06 May
Blog

Hisense U8G 4K ULED HDR TV Review

Hisense U8G 4K ULED HDR TV

Hisense U8G Series 65 "4K ULED TV

"The U8G is Hisense's most impressive television to date."

  • Incredible brightness

  • Excellent black levels

  • Vibrant, bright colors

  • Good exercise

  • Excellent for playing

  • good sound

  • Bad off-angle picture

  • Color problem with low luminance

As a replacement for the popular Hisense H9G from 2020, the new Hisense U8G 4K ULED HDR TV has a lot to offer. The two TVs look very similar, but it depends on what is inside. The H9G was praised as being particularly bright, while maintaining impressive black levels, resulting in high-contrast image quality.

Will we see some improvements and performance improvements with this new model? I hope so, because the U8G costs significantly more than its predecessor. For example. The 65-inch H9G I tested in August 2020 was $ 950 while the 65-inch U8G I tested here is $ 1,300.

In this review, I'll look at peak brightness measurements, take a look at backlight behavior, assess black levels, examine color accuracy and image quality adjustments, and see if it all adds up to make a TV want to buy.

Video review

Jump to: What is ULED? Out of the box | Setup | Connections | Picture settings | Calibration | Processing | Image quality | Sound | Play | Our opinion

What is ULED?

Let's start with the ULED nickname as I think this might be confusing for some people. To be clear, this is a quantum dot TV, so it might as well be called a QLED TV. Hisense only has its own branding, so this TV is comparable to other QLED LED-backlit TVs on the market.

Out of the box

Riley Young / Digital Trends

The Hisense U8G is effectively packaged and should be well protected for transport. There's not much in the box – you get the TV, two legs, screws for the legs, a slightly redesigned remote control, batteries and a composite video cable, and product literature.

Hooking up the TV legs is a breeze, and I really appreciate the central stand that allows larger screen-sized models to fit onto a wider range of stands.

Hisense U8G 4K ULED HDR TV stamdRiley Young / Digital Trends

Hisense U8G 4K ULED HDR TV side viewRiley Young / Digital Trends

The TV has very thin bezels, except for the lower edge, which is finished with a brushed metal strip. The TV doesn't have a particularly thin profile, so it may not look as elegant on the wall as more expensive competing models.

Hisense U8G 4K ULED HDR details

While we tested the 65-inch model 65U8G, our test also applies to the 55-inch model.

Screen size Model no RRP
55 inches

55U8G

 $ 899.99
65 inches 65U8G $ 1,149.99

Set up

Riley Young / Digital Trends

The Hisense U8G runs Android TV as the operating system and not the newer Google TV. I reached out to Hisense to find out if the U8G might get an upgrade to Google TV in the future and will update this review as soon as I hear anything. However, I suspect it will stick with Android TV.

As an Android TV, setting up access to apps requires a lot of user IDs and passwords – there's no getting around that. However, if you sign in with your Google account, you will automatically be signed in to your YouTube account as well.

Hisense U8G 4K ULED HDR TV remote controlRiley Young / Digital Trends

Speaking of Google: The U8G is equipped with a microphone in the remote control and another in the television for calling up the Google assistant. Make sure to choose the setting that allows the Google Assistant to hands-free use the TV's microphone the way you want. It's easy to miss when you tend to click through the setup options quickly.

links

Hisense U8G 4K ULED HDR TV HDMI connectionsRiley Young / Digital Trends

The Hisense U8G has two HDMI 2.1 inputs on the HDMI 3 and 4 inputs. You will find that each is labeled for 4K 120 Hz. It's also worth noting that HDMI 3 is also the eARC connector. So if you plan to use eARC to return sound to a soundbar or A / V receiver, you'll need to use HDMI 4 for your Xbox Series X / S, PlayStation, 5 or HDMI 2.1 equipped gaming PC.

It's also important to browse the picture settings menu, find the HDMI format, and select the "Advanced" option to unlock advanced features like VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), 4K 120 Hz, and automatic device detection.

Picture settings

Riley Young / Digital Trends

The out-of-the-box picture settings I chose (and would recommend to U8G owners) were Theater Day for SDR content, HDR Theater for HDR10 content, and Dolby Vision Dark for Dolby Vision content. Theater Night and Dolby Vision Day are good alternatives depending on the viewing environment. For my calibration and measurement, however, these options made the most sense.

From there, I turned off motion smoothing and made sure the device's local dimming feature was set to high. I left most of the other settings at their defaults as they were set correctly for the image presets I selected.

Calibration and measurements

Hisense U8G 4K ULED HDR TV screen close-upRiley Young / Digital Trends

As part of my calibrations and adjustments, for which I use the Calman software and a SpectraCal C6 colorimeter profiled on an X-Rite i1Pro meter, I set the two-point white balance of a TV. This ensures that the TV uses the optimal mix of red, blue and green primary colors for better color accuracy.

With the H9G, I ran into an issue where I couldn't adjust the SDR and HDR white balance separately. Whether this was a specific issue for this TV or Hisense made a change, this issue no longer exists. I was able to set each of them separately for more accurate readings.

After making these settings, I measured the TV's grayscale and peak brightness and ran a series of color tests.

In SDR, I measured a little over 700 nits of peak brightness, which is pretty intense! When switching to HDR, I got a little more than 1900 nits after adjustments – it was closer to 2,100 before I shifted the white balance. That's pretty incredible, and contrasts the HDR brightness of this TV with the Samsung QN90A, which is a much more expensive TV.

Light colors look amazing.

These brightness numbers are great, but you'll also want to see solid black levels. The good news is that the U8G's black levels are just as impressive as the H9G's, meaning that when the TV is viewed straight on the axis there is minimal bloom or halo. However, once you step aside, those dark colors are lost and the TV's backlight usually shows up. Black turns milky and there are some color shifts too.

As for the color, it's kind of a mixed bag. Light colors look amazing. I found them well saturated, but not oversaturated, very rich and with an impressive range of colors. However, low luminance colors seem to have problems. Objectively, I could tell from the measurements – the darker the color, the more the color missed its target.

You don't often notice this when viewing real content, but there have been times when the image appeared to have some dark, blotchy areas, which at first appeared to be the result of an issue with panel uniformity, but upon closer inspection it actually did to do the performance of the backlight. Again, I haven't seen this often, but it did come up a few times with some of the content I saw. Most of the time I saw the effect when I saw an image slowly fade in – from dark to light. This resulted in a color streak effect that was never present in lighter images. Something to consider.

Otherwise, the backlight on the U8G was very quick to respond – the TV has no problem with delaying dimming or lightening the backlight as I've seen on some other TVs this year. So when something goes black it can go black very quickly, and when an object lights up it lights up instantly.

Processing

The level of detail on this TV is also very impressive. The U8G has fine details with minimal artifacts and passes most of our stress tests with ease. Very rarely do I see the moire effect or the screen door effect on this television. Plus, this particular example has a pretty neat LCD panel. I didn't see any spots or even a lot of vignetting in the corners. It looks great for golf and hockey where you get a lot of green or white and it's easy to see a dirty screen effect.

Movement is impressive on the U8G too. It has great response time and is also very bright, so you will see a jerk when slowly panning images. This can be ironed out with a minimum of motion smoothing, but that can create a soap opera effect that cinephiles like me don't like. Overall, however, the U8G offered surprisingly solid movement performance.

I think my only real complaint about this TV would be part of the macro blocking I saw while watching shallow bit depth content from highly compressed video. I want the TV to clean that up a little better. There have been moments when I saw YouTube and saw a lot of macroblocking (big squares of color) in darker areas. Fortunately, higher quality content doesn't suffer as a result. This is how your Netflix, Disney +, HBO Max, Blu-ray Discs, and PC / console games all look great.

Image quality to take away

Hisense U8G 4K ULED HDR TVRiley Young / Digital Trends

Aside from all of the objective measurements and analysis and just sitting back and watching TV, I could tell that it was difficult not to be impressed with the U8G – when you are sitting right in front of it. This TV is a real blender. The extremely high contrast that the U8G offers is somewhat reminiscent of OLED TVs, and you get that contrast no matter how much light there is in the room because of its exceptional full-screen brightness.

HDR images on this TV look great and luckily there is a lot of HDR and Dolby Vision content out there for you to enjoy these days. The TV looks solid for SDR too, but I'd only say if you are looking at it in a dark room you might want to dim the backlighting a bit as the TV can look almost too bright in general.

sound

Surprisingly, the U8G sounds very good! It has a respectable amount of bass, the dialogue is always very clear, and the highs aren't too harsh, although they sparkle and offer a good amount of high-end detail. Definitely a bonus!

Play

This TV is great for gaming. It has very little input lag in game mode, the HDR images are jumping off the screen, the shadow details are great for first person shooters, and the movement looks solid. The U8G supports VRR and beats up to 120 frames per second thanks to a native 120 Hz panel and HDMI 2.1 inputs. You only get two HDMI 2.1 ports, but that's exactly what we see from almost all manufacturers except LG. So all in all, this TV is great for gamers.

Our opinion

I think it's safe to say that the Hisense U8G is definitely a high-flyer. It improves the H9G in the most meaningful way. The price of this TV tier has increased a bit, but you get performance for the premium you pay. I think the value is very high given the U8G's performance. I look forward to making some comparisons in the months to come as this TV currently looks like it's going to be very hard to beat for the price.

