04 Dec
Blog

HP Chromebook x360 14c Review: Premium Chromebook For Cheap

The HP Chromebook x360 14c sits at an angle on a desk.

HP Chromebook x360 14c

RRP $ 690.00

"The HP Chromebook x360 14c has errors, but is supported by its low price."

advantages

  • Robust build quality

  • Conservative good looks

  • Good display

  • Excellent touchpad

  • Solid productivity performance

disadvantage

  • Disappointing battery life

  • Keyboard is a little too light

  • Pen is not included

Chromebooks have essentially caught up with Windows laptops in terms of form factors, and the Convertible 2-in-1 is well represented among Chrome OS devices. As an example, HP has its Chromebook x360 14c, which it has updated with an 11th generation Intel Core CPU for 2021.

It's still held back by a 16: 9 display as the rest of the world moves towards larger 16:10 or 3: 2 panels, but otherwise it's a representative example. There's nothing that really stands out other than, as we'll see in a moment, the price.

My test configuration of the HP Chromebook x360 14c with a Core i3-1125G4 and a 14-inch 16: 9 Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS display costs $ 690, but it's on offer since I've been rating this for a long time Time to write tastier $ 510. At this price point, the HP Chromebook x360 14c is an attractive 2-in-1 convertible for anyone looking for a Chrome OS laptop with some flexibility.

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HP Chromebook x360 14c tent stand.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The HP Chromebook x360 14c isn't cheap enough that you would accept poor build quality, especially for a Chrome OS computer. So it's good that the laptop is made of aluminum and cannot bend in the lid or bend in the keyboard deck and in the lower chassis. HP has made a solid machine that is almost as tough as laptops that cost twice or more than the Dell XPS 13, which sets the standard for premium laptops.

Some only give in when the lid is pressed down, which puts the HP Chromebook x360 14c in a different class. It's significantly stiffer than the Asus Chromebook Flip C536, another 14-inch Chrome OS convertible 2-in-1 that costs about the same and is probably HP's most relevant competitor.

If you want a laptop that stands out, the HP Chromebook x360 14c isn't for you.

The hinge is a bit tight and requires two hands to open the lid, but it holds the display firmly in place in any of the four modes – clamshell, tent, media or tablet. Strong magnets hold the lid tightly to the lower chassis, so you'll need to pry it open first.

Aesthetically, the HP Chromebook x360 14c is a very conservatively designed device in dark silver, with just a chrome-plated HP logo on the lid to break things up. The lines and angles are simple, with rounded corners and edges that make the laptop minimalistic but comfortable to hold.

The Asus Chromebook Flip C536 is a much more eye-catching laptop with its white outer case and black keyboard deck, as well as its more aggressive angles. Both are attractive laptops, but if you want one that stands out, the HP Chromebook x360 14c isn't for you.

On the right side of the HP Chromebook x360 14c there is a USB-C and a USB-A port suitable for a 3.5 mm audio jack and a microSD card reader.

There is a USB-C port on the left side of the HP Chromebook x360 14c.

The Chromebook x360 14c's display bezels are thin on the sides and reasonably large on the top, and the bottom chin is smaller than some other budget 2-in-1 convertibles. That makes the laptop just a little wider and deeper than average, while being 0.71 inches thin and weighing 3.35 pounds, also above average for the modern 14-inch class.

That said, the HP is smaller than the Asus Chromebook Flip C536, which is 0.73 inches thick and weighs 4.3 pounds. In addition, the Asus is more than an inch wider and deeper, which makes the Chromebook x360 14c appear tiny in comparison. You won't hate carrying around the Chromebook x360 14c, but it's not the smallest 14-inch laptop you can buy.

Connectivity is decent, with two USB-C ports and one USB-A port for a 3.5mm audio jack and a microSD card reader. Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 offer wireless connectivity.

power

Rear view of the HP Chromebook x360 14c.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

HP has equipped the Chromebook x360 14c with a dual-core Core i3-1125G4 CPU of the 11th generation, which should be sufficiently fast for Chrome OS. Add in 8 GB of RAM and a fast PCIe 256 GB solid state drive (SSD) and there is reason to be optimistic.

We can only run limited benchmarks in Chrome OS, so most of my performance metrics are subjective. I ran the Android Geekbench 5 benchmark and the Chromebook x360 14c overwhelmed with just 898 in the single-core test and 2,866 in the multi-core test. That is behind the Asus Chromebooks Spin C536 with the slower Core i3-1115G4 in the single-core test and equivalent in the multi-core test at 1209 and 2849 respectively. The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 with its quad-core Core i5-1135G7 achieved 1,237 in the single-core test and 5,114 in the multi-core test. It's a lot faster.

The HP Chromebook x360 14c is fast and efficient no matter how many Chrome tabs I open.

I also ran the Speedometer 2.0 web benchmark and the Chromebook x360 14c did well here, scoring 141. The Chromebook Flip C536 was slightly faster at 158. Most laptops, Chrome OS or Windows, score below 100 on this test, so these are good results.

Subjectively, I found the HP Chromebook x360 14c to be fast and efficient, no matter how many Chrome tabs I had open or Android apps were running in the background. These may not be the fastest benchmark results on our database, but the 2-in-1 kept up with everything I've given it, including running an Android game like Asphalt 9.

That's a pretty demanding title as far as Chrome OS games go, and the Chromebook x360 14c ran it without any stuttering or chopping. This is a 2-in-1 device that is fast enough for demanding productivity workflows, at least as far as Chrome OS is concerned.

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The display of the HP Chromebook x360 14c.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The Chromebook x360 14c has a 14-inch Full HD IPS display that is touch and pen capable. I couldn't test the display with my colorimeter, but I would rate it as a good panel. It's bright enough for my usual work environment, but at a nominal output of 250 cd / m² it won't overcome very bright ambient lighting – in fact, you don't want to use it outside with sunlight.

The colors were pleasant and not oversaturated, so I suspect they are pretty accurate. Watching Netflix and viewing photos was fine. The contrast was acceptable, black text sticking out on a white background without looking grayish. My biggest complaint was that the display was the old school 16: 9 aspect ratio and its Full HD resolution was just bordering on sharpness.

Overall, this is a comfortable display for productivity and media frenzy. Creative guys who crave dynamic colors and deep contrasts won't like it, but that goes for most Chromebook displays.

Close-up of the speakers on the HP Chromebook x360 14c.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Two upward-facing speakers on each side of the keyboard produce the sound, and they provide crisp highs and mids with a hint of bass. That's the good part.

The volume was not so great, as it was low even when the volume was turned up all the way. That is unfortunate.

There was no distortion, however, meaning that if you're playing Netflix by yourself you are covered, but music will benefit from headphones, and a Bluetooth speaker is handy for entertaining groups.

Keyboard and touchpad

Close-up of the keyboard, trackpad, and pen on the HP Chromebook x360 14c.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

HP makes great keyboards, as evidenced by the version in its Specter range. Unfortunately, this keyboard didn't make it onto the Chromebook x360 14c. While the keyboard has plenty of room and large keycaps, the switches are too light. There's a lot of travel and snappy ground motion, but too little pressure is required to register a button press.

I like lighter keyboards, and so this one was just over the top. If you like a light touch on your keyboards, you'll be fine with this one, but too little pressure can be as tiresome during long tips sessions (like writing this review) as too much.

My test device came with a pen for testing, but this is an additional purchase.

The touchpad, on the other hand, is excellent. It's bigger than usual and has a soft tactile feel that is great for precise wiping. The buttons have a nice, quiet click that sounds good without waking your partner up when you use the laptop in bed at night. This is one of the better touchpads I've used on a Chromebook.

My test device came with a pen for testing, but this is an additional purchase. It worked well with Chrome OS's built-in pen tools so I can take notes and highlight with precision. The pen is magnetically attached to the case so it's easy to take with you, although the magnets aren't that strong, so be sure to keep an eye on it.

A switch on the left side that turns the webcam on and off provides additional security. There's also a fingerprint reader that allows you to log in without a password, which is convenient and unusual for devices in this price range.

Battery life

HP Chromebook x360 14c on a desk.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

HP has packed a battery with 58 watt hours in the Chromebook x360 14c, which should be enough for a Chrome OS laptop with a 14-inch full HD display and an energy-saving CPU. In terms of battery life, I expected great things.

I don't have that. Surprisingly, the Chromebook x360 14c only lasted 7.75 hours in our web browser test, which is where Chrome OS computers typically get the best results. On the other hand, I shouldn't have been surprised, because the Asus Chromebook Flip C536 with the slower Core i3 and 57 Wh battery only lasted 6.75 hours. The Asus Chromebook Flip C436, the predecessor of the C536, had a 10th generation i3 and only 42 watt hours of battery and lasted 10.5 hours – a much better result.

Even the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 with its 1st Gen Full Power Core i5 CPU managed it to last 8.5 hours. In our video test, which repeats a local 1080p movie trailer, the Chromebook x360 14c only got eight hours, compared to the Chromebook Flip C536 with 10 hours and the C436 with 13 hours. The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 lasted 10 hours. Here, too, the HP lagged behind.

I was disappointed with these results. The Chromebook x360 14c probably won't even last a full work day even running the lightweight Chrome OS, which is usually the norm for the platform.

Our opinion

The HP Chromebook x360 14c is an attractive, well-built Chrome OS Convertible 2-in-1 that is great value for money at $ 510. At $ 690, it's a little less attractive.

It's fast enough for the demanding productivity user, but its battery life will let you down. The keyboard is a bit loose, but the touchpad is a winner and the pen support is a plus. If you can find it on sale then definitely add it to your list.

Are there alternatives?

The most natural competitor, the Asus Chromebook Flip C536 offers similar performance and slightly better battery life for the same price. It has a more distinctive look, so it's better for someone looking for a laptop that will stand out.

The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 is another competitor, similarly expensive but much faster and with better battery life. It also offers a sharper, more productivity-friendly 3: 2 display, which is a plus for getting the job done.

Finally, if it's not sold with a 2-in-1, Google's Pixelbook Go should be considered. It has better battery life, a better display, and superior audio quality, all in a smaller package. You'll spend more, but it's worth it.

How long it will take?

The Chromebook x360 14c is a relatively rugged 2-in-1 that feels like it will last for years. And its components should keep Chrome OS running for quite some time. The typical one-year guarantee is more palatable at such prices.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. If you can get it on sale, it's value for money and a solid Chrome OS 2-in-1.

Editor's recommendations



03 Dec
Blog

Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook Review: OLED For Cheap

Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook open on a table.

Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook

RRP $ 500.00

"The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook brings OLED quality to a surprisingly affordable 2-in-1."

advantages

  • Acceptable productivity performance

  • Very long battery life

  • Excellent advertisement

  • Solid build quality

  • Payable

disadvantage

  • The display has the old school 16: 9 aspect ratio

  • Limited to WiFi 5

  • Stand add-on is impractical

Chromebooks don't often beat Windows in the market for implementing new technology, but Lenovo's IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook did just that. It is the first detachable tablet with OLED display, launched just before the Asus Vivobook 13 Slate, which is the first detachable Windows 11 tablet with OLED technology. The IdeaPad Duet 5 is based on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 7c Gen 2, an ARM chip, and is thus another first. It's a bigger tablet, but still an alternative to other low-cost devices like the Apple iPad and Microsoft Surface Go 3.

