05 Mar
Blog

Marshall Mode II Review: Light As A Feather, Loud As Hell

Marshall mode II

"If you like it loud, Mode II puts out a huge amount of sound."

  • Cool design

  • Very convenient

  • Big, bold sound

  • Good call quality

  • Wireless charging

  • Average battery life

  • No quick charge

  • No custom controls

  • No noise cancellation

Marshall's Personal Audio division has made some great headphones and wireless speakers over the past few years, but until now they've been waiting to venture into the insanely competitive category of true wireless earbuds with their $ 179 Mode II. Was it worth the wait for Marshall fans? Let's take a look at it.

What's in the box?

Marshall mode IISimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The small cardboard box contains the Mode II earbuds in the charging case, four sizes of silicone earbuds (media is installed by default), a USB-C charging cable, and some quick start documentation.

design

Marshall mode IISimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Zound Industries, the company that licenses the Marshall branded personal audio products, has always done an excellent job incorporating design elements from Marshall's iconic guitar amps. Mode II maintains this tradition without going overboard.

The charging case features the same amp-inspired textured black plastic as the Marshall Emberton speaker with the Marshall script logo, while the earbuds simply get the stylized "M". In a sea of ​​inconspicuous black plastic earphones, the Mode II is characterized by a retro cool that only the Marshall brand can offer.

That dedication to style even picks up on the USB-C charging cable, which is much longer than a set of wireless earbuds and looks like an electric guitar patch cord – very cool.

I was able to leave Modus II in my ears for hours without getting tired.

Both the earbuds and the wireless charging case are remarkably small and light. At just 44.5 grams in total, they're lighter than the AirPods Pro and AirPods with wireless charging.

The earbuds themselves have a very low profile so they sit almost flush with your outer ear and won't interfere with hats or helmets.

But don't let the small dimensions worry you. The Mode II are solidly built and their case easily protects them from minor mishaps or encounters with other objects when you carry them in your handbag. Thanks to an IPX4 rating, they can survive even your most strenuous workouts.

Comfort and control

Marshall mode IISimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The Mode II's small size makes it a very comfortable, yet secure fit. More than most real wireless earbuds I've tried, I've been able to leave Mode II in my ears for hours without getting tired.

Marshall did a great job with the touch controls. If you've read my other earbud reviews, you know that I'm generally not a fan of this type of control and instead prefer the accuracy of a physical button. But Mode II struck the perfect balance of just being sensitive enough that you don't have to tap them repeatedly, but not so hair-triggered that accidental touches become a problem.

Even better, successful touches are confirmed by a subtle but audible feedback tone, which I believe should be the standard practice for all touch-controlled earbuds.

The Marshall Bluetooth app allows you to view the remaining battery life, adjust the EQ and transparency mode (more on that later). However, you cannot customize the controls. The included gestures let you manage play / pause, skip back and forth tracks, answer / end calls, access voice assistants, and turn transparency on and off. However, there is no way to control the volume that you need to use your phone at.

Marshall is sticking to his promise that the Mode II are "in-ear headphones designed for loud devices".

The Mode II are equipped with wear sensors, but strangely enough Marshall limits their functionality to the automatic pause. In other words, if you remove an earbud, your music will automatically pause. However, when you put it back in, you'll need to manually resume your music using the appropriate touch gesture. I really want Marshall to fix this shortcoming with a firmware update and give us the option to completely disable it in the app.

You can either use your own earbud for phone calls or music. Using only the right earbud gives you control of the track while using the left earbud you can talk to your phone's built-in assistant.

Sound quality

Marshall mode IISimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Mode II is factory-tuned with the “Marshall Signature” EQ, a bold and punchy mix that favors the bass. It works with a variety of music genres, from the acoustic sounds of jazz ensembles to the full-fledged electrical studio work of Beck or Daft Punk. Stereo imaging is alive and creates good width and depth for the soundstage.

This signature sound is comparable to both the AirPods Pro and the Jabra Elite 75t, but Mode II offers slightly better clarity, with the upper registers being more noticeable.

If the signature sound isn't for you, the Marshall app lets you create two of your own custom 5-band EQ presets. While playing with these, I found that I was able to significantly cut the bass that some listeners may prefer. You may also want to try turning down the highest frequencies. The standard EQ tends to be sharp and sibilant, which can be a bit annoying, especially when listening at higher volumes.

Marshall speaks of higher volumes and keeps his promise that the Mode II are "in-ear headphones that are designed for loud devices". They get very, very loud indeed – dangerous indeed. I found that even at around 40% volume, I had reached my personal limit for comfort.

If your phone has a built-in ability to reduce loud noise (as most iOS and Android devices do), I highly recommend leaving it on, with a threshold of 85dB or less. Noise-induced hearing loss is no joke and you should take precautions to keep Mode II from maxing out.

Transparency mode

Marshall mode IISimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The silicone earplugs help the Mode II achieve a very good seal in your ear, effectively keeping out external noise. A single tap on the left earbud activates transparency mode so you can hear more of your surroundings.

There is no quick charge option. So if you run out of juice, it will take two hours to fully charge the juice.

You can set the transparency in the Marshall app, but even at the maximum setting, the feature will prefer sounds that are further away rather than those that are close together. This is good for being more aware of your surroundings during times when you are near traffic or other hazards. Having your own voice sound natural for phone calls or conversations is less effective. You will still be aware of a certain subdued quality of these interactions.

Battery life

Marshall mode IISimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The battery life for the earphones is five hours per charge, in the case of an additional four charges for a total of 25 hours. These specifications are almost identical to Apple's AirPods. That's more than enough battery life for a full day, but unfortunately Marshall didn't include a quick charge option. When your earbuds run out of juice it will take two hours to fully charge. This could be frustrating for travelers who suddenly run out of power on a long flight.

You can see the remaining charge on the earbuds in the app, but you'll have to rely on the case's front LED to find out where the juice is – although with a green / orange / red color scheme, that isn't quite as accurate .

Call quality

Marshall Mode II "class =" m-Karussell - Bild dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn2.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/marshall-mode-ii-00007-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Marshall Mode II "class =" m-Karussell - Bild dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn3.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/marshall-mode-ii-00008-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Marshall Mode II "class =" m-Karussell - Bild dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn4.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/marshall-mode-ii-00004-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Since Mode II has no active noise cancellation (ANC) and therefore fewer microphones than the ANC models, I wasn't expecting a particularly good call quality, but Mode II is great for making calls. Wind noise can still overwhelm your voice, but when conditions are reasonably calm these earbuds do a very good job of ensuring that your voice is heard clearly with a minimum of compression.

They automatically switch to transparency mode when the microphones are activated. This comes in handy, but as mentioned above, it doesn't completely remove the muffled sound of your voice in your own ears. Even so, I think Mode II will be decent for most types of calls.

Our opinion

While not as comprehensive as true wireless earbuds at similar prices, the Marshall Mode II offers big, beefy (and loud) sound in a tiny and stylish package that fans of the Marshall brand are sure to enjoy.

Is there a better alternative?

Marshall's iconic style is totally one of a kind, but for the same price or less than Mode II, you can find plenty of excellent alternatives including:

  • $ 180 Jabra Elite 75t: Longer battery life, ANC, better transparency mode, customizable controls and a warmer overall sound, but no wireless charging.
  • $ 130 Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro: Longer battery life, ANC, better transparency mode, customizable controls, but bigger and possibly less comfortable.
  • $ 199 Klipsch T5 II: Longer battery life, better protection from water and dust, and better sound.

How long will they last?

Marshall grants a one-year guarantee on Mode II. They appear to be very well built and their IPX4 rating should help them withstand years of use. If you charge them regularly, you can expect the battery capacity to decrease over time.

Should you buy it?

Yes. The Mode II comes with a premium price tag for the Marshall name, but they're stylish, they sound great, and they're very portable.

Editor's recommendations




04 Mar
Blog

Wyze Bulb Color: The Worthiest Cheap Smart Light Bulb

Wyze Bulb color in lamp green

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

  • Really bright edition

  • The colors are very saturated

  • Doesn't need a bridge

  • Ridiculously cheap

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

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

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

Shining bright

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

Wyze Bulb paint on the tableJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

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

It's cheap but powerful.

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

No bridges are needed here

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

Wyze Bulb Color Wyze AppJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

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

Wyze Bulb paint on table greenJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

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

Vibrant colors that burst

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

Our opinion

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

How long it will take?

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

Is there a better alternative?

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

Should you buy it?

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

Editor's recommendations




24 Feb
Blog

What Is The Effect Of Blue Light On The Skin?

