14 Jul
Blog

Asus ROG Swift PG32UQX Review: A $2,999 HDR Dream Monitor?

Asus ROG Swift PG32UQX

Asus ROG Swift PG32UQX

RRP $ 2,999.00

"The Asus ROG Swift PG32UQX is a brilliant PC gaming device, but its shortcomings are hard to swallow."

advantages

  • Mind-blowing HDR performance

  • Extremely high peak brightness

  • Excellent colors

  • Built-in thread for camera mounting

  • Fast, fluid play

disadvantage

  • No HDMI 2.1

  • Has audible fan

  • Still not a perfect HDR experience

  • Expensive

The ROG Swift PG32UQX was first teased about two years ago, and unlike any gaming monitor in recent history, it has hyped the PC gaming community. You will find forum threads full of excitement. And for a good reason.

According to Asus, the ROG Swift PG32UQX offers overwhelming HDR performance unlike any other monitor currently on the market. In addition, it was the first 32-inch 4K gaming monitor based on mini-LED technology with full-array local dimming (FALD) for HDR lighting with 1,152 individual zones and a peak brightness of up to 1,400 nits.

The catch, of course, was the price. $ 2,999 is more than most complete PC gaming setups, including the PC, monitor, and peripherals. Therefore, it is only realistic to expect absolute and absolute perfection. The ROG Swift PG32UQX does a lot of things amazingly well, but it's not perfect.

design

Asus ROG Swift PG32UQXNiels Broekhuijsen / Digital Trends

The ROG Swift PG32UQX is quite a large monitor. That's what is expected from a 32-inch display, but the PG32UQX is slightly larger than most 32-inch panels because of its FALD lighting panel, which gives the display a noticeable thickness.

The design style is also quite aggressive, whereby Asus does not shy away from any chance that the PG32UQX is recognized as a Republic of Gamers product. The stand of the monitor has the new but classic tripod design with a downward-facing lighting stamp, the back of the display has strong shapes and a huge, RGB-illuminated Asus ROG logo, and the display's large chin has a small OLED panel in it to display entertaining graphics or system information, such as B. CPU temperature.

Niels Broekhuijsen / Digital Trends

Indeed, there is a lot to discover here. However, if styling isn't your thing, it's easy to slide the back of the monitor toward a wall, replace the stand with a VESA mount, and then that's all that's left of the display's chin, which may look a bit aggressive .

The tiny OLED display is pretty nifty though – I doubt anyone will mind, especially because it's customizable.

Asus ROG Swift PG32UQX

Asus ROG Swift PG32UQX

The display's power brick is external, which I think is a good thing because otherwise the PG32UQX would have been even bigger, and there is a thread on top of the monitor for inserting a camera mount – I've tried and this monitor will happily hold mine mirrorless camera with a large lens. Streamer, do you get this?

At the top right there is even a USB port to which you can connect your webcam or camera without having to fumble around behind the monitor.

Connections and controls

Niels Broekhuijsen / Digital Trends

The ROG Swift PG32UQX offers a variety of connectivity options, but it is not complete. There are three HDMI 2.0 ports, a single DisplayPort 1.4a port, a three-port USB hub, and a headphone jack.

But HDMI 2.1 is actually missing, and that's a big one. HDMI 2.1 is now the standard for multimedia connectivity, with all 2020 and 2021 GPUs and consoles having the interface. Without them, your Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5 can't run at 4K 120Hz with full color support, and that's unacceptable for a high-end 4K monitor in 2021 – especially one that costs $ 3,000. Most new gaming laptops even ship with support for HDMI 2.1.

HDMI 2.1 is missing, and that's unacceptable for a high-end 4K monitor in 2021.

There is an opposite side to this argument, namely that there are hardly any PC monitors with HDMI 2.1 at all. That, and the official Nvidia G-Sync module has not yet been developed to support HDMI 2.1. Still, I find it inexcusable on a monitor of this price and caliber. If you want to use the PG32UQX with a modern console, keep in mind that you are limited to 60Hz or have to sacrifice color: you will never have the best experience.

The display's OSD has somewhat weird controls with a spinning wheel in the center and a button on each side, but it's easy to navigate and most of the settings you need are there.

Asus ROG Swift PG32UQXNiels Broekhuijsen / Digital Trends

However, there is no brightness control in HDR mode, which is a problem. One can argue whether this matters as the brightness in HDR is supposed to be controlled by the PC and not the monitor, but I still prefer to see some kind of brightness control at all so that the basic brightness for the room is set to a comfortable level can be level.

There is a fan

Before packing up, there is one more drawback worth mentioning: the display has a fan. It turns on the moment the display does, and even though it's not loud, it's audible. This isn't a problem if you're using headphones or playing soft music, but it can be annoying if you enjoy a quiet room and have an otherwise quiet computer.

Mini LED and HDR

If there's a reason to buy the PG32UQX, it's mini LED and its HDR performance. I'll start with the good things: when using the right HDR content, the visual results the PG32UQX can produce are simply amazing. As if the monitor wasn't worth the price all the time, suddenly it was, almost.

LCD panels cannot block all of the light even when they are black, so the ability to dim selected areas (HDR on PC monitors, explained) is necessary to achieve full black levels. By dimming selected areas, the display can also increase the peak brightness in a small area without overly illuminating the entire display. Most PC monitors are edge-lit, with a lamp illuminating the entire display. On "better" HDR monitors, this edge lighting is divided into at least eight zones that illuminate selected columns of the display as required.

As you can imagine, this illuminated pillar effect is undesirable, which is why manufacturers are experimenting with mini-LEDs: a lighting technology that does not illuminate the edge of the display, but rather an array with a large number of individually controllable LEDs placed directly behind the board. This lighting technology is called Full-Array Local Dimming (FALD), and in the case of the PG32UQX these are 1152 zones, which offers complex local dimming control.

In a certain way, FALD actually eliminates the major disadvantages of IPS panels: Backlight bleeding and IPS glow are no longer a problem, since the affected area is simply not illuminated when the display is black. The static contrast ratio is also no longer so relevant, since the area would simply not be illuminated if a black image was displayed.

Asus ROG Swift PG32UQXNiels Broekhuijsen / Digital Trends

Individual zones can reach a brightness of up to 1,400 nits when displaying highlights, and although I couldn't test that number due to the limitations of my tester, I'll use Asus & # 39; Word on it: Bright lights, sun, fire and others The lights really shot from the screen in almost breathtaking brightness, which was really a sight when an area to the left of this object was completely dark and showed an inky black night sky.

This kind of realistic brightness control is exactly what HDR is all about, and the PG32UQX does more than just deliver. The PG32UQX is a pleasure especially in games with higher frame rates and activated G-Sync. It's not the fastest panel, but it's a lot fast for non-competitive gameplay.

Launch a game that does HDR right and you will be in for a spectacle.

But the technology is not perfect. The IPS panel is only capable of blocking that much light, and although 1,152 zones are orders of magnitude superior to an 8-zone edge-lit display (which barely feels like HDR after the PG32UQX), they're still visible zones, in particular on darker scenes. Simple desktop use is the worst culprit for this – take a black or dark background and hover your mouse over it: you'll see a circular halo of blue light nervously walking around the mouse as it jumps between zones. Or take a white dialog box on a dark background, the edges of which have a strange yellow sheen. This effect can get used to, but it is difficult to ignore and is always reminded of how imperfect the technique is.

However, desktop use is not a really fair test, as individual elements are often much too small for the zones. It doesn't take into account the higher peak brightness levels, and Microsoft's HDR implementation has yet to be refined. However, the halo effect is far less pronounced in dynamic content such as games, movies, or TV shows. This is because individual bright elements are often larger, but also because there is simply a lot more movement going on on the screen.

Launch a game that does HDR right, go into the settings and properly calibrate the maximum darkness and maximum brightness so that the game engine properly addresses the monitor's HDR brightness sensitivity and you will be in for a spectacle. Trust me, you will forget about the halo effect in games and videos.

picture quality

Thanks to its IPS panel, the PG32UQX has great color performance, which, coupled with the 4K resolution at the 32-inch size, make it a dream as an editing display, especially if you are producing HDR content.

We tested the monitor in SDR mode because our tester does not support HDR and the color performance of the panel is impressive. At the beginning of the test, I came across sRGB color clamping, which set color coverage at a perfect 100% of sRGB, which is a much appreciated feature: unclamped sRGB colors can often look oversaturated on monitors with wide color gamut, so it's nice to be around to see the inclusion of this limiter.

When the terminal is switched off, the panel covered a decent 100% of the AdobeRGB and 97% of the DCI-P3 color space, with a Delta-E (difference to the real value) of 1.77 for the color accuracy. Any Delta E below 2 is considered good enough for professional work. The calibration of the display did not bring any notable improvements, but the performance out of the box is quite good.

