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19
Apr
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18
Apr
Acer Aspire 5 2021 Review: Budget laptop takes a step back
"The horrific display on the Acer Aspire 5 ruins a decent, inexpensive laptop."
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Solid connectivity
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Superior expandability
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Good keyboard and touchpad
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Cruel display
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Chassis is too flexible
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Mediocre battery life
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Poor performance
The Acer Aspire 5 has been one of our favorite laptops for a few years now and has earned a spot on our list of the best budget laptops. Currently, the 2020 version of the Aspire 5 is listed as the best Windows 10 laptop under $ 500, a major segment that the computer dominates. Acer has introduced a slightly redesigned Aspire 5 for 2021 that features the latest 11th generation Intel Core CPUs and makes some significant changes to the case design.
I received an entry-level model with a Core i3-1115G4 CPU with Intel UHD graphics, 8 GB of RAM, a 256 GB PCIe solid-state drive (SSD) and a 15.6-inch full HD display (1,920 x 1,080). This Aspire 5 configuration is priced at $ 480, which is in the sub-$ 500 segment that previous models owned. Can Acer keep its track record with the latest Aspire 5?
design
Acer has optimized the design of the Aspire 5 for 2021. The biggest change is a new hinge that angles the case back several degrees to allow better airflow and to support the keyboard. It's a welcome change from an otherwise mundane design.
As before, the lid is made of aluminum, while the rest of the housing is made of plastic and the rigidity is the same as before. The lid is curved quite a bit, while the keyboard deck and the bottom of the case are a bit stiffer, but still yield to light pressure. Some other budget laptops, like the Lenovo Yoga C640, Lenovo Flex 5 14, and Acer Swift 3, have solid build quality.
Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
Aesthetically, the Aspire 5 is pretty bland, with an all-black color scheme punctuated with some chrome-plated Acer logos. If you don't care about the looks of a laptop and are solely focused on the price, the Aspire 5 will satisfy your taste. But it is by no means noticeable. Other colors will be available, including a silver scheme, which is probably more attractive than my boring black review unit.
The Aspire 5 is not a small laptop as the bezels are still too big for modern machines. The side bezels aren't too thick, but the top and bottom bezels could be made smaller, resulting in a laptop that is wider and deeper than usual. The Aspire 5 weighs 3.64 pounds, down from 3.97 pounds in the previous version and is 0.70 inches thick, which is reasonable for a 15-inch laptop.
A particularly nice design feature that the Aspire 5 has in common is its expandability. Accessing the inside of the computer is relatively easy, allowing users to swap out RAM and SSD. Acer also includes a kit for adding a 2.5-inch drive to an empty bay, making it easy to expand storage with an SSD or rotating hard disk drive (HDD). This kind of expandability is rare and welcomed here.
Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
As with many budget laptops that aren't as thin and light as some previous models, connectivity is mostly a strength. On the left, you get an Ethernet port, a full-size HDMI port, two USB-A 3.2 ports, and a USB-C 3.2 port (no Thunderbolt 4 support here). On the right side you will find a Kensington lock slot, a USB-A 2.0 port and a 3.5 mm audio jack. Wireless connectivity is cutting edge with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1.
performance
Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
My test device was equipped with a Core i3-1115G4, an 11th generation dual-core CPU that operates at a full TDP of 12 to 28 watts, but contains Intel UHD graphics instead of the newer Intel Iris Xe. According to our series of benchmarks, this is a slow laptop. Starting with Geekbench 5, only 1,215 points were achieved in single-core mode and 2,544 points in multi-core mode. This is well below the usual Tiger Lake value, which usually exceeds 1,500 in the single-core and 5,000 in the multi-core area. In fact, it is beaten by some newer Chromebooks running the Android version of Geekbench 5, which is usually on the slow side. Even the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 with an Intel Core i3-10110U got close to 1,003 and 2,179.
In our handbrake test, which encodes a 420MB video as H.265, the Aspire 5 took exactly five minutes, which is at best 50% slower than the slowest Tiger Lake laptops we tested. This is the first 11th generation Core i3 that we tested. Therefore, faster CPUs run on all of our comparison laptops. For example, the Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable, a Windows 10 tablet with a Core i5-1130G7 (a slower Core i5), took just over three minutes to complete the test. The same applies to Cinebench R23, another video rendering test in which the Aspire 5 only manages 1,247 in single-core mode and 3,128 in multi-core mode. The difference between the Aspire 5 and the detachable ThinkPad X12 (1,125 and 3,663) wasn't that big, but most other Tiger Lake laptops were again significantly faster.
The Aspire 5 only achieved 3752 points in the PCMark 10 Complete test, our lowest score ever. In the Essentials part of the test, only 8,220 were achieved, in productivity 5,975 and in content creation only 2,921. The detachable ThinkPad X12 scored 4,443, 9,999, 5,936 and 4,157, respectively. As in our other tests, the Aspire 5 is well behind the field.
I found the Aspire 5 to be fast enough for basic tasks like surfing the Internet and working with office documents in real-life use. For $ 480, these aren't terrible results. We didn't test the previous versions of the Aspire 5 using the same set of benchmarks, so we can't directly compare their performance.
display
Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
I'm not going to crush words here: this is the worst ad I've ever reviewed. This fact was evident when I first started the Acer Aspire 5 and logged into Windows 10. The display has a noticeable bluish cast which I believe is the result of a cruel contrast and elements on the screen may be difficult to see.
My colorimeter agreed. The brightness was very low at 211, which means you'll struggle to see the screen in a bright office setting. The contrast was confirmed to be extraordinarily poor at just 60: 1 (our threshold for a great display is 1000: 1 and an average budget display is 600: 1). The colors were also poor at just 53% of sRGB and 40% of AdobeRGB – both of which are the lowest in our database, and the typical midrange and premium displays score 95% and 70% or more, respectively. To add insult to injury, the accuracy was also among the worst I've seen with a DeltaE of 10.7 (less than 1.0 is considered excellent and most laptops are below 3.0 in the worst case) ). Only the gamma of the display was where it should be at 2.2.
Nobody will like this display.
