26 Jan
Blog

Pokémon Legends: Arceus review: Bidoof of the Wild

A Pokémon trainer rides a deer in Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus

RRP $60.00

"Pokémon Legends: Arceus is a step in the right direction for the aging series, even if its technical limitations can't always support its ambitions."

benefits

  • Research is rewarding

  • Optimized catching

  • Charming side quests

  • Excellent combat optimizations

disadvantage

  • Tasks can be boring

  • Weak optics

  • Biomes lack variety

For the past seven years, every new Pokémon game has felt like a bright idea scrawled on a napkin. Each new release brings a really clever twist to the franchise, but none have felt like a complete painting. Pokémon Legends: Arceus isn't that definitive version either, more of a museum that collects the best doodles in one place.

In the franchise's biggest departure yet, developer Game Freak has thrown out some of the series' fundamentals. There are no gyms, no Elite Four, and no competitive component. While it takes inspiration from more modern RPG series like Monster Hunter, it's more focused on organizing disparate Pokémon innovations from the 2010s into one place.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus makes bold changes to the time-tested formula, successfully launching the long-needed reinvention of Pokémon. But the technical limitations of the series hang around her neck like an Everstone and prevent her from fully developing.

A professor's game

Bitten by the Breath of the Wild bug, Pokémon Legends: Arceus is an open-world reimagining of the monster-collecting series. While it is about catching and fighting, the key verb is explore. Players are transported to an ancient version of the Sinnoh region (called Hisui) and tasked with creating the first Pokédex.

The emphasis on research leads to some ingenious gameplay hooks. Observing Pokémon behavior earns players Research Points, which help create a complete Pokédex entry for the creature. Players earn points by things like catching a Pokémon, using type-effective moves against it in battle, feeding it, etc. It applies the idea of ​​mobile daily challenges to each creature and lets players progress to do virtually anything. It's satisfying to tick boxes, and there are literally thousands here.

Wyrdeer in Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

Sometimes Pokémon Legends: Arceus is a dream come true. Creatures move freely and can be caught simply by throwing a ball at them without triggering combat, an improvement over Pokemon Let's Go's streamlined catching. Wild creatures can attack players, forcing them to move out of the way. Players can ride creatures like Wyrdeer, jump into the ocean, and switch seamlessly to sailing a Basculegion. Whenever I found myself in the gameplay loop, it truly felt like the seemingly impossible dream game I always envisioned as a kid.

At other times it can be a bit boring. Studying creatures became a torment when I had to do it to improve my star rank (a kind of world progress indicator) and advance the story. It's most reminiscent of Pokémon Go, which plays the replay unconvincingly. Arceus is much better at handling this idea, but it may subside once you've caught your eighth Shinx.

At its best, Pokémon Legends: Arceus is a leisurely game where people learn to coexist with the unpredictable creatures around them.

In terms of its scripted content, the game is hit-and-miss. The main story never feels like it takes full advantage of its feudal setting; it just feels like your average Pokemon world minus the extravagant cities. However, side quests are more entertaining. These micro-stories explore the behavior of Pokémon in a fun way. In one mission, players capture a Zubat to help a woman figure out how they can fly in the dark so easily. Another has players on the hunt for a stray driftfloon that continues to play with the village children.

A pair of Hisuian Growliths in Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

At its best, Pokémon Legends: Arceus is a leisurely game where people learn to coexist with the unpredictable creatures around them. For those who have never been interested in the competitive side of the series, it's a warm, fuzzy experience that rewards players who identify more with professors than coaches.

Super effective

Although fighting isn't the main focus, it's still a core part of the game. While the series' turn-based combat is retained, they've been completely revamped here – and that's the best part. The biggest difference is that Pokémon now have initiative in battle, so a Pokémon's Speed ​​stat is crucial. Instead of both creatures moving back and forth, a turn order determines when each acts. This means that a fast monster can make two attacks before their opponent gets one.

In line with this idea, Arceus introduces a new clutch for movements. When a Pokémon "masters" a move, it can choose to make it Strong or Agile, both of which consume more Power Points. A strong style hits harder, but usually means it gives the opponent an extra move. The agile style does the opposite, trading power for extra moves. These changes make battles even more strategic and exciting, as players have to balance their damage output and attack frequency.

A battle against a Gastrodon in Pokemon Legends: Arceus.

A creature's move set can be toggled at any time. Each time a move is learned, either through leveling up or by purchasing new moves, it is added to a list. Players don't have to forget a move to set a new one, mercifully removing one of the series' most complicated features.

The fight will be tough, which is great news for gamers who have been begging for the series to challenge them. But it's also been streamlined in all the right ways. On-screen icons communicate better when changing a Pokemon's stats, there's an in-fight tab that explains each active buff or debuff, and players can change Pokemon on the fly without opening a menu. Every single quality of life improvement is outstanding and should make it into the main series.

I have no doubt that many of the mechanics here will make their way into the next mainline Pokémon game based on how fans get them here.

But I felt at times like playing around in a design proving ground. This is particularly evident in noble Pokémon battles, which are repeated in the Sun and Moon Totem Battles. Here, players face off against a powerful monster by repeatedly throwing balm at it, sending out Pokémon to weaken it, and dodging attacks.

While they're an excellent change of pace, there's only a handful of them throughout the adventure, and only the final fight or two really hold the concept. In the first noble fight against Kleavor, I didn't even send out a single Pokémon to defend myself. I just kept pressing a button to throw balm – not exactly a Monster Hunter-quality fight.

A Kleavor in Pokemon Legends: Arceus.

Few of the ideas here, both in and out of combat, feel like the final draft. Instead, Arceus is a safe place for game freaks to test new ideas without freaking out longtime gamers. I have no doubt that many of the mechanics here will make their way into the next mainline Pokémon game based on how fans get them here. It just makes this game feel like a solid opening storyline.

slow development

When it comes to the tech, I won't mince my words: Pokémon Legends: Arceus is an ugly game. I say this as someone who has openly poked fun at people who have complained about the visuals of Sword and Shield. While I felt the unassuming art style suited this game well enough, it less suited an open-world game built on being awe-inspiring.

Landscape textures shift and load jerkily as players move through the world. Sometimes distant Pokémon move in a two-frame animation. Character clothing is muddy when shown up close, with more jagged lines than a GameCube game. The "pop-in" edition of Sword and Shield is back too, and it's a lot more frustrating considering the fun of an open-world game is being able to see something in the distance and travel there.

I won't mince my words: Pokémon Legends: Arceus is an ugly game.

The open-world design itself isn't inspired either. Instead of throwing players into a massive world, it breaks them up into five different biomes. Each has a specific theme, meaning you don't get a lot of visual variety. When you are in the grass zone it is just fields and trees for miles with little variety. Some other areas honestly look the same but with slightly different textures or lighting. That's a shame from Sword and Shield's surprisingly well-designed Isle of Armor DLC, which features an intricate, varied island.

A trainer is trying to catch a Bidoof in Pokemon Legends: Arceus.

There aren't many environmental mysteries to uncover, which is what made Breath of the Wild's Hyrule so satisfying. Instead, it's a large empty room built to hold Pokémon – one that at times feels like a test prototype.

While I've really enjoyed my time with the game, it's also a little frustrating. It shows how icy the franchise is in implementing change. For the past seven years, every single Pokémon game (mainline and spinoff alike) has experimented with really neat ideas, but all come close to presenting the best version of it. I always look forward to a follow up that really pulls it together.

With Pokémon Legends: Arceus, I'm in exactly the same place. I'm already imagining how the next Pokémon game will incorporate all of these new mechanics and make the game of my dreams a reality. But that's a few years away, and the franchise already feels like it's consistently five years behind. Arceus is a step in the right direction, but still has a lot of catching up to do.

Our opinion

Pokémon Legends: Arceus takes many experimental turns – and many of them are successful. The switch to research-oriented gameplay does a better job of rewarding players for every little thing they do. The quality of life changes it brings to the table are excellent across the board and feel like they're going to become standard in the future series. It is only held back by some initial design ideas and weak visuals that fail to support the project's ambitions. Despite its issues, it still gives me hope that the series is finally ready to move on.

Is there a better alternative?

For more traditional fans, grab Pokemon Sword and Shield and its secretly good DLCs. These games feature some of the same open-world experimentation along with the normal series hooks.

How long it will take?

I can't reveal the length of the story per embargo guidelines, but it's an open world game with lots to do. Between researching, completing side quests, and finding collectibles, I imagine it will keep dedicated fans occupied for dozens of hours.

should you buy it

Yes. Though it has its warts, Pokémon Legends: Arceus is an intriguing and much-needed reset for the aging series. It's a cozy experience that fits the Nintendo Switch perfectly.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus was tested on a Nintendo Switch OLED in handheld mode and on a docked TCL 6-Series R635.

Editor's Recommendations



26 Jan
Blog

Nvidia RTX 3050 review: Budget GPUs are officially back

RTX 3050 graphics card under PC accessories.

Nvidia RTX 3050 review: Budget GPUs are officially back

RRP $249.00

"The RTX 3050 is a return to budget GPUs for Nvidia, with solid performance backed by DLSS."

benefits

  • Solid 1080p gaming performance

  • Low list price

  • Supports DLSS

  • Decent ray tracing

disadvantage

  • Prices will likely be high

  • Slight stuttering in memory intensive games

2022 is the year that budget GPUs will make a comeback – or at least it looks like it. I assumed that GPU class was dead; Nvidia eventually skipped the RTX 2050 and prices for the best graphics cards continue to rise. The $249 RTX 3050 is a return to form and could be the most affordable GPU this year.

I had a chance to test the card and while it holds its own against the rest of the Nvidia lineup and AMD's competition, it's its features that set the RTX 3050 apart from the rest. With rumors of increased supply and an attractive list price, the RTX 3050 could be an antidote to the GPU shortage that budget-conscious gamers have been waiting for.

Prices and Availability

RTX 3050 graphics card sits upright.Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

Nvidia hasn't released a reference design for the RTX 3050, but the company has still set a list price of $249. There are a number of options from board partners including graphics cards from EVGA, PNY, Colorful and Asus. I got my hands on the EVGA RTX 3050 XC Black, which is available now for $249.

My card arrived with the wrong BIOS intended for the slightly more expensive EVGA RTX 3050 XC. This BIOS offers a 68MHz boost clock speed. It's a difference, but no more than 3% at most, and you can easily compensate for it with manual overclocking.

Like all graphics cards in 2022, expect the RTX 3050 to sell out right away. The saving grace is that models are available at list price on launch day. That's cheaper than you can currently buy almost any graphics card, including options that are several years old.

On paper, the RTX 3050 is $50 more expensive than the recently released AMD RX 6500 XT. I haven't had a chance to test AMD's card yet, but the amount of benchmarks I've seen shows that the RTX 3050 deserves its higher price tag. Not only does the extra $50 buy you a more powerful GPU, it also gets Nvidia Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) and ray tracing, which isn't bad.

The RTX 3050 is cheaper than the RX 6500 XT.

If you can get an RTX 3050 for $250, you should – there's no better value in today's GPU market. However, that is not the reality for most. Once the starting stock gets into the hands of scalpers, you can expect to pay twice the list price. The RTX 3060, for example, costs around $750 on the used market.

