03 Mar
Blog

Bravely Default 2 Review: Time Doesn’t Heal All Wounds

brave standard 2 rating nintendo switch jrpg presented

Bravely Default 2 Review: Innovative Combat Can't Fully Heal a Generic RPG Story

"The Brave and Default system strikes a near perfect balance between two rival combat mechanics that have struggled to coexist over the decades, but that's about the level of the game's individuality."

  • Strategic brave / default system

  • Useful jobs

  • Bosses are tough but fair

  • Pleasant voice output

  • Recycled music

  • Boring pictures

  • Boring gameplay loop

Bravely Default was born to draw on the earlier JRPGs. The genre made it big with global adventures where slow and steady turn-based battles gave us plenty of time to ponder every battle decision. Then came the Active Time Battle system, which speeds up the slog of traditional turn-based combat. The newer system appears to be better suited to our need for twice-a-minute newsfeed updates and hot-take tweets.

While Bravely Default 2 is the perfect answer for those who want a traditional setting with a touch of something new, the new role-playing game takes on the past without understanding why the systems it is trying to emulate have gone out of style in the first place are.

A tense start

Like its predecessor, Bravely Default 2 offers a unique twist in combat in addition to a generic RPG story. As soon as the game starts, our seafaring hero is stranded on a beach after being rescued by a talking crystal while unconsciously floating through the ocean. At this moment we're just an amnesia stereotype away from a hat trick right outside the gate.

It's just a shame after a few hours you've seen almost everything it will ever offer.

It is not that a story that contains elementally tuned pieces of geological matter is inherently bad. I absolutely loved Final Fantasy III. But it's an RPG standby brought to death – a timeline on the boiler plate that makes it difficult to shake the idea that Bravely Default 2 takes the idea of ​​RPG nostalgia a little too far.

Bravely Standard 2 characters

What I can attribute to Bravely Default 2 early on is how fast it starts. Instead of sitting through a good hour of chat and tutorials, players get their first permanent group members as soon as they wash ashore. A fourth and final teammate is about to come down the street. With the adorable Scottish Elvis, his hired hand Adelle, and the outrageous British Gloria by your side, you're on your way to meet the game's far-reaching international cast. The foundation is laid quickly – it's just a shame after a few hours you've seen almost everything it will ever offer.

As soon as the long prologue chapter ends, the players have mostly seen it all. You've dealt with a crisis in the chapter's chosen city, wandered aimlessly through countless corridors in a few themed dungeons, battled a powerful boss or two, and ended up with one crystal in hand and one at a completely new geographic one Gone place rumor about the location of the next. And that is exactly what they will do over and over again. In at least 30 hours of playing the game, players will see virtually nothing new beyond this opening chapter. They just repeat the same trip disguised as a new excursion until the credits finally roll in.

Same systems, same headache

Where Bravely Default 2 manages to repeat its inspirations is the job system – a feature of Final Fantasy III that has served as the foundation for every JRPG ever since. "Starlets" stolen from bosses throughout the story unlock equippable classes like thief, red mage, bard and berserk – each with unique spells, abilities, passive abilities and special attacks to spice up your strategy.

Bravely Default 2 jobs

Once players get into the habit of using the eponymous Brave and Default systems that allow characters to spin rounds instead of lining them up later, the battle becomes relatively easy. But it is the returning, refined job system that successfully supports future combat strategies.

Characters can only use spells from the two jobs they are currently equipped with. Once unlocked, passive skills from any job can be mixed and matched at any time. Even if the players don't plan on starting a new job on their team, there is reason to theory how his passive skills can improve your current setup. Each of them ends at level 12, so it doesn't take long to embark on the path of experimentation either.

It is the returning, refined job system that successfully supports future combat strategies.

The roles available are inherently little new compared to similar games, but when each party member specializes in two roles at once, the doors open to some wonderful customization options – like a white mage engaging with bard fans or a monk engaging in Berserk oriented role to beat even harder. It becomes a key aspect in fighting some trickier bosses. Sanding levels to practice brute force through those brick walls can work, but the right strategy is always hidden in sight for free thinkers.

The right idea, the wrong execution

If anything, it's fascinating to see the Bravely Default series have to exist in the first place. It doesn't offer much that can't be found elsewhere. My personal favorite JRPG, Lost Odyssey, which happens to be the birth child of Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, came out of a similar need to satisfy those looking for a nostalgic yet modern take on the genre. Unsurprisingly, critics take up the traditional systems that some consider tedious and old-fashioned: long, chatty cutscenes, turn-based battles with a slight change, and chance encounters that rounded off the entire trip.

Bravely Default 2 Exploration

It's easy to see why the latter have disappeared over the years. The game becomes a slog when players find themselves in their fourth, virtually identical dungeon, which splits into five different paths, each one full of lengthy, inevitable battles. The battles aren't entirely random, but even the modern approach of enemies that appear on the overworld map fails in this case.

The game becomes a slog when players are in their fourth, virtually identical, dungeon.

The small but wide world poses no real threat when traveling to and from dungeons and cities. But enter a dungeon and its long, thin corridors lack space to avoid most fights if players only explore the exit or want to reach it quickly and get on with the game. It's a harrowing contrast that is likely to frustrate RPG purists as well as those hoping for a more modern experience.

Our opinion

The reason for questioning the existence of Bravely Default 2 is because of its inability to think for itself. The Brave and Default combat system strikes a near-perfect balance between two rival combat mechanics that have struggled to coexist over the decades, but that's roughly the level of the game's individuality.

On top of that, it features a weirdly overused premise, music that is easily adapted to your current locale, tons of dungeons that don't offer any new experiences and just serve to replenish the game's supposed worth, and a general gameplay loop that comes before the Worn out end of game is first chapter. Aside from looking a bit better on newer hardware, the reason this sequel existed isn't clear.

Is there a better alternative out there?

World of Final Fantasy and Lost Sphear both come to mind as JRPGs who manage to strike a delicate balance between old and new values ​​while playing. This game is intended for those nostalgic for the JRPGs of the past, but doesn't offer much that these games haven't done yet.

How long it will take?

Over 60 hours, which is frankly too long. In contrast to some shorter role-playing games, this one twists the most basic storylines and stretches it far beyond its predetermined breaking point.

You should buy it

No, although it might be a suitable entry point for young players wanting an introduction to the genre. If you've been anywhere near the block there are far better options.

Editor's recommendations




02 Mar
Blog

2021 Volkswagen Arteon SEL Premium R-Line 4Motion Review

2021 volkswagen arteon review front three quarters

2021 Volkswagen Arteon review: German luxury for everyone

"The Arteon combines style, technology and comfort to create a truly upscale experience."

  • Looks great inside and out

  • Well equipped

  • Wireless Apple CarPlay / Android Auto

  • Good balance between driving behavior and handling

  • Not as sporty as rivals

  • Inconspicuous driver assistant technology

Volkswagen may be the "people's car", but sometimes Germany's largest automaker tries to be lifted.

This is the case with the Volkswagen Arteon 2021. VW's flagship wants to offer a little more luxury without breaking the bank. VW tries to raise the Arteon above its smaller models primarily through design, a more luxurious interior and a long list of technical features.

The Arteon competes with the Nissan Maxima, Toyota Avalon and Kia Stinger in the dwindling niche of mainstream brands' prestige cars. However, VW is so confident in the Arteon that it also named the Acura TLX and Infiniti Q50 luxury sedans as competitors. However, as we shall see, the Arteon is missing a key component that these luxury brands offer.

VW launched the Arteon for the 2019 model year, but the 2021 Arteon is getting a major update. It receives the latest MIB3 infotainment system and driving aids for travel assistants and emergency assistants as well as an updated design and newly mixed equipment. The base front-wheel drive Arteon SE starts at $ 38,190, but our test car was an SEL Premium R-Line model with 4Motion all-wheel drive and a base price of $ 48,190.

Design and interior

The main selling point of the Arteon is its styling. It's still recognizable as a VW, but doesn't look as good as the automaker's other models. To achieve this look, VW designers used the old Detroit formula "longer, lower, wider" to give the Arteon a wider stance, short front and rear overhangs, and a low roof, similar to "four-door coupes" from luxury brands such as Audi A7 and Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class. Large wheels (18 inches, 19 inches and 20 inches for SE, SEL and SEL Premium) fill the wheel arches well.

VW gave the Arteon plastic surgery for model year 2021, but you'll need to look carefully to see the differences. The chrome bars of the radiator grille have been reshaped, as have the front air intakes. SEL and SEL Premium models receive the previously optional R-Line appearance package as standard. This adds sportier style elements such as a rear spoiler and an LED light bar in the radiator grille (all trim levels are equipped with LED headlights and taillights as standard).

The sleek design of the Arteon comes at the expense of the passenger compartment. Due to its low roofline, the Arteon has less headroom at the front and rear than the more conventional Volkswagen Passat. This sedan also has more front legroom, but the Arteon has a bit more rear legroom thanks to a longer wheelbase.

It's still recognizable as a VW, but doesn't look as good as the automaker's other models.

The headroom and front legroom are also the worst among the Arteon's competitors. At the rear, VW offers more headroom and rear legroom than the Nissan Maxima or Kia Stinger and is right behind the Toyota Avalon in these key figures.

Like the Stinger, the Arteon has a tailgate instead of a traditional trunk. At 27.2 cubic feet with the rear seats installed, the VW offers significantly more cargo space than the Kia, Nissan or Toyota. You can also fold the rear seats down for up to 56.2 cubic feet of cargo space.

The typical VW interior has a minimalist design that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Designers have avoided the visual clutter in the Toyota Avalon's interior, and controls are placed exactly where you need them. While the material quality is somewhat inconsistent across the VW range, the interior trim materials on our SEL Premium test car seemed appropriate for the price of the car. The Base SE models are covered with V-Tex synthetic leather, while the equipment variants SEL and SEL Premium are equipped with standard nappa leather – a higher quality than is usually the case in this segment.

Technology, infotainment and driver assistance

The Arteon is getting some notable technical improvements for the 2021 model year, including the latest MIB3 infotainment system from VW. This adds wireless Apple CarPlay / Android Auto connectivity, multiple device pairing, and USB-C ports. Two connections for the occupants in the front seats are standard, while the SEL Premium models have a third connection for the second row. A built-in Wi-Fi hotspot, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and a SiriusXM satellite radio receiver are also standard. Charging mobile phones is also standard in the SEL and SEL Premium equipment variants, while the SEL Premium has a Harman Kardon audio system with 12 speakers.

Although the operating system is different, like the previous year's model, the 2021 Arteon still gets an 8.0-inch touchscreen. The 10.0-inch digital cockpit instrument cluster screen is also broadcast, but is now standard on all models. Compared to the old MIB2 system, the screens don't feel dramatically different because they have similar graphics and menu layouts. That's not a bad thing – the user interface was still easy to use – but the main benefit of MIB3 seems to be the updated smartphone connectivity, not the display. Neither were we fans of the new VW haptic control, which is installed on the dashboard and the steering wheel. They had to be deliberately pressed like normal buttons, but lacked the tactile feel of real analog controls.

