Logitech MX Keys Mini review: Honey, I’ve shrunk the keyboard
A slim ergonomic design makes the MX Keys Mini a perfect choice for desktop or travel use.
29
Oct
Tag Archives: Mini
03
Oct
SteelSeries Prime Mini Wireless Review: When Less Isn’t More
SteelSeries Prime Mini Wireless
RRP $ 130.00
"The $ 130 SteelSeries Prime Mini Wireless feels a step below other eSport mice."
advantages
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Robust and ergonomic design
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Crunchy optical magnetic switches
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Long battery life
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Super light
disadvantage
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Large USB-C dongle without memory
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Expensive
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Too small for most hand sizes
You don't normally think of high-end esport mice in a portable form, but that's exactly what the SteelSeries Prime Mini is. It takes the lightweight ergonomic design of the Prime Wireless and cuts it up to create a gaming mouse that is not only smaller but also lighter.
SteelSeries did not leave out any features to achieve a slim shape. The Mini still features the same sensor, optical magnetic switches, and buttons as its full-size counterpart. However, with both mice for the same price, the Prime Mini feels like a downgrade for most hand sizes.
Not to mention how it rivals the best gaming mice. Despite being a high-end esports mouse with a spec sheet to match, the Prime Mini doesn't reach the same heights as its competitors. However, the design and switches are second to none, which can be worthwhile if you take the full-size model off.
draft
There aren't many mini gaming mice out there, and the SteelSeries Prime Mini doesn't change that, despite its name. It's only slightly smaller than the full-size Prime, shaving 1.7mm in height, 1.7mm in width, and most importantly 5mm in length. It also reduces the weight from 80 grams to 73 grams, which is light, but not as light as the Logitech G Pro X Superlight at 63 grams.
Although smaller than the SteelSeries Prime, the Mini is no smaller than many wireless esport mice. The Logitech G Pro Wireless is shorter and thinner, and the Razer Viper Ultimate is shorter and thinner than both.
The difference is the length at which the Prime Mini shaves about 5mm from mice of similar caliber. The change in height never bothered me, but the length and width did. Even with smaller hands, it never felt like I had enough to hold onto the palm grip as the back end of my palm slipped off the mouse and onto my desk. The narrower width also meant that I dragged my little finger along.
I really missed the extra length and width of the Prime Mini.
The claw grip was much more comfortable, which is the case with most smaller gaming mice.
Still, I can appreciate the design. The Prime Mini feels like the Corsair Saber Pro Wireless with a more aggressive slant. The right side of the mouse protrudes from the back, and the left side has a fairly deep indentation for your thumb.
I love the design and the way the mouse feels – it comes with sturdy plastic that doesn't feel hollow like the Razer Viper Ultimate, and it felt almost too snug in the palm of my hand. I just wish I could have experienced the design in its proper form. I really missed the extra length and width of the Prime Mini, which ruined one of probably my otherwise favorite gaming mice.
Sensor and buttons
SteelSeries says the Prime Mini comes with "crispy clicks," and those are the crispest clicks I've ever had. Each time you press it, you hear a loud, satisfying crack, thanks to the Prestige OM optical magnetic switches under the hood. The Razer Basilisk V3 also has optical switches, but they don't feel as crisp as the Prime Mini.
Since the switches are optical, they are not subject to any debounce delay like mechanical switches.
This is my favorite aspect of the Prime Mini. The switches are as satisfactory as possible, and because they are optical they do not suffer from debounce delay like mechanical switches. SteelSeries also rates 100 million click life and doubles the 50 million click life on most high-end gaming switches.
In addition to the left and right click, the Prime Mini has forward and backward thumb buttons as well as a DPI button to toggle through the five customizable presets. The DPI button is on the bottom of the mouse, which is annoying but useful. This is an esports mouse, and you don't want to poke your DPI around in the heat of the moment.
The switches are the star of the show, while the sensor takes a back seat. The mouse comes with the SteelSeries TrueMove Air 18K DPI sensor that you can adjust in 100 DPI increments. At $ 130, that's behind the curve. The Logitech G Pro X Superlight has a 25K DPI sensor and the Corsair M65 RGB Ultra Wireless has a 26K DPI sensor. The Corsair mouse also has a query rate of 2,000 Hz while the Prime Mini is fixed at 1,000 Hz.
It's accurate and fast, but not as much as the competition.
Connectivity and battery life
The Prime Mini is equipped with Quantum 2.0 wireless technology, which, according to SteelSeries, "offers performance that feels like wired". While I'm far from an esports gamer, wireless connectivity was never an issue in Destiny 2 raids or my recent New World addiction.
SteelSeries claims 100 hours of battery life, likely due to just one RGB lighting strip around the scroll wheel. After using the mouse for almost a week, I only knocked off about a third, giving you plenty of time between charges. The mouse also supports fast charging via the USB-C port.
However, Quantum is your only option. Despite a trend towards Bluetooth and low-latency wireless connectivity in mice like the Logitech G604, the Prime Mini only comes with the SteelSeries wireless connectivity. That's not a big deal, but I always like having bluetooth as an option for using the mouse with my home theater setup.
The wifi is solid, but I can't wrap my head around the wifi dongle. It uses USB-C instead of USB-A. Most motherboards only have a single USB-C port, and only the latest cases have a USB-C port upfront. I have much better things to use for my USB-C ports than a wireless mouse dongle.
Worse, it's a big dongle. It's about an inch long if you ignore the connector, which is about a quarter of an inch for Corsair and Razer dongles and a third of an inch for Logitech models. The Prime Mini is ready for travel because of its small and light design, but the dongle has nowhere to be kept attached to the mouse like any other high-end wireless gaming mice.
SteelSeries includes an adapter so that you can connect it to your machine using USB-A. That just doesn't feel like the best solution. I would have much preferred a USB-A dongle to keep under my mouse rather than a clunky USB-C dongle just waiting to break while plugged into my laptop.
Gaming performance
I have some issues with the Prime Mini, but there's no denying that it's a solid gaming mouse. There's tactile feedback on every mouse, but I felt it on the Prime Mini. Every shot in Destiny 2 or my endless deathloop runs felt like it was important, and the Prestige OM switches add a sense of depth to every click.
That's not the reason to buy this mouse, but it's a nice bonus given the mouse's overall gaming performance. The sensor may lag behind the competition, but it's still fast enough to keep up with nervous shooters like Valorant and swipe the screen to activate a skill in Final Fantasy XIV.
The Prime Mini is small, robust and light.
However, size proved to be an issue once more. I wanted to switch back to my tried and true Razer Viper Ultimate while gaming, just so I had a little more sagging. The Prime Wireless and Prime Mini Wireless are the same price from SteelSeries, and I would recommend sticking to the full-size model for most hand sizes.
To play, I could imagine using the Prime Mini Wireless while traveling. It's small, sturdy, and lightweight, which makes it a great high-end travel companion for gaming. As already mentioned, however, the large dongle and the lack of storage space for it dampen the travel experience.
Our opinion
The SteelSeries Prime Mini Wireless is a high quality gaming mouse with unfortunate design choices. The shape is remarkably comfortable, but too small, and the optical magnetic switches are excellent, but they are paired with a sensor that lags behind the competition. It's not a bad mouse, but it's not the best – and at $ 130, being the best is important.
Are there alternatives?
The SteelSeries Prime Mini cuts the length of most competing mice by about 5mm, so there aren't many direct alternatives.
If you don't mind a little extra length, it can measure up to the Corsair Saber Pro Wireless, Logitech G Pro X Superlight, and Razer Viper Ultimate.
How long it will take?
The Prestige optical magnetic switches are designed for 100 million clicks. Assuming 10,000 clicks per day, that's just over 27 years before the mouse wears out. Basically, it'll last until you decide to upgrade.
Should you buy it?
No. The full size Prime Wireless will be more convenient for most people and is a decent option for $ 130. The only exception are those with small hands. There aren't many small high-end gaming mice out there. The closest competitor is that Logitech G305, this is cheaper, but also heavier and with lower specifications. Otherwise, get the full version.
Editor's recommendations
28
Sep
Logitech MX Keys Mini Review: Like the Original, But Smaller
Logitech MX Keys Mini reviewed: Honey, I made the keyboard smaller
RRP $ 99.00
"The Logitech MX Keys Mini offers the same great typing experience in a smaller, more ergonomic experience."
advantages
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Comfortable typing experience
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Compact and lightweight for on the go
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Ergonomic
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Advanced features
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Sustainable design and packaging
disadvantage
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Expensive
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Cannot be used as a wired keyboard
How do you improve a near-perfect keyboard? It's a good problem for Logitech with its MX Keys peripheral, which quickly became a fan-favorite keyboard at retailers like Amazon.
Logitech's solution was to bring a more compact version of its critically acclaimed keyboard in the form of the MX Keys Mini and MX Keys Mini for Mac. Both the standard and compact keyboards have similar layouts, with the one made for the Mac edition containing Apple-specific keys such as the option and command keys. Versions with international keyboard layouts will also be available.
It's not for the serious mechanical keyboard enthusiast, but most others will find a lot in what Logitech did with the MX Keys Mini.
draft
Smaller doesn't mean tight. Like the regular MX Keys, the MX Keys Mini has full-size keys for easy typing. To shrink the dimensions of the keyboard – the standard version measures 131.63 x 430.2 x 20.5 mm – Logitech removed essentially everything to the right of the Enter key and repositioned the arrow keys in an inverted T layout. This reduces the width of the MX Keys Mini by 134.21 mm to 295.99 mm.
This is equivalent to a size reduction of just over five and a half inches – or 30%. The compact dimensions make the MX Mini more portable, making it easier to slip into a smaller bag when you need a better keyboard for remote typing. The real benefit, however, is that a narrower keyboard makes typing more ergonomic.
The new size reduces the weight of the keyboard from 810 grams to 506 grams. Much of the weight is due to the solid construction of the keyboard, which has a full metal shell on the top that surrounds the keys in an island style. There's a thin plastic strip that extends from the top of the keyboard, and this area houses the sensors, battery, and circuitry. The other dimensions have also changed slightly, but are largely similar to the original model.
Like the original, the mini edition has individual keys with a circular indentation on the keycap, a design feature that helps with typing. The chiclet key layout looks a lot more modern than the 1990s-style keycaps on mechanical keyboards, and looks like you could have taken them straight off a laptop. The company claims that the dimple on each key adjusts to your fingertips as you type, and automatic backlighting is available for night work too.
The MX Keys Mini is available in three colors – rose, graphite, and light gray – and features white LED-backlit keys. A built-in battery provides up to 10 days of use on a single charge with the backlight on, or up to five months of no-light use, claims Logitech, and it can be charged using the included USB-C cable. The keyboard version that we received for testing is made of graphite and comes with slightly darker gray keycaps and white lettering.
Our model isn't made for Mac, but it also comes with dual keys that support Mac and Windows – for example, the Apple Option key can be used to activate the Start menu on Windows, while the Command key can also serve as the Alt key on the Microsoft operating system. If you're a Mac user looking to take over the MX Keys Mini, the major downside is that you won't find a Touch ID fingerprint scanner on this third party keyboard.
