Fantastic – Appliances catalogue

09 Nov

Google Pixel 6 Pro Review: A Fantastic New Era Begins

November 9, 2021
Posted by Samson

Google Pixel 6 Pro

RRP $ 899.00

"The Pixel 6 Pro has the best camera on a smartphone today, a vibrant screen, the latest and greatest-looking version of Android installed, and enough power and long-term support to keep you going for years."

advantages

Incredible camera
Fun camera features and editing tools
Vivid, colorful screen
Android 12
Long software support

disadvantage

Unreliable fingerprint sensor in the display
Cellular connection fluctuates in some situations
120 Hz screen may shake

the Pixel 6 Pro is leading Google's Pixel smartphone lineup in an exciting and much-needed new direction. In the third generation, Pixels had become a boring mid-range smartphone for geeks and photographers. The Pixel 6 Pro, on the other hand, is a flagship with an eye-catching design and new technology inside. Plus, it has a fantastic camera, the latest software, and a price that won't hit your bank account too hard.

Does this make the Pixel 6 Pro a phone for everyone that can really compete with the best from Apple and Samsung? Yes, but not entirely either.

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What a fantastic looking smartphone the Pixel 6 Pro is, with its fashionable color scheme, high quality materials and feel, and unique style that makes it impossible to confuse with anything else. After a stream of boring, purely functional mobile devices, Google gave the Pixel 6 Pro a design that matches its clean and beautiful software. It's up there with the best looking phones released this year.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

All done? Nothing but praise? Well no The Pixel 6 Pro is massive and almost identical to the other monster phone of 2021, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. At 8.9mm thick, it's not slim either, and its 210g weight means you'll always have it in your pocket. It is far from suitable for one-handed operation. The metal and shiny glass don't offer much grip either. So if you don't hold onto it there is a risk of a major, expensive accident.

Even if you do not hold the phone in your hand, it does not eliminate the risk of disaster as the phone has a tendency to slide around on many surfaces due to its slippery nature. A bag is recommended to keep it safe, and I also made sure that it is shielded on surfaces as the large camera module on the back can act as an anchor. The single, raised module strip extends over the entire back and, in the Sorta Sunny version, is framed with black glass and provided with gold decorative stripes in the adjacent pictures. This edge is slightly raised and can prevent the glass and lens from being scratched.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

That the Pixel 6 Pro is big and slippery isn't unique, but it's a shame the non-Pro Pixel 6 isn't much smaller or less likely to break for freedom since it's made from the same materials. Unfortunately, the similarity in size means that no Pixel 6 phone is ideal for someone who wants a small Google phone. In the past few weeks with the Pixel 6 Pro, I've finally adjusted to the size and weight of the phone, along with the quirk that the power button is too high on the case. If you're coming from a smaller phone, be prepared for the fact that for the first few days the phone won't feel as natural as you might hope it will.

screen

On the Pixel 6 Pro, you'll see a beautiful 6.7-inch AMOLED screen with an aspect ratio of 19.5: 9, resolution of 3120 x 1440 pixels, and refresh rate of 120 Hz, covered with curved Gorilla Glass Victus . This is where it differs from the Pixel 6, which has a smaller, flat screen with a lower resolution and a refresh rate of 90 Hz. The curve is subtle and doesn't bend much of the screen over the sides of the phone and is mostly taken up by noticeable bezels.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

It's incredibly bright with excellent viewing angles, and you can watch videos with the phone flat on the table without losing quality or color. The viewing experience comes extremely close to that of the iPhone 13 Pro, with only a slight decrease in contrast in a direct comparison. Watching the Carfection video on the Ferrari 250 SWB reveals sublime colors and razor sharpness. The Pixel 6 Pro is a powerhouse for video playback.

The stereo speakers are intelligently placed, with the speaker at the bottom of the phone being accompanied by the main speaker at the top of the screen. Although the sound is pushed forward, it still has a wide sound stage. It's loud but the bass is missing, although the immersion from the clever placement of the speakers still makes the Pixel 6 Pro sound great in almost all situations.

The Pixel 6 Pro is a powerhouse for video playback.

All good so far but there are two serious screen issues that really frustrated me. The first is the in-display fingerprint sensor, which is junk. The problem is that it's slow and unreliable. I've re-registered my pressure several times and it doesn't change the situation. I've unlocked the Pixel 6 Pro with my PIN code more than any other phone, and there's no face unlock to bypass the pesky fingerprint sensor. I got around it a bit with Android's Smart Lock feature, which keeps the phone unlocked when it's in my pocket or when I'm at home. However, it's not particularly reliable either.

One-handed mode Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Second, there's the 120Hz refresh rate. It's switchable between 60Hz and 120Hz instead of being dynamic like the Galaxy S21 Ultra's screen, and while much of the software is very fluid, there are apps that just aren't . Twitter is a great example as scrolling through my feed is like wading through mud compared to the iPhone 13 Pro. I'm pretty sure this is a screen refresh issue because when I manually force a 60Hz rate it scrolls freely, albeit with more blur. High refresh rate screens reduce eye strain and make website viewing and content scrolling more comfortable. At the moment, this is not always the case with the Pixel 6 Pro.

Both issues are at odds with the Pixel 6 Pro's polished exterior design, and not what you'd expect from a new high-end flagship from a company the size of Google. The refresh rate inconsistency could be fixed with a software update, and the fingerprint sensor unreliability could be improved in the same way. For now, however, both are pretty significant drawbacks that set the Pixel 6 Pro apart from its more expensive competitors.

camera

You get a 50-megapixel main camera, a 48-megapixel telephoto camera with 4x optical zoom and a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera. The Pixel 6 Pro also uses Laser Detect autofocus, optical image stabilization on the main and telecamera, and records up to 4K videos at 60 frames per second (fps). There's also an 11-megapixel selfie camera in a hole-punch cutout at the top center of the screen.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

I've already compared the Pixel 6 Pro's camera directly to the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra and Apple iPhone 13 Pro, and it beat those two established camera superstars. Everything you've heard about the Pixel 6 Pro's camera is true – it really is that good. Stills are full of life, colors and details. I haven't yet found a real situation where a photo is being taken that I need to edit a lot, if at all, before considering sharing, and the range of cameras offers versatility for me to have fun and get creative with .