The interior has a minimalist design that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

In the area of ​​driver assistance, the 2021 Arteon has two new functions – travel assistant and emergency assistant – but only for the higher-level models SEL and SEL Premium. Travel Assist combines adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering so the car can steer, accelerate, and brake on highways with clear lane markings (but you must always keep your hands on the steering wheel). Emergency Assist was developed for situations in which the driver is unable. It monitors the driver's attention and automatically brakes the car to a standstill if no activity is detected. All Arteon models also have standard blind spot monitoring, forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking.

None of the Arteon's direct competitors offer an equivalent of Travel Assist or Emergency Assist. Fortunately, we didn't have to test the Emergency Assistant, while the Travel Assistant showed that this type of technology still had a long way to go. The system was a little slow to respond when we changed the set cruising speed, and while it was able to keep the Arteon in its lane, it tended to turn late so the car came pretty close to the yellow or white lines. This is a mistake that a novice driver would normally make. Shouldn't a machine be better?

Experience at the wheel

The Arteon offers an impressively refined driving experience, but one thing is missing from its competitors: sportiness.

VW only offers a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with a turbocharger, eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive as standard. All-wheel drive is available in the equipment variant SEL and as standard in the SEL Premium, but not available in the basic SE model.

The Nissan Maxima and Toyota Avalon offer more power than the 268 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque that the Arteon can muster. The larger V6 engines that are standard in the Japanese sedans both produce around 300 hp with roughly the same torque as the Arteon's Turbo-Four. The Kia Stinger's base four-cylinder engine has less power than the Arteon engine, but the Kia is also available with a 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 that develops 365 horsepower and 376 lb-ft of torque. The Stinger and Avalon are both available with all-wheel drive, but Toyota only offers it with a less powerful four-cylinder engine.

The ride quality was impressive, even on winter-ravaged roads with crater-sized potholes.

Big cars like the Arteon have traditionally valued comfort versus performance, but the Maxima and Stinger have been sporty designed, and even the Avalon now has a TRD performance model. The Arteon just has nothing to counteract this. It's not slow, but the acceleration doesn't exactly push you back into your seat. The steering is precise and while the Arteon doesn't have that floating feel typical of large cars, there is no sense of urgency either.

At a more relaxed pace, the Arteon is excellent. The standard adaptive chassis has made an excellent balance between handling and comfort. The ride quality was impressive, even on winter-ravaged roads with crater-sized potholes. Our only complaints were rough gear shifting and we felt excessive tire noise.

The Arteon would make a great long-haul cruiser or commuter, but it also has what it takes to be a good driver's car. We'd love to see a tighter, livelier version (like the Arteon R sold in Europe) alongside the standard version.

Fuel economy and safety

The fuel economy of the 2021 Volkswagen Arteon is 25 mpg (22 mpg city, 32 mpg highway) with front-wheel drive and 24 mpg (20 mpg city, 31 mpg highway) with all-wheel drive. That's not bad, but only because cars like this are typically not designed to be fuel efficient. The only exception is the Toyota Avalon Hybrid, which is rated at 43 mpg together.

The Volkswagen Arteon 2020 was recognized by the Insurance Institute for Road Safety (IIHS) as a “Top Safety Pick” and achieved the top rating “Good” in all crash tests. The Arteon missed the highest rating “Top Safety Pick +” due to the low scores for its standard headlights. These assessments should be carried over to the 2021 model. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not published any crash test ratings for the 2021 Arteon.

VW offers a four-year, 50,000-mile warranty on new vehicles and two years of free scheduled maintenance, both of which are transferable to subsequent owners. Nissan and Toyota both offer a three-year warranty on new vehicles of 36,000 miles, but also a five-year warranty of 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Kia tops them all with a 10 year 100,000 mile warranty on the powertrain and a five year limited 60,000 mile warranty. VW also lacks the excellent reputation for reliability of the Japanese and Korean brands.

How DT would configure this car

To achieve maximum technology, you need to go for the SEL Premium R-Line model with the highest range. It has a parking assistant and the Harman Kardon audio system with 12 speakers as well as all the technical functions from the equipment variants below, including the driving aids for the travel assistant and emergency assistant, charging the mobile phone and recognizing traffic signs. The SEL Premium also has standard all-wheel drive, heated and ventilated front seats and a massaging driver's seat.

Our opinion

Cars like the VW Arteon tend to offer more of everything – more power, more space, more comfort – to gain prestige and justify higher prices. VW makes the game better.

The Arteon has numerous premium features, from nappa leather to the latest smartphone connectivity, but it also feels more upscale than its competitors. The Nissan Maxima and Toyota Avalon feel like larger versions of their respective automakers' other sedans, while the Kia Stinger can't compete with the Arteon in terms of interior quality, technical features, or general sophistication.

VW's flagship feels like a real luxury car, but it also has luxury car prices. Our highest range SEL Premium R-Line test car had a price tag pretty close to a mid-range Acura TLX, a car that VW considers a competitor. The Arteon lacks some of the Acura's more sophisticated features, like the ELS studio audio system, but the real difference is on a winding road. The Arteon can do a lot of things, but not sporty.

Should you get one

Yes. Don't be a badge snob.

Editor's recommendations




01 Mar
Blog

Apple Fitness+ Review: Gorgeous Workouts, Great Potential

Apple Fitness plus Rating Screenshot Trainer3

"Fitness + motivates you to close your activity rings, but is lacking in key areas."

  • Seamless integration with the Apple Watch

  • Diversity of likeable trainers

  • Variety of training types

  • New content every week

  • Requires an Apple Watch Series 3 or later and an iPhone

  • No live courses

  • Some exercises require special equipment

Because of gym restrictions and pandemic issues, many people are building their own gym instead of throwing away their hard-earned cash on gym membership. Services like Apple Fitness + fill that void as the move to home fitness is transforming the fitness industry. Can an online stream replace your personal Pilates class? We tested Apple Fitness + to find out.

Apple Watch is the killer feature

Apple Fitness + is available for the iPad, iPhone, and Apple TV, but was designed specifically for the Apple Watch. As soon as you open a workout on your iPhone, it is immediately displayed on the Apple Watch. Your watch will then send your health data to your connected device so that you can view it if you follow the trainer's lead.

I realized that I connected with the coaches and wanted to train with them.

As you exercise, you can watch your activity rings increase as you get closer to meeting your exercise goals. You can also see your heart rate, time and calories burned. It's a small feature, but incredibly motivating to see all of your stats on the big screen. Since it is displayed on your screen, there is no need to keep looking at your watch. This is huge for someone like me who is likely to stumble or lose rhythm looking at my wrist.

Can't make the mood

Apple Fitness + is great for beginners to advanced users, provided they have the right equipment. Most cardio workouts require a treadmill, bike, or step machine and are not interchangeable. Unlike iFit, which films landscape-related activities suitable for any machine, Fitness +, for example, requires a bike to complete the bike training.

You will also need dumbbells or kettlebells to complete many of the strength activities. You might be able to swap bodyweight exercises, but it's not the same. You can also skip workouts that require specific equipment, but eliminating so many exercises seriously affected my experience. Instead of having a "can-do" feeling, I often had a "can-do" feeling when browsing the training library. To be fair, Apple offers walking workouts and dance classes that don't require special equipment, but there are few. I would love to see more of this creative, equipment-free content.

This "can't" feeling was reinforced by a limited user interface. Fitness + divides the workouts into broad categories (intense interval training, yoga, core, strength, treadmill, cycling, rowing, dancing, and mindful cooldown) to help you find the right exercise. Once in a category, I found it difficult to find the right workout for my fitness level. There was no way to filter activities based on difficulty or equipment required. I had to choose a workout and then read the description to see if it was appropriate for me. This hunt-and-peck method of finding activity was tedious.

Diverse, enthusiastic trainers

Apple is the master of looks, so it's no surprise that the Fitness + videos are highly polished. The videos are recorded in a beautiful studio gym with great camera angles so you can see exactly how the trainer moves. The workouts feature happy music and personable coaches who encourage you to “close those rings”.

There's no way to filter activities, and the Hunt-and-Peck method of finding a workout was tedious.

Apple's trainers reflect a wide variety of races, ages, and body types that I really appreciate. Since these were normal and not particularly healthy top athletes, I found that I connected with the coaches and wanted to train with them. Their enthusiasm was contagious. Apple also adds content weekly so I keep coming back to find out what's new.

Moderate workouts but no live content

Fitness + is aimed at the large number of iPhone and Apple Watch owners. It is aimed at beginners to advanced and not advanced athletes. Established fitness fanatics could use Fitness + to add to their existing routine or do cross-training on a day off, but it won't replace their existing high-intensity routine.

Most workouts are easy to follow and some are even scalable. This is a function that other exercise programs should do. With these scalable strength training sessions, you can choose to complete the selected activities, improve them with more advanced activities, or downsize the exercises if you have an injury or just want to take it easy. This flexibility encourages you to keep going even when an injury or illness gets in the way.

As much as I've enjoyed Fitness +, the service has a big Achilles heel. Unfortunately, unlike Peloton or Mirror, which offer a plethora of live classes, Apple Fitness + consists entirely of recorded videos. On-demand workouts are convenient because you can work out anytime, but they lack the community feel of a live class. Hopefully Apple will hire a few trainers to teach live classes on a daily basis.

costs

Apple Fitness + requires an Apple Watch Series 3 or later, which gives you at least $ 199 back for a new watch. Also requires a monthly subscription of $ 10 or an annual subscription of $ 80. The service is also included in the Apple One Premier bundle, which costs $ 30 per month and includes Apple Music, Apple TV +, Apple Arcade, Cloud, and News +. When it comes to cost, it's significantly cheaper than the average $ 40 per month subscription that most affiliated home gyms like Mirror, Tempo Studio, and Tonal have.

Our opinion

Apple Fitness + is a great workout tool for beginners to advanced users who already own an Apple Watch. A growing collection of workouts from motivational coaches encourage you to exercise. It's a little rough around the edges, but it has potential. If Apple listens to its critics and improves the service, Fitness + Peloton could give a run for its money in the coming year.

Is there a better alternative?

Apple Fitness + shows promise, but it does require an Apple Watch. Not everyone owns an Apple Watch and doesn't want to buy one just to exercise. Fitness +’s strongest competitor is iFit, which has an extensive library of recorded studio and outdoor activities, as well as a growing number of live workouts and does not require a fitness watch. It's priced at $ 10 per month and runs on a tablet or smartphone.

How long it will take?

Apple has supported and updated the software on its older devices in the past, and we expect Apple Fitness + to receive the same treatment. The service will improve over time and its shortcomings (e.g. no live training) will be a thing of the past.

Should you buy it?

Yes, Apple Fitness + may be just what the doctor ordered for Apple Watch owners who want to get fit and stay fit.

Editor's recommendations




01 Mar
Blog

Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 Review: A Step Backward

Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 review 1

Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 review: one step forward, two steps back

  • QLED screen is gorgeous

  • Rock solid design

  • Responsive, quiet keyboard

  • Fast performance

  • Thick lower bezel

  • Sloppy touchpad

Every year we expect the technology to be faster and better than last year. Samsung did the opposite with the Galaxy Chromebook 2.