As part of the company's commitment to sustainability, the MX Keys Mini is made with up to 30% recycled plastic, however the amount of recycled plastic in the lighter shades will be far less than the darker graphite color variant. That's because, according to the company, it's way too difficult to extract and recycle plastics from existing keyboards – which are often made from darker materials – and convert them to lighter colors like those found on the pink and light gray keyboard .
Typing and functions
Many of the key functions of the larger MX Keys are carried over to the MX Keys Mini, including the ability to pair and use the keyboard with up to three different Bluetooth devices. The keyboard has alternate keys in the row of functions for switching between devices. Logitech claims the keyboard will work on a wide range of devices including Windows, Mac, Android, Linux, iOS, and iPadOS.
The company will also release a special Enterprise version that uses a more secure and proprietary Logi Bolt connection. This B2B model requires a special USB-A dongle, while the consumer model that you can find in many retail stores works with Bluetooth.
1.8 mm travel is sufficient for long sessions with comfortable typing.
Logitech didn't provide any key travel and pitch specifications for the MX Keys Mini, but they feel no different than the full-size original, advertised as 1.8mm of key travel. This makes the key travel comparable to what you'd find on some larger professional laptops and gaming laptops. Many smaller laptops in the 13-inch range have keys with 1.1 mm to 1.5 mm of travel, while some larger 15-inch notebooks have keyboards with 1.5 to 1.8 mm of travel. In any case, 1.8 mm of travel is sufficient for long sessions with comfortable typing.
For comparison, Apple's newest Magic Keyboard on the MacBook Pro has a 1mm shorter key travel that uses a new scissor switch implementation, while the company's older butterfly keys on some older Intel-model laptops only provided 0.7mm of key travel.
The MX Keys Mini feels like it was made for those who love laptop keyboards but prefer to work at their desks. While my MacBook Pro keyboard feels different when typing – Apple's keys are less stiff and louder – the similarly sized Logitech offers the same ergonomic experience. When I paired the Logitech MX Keys Mini with my Apple Mac Mini on my desk, it really felt like I was working on a mobile workstation.
If you are used to working on a laptop without a built-in numeric keypad, a similar arrangement in an external keyboard makes it easier to customize and helps with ergonomics if you have the right desk setup. An external monitor would be ideal, but even if you choose not to connect a second monitor, putting your laptop on a stand helps as you won't stretch your neck to look at your laptop's screen.
And when you add the right external keyboard to the setup, you get an even more comfortable PC environment with a larger key travel. Moving the keyboard closer to your body can also reduce arm fatigue.
And to accommodate more modern communication modes, the MX Keys are also equipped with some special keys that make it easier to get your message across. There's an emoji button that brings up an emoji picker so you can choose the best emoticon to use, for example, to express yourself in an email, and a new dictation button helps you control your operating system's voice-to-text engine to type with your voice.
power
If you consistently work on two or three different devices as part of your workflow, the MX Keys Mini is for you. Pairing multiple devices allows you to connect up to three devices without the need for a KVM switch and also saves desk space as you don't need a separate keyboard for your desktop and a second tablet, like an iPad Pro or SurfacePro 8.
Like its bigger brother, the MX Keys Mini offers a very comfortable typing experience with its full-size keys. Compared to the butterfly key switches on my aging MacBook Pro 13 inch, the keys of the MX Keys Mini are deeper, stiffer (since they require more actuation force) and a little quieter. A quieter keyboard could be useful if you share a small apartment with someone else and prefer to work at night.
The backlight turns on automatically when your hands approach the keyboard.
LED-backlit keys on a wireless keyboard aren't a new technology, but Logitech has made some smart upgrades to make this popular staple even better. Like the backlit keyboard on many modern laptops, the backlight can be adjusted manually – there are six levels of brightness, and you can also turn it off – or automatically based on the ambient light in the room.
Thanks to magnetic sensors, the backlight can also turn on automatically when your hands approach the keyboard. This feature may sound trivial, but it is extremely useful. On other keyboard models, the backlight turns off after a period of inactivity to save battery life. To turn the backlight back on, you need to tap any key on the keyboard randomly to wake it up.
If you press a non-character key, such as the Shift key or the Ctrl key, everything is fine. However, if you tap any of the character keys like a letter, you are accidentally adding gibberish to your open document and will have to delete any additions you made. Distorting the MX Keys Mini's magnetic field to wake up a backlight is an ingenious solution to a problem many didn't even know they had until they started using the Logitech keyboard.
Since the keyboard has full-size keys, it didn't take me any time to get used to the keyboard and was able to type accurately and quickly right out of the box. My typing speed and accuracy on this model rivaled that of keyboards on Apple, Lenovos, and HP laptops, and I had no problems with typing accuracy. The deeper key travel feels more similar on Windows laptops than it does on Mac laptops.
As someone who mainly works on a laptop, the biggest criticism of the MX Keys Mini is that the keys feel a little too stiff. While key travel is generous, the Logitech keyboard's keys require greater actuation force before they move. The greater force required to operate it could result in increased finger fatigue, at least until you get used to the keyboard. It took me about a day to acclimate and once I did it, the MX Keys Mini delivered one of the better typing experiences with responsive switches outside of a mechanical keyboard.
Logitech did not provide precise actuation force measurements for the Mini, but in general the typing experience is very similar to that of the larger MX Keys. If you are experienced with the MX Keys you will feel right at home here. Compared to Apple's external Magic Keyboard that comes with the iMac, the MX Keys feel a little quieter when typing and require a little more force to operate.
Mac users who choose this keyboard will have to forego Touch ID support, a feature supported by some of Apple's newer external keyboards. However, this is not limited to Logitech as no third-party Mac keyboards currently support fingerprint recognition on Mac. Since most Windows systems rely on face scanning with Windows Hello, this may be less of a concern for PC owners.
The MX Keys Mini comes with a single USB-C to USB-A cable for charging and can be connected to your PC or Mac via Bluetooth. The Mac edition comes with a USB-C to USB-C cable instead. tThe keyboard's USB-C port is used for charging only and you cannot connect it to your PC to use it as a wired keyboard. You can still charge the battery while using it via Bluetooth.
While I didn't experience any lag or latency from the wireless connection, if you're concerned about Bluetooth security or around, you can also opt for the MX Keys Mini for Business model, which works with Logitech's proprietary Bolt standard Make input delays. Logi Bolt, as it's called, also works with Bluetooth if you don't take the adapter with you when you travel.
In my weeklong review of the MX Keys Mini – this test was done entirely with the MX Keys Mini connected to a MacBook Pro via Bluetooth – I was unable to discharge the battery. During the day the backlight was generally turned off to save power and at night I let the keyboard automatically adjust the backlight to the available ambient lighting.
Despite the added convenience of a narrow keyboard, the MX Keys Mini is not designed for ergonomics.
Compared to a wider, full-size keyboard with a number pad, the MX Keys Mini's narrower keyboard makes working on long documents more convenient, although it may not be the ideal solution for a finance or accounting job. If you work with a lot of numbers or live in Excel spreadsheets, you're better off using a keyboard with a dedicated number pad like the full-size MX keys.
The Logitech team informed me that the narrower dimension was designed for ergonomics. It's supposed to reduce muscle fatigue by reducing your arms spread as widely and resulting in a more natural posture at the desk. But despite the added convenience of a slim keyboard, this keyboard is not designed for the same ergonomics as the split-design keyboard.
Another advanced software-based feature of the MX Keys and MX Keys Mini is called Flow. For Flow you need an MX series mouse, such as the MX Master 3 or MX Master Anywhere. Once these devices are paired on multiple computers, you can essentially copy and paste text, files, and documents between Mac and Windows devices. This helps simplify your workflow so that you don't have to rely on USB drives or cloud storage to access a document that is on another paired device. In practice, it works really well, adding to the support for pairing multiple devices.
Our opinion
Logitech doesn't shy away from experimenting with a proven formula to improve its existing products. By removing its popular MX keys while keeping the keys at full size, the company has made arguably the best keyboards on the market even better by making it more portable and focusing on ergonomics.
are there alternatives
At $ 99, the Logitech MX Keys Mini will cost the same as the full version when shipped next month. So you're making a compromise between ergonomics and a dedicated number pad for entering data in spreadsheets. There are plenty of other wireless and wired keyboards competing in the same place as the Logitech MX Keys series, but keep in mind that you'll be sacrificing some of the more advanced features – deep key travel, flow, and sophisticated backlighting – if you choose for cheaper models.
Some brand competitors include Apple's Magic Keyboard, which sells for the same price, or the new Magic Keyboard with Touch ID, which adds a $ 50 premium. There's also Microsoft's Premium Designer Compact Keyboard, which costs $ 50 less than what Logitech has to offer.
How long it will take?
The MX Keys Mini is covered by Logitech's one-year limited hardware warranty, while the MX Keys Mini for Business with Logi Bolt support has an additional year of support.
A premium keyboard like the MX Keys Mini should last for many years. Unlike a laptop, there aren't many innovations in the keyboard area that will warrant an upgrade to a newer model anytime soon, so this device should last as long as the rechargeable battery can be charged.
Should I buy it?
Although expensive as a Bluetooth accessory, the MX Keys Mini is a solid investment that will help you stay productive and keep your body happy thanks to its thoughtful ergonomic design. It offers the great typing experience that the original MX Keys offered in a more compact package.
Editor's recommendations
13
Aug
Intel NUC 11 Extreme Review: A True Mini Gaming PC
Intel Beast Canyon NUC 11 Extreme in the test: A real mini gaming PC
RRP $ 1,180.00
"The NUC 11 Extreme is too expensive, but that still doesn't hold it back."
advantages
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Keep calm
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Solid processor performance
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Full-size graphics card support
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Excellent connectivity
disadvantage
-
Too expensive
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Larger than previous NUCs
On my desk, where my gaming PC used to live, is an empty space that is now occupied by Intel's NUC 11 Extreme, also known as Beast Canyon. It's a barebones kit with welcome tradeoffs that balances desktop-like performance with a form factor smaller than a current game console.
It's too expensive, awkward compared to a full-size device, and a little too weak compared to a desktop chip. But I can't stop using the NUC 11 Extreme. It is an intelligently designed PC that only makes concessions when needed and exists in its own category.
That doesn't mean Beast Canyon is for everyone. It caters to a very specific market – those with an affinity for crafting who don't mind paying for interesting designs. That said, if you don't mind getting your hands dirty (and you have a spare graphics card) the NUC 11 Extreme is excellent.
design
In 2012, Intel presented the concept of NUC or Next Unit of Computing for the first time. a graphics card). The heart of the PC is the compute element, which you can unplug like a graphics card.
The new NUC 11 Extreme is a tiny PC, but not as small as previous versions. The 8 liter chassis is 14.1 inches long, 7.1 inches high and 4.7 inches wide. The NUC 9 Extreme is larger at 8.5 inches, but much shorter and a little less wide. It also doesn't support full size graphics cards like Beast Canyon.
That is the compromise with Beast Canyon. It's larger than previous NUCs and other mini-PCs, but it supports a full-length graphics card. You can't have and eat your cake, and I'm pleased with the compromises Intel has made. As I will learn in the next few sections, the NUC 11 Extreme still beats its weight class despite its slightly larger size.
