24 Aug
Blog

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic Review: First-rate Smartwatch

Galaxy Watch 4 Classic on the wrist.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic in the test: A first-class smartwatch

RRP $ 349.99

"The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic is a really powerful smartwatch with comprehensive health monitoring functions, elegant One Watch UI software and a sophisticated, elegant design that feels good on the wrist."

advantages

  • Closed, mature design

  • The rotating bezel is intuitive

  • The One Watch user interface is clear and logical

  • Comprehensive health tracking

  • Choice of style and size

disadvantage

  • The battery doesn't last two full days

  • Wear OS 3 software lacks gloss

  • Too big at night

Has the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic Do you have what it takes to top our list of the best Android smartwatches? After all, its predecessor, the Galaxy Watch 3, has done so since its release, and we have high expectations. The already tough job of the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic is made even harder by the fact that it has to introduce us to a new operating system and inspire us with its hardware at the same time.

A look at the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic shows that Samsung did its job with the design, but what about the new Wear OS 3 software? There's a lot to do here, but don't worry, this is a feature-rich smartwatch that deserves both your attention and your money.

draft

At first glance, the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic doesn't look that different from the Galaxy Watch 3, but upon closer inspection, there are subtle refinements that give the new model a more cohesive, sophisticated, and watch-like style. The stainless steel case itself comes in either 42mm or 46mm sizes, and I wear the 46mm model on my 6.5-inch wrist. Without the strap, it weighs 52 grams.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 classic.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The ribs on the bezel are smaller and denser than on the Galaxy Watch 3, the chronograph markings are more subtle, and the tabs flow more directly out of the case itself. This, along with the strap and buttons, is the biggest design change. The buttons are elongated, flush with the case and therefore less noticeable, but still separated by a button protector for a clean look.

The bracelet changes the watch the most, as the ends match the curve of the case and the flowing lines match the lugs. It works really well, making the bracelet appear like an integral part of the watch case, and the shape prevents it from bending too far in either direction, which makes it sit better on the wrist. Technically, it's a small design change, but an inspired one that really adds to the comfort and looks of the watch. However, if you swap the bracelet for a non-Samsung version, you lose that advantage.

The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic on the wrist shows the buttons.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

At 52 grams, the Watch 4 Classic is quite heavy and you can almost always feel it on your wrist. This prevented me from wearing it overnight for sleep tracking – it was just too noticeable and I found it distracting as I fell asleep. The 42-mm version is not much lighter at 47 grams and both are significantly heavier than the 37-gram aluminum case 44 mm Apple Watch Series 6.

Nevertheless, I don't find the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic tiring during the day and I love the balanced, elegant and unmistakable design.

software

The hardware is great, but the big change in the Watch 4 is the software. Gone is Samsung's Tizen from the Galaxy Watch 3, and the joint Google and Samsung platform called Wear OS 3, or simply Wear, is coming. Tizen has always been the better software compared to the old Wear OS and made the Galaxy Watch 3 our top recommendation for Android smartwatches due to its ease of use, design and reliability. With the new software, the concern for me was how much of Tizen is left or has Wear completely overhauled it?

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic app page.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The good news is that Tizen's superior design and ease of use are preserved through Samsung's One Watch user interface. Wear OS 3 allows businesses to use a custom user interface, which avoids all new watches from looking basically the same. The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic has a rotating bezel that is very helpful when navigating. You rotate it left to show notifications and right to show tiles. Swipe up on the touchscreen to find the app menu and down for quick settings. Then use the bezel to scroll left and right through all of the options that appear. It's fluid, natural, quick, and surprisingly enjoyable. The rotating bezel has a very precise action with nice damping and a decent "notching" feel when rotating.

You should spend a moment digging through the settings to personalize how your watch works, as lift to wake up isn't turned on by default, which means you'll have to tap the screen or rotate the bezel to adjust the display to activate. This is annoying when an app is running and the screen is timing out. An always-on screen can be turned on so that the clock always shows the time. There are many watch faces to choose from, from very simple to very cute, and all of them have custom environment modes.

Galaxy Watch 4 Classic shows off a cute watch face.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

It all feels very similar to Tizen on the Galaxy Watch 3 at first, but Wear uses clearer fonts that combine with the razor-sharp screen – a 1.4-inch 450 x 450-pixel Super AMOLED on the 46 -mm- or a 1.2-inch 396 x 396 pixel Super AMOLED on the 42 mm – makes everything easy to read. I never have to blink at the screen and the font choices are more sophisticated than Tizen's. The most obvious change happens when you swipe up on the screen and find a list of apps that includes the Google Play Store.

Android apps for Wear OS work on the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic as opposed to the Tizen-based Galaxy Watch 3, and that includes Google apps that are missing on old Samsung watches like Google Maps, Google Fit, and Google Pay. Google Pay works normally and you can choose either it or Samsung Pay as the default contactless payment system in the NFC setting. Google Fit works with Samsung Health, but it's not immediately apparent how or if it can be set as the default.

There are times when Wear OS 3 shows it's still in the works, but during my review came a small software update that also showed that Google and Samsung are working on fixing any issues. At first, Google Maps loaded as usual, but whether you could scroll through the map on the screen was unsuccessful, and routes were only displayed in text form. Both issues were fixed after the update. However, some apps are still shaky, with Spotify often timing out, leaving me staring at a rotating progress bar.

Many apps are available through Google Play, including common examples like Spotify and Outlook, but not YouTube Music or Uber. It doesn't seem like the Google Assistant is available either as an app to install or as an onboard alternative to Bixby. Notifications are nice and interactive when they show up, but there is no guarantee of arrival, a problem with the old Wear operating system that has unfortunately carried over to the new Wear. However, notifications are grouped in tiles, properly formatted, easy to read, and when you close one on the watch, it disappears from your phone.