It's the simplicity with which you can snap stunning photos that makes it so exciting. No matter whether night or day – whether the subject is moving or resting or near or far – the 6 Pro does everything for you. You just press a button and get a brilliant picture.

2.
Wide angle
3.
Portrait mode
4th
Pixel 6 Pro
5.
Pixel 6 Pro
7th
Pixel 6 Pro
8th.
Pixel 6 Pro
10.
Pixel 6 Pro
11.
Pixel 6 Pro
12th
4x optical zoom
13th
20x digital zoom
16.
Pixel 6 Pro
17th
Pixel 6 Pro

There are several exclusive pixel camera modes to try out. Action Pan lets you take photos with a blurry background motion effect, which is great for action shots of cars and other fast-moving things. You just take a photo as usual and Google's software will add the speed effect. Long exposure mode does the same thing and you don't have to track the subject, but I haven't found that many situations where it works compared to Action Pan mode.

Everything you've heard about the Pixel 6 Pro's camera is true – it really is that good.

Found in Google Photos, Magic Eraser is only available on the Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro, and it works by digitally removing unwanted things from your photo. It's effective and easy to use, and with a few swipes, random people and objects will disappear from the background of your photos. It even works with old photos and photos that weren't taken with the Pixel 6 Pro. It's part of Google Photo's extensive photo editing suite that goes way beyond optimizing HDR or Saturation. You can even change the look of the sky in your photo with the touch of a button.

Anything that isn't great? The large sensor makes close-ups difficult, and there is no macro mode to make up for this. I've also seen some weird distortion from the main camera where objects appear to be a different shape than they actually are. Aside from that, you get fun photo and video modes, transformative editing tools, and a camera that will capture amazing photos regardless of your skills and the environment. The Pixel 6 Pro's camera is currently the best you can get on a smartphone.

Software and performance

The Pixel 6 Pro uses Google's new custom tensor processor, paired here with 12GB of RAM. There is a choice of 128 GB or 256 GB of storage space. I used the phone normally, spent time playing Asphalt 9: Legends, and took nearly 500 photos over a couple of weeks. Through all of that, the phone was a top performer. I didn't notice any difference with the Tensor-powered Pixel 6 Pro versus a phone with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor when it comes to general everyday life.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Google used the Pixel 6 phones to launch Android 12. The biggest difference that you will notice with any other Android phone is the material you design. It makes Android cleaner than ever and a little more customizable too, as the accent colors can be set anywhere to match your wallpaper. There are some fairly new widgets of varying uses, with the YouTube Music widget being the most helpful to me and the new clock widgets being the most appealing.

The shortcut keys on the notification shade are bigger, easier to press and have new functions. I can't say they made a significant difference in my daily use, but they are definitely pretty to look at. I like the "bounce" built into vertically scrolling pages in the OS, but the one-handed mode isn't very good as you can't scroll through the OS and instead use a single app. It's not very helpful with a phone this big. I also like the Google Assistant's voice typing mode, which works fully in Messages and WhatsApp, so you can type and send messages hands-free. It's accurate and fast – I use it most days.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The tensor chip is supposed to improve the translation of other languages on the device and is definitely faster than previous versions that I used on older Pixel phones. Live Caption adds text captions to videos in a few other languages including Japanese. While watching one of AKB48's recent YouTube videos, Yuki Kashiwagi, the translation was good enough to understand what was going on, but it takes a while to get started. It will still make mistakes, especially if the conversation is lively, and will completely misunderstand what is being said, but overall it works well and is fast enough to keep up.

Although I've read some comments online about Android 12 having a lot of bugs, nothing was noticed during my time with the phone, at least not in terms of general usage. It is running all of the apps I have installed and has not crashed or done anything that irritates my daily chores. However, I've noticed that the assistant doesn't always give instructions to Google Home and sometimes it responds to the same commands. For example, Assistant stopped playing a YouTube video when I asked Home to stop playing a radio station.

I find Android 12 comfortable and quick to use, but there is a small learning curve. Google doesn't keep popping up cool features after reading the intro guide. The helpful pixel introductory cards that pop up the first time you set up your phone and lead you to notable new features will eventually wear off and you'll have to reach into the settings menu to activate them. It's a shame because you can be missing out if you don't take the time to really learn how to get the most out of Android 12.

Battery and connectivity

Equipped with a 5,000 mAh battery that charges to 50% in 30 minutes with a USB PD 3.0 charger and Qi wireless charging, Google says the Pixel 6 Pro will last around 24 hours before it does needs to be charged. After testing, I expect the Pixel 6 Pro to last at least as long as promised, and I was pretty impressed with the battery life given the size and specs of the screen and the 120Hz always-on refresh rate.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

For example, on a single day with three hours of GPS use, a hundred photos, apps open, social networks, and a few other simple tasks, the battery still had around 30% left late in the evening. With light to moderate daily use, it was rare for the battery to drop below 50% by midnight. However, it took the phone about two days and two charges to adjust to my usage before the battery started working much harder. After this adjustment phase was over, the battery life improved significantly.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

This is a 5G smartphone that connects to either sub-6 or mmWave networks depending on the version purchased. I am testing the phone in the UK on the 4G and sub 6-5G EE network. I have found that connectivity can be flaky and on several occasions a data connection has not been maintained despite showing a 4G or 5G connection. I've noticed that this is especially the case after driving a car, which may indicate that it is struggling to switch between cell towers and possibly 3G, 4G, and 5G as well. It isn't all the time and can only happen in areas with poor coverage, but there is something to be aware of.

After this adjustment phase was over, the battery life improved significantly.

Otherwise, the call quality is very good, with clear voices and a loud speaker (although finding the sweetspot on the ear is a bit awkward). I also had no issues connecting bluetooth earbuds or streaming YouTube to my TV.

Price and availability

the Pixel 6 Pro starts at $ 899 and is available now through Google's own online store and various networks. In the UK, the Pixel 6 Pro starts at £ 849. However, be prepared to wait if you order one now as demand is high and supply is low.

