05 Aug
Blog

The Power Of Yoga For Glowing Skin

Yoga is celebrated for its stress-relieving and strength-building abilities – but did you know that it can also benefit your skin? Yoga glow is one thing, and if you practice regularly, you've probably noticed positive changes in your complexion. Dr. Genieve Burley tells us: "Moving your body is medicine. It enables detoxification by flushing all organs, increases breathing, lubricates the joints and strengthens the muscles. Breathing and moving in yoga can help balance hormones and move stagnant waste in the gut. All of this leads to healthier and happier skin. " In honor of Wellness month in August and National yoga month In September you can see the power of yoga for radiant skin on and next to the mat.

On the mat: 5 yoga poses for healthy skin

Yoga benefits for the skin start on the mat. Dendy Engelman, MD tells SELF: "Yoga causes vasodilation (enlargement of the blood vessels), which leads to increased blood flow to the skin, provides it with more oxygen and nutrients and is suitable for skin reddening or a" glow "." Whether you practice at home or in the studio, here are five yoga poses for a glowing complexion.

Tadasana (mountain pose)Yoga Tadasana Standing Pose

With its focus on deep, rhythmic breathing, this simple standing posture helps to relieve stress and improve oxygen flow. According to NDTV: "Taking in more oxygen through controlled breathing helps the body release harmful toxins and keep the skin healthy and glowing." By improving blood circulation, Tadasana improves lymphatic drainage, which lightens the complexion and reduces swelling around the eyes.

How to do mountain pose:

  • Stand comfortably with your big toes touching and your heels slightly apart
  • Press the soles of your feet into the ground, grab your thighs and pull them in and up
  • Extend your tailbone to the floor and pull your stomach in
  • Keep your chin parallel to the mat and pull your shoulders back and down
  • Soften your eyes and neck and let your arms hang next to your torso
  • Optional: Raise your hands in a prayer position in front of your chest
  • Close your eyes
  • Breathe in and out for 5 breaths

Uttanasana (standing forward fold)Uttanasana Forward Fold Yoga Pose

Inversions are one of the best ways to stimulate facial blood flow and increase skin cell oxygenation. Yoga teacher Jessica Bellofatto tells Shape: "If I don't have the opportunity for an entire yoga practice, I take at least five minutes and turn my head – it works against gravity and against aging and gives the skin an absolutely healthy glow."

How to make a standing forward fold:

  • Stand in a mountain pose with your hands on your hips
  • Exhale slowly and bend forward from your hips (not your waist)
  • Bend your knees as far as necessary to relieve tension in the lower back
  • Let your head hang hard
  • If possible, put your palms on the floor or against the back of your ankles. If not, cross your arms in front of you and hold your elbows
  • Lift and lengthen your torso slightly each time you breathe in. Be careful not to round off your back
  • Breathe in and out for 5 breaths

Parivrtta Sukhasana (simple seated turn)

Seated twist yoga pose

A healthy intestine is important for healthy skin. Dendy Engelman says to SELF: "Toxins that are not eliminated from the body often accumulate in the adipose tissue and in the skin, which can lead to acne, discoloration and accelerated aging." Parivrtta sukhasana is a gentle, sedentary twist that aids digestion and toxin removal by increasing circulation and energy for the stomach, small intestine, colon, and liver.

How to make a simple seat rotation:

  • Sit cross-legged on the floor (if your hips are tight, you may need a block)
  • Align the head, neck and spine and extend the tailbone to the floor
  • Place your right hand flat on the floor behind you
  • Place your left hand on the outside of your right knee
  • As you exhale, gently turn to the right and look over your right shoulder
  • Extend your spine each time you breathe in. Turn lower each time you exhale
  • Practice this for 5 breaths and then switch sides

Matsyasana (fish farming)Yoga fish pose

Another yoga pose for better skin is matsyasana or fish pose. By gently stretching the neck muscles, fish farming helps flush your thyroid and parathyroid glands Keep hormones – and hormone-related skin problems – at bay. In addition, Matsyasana has great anti-aging benefits. The social says: "This posture gives the muscles of the face and throat a good stretch, which makes it one of the useful exercises to reduce the appearance of a double chin."

How to do fish pose:

  • Lie on the floor with your knees bent and your feet flat
  • Raise your hips and put your hands, palms down, under your buttocks
  • Pull your forearms and elbows firmly towards your body
  • As you inhale, press your forearms and elbows into the floor and gently bend your back to lift your torso off the floor
  • Stretch your spine by tightening your shoulder blades and lifting your chest higher
  • Gently tilt your head back and let the crown of your head rest on the floor
  • Keep your legs energized
  • Breathe in and out for 5 breaths

Bhujangasana (Cobra)

Cobra yoga pose

Stress is one of the worst culprits for skin problems. Chiropractor and yoga teacher Genieve Burley tells us: “Emotional stress takes a huge toll on your hormones and your skin. If you live in harmony with work, friends and obligations, your stress will be reduced and your skin will shine. “The cobra pose reduces tension, stress and fatigue by opening the lungs and supplying the body with energy. By Yoga lowers cortisol (the "stress hormone") and reduces oxidative stress. It helps to minimize and prevent the visible signs of aging caused by dehydration and loss of elasticity.

How to do cobra pose:

  • Lie down on your stomach
  • Extend your legs behind you, with your knees touching and your toes resting on the floor
  • Spread your hands on the floor under your shoulders and press your elbows into your sides
  • Press your feet and thighs firmly into the ground
  • As you inhale, stretch your arms to push your chest forward and up from the floor
  • Slowly roll your shoulders back and away from your ears to lengthen your neck
  • Hold for 5 breaths

Off the mat: healthy body, healthy skin

You can extend the benefits of yoga to your skin by considering yoga principles in your daily life. One of the basic principles of yoga is "niyama" and refers to how you take care of your body. Practicing Niyama involves adopting lifestyle habits that support your body's health. This includes paying attention to what you eat and how you care for your skin. Genieve says, "We have layers of the epidermis in the gut and skin, so what we put in the gut is reflected on your skin." A diet rich in Plant foods and antioxidants can help minimize the wear and tear on your skin caused by environmental stressors such as the sun, seasonal changes, and pollution.

It is equally important to treat your skin from the outside in. Genieve tells us: "We need products that are filled with nutrients and made from natural ingredients such as plants. Our skin recognizes elements from nature, not plastics.“Natural and organic products that are filled with vitamins, minerals and ingredients rich in antioxidants are extremely beneficial for a healthy and youthful looking complexion. Not sure where to start? Yoga diaryRecommend beauty experts Eminence Organics Rosehip and lemongrass lip balm, acai peeling with firm skin and facial restoration oil ensure that your skin looks healthy and youthful.

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Also note this product: rose hips & lemongrass lip balm

Has Yoga Improved Your Skin? We'd love to hear from you. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below and join the conversation on social media.

This entry was originally published in August 2018 and has been updated for accuracy and completeness.

04 Aug
Blog

Raycon E55 Earbuds Review: Overhyped, Mediocre Performance

raycon earphones e55 the performer review 2

"Raycon's marketing-heavy hype machine largely doesn't live up to expectations."

  • Comfortable fit

  • Small charging case

  • Wireless charging

  • Feel cheap build

  • The bass overwhelms the mids and highs

  • No app, so the EQ cannot be adjusted

  • Terrible call quality

If you're like me, you've heard of Raycon earphones while either listening to a sponsored piece on the radio or listening to your favorite YouTuber. Raycon clearly spends a lot of money marketing its products. If you visit the company's website, you will see a lot of pictures of satisfied customers and some very big names in music that support the brand.

We were clearly a marketing-intensive hype machine and asked ourselves: are raycons really good? We grabbed a pair of the company's top $ 120 E55 The Performer earphones and put them through their paces.

Out of the box

With Raycon doing much of its marketing, it should come as no surprise that the box is pretty darn good. Even the shipping box carries the Raycon brand, and the actual product box offers exactly what I would expect from a high-end earphone brand.

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The front is held in place by a magnet and opens to reveal a pitch-black interior and some brochures that invite you to the "next wave," as Raycon's slogan says. The buds are carefully embedded in the housing below, with a charging cable and additional earplugs in a small square box next to it.

Regarding earplugs, Raycon includes a total of five silicon earplug sizes, more than most companies offer. I personally have very small ear canals, so I replaced the tips attached to the buds with their smallest size.

Fit and ready

The Raycon charger case is wonderfully small and light, so that even the petite Jabra 75t case looks large in comparison. It even looks a bit smaller than the AirPods Pro case, although Raycon chose a more rounded square design over Apple's rounded rectangle. The Raycon logo is on the front of the case. The only edge of the otherwise smooth case is a small plastic loop through which you can run a mini lanyard provided.