In everyday life, the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic with Wear OS 3 has so far been excellent, although it is an unusual mix of Wear OS and Tizen. You get the good looks and reasonable navigation of the One Watch UI and rotating bezel, plus the frustration of unreliable notifications and apps that don't always work properly from Wear OS, along with lots of duplicate services. Since Wear looks different (when they arrive) on other smartwatches that run the software, much of what works well here may be due to Samsung's One Watch user interface, but we won't know for sure until a challenger arrives in the future.

Health tracking

The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic's health and fitness tracking is comprehensive, detailed, easy to use, and packed with features. The Samsung BioActive sensor is the outstanding new hardware addition to the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. The 3-in-1 sensor contains a bioelectrical impedance sensor (BIA), an electrocardiogram (EKG) and a PPG heart rate sensor, all of which are powered by new software algorithms.

Daily activity screen on the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The BIA provides a body composition measurement that shows weight, muscle, fat mass, body fat, body mass index (BMI), body water and basal metabolic rate (BMR). Data like this has only been found on a few smart scales so far and is helpful in better understanding weight loss and the effects of continued exercise on your body. It takes 15 seconds and all it takes is your weight and height, but it is not suitable for people with pacemakers as it uses a small electrical current to take a measurement.

It's typical of many of the high tech health features of a wearable in that it provides a lot of statistics but no real information about what they mean and what you can do to change them. The dates themselves are very variable and the results will depend on the time of day, the last meal, and much more. It is difficult to determine accuracy this way. It's probably only helpful if you can compare the results to another device with a body composition measurement, and even then you'll have to do your own research to know what to do with the data.

The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic's body composition mode.Measurement of body composition on the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

In order to use the EKG, a separate app must be installed on your phone, which lasts 30 seconds and only reports in the event of atrial fibrillation. The app shows an option to measure blood pressure, but this feature is not active on the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic in the UK. The watch also gives you a stress measurement, an SpO2 blood oxygen monitor, a heart rate and a health tracker for women, plus tiles for manual entry of daily water and food intake.

The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic is a very strong fitness companion, with all the sensors you need.

Workouts start quickly with a tile with Samsung Health, and you can add Google Fit tiles to the watch, along with a convenient overview of your main stats. I've followed various workouts, including those with GPS. The measurements were the same as those I got from an Apple Watch Series 6 connected to an iPhone 12 Pro. The training mode's auto-pause feature stands out for its eagerness and always paused even when I just stopped taking a photo and then resumed when I restarted.

Samsung Health screen and the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Training mode in Samsung Health with the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Detailed exercise statistics in Samsung Health with the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Heart rate mode on the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The Samsung Health app presents its data neatly, and there's enough information for the casual fitness fan, including all of the data gathered from the body composition tests plus heart rate, stress, sleep tracking, step count, and historical workouts -Tracking data. I didn't feel the need to switch from Samsung Health to Google Fit, which suggests it offers a similar level of information and usefulness. The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic is a very powerful fitness companion, with all the sensors you need (and some you probably don't need often), accurate data logging, and a well-presented app.

Performance, battery life and charging

The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic uses the new dual-core processor Samsung Exynos W920 with 1.18 GHz and 1.5 GB RAM. It didn't disappoint, with more than enough power to quickly propel the operating system forward. The WiFi range is quite short, however, and the watch doesn't always keep the connection connected or doesn't activate it automatically, for example when opening Google Play. I had to manually connect to Wi-Fi to start some apps, but this may change with another software update. Bluetooth headphones are easy to use and, provided they are already paired with your phone, the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic does not require a second pairing.

Galaxy Watch 4 Classic's heart rate sensor.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The 46mm Galaxy Watch 4 Classic has a 361 mAh battery inside and lasts two working days with a single recorded workout and active always-on screen after a week of using the watch, assuming you turn it off overnight the end. It doesn't dare to last two full days with the always-on time showing, and certainly not if you're also using sleep tracking and tracking a workout.

There is a power saving mode that is activated when the watch reaches about 10% of the remaining battery capacity. It extends the usage time by a few hours by disabling non-essential features like the always-on screen. Charging is done with an included magnetic charging disc, and it takes about 80 minutes to reach 10% full capacity. The display usefully shows an estimate of how long a full charge will take.

Price and availability

the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic starts at $ 349 in black or silver and will be released on August 27th. The 42mm model is the cheapest, while the 46mm model costs $ 379. Add 4G LTE and the price goes up to $ 399 for the 42mm or $ 429 for the 46mm version. Buy from Samsung's online store and you can customize the watch with different straps.

Our opinion

The Galaxy Watch 3 is hard to follow, and any new operating system will always be difficult to implement perfectly the first time around, but Samsung successfully got around all of the issues and delivered an excellent sequel to the best smartwatch for Android phones from last year. The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic skillfully mixes a smart design with comprehensive health monitoring and offers it not only in two different styles, but also in different sizes. It is absolutely worth your money.

Samsung's use of the One Watch UI is key to the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic's ease of use as the UI is smooth, logical, and fast. The rotating bezel makes the smartwatch fun to use, and the convenience and robustness of the smartwatch make it easy to wear all day. I found it too big to wear overnight and want the battery to be used for two full days, but these are not issues unique to the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic.

Wear OS 3 looks promising, but it's disappointing to still see the old problems of not getting all notifications and not all apps available or always working properly on the watch. It's better than before thanks to the One Watch UI, but still not as reliable or as app-packed as Apple's WatchOS. However, given its novelty, it should not be judged too harshly just yet. Where's the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic? Samsung has definitely made a great successor to the Watch 3.