This becomes clear when you compare it to other small form factor options. The Cooler Master MasterBox NR200P is one of the smaller Mini-ITX cases that supports a full-size GPU and is still 10 liters larger than the NUC 11 Extreme. There are smaller NUC cases like the Razer Tomahawk, but this device has an older computing element and is more expensive than the NUC 11 Extreme.
The star of the show is a massive RGB skull on the front of the NUC 11 that connects to ambient RGB strips that illuminate the bottom of the case. Fortunately, you can tweak the LEDs and turn them off if you want. With the included NUC Software Studio you can control the skull and the front, right and left LEDs independently of each other.
It's a decent suite that lets you set a solid color or set standard RGB modes like strobe or breathing. You can also use the NUC Software Studio to monitor system temperature and usage, change your fan curve, and switch between processor performance modes.
While the NUC Software Studio offers a decent list of options, it's a little flawed. The software is easy to bounce around, but it would constantly get stuck for a second or two after I changed a setting. It's not a deal breaker, but the NUC Software Studio doesn't feel good.
For my tests, I stayed in balanced fan mode to see the curve Intel intended. There are a trio of 92mm fans under the top to keep everything cool, and they never got loud enough to bother me while testing (even on a Cinebench R23 loop). They make noise, but the NUC 11 Extreme is remarkably quiet given its size. The NUC 11 Extreme was silent when answering emails or hanging out online.
Connectivity
Intel could have reduced the number of ports on the NUC 11 Extreme, but didn't. As with many aspects of the kit, you give up surprisingly little when compared to a full-sized desktop. You are spoiled for port options with the NUC 11 Extreme, and in some ways it goes beyond some full-size PCs.
On the front you have quick access to two USB 3.1 ports, a headphone / microphone combo jack and an SDXC card slot. This turned out to be sufficient in my tests, although I missed a USB-C port on the front. I often use an external Samsung T5 SSD to swap games between PCs and it would have been nice to just toss it in front of the case.
Instead, I had to plug it in at the back, but that wasn't a problem. Even in this small size, Intel manages to accommodate six USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports, 2.5G Ethernet and two Thunderbolt 4 ports on the back of the case. The motherboard also has an HDMI 2.0b output in case you want to use the integrated graphics.
Of course, HDMI out isn't all you have access to when you plug in a graphics card. It's only there to provide the built-in graphics option. So when you add a graphics card, you also have access to the ports it has. In the case of the RTX 3060 in my test device, this included a single HDMI and three DisplayPort outputs.
Compared to the NUC 9 Extreme, this device adds two more USB ports on the back and upgrades the Thunderbolt ports from Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 4. Even if you run out of ports – which is unlikely given the eight USB ports surrounding the case – you can always throw a Thunderbolt dock into the equation to further expand your connectivity.
For wireless connectivity, the NUC 11 Extreme contains Intel's AX201 chip, which offers dual-band Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2.
Internals
Intel offers the NUC in two configurations: either with a Core i7-11700B or a Core i9-11900KB. As with all NUCs, you will need to bring your own graphics card, SSD, RAM, and operating system. Everything else you need is already in the compute element or in the housing. This includes a 650W 80+ Gold power supply and an Intel AX201 chip.
| Central processor | Intel Core i9-11900KB or Intel Core i7-11700B |
| GPU | Support for full-size dual-slot GPU or Intel UHD 750 |
| Storage | Up to 64 GB dual-channel SO-DIMM DDR4 |
| storage | Up to two PCIe 4.0 M.2 SSDs, up to two PCIe 3.0 M.2 SSDs |
| Power supply | 650W 80+ gold |
| USB ports | Up to 12, including eight |
| Thunderbolt ports | Two Thunderbolt 4 |
| Networking | 2.5G Ethernet, dual band WiFi 6 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Ports | Headphone / microphone connection, SDXC reader, HDMI 2.0b |
My test device was equipped with the Core i9-11900KB computing element, a souped-up laptop chip that is part of the 10 nm Tiger Lake family. In short, it should not be confused with the desktop Core i9-11900K, which is built by Intel using the 14 nm process and requires more than twice the performance.
The Core i9-11900KB is a 65W chip, but it is still equipped with eight cores and 16 threads and can accelerate up to 4.9 GHz based on Intel specifications. My chip never reached this speed during the test, but it got close at just over 4.8 GHz. The slightly cheaper Core i7-11700B still comes with eight cores and 16 threads, but with a slightly lower clock rate.
Both chips come with integrated graphics, but I was disappointed to find that they use Intel UHD graphics, not Iris Xe like many Tiger Lake mobile chips. As I'll get into in a moment, if you're going to get any decent gaming performance out of Beast Canyon, you need a discrete GPU.
Otherwise, the NUC 11 Extreme supports whatever you can get it to do. This includes up to 64 GB of dual-channel DDR4 laptop memory (SO-DIMM), a dual-slot graphics card and up to four M.2 SSDs, one of which you have to install in the computing element.
Opening everything is a breeze. There's some nice attention to detail here from Intel, including the tiny captive screws on the backplate, a handy door to unlock the compute element, and an SSD slot on the bottom so you can quickly upgrade your storage.
Once you've removed the side panels, the NUC 11 Extreme opens and offers unprecedented access in this small form. The top cover with three fans can be folded up so that you have all parts of the case free. And there's not much going on inside.
Most of the PC is in the compute element, so you have a small specially designed motherboard, power supply, compute element, and GPU if you have one installed. The NUC 11 Extreme has exactly what it needs, reducing the fat that often comes with small builds.
It's not without its problems, however. The latch for the PCIe slot of the graphics card can hardly be reached when the card is installed. I had to slide the back end of a screwdriver between the GPU and the computing element to open it, and you need to remove the GPU before you can get to the computing element.
Support for full-size graphics cards should also be marked with a large asterisk. It's true that you can plug a full-length dual-slot GPU into the NUC 11 Extreme, but that's about it. That doesn't take into account the additional modular power cables that have to share the space with the rear end of the GPU.
The NUC 11 Extreme has exactly what it needs, reducing the fat that often comes with small builds.
However, dual slot is the limit. If your cooler protrudes even slightly beyond the dual-slot mark, it will not fit into the NUC 11 Extreme. Nvidia Founder's Edition cards could also be a problem. The RTX 3080, for example, has a fan on both sides. In this case, a fan would sit directly on the back of the power supply unit.
Overall, though, this is the most enjoyable small form factor experience I've ever had. I have a few minor issues with the graphics card slot and the extra cables, but these are easy to miss with Intel's clear focus on the building experience. The NUC 11 Extreme is still an argument for barebones, small PCs.
The most disappointing part of the NUC 11 Extreme is that you can't buy it all. Adding RAM, SSD, and Windows is easy, but Beast Canyon really shines with an installed GPU. And adding the price of an expensive graphics card to the NUC 11 Extreme's already high price tag is a tough sell.
But the premium makes sense. Something like the NUC 11 Extreme cannot be built with off-the-shelf parts. However, if you're willing to shop around and have a mini-ITX graphics card, there are options like the Velka 3 that are actually smaller than the NUC 11 Extreme.
Processor power
To get back to the raw power of Beast Canyon, it's more powerful than I expected. The Core i9-11900KB isn't quite on par with a full desktop piece, but it doesn't have to be in such a small package. There's a little compromise, but it's much smaller than it should be given the size of Beast Canyon.
I started testing with PCMark 10, which gives a good overview of performance on a long list of tasks. The NUC 11 Extreme achieved an overall score of 7,520, which is just below the MSI Aegis RS 10 – a mid-tower desktop with a full-size Core i9-10900K. He also beat the flagship Tiger Lake in the HP Elite Dragonfly Max with almost 3,000 more points.
PCMark 10 is also demanding. The processor reached a maximum temperature of 93 degrees Celsius during the benchmark, but never clocked down. Even when it was struck, my i9-11900KB continued to climb slightly above 4.8 GHz.
Next up was Cinebench R23, which pushes processors to their limits by forcing them to render a complex 3D image. Here the Core i9-11900KB achieved a single-core score of 1,636 and a multi-core score of 11,424. The multi-core score is in the upper range, but a desktop Core i9-10900K can still beat it by around 30%. Every other Tiger Lake chip doesn't even come close, however.
The Core i9-11900KB even beats the desktop Core i9-10900K by around 23% in the single-core test. While Cinebench performed strongly, it did reveal some weaknesses in Intel's design. According to HWiNFO64, the Core i9-11900KB reached its maximum operating temperature of 100 degrees Celsius before it clocked down to 3.4 GHz. Even with a solid cooling solution, the NUC 11 Extreme is prone to throttling when it's pushed to the limit.
GeekBench 5 is nowhere near as demanding and the NUC 11 Extreme has once again proven its strengths. Similar to PCMark 10, the Core i9-11900KB beats the desktop Core i9-10900K in the single-core test and just under second place in the multi-core test. It also shot way ahead of the NUC 9 Extreme, beating the older device by about 23%.
It's a competent counterpoint to a desktop chip and outperforms all of the other Tiger Lake offerings available.
Handbrake told a similar story. The NUC 11 Extreme reduced our coding time of the Elysium trailer by 13 seconds compared to the NUC 9 Extreme. However, Handbrake showed that the Core i9-11900KB is still essentially a mobile part. Compared to the desktop Core i9-10900K, the chip was a full 30 seconds slower.
Finally, I reached out to PugetBench for Premiere Pro to see how the NUC 11 Extreme would handle video editing. This type of machine seems perfect for the job and my results confirm it. Overall, it scores above a desktop Core i9-10900K, which is configured with an RTX 3060 and 32 GB of RAM. However, this is mainly due to the smooth playback performance, as the NUC 11 Extreme lagged behind the desktop in terms of export and GPU values.
With the NUC 11 Extreme you don't get the full performance of a desktop chip, but with less than half the wattage, that shouldn't come as a surprise. It's a competent counterpoint to a desktop chip and outperforms all of the other Tiger Lake offerings available. Heat was an issue in Cinebench, but this benchmark is a bit of a stress test. There should be no throttling for most tasks.
Gaming performance
I only did a few gaming tests with the NUC 11 Extreme as it doesn't actually come with a graphics card. Your performance will depend on what you put into it. Nevertheless, I wanted to get an overview of how the RTX 3060 would behave in my test device compared to one in a full desktop. And good for Intel, there is practically no difference.
The NUC 11 Extreme averaged exactly the same frame rate in Fortnite at 1080p Epic settings as a desktop configured with a Core i9-10900K and RTX 3060. Up to 1440p, only three frames separated the NUC 11 Extreme from the desktop, with the NUC averaging 83 fps (frames per second) and the desktop averaging 86 fps.
That was also the case in Civilization VI, where the NUC averaged 141 fps at 1080p Ultra and the desktop 143 fps. At 1440p with the same settings, the two machines were within a frame of each other. The NUC 11 Extreme's side panel gives the GPU a lot of headroom, and based on my limited testing, cards should work about as well as they would in a desktop.