I tested the midrange configuration of the IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook, which costs $ 500 and includes the Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 and a 13.3-inch 1080p OLED display. I found the tablet to be way above its price and one of the best 2-in-1 tablets at this price point.

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The Asus ZenBook 14X OLED in its case.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The first thing you'll notice about the IdeaPad Duet 5 when you take a closer look is that the display is old-school, 16: 9. The laptop world is moving in the direction of larger displays, 16:10 or 3: 2, which is particularly useful for tablets that mimic a standard sheet in portrait format. In comparison, a 16: 9 tablet is longer and slimmer, making it less convenient to view documents and take notes with a pen.

The bezels of the IdeaPad Duet 5 are small on the sides and a bit thicker at the top and bottom. They're not huge for a tablet, and the IdeaPad Duet 5 is reasonably large considering the display. Compared to its closest Windows 11 competitor, the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 with its 13-inch 3: 2 display, the IdeaPad Duet 5 is almost an inch wider, while the Surface Pro 8 is almost an inch higher.

At 0.37 inches, Microsoft's tablet is thicker than the 0.28-inch of the IdeaPad Duet 5, but the Surface Pro 8 has its kickstand built in – more on that in a moment. Of course, the IdeaPad Duet 5 is significantly larger than the Apple iPad and Microsoft Surface Go, which are built around 10.2-inch and 10.5-inch displays. If you can take the size, the Lenovo is a viable competitor.

Another competitive tablet with a 12.3-inch 3: 2 display, the Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable is roughly the same size as the Surface Pro 8 thanks to the smaller bezels. In terms of weight, the IdeaPad Duet 5 alone weighs for the tablet 1.54 pounds, compared to the Surface Pro 8 at 1.96 pounds and the ThinkPad X12 Detachable at 1.67 pounds. The IdeaPad Duet 5 is not a small tablet, but it is manageable. Using the smallest tablets from Apple or Microsoft would save you about half a pound.

Close-up on the Asus ZenBook 14X OLED stand.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Now for this stand. As with the HP Chromebook x2 11, the IdeaPad Duet 5's stand is an add-on that clicks into place on the back of the tablet and is held in place by strong magnets. That makes the tablet thicker and impractical – it's another thing to carry around with you. The Surface Pro 8 and ThinkPad X12 Detachable are much more convenient to use with their built-in kickstand, although the version of the IdeaPad Duet 5 works just as well. It also holds the tablet upright without wobbling and extends just as far until the tablet rests almost flat on a surface. If you don't mind fiddling with another piece, then the version of the IdeaPad Duet 5 will be just fine. And let's not forget that this is a $ 500 tablet, while the Lenovo and Microsoft versions are more than twice as expensive when fully configured.

The IdeaPad Duet 5 is made of plastic, with the upper part of the back being a soft-coated version. It feels solid enough in the hand, and your first clue that it isn't made of a metal alloy like the other laptops I mentioned is that it doesn't feel as cold after a while. If you don't mind plastic gadgets, that's no real blow to the IdeaPad Duet 5 – especially given its price point.

Aesthetically, the tablet is a dark gray (Storm Gray) or blue (Abyss Blue) plate, with only the two-tone part on the back giving it a little pizzazz. Minimalist designs are pretty much the standard for tablets, however, with the Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable having the most exotic look.

There are two USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 ports, one on each side of the tablet (both can be used for charging).

The pogo pin connector on the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook for the detachable keyboard.

Connectivity is limited to two USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 ports, one on each side of the tablet – each can be used for charging – and a pogo-pin connector for the detachable keyboard. That's it. And yes, Lenovo has done without a 3.5mm audio jack. That's a huge disappointment in my book, and it's the first tablet I know that got disconnected.

You will be limited to bluetooth headphones which I consider liability. Speaking of wireless connectivity: the Snapdragon chipset limits the tablet to Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.1. There's no always connected internet option like the HP Chromebook x2 11.

power

Asus ZenBook 14X OLED open on a table.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebooks use the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 System-on-Chip (SoC), a slightly updated version of the same ARM processor used in the HP Chromebook x2 11. As far as I can tell, the only significant difference is a tiny speed threshold from 2.4 GHz to 2.55 GHz. Unsurprisingly, the IdeaPad Duet 5 performed similarly to the Chromebook x2 11. In other words, the ARM CPU could keep up with Chrome OS as long as I didn't open too many tabs in Chrome or too many Android apps were running in the background. I'm sure the 8GB of RAM and 128GB of eMMC storage had something to do with it.

We don't have all of the benchmarks available for Chromebooks, but the IdeaPad Duet 5 scored 599 in single-core mode and 1718 in multi-core mode in the Android Geekbench 5 app. That's just a tiny bit faster than the 590 and 1,689 of the Chromebook x2 11. It lags far behind faster Chromebooks like the Asus Chromebook Flip C536 with a Core i5-1115G4 that scores 1209 and 2849 points, and the Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 with a Core i5-1135G7 that hits 1,190 and 4,151. The IdeaPad Duet 5's score in the Speedometer 2.0 web benchmark was 47, just ahead of the Chromebook x2 11's with 45. In comparison, the Chromebook Flip CX5 achieved 163.

Overall, you will be satisfied with the performance of the IdeaPad Duet 5 as long as your productivity workflow is not too demanding. As I said, with a reasonable number of tabs and Android apps open, the tablet ran fine. However, if you exceeded that amount, things got noticeably slower. And limit yourself to occasional Android games – Asphalt 9, the Android game I use to test Chromebooks, was choppy and showed significant lag when I tried to run it on the IdeaPad Duet 5, which is a more usable gaming tablet .

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Close up on the Asus ZenBook 14X OLED display.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

From the moment I turned on the IdeaPad Duet 5, I could tell that something was different. OLED displays are so much more dynamic and eye-catching than IPS displays, and the 13.3-inch Full HD version of the IdeaPad Duet 5 is no exception. The colors were pleasant and natural, the contrast was deep with inky black tones, and the display was more than bright enough for all of my work environments.

My two complaints start with the 16: 9 aspect ratio, which, as mentioned earlier, isn't nearly as functional as 16:10 and 3: 2 displays in portrait mode, and it looked squashed too. It's not a deal breaker – many 16: 9 laptops and tablets are still made today – but it's far from ideal. Next, the Full HD resolution was just okay with a display size of 13.3 inches. A sharper screen would have helped, especially with text, and while black text showed up on a white background, they did it with a few pixels. A higher resolution display would have been nice too, but for $ 500, it's hard to complain about.

Close-up on the Asus ZenBook 14X OLED display without keyboard attachment.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Even so, most users will love this display. Even creatives looking for a Chromebook to view photos and videos will love the colors and contrast. This display will please everyone except the pickiest of pixel peepers and those who use a pen to take lots of notes.

Unfortunately, the sound does not do justice to the display despite four speakers radiating from the side. First off, there's not much volume even when it's all the way up, and worse, there's distortion that cuts out the little bass and makes a very tinny sound. The mids and highs are clear at about half volume, but the bass is missing. Overall, you'll want to use bluetooth headphones or speakers for anything but system sounds and the occasional YouTube video.

Keyboard and touchpad

Close up on the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook keyboard.

Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook case with keyboard.

Lenovo includes a detachable keyboard with the IdeaPad Duet 5 that shares the same basic design as most keyboards – with one exception. It is attached to the tablet via magnets and connected via pogo pins, but unlike most keyboards, it has no way of supporting it at an angle. They're stuck when you lay it flat, which isn't nearly as comfortable. Thanks to the 13.3-inch display and the width it offers, there is plenty of key spacing and the keycaps are large and comfortable. The switches offer a lot of spring travel and have a snappy bottom movement. The keyboard feels great – if only Lenovo had built in an angle.

The touchpad is also good and big enough to be comfortable using the Chrome OS suite of multitouch gestures. The surface can be wiped comfortably and the buttons have a nice click without being too loud. The display is of course touch-enabled and supports an optional Lenovo Active Pen. One was not included with my test device, so I could not test the coloring with the IdeaPad Duet 5.

Battery life

OLED displays can sometimes be the death knell when it comes to battery life. But that's mainly because most OLED laptops use 4K resolution. The IdeaPad Duet 5 uses a 1080p screen and combines it with a Snapdragon processor with low power consumption. It also contains 42 watt hours of battery, a decent amount for this device – and more than the 32 watt hours found on the HP Chromebook x2 11. I was curious to see how long the detachable tablet would last on one charge.

I was positively surprised. In our web browser test, which ran through a number of popular and demanding websites, the IdeaPad Duet 5 lasted for 15.5 hours – an excellent score that beat the Chromebook x2 11's 12.75 hours. The 10.1 inch Lenovo IdeaPad Duet with its 27 watt hour battery and the MediaTek Helio P60T ARM processor lasted about 13 hours. In our video test replaying a local 1080p movie trailer, the IdeaPad Duet 5 achieved a whopping 21.75 hours – one of the longest-lasting devices we tested. It outperformed the 11 hours of the Chromebook x2 11 and the 12.5 hours of the IdeaPad Duet.

Simply put, the IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook will last you a full day while you still have some time to watch Netflix. Chromebooks with ARM CPUs should have great battery life, and the IdeaPad Duet 5 keeps that promise.

Our opinion

At $ 500, the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook is excellent value for money. You get adequate productivity performance and great battery life. The OLED display looks great too, even if it's not perfect.

Anyone looking for an affordable Chrome tablet that they can use for web browsing, email triage, and media consumption will find that the IdeaPad Duet 5 is a great choice.

Are there alternatives?

the HP Chromebook x2 11 is a close alternative with almost the same CPU and very similar performance. At the same time, the display is good, but not great, and the battery life is wasted. You can also get it for $ 100 less, albeit with half the space.

Another option is the Microsoft Surface Go 3. It's a Windows 11 laptop and it's smaller, but its build quality and performance are just as good, and it has its own great display. It's more expensive when you add the cost of the keyboard, but it's well worth it too.

After all, the Apple iPad is a good tablet, although it is also a bit smaller. You might want to stick with the entry-level model of $ 329 or risk spending a lot more. But it's faster thanks to a faster ARM CPU and a highly optimized operating system, and it has a great display. It's also thin, light, and well built.

How long it will take?

The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook could be made of plastic, but that doesn't mean it won't last for years. You'll also get a lot of performance out of Chrome OS for some time. The one-year warranty is fine for a $ 500 laptop.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 is fast enough for the price, which makes it a long-lasting secondary device with a beautiful display for media consumption. It's the best tablet you will find for the money.