Gamma performance was perfect too, although I wasn't impressed with the panel's native static contrast ratio. While IPS panels, especially flat samples, generally achieve a result of around 1000: 1, the best recorded contrast ratio I got when testing this sample was 810: 1, which is what I would expect from a curved IPS panel, that occurs due to a bit more bleeding to the print. But that's a flat screen.

Asus ROG Swift PG32UQXNiels Broekhuijsen / Digital Trends

However, this was tested without HDR and switched off the variable backlighting of the panel. We test in this way to properly assess the panel's native contrast ratio without automatic backlight changes affecting the result. With the variable backlight on, the contrast ratio was much better, producing really deep blacks even in SDR mode – and I think most users of this monitor will want to keep the variable backlight on. The only exception would be for color-critical work, as dimmed backlighting causes color shifts in the adjacent areas.

This begs the question of how important it really is that the panel's contrast performance isn't great, which is a difficult question to answer. On the one hand, it shouldn't matter with this type of backlighting, but a panel with a better static contrast performance would block the light better and thus counteract the haloing of the PG32UQX better.

Keep in mind that contrast performance varies widely from sample to sample, and since I have a feeling that this sample performs at the lower end of the spectrum while other reports indicate much higher contrast ratios, you are likely to be luckier.

How about OLED as an alternative?

If you're looking for the perfect HDR experience that doesn't halo under any circumstances, you're probably thinking of something like, "How about just getting an OLED panel instead?" And I wouldn't blame you for this. In fact, that's a good idea, but OLED panels have their own dangers.

The attraction would be that each pixel is its own light source. One pixel could be illuminated with peak brightness and the ones directly next to it pitch black. No halo, just pure and perfect brightness control over the entire panel. HDR would look great on the Windows desktop and in all movies and games without sacrificing visual quality.

But there are a few catches. First and foremost, there are no OLED PC gaming monitors, and the smallest OLED TVs are around 48 inches diagonal right now. This is a little too big to be used on a desk as a PC monitor, especially without a bulge. They're all shiny too, burn-in is a potential risk, especially with the amount of static content that affects PC desktop usage, and to reduce burn-in, peak brightness is also limited so you never quite get the "I have to" get look the other way because it's so bright "dive in."

Ultimately, the choice between mini-LED and OLED is a concession: which one you will tolerate and which one you will not. However, if you're wondering whether to get the PG32UQX or a content-consuming OLED TV, then the PG32UQX is probably not for you – an OLED TV might not last as long, but it costs less than half – and so do I. I'll bet the PG32UQX depreciates in value faster than an OLED reaches $ 0 in value.

Our opinion

The Asus ROG Swift PG32UQX is an amazing device. With an array of 1,152 mini-LED lighting zones, it creates an HDR experience that cannot be compared with any other PC monitor currently available on the market. There aren't many 32-inch 4K gaming monitors on the market anyway, so sitting in front of one that is not only this size but also has FALD lighting is like sitting in front of a unicorn. At least at this point, the PG32UQX offers the most breathtaking HDR performance available on a PC without relying on an OLED TV.

The PG32UQX is at the forefront of what PC monitor technology can do these days, and if you're looking for an HDR spectacle for your desk, it's the tool for the job. But like any cutting edge technology, it's far from perfect and in that regard the PG32UQX feels a bit like a prototype: there's no HDMI 2.1 so it's not exactly future proof and I feel the mini LED tech as it looks well now, will soon be out of date due to new developments. Add to that the usual panel performance lottery, no basic HDR brightness controls, and an annoying fan, and it quickly becomes a very difficult proposition to spend $ 2,999 on a monitor.

Are there alternatives?

No. There are currently no other PC monitors that offer fast 4K gaming performance paired with FALD and this color performance. Your other best choice is an OLED TV like LG's 48-inch C1 model, but it comes with its own tradeoffs, assuming you have enough desk space at all.

How long it will take?

From a functional point of view, I don't see any reason why the ROG Swift PG32UQX couldn't last for at least five years. But between the lack of HDMI 2.1 and the rapidly evolving alternative display technologies, you'll likely itch to replace it long before it breaks, especially if you're someone who loves to be at the forefront of technology.

Should I buy it?

For most players, no. It has a few weaknesses that are guaranteed to be a deal breaker for large groups of buyers, especially at this price point.

If you have deep pockets and just want the best HDR gaming monitor you can buy right now, then the ROG Swift PG32UQX is as good as it gets. But for most of us it's like an exotic sports car: I want to rent it just to experience it, but I don't want to own it.

Editor's recommendations



04 Jul
Blog

HP Elite Dragonfly Max Review: A Video Dream Machine

HP Elite Dragonfly Max Test 12

"The HP Elite Dragonfly Max is a beautiful 2-in-1 device for the business traveler on the go."

  • Excellent workmanship

  • Thin and light

  • Excellent keyboard and touchpad

  • Effective privacy protection

  • A number of valuable business functions

  • Overwhelming CPU performance

  • Expensive

The HP Elite Dragonfly has never been your average business laptop. The name alone suggests that this is not a ThinkPad clone. A unique design made the original Elite Dragonfly a fantastic 2-in-1 device for business people who didn't want to sacrifice design for business functions.

HP updated the machine to G2 in 2020 and then to the latest 11th generation Intel Tiger Lake CPUs in 2021. But now we have a specialized version, the Elite Dragonfly Max, which shares the same basic design and functionality as the G2, but with improved video conferencing capabilities – notably an improved webcam and an additional, outward-facing microphone.

I have a test configuration of the Elite Dragonfly Max with an Intel Core i7-1185G7 with vPro, 16 GB RAM, a 512 GB PCIe solid-state drive (SSD), HP's Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) Sure View Reflect- Privacy protection and 5G WWAN support. The configuration costs $ 2,792, a very steep price tag that is – once again – aimed at a specific type of business user. Does the Max offer added value compared to the G2?

design

In test mode, the HP Elite Dragonfly folds up as a 2-in-1.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

What stands out most about the design of the Elite Dragonfly Max is the attention to detail. HP has obviously put a lot of thought into making a laptop that not only meets the typical needs of business users, but also some things that many people may not have thought of. Consider the "cleanability" of the laptop. Not only can you clean and disinfect the laptop with regular household towels – up to 1,000 cycles – but HP has also developed a simple HP Easy Clean utility that turns off the touchscreen, keyboard and touchpad, so you can clean the device without pressing any keys and touched.

Then there are the "Context Aware" technologies from HP, of which there are two variants. The first, in-bag / out-of-bag detection, has been implemented on a few other HP laptops – the HP Specter x360 14, for example, and just like it sounds, it can detect when you put your laptop in a Put a bag or a backpack. When this condition is detected, the laptop will go to sleep to make sure it doesn't turn on. Then if you remove it and place it on a flat surface, the laptop will wake up and be up and running much faster.

The second contextual function is On Lap / On Table Detection, which can detect when you are using the laptop on a desktop machine temperature around 5 degrees Celsius.

The Elite Dragonfly Max is an incredibly well-designed laptop in the most important aspects.

But no fear. HP did not spend all of its resources on unusual features. The Elite Dragonfly Max is also an incredibly well-designed laptop in the most important aspects. It's made from a magnesium alloy, which gives it a solid construction that is compromised by just a tiny flex of the lid. The keyboard deck and underside of the case are strong and rigid, and the laptop has been tested to military specifications. If the Elite Dragonfly Max isn't in the same class as the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano, the ThinkPad X13 Yoga 2-in-1, or the Dell XPS 13, then it's damn close. Hold it in your hand – and toggle it between the four modes of clamshell, tent, media, and tablet – and you get a real feeling of solid quality.

The Elite Dragonfly Max is also a thin and light laptop. It's 0.63 inches thick and 2.49 pounds, and ranges from the 0.67 inches and 1.99 pounds of the ThinkPad X1 Nano to the 0.58 inches and 2.8 pounds of the XPS 13. The ThinkPad X13 Yoga has it the same thickness but weighs a little more at 2.76 pounds. There aren't many 13-inch 2-in-1s in the business class, and so our direct comparison group is slim.

The Elite Dragonfly Max would benefit from smaller top and bottom bezels that would make for a smaller case and a more modern look. There is a reason for the thicker top bezel, however – HP needed space to fit into the higher resolution webcam. Speaking of looks, the Elite Dragonfly Max is designed conservatively, with clean lines and simple angles, but enough accents not to get boring. The hinges are the most elaborate design element; they do not protrude, but subtly enhance the overall look of the notebook. The Max version of the laptop is available in Brilliant Black instead of the blue of the G2 and looks good.