When you order a NUC, you won't get this performance without adding a graphics card. The UHD graphics in the Core i9-11900KB are pitifully slow for games. They are available, but a bit not an option. In fact, I couldn't complete my 1440p tests because the built-in graphics just wouldn't hold up.
3DMark Time Spy showed how big the difference is. With the RTX 3060 installed, the NUC 11 Extreme achieved a total of 8,953 points. Without a GPU, the device only scored 828 points, less than a tenth of what the RTX 3060 could achieve. Even in Fortnite, I couldn't go over the 1080p High settings as the integrated GPU only averaged 15 fps.
Civilization VI was slightly better at 1080p with medium settings, but even then the UHD graphics only averaged 23 fps. The built-in graphics are not suitable for gaming unless you are ready to shut down to 720p and run on low settings, and even then, some games may have problems.
You should clearly add a GPU to the NUC 11 Extreme. The built-in graphics aren't very good, but the good news is that between a full-sized desktop and the NUC 11, you're practically not giving up when it comes to GPU performance. The design of the chassis allows a lot of air inside, so most cards should hold up.
Our opinion
The NUC 11 Extreme is excellent – as long as you can handle its high price. The kit starts at $ 1,150 for the i7-11700B, and that doesn't include an operating system, RAM, an SSD, or, more critically, a graphics card. Add those in and you're looking at a machine that easily costs over $ 2,000 without a high-end GPU.
It's way too expensive, but that's the point. You already know if the NUC 11 Extreme is right for you. It is not a machine trying to get a certain price or offer a certain value. Instead, it offers an excellent, small form factor design, a unique way to design a computer, and performance that even full-size desktops are a race for their money.
If you've looked at the NUC jealously, it will meet your expectations – provided you have a graphics card to plug in.
Are there alternatives?
There are other mini PCs out there, but nothing compares to the NUC 11 Extreme. Unless you're looking for a boutique case and configuring your own rig, there is no other machine that packs as much power as the NUC 11 Extreme in this small case. Most Mini-ITX cases are not only larger, but also more difficult to use.
That said, you can save some money by building your own machine if you're okay with a slightly larger case or if you can settle for a mini-ITX GPU.
How long it will take?
The whole point of a NUC is that you can upgrade it with a new computing element over time. Assuming Intel continues to ship them, you can use the NUC 11 Extreme until the power supply fails.
Should you buy it?
Yes, as long as you know what you're getting yourself into. The NUC 11 Extreme is not just a mini PC. So, if you're looking for something to set up and forget, a machine like the M1 Mac Mini is probably better.
Editor's recommendations
04
Feb
JBL Reflect Mini NC Review: Workout Earbuds With Big Bass
"With a throbbing bass and a huge list of functions, the JBL Reflect Mini NC chooses every workout."
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Big, powerful bass
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Excellent call quality
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Either Alexa or Google Assistant
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Good noise cancellation
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Cumbersome adjustment of the controls
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No wireless charging
JBL sells a wide variety of true wireless earbuds aimed at fitness enthusiasts. Between the company's own JBL branded products and its partnerships with Under Armor and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, you can choose from eight different models, priced between $ 100 and $ 200. Announced at CES 2021, the latest in the range are the $ 150 Reflect Mini NC, JBL's first Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) training buds.
With an impressive list of features, excellent water resistance, and a surprisingly affordable price point, one wonders: what's the catch? Let's take a look.
What's in the box?
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends
The Reflect Mini NC, like most JBL headphones, comes in a box that is beautifully designed but a nightmare to recycle, with lots of plastic, foam, and magnets embedded. Inside you will find the earphones, their charging case, a USB-C charging cable, a total of three sizes of silicone earplugs and wing tips, as well as paper documentation with a quick guide.
design
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends
Most of the other loading cases feel weak in comparison.
The Reflect Mini NC and its compact charging case are available in black, white, green or blue and radiate robustness. Despite its low weight, the charging case is very solid thanks to a robust plastic shell and an impressively robust hinge. The lid is easy to open and stays in the open position until you close it, which comes with a very satisfactory magnetic clasp. Most of the other loading cases, even JBL's own Reflect Flow, feel weak in comparison. A built-in lanyard loop is handy for taking the headphones with you when you don't have a pocket, or attaching them to a gym bag or backpack.
I'm also a bit obsessed with the charge indicator on the front of the case. In most cases there will be a small LED dot or a series of dots if you're lucky. With the Reflect Mini NC, however, you get a large, fat LED bar that shows the charging status of each earbud and the case itself. The only thing missing here is wireless charging.
The earphones are also solidly built and, as the name suggests, slightly smaller than the Reflect Flows – albeit not by much. As an advantage for night runners and hikers, reflective paint was applied to the JBL logos on the contact surfaces.
No workout buds would be complete without some sort of water resistance, and the Reflect Mini NC doesn't disappoint with an IPX7 rating, which means they're effectively waterproof. They won't work if you go swimming with them, but they won't be damaged either.
Convenience, control and connections
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends
True workout wireless earbuds often use an ear hook design to ensure a secure fit. The Powerbeats Pro are the flagship for this function. But if you can achieve the same level of security without the earhook, that's a plus in my opinion, and the Reflect Mini NC definitely delivers. The tradeoff – if you consider it a compromise – is that these earbuds really make your ears feel full.
You have no concerns about an accidentally detached bud.
The silicone earbuds and wing tips are denser than the ones JBL uses for the Reflect Flow, presumably to improve stability, but that means they're not quite as comfortable. You have no concerns about an accidentally detached bud, but you'll never forget you're wearing it either. As a result, they are likely not the best choice for long periods of wear in an office or on an airplane.
The touch controls respond quickly as long as you touch the surface of the logo and not just the edges. Each earbud is factory-equipped with preset functions. With the left bud you can switch between the ANC modes or activate the talk-thru mode (more on this later). The right earbud controls play / pause and skip forward / backward. Both earbuds can access your phone's built-in assistant and both can be used to answer / end calls and mute / unmute the microphones. So far, so good. There is no volume control by default, but that's not uncommon – many true wireless earbuds lack this feature.
The problem occurs when you use the free JBL headphones app to customize the controls. Instead of letting you choose which features go with which gestures, you have to choose from the presets. For example, the left earbud can control noise cancellation or playback functions, but not a mix of these functions. If volume control is important to you, you can set either earbud to control it. But then you just have to choose another function to control with the other earbud. What will it be? And if you don't like the gesture assigned to a particular function (e.g. a single tap to toggle ANC mode), you can't change it.
You can configure the Reflect Mini NC to access the Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa instead of your phone's built-in assistant. However, if you use this very cool feature it will take a whole earbud. This leaves you with Alexa and volume (for example). Or Alexa and ANC. You get the picture. I asked JBL why the controls seem to be set up like a bunch of channels on cable TV, but I have never received a satisfactory answer.
Like more and more earbuds these days, the Reflect Mini NC has an auto play / pause function that pauses your music when you remove an earbud. It reacts very quickly and can be deactivated in the app if desired.
You can use the earbuds individually (both can answer / end calls) and their wireless range is excellent. Pairing is very quick and easy for both iPhone and Android phones.
There's a bass-forward sound signature that you can feel all over your body.
In the JBL app, you can choose from three different Smart Audio modes that supposedly change the parameters of the wireless connection: Normal for the most stable connection, audio for the best sound quality, and video for the lowest latency (also great for gaming). I didn't notice much of a difference between these modes, but I love that they are included if you need them.
JBL also includes a Find My Earbuds feature that makes each earbud emit a high-pitched beep. It's loud enough that you will hear it even if a bud gets wedged between sofa cushions.
Sound quality
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends
When it comes to a set of workout earphones, the big, powerful bass is arguably one of the most important elements. After all, it's the beat that keeps most of us going, whether we're serious about taking a walk or trying to hit a new personal best at the gym. Thanks in part to its super-tight seal, the Reflect Mini NC fulfills this requirement with a bass-forward sound signature that you can feel through your whole body.
Turn up Post Malone's wow. or Ariana Grande's 7 rings and wait for those extremely deep basses to hit – it's powerful stuff. That same low-end rumble is perfect for action films too.
You can customize the EQ to your heart's content in the JBL app, with a few presets, but also your own collection of custom settings. These are well worth exploring – you can drastically change the signature of the Reflect Mini NC.
They aren't the most nuanced earbuds I've ever heard. The mids can be a bit overwhelmed by the heavy lows and highs, and their soundstage isn't as wide or open as on models like this Jabra Elite Active 75t. As a training companion, however, they couldn't be more precise in terms of sound.
Noise cancellation and transparency
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends
After a lukewarm experience with JBL's ANC technology on the Club One wireless headphones, I was also prepared for an overwhelming performance from the Reflect Mini NC. Surprisingly, the opposite was true. Once again, their tight ear canal seal is key: these earbuds do such a good job of passive noise isolation that the ANC circuit doesn't have much to put out, and they do a very effective job.
It's so good, in fact, that even without music, family members could sneak up on me completely undetected while I had the earphones with me.
You can select the specific frequencies you want to cancel using a slider in the JBL app. It's not quite as convenient as the Sony, Jabra, or Soundcore presets, but it's very handy nonetheless. Customize ANC performance for your specific environment.
The Reflect Mini NC have excellent call quality.
Transparency mode is good too, but it has two minor drawbacks: unlike ANC, you can't adjust how much sound transparency mode is allowed, and there's no way to toggle between ANC and transparency mode without an ANC off Mode to cycle through. Two more adjustments that JBL should add.
Talk-thru mode, a handy way to temporarily turn on transparency while lowering the volume of your music, works very well too.
Battery life
JBL claims six hours of use between charges for the Reflect Mini NC when the ANC is on and seven hours when it is off. It's similar to the Jabra Elite 75t and Elite Active 75t, but not quite as impressive as the Powerbeats Pro's nine hours. The charging case contains two full charges that take an additional 12 or 14 hours. As far as I can tell, these numbers are pretty accurate.
A 10-minute quick charge gives you an extra hour of playback time, although that's on the low end for true wireless earbuds.
Call quality
JBL managed to surprise me once again – the Reflect Mini NC have excellent call quality. To put it in perspective, if you are using them outside or around traffic, you just can't tell I wasn't inside. There was an occasional jiggle when noise cancellation tackled car and wind noise, but overall these earbuds are impressively clear.
During a call you can still switch the ANC to ambient mode, which is perfect for hearing your own voice without the attenuation effects of the earbuds.
Our opinion
The JBL Reflect Mini NC with massive basses are also inexpensive and feature-rich, which makes them an ideal set of training companions. If JBL could fix the cumbersome and restrictive control schemes, they would be nearly perfect.
Is there a better alternative?
I think JBL found the sweet spot for workout earbuds with the price, sound, and features of the Reflect Mini NC, but here are three alternatives worth considering:
Sony's $ 200 WF-SP800N is one of our most popular workout earbuds. It offers better sound quality and a better ANC, as well as an enormous battery life of nine hours.
The $ 200 Jabra Elite Active 75t offers better sound quality (though not as much bass) and controls, plus longer battery life, while providing great water and dust resistance. I think they're more comfortable too, but without ear hooks or wing tips, they're not as safe.
