13 May
Blog

Lunges : The Perfect Guide to Perform Like a Pro

A lunge is a one-legged or one-sided workout that mainly focuses on building your physical strength and increasing your muscle mass. This exercise mainly works your hamstrings, quadriceps, calves, abs, glutes, and back muscles.

They help to a great extent in toning your body, mainly your core, legs, and buttocks. They also help maintain body stability, posture and freedom of movement. Lunge steps are also a great exercise now for reducing your body fat, burning calories, and increasing your resting body's metabolism. Additionally, performing lunges will help increase your core strength and reduce the risk of injury during daily and athletic activities.

Below is the perfect guide on how to perform lunges efficiently and efficiently.

How to do lunges like a pro:

Directions:

1. First, always stand straight with your feet hip-width apart and your core locked into place. This is your starting position.

2. Then step forward with your right leg and try to bring all of your body weight forward so that your heel touches the floor first and your leg is perpendicular to the floor.

3. Now lower your body further until your right shin is vertical and your right thigh is parallel to the floor.

4. Then lift your right leg to return to the starting position.

Repeat with your left leg.

Common mistakes when making lunges:

1. You always have a tendency to align your front leg with your back leg, which ultimately reduces stability and you can fall.

2. You often bend your chest forward as you bend your knees, causing a loss of body balance.

3. You often have a tendency to take a very shallow step, which can put strain on your knee.

Variations of lunges:

Once you've become more familiar with the classic lunges, there are always some of the following variations that you can try:

1. Walking lunges

This variation of lunges is great when you are ready to encourage more balance and coordination in your body. It works primarily on your hips, core and glutes and is very useful for increasing your range of motion and making it easier for you to carry out daily activities. In addition, they are really great for increasing your hip flexibility and body functionality.

2. Knicks lunges

This version of the lunges is known to be the best of all because it helps promote total body strength. It works primarily on your glutes, hamstrings, calves and quads, as well as your inner thigh muscles, and is great at improving the stability and balance of your body. Curtsy Lunges attack your gluteal muscles, back muscles and calves efficiently and contribute to a large extent to reducing your body weight. This workout is also beneficial in reducing the risk of injury and stabilizing your ankles.

3. Reverse lunges

This version of Lunges targets the crucial muscle groups in your lower body – glutes, hamstrings, quads, and calves. They are an excellent exercise for burning your calories and thereby reducing body weight. Since this workout trains both legs individually, it helps your body achieve the right balance and stability. Reverse lunges also tend to strengthen your body core, which automatically reduces the risk of injury.

Frequently asked Questions:

1. Do lunges help burn body fat?

Yes, regular lunges really help in burning your body fat along with many other functions.

2. What are lunges for?

Lunge steps are perfect for maintaining body balance and improving body stability and posture. They are great for increasing your muscle mass, which will help increase your physical strength. They're also great for increasing your range of motion so that you can get on with your daily activities quickly.

3. How many repetitions of lunges should I do?

You should do at least 3-4 sets of 15-20 repetitions per leg, while beginners should start off with 2-3 repetitions of 10-12 repetitions per leg.

4. Do lunges make your butt bigger?

Yes, lunges are known to be one of the most beneficial exercises when looking to build your butt.

28 Apr
Blog

Reolink Argus 3 Pro Review: Flexible Indoor and Outdoor Use

Reolink Argus 3 Pro on the table

"Ultrasharp 2K footage ensures that you know exactly what you are watching."

  • Crisp looking 2K video footage

  • Excellent night vision performance

  • Solar panel add-on doesn't cost much

  • Can easily be converted into an indoor camera

  • Weak dynamic range

  • Antiquated looking app

Reolink has been in the surveillance camera business for a long time, back in 2009 when it launched its first camera. Since then, countless indoor and outdoor cameras have been manufactured serving a wide range of people. Despite its commitment to offering a wide range of equipment, none of Reolink's products has gained the recognition that some of its competitors' offerings have.

If you've seen great outdoor surveillance cameras like the Arlo Pro 4, the Reolink Argus 3 Pro is sure to make the decision a little more difficult. It's packed with 2K video footage, color night vision, local storage, and even power from a solar panel. It's full of goodies that can tempt you with their cost under $ 150.

Razor-sharp 2K video recording

If you're used to getting 1080p footage from security cameras, switching to something with higher resolution is quite a shock. That's exactly how I looked at the 2K video material of the Reolink Argus 3 Pro, which delivers razor-sharp results with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels that exceeded my expectations. I'm seldom moved by the specs of the security cameras, especially when it comes to resolution, but upon checking out the footage, the difference was immediately apparent.

Fine details are well represented throughout the scene and still retain good clarity when you use a digital zoom to get a closer look. I was genuinely surprised at how good the footage looks even with a digital zoom. The only complaint is that the colors are rather muted and the highlights seem a bit blown out. Otherwise, the quality is really good despite the slower frame rate of 15 frames per second (fps) – but this doesn't affect video performance when the lighting conditions are ideal.

Reolink Argus 3 Pro on the wallJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

The night vision performance of the 4 megapixel 1/3 inch CMOS sensor is just as outstanding. The black and white footage is extremely detailed and illuminates well over 25 feet from where it is. There is an option for color night vision, which highlights colors for even better clarity. However, ambient light is required to work. There's a bright spotlight in the Argus 3 Pro that can be activated when motion is detected, but I honestly don't mind the black and white footage because it's so sharp. The only complaint I have is that it has a tighter 122 degree field of view, which is less than some of its competitors.

Antiquated app interface

Launching the Reolink app for Android is a step back in time as it looks so old-fashioned, from the design of the user interface to the general-looking screen icons. At the very least, when you access the live stream, you get a good overview of what the camera is seeing – with the appropriate buttons for manually taking a photo or video. Most of the camera's settings can be accessed by tapping the settings icon in the top right corner of the app.

In the playback section of the user interface, the camera organizes all of the footage that was recorded due to the motion detection. It's organized in a timeline view so you can see all of the clips for a given day. However, it takes a long time to load many thumbnails in this timeline view. Therefore, it will take some time before they are filled out. Fortunately, you can filter the clips based on the items detected to include people, vehicles, and a general "Others" category.

While the UI is functional, I would like a cleaner, more modern application. This is just too big a retro return to the style of 1990s Windows PCs.

Flexibility indoors and outdoors

Although positioned as an outdoor camera, I really like how the Reolink Argus 3 Pro can be instantly converted to an indoor camera – an important point I want to highlight as other outdoor cameras don't offer this flexibility. This is because it comes with a stand mount that supports it on a shelf, table, or other flat surface for indoor use.

I was genuinely surprised at how good the footage looks even with a digital zoom.

At first glance it looks like an Arlo camera, but the Argus Pro 3 is a bit shorter. The IP65 weatherproof construction can withstand whatever the items have in store, while a hidden microSD slot on the bottom gives users the beauty of local storage. I'm really happy that footage is stored locally, but just know that there is a basic free plan you can subscribe to that covers seven days of cloud video history for one camera – with a cap of 1GB of cloud storage. For even more storage, upgrade to the standard $ 3.49 plan, which includes 30 days of video history and support for up to five cameras.

Reolink Argus 3 Pro on the tableJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

The last thing to mention is the battery life. After a full day, the battery level was 85%, which means it would be completely depleted before the seventh day. (In my experience, it was almost empty by the fifth day.) You can purchase the solar panel as an add-on for $ 25, which will extend the battery life for a longer period of time.

Our opinion

The Reolink Argus Pro 3, while not perfect in every way, offers a tempting package that rivals top-notch cameras like the one Arlo Pro 4. It offers excellent clarity and detail while delivering the convenience of any modern camera in a package that doesn't exceed $ 150. For that amount, it is very difficult to find a camera with 2K video resolution, color night vision and a solar panel that will make you charge less often.

How long it will take?

As I mentioned earlier, its IP65 rating makes it perfect for outdoor weather. Unlike its competitors, Reolink offers a generous two-year limited warranty that covers it against defects.

Is there a better alternative?

For the cost, it is difficult to find an outdoor camera with these specifications and the flexibility to be used both inside and outside the home. Despite the higher cost, the Arlo Pro 4 still has an advantage due to its superior dynamic range. It is better suited for high contrast scenes that are problematic with the Reolink camera.

Should you buy it?

You should definitely buy it as it will give you great video quality and save you money in the process.

Editor's recommendations




01 Apr
Blog

Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 Review: Within Radar Range

Doorbell video doorbell guide

Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2

"Ring best rang the doorbell and added a bump to the key specs. Then there was radar! "

  • High resolution

  • High quality video day and night

  • User-friendly installation

  • Radar detection

Ring's latest video doorbell builds on previous successes and adds a new dimension to its bag of tricks: radar, which currently seems to be all the rage in the smart home industry. Ring hopes that with the addition of radar, motion tracking will be even more accurate and gaming more fun. It's a nice demonstration for sure, but how useful is it? I wanted to find out.

When you compare the Ring Video Doorbell Pro to the Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2, there are few physical differences. They basically look the same. While the horizontal field of view is slightly limited on this newer generation (150 degrees out of 160 degrees), you get a much wider vertical field of view (150 degrees out of 90 degrees). You also get what Ring calls "3D motion detection," which I'll get into in a moment. Ring also increased the resolution of his camera to 1536p HD video. In short, Ring has selected an already outstanding performer and improved it with a new technology. So let's look at how "amplified" it is.

Minor upgrades

But first we should look at the doorbell as a whole. At first glance, most of the upgrades you'll get from the previous generation Ring Video Doorbell Pro are minor. You get more resolution and more field of view, but there isn't much beyond that. That's just because the Ring Doorbell Pro already sets a very high bar. It's not surprising that Ring built radar into this generation as anything else would be hard to top.

Ring video doorbell guide image

The Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 still gives you an immersive installation experience with voice prompts as opposed to cryptic beeps or messages displayed on your phone. You get the great experience with the Ring software including the Neighbors app, the cameras provide great clarity during the day and night, and the reduced horizontal field of view is not that much reduced so you can still see everything outside your door.

The video quality is still pretty clear. This generation increased the resolution to 1536p, which is the highest ever. During the day, the videos are crisp and hardly have a fish-eye effect at the edges. Color rendering is good if a touch on the cool side. The picture is very balanced even in bright sunshine. At night, the camera is able to generate colors in poor lighting conditions that switch to IR if necessary. In short, the camera is very good.

