02 Feb
Blog

Dying Light 2: Stay Human review: Less talk, more dropkicks

Players using the paraglider in Dying Light 2.

Dying Light 2: Stay Human

RRP $60.00

"With a slow plot and uninteresting characters, Dying Light 2: Stay Human's few redeeming qualities are what sets the franchise apart from other zombie games."

benefits

  • The setting is beautiful

  • Parkour is fun

  • Dropkicks rule

  • variety of activities

  • Deep Customization

disadvantage

  • boring characters

  • Unimaginative missions

  • Misleading Decisions

  • The fight repeats itself

Dying Light 2: Stay Human has been a long time coming, and the years of effort that went into it really shows. Its world is a meticulously designed parkour playground, somewhere that I've happily walked through in my 30 or so hours of play. This is the Dying Light franchise's niche in the ever-expanding sea of ​​zombie games. Its movement and world are second to none – and it's pretty fun to kick a zombie off a rooftop, too.

But that's the beginning and end of everything interesting in Dying Light, making Dying Light 2's narrative adventure all the more confusing. Instead of focusing on his freewheeling and zombie fighting, the game delivers a muddy story burdened with too many uninteresting characters and pushes them into the limelight.

Dying Light 2 is a wonderful game, but its characters' speech wears off faster than the main character's shoe soles.

Lost control

Dying Light 2 picks up well after the original game, putting players in the well-worn sneakers of Aiden Caldwell. He is a pilgrim, a wanderer among the world's few human settlements in search of his long-lost sister. That brings him to the town of Villedor, a stand-in for Dying Lights Harran, albeit one who doesn't flirt with the apocalypse but has instead been living in the aftermath of an apocalypse for over a decade.

Buildings burn in Dying Light 2.

From the start, Dying Light 2 is an expansion of everything from the original Dying Light. The city of Villedor is a grander, taller jungle gym than Harran was. Players can customize their character via an RPG leveling system and modify weapons glued or welded together from the city ruins. It also means the game's story, which throws Aiden in the middle of a conflict between two factions, plays an even bigger role.

While you might not care about the factions and can even choose to play a very egocentric version of Aiden, by working with them, players actually transform Villedor. By killing zombies and running freely to the top of a water tower, turning on power to an area, or simply claiming a derelict windmill, players can allocate territories to each faction. With this new land under their control, the survivors set up traversal assists, like ziplines or airbags that blast Aiden a few dozen feet up. Peacekeepers, on the other hand, focus on defensive city modifications, with their first being sporadically placed car bombs.

The handover of these areas to each faction changes the city's skyline. Survivors will turn rooftops into farms while the Peacekeepers build huge metal forts painted blue. The difference between the city at the beginning and the end of the game's story is considerable, transforming entire areas from barren to full of life, whether peaceful or militaristic.

In Dying Light 2, Frank hands the player a beer.

But factions, and especially faction leaders, don't care if you starve them out of territory. The game's story and gameplay are completely separate, with the two never affecting each other. Instead, factions handle the choices players make during story missions. For example, if you give one faction access to a radio antenna when you've promised another, it means you're going to make a tough decision about who gives you quests.

There are other cases where the decision you made is not the result. From time to time, Dying Light 2 decides that while you may have chosen something with the intention of helping a group or faction, it actually turns out to be the opposite. At several points I made a choice because the game made it seem like I wanted to do that, and in the end it gave me the opposite. This continued throughout the game, eventually leading to me getting an ending that I really didn't want.

The difference between the city at the beginning and the end of the game's story is considerable, transforming entire areas from barren to full of life, whether peaceful or militaristic.

Still, I wasn't too upset with the game's ending. Rather, I was annoyed at how well it aligned with the rest of Aiden's experience. Dying Light 2's story is as dilapidated as some of the game's abandoned buildings. Full of plot holes and poorly written characters, there are very few highlights of excitement in the game's main missions. In the end, I felt like the town of Villedor had more character than any of the game's NPCs. It's dilapidated, aged, and packed with environmental stories that far outstrip the mid-2000s soap opera that plays out between the characters of Dying Light 2. And it's the only thing I actually felt in control of during the game.

feet full of anger

Between the missions of Dying Light 2, players are free to run through Villedor, fighting against its inhabitants – both the undead and the living – and completing various activities. Let me get that out of the way first: Combat in Dying Light 2 is pretty simple. From the start of the game, you swing weapons at enemies and parry their attacks to unleash a powerful kick, knocking a stunned bad guy off his back. Other than that, the combat doesn't progress all that much as the game progresses.

With its RPG leveling system, players can unlock new parkour and power skills, with the former making it even easier to run around the city and the latter making it easier to kill everything that lives in the city. I ended up investing a lot in the parkour route, mainly because I couldn't miss an opportunity to run over walls.

In Dying Light 2 you will have the most fun dropkicking whatever you choose.

But there is one extremely important ability in the power tree that cannot be ignored: The Dropkick. This move was a staple in the first Dying Light and continues to be here. It's unironically the best part of this game. In Dying Light 2, you'll have the most fun dropkicking whatever you choose, from zombies to the bandits who decide to put themselves between you and a spiked wall. Techland could (and should) make a game centered around dropkicking things with no attached story because it would be awesome.

Pushing further into RPG territory, Dying Light 2 features a robust crafting and gear system with various armor pieces supporting different builds. If you're a player who enjoys fighting with one-handed weapons, the Brawler Armor will give you bonuses for doing so. Tank players who want to use a two-handed weapon and block damage like it's nothing can find suitable armor for this build.

Dropkicking two zombies in Dying Light 2.

This gear, along with crafting components, can be found throughout the world of Dying Light 2, but is most commonly found in the game's Dark Zones. Along with GRE anomalies (mini-bosses that can only be fought at night) and a variety of other abandoned locations, Dark Zones are why you should go out at night when the town of Villedor becomes more dangerous. The undead roam the streets in greater numbers after sundown, and Special Infected, like Howlers, are more likely to launch chases that require players to run from a pack of walkers to the nearest safe zone.

Dark Zones and other nocturnal activities balance this danger with myriad rewards. Dark Zones are packed with valuables, crafting materials, and Inhibitors, a new resource that players can use to improve their overall health and stamina. GRE anomalies reward players with the same. Again, this is a part of Dying Light expanded in Dying Light 2, and the game is better off for that. The night is not something players should avoid, but rather an opportunity for some of the game's more exciting challenges.

Co-op is a great way to enhance the experience, if only a little. Playing with friends can turn the normally serious game into a chaotic mess of multiple Aidens all swinging their guns at enemies. However, it's not a perfect experience. While playing cooperatively with some of the game's developers, I was repeatedly booted out of the game and enemies fell through the floor more than once, including a GRE anomaly mini-boss.

Out of balance

Overall, Dying Light 2 is a constantly choppy experience, due in part to the game's lackluster story and eventually stale combat, as well as a good number of bugs. At several points during my time with Dying Light 2, I had to completely restart the game due to a bug that prevented NPCs from even speaking to me.

Hakon talks to the player in Dying Light 2.

I've also encountered issues where Aiden wouldn't grab anything at all, enemies would freeze in place, and zombies wouldn't attack me. By far the worst bug was when I got a softock even though it was supposed to be patched by the time the game started. Even so, these issues took away from the overall experience even more, leaving a layer of frustration.

Coupled with a lackluster story full of misleading choices and insufferable characters, Dying Light 2 is sustained by its world and struggle, but even then both eventually become boring. Towards the end of the game I didn't feel like I needed to unlock more areas for either faction and the fight had become repetitive.

Coupled with a lackluster story full of misleading choices and insufferable characters, Dying Light 2 is sustained by its world and struggle, but even then both eventually become boring.

While the beginning of my time with Dying Light 2 was fun and I enjoyed being introduced to its world and various systems, they got tiring once I became familiar with each one. Ideas in Dying Light 2 are introduced and hardly evolve, making most systems, from combat to crafting, routine. Parkour changes with the addition of a paraglider and a grappling hook, although the whole experience doesn't feel much different.

Our opinion

Dying Light 2: Stay Human is more of that, a kind of love letter from Techland to the fans of the original Dying Light. Players can explore a larger world with more zombies, participate in a larger story, and customize their character with more robust RPG mechanics. However, nothing in Dying Light 2 advances the game's formula in any meaningful way. After taking 30 hours to beat, after 15 I effectively saw everything the game had to offer. Without a good narrative or a lovable cast of characters, Dying Light 2's story only drags the game down. While playing the game itself is fun, it grinds to a halt with too few exciting parts, and actually completing the game ends in a drudgery.

Is there a better alternative?

Fans of classic zombie games full of blood and guts should try Back 4 Blood. It's available on Xbox Game Pass and is best played with a few friends.

How long it will take?

It took me a whopping 30 hours to complete Dying Light 2, although anyone who rushes through the main story can do it in 20. If you want to do everything in the game, unlock every ability, and complete every activity, it could take up to 100 hours (although Techland claims it can take up to 500).

should you buy it

Yes. Though the pace slows towards the end, Dying Light 2's main gameplay loop is fun enough for anyone to enjoy for at least a few dozen hours.

Dying Light 2 was tested with a PlayStation 5 and an Insignia F30 4K Smart TV.

