in looks, is the back-mounted fingerprint sensor, which generally worked fine.

Of course, the look and feel are a little different. The back of the phone looks nice but is made of plastic and you can feel it. It's common on phones in this price range, but I would still love to see mid-range phones made from higher quality materials.

The phone looks great, but it looks and feels different – you know it's made of plastic.

You get all the usual features around the edges: a USB-C port, a volume rocker, and a power button. There's also a strange hole at the bottom. After reading the instructions, I discovered that it was a "headphone jack". Strange.

The Nord N10 5G offers a 6.49-inch display with a resolution of 1080p and looks great. No, it's not a high-end 1440p display, but at least it's a 90Hz, high refresh rate display. It gets bright enough to be used in direct sunlight, has relatively vivid colors, and is more than good enough for most.

Power and battery

The OnePlus Nord N10 5G offers a Qualcomm Snapdragon 690 processor as well as 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. It's not a bad set of specs, and in fact, it's really nice that the base model has 128GB of storage. But there are other phones that feel faster in the price range. A perfect example of this is the Google Pixel 4a, which is roughly the same price and has a Snapdragon 730G – and the high-end Pixel 4a 5G, which is admittedly a bit more expensive, has a Snapdragon 765G. While the standard Pixel 4a does not outperform the OnePlus Nord 10 5G in benchmarks, Google's phones react very quickly in real use and are more up-to-date with the software.

The phone performance limitations are sometimes felt. Sometimes the keyboard takes a second or two to load, and sometimes it can skip a beat while typing to actually show the character on the display. Basic operations are relatively smooth most of the time, but there are times when you are not reminded that you have a budget device.

Benchmark results confirm this. The Nord N10 got 5G 281,214 in AnTuTu and 606 single-core, 1,804 multi-core in GeekBench 5. Playing on the phone is a decent experience. Games take a while to load, but the actual gameplay worked well in our testing with games like Call of Duty: Mobile and Asphalt 9.

The phone's battery has a capacity of 4,300 mAh and could easily be used for a full day. Even so, I recommend turning off the phone's constantly on display. The OnePlus Nord 10 5G has an LCD panel. When the display function is activated, the backlight remains on even if the display is switched off. This can take some serious drain on the battery, and with the feature turned on, I found that the battery was so degraded that I had to charge the phone before the end of a day of moderate use.

All-day battery pack isn't an issue, and Warp Charge 30T fast charging is a differentiator at this price point.

Fortunately, the phone supports OnePlus' Warp Charge 30T and comes with a charger. Since the European model of the device was shipped to me, I have not tested the charger here in the US. However, having tested OnePlus' fast charging in the past, chances are the phone can get a majority of its charge back in around 30 minutes. That is a differentiator at this price point.

The Nord 10 5G, as the name suggests, also supports 5G thanks to the new Snapdragon 690 chipset and the Snapdragon X51 modem from Qualcomm. The result is you get Sub-6 5G connectivity, but not the super-fast mmWave that carriers like Verizon have touted. For most, however, this shouldn't be a big deal – mmWave is barely available, and you really shouldn't buy or avoid a phone that relies on mmWave support.

camera

The OnePlus Nord 10 5G offers a four-lens camera system, but it's not necessarily as versatile as you might think. While you might think that there is a telephoto lens among these four lenses, sadly there isn't. Instead, you get a 64-megapixel main sensor, an 8-megapixel ultrawide camera, a 5-megapixel depth sensor, and a 2-megapixel macro lens. I really wish OnePlus would get rid of the macro lens – it's useless.

The cameras are fine, but not groundbreaking. This is where the Pixel 4a stands out.

Photos are fine, but not groundbreaking. If you want the best photos on a phone in this price range, you'd better go for the Pixel 4a, which has flagship-level image processing.

In general, the phone didn't provide as much detail as I would have liked to see. The colors were also a bit muted and not as vivid as I would normally expect from a 2020 phone. This is especially true for trick shooting situations, for example with a light background and darker foreground. Making sure HDR is enabled will help in these situations, but it won't completely solve the problem.

software

The OnePlus Nord 10 5G comes with the OnePlus OxygenOS 10.5, and it's a little frustrating to see that it doesn't come with the latest OxygenOS 11 based on Android 11. This newer software is already widespread and only frustrates the Nord N10 5G when it comes to longer-term software support. That said, the overall experience with any modern OnePlus phone is still good, and customizing OxygenOS Android is still simple and easy to navigate.