Alexa as a concierge

One feature that isn't new to the Ring Video Doorbell Pro range (but was new to me) was using Alexa to open the door. When someone rings your doorbell, Alexa can enter after a set time and greet your visitor for you. Alexa is quite limited in this capacity; You can choose from a number of pre-selected messages. For example, Alexa can instruct a parcel handler where to leave the delivery, or she can ask your neighbor to leave a message.

I would have liked a little more artificial intelligence (A.I.) to be involved here. Stir in facial recognition and parcel recognition and you can get yourself a nice virtual butler on your doorstep. As much as Amazon wants to bring Alexa to any device under the sun, I would expect Alexa to be a little smarter here.

You don't even need Alexa to say, "Please leave the package at the door." It's just a recorded message. In fact, I'd argue that recording a message that says, "I can't get to the door, but can you leave the package in the garage" is more secure than a generic Alexa message. I think after all this time I just want Alexa to be a lot smarter.

Your front door in 3D

One of the highlights of the latest generation of doorbells from Amazon is the so-called "3D motion detection". It uses radar built into the doorbell to let you know where the action you see on your video feed is actually taking place. If you watch the live feed or a replay of a previous event, you will see a bird's eye view of your home (read: satellite view) with dots on the map showing where the action took place. Amazon claims it can detect movement up to 30 feet. I clocked it closer to 20, but that's still pretty impressive. In some cases, the radar detected my dog ​​before she jumped onto the quarterdeck and could be seen clearly. Rings radar knew something was back there.

It works like this: While your subject is moving in the frame, a trace of dots is displayed on the small map in the corner of the image. The map can be moved, but its size cannot be changed. This does not necessarily have to be the case, since the card only serves to provide the context for the image moving on the screen. The dots disappear as your subject moves, giving you a sense of movement and direction. It is really very chic.

The key value here is frankly lost to me as I have a pretty good sense of direction and depth. If I watch a video of someone walking around my front yard, I can tell exactly where they are. This is not the case with all. Not everyone is wired to look at a 2D image and find out exactly where something is going on. The bird's eye view and a series of points showing where movement is taking place give the viewer much more context as to where the action is taking place.

This is one of the top three doorbells you can buy right now.

How useful this is ultimately depends on the user. It sure is a nice addition. But is it worth an extra $ 100? I'm not sure. I know exactly what Ring is doing here, and it can be interesting. However, I don't consider it a flagship nor a reason to upgrade from an earlier generation doorbell.

Our opinion

Overall, this is the best video doorbell Ring has made. It's a bit pricey at $ 250, and as I said in my review on the Arlo Essential Wireless Video Doorbell, video doorbell prices have been going down lately. That doorbell flies in the face of that. The main reason for purchasing this doorbell over the original Ring Video Doorbell Pro is its radar capability. While this does add some feature and context to your video, it's hard to say that it definitely adds value to the doorbell, let alone worth more than $ 100.

Fortunately, that's not all the new doorbell adds. You also get degradation in video resolution and field of view. When you put all of this together, it will be easier to see where your money is going. Ring already had one of the best video doorbells out there, and adding it makes everything even better. It's not enough to upgrade from the original Pro to the new one. However, if you are looking for a new video doorbell in the market, this is one you should consider.

Is there a better alternative?

There is no better doorbell that uses radar technology because there is no other doorbell. The Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro gives you a better field of view and the last generation Ring Video Doorbell Pro gives you better value for money when the radar isn't exciting for you. The Arlo Essential doorbell gives you a similar software experience, but it lacks the Neighbors app. Put it all together and this is one of the top three doorbells you can buy right now in terms of the total package.

How long it will take?

The construction of the Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 is very robust. It is similar to previous generations and has the same operating temperature range and limited warranty. I wouldn't worry how that doorbell is going to hold. It will surely take you a while.

Should I buy it?

Yes. This is one of the best video doorbells you can buy today. They are expensive but cheaper alternatives that you may or may not be okay with. If you already have a bell, you probably don't need to upgrade to this one. If you want to save a few dollars, use the original Ring Video Doorbell Pro. Otherwise, this should be at the top of your list.

Editor's recommendations




01 Apr
Blog

Amazfit T-Rex Pro Review: Waiting for Evolution

amazfit t rex pro evaluation bag

Amazfit T-Rex Pro Review: Far from extinct, but having difficulty evolving

"A shorter than promised battery life and the same design as the old version dampen the craze for the Amazfit T-Rex Pro, but a reasonable price, reliable software and strong activity tracking keep it from extinction."

  • Comprehensive activity tracking

  • Reliable, easy to use software

  • Acceptable price

  • Robust and waterproof

  • The battery life is not as advertised

  • No design changes compared to the previous model

Amazfit has made a name for itself with a range of affordable, attractive and easy-to-use smartwatches like the GTR 2 and is now back with the Amazfit T-Rex Pro. It's sort of a successor to the T-Rex as of early 2020, but it's not the big evolutionary leap that we'd like to see after a year of waiting.

Repeating the same designs over and over again (the Amazfit GT series basically all look the same too) is not what we expect these days and while this may help keep the price down, it doesn't really generate much interest or concern Excitement. Let's take a closer look at the T-Rex Pro to see if we should ignore the lack of imagination or if Amazfit needs inspiration.

design

Have you seen the Amazfit T-Rex? Good, because the T-Rex Pro looks almost identical. One minor change has changed the impression the watch makes and that is the different bezel treatment. The bezel on the T-Rex on my test unit was made of black plastic and looked cheap and nasty. The bezel of the T-Rex Pro has a contrasting gray color and has been given a “metal spray” effect. It has a slightly more elegant style than the old version.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Otherwise the shape, size and design are the same. The metal buttons have the same texture, the watches basically weigh the same at 59 grams, the Pro's 22mm silicone rubber strap has more texture but the same design, and the 1.3-inch AMOLED screen is the same size and the same 360 ​​x 360 pixel resolution. They are equal.

The T-Rex Pro is built to be tough and can withstand high and low temperatures, moisture, salt and shock. It passed 15 different tests compared to the T-Rex's 12 tests, and is 10 ATM water resistant compared to 5 ATM on the old T-Rex. This all means that the Amazfit T-Rex Pro is a bit of a Casio G-Shock watch, complete with button protection and the oversized 13.5mm thick polycarbonate case, plus some G-Shock-like dials. It is also similar to the Honor Watch GS Pro, but it doesn't look or feel that expensive either.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

I hate it no The strap is comfortable and can be adjusted for all wrist sizes (although the 48mm case isn't suitable for small wrists at all). As someone who really likes G-Shock watches, I don't completely oppose the choice of style, but many will see it as big, ugly, and unsightly. The class that goes with everything is definitely missing, the GTR 2.

What I really disagree with is that the T-Rex Pro is the T-Rex, just with a different color bezel, and even the most optimistic will struggle to label it "brand new". I appreciate that repeating the same design keeps development costs down and therefore the final price is low. Repeating this ad nauseam doesn't create any fuss, however, and that's a serious problem in the competitive world of wearables.

Fitness and activity characteristics

Now I moaned about the design. Surely we get to what makes the T-Rex Pro an upgrade over the T-Rex and maybe see what makes it a Pro. Although the hardware contains the most important upgrades compared to the old smartwatch, these are hardly any massive changes. The heart rate sensor was converted to the optical PPG sensor BioTracker 2 from Amazfit. The watch now has a 3-axis gyroscope that matches the 3-axis accelerometer and a barometer.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The updated BioTracker 2 sensor also measures Sp02 blood oxygen and Amazfit has a clock that supports 100 different training modes. However, this seems to be a software update function that can also be found on the GTR 2e and is not only specific to the T-Rex Pro. Thanks to the sensor upgrades, Amazfit was able to integrate some excellent new functions of the fitness tracking software, which are described in surprising detail on the watch and in the associated Zepp app.

When you track a 30-minute training session, it returns the expected elapsed time, calories burned, and average heart rate. However, you also get more specific data like cadence, average stride, speed, changes in altitude, and heart rate zones. Once done, a recommended recovery time will be provided along with VO2 Max data and data obtained using FirstBeat algorithms. It's comprehensive and for the most part easy to understand, and I love that everything can be viewed on the watch without visiting the app on your phone.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The FirstBeat training effects data highlights a common problem with the fitness tracker. It contains graphs showing your aerobic training effect and anaerobic training effect, as well as your training load. This is all very interesting, but there is very little information about what to do with the data or how to correctly interpret it. When I was forced to look for more information, I was directed to FirstBeat's own website, but found that after reading the information, I really wasn't the wiser.

It is likely that this data would be more helpful, or perhaps just more familiar, to athletes or those engaging in specific sports, but it goes too deep for occasional use without adequate explanation. Otherwise, the T-Rex Pro's activity-related upgrades would have been better than the old model, but would have to come with other improvements to make for a highly desirable upgrade.

Using the T-Rex Pro

The T-Rex Pro uses Amazfit's RTOS software rather than Google's Wear operating system. It is quick to respond, scrolls smoothly for the most part, and the menu system is logically structured. It works by tapping and swiping the screen as well as the very sensible physical buttons. There are four labeled Up, Down, Back, and Select. They do exactly what you'd expect and are big enough to handle gloved fingers.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Notifications are more reliable than Wear OS, although the text is simple and there is no way to reply to or interact with messages on the watch. For each watch face there is an effective screen that is constantly displayed. I like the comprehensive weather reports, and I'm sure climbers will appreciate the barometric pressure data too. It also controls the music on my phone. Best of all, I haven't had any instability or software issues.

The heart rate measurement appears to be accurate. The results from the T-Rex Pro are in line with the numbers from the Apple Watch Series 6. However, it's not as fast as the Apple Watch to measure your heart rate. It also takes longer to get an Sp02 blood oxygen reading, but it mostly gave the same result as the Apple Watch Series 6, but this information is not very helpful for someone who is not halfway up a mountain and worried about altitude sickness.

amazfit t rex pro rating workoutsAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

Notifications from amazfit t rex pro reviewAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

Settings for checking amazfit t rex proAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

amazfit t rex pro rating appsAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

I compared the T-Rex Pro to the Apple Watch on a 30-minute walk, where it matched the average heart rate, but there was a discrepancy of about 200 steps, with the T-Rex counting fewer steps than the Apple Watch. A higher calorie consumption was also estimated. While both are probably not exactly right, the Apple Watch is considered to be one of the most accurate for heart rate and step count data, but the T-Rex Pro's difference isn't drastic.

