05 Oct
Blog

Surface Laptop Studio Review: It’s Weird and Wonderful

The front of the Surface Laptop Studio in Stage mode.

Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio

RRP $ 2,100.00

"The Surface Laptop Studio is finally the Pro-level Surface PC that many have always wanted."

advantages

  • The most powerful Surface PC

  • Gorgeous 120 Hz screen

  • Funny 2-in-1 design

  • Wonderful haptic touchpad

  • Excellent workmanship

disadvantage

  • CPU holds back performance

Surface devices play by their own rules. They shy away from conventions. You're pushing the boundaries.

This sometimes leads to products that prefer form to function, or others that fall completely on their face.

The Surface Laptop Studio could easily have been another of those stumbling blocks. To my delight, Microsoft expertly balances the need for a powerful laptop with the adventurous design that Surface devices are known for. As an alternative to the Dell XPS 15 or MacBook Pro, the Surface Laptop Studio has its strengths and weaknesses. But at face value, it's a winner as a device that offers a completely unique PC experience.

draft

The back lid of the Surface Laptop Studio.

From a distance, the Surface Laptop Studio looks pretty conventional. It's a silver 14-inch laptop with a Microsoft logo on the lid. Big deal right?

Then your eyes will be drawn to the ventilation slots on the side walls of the laptop. Next you will see the fold in the back of the lid. As you drag the screen forward across the keyboard, you'll realize that this is not an orthodox laptop.

The base of the laptop is cut in half and consists of two parts – one with ports hanging over the side and one with open air vents. It's unlike anything I've seen in a laptop design before.

It's rare to see this amount of airflow in general on a premium laptop like this one. Laptop manufacturers usually prefer a simpler design with less visible openings. The MacBook Pro and Dell XPS 15 are both examples of this philosophy.

A side view of the Surface Laptop Studio.

But the Surface Laptop Studio is allowed to bake and eat its cake. This airflow is a heat technician's dream scenario without affecting the connections or the minimalist design. In fact, the vents are completely hidden from most angles. It also provides a nifty place to magnetically store the Surface Pen (on the front) and could theoretically also be a way to keep the heat away from the palm rests. The cooling is inspired, although the top half of the vents are actually used to vent audio rather than hot air.

This design means that from a full side view, the Surface Laptop Studio appears thicker than it actually is. It's 0.7 inches thick, thicker than both the MacBook Pro and Dell XPS 15. The Surface Laptop Studio is also quite heavy at 4 pounds, though it's only slightly lighter than the XPS 15 and MacBook Pro 16 inches . A laptop with the same screen size as the Razer Blade 14 is both thinner and lighter.

The rounded corners of the Surface Laptop Studio stand out from the crowd, Microsoft goes one step further and also rounds off the corners of the display. This is even different from the other Surface products and combines it directly with Windows 11. For the first time in a long time, Surface hardware and Windows software feel like they go hand in hand.

Stage mode and studio mode

The Surface Laptop Studio from the side, pulled forward in stage mode.

While the Surface Laptop Studio opens and closes like any other laptop, Microsoft couldn't help but incorporate some crazy 2-in-1 modes as well. When open, the lower half of the lid can be pulled forward into "stage mode". It magnetizes on the keyboard deck, so the touchpad remains available for use but the keyboard is covered. This has also been demonstrated with other laptops, such as the leather-bound HP Elite Folio. It bears the greatest resemblance to the Acer ConceptD Ezel laptops, which also had a kind of pull-down "stage mode".

However, implementing it on the Surface Laptop Studio is the best attempt at making this type of hinge work smoothly. Although it often requires the use of two hands, switching the device from one mode to another feels fluid and easy. The magnetic fasteners feel secure and guide the movement of the hinge.

Once you know what's possible, it feels just as natural as other 2-in-1s like the Surface Pro 8 or the iPad Pro. In contrast to the ConceptD Ezel, you shouldn't use the Surface Laptop Studio in the phases between the different modes. That means it's more limited, yes, but it feels more robust.

The Surface Laptop Studio in stage mode.

So what is Stage Mode good for? Well, Microsoft envisions that you spend most of your time illustrating painterly masterpieces using the Surface Pen. That may apply to you, but I am not an artist or a designer. And yet, I've found plenty of cases where the stage mode came in handy. We all know that touchscreens on laptops are not convenient for long periods of time. Reaching up and touching a laptop screen with your index finger is (and always has been) an ergonomic nightmare. Touching the screen with your finger also causes the lid to wobble.

Stage mode fixes both of these problems. The angle is more comfortable for touch operation, whether with the finger or the Surface Pen, and it is much more stable than in laptop mode.

The Surface Laptop Studio was completely shut down in Studio mode.

There is also “Studio Mode” which is a little less useful. The screen can be folded almost flat on the keyboard. Here you only have the touchscreen as the main input. Due to the weight of the device, you are unlikely to use it as a "tablet", so to speak. Because of this, Studio Mode is primarily intended for dedicated time with the Surface Pen, whether you're working in Illustrator or writing notes in Whiteboard while holding it like a clipboard. I admit that artists may appreciate Studio Mode more than I do.

Finally, you can also flip the screen completely so that it faces away from the keyboard. This mode is great for watching movies or playing games with an external controller. One problem with this mode is that the speakers are facing away from you.

The best thing about these modes, however, is how easy it is to ignore them. If all you wanted was a Surface Laptop with an RTX graphics card inside, the Surface Laptop Studio doesn't sacrifice too much to take advantage of its experimental hinge feature.

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The Surface Laptop Studio moved forward in stage mode.

The Surface Laptop Studio has a fabulous display. It's by far the best screen Microsoft has put in a Surface device outside of the Surface Studio All-in-One, regardless of what metric you're testing it with. The 14.4-inch screen (of course) has an aspect ratio of 3: 2 with a resolution of 2400 x 1600. That is 197 pixels per inch (ppi), which is not quite as sharp as the 227 ppi of the MacBook Pro 13 -Inch or the 290 ppi of the 4K Dell XPS 15. Still, the screen feels very sharp for its size.

However, the Surface Laptop Studio has the upper hand against these two laptops with its 120Hz refresh rate. For a long time, refresh rates above 60 Hz were reserved for gaming laptops only, but the Surface Laptop Studio (and Surface Pro 8) are finally bringing the benefits of ultra-smooth animation to the non-gaming world. Once you've spent time on a 120Hz screen, especially in Windows 11, you don't want to go back.

Of course, the Surface Laptop Studio can also use this refresh rate in games, which makes it a more legitimate gaming laptop compared to the Dell XPS 15, Asus Vivobook Pro 16X, MacBook Pro or Acer Swift X.

Once you've spent time on a 120Hz screen, you don't want to go back.

The display of the Surface Laptop Studio also has fantastic picture quality. Apart from the Surface Studio, the Surface Laptop Studio has the brightest screen from Microsoft with a maximum of 443 cd / m². There are lighter screens out there, but it's exactly what Apple currently has in its MacBook Pros and feels very bright even when working outdoors or next to a window.

The color space reaches 100% sRGB and 82% AdobeRGB. It's not perfect like some 4K laptops – the Dell XPS 15 or the HP Specter x360 come to mind. But when combined with the 1.3 Delta-E, this is a display suitable for serious creative work. These results were all achieved in the preset color profile "Vivid". The “sRGB” color mode option has a narrower color space and poorer color accuracy.

Ports

The connections of the Surface Laptop Studio.

Thunderbolt 4 coming to Surface Laptop Studio is a big deal and makes it competitive. The Surface Laptop Studio has two of these USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports on the left. On the right side you'll find a Surface Connect dock and headphone jack.

Despite the quality of these ports, their number is worrying. I'm not going to waste your time lamenting the lack of USB-A and HDMI, but it certainly would have been nice to have another USB-C port and even an SD card slot. It would have been a huge benefit for this laptop audience not to need an adapter to upload content directly from a camera, and that is something that the XPS 15 includes.

Microsoft is following the example of Apple, which only offers two Thunderbolt 4 ports on its M1 MacBook Pro. However, if the rumors about the upcoming 14-inch redesign prove to be true, the decision to cut older ports could be a little on the decline.

Webcam and speakers

The webcam has a resolution of 1080p, which is certainly a step up from the Surface Laptop 4, XPS 15, or other 720p laptops. It's not quite as crisp or smooth as the Surface Pro 8. The Surface Laptop Studio of course also has an IR camera in the top frame

The device uses a quad speaker setup – two under the keyboard and two subwoofers on the sides of the laptop. The result is a nice audio balance that's a solid upgrade over the Surface Laptop 4. But here, too, the powerful, front-facing speakers of the Surface Pro 8 run in circles around these speakers, as do those of the MacBook Pro.

power

The Surface Laptop Studio on a white table.

The promise of a truly "pro" level Surface device has been a long time coming. The Surface Book 3 came close, but it didn't quite have the performance and display quality required by creative professionals.

The Surface Laptop Studio tries to do two things to overcome the performance limitations of the Surface Book 3. First, it uses a slightly more powerful Intel processor than the Surface Book, Surface Pro, or Surface Laptop lines. The Core i7-11370H is a 35 watt instead of 25 watt chip. More power is always a good thing, and it results in improved CPU performance over the Surface Book 3. Improved multi-core performance is the key to improved performance in all kinds of creative and technical tasks is targeted.

However, 8-cores, 45-watt CPUs in laptops like the Dell XPS 15, MacBook Pro 16-inch and many others will always have the upper hand over the Surface Laptop Studio.

Microsoft says it developed its own custom framework for managing the power shared by the CPU and GPU, and insisted that this 35-watt CPU was the best solution. The Surface Laptop Studio's performance is disappointing in many synthetic benchmarks. As expected, laptops like the Dell XPS 15 consistently offer better single-core and multi-core performance.

Underdog Bench 5
(Single / multiple)		 Cinebench R23 (single / multiple) Handbrake (seconds) PCMark 10 Pugetbench Premiere Pro 3DMark time spy
Surface Laptop Studio (Core i7-11370H) 1321/5131 1304/5450 179 5091 417 4266
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4 (Core i7-11800H) 1520/7353 1519/10497 106 6251 432 6691
Dell XPS 15 (Core i7-11800H) 1556/7692 1513/9979 103 6024 509 4540
Acer Swift X (Ryzen 7 5800U) 1287/6663 1437/10135 99 6247 333 4073
Asus Vivobook Pro 16X (Ryzen 9 5900HX) 1544/8299 1486/11478 90 6486 571 4601

The ailing processor is most emphasized in Handbrake, which reveals the CPU performance for a practical test. Without the help of the discrete GPU, which the Surface Laptop Studio uses second to address performance issues, it falls short of the competition in a simple video encoding test, revealing the limitations of the quad-core processor. Surprisingly, the processor performance alone isn't much faster than the Surface Pro 8.

But here, too, Microsoft emphasizes the overall package – real performance that can balance the performance between CPU and GPU. Although it shares a lot in common with Nvidia's Dynamic Boost technology, Microsoft's own framework is homemade here. According to Microsoft, the system dynamically assigns both power (up to 50 watts for the RTX 3050 Ti) and fan speed, making moment-to-moment decisions to manage both the CPU and GPU.

The PugetBench Premiere Pro benchmark is good evidence of this claim as it tests a number of video editing tasks that use both components.

The Surface Laptop Studio certainly does better here than in CPU-related tests and benchmarks. For example, the Dell XPS 15 is 33% faster in multi-core Cinebench performance, but only 15% faster in PugetBench. While the Surface Laptop Studio's CPU is still holding back performance, the system undoubtedly does a good job of balancing the system's power distribution.

In comparison to similar laptops, the performance of the Surface Laptop Studio is in the midfield.

Compared to laptops with a similar mix of components, the Surface Laptop Studio is in the middle of the PugetBench performance. The fastest RTX 3050 Ti content creation laptop I've tested is the Asus Vivobook Pro 16X, which uses a Ryzen 9 5900HX.

Gaming is also a good test of overall performance and power distribution. Unsurprisingly, the Surface Laptop Studio does admirably in more GPU-heavy games and struggles with titles that rely more on CPU power. You can see this in a game like Civilization VI, which is heavily CPU dependent for fast frame rates, especially at lower resolutions and graphics settings. At 1920 x 1200 and medium settings, the Surface Laptop Studio is still fast with 105 frames per second, but clearly behind the Asus Vivobook Pro 16X and Dell XPS 15. This comparison is even out at higher resolutions.

Meanwhile, the Surface Laptop Studio copes well with internal temperatures and does not exceed 82 degrees Celsius for either the CPU or the GPU. The surface temperatures got warm, sometimes even on the right palm rest. It's not as outrageous as the Razer Blade laptops, but you will definitely feel the temperatures rise throughout the device as heavy-duty tasks are performed.

Keyboard and touchpad

To my surprise, there have been very few attempts to recreate the MacBook Pro's Force trackpad on a Windows laptop. Nobody came close. Then the Surface Laptop Studio comes and surpasses it. This is officially my favorite touchpad on any laptop, outperforming the MacBook Pro and the more conventional Surface Laptop 4.

First, the tracking and gesture support is second to none. The glass surface is incredibly smooth, the palm deflection is accurate, and it's big enough. But with the haptic feedback system it is really fun.

A top view of the Surface Laptop Studio keyboard.

According to Microsoft, it uses a similar haptic motor as the Force Trackpad and simulates the feeling of pressing a button. Microsoft's implementation is even more compelling, and the ability to adjust sensitivity is the icing on the cake. I've found the sweet spot to be around 75%, but when you turn it up to the max it almost feels like a physical click to the brain.

Microsoft has performed a similar miracle with its Surface Slim Pen 2, which simulates the feeling of friction through subtle haptic feedback in the stylus. While the Surface Slim Pen 2 didn't come with the Surface Laptop Studio, it's a fantastic supportive peripheral.