For the RTX 3050 I expect used prices to be around $500. In that case, the RX 6500 XT is about $100-$150 less. Still, the RTX 3050 is better value for money in my eyes. The performance of the RTX 3050 isn't nearly as important as the fact that it's a 30-series GPU. Even as nothing more than a vessel for DLSS and ray tracing, it's still more impressive than AMD's competing graphics card.

specifications

The RTX 3050 is a true budget graphics card and has the specs to match. The card, which sits at the bottom of Nvidia's current lineup, slices off a number of cores from the RTX 3060, cutting power consumption by almost half and capping the amount of video memory. However, unlike some newer GPU versions I've seen, the RTX 3050 has no issues based on the spec sheet.

CUDA cores increase speed storage capacity TDP price
RTX3050 2.304 1.74GHz 8GB GDDR6 90W $249
RTX3060 3,584 1.77GHz 12GB GDDR6 170W $329
RTX 3060Ti 4,864 1.67GHz 8GB GDDR6 200W $399
RTX3070 5,888 1.73GHz 8GB GDDR6 220W $499

The most noticeable change compared to the RTX 3060 is the 8 GB of GDDR6 memory. The RTX 3050 pushes that memory through a smaller 128-bit bus, reducing memory bandwidth to 224 GB/s. Also, the RTX 3050 drops about 36% of the RTX 3060's CUDA cores.

In return, the card runs at a much lower wattage. 90W is all you need for the base spec, meaning you can buy with a 250W power supply. Performance limits continue to rise and for the first time we have an RTX 30 series graphics card running under 100W.

Ports on the RTX 3050 graphics card.The EVGA RTX 3050 XC Black includes three DisplayPort connectors and a single HDMI. Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

Compared to AMD, the RTX 3050 stands out with its PCIe interface. Like most current generation GPUs, the RTX 3050 supports PCIe 4.0. The RTX 3050 supports 16 tracks – in contrast to the recently released RX 6500 XT. That should give systems bound to PCIe 3.0 – any platform below 12th Gen Intel and AMD Ryzen 5000 – uninterrupted bandwidth.

gaming performance

The RTX 3050 stacked on another graphics card.Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

The RTX 3050's main competitor is AMD's RX 6500 XT. I don't have an RX 6500 XT to test at the moment – although I'll update this review with benchmarks once my unit arrives – but I still wanted to get an idea of ​​how Nvidia's latest budget attempt stacks up. I used AMD's RX 580. It's an older GPU, but the benchmarks I've seen show that it's about on par with an RX 6500 XT.

To eliminate the CPU, I ran my tests on the latest build of Windows 10 with a Ryzen 9 5950X and 32GB of memory. Here are my results at 1080p with the highest graphics preset:

RTX3050 RTX3060 RX6600 RX580
3DMark Time Spy 6,749 8,629 8,071 4,820
Red Dead Redemption 2 52 fps 65 fps 59 fps 35 fps
Fourteen days 79 fps 132 fps 98 fps 56 fps
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 55 fps 64 fps 71 fps 42 fps
Battlefield V 92 fps 123 fps 120 fps 74 fps

Outside of the suite, the RTX 3050 only managed over 60 frames per second (fps) in Battlefield V and Fortnite. It's no big surprise, but the card failed to meet that coveted framerate target in Red Dead Redemption 2 or Assassin's Creed Valhalla. The RTX 3050 is a 1080p graphics card, but it doesn't target the highest graphics preset.

Lower graphics presets were much more impressive – 64 fps in Assassin's Creed Valhalla and 134 fps in Battlefield V. In 2022, most graphics cards won't let you choose a lower graphics preset with the right resolution. The RTX 3050 does, but that's not a bad thing. If anything, it shows how little the highest preset does and how much performance you can gain by turning the settings down.

Compared to the RX 580, you can see how much faster a budget GPU should be in 2022. The RTX 3050 was approximately 40% faster in 3DMark Time Spy, 41% faster in Fortnite, and 24% faster in Battlefield V. I haven't had a chance to test the RX 6500 XT yet, but I've seen enough to say that the RTX 3050 is the faster card.

The RTX 3050 is about 20% slower than the RTX 3060, but 25% cheaper.

That's what you see at the bottom of the barrel options though. Conversely, the RTX 3050 was about 20% slower than the RTX 3060 in Red Dead Redemption 2. In Battlefield V, the difference was even greater at 25%. The RTX 3060 hits a sweet spot that the RTX 3050 can't handle. However, the RTX 3050 is about 25% cheaper and only 20% slower.

There were issues outside of raw performance. Storage caused issues that aren't reflected in average frame rates. In Battlefield V, my first few runs resulted in minimum frame rates in the single digits, which manifested as stuttering during the playthrough. It depends on the smaller memory bus and 8 GB of VRAM. Titles with many high-resolution textures experienced stuttering when loading the game and assets were dragged into memory.

PX1 logo on the RTX 3050 graphics card.

nvidia rtx 3050 review 5

Still, the RTX 3050 lands where it should. And compared to the competition AMD is presenting right now, that's great. I still think the RTX 3060 and RTX 3060 Ti hit the price/performance mark better than the RTX 3050; However, there's a good chance the RTX 3050 will sell for significantly less than these cards on the used market.

Content Creation Performance

The RTX 3050 is a gaming graphics card and you should get something more powerful if you plan on using it primarily for 3D modeling or rendering. I still wanted to throw the card on a few content creation benchmarks to see how it fares, and while the results aren't terrible, they're not great either.

RTX3050 RTX3060 RX6600 RX580
Blender BMW (lower is better) 76 seconds 45 seconds 86 seconds 168 seconds
Blender Classroom (lower is better) 279 seconds 208 seconds 167 seconds 370 seconds
Blender Koro (lower is better) 227 seconds 162 seconds 156 seconds N / A
Pugetbench for Premiere Pro 766 703 605 603

On the three Blender renders, the RTX 3050 was about 32% slower than the RTX 3060 and similarly slow compared to the RX 6600. It had better performance in PugetBench for Premiere Pro, but as is the case with the RX 6600 and RTX 3060 , this benchmark relies heavily on the CPU and system memory.

Nvidia RTX 3050 graphics card sits on the back.Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

Compared to the RX 580, it's no competition. The RTX 3050 can use CUDA for rendering, unlike the RX 6600 and RX 580, resulting in faster render times than OpenCL. I've seen significantly higher render times with the RX 580, and in the case of the Koro renderer, I couldn't even complete the test.

Make no mistake: the RTX 3050 is not a good graphics card for content creation. It holds its own, but upgrading to a higher class of graphics card — either from AMD or Nvidia — will pay off exponentially.

DLSS and ray tracing

GeForce logo on the RTX 3050.Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

For the first time in a while, Nvidia differentiates itself not with raw performance but with a list of features. DLSS is an essential feature for the most demanding games, and last but not least, the RTX 3050 offers a way to use DLSS in games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Control. It also offers hardware-accelerated ray tracing, which works significantly better than AMD's competition.

RTX3050 RTX3060 RX6600
Control (no RT) 58 fps 76 fps 67 fps
control (high RT) 35 fps 47 fps 27 fps
Control (High RT + DLSS) 62 fps N / A N / A
Cyberpunk 2077 (no RT) 47 fps 59 fps 46 fps
Cyberpunk 2077 (Ultra RT) 23 fps 28 fps 10 fps
Cyberpunk 2077 (Ultra RT + DLSS) 47 fps N / A N / A

My results above were run using the same testbench at 1080p with the highest graphics preset. I've included the RTX 3060 and RX 6600 for reference, not as competition for the RTX 3050. These two cards are in a class above the RTX 3050, and unsurprisingly they perform better across the board.

However, I didn't expect how close the RTX 3050 would be to the RX 6600. With ray tracing enabled, you can see how quickly the RX 6600 is falling apart. In Control, where the two GPUs hit almost identical average frame rates, the RX 6600 sunk much lower than the RTX 3050 with ray tracing turned on.

DLSS is the best feature of the RTX 3050 – no competition.

It's a testament to how solid Nvidia's ray tracing cores are, but really, you wouldn't play any of the above games at their ray tracing frame rates. This is where DLSS comes into play. Even in modest Balanced mode, the RTX 3050 maintained performance as if ray tracing was turned off. In the case of Control, the average framerate was actually higher.

DLSS isn't present in every game, but the list of supported titles keeps growing. For a large chunk of major AAA releases that wouldn't otherwise be playable on the RTX 3050, DLSS makes it possible to play new games with all the visual bells and whistles. It's the best feature of the RTX 3050 – no competition.

Our opinion

The RTX 3050 is a graphics card that wins by default. Compared to the tragic RX 6500 XT, Nvidia could have released almost any graphics card and prevailed. On its own, the RTX 3050 is a good graphics card that manages to deliver performance that scales with its price, and that's all I can ask for.

It earns an extra point on the back of DLSS, which catapults the RTX 3050 from a good – but not great – GPU into a top choice for gamers on an extreme budget. Prices are inflated now, but hopefully we'll see plenty of $250 RTX 3050s by the end of the year – quite unlike Nvidia's recently released 12GB RTX 3080.

Are there alternatives?

Not now. Nvidia jumped that price point with the previous generation, and AMD's RX 6500 XT falls woefully behind the RTX 3050. The only alternatives are the premium GPUs from Nvidia. Hopefully by the end of 2022 you can find something like an RTX 2070 or RTX 2060 Super for around the same price.

How long it will take?

The RTX 3050 is not built for the future. It barely hits the mark for 1080p AAA gaming right now, and within a few years you'll be struggling to hit sustained frame rates at the highest graphics settings. If you're okay with turning your settings down, or you mostly play less demanding games, it should last four to five years.

DLSS also helps a lot. Assuming the list of DLSS games continues to grow, you'll be able to enjoy the power of the RTX 3050 for many years to come.

should you buy it

If you can find the RTX 3050 at list price, buy it. After launch, it comes down to what price you can find the RTX 3050 at. It's a solid graphics card, but you're better off with the RTX 3060 or RTX 3060 Ti if you can find one for a reasonable price.

Editor's Recommendations



25 Jan
Blog

Rainbow Six Extraction review: It’s dangerous to go it alone

A squad shoots an alien in Rainbow Six Extraction.

Rainbow Six extraction

RRP $39.99

"Rainbow Six Extraction's ridiculous storyline and repetitive nature prevent the experimental spin-off from realizing its full potential."

benefits

  • Fresh squad tactics

  • Beautiful optics

disadvantage

  • Nonsensical story

  • Playing alone is no fun

  • Repetitive Goals

  • Frustrating Difficulty

Ubisoft's Tom Clancy games brand is in the midst of an identity crisis. What originally began with addictive tactical shooters like Rainbow Six and Splinter Cell is now home to competitive shooters with wacky names like XDefiant, Battle Royales, and now a Left 4 Dead-inspired co-op shooter where players battle an alien parasite .

Rainbow Six Extraction evolved from a limited time mode of the popular competitive multiplayer shooter Rainbow Six Siege. It's an attempt to bring Siege's methodical, team-oriented gameplay into a co-op environment while pushing the boundaries of what the Rainbow Six sub-series can be about.