The Zepp app is the same as the Amazfit GTR 2 and GTR 2e and works with both Android and iOS. It collects your activity data, allows you to customize the functions of the watch, choose apps to send notifications, and perform software updates. It's stayed tightly linked throughout my reporting period. Overall, the software of the Amazfit T-Rex Pro and therefore the owner experience is very good.

battery

If the software is good, what about the battery? It's not that good, and it definitely doesn't keep Amazfit's promises, at least if you intend to take advantage of the features it contains. The company says the 390 mAh battery – unsurprisingly the same as the one in the T-Rex – will last 18 days with typical use and nine days with heavy use. With the screen always on, heart rate and stress monitoring, two 30-minute workouts, and general notifications via notifications, the T-Rex Pro's battery lasted six days. I don't think this is heavy use as I haven't started GPS or exercised for hours.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

I could turn off the constantly on screen and heart rate monitoring which would save battery life (although I would be very surprised if it could suddenly hit 18 days), but what is it about? You buy the watch to use the features, not pretend they don't exist. The claims made by Amazfit about such a long battery life are extremely optimistic in my experience with the T-Rex Pro and other wearables from Amazfit.

Price and availability

The Amazfit T-Rex Pro costs $ 180 or £ 139 and can be purchased through Amazfit's own website. It is covered by a one-year warranty and a 30-day trial period is also granted.

Our opinion

The total lack of imagination in the design of the T-Rex Pro is frustrating. It doesn't have to look exactly like the previous model released over a year ago, especially if the original was hardly a design classic and the hardware upgrades here are just modest. It's a rather lazy update from a company that isn't interested in attracting new buyers. If you didn't like the look of the T-Rex – and anecdotally, a lot of the people I've spoken to didn't – you won't like the T-Rex Pro either.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

There's nothing at all to say "Oh it's the new T-Rex Pro" from the outside and it's a shame as the software, performance and activity tracking is very good. In many ways, the T-Rex Pro gives a Wear OS smartwatch a superior overall experience, and the low price makes it very tempting. Style aside, the main negative point here is battery life. Six days that I think will be widely used isn't bad, but it doesn't live up to what Amazfit claims or it doesn't go well with smartwatches like the Huawei Watch GT2 Pro or most fitness trackers.

Perhaps you're not as into the design aspect as I am and are looking for an inexpensive, outdoor-oriented smartwatch. In this case, the T-Rex Pro does whatever you want with just more visits to the charger than Amazfit tells you to.

Is there a better alternative?

The price of the T-Rex Pro is very cheap. For example, the Honor Watch GS Pro weighs £ 250 and has very similar functionality, although the materials used give it a sense of higher class. Our recommended smartwatches cost a lot more without the toughness. The Apple Watch SE is $ 279, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 is $ 330, and the Mobvoi Ticwatch Pro 3 is $ 300.

If you're not concerned about the rugged exterior, Amazfit's GTR 2e packs most of the same features in a more fashionable, sleeker body and costs just $ 140. If the smartwatch features are less important, a fitness tracker might be better for you. If you like the G-Shock look, just get yourself a G-Shock watch. The G-Shock Move GBD-H1000 is priced at $ 400 and has extensive activity tracking features. It is also very robust.

After all, the T-Rex can still be put up for sale online. It costs around $ 140 but is available for less money. Yes, the hardware additions are welcome, but if you just want a rugged smartwatch and aren't spending too much on it, it's very similar otherwise.

How long it will take?

The T-Rex Pro's toughness means it can withstand significant punishment. So if you wear it in harsh environments, it shouldn't break at the first sign of water or dust. Assuming Amazfit continues to support the Zepp app and software on the watch, this will take a few years.

However, I think the design is quickly dated and the polycarbonate case is likely to pick up scratches and scrapes over time if used as intended, meaning you may feel the need to replace it sooner.

Should you buy it?

Yes, the T-Rex Pro is very similar to the old model, but still an inexpensive, feature-rich smartwatch.

Editor's recommendations




26 Mar
Blog

Vivo X60 Pro Plus Hands-on Review: Feature-packed

vivo x60 pro plus rating hand back

Practical review of the Vivo X60 Pro Plus: multi-function camera phone

Vivo isn't a well-known smartphone brand outside of China, but it's starting to make itself felt with some impressive new releases and crucial software advances culminating in the new X60 series. It's the first Vivo phone to be launched with Zeiss, the optics company that worked with the company on the camera, and it also has a unique gimbal stabilization system.

You may not know Vivo that well, but the X60 series is a big deal not only because of Zeiss' commitment, but also because it's part of the brand's big push in the UK and Europe. I've looked at the top device in the family, the X60 Pro Plus, and it's an extremely desirable smartphone.

At this point I have used the phone enough for thorough hands-on use, but I have yet to fully evaluate its day-to-day functionality. I will be updating this review in the next few weeks but have rated it 7 out of 10 for the time being, although this will likely be revised once the review is complete.

design

The Vivo X60 Pro Plus has a 6.56-inch AMOLED screen on the front and is slightly more compact than the OnePlus 9 Pro and Oppo Find X3 Pro. Why do I mention these devices specifically? Vivo is part of the BBK Electronics empire, just like Oppo and OnePlus, and each represents any company's current top phone. However, they all compete against the same opponents, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra as well as the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

It is reminiscent of the Oppo Find X2 Pro with a vegan leather back panel in the muted blue color Emperor Blue and an extensive camera module. The thickness of 9.1 mm is offset by a light weight of 191 grams, and overall the Vivo X60 Pro Plus is a very comfortable phone to hold. It's not quite as wide as the Samsung Galaxy S21 +, but it feels more manageable thanks to the curved screen. It's very similar in size to the Galaxy S20 +.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Fortunately, the vegan leather differs from the endless glass back panels, but the appearance and texture are a bit too shiny and a bit too "wrong" for my taste. It feels grippy and warm. I like the textured on / off switch but have no idea why Vivo decided to write “Professional Photography” on the top of the phone. Aside from discounting the look of things when I see something like this, I automatically think the opposite and that the phone's camera is far from professional.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Vivo hasn't changed the design of the X50 Pro much, other than adding the vegan leather, and while the phone is clearly well made, the look isn't advanced enough and feels compared to the Galaxy S21 +, OnePlus 9 Pro, and Find X3 Per.

screen

Although the X60 Pro Plus is the top phone in Vivo's new lineup, the 6.56-inch AMOLED screen has FHD + resolution and not QHD + resolution. In contrast to the Find X3 Pro and the OnePlus 9 Pro, the X60 Pro Plus has a central selfie camera with a hole punch, but the built-in fingerprint sensor is again at the bottom of the control panel. It's quick and accurate, but can be difficult to locate in this position.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

If you put it next to the OnePlus 9 Pro, you'll notice the reduced resolution. Carfection's test of the BMW M4 9 Pro is obviously sharper and also has better color and contrast. The tone of the Galaxy S21 +, matching its resolution and refresh rate of 120 Hz, is extremely similar, but the wonderful contrast and colors of the Samsung phone shine through.

Given the X60 Pro Plus’s position at the top of the X60 lineup, a QHD + resolution would have fit in nicely with the rest of the high spec. The performance is still good, but the competition has better screens.

camera

This is where Vivo spent the money. The camera of the X60 Pro Plus has more functions than can be tested in less than a week, especially with current local movement restrictions. The main camera is a 50 megapixel Samsung ISOCELL GN1 with optical image stabilization, which Vivo also used on the X50 Pro. There is also a 48-megapixel wide-angle camera with a second-generation gimbal stabilization system, which has some improvements over the X50 Pro version. A 32-megapixel portrait camera and an 8-megapixel periscope zoom camera with 5x optical zoom complete the array.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Zeiss helped develop the imaging system, which Vivo said optimizes the camera, optimizes the images for sharpness and clarity, supplied the Zeiss T * coating for the lenses to reduce reflections and added the Biotar portrait bokeh style options available. The lens treatment shows that Zeiss 'commitment goes one step further than OnePlus' partnership with Hasselblad. However, Zeiss has years of experience with smartphones and has worked with other brands in the past, notably Nokia.

Gimbal stabilization is a unique feature and works with both ultrawide still images and video where it is also complemented by a 5-axis video stabilization system for greater overall stability. This is very effective, especially when tracking people or objects with 5x zoom, although it doesn't make much of a difference when recording general video compared to a phone with adequate optical image stabilization.

It's just one of the many features of the X60 Pro Plus, including 5x optical and 60x digital zoom, night modes for the standard, ultra-wide camera and video modes, HDR video recording, various portrait modes, and a video mode for the Capturing sporty moments, a pro mode, an astrophotography mode and much more. But what about the photos it takes? The colors are strong, there is a reasonable degree of saturation and an overall warm tone. It's pretty consistent for the main and ultrawide cameras, and the 5x optical zoom is great.

There's a lot to test here, but in my short time with the X60 Pro Plus, the camera takes very attractive and, above all, extremely shareable photos.

Software, battery and performance

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage space makes the X60 Pro Plus a powerful smartphone. There is an unusual feature called "Extended Memory" where the system takes up to 3GB of space and uses it as memory when needed, resulting in faster app opening and multitasking.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Android 11 installs with Vivo's Funtouch 11.1 user interface, which is far less stylized than you might fear, but still annoyingly intrusive. After setting it up, I agreed to various multi-page privacy notices when I open apps, try to use the search, or accidentally activate a feature because the phone has trouble recognizing the edge of the screen. No other phone forces me to do so much. Vivo pre-installs many apps, including Snapchat, Flipkart, Amazon and its own app store. There are also several apps that duplicate Google functionality and irritating "Hot Apps" folders that try to get games to be installed.

vivo x60 pro plus verification settingsAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

vivo x60 pro plus evaluation quick accessAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

vivo x60 pro plus test appsAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

vivo x60 pro plus rating side handAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

A 4,200 mAh battery provides power to the phone and is charged with Vivo’s 55 W fast-charging FlashCharge system. The performance, software, and battery assessment will take time and will be part of the full review update that will be available shortly.