It has a lower resolution screen, is thicker and heavier, and doesn't have a built-in S-Pen slot. It even uses a slower processor. What kind of sequel is that?

Well, the Galaxy Chromebook 2's name might be a misnomer, but the device is a Chromebook sweet spot in terms of its $ 550 price point. It's a far more palatable price than the $ 999 original Galaxy Chromebook. But did Samsung sacrifice what made this laptop so special to bring the price down?

design

The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook had two distinctive features: the insane thinness of its profile and the bold red color of the case. The color remains, although there is now a more general silver option as well.

Unfortunately, its size has grown. The original was a staggering 0.39 inches thick – and only 2.29 pounds. It's still one of the lightest laptops you can buy. The continuation is much more conventionally 2.71 pounds and 0.55 inches thick. It's by no means too big, but now a bit thicker and heavier than the Pixelbook Go. This also corresponds to the Asus Chromebook Flip C436, another premium Chromebook.

That's not to say that this is the least bit bad-looking laptop. The Fiesta Red color is more fun than ever and the build quality is exceptional. I miss the CNC cut side panels, but it's still one of the nicest Chromebooks you can buy. That is, before I got my fingerprints on the lid. It's a bit like a fingerprint magnet.

Overall, however, I prefer the sharper angles and edges over the overly rounded style of the Pixelbook Go.

One feature of the design that hasn't changed is the lower bezel. However, over the past year we've seen a shift towards bigger screens with slimmer chins, whether that's 16:10 or 3-2. Even Chromebooks like this Acer Chromebook Spin 713 I switched to the boxy aspect ratio of 3: 2, which I preferred to the squat 16: 9.

Either way, the bottom bezel is a thorn in the side, although that's also an issue that the Pixelbook Go and Acer Chromebook Spin 713 have. Only the Asus Chromebook Flip C436 managed to remove enough grease from the lower bezel to meet modern laptop standards.

The port selection hasn't changed and is still limited to just two USB-C ports and a microSD card slot. You will also find an on / off switch and a volume rocker on the sides.

This is of course because the Galaxy Chromebook 2 has a 360-degree hinge. The larger size and lack of a built-in pen limit the usability of the device as a tablet. However, this is unlikely to be why you are buying a Chromebook.

Keyboard and touchpad

The color of the keycaps is the most notable change to the keyboard. They're black now, which is a little more conventional. And also a little more boring.

It's still a wonderful keyboard for typing, as long as you can familiarize yourself with the shallow travel. The buttons click while remaining quiet, and I was happily typing at my normal speed in just a few minutes.

The touchpad isn't such a nice experience. It's spacious, but the surface isn't as smooth as I'd like it to be, resulting in awkward clicks and pulls and finger jumps.

Display and speakers

The original Samsung Galaxy Chromebook had an OLED 4K screen. This is practically unknown for a Chromebook. As great as it was, the impact on battery life wasn't worth the extra pixels. The 1080p QLED screen Samsung worked with here is a much better choice. Samsung's patented QLED screen technology has shown excellent results on laptops such as the Galaxy Book Flex.

It's not as bright as a MacBook Pro or Surface Pro 7, but the Galaxy Chromebook 2's 13.3-inch screen makes up for it in colors. Pictures and videos are really colorful without ever looking oversaturated. You can thank quantum dot technology for this kind of color rendering that is rarely found outside of 4K panels.

All of this would result in a great multimedia experience – if these speakers sounded better. They point down at your face instead of up, with the grills resting flat against the bottom of the case. Most down-facing speakers are least built into the raised edges to bounce sound off tables and desks. But these are flat, which results in them being both muffled and too quiet. If you have them on a pillow or soft surface, they can become almost silent.

I'm assuming you want them to point at you in tent mode, but that's not a worthwhile compromise.

The sound from the speakers would be decent if they weren't where they are. Pity! The Pixelbook Go is still the undaunted winner in audio.

performance

Measuring performance on a Chromebook is difficult. Any Intel Core or AMD Ryzen processor will make a laptop like this fly. This applied to the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 with the Intel Core i3-10110U processor, 8 GB of RAM and a 128 GB SSD. This is the more expensive configuration that costs $ 699. The startup configuration operated by Celeron is not the desired one, especially since it only contains 64 GB of eMMC storage.

You can't configure the Pixelbook Go in exactly the same way, but memory aside, the Pixelbook Go is $ 50 cheaper. I call it an impairment.

Both use a dual-core processor – the Pixelbook Go with the 8th generation Core m3 and the Galaxy Chromebook 2 with the 10th generation Core i3. There are also not the latest chips that can be viewed in a Chromebook. At the CES, Intel announced 11th generation processors for Chromebooks that have an improved 10 nm architecture and integrated graphics from Intel Iris Xe.

By the time they make it into the first Chromebooks, you can expect a more significant leap in gaming performance and creative endeavors. The meager built-in Intel UHD graphics are barely enough to play some of the more intense 3D Android games like Asphalt 9: Legends.

Do you want to work with dozens of tabs open at the same time? No problem.

Despite only two cores and four threads, the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 feels snappy and responsive. I tested this further with the Tachometer 2.0, which measures how quickly the system can reload a JavaScript application. With a score of 118 runs per minute, the Galaxy Chromebook 2 doesn't slow down any of the web apps or Android apps that you depend on.

Want to work with dozens of tabs open, including audio and video streams at the same time? No problem. This likely doesn't apply to the Intel Celeron model, which lacks the ability to multitask. I ran the Galaxy Chromebook 2 on the Android version of Geekbench 5, which rated the system at 1,003 in single-core and 2,179 in multi-core mode. The quad-core options on the Pixelbook Go or the Asus Chromebook Flip C436 will surpass it, but it does well against configurations with similarly priced items.

Battery life

Battery life is arguably the most important test for Chromebooks. This is often one of their greatest strengths over similarly priced Windows notebooks. This was a problem with the original Samsung Galaxy Chromebook and wasn't fully resolved in the second generation.

Samsung promises a battery life of 13 hours, which is not too ambitious at first. The M1 MacBook Pro promises 17 hours of Internet surfing and 20 hours of video playback.

The battery life is 45 watts, which is slightly longer than last year. But the results didn't blow me away. It took just under 9.5 hours of light web browsing and only 13 hours of local video playback. It was a couple of hours behind the Pixelbook Go. It was neck to neck with the Asus Chromebook Flip C436 in video loop, but surfing the Internet an hour later.

Even so, the Galaxy Chromebook 2 will last most of a work day, and ultimately this will be enough for most people.

Our opinion

The Galaxy Chromebook 2 is no better laptop than its predecessor. It's a better Chromebook, however. It fits exactly what people are looking for in a Chromebook and is finally affordable enough to recommend.

However, missing some of the special features of the original, the Galaxy Chromebook 2 is less interesting than it used to be. However, the QLED screen is outstanding, the performance is great, and the design is undeniably attractive.

Are there alternatives?

Google's Pixelbook Go is the main alternative to the Galaxy Chromebook 2. It has longer battery life, a 1080p webcam, better speakers, and is more portable. This is the better option for most users and is even $ 50 less with a similar configuration.

The Asus Chromebook Flip C436 now starts at $ 523 and has a larger 14-inch screen, smaller bezels, and a better choice of ports.

How long it will take?

Nowadays, you can expect a Chromebook to last a few years longer than a Mac or Windows laptop. The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 comes with a standard one-year warranty.

Should you buy it?

Yes, especially if you love the design and color of this laptop. I could see someone pick up the $ 550 base configuration as a lightweight computer for browsing the web and the occasional Zoom call. The Pixelbook Go has better battery life and some high-end features, but the Galaxy Chromebook 2 is one of the better Chromebooks that hit the market last year.

Editor's recommendations




28 Feb
Blog

Vizio P-Series Quantum 4K HDR TV Review (P65Q9-H1)

Vizio 65 "Class P-Series (P65Q9-H1)

"One of the best values ​​in high-performance television."

  • Excellent HDR brightness for the price

  • Fixed black levels at an angle

  • Excellent color coverage

  • HDMI 2.1 connectors

  • Feature loaded

  • Possible local dimming error

  • Game console synchronization error

  • Bad contrast out of angle

After looking at the Vizio P-Series Quantum X (PQX for short), I wondered if people really needed all of the bells and whistles that Vizio's premium set had to offer. For a few hundred dollars less, I was hoping the rundown Quantum of the Vizio P-Series (PQ9 for short) would be "all killer, no filler." What do you lose if you lose the "X"? Let's find out.

Details on the Vizio P-Series Quantum 4K HDR TV

While we tested the 65-inch model, our test also applies to the 75-inch model.

Screen size Model number RRP
65 inches P65Q9-H1 $ 1,200
75 in P75Q9-H1 $ 1,700

Out of the box

The box comes with the standard Vizio remote control (no voice), batteries and two easy-to-install metal feet and four screws. Similar to the Quantum X, the back of the PQ9 is fairly straightforward and includes a power connector and speakers, as well as inputs that are shaped in an “L” pattern on one side. Inputs include analog and optical audio, four HDMI ports (with eARC on port 1), composite video, and USB. While only the third and fourth HDMI inputs are labeled as 4K 120 Hz supportive, Vizio has assured us that all four HDMI inputs are HDMI 2.1.

Similar to the PQX, the PQ9 is an attractive television. There are practically no bezels at the top and the sides and just a thin metal strip at the bottom. The Vizio logo is on the right side of the lower edge and on the left is an inconspicuous power indicator. Because the PQ9 has a local full array dimming backlight system, the TV does not have a particularly deep profile.

The PQ9 sits just high enough above an entertainment stand that one of Vizio's soundbars (we used the M-Series 5.1 soundbar) can slide right underneath, making for one of the most understated soundbar arrangements I've ever seen.

When I have to complain about the design of the TV, there is no cable management to speak of. If there is a soundbar, you probably won't see any dangling cables, but with nothing blocking your view, the cables were clearly visible.

Basic settings

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

Maintaining the picture settings is a little less annoying than with other TV brands. The picture settings for apps and HDMI inputs must be specified separately. In addition, there are individual settings for SDR, HDR and Dolby Vision content that must be processed for apps and HDMI inputs.

In my experience, the easiest way is to open the YouTube app on the TV, play SDR content, then navigate to the picture settings menu and select the preset for calibrated pictures. Further down the image settings menu, navigate to advanced settings and then to motion controls. If you don't want the “soap opera effect”, reduce the jerking and blurring from two to zero.

Next, go to a YouTube video in HDR (there are tons of them) and repeat the process if necessary by selecting “HDR Calibrated” and lowering those same motion settings if necessary. In my experience, however, selecting “Calibrated” for HDR causes the PQ9 to make a similar setting for HDR.

For Dolby Vision, I recommend going to a Dolby Vision title from Netflix or Disney +, then selecting Dolby Vision Bright, selecting Warm for the color temperature, and then turning off motion smoothing.

Repeat the above three processes for an HDMI input and you should be set.