In actual use, the colors were washed out, the black text was rather gray, and the display was completely uncomfortable. It's my new standard for "terrible display" and it left a terrible taste in my mouth as a result. Nobody is going to like this display unless they've never used a laptop before and I would pity them for getting such a poor impression of the state of the art. Acer has to get another panel because this is just terrible. The 2019 and 2020 versions of the Aspire 5 were much better.
The audio wasn't much better than the display. The volume was inadequate for all but the occasional YouTube videos, although there was no distortion when turned all the way up. The mids and highs were clear enough, and as always, there was little to no bass. The two speakers aren't bad, mind you, they just don't offer much better than budget quality.
Keyboard and touchpad
The Aspire 5 has a fairly typical island-style keyboard with backlighting, black keycaps and white letters. The keys are a bit small, but also offer a comfortable spacing with the dedicated (but tiny) numeric keypad. The switches are very light weight, with a nice push button and a comfortable bottom effect. This is one area where the Aspire 5 shines and offers a typing experience that is better than many budget laptops.
Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
The touchpad is surprisingly good too, as it's pretty big and responsive. It is a Microsoft Precision touchpad and therefore offers reliable support for the multitouch gestures of Windows 10. It also exceeds the household norm.
Unsurprisingly there is no touch display, and as always, I miss it. There is also no Windows 10 Hello support, neither face recognition nor a fingerprint scanner. This is something we've been seeing on budget laptops lately, and so its omission is noticeable here.
Battery life
Acer has equipped the Aspire 5 with a 48-watt-hour battery, which is not much for a 15-inch laptop. Even with the slower CPU, I was disappointed with the battery life on this version.
In our web browsing test, which ran through a number of popular websites, the Aspire 5 managed just under seven hours, two hours less than the 2019 version with a Core i3, but three hours longer than the 2020 version with a Core i5. In general, that's not a terrible score, but the Aspire 5 is still in the lower bracket of our database. In our video loop test, in which a Full HD Avengers trailer is played until the battery is empty, the Aspire 5 achieved 9.5 hours. That's about 3.5 hours less than the 2020 version and less than 10 hours that we would like to see in this test. Again not a terrible result, but not great either.
Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
Finally, I ran some PCMark 10 battery tests. The first, the gaming test, evaluates how long a laptop will last when the CPU and GPU are under stress. The Aspire 5 came in after 2.25 hours, an average score. In the application test, which is the best measure of the longevity of productivity, the Aspire 5 shut down after almost eight hours at the lower end of our database. The detachable ThinkPad X12, for example, managed over 10 hours.
Overall, the battery life of the Aspire 5 was mediocre. If you're doing typical productivity work, you can get through a work day for a fee. The laptop uses a proprietary charger, but you can charge USB-C in a pinch if you happen to have an adapter handy.
Our opinion
I would love to say that the 2021 Acer Aspire 5 retains its spot as our best budget under $ 500 laptop. Unfortunately not, thanks to slow performance and a poor display. The 2020 model is still on sale, and you'd better stick with it.
Is there a better alternative?
As I just mentioned, the 2020 Aspire 5 is a better choice than the 2021 version. You get a much better display and similar build quality for roughly the same money, and you won't be giving up much on performance and battery life.
If I were looking for a cheaper machine in this price range, I would consider a powerful Chromebook option, and there are plenty of that.
The Lenovo Flex 5 14 with its AMD Ryzen CPU is another alternative. The display is smaller at 14 inches but has better battery life, is much faster, and the display won't embarrass you in public.
How long it will take?
It's not the most rugged laptop, but I suspect it can be solidly used for a few years – and that's about what you would expect for the money. They have up-to-date components, including Wi-Fi 6, though Thunderbolt 4 isn't a bummer. The one-year guarantee is also no cause for celebration.
Should you buy it?
No. The display is really terrible which ruins the experience with this laptop.
Editor's recommendations
18
Apr
Tricep Kickbacks : How To Perform at Home
Triceps kickbacks are a form of exercise that primarily focuses on strengthening the triceps and the large muscles on the back of the upper arms. Our triceps are responsible for building upper body strength. They can also help maintain stability in our shoulders and arms.
Over the years, this workout has been shown to be beneficial for improving shoulder and elbow movement to improve upper body flexibility. Strengthening the triceps is especially beneficial for athletes who play sports such as basketball and tennis as it helps stabilize the shoulder joints of the body.
The holy grail of all exercises
One important thing to remember before doing any exercise is to do a 10 minute warm up to relax and loosen up your muscles. It also helps prevent injury by increasing the body's rate of energy production.
The steps required to complete it are listed below Triceps Setbacks efficient and coordinated!
For starters, this workout can be done in two ways:
With dumbbells
Using dumbbells for this exercise will help you develop coordination and improve muscle flexibility. It helps if you've always started with dumbbells that weigh 10 lb and 20 lb respectively, and then slowly increase the weights as you get to the previous ace.
Steps to follow:
1. Keep your back straight, bend your knees, and lean forward slightly, holding a dumbbell in each hand. Bend the arm that holds the dumbbell 90 degrees at the elbow so that your biceps are perpendicular to the floor and your triceps are parallel to your back.
2. Lift the dumbbell up and back as if trying to straighten your arm and deepen your core, triceps, and hinge at the elbow.
3. Your elbow should be moving and your triceps should stay calm.
Bring the dumbbell up until your arm is straight, pause, and bring the weights back to the starting position.
With cables
Cable tricep setbacks are the second most productive triceps exercise. It assists muscle stimulation and lets you work against gravity to move the weight up and down.
Steps to follow:
1. First, you should set up a handle on a low pulley cable machine. It would be helpful if you stood facing the machine with your back bent to keep it parallel to the floor.
2. Grasp the handle with your hand and bring it to one side by tucking your elbow toward your body
3. Slowly extend your arm back as far as possible, using a tendency to squeeze and hold your triceps for a few moments. Then return to the starting position and repeat the same steps.
Tips to keep in mind
1. You should always keep your body as still as possible during this exercise, especially your triceps. Only your forearms should move.
2. While performing this exercise, always make sure that your arm is held against your body.
3. To keep your back straight, keep your head up and your eyes should point forward.
4. While extending your arm, try not to bend your wrist as this would release tension from the triceps and transfer it to your forearms.
