The Most Surefire Types Of Belly fat That Work Like Magic

As a woman, are you afraid of putting on a bikini on the beaches of Goa? Well, you are not the only one with this problem. Women often worry about their stubborn belly fat, which they believe they can reduce through exercise and frequent gym visits. This is absolutely a myth. Exercising regularly will keep you physically fit, but it will not guarantee you a flat stomach, which is every girl's dream. An increase in belly fat in women is considered a sign of aging. Belly fats tend to increase when the levels of estrogen in the body decrease. Estrogen affects where fat is distributed in the body. The rise in belly fat in apple or pear shape can be genetic.

In this article, we're going to discuss a few Types of belly fat commonly seen in most women. We'll also give you information on how to get rid of them in just a few steps.

What types of belly fat are there?

1. Stressed stomach

We can tell from the name that this type of belly fat is caused by stress. When a person is stressed, their body increases cortisol levels. If the cortisol level stays high for a long time, there is a high possibility of obesity. The excess fats of this type accumulate in front of the abdomen and navel area. In this case, if you try to touch your belly, you will feel that it is much harder than soft.

To protect yourself from falling victim to a stressed stomach, find ways to relieve stress, reduce your coffee consumption, and try to eat more foods high in magnesium. You can also indulge in yoga and meditation to help get rid of this type of belly.

2. Hormonal belly

A pillow-like feeling on either side of your stomach is considered a hormonal failure. Conclusion: A woman can gain weight for several reasons, and it may be due to PCOS and hypothyroidism. If you suspect weight gain as a result of hormonal failure, see your gynecologist today.

You can certainly avoid that Kind of belly fat by eating low-fat foods, avocados, fish, nuts, and eggs.

3. Bloated belly

Puffy bellies occur due to poor diet. With this type of belly fat, the belly stays flat when you wake up in the morning while it appears over time in the afternoon. This generally happens because of the presence of multiple gases in the intestines in our stomach, which also causes indigestion.

To get rid of a bloated stomach, try maintaining a balanced diet, avoiding carbonated and carbonated drinks and soda, and changing your eating habits to small portions rather than large meals. You can also do more cardio exercises and try to get a good night's sleep. Proper sleep of at least 7-8 hours is essential for the body.

The bottom line

An increase in belly fat is a common problem that almost all women face. Alcohol belly and a mom’s belly are two different things Types of belly fat in women. They remain concerned about these types of fats and often wonder how to get rid of them. You don't have to exercise or exercise excessively and overwhelm your body for something it's not used to. Instead, you can follow some simple steps as mentioned in this article and get rid of those stubborn belly fat. Slight changes in your diet, avoidance of certain foods depending on the type of belly fat, and little exercise can make a world of difference in your body.

It is recommended not to undergo cosmetic abdominal fat surgery as it can briefly affect your health in a number of ways. You may have difficulty breathing and an increase in your cholesterol level. this Kind of belly fat must be reduced.

Frequently asked questions [FAQ]

1. What is an alcohol belly and how can we avoid it?

A person who consumes a lot of beer is likely to have an alcoholic stomach. The easiest way to avoid this type of belly is to cut down on your alcohol consumption and consume more fruits and vegetables.

2. How can we reduce our belly fat in general?

There are tons of ways to reduce your belly fat. Some of them are mentioned below:

  • Eat a well-maintained and healthy diet
  • Avoid sugary drinks with artificial sweeteners
  • Make exercise a part of your daily routine, but don't put too much pressure on yourself
  • Always keep an eye on your calorie count and portion size.

3. What problems can we face if we opt for cosmetic abdominal fat surgery?

In short, when a person undergoes cosmetic abdominal fat surgery, the following problems may arise:

  • Heart disease
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • Abnormal cholesterol levels
  • Difficulty breathing.

Logitech G915 TKL Review: The Gaming Magic Keyboard

logitech g915 lightspeed tkl review presented

Logitech G915 Lightspeed TKL long-term test: The Magic Keyboard for gaming

RRP $ 230.00

"The Logitech G915 TKL is an expensive gaming keyboard that easily deserves its price."

advantages

  • Excellent typing experience

  • Bright RGB lighting

  • Fast wireless technology

  • Long battery life

  • Error-free, useful software

disadvantage

  • Expensive

  • Incompatible with most mechanical keyboard accessories

Logitech's G915 is for gamers who want the aesthetics of Apple's Magic Keyboard with the feel of a mechanical switch (plus a good dose of RGB). I've searched far and wide for a keyboard that gets the look and feel to the point, and after browsing dozens of low-profile options, I turned to Logitech's latest G915 TKL.

It's not as sturdy as a full-size board and, like many Logitech peripherals, the price is too high. However, the combination of Lightspeed wireless technology, rather unique low-profile switches, and rock-solid build quality makes the G915 feel like it deserves its award.

It's a keyboard that manages games and typing well, and it's a show stopper in the visual department. Although it took me a while to get used to Logitech's flat keycaps and switches, I loved the balance the G915 offers – and after months of non-stop use, I never return to a full keyboard at any point Size back soon.

draft

Logitech G915 TKL on an orange background. Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

The Logitech G915 is available in two versions: Either full-size or a Tenkeyless (TKL) design. I got my hands on the TKL version that omits the number pad that normally occupies the right side of the board. TKL boards have become increasingly popular in recent years – take the Corsair K70 RGB TKL for example – and that's a trend I can follow.

A little extra space on your desk goes a long way towards gaming, and the overall slim design of the G915 TKL makes it appear a lot smaller than it actually is. Logitech sells a version with a number pad, but if you don't need one for hotkeys in programs like Adobe Premiere or Pro Tools, stick with the TKL model.

The design of the G915 TKL is simple but beautiful. It's a brushed aluminum plate that some buttons stick to, but it still looks better than boards like the Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini.

There are mutliple reasons for this. First the RGB lighting. Even at full brightness, the lighting barely shines out of the sides of the keys, with most of the light being directed towards the top of the keycap. Second is the limited number of extra buttons that help keep it functional without leaving the deep end.

The design of the G915 TKL is simple but beautiful.

Outside the buttons, you have access to four media buttons, four function buttons and a volume wheel. The four function keys do different things. There's a brightness button that lets you toggle through five levels of brightness (including Off), as well as a game mode switch that turns off the Windows key. You can use the supplied G-Hub software to deactivate all the buttons you want in game mode.

The other two buttons are for inputs, either Logitech's own Lightspeed wireless technology or Bluetooth. You can switch seamlessly between Lightspeed and Bluetooth at the touch of a button, which is a big win for the G915. It's small enough to use on the couch with something like the Nvidia Shield, and I appreciated being able to jump back and forth without reconnecting dongles or messing around with pairing.

Function keys on the Logitech G915 TKL.Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

Logitech sells a wired version of the G915 (called the G815), but it's only slightly cheaper than the wireless version. Wireless peripherals have gotten a lot better over the past few years, and Lightspeed is an example of that. It's impossible to tell the difference between wired and wireless, even in troubled shooters like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.

The volume wheel feels great. It's made of metal and offers a smooth adjustment over the edge of the board, making quick volume changes a breeze. I just wish that the quality is transferred to the media and function keys. They are made of a soft rubber material and feel squishy. I didn't miss any input while using them, but they still don't feel good.

In addition to the keyboard, the scope of delivery also includes a Logitech micro-USB cable, the Lightspeed USB receiver and a USB range extender. Crucially, the G915 TKL lacks a palm rest, which is hard to swallow for $ 230. However, when using the G915, I didn't miss a palm rest.

I use a desk pad for my keyboard and mouse. Given the G915's slim shape – it's only 0.9 inches tall – my wrists rest comfortably on my desk pad without having to bend up. This is great in my situation, but not ideal if you don't have a desk pad. Slim palm rests only cost about $ 15, so it would have been nice to see one in the box.