Color performance

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

After making the above settings, I measured the PQ9's white balance which gives a good indication of color accuracy at a glance. Since white is made up of red, green, and blue colors, I can tell if those colors are made in balance. In my tests, I noticed that the PQ9 leaned a little too much towards red – an attribute that I noted was present in the PQX. It took much less time and tweaking to match the PQ9, however, and the bright whites had less redshift than the PQX. Maybe that's because the PQ9 doesn't get that bright, but I still call it an advantage.

On the whole, the colors look rich, vibrant, and pleasant, and I haven't done anything repulsive that the average viewer would recognize. My tests have confirmed that the Vizio is not perfectly color accurate, but it is close enough for most people. In addition, the PQ9 generates a very large color palette with different brightness levels, which leads to a very satisfactory display of HDR content.

We measured around 1,100 nits in HDR mode.

brightness

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

After some testing, I found that the PQ9 hit almost 550 nits in SDR mode – which gives a bright picture, but you won't get a lot of bright highlight detail in SDR. While for bright room scenarios you could get brighter by maximizing the backlighting, it could result in a washed out image in darker rooms.

In HDR mode, we measured around 1,100 nits and thus missed the promised 1,200 a bit – but the PQ9 easily achieved 1,200 nits in standard and vivid mode. For both HDR and SDR, this TV is more than bright enough for most viewing situations. Not as bright as the PQX and its bold 3,000 nit peak brightness, but we'll discuss whether I missed that extra punch later in this review .

Backlight

It's true that the PQ9 creates a halo or bloom effect when you have bright objects against a really dark, black background, and that black areas tend to be a little grayed out – we could see the screen lit up when subtitles There were bolts over the black mailbox. However, the fact is that almost all LED-backlit TVs do, and I think Vizio did an admirable job of solving the problem.

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

Looking at it head-on from direct center wasn't a big problem, but once off-center you could see things cloud over. Again, this is typical of VA type LCD panels, but here it seemed particularly severe compared to some of the other TVs we tested this year. To be fair, these competing TVs were more expensive and didn't get as bright. I think we're looking at a compromise situation where you'll have to spend a lot more to get similar brightness with better backlight control. (It's worth noting that we kept the backlighting on medium for Active Full Array for SDR, HDR, and Dolby Vision as this gave the best results.)

Now to a problem that both I and Vizio found rather annoying: On my test device, the backlight seemed to be slow to respond in some test clips that trace a small white box around a black screen. When I take out Netflix content and go back to the title screen, I can see it darken and then lighten again when I figure out what to do. I call it local dimming delay.

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

While testing the actual content to see if the issues were just limited to logos and test screens or not, we found that the backlight was slow to respond, which is problematic in dark rooms where our eyes are more sensitive to displacement Brightness.

The screen evenness on my PQ9 example wasn't particularly good.

It is known that local dimming delays occur. I've seen it on a number of televisions. However, that delay seemed extreme by comparison, even with other TVs in Vizio's cast. It looks like a bug, but Vizio and I had a hard time tracking it down. Vizio has informed me that there are no widespread reports of this type of problem. As such, it is very likely that the problem is limited to the test pattern I have, but if I do, others could too.

uniformity

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

The screen evenness on my PQ9 example wasn't particularly good. I could see vertical bands pretty clearly in images with wide areas of color, and there was some heavy vignetting in the corners where the brightness decreases a bit. Again, that dirty screen effect and vignetting will vary from panel to panel, so your mileage may vary.

Move

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

The motion handling of the PQ9 for 24 fps movie content looks great. When the set's film mode is activated, there is no serious judder, although we could see a judder with 30 fps content. (This jerking can be removed by smoothing motion, but you get back the "soap opera effect" which in most cases makes things look generally worse.)

If there's an abundance of fine details to be tracked, you may see some glimmer in these objects, which we've seen on many televisions this year. There is something about high brightness coupled with fine details that seems difficult for current processors.

On the positive side, I didn't see any excessive moire patterns in tight geometric patterns on the PQ9, which suggests that the processor is indeed doing a pretty good job

Play

There were many problems enabling 4K 120Hz with HDR and variable refresh rate (VRR), all of which were suitable for next-gen gaming consoles, the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5. This has been a problem with many televisions this year.

The gameplay was excellent, with extremely low entry lag and great HDR graphics.

Connecting an Xbox Series X is designed to be an automated process in which the console detects the capabilities of the TV and automatically applies the correct video settings. Unfortunately, there is a bug that requires you to quickly adjust the settings so that everything communicates well with each other.

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

To make the adjustment, go to Image Settings and scroll to the bottom of the menu where you will find "Input Settings". By default, the TV is set to Auto, but HDMI 2.1 must be turned on for Xbox Series X to function properly. After that, I also had to restart the TV so the Xbox Series X could get the correct information from the PQ9. It took some work, but we finally got there. Vizio is hoping to fix this bug soon and if it does then this review will be updated accordingly.

The gameplay highlighted the slowness of the backlighting issues mentioned above, especially with regards to the menus for the games. Other than that – which we know could be a bug with this example – the gameplay was excellent, with extremely low input lag and great HDR graphics that really brought the games to life.

Our opinion

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

I started by wondering if the PQ9, being a cheaper TV than the PQX, is the smarter buy. Based on my experience, I cannot make a definitive call.

To make sure the PQ9 has enough brightness for stunning HDR images and doesn't have the excessive redshift that I saw in the PQX. But the local dimming delay is distracting and I did everything I could to eliminate the problem – reset, restart, various settings – but the PQ9 was just an odd feat for us. However, if that lag is just a bug, the PQ9 is an excellent option and probably the smarter buy compared to the admittedly impressive PQX. It would also be one of the best values ​​in high end television that you can buy today.

Is there a better alternative?

No. With its superior brightness and black levels, the Vizio PQ9 is in a class of its own. The comparable Q70T from Samsung is nowhere near as well equipped or exciting to look at. TCL's 8 series is very well matched in terms of price and performance, but it's free and hard to buy right now. LG's Nano90 is very competitive to sell, but this TV is also on its way out as new 2021 models ship to retail stores. For a $ 1,200 65-inch TV with its specs and performance, the Vizio P-Series Quantum can't be touched.

How long it will take?

Given Vizio's track record of overall build quality and HDMI 2.1 features and the PQ9's advanced processor, the TV can last for several years before it may (want to) be replaced.

warranty

Vizio grants a one-year guarantee on its TV products. For more information, see the Vizio warranty page.

You should buy it

Yes, but only if you have the option to return it should you run into the local dimming problem that I experienced with my test device. At this point, I am encouraged by a low response rate on the PQ9, and the fact is that this TV is tremendous performance for the price.

Editor's recommendations




28 Feb
Blog

Nuheara IQbuds2 Max Review: They’ll Level-Up Your Listening

Nuheara IQBuds2 max

"If you can annul or enlarge your world, they are like bionics for your ears."

  • Excellent sound quality

  • Excellent noise cancellation

  • Effective and customizable hearing enhancement

  • Good call quality

  • Good selection of earplugs

  • Expensive

  • No wireless charging

  • No music EQ settings

  • Big and bulky

True wireless earbuds have become a commodity in the last year or so. Rapid improvements in sound quality, wireless reliability, additional features like Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and wireless charging – combined with falling prices – have made it much more difficult for any model to stand out from the crowd.

This is what makes the $ 399 Nuheara IQBuds2 Max so interesting. By integrating hearing aid technology, they are just as interested in hearing the world around you as they are in hearing your favorite music. Even so, their high price is daunting. So let's see if what makes them stand out is enough to justify the extra money.

What's in the box?

Nuheara IQBuds2 maxSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

In the responsibly designed cardboard box, the IQBuds2 Max is in the charging case, along with a fabric carrying case, a microUSB charging cable, six earplugs and paper documentation with quick instructions. Unlike all of the other wireless earbuds we've tried, the IQBuds2 Max don't come with earbuds from the factory. You must first select a set and install it.

That sounds impractical, but it's actually pretty smart for Nuheara. Most people stick to the standard middle tips and forget to try the other sizes. With the IQBuds2 Max, this process of finding the right fit is integrated into the unboxing process.

design

Nuheara IQBuds2 maxSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The IQBuds2 Max does not win beauty pageants. Their matte black basic bodies are functional and designed in such a way that they attract as little attention as possible. But despite their stealthy appearance, these are pretty chunky earbuds. They're bigger than the Jabra Elite 85t, Sennheiser CX 400BT, and Amazon Echo Buds – three of the largest earbuds we tested.

Your charging case is just as massive. It's almost big enough to hold a bunch of workout buds like the Powerbeats Pro, and it dwarfs the AirPods Pro case when the two stand side by side.

Although they are big, they are also solidly built. Nuheara may not have designed the IQBuds2 Max with sturdiness in mind, but I think they will withstand non-water breakdowns better than many other models. They don't have an official IPX rating to keep them safe from water or dust, but Nuheara claims they are sweat and rainproof.

I'm a little surprised that Nuheara didn't add wireless charging or USB-C to the case for $ 399. These features have been seen on earbuds priced less than $ 75. But Nuheara tells me that when the company designed the IQBuds2 Max in 2018, they weren't as on the radar as they are now. Apparently the next version will have both.

The IQBuds2 Max are great. Some people may find this uncomfortable.

The earbuds snap easily into their charging sockets with a magnetic click, and an indicator light in front of each socket immediately confirms that they are properly seated and charged.

It can be a little trickier to get them back out, but once you master the sideways roll maneuver it shouldn't be a problem anymore.

Convenience, control and connections

Nuheara IQBuds2 maxSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The IQBuds2 Max are big – there's no getting around them. As a result, they create a very distinct feeling of fullness when you wear them. Some people, especially those with smaller ears, may find this uncomfortable. The choice of earbuds definitely helps, and I love that Nuheara includes three sizes of Comply Memory Foam tips as well as the standard silicone tips.

The advantage of the larger buds is that they have excellent contact with the entire concha and provide a very secure fit. The IQBuds2 Max are not meant to be training buds, but they are unlikely to loosen on their own if you get them working.

The IQBuds2 Max have responsive, touch-sensitive controls. However, as with many touch controls, you need to make contact with the center of the earbuds – tapping on the edges will not be registered. Each earbud has a single, double and long touch command that can be customized using the IQBuds app for iOS and Android.

Unfortunately, Nuheara limits these options. For example, the right earbud is the only one that can control the various listening modes, including ANC. Some touch commands, like a single touch of the right earbud, can only be used for three functions: turn ANC on / off, turn ANC off, and pause music or do nothing at all. To be fair, since you can't use the IQBuds2 Max independently, it's no big deal, and it's worth noting that you can choose from a variety of functions for the left earbud, including volume, play / pause, track forward / Skip backwards and access the voice assistant.

Pick a bass heavy track and you'll hear it – the low end has a luxurious weight to it.

The IQBuds2 Max are equipped with wear sensors and can pause and resume your music automatically, but only when you remove / replace the left earbud. Doing the same with the right bud has no effect.

Bluetooth range is average for a number of wireless earbuds. Indoors, I was able to move one floor away from my phone before it was disconnected, while outdoors it was closer to 50 feet.