Is there a better alternative?

If you own an iPhone, the Apple Watch Series 6 or Apple Watch SE are still the smartwatches you should buy. They can be perfectly integrated into your phone while others miss out on certain functions, and WatchOS is built up quickly and logically. Apple Health is great and the battery lasts a few days.

If you have an Android phone, the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic are the only two with the latest Wear OS 3 software, and this can be crucial for quick updates over the next year. Mobvoi's TicWatch Pro 3 and TicWatch E3 are slated to get Wear OS 3 around this time next year, and while both are still good choices today, Samsung's watches are a better choice as you get the new software without the long wait.

It is Samsung that has the Watch 4 Classic's biggest challenger. The Galaxy Watch 4 has the same features and performance as the Watch 4 Classic, with a different design and a touch-sensitive bezel. It's cheaper too, and your preference will likely depend on which design you like better.

How long it will take?

The case of the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic is waterproof to 5ATM and has an IP68 rating and meets the hardness standards MIL-STD-810G. The bracelet of my test model is made of thick rubber and feels very hard-wearing. Wear OS 3 software is now up to date and will likely be ahead of the competition for some time as there are no other smartwatches available with the software yet. There's a 4G LTE option for anyone looking to add cellular connectivity with an eSIM. The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic lasts for at least two years.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. The design and comfort of the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic are top notch, there are tons of health monitoring features, and the performance is excellent. It's a great smartwatch to buy.

Editor's recommendations



03 Jul
Blog

WoW Burning Crusade Classic Review: Great Then, Ok Now

World of Warcraft Burning Crusade Classic Review presented wow

World of Warcraft Burning Crusade Classic Review: True to Its Roots

"Aside from a serious lack of player flexibility, Burning Crusade Classic is a rewarding MMORPG that is high-asking but is careful to tip generously."

  • Great community

  • Robust leveling experience

  • Rewarding RPG elements

  • Lack of helpful mechanics

  • Some design decisions show their age

The opportunity to revisit an iconic MMO like World of Warcraft after witnessing the growth, decline and reinterpretation of its entire genre is not often. So what did I find while playing World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade Classic, an update to a game that once devoured my life as a lost, lonely teenager? The same thing I missed when I moved on: Community. And then I lost it. Again.

World of Warcraft's 2004 pop culture hit introduced players to fierce level grinds, sprawling PvP, and intricate, coordinated raids on bosses hideouts. It was a coming-of-age for the MMORPG genre that got it firmly into the mainstream. The Burning Crusade expansion years later challenged players to do it all all over again in a sprawling new zone with more bosses, bigger backstories, and even bigger weapons. It sounds easy; actually almost unnecessary. But it was exactly what the players wanted more of. And it worked.

A player avatar attacking the Fel Reaver from World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade

Burning Crusade's storytelling methods are basically non-existent in the face of today's modern day MMOs, but the core experience is still a craze. At least it was for the first week or two.

A great start

Burning Crusade Classic begins like it did back then. As it should. The players sprint to the Blasted Lands south of the Eastern Kingdoms and storm wildly through the Dark Portal. The iconic gate was the starting point of Warcraft history in the 1990s, and when you trudge back through it with an army of friends and future allies, it never gets boring. It's just a shame it's so damn hard to stay with them after this lovely moment.

With no server downtime leading to the grand transition from Vanilla WoW to Burning Crusade Classic, Blizzard has really nailed the execution required to expand this gigantic MMO like the grand adventure that it is. Blizzard has had its fair share of disastrous online releases over the decades, but this was not one of them.

Without any problems, we were able to relive the iconic moment when waves of players stormed forward together and their passion for continuing the search that began years ago fueled their foray into the unknown. Hundreds went in, and server sharding – a method of temporarily dividing players among smaller servers – kept the first zone, where we were supposed to spend a dozen hours, from becoming overcrowded.

Blizzard has had its fair share of disastrous online releases over the decades, but this wasn't one of them.

A Tauren player character who rides a mount against the backdrop of the Hellfire Peninsula in Burning Crusade Classic.

Same game, different experience

Although I originally only started playing World of Warcraft when the Wrath of the Lich King expansion was just around the corner, some of my fondest memories come from the 60-70 experience presented here – the struggle to get the Hellfire Peninsula something exploring early at 58, a disdain for the Zangermarsh zone and a growing reverence for the vast green plains of Nagrand.

All of these memories came back as I spent two weeks rediscovering the place I called home as a teenager. The good, the bad and that which arrives differently after years with countless other supposed "WoW killers".

As fantastic as the hype and the structure of walking through the Dark Portal were, the fatal error has shown itself once again. The enemy? Nostalgia.

After the initial onslaught of players making their way through WoW Classic, the few who were late for the party struggled to make it to the top. They were brought in by the hype, but spat out by Blizzard's group-based hardcore game design. And it happens again.

A druid who fights an elemental in Burning Crusade Classic.

Since I've barely gone through half the leveling experience with work and other commitments, it's already become much more difficult to find people in my level who run the 16 hyper-specific dungeons of the expansion. Without them to replenish my experience points, I fight alone and do hundreds of repetitive quests in slightly different locations until I reach level 70.

When I get there, I don't have any social connections that bring me into the group content that players are leveling for in the first place. It's a curse. Those who are lagging behind will be forced to keep falling. And who knows how many will be left to do level 70 content when casual gamers like me catch up.

Create the problem, forget the solution

It's not that leveling is impossible without a few dungeon runs, but it's getting old. And lonely. As time goes on and as the player base continues to thin, we'll think about what could have been done to address the problem.