Whether we're protecting our skin from the sun or protecting it from the aging effects of gravity, it sometimes feels like our complexion is being attacked on all sides. And with the increase in screen time due to the pandemic, we can add another attacker to the list: blue light. This type of harmful light comes towards us from multiple sources – not only does blue light come from the sun, but also from the screen of your cell phone, computer, television, and most lightbulbs. In short, our skin is exposed to a potential source of damage for a large portion of your day each day. Here you will find all the information about whether artificial blue light is harmful and what you can do about it.

Man looking at laptop

What is blue light?

Blue light is simply light on that blue end of the visible light spectrum, which is within the wavelength of 400 to 450 nanometers. This is a short wavelength that has a higher energy output and, unfortunately, can cause greater damage to the skin. As mentioned earlier, blue light is not only found in sunlight, it is equally important that it emanates from electronic devices that are now integrated into most people's daily lives. According to Brian Goodwin, Eminence Organics international trainerWe are typically exposed to blue light between your mobile phone and the computer screen for more than 13 hours a day. Due to the long daily exposure times and the high potential for skin damage, blue light could be the number one enemy of our skin health.

What do we know about the dangers of blue light?

Blue light first got a bad rap when people noticed that it was related to poor quality sleep. Late night hours in bed scrolling through your phone resulted in restless nights, and scientists soon discovered why. According to Harvard Health, blue light at night, suppresses the secretion of melatonin, the hormone that affects the circadian rhythms that plan your sleep / wake cycle. With an out of whacked sleep cycle, many people don't get enough sleep and are open to health problems like depression, diabetes, and cardiovascular problems.

A good night's sleep isn't the only thing at risk. Exposure of the eyes to blue light was one of the other potential problems that professionals first pointed out. The cornea and lens do not filter out blue light, so it goes straight to the fundus. And a A study by the University of Toledo found that blue light "converts vital molecules in the retina of the eye into cell killers that damage the retina," leading to conditions like macular degeneration. Although the experiments were only performed in a laboratory and not on eyes, the potential for eye damage from blue light appears problematic.

Why is blue light harmful to your skin?

With blue light making waves in sleep and eye health, it's no surprise that potentially damaging effects on skin health have also been discovered. in contrast to others Environmental stressors for the skin – like sunlight and UV rays – there is no heat, no burns. However, don't let the lack of immediate effects fool you. Visible light, especially in the blue wavelength, has become a hot topic in skin care as there is increasing evidence to support its contribution to photoaging, including wrinkles, worsening skin laxity, and hyperpigmentation.

Visible light, especially in the blue wavelength, has become a hot topic in skin care as there is increasing evidence to support its contribution to photoaging, including wrinkles, worsening skin laxity, and hyperpigmentation.

Inflammation and free radicals

Academic studies like that The 2010 Journal of Investigative Dermatology found that exposure of the skin to the blue light we get from the sun causes more pigment, redness, and puffiness than when the same person's skin was exposed to similar UVA rays. This is supported by a 2015 study published in Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, which concluded that exposure to blue light can stimulate the production of free radicals in the skin, a major cause of premature visible signs of aging. The free radicals generated create unstable molecules, which leads to inflammation that attacks the cells.
Infographic of blue light stimulated free radicals that attack a skin cell

So if we know that blue light is dangerous to our skin, how does it actually cause harm and what are the effects? When blue light puts pressure on the skin, it reacts with inflammation, which leads to swelling and redness. It also creates free radicals that damage the skin by damaging DNA and leading to weakened collagen and elastin. With compromised collagen and elastin, the skin becomes uneven, creating lines and wrinkles. Free radical damage also cause it Hyperpigmentation which leads to more signs of aging like dark spots. In summary, Brian outlines our body's alarming reaction to blue light: “The skin reacts by immediately protecting itself with inflammation that causes signs of swelling and redness. This triggers a chain of other events that cause symptoms in the skin, such as: B. Hyperpigmentation and a faster breakdown of collagen and elastin. "

How do we protect our skin when we sit in front of our devices for most of the day?

Cocoa seed extract: the blue light skin protection

Researchers have found that concentrated natural cocoa seed extract protects the skin from blue light damage by blocking the skin's blue light receptor cells. A decrease in cell activity in these blue light receptors decreases free radical damage and increases collagen and elastin production in the skin.

This unique extract contains three beneficial, naturally occurring components. These are peptides, saccharides and antioxidants that address the negative effects of blue light such as collagen breakdown, elastin breakdown and hyperpigmentation. Peptides in cocoa seed extract are a chain of amino acids that protect the skin from blue light stress and promote collagen and elastin strengthening. Polyphenols are groups of organic compounds that have antioxidant properties for the skin and protect the skin from the free radicals produced by blue light. After all, saccharides are sugars that draw water into the skin. They help prevent and treat the possible dehydration caused by blue light.

At Eminence Organics, we have formulated a range of all SPF mineral moisturizers that are silicone-free, use non-nano-zinc oxide technology, and help with environmental stressors. From our newest line of SPF moisturizers, one is particularly useful for improving the appearance of skin exposed to blue light – The Lilikoi Daily Defense Moisturizer SPF 40. This lightweight daily moisturizer contains cocoa seed extract, Satsuma mandarin peel and SPF 40, all mineral protectants to protect the skin from blue light stress and pollution.

What is most alarming about blue light? Let us know in the comments below or share with us on social media. If you want lto earn You can find more information about our SPF moisturizers in our spa locator. There you will find an Eminence Organics Spa partner near you.

Product selection

Lilikoi Daily Defense Moisturizing Cream SPF 40

Lilikoi Daily Defense Moisturizing Cream SPF 40

VIEW PRODUCT

This post was originally published in March 2019 and has been updated for accuracy and completeness.

13 Feb
Blog

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Review: Small, Light, and Excellent

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano

"The ThinkPad X1 Nano is an extraordinary addition for small laptops."

  • Solid productivity performance

  • Extremely light

  • Good keyboard and touchpad

  • Excellent battery life

  • Very nice 16:10 display

Lenovo has been working on its legendary ThinkPad line for several years and is breaking away from the tried and tested. With the great ThinkPad X1 Extreme and a 2-in-1 tablet form factor with the detachable ThinkPad X12, it got big and powerful. Let's not start with the craziness of the ThinkPad X1 Fold.

Now Lenovo has made the ThinkPad X1 Nano the smallest and lightest ThinkPad of all time. Don't think that this means it's cheaper as the configuration of the ThinkPad X1 Nano review unit that Lenovo sent me costs a cool $ 1,847. This gives you an 11th generation Intel Tiger Lake Core i7-1060G7, 16 GB RAM, a 512 GB PCIe solid-state drive (SSD) and a 13.0-inch 2K IPS display (2,160 x 1,350 ) in the increasingly popular 16:10 aspect ratio.

The ThinkPad X1 Nano has jumped into a very competitive area (Hello, Dell XPS 13). Does the ThinkPad X1 Nano live up to its potential?

design

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano

Lenovo may have made the ThinkPad X1 Nano smaller than any other ThinkPad, but it didn't detract from the aesthetics. The ThinkPad X1 Nano is just as black as most ThinkPads – no visible carbon fiber like the ThinkPad X1 Extreme or a titanium cover like the one in the new ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga.

You'll find the same subtle red cues as the “i” LED on the ThinkPad Yoga and the red TrackPoint nubbin and red key accents. It's a super conservative look that can only be found in the ThinkPad. The simple design neither corresponds to the slim lines of the Dell XPS 13 nor the elegant elegance of the HP Specter x360 13.

The X1 Nano is built like other ThinkPads, with a mix of materials resulting in a robust chassis. In this case, it is a carbon fiber hybrid material that makes up the lid with a magnesium-aluminum alloy in the bottom of the case. These materials contribute to the ThinkPad X1 Nano's low weight of just 1.99 pounds compared to the XPS 13 and Specter x360 13, both at 2.8 pounds. And the ThinkPad X1 Nano feels just as rugged as the two, which are some of the toughest we've tested.

For a device in its class, the X1 Nano is the lightest laptop you can buy.

Note that 1.99 pounds is really, really light. For a laptop of this type, the X1 Nano is the lightest laptop you can buy – even lighter than the LG Gram 13, whose entire purpose is to be as light as possible. It's almost as light as the Acer Swift 7 (1.96 pounds) and lighter than the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook (2.3 pounds), neither of which are in this CPU class.

Is such a lightweight laptop such a big deal? They are certainly a joy to use and carry around. When you add the materials of the ThinkPad X1 Nano that are cool to the touch, you get an extremely attractive and comfortable laptop.

