09 Nov
Blog

2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid Review: 7 Seats and Great MPG

Front driver's side from an angle of the 2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid in a meadow.

2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid

RRP $ 33,590.00

"It's not even a close comparison – the Sorento Hybrid is one of the best mid-size SUVs."

advantages

  • Tons of technology

  • Noble design

  • Compact car MPG

  • Spacious first and second row

  • Doesn't feel slow

disadvantage

  • Tight third row

  • Model 2022 has more functions

The three-row mid-size SUV segment is one that automakers are slow to electrify. It makes sense – these hulking SUVs tend to have boxy designs that aren't efficient at first. Finding a way to reduce fuel consumption without sacrificing all that space is a huge challenge – so there may be few options to choose from.

With the brand new 2021 Sorento Hybrid, Kia found a way to make this work. The Sorento name has been around since 2002, but this is the first time you'll find hybrid drive in an SUV. This powertrain not only gives the Sorento its own place in the Kia range, but also in the overall segment. If you are looking for a midsize hybrid SUV, go straight to a Kia dealer to test the Sorento Hybrid before anything else.

Entry-level S starts at $ 34,760, including the target fee of $ 1,170. The EX-Trim we tested starts at $ 37,760. Our tester was painted in Runaway Red Paint, which costs $ 445, which brings our tester's price to $ 38,205.

Design and interior

The last Sorento had an old-fashioned design – not exactly hideous, but awkward from some angles. In that regard, the new Sorento Hybrid is a massive improvement. It doesn't have the same street presence as the larger Telluride, but it still has its own kind of American boast. Not many midsize SUVs and even fewer hybrids look cool, but that's exactly what the Sorento Hybrid does.

Front end close-up of the 2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid in a meadow. Joel Patel / Digital Trends

Kia's Tigernose grille gives the Sorento Hybrid a familiar look compared to the automaker's other SUVs, such as the Niro, Seltos and Telluride. Compared to the regular Sorento, the Sorento Hybrid doesn't look drastically different. From our point of view that is a good thing. The only noticeable difference between the two is the glossier trim on the hybrid.

Not many midsize SUVs and even fewer hybrids look cool, but that's exactly what the Sorento Hybrid does.

The interior design of the Sorento Hybrid is just as beautiful as its exterior with a stylish look that feels just as classy as the exterior. The center console rests in the middle of the vertically aligned air vents and the toggle switches for the HVAC temperature control and seat heating make the cabin look like the cockpit of an airplane – this is also fully functional. The biggest downside is the selector-operated gear shifter, which seems like a good thing on paper but not in the real world.

One of the main advantages of the Sorento Hybrid over other hybrids is that it can accommodate up to seven people. Only a few midsize SUVs can claim the combination of hybrid drive and seating for the whole family. Thanks to clever packaging, the Sorento Hybrid offers just as much cargo space as the Sorento. Unfortunately, it's not as spacious as its competitors. Behind the third row there is 12.6 cubic meters of cargo space. Folding down the rear seats gives 45 cubic feet of cargo space, while the Sorento Hybrid can hold a maximum of 75.5 cubic feet of cargo.

Technology, infotainment and driver assistance

The main disadvantage of the Sorento Hybrid is its infotainment system. Kia doesn't fit the Sorento Hybrid with the same available 10.25-inch touchscreen of the regular model. Instead, you get a standard 8-inch device for the full range of products. It's not a bad touchscreen, but the extra space that is available in a regular Sorento leads to envy. It's like looking at your neighbor's garden and then realizing that yours doesn't quite fit. For patient people, Kia made things the same for 2022.

It's not the fanciest list of features, but there's something reassuring about a car with easy-to-use technology.

Close-up of the infotainment system in the 2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid showing fuel consumption. Joel Patel / Digital Trends

The size of the touchscreen might not impress, but its features will. The EX equipment we tested came with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, satellite radio, a 4.2-inch display in the instrument cluster, eight USB ports, a wireless charging pad and six audio speakers. It's not the most famous list of features, but there is quite a bit to be said about a car that doesn't choke on technology.

The touchscreen's graphics aren't as sharp or as colorful as those of the larger 10.25-inch touchscreen, but they're still really good. It's also nice to be able to use logically placed buttons and knobs. Someone could get into this car and become familiar with it within 10 minutes – this is not the case with many new vehicles.

Kia equips the Sorento Hybrid with its Drive Wise suite of advanced safety functions. The suite includes collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, traffic sign recognition, pedestrian recognition, rear cross traffic warning, exit warning and rear parking sensors. The EX equipment adds adaptive cruise control, cyclist detection, intersection assistant and front parking sensors.

Experience at the wheel

The Sorento Hybrid is powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder turbo engine paired with an electric motor and a 1.5 kWh lithium-ion battery. The combined power is 227 horsepower, while a traditional six-speed automatic transmission handles the shifting. It's a departure from the norm as most other hybrids use a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). If there's a downside to the Sorento Hybrid's powertrain, front-wheel drive is the only configuration available.

Compared to the competitors from Ford and Toyota, the Sorento Hybrid no longer has any power. The Ford Explorer Hybrid has a 3.3 liter V6 engine and an electric motor for a combined 318 hp. Toyota's Highlander Hybrid, on the other hand, comes with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder and two electric motors that produce 243 hp. Against that crowd, the Sorento Hybrid sounds like it could use a little more punch, but the SUV feels very powerful. There's a bit of a lag off the line, but it's still peppy, just about a second away from the regular Sorento's regular 2.5-liter, four-cylinder turbo engine in a sprint to 60 mph. Overtaking on the autobahn, which is usually a test of patience with a hybrid, is uneventful.

The six-speed automatic transmission is gentler than options with a CVT like the Highlander, but it's not exactly trouble-free. During our week with the SUV, we noticed that it jerked a few times when switching between reverse gear and drive. Downshifts can be slow if you're trying to speed them up using the paddles on the steering wheel, but that's to be expected on a powertrain where fuel economy is paramount.

Of the few hybrid mid-range SUVs on the market, the Sorento Hybrid is the most efficient of the bunch.

Side profile of the 2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid from the passenger side in a meadow. Joel Patel / Digital Trends

While Kia's driving modes usually result in a noticeable change, the Sorento Hybrid's Comfort, Smart, and Sport modes don't make radical changes to the SUV's performance. So it makes a lot of sense to keep it in eco mode most of the time. Additionally, Kia's Eco mode doesn't suppress the responsiveness of the accelerator pedal, so it feels more like a normal driving mode. The eco mode also matches the compliant driving behavior and easy steering of the Sorento Hybrid for a relaxed driving experience.

Gas mileage and safety

Of the few three-row midsize SUVs on the market with hybrid drive, the Sorento Hybrid is the most efficient of the bunch. The hybrid is rated to get up to 37 mpg combined (39 mpg city, 35 mpg highway). The best the Toyota Highlander Hybrid can get is 36 mpg combined, while the Ford Explorer Hybrid has a paltry 28 mpg combined rating. The Sorento Hybrid is so efficient that it is almost on par with smaller hybrids like the Honda CR-V Hybrid and Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Blue, which have 38 mpg combined ratings.

Engine compartment of the Kia Sorento Hybrid 2021.Joel Patel / Digital Trends

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has not yet subjected the Sorento Hybrid 2021 to crash tests. However, the regular Sorento received the “Top Safety Pick” rating after receiving a “Good” rating in all six crash tests – a “Superior” rating for its front crash prevention technology and headlights, which ranged from “Bad” to “Good” " are sufficient. In testing by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Sorento Hybrid received an overall safety rating of four stars in 2021.

Kia supports the Sorento Hybrid with a 5-year basic warranty of 60,000 miles and a 10-year warranty for the powertrain of 100,000 miles. The warranty exceeds that offered by Toyota and Ford, which includes a three-year base warranty of 36,000 miles and a five-year powertrain warranty of 60,000 miles.

How DT would configure this car

Skip the $ 3,000 EX trim that doesn't justify the price. The standard Sorento Hybrid has an extensive list of safety functions, a two-zone automatic climate control, six audio speakers, wireless smartphone compatibility, synthetic leather upholstery, heated front seats and an 8-inch touchscreen, making it well-equipped for most drivers.

Our opinion

Best-in-class fuel economy is just one characteristic that makes the Sorento Hybrid such an impressive vehicle. It also comes with nifty tech features, a relatively spacious cargo area, a peppy drivetrain, and a long warranty. The breathtaking design of the Sorento Hybrid cannot be overlooked either. It's not even a close comparison – the Sorento Hybrid is one of the best mid-size SUVs on offer.

The Toyota Highlander Hybrid is available with a larger 12.3 inch touchscreen, although its graphics and menu layout look dated, it can hit up to 36 mpg combined, it has up to 84.3 cubic feet of cargo space, it has 243 horsepower, and it can pull up to 3,500 pounds. The Highlander Hybrid isn't as stylish as the Sorento Hybrid, but it is available with all-wheel drive.

If you're looking for fuel economy, the Ford Explorer Hybrid probably won't fit the bill. It's rated at up to 28 mpg combined, which is way below the Sorento Hybrid's number. On the other hand, its powertrain delivers up to 318 hp, well above the Sorento Hybrid. The Explorer Hybrid can also pull the most cargo with a valuation of up to 5,000 pounds. When it comes to cargo space, the Explorer Hybrid has the most space with up to 87.8 cubic feet of cargo space. Ford offers the Explorer Hybrid with rear-wheel and all-wheel drive.

Should you get one?

Yes sir. The 2022 model adds more technology and all-wheel drive available, but the 2021 model is still worth buying.

Editor's recommendations



09 Nov
Blog

Sony HT-A5000 Review: A Dolby Atmos Soundbar For Hi-Res Fans

Sony HT-A5000.

Sony HT-A5000 in the test: The Dolby Atmos soundbar for hi-res audio fans

RRP $ 1,000.00

"The Sony HT-A5000 rocks with every sound format and every connection option we could wish for."

advantages

  • 8K capable HDMI input

  • Excellent film and music sound

  • Easy on-screen setup

  • Tons of connectivity options

  • High definition, Sony 360RA and DTS: X

disadvantage

  • No EQ settings

  • Some attitudes are buried

  • Bad integration of music services

At the high end of the soundbar market, you can find great Dolby Atmos compatible models like the Sonos Arc for $ 899, the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 for $ 899, and LG's SP9YA for $ 1,000. And now you can add Sony's $ 1,000 HT-A5000 to that list. Wondering how it compares to the rest of the world – and to Sony's flagship HT-A7000 for $ 1,300? Let's check it out.

Big and easy

Sony HT-A5000.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

In terms of design, the HT-A5000 (which we will simply call the A5000) is not very visible. The HT-A7000 lacks the glass cover and the cloth-wrapped speaker grilles, instead they have been replaced by a simple, textured black plastic housing and gray speaker grilles made of metal. It won't win beauty pageants, but that's a good thing. Personally, I think soundbars shouldn't draw attention to themselves visually as it could detract from their main purpose – to enhance the sound of your TV that your eyes should be focused on.

However, the size is more important. At 47.75 inches wide by 2.75 inches high, the A5000 should have no problem finding a home in front of everyone but the smallest TV. Sony even claims that their Bravia TVs can accommodate the A5000 between their movable legs, but I don't recommend that – any soundbar with speakers facing up should be placed as close to the front as possible to give those drivers every opportunity to hear the sound align with your ceiling, unimpeded.

The HDMI input can process 8K, Dolby Vision and 4K at 120 Hz, making it as future-proof as possible.

Sony also has everything you could need right in the box: soundbar, wall mounting hardware, HDMI and optical cables, a remote control and an analog patch cable to connect a compatible Bravia TV. Yes – if you are the lucky owner of one of Sony's 2020 or 2021 Bravia TVs, you can use this cable to hijack the TV's built-in speakers and let them enhance the soundbar's center channel audio. Unfortunately, I haven't tested this feature without one of these TVs.

HDMI in, HDMI out and 8K

Sony HT-A5000 input ports.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Some soundbar companies (ahem, Sonos, Bose) believe that a single HDMI ARC / eARC port should be enough for everyone. I disagree – and luckily neither does Sony. The A5000 has both a dedicated HDMI input and an HDMI ARC / eARC input / output. Better still, the HDMI input can pass 8K, Dolby Vision and 4K signals to your TV at 120 Hz, making it as future-proof as possible. There's also an optical port if your TV doesn't support HDMI ARC, but the A5000 drops the A7000's analog input.

When it comes to the ability to wirelessly connect to a speaker, the A5000 has it all.

Why is an HDMI input important? Aside from replacing the HDMI input on your TV that you had to sacrifice to connect the soundbar, with older TVs we can connect Blu-ray players or streaming media devices directly to the soundbar. This bypasses the inherent sound quality limitations of HDMI ARC connections that are imposed by televisions that do not have HDMI eARC. There is a lot to unpack. Instead of filling the space in this review with the full explanation, please read our guides on HDMI ARC / eARC and Dolby Atmos. If you care about the best possible audio quality, you'll thank me.

