Not all low carbohydrate diets are created equal and more rigorous experimentation is required.
The researchers at Stanford University's School of Medicine in Palo Alto, California behind the recent review of the benefits of a low-carb diet found many problems with the benefits and risks, and consider these approaches controversial and unsolved, especially for very low-carb diets Carbohydrate Diets (VLCD).
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Not all low carbohydrate diets are created equal and more rigorous experimentation is required.
The researchers at Stanford University's School of Medicine in Palo Alto, California who are behind the recent review of the benefits of a low-carb diet found many problems with the benefits and risks and consider these approaches controversial and unsolved, especially for very low-carb diets Carbohydrate Diets (VLCD).
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Ah! My leg !! – Here we go again. My grandma just can't sleep properly at night because of the foot pain. Nowadays I also have a strange feeling in my leg when I go to bed. My friends suggested a foot massager to get a relaxing foot. But how long should you use a foot massager?
Firstly, it depends on the condition, and secondly, the ideal time to use the maximum massage is 20-30 minutes. Still, this timing is an assumption because more factors are required when using a foot massager. You have to keep in mind that not all feet have the same absorbent feel. Confused already? Well, don't be like that! Find out about the timing and usage of the foot massager together in this article.
Before knowing when to use the foot massager, it is necessary to check the work and use of the foot massager.
It is our feet that work non-stop without complaining and letting us go for a long time. It is our fault for not paying attention to leg health and the result is a tired and restless leg at night.
Then we think about getting a foot massager to give the leg some relaxation. Now you need to know which type is right for your leg as there are two types – the open and the closed. Some massage devices are multi-functional and require a working knowledge of how to use them.
You can use manual like roller, shiatsu and reflexology etc. You can also remember to get the electrical one as it works with vibration, warmth and intensity. Are Electric Foot Massagers Good For You? Massage house says yes, it is completely harmless with no side effects.
While using the foot massager to get the maximum benefit, it is important to properly follow the instructions. With the manual, you need to use the roller or get a massage from a therapist up to a certain time. The electric one is the easiest to use and also the most effective. Make the desired setting in the massager and place your feet on it. Relax and wait for the massage to finish.
To keep your feet relaxed, there is no alternative to a foot massage. After a massage, your blood circulation is stimulated and you are always in a good mood. There is research that suggests that giving 10 minutes of regular foot massage will keep your body healthy for a long time if blood circulation improves.
When your feet feel the vibration, it increases blood flow in the body. All of the nerves stay connected in our feet, so the stimulation increases blood flow.
Believe it or not, after a foot massage, your depression will go away surprisingly. Because during the massage the happy go hormone endorphins will be released and you will feel satisfied.
If you are having problems like muscle cramps, aches and pains, foot massage will help cure those problems. The foot massage reaches into the deep tissue and heals the injuries.
We all tend to take pain medication to relieve the pain. But the foot massager is the best option to relieve the pain. The foot massage will gradually cure your chronic pain.
If our feet are tired, we cannot sleep well at night. After a foot massage, relaxation and suppleness ensure a good night's sleep.
Since there is no specific time to take a massage, you must take it according to your illness. Different complications require different massage times. Let's find out which condition takes how much time:
The most sensitive and delicate part are our feet. During a massage, measure the time until you feel relaxed and comfortable. This measured time is the length of the foot massage it takes to get proper blood flow and the nerve intensity becomes stronger. The estimated time is 20 to 30 minutes.
The foot massage relieves chronic pain such as arthritis. Since the massage stimulates the blood circulation, the patient is quickly relieved. Make a note of the time you relax. You may need to have a massage three times a week.
Although this condition is a genetic disease, the pain will be less and you will feel relaxed for the foot massage. Check how long it takes to get to the relaxing moment during a massage. You may need to have a foot massage for 3-4 weeks.
Most elderly people have this complication in the bone. Foot massage is the best medicine for this pain. When taking a massage, make a note of the length of time at which the pain subsides. You may need a massage every week.