Is there a better alternative?

The Hisense U8G is currently in a class of its own. The closest comparison would be the Vizio P-Series Quantum, which is hard to come by at the time of this review's writing. The TCL 6 series is comparably inexpensive, but this is an aging model and has yet to be replaced. It doesn't get nearly as bright as the U8G. Given the U8G's performance specs, which go well with a premium TV like the Samsung QN90A, it's impossible not to see its incredible value.

How long it will take?

Given the U8G's support for Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HDMI 2.1, this should continue in the future.

warranty

Hisense provides a one-year parts and labor warranty on its televisions. More information about the Hisense warranty program can be found here.

Should you buy it?

Yes. If you're looking for an affordable TV with very good performance, the Hisense U8G has few peers.

Editor's recommendations




06 May
Blog

Resident Evil Village Review: An Eclectic Retrospective

Resident Evil Village rating viallage close-up

"Resident Evil Village brings together the best and worst parts of the franchise into one diverse, if uneven, experience."

  • Creative worldbuilding

  • Memorable set pieces

  • Reward for exploration

  • Compactly designed village

  • Uneven structure

  • Weak action

  • There is no tension

If Resident Evil 7 was a return to form for the game's most iconic horror franchise, Resident Evil Village is a full blown identity crisis. The new part is not satisfied with simply repeating the success of its predecessor, but packs 25 years of history in eight hours. It's not the best Resident Evil game, but it could be the Resident Evil game.

That's both good and bad news for fans of the changing franchise. Everything that players loved about classics like the original game and Resident Evil 4 is in the DNA of the new game. This also applies in the opposite direction, as Capcom put together a big, bold franchise retrospective that doesn't cover up the warts.

Resident Evil Village works best when it features atmospheric exploration that cleverly extends the roots of the franchise puzzle box. As an action-packed first person shooter, it's less fun. This style battle represents the entire series in a nutshell.

A horror anthology

Resident Evil Village picks up three years after the events of the 7th Charisma Black Hole. Ethan Winters settled in Louisiana with his wife Mia and baby Rosemary after the entire incident. His home paradise crumbles when Chris Redfield makes a shocking appearance. Ethan is looking for his family in a creepy European village infested with lycans, vampires and more (oh my god!).

Like many elements of the game, the story is a little ubiquitous. It offers some excellent horrors early on as Ethan is overwhelmed by vicious werewolves that make the old zombies of the franchise look cute. The tone quickly gets duller when the game introduces its colorful characters. Structurally, it is a horror film anthology in which each character overwrites their own monster film.

Sometimes that flow really works. The Lady Dimitrescu ("the great vampire") section of the game plays out like a mini version of Resident Evil 2, in which players sneak around a large castle, solve puzzles and run away from vampires who persist in the halls . It is a self-contained B-film that summarizes a lot of fascinating world buildings in a short two-hour route.

One particular section that I'm not going to spoil features both the best horror and puzzle work the series has ever done in the same breath. The focused brevity only makes it so much stronger.

It's a happy exploration of genre stereotypes that can spread its grotesque wings and play with something other than zombies.

Other vignettes are not as successful. A later section calls up horror action films from the 1990s such as Lake Placid and manifests itself primarily as a car chase, in which suspense is traded for simple platform puzzles. Slide a box, push some buttons, and avoid obvious death traps with scripts. Ironically, the more action-horror-themed the less exciting actually playing it is.

While some ideas fit the game mechanics better than others, it's nice to see the series' horror nerd roots fully displayed here. It's a happy exploration of genre stereotypes that can spread its grotesque wings and play with something other than zombies.

I'm on my way downtown

Resident Evil Village may look like a dawn for the series on its surface, but most of its new features are a clever iteration of the franchise's design staples. This is most evident in the game's title village. It's more open than a normal Resident Evil mansion, but works the same way quietly. The village is a large puzzle box that players slowly unlock over time.

Some of the game's best moments simply come from atmospheric exploration sections. There are so many little rewards hidden in different corners of the map. It's not a sprawling open world, but that's why it works. It's a compactly designed village that is worth exploring every little hut.

In a game full of iconic characters, the village itself is the real star of the show.

Every new feature serves the village. A last-of-us style crafting system acts as a clever advancement of the item combination and provides other reasons to clean up. There is a traveling vendor (an intentional reference to Resident Evil 4) who sells weapon upgrades and ammunition for looted valuables. There are even a handful of small side quests that encourage a thorough clean up while also telling some micro-stories that explore the history of the decaying city.

Resident Evil Village

Some ideas feel like light experiments auditioning for a full role later. Take the new cooking system that rewards players with health boosts as they hunt animals hidden all over town. With just a tiny handful of recipes, Capcom just seems to be testing the water for a sequel. In general, Village plays out like an anniversary poll designed to help the studio figure out where to go next.

It's not the best version of what it could be, but every little bit helps create a Resident Evil game that highlights the strengths of previous locations. In a game full of iconic characters, the village itself is the real star of the show. Sorry, Lady D fans.

Power struggle

Almost every beloved Resident Evil release has the same problem. While they generally start out as terrifying horror games that take the player out of power, they inevitably conclude with an inferior action set piece. Village commits that sin again, but it's more frustrating than ever. The back third of the game suddenly turns into a boring corridor shooter that gets to the heart of the most self-serious melodrama (I have to stress this: Ethan Winters might be the most boring hero in any video game).

Resident Evil Village

The guns don't feel built for quick shootouts with dozens of enemies. They are slow, almost archaic. This works in horror sequences where players have difficulty firing shots on a rapidly approaching Lycan. It is less fun to shoot away waves of enemies with bullet sponge later in the game. The same panic-inducing mechanics are used to fuel an action-power fantasy. It just doesn't mesh.

This is evident in the game's bonus mercenary mode, where players kill a certain number of monsters in a short amount of time. Slow movements and sluggish shots just make the mode look like it's running at half speed, like Ethan shooting while sinking into quicksand.

With every dramatic blow that has no lasting impact on the story, any sense of danger is lost early.

This conflict is an ongoing theme throughout the game. Players should feel powerless and powerful at the same time. These ideas collide and weaken both ends of the spectrum. Throughout the story, we see really terrible things happen to his characters that are quickly dismissed as "just a flesh wound". As soon as the feeling feels that an injury can be healed with magical healing potions, all efforts and tensions go out the window. Body horror turns into slapstick comedy.

It feels like certain scenes are just there for the sheer shock value – and that effect quickly wears off. With every dramatic blow that has no lasting impact on the story, any sense of danger is lost early. The fact that players can simply jump into a menu and craft ammunition during combat also helps. Despite all the gore, nothing really bad ever happens. With no consequences, risks or stakes, I played through the entire back half of the game with stony faces, without anything having led me astray. That's the kind of lukewarm reaction horror films fear.

Is Resident Evil a series about puny people who barely survive terrible situations? Or is it about pseudo-superheroes triumphantly shooting down mutants? Resident Evil Village is idling at this intersection instead of choosing a path.

Our opinion

Resident Evil Village is an uneven collection of horror movie send-ups. Sometimes it offers a really exciting vision of the future of the series with imaginative world building and rewarding exploration. In other cases, it is an ordinary shooter struggling to get real bets or tension. These two tones are often at odds with each other, highlighting all of the franchise's best and worst instincts in one eclectic package. Chalk it up to a quarterly crisis.

Is there a better alternative?

Many previous Resident Evil games do what Village does, but in a more focused way. Try 2 for exploration, 3 for action, or 7 for horror.

How long it will take?

The story lasts around eight to ten hours, though there's a huge incentive to replay it to unlock new weapons and art. The mercenary mode also provides additional game time.

Should you buy it?

Yes. It's a real question. This is still a fascinating entry in the legendary series, even if it is unsuccessful at times. But those who haven't shopped should steer clear, regardless of how much they want to meet Lady Dimitrescu.

Editor's recommendations




05 May
Blog

Mobvoi TicWatch GTH Review: Not a Watch You’ll Want to Wear

mobvoi ticwatch gth review

“The derived design and poorly executed software of the Mobvoi TicWatch GTH make it impossible to recommend, even though it's cheap. It's hard to believe that it comes from the same company as the excellent TicWatch Pro 3. "

  • Comprehensive sensor array

  • Derivative design

  • Questionable tracking accuracy

  • Uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time

  • Outdated software

Have you been looking for a cheaper, slower, less accurate, and less attractive Apple Watch tee? Good news, because Mobvoi's TicWatch GTH is a perfect match for you. It costs only $ 80 and looks pretty similar to Apple's smartwatch, but that's where the similarities end. If for some reason you're not just buying one of the many very good fitness bands for less or one of the far better smartwatches for a bit more, let's talk about where the TicWatch GTH gets it all wrong in more detail.

design

What is there to say The TicWatch GTH outrageously copies the familiar shape of the Apple Watch. It is slightly smaller overall, has a 10 mm thick case and is only available in matt black. The crown is in the same location as the digital crown on the Apple Watch, which even Oppo avoided on the Apple Watch-like Oppo Watch, but here it's a simple button. The 20 mm wristband is made of TPU and is attached with quick release pins. The case is apparently made of metal, but feels great like plastic.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

It's not very comfortable to wear. I noticed that the plastic wrap will soon get hot and itchy even if I don't do any exercise. The strap slips around my wrist unless it's pulled tight enough that I cut off circulation and the holder refuses to stay in place, meaning the end of the strap folds around underneath your cuff. It couldn't be better if the 1.55-inch screen lights up with 360 x 320 pixels, as this exposes the massive bezel around it.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Positive? The glass above the screen has a pleasing 2.5D curve that makes it easy to wipe, and the case is swim-proof with a water resistance of 5 ATM. It really is. What bothers me most about the TicWatch GTH isn't that it's a cheap imitation of the Apple Watch or that it's not very nice to wear. It's a more expensive version of the humble Willful smart watch I recently tried. It costs $ 36 on Amazon, but it's no better in terms of design and convenience. In some ways, it's even worse.