Editor's Recommendations



09 Nov
Blog

Govee Neon Rope Light Review: Colorful Spaghetti Noodles

Govee neon fairy lights

Govee neon fairy lights

RRP $ 66.00

“Half the fun of setting up this light was testing all kinds of patterns. The possible forms are limitless. "

advantages

  • Bright, flexible light

  • Simple intelligent control via Alexa and Google Assistant

  • Strong glue and easy assembly

  • Thousands of different color configurations

disadvantage

  • The installation process might take some work

  • Not long enough to spell longer words

  • No possibility to extend the length

Govee has exploded into the smart lighting scene in recent months with a range of relatively inexpensive lamps and light strips, but their newest product stands out in several big ways. The rope looks like pre-cooked spaghetti noodles if these noodles had a light-diffusing cover over LED lights. The strip itself is divided into two sections: the lower half that hides all of the wiring and does not light up, and the upper section that houses the LEDs.

The Govee Neon Rope Lights are very similar to the Philips Hue Ambient Light Strip, but they are significantly cheaper at $ 66 compared to $ 180. They're also more flexible, allowing you to write messages on the wall or create a variety of different patterns to suit your personality. Best of all, these lights work without any external accessories and work over both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Thanks to the variety of colors, scenes and functions, the Neon Rope Lights are a great way to add a little light art to your home.

Assembly and installation

At first glance, I expected the installation process to be a lot more tedious than it was. The mounting hardware includes metal brackets that slide over the back of the lights and snap into a groove along the lower half of the rope. Holes are drilled through the bottom of each bracket that allow it to be screwed into the wall (and the drywall screws are included if you choose to go that way) luckily, each bracket comes with 3M glue on the back too . All I had to do was peel and glue to attach the lights to the wall.

Close up of the glue on Govee Neon Rope Light.

The brackets served as a guide for creating a shape. When I'm not writing, I have a small, gaming-focused podcast, so I positioned the strip so that it is in the camera's field of view when recording. I tried spelling out DDG for the show's initials, but trying to make legible text with the lights brought me back to my italic courses in elementary school. It didn't go well. Someone with more artistic talent might be able to form words, but I found it easier to just make a swirl pattern on the wall that resembles the Dreamcast logo. That said, half the fun of setting up this light was testing all of the potential patterns. The possible shapes are limitless.

Half the fun of setting up this light was testing all possible patterns.

The box also includes a set of alcohol swabs to wipe the surface before using the glue. The assembly process was easy; The only real downside was sliding the strip into the mounts. It fits tight and often I had to slide the bracket open anywhere and then pull the strip through until it reached the point where I needed it. Since the adhesive is a one-time use, the screws make it possible to reuse the fastening material and readjust it if necessary, albeit with a little extra effort.

Mounting bracket on the Govee Neon Rope Light.

The only headache came with adding the strip of light to the Govee app. The app does not automatically recognize new devices. Instead, you'll have to scroll through a list of products until you find the product you want to add. Govee goes out of their way with naming conventions, so your best bet is to look in your box and look for the model number. It's a minor inconvenience, but it seems out of place when it comes to modern smart home devices.

App and functions

If you've used a Govee light before, you already know the options available. The Neon Rope Light has the same functions as other Govee light bands and the same color options.

The Neon Rope Light offers more than 16 million colors and 15 different light segments to choose from. Each segment can be controlled individually, from color to relative brightness. You can also choose whether the segments should be well defined or should blend in between each other on a gradient. With this level of customization, you can create a nearly endless number of scenes that adapt to the mood of your room.

The Govee app contains 64 dynamic scenes to choose from. These are broken down into categories, including Natural, Festival, Life, and Emotion. Personally, I found the fall scene under the Of course category to be one of the best options. Even if you have other govee lights, these are the same categories and scenes available for them.

The Govee Neon Rope Light gives your wall a touch of style.

If you have multiple Govee lights in a room, you can use the app to select the Smarts tab and group multiple lights together. In one of these groups, you can set up specific schedules and "plans" that allow you to choose which devices to turn on, what color that particular device is, and much more. Unfortunately, while the Smarts tab gives access to a few pre-made scenes, it does not provide access to all of them. However, it suggests plans and even allows Govee's AI. Suggest color samples. You can even upload a picture and it will try to match the general color of the room to that photo.

Govee Neon Rope Light on the floor showing design.

In addition to these features, you can sync the lights with music. There are four different modes to choose from, but I found the sudden flicker more distracting than anything else.

Intelligent control

The Govee Neon Rope Light works with both Alexa and Google Assistant. Alexa automatically recognized the light and added it to the network. With the Google Assistant, I had to link my Govee account to my Google account. After that, it was so easy to pick each light and choose the room to add it to. From the wizards I can set up schedules, timers, and more. I can also ask Alexa or Google Assistant to change the colors, modes, and more. Alexa even offers access to all of Govee's built-in scenes from the Alexa app, but the Google Assistant does not.

Our opinion

Govee has made many trails in the smart lighting space, with everything from indoor strips to smart lights and more. The company even has other lesser-known smart devices to choose from. The Govee Neon Rope Light will add a touch of style to your wall in the form of a word or a pattern.

While it doesn't add much in terms of colors or features, its flexibility and potential uses are considerable. The marketing material makes it seem like the strip is much longer than it is, but a kit is only 3 feet long – and there doesn't seem to be any way to add any extra length to the strip.

Is there a better alternative?

The Philips Hue Ambient Light Strip is a similar product, but its higher cost and the need for a hub make it less attractive. You could also consider the Twinkly Flex for just $ 100. It serves a similar purpose, can be arranged in writing, and has a number of different color options to choose from. On the budget front, however, it's tough to beat the $ 65 Govee Neon Rope Light.

How long it will take?

Govee's products aren't thin, but neither do they feel like the most durable items on the market. I was worried that if I put the brackets in place, I would scratch the lights. There is no guarantee, but Govee promises to replace defective devices. These lights probably don't move a lot so they should last quite a while provided you take care of them.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. Govee is a high quality budget brand. Although there are a few hiccups here and there, the lights work well and are easy to integrate with smart assistants. It won't revolutionize your smart home, but the Neon Rope Light is a great addition to add a bit of style to any room.

Editor's recommendations



23 Oct
Blog

Govee Glide Wall Light Review: Add Color to Your Wall

govee Glide wall lamp Review Lifestyle 2 of 3

Govee Glide wall lamp

RRP $ 100.00

"The Govee Glide wall lamp can transform any bare wall into a masterpiece of dazzling colors."

advantages

  • Variety of light patterns

  • Bright light output

  • Firm adhesion to the wall

disadvantage

  • Limited designs

  • Antiquated looking software

Govee was on the verge. The last smart home maker to launch new products with so much enthusiasm was Wyze, but Govee has been a lot more hectic over the past six months. What is interesting here is that the company's focus is only on one product category and does not delve into many areas. Intelligent lighting is his specialty.

The Govee Glide wall lamp moves a little outside of the intelligent lighting convention and offers a slightly different approach. Instead of being a lightbulb or lamp, it's actually a modular set of light strips that you can configure to decorate and adorn walls. If you are tired of the LED light strips that tend to be out of sight, this may pique your interest as it will ask to be presented in front and in the center.

Installation and setup

Two kits are available: a 7-piece system for $ 100 and a 12-piece system for $ 150. I tested the 7-piece set but found that it doesn't offer nearly as many arrangements as other wall lights – like the Twinkly Flex or Nanoleaf Lines. Because the light bars are connected one behind the other and there is only a single 90-degree piece, which makes it almost impossible to find a unique arrangement that stands out from others. Even if you go for the 12-piece kit, you will likely have to buy another to really design something ornate. I chose an L-shaped design because you can't do much more without investing in more light strips.

Govee Glide wall lamp on the wall.John Velasco / Digital Trends

Luckily, mounting it on the wall is child's play, because the underside of the light strips has adhesive strips that appear to remain firmly attached to the wall. While the light bars may seem bulky, they are actually light enough to stay firmly in place. In fact, I've set up the Govee Glide Wall Light for over a month now and there's no sign that the glue has worn off. However, you should really finish your wall design before placing it on the wall because once they are erected it is a hassle to remove.

software

The Govee Glide wall light is controlled via the enclosed Govee Home app for Android and iOS. Aesthetically, it could benefit from a visual makeover as parts of it look antiquated. Its salvation is that Govee offers an extensive set of presets and modes that make for some dazzling lighting effects – including one that is music-responsive, as well as the ability to create your own custom light pattern.

Govee Home app that runs on a phone.

You will definitely spend a lot of time creating a custom effect as you will have to pick a color for a specific light bar. In comparison, I prefer Twinkly's method of adjusting the light patterns as it maps your design beforehand with your phone's camera. That way, it's much easier and more convenient to set up a custom pattern instead of having to manually select each light bar through the app.

power

As mentioned earlier, Govee offers a variety of lighting effects. From pulsating effects to multi-colored lights that turn on from end to end, I love the variety that it has to offer. The options available can be adjusted to suit the mood or ambience, making it very suitable as an accent light. While most similar smart lights like this are more of an accent, I'm actually surprised at how they can act as the main light source as well.

I'm actually surprised at how it can act as the main light source.