Rainbow Six Extraction is a perfect example of the current Tom Clancy branded battle. While its more tactical pace stands out within the cooperative shooter genre, the lack of a compelling narrative and repetitive gameplay mean that the best aspects of the game don't get the time to shine.

Weak narration

Typically, Ubisoft's Rainbow Six video games are rooted in realistic military-tangential conflicts. We've seen this premise stretched more and more with every new game that uses this label, but Rainbow Six Extraction is officially jumping the shark.

A race of aliens called Archaeans and their Chimera parasite have attacked Earth. In response, several Rainbow Six Siege Operators band together to form the Rainbow Exogenous Analysis & Containment Team (REACT) in an attempt to fight back against this overwhelming threat.

Ubisoft doesn't seem to care much about the storyline of Rainbow Six Extraction.

REACT is led by three notable Rainbow Six Siege Operators – Ash, Thermite, and Mira. As a spin-off from Rainbow Six Siege, Extraction had the opportunity to expand Siege's story and allow us to get to know some of the most popular Operators better. We've seen Riot Games successfully do this for League of Legends champions via the Netflix show Arcane and spin-offs from Riot Forge that focused on specific characters.

Character with parasites in Rainbow Six Extraction.

Unfortunately, that's far from what we get. Ubisoft doesn't seem to care much about the storyline of Rainbow Six Extraction. There are only about 11 minutes of cutscenes (including a tutorial debrief and a pre-game movie). Most operators lack personality and the threat doesn't scale narratively in a compelling way.

If Rainbow Six Extraction had a compelling story, the ridiculousness of the premise would take a backseat. Instead, the game feels out of place in the broader franchise. Rainbow Six Extraction wants the gameplay loop to keep you engaged for the long term, not the story, but the results there have been mixed.

Same old grind

Rainbow Six Extraction has as much in common with Firaxis' XCOM strategy game series as it has with previous Rainbow Six titles. Slowly and tactically, players move through alien-infested areas, completing objectives ranging from capturing elite enemies to taking samples from nests that spawn archaeans. If XCOM was a first-person shooter instead of a turn-based strategy game, it would look a lot like Rainbow Six Extraction.

A squad attacks an alien in Rainbow Six Extraction.

Another thing Rainbow Six Extraction has in common with XCOM is that it's excruciatingly difficult. Most Archaeans that players encounter are in some ways as powerful as them, if not more so. Some will explode, some will trap you in the spiky mud the Archaen leave behind, and some will just savagely attack you.

Rainbow Six Extraction's more methodical approach to gameplay helps the game stand out from its competitors.

Playing smart is required to complete just one high health objective, and each run has at least three objectives for players to complete. If the player fails, his teammates will have to extract his body. Otherwise, their Operators will become MIA and then have to be rescued and extracted during another run across one of the game's most frustrating objectives.

Most cooperative shooters like to focus on speed and bombast, so Rainbow Six Extraction's more methodical approach to gameplay helps the game stand out from its competitors.

While the tactical gameplay feels fresh, the overall package is flimsy. In total, Rainbow Six Extraction features 13 different objectives for players to solve. Players will see each objective the game offers within hours and then be asked to repeat them ad nauseam.

Various maps offer a change of scenery, and Rainbow Six Extraction generally looks great on next-gen systems. Still, these levels don't feel very different. As such, it's a tedious process of getting the same objectives in the same areas over and over again, with the only real variation being the randomness of enemy placement and order of objectives. The endgame variations don't add much spice either, as they just add extra steps to progression or limit the operators that can be used.

Whether it's more objectives to make the grind less frustrating or a more compelling narrative to inspire people to keep playing, Rainbow Six Extraction needs a better engine to keep players going.

Team up with friends

Playing with people you know allows you to carefully plan your next move, and the whole experience comes together pretty well. The MIA system also adds real bets to every player action. However, if you stray too far from it, the experience becomes much less enjoyable. It's no fun playing Rainbow Six Extraction alone.

Soldiers shoot aliens in Rainbow Six Extraction.

While single player assaults are possible, the difficulty gets a bit too overwhelming. Operators are much more likely to die and become MIA, and rescuing a missing Operator is nearly impossible without dying when you're alone.

A cutscene with some operators challenging solo missions actually plays when players first try to invade, so even Ubisoft seems to know this isn't the best way to play. The next best solution is to go for quick play and do raids with random players, but that depends on the luck of the draw.

Some players will be cautious and communicate, while others will simply run off with guns blazing and ruin any strategy that Rainbow Six Extraction encourages. If you don't have two friends to play with, really consider whether or not you're willing to put up with these troubles.

A multiplayer-oriented game will always be more fun when played with friends, but games like Left 4 Dead and Back 4 Blood are still just as fun in single player or with random players as they are with friends. They also don't feel as ridiculously punishing and repetitive as Rainbow Six Extraction in single player.

Operators prepare to advance into the Rainbow Six Extraction subzone.

An odd offshoot with good ideas, Rainbox Six Extraction feels too ambitious to be a Rainbow Six Siege expansion but too repetitive to compete with its genre peers. Rainbow Six Siege players may enjoy this change of pace, but even then the setting is so different from standard Tom Clancy or Rainbow Six games that hardcore audiences might feel alienated. Rainbow Six Extraction is competently done in many ways, but not compelling enough to be worth most players' time.

Our opinion

While Rainbow Six Extraction stands out within its genre and the entire Tom Clancy line of games, it rarely does so to its advantage. This extremely difficult experience becomes more frustrating when you play it alone or with random players. If someone is looking for a highly engaging cooperative game to play with their best friends, Rainbow Six Extraction may grab their attention, but its repetitiveness and horrible grind can get to players after a while.

Is there a better alternative?

The cooperative horde shooter genre is currently in the midst of a renaissance. I would recommend Back 4 Blood as a consistently more engaging and exciting game within the same genre. If you like the tactical nature of the game and the premise of the alien invasion, check out the strategy game XCOM 2.

how long will you last

While unlocking each operator, map, and mode can easily take 20+ hours, Rainbow Six Extraction has no final ending point and is designed to be played almost endlessly.

should you buy it

No. If you're a fan of Rainbow Six Siege or co-op shooters and have friends to play it with, Rainbow Six Extraction might be worth a peek at Xbox Game Pass. However, I would not recommend spending money on it.

Rainbow Six Extraction was tested on an Xbox Series X via Xbox Game Pass.

Editor's Recommendations



25 Jan
Blog

MSI GE76 Raider review: Alder Lake and RTX 3080 Ti dominate

msi ge76 raider review 02

MSI GE76 Raider

RRP $3,999.00

"The MSI GE76 Raider is an old-school gaming laptop with new-school PC parts."

benefits

  • Fantastic gaming performance

  • Super fast video editing

  • Many ports

  • 1080p webcam

  • MUX switch included

  • Good thermals

disadvantage

  • thick and heavy

  • Bad touchpad

  • Low battery life

The MSI GE76 Raider is a very conventional gaming laptop. It's bulky. it's fat It's not something you would take with you to work.

But beneath the surface, this gaming laptop offers a small taste of the next generation of gaming components, including the new Intel Core i9-12900HK and the Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti. These top-of-the-line PC parts show just how good PC gaming is in the year 2022 can be – despite some hurdles that this particular gaming laptop puts in their way.

draft

This gaming laptop has some high-end components inside, but you wouldn't recognize it from the outside. The latest version of the MSI GE76 Raider doesn't offer anything new on the outside. It's still a massive 17-inch laptop that weighs 6.4 pounds and is over an inch thick.

It's an old-school gaming laptop, even down to the aggressive vents and gamery design language. If you want something more modern and sleek, you'll have to go for the MSI GS66 Stealth, Razer Blade, or a number of other options.

My device comes in a toned down “Titanium Blue” color that is barely black. The screen is accented by angled edges on the lid and a beefy chin that sits beneath the 16:9 aspect ratio screen.

The soft glow of the light strip brings color to your desk.

But being fit and stylish isn't the motto of this laptop. Instead, it's all about practicality. Convenient ports, a big screen and, of course, unbridled power.

The only interesting thing, however, is the light bar on the front. Laying down on the keyboard deck and along the front, the soft glow of the light bar neatly splashes some color on your desk. It's fully customizable within the SteelSeries GG app, as is the per-key RGB keyboard. None of this is new in this year's model, but it's a nice touch nonetheless.

power

The MSI GE76 Raider has two brand new components inside: the Core i9-12900HK and the RTX 3080 Ti. Intel's latest flagship processor in particular brings a lot of expectations. With the recent rise of AMD, especially in the laptop space, even premium gaming laptops are offering the Ryzen 9 5900HX as an option.

We have a separate Alder Lake mobile review that details processor performance and even a breakdown of the new video editing improvements. Suffice it to say that Intel's new 14-core chip looks extremely impressive. As can be seen in the chart below, we see massive gains in both single-core and multi-core performance compared to the last-gen Ryzen 9 5900HX and Core i9-11950H. These are far better than a normal generation jump.

MSI GE76 Raider (Core i9-12900HK) Asus VivoBook Pro 16X (Ryzen 9 5900HX) HP ZBook Studio G8 (Core i9-11950H) MacBook Pro 16 (M1 Pro)
Cinebench R23 (single / multi) 1872 / 16388 1486 / 11478 1594 / 11788 1531/ 12343
Geekbench 5 (single / multi) 1855 / 13428 1544 / 8299 1637 / 9139 1773 / 12605
PC Mark 10 7691 6287 6432 n / A
Handbrake (lower is better) 72 seconds 90 seconds 89 seconds 95 seconds

Synthetic benchmarks aside, the MSI GE76 Raider is a powerful video editing engine. It's the highest-scoring Windows laptop in Pugetbench's Adobe Premiere Pro benchmark, and it even comes remarkably close to the M1 Max MacBook Pro. However, performance alone doesn't necessarily make the MSI GE76 Raider a great video editing machine – more on the display later. In terms of raw performance, it's way ahead of the competition.

Of course, gaming performance is what this laptop is designed for. The fantastic single-core performance also helps with gaming, which is fantastic. These are easily the best frame rates we've seen in our gaming tests on laptops. Of course, most of this improvement can be attributed to the new RTX 3080 Ti, but CPU-heavy games like Assassin's Creed Valhalla and Civilization VI will certainly benefit from the Core i9-12900HK as well.

MSI GE76 Raider (RTX 3080 Ti) Lenovo Legion 5 Pro (RTX 3070) MSI GS66 Stealth (RTX 3080) Asus ROG Strix G15 (RX6800M)
3DMark Time Spy 12421 9175 9097 10504
Fourteen days 143 fps 101 fps 140 fps 108 fps
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 93 fps 61 fps 70 fps 77 fps
Civilization VI 169 fps 114 fps 149 fps 150 fps
Battlefield V 152 fps 73 fps 117 fps 109 fps

MSI says it can deliver a total of 220 watts of power to the CPU and GPU, which is 25 watts ahead of other similar competitors.

As always, it's difficult to compare apples to apples to laptops. Interestingly, the GE76 Raider with the RTX 3080 Ti doesn't have that much of an advantage over the RTX 3080 machine in the more GPU-dependent games. Frame rates in Fortnite were quite similar to what was the case in Battlefield V. This could indicate that the CPU is wielding some weight.