Jaron Schneider / Digital Trends

I don't understand the need for a lanyard, so I'm not a big fan of it. I wish this little loop nubs didn't exist because it would have resulted in a much smoother end product. I think the idea is that you might want to attach this to a bag or something else, but frankly, I don't trust that the case will stay closed and the buds will be attached inside if I zip it up on the outside would pull off my backpack. The magnet that holds the lid closed and the one that holds the buds in their charging cradle are all pretty strong, but I still wouldn't trust them swinging around behind me.

While we are working on the magnets, the buds snap into place well and firmly when loading and the housing remains firmly closed. No complaints there.

The Raycon earphones fit my ear really well.

The case is compatible with wireless chargers, but can also be charged using a USB Type-C connector. A small LED next to the connector lights up red during the charging process. When you're done, it glows green.

The buds themselves are what I would classify as “cheap” in terms of their processing quality. They are fully plastic and extremely light, which is actually nice considering that they have to sit on your ear, but they just don't feel good. They are shiny, slippery, and feel inferior, as is common with cheap products. The fact that we have come so far with an otherwise high quality experience just to find that the buds are below this brand is disappointing.

Apart from the disappointing quality, the Raycon earphones fit very well in my ear. They snap into my ear canal and upper concha with slight pressure, which holds them really well, without making me tired over time. They actually fit better than the AirPods, which surprised me. I also appreciate how flat they are on my head. This is probably why Raycon shows so many customer selfies on its website: when they are worn, they look good.

Jaron Schneider / Digital Trends

The Performer earphones can be quickly connected to your phone using the conventional method (via the Bluetooth menu) and always greet you with a voice that sings “Raycon” every time it is switched on. They pair quickly and reliably, but I have found that sometimes when they are put back in their suitcases they are not separated. I put them away more than a few times and went to another room, only to find that my iPhone was still connected, and tried to send them sound. This is a problem that I have only seen in the past with really cheap, low quality earphones. So it's not great to see this here.

The buds have physical buttons on the left and right and mostly work quite well. There is a slight delay when asked to do something that is not unusual but worth mentioning. You can pause, play, skip, answer, and hang up the phone, and even control the volume using a number of different morse code-like taps. These worked as announced.

Sound and call quality

I get straight to the point here: The Raycon earphones sound good. All good. They won't blow you away with their quality, but if you bought them on the recommendation of your favorite YouTuber, you probably won't be too disappointed either. They do the job and offer heavier basses than standard basses, but are not nearly top of the class in this regard. When I first used it, I admitted that I was initially amazed at how much skullbeat bass they could throw out, but finally got tired of it because that bass overwhelmed the mids and highs to the point where they got the details crush. Overall, I think the EQ is off for those who want to hear everything in their music, but they should be enough if you just want to enjoy the beat of your favorite song.

Jaron Schneider / Digital Trends

Sias Save My Life gives you a good feel for the lower frequencies that resemble a dance club, but the higher timbres that make Sia's voice so exciting are lost as the bass so obscures the frequency range. If you're a fan of clear vocals, you probably won't be particularly happy with the sound of the Raycon earphones.

The Raycon earphones sound good. All good.

The thing is, if the idea of ​​bass-heavy buds sounds exactly in your alley, they are still not the best choice for it in their price range. The bass is actually stronger on the Jabra Elite 65ts (and the Elite 75ts is even better). With these you can also adjust the EQ via an app to adapt the listening experience to your specifications. This leads to another disadvantage of the Raycon earphones: they have no app. So you hear what you get.

The Raycons don't offer noise cancellation, which is pretty normal for earphones in this price range. However, the noise isolation you get with these feels below average. It may be the poor build quality, but without music I can pretty easily hear everything around me, even though it's stuck in my ears.

These are downright terrible to make calls.

Raycon advertises phone calls as great, but the company really shouldn't: they are terrible for phone calls. You can hear the other end perfectly, but you will have difficulty recognizing your voice as the earphones make you sound like a mixture of underwater and different distances. Your voice will go in and out to everyone you speak, resulting in an overall terrible listening experience for them.

Battery life and connectivity

According to Raycon, the buds should last six hours per charge and a total of up to 36 hours with the six charges available in the case. Six hours per charge is really too low in the middle of the road compared to what's out there, but I've actually found that the buds have exceeded this specification. I wore them for a full working day, eight hours, and they kept going without any problems. I think you should probably count on six hours, but if you grab a pair, they may last longer than what is very nice. They also charge up quickly and I honestly had no major problem with the battery here.

Jaron Schneider / Digital Trends

The connectivity was not outstanding and they underperformed all of the other modern earbuds I've tested. I couldn't even make it to my garden halfway through my kitchen with my cell phone, and the buds would cut out. If you always have your phone right next to you, you will probably be fine, but I have little hope that this will work well in rooms with a lot of interference, such as airports or streets in New York.

Our opinion

Raycon's marketing-heavy hype machine promises too much here, with buds that do enough right that anyone who buys them is likely to be happy, but not the right recommendation in their price range. In the included bud literature, the company claims that the goal from the start was to offer high quality buds at a lower cost than the competition, but they don't really. These buds are missing from the $ 120 feature section, but even if you use the YouTube discount code you heard to lower them to $ 100, they're still sub-par overall.

Is there a better alternative?

The Jabra Elite 65ts are a great alternative, and although their RRP like the Raycons according to this influencer discount code is $ 120, they're now available on Amazon for under $ 100. The Edifier TWS6s are just as solid a purchase as the Sony WF-XB700s.

How long will they last?

Raycon offers a one year warranty which is fairly standard. The build quality is important, however, so I can't say they consistently last much longer than two to three years.

Should you buy them

No, unless the sole purpose is to support a content creator you want and get something in return. These buds are mediocre and have no really prominent feature that makes them any better than their competition.

Editor's recommendations




04 Aug
Blog

Dell Inspiron 14 5000 Review: Too Cheap to Be Good?

Dell Inspiron 14 5000 review 06

Dell Inspiron 14 5000 review: Too cheap for your own good?

"The Dell Inspiron 14 5000 is a cheap laptop that feels and works like one."

  • Decent productivity performance

  • The touchpad works reliably

  • Affordable

  • Good expandability

  • Poor build quality

  • The battery life is terrible

  • Chunky design

Budget laptops are experiencing a renaissance. The latest models were slimmer, faster, and more durable than ever – in some cases, they competed with premium laptops.

If you need some examples, just check out laptops like the Lenovo Yoga C640, the Lenovo Flex 5 14, and the Acer Swift 3 with Ryzen. From performance to design, it's hard to overstate how good these laptops have gotten.

I looked at the Inspiron 14 5000 from Dell to see if it was in line with the trend. My test device was equipped with a 10th generation Intel Core i5-1035G1 CPU, 8 GB RAM, a 256 GB solid-state drive (SSD) and a 14-inch 1080p display. This configuration of the Inspiron 14 5000 costs $ 650, but is currently available for $ 580.

This is a very attractive price, but can the Inspiron 14 5000 exceed the bar set by other current inexpensive laptops?

design

Sometimes a laptop is made of plastic, but doesn't feel like it. It is very rigid and exudes a high quality feel – the Lenovo Flex 5 14 is a prime example (yes, I will mention this laptop in this review). Then there is the Inspiron 14 5000, a plastic laptop that looks and feels.

The cover, the keyboard cover and the case base are bent and bent far too much. A year ago I might have written it off because of the price. Today, the Inspiron just feels cheap. Even opening the hinge looked cheap – the hinge is quite stiff and you have to open it with two hands. And yet the screen wobbled during use.

The Inspiron 14 5000 is similar to many laptops in this price range.

The Inspiron 14 5000 is also quite chunky at 0.83 inches thick and 3.63 pounds. These dimensions are fairly close to the 0.82 inches and 3.3 pounds of the Flex 5 14. However, the Flex 5 14 always felt that it had the build quality to justify the extra bulk. The Inspiron 14 5000, on the other hand, simply feels like an old-school budget laptop that's too big just because the technical costs weren't spent on downsizing it.

The Ryzen-based Swift 3 from Acer, another 14-inch clamshell laptop, only costs 0.63 inches and 2.65 pounds and costs only $ 650. If there is really a new wave of high-quality budget laptops on the go, the Dell doesn't fit.

The Inspiron 14 5000 is similar to many laptops in this price range. It has a silver chassis with a few chrome accents here and there. The dark bezels don't add to the look, and even though they're thin enough on the sides, the massive chin is unsightly.

Once again, the Inspiron 14 5000 looks like an inexpensive old school laptop and not like one of the newer machines that should cost more in this case. The Lenovo Yoga C640 and Flex 5 14 are examples of better designed budget devices.

The expandability is an advantage of the Inspiron 14 5000 over its competitors.

