21 Aug
Blog

HP Envy 15 (2020) Review: Insanely Fast, Incredible Price

HP Neid 15 2020 review 04

"The HP Envy 15 delivers great performance at a great price."

  • Incredibly strong performance

  • Beautiful and color-accurate AMOLED display

  • Solid build quality

  • Excellent keyboard and touchpad

  • The display supports touch and pen

  • A little stronger than rivals

  • No full size SD card slot

Dell has had great success with its XPS 15 – a sleek, professional laptop with surprisingly high performance. HP has never had its own MacBook Pro 16-inch competitor – at least not in terms of performance.

The HP Envy 15 fills this gap and offers a discount compared to Dell and Apple. My test device is priced at HP.com for $ 1,600, as configured, with a 10th generation Intel Core i7-10750H CPU, 16 GB of RAM, 512 GB of solid state drive (SSD) storage, 4K AMOLED display, and RTX 2060 Max-Q GPU. A similarly configured XPS 15 will cost you well over $ 2,000 in comparison, and you'll have to upgrade to the even more expensive XPS 17 if you want to customize the graphics.

There has to be a catch, right? After all, it takes more than just performance per dollar to compete against its high-end competitors. I've searched hard for compromises, and while the Envy 15 isn't perfect, HP hasn't cut corners with the Envy 15.

design

Compared to the gemstone-cut HP Specter x360 15 with a tiny bezel, the Envy 15 is a pretty conservatively designed laptop. On its own, the Envy 15 is a pretty attractive 15-inch laptop. Its silver color scheme adorns an aluminum housing that is very robust – cannot bend or bend anywhere. The Envy 15 has just enough chiseled parts to make it unique – like the small indentation between the keyboard deck and the palm rest. It adds some pizzazz, but not so much that it outperforms the Specter for its looks alone. Let's not forget that the Envy 15 is technically a "midrange" laptop, which makes the build quality and size even more impressive.

The Envy isn't a petite laptop. It's a bit big and heavy as you'd expect on a 15-inch all-metal machine, 0.73 "thick (actually not bad for a 15-inch laptop, actually) and 4.75 pounds. The Dell XPS 15 is 0.71 inches thick and 4.5 pounds by comparison.

The Dell XPS 15 also has a slimmer profile, largely thanks to the smaller bezels. The Envy 15's screen-to-body ratio of 82% is a bit lower, partly due to a fairly large chin. Since the XPS 15 uses a display with an aspect ratio of 16:10, the two laptops are similar in size. It's just that the XPS 15 intelligently fills the space with a display instead of a bezel.

While the Envy 15 has some of its own design tricks up its sleeve, the focus is more on performance. It includes hidden rear vents that effectively move air without affecting the look of the back of the laptop. The Envy 15 also has a large pair of feet on the floor that set it off the table more than the competition for extra airflow.

Connectivity is a strength of the Envy 15. You get two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 3 support, plus a full-size HDMI 2.0 port (updated from HDMI 1.4 on the previous model) so you can connect three displays to the device without a dock . You also get two USB-A 3.1 ports and a microSD card reader. However, HP made a mistake by not including a full-size reader. The target group for the Envy 15 are those who want to quickly transport data directly from their cameras.

Wireless connectivity is up to date thanks to an Intel Wi-Fi 6 chipset and Bluetooth 5.0.

HP also added a nice bonus in the form of a second SSD slot that allows either a RAID configuration or additional storage. When you add a few two terabytes (2 TB) of SSDs, you suddenly have an unusually large amount of storage space, which is especially useful for the creative types.

display

The Envy 15's 4K AMOLED 16: 9 display is spectacular, according to my colorimeter – although you can save some money by resorting to a Full HD option. The AMOLED panel is bright at 404 nits (and the anti-glare function makes it appear even brighter), has an incredible contrast at 404,410: 1 (the best IPS displays come in at around 1500: 1) and its gamma is just right at 2.2. That makes it a dream machine for productivity and multimedia watchers. Turn on HDR and you've got one of the best Netflix experiences out there with black text on a white background. As a writer, I just love this role. These results are on par with the best you can find, including the Dell XPS 15 and MacBook Pro 16-inch. Their IPS displays are similarly bright, but cannot come close in terms of contrast.

The Envy 15's display is also great for developers who HP is targeting with all this performance. The color gamut is very large with 100% of sRGB and 97% of AdobeRGB. The XPS 15 does a little better with exactly 100% of both color spaces in the color gamut. The Envy 15 also has an excellent color accuracy of 0.73 (the human eye can't see anything below 1.0), again just slightly behind the 0.37 of the XPS 17 and 0.65 of the XPS 15.

Most importantly, for the first time ever, HP has a machine that has both the power and the display to compete with the world's best creative laptops. There's no such thing as an HP Specter laptop with 45-watt CPUs, powerful GPUs, and color-calibrated displays. The Envy 15 is the first consumer laptop from HP that puts it all together into a truly competitive package.

The display is also touch and pen enabled, which is an added bonus. Writing on a clamshell laptop display isn't easy, but the feature is there when you need it.

I'll note here that the Envy 15's HDR support is also better than the 2019 Specter x360 15 with AMOLED (I didn't get a chance to test the 2020 version). For the best HDR performance in Netflix, turn on HDR in display settings. Unlike the Specter, this doesn't completely change the overall quality of the display. There's a small drop in color saturation, but it's not dramatic, and Netflix HDR looks great with "true" HDR enabled. This is a benefit of HP's current AMOLED – it supports VESA DisplayHDR and Windows 10 seems to handle it better than before. It's still not as good as the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme's Dolby Vision HDR, which in my experience is the best HDR you'll find on a laptop.

Audio is provided by two upward-facing speakers on either side of the keyboard. The volume wasn't impressively loud, but very clear and without distortion. There was more bass than you would expect and the mids and highs were pleasant. You could watch Netflix on the Envy 15 and not crave headphones as long as you just listen. It still may not match what Apple achieved with its MacBooks, but the Envy 15's speakers aren't bad.

performance

The Envy 15 is HP's shot over laptops like the XPS 15 and 17 that is also aimed at creative people. Therefore the laptop has to be fast.

The problem is that the Envy 15 uses a slower processor than the XPS 15 and XPS 17 – at least based on the units we tested. The Core i7-10750H has two fewer cores and four fewer threads than the Core i7-10875H in the Dells, which puts the Envy 15 at a disadvantage in many content creation applications.

This disadvantage is most evident in Geekbench 5 and Cinebench R20, where the multi-core performance was only tested 27% behind the XPS 15. The XPS 17 is of course even faster. The Envy 15 naturally handles the processor it has chosen quite well, just like other Core i7-10750H laptops we tested.

However, it comes down to performance in practice. That's why I switched to the Handbrake video coding application. Limited to the CPU only, I converted a 420MB video to H.265 and the Envy 15 was ready in a little under two and a half minutes. This is comparable to the XPS 15 in just over two minutes and the XPS 17 in just under two minutes. The ROG Strix G15 with the i7-10750H lasted three seconds longer than the Envy 15.

Finally, I ran our Premiere Pro video rendering test which exported a two minute 4K project to ProRes 422. During this process, both the CPU and the GPU can be used together, allowing a graphics card like the RTX 2060 Max-Q to be bent. It took the Envy 15 just five minutes and a second to complete the test in standard mode. Compare that to the XPS 17, which lasted three minutes and 38 seconds – that's a faster score than recorded in our XPS 17 test because that test used the latest and much faster version of Premiere Pro. Given the price difference and the fact that the XPS 17 uses a faster processor, this is an impressive feat for the Envy 15.

I also tested the HP Command Center software, which has different performance modes. By default, the company sets the Envy 15 to be relatively quiet and run relatively cool. This is how I did all of the above tests. When you really need to get the best possible performance out of the system, performance mode makes a big difference. Other laptops have similar utilities, but I've found HPs to be particularly aggressive. The setting didn't affect performance on synthetic benchmarks, but it did increase Handbrake and Premiere performance on the XPS 17. Given the price difference, this is an impressive result.

Play

HP doesn't advertise the Envy 15 as a gaming laptop, but if you have an RTX 2060 Max-Q inside, there's no reason not to use it. And in our series of gaming reviews, it quickly became clear that the Envy 15 is a good mid-range slot machine.

I ran our tests at 1080p and 4K as 1440p wasn't an option in this driver set. And that's probably fine since 1080p is probably where you want to play your games.

Starting with the synthetic 3DMark benchmark, the Envy 15 achieved 5,123 points in the most demanding Time Spy test, which is slightly behind the 5,801 of the XPS 17 with its RTX 2060. As we'll see, these two machines are pretty evenly matched in terms of performance to run today's modern titles, with the XPS 17 having a slight edge.

In Civilization VI, the Envy 15 achieved 121 frames per second (fps) at 1080p and medium graphics, compared to the XPS 17 at 143 fps and the XPS 15 with its GTX 1650 Ti at 114 fps. Interestingly, the Envy 15 managed 100 fps in ultra graphics compared to the XPS 17 with 90 fps and the XPS 15 with 64 fps. The Envy 15 also beat the XPS 17 and 15 when gaming in 4K resolution.