I also tested the MSI GE76 Raider in Rise of the Tomb Raider to compare it directly to the MacBook Pro. In the game's built-in benchmark, it averaged 142 fps at the highest settings of 1080p. That's pretty good compared to the 84 fps (frames per second) I got while testing the M1 Max MacBook Pro.

All of these tests were run at 1080p with maximum graphics settings and Balanced performance settings. Confusingly, MSI comes with "Gaming Mode" turned on by default, which automatically switches to the very loud "Extreme Performance" setting when a game boots up. This maximizes fan speeds, but in the games I tested, switching between these performance profiles only impacts frame rates by a percentage point or two.

MSI also offers a discrete-only mode. The laptop ships in hybrid mode, also known as Nvidia Optimus, which activates the MUX switch. Discrete-only mode offers even better frame rates in GPU-bound games. For example, in Battlefield V, switching to Discrete Only mode resulted in a 9% increase in framerate. However, it shortens battery life drastically.

During the tests, the game mastered its thermals excellently. Both surface and internal temperatures remained cool throughout, and that's thanks to the "phase-changing" Liquid Metal Pad, which prevents crystallization of the thermal conductor. MSI says this delivers 10% better performance than its competitors. I can't prove that until I test other 12th Gen Intel laptops with the RTX 3080 Ti.

specifications and price

The exact model I checked is not currently for sale. According to MSI, it's worth around $4,000 and comes with the highest-end GPU and CPU, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and 2TB of storage.

However, the MSI GE76 Raider starts at just $1,599 for its base configuration. You still get one of Intel's new 12th Gen processors, the Core i7-12700H, but only an RTX 3060 for graphics. It also features a 1080p 144Hz screen, 16GB of DDR4 RAM and a TB SSD.

Prices increase dramatically from there, topping it off with the $4,199 4K 120Hz model.

In a way, that means the MSI GE76 chassis is built with mid-range design sensibilities, despite its ability to be configured up to $4,000+.

display

The MSI GE76 Raider uses a 1920 x 1080p resolution panel paired with a 360Hz refresh rate. These have become the go-to choice for super-fast 1080p gaming lately, but it's still not a great choice for the average gamer . Only in the lightest games can you achieve frame rates that exceed 300 fps. If you are not a professional CS:GO or Rocket League player, you may not be able to tell the difference.

So if you're spending thousands of dollars on a premium gaming laptop, I usually recommend a device with a 1440p resolution or QHD+, both of which are upgrade options for the MSI GE76 Raider. That's especially true for larger displays like this 17.3-inch panel. In fact, MSI charges the same price of $2,999 for a 1440p 240Hz model as for a 1080p 360Hz model.

It remains one of the few gaming laptops that gets the bump in to a 1080p webcam.

The higher resolution would also make sense outside of gaming, considering how fast the MSI GE76 Raider is in video and photo editing. But the low resolution and matte finish aren't ideal outside of gaming, and neither is the color saturation. 100% sRGB and 79% AdobeRGB is good for a gaming laptop but doesn't do justice to professional content creators.

As for the rest of the panel, the GE76 Raider gets the job done. Contrast is solid at 1000:1 and the screen is well calibrated with a Delta-E of 1.09. It tops out at 273 nits, which is a bit under the 300 mark that we like to see. It's not a big deal as the matte finish eliminates reflections and glare. Still, this is a laptop and you can move it from place to place in your house.

cam

There is also a 1080p webcam above the display. The GE76 Raider remains one of the few gaming laptops to make the jump from 720p to 1080p, and the quality is noticeably better.

Unfortunately, the GE76 Raider does not include biometric security. No IR camera or fingerprint reader.

ports and connectivity

The MSI GS76 Raider has ports on both sides of the chassis and along the back – and the options are pretty much anything you can think of. On the left side you have USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, USB-C 3.2 / DisplayPort and a headphone jack. On the right side you get two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 for accessories and a full-size SD card slot.

On the back you'll find USB-C Thunderbolt 4, Mini-DisplayPort (haven't seen one of those in a while), HDMI 2.1, Ethernet jack and power plug.

It also comes with a Killer Wi-Fi 6E card and Bluetooth 5.2 for wireless connectivity.

keyboard and touchpad

Both the keyboard and the touchpad were a disappointment. Being a gaming laptop is no excuse for feeling cheap. Let's not forget: this laptop costs well over $2,000 in most configurations.

The keyboard is full-size, which means it includes a number pad and full-size arrow keys. The layout is pleasant, but I found the keystrokes to be a bit too soft. They're squishy and feel imprecise, but I got used to them over a couple of days.

The per-key RGB backlighting is decent, though, and customization is done via the SteelSeries GG app.

The touchpad is where I have a bigger problem. It's not as big as that of the MSI GS66 Stealth and feels choppy. The click mechanism also feels too loose. With this laptop, you'll want to use a mouse most of the time. That's an obvious statement in gaming, but it's a nuisance in other work.

battery life

This laptop struggles with battery life. But that doesn't surprise anyone. Between the 17-inch screen and the power-hungry RTX 3080 Ti, I didn't expect to get much out of it.

Despite my lowered expectations, the MSI GE76 Raider still managed to disappoint in this regard. But three hours and 40 minutes? That's a shame. And that's just for simple web surfing. You can't safely spend much time away from the wall, and that limits this laptop's ability to serve as a work laptop.

It has a 99.9 watt-hour battery, which is the largest you can legally take on a plane. Unfortunately, even with the Nvidia Optimus turned on, you won't get more than a few hours. To be fair, other great gaming laptops like the HP Victus 16. For a gaming laptop with better battery life, check out the Lenovo Legion 5 Pro, Razer Blade 15, or the MSI GS66 Stealth.

Our opinion

On the outside, the MSI GE76 Raider is a blast from the past. Inside, it's a glimpse into the future. These are some powerful components, and the result is incredibly good performance. While the MSI GE76 Raider isn't my favorite gaming laptop with this CPU and GPU duo, I can't deny how well it performs.

Are there alternatives?

Many of the latest gaming laptops in 2022 will use the same combination of graphics cards and processors. However, I haven't tested many of them. Laptops similar to the GE76 Raider include the Alienware m17, ROG Strix G17, Razer Blade 17, and many more.

How long it will take?

Gaming laptops typically last around four or five years. It may last longer if your usage is not that heavy. The MSI GE76 Raider should future-proof you for some generations of processors and graphics cards. Even the heaviest games play well on it and the build quality is solid.

MSI offers a one-year limited warranty on its laptops as standard, although that depends on the retailer you're picking it up from.

should you buy this

Yes, but be aware of what you're getting yourself into. This is a laptop that puts performance first and doesn't care about the subtleties.

Editor's Recommendations



22 Jan
Blog

Wyze Scale S review: Highly functional and affordable

The Wyze Scale S provides numerous health metrics at every weigh-in.

Wyze Scale S review: Highly functional and affordable

RRP $18.99

"The Wyze Smart Scale S offers a full range of health-related metrics at an affordable price."

benefits

  • Payable

  • Easy to use and set up

  • Tracks a variety of health information

  • Allows multiple user profiles

disadvantage

  • Only works with a few third-party applications

  • Does not always record measurements

It's January and that means thousands of people are trying again to reach their goal weight. It also means that Libra isn't always your friend. After a strict diet, waking up before dawn to go for a run, and all the other steps you take to shed those pounds, you step on the scale hoping you've shed a few numbers.

The problem is that exercising isn't just about weight loss — you're building muscle at the same time, and muscle weighs a lot more than fat. Did you know that a bodybuilder can technically be "overweight" despite being in better physical shape than 90% of other people?

The Wyze Scale S provides numerous health metrics at every weigh-in.

The Wyze Scale S can help you more accurately measure your actual body composition, not just your weight. I tried it for a couple of weeks.

More than just a scale

As with most smart scales, the Wyze Scale S requires you to stand barefoot on its four sensor points. It takes several seconds before you get a display that not only shows you your weight, but also your body mass index (BMI) and muscle mass. This is the standard tariff for most smart scales, but the Wyze Scale S takes it a step further with a lot more information, including:

  • body fat
  • muscle mass
  • body water
  • lean body mass
  • bone mass
  • protein
  • visceral fat
  • BMR
  • metabolic age

The scale provides an incredibly detailed breakdown of key readings about your body. But while this information is useful, it's also not entirely accurate. These measurements are all estimates based on algorithms. You would need an actual medical device to give you accurate readings of this information, but the Wyze Scale S can give you a rough idea of ​​your current fitness level.

Every time you step on the scale, your numbers are automatically recorded in the app (assuming your phone is within Bluetooth range). The app creates a graph of your weight history over time.

You would need an actual medical device to give you accurate readings of this information, but the Wyze Scale S can give you a rough idea of ​​your current fitness level.

When you select body fat, muscle mass, or another metric, it explains what each term means and also shows your own measurements on a color-coded chart. It shows where you are on the chart using terms like average, below average, or above average, which is helpful when you're not exactly sure what the numbers mean or what a healthy range is.

The features don't just stop at the scale, however. The app itself also includes some useful tools – like the ability to measure your heart rate. The way it does that is kind of interesting too. You will be prompted to cover your phone's rear camera with one finger and then cup the phone with your other hand so that the light reflects towards your finger.

The Wyze Scale S companion app automatically tracks your weight every time you step on the scale.

Your phone's camera measures the pulsation under your skin and is fairly accurate. I tested it with a high-end fitness tracker at the same time and got the same result. If you want to quickly check your heart rate during a workout (and the old method of pinching your fingers to your neck and counting just doesn't work for you), the Wyze app can pull through in a snap.

However, in my opinion the best feature is the pet/kid mode. Have you ever wondered how much your pet weighs? This mode allows you to step on the scale empty-handed, then step on the scale with your pet and calculate the difference in weight, giving you an accurate measurement for your pet (or child).

Spoilers: My chunky cat weighed 14.9 pounds and strongly refused to be weighed.

If you want to quickly check your heart rate during a workout, the Wyze app can come through in no time.

The main problem I've encountered with smart scales is that they tend to focus on a single user. The Wyze Scale S allows you to have more than a single user and track each one's measurements separately. You can also set up a guest measurement if someone wants to weigh themselves without affecting your tracking.

setup and installation

Setting up and working with the Wyze Scale S was as easy as pulling it out of the box and connecting it via the app. The only real requirement is that you place the scale on a hard surface. Carpet interferes with the sensors, so you'll need to place it on tile or hardwood for it to work properly.

I have found that weight measurements are not recorded correctly if your phone is too far from the scale. If I left my phone in the living room and stepped on the scale in the bathroom (about 25 feet away), it didn't record the measurement on the app.

There are a few additional options available to you in the app. For example, you can set a specific weight goal to work towards. This will appear every time you open the app. You can also choose to display weight in imperial or metric units, and you can authorize Wyze to work with third-party apps like Apple Health and Fitbit. Those are the only two options I've found, which is a bit disappointing – I'd have liked to see the inclusion of other big fitness trackers like Garmin.

The Wyze Scale S has a reflective surface that captures footprint.

You can export your health metrics to your email for a specific week, month, year or any other time period. If you keep records or use the measurements for medical purposes, this can be useful information for your doctor.

Our opinion

The Wyze Scale S strikes an excellent balance between affordability and functionality. It even has an athlete mode for those who train more than 10 hours a week for more accurate tracking. It's one of the best smart scales I've worked with and has become my favorite way of measuring myself.