Our opinion

The only thing stopping the Google Pixel 6 Pro from being a must-have is the in-display fingerprint sensor. It's the only technical feature that lets the whole thing down, and since Face Unlock can't be used instead, getting into the phone takes longer than any other top smartphone currently available. It's a real shame because once inside it's a great experience.

Android 12 looks great, the screen is colorful and vibrant, and the camera is the best I've used on any phone in a while. That you have to resort to hacky workarounds to unlock your phone and gain access to these wonderful things borders on cruelty. Aside from the exaggeration, I was hoping that after the Galaxy S20 and Note 20 Ultra debacle, we had exceeded the level that makes security on smartphones annoying, but unfortunately not. Fortunately, the camera makes up for it. The last camera that I liked as much as the Pixel 6 Pro was on the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, and I think the photos on the 6 Pro are better than those of the S21 Ultra in many ways.

The many advantages of the Pixel 6 Pro mean I've learned to live with the inadequacy of the fingerprint sensor and other relatively minor annoyances, and the price is extremely competitive. even. If I were told it was $ 1,000, I wouldn't think of questioning its worth. It hits 8/10 here, and that will climb to 9/10 if the screen issues are fixed and connectivity improved in an update, but that number may not really reflect how good the rest of the Pixel 6 Pro is, which is why it is is associated with an Editor's Choice Award.

The Pixel 6 Pro is hands down the best Google phone in the past few years, and it's so powerful and well supported that it will last for years.

Is there a better alternative?

If you want the best camera phone available, our tests show that the Pixel 6 Pro is the right phone right now, although the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra and iPhone 13 Pro are still superb and have some unique features that set them apart from others . These two devices are the main competitors of the Pixel 6 Pro, and we appreciate the feature set and beautiful screen of the S21 Ultra, as well as the performance, capability, and excellent software of the iPhone 13 Pro. You won't go wrong with any of these three phones.

How long it will take?

The Pixel 6 Pro's screen is covered with Gorilla Glass Victus, the back is covered with Gorilla Glass 6, and the phone is IP68 water and dust resistant so it can withstand harsh treatment. However, due to the slippery case, I still recommend putting it in a suitcase.

Google promises major Android software updates for the Pixel 6 Pro by October 2024 and security updates by October 2026. This is one of the longest update schedules on any Android phone, and even surpasses Samsung's generous four years of security updates on its latest Galaxy Cell phones. The Google Pixel 6 Pro will easily last three years before you have to consider upgrading, but for many it could easily take five years.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. The fingerprint sensor will annoy you, but the camera and performance are so good, and the price is so cheap, that you will overlook it.

Editor's recommendations

17 Sep

Blog

Razer Huntsman V2 TKL Review: A Fantastic Wired Keyboard

September 17, 2021
Posted by Samson

The palm rest of the Huntsman V2 TKL.

Razer Huntsman V2 Tenkeyless

RRP $ 150.00

"The Huntsman V2 TKL from Razer is a gaming keyboard that impresses with its smooth switches."

advantages

Oh-so smooth linear opto-mechanical switches
Great comfort and ergonomics of the palm rest
Quiet typing
Tidy design
Detachable USB-C cable

disadvantage

No media buttons
While the palm rest is comfortable, there are a handful of problems
No tactile switch option

Razer is releasing a new TKL gaming keyboard today, just a week after the launch of its new Basilisk V3 gaming mouse. This one is called the Huntsman V2 Tenkeyless, and we have a sample on hand to see if it's good and worthy of competing with the best gaming keyboards you can buy.

The Huntsman V2 TKL is part of the Huntsman line of ultra-performance wired gaming keyboards that are designed to excel in competitive gaming without costing as insane as the BlackWidow series.

As a result, they aren't the most feature-packed boards, but the Hunstman V2 TKL proves that its superb switches and form factor are still a fantastic PC gaming companion.

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When you look at the Huntsman TKL, the first thing you notice is the simple design – it's just a simple TKL keyboard with no fancy extras in the periphery. The media keys are built into the F keys instead of being dedicated, there is no volume control, and there aren't tons of RGB qualities in all sorts of disgusting nooks. There's some RGB there, but it's just under the main buttons.

Combine that simplicity with the all-black design and aluminum top plate, and you get a fairly slim keyboard that, oddly enough, doesn't attract much attention. Razer used to be a company that built eccentrically styled devices that were unmistakably "gamers," but these days it seems to be leaning towards slimmer, more sophisticated designs. Maybe it will grow up along with its core audience.

Also included with the Huntsman V2 TKL – and this is probably the biggest upgrade compared to the original – is a synthetic leather palm rest. I first got to know this soft, plush palm rest with the BlackWidow V3 Pro and I'm still just as in love with it. The height is perfect for comfort and because it's so soft it makes typing a real pleasure.

There are a couple of caveats: the softness won't last forever – I feel like the thin material wears out relatively quickly by peeling off relatively quickly, and on warm days it can just be a little too plushy for you to beg for something need to be more breathable.

Fortunately, Razer also sells its palm rests separately from the keyboards. So if you type enough to wear them out, replacing them shouldn't be a problem. Plus, the palm rest isn't actually attached to the keyboard – there's not even a magnet holding it in place.

The keyboard is connected to your PC with a detachable, braided USB-C cable.

The switches

The reason you want to buy a Razer Huntsman keyboard is because of the optical switches, or as Razer calls them, the optomechanical switches. These hit the market in 2018 and enjoyed rapid popularity for good reason.

Turns on the Huntsman V2 TKL. Niels Broekhuijsen / Digital Trends

Our sample of the Huntsman V2 TKL came with the red linear version of the switches, and these are by far my favorite. In general, I'm a tactile (brown) switch type, but on a keyboard as geared towards gaming as the Huntsman V2 TKL, I prefer a linear switch. Thanks Razer for that. The keyboard is also available with clickable optical switches, but there is no tactile option.

But what do I like so much about the optomechanical switches? It's the smoothness.

Razer markets the optical switches as faster and touts them in all sorts of wondrous terms like "the speed of light" and "the fastest performance you'll ever experience," but I don't care about those things. Sure, in a scientific test they could outperform classic electro-mechanical switches because they don't have to take debouncing into account, but if you can find me a person who can determine the speed difference in a blind test, I'll buy you a beer. Maybe two.