Switch and power

Turns on the Logitech G915 TKL keyboard.Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

I prefer a traditional brown switch for typing because it offers the tactile feedback of a blue switch without the annoying click. The G915 TKL does not use a mechanical Cherry MX switch or one of its derivatives, but one of Logitech's GL switches, which approximates the feel of a full-size Cherry switch.

There are three options available: Clicky, Tactile or Linear, which correspond to a Cherry MX Blue, Brown or Red switch. I chose the Tactile Switch to find a balance between my daily typing and gaming. Cherry makes some low-profile switches, but not a Brown variant, which makes the Tactile switch perfect for my purposes.

I've always struggled between writing and playing, and the tactile switch compromises that I can live with. It's not as pleasant to tap as a full-sized brown switch, and the gaming experience doesn't come close to a red switch. But the balance between the two is excellent. Gaming feels better thanks to the shorter travel distance and writing still feels tactile.

The thinner profile, however, took some getting used to. The G915 itself is angled, but the keys live on a flat plane. That increases the chance of accidentally sliding up or down in a row while typing or gaming, which I did a lot when I first picked up the G915 TKL. Fortunately, after a few weeks with the keyboard, I got used to the slightly different typing experience.

Profile of the Logitech G915 TKL keyboard.Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

Although the Tactile Switch comes close to a Cherry MX Brown, it is not an exact copy. Logitech's switch is 1.5mm actuation distance, while a full size switch is 2mm apart. When you poke the key, the Logitech switch can travel up to 2.7mm while a full size switch can travel 4mm.

The greater difference takes effect. The Logitech Tactile Switch requires 60 grams of force to reach the tactile point, while a Cherry MX Brown is slightly lighter at 55 grams. It's a small change, but the added pressure makes all the difference in a low-profile design. The added power makes the tactile switch feel closer to a full size switch despite having a much smaller stroke.

The switches from Logitech hold up well against the Cherry competition.

Although the switch bears Logitech's GL branding, it actually comes from Kailh's Choc range. There are few keyboards that come with these switches and no options that I could find from big brands. However, there are more boutique boards like the Morgrie RKB 68 that they use, and this board is cheaper than the G915 TKL.

Nevertheless, the switches in the G915 have a compromise. They're not perfect for gaming or perfect for typing, but both are good enough to make a living. As long as you're ready to adjust to a slightly different typing experience, Logitech's switches hold up well against the Cherry competition.

Unfortunately, these are still Logitech switches and, like previous designs, are not compatible with other keycaps. There aren't many low profile keycaps out there right now, but it would have been nice to see additional universal support as more sets inevitably pop up.

That makes mechanical keyboards like the Roccat Vulcan TKL and Cooler Master SK630 a little more attractive – especially compared to the G915. Both keyboards use the standard cross for Cherry switches, which makes replacing the keycaps a breeze.

G-Hub software

I don't mess around with bundled keyboard software much. In most cases, I set the lighting I want and let the software quietly eat up system resources in the background. Logitech's G-Hub is different. It's functional, easy to use, and – critically – free of errors. How to make peripheral software.

Animation window in Logitech G-Hub.

The lighting is divided into three categories: presets, freestyle and animations. Presets give you access to standard RGB effects like breathing and a color wave, Freestyle lets you paint colors on any key you want, and animations allow you to create a chain of unique color changes.

Although there are other software out there with more options – Corsair iCUE in particular – G-Hub still offers a good level of customization. It's easy to use for someone who wants to set and forget about RGB while still offering various effects and animations. You can even set the lighting to match what is displayed on your screen or how an audio visualizer works.

You can also automatically synchronize the G915 with other Lightsync products from Logitech, as well as use special lighting effects in supported games. For example, you can see your ammo bar in Borderlands 3, as well as instantly see your critical keys in Final Fantasy XIV. Only a small number of games are supported, but ramping up a supported title was a nice treat.

The lights will take you to G-Hub, but that won't keep you there. You can reassign each key, set up macros and assign system functions such as copy and paste. This isn't unusual for a gaming keyboard, but G-Hub makes mapping macros feel effortless. You can quickly drag functions such as Alt + Tab from a pool onto a function key and switch between commands and macros with an optional G-Shift key.

Macro panel in the Logitech G-Hub.

When you've set everything up to your liking, you can save three macro and two lighting profiles on board and cycle through them with a key of your choice (the first four function keys by default).

Finally, you can view your battery level in G-Hub as well as your remaining battery life. Logitech rates the G915 TKL for 40 hours of use at 100% brightness (30 hours for the full version), but you get a lot more than that. The keyboard automatically goes into sleep mode after a while to save battery life when not on Your desk.

I've used the G915 TKL at 50% brightness for months, and with semi-continuous use of 10 to 12 hours a day, I usually have to charge the battery every couple of weeks. This time is significantly reduced at full brightness, but the buttons emit a lot of light even at lower brightness levels and save you a lot of battery life.

The G915 uses a micro USB cable for charging and you can continue to use the keyboard while it is charging. Although Logitech includes a micro-USB cable in the box, I would have preferred USB-C for charging. At least in my case, USB-C has become the standard on all of my devices, so I can quickly swap out a new cable if I inevitably lose the one that came with the package. With the G915 TKL, I have to dig through a stack of three-foot micro-USB cables to find one that actually extends to the connector.

However, that's proof of the G915 – I charge it so infrequently that I don't have a dedicated cable on my desk. Still, USB-C isn't all that much of a demand for a $ 230 keyboard, especially one that's still fairly new.

Our opinion

The Logitech G915 TKL is overpriced when compared to other keyboards that offer the same or a similar low-profile experience. The combination of wireless connectivity, useful media and function keys, a robust construction and error-free software makes the G915 TKL deserve its price.

It creates a balance between typing and gaming that I enjoy, and it looks amazing when it's on my desk. It takes some time to adapt to the low profile switches, but in my many months of using the G915 TKL, I've never felt the need to go back to a full-size switch.

The downside is, like other Logitech peripherals, you don't have options for third-party accessories. As someone who likes to swap out keycaps and experiment with different switches, I know that the G915 TKL will lie dormant in my keyboard graveyard at some point. It hasn't got there yet, however, and that's a good sign.

Are there alternatives?

Yes, but not much. The Roccat Vulcan TKL and Cooler Master Cooler Master SK630 are both cheaper low-profile alternatives, although they don't have WiFi and use different switches. The G915 is quite unique in its combination of switches and wireless technology, but there are boutique options that use the same switches with a cord.

How long it will take?

Logitech's GL switches are designed for 50 million actuations. The number of keystrokes depends, of course, on how often you use your keyboard. With general use, the G915 will last for several decades and even then it could still have a little life.

Should you buy it?

Yes, but look for it on offer. The G915 has some obvious flaws and is incompatible with most mechanical keyboard accessories. It's a fantastic low-profile option, but Logitech can charge a steep price considering how few real competitors there are in this category.

Editor's recommendations



Outriders Review: Space Magic Saves a Flat Sci-Fi Story

Outriders

"Outriders has great action and deep customization, but it lacks personality."

  • Fun shooting

  • Excellent customization

  • Different classes

  • Strong rep hooks

  • Weak story

  • Flat characters

  • Always online, unnecessarily

Outriders is not like Destiny … at least according to developer People Can Fly. No matter the premise of the sci-fi looter and shooter. Don't look out for these Thrall-like creatures roaming around in swarms. Ignore the class-based superpowers, one of which gives players a Titan Slam.

Okay, it's a bit like Destiny. To be honest, it's a lot more than that. The cover-based third-person shooter grabs some bits of its contemporaries while defying some of the games' biggest pitfalls. By distancing themselves from modern live service games, People Can Fly wants to separate the luggage from the valuable loot.

Outriders lack personality and their edges are rougher than an octagon, but the core battle is just plain fun. Thorough character customization, numerous equipment benefits, and exciting superpowers make for a nifty shooter that should shine after much-needed maintenance.

