30 Oct
Blog

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2021) Review: For the Avid Readers

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 5 review

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2021)

RRP $ 139.99

“The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite meets all the important criteria with USB-C, a larger screen and an improved reading experience. It's one of the best e-readers you can get. "

advantages

  • Bigger, brighter screen

  • Warmer color temperature adjustments

  • USB-C charging port

  • Waterproof

disadvantage

  • Screen smears easily

  • No automatically adapting light

The Kindle Paperwhite was released in 2018 has been due for an upgrade three years ago – meaning it's been a year past Amazon's usual Kindle update patterns. During this time, other readers have been given features like USB-C, bigger screens, slimmer bezels, and more. Amazon itself has some of these bells and whistles in its own high-end models like the Kindle Oasis, but they haven't filtered down to the cheaper Paperwhite range – until now. After three long years, Amazon finally has the Kindle Paperwhite (2021), to answer my prayers for a stylish, modern e-reader.

After spending several days getting my initial Excitement turned to bliss: How could I have lived for so long without a Paperwhite like this one? With a few small tweaks to an already great device, Amazon has once again consolidated itself as the heavyweight champion of the e-reader market.

Design and size

The new Paperwhite comes with two big design improvements: a bigger, better screen and a USB-C charging port. The latter has long been one of the biggest requests from Kindle users. USB-C ports are becoming more and more universal and carrying multiple charging cables is a hassle. The latest model brings USB-C, which makes it faster and more compatible with chargers, cables, and devices you already have. Just one thing to note: this model doesn't support wireless charging, so you'll need to invest in the higher tier Signature Edition if you want this feature.

Paperwhite (2021) in palmistry.

The 6.8-inch screen with the narrower bezels is a huge improvement for most people, although I must admit that when Amazon announced it, I slammed the design to remove the space on the bezel that provided a better grip. I stand by that belief as I still find it harder than the Barnes & Noble Nook Glowlight 3's thicker bezel, but I understand that this is a minority opinion.

I pulled out my old Nook GlowLight 3 and found these units were roughly the same size, even though the new Paperwhite had a bigger screen. However, if you're used to a smaller footprint e-reader like the affordable Kindle 2019, the Paperwhite is noticeably larger both in terms of screen area and overall size. In my travels, even an extra inch of space accounts for my carry-on baggage, so this is something to consider if portability is your priority.

These are all minor flaws, but the new design has one major drawback. As far as I can tell, the flush screen lacks fingerprint resistance. Every time I touch the screen, including the frame area, my fingerprints leave enough marks on the display that I want to douse my hands and the e-reader with hand sanitizer and Lysol. It's impossible to stay clean, and even after just five minutes of use, the screen looked smeared and dirty.

Paper white USB-C charging port.

On the other hand, it's nice to know that the Paperwhite is waterproof. I tossed it under the sink for a wash and the only minor problem was the same one I had with my Skagen Falster 3 smartwatch – it registered the running water as inputs, resulting in page flips, but this isn't exactly your average use case. Older models only had freshwater IPX resistance, while the new model was designed for both fresh and saltwater, allowing up to 30 minutes of IPX8 water resistance in saltwater environments, so perfect for beach days or when you just want it in a hot tub relax.

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Since its release in 2019 the Kindle oasis did offer readers adjustable warm light, but the older Paperwhite lacked those eye-friendly features. Other competitors, such as the Barnes & Noble Nook GlowLight 3 and the Kobo Clara HD, which already have warm light built into their respective devices. In other words, it was long overdue for this 300 pixels-per-inch (ppi) display.

It's really refreshing too Pull out an e-reader and know that the warm light automatically turns on after 5 p.m. via an automatic scheduling feature so I can read crisp, clear letters on the e-ink screen. I can't tell if the e-reader will automatically adjust to time zone differences, so be careful – you may have to manually reset a schedule. It comes with a 10% brighter LED light in the display that works wonderfully when reading at night.

Paper white with screen on.

The Paperwhite has no automatic adjustments or page orientation options; In fact, I would have liked more (optional) automated functions that are integrated into the characteristic anti-glare display. In all honesty, I want to be lazy with reading, and while lazing around with this device, it annoys me having to tap more buttons to get an adjusted brightness level. But when you consider that competitors in the same price range don't offer fully automatic light adjustment, this is still pretty revolutionary. The new Paperwhite also features a dark mode that inverts the colors on the screen, which was also a nice, comfortable touch to reduce eye fatigue.

Reading experience

With my father's Kindle Oasis to run some testing, I decided now is a really good time to read dune in time to see the theatrical release. The Amazon Kindle Store claimed it was 890 pages long, and for such a large book, it took just 4.93 seconds to download on the Paperwhite versus 5.90 seconds on the Oasis. When flipping pages, I also noticed that, unlike previous iterations, Paperwhite felt like it had a really seamless page break. In all of my years of working with e-readers, I have always had a brief delay in turning the pages. The seamless transition in the new Paperwhite allowed me to focus more on what I was reading without constant micro-interruptions.

It also turned out to be incredibly quick when flipping through the Kindle store or browsing a digital library. As with previous models, the 8GB storage is great for downloading thousands of your favorite books, but that's the only storage option you have. It would have been nice to see slightly larger storage capacity without the high price tag of the Signature Edition Paperwhite, as all books downloaded using the Bluetooth enabled Audible features inevitably take up that small amount of space. However, I don't think it makes sense to invest in the Signature Edition if this model performs with the same gusto in terms of speed.

Paperwhite (2021) next Glowlight 3.Kindle Paperwhite (left), Nook Glowlight 3 (right)

There are two types of books that just didn't come for me on this device: comics and cookbooks. As much as I wanted to try The Umbrella Academy, the screen is still too small to bring out the details of the graphic novel (it has no color either). It's also hard to follow cookbook instructions on a 6.8-inch screen. Maybe that's possible with the Kindle 10 HD Fire, which has a much larger colored surface, but not so much a small black and white e-reader for chapter books.

Kindle Paperwhite over other e-readers.

One downside to being a Kobo user is that Amazon has not yet worked with library systems or apps like Libby build an e-book lending program, and probably never will. Library e-books are still not compatible with this e-reader and there are a number of confusing and annoying steps to take to get around this.

Price and availability

the Kindle Paperwhite costs $ 139 for the ad-supported model and $ 159 for the ad-free versions. If you want to invest in more storage and wireless charging, you have to drop $ 189 for it the signature edition.

Our opinion

The Kindle Paperwhite ticks all the important boxes that e-reader fans have asked for. It comes with USB-C and offers even better water resistance, dual-band WiFi, faster page turns and surfing, a bigger screen, more color temperature options, and slimmer bezels. For most people, it will be the best e-reader available.

Is there a better alternative?

It depends on your needs. In terms of hardware, the Kindle outperforms all of its non-Amazon competitors for price, including the Nook and Kobo lines. The design isn't quite as ergonomic as the Oasis or even the chunky Glowlight 3, however, as both have physical buttons. aesthetics That being said, Amazon could have done a little more to make the Paperwhite the ultimate e-reader, such as adding more auto-brightness features and more storage space, but that means you'll have to spend more on the Signature Edition.

If you're not a fan of the Kindle line then the Kobo Clara would be a similar device in terms of design and function. You lose some of the Amazon Kindle Store's key software features, like Daily Deals, in place of OverDrive's e-lending library, but it can be worth it if you want to support your local library with free books.

How long it will take?

The Paperwhite comes with the standard one-year warranty and you can expect software updates to last for at least five years. Unlike phones or tablets, you can stick to an e-reader for years without upgrading.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. The Kindle Paperwhite offers a seamless, smooth reading experience for all ages, USB-C charging, a bigger and better screen, and improved water resistance.

Editor's recommendations



29 Oct
Blog

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Review: Improved Immersion

Sonos Beam Gen 1 and Gen 2, stacked vertically.