If – like some lightweight laptops – it felt weak to the touch, it would diminish the benefit of being so light. However, the ThinkPad X1 Nano feels just as solid as any ThinkPad. The lid, the keyboard deck or the housing must not be bent, twisted or bent. The XPS 13, however, has the ThinkPad X1 Nano-Beat when it comes to the hinge – the latter is a bit stiffer and requires both hands to open.

The ThinkPad X1 Nano is not quite as thin as it is light and has a taper of 0.55 to 0.66 inches. The XPS 13 is only 0.58 inches, while the Specter x360 13 is slightly thicker at 0.67 inches. Since the ThinkPad X1 Nano's top and bottom bezels are slightly larger than those of the XPS 13, it's a bit deeper, but not by much, even with the smaller display (13 "versus 13.4").

Thanks to the larger 16:10 display (just like the XPS 13), the ThinkPad X1 Nano offers more space for the palm rest than the Specter x360 13, which is still 16: 9.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano

Connectivity is one area where the ThinkPad X1 Nano is affected by its size. There are only two USB-C with Thunderbolt 4 ports on the left, mating with a 3.5mm audio jack. The Specter x360 13 can insert both a USB-A port and a microSD card reader, which the ThinkPad X1 Nano lacks.

However, with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0, the Lenovo is at the cutting edge of wireless connectivity. Support for 4G or 5G WWAN is optional via a SIM slot on the back.

security

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano

I'm adding a special section to this review to take into account some pretty cool technologies that Lenovo has built into the ThinkPad X1 Nano. None of this is new, but the software in particular has been perfected – at least compared to the last time I tried it.

The ThinkPad X1 Nano has the usual ThinkShutter physical slider that covers the webcam. So this is nothing special when it comes to ThinkPads. What is special, however, is the HPD (Human Presence Detection) technology and software that uses radar to detect when a user is in front of the laptop and when this user leaves. As long as the user is in front of the ThinkPad X1 Nano, it will stay awake and function normally.

However, move outside of a 60-degree arc and the laptop will turn off the display, lock it, and go into modern standby mode to save battery life. As soon as the user returns within that 60-degree arc, the ThinkPad X1 Nano is activated and automatically logs in again if Windows Hello is set up for facial recognition.

It works very well and is a real convenience – when you're not doing a task, that is. I noticed that my lengthy benchmarks were interrupted when the software put the ThinkPad X1 Nano to sleep. Therefore, the utility must be turned off if the computer is to continue running. I couldn't find a setting to turn off the step of switching to Modern Standby which is a bit of a stupid thing to do.

Overall, however, I found Lenovo's solution to be faster and more reliable than the similar utility found on Dell's Latitude 7400 2-in-1.

performance

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano

The ThinkPad X1 Nano uses a previously unusual version of the latest 11th generation Tiger Lake CPU from Intel, the Core i7-1160G7. In contrast to the more popular Core i7-1165G7 with an output of up to 4.7 GHz and a TDP (Thermal Design Power) range of 12 to 28 watts, the Core i7-1160G7 achieves a maximum output of 4.4 GHz and a lower TDP range from seven to seven watts 15 watts. That makes it less power hungry and cooler – a good fit for the tiny X1 Nano.

Although the CPU is theoretically slower, it didn't do particularly well in our benchmark tests. The ThinkPad X1 Nano didn't show up in Geekbench 5, where it could only manage 5,139 in multi-core mode and 1,466 in single-core mode. Other Tiger Lake laptops typically exceed 5,400 and 1,500. In Handbrake, where we encode a 420 MB video as H.265, the ThinkPad X1 Nano did surprisingly well and finished in exactly three minutes. That outperforms some laptops with faster Tiger Lake chips, like the Dell XPS 13 with a Core i7-1185G7, which takes about 20 seconds longer. The HP Specter x360 14 with a Core i7-1165G7 took 10 seconds longer.

The ThinkPad X1 Nano also did relatively well in Cinebench R23, where it achieved 4,550 points in multi-core mode and 1,377 points in single-core mode. This beats the XPS 13 (4,267 and 1,449) again, but fell behind the Specter x360 14 in performance mode (4,847 and 1,404). The ThinkPad X1 Nano is not the fastest Tiger Lake laptop in this test, but it is not as far behind as the CPU specs suggest.

Finally, I ran the PCMark 10 Complete test, where the ThinkPad X1 Nano got a total of 4,684 and then 9,295 in the Essentials, 6,413 in Productivity, and 4,678 in the Creation subtests. These values ​​are a little further behind the faster CPUs, in which the Specter x360 14 scored 4,796, 9,760, 6,340 and 4,837 points in the various tests. This is the only test in which the lower CPU of the ThinkPad X1 Nano couldn't quite keep up.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano

In general, however, the ThinkPad X1 Nano was fast enough for productivity tasks. I've never seen slowdowns happen, and I've used it just as hard as any other laptop I've checked. Lenovo did a great job of packing just the right amount of performance into the small and lightweight chassis.

In terms of gaming, the ThinkPad X1 Nano, which came with the usual Intel Iris Xe that you'll find in Tiger Lake machines, was also competitive. In the 3DMark Time Spy test, which is located in the middle of the field, 1,549 points were achieved. The XPS 13 managed 1,589 while the MSI Prestige 14 Evo (otherwise a very fast laptop) only managed 1,465. The Specter x360 14 scored a glowing 1,709 in performance mode.

I also ran Fortnite which was running on the ThinkPad X1 Nano at 1920 x 1200 and I saw 31 frames per second (fps) in 1080p and high graphics and 23 fps in epic graphics. This is comparable to the XPS 13 with 29 fps and 22 fps and the Specter x360 14 with 36 fps and 23 fps. Some Tiger Lake laptops are faster and some are slower, but in general they approach the discrete Nvidia MX350 performance of a very small and light laptop.

display

The ThinkPad X1 Nano has a brand new display with an aspect ratio of 16:10 (13.0 inches). It has a 2K (2,160 x 1,350) resolution which is very sharp, although I've noticed that the color temperature is a little warm (yellowish).

According to my colorimeter, this is a good display for a premium laptop, but not a great one. The color gamut was of average width at 74% of AdobeRGB and 98% of sRGB, and color accuracy was good at DeltaE 1.31, with 1.0 or less being considered excellent. The XPS 13 Full HD + display was similar at 75% AdobeRGB and 98% sRGB and a color accuracy of 1.36. The Specter x369 13 I tested used an OLED display with much wider and more accurate colors, so this isn't the best comparison.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano

The ThinkPad X1 Nano's display was very bright at 414 nits, which was nice to see (no pun intended). That made it bright enough to overwhelm a lot of ambient light. The contrast was 980: 1 and thus just below our preferred threshold of 1000: 1 for premium laptops. The XPS 13 was brighter at 458 nits and had a much better contrast at 1350: 1. Here, too, the OLED panel of the Specter x360 13 was superior in its almost infinite contrast, although it was not as bright at 405 nits.

I enjoyed the display, especially the 16:10 aspect ratio. After getting used to the color temperature being a little warm, I made myself comfortable and enjoyed the panel for all the work I threw on it. Creative guys in need of large bezels of color will want to look elsewhere, but for most people this is a very good indicator.

Audio was very good, with tons of volume for such a small laptop, and no distortion. This is possible thanks to quad speakers, two downward-facing woofers and two upward-facing tweeters. You get great highs and mids and just a little bit of bass. It's enough for Netflix and the occasional music, though it can't lose sight of the best laptop speakers out there, the MacBook Pro's. I also find that the speakers are a little less pleasant than the HP Specter x360 14's quad speakers, which are just a little more powerful.

Keyboard and touchpad

According to Lenovo, the keyboard of the ThinkPad X1 Nano is the same as that of other ThinkPads, with "similar" travel. This certainly seems to be the case – they're the same shaped buttons with plenty of spacing, and the mechanism is almost identical to other ThinkPads. I think the trip is a little less, which I think is a good thing – I find the "normal" ThinkPad keyboard a little too much effort.

I like the lighter keyboards on the Dell XPS 13, the HP Specter range, and Apple's Magic Keyboard on the latest MacBooks. Ultimately, the ThinkPad X1 Nano's keyboard feel is the best I've seen on a ThinkPad, unless it's my imagination.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano

The touchpad is a Microsoft Precision version that enables a precise tracking experience and functional multi-touch gestures under Windows 10. You lose some space on the buttons for the TrackPoint nubbin in the middle of the keyboard, which has always bothered me about ThinkPads. Really, the touchpad is too small where the extra space could make for a larger wipe surface thanks to the larger display.

Speaking of the display: Touch is not supported, which is also negative. I find touchless laptops annoying after I get used to scrolling long web pages with my thumb and tapping fast on-screen buttons with my finger.

