20 Jul
Blog

Ikea Symfonisk Picture Frame Review: The Art of Noise

Ikea Symfonisk Picture Frame Speaker hung vertically on a wall.

Ikea / Sonos Symfonisk picture frame speakers

RRP $ 199.00

"A clever concept that is held back by a long power cord and uneven sound quality."

advantages

  • Interchangeable "art"

  • Wall or surface mounting

  • AirPlay 2

  • Works with the Sonos ecosystem

disadvantage

  • Power cord is ugly and awkward

  • My own artwork or photos cannot be displayed

  • Sound quality is average

When Ikea launched the Symfonisk Picture Frame speaker for $ 199 (its latest wireless audio collaboration with Sonos), two things were immediately clear: The age of affordable, customizable, and decorative home audio was just around the corner, and we still haven't found a way to get rid of our reliance on power cords.

It's a bold idea: try to satisfy the needs of music lovers who at the same time hate the look of wireless speakers. Succeeds? We put it to the test.

design

Ikea Symfonisk picture frame speakers hung vertically on a wall.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The picture frame enjoys many advantages. It doesn't look like any speaker you've ever seen. Its "art" can be swapped out for several other designs for just $ 20, and you get many placement options: it can be hung vertically or horizontally on a wall, or leaned against almost any flat, vertical surface like you would with an actual Picture Frame.

Everything you need is included: In the fully recyclable box you will find the speaker, a wall mount hook, two rubber feet, a seat belt and a really long power cord.

If you want to use the picture frame at an angle on a wall, setting it up is a breeze. Insert the supplied rubber feet into the appropriate places in the frame, depending on whether you want to align it horizontally or vertically, attach the power cord and guide it through one of the many grooves and openings in the rear panel, and plug the power cord into one Wall socket.

Ikea Symfonisk picture frame speakers leaning against a wall.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Oddly enough, Ikea limits you to two of the four possible orientations. Instead of two horizontal and two vertical options, you only get one at a time. This can be a little confusing, especially since there are oval openings on all sides – so it looks like the rubber feet could go anywhere, but not. Two sets of these openings are just a little too small to accommodate the feet. Why? I have no idea.

Ikea believes that when using the picture frame in this configuration, using the included wall mount bracket should be the least likely to fall.

There are ways to hide the cord, but none is ideal.

If you put the picture frame on the floor you probably don't have to worry, but if you place it on a mantelpiece or other raised surface I recommend using it – the speaker isn't very heavy, but it still could cause all possible damage if it falls.

Hanging the picture frame on a wall takes a little more patience. The supplied wall hook is not like a conventional picture hook. It's rectangular and shaped to match the two corresponding recesses on the back of the speaker. However, this means that you will not be able to bump the picture frame if it is not level. Therefore it is very important to mount the wall hook correctly.

Back of the Ikea Symfonisk Picture Frame Speaker with control buttons.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

You can find a number of physical buttons behind the front of the speaker for play / pause and volume up (they also let you skip tracks and join a playing group of speakers). They are easy to use, although hidden, but you need to keep an eye on their placement when choosing a height to mount on the wall. In landscape mode, the controls end in the upper left corner. If you place the speaker too high, it will be very difficult to access.

Can't kill the string

View of the power cord on the Ikea Symfonisk Picture Frame Speaker.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

As expected, the power cord looks pretty bad when hung on a wall. Ikea and Sonos deserve praise for wrapping the string in braided material. This reduces the shiny plastic feel of power cords that accompany most Sonos speakers, and also leaves the cord snug against the wall fairly flat and kink-free. In short, it looks as good as a dangling white power cord can. But it's still a dangling white power cord.

There are ways to hide the cord, but none is ideal. You could encase the cable in a paintable plastic tube. You can find loads of them on Amazon. But even the lowest profile cable still leaves a visible vertical line that falls down from the speaker.

You could pay an electrician to install an electrical outlet right behind the speaker. Thanks to a massive cavity in the back wall, which has its own strap, you can hide the entire cable there. But that will likely cost you the same or more than the speaker, and you might face some drywall repairs as well.

You may want to try running the cable behind a piece of furniture, but since picture frames are rarely assembled with no space between them and other objects, there will likely still be at least one small cable visible.

Your cable concealment strategy becomes even more important when you take advantage of the photo frame's ability to daisy chain two speakers together. Each speaker has a power input and power output connector, so you can use both speakers from a single power outlet. The umbilical cord required for this, which Ikea calls "FÖRNIMMA", is available separately, but has not yet been seen on the Ikea website.

And since we're talking about cables, if you want to use the photo frame's built-in ethernet port, now you'll need to hide another cable.

Easy adjustment

Since it is fully compatible with the Sonos ecosystem and Apple AirPlay 2, it offers incredible flexibility as a sound system. You can stream music from any music service imaginable, group the Picture Frame with other Sonos or Symfonisk speakers in your home, and set it up as a stereo pair with a second Picture Frame speaker.

Considering how thin the speaker enclosure is, Sonos was able to pull out a surprising amount of bass.

If you've never used the Sonos app, it will walk you through the setup process in minutes. But it's even easier for existing Sonos users. After you have connected the photo frame to the mains and started the Sonos S2 app, the speaker will be automatically recognized and you will be asked to add it to your system. You don't even have to press any buttons. Just hold your phone next to the speaker when the app prompts you and it will do the rest. Sonos products have always been incredibly easy to set up, but now it's completely hassle-free.

Surprisingly good bass

Ikea Symfonisk Picture Frame speaker with removed graphic showing driver.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Out of the box, without EQ adjustment or Trueplay tuning from Sonos, the sound is okay, but nothing special. High frequencies seem a bit muffled and the bass lacks punch. But raising the bass and treble controls in the Sonos app makes a huge difference and the picture frame really comes to life.

For those who are short on space or just hate the look of most speakers, this is an affordable and easy way to get great sound.

Considering how thin the speaker enclosure is, Sonos was able to pull out a surprising amount of bass. But just a word of caution to meet your expectations: high frequency sounds like snares, cymbals, and some voices can sound a bit harsh. Sonos designed the tweeter to be more expansive, but I didn't find the soundstage particularly wide or deep.

The midrange drivers – always a challenge to get just right, even with more expensive speakers, can lack details.

I also noticed that when you turn the volume up north of 75%, the case tends to vibrate a little. This was more noticeable when the speaker was mounted on the wall.

If you're wondering how the picture frame sounds compared to the other Symfonisk products, it's a difficult comparison. It offers more punch than the bookshelf speaker, but overall the table lamp delivers a more pleasant sound signature with more warmth and detail.

Our opinion

Being able to put a speaker disguised as art is a great concept, but the Ikea Symfonisk Picture Frame speaker doesn't quite get it right. The power cord is a thorn in the side and doesn't sound as good as a regular wireless speaker for a similar price. For those who are limited in space or just hate the look of most speakers, it's an affordable and easy way to get good sound in your chosen space.

Is there a better alternative?

Better alternatives for the sound are those Sonos One, Sonos One SL, and the Symfonisk table lamp speaker lamp. But if your goal is to disguise a speaker as an object of art, I have a hard time finding a better way to do it.

How long it will take?

As long as you don't damage it by careless installation (or trip over the power cord), the Picture Frame Speaker should last for many years. Sonos has a (mostly) good track record of updating its products with new software and I expect the photo frame to remain a useful part of the Sonos ecosystem for years to come.

Should you buy it?

Yes, but only if you consider the unique qualities of the picture frame to be essential to creating your ideal home sound system. Otherwise, I think most people will be happier with any of the other Symfonisk or Sonos products.

Editor's recommendations



18 Jul
Blog

Twinky Flex Review: A Neon Wall Light That Bends The Rules

Twinky Flex Rating Twinkly 8 out of 10

Twinkly Flex

RRP $ 100.00

"It's the neon light that you can continuously adapt to any shape and design at home."

advantages

  • Endless lighting adjustments with the app

  • Bright and dazzling colors

  • Bends easily for unique designs

disadvantage

  • No possibility to combine two tubes with each other

When it comes to Christmas lights, nobody does it better than the smart light maker Twinkly. I've been excited about the company's smart lighting line since I first saw it a few years ago. While the choices are quite large when it comes to Christmas lights, there really isn't anything that you could use all year round.

This is where the Twinkly Flex comes to the rescue, one of three brand new smart lighting solutions the company unveiled earlier this year during CES 2021. The flex is very similar to any other LED light strip, but it is encased in a sturdy tube that allows it to be bent or bent. Think of it as a neon wall light, but which can be moved into any position you want – for that unique, individual look.

installation

The Twinkly Flex measures 6.5 feet long followed by a cable of pretty much the same length that plugs into an electrical outlet. There are some double-sided adhesives and plastic sheets in the packaging to help shape the flex. I initially used the adhesives to design the word "love" on the wall, but found it all came apart the next morning – so I ended up using the screws provided to secure the plastic panels to the wall. It's extra work, but it hands out the weight and design better than just the adhesives.

Wall mounted plastic guides for holding the Twinkly Flex design.John Velasco / Digital Trends

One of the hardest things about installing the Flex has nothing to do with the actual installation. Instead, it's about figuring out which design to go by. There are some shapes and abstract designs to go with, but the 6.5 feet I had to work with was limiting at times. Unlike other smart LED light strips, you can't physically connect two flex tubes together for more complex designs. Instead, you can use the app to buy multiple flex strips together.

software

The Twinkly app is pretty simple. After connecting the Flex to my home's Wi-Fi network, I was then able to choose which lighting effects to choose. In fact, there are many effects to choose from to suit your tastes – from standard colors that breathe to unique effects that display multiple colors at once. The options and customization are endless so it is really fun to try.

While the preset effects are nice, there is also the option of creating your own custom effect that requires you to associate the Twinkly Flex with your phone's camera. This process helps with the preset effects too, as some of them are directional – like some of the cascading effects that go from side to side or top to bottom.

Think of it like a traditional neon light sign you might see on a shop front.

There's support for Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, which is handy if you just want to speak voice commands to turn on the Twinkly Flex. The app also lets you turn the Flex on remotely when you're not there, as well as setting up a custom playlist that scrolls through selected lighting effects for a set amount of time. With so many options and customizations, I really enjoy how I can choose different effects for holidays and special occasions. So yeah, they're the Twinkly year-round smart lights I've been waiting for!

performance

Twinkly's smart Christmas lights have never disappointed me and the Flex continues the trend of delivering mesmerizing effects accompanied by bright, dazzling colors. Because the LEDs are enclosed in a tube, you won't get the overwhelming intensity of light that you get when LED light strips are exposed. In fact, the hose scatters the light evenly – so its glow is just the right amount.

Use the smartphone camera to take a photo of Twinkly Flex on the wall.John Velasco / Digital Trends

It is sure to dazzle in the dark and attracts attention with its shimmer. Think of it like a traditional neon light sign you might see on a shop front. It is the same intensity that gives any room enough atmosphere. For this reason, the Flex is best used as an accent light rather than a primary light source, much like a reading or spot light. Even though it's isolated as an accent light, I'm still impressed with how it can dominate a room without being too overwhelming.

Our opinion

The price of smart LED light strips has dropped dramatically, so the $ 100 cost of the Twinkly Flex can be a shock to some people. However, I think it is worth investing as it is unique in the world of smart lighting. With so many dazzling effects to choose from and create, the only real limitation is determining which design is doable at just 6.5 feet.