In Assassin's Creed Odyssey, the Envy 15 hit the sweet spot at 60 fps at 1080p and high graphics, compared to the XPS 17 at 61 fps and the XPS 15 at 47 fps. Finally, the Envy 15 was able to play Fortnite at 1080p and Epic at 84 fps, while the XPS 17 hit 82 fps. This allows both laptops to maintain a solid 60 fps in Fortnite unless you jump up to 4KB with both dropping to around 30 fps.

Of course, none of these frame rates above 60 fps are of any use to you, as the Envy 15's screen is locked with a refresh rate of 60 Hz. It also doesn't include anti-screen-tearing technology like G-Sync or FreeSync. As with many of these productivity-oriented computers, casual gaming is fine, but a suitable gaming laptop with a higher refresh rate provides a far smoother gaming experience.

Keyboard and touchpad

Apple's Magic Keyboard on the latest MacBooks is the best laptop keyboard out there. Still, the HP keyboard, which has moved from the Specter to the Envy range, is my second favorite. There's a lot of traveling and just the right balance between a light touch and a snappy feeling with a confident ground movement. The mechanism is perfect for me so that I can instantly update myself and type for hours without getting tired.

I like the keyboard on the XPS 15 and some other laptops (I'm thinking of the Lenovo ThinkPad range), but I prefer the HP version over any other Windows 10 laptop. I'm delighted to see that HP isn't reserving the keyboard for the Specter range, and I'll find that you can get the same for the HP Envy x360 13, which is well under $ 1,000.

Interestingly, the Envy 15's touchpad is better than that of the Specter x360 15. It's not the same widescreen version, which means it's bigger and takes up a lot more palm-rest space. It's glass-covered and very convenient to scroll and swipe. It also supports Microsoft's Precision touchpad drivers and all Windows 10 multi-touch gestures. It's as good as a touchpad on a Windows 10 laptop.

As mentioned earlier, the display is touch sensitive and as precise as ever. If you want to use HP's active pen with 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, you have this option too. The passwordless login for Windows 10 Hello takes place via a fingerprint scanner, which is located in the keyboard next to the arrow keys – and works quickly and without errors.

Battery life

Pack that much power into a laptop and equip it with a low-power AMOLED display (which can be aided by using a dark color scheme since AMOLED uses the least power when the screen is high in black), and you won't going to expect a lot of longevity. This also applies to a battery capacity of 83 watt hours.

According to our standard benchmark tests, that's exactly what we saw. In our most demanding Basemark web benchmark test, the Envy 15 lasted almost exactly three hours. That's not terrible for such a powerful laptop, but it does mean that if you're really putting a strain on the CPU and GPU, you'll likely run out of battery life well before lunch. Interestingly, the XPS 15 with 86 watt hours of battery and the XPS 17 with 97 watt hours did not do better. The XPS 17 lasted six minutes less and the XPS 15 16 minutes longer.

The 4K screen means you need to have the charger close at hand.

In our web browser test, which is the best indicator of productivity, the Envy 15 lasted around 6.75 hours, which is not particularly long. Once again, the XPS 15 and 17 were close together, with the XPS 17 running 19 minutes less and the XPS 15 happening 19 minutes longer. Finally, I looped the laptop through our Full HD Avengers test trailer and it took about eight hours. And you guessed it – the XPS 15 was close again with 30 minutes less. The XPS 17 did it more than an hour longer.

The bottom line is that these powerful, creative laptops with low-power displays probably won't keep you actually working for an entire day. You want to carry your charger around with you. This is quite a task as they are pretty large power bricks. But that's the price you pay for fast laptops with beautiful displays.

Our opinion

The HP Envy 15 is the company's fastest consumer laptop and the one that best meets the needs of creative professionals with high work demands. Really, it's not even close – if you want similar or greater performance, you'll have to switch to HP's commercial line, especially the workstations. And the Envy 15 does its job well – it's fast, it can be configured with even faster components if you are looking to spend more, and it offers the type of display that fits all creative needs.

The Specter line is great for productivity users and those who value good looks and a smaller case. But it's the Envy 15 that makes power users happy – for hundreds of dollars less than they spend on competitive laptops.

Are there alternatives?

The Dell XPS 15 and Dell XPS 17 both offer the same or better performance with great displays and are equally good for creative workflows. But you'll be spending a lot more money, getting a little more class, and a more useful 16:10 display, but not much more.

If you're not a creative professional and want a 15-inch laptop with more flexibility and panache, the HP Specter x360 15 is a good alternative. You'll spend similar money and have an option for an equally great AMOLED display, but you won't get anywhere near the performance.

Don't forget the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme and the MacBook Pro 16-inch. These, too, can be configured with the same powerful components, and both provide superior displays. However, as with the XPS options, be prepared to spend a lot more money.

How long it will take?

The Envy 15 is well built and should last for years. However, we would like the guarantee to be longer than a year.

Should you buy it?

Absolutely. If you're looking for a laptop that can handle demanding creative tasks at a cheaper price, the Envy 15 is the one for you.

Editor's recommendations




05 Aug
Blog

Samsung Galaxy A71 5G Review: Premium Midrange At A Price

Samsung Galaxy A71 5g review 1

"Despite the growing value of cheaper devices, the Samsung Galaxy A71 5G is a solid mid-range phone."

  • Modern design

  • Good value for the price

  • Nice display

  • Long-lasting battery life

  • Camera is just fine

  • No wireless charging

Cheap phones have a moment right now. While there were always good options in the under $ 400 range, 2020 seems to be the year of the cheap phone, thanks in part to the ultra-powerful iPhone SE and the new Google Pixel 4a. But older cellphone series like the Samsung Galaxy A series have been around for years and they have a huge fan base. Thanks to Samsung’s strong brand and carrier relationships, the A-series, which includes the new $ 600 Galaxy A71 5G, is one of the best-selling phone lines ever.

My test device is the 5G model from the US carrier, which offers 5G support and a Qualcomm processor (not to be confused with the various international models).

As the most expensive A-series device, the Galaxy A71 5G faces more intense competition – which means that it has to offer some serious advantages in order to be worth buying. Does it really compete? I tested the Samsung Galaxy A71 5G to find out.

design

The Galaxy A-series usually has a solid design, and although the build quality is sometimes not quite at the level of more expensive phones, the look is still there. That remains true here. The Samsung Galaxy A71 5G offers a beautiful and large edge-to-edge display with a hole cut out for the front-facing camera and a rectangular camera projection on the back, which is reminiscent of the Galaxy S20.

The bezels around the display are razor-thin and the phone therefore looks very modern. The lower bezel is slightly larger than the others, but barely noticeable and makes no real difference in everyday use. Interestingly, the hole cutout at the top of the display is smaller than that of the Galaxy A51, although it appears to offer the same camera hardware.

Thanks to the plastic back, the phones feel very light.

On the edges of the phone you will find a USB-C connection, a volume rocker and a power switch. And there is a headphone jack, which is a nice touch these days.

The phone is also comfortable to hold and is very light. Part of it probably has to do with the fact that the back of the phone is made of plastic instead of glass, but it still feels pretty high quality and doesn't seem to scratch or ring easily.

A modern design is one thing that sets some midrange phones apart from the competition. For example, the iPhone SE has a greater focus on performance than design, although it still looks good. Then there is the Pixel 4a, which also offers an edge-to-edge design, but only costs $ 350.

display

At 6.7 inches, the display of the Galaxy A71 5G is slightly larger than that of the Galaxy A51 with 6.5 inches. Here, however, the differences end – you still get the same AMOLED panel with a resolution of 1080p and a refresh rate of 60 Hz.

This is not necessarily a bad thing. The display actually looks great, and although a higher resolution would have been nice, a flagship-level display would hardly be expected. This is particularly true given the fact that it is still an AMOLED panel that provides deep black levels and vivid colors. It can also get light enough to be used outdoors even in direct sunlight. In a few years, we should expect 1440p resolutions for midrange phones, but right now this is a great display for a phone in this price range.

A higher refresh rate may have been estimated, but is not expected in this price range. With a higher refresh rate, the software feels smoother and the animations are more natural. Samsung's high-end phones, such as the Galaxy S20, offer refresh rates of up to 120 Hz. We hope that these higher rates will also apply to mid-range phones in the next few years.

There is a fingerprint sensor under the display, which apparently works quite well. It worked much faster and more accurately than the Galaxy A51's fingerprint sensor. It has occasionally failed, but no more than other fingerprint sensors I use.

performance

Under the hood, the Galaxy A71 5G offers a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765 processor, 6 GB RAM and 128 GB storage. The result is a fast phone that's reactive and fast enough for most multitasking and even most mobile games. This is in direct contrast to the Galaxy A51 which, due to its Exynos 9611 processor, generally seemed to freeze and stutter under more than easy use.

Of course, it's not necessarily the best performing phone in its price range, especially in a flagship iPhone SE world. The iPhone SE offers the A13 Bionic chip from Apple – the same processor as the iPhone 11 Pro. The best comparison in the Android world would be the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, which can only be found on flagship phones like the Galaxy S20.

The Galaxy A71 5G will outperform the vast majority of the competition. The phone will outperform the Snapdragon 730-equipped Pixel 4a, but in everyday use, the Pixel 4a may feel a bit smoother and more responsive due to its stripped down software. We have to wait until we get our hands on a Pixel 4a.