For the flat feet condition, imbalance, pain and stress make your life miserable. Don't worry, the foot massager will alleviate this problem. Check the timing whenever you feel like your pain stress is quieter than it was before. Take massages 2 to 3 times a week.
If you have frequent headaches, foot massage acts as a healer. It helps relieve the pain after a massage. You can write down the length of time your headache will heal. You may need to massage three times to get rid of the pain.
Nowadays it is a common condition at all ages. To cure this pain, you can have a foot massage, which will stimulate the lymph nodes to relieve the pain. Know the duration during the massage. You may need to complete a 60- to 90-minute session to feel comfortable.
Sometimes your feet will turn pale when the blood flow is wrong. The foot massage helps to make the circulation normal. Make sure you know the duration of the massage that makes the circulation regular. The session can last 30-60 minutes.
Before getting a foot massager, you need to know how long to use a foot massager as you need to plan your lifestyle accordingly. It is now impossible to take time out of our busy lives to go to a therapy center for massage. Thanks to technology, they invented a foot massager that can be used anytime. You can enjoy the benefits of foot massage before bed by getting a foot oil massage. You stay relaxed and can sleep safely.
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?
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.
Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
Mark 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.
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.
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.
Mark 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.
Mark 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.
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.
Mark 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.
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.
Mark 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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
"The limitations of the S Series become more apparent the longer you use them."
Incredibly portable
Good price
Great design
Not worth the savings
Not enough space
The Xbox Series S is an incredible piece of technology in many ways. Next-generation features like instant charging into an incredibly compact and affordable device are undoubtedly helping to fill a niche in the market that the more expensive PlayStation 5 or the heavily underloaded Nintendo Switch can't reach.
Despite the things I like about the Series S, I can't help but feel that the tradeoffs it makes aren't worth the $ 200 savings, especially if you're from an upgrade in the In the middle of the cycle like the Xbox switch to One X or the PlayStation 4 Pro.
I received my S Series in the same shipment as the X Series, and I was honestly more impressed with the former than the latter when I unboxed the two consoles. It brought me back when I moved to America and my original PAL PlayStation 2 wouldn't work here, so I had to get a PlayStation 2 NTSC Slim. I was impressed with how something so small can play all of these incredible games, and while the S Series doesn't shrink to nearly the same size as the slim PS2, it's still impressive to have something more compact than most textbooks.
Then I booted it up and still it was as snappy as the Series X. I was able to download a system update in a flash and manage the entire setup via the much more handy Xbox app. Navigating the menus and downloading games from my library were just as quick, and to my delight, some of the titles were ten gigabytes smaller thanks to the lack of 4K textures.
I was impressed with how something so small could play all of these incredible games.
Then I came across the first catch in the S series. That annoying 512 GB SSD. It's not even 512 GB, but rather 370 GB of usable memory. I had six games installed and already ran out of space, even with the smaller installation files. Luckily I have unlimited gigabit internet in my apartment, but that's an incredible niche thing when you are talking about nearly half of the US population who play video games. Most people don't have the luxury of being able to conveniently delete and re-download games.
There is an option to save more games. However, it's a $ 220 Seagate expansion card that provides an additional 1TB. If you've spent the money on both this and the console, you're actually seeing more expensive value for money than if you just bought a Series X, which comes natively with 1TB of storage, a drive, and much better ones Hardware.
The severely limited memory allocation was more of a problem than I thought, but perhaps the system's performance would be impressive enough to make this a product I could recommend?
The first game I played in my Series S was Assassin's Creed Valhalla, and at first I thought something was wrong. Not only did it look worse than the Series X, which was to be expected, it also looked worse than on my One X.
The One X was the system I had played the game on for review, so I was well acquainted with it at the time. This last generation system used dynamic resolution while gaming – sometimes it ran at 4K and sometimes closer to 1440p depending on what was happening on the screen. It seems that the game would run at 1740p on average.