Mass Effect Lite

Outriders has great narrative ambitions, though they don't quite pay off. The dystopian science fiction story revolves around mankind's attempt to colonize one of the last livable planets in the galaxy, Enoch. Players control a title outrider who awakens from a 31-year-old cryogenic slumber to discover that the mission has failed and civil war has broken out among the remaining humans. To make matters worse, there is a mystical aura called anomaly that turns people into overpowering "altered" ones.

There is certainly some potential in the area, but it doesn't quite come to fruition in the dry colonization soap opera featured here.

I can't tell you too much about where it goes from there because the story is as "in one ear out of the other" as it gets. There's tons of sci-fi technobabble to learn, read pages of dry lore, and meet dozen of flat NPCs. During a character's big emotional beat, I caught myself asking "Who?" loud to no one.

The game lacks personality and that goes beyond the narrative. Enoch itself is a vague planet that clinically moves between popular video game areas, from generic desert wastelands to subdued green forests with brightly colored plants. It's hard to identify any of his levels from a series of modern science fiction shooters.

The game is more successful when it plays with its otherworldly elements. The best moments come when he faces Enoch's extraterrestrial creatures who stir up the usual firefights against interchangeable human factions. Giant spiders, kite-like birds and acid-spitting bipeds bring the world to life and give a better sense of the chaos in which humans have found themselves. They're also more compelling targets that require players to get out of cover and play aggressively.

There is certainly some potential in the area, but it doesn't quite come to fruition in the dry colonization soap opera featured here. It just feels like an outdated take on Mass Effect, the first of many associations the studio will have trouble shaking with.

Less fate, more Diablo

What Outriders lacks in history it more than makes up for in its action. Let's get some more inevitable comparisons out of the way. Take the Division's third-person shoot, Destiny 2's class-based action, and Diablo's character building, and you are well on your way there. To be clear, this is not a punch. The game does an efficient job of taking the best ideas from each of these games and seamlessly piecing them together into its own recipe.

Outriders

What makes it all fit together so well is the deep customization that every combat mechanic improves. Shooting itself feels good, but it's only enhanced by weapon perks, which turn each weapon into its own "exotic" to borrow a notion of fate. There is a lot of joy in equipping a gun blindly and firing a shot only to discover it is freezing an enemy. It gets players to experiment with their loadout and offers lots of cool rewards for doing so.

In addition to standard shooting, the game has four character classes, each of which brings unique skills to the table. Fraudsters can manipulate spacetime to teleport behind enemies or slow them down. Pyromancers set bad guys on fire and cause damage over time. Each class is completely different and has different skills that can be mixed and matched. Switching classes can completely change a style of play, so everyone is worth a look.

It doesn't stop there. Each piece of armor also has benefits that can further change class skills. In addition, there is an extensive skill tree that enables more permanent tinkering. Of every comparison the game warrants, the Diablo is the one most liable. This is an action game that allows players to create hyper-specific builds and raise hell in so many different satisfying ways.

Outriders don't know how to tell a story, but it's damn sure they can stage a battle.

Here is a specific example. I mainly played a technomancer, a support class that can heal towers and spawn. My final build was to reduce the cooldowns and improve the health of all of my tower skills so that I could put up ice and poison towers every few seconds. This allowed me to approach combat like a tower defense mode, where I could strategically place turrets around the battlefield and put enemies in danger. I couldn't believe I had managed to create something so specific in the game. I was even more shocked that there was so much more I could do to make this setup even more deadly.

Sometimes we crave deep, narrative experiences from a video game. Sometimes we just want to shoot a frozen kite out of the sky with a lightning-fast weapon. Outriders don't know how to tell a story, but it's damn sure they can stage a battle.

Another service

There's a certain reason People Can Fly doesn't like the modern game comparisons. Outriders is not a Destiny-style live service game, although it looks like it is. Instead of connecting players with the promise of weekly updates, see what you get. It has all the charm of building a strong character through RPG mechanics, without the baggage, having to keep up with updates all the time. It's a game that respects that at some point players will want to play a different game.

Outriders

There's a wealth of strong content and ideas out there that will help extend the life of the game beyond the 25-30 hour campaign. One of the more effective hooks is the World Tier system, which acts as a clever difficulty level. Players can unlock up to 15 levels, each of which adds additional challenges and rewards to the game. It's an ingenious system that dedicated players can use to test their championship and work towards a final badge of honor (and the true ending of the game).

The biggest draw is the game's multiplayer mode, with which up to three friends can put together and tackle missions together. The class system shines here as it promotes a coordinated game where each team member has a specific use in battles. The game doesn't offer a great solution for dealing with players who are at radically different levels, but firefights are so fun that it doesn't matter too much.

It's a game that respects that at some point players will want to play a different game.

While there is a lot to do, Outriders is in rough shape right now. The game's opening weekend was plagued by crashes, bugs, and server issues that prevented players from getting their hands on it for too long. Oddly enough, the game features the same "always online" model that is reserved for live service gaming. When servers go down, fans can't even play alone. It's an inexplicable choice that is already causing some frustrated gamers to drop it altogether.

Outriders game

People Can Fly is not mistaken in distancing Outrider from other games, but it's hard to blame people for making the comparisons. With unnecessary live service DNA, the game is a quack to be a duck. Just as its protagonist is torn between a human and an altered state, Outriders takes a strange middle ground between old and new game design. It's an identity crisis that weakens the current experience.

But did I mention you can get armor that electrifies your evasive throw? Cool.

Our opinion

Is Outriders a sophisticated action game with a compelling science fiction story? No. Is it fun to freeze a spider with an ice tower and crush it with a well-placed sniper shot? You bet. Sometimes that's all you really want from such a Sagittarius. It could use an offline mode for single player sessions and some maintenance, but it's a solid foundation for an action game that respects its players' time.

Is there a better alternative?

Gears 5 for a third-person narrative shooter and Destiny 2 for a Space Magic looter, but Outriders is a great option for those who want a little bit of both.

How long it will take?

The main campaign lasts around 25 to 30 hours with a good portion of side quests. Multiplayer and World Tier Grind extend this time much further.

Should you buy it?

Yes. It's a bit rough but fun to play with friends. Even cuter, it's included with Xbox Game Pass, which makes it a breeze for Xbox owners.

Editor's recommendations




Nubia Red Magic 5G Review: Wins at Games, Misses Elsewhere

Nubia Red Magic 5g review hand held

"An affordable gaming phone, assuming games are your top priority, but lacking the polish needed for a strong everyday device."

  • Good game-oriented design

  • Excellent multimedia capability

  • A lot of performance

  • Long battery life

  • Mediocre camera

  • Bad software experience

  • Fingerprint sensor is not working

The Nubia Red Magic 5G gaming phone is an enticing purchase with flagship specs for just $ 579, but buying a gaming phone is a big decision. You might want it mainly for games, but it almost certainly has to do other things as well. This includes taking pictures, making calls, using social networks and much more.

You have to live with it every day, so it has to do everything every other phone does, plus it has to meet your gaming needs. The Red Magic 5G will meet your gaming needs, but is not enough elsewhere.

design

There is no doubt that the Red Magic 5G is a gaming phone. It has cooling slots on the side, a sci-fi design on the back, and the biggest giveaway of all – the Red Magic logo lights up. My test model is in Eclipse Black, which is a bit reluctant, but the Hot Rod Red and Pulse versions are much brighter and more like what I would expect from a gaming phone design.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

This is not a featherweight. It weighs 218 grams and is also 9.8 mm thick. While this is usually too much for a "normal" smartphone like the 220-gram Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, it is quite welcome on a gaming phone because the size makes it easier to grip and hold. It's not that hard to cause fatigue, and it's still lighter than the Monster 240 gram Asus ROG Phone 2.