The Galaxy A71 5G also performs well in mobile gaming. The phone seemed to be able to handle games like Call of Duty: Mobile and Asphalt 9 with ease, and while it didn't load as quickly as flagship phones, the actual gaming felt smooth and smooth.

The solid performance is also reflected in benchmarks. Here are the benchmark results we got on the phone.

  • AnTuTu: 324,648
  • GeekBench 5: 617 single-core, 1,916 multi-core

These results are excellent for a phone in this price range. It doesn't really come close to the iPhone SE, which reaches over 480,000 on AnTuTu, but with the Snapdragon 765, it should surpass almost anything else that is cheaper. If you can add an additional $ 50 to $ 100 to your budget, you can of course purchase the OnePlus 8, which offers a flagship Snapdragon 865 and even better performance than the Galaxy A71.

This device also offers 5G support, making it one of the cheapest phones. It supports both mmWave and Sub-6GHz 5G, so you should be able to achieve ultra-fast speeds wherever your network operator offers them. This won't be one of the cheapest 5G phones for long – manufacturers are likely to add more and more 5G modems to their phones this year. The Google Pixel 4a 5G is due to appear sometime in the fall and will only cost $ 500.

If you want 5G on a budget now, this may be the way to go – but wait a few months and you'll likely have a lot more options.

software

The Samsung Galaxy A71 5G comes with Samsung's One UI operating system. Samsung's software skin has evolved significantly over the years, improving usability and removing bloatware. Still, Samsung could be even better at generally offering less third-party software. The T-Mobile variant Galaxy A71 5G contains a number of T-Mobile apps, an extensive selection of Microsoft apps that you may not want or need, Spotify, McAfee and much more. Some of these apps can be removed, others stay with you.

A user interface generally looks and feels relatively different from standard Android, thanks to its larger square apps, more colorful user interface, and wide range of customizations. You can choose between the classic three-button navigation system or the new Android gesture controls from Google. A user interface also has some unique features like the built-in screen recorder, integration with Windows computers when you want to set them up, and more.

Customization is another strength of Samsung software. A user interface offers a variety of customization options, and many people love the ability to tweak pretty much anything related to the home screen, theme, etc. However, others simply feel overwhelmed by all options and are better served by OnePlus & # 39; OxygenOS, the standard Android offered on a pixel phone or even Apple's iOS.

As is so often the case with Samsung phones, the Galaxy A71 5G is unlikely to receive super-fast updates. We expect the phone to receive important updates for at least a year. Hopefully it will make it on Android 11, but Samsung hasn't confirmed anything and you shouldn't buy the phone as you hope it gets a lot of updates. If you want to stay up to date with Android, buy a pixel.

Camera quality

The Samsung Galaxy A71 5G offers a quad lens camera with a 64 megapixel main sensor, a 12 megapixel ultrawide sensor, a 5 megapixel macro sensor and a 5 megapixel depth sensor. It's a solid selection of cameras, and although I personally would have preferred a telephoto lens to a macro lens, the Galaxy A71 5G can generally deliver great photos.

Of course, the photo quality depends on the situation, and a phone is not necessarily as consistent as more expensive devices. When the lighting is good, the photos are colorful and bright, with adequate dynamic range and solid details. In low-light conditions, the photos are relatively noisy and have no details, which is usually the case with medium-range phones. There's a built-in night mode that removes the noise, but photos are still not on the same level as devices like the iPhone 11 Pro and Google Pixel 4 XL.

The elephant in the room here is the new Google Pixel 4a. There are few early reviews of the Pixel 4a, but most suggest that the device offers a camera that matches the standard Pixel 4. This is a flagship camera in a $ 350 phone. Don't expect this on the Galaxy A71 5G, though the phone comes a lot closer to a flagship in price.

The macro lens is more or less useless for the phone because it has a fixed focal length and is therefore extremely difficult to focus on a subject. Even if you get a good focus, there aren't many details and the colors are a bit subdued.

Despite the problems, you will find that photos are more than passable in most situations.

Battery life

The Samsung Galaxy A71 5G easily lasted a whole day under relatively heavy use, and we don't expect anyone to have any real issues with the battery life itself. The battery of the Galaxy A71 5G has a capacity of 4,500 mAh, and at the end of a long working day, I still had 30% to 40% left.

If you run out of juice at some point, you can charge the device relatively quickly. The phone supports 25-watt quick charge, which means the device gets 50% of its battery back in just 30 minutes. It’s pretty impressive.

The only feature that's really lacking is wireless charging, although it's not necessarily unacceptable that a phone in this price range doesn't have this feature. We hope that wireless charging will become cheaper phones over the next few years.

Price and availability

The Samsung Galaxy A71 5G is located between real mid-range phones and flagships and costs $ 650. Depending on your wireless service provider, you can get it at a cheaper price. For example, T-Mobile is offering the phone for $ 600. It's actually not a bad price considering what you get – but there is definitely some competition in the price range. The device is available from Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and directly from the Samsung website.

Our opinion

With solid performance, modern design, and 5G support, the Samsung Galaxy A71 is a great phone for the price. The fact that it offers 5G support is probably not a reason to buy the phone alone, but it's an added bonus. However, the proliferation of new budget phones at the flagship level dampens the excitement about their value.

Are there alternatives?

If you can spend an additional $ 50 to $ 100, you get the OnePlus 8, which offers better performance and a more modern design.

If you're ready to make the switch, the iPhone SE will perform better than any other Android device and will only cost $ 400.

Then there is the Pixel 4a, which is unlikely to perform as well as the Galaxy A71 5G, but offers a much better camera, modern design, and more – all for $ 300 less than this phone.

How long should it take?

The Samsung Galaxy A71 5G does not have an IP protection class. You should therefore keep it away from the pool or bathroom if possible. The phone should last a good two years before it needs to be replaced. The plastic back breaks much less often than a glass shelf.

The Galaxy A71 5G offers a limited one-year warranty, but only covers manufacturing defects.

Should you buy it

Yes, but only if you want a solid Samsung phone for $ 650 or less. Otherwise, consider spending more on the OnePlus 8, or save almost half of that money, and purchase the Pixel 4a.

Editor's recommendations




01 Aug
Blog

Vanmoof S3 Review: Premium Style At An Affordable Price

vanmoof s3 rating rear profile 1

"The Vanmoof S3 is equipped with excellent technology at a medium price and absolutely great as a bonus."

  • Eye-catching design

  • Useful app

  • Integrated lights and fenders

  • Smooth automatic transmission

  • Excellent brakes

  • Lower power assist levels are not helpful

  • Feels bulky when driving

  • The battery cannot be removed for charging

Vanmoof was way ahead of the curve when its Dutch founders, the Carlier brothers, founded the company in 2009. Maybe ahead of the curve. Electric bicycles were treated as a novelty in 2009. However, their popularity has skyrocketed in recent years. I regularly ate the dust of a Vanmoof enthusiast on my evening walk out of the office – back when it was still that way.

Now Vanmoof has a couple of news bikes at his disposal, just like everyone is looking for a way to explore our new, socially distant, outdoor lifestyle. I tried the more conventional Vanmoof S3, which sells just under $ 2,000 for just one hair. It has a sibling, the Vanmoof X3, with smaller tires and a frame that is easier to step over, but most of the other components are identical between the two.

The start time of the S3 could hardly be better, but it has a lot of competition. Every major bicycle manufacturer is now represented in the e-bike arena, and some offer over a dozen models. Can Vanmoof keep his lead?

design

One thing is certain, a Vanmoof is unmistakable. The company's design revolves around a thick, straight center tube that extends across the wheels at each end of the frame. It is a look that is classic and modern at the same time.

This is a classic bike for modern life.

Vanmoof keeps an eye on this important property by minimizing all other distractions. Like the company's other motorcycles, the Vanmoof S3 is painted in either matt black or blue and has almost no branding. It's a snappy, sleek design that fits the purpose of the S3 directly. This is a classic bike for modern life.

That doesn't mean that the Vanmoof S3 is without peer. The Gazelle Ultimate T10 is a personal favorite thanks to its combination of ultra-modern sensitivity and easy passage practicality. The new Vado SL from Specialized is also very attractive. Nevertheless, Vanmoof absolutely has the Trek and Giant bicycles that look more like improved bicycles than like specially built e-bikes.

The S3 is equipped as standard with front and rear fenders as well as front and rear lights. It's a big deal, especially for an e-bike that sells for $ 2,000. It's not uncommon for e-bikes in the S3 price range to throw one or both fenders overboard. Although the lighting is usually standard, it is often not as attractive or bright as that of the Vanmoof. If you buy the Vanmoof X3, which has smaller wheels and a less conventional frame, you will also get a built-in luggage rack for carrying small items.

Assembly and initial setup

While Vanmoof has a few dealers, its network is tiny. You will probably order online. Bicycles are large, heavy objects and can be difficult to assemble.

The company does everything it can to alleviate this anger. Open the box and you will immediately find detailed assembly instructions next to a toolbox that contains everything you need to assemble the bike. There's even a handy pull cord that allows you to slide the bike out horizontally instead of lifting it out vertically.

