06 Sep
Blog

Motorola Moto Edge 20 Pro Review: Very Good at Being Average

Moto Edge 20 Pro on a desk.

Motorola Moto Edge 20 Pro review: a phone that is very good on average

RRP $ 900.00

"The Motorola Moto Edge 20 Pro does not make the most of its specification, so it is clearly average, and without a flashy design, the reliable software and good battery life are simply not enough to get it past this point."

advantages

  • Easy to use, reliable software

  • Good battery life

  • High refresh rate screen

  • Periscope zoom on the camera

disadvantage

  • No wireless charging

  • Inconsistent camera

  • Mono speakers

I remember checking out the Moto Edge in mid-2020 and really liked the design and screen, which excited me to try out the new Moto Edge 20 Pro. However, it seems that Motorola has decided to move away from almost everything that made the previous model a winner and hit the average street instead. It then set the price for a good measure. In other words, there is a lot to be done to impress.

Before we get into too much detail, it's worth talking about Motorola's naming and marketing of the latest Moto Edge series. In the US, you can only buy the Moto Edge (2021), which is known everywhere else as the Moto Edge 20. The Moto Edge 20 Pro we are reviewing here is a higher-end version of this phone that is currently available in the UK

With that resolved, let's talk about the Moto Edge 20 Pro.

draft

The Motorola Moto Edge 20 Pro may be the highest spec model in the new Edge range, but don't think that it will automatically turn heads when it comes to design. It shares the same working-day, functional, but uninspired ethos seen on the company's affordable phones without you falling for the phone in any way. I feel nothing for the Moto Edge 20 Pro when I look at it, which won't be a problem for some, but for others it will push them into the waiting arms of OnePlus, Realme or Samsung.

Moto Edge 20 Pro hand-held, viewed from behind.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Its chassis is made of an aluminum alloy and Gorilla Glass 5 covers the screen and back so it has the correct references, but the flat panel display makes it look old and the platter sides make it uncomfortable to grip. Worse, they give the Moto Edge 20 Pro an impressive trick that feels thicker than the 8mm case suggests. It's also not nice to put a square camera lens over two round ones.

There are a couple of weird design choices too. The fast fingerprint sensor is housed in the power button rather than under the display, which will likely lower the overall cost, but it's placed quite high on the body and may not naturally fall under your thumb if you have small hands. On the opposite side, but at the very top of the case, is a Google Assistant button. That said, I didn't accidentally push it, but since I never pushed it on purpose either, I wonder why it's there in the first place.

Fingerprint sensor of the Moto Edge 20 Pro.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

On the positive side, the Moto Edge 20 Pro is light at 185 grams, and in addition to the Midnight Blue version seen in our photos, a vegan leather model is available, which may give the phone more personality. Otherwise, there isn't much here that inspires me to grab the Moto Edge 20 Pro, especially when beauties like the OnePlus Nord 2 and the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G exist.

Screen and audio

Motorola has spared nothing when it comes to the specification of the screen. It's a 6.7-inch OLED panel with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels, a refresh rate of 144 Hz and HDR10 + support. The 19.5: 9 aspect ratio makes it wider than the 20: 9 aspect ratio of the 6.7-inch OnePlus 9 Pro. It spends most of the time at maximum brightness, but I could still easily see it outside on bright days.

Moto Edge 20 Pro screen.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

When watching videos on the phone, it turned out that the sound is too quiet for my personal taste. It's not as vivid or as full of life and color as the OnePlus Nord 2's screen, and observing the cloudy and wet weather conditions in Carfection's Ferrari Roma test highlights its slightly dull quality. There is no setting to change the performance of the screen other than a normal or saturated color mode.

Google Assistant button on Moto Edge 20 Pro.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

It's certainly not bad, and the warmer tone benefits the skin, for example, but it's just not as flashy a performer as some of the competition. It will be more disappointed with a mono speaker that, while powerful, does not deliver the sound, bass, or enjoyment that a good stereo setup does, as is common with other similarly priced smartphones. The screen responsiveness is also a bit strange as the screen sometimes senses swiping up and down as a left to right swipe, which is annoying when using the phone with one hand. The 144 Hz refresh rate is very welcome, but I don't see any difference from a 120 Hz screen.

camera

All of the Motorola Moto Edge phones launched this year – the Edge (2021) / Edge 20, Edge 20 Lite, and Edge 20 Pro – have 108-megapixel main cameras, but here on the Pro it is supported by a 16- MP wide-angle camera and an 8MP periscope telephoto camera with a 5x optical zoom. This makes the Edge 20 Pro quite unusual, as periscope zoom cameras are rarely used outside of very high-end phones like the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra.