Despite the vents, buttons, and lights, the Eclipse Black Red Magic 5G is a bit boring to look at, and some of the visual elements are random. The three lens camera body is small and full of mismatched shapes, with only two of the lenses and not all three having a bump. The phone calls "5G" on the back, which looks uncomfortably cheap. I like the textured, bright red Game Space button on the side of the phone, which feels great.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

On the side opposite the Game Space slider are the on / off switch and the volume rocker. I usually pressed the volume button instead of the power button, which I think is too low on the side of the phone. The placement is affected by the cooling slots and two additional shoulder buttons on the same side.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Holding the Red Magic 5G in landscape mode is extremely convenient due to the excellent balance, the rounded corners, the flat screen and the chunky body. The portrait orientation is not as comfortable as the phone is not only thick, but also just a little bit wider than the Asus ROG Phone 2 and the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra. The Red Magic 5G serves its target audience well, but loses notes as an everyday tool.

screen

The Red Magic 5G has the world's first screen with a refresh rate of 144 Hz on a smartphone. It is a 6.65-inch AMOLED with a resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels and an aspect ratio of 19.5: 9. It also has a touch sampling rate of 240 Hz for a faster response.

Let's talk about the 144 Hz refresh rate. Yes, you notice the difference between 60 Hz and 90 Hz or 120 Hz, but it becomes much more difficult to see between 90 Hz and 120 GHz and between both and 144 Hz.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The Red Magic 5G works at 90 Hz most of the time and is very easy on the eyes. Screens with a higher refresh rate should be displayed on all cell phones today because they make scrolling and gameplay more enjoyable. But is 144Hz overkill? The setting is activated when you play games that are optimized for Red Magic 5G, of which there are currently a handful. Real Racing 3 is one of them, and although there's no denying that it's incredibly fluid, I'm not sure if I make a big difference when compared to the 90 Hz OnePlus 8 Pro or the 120 Hz Asus ROG phone 2 found.

Watch videos with the default settings of the screen. The colors are a bit washed out and details are missing, especially when compared to the iPhone 11 Pro. Go to the "Settings" menu and select the "DCI-P3 color scale" option. This makes everything more saturated and the details are further hidden in the deeper black tones. I'm going to pick a little here because otherwise it's a great phone for games, media, and videos. The stereo speakers are loud and there is plenty of bass to the point where the back of the phone vibrates in your hand.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

There is a large bezel at the top and bottom of the screen, which is not preferable on most phones, but makes it easier to hold and edit in landscape orientation – something gamers want. For the same reason, most will be happy that there is no curve on the sides. This makes controlling games much more natural, but affects how modern the phone looks.

Play

Real Racing 3 presents the Red Magic 5G with a challenge. If you activate Game Space, you can switch the refresh rate from 144 Hz to "On". I played it in both auto and super performance modes, where it fully exploits the capabilities of the CPU and GPU. The game plays great, with no difference between minute one and minute 60 in terms of speed, smoothness and fun. However, the phone gets hot.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The Red Magic 5G has an active, multi-layer cooling system with a fan (a real, whirring fan that you can hear rotating) for just this situation. It didn't make much of a difference to the phone's surface temperature, especially on the sides of the case, but I suspect that it effectively cools the components inside since the performance has never changed. The sound in action is somewhat distracting.

For comparison, I played Real Racing 3 on the Red Magic 3, the OnePlus 8 Pro and the Asus ROG Phone 2. The game looks better on the Red Magic 5G than on the OnePlus, generally brighter and more attractive and with improved response. However, it cannot keep up with the ROG Phone 2. The Asus phone's 120 Hz screen is stunning, it has front-facing stereo speakers that sound great, and the tilt control of the Asus phone responds faster than the other two. I was a better and faster driver who played on the ROG Phone 2. The ROG Phone 2 is almost twice as expensive as the Red Magic 5G, but it shows.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The phone has two capacitive shoulder buttons that work with Asphalt 9: legends for drift and boost controls. They are responsive and easy to press and locate with your finger. They were also easy to configure with most games. When you use them, your fingers stay away from the screen. The Red Magic 5G has a touch sampling rate of 240 Hz, which allows you to react quickly to your taps and swipes, while the shoulder buttons go beyond 300 Hz.

Is the Red Magic 3 about graphically intensive, processor-intensive games? I spent time playing Game Dev Tycoon with Game Space active, and although the fan did turn on occasionally, it didn't seem to be charging the phone in any way. Playing on the Red Magic 3 was no different than playing on another high-end smartphone outside of the very comfortable body, which during my review never resulted in fatigue when kept in landscape orientation.

nubia red magic 5g rating scope "class =" m-carousel - picture dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn2.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/red-magic-5g-game-space- 640x640. jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAARed Magic 5G scope Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

nubia red magic 5g rating performance "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn3.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/red-magic-5g-game-performance- 640x640. jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAARed Magic 5G performance modes Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

nubia red magic 5g Check trigger setting "class =" m-carousel - image dt-faul-no "src =" https://icdn4.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/red-magic-5g-trigger-setting- 640x640. jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAARed Magic 5G trigger settings Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Game space is turned on using a physical slider on the side of the phone. It acts as a menu for your games and a slot adjusts the phone's GPU and CPU performance, sets up the Pro Trigger shoulder buttons, activates the fan, 144 Hz refresh rate and also minimizes notifications. It also has a programmable macro mode to perform complex functions quickly, as well as a screen recorder system. I don't like how it suddenly increases the volume in the game when you activate it, as it has made me decrease the volume each time. If I want to increase the volume, I turn it up myself.

Overall, playing on the Red Magic 5G is a very enjoyable experience as the excellent visual and acoustic performance adds a lot to my favorite games and urges me to play more.

software

My test Red Magic 3 had Android 10 installed with the security update March 2020 and exaggerated version 2.0 of the user interface of Red Magic OS. If you expect the phone to have software as good as Google Pixel 4 or OnePlus 8 Pro, be prepared for disappointments. Red Magic phones come from device maker Nubia, which was once part of the ZTE empire, and the similarity to dodgy Android user interfaces on Nubia and old ZTE phones is still evident.

Symbols are large, stylized, and often mismatched, with some more curved than others. This makes the home screen look cheap and messy. Even though there is an app drawer, the phone still distributes app icons across multiple home screens, so you'll end up having to clean everything up yourself.

The always-on screen is customizable and shows a clock and battery level, but no notification icons. On the home screen, only a few icons have notification counters like messages, but others like WhatsApp don't. Email notifications are also not grouped in the notification shade, which results in a long list that isn't particularly useful. It's full of other little quirks, like warnings that don't have an OK option to close, but an "I know" button instead.

Handling the phone with notifications is frustrating. I checked my phone more because I couldn't tell at a glance whether a message was waiting. Otherwise there were no compatibility or performance problems. I like the Google News panel that appears and Game Space works well. In addition, drawing shoulder triggers for certain functions in a game is easy and effective. It's unfortunate that I trust the phone less because of everyday issues, which in turn means that I don't want to use it.

camera

Obviously, Red Magic is focused on gaming, and at this price, other aspects of the phone may not get the attention they deserve. The camera seems to be one of them. The main sensor has 64 megapixels, the wide-angle sensor has 8 megapixels and the macro lens has 2 megapixels. On paper, it's a mid-range setup that should still deliver some decent photos.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

In reality, work is still needed. The main problem is the dynamic range, as the phone has difficulty handling shadows and exposure, especially when the lighting is uncomfortable. Shots on sunny days have lost many details or increased the saturation too much, while some indoor shots have mixed up the colors. A photo I took of cooking rice turned yellow when, for example, there was no yellow at all.