This does not mean that assembly is child's play. I cut myself when my hand slipped as I tightened an uncomfortable plastic clip that holds the front motor cable securely to the frame. However, the overall difficulty is no greater than assembling an Ikea chest of drawers. If you can handle it, you can handle it.

After assembly, setting up the app is easy. Simply download it to your phone, create an account and the bike will automatically connect. It worked seamlessly and I never had a problem with the app connecting to the bike.

technology

The app is probably the actual heading function of Vanmoof. While many competitors technically have apps, they are often simple and buggy. Vanmoof's app, on the other hand, is great. It provides ride summaries, allows you to adjust bike settings, shows the current location of the bike, and provides access to support topics, among other things.

I found that the bike's Bluetooth range is not particularly good. If the app is kept in my garage, it will lose connection to the bike as soon as I leave the room. Other Bluetooth devices I own have no problem communicating across multiple walls. I think Vanmoof could do better.

The bike doesn't have an LCD display, and instead uses a sophisticated LED grid to show speed, battery life, and other information on the center tube. Vanmoof calls this a matrix display. It is a unique touch that makes the design of the bike more coherent. The matrix display is bright and always easy to read, even on a sunny summer afternoon at noon. Oh, and if you want a laptop to go with the bike, check out the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14.

It is the combination of the app with this matrix display that distinguishes this bike in everyday use. Most e-bikes have a small black and white LCD screen and are controlled via buttons or twist grips. This is effective, but simple. Instead, Vanmoof only uses the matrix display for important information and transfers the most control over the bike to the app.

This speaks for the focus of the bike on errands and the way to work. It is built so that you can drive with everything you normally carry and to places that you would otherwise reach by car or transit. Using the app is great in this regard, as your phone is always in your pocket and you stop frequently. Your phone's display is much brighter and easier to use than any LCD you find on an e-bike.

Anti-theft device

Vanmoof bicycles have built-in anti-theft technology. This includes a lock for the rear hub, an alarm, and an optional paid service that promises to track down and replace the stolen bike if it can't be found.

The lock is activated by aligning a mark on the hub with the same mark on the rear chain guard and then pressing a button near the dropout of the rear frame. After locking, an alarm sounds when the rear wheel of the bike moves.

It works as advertised, although I wouldn't trust it. The alarm could be louder and a thief could pick up and pull the bike away (although its sensitivity would make it difficult to do without triggering the alarm). You should always use a strong lock to secure your bike to a fixed attachment. Still, Vanmoof's alarm is reasonable support that could give opportunistic thieves a break.

Driving impressions

If the Vanmoof S3's commuter-friendly design isn't already obvious, you will surely feel it when you get on your bike for the first time. The relaxed frame and the retracted handlebars of the bike offer an upright feeling and excellent visibility. As is so often the case with an upright driving position, this comfort comes at the expense of agility. It's an easy bike to turn on a narrow road at low speeds, but it doesn't feel eager or nimble.

The S3 weighs 42 pounds. This is heavier than most conventional bikes, but light for an e-bike. The Specialized Como is 45 pounds, while the Gazelle T10 Ultimate is 51 pounds. The S3 doesn't feel light on the pedals, but your back will love the lightweight frame as you pull the bike up stairs or over a large curb.

Fat tires help the S3 deal with small bumps and potholes without any problems. It's a smooth ride over manicured sidewalks or tightly packed gravel. However, if you encounter large potholes, the rigid frame and lack of suspension on the bike can cause large bumps from the handlebars.

The electric motor of the S3 is attached to the front wheel and delivers power in four stages or can be switched off completely. The lowest power level is worthless, but higher settings are strong. I usually drove around at level three or maximized the performance on paved bike paths. The bike's engine switches off at 32 km / h. This is the maximum speed allowed for a class 1 e-bike like the S3. There are settings that comply with European and Japanese regulations, but as expected, this will make the top speed even lower.

Adrenaline junkies should, however, look elsewhere. The performance is tentative compared to racing options such as the Specialized Vado or the Giant ToughRoad GX E +. While the S3 has a "turbo" button, hitting is only a modest gear and is most useful when you need a little more juice on a steep hill.

While the S3 lacks the thrill, it's supple. The front hub motor pulls with a steady stance. Don't take that for granted. Many e-bikes in the Vanmoof price range, such as the Pedego City Commuter Lite, use a rear wheel hub motor. A rear hub can dramatically shift the balance of a bike backwards, making wheelies a little too easy. The balanced, sophisticated power transmission of the S3 is good for every e-bike and excellent for an e-bike with a price of $ 2,000.

The S3 brakes are activated with a soft, precise feel that creates trust.

The power is transmitted via a chic four-speed automatic transmission. That's right, you don't even have to switch for yourself. Four speeds are not many, and I felt that on steep hills. Nevertheless, I will bring this automatic transmission over the bargain six, seven or eight-speed transmission that can be found in most e-bikes in this price range.

The S3's deceleration is more impressive than its acceleration. The bike has hydraulic disc brakes at the front and rear. While almost all e-bikes have disc brakes, some mid-range bikes have mechanical disc brakes, a setup that can feel chunky or wooden. The S3 brakes are activated with a soft, precise feel that builds trust and prevents too much brake from being accidentally pressed.

Battery life and range

There is a 504 watt-hour battery in the large top tube of the Vanmoof S3. The range is indicated at 37 to 93 miles. In most situations, you are closer to 37 miles than 93 miles.

My most demanding trip was a 23-mile trip with maximum performance on a paved, flat bike path. As a result, almost half of the battery was used up, suggesting that in the mid-1940s I would see the total mileage if I kept going until the battery was empty. I have also made numerous short trips, approximately 10 miles each, at level three. .

These results are typical of a modern e-bike. Most commuters cover short distances (less than 16 km), so the range of the S3 should last for several days, if not a whole week.

You can't just remove the S3's battery (Vanmoof says it can only be removed for maintenance) and charge it away from the bike. This can be impractical if you have a small apartment and want to keep the S3 in a common room.

Our opinion

Vanmoof's S3 is a feature-rich commuter bike that sacrifices little despite a mid-range price of $ 2,000. This bike is an excellent choice if you need a bike for city errands or for daily commuting up to 32 km round trip.

Is there a better alternative?

While the price of $ 2,000 for the Vanmoof S3 appears very high next to the $ 600 you can buy on Amazon, I generally recommend avoiding them. They do their job, but use components that are as inexpensive as possible, which affects longevity. They also tend to have small batteries.

The Propella e-bike is the best affordable alternative. Starting at $ 1,100 for a single gear or $ 1,300 for a seven-gear, this is a less complicated option with a smaller battery and inferior brakes. Still, it's a nice entry-level bike with decent components, and works well for commuting 10 miles or less.

RadPower is another good choice. The brand manufactures a variety of electric bikes that offer excellent value for money, such as the affordable RadRover and its sturdy RadWagon. RadPower is all about function. So you prefer Vanmoof when design and technology are important to you.

The Vanmoof S3 has only a few strong rivals that come very close to its $ 2,000 price tag. Pedego's City Commuter Lite is nowhere near as sophisticated. Trek, Specialized, and Giant tend to go into a higher price range, so their motorcycles, which sell for around $ 2,000, can't usually compete with the Vanmoof.

Don't forget the sibling of the Vanmoof S3, the X3. The motorcycles are similar, but the X3 has smaller wheels, a lower top tube, and an integrated front rack. I would expect the X3 to be even better for short distances and errands in the city, while the S3 would be better for long distances and errands.

How long it will take?

A bike can last a very long time, although e-bikes are limited by the longevity of the battery and the durability of other electronic devices. You should also know that e-bikes require more maintenance than a standard bike. Still, I would expect at least five to ten years of operation, and that could be extended as long as replacement batteries are available.

The bike comes with a three-year warranty against defects, which is not particularly long for an electric bike. Vanmoof has a smaller dealer network than its larger competitors such as Specialized, Trek or Giant. This could make it difficult to find service if you are not near a dealer.

Should you buy it

Yes. The Vanmoof S3 is a mid-range commuter e-bike with an outstanding design and great technical features.

Editor's recommendations




11 Jun
Blog

Motorola Edge review: Stunning Display At A Reasonable Price

Motorola Edge Review screen angle

"The significant daily benefits of the Motorola Edge, from battery life to performance, outweigh the few frustrating disadvantages."

  • Great screen

  • 5G at a reasonable price

  • Outstanding battery life

  • Strong suitability for everyday use

  • Pretty, easy-to-use design

  • Fingerprint sensor is unreliable

  • Software can get frustrating

  • Camera needs to be improved

The Motorola Edge is so correct that I almost forget the annoyances. It's the best looking Motorola phone in ages, and yes, I'm counting the Moto Razr in that statement. The screen is a killer. I also liked to use it, especially because it's light, compact, and disappears in my pocket or bag. It's ideal for everyday use if you're not looking for a game-oriented powerhouse with the best camera.

