31 Mar
Blog

Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable Review: Better Than Surface?

Lenovo ThinkPad X12 detachable

Lenovo ThinkPad X12 detachable

"The detachable ThinkPad X12 is a worthy business-oriented alternative to the Surface Pro 7."

  • Excellent detachable tablet design

  • Solid build quality

  • Excellent (and included) detachable keyboard

  • Good battery life

  • Better than the average ad

  • Mediocre productivity performance

  • Fully featured inking is of paramount importance

Microsoft Surface Pro has dominated the detachable tablet category since the Surface Pro 3. There was competition, but none, that could dethrone the Surface Pro as the best 2-in-1 there is. Even fewer direct competitors have been introduced in recent years.

However, Lenovo hasn't been deterred from introducing its first detachable tablet in nearly three years, the ThinkPad X12 Detachable. The company sent me a well-configured test device with an 11th generation Intel Core i5-1130G7 CPU, 16 GB RAM, a 512 GB solid-state drive and a 12.3-inch Full HD + display (1,920 x 1,280) for a retail price of 2,229 US dollars but available with an "eCoupon" for 1,337 US dollars. Other options are available, including CPUs with Intel's enterprise vPro functionality.

The price includes both the detachable keyboard and an active pen. Both are optional (and cost extra) on the slightly more expensive Surface Pro 7 when it's not on sale. Does the detachable ThinkPad X12 take advantage of its relatively low price point and ThinkPad design to pose a legitimate challenge to the clear market leader?

design

Lenovo applied the usual ThinkPad design formula to the detachable ThinkPad X12. First, it retains the line's most common all-black aesthetic with subtle red accents. On the front logo is the usual LED dot above the "i", and on the detachable keyboard there is the red TrackPoint knob and the red striped keys. You'll recognize this from afar as a ThinkPad, and you can't confuse it for the Surface Pro 7, which is similar in shape but has a bright silver color that looks a bit more modern.

Lenovo ThinkPad X12 detachableMark Coppock / Digital Trends

Lenovo ThinkPad X12 detachableMark Coppock / Digital Trends

Lenovo ThinkPad X12 detachableMark Coppock / Digital Trends

Second, the detachable ThinkPad X12 is made from a magnesium alloy that is meant to be both lightweight and durable. Military-grade durability testing is a trademark of ThinkPad. Interestingly, the Surface Pro 7 is also made from a magnesium alloy, although it couldn't feel more different. This is thanks to the soft-touch surface of the ThinkPad, which is warmer and more inviting than the colder metal feel of the Surface Pro 7. However, both tablets exude quality and both are equally well made.

The detachable ThinkPad X12 is almost the same size as the Surface Pro 7 and is available in every dimension within a few millimeters. For example, the ThinkPad is 0.34 inches thick and weighs 1.67 pounds while the Surface Pro 7 is 0.33 inches thick and 1.7 pounds. The bezels are also about the same size – larger than modern clamshell and convertible laptops like the Dell XPS 13 and HP Specter x360 14. These dimensions apply to the tablets only – add the ThinkPad's detachable keyboard and the Type Surface Pro 7 cover is still very tight and a bit thicker.

Lenovo ThinkPad X12 detachable side viewMark Coppock / Digital Trends

Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable connectorsMark Coppock / Digital Trends

Lenovo ThinkPad X12 detachable side viewMark Coppock / Digital Trends

Lenovo has also leaned generously on the design of the Surface Pro in its stand, which, just like the Microsoft tablet, extends at various angles from the center of the back of the tablet to almost flat. The mechanisms feel identical and they hold every tablet smoothly and reliably in the desired position. If you want to copy, as the detachable ThinkPad X12 shows, you can copy from the best too.

The detachable ThinkPad X12 benefits from its 11th generation Intel CPU by offering a USB-C port with Thunderbolt 4 support as well as a second USB-C 3.2 port, a 3.5 mm audio jack and a nano WWAN offers SIM slot to support the optional 4G LTE. This is comparable to the USB-C port on the Surface Pro 7 (no Thunderbolt support), the USB-A port, the Surface Connect port, and the microSD card reader. The wireless connectivity of the ThinkPad (like that of the Surface Pro 7) is based on Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0.

performance

The Core i5-1130G7 CPU in the detachable ThinkPad X12 is a lower-performance version of the chip that operates at 4 GHz compared to 4.2 GHz in the more common Core i5-1135G7 and with a lower thermal design output (TDP) of between 7 and 15 watts. Hence, it can be expected to run a little slower and cooler. The fan spun occasionally during my tests, but it was very quiet. Note that with the ThinkPad X12 Detachable, Lenovo implemented a performance mode that uses the Windows 10 slider. I've tested in both standard and performance modes and found only minor differences between the two in most of the tests.

It's difficult to directly compare the ThinkPad X12 Detachable's performance with that of the Surface Pro 7, as we've changed some of our benchmarks since looking at Microsoft's 2-in-1 system. The Surface Pro 7 we tested used a custom version of Intel's 10th generation Ice Lake CPU, the Core i5-1035G4, making it a generation older than the Tiger Lake-based ThinkPad. We can compare Geekbench 4 results, where the Surface Pro 7 scored 4,957 in the single-core test and 17,145 in the multicore test, compared to 5,719 and 18,385 for the ThinkPad X12 Detachable, respectively. We can also look at Handbrake 1.0.7, an older version of the benchmark that we use to test the speed of a laptop encoding a 420MB video into H.265. Here the ThinkPad took a little over three minutes, compared to almost five and a half minutes for the Surface Pro 7. The ThinkPad is clearly the faster tablet, although Microsoft has released a Surface Pro 7+ for business users that is equipped with the 11th generation Intel -CPUs and should be more competitive.

Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable Keyboard and ScreenMark Coppock / Digital Trends

The ThinkPad X12 Detachable performed roughly as expected in our current benchmarks. For most of the tests, it was only slightly slower than other comparable systems. In Geekbench 5, the ThinkPad achieved 1,352 points in the single-core test and 4,796 points in the multi-core test. With this, the Lenovo Yoga 7i with a Core i5-1135G7 could be beaten with 1,357 and 4,246 points. Another system with the faster Core i5, the Porsche Design Acer Book RS, scored 1,415 and 5,364 points. Laptops with Intel Core i7 CPUs were typically significantly faster.

The ThinkPad X12 Detachable did surprisingly well in our latest Handbrake 1.3.1 test. The test again lasted a little over three minutes. The Yoga 7i took another 20 seconds, while the Porsche Design Acer Book RS ended four seconds faster. Most Tiger Lake laptops finished the test in about three minutes, although some – like the HP Specter x360 14 and the Dell XPS 13 – required performance modes to achieve these speeds. In another video coding test, Cinebench R23, the ThinkPad did not do that well and only achieved 1,125 points in single-core mode and 3,663 points in multi-core mode. The Porsche Design Acer Book RS scored 1,380 and 4,973 points, while the HP Specter x360 14 scored 1,404 and 4,847 points in performance mode. Most of the other Tiger Lake laptops passed 1,300 and 4,400 in this test, so the ThinkPad X12 Detachable remains on the back of the package.

If you're a gamer, definitely take a pass on the ThinkPad.

In the PCMark 10 Complete test, the ThinkPad finally achieved 4,443 points in the overall test, 9,763 points in the Essentials test, 5,865 points in the productivity test and 4,157 points in the creation test. This is the slowest score we've seen on Tiger Lake laptops, and the ThinkPad was particularly lagging behind in the Creation test. The conclusion from this series of benchmarks: The detachable ThinkPad X12 is fast enough for general productivity and basic computing, but it shouldn't be asked to put too much effort into editing videos or photos.

Overall, the ThinkPad X12 Detachable is a tablet that is fast enough for productivity users and is likely to be faster than the older Surface Pro 7. It won't compete with today's fastest clamshells and convertible 2-in-1s, however. More than just a good enough productivity performance, you might want to consider a different form factor.

If you're a gamer, definitely take a pass on the ThinkPad. Even with the Intel Iris Xe graphics, Fortnite could only record 13 frames per second (fps) with 1080p and high graphics. Most Tiger Lake laptops with the same GPU achieve 30 fps or faster at the same settings.

display

The detachable ThinkPad X12 has a 12.3-inch IPS display that is the same size as the Surface Pro 7. However, it's a lower resolution, Full HD + (1,920 x 1,280), compared to the much higher 2,736 x 1,824 of the Surface Pro 7. This makes Microsoft's display significantly sharper, although some users won't mind the difference on such a small display.