The keyboard isn't nearly as adventurous, but it's no less enjoyable. Choosing gray keycaps instead of black is a nice change of pace (and prevents it from looking like a MacBook rip-off.)

Meanwhile, the keystrokes feel similar to the Type Cover of the Surface Pro 8 – precise, with a lot of spring travel and a comfortable floor movement. The size and layout of the keyboard are almost identical to the Surface Pro 8 Type Cover, only the power button has been squeezed into the row of functions. I wouldn't have minded an extended keyboard with bigger keycaps, but I immediately felt comfortable on this keyboard.

Like all Surface devices, the Surface Laptop Studio doesn't include a fingerprint reader, but instead relies on Windows Hello functionality in the IR camera.

Battery life

I was pleasantly surprised at how long the Surface Laptop Studio would last on a single charge. Despite having a high-resolution screen (with a high refresh rate) and discrete RTX graphics, I had no problem using the Surface Laptop Studio away from an electrical outlet for most of a work day.

I tested the battery by browsing a number of websites until the battery ran out. The Surface Laptop Studio lasted over 10.5 hours in this test, which is better than both the Dell XPS 15 (4K OLED) and the Surface Book 3. The Surface Laptop Studio has a strong battery life, but champions like the Asus Vivobook Pro 16X lasted over 16 hours through this same test.

You can get up to 14 hours out of the Surface Laptop Studio for extremely light tasks like our video playback test, which runs a local 1080p clip until the battery runs out. I never quite reached the 18 hours required by Microsoft, but for a laptop of this size and performance, I can't complain.

Configurations and price

Like the Surface Book 3, the Surface Laptop Studio starts at $ 1,600. However, this basic configuration is unlikely to attract many buyers. Although it has 16GB of RAM, it doesn't have a separate graphics card, and with the CPU limitations discussed earlier, the $ 1,600 and $ 1,800 models remain a little underpowered.

As always, Microsoft charges a lot for upgrades. It costs an additional $ 600 to switch from 16GB to 32GB of RAM and 512GB to 1TB of storage. That's $ 200 more than Apple charges for the same upgrades (and $ 100 more than Dell)! That makes the $ 2,100 configuration a solid option, especially since you can upgrade your SSD for more if you really want to. It's actually a few hundred dollars cheaper than the Surface Book 3 in the high-end options.

And don't forget – the Acer Swift X is $ 1,000 cheaper than the Surface Laptop Studio, despite having very similar components.

When storage and storage are balanced, the Surface Laptop Studio is $ 500 more expensive than the M1 13-inch MacBook Pro. The Surface Laptop Studio is over $ 500 cheaper than the Intel-powered MacBook Pro, of course, but it's soon to be replaced.

Our opinion

The Surface Laptop Studio isn't perfect – its weakened quad-core processor is a problem. If you need that power more than anything, there are more powerful options out there.

You need to get into the overall vision of the product for the Surface Laptop Studio to be worth the price. The various 2-in-1 modes, integration with the Surface Slim Pen 2, the haptic feedback touchpad, and the gorgeous 120Hz screen are all things that set the Surface Laptop Studio apart from any other laptop you have right now able to buy.

Are there alternatives?

The Razer Blade 14 matches (or surpasses) much of what the Surface Laptop Studio does in terms of performance, size, and premium feel. It doesn't have the pull-forward hinge or stylus support, of course, but the option for an RTX 3080 and the eight-core Ryzen 9 5900HX make it a more powerful laptop.

Much is unknown about the upcoming M1X MacBook Pro 14-inch, although it will certainly be the main competitor of the Surface Laptop Studio when it launches later this year.

The Dell XPS 15 is also a good alternative. You can't directly compare it to the Surface Laptop Studio due to its different screen, but both laptops can be configured with the RTX 3050 Ti and are similarly powerful creative laptops.

How long it will take?

The Surface Laptop Studio should last for many years – hopefully up to five or six. The processor and graphics card will no doubt feel old after a few years, but the ability to upgrade the memory yourself – up to 2TB – helps

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. The Surface Laptop Studio offers a one-of-a-kind 2-in-1 laptop that you won't get anywhere else.

Editor's recommendations



05 Oct
Blog

Acer Aspire Vero Review: The Sustainable Windows 11 Laptop?

The Acer Aspire Vero opens on a small table.

Acer Aspire Vero

RRP $ 900.00

"The Acer Aspire Vero is an admirable attempt at sustainability, but it does not offer a total package."

advantages

  • Easy to update

  • Uses sustainable materials for a budget laptop

  • Comfortable keyboard

  • Decent performance

  • Many ports

disadvantage

  • Bad battery life

  • Desaturated screen

  • Touchpad is clunky

Windows 11 is here and with it a new era for laptops. While many of these new devices seek to highlight a sleek new design or powerful performance, the new Acer Aspire Vero has a different ethos. Sustainability.

The marketing materials make some ambitious claims about the environmentally friendly way the Acer Aspire Vero was made and I would assume these choices are costly. When you look at the display, battery life, and touchpad on this budget laptop, it becomes obvious.

As much as I'd love to give Acer props, the Acer Aspire Vero ends up cutting off too many corners to be worth the price.

draft

The logo for post-consumer recycling, stamped into the case of the Aspire Vero.

The Aspire Vero is supposed to be a green laptop, and Acer doesn't want you to forget it. The overall appearance of the chassis is a constant reminder that it is not made from your standard plastic. The post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic is speckled light gray and I like its uniqueness. The palm rests and lid also have a textured feel, which in turn reminds you that this is not the smooth but lavish plastic used in your simple laptop.

I understand that there is much more to marketing than saving the world, but it makes for a one-of-a-kind total under the sea of ​​silver and black laptops in the world. If a budget laptop like the Acer Aspire Vero can't compete with high-end laptops in terms of expensive materials, it might as well offer something that feels new.

As a budget or mid-range laptop, the Aspire Vero's environmental stance is quite unique.

Acer claims that 30% of the Aspire Vero's case and 50% of its keycaps are made of PCR plastic. If you are not overwhelmed by 30%, you are not alone. Laptops like Lenovo's ThinkPad L-Series already have 30% of their cases made of PCR plastic, and those claims are not engraved on the case of the laptop. Then there is Apple, which has been claiming since 2018 that its MacBooks are made entirely from recycled aluminum. Microsoft has also taken the same step towards recycled aluminum with the new Surface Pro 8.

While this is a first for Acer, it is certainly not new to the industry. Does that mean Acer is pushing the Aspire Vero's sustainability a little more than it should? Yes, to a certain extent. On the other hand, its environmental stance as a budget or mid-range laptop is still pretty unique. Most laptops that claim to be high in recycled plastic or aluminum cost over a thousand dollars for a base model like the MacBook Air or ThinkPad L15.

The front of the Acer Aspire Vero in front of a white casing.

I'll be happy to commend Acer for applying better environmental standards to its cheaper laptops than just its high-end options. While I don't need every laptop to have it engraved on its case, I hope the practice of using PCR will continue.

Acer also advertises the Aspire Vero as more sustainable from the perspective of longevity. The lower lid is easier to remove than on an average laptop thanks to the use of standard screws. No special tools required! Once inside, you'll see that the RAM, storage, and Wi-Fi module are all interchangeable. Upgradability, perhaps more than the use of PCR, is an important sustainability aspect that many laptop manufacturers fail to consider.

Of course, there are also negative elements of the design of this laptop that have nothing to do with environmental protection, but rather with the limitations of the price-conscious brand "Aspire". The 16: 9 aspect ratio feels dated as many laptops switch to larger 16:10 or 3: 2 sizes. The shape is highlighted by some chunky plastic bezels that will go out of style by 10 years. The thinner bezels of the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 make for a modern, sleek looking device.

The processing quality also leaves a lot to be desired. It has a noticeable weak point in the middle of the hinge and the lid. This is common with plastic laptops, but this is where it's especially noteworthy. A hard press of a button pushes the chassis down, and when it is closed the center of the lid is warped so it doesn't close completely flat.

A side view of the Acer Aspire Vero showing the thickness of the laptop.

For the performance it has, the Aspire Vero is pretty clunky too. It's 0.7 inches thick, which fits laptops like the Dell XPS 15 or the Surface Laptop Studio. The difference is that the Acer Vero does not contain a separate graphics card or high-performance CPU. More on that later, but when you see the same components in a laptop as thin as the Surface Laptop 4 or LG Gram, you really wonder why this type of laptop has to be so thick.

On the other hand, it is the same thickness as the Acer Aspire 5 and is even slightly thinner than the 0.78-inch Asus Vivobook 15. However, the Aspire Vero is 3.97 pounds versus 3.64 pounds heavier than the Acer Aspire 5.

Ports

The left side of the Acer Aspire Vero with the selection of connections.

The Acer Aspire Vero offers a good mix of ports, although it's a bit old-fashioned. On the left you will find two USB-A ports, HDMI, Ethernet jack, a USB-C port and the laptop's proprietary charging port. Unfortunately, this is the only way to charge the laptop while using the device, as the USB-C port can only discharge the battery when it is switched off. Too bad.

On the right side you will find the headphone jack and the Kensington lock. I would have preferred at least one of the USB ports on this side for convenience, especially if you plan on docking your laptop with other peripherals in a home office environment.

As for wireless connectivity, the laptop supports both Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1.

Keyboard and touchpad

A top view of the Acer Aspire Vero keyboard.

The Acer Aspire Vero has a comfortable keyboard that I have adopted as my main writing instrument without any major weaknesses. The keycaps don't wobble too much and the key travel of 1.5 mm feels appropriate.

I would have liked bigger keycaps, however, especially for this large laptop. It leads to fewer typos and more confidence when typing. The laptop has a number pad on the right and a large touchpad on the bottom. The "R" and "E" keys are stylized in such a way that they are written the other way around (to stand for Acer's environmental values), which is a bit strange.

The keyboard illumination is extremely limited on the Acer Aspire Vero. Only one level of brightness control is offered – either on or off. That's not very helpful.

The touchpad is where my nitpicks turn into annoyances.

The touchpad below is where my nitpicks turn into annoyances. Touchpads are notoriously bad on cheap laptops, and the Aspire Vero fits that trend. The tracking feels clunky and your finger won't slide across the surface without friction. It makes simple tasks like clicking and dragging, selecting text, or touch gestures frustrating.

The fingerprint reader is in the top left corner of the touchpad, which is one of my least favorite places, although the touchpad is big enough to avoid being touched all the time. Laptops like the IdeaPad 5 manage to push their fingerprint readers into the power button, which is handy.

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The Acer Aspire Vero, open on the table, shows its keyboard and display.

I knew immediately that something was wrong with the Acer Aspire Vero's display. The colors have a sickly desaturated appearance. It's not flattering. We also noticed the reduced color saturation in other Acer Aspire notebooks last year. It's not quite as bad as the Acer Aspire 5, but that's hardly a compliment.

It's easy to see where Acer cut some corners. The screen is dark at only 233 nits, has poor color saturation (65% of sRGB) and mediocre color accuracy. It's not nice. Not uncommon for a $ 500 laptop, but it's a disappointment for the $ 899 configuration I tested. You can buy either an M1 MacBook Air or a Ryzen-powered Surface Laptop 4, both of which have great screens, for just $ 100 more. Of course, you get less memory and storage space in these basic configurations, but the difference in display quality, battery life, and performance will be clearly noticeable.

When it comes to design and display, the important thing to remember is that this is a beefed up version of a $ 700 laptop. Don't let the starting prices confuse you. For example, the MacBook Air has a starting price of $ 999, but you'll have to pay $ 1,399 for a similarly configured MacBook Air, compared to the $ 900 Aspire Vero.

The speakers are also nothing to celebrate. They are at the bottom of the laptop, pointing down at the table. The result is usable sound for occasional videos, but not something you want to use for long music or movie sessions.

power

The keyboard of the Acer Aspire Vero, shown from the front.

The Acer Aspire Vero's performance is handled well as long as you consider what category of laptop it is. Many laptops of this size offer a more powerful processor class, the 45-watt H-series chips. These have up to eight cores and 16 threads, which dramatically improves content creation and multitasking performance. Due to the simpler Core i7-1195G7 chip in the Aspire Vero, its ambitions are a bit more modest.

It's a laptop designed for everyday tasks like web browsing, video calling, office applications, and content streaming. You can expand its capabilities with a little bit of light photo editing or design work, but you will reach your limits when trying to encode 4K video or play modern 3D games. This is ensured by the quad-core processor and the lack of a separate graphic.

But as a standard work computer, tested in the full PCMark 10 benchmark, the Aspire Vero drives as I would expect. It even did well in the Cinebench R23 single-core benchmark, where it achieved the fastest score we tested in this processor class. The Aspire Vero does this without ever getting too hot, either inside or on the surface.

Here you can expect better performance and thermals than from a smaller 13-inch laptop with the same processor. It should be noted that my configuration also came with 16 GB of RAM and a 512 GB SSD. The Aspire Vero makes good use of its Intel processor and delivers solid performance for your daily workload and multitasking.

Underdog Bench 5
(Single / multiple)		 Cinebench R23 (single / multiple) Handbrake (seconds) PCMark 10 3DMark time spy
Acer Aspire Vero (Core i7-1195G7) 1,583 / 5,156 1,568 / 5,358 167 5,082 1,555
Asus Vivobook Flip 14 (Ryzen 5 5500U) 1,102 / 5,432 1,180 / 7,579 131 5,191 1,099
Acer Aspire 5 (Core i3-1115G4) 1,215 / 2,544 1.274 / 3.128 300 n / A 652
Dell XPS 13 (Core i7-1185G7) 1,549 / 5,431 1.449 / 4.267 204 3,859 1,589
Frame laptop (Core i7-1165G7) 1,432 / 4,725 1,444 / 4,725 176 5,054 1,641

To manage performance and battery life, Acer has an application called VeroSense, which is pretty much exclusively intended to toggle between the power and power saving modes, which was designed for the Aspire Vero. I say “designed”, but the “ECO” mode is really just a renamed version of an energy saving mode. It increases battery life by about an hour and makes the Vero both quieter and less powerful. Finally, there is an "ECO +" mode that forces the Windows energy-saving mode to be switched on permanently. While this is a more efficient mode of operation, it is not something that no other laptop cannot easily do.