Finally, Windows 10 Hello support is provided by both a fingerprint reader directly to the right of the touchpad and an infrared camera above for facial recognition. With the human presence detection function, the face recognition method is particularly useful and works perfectly.

Battery life

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano

When I saw that the ThinkPad X1 Nano only had 48 watt hours of battery, I expected it to compete with other ThinkPads in a mediocre battery life. I suppose the smaller display and lower power consumption CPU made a real difference, as the ThinkPad X1 Nano definitely outperforms the ThinkPad trend.

First, I ran our web browser test, which gave a passable indication of the productivity of the battery life. Here, the ThinkPad X1 Nano managed 10.25 hours, which is a very good score, which probably means the laptop meets or exceeds Intel Evo certification of nine hours of typical use.

It also outperformed the XPS 13 Full HD + and the 4K OLED-equipped Specter x360 13 (with a 60 watt hour battery) by almost two hours. In our video test, which ran through a Full HD Avengers trailer, the ThinkPad X1 Nano lasted 18 hours – an extraordinary result. That's six hours longer than the XPS 13 and eight hours longer than the Specter x360 13.

I also ran the PCMark 10 gaming battery test which was draining the CPU and the ThinkPad X1 Nano lasted almost four hours. This is the second longest score we've ever seen, just a second behind the XPS 13 Full HD +. I tried running the PCMark 10 Application battery test which is the best indicator of productivity longevity. Unfortunately the test failed several times. However, I imagine that the ThinkPad X1 Nano would have done well in the test and, overall, should have offered the typical productivity user more than a full day of battery life.

Our opinion

The ThinkPad X1 Nano is a highly competent player in the market for small laptops. It offers solid productivity performance, great battery life, and a solid build with a good keyboard and usable human presence detection technology. Thanks to the 16:10 panel, it's up to date with the move to a higher display.

The ThinkPad X1 Nano doesn't have much to like. It doesn't quite have the glitz of the XPS 13, and it doesn't have the standout looks or flexibility of the Specter x360 13, but as far as 13-inch laptops go, this is a good one.

Are there alternatives?

The HP Specter x360 14 is a solid alternative and offers its own taller display with a 13.5-inch 3: 2 OLED panel that is miles ahead of the ThinkPad's display. Depending on the configuration, the price roughly corresponds to that of the ThinkPad X1 Nano, but is characterized by its 2-in-1 flexibility.

The Dell XPS 13 9310 is perhaps the most logical competitor with a slightly larger 16:10 display and an optimized design. Performance is similar between the two, but the ThinkPad has better battery life. The XPS 13 is just as well built, has a superior display, and can handle more storage and RAM than what Lenovo is offering.

When you're ready to switch operating systems, Apple's MacBook Pro 13 M1 is another great option. It's extremely fast, maybe better built, has a better display, and has the best keyboard and audio quality on any laptop. It's also several hundred dollars cheaper than the ThinkPad X1 Nano.

How long it will take?

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano is well built and should have useful productivity for years. The components are state-of-the-art. It is covered by the one-year guarantee that is customary in the industry and that is too short.

Should you buy it?

Yes. The ThinkPad X1 Nano is a very well built, very light and very durable laptop with some additional security features and a modern display.

Editor's recommendations




16 Nov
Blog

Destiny 2: Beyond Light Review: Ice is Nice

Destiny 2 Beyond Light

Destiny 2: Beyond Light Review: Icy expansions bring cool changes

"Beyond Light's weak history leaves much to be desired, but new stasis skills help make the game feel fresh again."

  • Versatile stasis forces

  • There is a lot to discover in Europe

  • Faster loading times

  • Blunt campaign

  • The class feels unbalanced

No matter how good it actually is, it's always tempting to feel a glimmer of hope when a Destiny 2 expansion is as significant as Beyond Light. Any excuse to jump into one of the best shooters again is welcome right now, but it is becoming increasingly necessary to keep long-term expectations in check.

A little over a year ago, we reviewed the game's last major expansion, Shadowkeep. At the time, we said the upgrade was "full of potential" and we were hoping it would turn the game around after a difficult year with no exciting content.

If that sounds like déjà vu to fans, it's because it's exactly the same situation that Beyond Light is in now. Shadowkeep ultimately didn't deliver the intriguing setup, leaving players hoping that Beyond Light would get the ship back on course. After years of re-experiencing the same cycle, it is time to finally accept these expansions for what they really are, and stop using them as a symbolic Rorschach test for the future of the game.

Destiny 2: Beyond Light is a perfect content drop for fans who just want more Destiny. The new location in Europe and the stasis ability give players a lot of leeway, although the new story campaign is one of the weakest in the franchise. For the looter, this is not an illuminating change. It's just a good reason to sign back in … and that's fine.

Welcome to Europe

Beyond Light features one of Destiny 2's most stand-alone stories to date. Instead of moving from planet to planet, almost the entire five-hour campaign is devoted to the game's new location, Europe. The big evil this time is a fallen captain named Eramis, who has equipped her army with the new element of the game, stasis. Guardians are forced to fight fire with fire (or ice with ice, in this case) by using the power of darkness against them.

Nothing about the story is particularly memorable. Eramis ends up being little more than another anti-climactic villain, with the really big evil presumably being saved for the game's upcoming raid. There isn't much to discover in each of the missions either, as the campaign has more or less the same order of objectives that are repeated three times. It feels less like a story, but more like a lengthy tutorial for stasis forces.

Destiny 2 Beyond Light

Despite these flaws, the story has surprising thematic weight. The good are asked whether it is morally right to use the tools of evil to fight evil, which in our current political climate is purposely felt to be right. This question becomes less convincing every time characters have the same existential debate. However, it is always welcome to hear meaningful real-world questions asked throughout the game's infinitely vague story about light and dark.

Europe itself is a mixed bag when it comes to locations. Sometimes the snow-covered planet looks just like the moon with gray craters exchanged for white hills. The lack of suitable landing zones means players have to do the same long hikes every time they have a new destination. The campaign and subsequent post-quests will send players through the same handful of areas over and over, which is getting old quickly.

The best parts of the planet are the rooms that are hidden under the snow. High-tech laboratories create a stark contrast to Europe's bleak surface and give the mixture a certain environmental secret. Of particular note are the lost sectors of Europe which provide some of the most inspired ideas of expansion. In a hidden area, I freed a train of Braytech robots that became my personal army when I defeated a giant hydra.

The story feels less like a story and more like a lengthy tutorial for stasis forces.

Even with these bright spots, the content and location of the new story are overwhelming compared to previous expansions. There's still a lot to enjoy, especially after the campaign ends, but Beyond Light feels less like Taken King's gold standard expansion than it does with the comparatively less ambitious Rise of Iron.

Ice cream to meet you

The campaign's obsession with stasis is ultimately justified. For the first time ever, Beyond Light is adding an entirely new item for players to equip, including new Supers and Abilities. Stasis gives the Guardians ice powers that enable them to keep enemies cold, crush frozen enemies, and build huge walls of ice like Overwatch's Mei.

Stasis is the most exciting feature Destiny has hit in years.

Stasis is literally changing the way the game is played, and fans are already taking full advantage of it. The game's Crucible PVP mode is currently in a state of glorious mayhem as Guardians use their skills to do things that have never been possible in Destiny before. Some build ice walls to block the entrances to checkpoints and capture them safely. Others throw the ability at their feet and shoot them dozens of feet in the air.

The Destiny series has rarely done this type of experiment, even with new subclasses and supers added. It was always clear what the three types of damage were doing, no matter how they were packaged. Stasis feels completely alien and adds excitement to the activities that players have been weeding out for years.

Destiny 2 Beyond Light

The way the stasis subclass works is fundamentally different from the old trio. Players can upgrade each ability with fragments that completely change the way they work. When the ice wall grenade wasn't clicking with my play style, I switched to one that shot out a creeping line of icicles that could be chained to enemies. The way players can customize the subclass is so deep that it is really worth looking for more options.

However, it feels like Bungie needs to make some adjustments. Stasis is absurdly powerful in a way that doesn't feel sustainable in the long run. Not only does ice freeze enemies (it can even turn off Supers), it also harms them when they break out. This is a blast in PVE activity where players can shatter a fair amount of debris, but it feels out of whack in competitive mode. Freezing feels like a death sentence no matter the circumstances, and stasis feels like an unbalanced option in its current state.

Even if there is still much to be done, stasis is the most exciting feature that Destiny has hit in years. It opens the door to new styles of play and lets old experiences work again. It's exactly the kind of update the game has been looking for in a long time.