Health surveillance

The TicWatch GTH is filled with sensors – its only real redemption function – at least when taken at face value. They monitor your heart rate, blood oxygen levels and, unusually, skin temperature. The skin temperature monitor is definitely something we don't see often in wearables. It is either activated in the TicHealth suite of apps on the watch or can be automatically monitored along with heart rate and blood oxygen throughout the day.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The question is, why should you need to know your skin temperature? The temperature of the body's largest organ is different from your internal temperature, which tells you about a fever when measured with a thermometer. Although skin temperature can indicate changes in temperature, it may be due to environmental and nutritional reasons. It combines SpO2 blood oxygen values ​​and respiratory rates as health data that was provided on the TicWatch GTH but was not adequately explained by Mobvoi.

If you want to fill the watch with sensors and rate it crucially for each Mobvoi, please try to explain why we need to know all of this. A map displayed on the watch gathers all the sensor data ready to inform or worry you depending on how you view that type of information, and a vaguely descriptive phrase about the function itself doesn't count. I couldn't test the accuracy of the skin temperature monitor, but it never alerted me that I was either too hot or too cold. So I'm assuming that I'm fine and that it is functioning normally. The heart rate monitor and the blood oxygen sensor gave almost identical results as the Apple Watch Series 6.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The workout is recorded on the watch and there are a variety of options including running, swimming, yoga, and mountaineering. When compared with the Apple Watch during a 30-minute workout, the TicWatch GTH recorded a slightly lower heart rate throughout and in the final report, significantly fewer calories – around half – were burned. A software update may improve accuracy in the future, but right now the training data may not reflect how hard you are actually working. Since there is no GPS on board, this is not a tracker for serious athletes or athletes.

Another important note. Mobvoi has taken a step back from linking GTH sensors to COVID-19 detection, which was hinted at in the early press materials. On the product side, however, the company says it is working with Carnegie Mellon University on a system that will use the GTH's sensors to detect the disease at an early stage. Due to the accuracy of the training tracking and the lack of an explanation of how the sensors work now, I will not trust the GTH with my ongoing health in the near future.

software

You use the Mobvoi app to connect the watch to your phone. It also collects all of your exercise data and displays a dashboard with data taken from the watch's sensors. The watch uses Mobvoi's own software, which is reminiscent of the system of some early Amazfit wearables, as the menu is a vertically scrolling list and “maps” with information such as weather and training details are displayed to the left and right of the main screen.

mobvoi ticwatch gth review notificationsAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

mobvoi ticwatch gth review trainingAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

mobvoi ticwatch gth reviews menuAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

mobvoi ticwatch gth review activityAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

While the speed is reasonable, the software looks and feels outdated. A good example is changing the watch face, an action performed in the app because it takes an excruciating 2 minutes and 2 seconds to transfer and apply a new watch face to the watch. I know because I timed it. The first Amazfit smartwatches I used took a similarly long wait, but that has changed since then. Mobvoi is obviously happy to be completely behind the times.

Carrying and using the TicWatch GTH is often frustrating and not very rewarding

Notifications are accompanied by a weak vibrating alert and not all apps are supported. Outlook and Teams are missing from the list even though they are installed on my phone, for example. The information displayed varies from displaying most of the text to nothing outside of waiting for a message. You cannot interact with any notifications.

The watch does not have an ambient time display and you have to press the button to wake up the screen as there is no option to tap the screen. The raise-to-wake function works, but is very slow to respond. Although the screen has a decent pixel density, the quality of the text and images varies. Notifications look a lot more pixelated than other menus, so the operating system isn't done yet, for example.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The Bluetooth range is also quite short and the watch is often disconnected from my phone. The connection won't always reconnect without me going into the app and forcing it to do so. Carrying and using the TicWatch GTH is often frustrating and not very rewarding. This situation is not supported by software that feels out of date compared to the competition.

battery

The TicWatch GTH has a 260 mAh battery which, according to Mobvoi, lasts 10 days before it needs to be charged. This seems accurate, but one irritating flaw makes it difficult to judge battery life. The battery indicator on the watch constantly shows a full charge, while in the app it remains about three quarters full. Not helpful and doesn't include a percentage counter either. Hence, it is impossible to judge when to think about recharging until the battery is almost empty.

Price and availability

You can buy the TicWatch GTH now for $ 80 or $ 70. It is available directly from Mobvoi's own website or from Amazon.

Our opinion

The TicWatch GTH makes me angry. I like the addition of the temperature sensor above the heart rate and blood oxygen monitor. It may help us better assess our overall health, and it's great to see it in an affordable wearable. Except that its inclusion here is done so badly that the value has been lost.

Mobvoi does not adequately explain why we should use or trust these sensors or how best to interpret the results. After comparing the GTH to another smartwatch, there are concerns about accuracy in some areas. It doesn't instill much confidence or encourage me to wear the watch all the time. Not that I want to wear it all the time. The derivative design turns off instantly, the bezels on the screen make it look even cheaper than it actually is, and the strap is uncomfortable so I don't want to wear it overnight to keep track of sleep.

Almost no matter how much you're looking to spend, dozens of wearables are vying for your attention, and almost all of them are better buys than the TicWatch GTH. That it comes from the same company behind the TicWatch Pro 3 smartwatch, one of our top picks, is as confusing as it is frustrating.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes very much. If you're looking for a simple, reliable fitness tracker, the Honor Band 6 and Xiaomi Mi Band 6 cost less and offer better performance. The $ 60 Samsung Galaxy Fit 2 may be a bit old, but it's more comfortable and looks better. Happy to spend more? Make your choice from our list of the best fitness trackers.

If you want a smartwatch, we recommend spending a little more and getting the $ 130 Amazfit GTS 2e, which has a far more attractive design and better software. That's when you want to spend the minimum. If you own an iPhone, buy an Apple Watch – the Apple Watch SE is fine – and if you have an Android phone, Samsung's wearables are very good too. Samsung itself is currently only charging $ 180 for the Galaxy Watch Active 2, so there are deals available.

While the TicWatch GTH is cheap, the savings you get from purchasing it don't translate into a satisfying home ownership experience.

How long it will take?

Because of its water resistance and durable metal case, the TicWatch GTH should withstand harsh treatment, and the strap can be easily replaced if it breaks. The software needs to be fine-tuned now, but no updates have come in during my time with the watch. If you can decide to buy and live with the fact that the software may stay the same, it should remain technically relevant for a few years given the extensive array of sensors.

Should you buy one?

No. The design of the derivatives, concerns about accuracy, and frustrating software have put it way behind the competition regardless of cost.

Editor's recommendations




05 May
Blog

Apple AirTag Review: Tracker Leverages Billions of Devices

Apple Airtag rating 1

"AirTags are a great way to keep track of your belongings as they take advantage of the vast ecosystem of Find My products developed by Apple."

  • Very easy to use

  • Uses a huge ecosystem

  • Replaceable battery

  • Precision tracking works great

  • Accessories are expensive

  • Some privacy concerns

Apple's Find My app has long been a great way to keep tabs on your iPhone, Mac, or iPad. But what about your non-smart items? After years of rumors and leaks, AirTags are finally here to help you keep track of everything else you want to attach them to and bring everyday non-smart items to the connected world.

AirTags use some fancy technology to beat the competition in ways that only Apple can match. That said, Apple's Find My network is now available on every iPhone. This means that you can be informed of the location of your items in near real time, provided they are in a relatively well-populated area.

AirTags have a lot to offer. At first glance, they aren't overly expensive and are great to incorporate into Apple's walled garden. They're not perfect, but if you're a hardcore Apple user they get pretty close.

Design and furnishings

AirTags are small and portable, making them very easy to keep on a keychain or in a purse or wallet. In terms of base size, AirTags are 1.25 inches wide and 0.31 inches thick.

Of course, most of the time this won't be your actual size. This is because AirTags do not have a hole for a key fob. So if you want to keep an AirTag on your keys (or anything other than a sealed pouch), you'll need to purchase an accessory to hold the AirTag. Yes, accessories for your accessories.

It's a little frustrating that the key fob hole is missing. Sliding an AirTag onto a set of keys is perhaps the most obvious use for them, and while Apple wants to push AirTag accessories, it seems like a pretty basic feature that needs to be ignored.