According to my colorimeter, the ThinkPad X12 Detachable can hold its own against the display of the Surface Pro 7 (except for the resolution). It has a brightness of 364 nits compared to the 377 nits of the Surface Pro 7 and a contrast ratio of 940: 1 compared to 1140: 1 on the Surface Pro 7. (We'd like to see this metric at 1000: 1 or more, but that ThinkPad is close enough.) The ThinkPad X12 Detachable has 97% sRGB and 72% Adobe RGB (roughly average for premium laptops), a wider gamut than the Surface Pro 7 (roughly average for premium laptops) compared to 93% and 70%, respectively. The ThinkPad's display is far more accurate with a DeltaE of 1.59 (less than 1.0 is considered excellent) compared to the dim 3.51 of the Surface Pro 7.

Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable Keyboard ScreenMark Coppock / Digital Trends

When compared to some other laptops, the ThinkPad's display is competitive. The Dell XPS 13 Full HD display is way ahead with 458 nits of brightness, a contrast ratio of 1350: 1, 98% and 75% color gamut and a color accuracy of 1.35 – but this is the exception. The Lenovo Yoga 9i 14, for example, lagged behind with 341 nits, 95% and 71% color gamut and a color accuracy of 3.74 in most measurements. Only the contrast ratio of 1060: 1 was higher. The OLED display of the HP Specter x350 14 blows all of these laptops out of the water in every metric except brightness (374 nits), with 100% and 96% color bars, a contrast ratio of 374,200: 1 and a color accuracy of 0.69.

The ThinkPad X12 Detachable may not have the same resolution as the Surface Pro 7, but it does have wider and more accurate colors and almost the same contrast. It's better than the premium laptop average overall, and on my daily test, I found it to be a comfortable display. And I didn't really miss the additional resolution of the Surface Pro 7.

The front loading dual speakers were overwhelming. They're very small in volume, and while highs and mids were okay, some laptops didn't even have the touch of base. You want headphones or external speakers to binge Netflix or listen to your favorite music.

Keyboard and touchpad

As mentioned earlier, Lenovo included the detachable keyboard. It's smaller than the typical ThinkPad keyboard, of course, but it offers the same sculpted keys, inverted Fn and Ctrl keys (a bummer, but they can be toggled in Settings), and a superior ThinkPad mechanism. There's a lot of wiggle room, though less than the larger ThinkPad keyboards, and I actually prefer the button switches – they're lighter than full-size ThinkPad keyboards, much like the keyboard on the ThinkPad X1 Nano, which I really liked. This makes the keyboard sharper and more precise, and while it doesn't match the HP Specter keyboards or the Magic keyboard on the latest MacBooks, it's available in seconds. And I like it better than the optional $ 130 cover on the Surface Pro 7.

Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable KeyboardMark Coppock / Digital Trends

Perhaps just as impressive, although the Lenovo keyboard connects to the tablet area via pogo pins like the Type Cover and is at a similar angle, it is much more solid than what Microsoft is offering. There is far less sag when typing on the keyboard of the ThinkPad X12 Detachable, which gives it a more solid feel than the Type Cover. It's not much different from typing on a “normal” laptop keyboard, except of course with the same difficulty as on the Surface Pro 7 when the combination is used on a lap.

The keyboard also includes the TrackPoint nubbin in the center, a ThinkPad staple that works well for those who still use it. The TrackPoint buttons take up space from the touchpad as usual, making the latter smaller than it could be. Thanks to the support for Microsoft Precision touchpads and a comfortable wiping surface, the touchpad works well with the multi-touch gestures of Windows 10 and corresponds to the Microsoft Type Cover touchpad. In fact, it's as good as clamshell and convertible laptops like the Dell XPS 13 and HP Specter x360 13, albeit smaller.

Lenovo also includes an Active Pen with the detachable ThinkPad X12, a $ 100 add-on to the Surface Pro 7. The pen offers 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, the same as the Surface Pen. You'll need to upgrade to Lenovo Precision for $ 59, however, pen for tilt detection and magnetic attachment to the tablet (also compatible with the Surface Pen). I found the inking smooth and effective, although my (bad) drawings weren't as sharp on the lower resolution of the display as they were on the higher resolution display on the Surface Pro 7.

Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Removable "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://img.dtcn.com/image/digitaltrends/olympus-digital-camera-1067-640x640.jpg "srcset = "https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable Camera "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://img.dtcn.com/image/digitaltrends/olympus-digital-camera-1063-640x640.jpg "srcset = "https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable Camera "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://img.dtcn.com/image/digitaltrends/olympus-digital-camera-1068-640x640.jpg "srcset = "https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Finally, Windows 10 Hello support is provided by both an infrared camera for facial recognition and a fingerprint scanner on the keyboard deck. I found both methods to be quick and reliable for logging into Windows 10 without a password. Lenovo has integrated the physical ThinkShutter switch to block the webcam for privacy reasons.

Battery life

Lenovo has a battery capacity of 42 watt hours in the small frame of the ThinkPad X12 Detachable. That's a reasonable amount of battery for the tablet – the Surface Pro 7 has a 45-watt-hour battery, but it also has a higher-resolution display. I was expecting decent battery life given the lower performance CPU.

Lenovo ThinkPad X12 detachableMark Coppock / Digital Trends

For the most part, the ThinkPad X12 Detachable was shipped. For example, in our web browser test, the ThinkPad lasted about eight hours, which is about 30 minutes less than the Surface Pro 7. The Dell XPS 13 with a Full HD display (1920×1080) also lasted about 30 minutes longer than the HP Specter x360 14 with its OLED display lasted exactly one hour less. That's not a great result, but it's not terrible either. In our video test, which ran through a Full HD Avengers trailer, the ThinkPad X12 Detachable lasted almost 11 hours, compared to the Surface Pro 7, which was shut down about three hours earlier. The XPS 13 ran about an hour longer and the Specter x360 14 about an hour less.

The detachable ThinkPad X12 should last most of the day depending on the workload.

I also ran the PCMark 10 gaming battery test to see how fair the tablet is when it comes to CPU and GPU stress, and it did about 2.75 hours. We didn't test the Surface Pro 7 in PCMark 10, but the XPS 13 lasted about 70 minutes longer and the Specter x360 14 lasted just as long as the ThinkPad. To test the longevity of productivity, I used the battery test for PCMark 10 applications, where the detachable ThinkPad X12 lasted just over 10 hours, which is a respectable result. The XPS 13 lasted about 10.75 hours and the Specter x360 14 failed after just over nine hours.

The detachable ThinkPad X12 should last most of the day depending on your workload – which we could say for many of the laptops we have recently tested outside of slot machines. Overall, I would rate the tablet's battery life as good, but not great.

Our opinion

The ThinkPad X12 Detachable is a viable competitor to the Surface Pro 7 and outperforms it in several key areas. It offers better performance, a more detachable keyboard, and a higher quality display, even at a lower resolution. It could be said that the detachable ThinkPad X12 is better than the Surface Pro 7, and it might require the Surface Pro 7+ to keep the line at the top.

When looking for a 2-in-1 detachable tablet, you have a tough decision ahead of you. However, don't let the Surface Pro 7's dominance in the past fool you into looking beyond the detachable ThinkPad X12.

Are there alternatives?

The Surface Pro 7 is obviously the clear alternative. As mentioned throughout the review, the ThinkPad X12 Detachable offers several advantages over the Microsoft tablet, including price. The Surface Pro 7 costs $ 1,400 (not on sale) for a Core i5, 16GB of RAM, and just a 256GB SSD. t include the $ 100 Surface Pen or $ 130 Cover. That makes the ThinkPad a few hundred dollars cheaper.

If you haven't opted for the detachable tablet format but still want a 2-in-1 format, the HP Specter x360 14 is a good choice. It's priced around the same and has a spectacular 4K, 13.5-inch OLED display option. It's a bigger and heavier device and doesn't do nearly as well for coloring. However, if that's not your primary application, the HP is a good choice.

If you aren't into 2-in-1 features, the Dell XPS 13 is an obvious choice. It's the best laptop out there, and it has a chassis that is almost as small but offers better performance and a much better display.

Of course, I should mention that the iPad Pro is an increasingly serious competitor to Windows 10 tablets. If you haven't decided on Windows 10 or its legacy apps, the iPad Pro is a viable option.

How long it will take?

The detachable ThinkPad X12 is durable and equipped with the latest components. It should give you years of service, but unfortunately only the first year is covered by a warranty. However, Lenovo has several expanded service offerings to consider.

Should you buy it?

Yes. The detachable ThinkPad X12 is a fine 2-in-1 device with which the Surface Pro 7 gets its money's worth.

Editor's recommendations




30 Mar
Blog

Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) Review: Don’t Hit Snooze

Google Nest Hub (2nd generation)

"The Google Nest Hub (2nd generation) offers accurate sleep tracking without the discomfort of a wearable thanks to its sleep detection function."