The expandability is an advantage of the Inspiron 14 5000 over its competitors. You can configure two drives, up to a 2 TB hard disk drive (HDD) and up to an SSD with 512 GB at the same time. This is an advantage for anyone who has to carry around a lot of files.

Dell also used the larger case to equip some ports. There are two USB-A 3.1 Gen 1 ports, a USB-A 2.0 port, a full-size HDMI port, an Ethernet drop-jaw port, and a full-size SD card reader. If you choose to configure with a discrete GPU, you will also get a USB-C 3.1 port.

Overall, Thunderbolt 3 is missing, but it's an impressive collection of ports. The wireless connection is Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0.

performance

The Inspiron 14 5000 uses a 10th generation Intel Core i5-1035G1 CPU, a midrange processor from the core series that promises solid quad-core performance. The Inspiron delivered that – good performance that does justice to the CPU, but nothing special. The challenge for Dell is that two of the other competitors mentioned, the Flex 5 14 and the Swift 3, use AMD's Ryzen 4000 processors that make the Intel offering a mince at this price.

In Geekbench 5, the Inspiron scored 1,169 points in the single-core test and 3,197 points in the multi-core test. This is comparable to another laptop with the same CPU, the Acer Spin 3, which scored 1,215 and 3,615 points. However, this is not the real story as the Flex 5 14 reached 1,096 and 4,543 and the Swift 3 reached 1,120 and 4,831. It is clear that the AMD chips can use their additional cores for significantly better performance and at the same basic price.

The same goes for our more realistic handbrake test, which converts a 420MB file to H.265. Here, the Inspiron took just over 4.6 minutes to complete the test, compared to the Spin 3 with just over four minutes, which means that the Inspiron even lagged behind its most direct competitor. The Flex 5 14 took only 2.7 minutes and the Swift 3 in 2.5 minutes. This shows how much faster the AMD processors are for demanding tasks.

Don't get me wrong – the Inspiron 14 5000 does the work for productivity tasks, surfing the Internet, consuming media, and the like. Laptops like the Flex 5 14 and the Swift 3, which use the excellent new silicon from AMD, are however facing strong competition.

Display and speakers

Some inexpensive laptops make up for other shortcomings by outfitting a nice display, like the Yoga C640, which has a display that can keep up with laptops that cost more than twice as much. Unfortunately, this is not the Inspiron 14 5000 – its display lies far behind the curve and shows the kind of low quality that we once thought we would see with laptops in this price range.

First of all, it suffers from a very low brightness, namely 195 nits, which is significantly below our preferred 300 nits and has a real influence on working on the laptop, displaying images and watching videos. It's an anti-glare display, and that helps a little. But as you can see in the photos above, it is still a little difficult to read with any significant ambient lighting. The Yoga C640 and Flex 5 14 both achieved more reasonable 242 nits in comparison.

The display is another area in which the Inspiron 14 5000 cannot stand out from the competition.

The contrast is low at 720: 1, and we want to see 1,000: 1 or more. Admittedly, not many inexpensive laptops offer nearly this contrast. The Yoga C640 was an exception to 1040: 1. The Flex 5 14 was more like the Inspiron with 770: 1.

With only 64% of sRGB and 48% of AdobeRGB, the color depth was also missing. The Yoga C640 reached 96% of sRGB and 73% of AdobeRGB, a much stronger value, while the Flex 5 14 was also bad at 63% and 47%, respectively. However, the Inspiron's color accuracy was decent at 1.74 (below 1.0 is considered excellent).

The Inspiron 14 5000 display guides you easily through your productivity tasks, but you won't love the experience. Ultimately, it is another area where the Inspiron 14 5000 cannot stand out from some of its competitors.

The audio was mixed similarly. The speakers offer a lot of volume, but some distortion when things get louder. The bass was missing and mids and highs were not pleasant, which made this a disappointing sound system. You will undoubtedly want to connect headphones or use an external Bluetooth speaker if you do more than just watch YouTube videos occasionally.

Keyboard and touchpad

The Inspiron 14 5000 is not equipped with the excellent keyboard that you find in the more expensive XPS series, but instead uses a version with smaller keycaps and less distance, which gives a somewhat cramped feeling. The mechanism is fine, with good travel and a precise click that doesn't fall uncomfortably on the ground. If you are a typist with a quick touch, this keyboard may not reach your maximum speed, but you are not too far away.

The touchpad is equally sufficient. It is a Microsoft Precision touchpad that reliably supports the multi-touch gestures of Windows 10. The surface is comfortable and offers good tactile feedback. There is no touch display here, which may or may not be important to you. I prefer laptops with touch displays, but I may be a minority there.

Windows 10 Hello is provided by a fingerprint reader that is integrated into the unmarked power button. I was able to log in quickly and accurately without ever needing my PIN or password.

Battery life

Another measure of an inexpensive old school laptop is the battery life, which is rather poor because the battery capacity is sacrificed in the name of cost. The Inspiron 14 5000 suffers from a poor 42.5-watt-hour battery, which is significantly less than the 52.5-watt-hour in the Lenovo Flex 5 14. For a laptop with a core CPU and 14-inch battery, that's not much Juice display. My battery tests have only confirmed this.

First, the Inspiron 14 5000 only took an hour and a half in our demanding Basemark web benchmark test. This is a poor score that typically applies to gaming laptops that run fast CPUs at full throttle. The Flex 5 14, which we did not rate well for the battery life, lasted almost four hours and the Yoga C640 over 3.5 hours. Simply put, the Dell won't last long if you press the CPU.

The next step was our web browsing test, in which the Inspiron achieved 4.7 hours. This is also a bad result: the Flex 5 14 lasts eight hours, the Yoga C640 10.5 hours and the Acer Swift 3 with Ryzen almost eight hours. With the Inspiron 14 50oo, you are unlikely to spend more than half a day doing light productivity and web browsing tasks.

We ended up running our local Full HD movie trailer until the battery ran out and the Inspiron 14 5000 couldn't make it to six hours. The Flex 5 14 did 11 hours, the Yoga C640 23 hours (pretty bizarre) and the Swift 3 10 hours.

The bottom line is that the Inspiron 14 5000 has a poorer battery life, which is disappointing despite the price – and especially compared to some other current affordable laptops.

Our opinion

The Dell Inspiron 14 5000 is an affordable, old-school notebook that cuts corners everywhere, making it a little difficult to check it out so soon after checking out the Lenovo Flex 5 14 and Yoga C640. The Inspiron's display is boring, the performance is affected by Ryzen 4000 laptops, and the battery life is terrible.

Budget laptops are getting better and the Inspiron 14 5000 has been left behind.

Are there alternatives?

This test shows that there are better alternatives than the Inspiron 14 5000. The most important of these is the Lenovo Flex 5 14 for $ 600, which offers a similarly poor display, but which Dell outperforms in terms of performance, battery life, durability, and overall good performance. It's also a 2-in-1 game, which is a nice advantage.

You can also opt for the Acer Swift 3, another 14-inch clamshell that is faster and has better battery life. And it costs the same as Dell's retail price and is worth the $ 80 premium at the Inspiron's retail price.

How long it will take?

The Inspiron 14 5000 does not inspire as much confidence in its durability. It will probably make a few falls, but I don't want to abuse it. As usual, the one-year guarantee is standard and disappointing.

Should you buy it

No. The Inspiron 14 5000 might have been attractive at a price a few months ago, but there are many much cheaper laptops today.

Editor's recommendations




03 Aug
Blog

Asus ROG Strix G15 Review: A Gaming Laptop That Glows

Asus Rog Strix G15 review 01

Asus ROG Strix G15 review: the gaming laptop that lights up

"The Asus ROG Strix G15 offers just enough power to justify its 144 Hz refresh rate."

  • Solid gaming performance

  • RGB lighting is unmistakable

  • High refresh rate

  • Good thermals

  • Thick and chunky

  • No webcam or secure registration

Higher refresh rates have become the main theme for gaming laptops in recent years. Thanks to the performance increase, even gaming laptops at the budget level receive refresh rates of more than 60 Hz.

Asus' eye-catching new gaming laptop, the ROG Strix G15 for $ 1,000, is one of the cheapest laptops you can get with a 144 Hz screen. My test device was only equipped with an Nvidia GTX 1650 Ti, the entry-level option for serious mobile games.

Is that enough to properly power a 144 Hz display? Let's find out.

design

Asus designed the ROG Strix G15 in collaboration with BMW, which at first sounds interesting. Unfortunately, the car-inspired aesthetic is nothing new – it has been in the DNA of gaming equipment for many years.

The design collaboration leads to a plastic gaming laptop with many ribs, lines and structured materials. This is fake brushed metal that you can feel at your fingertips. Nevertheless, I prefer the look over something gaudier like the Acer Predator Helios 300.