What World of Warcraft has always done well is delighting players with basic RPG mechanics. Leveling up can take some time, but that "thing" and every kill or search for it always feels rewarding. It can be tedious and unnecessarily time-consuming, but whether it's a new skill here or a rare random item, you'll be constantly fed cake on the way to the frosting.

As much as the classic experience is why we're here, the dual-spec feature from the Wrath of the Lich King below is a quality of life feature that should definitely have been brought forward. It could have made a huge difference without poisoning the well.

Most classes can fill two or all three of the usual roles in a group, but the "talent" system ties them to being viable in only one and makes exchanges increasingly expensive. The dual-spec feature basically gave players a secondary loadout to switch to when needed, which not only offered the ability to change role to a group if needed, but also to change their playstyle to avoid boredom by pressing the same buttons day in and day out.

The system had no drawbacks. It was just respect for a player's time. And when you're playing a class that caters to four different classes at once, it's annoying not to be able to be who my next team has to be.

A cat-shaped tauren druid battles a boar in Burning Crusade Classic.

(/ pullquote) After returning to Burning Crusade Classic, I'm reminded again of the magical modern MMOs that slipped away from me. (/ pullquote)

World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade Classic may lack the hard-hitting story beats of most other games in its class, but the depth of its RPG elements represents old-fashioned values ​​still sorely missed in other MMOs. It's just a shame that some key tweaks haven't been brought forward to address the issues that the inevitably smaller player base is likely to encounter much sooner than the original version.

Our opinion

Whether you fight, craft, or collect, your actions always serve a purpose in the Burning Crusade Classic campaign. Everyone can feel like they are either contributing to their own guilds and groups, or to the server as a whole. Leveling up can feel sluggish at times, but talent points, meaningful equipment upgrades, and a clear endgame goal create an RPG experience that nonetheless makes it an experience that makes it an experience when you have the time, even when it's more demanding than we normally tolerate games like these.

Retail gamers can still see Burning Crusades Outland almost bit by bit without this release, but for veterans of the franchise it will feel like coming home with the title after a decade. As it should. It's just a shame that it doesn't last nearly as long this time.

Is there a better alternative out there?

If you prefer more flexibility in the use of time, Final Fantasy XIV is still a better option. The community is nice and creative, and you can play any role you want and level up in different ways to get there.

How long it will take?

It takes about 18 months for Wrath of the Lich King Classic to inevitably get World of Warcraft Classic back to its peak. Until then, more raids, new gear, and bigger stories will appear in the coming months.

You should buy it

Since it is technically only the price of a World of Warcraft subscription, absolutely. It's incredibly rare to have the opportunity to travel back in time with an ever-changing MMORPG. Experience history. You probably won't get a third chance.

Editor's recommendations



30 May
Blog

Moto 360 Smartwatch Review: A Classic, Reimagined

Moto 360 2020 smartwatch review front

Motorola Moto 360 2nd Gen. Men's 42mm smartwatch, black with black leather

“The Moto 360 exudes style and quality, ignores unnecessary software distractions and focuses on simplicity. It is better in every way. "

  • High quality workmanship and materials

  • Two straps in the box

  • Design and size fit many wrists

  • Solid performance (for WearOS)

  • WearOS still lags behind WatchOS

  • No way to take calls

This is the Moto 360 smartwatch … except that it is not made by Motorola and is not a continuation of the Moto 360 that took the smartwatch world by storm when it was introduced in 2015.

Instead, it is the result of a license agreement between Motorola and a company called eBuyNow that manufactures and sells the new Moto 360.

Although it is important to know, you shouldn't be too concerned with branding. This is a spiritual successor. If you've passed this smartwatch because of the cost, the company has made a very welcome change that will help you appreciate its charm.

design

When I attended the early launch of the Moto 360 in late 2019, the company introduced it as a luxury watch, emphasizing the 3mm thick stainless steel body, the diamond-like coating (DLC) of the black model, and the physical vapor deposition (PVD) coating of the rose gold Model as the reason for charging $ 350. Every watch nerd knows that DLC and PVD can often be found on high-end watches, and every smartwatch fan will also welcome a stainless steel case.

Moto 360 dialAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

Aside from the fact that $ 350 was too much money in the crowded smartwatch market, even with these materials. Now, a few months later, the company seems to be agreeing. The price was lowered to $ 300. This makes it much more tempting.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

I think the Moto 360 is a perfect design, material and style for smartwatches in everyday life. The DLC or PVD coatings make the stainless steel body more durable. The choice between rose gold, black or gray as well as the reasonable size of 42 mm and the weight of 52 grams fit every wrist. The round face, synonymous with the name 360, is flat and the bezel is not raised in any way, making swiping gestures always comfortable.

Moto 360 sideshiftAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

I also appreciate the small stylistic details. The top pusher is structured to facilitate turning and scrolling through the watch's menu system, while the Motorola "wing" symbol on the bracelet clasp is very classy. On the subject of bracelets, you get two in the box – a comfortable silicone bracelet and a leather strap in a contrasting color. The quick release pins mean that they also changed in a moment.

The Moto 360 doesn't make a bold statement on the wrist, except that it looks like a high quality, stylish watch. This is probably the best statement for a smartwatch. When you get the black model, it's as stealthy as you want it to be. I really like it.

Software and screen

There is no notorious flat tire screen here, as the 1.2-inch AMOLED display of the new Moto 360 is perfectly round. The resolution of 390 x 390 pixels ensures a lot of clarity and is bright enough to be seen outdoors in sunlight.