Sound quality

Nuheara IQBuds2 maxSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The IQBuds2 Max are primarily intended as hearing aids, but are also great for sound quality. They have a rich and warm tonality with a bass response that is wonderfully resonant. Pick a bass-heavy track and you'll hear it – from Billie Eilish's villain to Hans Zimmer's Time – the low-end has a luxurious weight. Better still, this resonance doesn't affect the mids or highs, both of which are easily noticeable.

Vocals come through with clarity and precision and the soundstage strikes a good balance between breadth and intimacy. All of this is amazing considering the IQBuds2 Max only supports the lowest throughput bluetooth codec (SBC) on an iPhone (they support aptX on Android).

I wish Nuheara only had the option to adjust the EQ in the app.

Managing external sounds is the IQBuds2 Max's secret sauce.

You will get the best sound quality with ANC fully enabled, but even if you use one of the many "World On" modes (more on that in a moment), the IQBuds2 Max will deliver great sound.

Noise cancellation, transparency and hearing aid

Managing external sounds is the IQBuds2 Max's secret sauce. They give you an unprecedented level of control over what you hear, from total silence to focused amplification. However, there are a number of aspects to how this works. So let's take them one by one.

EarID

When you connect the IQBuds2 Max for the first time and start the IQBuds app, you will be invited to a hearing test. Some wireless earbuds, like the Jabra Elite 85t, use a test to determine which frequencies you cannot hear in order to improve your music experience. The IQBuds2 Max take the opposite approach and use a similar test to determine which external sound frequencies need a boost.

The test takes about 10 minutes and leads you to a series of tones with different frequencies and volumes. This is done for each ear. The result is a kind of map that shows you where your hearing is not sensitive.

In my case, it said I was only missing a tiny amount of the highest frequencies at the lowest volumes. I know this is true because I have my hearing checked annually by an audiologist and that is exactly what these professional tests have shown.

Once the test is complete, you can toggle EarID on and off to see how it affects what you hear. As was to be expected, with my near-perfect hearing, I couldn't see much of a difference.

Locations

The next step is to explore the app's locations. Think of these as sound enhancement presets for scenarios where you want to hear part or all of the outside world. The labels (home, office, restaurant, driving, road, training, and airplane) are self-explanatory. For each of these seven locations, you can keep the default settings or adjust them. You can also select up to four of the seven as favorites, which you can then cycle through with the right earbud – very handy.

The four sound improvements are:

volume

As the name suggests, the volume control allows you to increase or decrease the microphone gain. Do you have overall hearing problems? Turn it up. Feel overwhelmed? Turn it down. The caveat is that when you turn up the volume, you will also hear more ambient hissing if it is relatively quiet around you.

Here you can also switch to ANC or switch off all external sound processing. If you select ANC or “Off”, all four sound enhancement settings are disabled (as they are only used to optimize incoming sounds).

SINC (Speech in Noise Control)

With the SINC extension, you can prioritize either ambient or speech sounds or a mixture of both. For example, the training location places an emphasis on ambient noise so you can maintain better situational awareness in the gym or while running outdoors.

World EQ

This extension allows you to filter out certain frequencies. When using the aircraft location, lower frequencies are filtered out to aid in the quiet roar of jet engines so you can focus on the voices around you. Meanwhile, the office location switches off the World EQ so that you can hear all frequencies equally.

focus

Focus is a simple on / off setting that is perfect for one-on-one calls in noisy environments. When it is turned off, sounds from all directions are amplified equally. When it's on, only the sounds in front of you are given priority. The restaurant's location is a classic example of when Focus would come in handy.

The IQBuds2 Max are amazing for noise cancellation.

Fortunately, I tested the IQBuds2 Max during a pandemic. Local lockdowns have resulted in my inability to access restaurants, planes, an office, or a gym, which has severely limited my ability to test these hearing enhancements in the real-world locations they are intended for. But that hasn't stopped me from using them at home, on the street, and out shopping, and I am very impressed with the performance of these earbuds.

Although my hearing is considered very good, lately I've found it harder to focus on voices in busy environments. When I use the SINC setting with an emphasis on speech and focus on, I don't have to concentrate nearly as hard to separate voices from the background.

But even if you never use the hearing enhancements, the IQBuds2 Max are incredible for noise cancellation. Activating this feature by touching the right earbud is like dropping a cone of silence over your head. They're better than the AirPods Pro and better than the Sony WF-1000XM3. I haven't had a chance to compare them to the Bose QuietComfort Ear Buds, but I would be shocked if the Bose were significantly better.

And thanks to their continuously adjustable positions, the IQBuds2 Max win the award for the best transparency in a range of true wireless earbuds.

Battery life

Nuheara IQBuds2 maxSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Nuheara claims to use five hours between charges if you're streaming music or eight hours if you're just using them to improve hearing. The charging case holds enough juice for three full charges. In practice, I found that after six hours of mixed use, the earbuds dropped to around 15% battery level, which in my opinion puts the IQBuds2 Max slightly below these claimed numbers. The earbuds fully charge in 90 minutes, but there is no quick charge feature.

Many true wireless earbuds compress your voice, but the IQBuds2 Max deliver a far more natural sound.

It would have been great if Nuheara increased those numbers a bit, but I think for most people the battery life is probably okay.

Call quality

Nuheara IQBuds2 maxSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The IQBuds2 Max do a very good job of maintaining the voice quality when making calls. Many true wireless earbuds compress your voice and give it a thin sound that speaks through the pipe. The IQBuds2 Max, however, deliver a far more natural sound.

They also do a good job of canceling out competing noises like traffic. I can't tell how well they handle windy conditions – my time with them was in unusually calm winter weather – but I suspect they won't unless you try to make a critical business call amid 40 mph gusts. I will do fine.

Our opinion

While the $ 399 price tag is a little on the wallet, the IQBuds2 Max rewards you with incredible sound and the ability to focus (or ignore) as much of the outside world as you want – a combination you won't find in any You can find another set of real wireless earbuds at all costs.

Is there a better alternative?

We haven't found a range of true wireless earbuds that have the same features as the IQBuds2 Max, which means there really is no real alternative.

However, if the IQBuds2 Max's hearing enhancements are of little value to you, Sennheisers can save you $ 300 in savings and get equally good sound quality Momentum 2 True Wireless, Jabras $ 230 Elite 85t. $ 230 from Sony WF-1000XM3or Bose's $ 280 QuietComfort ear buds – and all of them also offer very good or excellent ANC.

How long will they last?

With a one-year warranty from Nuheara, the IQBuds2 Max appears to be very well built using high quality materials. The biggest question is how long the battery will last. Given their role as a hearing enhancer, it is possible that people might want to wear them for long hours every day.

Should you buy it?

Yes. If you've ever wanted a personal audio device that doubles the performance as a hearing enhancer and high quality music companion, the IQBuds2 Max are excellent in both areas, making them versatile, true wireless earbuds.

Editor's recommendations




27 Feb
Blog

Arlo Essential Wireless Video Doorbell Review: Huge Decision

Arlo Essential Wireless doorbell mounted on brick

Arlo Essential Video Doorbell Wireless

"A great software experience is compromised by cheap looking hardware that doesn't match the price."

  • Great software with lots of options

  • Good video quality, day and night

  • easy installation

  • Inexpensive looking hardware

  • Prominent fisheye effect

Package deliveries are becoming more and more common these days. I received two separate deliveries to my door on the day this was written. Arlo recognizes this and wants to help. The newest doorbell, the Arlo Essential Wireless Video Doorbell, has a 180 degree field of view and packet detection, and doesn't need any cables at all if you don't want them or you already have them. Arlo's successes are deeply rooted in its line of surveillance cameras like the mighty Arlo Pro 4. Does the new video doorbell have a chance of staying a relevant gamer in space?

This doorbell is all about choice

You can install the Essential Wireless doorbell with or without a cable. If you have a wired doorbell, the Essential button in your interior will ring. Otherwise, you can wirelessly mount this battery operated doorbell anywhere. Arlo claims this doorbell will last for six months on a single charge. My tests show a little closer to two or three, but in fairness it was crazy cold outside so battery efficiency can be affected. That said, it's nice to have a doorbell that you can easily place anywhere you need it.

Arlo Essential Wireless doorbell mounted on brick

When you set up the app, the doorbell needs to scan a QR code to get the Wi-Fi credentials. I only mention this because the process worked very well which is unusual in my experience. Well played, Arlo. During the set up process, you will be asked what type of subscription you would like to sign up for, which was a bit off-putting.

There's no other way to put it: it's huge

The Arlo Essential Wireless Video Doorbell is a large piece of a doorbell. It's the biggest doorbell I've tested so far. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but if your door invites you to a leaner offering, it's important to keep that in mind. The doorbell is 47mm x 143mm x 37mm which is pretty massive. For comparison: The Netatmo doorbell that I tested a few weeks ago is also huge, but smaller than this doorbell (45mm x 135mm x 29mm) in every dimension.

Size comparison between the Arlo Video doorbell and an iPhone 12 Pro

The doorbell hardware is a combination of matte and glossy polycarbonate that feels solid and sturdy, but exudes a cheap aesthetic. The camera protrudes a little from the top of the bell and gives it a diagonal field of view of 180 degrees. At the bottom is a round button with a ring of LEDs that light up when you approach. The LEDs are not bright enough to illuminate the area. They're only there to indicate where to push. The 6,500 mAh battery is located in the plastic housing. With the pen supplied, you can, similar to most telephones, detach the doorbell from the mounting plate, remove the battery and connect it to a micro-USB cable for charging.

The video feed (resolution 1536 x 1536) is pretty good during the day and night, although a very noticeable fisheye effect can be seen on the periphery of the feed. There is also a noticeable delay when the camera is transmitting audio and video, often up to three seconds. This can make conversations difficult, but not impossible.

The software lights up

On the software side, the app is very comprehensive. You get the usual options like activity zones, notification configurations and the like. What impresses me about Arlo software is the wealth of options it gives you. The doorbell can recognize people, animals, vehicles, movements and even the parcel delivery. This last option is limited to only one Arlo camera at a time for some reason. You can't let your front door camera and doorbell detect a package, which is an odd limitation.

You can also set up an E911 notification and phone friend option. If an intruder appears at your door, the doorbell can contact emergency services. If a package is displayed while you are on vacation, the app can choose a designated contact for you. You can also activate a built-in siren. The siren isn't particularly loud, but it's deafening. Passers-by on the sidewalk in front of your house will hear it. Your neighbors may or may not.

The Arlo Essential video doorbell also works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and even Samsung SmartThings and IFTTT. Silent mode bypasses app notifications and / or the physical chimes. This is valuable when young children are sleeping. There are call settings, video settings, motion detection sensitivity settings, and more. Overall, I am impressed with the software experience as it has a ton of features.

While the software is one of my favorite software to date, the hardware leaves a lot to be desired.

This can also be a weakness as the app contains two settings areas. There is one for device-specific settings and one for general settings for Arlo. It takes a while to wrap your head around everyone, but that also ensures that you can really make this doorbell your own.