The ports of the HP Elite Dragonfly Max.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Connectivity is also a strength. On the left there is a USB-A-3.1 port, a nano lock slot and a nano SIM slot. On the right side you'll find a full-sized HDMI 2.0 port, a 3.5mm audio jack, and two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 support (one of which is used for charging). Wireless connectivity includes Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5, and either LTE 4G or 5G wireless WAN (WWAN) support is optional.

Speaking of the latter, my test device was equipped with 5G and came with an AT&T SIM card. I tested 5G connectivity at my home, and while both the laptop and AT & T's coverage map indicated I was getting a 5G connection, my download speed was around 70 megabits per second (Mbps). When I tested the Lenovo Flex 5G with Verizon's Ultra-Wideband 5G (the HP is limited to Sub6 5G), I saw almost 500Mbps. I haven't had a chance to drive around town looking for a faster AT&T 5G connection, but I'm sure it's possible to see faster speeds than I've experienced.

Security and privacy

HP Elite Dragonfly Max touchpad, keyboard and fingerprint reader.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

HP has carried over the various security and privacy features that we loved so much into the original Elite Dragonfly. It offers optional vPro support so that large companies can integrate the laptop into their management systems. It also features HP Sure Start, which features a security controller built right into the motherboard, providing an isolated and encrypted physical layer of protection for the BIOS and the boot process. As stated with the original model, the Elite Dragonfly Max outperforms most other business-class laptops in terms of the sheer number of business-oriented features, including Lenovo's ThinkPad range.

You can also find two ways to log in without a password – facial recognition via infrared cameras and a fingerprint reader on the top right of the palm rest. Both work quickly and reliably. There's a physical webcam cover for more privacy that displays an overlay to make it visible when it's activated, and a keyboard button turns the microphone off.

Finally, the Elite Dragonfly Max (and note that the G2 version has all of these features, too) has built-in tile support. The new models are different from the original, where the tile module was plugged into the same M.2 port as the WWAN, so it was either tile or always-on connectivity and not both. Tile is now built into the motherboard so you can now use the Tile system to locate your laptop if you leave it behind or if it is stolen and still enjoy 4G LTE or 5G support.

performance

The HP Elite Dragonfly is folded on its back.

The Elite Dragonfly Max I tested is equipped with an 11th generation Intel Core i7-1185G7 CPU with vPro support. This makes it an excellent choice for large organizations that use vPro for remote management and support. Although the laptop was equipped with a slightly faster version of the Tiger Lake Core i7, I suspected that the thin case could limit performance as the thermals need more careful control.

I was right. The Elite Dragonfly Max didn't do particularly well, but it was a bit disappointing compared to the competition.

The Elite Dragonfly Max felt very fast on typical productivity tasks.

In Geekbench 5, for example, the Elite Dragonfly Max came last in our comparison group. The difference wasn't pronounced when compared to the other Intel Tiger Lake laptops – the AMD Ryzen 7 5800U-based Asus ZenBook 13 OLED dominated all CPU-intensive benchmarks – but it was disappointing that the HP fell so low. In our Handbrake test, which encodes a 420MB video as H.265, the Elite Dragonfly Max again came last, and the difference was bigger than the HP Specter x360 14 (which was much faster in performance mode). The same was true for Cinebench R23, where the two HP laptops were close together and behind the rest of the pack (although the Specter x360 14 was much faster in performance mode).

I also tested the Elite Dragonfly Max using PCMark 10 where – you guessed it – it performed in line with the Specter x360 14 and slower than the rest of the field. However, the delta was lower in this test, except for the Asus ZenBook 13 OLED. Looking at the individual components of the PCMark 10 test, the Elite Dragonfly Max scores well in the Essentials section (web browsing, video conferencing, etc.), but falls behind in productivity and content creation.

In actual use, the Elite Dragonfly Max felt very fast on typical productivity tasks. And in fact, it's by no means a slow laptop. It just doesn't compare to its similarly configured competition.

Geekbench (single / multiple) Handbrake (seconds) Cinebench R23 (single / multiple) PCMark 10 3DMark time spy
HP Elite Dragonfly Max
(Core i7-1185G7)		 1570/5297 252 1385/3604 4724 1468
Asus ZenBook 13 OLED
(AMD-Ryzen7 5800U)		 1423/6758 124 1171/7824 6034 1342
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
Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 (Core i7-1185G7) 1532/5415 207 1435/4409 4800 1648

It's not much of a gaming laptop either. It does well in the 3DMark Time Spy test and beats some of the devices in the comparison group.

But in Fortnite it fell back again, only reaching 22 frames per second (fps) in 1080p and high graphics, which is a few fps behind the typical Tiger Lake laptop with the same Intel Iris Xe graphics. In epic settings it fell to 18 fps, again a few fps below the Tiger Lake average.

Display and audio

The HP Elite Dragonfly Max's 1080p screen.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The Elite Dragonfly Max has a display option, the Sure View Reflect privacy screen from HP with full HD resolution (1,920 x 1,080) and an old-school aspect ratio of 16: 9. That's compared to the G2 version, which offers standard IPS Full HD and 4K options. This is an unusual ad that has two distinct personalities.

With privacy mode turned off, the display is incredibly bright at 1,000 nits. My test device "only" returned 417 nits, which is great, but I should see around 758 nits after HP tests a second device they sent because of the discrepancy. There seems to be something about the display technology that makes our usual colorimeter tests difficult, and as I tried, I couldn't get this brightness. The contrast was excellent at 1,380: 1 (anything above 1,000: 1 is very good) and black text appeared on a white background. Combined with the excellent keyboard, this is a great laptop for a writer. Plus, with its 458 nits of brightness and 1350: 1 contrast, the display does well with the Dell XPS 13 Full HD display, and it was brighter than the Specter x360 14's OLED display, which came in at 374 nits, however Was not comparable to the Specter's 374,200: 1 aspect ratio (that's OLED for you).

It's fine for an individual to use, but not a great screen to share.

The colors were average for premium productivity laptops, which means they were good but not the level creative types are looking for. The AdobeRGB coverage was 74% and the sRGB coverage was 97%, which are good values, but again not as broad as creatives would like. The colors were reasonably accurate with a Delta E of 2.49 (1.0 or less is considered excellent). The XPS 13 had 75% AdobeRGB and 98% sRGB coverage and an accuracy of 1.36, while the Specter x360 14 had very wide colors at 96% AdobeRGB and 100% sRGB with a color accuracy of 0.69.

Overall, the display in standard mode is great for productivity and media consumption. The only negative is that the viewing angles are a bit narrow. Look from any angle other than straight ahead and the display will darken and lose fidelity. It's fine for an individual to use, but not a great screen to share.

Turn on privacy mode and everything will change. The brightness drops sharply – my colorimeter wasn't able to accurately measure the display in private mode – and while it's still usable, it won't overcome bright skylights. The colors stay decent, the accuracy seems good, and the contrast doesn't seem to let up much. It's still a good productivity display, but that's not its calling card. More importantly, it works perfectly as a privacy screen and is completely grayed out when you move away from direct view. For example, if you sit in the middle seat on an airplane, your screen will be completely illegible to those to your left and right.

I'm working on solving the brightness issue in standard mode, but it's not a big deal. This is a great display for both standard productivity work in any setting and for your work in relative privacy.

The upward-facing speakers on the HP Elite Dragonfly Max.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The audio quality is excellent thanks to four speakers tuned by Bang & Olufsen, two upward-facing speakers on each side of the keyboard and two downward-facing speakers on the bottom of the case. Each speaker is powered by its own dedicated intelligent amplifier. HP is promoting the laptop's bass, which is a valid boast – not only was the volume very loud and undistorted, with crisp and crisp mids and highs, but there was a noticeable hint of bass too.

These are excellent speakers for such a small laptop, and while they can't compete with the great audio on the MacBook Pro, they do better than most Windows 10 laptops. You can use them for most of your listening, including the noise of Netflix and listening to music. Headphones are optional.

Video conferencing

The 5 megapixel webcam of the HP Elite Dragonfly Max.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Where the Max version differs from the G2 version are the video conferencing functions. This starts with the webcam, which is not your typical, low-quality 720p laptop webcam that has nothing special to write about. This is a 5 megapixel webcam with a larger sensor, auto exposure for faces, and careful tuning for maximum performance. My house is in the process of being renovated so I don't have an attractive background to show off the quality of the camera. Still, it's noticeably improved over the previous model and the other laptops I have lying around. HP tested the webcam with several competitors and across the board achieved higher texture quality, better color accuracy, and more even colors in an image.

In terms of resolution, it's even better than the 1080p webcams that come out like those on some newer ThinkPads. The Elite Dragonfly Max can handle videos up to 1440p, using 4.15 MP of the available 5 MP.