The camera module of the Moto Edge 20 Pro.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The photos taken are inconsistent, and every few good photos will result in pretty bad photos, especially in low light. There is a significant difference in color balance and dynamic range between the main and wide-angle cameras. Pictures taken with 5x zoom use optical image stabilization, and the results are better than with 5x digital zoom in that it shows more details and better dynamic range, but it doesn't come close to the Galaxy S21 Ultra. Motorola is promoting a 50x super zoom mode, but it really shouldn't have because there is no stabilization at all and the image in the viewfinder is constantly moving. When you take a photo, you get a nice, pixelated approach to the subject.

Low light is surprisingly bad, as even in early morning shady conditions the 108MP camera with an aperture of f / 1.9 caused blurring that most other cameras would have no problem with. There's a fixed focus macro mode that can make it difficult to take a decent photo, 8K video recording at 24 frames per second, and a dual capture mode that uses both the front and rear cameras to capture video at the same time . The 32-megapixel selfie camera takes pleasant photos with natural skin tones even when the beauty mode is switched on.

The camera of the Moto Edge 20 Pro is typically Motorola. It has many features and some desirable technologies, but the execution isn't good enough to get the most out of them.

Software and performance

The Moto Edge 20 Pro uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 processor, which is a warmed-up version of the older Snapdragon 865 processor and is more efficient. The Snapdragon 870 might not be the best Snapdragon 888, but you probably won't notice a huge difference from day to day. I've played Asphalt 9: Legends with no issues, it's very fluid and fast, and I've multitasked as always, which undoubtedly helped by the 12GB of RAM inside.

Asphalt 9: Legends played on the Moto Edge 20 Pro.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Android 11 is installed and like most of their phones, Motorola doesn't add too much, which means that it is similar to Android on a Google Pixel phone. There are some gesture controls like shaking the phone to activate the flashlight. Peek Display replaces the usual and preferred always-on screen with a tap-to-wake system. I like the way you can see more details from notifications by tapping and holding icons, but I would prefer that the basic information be shown all the time. Apps worked without errors, notifications are delivered as expected, and the phone has worked normally for all of my time.

Motorola is also pushing its desktop mode, which it calls Ready For, on the Moto Edge 20 Pro to include the required USB Type-C to HDMI cable to use it in the box. It's a nice touch. Ready For also works wirelessly if you have a compatible screen. It works similarly to Samsung DeX in that it displays a Windows-like start screen that is designed to increase productivity. Also, like DeX, it may not work with all smart TVs (it didn't connect to my Sony Android TV, for example) and to take full advantage you will need a bluetooth keyboard and mouse, as well as a controller if you want to play games to play.

The standby mode of the Moto Edge 20 Pro.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Moto app options of the Moto Edge 20 Pro.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Browser displayed on Moto Edge 20 Pro.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Apps screen on the Moto Edge 20 Pro.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Calls on the Moto Edge 20 Pro are decent, but I didn't find the speaker very good. The voices weren't as clear as I expected, and background noise on the caller's side seemed more disturbing than normal. This is a 5G phone if you have coverage near you, with two 5G SIM slots plus Wi-Fi 6 on board and NFC for Google Pay. Small things aside, the Moto Edge 20 Pro gives you everything you could want in a high-end phone – cleanly designed, reliable software, and lots of power – with features like Ready For that may be helpful to some.

battery

The 4,500 mAh battery is a bit smaller than we've come to expect from smartphones lately, but if you don't squeeze the phone very hard, it just gulps power. On a few days with very little use, it stretched to three days for me, which very few other phones do. Play games and watch videos and this becomes two days of usage that are still good.

Charging port on the Moto Edge 20 Pro.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Motorola's 30W TurboPower charger is included, and while a 10-minute zack apparently provides nine hours of operation, according to Motorola, it doesn't get 100% as fast as the quick chargers that came with the OnePlus Nord 2 or that Realme GT. The Moto Edge 20 Pro doesn't have wireless charging, which is unfortunate.

Price and availability

The Motorola Moto Edge 20 Pro is priced at £ 650, or around $ 900. It is available now in the UK through Motorola's online store. You'd have to import one to own it in the US and there doesn't seem to be any immediate plans for Motorola to officially launch it.