  • Accurate sleep tracking

  • Tons of data about your sleep

  • $ 100 starting price

  • Only a few new functions compared to the previous model

The roots of the smart home go back a long way before the Google Assistant ever became a virtual assistant in the home. It wasn't until the arrival of the Nest Hub in 2018 that we got a real hub to control the smart home. Countless smart displays have been released since then, including a big brother in the Nest Hub Max, which had a front-facing camera whose functionality didn't just act as a smart display.

The new Google Nest Hub (2nd generation) differs from all other smart displays through its sleep monitoring function. It's an addition you wouldn't necessarily expect, especially on a smart display. But is it enough to make it a real successor?

Wearable-free sleep tracking

There was a time when I tracked my sleep at night using a fitness tracker or smartwatch. I found the information they gathered useful, but the reason I stopped was limited to two things – they needed to be charged (daily on most smartwatches) and having something on my wrist when I fell asleep was not comfortable . The thought of tracking sleep without physically wearing anything undoubtedly has an immense appeal for me.

Google Nest Hub 2nd generation on the tableJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

This is precisely the main selling point of Sleep Sensing with the Google Nest Hub (2nd generation). Thanks to the Soli technology, which records my movement and breathing, the radar detection system allows me to fall asleep without a wearable device, so I no longer have to worry about other conventional trackers. Best of all, the discreet way it achieves its sleep tracking abilities gets better knowing it works without any interaction on my part.

Surprisingly accurate

At first I was skeptical about how well the Google Nest Hub (2nd generation) could track and monitor my sleep. I found out how surprisingly accurate it is after the first night. After I've activated sleep sensing and entered my typical sleep and wake times, I don't need anything else to make it work – except for sleeping, of course.

Google Nest Hub 2nd generation sleep trackingJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

When I wake up the next morning and ask the Google Assistant how I slept, a dashboard appears on the smart display listing all the important details. I'm even more amazed at some of the stats it got from my sleep, how long I went from falling asleep (it took me 1 hour and 25 minutes on a weekend) and the time it took to fall asleep for me to follow when I wake up from bed (46 minutes). It can even measure my breathing rate, which is considered average at 17 breaths per minute (rpm).

Sleep Sensing also monitors my sleep for snoring, coughing, and restlessness – all to determine my sleep efficiency. Based on the data, I am nowhere near able to get the 85% to 95% efficiency rating that I should be aiming for with my sleep. This makes sense when you consider that the Google Nest Hub (2nd generation) knows that I get out of bed and "wake up" around 5:00 am most days of the week. This is correct because the cats then start trampling me all over the place. This is how I know that the Nest Hub's sleep detection is accurate, even when my fiancé is sleeping in bed next to me.

You can also use the Google Fit app on a smartphone to check all the details. Though I find it a little annoying to have to download another app to view the information. In my opinion, it would be more useful to integrate it with the Google Home app as it is the app that I use to control my smart home devices.

Sleep tracking is not for everyone

If you're like me and have a specific sleep routine, e.g. For example, one where cats wake you up and force you to sleep on the couch, the Nest Hub's sleep tracking feature isn't particularly useful – mainly because the data didn't paint an accurate representation of your sleep. Unless I take the Nest Hub to the couch or something, but who does it? For me, sleep tracking is not a main selling point that I would look for with a smart display.

I'm even more amazed at some of the statistics it contains from my sleep.

Still, I can understand how knowledge is power. There is actually a sleep report that looks at sleep data and offers some tips on how to improve that data. In my case, I am told to stop checking my phone before bed and do it when I wake up instead. After all, sleep monitoring definitely paints an accurate picture of my sleep – something I can't get enough of on weekdays thanks to the cats. Another obvious pattern confirmed by the Nest Hub (2nd Generation) is sleeping on the weekend.

Same age, same age

There's an obvious reason I've spent a lot of time talking about sleep sensors. To be honest, this latest model hardly differs from its predecessor. Everything else about this smart display is no different. From its 7-inch LCD touchscreen, which I will once again admit, is a feast for the eyes because it makes photos realistically lifelike thanks to its Ambient EQ mode, to its compact design with a similar fabric cover for its base nothing terrible about it.

Google Nest Hub 2nd Gen.John Velasco / Digital Trends

Because it's a smart home hub, you can still access and control many of your connected devices at home – both through voice actions using the Google Assistant and by interacting with the various on-screen dashboards. What's missing here is a camera, which I honestly would rather have given the added value it would provide.

Companion at the bed

This brings me to my final point that, due to the lack of a camera, I'm more of a bedside companion. Without one, people will likely still put them in their bedroom, which makes perfect sense since the marquee feature here is sleep tracking. There is a little point in putting it anywhere other than your bed.

Although technically it can live on your desk, kitchen counter or coffee table in the living room like any other smart display with similarly sized displays, you are effectively negating the most notable function.

Our opinion

It's a tough job for the Google Nest Hub (2nd gen), largely because it's practically the same smart display we've seen before when you take sleep detection out of the equation. Thankfully, the start-up cost for this model is $ 100, which is still better than the $ 149 initial cost of the original Google Nest Hub. Unless you sleep adamantly, it's hard to justify choosing this over other current smart displays.

How long it will take?

Google's sustainability efforts are presented here again with the Nest Hub (2nd generation). It's made from 54% recycled plastic, which adds to its lightweight feel. Even so, it feels solid and I'm confident that it can withstand most falls from short heights. There is a one year limited warranty that covers defects.

Is there a better alternative?

Similarly in size and size, the Lenovo Smart Display 7 is the most logical alternative as it covers the basic functions while also including a camera that can be used for video calls. The Google Nest Hub Max remains the undisputed king of smart displays despite its more expensive $ 229 cost, as it can replace three products – a powerful smart speaker, a smart display, and a surveillance camera.

If the Google ecosystem isn't your thing, the Amazon Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 10 (3rd Generation) are perfect solutions if you prefer Alexa.

Should you buy it?

Yes, if sleep is important to you and you don't want to be bothered by annoying wearables, you will fall in love with it. If not, it would be better if you try to find the older model at a discount.

Editor's recommendations




30 Mar
Blog

Dell XPS 8940 SE Desktop Review: The Do-It-All Home PC

dell xps 8940 se desktop review 2

"Dell's midrange GPU still delivers over 80% of the performance of the flagship GeForce RTX 3080 graphics card, saving customers a ton of money."

  • Chic aesthetics

  • Good balance between performance and price

  • 4K games in a compact design

  • Easy way to get an RTX 3070 despite a GPU shortage

  • No Ryzen configurations

  • Limited expandability

If you need a work-from-home desktop, you've probably considered the Dell XPS desktop at some point. It's neither for hardcore gamers nor as boring as a normal office tower. Don't forget, however, that this is XPS, a premium brand that is highly regarded in the laptop space. So the question is whether the XPS desktop strikes the same balance between excellent design and impressive performance.

To find out, I looked at the latest iteration, the XPS 8940 SE desktop, which is the white version of the standard black model. Prices start at $ 649, but my updated configuration rose to $ 2,136 because of the Intel Core i7-10700K, Nvidia RTX 3070, and 32GB of RAM.

Aside from problems with GPU supply, Dell offers numerous upgrade options to get a system that does as much as you need it to be. This makes the XPS Desktop a versatile champion for homes, dorms, and even games and moderated creative endeavors when it has top notch chores. the-line specifications.

design

The XPS 8940 is available either in a subtle night sky black or in the chic mineral white color of our Special Edition configuration. It's a new look for the line and definitely an improvement overall. It's a simplified and modernized design as long as you know what you're getting into. Compared to the Alienware Aurora gaming desktop from Dell, the XPS foregoes the pronounced curves and strong contours of its premium sibling in favor of a traditional and decidedly box-shaped design.

Although the sharp lines and angular design of the XPS desktop create boring images of a corporate desktop, it looks less conservative than it appears in the mineral white color. The top half of the front is surrounded by a slightly curved, smooth plastic plate that houses the optional optical drive – a rarity even for desktops these days – as well as a power switch and vertically oriented ports, one of which is a USB-C port for a little future security.

Immediately below the curved plate is a flat and slightly recessed perforated grill in the lower half of the front panel of the XPS Desktop. This lower panel adds not only a bit of texture to an otherwise muted design, but also a bit of visual interest. The special edition white shade enhances the overall aesthetics of the desktop. The perforated plate can resemble a car panel and give the desktop a modern and contemporary look in a minimalist structure. However, you can also feel equally comfortable in a summer house, as the lattice can also be seen as a modern reinterpretation of sugar cane or rattan furniture in this setting. I wish the plastic plate on the front was a bit higher quality as it feels hollow and light to the touch.