In the standard “balanced” mode, in which I have run all of my tests, the system's fans like to turn up loud under load, but it is quite quiet when idling.

Battery life

I didn't expect great battery life from the Aspire Vero, simply because of the price. When I saw that it only had a 48 watt hour battery, my worries grew.

In my tests, the Acer Aspire Vero underperformed even on a laptop of this type. It lasted for almost six and a half hours in our light web browser test. However, with my normal workload, the average time on a single charge dropped to under 5 hours. The maximum you can get out of the Acer Aspire Vero is around seven and a half hours. That is how long the system lasted during our lightest period of repeating a local 1080p video clip until the laptop dies.

The normal Acer Aspire 5 lasted 40-60 minutes longer, while the Asus Vivobook Flip 14 lasted a whopping two and a half hours longer. Spend a few hundred dollars more and you get a laptop that will last over twice as long.

Our opinion

The Acer Aspire Vero speaks a great game of its sustainability efforts, but its actual contributions aren't as significant as I'd hoped. I would never blame a company for making even small improvements toward more sustainable packaging and manufacturing, but the Aspire Vero's marketing outperforms the actual posts.

The Aspire Vero also fills the role of one of the cheaper laptops to hit the market with Windows 11 preinstalled, but even there it has some flaws that are hard to miss.

Are there alternatives?

In terms of Windows 11 laptops, which aren't very expensive, the Aspire Vero is your only choice. However, if you're willing to wait for the eventual free upgrade to Windows 11 when it launches, there are plenty of reasonably priced Windows laptops out there that offer a better overall package.

The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 is a solid alternative, offering a thinner bezel design and a brighter screen for roughly the same price. The Asus Vivobook 15 offers a similar equipment balance.

After all, the Surface Laptop Go is a smaller device but reaches a similar price range for a higher quality design.

How long it will take?

The Acer Aspire Vero should last four or five years if you want it to. The pre-installed Windows 11 ensures that you will receive updates in the future. The ability to swap out components makes repairing or upgrading your laptop easy across the board.

Unfortunately, beyond the standard one-year warranty that Acer gives you, you're on your own.

Should you buy it?

No. The Aspire Vero is a little overpriced for its quality and doesn't make up for it with enough truly sustainable initiatives.

Editor's recommendations



03 Oct
Blog

SteelSeries Prime Mini Wireless Review: When Less Isn’t More

Steelseries Prime Mini Wireless Test 2

SteelSeries Prime Mini Wireless

RRP $ 130.00

"The $ 130 SteelSeries Prime Mini Wireless feels a step below other eSport mice."

advantages

  • Robust and ergonomic design

  • Crunchy optical magnetic switches

  • Long battery life

  • Super light

disadvantage

  • Large USB-C dongle without memory

  • Expensive

  • Too small for most hand sizes

You don't normally think of high-end esport mice in a portable form, but that's exactly what the SteelSeries Prime Mini is. It takes the lightweight ergonomic design of the Prime Wireless and cuts it up to create a gaming mouse that is not only smaller but also lighter.

SteelSeries did not leave out any features to achieve a slim shape. The Mini still features the same sensor, optical magnetic switches, and buttons as its full-size counterpart. However, with both mice for the same price, the Prime Mini feels like a downgrade for most hand sizes.

Not to mention how it rivals the best gaming mice. Despite being a high-end esports mouse with a spec sheet to match, the Prime Mini doesn't reach the same heights as its competitors. However, the design and switches are second to none, which can be worthwhile if you take the full-size model off.

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The SteelSeries Prime Mini and dongle on a blue background.

There aren't many mini gaming mice out there, and the SteelSeries Prime Mini doesn't change that, despite its name. It's only slightly smaller than the full-size Prime, shaving 1.7mm in height, 1.7mm in width, and most importantly 5mm in length. It also reduces the weight from 80 grams to 73 grams, which is light, but not as light as the Logitech G Pro X Superlight at 63 grams.

Although smaller than the SteelSeries Prime, the Mini is no smaller than many wireless esport mice. The Logitech G Pro Wireless is shorter and thinner, and the Razer Viper Ultimate is shorter and thinner than both.

The difference is the length at which the Prime Mini shaves about 5mm from mice of similar caliber. The change in height never bothered me, but the length and width did. Even with smaller hands, it never felt like I had enough to hold onto the palm grip as the back end of my palm slipped off the mouse and onto my desk. The narrower width also meant that I dragged my little finger along.

I really missed the extra length and width of the Prime Mini.

The claw grip was much more comfortable, which is the case with most smaller gaming mice.

Still, I can appreciate the design. The Prime Mini feels like the Corsair Saber Pro Wireless with a more aggressive slant. The right side of the mouse protrudes from the back, and the left side has a fairly deep indentation for your thumb.

I love the design and the way the mouse feels – it comes with sturdy plastic that doesn't feel hollow like the Razer Viper Ultimate, and it felt almost too snug in the palm of my hand. I just wish I could have experienced the design in its proper form. I really missed the extra length and width of the Prime Mini, which ruined one of probably my otherwise favorite gaming mice.

Sensor and buttons

SteelSeries says the Prime Mini comes with "crispy clicks," and those are the crispest clicks I've ever had. Each time you press it, you hear a loud, satisfying crack, thanks to the Prestige OM optical magnetic switches under the hood. The Razer Basilisk V3 also has optical switches, but they don't feel as crisp as the Prime Mini.

Since the switches are optical, they are not subject to any debounce delay like mechanical switches.

This is my favorite aspect of the Prime Mini. The switches are as satisfactory as possible, and because they are optical they do not suffer from debounce delay like mechanical switches. SteelSeries also rates 100 million click life and doubles the 50 million click life on most high-end gaming switches.

The SteelSeries Prime Mini sensor.

In addition to the left and right click, the Prime Mini has forward and backward thumb buttons as well as a DPI button to toggle through the five customizable presets. The DPI button is on the bottom of the mouse, which is annoying but useful. This is an esports mouse, and you don't want to poke your DPI around in the heat of the moment.

The switches are the star of the show, while the sensor takes a back seat. The mouse comes with the SteelSeries TrueMove Air 18K DPI sensor that you can adjust in 100 DPI increments. At $ 130, that's behind the curve. The Logitech G Pro X Superlight has a 25K DPI sensor and the Corsair M65 RGB Ultra Wireless has a 26K DPI sensor. The Corsair mouse also has a query rate of 2,000 Hz while the Prime Mini is fixed at 1,000 Hz.

It's accurate and fast, but not as much as the competition.

Connectivity and battery life

The Prime Mini is equipped with Quantum 2.0 wireless technology, which, according to SteelSeries, "offers performance that feels like wired". While I'm far from an esports gamer, wireless connectivity was never an issue in Destiny 2 raids or my recent New World addiction.

SteelSeries claims 100 hours of battery life, likely due to just one RGB lighting strip around the scroll wheel. After using the mouse for almost a week, I only knocked off about a third, giving you plenty of time between charges. The mouse also supports fast charging via the USB-C port.

However, Quantum is your only option. Despite a trend towards Bluetooth and low-latency wireless connectivity in mice like the Logitech G604, the Prime Mini only comes with the SteelSeries wireless connectivity. That's not a big deal, but I always like having bluetooth as an option for using the mouse with my home theater setup.

SteelSeries Prime Mini with the dongle removed.

The wifi is solid, but I can't wrap my head around the wifi dongle. It uses USB-C instead of USB-A. Most motherboards only have a single USB-C port, and only the latest cases have a USB-C port upfront. I have much better things to use for my USB-C ports than a wireless mouse dongle.

Worse, it's a big dongle. It's about an inch long if you ignore the connector, which is about a quarter of an inch for Corsair and Razer dongles and a third of an inch for Logitech models. The Prime Mini is ready for travel because of its small and light design, but the dongle has nowhere to be kept attached to the mouse like any other high-end wireless gaming mice.

SteelSeries includes an adapter so that you can connect it to your machine using USB-A. That just doesn't feel like the best solution. I would have much preferred a USB-A dongle to keep under my mouse rather than a clunky USB-C dongle just waiting to break while plugged into my laptop.

Gaming performance

I have some issues with the Prime Mini, but there's no denying that it's a solid gaming mouse. There's tactile feedback on every mouse, but I felt it on the Prime Mini. Every shot in Destiny 2 or my endless deathloop runs felt like it was important, and the Prestige OM switches add a sense of depth to every click.

That's not the reason to buy this mouse, but it's a nice bonus given the mouse's overall gaming performance. The sensor may lag behind the competition, but it's still fast enough to keep up with nervous shooters like Valorant and swipe the screen to activate a skill in Final Fantasy XIV.

The Prime Mini is small, robust and light.

However, size proved to be an issue once more. I wanted to switch back to my tried and true Razer Viper Ultimate while gaming, just so I had a little more sagging. The Prime Wireless and Prime Mini Wireless are the same price from SteelSeries, and I would recommend sticking to the full-size model for most hand sizes.

To play, I could imagine using the Prime Mini Wireless while traveling. It's small, sturdy, and lightweight, which makes it a great high-end travel companion for gaming. As already mentioned, however, the large dongle and the lack of storage space for it dampen the travel experience.

Our opinion

The SteelSeries Prime Mini Wireless is a high quality gaming mouse with unfortunate design choices. The shape is remarkably comfortable, but too small, and the optical magnetic switches are excellent, but they are paired with a sensor that lags behind the competition. It's not a bad mouse, but it's not the best – and at $ 130, being the best is important.

Are there alternatives?

The SteelSeries Prime Mini cuts the length of most competing mice by about 5mm, so there aren't many direct alternatives.

If you don't mind a little extra length, it can measure up to the Corsair Saber Pro Wireless, Logitech G Pro X Superlight, and Razer Viper Ultimate.

How long it will take?

The Prestige optical magnetic switches are designed for 100 million clicks. Assuming 10,000 clicks per day, that's just over 27 years before the mouse wears out. Basically, it'll last until you decide to upgrade.

Should you buy it?

No. The full size Prime Wireless will be more convenient for most people and is a decent option for $ 130. The only exception are those with small hands. There aren't many small high-end gaming mice out there. The closest competitor is that Logitech G305, this is cheaper, but also heavier and with lower specifications. Otherwise, get the full version.

Editor's recommendations



02 Oct
Blog

Samsung Jet Bot AI+ Review: Home Security on Wheels is Here

Samsung Jet Bot AI + on hardwood floor.

Samsung Jet Bot AI +

RRP $ 1,300.00

"If you can afford its high price, the Samsung Jet Bot AI + is the best Samsung robotic vacuum cleaner yet."

advantages

  • Home security patrol function works well

  • More efficient cleaning performance

  • Good at avoiding obstacles

  • Minimal disposal through self-draining system

I've never been satisfied with Samsung's range of robotic vacuum cleaners. They were average at best, but never outstanding enough to put the company in the same sphere as iRobot or even Roborock. However, that may change with the introduction of the latest robotic vacuum cleaner for the home, the Samsung Jet Bot AI +.

A cursory glance at the bot is enough to raise your eyebrows, including mine, just for its stimulating design. Seriously, it looks like a mini tank on wheels instead of your traditional robotic vacuum cleaner design. What makes the Jet Bot AI + remarkable over other models is that it is a self-draining model and performs a dual role as a patrolling bot for home security. Some models do this, but none have yet assured me that they can do it effectively.

Finally a superior cleaning performance

One of the biggest reservations I had with the last generation of the company, the PowerBot series, was that they didn't do a good job of picking up debris from corners and edges. Even after a few cleanings, cat litter was still scattered everywhere. Fortunately, that changes with the Samsung Jet Bot AI +.

Samsung Jet Bot AI + on hardwood floorJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

With the help of its integrated lidar sensors, it maps rooms quickly and easily and then cleans them efficiently with the typical S-shaped cleaning pattern. It works pretty well with hardwood floors, vacuuming up any tiny dirt, grime, and cat litter. Given my previous experience, I was pretty impressed with this particular Samsung bot.

Instead of being equipped with an ordinary underside brush with bristles, the Jet Bot AI + has a soft roller brush, which is more effective on hard floors than on carpets. Don't get me wrong, the anti-static fibers aren't curled from overuse, but it lacks the inclusion of an ordinary bristle brush when it comes to carpets. It automatically adjusts its suction to the surface, with a noticeable increase when moved onto carpets and rugs – but I've still noticed some glued pet hairs clinging to the carpet.

Bottom of the Samsung Jet Bot AI +.John Velasco / Digital Trends

When everything is done, it will automatically find its way back to its combined charging and self-emptying base. The entire contents of the bin are disposed of directly in the bag inside the self-emptying base. This is less of a mess for me having to clean up every time the bot cleans, but just know that replacement bags for a pack of 5 are $ 40.

Smarter avoidance detection

It was noticeable from the start that this Samsung vacuum robot was light years smarter than the previous models. Thanks to its combination of lidar sensors and camera, the Jet Bot AI + exceeded my expectations in terms of avoiding obstacles and clutter – including some pesky cables that are known to be difficult to avoid. Although it was still stuck on one end of a ceiling, I couldn't find it getting stuck in tight spaces. It actually did a good job of navigating tight spaces, which is surprising since it's quite a giant.

Close up of the camera on Samsung Jet Bot AI +.John Velasco / Digital Trends

The Samsung SmartThings app displays the map of your home when the Jet Bot AI + first cleans and then automatically categorizes the rooms. He even managed to note down large pieces of furniture on the map, something I haven't seen with other robotic vacuum cleaners. The card can then be edited to include no-go zones, which is useful for making cleaning more efficient.