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

RRP $ 449.00

"Dolby Atmos adds a touch of 3D fun to an already excellent soundbar."

advantages

  • Easy adjustment

  • Immersive, room-filling sound

  • Slim design

  • AirPlay 2

disadvantage

  • No HDMI inputs

  • Requires compatible TV for Dolby Atmos

Since debuting in 2018, the Sonos Beam has been one of the best small soundbars you can buy for $ 399, thanks to its great sound, compact and stylish design, easy integration with Sonos' sound platform for the whole house and home its ability to double as a smart speaker for Alexa or Google Assistant.

But in recent years Dolby Atmos – the 3D surround sound format that makes movies and music much more immersive – has become hugely popular, not least due to its acceptance by streaming giants like Netflix, Disney +, Amazon Prime Video, and both Apple TV + as well as Apple Music. This means that most new soundbars, including Sonos' $ 799 flagship Arc soundbar, are now Atmos compatible, and the second generation Beam is no exception.

The new Sonos Beam is more expensive at $ 449. So the questions are whether existing Beam owners should even think about an upgrade and what prospective Beam newbies can expect from it.

A couple of small changes

First things first, before reading this hands-on test, be sure to check out our review of the original Sonos Beam. Sonos made very few changes to the second generation version. From now on, I'll just discuss what these changes are and how they affect the performance of the beam.

I am a fan of the grid. It's much easier to clean and doesn't attract as much dust in the first place.

Some of these changes are relatively minor, such as the decision to replace the fabric speaker grille with one made of rigid plastic. The biggest change is in the sound, which I'll get into in a moment. It's worth noting, however, that while I am discussing the changes Sonos made to the Beam, this is not an attempt to figure out which one is better because, aside from remaining Gen 1 inventory, the second generation Beam is now the only one that you can buy.

What's in the box?

Sonos Beam Gen 2 scope of delivery.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Sonos has always been the king of simplicity, and that goes from setup to software to packaging. The new Beam comes in a plain printed, fully recyclable box, and the only plastic you'll find are the two small poly bags that protect the included HDMI cable and optical-to-HDMI adapter. If Sonos finds a way to erase those bags, it will have some of the most sustainable packaging in the business.

In the box you will find the beam, color-coordinated power and HDMI cables, the adapter I mentioned and some printed matter for guarantees, etc.

Great grill

Sonos Beam Gen 2.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

I like the traditional look of cloth grilles on a speaker. But as the owner of two cats, I can confirm that fabric grids are more like dust and fur magnets that have to be cleaned pretty much all the time. I don't know if that was the idea behind Sonos when it decided to replace the fabric grille on the first generation Beam with a perforated plastic version, but I'm a fan. It's much easier to clean and doesn't attract as much dust in the first place at.

Setting up Sonos products has always been remarkably easy. The new beam is even easier.

The white Gen 2 test device Sonos sent me looks great. And if you're a die-hard white product fanatic, this new Beam will go with every other white Sonos speaker you might own, from the Sonos One to the tiny new Roam.

An (even) simpler set-up

Setting up Sonos products has always been remarkably easy. Plug it in, open the Sonos app, tap some settings and press a button or two on the speaker. Two minutes later and that's it. The new beam is even easier to set up thanks to near field communication (NFC) from Sonos. As soon as I put the beam on the wall and started the Sonos S2 app, the app recognized the beam and asked me to complete the setup.

This would have been as easy as tapping my iPhone against the top of the Beam, but my phone case is ridiculously thick (it was designed to be attached to a motorcycle) so that part didn't work. The app cleverly saw that I was having problems and asked if I would like to switch to an audio-based setup. When I said yes, I was asked to hold the phone next to the speaker while the speaker played an encoded audio tone. Five seconds later I was done. I have to give Sonos crazy props – the company just keeps making its products easier to work with.

The connection to my TV was also a breeze. As soon as the HDMI cable is plugged in, the Beam automatically recognizes your television and determines which commands it needs to control. This is especially handy if you choose to use Alexa's TV control capabilities.

Is it atmos?

Sonos Beam Gen 1 and Gen 2, stacked vertically.Sonos Beam Gen 2 (above, in white) and Sonos Beam Gen 1. Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Dolby Atmos can be a difficult technology to understand. In an ideal world, we would all buy dedicated 5.1.2 or better home theater systems with at least two ceiling speakers to give us all of the juicy hemispherical sound effects that Atmos is known for. That's not realistic for most of us, which is why Dolby Atmos soundbars have become so popular. With built-in up-firing drivers that radiate sound from the ceiling to our ears, the best Atmos soundbars provide a compelling replacement for the installed ceiling speakers. But here's the thing about Dolby Atmos: thanks to sound virtualization, which uses some very clever tricks to simulate the presence of upward-facing or ceiling-based height channels, it can actually be delivered over just two channels.

With the addition of virtualized surround sound, it's an even more impressive addition to your TV.

How well virtualization works depends on a number of factors, including the size of the soundbar, the number of drivers it can use to create the simulated sound, the size and shape of your room, and even whether you have the soundbar Have turned on on a tabletop or mounted on the wall.

In general, this type of virtualized Atmos sound just can't compete with what you get from dedicated speakers, and the new Beam is no exception. However, Sonos managed to get a surprising amount of additional immersion out of what is exactly the same driver setup as the first-generation Beam under that perforated grille.

Sonos Beam Gen 1 and Gen 2, stacked vertically.Sonos Beam Gen 2 (above, white) and Beam Gen 1. Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

To get a feel for the difference between the first and second generation models, I stacked them vertically and played a variety of content by switching the HDMI cable between them. The sound stage of the new beam is significantly wider and when playing Atmos content you get a small but noticeable height effect. The Beam has always outperformed its weight class when it comes to filling a room with great sound, and with the addition of virtualized surround sound, it's an even more impressive addition to your TV.

For fun, I tried the recently remastered classic Top Gun from the 1980s. In fact, those epic dogfight scenes and the iconic opening sequence on board an aircraft carrier sounded fantastic. The Beam still lacks the deep, low-end rumble of sound bars that come with their own subwoofers, but I was pleasantly surprised at how well it mimicked a full surround system. Even more surprising is how well this effect carries over to standard 5.1 content.

There have been a couple of occasions when I thought the first generation Beam was providing a bit more understandable dialogue, but the difference was small.

The one port problem

The rear connections of the Sonos Beam Gen 2.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The new Beam has a single HDMI ARC / eARC port for connection to a television. The eARC part is new – it allows HDMI-eARC-enabled TVs to send a high-resolution, lossless 24-bit audio signal to the soundbar, while the first generation Beam was limited to lossy digital audio. That single port wasn't a serious limiting factor for the first-generation Beam, as the speaker couldn't decode more than Dolby 5.1, which meant that every television for the past 15 years could use its full capabilities, even if it meant having an optical- to use HDMI adapter.

But with the Dolby Atmos capabilities of the new beam, this is no longer the case. To hear Dolby Atmos from the new Beam, your TV must also support Dolby Atmos. If you want to hear Dolby Atmos from your other devices (such as streaming boxes, game consoles or Blu-ray players), they must also be connected to the HDMI inputs on your TV. There is simply no other way to transfer Atmos content to the new beam.

If you have a Dolby Atmos TV with lots of HDMI ports, this should work fine. However, if your TV isn't Dolby Atmos compatible, you will never be able to take full advantage of this speaker. Many other Atmos sound bars come with at least one HDMI input so you can connect an Apple TV 4K or a Roku Ultra. This would send the Atmos content straight to the speaker while the video goes to the TV, but that's not an option with the new Beam.

For Dolby Atmos Music, Sonos plans to support this format later this year. It starts with Amazon Music HD, but hopefully other services that offer Atmos Music and lossless music like Tidal and Apple Music will be added soon.

diploma

The Sonos Beam is a little more expensive now, but it's worth it. The additional immersion offered by the speaker's virtualized Dolby Atmos and 5.1 surround sound makes an already powerful soundbar for movies and music even better. If you have an Atmos-enabled TV, it's worth upgrading to take advantage of the better sound. Even if your TV isn't Atmos-enabled, the new Beam may offer improved immersion over its predecessor, but the difference will be less noticeable.