Buttons on the Huntsman V2 TKL. Niels Broekhuijsen / Digital Trends

But the suppleness. I can hardly describe it, as I have only come across a few switches that offer similar smoothness. With a switch like Cherry or Gateron Red you could lubricate them and mount damping O-rings on the stems – and only with all this effort could you achieve the same smooth suspension travel.

The way the switches move is so smooth that it exudes a sense of luxury that you don't get with many keyboards – at least not without stepping into expensive custom keyboard territory.

It is the ease of movement of the opto-mechanical switch that makes the Huntsman V2 TKL so appealing.

The switches are also almost noiseless. Thanks to a sound-absorbing foam layer inside the keyboard, this is one of the quieter mechanical keyboards you will find.

There's just one catch: because the switches are optical, they consume more power than traditional electro-mechanical keys, which means the keyboard cannot be wireless. So there is a cable. And the stabilizers aren't the same as those on Cherry-based boards. Most keys will fit, but the longer keys will not. However, the standard keycaps are double-shot PBT, so most people don't bother updating them.

Gaming performance

When starting out in gaming, the Huntsman V2 TKL is a happy companion. The keyboard's smaller layout isn't quite as game-friendly as something really small like the Razer Huntsman Mini or the BlackWidow V3 Mini or the Corsair K65 RGB Mini, but because of the additional mouse space, it's miles better than a full-size keyboard. This allows me to play at a lower DPI, which results in more accurate recordings.

Side profile of the Huntsman V2 TKL. Niels Broekhuijsen / Digital Trends

Combine that with the comfortable palm rest, height, and sleek switches and you'll largely forget about the keyboard while gaming – and that's the best compliment I can give a keyboard. It's all just smooth sailing.

While the keyboard polls at 8,000 Hz, 1,000 is enough, and Corsair's K70 RGB TKL Champion Edition has already shown that you don't need 8,000 Hz on a keyboard.

Our opinion

Razer's Huntsman V2 Tenkeyless is a simple but well-executed TKL keyboard for PC gamers. It's not wireless, which is not possible with optical switches (not without very limited battery life). It also doesn't have media buttons and I have a couple of issues with the included palm rest.

Despite these nitpicks, however, you will fall head over heels for it due to the excellent opto-mechanical switches and comfortable form factor.

Are there alternatives?

The next alternative from Logitech is the G Pro mechanical keyboard, which offers largely the same range of functions. But it doesn't come with the same great switches or the comfy palm rest, so I'd go for the Razer of the two.

Corsair now offers the K70 RGB TKL Champion Series, which has media keys and also carries out 8K polling, but, like the Logitech board, does not have the same convenient switches. The palm rest is also missing here.

How long it will take?

The Huntsman V2 TKL should last at least five years of normal use, although I expect the palm rest to need replacing early during that time – maybe twice. Razer covers the keyboard with a two-year warranty.

Should I buy it?

Yes sir. Priced at $ 150, the Huntsman V2 TKL is one of the best TKL keyboards available today.

Editor's recommendations

03 Jan

Blog

Apple MacBook Air M1 Review: Fast, Fanless, and Fantastic

January 3, 2021
Posted by Samson

Macbook Air M1

"The MacBook Air M1 finally delivers on the promise of a small laptop with no performance restrictions."

Apple's M1 blows Intel around
Phenomenal battery life
Excellent keyboard and touchpad
Very solid build quality
Just good looking

Supports an external display only

Apple was never afraid to break with the past, even if the transition might be painful. For example, when it found the floppy disk was out of date, it dropped it and went all-in USB. The same thing happened with Motorola CPUs, which were dropped for Intel when the PowerPC could no longer keep up. Now it's that time again, this time the MacBook Air, the MacBook Pro 13 and the Mac mini will be equipped with their own ARM-based silicon and Intel will be left behind.

For some MacBook fans, this could be a scary proposition because how well could the Apple M1 work if ARM's only showcase to date has been the very overwhelming initiative of Windows 10 on ARM? If you've read our MacBook Pro 13 M1 review, you already know the answer to that question. At least on this machine there is nothing to be afraid of. I put the MacBook Air M1 through its paces to see if the fanless version of Apple's initiative works too.

For this review, I got the entry-level MacBook Air M1 for $ 1,000 with just 8GB of RAM, a 256GB solid-state drive, and a 7-core GPU. There's another version that gives you 512GB of storage and an 8-core GPU for $ 1,250. My experience didn't even include the maximum 16GB of RAM that can be configured for a few hundred more dollars. Was I disappointed or did Apple pull a rabbit out of my hat?

performance

OK, I know it's not fair to imply that the Apple M1 is doing some kind of magic trick. After all, it is an eight-core CPU with four high-performance cores and four more that come into play for smaller tasks and a sip of electricity. It's just that it's an ARM-based technology that has pushed Intel's core CPUs into the background in terms of perceived performance for some time now. If the MacBook Air performs well, it's no magic. Rather, it is an impressive new technology that promises wonderful things to the MacBook range.

Macbook Air M1 Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

There's no reason to keep you going: the MacBook Air M1 surprised me in a good way with its performance. And that's not just a comparison with the current Intel MacBook Air, which uses a 9-watt version of the Intel Core i3 and i5 CPUs that lag behind their 15-watt Windows 10 equivalents. No, the MacBook Air with the 10-watt Apple M1 is using the latest 12 to 28-watt Tiger Lake processors from Intel (this time, Intel gives a range rather than a static value) and in many cases gives them a good old value-fashionable beating.

Before we get into the numbers, let's get something straight. The Apple M1-based computers run the fastest with software written for the M1 architecture. This makes sense and includes all of Apple's software plus a few other applications and utilities. If it wasn't written for the M1, it runs through Apple's Rosetta 2 emulation layer. That means, of course, that it won't be as fast as native software. And sometimes, especially with software that requires hardware drivers, an application may not run at all.