These ports are packed very tightly into a small recess on the back of the A5000, making them difficult to use, but as long as you don't have to access them often, you shouldn't be too hurt by it.

Setup on the screen

Sony HT-A7000 Dolby Atmos Soundbar system message on the screen.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Speaking of HDMI, the A5000 repeats one of my favorite functions of the HT-A7000 – the setup process and on-screen menus. Using a smartphone app to set up a speaker isn't difficult, but being able to use your TV's screen while sitting back on your sofa with the remote in hand is much better.

From the initial connection, to adding the A5000 to your Wi-Fi network, to quick automatic room calibration, Sony makes it easy and – dare I say it – fun. And you can always press the home button on the remote and navigate the soundbar's on-screen menus, which is much more convenient than reading on the small scrolling digital display behind the speaker grille or pulling out your phone.

Connections galore

Sony HT-A5000 screen display.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

I have to give it to Sony. When it comes to the ability to wirelessly connect to a speaker, the A5000 has it all. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2, Chromecast – choose your favorite. The Bluetooth connection, which is hardly a minor matter with many soundbars, is also convincing with the support of the Sony LDAC codec, so that you can stream in the highest quality from an Android mobile phone. You can also use LDAC for a high quality wireless connection to a compatible Bravia TV if you want to be completely wireless.

Thanks to the exceptional support for high quality wireless streaming, music generally sounds great.

These options mean that regardless of which phone you have or which music streaming service you subscribe to, you can get the most out of the A5000's features. And given the growing support for lossless, high-resolution audio from Apple Music, Amazon Music, Tidal, and others, these benefits are no longer theoretical marginal cases.

Sony cleverly offers you the option of switching the Bluetooth function from receiving to sending (again with LDAC support) so that you can use any set of wireless headphones or earphones for private listening.

Great for music, even better for movies

Sony HT-A5000.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

OK, to the point: how does that thing sound? Damn good. If you stick to the basic mode of the A5000 (with the Sound Field function switched off), you will get perfectly clear and balanced stereo sound. It's great for sitcoms, news shows, and comedy specials – basically anytime you want to focus on dialogue. In this mode, the bass remains mellow even with the subwoofer set to the maximum and offers just enough bass to give the voices more depth and some weight to the background soundtrack.

It's also the preferred mode for listening to two-channel stereo music, especially if you're a purist looking to keep additional digital processing to a minimum. And thanks to the soundbar's exceptional support for high quality wireless streaming, music generally sounds great.

The only downside is there's not much you can do if you don't like the way Sony tuned the A5000. I have sued Sony for missing EQ adjustments on their expensive A7000 and will do it again for the A5000. It's an odd choice for a company that offers extensive EQ options for their wireless headphones and earbuds.

Dolby Atmos movies have all been rendered with this key ingredient – sounds that seem to be coming from everywhere.

If you have a Tidal HiFi or Amazon Music subscription, you owe it to yourself to try tracks mastered using the Sony 360 Reality Audio (360RA) format that the A5000 supports. Simply put, 360RA tries to mimic the sound of a live performance indoors by using surround sound technology to give the music an open, airy feel. As with Dolby Atmos Music, some tracks benefit more from this than others. Pink Floyd's Learning To Fly, for example, felt like it was made for 360RA, while John Mayer's I Guess I Just Feel Like seemed to lose something in the move.

But even if songs don't necessarily benefit from 360RA, sometimes the format itself is preferable when you want an ambient sound – for example, when entertaining a group of guests. I find it easier to have a conversation when the music is not directed at you, as is the case with traditional stereo. Currently, the 360RA only works over a WiFi Chromecast connection from a phone or tablet, so you cannot control it through Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.

The only downside to the A5000's musical capabilities is the lack of integration of music services into the Sony Music Center app. The app lists many of the most popular services (Apple Music, Amazon Music, Tidal, Spotify, Deezer, etc.) but tapping on it will only redirect you to the service's app on your phone (assuming you have it installed). Unlike Sonos, there is no way to access Search, manage favorites or playlists, or other music service features. However, you can use the app to control multiroom audio if you have other compatible Sony speakers.

Sony HT-A5000.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

You're not buying a $ 1,000 Dolby Atmos soundbar for stereo audio. You want to be blown away by fully immersive 3D soundtracks that convey power, excitement and emotion and for that you need to enable Sound Field mode. This instantly changes the soundstage from a fairly narrow and forward-facing affair to one that spreads out across the room.

The A5000's built-in subwoofer is surprisingly powerful. For smaller spaces, that's probably all you need.

The Sound Field mode is not a 3D variant, but three – Sony's own Vertical Surround Engine, Dolby's virtualized speaker mode and DTS Virtual: X – and each has its own sound signature. Sony's version pulls back at low frequencies to create a high, wide, and deep presentation that emphasizes clarity. Dolby, on the other hand, pushes the built-in subwoofer to its limits for a thundering sound, but can introduce undesirable distortion and often cloud the mids and high frequencies. DTS Virtual: X is somewhere in between, but not Goldilocks way. It's more of a compromise.

Since each of these 3D flavors sounds so different, they can all be great choices depending on what you're playing. I found the Sony version to be ideal for native Dolby Atmos movies and music. Avengers: Infinity War, Mad Max: Fury Road and Ford v. Ferrari have all been rendered with this important Dolby Atmos ingredient – sounds that seem to come from everywhere and move in sync with the action on the screen. Wondering if you need one of Sony's wireless subwoofers? You would definitely get better low frequency effects, but the A5000's built-in subwoofer is surprisingly powerful. For smaller spaces, that's probably all you need.

I plugged a Shield TV into the HDMI input and enjoyed Dolby Atmos songs from Tidal like Save Your Tears from The Weeknd and Riders On The Storm from The Doors. Dolby Atmos Music can feel lackluster at times, especially if you're using headphones, but the A5000 lets you enjoy the emerging format to its fullest.

Sony HT-A5000 built-in display.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

But here's a tip: as with most Dolby Atmos sound bars, if you feel like something is missing – like you're not listening to an immersive mix – dive into the advanced audio settings and turn up the levels for the treble and treble Surround channels. Sony's calibration software tends to take a conservative approach that doesn't always produce the best results.

Definitely worth trying out Dolby and DTS Virtual: X's virtualized speaker mode for all content, whether it's Atmos or not, but switching between these 3D versions isn't much fun. There is no way to do this in the Sony Music Center app, including by pressing a preset button on the remote control.

Instead, you need to pause your movie or music, press the home button on the remote, then navigate to Setup> Advanced Settings> Audio Settings> Sound Field Settings from the on-screen menu. You can then choose a different 3D variant and return to your content.

This may not be too bad if it is just a question of finding the one you like the most, but since there is no way to tweak the EQ, switching between them is your only option if you want the performance of either dislike them.

Beyond the bar

Sony HT-A5000 remote control.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

As with most mid- to high-end soundbars, you can expand the sound capabilities of the A5000 by adding two Sony wireless subwoofers of your choice (SA-SW5 or SA-SW3) and a number of wireless surround satellites (SA-RS3S). This does not improve the performance of the altitude channel of the system, but it can make a huge difference to the overall level of immersion. If you have the room in your home and on your budget, I highly recommend these additions.

Our opinion

The Sony HT-A5000 offers a premium price, but offers both music and movie lovers a first-class sound experience.

Is there a better alternative?

At this price point, the HT-A5000 has several direct competitors, and all of them are excellent in their own way. The choice among them really depends on the features that are important to you. Here's what you should know:

  • If you are an audiophile, LG SP9YA is a strong competitor because, like the A5000, it supports Hi-Res audio over Wi-Fi and USB. It also comes with its own wireless subwoofer, which makes it satisfactory for movies right out of the box. It doesn't support Bluetooth LDAC or Sony 360RA, however, and its hard-wired power cord could be a nuisance for some installations.
  • If you want easy, powerful control over your music sources and multiroom audio, and want some smart home perks, drag the Sonos Arc or the Bose Smart Soundbar 900. Both don't have HDMI inputs, which limits their flexibility, but that's only a problem if you have an older TV. Both can serve as smart speakers with your choice of Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.
  • If you're looking for a real replacement for a home theater system for movies and TV shows but multiroom audio isn't that important, this is it Vizio Elevate comes with a wireless subwoofer and surround satellite speakers that usually cost extra.
  • Would you like even better sound, but don't want to clutter your room with more speakers? For $ 300 more that Sony HT-A7000 is a larger, more powerful speaker (with two HDMI inputs plus one analog input) that is well worth the extra investment.

How long it will take?

Sony products are very well made and the HT-A5000 is no exception. If you are considering 8K compatibility, it could be 10 years or more before you even have to think about upgrading. And even then, it will be a choice, not a condition.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. the Sony HT-A5000 will be a huge movie and music upgrade for any TV room in the house.

Editor's recommendations



09 Nov
Blog

Govee Neon Rope Light Review: Colorful Spaghetti Noodles

Govee neon fairy lights

Govee neon fairy lights

RRP $ 66.00

“Half the fun of setting up this light was testing all kinds of patterns. The possible forms are limitless. "

advantages

  • Bright, flexible light

  • Simple intelligent control via Alexa and Google Assistant

  • Strong glue and easy assembly

  • Thousands of different color configurations

disadvantage

  • The installation process might take some work

  • Not long enough to spell longer words

  • No possibility to extend the length

Govee has exploded into the smart lighting scene in recent months with a range of relatively inexpensive lamps and light strips, but their newest product stands out in several big ways. The rope looks like pre-cooked spaghetti noodles if these noodles had a light-diffusing cover over LED lights. The strip itself is divided into two sections: the lower half that hides all of the wiring and does not light up, and the upper section that houses the LEDs.

The Govee Neon Rope Lights are very similar to the Philips Hue Ambient Light Strip, but they are significantly cheaper at $ 66 compared to $ 180. They're also more flexible, allowing you to write messages on the wall or create a variety of different patterns to suit your personality. Best of all, these lights work without any external accessories and work over both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Thanks to the variety of colors, scenes and functions, the Neon Rope Lights are a great way to add a little light art to your home.

Assembly and installation

At first glance, I expected the installation process to be a lot more tedious than it was. The mounting hardware includes metal brackets that slide over the back of the lights and snap into a groove along the lower half of the rope. Holes are drilled through the bottom of each bracket that allow it to be screwed into the wall (and the drywall screws are included if you choose to go that way) luckily, each bracket comes with 3M glue on the back too . All I had to do was peel and glue to attach the lights to the wall.

Close up of the glue on Govee Neon Rope Light.

The brackets served as a guide for creating a shape. When I'm not writing, I have a small, gaming-focused podcast, so I positioned the strip so that it is in the camera's field of view when recording. I tried spelling out DDG for the show's initials, but trying to make legible text with the lights brought me back to my italic courses in elementary school. It didn't go well. Someone with more artistic talent might be able to form words, but I found it easier to just make a swirl pattern on the wall that resembles the Dreamcast logo. That said, half the fun of setting up this light was testing all of the potential patterns. The possible shapes are limitless.

Half the fun of setting up this light was testing all possible patterns.

The box also includes a set of alcohol swabs to wipe the surface before using the glue. The assembly process was easy; The only real downside was sliding the strip into the mounts. It fits tight and often I had to slide the bracket open anywhere and then pull the strip through until it reached the point where I needed it. Since the adhesive is a one-time use, the screws make it possible to reuse the fastening material and readjust it if necessary, albeit with a little extra effort.

Mounting bracket on the Govee Neon Rope Light.

The only headache came with adding the strip of light to the Govee app. The app does not automatically recognize new devices. Instead, you'll have to scroll through a list of products until you find the product you want to add. Govee goes out of their way with naming conventions, so your best bet is to look in your box and look for the model number. It's a minor inconvenience, but it seems out of place when it comes to modern smart home devices.

App and functions

If you've used a Govee light before, you already know the options available. The Neon Rope Light has the same functions as other Govee light bands and the same color options.

The Neon Rope Light offers more than 16 million colors and 15 different light segments to choose from. Each segment can be controlled individually, from color to relative brightness. You can also choose whether the segments should be well defined or should blend in between each other on a gradient. With this level of customization, you can create a nearly endless number of scenes that adapt to the mood of your room.

The Govee app contains 64 dynamic scenes to choose from. These are broken down into categories, including Natural, Festival, Life, and Emotion. Personally, I found the fall scene under the Of course category to be one of the best options. Even if you have other govee lights, these are the same categories and scenes available for them.

The Govee Neon Rope Light gives your wall a touch of style.

If you have multiple Govee lights in a room, you can use the app to select the Smarts tab and group multiple lights together. In one of these groups, you can set up specific schedules and "plans" that allow you to choose which devices to turn on, what color that particular device is, and much more. Unfortunately, while the Smarts tab gives access to a few pre-made scenes, it does not provide access to all of them. However, it suggests plans and even allows Govee's AI. Suggest color samples. You can even upload a picture and it will try to match the general color of the room to that photo.