Is there a better alternative?

When it comes to accent lighting, you can use the Govee LED light barthat's a fraction of the cost. However, it's best reserved as accent light that isn't visible – not something that would stand open on a wall.

Like other smart wall lights, the Nanoleaf Elements have a rustic look with glowing LED wall panels, but are much more expensive.

How long it will take?

The Twinkly Flex's sturdy outer casing feels sturdy enough if you want to bend and bend it multiple times. However, it is difficult to say how the lights will last over the long term with constant use. The LEDs are designed for 30,000 hours. If there is a defect, there is a one-year limited warranty to cover it.

Should you buy it?

With its year-round lighting solution in Flex, Twinkly proves that it can inspire, so the purchase is definitely worthwhile if you want to create variety with a dazzling feast for the eyes.

Editor's recommendations



16 Jul
Blog

TCL 20 Pro 5G Review: The Rollercoaster Smartphone

The TCL 20 Pro 5G seen from behind, hand-held.

TCL 20 Pro 5G

RRP $ 500.00

"TCL's screen expertise shines through in the TCL 20 Pro 5G, but the rest of the phone – from the camera to the software – does not meet the same standards and falls behind the competition."

advantages

  • Excellent screen for videos

  • Good gaming performance

disadvantage

  • Only 60Hz refresh rate

  • Unreliable software

  • No watertightness

The TCL 20 Pro 5G is designed like a phone that would have pushed a manufacturer's product range to the top a few years ago and would have cost four-digit numbers back then. While the 20 Pro 5G is also at the top of TCL's growing line of smartphones, it costs just $ 500.

That alone got me to try it out, and the more recommendations we can give at this price, the better. However, my weeks with the TCL 20 Pro 5G turned out to be a rollercoaster ride with a shaky start and persistent ups and downs, but it paid off enough to give it a try. The question is, did it completely do it? That's the way it is.

design

The TCL 20 Pro 5G is definitely a piece of smartphone nostalgia, as we've seen phones that look like this before. It's 8.8mm thin and tapers to a relatively sharp point on either side of the slim screen with an aspect ratio of 20: 9. A polished section on the matte black glass back gives it character and repeats a design we saw earlier on the Huawei P30 Pro, but here the camera lenses are flush with the case.

The TCL 20 Pro 5G from behind.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

It is not only reminiscent of Huawei's phone, but also older devices like the OnePlus 7 Pro, Oppo Find X2 Pro and various Samsung Galaxy phones including the Galaxy S8. Although the design is very pretty and the width makes it easy to hold and use with one hand, it has the same problems as the phones a few years ago – it's delicate, it absolutely slips off and the sides do it uncomfortable to handle. However, at 190 grams, it's lighter than many modern large phones.

There is a clear TPU case in the box and I felt the need to use it due to the sharp sides and slipperiness of the phone. A 3.5mm headphone jack is a welcome addition, there's a USB Type-C charging port on the bottom of the phone and a single speaker too. The power and volume buttons are thin slivers of metal, plus there's a smart key on the left side of the phone that can be customized to perform actions like waking the Google Assistant, activating the camera, taking a screenshot, or the full Deactivate can perform. I was forced to disable it as I almost always accidentally pressed the button during normal use.

The TCL 20 Pro 5G charging port.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The curve on the screen of the TCL 20 Pro 5G.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The headphone jack of the TCL 20 Pro 5G.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Smart key on the side of the TCL 20 Pro 5G.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

It's hard not to consider the TCL 20 Pro 5G "old" when placed next to the Samsung Galaxy S21 + as it shows how the design has changed since the time the 20 Pro 5G would have looked fresh. The Samsung cell phone is roughly the same size and weight, but is much more comfortable to hold, less slippery and arguably more stylish. Is old something bad? No, the TCL 20 Pro 5G is very pretty indeed, but it's a little frustrating that TCL failed to avoid the pitfalls of similar phones when the design was used in 2021.

software

My first experiences with the TCL 20 Pro 5G were unlike any other phone. I set up all of the test phones from scratch with my primary SIM card, but the first time with the 20 Pro 5G it was a disaster. I had problems with screen recognition of taps, auto brightness didn't work, I received almost no notifications, and my battery life was very poor. It got so bad I reset the phone and tried again, but nothing changed, so I stopped using it and asked TCL about incoming software updates.

I reset the phone a third time after waiting but didn't hear any software update news and, oddly enough, the phone has worked a lot better since then. I didn't apply any software updates outside of the reset / setup process. I test a lot of phones and have never come across them. I note because if you buy a TCL 20 Pro 5G and find that it isn't working properly, some resets can cure it.

My first experiences with the TCL 20 Pro 5G were unlike any other phone

The phone has Android 11 with the TCL v3.0 user interface which is relatively straightforward and is close to the vanilla Android experience you get with the Google Pixel series. However, the organization of apps in the app drawer is set to Category by default, which is less intuitive than alphabetical in my opinion, and there are various pre-installed apps as well as shortcut icons to services like setting up the smart key, locking the screen, and accessing the TCL support pages.

Notifications are more reliable than when you first started, but the phone tends to just stop showing them on the lock screen and not start again until you unlock the phone. I've also experienced some strange app instability with Outlook refusing to work on a cellular connection but apparently fine when connected to Wi-Fi.

Video playback on the TCL 20 Pro 5G.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Edge detection is not as good as it should be. For example, I still sometimes accidentally switch from one app to another when I swipe. On the positive side, the system is fast and I really like the different always-on-screen designs, especially the one with the time shown in red on the side of the display. It's so clear and legible, even from a distance. Although the TCL 20 Pro 5G is now working to the point that I can use it on a daily basis, it still has its problems, which, combined with my early experiences, doesn't give me much confidence in it.

Screen and performance

The TCL 20 Pro 5G has a 6.67-inch AMOLED screen with Full HD resolution and HDR10 certification, but only with a refresh rate of 60 Hz. Inside there is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G processor with 6 GB RAM and 256 GB of storage. TCL is a screen expert and we rate their TVs highly, so I had similarly high expectations for the TV on the 20 Pro 5G phone.

TCL 20 Pro 5G screen.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The phone's screen doesn't disappoint. TCL's NXTVISION display engine improves colors and contrasts very effectively. I put it next to the Samsung Galaxy S21 +, a phone that costs twice as much with a display that I think looks amazing, and the TCL 20 Pro 5G improves on it. When looking at Carfection's view of the Singer Porsche 911 DLS, the colors are richer and livelier and the shadows are dark, yet rich in detail. It's really beautiful, and it does really well with the iPhone 12 Pro's wonderfully natural palette too.

That's quite a feat for a $ 500 smartphone, so it's a real shame that TCL didn't choose a screen with a refresh rate of 90 Hz or higher. This is a feature we see even on the cheapest phones currently available and also on the TCL 20 Pro's main competitor, the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G. I missed the nice fluid scrolling when using Twitter or Chrome which adds a refresh rate of 90Hz. The screen's performance is also hurt by the single speaker, which is easily obscured by the hand and, unsurprisingly, lacks depth and bass.

Asphalt 9: Legends played on the TCL 20 Pro 5G.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

I had no complaints about the speed of the Snapdragon 750G and enjoyed playing on the TCL 20 Pro 5G. I've played both Asphalt 9: Legends and Genshin Impact and found the phone very comfortable to hold in landscape mode. It didn't get hot either and the games ran smoothly. The nice contrast and colors of the screen make gaming one of the phone's strong points.

The 4,500 mAh battery offers two days of moderate use, but it doesn't like it when you squeeze the phone even a little harder, especially when you want to take advantage of the screen. After normal usage plus an hour of gameplay, some YouTube, and a video call, the battery would have dropped to 20% by the end of the first day. Charging is done with an included 18W charger, which takes a slow two hours to fully charge the phone.

The phone's screen doesn't disappoint

It has a sub-6-5G connection that works with T-Mobile, but compatibility with AT&T is limited to 4G LTE due to the bands supported by the phone. The WiFi connection has a shorter range than other phones, but the call quality was good.

camera

There are four cameras on the back of the TCL 20 Pro 5G. The 48 megapixel main camera has a f / 1.8 aperture and optical image stabilization and is supported by a 16 MP wide angle camera, a 2 MP depth camera and a 5 MP macro camera when you put the phone in the USA buy macro camera has 2 megapixels. You can shoot 4K video at 30 frames per second and take selfies with the 32 MP hole punch camera at the top of the screen.

TCL 20 Pro 5G camera lenses.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

For general everyday use, the camera is acceptable, but don't expect it to compete with or be particularly inspired by the Google Pixel 4a or Samsung Galaxy A52 5G. What is clear is that if you want to take a decent sharable photo, stick with using the main camera for stills. The problem is an inconsistency between the main and wide-angle cameras, with the main camera remaining neutral in terms of colors and exposure, while the wide-angle camera over-saturates, especially in less than ideal lighting conditions.

Low-light indoor shots with the camera's night mode are average and don't expose a lot of details, the macro camera (here the 2MP version) is awkward to use as it doesn't have autofocus, and even if you set the distance just right, photos are still not very inspiring. The 2x zoom setting in the camera app accesses a digital zoom and videos look washed out in normal outdoor lighting.

Price and availability

You pay $ 500 for the TCL 20 Pro 5G and it can be purchased through Amazon. In the UK it costs £ 499 and is available through retailers such as Argos. There are two color options, Marine Blue or Moondust Gray (seen in our photos), but only a 256GB storage option is available.

Our opinion

This isn't TCL's first smartphone, but it still feels like TCL hasn't quite gotten going. The screen is the best part of the phone that is the company's specialty, but the rest is broken down into positives and negatives. It gets the design and usability of the software right, but mistakes and inconsistencies destroy my confidence in them. The main camera takes good photos, but wide-angle and video performance lag far behind the competition.

The battery is fine with light usage, but efficiency suffers as you use the phone more intensively, which suggests it needs improvement. While I like the overall design of the phone, many will not like the curved screen and its imprecise touch detection, as well as the sharp sides. This makes the TCL 20 Pro 5G difficult to recommend, especially since there is stiff competition at both higher and lower prices.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes. We recommend the $ 500 Samsung Galaxy A52 5G with a 90Hz screen, a pretty design that is more durable due to an IP water resistance rating, the same processor, an attractive screen, and longer software support. The $ 500 Google Pixel 4a 5G is another option with even better software and support, as well as a better camera.

When 5G isn't a necessity, you can spend less and still get a great phone. The $ 350 Google Pixel 4a is still a solid buy, albeit showing its age, as is the much newer OnePlus Nord CE for $ 420 / £ 299 if you live outside the US, and if you want an Apple phone, the $ 400 iPhone SE should be a top consideration too.

How long it will take?

TCL intends to provide two Android version updates and two year security updates for the 20 Pro 5G. That is sufficient, but it stands behind what Samsung offers with the Galaxy A52 5G and behind Apple's support for the iPhone series. The phone is made of glass and has no IP water resistance, so you need to be careful with it. The software update schedule and lack of durability mean that after two years you will likely be ready to upgrade.

Should you buy one?