Take Geekbench 5, for example, which runs natively on the M1. The fanless MacBook Air M1 performed slightly better than the fan-filled MacBook Pro 13 M1. We're talking 1,727 versus 1,707 in single-core mode and 7,585 versus 7,337 in multi-core mode, but it's still noteworthy that the less expensive and theoretically slower MacBook Air M1 was faster than the Pro. And with their four cores and eight threads, both machines achieved a significantly higher score than the currently fastest Tiger Lake laptops. The MSI Prestige 14 Evo, for example, has the fastest Tiger Lake CPU you can buy, the Core i7-1185G7, scoring just 1,593 and 5,904 points, respectively. Even the 45 watt Core i7-10850H with six cores in the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 couldn't keep up with the M1 and only managed 1,299 and 6,372.

Worried Apple would force you to give up performance on its transition? Do not be so.

Next, let's look at Cinebench R23, another benchmark app written for the M1. Here the MacBook Air M1 couldn't beat the MacBook Pro 13 M1, but it was in close proximity. And it came almost close to the Lenovo Yoga 9i with its 6-core Core i7-10750H in high-performance mode that cranks up the fans. Notably, the MacBook Air M1 was completely silent (no fans, duh) and barely got warm – I was able to comfortably hold it on my lap while it ran the test. I said before that it wasn't magic, but maybe I'm wrong.

I also did our handbrake test which encodes a 420MB file in two iterations in H.265. The first used Handbrake 1.3.1 which runs in emulation mode and the second used Handbrake 1.4.0 Beta which was written for the M1. In the first case, the MacBook Air M1 took about 4.5 minutes to complete the test. This is roughly the time it would take for laptops with the 10th generation Intel Core i5. In the latter case, the MacBook Air M1 completed the test in 2.8 minutes. This is comparable to 45-watt Intel laptops with six cores and Handbrake 1.3.1 and just eight seconds behind the MacBook Pro 13 M1 with the native version. Again, the laptop barely warmed up. These results provide an insight into the effects of a native on the M1 on an application.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, I ran some other tests in Adobe Premiere Pro (which is not yet optimized for the M1) using the PugetBench benchmark. MacBooks have been the go-to choice for many creatives in the past, but this has never been the game of the MacBook Air. Due to severe performance limitations on the Intel version, running one of Adobe's Creative Suites was a challenge. But the M1 changes all of that, even with the $ 999 MacBook Air.

The MacBook Air M1 competed heavily with the more powerful CPUs from Intel and made mince of the Tiger Lake laptops from Intel. I also ran a Premiere Pro encoding test that produced a 2GB 4K video and the MacBook Air M1 running in emulation was about 40 seconds faster than a Tiger Lake laptop.

Most impressive was that this level of performance ran through the emulation. Imagine how quickly Premiere Pro (and Photoshop, Lightroom, etc) will work if it's native in the M1. Getting that kind of performance on a laptop this thin, light, and fanless is a transforming moment for creative professionals who might want to carry around a smaller machine but don't want to compromise on performance. For the first time ever, you can get some serious creative work on a MacBook Air – and that's a big deal.

In practice, I've noticed some minor slowdowns in legacy applications like Microsoft Office (Microsoft released native versions right after the test report finished). This is especially true for the start: Office apps are only faster on Intel computers than on the MacBook Air M1. But the difference isn't so big that it bothered me, and if I didn't check the laptop, I probably wouldn't even notice. Of course, Mac OS itself and every application optimized for the M1 was incredibly fast.

What about games? I didn't run all of the gaming tests on the MacBook Air M1. This is supposed to be a productivity laptop, not a slot machine, after all. Fortnite ran at around 33 frames per second (fps), however, with a resolution of 1,680 x 1,050 and high graphics that are playable and faster than the Intel Iris Xe graphics from Tiger Lake. In Civilization VI, the MacBook Air achieved 51 fps with the same resolution and medium graphics and sank to 32 fps with ultra graphics. Again, this outperforms Intel Iris Xe laptops and competes with integrated low-end graphics such as the Nvidia GeForce MX350.

This completely silent, fanless laptop is a better slot machine than the equivalent Intel laptops, which you would never have expected from a MacBook Air. Note that I tested the seven-core GPU model. For $ 250 more, you can get an eight-core GPU model that will be … well … one core faster. This version also includes 512 GB of storage space.

Macbook Air M1 Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Finally, I mentioned that not all applications will run on the MacBook Air M1, although I don't have many examples to give. The decisive factor was the software for my older colorimeter, which did not require the necessary drivers for the MacBook.

But most of the other apps I tried also ran in emulation and were as fast as I would get with at least a mid-range Intel laptop. There were outliers like the Epic Games Launcher, which was just as sluggish on the MacBook Air M1 as it was on the MacBook Pro 13 M1, but there were few.

Battery life

Performance is just one area in which the Apple M1 promises serious progress. The battery life is different – after all, it is essentially an ARM chip that is designed to be efficient. How efficient can a laptop be when it offers the same performance as CPUs that are purely designed for performance? Let's find out.

Macbook Air M1 Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

First, I ran our standard web benchmark, which runs through a number of popular websites. This is the yardstick we use to emulate productivity longevity, and it works pretty well. The MacBook Air passed the 15.5-hour test, one of the longest results we've seen. The Lenovo Flex 5G with its own ARM processor – the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx – lasted about 50 minutes longer, but there is a catch. The Lenovo had a Full HD display (1,920 x 1,080), while the MacBook Air M1 has a Retina display with a resolution of 2,560 x 1,600. That's a huge perk for Apple – give it a Full HD display (not what you want) and we'd expect a few more hours of it.

Next, I ran our video benchmark, which runs through a Full HD Avengers trailer until the laptop shuts down. The MacBook Air M1 lasted 18.5 hours. Again, this isn't as long as some of the longest-lasting laptops we've tested, but it's by far the longest-lasting device with a high-resolution display. The Lenovo Flex 5G was stronger again with almost 28 hours, but it also benefited from its lower resolution display.

We usually use the Basemark web benchmark test to see how long a laptop with its CPU and GPU will last under heavy load. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to complete the test on the MacBook Air M1 so I won't be able to report on its longevity if you press it hard. However, given the M1's inherent efficiency, we expect that the MacBook Air M1 will allow you to spend a lot of time, even if you ask a lot of it.

design

Macbook Air M1 Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The design of the MacBook Air M1 is unchanged from the Intel version. Literally. That said, it's the same wedge of machined aluminum that feels like an alchemical amalgamation of glass and metal. It is completely stable, without twisting, bending or bending. Apple is doing a few things right, and designing and manufacturing laptops that exude rugged elegance is one of them. You can choose from three colors – space gray, gold, and silver – and they all look beautiful.