However, the S series limits the game resolution to 1440p. I would have hoped Valhalla would then be able to push to 60 frames per second on the console, but it was locked at 30 fps. Switching to the Series X, which runs the game at a constant 4K60 value, was a drastic change, but even when I looked at them side by side on my last-gen One X, I was a little surprised at the limited performance.
The first game I played in my Series S was Assassin's Creed Valhalla, and at first I thought something was wrong. Not only did it look worse than the Series X, which was to be expected, it also looked worse than on my One X.
There is a way to run Valhalla on the S Series at 60 fps, but you'll need to change the system level resolution to 1080p. Not only is this inconvenient, but it's also a huge visual drop, especially since it also turns off the game's HDR.
The other games that I luckily tried didn't have as dramatic a difference as Valhalla. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War may have lacked ray tracing and 120 fps modes, but it still felt visually competent enough that it was an immersive console experience. And I was happy to see that the S series still offers the ability to expand the game's field of vision. This is a huge benefit that was only granted to PC gamers until this new generation.
Gears 5 was the most indistinguishable of all games when compared between the Series S and the Series X. And while Dirt 5 ran at a nice 120 fps on the smaller console, the drop in texture quality was pretty noticeable.
Checking a device like the S series is something I have to change my mind about. I have to think about the wider range of gamers who don't make a living playing video games and may not have high speed internet or 4K OLED TV to enhance their experience.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War may have lacked ray tracing and 120 fps modes, but it still felt visually competent enough that it was an immersive console experience.
With all these factors in mind, I still think most people shouldn't pick up an S series. If you want an Xbox, go for the much more impressive X Series. Here is a list of the types of people who should pick up a Series S:
I still have arguments for each of these Prople categories as to why they should still apply to Series X. The S series is small, but not so incredibly small compared to the X series that it can travel with you or find space in your home for that, it's much easier for that than the X series.
Buying it as a second console for another TV in the house is also not worth it. The Series X boots up in seconds after a full shutdown, and a feature like Quick Resume, which lets you switch between games at the exact point where you left off, works even if you unplug the system. If you only move your Series X between rooms, there will be only the slightest inconvenience that would otherwise be avoided by an additional Series S.
The category that I think best fits a Series S needs is the purchase for your children. That's the strongest argument in favor of the console, but for me there is one unanswered question that changes my thoughts about it. Will Xbox roll out more series consoles later or will there be another update during the cycle?
In this case, the S Series is a compelling buy when purchasing a system for your youth. As a teenager, Microsoft may have released an even more powerful console or a more powerful Series S that would turn a smaller investment into a smart move for just a handful of years.
The thing is, I'll be 50/50 if we get this update with this generation of consoles. By the time the original Xbox One and PS4 were released, the transition from 1080p to 4K was already underway, and those systems weren't equipped for it. That's why we have the One X and the PS4 Pro.
This time around, both systems support 8K, which is far from mainstream as 4K back in 2013. While both the Series X and PS5 may not be able to play native 8K games, companies are making advances in machine learning You upscaled 8K files that look as good as the native resolution. They are impressive to the point where this hardware can possibly perfectly meet those technical requirements.
Ultimately, new consoles are not going to be a given for the next few years, and while now, around four years later, your child may be more than happy with an S Series, this is going to be extremely nondescript.
I really like Serie S and if I had never played Serie X I might feel different. But I've played Series X, and I think for the majority of people the additional cost of $ 200 for everything the console can do that its younger siblings can't. If the S Series is $ 199 and additional storage isn't that expensive, we may have another conversation.
Is there a better alternative?
The Xbox Series X is superior in almost every way, even at a steeper price point.
How long it will take?
Years in theory, but over time its limitations will quickly become noticeable.
Should you buy it?
I really think that only parents with young children who are just starting out to play video games should invest in the console.