The software of the phone supports a 3x, 5x and 10x zoom function. However, these appear to be completely digital, and the quality over 3 times is poor. Don't be fooled that the Red Magic 5G will question the Huawei P40 Pro's mega-zoom capability. There's also a wide-angle mode, but strangely, the setting is only available in Pro mode. The results are solid, so it's a shame that many miss their very existence. There are also a variety of bizarre camera modes, from a multiple exposure mode to "phantom" that gives videos a strange motion blur effect. They are all totally unforgettable.

nubia red magic 5g evaluation standard "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn5.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/red-magic-5g-standard-640x640.jpg "srcset = "https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Red Magic 5G standard Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

nubia red magic 5g review 3x zoom "class =" m-karussell - picture dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn6.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/red-magic-5g-3x-zoom- 640x640 .jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAARed Magic 5G 3x zoom Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

nubia red magic 5g review 5x zoom "class =" m-carousel - picture dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn7.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/red-magic-5g-5x-zoom- 640x640 .jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAARed Magic 5G 5x zoom Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

nubia red magic 5g review 10x zoom "class =" m-karussell - picture dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn8.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/red-magic-5g-10x-zoom- 640x640 .jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAARed Magic 5G 10x zoom Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Don't buy the Red Magic 5G and don't think the camera will be above average. I want it to get a lot better, but I guess it's not about what the phone is about. As long as you do, you won't be disappointed.

Performance, battery and security

A Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor is the power source of the Red Magic 5G with 8 GB or 12 GB RAM, depending on the version you purchased. My test model has 8 GB. Here are the benchmark results:

Geekbench 5: 3222 Multi Core / 902 Single Core

3DMark Sling Shot Extreme: 6702 (volcano)

These numbers match those of the Xiaomi Poco F2 Pro, Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro and OnePlus 8 Pro, all of which have the same Snapdragon 865 processor. The results of the Red Magic 5G outperform the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus with Exynos technology. I haven't found any issues with the phone's performance and calls were fine, but I haven't tried the 5G connection due to movement restrictions and no 5G service near me.

There is a fingerprint sensor under the screen. This has refused to register my fingerprint at all, which makes it completely unusable. Although my software version claims to have a face unlock feature, it doesn't exist. I spoke to Red Magic about this and was informed that a software update that resolves these issues is available for my device. However, it has not yet arrived at the time of writing. My Red Magic 5G can only be secured with a PIN or a sample.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Battery life was strong, and the phone lasted a full day in addition to my usual activities, even after several hours of gaming. With more general use, it took almost two full days. However, charging does not match because the phone supports 55W quick charge, according to Red Magic, but you will need to purchase a special charger, sold separately, to charge it. Otherwise, you can get by with the 18 W charger in the box, which takes almost two hours to charge the 4,500 mAh cell. Disappointing, and there is no wireless charging either. In addition, the USB Type-C port is traditionally located at the end of the phone, as opposed to the side port on the ROG Phone 2, to improve ergonomics.

Price, guarantee and availability

You only pay £ 579 or £ 539 for the 8GB / 128GB Red Magic 5G phone I've tested here, or you can spend £ 599 or £ 599 for the 12GB / 256GB version. It's best to buy the phone through Red Magic's own website so you can take advantage of the manufacturer's warranty that covers one year in the United States and two years in the United Kingdom.

Our opinion

The Red Magic 5G does what it was built for – playing games – very well and is decent in terms of hardware. Outside of gaming, however, the phone disappoints on several fronts, including the camera, slow battery charging, and software.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes. If you only want to spend around £ 600 or £ 600, check out the OnePlus 8 and Poco F2 Pro. Both have the same processor as the Red Magic 5G, while the OnePlus 8 has a screen with a refresh rate of 90 Hz and a more elegant design. Both have cameras that are better than the Red Magic 5G, but obviously don't have game-centered features like the shoulder buttons.

If a gaming phone is at the top of your list, the Asus ROG Phone 2 still applies despite its age of almost a year. However, we recommend waiting to see if Asus releases a sequel in the near future as there are rumors that it will arrive before the end of summer. It's also much more expensive than the Red Magic 5G, and if the price doesn't matter, it is our recommendation to put the iPhone 11 Pro at the top of your list due to the wealth and quality of the games available for it.

How long it will take?

Do you see these vents on the side of the Red Magic 5G? They should give you an indication of the phone's ability to withstand water. That's right, there is no IP protection class here, and the glass bottom and heavy weight mean that it is unlikely to be great even in a long fall. Treat it with care.

With 5G and the Snapdragon 865 and the high-spec screen, the phone should stay fresh for some time. However, if you aim to use the phone for a lot of photos now or in the future, it may not meet your needs very well. However, if you just want to play games, the Red Magic 5G will be there for you for at least several years.

I asked Red Magic for software updates. Apparently the phone will get Android 11, but there is no timeframe at the moment. The team also says it sends general software updates to the phone every two months.

Should you buy it

No. The Red Magic 5G is a good gaming smartphone, but not a great everyday smartphone.

Editor's recommendations




Disney+ Review: An Affordable Ticket to the Magic Kingdom

Disney Plus lifestyle

"While the user interface is rough, it will be difficult to miss the allure of Disney's best films and shows."

  • Disney's best in one place

  • Every Simpsons episode

  • 4K HDR and Dolby Atmos

  • Impressive original series

  • Buggy interface

  • Wonky search

  • Not a recently watched list

It was easy to think for months before his debutDisney + than another streaming service. But as it got closer to the launch date, the opportunities became more enticing. Imagine: The splendor of ground-breaking properties worth a century, from Mickey to Marvel, everything on request. It's a fantastic idea, especially for $ 7 a month.

However, a streaming service is much more than an idea, and as the rocky start of Disney + reminded us, delivering huge files to millions of households via a pipeline scattershot is not easy. Whether it's a studio powerhouse or not, Disney competed against rivals that have been around for over a decade, and initially this type of delivery was pretty overwhelming.

In the months that followed, however, the Disney streamer evolved from a chunky, faulty, work in progress product to something closer to the polished perfection of many of Disney's other companies.

This is not a Netflix clone

Starting Disney + for the first time shows that surface-level design has a lot to like. An appealing layout of the panels above divides the content into five pillars: Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and (because Disney owns everything) National Geographic.

You can create your own avatar (and turn off background video in Settings), download titles to view offline, and stream on up to four devices at the same time.

Below the main window you will find shows and films, which are divided into helpful categories. These recommend what you should watch based on your viewing habits, display the latest additions to the library, and allow you to watch series or films that you have already seen. At the bottom of the home screen are curated collections that change regularly with topics like animals and nature, Disney Channel movies, beasts and monsters, Out of the Vault, and Disney Through the Decades, which, it sounds, titles from Categorize 1920s. A familiar control panel on the left contains search and start symbols as well as other navigation options. As expected, everything looks very similar to Netflix, but with a Disney touch.

In the early stages of the service, many users struggled to open the app or launch certain titles due to website overload (10 million subscribers signed up in the first few days), while slow loading times seemed taken for granted. There have also been bizarre pragmatic design errors, including the lack of a "Recently Watched" or "Continue Watching" section.

Fortunately, many of the early issues with the service have been resolved, from adding a Watch Next category to the ability for users to restart movies or TV episodes (another feature that was missing at launch).

However, there are still a few problems – including the Wonky search function. For example, if you want to see the original 101 Dalmatians, typing "101" in the search area will show some live action movies and a sequel animated directly on video, but not the original movie. This is because this particular film is called "one hundred one" in the library and the search system is not intelligent enough to find it. Some apps allow voice search directly in the Disney + search area, but finding a particular movie should be a lot easier.

A / V grade, with a hook

A driving force behind Disney's $ 7 value proposition is the inclusion of extras like 4K HDR, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos for select titles at no extra charge. Amazon does this too, but with Netflix you can choose the most expensive tier for this privilege. This option makes watching Disney gems like The Empire Strikes Back in 4K HDR with Atmos pretty epic, even if it's the “Extended Edition”.

(Note: As of June 2020, Dolby Atmos will be temporarily disabled on Disney + for all devices due to bandwidth issues during the coronavirus pandemic.)