Our opinion

Overall, this doorbell offers a great software experience with great video capabilities, but with less than impressive hardware. In the software, this doorbell really stands out. The audio and video lag, while not great, isn't terrible either. But the abundance of settings and functions that this bell has to offer makes it very convincing. It's also $ 200. The last two doorbells I checked were $ 30 and $ 60, respectively, and this doorbell seems to go against the grain in that regard.

Is there a better alternative?

The 180-degree diagonal field of view is great, but the Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro has a 180-degree vertical and horizontal field of view, making it bigger and wider. Also, the Arlo Essential Wireless doorbell is just huge and difficult to place next to some doors. While the software is one of my favorite software to date, the hardware leaves a lot to be desired.

Will it take?

The Arlo Essential Video doorbell has a 30-day return policy and a one-year limited warranty. The construction is durable and solid. The operating temperature range is -4 to 113 degrees Fahrenheit, which is good. You can even swap out the battery (for an additional $ 50) if the original battery runs out over time.

Should I buy it?

No. Video doorbell prices are falling. Considering that this doorbell costs $ 199 and requires a subscription, that's too high. For this price, I want a premium look and feel and software experience. In this case, I only get one of those three. The upcoming Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 offers radar sensors and a bird's eye view for a little more. The more economical Ring video doorbell with cable also offers you a first-class software experience and costs less than half the price. The software experience here is great, but the hardware really pulls it down.

Editor's recommendations




27 Feb
Blog

Xiaomi Mi 11 Review: Beautiful Screen, Bad Battery

xiaomi mi 11 rating camera back hand

Xiaomi Mi 11 review: specs to challenge the Galaxy S21 but not the battery

"The screen, camera and performance of the Xiaomi Mi 11 are enviable, but the battery disappoints and the software has yet to be polished."

  • Stunning screen

  • Capable 108MP camera

  • Very fast wired and wireless charging

  • Bad battery life

  • Software has yet to be polished

  • Not widely available (yet)

If you've looked at the Samsung Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus and shrugged your shoulders without being impressed by the decent but not standout specs, the Xiaomi Mi 11 may be exactly what you're looking for. It has the specs and feature lists we've come to expect from Samsung's reasonably large flagship S-series phones, then charges less than the simplest Galaxy S21 to own the device.

Xiaomi has long excelled by delivering strong specifications on paper coupled with an affordable price, but then stumbled in terms of ease of use and polish. It has a great chance to impress with the Mi 11. Did it do that too?

design

With its metal frame, the curved Gorilla Glass Victus above the screen and Gorilla Glass 5 for the back, the Xiaomi Mi 11 is made of exactly the materials that we expect from a top smartphone today. The hue of the ice blue paint on the back of my Mi 11 changes slightly as it catches the light, it doesn't attract too many fingerprints and the overall footprint of the phone is manageable. At 196 grams, it's not too heavy either.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The camera module on the back is unusual, not only in its shape, but also because of the number of "steps" it takes. There are three different levels, all in different shapes and with different lenses and colors, so that they are immediately recognizable. It's kind of busy like the S21's lens assembly, but it's certainly not to be confused with any other camera array out there.

Maybe it's a good thing it looks different, as the Mi 11 doesn't push smartphone design in any other way. As expected, the curved panes of glass meet the metal case, there are speaker grilles at the top and bottom, no headphone jack and three buttons on the right side of the case. In your hand, it feels like the OnePlus 8, Galaxy S20 +, Oppo Find X2 Pro, and many other phones that have been released in recent years.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

A strange part of the design involves the bezels around the corners of the screen. The edges of the device appear to be at a slightly different angle than the edges of the screen. Once you notice this, it becomes frustratingly difficult not to see them. Even if the glass is curved on the sides, the screen does not extend far down. Some may see this as an advantage, but it also means that the black bezels are more noticeable than we'd like them to be.

Screen and audio

The Mi 11 has a 6.81-inch AMOLED screen with a resolution of 3,200 x 1,400 pixels, a refresh rate of 120 Hz, HDR10 + support and a maximum brightness of 1,500 nits. This goes beyond the specifications of the Galaxy S21 + and is the same as the Galaxy S21 Ultra. However, does it really matter that the FHD + screen performance of the Galaxy S21 + is indistinguishable from the WQHD + screen of the S20 +?

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

When I put the Mi 11 next to the S21 +, I really can't see any difference when playing high definition videos on YouTube – but that's not a bad thing as it looks amazing. This version of Iz * One's panoramic music video (below) looks sharp and stunning on both phones. It offers a multitude of colors and deep contrasts, perfect control during the sequences with flashing lights and fast movements as well as high brightness. Xiaomi adapts Samsung's screen performance to the Mi 11.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The excellent dual speaker system from Xiaomi with audio tuned by Harmon Kardon is clear and loud, with only minimal harshness at maximum volume. The speakers are too small for a lot of bass, but the Mi 11 has a deeper sound than the iPhone 12 Pro and sounds very similar to the Galaxy S21 + overall. It's also great to see AptX HD and AptX Adaptive on the list of Bluetooth features, which means the Mi 11 will stream the highest quality audio to compatible headphones. YouTube music sounded great when listening to the Vivo TWS Neo earbuds with AptX Adaptive, and there was little occasional lag while gaming.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

I couldn't find any downsides with the display itself, but was surprised that the 120Hz refresh rate had to be turned on instead of setting it by default. Some people may miss out because of this quirk. Otherwise, the Mi 11's audiovisual experience is superb and certainly on par with the very best phones you can buy today.

camera

The multilevel module on the back of the Mi 11 contains three cameras: a 108-megapixel main camera with a 1 / 1.33-inch sensor and optical image stabilization, a 13-megapixel wide-angle camera and a 5-megapixel macro camera. It doesn't have an optical zoom but has some unusual video camera features and it can also record 8K videos. The 20-megapixel selfie camera is located in a hole cutout on the screen.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The 108MP sensor seems to be the ISOCELL HM3 from Samsung, which can also be found in the Galaxy S21 Ultra. I enjoyed using the Mi 11 as I'm sure it will take good photos, but I missed an optical zoom feature and found there were more images to edit than on the Galaxy S21 Ultra. The white balance, for example, seems to be a weak point in the camera.

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xiaomi mi 11 review cropped character "aria-descriptionby =" gallery-7-2631171

  • 1.
    Mi 11 original
  • 2.
    Mi 11 cropped version

However, there is no denying how much detail the camera captures. In the photo of the pond above, there is a small sign on the wall in the center of the photo. Only when you zoom in to the right can you clearly read the message "Don't leave any trash, take it home". The same photo shows the beautiful tone of the Mi 11, which very effectively captures the colors at the end of winter.

The large sensor adds a deep, natural depth of field and is really more effective than the random portrait mode for adding bokeh to your photos. Dim light is good too. The early morning red sky photo still shows a decent level of detail, even though the 2x setting is a digital zoom. Some edge distortion is noticeable in wide-angle shots and the colors are a little muted.

The Mi 11's camera, whether it's still images or videos, is a great partner.

The auto focus makes the 5 megapixel macro camera more user-friendly than most, but it's still not quite as good as the Galaxy S21 Ultra's macro mode, which uses the wide-angle camera. It's problematic because it's a bit of a hit or a miss when it comes to whether it focuses on what you want. Tapping the screen helps, but the camera never seems to be happy with the distance from the subject. It therefore takes time to do everything “just right”. That's fine if your subject is stationary and you don't mind taking multiple photos, but not if it's moving. Either way, you will need patience and a blank gallery to get a usable photo or two.

Video and editing modes

The Mi 11 camera gimmick (and yes, they are gimmicks) is related to video. When you hit the Movie Effects setting, you'll get a selection of clever, but very niche video effects for you to try out. Magic Zoom creates your own dolly shot (like that famous shot by Jaws) while Time Freeze keeps your subject in the shot as the world continues to move around it, and Parallel World folds the scene on itself in an inception style .

Each works reasonably well and is due to Xiaomi's artificial intelligence (A.I.) and software efforts, but they can only be used in very specific situations. Magic Zoom works best when there is a large distance between you and your subject, so it needs to be quite large. Time Freeze needs people to work and they have to do something vaguely interesting to make it interesting. Movement restrictions that I live in mean these features are mostly unusable for the time being. But even when I see real people again, I can't see these features being used except out of curiosity.

Wed 11 edited sky photo Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The 8K video recording feature is available at 24 frames per second (fps) or 30 fps, resulting in massive file sizes (at least 500MB per minute) and content that you can only really enjoy on an 8K TV. There are plenty of other modes too, from a 15 second short video setting to a dual video mode that lets you record with both the front and rear cameras. There are a lot of things you can try out – just don't expect them to be features that you use every day.

Xiaomi's photo editing mode is similarly fun and once again shows its A.I. Skills. There is an effective editing feature that can be used to change the appearance of the sky, such as: B. a bokeh portrait mode for the sky, which is surprisingly good at completely changing the mood of a photo. The Mi 11's camera, whether it's still images or videos, is a great partner. The features can be playful, but there's plenty to do on occasion and the quality of the main camera is undeniable.

Software and performance

My test Mi 11 exaggerated Android 11 with MIUI 12 and installed the security patch from January 1, 2021. It's the best version of MIUI I've used, but that's not a clear recommendation – it just means it's not as fussy as older versions. On the positive side, it's very pretty and very fast, and for the most part, the settings menu is very well laid out. Every app I've downloaded has worked without any problems and isn't frustrating to operate.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

However, there are some issues that you won't find with the S21 + or iPhone. The keyboard is at the very bottom of the phone, which can be a hassle to use. Notifications do well in the notification shadow and you can interact with them there, but I didn't always get them all and sometimes the phone would deliver a multitude of notifications together when I unlocked them for some other reason. There is also no "jump" to the notification shadow. So if you swipe the screen to reveal hidden messages, the shadows will simply close and you will be returned to the home screen.

I like the different options that always appear on the screen, the numerous customization options for the display, and the dark mode. Oddly enough, dark mode also adds darkness to the wallpaper, but this can be turned off by digging into the settings. This is probably the biggest problem with MIUI. The endless customization means investing time getting it just right and sometimes not knowing why something looks or works like this.

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xiaomi mi 11 check camera modes "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn5.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/xiaomi-mi-11-camera-modes-640x640 .jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Finding the macro mode in the camera app is a good example of MIUI being crowded and chaotic. This is not a standard setting in the option list in the viewfinder, is not a "flower" symbol next to the wide-angle and zoom options, and is not hidden in the "More" menu. Instead, it's under another menu at the top of the screen that is far too easy to miss.

None of these things make MIUI particularly bad. They just mean that the Mi 11's software has a steep learning curve before it really feels at home, especially if you're coming from an operating system like iOS or Android on a Google Pixel phone.

The new Snapdragon 888 chip from Qualcomm supplies the Mi 11 with power. My trial version has 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, but a 256GB model with 12GB of RAM is also available. I can't understand why you need 12GB of RAM as I never thought the phone would be slow to respond. I've played Asphalt 9: Legends and it's fluid, very fast, and the screen looks wonderful. Due to its moderate weight, the Mi 11 is ideal for playing. There is also a game mode that can save notifications and mute calls.