Editor's recommendations
"The latest Qualcomm processor and a clever second display system give the TicWatch 3 Pro good performance and long battery life, which fixes two common problems with the Wear operating system."
Three days of battery life
Latest Snapdragon Wear 4100 processor
Fast performance
The screen that is always on is now backlit
Wear OS is still frustrating
No color or strap selection
The most exciting thing about the Mobvoi TicWatch 3 Pro is what's inside. It is the first smartwatch available with Qualcomm's Snapdragon Wear 4100 processor. Many hope to be the savior of Wear OS with its higher performance and efficiency, and an incredible battery for serious endurance.
Yes, the Snapdragon Wear 4100 is a massive improvement over the geriatric Snapdragon Wear 3100 and really makes Wear OS more user-friendly than ever. However, it's not the magic bullet that helps kill the Apple Watch or the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3.
Mobvoi seems to have an aversion to changing the design of the Pro series. The TicWatch 3 Pro is a significant improvement over the first TicWatch Pro, but it's a shame that the knurled bezel and buttons from the Pro 4G / LTE model haven't been carried over. However, it's leaner and certainly not ugly. It's just a little bland with the single black color scheme. I'll be wearing this every day and the best wearables are an extension of your other fashion choices so I really would want more of a choice.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
The watch is relatively compact with a 47mm case that weighs 41.9 grams, but there is no question that it is a male form. I cannot see the watch for women or those with smaller wrists. The case and caseback are made of plastic and don't feel particularly expensive, while the bezel is made of stainless steel and the strap is made of silicone with an orange tinge. It's soft and comfortable, and it hasn't got sweaty either.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
There are two buttons on the housing, the upper one opening the menu and the lower one being assigned to the TicExercise app immediately. However, it can be changed in the app of your choice. The top button on my test watch is very stiff and has not come loose over time, making it awkward and uncomfortable to press. The bottom button is far better, which makes me a little concerned about the overall build quality. Nevertheless, the watch was otherwise reliable.
The design is a bit damp, but the screens are masterpieces. That's right, screens. The TicWatch Pro 3 has a bright and colorful 1.4-inch AMOLED screen with a resolution of 454 x 454 pixels for Wear OS and a second FSTN LCD screen that acts as the permanent screen of the watch. You'd never know there are two screens, it doesn't add any extra size or weight, but it does reduce power consumption and is much more readable in different lighting conditions.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
It's the defining feature of the TicWatch Pro series, and Mobvoi redesigned the screen layout for the TicWatch 3 Pro to make it more consistent. Backlighting has also been added to ensure clarity in low light conditions. It makes a big difference.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
The FTSN LCD shows the time, date, battery level and step count and is all you need from a screen that is always on. I can see it in daylight and in the dark and it doesn't seem to be affecting battery life at all.
Amazingly, the TicWatch Pro 3's 595 mAh battery lasts three days before it needs to be charged. At first I didn't quite believe this and took special care to check the settings, monitor usage, and count the days it worked on my wrist. Not only did I get three days of life from it repeatedly, including an hour of exercise tracking on two of them, but with less use it was still on the fourth day. The battery life of many other Wear OS smartwatches rarely whistles beyond a full day. So having three days is something to celebrate.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
This is hardly known in earlier TicWatch Pro models and the Casio Pro Trek WSD-F30, which also uses the hardware approach for the second screen to ensure an always active view. It's sad that we don't see the dual-screen hardware setup for more smartwatches as it's clearly effective. The Snapdragon 4100 also plays a big role. Qualcomm claims to have reduced electricity consumption by 25%. Both Mobvoi and Qualcomm have really teamed up and improved the smartwatch's battery life significantly.
Qualcomm and Mobvoi really came together and significantly improved battery life.
If you want even more, there's Essential Mode, which turns off the OLED screen and leans on the LCD for the time, but continues to count steps and monitor sleep. Mobvoi claims this offers an excellent 45 days of usage versus 30 days claimed by other smartwatch manufacturers. You can really take the TicWatch 3 Pro with you for a long weekend without the hassle of grabbing the charger and still using both screens, or disappearing into the wild for a month and still having time on your wrist in the end.