It may be a round screen, but there's a serious black bezel between the display and case, which affects the otherwise great design. I have no problem with the Moto 360's screen, which matches the look, color and brightness of other WearOS watches.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The watch uses Google's WearOS software and is installed here without additional apps. Most fashion brands offer fun extras or small improvements that fit brand messaging, and watch companies like Tag Heuer offer well-designed tools that appeal to brand loyalty. The Moto 360 appeals to those who like simplicity.

Simple is best when it comes to WearOS smartwatches. Adding dozens of features, apps, or related nonsense will only water down what works best on your wrist – notifications, fitness tracking, music controls, cards, and, if done correctly, even calls. Get it right along with the style and it's a potential winner. The lack of extras on the Moto 360 is an advantage rather than a disadvantage.

However, this does not mean that WearOS is a pleasure. Setup is still far too lengthy, and notification support depends on the phone you're using. Connected to a Galaxy S20 Ultra, it delivered annoying notifications several times, while with a little luck it delivered the bare essentials on the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro.

Performance is also not particularly good, especially if you find that trying to update the software or use GPS, third-party apps can be similarly cumbersome to collect data from. I also don't understand why the rotary valve is used to navigate menus because it doesn't work across the clock.

Google Fit is one of the best features in WearOS. A current visual update made Google Fit more modern and readable. Most activities are tracked, and daily goals can be customized based on your needs.

I like the Moto 360 dials because they have different complications, which means I can see my step count or heart points at a glance. It takes seconds to start a workout on the watch itself. As soon as you are finished, the data is clearly displayed in the Google Fit app on your phone. It's everything fitness tracking needs the most, and it also works well with the Moto 360's heart rate sensor.

Although WearOS is still lagging behind Apple's WatchOS, it's tolerable on the Moto 360. Unfortunately, there is still no way to take calls.

Battery, connectivity and performance

WearOS 'performance is not unique. The watch has a Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100 chipset with 1 GB RAM and 8 GB internal storage as well as a 355 mAh battery, which is also equipped with quick charge. It also has NFC for contactless payment, GPS and various sensors. It's identical to watches like the Fossil Gen 5 and fast enough that I was never frustrated to use them.

Moto 360 heart rate sensorAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

The battery lasts an entire working day and well into the evening, but that's all – when continuous heart rate measurement is active. You won't have a second day of it, but since it only takes an hour to recharge, this isn't too much of a problem.

It attaches magnetically to a proprietary charging base that came with the watch, which keeps it securely in place better than most similar systems. This is important as it will not come loose and will no longer be charged when tapped.

I used Moto 360 connected to Android phones and had no problem keeping the watch connected. While WearOS watches connect to iOS, some features don't work. These include the fact that iMessage notifications cannot be displayed, a less helpful Google Assistant and fewer options for interacting directly with notifications on your wrist. This is one of the reasons why we recommend iPhone owners to buy an Apple Watch instead of a Smartwatch with WearOS.

Price, guarantee and availability

The Moto 360 is now priced at $ 299 or £ 299. It is available directly from the Moto 360 online shop or from stores such as Amazon. It is covered by a one-year replacement warranty and a two-year hardware warranty if it should fail.

Our opinion

You will be proud to wear the Moto 360 on your wrist. It is stylish and well made, comes with a selection of straps and WearOS is manageable every day. No frills are required and instead focus on the essentials: good design, desirable materials, a decent ownership experience and a solid battery life.

Is there a better alternative?

The Moto 360 is a good buy if you want a WearOS smartwatch and is complemented by the excellent Fossil Gen 5 for $ 299. Your choice between the two depends on your personal preferences. They are both attractive watches with many functions.

We also recommend checking out the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 for $ 279, which Samsung's Tizen software uses if you have an Android phone and want a smartwatch. Both have strong performance and are a bit easier to use in the case of the Watch Active 2 and have excellent fitness tracking features.

If you have an iPhone, we recommend purchasing an Apple Watch Series 5 for $ 399. Not only do you get better software and great fitness tracking, you get great hardware, a haptic engine that's the best in the business, and access to a huge range of straps and accessories.

How long it will take?

The Moto 360 is made of stainless steel and is available with either a DLC or PVD coating, a plastic floor and Gorilla Glass 3 above the screen and a water resistance of 30 meters. It should be relatively hard-wearing if it is treated well. WearOS receives small, sporadic updates, but has not received a major update for some time. The weakest link here is the battery, but even under heavy use it should be fine for at least two years.

Should you buy one?

Yes. Now that the price has dropped to $ 299, the Moto 360 offers much better value than before.

Editor's recommendations




28 Feb
Blog

Warcraft 3 Reforged Review: The RTS Classic Gets A Stale Update

Warcraft 3 reforged

Warcraft III Reforged Review: A mediocre remaster

"Warcraft III: Reforged is a much-needed remaster that is not entirely complete."

  • Preserve the best parts of the original game

  • Accessibility added in campaign

  • Custom cards are still glowing

  • Detailed new pictures

  • Missing key features

  • Frustrating mistakes

  • Outdated interface

Imagine a world without Warcraft III for a moment. In this reality, nobody uses the game's World Editor tool to create Defense of the Ancients. In return, Valve never acquired the rights to the mod and developed DOTA 2, a game that created the conditions for the modern esport boom. Similarly, the commercial success of Warcraft III World of Warcraft would not have given it an early dynamic. Without a leg up, will the latter become a massive mainstream success that will forever change the industry’s approach to games-as-a-service?

It's impossible to guess the storyline when it comes to hypotheses, but we rarely think about how very old favorites shaped the future of the gaming industry. With this in mind, Warcraft III: Reforged, Blizzard's new remaster of the 18-year-old strategy classic, comes at a fascinating time. Reforged lands in the modern landscape that accidentally shaped the original, giving us a rare moment to think about the legacy of Warcraft III.