AirTags look pretty good. They have white plastic on top and a silver back with the Apple logo. This back is perhaps surprisingly removable. Underneath is a button cell battery that you can replace yourself. It's a bit of an un-Apple step, but a very welcome one, though you don't have to remove the back more than once a year or so. And it's better than many other similar trackers that don't have a removable battery.

Apple's own AirTag holders are very nice, of course – although they are a bit pricey. I've used the AirTag leather keyring most of the time, the simplest offering that is $ 35. That's right, it's more than the $ 29 AirTag itself. Most people will go the more rational route – I found a pack of four similar holders on Amazon for $ 25. While I can't speak to the quality of these, let's face it, they're probably fine. Apple's accessories are of course very high quality – you just have to pay a lot for them.

As you'd expect from an Apple product, setting up an AirTag is easy. In this case, of course, you will need an iPhone with iOS 14.5 or higher. Simply unpack the device, pull out the plastic battery label, and place the device next to your iPhone. It should appear like a new pair of AirPods. Then you can connect it to your Apple ID, name it and give it a small symbol. Once you've set it up, you'll be able to see it along with everything else in the new Items tab of the My Search app.

Features and performance

As mentioned earlier, AirTags work on the Apple Find My network. This means that they can communicate with other Apple devices, even those that do not belong to you, to let you know where they are. When an iPhone is within Bluetooth range of your AirTag, its location is updated and you can see exactly where it is – without the owner of that accidentally passing iPhone ever knowing. This is an incredible way to take advantage of the number of iPhones in the world and an example of why AirTags work so well.

Competitors like Tile offer similar features – but will never be as effective. Tile trackers can communicate with any phone that has the Tile app installed. That's a far fewer number of people than those who have iPhones simply activated with Bluetooth.

If an iPhone is within Bluetooth range of your AirTag, its location will be updated and you can see exactly where it is.

If you lose an item with an AirTag, the Find My app has a number of features that you can use to quickly retrieve it. For starters, you can see the last known location of an item on a map. If you are in a populated area it is likely that the location will be nearly accurate. Once you're approximately 30 feet from the subject, you're within Bluetooth range – and that's where precise tracking comes in. Precision tracking uses the U1 chip in your iPhone and AirTag to get an accurate location. I have found that it is accurate to within a few centimeters. If you use this feature, you will see instructions on your iPhone for where your item should be.

If you still can't find it, or if you know you're around, you can set off a tone from your AirTag to help you find it. The alarm will be relatively loud, especially given the size of the device. All of the tools work relatively well together, making it easy for you to find your lost item.

AirTags also have a special "lost mode". If you lose an AirTag, you can turn on lost mode in the Find My app. You will then receive a notification if it is found by another device on the Find My network. There is an NFC chip in AirTags. If an AirTag is in Lost Mode, another iPhone user can tap an AirTag to find your contact information when you enable this feature.

Privacy concerns

Of course, there are some privacy concerns about AirTags – as with anything designed to be "tracked". However, Apple added some features to prevent problems from occurring. The first privacy concern is that someone could slip an AirTag into someone else's purse or pocket without them knowing where it is. If your iPhone detects that there is an AirTag with you on the way and the owner is not there, you will receive a notification on your phone. If after a while you still can't find the AirTag, it will start chirping, which is also useful for users with an Android device.

Unfortunately, these features may not work as quickly as they should. The notification will take a few hours to appear and the sound may not turn on for three days. In other words, someone could still use an AirTag to track someone else's location without them knowing if they are an iPhone user for at least a few hours or a few days if they don't have an iPhone.

Fortunately, your own location is no problem for AirTags. AirTags do not store location information locally – instead, this information is stored encrypted in the cloud. AirTags should be near the bottom of the list of anyone concerned about tracking, as the phone you carry with you everywhere is far better suited for this.

Our opinion

Apple AirTags are a great way to keep track of your belongings. They use the huge ecosystem of Find My products developed by Apple and can be seamlessly integrated into your iPhone.

At $ 29, the actual AirTag is also relatively cheap. However, if you want to use it for your keys or attach it to something else instead of tucking it in a secure pouch, you need to consider the cost of accessories. That can really add up when you buy multiple AirTags.

Are there any better alternatives?

If you are an iPhone user, there are no better alternatives. Apple has enabled third-party support for the Find My network, so better alternatives may eventually be released. However, Apple users who are prone to losing their keys or other items should stick to AirTags for the time being.

Of course, if you're not too keen on staying in the Apple ecosystem, there are other options. The most important of these is Tile's wide range of products, which include credit card size trackers, trackers with a hole in your keychain, and so on. Unfortunately, as mentioned earlier, Tile's trackers can't network half of US smartphone users like AirTags, but they're a great option for basic tracking.

AirTags and Tile-Tracker are similar in price. You can get a pack of four AirTags for $ 100. That's the same price as a 4-pack of Tile Pro trackers. While Tile Pro trackers offer a keychain hole, they don't have the same integration as the devices Apple designed themselves.

How long it will take?

AirTags should last for years. They have a replaceable battery that can be charged for a year and they are IP67 waterproof so they should withstand things like rain, the weird drop in the sink, etc. Don't get them wet on purpose, but if they get wet they should survive.

That doesn't mean AirTags won't get scratched. If you leave them on your keys over time, they will definitely get some scratches – but should still work just fine.

Should you buy it?

Yes. AirTags are the best trackers for iPhone users right now.

Editor's recommendations




03 May
Blog

New Pokémon Snap Review: As Wholesome As Can Be

New Pokemon Snap

"New Pokemon Snap is a worthy sequel to a beloved classic that's full of charm and a surprising amount of content."

  • Intuitive photo mechanic

  • The gameplay rewards curiosity

  • Lots of content

  • Fun photo editing

  • Grindy gameplay loop

  • Uncooked social traits

How on earth did it take so long for New Pokémon Snap to exist? The original Pokémon Snap has held a special place in fans' hearts for over 20 years, and they're practically begging for more. Given that there are as many Pokémon spin-offs as there are creatures themselves, the decision to wait that long is mind-boggling.

As a series (god it feels good to finally call it a series), Pokémon Snap is almost the ideal implementation of the franchise. Instead of fighting monsters, players can simply immerse themselves in their habitats and observe every precious behavior. While it is a tragedy that Pokémon are not real, the photo simulator is a suitable vacation in their world.

New Pokémon Snap is a wonderful sequel that fits the social media era perfectly. With tons of courses to explore and interactions to discover, it's a laid-back amusement park ride that's a worthy evolution of the original.

Take a picture, it will take longer

For those who have never grown up with a game old enough to drink, New Pokémon Snap is a first-person shooter – but not what you think. It's a photo simulator where players leisurely drive through the new lental region, taking pictures of creatures as they pass. It's like touring a series of healthy nature reserves.

Pokémon has always been a franchise with two distinct strengths. For RPG Diehards, it's a strategic game that can be highly competitive and complex. For those who think Pikachu is just damn cute, it's just a good excuse to collect some creatures. New Pokémon Snap is a game designed specifically for the latter that gives "I have to catch them all" a new meaning.

The central photo mechanic works so well because it's easy to understand, but offers plenty of nuances for dedicated players to work with. The challenge is to create perfect compositions, not to run the basics. Almost anyone can pick it up and immediately understand how to play. It is particularly suitable for our modern times, when children use cameras from a young age thanks to smartphones. Photography is incorporated into our basic lives more than ever, and New Pokémon Snap is putting those skills to the test.

It's an ingenious twist on the franchise that turns something we do every day into the most intuitive gameplay hook in the world.

To help players get their perfect shots, the game features little tools that create different interactions. Throw a fluffruit at a Pokémon and they will happily chew it and give players a new pose to capture. Play a little music box and a chandalure might spin in response. Each tool brings a level of experimentation into the game that constantly rewards curiosity with consistently pleasing results.

The slow, relaxed pace won't work for everyone. Like Animal Crossing: New Horizons, it's a leisurely game that works best when you sit back on the couch in handheld mode on a lazy weekend day. But as for Pokémon games that try to appeal to casual fans, it's an ingenious twist in the franchise that makes something we do every day the most intuitive gameplay hook in the world.

More to discover

While the original game was a brief curiosity that could be 100% completed in six hours, New Pokémon Snap is finding several ways to improve game time. The biggest difference is that the sequel features a narrative about a mysteriously glowing Pokémon phenomenon that brings more specific goals and progress to the game. There are even "boss fights" where players have to test their reaction time to snap rare photos of giants like Milotic. It's a simple solution that adds structure to those who are put off by the free form of its predecessor.

New Pokemon Snap

There are many more ways to photograph this time. The original game only had 62 Pokémon, while this one has over 200. In addition, each monster has four different poses that can be caught. It takes over 800 unique shots to get one shot of everything, which is way above the Nintendo 64 version.

The same applies to courses. There are 11 main locations, but each has a variant that increases the number of unique levels to 24. It doesn't even take into account the alternative routes hidden at each level or the research level system, adding four minor differences to each level. Throw in over 140 photo requests and a slew of unlockable objects and players with a lot more to do this time around.

While targeting casual gamers, it's a deceptively deep package that a dedicated fan can spend a lot of time mastering.