Patrol routes when you are not home

Without question, the most beautiful feature of the Samsung Jet Bot AI + is its ability to act as a patrol when you are away from home. Think of it as your personal security guard, moving from room to room, watching out for your every move. While the live feed of the video can be easily accessed through the Samsung SmartThings app, you will need to install the SmartThings video add-on to view footage recorded later.

This is the best home patrolling robot that I have tested so far.

Well, I'll argue that this is the best home patrolling robot I've tested so far, but it still takes some work to be even more useful. The only complaint I have is that it can't go into patrol mode automatically. I really would have liked to have a geofencing feature that automatically activates the robot for patrols when I'm not home and then turns off when I'm there. Instead, you can only set one schedule for now.

Still, it's really amusing to see the Samsung Jet Bot AI + leave the base to patrol different rooms in my apartment. It also doesn't clean while it's moving, so it's a bit quieter and saves battery. When it enters a room, it ends up staying in one place, but turning every now and then. When the camera detects movement, it records the event and sends a notification in the app. This is exactly the type of home security that is needed most as it doesn't sit in one spot like a typical security camera. There is still room for improvement here, however, due to its narrow field of view and fairly easy motion detection.

Our opinion

The Samsung Jet Bot AI + is the company's best robotic vacuum cleaner to date – there's no doubt about that. It's also one of the most advanced robotic vacuums on the market, offering top-notch features like a self-draining system, intelligent obstacle avoidance and home security.

The latter feature is especially noteworthy as few bots really do a good job, but the Jet Bot AI + is the first to offer some level of confidence when it comes to home security. It's not terrific, but the beginning of what's to come as more and more robotic vacuums become personal safety patrols on wheels. It's Samsung's best deal, but it's also an expensive one at $ 1,300.

Is there a better alternative?

The closest competitor to this is the Roborock S6 MaxV, which also has a camera for better obstacle avoidance and safety. While it doesn't offer that much of a comprehensive home security package, it doubles as a mopper – something the Jet Bot AI + doesn't offer. Plus, it's also available for $ 850.

In terms of cleaning performance, the iRobot Roomba i3 + does a great job of cleaning every corner of your home in an efficient manner. In addition, it has a self-draining base and a far more attractive price of $ 600.

How long it will take?

There are certainly many components involved in the Samsung Jet Bot AI +. Cleaning the robot, removing tangled strands of hair from its wheels, and emptying the bag in the cleaning base all help to keep it in optimal shape. There is a one year limited warranty that covers it against defects.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. It's a really expensive investment, but given all the features it offers, it has some advantages.

Editor's recommendations



01 Oct
Blog

Apple iPhone 13 Pro Review: The Best of the Best

Upright functional image of the iPhone 13 Pro.

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

RRP $ 999.00

"The iPhone 13 Pro offers a lot of performance under the hood with a 120 Hz display, excellent camera functions, lots of storage space and endless battery life."

advantages

  • Packs a lot of power into the size

  • Incredible camera and video performance

  • Very long-lasting battery

  • Smooth and responsive 120Hz screen

  • Comes with 1 TB storage option

disadvantage

  • No USB-C

  • Not all third-party apps are optimized for higher screen refresh

I say it in advance; the iPhone 13 Pro is the new iPhone model that you should buy if you can afford it. Unlike last year's iPhone 12 Pro, it has the same features as the larger Pro Max model. You will recall that last year the 12 Pro Max had bigger camera sensors, which gave it better low-light performance and a 3x optical zoom instead of 2x.

Not so this year. The iPhone 13 Pro has all the guts of the 13 Pro Max (apart from the battery capacity and screen size, of course) without breaking your hand or wallet. Add the powerful A15 Bionic processor, 120Hz ProMotion display, almost two days of battery life, and great camera performance, and you have the best iPhone 13 model in the entire lineup.

iPhone 13 Pro upright again.

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

iPhone 13 Pro right side.

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

iPhone 13 Pro left side.

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

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The iPhone 13 Pro I tested came in gold which is not my pick, but you will work with what you have. Both the front and the back are protected by ceramic glass and an angular stainless steel strip runs along the sides, which differs in quality from the cheaper aluminum of the iPhone 13.

All the standard buttons are there, including the bell / mute and volume buttons on the left and the side button on the right to activate Siri and turn the screen on and off. There are also downward-facing speakers on either side of the Lightning port. As I've found with other iPhone 13 models I've tested, it's a disappointment that Apple continues to stick with Lightning, especially when most people have USB-C devices for the most part. But my hope is that Apple will make the change for next year's model.

Shot in the style of the iPhone 13 Pro.Dan Baker / Digital Trends

The iPhone 13 Pro measures 5.78 x 2.81 x 0.3 inches and weighs 7.2 ounces. That's more or less the same dimensions as the iPhone 12 Pro (5.78 x 2.82 x 0.29 inches), but it's almost an ounce heavier (6, 66 ounces). welcome additions that are worth the extra weight. In terms of usability, I found it to be just as easy to use as the iPhone 13 – you can navigate and grasp the screen with one hand. Only with the Pro Max do you reach the limits of one-handed operation.

iPhone 13 Pro in hand.

apple iphone 13 pro test dan baker 10

Like all other iPhone models, iPhone 13 supports IP68 dust and water resistance. I'll admit that this came into play more times than I expected because the phone spilled a couple of times in the park while I was juggling devices during the test. So it also picked up a dent on the screen, even though the ceramic glass protects the front. It's usually not visible unless the light is reflected exactly that way and it doesn't affect usability. And if you're more careful than me and don't do a circus act in the park (or use a case or screen protector), you probably won't suffer from this problem.

In terms of the physical differences between the iPhone 13 Pro and the iPhone 12 Pro, there aren't too many. The TrueDepth sensor has a 20% smaller notch on the screen, according to Apple, which is true, but it's also a little deeper and, as far as I could tell, doesn't add a meaningful amount of usable screen real estate. As always, there's Face ID, which I generally found hit-or-miss with wearing a face mask. You can do some alternate face scans to make it work better, but it's not that safe either, so I decided not to give it a try.

iPhone 13 Pro-Notch.Dan Baker / Digital Trends

On the back, the sensor array is pretty similar to last year. There's a vaguely square camera body and three cameras. The only notable difference is that each camera sensor is larger and the camera hump protrudes a little more. In my opinion, this is a fair compromise for improved camera performance.

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There are many selling points for the iPhone 13 Pro, but one of the biggest is the screen, and we're not just referring to the size. Like the iPhone 13, it is a 6.1-inch super retina OLED screen with high color accuracy, a resolution of 2532 x 1170 and 460 pixels per inch. Its sharp, bright viewing angles are great, it can reach 1,000 nits of brightness and up to 1,200 nits for HDR content. Outdoor visibility is excellent even in direct sunlight and the screen also supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision.

This is all fantastic, but what really sets it apart is the 120Hz ProMotion display. ProMotion is a technology first introduced in the iPad Pro series in 2017 that enables Apple to increase the refresh rate from the standard 60 Hz to 120 Hz for different types of content. This has become the standard on Android flagship phones, but it's a technology Apple has been slow to adopt outside of the iPad pros, so it's great to have it on both the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max to see.

iPhone 13 Pro home screen.

Digital trends

Surf the iPhone 13 Pro.

Digital trends

iPhone 13 Pro DT website.

Digital trends

The special thing about Apple's implementation of ProMotion is that the iPhone 13 Pro uses a low-temperature panel made of polycrystalline oxide (LTPO), d 120 Hz for demanding tasks such as fast scrolling or gaming. This type of implementation was first developed for the Apple Watch's always-on screen to save battery life, and has the same effect on the iPhone 13 Pro, but I'll go into that more in the Battery section.

In actual use, the ProMotion OLED screen is sleek and fantastic to use. As someone who used the 120Hz-capable Samsung Galaxy Fold 3 before picking up the iPhone 13 Pro, the transition in terms of ease of use and smoothness was seamless despite the change in display size. And don't let anyone tell you that you won't notice the difference.

The screen of the iPhone 13 Pro.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Main home screen on iPhone 13 Pro.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The lock screen of the iPhone 13 Pro.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The power button of the iPhone 13 Pro.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

After getting used to 120Hz it's impossible to go back, which brings me to the one implementation downside – not all apps run at 120Hz. Most of the games I've tested at 60 frames per second (fps) or less, and at the time of testing, many third-party app animations weren't enabled for 120 Hz, which means animations looked choppy when scrolling. All of this will no doubt change over time as more app developers allow support for ProMotion, but it's something to be aware of.

I usually don't comment on speaker quality as there is only so much you can do with a phone speaker, but the iPhone 13 Pro has remarkably rugged stereo speakers. Even at higher volumes, they do not suffer from great distortion and offer a good range.

Performance, battery life and connectivity

In some ways, it feels a little pointless to talk about the performance of the latest iPhone model. It's the iPhone 13 Pro; It has the latest and greatest A15 Bionic processor with 6GB of RAM so of course it will be an improvement over its predecessor. You get a variety of large storage options including 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB, which is what the model I tested had. That's a sizeable amount of storage space that allows you to download tons of apps and games and take lots of photos and videos. I didn't get anywhere near filling it during my test.

I know I said benchmarks were pointless on the latest iPhone, but I ran them anyway and the results 9) below confirmed the phone's powerful capabilities. I was able to launch a lot of apps and play challenging games like Genshin Impact and Asphalt 9. The iPhone 13 Pro will handle whatever you can throw at it and more.

AnTuTu: 823.553
Read / write memory: 1635.3 / 1768.6 MB / s
RAM read / write: 205.8 / 83.2 MB / s
3Dmark Wild Life Extreme: 56.4 fps

The iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro.iPhone 12 Pro (left) and iPhone 13 Pro (right) Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The iPhone 13 Pro is a king of batteries. Not quite as much as the Pro Max, but it still lasted well over a day. If I really wanted to, I could go almost two days before I had to recharge. Much of this is due to the optimized power consumption through the combination of the larger A15 Bionic processor and the LTPO screen with its variable refresh rate. At 3,095 mAh, the cell is also larger than the 2,815 mAh battery that came with the iPhone 12 Pro. The result is hours more runtime with average usage, even as a power user.

The iPhone 13 Pro is a king of batteries.

Like all other iPhone 13 models, the Pro is MagSafe compatible, supporting 20 watt fast charging via cable, 15 W MagSafe charging and 7.5 W Qi wireless charging.

Connectivity is as good as you'd expect, with support for 5G, Ultra Wideband, sub-6 GHz, and mmWave. I tested on T-Mobile in the greater NYC area, and while it didn't match the 5G speeds I expected, connectivity was pretty stable overall. The phone also supports dual band Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0.

Cameras and videos

The iPhone 13 Pro, along with its bigger brother, has the best camera array in the product range. You get three 12-megapixel sensors: a 12-MP wide-angle, a 12-MP telephoto, and a 12-MP ultrawide sensor that can take 120-degree snapshots. This camera array leads to incredible photo results. When starting the camera app, you can set your preferred filter. For this review (and personal preference), all photos were taken in the standard mode, which is the most lifelike.

All of the outdoor shots in bright sunlight were excellent. Both the standard and ultrawide cameras captured a lot of detail and accurate colors. The deep blue of the sky, the fluffy white clouds, the green grass, the reflections and waves of the pond and even the fine details of individual branches came into their own.

It is also remarkable how well the phone handles recordings in direct sunlight. Shining sun is a major challenge for phones, even flagships. The iPhone 13 Pro handled it like a – dare I say – professional. Even if the sun was a glowing ball in the sky, it didn't completely wash out the photo or cast everything in the shade. The image had some darkness and some colors, especially the treetops, but Apple's software processing is clearly at play here, and it's impressive to see.

The attention to detail of the ultra-wide and telephoto lenses is also commendable.

The attention to detail of the ultra-wide and telephoto lenses is also commendable. While I sometimes noticed a slight edge distortion with telephoto shots, on the whole it came off with excellent clarity and detail. It's also a champion at focusing on what is most relevant in the photo, a fact we noted in our deep dive comparisons with the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, where the iPhone 13 Pro generally focuses on most of the time has the edge. At the same time, the Ultra impressed with its pure 10x optical zoom.

In addition to the 3x telephoto zoom, macro photography is the other great feature of the iPhone 13 Pro. Usually when focusing on an object, the phone will lose focus and it will become blurred. It just can't handle the focal length. The iPhone 13 Pro, on the other hand, can switch to the zoom lens to focus objects very closely. This kicks in automatically, and while the result doesn't always work, the results look great, with lots of detail, like sewing in a crochet piece or the individual veins in a sheet.

The only downside is that you cannot manually force the phone into macro mode as it is completely automatic of macro mode.

Last but not least, when it comes to photography, lowlight photos are. The iPhone 13 Pro has a night mode that is activated automatically when the lighting conditions are not ideal. It works mainly by increasing the auto exposure so that a photo that might have been taken immediately takes five to seven seconds instead to let in more light for a picture with better clarity. The result is photos that are taken at night and are much clearer in dark rooms than you would normally get, with better color accuracy. There is some loss of detail and blurring, but it's still an impressive result in most of the shots I've taken.

Cinematic mode is supported by both the rear and front cameras. It's a nice effect that adds a film-like blur to the background. It works best when you focus on faces, but it tends to hit and miss on objects. You also get Portrait Mode which adds the bokeh effect to both front and rear shots. It's neat, and I ended up taking several shots outdoors and playing around with the background.

Solid # iPhone13Pro pic.twitter.com/mkTRl8xXDB

– AJ (┛ಠ_ಠ) ┛ 彡 ┻━┻ (@Ajay_H_Kumar) September 26, 2021

In addition to the already impressive features, there are the video recording capabilities of the iPhone 13 Pro. It can handle 4K at 24/30/60 fps and 1080p at 30/60 fps. I recorded a smooth and stable 4K video of an airplane flying overhead with almost no shake or loss of focus that I could notice. It is rare that such a level of stabilization is achieved on a phone without the help of a gimbal.