Editor's recommendations



14 Sep
Blog

Logitech G435 Gaming Headset Review: Too Cheap to Be Good

The Logitech G435 gaming headset on a stand.

Logitech G435 gaming headset

RRP $ 80.00

"The Logitech G435 is a wireless gaming headset that sacrifices too much to be affordable."

advantages

  • Wireless Lightspeed connection with Bluetooth support

  • Easy

  • Comfortable for long gaming sessions

  • Payable

disadvantage

  • Feels cheap

  • Disappointing sound quality

  • Not a boom mic

When looking for the best gaming headset, it's easy to fall into the trap of wanting wireless connectivity. With one less cord, the workspace is really tidy, and it's nice to be able to get up without taking off the headset.

However, the feature significantly increases the price due to the need for a wireless radio, electronics, and battery. However, this is not the case with the Logitech G435 Lightspeed. You won't find a cheaper wireless gaming headset – at least not one from a well-known brand.

Unfortunately, the G435 is cutting too many corners to reach this price point, leaving you with a headset that doesn't feel like it's worth $ 80.

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Thin headband of the G435 gaming headset from Logitech.Niels Broekhuijsen / Digital Trends

When it comes to design, the first thing you notice about the G435 is that it is extremely light. It only weighs 165 grams, which is absolutely nothing for headsets, especially wireless ones. For comparison: Razer's Barracuda X weighs 250 grams, which is considered light, and something high-end like Corsair's Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT weighs 382 grams, even lighter than the 240-gram Logitech G335.

So yes, the G435 is very light indeed. But the quality of workmanship is a problem with a headset for this lamp. There is no getting around it: The G435 feels thin and cheap. The plastic parts are all thin, there are no beautiful materials and the headband looks full, but is just a plastic frame with a fabric cover.

I feel like if I held the headband in my fist it would just be strong pressure to snap. This is not good. Logitech only markets the light weight as a benefit, but it feels like it was a decision to cut costs, and it shows. The heavier Logitech G533 looks and feels higher quality and can be picked up at a discount for less than the newer G435.

However, I cannot deny the advantages of an ultra-light headset. The light weight and soft fabric ear cups of the G435 make it one of the most comfortable headsets I've ever worn. It's also surprisingly comfortable to rest on your neck.

The ear cups don't pivot to lie flat on your chest, but since there's no protruding microphone and it's surprisingly small, your chin won't collide as much when you turn your head.

characteristics

Beamforming microphone on Logitech's G435 headset.

When it comes to features, it's no surprise that the G435 isn't very featured. But that doesn't mean it's shabby. The headset supports various spatial audio codecs including Dolby Atmos, has an optional volume cap of 85 decibels to protect your ears, and the dual beamforming microphones work together to reduce background noise.

And yes, that means the G435 doesn't have a boom mic, as is common with gaming headsets. Boom microphones provide sharper, clearer audio quality compared to the smartphone-grade quality that beamforming microphones offer. It's a surprise to see Logitech leave it out here as even the G335 includes one.

The G435 is charged via the USB-C port, and a fully charged battery has a lifespan of 18 hours. Controls are just as easy: there is an on / off button, volume control and a microphone / mute button.

Controls of the G435 gaming headset.Niels Broekhuijsen / Digital Trends

The primary connection method for the G435 is via the included 2.4 GHz Lightspeed dongle, but you can also use it with Bluetooth devices in a low-latency mode – this combination does it not only with PCs, but with PlayStation devices and mobile phones can be used.

That's pretty cute considering the vast majority of gaming headsets don't support Bluetooth and you often have to jump on something like the SteelSeries Actis 9, which costs a whopping $ 200.

Sound quality

Logitech G435 gaming headset ear pads.

The actual test of the headset naturally depends on the sound quality. The G435 is still packed with 40mm drivers, which sounds promising, but in practice I wouldn't expect any acoustic miracles from the G435. There's a lot of bass and some detail at the top, but the headset lacks something in the middle section – I'd describe the sound profile as hollow.

The sound lacks the "fullness" that makes you turn up the volume for the satisfaction you want. So it is good that it is equipped with a volume limiter.

But then again, this is a $ 80 wireless headset. Great sound quality was never the primary goal, and the acoustics are good enough for casual gaming. However, if you are a competitive gamer you may want to look for something a little more revealing sound so you don't miss your opponents' steps as they sneak up on you.

Our opinion

The Logitech G435 Lightspeed has a lot to offer, such as light weight, comfort and Bluetooth support. However, unless you absolutely need a wireless headset for under $ 80, I'd stay away from that and spend the same budget on a wired pair.

With the need to squeeze a wireless radio, control module, and battery into the tight budget, Logitech had to make concessions on build quality and sound quality. They take off too much of the overall experience, and while it's wireless, the G435 doesn't feel like $ 80 headphones.

Are there alternatives?

The next alternative is Razer's recently launched Barracuda X gaming headset, which costs $ 20 more. While it doesn't support Bluetooth, it offers better processing and sound quality, plus a proper microphone, and looks better for outside the home. It's more expensive, but well worth the extra effort.

The Logitech G533 is also a good choice. Although it originally sold for $ 150, you can currently pick it up at Retailers for only $ 74.

If you're shopping wired on the same budget, the entry-level HyperX Cloud II headset offers much better build quality and sound quality.

How long it will take?

Although the G435 should last two to three years if carefully cared for, its fragile construction is an accident or a rage that is far from snapping into place.

Should I buy it?

If you really need a $ 80 headset, don't buy a wireless headset. Too much of the budget goes into the wireless radio, electronics, and battery, and with that budget it is better to buy a wired headset.

Editor's recommendations



26 Aug
Blog

Acer Swift X Review: Top-notch Performance For Cheap?

The Acer Swift X sits on a desk.

Acer Swift X review: content creation cheap?

RRP $ 1,100.00

"The Acer Swift X is a powerful laptop that many students and creatives appreciate."

advantages

  • Outstanding performance

  • Very good battery life

  • Excellent keyboard and touchpad

  • Solid entry-level gaming

  • Thin and light frame given the strength inside

disadvantage

  • Build quality could be better

  • Display is not sufficient for the target market

Creative professionals need more than anything in a great laptop. First, they need power, and lots of it – preferably both a fast CPU and a fast GPU. Second, they need a display with wide and accurate colors and lots of contrast and brightness. Acer's Swift X is aimed at these developers, though it does offer configurations starting at $ 1,100. Is that possible at this price?

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800U, the RTX 3050 Ti and the 14-inch display of the Acer Swift X certainly seem up to the task. After putting it through its paces, the Swift X is far from a perfect machine – but its fantastic performance and value for money set it apart from its competitors.

draft

The Acer Swift X has an all-aluminum chassis that was a bit flexible in the lid and suffered from a slight flexing of the keyboard. It's nothing monstrous. but Asus, Dell, and HP laptops tend to have stiffer builds. The MSI Prestige 14 Evo, Dell XPS 13, and HP Specter x360 14 are three laptops that feel more solid in the hand. The Swift X's hinge is capable of almost one-handed opening and holds the display firmly in place while you work. If the Swift X were more expensive, I'd have more of a build quality issue. However, we are only just on the edge of the premium class for a well configured machine, so I like to overlook a bit of flexibility.

The Acer Swift X sits on a desk.

Aesthetically, the Swift X is a conservative laptop that only encompasses a few angles, including along the back of the case to make some difference. It's available in three creatively titled colors, Safari Gold (my test device), Steam Blue, and Prodigy Pink. The XPS 13 and Specter x360 13 are more outstanding laptops in terms of looks, with the Dell leaning towards business-like elegance and the HP offering a bold, gem-cut design. But there's plenty of room for a more traditional design that doesn't attract too much attention, and that is the Swift X.

I'll be faulting it for its plastic display bezels that spoil the overall look. They're not particularly small either, with a screen-to-body ratio of 85.73% – to be considered truly modern, that number should exceed 90% and the display should be made entirely of glass. The display's 16: 9 aspect ratio is also old-fashioned, with competing laptops using higher ratios like 16:10 and 3: 2.

Compared to some other 14-inch laptops, the Swift X is a reasonable size. For example, it's a bit wider than the HP Envy 14, while it's thinner due to the HP's tall 16:10 display. The Swift X is 0.70 inches thick compared to the Envy 14's 0.71 inches and weighs 3.06 pounds, while the Envy 14 is slightly heavier at 3.3 pounds. The MSI Prestige 14 Evo is closer in width and depth, while it's thinner at 0.63 inches and lighter at 2.85 pounds. The Specter x360 14 is even narrower, but slightly deeper, with its 13.5-inch 3: 2 display, and it's just 0.67 inches thick and 2.95 pounds. It might not be the thinnest or lightest laptop, but the Swift X is still comfortable enough to carry around – especially considering how much power you're packing in.

The Swift X offers ample connectivity with a proprietary power connector, a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port, a full-size HDMI 1.0 port, and a USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 port on the left to connect to another USB A 3.2. go to Gen 1 port and 3.5mm audio adapter on the right. Unfortunately there is no SD card reader or, given the AMD chipset, Thunderbolt support. Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 offer wireless connectivity.

power

As mentioned earlier, the Ryzen 7 5800U is a fast, thin, and light laptop processor that by far beats the Intel equivalent for CPU-intensive tasks. If we just compare the processors, we should expect AMD's offering to be much faster for things like encoding videos and processing large images. Throw in a separate GPU, even the entry-level Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti, and you get additional support for applications that can use the GPU to speed up certain tasks, such as: B. Adobe's suite of creative applications. The Acer therefore promises to be a powerhouse in a thin and light package.

You probably won't find a faster, thin, and light laptop in this price range.

According to our benchmarks, Acer did just that – for the most part. In our Handbrake test, which encodes a 420MB video in H.265, the Swift X led our comparison group, including several other laptops with Ryzen chips. It even (barely) beat the Asus ROG Flow X13 with the faster Ryzen 9 5900HS processor. In fact, the Swift X is one of the fastest laptops we tested in Handbrake, and even outperforms some machines with Intel 45-watt CPUs. The Swift X also did exceptionally well in the Cinebench R23 benchmark and even took the lead by a clear margin with the Ryzen 9 in the mix. Both benchmark results show that the Swift X delivers when you have to perform tedious tasks like encoding video that are CPU draining.

The Swift X wasn't that dominant in Geekbench 5, but I'd like to note here that Acer includes a utility to change performance modes. The utility didn't make much of a difference when I switched to performance mode in most tests, and the results in the table reflect standard mode. However, Geekbench 5 was a test where the performance mode made a difference – the Swift X scored 1,406 single-core and 8,030 multi-core in that mode, taking first place in the multi-core test. The Swift X also took first place in the PCMark 10 Complete Score (the performance mode made hardly any difference here) and did well in the Essentials, Productivity and Content Creation scores.

Acer Swift X sits on a desk.