However, there are some irritations in terms of build quality, security and software, which are very frustrating and are not entirely offset by the significant benefits. I've been using the phone for almost two weeks now and here are the good and bad details in more detail.

design

The Motorola Edge has been my favorite design for Motorola phones for some time. A main reason for this is the 19.5: 9 aspect ratio screen, which makes the body slim, much like Sony did with the 21: 9 aspect ratio Xperia 10 Plus. The advantage is that the phone doesn't need that much stretch, even though the screen is 6.7 inches and you can still reach the screen buttons with your fingers. It even fits in your pocket.

The screen falls over both sides of the phone in the same way as the Motorola Edge Plus and Huawei Mate 30 Pro, and helps you forget the large and slim aspect ratio by removing the side bezels. I think it looks great and although the functionality is shaky, more on that later, it gives the Edge a striking, modern look that is rarely seen on widely used devices.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

It's light at 188 grams, but fairly thick at 9.3 mm, and the body is very slippery. For this reason, a case for long-term use is required. The back of the phone is made of plastic, although it really feels like glass, but it has already noticed some uncomfortable scratches on the back even though it has spent most of its time indoors. This is unfortunate because I love the way the back of the edge looks.

Motorola’s decision not to make the phone very thin means that the camera module doesn’t protrude half a mile and instead is almost flush with the back of the phone. The Motorola logo is etched under the highly reflective black housing, which then takes on a rainbow effect in the right light. It is reminiscent of Samsung's aura glow color on the Galaxy Note 10 Plus.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

So all right? No not really. My Motorola Edge review has a striking seam where the glass of the screen meets the body, and it's not consistent around the phone. Run your finger along the bottom left and it's very pronounced, almost as if the screen glass was misaligned, while being perfectly smooth and fitting in the upper right corner. You also don't have to struggle to find this, as you notice every time you hold the phone.

This is a problem with waterfall displays because my Huawei Mate 30 Pro test model has the exact same problem. It distracts and feels like poor build quality, whether it is real or not. The Motorola Edge scores some important design points and can then lose as many.

Screen and security

The 6.7-inch OLED touchscreen offers a resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels, a refresh rate of 90 Hz and HDR10 support. The aspect ratio of 19.5: 9 is very cinematic and gives the Edge a screen-to-body ratio of 95.9%, which is only interrupted by a small selfie camera with a punch that is barely noticeable. The waterfall display makes the background image look great. If the phone is covered, a white notification light runs along the side, which attracts your attention.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

If you watch the ever stunning carfection channel on YouTube in 1080p and set the color profile of the screen to Saturated, it becomes clear that the Edge screen emphasizes the colors strongly, but never oversaturated. Instead, you get a wonderful balance between black and shadow with light blue and red, resulting in an engaging and enjoyable visual experience. Compare it to the iPhone 11 Pro, which has the natural color profile active, and there are times when the Edge looks just as good, and that's a huge praise indeed.

HDR10 videos can be played back easily, and some of the breathtaking films look even better when zoomed in, so that they fill the entire screen, which also brings the cascade edge into play. The audio is also good, with a single speaker at the bottom of the phone, as well as audio from the speaker used for voice calls at the top of the screen. There is a lot of volume and a decent amount of bass, but also a certain amount of vibration through the body of the phone. Overall, the Edge is an excellent media smartphone.

Motorola Edge fingerprint sensorAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

There is a fingerprint sensor on the screen that is slow, unreliable and frustrating. It often takes several attempts to recognize your finger, and then about a second to unlock the device, or worse, a second or two to actually activate the sensor. This means that you tap the screen and press the power button in the hope that it will wake up to make the situation worse when the software gets into trouble. Using Face Unlock as an alternative compromises security and isn't much faster either. Security on the edge is a disappointment.

software

My review Motorola Edge installed Android 10 with the security update from May 2020 and exaggerated the very easy adjustment from Motorola. Visually, it's very similar to the look of Android on a Google Pixel 4, with the app taskbar up and the notification shadow down unaffected and all gesture controls and notifications untouched. This is a good thing since Android 10 is easy to use, attractive and fast.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

However, Motorola has added a selection of tools and features, some of which have been successful. I like the peek display, where notifications are sent on the lock screen and more information is shown by touching the icon. The edge light effect, where the sides of the screen light up to alert you to a new notification, caught my attention.

How about the edge of the screen in general? Edge Touch lets you open the app bar and notification shadow from the side of the screen, interact with some app shortcuts, and generally use the phone with one hand. It's not very successful and has often misunderstood my touch. I switched it off. Even then, the accidental interactions don't stop. I often accidentally open Google Assistant and often find that I've moved apps around on the screen. Also, tapping buttons on the edges of the screen is frustrating because they often don't work.

Motorola Edge App Drawer "class =" m-Karussell - picture dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn2.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/motorola-edge-apps-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https : //www.digitaltrends.com/data: image / gif; base64, https: //www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7App drawer from Motorola Edge Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Motorola Edge Moto action menu "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn3.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/motorola-edge-moto-actions-640x640.jpg "srcset = "https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7The Motorola Edge Moto Actions menu Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Motorola Edge screen customization menu "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn4.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/motorola-edge-select-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https : //www.digitaltrends.com/data: image / gif; base64, https: //www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Motorola Edge's screen customization menu Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

An excellent function is hidden. Since some apps don't work well with the waterfall screen, especially if the text wraps around the edge and makes reading difficult, you can switch any app from an edgeless to a standard full screen view. It is in the helicopter view of open apps and by tapping the app icon. Very practical and a great way to avoid at least some of the interference caused by this type of display.

Most apps ran smoothly, but not the standard camera app. It doesn't want to be in a hurry at all, and when you try it, it crashes often, sometimes to the point where the phone needs a restart to work again. This most often happens when you open the camera from the lock screen, either after unlocking it or when you use the quick gesture to rotate your wrist. Motorola forces you to do this instead of adding a swipe icon. I missed various photographic moments while the camera app fell over for this reason.

camera

The camera app can be painful, but what about the camera itself? On paper, it's a solid performance with a 64-megapixel main camera with an aperture of 1: 1.8, an ultrawide camera with 16 megapixels and 1: 2.2, and an 8-megapixel telephoto lens for 2x optical Zoom shots. There is also a time-of-flight sensor that helps with portrait and bokeh shots. On the front there is a 25 megapixel wide-angle selfie camera with an aperture of 1: 2.0.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The results are good, but not quite as good as I expected, and it looks like Motorola still needs some tweaking. The differences in exposure and dynamic range between standard, wide-angle, and 2x zoom shots are significant, and wide-angle has problems, especially in difficult lighting. The colors are muted and the exposure is too low. Although this can be fixed with some edits, the shots can only be shared if you optimize them. This is not acceptable.

Shoot with the standard camera and the photos are generally much better, but exposure remains problematic. You can't always tell when this will happen, which makes it difficult to predict whether a photo will come out well.

I like macro mode, which can take some very detailed close-ups, and portrait mode is good too. Macro mode, however, requires a very steady hand, while edges when taking portraits can falsely become blurred. The night mode brightens pictures a little and without much influence on details. However, it's not a drastic change like you find on phones like the Huawei P40 Pro.

The Motorola camera app, if it has no problems opening it, is one thing apart. Motorola has placed the Google lens button right next to the shutter button, and not only is it too easy to accidentally press, it's also easily confused with the button used to switch between the rear and front cameras, which is annoying right on the page is placed. You also cannot edit the primary function switch. You must therefore go to a separate menu to activate night or portrait mode. Selfies in good light are great, with bold colors and lots of details, but in low light, it's not that good even in night mode, and edge detection in portrait mode is random.

Motorola Edge Review Standard "class =" m-Karussell - picture dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn4.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/motorola-edge-standard-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https : //www.digitaltrends.com/data: image / gif; base64, https: //www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Motorola Edge standard lens Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

motorola edge review wide "class =" m-Karussell - picture dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn5.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/motorola-edge-wide-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https : //www.digitaltrends.com/data: image / gif; base64, https: //www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Motorola Edge wide angle lens Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

motorola edge review 2x "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn6.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/motorola-edge-2x-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https : //www.digitaltrends.com/data: image / gif; base64, https: //www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Motorola Edge 2x zoom Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The Motorola Edge's camera is just not very consistent, although the hardware is good and it can take some great photos under the right conditions. It's probably all software-related, which means future updates can bring improvements, but the Edge's camera isn't currently inspiring you to use it.

Power and battery

The Motorola Edge does not use Qualcomm's flagship Snapdragon 865 chipset, but the Snapdragon 765G chipset. This will make many think that this is a “middle range”, but real-world performance is anything but. Ordinary, everyday tasks like taking photos, using email, making calls, and checking social media apps are as fluid and fast as you want them to be.

Geekbench 5: 1785 Multi Core / 573 Single Core

3DMark Sling Shot Extreme: 2800 (volcano)

The situation is different with the benchmark results. The closest competitor to the Motorola Edge is the OnePlus 8, which houses the Snapdragon 865 chipset, and which exceeds these numbers. Even the aging Asus Zenfone 6 with last year's Snapdragon 855 processor leaves the Motorola in the dust. However, it beats the Samsung Galaxy A51.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

However, the poor benchmark numbers do not lead to slowness. Asphalt 9 Legends is solid if you don't crank up the graphics properly, and DariusBurst is great too. No, the Motorola Edge isn't really for hardcore gamers, but it's okay for casual gaming. Motorola has added a game mode that minimizes distractions, as well as an option for virtual shoulder buttons that are easily programmable for individual games.