The only downside is the charging, which is slow compared to some other Wear OS watches, taking around an hour and 40 minutes to go from 5% to full. That being said, the TicWatch 3 Pro's battery life really impresses with the hardware and improved Essential mode, and is a real reason to buy this smartwatch over many others.
Everything works quickly. If that sounds obvious with modern technology, you've never used a Wear OS watch with 512MB of RAM. The combination of the Snapdragon Wear 4100 and 1GB of RAM means everything works when you want it to. Apps open quickly, you can scroll through Google Maps and switch faces in no time. It's a world apart from the worst Snapdragon 3100 watches and a really good omen for the future of Wear OS.
The increase in performance should mean an all round better experience, right? I thought so, but the TicWatch 3 Pro needs to be optimized. With no rotating crown or bezel, the menus need to be wiped, and there's something pretty muddy about the TicWatch software. It doesn't flow like it should and usually requires a lot more wiping than I'd like. Sometimes taps and swipes are also misinterpreted, which leads me to options that I haven't selected and then slows down because it's confused.
You'll also have to play around with the settings a little to make them more user-friendly. Tilt-to-wake is not active by default and is essential. Otherwise, when notifications come in, you'll have to physically tap the screen to switch from the constantly on second screen. Mobvoi has created its own Wear OS launcher standard. While this is fine, I prefer the look of the default Google launcher, and you'll need to check the settings to change it.
The software still needs to be optimized – there are usability problems.
Then there are the many Mobvoi apps that are installed. There's Ticbreathe, TicExercise, TicHealth, TicHearing, TicOxygen, and TicKitchenSink (maybe). All of them require you to create a Mobvoi account. The general accounts only offer Google Fit. However, you need the TicOxygen app to measure the blood oxygen content (Sp02). It's attractive and fast, although the accuracy and usefulness of this metric continues to be in question for most people.
The notifications from Wear OS are terrible too, perhaps even worse on the TicWatch than on others I test. I received a small percentage of notifications when connected to the LG Wing and the OnePlus 8T. It's such a hit or miss too. Without the Outlook app installed on the watch, I won't get any Outlook notifications, but even if it's installed I still don't get all of them. Incredibly frustrating. I wore the TicWatch Pro 3 right after checking out the Apple Watch Series 6 which came in with 100% notifications, so the silence from Wear OS just got worse.
Most of Mobvoi's apps are related to health and activity tracking, and many replicate the capabilities of Google Fit. However, there are some advantages to using it. TicHealth has more data on your wrist than Fit without having to visit the app on your phone. I like the overall design of TicBreathe and TicZen, although the stress test takes a long time to run. There's a sleep tracking app too, but I didn't find the watch comfortable enough to wear all night.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
The TicWatch 3 Pro has a heart rate sensor, an integrated GPS, IP68 waterproofness for use in the pool and Sp02 blood oxygen measurement. Google Fit works with all of these sensors and is attractive and easy to use. The data collected is logically arranged in the Fit app on your phone, but isn't detailed enough for the really dedicated fitness fan, and Mobvoi's own collection of apps doesn't change that.
Overall, the TicWatch 3 Pro does a good job as an casual fitness tracking system, and I really like the way you can focus your daily goals on heart points rather than steps that seem like a better way to measure your effectiveness assess daily activities.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
What the TicWatch 3 Pro doesn't offer is much more than any other smartwatch when it comes to activity tracking or additional sensors. It's knowledgeable and perfectly acceptable to someone like me who wants quick digestible data and quick-to-activate workout tracking, but not someone who wants comprehensive hardcore sports training data.
The TicWatch 3 Pro is priced at $ 299 or £ 289 is now available from Amazon.