The $ 150 JLab Epic Air Sport is one of our favorite Powerbeats Pro competitors. They don't have an ANC and their ear hook design makes them less versatile, but they have great sound and tremendous battery life.
How long will they last?
With a one-year guarantee from JBL, the Reflect Mini NC are very robustly built and I expect a long service life. The silicone earbuds and wing tips will likely need to be replaced after a year of continuous use, but this is normal for these parts.
Should you buy it?
Absolutely. As long as you're okay with a very custom-fit in-ear design and you don't mind spending some time figuring out which controls to use, this is it JBL Reflect Mini NC are great workout earbuds.
Editor's recommendations
17
Jan
Apple Mac Mini M1 Review: Mini Footprint, Max Performance
"The Mac Mini M1 resets expectations of how fast a small, affordable desktop can be."
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Bubble CPU performance
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Incredibly fast SSDs
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Excellent value
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Compact, robust design
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MacOS Big Sur is great
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Below average gaming performance
The Mac Mini has often been viewed as the ugly duckling in Apple's Mac family. Without the sleek sophistication of the iMac or the portable beauty of the MacBook, it is often overlooked, categorized as a "niche", and viewed as a developer and data center only.
But now that it comes with Apple's M1 chip, the last thing you want to do is ignore it. Although it looks like the previous generation Mac Mini from the outside, from the inside it is nothing short of a revolution.
The Mac Mini is far from a serious competitor for your money – assuming you want a desktop computer and you already have all of the peripherals you need. It's still a niche, but it hits hard against the walls of this descriptor and is ready to break out.
design
The Mac Mini is by far the most compact desktop Mac from Apple. With a width of 7.7 inches and a height of 1.4 inches from top to bottom, this device can easily fit on your desk or slide under a monitor. The footprint is the same as the previous Intel Mini-based Mac Mini.
It's also one of Apple's most minimalist devices. Almost the entire surface of the device is covered in matte aluminum with just a large Apple logo on it to break up the evenness. There is no other branding or labeling, just a tiny white light on the front that comes on when the device is turned on. It's a Jony Ive fever dream, perhaps the ultimate expression of Apple's obsessive design mores.
As we are used to from Apple hardware, the build quality is excellent. The whole device is heavy and solid with no bends or bends to be found. It feels like a device that could take a few hits and still smile – not that you want that to happen.
However, there are some differences between the M1 and Intel models. Most obvious is the paintwork: the M1 model is available in silver and the Intel version in darker gray. The Intel Mac Mini is also a bit heavier, weighing 2.9 pounds compared to the M1 Mac Mini's 2.6 pounds.
A more significant difference is on the back. Apple long ago removed USB-A ports on its MacBooks, but its desktop Macs – including the Mac Mini – have caught on. While the Intel Mac Mini has four USB-A ports, the M1 version only has two (both with 5 Gbit / s). This is more of a limitation on the M1 than a plan by Apple to phase out the Mac Mini's USB-A ports, and I wouldn't be surprised if four ports were available again when more powerful Apple silicon chips come out. However, it's worth noting if you still rely on USB-A for your daily chores. An adapter or dongle may be required.
The M1 Mac Mini has an Ethernet jack, two Thunderbolt 3 / USB 4 ports with 40 Gbit / s, an HDMI 2.0 slot and a 3.5 mm headphone jack as well as a power switch and a slot for the power cord. This is all identical to the Intel Mac Mini.
What you don't get is a keyboard, mouse, trackpad, or other peripheral device. You'll need to provide all of these devices yourself, and a monitor to connect the Mac Mini to. If you already have these, the $ 699 starting price is all the more attractive. If you don't then you need to take them into account when purchasing.
performance
This is the first time the Mac Mini has come with an Apple-owned M1 processor. The basic version of the previous model was equipped with an Intel Core i3-8100H with four cores and 3.0 GHz and ran pretty well. Even on paper, the Apple M1 seems like a significant step up: Not only does it have twice the number of CPU cores than the old entry-level Intel Mini-based Mac Mini, but it also includes an eight-core and one GPU 16-core neural engine on the same system on a chip (SoC).
In addition, Apple uses a so-called "Unified Memory Architecture" (UMA), with which the CPU and GPU can draw from a single memory pool, which reduces the overhead for both. All of this jargon means that in theory everything should run a lot faster – something third-party developers have already told us.
We've already seen how well Apple's M1 chip performs in the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. So we already have an idea of what to expect: this is an incredibly powerful processor. The question, however, is whether the extra space in the Mac Mini compared to these portable laptops can keep the chip cooler and provide it with additional headroom. Does the Mac Mini outperform these devices too?
The answer is yes, and in some cases unequivocally. In GeekBench 5, the Mac Mini scored a single-core score of 1744 and a multi-core score of 7659 ahead of the 1707 and 7337 on the M1 MacBook Pro. These numbers may not mean much to you. Let me put that way: The Mac Mini's single-core score is the highest we've seen in GeekBench 5. The multi-core score is the eighth highest we have measured. This thing flies.
It's the same elsewhere. The SSDs are lightning fast with an average of 2,144.1 Mbit / s write speed and 2,775.1 Mbit / s read speed. In Cinebench R23, the Mac Mini was only beaten by the Falcon NW Talon, which packaged a Ryzen 9 5950X, a machine that will cost you at least $ 4,000. The Mac Mini we tested costs $ 699. This is just a yardstick of course, and this Falcon NW machine is far more capable of doing heavy duty tasks like gaming or video editing. Still, it is amazing value for money.
The starting price of $ 699 for the Mac Mini is an almost absurd feat.
Synthetic benchmarks can only tell you so much, however. How does the Mac Mini work in real life situations? In HandBrake 1.4 (an app optimized for the M1), the Mac Mini encoded a two-minute 4K video in two minutes and 36 seconds – the same length as the M1 MacBook Pro. In Adobe Premiere Pro, the Mini outperformed both the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro in the PugetBench benchmark. The Intel version of the Adobe app is used, which was translated with the Apple wizard for working on the M1.
If the Apple Silicon version of Adobe's video app comes out sometime this year, the performance will get even better. If this is your type of workload, the Mac Mini is going to make a world of difference, especially if you're currently using older Intel-based hardware.
The difference in performance between the MacBook Pro and the Mac Mini isn't that big. It's only 8% faster in Premiere. This should be considered when trying to decide between the two.
The Mac Mini is a workhorse and is great for CPU-intensive workloads. He's ahead of machines that cost twice (or more) as much. Oh, and it did it all without the fans turning. Not even. I had to put my head against the machine to hear something, and even then it was almost silent. Apple wasn't kidding when it said the M1 performed better in a more efficient way than anything Intel had to offer.
In fact, the $ 699 starting price of the Mac Mini feels almost absurd given the performance of the M1 chip. Sure, you don't get a screen, mouse, or keyboard and if you have to buy these the price goes up. However, if you already have a lot of peripherals on your desk, the Mac Mini is the cheapest way to get M1 performance.
Gaming performance
Despite all of this, the Mac Mini is not a slot machine. The M1 may have an integrated 8-core GPU, but it is still smoked by a computer with a discrete graphics card. That's not to say the gaming performance was terrible – it was respectable for a machine this size and price tag – but if you're looking for high frame rates, especially at higher resolutions, you have to look further.
The performance varied depending on the game. In games like Civilization VI that didn't put too much stress on the GPU, performance was acceptable with the right settings. At 1080p and medium quality, the Mac Mini averaged 48 frames per second (fps). At 1440p ultra, however, this value sank to 26 fps.
Gaming is an obvious weakness.
The tactical stealth game Desperados III ran smoothly on high settings, but the more demanding Deus Ex: Mankind Divided only managed 27 fps on 1080p medium. at 1440p ultra it barely cracked 12 fps.
So gaming is an obvious weakness, but I don't think there are many hardcore gamers out there who will buy a Mac Mini as their main device. If all you want to do is make a few easy games you should be fine, but don't expect too much more in this area.
App support
When Apple announced the M1 chip, it was clear that it had learned from the mistakes of its competitors as well as from its own past actions. When Microsoft introduced its own specially designed ARM chip in the Surface Pro X, it was in an app compatibility nightmare that it is still trying to break away from. Apple probably looked at it once and knew it had to be better.
The good news is that Apple has largely achieved this. If you buy a Mac Mini today, your favorite Mac apps will likely work fine, whether or not they are optimized for the M1. Many developers have already released M1-specific versions of their apps (e.g. Microsoft Office), but those who don't benefit from something Apple developed is called Rosetta 2.
This goes back to the last time Apple switched processor platforms and is translating Intel apps to work on the ARM-based M1. It's preinstalled on the Mac Mini and you won't even see it boot up – your Intel apps will just load with no issues. It's an exceptionally smooth process.
With apps optimized for the M1, the performance is likely to be much better than anything translated with Rosetta 2. For example, when I ran our HandBrake benchmark on version 1.0.7 of the app (which was developed for Intel systems), it encoded our 4K test video in 4 minutes and 44 seconds.
With an M1-optimized version of the app, this was possible in almost half the time. If you stick to Apple's own apps for most of your work, the performance is probably even better. Not everyone likes Apple's similar impact on their ecosystem, but hardware and software performance is one area where it really works.
There may be some apps that just don't work for some reason. When I first got the Mac Mini, Google Backup and Sync, which allows me to move work documents between my different devices, refused to load. It didn't end up being too bothersome – I switched to Dropbox, and a few weeks later, Google updated its app to fix the problem – but it's worth keeping in mind that you might have some app compatibility issues.
For the most part, however, I didn't have any problems with it. Google Backup and Sync was the only app I tried that didn't work right away.
Our opinion
The M1 Mac Mini is one of the most affordable desktop PCs money can buy right now. The performance is mind-boggling for a computer this small and affordable, and while it's not a gaming rig, it's nearly perfect for everything else.
Are there alternatives?
Some other companies offer miniature desktop PCs. There is the Intel NUC 10 with processor options from Intel i3 to i7. If you're looking for games, other companies like HP and Asus also have small PCs that might suit your needs.
Note, however, that all alternatives will run Windows. If you've got your heart on a tiny desktop computer running macOS, the Mac Mini is your only option.
How long it will take?
We're at the beginning of the Apple Silicon roadmap, so support for this Mac Mini will last for many years to come. Given the good performance compared to other items in the mount (and compared to devices way above the mount), it will be a long time before you notice that it is slowing down.
Apple doesn't update the Mac Mini as often as its MacBooks, but only one Apple Silicon Mac Mini model is currently available. So, Apple may bring out another option this year. That doesn't mean you will be disappointed if you buy this M1 Mac Mini, just that an even better model may be in the works.
Should you buy it?
Yes absolutely. The price-performance ratio is breathtaking. If you are looking for a desktop rather than a laptop in the market, the Mac Mini should be at the top of your list.
Editor's recommendations
18
Nov
Apple HomePod Mini Review: The Smart Speaker Apple Needs
"The HomePod mini is exactly what Apple needs to be a relevant player in the world of smart speakers."