I also ran the PugetBench benchmark, which uses Adobe Premiere Pro to perform various viewing and encoding tasks. The benchmark shows the effect of a discrete GPU, as the Swift X scores 333 points in the benchmark. Interestingly, this is not as high as I expected and ended up behind the HP Envy 14, for example, which uses an Intel Core i5-1135G7 and an Nvidia GTX 1650 Ti Max-Q and scored 432 points. The Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 with an Intel Core i7-1165G7 and integrated Iris-Xe graphics scored 241 points, while the Asus ZenBook 13 OLED with a Ryzen 7 5800U and integrated Radeon graphics scored 180 points. These results show that Intel has built in some optimizations that give its chips a better result here in the benchmark. The benchmark is broken down into several sections including Export, Playback, and GPU, and the Intel machines did worse on Export and GPU, but much better on playback, which likely bloated their results.

Despite the confusing PugetBench results, the Swift X is a great machine for anyone who needs a lot of CPU power and a GPU that can speed up intensive tasks. It's also extremely fast as a productivity laptop and tears up everything I threw on it during the review process. You are unlikely to find another thin and light laptop that is faster in this price range.

Geekbench (single / multiple) Handbrake
(Seconds)		 Cinebench R23 (single / multiple) PCMark 10 3DMark time spy
Acer Swift X (Ryzen7 5800U) 1287/6663 99 1437/10135 6247 4073
HP Pavilion Aero 13
(Ryzen7 5800U)		 1373/6430 112 1381/8304 5756 1212
Asus ZenBook 13 OLED
(Ryzen7 5800U)		 1423/6758 124 1171/7824 6034 1342
Asus ROG Flow X13
(Ryzen9 5900HS)		 1415/7592 102 1420/9701 5756 4503
Dell XPS 13 (Core i7-1185G7) 1549/5431 204 1399/4585 n / A 1380
HP Specter x360 14 (Core i7-1165G7) 1214/4117 236 1389/3941 4728 1457
Razer Book 13 (Core i7-1165G7) 1548/5374 210 1508/4519 4878 1776
MacBook Pro 13 (M1) 1707/7337 n / A 1487/7547 n / A n / A

Gaming was good for a laptop that wasn't specifically designed for gaming, with the Swift X doing well in the 3DMark Time Spy test (but behind the game-centric Asus ROG Flow X13). It reached 116 frames per second (fps) in Civilization VI at 1080p and medium graphics and 66 fps with ultra graphics switched on. That's actually a few fps faster than the ROG Flow X13, which surprised me. In Fortnite, the Swift X achieved 64 fps at 1080p and high graphics performance compared to the ROG Flow X13 at 67 fps and 43 fps with epic graphics compared to 47 fps with the ROG. The Swift X is a good entry-level gaming device that can handle modern titles with the right resolutions and graphical details.

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Close up on the Acer Swift X screen.

From a performance perspective, the Swift X is designed for creative professionals. As we've seen, it has the speed that a very portable workstation can handle for editing videos and photos on the go. However, an important part of that equation is the display – does it offer wide and accurate colors, lots of brightness, and high contrast for creative work? In short, the answer is unfortunately no for the 14-inch IPS Full HD display (1,920 x 1,080) of the Swift X in 16: 9 format. The subjective viewing experience during my tests was a mixed picture, with colors that seemed accurate and pleasant, and with just enough brightness to accommodate the lighting in my house. Blacks on white backgrounds didn't show up, however, which made copy-writing a less pleasant experience than I'd like.

So I turned to my familiar colorimeter for a more objective perspective. The results didn't surprise me at all. Initially, the color width was 72% of AdobeRGB and 96% of sRGB, which is the average of premium laptops, but falls far short of the displays required for creative work. Color accuracy was good with a DeltaE of 1.63 (1.0 or less is considered excellent), so that's a plus.

The brightness was a bit low at 283 nits, below our 300-nit threshold, and the contrast was 730: 1, well below our preferred 1,000: 1 ratio for premium laptops. On another recently tested 14-inch laptop, the Lenovo ThinkPad Carbon X1 Gen 9 (certainly a more expensive device), we see similar colors at 76% AdobeRGB and 96% sRGB, better color accuracy at 0.99, and higher brightness at 306 nits. The contrast of the ThinkPad was still below our threshold at 970: 1, which you could see from the black text. The Dell XPS 13 Full HD + display achieved 75% AdobeRGB and 98% sRGB with a color accuracy of 1,21,458 nits of brightness and a contrast ratio of 1,350: 1.

That's a lot of numbers, but the conclusion is simple. The Swift X allows creatives to get their work done on the go at some speed, but they don't want to use the laptop for final production. Productivity workers will be more satisfied with the display, but even then the low contrast ratio will be disappointing and the old school 16: 9 contrast ratio cannot be compared to today's higher panels. It's a shame that Acer doesn't offer a higher quality display with wider colors and better contrast for the Swift X. That would really make the laptop a highly portable creative production machine.

In terms of audio technology, the two downward-facing speakers weren't exactly great. The maximum volume was on the low side, enough for system sounds and a YouTube video, but not nearly enough for music or Netflix bingeing. The mids and highs were clear, but there was no bass (not surprising for a laptop) and there was no distortion when turned all the way up. You need headphones or a bluetooth speaker.

Keyboard and touchpad

The Acer Swift-X keyboard.

The Swift X has a keyboard with nice-sized silver keycaps and full-size spacing. The key switches are light and clicky, with a comfortable floor motion that provides a precise feel. I still prefer the HP Specter keyboard, which offers a touch more feedback, but the Swift X keyboard comes with the best that Windows 10 has to offer. It's backlit, of course, but I found that the light shining through the gay letters was distorted and difficult to read. However, this is a minor matter. Most touch typists will love this keyboard.

The touchpad takes up most of the available palm rest space, but the top of the keyboard deck is pushed back by an extension that houses the hinge and rear ventilation. That means the touchpad is a bit smaller than it could be. However, it has a comfortable interface and Microsoft Precision touchpad drivers, so using Windows 10 multi-touch gestures is efficient and precise. There is no touch display option, which is disappointing.

A fingerprint reader in the upper right corner of the palm rest offers Windows 10 Hello password-free support. It worked quickly and responsively during my tests, which has become the norm with modern laptops.

Battery life

Acer packed 59 watt hours of battery into the Swift X, a decent – but not great – amount for a 14-inch laptop with such powerful components. The Full HD display would help, I expected, but I wasn't expecting great battery life.

I was surprised. In our web browser test, the Swift X lasted for almost 12 hours, which is a strong score. The MSI Prestige 14 Evo achieved a little more than seven hours in this test, while the HP Envy 14 was better than both with just over 12.5 hours. In our video test, which repeats a local Full HD Avengers trailer, the Swift X reached 12.75 hours, well below the 16.3 hours of the Prestige 14 Evo and 14.5 hours of the HP Envy. I've noticed that Ryzen laptops don't have the same increase from the web browsing test to the video test, which shows that Intel machines are more efficient at playing videos.

In the battery benchmark PCMark 10 Applications, the best indicator for the longevity of productivity, the Swift X does well with just over 12 hours. The Prestige 14 Evo did not quite manage 10.5 hours in this test, while the HP Envy 14 would not complete the benchmark. In the PCMark 10 gaming battery test, the Swift X shut down after just under 1.5 hours, which is the lowest result we have ever seen. The Prestige 14 Evo lasted just 10 minutes longer, while the HP Envy 14 is the other laptop to score the Swift X's. This test seems to show how much a laptop is throttled on battery power, which means that the Swift X works hard when turned off and therefore burns its battery up pretty quickly.

Overall, these results suggest that the Swift X will last you a full day of work with a few hours to spare. If you drive the CPU and GPU hard enough, you will get a lot less battery life, but that's to be expected. If you encode video on the go, take your power adapter with you.

Our opinion

The Acer Swift X does what it promises to pack a lot of power into a thin and light frame. It's one of the fastest 14-inch laptops we've tested, and it's a great choice for creative professionals who need power on the go. Battery life was also a strength, which makes this notebook a great productivity laptop for on the go.

The biggest downside to the Swift X is the display. Getting rid of it entirely by creative professionals isn't bad enough, but they should have a better external display in the office to complete their work. Acer would have been smart about offering a higher quality display for those who want it the most.

Are there alternatives?

There aren't many laptops that combine a fast Ryzen CPU with a discrete GPU. One that has recently become available is the Asus ROG Flow 13, which is a smaller machine but almost as fast. Aside from the Asus' gaming aesthetic, it's a great alternative for anyone who needs portable performance.

The HP Envy 14 is an option for someone who can live with an Intel Core CPU to work with separate graphics, and it has performed well in Adobe applications. It also suffers from a smaller display, but offers good performance and better build quality.

How long it will take?

The Swift X is so well built you can expect it to hold up on high-performance computing for years. The components are modern and should keep up with the times, demanding users should get their money's worth. As always, the industry standard one-year warranty is disappointing.

Should you buy it?

Yes, for performance and battery life. Just make sure you can live with the display before pulling out your credit card.

Editor's recommendations



05 Aug
Blog

Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 Review: Slow But Really Cheap

Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 sits on the tabletop.

Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 Review: The Ultimate Chromebook for Students?

RRP $ 330.00

"The Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 is not the fastest Chromebook in the world, but the price is unbeatable."

advantages

  • Inexpensive

  • Solid build quality for the price

  • Surprisingly nice display

  • Very good battery life

  • Excellent touchpad and active pen

disadvantage

  • Performance is below average

  • Keyboard is tight

  • Touch display is fussy

Sometimes a product comes along that is defined by a certain characteristic. That's the price for the Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 Convertible 2-in-1. The starting price of $ 330 will be extremely attractive to those looking for cheap access to the Internet. Budget laptops have their place, especially for students.

I tested the $ 330 Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 configuration with a MediaTek MT8183 CPU, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of eMMC storage, and a 12-inch IPS (1366×912) 3: 2 display . There are certainly some tradeoffs to achieve this rock bottom price. But most of the time, the Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 makes the right compromises for a cheap student laptop.

design

Angled view of the Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 on the tabletop.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 is a mixture of a silver lid made of an aluminum alloy and a matching plastic housing. It uses the same electroplating as the more expensive Asus Chromebook Flip C536, which creates a ceramic-like texture on the lid. There's also the same in-mold roller process used on the C536 that gives the Chromebook Flip CM3's all-black keyboard deck a velvety feel that makes the palm rests surprisingly comfortable. This kind of technology is not expected in such an inexpensive laptop, and it gives it an attractive, if simple aesthetic that looks like it should cost quite a bit more.

The quality of workmanship is just as impressive: the lid only bends slightly under pressure, and the keyboard bends a little under strong pressure. Here, too, the Chromebook Flip CM3 surpasses its weight class and offers a surprisingly robust workmanship. It might not be built quite as well as the Chromebook Flip C536 (which itself was a step behind the Asus standard) or the Acer Chromebook Spin 713, but both of these laptops cost around $ 600. The Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 is another 2-in-1 that is roughly the same price as the Chromebook Flip CM3 and is made entirely of plastic but still feels solid.