Motorola did the right thing with the Edge battery. It has a capacity of 4,500 mAh and it is absolutely no problem to take two full days, sometimes saving energy. However, if you add a few video calls, you will need to charge them sometime in the evening of the second day. Although my phone is currently mostly connected to Wi-Fi, the Edge typically ended a normal day with more than 60% remaining power, even when connected to a smartwatch and using voice calls, photos, and app usage. This is an excellent achievement.

It is quickly charged with the supplied charger with 18 W. Charging from zero to full takes almost an hour and 40 minutes and only reaches 26% after 20 minutes. There are faster charging systems, and unfortunately the Edge doesn't have wireless charging. Since my area is not a 5G coverage area, I was unable to test the Edge's 5G connectivity. However, I had no problems with regular calls and 4G LTE reception, but Wi-Fi sometimes failed when I was further away from my router. Many will also like to look at the bottom of the phone and see a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Price, guarantee and availability

The Motorola Edge costs £ 549 or about $ 695 and can currently be pre-ordered in the UK on Motorola's own website through the O2 network, as well as from retailers such as Amazon and Argos. A publication in the United States has been cited, but there are no details at the time of writing.

Our opinion

The Motorola Edge has strong advantages and disadvantages. The size, performance, and screen are excellent, and long battery life is a serious advantage, the camera is decent, and the price is reasonable because the phone has 5G for the future. These benefits pay off every day and make it very easy to live with. Elsewhere, it's not as good as it should be due to software and security vulnerabilities, but some aspects could be improved in the future by software updates.

Is there a better alternative?

The major challenger to the Motorola Edge is the OnePlus 8. In the UK, it costs £ 599, or $ 699 in the US. While not the most exciting phone you can buy today, it is very reliable and extremely powerful. It has 5G, ready for the future and more power than the Edge. This is the better buy unless you can upgrade to the OnePlus 8 Pro at £ 799 (or $ 899). Spend a little more again and the Samsung Galaxy S20 for $ 999 (or £ 799) is a great phone. If you haven't opted for Android, the Apple iPhone 11 is also an excellent buy for $ 699 or £ 729 with great camera, design, software, and battery life.

How long it will take?

While 5G is not an advantage at the moment, it will become more desirable in the near future and the Motorola Edge ensures that you are ready for the day without spending a fortune. It's moderately durable with Gorilla Glass 5 on the front and plastic on the back, but as I have already noticed, it can be scratched fairly quickly. According to Motorola, the phone is water-repellent, but does not offer an IP protection class. This means it's okay when it rains, but not if you drop it in the bathtub.

According to Motorola, the Edge is guaranteed to get Android 11, but according to the company, it is not certain whether one will arrive afterwards. Based on that, you should only expect one big Android update after purchase, and that's not great.

Should you buy one?

Yes, despite the inconvenience, the everyday life of the Motorola Edge is excellent overall, so it is still worth buying if you are interested in the screen and design.

Editor's recommendations




21 May
Blog

Blink Mini Review: Slim On Features, Light On Price

blink mini review 3 of 6

Blink Mini Review: Light functions, low price

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

  • Affordable costs

  • Easy setup

  • Crunchy sounding audio

  • Soft looking video footage

  • Favorable construction

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

Easy setup

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

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

The basics of privacy

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

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

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

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

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

A boring design

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

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

Soft in detail

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

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

Our opinion

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

Is there a better alternative?

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

How long it will take?

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

Should you buy it

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

Editor's recommendations




13 May
Blog

Microsoft Surface Earbuds Review: Productivity For A Price

Microsoft Surface Earbuds

Micorsoft Surface Earbuds

"As a productivity tool, Surface Earbuds offer solid value."

  • Integration with Microsoft 365

  • IPX4 waterproof

  • Eight hours of audio playback

  • Aesthetically unique design

  • No noise cancellation

  • Value depends on the brand

Microsoft has taken a chance with its new Surface Earbuds. One of the largest technology companies in the world could try to survive in a new area by beating its competitors in its own game. Or it could double on its own brand and rely on creating a truly unique experience.

You can probably guess which direction Microsoft is headed.

The $ 200 Surface Earbuds are here and come at a lot cheaper than the price at which they were originally launched in late 2019 – $ 250.Microsoft marketed and integrated them as a pair of real wireless earbuds made almost exclusively for professional use the new buds as creatively as possible in its own software. The company accidentally raised an important question: Can the surface earbuds be the ultimate productivity buds and thrive as everyday wearables?

Out of the box

The packaging for the Microsoft Surface Earbuds is classically minimalist: a white box with a single image of the buds even on the top. The glossy white charging case with the Microsoft logo is located under the lid. The buds rest inside with a USB-C charging cable, two additional pairs of earplugs, and product documents.

Microsoft Surface EarbudsNick Woodard / Digital Trends

The surface earphones are set up in one of two ways – simple or super simple. If you've ever paired wireless earphones with your smartphone, this process is no different. However, if you pair the Surface Earbuds with a Surface PC, Microsoft has a Swift Pair feature to make the connection much easier. This feature is similar to the quick connect features of Google Pixel Buds 2 and Apple AirPods, and is a trend we'd love to see more of in the future.

Microsoft has its own Surface Audio app with useful but not essential video tutorials. Without firmware updates and a supplied equalizer, you could completely do without the app and not miss much.

Surface earbuds support connections to multiple devices, so switching between your phone and computer is not a problem. As for the connections themselves, I did not notice any significant dropouts during the review period. This included cases where I left my phone in the house and ventured into my humble garden.

design

Part of me is inexplicably fascinated by the aesthetics of the surface earbuds. Another part of me wants to bring the whole design back to the drawing board. Of course there is a lot to unpack here.

Microsoft Surface EarbudsNick Woodard / Digital Trends

The description of the buds we gave at the company's Surface Hardware event in October 2019 remains accurate – from the outside, they resemble measuring earrings. Granted, I've never been a fan of this actual earring style. But when I go back to earbud design, I find that kind of groundbreaking look very appealing.

There is a soft silicone earplug on the other side of the touch-sensitive outer pane. I swapped the original tips for the smaller version to give the buds a safer feel in my ears. According to Microsoft, the Surface Earbuds have four anchor points to ensure the most effective fit possible.

Ironically, my design complaint is about fit. These are heavy buds; At 7.3 grams each, they're stronger than most of the competition, including those from Apple and Google, as well as the Samsung Galaxy Buds + and Amazon Echo Buds, and they extend slightly outside the ear. Both are relatively small and forgivable topics. What is annoying is that buds offered as workhorses simply don't have the secure fit to take on this role – especially when the wearer is training.

I've tried running with these buds twice, and both times I got into a swamp because I had to constantly readjust them during my run. I have not ruled out having bulky ear canals, although I have not encountered these problems in any of the buds that I have recently checked. Regardless, it's one of those bugs that gets worse every time, and it leaves a sour taste in terms of usability.

To be fair, press materials for the Surface Earbuds refrained from mentioning sports compatibility and made it clear that they were simply not intended for this type of activity. However, if you are considering spending $ 200 on earphones, this is an important distinction. You will not run with them or participate in high-intensity workouts.

properties

The standard functions of the Surface Earbuds are competitive, but not unique: IPX4 water resistance, eight hours of battery life with three additional charging processes and touch controls for completing tasks such as changing music, making calls and interacting with intelligent assistants, including Microsoft's own Cortana. Aside from an auto pause when pulling out a bud, which is oddly MIA, the Surface Earbuds have numerous features that help them measure themselves against the industry giants.

Microsoft Surface EarbudsNick Woodard / Digital Trends

Honestly, if that were all the Surface Earbuds had to offer, I would recommend looking elsewhere. There are other options that perform these functions as well, and in some cases better, to reduce the burden on the old bank account. Fortunately, it’s the capabilities of Surface Earbuds when used with Microsoft 365 that put them in a separate class.

If you run an iOS device with the Surface Earbuds, you can listen to, delete and reply to emails on the go thanks to the "Play my emails" function in the Outlook mobile app. Are you looking for something that is a bit more innovative? Using the earphones with PowerPoint on a PC offers the possibility to activate live subtitles and subtitles, both of which can be translated into one of more than 60 different languages.

Granted, this may be a niche advantage rather than a common feature – at the moment I have to assume that most everyday Surface Earbuds owners don't have to translate their presentations into different languages. It is still a good option if the reason ever shows up.

Most of all, I think Microsoft's dictation feature is the most appropriate. In programs like PowerPoint, Outlook, and Microsoft Word, you can use your voice to dictate content while Microsoft is writing it down for you. It is not a perfect tool as you might expect. Based on my experience, I have corrected some grammatical errors here and there. This function is already available from Microsoft without the buds themselves being needed. However, I found that the two built-in microphones on each earphone recorded my speech more effectively, and I was able to write this section of the review almost entirely with dictations.

As far as I know, the Microsoft Word app does not currently support dictation, so this is not a mobile-friendly function. However, this could change in the future and leave the door open to improve an already fascinating function. In terms of productivity, this could really be a game changer with a few tweaks.