Granted, it can be a bit of a chore. To get everything, players have to repeat the courses over and over again. Even with the variations, it can be a bit difficult to play the same stage a dozen times to get the maximum level of research. The NEO-ONE vehicle slowly rolls along the game's tracks. A turbo tool while playing helps speed things up. However, if someone wants to catch a Pokémon that doesn't appear until the end of a stage, they'll have to wait for the car to stomp to the end for the chance.

Despite the repetition, it's a little surprising to compare the original and the sequel in terms of content. The story alone lasts around 12 hours, and adding online leaderboards gives the game a huge lifespan for those who have that high score itch. While targeting casual gamers, it's a deceptively deep package that a dedicated fan can spend a lot of time mastering.

The social network

The best thing about a sequel to Pokémon Snap that launches in 2021 is that it can reach its full social potential. Something like that. New Pokémon Snap has an online element for players to share their best shots. For longtime fans, a dream comes true, although without some restrictions it wouldn't be a Nintendo internet experience.

Players can only upload six photos at a time, which is disappointingly limited. On the Online tab, players can only browse a very small selection of trending photos. This includes photos of friends that appear under a vague "Featured" tab that only shows the most recent snapshots. There is no way to search for a friend and simply check their profile. Instead, players will need to find a photo of them when it appears in Recommended and click on their page from there. It is an unnecessarily sparse but complicated implementation of a basic idea.

For longtime fans, a dream comes true, although without some restrictions it wouldn't be a Nintendo internet experience.

It's hard not to think about what could have been here. Imagine an in-game social media app where players can scroll through their friends' photos, add tags to their shots, or filter by a Pokémon's name to find the best creature shots in the world. It is particularly surprising that the game lacks integration with Nintendo's mobile app. It feels like a missed opportunity that could reach its full social potential.

Fortunately, the game has an ace up its sleeve: its photo editing tools. Players can customize shots in a mini version of Instagram that includes filters, frames, and stickers. Images can even be "re-captured", giving players the option to re-frame a shot, change the exposure, or play with focus. It's a small but powerful touch that breaks the game wide open. It no longer feels as if there were a set number of “good” shots during the journeys on the rails. There are tons of ways to create a masterpiece. Even a bad snapshot can subsequently become a work of art.

New Pokemon Snap

The photo editor gives the game its true social power. I've spent the past few days sending photos to friends or sharing them on Discord servers. The satisfaction of having a mate compliment on my carefully crafted shot is far more satisfying than the thousands of strangers who like it online. It might be just a side-effect of the lack of online functionality, but New Pokémon Snap is a more personal social experience that's best enjoyed when players have someone to trade discoveries with.

Our opinion

New Pokémon Snap is a wonderful sequel to a beloved classic, which is no easy task. It avoids being a simple act of nostalgia by giving players tons of photo ops to track and more control over their final shots. There's more room for growth, be it through DLC or a sequel, but it's a healthy photo game for fans looking to immerse themselves in the colorful glow of the Pokémon universe.

Is there a better alternative?

There are many great niche photography games like Umurangi Generation, but New Pokémon Snap is unmatched in its depth of content.

How long it will take?

The main story lasts 12 hours, but if you take all of the 800+ shots, the watch will have plenty of time. Unlockables, side requests, and post-game leaderboards make this pack a surprisingly robust package compared to the original.

Should you buy it?

Yes. It's a chill experience that goes perfectly with the Nintendo Switch. It's the kind of game that you can break out when you have a few free minutes and give your day a little boost of joy.

Editor's recommendations




01 May
Blog

Shark Vacmop Review: A Swiffer Sweeper on Steroids

Shark Vacmop Lights

"The Shark Vacmop takes everything I love about the popular Swiffer Sweeper and adds suction to better collect debris on the floor."

  • Sweep and wipe lightly at the same time

  • No uncomplicated disposal with pads

  • Decent intake performance

Shark's robotic vacuum cleaners are characterized by a balanced relationship between performance and price. While the cordless vacuum line is available from a variety of options, only one is particularly suitable for both picking up dirt from hard floors and cleaning up spilled material.

The Shark Vacmop uses the Swiffer Sweeper approach by acting as a dry sweeper and mop at the same time, saving you the hassle of needing two separate cleaners. You may be wondering if there are any compromises with a 2-in-1 device like this one. So I went through some good cleaning scenarios to find out.

From the sweeper to the mop

Arguably the most compelling feature of the Shark Vacmop is its ability to sweep and then mop with minimal effort. With your traditional Swiffer Sweeper, you need to discard the dry pad and then replace it with a wet one to make the transition possible. There's none of this with the Vacmop that makes it particularly versatile when it comes to cleaning up different types of dirt.

Shark Vacmop on the wallJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

The disposable pillow is effectively used for both sweeping and mopping as there is a small corner that soaks up dirt on the floor and stows everything in the pillow itself. The suction is adequate for most tasks, but I was surprised how it can still suck up dirt if the pad gets wet while wiping. I really appreciate the convenience of sweeping and mopping at the same time because it saves time.

There is a bit of resistance when pushing and pulling the 5 pound shark vacuum cleaner, however. It doesn't have the same level of effortless movement as a Swiffer Sweeper. Sure, the head can be hinged the same way a Swiffer can pivot to collect dirt and debris, but the drag makes it a little more difficult to maneuver.

Additional costs for disposable pads

Much like a Swiffer sweeper, the Shark Vacmop requires you to purchase disposable pads that need to be replaced as soon as they become dirty or filled with dirt. Removing the pad is a breeze, accomplished by pressing a button on the side of the head. The device unlocks the disposable pillow. All you really have to do is place it over a garbage can that it can be dropped into.

Shark Vacmop PadJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

While this makes it very convenient, you have to keep in mind that the Shark Vacmop will not work without the disposable pad. You also need to keep in mind that there is an ongoing cost to owning the Vacmop: about $ 24 for a 30-point refill of disposable pads. For comparison, a 40-pack of Swiffer Sweeper dry-sweeping wipes costs around $ 13 – so you pay significantly more for the Vacmop.

I really appreciate the convenience of sweeping and mopping at the same time.

There's also the multi-surface liquid cleaner that you need to buy if you want to mop your hard floors. It's $ 10 for a two-liter bottle that is then poured into the vacmop. Since the device is battery-operated, the liquid multi-surface cleaner is dispensed by pressing the button on the handle. I actually like how it dries out quickly on my wooden floors without leaving streaks. It is worth noting, however, that it is not a disinfectant solution. If you choose any other solution, all you need to know is that there is a risk of damage to the device.

You can cut your expenses by limiting the frequency of cleaning. However, don't be fooled by focusing solely on the $ 100 initial cost.

Short battery life

If you have a lot of space to sweep and mop, you should look for another solution as the Shark Vacmop has a 13 minute battery life. This is really short, which means it's best reserved for the clutter on site. While it is still possible to clean larger rooms, you will need to take breaks so that you can charge the Vacmop with the included magnetic charger.

Shark Vacmop magnetic connectorJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

I've mainly used the Shark Vacmop after dinner to remove any crumbs that are collecting on the floor. Since I don't sweep and mop the kitchen area for more than five minutes, the short battery life isn't an issue for me, but I can see how it can be a limiting factor for others.

Finally, I just want to point out that the package does not contain any other attachments. So don't expect to find a crevice or a brush tool.

Our opinion

Shark's take on the Swiffer Sweeper is interesting. There's no denying the fact that steroids are a Swiffer as it takes everything I love about the popular street sweeper and adds suction to better collect dirt on the floor – while also being able to switch to a mopper without having to remove the pad.

The $ 100 startup cost isn't bad, but consider the added cost of purchasing the disposable pads and the multi-surface cleaner.

How long it will take?

The Vacmop is made of robust plastic materials and offers a robust quality. In fact, it fell over several times with no signs of damage. There is a one-year limited warranty in case something goes wrong internally due to a defect.

Is there a better alternative?

The Dyson Omni-Glide is characterized by its lightweight construction, effortless movement and stronger suction power as a superior sweeper. Sure, it's significantly more expensive at $ 400, but that's the only money you'll need for it.

Should you buy it?

Yes. It's inexpensive and there are few models that can sweep and mop at the same time.

Editor's recommendations




29 Apr
Blog

Returnal Review: The PS5’s First Must-Play Exclusive is Here

return

"Returnal takes full advantage of the capabilities of the PS5 to give players a fast-paced and furious sci-fi spectacle."

  • Quick fight

  • Great risk-reward systems

  • Fascinating story

  • Immersive DualSense functions

  • Demanding difficulty

  • Limited build options

Returnal is finally bridging the gap between AAA and indie video games. While these worlds have often felt separate from each other, the new third-person shooter is proof that they can naturally merge. Its DNA is as ingrained in indie gems like Dead Cells as it is in big budget sci-fi shooters like Mass Effect.

The exclusive PS5 comes from Housemarque, a Finnish studio known for niche titles like Super Stardust and Nex Machina, which draw the influence of arcade shooters. The studio announced it would change direction in response to weak sales and famously declared that "Arcade is dead". Fans feared the pivot might crush the studio, but it turns out that Housemarque's take on an AAA game only reinforces his indie spirit.

Returnal is a brave science fiction shooter that successfully breaks down the gaming industry's longstanding genre barriers. While its punishing roguelite elements can detract from its narrative strengths, fast-paced combat and a gripping atmosphere make it one of the more exciting, high-end PlayStation exclusives to appear in quite a while.