The Vivo X60 and X60 Pro

The Vivo X60 Pro Plus is one of three phones in the X60 series. The X60 has a 6.56-inch AMOLED screen with a less pronounced curve, but still a refresh rate of 120 Hz. It is a Snapdragon 870 processor with 8 GB or 12 GB of RAM and a 4,300 mAh Battery pack. It has a 48-megapixel main camera, a 13-megapixel wide-angle camera and a 13-megapixel telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom.

The X60 Pro also has a Snapdragon 870 processor, albeit only with 12GB of RAM and the same screen size and resolution, but now with the same curve as the Pro Plus model. It has a 48-megapixel main camera, this time with the gimbal stabilization system, as well as the same 13-megapixel cameras as the X60.

Price and availability

The Vivo X60 series is sold in the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Austria, as well as India, Malaysia, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates. However, not all regions receive all phones or at the same time. For example, the X60 Pro Plus will arrive first in India, and the X60 Pro will be sold in Europe. Vivo has not yet confirmed the final release date.

Prices are also unknown, but based on prices in China, the X60 Pro converts to around $ 690 or £ 500 and the X60 Pro Plus converts to around $ 920 or £ 670. If Vivo can hit those prices, the battle will be led straight to Xiaomi and the Mi 11, which also undercuts the price of the Samsung Galaxy S21 + and iPhone 12.

At this point in time, the Vivo X60 Pro Plus offers everything that I am used to from a Vivo telephone – a camera with an insane number of functions and irritating software. The hardware itself is well made, but the design is smartphone-circa-2020 and does nothing. It would normally be easier to forgive some of these issues if the price was $ 900 or less, but competition this year has made it a lot harder for Vivo, especially getting away with a less than ideal software experience. I will continue to use the Vivo X60 Pro Plus and will do a full review shortly.

Editor's recommendations




25 Mar
Blog

1More ComfoBuds Pro Review: Affordably Awesome ANC

Man on the phone wears 1more comfobuds pro

"Very effective ANC makes these buds a great AirPods Pro alternative."

  • Very convenient

  • Elegant design

  • Good sound quality

  • Very good ANC and transparency modes

  • Good call quality

  • Limited controls and adjustments

  • No wireless charging

  • No EQ adjustments

Earlier this year, 1More launched its $ 60 ComfoBuds, an affordable alternative to Apple's AirPods. Now the company is back with its $ 95 worth of ComfoBuds Pro, which – unsurprisingly given its name – is an attempt to appeal to potential AirPods Pro buyers. With a hybrid ANC system and a more secure fit, they're definitely a lot of boxes people look for in a new set of true wireless earbuds, but how do they stack up in terms of sound quality, battery life, and other key traits? Let's take a look at it.

What's in the box?

1More ComfoBuds ProSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

1More has a habit of using non-recyclable materials for its cardboard boxes, such as locking magnets, plastic, and foam, and the ComfoBuds Pro are no exception, but there are fewer of these materials than with previous products, so it's at least a step in the right direction is the right direction from a sustainability perspective. In the packaging you will find the charging case, the earbuds, a total of four sizes of silicone earbuds, a USB-C charging cable, a carrying case with a drawstring and a surprise: two thick silicone rubber shells that can be attached to the charging case for additional protection, what we've never seen in a set of true wireless earbuds.

design

1More ComfoBuds ProSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The ComfoBuds Pro are available in glossy black or matte white and look very similar to the original ComfoBuds, but differ in one major physical difference: The Pro are equipped with silicone earplugs that form a seal around your ear canal, while the ComfoBuds simply sit in the Inner sitting auricle. The long and slender stems that narrow at the ends to a fine point aren't everyone's idea of ​​a good design, but I think they look elegant and are a nice alternative to all of the existing stems and stemless designs we have offer I see these days.

The charging case is small and light and its rounded diamond shape sits comfortably in the pocket. The lid is easy to open and close, but feels a bit thin, which could explain 1More's decision to include the protective rubber shells. The hinge feels similarly sensitive and doesn't prevent the lid from accidentally closing in the open position – a minor point of contention.

The lack of wireless charging is an unfortunate omission, but at $ 95 we'll save 1More a little less time – tons of more expensive earbuds still don't have this handy feature.

While these rubber cups are a good idea on paper, they are a bit awkward to use. The supplied adhesive tape strips on the inside of the bowls hold them firmly to the bottom and to the lid of the housing. However, since there are no ribs or other grip points on the edges of the housing, the rubber shell can be easily pulled off the housing when you open the lid. It's also very easy for dirt and dust to get between the case and the rubber shell, which can eventually lead to small scratches.

One thing you don't have to worry about is sweat: with an IPX4 rating for water resistance (like the AirPods Pro), you can let them run if you want.

Convenience, control and connections

1More ComfoBuds ProSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The ComfoBuds Pro are indeed very comfortable. They are the same general shape as the AirPods Pro, but they use larger silicone earbuds and have a smaller body. If I compare them to several other in-ear canal earphones that I have on hand, they are the smallest overall size of them all. This results in an earbud design that most people find comfortable enough for all day.

Experimenting with the different sizes of earbuds will ensure a secure fit, as well as the best possible sound and ANC performance. You won't have a problem staying on a walk, but they may not be the best choice for high impact, intense activities.

The touch controls are easy to use and, for the most part, respond very well. Since the earbuds are so slim and (quite slippery on our black test unit), you'll need to be precise when typing as it's easy not to completely hit the small area of ​​the earbud that responds to touch.

You can customize the controls in the 1More Music app, but you still have some tough decisions to make. There are only three gestures: touch and hold, double-tap, and triple-tap. There is no way to assign different functions to each earbud. In addition, touch and hold is dedicated to the ANC mode function. This means that for the two remaining gestures, you need to select: do you want to play / pause, volume up / down, skip tracks forward / backward, or voice assistant access? You can have any two, but that's it.

These earbuds are great music companions regardless of your favorite genre.

One way to cheat this a bit is to take advantage of the built-in wear sensors. These can be configured to pause and play automatically (when you remove and reinsert an earbud), just pause automatically, or do nothing. With auto pause and play selected, you can use this feature instead of assigning play / pause to either of your two available gestures. The sensors are triggered immediately and the ComfoBuds Pro can be removed and reinserted very easily thanks to these long handles.

You can use one earbud at a time, and the Bluetooth range is excellent. I was able to insert two full stories between the ComfoBuds Pro and my phone before the signal went out.

Sound quality

1More ComfoBuds ProSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The ComfoBuds Pro sound great. They don't quite offer the same level of performance as the AirPods Pro, but they come close enough that the 1Mores are a hell of a good deal if the Buds of Apple are your only point of comparison.

Her sound signature is a comfortable balance that moves very slightly towards the bottom. The soundstage is wide enough to get a good feeling of immersion, and the bass creates the depth you need to enjoy bass-heavy tracks. There's a little bit of mud in the midrange, and you don't want to turn the volume up too high – it can get tough when you're north of around 75% – but overall, these earbuds are great music companions no matter what your favorite genre, as long as you are You don't expect a critical listening experience.

The ComfoBuds Pro offer the best ANC you can find in a pair of true wireless earbuds under $ 100.

My only gripe is that 1More didn't include an EQ adjustment in the music app.

Noise cancellation and transparency

1More ComfoBuds Pro Music App

1More ComfoBuds Pro Music App

Last year, I tested the 1More True Wireless ANC, the company's first true wireless noise-canceling earbuds. I found the ANC feature to take work and it certainly doesn't meet the standards set by Sony, Apple, Bose, or Jabra.

The ComfoBuds Pro, on the other hand, are surprisingly good, especially for the price. The ANC not only significantly reduces outside noise, it is also adjustable and, in addition to the switch-off and transparency mode, also offers settings for strong, mild and wind reduction. It makes a little noise when you're not playing music, but anyway I'll put myself to the test and say the ComfoBuds Pro have the best ANC you can find in a sub-pair of $ 100 real wireless earbuds .

The only thing stopping them from being a slam dunk in this department is the three-mode switch that 1More imposes on you when using the touch-and-hold gesture: there's no way between that Jump to the ANC strength and transparency you have chosen without first having to go through the off position. If 1More can give us the option to remove the off position from this gesture, possibly in a future firmware release, this will be a huge improvement.

Speaking of transparency mode, it's very good too. Some earbuds with this feature prefer sounds that are further away, making your voice sound muffled. Not so with the ComfoBuds Pro – they open the whole world, and this is exactly how this function should work.

Battery life

1More claims that the ComfoBuds Pro has a battery life of six hours with the ANC switched on, two more charges for a total of 20 hours. Turning off ANC increases these numbers to eight and 28 hours, respectively. As far as I can see these numbers are pretty accurate. They don't stand out, but when you consider that you can get a 2 hour boost after just 15 minutes of charging with the quick charge feature, that's more than enough to get you through a full day of listening.

Call quality

1More ComfoBuds Pro1 more

Like the ComfoBuds, the ComfoBuds Pro also have good call quality. Her voice comes through clear and surprisingly surprising. As with most true wireless earbuds, they occasionally have trouble blocking out background noise. However, as long as you're not trying to close a million dollar deal while standing next to a construction site, the ComfoBuds Pro are good for phone calls.

Our opinion

Good sound, good ANC, and great convenience – that's not bad for a set of true $ 95 wireless earbuds, and it should make the ComfoBuds Pro an attractive alternative to Apple's expensive AirPods Pro.

Is there a better alternative?

No – at least not at this price. The closest competitor to the ComfoBuds Pro is the $ 100 Earfun Air Pro, a great sounding set of true ANC wireless earbuds. The Earfun Air Pros aren't quite as comfortable as the ComfoBuds Pro, and their ANC / transparency features aren't as effective, but they have a long battery life and slightly higher water resistance.

How long will they last?

The 1More ComfoBuds Pro comes with a one-year guarantee. Despite their IPX4 rating for water resistance, the earbuds and charging case don't seem built to be rugged. To get the longest life out of them, you need to handle them carefully.