Less is okay

The big story with Beyond Light is less about what's added and more about what's removed. The update significantly reduces Destiny 2 and removes entire planets and their corresponding activities. Places like Mercury are gone, freeing fans of boring content like the Infinite Forest.

Destiny 2 Beyond Light

What is surprising is that none of it feels missing so far. I didn't feel crazy for not being able to patrol Titan or miss a run of the escalation log. The mass expulsion shows how voracious Destiny 2 had gotten over the past few years as it accumulated filler that didn't add anything.

Not much is added in their place, but that has its merits. Destiny 2's file size has been cut almost in half, resulting in a more compact game that already feels a lot smoother. The loading times are faster and I have fewer problems with the loading zone during strikes.

Beyond Light is about taking the game back down to the basics so that Bungie and players can find out what is actually fun about the game.

The added stability feels like a fair trade, although the long-term implications are unclear. With much of Beyond Light's content in Europe, I'm not sure how little things will feel when I've got my chores done. Many of these questions should be answered in the upcoming season of the hunt, but ever-skeptical fans wouldn't be wrong in preparing for another slow year.

That's why it's so important this time to recalibrate expectations. Beyond Light is not about starting a bright chapter for the series. It's about taking the game back to the basics so Bungie and the players can find out what is actually fun about the game. It's entirely possible that Beyond Light only piqued gamers' interest for a few weeks, but maybe it's time to accept that Destiny 2 is less effective as a long-tailed service game and a rock-solid shooter that's well worth it is to be visited again, less fun times a year.

Our opinion

Destiny 2: Beyond Light is a leaner proposition than fans hoped for thanks to its disappointing campaign, but there is still enough intrigue beneath Europe's surface to warrant a return to orbit. The new stasis subclasses refresh years of experience and ensure that parts of the game feel new again, even if the honeymoon feeling disappears in a few weeks.

Is there a better alternative?

The answer is still no, although the competition is getting tougher. Warframe is creeping up on the throne in particular, but Destiny 2's shooting is still unmatched.

How long it will take?

The campaign itself only lasts about five hours, but there are still many tasks and activities that need to be completed before the new season begins.

Should you buy it?

Yes. If you are already sold on Destiny 2 there is no reason not to continue the adventure. Moving to the next generation is an added reason for new console owners to jump back in.

Editor's recommendations




11 Aug
Blog

LG Gram 14 2-in-1 (2020) Review: Not Just a Light Laptop

lg grams 14 2 in 1 2020 review 05

"The LG Gram 14 2-in-1 is an extremely light laptop, but it does more than just that."

  • Solid productivity performance

  • Extremely light

  • Generally good input options

  • Strong connectivity

  • Expensive

  • The performance has decreased slightly compared to the previous generation

As you can tell by the name, LG's Gram laptops focus on weight – especially light weight. While thin and light laptops have gotten a lot thinner and lighter, the LG Gram line has managed to keep its place with some of the lightest laptops you can buy.

LG just updated its Gram 14 2-in-1, which weighs just 2.52 pounds. It's insanely easy, despite having all of the high-end specs you'd expect in a $ 1,600 laptop. But does this laptop have more to offer than just its light weight?

design

The Gram 14 weighs 2.52 pounds, which is definitely on the lower end of the scale for 14-inch 2-in-1 laptops. Imagine a direct competitor, the Lenovo Yoga C940, which weighs 3.04 pounds – a half-pound difference that you can tell when you hold it in either hand. Even a smaller 2-in-1, the HP Specter x360 13, is heavier at 2.88 pounds. Simply put, the Gram 14 achieves its goal of being a noticeably lighter alternative.

Much of this has to do with the choice of materials, especially the magnesium alloy that makes up the laptop's case. This metal manages to keep things lightweight while still being reasonably sturdy, though I've noticed a few bends in the lid and some keyboard flexes. The Gram 14 feels like it's made of plastic. That's not a bad thing in and of itself, but it hurts when you factor in the $ 1,600 price tag.

Despite its low weight, the Gram 14 is not the thinnest notebook.

However, once you overcome this mental hurdle, you will appreciate how LG managed to make the laptop so light and solid that you don't have to worry about its ability to endure abuse.

Despite its weight, the Gram 14 is not the thinnest notebook at 0.70 inches. The Yoga C940 is thinner at 0.57 inches and the HP Specter x360 13 is 0.67 inches. And you'll be pleased with that extra thickness as, as we'll learn, it improves connectivity and battery capacity.

In terms of aesthetics, the Gram 14 can best be described as "handsome". It's an attractive dark silver color (it's also available in white) with a bold white Gram logo on the lid and keyboard font that curiously compliments the design. There's nothing here to get a lot of attention, but I like the look. I would prefer it to Lenovo's yoga aesthetic, which is as conservative as it is boring. HP's Specter line is still the most extravagant, of course, and the Gram 14 doesn't come close.

Connectivity is impressive for a laptop this thin and light. There's a USB-C port with Thunderbolt 3 support (and an upgrade from the previous model without this useful connection), a full-size HDMI port, two USB-A 3.1 ports, and a microSD card reader. Wireless connectivity is provided by Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5, which keeps the laptop up to date with the latest in wireless technology.

performance

When I reviewed the 2019 version of the Gram 14, it was a strong performance for its CPU class. This time it fell off a bit.

In the synthetic Geekbench 4, for example, the 2019 version with its eighth generation Core i7-8565U achieved 5,013 points in the single-core test and 15,496 points in the multi-core test. The new Gram 14 with its quad-core Intel Core i7-10510U scored 5,244 and 14,789 points respectively and dropped out in the multi-core test. Looking at Geekbench 5, the Gram 14 scored 1,170 and 3,480, respectively, compared to the Asus ZenBook Duo with the same CPU that manages 1,183 and 4,221. The Gram 14 simply lags behind in this test.

When switching to our real-world handbrake test, which converts a 420MB video file to H.265, the 2019 Gram 14 took about 4.1 minutes to complete the test with an older version of Handbrake, while the new Gram 14 took five Took seconds longer. We didn't test the same CPU with the latest version of Handbrake, but it took the Gram 14 five minutes to complete the test compared to the Acer Spin 3, which took a Core i5-1035G1 in just over four minutes.

None of this is a tragedy, of course. These results mean you don't want to use the Gram 14 for high-level photo and video editing tasks, but it does work for just about any productivity, web browsing, and multimedia task you might want to do. And that's exactly the focus of this laptop – providing a lightweight platform that productivity workers love to take with them. In this respect the gram 14 shines.

With Intel UHD Graphics, this is of course not a gaming laptop. If you stick to older, low-resolution, graphical-detail titles, you can play light games, but that's about all you can expect.

Battery life

Somehow, LG managed to pack 72 watt hours of battery capacity into the lightweight housing of the Gram 14. That's a lot of battery for a 14-inch laptop, and I expected some strong battery results.

What I got was strong, but not spectacular longevity. Battery life has been one of the most notable improvements in recent laptops, and the Gram 14 sits on the top shelf in this category. It's not the most durable we've tested, but it does give you a good, long day off the hook.

First, it did nearly 4.5 hours in our demanding Basemark web benchmark test. That's on the high end of the average, which is a bit strange because the Gram 14 doesn't exactly push the CPU to its limits and I was expecting more here. The Asus ZenBook Duo lasted almost five hours longer and the Dell XPS 13 with its Core i7-1065G7 almost half an hour longer. So Gram 14 did well here, but not great.

The LG Gram 14 will get you through a whole working day and much more.

The switch to the web browser test and the Gram 14 was a bit stronger. It ran for roughly 11.3 hours, which is a strong – but also not class-leading – score that indicates a long-lasting productivity laptop. The ZenBook Duo only lasted 8.5 hours, while the XPS 13 lasted 13 minutes longer. Finally, watch our video loop test looping a local Full HD The Avengers trailer until the battery runs out. Here the Gram 14 lasted 16.6 hours, beating the 11.9 hours of the ZenBook Duo and the 14.5 hours of the XPS 13. You'll find the Gram 14 an excellent laptop for getting Netflix on the road .

Ultimately, I have to rate the Gram 14 as impressive in terms of battery life, all the more so since you don't pay a premium in terms of weight for total battery capacity. The Gram 14 will take you through a full day of work and more, which is all you can ask from such a featherweight machine.

display

If you look at our display database, you can see a remarkably consistent trend. Laptops like the Apple MacBook and the Dell XPS 15 have fantastic displays with brilliant and precise colors, deep contrast and high brightness. Then there are inexpensive displays with faint colors, poor accuracy, and dull panels with less contrast. Right in the middle is the premium average, which is almost exactly where the Gram 14's display drops off.