The ROG Strix G15 is made entirely of plastic, although the structural integrity of the ROG Strix G15 is rather tank-like. The lid is the only weak point. It is easy to bend or bend and the hinge slams the lid unless it is at least 50% open.

The all-round light bar brightens your desk with a dash of RGB color.

My device came completely in black and Asus says it is a "professional person". Frankly, nobody will confuse it with anything other than a gaming laptop. Laptops like the Razer Blade or MSI GS66 Stealth are better suited for a meeting (if you still have them).

What the ROG Strix G15 has are lights. A lot of lights. The keyboard has a backlight for each key. This is just the beginning. The ROG Strix G15 has an “all-round light bar” that brightens your desk with a dash of RGB color. The LEDs themselves are not directly visible and leave a diffuse glow underneath. It's a nice effect that sets the Strix G15 apart from the sea of ​​other black gaming laptops.

The ROG Strix G15 is not thin or light. It weighs 5.7 pounds and is just under an inch thick. Even the Dell G3 gaming laptop, which is chunky in itself, outperforms the Strix G15 in portability. The Strix G15 also has a large footprint thanks to the placement of the connections on the back. To compensate, the laptop has a solid chin bezel. There is a significant gap between the display and the rest of the case. This means that the screen sits higher than some 17-inch laptops when open.

The ROG Strix G15 has a typical keyboard layout, although there are some eccentricities. I like the colorful WASD buttons and the additional function buttons on the side. Asus has also pulled some important keys from the function bar, e.g. B. the volume control. Unfortunately, the buttons used are mushy and feel imprecise.

The touchpad works well for a gaming laptop in this price range. It has a smooth surface and traces well enough, although Asus has opted for old-school, left and right physical buttons that feel dated and cut into the usable touchpad area. As with many Asus laptops, you can turn on a digital number pad on the touchpad because the keyboard lacks one. It works pretty well, but the accountants won't be happy.

Ports

The ROG Strix G15 follows the trend to move many less used ports into the background. Here are your video output options, whether via HDMI 2.0 or USB-C. The USB-C connector is not a Thunderbolt 3 and does not support a power supply. To charge, you have to stick to the proprietary barrel connector, which is also on the back next to an RJ45 Ethernet socket.

The only ports on the sides of the device are three USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports and a headphone jack. The right side is completely port free.

The Strix G15 does not include a webcam like most Asus gaming laptops sold today. This decision makes sense in a vacuum, as Asus knows that gamers who stream need a better external webcam. However, this decision is timed poorly due to the sudden popularity of work from home.

Finally, the Strix G15 does not include an IR camera or fingerprint reader for secure Windows Hello logins. It includes the latest Wi-Fi 6 for connectivity and Bluetooth 5.0.

display

The display makes the ROG Strix G15 an interesting gaming laptop. But not because the picture quality of the panel is so impressive. It's sub-par in almost every way, and the colors are the biggest downside.

It only affects 65% of the sRGB color space, which is poor compared to 98% of a laptop like the Razer Blade or MSI GS66 Stealth. Even the affordable Dell G5 SE reaches 98%, as do midrange laptops like the Lenovo Yoga C640. It has a light green hue, which makes my skin look almost sick in a YouTube video we recorded. However, this is less noticeable in games.

It's not a bright panel with a maximum of 278 nits, but the matte finish helps avoid sharp reflections. Let's face it, you'll likely be playing games in dimly lit rooms anyway.

The refresh rate is the outstanding feature of the display. A year or two ago, 144 Hz was the standard for high-end gaming laptops like the Razer Blade. Nowadays 300 Hz screens have raised the standard, while the ROG Strix G15 can be configured up to 240 Hz. At this price, it is still rare on gaming laptops, which makes the screen of the ROG Strix G15 a highlight of its gaming experience.

Game performance

The ROG Strix G15 may only have a poor Nvidia GTX 1650 Ti for graphics on board, but don't underestimate it. Modern 3D titles can be played back without any problems even at maximum settings. It can reach 64 fps (frames per second) in Fortnite, 56 in Battlefield V and 63 in Civilization VI. These are high enough, although they don't use the 144 Hz refresh rate much. If you only play with maximum settings, you won't notice the difference between this and a standard 60 Hz screen.

But it really seems if you reduce the graphics settings a bit. Frame rates increase significantly, and you feel the true power of a higher refresh rate. At medium settings, Civilization VI plays at 108 fps, while Fortnite reaches 86 fps at high settings (less than Epic). Interestingly, it matches the performance of the equally equipped Dell XPS 15 in almost every game for $ 600 less.

The problem? Not all games are as good as these easier titles. Battlefield V is a good example that still only achieves an average of 60 fps at medium settings. Of course you can set it to low if you really want to break 60 fps, but it's not fun. Assassin's Creed Odyssey is an even better example. In the middle setting "high", the game on the ROG Strix G15 only achieves an average of 42 fps. With Ultra High it is only 23 fps.

The system keeps the surface temperatures surprisingly cool even while gaming.

That is why Asus classifies this laptop as "E-Sport". If you're trying to play something more sophisticated – or just want to see more graphic details in your games – the ROG Strix G15 isn't for you.

Here the AMD-based Dell G5 SE is a convincing argument in itself. The AMD Radeon RX 5600M of the Dell G5 SE far outperforms the Nvidia GTX 1650 Ti – in some cases even 48%. On the other hand, Dell sells the G5 SE without 144 Hz in lower configurations. The high refresh rate of the ROG Strix G15 is more suitable for a certain type of player.

Of course, Asus also offers more powerful configurations of this laptop. For example, an attractive option might be the $ 1,500 model, which is equipped with an RTX 2070, a refresh rate of 240 Hz, 16 GB RAM and 1 TB solid-state memory. Razer offers a very similar blade configuration for a whopping $ 500 more.

In addition, the ROG Strix G15 has a cooling advantage over smaller gaming laptops. The system keeps the surface temperatures surprisingly cool even while gaming. This comes at the expense of fan noise (and case thickness), but you'll appreciate the cooling temperatures on the palm rests after long gaming sessions.

Performance in content creation

When it comes to non-gaming performance, the Dell G5 SE is again a problem in comparison. It has an eight-core processor compared to the six-core option in the ROG Strix G15. This means significantly better performance in high threading applications. With a focus on gaming, this may not be a deal breaker for the ROG Strix G15.

My test device came with the Intel Core i7-10750H, 8 GB RAM and a 512 GB SSD. The performance in Cinebench R20 worried me a little. The single-core value even lagged behind measly 15-watt laptops like the Microsoft Surface Book 3. Thanks to the two additional cores, the Dell G5 SE was 26% faster in the multi-core test from Cinebench.

This directly led to how quickly the ROG Strix G15 also ran when encoding video. The Dell G5 SE was 27% faster encoding a 4K film trailer to H.265 in Handbrake. Of course, the ROG Strix G15 was not designed for this type of workload, but if you want to create content on the side (which doesn't depend on the quality of the screen), the ROG Strix G15 can do the job.

The ROG Strix G15 also has an empty M.2 slot for future expansion. You can also upgrade the RAM up to 32 GB.

Battery life

The ROG Strix G15 is not suitable for long sessions outside the wall.

Three hours and 50 minutes in our light web browser test are not good even for a gaming laptop. The Dell G5 SE lasted more than six hours in the same test.

The Strix G15 has proven itself in the video playback test, in which a local 1080p video clip is repeated until the battery is empty. The Strix G15 lasted eight hours and even beat the Dell G5 SE by an hour and a half. Unfortunately, this doesn't match the battery life of a typical workload.

In my daily workload, which consisted of a dozen browser tabs and some applications, it took about four hours on a single charge. There are far better gaming laptops for battery life.

Our opinion

The Asus ROG Strix G15 is a good choice for a certain type of player. It is the cheapest 144 Hz gaming notebook you can buy and offers just enough power to use it in some games. The image quality of the display is disappointing and there are a lot of frills missing from more expensive gaming laptops. Most gamers will be happier upgrading to a laptop with at least one Nvidia GTX 1660 Ti, but the ROG Strix G15 is a good place to start if you need cash.

Are there alternatives?

The Dell G5 SE is a problem for the ROG Strix G15. It is more powerful in almost every way. If you can raise the price to $ 1,050, it even comes with a 144 Hz screen. However, the ROG Strix G15 offers a higher refresh rate with cheaper configurations and has a more polished housing.

The Lenovo IdeaPad 3i for $ 920 is one of the few cheap gaming laptops with a high refresh rate. It's 120 Hz instead of 144 Hz, but you probably won't notice the difference. It comes with a slower Core i5 processor, but it's also a little cheaper than the ROG Strix G15.

How long it will take?

The ROG Strix G15 is a well-built laptop, but its graphics card isn't the fastest. In a few years, you may find that newer games find it difficult to play smoothly. However, the ability to update RAM and memory is a plus for the durability of the ROG Strix G15.