Govee Neon Rope Light on the floor showing design.

In addition to these features, you can sync the lights with music. There are four different modes to choose from, but I found the sudden flicker more distracting than anything else.

Intelligent control

The Govee Neon Rope Light works with both Alexa and Google Assistant. Alexa automatically recognized the light and added it to the network. With the Google Assistant, I had to link my Govee account to my Google account. After that, it was so easy to pick each light and choose the room to add it to. From the wizards I can set up schedules, timers, and more. I can also ask Alexa or Google Assistant to change the colors, modes, and more. Alexa even offers access to all of Govee's built-in scenes from the Alexa app, but the Google Assistant does not.

Our opinion

Govee has made many trails in the smart lighting space, with everything from indoor strips to smart lights and more. The company even has other lesser-known smart devices to choose from. The Govee Neon Rope Light will add a touch of style to your wall in the form of a word or a pattern.

While it doesn't add much in terms of colors or features, its flexibility and potential uses are considerable. The marketing material makes it seem like the strip is much longer than it is, but a kit is only 3 feet long – and there doesn't seem to be any way to add any extra length to the strip.

Is there a better alternative?

The Philips Hue Ambient Light Strip is a similar product, but its higher cost and the need for a hub make it less attractive. You could also consider the Twinkly Flex for just $ 100. It serves a similar purpose, can be arranged in writing, and has a number of different color options to choose from. On the budget front, however, it's tough to beat the $ 65 Govee Neon Rope Light.

How long it will take?

Govee's products aren't thin, but neither do they feel like the most durable items on the market. I was worried that if I put the brackets in place, I would scratch the lights. There is no guarantee, but Govee promises to replace defective devices. These lights probably don't move a lot so they should last quite a while provided you take care of them.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. Govee is a high quality budget brand. Although there are a few hiccups here and there, the lights work well and are easy to integrate with smart assistants. It won't revolutionize your smart home, but the Neon Rope Light is a great addition to add a bit of style to any room.

Editor's recommendations



09 Nov
Blog

Google Pixel 6 Pro Review: A Fantastic New Era Begins

Google Pixel 6 Pro from behind.

Google Pixel 6 Pro

RRP $ 899.00

"The Pixel 6 Pro has the best camera on a smartphone today, a vibrant screen, the latest and greatest-looking version of Android installed, and enough power and long-term support to keep you going for years."

advantages

  • Incredible camera

  • Fun camera features and editing tools

  • Vivid, colorful screen

  • Android 12

  • Long software support

disadvantage

  • Unreliable fingerprint sensor in the display

  • Cellular connection fluctuates in some situations

  • 120 Hz screen may shake

the Pixel 6 Pro is leading Google's Pixel smartphone lineup in an exciting and much-needed new direction. In the third generation, Pixels had become a boring mid-range smartphone for geeks and photographers. The Pixel 6 Pro, on the other hand, is a flagship with an eye-catching design and new technology inside. Plus, it has a fantastic camera, the latest software, and a price that won't hit your bank account too hard.

Does this make the Pixel 6 Pro a phone for everyone that can really compete with the best from Apple and Samsung? Yes, but not entirely either.

draft

What a fantastic looking smartphone the Pixel 6 Pro is, with its fashionable color scheme, high quality materials and feel, and unique style that makes it impossible to confuse with anything else. After a stream of boring, purely functional mobile devices, Google gave the Pixel 6 Pro a design that matches its clean and beautiful software. It's up there with the best looking phones released this year.

Google Pixel 6 Pro from behind.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

All done? Nothing but praise? Well no The Pixel 6 Pro is massive and almost identical to the other monster phone of 2021, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. At 8.9mm thick, it's not slim either, and its 210g weight means you'll always have it in your pocket. It is far from suitable for one-handed operation. The metal and shiny glass don't offer much grip either. So if you don't hold onto it there is a risk of a major, expensive accident.

Even if you do not hold the phone in your hand, it does not eliminate the risk of disaster as the phone has a tendency to slide around on many surfaces due to its slippery nature. A bag is recommended to keep it safe, and I also made sure that it is shielded on surfaces as the large camera module on the back can act as an anchor. The single, raised module strip extends over the entire back and, in the Sorta Sunny version, is framed with black glass and provided with gold decorative stripes in the adjacent pictures. This edge is slightly raised and can prevent the glass and lens from being scratched.

Side view of the Google Pixel 6 Pro.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

That the Pixel 6 Pro is big and slippery isn't unique, but it's a shame the non-Pro Pixel 6 isn't much smaller or less likely to break for freedom since it's made from the same materials. Unfortunately, the similarity in size means that no Pixel 6 phone is ideal for someone who wants a small Google phone. In the past few weeks with the Pixel 6 Pro, I've finally adjusted to the size and weight of the phone, along with the quirk that the power button is too high on the case. If you're coming from a smaller phone, be prepared for the fact that for the first few days the phone won't feel as natural as you might hope it will.

screen

On the Pixel 6 Pro, you'll see a beautiful 6.7-inch AMOLED screen with an aspect ratio of 19.5: 9, resolution of 3120 x 1440 pixels, and refresh rate of 120 Hz, covered with curved Gorilla Glass Victus . This is where it differs from the Pixel 6, which has a smaller, flat screen with a lower resolution and a refresh rate of 90 Hz. The curve is subtle and doesn't bend much of the screen over the sides of the phone and is mostly taken up by noticeable bezels.

Google Pixel 6 Pro wallpaper.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

It's incredibly bright with excellent viewing angles, and you can watch videos with the phone flat on the table without losing quality or color. The viewing experience comes extremely close to that of the iPhone 13 Pro, with only a slight decrease in contrast in a direct comparison. Watching the Carfection video on the Ferrari 250 SWB reveals sublime colors and razor sharpness. The Pixel 6 Pro is a powerhouse for video playback.

The stereo speakers are intelligently placed, with the speaker at the bottom of the phone being accompanied by the main speaker at the top of the screen. Although the sound is pushed forward, it still has a wide sound stage. It's loud but the bass is missing, although the immersion from the clever placement of the speakers still makes the Pixel 6 Pro sound great in almost all situations.

The Pixel 6 Pro is a powerhouse for video playback.

All good so far but there are two serious screen issues that really frustrated me. The first is the in-display fingerprint sensor, which is junk. The problem is that it's slow and unreliable. I've re-registered my pressure several times and it doesn't change the situation. I've unlocked the Pixel 6 Pro with my PIN code more than any other phone, and there's no face unlock to bypass the pesky fingerprint sensor. I got around it a bit with Android's Smart Lock feature, which keeps the phone unlocked when it's in my pocket or when I'm at home. However, it's not particularly reliable either.

One-handed mode on the Google Pixel 6 Pro.One-handed mode Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Second, there's the 120Hz refresh rate. It's switchable between 60Hz and 120Hz instead of being dynamic like the Galaxy S21 Ultra's screen, and while much of the software is very fluid, there are apps that just aren't . Twitter is a great example as scrolling through my feed is like wading through mud compared to the iPhone 13 Pro. I'm pretty sure this is a screen refresh issue because when I manually force a 60Hz rate it scrolls freely, albeit with more blur. High refresh rate screens reduce eye strain and make website viewing and content scrolling more comfortable. At the moment, this is not always the case with the Pixel 6 Pro.

Both issues are at odds with the Pixel 6 Pro's polished exterior design, and not what you'd expect from a new high-end flagship from a company the size of Google. The refresh rate inconsistency could be fixed with a software update, and the fingerprint sensor unreliability could be improved in the same way. For now, however, both are pretty significant drawbacks that set the Pixel 6 Pro apart from its more expensive competitors.

camera

You get a 50-megapixel main camera, a 48-megapixel telephoto camera with 4x optical zoom and a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera. The Pixel 6 Pro also uses Laser Detect autofocus, optical image stabilization on the main and telecamera, and records up to 4K videos at 60 frames per second (fps). There's also an 11-megapixel selfie camera in a hole-punch cutout at the top center of the screen.

Google Pixel 6 Pro camera module.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

I've already compared the Pixel 6 Pro's camera directly to the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra and Apple iPhone 13 Pro, and it beat those two established camera superstars. Everything you've heard about the Pixel 6 Pro's camera is true – it really is that good. Stills are full of life, colors and details. I haven't yet found a real situation where a photo is being taken that I need to edit a lot, if at all, before considering sharing, and the range of cameras offers versatility for me to have fun and get creative with .

It's the simplicity with which you can snap stunning photos that makes it so exciting. No matter whether night or day – whether the subject is moving or resting or near or far – the 6 Pro does everything for you. You just press a button and get a brilliant picture.

  • 2.
    Wide angle
  • 3.
    Portrait mode
  • 4th
    Pixel 6 Pro
  • 5.
    Pixel 6 Pro
  • 7th
    Pixel 6 Pro
  • 8th.
    Pixel 6 Pro
  • 10.
    Pixel 6 Pro
  • 11.
    Pixel 6 Pro
  • 12th
    4x optical zoom
  • 13th
    20x digital zoom
  • 16.
    Pixel 6 Pro
  • 17th
    Pixel 6 Pro

There are several exclusive pixel camera modes to try out. Action Pan lets you take photos with a blurry background motion effect, which is great for action shots of cars and other fast-moving things. You just take a photo as usual and Google's software will add the speed effect. Long exposure mode does the same thing and you don't have to track the subject, but I haven't found that many situations where it works compared to Action Pan mode.

Everything you've heard about the Pixel 6 Pro's camera is true – it really is that good.

Found in Google Photos, Magic Eraser is only available on the Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro, and it works by digitally removing unwanted things from your photo. It's effective and easy to use, and with a few swipes, random people and objects will disappear from the background of your photos. It even works with old photos and photos that weren't taken with the Pixel 6 Pro. It's part of Google Photo's extensive photo editing suite that goes way beyond optimizing HDR or Saturation. You can even change the look of the sky in your photo with the touch of a button.

Anything that isn't great? The large sensor makes close-ups difficult, and there is no macro mode to make up for this. I've also seen some weird distortion from the main camera where objects appear to be a different shape than they actually are. Aside from that, you get fun photo and video modes, transformative editing tools, and a camera that will capture amazing photos regardless of your skills and the environment. The Pixel 6 Pro's camera is currently the best you can get on a smartphone.

Software and performance

The Pixel 6 Pro uses Google's new custom tensor processor, paired here with 12GB of RAM. There is a choice of 128 GB or 256 GB of storage space. I used the phone normally, spent time playing Asphalt 9: Legends, and took nearly 500 photos over a couple of weeks. Through all of that, the phone was a top performer. I didn't notice any difference with the Tensor-powered Pixel 6 Pro versus a phone with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor when it comes to general everyday life.

Playing on the Google Pixel 6 Pro.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Google used the Pixel 6 phones to launch Android 12. The biggest difference that you will notice with any other Android phone is the material you design. It makes Android cleaner than ever and a little more customizable too, as the accent colors can be set anywhere to match your wallpaper. There are some fairly new widgets of varying uses, with the YouTube Music widget being the most helpful to me and the new clock widgets being the most appealing.

The shortcut keys on the notification shade are bigger, easier to press and have new functions. I can't say they made a significant difference in my daily use, but they are definitely pretty to look at. I like the "bounce" built into vertically scrolling pages in the OS, but the one-handed mode isn't very good as you can't scroll through the OS and instead use a single app. It's not very helpful with a phone this big. I also like the Google Assistant's voice typing mode, which works fully in Messages and WhatsApp, so you can type and send messages hands-free. It's accurate and fast – I use it most days.

Live subtitle mode on the Google Pixel 6 Pro.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The tensor chip is supposed to improve the translation of other languages ​​on the device and is definitely faster than previous versions that I used on older Pixel phones. Live Caption adds text captions to videos in a few other languages ​​including Japanese. While watching one of AKB48's recent YouTube videos, Yuki Kashiwagi, the translation was good enough to understand what was going on, but it takes a while to get started. It will still make mistakes, especially if the conversation is lively, and will completely misunderstand what is being said, but overall it works well and is fast enough to keep up.

Although I've read some comments online about Android 12 having a lot of bugs, nothing was noticed during my time with the phone, at least not in terms of general usage. It is running all of the apps I have installed and has not crashed or done anything that irritates my daily chores. However, I've noticed that the assistant doesn't always give instructions to Google Home and sometimes it responds to the same commands. For example, Assistant stopped playing a YouTube video when I asked Home to stop playing a radio station.

I find Android 12 comfortable and quick to use, but there is a small learning curve. Google doesn't keep popping up cool features after reading the intro guide. The helpful pixel introductory cards that pop up the first time you set up your phone and lead you to notable new features will eventually wear off and you'll have to reach into the settings menu to activate them. It's a shame because you can be missing out if you don't take the time to really learn how to get the most out of Android 12.