This is a small laptop, although not as small as it could be. It's built around a 12-inch 3: 2 display, which should result in a tiny chassis, but the bezels are large and add to the width and depth. Even so, it's smaller than 13-inch laptops and is 0.64 inches thick and 2.51 pounds. Overall, it feels like a thin and light laptop that is easy to take with you.

Connectivity is limited to a single USB-C port, a USB-A port, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a microSD card reader. Wireless connectivity includes Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 4.2, both of which are a generation behind.

Left side view of the Asus Chromebook Flip CM3. Features: micro USB port, micro SD slot, USB port and headphone jack.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

perfomance

Do you remember when I asked what corners were cut? Well, the simplest answer here is: performance. The Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 uses a MediaTek MT8183 ARM CPU with 2 GHz. Although this processor has been optimized for Chrome OS, there is only one way to characterize it. It's slow.

Look at the 2-in-1's Geekbench 5 scores, a low of 299 in single-core mode and 1,407 in multi-core mode. The closest comparison I could find in our database is the Asus Chromebook Flip C436 with a Core i3-1011U CPU that scored 938 and 1,653 points. The Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5, on which the Core i3-1011U also runs, scored 975 and 1,649 points, respectively. It's clear that the MediaTek processor makes multi-threaded apps run better than single-threaded apps.

I would stick with simpler, less graphics-intensive games on the Chromebook Flip CM3.

The Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 also scores very poorly in the Speedometer 2.0 web browser test and only achieves 24.4. That's at the bottom of our database and less than half what you can expect from other Chromebooks. Of course, most of these cost hundreds of dollars more than the Chromebook Flip CM3. It is noteworthy that the Chromebook Flip C536 scored 158 points in this test with a Core i3-1115G4.

Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 folded back, sitting on the tabletop.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

In real use, I found the machine not as slow as these benchmarks suggest. It got choppy when I opened too many browser tabs and some Android apps were running in the background, but with a more reasonable workload, the Chromebook Flip CM3 was perfectly usable. Given the price, it's a decent second machine that is easy to move around, and for users who just need to browse the web and check email, the performance is acceptable.

However, the game did not go well. I tried Asphalt 9, my favorite Chromebook testing game, and it wasn't fun. I would stick with simpler, less graphics-intensive games on the Chromebook Flip CM3.

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Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 sits on the tabletop.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 has a 12-inch IPS display with a productivity-friendly 3: 2 aspect ratio and a resolution of 1366 x 912. The larger aspect ratio is another surprise with such a cheap laptop – it's a real boon for you anyone who appreciates more vertical space and less scrolling. The resolution is lower at 1366 x 912, but still sharp given the small screen size.

I liked this display at least as much as the more expensive Asus Chromebook Flip C536 and Acer Chromebook Spin 713

The difference is barely noticeable to the naked eye, but a 13.3-inch 1080p screen technically comes in at 165 pixels per inch compared to the Asus Chromebook Flip CM3's 137 ppi.

I cannot test Chromebooks with my colorimeter and can therefore only give my subjective opinion. And in my opinion, this is – surprisingly again – a vivid display for such an inexpensive device. It's not particularly bright, but it was able to overcome all of the indoor ambient lighting that I threw on it. I couldn't use it outside in direct sunlight, but that's not uncommon. The colors were pleasant and seemed accurate when I used the Chromebook Flip CM3 side by side with other more expensive laptops. Photos and videos looked great without being too light or too dark. The contrast wasn't as high as I'd like it to be, but black text on a white background wasn't grayish like it is on many budget laptops.

I liked this display at least as much as that of the more expensive Asus Chromebook Flip C536 and Acer Chromebook Spin 713. It doesn't rank at the top like the premium display of the Google Pixelbook Go. But even here you pay twice as much money to get this higher quality. Asus has excellently equipped the Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 with a display that will delight all but the most discerning creative professionals – who won't buy this laptop anyway.

Keyboard and touchpad

The pen sits on the keyboard of the Asus Chromebook Flip CM3.

The small chassis has an unfortunate byproduct and that is a very cramped keyboard. The keycaps are tiny and there isn't much space between them. If you have larger hands, you will likely have trouble typing on this keyboard. The switching mechanism offers a lot of spring travel, but is a bit boring without the click that contributes to precise typing. The floor movement is a bit abrupt, and I would definitely rate this keyboard as one of the less comfortable ones I've used. As already mentioned, the palm rest is amazingly comfortable thanks to the special coating, but the keyboard does not drag. Note that the keyboard is not backlit, which is disappointing.

The touchpad is better as it's bigger than expected thanks to the extra palm rest offered by the taller display. It's fluid and responsive, provides precise cursor control, and supports all of the usual Chrome OS multitouch gestures.

As usual with 2-in-1s, the screen is touch-enabled, and I found it finicky. Sometimes I had to tap two or three times to respond, especially when trying to activate smaller on-screen buttons. It's not outrageous, but it has detracted from the touch panel's usefulness. The Chromebook Flip CM3 supports an optional active pen with 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity that was included with my test device. I found it to be as good as any other Chromebook pen I've used and it supports the suite of Chrome OS pen tools with great precision.

Battery life

Close up of one of the hinges on the Asus Chromebook Flip CM3.

The MediaTek processor, while slow, is also efficient. The Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 has a 32-watt-hour battery, which is not particularly large, even considering the low-resolution 12-inch display.

Even so, the 2-in-1 lasted almost 12.5 hours in our web browser test, which is a strong score. The Asus Chromebook Flip C536 only managed 6.75 hours in this test, the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 8.45 hours. I went back a couple of years and couldn't find a Chromebook that would last longer.

In our video test, which ran through a local Full HD movie trailer, the Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 lasted just over 12 hours. It's not uncommon for Chrome OS computers, unlike Windows 10 laptops, to last longer in the web browser test than they did in the video test. Here, too, the Chromebook Flip CM3 outlasted the comparison laptops by a few hours.

Overall, the Chromebook Flip CM3 offers impressive battery life for such a small device. If you use it as the primary system you get a full day of work from it, and if it's a secondary laptop you get days of use.

Our opinion

The Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 is an affordable Chrome OS 2-in-1 that exceeds expectations based on its low price. It's slower than I'd like, but it has great battery life and a solid, comfortable chassis. The keyboard could be bigger and the touchscreen a little more responsive, but the touchpad and active pen are excellent.

I wouldn't recommend buying the Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 as your primary work device unless your requirements are minimal. But as a second laptop to take with you and for surfing the web and checking emails, or as an entry-level laptop for students, it's a great option.

Are there alternatives?

The Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 is another Chrome OS 2-in-1 with a similar price and performance. The build quality is a bit better, but the battery life can't keep up.

You can jump up a bit in price and consider the Acer Chromebook Spin 713, which costs around $ 600 but is much faster and has a sharper 3: 2 display.

Finally, as we usually recommend, Google's Pixelbook Go should be on your list if you don't need the flexibility of a 2-in-1. It's more expensive, but it also has a long battery life and a stunning display that can't be beat.

How long it will take?

The Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 feels solid enough to withstand years of typical use. The biggest question is how Chrome OS is performing – if at some point it needs more CPU power, the Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 can't keep up. The one-year warranty is fine for this price.

Should you buy it?

Yes. As a second laptop, the Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 is a great bargain that is worth the small investment.

Editor's recommendations



29 Jun
Blog

OnePlus Nord CE 5G Review: A Cheap Phone Made to Last

OnePlus Nord CE

“The OnePlus Nord CE 5G is a lightweight, affordable phone with a two-day battery that is future-proof and long-lasting with 5G and a range of software updates, provided you're not too demanding. But just a little more money brings you something better. "

  • Two days of battery life

  • Reliable, fast software

  • Light

  • Screen lacks liveliness

  • Processor struggles with intensive tasks

The OnePlus Nord CE 5G is a phone that is designed to last for a few years and is good value for money with no high starting price. It's no surprise that the Nord CE 5G has such a strong bang-to-buck ratio on paper as OnePlus has focused on delivering quality hardware for years. But is a value-oriented data sheet enough? Now that I've spent almost two weeks with the Nord CE 5G, it's clear why you don't have to spend more, but it's also clear why you should.

design

My Nord CE test model is in the color Blue Void and it's nice. It's obviously closely related to the Ultramarine Blue on the OnePlus 8 Pro, but with fewer shades of green and prefers to turn subtly into purple around the edges instead. It catches the light well and the back of the glass – not Gorilla Glass, but from another unnamed manufacturer – is handy and feels cool.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The chassis is made of plastic. It weighs 170 grams and is 7.9 mm thick, and that's thinner and lighter than the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G, Realme 8 5G, and the first OnePlus Nord. The rounded case and flat screen make it comfortable to hold, but the plastic volume and power buttons feel cheap.

It's unfortunate that the Nord CE 5G doesn't have that wonderful OnePlus alarm slider that has been standard on most other OnePlus phones from the start and is an integral part of the brand's identity. This is despite the company's insistence that the Nord CE is just as much a OnePlus phone as these more expensive devices. It has a 3.5mm headphone jack on the bottom of the phone which can be enough for some compensation.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

I could complain about the lack of imagination in the design – it's basically the same as the first Nord, and how many more times will we see this shape camera module on a phone? – but it seems a bit silly to do so. The OnePlus Nord CE 5G has a pretty, completely undemanding design that is more noble than the price suggests and is a real eye-catcher in this special color. It's one of the cheapest 5G phones you can buy, but you would never know if you just looked at it from the back.

screen

Here's the first time you want to spend more on a phone, and a small downgrade from last year's Nord. The Nord CE 5G has a 6.43-inch fluid AMOLED screen with a refresh rate of 90 Hz and Full HD resolution, which is a decent spec on paper but misses HDR10 +. In reality, it can't compete with the screen on phones that cost little more, like the Galaxy A52 5G.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

It lacks warmth and vibrancy when it comes to watching video, even after you've dug into settings and made sure Vivid is set to display mode. Watching Carfection's Shelby Mustang GT500 review reveals the screen's coldness as the crazy green paint job didn't show up like it did on higher-end screens.

At maximum brightness, the screen is visible in all lighting conditions, but it loses a bit of clarity at extreme angles. It comes standard with a screen protector that is covered in fingerprints and it really doesn't make the front of the phone look very attractive. I wiped this phone a lot more than most of the others.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Hard comments? Possibly, but OnePlus is good at screens, and while the 90Hz response rate is much to be welcomed, the Nord CE 5G's performance can't compete with that of the Galaxy A52 5G, and even the Google Pixel 4a adds some of the life to it, that is missing the screen of the Nord CE. However, it is very similar to the Realme 8 5G, which suggests that we should expect it from a phone at this price point.

camera

On the back of the OnePlus Nord CE there are three cameras, a 64-megapixel main camera, an 8-megapixel wide-angle camera and a third 2-megapixel monochrome camera, which can be used separately. The main camera's photos are bright and colorful, but sometimes a little too saturated, and it struggles in difficult lighting conditions. The wide-angle camera becomes even more saturated and struggles in the shadows, where it loses details.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The camera app will show a 2x zoom option, but this is not an optical mode and if you use it the final picture will lose detail. The monochrome camera takes pure black and white photos, but with a low number of megapixels, although I've still enjoyed using it in the past. The video mode can record at up to 4K at 30 frames per second, there is a night mode for still images and a pro mode.