It's comfortably bright at 320 nits, which exceeds our preference of 300 nits, while its 830: 1 contrast falls below our preferred 1,000: 1 ratio. But that's similar or better than some other laptops like the Lenovo Yoga C930 (we haven't tested the C940 yet) which came in at 294 nits and a contrast of 650: 1. The Dell XPS 13 was much brighter at 377 nits and had a contrast ratio of 1,440: 1.

The display is one of the worst color accuracies we've seen in a while.

In terms of color, the Gram 14 managed 70% AdobeRGB and 95% sRGB. Again, this is roughly average for premium laptops. although the XPS 13 outperforms it with 77% and 97% respectively. Where the Gram 14 falls, the color accuracy is 5.11 (1.0 or less is considered accurate), which means colors can be found everywhere compared to a laptop like the XPS 13, which scored 1.53 were. The Gram 14's score is one of the worst we've seen in a while, and there's no excuse for an expensive laptop like this one.

Still, I enjoyed using the display while writing the review. Black text on a white background popped up in a way that was comfortable for long-term writing, and the only time I noticed the inaccurate colors was when I compared it side by side with another laptop. If you're the creative type who demands a wide gamut and accurate colors, control should be clear. For productivity users and multimedia watchers, however, the Gram 14's laptop is more than good enough.

The sound was clear and pleasant, although the volume was absent. There was little bass, of course, but few laptops outside of Apple's latest MacBook Pros can claim a lot of low-end reactions. Highs and mids were fine, so the speakers were fine for the occasional YouTube and Netflix sessions (in a quiet room), but headphones or bluetooth speakers would still be a boon.

Keyboard and touchpad

The keyboard on the Gram 14 appears to be the same as the previous model, which is generally a good thing. First of all, as mentioned above, it's a nice looking keyboard with a nice, clear, attractive font and effective backlighting. Second, it has a fast mechanism that is good for long writes, although it's a bit shallow for my tastes. Lots of people may agree, so I rate the keyboard very good – not quite on par with the excellent keyboard on the HP Specter x360 13, but not too far off.

The touchpad is average in size and supports Microsoft Precision drivers with solid support for Windows 10 multi-touch gestures. The display is of course touch sensitive, and the included active pen supports 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity and works well with Microsoft inks. Overall, input is a strength.

Windows 10 Hello support without a password is provided by a fingerprint reader integrated into the power button. It works well, quickly and accurately and saves me the hassle of entering a PIN or password.

Our opinion

The LG Gram 14 2-in-1 fulfills its primary goal of being a lightweight 2-in-1 productivity that is particularly easy to transport. Performance is a bit slower than the last version, but it's not unusual – it's still fast enough for the productivity users' goal. Battery life is a strong point, as are the input options.

There is stiff competition out there, however, and some of them are much cheaper than the Gram 14. However, it's tough to beat the LG Gram 14 for the ultimate in portability.

Are there alternatives?

The Lenovo Yoga C940 is a strong competitor to the Gram 14. It is likely faster and more solidly built, with great audio performance and a better keyboard. While the battery life isn't that long, it makes up for it with a price tag that is about $ 300 lower.

You could also cut the price significantly (around under $ 1,000) and consider the HP Envy x360. Thanks to the powerful Ryzen 4000 CPUs from AMD and an overall better build quality, you get significantly faster performance without adding too much weight. However, you are giving up on battery life.

Finally, LG sells a Gram 14 clamshell that's even lighter at 2.2 pounds and the same basic size as the 2-in-1. It's only configured with a Core i5, but if you don't need the speed or the 2-in-1 functionality, you can save 14 cash compared to the 2-in-1 price of 1,600 grams – the clamshell is out now available at $ 950 and $ 1,200 at retail.

How long it will take?

The LG Gram 14 2-in-1 is built well enough that it should last for years. And with the latest components and Thunderbolt3, it's relatively future-proof. As always, we complain about the short one-year guarantee.

Should you buy it?

Yes, but only if you have a super light laptop. When performance or build quality are higher priorities, better laptops and 2-in-1 devices are available.

Editor's recommendations




09 Aug
Blog

Ring Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) Review: Light on Upgrades

Bell video doorbell 2nd generation 2020 rating 2 and post person

Ring video doorbell 2nd gen.

"The cheapest ring is not a revelation, but its price is."

  • Inexpensive

  • Great app experience

  • Privacy Zone censors certain areas

  • easy installation

  • No replaceable battery

  • Glitchy video and audio

Several video doorbells have gone through since the original was released in 2013. There were Elite, Pro, Ring Video Doorbell 2, Ring Video Doorbell 3, and Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus. After all that, the company returned to the original with the Ring video doorbell 2nd gen. ($ 100).

How does it differ from all of its cousins? It's $ 100 price tag. It's by far the cheapest bells launched this year – Bells 3 and 3 Plus for Ring Video cost $ 200 and $ 230, respectively. That's a big difference. Is it worthy of the premium brand Ring? I tried the 2nd generation to see how it stood out from the competition and the other ring doorbells.

Ring Video Doorbell Gen 2 and Post Personring

installation

Like the other Ring Video Doorbells, Generation 2 is very easy to install. The instructions in the app will guide you through everything step by step. The kit even includes a level, screwdriver, and drill bit in case you need a drill bit. All you have to do is attach the mounting plate to the wall or door frame with a couple of screws, click the doorbell onto the plate, and then secure everything with two more screws. The wireless installation takes about 30 minutes in total. If you're replacing another wired doorbell, the installation won't take much longer because it connects to the cables you already have. However, if you want it to be wired but don't currently have a wired doorbell, you will need to get a professional to do the installation.

Still not an easy way to top up

Ring Video Doorbell Gen 2 BackAlina Bradford / Digital Trends

The very first thing I noticed is how difficult it is to charge this new model. The other new video doorbells in the Ring range have a detachable faceplate that allows you to remove the battery to recharge. The Ring Video Doorbell (2nd generation) does not have a removable battery. The entire doorbell must be completely removed from the mounting plate as the charging port is on the back of the doorbell. This is the same method as the first generation Ring Video Doorbell. That means you have to loosen two security screws to be able to recharge the doorbell. What a pain! While the doorbell is charging, instead of a doorbell, you have an ugly mounting plate next to your door.

Other than having to unplug the doorbell from the front panel and load it in, the battery isn't that bad. Like the other ring doorbells, it should only need to be charged every few months. Overall, it consumes around 1% of its battery life every day.

Video

The Ring Video Doorbell (2nd Generation) has a 1080p HD camera, just like the Ring Doorbell 2, the Ring Doorbell 3 and the Ring Doorbell 3 Plus. It's leaps and bounds better than the 1st generation with a 720p HD camera, however. What's even more surprising is that this 2nd generation model has higher color saturation and better contrast, possibly a little too much contrast, despite the same video specifications as the 3 Plus.

The curvature of the fish shell around the edges of the video seems a little less obvious.

Also, the curvature of the fish shell seems a little less obvious around the edges of the video. As I've said in other doorbell reviews, curvature distortion is an issue that should have been resolved by now. Among other things, the Arlo Video doorbell figured out how to create a doorbell without distorting the edges. Why is Ring sleeping on this upgrade?

Ring Video Doorbell Gen 2 VideoAlina Bradford / Digital Trends

The 2nd generation has night vision just like their brand friends. It's similar to other night vision doorbells, but far from amazing. The contrast is good and faces are pretty recognizable. When it is really dark outside, the camera switches to black and white footage. As long as the lights on your porch are on, they will still be recorded in color.

The video is corrupted if the person moves in front of the camera. It corrects itself in a few seconds, but is still annoying. You would think that this is due to the fact that it only has 2.0GHz Wi-Fi connectivity. Not so. The other ringtones also have this problem even when using a 5.0 GHz Wi-Fi connection.

The field of view (how much area the camera can "see") is somewhat narrower than with other doorbell doors. The Ring Video doorbell (2nd generation) has a field of view of 155 degrees, while the 3 Plus is a little wider 160 degrees. Frankly, this didn't seem to make much of a difference when comparing footage side by side. The original model has a 180 degree field of view so I'm a little confused. You would expect Gen 2 to be an upgrade, not a downgrade.

Ring Video Doorbell Gen 2 VideoAlina Bradford / Digital Trends

While you can watch live videos for free, you will need a subscription to save your videos. The ring protection plan allows you to review and share videos and photos for up to 60 days. It costs just $ 3 per month per device or $ 10 per month for your entire household. So it's not particularly expensive. It's similar to other plans like Nest Aware for Google's Nest Hello, but other companies like August offer free video storage for their doorbells.