It's also a very thin and light laptop that is 0.6 inches and 2.8 pounds. Windows 10 laptops like the Dell XPS 13 and HP Specter x360 13 have caught up and are either thinner and lighter or close to it, so the MacBook Air generally no longer maintains its superiority in that regard. And the MacBook Air M1 isn't as small in width and depth as some of its 13-inch rivals, either, as it still has the same relatively large bezels it struggles with. When you add a display with a 16:10 aspect ratio, you'll find that the MacBook Air M1 doesn't fit into the same tiny silhouette as some others.

Really, these are nits because the differences between these sizes are tiny. Perhaps the MacBook Air M1 would look a little more modern with smaller bezels, but it's not like you'll struggle to find room for it in your backpack.

Macbook Air M1 Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Connectivity remains a weak point in the MacBook Air M1. You get two Thunderbolt 3 ports and a 3.5mm audio jack. That's it. There isn't even an SD card reader to get your photos and videos. Get ready to buy some dongles, and a Thunderbolt 3 dock would be a good idea. Note, however, that the M1 does not support external GPU cases.

The M1 version only supports a single external display, either via the Thunderbolt 3 ports or via a dock. The reasons are deeply technical and based on the M1 architecture. However, if you need more than one external display, the M1 version is not for you. Compare this to the typical Windows 10 laptop or Intel-based MacBook, which can support numerous displays of different resolutions. Even laptops in the same $ 1,000 price bracket can typically support more than one external display if they have a Thunderbolt 3 port, multiple USB-C ports, or even an HDMI port (hey, remember these?).

Display and speaker

Macbook Air M1 Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Like the design, Apple kept the same display for the MacBook Air M1. It's a 2,560 x 1,600 IPS display that looks great. It's not in the same class as the MacBook Pro, but you still get good performance enough for everyone but the most demanding creative professionals.

The brightness was 389 nits, which is enough for a laptop with average productivity but not up to Apple's high-end standards. The color gamut is slightly wider than average at 100% sRGB and 79% AdobeRGB – most premium Windows 10 laptops are 98% sRGB and 73% AdobeRGB. These aren't that big of a difference, but if you're looking to edit photos and videos, you'll appreciate the extra percentage points. The accuracy is particularly good at 1.39, with 1.0 or less indistinguishable to the human eye and the quality standard and the contrast ratio of 1130: 1 is above average (we want to see at least 1000: 1, and so the MacBook Air M1 crosses our threshold here).

The bottom line is that you are going to love this display and you probably won't have many complaints. If you're a creative professional and need the widest color gamut, go for the Pro line. You can choose the MacBook Pro 13 M1, get the same performance, nearly the same battery life, and enjoy a higher quality display.

Macbook Air M1 Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Another area where the MacBook Air M1 can't quite keep up with its Pro siblings is audio quality. The speakers are very nice, don't get me wrong. They are clear and bright, with excellent mids and highs and a hint of bass. There is no distortion at the maximum volume – the only problem is that the maximum is not very loud. So you're good at listening for yourself, but if you want to share with a crowd, you'll need external speakers. And when you want to rock, prepare to pull out your favorite headphones.

Keyboard and touchpad

The MacBook Air M1 features the new Magic Keyboard, which Apple designed to replace the unfortunate butterfly keyboard on previous models. And it's a damn good keyboard, maybe my favorite of all the laptops I've used and the only one that surpasses the excellent version that HP has added to its Specter range.

The keycaps are a nice size and there is enough travel that you don't feel like you are typing on a block of wood (I'm talking to you here, butterfly keyboard). Best of all, the switches are top notch, with superb precision and perfect ground action that lets you know you've pressed a button. I can type faster on this keyboard than any other, and I hate to give up on it when I switch to a Windows 10 computer.

Macbook Air M1 Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The touchpad is also superior due to its haptic nature. It's bigger than most of the touchpads you'll find on 13-inch laptops, it's buttery smooth, and once you get used to the haptic aspect you probably have more control than most touchpads. Windows 10 touchpads have gotten a lot better over the years, but still haven't caught up.

Finally, use the Touch ID sensor embedded in the power button to sign in without a password. This works fine. It's comparable to Microsoft's Windows Hello technology, though you won't find facial recognition in the MacBook line-up yet. I missed this while using the MacBook Air M1, although I end up preferring to use a fingerprint reader.

Our opinion

We said the 2020 Intel MacBook Air is "a respectable choice for Mac fans on a budget". I'm going to change that here for the MacBook Air M1: it's a respectable choice for any MacBook fan looking for a smaller device that is perfectly quiet, charges forever, and is almost as fast as the MacBook Pro 13 M1. Not only will you save money anymore – you get a laptop that will blow your mind with its performance (especially since more apps have been developed for the M1) while being extremely thin and light.

However, there are some limitations. You can't get more than 16GB of RAM (neither with the Intel version) and are limited to just one external display.

Are there alternatives?

The same competition that applied to the Intel MacBook Air also applies here. Only you will find that in many cases they are slower and don't last as long on one charge. The Dell XPS 13 is the obvious choice that you can get for $ 980 with a Core i3-1115G4 CPU and the same amount of RAM and storage – but the MacBook Air M1 will blast it out of the water. Configure the XPS 13 with its fastest CPU and you will find that it is still slower than the MacBook in many applications.

The HP Specter x360 13 gives you the option of a better OLED display and the flexibility of a 2-in-1 for a few hundred more, depending on your configuration. But here, too, the MacBook Air M1 is the faster laptop.

Finally, the MacBook Pro 13 M1 is for anyone looking for the fastest M1 machine available (although the difference isn't nearly as big as you can imagine). The display gets better and the speakers will blow your mind. You'll also be spending at least $ 300 more.

How long it will take?

The MacBook Air M1 should have a lifespan of at least five years as Apple keeps its laptops up to date. Certainly the machine itself will last forever because of the build quality, and you'll love the support from Apple (if not the industry-standard 1-year warranty). And the MacBook Air M1 is getting faster and faster as more software is optimized for the M1 CPU.