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Computerized audio optimizes the experience
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Clean sounding highs and mids
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The compact size makes it discreet
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It's the cheapest HomeKit hub
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Siri lacks the advanced intelligence of her colleagues
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Short power cord
Apple rarely has flaws in its products, especially in the dominant era that began with the release of the iPhone. The Cupertino, California-based company has been kicking it out of the stadium time and again, setting the bar for every product category it enters. Products like the iPod, iPhone, iPad, and AirPods have shown phenomenal appeal with consumers, but that doesn't mean Apple is infallible.
The HomePod is an example of one of those missed opportunities, and its failure has hampered Apple's ambitious smart home efforts. Pricing was partly the problem – a premium price of $ 349 out of the gates made it a tough sell for the masses. Now, however, there appears to be a redemption with the HomePod mini. While it looks like Apple has gotten smaller with this iteration, don't let its size fool you, as this decision has bigger implications that make it a great player in the smart home.
Smaller is better
Gone is the cylindrical, bulky design of the original HomePod, which has been replaced with a more subtle appearance thanks to its spherical shape. It's adorned with the same fabric as its predecessor – something I wasn't too excited about because my cats viewed it as a scratching post. However, thanks to its smaller size, it fits better in tighter, smaller spaces and out of the reach of cats. Eventually I decided to place it in my entertainment center in the living room where it won't overwhelm the rest of the material there.
John Velasco / Digital Trends
The HomePod mini has a backlit touch-sensitive lid. The animation of Siri listening and reacting gives it a sleek look, but it still can't lift my eyes from the echo LED ring of light. On the back is the power cord that ends with a USB-C connection. Surprisingly, the cable itself doesn't seem detachable. Since the original HomePod's cable could be removed with a bit of tug, I figured this would be the case here, too – but it doesn't seem to be. In addition, the length of the cord is quite short, which means it has to be placed near an electrical outlet.
Don't buy just one, buy two because this year's HomePod mini won't empty your wallet.
Apple's decision to go small is an interesting one. You'd think its size rivals the Nest Mini and Echo Dot, but it's actually meant to hold its own in the mid-range.
Computer audio at its finest
If you're all into raw audio, the original HomePod is the natural choice for you. You should stop now if this is your only priority. This is because the HomePod mini is nowhere near the performance of the original. HomePod mini really comes to life because compelling computer audio is able to analyze and optimize whatever is playing.
John Velasco / Digital Trends
From a technical specs perspective, the full-range driver of the HomePod mini and the two passive radiators don't let audiophiles drool too much. In fact, it's the combination of Apple's S5 chip and computer audio that provides an enticing and compelling audio experience. The HomePod mini doesn't disappoint with its size and produces plenty of mids and highs that are not drowned out by the bass. In fact, the focus on the mids and highs becomes even clearer as the volume is increased – it never loses contact with them and the bass never sounds tight.
If I have one criticism of audio quality, it is that the HomePod mini controls audio tuning. There is no way to customize or customize my special preferences. It's not a deal breaker, but I would still appreciate some degree of control over things like highs and lows.
John Velasco / Digital Trends
Back to my point about computer audio. This is most noticeable when I've paired the HomePod mini with my Apple TV 4K to watch videos. Unlike my soundbar, which seems to prefer the sound effects and scores over the dialogue, the computerized audio attenuates the scores and sound effects appropriately with each dialogue so that I can actually understand what people are saying. This kind of smart setting is also useful when playing commercials as my soundbar has a tendency to turn up the volume while playing. With the HomePod mini, however, the volume remains constant. When it comes to computer audio, I'm all-in.
Catching up with the competition
First and foremost, the HomePod mini is the cheapest home hub for Apple HomeKit devices at home. You need it so that your HomeKit devices can communicate with your needs when you are not on your home network. Previously, the only other alternatives were the more expensive Apple TV HD ($ 149), Apple TV 4K ($ 179), and HomePod ($ 299). You can also use an iPad, but I don't usually recommend doing this because you want your home hub to remain stationary at home. Therefore, the iPad is the least qualified candidate in my opinion.
Siri still has a lot of catching up to do, which is reflected in the fact that she is missing the performance of her colleagues. Google Assistant always surprises me for its intelligence, while Amazon Alexa can be exchanged for a celebrity voice like Samuel L. Jackson. Siri isn't as smart or as funny as the other two virtual assistants, but I really hope she catches up. For example, it annoys me that Siri doesn't want to reveal my appointments for that day when I ask about it. Instead, it tells me to check my phone, which is inconvenient. It's probably a setting somewhere that prevents her from announcing it, but it's annoying nonetheless.
John Velasco / Digital Trends
Even so, there are other features that I found useful. Use the intercom function, with which I can play an audio message on all connected HomePod speakers in my apartment. It's great when you don't want to shout from the kitchen to someone else in another room that dinner is ready. There's also Proximity Control, which lets me relay something I'm hearing on my iPhone to my HomePod mini – all by placing my iPhone over the HomePod mini’s touch-sensitive surface. The seamless functionality that allows different devices to communicate with each other in this way is what Apple is known for, and the proximity control is proof of that.
It's also about app support. Right now, music listeners only have a handful of options to choose from when it comes to streaming from an iPhone to a HomePod mini. Apple Music and Pandora work like a charm comfortably, but many other third-party apps like YouTube Music are missing.
The HomePod mini is the speaker Apple should bring out first.
Over the past year we've seen more and more HomeKit-compatible smart home devices, from smart locks to cameras. The lack of compatible devices undoubtedly reduced the consumer appeal of making Siri the virtual assistant of choice at home, but things have gotten better. While Apple still lags behind Google and Amazon in terms of overall devices supported, using HomeKit devices offers a higher level of security and privacy.
John Velasco / Digital Trends
This is the untold story you won't hear too much about in the smart home wars. Apple doesn't require its users to install a new app or sign up for an account in order to use these smart home devices. All you have to do is set it up from the Home app and you're done.
Our opinion
The HomePod mini is the speaker Apple should bring out first. If so, the company would be in a far better position in the smart home market. Regardless, the $ 100 cost makes it an attractive proposition that is better positioned to bring Siri home. Sure, it's not as smart or powerful as some of the other smart speakers, but it doesn't have to be, as it's a logical choice for many more Apple due to its computerized audio, subtle design, and HomeKit home hub functionality. User is this time.
How long it will take?
Like all Apple devices, the HomePod mini is solidly built. The mesh should hold up if left undisturbed, but the cloth-like material is prone to staining if something is easily spilled on it.
Apple offers a one-year limited warranty that covers defects. However, you can also purchase them AppleCare + for the HomePod mini, which effectively extends coverage for two years and covers two instances of accidental damage.
Is there a better alternative?
You bet. For the same cost, Google Nest Audio is very present in the audio department. Audiophiles will appreciate its punchy and more powerful audio performance, while the Amazon Echo (4th generation) strikes a balance between design, performance and compatibility with other smart home devices.
Should you buy it?
Don't buy just one, buy two because this year's HomePod mini won't empty your wallet. Plus, if you are a home theater fan, you will be amazed at the computer audio you can get.
Editor's recommendations
18
Nov
Apple iPhone 12 Mini Review: Tiny Yet Mighty Phone
"The iPhone 12 Mini is exactly what small phone fans have been waiting for: a full-featured iPhone in a tiny size."
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Incredibly compact size
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Great camera quality
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First class performance
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Any iPhone 12 function
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Weak battery life
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The screen can actually feel tight
The iPhone has not been "small" since the iPhone 8. Although Apple has kept its main models compact compared to major Android competition, your only choice for a really small phone from Apple was to buy or keep an iPhone SE with an older model. Either way, you had to choose between the latest features and capabilities and a phone the size you prefer.
That is no longer the case. Now we have it iPhone 12 Mini.
I'm so excited that Apple chose the $ 700 iPhone 12 Mini because there's no reason why people who want a small phone should be treated like second-class citizens. You should be able to get a fully functional modern iPhone in a size that won't challenge your hand. And with a few caveats expected, we have just that.
The basics: hardware, specifications and functions
Apple's consistency between iPhone models isn't exactly exciting, but when you think about it, it's exactly what you want to see. Considering the iPhone 12 Mini is smaller and cheaper than the base iPhone 12, there has been ample opportunity for Apple to sacrifice – just look at the iPhone SE. But that was not the case. Aside from the fact that the battery and screen shrink, which are obvious changes, the iPhone 12 Mini is identical to the iPhone 12.
It starts with the design, which translates very well when scaled down to that size. The lack of curves and the focus on sharp edges suits a small phone that tries to be as efficient as possible with space, and Apple's hardware finish is exquisite again. The lineup's bright color options also go well with the playful size – though I loved the completely incognito look of my black phone that was spiced up with a red leather case.
Apple had ample opportunity to sacrifice in the 12 Mini, and it didn't.
It's not typical for a phone of this size (and price) to match the rest of the top-end specs of the iPhone 12 Mini. The A14 Bionic chip in the controller is equally powerful when compared to the other iPhone 12 models, so the performance of the 12 Mini is excellent. You get good speakers, the latest in Ceramic Shield screen glass, IP68 water resistance, top-notch feel, face recognition, and more on the list. Apple will also remind you that this is the smallest phone that doesn't yet have a full 5G implementation with Sub-6 and mmWave, as well as global network band support.
I went through all of the specifics of this platform's features in my full iPhone 12 review. I recommend reading them for a complete picture of what the iPhone 12 series offerings are. After that, you can see here what makes the iPhone 12 Mini special.
A lovely little phone
Unlike modern mini cars, the iPhone 12 Mini is actually small. And it's not just "small" because it's smaller than the iPhone 12, which has now grown to a 6.1-inch screen – it's really small. It's shorter, narrower, and lighter than the iPhone 8 (and the latest iPhone SE) and one of the smallest fully featured modern smartphones.
Andrew Martonik / Digital Trends
You can't help but feel a sense of nostalgia when you get to the iPhone 12 Mini from another phone. Think back to a time when you could have a phone that was compact and yet was considered state of the art. But after a day with the 12 Mini, I didn't think of its size as something new – I just used it and enjoyed hell.
The iPhone 12 Mini doesn't expect anything from you. It's so light and your hand folds lightly around the sides for a secure grip. It actually makes sense to use your thumb to reach across the screen or up. And gosh, it doesn't just fit in a pocket, it doesn't even stretch the fabric. On several occasions, I kept the iPhone 12 Mini in my coat pocket and forgot it was there. Half an hour later, I caused a moment of panic when I feared I had left it somewhere.
The iPhone 12 Mini doesn't expect anything from you. Still, it's an incredibly powerful phone.
It's very liberating to have a small phone that doesn't feel like a burden to carry and use, but is more than capable of doing everything you need in the day.
With a 5.4-inch display, the 12 Mini has just enough screen space not to feel cramped. And iOS 14 is identical to a bigger screen on this smaller screen – you get the same icon grid and buttons, but things are just a little bit smaller. Every app works perfectly, and I never felt the need to go into settings and increase the font size or the screen zoom. Basically, when you view your inbox, you're just missing an extra email or reading an article in the browser, missing a few extra lines. Everything is just as lightning fast as it was on the iPhone 12 as I was able to run apps and multitask with no issues. To my surprise, I didn't have any thumb collisions with two-handed typing, but because it's so tight I really enjoyed typing with my finger.