5. While doing this exercise, you should not feel any pressure on your lower back.
frequently asked Questions
1. How many Triceps I should do setbacks in one day?
Do at least 2 to 3 sets of 10 to 15 repetitions each day.
2. are Triceps Destructive setbacks?
Yes, I would recommend that you remove this workout from your daily workout as it may not be very helpful if you only focus on the tension on the triceps.
3. What weights should I use? this exercise?
You should start at 5, 10, or 15 pounds and gradually increase the weights as you feel comfortable.
The final result
This training is really an efficient way to increase your upper body strength and improve your flexibility to a great extent. With this exercise you can promote the stability of your body in no time! If done regularly, you can observe the changes in your body at lightning speed!
17
Apr
Arlo Essential Indoor Camera Review: Privacy Is a Priority
Arlo Essential indoor surveillance camera
"Thanks to the Arlo Essential Indoor Security Camera’s helpful privacy lock, you never have to wonder if Big Brother is watching."
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Privacy shutter offers security
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Clear and clear night vision
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Smart discovery with Arlo Smart
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Video quality artifact elements
Arlo has long distinguished itself as a high-end surveillance camera manufacturer and has expanded its growth in this segment thanks to the introduction of its Essential line of surveillance cameras. With a balance between price and performance, the Essential line extends the company's reach. However, a certain type of camera was missing – a real type of indoor camera.
With the Arlo Essential Indoor Security Camera, all of that changes. On paper, it won't amaze anyone with its specs, but what is really amazing here is the focus on privacy. Equipped with a visual shutter that opens and closes, it is one of the few cameras that addresses the ongoing privacy concerns at home.
A barrier that protects your privacy
It is difficult for security camera companies to have a privacy lock, but Arlo, like some other companies, shows us that it is possible. The Arlo Essential indoor security camera has a simple privacy screen that covers the camera's lens when you don't want it to be recorded – like when you are at home. Unlike other implementations that require users to flip a switch, it is mechanically operated across the entire Arlo app. This is great because you can be away and still control the privacy lock.
John Velasco / Digital Trends
It blocks the camera's view, protecting your privacy at home. This is important because you know with greater peace of mind that someone is not watching you. When someone actually accesses the camera, the action of the data protection lock is accompanied by an audible sound – so you know that it is being accessed. This is useful because it is so distinctive that you know it is being operated without actually seeing it.
I'm a proponent of mechanically operated privacy shutters like this one, so bravo to Arlo for designing the camera with that in mind.
All the intelligence, mediocre quality
The design of the Arlo Essential Indoor Security Camera allows it to stand freely on shelves and desks and to be mounted on the wall using the brackets provided. In terms of design, the all-plastic construction feels a bit hollow and looks pretty generic, but the articulated base allows for quick and easy adjustment for the ideal view with the camera.
It is safer to know that someone is not watching you
For an indoor camera, the 130-degree field of view is sufficient – I've seen other models with larger views – but strategic placement in corners gives the best coverage. It records at 1080p resolution and offers night vision and two-way audio – all the standard features you would expect from a modern security camera.
However, many of the advanced features are hidden behind the Arlo Smart subscription. By default, the Arlo Essential Indoor Security Camera sends notifications when motion is detected. However, you won't get item detection, package delivery detection, or activity zones without subscribing to Arlo Smart, which starts at $ 3 a month for a single camera. Fortunately, there is a three month trial that is included with the purchase.
As for the performance of the camera, it's nice that Arlo Smart can distinguish motion from pets or people, so you can filter what you want to get through the app rather than get bombarded by false positives. The quality of the video is average at best. It suffers from artifacts early on, but that seems to go away after a while. There is enough detail to see most of the things in the scene while colors have a slightly unsaturated hue. I have no complaints about night vision performance. It's crisp and clear and illuminates the area up to 20 feet.
One thing that could make it perfect
While I applaud Arlo for its mechanical privacy screen, there is only one thing missing from the Essential Indoor Security Camera that makes it perfect – a geofence feature that can automatically arm the camera when I'm not home.
John Velasco / Digital Trends
Currently, activating the camera is a manual process performed through the app. Sometimes I'm just in a hurry and don't have time to activate the camera. A feature that she can automatically activate based on my phone's location would sweeten the package.
Our opinion
If privacy is a primary concern for you, this is Arlo Essential indoor surveillance camera ensures that you don't have to worry thanks to the data protection lock. The $ 100 cost is worth it just because it's a camera you can trust.
How long it will take?
Although the all-plastic construction feels a bit flimsy, it comes with a one-year limited warranty that covers the camera for defects. Given that it is supposed to be stationary in one place, it should last a long time.
Is there a better alternative?
The SimpliSafe SimpliCam is worth considering just because, like this one, it has a mechanically operated privacy screen that you can see and hear. The main benefit is that it works with SimpliSafe's home surveillance system, so not only is it activated and deactivated every time the system is activated, but in an emergency, emergency responders can even access the camera's feed to assess the event.
The Eufy Indoor Cam 2K Pan & Tilt is worth considering for its lower cost and ability to articulate almost 360 degrees. It can even stow its camera when not in use. This is a slightly different way of protecting home privacy.
Should you buy it?
Yes. It's one of the few models that respects your home privacy and ensures you are informed when the camera is being accessed.
Editor's recommendations
17
Apr
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 Review: It’s Finally Fixed!
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4
"Microsoft's Surface Laptop 4 is by far the best in the range thanks to the huge performance improvements."
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AMD chips are widely used in configurations
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Thinnest 15-inch laptop
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Excellent workmanship
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Great typing experience
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Long lasting battery life
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Older AMD chips will degrade performance
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Thick bezels, bad webcam
Well, Microsoft did it. It finally fixed the Surface Laptop 4.
The previous model was plagued by poor performance and a lack of solid configurations to choose from. This was difficult to recommend, especially for the 15-inch model.
With the Surface Laptop 4, Microsoft fixed these issues, thanks in part to the incredible performance and battery life of some new AMD processors. I looked at the 15-inch Surface Laptop 4, which had an eight-core Ryzen 7 processor, 16 GB of RAM, and a 512 GB SSD. That added up to $ 1,800, which ultimately feels like a reasonable price for what the Surface Laptop 4 has to offer.
design
There are a lot of things to love about the design of the Surface Laptop – even in 2021. All of these things are still intact on the Surface Laptop 4, which means that the case remains relatively unchanged.