While Warcraft III: Reforged isn't the full remake that some fans had hoped for, it's an effective, unfinished remaster that highlights the strengths of the original game with welcome graphical updates.

Relive a classic

Reforged doesn't change anything fundamentally about Warcraft III, and that's its greatest strength. If anything, the new version only reinforces what is so sustainable about the classic strategy. It's a fast paced game in which players have to beat their opponents in an arms race that rewards efficient multitasking and careful planning.

In the game, players collect resources to build structures, win new troops, and receive upgrades to help them fight. It's simple on the surface, but slowly getting more complex as players dive deeper into its hybrid strategy RPG systems.

Reforged doesn't change anything fundamentally about Warcraft III, and that's its greatest strength.

Mastering the game is a tripartite approach. It starts with the game's massive campaign, in which each mission is collected by both Reign of Chaos and the Frozen Throne expansion. The story still serves as an excellent fantasy adventure, but is also a useful tutorial in retrospect. The missions guide players through a number of different scenarios, from wave defense to targeted exploration, and introduce every playable race along the way.

Here you can slowly gather skills and see how the game can be played. Blizzard has skilfully strengthened this idea by making it more accessible in Reforged. Adding a story difficulty level helps shorten the game's learning curve and make it friendlier for new players.

Warcraft 3 reforged

Versus multiplayer remains the core of the game for seasoned fans, and Blizzard is careful not to rock the boat. While the mode offers a number of balance optimizations, the overall flow remains unchanged. It's easy to understand why people still play the game 18 years later. This is a well-matched competitive experience that can take a lifetime to master.

Finally, there's the custom element of the game that allows players to create their own maps and modes through an extremely powerful (and complicated) level editor tool. After almost two decades, custom content still remains the heart and soul of the game. The players pump out wildly different creations that are a joy. At some point, I opened a Star Wars mode and had to laugh when a huge Death Star swept across a chaotic battle scene.

Funnily enough, in addition to the tool, Blizzard has released a new policy for acceptable use that this card is now technically violating. Stricter politics has stirred up the game's community, worried about how this could limit the creative freedom that led to DOTA. It's too early to say whether Reforged has lost the 2002 freewheeling feel, but according to the list of currently available wild maps, it seems that the Blizzard community is not going to let their creativity stand in the way.

Warcraft III is still exactly what you make of it, and that's proof of the robust content suite of the original game, all of which are well preserved here.

A fresh coat of paint

The real selling point of Reforged is its aesthetic updates that modernize the outdated graphics of the original game. Gone are the days of flat textures, which are becoming increasingly difficult to recognize over time. Instead, Reforged's visual style brings the game closer to World of Warcraft and makes it more familiar to new players.

The characters are more detailed and expressive than ever, and even subtle changes bring new life to the game. The Warcraft series is full of personality, and the updated art style only underlines this strength. Falling back on one of the game's classic meta-easter eggs, the little animal explodes in a blood and bone well, leaving a big crack in the ground where it once stood.

Warcraft 3: New Forged

The point of a remaster is not to turn a game completely upside down. It is a matter of healthy game conservation. A good remaster makes players feel like they did when they first played the game, and the recent high-resolution upgrade from Shadow of the Colossus is a prime example of this. The original game was absolutely impressive in 2005, but will feel comparatively boring in 2020. The newer version communicates its early visualization excellently, without indulging in revisionist history to update the core experience.

Reforged takes a similarly effective approach, and it's a change that didn't feel very convincing at first until I switched the game to Classic View and found out how much detail my brain had filled in then.

The Warcraft series is full of personality, and the updated art style only underlines this strength.

The visual upgrade is effective, but it leads to another problem. The user interface feels prehistoric when placed next to the more modern look. So there is a strange tension between modern looks and modern looks.

In addition, story points feel flat due to the lack of dynamic camera work during the cut scenes in the game. Blizzard had originally planned to update them in Reforged, but that was scrapped somewhere along the way.

Warcraft III is fun, but cannot cross the line between a successful remaster and a full remake. The graphics are pimped, but the game's general approach may be too valuable in some places, causing some of the game's less flattering elements to surface.

The almost final edition

While Reforged forms the basis for the ultimate edition of Warcraft III, the current version of the game still feels like beta at times. With most new games, this wouldn't be a big problem. It has become the standard for service-style games to start with a reduced functionality and build slowly over time. Players spend their first months with a new game that learns its systems and finds the loops as improvements occur.

But reforged is a more difficult situation. Not only is it a remaster of an 18 year old game, it is also one that is built right into the 2002 release. This means that the classic edition inherits changes such as balance optimizations to enable cross-play between games, similar to what Blizzard does with Overwatch 2. It's an ambitious strategy that has given Blizzard a shorter grace period than the players you expect from modern games.

Clans, automated tournaments, custom campaigns, ladder functions and more are missing from the current build.

Unfortunately, the release on the first day doesn't quite stand the landing. Reforged has a fair share of errors that vary in size. The successful connection to custom games is a game in itself at the moment. There was an issue on several occasions when I loaded a campaign mission and was directed straight to a defeat screen, forcing me to restart the game.

Warcraft 3 forged again

The stranger thing about Reforged is Blizzard's decision to launch the game without certain features, some of which were available on the very first day of 2002. Clans, automated tournaments, custom campaigns, managerial functions and more are missing in the current build. The release feels particularly premature.

Missing features aren't a deal-breaker for the game in the long run, but they take some of the air out of a triumphant return to the past. A remaster should be an exclamation mark; a ceremonial punctuation mark for the performance of a game. Reforged is more of an ellipse where players have to ask: "and …?"