Should you buy it?

Yes. They may not sound quite as good as the AirPods Pro, but with very effective ANC, transparency, and call quality, and one of the most comfortable fits we've found, they are great value for a range of true wireless earbuds.

Editor's recommendations




25 Mar
Blog

OnePlus 9 Pro Review: The Dependable Smartphone

oneplus 9 pro rating camera hand

“The OnePlus 9 Pro is as usual for OnePlus, with enormous performance, a breathtaking screen, excellent software and ultra-fast battery charging. Just don't expect the Hasselblad partnership to change the camera yet. "

  • All the power you could want

  • A breathtaking screen

  • Very fast wired and wireless charging

  • Reliable, smooth and fast software

  • Hasselblad involvement isn't that noticeable

  • At $ 969, it faces serious flagship competition

The OnePlus 8 Pro was introduced in April 2020 and is only now being replaced by the OnePlus 9 Pro. A year in the OnePlus world is an absolute age, as the company typically released an updated "T" model six months after a model was used. However, this is not the case with the 8 Pro. All that extra time should mean the OnePlus 9 Pro is very special, right?

It's the first OnePlus phone to come out in collaboration with the super-expensive camera brand Hasselblad, who put their know-how into the OnePlus 9 Pro's camera, and that certainly sounds special. Otherwise, the OnePlus 9 Pro seems to be as reliable as we expect from OnePlus. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but can it also be exciting to be reliable? Let's dwell on that in more detail.

If you're interested in the OnePlus 9, which is cheaper but technically not as powerful as the 9 Pro, read our in-depth review.

design

The OnePlus 9 Pro is less sharp-edged, significantly shinier and more than a little heavier. It looks very different from the OnePlus 8 Pro. The beautiful matte finish of the 8 Pro has been replaced with a high gloss mirror finish that can be seen below in the Morning Mist color, which is silver for you and me. It's more comfortable to grip because the sides are thicker and less tapered (8.7mm), but it feels much stronger in the hand. It weighs 197 grams, with a slight incline towards the camera module, which makes it feel slightly top-heavy.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The built-in fingerprint sensor is at the bottom of the screen compared to most other smartphones. It's in the same position as the Oppo Find X3 Pro, a comparison we'll come back to later in this review when we talk about the screen. On the side is OnePlus's signature and the always welcome alarm slider for muting notifications.

The camera module is located at the top left on the back. It shines with Hasselblad's branding and contains four cameras, a sensor, a flash and a microphone. It doesn't look as individual as the OnePlus 8 Pro or the Samsung Galaxy S21 +, but it's pretty flush with the body. It's all neat and undeniably functional, but there's not a lot of character to it. This is an issue with the way the OnePlus 9 Pro looks in general – it's not unattractive, but it doesn't have a lot of identity either.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Maybe this doesn't matter to you, and build quality is more important. You have no concerns here, as the aluminum housing is wedged between two gorilla glass panes and everything is beautifully finished. The glass body has just enough grip but slips around on some surfaces.

I don't mind the style and design of the OnePlus 9 Pro, but it's a bit general. If the only aspect that really tells me it's a OnePlus phone is the alarm controller, you know the rest is too memorable.

screen

OnePlus never really got to the heart of its designs, but it has rarely gone wrong when it comes to the screen. The 6.7-inch AMOLED screen has a resolution of 3,216 x 1,220 pixels for a density of 525 pixels per inch and a variable refresh rate between 1 Hz and 120 Hz. The sides have a less pronounced curvature compared to the OnePlus 8 Pro and clearer bezels (but only straight) to avoid unwanted screen activations. I've still found the screen to be very sensitive to side touches and I often accidentally open the camera app or try to change the wallpaper by simply holding the phone in my hand.

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It's a beautiful screen with rich colors and a natural hue that's warm rather than cold, as well as pinpoint contrast. By default, the resolution is set to FHD +. However, it pays to run out of battery and use QHD + when watching compatible videos. It's just lovely. This K Choreo version of Iz * One & # 39; s Fiesta is full of colors and details on the OnePlus 9 Pro's screen.

How about the 8 Pro, which is not a problem even in the visual department? It's not better or worse, but it's different. The screen of the 8 Pro is a little more vivid, while the screen of the 9 Pro is a little more natural, which adds some softness, which results in the 8 Pro sometimes looking more detailed due to sharper and more defined edges. The 9 Pro's screen is not a step forward from the 8 Pro. When you place it next to the Oppo Find X3 Pro, it looks the same. The positioning of the built-in fingerprint sensor and pinhole camera, as well as specs like 10-bit color depth and HDR10 +, suggest that they're probably the same panel anyway.

camera

In our year of waiting for the OnePlus 9 Pro, the company has been working on the camera, which, while good in the past, has failed to outperform, or sometimes even outperform, the competition. To change that, OnePlus is partnering with Hasselblad, a Scandinavian supplier of mega-expensive cameras, and a company with a very rich photographic history. It's a three-year partnership that begins with the support of the software and will in the future pass to the couple working on the hardware together.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

What does this mean for the OnePlus 9 Pro? The camera has a software-based function called Natural Color Calibration with Hasselblad on board, which promises to make the colors "more perceptible", according to the blurb. Hasselblad has also worked in Pro mode, so just like a Hasselblad camera, you get an orange shutter button and a specially recorded Hasselblad-style shutter sound.

The biggest problem for me is understanding what Hasselblad did on camera.

Unchallenged? I'm not blaming you, but this is just the beginning of the partnership and it will be some time before a significant change is made to the OnePlus camera. Hence, we should keep expectations in check. However, the Hasselblad branding is spread all over the camera module and a lot of noise has already been made about the shortcut so it's better to do something. I've taken 100+ photos with the OnePlus 9 Pro to date and the performance will split opinions.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Here are the camera specs. The main camera uses a custom Sony IMX789 sensor with 48 megapixels, an aperture of f / 1.8 and optical and electronic image stabilization. There is also a wide-angle camera with 50 MP f / 2.2 and an 8MP f / 2.4 telephoto camera with 3.3x optical zoom. There's also a 2-megapixel monochrome camera that can be used individually, as well as a dual-LED flash and a 16-megapixel selfie camera.

First off, it's important to say that the OnePlus 9 Pro's camera takes better photos than the OnePlus 8 Pro's, but it's not an instant winner and not everyone will appreciate the changes. The biggest problem for me is understanding what Hasselblad did on camera. The natural color calibration is always active, so that for me, as someone without any experience with a Hasselblad camera, any inherent “Hasselbladness” in the photos is completely lost.

To really see what the OnePlus 9 Pro's camera looks like, I spent more time than usual comparing the photos with those of other cameras. This shows how difficult it is to spot something that makes the OnePlus 9 Pro's photos special. The photos undoubtedly look "natural", usually with a nice tone and balance and sometimes better exposure than other cameras that take the same picture. However, this pursuit of naturalness can make photos look washed out and lack atmosphere.

oneplus 9 pro review main tree "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://img.dtcn.com/image/digitaltrends/oneplus-9-pro-main-tree-640x640 .jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7OnePlus 9 Pro standard camera Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

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Trying to determine Hasselblad's appearance is made even more difficult by the massive differences between the main and ultrawide cameras. While the main camera takes on a cool tone, the ultrawide is a lot warmer, which means I have no idea what look Hasselblad is looking for. In the end, it's very difficult to figure out where the OnePlus 9 Pro's camera differs from others because of Hasselblad's involvement, and that's not a good selling point.

I like the photos taken with the OnePlus 9 Pro, but if I didn't know that Hasselblad is working with OnePlus on the phone, I wouldn't look any deeper at all, simply because it's just a good camera and nothing more. It's certainly better than previous OnePlus cameras, but the efforts of the two teams working together have yet to be realized.

Software and performance

OxygenOS version 11 with Android 11 is installed and excellent. It is essentially the same software as the OnePlus 8T. So don't expect new features to come with the new phone. Not that that matters, because OxygenOS is always a joy. Whether it's the new always-on screen, the effective dark mode, the sleek menus, the beautiful fonts and overall design, the clear notifications, or the deeper storage and power management tools, the software is some of the best you can get on an Android device can use smartphone.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor has the performance you could want – there were absolutely no performance issues for me – and there is a choice of 8GB or 12GB of RAM with 128GB or 256GB of storage. It's great for playing. Genshin Impact plays very well, with only a slight drop in frame rate during busy battle scenes, although the phone feels warm to the touch with prolonged gaming. I used the 12GB / 256GB model but can't imagine I would notice a speed difference if I were to use the 8GB model. However, there is no expandable storage space. So you need to consider whether you will need additional built-in storage in the future before buying this phone.

I've noticed that the WiFi range is shorter than some other devices, but the call quality is very good. And even though the built-in fingerprint sensor is set pretty deep on the screen, it's lightning fast. Particularly noteworthy is the feel, which is even more subtle and tactile than the OnePlus 8 Pro.

Battery and charging

It's a 4,500 mAh cell that takes care of all visual, playful and camera functions of the OnePlus 9T. I found it to be good for a day but not much longer as there is a charge every night, almost regardless of the day's activities. Ninety minutes of Genshin Impact drained 25% of the battery, leaving hardcore gamers to charge even more frequently.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The OnePlus 9 Pro uses the proprietary Warp Charge 65T fast charging system, so you have a charger and USB Type-C cable in the box that must be used to get the fastest speeds. OnePlus says it will go from zero to 100% in 28 minutes. So can it? Almost yes. In my tests, it took 31 minutes. I won't argue for more than three minutes. It's still faster than most of the competition. Helpfully, like Warp Charge 65, the Warp Charge 65T block pumps 45 watts into other devices that can absorb this charging power.

wireless charger oneplus 9 pro review

oneplus 9 pro review page for wireless charger

OnePlus' wireless charging system Warp Charge 50 has received a speed boost. However, you have to buy the OnePlus wireless charging dock for £ 70/70 to benefit from it. It promises to deliver a full charge in just 43 minutes, and in my tests it easily manages it. In contrast to the previous version, the USB Type-C cable is not integrated into the charger. However, you need to use OnePlus’s own charging block and cable to get full speed. The cable, not the block, is included, but if it's about a meter long, any added versatility is lost if it's not attached to the charger.