At just 0.58 inches for the 15-inch model, it's still remarkably thin than ever. This thinness is really noticeable in the palm rests, which are barely lifted from the table. This is especially true if you are used to thicker laptops in this category, e.g. E.g. the Dell XPS 15 (0.71 inch thick) or the MacBook Pro 16 inch (0.64 inch thick).
Of course, these laptops have a larger chassis to support the extra performance that you can configure. Since the Surface Laptop 4 doesn't support discrete graphics or 45-watt processors, Microsoft can work extremely thinly. It's still an accomplishment, however – the similarly configured LG Gram 16, for example, is still 0.66 inches thick. This makes the Surface Laptop 4 the slimmest 15-inch laptop you can buy.
The tiny stature of the chassis makes the build quality all the more impressive. You won't find the bend or bend that is common on laptops that thin. The lid is rigid, the hinge opens with a finger and it doesn't wobble too much either. It's a superbly made device worthy of the Surface brand.
I also like what the ultra-thin design does to make the screen stand out. The Surface Laptop 4 is one of the few 15-inch laptops that offers a 3: 2 screen – and it's great. The bezels are bigger than I'd like, but in the 15-inch form factor, they're less outrageous.
The ports include USB-C 3.1, USB-A, a headphone jack and the magnetized Surface Connect. Microsoft continues to ignore the existence of Thunderbolt 4, which means that the USB-C port is not as fast as on other laptops and cannot be used for charging. The docking capabilities of the Surface Connect port are great, although everything is proprietary.
performance
The new components make the Surface Laptop 4 what it is. It now comes with a wide range of Intel and AMD processors. AMD's Ryzen processors debuted in the Surface Laptop 3, but were a year behind with Ryzen 3000 chips. Performance was disappointing, especially when compared to a large 15-inch laptop. It made it very difficult to compete with competitors like the XPS 15 or the MacBook Pro 16-inch. Microsoft's first hug from AMD didn't go over so well.
The Surface Laptop 4 addresses this issue in two important ways. First, Ryzen processors will be available in both 13.5-inch and 15-inch sizes. The smaller size is limited to the six-core Ryzen 5, while the 15-inch model only offers the eight-core Ryzen 7. These additional cores offer the Surface Laptop 4 great performance potential, especially with the 15-inch model Microsoft and AMD need all the performance they need.
The Surface Laptop 4 is pretty powerful thanks to this Ryzen processor.
These are still a year back, although they use Ryzen 4000 processors. It feels a little more forgivable given the current drought in chip shipments. More importantly, AMD achieved its biggest performance leap in the generation with Ryzen 4000, so the Surface Laptop 4 benefits from these advantages.
And that has definitely proven itself in my tests. These four additional cores mean huge improvements in multi-core performance. That was evident in benchmarks like Geekbench and Cinebench. In everything that just depends on the CPU, like the video encoding in Handbrake, the Surface Laptop 4 is pretty powerful thanks to this Ryzen processor. It also performed reasonably well on the photo editing test in PCMark 10, which makes it a reasonably decent option for photographers, and I couldn't have said that about the previous model.
| Geekbench (single / multi) | Cinebench R23 (single / multi) | PCMark 10 | 3DMark Time Spy | |
| Surface laptop 4 15 | 1016/6658 | 1137/5881 | 4849 | 1177 |
| LG gram 16 | 1573/5454 | 1394/4137 | 4827 | 1390 |
| Lenovo Yoga 9i 15 (Core i7-10750H) | 1532/5415 | 1141/6400 | 4800 | 3487 |
| MacBook Air (M1) | 1727/7585 | 1479/6680 | n / A | n / A |
| Asus ZenBook 13 OLED (Ryzen 7 5800U) | 1423/6758 | 1171/7824 | 6034 | 1342 |
| Surface laptop 3 15 | 900/3056 | 722/2407 | n / A | 835 |
Based on my tests, the Surface Laptop 4's thinness is still holding it back. Less thickness means less space for airflow. Outside of the Surface Book line, this applies to all Surface products. But because of its size, many potential buyers could be fooled into thinking this is a serious workstation. This is certainly not the case – there will always be tasks the Surface Laptop 4 is not designed for, such as: B. Video editing.
I tested the Surface Laptop 4 in PugetBench for Premiere Pro, which tests everything from 4K playback to video encoding. It's sad to say, but the 15-inch Surface Laptop 4 pales in comparison to the M1 MacBook Air. It's not even close – and that's a far cheaper laptop. The graphics are the culprit here, which can speed up the tasks in Premiere significantly.
It is possible to play games, but it is not pretty.
To be fair, the Radeon graphics are a massive improvement over the Vega 9 graphics I tested in the Surface Laptop 3. It ran over 30% faster in 3DMark Time Spy. If Microsoft had chosen Ryzen 5000, the graphics performance would have been a better match for Intel models.
Due to the lack of a graphics card, the Surface Laptop 4 really isn't something you want to play on. I've tried Civilization VI and Fortnite and the results have been poor. You don't want to play a full resolution game, but if you set the Civilization VI settings to Medium, you can get some playable frame rates. I wouldn't care about a game like Fortnite. I had to lower the pixel resolution to 1620 x 1080p and the 3D resolution to 70% to get 60 frames per second (fps). It is possible to play, but it is not pretty.
Battery life
Aside from performance, battery life is the most important advancement Microsoft has made with the Surface Laptop 4. Microsoft claims that this configuration gives you 17.5 hours, but I've never achieved that much. However, I got 13.5 hours in my test that went through a series of websites until the battery ran out.
That's really impressive, especially for a laptop this size. It's nearly four hours longer than the last iteration – which puts it in the league of laptops like the LG Gram 16 and many other laptops with 1080p screens.
This could be the first Surface product to exceed my battery life expectations, which is a good sign for Microsoft. This is the only case where the lack of a number of performance-hungry components is beneficial.
According to Microsoft, you can do a few more hours with the 13.5-inch AMD model, while the Intel models take about an hour less.