When it's night, the Govee Glide wall sconce has enough power to light up most rooms – which makes it useful for reading, which is surprising for a 7-piece set like this one. I didn't expect that, but it can replace the two floor lamps that I currently use in my home office. The colors are pretty vivid too, but not as vivid as the colors I saw from the Govee Lyra Smart Floor Lamp. Even so, it's not too shabby and most people would be happy with its hues.

characteristics

In terms of intelligent functions, I wanted something more than the usual – like voice control with Alexa or Google Assistant. There's a basic timer option for choosing days and times it can be turned on and off, but I really would have loved to see more. The Wyze Lights Strips Pro, for example, automatically adjusts the color temperature to the time of day.

Our opinion

With its simple setup and dazzling color patterns, the Govee Glide wall light has enough to offer without being too expensive. Other smart wall light options offer better saturation and adjustment than this, but are also much more expensive. Govee's offering is balanced enough to make it an option unless you want a more customizable design.

Is there a better alternative?

At the moment, the Nanoleaf Lines are standout wall lights that offer better color saturation and more customization options. You'll pay a lot more for it, but you're sure to get some visitor attention due to the dazzling and neat design.

There's also the Twinkly Flex, which is priced similar to the Govee Glide Wall Light. The flex offers great brightness and saturation and has the advantage of being manipulable to create even more designs on the wall.

How long it will take?

The plastic-coated light strips don't weigh much and feel a bit hollow. You could say it feels threadbare. Govee offers a one-year limited warranty to protect it from failure.

Should you buy it?

If you are content with simple wall designs and don't want to spend a fortune, the Govee Glide wall lamp with its fascinating light patterns is worth a look.

Editor's recommendations



07 Oct
Blog

Wyze Light Strip Pro Review: Bang-for-the-Buck Light Shows

Wyze Light Strip Pro in pink.

Wyze light bar Pro

RRP $ 32.00

advantages

  • Cheap price

  • No bridge required; connects to WiFi

  • Can be cut to any length

disadvantage

  • Color saturation could be better

If there is one thing I love about smart lighting spaces, it has to be that they are more affordable than ever. There has been a sudden shift with many more players offering ultra-affordable smart lights that cover the full range. One of them is Wyze, who released its Wyze Bulb Color earlier this year, which I have called the most worthy cheap smart light bulb.

Well, the company hasn't missed a beat with the upcoming release of two new lighting offerings – the Wyze Light Strip and Light Strip Pro. Affordable pricing is the focus here again, starting at $ 27 and $ 32 respectively, but with so much competition in the room, they really need something special to stand out at this point. I will mainly focus on the Wyze Light Strip Pro for this test, as it can deliver up to 16 colors per strip – while the standard Wyze Light Strip can only produce one color at a time.

Installation and setup

Setting up the Wyze LED light strips was pretty straightforward, especially when the underside of the strips is covered with a tacky adhesive that makes it easy to attach to surfaces. In the end, I sketched my headboard and parts of my bed frame. Both the Wyze Light Strip and Light Strip Pro come in 16.4- and 32.8-foot options, but the Wyze Light Strip Pro is epoxy-coated – while the standard Wyze Light Strip is not and is not exposed. While I don't plan on using them outdoors, the Wyze Light Strip Pro seems to hold up better in the long run.

Exposed LED on the Wyze Light Strip Pro.John Velasco / Digital Trends

Depending on the project, you can adjust the length of the Wyze Light Strip Pro to any length you want for that custom fit. There are marks on the strip where to cut to make it easier to trim, but I've never been a fan of cutting strips of light. Before removing the cover for the adhesive, you should check beforehand that the entire strip is maximized.

Wyze Light Strip Pro in blue.John Velasco / Digital Trends

For harder surfaces where the adhesive on the underside is not enough to hold the weight of the entire strip, such as However, I would have liked screws for additional hold. That's because, in my experience, the glue on these clips tends to wear off. After all, it connects directly to Wi-Fi so I'm glad there aren't any additional bridges to connect with this setup.

Software and control

To interact with the LED light strips, you need to access the Wyze app – available for Android and iOS. It's largely divided into three main sections: design, scenes, and music. When designing, colors can be manually selected from the color wheel, scenes are preset color options, and music provides decent lighting effects that are controlled by music.

Speaking of lighting effects: A microphone is built into the controller on the light bar, which forms the bridge between the power supply unit and the actual light bars. To get the right response in music mode, I set the controller sensitivity to high – so that the effect matches the music properly. Setting it low doesn't do much good.

In addition to remote access to the intelligent LED light strips via the app, they support Alexa and Google Assistant for voice control. I sometimes find it easier to just speak the command on my smart speaker or display.

power

Between the two, the Wyze Light Strip Pro offers more lighting effects, as it can display up to 16 colors at the same time. If you really want to spice up the decor in your home, go for the Pro for its advanced effects. You get some really nice color combinations painting rooms in rainbow colors, but I crave lights that are a little more saturated in tone. The saturation is decent but doesn't produce the same deep reds and blues that I get from other LED light strips.

I long for lights that are a little more saturated in tone.

Even so, the Wyze Light Strip Pro's brightness output isn't overly shoddy. It's powerful enough to be used for reading when the strip is exposed, as opposed to a discreet installation as an accent light. Even if the light strip with music mode shines in an explosion of colors, I wish that these special light effects could be switched on at any time – without having to play music. Honestly, a preset for these effects would be ideal, but it annoys me why it isn't offered because it's an easy addition.

Multi-color effect with Wyze Light Strip Pro.John Velasco / Digital Trends

Plus, it has the basic features I expect from smart lights – like the option to set sleep routines, timers, and scenes. It goes one step further with the vacation mode, which automatically turns the lights on and off, and Sun Match, which mimics natural sunlight all day long.

Our opinion

Wyze takes everything it's known for in space and delivers a decent set of smart LED light strips that aren't too expensive. Between the two models, I'd recommend the Wyze Light Strip Pro for the simple fact that it offers more color effects. Whichever you choose, they are both affordable for all budgets and a reasonable length for the price.

Is there a better alternative?

One of the most interactive smart LED light strips I've used, the Twinkly Line offers users custom lighting effects and superior color saturation. However, you pay almost double the cost with a shorter length to play around with.

For a simple smart LED light bar, Govees options are easier on the wallet – often in the $ 20 range for 16.4 feet in length.

How long it will take?

Between the two, the epoxy coating over the Wyze Light Strip Pro gives me confidence that it will withstand wear and tear better, as dirt and debris wouldn't interfere with the components. In any case, there is a 1-year guarantee for both LED light strips, which covers defects.

Should you buy it?

You bet. Wyze's intelligent LED light strips may not only excel in one area, but they are inexpensive and offer enough standard features to accentuate any room in the house.

Editor's recommendations



18 Aug
Blog

Govee Lyra Smart Floor Lamp Review: A Futuristic Light Show

govee lyra smart floor lamp Rating 3 of 11

Govee Lyra Smart Floor Lamp Review: A fascinating, futuristic light show

RRP $ 150.00

"If there is a bare corner in your home, the Govee Lyra Smart Floor Lamp will illuminate it with light."

advantages

  • Tons of preset light modes to choose from

  • Strong brightness

  • Vibrant colours

Govee is a brand I've talked about a lot over the past few months, in part because their smart lights are affordable compared to alternatives from established brands like Philips Hue and Lifx. Conventional lightbulbs and light strips are widely used in the smart lighting field, saturating the market with products that have very similar purposes and functions – so Govee decides to expand their portfolio with their next device.

At first glance, the Govee Lyra Smart floor lamp with its round base and narrow protruding column looks like something out of a futuristic science fiction film. But once it turns on, there is something intriguing that catches your attention. It's certainly fascinating, but the $ 150 price tag makes it the most expensive model in its ever-expanding range of smart lighting.

Setup and installation

Building the Govee Lyra Smart Floor Lamp is a fairly simple process that consists of four components: a base, a narrow tube, a strip of light and a power connector. The narrow tube is fastened together and then connected to the base, which allows it to have a clearance of 57 inches when fully assembled.

Govee has taken the best features of a smart light strip and transplanted them into a potent floor lamp.

The hardest part of the whole setup is to snake the flexible strip of light along the thin cutout along the tube. It reminds me of your ordinary strip of light that you can hang on a wall or around furniture, but it's encased in a sturdy and flexible rubber-like housing that fits into the narrow channel of the tubes. From start to finish, the entire process takes a maximum of 15 minutes.

design

As I said before, the Govee Lyra Smart Floor Lamp looks very different – so much so that it may not blend well with traditional decor. If you are looking for the minimalist look, you can surely appreciate what Govee is up to here. Compared to the Wyze floor lamp I tested, which looks very much what I expect from a floor lamp, Govee's interpretation is undeniably as minimalistic as it gets.

Two people sing next to Govee Lyra Lamp.

This is not a bad quality in and of itself, especially if it doesn't take up a lot of floor space. I ended up putting it in a corner of my office so the light could bounce off the wall more effectively. And sure, you can position it so that the streak of light is facing away from the wall, but I did the opposite because the intensity of the light can be harsh on the eyes due to its high brightness.

features

Light shows are expected with these types of smart lights, but Govee goes a step further when compared to some other table or floor lamps. Although I really enjoy the ambience that table lamps like the Philips Hue Iris have, they cannot produce different colors at the same time. That is the special thing about the Govee Lyra, because as a light band it can produce many different colors at the same time. This is achieved thanks to Govee's RGBIC (red, green, blue independent control) technology.