Price and availability

The OnePlus 9 Pro is $ 969 for the 8GB / 128GB model or $ 1,069 for the 12GB / 256GB model. It's available for Pre-order on March 26th and should be released on April 2nd. In the UK, the OnePlus 9 Pro costs £ 829 for the 8GB / 128GB model and £ 929 for the 12GB / 256GB version. The phone is available for pre-order in the UK on March 23rd.

Our opinion

There is both everything I want and everything I unfortunately expected from a OnePlus phone in the OnePlus 9 Pro. Right now there is the best mobile processor, excellent screen, super smooth and reliable software and fast battery charging. That's all I want and what OnePlus can do in my sleep. A camera that almost, but not quite, lives up to expectations, an acceptable but uninspiring design, and a price that is a little higher than I really wish for are aspects that I have come across in the past year or years OnePlus expected so. It works as usual.

When you buy one you will be very satisfied, but you may feel like something really special is missing.

I like the reliability of OnePlus phones. Daily use is completely problem-free. With the combination of OxygenOS and a wide variety of features, today you have a hard time finding a better user experience for smartphones. However, the extent of Hasselblad's involvement in the camera is too difficult to pinpoint right now, so there's not quite that special thing that makes me tingle with excitement while taking pictures, but there is potential for the future.

OnePlus fans will be happy with the OnePlus 9 Pro, and while the camera is definitely an improvement over the OnePlus 8 Pro, everything else is just a small generation step. So it's not really worth upgrading from 8 Pro unless you're really disappointed with its camera. It's harder to sell for those who aren't a dedicated OnePlus fan, as some aggressive pricing from Apple and Samsung this year means better smartphones are available for less. If you buy one you will be very satisfied as it follows OnePlus' proven, reliable phone formula, but you may feel like something really special is missing.

Is there a better alternative?

The OnePlus 9 Pro faces serious competition in the US. At the time of writing, the Samsung Galaxy S21 was Ultra costs $ 1,000 from Amazonand it's a better buy because of its great camera, beautiful screen, and overall performance. The Apple iPhone 12 Pro remains a fantastic buy if not set on an Android device at $ 1,000It's just as affordable as the Galaxy S21 Ultra.

In the UK, the phone is a better value as it is cheaper than both of the above and even cheaper than the 950 pound Galaxy S21 + 5G. It's significantly cheaper than the 1,100-pound Oppo Find X3 Pro, but even the 8GB / 128GB version can't keep up with the Xiaomi Mi 11 5G's value at 750 pounds.

How long it will take?

Thanks to the powerful processor, great screen, 5G connectivity, and fast charging of the OnePlus 9 Pro, you can use it for at least two years before you even consider upgrading. Three years is perfectly feasible if you are not a hardcore gamer. The phone has an IP68 rating but is made of glass so you may want to put it in a pocket.

According to OnePlus, the OnePlus 9 will receive new Android updates for two years plus another year of security updates, making it one of the better companies at handling critical software updates.

Should you buy it?

Yes, it's an excellent smartphone, but despite the promise of the Hasselblad partnership, it still lacks something special, especially since the price is higher than some of the best smartphones you can buy today.

Editor's recommendations




12 Mar
Blog

Lenovo Tab P11 Pro Review: Great Hardware Can’t Save Android

lenovo tab p11 pro review 5

Lenovo Tab P11 Pro Tablet

"It's probably the best Android tablet in its price range, but the Tab P11 Pro seriously disappoints with a sub-par software experience."

  • Breathtaking design

  • Excellent accessories

  • Solid performance

  • Excellent battery

  • Below average software experience

  • Android apps on tablets are terrible

  • Medium camera

It's difficult to decide on Android tablets these days, especially when they cost more than a few hundred dollars. Sure, some companies make stylish tablets with beautiful displays and top-notch performance, but Android is still holding them back – which is fantastic on phones but not so great on tablets. However, Lenovo believes it cracked the code with the new Lenovo Tab P11 Pro.

It cannot be denied: The Lenovo Tab P11 Pro is madness. It's thin, has a gorgeous edge-to-edge display, and offers solid performance thanks to the Snapdragon 730G. At first glance, it's a slightly cheaper alternative to the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7, which is our first choice for Android tablets.

Ultimately, however, the Android experience is best for the smartphone, and Lenovo cannot change that. Here are our thoughts on the device.

Design and display

Lenovo seems to have gotten to the heart of the design aspect of its tablets. The Lenovo Tab P11 Pro is elegant and elegant, looks modern thanks to its borderless display and is made of high-quality materials. It reminds me a lot of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7, which is a good thing – I liked the general design and feel of the Tab S7, and while the Tab P11 Pro can reasonably be called a design copy, it still looks great.

As is the trend these days, the tablet has nicely rounded corners with a metal unibody structure. There is a slate gray color scheme on the back, reminiscent of Apple's Space Gray, with an antenna line at the top and a dual-sensor camera. The camera module sticks out quite a bit from the back of the tablet, but with the included back cover, it's no big deal. We'll go into the included accessories a little later.

When you hold the tablet in portrait orientation, the on / off switch (with integrated fingerprint sensor) is on the top right and the volume rocker right next to it on the right. There is a USB-C port at the bottom. There is no headphone jack on the Tab P11 Pro.

On the right there are also a number of sensors and cameras that can be used for face recognition. Unfortunately, in my experience, facial recognition doesn't work that well, and you should opt for the fingerprint sensor instead. The face recognition worked exactly. It only took a few seconds for the device to actually unlock. The fingerprint sensor worked quickly and accurately most of the time.

With a thickness of only 6.9 mm, the Tab P11 Pro fits comfortably in the hand. At just over a pound, it's not overly heavy and the bezels are the perfect size – they leave just enough room to hold the device without accidentally touching the screen. You don't want them to get tighter.

Speaking of the screen, it's a sucker. The Tab P11 Pro has an 11.5-inch OLED display with a resolution of 1,600 x 2,560 and a brightness of up to 500 nits. It is wonderful. The text is nice and sharp, the colors are vivid and bright, and the tablet is perfect for watching movies and games. But it's not perfect. As someone who regularly uses an iPad Pro, I would have liked a high refresh rate here, but it's hard to reckon that the tablet won't have a high refresh rate due to its price range.

Our first Tab P11 Pro immediately had a screen burn-in issue, and Lenovo quickly replaced the review unit. If you experience a similar problem, it should be under the manufacturer's limited warranty.

Power, battery and camera

The Lenovo Tab P11 Pro is slightly cheaper than the Galaxy Tab S7, and one way to cut costs is with a slightly cheaper processor. However, this does not mean that the tablet does not have enough power. Still, thanks to the Snapdragon 730G processor, which comes with 4GB or 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, it can do most of the tasks that you can.

In all honesty, it's more than powerful enough. No, the Snapdragon 730G isn't as powerful as the Snapdragon 865, but it can handle multitasking, gaming, and more. Playing Call of Duty: Mobile was a good experience with few jumps and good load times. The tablet generally handled multitasking well, including surfing the web, sending emails, using Microsoft Word, and so on.

That doesn't mean it's a performance beast. It still has its limits. If you want to use it as a replacement for a laptop, for example, you will reach these limits. We recommend the 6GB RAM model if you can afford it and if you don't want to use your tablet just for media consumption. It's only $ 50 more and makes for a smoother experience.

In all honesty, it's more than powerful enough. No, the Snapdragon 730G isn't as powerful as the Snapdragon 865, but it can still handle solid multitasking, gaming, and more.

The battery life of the Lenovo Tab P11 Pro is excellent. The tablet comes with a massive 8,600 mAh battery that is more than enough to last for days of use. If you charge it and don't use it for a few days, you can expect over 90% of the battery remaining. If you use your tablet frequently, it should be a few days before you need to charge it.

Unlike a smartphone, the tablet's rear-facing camera isn't as important as the front-facing camera, as you will likely use your tablet more for video chatting than for taking photos. Unfortunately, none of the P11 Pro's cameras work great.

On the back of the device is a dual camera setup with a 13-megapixel main camera and a 5-megapixel ultrawide. There are two 8-megapixel cameras on the front, one for photos and one for face recognition. Both of them do their job in adequate lighting, but they add complexity to your photo or video and you are likely to run into problems.

software

The Lenovo Tab P11 Pro has a stunning design, display and battery life. Ultimately, however, it doesn't matter how good the hardware is if the software isn't up to the task. Unfortunately, this is not the case in this case.

It's not all Lenovo's fault. Android is a great operating system, but it's not really tablet-friendly, and even the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7's software experience isn't the best. It really is a shame and frustrating that, despite its mature operating system, Android still isn't the productivity powerhouse it could be.

Not to mention the fact that Android apps aren't really optimized for use with tablets. Twitter on the tablet is basically just an expanded version of the smartphone app, and it looks terrible. In comparison, the iPad app is divided into columns that really take advantage of the large screen's footprint. That's Twitter's fault, of course, but it underscores the fact that Android tablets have really been forgotten – and Android tablet makers look bad because of it.

As you'd expect, Lenovo is building its own features into the Tab P11 Pro's software. The tablet can be used in two different modes – a normal Android tablet mode and a so-called “productivity mode”. Productivity mode is activated by default when you connect the device to the supplied keyboard. However, you can also turn it on without a keyboard.

Productivity mode is similar to Lenovo's in terms of Samsung DeX, but without years of refinement. Apps are displayed with windows instead of the full screen. A number of the latest multitasking apps are displayed at the bottom of the screen. It's a good approach, but it feels very unfinished. For example, apps don't snap to the edge of the screen and load in a tiny window the first time they are opened. It's really not very well implemented, and you might be more productive in normal mode.

But I wouldn't turn to the Tab P11 Pro primarily for productivity gains, or at least not for its primary purpose. The device works well for casual jobs and, given the solid keyboard, can also be useful for things like replying to emails or writing in a word processor without the need for multitasking. However, don't expect to be more productive and still keep your sanity.

All of this is made worse by the fact that the tablet ships with Android 10, which is now over a year old. Given Lenovo's track record with Android updates, it's entirely possible that the tablet will never get Android 11 or even Android 12. However, I would be happy if I turned out to be wrong.