Live, die, repeat

Describing how Returnal works is no easy task. It might look like a regular third-person shooter, but that barely scratches the surface. It's also a roguelite, bullet hell game, and Metroidvania adventure all rolled into one (that's a lot to deal with, I know). This jumble of influences may sound like an “too many chefs” situation, but Housemarque is a master chef when it comes to genre fusion. Every taste is perfectly balanced.

The basic requirement is that players control an astronaut named Selene, who is in a science fiction version of Groundhog Day after their ship crashed on the planet Atropos. She must shoot and work her way through six different biomes as she collects new perks, weapons, and upgrades along the way. When she dies, she will be sent straight back to her ship with most of her equipment removed.

Fortunately, players don't start exactly from scratch. Clever progression hooks are branded in. If you defeat the massive boss of a biome, the path to the next area remains unlocked for the next round. There are permanent skills that can also be collected, such as: B. a grappling hook or metal legs with which the players can walk on lava. This little piece of Metroid-style gear gating is constantly revealing secrets around the world, and fun to explore every time the randomly compiled map.

It's an aggressive action game that is always fun to just do the basics.

Everything is glued together by fast-paced action. The movement itself is satisfactorily quick and enables evasive ballet as giant space squids throw balls in all directions. The weapons are a blast thanks to the perks that unlock permanently over time and give each weapon type a different feel. Weapons use a short cooldown system instead of limited ammo, so players are encouraged to go wild on encounters. There's also a powerful melee sword blow that provides a solid incentive to rush headlong into battle. It's an aggressive action game that is always fun to just do the basics.

There's a lot more complexity to talk about, like an adrenaline system that gives stat boosts every time players get three kills in a row without getting hit. All these small systems together form an experience that is always on the gas. This is where it's easy to see where Housemarque's arcade roots come into play. Returnal feels like a top-down shoot-em-up reimagined as a big budget 3D action game. The studio may claim that "Arcade is dead," but it's alive and well in these high octane battles.

Hollywood Sci-Fi

In terms of sound, Returnal's closest comparison to director Ridley Scott's films. The game has Scott's signature brand for threatening science fiction, much like Alien or Prometheus. Selene's story is both otherworldly and deeply personal. Sinister narrative sequences in Selene's house that mysteriously appear on Atropos slowly build up her troubled story before it leads to a gripping emotional conclusion.

Returnal gameplay PS5 game

Without giving too much away, it's a terrifying story that justifies the game's cyclical roguelite setup. There is something inevitable that consumes Selene and makes her relive her past over and over again. The journey is not so much about shooting every enemy in sight as it is about uncovering a deeply repressed memory.

Much of the game's haunting tone is achieved through Atropos itself, an ominous planet full of danger. From a sprawling desert full of mechanical octopuses to an icy tundra where there is almost no organic life, Selene is truly cut off from society. It's a lonely experience that creates the awkward isolation of games like Metroid Prime.

Returnal is the most compelling argument for PS5 technology we've seen so far.

Housemarque went to great lengths to immerse players in this environment. As an exclusive PS5 product, Returnal takes full advantage of the DualSense controller to make Atropos feel more tactile. The haptic feedback simulates soft raindrops and slimy parasitic winds. The controller's built-in speaker also gives some helpful hints, such as: B. a sharp squelch, which indicates that the old fire of a weapon has been charged.

Returnal is the most compelling argument for PS5 technology we've seen so far. While exclusives like Destruction AllStars made the Dualsense a gimmick, Returnal shows how well thought-out details can help create a comprehensive interactive experience so that a fictional planet feels real.

The difficulty debate

Returnal's difficulty will surely be a point of discussion. Like many roguelites, it is a merciless and sometimes unforgiving video game. There are no additional levels of difficulty or accessibility options to make the gaming experience easier for players. That can be extremely frustrating given the compelling story it tells. Anyone who is only there for the narrative but cannot keep up with the demanding action is simply out of luck.

The problem here isn't so much that the game is "too difficult", although that is certainly the broad criticism that is likely surrounding it. Instead, Returnal doesn't offer enough versatility when it comes to what constitutes a winning strategy.

return

As with other roguelites, every run is about creating a successful build by making constant micro-decisions. The game offers players a consistent range of risk-reward decisions, whether through malicious objects that can cause the suit to temporarily malfunction or parasites that, in addition to a debuff, provide a huge advantage. These do an especially good job at changing the feel of each run and encouraging players to experiment with potentially risky side effects in order to earn a high reward.

Unfortunately, there don't seem to be many recipes for success. Every single “good” run I've had came with a defense buff and some sort of suit repair that would heal me if I had poor integrity. The runs I had this on could last for hours and take me through multiple areas with ease. Those I haven't been with were often inevitably doomed. Since items like artifacts appear randomly, I have often saved my currency until I found the right one. It also doesn't help that players can only hold one weapon at a time, which reduces the potential for creating a toolset that can handle different situations.

Returnal doesn't offer enough versatility when it comes to what constitutes a winning strategy.

Part of the problem is that failed runs are not necessarily worth the effort. Hardly anything useful carries over from run to run, and it can take hours to search one area to get the strength it takes to tackle the next. Entering a new biome after a long flushing process that is only crushed in the first encounter is an emptying experience. This makes the runs that lead to progress feel much sweeter, but there is an imbalance between success and failure.

It doesn't feel like players are trading notes with each other about their eclectic win builds. They are more likely to share their misery and relief, as they would in a Dark Souls game. These conversations can create a barrier to entry that transcends Retunal's complex plot and engaging story that deserves to be the center of attention.

Our opinion

Returnal is a winning combination of big budget production value and creative, cross-genre gameplay usually reserved for cult indie hits. It tells a haunting science fiction story that thematically justifies the cyclical roguelite setup. Demanding action combined with a lack of workable build options make too many runs frustrating non-starters, but a compelling puzzle and fast-paced action always provides a strong reason to die and try again.

Is there a better alternative?

Hades is still the best roguelite out there, and there's no shortage of great budget space shooters, but Returnal is for the most part the best of both worlds.

How long it will take?

Because of its roguelite nature, that depends on skill. Some players could finish the game in 15 hours. Others could take 40. Expect to end up somewhere in between, with some daily challenges and post-game exploration to extend its lifespan.

Should you buy it?

Yes. For PS5 owners, it is the best exclusive product since the console launched and can remain unchallenged on this front until Horizon Forbidden West.

Editor's recommendations




29 Apr
Blog

LG C1 OLED 4K HDR TV Review (OLED65C1PUB)

LG C1 OLED 4K OLED TV

LG C1 Series 65 "4K OLED TV

“The LG C1 remains the preferred OLED television. It just makes sense. "

  • Excellent contrast

  • Perfect black levels

  • Improved processing

  • Ideal for games

  • Impressive sound

  • Sluggish user menus

  • Confusing picture settings

If you are in the market for an OLED TV, then you should check out the LG C1. LG's C-Series OLEDs have been among my top picks (if not one of the top picks) for our list of the best TVs since the C6 was launched about 5 years ago. LG's C-Series has changed, for the most part, incrementally from year to year, and this year is no different. However, the upgrades the C1 OLED received over last year's CX OLED are mostly significant in terms of processing, sound (yes, sound) and games.

Since I've already told you to seriously consider this TV, I would like to take this opportunity to explain why.

Historical, LG C Series OLED TVss have the same panel and the same processor as the more expensive Gallery Series or G-Series OLEDs from LG and better workmanship than the B-Series OLEDs. This year, with the introduction of the new, cheaper A-series, the C1 still justifies its slightly more expensive price. Compared to the new G1 OLED, the C1 is now considerably cheaper because the G1 has received an improved, brighter panel known as the OLED evo. All this to say: the C1 has always hit a sweet spot in LG's OLED range – this sweet spot is now a little sweeter. Now let's examine some details.

Video review

Jump to: Design | Details | User interface | Under the hood | Sound | Measurements | Image quality | Problems | Play | Our opinion

design

The LG C1 OLED looks exactly like its predecessor, the CX: Striking. I'm still amazed at how thin the panel is. When mounted on the wall, the C1 looks very elegant and modern. On its stand, the TV looks equally chic with a brushed metal shovel and offers both aesthetic and functional benefits. There are practically no bezels, which gives the C1 an "all-picture-no-nonsense" appearance.

LG C1 OLED 4K TV standDan Baker / Digital Trends

LG C1 OLED 4K TV remote controlDan Baker / Digital Trends

LG C1 OLED 4K TV side viewDan Baker / Digital Trends

LG C1 OLED 4K TVDan Baker / Digital Trends

This year, the TV remote control has undergone a design change. The new Magic Motion remote control is now a little shorter and has a flattened back. It now sits better in the hand and no longer wobbles when placed on a flat surface. The buttons are few, but far more than on the Samsung remotes or the included Roku TVs.

Another major improvement to the remote control is that it is less likely to click the center scroll wheel and accidentally unintentionally dive into an app or menu.

LG C1 OLED 4K HDR details

While we tested the 65-inch model OLED65C1PUB, our test also applies to the other screen sizes available in the series.