The sides of the XPS Desktop consist of color-coordinated metal plates, which are connected at the top with an off-center seam. The left cover can be easily removed with a couple of thumbscrews on the back, making upgrades and repairs relatively easy. The solid metal sides – instead of a clear tempered glass side window – help ensure that the XPS Desktop's design is conservative enough to be used in a more professional office setting, as there is no attention-grabbing RGB lighting coming from inside the tower.

And without the distraction of clear panels, Dell was able to focus its engineering efforts on function rather than form. Cable management is still tidy despite the lack of a window design, but the layout of the interior is rather sparse without many details or RGB lighting. The nice thing about it is that Dell did an excellent job with cooling and airflow. While the XPS isn't as whisper-quiet as a fanless laptop – like Apple's MacBook Air – the fan noise is very quiet and not distracting. The Dell desktop has a single fan in the case and two fans to cool the GPU. The CPU, meanwhile, uses a twin-tower style air cooler. It's not the prettiest thing in the world, but it does the job.

Ports and Connectivity

I really appreciated that the ports are split between the front and back, which is both easy to access and easy to manage cables.

On the front, you'll find a full-size memory card reader, headset jack, and four USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, including three Type-A ports and a single Type-C port. It's nice that Dell has a Type-C port on the front that can be used to quickly connect or charge modern smartphones. The optical drive can also write to Blu-ray discs.

On the back you will find four more USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, all of type A, as well as two additional USB 2.0 ports. There is a Gigabit Ethernet socket as well as sockets for headphones, microphone and audio output.

The motherboard has its own HDMI and DisplayPort. However, since the desktop comes with its own GeForce RTX 3070 GPU, you should use either the line HDMI or three DisplayPort video outputs to connect an external display.

Expandability

Dell's use of proprietary components can make this rig less attractive to enthusiasts. The tower's compact size of 19 liters also means that Dell used a dedicated motherboard, so upgrades (aside from RAM and storage) could become more difficult as the system ages.

However, if you're a data hunter, the good news is there are two empty 2.5-inch drive bays to add more storage space. Installing more space should be fairly easy, even for a novice PC.

Dell Special Edition XPS Desktop RTXChuong Nguyen / Digital Trends

Despite its small size, Dell was able to put a full-length GPU under pressure in our test unit. The graphics card occupies both the PCIe x16 slot and the expansion slot for graphics cards with double width. However, upgrading to an RTX 3070 can be pointless. The desktop can also accommodate additional PCIe x1 and PCIe x4 cards.

There are some limitations with this desktop. The first is that while the 500 watt power supply is sufficient for this class of graphics, upgrading the power supply for more powerful graphics is a challenge. Do-it-yourselfers are limited by the space available for the power supply at the bottom of the case. The bigger problem, however, is using a proprietary Dell 6-pin connector to power the motherboard. This means that if you want more powerful graphics, you'll have to resort to an external power supply and plug cables into the inside of the case as a clumsy workaround.

The cables inside are neatly arranged – wires generally snake across the top, down the front, and flow down to where the power supply is located. Cables are bundled with a few zip ties, but you won't find the sleek cable management systems found in premium boutique buildings. It's not a complete mess which is good.

performance

Our Special Edition XPS Desktop, priced at $ 2,136 configured, came with a 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10700K processor, though Dell didn't overclock the CPU straight away, paired it with a mid-range Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 GPU and 32 GB memory. Given that the XPS lineup is rounded off with an RTX 3070, customers looking for something higher – like an RTX 3080 or RTX 3090 – will have to switch to the higher end Alienware Aurora Desktop in the Dell lineup.

Although Dell recently introduced a minor performance update to its XPS desktop by offering 11th Gen Intel Core configurations, AMD gamers will have to look elsewhere as well. In particular, Dell doesn't include builds with Ryzen processors, although some limited configurations come with Radeon graphics. Wish there were more different builds, but the performance I got with the 10th Gen K-Series processor on our Special Edition test unit is more than for most gaming, creativity, and productivity tasks suitable, and even gamers will be satisfied with the agility of this desktop with a few upgrades.

The XPS scored a little more than 7,300 points in our PCMark 10 test, which is what you can expect from the Intel Core i7-10700K. The performance of the XPS desktop is expected to be lower than that of a system with a Core i9-10900K configuration, but better than a rig equipped with AMD's Ryzen 9 3950X, such as the Ryien-powered Aurora R10 AMD Edition from Alienware.

The Core i7 is more than capable of handling most of the tasks I asked it to do, and Dell's K-series variant offers strong performance at a cheaper price. Similar to PCMark 10, the Core i7-10700K achieved a single-core score of 1,355 points and a multi-core score of 9,034 points. These values ​​mean that the i7 lags behind the Core i9-10900K and i9-10900KF processors, but only to a negligible extent.

In the synthetic Geekbench 5 benchmark, the XPS desktop score shows that the 10th generation Intel processor can maintain its multi-core performance compared to the new M1 processor from Apple on the Mac mini desktop. The single-core value of the Mac Mini of 1,707 points is above the XPS desktop, but the Apple desktop was almost 1,700 points behind Dell's offer in the multi-core test.

The XPS Desktop achieved competitive single and multi-core results in the Cinebench R23 test compared to other Intel processors, scoring 1,311 and 13,586 points, respectively. As with the Geekbench 5 scores, this means that the M1-powered Mac Mini performed better on the single-core Cinebench R23 score, but Intel is maintaining its multi-core performance for now with a margin of 42% over that M1 processor.

For everyday tasks, the system can handle multiple browsers with multiple tabs open, Microsoft Office applications, and creative software such as Adobe Creative Suite without noticeable delays or delays. Some more demanding games started a little faster on the better Core i9 processors. However, this is only noticeable if you can compare both systems side by side.

The XPS Desktop comes with two drives. This strategy allows Dell to provide the largest amount of storage at a lower cost and free up space for additional drives. Inside, in addition to a 3.5-inch 2TB hard drive, is a primary 512GB NVMe solid-state drive that plugs into the only M.2 slot on the motherboard. With the solid-state drive, the speeds were very fast. You want to keep your apps and games that you need most on the 512GB drive and reserve the more spacious 2TB for less frequently used digital files.

The performance of the Core i7-10700K in our Blender test shows that it lags behind the more powerful Intel Core i9-10900K and the AMD Ryzen 9 3900X and Ryzen 9 5900X CPUs in the BMW benchmark. In fact, the rendering performance of the Core i7-10700K is similar to that of the AMD Ryzen 7 3800X and Ryzen 7 3800XT.

In the classroom benchmark, the performance of the Core i7-10700K is very similar to that of the Core i9-9900K, although the rendering time was a bit longer than the AMD Ryzen 7 2800 X and XT series. Upgrading to a 10th generation Intel Core i9 would help reduce rendering time even further.

Graphics performance

Despite a build that only comes with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 GPU, the XPS desktop isn't a problem. The RTX 3070 can handle most of the 4K games you throw at it. Most players will choose this card well as it can handle modern titles with ease. Dell equipped our test device with a 500 watt power supply that is powerful enough for this GPU configuration. Hobbyists who want to upgrade to more powerful graphics, however, are limited by the power of the power supply.

In our 3D Mark benchmark, the Fire Strike score of the XPS Desktop of 61,213 points and the Time Spy score of 12,489 points are ahead of the previous generation RTX 2080 and within striking distance of the premium GeForce RTX 2080 Ti. This is in view of the The middle position of the RTX 3070 in Nvidia's RTX 3000 series is quite an achievement. For comparison: The RTX 2080 scored just over 11,500 points in the Time Spy test, while the RTX 2080 Ti scored in the mid-13,000s.

The RTX 3070's performance in creative tasks is similar to its graphics performance. In our PugetBench Premiere Pro benchmark, the XPS Desktop value of 689 is again behind the performance of the RTX 2080 Ti and ahead of the RTX 2080. Compared to the almost 800 mark of the 3070, the performance is around 85% more expensive siblings. This card should be able to easily complete photo and video editing tasks for most home users.

This card should be able to handle photo and video editing tasks with ease.

Given the lower price in the Nvidia product range compared to the premium RTX 3080, it's hard to complain about Dell's decision to buy the RTX 3070, as this card can still achieve frame rates of more than 100 frames per second (fps) 4K. The RTX 3070's strong performance is reason enough for avid gamers to upgrade to the latest GeForce generation if they come from an older GPU.

In fast-paced games such as Epics Fortnite, the RTX 3070 ran at 120 fps in ultra game settings, although a reduction to high game settings increases the frame rate to a whopping 187 fps, which is a jump of 55%. In 4K, the frame rate drops to just 63 fps in Ultra and 110 fps in High settings.