No. While the screen on the TCL 20 Pro 5G is impressive, the battery life is not very long, it is slow to charge, it is less durable than some of its competitors, and I have concerns about the reliability of the software.

Editor's recommendations



15 Jul
Blog

Fitbit Luxe Review: Beautifully Designed, Modest In Size

fitbit luxe rating 6 out of 10

"You'll fall in love with the Luxe's ​​minimalist look as it chases everything in the background."

advantages

  • Minimalist design makes it subtle

  • Sharp looking AMOLED display

  • Exceptional battery life

It's hard for me to believe it's been five long years since I last checked a Fitbit. It seemed like ages ago, but I suppose the reason I stopped trying them was because smartwatches were growing in popularity – which showed me that they too were more than capable of tracking health data.

One of the early Fitbits I fell in love with was the Flex because it was discreet and didn't attract as much attention as a smartwatch, which is probably the same reason that made me choose the company's newest tracker, the Luxe, pulls out. There's no doubt about the need for a fashionable design, but the Luxe competes at a time when smartwatches have evolved significantly to effectively cover more than a standard fitness tracker's functionality.

design

When I look at my wrist, there is a permanent untanned part from the Apple Watch that once adorned the spot. It is reminiscent of the overwhelming nature of some smartwatch designs. With the Fitbit Luxe in its place, however, I forget the sweetness of the minimalist look. I chose the black / graphite-colored stainless steel version of the Luxe, which is a refreshing change. The black rubber band has a subtle contrast to the graphite stainless steel chassis.

Fitbit Luxe AMOLED screen with a notification.John Velasco / Digital Trends

While my special color version of the Luxe prefers a more neutral tone, which I appreciate because it stays subtle and doesn't stand out like other smartwatches, Fitbit offers it in two other colorful combinations – orchid / platinum stainless steel and moon white / soft gold stainless steel.

And finally, there is the Fitbit Luxe Special Edition, which features a gold Parker link bracelet made of stainless steel in favor of the standard elastic band. Sure, it has a nifty look that effectively masks the tracker to make it look more like a piece of jewelry. While I wouldn't aim for it, I know it can appeal to individuals who don't want to openly flaunt a piece of tech gear on them.

display

The crown jewel of the Luxe is without question the beautiful AMOLED display. It's tiny, probably less than an inch diagonal by my estimate, but that doesn't change its vivid colors, sharp detail, and precise touch responses. Its size perfectly suits its purpose: a fitness tracker that records information in the background – all while looking and staying discreet on the wrist.

Fitbit Luxe shows your resting heart rate while worn on the wrist.John Velasco / Digital Trends

In order to become familiar with the operation of the touchscreen, no large investments are required, as you are heavily dependent on the typical swiping movements of other smartwatches. It's pretty responsive and I enjoy some of the little touches like how the screen automatically turns on when you lift the Luxe towards you, as well as covering the display with your palm to quickly turn it off.

This is my first time using a Fitbit with a color screen and it's an upgrade I'm happy with. While I was intrigued by the glitz and the larger size of other fitness tracker displays (the Samsung Gear Fit comes to mind), I find the more humble nature and smaller size of the Luxe's ​​AMOLED display equally compelling.

software

As with other modern fitness trackers, the Luxe offers all relevant health statistics on the device itself without having to check this on a smartphone. It's convenient to say the least, but there are some “light” smartwatch functions available to you – like setting timers and alarms, starting exercise routines, and receiving notifications. The latter actually allows you to choose which apps you want to receive notifications from, which is handy so you don't get bombarded with irrelevant things all the time.

On the app side, the Fitbit app is just as rich in information and detail as it was when I last used it. Anything that Luxe is chasing breaks open the app. I am particularly impressed with its sleep tracking which gives me a sleep score similar to that of Sleep Number beds.

However, I'm still a little shocked that the Luxe can mislead me into taking steps when in fact I just moved my hand from side to side. This isn't an issue that's limited to Fitbit trackers only, but I thought it was somehow fixed by now. I really don't think it matters anything in my experience, but I can clearly see how the persecution can be skewed if you do this frequently.

properties

As you would expect, the Fitbit Luxe works similarly to other fitness trackers. That means it tracks steps, resting / active heart rate, your sleep, and your exercises. All of this is fantastic, something I expect from any fitness tracker these days. However, it lacks one critical feature that I think could add a little more usefulness to its arsenal.

I forget the sweetness of the minimalist look.

I'm talking about an integrated mobile payment solution. In that case, it would have been Fitbit Pay, something available on its other smartwatch-like trackers. Personally, I have relied heavily on mobile payment solutions like Apple Pay and Google Pay, even more so when there are situations where I don't happen to have my phone with me. Fitbit Pay would have given the Luxe enormous added value, but unfortunately it is missing.

Battery life

Fitbit's rating of up to 5 days is still better than most smartwatches. Take the Apple Watch I used, for example, which requires nightly charges. Amazingly, the Luxe managed to surpass Fitbit's ambitious claims by standing almost 7 full days before a charge. To reduce battery consumption, I only set notifications for text messages and a mobile game that I play religiously. As much as I loathe proprietary chargers, I understand the reasons behind them, so take extra care not to lose this with the Luxe.

Our opinion

I still have a sweet spot for the Fitbit Flex. It was the beginning of the fitness tracker, and like them, the Luxe brings back some of that nostalgia. In fact, the Luxe seems to me to be the modern upgrade from the little old tracker I fell in love with many years ago.

The price isn't too shabby either. At $ 150, the Luxe isn't overly expensive compared to the Apple Watch SE's $ 279 startup cost. While I crave more feature, fitness trackers like this one have the advantage of focusing on the primary fitness stuff above everything else.

Is there a better alternative?

Functionally, most smartwatches can be better alternatives if they are relatively cheap in price. The Mobvoi TicWatch E3 and Apple Watch SE come to mind, but the tradeoff for superior utility is that the battery life is nowhere near that of the Luxe.

Alternatively, the Fitbit Charge 4 would be a similar offering to the Luxe, but with a lower price point and support for Fitbit Pay.

How long it will take?

Fitbit designed the Luxe to be waterproof up to 50 m, so occasional showering or hand washing doesn't matter. The elastic can wear out over time, but luckily, it's easy to replace.

Fitbit offers a one-year limited warranty that covers other defects that may occur.

Should you buy it?

Yes, if you really love its minimalist design. It currently tracks almost all major health metrics, but will also get oxygen saturation monitoring in a future update.

Editor's recommendations



14 Jul
Blog

TCL NXTWear G Review: An Almost Unwearable Wearable Display

Wearing the TCL NXTWear G.

TCL NXTWear G.

RRP $ 715.00

"I was excited to try the TCL NXTWear G portable display, but unfortunately the concept and technology are good, but the workmanship and portability are not."

advantages

  • Colorful screens show a lot of details

  • Easy connection and no setup

  • No battery to charge

disadvantage

  • Uncomfortable fit

  • No focus adjustment

  • Small icons that are used throughout the user interface

  • "Rounding" of the field of vision

When I first heard about the TCL NXTWear G portable display, I was very excited to try it out. Putting on high-tech glasses and then just using my phone and a pair of bluetooth headphones for a cinematic experience on the big screen really fit in with my recent efforts to block out the sounds of the world.

My anticipation was short-lived when I tried them on, however, as I didn't expect the NXTWear G to attack my face. I found things I liked, but unfortunately this portable display is otherwise the definition of a first generation product.

design

The TCL NXTWear G is shaped like bulky sunglasses, but with oversized temples and two screens where you would normally look through the lenses. A thick rubber-sheathed cable is attached to one of the arms and extends to a length of 1.2 meters. The front is covered with reflective black plastic that extends along the arms. There is a speaker opening on each arm near where they meet your ears.

TCL NXTWear G seen from the front.Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends

When they're not on your face, the NXTWear G's look pretty good, in a space age geeky way, but if you don't have a small face they aren't very well proportioned when you put them on. In contrast to real glasses, they are not worn directly on the eyes, which contributes to the unusual appearance. Obviously, they're not meant to be worn casually, but you should expect to get some strange sidelong glances at Starbucks or on a plane.

Wearing the TCL NXTWear G.Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends

The positioning of the NXTWear G on your face means you can see underneath so that you can control what is on the screen with your phone or avoid tripping over the cat if you stand up and move around while you carry it. Like a lot of wearable tech that goes on your face, the TCLWear G will never make you look cool. But that's not really the point here. They are designed to have a personal cinema screen right in front of your eyes, but that means wearing them for more than 10 minutes and that's where the pain begins.

wear glasses

I admit I was really looking forward to using the NXTWear G. I love the idea of ​​shutting the world off with a great screen right in front of my eyes and a good pair of headphones. Unfortunately, it seems to have been designed by people who have never worn glasses or possibly anything on their faces and instead took inspiration for the design from an insidious torture device. It's okay TCL I'll tell you everything you want to know, just don't make me wear the NXTWear G for too long.

Remove the TCL NXTWear G.Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends

There are two main issues that make the NXTWear G so uncomfortable. The first is the grip of the arms. Once they are unfolded there is very little flexibility, so they are really tight, and the tips dig into the place behind my ears until I could "feel" them for a while after taking the glasses off. Once wedged on my face, the NXTWear G will no doubt not fall off without someone tearing it off, but this security makes carrying an acid test even for the length of a music video on YouTube. Being compelled to wear them to watch a 120 minute movie sounds like a punishment you would threaten a particularly naughty child.

The second problem, and worse than the vise-like grip around my head, is how they sit on my nose. The scope of delivery includes three surprisingly stiff nose pads, each of which is apparently designed to pinch the bridge of the nose with more and more uncomfortable pressure and never give way. They also have the unpleasant side effect that you can feel every single one of the NXTWear 100 grams pressing directly on your conk. Limited breathing capacity and the increasing feeling of being in a headlock do not ensure a pleasant viewing experience.

TCL NXTWear G nose pads.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends

Close-up of TCL NXTWear G lens.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends

TCL NXTWear G seen from above when closed.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends

Perhaps it is the shape of my head and nose that is the problem, as other NXTWear covers have not always emphasized comfort overly negatively. Obviously, faces are not a uniform size so to me it is like sticking my head in a vise, while to others it provides pillow-like comfort. The glasses may "give way" at some point, but after about 10 days of being used for this check-up, they have not stretched meaningfully. For me, the NXTWear G portable display is too inconvenient to use for any meaningful time.

Look at the screen

Very few design concessions appear to have been made to ensure the NXTWear G fits comfortably on as many different faces as possible. The nasal pads are locked in place with no back or forth movement to ease the fit, and this lack of adjustment makes it impossible to position the display in exactly the right place to see all of the images. Again, my head may be terribly deformed and no one else will have a problem, but I just couldn't get it in the right place to actually see the entire display.

With the smallest nose pad attached – the least uncomfortable for me – and the glasses in the center of my nose to maximize breathability, all four corners of the screen are obscured by a strange rounding of the viewing area. It's distracting and annoying, especially when using the PC-like desktop view as it hides the tiny icons in those corners from view. But Andy, do you say why not just adjust your glasses to see more? Sure, but the problem is when you move the glasses up to the tip of your nose the top of the display disappears, while squeezing the glasses against your face obscures the bottom of the screen.