The Max version also increases the G2's three microphones to four, with two facing forward and two facing the world. Artificial intelligence based noise cancellation is used to suppress background noise and improve the overall sound quality.

Simply put, the Elite Dragonfly Max is the dream video conferencing laptop that offers better pictures and sounds for more effective communication. If you work remotely and need the best video conferencing performance, this laptop should be on your shortlist.

Keyboard and touchpad

The HP Elite Dragonfly Max has an excellent keyboard.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

HP makes great keyboards. The Specter range, for example, has had my favorite keyboard on Windows 10 laptops for a while. The Elite line has followed closely, and now the Elite Dragonfly Max and G2 have a new and even better version.

First off, the keyboard is solid. that is, it is consistent across all keys. This is unusual and makes typing more efficient and less tiring because your fingers don't feel any different when they fly across the keyboard. The switches are firm, but not too tight, and provide just the right amount of feedback with a bouncy bottom motion that makes each key very precise. Although the laptop is small, I found the key spacing to be ample and the keycaps to be a comfortable size. I type faster and more accurately on this keyboard than any other I've used – with the exception of Apple's Magic Keyboard on the latest MacBooks. And I would say the Elite Dragonfly Max keyboard is right there with the excellent version from Apple.

The touchpad is as big as the frame size and the 16: 9 aspect ratio display (bigger displays have got bigger touchpads lately thanks to the extra vertical space), and it's extremely comfortable to use. The clicks are subtle and quiet, with a high quality feel. Of course, it's a Microsoft Precision touchpad, so multitouch gestures are safe and precise. Aside from its size, this touchpad rivals those of the Dell XPS 13 and HP Specter x360 14 which are excellent.

The display is of course touch-enabled and reacts as usual. It supports HP's Wacom AES 2.0 active pen with 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, tilt support and USB-C charging. One was not bundled with my review unit – it's a $ 74 option – so unfortunately I couldn't test it that way.

Battery life

The 360-degree hinge of the HP Elite Dragonfly Max.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The Elite Dragonfly Max comes with a 56 watt-hour battery and a full HD display (but with two modes, which I'll go into in a moment). I was expecting battery life to be a strength, as was the case with the original version.

As it turned out, the battery life wasn't quite up to the same standards. While the first generation Elite Dragonfly reached 10.5 hours in our web browsing test, the Max reached 9.75 hours. Well, anything close to 10 hours on this test should be considered a good score, but more laptops recently have hit this number and beyond. The Elite Dragonfly Max score is now more average than outstanding, and while it promises a full business day of battery life, some other newer laptops are stronger. For example, the HP Envy 14 managed over 12.5 hours, while the Asus ZenBook 13 OLED managed a very strong 15.75 hours. The Dell XPS 13 Full HD was not as competitive with only 8.5 hours, while the HP Specter x360 14 with its power-hungry OLED display only lasted 6.95 hours.

In our video test replaying a 1080p movie trailer, the Elite Dragonfly Max achieved 13.5 hours, which is a decent result, but not much better than average. The Envy 14 lasted almost an hour longer and the ZenBook 13 OLED reached 15.5 hours, while the XPS 13 lagged behind with 12 hours and the Specter x360 14 came last in this group with just over 10 hours.

I ran the PCMark 10 gaming test to see how the laptop performed under load on the CPU and GPU and it lasted 4.9 hours, which is almost the longest we've seen. Only the LG Gram 16 lasted longer, by just seven minutes. Of course, this probably indicates that the Elite Dragonfly Max isn't really trying to put itself under extreme strain on battery power – something to keep in mind when working without a power outlet. Finally, I ran the PCMark 10 application test, which is the best indicator of productivity on battery life, and the Elite Dragonfly Max lasted a little over 11 hours. That's a strong result in the top tier of the limited number of laptops we tested.

Interestingly, the battery life is better with data protection mode on than with it off. With the privacy screen activated, the Elite Dragonfly Max managed 11.5 hours in our web browsing test, 14.25 hours in our video test, and 14 hours in the PCMark 10 application test. Using the privacy mode not only doesn't harm your battery life, it also increases it significantly.

Overall, I would rate the battery life as good, but not great. Again, you can work the laptop for a full day without plugging it in, but it falls behind some of the competition. That's more a matter of laptop battery life improving further than an indictment against the Elite Dragonfly Max.

Our opinion

If you are a businessman who does a lot of videoconferencing and has a corporate budget, you will no doubt find the Elite Dragonfly Max a tempting option. It's incredibly well built, has several real value-added features, and has some of the best security and privacy features you can find on a laptop.

It's also expensive, offers average performance and battery life, and you might not be interested in some of the features it offers. That makes this a great laptop, but primarily for a specific audience.

Any alternatives?

The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 Yoga is another business-class 2-in-1 for you to consider. It's not that expensive, but it doesn't offer the same range of features. If your needs aren't that specific, this is a good option to consider.

If you don't care about business features, then the HP Specter x360 14 is in many ways a superior 2-in-1 with better performance, a better display for creative professionals but no privacy screens, and much a lower price tag. It would also be a viable alternative if you aren't that concerned about security and privacy.

Finally, if you aren't into 2-in-1 functionality or business-class features, the old standby mode is yours: the Dell XPS 13. It remains one of the best laptops you can buy, and you do get better performance and a smaller chassis for less money.

How long it will take?

The Elite Dragonfly Max is so well built that you will be using it for years to come. You will likely find that the 16: 9 aspect ratio display will appear increasingly dated, but that is the only component that is currently not up to date with the latest technology. However, you will surely appreciate the three year warranty we would like to see on all laptops.

Should you buy it?

Yes. You have to be a special breed to want the Elite Dragonfly Max, but if you are, then you really will want it.

Editor's recommendations



26 Mar
Blog

It Takes Two Review: Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

It takes two

"It Takes Two is a charming co-op adventure that combines the best ideas from Nintendo and Pixar."

  • Charming story

  • Tight platform

  • Varied level design

  • Thoughtful collaboration

  • Joyful interactivity

While video games can span a wide range of genres, there is one limit that remains largely unknown: the romantic comedy. Co-op platformer It Takes Two shows how much we missed thanks to the game industry's fear of cooties.

The adventure published by EA is the latest project from multiplayer studio Hazelight and director Josef Fares, the eclectic director of A Way Out. It Takes Two is a blatant rom-com about the restorative power of communication and teamwork instead of spreading grim science fiction or high fantasy. Imagine a 12 hour couples therapy session over Astro's playroom.

It Takes Two is a love work that has the heart of a Pixar movie and the soul of a Nintendo platformer. Even the most die-hard gamers could fall in love with the most inventive co-op game since Portal 2.

Marriage history

It doesn't take two starts with a traditional meeting. Instead, it starts with a married couple about to divorce. Cody and May are a contentious couple who decide to end it. When they deliver the news to their daughter, she does what any confused child in the situation would do: with the help of a magical book, their parents are accidentally trapped in the body of two tiny dolls.

What follows is a vibrant adventure in which the ex-lovebirds must solve their problems that have physically manifested themselves in platform challenges. The game takes full advantage of its magical, realistic premise to playfully transform local quarrels into clever video game tropes. The broken vacuum that Cody was too lazy to fix? It's become a Bowser-sized boss. The annoying wasp's nest in the backyard? The little couple have no choice but to go to war against them with a mini third person shooter.

The most straightforward comparison of the game isn't another platformer, it's Pixar's Inside Out. Both offer the same kind of illustrative storytelling, using cartoony set pieces to emphasize real experiences. Like a great Pixar movie, It Takes Two features memorable characters, moving emotional beats, and the occasional comedic wink that parents pray their kids didn't get it.

The game takes full advantage of its magical, realistic premise to playfully transform local quarrels into clever video game tropes.

The story can sometimes be narrative scattered. At every level there are lots of quick gameplay ideas that don't always sync up with a relationship parallel. Storylines seem to come out of the left field to justify moving the game to a snowy level or some elaborate musical set piece. Fortunately, every new mechanic is so enjoyable that it hardly matters how effective the game is as a therapy session.

Collaboration!

Despite the cinematic comparisons, the game works just as well as it does due to its interactivity. Lots of love stories tell audiences how important teamwork is, but It Takes Two brings physicality to these hours of life. The game can only be played with another human partner, so an actual unit is required to complete it. The players learn to communicate alongside May and Cody and to build their trust in each other.

It takes two

It's a high profile idea that comes with finesse. As a platformer, running and jumping feels as good as a Mario game. The puzzles are rarely challenging, but the solutions are ingenious enough to inspire satisfying Eureka moments. The levels themselves offer a constant flurry of fun ideas that never exceed their reception. Once players get bored with a traditional platform puzzle, it switches to a mini dungeon crawler that is completely different and just as fun.