Size comparison: iPhone 12 vs. iPhone 12 Mini vs. iPhone 12 Pro max
Andrew Martonik / Digital Trends
I admit that the 12 Mini doesn't provide an immersive video viewing experience, nor does the screen give you an expansive viewfinder for taking photos. But it's perfectly functional on both accounts. If you plan on using your phone for a lot of media operations, you probably won't even consider the 12 Mini in the first place.
I know the screen is the same as the iPhone 12, but I swear it won't get quite as bright as the larger phone's screen. There have been a few situations with the 12 Mini out in the sun where I've pulled the Control Center down to increase the screen brightness only to see that it was already set at 100%. Other than these cases, the screen is fantastic: great colors, good viewing angles, low reflectivity, and crisp text.
Battery life
When the rubber hits the road, the only place the iPhone 12 Mini falls short is in the fuel area. On a weekend trip to beautiful Mystic, Connecticut, I spent a lot of time outdoors with 100% screen brightness, taking tons of photos, and leaning on Google Maps while keeping up with my usual messaging and social media apps. And the results … weren't great.
Battery life is the only annoying part about using such a small phone.
On Saturday I took the phone off the charger at 8 a.m. and was discharged to 10% battery by 9 p.m. as we enjoyed a nightcap under a patio heat lamp. That's four hours of screen on, which is respectable, but when the battery is very low it's not to be trusted. Sunday brought more of this with it when the phone went off the charger at 8 a.m. After more than three hours of on-time, the battery was charged with a worrying 40% battery by 1:00 p.m. when I plugged in to use CarPlay to drive home.
Andrew Martonik / Digital Trends
Apple's cited estimates for video playback paint a rosier picture than reality. It is clear that if I use the iPhone 12 Mini the same way as the 12 or 12 Pro, I am going to exceed the limits of the battery life by the end of the day. On lighter days, with time inside and via WiFi, I got through the day by 20% to 30% – but that's still not a good sign for late evenings or days when I need a hot spot or have to spend a lot Navigate time in Google Maps.
If you get stuck to your phone all the time, this is not the phone for you. However, I don't think this will be a problem for so many people as the philosophy of many who want a small phone is also consistent with the expectation that there is no need to have a phone in hand all the time. Know what you are getting into and be ready to charge it up a little in some situations and you will be fine.
If you want to live connected to your phone, this is not the phone for you.
The advantage of a tiny battery is that it charges very quickly. With a 20 W charger, it accelerates from 0% to 50% in 30 minutes. And because the capacity is so small, it even charges a little quickly from a computer, a charger with a smaller wall thickness, or the MagSafe charger. Even my car's low-power USB port easily drained enough power to add a significant charge when running CarPlay.
Cameras
Perhaps the best thing about the iPhone 12 Mini is that Apple didn't skimp on its cameras in this small case. This was something you had to keep in mind when considering an iPhone SE as a small phone option. The 12-megapixel main camera and 12-megapixel ultrawide camera make a great pair – that's what the $ 999 iPhone 12 Pro does, and all the more so at the price.
Few people expect a camera to be this good on a $ 700 cell phone, but it delivers.
In daylight, you get bright and colorful photos with just enough pop and added warmth to make them feel a little more alive. The sharpness and level of detail are excellent, even with mixed lighting photos that require additional processing. In low light, photos are just as good as long as you can keep your hand steady. The camera relies on long exposures in night mode, but the results are excellent. And if you keep the lights on, the selfie camera is good too.
I'm so familiar with this camera setup that I often forget how impressively it relates to the competition. Anyone who picks up this phone will be amazed at the photos that come out of it. Same goes for video, where you can get crisp 4K 60fps footage with great colors and stabilization. You may choose not to shoot in Dolby Vision HDR due to limited playback compatibility. You can also skip it to save space. My friend Michael Fisher made maximum use of his 128GB Mini the first afternoon after installing apps, recording videos, and syncing iCloud Photos to the phone. You should spend at least an additional $ 50 on the 128GB model as the 64GB base feels very tight.
You won't be missing out on the camera features of the $ 300 iPhone 12 Pro anymore.
On rare occasions, I'd miss the 12 Pro's 2X zoom camera, but otherwise this is a camera setup that is perfectly on par with this phone. Anyone who buys the 12 Mini won't be missing out on the subtle improvements to this third camera and the promise to take RAW photos with a future software update.
Our opinion
The $ 700 iPhone 12 Mini plays in a category of its own: a really small phone with an otherwise first-class experience. It's small enough to be manageable in everyone's hands and pockets, but it has full iPhone 12 features, from the great hardware, to the processing speed, to the camera quality and software experience.
If the annoying decision of choosing between a phone with high-end features or a handgrip phone put you off, this is it iPhone 12 Mini should be your next purchase. But not everyone has such a strong sense of size, and if so, they should look out for the slower battery life and a screen size that after years of getting used to 6-inch displays may feel restrictive.
I absolutely like the size of the iPhone 12 Mini, but I don't think I can make it my main phone. I need more confidence in battery life and that means moving back to the iPhone 12. And as much as I love the size of the 12 Mini, I can handle the Standard 12 without feeling weighed down by its size – that makes it an easy choice to get the medium sized phone.
Are there any better alternatives?
In this size and price range, you really have no other choice. You can get one for literally half the price Google Pixel 4a It's the same size but not a competitor outside of the camera.
Then there are phones that are larger but still handy and comparable in price and options. You can buy these for a $ 100 premium iPhone 12This is a logical choice if you can handle more screen and want longer battery life. The Google Pixel 5 is still relatively compact and costs the same as the 12 Mini – it also has a great camera and streamlined software experience that iPhone owners will be familiar with.
How long it will take?
Because the 12 Mini was built on the same platform as the iPhone 12, it should have a long lifespan. There will be several iOS updates in the future, and the A14 Bionic chip is very powerful to run them. It also has strong water resistance should it take a splash or a dunk. The iPhone 12 Mini will easily last two years, or up to four years if you are tight on your budget.
Should you buy it?
Yes, if you feel disenfranchised by the ever-growing size of smartphones and are longing for a compact model that doesn’t save on functions.
Editor's recommendations
05
Nov
DJI Mini 2 Review: Same Compact Size, More Confidence Flying
"Don't be fooled by its small size, the DJI Mini 2 is safe to fly and offers 4K video recording."
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Proper 4K video recording
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Manages windy conditions
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Stable connection with OcuSync 2.0
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Ridiculously compact size
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An obstacle avoidance sensor is missing
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Terrible performance in low light
I thought DJI was through with the announcements for the year. After the launch of the DJI Mavic Air 2 and Pocket 2, it seemed unlikely that we would hear anything else from the drone maker in 2020, but it turns out that there is one final exciting product for consumers before the holidays. And yes, it's another drone!
Drones are usually not updated annually, so the announcement of the DJI Mini 2 is surprising. The lightweight drone continues to fly under the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) radar due to its weight of 249 grams, making it ideal for beginners as no registration is required. More importantly, however, it fixes some of the shortcomings of the predecessor right away.
More freedom of movement with 4K video
At a time when 4K video recording is standard on smartphones and cameras, it was a disappointment that the Mavic Mini peaked last year at 2.7K resolution. Well, this is the first item on the Mini 2's list that has proper 4K video recording. While the frame rate at 4K is 30 frames per second (FPS), DJI has increased the bit rate from 40 Mbit / s on the Mavic Mini to 100 Mbit / s on the Mini 2.
John Velasco / Digital Trends
What is that supposed to mean? I'm particularly happy with the extra resolution as it gives me extra wiggle room in the post – for example, cropping and cropping a scene when I export it in 1080p. For those watching videos and clips on 4K screens, the 4K resolution means there is no need to upscale this time around.
Details are plentiful and clear as expected, but best results are achieved during the day and afternoon when there is ample light. Colors have an even, neutral tone – never too saturated to work in the post. However, performance crumbles as the sun goes down and often appears cloudy, dark, and unusable unless the scene contains strong light sources. This is partly because nothing changes on the sensor, a 12-megapixel 1 / 2.3-inch sensor that sits on a 3-axis gimbal.
Dynamic range performance isn't up to the level I've got with the Mavic Air 2, but some tweaks in the post can highlight details that are otherwise lost in the shadows. Photographers will appreciate the Mini 2's performance for still image capture, but just like video, it has problems with low light and low dynamics.
OcuSync 2.0 offers security
If you've ever piloted the Mavic Mini, you know how prone to interference video transmission can be. It's annoying for sure, but also scary if it takes longer. Fortunately, the DJI Mini 2 alleviates concerns thanks to DJI's OcuSync 2.0 transmission technology. The controller is an exact facsimile of the Mavic Air 2. It's bigger, but I like the way my smartphone is held on top of the controller – as opposed to the floor on the Mavic Mini's controller.
The connectivity between the drone and the controller offers more reliability.
With OcuSync 2.0, the connectivity between drone and controller becomes more reliable. In fact, live video rarely stuttered during my flights. And even though I managed to increase the distance from my location to over 1,000 feet, DJI says it is capable of a range of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles). There's nothing worse than latency issues when piloting a drone. This ensures that OcuSync 2.0 gives me more responsive controls on the Mini 2.
John Velasco / Digital Trends
One of my biggest concerns about flying the Mavic Mini is reducing its range further as it may interfere with video transmission. There is none of this in the Mini 2.
Fly against the wind
Flying in windy conditions is always risky, but it's deeper when you're dealing with a lightweight drone like the Mavic Mini. I can't tell you how many times I stopped flying due to windy conditions. There are also several videos online of owners reacting to this and floating away from their location due to high winds. Although I'm still cautious, the DJI Mini 2 can handle the wind a lot better.
On the first day of the Mini 2's flight, winds were blowing at 17 miles per hour on the Jersey Shore. Fortunately, DJI upgraded the engines in the Mini 2 to better withstand wind speeds of up to 40 km / h. I have always canceled flights with the Mavic Mini in the past when the wind hit 12 mph. In the air, it's clear that the Mini 2 worked hard to maintain stability, and while it looked like it was rattling around, the video footage stayed buttery smooth.
John Velasco / Digital Trends
To really test its performance, I decided to see how it handles flying against the wind. Terrifyingly, it went like a champion – even in normal mode. Switching to sport mode increases performance, making it easy to break through the wind. Its top speed still reaches a top speed of 22 km / h, but accelerating from a floating position shows that the engines are more powerful.
Are you concerned that these upgraded engines will give you a shorter flight time? You don't need to worry as the battery life has been increased to 31 minutes, which is a minute better than its predecessor. Unfortunately the Mini 2 uses a different type of battery so you cannot use existing packs of the Mavic Mini.
Some things that could be better
I must confess that the Mavic Air 2 spoiled me, especially the improved HDR recording, 4K 60 FPS recording, 8K Hyperlapse and Asteroid Quickshot mode. To be fair, the Mini 2 offers some nice footage that controls the drone autonomously for me – like drone, boomerang, and circle quickshot modes. The only area that is still severely lacking in the Mini 2 is avoiding obstacles. The Mavic Air 2 has various sensors on its body to detect obstacles so it can stop in mid-flight and try to avoid them. You don't get any of this with the Mini 2, which means I need to know my surroundings at all times – plus the line of sight distance required.