Should you buy it?

Yes. The MacBook Air M1 isn't just for MacBook fans looking for something smaller. It is intended for any laptop buyer who is happy to move to Mac OS and wants to participate in the real future of ARM-based computing.

Editor's recommendations

06 Sep

Blog

Asus ZenBook 14 UX425 Review: A Fantastic Value

September 6, 2020
Posted by Samson

asus zenbook 14 ux425 review 2020 05

"The Asus ZenBook 14 is an extremely portable laptop at a greatly reduced price."

Solid build quality
Elegant design
Useful keyboard and touchpad
Great battery life
Incredible value

No headphone jack
A touchscreen option is missing

Asus has an incredible number of ZenBook models, and not all of them stand out.

The last Asus ZenBook 14 we tested, the UX433 model, was one of them. It lacked some features that left it behind – like no Thunderbolt 3 ports that are unforgivable in a premium laptop – and it was average in several areas where the competition excels. This year Asus quietly launched the ZenBook 14 UX425 model, which adds some missing features and makes some noticeable improvements across the board – all while lowering the price.

I have a model with a 10th Generation Intel Ice Lake Core i5-1035G1 CPU, 8 GB of RAM, a 512 GB solid-state drive (SSD) and a 14-inch Full HD IPS display (1,920 x 1,080) tested with low power consumption only consumes one watt of power, half the usual two watts. What's pretty noticeable is that this configuration is only $ 800 – add $ 100 and you get a Core i7-1065G7 with Iris Plus Graphics. Has Asus made enough improvements to make the ZenBook 14 better than its competitors, especially considering how low it is?

design

Asus has been working hard for a number of years to make laptops that use small frames to fit into smaller cases. In this sense, the ZenBook 14 UX425 is smaller in almost all dimensions than its predecessor, the UX434, thanks to the 90% screen-to-body ratio. It's the same width but a little less deep and now only 0.54 inches thick compared to 0.67 inches. It also comes in at 2.58 pounds compared to 2.98 pounds.

The focus of the UX425 model is clearly on being thin and light, rather than incorporating some of the more powerful features of the UX434 like a discrete low-end GPU. Miniaturization puts the ZenBook 14 in good company; For example, it's not far from the LG Gram 14's 2.2 pounds – and this is a laptop that was explicitly designed to be as light as possible. The ZenBook 14 competition will likely include more popular 13-inch laptops like the Dell XPS 13. It's thinner than the XPS 13 (0.57 inches) and lighter (2.65 pounds). That's impressive for a 14-inch laptop.

Asus did not save on the processing quality either. The ZenBook 14 has an aluminum case that feels quite sturdy and has passed a number of military certification tests. I could pick a few nits, of course. The lid is a bit flexible and the keyboard has a touch of flex. Overall, the laptop feels solid despite its lightness.

The hinge is also perfect, easy to open with one hand and still hold the display in place. Kudos to Asus for developing a laptop that feels it deserves a premium price despite being close to the budget range.

Aesthetically, the ZenBook 14 looks very similar to a ZenBook. This is done on purpose – Asus is just as important to give their ZenBooks a uniform look as Lenovo is to the ThinkPad line. On the lid is Asus' iconic concentric swirl with the Asus logo on the right in the middle of the circles.

Otherwise, the laptop is simple but cleverly designed and looks quite elegant to me. Asus shows its design here too and the ZenBook 14 can hold its own in the looks department. My test device was pine gray, but a purple nebula is also available.

Connectivity would be great if it weren't for a blatant omission. On the left side of the laptop is a full-size HDMI 2.0 port with two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 3 support. That's huge – previous ZenBooks skipped Thunderbolt 3 and it was a blatant faux pas compared to other premium laptops. At $ 800, it's even more impressive. On the right side you will find a USB-A 3.2 port and a microSD card reader (a shame that it is not a full version). Wireless connectivity is cutting edge with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0.

What is the omission? Asus had to free up some space given the laptop's thin bezel, and the company had the choice of removing the HDMI port or the 3.5mm audio jack. Apparently, the customers they interviewed preferred the HDMI port and the audio jack was omitted.

It comes with a USB-C to 3.5mm dongle, but that was a big mistake in my opinion. If you have two Thunderbolt 3 connections, adding an external monitor – or using a dock for multiple monitors – is trivial. But do you use one of the ports to connect headphones or speakers? Sorry Asus, this doesn't make sense to me.

performance

The Asus ZenBook 14 UX425 uses Ice Lake Intel 10th generation CPUs, and my test device was equipped with the Core i5-1035G1. This is a mid-range 15 watt processor that should offer solid productivity performance, but shouldn't be considered for demanding creative endeavors.

In my tests it performed relatively better on synthetic benchmarks than on real tests. In Geekbench 5, for example, the ZenBook 14 achieved 1,209 points in the single-core test and 4,321 points in the multi-core test. That's quick for the CPU, as it outperforms laptops like the Acer Spin 3 with 1,215 and 3,615 and the Acer Aspire 5 with 1,129 and 2,899.

The ZenBook 14 lags behind in certain content creation tasks.

However, in our handbrake test that converts a 420MB video to H.265, the ZenBook 14 took almost five and a half minutes to complete the test. The Acer Spin 3 was done in just over four minutes and the Acer Aspire 5 15 seconds faster. I was surprised that things went so bad on this test – the trailing edge and air vents provide little support when the lid is opened, which should improve airflow and allow for more sustained performance. Even so, the ZenBook 14 lags behind in certain content creation tasks.

That doesn't mean it isn't a good performer for its targeted productivity tasks. If you're not doing demanding creative tasks, the ZenBook 14 is fast enough.

However, don't expect real games. The laptop comes with entry-level Intel UHD graphics, which should be limited to older titles and esports titles with lower resolutions and graphical details. You should try the Core i7 model with its Iris Plus graphics to play light games.

display

So far, the design and performance have been top notch for a $ 800 laptop. Next up is the display, a component that companies sometimes forego in order to squeeze in under a certain price.