Battery and connectivity

Equipped with a 5,000 mAh battery that charges to 50% in 30 minutes with a USB PD 3.0 charger and Qi wireless charging, Google says the Pixel 6 Pro will last around 24 hours before it does needs to be charged. After testing, I expect the Pixel 6 Pro to last at least as long as promised, and I was pretty impressed with the battery life given the size and specs of the screen and the 120Hz always-on refresh rate.

Charging port on the Google Pixel 6 Pro.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

For example, on a single day with three hours of GPS use, a hundred photos, apps open, social networks, and a few other simple tasks, the battery still had around 30% left late in the evening. With light to moderate daily use, it was rare for the battery to drop below 50% by midnight. However, it took the phone about two days and two charges to adjust to my usage before the battery started working much harder. After this adjustment phase was over, the battery life improved significantly.

Side view of the Google Pixel 6 Pro.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

This is a 5G smartphone that connects to either sub-6 or mmWave networks depending on the version purchased. I am testing the phone in the UK on the 4G and sub 6-5G EE network. I have found that connectivity can be flaky and on several occasions a data connection has not been maintained despite showing a 4G or 5G connection. I've noticed that this is especially the case after driving a car, which may indicate that it is struggling to switch between cell towers and possibly 3G, 4G, and 5G as well. It isn't all the time and can only happen in areas with poor coverage, but there is something to be aware of.

After this adjustment phase was over, the battery life improved significantly.

Otherwise, the call quality is very good, with clear voices and a loud speaker (although finding the sweetspot on the ear is a bit awkward). I also had no issues connecting bluetooth earbuds or streaming YouTube to my TV.

Price and availability

the Pixel 6 Pro starts at $ 899 and is available now through Google's own online store and various networks. In the UK, the Pixel 6 Pro starts at £ 849. However, be prepared to wait if you order one now as demand is high and supply is low.

Our opinion

The only thing stopping the Google Pixel 6 Pro from being a must-have is the in-display fingerprint sensor. It's the only technical feature that lets the whole thing down, and since Face Unlock can't be used instead, getting into the phone takes longer than any other top smartphone currently available. It's a real shame because once inside it's a great experience.

Android 12 looks great, the screen is colorful and vibrant, and the camera is the best I've used on any phone in a while. That you have to resort to hacky workarounds to unlock your phone and gain access to these wonderful things borders on cruelty. Aside from the exaggeration, I was hoping that after the Galaxy S20 and Note 20 Ultra debacle, we had exceeded the level that makes security on smartphones annoying, but unfortunately not. Fortunately, the camera makes up for it. The last camera that I liked as much as the Pixel 6 Pro was on the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, and I think the photos on the 6 Pro are better than those of the S21 Ultra in many ways.

The many advantages of the Pixel 6 Pro mean I've learned to live with the inadequacy of the fingerprint sensor and other relatively minor annoyances, and the price is extremely competitive. even. If I were told it was $ 1,000, I wouldn't think of questioning its worth. It hits 8/10 here, and that will climb to 9/10 if the screen issues are fixed and connectivity improved in an update, but that number may not really reflect how good the rest of the Pixel 6 Pro is, which is why it is is associated with an Editor's Choice Award.

The Pixel 6 Pro is hands down the best Google phone in the past few years, and it's so powerful and well supported that it will last for years.

Is there a better alternative?

If you want the best camera phone available, our tests show that the Pixel 6 Pro is the right phone right now, although the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra and iPhone 13 Pro are still superb and have some unique features that set them apart from others . These two devices are the main competitors of the Pixel 6 Pro, and we appreciate the feature set and beautiful screen of the S21 Ultra, as well as the performance, capability, and excellent software of the iPhone 13 Pro. You won't go wrong with any of these three phones.

How long it will take?

The Pixel 6 Pro's screen is covered with Gorilla Glass Victus, the back is covered with Gorilla Glass 6, and the phone is IP68 water and dust resistant so it can withstand harsh treatment. However, due to the slippery case, I still recommend putting it in a suitcase.

Google promises major Android software updates for the Pixel 6 Pro by October 2024 and security updates by October 2026. This is one of the longest update schedules on any Android phone, and even surpasses Samsung's generous four years of security updates on its latest Galaxy Cell phones. The Google Pixel 6 Pro will easily last three years before you have to consider upgrading, but for many it could easily take five years.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. The fingerprint sensor will annoy you, but the camera and performance are so good, and the price is so cheap, that you will overlook it.

Editor's recommendations



08 Nov
Blog

Shin Megami Tensei 5 Review: Harder and Better Than Ever

smt 5 demons

Shin Megami Tensei 5

RRP $ 60.00

"Shin Megami Tensei 5 is another jewel for the Nintendo Switch that every JRPG fan should definitely check out."

advantages

  • Strong story

  • Tons of party customization

  • Immersive world

  • Fun exploring

  • Great look

disadvantage

  • A small barrier to entry

  • Strong difficulty peaks that may put some players off

Shin Megami Tensei fans get an early Christmas present. Finally, a new part of the legendary Japanese RPG series has been released that offers everything fans could want and more.

Shin Megami Tensei 5 is the latest entry in Atlus' JRPG series, which has also been spun off into the Immense Popular persona Games. Like other Megami Tensei games, SMT 5 focuses less on friendship and period relationships and more on gathering a personal army of demons to fight gods and demons. It's about surviving a holy war while making decisions that will determine the fate of the world.

Shin Megami Tensei 5 takes that premise to the next level, offering a stronger story than ever, better gameplay, improved customization, key nuances, and more. As soon as I was transported to the underworld, a sandy wasteland, I knew that in this game I would keep saying, "OK, this is sick". And it did.

History of Megami Tensei

While Megami Tensei titles always contain strong stories, Shin Megami Tensei 5 focuses more on his narrative than ever before. In fact, thanks to the extra care taken, this is one of the most entertaining stories in the history of the series.

The story begins as usual for the SMT series. There is a nameless hero who leads an ordinary life. Before you know it, he will be blasted unsuspectingly into a mirror world full of demons and ruins of places he once knew. How did that happen? That question – and more – will be answered as players solve the puzzle. The hero's body-splitting buddy, Proto-Fiend – who is a mystery itself – indicates that this is the future of Tokyo after a holy war between the angelic army of heaven and the demonic forces of hell. After merging with this fiend in a new human-demon form called Nahobino, the goal is to bring order to an ongoing battle as he travels between the worlds before and after the Wasteland.

Shin Megami Tensei 5 angels holding up a person.

As the story progresses, players will encounter many more characters and make face-to-face various decisions that will determine which ending they will get. The most important decisions come from a classic series feature called Reasons, which is about characters who stand for different attitudes. Things like law, neutrality, chaos, justice, and more take the form of different characters. In moments similar to Persona's social link scenes, players enter into deep conversations with characters. Answers to their questions and actions ultimately determine the character and fate of his world. The story is based on the angelic and self-righteous forces of Heaven and the chaotic forces of Hell "just trying to get through or rule," and those high stakes make the decisions all the more powerful this time around.

This is what SMT has always been about – morals and the beliefs of humankind compared to those of higher beings – and the new systems add power and immersion to the mix. Questions such as whether one man should be able to take another's life and whether one should atone for his sins despite the circumstances come to the fore. It's up to the player and their own beliefs to say yes or no and shape reality. It's a beautiful concept that really serves as a commentary on human beliefs and speaks to the idea of ​​"moral choice" better than any other game out there. In fact, the future of the world itself becomes an overlaying mystery depending on the choices made by the player, and that adds even more allure to the base narrative.

The central mystery kept me posted all along. There are certain moments when it shines, but they'll land the harder the less you know when you walk in. Just know that the lessons from the history of Atlus' SMT and persona stories come into their own here.

More freedom than ever

Speaking of lessons learned, the actual gameplay of Shin Megami Tensei 5 really feels like an evolution for Atlus. The classic turn-based combat system returns here, complete with the SMT-typical "one more" mechanics. This means that you can hit an enemy with their weakness to earn an extra round in battle. Be careful though: an opponent can do the same to you directly, adding an extra layer of strategy and difficulty to the battles as you play. Most of the time, I've been editing my character and tweaking my demon team around these mechanics to get the best possible combat results. Think of it like a demonic version of Pokémon, but avoid the thought of looking for the cutest team because they won't fly here.

While the battles are fun, I enjoy the most SMT 5 comes by immersing myself in the world of shadows and customizing my team. I spent hours working my team of monsters, finding synergies between demons, fusing demons into the form most suitable for my crew, and looking for the best Nahobino build possible.

Yes, Demon Fusion is back and better than ever, with Atlus offering the option to choose which moves players want to perform for a Demon Fusion. This makes it a lot easier to build a dream demon. And thanks to the new essence fusion mechanic, players can take this customization even further.

Shin Megami Tensei 5 Nahbino protagonist holds miracle water.

Essence Fusion allows players to attribute the essences of demons they have collected to other demons or even to the Nahobino himself. This means that players can get not only skills from different demons, but also affinities. I have a Pyro Jack, for example, but I'm not a fan of his innate fire abilities. So I prefer a Flaemis instead. Players don't even have to choose from skills; they can also change their Nahobino and Demon weaknesses, resistances and strengths. I have switched my Nahobino from being a buff and debuff machine to being a healer to a red mage all-rounder many times. With all the hours I've put into the game, I'm sure five of them came from messing around with team compositions.

I was absolutely blown away with what this game enables on top of the already great party customization that is always there in SMT.

The freedom of the game extends to exploration as well. Just adding a jump button to the series really opens the door to some fun lite platform segments similar to those in Kingdom hearts. Thanks to the immersive environment and the many hidden set pieces to explore, this is Atlus' best setting yet when it comes to traversing. Players can also use save points to quickly travel from place to place, making it even easier to get around.

Shin Megami Tensei 5 protagonist in conversation with King Frost.

There are even side missions where players can make powerful decisions. You have accepted a mission from Lilith but want to give it away to join an angel? Do it. Do you want to keep the loot of a quest to yourself and defeat the person you took it from? Feel free.

Another challenge accepted

If you are in Shin Megami Tensei 5 pray that the lightness of Persona hasn't rubbed off on the original demon negotiation series, fear not. Or maybe be scared because SMT 5 is a real challenge, as the series has always been.

If you're really looking for a reason to get super strategic in battles, SMT 5 is the game that tests you in the way Fire Emblem desires in Hardcore mode.

On more than one occasion I went into battle, got hit once and just let the enemy roll over my team when I said, "Yeah, I'm not ready to take down this guy." Trust me, if you are new to SMT this game will train you to save before literally any major battle or side mission, even on normal difficulty.

Shin Megami Tensei 5 protagonist Nahbino carries out an attack.

This can be a blessing or a curse depending on the type of player you are. If you're really looking for a reason to get super strategic in battles, SMT 5 is the game that tests you in the way Fire Emblem desires in Hardcore mode. However, if you've come out of the Persona series and are hoping for a similar experience, you might be rubbing in the wrong direction. I think this game could really have benefited from the Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster's suspend feature, but at least it allows you to instantly teleport to any save point to save your game at any time.

To make matters worse for some is the return of the demon negotiation mechanics, which can be difficult to master at first. To recruit new party members, you need to address them in a conversation. Sometimes you can get on your good side with simple words, and sometimes you have to pay the toll in items, health, money, and other means. Often times, you just get unlucky and let them run away or even try to kill you.

Fortunately, like that SMT 3: Nocturne HD Remaster, Atlus added an opportunity difficulty this time around, although I've heard that Casual Mode even has its challenging moments from time to time.

Our opinion

Shin Megami Tensei 5 showed me that Atlus has not lost its shine and probably not for a long time. It kept everything the series is known for intact while more was added and I wanted more. Not only is it a treat for anyone interested in a good JRPG story, but also for those looking for a real challenge and want to train their strategy muscles. This challenge can be an obstacle for newbies. However, it is a barrier that I highly recommend to overcome for a truly enjoyable experience.

How long it will take?

It took me about 70 hours to finish the game. However, I did follow many side quests, spent a lot of time customizing my group, and died many times. So depending on how you approach this monster, your time may vary.

Is there an alternative?

This year was brimming with great JRPGs. I recommend Tales of Arise, Scarlet Nexus, and there's the coming one too Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shiny Pearl. But Shin Megami Tensei 5 is a unique experience not to be missed.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. It's also a must-have Switch title that every RPG fanatic needs in their collection.

Editor's recommendations



08 Nov
Blog

Bridal Spa Package Ideas For The Wedding Boom

Like all of us, spas are struggling with upheaval and uncertainty during COVID-19, but you can be sure of one thing: the upcoming wedding boom. As meetings with friends and family return to our lives, celebrations like weddings are back and a potential driver for spa services. Is your spa set up for this requirement? From wedding pedicure ideas to full body spa treatments, here are some must-have services to pamper brides and give them an amazing experience.