Switch to the other nose pads and there is no improvement at all, it just upsets the problem based on the size and shape of your face and adds even more discomfort. The angled glass also helps in positioning, as it reflects your clothes in bright rooms when the lack of customization becomes even more problematic. You can eat with the NXTWear G, but drinking is pretty messy as the glasses stick out quite a bit from your face. A regular glass will simply bump against them, forcing you to look up to try to get the fluid down your throat, but that mostly results in you spilling it in front. They are not comfortable.

The most likely approximation of the feel of the NXTWear G on your face is to imagine those massive, front-heavy, tangled metal devices that the optician uses to assess which lens combination you need for an eye exam, but with the screwed-on nose piece deliberately tightened. That's it, but marketed for pleasure.

Correction glass attachment attached to the TCL NXTWear G.Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends

That brings me to a different kind of limitation. If you don't have 20/20 eyesight, the NXTWear G is not for you. It's practically impossible to wear glasses underneath, unlike some VR headsets like PlayStation VR, and there's no focus adjustment like the Samsung Gear VR, so there is a high chance you won't see the screen at all. TCL's solution is to provide a lens attachment for your prescription glasses that attaches magnetically to the inside of the frame.

But fitting your own lenses will undoubtedly cost a lot more money and, depending on the strength of your eyesight, can also be impossible. I would also be careful if the attachment causes any more reflections as it sits perpendicularly in front of your eyes, unlike the 45 degree angle the glasses make. I found some old glasses that squeezed under the NXTWear G so I can assess image quality, etc., but this is by no means a recommended action.

watching a video

Let's say it's my head shape that's the problem here and not the NXTWear G. What is it like when you wear it? I endured the discomfort and blinked like a champion to find out. I used them with the TCL 20 Pro 5G phone first. To put the glasses into operation, all you have to do is plug them into the USB Type-C port. There is no need to charge a battery or bluetooth pairing, so it's very easy.

Active screens in the TCL NXTWear G.Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends

You'll be presented with a desktop-style menu that sometimes reminds me of ChromeOS, but there's also the option to mirror your phone's display. While mirroring works very well – it's quick and very responsive – I don't really know why you should do it for general tasks like checking email or reading Twitter since your phone is still connected to the You have to actively hold the screen directly in front of you in order to control everything. You're just looking straight ahead and not a bit down.

What the NXTWear G's OLED screens are for is watching video. The image has an aspect ratio of 16: 9, a refresh rate of 60 Hz, and an equivalent size of 140 inches. In desktop mode, apps open and work just like they do on your phone, and I had no reliability issues. However, this means that there are a lot of very tiny buttons to deal with, such as: B. accessing the menu, creating videos in full screen mode or adjusting the resolution and subtitles. Even though the connected phone's screen turns into a touchpad, it's still a hassle to move the little cursor and tap those tiny buttons. The phone's trackpad doesn't turn into a keyboard either when looking for something, so you have to slowly type out each letter with the cursor on the glasses virtual keyboard.

Start by watching videos and those without a lot of fast movement are fine as the OLED screens show a lot of colors and detail, but introduce a more action-packed video and things aren't always that good. Fast-paced action scenes in movies can get quite blurry, and a jolt occurs that spoils your enjoyment. Watch the same video on your phone screen and none of it is obvious. It is better to watch video at 60 frames per second at 2160p, but this is not always possible.

Trackpad screen for the TCL NXTWear G on the TCL 20 Pro 5G phone.Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends

Then why do you even want to wear the glasses? The answer is definitely increased immersion in the video. It's a very cinematic experience and you are quickly drawn into what you see, much more than on your phone screen. The "size" of the screen before your eyes is impressive, and when you wear bluetooth headphones – in-ears work best because of the size of your arms – the world around you melts. There are also speakers in the temples of the glasses, which are sufficient for spoken word but have no bass.

Assuming you can wear them comfortably, the NXTWear G has a lot of useful potential as a secondary display, mostly used for watching videos provided by your phone, but the user interface, lens design, and display area definitely need improvement.

compatibility

The TCL 20 Pro 5G works fine with the NXTWear G, but what about other phones? Connect to a Samsung S21 + or any other S21 phone and Samsung DeX will automatically activate, show the desktop view and turn the phone's screen into a touchpad. By default, however, the phone's speakers were used, not the NXTWear G's built-in audio.

The TCL NXTWear G with its travel case.Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends

Connect to the OnePlus 9 Pro and the display mirrors the phone's screen. Watching videos this way will make the screen size smaller unless you zoom in to fill the screen, which will result in some of the content being lost. The Google Pixel 4a didn't recognize the NXTWear G as a display and didn't work at all. You can't connect to an iPhone because the glasses require a USB Type-C port, but the NXTWear G will work with an iPad Pro, but like the OnePlus 9 Pro, the viewable screen when watching videos is slightly smaller than that of the using the TCL 20 Pro smartphone.

I used them with a Huawei MateBook X Windows 10 laptop and they immediately mirrored the screen, even though all of the text, buttons and icons are very small. The laptop's screen also stays on by default, so you'll have to browse the settings to try to switch it to the NXTWear G only for personal viewing. TCL lists a wide range of phones and laptops that are said to work with the glasses, with many new and old models, from the LG G5 to the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. Be aware that the glasses use up your phone's battery and use a lot.

Price and availability

Availability is limited at the moment. The NXTWear G will be available in South Korea and Australia from July, with Europe to follow shortly thereafter. A release in the US is also planned, but a timeframe has not yet been given. In Europe, the price has been set at 599 euros, or around $ 715, and in some regions the portable display is sold as a bundle with a video service subscription.

Our opinion

I love the concept of the NXTWear G, but the finish is poor. If it had been comfortable to wear it would be a whole different rating as the actual screen and its performance are fine. However, I cannot imagine wearing them for long as they become uncomfortable so quickly. In addition, as a spectacle wearer, I would have to pay for a set of glasses, which are probably expensive and risk disappointment.

The awkward, inaccurate positioning of the glasses on your face results in parts of the screen being obscured, and the lack of overall adjustment means that they never feel like one size fits all. Device compatibility is decent, but the experience will be different depending on the models I've tried.

It is a first generation product and I have no doubt if TCL continues with the line of products it will get better with each revision. I hope it does what is really promising here, but all future versions urgently need to be designed to fit more face types and offer significantly greater levels of comfort. The TCL NXTWear G is a wearable tech product that I wanted to use, but while the tech part succeeds here, the wearable part really isn't.

Is there a better alternative?

The best alternative is not to wear them at all. Most mid- to high-end smartphones today have great screens and are often big enough to watch a movie on the go. If you really want a screen in front of your face, the TCL NXTWear G stands alone, only virtual reality headsets offer some kind of competition. This can change over time as NXTWear G is a whole new type of product.

How long it will take?

The NXTWear G is well made, very robust and keeps the valuable lenses and screens well protected in the headset itself. The chances of scratching or breaking the glass are small if you treat it well, and the arms will also feel very strong. Even the cord is twice as thick as you'd expect and should withstand some tough treatment. There is no software on board that needs to be updated, nor is a battery that degrades over time, so it should last for several years.

Should you buy it?

No, it will be a gamble whether you find them comfortable or not, and whether you can even see the entire screen when you put them on. It's best to wait for TCL to release the next version to try out this interesting new type of device.

Editor's recommendations



14 Jul
Blog

Asus ROG Swift PG32UQX Review: A $2,999 HDR Dream Monitor?

Asus ROG Swift PG32UQX

Asus ROG Swift PG32UQX

RRP $ 2,999.00

"The Asus ROG Swift PG32UQX is a brilliant PC gaming device, but its shortcomings are hard to swallow."

advantages

  • Mind-blowing HDR performance

  • Extremely high peak brightness

  • Excellent colors

  • Built-in thread for camera mounting

  • Fast, fluid play

disadvantage

  • No HDMI 2.1

  • Has audible fan

  • Still not a perfect HDR experience

  • Expensive

The ROG Swift PG32UQX was first teased about two years ago, and unlike any gaming monitor in recent history, it has hyped the PC gaming community. You will find forum threads full of excitement. And for a good reason.

According to Asus, the ROG Swift PG32UQX offers overwhelming HDR performance unlike any other monitor currently on the market. In addition, it was the first 32-inch 4K gaming monitor based on mini-LED technology with full-array local dimming (FALD) for HDR lighting with 1,152 individual zones and a peak brightness of up to 1,400 nits.

The catch, of course, was the price. $ 2,999 is more than most complete PC gaming setups, including the PC, monitor, and peripherals. Therefore, it is only realistic to expect absolute and absolute perfection. The ROG Swift PG32UQX does a lot of things amazingly well, but it's not perfect.

design

Asus ROG Swift PG32UQXNiels Broekhuijsen / Digital Trends

The ROG Swift PG32UQX is quite a large monitor. That's what is expected from a 32-inch display, but the PG32UQX is slightly larger than most 32-inch panels because of its FALD lighting panel, which gives the display a noticeable thickness.

The design style is also quite aggressive, whereby Asus does not shy away from any chance that the PG32UQX is recognized as a Republic of Gamers product. The stand of the monitor has the new but classic tripod design with a downward-facing lighting stamp, the back of the display has strong shapes and a huge, RGB-illuminated Asus ROG logo, and the display's large chin has a small OLED panel in it to display entertaining graphics or system information, such as B. CPU temperature.

Niels Broekhuijsen / Digital Trends

Indeed, there is a lot to discover here. However, if styling isn't your thing, it's easy to slide the back of the monitor toward a wall, replace the stand with a VESA mount, and then that's all that's left of the display's chin, which may look a bit aggressive .

The tiny OLED display is pretty nifty though – I doubt anyone will mind, especially because it's customizable.

Asus ROG Swift PG32UQX

Asus ROG Swift PG32UQX

The display's power brick is external, which I think is a good thing because otherwise the PG32UQX would have been even bigger, and there is a thread on top of the monitor for inserting a camera mount – I've tried and this monitor will happily hold mine mirrorless camera with a large lens. Streamer, do you get this?

At the top right there is even a USB port to which you can connect your webcam or camera without having to fumble around behind the monitor.

Connections and controls

Niels Broekhuijsen / Digital Trends

The ROG Swift PG32UQX offers a variety of connectivity options, but it is not complete. There are three HDMI 2.0 ports, a single DisplayPort 1.4a port, a three-port USB hub, and a headphone jack.

But HDMI 2.1 is actually missing, and that's a big one. HDMI 2.1 is now the standard for multimedia connectivity, with all 2020 and 2021 GPUs and consoles having the interface. Without them, your Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5 can't run at 4K 120Hz with full color support, and that's unacceptable for a high-end 4K monitor in 2021 – especially one that costs $ 3,000. Most new gaming laptops even ship with support for HDMI 2.1.

HDMI 2.1 is missing, and that's unacceptable for a high-end 4K monitor in 2021.

There is an opposite side to this argument, namely that there are hardly any PC monitors with HDMI 2.1 at all. That, and the official Nvidia G-Sync module has not yet been developed to support HDMI 2.1. Still, I find it inexcusable on a monitor of this price and caliber. If you want to use the PG32UQX with a modern console, keep in mind that you are limited to 60Hz or have to sacrifice color: you will never have the best experience.

The display's OSD has somewhat weird controls with a spinning wheel in the center and a button on each side, but it's easy to navigate and most of the settings you need are there.