This compares to the RTX 3080's 78 fps performance in Ultra at 4K and the RTX 2080 Ti's performance of around 55 fps. Here, the RTX 3070's performance is roughly 81% of the RTX 3080's, and this year's midrange card outperformed the previous generation's 2080 Ti by 8 fps.

In more graphics-intensive titles like Assassin's Creed Valhalla, the RTX 3070 had a little more problems due to the limited hardware capabilities of the GPU and the fact that this card only contains 8GB of GDDR6 RAM compared to 10GB of GDDR6X memory on the flagship RTX 3080. This one Game was played at 74 fps in 1440p and only 48 fps in 4K with the RTX 3070, with the quality of the game set to Ultra. On a system with RTX 3080, the game never dropped below 60 fps in the Ultra settings at 4K. Players who play titles with more sophisticated graphics rendering should keep the resolution of 2K 1440p or UWQHD.

The RTX 3070 manages to handle Battlefield V, a demanding title, relatively easily and to achieve over 80 fps in Ultra settings at 4K. The performance jumps to 140 fps when you zoom out to a resolution of 1440p. With Battlefield V, Nvidia's latest midrange range outperforms the flagship of the previous generation, as the RTX 2080 Ti was only able to express 76 fps in 4K, while this year's RTX 3080 ran at 97 fps.

In Civilization VI in the Ultra settings, the game clocked consistently more than 100 fps in 4K. If you're a gamer who plays less demanding titles, even the graphics capabilities of the RTX 3070 may be over the top.

Our opinion

The Dell XPS 8940 Desktop offers a good balance of performance, performance and price in a stylish and compact tower. In a sea of ​​boring, office-oriented PC towers, the XPS has just enough design finesse to make it stand out. It's an excellent work PC and, with the right configuration, a powerful slot machine. If you want a desktop that you don't have much to do with, the XPS 8940 is the best option you can buy.

Are there alternatives?

While the XPS Desktop isn't billed as a gaming rig, it's versatile enough to compete with other creative workstations as well as gaming-forward PCs. Competitors include the powerful Lenovo IdeaCentre 5i, which, like the Dell, is available for an affordable $ 499. Unlike the XPS, however, the IdeaCentre isn't as good for gaming as it doesn't offer an option for a discrete GPU. As a result, the Lenovo desktop is better suited for office work, web browsing, and light gaming. Creatives in need of more graphics power should probably turn to the company's Legion desktop line of products.

The HP Omen 25L is another big competitor to the XPS desktop. The Omen 25L offers a more compact footprint than the larger Omen 30L, a gaming-forward window design, RGB backlighting, and more configuration options. The smaller omen only comes with an RTX 2000 GPU. So if you need more modern 3000 series graphics, you'll need to upgrade to the Omen 30L. At $ 1,999, the similarly configured HP system with a slightly better Core i9 processor in a larger size is slightly cheaper than our test device.

How long it will take?

Given the power and performance of the XPS desktop, this rig will provide years of work productivity and gaming fun. The ability to update key components such as the motherboard and GPU is more limited due to Dell's use of proprietary components. So be sure to select the build you want at the time of purchase. WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) applies to the ability to upgrade this system.

Dell offers a standard one-year warranty with its Premium Support and Premium Support Plus packages with the option to upgrade to packages with longer coverage, add accidental damage, and perform at-home repairs. Extended coverage starts at $ 179 for two years of service, although a four-year plan with accidental damage coverage and automated virus removal costs $ 679.

While premium coverage may seem like a decadent addition to a desktop that's less prone to damage than a laptop, those working from home amid the global health pandemic may want to turn to Dell's technicians for some IT support.

Should you buy it?

Yes. It's not for the die-hard PC enthusiast, but it's a fantastic desktop tower for the average buyer.

Editor's recommendations




29 Mar
Blog

Balan Wonderworld Review: What a Blunder-Full World

Balan Wonderworld

"Balan Wonderworld is a mixture of half-hearted platform ideas that waste a lot of charm."

  • Sluggish movement

  • Generic levels

  • Half-baked costume gimmick

  • Limited experiments

If Balan Wonderworld doesn't get big studios to get early access, nothing will.

When Square Enix ran a demo for its colorful puzzle platformer before launch, the response was not good. Players criticized everything from the game's unwieldy camera to the painfully slow animations. Weeks prior to its release, Square Enix announced they would be working on a patch for the first day to take into account feedback, but admitted that the ship could not be fully flipped in time.

That caveat should create some immediate expectations for fans who hoped the game would mark a triumphant return to form for former Sonic team boss Yuji Naka. There will almost certainly be some long-term crafting here to get the game into shape. Think of this as an accidental beta.

Chances are, Balan Wonderworld will gain cult status thanks to its charming aesthetic and throwback platform. But for those who don't have a lot of Dreamcast nostalgia, it's a frustrating jumble of half-hearted ideas that plays like a crude prototype for a game that's still years away.

Failed basic exam

Balan Wonderworld should feel instantly familiar to anyone who grew up in the heyday of 3D platformer. The players explore themed worlds, jump over obstacles and collect shiny gemstones that are spread over different levels. Its simplicity may be the selling point for those hoping for a nostalgic trip, but the game stumbles upon the basics.

The movement is sluggish, as if the game's protagonist is having trouble sprinting through the mud. The character's standard jump is so short that even the smallest of gaps can turn out to be a risk. The limited number of mini-games are just plain boring and repeat ad nauseam. Most of all, the camera is an indomitable animal that gets confused the moment it hits a wall.

Even the narrative framework is confusing. The child's protagonist works with the title Balan, a maestro in a top hat, to solve the problems of strangers in a bizarre world. Each level represents a character's specific struggle, like a fiery cave that reveals a firefighter's deepest fears. What's weird is that the real story behind each world isn't revealed until after its two acts are complete and just before an uninspired three-hit boss fight that feels completely independent.

Its simplicity may be the selling point for those hoping for a nostalgic trip, but the game stumbles upon the basics.

Nothing really goes together. The levels contain intentional visual motifs, but only a few levels make meaningful use of their settings or story. Most are just filled with interchangeable platform challenges that lack any real personality. Any time the game introduces a promising mechanic, like a train ride section of a carnival level, it quickly drops the idea.

It all feels like a whiteboard doodle that has been processed into a rough proof of concept.

Wardrobe malfunction

The defining mechanics of the game is the costume system, but this is exactly what causes the already fragile seams to burst. During the adventure, players can collect over 80 different outfits. Each acts as a power-up that offers a different perk, like the ability to climb spider webs or approach large gemstones. The idea is that each can be used to solve various platform puzzles and encourage experimentation.

It's a riff on Super Mario Odyssey that goes horribly wrong.

I haven't talked about the controls of the game yet as there aren't many to talk about. Each face button or trigger acts as a unique action button for the equipped costume. There is no line, no attack and, above all, no special jump button. For example, if you're wearing a painter's costume, the push of a button will shoot a blob of paint forward. That's it. That's all you can do until you switch costumes.

The system could have worked, but it's implemented in a way that feels almost thoughtless.

The idea is to think carefully about what skills you might need in order to solve a puzzle. However, this leads to unforeseen complications. In one case, I went out to grab some gems that were scattered across a laser grid. As I tried to leave the area, I found that I had taken a tiny step down a 6-inch wall. None of my outfitted costumes had a jump action, which meant I was just stuck there. The only way to progress was to get deliberate laser hits, destroy my three outfits, and get myself back to the standard no-costume state where you can jump.

This happened all the time in my playthrough. I would move through a level, lose a costume that could jump, and find that I am now stranded. Likewise, there are times when advancement means equipping a certain skill. If you reach an area and aren't wearing the right outfit, you'll have to go back until you find it.

Balan Wonderworld

The game tries to solve this with a locker room accessible by standing on a checkpoint long enough (this is never explained and is currently not triggered consistently), but players must have a costume to get it out of storage pull. Most of the time I had to leave a level completely, go back to a world that had the costume I needed, and drag it all the way back to do a simple, obvious task.

To make matters worse, it is fun to play with few skills. They mostly grant basic actions that need to be used in certain situations. There are no real experiments. If there is spinning equipment, the equipment costume must be equipped. Some outfits are also functionally identical, so players will have different animations that perform the same action, e.g. B. hover over gaps. Others are just useless, like an outfit that players can run faster in … but it is activated randomly. Admittedly, a funny troll.

The system could have worked, but it's implemented in a way that feels almost thoughtless. The levels are based on the assumption that players will always have the right tools for the job. Whenever they don't, they will face a level design shrug.

Roll out on charm

The only thing that Balan Wonderworld successfully brings to the table is charm. It offers an unabashedly happy style of art and a beautiful soundtrack, even if its compositions suffer from being dubbed. While the story cinematics are misplaced, they love microfilms about empathy and kindness.