Instead of having a moment to think about Warcraft III, fans are now focusing on Reforged's shortcomings, which are more distracting than outdated graphics.

Our opinion

The highest praise I can give Reforged is that it is still Warcraft III. The outstanding single player campaign and the strategic multiplayer action are well preserved here. The updated graphics are a welcome addition, replacing the outdated graphics of the original game with an expressive new look.

Unfortunately, the launch version of the game is far from complete, as bugs and important missing features prevent the current build from being the final version of Warcraft III. It'll probably get there sometime, but it's strange that a remaster feels like it starts over and doesn't present an end point.

Is there a better alternative?

I would say classic Warcraft III, but this game has now inherited many of the problems that plague Reforged. At the moment, Starcraft II: Remastered is scratching a similar itch while Blizzard smoothes things out.

How long it will take?

Overall, the campaign will take 30 to 40 hours, but the Versus multiplayer and custom maps make it a truly endless experience spanning 18 years.

Should you buy it

Yes, if you liked the original. It's still one of the best strategy games of all time, though it's still a long way to go before it's a final version of Warcraft III.

Editor's recommendations




26 Feb
Blog

2020 Toyota Prius XLE AWD-e Review: This Classic Hybrid Is Now A Winter Warrior

2020 Toyota Prius XLE AWD-e front three quarters

"The Toyota Prius 2020 is a reliable hybrid, but the competition is catching up."

  • Great gasoline performance

  • Practical packaging

  • Surprisingly, have fun driving

  • Well-coordinated drive train

  • Inconspicuous technology

  • Fussy brake pedal

  • No Android car

The Toyota Prius is the Levi jeans for hybrid cars. Since its introduction in 1997, the Prius has contributed a lot to the spread of hybrids and is often the standard choice. But the Prius is far from the only hybrid that's on sale today.

The competition now offers Prius alternatives to maximize fuel economy. More conventional cars are also available with hybrid drives, including popular Toyota models like RAV4, Corolla, and Camry. Is the car that puts hybrids on the map is still the best choice?

To find out, we spent a week with a 2020 Toyota Prius. While the Prius of the current generation has been around since model year 2016, Toyota has made some significant changes since then, including upgrades to the infotainment system and the addition of additional driver assistance functions.

2020 Toyota Prius XLE AWD-eStephen Edelstein / Digital Trends

Our test car also had the optional all-wheel drive system (called Toyota AWD-e) that was added for the 2019 model year. While a front-wheel drive Prius L Eco is available from $ 25,280, our fully loaded all-wheel drive XLE test car had a sticker price of $ 31,005.

design

The largely unchanged exterior of the Prius since model year 2016 is unusual to say the least. The sinister face, bulbous profile, and bizarre taillights may look like they were accidentally designed, but they're actually the result of a number of conflicting priorities.

Prius second and third generation models had an egg-shaped hatchback shape that was distinctive, aerodynamic, and well suited for interior packaging. But it was also cool. Toyota tried to spice things up a bit for this generation. The Prius is still a hatchback, but looks more like a sedan. In order to make the car appear slimmer, the designers lowered the front end. Unusually shaped headlights and taillights highlight the Prius.

Toyota achieved low drag without affecting the interior.

However, the Prius doesn't look elegant or futuristic, and that's because other factors had to be considered. The designers still had to make the Prius as aerodynamic as possible to maximize fuel consumption. They also had to pack the bulky hybrid powertrain while offering a reasonable amount of passenger and cargo space. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I think the Toyota design team has been pulled in too many different directions.

However, the design fulfills its functional goals. At 0.24, the Prius claims one of the lowest drag coefficients of any production car. That means it can slide through the air like a fish in the water and thus improve mileage.

2020 Toyota Prius XLE AWD-eStephen Edelstein / Digital Trends

Toyota has achieved this without compromising the interior. The Prius has a comparable interior as other special hybrids such as Honda Insight, Hyundai Ioniq and Kia Niro. The Toyota even offers more cargo space than the Kia with a high roof. Behind the steering wheel, I appreciated the Prius' low beltline, which allows for a higher side glass. This improves the view to the outside and gives the cabin an open, airy feeling.

technology

Although Toyota is a leader in hybrid drives, Japan's largest automaker lags behind in other forms of automotive engineering.

At first glance, the interior looks futuristic and different. But once you get behind the wheel, you only get cheap plastic and an overwhelming infotainment system.

As with the Prius Prime plug-in hybrid, Toyota placed the status indicator for the speedometer and hybrid system in the center of the dashboard for no apparent reason. Beneath these displays is a 7.0-inch touchscreen that controls most vehicle functions. The Prime's 11.6-inch screen isn't available on the standard Prius, but that's fine as we didn't see the point of the larger screen while driving the Prime. Toyota can hardly get the 7.0-inch screen to work.

As soon as you get behind the wheel, you only get cheap plastic and an overwhelming infotainment system.

While many Toyota vehicles will receive both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for the 2020 model year, the Prius is only available with CarPlay. Android users get stuck with Toyota's own user interface, which looks dated and reacts slowly. The setup is more complicated than the reduced interfaces in the Hyundai Ioniq and Kia Niro and chunkier than the more complex interface in the Honda Insight. The screen is washed out in the sunlight.

Our test car had a head-up display (part of a $ 800 technology package). The display only shows the current speed, but was easy to read without distracting.

Gas mileage

The infotainment system may be a flop, but Toyota has done it where it matters: under the hood. The Prius not only achieves good mileage, but also offers a comfortable driving experience that does not scare hybrid drivers the first time. The availability of all-wheel drive is an important bonus for car buyers in snowy regions.