Battery and security

Now we come to the biggest disappointment in the Mi 11 – the battery. The 4,600mAh cell may have the capacity to last a long time, and comes with wired and wireless fast charging, but doesn't have the guts to last longer than a full day (and even then, it's just that) when it does Fall is under heavy use.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

At the moment I mostly use Wi-Fi, and even then the Mi 11's battery life showed up. With some videos, some photos, a short gaming session, and normal use outside of those things, the battery dropped to 60% in the early afternoon. That's at least 20% less than most other phones, including the Galaxy S21 Ultra. Take it outside and connect to a cell signal and things are worse.

With moderate use, the battery drains at an alarming rate, and even in the middle of the day I wondered if I needed to charge it before going to bed. The cell is not small and the phone does not get hot, suggesting that it is a software optimization issue and future software updates may improve battery life. Fortunately, there is a wired 55 watt charger in the box, which promises a quick charging time of 45 minutes. If you have the Xiaomi 50W wireless charger, the charging time is still less than an hour. However, this is not included with the phone.

The biggest disappointment in the Mi 11 – the battery.

The security systems are better, but also not perfect. The built-in fingerprint sensor sometimes takes a few longer hits than expected to unlock the phone. So if you lift your finger too quickly, it won't open. It's frustrating that this isn't always the case. Hence, it is difficult to adjust your usage to compensate for this. However, the face unlock is very quick, so you may not be using the fingerprint sensor at all.

Price and availability

Choosing the Mi 11 over the Galaxy S21 or S21 + is one thing, but getting your hands on a Mi 11 is another. Xiaomi does not officially sell its smartphones in the US, so you will have to import one. Likewise, the phone has not yet been confirmed for launch in the UK, but we expect it to be available soon as it is available in parts of Europe. It starts at 749 euros, which converts to about 900 US dollars or 650 British pounds.

Our opinion

The Mi 11 is a really powerful device with a fantastic screen, a powerful 108 megapixel camera, and lots of the right features and specs for a very reasonable price. However, all of this doesn't quite make up for disappointing battery life and MIUI issues related to notifications and menu clutter. Xiaomi's hardware is excellent as always, but also, as we see too often, the software – although improved – can't compete with competing phones from Samsung, Apple and OnePlus.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes. If you don't want to spend $ 1,000 on the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra or the iPhone 12 Pro – our top two picks – and want something around $ 700, then the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is just like the Google Pixel 5 a good buy If the Xiaomi Mi 11 launches in the UK in the near future, it will be a great alternative to the OnePlus 8 Pro which, while excellent, does not have the latest Qualcomm chip. The camera is also not as powerful as that of the Mi 11.

How long it will take?

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor is up to date and has more than enough features to keep the phone fresh for two or three years. Xiaomi's MIUI software updates are more frequent than the Android version updates. While the latest software is now running, it won't when Android 12 releases later this year and it may take a while for the update to be available.

Unfortunately, the Mi 11 is not waterproof and the glass body is not particularly resistant to damage if the phone is dropped. A case would be a very good idea if you want the phone to last a long time. The Xiaomi Mi 11 has 5G connectivity provided you have coverage near you.

Should you buy it?

No. It's a capable phone with a lot of good points, but the battery life is disappointing and the additional camera features – while technically impressive – don't keep enough long-term interest. Also, you need to import it to the US and there is no final UK release date yet.

Editor's recommendations




26 Feb
Blog

Tonal Home Gym Review: Small Size, Big Rewards

Tonal Home Gym Rating 1

"The pain of paying the high price for the Tonal Smart Weight Trainer is quickly forgotten when you first flex your growing muscles."

  • Compact size

  • Multi-user support

  • Personalized, effective workouts

  • Detailed instructions from trainers

  • The user interface allows you to move at your own pace

  • Expensive

  • Requires professional installation

  • Limited cardio, pilates, and yoga workouts

When you think of a weight machine, think of a bulky jig with heavy weights, massive arms, and a jumble of pulleys and cables – something like those Bowflex home gyms. Tonal is turning that idea on its head with a wall-mounted prime mover that is the size of an average full-length mirror. Does the Tonal live up to the hype and does it offer physical training? Or does it crash and burn? I tested it at my home gym and let my family go on the machine to find out.

Professional installation is required

The installation is the crux of the matter for the tonal. It is a wall unit and needs to be installed professionally. The company does not support self-installation.

The installation requirements are strict – you need two bolts that are approximately 16 to 24 inches apart and they must be oriented with the 2 inch side facing out. I had it installed in a room that was being renovated by the previous homeowner and was concerned that the studs he was installing were not the standard spacing from one another.

The installation took about 60 to 90 minutes, with the majority of that time spent finding the bolts. The bracket attaches to the wall with eight screws and the Tonal attaches to the bracket. You can remove Tonal from its holder for warranty repairs or replacements. The installation is safe and I don't feel like the device is going to tear off the wall. If you move to a new location, Tonal will send another team for a fee to install the device in your new location.

The main feature of Tonal is its compact size and slim design. The device has an easy-to-pull cable system and easy-to-replace accessories. The device comes with two smart handles. You can purchase a $ 495 accessory pack that includes a two-handed exercise rope, bench, and bar. These accessories are needed for many exercises, which makes them a must have.

You will need space about seven feet wide, seven feet long, and seven feet high to stretch out your arms and perform the exercises. When you're done, fold your arms flat and the device only sticks out a few inches. Its compact and modern appearance is eye-catching and fits into any room.

No time wasted adjusting the weights

The Tonal adapts to your training goals and offers you a workout that perfectly suits your strengths and weaknesses. Your first workout is a rating that measures your strength and assigns you a strength rating. Tonal then automatically adjusts the weights of each subsequent exercise based on your score. You can manually change these weights if you want, but I hardly had to adjust them as the machine did a great job of predicting my strength.

This predictive weight not only helps you train at the optimal level, but it's also incredibly convenient. You don't have to remember what weight you used for each exercise. You also don't have to keep track of when you need to increase the weight as Tonal will do it for you, too. I found the training and weight selection focused and effective. I could feel the burning sensation during the exercise and I was usually in pain the next day.

Mostly on-demand workouts

Tonal has a growing library of workouts to choose from. You can choose a multi-day training program that gives you a new workout every day. You can also choose an individual training session if you have created your own training plan. With Tonal you can even choose one exercise at a time, e.g. B. a bicep curl, for those who want a quick, focused workout.

I could feel the burning sensation during the exercise and I was usually in pain the next day.

Almost all workouts are recorded and directed by a single trainer in a small studio gym that has only the tonal and no other distractions. The service offers group lessons that allow you to train with other Tonal owners. There are no live classes like Mirror or Tempo, both of which run multiple live classes per day. Tonal also supports multiple users, offering a personalized experience for each person.

A focus on strength building

Tonal is a strength trainer and focuses on building strength. It includes yoga, pilates, and cardio workouts offered by competitors like Mirror or Tempo, but these exercises are not the focus of attention. Tonal is ideal for upper body training. You can make different versions of each – rows, flies and curls. The lower body workout is also effective, but not as diverse as the upper body and core workouts. Most lower body workouts are squats or lunges with quad busting. However, you cannot attach the cable system to your ankle to perform side leg raises or adductor exercises, for example.

I particularly enjoyed the detailed visual instructions from the trainers. You can see how you raise your arms and how the instructor does the exercise before you begin. The camera often showed the movement from different angles so you can figure out exactly how to move. Once you have exercised, you can proceed at your own pace and the trainer will not continue until you signal that you are done. Tonal also has sensors that allow you to sense your shape during an exercise. If you get an exercise wrong, Tonal will tell you what you are doing wrong.

Tonal surprised me at how effective it is in weight training. I didn't expect the training to be so challenging and comprehensive. After 20 training sessions with the Tonal over a few weeks, I noticed improvements. My body felt tighter and the muscles in my arms and legs were more visible. The progress was more than skin-deep. I found it easier to lift household items.

Our opinion

Most of the people who see the Tonal weight machine on my wall want to give it a try. All of them got away impressed. Despite its small size, the Tonal delivered a muscle-grueling workout for my upper body, core, and legs. The main disadvantage is the price.

Clay isn't cheap. The trainer costs almost $ 3,000 plus $ 500 for the smart accessories, which include a smart bar, rope, bench, roller, and exercise mat. You'll also have to pay $ 250 for shipping and professional installation. Finally, there is a monthly membership fee of $ 49 per month with a commitment of at least 12 months. The subscription is not included in the purchase and there is no free trial.

How long it will take?

The Tonal has a solid construction – the device is very securely mounted, the arms are sturdy and all accessories are sturdy. Our only concern is the articulated arms that mix metal and plastic in the hinges. Can you deal with repetitive stress when the weight I'm lifting increases?

I spoke to Tonal and they assured me that there were no problems with the hinges and they gave me a three year warranty if there was any problem. Tonal has a limited warranty that covers parts and labor for one year and parts for three years. The accessories are covered for one year.

Is there a better alternative?

With its relatively compact size and large display, Tonal belongs to a category of its own. The closest competitor is the NordicTrack Fusion CST, which is equipped with a 10-inch display, electromagnetic resistance and interactive iFit training. The machine is cheaper, but significantly larger and heavier than the Tonal. The Bowflex Revolution is a comparatively inexpensive, resistance-based home gym that lacks the virtual training of the Tonal. Another similar affiliated home gym is the Tempo Studio, which uses traditional dumbbells and a barbell for its exercises.

Should you buy it?

Yes, especially if you're looking for a strength trainer that fits in a small space.

Editor's recommendations




25 Feb
Blog

Lenovo ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook Review: Chrome at Work

Lenovo Thinkpad C13 Yoga Chromebook Review Company

ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook (13 inch) 2-in-1 laptop

“The ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook fits well into the company and offers a high level of security and manageability. But consumers should look elsewhere. "

  • Solid build quality

  • Good full HD display

  • Comfortable keyboard, touchpad and pen

  • The performance is strong

  • Mediocre battery life

  • Expensive

Chromebooks have made a name for themselves in the education world. In business? There is still a lot to be done.

Part of the problem is the lack of high-end options for those who want something with a premium finish. Bringing the popular ThinkPad brand to Chromebooks should do the trick, especially if you add a powerful AMD Ryzen processor to the mix.

This is the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook Enterprise, a long winded name for a laptop that emphasizes security and performance for high-end users.

My test device was equipped with the new Chromebook-specific AMD Ryzen 5 3500C CPU, 8 GB RAM, a 256 GB PCIe solid-state drive (SSD) and a Full HD IPS anti-glare display (1,920 x 1,080). There were also a few add-ons, including a hybrid active capacitive pen and a 5MB camera with a view of the world, at a post-coupon price of $ 859 ($ 1,321 as configured).

Does the extra security and specialized AMD processor give the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook a head start?

design

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook follows the same general aesthetic pattern as the rest of the ThinkPad lineup. It's completely black with only a few embellishments (although the black isn't quite as deep and looks grayer) like the blinking LED "i" in the ThinkPad logo on the lid and the red accent on the keyboard provided by the TrackPoint nubbin .