Is there a better alternative?

For the price, the Wyze Scale S is hard to beat. At around $20, you won't find a more functional scale. If you want more functionality with a far greater selection of fitness apps, Withings Body+ offers 100+ different apps and integrations for $100.

How long it will take?

This is a scale, so it gets a bit abused. Between kicks, accidental kicks and bumps against the wall, you can expect the Wyze Scale S to take a little damage here and there – but it's well made and comes with a one-year warranty from date of purchase. I expect it will last for many years with proper care.

should you buy it

Yes, without a doubt. If you're looking for a smart scale to help you track your fitness goals, you can't go wrong at this price point.

Editor's Recommendations



21 Jan
Blog

Denon Noise Cancelling Earbuds review: Serious sound value

Denon Noise Canceling Earphones AH-C830NCW.

Denon noise canceling earplugs

RRP $159.00

"Denon nails the basics with great sound and great noise cancellation."

benefits

  • Comfortable fit

  • Outstanding sound quality

  • Very good noise cancellation

  • Very good transparency

  • Good call quality

  • IPX4 water resistance

disadvantage

  • No wireless charging

  • No EQ or control adjustment

  • No bluetooth multipoint

  • Require frequent fit adjustments

Though legendary Japanese audio brand Denon was late to the true wireless earbud party, they've made the plunge with two new budget models – the $159 model AH-C830NCW with active noise cancellation (ANC) and the $99 AH-C630W. We look at the noise-cancelling model to see how Denon's first attempt at true wireless compares to similarly priced earbuds from the leaders in the space.

Known design

Denon noise canceling earbuds (left) and Apple AirPods Pro.Denon Noise Canceling Earbud (left) and Apple AirPods Pro. Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

It's pretty clear from the start that Denon is making a game for the people who like Apple's AirPods Pro. Placed side by side, the noise-cancelling earbuds and the AirPods Pro look very similar, especially considering the Denons come in white (you can also choose black).

There are some subtle differences: Denon's stems are slightly thicker and feature a sleek chrome-plated tip. And instead of Apple's pinch controls on the stems, Denon uses the more common touch-based style Apple uses on its first- and second-gen AirPods.

Google Fast Pair makes Android connection simple: flip open the cover and tap the connect button on your phone's screen.

In the box, Denon includes three sizes of silicone ear tips to help you get a good seal and a short USB-C charging cable.

The relatively large charging case has a flat base, allowing it to stand on its own, and features a sleek, angled lid that's easy to open and close. Unfortunately, getting the earbuds out of the case can be difficult. The outer shell's super-smooth plastic makes it difficult to get a good grip, so you'll need to master the technique of using your thumb as a lever to slide each earbud out of its socket high enough for you to hold it with your index finger. Unlike the AirPods Pro, the case doesn't support wireless charging.

links

Google Fast Pair screen capture.

Android control center screen capture.

According to Denon, the Noise Canceling Earbuds are Bluetooth Class 1 devices, which usually means they should have a better range than non-Class 1 devices. But I found the range to be about average — 30 to 40 feet indoors and 50 to 60 feet outdoors . Within these distances, the connection was very stable and latency was never an issue when watching videos.

Android users get Google Fast Pair, which makes the initial connection as easy as flipping open the back cover and tapping the connect button on your phone's screen.

Slippery fit

Man with Denon Noise Canceling Earbuds AH-C830NCW.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

When inserted, the Denon Noise Canceling Earbuds are really comfortable. They're just small enough to avoid the feeling of something wedged deep in your ears, but they also offer decent surface contact with your outer ear to keep the buds from moving.

The noise-cancelling earbuds show their greatest strength when it comes to sound quality: they sound fantastic.

But the fit isn't secure enough for reliable use in high-impact activities like running, although with an IPX4 rating they can certainly handle sweat and rain. They also tend to loosen up when you're talking – something that could prevent them from being ideal companions on long Zoom calls. During a recent video call I had to reset them several times.

App-free simplicity?

The Denon Noise Canceling Earbuds AH-C830NCW come with a charging case, earbuds and an adapter.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

In another Apple-like move, Denon keeps things simple with the noise canceling earbuds – all functions are controlled by the buds themselves and there's no Denon companion app for iOS or Android. On the one hand, there is not much to learn. A single tap on the right earbud starts and stops your music, a double tap skips forward, and a triple tap skips back. When a call comes in, a double tap on the right earbud will answer the call and a second double tap will end it. Meanwhile, single taps on the left earbud toggles ANC mode from on to ambient, then off.

But on the downside, the lack of an app means no firmware updates, no EQ or control adjustments, and no advanced features like Fit Tests or Find My Earbuds.

Sensitive control

Denon Noise Canceling Earbuds AH-C830NCW come with a charging case.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The touch controls work really well, but it's very easy to accidentally trigger them when inserting the earbuds or adjusting them in-ear. You'll get a quick feedback tone letting you know a tap has been detected, taking the guesswork out of it, and response times are lightning fast. The noise-cancelling earbuds are also equipped with wear-and-tear sensors that can quickly and reliably pause and play your audio when you remove or reinsert them.

To learn more about all controls, you need to download the user manual from the Denon website. For some reason, the included quick start guide doesn't mention being able to reject calls or mute the mic during a call, both of which are possible.

Constant noises like fans or other machine-based hums are reduced to a whisper.

The only thing missing is a volume control, and there's no way to toggle between ANC and ambient modes without going through off mode.

However, you get access to your phone's assistant and can use each earbud independently for calls and music. When you do this, the playback controls that would normally be on the right earbud are transferred to the left earbud if you're just using that side.

Great sound

Denon Noise Canceling Earbuds AH-C830NCW come with a charging case.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Ultimately, most of us want our earbuds to offer great sound quality above all else. And this is where the noise canceling earbuds show their greatest strength. Denon says it applied its Sound Master tuning to these earbuds. I can't tell you exactly what that means, but I'll tell you one thing: you sound fantastic. Absolutely clear across the frequency range and with a wonderfully wide and precise soundstage, they offer the same level of performance you'll find in true wireless earbuds that cost a lot more, like the excellent $230 Technics EAH-AZ60.

While it's true that there's no way to tweak the EQ settings either with the buds or via an app, I wouldn't change a thing. Low-end bass is punchy but warmly resonant, giving tracks like Hans Zimmer's Time all the depth they deserve, and there's enough midrange detail to have you sinking and discovering (or rediscovering) jazz standards by Miles Davis or The Dave Brubeck Quartet ) can ) items that smaller earbuds would hide.

Whisper quiet

As the name suggests, the Denon Noise Canceling Earbuds feature a hybrid ANC system and it's very impressive. Variable noises like traffic and background conversation are almost completely eliminated, and boomy, consistent noises like fans or other machine-based hum are reduced to a whisper.

I compared Denon's ANC to the very best: Apple AirPods Pro, Bose QuietComfort Earbuds and Sony WF-1000XM4 and it was almost impossible to tell the difference. The Denons produce a very slight hiss when not listening to music and there isn't much external noise to cancel out, but otherwise they do a great job of keeping things nice and quiet.

Transparency mode is almost as good – it lets in a lot of ambient noise but doesn't quite erase the feeling of wearing earbuds like the AirPods Pro can. My only complaint, as I mentioned, is the inability to toggle directly between ANC and transparency.

call quality

Denon Noise Canceling Earbuds AH-C830NCW come with a charging case.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Overall, calling the Denon Noise Canceling Earbuds is very good. External noise is largely suppressed, and your voice will sound rich, not thin and tinny like some earbuds can. There was the occasional wobble, as can happen with any earbud, but I don't think your callers will be bothered by that.

You can also turn on transparency mode during a call, which lets you hear more of everything, including your own voice, and really reduces caller fatigue. If only the earbuds didn't have a habit of coming loose during conversation, they would be ideal.

battery life

Denon claims up to 4.8 hours per charge and 19 hours total if you include the charging case and have ANC enabled. If ANC is switched off, this lasts for up to six or 24 hours. That's about the same as the AirPods Pro, meaning not bad – enough for a full day – but nothing impressive by today's standards. I haven't been able to fully test these claims since the wear sensors can't be bypassed, but based on the remaining battery life shown in my Google Pixel 5's control center, it looks pretty accurate. You'll get an audible low-battery warning from the earbuds, but there's no quick-charge option to top up a low battery.

Our opinion

Although not as fully featured as some Denon true wireless earbuds Noise Canceling Earphones (AH-C830NCW) Absolutely kill it when it comes to sound quality, noise cancellation and value for money.

Is there a better alternative?

Near this price, your best alternatives are:

  • $130 Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro: Better battery life, wireless charging, and customizations, but sound quality and ANC aren't as good.
  • $170 Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro: Better battery life, wireless charging, customizations, and Hi-Res audio on Android devices, but ANC isn't as good.
  • $180 Sennheiser CX Plus True Wireless: A more secure fit, tons of app-based adjustments, volume control, and sound and ANC quality to match Denons.

how long will they last

It's always hard to tell with true wireless earbuds, as battery life can drain over time, but the case and earbuds look well made, and the earbuds' IPX4 rating means they're not affected by mild water. Denon backs the noise canceling earbuds with a one-year limited warranty.

Should you buy them?

Yes. As long as you're not bothered by the lack of an app for EQ and control customization, and you're not planning on using them for workouts or sports, the Denon Noise Canceling Earbuds (AH-C830NCW) are excellent value for money given their sound and ANC.

Editor's Recommendations



20 Jan
Blog

Nvidia RTX 3080 12GB review: The bad version of a great GPU

RTX 3080 graphics cards among other GPUs.

Nvidia RTX 3080 12GB review: The bad version of a great GPU

RRP $1,249.00

"The RTX 3080 12GB is a powerful graphics card that has been acidified by Nvidia's shady practices."

benefits

  • Still a solid 4K graphics card

  • Outstanding design in MSI Suprim X version

  • Increased memory bandwidth

disadvantage

  • Significantly more expensive than the 10GB model

  • Slight improvement in performance over the 10GB model

  • Worse availability than other GPUs

  • Increased power consumption

  • Additional memory does very little

Imagine you are in charge of Nvidia. CEO Jensen Huang has retired to his kitchen, and now you can decide how to launch a new flagship GPU: the 12GB RTX 3080. What do you do? Do you use a list of influencers and media to spread the news? Do you use a big stage like CES?

No matter what you did, you probably wouldn't release a new flagship by burying the announcement at the bottom of a blog post focusing on a new GPU driver three days after the card's launch. And you certainly wouldn't launch the card a week after the biggest tech event of the year without day-one reviews.

That's what Nvidia did with the RTX 3080 12GB, and people are rightly confused. It's a graphics card that needn't exist with Nvidia's current offerings, and it shows a worrying trend for where GPU prices could be headed in 2022. The 12GB RTX 3080 is a bastardized version of one of the best graphics cards you can buy – and that's a shame.

price and availability

RTX 3080 on a pink background.Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

Our reviews usually start with a discussion of design, specs, and performance, but remember: it's impossible to talk about a graphics card other than price. Performance alone doesn't matter. The performance in relation to the price makes the difference.

And in this case, it's the most important element of the 12GB version of the RTX 3080.