You also get some additional features. For example, the phone has OnePlus Zen mode which allows you to restrict your own access to your phone for a limited time. Other functions are the App Locker, with which you can hide apps behind the fingerprint sensor or a PIN code. Basic theme options make it easy to customize the look of the phone, and OnePlus is especially good at keeping duplicate apps and bloat to a minimum.

Price, guarantee and availability

The OnePlus Nord 10 5G is available in Europe and the UK for 329 pounds sterling, which equates to about $ 430 right away – although I would assume the US price will be under $ 400. At some point the device will be released in the USA, but we don't have a date for it yet.

The device comes with the 12-month standard warranty from OnePlus, which practically only covers manufacturer defects.

Our opinion

The OnePlus Nord 10 5G is a nice phone. It looks and works fine despite the plastic construction, except for a few cases where performance is a little poor. However, the main selling point for the Nord 10 5G compared to the competition seems to be its 5G support. And if you've read anything we've written over the past few years, you know you shouldn't buy a phone as it supports 5G.

If you are a OnePlus fan who wants a phone in this lower price range, this is a great option as it is the same value for money, solid display, simple software, and good battery life.

Is there a better alternative?

If you're ready to ditch 5G support (and that's really not a huge loss), it's worth getting the Google Pixel 4a instead of the OnePlus Nord 10 5G. The Pixel 4a offers a better camera and an even simpler software experience, even though it's at a slightly higher £ 350.

If you really want 5G support and can afford to spend a little more, the Pixel 4a 5G is the way to go, though it may be a full price range higher at £ 499. If you're feeling really adventurous, consider the iPhone SE, which offers better performance than any phone we've mentioned and a solid camera, although the design is a little dated.

If you live in the UK or the OnePlus Nord is available elsewhere, this should be considered before the N10. It's £ 379 in the UK, and it's a much more tech-savvy phone for just a little more.

How long it will take?

The OnePlus Nord 10 5G should last a solid two years, but should really slow down at this point. However, the phone does not have an official water resistance rating. To bring it to two years you have to be careful with it.

Should you buy one?

No. You should spend a little more money on the Google Pixel 4a instead.

Editor's recommendations




09 Nov
Blog

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Review: One of the Good Ones

Assassins Creed Valhalla Review Assassin s

Assassin's Creed Valhalla

"Valhalla combines the best fight on the show with a more organic world."

  • Breathtaking fight

  • Refined metasystems

  • A more thoughtful open world

  • Raiding never gets old

  • The expansion of your settlement is convincing

  • Familiar story

  • Buggy, especially on the PC

  • Stealth and modern content are missing

Assassin's Creed Valhalla is my personal favorite in this new, remastered trilogy of games in the franchise, but the reasons I enjoy it might be shutdowns for others. Improved combat and one-train raid is at the heart of the game, and while it's well executed, it ultimately throws aside the franchise's stealth roots.

This is a step the series needs to take. to break away from what defined these games nearly a decade ago to become the standard bearer for action RPG.

I want to get this out of the way too: if you were going to record this game on PC at startup, don't. Not to say that the console version can't be buggy at times, but the PC version was almost unplayable for me (a problem I also had with Watch Dogs: Legion) and I gave up trying to get it Constantly crashing after an hour Another writer on our team had a problem with a deceased NPC and to progress they had to speak to that NPC. You are now gently prevented from continuing in the game and that is with the patch from day one.

First known, the story goes to some interesting places

Many Assassin's Creed games are campaigned around family, betrayal, and political clash, and Valhalla is no different. Eivor is set in the 9th century and can be avenged at different points in history as a man or woman or as a gender at different points in history. He takes revenge for the death of his parents at the hands of a rival clan leader. In order to get what they want, they make certain decisions that ultimately lead them out of Norway with their brother Sigurd in order to found a new home in Anglo-Saxon England.

From there, the main focus of the game is for this small group of Danes to expand their reach through devastating raids or diplomatic alliances, expanding their Ravensthorpe base camp from a dilapidated village to a thriving community.

Assassin's Creed Valhalla is my personal favorite in this new remastered trilogy of games in the franchise.

The family core of the game, Eivor and her brother Sigurd, is at times strikingly similar to the dynamic of Kassandra and Alexios in Assassin's Creed Odyssey. Over time, and as the history of the Raven clan grows across England, Valhalla makes some interesting deviations that set it apart from the newer entries in the series, but I really hope the next game in the franchise breaks off this one Establishment completely.

