10 Feb
Blog

Razer Book 13 Review: This is Almost a Perfect Laptop

Razor Book 13 Review 01

"Razer's debut nongaming laptop does almost anything right if the price tag can be put up with."

  • Perfect port selection

  • Fantastic design and build quality

  • The performance is impressive

  • Nice 16:10 display

  • Limited configurations

  • The battery life is not good

Razer products have never been so colorful. Take away the RGB lights and snake logo and you may not know that there is a gaming muscle under the hood.

That's why the Razer Book 13 felt so inevitable. With the exception of the Razer logo, this 13-inch laptop finally leaves the gimmicks behind. It can't play games, but it does Contain everything you'd expect in a modern laptop. The Razer Book 13 offers a 16:10 aspect ratio with super-thin bezels and the latest 11th generation Intel Tiger Lake processors.

Can Razer really compete with industry veterans like Dell, Apple, and HP in this category, or has the company bitten more than it can chew?

design

The Razer Book 13 is the company's first true nongaming notebook, although it has already tried its hand in this category. The Razer Blade Stealth was the brand's first 13-inch laptop, and the Razer Book looks almost identical. What's the same They're both made of solid unibody aluminum and have very similar dimensions. They're both 0.6 inches thick, use the same keyboard and touchpad, and have identical port choices.

The Razer Book 13, however, is a bit lighter at 2.95 pounds. That's both thinner and lighter than the 13-inch MacBook Pro, albeit a bit more powerful than options like the Dell XPS 13 or Surface Laptop 3 13.

The Razer Book 13 is absolutely great to look at.

However, the Razer Book 13 has a few new tricks up its sleeve. The standout feature is the 16:10 aspect ratio with ultra-thin bezels. The chin is based on the Dell XPS 13 and hides part of the lower bezel using a dropped hinge.

In 2021, this design will become more common – but that doesn't make the Razer Book 13 any less beautiful to look at. I also like the silver and white color combination.

The white keys, illuminated by the RGB backlighting per key, make the design stand out – and are a feature you would never find on a Dell or Apple laptop. Not only can the colors be adjusted via Razer Synapse, but they also have an incredible 15-level brightness control. That even affects the control Apple offers.

It's not a big deal, but when the competition is this tight, every additional feature counts.

Another highlight for the Razer Book 13 is the port selection. Unlike the XPS 13 or MacBook Pro 13-inch, the Razer Book 13 includes some handy legacy ports that most people prefer. HDMI and USB-A are included along with two Thunderbolt 4 ports – one on each side. This means you can connect displays and power cables on both sides, unlike the MacBook Pro M1, which has both USB-C ports on the same side.

If you need a laptop to dock a monitor and some peripherals, the Razer Book 13 can handle it without the need for a USB hub or docking station.

Keyboard, touchpad and speakers

If you've seen or used the Razer Blade Stealth, there aren't any surprises with the keyboard. I've talked about the RGB backlighting before, and the layout itself is close to perfect. The path in the keys is a bit short, but I didn't have any usability issues after familiarizing myself with the feel of the keystrokes.

The same goes for the Windows Precision touchpad, which is large and responsive. Every millimeter of space has been maximized for the benefit of the user.

The speaker grilles are located directly on the keyboard deck and flank both sides. Although they lack any bass (as with almost all laptop speakers), they have a nice stereo spread thanks to the placement. They work in the blink of an eye, but aren't good enough for long hours of music or film.

display

Razer has really stepped up its game with this laptop's screen. Not only is it in the brilliant 16:10 aspect ratio with stripped-down bezels, the image quality is also fantastic. For a $ 1,200 laptop, you get an extremely bright 514-nit screen that is always crystal clear no matter how bright your surroundings are. This additional brightness also brings out the contrast in the colors, which is as high as that of a laptop at this price.

The color saturation and calibration are nothing special (98% sRGB, 77% AdobeRGB), but they go well with the non-4K panels you get in other laptops.

It is not a laptop primarily designed for professional color grading. However, this doesn't mean you can't get creative on the side. This also applies to performance.

performance

The Razer Book 13 has a base configuration for $ 1,200 that comes with a Core i5-1135G7, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of SSD storage, and is sold exclusively through Razer's online storefront.