Asus ROG Swift PG32UQXNiels Broekhuijsen / Digital Trends

However, there is no brightness control in HDR mode, which is a problem. One can argue whether this matters as the brightness in HDR is supposed to be controlled by the PC and not the monitor, but I still prefer to see some kind of brightness control at all so that the basic brightness for the room is set to a comfortable level can be level.

There is a fan

Before packing up, there is one more drawback worth mentioning: the display has a fan. It turns on the moment the display does, and even though it's not loud, it's audible. This isn't a problem if you're using headphones or playing soft music, but it can be annoying if you enjoy a quiet room and have an otherwise quiet computer.

Mini LED and HDR

If there's a reason to buy the PG32UQX, it's mini LED and its HDR performance. I'll start with the good things: when using the right HDR content, the visual results the PG32UQX can produce are simply amazing. As if the monitor wasn't worth the price all the time, suddenly it was, almost.

LCD panels cannot block all of the light even when they are black, so the ability to dim selected areas (HDR on PC monitors, explained) is necessary to achieve full black levels. By dimming selected areas, the display can also increase the peak brightness in a small area without overly illuminating the entire display. Most PC monitors are edge-lit, with a lamp illuminating the entire display. On "better" HDR monitors, this edge lighting is divided into at least eight zones that illuminate selected columns of the display as required.

As you can imagine, this illuminated pillar effect is undesirable, which is why manufacturers are experimenting with mini-LEDs: a lighting technology that does not illuminate the edge of the display, but rather an array with a large number of individually controllable LEDs placed directly behind the board. This lighting technology is called Full-Array Local Dimming (FALD), and in the case of the PG32UQX these are 1152 zones, which offers complex local dimming control.

In a certain way, FALD actually eliminates the major disadvantages of IPS panels: Backlight bleeding and IPS glow are no longer a problem, since the affected area is simply not illuminated when the display is black. The static contrast ratio is also no longer so relevant, since the area would simply not be illuminated if a black image was displayed.

Asus ROG Swift PG32UQXNiels Broekhuijsen / Digital Trends

Individual zones can reach a brightness of up to 1,400 nits when displaying highlights, and although I couldn't test that number due to the limitations of my tester, I'll use Asus & # 39; Word on it: Bright lights, sun, fire and others The lights really shot from the screen in almost breathtaking brightness, which was really a sight when an area to the left of this object was completely dark and showed an inky black night sky.

This kind of realistic brightness control is exactly what HDR is all about, and the PG32UQX does more than just deliver. The PG32UQX is a pleasure especially in games with higher frame rates and activated G-Sync. It's not the fastest panel, but it's a lot fast for non-competitive gameplay.

Launch a game that does HDR right and you will be in for a spectacle.

But the technology is not perfect. The IPS panel is only capable of blocking that much light, and although 1,152 zones are orders of magnitude superior to an 8-zone edge-lit display (which barely feels like HDR after the PG32UQX), they're still visible zones, in particular on darker scenes. Simple desktop use is the worst culprit for this – take a black or dark background and hover your mouse over it: you'll see a circular halo of blue light nervously walking around the mouse as it jumps between zones. Or take a white dialog box on a dark background, the edges of which have a strange yellow sheen. This effect can get used to, but it is difficult to ignore and is always reminded of how imperfect the technique is.

However, desktop use is not a really fair test, as individual elements are often much too small for the zones. It doesn't take into account the higher peak brightness levels, and Microsoft's HDR implementation has yet to be refined. However, the halo effect is far less pronounced in dynamic content such as games, movies, or TV shows. This is because individual bright elements are often larger, but also because there is simply a lot more movement going on on the screen.

Launch a game that does HDR right, go into the settings and properly calibrate the maximum darkness and maximum brightness so that the game engine properly addresses the monitor's HDR brightness sensitivity and you will be in for a spectacle. Trust me, you will forget about the halo effect in games and videos.

picture quality

Thanks to its IPS panel, the PG32UQX has great color performance, which, coupled with the 4K resolution at the 32-inch size, make it a dream as an editing display, especially if you are producing HDR content.

We tested the monitor in SDR mode because our tester does not support HDR and the color performance of the panel is impressive. At the beginning of the test, I came across sRGB color clamping, which set color coverage at a perfect 100% of sRGB, which is a much appreciated feature: unclamped sRGB colors can often look oversaturated on monitors with wide color gamut, so it's nice to be around to see the inclusion of this limiter.

When the terminal is switched off, the panel covered a decent 100% of the AdobeRGB and 97% of the DCI-P3 color space, with a Delta-E (difference to the real value) of 1.77 for the color accuracy. Any Delta E below 2 is considered good enough for professional work. The calibration of the display did not bring any notable improvements, but the performance out of the box is quite good.

Gamma performance was perfect too, although I wasn't impressed with the panel's native static contrast ratio. While IPS panels, especially flat samples, generally achieve a result of around 1000: 1, the best recorded contrast ratio I got when testing this sample was 810: 1, which is what I would expect from a curved IPS panel, that occurs due to a bit more bleeding to the print. But that's a flat screen.

Asus ROG Swift PG32UQXNiels Broekhuijsen / Digital Trends

However, this was tested without HDR and switched off the variable backlighting of the panel. We test in this way to properly assess the panel's native contrast ratio without automatic backlight changes affecting the result. With the variable backlight on, the contrast ratio was much better, producing really deep blacks even in SDR mode – and I think most users of this monitor will want to keep the variable backlight on. The only exception would be for color-critical work, as dimmed backlighting causes color shifts in the adjacent areas.

This begs the question of how important it really is that the panel's contrast performance isn't great, which is a difficult question to answer. On the one hand, it shouldn't matter with this type of backlighting, but a panel with a better static contrast performance would block the light better and thus counteract the haloing of the PG32UQX better.

Keep in mind that contrast performance varies widely from sample to sample, and since I have a feeling that this sample performs at the lower end of the spectrum while other reports indicate much higher contrast ratios, you are likely to be luckier.

How about OLED as an alternative?

If you're looking for the perfect HDR experience that doesn't halo under any circumstances, you're probably thinking of something like, "How about just getting an OLED panel instead?" And I wouldn't blame you for this. In fact, that's a good idea, but OLED panels have their own dangers.

The attraction would be that each pixel is its own light source. One pixel could be illuminated with peak brightness and the ones directly next to it pitch black. No halo, just pure and perfect brightness control over the entire panel. HDR would look great on the Windows desktop and in all movies and games without sacrificing visual quality.

But there are a few catches. First and foremost, there are no OLED PC gaming monitors, and the smallest OLED TVs are around 48 inches diagonal right now. This is a little too big to be used on a desk as a PC monitor, especially without a bulge. They're all shiny too, burn-in is a potential risk, especially with the amount of static content that affects PC desktop usage, and to reduce burn-in, peak brightness is also limited so you never quite get the "I have to" get look the other way because it's so bright "dive in."

Ultimately, the choice between mini-LED and OLED is a concession: which one you will tolerate and which one you will not. However, if you're wondering whether to get the PG32UQX or a content-consuming OLED TV, then the PG32UQX is probably not for you – an OLED TV might not last as long, but it costs less than half – and so do I. I'll bet the PG32UQX depreciates in value faster than an OLED reaches $ 0 in value.

Our opinion

The Asus ROG Swift PG32UQX is an amazing device. With an array of 1,152 mini-LED lighting zones, it creates an HDR experience that cannot be compared with any other PC monitor currently available on the market. There aren't many 32-inch 4K gaming monitors on the market anyway, so sitting in front of one that is not only this size but also has FALD lighting is like sitting in front of a unicorn. At least at this point, the PG32UQX offers the most breathtaking HDR performance available on a PC without relying on an OLED TV.

The PG32UQX is at the forefront of what PC monitor technology can do these days, and if you're looking for an HDR spectacle for your desk, it's the tool for the job. But like any cutting edge technology, it's far from perfect and in that regard the PG32UQX feels a bit like a prototype: there's no HDMI 2.1 so it's not exactly future proof and I feel the mini LED tech as it looks well now, will soon be out of date due to new developments. Add to that the usual panel performance lottery, no basic HDR brightness controls, and an annoying fan, and it quickly becomes a very difficult proposition to spend $ 2,999 on a monitor.

Are there alternatives?

No. There are currently no other PC monitors that offer fast 4K gaming performance paired with FALD and this color performance. Your other best choice is an OLED TV like LG's 48-inch C1 model, but it comes with its own tradeoffs, assuming you have enough desk space at all.

How long it will take?

From a functional point of view, I don't see any reason why the ROG Swift PG32UQX couldn't last for at least five years. But between the lack of HDMI 2.1 and the rapidly evolving alternative display technologies, you'll likely itch to replace it long before it breaks, especially if you're someone who loves to be at the forefront of technology.

Should I buy it?

For most players, no. It has a few weaknesses that are guaranteed to be a deal breaker for large groups of buyers, especially at this price point.

If you have deep pockets and just want the best HDR gaming monitor you can buy right now, then the ROG Swift PG32UQX is as good as it gets. But for most of us it's like an exotic sports car: I want to rent it just to experience it, but I don't want to own it.

Editor's recommendations



10 Jul
Blog

Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT Review: Good Beyond Gaming

Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT

RRP $ 269.00

"Corsair's Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT isn't perfect, but the way it offers the practicality to replace both your gaming headset and everyday headphones puts it in a league of its own."

advantages

  • Great chic looks

  • Excellent workmanship

  • Versatile connectivity

  • Can replace two headsets

  • Practical RGB mic mute display

disadvantage

  • Below average battery life

  • Short radio range

  • Expensive

Buying a gaming headset is not easy. It can be if you keep your expectations low, but if you're looking for something exclusive the thought of losing $ 269 on a wireless gaming headset can be a little daunting.

That's the price of Corsair's newest flagship gaming headset, the Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT, and while it's certainly worth the price, let's see if the stuff you can't see is good enough. Unlike many headsets, there is a lot to cover with this one, so let's dive in.

Build quality and comfort

As expected, the workmanship of the Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT is excellent. The headset uses a lot of synthetic leather and metal, which gives it a very chic look and feel. Corsair's elementary back-to-basics design also plays well here, as it gives the headset a very "contemporary headphone" look rather than the look of many garishly styled offerings.

I actually really like the design, and since the microphone is detachable and supports Bluetooth with Apt-X, you can easily use this set on the go in public. The bright bit of RGB might even attract curious eyes.

In terms of comfort, the Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT is generally good, but a bit missed – that may be a personal observation, but I find the ear cups too flat. This is done, of course, to get a sleeker profile for the modern look, but it presses a little against my right ear which causes discomfort with prolonged use.

That's my only complaint about comfort – the faux leather is soft, the pillows are … cushiony, and the clamping force is minimal so you won't get a headache. If your ears fit better than mine, which is more likely than not, you'll find the Virtuoso XT very snug. For larger ears, Logitech's G Pro X (wireless) headsets are generally more comfortable thanks to roomier ear cups.

The ergonomics of the controls are also great, with most of the buttons on the bottom of the right earcup. The only button that is on the left cup is the microphone mute button, and in fact, it's on the microphone itself, right on the base where it connects to the headset.