Our opinion

There's nothing wrong with being clearly average, which is a good thing because that's what sets the Moto Edge 20 Pro apart. It has a design that won't hurt your eyes or arouse your senses, a decent camera that takes photos that you'll never say wow, and a pretty screen that just can't quite keep up with the competition. Good battery life and reliable software aren't enough to go beyond that.

I haven't had any major issues with the phone at all, but the little annoyances add up without much to make worth the effort. Why Motorola abandoned the cool design and cascading screen of the Moto Edge (2020) is a mystery. This may be Motorola's top smartphone released so far this year, but it hasn't really been covered on the red carpet, and this is an issue as Motorola hasn't price-tagged it in the average range. Phones that don't seem average at all are yours for a little less than it costs to pick up the Moto Edge 20 Pro. At a time when competition is incredibly fierce in all areas of the phone world, the average is quickly forgotten.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes, and for less money. If you're in the UK, the OnePlus Nord costs £ 2,400, or around $ 550, has a visually nicer screen, more attractive design, powerful camera and quick charge. You're missing out on the periscope zoom, but it's not worth the significant extra cost you pay for it. The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G is priced at $ 500 and is officially available in the US and the UK and is similarly excellent.

Alternatively, the Realme GT is worth a look at £ 450 or around $ 620 and has a Snapdragon 888 chip, fast charging, and a decent screen and camera. The $ 450 Google Pixel 5a has its perks too, with a good camera, IP67 rating, and great software. It misses the high refresh rate screen but is much cheaper.

The OnePlus 9 Pro costs a little more, $ 969 or £ 829, and if you can afford it, it's a better buy. The Hasselblad camera has received software updates since its inception which have greatly improved it, it has the latest Qualcomm processor, great software with extended support and a well-engineered design.

How long it will take?

Motorola intends to provide two major Android software updates and bimonthly security updates for the Moto Edge 20 Pro for two years. The phone has a splash rating of IP52, which means it's fine in the rain, but not so much if you drop it in the bathtub. It comes with a basic translucent TPU case in the box for extra drop protection. You can safely buy the Moto Edge 20 Pro and expect it to last two years.

Should you buy one?

No. It can't quite deliver on the promise of its specification, and there are better alternatives for less money.

Editor's recommendations



01 Jul
Blog

Realme GT Review: Top-tier Chip in an Average Phone

Realme GT yellow and black back

“The Realme GT is a solid mid-range smartphone with a flagship processor inside and an attractively low price. But don't expect it to compete with most other top of the line phones elsewhere. "

  • Vegan leather model is an eye-catcher

  • The Snapdragon 888 chip works great

  • Compact and light

  • Mediocre camera

  • No watertightness

It's impossible to ignore the yellow and black color scheme of the eye-catching Realme GT, as well as Realmes repeated claims that the phone is a "flagship" because it uses the top Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor. But a phone takes more than a fast processor to impress, and while the phone's other specs are good, they don't stand out. The Realme GT has the show and the run, but is that enough to make it a phone?

design

If Bumblebee used a smartphone, it would be the Racing Yellow Realme GT. The yellow vegan leather is softly structured and feels very comfortable and has so far left no traces from my hands covered with sunscreen and moisturizer or from being tucked into pockets and bags, which would suggest that it is durable. It's adapted to a strip of glass, but could very well be made of plastic that runs along the left side of the back and contains the camera module.

Realme GT yellow and black back close-upAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

At first glance it looks jet black, but on closer inspection it has a very faint V-shaped motif, complete with a slight bluish cast that runs along it. It's actually a little too faint and would look better if it were visible more often. While I think the Realme GT looks beautiful, these two primary design features elevate it well beyond what it actually is – another reworking of the same Realme and Oppo phone design we saw recently.

Paint the Realme GT black and it will look very, very similar to the Realme 8 5G, Oppo A54 5G, and other phones that have been released in the past few months. The lens layout can change a bit within the camera module, but on closer inspection, the crossover in the Oppo and Realme phone design is painfully obvious. Both are part of the BBK Electronics empire along with OnePlus, Vivo and IQOO, but work independently of each other.