Asus offers a standard one-year warranty on its laptops. After that you are alone.

Should you buy it

Yes. If you're an e-sports player who cares more about frame rates than graphic details, the ROG Strix G15 gives you just enough power.

Editor's recommendations




03 Aug
Blog

JBL/Under Armour True Wireless Flash X review:

JBL Flash X earphones

JBL / Under Armor True Wireless Flash X.

"A few key upgrades keep the Flash X in the wireless workout mix."

  • Comfortable fit

  • Good passive noise cancellation

  • 10 hours of battery life

  • No volume controls

  • Ineffective ambient noise mode

JBL and Under Armor have teamed up again to launch the new True Wireless Flash X, a $ 170 version of the original second generation True Wireless Flash. Instead of making extensive changes to the workout earphones that are already perceived as good, the Flash X has been updated in some target areas. A few more would have been nice, but let's examine what they put in the newest pair and see if it makes them a more convincing purchase.

Out of the box

JBL / Under Armor has given the packaging of the Flash X some pomp and circumstance. To find the way to these buds, you need to take a shiny envelope out of the box and then lift the lid to reveal the buds. Charging case in a T-shaped foam layer. Additional earplugs and ear fins are located in their own housing on one side of the foam, on the other side there is a USB-C charging cable. Not to forget, all of the documentation you'll ever need for these buds is right under the buds and accessories.

JBL Flash X earphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

When you plug in an increasing number of earbuds to perform this function – Apple AirPods, Google Pixel Buds 2 and LG ToneFree – Flash X has a fast pairing function for compatible Android 6.0 devices or higher. If you have one of them, an easy task is now even easier. The buds do the introduction to your phone for you, and all you have to do is keep the conversation going to connect. If you miss this, don't fret. The traditional Bluetooth setup route takes you to the same destination with less excitement.

The Bluetooth 5 technology in the Flash X is great for maintaining connection and providing a solid range.

As with most recently tested real wireless earbuds, the Bluetooth 5 technology in the Flash X works remarkably well to maintain the connection and ensure a solid range. There is of course a limit; I was almost to the end of my side street to take out my trash cans before the buds were finally cut out, well over 50 feet from where I left my phone in my house.

design

In terms of design, the Flash X hasn't changed much from generation to generation. The buds themselves have the same understated aesthetic as the originals, with the Under Armor logo on the end cap and the JBL logo on the side of these otherwise black earbuds. The charging case is incredibly similar, too, and slides open to show the earbuds in the same way that your old filing cabinet was opened in your office cubicle (remember?).

JBL FLash X earphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

After finding the best combination of earplug and ear fin, the Flash X showed the same comfortable but tight fit as its predecessors. This style is great for training as these buds do not move while walking and running during transportation and this airtight seal provides effective passive noise cancellation. But after prolonged periods of my body, I submitted to a certain amount of fatigue just because they were implanted in my ears. I would honestly do that about the alternative – buds that stubbornly refuse to stay in your ear – but the Flash X doesn't compete with the Jabra Elite Active 75t, currently the best-fitting real wireless earbuds, so the collective heads of Digital trends.

It's absurd to offer real wireless earphones for $ 180 without a function as simple as volume control.

One thing about the now nostalgic design of the charging case for the Flash X: it's big. Like 117 grams. In comparison, the case for the Apple AirPods is a lively 40 grams. As a training-oriented earphone, I don't know how often you will lug the case around in your pocket. But if so, there is certainly something to explain.

I enjoyed using the controls for Flash X with one exception. There is a single button in each bud that is integrated into the Under Armor logos. You need to remember how many presses on which bud correspond to which command. But the system worked well after a short acclimatization period and was free from the annoying accidental commands associated with budding with touchpads. However, there is no control to increase or decrease the volume unless you go to your preferred language support and ask them to do it for you. I've criticized a lot of earbuds for this in the past, and I'm perfectly fine with the fact that this is the hill I'm dying on. It's absurd to offer real wireless earphones for $ 180 without a function as simple as volume control.

properties

JBL / Under Armor has redesigned some key features of the Flash X, and luckily for those buds, it kept them talking about the top options in the real wireless training class. For example, if the Flash X had maintained the original battery life of five hours (a positive hint for these buds at that time), they would have been blown away by options like the Sony WF-SP800N or the JLab Epic Air Sport.

JBL Flash X earphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

Instead, the Flash X has a battery life of up to 10 hours (an exact specification, according to my tests), with four additional charges for a total of 50 hours of playback. This is not the case with the Sony models, which can play inactive noise cancellation for 13 hours, but with the Epic Air Sport it is just right and significantly better than with the Jabra Elite Active 75t, which occurs at 7.5 hours and 28 in total for $ 30 more.

The Flash X has first generation IPX7 weather resistance and protects the buds from immersion in up to three feet of water. This is undoubtedly solid for workout earphones. However, the Elite Active 75t has the protection class IP57 for protection against dust and water. The Epic Air Sport offers IP66 protection. Perhaps this would have affected the pricing of these new earbuds, but adding dust protection to the Flash X would have been a significant advance for buds designed for harsh use.

The Flash X has a bionic hearing function, which is essentially an umbrella term for two similar functions: TalkThru and Ambient Aware. According to these companies, TalkThru lowers the music volume and amplifies the language to simplify the conversation with these earbuds. In my experience, this worked well and allowed me to exchange courtesies with people I passed on the way without pulling out a bud. Ambient Aware is designed to amplify ambient noise in order to draw your attention to your surroundings. Perhaps the passive cancellation is just as good, but I found that Ambient Aware mode was largely ineffective to the point where it was difficult to determine whether this feature was enabled or disabled. Fortunately, TalkThru has abated somewhat here, but a lackluster ambient noise feature is a seriously bad combination with great passive noise cancellation.

Audio quality

The Flash X has what is called "JBL Charged Sound" or "bold sound for sports with rich bass to improve your workout" on its datasheet. You should largely ignore all the marketing talk. To go, the 5.8mm drivers in these earphones are full of sound.

JBL Flash X earphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

I didn't have the original True Wireless Flash on hand to test the sound alongside the Flash X, but when I compare everything we said about these first generation buds to the Flash X, I don't think the sound The quality has changed a lot here. The bass is big and bold and makes tracks like Drake & # 39; s Gods Plan really unique. You don't have to worry too much about getting pumped up for your workout – with the right music, these buds take care of it themselves.

You don't have to worry too much about getting pumped up for your workout – with the right music, these buds take care of it themselves.

Thanks to melodies such as an acoustic reproduction of Stand By Me by Tom Speight, I also found good details in the upper register. However, as much as the good things about these buds have not changed, a problem of the first generation has raised its head again: I have also noticed a persistent problem when I use it in connection with video. The first generations were noticeably out of sync with YouTube and Netflix videos, and this issue was obviously not addressed in Flash X. I have to guess that watching and working out of videos doesn't overlap often, however, if you are thinking of using them on a treadmill while watching Netflix or live sports on your phone or tablet, we advise you not to . The delay is seriously noticeable.

The Flash X chose dual microphones to improve call quality, effectively. I wouldn't say that these earbuds are something to write home about when it comes to skillfully handling calls. They do the job enough not to be annoyed with them, nor enough to be impressed by their call quality.

Our opinion

The True Wireless Flash X from JBL / Under Armor has some important improvements that will keep you talking alongside the best training buds you can buy. They stay in your ears and sound great about what we expect from music to keep your blood pumping during exercise. However, they do have a handful of unaddressed issues that are difficult to ignore at their price, so they cannot make much progress if they stand up to the competition overall.

Are there any better alternatives?

For some, it might be worth spending the additional $ 30 on the buds with better protection (Jabra Elite Active 75t) or the buds with better batteries (Sony WF-SP800N). Or, it might make sense to save $ 20 and opt for a less slim design in the JLab Epic Air Sport, but with similar features.

How long will they last?

I would prefer dust protection, but I am satisfied with the Flash X with IPX7 weather resistance, lasting build quality and a one-year guarantee. You should get these through many workouts.

Should you buy them

Yes. I wasn't originally sold for $ 170 for second generation True Wireless Flash X, especially because the buds had few major improvements, namely battery life and Bluetooth technology. But they were high-quality earphones the first time, and they still go well with their more expensive counterparts.

Editor's recommendations




03 Aug
Blog

The Pros and Cons of Training to Failure

Lift Run Bang's Paul Carter specializes in hypertrophy and body composition. He trains professional bodybuilders and elite strength athletes and works with some of the most respected minds in a strength and body world.

Today's episode came from an exchange that I and Paul had about a contribution I made to training to failure. He disagreed with some of my statements. So I invited him to the show to explain his thoughts. Did we agree, agree, disagree, or did we just start calling each other names? You have to listen to find out.