The microphone even has an RGB light ring at the end, and I think it's awesome, even if it's not exactly an ergonomic thing. It glows bright red when you mute the microphone and participates in whatever light show you have when it doesn't. This may seem like a small detail, and it is, but tell me, when was the last time you forgot you muted yourself and wondered why your friends weren't answering? Yesterday? Today? Yes me too. Every headset has to have that.

Connectivity

Most PC wireless gaming headsets have two or three types of connectivity. First and foremost there is a wireless interface with its own dongle, then a 3.5 mm jack if you need the cable anyway, and they often work via their USB charging cable too.

But Corsair has an additional treat: Bluetooth with support for the Apt-X codec. With most gaming headsets, this wouldn't be all that important, but this one looks pretty good and it's nice to be able to connect it to your phone for use on the go. Unplug the mic and no one would say it was a gaming headset. The next alternatives with this feature set are the Steelseries Arctis 9 and Arctis Pro wireless headsets, as they also support Bluetooth but don't support Apt-X and still look a lot like gaming headsets, which they are less likely to be worn in public makes suitable.

The headset also supports multiple device inputs at the same time, which is another handy feature. Connecting the headset to your PC via the dongle and your phone via bluetooth is not only great for easy toggling on the go, but you also don't have to take the headset off when you receive calls. The music quality is also better than Apt-X.

A quick range test showed disappointing results. In my apartment, I have my office at one end, and most headsets can reach halfway to the kitchen while maintaining a stable connection. The very best headsets stay connected to the other side of my apartment, but not the Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT: I could barely step out of my office into the hallway.

Audio quality

The sound quality is always a bit mixed with gaming headsets, especially wireless devices. That makes sense, of course: the drivers are tuned to pick up the enemy's footsteps and reloading noises and provide appealing bass for explosions. And since the wireless connection is geared towards low latency rather than audio quality, you end up with sound that audiophiles generally don't like.

And while the Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT is no exception to this set of requirements, it actually does quite well, especially over the Bluetooth connection when using a source device that supports the Apt-X codec. Music is fun, voices are clear, and there is enough detail to please most listeners. It won't compare to the best hi-fi headphones out there – it's not even in the same league – but for a gaming headset as practical as your everyday headphones, it's more than enough .

But again, keep in mind that the audio quality suffers a bit with the included 2.5 GHz dongle on the PC – you will not notice this at all in the game, since most games do not have sufficient audio quality anyway. The incoming voice streams from multiplayer chats aren't good either, but if you're playing music for pleasure you may want to do it from your phone or use a wired connection. The only catch is that the battery life on dual devices is pretty limited – you'll be happy to hit 15 hours.

Our opinion

Corsair's Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT is a stunning wireless gaming headset that tries to achieve anything. And while it doesn't do a perfect job, it offers a ton of practicality with its great connectivity options, great user ergonomics, nice production quality, and decent convenience. If you're wondering if the $ 269 price tag is worth it, I'd probably say – when you need a headset that can do it all. Just keep in mind that wired headsets often sound better, battery life isn't the best, and they have a very short wireless range.

Are there alternatives?

There are always tons of alternatives in the gaming headset space, but few look as good as the Corsair cans and practicality remains an issue – Bluetooth is often absent on many models and a microphone that is not detachable together with garish gamer styling, makes its use as an everyday outdoor headset for many devices a hard best seller. With this combination of connectivity functions, the Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT is in a league of its own. The next alternative would be the Arctis 9 and Arctis Pro headsets from Steelseries, but they don't offer the same visual appeal and neither do they support the Apt-X codec for high quality sound over Bluetooth.

If you're looking to save some cash and skip Bluetooth altogether, Logitech's G Pro X wireless headset is a great alternative that is more convenient but less practical.

How long it will take?

This headset should last around three to four years, depending on how you use it. The delicate faux leather is likely to fall apart first after heavy use, and I've had my battery life concerns over the years as it's not the best to start with.

Should I buy it?

If you're looking for a new wireless gaming headset and want to use it as your everyday go-to headphone, the Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT is definitely worth considering. It's a little expensive, but since it can replace multiple headphones, the price is justified.

Editor's recommendations



07 Jul
Blog

Monster Hunter Stories 2 Review: A Less Intimidating Hunt

In Monster Hunter Stories 2, a driver drives a Tigrex.

Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin

RRP $ 60.00

"Monster Hunter Stories 2 is a much friendlier introduction to the complex franchise, anchored in excellent turn-based RPG combat."

advantages

  • Addictive monster collecting

  • Excellent RPG combat

  • Deep customization

  • Tons of content

disadvantage

  • Frame rate jerks

  • Repeating cards

Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin is the perfect entry point for newcomers to the series. Not really.

That statement has become a meme in recent years as Monster Hunter fans refer to each new release as "accessible". Monster Hunter Rise came close to making this a reality, but the basic complexity of the franchise and headache-inducing user interface still make it an intimidating experience for absolute newbies.

In comparison, Monster Hunter Stories 2 is much more digestible. It does many of the same fundamentals, but is presented in a simplified way that is easier to analyze. While it's a completely different experience – a turn-based, Pokémon-like RPG instead of a hacking-and-slashing action game – it explains the basics of the franchise much more clearly than Monster Hunter World or Rise.

Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin is a friendly alternative to the usual grind of the franchise. Even with repetitive level design, it features an excellent combat system, engaging story, and deep endgame that make it a perfect RPG for anyone looking for a more relaxed hunt.

Have to hatch them all

On the surface, Monster Hunter Stories 2 looks like a completely different beast. The game is a sequel to a Nintendo 3DS game that puts players in the role of a monster rider, not a hunter. The main difference is that riders make friends with monsters and work with them. This gives the game a Pokémon-like gameplay loop in which players collect and raise monsters, and keep six on each of them.

For Pokémon fans who have been let down by the ever-decreasing difficulty of the franchise, Monster Hunter Stories 2 is an excellent alternative. The monster collecting hook is addicting and gives players loads of creatures to discover. The Rite of Channeling feature acts as a kind of breeding mechanic that allows players to pass the trait of one monster on to another. It is a deep system that opens up limitless opportunities for team building.

In Monster Hunter Stories 2, a rider rides a monster.

Granted, there is some cognitive dissonance in the experience. While it's a cuter concept compared to the standard hunting loop, it does take a bit of time to overcome some initial discomfort. Players essentially kill (or punch the snot) a monster, break into its den, steal one of its eggs, and raise the baby as their own. For those who find Monster Hunter's colonization undertones hard to swallow, this version certainly offers a tougher moral discomfort upfront.

For Pokémon fans who have been let down by the ever-decreasing difficulty of the franchise, Monster Hunter Stories 2 is an excellent alternative.

Even so, the game ultimately won me over with its intriguing storyline – something Monster Hunter Rise missed. It's a rambling narrative that explores the different ways humans and societies interact with monsters, whether through peace or violence. All of this is linked by a mysterious, lore-rich story in which players must uncover what makes monsters across the continent unpredictable.

The game also has wonderful aesthetics with vivid colors and high quality movies. Sometimes it feels like watching a Monster Hunter anime, with exciting action sequences and dazzling battle animations. The game's frame rate is unfortunately jerky on Switch, but every time I booted it up, I was completely lost in a colorful and detailed world.

Rock, paper, monsters

The core of the game is its fantastic turn-based combat system. Monster Hunter Stories 2 uses a Fire Emblem-style “rock, paper, scissors” mechanic for battles. Players have three types of basic attacks: power, technique, and speed. In battles against monsters, players must predict what type of attack a monster will unleash and counter it with one of their own.

In Monster Hunter Stories 2, two monsters compete against each other.

This works just as well because the game provides players with the right tools to solve this little battle puzzle. Each monster uses a normal attack type, but can switch to a different one when it gets angry. At the end of the game, I was able to look at a monster I'd never seen before and deduce from the behavior of other creatures how it would attack. It rewards players who think like horsemen and really take the time to watch and remember how nature works.

Despite being turn-based, the battles cleverly stay true to the basics of Monster Hunter.

Monster sidekicks also play an important role in combat. Each race has its own basic attack type, so players need to build a group that covers all of the bases. The swap in a new monster midfight doesn't burn for a round, which gives players the flexibility to adapt to a new fight and not have to worry about getting a Pukei Pukei into an Anjanath fight.

However, creating the perfect team goes much deeper. Monsters can learn a variety of skills, from elemental attacks to team-wide buffs. That gives players a good reason to keep looking for new creatures and experimenting with channeling mechanics to expand a creature's toolbox.

Battles are less about micromanaging teammates and more about maintaining a connection with a monster. Perform the same type of attack as a companion and the duo can perform a combo attack that deals more damage. Actions like these increase a kinship gauge that can be used to perform certain skills. When the gauge is full, a player can ride their monster to carry out devastating attacks with dazzling animations. Small systems like this made me feel really close to each of my friends and really sold the driver concept.

In Monster Hunter Stories 2, a character aims at the body parts of a monster.

Despite being turn-based, the battles cleverly stay true to the basics of Monster Hunter. There are a variety of weapon types that have their advantages and disadvantages against certain monsters. Players can easily target specific body parts of monsters in combat in order to mine valuable handicraft parts for armor and weapons. Compared to a game like Monster Hunter Rise, which hides systems like this in walls of tutorial texts or obscure user interfaces, everything feels streamlined. I learned basic ideas here that I never fully understood in Rise.

Of course, it's a completely different type of game, so it's not entirely fair to compare the two. Monster Hunter Rise is an excellent action RPG that thrives on complexity. Monster Hunter Stories 2 is a more controlled, tactical experience. Each is a perfect match for the type of story they're trying to tell; It's just a matter of the speed you prefer.

Drive on

What is particularly impressive about Monster Hunter Stories 2 is how much content is packed into the experience. Mainlining the story takes 30 hours, but there's so much more depth than the main story. Side quests, arena battles, royal monsters, and a full post-launch road map provide tons of reasons to dig deeper. In the middle of my playthrough, I just started turning on background music and kicking back for some monster collecting expeditions.

In Monster Hunter Stories 2, two drivers face a giant dragon.

There is also multiplayer, both in the form of co-op games and PvP battles. The latter offers serious long-term potential for the game as it gives players yet another reason to dig into the game's gathering and breeding mechanics in order to create stronger monsters with unpredictable abilities.

It's a repetitive game, although that's as much a part of Monster Hunter as giant swords.

While there is no shortage of activity, it can be thin at times. Long battles against powerful monsters usually drag on, although the battle can be sped up up to three times. Monster caves and explorable areas are based on dungeon crawlers. This means that levels can be a somewhat boring chain of narrow passages leading into open areas. At the end of the game, I noticed rooms that were identical to areas I'd seen over and over, even though they were in a different part of the island.

It's a repetitive game, although that's as much a part of Monster Hunter as giant swords. The series invites players to learn complex routines and get into a flow. The main difference in Monster Hunter Stories 2 is that everything builds on an actual endpoint rather than going on as a Sisyphus live service grind. There is a secret to unravel and a great evil to kill at the end of the day.

This change in pace allows players to experience the world and ideas of Monster Hunter without intimidating engagement, which is a huge plus.

Our opinion

Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin is a top-notch spin-off that cleverly transforms the complexities of Monster Hunter into a friendlier role-playing game. Worthwhile fights and a thoroughly entertaining story make up for repetitive card design and a stuttering frame rate. For those who found Monster Hunter Rise too intimidating, this is a better way to understand the basic ideas in a less sophisticated, turn-based format.