The Prius uses a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that is connected to Toyota's well-known Hybrid Synergy Drive system. Typically, an electric motor helps the gasoline engine power the front wheels, but four-wheel drive models add a second motor in the rear. It sends power to the rear wheels without a physical connection to the front wheels.

Toyota has been using a similar setup for its hybrid crossovers for years. With the Prius, all-wheel drive is only used when the on-board computer determines that additional traction is required and only up to 60 km / h. We have not noticed a big difference to previous experiences with Priuses with front-wheel drive (Prii?), Which is not surprising since the all-wheel drive rarely drives normally.

The Prius offers a normal driving experience that doesn't frighten hybrid drivers the first time.

With our without four-wheel drive, the Prius has an output of 121 hp (Toyota does not specify any torque). While hybrid buyers are probably not looking for bragging rights, it's worth noting that the Hyundai Ioniq and Kia Niro both have 139 horsepower, while the Honda Insight has 151 horsepower. The acceleration felt reasonable and we were impressed with the seamless transition between gasoline and electrical energy.

2020 Toyota Prius XLE AWD-e badgeStephen Edelstein / Digital Trends

The Prius is based on the same TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) platform as many other Toyota models, including the Camry and Corolla. TNGA really pays off for the Prius and gives it a feeling of solidity that is normally not found in mass market hybrids.

Toyota also hit the chassis tuning. This car feels really nimble and fun, although numb steering and tires with low rolling resistance prevent it from being really sporty. The ride quality is good, although the suspension can cause unsettling bumps from the cab over broken roads. The brake pedal was also difficult to modulate, as the brakes only bite after the pedal has covered about three quarters of the way to the ground.

Gasoline Champion

The main reason to buy a hybrid is fuel consumption, and this is where the Prius lives up to the hype. Most front-wheel drive Prius models have a total output of 52 mpg (54 mpg city, 50 mpg highway), but the L Eco model together creates 56 mpg (58 mpg city, 53 mpg highway). These are impressive numbers. However, the competition is catching up.

The Hyundai Ioniq is rated at 58 mpg combined (57 mpg city, 59 mpg highway) in efficiency-oriented blue form and 55 mpg combined (55 mpg city, 54 mpg motorway) in other forms. The Honda Insight also comes close to the Prius, combined with 52 mpg (55 mpg city, 49 mpg highway). Even the Corolla Hybrid from Toyota has a total output of 52 mpg (53 mpg city, 52 mpg highway).

Four-wheel drive is associated with a petrol mile penalty. Our test car was rated at 50 mpg combined (52 mpg city, 48 mpg highway). We had an average of 44.5 mpg (according to the car's on-board computer) over most freeway journeys. Four-wheel drive typically reduces fuel efficiency because the additional hardware adds weight and energy is required to drive both sets of wheels.

Nevertheless, this is currently the best scenario for snow-capped fuel misers. The Prius is the only hybrid car in its price range with all-wheel drive. The only alternative is a larger, less aerodynamic Toyota RAV4 or Ford Escape – with much lower fuel consumption.

safety

The 2020 Prius comes standard with the Toyota Safety Sense P (TSS-P), a bundle of driver aids that includes autonomous emergency braking, a lane departure warning, a lane departure warning and adaptive cruise control.

We found the lane departure warning system a little too sensitive. It beeped when we even approached lane markings like a nervous backseat driver. Conversely, the high beam came on only slowly after being immersed in oncoming cars.

Adaptive cruise control worked well, but because Toyota used the control stick of a more basic cruise control system, it was unnecessarily difficult to adjust. The Honda Insight offers a similar level of standard driver assistance technology, and Toyota doesn't have an equivalent to Honda's clever LaneWatch camera system.

The Prius is a top safety pick from the Insurance Institute for Road Safety (IIHS). Due to the "average" score for his headlights and the passenger crash test with small overlaps at the front, he missed the highest rating for Top Safety Pick + plus, but received the best possible score in all other categories. The Prius also received a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

2020 Toyota Prius AWD-e digital displayStephen Edelstein / Digital Trends

Toyota offers a three-year basic warranty of 36,000 miles and a five-year warranty of 60,000 miles for the powertrain. The battery and the components of the hybrid system are guaranteed for eight years and 100,000 miles.

Hyundai and Kia offer longer basic and powertrain warranties, but can't exceed Toyota's battery warranty. Both the Prius and Toyota generally have a reputation for reliability. Priuses have weathered hundreds of thousands of miles of exhausting taxi service in cities around the world, so this hybrid seems to be a pretty good choice when it comes to long-term reliability.

How DT would configure this car

My test car was a fully loaded XLE model, but if I were to spend my own money, I would choose the basic L Eco equipment. This version offers the best mileage of all Prius equipment variants and is also equipped with Apple CarPlay and the TSS-P package with driver aids. The XLE gets leather seats and is available with a head-up display, but I wasn't impressed enough with the execution of these subtleties to pay extra for it.

The L Eco isn't available with all-wheel drive, but the importance of this feature really depends on where you live. When brutal winters are the norm, all-wheel drive is a must. If you live somewhere with mild winters, it is better to drive with the more economical L Eco front-wheel drive.

A good choice, but not the best

The 2020 Toyota Prius is a good car. It is comfortable, practical and keeps the promise of excellent mileage. However, this is no longer the default selection.

With so many other hybrids on the market, the Prius compromises don't have to be accepted. The Honda Insight, Hyundai Ioniq and Kia Niro are all better to drive and not strange to be strange. The Toyota Corolla Hybrid delivers almost the same mileage as the Prius, but in a more conventional package.

Should you get one?

No – at least this is not our first or even second recommendation. The Prius is a trustworthy and reliable choice that is sure to be reliable. However, try the alternatives first.

Editor's recommendations