Display and speakers
The Surface Laptop 4 offers a beautiful resolution of 2256 x 1504 pixels that is sharp, bright (378 nits) and color accurate. I guess Microsoft only sells one resolution per size so you don't have to choose between a 1080p and a 4K model, both of which have flaws. This is the MacBook approach, and it ensures that you get a sharp screen anyway.
I want to point out that the color saturation is not quite the same as the competition, which in turn strengthens the target audience for this laptop who is not a creative professional. The screen hits 97% of the sRGB color space, but only 73% of the AdobeRGB. Microsoft offers an sRGB color mode that is included in the display settings, but has not improved the color saturation.
The speakers are under the keyboard where they point up. I prefer this position across from the bottom of the case, but the sound isn't as clear as laptops, which instead position them next to the keyboard, such as a laptop computer. B. Dell XPS 15 and MacBook Pro. The sound itself has a fuller audio profile than many other laptops, even with a slight hint of bass. This time around, the addition of Dolby Atmos adds the much-needed stereo separation that gives the Surface Laptop 4 a decent music and show experience.
Keyboard and touchpad
The Surface Laptop 4 has an excellent keyboard and touchpad. It's roomy and the keys have a long travel of 1.3mm. This makes for a very comfortable typing experience. The keys have a very even and even white background lighting, but only three levels of brightness.
I also have a lot of good things to say about the glass touchpad, which tracks smoothly and has plenty of room for multi-finger gestures. The palm rejection is great too, which is why I wish Microsoft had used a bigger touchpad for the 15-inch model. It would fill in the empty palm rest space better, as we've seen on many other laptops lately.
The laptop does not have a fingerprint reader but relies solely on the IR camera for secure logins. I like laptops to offer both, but Windows Hello is lightning fast on the Surface Laptop 4.
The webcam could have used an update, however. It's only 720p, which is unfortunately still the standard specification on laptops. We're seeing some new laptops transitioning to 1080p in 2021, and I would have liked Microsoft to be at the forefront of this trend to help people work from home.
Our opinion
The Surface Laptop 4 isn't perfect. The case could still be updated, and I wish Microsoft had used Ryzen 5000. But both the 13.5 and 15 inch laptops are now much better work laptops because of the improved performance and battery life. The Surface Laptop 4 has gone around the corner.
Are there alternatives?
The LG Gram 16 takes a similar approach to a large, ultra-thin laptop that isn't geared towards content creators.
It's hard not to recommend the Dell XPS 15, which has built-in or discrete graphics options. You'll also find a few cheaper options than the Surface Laptop 4, but they don't have a sharp 3: 2 screen.
How long it will take?
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 should last at least four or five years, as long as you don't get jealous when the case is inevitably redesigned.
Should you buy it?
Yes. The changes Microsoft made to this design in its fourth iteration make it a great option.
Editor's recommendations
16
Apr
Plyo Lunges: The Ultimate Cardio Exercise
A plyo lunge is a variation on the walking lunge exercise. The plyo lunge is quite advanced in relation to the walking lunge in that it requires high intensity and increases your heart rate as this exercise consists of jumping during the walking lunge exercise. This exercise consists of a plyometric transition that involves jumping up in the air while switching feet before landing on the ground. This plyo-lunge exercise requires no equipment and allows you to work out at home while feeling a high surge of energy.
So, in this article, we're going to look at the benefits of plyo lunges, the step-by-step procedure, and the common mistakes people make while performing the plyo lunges.
Services:
- Incredible Cardio Exercise:
Plyo lunges is an excellent cardio exercise as it can increase your heart rate considering how much jumping is part of this exercise.
- Helps in developing lower body strength:
This exercise can help you train your lower body significantly. Plyo lunges target the glutes, quadriceps, hamstrings, calves, hips, core and hip flexors.
- Provides stability and coordination:
This exercise is mainly based on balance. Plyo Lunges is about stabilizing your body after the jump without losing your balance.
Step by step instructions:
- Stand upright with your arms and elbows bent at a 90-degree angle. Now take your one leg back into an inverted crisis.
- Now bend your knees as much as you can so they can give you a boost as you jump.
- Now take off into the air and straighten both your hips and knees.
- While in the air you need to change your leg position and bring the initial front leg back and the back leg should come forward.
- So when you get back into a lunge step, the only difference is your legs.
- For example, if you started with your right leg forward.
- After you land on a lunge again, your right leg should be in a lunge position.
- This will initially be difficult for the dynamics of balance and stability associated with the jump. Therefore, do not feel pressured into not being able to do this exercise properly. It will happen gradually.
- Now you should also make sure that you land comparatively gently when landing so that you do not injure yourself.
- Make sure you put your front feet correctly on the floor. Don't just be on tiptoe as this will compromise your stability.
- After that, jump again, switch legs again, and keep doing this exercise until you are comfortable.
Common mistakes:
Plyo lunge is a high-intensity workout. A sufficient warm-up should therefore be initiated so that your body is stretched and can carry the load of this high-intensity workout without harming yourself.
- Forward knee to forward:
Some people extend their front knee a lot more than they should. This is a common cause of loss of balance and stability.
Locking the knees puts too much pressure and stress on them and can lead to injury because the knees and hips cannot balance your weight when the knees are locked.
This is a mistake many people unknowingly make. This can cause you to lose your balance and twist your ankle.
16
Apr
Monoprice SB-600 Review: Affordable But Average Dolby Atmos
"The SB-600 is easy to use and quite affordable. It doesn't really make Atmos shine."
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Easy adjustment
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Clear dialogue
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Generous number of entrances
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Semi-wireless surround speakers
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Distracting display
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Mediocre Dolby Atmos
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Bad sound quality in the middle range
For those who want an even more immersive TV experience, Dolby Atmos sound bars are a tempting upgrade. Soundbars are easier and more convenient to set up than wiring a room with an A / V receiver and a set of discrete speakers. They just make a lot of sense.
However, Dolby Atmos sound bars tend to be expensive because of the extra speakers and drivers required to get the full 3D effect that makes Atmos worth it.
Monoprice is trying to do something about this with its very affordable ($ 450) SB-600 soundbar. Did you succeed in creating an Atmos experience for everyone?