Most impressive is how much thought has gone into making a co-op game that actually takes care of both players. May and Cody get completely different tools to play with in each level. In the opening chapter, Cody is given a set of nails that can be shot into wooden walls, while May is given a hammer head with which she can swing on these nails. The mechanics and uses of each item are completely different, giving each player their own unique experience. There's never a point where it feels like Player 1 got the "cool" item and their partner is a buddy.

Most impressive is how much thought has gone into making a co-op game that actually takes care of both players.

This is something that a lot of co-op games really struggle with. Nintendo neglects player two by making them either a mechanical clone of the protagonist or a helper with limited functionality. It Takes Two is entirely designed for both sides of the split screen, always making sure that you take turns who gets their big hero moment.

That's another thing that gets the game right when it comes to relationships. Both Cody and May are equally important to dynamics. Players have to work together to bring the characters together, but they are never left standing around while their partner is having all the fun. Give and take is never a person's expense.

"No shiny shit"

Before the game was released, EA did a Q&A with director Josef Fares. He had a choice phrase that he repeated several times when asked about his approach to game design: "No shiny shit."

The tariffs went on one of his signatures against the concept of "replayability" and emphasized that "It Takes Two" did not contain any hollow collectibles. Instead, his goal was to create an interactive world that was fun to explore without the haphazard hooks.

Feels like Fares just having fun making every little interaction.

This philosophy is reflected in the nine different levels of the game. When players are high up in a tree, they can stop to throw a stray paper airplane. There is no real incentive to do this. It's just for the love of the game. This is a breath of fresh air in the era of the open world card game where players are given a repetitive checklist of tasks to complete.

It takes two

The next thing that needs to make the game "collectibles" are mini-games that are spread over each level. These are simple competitive challenges like tug of war or snail racing that give players an easy break from the story. While they're not complex side quests, they provide a great excuse to break the pace and let partners blow off any potential frustration that has built up between tricky co-op mistakes.

Feels like Fares just having fun making every little interaction. The director is especially in love with his own games and that attitude is contagious. While his earlier work can feel a little too serious, It Takes Two is a broader representation of both his colorful personality and the immense skill at Hazelight. He jokes (probably) that he will give $ 1,000 to anyone who doesn't love the game. As much as I love the money, I certainly won't ask him to pay. He wins this bet.

Our opinion

It takes two is Hazelight and Josef Fares' most complete vision of co-op gaming to date. It uses clever interactivity to highlight the importance of good communication in video games and relationships alike. With Nintendo quality level design and an enchanting storyline that motivates the platform action, it's the rare multiplayer game that builds friendships rather than ending them.

Is there a better alternative?

No. It Takes Two is by far the best co-op game of its breed since Portal 2.

How long it will take?

The adventure lasts a surprisingly long 10-12 hours. May and Cody get completely different skills in each level, which makes playing them through the second time feel very tempting.

Should I buy it?

Yes. It's a joyful time from start to finish, and it comes with a Friend Pass that one of your friends will use to get a copy of the game. It's a two-on-one deal that ensures you have someone to play with.

Editor's recommendations




04 Jan
Blog

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold Review: Dual-Screen Fever Dream

Lenovo Thinkpad x1 Fold Review Center

  • Innovative design

  • Feels robust

  • Nice OLED screen

  • Very portable

  • Tight keyboard and touchpad

  • Chunky performance

  • Accessories cost extra

This should be the year of the foldable dual screen laptop. With Microsoft Surface Neo in the pipeline and a specially developed version of Windows, we felt we were entering a new era of PC design innovation.

Then happened in 2020. Like many things we have been looking forward to, all of this has either been delayed or canceled entirely. Microsoft itself seems to be bowing out of the running.

Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Fold is still the only laptop that can be brought to market with a flexible screen. It's one of the most unique PCs ever made, and allows for some new experiences that feel really fresh. But is the ThinkPad X1 Fold, as a first-generation product, now with no competitors, too strange to look at by itself?

design

When everything is folded up, the ThinkPad X1 Fold resembles a Folio notebook. With its synthetic leather casing and small footprint, you'd never guess that it could fold into a full PC – including a keyboard and 13.3-inch screen. The professional aesthetic fits right into the ThinkPad X1 line, which was designed for a discerning and modern businessman.

All of the elements of the X1 Fold hold tightly together and it is possibly the most impressive design feature. The screen closes just as well with the keyboard as it does without. This is important because the $ 2499 base model doesn't include it.

You don't have to worry about space either. The ThinkPad X1 Fold is half the size of a standard 13-inch laptop and fits easily in a handbag or small pocket. This is the first perk of a bendable screen laptop that Lenovo uses many of them.

As a problem with many foldable devices, the ThinkPad X1 Fold cannot be as thin as other tablets or laptops when folded. It is 1.09 inches thick, closed and 0.45 inches open. Portability is the main selling point of this device and it weighs only 2.2 pounds. This makes it one of the lightest laptops you can buy.

The real magic, of course, is when you bend the screen back and see the design in all its glory. The X1 fold uses a silicone hinge and many layers of plastic to ensure that the screen can "fold" without damaging the glass. Using leather to cover the unsightly hinge on the back is awesome. The Galaxy Z Fold 2's aluminum hinge looks classy, ​​but the ThinkPad X1 Fold makes you forget it's there itself.

The foldable screen enables a number of different “modes” for using the ThinkPad X1 Fold. The first is like a Windows tablet. You can open it flat and use it as a large screen or, easily folded, as a book. This is probably the mode I have least preferred. Windows just isn't a great platform for app-driven touch-only experiences. A bendable screen won't change that. We'll have to wait for Windows 10X to support a more rugged tablet experience.

The device has a built-in leather stand that lets the screen stand on its own and offers some helpful angles for things like zoom and YouTube. I've found that I don't use it any differently than a Surface Pro or iPad, except that the ThinkPad X1 Fold can be folded in half. The kickstand still feels a bit weak, however, and the 720p webcam above isn't as good as the 1080p options found on many tablets.

All in all, Windows software limitations would be a deal killer if only tablet use were good for the ThinkPad X1 Fold. There's even more to the story thanks to the innovative keyboard implementation.

Keyboard, touchpad and pen

The keyboard is important in making the ThinkPad X1 Fold a working product. The implementation itself is pretty clever. First, it can be magnetized to fit in the bottom half of the foldable screen, mimicking a mini laptop. The magnets feel strong enough to hold the keyboard in place but loose enough to be easily removed. With just half a 13-inch screen, it comes as close to a netbook as any laptop that hit the market in the past 10 years.

The wireless keyboard connects easily via bluetooth and charges the keyboard while it is at the top of the screen. Once the keyboard is in place, the system will automatically darken half of the lower screen and resize the screen to the upper half. It's a pretty fluid transition, switching between the different modes and orientations. Lenovo also created a manual mode switch in Windows. However, if everything is working correctly, you shouldn't have to use it.

The keyboard layout is downright strange.

When developing the keyboard, it was clear that Lenovo was careful to keep the QWERTY distance known. My hands, of course, fell right on the size and shape of the keycaps, as opposed to some smaller layouts like the Surface Go 2 Type Cover. I am happy for that. The layout, however, has a major tradeoff.

For example, your right little finger lands on the Enter key instead of the semicolon. The colon, semicolon, apostrophe, and quotation mark are blocked by the P key, which requires many keystrokes. It took some getting used to, and I would have preferred a shortened Enter key instead. It is similar with the hyphen and the plus keys.

The biggest culprit is the question mark key. It no longer has its own key, which is very inconvenient and difficult to get used to. Again, I'd be happier with a shorter shift key.

Beyond the layout, the keyboard is surprisingly easy to type. The trip is very flat but it's about what I would expect from a device like this. After all, keeping it as thin as possible is of the utmost importance. It feels a bit thick to type as a laptop because the palm rests are almost non-existent. This also means that the touchpad is very small. That is unfortunate. It's going well enough, but it feels tight.

Fortunately, once you pull the keyboard away from the screen, the device thickness problem is resolved. This is my preferred way of using the ThinkPad X1 Fold. With the screen fully open and supported by the stand, you can sit back with the keyboard and use it however you want. This is an attitude that even the Surface Pro cannot replicate. I found it ideal for getting work done thanks to the 4: 3 13-inch screen.

Of course, you'll still face the limitations of the keyboard, but the freedom of movement is excellent. If only the ThinkPad X1 Fold could act as a secondary monitor! You can of course use one of the USB-C ports to connect to an external display while the other is used for charging.

The second problem with both the keyboard and the pen, however, is that none of them are included. As with other Windows 2-in-1 devices, I would be very disappointed if I only bought the ThinkPad X1 Fold without a keyboard. This is a bummer, especially when the keyboard feels like such an essential aspect of the device.