Nvidia has never set a list price for this graphics card, and while the list price doesn't say much, it still serves as a comparison. Even amidst the GPU shortage that has prices rising and falling, the cards still stack up as list prices suggest – the RTX 3080 costs more than the RTX 3070 and so on.

So what is the price of the 12GB RTX 3080? At the lower end, it's around $1,249 – $50 more than the RTX 3080 Ti. For example, the EVGA XC3 Ultra version is listed at this price. That's $40 more expensive than the RTX 3080 Ti version of the same model and $440 more expensive than the 10GB version. I'm not comparing high-end cards either. These are the most basic versions of EVGA.

You pay an inflated price no matter where you get your card.

The Asus ROG Strix version costs $1,600, which is $400 more expensive than the 10GB ROG Strix model. Technically, it's cheaper than the RTX 3080 Ti version, but that's only because this card is non-stock and Asus doesn't offer list prices on its website.

Even with inflated prices, you're looking at a much more expensive graphics card. On eBay, the 12GB model sells for about $300 more than the 10GB model, which is actually closer to the prices advertised by retailers. Prices at retailers and on the used market may be closer now, but that just means you're paying an inflated price wherever you buy your card.

There are a number of speculative reasons why the 12GB RTX 3080 is so expensive, but it boils down to this: the 12GB RTX 3080 will continue to sell at scalper prices once the market settles down. I'm not against Nvidia or board partners taking advantage of their products, but I'm against releasing a marginal upgrade to a GPU at a significantly higher price point when most people still can't even buy the base model.

draft

RTX 3080 graphics card on a pink background.Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

If it's not already clear, I'm not a fan of the 12GB RTX 3080. However, I have to give credit where it's due, and credit goes to MSI.

MSI was kind enough to send me a 12GB RTX 3080 Suprim X, which is great considering Nvidia doesn't have a Founders Edition model of the 12GB RTX 3080. Regardless of what Nvidia plans to do with this card, the Suprim X remains a wonderful design.

It's technically a dual slot card as it only occupies two slots on the back of your device, but the extra cooler height takes up almost enough space to occupy a third. As with other Suprim X models, this model includes a dual BIOS switch to toggle between Silent and Gaming modes, but even with Gaming mode set, the card was never loud enough to become an issue.

Despite the silicon underneath, MSI has created an excellent graphics card.

Similarly, it comes factory overclocked with a 180MHz boost over Nvidia's official spec, as well as a 50W power boost. To help with the increased power draw, the card uses three 8-pin connectors for power. To help with the massive cooler size, MSI includes a GPU bracket in the box.

Despite what I think about the underlying silicon, MSI has created an excellent graphics card here. I particularly like the RGB MSI shield on the backplate, which is accompanied by an RGB stripe that runs the entire length of the card.

Even in 2022, graphics card manufacturers are designing cards that look great from the front. The Suprim X looks great from the front, but MSI has gone to great lengths to make it look great while it's installed in your computer. This is perhaps the first time I like the backplate design more than the cooler.

Power connectors on the RTX 3080.

RTX 3080 RGB shield logo.

All of this is to say that MSI made a great graphics card, but Nvidia made a so-so GPU. The Suprim X makes the best of a bad situation, and if you have a choice between 12GB RTX 3080 models, this is the one to go for.

specifications

The 12GB RTX 3080 is just an RTX 3080 with 2GB more video memory, at least on the surface. The extra VRAM is the most noticeable change, but there's a little more going on in the specs, especially when compared to the RTX 3080 Ti.

RTX3080 12GB RTX3080 10GB RTX 3080Ti
CUDA cores 8,960 8,704 10,240
boost clock 1.71GHz 1.71GHz 1.67MHz
reminder 12GB GDDR6X 10GB GDDR6X 12GB GDDR6X
memory bus 384-bit 320-bit 384-bit
effective bandwidth 912.4GB/s 760.3GB/s 912.4GB/s
tensor cores 280 272 320
RT cores 70 68 80
power consumption 350W 320W 350W

This is almost an RTX 3080 Ti, but with a big emphasis on almost. Compared to the 10GB RTX 3080, the 12GB model bumps the memory bus to 384-bit and power consumption to 350W, both specifications of the RTX 3080 Ti. It also has a slightly lower base clock, but that doesn't make a difference when gaming , when the boost clock is almost always active.

The main difference is that the 12GB RTX 3080 has a 3% higher core count over the 10GB model, which is significantly lower than the RTX 3080 Ti. Here's how you feel about the card: It's an RTX 3080 Ti, but with the core count of an RTX 3080.

It's clear that the 12GB RTX 3080 doesn't have to exist.

You should also think of it as an RTX 3080 Ti. The 2GB bump in VRAM might seem insignificant, but combined with the larger 384-bit memory bus, the 12GB model has a much higher memory bandwidth: 912GB/s compared to 760GB/s for the 10GB -Model.

Even before you get to the performance data, it's clear that this is a graphics card that doesn't have to exist. It doesn't fill any requirement that isn't already met by the base or Ti model, and it illustrates a breaking point of granularity in Nvidia's lineup where the minute differences between the models become irrelevant.

Of course, the first question you ask yourself about a new graphics card is, "What are the specs?" In the case of the 12GB RTX 3080, where specs are more important than most other GPU versions, the technical data do not paint a clear picture. They are insignificant in some areas and impractical in others. The only way to know what the 12GB RTX 3080 is trying to do is to see it in action.

Play

RTX 3080 installed in a PC.Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

An extra 2GB of storage doesn't matter when gaming – or at least that's what you'll hear ad nauseam in comment sections and forums around the web. It's true that at a certain point video memory doesn't play a huge role in performance, but the increased memory bandwidth does matter.

I ran all my tests with 32GB of memory, an Intel Core i9-10900K, and the latest version of Windows 10. My comparison GPUs are Founders Edition cards, so I downclocked the Suprim X and capped the performance to meet Nvidia's specs. With this particular card, you can expect higher average performance. Here are my results at 4K with the highest graphics preset.

12GB RTX 3080 10GB RTX 3080 RTX 3080Ti RTX3090
3DMark Time Spy 17,071 16.108 17,634 18,341
Red Dead Redemption 2 65 fps N / A 72 fps 77 fps
Fourteen days 76 fps 95 fps 93 fps 78 fps
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 61 fps 62 fps 55 fps 63 fps
Battlefield V 103 fps 100 fps 104 fps 121 fps
Civilization VI 212 fps 255 fps 259 fps N / A

My results are not too surprising. In 3DMark Time Spy, the 12GB RTX 3080 is about 3% slower than the RTX 3080 Ti and about 6% faster than the 10GB model. Battlefield 5 further illustrates this point, with just a single frame separating the 12GB RTX 3080 and RTX 3080 Ti.

Fortnite only yielded a two-frame difference between the 12GB RTX 3080 and RTX 3090. My middle two benchmarks were run on a different patch of the game, so don't compare these results to the others. The difference between the 12GB RTX 3080 and the RTX 3090 paints the picture clearly: the 12GB RTX 3080 doesn't offer a huge performance advantage.

Red Dead Redemption 2 and Civilization VI are superfluous. Here the trend is clear. The 12GB RTX 3080 is intentionally handicapped or free to run at full speed. It's a slight upgrade over the 10GB model and sits below the RTX 3080 Ti. The RTX 3080 Ti was already a slight improvement over the base model; This 12GB variant just splits the difference.

content creation

GeForce logo on the RTX 3080.Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

I was hoping that the additional bandwidth of the 12GB RTX 3080 would boost content creation performance, but that wasn't the case. Even with no performance or clock speed limitations, the card performed at roughly the same level as the 10GB model, and by a decent margin to the RTX 3080 Ti.

12GB RTX 3080 10GB RTX 3080 RTX 3080Ti RTX3090
PugetBench for Premiere Pro 799 821 855 855
Blender BMW (lower is better) 19 seconds 23 seconds 19 seconds 17 seconds
Blender Classroom (lower is better) 100 seconds 71 seconds 56 seconds 79 seconds
Blender Koro (lower is better) 65 seconds 75 seconds 63 seconds 57 seconds

The chart above shows diminishing returns in action. There are only minor differences between the 10GB RTX 3080 and the RTX 3090, with the latter only offering an advantage in dedicated workstations. Overall, the 12GB RTX 3080 sits between the 10GB model and the RTX 3080 Ti as it should, but the results here are so close that it hardly matters.

Content creation is all about what you need the graphics card for. There aren't enough advantages to justify the 12GB RTX 3080 over the 10GB version, even if you only care about content creation. Given the pricing, which I'll get to next, the RTX 3080 Ti is the better choice overall, and the RTX 3090 takes the crown.

Our opinion

The 12GB RTX 3080 does not have to be present. Even the RTX 3080 Ti was a disappointment considering how much more expensive it was than the RTX 3080, and this 12GB variant just splits the difference between those two. It's unnecessary product segmentation for the sole purpose of increasing the RTX 3080's base price.

Nvidia says the 10GB model will live on, but I find it hard to believe. There's no reason to choose the 12GB RTX 3080 over the 10GB version or the RTX 3080 Ti, and Nvidia is aware of that. There's a reason we haven't had many day-one reviews or a public launch like we did with the RTX 3050 and RTX 3090 Ti.

Given the GPU shortage, you should buy almost any graphics card you can get at a reasonable price. There's a chance this is the 12GB RTX 3080, and in that case the card is a great performer. However, if the price trends I'm seeing continue, the 12GB RTX 3080 will remain a bad buy compared to the 10GB and Ti models, even with inflated scalper prices.

Are there alternatives?

Yes. The 10GB RTX 3080 and RTX 3080 Ti are close enough to this model to serve as viable alternatives. On the AMD side, the closest competitor is the RX 6800 XT, although it struggles with ray tracing.

How long it will take?

While the 12GB RTX 3080 is a disappointing graphics card, it's not bad. Like the base 10GB model, this one will last at least the next few years at 4K and probably several years at lower resolutions.

should you buy it

No. The 12GB RTX 3080 would be among the best graphics cards if it weren't for the 10GB version and the RTX 3080 Ti. They do, and they strike a much better balance between price and performance.

Editor's Recommendations



18 Jan
Blog

Monster Blaster 3.0 review: A boombox that booms just right

Monster Blaster 3.0.

Monster Blaster 3.0

RRP $400.00

"A boombox like the Monster Blaster 3.0 is perfect when you're thinking about parties."

benefits

  • Good build quality

  • Gets noisy both indoors and outdoors

  • Including Aux-In and microphone sockets

  • Easy pairing and setup

  • Decent portability

disadvantage

  • Only IPX4 water resistance

  • The battery life should be better

  • Sometimes tricky Bluetooth connections

What do you get when you fatten a bluetooth speaker? You get a boombox, or at least a modern take on this icon of acoustic portability from a bygone era. Monster has long made a habit of making it big in both design and sound, primarily focusing on moving a crowd with a rumbling boom.

That's why the Monster Blaster 3.0 seems so apt for the company. It's a third-generation, 120-watt boombox for any party, but how valuable is it when you can't just make music outside?