The narrative, which is directly related to the gameplay of the Raven clan's expansion across England, is the story that I found more compelling but which can get out of whack at times. Eivor and her people are not refugees who have no choice but to flee Norway. You specifically choose to go to reap the rewards of literally greener pastures.

While they initially arrive with the goal of being as peaceful as possible, they very quickly move on to the raid and loot part. The game then creates villains who are so vicious and power hungry that you have no choice but to choose Eivor. Valhalla sometimes tries to come up with a mutually exclusive argument, but it never really works as well as intended.

I ended up taking things at face value very quickly and ultimately enjoying the narrative for what it was. It has never been lost, however, that Ubisoft is a company going through its own internal problems regarding abuse of power. So I've never entirely given up questioning the game's narrative.

The gameplay is the best the series has ever had

There's one phrase people like to use when criticizing video games: Gameplay is king. While I never fully signed this idea, it's hard to argue that in the case of Assassin's Creed Valhalla it isn't true. Something that ultimately pushed me away from Origins and Odyssey is the feeling that the battle system rebuilt was only part of the way to get there. The two year gap in the titles has allowed the development team to refine it and I am so excited with the results.

Valhalla makes some interesting changes that set it apart from the newer entries in the series.

Eivor and her clan are a devastating and relentless force that completely captures the gameplay. Every swing of my ax felt snappy and satisfying, and even after hours of playing I continued to gush out incredulous exclamations about Eivor's ruthlessness.

Most of the time, Eivor is accompanied by a group of Viking warriors to extend the range of Ravensthorpe. It works better than any system implemented in previous Assassin's Creed games. It feels like the Brotherhood should have felt.

This idea of ​​working consistently with NPC allies means there are even fewer cases this time where stealth is required. The game at certain points tries to get you to use it, but it is rarely ever needed or the more desirable tool to help you achieve your goal. While one of the big selling points has been the return of the ability to blend in with the crowd, hacking and cutting through enemies is always the more satisfying and successful solution.

The fact that stealth plays second fiddle after confrontation is an improvement, but it can be a problem for some. Fans of the series who were hoping for a return to form for stealth on a grand scale will likely be disappointed with the increased emphasis on personal combat.

All metasystems also feel more refined than previous entries. Instead of getting tons of marginally better weapons and armor, I'm more likely to find improved upgrades, reducing the need to constantly manage my inventory. Likewise, the skill tree is slowly unfolding as you branch over it, rather than presenting you with the entirety of what it has to offer from the jump. This makes the game's RPG features, which many fans have turned off in recent years, a lot easier to swallow.

A more organic and varied world

Another big problem for me regarding Origins and Odyssey was the sheer size and infinity of the game's map and activities. That's not to say the world of Valhalla isn't huge or lacking in quests, but everything feels far more manageable and achieving goals is less like ticking things off a checklist and more about natural discovery .

England, the largest map in the game, but not the only one, is a single landmass that can be traversed on foot, on horseback, or by boat through the branching rivers that run across the country. At the center is Ravensthorpe, and the game of Eivor returning to his home base often provides more context for the world that just doesn't exist in the nomadic lives that Bayek and Kasandra / Alexios led in their games.

Every swing of my ax felt snappy and satisfying, and even after hours of playing I continued to gush out incredulous exclamations about Eivor's ruthlessness.

Rather than feeling compelled to hide every marker on an island and ultimately not do so, as I did in Odyssey, Valhalla leaves your desire to strengthen the Raven clan to be your guide to traversing, and side activities, on therefore, those you bump feel far more integral.

Gone is the need to rely on your avian partner to track down an area and mark every enemy and resource you see before systematically switching from marker to marker. While you have a raven partner to look for you, it is more about getting a first lay of the land than familiarizing yourself with every nook and cranny.

Odin's Sight, a vibrant ability that highlights POIs and enemies in your immediate area, is far more useful this time around as it allows players to stay more in the immediate action and engage with them organically.

This is, of course, Assassin's Creed, which means that there are also some modern parts with our contemporary protagonist Layla. The game tries to make it more relevant by bringing in characters tied into Desmond's story in the original trilogy and spin-offs, but it feels half-hearted again, both narrative and visually. As with stealth, the modern content is something the series is forced to do, but these games would be stronger without it, and at this point I wouldn't care if they dropped it completely.

Our opinion

Assassin's Creed Valhalla promised to return to the roots of the series after two big strides by them in Origins and Odyssey, but what it tries to rekindle is holding it back and what it does best makes it decidedly very unassassin & # 39; s Creed . Those willing to hug Valhalla for what it is will find a compelling and satisfying action RPG.