The TicWatch 3 Pro shows that Wear OS hardware is a lifetime, but it also reminds us that Google's software holds back even the most powerful watch. Mobvoi's smartwatch isn't the prettiest you can buy, but it does a lot of things right, from the second always-on screen to using the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100. This means more convenience, longer battery life and faster apps for you.
If you want the Snapdragon Wear 4100, the TicWatch 3 Pro is your only choice. That situation means it stands on its own right now and just an aversion to the design should make you consider another Wear OS smartwatch.
However, Wear OS is still frustrating and you can buy better smartwatches that don't use Google software. We recommend the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 for owners of Android phones and the Apple Watch SE or Series 6 for iPhone owners.
With the Snapdragon Wear 4100, Qualcomm's latest smartwatch platform, you get the only smartwatch currently available. Hence, in terms of performance, it is the best choice in terms of longevity. The watch is IP68 waterproof and the reinforced nylon case should prove to be very robust. The quick release strap is easy to change if you don't like it or if it breaks.
The only question mark is above the software. Google provides updates for Wear OS regularly, but rarely includes important new features. However, due to the large amount of Mobvoi software on board, the watch needs ongoing support from both companies in order to stay up to date. Regardless, you can buy the TicWatch 3 Pro with the confidence that it will last two years or more.
Yes, the Snapdragon Wear 4100's perks, the superb screen that always shows up, and the long battery life outweigh the software frustrations.
Editor's recommendations
"Long battery life means you can place the EufyCam 2 Pro without having to worry about cables."
365 days of battery life
Loud siren
Anti-theft device
The faces are not clear at night
Camera could be better
The eufyCam 2 Pro The wireless home security camera system had the potential to shake up the flood of intelligent surveillance cameras on the market. It asserts itself, but is not noticeable.
Alina Bradford / Digital Trends
The EufyCam 2 Pro is supplied as a single camera ($ 150) or as a double pack with two cameras and the Eufy HomeBase 2 ($ 350). I would recommend accessing the package with HomeBase 2 if you don't already have one. You cannot use the EufyCam 2 Pro without HomeBase, so you still need it. HomeBase 2 is a hub that connects cameras, stores footage, and acts as a Wi-Fi repeater to improve your Wi-Fi so your cameras get a strong signal.
This is very helpful if your signal is not the best or you have a large distance between your router and your cameras. On the other hand, the HomeBase occupies an additional Ethernet connection on your router and an additional socket that you probably cannot save.
Alina Bradford / Digital Trends
The installation of this camera is super easy. The EufyCam 2 Pro is magnetic so you can stick it to a veranda railing or almost any other metal surface. If you don't have anything to stick on, you can attach a mounting bracket with a few screws and then rotate the camera onto the bracket. All in all, it took about 10 minutes to mount the camera and another five minutes to set it up with the app and Eufy HomeBase 2. However, direct sunlight can blind the camera. Take this into account when thinking about a place to put it.
The video from the EufyCam 2 Pro is comparable to most other high-end surveillance cameras such as the Arlo Pro 3. It can be switched between HD 1080p or 2K HD with a large field of view of 140 degrees. If you place the camera 7 to 10 feet high, it can see a range of up to 30 feet, so a camera can cover a large area of your garden. The video clarity is pretty good, with realistic colors, very little distortion and good contrast. I wish Eufy had climbed up to 4K resolution like the Arlo Ultra Smart Cam.
Eufy tackled the problem by adding Smart Image Enhancement.
A problem with some cameras is that the further a person is away, the more grainy the image of the person. The faces are clear and rich in contrast within a few meters. At about 10 feet, faces are much more difficult to see; You can get the general shape, but it is difficult for you to recognize the characteristics of a stranger. Eufy tackled the problem by adding Smart Image Enhancement. When a face is recognized by A.I., pixels in the image are lightened and deleted to make the faces clearer.