It can't compete with the Google Pixel 4a in terms of photo quality, but that's not really surprising, and the Galaxy A52 5G's camera gives photos a warmer, slightly more attractive look. That being said, and apart from the inconsistency between the main and wide-angle cameras, the Nord CE's camera takes photos that you'll be happy to share, but they may need to be edited beforehand. OnePlus includes an editor in its Gallery app, but the filters are mostly terrible and the customizations aren't as extensive as in Snapseed or Google Photos.

Where the Nord CE stumbles is when you try to do something too technical. It's stupid trying to focus in portrait mode, and it often refuses to focus on something that seems too close to it. Provided you aren't expecting too much, the Nord CE 5G's camera is fine, but if you experiment and really enjoy playing with the camera, it won't often impress.

Performance and software

My Test Nord CE has 8 GB of RAM, more than enough for most smartphones, and is paired with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G processor. The 750G released in 2020 is a confusing little thing. It's a step up from the Snapdragon 765G in the First North with newer Kryo 570 cores, but its Adreno 619 GPU is a step backwards compared to the Adreno 620 in the 765G. It's made in an 8nm process instead of a 7nm process, but uses the same X52 modem and supports both Sub-6 and mmWave 5G connections.

The Snapdragon 750G is newer than the still-current 765G, and although the G in the name indicates that the processor is geared towards gaming, the Nord CE 5G is happiest when playing casual games like Asphalt 9: Legends, which is rather fast and more exciting than anything more intense.

Genshin Impact is playable with minimal slowing down, but the phone gets warm, verging on hot, after playing for a while, especially if you spend a lot of time fighting. While I have never received an overheating warning, after long sessions with Genshin Impact, I have received a “Your phone's operating temperature has returned to normal” on a few occasions. What lets the Nord CE down more when playing is the sound, which is delivered through a single speaker and can be uncomfortably tinny.

The phone wins in general software, however, with OnePlus's excellent OxygenOS 11 running smoothly and bug free during my time with the phone. I like the always-on screen, which can be customized in a number of ways, and the battery scheduling feature for overnight use. I didn't have any issues with app compatibility or updates, and the settings menu is easy to navigate. It's one of the Nord CE 5G's greatest strengths.

OnePlus Nord CE 5G always on the screen

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

oneplus nord ce 5g review apps

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

oneplus nord ce 5g review browser

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

OnePlus Nord CE 5G settings

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

While the Snapdragon 750G sounds like it should be a little powerhouse, it's not always as snappy as I'd like it to be. For example, it can stall while multitasking. It's not a deal breaker, but you will definitely notice an improvement in speed and responsiveness when using a more powerful phone. The Nord CE is fine for general use, and it has enough power for casual gaming too.

Battery and security

The OnePlus Nord CE is a great phone for casual use, and the battery reflects that. Use it carefully – around two hours of screen time – and barely 30% is consumed before the end of the day. On some quiet days, the OnePlus Nord CE 5G still had power at the end of the second day when connected to either Wi-Fi or 4G LTE. Play games for an hour, play a video, and mix it up with general usage, and the battery should still last a full day with some spare.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

OnePlus' proprietary Warp Charge 30T Plus charge reliably brings the 4,500 mAh battery to 70% in just over 30 minutes, but it takes at least a full hour to reach capacity. Battery life and fast charging are two of the best things about the Nord CE 5G. The Galaxy A52 5G is the Nord CE's archenemy, and while Samsung's phone outperforms the Nord in some places, the Nord's fingerprint sensor is superior. It works really well, even though it's placed quite low on the screen, and there's a quick face-unlock system there as an alternative.

Price and availability

The OnePlus Nord CE 5G has only been announced for the UK, and it is unknown if it will ever officially come to the US. In the UK, it starts at £ 299, around $ 420 for the 8GB / 128GB version and £ 369 / $ 525 for the 12GB / 256GB model. It is now available for pre-order through the OnePlus online store and is sold through Amazon, John Lewis retail stores and the Three Network. It will be released on June 21st.

Our opinion

The OnePlus Nord CE 5G proves that an affordable phone can be powerful, good-looking, and come with great software. If this covers all of your needs then great, you will be happy with it. However, this is where it is worth understanding whether you should spend a little more to get a superior product that will last even longer, and while there is nothing wrong with the Nord CE 5G, making sure your new phone lasts is crucial.

It's Samsung's fault that the Galaxy A52 5G made such a strong offer. It has an IP67 water resistance rating for increased durability, a better screen, a good camera, two days of battery life, and looks just as pretty (maybe even a little more modern). Add an equally robust software commitment and microSD card slot, and it's worth the extra over the 8GB Nord CE 5G as it will almost certainly last longer.

At no point did I feel the need to rip my SIM card out of the Nord CE 5G, so its frustrations never climbed high, and the brilliance of OxygenOS makes up for some of them anyway. However, there is no escaping the fact that while the OnePlus Nord CE 5G is a solidly reliable phone that is reasonably future-proof with 5G and two years of software updates, if longevity is one of your goals and it really should be at all costs, a balanced one Longer-lasting phones are available for little more money.

Is there a better alternative?

The price of the OnePlus Nord CE 5G is very competitive. We recommend going for the £ 299 8GB / 128GB version as it represents the best value. In the UK, the Realme 8 5G and Xiaomi Redmi Note 5G are challenging the Nord CE on price, but there's little to technically separate them.

We recommend the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G because it has a generous, well thought-out range of functions, is probably more stylish and durable and has a larger, more beautiful screen for little more money. It costs $ 499 in the US and £ 399 in the UK. Getting a 5G phone under $ 500 in the US is a challenge, but also consider the Google Pixel 4a 5G if the camera is a priority.

How long it will take?

The Nord CE doesn't have a waterproof rating or a particularly tough case, so you'll need to put it in a bag if you want to protect it. OnePlus offers a selection of very colorful cases that are perfect for the job. There is good news on the software side, with the company promising two years of updates and three years of security updates. Provided your usage doesn't change there is no reason not to hold up for three years.

Should you buy it?

No. As good as it is, we recommend buying the Galaxy A52 5G for its added features and increased durability.

Editor's recommendations



28 Jun
Blog

Asus VivoBook Flip 14 Review: A Fast, Cheap AMD Laptop

Asus Vivobook Flip 14 review 3

Asus VivoBook Flip 14 2021

"The Asus VivoBook Flip 14 is a powerful budget laptop despite the disappointing display and build quality."

  • Outstanding productivity performance

  • Mostly attractive aesthetics

  • Affordable

  • Active pen is bundled

  • Upgradable RAM and storage

  • Mediocre build quality

  • Glossy display

  • Below average battery life

Everyone likes a good budget laptop. They may not seem as exciting as the latest and greatest, but budget-conscious laptops have their place. Not everyone has the resources or the need for a laptop that costs well over $ 1,000, but everyone deserves great things. Finding a diamond in the rough can be a lot of fun.

Most manufacturers have a distinct budget lineup, and in Asus' case, that's the VivoBook. The company recently launched the updated VivoBook Flip 14, an AMD-powered 360-degree convertible 2-in-1 designed to deliver solid performance and an exciting experience at a low laptop price.

I checked the VivoBook Flip 14 configuration for $ 629 (if Asus offers it on their website, it will sell for $ 600) which has an AMD Ryzen 5 5500U CPU, 8GB of RAM, a 512GB PCIe -SSD and a 14-inch IPS Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) display in the increasingly old-fashioned 16: 9 aspect ratio. You can also get a version with a 256GB SSD for just $ 529. Attractive features for the price, but does the VivoBook Flip 14 keep its value proposition?

design

The VivoBook Flip 14 is mostly made of plastic, with the lid lined with an aluminum alloy. You don't have to buy plastic for this price, but it's not uncommon. Unfortunately, the build quality was not up to the usual Asus standard, with a lid that bends with too little force and can cause LCD distortion, quite a bit of flex in the keyboard deck, and a case base that yields to pressure. The similarly priced Acer Swift 3 is more solidly built, and for around $ 300 you can grab the HP Envy x360 13, which is also much better built – unsurprisingly, both machines are on our list of best budget laptops . You won't find many 14-inch 2-in-1s at this price level, so I can't think of a direct comparison that we tested.

Aesthetically, the VivoBook Flip 14 is a little more impressive, if a little strange at the same time. It comes in a “Bespoke Black” color scheme that covers 99% of the chassis. There's a bright silver logo on the lid and some chrome bars around the touchpad, but that's mostly it. It is strange that the Enter key has a lime green border and lettering and stands out rather boldly – but at the same time I would say garish. And it's the only element on the laptop that bears that color, so it's not part of a theme.

If you're usually struggling to find Enter, the bold color scheme helps, but I usually don't run into this predicament so the color scheme detracts from the aesthetic for me. Still, I think the VivoBook Flip 14 looks better than the Swift 3 and is on par with the Envy x360 13. In fact, it's as attractive as a more expensive notebook like the MSI Prestige 14 Evo and has a more distinctive look than the Lenovo Yoga 7i 14 2-in-1, which is also about $ 300 more expensive.

The bezels are a bit big with a screen-to-body ratio of 82%. Premium laptops tend to be 90% or better, but the VivoBook Flip 14 isn't bad for a budget device. That makes the chassis a bit bigger, and it's not the thinnest or lightest 14-inch laptop at 0.72 inches and 3.31 pounds. The Yoga 7i comes in at 0.69 inches and 3.09 pounds, while the MSI Prestige 14 is 0.63 inches thick and weighs 2.85 pounds.

The Acer Swift 5, another 14-inch clamshell, is just 0.59 inches thick and fairly light at 2.31 pounds – it's also twice as expensive. Looking at our budget competition, the Acer Swift 3 is 0.63 inches thick and weighs 2.65 pounds, and the HP Envy x360 13 is 0.65 inches thick and weighs 2.92 pounds. Obviously, the VivoBook Flip 14 doesn't win the thin and easy battle.

Asus built its ErgoLift hinge into the VivoBook Flip 14, which is a nice touch considering the overall complexity of the 360-degree hinge. It works well, raises the keyboard deck to a more comfortable typing angle, and theoretically offers additional space for air to circulate – except there are no vents on the bottom of the laptop. Rather, the air is sucked in via the keyboard, so that the usual thermal advantages are not available. Anyway, the hinge is a bit stiff and the lid takes two hands to open, but it keeps the display in place in clamshell, tent, media, and tablet modes.

Asus has also built in some upgrade options. The SSD slot is easily accessible if you ever want to upgrade the memory, and of the test device's 8 GB of RAM, 4 GB is soldered to the motherboard and the other 4 GB is plugged in. So you can swap this out for an 8 GB chip if necessary and increase your RAM to 12 GB. A maximum of 16 GB is available, which of course has to be configured when ordering the laptop.