It's the ideal starter drone.
There is also no automatic tracking mode that would allow the Mini 2 to follow me. As a result, manual piloting with the controller is still the main method for capturing footage. It's not a terrible thing, but if you were pampered by the Mavic Air 2's Active Track 3.0 system, I wouldn't mind following me while cycling around a lake without the fear of it colliding with something.
There have also been a couple of times the DJI Fly app crashed on me while flying the drone. I suspect this is because it isn't the final software, but luckily I restarted it and got back to where I left off.
John Velasco / Digital Trends
Our opinion
There are many reasons to choose the DJI Mini 2, especially if you are a first-time drone pilot or an enthusiast. At $ 449, this is an easy recommendation over the $ 400 Mavic Mini. I would recommend buying the $ 599 Fly More Combo instead as it has some extras that make it a sound package.
Not only does it come with three batteries, a charging station, and extra propellers, but I prefer it over the Fly More Combo that included last year's Mavic Mini as it comes with a suitable carry case (including a shoulder strap) and propeller protection wraps around the drone.
Is the Mini 2 perfect? Not exactly, but it's still an amazing tiny drone that doesn't require FAA registration due to its weight of 249 grams. The addition of 4K footage makes it a competent gamer in space, but what really makes this offering superior to its predecessor is the confidence in flying – thanks to OcuSync 2.0 and the improved motors. Flying with confidence is always a good thing and the Mini 2 reassures me of this with its responsiveness.
How long it will take?
The same all-plastic construction can still be seen here, which certainly makes it feel a bit fragile. I don't expect it to handle crashes that well, so flying carefully is essential. You should also pack it extra carefully as it will feel fragile.
You can buy a DJI Care Refresh with the Mini 2 from a cos. Due to water damage and collisions, up to two replacement devices will be made available within a year.
Is there a better alternative?
For this price? Not really. However, when you're ready to spend more, you can get the DJI Mavic Air 2 is the all-round drone for all levels thanks to its safety functions, excellent photo / video performance and advanced tracking system. But at $ 799, you pay almost double to pick it up.
Should you buy it?
Yes. It's an absolute steal considering how easy it is to pilot, plus the 4K video recording, the cinematic quick-shoot options, and the compact size. In contrast to before, I have more confidence when flying thanks to OcuSync 2.0 and its improved motors. It is the ideal starter drone for those who want to improve their game beyond flying for fun.
Editor's recommendations
31
May
2020 Mini Cooper SE Review: It’s Electric
2020 Mini Cooper SE review: it's electric
"The 2020 Mini Cooper SE offers electric car buyers an affordable alternative to the usual suspects."
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Looks like a petrol mini
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Lively acceleration
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Nimble handling
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Stylish interior
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Low price
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Lack of range
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No Android car
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Not the most practical
It doesn't happen often that you can choose between gasoline and electric for the same car, but that's the case with the 2020 Mini Cooper SE. This new model has the same retro design as a conventional Mini, but is now emission-free.
Most other automakers have abandoned electric versions of existing cars with internal combustion and opted for specially built models. Did Mini make the wrong call by launching the Cooper SE instead of a clean sheet design, and how is the electric Mini compared to its petrol siblings?
Let's start with the price. With basic Signature equipment starting at $ 30,750, the Cooper SE undercuts most other electric cars. Performance and performance are closest to the Mini Cooper S, which starts at $ 28,250. Cooper SE is, however, also entitled to the full $ 7,500 tax credit, reducing the effective price to $ 23,250. State and local incentives could lower the price even more depending on where you live.
Stephen Edelstein / Digital Trends
Mini also offers the Signature Plus ($ 34,750) and Iconic ($ 37,750) trim levels. Our test car was the latter to add a head-up display, a larger infotainment screen, mobile phone charging and a parking assistant to the equipment list.
Design and interior
Inside and outside, the 2020 Mini Cooper SE is largely unchanged from the standard Mini from 2014. The only visual changes are a slightly higher ride height (to accommodate the floor-mounted battery), a closed grille for better aerodynamics and (in our test car ) yellow trim and electrics-specific wheels.
The electric drive train is only available in the basic version "2 Door Hardtop" so that you cannot get a convertible, or in the more spacious versions "4 Door Hardtop" or "Clubman". According to the Mini, the passenger compartment and the loading capacity are identical to the petrol 2-door hardtop, which means that you won't get much of it either.
Small touches like toggle switches give the interior a bit of character.
The mini of the current generation looks like an SUV compared to the original from 1959 and is a full nine inches longer than the first modern mini that was launched in 2001. However, this is still a small car. The rear seats are not really suitable for people and the trunk is tiny. However, the space in the front seats is decent and the tall windows give the cockpit an airy, open feel. As with other mini models, small details such as toggle switches give the interior a little character.
Like the Petrol Mini, the electric version is a great commuter car for singles in the city. A Chevrolet Bolt EV or Nissan Leaf goes better with everyone else.
Technology, infotainment and driver assistance
The Cooper SE gets a fully digital dashboard that consists of a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen (iconic models get an 8.8-inch screen) and a digital instrument cluster that resembles the track gauges used in racing cars. Apple CarPlay and navigation are standard, but Mini doesn't offer Android Auto.
Stephen Edelstein / Digital Trends
The screen had beautiful graphics and was easy to use thanks to an operating button and key combinations for important functions. However, placing the screen in a round case was a bit strange as it was a literal example of inserting a square pin into a round hole. The head-up display uses a physical plastic screen instead of projecting images onto the windshield. However, this can be expected in this price range. Information was easy to read even in direct sunlight.
The screen had beautiful graphics and was easy to use thanks to an operating button and key combinations.
As with the i3 of the parent BMW, the Mini uses a clip-in device instead of a conventional wireless charging pad, but this is too small for some phones. The only alternative is to put your phone in a cup holder, where it is tossed around like a change in a dryer. These include a forward collision warning, windshield wipers with rain sensors and automatic headlights. Parking distance control and parking assistant are optional.
The Cooper SE's low base price may explain the lack of standard features, but we're still surprised to see so few optional features. The Chevrolet Bolt EV and Nissan Leaf offer more driver assistance technology, although you have to pay extra for it.
Experience driving
In the driving experience, we expected the Mini to stand out, and it didn't disappoint. The small footprint of the car and the immediate torque of the electric motor make a good combination.
This electric motor sends 181 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels. Mini quotes zero to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds with a top speed of 93 mph. The performance comes pretty close to a gasoline Mini Cooper S that delivers 189 horsepower and 207 lb-ft. The petrol version reaches zero to 60 miles per hour in 6.5 seconds and reaches 146 miles per hour according to the Mini. Keep in mind that the Cooper S is the middle child when it comes to performance. It sits between the Base Cooper and the sportier John Cooper Works petrol models.
Stephen Edelstein / Digital Trends
At 3,153 pounds, the Cooper SE weighs about 300 pounds more than a Cooper S petrol engine (thanks to its heavy battery). That makes a noticeable difference in handling, but the SE still feels pretty nimble, and the immediate response of its electric motor felt like a fair compromise. The ability to get away from traffic lights quickly and take advantage of traffic gaps is more relevant for daily driving than the slower reactions of the steering and chassis in curves, which result from the additional weight. This lively acceleration is just fun.
In the driving experience, we expected the Mini to stand out, and it didn't disappoint.
Compared to other electric cars, the Cooper SE is a bit more entertaining than the Nissan Leaf due to its smaller size on winding roads, but the Chevrolet Bolt EV is tougher competition. The Chevy weighs a little more than the Mini, but is also more powerful with 200 hp and 266 lb-ft. According to Chevy, the Bolt EV reaches a speed of 0 to 100 km / h in 6.5 seconds and feels almost as nimble in corners as the Mini.
Like most electric cars, the Mini uses aggressive regenerative braking to gain additional energy. This enables driving with a pedal, where the car slows down as soon as you lift the throttle. Electric car fans will appreciate the strong regeneration that increases efficiency. The Mini also included the “Green” and “Green +” driving modes to further increase efficiency, as well as a “Sport” mode for drivers with a lead foot.
Range, charging and security
The main reason why Mini can undercut other electric cars in price is because it uses a smaller battery. At 32.6 kilowatt hours (with a usable output of 28.9 kWh), the Cooper SE battery is about half the size of the Bolt EV. A smaller battery means less range. At 110 miles, the Cooper SE has one of the shortest ranges of all electric cars currently for sale. Most other mass market electric cars have a range of at least 200 miles, although again you have to pay more.
Stephen Edelstein / Digital Trends
The Cooper SE is equipped with a 7.4-kilowatt on-board charger that, according to the Mini, enables a full charge from a 240-volt stage 2 AC source in four hours, although we have found that charging times are significantly longer when the The battery is not warmed up thoroughly first. Standard DC fast charging can be charged to 80% in 40 minutes, with a maximum output of 50 kW. Performance is pretty low, but that's not a big problem in the real world thanks to the car's small battery.
The Cooper SE has an overall efficiency of 108 MPGe, which is not very impressive. The Bolt EV and Hyundai Kona Electric manage 118 MPGe and 120 MPGe with more interior and range.
Mini offers a four-year, 50,000-mile limited warranty and free scheduled maintenance for the first three years or 36,000-mile owned. Mini has a mixed reputation for reliability, but the Cooper SE should at least require less regular maintenance because it is electric.
Petrol versions of the two-door Mini performed quite well in crash tests, but these results may not be transferable to the electric model. The lack of an engine and the bottom-mounted battery can cause Cooper SE to perform differently when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Road Safety Insurance Institute (IIHS) begin testing.
How DT would configure this car
It may spoil the Mini's value proposition, but the best option for technology is Iconic's top trim level. This adds a head-up display, mobile phone charging, and a larger touchscreen. It also receives the improved Harman / Kardon audio system from the Signature Plus medium version.
Mini did not have a full online configurator for Cooper SE at the time of publication. However, when it comes to other mini models, the Cooper SE should also get numerous customization options. It will be interesting to see if the aftermarket takes the Cooper SE like petrol mini models.
Our opinion
The 2020 Mini Cooper SE doesn't look very impressive on paper. In fact, the Mini's lack of range and inability to comfortably carry more than two people seem to disadvantage other mass-market electric cars.
However, lack of practicality is also a problem with the two-door petrol mini, and the car sells pretty well. People don't buy a Mini for the loading capacity, but for its style and driving dynamics – which are transferred to the electric Cooper SE.
The range is also reasonable given the price of the Mini. Other cars may offer more range, but they also cost significantly more. The base Nissan Leaf and Hyundai Ioniq Electric offer a range of 149 miles and 170 miles, respectively, at prices closer to the Mini, and offer more interior space. However, none of the cars have the personality of the Mini, and while all three small cars are suitable for commuting in the city, the Mini is the smallest.
As with previous gasoline minis, the Cooper SE offers something unique that may not be suitable for everyone. With so few choices for electric car buyers, that's a big deal.
Should you get one?
Yes, if you're a city rider looking for an affordable, nimble commuter.
Editor's recommendations
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