Editor's recommendations



29 Oct
Blog

Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania Review: It Won’t Make You Go Ape

GonGon rolls over a stage full of bananas.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania

RRP $ 40.00

"Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania is a welcome but imprecise remake that lacks detail."

advantages

  • High resolution graphics

  • Lots of customization options

  • New modes and ways to play

  • Classic soundtrack available as DLC

disadvantage

  • Stages without details

  • Shaky controls

  • Unforgettable story and soundtrack

  • Some weak party games

While 20 years have passed since the original Super Monkey Ball was released, the game remains true to its arcade roots. That coin-op influence is still felt in Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania, the franchise's newest installment.

Banana Mania is an "extended" HD remake for PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X / S. It brings together all of the courses from the first three games in the series: Super Monkey Ball, Super Monkey Ball 2, and Super Monkey Ball Deluxe, the last of which was just a compilation of the first two games, effectively making Banana Mania a compilation of a compilation. The game was developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku, a Sega-affiliated development team with strong ties to Amusement Visions (the developer of the original game) and published by Sega.

I went to Banana Mania and I was expecting the best. Super Monkey Ball was a staple of my childhood: spending long hours huddled around the TV with my younger sister, handing the controller back and forth as we tried to torment our way through the expert level. We yelled at each other as we blew our monkeys up in Monkey Race and pushed each other off the stage in Monkey Fight. We both played the original game so many times that at this point it was mostly muscle memory. In stark contrast, I mostly played Banana Mania alone, curled up on my sofa, trying to figure out each phase for myself.

While the game is undeniably Monkey Ball, it felt like Monkey Ball through a filter: warped and just different enough to get me off my game. It's more of a chore than a fun flashback.

The main attraction

Banana Mania draws its narrative and many of its stages from the Super Monkey Ball Deluxe story mode. The friendly monkeys AiAi, MeeMee, GonGon and Baby just want to enjoy some bananas, but the nefarious Dr. Bad-Boon steals them all and sends the monkeys on a journey through the world of the game to get their yellow fruits back. The story plays a much smaller role than in Deluxe; There is no dialogue and very little actual story content. It's more of a disgustingly cute loose thread that connects the game's themed worlds. After seeing the first short cutscenes, I wanted to skip them and just get on with the stages. Narrative is not really a strong (or necessary) part of Monkey Ball. The complete courses of Monkey Balls 1 and 2 are also considered part of the main game and are referred to as "Challenges".

AiAi tries to avoid a rotten banana in Dark Banana Mode.

The gameplay retains the arcade-like, point-oriented feel of the original titles while doing a few tweaks to ensure Banana Mania doesn't look like it was ripped out of an arcade cabinet. I no longer had to worry about using up my entire life or losing my points after falling off a stage too many times, which made things easier. The stages range from frustratingly satisfying to simply frustrating: nothing compares to that Dark Souls-like feeling when you finally make it through a difficult period, but most of the time you just want to spam the new helper mode or use points to skip stages. The game aims to remove many of the frustrations that come with getting stuck at a certain stage, but make no mistake, Banana Mania is just as tough as the other games in the series.

It doesn't feel improved, just different.

Even so, the harshness often feels unfair. Much of Deluxe's ​​time-based level design won't hold up in 2021, and the new levels are tricky rather than challenging. The controls feel both too stiff and too sensitive, and fighting the camera was often more difficult than actually completing a level. The challenge courses of Monkey Balls 1 and 2 feel mostly the same, but the physics and movement potential are just so different that my GameCube muscle memory has failed. It doesn't feel improved, just different.

Side shows

The game includes a variety of "party games" from the history of the series. These mini-games range from the more traditional ones like Monkey Bowling and Monkey Soccer to the more unusual ones like Monkey Dogfight and Monkey Boat. The quality of the games also ranges from pretty good to terrible. Monkey billiards is a lot of fun and the A.I. is strong enough to keep you going. It also includes a new user interface that will help you aim your shot better than ever. Monkey Baseball, a simplified form of baseball very similar to the Toy Field mode in Super Mario Baseball, is also fun once you master the stiff controls.

The game includes a variety of "party games" from the history of the series. The quality of these mini-games ranges from pretty good to terrible.

On the other hand, Monkey Boat is terrible. Despite HD and 4K upscaling, the water textures retain the transparency of the GameCube era and the courses are boring in both graphics and gameplay. Monkey Target takes away all of the fun of the original by skewing the controls to the point where it is almost impossible to land on the targets, which above all makes it a frustrating exercise. Most of the other games are just … fine. Many of them now contain archaic, meter-based mechanics for determining strength that feel antiquated in the era of motion control.

Sonic stands triumphantly next to some rings in the Storm world.

When you are tired of the main story and party games, you can spend a little time decorating your monkey and trying out new modes. The game features a large number of playable characters from Sega history, including Sonic and Tails, Kazyma Kiryu from Yakuza, and Beat from Jet Set Radio. There are a variety of costumes and ball styles that can be purchased with points earned through the main game and party games. The shop also sells unique stages that come with different modes that do everything from reversing the starting point and destination area of ​​the stages to converting the normally scoring bananas into items to avoid.

Banana Mania is pretty generous with its points: I was able to buy pretty much anything I wanted in the store simply by playing a couple of the main story worlds and each of the party games once. The costumes are cute and I like to customize my monkey.

The devil is in the details

In many places the game has made a conscious decision to optimize or adapt details from the original Monkey Ballgames, especially when it comes to the sound. While some of the sound effects are nostalgic, others have been removed altogether – why doesn't there make a sound when your monkey's ball is moving extremely fast? The speaker's voice is also a bit annoying, but it has never been Monkey Ball's forte. (Why is "foul" pronounced like "foal" in Monkey Baseball ?!) One thing that was the show's strong point was totally botched here: the music. Banana Mania's soundtrack is absolutely memorable and pales in comparison to the funky grooves of the original Super Monkey Ball. Do yourself a favor and get the Original Soundtrack DLC for $ 5.

One thing that was the show's strong point was totally botched here: the music.

You'd think that in an HD remake it would make sense to upgrade the original game's environments to at least the standard of today's Switch games, but the environments look the same as in the original game, only sharper. In many cases this means that part of my screen has been taken up by a huge HD area of ​​relative nothing. I would have loved to see more details, or at least some upgrades, to the 20 year old Super Monkey Ball worlds of Monkey Mall and Desert, but they look essentially the same, and that's not a great thing.

Baby is floating through a plane.

Our opinion

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania should include everything fans love about the series: skill-based difficulty, great music, fun mini-games, and excellent replayability with a good group of friends by your side. Unfortunately, this collection feels like a hasty remake that throws the precise controls and stellar music of the original tracks overboard. The charm and fun gameplay of the original games are still there, but this remake doesn't feel like a huge improvement over the classics.

How long it will take?

Super Monkey Ball games are infinitely repeatable and Banana Mania is no exception. The game features online leaderboards and time leaderboards, which means that players who really want to get the best of times will have plenty to do. Those who are less competitive are better off sticking to local multiplayer of party games.

Is there an alternative?

If you're looking for newer levels, Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz is available for Nintendo Switch. If you want to experience the original stages in all their arcade glory, check your local retro game store for a copy of Super Monkey Ball or Super Monkey Ball 2.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. If you're new to the series and want to try it out (or don't own a GameCube or Wii), Banana Mania is worth a try, if only to experience the original stages and music. But if you've never been curious, this imperfect remake of the series isn't going to sell you.