Adding both peripherals costs an additional $ 250. This is more than what Microsoft charges for the Surface Pen and Type Cover.

Display and speaker

The foldable OLED display is the star of the show. It's a 13.3-inch screen with a resolution of 2048 x 1536. This is an aspect ratio of 4: 3 and makes the screen so different from your standard 16: 9 or 16:10 laptop. The square shape makes for a better tablet and a wonderfully large work area. Lots of space to distribute apps and display the entire length of the web pages.

The screen has a pleasantly warm tint and the color accuracy is not the strength of this laptop. Thanks to the performance limitations, you shouldn't be doing much beyond basic photo editing here anyway. With the large color spaces (100% sRGB and 97% AdobeRGB) and the striking contrast of the OLED, the ThinkPad X1 Fold is a great device for watching videos and films on the go.

The folding aspect of the screen cannot be pulled off as seamlessly as on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2. In contrast to the single fold of this device, the ThinkPad X1 Fold has a double fold. This is especially noticeable when the brightness is lowered or when the touchscreen is used, similar to the Motorola Razr folding phone in this regard. Lenovo has got off to a good start with this technology, but the creases and the obvious layer of plastic on the screen feel a little cheap under your fingers. Samsung's implementation still feels higher quality. The ribs along the ThinkPad X1 Fold's bezels along the hinge don't help, and are highlighted by some of the thickest bezels you'll ever find on a product released in 2020.

But none of that takes away the cool factor of the ThinkPad X1 Fold. It feels futuristic every time you unfold this screen and it is sure to delight your friends. Do I wish Lenovo had cut off some fat and cleaned up the bezels? Sure. If we ever get a second generation of this, there is certainly room for improvement.

The speakers suck. They're labeled Dolby Atmos, but that doesn't mean much these days.

Many tablets have fantastic audio, like the iPad or the Pixel Slate. These benefit from the fact that the speakers are located at the front next to the display. The ThinkPad X1 Fold's speakers are on the sides, which is not ideal. In addition, they sound terribly thin. Unfortunately, you get richer audio with an iPhone.

performance

The ThinkPad X1 Fold is unique beyond its form factor. The processor inside is also an experiment. It is one of the first devices to run on Intel Lakefield chips. These are hybrid processors that combine elements from the mobile and desktop architecture. One “big” core for laptop-like performance and five “small” cores for tablet-like efficiency. The ThinkPad X1 Fold manages that, but in the end it feels more like a low-performance laptop.

Using PCMark 10 as a benchmark, the ThinkPad X1 Fold is about 25% slower than a standard laptop for basic tasks such as surfing the Internet and word processing. This has been tested on laptops like the HP Specter x360 and the Dell XPS 13, which are your standard class of Intel U-series Ultrabooks.

In Geekbench 5, it even loses to Core m3 laptops like Microsoft Surface Go 2 or Windows to ARM laptops like Lenovo Flex 5G. This applies to both single-core and multi-core processing. For a device valued at $ 2,499, that's not too promising.

The chunky performance was definitely felt when I used the ThinkPad X1 Fold for my daily work with web apps, multitasking, and productivity. Heavier tasks like 3D gaming or content creation are not allowed as this Lakefield chip does not benefit from Intel's improved Iris Xe graphics in 11th generation Tiger Lake.

The performance limitations seem reasonable when using the X1 Fold as a netbook or simple tablet. You probably don't want to do more than one task at a time with such a small screen. But when I was working with the keyboard unfolded, I wanted a faster processor.

My test unit came with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage, though you can upgrade that to 1TB for a whopping $ 3,099.

Battery life

The ThinkPad X1 Fold does not have a long battery life. Thanks to Android tablets and iPads, I always expect devices like the X1 Fold to have long-lasting batteries. You always disappoint.

It pales in comparison to an iPad, but also an average laptop. The ThinkPad X1 Fold lasted six hours and 13 minutes on a single charge when surfing the Internet very lightly – but with a full display and no keyboard. Get an hour and a half more in laptop mode. That's better, but still not quite as good as similar laptops or tablets.

The X1 Fold is used for a maximum of nine hours, which the device lasted for local video playback.

Our opinion

The ThinkPad X1 Fold is the kind of laptop I want to love. There were moments while using the device that I experienced the spark of innovation that makes it so unique. It remains one of the most exciting PCs to hit in 2020.

But between these exciting experiences lie moments of frustration, confusion and disappointment. Too many to make this one that can be recommended to everyone except the most adventurous early adopters.

Are there alternatives?

The ThinkPad X1 Fold is the first of its kind. However, the experience of using it is most similar to a 2-in-1 device like the Surface Pro 7, Surface Go, or even an iPad Pro. The ThinkPad X1 Fold is by far the most expensive of these devices – and the slowest.

But once you include its foldable screen, it stands alone. On the smartphone side, however, devices like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 or Motorola Razr could cause the same pliable screen scratch.

How long it will take?

Durability is an open question about the ThinkPad X1 Fold and not one that I can currently answer. You open and close it much less than on a smartphone, that's for sure. For what it's worth, the hinge feels sturdy enough for years to come.

The bigger problem is performance and software. The X1 Fold already feels chunky and that won't improve over time. With Microsoft's lighter Windows 10X operating system coming out next year, you might want to too

Should you buy it?

No. It's expensive, first-generation hardware that doesn't have the software support to be successful.

Editor's recommendations




17 Nov
Blog

Gain your dream waist right away with the best waist exercises

So many of us dream of reducing belly fat and getting that thin waistline right away. Ironically, the easier it is to wish for something, the more difficult it is to make something like this happen. This is why numerous people begin to reduce waist fat wholeheartedly but end up losing all of their hopes.

Today we are going to give you a trick where you don't have to go without your favorite dishes to lose belly and waist fat. Let us help you win your dream waistline right away with these best ones Waist exercises.

Best waist exercises that will change the game for you

1. Russian phrases

As a possible exercise, the Russian variant can be a lot of fun. Whether you're at home or at the gym, this workout will still help. Don't be afraid to try this exercise daily to get a thin waist in no time. Not only will it help balance your waistline, but it will also help you improve posture and movement. Yes, that minor waist exercise is easy to learn so you don't have to face obstacles.

How it goes- Lie on your back and raise your knees at a 45-degree angle. Make sure your feet are off the ground. Both hands should be holding the weight on your chest. At this point, use your abs to raise your torso at a 45 degree angle from the floor. Little by little, try to twist your upper body in the next direction. After the break, repeat the step on the other end. Practice that best waist exercise daily for more benefits.

2. Plank hip dips

Have you recently stumbled upon an Instagram trend called the "Tabletop Challenge"? If so, the plank hip dips aren't a daunting task for you. The exercise is simple and strict to understand. If you do not do the exercise correctly, you can injure yourself. Because of this, you need to carefully follow the steps to do this Exercise with a thin waist. Overall, it's not that big of a question.

How it goes- Start with a plank position. Lower your left hip to the floor. To do this, twist your upper body. Make sure that the upper and lower arm remain stable. From the left side, reverse the motion to drop your right hand onto the right side. Make sure your body keeps moving. Your core should stay busy. Repeat this Exercise with a thin waist for the best experience.

3. Pat on the back

If you want to improve your core workout, a pat on the back can be the best addition to your daily fitness routine. Such a minor waist exercise is the ultimate way to make your workout routine more intense and improve your fitness game instantly. It's very similar to a plank. However, it has other advantages so that you can freely choose to go with it.

How it goes– Get into a plank position with your shoulder over your wrists. Make sure they are just enough to do the exercise without worries. Try raising your right hand and tapping your left shoulder. Don't let your hips and core move. Now put your hand back on the mat and repeat on the other end. Do this best waist exercise daily to get its lasting benefits.

4. Dead bug

Although the name sounds like that of an insect, the exercise isn't scary, trust me. The dead bug is a famous workout that people choose when they want to develop improved physical performance, core strength, and stabilization. Among all of them thin waist exercisesYou can go for this one in no time for instant results.

How it goes- Lie on your back Your arms should be in a table position over your shoulder and legs. Now try to keep your arms straight and strong. Try alternating between lowering and raising each leg to make sure your lower leg stays melted in the ground. Repeat that minor waist exercise for best practice.

5. V-fit

If you want to work multiple areas of the core and build strength, this exercise is all you need. This one also looks incredible Exercise with a thin waist that you can try at home whenever you want. How To Do It – Lie on your mat and stretch out your arms and legs. Use your core and legs to help straighten them. Now bring your hands and toes into contact with each other. Lower and tap the hand. Your feet should be on the floor.

The final result

These were some of the best Waist exercises that you can try right away. Don't miss them for the best experience. After all, you are worth it!

FAQ

1. Can you say anything else? best waist exercises to me?

V-sit-hold, super-arm, T-bar rotations, and single-knee crunch with a twist are just a few best waist exercises to attempt.