Software and functions

The iPhone 13 Pro is updated to iOS 15 by default. We've taken a closer look at individual features introduced with the operating system, but the most notable are improved notification summaries, support for scanning text in the camera app, tabs for Safari, and future support for storing vaccination logs and other data.

iPhone 13 Pro home screen.Dan Baker / Digital Trends

This rating is not a rating of iOS compared to Android. We have lots of these types of parts if you're interested, and by now you probably already know which ecosystem you prefer. However, I'll note that this version of iOS had more bugs at startup than I've usually seen. Aside from the app optimization for the 120Hz screen and hit-or-miss Face ID, I also had an issue with the phone not unlocking with my Apple Watch Series 6. However, Apple has confirmed this problem and should be addressed in the next update.

Price and availability

The iPhone 13 Pro is currently available on sale starting at $ 999 in blue, silver, gold, and graphite color options. It also has 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage size options and works with all major US carriers. The only thing to keep in mind when choosing the memory size besides your requirements is that ProRes recording at 4K 30 fps is only supported with a minimum of 256 GB of memory.

Our opinion

The iPhone 13 Pro is the best iPhone you can get. With the iPhone 13's form factor, a 120Hz screen, great camera performance, tons of battery life, and ridiculous storage options, it's really a phone for power users. My daily driver has been a pleasure to use and you won't be disappointed if you pay for it.

Is there a better alternative?

In terms of hardware, the iPhone 13 Pro is the best model in the lineup, but if you want a longer-lasting battery and a bigger screen, the iPhone 13 Pro Max has it all in the Pro, only bigger. The iPhone 13 is cheaper, but it's pared down with no 120Hz screen, telephoto lens, or macro photo support> It doesn't have a 1TB storage option either. The iPhone 13 Mini is an even smaller version with the same hardware, which makes it a great choice if you love small phones. If you own an iPhone 12 Pro, our camera review didn't show that much of a difference between the two devices and it's probably not worth upgrading.

When you're ready to switch to Android, the Samsung Galaxy S21, OnePlus 9 Pro, and the upcoming Google Pixel 6 can all offer the same or better camera performance, just as much power, and lots of unique features. Android manufacturers also tend to be more innovative by introducing new technologies like folding screens that give you options like the Z Flip 3 and the Fold 3.

How long it will take?

The standard warranty for the iPhone 13 Pro is one year, but you can get Apple Care + to extend it for 2-3 years and cover two accidental damage claims every 12 months. The phone is also waterproof and dustproof according to IP68, so it can withstand complete immersion and rinsing in the sink. Personally, I suffered a superficial dent from dropping the phone on rocky ground without its case, but this is rare and easy to avoid. Apple is also great at software and security updates, so your iPhone 13 Pro should feel like new for three years or more.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. There is no question that the iPhone 13 Pro is the best model in the entire lineup, with the same capabilities as the Pro Max without the bulk or the bigger hit for your wallet.

Editor's recommendations



01 Oct
Blog

Diablo II: Resurrected Review: The Best Video Game Remaster

Diablo 2 cover photo.

Diablo II: Risen

RRP $ 40.00

"Diablo II: Resurrected preserves the original game while showing why it was considered a legendary game in the first place."

advantages

  • Faithful remaster

  • Necessary changes in quality of life

  • Smoother graphics

  • Works for both casual and hardcore gamers

  • Still the king

disadvantage

  • Sometimes shows its age

  • Original editions are still available

When we talk about game remasters, Diablo II: Resurrected should be considered the gold standard. It achieves what many other remasters fail; It really captures what it felt like playing the original game all those years ago. While the game is certainly showing its age, it has the basic framework that so many action RPGs have revived for their own needs.

Since Diablo II: Resurrected is as strong as it is, it's a little tricky to verify. To get to the point, this is pretty much just the original Diablo II with a paint job. There are really few major – and I use the term loosely – changes that affect gameplay. In the remastered version of Diablo II, the stash size has been increased and it is now easier to share loot with other characters. Additionally, characters can now automatically pick up gold when they encounter it. The improved audio, graphics, and Battle.net implementation enriches the game, but it doesn't radically change it in any way. Anyone who played the original knows exactly what to expect from the remaster. And that's a very good thing.

Welcome to hell

For those who never played Diablo II in the early 2000s, Diablo II: Resurrected is the remaster of the ARPG that each subsequent ARPG, like Torchlight and Path of Exile, used as the basis for their gameplay. Picking a character, jumping into dungeons, collecting a wealth of loot, and unleashing a barrage of spells and guts, it all started here. Well, it probably started with the original game, but Diablo crawled in so that Diablo II could run. This reworked version focuses on small quality of life changes and keeps most of the original game intact.

A group of eight players in Tristram.

This can be a problem for gamers who are used to more modern ARPGs. Fans of the Torchlight franchise might find Diablo II: Resurrected daunting and complex, while Path of Exile fans might find it, ironically, superficial. Diablo II: Resurrected exists somewhere near the center of this game series and can please both of its fans.

Diablo II: Resurrected exists at the same time as a relic of old-school gaming and yet offers everything a modern game needs to be inviting and addicting.

Diablo II mastered the amalgamation of casual and hardcore gameplay years before these games were even conceived. A player can easily create a character and just go with the flow and still see everything the game has to offer. When I was 10 years old, I did Baal runs and immersed myself in the Secret Cow level in the original game. Or, you can really buckle your character down to min / max and routinely take out the final boss of the game in under three minutes.

ARPG game fans should definitely check out this game for no other reason than to see where this genre really took off. Even though the game is technically 20 years old, it still has an incredible loop for players to bite into. It's still incredibly fun to dive deep into dungeons and collect tons of loot, especially when you want to play with other players. Up to eight players can join in together to experience the entirety of this game, two more than the multiplayer modes Torchlight 2 and Paths of Exile. Diablo II: Resurrected exists at the same time as a relic of old-school gaming and yet offers everything a modern game needs to be inviting and addicting.

Welcome back (to hell)

I will turn my attention to the players who are returning to Tristram after such a long absence. Hello hope you are well. This game? This game here? It is exactly as you remembered it. Many gamers are cautious when they hear that their favorite game is getting a modern update. Sometimes this guttes the game and turns it into something unrecognizable. Sometimes it doesn't deliver what it says on the tin and you end up with a half-baked game full of rigid animations and broken dreams, like Blizzard's very own Warcraft III: Reforged.

In my head I thought the original Diablo II looked like the remastered version.

Diablo II: Resurrected is one of those remasters that manages to capture lightning in a bottle by simply following a simple mantra: If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Aside from the graphics and audio tweaks, the game is largely unaffected by the original. It plays exactly how you remember it, and it looks exactly how you thought it would all those years ago. During the game, you can tap a button and restore the graphics of the original game. The original graphics are definitely out of date and incredibly pixelated on a 4K monitor. It almost feels like a mind game. In my head I thought the original Diablo II looked like the remastered version. It's just further proof of how nostalgia can mess up your head.

A fight ensues in Diablo 2: Resurrected.

If you still long for those days when you're frantically opening city portals to recover your body from an especially tough fight, or challenging your friends in player-versus-player battle for bragging rights and dismembered ears, then this remaster is meant for you. It's like no time has passed.

Those old bones hurt

For a game over 20 years old, it's still shocking how seamless the gameplay can be. All those years ago, Blizzard figured out what makes ARPGs so much fun: violence and treasure. There are plenty of times that Diablo II can be punch after punch with a lot of modern games, and the remaster just adds a shiny coat of paint to make it look more up-to-date.

Lightning strikes the battlefield in Diablo 2: Resurrected.

However, video games didn't just sit in a dark room and do nothing for the past 20 years. Many developers used the original Diablo II to learn from its mistakes. Diablo II can often feel monotonous when there is only room for room to fight enemies and nothing else. Loot management can also be a sore point, as the inexperienced is often completely overwhelmed with loot and is unsure what to do with it. There is no way to remove equipment from your inventory without taking a break from the dungeon and returning to town. This can be tiring and disrupt the momentum players are building.

It can sometimes feel like taking a tour of old school gaming and seeing what upset gamers decades ago.

Enemies can be pretty stupid too. The Army of Hell is technically terrifying, but you will see these horrific creatures standing there waiting to be hit without taking revenge or not understanding how to walk around a pile of urns. The remastered version does not fix these problems. All of that past pain is still there.

These problems are certainly not groundbreaking. After playing the game for a while, you will be able to bypass them. It can sometimes feel like taking a tour of old school gaming and seeing what upset gamers decades ago.

Lost in failure

With the perspective of where Blizzard is now – the publisher is currently embroiled in a company-wide scandal that sparked an investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission – and what Diablo means to the gaming world, I can't help but think about the ongoing issue this series: failure.

These games are about failing despite the best efforts of the characters. The events of Diablo II's history are the aftermath of the mistakes made by the player characters in the first game, Diablo. Throughout the entire Diablo II campaign, you will see that the world and the people who live in it are not getting what they set out to do. Even Diablo III is full of the mistakes of the past and characters doing their best. All of this makes you, the gamer, fail again and again as you march through Sanctuary. If you fail to kill the Prime Evils, you will have to go through tons of funeral runs to get back what is yours. If you can't get exactly the equipment you need to make your class building worthwhile. Failure to get all of your friends together for a full night of Baal runs.

Marius in conversation with an "old friend".

To be perfectly clear, I'm not saying Diablo II: Resurrected is a failure. It's definitely a huge hit for a remaster. But the modern context that the game is releasing cannot be overlooked. Blizzard and its workplace culture failed because it was born and left a black mark on its legacy.

A lot of things have changed since the original game came out all those years ago. Blizzard was just a sloppy little developer with lots of ideas and ambition. Now part of Activision, one of the largest game development companies in the world, Blizzard is barely recognizable. With the recent lawsuits against Activision Blizzard, one cannot avoid wondering what this means for Diablo and its community. What place does it have in our world after we learn more about allegations of harassment and ill-treatment in the workplace?

Celebrating the original game along with its remaster can understandably make some feel uncomfortable. How can we praise a game when it is embedded in a system that continues abuse by its employees? Will condemning the game help us move into a world where game developers are treated fairly? There are no easy answers. I want to support the developers who had nothing to do with the pain that surrounds this company. I want the passion of these people, which comes into its own in this loving remaster, shine through this thick cloud and let them pave the way for a better future.

Our opinion

Diablo II: Resurrected is a great achievement for a remastered game. It preserves the original game in amber while showing why it was considered a legendary game in the first place. It's perfect for veterans to get back in and play like you've been playing for 20 years. It's also still open to new players who can finally see what all the hype is about.

Is there a better alternative?

Games like the Torchlight franchise and Path of Exile have learned a lot from the original Diablo II and have made efforts to modernize the ARPG genre, but Diablo II: Resurrected is still king.

How long it will take?

From start to finish, the story takes about 10 to 12 hours to complete, although the game doesn't end when the credits roll in. You can spend countless hours rushing bosses and perfecting your character builds until you're blue in the face.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. It's a must-see for fans of the genre and those interested in the game's history. However, we recommend researching the Activision Blizzard workplace scandal first as it can influence your purchase decision here.

Editor's recommendations



01 Oct
Blog

Apple iPhone 13 Review: The iPhone for the Masses

iPhone 13 held in hand.

Apple iPhone 13

RRP $ 799.00

"The iPhone 13 remains Apple's flagship model, offering most of the value of the Pro at a lower price."

advantages

  • Fast and responsive performance

  • Excellent camera and video functions

  • Long battery life

  • Supports most of the premium features

disadvantage

  • Still no USB-C

  • No higher refresh rate or telephoto lens

the iPhone 13 is the new iPhone Apple expects most people to buy, and it's easy to see why. It has most of what makes the Premium 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max great, including the lightning-fast A15 Bionic processor, an ultrawide camera, and a battery that can easily be used for a full day before you need to charge it.

If you're a real power user, the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max will beat the iPhone 13 with their 120Hz ProMotion screens, extra telephoto lens, and generally superior low-light performance. But you also pay a premium over the base iPhone 13, and let's face it: the average person won't split hair above 60Hz and adaptive 120Hz. The iPhone 13, along with its little brother, the iPhone 13 Mini, does the job and does it well.

iPhone 13 from behind.Dan Baker / Digital Trends

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The iPhone 13 does not deviate dramatically from the design of the iPhone 12. The model I tested was a darker blue than the iPhone 13 Pro and the Sierra blue of the Pro Max, which is more of a sky blue. I like both options and I am not surprised that they turn out to be popular choices. You still get the square edges on the sides bounded by aluminum rather than stainless steel on the Pro, a Lightning port, downward facing speakers, volume buttons on the left below the ring / silent switch, and a side button on the right that activates Siri and can turn the screen on and off.

As with other iPhone models, the iPhone 13 is IP68 dust and water resistant and withstood a thorough flush in the sink after I accidentally dropped it into the dirt in the park while juggling four phones in my hands. Both the front and back are protected by Ceramic Shield, which is made by Corning, just like the latest Gorilla Glass Victus that you can find on newer Android flagships.

The front looks largely the same when compared to the iPhone 12, although Apple says the notch that houses the TrueDepth camera is 20% smaller. That's technically correct because it's narrower, but it's also a little deeper now, so the compromise is a bit of a wash in my eyes. Face ID works the same as before, but its usability with a face mask, and especially a face mask and sunglasses, has been a hit-and-miss at best. You can do an alternate scan to improve performance with face masks, but it also compromises safety so I preferred to leave it out.

iPhone 13 face recognitionDan Baker / Digital Trends

The more notable difference can be seen if you look at the back. There's still a vaguely square camera body, but the camera array is positioned differently, with the two sensors not being vertical, but facing each other. This way you can mainly distinguish the older and newer models.