Is there a better alternative?

The only other great action RPG around the launch of the Xbox Series X | S and PlayStation 5 is Watch Dogs: Legion, but Assassin's Creed Valhalla is by far the better of the two games.

How long it will take?

Ten hours or more, hundreds of hours if you're a Completor.

Should you buy it?

Yes, especially if you choose a next-generation console that increases the frame rate significantly and eliminates load times.

Editor's recommendations




09 Nov
Blog

Grab the best-ever fitness experience by doing a quad stretch

Many people report weak quads. It happens because you don't exercise that part of your body enough. The quadriceps are not only crucial for active leg performance, but also for back care. But if you've never tried it before, don't worry. Today you can learn the trick of caring for them with us while we teach you how to make one Quad stretch. Yes, this is a helpful workout that can help improve your range of motion dramatically. It can also help you figure out how to properly exercise all three muscles in the quadriceps.

An ace of all leg exercises

A group of muscles in front of the thigh is called a quadriceps. The four different muscles in the quads, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and vastus intermedius, work together for the quads to function successfully. These are used for activities that require intense leg training. Hiking, running, walking, jumping are some of the activities that get this muscle maximally. To keep this up, we've already developed a few exercises that can help you improve your leg performance in no time. We're going to feature a variety of quad stretch variations like that Quad quad stretch lying that will do the job.

How do I do a quad stretch while lying down?

The Quad quad stretch lying is a simple exercise that you can try at home with minimal discomfort. The practical directions for this exercise will make your daily fitness routine more fun. Incorporate this workout into your daily fitness routine for numerous benefits. The risk of injury and poor movement will be gone forever. Before starting the exercise, make sure that you do a 5-minute warm-up exercise to activate your muscles. Since this exercise will keep you going for a long time, you don't want your muscles to get exhausted right away. A pre-workout warm-up can do wonders for this.

1. Lie on your left side with your legs straight. Make sure you are supporting your head with your right arm. Remember to keep yourself in a straight line.

2. Bend your right leg. When you do this, use your right hand to bring your foot close to your buttocks. After exhaling, gradually pull your right leg back until you feel a stretch in front of your thigh. Your right knee should be pointing at your extended left foot. Do not lift your right leg. Make sure you hold the stretch for between 30 and 40 seconds.

3. When you straighten your right leg to the starting position, be sure to inhale. Relax for about 15 to 30 seconds.

4. Repeat the process Quad quad stretch lying at least two to five times at a time to get the most benefit.

How do I do a standing quad route?

The standing quad track is practical training that you can do without a second thought. This exercise is best for beginners and requires the only chair to work out. So you don't have to worry about investing a fortune in equipment. Focus on the instructions so you can complete the exercise like no other.

1. Stand on one leg. If you need help, a chair can do the job.

2. When you bend your right knee, bring your heel toward your buttocks.

3. Try to grab your knuckles with your left hand.

4. Stand straight and try to pull in your abs. Make sure both knees are close together. At this point, try to relax your muscles. When you keep your leg in the bent position, you can feel a slight pull on the front of your thigh and hip.

5. Inhale and hold the stretch for about 20 to 30 seconds. Release the quad stretch and repeat on the opposite leg.

6. Repeat the process standing quad track regularly in order to acquire its outstanding advantages.

How do I do a quad route?

If you want to activate your muscles, legs, and upper back, there is no better quad

Elongation variation than this. The wAlking Quad Stretch is a Fit Pick for people who like to exercise. With this simple exercise, you will be only an inch away from your fitness goals. So let's see how to do it.

1. Stand in a straight position and raise one foot toward your buttocks. Take it behind your back with your other hand.

2. Exhale as you pull your foot up. Something like this helps improve the stretch on the quads. With your unused hand, reach straight up to stretch the lats. Once you do that, press down on your toes to activate your ankles.

3. Lower yourself from your calf and reach both arms above you. Step forward into a lunge position and maintain an erect torso.

4. Press back to the starting position and repeat Walking Quad Stretch on the next stage.

Take that away

These were some of the best Quad stretch Try variations at home. If you want to instantly improve your leg performance, these are not to be missed. It works out!

FAQ

  1. What mistake should I try to avoid while running standing quad track?

While you're doing thatTanding Quad Stretch, Avoid hopping, locking your knees, and arching your back. These are some of the things that can interfere with your workout and cause injury.

2. Do that Walking Quad Stretch help prevent injuries?

Yes, it does.

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