Audio

Ring video doorbell 2nd generation on the doorAlina Bradford / Digital Trends

Two-way audio is a feature found throughout the Ring line of video doorbells. You can talk to anyone at your door without opening it or even being home. The noise-canceling technology really helps to attenuate ambient noise so you can hear the person speaking clearly. The sound is also very loud. The only problem is with the microphone and speaker turning on and off so the sound is a bit choppy on either side of the conversation.

properties

The Ring Video Doorbell (2nd Generation) has most of the same functionality as any other Ring Doorbell, mainly because they all use the same app. One thing that isn't there is the pre-roll option, which allows the camera to record a four-second preview video in front of a motion alarm, which is exclusive to the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus. It's helpful when you need more footage, such as identifying someone on a video, but it's not a huge loss.

Many Ring competitors use artificial intelligence to detect and warn you when a package is on your porch. However, Ring does not offer it for a single model. Maybe I'm just overestimating what a great feature this is. I think it's pretty helpful, but Ring maybe not. It's artificial intelligence that can tell the difference between people, animals, or cars so that motion notifications are more accurate.

Ring Video Doorbell Gen 2 with 3 PlusRing Video Doorbell Gen 2 next to the 3 Plus Alina Bradford / Digital Trends

To save battery power and reduce constant notifications, there are several ways you can customize the camera's motion detection. The motion detection area can be adjusted so that it only detects movement on your porch or as far as the sidewalk. You can also adjust the sensitivity of the motion detection. If you don't want any notifications at all, you can turn off motion alarms for 30 minutes to four hours.

There is a privacy zone option that literally blocks part of the yard in the video.

If you have a part of your yard that you don't want the camera to see, there is a privacy zone that literally blocks that part of the yard in the video via a black box. Think of it as your own censorship bar. This can be helpful if you don't want the camera to record your children's play or pool areas if you are concerned that the footage is being hacked.

I say this a lot in my reviews but I will say it again. I love the Ring app. It's not buggy and easy to use. Even better, you'll get live crime and security alerts reported by your neighbors or local law enforcement, as well as weekly security reports. This is the only doorbell app that has it all. In fact, the app is one of Ring's biggest selling points.

Ring App

Our opinion

It really seems like Ring is just producing video doorbells without much innovation. The Ring Video Doorbell (2nd Generation) is almost indistinguishable from the other new video doorbells except that it does not have a removable battery or 5.0 GHz WiFi connectivity option and has a slightly narrower field of view. The special thing is the price. The Ring Video Doorbell 3 is $ 200, while this 2nd generation model is $ 100. That's a great incentive.

Is there a better alternative?

If you want a ring video doorbell, this is your best bet for the price. The Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus has an additional pre-roll option and a replaceable battery. However, it's not worth paying an extra $ 135. A better option might be the Ring Video Doorbell 3, which brings the cost down to $ 200 and has the same features and specifications as the 3 Plus except for the pre-roll feature.

For better video quality, I would recommend the Arlo Video Doorbell or another option on our list of the best video doorbells. That said, Ring has the best app out there, and if you have other Ring products I definitely recommend the Gen 2.

How long it will take?

Since this doorbell is a solid piece with no removable faceplate, it may seem more durable than other ring doorbells. It comes with a one year limited warranty. If it is stolen, Ring will replace it for free.

Should you buy it

Yes. It's actually a decent doorbell for the price. You also get the great Ring app.

Editor's recommendations




26 Jul
Blog

MSI GS66 Stealth Review: Thin and Light Gaming Laptop

msi gs66 stealth review 05

"The MSI GS66 Stealth offers excellent gaming performance and a slim profile at an affordable price."

  • Great gaming performance

  • Ultra-fast refresh rate of 300 Hz

  • Good keyboard and touchpad

  • Pleasant surface temperatures

  • The screen is a little dark

  • Questionable build quality

The Razer Blade has always had a serious competitor. It's not Alienware, Predator, or ROG. These brands all make great gaming laptops themselves, but none that want to do exactly what the Blade does.

Razer's most direct rival comes from a smaller company (at least here in the United States). I'm talking about the MSI GS66 Stealth. It has a similar size, almost identical specifications, and most importantly, the same minimalist design principles. There are no protruding angles or stereotypical clichés here.

MSI has further developed its approach to overcoming the Razer Blade, and its latest model, the GS66 Stealth, appears to meet all the criteria. Did it hit the Razer Blade in its own game?

design

MSI GS66 stealth review

There is a fine line between simple and boring. Brands like Razer or Apple can spice up their look with a little elegance. The MSI GS66 Stealth tries to do the same subtle trick. It avoids the bombastic style of other gaming laptops, but isn't quite as sophisticated as laptops like the Razer Blade. Even some ROG Zephyrus laptops look more uniform.

It is not a bad looking laptop. It's just a little bit boring.

MSI even took the design back from last year's GS65 Stealth and removed the golden highlights that played the racing stripe theme. Outside the RGB keyboard, it is now colorless and corresponds to the black aluminum standard housing. Unfortunately, there are still vents on the sides and top of the keyboard deck, stickers on the palm rests, and large hinges. It is not a bad looking laptop. It's just a little bit boring.

Fortunately, MSI has fixed some build quality issues. Earlier models were equally thin and light, but felt flexible and cheap. It's no longer a flexible piece of plastic, although the lid still feels a bit shaky. Even when closed, the lid of my device can close flat due to its curvature.

For a laptop that's only 4.6 pounds and 0.71 inches thick, that's important. It's still not as well built as the similarly sized Razer Blade that remains the king in this department.

Keyboard and touchpad

MSI GS66 stealth review

The keyboard and touchpad fit this topic. It is a large, comfortable keyboard with a set of springy keys that are suitable for both typing and playing.

However, there are quirks in the keyboard layout. The function key is only on the right side, probably in close proximity to the full-size arrow keys, which also serve as controls for volume and screen brightness. Oddly enough, however, it's only half the size of a normal key. This is a bad decision for a commonly used key.

I was really surprised by the quality of the touchpad.

The keyboard has RGB backlighting, which is required for gaming laptops these days. You can customize the keys, resulting in fun designs that are all provided by Steelseries. However, the backlight is not as bright and even as with the Razer Blade.

The touchpad is wider than in previous models. In contrast to the larger MSI GS75 Stealth, this does not disturb your palms when typing. However, due to the large vents above the keyboard, it is shorter than I know it. The good news is that the touchpad is well tracked and the click mechanism is quiet and precise. The quality surprised me.

The MSI GS66 Stealth contains a 720p webcam above the display and an IR camera for Windows Hello face recognition.

Ports

MSI GS66 stealth review

The MSI GS66 Stealth offers numerous options for port connections. On the left side you get USB-A, HDMI, Thunderbolt 3 and a power connector.

On the right side, the GS66 Stealth offers two additional USB-A ports, an additional USB-C port, an Ethernet socket and a headphone socket. That's all you need to connect multiple accessories, output to an external monitor, and even hard-wire your internet connection.

The lack of a full-size SD card slot is a failure for creatives who may want to use this laptop as a photo or video editing device. The slot has made a comeback on the new Razer Blade and Dell XPS 15. With the MSI GS66 Stealth you have to use a dongle.

The positioning of these ports is a bit annoying. Due to the side ventilation slots, the openings were pressed down towards the palm rests. As it turns out, your mouse is usually right there.

The MSI GS66 Stealth supports the latest Wi-Fi 6 connectivity via Intel and Bluetooth 5.1

Gaming performance

MSI GS66 stealth review

Like the Predator Triton 500 or the Razer Blade, the MSI GS66 Stealth not only has an Nvidia RTX 2080 Super Max-Q graphics card, but also a screen with a refresh rate of 300 Hz. The combination of the two means a strong GPU Performance and a screen that never limits the number of visible frames per second. The MSI model also offers screens with refresh rates of 240 Hz or 144 Hz when combined with slower GPUs like the RTX 2070 Super or the RTX 2060.

However, my decorated test device was a top performer. Take Battlefield V for example. The MSI GS66 Stealth processes the game at 97 frames per second (FPS) with settings at Ultra and 133 frames per second at medium. It's neck and neck with the Razer Blade here, surpassing it by 11 fps even in the medium settings.

The GS66 Stealth plays Fortnite wonderfully smoothly and makes optimal use of its 300 Hz screen.

The Razer Blade, Predator Triton 500 and MSI GS66 Stealth were also in a dead heat in Assassin's Creed Odyssey. The MSI GS66 Stealth played at 56 fps, just a few frames behind its two competitors.

The GS66 Stealth plays blows again and plays Fortnite wonderfully smoothly, making better use of its 300 Hz screen. It reached a whopping 121 fps with Epic settings, again 11 fps ahead of the Razer Blade.