Interestingly, Lenovo skipped the red stripes along the TrackPoint buttons, which made the keyboard deck a bit simpler than usual. The chassis lines are also a bit more complex than the ThinkPad X1 Nano, for example, with rounded backs on the lower case and lid and a more forward-facing design.

A Chromebook looks good, and I find it more noticeable than the Dell Latitude 7410 Chromebook Enterprise, which is a pretty direct competitor – though the Latitude is a clamshell while the ThinkPad is a convertible 2-in-1.

Like all ThinkPads, the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook made of aluminum has a robust construction. The lid, keyboard deck or lower case must not be twisted, bent or bent, and the 2-in-1 device provides a high level of safety when lugging around. You don't need to spoil this laptop.

The bezels make the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook bigger than it needs to be.

It's easily the equivalent of the Latitude 7410 Chromebook. In fact, the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook is as well built as its Windows 10 competitors including the HP Specter x360 13 and Dell XPS 13. I notice that the hinge is pretty stiff and requires both hands to open the lid. However, the display is held in place by the four modes of clamshell, tent, media and tablet.

One area where the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook falls behind is the frames. They are thin on the sides but quite large on the top and bottom and have quite a massive chin. Part of the chin size is for the 2-in-1 hinge, but overall it looks a lot less modern than the ThinkPad X1 Nano and Dell XPS 13.

The Latitude 7410 Chromebook falls somewhere in between. The bezels make the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook bigger than it needs to be. It's bigger than the ThinkPad X1 Nano, though that's no big surprise given the laptop's smaller 13-inch 16:10 display, and it's much larger than the Dell XPS 13 with a 13.4-inch 16: 10 display.

Lenovo Thinkpad C13 Yoga Chromebook Review Company "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn2.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/olympus-digital-camera-1015-640x640. jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

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At 0.70 inches thick, it's also a bit chunky compared to the XPS 13's 0.58-inch and the Specter x360 13's 0.67-inch. The XPS 13 and Specter x360 13 weigh 2.8 pounds, compared to the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook at 3.3 pounds. The Latitude 7410 Chromebook is 0.67 inches thick despite its 14-inch display and weighs almost the same as the Lenovo at 3.36 pounds.

The ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook includes a few features that are of interest to corporate customers. First, there are some security features like the ThinkShutter slider that covers the webcam if you want to protect your privacy and a fingerprint scanner that provides a secure (and in my experience fast and reliable) way to log in without a password.

The Google H1 security chip works with Chrome OS to prevent software and firmware version resets, log transitions between developer and normal mode, protect user encryption keys and much more. These functions could of course also be attractive to consumers.

The 2-in-1 system can also host Google Enterprise, which offers a variety of resources for securing and managing a fleet of Chromebooks. Google Enterprise features include a managed Google Play Store that allows organizations to control which apps users can install, Microsoft Active Directory integration, managed Chrome browsers and extensions, single sign-on, and more. Google Enterprise is free to configure for the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook, but comes with an annual fee of $ 50.

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Lenovo Thinkpad C13 Yoga Chromebook Review Company "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn5.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/olympus-digital-camera-1024-640x640. jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook offers solid connectivity. On the left side of the laptop there is a USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 port, two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, a 3.5 mm audio jack and a microSD card reader. On the right side there is another USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 port and a full-size HDMI 2.0 port. Wireless connectivity is cutting edge with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0.

Finally, my test unit came with an optional ($ 20) second camera on top of the keyboard deck, a 5-megapixel model that can be used as a camera with a view of the world in tablet mode. Selecting this option will reduce the number of microphones to just one from the dual microphones that are not equipped with the 5 megapixel camera add-on.

performance

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For the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook, in this case the Ryzen 5 3500C, Lenovo opted for the latest Ryzen CPU from AMD, which is directly geared towards Chrome OS. This is the midrange CPU between Ryzen 5 3250c and Ryzen 5 3700C. The CPU is a quad-core CPU with eight threads that run up to 3.7 GHz. It is actually an APU with integrated AMD Radeon graphics with eight graphics cores.

According to AMD, the Ryzen 5 3000C series offers double to triple the performance of the previous AMD Chrome OS offering, the Athlon A6 series.

The only benchmark in our suite that we can run on Chromebooks is Geekbench 5, and the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook scored 907 in the single-core test and 2,739 in the multi-core test. This is very close to the 1,025 single-core and 2,712 multi-core rates achieved by the 10th generation Intel Core i5-10310U of the Latitude 7410 Chromebook.

The ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook was very fast in everyday use.

That's also roughly half the performance you'll find on most Windows 10 laptops with core processors, but Chrome OS is of course far lighter than Windows 10 and doesn't require anywhere near the processing power to get a good experience.

Probably thanks to the generous 8 GB of RAM (for Chrome OS) and the fast PCIe SSD, the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook was very fast in daily use. I was able to open some tabs and Chrome OS apps while running some Android apps in the background without any noticeable slowdown. As with the Latitude, fans have occasionally dabbled with the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook, but that's not too high a price for great performance.

I also played a few games on the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook, including the Asphalt 9, and found the performance a little underperforming. Asphalt 9 in particular was surprisingly choppy. You will be fine with the occasional Android game, but GPU-intensive titles seem to put a little strain on the APU beyond its capabilities.

display

I couldn't test the 13.3-inch Full HD IPS display on the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook with my colorimeter. Below are my subjective results. Lenovo rates my review unit's display at 300 nits of brightness, and I would guess it comes close to that number.

It's a glare-free screen too, so working in bright environments wasn't a problem for me – although I didn't bring it outside, where direct sunlight would likely turn out to be too much for the display. Lenovo also offers a 4K display along with higher specs (16GB of RAM and a Ryzen 5 3700C CPU) for about $ 100 more.

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The colors looked well balanced without being oversaturated, and they seemed accurate enough. I compared some images to some other color accurate displays (e.g. the Dell XPS 13) and they looked similar on the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook. I would rate colors as good for a premium laptop, but I can't quite say exactly how wide the color gamut is and if it's suitable for creative types. The gamma also seemed spot on, as the Netflix video didn't look too light or too dark.

The two speakers weren't something to write home about. The sound was just average, with medium volume but no distortion. Highs and mids were clear, but there is no bass to speak of. The audio works well for video conferencing and the occasional YouTube video. However, for Netflix binging or tones, I use headphones or a bluetooth speaker.

Keyboard and touchpad

The keyboard of the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook corresponds exactly to that of the ThinkPad X1 Nano. This means that it has the same ThinkPad keycaps, the same spacing and the same spring travel and is even splash-proof thanks to the liquid drainage channels on the bottom of the case.

However, when I used the two keyboards side by side, I noticed a small difference in the mechanisms. The version of the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook was a little less fluid and had a slightly harder base than that of the ThinkPad X1 Nano.

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Lenovo Thinkpad C13 Yoga Chromebook Review Company "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn5.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/olympus-digital-camera-1010-640x640. jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Maybe these are the same keyboards and all I saw was a normal manufacturing variance, but I found the Chromebook version to be a little less accurate. It's a good keyboard, don't get me wrong, and better than the one on Dell's Latitude 7410 Chromebook but not as good as the one I enjoyed on the ThinkPad X1 Nano.

It's also a step below the HP Specter line of keyboards and the Dell XPS 13, but a step above most (much cheaper) Chromebooks.

The touchpad is smaller than it could be as the two buttons support the usual ThinkPad TrackPoint node in the middle of the keyboard. The surface of the touchpad was comfortable and all the usual Chrome OS multitouch gestures worked well.

The TrackPoint worked just as well as it did on other ThinkPads and provided another way to control the cursor for those who like things like that.

Lenovo C13 Yoga Chromebook EnterpriseMark Coppock / Digital Trends

The touch display was responsive and precise. Lenovo includes a docked hybrid "active capacitive" pen that does not require an active layer, making the display thinner and less complex.

The pen supports 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity, and I found it to be good for scribbling and the occasional handwritten note. Chrome OS doesn't offer the same color support as Windows 10, but whatever support works there works just fine with the optional pen (a $ 44 add-on).

Battery life

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Lenovo packed 51 Wh of battery life into the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook's case, and that's a decent amount for a 13.3-inch Full HD device. We don't have any other experiences with the AMD Ryzen 5 3500C, so I was excited to see how long the 2-in-1 battery would last.

In our web browser test, which ran through a number of popular websites, the laptop lasted 7.25 hours, which is about 40 minutes less than the Dell Latitude 7410 Chromebook and Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 with an Intel Core i3-10110U.

As the best measure of laptop productivity longevity, this promises to be almost a full working day, but not quite. It's significantly less than many newer Windows 10 laptops that will last a few hours.

Many Chromebooks have significantly longer battery life.

In our video test, which ran through a Full HD Avengers trailer, the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook lasted about 7.5 hours. That's two hours longer than the Latitude 7410 Chromebook, but not very competitive with the Windows 10 field, where 10 hours or longer is the norm.

Finally, I ran the 2-in-1 test through our most demanding test, the Basemark web benchmark (which for some reason doesn't run on Intel Tiger Lake laptops) and it took almost exactly three hours. This is an average score, but again 40 minutes less than the Latitude 7410 Chromebook.

Overall, I found the battery life to be a disappointment. Many Chromebooks last much longer thanks to the overall efficiency of Chrome OS. Either the AMD CPU is not very energy efficient, or Lenovo has tuned it more to performance than battery life. In any case, you want to have your power supply with you for longer working days.

Our opinion

The ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook has a target group and for this target group its strengths. However, it's not the best performing Chromebook we've used, nor is it the most durable on a single charge of the battery. It's as well built as ThinkPads always and takes on the Latitude 7410 Chromebook – the other enterprise Chromebook we tested – with the added flexibility of a convertible 2-in-1 device.

However, being Google Think-enabled is the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook's only real claim to fame. That explains the relatively high price, which is well above what a typical Chromebook buyer should pay.

Are there alternatives?

We've mentioned the Dell Latitude 7410 Chromebook a few times, and it's a comparable computer that isn't a clamshell. It's also significantly more expensive, costing $ 1,900 for a computer with a Core i5, 16GB of RAM, 256GB SSD, and a 4K display.

You can also consider the HP Pro c645 Chromebook Enterprise if it ever releases. The Acer Chromebook Enterprise Flip 13 is available now, offering the same Google Enterprise features in a 2-in-1 format for $ 1,300 – though you only get one 8th Gen Core i7 CPU. You will likely appreciate the 2,256 x 1,504 3: 2 display.

If you don't need the business features, then chances are you'll be looking at the Google Pixelbook Go, our pick as the best Chromebook you can buy. It's cheaper too, but it's also only for consumer use. As such, corporate buyers should consider one of the other machines on this list of alternatives.

How long it will take?

The ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook is built to last for years, and its components should keep Chrome OS running for just as long.

However, the one-year warranty is disappointing for an enterprise-class laptop.

Should you buy it?

For the average Chromebook buyer, no. It's a decent option for the corporate Chromebook user, but there are better Chromebooks out there for the average person.

Editor's recommendations




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