Let's take a look.
What's in the box?
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends
Monoprice includes everything you need to set up the SB-600. Inside the box you'll find the main soundbar, a wireless subwoofer, two semi-wireless surround speakers (more on that later), a remote control, power cords, HDMI and analog cables, wall-mount hardware, and printed instructions.
You may just need to buy an optical cable if your TV doesn't support HDMI ARC.
The box and packaging of the SB-600 is very sustainable when it comes to soundbars. It's mostly plain cardboard, apart from three foam trays that protect the soundbar and a number of poly bags.
design
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends
Like many Monoprice products, the SB-600 has a bare atmosphere. The main soundbar is a simple black case with a perforated metal grille. At 40 inches wide by 3 inches high, it should fit neatly under most TVs without blocking the bottom of the picture. Aside from the little Monoprice and Dolby Atmos badges and the four control buttons on top, it looks very clean.
This would be an ideal situation – soundbars definitely shouldn't be drawing attention to themselves – if the bright LED display wasn't hiding behind the grille. This tells you which source you are using (HDMI 1, 2, ARC, etc), and although the instructions say the display will automatically dim after 10 seconds, our test device stayed bright throughout the system use to avoid an undesirable visual Create distraction.
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends
The 8-inch wireless subwoofer is an inconspicuous black box. With a size of 16.5 inches, it is on par with many other wireless subwoofers in this category. The surround speakers are tiny – about the size of a fat paperback novel.
I love that Monoprice includes wall mounting hardware with the SB-600, but the brackets for the surround speakers point it straight out of the wall. If your TV room has sidewalls evenly spaced from the seating area, this is not a problem. If you don't, you won't be able to rotate the speakers so that they are aimed at the heads of the audience rather than the front of the room.
The included remote control is simple but effective, and gives you access to all of the SB-600's settings and modes in a logical, user-friendly layout. It's not backlit, which makes it more awkward to use in a darkened room. However, this is an obvious feature to avoid while trying to keep the price as low as possible.
Setup and configuration
Unlike many soundbars in the $ 700-2,000 range, the SB-600 doesn't have Wi-FI connectivity. That's a minor drawback for things like high-quality streaming music, but it simplifies setup.
Something that surpasses many other soundbars is the SB-600's generous port selection.
After you've connected the main soundbar to power and your TV via HDMI, and connected the subwoofer, all you need to do is find a home for the surround speakers.
Technically, these devices are wireless – they don't need to be connected to the wireless sub or soundbar – but they're not entirely wireless. The right loudspeaker must be connected to the power supply via its power supply unit and connected to the left loudspeaker via the supplied 13-foot analog cable.
It's simple enough – I had no problem hiding the cord behind our couch that is pressed against the wall, but I can see that this is more of a challenge in other situations. Still, it's better than the usual surround setup required for affordable surround sound bars: wiring both speakers to the subwoofer, which is messier and less flexible in terms of placement.
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends
Something else that surpasses many other soundbars is the generous port selection on the SB-600. You get two HDMI inputs, an HDMI-ARC output, an optical input, a coaxial digital input, an analog socket and a USB connection for MP3 music playback. There is also a bluetooth connection for wireless music streaming.
That's pretty decent – many soundbars only have a single HDMI-ARC port, which means you end up having to sacrifice an HDMI port on your TV without being able to reclaim that port without the use of an HDMI switcher. These two HDMI ports are also 4K HDR compatible and support Dolby Vision so you don't have to worry about your TV getting the highest quality signal.
Sound quality
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends
As you move away from your TV's built-in (and probably terrible) speakers, the SB-600 is a big step up. Between the six drivers of the main soundbar, the wireless sub and the surroundings, you get a better feeling of immersion than a TV, with very clear sound that can also get very loud if desired.
The dialogue sounds clear and straightforward. If you have trouble recognizing speech, the SB-600 can help.
However, the SB-600 has two distinct disadvantages. First, it lacks a decent midrange. Even after playing with the built-in EQ modes (movie, music, dialogue, sports) and changing the bass and treble levels, I couldn't make the system feel full and warm.
I suspect there is simply too big a gap between the target frequencies of the soundbar drivers and the capabilities of the subwoofer. It can deliver big, booming bass as well as bright highs, but this mid-range area feels decidedly hollow.
On the positive side, the dialogue sounds clear and straightforward – the center channel of the soundbar prefers very high frequencies. If you have trouble recognizing speech, the SB-600 can help.
The downside, however, is that you lose some of the tonal nuances, especially in films with very dynamic soundtracks (think Marvel, DC, and Star Wars films).
Second, with Dolby Atmos systems, you won't be overwhelmed by the height channel effects.
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends
I threw a ton of Dolby Atmos footage on the SB-600, from Disney + titles like Iron Man 2 and Doctor Strange, to Dolby Atmos songs from Tidal HiFi, to Dolby Atmos demonstration videos from my LG TV. I found the system to generally provide good surround performance, but that extra dimension that Atmos offered was hit and miss.
It became most evident – and most enjoyable – when listening to Atmos music. Tracks from The Weeknd and Post Malone had a really sprawling soundstage that filled the room.
In contrast, films lacked the overhead dimension that Atmos is known for.
With Dolby Atmos systems, you won't be blown away by the SB-600's height channel effects.
Bluetooth audio was acceptable, but it's immediately apparent that Monoprice didn't make this mode a huge priority. If you know what the system can do with a Dolby Atmos music stream, it's a bit disappointing that the SB-600 can't upscale regular stereos any better into a more immersive mix. All speakers are active when listening over bluetooth, but the sound lacks the expected extent.
Control and ease of use
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends
I really like it when you start a new stream, whether from the TV or some other connected device. The LED display shows what type of signal is being received. It could be Dolby Atmos, Dolby Surround, or PCM, which is a helpful endorsement of your source material.
However, this display can be difficult to read. Only a handful of characters are displayed at a time, so most messages will scroll. You need to be careful as the sound format will only be displayed when you switch to a new input.
As mentioned above, the display's always-on mode was a bit annoying at times.
Another weird quirk: setting your preferred bass and treble levels will reset when you switch from one EQ mode to another.