Editor's recommendations



28 Oct
Blog

Hot Wheels Unleashed Review: Banking Hard On Nostalgia

Hot Wheels Unleashed Review Unveiled

Hot wheels unleashed

RRP $ 49.99

"Hot Wheels Unleashed starts very fast, but ends up as a flat kart racer."

advantages

  • Breathtaking look

  • Great track design

  • Innovative track builder

disadvantage

  • Simple racing mechanics

  • Loot boxes to unlock new cars

  • Pointless game modes

  • No change in gameplay

The kart racing genre is packed with standout titles, each with their own twists and turns. Mario Kart is the undeniable king, but tons of other franchises – Sonic and Crash Bandicoot, to name a few – have their own somewhat unique karting games. Hot Wheels Unleashed then rushes into the fray of this competition and screams, “Look how realistic our cars are!” Before promptly being blown away like a piece of paper on a racetrack.

That's because Hot Wheels Unleashed, a fun kart racer, quickly shows its flatness when you start playing. Behind its extremely impressive graphics, Hot Wheels Unleashed is about as naked as it gets, offering an extremely simplified kart racing experience that had so much potential to be more and a bevy of ultimately boring content.

A brilliant start

The experience starts strong and goes from zero to sixty. When you start it for the first time, Hot Wheels Unleashed gives you three “blind boxes”, a tastelessly named loot box. Players are instantly given three cars to use in races, and the first glance at their stunningly rendered plastic and aluminum is all it takes to get someone hooked.

A Hot Wheels racetrack in Hot Wheels Unleashed.

Before it's fun or inventive, Hot Wheels Unleashed is a nice game to check out. Everything from the cars themselves to the tracks players drive is breathtakingly detailed. You can even look under the cars and find Mattel's name (copyrighted of course) and “Made In Malaysia” on the plastic. The game's vinyl tracks look spectacular and the sunlight that shines from them and the cars is eye catching. These are, of course, the visuals you would expect on a PS5 or PC. If you're playing the game on a last-generation console, the visual shock and awe may not be as expressive.

Regardless, I got sucked into the vibe of Hot Wheels Unleashed for the first two hours that I played it. The game is just fun to watch, and its racing mechanics are equally impressive, although that feeling quickly fades.

Racing in Hot Wheels Unleashed is awfully easy. There are no power ups on tracks, with the only quirk of the game being how it handles boosting. By drifting or simply driving along, your car builds up thrust, which you can then use to detach yourself from a car driver or to catch up with the leader.

However, not all boosts are created equal. Cars in Hot Wheels Unleashed are extremely varied, each with their own stats for speed, acceleration, braking, handling, and of course, boost. Some cars have individual boost charges while others have a counter that can be spent at any time. Of course, this system means you will be directed to every car that has impressive statistics. You can also upgrade any car with gears, either of the game's two currencies, but upgrading a vehicle from an ordinary tier to a legendary one is incredibly expensive.

Before it's fun or inventive, Hot Wheels Unleashed is a nice game to check out.

That being said, there is an unspoken genius in the track design of Hot Wheels Unleashed. Some races are wonderfully unique and open, with one thing left on my mind that forced me to run a 180 degree corkscrew to land my car after driving on an inverted maglev. Another section from another race made me pull off the track for a single turn, instructing me on where to go from a handful of traffic cones. Except you can drive outside of those cones in-game, so I'd pull a tight drift and completely bypass the usual corner in favor of my much faster shortcut.

In Hot Wheels Unleashed, a car with hot wheels jumps on a track.

So it's a shame that Hot Wheels Unleashed never makes full use of any of these concepts. If you try to skip a distance with a certain imagination, you will be sent back to the last checkpoint. Gravity and tricks almost never come into play, save for a few standout tracks. With more frequent use, these ideas could have made Hot Wheels Unleashed stand out from the rest. However, instead of accepting this weirdness, the game tries to be a no-nonsense racer and eventually becomes total boredom.

Slowly to the goal

The more I played Hot Wheels Unleashed, the more problems I saw with the game. Aside from the clear tendency to push players to specific cars instead of what they wanted, the game's main single player mode was quickly getting old. The mode called Hot Wheels City Rumble lets players go from race to race, which normally wouldn't get tiring in a game like Mario Kart.

Hot Wheels Unleashed's races, however, have little that defines them. Yes, the tracks are quite varied, only a handful have been repeated during my playing time, but at some point the races start to mix into a big jumble of vinyl and neon. Thankfully, there's a pretty good reason to stick with these races. If you win a race, players will be rewarded with gears, cosmetics, and coins that can be used to buy more blind boxes.

The Hot Dogs car from Hot Wheels UnleashedDriving a hot dog car is one of the best new additions to Hot Wheels Unleashed

However, these cosmetics are not for your cars; They are for one of the most redundant pieces of content in the game. Every player has a basement that can be adjusted to their hearts' content, and it's pretty much a man's cave for a Hot Wheels-obsessed millionaire. Players can customize this area to their liking with unlocked sofas, chairs, computers, walls, floors, and more. The attraction, I think, is that you can then race around in this area. However, it's hard to see the trophies in boxes or paintings hanging on the wall when your camera is two inches off the floor.

However, instead of accepting this weirdness, the game tries to be a no-nonsense racer and eventually becomes total boredom.

The only innovative feature of Hot Wheels Unleashed is the track construction. Right from the start, players can take full advantage of every single unique route in the game. It allows players to take advantage of the ideas that were given up by the game's developers, which I can only hope will happen in the end.

Our opinion

Aside from its stunning looks, Hot Wheels Unleashed is a toothless kart racer who relies too heavily on the nostalgic glasses and the Hot Wheels brand to wear instead of the solid ideas that are barely implemented in the end. What players get with Hot Wheels Unleashed is the same experience I had with many of my Hot Wheels as a kid; I was entertained for a couple of hours, then I got bored and threw it in a box.

That's not to say I didn't enjoy the game. Those few hours have been full of spectacle because it's just impossible not to get caught up in the sights and sounds of the game. At some point, however, it takes more than driving a hot dog car over a vinyl strip to interest me.

Is there a better alternative?

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the king of kart racers and will likely remain so until Nintendo decides to make another Mario Kart title.

How long it will take?

Defeating Hot Wheels Unleashed's City Rumble mode will likely take 15-20 hours. Trying to collect every car in the game could bring that to over 30, by my estimate.

Should you buy it?

No. Hot Wheels Unleashed is all glitter with no substance and becomes dull too quickly to justify its price.

Editor's recommendations



23 Oct
Blog

Govee Glide Wall Light Review: Add Color to Your Wall

govee Glide wall lamp Review Lifestyle 2 of 3

Govee Glide wall lamp

RRP $ 100.00

"The Govee Glide wall lamp can transform any bare wall into a masterpiece of dazzling colors."

advantages

  • Variety of light patterns

  • Bright light output

  • Firm adhesion to the wall

disadvantage

  • Limited designs

  • Antiquated looking software

Govee was on the verge. The last smart home maker to launch new products with so much enthusiasm was Wyze, but Govee has been a lot more hectic over the past six months. What is interesting here is that the company's focus is only on one product category and does not delve into many areas. Intelligent lighting is his specialty.

The Govee Glide wall lamp moves a little outside of the intelligent lighting convention and offers a slightly different approach. Instead of being a lightbulb or lamp, it's actually a modular set of light strips that you can configure to decorate and adorn walls. If you are tired of the LED light strips that tend to be out of sight, this may pique your interest as it will ask to be presented in front and in the center.

Installation and setup

Two kits are available: a 7-piece system for $ 100 and a 12-piece system for $ 150. I tested the 7-piece set but found that it doesn't offer nearly as many arrangements as other wall lights – like the Twinkly Flex or Nanoleaf Lines. Because the light bars are connected one behind the other and there is only a single 90-degree piece, which makes it almost impossible to find a unique arrangement that stands out from others. Even if you go for the 12-piece kit, you will likely have to buy another to really design something ornate. I chose an L-shaped design because you can't do much more without investing in more light strips.