Night vision is in black and white, but the lack of color doesn't bother me. The video is clear in very poor lighting conditions. Despite the smart image enhancement, the camera has problems with faces at night. The camera washed out almost all the facial features of my fair-skinned test subjects, even if they were only a few meters away.
Other cameras, such as those from Ring and Arlo, charge a subscription fee for video storage packages. I hate that. I have enough subscriptions in my life. One of my favorite features of the EufyCam 2 Pro is that you don't have to pay to save videos. Video material is stored locally in HomeBase 2 instead of in the cloud. It has 16 GB of storage, which doesn't seem like a lot, but it does the job as long as you delete unnecessary videos. Old videos are automatically deleted, but it's probably better to remove and sort them out yourself so that what you want to keep is not deleted.
In addition to the clarity and storage of the video, the EufyCam 2 Pro offers some notable features that are useful. A surprising option is the ability to put any camera and HomeBase 2 in anti-theft mode. This means that when someone moves the camera or HomeBase, an alarm sounds. It would be nice if Eufy also offered to replace stolen cameras like Ring does, but I still find the alarm function cool.
Many newer surveillance cameras have a microphone and a speaker, so you can use the app on your phone to talk to anyone who is near the camera. The EufyCam 2 Pro also offers this option. The two-way audio is fine and you can adjust the volume in the app. I wish it had noise cancellation to make voices clearer like the Ring Stick Up Cam. You can also mute the microphone and speaker independently.
It is difficult to say how true the claim of a one-year battery life is in everyday household life.
The company says the EufyCam 2 Pro can last 365 days on a single charge if the camera records about 300 seconds of footage a day. If that were true, it would certainly make it stand out from other cameras. Six months are usually the max. Unfortunately, after just one day with the cameras, the battery indicator found that the performance had dropped by 1%. It is therefore difficult to say how true the claim of a one-year battery life is in everyday household use.
The app has a power manager option for each camera that can extend the life of the battery. You can set the camera to the optimal battery life mode, which limits video clips to 20 seconds to prevent the battery from draining. In an optimal surveillance mode, clips can be up to 60 seconds long, and in a custom capture mode you can choose how long clips should last.
Alina Bradford / Digital Trends
To save even more battery life (and reduce the number of notifications), you can choose when your camera records by adding it to a schedule or choosing a specific mode. You can also control how many warnings you get by turning off motion detection, adjusting motion sensitivity, selecting detection areas, or recording only when the camera detects someone.
Like any good smart surveillance camera, it can connect to your home assistant. The EufyCam 2 Pro connects to the three big ones: Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
The EufyCam 2 Pro also has a 100 dB siren that is loud enough to scare someone. If you really want to make an explanation, you should opt for the Ring Floodlight Cam, which has a 110 dB siren. This extra 10 dB makes a big difference.
The EufyCam 2 Pro is $ 350 cheaper than the Arlo Pro 3 ($ 400), which also has two cameras and a base hub. However, it is still more expensive than other comparable wireless security video cameras and has no real features to make it stand out. It also misses a big chance if you don't drive 4K.
Overall, I was simply not enthusiastic about this intelligent surveillance camera. It's a good choice, but if you void the claim that the battery lasts for a year, there are better cameras on the market. Check out our summary of the best outdoor security cameras for 2020 to find some alternative options.
Yes. If you are looking for excellent video quality, the Arlo Ultra Smart Cam is hard to beat. It has 4K resolution and an incredible 180 degree field of view. However, my personal favorite is the Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight. Not only does it have excellent resolution, it also has a 160-degree field of view and floodlights that illuminate most of your garden. In this scorecard you can see how surveillance cameras fit head to head outdoors.
The cameras are made of thick hard plastic and are weatherproof according to IP67, so they are designed for a long service life. There is also a one-year limited warranty. You would think sticking the cameras to things would affect their longevity, but the magnets are super strong and once the cameras are stuck you need to use some force to remove them.
No. There are simply too many other cameras on the market that offer better functions.
Editor's recommendations