Create a wedding service menu

Every bride wants to feel on her best before the big day, so bringing a bride-to-be into your business is both rewarding and lucrative. In addition to the spa services you already offer, put together a special menu that will be marketed for the bride-to-be and her wedding party so they can show themselves at their best and feel comfortable. Anticipate the inquiries you may receive in advance so that you can convince potential customers by answering all of their burning questions. Share this new package on a wedding services menu, including what special services you offer, the price, and any special additional services. Some of the questions your service menu should answer include:

  • What's in your bridal package? (A pampering glass of champagne is always a nice addition)
  • Can you do the on-site service or can you go to the bride's home?
  • How much does the package or service cost?

If you're stuck with service ideas, why not add a facial to prepare for the big day? The bride, her mother and mother-in-law, and the entire wedding party may all need a bridal facial to keep their skin glowing. Remind your customers in your marketing channels and in the bridal package menu that the stress of wedding planning can unfortunately show on their skin. Encourage her to book a trial facial for the bride a few months before the wedding day and then schedule the wedding facial a few weeks before the official day.

Here are some services that you can offer:

  • Massages
  • manicure
  • pedicure
  • Groomsman, bridal or bridal shower service
  • Facials

Here is a "glowing skin" facial idea from our very own Eminence Organics Product Services team.

The radiant skin facial treatment

Step 1: clean

Clean with the Mangosteen Daily Resurfacing Cleanser. Mangosteen is a super fruit that promotes natural radiance. This cleanser is formulated with a lactic acid complex to gently exfoliate the skin and refine the appearance of pores for a more radiant complexion.

Step 2: apply a mask

Then follow the Eight Greens Phyto Masque – Hot, which stimulates oxygen and blood circulation to revive dull skin. Paprika spices things up and gives them a rosy glow. Celebrity fan and Westworld actress Tessa Thompson left an enthusiastic review stating, “Eminence's Eight Greens Phyto Masque is really hot and fantastic. After applying it, you feel like a baby's skin. ”Next, apply the Turmeric Energizing Treatment. Turmeric is a powerful antioxidant that visibly brightens the appearance of the skin and reduces puffiness. What makes this treatment so special is the inclusion of uplifting citrine gemstones that will help you feel energized and radiant.

Step 3: apply a concentrate

To improve the appearance of dull and tired skin, you need Mangosteen Daily Resurfacing Concentrate. Like our entire Mangosteen collection, the formula uses the benefits of Mangosteen to renew the complexion, refine pores and revitalize the skin.

Step 4: moisten

A radiant facial would not be complete without the Arctic Berry Peptide Radiance Cream. It contains a peptide lighting complex that gives the skin a smoother and more radiant finish.

Manicures, pedicures and more

It's a safe assumption that every bride wants a manicure and pedicure to show off her new wedding ring or bridal shoes. As a professional, make sure you are up to date on the most popular nail colors and shapes people want for every season, as well as the most stylish nail art. Regardless of whether a bride knows which nails she wants or not, ask about the aesthetics of the wedding dress and ceremony so you can make recommendations. Ideas for bridal nails are the classic manicure, a French manicure or pedicure, or a paraffin hand treatment.

If your spa offers waxing and / or makeup, you can create a makeup package that includes eyebrow shaping and false lashes. The spa package options are endless!

Connect with wedding fairs and local suppliers

There's nothing new about this concept: building mutually beneficial relationships can go a long way. Networking with local businesses and integrating with the wedding industry will help you increase awareness and encourage referrals. When you're setting up a booth, attending a wedding fair also means gathering potential customer information so you can market it later. With familiarity come word-of-mouth recommendations. The next time a bride-to-be has her hair done and asks about other beauty services, the hair salon might call your spa.

With this list of bridal spa package tips, you'll be ready for the bridal boom to come. Interested in even more resources? Find out how to become an Eminence Organics Spa partner and the benefits we offer, including social media packages and more.

08 Nov
Blog

Intel Core i9-12900K Review: Let’s Call It a Comeback

Intel Core i9-12900K in one motherboard.

Intel Core i9-12900K

RRP $ 619.00

"The Intel Core i9-12900K undercuts the competition in terms of price and delivers too high a performance."

advantages

  • Outperforms the Ryzen 9 5950X on most workloads

  • Significantly cheaper than the Ryzen 9 5950X

  • DDR5 support

  • Solid overclocking headroom

  • PCIe 5.0 on supported motherboards

disadvantage

  • High power requirement

  • Runs a little hot

"Intel is back." It's a phrase you've mumbled ad nauseam if you've been paying attention to CPUs in the past few years, even before Intel fell behind AMD. It wasn't until AMD started to hit the desktop market with the introduction of Ryzen 5000 that Intel started putting those words into action – and the result is Alder Lake.

The Core i9-12900K is Intel's flagship Alder Lake chip and, after thorough testing, has earned a spot on our list of the best processors you can buy. Not only does it represent a new generation of processors, it's also the first release under a new CEO, the first time Intel has used its 10nm manufacturing process on the desktop, and the first time we have a hybrid CPU architecture in a slot-in processor.

It also represents a company that has rested on its laurels long enough to lose the thunder. AMD has overtaken Intel in the desktop and server market, and Apple has abandoned its longstanding partnership with Intel to develop its own chips that are faster and more efficient. However, Alder Lake shows that Intel is indeed back.

Specs: What is the difference between Alder Lake?

Intel Core i9-12900K box.

The Core i9-12900K is Alder Lake's flagship chip that sits above the Core i5 and Core i7 models. There are two variants available, both of which are enabled for overclocking.

The KF series chip lacks integrated graphics, but is also a little cheaper. In terms of performance, the two chips are identical.

Cores Base frequency Max. Boost frequency Intel Smart Cache (L3) Integrated graphics Basic service Maximum turbo performance Suggested price
Core i9-12900K 16 (8P + 8E) 3.2 GHz (P core), 2.4 GHz (E core) Up to 5.2 GHz 30 MB Intel UHD 770 125W 241W $ 589
Core i9-12900KF 16 (8P + 8E) 3.2 GHz (P core), 2.4 GHz (E core) Up to 5.2 GHz 30 MB N / A 125W 241W $ 564
Core i7-12700K 12 (8P + 4E) 3.6 GHz (P core), 2.7 GHz (E core Up to 5.0 GHz 25 MB Intel UHD 770 125W 190W $ 409
Core i7-12700KF 12 (8P + 4E) 3.6 GHz (P core), 2.7 GHz (E core) Up to 5.0 GHz 25 MB N / A 125W 190W $ 384
Core i5-12600K 10 (6P + 4E) 3.7 GHz (P core), 2.8 GHz (E core) Up to 4.9 GHz 20 MB Intel UHD 770 125W 150W $ 289
Core i5-12600KF 10 (6P + 4E) 3.7 GHz (P core), 2.8 GHz (E core) Up to 4.9 GHz 20 MB N / A 125W 150W $ 264

A comparison of the specifications with AMD brings practically nothing. Not only do AMD and Intel use different architectures, the latest AMD chips don't use a hybrid architecture like Intel's. Both the Core i9-12900K and AMD's Ryzen 9 5950X are 16-core processors, but these cores couldn't be more different.

That's because the Core i9-12900K uses two types of cores. Instead of 16 large cores, it uses eight high-performance (P) cores and eight efficient (E) cores. The P-cores do the big, important tasks, while the E-cores clean everything up in the background. The Core i9-12900K is technically a 16-core processor, but only eight of these cores are comparable to AMD.

The two specs I can compare are price and performance. The Intel chip draws a lot more for performance – up to 241 watts at maximum turbo. The 5950X is only rated at 105W, although it can get closer to 200W when overclocked. However, this is well below the Core i9-12900K. The 5950X only requires a single 8-pin CPU connector while the Core i9-12900K requires two.

The power consumption is higher on the Core i9-12900K, but the price is lower. At recommended price, the Core i9-12900K is $ 210 cheaper than the 5950X, although prices are closer to most retailers. The Core i9-12900K retails for around $ 650 while the Ryzen 9 5950X costs around $ 750. However, a $ 100 price difference is a significant loophole.

Test configurations

Intel Core i9-12900K in one motherboard.

Before I get into the results, here are the four rigs I used for testing:

Erlensee DDR5 Erlensee DDR4 AMD Zen 3 10th generation Intel
Central processor Intel Core i9-12900K Intel Core i9-12900K AMD Ryzen 9 5950X Intel Core i9-10900K
GPU Nvidia RTX 3090 Founders Edition Nvidia RTX 3090 Founders Edition Nvidia RTX 3090 Founders Edition Nvidia RTX 3090 Founders Edition
R.A.M. 32GB SK Hynix DDR5-4800 32GB Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4-3200 32GB Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4-3200 32GB Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4-3200
Motherboard MSI Z690 Carbon WLAN MSI Pro Z690-A DDR4 Gigabyte Aorus B550 Elite Asus Tuf Gaming Z490-Plus
CPU cooler Corsair H115i Elite Capellix Corsair H115i Elite Capellix Corsair H115i Elite Capellix Corsair H115i Elite Capellix
power supply Be calm! 850W 80 Plus platinum Be calm! 850W 80 Plus platinum Be calm! 850W 80 Plus platinum EVGA G6 1000W 80 Plus Gold
storage Corsair MP400 1TB SSD Corsair MP400 1TB SSD Corsair MP400 1TB SSD Crucial MX500 2TB SSD

For my most important CPU and gaming tests, I ran the Alder Lake bank with DDR5. DDR5 is a platform perk, after all, so it should sit next to the processor to show what the Alder Lake and Z690 are capable of. Similarly, I ran my tests on the latest build of Windows 11 to make sure it was downloading the patches for the recent bugs caused by AMD chips.

Of course, DDR5 and Windows 11 Alder Lake appear in the most positive light. Even so, I retested DDR4 and Windows 10 to see the differences, and while there are some clear differences, they don't apply to all workloads.

power

Intel has promised a huge leap forward with Alder Lake, and based on my results, the Core i9-12900K delivers. In my testing, one thing became clear: Intel is capable of delivering the same 16-core performance as the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, and not only at a lower price, but with half of its cores at full power.

Intel Core i9-12900K AMD Ryzen 9 5950X Intel Core i9-10900K
Cinebench R23 single core 1,989 1,531 1,291
Cinebench R23 multicore 27,344 27,328 13,614
Geekbench 5 single core 2,036 1,726 1,362
Geekbench 5 multicore 18,259 14,239 10,715
PC Mark 10 9.092 8,254 7,593
Handbrake (seconds, lower is better) 47 58 72
Pugetbench for Premiere Pro 1,066 992 855
Pugetbench for Photoshop 1,315 1.009 1,023
7-zip 126.215 139,074 86,172

Cinebench R23 illustrates this perfectly. This demanding benchmark tasked the CPU with rendering an image, so it's a great way to isolate the processor from other components. If all cores are working, the Core i9-12900K and Ryzen 9 5950X deliver almost identical results.

That doesn't look good, but it's important to keep an eye on Alder Lake's hybrid architecture – and the fact that it's $ 200 less than the Ryzen 9 5950X. The single-core score highlights the discrepancy where the Core i9-12900K is almost 30% faster. Compared to the Core i9-10900K, the new chip is almost 62% faster in the single-core Cinebench R23 test.

The Core i9-12900K competes with the Ryzen 9 5900X in terms of price and the 5950X in terms of performance.

Geekbench 5 is a bit tighter, whereby the Core i9-12900K leaves the AMD chip behind by around 28% in the multi-core test. That's a massive improvement, but almost entirely on the back of DDR5. With DDR4, the Core i9-12900K is actually slower in the multi-core test than the Ryzen 9 5950X, but it retains the lead in the single-core test.

However, PC Mark 10 provides a good look at how these chips stack up overall. There the Core i9-12900K is around 10% faster than the Ryzen 9 5950X and around 20% faster than the 10th generation chip.

Both Intel chips have the edge when it comes to creative apps. Although the Core i9-10900K scores below the Ryzen 9 5950X in the Premiere Pro benchmark, it shouldn't be anywhere near as close as it is. The biggest difference comes from Photoshop, where the Core i9-12900K has a 30% lead over the Ryzen 9 5950X – likely on the back of DDR5.

Pins on Intel Core i9-12900K.

Of the seven benchmarks I ran, the Ryzen 9 5950X only took first place in one: 7-Zip. In this test, the Ryzen 9 5950X is about 10% faster than the Core i9-12900K. This result explains the narrower Geekbench results because Geekbench takes into account file compression and decompression.

Intel supplied. The Core i9-12900K competes with the Ryzen 9 5900X in terms of price, but competes with the Ryzen 9 5950X in terms of performance – and comes out with a clear lead.

Games

Intel has touted the Core i9-12900K as the best gaming CPU out there, and my results confirm it. It shows some clear advantages over the Core i9-10900K, but largely corresponds to the Ryzen 9 5950X. Still, there are a few issues with Alder Lake and certain games.

All of the tests listed below were run at 1080p with the graphics presets High to Ultra. I also ran tests at 1440p and 4K, although there isn't much to report. The differences are consistent at all resolutions, and at 4K, where games are tied to the GPU, the three chips show no difference in performance.