Govee Glide wall lamp on the wall.John Velasco / Digital Trends

Luckily, mounting it on the wall is child's play, because the underside of the light strips has adhesive strips that appear to remain firmly attached to the wall. While the light bars may seem bulky, they are actually light enough to stay firmly in place. In fact, I've set up the Govee Glide Wall Light for over a month now and there's no sign that the glue has worn off. However, you should really finish your wall design before placing it on the wall because once they are erected it is a hassle to remove.

software

The Govee Glide wall light is controlled via the enclosed Govee Home app for Android and iOS. Aesthetically, it could benefit from a visual makeover as parts of it look antiquated. Its salvation is that Govee offers an extensive set of presets and modes that make for some dazzling lighting effects – including one that is music-responsive, as well as the ability to create your own custom light pattern.

Govee Home app that runs on a phone.

You will definitely spend a lot of time creating a custom effect as you will have to pick a color for a specific light bar. In comparison, I prefer Twinkly's method of adjusting the light patterns as it maps your design beforehand with your phone's camera. That way, it's much easier and more convenient to set up a custom pattern instead of having to manually select each light bar through the app.

power

As mentioned earlier, Govee offers a variety of lighting effects. From pulsating effects to multi-colored lights that turn on from end to end, I love the variety that it has to offer. The options available can be adjusted to suit the mood or ambience, making it very suitable as an accent light. While most similar smart lights like this are more of an accent, I'm actually surprised at how they can act as the main light source as well.

I'm actually surprised at how it can act as the main light source.

When it's night, the Govee Glide wall sconce has enough power to light up most rooms – which makes it useful for reading, which is surprising for a 7-piece set like this one. I didn't expect that, but it can replace the two floor lamps that I currently use in my home office. The colors are pretty vivid too, but not as vivid as the colors I saw from the Govee Lyra Smart Floor Lamp. Even so, it's not too shabby and most people would be happy with its hues.

characteristics

In terms of intelligent functions, I wanted something more than the usual – like voice control with Alexa or Google Assistant. There's a basic timer option for choosing days and times it can be turned on and off, but I really would have loved to see more. The Wyze Lights Strips Pro, for example, automatically adjusts the color temperature to the time of day.

Our opinion

With its simple setup and dazzling color patterns, the Govee Glide wall light has enough to offer without being too expensive. Other smart wall light options offer better saturation and adjustment than this, but are also much more expensive. Govee's offering is balanced enough to make it an option unless you want a more customizable design.

Is there a better alternative?

At the moment, the Nanoleaf Lines are standout wall lights that offer better color saturation and more customization options. You'll pay a lot more for it, but you're sure to get some visitor attention due to the dazzling and neat design.

There's also the Twinkly Flex, which is priced similar to the Govee Glide Wall Light. The flex offers great brightness and saturation and has the advantage of being manipulable to create even more designs on the wall.

How long it will take?

The plastic-coated light strips don't weigh much and feel a bit hollow. You could say it feels threadbare. Govee offers a one-year limited warranty to protect it from failure.

Should you buy it?

If you are content with simple wall designs and don't want to spend a fortune, the Govee Glide wall lamp with its fascinating light patterns is worth a look.

Editor's recommendations



22 Oct
Blog

Eufy HomeVac H30 Review: Good Things Come in Small Packages

The Eufy HomeVac H30 with 2-in-1 crevice nozzle and handle attachments.

Eufy HomeVac H30

RRP $ 199.99

"The Eufy HomeVac H30 has a strong suction power, but has a somewhat unfriendly design that complicates the attachment process and is not easy on the wrists."

advantages

  • Strong suction power

  • Slim and easy to store

  • Convenient charging station

  • Infinity comes with wiping accessories

disadvantage

  • Uncomfortable grip

  • Attachments can be difficult to use

  • Low battery life

Chaos can manifest itself in the blink of an eye. Maybe you filled up the cereal bowl and some flakes fell on the kitchen floor. Or maybe the cat decided to get creative with the litter spread across the homestead. And let's not forget the cobwebs on the ceiling that don't belong on your Halloween diorama.

While today's leading upright vacuum cleaners are built for the kind of roll-up sleeve that cleans the whole house that many of us take to weekend days off, a cordless handheld vacuum is the perfect solution for the little clutter that pops up out of nowhere – the kind of rubble that simply cannot be avoided until Saturday.

One such wireless companion is the Eufy HomeVac H30. It is designed for light, fast performance and comes with numerous attachments (some good, some not so good). I was able to put the H30 to the test for several weeks. That's what we think of Eufy's bite-sized cleaner.

Out of the box

The HomeVac H30 is available in three different model levels: Venture, Mate and Infinity (our test model). The fundamentals remain the same across the three levels, with appendices being the compromise from unit to unit. The Venture Series ($ 160) comes with a 2-in-1 grout cleaner and multi-surface tool. The Mate ($ 180) adds a motorized brush for removing pet hair. The flagship Infinity ($ 200) comes with everything you get with the Venture and Mate, along with a stick attachment and hard floor head for quick mopping (plus disposable mop heads). All H30 models are available in both black and white.

The Eufy HomeVac H30 with 2-in-1 crevice nozzle and handle attachments.Michael Bizzaco / Digital Trends

When I unpacked the H30 Infinity, I also received a replaceable lithium-ion battery, charging station, and wall-mounting accessories for hanging the charger (not required).

draft

I was immediately impressed with how light the H30 felt. Designed to be gripped with one hand, the entire vacuum weighs just 1.78 pounds. In terms of dimensions, the H30 measures 16.7 inches wide, 3.5 inches high and has a depth of 2.9 inches. As for the grip, it honestly took me a minute or two to get used to holding the H30. It's clear where to reach, but when you point the vacuum cleaner down to vacuum up dirt, the angle in the wrist area feels a little strange. Throwing up a cleaning attachment will help reduce the angle you have to dive into, but it doesn't completely eliminate the discomfort.

The Eufy HomeVac H30 vacuums oats from carpets.Michael Bizzaco / Digital Trends

The controls on the H30 are front and center and easy to understand. There is a power switch, a toggle switch to toggle between Eco and Max suction power (more on this in the next section) and a trash can button that unlocks the trash can. In addition, there are three LED indicators above the power button that show how much battery life is left.

When emptying the H30, be sure to position the vacuum cleaner over your garbage bag. After unlocking the container, you need to slide it all the way forward to release it from its rail. After emptying it can be a little difficult to lock the container back onto the absorbent body, but not overly.

The Eufy HomeVac H30 with mop attachment.Michael Bizzaco / Digital Trends

One of the very first things that caught my eye was how small the trash can actually is. At 250 grams, it is one of the smallest tank sizes that you will find on every cordless vacuum cleaner. Got a discarded bowl of lucky charms to clean up, foremilk? You may need to empty the container once (or twice).

The cleaning attachments all do their jobs well but feel incredibly cheap.

The Infinity comes with a variety of attachments including a 2-in-1 grouting tool, motorized brush head, and an extended handle and cleaning head for reaching ceilings and floors. While useful, my overall impression with these add-ons isn't a great one. Once locked up, they all do their job well, but they feel incredibly cheap and some of them are downright painful to attach to the H30 body. Other than a few box art pictures, there are no instructions to teach you how to connect things.

power

Eufy's patented TriPower system is an integral part of every H30 model. It's a technical innovation that effectively transfers more power from the battery to the vacuum motor and provides more suction power when you need it most. But how can that be transferred to the real world? Pretty seamless.

I also liked the possibility of plugging the power supply unit directly into the battery instead of having to dock the entire vacuum cleaner (with the battery connected) to the charging station.

In Eco mode, the H30 delivers a suction power of up to 12 kPa. With just the 2-in-1 grouting tool attached, the vacuum cleaner pulled dried oats out of my plushy dining room carpet excellently. I actually found that when switching the vacuum to Max mode (for up to 16 kPa suction power) it was more difficult to get the oats. That was until I switched to a new test environment.

With the stick and hard surface attachments locked in place, the H30 worked like a champion in Max mode and in just a few passes sucked up all of the oat flakes that I had placed on the kitchen laminate. The eco mode with the same attachments was also good, but a little weaker.