Other differences are a little harder to spot. The iPhone 13 measures 5.78 x 2.81 x 0.30 inches and weighs 6.14 ounces, which makes it just a tiny bit heavier than the 5.78 ounce iPhone 12, which can likely accommodate the larger battery. That's a worthy compromise, and in terms of overall footprint and pocket size, I think the iPhone 13 is a one-handed device, even though the iPhone 13 Mini is Apple's “official” compact phone.

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The 6.1-inch Super Retina OLED screen is big enough that text, apps, and the keyboard never feel cramped, which was a problem for me with the Mini. The 2532 x 1170 Super Retina OLED screen is razor sharp, certified to work with HDR10 and Dolby Vision for a higher dynamic range, and operates at 460 pixels per inch. The downward facing speakers were also surprisingly loud and didn't suffer from much distortion except at the highest volumes, so they're more than capable of serving as audio output if you're too lazy to pair with headphones.

The screen is 60 Hz, but if you've never used a higher refresh rate, it won't bother you. It's still a little disappointing not to see the ProMotion filter across the line, especially when you're paying for a $ 800 phone. You won't find an Android phone in this price range that doesn't have a higher refresh rate, and even cheaper mid-range options support this.

Viewing angles are great, colors are rich and accurate, and outdoor visibility is excellent thanks to a peak brightness of 800 nits. When viewing HDR photos and videos, the phone can even increase the brightness to 1,200 nits. I had no problems viewing text, navigating Google Maps, or viewing the camera viewfinder, even in direct sunlight.

Performance, battery life and connectivity

Performance is one thing you will never find on an iPhone, and the iPhone 13 is no exception. It's powered by an A15 Bionic processor, has 4GB of RAM, and comes with a variety of higher storage options including 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB, though you won't get the highest storage option in particular at 1TB – that's exclusive for the Pro models.

The review unit I tested came with ample 512GB of storage, which was more than enough for my needs – even when I take a lot of photos and 4K videos. My guess is that for most people, 256GB is the best balance between price and capacity.

My guess is that for most people, 256GB is the best balance between price and capacity.

My average daily iPhone usage required a fair amount of time on Twitter, Reddit, and Microsoft Teams, some browsing, lots of photos, and playing Genshin Impact. Unsurprisingly, the iPhone 13 processed everything I threw at it with no lag or slowdown. Benchmark tests confirm the strong performance with 827,398 on AnTuTu, which measures the overall performance, and 55.1 frames per second in the demanding Wild Life graphics benchmark from 3DMark.

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

Apple's marketing materials made bold claims that the iPhone 13 can achieve 2.5 hours of battery life than the iPhone 12. That's the kind of claim I always take with a grain of salt, especially as a power user who does a lot does more on my phone than the average person. So I was pleasantly surprised when these claims not only proved correct, but were blown out of the water, with the iPhone 13 comfortably holding out for a day and a half before it needed to be charged.

One reason for this is that the 3,240 mAh cell is larger than the 2,815 mAh battery that the iPhone 12 came with. This is a considerable leap that pays off over a longer period. But what also happens is that with the A15 Bionic, Apple has improved battery optimization and management so you can get more juice out of the cell.

I could leave it unplugged and still have plenty of juice the next day.

While the previous iPhone may need to be charged while it was sleeping, the iPhone 13's standby time was good enough to leave it unplugged and have plenty of juice the next day. It's great to see and arguably the killer feature for the iPhone 13, especially for those using older models.

But that brings me to the disadvantage. While the iPhone 13 is fully MagSafe compatible and supports 20 watt wired charging, 15 watt MagSafe charging, and 7.5 watt Qi wireless charging, it still uses a Lightning connector. As I discovered in my first hands-on, it's getting harder and harder to incorporate non-USB-C devices into my life.

iPhone 13 below.Dan Baker / Digital Trends

Most of my batteries, chargers, and even my PC now support USB-C, as do my MacBook Air and the new iPad Mini. The iPhone 13 series, along with the new iPad 10.2, are the only devices that still stick to the old charging port. This made the iPhone 13 a bigger inconvenience than it needed to be when traveling, although in general it is a relatively minor issue that can be fixed with an additional adapter. Still, it gives me hope that we don't have to deal with that for next year's model.

Connectivity is pretty standard. The iPhone 13 supports 5G, Ultra Wideband, Sub-6GHz, mmWave, and basically all the bands you would expect from a flagship phone. I tested on T-Mobile in the greater NYC area and the connectivity was good enough, but I never got the 5G speeds that were promised. This is more of a network congestion and rollout problem than an iPhone 13 problem. In many places, even New York, 5G exists more on paper than in practice. Apart from that, you also get dual-band Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0

Cameras and videos

Cameras are where a lot of magic happens for iPhones. You get a dual rear camera array with a 12 megapixel wide angle camera and a 12 MP ultra wide angle camera at 120 degrees. Unlike the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max, there is no third telephoto camera, so you can't take pictures with optical zoom and you don't benefit from macro photography.

iPhone 13 rear cameras.

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

iPhone 13 viewfinder close-up.

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

iPhone 13 portrait photo.

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

iPhone 13 in landscape mode.

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

Regardless of this, the photo quality – to put it simply – is excellent. When it starts up, the camera app asks you for the filter you want to apply to your photos. Your selection is Standard, the iPhone 13's default setting; vivid, enhancing colors and saturation; and separate options for cooler and warmer filters. I've only shot in standard mode for testing and personal preference, which I think is the setting most people will use as it's most lifelike.

As you can see in the many sample shots, the iPhone 13 does a great job in outdoor settings. The colors are punchy even in standard mode, and the auto exposure handles the contrast between shadows and areas of direct, blinding sunlight well without washing out, as is the case with many smaller phones. The bright blue sky, the puffy white cloud, the green grass of the park, the waves and reflections of the pond, everything looks great in my eyes.

Details are abundant; When zooming in, individual branches and leaves can be seen, but on closer inspection, edge distortions are found. Both ultra-wide and standard shots look great, with a slight fisheye effect to the ultra-wide. If you were satisfied with the camera performance of the iPhone 12, you will be completely satisfied with the sensors of the iPhone 13 overall.

That’s kitchen sink stuff, though. Nowadays, almost every flagship phone and even many mid-range smartphones can take great photos in good lighting. The real standouts are the ones that do well in low light, and that's what makes the iPhone 13 special. The camera app will automatically switch to night mode and adjust the exposure to capture more light for a clearer, brighter picture in darker settings. In a completely dark setting, this can take up to 30 seconds, although most dimmer settings will extend the exposure to five to seven seconds.

The result is a picture with more sharpness, color accuracy and clarity than you would normally get in low light. However, it is worth noting that there is some ambiguity in the details too, especially when compared to the iPhone 13 Pro.

You can record 4K at 60 frames per second, 30 fps, and 24 fps for video. It also supports 1080p at 60/30 fps, but I didn't feel the need to record at a lower resolution as I had 512GB of storage. I was blown away by how stable the video recording was, especially when tracking moving objects.

Stabilization is usually a significant problem with any type of handheld video recording, but the iPhone 13 made it so handy that I felt like I was recording with a gimbal. Panning around also didn't result in dropped images or auto exposure issues.

iPhone 13 selfie.

Ajay Kumar / Digital Trends

Apple iPhone 13 test image example

Like the other iPhone models, the iPhone 13 supports Cinematic Mode, which adds a blurring effect to the background of people and objects, similar to a movie camera. It works best with faces, and you can tell that the blur is clearly an artificial effect, but it's a nice feature when it works. It doesn't work that well with objects, especially moving ones, but on the plus side, it works with the dual 12 MP selfie cameras, which is a pleasant surprise.

Among other things, you have the portrait mode on the rear and front sensors, which gives the images blur and depth. The photos were beautiful and I had a lot of fun playing around with the different background options.

Software and functions

The iPhone 13 can be updated to iOS 15 the moment you turn it on, which I did right away. The latest operating system is packed with features like an improved notification summary, text scanning in the camera app, tabs for Safari, and support for saving vaccination logs, COVID vaccines, and even your driver's license.

A comparison of iOS 15 with Android is not really worth it in my opinion. At this point you know the differences between them and you know which one you prefer. I will say that this version of iOS 15 seems to have more compatibility issues than previous versions. For example, unlocking the Apple Watch with the Apple Watch Series 6 just didn't work for me. Undoubtedly, many of these issues can and will be fixed, so none of them are deal breakers.

iPhone 13 apps on the home screen.Dan Baker / Digital Trends

Price and availability

The iPhone 13 is currently available on sale starting at $ 799 in pink, blue, midnight, starlight, and product red color options. It also has 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage size options and works with all major US carriers.

Our opinion

The iPhone 13 strikes a great balance between size, performance, and price. It's smaller than the gigantic iPhone 13 Pro Max, but offers more screen space than the cramped iPhone 13 Mini. The battery life is the really standout feature that gives you a full day of running time and hassle-free charging. Added to this is the great camera performance despite the lack of a telephoto lens. If you're not ready or able to take advantage of the premium features of the iPhone 13 Pro, the iPhone 13 won't let you down, and I recommend it as a good compact phone alternative to the Mini.

Is there a better alternative?

As is so often the case, Apple's toughest competitor is usually himself. The iPhone 13 is challenged most directly by the iPhone 13 Pro, which is the same size but better across the board in almost every way. The 13 Pro and Pro Max both offer you a 120 Hz ProMotion display, a telephoto lens for 3x optical zoom, an even longer-lasting battery and outstanding low-light camera performance.

In contrast, the iPhone 13 Mini is identical in hardware and features, but it's much smaller and designed for those who really love compact phones and don't mind the cramped screen. However, the battery life won't last quite as long. If you have an iPhone 12, the difference between the two devices isn't that big, and the iPhone 13 probably isn't worth the upgrade.

Outside of the Apple universe, many capable Android phones can give you great camera and battery life, including the Samsung Galaxy S21, OnePlus 9 Pro, and the upcoming Google Pixel 6. But if you already exist in the Apple ecosystem, you can become them probably not viewing these as options, although they are equally worthwhile if you are ready to make the switch.

How long it will take?

The standard warranty is one year, but Apple Care + can be extended for 24 to 36 months and it covers two accidental damages for every 12 month interval. In terms of durability, the phone is IP68 so it can withstand full immersion. I played with it roughly and it still survived falls without noticeable scratches on the ceramic glass. In combination with the regular software and security updates, you should be able to easily keep the iPhone 13 for at least three years, if not longer.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. If you like the price, the size, and the extra battery life, the iPhone 13 offers a lot of value, even if it isn't the highest quality option in the lineup.

Editor's recommendations



30 Sep
Blog

Lenovo ThinkPad P15 Gen 2 Review: A Dying Breed

Lenovo ThinkPad P15 Gen 2 sits on a table.

Lenovo ThinkPad P15 Gen 2

RRP $ 5,445.00

"The Lenovo ThinkPad P15 is a dying species, but remains relevant because of its expandability."

advantages

  • Long-lasting workmanship

  • High quality entry display

  • Great keyboard

  • Superior expandability

  • Solid performance

disadvantage

  • Not much faster than cheaper laptops

  • Touchpad is too small

  • Expensive

We don't normally review mobile workstations, but a significant trend has emerged in laptops aimed at YouTubers. These thin and light laptops, like the Dell XPS 15, are surprisingly good at speeding up demanding tasks like video editing. In addition, they have brilliant, color-true OLED displays.

When Lenovo offered us the ThinkPad P15 Gen 2 with a Core i9-11950H CPU and an Nvidia Quadro RTX A5000 GPU for testing, we took the opportunity to see how a more traditional approach to a mobile workstation would fare.

Is the ThinkPad P15 proof that old school workstations are a thing of the past? In a way, yes. But because of its unique features, the audience remains very limited for this expensive laptop.

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The ThinkPad P15 looks exactly like a ThinkPad should – only it's incredibly thick and heavy. There's the usual black aesthetic with just a few hints of red, including the iconic LED “i” in the ThinkPad logo on the lid. There is also the same soft-touch surface and the usual red TrackPoint knob in the center of the keyboard.

The most noticeable difference in look and feel to the typical ThinkPad is the additional ventilation openings on the sides and back, which indicates a different ThinkPad P15. Oh, that, and the massive bezels around the display that look like a laptop from 10 years ago.

Lenovo ThinkPad P15 Gen 2 sits on a table.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Then there is this size. Where modern ThinkPads, at least the more upscale consumer and business models, are thin and light, the ThinkPad P15 is simply huge. It is 0.96 inches at its thinnest point and 1.24 inches at its thickest point and weighs 6.32 pounds. I thought the ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4 was a bit bigger than it should be, but the ThinkPad P15 dwarfs its 0.70 inches thick and 3.99 pounds. It's a little weird to put the two side by side – they're almost identical in width and depth, and look similar, but the ThinkPad P15 looks like a balloon version that someone has inflated with extra air.

Not that there is anything wrong with any of this. The ThinkPad P15 is a workstation-class notebook and does not pretend to be a very portable, relatively fast notebook like the ThinkPad X1 Extreme or the Dell XPS 15. Instead, it's supposed to offer plenty of room inside to move air around and store things cool and fast, along with additional expandability. In fact, this expandability is what sets this laptop apart the most.

You can configure up to 128 GB of RAM via four SO-DIMM slots (and you can choose error-correcting RAM for sensitive applications), which makes creative types of power users happy. There are also three SSD slots inside – one PCIe 4.0 and the other two PCIe 3.0 – that support up to 16 TB of storage. And the laptop is user upgradeable, which means you can start with, for example, 64GB of RAM and a single SSD, and then add two 32GB RAM modules for 128GB of RAM and one or two more SSDs for more storage. All of that just can't be packed into a thin and light device, and the ThinkPad P15 is not intended for road warriors.