02 Aug
Blog

Canyon Grail:ON Review: The Best Gravel E-Bike Available?

Canyon Grail on Rating 3

"The Canyon Gravel: ON is not for the faint of heart, but its premium components and crazy range are worth your attention."

  • Construction quality & design

  • Quality components

  • Powerful engine

  • Enjoyable on the go or on the go

In recent years, the gravel community has consolidated a bicycle culture that cannot be burdened with the unwritten rules of road cycling. This means hairy legs, fat tires, and the emphasis on enjoying the ride, not how fast you can finish it. Although e-bikes grow with their own community, which is somewhat less pronounced, they are accepted more generally than before, simply because they get more people on bikes. Although I know that there is a contingent of elcists dressed in lycra that could question these two statements, e-bikes and gravel bikes are here to stay. I greet the company.

So it makes sense that Canyon introduced it Grail: ON, his first entry into the US e-bike market. If you are not familiar with Canyon, you should be. It makes amazing bikes that are often the best high-end bang for your buck because the company works on a direct-to-consumer model. This means that you won't see any new canyons in your local bike shop, but don't worry. An incredible six-year warranty, 30-day return policy, and easy set up with all the tools included ensure a smooth shopping experience.

The Grail: ON: What is it and what is different?

The Grail: ON was born out of Canyon’s long-standing gravel favorite, the Grail, and makes more changes than just putting on an engine and battery and calling them good. And although the geometry of a bike with the Grail: ON is certainly not the sexiest topic, it is worth mentioning. Canyon considered what it would mean to throw a few extra weights and forces on a bike, and modified it accordingly.

This means that they thickened the side walls of this full carbon frame to cope with the additional abuse while at the same time lengthening the wheelbase and shortening the stem. These changes result in an e-bike that is far more maneuverable than others I've ridden. In fact, the smooth and responsive ride sometimes made me forget that I was riding an e-bike at all.

Outside of the frame and the engine, the Grail: ON's double-decker handlebar is the most important visual difference to other motorcycles. This multi-level drop bar looks partly from hammerhead shark and partly from medieval weapons. It may look crazy, but the result is an increase in comfort that you will soon learn to love.

For the Grail: ONThe integrated stem has been shortened, which brings the floating upper rod closer to the driver. That means a more relaxed and comfortable driving position. The top bar is doubly resilient and also dampens road vibrations when it gets bumpy. I can testify that I was quite skeptical of these claims, but spent more and more time at the top because it took the edge off uneven back streets.

Fat tires? No problem

The Grail: ONs tires also help to relieve bumpy roads. From 40 mm on the grail to 50 mm on the grail: ON, the Schwalbe G-One Bites are gigantic. When I pulled the Grail: ON out of its box, my first thought was that these things were way too big. With a tread pattern just below what I'm considering for a mountain bike, the G-One bites are large, aggressive, and can ride at just 30 psi. This means a lot of traction and additional suspension to absorb bumps, as well as more rolling resistance.

If you only drive loose gravel, this is not a problem. However, if you are like me and drive 80% paved roads with small pieces of gravel, rolling resistance becomes a bigger problem. To my great surprise, on my first outing, I pumped the front and back to 55 psi and was shocked when I was traveling at 21 mph. As the power for the Grail: ON stops at 32 km / h, the tires and the additional weight balanced quite well.

Where I noticed the grail: The weight of ON, which is just over 35 pounds for a medium, was on gravel descents. While I could still throw the Grail: ON around, I definitely drove the 160mm hydraulic disc brakes a bit harder than usual, and this is where the extra size of the tires really came into play. The same tires that I made fun of in my living room have worked well in the real world – I was thrilled to have the extra rubber I could work with.

Battery and motor

The culprit behind the weight of Grail: ON is of course the Bosch Performance Line CX motor and the replaceable 500 watt-hour battery. Canyon chose the Bosch unit because it can achieve a torque of up to 85 Nm, which is just under 63 pound-feet or roughly what an 800 cc motorcycle has.

In contrast to motorcycles, the Grail: ON has no gas – it is a pedelec or a pedal assistant. This means that the motor turns on when you pedal and supports you based on your cadence, the force exerted and the overall speed. The engine output is available in four versions. Eco mode is the least powerful, followed by touring, sports and the undisputed king of the hills, turbo.

All modes are limited to 32 km / h in the US and are selected via the simple but effective Bosch screen, which gives you information about your current speed, range, performance mode and battery life. Of course, you can step over this top speed of 32 km / h on your own and switch off the support if you want to treat yourself to a little more training.

I was not a big fan of Bosch motors in the past because I found them jerky and louder than I expected. The unity in the Grail: ON changed my mind. The smooth delivery never surprised me and at the same time impressed me with the sheer force. My only criticism of the Bosch system is the display. It shows everything that is needed in terms of the engine, but I'm definitely looking forward to the day when I don't have my special bike computer for GPS on board and have to follow my training.

When it comes to the range of the Grail: ON, Canyon estimates that a 210-pound driver will reach a range of just under 70 miles. The range of e-bikes is difficult to quantify due to all the variables in the game, but I was surprised to see that I blew their estimate out of the water and approached 110 miles in eco mode. Admittedly, I'm 170 pounds and mostly drive on paved country roads with a mixture of hilly and flat terrain. However, if you have a battery that lasts that long, the eight-hour charge will be a bit more bearable.

Have a nice trip

How well that helps also with downtimes when charging Grail: ON only sees sitting there. It shouts: "I am different!" much more than it does "I'm an e-bike!" and that will surely be appreciated. No matter whether it is the super clean internal cable routing or the Starship Enterprise frontend, the Grail: ON is an eye-catcher and offers more than just a reasonable share of second looks and inquiries. But it's really the combination of outstanding parts and parts that brings the whole package together.

I talked a lot about the tires, but the DT Swiss bikes are also worth mentioning. With hubs that are padded to absorb the extra torque from the engine, the HGRC 1400 wheelset gives your ride aerodynamics and power. The fact that aerodynamic gains are likely to be wiped out by these monster truck tires is irrelevant. You look great!

The seat post is another Canyon specialty worth mentioning. The leaf spring design smoothes the ride even more than the frame already. When you add the Fizik Argo Tempo saddle, you have a true two-wheeled throne that uses some of the most intelligent design technologies available to the cycling community today.

Speaking of technology, I used the top-class Sram eTap version of the Grail: ON. This means wireless shifting for the 12-speed 10-36 cassette, which is driven by a 44-tooth FSA chainring at the front. While the eTap drivetrain worked flawlessly, there is one strange thing: it uses batteries. The wireless derailleur uses its own battery, so it is not connected to the entire bike.

This means that theoretically I am running out of batteries in the derailleur and I cannot shift while the engine is still fully charged. The Sram batteries last two to three weeks. As long as you charge them with bike lights and headunits, you should be fine. But I wonder if this system would have been better served with a Shimano Di2 setup that still has a hardwired connection and could be integrated into the bike battery.

Warranty information

The bike has a six-year warranty on all Canyon parts and components, and a two-year warranty on all e-bike parts, including the Bosch motor and battery.

Our opinion

The Grail: ON is a first-class gravel bike with an e-bike motor. The Grail: ON offers drivers multiple performance modes while using premium components combined with a frame that has been expertly optimized to meet the highest demands. It is everything I would expect from a world-class manufacturer like Canyon. And with the Grail: After winning a Red Dot Award for bicycle design in 2020, I'm clearly not the only one who believes this.

Is there a better alternative?

The closest competitor is Specialized Turbo Creo SL Comp Carbon at $ 6,750. But with the Specialized, you'll miss out on electronic shifting, improved wheels and tires, and buy a much less dramatic aesthetic. If these things don't inspire you, you might consider them Giant uprising for $ 4,200 as a cheaper option.

How long it will take?

The durability of the Grail: ON definitely depends on your use. While carbon fiber is not known as the most durable material in the world, the built-up thickness that the Grail: ON uses should keep problems at bay. Bosch is now known for building nail-hard electric motors with batteries that are officially designed for 500 charging cycles and allow you to use them for years before you have to replace them. Firmware updates are offered annually by Bosch dealers to keep drivers up to date with the latest improvements to the Kies software.

Should you buy it

Yes. If the price of the $ 6,999 eTap model is a bit too high, you should definitely check out the standard Grail: ON CF8 model. The CF8 has a mechanical gearshift and slightly cheaper DT Swiss wheels, but otherwise has the same benefits as big tires and frame designs for $ 5,799.

Editor's recommendations




02 Aug
Blog

Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro Review: Your Guardian Awaits

Photo of the Vivint outdoor camera.

The Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro

“The Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro uses A.I. to monitor your property and proactively protect it. "

  • Integration with basically everything

  • Smart sentry mode

  • Low profile, inconspicuous

  • Two-way speakers

  • No floodlights

  • No smart screen integration

  • iPad app locked on portrait

Given that there are more home security solutions in the game these days, it's important to know that there are still home security professionals you can call. When these professionals work hand in hand with smart home technology and artificial intelligence, it gets really cool, and that's exactly what we're working with here with the Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro. But first let's talk briefly about the entire "Vivint experience".

As we described in our test last year, Vivint is a smart home / security solution for the whole house that is professionally installed and monitored. All of Vivint's technology is deeply rooted in the entire security system, making it difficult to assess a single component of it. You cannot just buy a Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro and connect it to the house. It's part of the whole. In this case, the Outdoor Camera Pro works most directly with your Vivint Home Security Panel to display videos. It also works with other components in your home, such as: B. your smart locks, lights, etc.

Keep out of the way

One thing I really like about the Camera Pro is how small and humble it is. After checking the Netatmo outdoor camera with siren, the hardware design is day and night. This camera is designed to sit firmly on a corner and go unnoticed unless it sees someone playing around with your things. Then it becomes visible what I will talk about in a moment.

The Vivint outdoor camera is small and inconspicuous.

The camera must be firmly connected to your home, but this is done via the power supply via Ethernet. Basically, a Cat 5 cable leads from the camera to a connected hybrid WLAN adapter, which supplies the camera with power and at the same time transmits the video signal via WLAN. If this sounds intimidating, it may be so, but that's why the camera is installed professionally.

Overall, the picture quality is quite good and sharp. The 140-degree field of view isn't the best, but it does meet the arbitrary minimum standard. A camera like the Arlo Pro 3 gives you a generous 160 degree field of view, which is great. In my garden 140 degrees do the job. You can also use the app to adjust the image quality and bandwidth. I set mine to medium, which was more than sufficient for my needs. The camera also has a full night mode.

Loud and proud

Screenshot of the Vivint app.

As for the rest of the hardware, the camera is equipped with a speaker and a ring light. Through the speaker, you can use the app to speak to anyone who is outside, whether it is an intruder, or your trampoline kids who refuse to come in for dinner. The speaker is loud and clear, so both the intruder and your children know they are bad. Whether one of them cares or not is another conversation. The speaker can also be used as an extension of your alarm so that your neighbors can be notified if something is wrong. The camera can also be a doorbell extender, which is very convenient if you work in the garden or have a socially distant party in the garden. The speaker offers a lot of functions.

At 85 decibels, the speaker is not the loudest, especially when compared to the 108 dB output of the Netatmo outdoor camera. In our tests, however, 85 dB is great for talking to people about the camera, and the Vivint camera also offers protection from professional surveillance. Given the extra layers of protection Vivint offers, it's a little easier to forgive a quiet siren.

Software strengths

Ironically, this camera's software is both its greatest strength and weakness. One really cool, unique thing that this camera does is the wake mode. Sentry mode keeps an eye on your lawn and searches for people. If someone stays in the camera's eye for a period of time (between 1 and 90 seconds), the camera can play a sound and make the ring glow red to indicate that it is a recording. My favorite sound it can play sounds like a human whistle. In theory, the whistling causes an intruder to look into the camera so that a perfect picture of his face is achieved. The wake mode can be activated automatically when your alarm system is activated, on a schedule or manually.

When you switch to the app, use the Vivint app (available for Android and iOS) to display the cameras, view recorded events and unlock the doors directly from the camera view via the app interface. You can also take a photo from the app or view all recorded events. The settings for multiple cameras can also be adjusted in the app so that you can activate the wake mode in the front yard and deactivate it in the background. However, the camera and app have some limitations.

Software challenges

To get footage captured around the clock, you first need a Smart Drive, a physical hard drive module in your home. The Smart Drive is attractive, but costs an additional $ 250. With the hard drive, you can “rewind” for up to 30 days and search through the footage. Without the smart drive, you are limited to events that are recorded when people enter the frame, which leads to our second weakness.

The smart camera only records events when it sees people. It will ignore animals and other movements. It is not ideal. Most cameras can identify people, but they can also record events for cars, animals, or other movements. You can see these things as you scrub through the footage (if you have the smart drive), but it can be easy to miss some of these other movements, which is a real disappointment. As an example, my wife found that an animal ate our vegetable garden, which the camera says is the case. Without recorded events, it is difficult to browse and see what actually arrives there and how.

I have two other minor camera problems. The Vivint app on the iPad is locked in portrait mode. This is an obvious sign that the iPad app is just an enlarged version of the iPhone app. In addition, neither Vivint controls nor cameras are compatible with Alexa or Google Assistant smart screens. The former is a disappointing find for a veteran company like Vivint that does so many other things right. The latter just feels like a total swing and miss. With the increasing spread of smart screens, it should be a matter of course to be able to monitor your garden camera in your Nest Hub in the kitchen. When I asked Vivint about it, I was told the company would look into the possibility of adding both.

Our opinion

Overall, the Vivint Outdoor Pro camera is a solid upgrade to an already solid security system. The safety factor is one thing, but the wake mode surpasses it. Surveillance cameras are usually passive protective devices. But taking care of people and warning them is another level of defense.

I would like to see a floodlight here as another layer of protection – whistle, red light, and then hit them with the flood when they are not running. But at that point, I had already been notified, as had Vivint, so things were done one way or another.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes and No – $ 399 is expensive, and other options offer as much (or more) functionality for a lot less. The Nest Cam IQ Outdoor can be integrated into your smart displays with assistants. The Arlo Pro 3 floodlight camera gives you a floodlight together with the camera. If you want to drive super cheap, check out the Wyze Cam Outdoor.

Will it take?

The camera has a solid plastic construction and feels durable. The warranty is 120 days after installation, which is less than any other competitor. Call us cautiously optimistic anyway.

Should you buy it

Yes. This camera fits seamlessly into the Vivint security system and has frills that surpass the few shortcomings. However, this is only a qualified yes if you invest in the entire Vivint system. If you just want a surveillance camera and nothing more, look elsewhere.

Editor's recommendations




01 Aug
Blog

The Pros and Cons of Training to Failure

Lift Run Bang's Paul Carter specializes in hypertrophy and body composition. He trains professional bodybuilders and elite strength athletes and works with some of the most respected minds in a strength and body world.

Today's episode came from an exchange that I and Paul had about a contribution I made to training to failure. He disagreed with some of my statements. So I invited him to the show to explain his thoughts. Did we agree, agree, disagree, or did we just start calling each other names? You have to listen to find out.

01 Aug
Blog

Vanmoof S3 Review: Premium Style At An Affordable Price

vanmoof s3 rating rear profile 1

"The Vanmoof S3 is equipped with excellent technology at a medium price and absolutely great as a bonus."

  • Eye-catching design

  • Useful app

  • Integrated lights and fenders

  • Smooth automatic transmission

  • Excellent brakes

  • Lower power assist levels are not helpful

  • Feels bulky when driving

  • The battery cannot be removed for charging

Vanmoof was way ahead of the curve when its Dutch founders, the Carlier brothers, founded the company in 2009. Maybe ahead of the curve. Electric bicycles were treated as a novelty in 2009. However, their popularity has skyrocketed in recent years. I regularly ate the dust of a Vanmoof enthusiast on my evening walk out of the office – back when it was still that way.

Now Vanmoof has a couple of news bikes at his disposal, just like everyone is looking for a way to explore our new, socially distant, outdoor lifestyle. I tried the more conventional Vanmoof S3, which sells just under $ 2,000 for just one hair. It has a sibling, the Vanmoof X3, with smaller tires and a frame that is easier to step over, but most of the other components are identical between the two.

The start time of the S3 could hardly be better, but it has a lot of competition. Every major bicycle manufacturer is now represented in the e-bike arena, and some offer over a dozen models. Can Vanmoof keep his lead?

design

One thing is certain, a Vanmoof is unmistakable. The company's design revolves around a thick, straight center tube that extends across the wheels at each end of the frame. It is a look that is classic and modern at the same time.

This is a classic bike for modern life.

Vanmoof keeps an eye on this important property by minimizing all other distractions. Like the company's other motorcycles, the Vanmoof S3 is painted in either matt black or blue and has almost no branding. It's a snappy, sleek design that fits the purpose of the S3 directly. This is a classic bike for modern life.

That doesn't mean that the Vanmoof S3 is without peer. The Gazelle Ultimate T10 is a personal favorite thanks to its combination of ultra-modern sensitivity and easy passage practicality. The new Vado SL from Specialized is also very attractive. Nevertheless, Vanmoof absolutely has the Trek and Giant bicycles that look more like improved bicycles than like specially built e-bikes.