Audio quality

Call quality is the most important component of the audio quality of Surface Earbuds, if you follow Microsoft's mantra to get things done. According to my tests, the microphones mentioned above do an excellent job in each bud by both picking up your voice and playing down background noise.

Microsoft Surface EarbudsNick Woodard / Digital Trends

For music playback and other content, the Surface Earbuds are equipped with 13.6 mm drivers (relatively large for earphones), which can be operated in a frequency range from 20 to 20,000 Hz. They support SBC and aptX audio codecs and offer what Microsoft has called the "Surface Omnisonic Sound Profile" to improve the sound.

The resulting sound quality is … good. The sizeable drivers handle the low end well, and the music in general is wonderfully clear. Overall, Microsoft has achieved a performance that is almost identical to the mainstream functions: a sound that does not surpass its competitors, but sounds objectively good enough to sit at the table. The problem is that Microsoft grabbed one of the most expensive chairs in the house. The fact that Microsoft lowered the retail price for the Surface Earbuds between the autumn release and the spring release is a sense of self-awareness. However, this is a band aid rather than a long-term solution.

The surface earbuds lose brownie points because they have no active noise cancellation, let alone effective passive noise isolation. It goes without saying that I have not yet commuted with these, but a morning walk through a busy street made a lot of noise penetrate my listening experience. Sure, you can turn up the volume to drown things out. At normal listening levels, however, you'll hear the outside world in addition to your podcasts and playlists.

Our opinion

When used as a work environment tool in conjunction with Microsoft's own devices and software, the Surface Earbuds offer solid value and an experience that no other pair of buds can currently offer. They are simply not the most flexible real wireless option for the money, and it is not realistic to expect it.

Are there any better alternatives?

They are hard to beat in terms of productivity. But when things like audio quality, battery life or usability come into play, the locks open. The $ 179 Google Pixel Buds 2, $ 129 Amazon Echo Buds, and $ 150 Samsung Galaxy Buds + offer better values ​​for what they offer. The Sony WF-1000XM3 currently only costs $ 30 more than the Surface Earbuds and is our preferred wireless earbud overall.

How long will they last?

It helps to be Microsoft here. Without considering the Surface Earbuds' one-year limited hardware warranty, these buds were born with Microsoft's reputation for making well-built devices. Expect the surface earphones to last a long time if they are well cared for.

Should you buy them

Yes, but only if you're looking for earbuds that can really act as a productivity tool, and for a good one. Otherwise, you will find buds for a better value that better suits your needs.

Editor's recommendations




02 May
Blog

Sony PlayStation 4 Pro Review 2020: 4K at a Price

PlayStation 4 bundle

PlayStation 4 Pro 1 TB console

"PlayStation 4 Pro is the first console to take 4K UHD gaming seriously."

  • 4K games for less than $ 500

  • Improves the display of selected PlayStation VR titles

  • All games run a little better than the standard PS4

  • Also looks good on 1080p TVs

  • Supports all PS4 games

  • HDR can be very difficult to set up

  • Few titles offer 4K support at launch

  • No 4K Blu-ray player

Sony's PlayStation4 Pro was the first of its kind for game consoles when it launched in November 2016. Thanks to a better graphics card and other hardware improvements, she was able to process the gameplay with 4K UHD resolution and high dynamic range (HDR).

Unlike previous hardware leaps for game consoles, however, the Pro is still a PlayStation 4 at its core. Games or game modes that cannot be found on a standard start console cannot be played. Instead, the Pro gives players who care about graphics and resolution the privilege of knowing that their games are doing as well as they can.

The console doesn't offer everything you need to make it the heart of a high-end media system.

PlayStation 4 Pro has been largely successful in this regard. When played on a 4K TV, the PS4 Pro looks sharper and more detailed. The games also run more smoothly on a standard Full HD set. It's the best PS4 you can buy right now.

On the other hand, Sony's decision to give players the opportunity to maximize the performance of their consoles has opened Pandora's box. Outputting the console with 4K HDR is a complicated and expensive process that most people just won't do, at least not until 4K UHD TVs become cheaper and HDR becomes a widespread standard.

Nothing prevents you from buying a PlayStation 4 Pro and taking advantage of the performance advantages that it naturally offers. However, these improvements are minor: you may see more pixels and save a few seconds less load time, but the cost is an additional $ 100 to $ 150 that is missing in your pocket. More importantly, the complexity of setting up the PS4 Pro (which is not always easy) means that you are giving up the greatest strength that video game consoles have over PCs: the ability to plug and play.

We need a bigger box!

Physically speaking, the PS4 Pro does not differ significantly from its new counterpart, the PS4 "Slim". It has the same sharp, sloping design, but with three "slates" instead of two. The pro is not as big as you can imagine. At 295 x 327 x 55 mm, it's two inches wider and two inches lower than the original PS4. At 7.3 pounds, it's also a pound heavier than the original PS4 and almost three pounds more than the Slim. On the other hand, it's a console that just sits under your TV most of the time. Who cares?

It also has some additional ports: the optical drive and two USB 3.1 ports on the front are standard PS4, but the Pro has an additional USB 3.1 port on the back, which is useful if you have a PSVR headset . To record the 4K signal, the HDMI port of the Pro is HDMI 2.0. The Pro also has an optical port that was included in the original PS4 but was removed from the "Slim".

Interestingly, the PS4 Pro's optical drive is the same as the PS4's, which means that unlike the more powerful Xbox Series X, it doesn't support 4K Blu-ray. The console can stream 4K HDR content from apps like Netflix and Hulu, but lack of support means the console doesn't do everything you need to make it the heart of a high-end media system.

When played on a 4K UHD TV, the PS4 Pro looks sharper and more detailed.

The real changes are inside. The PS4 Pro has an AMD Radeon graphics card with 4.20 teraflop (TFLOP), which is a serious improvement. Like the standard PS4, it has an 8-core AMD x86-64 Jaguar processor, but the clock speed has been increased to 2.1 GHz. Like the original PS4, it has 8 GB of DDR5 RAM, but also has an additional gigabyte of DDR3 RAM to manage temporary memory states for open games and apps. The Pro comes with a 1TB hard drive that, like the PS4, can be replaced with any 2.5-inch SATA hard drive.

The bottom line is that the technical upgrade of the Pro is more than just cosmetic. Even without software support from individual developers, games and apps run more smoothly and loading times can be shortened. Some games that push the game hardware to its limits (or have been poorly optimized) stutter less or see less frame rate losses. At the same time, this isn't the kind of leap that a new generation of games like the PS5 will allow later this year with far more powerful specs than the PS4. Even if Sony allowed PS4 Pro exclusively, these games would not be much bigger or more content than what we are now playing with the next generation on the way to release. The improved graphics card could lead to sharper, more detailed games over time, but that's it.

Radiant happy people

The main advantage of the PS4 Pro is the ability to play games with 4K UHD resolution. Games look better in 4K UHD than standard 1080p Full HD games. The 4K advantage increases the details of every wall, every face, every weapon, every vehicle – everything looks sharper. Even older games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 3, one of the few 4K-compatible games before Pro launched, look much better. This detail mostly comes into play when you see objects up close – you can stare at a close-up of a person's face and see every pore – but you will still see less detailed textures if you are vigilant.

As long as you have a 4K UHD television, playing a game in 4K is very easy: the console automatically scales your resolution to 4K when connected, as does your resolution on the standard PS4.

Each game also requires a patch that enables 4K support. Before the console launched, there were minimal 4K-capable games, less than 10. This number has increased significantly in the years since the Pro launched, but the changes are not consistent at all levels.

PlayStation 4 Pro test "data-image-id =" 1076712Julian Chokkattu / Digital Trends

Julian Chokkattu / Digital Trends

When it comes to 4K support, every game is different. Although many suggested 4K patches just seem to activate high-resolution mode, some games offer new setting options. With The Witness, for example, you can choose to run the frame rate at 4K at a frame rate of 30 frames per second (fps) or 1440p at a scaling of 4K and a frame rate of 60 frames per second.

Xbox One S can also scale up games to 4K. However, there are currently no 4K native games, and most games continue to render at or below 1080p, just like the original Xbox One. Skyrim: Special Edition is rendered at 4K on the PS4 Pro, and other games like Titanfall 2 and The Last Of Us get a resolution boost.

In many cases, the increase in resolution increases the image quality to a certain extent in 4K and 1080p devices. When using a 4K set, the increased render resolution means less likelihood of softness or upscaled artifacts. And if you have a 1080p TV, the game can “Super Sample”, which means that it will be rendered at a higher resolution and then scaled down to 1080p. The result is a sharper and cleaner picture.

Of course, this is all a bit confusing. While many games “just look better” when you connect the PS4 Pro, you may have to tweak the settings to make the games “work properly”. This is not a problem – more choice is generally a good thing – but like adding patches and other PC-style system functions to consoles, the function transfers more decisions to you and you need to do more research on the technical aspects of games . After launch, Sony also added a “boost mode” to the Pro that supports games with no special support for the Pro with higher frame rates. Unfortunately, the function is far from perfect: the results of “boosting” vary from game to game, and Sony has recognized that there may be unforeseen errors that add more trial and error to your console. This is a blessing on the PC, where you can use these distinctions to customize your hardware, but on a console it feels more like a burden.