Screen size Model no RRP
48 inches

OLED48C1PUB

 $ 1,500
55 inches OLED55C1PUB $ 1,800
65 inches OLED65C1PUB $ 2,500
77 in OLED77C1PUB $ 3,800

user interface

As with all 2021 OLED televisions from LG, the C1 benefits from a newly designed WebOS Smart TV interface. Rather than relying on a bunch of apps at the bottom of the screen as it did in previous years, LG's custom smart TV platform is now much more like Google TV than Samsung's Tizen interface. It has big tiles for apps, lots of recommended content (possibly too much), and it's easier to read thanks to its dark theme.

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

On the menu page, where users select picture presets, adjust picture settings, sound settings, etc., WebOs provides explanations of what each setting does and how it affects the experience. That's what we like about Sony televisions, too.

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

While the TV's Settings menu is easier to understand, it is now a little sluggish. I'm not used to seeing a circle graphic about loading as the TV shows different options or the next branch of the menu tree. To be fair, this is mostly only tolerated during the initial setup of the TV. Often times, those who do not surf the menu will not find this repulsive.

Under the hood

The first of three key improvements to the 2021 LG C1 OLED is its processor: The Alpha 9 Gen 4. As in previous years, the visible improvements in this next iteration are minor, but not insignificant. I noticed smoother gradients (fewer streaks of color) and possibly a slightly better preservation of bright highlight details, although admittedly the last part is difficult to measure – this is a purely subjective observation.

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

Most of the benefits of the new processor are related to what LG calls AI picture and sound processing – AI Picture Pro, AI brightness settings, automatic genre detection, and AI Sound Pro. The first three have different effects on picture quality, while the fourth is designed to improve sound.

To be honest, I didn't find any of them necessary to get a great picture. I'm also not sure how much A.I. is really involved here. I understand that processing detects different picture elements and tries to optimize the picture based on those elements. A dark scene in a Batman movie can benefit from increasing the black levels for better shadow detail in dark scenes, while suddenly retaining the bright highlight details in a bright scene, for example. But in general, I think the C1 did a great job producing a beautiful image without the extra layers of processing and other wizardry. Ultimately, I left all four settings disabled and, as I'll show soon, got great results.

A sound upgrade

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

I don't know what LG did for the C1 OLED, but it sounds fantastic – a bit better than last year's CX OLED. Most of the discussion about sound at a briefing with LG was about AI Sound Pro, which I ultimately turned off (it works fine for adding virtual surround to movies, but I didn't like what it did to music and soundtracks) . Regardless of what improvements were made to gain, driver placement, or overall sound tuning, these were very effective. This TV sounds great! I would still recommend at least one soundbar with a sub for an upgrade.

Through the measurements

If you're not into measurements and data, feel free to jump forward, but I think my nerds out there (and I use the term affectionately) will appreciate this.

A sucker, for those of you who join us right now, is a term used to describe a measure of brightness, and since there's a bit of a sucker war going on – everyone wants a big sucker number to point out their superior HDR capabilities – I thought I would tell you what results I got when measuring the LG C1 OLED.

I started with the TV's ISF Bright picture preset, calibrated the two point white balance where I pulled out a little red, and in the standard dynamic range (SDR) the TV clocked out in 195 nits with the OLED pixel brightness to the default of 80 and peak brightness . When I increased the OLED pixel brightness to 100 I measured 233 nits, and then when I turned the peak brightness setting to High I got 335 nits.

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

Depending on how bright you want your TV to be for daily viewing of content in SDR, the C1 should be able to compete with a moderate amount of ambient light in the room.

In HDR, I had to fix the white balance a little more, but when that was done I got 750 nits in a window of up to 25% which is solid. Not as bright as the new and improved LG G1 or Sony A90J OLED TVs, but what I was expecting based on what I got from last year's CX OLED – no changes.

The color measurements were also very good, as always, and that shows in the image quality which, to put it right, is superb.

General image quality

LG C1 OLED 4K OLED TVDan Baker / Digital Trends

LG C1 OLED 4K OLED TVDan Baker / Digital Trends

I kind of forget how much I like this OLED range from LG. It gets me every time. If you want to see how good the C1 can look – well, I have a wide list of recommended 4K Blu-rays that I would recommend – but available to just about anyone: check out Our Planet on Netflix in 4K Dolby Vision at (required) premium subscription level). It's great recorded and mastered and looks excellent in Dolby Vision. It's a feast of beauty for your eyes.

From top to bottom, the pictures look just amazing.

This TV does almost everything right. It's bright enough to do HDR justice, it's got perfect blacks – which, as I cannot emphasize enough, has a huge impact on the overall look – and the color is deep and rich and vibrant. It doesn't matter what you see, the C1 OLED makes you look at its best, and can and does for a cheaper price than most other OLED TVs.

LG C1 OLED 4K OLED TVDan Baker / Digital Trends

LG C1 OLED Review screen close-upDan Baker / Digital Trends

The upscaling is good – although not a miracle worker as we discussed earlier – the HDR tone mapping is also excellent. From top to bottom, the pictures look just amazing.

Now we need to talk about some issues that can arise with movement and shadow detail.

Inherent problems

While OLED TVs are an incredible technology, they have some inherent problems and they are incredibly tied to areas where the TV excels.

For example, OLED televisions have an instant response time of less than a millisecond. That is less than a millisecond until an OLED pixel is switched on or off or the color is changed. This is ideal in most cases for reducing motion blur and a real boon for gamers. Unfortunately, when you pair this instant response time with content with a low frame rate (such as 24 frames per second or 30 fps), you run into a problem called "stuttering".

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

This is stuttering, not jerking – this TV does a good job of playing content at 24 frames per second from a cadence point of view. Stuttering is related to how long a television needs to hold a picture before showing the next picture. Another view is what the gap is between the response time of the television and the next picture that emerges from the content.

The effect is shown as a kind of blinking that draws your attention to it and away from the focus object. You definitely have a tendency to notice. This is where a compromise comes into play: you can either endure the stutter or use motion smoothing to reverse it, creating a "soap opera effect". As far as I know, many of you reading this soap opera effect don't mind. Whether this is a disadvantage for you depends on your personal preferences. If you don't mind the soap opera effect, turn on motion smoothing and you're golden. If you're a movie purist, turn it off and put up with the stuttering – otherwise your C1 OLED is awesome.

The next topic to discuss is shadow details. Another way of referring to it might be the term "crushed blacks" which I don't normally use because it feels misleading as it is actually very dark gray that is being crushed and even then it is not being crushed, it is just not showing up. But I digress.

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

The problem is that parts of the image that should be darker gray tend to appear black on an OLED because OLED materials don't like to light up at extremely low voltages. Fortunately, LG has compensation for what you can manipulate so you can get better shadow detail at the expense of increased blacks, or better black levels at the expense of shadow detail. This can be an issue with extremely dark films – Prometheus and the opening sequences in Captain Marvel come to mind – but it probably affects the players the most. More on that in a moment.

The final issue to address is the potential for screen burn-in. As I've written countless times (sorry, some things take a while to get old, but I know this is very important), OLED screens are based on organic materials that get darker as they age. If you overuse a particular color or pattern for an extended period of time, that area of ​​the screen may become disproportionately dark and appear to "hang up" on the screen. A good example of this would be a station identification error in the lower right corner of a sports / news network or the ticker at the bottom of the screen showing stock prices or updates to game results.

The fact is, screen burn-in isn't a problem for most viewers. However, if you're the type of person who watches the same channel, say, six or more hours a day, five or more days a week, I would recommend you consider a non-OLED TV – maybe the excellent Samsung QN90A Neo QLED, maybe?

Play

Games on the LG C1 OLEDDan Baker / Digital Trends

Game modes on the LG C1 OLEDDan Baker / Digital Trends

LG C1 OLED - game optimizationDan Baker / Digital Trends

Games on the LG C1 OLEDDan Baker / Digital Trends

I think I can be pretty concise here. The C1 is fantastic for most game scenarios. Only LG equips a good number of its televisions with four HDMI 2.1 inputs. For this reason alone, it's one of the most versatile TVs for gaming. You also get FreeSync and G-Sync compatibility – I don't think any other brand supports both yet. The HDR images are fantastic and the input lag is very low.

Since LG's Game Optimizer dashboard "amplifies" the reduction in input delay, the input delay is less than 10 ms. The Game Optimizer dashboard is also a great place to adjust the black levels for better shadow detail, and there are even presets for different game genres that work quite well. This is just a really comprehensive suite of player-friendly features, so it's impossible for me not to call this TV one of the best for gaming.

Our opinion

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

With its beautiful design, great picture quality, gaming capabilities, and minor improvements over the previous year's model, the LG C1 OLED is the best OLED TV choice on the market.

Is there a better alternative?

For a brighter OLED TV, the LG G1 is a good choice. I also expect the Sony A80J to be a solid competitor in roughly the same price range (though more expensive). For a non-OLED option, the aforementioned Samsung QN90A is also an excellent alternative.

How long it will take?

Due to its extended functions, the LG C1 OLED should continue to exist in the future. It's unclear now if LG's brighter and slightly more accurate OLED Evo panel is slipping down to the C-series, so I wouldn't wait for that to happen. This is a good year to buy.

warranty

LG provides a one-year limited warranty on the C1-Series OLED when purchased from an authorized LG dealer.