2. What should I do if I injure myself doing this exercise?

In such a case, please contact your doctor immediately.

3. Is bike crunch good as Exercise with a thin waist?

Yes, you can try it too.

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07 Nov
Blog

Glute ham raise machine to attain your dream body in no time

Numerous fitness freaks experiment with the best workouts for strength and flexibility every day. However, not all of them can benefit from it. Something like that is because not every exercise that promises to improve strength and flexibility will get noticed. So does this mean that no training can help achieve these goals? No. Glute ham raise is such an incredible workout that is helpful for situations like this. So if you are looking for the perfect exercise that can help you achieve these benefits, this exercise is a must to try.

The best workout for fit muscles

There's a reason most people tend to use a Glute Ham Hoist instead of other machines to exercise their bodies. The glute ham increase is not only exceptional for strength and flexibility, but also for helping the body improve its stability. This workout is so powerful that even athletes, Olympians, and weightlifters choose to do this workout. Although the exercise is easy to perform, many people are afraid of being hurt. If you want to avoid this, all you need is to get maximum results from this exercise. If you practice this workout every day, there is no way you will get the body of your dreams.

How Do I Perform a Glute Ham Elevation?

1. First set the Glute Ham Hoist with your body. With the help of your instructor, learn how to adjust the body comfortably with your machine.

2. There is a special footplate in the machine. So place your feet against the footplate between the rollers and lie down. Don't forget to adjust your knees behind the pad.

3. Bend your knees first and keep your back arched.

4. Now make sure that your foot is on the footplate. Keep your torso stiff at this point. Keep moving until your body is straight.

5. Hold for a moment, then gradually move to the starting position. Now slowly bend your back and return to the starting position.

6. Practice this workout on one Glute Ham Hoist if possible.

How do I do a natural glute ham raise?

If you don't have any equipment at home, don't worry. You can continue to practice this training unhindered. The natural glute ham increase is the perfect way to train your body without any discomfort. This exercise targets the hamstrings which help build a potential body right away. Follow this exercise so you can get the benefits right away.

1. Position yourself with the leg pads of a machine. This is important to keep your lower legs and under the pad. Your knees should be on the seat.

2. Once you begin the exercise, your lower legs and thighs should form a right angle. At this point, your torso should be upright.

3. Keep your arms crossed over your chest as you inhale. Lower yourself until your knees are almost straight.

4. Your body should be almost in a straight line at the end of the movement.

5. Exhale and raise yourself back to the starting position. Do this with your hamstrings for the greatest possible convenience.

6. Repeat the process natural glute ham increase for the best experience.

Glute Ham has alternatives that you can try right away.

If you don't have the equipment and don't want to try the exercise either, we still have something for you. The Glute-ham increase alternatives are the ultimate place to go if you feel like doing this workout. We promise; The exercise alternatives that you are now shown will revitalize your energy immediately.

1. Pull the cable through

For your glutes and hamstrings, there is no better alternative. In general, a cable machine is best for this exercise. However, if you don't have these, a resistance band will work too. All you have to do is follow the instructions in the workout and get it done in no time.

2. Romanian deadlift

This shouldn't come as a surprise at all. The Romanian deadlift is one of the best

Deadlift variations that always work for your glutes and hamstrings. While the workout is a bit daunting, the benefits are like no other. At least eight to fifteen repetitions of this workout are enough for an unequivocal body.

3. Barbell GHR

In the middle of the best Glute-ham increase alternativeswho have favourited the GHR barbell is amazing too. However, if you lack the perfect equipment to pad your knees, we don't recommend this exercise. You don't need a machine for this exercise. However, the benefits will keep you asking for more forever.

Take that away

Glute ham raise is the best exercise for a reason. If you want to gain strength and flexibility right away, this is all you need. So why are you waiting

FAQ

1. Can you say another name? Glute ham raise alternative to attempt?

One leg deadlift with stiff legs is the best Glute ham raise alternative try out.

2. Are exercises based on a Glute Ham Hoist useful?

Yes all the time.

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Achieve your dream body with preacher curl exercises every day

The best biceps is the way to get your dream body, isn't it? But tell me something, do you think the exercises you are doing are enough for your biceps? Of course not. Your strong biceps will require a lot of workouts and not just any workout, but an efficient one. That's why so many fitness freaks experiment with new biceps exercises every day. But do not worry. You do not have to do this.

Today we're introducing you to the ace of all the bicep exercises that can change the game for you forever. Let's learn how to do that Lure preachers like a pro!

The ace of all biceps exercises

The preacher curl is a bicep exercise that promises to effectively work the muscles in your body. The preacher curl workout is aimed at isolating your biceps. It also helps in applying sufficient force to an external object. Such a thing allows your biceps to gain strength quickly and unhindered. The preacher curl exercise is named as it is performed on a preacher curl machine. When you incorporate this exercise into your fitness routine, you increase the chances of gaining your dream body faster. The best part is that you can improve the possibilities of the workout by adding a Fusion to it. The dumbbell preacher curls is one such fusion exercise that you can practice daily for the best results.

Advantages that will turn the tables for you

There's a reason so many people choose preacher curl every day. Here's why!

  • Activates the biceps head and overloads the entire shortened end range of motion.
  • Isolates the biceps by preventing them from swinging.
  • Pressing against the cushion creates space for an increase in mechanical and muscular tension.
  • More effective than dumbbell or barbell curls.
  • It also leaves no room for cheating that will help improve the body instantly.

How do I do the preacher curl exercise?

The preacher curl exercise is not an uphill battle. If you follow the steps correctly, you won't be far from your goal. Always remember to follow the instructions so that no stone is left unscathed. Even so, you will undoubtedly gain your dream body in no time.

  • Sit on the preacher's bench and adjust the height. Your armpits should be touching the top of your sloped section.
  • Hold the weight with an underhand grip. Your arms must be stretched out.
  • Pause for a second on top of the curl. Gradually decrease the weight until your arms are extended again.
  • Count three seconds as you lower.
  • Your feet must be on the ground. Your upper body and shoulders must be straight.
  • Repeat the preacher curl exercise a few times to get the desired effect.

How Do I Perform the Curbell Preacher Curl Exercise?

What if you fuse the preacher curl with another possible exercise? It gets even better!

The Barbell preacher curl Exercise is no ordinary workout. It is the door to get your dream body quickly. If a lot of people have asked you not to practice because it's not a cake, don't worry. That's just an assumption. In reality, the exercise is incredibly easy to perform if you follow the directions line by line.

  • First, adjust the seat on the preacher's bench so that your upper arms rest comfortably on the upholstery when you sit down.
  • Load the desired weight on the barbell.
  • Sit on the preacher's bench and hold the barbell shoulder width apart. Use your underhand to do it.
  • Keep your back straight and your eyes should rest forward. Take the weight off the frame and pull it towards you.
  • You need to lift the barbell until your forearms are at a right angle to the floor.
  • Squeeze your biceps and gradually lower the barbell back to the starting position.
  • Repeat that Barbell preacher curl Exercise a few times to get the desired effect.

How Do I Perform the Dumbbell Preacher Curl Exercise?

The Lure dumbbell preachers Exercise is a groundbreaking workout because of its various benefits. All you have to do is incorporate this exercise into your daily fitness routine and see the difference for yourself. We promise; The wait will be worth it. So, if you are looking for your dream body right now, this is all you will ever need.

  • Sit on the preacher's bench with a dumbbell in hand.
  • Rotate your palm forward and bend your elbow. So the dumbbell should point towards the shoulder. Also, lay your forearm flat on the bench.
  • As you lower the barbell, inhale.
  • As you roll the dumbbell to the starting position, exhale.
  • Repeat that Lure dumbbell preachers Exercise a few times to get the results you want. Don't forget to try your opposite arm as well.

What are the best preacher curl alternatives?

Most people do not have a preacher curling machine at home. Sometimes even the gym doesn't have it. What does someone do at such a point? Don't worry about that Preacher Curl Alternatives will come to your rescue!

Cable overhead handle

This exercise is difficult because it requires a thorough understanding of how to do it correctly. People tend to take a lot of time understanding how to build muscle tension and train the muscles better. But if you get it right, there is nothing like it.

Cable crucifix curl

Another great alternative to the preacher curl is the cable crucifix curl exercise. You can do this workout on a cable machine, which will help align the biceps head properly. Don't miss this if you are looking to gain potential biceps in no time. These were some of the best preacher curl alternatives for you.

The bottom line

These were some of the best Lure preachers Exercises to try out. Don't miss it!

FAQ

1. Can you say another name? Preacher Curl Alternative to me?

Concentration ripple.

2. Is Barbell preacher curl Exercise Good Enough For Adults?

Yes. Follow the instructions. You will see the results soon.