Shinier, sadder people

Both the PlayStation 4 and PS4 Pro support a high dynamic range, so this is not just an advantage of the PS4 Pro. However, since HDR is only available in a subset of 4K televisions and the PS4 Pro was originally shown with 4K and HDR to improve the picture consistency of the console, this is an important and very questionable aspect of the possibilities of the console.

With HDR support, Sony has led players into the complicated world of competing, unregulated software standards. HDR is a separate feature from 4K, which is largely unpublished and is difficult to identify when buying a TV. There are also different forms of HDR: The PS4 Pro requires HDR 10, which differs from "HDR Premium". There's also a competing standard, Dolby Vision, that is similar, but doesn't work with a PS4 Pro.

Even if you buy a compatible TV, there is a good chance that there will be frustrating technical issues that can affect or prevent your ability to play games with HDR. Although it varies from model to model and from brand to brand, it seems that models can have compatibility problems. Some of them seem to be related to the firmware. In November 2016, LG released a firmware patch for some of its TVs that specifically addressed issues with the PS4 Pro.

For this test, we tested the PS4 Pro with a set of Samsung 8 that meets the specifications of the console. The TV was able to register 4K and HDR in other devices. With the PS4 Pro, however, the device recognized the HDR connection, but was unable to maintain it properly. The problem was partially fixed when Samsung technicians replaced the TV's motherboard, but HDR was still not compatible with every setting.

All of these roadblocks render HDR practically unusable, which is a shame.

While it would be easy to attribute this to a defective TV, it should be noted that the problem would not have occurred without the PS4 Pro's technical eccentricities. While TV manufacturers have been working to make their HDR devices PS4 Pro compatible, it can be rightly said that each person has their own problems pairing the console with a television.

In addition, the PS4 Pro must be connected directly to your TV to support HDR. HDR content cannot be viewed through a switcher, receiver, or pass-through. This limitation, which I believe is rare, if not unprecedented, will be a serious barrier to entry for anyone using surround sound or other high quality home theater equipment. Given the specialization of technology, it's not crazy to think that many people who can use HDR want to use it in conjunction with a speaker system.

Even in ideal circumstances, enabling HDR can be more complicated than setting up 4K. Although the PS4 Pro makes it as easy as possible, enabling the feature on your TV may require a deep dive into the settings and a lot of trial and error. TV manufacturers seem to combine 4K UHD (Ultra HD) and HDR. This varies from sentence to sentence, but is complicated and there is no intuitive roadmap to get it going.

All of these roadblocks render HDR practically unusable, which is a shame. Based on what we saw at the PS4 Pro reveal event, where we saw the PS4 Pro along with 4K and HDR, and our review unit, where we only played in 4K, HDR is certainly the more impressive of the two upgrades. The more dynamic lighting allows you to see over long distances and see subtle details in light and dark places that would be hidden in standard HD.

Become "Pro" in VR

The PlayStation 4 Pro can also improve the way PSVR games work, regardless of what TV you have. According to Sony's Mark Cerny, the PS4 Pro does not automatically lead to technical improvements without special support that is integrated into individual games. Based on our testing, we have generally found that this is the case. Although games may try to use PS4 Pro to improve PSVR in different ways, the additional graphical performance seems to allow the headset to display more detailed renderings at a higher resolution.

Warranty information

The PlayStation 4 Pro comes with a one-year limited manufacturer warranty.

Our opinion

Before you buy a PS4 Pro, you have to ask and answer a lot of questions if you want to get the most out of the console. Do you have a 4K HDR 10 TV? Does this TV have an HDMI port on the physical device? Are you using a receiver or switcher for audio? Are you interested in 4K Blu-Rays? Do you own or plan to buy PSVR? Is it better to just wait for the PS5 to be released later this year?

If you don't answer all of these questions correctly, the improvements you'll see on the PlayStation 4 Pro can be costly. The PS4 Pro is undoubtedly the best version of the PlayStation 4, but it's not that much better that you should feel compelled to upgrade when a better new console is on its way soon.

Is there a better alternative?

It depends on your situation. The standard PS4 can play all games, so you won't miss any titles with the cheaper price. In this case, the Pro is only intended for those who want to get the most out of their 4K TV. Otherwise, the only alternatives at the moment are the Xbox One X or a gaming PC, but you'll miss out on amazing exclusive products like Persona 5 Royal and Final Fantasy 7 Remake.

How long it will take?

Not at all for very long. The release of the PS5 is planned for this holiday, provided there are no problems with the production or the start. Therefore, the clock on the PS4 Pro and this generation generally runs out. There will probably be some intergenerational games at the beginning of the next generation, but it will only take that long.

Should you buy it

Maybe if you don't have a PS4 yet and want to experience the huge library of excellent games. Otherwise, just wait for the PS5, which is backward compatible with many PS4 games and has its own set of exclusive games.

This article was last updated on April 28, 2020 by Cody Perez, a Digital Trends employee.

Editor's recommendations




29 Apr
Blog

Level Lock Review: Innovation at a Significant Price

Level lock in the door

Level Lock Review: A furtive, expensive Smart Lock

"A miracle of technology that stores all the components of an intelligent lock."

  • Discreet, minimalist design

  • Quick installation

  • Shared access with guests

  • Locks itself automatically

  • Expensive

  • Can't tell if the door stays open

Intelligent locks have become more sophisticated. Some high-end models offer fingerprint unlocking, shared access codes, traffic jam protection, and other innovative features. While they all strive to provide comfort and security to homeowners, they all have one thing in common: a distinctive design. You know that the striking properties make it an intelligent lock, e.g. B. a digital / physical keyboard that is clearly positioned in front of a door.

This can accidentally make them targets, especially for some crafty hackers with a shameful agenda. Who wants to come home to find a compromised Smart Lock? Against this trend, the Level Lock pays off as an invisible Smart Lock and represents a drastic departure from its competitors.

Complete the installation in less than 10 minutes

The beauty of Level Lock is its quick and easy installation, which took no more than 10 minutes to complete. From start to finish, the process is far more rational than any other Smart Lock installation I've done. All you have to do is replace the latch, install the new motor and then attach the lock housing.

All components are hidden and invisible, so my door has the same look and finish as before – something I can't say about other smart locks. How is it powered? There is a single CR2 battery that fits discreetly into the latch and enables the six-stage stainless steel transmission to operate. Although this is unusual, the “normal” use of the CR2 battery is designed to last for more than a year. So far it has taken me two months, but there is no indication in the app of how much juice is left.

The best thing about the level lock is that you can't tell it's just a smart lock by just looking at the door. So there is no reason for anyone to deal with it. You still use most of the original components of your existing lock, such as the rotary knob, the lock cylinder and the keys.

Simple functions

Unlike its contemporaries, the level lock pales in comparison to features, especially when you consider the price of $ 249. It works just like any other smart lock because you can lock / unlock it with a smartphone. As for the rest? There is the automatic locking function that locks my door within a set period of time after the break. It's useful when you're in a hurry, but even the longest setting (1 minute) is pretty short – so it would be nice to have longer options.

All components are hidden and not visible.

Homeowners will appreciate Level Lock's shared access via an invitation. This is useful if you plan to be away and need a friend, neighbor, or family member to check your place – or if you happen to offer your home on Airbnb. You can grant them either administrator or guest rights and set specific dates and times for access to the lock.

Apple users get an additional incentive because the level lock supports HomeKit and gives iPhone or Apple Watch owners the ability to lock / unlock by asking Siri to do so. It's a shame that Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant are not supported. I have turned to Level and although there are plans to expand to other platforms in the future, there are currently no details.

These functions have been standard with standard smart locks so far, and an obvious omission would notify me if my door stays ajar. In all cases where I have deliberately kept it open, the automatic locking function is activated and the locking process is initiated – even though the door is open. I would expect a smart lock to be smart enough to determine whether a door is actually closed or not, but that doesn't happen here. Notifications will be sent to me if the lock is blocked and cannot be locked completely.

A hollow bar

As mentioned above, Level can achieve a minimalist design by hollowing out the latch to act as a battery compartment at the same time. The integrity of the lock is addressed. I haven't tried to kick my door down to test it yet, but Level assures that it is built from the ground up for strength and durability. The company is even brave enough to claim that it exceeds the highest industry standards and has been stress-tested for over 1,000,000 cycles to maintain its structural and operational shape.

Level Lock hollow boltJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

Our opinion

The level lock doesn't seem to differ too much from its competitors due to its list of features, but it does set a technical benchmark for design. That alone makes it bothersome and innovative.

Is there a better alternative?

For the price? Yes! The level lock is expensive at $ 229. In the same price range, the Lockly Secure Pro for $ 300 offers an extensive range of features such as fingerprint unlocking and a digital keyboard for access for a little more.

Conversely, at the other end of the spectrum is the $ 100 Wyze Lock. You save a lot more for the same functions as the level lock.

How long it will take?

There is a two-year limited warranty that covers material and workmanship defects under normal use.

Should you buy it

Yes. The level lock is hidden in your door. There is no keyboard outside your door that makes it clear that it is an intelligent lock.

Editor's recommendations




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