A selection of dazzling light patterns is available via the Govee Home app, which is available for Android and iOS. What makes it better is that the light patterns are dynamic rather than just emitting one color – which is fine if you prefer a more static setting, but I enjoy the pattern changes that the Lyra offers. From breathing effects to mimicking the look of candlelight, it's nice to know that there is a pattern to choose from for every mood.

Its versatility underscores the lyra's ability to customize patterns. The app has options for choosing colors and which areas of the lightstrip to turn on so you can customize a light show. There is a mode that allows the lyre to light up when the microphone detects music or sounds. If you want to throw a dance party, the lyre glows beautifully to the beat of the music.

Use the Govee Home app for Android to turn on Govee Lyra.

Finally, it's compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant. I managed to set it up with the latter so that I can turn it on and off instantly with voice actions.

perfomance

When it comes to being a main source of light, the brightness of the Govee Lyra easily makes it a perfect reading lamp. It also works well as an accent or ambient light with my particular setup as the light coming from the strip is harsh when looking at it directly.

Govee Lyra Smart floor lamp lighting corner.

Meanwhile, the colors it can produce are saturated in tone – especially when different colors are emitted at the same time. The colors clashing along the wall have something fascinating to say – they make for an impressive light show. Seeing its color explosion through a picture is one thing, but seeing it in action in person or on video is another thing.

Our opinion

The $ 150 cost of the Govee Lyra Smart Floor Lamp is without question the biggest hurdle for most people. It's still expensive, but it's justified when you look at what the competition has to offer.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes and no. There aren't many smart floor lamps out there that offer this level of customization, especially for their price. The only other alternative worth checking out is the Philips Hue Signe, which stands out for its ability to work as ambient light with your home theater experience, but you'll want to pay $ 250 for it.

If you're looking for a smart floor lamp with more emphasis on being a primary light source, you can't beat the Wyze floor lamp. Although it only emits white light, you'll want to pay less than $ 50 for it.

How long it will take?

Fortunately, the base is weighted down enough to prevent the lyre from tipping over, but the thin metal column could be damaged if it accidentally falls over. Otherwise, you can count on long-term use of this lamp as it is based on LED technology. Govee offers a one-year limited warranty that covers defects.

Should you buy it?

Yes. It is a floor lamp that emits strong light and is perfect as a primary light source. And its colored light show will dazzle your eyes.

Editor's recommendations



24 Jul
Blog

Twinkly Line Review: Dazzling Light Show, Short On Length

Twinkly Line Review Smart LED Light Bar 3 of 10

"The special effects from Twinkly are abundant and give every room the perfect ambience."

advantages

  • Lots of preset lighting effects

  • Easy assembly with adhesive strips

  • Custom effects can easily be set up

disadvantage

  • Very short length to work with

After setting up the Twinkly Flex a few weeks ago, I didn't think there would be other smart lights that could achieve nearly the same level of excitement that I had with the Flex's dazzling light show. Well, unless it's something Twinkly. The company's move to year-round smart lights has so far impressed me with the performance of the Flex rather than just relying on its bread and butter Christmas lights.

With the Twinkly Line, however, it is entering a room that is already saturated with other intelligent LED light strips from the competition. Don't be fooled if you think this is your ordinary LED light strip because the magic lies not just in its brightness intensity or different colors it can produce, but rather in the special effects you can create for a custom, unique one Can use light show.

installation

Unlike the Twinkly Flex, which required more labor because it had to be attached to the wall with screws, the Twinkly Line is much easier to install. However, I had to be meticulous with the placement as this is meant to serve as an accent light – so you really don't want it to be outdoors. I ended up placing it under the windowsill in my living room, which is a bit hidden apart from the fact that the power cord snakes around one side.

Twinkly Line individual LED lighting in different colors.John Velasco / Digital Trends

The 5 foot length of the Twinkly Line proved a little tricky as I wanted to install it in one of the cabinets in my entertainment center first. However, it just wasn't long enough to cover what I needed. You can technically lengthen the length by purchasing additional 5-foot extensions that sell for about $ 37, but the cost to meet the need will add up quickly – the initial cost of the Twinkly Line is about $ 67. Dollar.

Attaching the Twinkly Line to a surface is quite easy because the underside is covered with an adhesive. Some pressure is required to ensure it stays in place while the three-prong connector is attached to one end of the conduit to complete the installation. There are clips that are included, but I found the adhesive wasn't strong enough to stay firmly in place overnight – it instead dangled from the wall the next day.

software

Basically, the Twinkly Line works like almost any other smart LED light bar on the market. You can choose different colors through the app, but what makes it unique are the different special effects that Twinkly offers. From different colors in a rainbow pattern to a neat effect that mixes two colors that start at either end of the strip, it's the customization and special effects that make it unique.

While there are several different presets to choose from in the app, you can better customize the effect due to the ability to assign the lights with your smartphone's camera. That way, the effects will be exactly the same as what you see in the app, but this becomes more noticeable when you group different Twinkly lights – resulting in elaborate pattern effects that can go from side to side. The Twinkly app is straightforward to use and the ability to easily adjust the light pattern makes it special.

perfomance

I think it's great that Twinkly has entered the category of smart LED light strips with the Line. The colors are punchy and moderately bright compared to some other comparable light strips. It's certainly not as powerful as the Twinkly Flex, but the Line still emits enough light to complement the most important lights in the house. It's not intrusive what I like about an accent light.

Some of the special effects are pretty mind-blowing.

Some of the special effects are pretty mind-boggling, which I've seen with all of the Twinkly Smart Lights I've come across. The only real limitation here is just the length, which at 5 feet forces you to really think about placement. In particular, it's not quite as flexible as other LED light strips I've used, so it's almost impossible to bend it into a 90-degree angle – although the plastic cover over the strip certainly gives the durability to potentially help it hold up potentially long term.

Rainbow colors emitted by the Twinkly Line.

Regardless, the Twinkly Line's performance is exceptional in every season. The experience is also enhanced as it is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant for quick and easy voice control. I managed to make it part of my living room lighting so that it can turn all the lights in the room on and off when I ask the Google Assistant.

Our opinion

The only disadvantage here is that the price of the Twinkly Line is higher than other intelligent LED light strips. You'll have to spend roughly $ 67 for the 5 foot base strip, and then an additional $ 37 for each 5 foot extension. This undoubtedly adds up quickly when your budget is tight.

Still, it's a perfect match if you already have Smart Lights from Twinkly as the grouping feature I could add makes for a dazzling presentation when you have multiple lights with the same effect.

Is there a better alternative?

If you want to save money, you get a lot more Govee Smart LED light bar. For $ 34, you get 32.8-foot lighting to work with, which is more than enough to cover larger spaces and corners.

Philips Hue offers its own intelligent LED light strip that is priced a little higher than what the Twinkly Line currently offers. Technically, you have 6 feet of lighting to work with, but it's an easy decision to buy if you've already invested in the Philips Hue ecosystem.

How long it will take?

The robust outer housing of the Twinkly Line feels super robust. While bending it at an angle is out of the question, the LED lights are encased to prevent moisture from messing up or possibly ruining the light. In the event of a defect, there is a one-year limited warranty that comes with the product.

Should you buy it?

If the cost isn't too high for you, the Twinkly Line has a unique light show that will make your neighbors jealous when they see the show from the outside.

Editor's recommendations



18 Jul
Blog

Twinky Flex Review: A Neon Wall Light That Bends The Rules

Twinky Flex Rating Twinkly 8 out of 10

Twinkly Flex

RRP $ 100.00

"It's the neon light that you can continuously adapt to any shape and design at home."

advantages

  • Endless lighting adjustments with the app

  • Bright and dazzling colors

  • Bends easily for unique designs

disadvantage

  • No possibility to combine two tubes with each other

When it comes to Christmas lights, nobody does it better than the smart light maker Twinkly. I've been excited about the company's smart lighting line since I first saw it a few years ago. While the choices are quite large when it comes to Christmas lights, there really isn't anything that you could use all year round.

This is where the Twinkly Flex comes to the rescue, one of three brand new smart lighting solutions the company unveiled earlier this year during CES 2021. The flex is very similar to any other LED light strip, but it is encased in a sturdy tube that allows it to be bent or bent. Think of it as a neon wall light, but which can be moved into any position you want – for that unique, individual look.

installation

The Twinkly Flex measures 6.5 feet long followed by a cable of pretty much the same length that plugs into an electrical outlet. There are some double-sided adhesives and plastic sheets in the packaging to help shape the flex. I initially used the adhesives to design the word "love" on the wall, but found it all came apart the next morning – so I ended up using the screws provided to secure the plastic panels to the wall. It's extra work, but it hands out the weight and design better than just the adhesives.

Wall mounted plastic guides for holding the Twinkly Flex design.John Velasco / Digital Trends

One of the hardest things about installing the Flex has nothing to do with the actual installation. Instead, it's about figuring out which design to go by. There are some shapes and abstract designs to go with, but the 6.5 feet I had to work with was limiting at times. Unlike other smart LED light strips, you can't physically connect two flex tubes together for more complex designs. Instead, you can use the app to buy multiple flex strips together.

software

The Twinkly app is pretty simple. After connecting the Flex to my home's Wi-Fi network, I was then able to choose which lighting effects to choose. In fact, there are many effects to choose from to suit your tastes – from standard colors that breathe to unique effects that display multiple colors at once. The options and customization are endless so it is really fun to try.