Intel Core i9-12900K AMD Ryzen 9 5950X Intel Core i9-10900K
3D Mark Time Spy 19396 17922 18341
Red Dead Redemption 2 137 fps 135 fps 129 fps
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 118 fps 121 fps 122 fps
Forza Horizon 4 234 fps 201 fps 200 fps
Civilization VI (shooting time, lower is better) 7.3 seconds 7.5 seconds 6.5 seconds

Assassin's Creed Valhalla is the best place to start as it is an example of a game that struggles with Alder Lake. It lags behind both the Ryzen 9 5950X and the Core i9-10900K. Worse, I couldn't get the benchmark to work consistently. The game crashed instantly, causing a headache for hours when I fixed an issue with no clear answer.

Ubisoft and Intel confirmed that Valhalla has an issue with the Core i9-12900K, but did not want to provide any further details. Regardless, if the game worked, it performed slightly below the Ryzen 9 5950X and Core i9-10900K. I haven't encountered any issues with other games, which suggests that this issue is on Ubisoft's side.

3D Mark shows a clearer scaling between the three chips, with the Ryzen 9 5950X and the Core i9-10900K in a close grouping, while the Core i9-12900K shoots forward. The end result is about 8% faster than the Ryzen 9 5950X, likely aided by DDR5's improved bandwidth. As I'll go into in the next section, DDR5 showed a clear advantage in this benchmark.

For the first time in a while, Intel is showing a clear lead in gaming.

My Ryzen 5950X result was almost identical to the one I got with the same chip in the Origin Neuron. However, the average score of the 3DMark leaderboards is slightly higher. This is likely a memory problem; Even with XMP enabled, the Ryzen 9 5950X delivered below-average results. You'd have to tighten the timings to get a higher score, an issue the Core i9-12900K doesn't have.

Forza Horizon 4 produced the largest difference in raw frame rate, with the Core i9-12900K having a 16% advantage over the other two chips. Forza also delivers frame rates specifically from the CPU, and the Core i9-12900K has some great advantages. At 1080p, it outperformed the Ryzen 9 5950X by 21% in CPU render frame rate and 10% in CPU simulation.

That game also showed a difference at 1440p, with the Core i9-12900K maintaining a solid 22 fps lead over the other two chips. While some games don't benefit much from Alder Lake – take my Red Dead Redemption 2 results as an example – others will do so for big wins.

For the first time in a while, Intel is showing a clear lead in gaming. The Core i9-12900K may be over the top for most games – after all, it's still tied to the GPU at 4K – but it still seems to go beyond last-gen parts and the competition.

DDR4 vs. DDR5

Intel Alder Lake box with DDR5 memory.

I did my main tests with DDR5. There is no getting around it: DDR5 offers advantages over DDR4. There's no world in which I could compare the Core i9-12900K to the Ryzen 9 5950X without sacrificing Intel's newer version.

DDR5 is an Alder Lake perk, so it's as relevant to performance as the processor itself. Even so, I retested a limited set of benchmarks with DDR4 to gauge how much difference you can expect with the new memory standard.

DDR4 DDR5
PC Mark 10 8794 9092
3D Mark Time Spy (total) 18175 19396
Red Dead Redemption 2 (1080p Ultra) 114 fps 115 fps
Geekbench 5 single core 1902 2036
Geekbench 5 multicore 12969 18259
Pugetbench for Premiere Pro 1019 1066

Overall, the differences are small – apart from an oddly large gap in my multi-core Geekbench 5 results. In games, DDR5 made no difference in Red Dead Redemption 2, and in 3D Mark Time Spy it meant a nearly 7% increase. That's not to be sniffed at, but consider the differences between the runs and the difference doesn't look that big.

Likewise, PCMark 10 with DDR5 only showed a 3% increase, and PugetBench for Premiere Pro showed virtually no difference. The eccentric is Geekbench's multi-core test, which showed an increase of almost 41% with DDR5. This illustrates the main performance point of DDR5: it really depends on the application.

DDR5 has a lot more bandwidth, but that comes at the expense of latency. Obviously, modern applications prefer bandwidth more, but some do so much more than others. Overall, you can see a slight upturn in DDR5, with some applications taking up the new memory standard particularly well.

However, I want to use this section to clear up some confusion. Although Alder Lake supports DDR4 and DDR5, they are not interchangeable. You cannot insert a DDR4 stick into a DDR5 motherboard or vice versa. Before you pick it up, make sure you know what type of memory your Z690 motherboard supports.

Windows 11 vs. Windows 10

Windows 11 start deck.

Alder Lake not only represents the introduction of DDR5, but also the introduction of Windows 11. AMD chips have some issues with the new operating system, so I have the same limited set of tests on the Core i9-12900K and Ryzen 9 5950X on Windows performed 11 and Windows 10 to see the differences. There is not much to report.

Intel Core i9-12900K Windows 11 Intel Core i9-12900K Windows 10
PC Mark 10 9092 7919
3D Mark Time Spy 19396 19511
Red Dead Redemption 2 115 fps 112 fps
Geekbench 5 single core 2036 1962
Geekbench 5 multicore 18259 18282
Pugetbench for Premiere Pro 1066 1283

With the Core i9-12900K, the differences are largely negligible. The most noticeable increase came from PC Mark 10, where my Windows 11 rig was almost 15% faster. This is due to a high Creation Score in PC Mark 10, for which Alder Lake seems to be particularly well suited.

Premiere Pro also showed a big difference: about 20% more in favor of Windows 10. However, I used an older version of Premiere for my testing – v15.4, in case you're wondering – which may not have the same optimizations for Windows 11.

AMD Ryzen 9 5950X Windows 11 AMD Ryzen 9 5950X Windows 10
PC Mark 10 8254 8041
3D Mark Time Spy 17922 17572
Red Dead Redemption 2 135 fps 133 fps
Geekbench 5 single core 1726 1710
Geekbench 5 multicore 14239 14084
Pugetbench for Premiere Pro 992 994

There was no difference with the Ryzen 9 5950X either. While 3D Mark Time Spy and Red Dead Redemption 2 had some minor changes, none of them have any consequences. It's true that AMD chips had problems with Windows 11 before, but the latest Windows and AMD updates seemed to have solved them – at least in the tests I ran.

Overclocking, clock rates and thermals

The Core i9-12900K has a single-core boost of 5.2 GHz, which I have repeatedly achieved during testing. All-core frequencies are of course lower. In a 30-minute AIDA64 stress test, the chip reached an all-core frequency of 4.8 GHz and reached a peak value of 84 degrees Celsius with a power consumption of 210 W.

It's 84 degrees, but the Core i9-12900K didn't stay there long. AIDA64 is also a stress test that is still 16 degrees below the maximum operating temperature of 100 degrees. The chip usually stayed at 50 to 60 degrees Celsius under moderate load and only climbed higher when all cores were pushed to their limits.

As high-performance as it is, the Core i9-12900K has a high power requirement.

I dug into Intel's Extreme Tuning Utility (XTU) briefly to get a moderate overclock working. With Speed ​​Booster, I was able to increase the frequency to 5 GHz with the press of a single button. Originally this created a much higher temperature, but after putting my cooler back in place everything went smoothly.

Alder Lake chips are rectangular, so the tried and true pea method of applying thermal paste didn't cover the chip. I just spread the paste a little – not to the edges – as I put it back on to cover it completely. The temperatures have returned to normal.

Although the Speed ​​Booster allows you to overclock without any work, you can get higher clock speeds by manually optimizing the cores. I applied a 300MHz boost to all cores with the Intel Thermal Velocity Boost turned on and was able to hit 5.4GHz while using 300W of power. That is much. As powerful as it is, the Core i9-12900K follows in the footsteps of earlier Intel generations with high power requirements.

Pins on Core i9-12900K.

While there is still a lot of research to be done about how the P-Core and E-Core respond to overclocking, I noticed a few general trends during testing. The increase in the E-Core frequency did not have a major impact on power consumption, thermals or performance. The difference is workload specific, so overclocking your E-cores won't do anything for applications that primarily use the P-cores. On the flip side, the P-cores made up the majority of the performance and heat increases when overclocking, so it's best to be conservative with your P-core overclocks.

Our opinion

The Core i9-12900K represents many things for Intel, but most of all it represents a company ready to get competitive again. Even in the worst case, the Core i9-12900K is the same as the Ryzen 9 5950X – and at a significantly lower price. At best, it outperforms both the best that AMD has to offer and everything else on the market.

Power supply is a problem, as has been the case for the past several generations of Intel. However, high performance demands are much easier to swallow when extra power is on the table, and that's exactly what the Core i9-12900K offers.

Are there alternatives?

There's currently nothing on the desktop like the Core i9-12900K. The closest competitor is the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, although it's not nearly as fast as the Core i9-12900K.

How long it will take?

The Core i9-12900K will last for at least the next few years. When you buy a top of the range processor like the Core i9-12900K, you'll likely be upgrading before performance becomes a major concern.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. At the moment there is nothing that works as well as the Core i9-12900K. That said, it uses a lot of power, so make sure you buy a hefty power adapter and cooler to go with it.

Editor's recommendations



08 Nov
Blog

Forza Horizon 5 Review: Buckle Up and Enjoy the Ride

In Forza Horizon 5, several cars are racing down a hill.

Forza Horizon 5 put to the test: buckle up and enjoy the ride

RRP $ 60.00

"Forza Horizon 5 doubles the series' winning formula to bring players another hit racing game with superpowered next-gen technology."

advantages

  • Driving is as tight as ever

  • Creative story missions

  • Excellent creative tools

  • Apparently endless content

  • Really next-gen look and feel

disadvantage

  • Steep learning curve

  • Formula could use a refresher

  • Slow photo mode is loading

At the beginning of my Forza Horizon 5 adventure, I lose control. As it turns out, my fast sports car is poorly equipped for off-road driving (who would have thought?) And I skid. I spin helplessly as cacti fly in all directions. What do you expect from someone who has never had a driver's license?

I expect the game to warn me or an NPC to speak to me over the radio about my poor skills. Instead, the combo meter goes wild on the screen. Super slides! Perfect 360! Destruction Bonus! Soon I am gaining tens of thousands of experience, which gives me some skill points that I can spend on car perks that further boost my accidental combos. Forza Horizon 5 sees no difference between good and bad driving – it treats the simple act of driving a car as a victory and ensures that drivers are always celebrated for being willing to get behind the wheel.

Forza Horizon 5 doesn't deviate too far from the series formula – and it doesn't have to. Playground Games offers another robust open-world driving experience that shines both in its finely tuned driving mechanics and in a next-generation technical spectacle. It's the definitive racing game of this new console cycle, and it's already hard to imagine any competitor slipping into first place anytime soon.

How I learned to drive

Forza Horizon 5 puts players right in the action – figuratively as well as literally. The game begins with a series of vignettes as various cars exit planes and zoom through the game version of Mexico. It's an exciting opening sequence reminiscent of the Fast & Furious franchise and setting the stage for a more adventurous episode.

It doesn't provide much guidance for newbies. A control chart paints a simple portrait of the game by telling players how to accelerate, steer, and brake, but that is deceptive. Driving the Forza Horizon franchise can actually be quite complicated, causing players to unlearn an “always accelerating” mentality. You have to strategically accelerate, brake in curves and use the emergency brake carefully. It doesn't actually tell players about this, but instead uses a GPS-style line on the screen that indicates when players should slow down. However, it is never directly explained, nor does it provide a glossary of terms for those who have no idea how statistics like torque affect their digital cars.

Forza Horizon 5 features multiple cars in Mexico.

The learning curve can be steep (the game quickly advised me to descend to the easiest difficulty, and it took about 10 hours to tell me I was ready to pick it up again), but the driving feels ironclad, even in the Fail. With so little actual input required, there is a lot of active work going into controlling a car. In one of the ultimate races in the game – nearly 30 minutes of running the gauntlet on winding dirt roads – I was careful, but kept pressing and releasing the triggers to control my speed and keep my car steady. Driving a car in Forza reminds me of walking in Death Stranding: an otherwise simple video game quest so nuanced here that it deserves my full, undivided attention.

I'm not a car guy, but Forza Horizon 5 makes me feel like one.

The beauty of Forza is that it really doesn't matter if you fail. There is no consequence in finishing last in most races. Players will still gain the necessary experience no matter what they do. The game just wants players to enjoy driving without pressure. You can see this philosophy in action in the game's rewind feature, which allows players to turn back time at any time and reset their position with no consequence. Do you beef it all at once? Just try again as often as necessary so that you know exactly how to solve the problem. It's a low-stakes approach that encourages players to perfect the nuances of driving at their own pace without the face of any penalty.

These smooth driving systems are well used by the game's huge vehicle roster. There are over 500 vehicles to collect here, and each one feels like its own tame beast. Vehicle weight, top speed, and a host of other factors are changing the way cars drive them drastically, pushing me to increase my rotation and lock down a list of options I'm comfortable with. Every time I charge up a street race and know that I have to get my light blue Porsche out of the garage, I get a little burst of joy. I'm not a car guy, but Forza Horizon 5 makes me feel like one.