Asus didn't do anything like that with the ZenBook 14. This would be a very good display for a premium laptop and an excellent display for the mid-range price. This is the average (for premium laptops) in just one area: the color gamut is 94% of sRGB and 72% of AdobeRGB. These colors are wide enough for productivity and multimedia applications and only creative professionals would disappoint.

From there, however, the display is above the premium average. The brightness is relatively high at 352 nits and is well above our preferred threshold of 300 nits. The contrast is 1,060: 1, which is above our preferred 1,000: 1 ratio and well above the 800: 1 average you'll find on most premium productivity machines. Color accuracy is very good at 1.42 (1.0 or less is considered excellent), and Gamma is just about right at 2.2.

I enjoyed using the display while writing this review – text popped, colors were bright and not over-saturated, and there was plenty of brightness no matter where I worked (except in direct sunlight, of course). I would be happy with this display in a laptop that costs twice as much as the ZenBook 14.

This display is much better than the LG Gram 14 2-in-1, and while it can't compete with the Full HD display on the Dell XPS 13, it's not far away – and the ZenBook 14 is hundreds of dollars less expensive .

Keyboard and touchpad

One of my favorite keyboards adorns the Specter line from HP and some newer Envy models. It has large buttons with plenty of spacing, plenty of travel, and a light mechanism that still provides a click, precise feel. Why do I mention the HP keyboard? Because the one Asus built into the ZenBook 14 looks and feels remarkably similar. It even has the same row of Home, PgUp, PgDn, and End buttons on the right edge.

I'm not saying Asus copied HP on purpose, but whatever – it's an excellent keyboard that comes close to the HP version. I'd say I like it almost as much, although the Asus iteration is a little too light with its touch.

The touchpad is another standout feature of the ZenBook 14. It's considerably wider this time around and therefore quite large for the size of the case on a Windows 10 computer. More importantly, it has a smooth and comfortable glass surface for accurate tracking and clicking. Of course, it includes Windows Precision drivers that make multi-touch gestures and general swipes a dream.

Asus remains adamant when it comes to adding touch displays to its clamshell laptops.

Most notable, however, is the NumberPad 2.0 feature, which embeds an LED number pad on the touchpad that is useful for anyone who needs to enter numbers. You can turn the NumberPad on and off easily enough by touching and briefly pressing an icon in the top right corner of the touchpad. Change the brightness by touching and holding an icon in the upper left corner. Turning on the NumberPad doesn't interfere with using the touchpad as a touchpad, which is a good thing.

However, Asus remains adamant when it comes to adding touch displays to its clamshell laptops. There's no option with the ZenBook 14, and that's a favorite of mine. I hate using a laptop without a touch display. I'm also used to using my thumb to scroll through web pages and tapping buttons that appear without having to activate the touchpad. I could be in the minority here, however, so Asus may have simply decided that it isn't worth the extra weight and thickness for a (theoretically) small number of users who want the feature.

Windows Hello support without a password is provided by an infrared camera and facial recognition. It works quickly and accurately, and while I prefer a fingerprint reader – which the ZenBook 14 doesn't have – it's a useful feature.

Battery life

Asus increased the battery capacity of the ZenBook 14 UX425 in this generation from 50 to 67 watt hours. It's huge. As already mentioned, the display is also a 1-watt version with low power consumption, which, in our experience, usually leads to an excellent battery life. I was hoping that the ZenBook 14 would follow suit.

As it turns out, the ZenBook 14 did very well in our test suite, even if it doesn't quite match some of the other laptops with low-power displays. It took more than four hours in our most demanding Basemark web benchmark test, which is a solid result, and which is most affected by the CPU and GPU, and the least by the display. Compared to another powerful 14-inch performer, the LG Gram 14 2-in-1 with 72 watt hours of battery life, it only lost a minute. The Dell XPS 13 lasted about 20 minutes longer.

In terms of battery life, the ZenBook 14 is an all-day performer and a lot more.

However, the ZenBook 14 caught our eye in our next two tests. First, our web browsing test made it to 11 hours, a strong score that lagged the LG Gram 14 by 18 minutes and the XPS 13 by about 30 minutes. In our video test, in which a local Full HD Avengers trailer is looped, the ZenBook 14 managed just under 15 hours, compared to the LG Gram 14 with about 16.5 hours and the XPS 13 with about 12.5 hours.

It's hard to be disappointed with results like this, although I expected a better result given the low-power display. The Dell Latitude 7400 2-in-1 with its low-power panel lasted a remarkable 21.8 hours in our video test. This is where the savings on the display make the biggest difference. Still, the ZenBook 14 is an all-day high performer and so much more. You can expect to have a full day of work with enough battery life to binge Netflix that evening.

Our opinion

At $ 1,200, the Asus ZenBook 14 UX425 would be a superior, thin, and light laptop that comes highly recommended. At $ 800, I'm more inclined to call it a bargain.

Regardless of the price, the Asus ZenBook 14 is a great laptop with a solid all-metal construction, a refined, thin and light design, a great keyboard and useful touchpad, and fantastic battery life. Throw in a $ 800 prize and we're talking about exceptional value.

Is there a better alternative?

The LG Gram 14 is an option if you want a 14-inch display that approaches the lightness of the ZenBook 14. You'll pay more, but get similar specs, and the Gram 14 won't be nearly as thin. Another 14-inch option to consider is the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7, an AMD Ryzen 4000-based laptop for $ 100 more that is faster and has even better battery life.

If you don't mind shrinking the screen size, the Dell XPS 13 is a more expensive alternative. The performance will be a little better, the display will be a little higher quality and the battery life will be a little better. But it will also cost more.

If you're looking to save some cash, consider the Lenovo Flex 5 14, a 14-inch 2-in-1 with AMD's Ryzen 4000 CPU. It's faster and almost as well built as the ZenBook 14, but it won't even come close to reaching its battery life. It's also only worth $ 600 and offers quite a bit of intrinsic value.

How long it will take?

The ZenBook 14 UX425 is well built and configured with the latest technology. You will be productive for years. The one-year warranty is disappointing, as usual, but Asus offers one-year accident protection.

Should you buy it?

Yes. If you're looking for a thin and light laptop for productivity and media consumption, you can't go wrong with the ZenBook 14. And you won't be spending much either.