While the preset effects are nice, there is also the option of creating your own custom effect that requires you to associate the Twinkly Flex with your phone's camera. This process helps with the preset effects too, as some of them are directional – like some of the cascading effects that go from side to side or top to bottom.

Think of it like a traditional neon light sign you might see on a shop front.

There's support for Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, which is handy if you just want to speak voice commands to turn on the Twinkly Flex. The app also lets you turn the Flex on remotely when you're not there, as well as setting up a custom playlist that scrolls through selected lighting effects for a set amount of time. With so many options and customizations, I really enjoy how I can choose different effects for holidays and special occasions. So yeah, they're the Twinkly year-round smart lights I've been waiting for!

performance

Twinkly's smart Christmas lights have never disappointed me and the Flex continues the trend of delivering mesmerizing effects accompanied by bright, dazzling colors. Because the LEDs are enclosed in a tube, you won't get the overwhelming intensity of light that you get when LED light strips are exposed. In fact, the hose scatters the light evenly – so its glow is just the right amount.

Use the smartphone camera to take a photo of Twinkly Flex on the wall.John Velasco / Digital Trends

It is sure to dazzle in the dark and attracts attention with its shimmer. Think of it like a traditional neon light sign you might see on a shop front. It is the same intensity that gives any room enough atmosphere. For this reason, the Flex is best used as an accent light rather than a primary light source, much like a reading or spot light. Even though it's isolated as an accent light, I'm still impressed with how it can dominate a room without being too overwhelming.

Our opinion

The price of smart LED light strips has dropped dramatically, so the $ 100 cost of the Twinkly Flex can be a shock to some people. However, I think it is worth investing as it is unique in the world of smart lighting. With so many dazzling effects to choose from and create, the only real limitation is determining which design is doable at just 6.5 feet.

Is there a better alternative?

When it comes to accent lighting, you can use the Govee LED light barthat's a fraction of the cost. However, it's best reserved as accent light that isn't visible – not something that would stand open on a wall.

Like other smart wall lights, the Nanoleaf Elements have a rustic look with glowing LED wall panels, but are much more expensive.

How long it will take?

The Twinkly Flex's sturdy outer casing feels sturdy enough if you want to bend and bend it multiple times. However, it is difficult to say how the lights will last over the long term with constant use. The LEDs are designed for 30,000 hours. If there is a defect, there is a one-year limited warranty to cover it.

Should you buy it?

With its year-round lighting solution in Flex, Twinkly proves that it can inspire, so the purchase is definitely worthwhile if you want to create variety with a dazzling feast for the eyes.

Editor's recommendations



05 Jul
Blog

LG Gram 17 (2021) Review: Large and Light On Its Feet

LG Gram 17 2021 laptop

"The LG Gram 17 is one of the best 17-inch laptops you can buy."

  • Exceptionally light

  • Fast in performance mode

  • Excellent advertisement

  • Very good keyboard and touchpad

  • Excellent battery life

  • Feels a little thin

  • Too expensive

Sometimes you want a larger display than a typical 15.6-inch (or 16-inch) laptop. Perhaps you are a strong multitasker and want to put more windows on your display without feeling cramped. This is where 17-inch laptops come in, and while there aren't that many to choose from outside of gaming laptops, there are a few good options to consider.

One such option was LG's Gram 17, which, like all Gram laptops, aims to pack as much of the machine as possible into the lightest possible case. The 2021 version increases the display usage with an aspect ratio of 16:10, which offers even more vertical space for your work.

I looked at the LG Gram 17, which comes with a Core i71165G7, 16 GB of RAM, a 1 TB PCIe solid-state drive (SSD) and a 17-inch 16:10 display with a WQXGA resolution (2.560 x 1,600) is configured. This configuration costs $ 1,800, which means it is solidly in premium territory and can rival a potent competitor, the excellent Dell XPS 17.

design

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The LG Gram 17 does what it promises to pack a large display in a lightweight housing. It weighs just 2.98 pounds, which is remarkably light for such a large laptop. In comparison, the Dell XPS 17 with Touch and its 97 watt hour battery option weighs 5.53 pounds (the Gram 17 has an 80 watt hour battery). Even the non-contact XPS 17 with the 56 watt hour battery weighs 4.65 pounds.

In overall dimensions, the Gram 17 is 14.97 inches wide, 10.24 inches deep and 0.70 inches thick, compared to the XPS 17 at 14.74 inches x 9.76 inches x 0.77 inches. As another comparison, the HP Envy 17 is 15.71 x 10.2 x 0.76 inches and weighs 6.02 pounds (note that the Envy 17 has a 17.3 inch display). LG has clearly achieved something special here.

The LG Gram 17 doesn't have the solidity feel that other laptops enjoy.

How did you manage to make the LG Gram 17 so light? The key is the magnesium alloy used in the case of the laptop. It's a light metal to start with and LG doesn't use much of it. This affects the perceived build quality, with an extremely pliable lid and keyboard deck and case base that are fairly pliable. Magnesium is a strong metal, and so it's not that the LG Gram 17 isn't rugged, but it doesn't have the same solidity that you get from the XPS 17 or even the mid-range Envy 17.

The aluminum used in the other laptops weighs more and feels more robust. LG put the Gram 17 through military-grade MIL-STD-810G testing, so there is some objective data it can take. I also have to note that while the bottom is exceptionally light, the lid opens with one hand and only wobbles a tiny bit when in use.

LG Gram 17 closed in 2021, sitting on a brick sidewalk. Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Aesthetically, the Gram 17 is designed as conservatively as it gets. It's all black with just a simple chrome “gram” logo on the lid. Otherwise there are no embellishments and the lines of the laptop are simple. It's by no means a bad looking laptop, but it also lacks character. The Dell XPS 17 and HP Envy 17 are more eye-catching and, I think, a lot more attractive. The Gram 17 enjoys small bezels, so it looks modern in that regard – and these small bezels naturally help keep the case size manageable.

Despite its thin frame, the Gram 17 offers a nice mix of connections. On the left is a full-size HDMI port and two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 support (one of which is needed to power the laptop), as well as a 3.5mm audio jack. On the right side there is a Kensington lock connector, two USB-A 3.1 Gen 2 ports and a microSD card reader. Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 offer wireless connectivity.

performance

A close-up of the keyboard and the logo of the LG Gram 17 in the middle under the display. Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

My test unit was equipped with an 11th generation Intel Core i7-1165G7, which is common on premium laptops and tends to offer solid productivity performance. I've noticed that laptops with the same chip can vary in performance, so I was curious to see how the LG Gram 17 would fare in a larger case that should have plenty of room for cooling. LG offers a utility to adjust the performance for heat and fan noise, and it has a noticeable effect. Most manufacturers offer such a utility today, and not all of them have a significant impact on performance – I only mention them when they affect our benchmark results. HP is another vendor whose "Performance" mode makes a significant difference in some (but not all) of its Envy and Specter laptops.

In its "optimal" mode, the Gram 17 corresponds to a large part of its Tiger Lake competition. In Geekbench 5, it did well in the single-core test and fell behind some competitors, such as the Samsung Galaxy Pro 360, in the multi-core test. However, switch to Performance mode, and the Gram 17's score jumped to 1563 and 5,473. In our Handbrake test, which encodes a 420 MB video as H.265, it was behind the pack, but again did a little better in performance mode with 197 seconds. When switching to Cinebench R23, the Gram 17 was again at the lower end in optimal mode, but was the fastest Tiger Lake laptop in our comparison group in performance mode (.375 in single-core and 4604 in multi-core).

The LG Gram 17 was a competent performer.

After all, it wasn't a leader in PCMark 10 in optimal mode and its performance mode made no difference in score – something I've seen with other vendors' performance optimization utilities. One example is the HP Specter x360 14, which also showed no improvement in PCMark 10 performance mode, although it was significantly faster in all other benchmarks in this mode. The Gram 17 did well on the Essentials parts (web browsing, video conferencing, etc) but fell behind in the areas of productivity and content creation.

Overall, the Gram 17 was a competent performer that handled all of your productivity tasks with ease. Switch to Performance mode and you will hear the fans spinning more often (they are not particularly loud), but you will get a noticeable increase in performance. However, I do find that you get much better performance with the Dell XPS 17, on par with its larger display with a much more powerful CPU and GPU combo. The Gram 17 is best suited for productivity users who want a bigger display, as opposed to the XPS 17, which is designed to give creative professionals a bigger canvas.