Adventure through Mexico

For those who have played previous Forza Horizon games, the structure here isn't all that different. A huge map fills with icons that indicate the locations of races, collectibles, and stunts. Everything, even just driving around, grants experience and skill points that can be spent on upgrading each individual car's tiny skill tree. There's an absurdly plethora of content here, more than I could ever hope to cover in a concise way, but much of it is the same as previous episodes, just as Ubisoft open-world games tend to hit the same beats (there are wheelspins who have favourited Unlock New Cars, Buy Houses, Fragile Boards That Cut The Cost of Fast Travel, and more).

A car in Forza Horizon 5.

What feels different is the game's story campaign, which better puts a line into the freeform driving gameplay. Every time the player levels up, a new Horizon Story is unlocked, which acts as a small story thread. The basic idea is that the players control a superstar who comes to Mexico to build some kind of racing utopia. You start out by building different outposts on the map that bring different styles of racing to the world (off-road, street racing, and more). The following story beats are short, cute little missions that are the most fun with the driving formula.

On a mission, I take a huge parade wagon for a jaunt. In another, I pay my respects to Lucha Libre, who wrestles with a series of Demolition Derby-style challenges. These little vignettes bring life to the Mexican environment and mix up the established structure. I'm more likely to be forced to take part in random races because I want to climb up and see where my journey takes me next.

A red car drives fast in Forza Horizon 5.

There is still room for the series to undermine expectations in future installments. A mission begins with the dramatic reveal of a jet ski race. For a second, I think it's going to throw me in a head-to-head race against a Ferrari on a watercraft. Instead, it's a standard race where I can see some jet skiers zooming around the side of the road. It's still an exciting race, but one that makes me wonder what Forza Horizon would look like if it got out of its comfort zone more often. I've tried to get it out of my mind, but I can't help but think of Riders Republic. It's a racing game that almost shamelessly borrows the formula from Forza, but finds several imaginative ways for players to explore its world. Forza built a gold standard framework, and now it wouldn't hurt its developers to watch what others build on it and get inspiration for the next ride.

I'm more likely to be forced to take part in random races because I want to climb up and see where my journey takes me next.

The real innovation will come from the dedicated community of the series. Forza Horizon 5 has a robust creation tool called EventLab that anyone can use to run their own races. It's an intuitive tool that players can use to turn any corner of the world into a racetrack by simply driving around and dropping control points. In 10 minutes, I was able to create a three-lap circular route that takes players down a freeway, through the desert, and down some ramps – all during a tropical storm. If I could do something with minimal tinkering that I was proud of, I can't even imagine what others will do with it over the multi-year lifespan of the game.

In addition, there is a huge variety of multiplayer modes, live service events and the promise of inevitable content. The game feels bottomless in ways that many games aim for but rarely achieve. If this were the only Forza Horizon game released on the Xbox Series X, I don't think fans would be disappointed. You will have your hands full.

Technical spectacle

Forza is both a tech showcase and a racing game. Given that this is the first game in the series to grace the Xbox Series X, expectations have been high – and it doesn't disappoint. Forza Horizon 5 takes full advantage of next-generation technology to make cars look photorealistic. Had this hit the market with the Xbox Series X, I'm convinced that the current discussion about which new console is the more indispensable commodity would tend in Microsoft's favor.

In Forza Horizon 5, several cars are racing down a hill.

The spectacle comes to the fore in the game's Mexican landscapes, which are a joy to simply drive through with no destination. What is really amazing is that you never come across a loading zone while driving around. In one race, I zoomed the entire outer perimeter of the map – a 20-minute drive – with no millisecond of downtime. Even fast travel across the map is done in a jiffy, which seems mind-blowing given the scale of the world and the level of detail.

It's a big, beautiful game that never feels like it might collapse under its reach.

The only point the game slows down is in Photo mode. Taking a picture is an oddly long process. Loading in and out of Photo mode can take a few seconds, but the real pain point comes after you've actually taken a picture. Photo processing times are up to 30 seconds, which feels unusually long at the moment. I wanted to take tons of pictures considering how beautiful the world and my car looked, but even the fastest snapshot takes a good minute.

Forza Horizon 5, cars race through a track.

That being said, I can't help but marvel at almost every aspect of Forza Horizon 5. It's a big, beautiful game that never feels like it could collapse under its frame. It never crashed while playing, I hardly had any bugs, and my short time with the online modes was stable. With a game this smooth, the gap between what is displayed on the screen and the technology that powers it becomes negligible. I get lost in the world and really feel like I'm behind the wheel of a car. I even catch my body tilting while turning, like a kid playing Mario Kart.

That's an apt comparison because I really feel like a kid again when I drive through Mexico. I am transported back to a time when every game felt like a magic trick. It is harder to spot sleight of hand when you are simply delighted with the act itself. Forza Horizon 5 is the most eye-catching and spectacular Las Vegas act you can imagine. I can see through the illusion if I break down the formula long enough, but sometimes it's more fun to shut up and enjoy the ride.

Our opinion

The Forza Horizon series has always been a gold standard for the racing genre, and Forza Horizon 5 holds it critically first. The racing gameplay is as fine-tuned as ever, creative story missions give it a firmer backbone, and it brings out the best in next-gen technology. There's not everything there to welcoming new racers, and veterans may think his formula could use a few more twists, but it's clear that Playground Games is making this series a science. Unless someone can radically reinvent what a racing game can be, expect this game to be miles ahead of the competition by the time it continues.

Is there a better alternative?

Riders Republic borrows the same structure, but gets a little more creative with gameplay. But if you want a full-fledged racing simulator, Forza Horizon 5 feels unbeatable.

How long it will take?

The central story can take 15 to 20 hours to complete, but there is a lot more game after that. With over 500 cars, tons of multiplayer modes, and a top-notch creation tool, a dedicated gamer can nag on it for years.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. Forza Horizon 5 is the Xbox Series X's killer app, right next to Microsoft Flight Simulator. If you don't normally love racing games, this might be selling you under the premise.

Editor's recommendations



08 Nov
Blog

Ring Alarm Pro Review: Peace of Mind When You’re in the Dark

ring alarm pro test 2020q1 lifestyle insitu alarm base station keyboard input

Bell Alert Pro

RRP $ 300.00

"Never worry about power or internet outages again, because the Ring Alarm Pro will continue to work."

advantages

  • Double as a Wi-Fi 6 router

  • Backup of the internet for all devices

  • Lots of accessories to expand the system

  • Battery backup in the event of power interruptions

disadvantage

  • Separate app required for router settings

I have been using the Ring Alarm (2nd Generation) for almost a year now and have had very few complaints about the system or service. It kept me informed of what was going on in my apartment when and not being there, while frequent updates of Ring's services made the experience even sweeter. Add to that the range of Ring devices and accessories and it becomes a breeze if you're looking for a complete all-in-one security system for your home.

So how can Ring do it better? Maybe by making sure that all of my devices stay connected even when the power and internet go down. The Ring Alarm Pro serves this purpose but is different from other offerings in that it effectively acts as an Eero Wi-Fi 6 router to keep not only your Ring devices active and connected, but everything else on the network as well.

Setup and installation

The Ring Alarm Pro is available in a variety of configurations – which is good because it covers both small and large spaces – with the ability to add accessories to the system at any time. The five-part basic kit costs US $ 200 and consists of a base station, keyboard, contact sensor, motion detector, and range extender. I tested the eight-piece kit ($ 300) which has everything that is in the five-piece but includes three additional contact sensors.

Ring Alarm Pro in the closet.

In contrast to the Ring Alarm (2nd Gen), which I had hidden on a corner table, the Ring Alarm Pro has to be placed near your internet modem. If you already have a modem gateway that doubles as a router, you will need to connect the Ring Alarm Pro with an Ethernet cable. After setting it up through the Ring app, the only problem I stumbled across was connecting my previous sensors. They just didn't want to connect at first, but updating the Ring app seemed to fix the problem.

software

The Ring app went through a lot of updates, but it can be a bit overwhelming to navigate the app to find various settings. If you've been a long-time Ring user you shouldn't have too many problems, but anyone who is new to the Ring should have a serious look at the app. Regarding arming / disarming the security system, I like that the option is conveniently available right from the main screen. If there is one critical feature I would recommend to turn on, it is setting up the geofence – so that you will be automatically notified of arming / disarming the system based on your phone's GPS location.

In order to access or change some of the router settings, you will need to do so through the Eero app. This can cause confusion for some people as it is technically a separate app, but it is required if you are monitoring traffic on your network, changing the settings of the router, and adding additional Eero Wi-Fi 6 mesh extenders want to add. Personally, I would have preferred some of these options to be accessible through the Ring app as it means one less app to manage.

Home security performance

During the time I have been using the Ring Alarm (2nd generation), I have never had any problems. Whenever a door or window opens, I am informed about these events via the app, which can be combined with other automations, e.g. If you have pets nearby, I also recommend adjusting the sensitivity of your motion sensor as they can set off the alarm if they move. This happened once a year that I was using Ring Protect Plus and I got a call from Ring's professional monitoring service.

Ring motion sensor attached to the wall.

I really like that there are so many accessories connected to the Ring Alarm Pro home security system that you can sleep knowing that you are safe. Aside from the usual sensors, there are also those that can detect other hazards – like water collecting on a floor or even being able to watch out for fire / carbon monoxide sirens that you may already have.

Some home security systems can become vulnerable, but the Ring Alarm Pro cannot.

What really sets the Ring Alarm Pro apart from other home security systems is that it provides backup support for internet and power outages. This is not new in and of itself as other systems have similar automations, but what differs from Ring's offering is that Internet backup is available for all devices – not just the Ring Alarm Pro and its connected sensors. Would you believe it would work?

I tested this by unplugging the Ethernet cable connected to the Ring Alarm Pro from my modem, as well as the power cord. Within a minute, I received a notification that the Ring Alarm Pro was running on battery power and backup internet. I was very surprised to see that all of my devices, such as my laptop and smartphones, were still connected so I could keep working. Ring Protect Plus includes 3 GB of backup data service, but you can sign up for additional data through the Ring app for $ 3 per GB.

Bell alarm keypad on the table.

Fortunately, I haven't experienced an emergency situation, but I like how the Ring Alarm Pro takes that extra step to provide protection in other situations. Take, for example, an evening storm that cuts power for a few hours. Some home security systems can become vulnerable, but not the Ring Alarm Pro, which goes beyond that by providing total security.

WiFi 6 mesh router

There's no denying that I love multifunctional devices that eliminate the need to buy multiple devices – and the Ring Alarm Pro is one of them! Part Home Security Hub, part Wi-Fi 6 Router, it helps a growing smart home by expanding Wi-Fi coverage. Before installing the Ring Alarm Pro, I used an Eero mesh WiFi router with two other extenders in other parts of my home. Exchanging it with the Ring Alarm Pro and connecting the existing extenders was a breeze.

I appreciate the convenience of being able to expand the coverage when I move into a larger room.

Usually devices in my bedroom were struggling to stay connected to my living room router, but the Wi-Fi 6 mesh extender I set up helped fix the problem. Although my apartment is about 1,000 square feet, I appreciate the convenience of being able to expand the coverage if I ever move to a larger room with the Ring Alarm Pro. I can also see which connected devices are consuming the most data and even have the option to pause data usage. For parents, this is an incredibly powerful tool for managing device usage throughout the day.

Our opinion

Ring was a pioneer in the video doorbell space and has expanded into other categories to further expand its ecosystem. With the Ring Alarm Pro, it is the iterative home security system that needs to be beaten right now because it will really continue to protect your home if there is an emergency. Other systems have problems when the power or internet goes out and some of your other devices are left in the dark, but the Ring Alarm Pro keeps chugging as if nothing happened. And. oh yes it doubles as a Wi-Fi 6 mesh router!

Is there a better alternative?

Nothing matches the depth and utility that the Ring Alarm Pro offers, but SimiplSafe's home improvement security system is the closest competitor. While it may not have as many accessories and devices as Ring, SimpliSafe offers one of the best professional home monitoring services out there. In addition, many of the key devices, such as the base station and Smart Lock, are beautifully designed to match any facility.

How long it will take?

If the previous iteration of Ring is any indication, the Ring Alarm Pro should remain in good working order for a long time. Since this is a router and remains stationary, there is very little chance of it getting damaged – even more so if you're like me and place it in a locked room in your entertainment center. There is a one year limited warranty that covers it for defects.

Should you buy it?

Yes, you kill two birds with one stone, because the Ring Alarm Pro doubles as a Wi-Fi 6 mesh router and home security base station. You will never have to worry about home security and power outages again.