Our opinion
The Monoprice SB-600 is a decent surround sound bar with lots of inputs and very easy setup thanks to its wireless subwoofer and mostly wireless surround speakers. However, a lackluster performance from Dolby Atmos and a hollowness in the midfield prevent us from getting our full approval.
Is there a better alternative?
For a lot less money the $ 300 Vizio M-Series 5.1 soundbar The SB-600 may not have dedicated treble drivers or wireless environments, but the virtualized Dolby Atmos effects are still noticeable and offer a much better frequency balance.
For a significantly better Dolby Atmos experience, this offers Vizio SB36512-F6 offers excellent Atmos sound at the same price as the SB-600.
How long it will take?
Monoprices products are nothing special, but they're well built and the SB-600 should last for many years. It comes with a one year warranty.
Should you buy it?
The main advantages of the SB-600 are its excellent inputs and semi-wireless surround speakers. But if these features aren't particularly important to you, you'll be happier with a Vizio model for the same or less money.
Editor's recommendations
15
Apr
DJI Air 2S Review: Superb Results Without the Work
"When quality and performance are paramount, there is nothing like the DJI Air 2S."
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Takes sharp pictures
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Strong details from the 5.4K video
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Pro level clips with mastershots
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Fun and Safe to Fly
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The camera can sometimes search for focus
One leisurely activity that kept me sane during last year's lockdown was flying the DJI Mavic Air 2. It had everything you'd expect from a drone, whether you were a first-time flyer or a seasoned pilot. Now, however, it looks like DJI is removing a page from Apple's playbook by releasing an updated version of its drone a year after it was released.
I had very few concerns about the Mavic Air 2 when I tried it out last year. He was near perfect in every way. Step into the DJI Air 2S, a slightly upgraded version that stands out most of all for the upgraded camera sensor it brings with it for the ride, which clearly brings it closer to Mavic Pro territory – the company's premier consumer drones. How much better is it getting? Read on to find out.
Bigger 1-inch sensor is no joke
In the camera world, one way to improve performance is to introduce a larger sensor. That's exactly what DJI brings to the Air 2S, and it's without question the drone's most notable new quality. The new 20-megapixel 1-inch sensor with 2.4 μm pixels is no joke and improves the half-inch sensor of its predecessor. With the larger sensor on board, more light can be drawn in to reveal more details – especially in the shadows, where noise is traditionally most evident.
John Velasco / Digital Trends
Photos from the camera are crisp and sharp, which is what you'd expect from a larger sensor. Taking pictures around sunset time has proven difficult at times as small sensors (like the one in the DJI Mini 2) aren't designed for low light, but that's not a problem here. In fact, I've used my photo editing software to enhance the shadows on some of my sunset shots – and I'm happy to announce that there is no significant evidence of noise.
Of course, the best results are achieved when it is sunny. However, what makes the DJI Air 2S helpful is that it can definitely capture stunning photos without having to edit them later. There is still a "SMART" photo mode, which essentially functions as the drone's HDR mode. It takes a picture and automatically adjusts the shadows and highlights to bring out the best details, so you get a high quality shot the first time.
The quality meets your expectations: it is excellent.
There are some new additions to the video page that are pushing the threshold in a direction that will add even more usefulness to the creators in the post. In addition to your traditional 4K recording at 60 frames per second (fps), the DJI Air 2S up the ante by offering 5.4K recording at up to 30 fps. Of course, this offers a few useful tricks – like the ability to use the digital zoom 6x when recording in 1080p or to trim the post-pans for pans and zooms.
John Velasco / Digital Trends
John Velasco / Digital Trends
John Velasco / Digital Trends
John Velasco / Digital Trends
The quality meets your expectations: it is excellent. There is a lot of detail, colors have a subtle tone of saturation, and there is reasonable dynamic range to bring out details in highlights and shadows that are otherwise lost. However, I've found that the camera tends to seek out focus at times. Therefore, it may sometimes be necessary to switch to manual mode. What was missing from my test was an option for HDR video mode, which I happily used with the Mavic Air 2. I'm assuming this is a future update, but what that would mean is a properly exposed video that looks great at first.
Moving to a larger sensor is exactly what this iterative update needs to stand out in the DJI lineup. The problem presented here, however, is that the Air 2S is diminishing the Mavic Pro line's reputation as a professional drone.
Fly even safer
Whether you are just starting out or a seasoned professional with numerous flying lessons, the DJI Air 2S is even safer to fly than its predecessor. The most notable feature here is the addition of upward-facing sensors on the drone itself, complementing the other three (forward, backward, and downward) that are in place to make the flight safer overall. The new upward-facing sensors are useful when using the drone's improved APAS 4.0 technology to avoid obstacles in its flight path. This can best be seen when using the new ActiveTrack 4.0 tracking function, which allows the drone to intelligently track a subject / object while avoiding obstacles.
John Velasco / Digital Trends
Thanks to these new safety features, you get great footage, especially because you can control the Air 2S to follow a subject without worrying about it hitting anything. Now I've tried this with someone walking very quietly through a field, safely navigating around poles and signs.
In my years as a drone pilot, I've never really encountered a close call. First off, the DJI Air 2S is greeted with the same OcuSync 3.0 technology introduced with the recent DJI FPV drone. That said, the drone's video feed feed now extends 12 km – an increase over the Mavic Air 2's range of 10 km. In one case, however, the transmission was briefly interrupted, so I just had to restart the app. However, after a firmware update, the video feed was no longer interrupted.
A beginner can look like a pro with the Air 2S.
During another test flight, one of my worst fears about flying a drone came up. Somehow the connection between the remote control and the drone was broken and the drone hovered high in the air for about a minute. In my panic, I tried restarting the app hoping it would connect, but it didn't. Fortunately, the Air 2S's safety protocol was introduced, with the drone automatically flying near the maximum altitude of 400 feet and then returning home on its own. Eventually it landed all by itself and locked, averting the crisis. This experience is exactly the proof why it is one of the safest drones to fly.