Lenovo ThinkPad P15 Gen 2 sits on a table.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

In terms of durability, the ThinkPad P15 comes close to the usual ThinkPad standards. An internal magnesium frame holds the lower chassis together, with a plastic and fiberglass material covering it for added protection and a soft feel. The keyboard deck and the lower chassis make a fairly robust impression. The lid is made of plastic and fiberglass and is a little more flexible than I'd like to see. The ThinkPad P15 doesn't quite meet the standards of the ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4 or the XPS 15, but it feels robust enough. Of course, it passed Lenovo's usual MIL-STD 810G tests, which provides additional security.

Connectivity is a strength as you can imagine with this class of machine (and given so much room for ports). On the left is a full-size HDMI 2.1 port, a USB A 3.2 Gen 1 port, a nano SIM slot for optional 4G WWAN support, and a 3.5mm Audio jack. On the right is a USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 port, a full-size SD card reader (which developers will appreciate), and an optional smart card reader.

Finally, on the back there is an Ethernet port, a connection for the 230 watt power supply, two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 support and a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port. Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 offer wireless connectivity.

HDMI port, USB port, and headphone jack on the left side of the Lenovo ThinkPad P15 Gen 2 laptop.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

SD card reader and USB port on the right side of the Lenovo ThinkPad P15 Gen 2 laptop.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Ethernet cable connector, charging port and three micro-USB ports on the back of a Lenovo ThinkPad P15 Gen 2 laptop.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Ethernet cable connector, charging port and three micro-USB ports on the back of a Lenovo ThinkPad P15 Gen 2 laptop.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

power

This is not a cheap laptop. As configured by the dealer CDW, the ThinkPad P15 I tested costs a whopping 5,445 US dollars – frightening when you consider that my test device “only” 32 GB of RAM, a 1 TB solid-state drive (SSD) and a small 15 , 6-inch full HD (1,920 x 1,080) display. The laptop can be configured with up to 128 GB RAM, 6 TB SSD storage and a UHD OLED panel (3840 x 2160).

With all this upgradeability, the ThinkPad P15 promises unbelievable performance for demanding creative tasks. We recently tested several developer laptops, but these were in the usual thin-and-light consumer-centric class. The ThinkPad P15 has the components and thermal design to blow these laptops out of the water.

The ThinkPad P15 is fast, but not as dominant as you might expect. It did very well in Geekbench 5 and got the highest score for a laptop in our test database. But it's not as far ahead as I expected, because the Asus Vivobook Pro 16X OLED is quite close behind thanks to its AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX CPU, especially in the multi-core part of the test. Even the Dell XPS 17 with its Core i7-11800H was in the same stadium (surprisingly faster than the Vivobook Pro 16X).

In our Handbrake test, which encodes a 420 MB video as H.265, the ThinkPad P15 was again the fastest laptop we tested – and again the Vivobook Pro 16X was almost as fast. In fact, the ThinkPad P15 wasn't much faster than the other laptops in our comparison group – certainly not for a laptop that's at least twice as expensive. Cinebench R23 told a similar story, with the ThinkPad P15 leading our database, but not far behind with the Vivobook Pro 16X. And again, several other notebooks from our comparison group are in close proximity to the ThinkPad P15. So far, the workstation hadn't blown away the thinner, lighter, and much cheaper machines.

The ThinkPad P15 doesn't do well enough to justify its incredibly high price tag.

You probably won't be surprised to hear that the ThinkPad P15 was again the fastest in another test, PCMark 10, and that another thin and light laptop was close by – this time the MSI Creator Z16. This applied to the essentials, productivity and even the content creation part of the test, where the ThinkPad P15 was fast again, but not that much faster.

I thought PugetBench running in Premiere Pro would surely make the ThinkPad P15 glow. After all, the laptop has Independent Software Vendor (ISV) certifications from several developers, including Adobe. ISV certification means that hardware and software have been designed to work together for the best performance and reliability. However, the ThinkPad P15 scored 724 points, less than the 738 of the MSI Creator Z16 and not much faster than the 692 of the Dell XPS 17. Once again, the ThinkPad P15 had shown no real advantage over laptops that cost and weigh only half as much.

I'm not sure if it's a blow to the ThinkPad P15 or proof of how powerful thinner and lighter laptops have become, but the workstation failed in our benchmarks. You can upgrade it to a Xeon processor which would surely make it faster, and 128GB of RAM which the creators can use to work with the largest of videos and which is likely to offer a significant speed boost. But in the configuration I tested, the ThinkPad P15 doesn't do well enough to deserve its incredibly high price.

Underdog bench 5
(Single / multiple)		 Cinebench R23 (single / multiple) Handbrake (seconds) PCMark 10 Pugetbench Premiere Pro 3DMark time spy
Lenovo ThinkPad P15 (Core i9-11950H) 1691/9250 1596/12207 84 6866 724 9045
MSI Creator Z16 (Core i7-11800H) 1540/7625 1444/9615 102 6486 738 6322
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4 (Core i7-11800H) 1520/7353 1519/10497 106 6251 432 6691
Dell XPS 15 (Core i7-11800H) 1556/7692 1513/9979 103 6024 509 4540
Dell XPS 17 (Core i7-11800H) 1568/8801 1525/10145 109 6209 692 7039
Asus Vivobook Pro 16X (Ryzen 9 5900HX) 1544/8299 1486/11478 90 6486 571 4601

You're not buying a workstation-class laptop to play games, but that doesn't mean you won't play occasionally. So I ran the ThinkPad P15 through some of our benchmarks to see how it fares against the Nvidia Quadro RTX A5000. This isn't a gaming GPU, but it's still pretty powerful and should be able to run modern titles at decent resolutions and frame rates. According to 3DMark Time Spy, it is about as fast as a GeForce RTX 3070.

It might not be intended as a gaming laptop, but it does act like one.

The ThinkPad P15 did well in Assassin's Creed Valhalla, achieving 76 frames per second (fps) with 1080p and high graphics and 67 fps with ultra-high graphics. The gaming laptop Lenovo Legion 5 Pro was slightly behind with 67 fps and 61 fps, while the Razer Blade 14 (also with an RTX 3070) was behind with 67 fps and 60 fps. In Battlefield V, the ThinkPad P15 achieved 106 fps at 1080p with medium graphics and 59 fps with ultra graphics, compared to the Legion 5 Pro at 82 fps and 73 fps and the Blade 14 at 115 fps and 96 fps. Finally, in Fortnite, the ThinkPad P15 did well with 138 fps at 1080p and high graphics and 104 fps with epic graphics, while the Legion 5 Pro performed well at 120 fps and 101 fps and the Blade 14 at 114 fps and 96 fps.

I also ran Civilization VI and saw 218 fps on 1080p and medium graphics and 155 fps on ultra graphics. The next fastest laptop in our database is the Lenovo Legion 5 Pro with a Ryzen 7 5800H and an RTX 3070, which achieved 127 fps and 114 fps, respectively. The ThinkPad P15 clearly excels in this CPU and GPU intensive game.

So yes, you can play with the ThinkPad P15 and play modern titles with high graphics. It might not be intended as a gaming laptop, but it can fulfill that role if needed.

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Close-up of the Lenovo ThinkPad P15 Gen 2 screen.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

You can configure the ThinkPad P15 with multiple displays, all 15.6-inches in the old-fashioned 16: 9 aspect ratio. There's Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) anti-glare, Full HD with Dolby Vision (which my test unit had), UHD (3840 x 2160) IPS with HDR400 and Dolby Vision, and UHD OLED with Dolby Vision options. Developers will be drawn to the UHD panels, which are likely to offer better colors and contrasts – especially the OLED panel. The Full HD display on my review unit was very bright and delivered good colors that seemed accurate to me, along with a decent contrast ratio. I found it good for the productivity work during my review.

According to my colorimeter, this is a good premium display, not a great one, and it isn't aimed at creative types. The brightness was excellent at 542 nits (we like to see 300 nits or better), and the contrast ratio topped our 1,000: 1 threshold at 1,040: 1. With 76% AdobeRGB and 100% sRGB, the colors were close to the premium display average with a color accuracy of DeltaE 1.49 (less than 1.0 is considered excellent). These are all good results, in line with laptops like the MSI Creator Z16 (although this laptop offers wider AdobeRGB) and the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4. Of course, an OLED panel like that of the latest Dell XPS 15 offers far superior colors (99% of AdobeRGB and 100% of sRGB) and higher accuracy (0.46) with exceptional contrast and inky blacks.

Again, I have to say: this is a fine display, but not for the price. Yes, it's great for productive work, but when you're spending over $ 5,000 on a laptop that's at least partially designed for creative work, you want wider, more accurate colors. You should go for the OLED panel, which can probably compete with the other OLED panels we tested, which offer outstanding colors and contrasts across the board. Given Lenovo's current prices, you could probably find a model with the OLED panel for less than you are currently spending on my review unit.

The sound was faint, at a low volume, even when turned all the way up. The mids and highs were clear enough and there was zero bass. There's not much to say here – sound quality was clearly not a priority on the ThinkPad P15, and you'll need headphones or bluetooth speakers for anything but system sounds and the occasional YouTube video.

Keyboard and touchpad

Illustration of the Lenovo ThinkPad P15 Gen 2 keyboard.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Like all ThinkPads, the ThinkPad P15 has the same keyboard with outstanding spring travel (1.8 mm), a nimble mechanism and a spacious layout with large, molded keys. Interestingly, I found the ThinkPad P15's keyboard lighter than the ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4's, which I liked a lot. The ThinkPad P15 took less force to press the keys, reduced fatigue, and kept me at my usual speed of around 90 words per minute. I would rate this keyboard as my favorite, the HP Specter range, which I can't say about the ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4.

The touchpad is small given the overall size of the laptop and loses space for the TrackPoint buttons. It works well and supports Microsoft's Precision touchpad drivers (pretty much taken for granted in recent years) – it's just too small. TrackPoint is there when you want it to, and it works as usual. It's standard on ThinkPads, but I sometimes wonder how many people actually use it. Note that if you opt for an OLED display, you get a touch panel and active pen support.

Windows 10 Hello support is provided by both a fingerprint reader and an infrared camera with facial recognition. I tried both methods and they were consistently quick and accurate. No complaints there. The typical ThinkPad ThinkShutter privacy screen is there to block the webcam when you don't want anyone to spy on you.

Close-up of the Lenovo ThinkPad P15 Gen 2 webcam.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Battery life

If there's one area I had low expectations from the review, it was battery life. In no way did I expect the ThinkPad P15 to show almost a full day's lifespan even for simple productivity tasks. Suffice it to say, I was a little surprised.

The huge chassis houses 94 watt hours of battery, and that helps. Likewise the full HD display. Still, I was surprised when the ThinkPad P15 lasted 9.5 hours in our web browsing test. That's half an hour longer than the Dell XPS 15 and more than two hours longer than the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4. In our video test, which repeats a local Full HD Avengers trailer, the ThinkPad P15 lasted around 11.5 Hours through, not a great score, but better than the XPS 15 by six minutes and the ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4 by more than two hours (again). That's not bad for a workstation.

The PCMark 10 Applications Benchmark, the best test of productivity longevity, didn't do quite as well. The ThinkPad P15 lasted almost 6.5 hours here, less than the eight hours of the XPS 15 and the ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4 with 8.7 hours. And the ThinkPad P15 only lasted 56 minutes in the PCMark 10 gaming test, which demands the CPU and GPU. This is the lowest score in our database, with the XPS 15 and ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4 both holding out about half an hour longer. Obviously, the ThinkPad P15 maintains its performance when it is switched off.

Overall, these are better results than I expected. You will surely have to carry the bulky 230 watt power brick around with you when working at the workstation level. But if you've planned an easy day of typical productivity tasks, you will likely make it through most of the day. That's not bad for a workstation.

Our opinion

In the configuration I tested, the ThinkPad P15 feels outdated. It's not that much faster than the fastest thin-and-light laptops that either its price or size is justified. Then why would you buy this laptop? The answer is simple: you are a real power user and you need a machine that can support 128GB of RAM, you need error correcting RAM, you need a Xeon processor, and / or you need the flexibility and growth of three SSD Slots with RAID support and up to 16 TB of storage.

That's a special kind of person, and that's what this workplace is all about. We were curious to see how it would compare to the typical laptops we test and the answer is that it really doesn't. If you are a typical home or business user, or even a creative who can live with the performance of an XPS 15 or 17 or a ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4, then the ThinkPad 15 is not for you. We only mentioned developers in this review, but the ThinkPad P15 will appeal to users who use sophisticated 3D CAD, scientific applications, and AI. Workloads.

Are there alternatives?

If you need to meet the high-end specs of the ThinkPad P15, you need to look at other workstation-class laptops. In the high-end area, the Dell Precision 7760 can keep up with the ThinkPad P15, but with a 17-inch display.

The WS65 Mobile Workstation from MSI also comes close. It also supports Quadro RTX A5000 graphics, but only up to 64GB of RAM, and it doesn't have the same expandability as the Lenovo. However, it is thinner and lighter.

When you don't really need a workstation, you have a lot more choice. The Dell XPS 15 has enough performance for everyone but the most demanding developers, it's relatively thin and light, and incredibly well built, and costs around half that.

How long it will take?

The ThinkPad P15 is tough enough to carry around for years. It also has modern components and incredible expandability. It's crazy, however, that a laptop that costs over $ 5,000 should have a one-year warranty.

Should you buy it?

Yes, but only if you have to maximize it. This laptop is for extreme power users who are unlikely to be satisfied with the configuration of my test device.

Editor's recommendations



30 Sep
Blog

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Review: Improved Immersion

Sonos Beam Gen 1 and Gen 2, stacked vertically.

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

RRP $ 449.00

"Dolby Atmos adds a touch of 3D fun to an already excellent soundbar."

advantages

  • Easy adjustment

  • Immersive, room-filling sound

  • Slim design

  • AirPlay 2

disadvantage

  • No HDMI inputs

  • Requires compatible TV for Dolby Atmos

Since its debut in 2018, the $ 399 Sonos Beam has been one of the best small soundbars you can buy thanks to its great sound, compact and stylish design, easy integration with Sonos' sound platform for the whole house and its ability to double as a smart speaker for Alexa or Google Assistant.