Balan Wonderworld

There is also a cute, if completely underdeveloped, reef in Sonic Adventure 2's Chao Garden. The players take care of an island full of colorful little bird rabbits that feed on the gems collected in the levels. It's disappointingly flat and offers little interaction, but at least it matches the good vibes the game tries to deliver, even if it's not fun.

"It's not fun" is kind of a running theme here. Balan Wonderworld could work as an adorable cartoon, but it falls flat as an interactive adventure.

It works? No. Does it at least think outside the box? Certainly.

What is really fascinating is that it rarely happens that a large studio release fails this way. Publishers like Square Enix don't have to gamble big these days when they have so many reliable franchises and established gaming trends. Balan Wonderworld is a real risk, refreshing at a time when AAA games can feel completely predictable.

That could make it a cult perk for players looking for something a little different. It has the same energy as forgotten platformer like Billy Hatcher and the giant egg. It works? No. Does it at least think outside the box? Certainly. With a dedicated following behind it, Square Enix may have exactly the feedback loop it needs for a sequel to work. Drop the next installment early and let fans spot the issues before it's too late.

Our opinion

It's tempting to write off Balan Wonderworld's mistakes as part of its fallback character, but that wouldn't be entirely true. Beloved 3D platformer like Sonic Adventure may be a bit of fun, but it's still fun to play. Balan Wonderworld stumbles upon the basics with sluggish movements, overly simplistic controls, and a semi-sculpted costume gimmick that creates frustrating roadblocks at every turn. It's charming enough that the "they're not doing it like they used to" crowd may gather behind it, but those who want a nostalgic hit are better off chasing a Dreamcast and sticking to the real classics .

Is there a better alternative?

Super Mario Odyssey has the same central idea but executed with more thought and better movement techniques.

How long it will take?

The main quest lasts around 10 hours, but there are additional levels and lots of collectibles to be hunted down after the credits.

Should I buy it?

No. Impossible to recommend this at a full $ 60 price. Wait for the price to drop if you're morbidly curious.

Editor's recommendations




27 Mar
Blog

Master & Dynamic MW08 Review: Revel In The Sublime Sound

Master & Dynamic MW08

Master & Dynamic MW08 Review: Indulge in the sublime sound

"The wonderful sound quality makes the MW08 an excellent choice for audiophiles."

  • Beautiful design and materials

  • Very convenient

  • Excellent sound quality

  • Really long battery life

  • Effective transparency mode

  • Good call quality

  • Simple and intuitive controls

  • Expensive

  • Limited customization

  • No wireless charging

  • No EQ adjustments

  • Poor ANC performance

Master & Dynamic (M&D) may not have the brand awareness of Sony, Apple, Bose, or Sennheiser, but the New York City-based boutique audio company has made some really standout headphones and earphones. The latest of these is the $ 299 MW08, the successor to the excellent MW07 Plus, which is now set to drop to $ 249 in price. With new materials, better Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), and improved battery life, here's what you can expect from the MW08.

What's in the box?

Master & Dynamic MW08Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

First of all, I would like to take a moment to praise the MW08's box itself. It is a master class how to create an elegant package for a high-end product from 100% easily recyclable materials. It even has a book hinge design that stays closed without the use of embedded magnets. This is how all the electronics should be shipped.

The extremely sustainable box contains the earphones, your charging case, a cord denim carrying case, four sizes of silicone rubber earplugs (in addition to the pre-installed set) as well as a USB-C to USB-C charging cable, a USB -C to USB-A adapter (thanks M&D!) And some quick guides in paper form.

design

Master & Dynamic MW08Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Master & Dynamic attaches great importance to the appearance of its products. The MW07 Plus was available in a wide range of 10 colors and styles (28 if you include M & D's partnerships with brands like Nike and Leica), most of which had a unique pattern and gave them a handmade feel. The MW08 continues this tradition, but places greater emphasis on simplicity: It is available in four single-color combinations of earphones and charging case: black ceramic / matt black stainless steel, white ceramic / stainless steel, brown ceramic / stainless steel and blue ceramic / graphite gray stainless steel.

Attention to detail is everywhere.

The black ceramic earbuds we tested have a subtle M&D logo and a high-gloss finish that exudes sophistication (despite being a giant fingerprint magnet). If you look closely, you will see a small black aluminum tape encircling the ceramic surface, which serves as both an antenna and a frame that holds everything together. This design approach was made famous by the iPhone 4.

While not as light as some other models, the earbuds are very compact and even smaller than any other high-end earbud, with the possible exception of Apple's AirPods Pro. The MW08 retains the same tiny physical control buttons as the MW07 Plus, making it look like a touch-based set of earbuds, but with the precision of real buttons.

The matt black stainless steel charging case is heavy and sturdy and has a hinged lid that can be opened and closed with the authority of a luxury car door. When you put the earbuds back in your pocket, you'll feel like you're putting them in a protective vault, not just a carrying case. Now, if I were to pick the best looking charging case, it would be a dead heat between the MW08 and the Zippo-inspired design of the Klipsch T5 II.

Attention to detail is pervasive, from the smooth movement of the hinge, to the way the earbuds are angled slightly towards you – so you can pull them out with ease – to the fact that the only thing that breaks the steel surface is three indicator LEDs are. You won't find any text or even a logo on the outside.

Wireless charging would have been a nice touch, but to my knowledge, steel and wireless charging are not happy companions, and M&D would have had to create a plastic charging window to achieve this.

It was easy to get a comfortable and secure seat.

The earbuds are rated IPX5 – more than enough for handling sweat and rain – while the case is rated IPX4, which we've only seen on a handful of other products like the Marshall Mode II.

Convenience, control and connections

Master & Dynamic MW08Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Thanks to the ergonomic shape of the MW08 and the generous number of silicone earbud sizes in the box, it was easy to get a comfortable and secure fit. M&D dumped the rubber wing tips of the MW07 Plus, which meant a compromise.

The MW08 are more comfortable for longer periods of time, but they don't lock in with the same level of security. As long as you're not trying to break sprint records, they should stay fine.

While you can definitely use them while running, I don't recommend it. Despite their small size, the earbuds are surprisingly heavy at 0.31 ounces each. For comparison, the AirPods Pro and Jabra Elite Active 75t are both 0.19 ounces.

Most of this mass is on the outer part of the earbud (that beautiful ceramic and aluminum) where it is least supported. As your feet pound on the sidewalk, that weight can be felt with every step, which I found tiring after a while, although they were still very comfortable overall.

The MW08's tiny control buttons are at the top of each earbud – a single button on the right and a double rocker button on the left. They work effortlessly, with very little travel and a pleasantly precise click when you press them.

They require you to put your thumb on the bottom edge for leverage, and I found that sometimes while jogging this can interfere with the position of the earbud in my ear. The bigger concern (at least for those who live in wintry conditions for half a year), however, is that the buttons can be difficult to operate with gloves on – a surprise given M & D's NYC headquarters.

Still, you get everything you need: volume, play / pause, answer / end, track forward / backward skip, access to voice assistant and ANC / transparency mode.

"Audiophile Quality" is being overused, but if there has ever been a line of true wireless earbuds worthy of the term, it is the MW08.

There's no way to change these (even though M&D created their very first smartphone app for these buds), but they're so intuitive that I wouldn't change them even if I had the option.

You can use each earbud independently if you want, but only the correct earbud can be used for calls.

Each earbud has a wear sensor that allows it to pause and play automatically when you remove or reinsert it. The response time is a bit slow: it can take up to three seconds for the sensors to register a change and then stop / start the music. You can deactivate this function in the M&D Connect app.

Sound quality

Master & Dynamic MW08Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

M & D charges a premium price for the MW08. If the company's choice for exotic materials and workmanship doesn't justify the $ 299 it cost, the sound quality should make you a believer.

Just like the MW07 Plus, the MW08 is a treat for your ears. The term "audiophile quality" is becoming increasingly popular, but if there has ever been a line of true wireless earbuds that deserve it, it is the MW08.

Take one of your favorite songs – you know, one of those songs that will never get old no matter how many times you listen to it – and the MW08 will breathe new life into it. Details hidden at the very end of a note, possibly the slightest click of a piano key or the vibration of a string while plucking or selecting, all become audible and put a smile on your face.

M&D doesn't offer EQ tweaks in the app, but if a sound signature is that good, who cares? The output of the MW08 is a clever balancing act, bright and precise through the upper mids and highs and warm and resonant in the mids and lows. The bass? Oh, there is plenty of it, but you will not hear it until asked, and then it cannot be ignored. The sound stage has an open and airy quality and is somehow intimate.