The S3 is equipped as standard with front and rear fenders as well as front and rear lights. It's a big deal, especially for an e-bike that sells for $ 2,000. It's not uncommon for e-bikes in the S3 price range to throw one or both fenders overboard. Although the lighting is usually standard, it is often not as attractive or bright as that of the Vanmoof. If you buy the Vanmoof X3, which has smaller wheels and a less conventional frame, you will also get a built-in luggage rack for carrying small items.

Assembly and initial setup

While Vanmoof has a few dealers, its network is tiny. You will probably order online. Bicycles are large, heavy objects and can be difficult to assemble.

The company does everything it can to alleviate this anger. Open the box and you will immediately find detailed assembly instructions next to a toolbox that contains everything you need to assemble the bike. There's even a handy pull cord that allows you to slide the bike out horizontally instead of lifting it out vertically.

This does not mean that assembly is child's play. I cut myself when my hand slipped as I tightened an uncomfortable plastic clip that holds the front motor cable securely to the frame. However, the overall difficulty is no greater than assembling an Ikea chest of drawers. If you can handle it, you can handle it.

After assembly, setting up the app is easy. Simply download it to your phone, create an account and the bike will automatically connect. It worked seamlessly and I never had a problem with the app connecting to the bike.

technology

The app is probably the actual heading function of Vanmoof. While many competitors technically have apps, they are often simple and buggy. Vanmoof's app, on the other hand, is great. It provides ride summaries, allows you to adjust bike settings, shows the current location of the bike, and provides access to support topics, among other things.

I found that the bike's Bluetooth range is not particularly good. If the app is kept in my garage, it will lose connection to the bike as soon as I leave the room. Other Bluetooth devices I own have no problem communicating across multiple walls. I think Vanmoof could do better.

The bike doesn't have an LCD display, and instead uses a sophisticated LED grid to show speed, battery life, and other information on the center tube. Vanmoof calls this a matrix display. It is a unique touch that makes the design of the bike more coherent. The matrix display is bright and always easy to read, even on a sunny summer afternoon at noon. Oh, and if you want a laptop to go with the bike, check out the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14.

It is the combination of the app with this matrix display that distinguishes this bike in everyday use. Most e-bikes have a small black and white LCD screen and are controlled via buttons or twist grips. This is effective, but simple. Instead, Vanmoof only uses the matrix display for important information and transfers the most control over the bike to the app.

This speaks for the focus of the bike on errands and the way to work. It is built so that you can drive with everything you normally carry and to places that you would otherwise reach by car or transit. Using the app is great in this regard, as your phone is always in your pocket and you stop frequently. Your phone's display is much brighter and easier to use than any LCD you find on an e-bike.

Anti-theft device

Vanmoof bicycles have built-in anti-theft technology. This includes a lock for the rear hub, an alarm, and an optional paid service that promises to track down and replace the stolen bike if it can't be found.

The lock is activated by aligning a mark on the hub with the same mark on the rear chain guard and then pressing a button near the dropout of the rear frame. After locking, an alarm sounds when the rear wheel of the bike moves.

It works as advertised, although I wouldn't trust it. The alarm could be louder and a thief could pick up and pull the bike away (although its sensitivity would make it difficult to do without triggering the alarm). You should always use a strong lock to secure your bike to a fixed attachment. Still, Vanmoof's alarm is reasonable support that could give opportunistic thieves a break.

Driving impressions

If the Vanmoof S3's commuter-friendly design isn't already obvious, you will surely feel it when you get on your bike for the first time. The relaxed frame and the retracted handlebars of the bike offer an upright feeling and excellent visibility. As is so often the case with an upright driving position, this comfort comes at the expense of agility. It's an easy bike to turn on a narrow road at low speeds, but it doesn't feel eager or nimble.

The S3 weighs 42 pounds. This is heavier than most conventional bikes, but light for an e-bike. The Specialized Como is 45 pounds, while the Gazelle T10 Ultimate is 51 pounds. The S3 doesn't feel light on the pedals, but your back will love the lightweight frame as you pull the bike up stairs or over a large curb.

Fat tires help the S3 deal with small bumps and potholes without any problems. It's a smooth ride over manicured sidewalks or tightly packed gravel. However, if you encounter large potholes, the rigid frame and lack of suspension on the bike can cause large bumps from the handlebars.

The electric motor of the S3 is attached to the front wheel and delivers power in four stages or can be switched off completely. The lowest power level is worthless, but higher settings are strong. I usually drove around at level three or maximized the performance on paved bike paths. The bike's engine switches off at 32 km / h. This is the maximum speed allowed for a class 1 e-bike like the S3. There are settings that comply with European and Japanese regulations, but as expected, this will make the top speed even lower.

Adrenaline junkies should, however, look elsewhere. The performance is tentative compared to racing options such as the Specialized Vado or the Giant ToughRoad GX E +. While the S3 has a "turbo" button, hitting is only a modest gear and is most useful when you need a little more juice on a steep hill.

While the S3 lacks the thrill, it's supple. The front hub motor pulls with a steady stance. Don't take that for granted. Many e-bikes in the Vanmoof price range, such as the Pedego City Commuter Lite, use a rear wheel hub motor. A rear hub can dramatically shift the balance of a bike backwards, making wheelies a little too easy. The balanced, sophisticated power transmission of the S3 is good for every e-bike and excellent for an e-bike with a price of $ 2,000.

The S3 brakes are activated with a soft, precise feel that creates trust.

The power is transmitted via a chic four-speed automatic transmission. That's right, you don't even have to switch for yourself. Four speeds are not many, and I felt that on steep hills. Nevertheless, I will bring this automatic transmission over the bargain six, seven or eight-speed transmission that can be found in most e-bikes in this price range.

The S3's deceleration is more impressive than its acceleration. The bike has hydraulic disc brakes at the front and rear. While almost all e-bikes have disc brakes, some mid-range bikes have mechanical disc brakes, a setup that can feel chunky or wooden. The S3 brakes are activated with a soft, precise feel that builds trust and prevents too much brake from being accidentally pressed.

Battery life and range

There is a 504 watt-hour battery in the large top tube of the Vanmoof S3. The range is indicated at 37 to 93 miles. In most situations, you are closer to 37 miles than 93 miles.

My most demanding trip was a 23-mile trip with maximum performance on a paved, flat bike path. As a result, almost half of the battery was used up, suggesting that in the mid-1940s I would see the total mileage if I kept going until the battery was empty. I have also made numerous short trips, approximately 10 miles each, at level three. .

These results are typical of a modern e-bike. Most commuters cover short distances (less than 16 km), so the range of the S3 should last for several days, if not a whole week.

You can't just remove the S3's battery (Vanmoof says it can only be removed for maintenance) and charge it away from the bike. This can be impractical if you have a small apartment and want to keep the S3 in a common room.

Our opinion

Vanmoof's S3 is a feature-rich commuter bike that sacrifices little despite a mid-range price of $ 2,000. This bike is an excellent choice if you need a bike for city errands or for daily commuting up to 32 km round trip.

Is there a better alternative?

While the price of $ 2,000 for the Vanmoof S3 appears very high next to the $ 600 you can buy on Amazon, I generally recommend avoiding them. They do their job, but use components that are as inexpensive as possible, which affects longevity. They also tend to have small batteries.

The Propella e-bike is the best affordable alternative. Starting at $ 1,100 for a single gear or $ 1,300 for a seven-gear, this is a less complicated option with a smaller battery and inferior brakes. Still, it's a nice entry-level bike with decent components, and works well for commuting 10 miles or less.

RadPower is another good choice. The brand manufactures a variety of electric bikes that offer excellent value for money, such as the affordable RadRover and its sturdy RadWagon. RadPower is all about function. So you prefer Vanmoof when design and technology are important to you.

The Vanmoof S3 has only a few strong rivals that come very close to its $ 2,000 price tag. Pedego's City Commuter Lite is nowhere near as sophisticated. Trek, Specialized, and Giant tend to go into a higher price range, so their motorcycles, which sell for around $ 2,000, can't usually compete with the Vanmoof.

Don't forget the sibling of the Vanmoof S3, the X3. The motorcycles are similar, but the X3 has smaller wheels, a lower top tube, and an integrated front rack. I would expect the X3 to be even better for short distances and errands in the city, while the S3 would be better for long distances and errands.

How long it will take?

A bike can last a very long time, although e-bikes are limited by the longevity of the battery and the durability of other electronic devices. You should also know that e-bikes require more maintenance than a standard bike. Still, I would expect at least five to ten years of operation, and that could be extended as long as replacement batteries are available.

The bike comes with a three-year warranty against defects, which is not particularly long for an electric bike. Vanmoof has a smaller dealer network than its larger competitors such as Specialized, Trek or Giant. This could make it difficult to find service if you are not near a dealer.

Should you buy it

Yes. The Vanmoof S3 is a mid-range commuter e-bike with an outstanding design and great technical features.

Editor's recommendations




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