Geekbench (single / multiple) Handbrake (seconds) Cinbench R23 (single / multiple) PCMark 10 3DMark time spy
LG Gram 17 2021
(Core i7-1165G7)		 1503/4606 222 1323/3912 4880 1480
Dell XPS 17 (Core i7-10875H) 1315/7959 109 N / A N / A 5801
LG gram 16 (Core i7-1165G7) 1394/4137 213 1394/4137 4827 1390
Samsung Galaxy Pro 360
(Core i7-1165G7)		 1554/5603 N / A 1308/4062 5159 1800
HP Envy x360 15
(Ryzen7 5700U)		 1198/6790 116 1258/8131 5419 1471
HP Envy 15 (Core i7-10750H) 1274/5542 139 N / A N / A 5123

The Gram 17 isn't a gaming laptop given its built-in Intel Iris Xe graphics. In the 3DMark Time Spy test, it achieved an average score in optimal mode and a significantly higher score of 1802 in performance mode. In Fortnite, the influence of the utility was even more pronounced. It managed a meager 12 frames per second (fps) in 1080p and high graphics and 13 fps in epic graphics in optimal mode. That is way behind the rest of the Tiger Lake competition.

However, switch to performance mode and it jumped to 29 fps and 19 fps, which is much more competitive. Of course, these aren't impressive results either, and so you'll be limited to older titles or run newer titles with low resolutions and graphical detail.

Display and audio

A close-up of the open plan LG Gram 17 2021 laptop placed on a brick walkway. Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

A large, expansive display is of little use if it suffers from poor quality. Fortunately, LG chose a high-quality panel for the Gram 17, starting with its 16:10 aspect ratio that offers plenty of space in a 17-inch display.

According to my colorimeter, the display exceeds our 300 nit limit at 343 nits, making it bright enough for most indoor lighting conditions. The contrast of 930: 1 was close to our preferred 1000: 1 ratio. The 4K display of the Dell XPS 17 is superior with 491 nits and 1,530: 1, while the Gram 17's smaller brother, the Gram 16, was just below it with 313 nits and 830: 1. The results from the Gram 17 are in line with what is expected from a premium laptop today.

In terms of colors, the display on the Gram 17 scored 88% AdobeRGB and 100% sRGB, which is better than the 75% and 95% average of the premium laptop and close to what creatives go for photo and video Want video editing. The XPS 17 does significantly better with 98% and 100%, respectively, while the Gram 16 is on par with the 17-inch model. The color accuracy of the Gram 17 was good with a Delta E of 1.3 (less than 1.0 is considered excellent), while the XPS 17 was inferior with 0.37 and the Gram 16 with 2.67.

Overall, this was a delightful display for whatever most users throw at it. Productivity was increased by the aspect ratio, good contrast and above-average brightness, while viewing photos and videos became a pleasant experience thanks to the wide and accurate colors. If you want to do photo and video editing occasionally – consider the performance deficit compared to a laptop like the XPS 17 – this display will be fine with this display if necessary.

The sound is nice and clear, with pleasant highs and mids and just a hint of bass. At the same time, the two downward facing speakers don't get very loud, and there is only a hint of distortion at maximum volume. You'll be content with the occasional YouTube video, but you will likely need a pair of headphones or bluetooth speakers for Netflix binging and music.

Keyboard and touchpad

A LG Gram 17 2021 keyboard.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The keyboard is comfortably spaced with large keycaps and has a number pad with a light touch and sufficient travel. The typing experience is only tarnished by a slightly abrupt floor movement – I usually appreciate a certain bounce at the end of a keystroke, but it's just a little too much here. I was able to type on the keyboard at full speed, but I felt that I might get tired after long typing sessions. The keyboard on the Dell XPS 17 has a more comfortable action, as does HP's keyboard on its Specter and newer Envy laptops.

The touchpad is large, but could be bigger given the many palm rests available. It's a Microsoft Precision model that is universal at this point and makes Windows 10's multi-touch gestures accurate and precise. The keyboard layout, especially the integrated number pad, pushes the touchpad out of the middle, which takes some getting used to. If you're using the touchpad as a guide to finding the starting line on the keyboard, you'll need to adjust your exercise or type the wrong letters. The display doesn't support touch, which I always miss on a laptop.

Windows 10 Hello support is provided by a fingerprint reader built into the power button which is the best place. You can turn on the Gram 17 and sign in with a touch, and that's so much more convenient than looking for a fingerprint reader that sits somewhere on the keyboard deck or, worse, embedded in the touchpad. The reader was quick and accurate during my tests.

Battery life

A LG Gram 17 2021 open, placed on a brick walkway. Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Somehow, LG managed to pack 80 watt hours of battery capacity while still maintaining the low weight of the Gram 17. That's a decent amount of power, so I was hoping LG's usual excellent battery life would hold up.

And that's exactly what I found. Starting with our web browser test that ran through a number of popular websites, the Gram 17 lasted for 13.25 hours, which is a very strong result. The Dell XPS 17 managed less than half as long with almost 6.5 hours, while the Gram 16 was a bit stronger with 13.8 hours. In our video test, which plays a Full HD Avengers trailer until the battery is empty, the Gram 17 managed a spectacular 21 hours, compared with the XPS 17 only 9.3 hours and the Gram 16 with an even better 24.4 hours .

With a single charge, the LG Gram 17 will get you through a whole working day and well into the evening.

I also ran the PCMark 10 gaming test, which put a strain on the CPU and GPU, and the Gram 17 made it to almost five hours. It's one of the longest results in our database and just seven seconds less than another top runner, the Gram 16. We didn't test the XPS 17 in PCMark 10. The result was probably a combination of the large battery capacity and the optimal setting that neither the CPU nor the GPU ran at full speed.

Finally, the Gram 17 achieved just under 14 hours in the PCMark 10 Applications test, which is the best indicator of the battery life in productivity. That's a strong score, in the top of the range of the laptops we tested, but not as strong as I expected. For example, the Gram 16 reached 17.8 hours.

Overall, the Gram 17 is a long-lasting laptop despite its large, high-resolution display. It will get you through a full day of work and well into the evening, and you will likely have a few hours left the next morning.

Our opinion

LG achieved its goal of creating a large screen laptop with good performance and great battery life that doesn't weigh a ton. You want to switch to performance mode for the highest speed and you will endure a little fan noise, but it's worth it. For the most part, this is a laptop that delivers on its promise and a lot more besides.

However, whether it is for you depends on whether you are okay with a metal case that shows some degree of flexibility. LG tested the Gram 17 for durability at a military level, and it survived, which means the laptop is likely very sturdy. Even so, you won't get that warm and fuzzy feeling of durability when handling the Gram 17.

Are there alternatives?

The Dell XPS 17 has the same 16:10 aspect ratio that is better quality, and you get a faster laptop with a more powerful GPU. It's also much heavier and doesn't even match the battery life of the Gram 17. To get the most out of the XPS 17's performance, you'll also be spending hundreds more.

Next, consider the slightly smaller LG Gram 16 if you don't need quite that much screen real estate. It also offers great battery life and suffers from the same flimsy feel, but it's another lightweight offering that offers plenty of performance and durability without the weight.

The XPS 15 and MacBook Pro 16 are also faster laptops with smaller displays and could be good options. If you don't need the largest display, these two machines should be on your list.

How long it will take?

The Gram 17 doesn't feel as rugged as the premium laptops it competes with, but if you trust the MIL-STD-810G rating, you can be comfortable with the longevity of the laptop. It is definitely equipped with the latest components. However, you will not like the one-year guarantee.

Should you buy it?

Yes. The LG Gram 17 puts a big and beautiful display in your hand without weighing you down, and you will love the spectacular battery life.

Editor's recommendations



26 Jun
Blog

Ring Wall Light Solar Review: Sunshine Whenever You Need It

Ring wall lamp solar mounted on the wall

"Powered by sunlight, the Ring Wall Light Solar brings light conveniently anywhere in the house."

  • Effortless installation

  • Bright light output

  • Extended battery life through solar charging

  • More functionality through linking

  • Solar charging is a little slow

Ring's range of products has been largely dominated by its various video doorbells and security cameras, but the home security company doesn't neglect some of the other product categories it deals in LED lightbulbs, path lights, floodlights and more. The newest member of the Smart Lighting family is the Ring Wall Light Solar.

I'm a big fan of almost anything that uses solar energy. The special thing about this particular model is that the solar panel is integrated into the light itself, so you don't have to worry about additional cables or fixings. All of this is a simple and straightforward solution for anyone looking to add a little light outdoors. Are there any disadvantages? Well, let me break it all down.

Installation: ring bridge is required

The installation and setup of the Ring Wall Light Solar is quite simple. In fact, I got it working in about 10 minutes. First of all, you should decide where to place it. I ended up putting it in my garage as it lights up the area around the garage when it detects movement. You only need to install two screws to secure the included mounting plate to a surface. That's all. You can then attach the Ring Wall Light Solar to it.

Ring bridge on the surfaceJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

To complete the setup, you will need the Ring Bridge to connect the solar light to your home's Wi-Fi network. There was an option to use my Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd generation) as an alternative for a bridge, but that would mean Amazon Sidewalk was enabled for it to work. I decided to stick with the Ring Bridge as many of my existing Ring products already communicate with it.

After making my selection, the Ring Wall Light Solar appeared in the Ring app – where I then added it to a group for quick access. Unlike some Ring doorbells, the Ring Wall Light Solar is so easy to install that anyone can use it.

Output: Bright 800 lumens of white light

What amazes me most about the Wall Light Solar is its strong brightness. Before it was turned on for the first time, I was skeptical of how bright it might get – so you can imagine the amazement I was when I saw it. While it could easily be used as an accent light for houses and apartments, such as above outdoor decorations or house numbers, the 800 lumens white light was powerful enough to cover a large space around my garage.