01 Oct
Blog

Fulfill Your Dream With These Exercises

How do I get 6 pack abs?

6 Pack Abs is just about every other man who works out in the gym dream. However, it is difficult to achieve and once achieved it is more difficult to maintain. In addition to exercising to develop your 6-pack, you should consider other factors as well. The 6-pack abs diet plays an important role in building these packs. Include lots of protein in your breakfast. Drink plenty of water and keep yourself hydrated throughout the day. It helps in burning layers of fat and building those muscles.

Don't starve yourself and eat multiple meals throughout the day. Only crunches never show the desired effect. I agree that crunches are helpful Structure of six packs However, you need to incorporate variations to get good results. Here is a full list of 6 pack abs exercises that will get you closer to your goal of developing those 6 pack abs.

1. Rollback

Roll back 6 pack abs exercise

To do rollbacks, sit up straight and bend your knees. Move the top of your body up and keep your arms straight. Inhale as you stand up and exhale while you are back in the starting position. Try to keep your legs together during the exercise. It is the best exercise for 6 pack abs women.

Related article – 4 pack abs

2. Side plank

Side plank 6 pack abs exercises

It's a pretty important exercise that helps in building the 6 pack of abs. To do this exercise, you must first lie on your side and balance your body with your forearm. Keep your body straight so that your body rests on your forearm. Stay in the same position for a few seconds, then turn over on the other side.

3. Abs Crunch Machine

AB-CRUNCH-6-PACK-ABS-EXERCISE

Using a machine is not considered good by some trainers. However, it gives you great results. Abs crunch machine is specifically used for developing these abdominal muscles. They have grab handles on each side. Focus on squeezing your rib cage while exercising on the Abs Crunch machine. Reps should be slow and focus on the abs.

4. Sit-ups with a medicine ball

Sit-Ups-with-Medicine-Ball-6-Pack-Abs-Workouts

It increases the toughness of the sit-ups, making them more rigorous and focused. The exercise requires you to hold a ball between your hands while in the starting position of a normal sit-up. Lift your body upward while holding the ball above your head. Keep your feet still and only try to move your upper body. You can include the downhill slope for better results.

5. Kneeling crunch

Kneel crunch 6 pack abs workout

If you want to do this 6 pack abs workout, you need to get your hands and knees. Move your left arm forward like you are reaching for something. At the same time, stretch your right leg outwards. In the next step, the elbow of the left arm and the right knee touch. Keep the other hand and knee stable during the exercise. Repeat the same movement with the other arm and knee.

6. Practice ball entry

Stability Ball Pull In 6 Pack Abs Workout

It is considered to be one of the best ab exercises for developing 6 pack abs. To get it right, all you need to do is lie down on the ball with the support of your hands. Extend your body until only the tops of your feet are fixed on the ball. You must develop stability to perform this exercise. Keep your back straight and pull your knees inward toward your chest. Make sure to contract your abs as much as possible.

7. Hanging knee raises

Hanging knee raises 6 pack abdominal muscle training

This exercise helps shape the lower abdomen. You need to grab a bar to perform this exercise. Keep your body straight while hanging on the bar. Keep your legs together and bend your knees towards your chest. Remain in the position for a few seconds, then slowly return to the starting position.

Related Article – 10 Pack Para

8. Lunge split jacks

Lung Split Jacks 6 Pack Abs Workout

Lunge steps are considered to be the best for the lower body, but yes, they help in building the abs too. This exercise is not very difficult. To do this, you need to stand in a straight position. Bring your left leg forward and get into a split squat position. Likewise, put your right leg forward. Jump in the air and land on your left leg. Once you land to step into the split squat position.

9. Jackknife Sit Ups

Jack knife 6 pack abs workout

It is the basic workout for developing those 6 pack abs. Lie on the floor to do the exercise. Stretch your weapons and legs toward the ceiling as you lift your upper body and lower body upward. However, the middle part of the body remains fixed. Your fingertips should touch the tip of your toes. Hold the position for a few moments, then return to the starting position.

10. Bike crunches

Bike Crunch 6 Pack Abs Workout Exercises

This particular exercise is similar to a sit-up. You have to lie down on the floor. Keep your hands behind your head. Lift your torso and legs. Let your right elbow touch your left knee. Then, let your left elbow touch your right knee. Do the repetitions as often as possible.

Building a six-pack abs requires a lot of effort and patience. Practice the exercises and let me know your results.

01 Oct
Blog

Fulfill Your Dream With These Exercises

How do I get 6 pack abs?

6 Pack Abs is just about every other man who works out in the gym dream. However, it is difficult to achieve and once achieved it is more difficult to maintain. In addition to exercising to develop your 6-pack, you should consider other factors as well. The 6-pack abs diet plays an important role in building these packs. Include lots of protein in your breakfast. Drink plenty of water and keep yourself hydrated throughout the day. It helps in burning layers of fat and building those muscles.

Don't starve yourself and eat multiple meals throughout the day. Only crunches never show the desired effect. I agree that crunches are helpful Structure of six packs However, you need to incorporate variations to get good results. Here is a full list of 6 pack abs exercises that will get you closer to your goal of developing those 6 pack abs.

1. Rollback

Roll back 6 pack abs exercise

To do rollbacks, sit up straight and bend your knees. Move the top of your body up and keep your arms straight. Inhale as you stand up and exhale while you are back in the starting position. Try to keep your legs together during the exercise. It is the best exercise for 6 pack abs women.

Related article – 4 pack abs

2. Side plank

Side plank 6 pack abs exercises

It's a pretty important exercise that helps in building the 6 pack of abs. To do this exercise, you must first lie on your side and balance your body with your forearm. Keep your body straight so that your body rests on your forearm. Stay in the same position for a few seconds, then turn over on the other side.

3. Abs Crunch Machine

AB-CRUNCH-6-PACK-ABS-EXERCISE

Using a machine is not considered good by some trainers. However, it gives you great results. Abs crunch machine is specifically used for developing these abdominal muscles. They have grab handles on each side. Focus on squeezing your rib cage while exercising on the Abs Crunch machine. Reps should be slow and focus on the abs.

4. Sit-ups with a medicine ball

Sit-Ups-with-Medicine-Ball-6-Pack-Abs-Workouts

It increases the toughness of the sit-ups, making them more rigorous and focused. The exercise requires you to hold a ball between your hands while in the starting position of a normal sit-up. Lift your body upward while holding the ball above your head. Keep your feet still and only try to move your upper body. You can include the downhill slope for better results.

5. Kneeling crunch

Kneel crunch 6 pack abs workout

If you want to do this 6 pack abs workout, you need to get your hands and knees. Move your left arm forward like you are reaching for something. At the same time, stretch your right leg outwards. In the next step, the elbow of the left arm and the right knee touch. Keep the other hand and knee stable during the exercise. Repeat the same movement with the other arm and knee.

6. Practice ball entry

Stability Ball Pull In 6 Pack Abs Workout

It is considered to be one of the best ab exercises for developing 6 pack abs. To get it right, all you need to do is lie down on the ball with the support of your hands. Extend your body until only the tops of your feet are fixed on the ball. You must develop stability to perform this exercise. Keep your back straight and pull your knees inward toward your chest. Make sure to contract your abs as much as possible.

7. Hanging knee raises

Hanging knee raises 6 pack abdominal muscle training

This exercise helps shape the lower abdomen. You need to grab a bar to perform this exercise. Keep your body straight while hanging on the bar. Keep your legs together and bend your knees towards your chest. Remain in the position for a few seconds, then slowly return to the starting position.

Related Article – 10 Pack Para

8. Lunge split jacks

Lung Split Jacks 6 Pack Abs Workout

Lunge steps are considered to be the best for the lower body, but yes, they help in building the abs too. This exercise is not very difficult. To do this, you need to stand in a straight position. Bring your left leg forward and get into a split squat position. Likewise, put your right leg forward. Jump in the air and land on your left leg. Once you land to step into the split squat position.

9. Jackknife Sit Ups

Jack knife 6 pack abs workout

It is the basic workout for developing those 6 pack abs. Lie on the floor to do the exercise. Stretch your weapons and legs toward the ceiling as you lift your upper body and lower body upward. However, the middle part of the body remains fixed. Your fingertips should touch the tip of your toes. Hold the position for a few moments, then return to the starting position.

10. Bike crunches

Bike Crunch 6 Pack Abs Workout Exercises

This particular exercise is similar to a sit-up. You have to lie down on the floor. Keep your hands behind your head. Lift your torso and legs. Let your right elbow touch your left knee. Then, let your left elbow touch your right knee. Do the repetitions as often as possible.

Building a six-pack abs requires a lot of effort and patience. Practice the exercises and let me know your results.