But there are some strange obstacles here as well. For one thing, like most services, there are several device restrictions. Currently, the Apple TV 4K generally seems to be the preferred Disney + device for video and audio quality, with Roku's 4K streaming devices in second place (because they don't support Dolby Vision). Other devices like Chromecast, Roku TVs and surprisingly the new Nvidia Shield and Fire TV 4K sticks don't seem to support Atmos at the moment, but they do support HDR.

Disney +

It is more unexpected that the question of which titles will work as advertised still seems to be in question. Like the Star Wars collection, the original series The Mandalorian by Disney + 4K HDR and Dolby Atmos should support. But unlike Empire, I couldn't download The Mandalorian in Atmos on my Apple TV 4K. In the meantime, a colleague was able to download the Star Wars films and The Mandalorian in both 4K HDR and Dolby Atmos on a Roku Streaming Stick +. It is clear that there are still some problems to be solved.

(Note: At the time of publication. Disney has not released a comprehensive list of supported devices for each format. However, we assume that Atmos support will also be available for other devices in the future. Sequel follows …)

Content is indeed king

Access to most of the best Disney products of every generation is fantastic, although the user interface – and some aspects of the presentation – continues to cause problems.

If you grew up with Disney / Pixar, your brain will almost certainly fall into the nostalgically sunken place as you scroll through childhood titles. From sleeping beauty and the fox and the dog to the search for Nemo and Toy Story, everything is there. Mostly.

Your brain will fall into the nostalgically sunken place.

It is clear that Disney + is not exactly comprehensive even for older titles, probably due to licensing issues. I'm a big fan of those old 50s goofy shorts that "teach" you how to do things like driving or skiing – the latter is there, but the former is not. It's something like a pattern. A larger omission is the original Muppet Show, though most films are available.

It's not a big deal, but we hope that eventually everything will show up.

After an initial delay in collecting all Star Wars and Marvel content due to license agreements with Netflix or other terms, both brands are now essentially complete in the Disney + library. There remain one or two exceptions – like the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special, which may not see the light of day anywhere – but the service has practically become a focal point for fans of both franchisees.

In his honor, Disney even accelerated the arrival of some major releases to put them into service as quickly as possible in special circumstances. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and Frozen 2 were launched into the coronavirus pandemic both months earlier than originally planned.

The library also contains many natural shows by Nat Geo, and there are plenty of Disney Channel series for millennials, from Hannah Montana to Boy Meets World.

New additions to the Disney + library have appeared relatively quickly since the service started. 5 to 10 tracks are added every week – usually on a Friday. This content includes everything from fresh episodes of the original series to classic films and TV shows that were first added to the Disney + library.

As for Disney + Originals, The Mandalorian is the flagship of the service, but there's also plenty of entertainment in the reality series The World, according to Jeff Goldblum and family-friendly competition shows like Shop Class and Be Our Chef series. On the film side, the Disney + original features Star Girl and Timmy Failure are clever, but not necessarily a must.

Disney knows its audience, and newer original series like Prop Culture and Disney Gallery take audiences behind the scenes of some of the studio's most popular franchises and add another level of entertainment to some of the service's most popular content.

Several new Star Wars and Marvel series are just around the corner, but most will be available in late 2020 at the earliest (and possibly later due to production delays due to the pandemic). In contrast, Netflix has hundreds of original series and thousands of films. So it is certainly a debate between quality and quantity.

Our opinion

Disney seems to have spent more time securing content for its new streaming service than designing its user interface, but it has come a long way since the early days of its launch. Disney managers know that the allure of all of these legendary shows and films is hard to miss for a monthly fee less than what you'd pay to rent two films for the evening.

Is there a better alternative?

There is much. They have Netflix, Hulu (which can be bundled with Disney +), Amazon, HBO Max, Apple TV + and the list goes on. What Disney brings is something nobody else has, and that's the real genius of Disney + (and the impetus behind the streaming wars). It is something of a hostage situation. You have it, we want it. And it's very affordable right now.

How long it will take?

The new Disney streamer is going nowhere – the mega-studio will be there in the long run. In addition, I expect this service to continue to improve as Disney finds its way into the streaming world. Expect more features and fewer errors over time.

Should you buy it

If you love Disney, you want Disney +. If you love even one or two of these franchise companies, Disney + makes sense for cost reasons. However, if you're only interested in The Mandalorian to see what all the fuss is about and what's not particularly related to one of the Disney franchise companies, you can sign up for a month at any time, sign up through the best Sneak a show and get started Back to your favorite streaming services until season 2 is available. The decision likely depends on how much you value access to the Disney vault.

Editor's recommendations




Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini Pro Review: Multi-Cam Magic

blackmagic design breath mini pro review hands on dm 10

Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini Pro

"The ATEM Mini Pro is your ticket to professional zoom meetings and a great tool for streamers on all platforms."

  • Very easy to set up

  • Incredibly powerful

  • No driver is required for most functions

  • Low latency HDMI output for gaming

Stop yawning! An HDMI switcher may not sound exciting, but this year the Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini Pro is the most fun for me with a technical product. Developed by a company that manufactures expensive, rack mount devices for broadcasters, this is an affordable multi-camera streaming solution for the rest of us. Finally, you can live out your fantasy of being an evening news director (well, maybe that's just me).

In fact, the ATEM Mini Pro (and a cheaper non-pro variant) has a more realistic goal that focuses on the rise of video conferencing from home: converting a real camera into a webcam. A computer's built-in webcam is mediocre at best, and even standalone USB webcams have limitations. With the ATEM Mini you can connect any camera that has a clean HDMI output (ie without UI overlays), including many mirrorless cameras and DSLRs.

The price for this category is excellent at $ 595 for the Pro and $ 295 for the Standard model. Many people have been interested in the ATEM Mini line again due to limitations in social distancing due to COVID-19, so both the standard and pro versions are reordered from large retailers. Blackmagic Design told me it was "to build as soon as possible", but it has proven difficult to keep up with demand.

To put it plainly, this product is more than exaggerated if you only want to use a single camera as a webcam. However, if you need to conduct more complex video conferences or YouTube livestreams or just want to specify as an additional participant in the zoom call, the ATEM Mini is a game changer.

Plug and play

One thing I've always appreciated about Blackmagic design products like the Pocket Cinema Camera series is that their advanced features don't clog up the elegant user interface.

The same philosophy is intact in the ATEM Mini Pro. In combination with the control software – the same program with which the professional ATEM switch is operated for $ 10,000 – the available fine tuning is almost unlimited. You can add custom graphics, program macros, control Blackmagic cameras, and more. It is stunning for the uninitiated.

Or you can ignore all of this.

In a world that is increasingly moving towards software interfaces, the ATEM Mini (refreshing!) Is a bit old-fashioned because it handles so much at the hardware level. No driver needs to be installed even with four HDMI sources. Simply connect the ATEM Mini to your computer via USB and it will appear as a selectable webcam in Zoom, FaceTime or other video conferencing and streaming apps. It is the definition of plug and play.

Blackmagic Design provided a Pocket Cinema Camera 4K to test for this test. I used it with a 12-40mm f / 2.8 Olympus lens (courtesy of Lensrentals) as an A-camera to get an adjustable field of view that was more than wide enough for my close-up video conferencing. I filled in the remaining HDMI inputs with my personal mirrorless Fujifilm X-T2 camera, a Nikon D780 DSLR and my Xbox One X.

Video newbies pay attention: all of these sources were originally set to different resolutions and frame rates, and that's … perfectly fine! The ATEM Mini instantly converts various signals into a single, uniform output. It only works as long as your source is not using copy protection.

Using the ATEM Mini Pro

With four numbered buttons, you can switch between inputs on your computer without stopping in the video feed. As far as is known, only a single camera is connected. Optionally, you can choose from a selection of built-in transitions to play when you switch inputs, including crossfades, dips, and deletes. There are even buttons that let you change the duration of these transitions from half a second to 2 seconds.