And in case you are wondering, there are some titles that can actually take advantage of the extra headroom for the frame rate that the 300 Hz screen offers. The Rocket League, for example, can easily play up to 250 fps.

All of these games were played with the system's native 1080p resolution, although you will likely get adequate frame rates even when connected to an external 1440p gaming monitor.

Performance in content creation

As with the Razer Blade, many people will be tempted to use the MSI GS66 Stealth not just for gaming – thanks to its portability and its nondescript design.

MSI offers processor options up to the Intel Core i9-10980HK, but my device came with the Core i7-10875H. This is the first choice for high-end gaming laptops with eight cores and 16 threads. This also makes it a strong laptop for content creation, especially in applications that can use the powerful discrete GPU.

MSI GS66 stealth review

The GS66 Stealth scores better than the Razer Blade in Geekbench 5, but they're equally good at real-life professors. For CPU-bound applications like Handbrake it binds the Razer Blade and loses to the Dell XPS 15. Of course laptops like the Dell G5 SE with AMD Ryzen 4000 or Dell XPS 17 blow it out of the water.

A better example is the popular video editing application Adobe Premiere Pro. The MSI GS66 Stealth rendered a 4K two-minute clip for ProRes 422 in just seven minutes and 20 seconds. This is almost the same performance as the Razer Blade. Thanks to their more powerful GPUs, both laptops beat the Dell XPS 15 by around 16%. However, none of them is comparable to the powerful Dell XPS 17.

MSI pumps up all RTX Super models with 32 GB RAM and at least 512 GB SSD. You can also choose a downgraded 16 GB RAM, RTX 2060 and a 6-core Core i7-10750H.

The system does a solid job and keeps the surface temperatures cool even when playing. That's a problem I had with the Razer Blade, which stays warm even when surfing the web lightly. The cooling is better regulated here, which leads to more pleasant surface temperatures. The disadvantages are of course the additional ventilation slots and the fan noise. The fans always turn even when idle.

display

MSI GS66 stealth review

The matte 1080p screen is great for gaming thanks to its response time of 3 milliseconds and refresh rate of 300 Hz. Playing is fast and smooth.

It can only be serviced for other activities. The screen is initially a maximum of 262 nits. That's 15% less than the Razer Blade and below the 300-nit level that I expect from premium laptops. The matte finish helps mitigate reflections, but I would have preferred a brighter screen here.

Fortunately, it's a well-calibrated screen with accurate colors. The color gamut is not as large as many creatives would like it to be, but it corresponds to the 1080p Razer Blade in this regard. MSI offers a 4K panel, which can be more attractive for non-gaming tasks.

The speakers are disappointing. They are pointing up, although MSI has decided to put them on the palm rest again, which remains a strange choice. In any case, they are confused and have no bass.

Battery life

MSI GS66 stealth review

The MSI GS66 Stealth is step by step in several areas, but not ahead of many of its competitors. An exception to this rule is the battery life, where it is preferred. However, I don't think it can compete with non-gaming laptops.

It still only manages about five and 40 minutes on a single charge – and with little stress when surfing the Internet. You can't work away from the wall for too long without worrying about battery life. The Dell XPS 15 lasts a few hours longer in the same test despite its 4K display on a single charge.

Nevertheless, the MSI GS66 Stealth lasts 40 minutes longer than the Razer Blade and hours longer than G-Sync laptops like the Predator Triton 500th hour size.

The Razer Blade beat the MSI in our lightest battery test, in which a local video clip is repeated until the laptop dies. The blade lasted seven hours and 22 minutes, an hour longer than the MSI GS66 Stealth.

However, the battery life of gaming laptops is increasing, and this is the new crop of AMD Ryzen 4000 gaming laptops. The GPU is not as powerful, but the ROG Zephyrus G14 is only a few centimeters behind the MSI GS66 Stealth when surfing the Internet and has taken a whopping 10 hours in video looping.

Our opinion

The MSI GS66 Stealth faces a tough battle. The sophistication of the Razer Blade is lacking, and it's not as affordable as the Acer Predator Triton 500. However, its benefits don't go unnoticed. The cooling is impressive and the gaming performance is fantastic.

It's not twice as good as the Razer Blade for work, but as an ultra-portable gaming laptop, the MSI GS66 Stealth is an argument in itself.

Are there alternatives?

The Razer Blade offers excellent build quality, a better display and a classier look. However, it is a few hundred dollars more expensive.

The Predator Triton 500 isn't as elegant as the MSI GS66 Stealth, but it's a little cheaper and even has a G-Sync screen.

If you're considering the cheaper Nvidia RTX 2060 version of the MSI GS66 Stealth, the ROG Zephyrus G14 is a great alternative.

How long it will take?

The MSI GS66 Stealth should last four to five years as long as you take care of it. The build quality can be somewhat sensitive in places. So be careful with the lid.

MSI provides a standard one-year warranty on all laptops.

Should you buy it

Yes. If the Razer Blade is a bit too expensive and you still want an elegant gaming laptop, the MSI GS66 Stealth is a good option.

Editor's recommendations




21 May
Blog

Blink Mini Review: Slim On Features, Light On Price

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Blink Mini Review: Light functions, low price

"Just another mid-of-road offering in an increasingly competitive, affordable space."

  • Affordable costs

  • Easy setup

  • Crunchy sounding audio

  • Soft looking video footage

  • Favorable construction

After the Amazon subsidiary Blink tackled the outside area with its wireless surveillance camera, it wants to repeat the same success indoors with the Blink Mini. What is remarkable from the start is the low cost of $ 35. The price alone is of course not a measure of the true value of a camera.

Easy setup

Setting up the Blink Mini is a breeze, especially when you compare it to its outdoor sibling, the Blink XT2. Unlike this camera, the Blink Mini does not require a synchronization module because it is directly connected to a home's Wi-Fi network. Which makes sense since it should be stationary somewhere in the house.

The app has a clear layout that allows you to quickly jump to a live view, view all clips stored in the cloud and even change some settings. The appearance of the app is not excellent, but it doesn't matter to me, since all functions of the camera are easily accessible and are not hidden under a cumbersome menu interface.

The basics of privacy

During the setup process, I had to check my email address to sign in properly. Although this was not apparent, it is actually a two-factor authentication. This is a relief as it provides an additional layer of security for those who are concerned about hacking. It is only available through the email address. You cannot select a phone number instead.

I am pleased that there is an option to set up activity zones so that motion detection can be set for certain areas in the camera view. I can block areas to reduce false alarms, but it doesn't stop the Blink Mini from constantly shooting footage when motion is detected in those zones – such as: B. a doorway, a visible pet, or other minor activity. In contrast, cameras such as the Google Nest Cam IQ use indoor facial recognition technology to only record when an unknown face is encountered.

The Blink Mini is currently uploading video clips to the cloud with a total allocation capacity of 120 minutes thanks to the free trial version of Blink's subscription plan. This will change as of December 31, 2020, when users will need to subscribe to the $ 3 monthly plan for additional cloud storage. There is no local storage, but the company plans to release Blink Sync Module 2, which works with the Blink Mini to store clips locally on a flash drive.

I am pleased that there is an option to set up activity zones.

When accessing a live view, a blue LED on the camera lights up to indicate that someone is watching. Although a visual cue is great, I would have liked an accompanying audible alarm.

A boring design

The Blink Mini's design is not pretty. It's generic and has an all-plastic construction that feels a little cheap.

I think it's good that the included USB cable has enough range to attach it to a wall. This gives the Blink Mini a more impressive presence than if it is simply placed on a flat surface. Because of the 110 degree field of view, it's best to place it in corners to adequately cover an entire room.

Soft in detail

The Blink Mini records videos in a resolution of 1080p. When you look at the footage, the details are a bit soft, which is to be expected given the price. Some other notable quirks are artifact elements that appear in the shadow, even when there is enough light, a colder color temperature, and the inability to process high-contrast scenes. It's far from perfect, but at least the footage can be used to determine who's in the frame and what's going on.

The infrared night vision ensures clarity when there is not much ambient light. Details have a significant impact, but this is generally expected. The built-in speaker produces razor-sharp audio data, making conversations in both directions child's play.

Our opinion

It may not look very pretty and it doesn't offer many features, but the Blink Mini has everything you need for a surveillance camera.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes. The Wyze Cam V2 offers an impressive array of features, including the option to turn into a webcam.

How long it will take?

It looks cheap and feels cheap, but if it stays undisturbed on a wall or counter, you shouldn't have to worry about it going bad. Blink offers a 1-year limited warranty against defects and normal use.

Should you buy it

If you have already invested in the Blink ecosystem, this is a useful addition due to the low cost. If not, you can find better alternatives without spending a fortune.

Editor's recommendations




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