But in recent years, Dolby Atmos – the 3D surround sound format that makes movies and music much more immersive – has become hugely popular, not least due to its acceptance by streaming giants like Netflix, Disney +, Amazon Prime Video, and both Apple TV + as well as Apple Music. This means that most new soundbars, including Sonos' $ 799 flagship Arc soundbar, are now Atmos compatible, and the second generation Beam is no exception.

The new Sonos Beam is more expensive at $ 449. So the questions are whether existing Beam owners should even think about an upgrade and what prospective Beam newbies can expect from it.

A couple of small changes

First things first, before reading this hands-on test, be sure to check out our review of the original Sonos Beam. Sonos made very few changes to the second generation version. From now on, I'll just discuss what these changes are and how they affect the performance of the beam.

I am a fan of the grid. It's much easier to clean and doesn't attract as much dust in the first place.

Some of these changes are relatively minor, such as the decision to replace the fabric speaker grille with one made of rigid plastic. The biggest change is in the sound, which I'll get into in a moment. It's worth noting, however, that while I am discussing the changes Sonos made to the Beam, this is not an attempt to figure out which one is better because, aside from remaining Gen 1 inventory, the second generation Beam is now the only one that you can buy.

What's in the box?

Sonos Beam Gen 2 scope of delivery.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Sonos has always been the king of simplicity, and that goes from setup to software to packaging. The new Beam comes in a plain printed, fully recyclable box, and the only plastic you'll find are the two small poly bags that protect the included HDMI cable and optical-to-HDMI adapter. If Sonos finds a way to erase those bags, it will have some of the most sustainable packaging in the business.

In the box you will find the beam, color-coordinated power and HDMI cables, the adapter I mentioned and some printed matter for guarantees, etc.

Great grill

Sonos Beam Gen 2.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

I like the traditional look of cloth grilles on a speaker. But as the owner of two cats, I can confirm that fabric grids are more like dust and fur magnets that have to be cleaned pretty much all the time. I don't know if that was the idea behind Sonos when it decided to replace the fabric grille on the first generation Beam with a perforated plastic version, but I'm a fan. It's much easier to clean and doesn't attract as much dust in the first place at.

Setting up Sonos products has always been remarkably easy. The new beam is even easier.

The white Gen 2 test device Sonos sent me looks great. And if you're a die-hard white product fanatic, this new Beam will go with every other white Sonos speaker you might own, from the Sonos One to the tiny new Roam.

An (even) simpler set-up

Setting up Sonos products has always been remarkably easy. Plug it in, open the Sonos app, tap some settings and press a button or two on the speaker. Two minutes later and that's it. The new beam is even easier to set up thanks to near field communication (NFC) from Sonos. As soon as I put the beam on the wall and started the Sonos S2 app, the app recognized the beam and asked me to complete the setup.

This would have been as easy as tapping my iPhone against the top of the Beam, but my phone case is ridiculously thick (it was designed to be attached to a motorcycle) so that part didn't work. The app cleverly saw that I was having problems and asked if I would like to switch to an audio-based setup. When I said yes, I was asked to hold the phone next to the speaker while the speaker played an encoded audio tone. Five seconds later I was done. I have to give Sonos crazy props – the company just keeps making its products easier to work with.

The connection to my TV was also a breeze. As soon as this HDMI cable is plugged in, the Beam automatically recognizes your television and determines which commands it needs to control. This is especially handy if you choose to use Alexa's TV control capabilities.

Is it atmos?

Sonos Beam Gen 1 and Gen 2, stacked vertically.Sonos Beam Gen 2 (above, in white) and Sonos Beam Gen 1. Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Dolby Atmos can be a difficult technology to understand. In an ideal world, we would all buy dedicated 5.1.2 or better home theater systems with at least two ceiling speakers to give us all of the juicy hemispherical sound effects that Atmos is known for. That's not realistic for most of us, which is why Dolby Atmos soundbars have become so popular. With built-in upward-facing drivers that radiate sound from the ceiling to our ears, the best Atmos soundbars provide a compelling replacement for the installed ceiling speakers. But here's the thing about Dolby Atmos: thanks to sound virtualization, which uses some very clever tricks to simulate the presence of upward-facing or ceiling-based height channels, it can actually be delivered over just two channels.

With the addition of virtualized surround sound, it's an even more impressive addition to your TV.

How well virtualization works depends on a number of factors, including the size of the soundbar, the number of drivers it can use to create the simulated sound, the size and shape of your room, and even whether you have the soundbar Have turned on on a tabletop or mounted on the wall.

In general, this type of virtualized Atmos sound just can't compete with what you get from dedicated speakers, and the new Beam is no exception. However, Sonos managed to get a surprising amount of additional immersion out of what is exactly the same driver setup as the first-generation Beam under that perforated grille.

Sonos Beam Gen 1 and Gen 2, stacked vertically.Sonos Beam Gen 2 (above, white) and Beam Gen 1. Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

To get a feel for the difference between the first and second generation models, I stacked them vertically and played a variety of content by switching the HDMI cable between them. The sound stage of the new beam is significantly wider and when playing Atmos content you get a small but noticeable height effect. The Beam has always outperformed its weight class when it comes to filling a room with great sound, and with the addition of virtualized surround sound, it's an even more impressive addition to your TV.

For fun, I tried the recently remastered classic Top Gun from the 1980s. In fact, those epic dogfight scenes and the iconic opening sequence on board an aircraft carrier sounded fantastic. The Beam still lacks the deep, low-end rumble of sound bars that come with their own subwoofers, but I was pleasantly surprised at how well it mimicked a full surround system. Even more surprising is how well this effect carries over to standard 5.1 content.

There have been a couple of occasions when I thought the first generation Beam was providing a bit more understandable dialogue, but the difference was small.

The one port problem

The rear connections of the Sonos Beam Gen 2.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The new Beam has a single HDMI ARC / eARC port for connection to a television. The eARC part is new – it allows HDMI-eARC-enabled TVs to send a high-resolution, lossless 24-bit audio signal to the soundbar, whereas the first generation Beam was limited to lossy digital audio. That single port wasn't a serious limiting factor for the first-generation Beam, as the speaker couldn't decode more than Dolby 5.1, which meant that every television over the past 15 years could use its full capabilities, even if it meant having an optical- to use HDMI adapter.

But with the Dolby Atmos capabilities of the new beam, this is no longer the case. To hear Dolby Atmos from the new Beam, your TV must also support Dolby Atmos. If you want to hear Dolby Atmos from your other devices (such as streaming boxes, game consoles or Blu-ray players), they must also be connected to the HDMI inputs on your TV. There is simply no other way to transfer Atmos content to the new beam.

If you have a Dolby Atmos TV with lots of HDMI ports, this should work fine. However, if your TV isn't Dolby Atmos compatible, you will never be able to take full advantage of this speaker. Many other Atmos sound bars come with at least one HDMI input so you can connect an Apple TV 4K or a Roku Ultra. This would send the Atmos content straight to the speaker while the video goes to the TV, but that's not an option with the new Beam.

For Dolby Atmos Music, Sonos plans to support this format later this year. It starts with Amazon Music HD, but hopefully other services that offer Atmos Music and lossless music like Tidal and Apple Music will be added soon.

diploma

The Sonos Beam is a little more expensive now, but it's worth it. The additional immersion offered by the speaker's virtualized Dolby Atmos and 5.1 surround sound makes an already powerful soundbar for movies and music even better. If you have an Atmos-enabled TV, it's worth upgrading to take advantage of the better sound. Even if your TV isn't Atmos-enabled, the new Beam may offer improved immersion over its predecessor, but the difference will be less noticeable.

Editor's recommendations



30 Sep
Blog

Why You Have Skin Problems When The Weather Changes

Did you know that you have to change your skin routine between the seasons? The change of seasons is one of the most beautiful times of the year. However, moving from one season to the next brings environmental and weather changes that are likely to have devastating effects on your skin. Let's find out how the skin reacts differently depending on the changes with the season and which skin care products are most effective at protecting your skin.

How do seasonal changes affect the skin?

If you find that your skin is drier and more irritated than normal, or has lost its shine, it may be due to the arrival of a new season. Depending on where you live, the seasonal weather changes can be dramatic or mild. Regardless of the severity, you will likely find that your skin has different needs in the cooler months than in the warmer seasons. The effect that seasonal changes have on our skin is most pronounced when summer turns into autumn and again when winter turns into spring. However, this can happen anytime the weather and humidity change noticeably, and more often if you live in a place with four different seasons of the year.

The skin values ​​consistency. Think of a time when you discovered a skin care product that you really loved. While you may have enjoyed this product after using it for the first time, you may not have seen the full effects for a while. Your skin needs time to adapt to both the products and the environment. In midsummer, your skin is more used to sun, heat and moisture than in early spring. Similarly, in September, your skin will still adapt to seasonal changes, while in February you probably got used to a winter skin care regimen.

What are some common skin changes?

Whether you love or hate the cold in the air, there are some challenges you probably need to address in order to keep your skin healthy. Summer is drawing to a close and for the first time in several months your skin can cope with falling temperatures, cool wind, rain and snow. The brisk autumn weather is accompanied by a drop in humidity, and your skin responds by becoming tight, dry, dehydrated, or even flaky and irritated. Even if your skin feels drier than normal, it is unlikely that your actual skin type will change. Any skin, including oily and combination skin, can experience dehydration and irritation from cold weather.

When winter comes, the dry skin problems you've noticed can be compounded by even cooler temperatures and more extreme weather. This can be made worse by changes in your lifestyle. Many of us turn to artificial heat sources or a steamy shower or bath in our homes to escape the cold. Both central heating and hot water can further rid the skin of its natural oils, and you may find that your skin becomes dry, cracked, and flaky.

As we welcome back spring and summer, you can face a different set of skin problems caused by warmer weather. The humidity increases as the sun rises and the heat hits. You may notice spikes in oil production, acne breakouts, and sun damage from too much tanning!

Seasonal skin care tips

You may be thinking about changing your routine to keep your skin healthy. To get you started, check out this In The Mix video to see how Eminence Organics runs skin care trainers Natalie Pergar suggests changing your skincare routine seasonally.

(embed) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4PTbMXkwgY (/ embed)

Read on for our top tips and recommendations for customizing your skin care products accordingly.

Moving into spring

Spring brings a number of unique skin problems with it. If everything is in bloom, allergies can occur to protect your body against pollen, resulting in itchy skin, a runny nose, and watery eyes. At the beginning of spring, Natalie recommends balancing your skin with the Cornflower Recovery Serum. This light gel formula is gentle with chamomile, clary sage, cornflower and sea buckthorn during the allergy season. Chamomile and clary sage balance the complexion, while cornflower and sea buckthorn make your skin look smooth, firm and youthful.

When you have breakouts, wearing makeup like a heavy foundation can clog your pores. This is more likely if you forget to clean and wash off makeup regularly. Check out our range of cleansers that will make your skin feel refreshed and balanced.

Winter and autumn options

For the colder months, we recommend using your light summer cleaner for a rich and nourishing one. This should help plump up your skin as you wash. The Stone Crop Gel Wash, ideal for all skin types (including sensitive skin), evens out the skin and removes impurities for a radiant, fresh look. Our Coconut Milk Cleanser is also an ideal choice for normal to dry skin types. This cleanser nourishes dry skin with moisture and improves elasticity for a youthful glow.

As you move from warmer months to cooler months, you may find that your skin becomes dry and irritated. We recommend reducing the frequency of peeling. Instead, resort to a mask or facial serum to improve dryness. One option we love for dry skin is the Strawberry Rhubarb Hyaluronic Acid Serum. Hyaluronic acid is a humectant that can absorb 100 times its own weight in water. Applied to the face, it draws moisture into the skin and provides long-lasting moisture.

For combination and oily skin, the Mangosteen Daily Resurfacing Concentrate is a great fall and winter option. This concentrate gently refines the complexion and revitalizes your complexion through the winter, when the skin often looks dull. For an evening routine, try the Lotus Detoxifying Overnight Treatment. Formulated with lotus, detoxifying microgreens and jojoba oil balls, this treatment protects the skin from environmental stress that comes with the changing seasons. This night cream also offers all skin types a revitalizing moisture boost.

The Stone Crop Hydrating Gel is a great winter staple for all skin types, especially sensitive and hyperpigmented skin. Made from stone harvest, bearberry extract and green tea, this gel moisturizer soothes irritation, evens skin tone and moisturizes without leaving the skin greasy.

When summer returns

In the warmer months, your skin can become a little oily. The Echinacea Recovery Cream from our Beyond Organic line softens, regenerates and restores normal to oily skin. This creamy, leave-on moisturizer is made from Biodynamic® Echinacea, yarrow and aloe vera to revitalize and reduce the signs of irritation. Natalie also recommends the Lavender Age Corrective Night Concentrate. Formulated with argan oil, jojoba oil and shea butter, this concentrate is very moisturizing and helps your skin adapt.

When the heat returns in spring and summer, you can return to lighter weight skin care products that will help combat oil levels and problem skin. However, there is one item that you shouldn't drop in the fall and winter. SPF! While you might consider this a summer staple, you can still suffer sun and UV damage during the cool fall and winter months. To avoid sun and UV damage, as well as premature skin aging, it is important to include sunscreen in your routine year round.

While the seasons and weather are out of our control, how we care for our skin is in our hands. Understanding how the different seasons affect your skin and how your needs can change can help you choose the products to include in your seasonal skin care regimen. You can also speak to an Eminence Spa partner near you for professional advice on your seasonal skin care needs. By adapting your ritual to the seasons, you can have healthy and glowing skin all year round.

How do you change your skin care routine seasonally? What are your favorite products for autumn and winter? Let us know in the comments below!

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