Picture-in-Picture (PIP) is integrated at the hardware level. This is ideal for presenters who want to stay on the screen while looking at a second angle. Video game streamers are an obvious target here.

There's also a dizzying array of audio controls that can be a little daunting for anyone who's never run a broadcast studio before. With two 3.5 mm jacks, you can not only use audio from one or all HDMI inputs, but also connect external microphones. You can switch each audio input individually and adjust it for each individual level. You can also select AFV (audio follows video) at each input to automatically use the audio from this source when switching.

That sounds complicated, but there is a separate button for everything. Once you know the different abbreviations, it's easy. You don't have to dive through menus and don't have to remember keyboard shortcuts. The buttons are backlit with different colors. White indicates what has been selected, green indicates what is shown in the preview, and red indicates what is active. So you get a lot of information at a glance.

Do you have an external monitor? This is where the real fun begins. When you connect it to the ATEM Mini Pro's HDMI output, you get a streaming command center with a multiple view of all inputs and volume levels on the screen for each audio source. You can make each entry in full screen mode separately from your live program stream, even if it is not the active entry. Players can use picture-in-picture to overlap in their stream while still playing with a distraction-free view (however, this limits the game to a resolution of 1080p).

Again, all of this is possible without installing a driver. However, some customers should definitely install the software, especially gamers. In addition to the other features that are unlocked, this is the only way to turn on 60fps output. The ATEM Mini is set to 30 fps by default.

ATEM Mini Pro against ATEM Mini

The ATEM Mini Pro is the newer of the two and essentially an ATEM Mini with additional functions. There is no difference in video or audio quality – both support up to 1080p / 60 fps and 10-bit video – but the additional $ 300 detaches the pro toggle from a computer and provides direct hard drive and recording Live streaming via Ethernet to YouTube, Facebook and twitching. It also offers the multiview monitor output mentioned above, which the non-pro model lacks.

Most people will be fine with the ATEM Mini and shouldn't be spending the extra money on the Pro version. Even without directly recording the Pro on the hard drive, you can record your stream on your computer using software from the standard ATEM Mini.

The Pro is still a bargain for what it offers, and if you have the money to burn (after all, it's probably a tax write-off, after all) you might want to access it if you think you are ever in a streaming or situation Record without being connected to a computer. Multiview monitoring is just cool too.

Who can really use it?

With some companies saying that they are now going to let employees work from home indefinitely, many new customers are looking for something like the ATEM Mini. This is the crème de la crème that you can use to turn your camera into a webcam. It's overkill for people who just want to look better with zoom, but zoom hosts who work in an office environment could definitely use the multiple camera and microphone inputs to improve the quality of hybrid remote / local meetings (as soon as social Distance is loosened anyway).

For YouTubers, the ATEM Mini can instantly improve the value of live stream production so you can create professional, broadcast-style streams that go far beyond the basics. During an interview, for example, you can switch between a wide-angle shot and close-up pictures of the host and the guest. Live tutorials, from cooking to photography to make-up, can benefit from different perspectives.

It takes the processing out of the processing.

Since any HDMI device can be a source, I could imagine remote work software developers using it. Mobile app developers can connect a smartphone or tablet and stream the direct experience of using their app on a particular device, while web developers can do the same for websites.

With a document camera – or any camera and a copy stand – even printed materials or other physical media can be transmitted live. This could be important for teachers and artists.

Even for developers who are not interested in live streaming, the ATEM Mini can be a worthwhile investment. Every time you shoot with multiple cameras, you can do live cuts instead of having to load footage from each camera onto a computer and go through the tedious process of cutting in the mail. It takes the processing out of the processing. Makeup artists, chefs and car repair gurus could take advantage of multi-cam productions without having to learn how to be a professional video editor.

The only limitation is again the maximum output resolution of 1080p. This limit applies to both live streaming and hard disk recording. If you have a 4K camera, you just have to live without those extra pixels. I personally don't think this is a problem for YouTube or streaming, where most viewers watch on small phone screens and video quality is limited to compression. Still, 4K is one thing to give up if you want to use the ATEM Mini to cut live instead of editing a video with multiple cameras in the post.

For me, the ATEM Mini saves me time and money. Before social distancing, I drove to the Digital Trends office every second Monday to see my appearance at Digital Trends Live. I did a two hour tour for a 10 minute section. It sounds ridiculous, but it was worth it because the studio's professional cameras and close-ups made it much easier to present the new product that I had in hand.

Now I can do it all from home. Sure, it might not be necessary – a single angle, maybe even sticking to my webcam, would probably be enough. But that would hardly be so cool.

Editor's recommendations




Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro Review: Transform Your Tablet

Apple Magic Keyboard Review iPad Pro

Apple Magic Keyboard (11-inch iPad Pro 2020)

"For many users, the Magic Keyboard turns the iPad Pro into a real laptop alternative."

  • Tactile, precise typing experience

  • Responsive trackpad

  • Perfectly weighted for desk or lap

  • Productivity increases significantly on the iPad Pro

  • An expensive accessory

  • The screen angle setting is limited

These words are written on a magic keyboard that is connected to an iPad Pro. It is the third full product review I wrote using Apple's new keyboard accessories for the iPad Pro (2020). It has comprised at least 7,000 words since it arrived about a week ago. At the moment I am also typing with the iPad Pro and the magic keyboard on my lap and not at my desk.

Does this all mean that the iPad Pro has found the accessories that can really make it a laptop alternative? That may still be a stretch, but it was certainly never closer. I have been living with the iPad Pro with and without Magic Keyboard for a few weeks now and can say with certainty that this keyboard stands out from all previous competitors.

This is what it looks like. If you haven't decided to buy a new iPad Pro yet, check out our iPad Pro (2020) review.

design

You notice the weight of the Magic keyboard for the iPad Pro the second it arrives. Even in the box, it's a tough thing, and once it's unpacked, it's actually heavier than the iPad Pro itself. I used the 11-inch version with the 11-inch iPad Pro and together they weigh 2, 34 pounds, which is just a hair lighter than the 13-inch MacBook Air 2020. Don't buy this combination if you want to save weight in your pocket, as that's not really the case.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

This weight gives you security. It doesn't feel weak in any way, which makes it well suited for the round. There's no annoying flex that slows typing, and the heavily cushioned hinge holds the tablet securely in the position you choose. With the weight comes the air of quality, and while this would not be desirable in the iPad Pro itself, it is in the keyboard. When closed, the package is approximately 19 mm thick, while the 2020 MacBook Air is 21 mm thick.

Due to the current restrictions, I wasn't able to carry the iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard around in my pocket, so I can't judge their suitability as a pendulum tool, but I have no reason to doubt a convenient companion. What I know is the material from which the keyboard case is made – a pleasantly tactile plastic with a soft handle – that picks up all the fluff, dust and crumbs on the bottom of your bag. It already takes up enough dirt and fingerprints when sitting at home, and inevitably gets dirty when dragged around.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

The Magic keyboard is covered with magnets. A set in the top half holds the iPad Pro in place, and while it doesn't cover the entire back of the tablet, it does so with flaky enthusiasm. There is absolutely no risk of it slipping or falling, even with excessive shaking. Opening the case is easy and the top cover snaps into place quickly. Then set the viewing angle up to 130 degrees.

Once set, it doesn't go anywhere again, but I've found that I wanted it to go a little further back than it can take for a more dramatic viewing angle. There is also no way to use the iPad Pro "alone" with the Magic Keyboard case attached. It cannot be folded to become a 2-in-1 device. If you want to perform tablet tasks, you must first remove them from the case. The Magic Keyboard is designed to bring the iPad Pro as close as possible to a laptop, and it doesn't differ at all.