Connectivity is good, with a USB-A 2.0 port, a USB-A 3.2 port, a USB-C Gen 2 port, a full-size HDMI 1.4 port, a 3.5mm audio jack and a microSD card reader. A proprietary connector provides power, and given the AMD chipset, there is no Thunderbolt support. Wireless connectivity is a bit behind the times with Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 4.2.

performance

The VivoBook Flip 14 featured the first six-core Ryzen 5 5500U CPU we tested, and I was curious to see how it compares to the various Tiger Lake variants from Intel and the Ryzen 7 series. I got away impressed.

It didn't dominate Geekbench 5, with the lower single-core score typical of AMD chips and the more competitive multi-core score. It landed in third place in the comparison group, behind the Asus ZenBook 13 UM325UA with an eight-core Ryzen 7 5800U, which dominated, and the MSI Prestige 14 Evo with its four-core Intel Core i7-1185G7. In PCMark 10, the VivoBook Flip 14 took second place behind the ZenBook 13 and did particularly well in the content creation of this test. Accordingly, the Ryzen 5 5500U is competitive with Intel's Core i7 and significantly faster than the Core i5.

The VivoBook Flip 14 was particularly convincing in two particularly compute-intensive apps, Handbrake and Cinebench R23. In the Handbrake test, which encodes a 420 MB video as H.265, the Asus was 31 seconds faster than the Prestige 14 Evo and only seven seconds behind the ZenBook 13. The results in the demanding Cinebench R23 test were similar, where At least in multicore mode, the VivoBook Flip 14 took just second place behind the ZenBook 13 and was significantly faster than the Prestige 14 Evo. And the Ryzen 5 5500U is a real step up from the previous generation, making the VivoBook Flip 14 an impressive budget performer.

As with all current Ryzen laptops we tested, the VivoBook Flip 14 excels in CPU-intensive tasks and will go through the typical productivity workflow. It can handle creative applications too, although its Radeon Graphics doesn't offer much in the way of enhancing applications that the GPU can take advantage of. Of course, this also applies to Intel's integrated Iris Xe graphics. In this comparison group, only the HP Envy 14 with its Nvidia GeForce GTX-1650 Ti brings real added value for these applications. Everywhere else, the VivoBook Flip 14 will do exceptionally well, especially given its $ 630 price tag.

Underdog Bench 5
(Single / multiple)		 Handbrake
(Seconds)		 Cinebench R23
(Single / multiple)		 PCMark 10 3DMark time spy
Asus VivoBook Flip 14
(Ryzen 5 5500U)		 1102/5432 131 1180/7579 5191 1099
MSI Prestige 14 Evo (Core i7-1185G7) 1593/5904 162 1479/6680 4866 1465
Acer Swift 3 2020 (Ryzen7 4700U) 1120/4831 152 N / A N / A 975
HP Envy x360 13 (Ryzen 5 4500U) 1101/4485 176 N / A N / A 902
Asus ZenBook 13 UM325UA
(Ryzen7 5800U)		 1423/6758 124 1171/7824 6034 1342
HP Envy 14 2020 (Core i5-1135G7) 1398/4741 190 1343/5028 5178 3147

One area that won't impress is gaming. The 3DMark Time Spy test result is nothing special, and the VivoBook Flip 14 performed poorly in Fortnite. It only managed 25 frames per second (fps) at 1080p and medium graphics, in line with laptops with Intel Iris Xe graphics. It reached 15 fps in epic graphics, which in turn corresponds to Intel's integrated GPU. Simply put, the VivoBook Flip 14 is not a gaming laptop at any cost.

display

Spend $ 630 on a laptop and you'll be giving up on something. There is usually a big tradeoff in display quality and the VivoBook Flip 14 is no exception.

First, it's not very bright at just 230 nits (we like to see 300 nits or more). This is almost identical to the 233 nits of the Acer Swift 3, and so the VivoBook Flip 14 is not alone among budget laptops with a weak display. The contrast is also poor at 720: 1, below the Swift 3's 770: 1 and well below our preferred threshold of 1000: 1. The Lenovo Yoga 7i 14 performs even worse with 690: 1, which shows that it is not only true budget laptops that suffer from poor contrast.

Next came the VivoBook Flip 14's colors, which were incredibly narrow. The coverage of the Adobe RGB color space was only 50% and the sRGB color space was only 66%. That's well below the 70% and 95%, respectively, that we normally see minimums on mid-range and premium laptops – and the HP Envy x360 13, which is on our top budget list, scored 71% and 96%, which is much better is. I notice that the Swift 3 was in the same class as the Asus at 48% and 64%, respectively. The VivoBook Flip 14's color accuracy was better than the Swift 3's 4.76 at a Delta E of 2.62 (1.0 or less is considered excellent), while the Envy x360 13 got a lower 2.26.

Subjectively, the VivoBook Flip 14's display wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. It's enough for web browsing and productivity apps, but that's about it. Viewing media on the 2-in-1 device was also not a terrible experience despite the poor colors and contrasts.

Two downward facing speakers provide audio with Harman Kardon tuning. The speakers get loud, but also distorted, with crackling at any volume above 80%. Treble was blown out and mids muffled, which resulted in a tinny sound. Of course there was no question of bass. You'll be fine with system sounds and the occasional YouTube videos, but anything else requires headphones or a pair of bluetooth speakers.

Keyboard and touchpad

The keyboard on the VivoBook Flip 14 is eerily reminiscent of HP's Specter keyboard, which is purposely a good choice. It offers good spacing, large keys with attractive and easy-to-read lettering and a number of Home, PgUp, PgDn, End and Fn keys on the far right. Unfortunately, although it looks like a Specter keyboard, it doesn't feel like it. There's a lot of travel and a nice click to the switches, but the ground motion is too abrupt. There's no crisp jump like HP, and the overall typing experience isn't nearly as comfortable. I would rate this keyboard a few steps behind the Specter and Dell XPS keyboards and way behind Apple's Magic Keyboard on the latest MacBooks. I will notice that the three-level backlight is even and useful.

To be clear, the touchpad is way too small. There's still plenty of room on the keyboard deck for a larger version, and the small size is reinforced by the fingerprint reader in the right corner. The touchpad is a Microsoft Precision version, so it works fine with good support for Windows 10 multi-touch gestures, but it's tiny.

The display is of course touch-enabled, as it is a 2-in-1, and an Asus active pen is included. It supports Windows 10 inking well, with smooth strokes and precise response.

The fingerprint reader mentioned above has Windows 10 Hello support for passwordless login. It was quick and accurate during my tests, and it was welcome on such an inexpensive laptop.

Battery life

Asus only put 42 watt hours of battery into the VivoBook Flip 14, which is not much for a 14-inch display even with Full HD resolution and a powerful CPU. I wasn't expecting great battery life.

Starting with our web browser test that ran through a number of popular websites, the VivoBook Flip 14 lasted nine hours. That's a little less than average for this class of machine, but not a terrible result. The Acer Swift 3 managed just eight hours, while the HP Envy x360 13 managed a little over nine hours. In our video test, which plays a Full HD Avengers trailer until the battery runs out, the VivoBook Flip 14 lasted 12 hours, again slightly less than average, but not too much compared to the Swift 3's 10 hours disappointing. The Envy x360 13 beats both with 13 hours.

The VivoBook Flip 14 lasted just over two hours in the PCMark 10 gaming test, which stresses the CPU and GPU, which is average for the test. The Lenovo Yoga 7i managed just over 2.5 hours, and we didn't test the Swift 3 or the Envy x360 13 with this benchmark. In the PCMark 10 Applications test, which is the best indicator of battery life, the VivoBook Flip was again below average with just over nine hours. That still beats the 8.5 hours of the Yoga 7i.

Overall, the VivoBook Flip 14 was only a hair behind the pack in terms of battery life. It will likely take a full working day if you don't put too much stress on the CPU, but it definitely suffers from the small battery. However, this is again a budget laptop, and so the results are pretty good if you keep the price in mind.

Our opinion

The VivoBook Flip 14 is really very fast for a $ 630 laptop. Its build isn't the best, its battery life is slower, and its keyboard isn't one of my favorites. But a laptop that works like this for so little money shouldn't be neglected.

If you have a demanding productivity workflow or occasionally use creative applications, the VivoBook Flip 14 will give you the performance you are looking for. And nothing else is so bad about the laptop that you shouldn't think twice about it.

Are there alternatives?

I'll start with the Asus ZenBook 13 OLED UM325UA. It's not a 2-in-1, but it costs just $ 170 more for a color-accurate OLED display, a faster AMD Ryzen 7 5800U CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB PCIe solid-state drive. If your budget isn't that tight and you don't really need a 2-in-1, then the ZenBook 13 is a great option.

If you need a 2-in-1 and your budget is limited, the HP Envy x360 13 is a solid alternative. It's also a little more expensive, but you get better performance, better battery life, and a better display. What do you dislike?

How long it will take?

The VivoBook Flip 14 isn't the most solid notebook we've tested, but it's not bad for a budget device. It won't withstand extreme abuse, but with normal wear and tear at home and in the office, it should last for several years. You won't be surprised by the one-year limited warranty.

Should you buy it?

Yes, if you don't need a color-accurate display and you are short of money. The outstanding performance of the VivoBook Flip 14 makes up for many of its weaknesses.

Editor's recommendations



04 Mar
Blog

Wyze Bulb Color: The Worthiest Cheap Smart Light Bulb

Wyze Bulb color in lamp green

"It's so good and cheap that you may never return to Philips Hue."

  • Really bright edition

  • The colors are very saturated

  • Doesn't need a bridge

  • Ridiculously cheap

Anyone who has expressed an interest in upgrading to smart LED lightbulbs knows the Philips Hue brand. You could say it's the Apple of smart lighting based on the countless positive reviews of its lightbulbs and the brand loyalty that has been built over the years. However, the light bulbs can be expensive.

Because of this, I've enjoyed some cheaper alternatives over the past few years. Xiaomi's Yeelight picks up only $ 27This is a significant savings over the $ 50 you would pay for a single Philips Hue color changing bulb. Even better were the Sylvania Smart + lamps that I used in my bathroom. A 4-pack is only $ 35.

Now we have another new competitor in the room with the Wyze Bulb Color. After achieving success in a variety of areas of the smart home, Wyze is making a stir in the lighting category with its $ 35 worth of color-changing lightbulbs.

Shining bright

One of the biggest drawbacks of cheaper alternatives, similar to Xiaomi's Yeelight, is that they are typically not that bright. Fortunately, that's not a problem for the Wyze Bulb Color. In fact, there is no comparison in terms of peak brightness when compared to Yeelight and Sylvania Smart + – it is noticeably brighter.

Wyze Bulb paint on the tableJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

This is due to the 1100 lumens of brightness it can produce, making it a 75 watt equivalent lightbulb. For comparison: Sylvania Smart + and Yeelight are 60 watt equivalent light bulbs. If you place the three lamps next to each other, there is no question that the Wyze Bulb Color has the strongest light output. In addition to the colors, this also applies to all temperatures of the daylight colors.