Editor's recommendations



07 Nov
Blog

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro Review: Lovely Display Saves Day

Lenovo Ideapad Slim 7i Pro review

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro

RRP $ 1,420.00

"Despite a few flaws, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro is one of the better new Windows 11 laptops you can buy."

advantages

  • Solid productivity performance

  • High resolution 90 Hz display

  • Great keyboard and touchpad

  • Simple but attractive aesthetics

disadvantage

  • Build quality is a little below average

  • Battery life is mediocre

Apart from the Surface devices, new Windows 11 laptops have so far been sparse.

Now there's Lenovo's IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro, one of the most anticipated newbies with Microsoft's latest operating system, and it promises to take advantage of Windows 11 with high-end components and a productivity-friendly 16:10 high-resolution display.

The IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro is said to be a prime example of the “Midrange Plus” lineup from Lenovo, which offers some of the same features that you will find in ThinkPads and a high quality finish that is nevertheless (relatively) affordable.

My configuration was $ 1,420, which is not that cheap. The $ 1,190 launch configuration is also in a confusing place. But in the end it all comes down to whether this is a good laptop for the money. Despite a few problems, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro makes a promising start into the Windows 11 era of laptops.

draft

A Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro sits on a table, at an angle to the view of the back and lid.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

When I judge the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro as a premium laptop, I have to pick out a few nits in terms of build quality. It's made of machined aluminum, which is a good thing, but I found the lid a bit pliable and the keyboard deck and case base had some flexibility. That would be a suitable build quality for $ 1,000 or less, but at over $ 1,400, it's missing something. The HP Specter x360 14, for example, is only a few hundred euros more and is rock solid, while the Asus ZenBook 13 OLED is several hundred euros cheaper and more robust. However, the hinge on the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro is superb, making it easy to open the laptop with one hand while holding the display firmly in place.

The IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro has minimal bezels on the top and sides and a larger chin than the Dell XPS 13. An inverted notch on the top houses the cameras and adds a convenient opening for opening the lids. Together with the larger 16:10 display, the chin makes the laptop lower than it could be, while the side bezels keep it relatively narrow.

It's a well-sized laptop that is easy to carry around.

Overall, the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro is in line with other 14-inch laptops with 16:10 displays such as the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9. At 0.67 inches, it is thin, although not as thin as the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 with 0.59 inches. At three pounds, its weight is average for 14-inch laptops. The ThinkPad is half a pound lighter, however. Overall, the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro is a well-sized laptop that is easy to transport.

Aesthetically, the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro matches many newer laptops that use a minimalist design. It seems the more laptops I check, the more similar they look. The Ideapad is available in slate gray (my test device) or light silver. It has very simple lines and angles, a curved trailing edge and subtle logos that give it a very nondescript appearance.

As with so many similar laptops, including the Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1, it's an attractive laptop, but it won't stand out. The HP Specter x360 14, with its gem-cut design and bright accent colors, offers a much bolder design. Do you like the look of the IdeaPad? Probably, unless you want a laptop that makes a fashion statement. It certainly won't offend you.

Along the left side of the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro are two USB-C with Thunderbolt 4 ports (one of which is used for power supply).

Along the right side of the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro you can see a USB A 3.2 Gen 1 port and a 3.5 mm audio jack.

Connectivity isn't a strength. On the left you will find two USB-C with Thunderbolt 4 ports (one of which is used for power supply) and a USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 port and a 3.5mm audio jack on the right.

Unfortunately there is no SD card slot or HDMI which is disappointing. Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 take over wireless tasks.

power

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro sits on a table.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

My test device was designed for more powerful laptops with a 35 watt Intel Core i7-11370H CPU, the 11th. It's an interesting processor that divides the difference between, for example, an 8-core / 16-thread Core i7-11800H with 45 watts and a 28-watt 4-core / 8-thread Core i7-1185G7. The Core i7-11370H is a productivity CPU through and through – it's supposed to be fast enough to handle demanding productivity workflows, but it's not in the same league as processors, which are faster in creative applications.

The first thing to note is that Lenovo has included its Performance Optimization utility that allows you to switch between battery saving, smart cooling, and extreme performance modes. The utility only made a difference in two of our benchmarks, our Handbrake test, which encodes a 420MB video in H.265 and Cinebench R23. Both are CPU-bound, and this is where the utility had the biggest impact.

For example, in Handbrake it took the IdeaPad 202 seconds to complete in intelligent cooling mode and 155 seconds in performance mode. That's a significant difference, and in fact, it was almost the same as the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio with the same CPU in that laptop's performance mode. The same was true for Cinebench R23, where the IdeaPad's score jumped from 5,544 to 6,150, a more competitive result.

The IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro is a fast productivity laptop.

However, the utility made little to no difference in Geekbench 5, PCMark 10, and 3DMark Time Spy. But the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro also scores well in these benchmarks in intelligent cooling mode and is ahead of the U-series competitors and close to the Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 with its Ryzen 7 5700U and the Surface Laptop Studio in all but that 3DMark test. The fastest notebook in our comparison list was of course the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4 with a Core i7-11800H. Upon closer inspection of the PCMark 10 benchmark, the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro did well in all tests, including Essentials, Productivity, and Content Creation.

All of this means that the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro is a fast, productivity laptop that can handle anything a typical user will throw at it. Put it in performance mode, which has the fans spinning up and a lot louder, and it can handle lighter creativity tasks better. It won't compete with the faster Intel CPUs or AMD's Ryzen 5000 series for developers, but it's better than the typical thin and light Intel laptop.

Geekbench (single / multiple) Handbrake
(Seconds)		 Cinebench R23 (single / multiple) PCMark 10 3DMark time spy
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro (Core i7-11370H) 1578/5957 202 1514/5544 5149 1888
Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 (Ryzen7 5700U) 1184/6281 120 1287/8013 5411 1247
Samsung Galaxy Book (Core i5-1135G7) 1401/5221 180 1361/5391 4735 1584
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 (Core i7-1165G7) 1327/5201 N / A 1469/4945 5147 1776
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio (Core i7-11370H) 1321/5131 179 1304/5450 5091 4266
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4 (Core i7-11800H) 1520/7353 106 1519/10497 6251 6691
MSI Sumit E13 Flip Evo (Core i7-1185G7) 1352/4891 207 1360/4392 4872 1751

With Intel Iris Xe graphics, the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro is not a gaming laptop. The 3DMark Time Spy score is average and it only managed 22 frames per second (fps) at 1200p and epic graphics in Fortnite. This is in line with other Iris Xe laptops and means that the IdeaPad is best for older titles or newer titles with lower resolutions and graphics settings. Or just stick to casual gaming.

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Image of the display of the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Lenovo equips the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro with a 14-inch 16:10 IPS display in a so-called “2.8K” resolution at 2,880 x 1,800. It's a sharp and bright display with dynamic colors that aren't over-saturated and enough contrast to make black text appear on a white background. It also runs at 90 Hz (60 Hz is configurable), which makes movements and animations on the screen a little smoother. I found the display to be pretty good during my tests and when I wrote this review. There's also the option for a 2.2K (2,240 x 1,400) IPS display that runs at 60 Hz, which I haven't tested.

My colorimeter agreed with my impressions. The display was quite bright at 369 nits, above our 300 nits threshold, beating the 238 nits of the Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 for $ 1,000 and the 326 nits of the Samsung Galaxy Book for $ 900, the both real middle class are machines. The IdeaPad was also brighter than the 306 nits of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 for $ 1,885, and that's officially a premium laptop from Lenovo.

The IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro also has wider than average colors, with 80% AdobeRGB (72% closer to average) and 100% sRGB (95% is average), much better than the Inspiron 14 2-in-1's 52%. from AdobeRGB and 69% from sRGB and 48% and 64% of the Galaxy Book. The IdeaPad even beats the ThinkPad's 76% and 100%. These colors were also fairly accurate with a DeltaE of 1.65 (1.0 or less is excellent), compared to the Inspiron 14 2-in-1 with 1.8, the Galaxy Book with 2.41, and the ThinkPad with an even better 0 , 99. Finally, the IdeaPad's contrast was 1,340: 1, well above our preferred 1,000: 1 and much higher than the other three laptops I used for comparison.

Close-up of the webcam, screen and bezels on the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Those are excellent results for a laptop that was not explicitly designed for developers who demand even wider colors – although the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro's colors are certainly wide enough for the less demanding creative types. When searching our database, I couldn't find a current 14-inch laptop for the same money or more that had a better display – and most had significantly worse displays. The display also supports Dolby Vision High Dynamic Range (HDR), which makes it a great laptop for binding HDR content from Netflix and other streaming services. Lenovo charges a pretty penny for the IdeaPad, and the display helps justify the investment.

Sound is provided by two downward facing speakers under the front of the cabinet, and the sound was clear and bright. There was minimal bass as always. The only problem is that the volume was low even at full volume, but there was still a hint of distortion. You want headphones for Netflix and music, and sound quality isn't one of the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro's strong points.

Keyboard and touchpad

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro keyboard and trackpad.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro has the same keyboard design found on all Lenovo laptops that are not labeled as ThinkPad. It's roomy with large and comfortably shaped keycaps. The “TrueStrike” switch mechanism was adopted from Lenovo gaming laptops and offers a tactile feel. The switches are snappy, with a soft bottom movement that makes for a precise feel. There was also a lot of travel for this type of keyboard.

It's not quite as comfortable as HP Specter or Dell XPS keyboards, but it's close enough. Most people will love this keyboard.

The touchpad was large and took up most of the palm rest space. Kudos to Lenovo for using the larger display. The touchpad surface was smooth, with just enough friction for precise swipes, and the buttons made a healthy click without being loud. It's a Microsoft Precision touchpad, and so the usual Windows 10 multi-touch gestures were well supported. The touch display was responsive and welcome too.

An infrared camera and facial recognition have Windows Hello support, and it was quick and reliable. Lenovo has incorporated its user presence detection technology, which locks and hibernates the laptop when the user leaves the area, keeps the laptop unlocked when the user is in front of it even when the keyboard and touchpad are not in use, and the laptop automatically reactivated when the user returns from an absence. It can even pause a video when the user leaves. Overall, it's a handy system that works well, and I had to turn it off to run my battery tests unless I wanted to sit in front of the laptop for hours.

Battery life

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro sits at an angle on a table.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

With a 61-watt-hour battery and a high-resolution 14-inch display, the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro made me very curious about its battery life. I was also wondering how the 35 watt CPU would fare.

Initially, the IdeaPad was inconsistent in our web browsing test. When I first ran the test, the laptop only lasted 6.25 hours, which is a miserable score compared to the 10 hours or more we like to see from thin and light premium laptops. I ran it a second time and it lasted 7.75 hours. That's better, but still way behind the field.

The battery life is not a strength of the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro.

For example, the Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 lasted 12.9 hours in this test, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio lasted 10.5 hours. However, just as worrying as the short run time was the inconsistency. In our video benchmark, which runs through a local Full HD movie trailer, the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro managed 12.75 hours, which is a decent score that surpassed the 11 hours of the Inspiron but behind the 14 hours of the Surface Laptop Studio lagged behind.

In the PCMark 10 Applications battery test, which is the best indicator for the longevity of productivity, the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro lasted 9.25 hours. We didn't test the Surface Laptop Studio in this review and the Inspiron 14 2-in-1 wouldn't complete it, but the IdeaPad scores below average for thin and light laptops. Most last at least 10 hours, and some, like the MSI Summit E13 Flip Evo, can last 13 hours or more. In the PCMark 10 gaming battery test, the IdeaPad only lasted 95 minutes, which indicates that the laptop is maintaining its performance on battery power.

Overall, the battery life is not a strength of the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro. Whether it can last a full day at work depends on your workflow – if it's tough at all, have your charger with you just in case.

Our opinion

The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro is positioned as a mid-range laptop, but priced like a premium device, and luckily it lives up to the latter. The build quality is a bit poor and the battery life mediocre, but the performance is solid and the display is excellent for this device class. It is a good looking laptop that is reasonably sized and attractive with a simple design.

The additional features, such as user presence detection technology, are welcome additions that add value. The IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro is a solid addition to the 14-inch clamshell market and is conquering a healthy niche for itself thanks to its outstanding display.

Are there alternatives?

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 is a great alternative if you're willing to spend a little extra cash. The display isn't that good, but the battery life is spectacular and the build quality is much better.

HP's Specter x360 14 is another solid option that is also a bit more expensive but gives you the flexibility of a 2-in-1, sleek design, and the option for an even better OLED display.

As always, the Dell XPS 13 is a great choice if you're willing to cut down on the size of the display (and chassis). It's fast, durable, and incredibly attractive and well built. Again, you'll be spending a little more, but it's worth it.

How long it will take?

The IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro could feel a bit more robust, but is built well enough to last for several years of typical use. Its components are up to date and are designed to keep Windows 11 running. As always, the industry standard one-year warranty is disappointing.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. Offering great performance and a beautiful display, the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro will meet most of the needs of the most demanding productivity user. Only the battery life stands out as a real minus.

Editor's recommendations



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