Keyboard and pen

The Lenovo Tab P11 Pro comes with a number of accessories that support different uses, and these accessories are really beautiful. That said, it's a shame the tablet's software wasn't really designed with productivity in mind.

To protect the tablet, there is a back cover and a keyboard that can be used separately. In the end, I just kept the back cover of the tablet the whole time. It has a nice textile appearance and the stand makes it easy to put a tablet on the table when needed. The stand is infinitely adjustable so you can adjust it to the angle you want. The only frustration I have with the back cover is that the hinge creates a bump in the middle, which means it can't lie flat on its back.

The keyboard corresponds to the design of the back cover and is magnetically attached to the underside of the tablet. Once attached, it works pretty well. It's not the keyboard with the best feel, but it's not bad for a free, included accessory. Keys could use a little more travel to see them, but that's a minor complaint and I still generally enjoyed typing on it … but only on a table. The kickstand design means this isn't the best device for your lap.

The tablet also comes with a pen. While it's not bad, I haven't used it much. In contrast to the Galaxy Tab S7, the pen is not magnetically attached to the tablet itself. Instead, a sleeve is supplied that you can attach to the device with an adhesive. However, this is a pretty permanent approach. Alternatively, you can attach the sleeve to a keychain. Neither is a good solution.

Price and availability

The Lenovo Tab P11 Pro starts at $ 500. However, as mentioned earlier, if you want to use the tablet for any kind of productivity or multitasking, I recommend upgrading to the $ 550 6GB RAM model. It is available directly from the Lenovo website.

Our opinion

The Lenovo Tab P11 Pro is a tough sell. It's probably the best Android tablet in its price range thanks to its great hardware and the fact that there isn't a lot of competition – unless the Galaxy Tab S7 goes on sale. In this case, it's a better option. Unfortunately, the Tab P11 Pro is seriously disappointed with a sub-par software experience, making it difficult to recommend to anyone who wants to achieve more than just basic media usage and very basic productivity.

Is there a better alternative?

If you want to stay in the Android ecosystem, there are a few alternatives you should consider. Perhaps the most notable is the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7, which was available for $ 550 at the time of this writing. The Tab S7 software experience is still not perfect, but it is better than the Lenovo Tab P11 Pro and offers improved performance thanks to the Snapdragon 865+.

If you're not keen on Android, the iPad Air is our top pick for the best tablet out there – and for good reason. It also has a stunning modern design and great performance, as well as a premium software experience for work or leisure. It's a far better product in almost every way except you have to pay extra for accessories like a keyboard and pen. Even the entry-level iPad is worth considering, and while it doesn't look as premium, it still offers a better overall experience than the Tab P11 Pro.

How long it will take?

The Lenovo Tab P11 Pro is made of metal and should be able to be used for at least two years without physical damage or major slowdowns. If you take good care of it, you might be able to use it for three or four years. Be aware, however, that the software slows down and the software feels pretty out of date.

Should you buy it?

Get an iPad Air or Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 instead.

Editor's recommendations




11 Mar
Blog

Oppo Find X3 Pro Hands-on: Camera Consistency At Last

oppo find x3 pro review back flat

Oppo Find X3 Pro at your fingertips: Finally a consistent camera experience

The Oppo Find X2 Pro flew under the radar a little after its release and may suffer from an unfortunate timing when its announcement was made just before the coronavirus pandemic spread around the world in 2020, but also because of its relatively high price and novelty Oppo as a brand outside of China. None of that affected its ability, so I embraced the sequel, the Oppo Find X3 Pro, with welcoming arms.

I've been testing the Find X3 Pro for a few days but haven't spent enough time to fully review and rate it. Instead, this will be an in-depth preliminary review that can be updated over the next week or so once I have a better idea of ​​how the battery, software, and camera are performing on a daily basis.

Still, I've seen enough to know that the Find X3 Pro is designed to redefine the performance of the camera on a smartphone.

design

Oppo has done everything possible to make the Find X3 Pro look like no other flagship with an unusual unibody design. This means that the back of the phone has been forged from a single piece of glass, with the camera module rising up and enclosing the lenses in the top corner. It's all a fluid plate and not separate parts. Oppo said it took 2,000 attempts in his lab to get the process and final look just right.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The advantages lie in the 8.2 mm slim housing and the very clean shape of the device. There are really no sharp edges on the Find X3 Pro, as the corners and sides merge seamlessly into the next control panel. However, the curve where the aluminum case meets the screen is pronounced, so it's not quite as comfortable to hold as the Galaxy S21 + or the Huawei P40 Pro, but the low weight of 193 grams prevents it from getting tired.

While the unibody shape is very noticeable, Oppo wasn't particularly brave with the layout of the camera lens as it's basically a mirror image of the iPhone 12 Pro, nor with the color. My test model is in matte blue, and while it's pretty, it looks a lot like the Pacific blue of the iPhone 12 Pro. What Oppo gives in terms of forward-looking design it takes away with these derivative elements.

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Leave those little aspects aside, however, and the phone's design has many good features. It's a lot lighter than most of the other high-end smartphones that have recently hit the market. So it fits in my pocket without complaining. I can comfortably hold it at all times without it getting out of whack, and the matte finish makes it look clean too. The Oppo Find X3 Pro is a slim, elegant and modern looking smartphone.

screen

Here Oppo goes to Dr. Evil and talks a lot about a billion colors. The 6.7-inch AMOLED screen has a color depth of 10 bits or just over a billion colors and a color gamut of 100% DCI-P3. Oppo then had it professionally calibrated to make sure it was getting the most of its capabilities and we didn't have to mess around to tweak it ourselves. This should mean we can't see any color streaks or dithering like we can on smaller screens. The 10-bit color offers a QHD + resolution of 3216 x 1440, an adaptive refresh rate of 120 Hz, a brightness of 1,300 nits and HDR10 + support.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

According to Oppo, the Find X3 Pro delivers the best color reproduction on any smartphone. But can you really see on a screen this size? Before diving into that, it is worth mentioning how beautiful the Find X3 Pro's screen is in general. The performance comes very close to that of the Samsung Galaxy S21 +, but not quite as bright in direct comparison. It certainly looks great for watching videos on YouTube and Netflix. But what about 10-bit color?

What is frustrating is that Oppo doesn't tell you how to get the most out of the screen. I switched to cinema mode and watched several videos that were supposedly taken with a 10-bit capable camera and compared them to the Galaxy S21 +. I think there are differences as there are slightly fewer stripes visible on the Find X3 Pro, but these could easily be my eyes playing the pranks, simply because you have to look really carefully to see something "different".

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

A 10-bit DCI-P3 screen on a smartphone is very technically impressive, but I'm waiting to be convinced of any actual benefit to anyone looking at general content. I asked Oppo for clarification on how the Find X3 Pro's screen works and how to best use its capabilities. It will be updated as soon as I hear something and keep experimenting.

camera

When we get to the camera, there is more talk of a billion colors. That way, phone owners can enjoy the Find X3 Pro's 10-bit color screen right out of the box, as you can capture 10-bit color photos and videos on it. This is done by flicking a switch in the settings menu so you can take photos in either 10-bit or normal mode. Shoot them in 10-bit quality and the images will be saved as High Efficiency Image Format (HEIF) files, which can cause compatibility issues with viewing and editing.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The 10-bit color feature feels extremely geeky and is currently only relevant to a small number of hardcore photographers. It also distracts from what actually makes the Find X3 Pro's camera desirable – the use of two main cameras. The 50 megapixel Sony IMX766 sensor is used for both the main wide angle and ultra wide angle cameras. This means that the color and balance are the same for both cameras. This is a common complaint against other wide / ultra wide camera setups. These two cameras include a 13-megapixel telephoto camera with 5x hybrid zoom and 20x digital zoom, as well as an unusual 3-megapixel micro lens that can be used to take “microscope” photos with 60x zoom.

I'm only busy with the Find X3 Pro for about a hundred photos, but as of now, it's the real deal. It not only takes beautifully balanced photos with breathtaking dynamic range and color management, but also for main and ultra-wide cameras.

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oppo find x3 pro review wide bank "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn7.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/find-x3-pro-wide-bench- 640x640 .jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAAFind the X3 Pro ultra-wide camera Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

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oppo find x3 pro review wide sun "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn9.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/find-x3-pro-wide-sun- 640x640 .jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAAFind the X3 Pro ultra-wide camera Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The wide-angle example shown here with the bench under the tree would have looked very different on a different phone. Instead, it's almost indistinguishable from the standard photo in terms of balance, shadow, and color. Wonderful. It's also very hard to get the camera to misbehave, as you can see in the photo that is shooting in the sun.

What about the micro objective 60x microscope camera? Like a microscope, it's insanely close to taking macro photos like you've never seen them before. The following example shows moss. It's a gimmick, but it really does something that no other phone camera can, and while the results may not be of the best quality, it is possible to really have fun with it. It's definitely not a reason to buy the phone, but it's a welcome change from a useless 2-megapixel macro camera just to make room.

Oppo Find X3 Pro microscope photo mode. Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

About the 10-bit color mode? I don't have a 10-bit color monitor as I suspect many others don't either. Although my Mac Mini M1 can open HEIF files, they look the same on my screen as non-10-bit recordings. The Find X3 Pro's camera otherwise evolves to really deliver what we've wanted for a while: consistency between the main and wide-angle cameras, and that's a significant advancement in mobile photography.

Performance, battery and software

The Oppo Find X3 Pro uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage space, as well as 5G connectivity, Wi-Fi 6 and a 4,500 mAh battery. There are two main areas that I need to spend even more time with the Find X3 Pro, software, and battery. Oppo’s ColorOS user interface, version 11.2, which was created here over Android 11, is integrated. It's better than ever, but still frustrating and less sophisticated than competing systems from Samsung, OnePlus, and Google.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

For example, apps are spread across multiple home screens in the iOS style by default, and you can then clean up when you switch to the drawer layout. The icons are too square for my taste, the speed depends on what you're doing (scrolling notifications is faster than the app drawer, for example), and the camera app often refuses to work, forcing you to close and reopen it.

This could be because I am using a pre-release version of the software. Hopefully everyone will improve with an update right before the launch. The battery is the other area that still needs evaluation, with performance so far being decent and around 30% of the battery being used for an hour and 45 minutes of general screen time without games. One day should be achievable, but not much else.