The Eufy HomeVac H30 is used to clean a couch.

I'll be the first to admit that I have hypersensitive hearing and generally have problems with loud devices, but my goodness, the H30 whines. Even in the eco setting, the noise of the simply running vacuum cleaner is rather high. It's by no means industrially loud, but it's certainly not as quiet as I expected (considering its small size).

If you spilled something quickly that needs mopping up, I'd honestly recommend paper towels and your cleaner of choice instead of the H30's mop head and pads. Yes, that's a nice consideration, but I found the attachments and pads difficult to work with. In my cleaning test, the H30 cut through some of my deliberately spilled lemonade, but the sticky residue stayed around.

Battery life

The H30's 2500 mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery isn't the most powerful on the market. Built for up to 20 minutes of use in Eco mode and only 10 minutes in Max mode, you want to get your cleaning done quickly.

Low battery capacity is not a foreign concept in the world of handheld vacuum cleaners, but when you consider that it takes up to four hours to fully recharge the battery, the reduced run time can be a nuisance for some users. Fortunately, you can buy extra batteries to swap out while cleaning.

As far as charging is concerned, I also liked the option of plugging the power supply unit directly into the battery instead of having to dock the entire vacuum cleaner (with the battery connected) to the charging station.

price

The Eufy HomeVac H30 Infinity (the flagship model) typically retails for $ 199 but is currently out of stock. The H30 Venture (including 2-in-1 grout tool and multi-surface tool) costs $ 159, and the H30 Mate (2-in-1 grout tool, multi-surface tool, motorized brush attachment) can cost $ 179 US dollars can be purchased.

Our opinion

As a quick-grip, quick-to-clean cordless vacuum cleaner, the Eufy HomeVac H30 sucks up dirt well for which you don't want to pull the large stand out of the closet. It's also perfect for cleaning cars, between sofa cushions, ceiling corners and other hard-to-reach nooks and crannies. From a design standpoint, it's not the most convenient handheld to wrap your paws around, and some of these add-ons can be quite a chore.

In terms of pricing, I think $ 199 is a bit high for the Infinity, with $ 169 sounding a bit more reasonable to me.

Is there a better alternative?

I think so. the Black + Decker Max handheld vacuum cleaner has a nozzle that can be adjusted by 200 degrees and the 20 volt battery offers unbelievable suction power. As with the HomeVac H30, the charging station can also be used to store all of your attachments.

There are those too Hai Wandvac. The Wandvac is similar in size and shape to the HomeVac H30, can be easily hung and comes with a multi-surface pet hair tool.

How long it will take?

With the option to buy multiple batteries, I can see that the HomeVac H30 will last for several years. Plus, Eufy's hassle-free warranty protects your H30 for up to two years.

Should you buy it?

If you desperately need a handheld vacuum and the business of your choice has no other choice, I think it wouldn't be a bad idea to go home with the Eufy HomeVac H30. If there were other options I would suggest buying a different model – mainly to save some money (and gain some convenience).

Editor's recommendations



18 Oct
Blog

Nanoleaf Lines Review: Dazzling Glow Sticks For Your Wall

Nanoleaf lines enliven the lifestyle 1

Nanosheet lines

RRP $ 200.00

"The Nanoleaf lines are an excellent product with incredible versatility in design and pattern creation."

advantages

  • Easy setup via thread

  • Two-zone lighting makes full use of the colors

  • Customizable faceplates

  • More design and pattern options than ever before

  • Works with multiple intelligent assistants and IFTTT

disadvantage

  • Plastic bars feel thin

  • Connection caps are difficult to snap into place

Smart lighting is one of the first ways many people experience smart home technology. Simple smart lightbulbs make it easy to turn lights on and off, but smart lighting is so much more than just convenience. Companies like Nanoleaf have transformed the perception of lighting from utility to decoration. Just check out the Nanoleaf Canvas, Shapes, or even the original Aurora. They have become a staple of most Twitch streamer setups, or just a way to add flair to a home.

Now, with the Lines, the company has launched a new product that perfectly matches its aesthetic theme. These new lights are basically like glow sticks for your wall – a series of two-zone lights that are linked together and can be arranged in a variety of shapes. The package contains a suggestion of possible shapes, but the lines are connected by hexagonal hubs. This means that there are far more options than before.

installation

The Nanoleaf Lines are relatively easy to install. Each line is attached to a mounting connector. The connections each have six possible areas in which the line can snap into place. You can place many lines starting from a single connector or use the connector as an endpoint in your design. The only requirement is that the controller cap, a special mounting plug with physical controls, must be connected to the configuration in one place. I placed it at the end of the design, closest to the socket.

Close up of the Nanoleaf connector on the Nanoleaf lines.

It only takes light pressure to snap the lines into the connectors. Once connected, cover the connections with a cap that will secure the leads in place. The main problem with the installation came from the caps. At least at first glance, there doesn't seem to be a particular way to snap them into place – but on closer inspection, it's clear that the caps are meant to slide into the ports in a certain way. The caps feel slightly thin which I feared applying too much pressure for fear they would break.

I suggest connecting the pipes on the floor and then attaching them to the wall. Each connector cap has an adhesive strip on the back. After peeling off this strip, you need to press it against the wall for about 30 seconds. Make sure the system is level as there is no easy way to remove it from the wall. The caps separate from a base piece. Although you can remove this base piece from the wall, the glue won't work as well a second time.

Nanoleaf connector disassembled

The connection of the lines with intelligent assistants is very easy. Nanoleaf Lines are compatible with HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings and IFTTT. Alexa automatically picked up the lines and added them after they were set up.

Nice patterns and lights

One thing Nanoleaf has long been known for is how amazing its lights look, and the lines are no exception. Each line has two-zone lighting that can display two different colors at the same time. Combined with the motion effects, this results in an almost unlimited number of scenes and patterns that create stunning effects on your wall. I counted 19 built-in scenes, from Cotton Candy to my personal favorite, Kaleidoscope. Each of these scenes look different, although some are pretty simple, like the daylight scene. Lines are perfect when you want a little lighting on your wall.

Other scenes, like Starry Sky, look a lot like their namesakes. You can almost see the stars shooting across the darkness of the sky. If you can't find a scene you like in the pre-made list, you can head over to the Explore tab and search through literally thousands of user-created scenes. And if you still can't find a scene you like, you can easily create your own using the Scene Creator. While it's not the most intuitive system, Nanoleaf's step-by-step guide will help even beginners figure out how to create their own look.

software

The Explore tab is divided into three sections: Scenes, Playlists, and Motions. In the "Scenes" header, users can find user-defined scenes. The Playlists tab is made up of collections of different scenes that go from one to another and all of which are user-created. It's especially useful at this time of year as there are both Halloween and fall playlists.

The coolest aspect, however, is in the Motions header. This includes a collection of different, moving scenes such as rhythmic northern lights or meteor showers. These create a completely different effect and can offer everything from high-energy transitions to meditative experiences.

There is also a music visualization mode that responds to music. The various music scenes have been specially developed for different types of music; For example, a scene created for smooth jazz does not have the fast transitions that a scene created for EDM does.

The screen mirror function also really stands out. With the Nanoleaf desktop app you can connect your lines to a computer monitor or television. It makes a viewing or gaming experience more immersive. Match mode provides a one-to-one match of the colors on the screen and changes quickly and easily to keep up with the action. Melting mode is a more subtle transition that is better suited for cinematic experiences.

characteristics

The shape and design of the Nanoleaf Lines stand out from other products. You can display 16 million different colors, with two colors per zone. There will also be devices called Flex Connectors that you can use to add corners to your design. According to Nanoleaf, these should be available in December.

Other than these features, the lines work similarly to any other Nanoleaf product. If you've used one, the lines will look familiar. You can plan times for the lights to be switched on and off and connect the lines to other devices via IFTTT. You can also activate an automatic brightness function, where an integrated sensor adjusts the light intensity based on the ambient light in the room.