It's cheap but powerful.

And what about the mighty Philips Hue A19 lamp that I've been using for years? Although the differences aren't that big, the Wyze Bulb Color is still lighter – if only with a narrow border.

No bridges are needed here

Ask anyone who has dealt with a wide variety of smart home devices and they will tell you how annoying it is to set up a bridge. In my particular situation, my router only has a few Ethernet ports available to install a bridge. So it's a relief that the Wyze Bulb Color doesn't require one. Instead, connectivity is limited to Wi-Fi.

Wyze Bulb Color Wyze AppJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

Setting up with the Wyze app for Android is child's play. As a result, I had to briefly connect to the bulb's Wi-Fi network before I could automatically connect to my home's Wi-Fi network. The app is pretty straightforward and has controls for brightness, color modes, automation, and scene modes. If you prefer your favorite smart home ecosystem, you'll be happy to know that it has support for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Voice controls work like a charm once they're set up through the Google Home app, so I can group them with other smart lights for room-by-room control.

Wyze Bulb paint on table greenJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

The only flaw with this experience concerns the scene modes that Wyze offers. In contrast to the Philips Hue lamps, the scene modes provided by Wyze are uniform. That means you just set all the lights to the same color – while Philips Hue gives you some interesting color combinations that are more dynamic. Hopefully that will change as things move forward.

Vibrant colors that burst

I was skeptical about saturation, mostly because most of the inexpensive lamps I've used didn't produce enough brightness and saturation to make colors pop. Here, too, the Wyze Bulb Color impressed me with the intensity of its color saturation. Blue and red are especially saturated and vibrant, so even a single lightbulb does a wonderful job of distributing enough saturation evenly wherever it goes.

Our opinion

Wyze's appetite to conquer the smart home never seems to end. The Wyze Bulb Color is a solid competitor in the field of intelligent lighting that dominates everything else in its price range. At $ 35 for a pack of 4, the Wyze Bulb Color is a fantastic way to light up your home without spending a fortune. It's cheap but powerful.

How long it will take?

The design of the Wyze color pear doesn't differ from anything else I've come across. It's mostly plastic, which is a good thing because, unlike traditional incandescent and compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs that use glass, the plastic won't break as easily when the lamp is hit. Life expectancy is 25,000 hours, but there is a 1-year limited warranty that covers defects.

Is there a better alternative?

Not really for the price. Wyze's name in the tech space is growing all the time, so I feel that their products are more reputable than other cheaper alternatives you can probably find online.

Should you buy it?

Yes, it's only $ 35 for a 4-pack. That's cheaper than just buying a single Philips Hue color-changing light for $ 50.

Editor's recommendations




04 Oct
Blog

The Best Cheap Xbox Live Gold Deals for October 2020

Digital Trends can earn a commission when you buy from links on our website.

If you enjoy gaming, you are undoubtedly aware that playing your favorite game online can unlock additional features like multiplayer mode. However, you will need an active Xbox Live Gold subscription on an Xbox 360 or Xbox One to do this. To make your wallet a little lighter, we've scoured the internet and brought the best Xbox Live Gold deals in one place, including Xbox Live Gold 1 Month, Xbox Live Gold 3 Month, and Xbox Live Gold 12 Month Subscriptions.

Today's Best Xbox Live Gold Deals

similar products

What is Xbox Live Gold?

Xbox Live Gold is a subscription membership that is required if you want to play online games on Xbox One or Xbox 360. A regular subscription to Xbox Live Gold costs $ 10 per month or $ 60 per year. Xbox Live Gold also gives members access to additional benefits such as free monthly games and discounts on select digital games.

Whether you're playing solo, with a single friend, or as part of an online cooperative with a group of strangers, you need Xbox Live Gold to do it. Your subscription also gives you access to the party system and voice chat so you can communicate with your cohorts while you play.

Microsoft is offering free games to Xbox Live Gold members every month through the Games with Gold program. These games are only available for a limited time (two weeks or a month) and can be redeemed through the website on your Xbox console. You can then download and keep the game for free. The good news about this feature is that if you renew your subscription you get the game back even though you won't be able to play the game while the subscription is inactive.

If you have an Xbox 360 and you have games that you've redeemed through Games with Gold, you don't have to worry about losing those games if you choose to upgrade to an Xbox One. Microsoft has guaranteed that all Xbox 360 games released through Games with Gold will be playable on Xbox One through Backward Compatibility.

Your Xbox Live Gold membership also includes gold offers that give subscribers exclusive deals on Xbox One and Xbox 360 digital games. The offers change every week and you can view the latest offers on the Offers with Gold website. If you purchase a game through Deals with Gold, you can keep it even if your subscription expires or expires.

It should be noted that Xbox Live Gold is different from Xbox Live Silver (now called Xbox Live Free). The free version has limited features that allow you to create a friends list, profile and gamertag, preview games and stream video content from the Zune network, download games and add-ons from Xbox Live Marketplace Download, send and receive text or voice messages with other Xbox Live users, and make video calls to friends using Video Kinect (if you have a Kinect). The stark difference between the two services other than price is that Xbox Live Free does not allow you to play online.

Is Xbox Live Gold required to play Fortnite?

Fourteen days is one of the most popular games of the last decade. It's free to download and play, but you'll need Xbox Live if you want to do this on an Xbox One or Xbox 360. So, if you don't want to miss out on the hottest online game that everyone is playing, grab one of the Xbox Live Gold deals outlined above.

We strive to help our readers find the best deals on quality products and services, and we carefully and independently choose what we cover. The prices, details and availability of the products and offers in this post are subject to change at any time. Make sure they are still valid before making a purchase.

Digital Trends can earn commissions on products purchased through our links, which supports the work we do for our readers.

Editor's recommendations




01 Oct
Blog

The Best Cheap Apple TV Deals and Sales for October 2020

Apple TV is to an iPhone what a bottle of good wine is to a cheese platter – a match made in heaven. But like a decent bottle of Bordeaux, the Apple TV isn't cheap. These cheap Apple TV deals make things a little easier on the old bank account, however, bringing prices down to just $ 117 for the latest Apple TV HD and just $ 169 for the top-of-the-line Apple Apple 4K.

Apple also offers a free 12-month Apple TV + subscription worth $ 60 for every sale of a factory-sealed (unrefurbished) Apple TV. For those who didn't know, this is the company's own on-demand streaming service that has a unique selection of original movies and shows with big names like Jennifer Anniston, Hailee Steinfeld and Steve Carell.

If you don't see an offer that you like, you may want to wait until Prime Day to see if more Apple Prime Day offers are available.

Today's best Apple TV deals

Apple TV 4K

The Apple TV 4K, released in 2017, is the latest Apple TV in the product range. It's also the most advanced streaming content in 4K Ultra HD with HDR. There are few deals on this model and the discounts are not as high as on previous models. Every now and then, however, an offer will come up with one cheaply centered on your entertainment setup.

More Apple

Of course, Apple TV 4K doesn't just work with Apple TV +. It's compatible with all the common streaming suspects like CBS All Access, HBO Now, Hulu Plus, Netflix, and YouTube. Amazon Prime Video and Google Play Movies as well as TV also work, but not automatically. Instead, they have to be streamed via AirPlay on an iPad, iPhone or Mac.

Apple TV HD (4th generation)

Designed for HDTVs rather than 4K televisions like the Apple TV 4K, the Apple TV is nearly identical to the top-of-the-line console in that it can get and control the same collection of on-demand content, Siri and Siri offers one-click mirroring from an iPad, iPhone or MacBook via AirPlay. The main difference is that only Full HD can be streamed with SDR.

Released along with Apple TV 4K in 2017, this model is the newest non-4K Apple TV. As such, it is rare to find it in the discount container at a significant discount. However, like the Apple TV 4K, every now and then a retailer like Walmart will hold an “Apple TV sale” that drops the price by a few dollars – money better in your pocket than theirs.

Apple TV (3rd generation)

Apple TV 2012 front remote control

Welcome to the reduced zone. Apple TV (3rd generation) was introduced in 2013 and was the first Apple TV that could stream content in Full HD. It can use the same range of streaming services as Apple TV 4K and Apple TV, streaming in Full HD with SDR and supports AirPlay. How is it different from the Apple TV HD? There is no Siri or built-in memory.

If you are shopping on a budget, this is without a doubt the best model. It costs $ 99 new, but it's not uncommon to find a sealed model in the discount container for a range between $ 50 and $ 75. You can even take it home with you for less money if you don't mind a refurbished model (there's absolutely nothing wrong with that – we even recommend it).

Apple TV (2nd generation)

Apple TV 2012 front remote control

It wouldn't be fair to talk about cheap Apple TVs and not talk about Apple TV (2nd generation), the cheapest Apple TV on the shelves right now. It's not hard to see why either: this puppy debuted in 2010. He's still trudging along, however, entertaining millions of people monthly. Here, too, all leading streaming services can be accessed. The catch? The maximum is 720p HD.

But for what it costs if you want to spruce up an HD TV in the basement or bedroom, the Apple TV is it for the job. Fortunately, Apple TV (2nd generation) is a veteran of Apple TV sales. It's impossible to stroll past a bargain basket and not see one there. There are also a ton of refurbished models out there that are worth considering if you are on a tight budget.

Apple TV 4K versus Apple TV HD

If there's a 4K TV in the middle of your entertainment setup, the Apple TV 4K is for you. Why? Because it can stream content in 4K Ultra HD with HDR – either Dolby Vision or HDR10 – and Dolby Atmos Surround Sound. The result is more detailed, more precise colors and lifelike audio. The Apple TV offers maximum HD resolution with SDR (HDTV).

Like the Apple TV HD, the Apple TV 4K also has Siri on board. This is used to do everything from providing recommended content on the home screen to enabling the option to search for specific material for all supported streaming services such as CBS All Access and Netflix with just one voice command. It can even answer questions.

So the main difference between Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD is resolution. If you want to see the latest show or movie on a 4K TV, we recommend going for the more expensive Apple TV 4K. However, that would be too much of a good thing for a standard HDTV setup. So if you rock with it, the Apple TV HD will make you feel right at home.

Now let's throw a wrench into the works. The difference between Full HD and 4K Ultra HD is enormous – and that without HDR. If you are considering upgrading to a 4K TV in the near future, take the Apple TV 4K home with you while it's on sale. It does all of the Apple TV HD's jobs while connected to an HDTV, and has the added benefit of 4K HDR when connected to a 4K TV.

Apple TV HD versus Apple TV (3rd generation)

We're not going to dig too deep into this topic than we touched on earlier, but there's little between Apple TV HD and Apple TV (3rd generation). Both can stream the same selection of content via streaming services such as Netflix in Full HD with SDR. The difference? The Apple TV HD looks a bit more modern, comes with a new remote control and has Siri on board and integrated memory.

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