What's in the box

Despite the size of the speaker and box, there's not much to explore. In addition to the speaker itself, you will receive a power supply unit with a charging cable and the operating instructions. Monster doesn't put any other cables in the box, not even a 3.5mm cable, although it supports it via the Aux-In port in the device itself. If you have one, it works well with the Blaster 3.0.

draft

Monster Blaster 3.0.Ted Kritsonis/Digital Trends

The Blaster 3.0 comes in three colors: black, white, and red. My review unit was black, but I'd say the red is much more eye-catching. Aside from aesthetics, there aren't any functional differences between them, but if you want to make the sound even more visually striking, red would probably be the way to go.

Below the surface, Monster equips the Blaster 3.0 with two 60-watt speakers, as well as two passive radiators and a 60-watt woofer for the bass. There's no real "front" or "back" as the speakers face both ways for wider output, especially when you start cranking the volume up. Monster offers no way to articulate or consolidate the sound to push it in either direction. So if you place it close to a wall, you may lose some of the spaciousness that the sound can otherwise deliver.

You get some ports to work with, like the aux-in jack for 3.5mm cables, as well as a separate 3.5mm port for microphones.

The controls are pretty standard, with a power button and volume buttons. The mode button only really toggles between the indoor and outdoor modes, which is where Monster's ambient EQ feature kicks in to optimize the audio for both settings. The Blaster 3.0 doesn't have dedicated app support, so you don't have the flexibility to customize the sound to your liking.

You get some ports to work with, like the aux-in jack for 3.5mm cables, as well as a separate 3.5mm port for microphones. If you're planning on doing karaoke with this thing, it's certainly possible with this setup. The microphone works over the music playback, so anyone with a connected microphone can sing along with a tune or announce something when playing the presenter role. Technically, you could use the microphone jack without music in case you need to give a presentation. Without a built-in microphone, the Blaster 3.0 will not function as a speakerphone.

Monster Blaster 3.0 Bluetooth Speaker.Ted Kritsonis/Digital Trends

The USB port treats the boombox as a power bank, allowing you to charge portable devices whenever you need to pull some juice from the 5,200mAh battery. The only other ports are the power supply connector and a reset switch.

The rubber tab that covers and protects the ports is of limited value in terms of durability. The Blaster 3.0 has an IPX4 rating, so while you can take it to the pool or beach, you need to be careful. Getting sand out of its many crevices won't be easy, and salt water will almost certainly kill it.

The Blaster 3.0 weighs a moderate 13 pounds, although the very sturdy handle should keep it from slipping out of your hands. Rubberized feet underneath keep it slightly elevated, and Monster says they dampen any vibrations that could cause surface distortion.

setup and configuration

Monster Blaster 3.0 Bluetooth Speaker.Ted Kritsonis/Digital Trends

Getting started was super easy. I could either pair the old-fashioned way, going through the Bluetooth settings on my phone, or use NFC to quickly tap and pair from an Android phone. The Boombox works the same way with iOS and Android, so whatever the pairing process, everything else is the same.

Audible tones and riffs indicate things like power on and off, pairing status, and volume or mode adjustments. Monster visualizes volume through eight LEDs on the panel, giving you a clearer sense of how loud or quiet the Blaster 3.0 really is. As mentioned, the mode button only really toggles between the indoor and outdoor settings.

In many ways, this is sort of a plug-and-play speaker, at least in the wireless sense. With no app to manage anything, or a multitude of built-in features and components, it's really about plugging in a playback device and blasting audio from there.

sound quality

Monster Blaster 3.0 Bluetooth Speaker.Ted Kritsonis/Digital Trends

Once you get to that point, the Blaster 3.0 really earns its name. With only five LEDs (out of eight) on the volume scale, this boombox can get very loud – even more so in outdoor mode. What's interesting is that the bass isn't quite as boomy as I expected. Well, I mean the playing style indoors, since the woofer works much harder outdoors, but otherwise shows restraint.

As you'd expect, there's actually a tipping point for volume distortion – as well as bass response itself. What I mean by that is that the bass audibly goes up a notch as you turn the volume past four LEDs, slight distortion begin to creep in at six and then are very noticeable at full volume. Still, it wasn't as bad as I thought, and it could be a sign that Monster is learning less, sometimes leading to more in the larger scheme when it comes to how thick the bass should be.

Music sounds good whether it's just you or a group of people.

The key here is that the Blaster 3.0 maintains a level of clarity throughout so music sounds good, whether it's just you or a group of people. It does sacrifice mid-range depth to emphasize bass and treble, but that's no knock on a speaker that's clearly not aiming to impress audiophiles. This is all about being loud and lively, and when I think about how bass-heavy genres sounded on this thing, I can easily remind myself who the target is here.

The Blaster 3.0 is perfect for BBQs, pool and beach parties, parks and picnics, and pretty much every gathering in between. You can certainly enjoy it in the private comforts of home, except there are plenty of speakers to cover that. In true boombox style, this is an outdoor speaker in every way. The indoor part is just a bonus.

Despite its weight, it's not difficult to take with you on a road trip or to an event. It also has a more stable Bluetooth connection in open spaces. It can stutter indoors at times, and it wasn't always clear to me why. I could understand when the speaker was in a different room from the phone, but it also happened when they were in the same room just 10 feet away. I tried this with different devices to rule out the possibility that the speaker wasn't at fault, only to find that it happened regardless of what I paired with it.

battery life

Monster Blaster 3.0 Bluetooth Speaker.Ted Kritsonis/Digital Trends

Monster estimates battery life at up to 12 hours per charge, but that's never going to happen once you start cranking the volume. I recognize that Monster has to put a number on how long the Blaster 3.0 lasts per charge, but it also markets the boombox for what it is: a speaker.

No matter what, you're not getting as much battery life here as you probably should.

You can check the remaining lifespan by checking the charge LED on the control panel. Once it turns red, look for an outlet to plug into. There's no fast charging here, and it takes a good 3.5 hours to charge back up. You can get more life out of it by connecting a device via Aux-In, but no matter what, you're not getting as much battery life here as you probably should.

Our opinion

The Blaster 3.0 costs $400, so make good use of it and hold it for a while. It's not designed exclusively for outdoor use, but that has to be a key reason why you'd pay so much for a Bluetooth boombox. It won't disappoint an audience looking for pounding tunes while spending the day outdoors, although it will work if you're stuck indoors too.

Is there a better alternative?

If you're looking for something similar to what a DJ might use, this is it JBL party box 110 could fit for the same money. It's far less portable, mind you, but it comes with a snazzy light show and pumps out 160W of power. If you prefer a closer look, JBL is releasing its Boombox 3 this summer, and while it costs $500, the company claims 24-hour battery life and gives it an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance. It's also compatible with JBL's PartyBoost feature, so you can pair it with other JBL speakers to distribute playback.

For a stylish option, the $400 Marshall Tufton only has 80 watts of power, but a 20-hour battery, an aux line-in connection and that undeniably cool Marshall guitar amp look.

Not to be outdone, Sony has already thrown in its own Boom box SRS-XG500 into the mix for $450, which offers IP66 water and dust resistance and an app to tweak the audio profile should you want to change it. If money is an object Anker's Soundcore Trance is a smaller $150/80-watt party box with a handle that also offers a light show and a claimed 18-hour battery life.

How long it will take?

That can largely depend on how you and your friends deal with it. Modest durability means you have to be careful who or what comes into contact with it. Sand and salt are the biggest hazards, while a splash or two of water should be fine. Monster offers a one-year warranty against malfunctions, but no damage from water or sand.

should you buy it

Yes, but only if the Blaster 3.0 ticks the right boxes for you. It can be flexible in where you use it, albeit not as much in its feature set, and that's important when you're paying this much for a speaker. Your friends and family will have no trouble listening to its booming sound. If that's enough for you, then you know what to do.

Editor's Recommendations



17 Jan
Blog

Dyson Outsize Absolute+ Review: the ultimate stick vac

Dyson Outsize Absolute+ being used on a kitchen floor.

Dyson Outsize Absolute+

RRP $899.99

"The Dyson Outsize Absolute+ is one of the most powerful and versatile handheld vacuums on the market."

benefits

  • Powerful

  • Automatically adjustable suction power

  • Large selection of tools and accessories included

  • Larger cleaning head for faster vacuuming

  • Larger dust bin for less frequent emptying

  • Laser sight works wonders

disadvantage

  • Heavier than average stick vacuum, especially when used as a handheld vacuum

  • It takes 4.5 hours to charge the batteries

  • Expensive

There's no denying that Dyson has done more for the modern vacuum cleaner industry than any other manufacturer. It's single-handedly made vacuums stronger, longer-lasting and – if we're being honest – better-looking, and I say that as one person who's had the opportunity to review dozens of vacuums and several Dyson models over the years.

The Dyson Absolute+ offers near unparalleled cleaning.

The Dyson Outsize Absolute+ has a 150% larger dust bin, 25% larger cleaning head and swappable batteries for longer cleaning sessions of up to 120 minutes.

Dyson's Outsize Absolute+ is a new cordless stick vacuum designed to bridge the gap between the lightweight, hyper-portable cordless machines it's already known for (like the V10 and V15 models) and larger, more powerful stands. In this case, the Dyson Outsize Absolute+ has been specifically designed for larger and more carpeted North American homes, so it's been outfitted with a bigger bin, a bigger cleaning head, more suction and an extra battery, as well as some new gadgets like a laser. I had the opportunity to try the Dyson V11 Outsize Absolute+ in real life at my home for a few weeks. It was like this.

The Dyson Outsize Absolute+ has a 150% larger dust bin, a 25% larger cleaning head and swappable batteries for longer cleaning sessions of up to 120 minutes runtime compared to the V10 and V15 models.

You get quite a lot in the package; There's the main vacuum handle with an integrated dust bin and filter, plus a small screen on the back that shows battery life and different cleaning modes.

What do you get with Dyson Outsize Absolute+?

There are three main cleaning heads and several accessories.

The Dyson Outsize Absolute+ with three attachments of its many attachments.

There are so many accessories that I had a hard time using them all.

XL cleaning head with high torque

You could call this the main cleaning head, and it's the largest brush head option in the pack. It uses Dyson's Dynamic Load Sensor to automatically adjust power to different floor types, allowing you to deep clean between carpet and hard floor without having to switch accessories.

Laser Slim Fluffy cleaning head

With its cozy space-age name, this tool must be something special, right? It is. A fluffy brush is primarily designed for hard floors, as these fluffy rollers capture and attract fine dust particles, not scatter them, thanks to anti-static fibers. The laser, which is generated when you turn it on, shines light horizontally across your floors and catches particles so you can see them better.

hair screw tool

The hair screw tool's tapered anti-tangle brush bar captures long hair, fibers and pet hair, but is also designed to prevent hair and fibers from tangling around the roller. This happens with almost every other vacuum cleaner. With its cone shape, the hair should eventually make its way from the brush to the bin.

There are so many accessories that I had a hard time using them all. As for other attachments and accessories, there's a combination tool with a brush, crevice tool, and dusting brush, as well as an extra battery, cable, and some fasteners and clips. All parts (including filters) are washable.

Battery life and charging

One of the selling points of this vacuum cleaner is that it has 120 minutes of battery life. The Dyson V15 or V11, on the other hand, comes to 60 minutes. Is that because Dyson's battery technology has improved? In a word: no.