Ring wall light solar switched onJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

I was genuinely surprised at the range of the light. In the Ring app, you can manually turn the lights on as you wish – perfect for occasions when you know you will be in this area for a while. The longest duration is 15 minutes, the shortest one minute. As a deterrent, the motion sensor turns on at night when the sun goes down to automatically turn on the lights when it detects motion nearby. Of course, I appreciate how well this works as a deterrent to unwanted visitors, but I also like how helpful it is when I walk in and out of the garage.

You can use the app to set the intensity of the light – lower to save the battery, higher for more lighting. The Ring Wall Light Solar offers both strong lighting and wide coverage and is a great addition around the house, including those secluded gaps.

Battery: Integrated solar panel is helpful

Using solar panels in its product is not a new idea for Ring. In fact, his portfolio has built a pretty large selection of solar-powered smart home devices – such as surveillance cameras powered by a solar panel and even a solar powered step light. The remarkable thing about the Wall Light Solar is that it can rely on the power of the sun during the day to recharge its battery when it is not actively used. There is also a setting to completely disable the motion detection sensor during the day.

The Ring Wall Light Solar is so easy to install that anyone could do it

When testing the battery, I am happy to report that it has managed to keep a level of over 50% at the highest brightness level for an entire day of use. It's worth noting, however, that during this time there were a handful of occasions where it stayed on for 15 minutes at a time – while the rest of the one-minute cycles would expire when it detected movement. But here the integrated solar panel comes to the rescue. In my tests, it managed to charge the battery by 2% during a 30-minute interval of intermittent sunshine. Sure, this number might be skimpy, but it's still helpful. Plus, you can easily remove it from the holder at any time for manual charging.

Ring wall lamp solar panel close-upJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

The nice thing about the solar panel is that it charges all day long, which is better in summer when the sun shines longer. Of course, battery life will vary, but having a light source that requires minimal manual charging helps.

Our opinion

If you already own a Ring Bridge, all you need to do is spend $ 60 on the Ring Wall Light Solar. If not, the light and bridge combo costs $ 80. Either way, the Ring Wall Light Solar is a fantastic addition that works great with the Ring ecosystem. Not only do you get a practical outdoor light that charges during the day, but it can also act as a first line of defense for your home thanks to the ability to connect to other Ring devices.

Is there a better alternative?

Not really. There aren't many smart solar lights on the market, especially those that can be plugged into a robust smart device ecosystem. The only other alternatives are Ring's Solar Steplight and Solar Floodlight.

How long it will take?

It is solidly made and has a weatherproof protection class IP66, which makes it possible to work at temperatures between minus 4 ° F and 122 ° F. There is a one-year limited warranty that covers defects.

Should you buy it?

You should definitely buy it as it is easy to install, has strong lighting and is charged with the help of the sun.

Editor's recommendations



16 Mar
Blog

LG Gram 16 Review: Very Light and Incredibly Long Lasting

LG Gram 16 laptop

LG Gram 16 review: The lightest and most durable in the class

"The Gram 16 offers a wide range of battery life in an incredibly light package."

  • Incredibly easy

  • Thin bezels, slim chassis

  • Spectacular battery life

  • 4:10 pm viewing is a boon to productivity

  • Well rounded ports

  • The display has a lower contrast

  • Lid and keyboard deck are too flexible

  • There are no performance improvements

The Guinness Book of Records officially recognizes the LG Gram 16 as the lightest 16-inch notebook. At £ 2.62, I'm not surprised it deserves the award.

LG's Gram laptops have always been designed to be as light as possible (hence the name). This applies to the 17-inch model as well as to the 13-inch model. Across the board, they're some of the lightest laptops you can buy. This year, LG added a new size, the Gram 16, to take over the MacBook Pro 16 and serve as a middle ground between 15- and 17-inch machines.

In the past, LG's larger laptops have suffered from lack of performance enhancement, which conflicts with laptops like the Dell XPS 17 and MacBook Pro 16. The LG Gram 16 still doesn't have discrete graphics, but it does have a $ 1,700 trial configuration.I still tested a lot of extras, including a Core i7-1165G7 processor, 16GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and one 16:10 IPS screen. Does LG have a winner in hand?

design

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The Gram 16 feels incredibly light. Pick it up and you immediately think that it is empty inside. But that's not the case – even at just 2.62 pounds and fully equipped with state-of-the-art components, it still manages to pack a whopping 80-watt-hour battery.

We'll dive deeper into battery life later, but suffice it to say that the LG Gram 16 is a champion when it comes to battery life. The XPS 15, with a battery capacity of 86 watt hours, weighs 4.5 pounds – man, you can feel the difference. A bigger display and almost half the weight? I take it.

Note that the MacBook Pro 16 weighs 4.3 pounds with 100 watt hours of battery life (the best you can fit in a commercial airplane). Even the much smaller Dell XPS 13 weighs 2.8 pounds.

How did LG make the Gram 16 so easy? Mainly, it's the magnesium alloy chassis that cuts the pounds off. And it's not a thick magnesium alloy either, which you can tell if you bend the lid with minimal force and press down on the keyboard deck until you hit the components underneath.

Viscerally, the Gram 16 acts like bendable plastic.

The bottom of the case resists bending, but the rest of the case has a lot of yield. That's the price you have to pay for a machine this light – even though LG put the laptop through a MIL-STD-810G test, which meets military standards for durability and reliability.

Intellectually, I know this is a rugged laptop – maybe not as much as the XPS 15 or the MacBook Pro 16, but it won't break apart in a stiff breeze. Viscerally, however, it acts like flexible plastic. Kudos to LG for somehow succeeding in designing the hinge so that it stays in place and still opens with one hand. There isn't a lot of weight holding the bottom of the case in place.

Thanks to some very small bezels, the Gram 16 is 14.01 inches, only slightly wider than the XPS 15 compared to 13.57 inches, while the MacBook Pro 16 is 14.09 inches. At 9.58 inches, it's slightly lower than the 9.06-inch XPS 15 and 9.68-inch MacBook. With a thickness of 0.66 inches, the Gram 16 sits between 0.71 inches of the XPS 15 and 0.65 inches of the MacBook Pro 16. The Dell XPS 17 is also in the same stadium thanks to its tiny bezels and very slim design – 14.74 inches wide, 9.76 inches deep, 0.77 inches thick, and 5.53 pounds on a 97 watt hour battery.

LG gram 16 laptop "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://img.dtcn.com/image/digitaltrends/olympus-digital-camera-1031-640x640.jpg "srcset = "https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

LG gram 16 laptop "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://img.dtcn.com/image/digitaltrends/olympus-digital-camera-1030-640x640.jpg "srcset = "https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

In simpler terms, they are very similarly sized laptops that all look quite modern. However, with its simple silver chassis and complete lack of ornamentation, the Gram 16 is the simplest of the group. It's on purpose – LG describes it as a "minimalist, no-nonsense design" designed to "reduce distractions."

Both the XPS 15 and 17, with their slimmer lines, and the MacBook Pro 16, with its restrained elegance, are better looking machines. Note that the Gram 16 is also available in white and black.

Ports and Connectivity

Connectivity is a strength: two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 support, two USB-A 3.2 ports, a full-size HDMI port, a microSD card reader, and a 3.5mm audio jack. That's better than the XPS 15 with two USB-C Thunderbolt 3 ports, a single USB-C 3.1 port, and no HDMI port.

The MacBook Pro 16 has all-in ports for Thunderbolt 3, of which there are four.

The Gram 16 also has Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 for an up-to-date wireless connection.

performance

The Gram 16 I tested used the Core i7-1165G7, a popular Tiger Lake processor that offers solid productivity performance and can dive into low-end content creation. Like most manufacturers lately, LG has a utility that can be used to toggle between quiet, optimal, and performance modes. Switching between them will adjust the performance against fan noise. With the Gram 16, you should use the utility.

Using a U-series CPU is important here – most larger laptops, like the Dell XPS 15 and 17 and the MacBook Pro 16, use 45-watt H-series CPUs, which are designed for creative professionals who normally go for Laptops decide, sizes are much faster. This is especially true for the GPU, where the Gram 16 is limited to Intel's Iris Xe graphics, which are nowhere near as fast as the discrete graphics available in the competition.

In the optimal mode, the Gram 16 is a less than convincing performer. As with most of these utilities, this didn't show up in Geekbench 5, where there wasn't much of a difference between modes. The Gram 16 is a solid performer in this benchmark, outperforming laptops like the Dell XPS 13 and the Razer Book 13 (which uses the faster Core i7-1185G7) by a few points. The XPS 15 and MacBook Pro 16 use 45-watt H-series 10th generation CPUs, so, as mentioned, are much faster.

In our handbrake test, which encodes a 420 MB video as H.265, the Gram 16 lasted over 3.5 minutes in optimal mode and just under three minutes in performance mode. Both results are within about 10 seconds of the Dell XPS 13 and are faster than most other laptops with the same CPU. The XPS 15 was ready in just over two minutes. We have not tested the MacBook Pro 16 with the same version of Handbrake and therefore cannot provide this comparison.