Is there a better alternative?

Monster Hunter Rise could be an overall stronger game, despite being a completely different beast.

How long it will take?

The story lasts at least 30 hours, but dedicated gamers can spend dozens of additional hours exploring the world. That doesn't even include the upcoming content of the game.

Should you buy it?

Yes. Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin is one of the best turn-based RPGs of the year and is perfect for fans of Monster Hunter and Pokémon.

Editor's recommendations



07 Jul
Blog

Razer Blade 14 Review: The Gaming Laptop Usurper Has Arrived

Razor blade 14 review 03

Razer blade 14

RRP $ 2,200.00

"The Razer Blade 14 is stealing the crown as the best gaming laptop you can buy right now."

advantages

  • The gaming performance is excellent

  • Colorful 1440p display

  • Surprisingly small

  • Cheaper than Razer Blade 15

  • Great battery life

disadvantage

  • Warm surface temperatures

  • Thick bezels

The Razer Blade 15 was already the smallest gaming laptop in the world. Building an even smaller version of the Razer Blade 14 is, on the one hand, exciting. On the other hand, I had serious concerns about how Razer could possibly keep these components cool enough.

Add in an AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX processor and up to an Nvidia RTX 3080 – and you have the potential for a hot mess. Fortunately, the Razer Blade 14 is anything but.

Razer did the impossible and delivers an amazing gaming experience in a tiny form factor. With a lower starting price of $ 1,800, there's little reason to pick the Razer Blade 15 as its smaller brother stole the crown from the best gaming laptop. A new king has arrived.

design

Play Fortnite on the Razer Blade 14.

Despite its smaller size and asking price, it looks almost identical to the Razer Blade 15. It has the same completely black aluminum housing, the green snake logo on the lid and few large ventilation openings or gaudy design elements. It's the same kind of minimalist gaming laptop with amazing build quality that the Razer Blade line has always delivered. There's a reason people call these laptops the MacBooks of the gaming laptops.

The most important change in the Razer Blade 14 is of course the size of the screen. The 14-inch gaming laptop is a new trend led by popular options like the ROG Zephyrus G14 and the Predator Triton 300 SE. This isn't actually the first 14-inch Razer Blade – there was a model back in 2013. But apart from the screen size, this new version has little to do with the 2013 model. The processor, graphics, and cooling technology have finally caught up with the demand for smaller gaming laptops – and the 2021 Razer Blade 14 is the answer to that desire.

The Razer Blade 14 is the thinnest 14-inch gaming notebook and the smallest overall in terms of volume.

However, a smaller screen also means a smaller footprint overall, which is why I am a little unsure about the ability of this laptop to keep the components cool enough in this test. The Razer Blade 14 is the thinnest 14-inch gaming laptop and the smallest overall by volume – just 0.66 inches thick and 3.9 pounds. That makes it an insanely portable gaming laptop, especially considering how powerful this thing is.

Because of its size, it's also a great regular laptop. It's only 0.08 inches thicker than the Dell XPS 13 and only 0.03 inches thicker than the MacBook Air. It's an incredible feat of engineering.

The Razer Blade 14 offers excellent image quality.

Of course, Razer already makes the Razer Blade Stealth 13 and Razer Book 13 – if you really just want the Razer stylings with no power. But the Razer Blade 14 feels like the laptop that can do it all without sacrificing portability or design – or performance – too much.

That has been the promise since this laptop was announced. I was thrilled that the Razer Blade 14 kept that promise. Mainly.

As can be seen in many photos, the Razer Blade 14 is an absolute fingerprint magnet. That was always the case with these black Razer Blades, which is why I wish the Mercury White option would be offered for the 14-inch model. The latest update to the Razer Blade 15 tried to fix this issue with a fingerprint-resistant coating, but the Razer Blade 14 didn't.

Ports

The Razer Blade has a great port selection including HDMI 2.1.

The Razer Blade 14 has a healthy range of ports available. On the left you'll find USB-C, USB-A, a headphone jack, and the proprietary Razer charging port. On the right side you get a USB-A, another USB-C and even HDMI 2.1. HDMI will likely be your primary method of docking the Razer Blade 14 to a monitor, although both USB-C ports also have DisplayPort 1.4 and power.

However, when gaming, consider using Razer's own power adapter, which has a nicely braided cord that plugs into a 230 watt power adapter. It's big for this size of laptop, but when you're juicing performance-hungry components like this one, it's inevitable.

I would have liked the Razer to have a full-size SD card slot like the Blade 15, which is extremely convenient for photographers and videographers.

The Razer Blade 14 also offers Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 for the latest in wireless connectivity.

display

The Razer Blade 14 shows off some impressive graphics with its 1440p screen.

In terms of screen quality, the Razer Blade 14 is on par with what the 15-inch model offers. It is a 16: 9 1440p IPS display with a refresh rate of 165Hz. That's both high resolution and high refresh rate that is the best of both worlds. That's no surprise as it's becoming the norm for gaming laptops.

The picture quality is the real surprise. The Razer Blade 14 offers fantastic color saturation and reaches 90% of the AdobeRGB and 100% of the sRGB color space, which is basically unknown for gaming laptops. The color accuracy is also pinpoint accurate and the maximum brightness is 315 nits. That's nowhere near as bright as the Lenovo Legion 5 Pro, the brightest gaming laptop I've ever tested.

Would I wish it looked more like the Razer Book 13 with its 16:10 screen and tiny bottom bezel? Absolutely. A larger screen would have allowed a smaller bottom frame and more screen space without having to shrink the overall area. For now, Razer seems to be sticking to 16: 9 for its gaming laptops. Despite my affinity for thin bezels, it's hard to complain about a screen that looks this good.

performance

I never doubted that the Razer Blade 14 would be a beautiful, well-constructed laptop. Performance and thermals worried me. But once I started using the Razer Blade 14, many of those worries were aside.

In some ways, the Razer Blade 14 is actually more powerful than its bigger brother. This is thanks to the processor inside, which is the 8-core, 16-thread AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX. In terms of sheer performance alone, this is the king of gaming laptop processors right now. The fact that it finally has a home in the Razer range feels like an important moment for AMD.

The back of the Razer Blade 14 shows the redesigned fans.

I know Cinebench isn't the be-all and end-all of processor performance, but it's overwhelming that installing this Ryzen chip in the Razer Blade 14 beats the Razer Blade 15 out of the water in this benchmark. It's a similar result in a video encoding test in Handbrake, where the Razer Blade 15 with its Intel processor was 25% slower.

Add an RTX 30 series graphics card to the mix and you will be very happy with the content creation performance.

Speaking of graphics, my configuration came with the RTX 3070. It's still hard to grasp that you can put an RTX 3080in here as well if you want to. The 3060 is the base model option, which will still be pretty impressive, but on other laptops I've tested there's a big leap in performance between the 3060 and the 3070. Either way, you get a full 100 watts of power to the GPU, which is why I was so worried about the temperatures too.

In terms of cooling, Razer has achieved the impossible.

But I'll just say this – Razer did it. You get really good gaming performance, even at 1440p, and I've never seen GPU temperatures rise above 87 degrees Celsius. Well, that's not exactly what I would call "cool", but for a laptop this size and with so much power, I'm impressed. Here is a massive steam chamber that covers almost all of the built-in components and is supposedly even larger than the 15-inch model.

There are also some new fans inside, each with 88 0.1 mm fan blades. Of course, the huge vapor chamber means you can't swap out the memory, but it protects the performance and thermals that actually make the Razer Blade 14 such a great gaming laptop. Fortunately, all configurations of the Razer Blade 14 come with 16 GB of dual-channel RAM and a full terabyte SSD.

Gaming performance

Benchmark Assassin's Creed Valhalla on the Razer Blade 14.

How good is the gambling? Well, most of the games I've tested hit at least 60 frames per second (fps) on max 1440p settings, including Fortnite, Battlefield V, and Civilization VI. The Battlefield V performance was particularly noteworthy at 78 fps, which even beats the much clunkier Lenovo Legion 5 Pro, a thick 16-inch laptop that we also tested with the RTX 3070.

On the whole, this Lenovo laptop averages better frame rates, especially in Fortnite where it was up to 18% faster. Better airflow in a thicker case always means better temperatures and ultimately better performance – but the Razer Blade 14 isn't as far behind as you might think. It really makes you wonder why we don't see high-end graphics options in laptops like the Zephyrus G14.

The table below shows 1080p performance for a comparable comparison to cheaper 1080p laptops like the ROG Strix G15. Here you can see how closely the Blade 14 can often keep up with much larger and bulkier laptops like the 16-inch Lenovo Legion 5 Pro or the 15-inch MSI GS66 Stealth.

Laptop 3DMark time spy 3DMark fire strike Assassin's Creed Valhalla (1080p Ultra High) Battlefield V (1080p Ultra) Fortnite (1080p Epic) Civilization VI (1080p Ultra)
Razer Blade 14 (RTX 3070) 8605 19673 60 fps 96 fps 96 fps 84 fps
Asus ROG Strix G15 (Radeon RX 6800M) 10504 26800 77 fps 109 fps 108 fps 91 fps
Lenovo Legion 5 Pro (RTX 3070) 9175 21033 61 fps 73 fps 101 fps 101 fps
MSI GS66 Stealth (RTX 3080) 9097 19175 70 fps 97 fps 140 fps 140 fps

There have been a couple of heavier titles I've tested that put the Razer Blade 14 in a fight for its money. Assassin's Creed Valhalla and Cyberpunk 2077 both couldn't quite reach 60 fps in 1440p. They arrive in 1080p, however, and Cyberpunk plays well enough if you turn up the DLSS settings.

Surface temperatures are a different story. The Razer gaming laptops are notorious for being hot, largely because there just isn't a lot of ventilation here. They have a few vents along the hinge for the vapor chamber as well as two above the fans in the back, but Razer sacrifices a lot of airflow by not drilling holes throughout the case. And the Razer Blade 14 is no different from previous blades in this regard.

The palm rests of the Razer Blade 14 tend to get nice and warm, which can be uncomfortable.

It can get really hot at certain key points, for example in the space between the keyboard and the display. But that's normal. However, the palm rests bothered me the most and set it apart from other gaming laptops that I have tested. The palm rests of the Razer Blade 14 tend to get nice and warm, which can be uncomfortable. If you're at home and have a long gaming session ahead of you, you'll likely want to dock it and use an external keyboard.

Even when not playing, the Razer Blade 14's palm rests stay warmer than other laptops. The fans spin even if you're just using a web browser, and the case never feels cold to the touch. It's unfair to compare the Razer Blade 14 to an ultra-efficient laptop like the M1 MacBook Pro, but surface temperatures are a compromise for being able to play modern 3D games anytime.

Keyboard and touchpad

The Razer Blade 14 keyboard and touchpad.

Everything else is what you would expect from a Razer laptop. The keyboard and touchpad are both great, and the RGB backlighting per key is as customizable as it gets with an insane 15-level brightness control. It sounds over the top, but compared to the three or four tiers that many gaming laptops have, I can't fault it.