The Outsize Absolute+ comes with a second battery. This doubles the stated runtime. You'll need to have your second battery charged and ready to really make use of those 120 minutes; otherwise it is about 60 minutes per battery.

Fully charging one of the batteries takes a long 4.5 hours.

Cleaning with Dyson Outsize Absolute+

I figured adding lasers to your vacuum would be about as relevant as adding lasers to sharks. color me wrong

This vacuum cleaner is extremely easy to use and although it's noticeably heavier than the Dyson V15, it's still easy to transport. The tools and cleaning heads simply snap in and out without pulling or binding.

The Dyson Outsize Absolute+ cleaned all the surfaces of my house really well. It drives dirt out of carpets (like dried dog paw prints) and removes pet hair well; It's really amazing to see what ends up in the dustbin. It easily breathes in dog hair, crumbs, dirt and dust on hardwood floors.

When it comes to the two new specialized cleaning heads, I have to say that I was blown away by the Laser Slim Fluffy cleaning head. To be honest, I thought adding lasers to your vacuum was about as relevant as adding lasers to sharks. color me wrong

The Dyson Outsize Absolute+ uses a laser to indicate dirt and dust on the floor.

The laser does a stunning job of making seemingly invisible dirt, dust and particles glow. When I first used it I had already vacuumed the day before and thought there would be nothing to see. Boy was I wrong.

The green laser cuts across the ground surface at an oblique angle just right to illuminate dirt, debris and dust bunnies like small Christmas trees. It made hard-to-see dirt easy to see in both low and bright light conditions.

The Hair Screw Tool worked great. After attacking a dog bed, some upholstery, and then even the carpet, the tapered brush has absolutely no hair wrapped around it; no detangling necessary.

I think I should save some ink for the main cleaner head. To say it works great and cleans a large area quickly seems sort of an afterthought after writing about its siblings.

Emptying the container is easy and clean

One of the nice features of the Outsize Absolute+, which has been carried over from other models, is the point-and-shoot function for emptying the reservoir. After removing the tools, simply press the lever on the side to flip open the bottom of the bin and it will fall straight into the trash. No need to touch dirt or get your hands dirty.

Our opinion

Overall, the Dyson Outsize Absolute+ is by far the best large format stick vacuum on the market today. It cleans great and I can't complain about that. From carpet to hard floors, it's got you covered. It's definitely bigger and covers more area than the other, smaller Dyson models. I will say that it's heavy and especially less maneuverable when trying to use it handheld (e.g. with the mini motorized hair screw tool) but I think that's the price to pay for the performance and the larger trash can is payable. The new laser sight and anti-tangle head are ridiculously versatile additions that work amazingly well.

Is there a better alternative?

Dyson is quite the leader when it comes to vacuum cleaners of all kinds, so is there a better option? Probably not. But if you want to save some money on a similar vacuum, Dyson's other models like the Dyson V10 have similar features and technology at a cheaper price. I also recently tried the Samsung Jet 90 stick vacuum and while it's pretty good, it doesn't have the same power, size advantages, in-line construction or Frikkin laser as the Outsize Absolute+.

How long it will take?

I bought one of the first Dyson corded handheld vacuums about 18 years ago and it still runs great. Likewise, my Dyson V11 Animal model is over three years old and I've never had a single problem with it. I have every reason to expect the Outsize Absolute to have top-notch build quality.

Should I buy it?

Absolutely! If you need a new vacuum cleaner with no trailing cord but the power of an upright and amazing new and useful cleaning head, then this stick vacuum gives you the power to clean your whole home. With powerful suction for carpets, this vacuum cleaner can also pick up dust on hard floors.

Overall this is a great vacuum for my home which has a fully carpeted basement and all hard floors upstairs and I think this could finally give my older corded Dyson a happy retirement.

Editor's Recommendations



14 Jan
Blog

JBL Charge 5 review: Potent and portable party speaker

JBL Charge 5.

JBL Charge 5

RRP $180.00

"Everyone will hear the JBL Charge 5 as soon as you crank it up."

benefits

  • Solid build quality

  • Can get very noisy

  • Excellent water and dust protection

  • EQ offers some sound enhancements

  • Works with JBL Portable App and PartyBoost

disadvantage

  • Cannot stereo pair with JBL speakers without Charge 5

  • Does not work as a speakerphone

  • Not a huge upgrade over the Charge 4

Look for a Bluetooth speaker and you'll find a variety of sizes to choose from. It's up to you to decide which one suits your lifestyle best, but when you have a lot of options it's not always easy to find the best value for your money. JBL's speakers come in a variety of sizes, and one of their key features is playing bigger than they appear.

This is where the JBL Charge 5 comes into play. It's medium sized and packs a punch, but has JBL changed too much about the sound while tweaking a few things in both design and functionality? Let's take a look.

JBL Charge 5 speaker and box.Ted Kritsonis/Digital Trends

What's in the box

You won't find much to wade through in the box. Aside from the speaker itself, JBL only includes a USB-C charging cable and a quick start guide. If you've used previous Charge speakers you might be wondering where the 3.5mm aux-in cable is located and it's not here because JBL removed that connector. This speaker is completely wireless.

The JBL Charge 5 speaker features rubber grips on the bottom.Ted Kritsonis/Digital Trends

draft

JBL doesn't reinvent the wheel with the Charge 5 and sticks to a very familiar look that doesn't differ too much from the previous version. I'm mostly referring to the aesthetics, where aside from the more pronounced logo and battery indicator on the front, and the rubberized grips on the bottom, many of the same elements apply.

The weight and dimensions differ only slightly compared to the Charge 4, except that the 5 is more robust.

The tightly woven fabric still looks and feels good, while the bumpers on each side protect the passive radiators. The button layout on top remains the same, while the rear features the USB-C charging port, along with a USB-A port that you can use to charge other devices, basically turning the speaker into a power bank.

The weight and dimensions differ only slightly compared to the Charge 4, except that the 5 is more robust. Instead of keeping the previous IPX7 rating for water resistance, JBL added good dust resistance for an excellent IP67 rating instead. These include salt water and sand, making this speaker equally at home on the beach as it is near a pool or bathtub.

Its overall size makes it a little too big to be highly portable. You could toss it in a bag and take it on a ride, but it's definitely not something you want to carry around for long periods of time. It doesn't have a handle or any indentations to make it easier to carry, but it's the sort of speaker you can take on a trip or from one room to another with relative ease.

The buttons are on the JBL Charge 5 speaker.Ted Kritsonis/Digital Trends

setup and configuration

It was easy to pair the Charge 5 right from the start and I've noticed an improvement in connectivity. The Charge 4 ran Bluetooth 4.2 while the Charge 5 uses 5.1. This shift helps stabilize the connection and plays a key role in why the audio doesn't stutter as you move farther from the speaker.

It can also be paired with two devices at the same time, but it's no help with calls since it's not speakerphone. There's no microphone, meaning you can only hear what your voice assistant is saying and still have to speak into your phone to issue commands. Pairing with two devices means you can easily switch from one to the other when you want to hear what they're playing.

The JBL Portable app (formerly the Connect app) for iOS or Android offers limited functionality, but a key feature that wasn't present when the Charge 5 launched is the three-band EQ. It's modest in scope, with bass, mids and treble available, each with five levels you can pan and adjust. You might think it's overkill for a JBL speaker, but you might also find this speaker more understated than it looks. I found better results tipping the mids up, but if you want more rumbling bass you can always max that out.

PartyBoost returns and stays with the same formula, meaning you can pair the Charge 5 with other PartyBoost-compatible JBL speakers to play music at the same time. If you want to pair the left and right channels in stereo, you need to pair it with another Charge 5. Keep in mind that once you turn on PartyBoost and connect to a different speaker, you will lose the EQ and the connected speakers will revert to the default sound profile.

The JBL Charge 5 speaker can be placed upright.Ted Kritsonis/Digital Trends

sound quality

While testing the Charge 5, I installed a firmware update that presumably affected the audio quality, especially the bass. I've never had to test the Charge 4 so I can't be sure there's an upgrade in that regard, but the Portable app's EQ can take the sound to greater depths if you start tinkering with a balance, that works for you.

It's a resonant speaker as its sound carries further than you might expect.

The good news is that this makes an audible difference. You don't get a JBL speaker for high definition audiophile sound. The Charge 5 only supports the Bluetooth codecs AAC and SBC anyway. If you're just looking for a sound that lets tunes play loud and clear, the Charge 5 can certainly get you there due to its volume. Distortion kicks in at very high volumes but lingers long enough before you get there to entertain a group or audience.

It's a resonant speaker as its sound carries further than you might expect. In smaller rooms, you don't necessarily have to turn the volume up too high to feel it. You might consider this purely relevant to bass-heavy music genres, but I'd argue that's not really true. There's enough here to enjoy pretty much whatever you enjoy listening to, and the EQ, while limited, gives you some flexibility to tweak it to your liking.

That bodes well for parties and barbecues and people with eclectic tastes. Nobody there would expect perfection from such a speaker, but they would probably be surprised at how much they can hear when they are further away.

The JBL Charge 5 speaker has bumpers on each side that protect the passive radiators.Ted Kritsonis/Digital Trends

battery life

JBL rates battery life at up to 20 hours per charge, but don't expect to hit that. Had JBL kept the 3.5mm aux-in port it probably would have, except Bluetooth and volume are the deciding factors. I didn't have to get too loud too often, so my mileage usually ranged from 15 to 17 hours. Not bad at all, except that when it runs out of juice it takes up to four hours to fully recharge. You can also plug it in during playback when the battery is low, if you can place it near an outlet or keep a power bank handy.

The speaker's own power bank function plays its own role in battery life. Of course, if you use the included USB-C cable and flip it the other way to connect the USB-A side to the rear port to charge something else via USB-C, you'll be using up some of its lifespan for playback .

Our opinion

You can find the Charge 5 for $180, which is a pretty standard price for a mid-range speaker like this. Whether its size and price are right for you depends on your needs and budget, but your money is definitely buying a volume that works well. Its added durability also stands out, making it versatile where and when you want to play it. There are also six colors to choose from, including the standard camouflage finish.

Is there a better alternative?

Given the limited differences between him and the fee 4, it's not a bad idea to consider the latter as an option, especially if you want a 3.5mm jack. the Ultimate Ears Mega Boom 3 is more expensive at $200, but offers serious durability and more spacious 360-degree sound, as well as color options.

If you'd rather use a speaker at home than one to take with you on trips and outings, you might want to check out this one SonosMove. It's portable enough to move from room to room, but isn't the kind of speaker you want too close to a body of water. And unless you appreciate the smart speaker or the whole-home audio capabilities, the $400 price tag is hard to justify.

How long it will take?

JBL makes sure its speakers play loud without breaking, so it's a good bet you can keep them for a long time. The biggest concern is that water or salt will somehow damage the internal components, which you can avoid by rinsing off sand or salt after a day at the beach. JBL has a one-year warranty against damage, but read the fine print on water damage as the company may not cover every case.

should you buy it

Yes, especially if you don't already have such a speaker. This isn't the kind of product you update yearly. You get it and keep it for as long as you need it. I'd think twice before doing that if you already have the Charge 4, where the upgrade probably doesn't feel that significant.

Editor's Recommendations



‹1234›»