Does that make the GT less attractive? Not really. If you want to reuse a drab design, it's best to disguise it in a crazy, eye-catching yellow and black color scheme. The Realme GT is pleasantly light at 186 grams and quite thick for the leather model at 9.1 mm, but overall reasonably proportioned to live with. A version in which the vegan leather back is exchanged for glass is also available.

screen

The GT's 6.43-inch Super AMOLED screen comes as a surprise. The resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels, the lack of curves on the sides, and the screen-to-body ratio of around 85% aren't the stuff of mobile dreams, so I wasn't expecting anything special. However, it is very attractive for videos and can even compete with the higher-resolution Fluid AMOLED screen of the OnePlus 9 Pro without HDR10 + and massive brightness.

Realme GT screenAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

If you look at Carfection's Litchfield Toyota GR Yaris review on YouTube at 1440p, there's nothing different from each other. Compare it to the Apple iPhone 12 Pro, and the Apple phone's more natural tones appeal to the standard coolness of the Realme GT screen, but it really manages to hold its own against these two display heavyweights in some ways.

The flatness doesn't appeal to me. I prefer a screen with a certain shape and I appreciate the way curved glass catches the light and feels in my hand. The GT lacks that, which makes it feel ordinary. Outside of video, the Realme GT's screen lacks vibrancy – even in Vivid mode – and the screen protector is poor quality, attracting fingerprints, and dulling the display when the operating system is in general use. On the positive side, the refresh rate of 120 Hz makes scrolling incredibly smooth.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

There's a fast and reliable fingerprint sensor at the bottom of the screen, but it has an annoying habit of not always activating when I pick up the phone or tap the screen to wake it up. However, face unlock with selfie camera usually worked before I became too frustrated. Audio is delivered through stereo speakers and is fine for casual use, plus the phone supports Dolby Atmos, but the phone's sound doesn't have much depth.

camera

Inside the module on the back there are three cameras, a 64-megapixel Sony IMX682 main camera, an 8-MP wide-angle camera and a 2-MP macro camera. There is a 16 MP selfie camera in a hole punch at the top of the screen. Realme calls the GT a flagship phone, but this isn't a flagship camera setup. The IMX682 is used in the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G, for example.

Realme GT camera moduleAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

The camera is acceptable but inconsistent and unable to compete with the best cameras available on phones today. On its worst days, the main camera tends to become oversaturated and does not always set the white balance correctly, while it destroys the mood in more complex lighting conditions with dark shadows and missing details. The wide angle camera is where the inconsistency is found mostly in the way it matches the colors.

Realme GT review wide cam path

Realme GT main camera Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends

Realme GT Review Main Cam Path

Realme GT wide angle camera Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends

Realme GT rating 2x path

Realme GT 2x digital zoom Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends

Realme GT rating 5x path

Realme GT 5x digital zoom Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends

When the conditions are right, the Realme GT can take well-balanced, detailed photos that I'm happy to share with minimal editing. It seems to favor general photos of people, pets, and food, struggling with scenes that required more nuance and skill to capture effectively. The selfie camera has an activated beauty mode as standard, which significantly smooths the skin.

The camera app annoys me. Although the Realme GT doesn't have an optical zoom feature, Realme adds a 2x and a 5x option that you can use in the camera app. Unsurprisingly, the photos aren't very good. The 2x digital zoom can be passable, but the 5x is bad, and by making it an option, Realme confuses people about the actual capabilities of the camera, causing people to ruin photos they are too Rightly expected them to get better.

A "flagship" camera must encourage you to take pictures by producing stunning photos that will increase your creativity and fun. The Realme GT's camera lacks the general capability or hardware to do this, which is unfortunate given the imaging capability of the Snapdragon 888, but is fine for general everyday use.

Performance and battery

The Realme GT's flagship references come almost entirely from using a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor. The Snapdragon 888 chip is tremendously powerful and I had no issues playing Asphalt 9: Legends and Genshin Impact. Realme speaks of a 360Hz adaptive touch sampling rate, but I didn't notice any difference when gaming on the GT compared to other phones.

Realme GT viewed from aboveAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

Realme UI 2.0 software, which is based on Android 11, is almost identical to Oppo's Color OS V11 software, to the point where you can choose the same icon shape and size, as well as the same font, to do just that to achieve the same look, all from identical settings pages. Both brands are part of the BBK Electronics empire so this is no surprise, but don't buy a Realme phone if you've used an Oppo phone and didn't like the software.