Razer even adds some nice touches like the above-screen Windows Hello IR camera and some decent speakers. They're upward facing and THX certified, which basically just means THX helped test them to make sure they weren't causing any distortion at high volume levels. The result is decent speakers for watching videos or listening to music. Unfortunately, the fan noise disturbs the appreciation of the speakers when gaming.

Battery life

Razer promises 12 hours of battery life with the Blade 14. That's unheard of on a laptop with a beefy RTX 3070 or 3080, but the Razer Blade comes surprisingly close. In our local video playback test, it landed 11 hours and 20 minutes, which is almost three hours longer than the Razer Blade 15. It's a similar comparison in our light web browsing test, where it took eight hours and 17 minutes.

The Razer Blade 14 also outlasts the ROG Zephyrus G14 and Predator Triton 300 SE, which were previously champions in gaming laptop battery life.

You only get that much battery life from a laptop with an RTX 3070 inside, but Razer got more out of the 61.6 watt-hour battery that I thought was possible.

Our opinion

There are many cheaper gaming laptops that are just as powerful as the Razer Blade 14, such as the all-AMD ROG Strix G15. But none of its competitors have the premium fit and workmanship of the Razer Blade 14, nor the extremely small size. Add in good battery life, a colorful display, and surprisingly good gaming performance, and you have what it takes to become a new standard for gaming laptops. The fact that it's $ 500 cheaper than a similar configuration to the Razer Blade 15 is the icing on the cake.

Are there alternatives?

Other 14-inch gaming laptops are the Acer Predator Triton 300 SE and the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14. Both are limited to an RTX 3060 and are a few hundred dollars cheaper than the Razer Blade 14.

The Razer Blade 15 obviously has a bigger screen, but costs $ 500 more for the same configuration.

How long it will take?

A couple of Razer Blade reliability issues have been well documented online, including the problem with the high battery, which is apparently the most notorious culprit. However, it is still not an issue that has been officially addressed by Razer.

Barring potential reliability issues, the Razer Blade 14 should last four or five years before it needs to be replaced. The vapor chamber makes it difficult to replace or repair yourself, but RazerCare offers up to three years warranty over a thorough (and expensive) upgrade to the standard one-year warranty.

Should you buy it?

Yes. It's the best gaming laptop you can buy right now, especially if you want your gaming laptop to be just as suitable for non-gaming activities.

Editor's recommendations



07 Jul
Blog

Soundcore Life P3 Review: Feature-Loaded Affordable Earbuds

Soundcore Life P3 in a charging case.

Soundcore Life P3

RRP $ 80.00

"The Life P3 has features typically found in expensive earbuds and is great value for money."

advantages

  • Customizable EQ

  • Customizable controls

  • Wireless charging

  • Good battery life

disadvantage

  • No wear sensors

  • Transparency during calls cannot be activated

Ever since Anker launched its Soundcore audio products, they have impressed us with their consistently high quality and low prices. Soundcore's latest product is the Life P3, a $ 80 set of true wireless earbuds that take that value equation even further with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and wireless charging – two features that typically appear on earbuds that are twice as expensive . Are the Life P3s as good as they look on paper? Let's check them out.

What's in the box?

Scope of delivery of the Soundcore Life P3.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

First, let's give some well-deserved praise to Soundcore: Previous Soundcore earbuds came in large, heavy boxes with embedded magnets and lots of plastic – not exactly easy to recycle in most places. The Life P3 comes in a much simpler box that is smaller and uses less material. The magnets are gone, but a black plastic tray remains in there. Still, this is a big step towards more sustainable packaging that we want to encourage.

Soundcore has a successful design formula.

In the packaging you will find the Life P3 earbuds already in their charging case, a USB-A to USB-C charging cable, four additional sizes of silicone earbuds (a fifth set is installed on the earbuds) and some paper documents.

design

Soundcore Life P3 in a charging case.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The Life P3 uses a familiar AirPod-esque design with slim, touch-sensitive stems that protrude down from a small, rounded body. If you want something that doesn't stand out, the colors black and blue are muted and subtle, but there are more vibrant options too: white, sky blue, and coral red. This type of color choice is unusual in the world of true wireless earbuds – most models only offer two colors (usually black or white), if they offer a choice at all.

The matching charging case is smoothly rounded and relatively compact, but not as pocket-friendly as the AirPods or Google Pixel Buds. Earlier Soundcore earbuds like the Liberty 2 Pro and Liberty Air 2 Pro used a smooth sliding mechanism for their charging case lids, but the Life P3 stick with a more conventional flip hinge – an obvious place to save some money.

What is really impressive is the degree to which you can customize the tap controls.

But while this hinge may make the case cheaper to manufacture, the case doesn't feel cheap at all. The lid is spring-loaded and opens automatically when it is lifted, which makes one-handed operation much easier than with similar housing designs. It also stays open if you want it to. The earphones simply snap into their charging sockets and are just as easy to remove.

With the case's wireless charging capability and the earbuds IPX5 rating for water resistance, Soundcore has a winning design formula.

Comfort, controls and connections

The scope of delivery of the Soundcore Life P3.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

I found the Life P3 very comfortable to wear over a long period of time. You will likely get a snug fit from several of the included silicone earbuds. The handy Soundcore app also includes a leak test feature to ensure that the tips you choose effectively seal your ear canal. Too many people just use the factory-installed tips because they feel good, but that can be a recipe for poor sound quality and poor ANC performance, so be sure to try several sizes.

Without wing tips or ear hooks, the Life P3 won't sit as securely as earbuds designed for running or heavy workouts, but they should be suitable for all kinds of low-impact activities like brisk walking, biking, rowing, or weight lifting. They're definitely safer than Apple's AirPods because of the silicone earbuds.

Touch controls don't always respond as responsively as physical buttons, mostly because they can be difficult to tap accurately every time. The Life P3's touch controls don't really change this situation – the touch area is pretty small – but they do help you know when you've typed successfully or not with a confirmation touch tone that can be disabled if you are don't need it.

But what is really impressive is the degree to which you can customize these tap controls. You can have up to three tapping gestures per earbud – single tap, double tap, and tap and hold – for a total of six functions. Each can be set to control your choice of volume, play / pause, skip forward / backward tracks, activate voice assistant and select ANC / transparency mode. Better still, you can choose between which ANC options you want to toggle: ANC, transparency, or "normal" (both ANC and transparency disabled). You can switch between all three or choose a combination of just two modes.

Audiophiles won't be blown away by the Life P3's performance, but it sounds great for its price.

The only thing missing is wear sensors – the Life P3 cannot automatically pause your music when you remove an earbud.

The Life P3 uses Bluetooth 5.0 and I had no problem pairing it with my iPhone 11 quickly. That connection stayed strong and stable – I could leave my phone in my home office and the earbuds never failed no matter where I was, from the basement to the third floor. Each earbud can be used individually – perfect for making calls or simply to extend battery life. The ability to connect to two bluetooth devices at the same time would have been a nice touch, but that feature remains a rarity in the true wireless realm, so I can barely knock an 80-dollar set of buds if I don't have it.

Sound quality

Soundcore always amazes us with the great sound of its earphones, especially when compared to much more expensive products. The Life P3 are no exception. You get a very full frequency response and really good clarity over the entire spectrum. For genres like rap and hip-hop, there is a lot of bass power in the lower range, but it doesn't tarnish the mids.

Out of the box, the P3 are set to a flat EQ. This is a good, neutral starting point, but you owe it to yourself to dive into the Soundcore app's huge selection of EQ presets. Regardless of whether you want to emphasize or weaken bass or vocals, there are no limits to the possibilities. Can't find what you want? With the custom 8-band EQ function, you can create your own presets.

I found that the acoustic preset did the most to improve clarity and energy without compromising the bass too much.

Audiophiles won't be blown away by the Life P3's performance, but for its price, it sounds great. The only way to get better sound for the same or less money is to find a much more expensive model on offer.

Noise cancellation and transparency

Soundcore Life P3 earbuds outside the charging case.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

At this price point, you don't get the same ANC performance as the Sony WF-1000XM4, AirPods Pro, or Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, but the Life P3 still offers really noticeable noise reduction in a variety of scenarios, from the constant roar of a loud fan for background discussions in a café.

This ANC function can be set with the Soundcore app with a choice of three modes: indoor, outdoor and transport. I found that outdoor made a very slight noise when there was no music, but indoor and transportation were both nice and quiet. That might make you think you should just stick with indoor or transport, but if the wind blows you'll be glad that outdoor is an option: it almost completely kills wind noise where the other two modes struggle . The transparency mode can also be set with the fully transparent or vocal mode. The vocal mode, as the name suggests, helps in finding voices. It works really well, but with one small drawback – you have to activate it before placing a call as you cannot switch between ANC / Transparency once a call is in progress. In fact, you cannot access the Soundcore app at all while on a call.

Battery life

Soundcore claims the Life P3 has seven hours of lifespan per charge when ANC and transparency are disabled, and a total of 35 hours when you include the charging case. These numbers drop to six hours or 30 hours when you turn on ANC or transparency. When testing, I actually got a little more with around 7.5 hours of non-ANC time. Either way, these are really solid numbers that are better than many other earbuds at this price point and vastly better than the Apple AirPods and AirPods Pro (4.5 to 5 hours per charge, 24 hours total).

The performance data of the Life P3 are rounded off by a quick charge function, which gives you two hours more time after 10 minutes of socket time, which is also very good.

Call quality

Despite the presence of six microphones, telephoning with the Life P3 is only average. Outside there were no dropouts and most of the background noise was kept in check, but my voice sounded thin and at times quite distant. Your callers may need to turn up their volume to hear you clearly. Indoors, like most earbuds, the call quality was much better.

Extras

There are some fun extras in the Soundcore app like the Find My Earbuds feature. It doesn't actually locate them for you like some other companies like Apple and Jabra do, but you can make each earbud emit a loud tone which should help you find them if they're around.

You will also find that Soundcore has compiled dozens of its own playlists taken from tracks available on the Lum streaming service. I didn't know any of the featured artists, but that makes it a great companion to traditional streaming services as a discovery tool.

Soundcore also offers a sleep soundtrack tool that allows you to mix and match a variety of ambient sounds like the sound of waves or the chirping of birds to help you drift away. You can play them in an endless loop or set them on a timer.

Our opinion

The Soundcore Life P3 combines an incredible number of functions in one compact, comfortable and affordable set of true wireless earphones. For the price, they're an exceptional value.

Is there a better alternative?

The closest competitor to the Life P3 is the $ 90 Earfun Air Pro. They're very close when it comes to ANC, sound quality, and battery life. The Earfuns have wear sensors to automatically pause music, but they lack wireless charging. Where the P3 has a big advantage are its app-based adjustments for EQ, controls, ANC, and more. The Earfun do not have an app, which limits the possibilities.

How long will they last?

With true wireless earbuds, it's always hard to tell, but the Life P3 should deliver years of use. With the IPX5 protection, you will survive encounters with water, but avoid splashing in your case – it is not protected. The battery life will decrease over time, but with seven hours of startup time, it should still be quite usable after halving it. Thanks to the Soundcore app, the company can issue firmware updates over time if problems arise. Soundcore backs the Life P3 with an 18-month warranty – six months longer than most companies.

Should you buy it?

Absolutely. Unless you are an audiophile with exacting standards, the Soundcore Life P3 has the features, quality, and price to make it an excellent choice for everyday use.

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