I owe the ventilated design of the MW08 to this achievement. Letting a small amount of air move between the outside world and your inner ear has a positive effect on openness – not to mention comfort, as it partially eases the sucking sensation of some earbuds – but it can also cause unwanted noise.

This is where the MW08's noise cancellation comes into play. Without them, you'd have to seek a quiet, controlled environment. But turn it on and almost any room can be your concert hall.

At the forefront of the true wireless market, it can be very difficult to pinpoint the best sound among giants like the Sony WF-1000XM3, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2, the KEF Mu3, the Grado GT220, and the Bose QuietComfort earbuds. But I would argue that the MW08 can easily hold its own against these other models, and in my opinion they are the current market leader.

Noise cancellation and transparency

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Based on what I just said above, you probably expect me to give M&D praise to the ANC of the MW08, but it's not that straightforward.

There are two settings of ANC – "max ANC" and "all day ANC" – the latter being designed for less intrusive environments.

When it comes to creating a calm floor for indoor music enjoyment, max ANC is really good. But as a focus tool, it can't compete with the AirPods Pro or the Bose QuietComfort when you want to escape roaring noises like the fans, machinery, or engines of an airplane (not that this has been much demanded lately) earbuds. It also struggles to suppress the daily commuting noises like traffic.

There are also two modes of transparency (or ambient mode, as M&D calls it): language and awareness. Think of these as zoom modes – voice enhances nearby sounds like conversations, while the mind tries to bring in sounds from further away. Both work very well, depending on what you need right now.

The MW08's fast charging capabilities are downright insane.

The biggest downside to both ANC and Transparency modes is that you have to press and hold the corresponding left earbud rocker button to activate it, rather than being able to instantly switch from one to the other. The Jabra Elite 85t can do this and is ideal for quick calls. The other thing I could do without is the sultry female voice announcing these mode changes every time. It gets old very quickly.

Battery life

Master & Dynamic MW08Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The MW07 Plus was already an outstanding performer in terms of battery life with 10 hours per charge and three additional full charges for a total of 40 hours. M&D claims the MW08 has even more juice: 12 hours per charge and an additional 30 hours in the case for a total of 42 hours of playtime.

Unfortunately I was unable to verify this. In my tests, the M&D Connect app showed 22% remaining battery life after eight hours of continuous playback. If this is accurate, it means the total playing time is closer to 10.4 hours, not 12.

When I reached out to M&D staff with these results, they were surprised and offered to review them at the end. I will update this review with their answer as soon as they have had a chance to run their own tests.

What I can confirm is the MW08's fast charge capabilities which are downright insane. If you put the earbuds back in the case for just 15 minutes, they will be charged to 50%. This is class leading in every way.

Call quality

Master & Dynamic MW08Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Calling the MW08 is very good. I found that the microphones did a great job of making my voice sound natural, without the compression that can plague other earbuds. In quiet places, it almost sounded like I was speaking directly into my phone's microphone. This is the holy grail for earphone call quality.

They also did a good job of blocking out background noise like traffic as I walked through some busy intersections. Some particularly loud noises still managed to drown out my voice, but that's not surprising – only the Bose QuietComfort earbuds turned out to be far better for calls.

Our opinion

The MW08 is beautifully crafted, offers great sound quality and battery life, and is an excellent choice for those who want to get the most out of their music. Just keep your noise cancellation expectations in check and you won't be disappointed.

Is there a better alternative?

I don't think you'll find a lineup of true wireless earbuds that look better, sound better, or last longer than the MW08, but that doesn't mean there aren't any worthy alternatives, especially if you're looking to save some cash.

The $ 230 KEF Mu3 have very comparable sound quality and I would argue that they are very attractive in their own unique way. But their ANC is mediocre, they have a larger and less pocketable charging case, and their call quality wasn't very impressive.

Sennheiser's $ 300 Momentum True Wireless 2 They also have great sound and very effective ANC, but are larger and bulkier and only get around six hours per charge.

If noise cancellation is a top consideration, the $ 280 Bose QuietComfort earbuds are amazing with sound quality that will not disappoint. However, they are significantly larger and less comfortable than the MW08 and have the shortest overall battery life of any of the alternatives.

How long will they last?

Master & Dynamic grants a two-year guarantee on all headphones. With IPX5 water resistance and great materials and build quality, I expect the MW08 to last for many years.

Should you buy it?

Yes. They have the best sound quality of any earbud we have tested. Reason enough to consider them for your next set of headphones.

Editor's recommendations




27 Mar
Blog

NatraCure Intense Hydrating Gel Gloves Review

My experience:

I suffer from extremely dry skin on my hands, winter makes things worse. That's why I was so excited when I received this product. In all honesty, I've never been so excited to write about a product in 2020. When NatraCure gloves arrived I asked my mom to test it and she loved it so much that I had to ask her to return it to me for review.

When I tested these gloves, I immediately fell in love. NatraCure Moisturizing Gloves moisturize and soften the underlying tissue to promote healing. This one size fits most glove design is suitable for both women and men. I got relief from dry, cracked skin on my hands and fingers that I complained about for so long. You can use these gloves with your favorite lotion, hand cream, or skin moisturizer. Especially in winter, they keep your hands warm at night and at the same time provide the moisture your skin needs. I recommend using it after scrubbing for extra softness. These gloves are odorless and latex free, which makes them ideal for sensitive skin.

The medicinal mineral oil ensures that dry hands and cuticles are deeply hydrated. I like to wear them when I want to relax or watch Netflix at night. The gel lining feels so smooth and cool, but when warmed to the temperature of your hands, it steadily releases essential oils that soak your skin with nourishing, therapeutic moisture. For me, this is a must have in your winter skincare routine.

It's like bringing spa into your home, just play your favorite song, light your favorite candle, put on those gloves and you are instantly in relaxed mode. NatraCure Intense Hydrating Gel Gloves soothe and soften not only dry, rough hands, but also the cuticles. When the inner gel liner comes in contact with your skin, it warms to body temperature and releases seven skin-soothing essential oils as well as shea butter. For me, every time I say this, experience calls out to me luxury. The moisturizing effects of jojoba oil, avocado oil, and grapeseed oil taken together are incredible.

I just put them on and sleep, in the morning my hands are so softer and smoother. I will definitely order more :]

characteristics

Cosmetic ingredients embedded in the garment.

Moisturizes the skin, making it softer and more comfortable.

Can be worn day and night

Softens hard, dry, rough hands, fingers and cuticles. Use after washing your hands.

Binds moisture with a non-breathable gel lining that makes your hands feel good.

For small to medium-sized female and male hands. Should be snug for better skin contact.

HOW TO USE: Wear at least 2-3 times a week. Use daily for better results. Lavender scent.

Main Ingredients: Olive oil, avocado oil, aloe vera.

27 Mar
Blog

Insta360 Go 2 Review: Going to Places Other Cameras Can’t Go

insta360 go 2 rating out of 6

"You will be inspired to capture some interesting perspectives that are unlocked thanks to their size."

  • Ultra compact size

  • Versatile accessories

  • Smooth stabilization

  • Durable construction

  • Frequent app crashes

  • The quality decreases in poor lighting conditions

There are many reasons people choose action cameras over traditional mirrorless cameras and smartphones, but perhaps the most important one is the unique perspective they can offer. This is just one aspect that appeals to me about the Insta360 Go 2, which basically follows the same approach as other action cameras. However, due to its small size, it offers additional usefulness for capturing clips that are difficult to achieve with other cameras – and at the same time as discreetly as possible.

Open up new perspectives

Let me just say the obvious here: the Insta360 Go 2 can be used in almost any location, including those that you would find impossible. Without question, this is what makes this action camera a far more effective tool for getting unique perspectives. Compared to most action cameras like the DJI Osmo Action I used, the camera module for the Insta360 Go 2 is about a quarter the size. This allows the Go 2 to capture content in narrower places. It's also generous for the company to include useful accessories with your purchase, including a magnetic charm, swivel stand, and simple clip.

It's just as light as a single AA battery.

They all have their intended purpose. For example, the simple clip can be attached to the edge of a cap to include a first person view (FPV). I love that the clip can also be turned down to capture a bit of my face in the composition. This can be useful for unzipping videos or showing something I'm holding in my hand. Also noteworthy is the charging case, which not only charges the camera, but also serves as a remote control, mini tripod stand and fastening strap. Needless to say, there is a level of utility here that is difficult to achieve for current competing cameras.

The camera itself is tiny and weighs less than an ounce. So it's just as light as a single AA battery you might have lying around. Due to its ultra-compact size, it is more discreet when carried with the magnetic charm. However, there is no way to prevent the LED light on the camera from blinking while recording. Hopefully this will change with a future firmware update.