LG Gram 16 laptopMark Coppock / Digital Trends

In Cinebench R23, the Gram 16 was slow with 4,137 in multi-core mode and 1,394 in single-core mode in the optimal setting. That is far behind laptops like the XPS 13 and the Razer Book 13. In performance mode, however, the values ​​rose to 4,718 and 1,415. These aren't the fastest we've seen – the HP Specter x360 14, for example, scored 4,847 and 1,404 in performance mode – but it is on par with the rest of the field. We didn't test the XPS 15 or the MacBook Pro 16 in Cinebench R23, but we guarantee that both will be faster thanks to their more powerful CPUs.

Don't buy this laptop if you expect powerhouse performance.

Finally, I ran the full PCMark 10 benchmark and didn't see much of a difference between optimal and performance modes. The gram 16 achieved 4,887 points in the total number of points and 9,687, 6,886 and 4,749 points in the tests Essentials, Productivity and Content Creation. These values ​​are good for the CPU, with the Specter x360 14 scoring 4,796, 9760, 6340 and 4,837 points, respectively.

LG Gram 16 laptopMark Coppock / Digital Trends

Overall, the Gram 16 performed quickly during my tests. It's exactly what I expected from a laptop with its specs, and I've never seen anything that made me think about the laptop's performance even in optimal mode – with one exception.

This exception concerns the Intel Iris Xe, which should offer gaming performance close to an entry-level discrete GPU like the NVIDIA GeForce MX350. The optimal mode of the Gram 16 lagged far behind and only achieved 1,390 points in the Time Spy test by 3DMark. This is comparable to the 1,589 of the XPS 13 in the appropriate mode and is way behind most other Intel Iris Xe laptops. However, switch to performance mode and the score rose to 1,801, well ahead of most other Tiger Lake laptops that aren't running the Intel Iris Xe Max GPU.

In Fortnite, the Gram 16 only managed 13 frames per second (fps) in 1080p and high graphics – most Intel Iris Xe laptops reached 30 fps with the same settings. The Gram 16 achieved 33 fps in performance mode, which is only average for the class, but much better than in optimal mode.

I didn't test the Gram 16 against our creative content benchmarks due to the lack of discrete graphics and a lower-performing CPU. It just can't rival the XPS 15 and 17 and the MacBook Pro 16 for creative professionals, which is one of the main demographics of larger screen laptops. Don't buy this laptop if you expect powerhouse performance.

display

Laptops with larger displays – 16:10 or 3: 2 – are becoming more common, and it won't be long before the old school 16: 9 widescreen display is in the minority. The Gram 16 has a 16-inch, 16:10 display with WQXGA resolution (2,560 x 1,600). Thanks to small bezels, you are immediately in front of a large, luxurious area to do real work.

Unfortunately, the panel itself is a mixed bag compared to other premium laptops. On the one hand, it has a wide gamut of 88% AdobeRGB (75% is closer to average for all but the best displays) and 100% sRGB. However, these colors are not particularly accurate with a DeltaE of just 2.67 (1.0 or less is considered excellent). The XPS 15's 4K display reached 0.65 and the MacBook Pro 16 1.41.

LG Gram 16 laptopMark Coppock / Digital Trends

The brightness of the display was 313 nits and just hit our preferred threshold of 300 nits. The XPS 15 4K has 442 nits and the MacBook Pro 16 was a bit brighter than the Dell at 443 nits. Where the Gram 16's display really suffers is its contrast, which was only 830: 1. These days, good premium displays exceed a contrast ratio of 1,000: 1 – the XPS 15 4K is 1,480: 1 and the MacBook Pro 16 is 1,250: 1.

I enjoyed the display on the Gram 16 for its size and aspect ratio, and was fine with its colors and brightness – but then again, I'm not a creative professional, so wide and accurate colors aren't that important to me. I noticed the low contrast, however, as black text didn't look the way I like it against a white background. Even so, most people will find the display pleasant enough for their productivity work and their media consumption.

The audio quality was decent, with sufficient volume for YouTube and the occasional Netflix binge, and with no significant distortion. The mids and highs were clear, but the bass was missing. The XPS 15 and MacBook Pro 16 have better sound quality, especially the MacBook which has some of the best audio quality you can find on a laptop.

Keyboard and touchpad

The Gram 16 has a fairly typical island keyboard with well-even backlighting. The black keycaps are a good size and conveniently spaced. The switches are precise, offer a lot of spring travel and a comfortable floor effect. My only problem with the mechanism is the amount of pressure it takes to press a button. The keyboard felt stiff to me, unlike the crisp and snappy action on the HP Specter line and the MacBook's Magic keyboard. If you like a lighter touch, you might not prefer this keyboard.

LG Gram 16 laptopMark Coppock / Digital Trends

The touchpad is large due to the expansive keyboard deck – although there is room for an even larger touchpad. The surface is smooth and pleasant to wipe, and thanks to Microsoft's Precision touchpad drivers, it offers excellent support for Windows 10 multi-touch gestures. I really liked the touchpad and appreciated the relatively quiet buttonless clicks. What I didn't like was the non-touch display. I prefer touch displays for thumb scrolling, which is even more helpful with a larger display.

Windows 10 Hello support is provided by a fingerprint reader integrated into the power button. It logged me in quickly and painlessly, with no single mistake in recognizing my finger. I would have loved to have facial recognition too, but LG chose not to include that.

Battery life

As already mentioned, the Gram 16 manages to achieve a battery capacity of 80 watt hours despite its incredibly low weight. At the same time, it has a fast CPU and a high-resolution 16-inch display. I wasn't sure what battery life to expect.

What I certainly didn't expect is some of the best battery life we've seen. In all of our tests, the Gram 16 lasted an exceptionally long time and was used either as the most durable laptop or in the top tier.

Starting with the PCMark 10 gaming test, which stresses the CPU and GPU, the Gram 16 lasted five hours. The closest laptop is the XPS 13 Full HD +, which lasts a full hour less. In the PCMark 10 application test, which is the best measure of productivity longevity, the Gram 16 managed almost 18 hours, which is more than three hours longer than the next best, Lenovo's Yoga 9i 14. In third place is the XPS 13 with just under 11 hours

LG Gram 16 laptop

In our web browsing test, which ran through a number of popular websites, the Gram 16 got close to 14 hours. Among the Intel laptops, only the Samsung Galaxy Flex 13 came close (in fact, it lasted just as long). Only ARM-based laptops have a longer lifespan, including Apple's M1 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro 13. The XPS 15 we tested contained discrete graphics and lasted just seven hours, while the XPS 17 with discrete graphics lasted just over six hours. You can buy both laptops with built-in graphics and they will likely do a lot better.

Finally, the Gram 16 lasted around 24.5 hours in our video test going through a Full HD Avengers trailer. The Lenovo Yoga 640 with a 10th generation Core i3 is the closest competitor with 23 hours, and the Dell Latitude 7410 2-in-1 with its energy-saving display lasted just under 22 hours. Again, you'll need to switch to an ARM processor to get better battery life in this test. As with our web browsing test, the XPS 15 lasted a little over seven hours and the XPS 17 lasted over nine hours.

Put simply, the Gram 16 showed spectacular battery life. In fact, it was a real problem to check – I had to wait over 60 hours for all of the battery tests to complete. However, for the typical productivity user, you'll likely get through two full business days before plugging in.

Our opinion

The LG Gram 16 is almost unbelievably light to have such a spacious display and an unbelievably long battery life. I wasn't in love with the keyboard and the best performance required turning on performance mode and a bit of fan noise. But I could live with these flaws to have a laptop that I wouldn't have to worry about for days and that I would barely notice in my backpack.

However, my biggest problem with the laptop is how weak it feels. I don't want to overdo things – the laptop feels sturdy unless you intentionally rotate the display or press harder than usual on the keyboard deck. But we do these things in reviews, and that's how we notice them. Whether the typical user would notice – or care since the laptop meets the military specifications for ruggedness – is an open question.

Are there alternatives?

The Dell XPS 15 offers a display with an aspect ratio of 16:10 and offers a much better quality in its 4K version. It's also almost twice as heavy, despite the fact that the display is a bit smaller, and it can't nearly match the battery life of the Gram 16. You'll also pay about $ 300 more for a similarly equipped XPS 15.

Next up is the Apple MacBook Pro 16, which has a sleeker appearance as well as a much better display and spectacular sound. It's also much more expensive, and it doesn't even come close to rivaling the Gram 16's longevity.

Finally, with the XPS 17, you can get a slightly larger display and much faster performance in a package that is only slightly larger than the Gram 16. You will be spending more money, however, and battery life will suffer here too.

The XPS 15 and 17, as well as the MacBook Pro 16, are also much faster than the Gram 16 thanks to more powerful 45-watt CPUs and discrete GPUs. Keep this in mind when choosing between these two options and the lightest, most durable laptop in its class.

How long it will take?

I've said it before – the Gram 16 doesn't seem to be as rugged as many other premium laptops if you're looking for flaws. However, if you trust the MIL-STD-810G rating, you can be sure that it will stand up to some abuse. It is covered by the one-year guarantee, which is customary in the industry and which is too short.

Should you buy it?

Yes. The LG Gram 16 is a solid productivity performer with outstanding – truly unprecedented – battery life, and it's so damn light. Just make sure you pay attention to the performance differences with other similar sized laptops.

Editor's recommendations




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