Should you buy it?

Yes, if an OLED TV is right for you and it doesn't require intense brightness to display in bright rooms, the LG C1 OLED is currently the best value for money OLED TV.

Editor's recommendations




28 Apr
Blog

Reolink Argus 3 Pro Review: Flexible Indoor and Outdoor Use

Reolink Argus 3 Pro on the table

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

  • Crisp looking 2K video footage

  • Excellent night vision performance

  • Solar panel add-on doesn't cost much

  • Can easily be converted into an indoor camera

  • Weak dynamic range

  • Antiquated looking app

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

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

Razor-sharp 2K video recording

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

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

Reolink Argus 3 Pro on the wallJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

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

Antiquated app interface

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

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

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

Flexibility indoors and outdoors

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

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

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

Reolink Argus 3 Pro on the tableJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

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

Our opinion

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

How long it will take?

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

Is there a better alternative?

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

Should you buy it?

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

Editor's recommendations




28 Apr
Blog

Marshall Monitor II ANC Review: Stylish, Comfy Cans

Marshall Monitor II ANC

"These headphones offer high-energy sound and tremendous battery life, Marshall-style."

  • Signature Marshall style

  • Very convenient

  • Good ANC and transparency

  • Very intuitive controls

  • Excellent battery life

  • Expensive for what you get

  • No wear sensor or multiple device pairing

  • Narrow sound stage

Are you thinking of buying active noise canceling (ANC) headphones? In addition to the many great models you'll find on our list of the best noise-canceling headphones, we now also recommend the Marshall Monitor II ANC for $ 320.

These ANC cans capture the iconic Marshall design language and add some cool features to create a stylish alternative to the headphones made by Sony, Bose, Apple, and others.

But the competition is tough – does the Marshall Monitor II ANC have what it takes to justify its high price? Let's take a look.

What's in the box?

Marshall Monitor II ANCSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Props go to Marshall to make packaging that at least tries to be sustainable. Most of it is recyclable cardboard, with the exception of a few pieces of foam that may need to be disposed of in a landfill. Inside, you'll find the Monitor II ANC, a USB-C charging cable, a 3.5mm coil-style analog cable, a quick start guide, and a soft fabric carrying case.

design

Marshall Monitor II ANCSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Whether you love Marshall's guitar amp-inspired design language or not (I think it looks awesome), you have to admit, the Monitor II is ANC Peak Marshall.

From the textured black plastic on the ear cups to the coil of the supplied analog cable and of course the distinctive Marshall logo, these headphones exude a rock music atmosphere that you won't find in any other can.

And Marshall's dedication to this look didn't detract from some extremely practical features. By combining the three sets of hinge and pivot pins, the Monitor II ANC can deform into an incredibly compact shape. I find it hard to think of full size headphones that are more travel-friendly.

While most headphones at this price point (and many that are considerably cheaper) come with a zippered hard shell, the way the Monitor II articulates them makes them beg to be thrown in a pocket. Speaking of the included tote bag, it's hard not to notice how Marshall channeled the Herschel backpack look for his black denim bag. Very cool.

The ear cups are super flat, even with the generous padding of the ear pads, which gives the Monitor II a clean, head-hugging look. And when you peel them off your head and hang around your neck, they fold slightly flat against your collarbones.

The construction is mostly plastic, but Marshall used metal for the auricle forks and headband sliders, which helps make these cans feel sturdy and durable.

Convenience, control and connections

Marshall Monitor II ANCSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Marshall Monitor II ANCSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Marshall Monitor II ANCSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Marshall Monitor II ANCSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

At 11.29 ounces, the Monitor II ANC can't be considered light when compared to other over-ear headphones, especially the feather-light Sony WH-1000XM4 (8.8 ounces), but they don't feel particularly heavy to wear . I appreciate the combination of clamping force, ear pad fit, and balance for how well they fit.

I'm a huge fan of the Monitor II controls. They're simple and effective.

Given my Dumbo-like ears, I'd prefer slightly deeper cavities in the ear cups, but overall these headphones are more than comfortable enough for hours of continuous use.

I'm a huge fan of the Monitor II controls. They're simple and effective. The gold colored button protruding from the bottom of the right ear cup is actually a tiny joystick that you can click to activate power, bluetooth pairing, answer / end calls, and play / pause. You move it up, down, front, or back to perform actions like volume and track controls.

There are two other controls that you would totally miss if you didn't look carefully. Each is inserted into the hinge point of the auricle forks where they blend seamlessly with the design and are easy to access. The left button is used to switch between ANC and transparency mode, which happens very quickly. The right "M" button, which is user configurable and allows you to choose between EQ mode, activates Siri (iPhone only) or Google Assistant.

You make these and other selections in the Marshall Bluetooth app.

Instead of spreading out and creating a warm thrum that you can feel, the bass stays a little two-dimensional.

The Monitor II's Bluetooth range is approximately 20 to 30 feet, which should be sufficient for most situations.

Unfortunately, unlike many Bluetooth headphones, you can't pair these sockets with more than one device at a time, making them less suitable for people who want to switch between their phones and laptops on a regular basis.

There's also no wear sensor, so removing the headphones from your ears won't automatically pause your music.

Sound quality

Marshall Monitor II ANCSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Overall, the Monitor II ANC sounds very good. In the factory EQ setting (known as a “Marshall” sound), the sound shifts to higher frequencies. However, the Marshall app lets you choose from six more EQ presets and create your own custom balance.

These adjustments help the Monitor II deliver more bass when you want it, and I've been able to find settings that work with a variety of genres from rock to classical.

Throw in a track like Jay-Z and Swizz Beatz 'On To The Next One, and the intensity hits you like an electric shock.

The soundstage isn't as wide or as detailed as the Sony WH-1000XM4, but what the Monitor II lacks in openness it makes up for in energy.

The acoustics are precise, bright and powerful, with a sharp focus on snare drums, cymbals, vocals and higher-frequency woodwinds such as the clarinet.

Throw in a track like Jay-Z and Swizz Beatz 'On To The Next One, and the intensity hits you like an electric shock.

Deeper, more resonant sounds like jazz bass that rely on the mid-to-low frequencies don't do quite as well. Instead of spreading out and creating a warm thrum that you can feel, they stay a little two-dimensional.

All of this results in headphones that are clearly tuned for energetic rock, pop, and hip-hop music.

Noise cancellation and transparency

Marshall Monitor II ANCSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Some headphones with active noise cancellation try to block out as much background noise as possible. The Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 are the flagship for this approach. Marshall's Monitor II ANC isn't as aggressive – you don't quite get that silent cone effect – but they do reduce the low to mid frequencies significantly when ANC is on.

I found it worked best when listening to podcasts, which were very effective in muting sounds that would otherwise make it difficult to hear spoken words. As an aid to silencing a noisy environment, they were not that helpful due to a small noticeable hiss that I found annoying after a while.

The transparency mode, on the other hand, is excellent. One press of the special ANC button and the world was suddenly very audible.

You can tweak both ANC and transparency modes in the Marshall app, but I found that the 100% levels are best in both modes.

Battery life

The Monitor II ANC's battery life is among the best for premium ANC headphones. Marshall claims 30 hours with bluetooth and ANC on and up to 45 hours with bluetooth only. That beats the $ 400 Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 (up to 20 hours), Apple's $ 549 AirPods Max (up to 20 hours), and even the $ 280 Sony WH-1000XM4 ( 30 hours with the ANC switched on, 38 hours with the device switched off).

They also have a respectable quick charge feature that gives you five hours of playtime after 15 minutes of charging.

As far as I can tell, these numbers are correct. Unlike some wireless sockets, you can also use the Monitor II ANC while charging with the analog cable, so you can never go without music.

Call quality

Marshall Monitor II ANCSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Calls on Monitor II ANC are generally good. You can block out most of the background noise when talking on the phone outdoors while keeping your voice reasonably clear. It's not the high fidelity you get from the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700, but it's perfectly fine for most calls and they work very well indoors.

For some reason, you can't choose how much sidetone you get during a call (this is equivalent to calling transparency mode). The headphones switch to about 50% transparency – enough to hear your own voice a little more clearly, but not quite as clearly as if the transparency were at 100%.

Our opinion

As with most Marshall products, the Monitor II ANC offers a price premium that is difficult to justify based on performance alone. But if you like the retro-cool guitar amp style only Marshall can offer, then these cans make a fun set of full-featured wireless companions.

Is there a better alternative?

If you don't mind the relatively conservative appearance, that's $ 280 Sony WH-1000XM4 are an excellent alternative. They're cheaper (around $ 40), lighter, more comfortable, have better sound quality and ANC, and have more features like wear sensors and Bluetooth multipoint.

But there's no denying that the Marshalls really are in a class of their own when it comes to style.

How long will they last?

The Marshall Monitor II ANC appears to be very well built from high quality materials. The ear pads are easy to remove and replace when worn. Marshall grants a one-year guarantee on these headphones. I suspect that if properly cared for, they will last for many years, although the lack of a hard case means you should be careful about how they are packaged.

Should you buy it?

Yes. If you want a set of high quality ANC wireless headphones with a unique style and sound signature that favors high energy music, this is the Monitor II ANC will make you very happy.

Editor's recommendations




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