The Snapdragon 888 chip is tremendously powerful /

Is it below average? No, it's fine and has plenty of customization options to make it your own if the look is awkward. I've found it to be reliable and fast, the settings menu is logical enough, and notifications have been delivered for the most part without any problems, although some apps don't always notify you of a new message until you unlock the phone. I find that the keyboard is set very low on the screen, which has resulted in more typos than usual.

Inside is a 4,500mAh battery that has enough power to last for almost two days, but only under normal conditions of use. Make a video call and play a few games and the battery will run out by the middle of the second day. It is charged with the 65-watt SuperDart Charge from Realme, which fully charges the battery in about 35 minutes, but has no wireless charging.

Price and availability

The Realme GT is available now in Europe and is coming soon in the UK, but the only official prices are currently available in euros. The phone costs 449 euros, which is around $ 550 for the 8GB / 128GB version or 599 euros / $ 725 for the 12GB / 256GB model. It's not currently available directly through Realme's UK online store, but it can be found through Amazon in Europe and as an import from sellers on AliExpress, where it starts at $ 480. If you choose to import the phone, make sure it is the Global model or you will not have Google Play or Google Services installed.

Our opinion

I've been using the Realme GT every day for a couple of weeks now and have had no real problems with it at all. People have commented on the striking yellow and black color scheme, and the battery has kept up with my activities, but I haven't really settled down with the phone. The problem is, outside of the vegan leather and yellow paintwork, it's not very exciting.

The camera and screen are satisfactory but do not encourage me to use them and certainly do not offer anything above the competition. The existence of the Realme GT is based solely on the Snapdragon 888 processor and the performance it delivers.

While it's a solid everyday phone, the rest of the specs don't take full advantage of the Snapdragon 888's capabilities or what we expect to go with it, which is unfortunate. It also lacks many other features that we would expect from a top-of-the-line phone, including wireless charging, a great feature-rich camera, and water resistance. It certainly has a lot of guts and gaming is great. So if all you're looking for is performance, the GT delivers it for a reasonable price. But the rest of the phone doesn't keep that monster processor's promise.

Is there a better alternative?

The unclear pricing of the Realme GT in the UK and the lack of an official US release make it difficult to compare directly, but we'll compare it to phones that cost less than $ 500. The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G doesn't have the Snapdragon 888, but it does have a better camera and screen, plus long battery life and a pretty design. The software is great too, and it's our recommended Android smartphone for this price point. Similarly, the Google Pixel 4a beats the Realme GT's camera and software, but it can't keep up with its processing power.

Less obvious competitors include the Asus Zenfone 8 and Xiaomi Mi 11, both of which cost about the same as the Realme GT and offer similar specs, but also have disadvantages.

How long it will take?

The Realme GT has 5G so it can be connected to the fastest mobile data service at any time, which gives it a good start in terms of longevity. The phone isn't waterproof, and other than the leather back being likely to be moderately more durable than the glass version, it's not a particularly rugged phone either. It is advisable to put it in a case.

Realme offers software updates for two years, but doesn't go into timing. Due to the custom user interface via Android, it takes longer for major Android version updates to arrive than for example on a Google Pixel phone. However, the Snapdragon 888 processor will help ensure that the phone lasts for at least two years.

Should you buy it?

No, unless your only requirement is to have the fastest Qualcomm processor at the cheapest price. There are better all-rounders for a similar price.

Editor's recommendations



16 Apr
Blog

Monoprice SB-600 Review: Affordable But Average Dolby Atmos

Monoprice SB-600 Dolby Atmos soundbar

"The SB-600 is easy to use and quite affordable. It doesn't really make Atmos shine."

  • Easy adjustment

  • Clear dialogue

  • Generous number of entrances

  • Semi-wireless surround speakers

  • Distracting display

  • Mediocre Dolby Atmos

  • 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?

Monoprice SB-600 Dolby Atmos Soundbar all partsSimon 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

Monoprice SB-600 Dolby Atmos soundbarSimon 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.

Monoprice SB-600 Dolby Atmos soundbar displaySimon 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.

Monoprice SB-600 Dolby Atmos soundbar inputsSimon 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

Monoprice SB-600 Dolby Atmos soundbar surround speakersSimon 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.

Monoprice SB-600 Dolby Atmos soundbar surround speakersSimon 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

Monoprice SB-600 Dolby Atmos Soundbar Remote ControlSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Monoprice SB-600 Dolby Atmos soundbar controlSimon 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.

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