A major difference is in the setup, especially through the use of thread. Thread makes it incredibly easy to install and set up, and shows what the future of smart home technology could look like as more products adopt the technology.

Our opinion

The Nanoleaf lines are an excellent product with incredible versatility in design and pattern creation. The lower price is also more appealing. At $ 200 for the starter kit and $ 70 per extension, users can create extensive designs without breaking the bank. Whether you're looking to add a bit of grown-up decor to your home or want the coolest streamer setup anyone has seen on Twitch, the Lines are a great way to do it.

Is there a better alternative?

The Nanoleaf Lines have a unique shape. Although there are alternatives on the market, no product offers the same design options. You could be looking for alternative products like the LIFX Beam, but the lines are in a league of their own.

How long it will take?

The lines are LED, which means that they have a long lifespan. The plastic of the lines can weaken over time because it doesn't feel as strong as I would like it to be. However, if handled and used carefully, these lamps should last for many years. Unlike its competitors, Nanoleaf offers a two-year limited warranty that covers it against defects.

Should you buy it?

Absolutely. The Nanoleaf Lines are unique in appearance and look great on the wall. Well worth the investment with just a few minor setbacks to set up.

Editor's recommendations



16 Oct
Blog

Eufy RoboVac X8 Review: Turbine Meets Unavoidable Collisions

The RoboVac X8 is docked to its charger.

Eufy RoboVac X8

RRP $ 599.00

"The Eufy RoboVac X8 brings a feature-rich companion app to the table, but the vacuum cleaner disappoints on some fundamental points."

advantages

  • Strong suction power

  • A solid companion app

  • Great battery life

disadvantage

  • Messy vacuuming and poor performance

  • Bad object avoidance

  • Bulky design

  • On the expensive side

When it comes to smart home appliances, robotic vacuums have managed to rise and dominate. It's not an unwanted invasion, however, as nothing beats an automatic cleaning assistant that floats around your house picking up dirt on a set schedule. The best robotic vacuums use advanced laser scanning technology to create blueprints of your home, maps that the vacuum cleaner references in its cleaning route, and maps that you can access in the vacuum cleaner's companion app. Other features like object avoidance and voice assistant control are also pretty standard these days.

There is no shortage of smart home brands offering "the best" vacuum robots on the market, which can make the buying process difficult. Eufy, a sub-label of parent company Anker, is a prolific manufacturer of some of today's leading smart tech – from cameras to health monitors. Eufy's brand new RoboVac X8 competes against the hordes of robotic vacuums and is hailed as one of the company's first vacuums. Is it worth the investment? We got our hands on a test device and can say a lot about it.

unpacking

the RoboVac X8 is packed with a handful of essentials to get you started. In the box you will find the X8 itself (with the side brush already attached), the charging station with power cord, an additional filter and an additional side brush as well as an instruction manual.

Unlike other robotic vacuum cleaners on the market, the X8 does not come with a dual-purpose charging station / dust collector. This means that you need to keep an eye on the vacuum cleaner's trash can so that you can manually empty it when it is full. To be honest, these towering canisters can be a real eyesore depending on the home decor you have to pair them with. So to me it wasn't a big deal that the X8 didn't come boxed with one.

The RoboVac X8 is docked to its charger.

The X8 itself is about 4 inches tall (including the top-mounted lidar scanner) by 13 inches in diameter. The vacuum cleaner's black body is a fairly low-key aesthetic that works well in most homes. The branding for the twin turbine function of the vacuum cleaner is located directly above the vacuum cleaner – a black label with a blue stripe on the left and a red one on the right.

The 600 milliliter dust box has a purple locking tab that you push down to pull out the tank. The washable filter is located directly in the dust box. To access it, just pull on either side of the tank and it will open in a clam-shell style. When you turn the vacuum cleaner you will find a central roller brush, two sturdy drum wheels, a forward facing surface adaptive wheel and a single side brush (detachable).

The bottom of the RoboVac X8.

The charging station doesn't take up much space – although you'll want to allocate enough space for the X8's docking process. Whenever I sent my test unit home to charge, the nipple needed a lot of space to comfortably dance around before docking (like the dog who has to turn a few times before landing in the dog bed).

Put up

Once your X8 is ready to use, the first thing you should do is download the EufyHome app (for iOS and Android devices). As soon as you start the app, EufyHome requests access to your device's bluetooth in order to be able to recognize your vacuum cleaner. After a few seconds, your X8 should appear in the list of available devices. Select it, enter your applicable Wi-Fi information (the X8 only works on 2.4 GHz network bands) and wait for the vacuum cleaner to connect to your network.

Note that you will need to set aside at least an hour or so for the X8 to have enough charge to function. My test device only registered my WiFi after it was docked for a while. Once everything is live, the app will prompt you to send your vacuum cleaner for the first cleaning. During this first pass, the lidar (light detection and distance measurement) and other image mapping functions are actively operated and create a cleaning map of your house that you and the vacuum cleaner can access.

power

The RoboVac X8 is equipped with several cleaning functions. First and foremost is the much-advertised twin turbine technology. Each turbine brings 2,000 Pa of suction into the equation, creating a vacuum experience that is twice as powerful as many competing bots. The ultra-pack dust compression feature is a solid consideration for a vacuum cleaner without an automatically empty canister / charging station. Essentially, all of the dirt the X8 draws in is heavily pressurized, reducing tank volume by up to 127%. Combined with intelligent lidar mapping and nearly three hours on a single charge, this should result in an incredible cleaning experience … right?

Not exactly. The RoboVac X8 lived at my house for several weeks. With the many rounds of cleaning I went through, I found the overall performance to be pretty average – in some cases below average. Let's start with the top slice of bread in the compliment sandwich.

Whenever the sweeper came across the oat, it whipped it into cracks and crevices that the vacuum cleaner would never navigate to.

The twin turbine technology brings the vacuum cleaner to impressive levels. When crossing the carpet, the X8 penetrated deep into the fibers, pulling up dirt, hair and other debris that was not visible on the surface. With BoostIQ activated, the vacuum cleaner also did an excellent job of automatically adjusting the suction power when switching from carpeted floors to tile and hardwood surfaces. When set to Pure (the default setting for soft suction), the vacuum cleaner is quite quiet, although the volume increases quickly when you switch to the next suction level. More on this below.

Collision avoidance

Now, let's get to the meat of the sandwich, where I'll complain. I've tested (and owned a couple of models) a few other vacs that had pretty lackluster object avoidance. This, combined with severe collisions with the inevitable obstacles, made for a nerve-wracking experience when I let go of the suction cups. Unfortunately, I found the Eufy no different. On the one hand, the X8 did a fine job of not slamming into furniture when bumped into a chair or ottoman, but there never seemed to be any active effort on the part of the vacuum cleaner to actually avoid the obstruction. Several times I had to jump in to save the vacuum cleaner from under a chair or between two items, which requires you to manually continue the cleaning cycle each time.

The RoboVac X8 cleans oats.

Also, the side sweeping brush turned out to be a nightmare when I put test oatmeal on the laminate surface of my kitchen. Whenever the sweeper came across the oat, it whipped it into cracks and crevices that the vacuum cleaner would never navigate to. I had to pull out my cordless handheld vacuum to clean up this clutter later. There have also been a few instances where the X8 would simply stop and not pair with the home map it created. It would come back online after a few moments of buffering, but it was strange walking by and watching it stumble.

Out of the lawsuit and into the bottom slice of bread. My X8 was fully charged and never needed to be charged during a complete cleaning of my home. It would cover the entire floor plan in under an hour (1,300 square feet) with minimal human babysitting required during operation.

software

The EufyHome app is your point of contact for all X8 settings and adjustments. Once the vacuum cleaner's lidar sensors are working, a detailed map of your home will be available for viewing on the home screen. From here you can track the progress and battery life of your vacuum cleaner while it cleans the house, labels rooms, sends the vacuum cleaner to clean specific areas and regulates the suction power.