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Oppo has added its massively fast SuperVOOC recharge. The 65W system delivers a full charge in just 35 minutes. We have tested this in the past and found that it works exactly as described. The Find X3 Pro also has 30W wireless charging and 10W reverse charging.

Price and availability

The Oppo Find X3 Pro has been announced for the UK, where it starts at £ 1,099 or around $ 1,527. It will be published on April 14th and will be sold via Oppo's own online shop and with a contract with all major airlines. Oppo does not sell its phones in the US, but they are available as an import.

At £ 1,099, the Find X3 Pro faces the Galaxy S21 + and iPhone 12 Pro, which are both cheaper, and the Galaxy S21 Ultra, which is slightly more expensive. It's also facing competition from the upcoming OnePlus 9 Pro, which is likely to undercut the price too.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

While it's too early to make a final judgment, at this point the Oppo Find X3 Pro certainly impressed me with its camera and its compact, lightweight design. The Find X2 Pro has been Oppo’s best phone to date, and the Find X3 Pro seems to be doing things in a meaningful way, although the price is still a bit high. It remains to be checked whether the battery and the software can meet the same standard and whether the 10-bit color screen and the camera setting are relevant for normal people.

Editor's recommendations




22 Jan
Blog

Oppo Enco X Review: Android-Friendly AirPods Pro Killers

Oppo Enco X.

Oppo Enco X review: Android-friendly AirPods Pro killers

"The only thing Oppo didn't copy from the AirPods Pro is the price."

  • Cozy

  • Very good sound quality

  • Excellent ANC and transparency

  • Very good call quality

  • Seamless switching of devices

Oppo, the Chinese electronics company that has produced some of the biggest sleeper hits in categories like Blu-ray players and smartphones, just released its latest true wireless earbuds, the Oppo Enco X, valued at $ 150. Digital Trends got an early look at the earbuds, which won't be available in the US until spring. Yes, they look a lot like Apple's AirPods Pro and have Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), just like Apple's Buds. But don't write her off as another copycat hoping to get Apple's coattails at the checkout for a payday. The Enco X are real business, with both words deservedly in the foreground. Let's look at them.

What's in the box?

With the exception of the black plastic inner shell, the Enco X box is a simple cardboard container that should prove to be easily recyclable when you aren't storing it. Inside you will find the earbuds, their charging case, a short USB-C charging cable, two additional sizes of silicone earbuds (small and large to accompany the standard medium) and a quick guide.

If you love the vibe of apple, you will love the look of these buds.

design

Oppo Enco X and AirPods ProOppo Enco X (right) and Apple AirPods Pro Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The Enco X doesn't just look a bit like the AirPods Pro – I'd call them as close as possible without incurring the legal ire of Apple. In white in particular (they are also available in black), the bulbous main body, the semi-oval silicone tips, and the downward-pointing stems are direct copies of the Apple design. That said, if you love Apple's mood, you will love the look of those buds.

But oppositional flattery from Jony Ive's aesthetic doesn't end there. The charging case is also a pure AirPods Pro, right down to the perfectly movable hinge and the LED charging indicator on the front. Sure, there are a few differences. Oppo wrapped its case in sleek aluminum tape that gives it a touch of sophistication, and the pairing button sits a little proud of that tape on the side instead of sitting flush on the back like Apple. This button could be accidentally pressed, which wouldn't be ideal, but the real head scratch in Oppos's design is the decision to orient the earbuds so the tips are facing away from each other. This means that every time you take them out of the case – which is easiest if you pinch the silicone tips between your thumb and forefinger – they are pointing the wrong way for your ears.

Why did Oppo do that? Maybe to avoid accusations of a complete Apple copy, or maybe the slightly longer stems of the Enco X made it necessary.

There's one area in the Enco X's design that actually improves Apple's work: The Enco X's are rated IP54, which means they're just as waterproof as the AirPods Pro, but also have some dust resistance.

Convenience, control and connections

Oppo Enco X.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The AirPods Pro are some of the most comfortable true wireless earbuds I've ever tried, and (surprisingly) the Enco Xs offer an equally comfortable fit. There's even a Fit Test in the free HeyMelody app for Android (an iOS version coming soon) and another AirPods Pro feature to add to the list. I had to switch to the large earbuds for a perfect fit, but even the standard media was pretty good. As long as you don't mind having buds in your ear canals, the Enco X is comfortable enough for many hours of continuous use.

The earphones use a touch user interface. I'm usually not a huge fan of touch controls. I find them inaccurate and I don't like the lack of click feedback that physical buttons offer. But the Enco X could turn me into a convert. Tap the registered stems almost every time, and you can adjust the volume by sliding your finger up or down the length of either stalk. This is still not possible with the AirPods Pro.

The HeyMelody app lets you customize these controls, update the firmware, and customize the ANC (more on that later).

The Enco X doesn't support Bluetooth multipoint (which allows two devices to connect to a set of earbuds at the same time), but the pairing feature is so fast that it almost doesn't matter. If you press the pairing button for two seconds, you can quickly connect to a new device or reconnect to a previously assigned device.

Even better, in the HeyMelody app, you can assign a long press command that automatically switches the earbuds back to the last connected device. I've never seen this feature on any set of wireless earbuds. It worked like a charm and let me switch seamlessly between my iPhone and Pixel XL.

Full and rich, with a bass response that is powerful but never overwhelming, they deliver a well-balanced sound signature.

The Enco X's wireless range averages 30 feet outdoors, which is closer to 15 feet indoors. The connection is very reliable within these distances.

Sound quality

I'm not going to by the bush – the Enco X sounds really good. Full and rich, with a bass response that is powerful but never overwhelming, they deliver a well-balanced sound signature. The sound stage strikes a middle ground between intimate and expansive.

Compared to similarly expensive products like that Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro or even the AirPods Pro, the Enco X, can more than hold their own. Only when you compare it to more expensive products like the Jabra Elite 85t or the Sony WF-1000XM3 will you notice limitations. The Enco X can't quite keep up with these earbuds when it comes to clarity and precision, especially at higher frequencies.

When I found that the HeyMelody app didn't offer EQ adjustments, I was a little concerned – I tend to tweak most of the earbuds slightly to get a sound profile that suits me. Now that I've spent some time with these earbuds, I don't miss that lack of EQ control at all, and I'm confident you won't either.

Another observation that surprised me: the Enco X sounded better when used with my Pixel XL test phone than it did with my iPhone 11. This is a mystery. In general, I don't hear much of a difference between iOS and Android, especially when streaming from the exact same source (in this case, Tidal HiFi). And while there is no Bluetooth codec advantage (the Enco X uses AAC when connected to both phones), I found that stereo imaging, clarity, and soundstage were improved when using the Pixel XL.

The Oppo Enco X have the rare distinction of being some of the best noise canceling earbuds you can buy.

Speaking of codecs, the Enco X may sound even better when used with Oppo phones that support LHDC, a high-resolution, low-latency Bluetooth codec that competes directly with Sony's LDAC and aptX HD. The Enco X are some of the first true wireless earbuds on the market to come with LHDC support.

Noise cancellation and transparency

Oppo Enco X.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The Oppo Enco X has the rare distinction of calling the AirPods Pro, Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, and Jabra Elite 85t some of the best noise-canceling earbuds you can buy.

Not only do they excellently reduce unwanted noises like traffic, conversation, and the booming hum of machines while listening to music, but they also deliver an impressively quiet cone of silence when there is no music at all.

Transparency mode is equally effective, doing that magical balancing act of amplifying the outside world so far that you can hear it, but not so much that it sounds like you're listening to a recording of the outside world.

It's not perfect: I found that while other people's voices were crisp and clear, my own voice still felt a little muffled. But it makes conversation easy, what matters.

In the HeyMelody app, you can choose which ANC modes are available when you touch and hold an earbud. You can switch between all four modes (Off, Transparency, Regular ANC, and Maximum ANC) or any combination thereof. I found maximum ANC and transparency most useful.

Changes in ANC mode are as quick as the AirPods Pro, but not as quick as the Elite 85t.

Battery life

Oppo Enco X and AirPods ProOppo Enco X (right) and Apple AirPods Pro Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

If there is one area the Enco X could do better, it is battery life. Oppo claims four hours per charge if the volume is 50% and you use the maximum ANC which is 20 hours with the charging case included. By switching off ANC, up to 5.5 or 25 hours are achieved.

As far as I can tell, these numbers are slightly conservative. There were almost 4.5 hours between charges with ANC. Once again, the Enco X seems content to replicate the AirPods Pro – these battery life stats are close to Apple's – although the AirPods Pro offer a slightly better lifespan in this case.

One feature that Oppo should have mimicked is the AirPods Pro's fast charging capability. Five minutes of charging adds an hour to AirPods Pro playtime, but the Enco X cannot be charged quickly. From the empty state, it takes 80 minutes to charge the earbuds in their case. If you charge the Enco X for five minutes, you only have 17 minutes of play time.

Call quality

The Oppo Enco X may not be as crystal clear as the Bose or Jabra earbuds, but it still offers very good call quality. Competing noises, such as car traffic driving past, were very effectively suppressed. My voice wavered and fluttered occasionally, but it was always intelligible.

Our opinion

Oppo made a near-perfect clone of the Apple AirPods Pro that offers better sound quality and a much cheaper price.

Is there a better alternative?

As long as Oppo can keep the Enco X's price tag at around $ 150 or less, these earbuds have no serious competition at all.

You can get better sound quality and more features, but you'll have to spill an additional $ 50 to $ 80 Jabra Elite 85t come to mind. You can certainly spend less and still get ANC – like the Edifier TWS NB2 – but these earbuds don't meet the Enco X's very high bar for ANC and design.

Even iPhone owners should seriously consider the Enco X before buying a set of AirPods Pro. The Enco X does not allow you to speak hands-free with Siri, and Apple spatial audio is not supported. However, this seems like a fair trade to save $ 100.

How long will they last?

The Enco X seems to be very well built, with high quality materials and workmanship. At the time of this review, no US warranty information was available, but I'm assuming these earbuds can be used regularly (or better) than comparable models.

Should you buy it?

Absolutely. If you like the idea of ​​the AirPods Pro, the Enco X are cheaper and outperform Apple's sound quality.

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