Pro creation without being a professional
Through years of flying, I have had the experience of taking breathtaking photos and videos, all of which were achieved with manual operation. What is special about the DJI Air 2S, however, is that, similar to the other drones in its portfolio, you don't have to be a professional to get high quality footage. Thanks to the various Quickshot modes, all you have to do is select your subject in the frame and the drone will do the rest. All previous Quickshot modes are available again, e.g. B. Circle, Dronie and Asteroid, with which the Air 2S flies away from a subject and then captures a tiny planet.
John Velasco / Digital Trends
The latest addition is MasterShots, a new mode that uses some of DJI's popular Quickshot modes and automatically creates professionally composed clips – all with no physical interaction controlling the drone. Once you have selected your subject / location, the DJI Air 2S automatically sets predefined flight paths to record all the clips you need. The end result is a short clip that looks like a professional who piloted and edited the video. This new automation shows exactly why the Air 2S can make a beginner look like a pro.
Minimal compromise
Unsurprisingly, DJI recycled the design of its popular drone, so there aren't any major differences between the Air 2S and the Mavic Air 2. It still folds up to make travel easier, but what's even better is the fact that it uses the same batteries as the Mavic Air 2. For anyone upgrading, it's nice to know they're getting their old ones Batteries can continue to use.
John Velasco / Digital Trends
Speaking of batteries: The total flight time with the DJI Air 2S has been reduced to 31 minutes – compared to 34 minutes with the Mavic Air 2. To be honest, this is not a problem, but the compromise was made to take into account the larger camera sensor and the slightly heavier weight of the Drone weighing 595 grams. In sport mode, it can still reach a top speed of around 42.5 miles per hour (mph).
Our opinion
Who knows if this will be the trend for DJI, but the Air 2S has all the improvements to make it a meaningful upgrade over the Mavic Air 2. Prices for the Air 2S start at $ 999, but I recommend paying the extra cash to get the $ 1,299 Fly More Combo version that comes with ND filters, a carry case, two extra batteries, and supplied with a multi charger.
The DJI Air 2S is still proving to be the best all-round drone. From its crisp video performance to all of its security features, it's the drone to beat. Beginners will enjoy how easy it is to produce high quality footage with minimal interaction, while seasoned professionals will enjoy the improved performance of its larger sensor.
Should you upgrade?
This is difficult to answer. DJI will continue to sell this Mavic Air 2 so besides the Air 2S, the difference between the two is only $ 100. There are certainly good reasons the Air 2S is the superior drone, but it's still difficult to justify another purchase for existing Mavic Air 2 owners. If image quality is paramount, the upgrade is clearly worth it. If you don't mind editing footage, you can still get stunning photos and videos with the Mavic Air 2.
On the other hand, if you think about a DJI Mini For example, there is no comparison as the extra money you would spend buying the DJI Air 2S is justified by the difference between day and night in terms of performance, quality and safety.
How long it will take?
The DJI Air 2S is solidly built all around and has a one-year limited warranty that covers defects. Additionally, you can purchase DJI Care Refresh's extended warranty for the Air 2S, which covers it for accidental damage. Taking into account the cost of the drone, it's worth purchasing it.
Is there a better alternative?
Usually the next logical alternative is something in the DJI Mavic Pro series – like the Mavic 2 Pro. That's not the case, as the DJI Air 2S's new upgrades place it in exactly the same category as the flagship in the company's portfolio.
Should you buy it?
Yes, you won't find a better drone for the money. All upgrades make it a standout model in the world of drones by balancing performance, safety features, ease of use and price.
Editor's recommendations
15
Apr
When Should You Seek Lasik Surgery?
LASIK or laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis refers to a vision correction operation that is one of the standard refraction procedures almost worldwide. It's inexpensive, very safe, and over 94% successful. However, an ophthalmologist will run a series of tests to make sure a patient is eligible for this surgery.
Since LASIK is more advanced than ever before, the age criteria have also changed in recent years. You can find more information about this surgery on sites like Personal Eyes. Here are some factors to help you determine whether or not you should have LASIK surgery.
- Age criteria
Ophthalmologists around the world agree that anyone over the age of 18 can undergo LASIK surgery. Depending on the degree of refraction, some patients may be asked to wait a few years for the refraction to stabilize. After reaching the age of 18, the refraction prescription usually does not change significantly, which makes the operation easier for doctors. As the years progress, other age-related problems can in some cases interfere with LASIK, such as: B. Macular degeneration or glaucoma. For this reason, it is best to seek advice as early as possible if you are interested in having vision correction.
- Eye physiology
The best age group for LASIK surgery is between 20 and 40 years. Around the age of 40, the eye undergoes another major physiological change. This is when most people may also need reading glasses as they develop a condition called presbyopia. LASIK does not cure this condition and a combination of presbyopia and refraction could make LASIK a little less effective.
It all depends on the individual case, but there have been cases where patients over 40 have been denied LASIK. If you want to decide on a vision correction, try to get it before the age of 40 for the best possible result.
- cataract
There is no age limit for providing LASIK to patients with perfectly healthy eyes, provided the patient meets the other health requirements for surgery. In this case, a person can have LASIK well beyond the age of 40. However, as the patient approaches the age of 60, the chances of developing other eye problems can increase significantly. One of the most common problems is cataract, which can interfere with LASIK.
Sometimes doctors also recommend monovision LASIK, which means that the operation is only performed on the dominant eye if the vision of the other eye has no chance of improvement. Patients with cataracts can still undergo LASIK surgery, but they must undergo a full advanced assessment to determine their eligibility. Sometimes patients who have undergone cataract surgery and still have not achieved optimal vision are also recommended to have LASIK to improve vision.
There are a variety of scenarios that may or may not question a patient for LASIK surgery. You should consult websites like Personal Eyes to better understand LASIK surgery and to determine if you are a good candidate for the surgery. After that, contact your ophthalmologist for a detailed exam to improve eyesight.
15
Apr
Why Plantar Fasciitis is More Common Than You Think
Your feet are a major source of strength and the only connection you have with the floor when you take off while running, jumping, or lifting. Treat them well.
Hasewaga et al. (2020) claim that one in ten people will develop plantar fasciitis when they investigate minimally invasive treatment for plantar fasciitis. The term itself refers to inflammation and microcracks of the plantar fascia. Your plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue that runs along the arch of your foot from your toes to your heel.
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