If you want the X8 to move away from certain areas of the house, tap Edit Map and set one or more restricted areas that you want the vacuum cleaner to avoid.

App screens from the EufyHome app.

When vacuuming, you have the option of switching between four different presets (Pure, Power, Turbo and Max), with Pure (the softest setting) being the default setting. You can also turn BoostIQ on and off. This is the X8's ability to automatically adjust suction based on the surface it is vacuuming over.

Several useful functions are housed in an almost invisible separate settings menu. To access it, you need to tap the gear icon in the top right corner of the home screen. Here you'll find options to create vacuum schedules, a cleaning history report, and card management tools. In my opinion, the scheduling feature should be a quick tip button on the main screen of the app.

The scheduling function should be a quick tip button on the main screen of the app.

Visually, I wasn't the biggest fan of the super dark overlay that dominates the main map screen, either. It may sound fussy, but considering the other submenus on the EufyHome app are bright white, the X8's black background made navigating to certain functions a bit difficult – at least for me.

Price and guarantee

You will find the Eufy RoboVac X8 on sale for $ 599 via the Eufy website. Similar to other Eufy products, the X8 comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee and a one-year limited warranty.

Alternatively, there is also the Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybridwhich is linked to the function of a wiper. For the added $ 50 cost, it certainly seems like some added value given its 2-in-1 vacuum and mopping capabilities.

Our opinion

I cannot actively sing the praises of the RoboVac X8. Yes, it has a great app and the promise of powerful and smart cleaning technologies to keep your home pristine. In my personal experience, the X8 has often done more of my work for me and required multiple rescues and resets, with a handful of glitches thrown in every now and then.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes, several. From Roomba's entire range to affordable vacuum cleaners from Roborock and Neato, there are plenty of robotic vacuum cleaners that can clean your house without so many hiccups. In the price range, I think of the iRobot Roomba i3 Plus with its self-emptying dock and efficient cleaning as well as the Roborock S7 with its acoustic wiping function.

How long it will take?

I suspect the Eufy RoboVac X8 will last for several years. The outer shell is well protected, the app seems to stay updated successfully, and with the option to replace the main brush head and side brushes, there seems to be a lot of support from Eufy. It comes with a one-year limited warranty that protects it from defects from the date of purchase.

Should you buy it?

It's by no means a total dud, but your money is better off elsewhere.

Editor's recommendations



14 Oct
Blog

Google Nest Cam (Wired) Review: Watching With Confidence

Google Nest Cam Indoor Wired on the table.

Google Nest Cam (wired)

RRP $ 100.00

"This is a surveillance camera that, thanks to its intelligent functions, does not require constant babysitting."

advantages

  • Cute, compact design

  • Free three hours of video history

  • Convenient automatic arming / disarming

  • Reliable and accurate warnings

disadvantage

  • Power cord integrated in the camera

  • Limited articulation

Google's range of security cameras has recently expanded to offer more choice than ever before without compromising too much on features. In fact, the introduction of three hours of free video history without a subscription makes this range of Nest Cams much more appealing. However, Google doesn't make it easy for consumers to differentiate its new cameras – both the cordless and wired models use the Nest Cam name.

On the other hand, while the Google Nest Cam (battery) offers additional versatility as it can be used indoors and outdoors, the Nest Cam (wired) is a true indoor solution that has been improved thanks to a lower cost of $ 100. There are plenty of other indoor cameras in this price range, including models from the Ring, Arlo, and Wyze, making it an uphill battle for Google this time around.

draft

Immediately after unpacking, I am amazed at the smaller design of this camera compared to its outdoor sibling. There is one major difference to the Google Nest Cam (wired). It won't overwhelm countertops, tables, and other small corners of the house where you might want to install a security camera.

Google Nest Cam Indoor Wired on the table.John Velasco / Digital Trends

It's also smaller than the previous Google Nest Cam IQ Indoor, but maintains the same modern look that makes Google's cameras cozy and attractive. Consumers will appreciate that it is made from 45% recycled plastic and comes in four colors (snow, fog, linen, and sand). The only complaint I have is the limited posability of the camera – you really can't tilt it up that much when placed on a low surface.

Installation and setup

Similar to the battery-operated version, the Google Nest Cam (wired) only needs to be set up via the Google Home app – it is no longer tied to the dedicated Nest app. That is wonderful, because everything is controlled and accessed via an app. All of the event history is shown in a handy timeline view, but I also like how you can filter it by cameras if you have several from Google.

Once the camera is connected to my home's Wi-Fi network, the camera has very little latency when it is turned on, but it takes about five seconds before I can see the live stream. I suppose it's not that bad, but I can perfectly understand how those five seconds can get critical during an event.

Back of the wired Google Nest Cam Indoor.John Velasco / Digital Trends

Although it should rest on surfaces, there is always the option of mounting it on the wall – also thanks to its long cable. The disadvantage is that the wire cannot be removed. It's built into the camera so if the cable breaks you pretty much have to replace the entire unit.

Camera performance

As for the specification, the camera on the Google Nest Cam (wired) is lukewarm compared to the known cams in space. The 2-megapixel camera sensor records video at 30 frames per second (fps) in 1080p, but there are now cameras that record in 2K and 4K. In general, it produces some reasonable detail, but doesn't get the clarity I've seen with the Google Nest Cam IQ Indoor.

There are some artifacts that are a little distracting and become more noticeable with sudden changes in ambient light. It also tends to saturate colors a little more, making it look unrealistic at times. As night vision goes on, the footage tends to appear low in contrast, which I think is a good thing as it increases the exposure of the shadows.

While the video quality doesn't overwhelm me, I have to admit that the Google Nest Cam (wired) is spot on with detection. So far it has been the right thing to tell between people and my cats that are noted in the app.

privacy

What I really like about the latest Google Nest Cams is that they can all be turned off based on my phone's location – allowing them to turn on and off automatically for more privacy. The camera turns off automatically as soon as I get home, but turns on again when I leave the geofenced area around my apartment. There's no need to manually put the camera in Home or Away mode, so you have one less thing to worry about.

It's a simple camera that is effective in recording events.

There is also a green LED light on the camera that turns on when the camera is active. These are just a few of the privacy features I like about Google's cameras. They also come with up to three hours of free event video history and save those clips for you to review. No subscription is required, but if you want to extend the quota you must subscribe to Nest Aware, which is $ 6 a month and has 10 days of 24/7 video history and 60 days of event video history.

Close-up of the Google Nest Cam Indoor Wired camera lens.John Velasco / Digital Trends

Even if the internet goes down, you can rest assured that the Nest Cam (wired) will continue to store footage locally. Unfortunately, it can't do anything if the power goes out – which makes the battery-powered version more attractive.

Our opinion

Viewed across the product category, Google is not trying to blow the competition out of the water with its offer. It is not necessary as it is a simple camera that is effective in capturing events. At $ 100, it's not overly shoddy as it removes some of the frustrations I have with most security cameras – frequent false positives and manual arming are two of the most glaring points.

Is there a better alternative?

When it comes to indoor cameras, the Arlo Essential Indoor Camera is the closest competitor for the same $ 100 cost. I like it because it actually has a physical privacy shutter that goes over the lens to make sure no one is looking when they shouldn't, unlike Google's software-based privacy feature that turns the camera off.

Another alternative is the Wyze Cam V3, which at under $ 40 is still one of the best security camera deals you can get. With its weatherproof construction, it's designed for indoor and outdoor use, and you get the added convenience of local storage with its microSD slot.

If you're an Alexa user, the Ring Indoor Cam has similar features and performance for $ 60.

How long it will take?

Despite a body made mostly of recycled components, the Google Nest Cam (wired) feels like a well-made, solidly built camera that's well worth the price. There is a one year limited warranty that covers defects.

Should you buy it?

Yes, even if it's not the best deal Google has put on the table. While lacking the sharp clarity of other cameras, it does a wonderful job of actually providing meaningful warnings.

Editor's recommendations



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