Shoot now, worry later

It's really hard to fall in love with a camera when you can't preview what the camera is capturing. Well, unless you connect it to your smartphone using the Insta360 app. Plus, you're basically shooting blind in hopes that you get the right frame. To start recording video, all you have to do is press the physical button just below the camera lens or double press for a photo. Fortunately, you can change these features through the app.

There are a few minor nuances that annoy me, but a quick software update can fix them. For example, a 24 frames per second (fps) recording is only available natively if you are recording in HDR. In Standard and Pro mode you only have the choice between 30 fps or 50 fps. Personally, I would like a native 24 fps recording as well as a faster 60 fps mode just because I have the ability to slow down 60 fps clips in the post. There is also a special slow-motion mode that records in 1080p at 120 fps. The aspect ratios 3: 2 and 4: 3 are missing on the still image capture side, which are more ideal than the available 16: 9 option.

The quality of the camera is predictably best when the lighting conditions are ideal. On sunny days you will get sharp clips with a resolution of 1440p. When you record in Pro mode, you get a raw 2880 x 2880 clip at 30 fps. The magic of the software reduces it to 1440p, which is more than usable due to the stabilization of the footage. In poor lighting conditions, however, the quality is significantly reduced and the noise is more noticeable in the shade. You'll only want to use it when the lighting conditions are good.

What impresses me most about the shoot now is that the Insta360 Go 2 does a pretty good job of maintaining a lock on the horizon. This ensures that no matter how you hold it, the camera stays level as the app does all of the work for you automatically. Add in stabilization, especially FlowState stabilization when you're recording in Pro Video mode, and the shake you get in the raw footage will be magically stabilized.

App crashes galore

As mentioned earlier, the size of the Insta360 Go 2 allows it to capture unique angles. However, because of the run-and-gun style of shooting, I'm less inclined to ever use my smartphone to properly frame a shot. It's just a pain because it takes extra time and the app crashes frequently.

I have had multiple crashes while connecting to the camera or previewing a clip that has just been recorded since using the camera. At some point it got really bad when it just kept going, and so I had to reinstall the app – which brings me to the value of a dedicated display. My DJI Osmo Action not only has a rear display to properly frame a scene, but also a front-facing display that allows me to see myself if I intend to be in the frame.

Of course, I'd really like to see a direct wired connection option to take some of my frustrations away. A direct connection to a smartphone can be established via the USB-C port on the charging case, for example – similar to how this is achieved with a simple adapter on the DJI Pocket 2. Additionally, this current implementation's direct Wi-Fi connection is more frustrating than anything else.

Our opinion

The Insta360 Go 2 is a fun, discreet camera that can add an entirely different visual style to your existing repertoire. I like the first person view it can get and how it can be pushed into tight spaces that traditional cameras can't access. This wouldn't replace my existing action cameras or smartphones when it comes to that run-and-gun style, but it definitely complements it.

The $ 300 cost of the Insta360 Go 2 can be a point of contention for some people, largely because it's the same cost as other flagship action cameras in space, like the GoPro Hero 8. The Insta360 is on offer might not win specs on paper, but when you factor in the accessories, their small size, and incredible stabilization, it's a worthy addition to your shooting repertoire.

How long it will take?

I get nervous about losing the camera because it's so small, but the Insta360 Go 2 feels solid – including the charging case. Due to the internal memory of 32 GB, you will have to perform file management every now and then, while the battery life is 35 minutes. The charging case actively charges it when attached, which extends the total recording time to 150 minutes.

So far, the Insta360 Go 2 has withstood drops from around four feet – in addition to being submerged underwater (it's IPX8 waterproof). If that's not enough, there's a one-year limited warranty that's included with your purchase.

Is there a better alternative?

In the world of action cameras, you get superior image and video quality with the GoPro Hero 9 and DJI Osmo Action, both of which have front-facing displays in addition to the traditional rear displays.

Should you buy it?

Yes. It differs from other action cameras thanks to its accessories and its ultra-compact size. So it's worth buying it for the unique shots you can get with it.

Editor's recommendations




27 Mar
Blog

Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream Review

Hello to new age skin care, while online brands and beauty gurus are constantly endorsing creams that alter your skin, finding a cream that will suit your face has become the toughest task. With over 9000 reviews on the Sephora website, Drunk Elephant Protini wins the Most Rated Moisturizer Award for Sephora App. Is this product worth your money?

Let's find out …

I'm usually not a fan of heavy moisturizers as most of them are oily and not suitable for acne prone skin types like mine. Last year I got sick of aggressive exfoliation in hopes of getting my natural glow back and the result was overly dry skin. At that moment, I decided to change my skin care routine and get myself products that would help balance my skin and make it look healthy again.

The first thing that impressed me was the packaging that helps control the portion and it's also very hygienic to apply with such a wise applicator.

Here's the deal with this polypeptide moisturizer: it's a moisturizer where the star is the peptide complex that helps the skin's natural self-renewal process. The formula contains pygmy water lily stem cell extract, which acts as an excellent source of antioxidants. The formula also contains soybean folic acid ferment extract, which helps in maintaining youthful, elastic skin. You should use this along with your other skin care products morning and night.

Let's talk about peptide

When it comes to improving the outer skin, the only solution is to get peptides from skin care products. However, it is important to consider the formulation of the product: the stability of its ingredients and its ability to penetrate the skin barrier. Finding the right type of product can go a long way as well. For example, if you choose products that do not wash off your skin easily, such as: B. a moisturizer.

The polypeptide moisturizer for drunk elephant protini is one of the first choices when it comes to a product containing polypeptide. In my experience, the skin feels hydrated all day long. What sets it apart from other moisturizers is its brand new protein technology that helps make the skin stronger.

More good news:

When I use this product regularly, I also notice that my acne spots and pores are less pronounced and the dryness in my skin is gone. Basically, this stuff helps with all of my complexion problems.

This week I spoke to the mirror in my bathroom. “Sephora reviewers are right !!! “I mean, there are so many things in life to get excited about, but finding a skin moisturizer that finally delivers is definitely the top three.

Questions and answers :

Q. Does it improve the texture of the skin?
Personally, I noticed that it smoothed my skin texture.

Question: How well is this absorbed into the skin?
It feels heavy when you apply it to your skin, but it eventually absorbs.

Q. Does it feel greasy?
No

Q. Will it cause irritation?
Every skin is different, but I never felt irritated after using it.

Question: Does this even out the skin tone?
In any case, I noticed more evenness in my skin tone.

My skin

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26 Mar
Blog

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

vivo x60 pro plus rating hand back

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

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

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

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

design

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

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

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

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

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

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

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

screen

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

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

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

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

camera

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

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

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

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

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

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

Software, battery and performance

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

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

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

vivo x60 pro plus verification settingsAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

vivo x60 pro plus evaluation quick accessAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

vivo x60 pro plus test appsAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

vivo x60 pro plus rating side handAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

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

The Vivo X60 and X60 Pro

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

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

Price and availability

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

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

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

Editor's recommendations




26 Mar
Blog

Clean & Clear Lemon Gel Facial Cleanser with Vitamin C Review

Price $ 5.99

My experience

Lemon is one of the most important ingredients for making detergents in the olden days. It looks like Clean and Clear took the same age-old concept and brought back the goodness of lemon in their latest face wash.

This new face wash with lemon extract and vitamin C is why I wanted to try it. When someone like me, who has spent my entire childhood admiring my grandmother's lovely DIY facial cleansers with lemon, sees a product that has lemon as the main ingredient that you know the purchase is an emotional one.

I've been using it for over a week now and I can tell you that this lemon gel wash really cuts through the oil and leaves your skin clean and soft to the touch. Also, removing oil and makeup made my skin look refreshed and clean (I always use a makeup removal wipe to remove makeup first). It didn't dry out my skin like some oil removing facial cleansers. I can still see some of my little angry spots around my jaw even after using this for two weeks, but I don't expect this face wash to do anything for my acne. I'm very glad Clean & Clear didn't advertise it as an acne face wash. I mostly use this face wash in the morning and at night with my Clarins face wash. Still not sure if there is such a thing as a perfect face wash. Cleaners and moisturizers should be purchased based on skin texture, location, lifestyle, and weather.

This face wash has a nice lemon scent and won't make you smell like lemons, I assure you

Who will like it?

  1. Beauties of oily skin
  2. Those who are looking for an affordable face wash.

Who can avoid that?

  1. Those who don't like products with parabens.
  2. Those with very dry skin
  3. Those who think this is an acne clearing face wash.

Final verdict:

The scent is nice. The foam is gentle. After cleansing, my skin doesn't stay dry and I think it will be a nice summer skincare product!

BnB rating: 4/5

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