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The floating design of the Magic keyboard looks cool. Everything holds together as if it were a coherent product and not a hybrid of two. The solid body is also perfectly weighted and balanced for use in all seating situations. It is an excellent product, and to consider it a minor accessory is bad service for the work that has done all of this just right.

keyboard

Whether on your lap or on your desk, the Magic Keyboard is a pleasure to type. The keys have a spring travel of 1 mm. If that doesn't mean a lot to you, you just need to know that they feel great. I've managed to miss Apple's yearlong keyboard wilderness, and the Magic Keyboard types are similar to an evolution of the keyboard of my beloved 11-inch MacBook Air from 2014. It didn't take any customization time, I just sat down and typed right away at full speed.

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This is an essential part of the iPad Pro equipped with Magic Keyboard, which fits into your working life. I'm a "heavy guy" and found the keyboard to be quite loud, but not more than my MacBook Air. My wrists rest on the edge of the case, which is shaped so that it doesn't dig in or cause fatigue. The overall size is well judged, the keys are solid and responsive, and everything falls neatly on your fingers.

My entire Galaxy S20 test was written using the Magic keyboard on the iPad Pro. I had a deadline, so it was a risk to lock on a new device. I met the deadline and don't think I would have worked faster on my MacBook Air or desktop computer. I only wanted to switch once, and that was to edit and upload photos just because I was forced to learn a new workflow on the iPad Pro. However, I didn't give in and the iPad Pro worked just fine.

There were only a few minor irritations when typing on the Magic keyboard. The first is the placement of the alternate language button in the lower left corner. I lost the number of times I switched to a Japanese keyboard configuration instead of pressing the Shift key with my little finger. The little finger on my right hand also caused me some problems. Sometimes it extends as I type, and sometimes I accidentally tap the third suggested word in Pages on the screen, especially when it was set at its most extreme angle.

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After all, the arrow keys are quite small and cumbersome to press quickly, and there is no row of function keys. The way we type is often very individual, so the irritations I've had may not affect anyone and are relatively minor. The lack of volume or brightness function keys didn't bother me, as both are accessible via iPadOS or on the tablet body itself, but traditionalists may find this annoying. Eventually I had some keyboard issues that did not work after switching apps and forced myself to close the app to make it work again. This is not always the case and will likely be fixed in a future software update.

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The keys on the Magic keyboard are backlit and an ambient light sensor detects when they should be on or off. It is quite sensitive. On a cloudy day, they were lit in my living room when I don't think they're needed. The backlight was deactivated on brighter days to avoid additional stress on the battery. The last keyboard I used with an iPad was the Apple keyboard case for the first-generation iPad Pro, and the Magic keyboard is way ahead in terms of feel, ease of use, precision, convenience, and technology. Most of all, I didn't miss typing on my MacBook Air and didn't feel the need to come back to it.

Trackpad

The Magic Keyboard's trackpad is a headline builder, but has it changed the way you interact with the iPad Pro? No, and that's really intentional. Apple wanted the trackpad to expand the iPad Pro's touch-first operation, and that's exactly what it does. The 100mm x 50mm pad may not sound very large, but is well positioned and has the correct sensitivity for quick use. I haven't used it that often, but when I do, it speeds up my workflow a lot.

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Example? I'm having trouble positioning the cursor and selecting text quickly and correctly on iOS, and this issue is repeated on iPadOS. When I write and edit long pieces of text, it can slow me down a lot. The trackpad eliminates the need to touch the screen, and selecting, copying, pasting, and deleting text in Pages takes no longer than on my laptop. The keyboard shortcuts are also available so that my usual laptop workflow is repeated on the Magic keyboard.

It takes one click to position the cursor instead of typing, and the action is consistent across the surface of the pad. The screen cursor is an easy-to-spot blob, and everything that can be interacted with is clearly highlighted. I mostly use pages and the trackpad integrates very well, but some functions are missing in other apps like Google Docs. For example, you can't quickly click, select, and highlight text, just activate the usual iPadOS copy / paste menu. Oddly enough, however, you can do this in the Twitter app. The Magic keyboard is still new, so additional functions may become available in third-party apps over time.

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I never just relied on the trackpad and switched between use and the touchscreen to navigate and perform certain functions, just like a touchscreen laptop. However, because the screen is so close to your hands and the keyboard's space requirement is relatively small, the range is often minimal and therefore feels faster than a large laptop. Although the trackpad initially aroused the greatest interest in the Magic keyboard, it is only a small, albeit an integral part of what makes the product so good overall.

Connectivity

The Magic keyboard is powered by the iPad Pro and does not need to be charged separately. At the end of the main hinge is a single USB Type-C port that serves as a continuity for charging. This leaves the USB Type C of the iPad Pro free so that you can connect a USB hub or an external drive. However, you cannot do this at the connection of the Magic keyboard. Shame.

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I used a USB hub to extract all the photos from an SD memory card for my Samsung Galaxy S20 test and transfer them to the iPad Pro for editing and uploading. I used different apps during the process and it was seamless and fast. I had no problems with the USB Type-C hub at the time, but due to the short cable and the fact that it needed to be connected to the tablet, it wasn't lying flat on the table. I would also worry that it knocks because of the way it protrudes. I would not worry if it could be connected to the keyboard's USB port.

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It would also have been nice if Apple had included an extra long USB charging cable with the Magic Keyboard. Instead, it was decided not to include any cables at all. The tablet that came with the tablet is short and is not suitable for situations where a plug may not be near your work place. Yes, the battery life is long, but not infinite. Given the cost of the keyboard, this is pretty tight even by Apple's standards.

Price and availability

The Magic keyboard costs $ 300 for the 11-inch model and $ 350 for the 12.9-inch version. You can also buy it from the Apple Store and from various retailers. It is compatible with both the current iPad Pro Tablet 2020 and the iPad Pro 2018. If you have an iPad Pro 2018, there is no reason to update your tablet yet. This is great news for those who have just bought the previous model.

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You need an iPad Pro for your Magic keyboard. As a package, you pay at least $ 1,100 for the 11-inch iPad Pro and Magic keyboard and at least $ 1,350 for the 12.9-inch model. For comparison, a new 2020 MacBook Air starts at $ 1,000.

Our opinion

The hardware combination of the iPad Pro with the Magic Keyboard makes it an effective laptop alternative, but the software will still be an obstacle for those who have more complex work requirements. It comes closer to real, complete business than ever before. If your work requirements like mine are relatively simple, you don't have to grab your laptop often, if at all.

However, the slight lack of versatility of the keyboard case and the initially high price can make a laptop the most preferred device for you personally. Think carefully about how you use the iPad Pro every day, because at this price, a laptop can better meet your needs for less money.

Is there a better alternative?

The most logical alternative is a new MacBook Air for $ 1,000. A laptop offers everything the iPad Pro / Magic Keyboard can do, and much more. It also avoids some of the versatility problems, as there are often more ports, a longer charging cable and compatibility with almost all file types. Even the price isn't much different, and if you're only able to buy either, the MacBook Air may be the better long-term purchase depending on your work schedules.

Another alternative would be to find a 2018 iPad Pro and buy one for the Magic keyboard. You save a little money and work the same way. Outsider alternatives that may better suit your needs include Microsoft Surface Go for more than $ 400, or Surface Pro 7 for more than $ 750, or even Chromebooks like the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook for $ 1,000 2-in-1 design and Google for $ 650 Pixelbook Go.

However, the laptop is the only alternative that meets all the criteria, and the other alternatives often have to make the same or greater compromises than the iPad Pro and the Magic Keyboard combination.

How long it will take?

The iPad Pro easily lasts three to five years or even longer, depending on what you use it for. Adding the Magic keyboard only increases the lifespan. However, the keyboard has no water resistance or special durability. You should therefore make sure that nothing is spilled or dropped on it. If you are careless, a big bill may be waiting for you.

Should you buy one?

Yes. With the Magic keyboard, the iPad Pro comes closer than ever to its promise as a laptop alternative.

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