My configuration was the souped-up $ 1,600 model that was upgraded to a Core i7-1185G7, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. You can upgrade to 512GB of storage, but most premium laptops offer configurations of at least 1TB. Unfortunately, you have to pay $ 2,000 to get a model with more storage. Razer actually charges the Wazoo for these more expensive configurations.

However, if you do choose the Core i7 model, you will be impressed with the performance. The best single-core performance that we tested in a 13-inch laptop (1,508) was demonstrated in Cinebench R23. And yes, that includes the M1 MacBook Pro (1,487).

what does that mean to you? Given its excellent scores in PCMark 10, the Razer Book 13 should be a fantastic productivity and office tool. Like many Razer laptops, this one competes with larger 14-inch and 15-inch options like the Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 or the Acer Swift 3X.

When I say this really isn't a gaming laptop, I mean it.

The Razer Book 13 is a little less impressive in terms of creative application performance. It did not do quite as well in the Cinebench R23 multi-core test (4519) and in the PCMark 10 creation test. I confirmed this in a real test in Handbrake where I encoded a 4K movie trailer for H.265. The Razer Book did the job in three and a half minutes, which is not as fast as some of its competitors. It's just 3% behind the XPS 13, but 14% behind the ThinkPad X1 Nano and 26% behind the MacBook Pro.

Photo editing, graphic design, or even light video editing shouldn't be a problem. Just don't expect the Razer Book 13 to encode 4K video as fast as larger laptops.

Intel's built-in Iris Xe graphics are also included, which can run some light games in 1080p, provided you turn the graphics settings down a bit. I tested Civilization VI at 1080p with settings on Medium and the Razer Book 13 averaged just 37 frames per second. When I say this really isn't a gaming laptop, I mean it.

For more gaming capabilities, consider upgrading to the Razer Blade Stealth, which packs a discrete GTX 1650 into a similarly sized laptop.

Battery life

The Razer Book 13 really only has one major flaw: battery life. This is a step behind the leading battery life providers like the Asus ZenBook 14 UX425 or Lenovo Yoga 9i 41. Barely worth mentioning, the M1 MacBooks blow all of these laptops out of the water in terms of battery life.

The Razer Book 13 only lasted a little over eight hours with light web browsing. Again, this is not a terrible result, but it is far from being a leader as it is in many other aspects.

The video playback score was also a little worrying and lasted just over 10½ hours. Battery life has always been an issue with the Razer Blade Stealth, and while Book 13 does better, it's still not quite what I'd like to see.

You can make it through most of the working day without having to plug it in. However, with the M1 MacBooks reducing battery life, Windows laptops are struggling more than ever.

Our opinion

The Razer Book 13 gets almost everything right. Among first-class laptops like the Dell XPS 13 and the HP Specter x360 13, the Razer Book 13 is well suited due to its quality and performance. The limited (and expensive) configurations are really the only weakness.

Are there alternatives?

The clearest competitor is the Dell XPS 13. The XPS 13 is $ 400 cheaper, although it has a more colorful screen. The HP Specter x360 13 is available even cheaper.

And let's not forget, the more powerful MacBook Pro M1 is just $ 100 more expensive, with a higher resolution screen, more power, and longer battery life.

How long it will take?

The Razer Book 13 should last at least four or five years. It is equipped with the latest components and has the right port technology. Razer laptops come with a standard one-year warranty.

Should you buy it?

Yes. The Dell XPS 13 and MacBook Pro 13-inch are slightly stronger options, but the Razer's unique aesthetics and well-rounded port selection are enough to make it stand out.

Editor's recommendations




09 Feb
Blog

Persona 5 Strikers Review: Missing the Spark

Phantom thieves

"It's all style and little substance in this sequel / split from Persona 5."

  • Lack of convincing gameplay

  • Uninteresting antagonists

  • Little challenge

Persona 5 Strikers is more of a sequel than the previous Persona spin-offs, but it doesn't live up to fans' high expectations. Persona 5 fans who just want more of this world, in whatever form, will be satisfied even if what made Persona 5 really great is sorely lacking. The seclusion is not enough for newbies either – – Those intimidated by the density and length of Persona 5 will still see Strikers, a 30-hour action game in the hack-and-slash form of Dynasty Warriors, in exactly the same way.

All of the fantastic visual and acoustic elements are still there in Persona 5 Strikers, and the story goes in some interesting directions, but everything stagnates compared to the epic story told in the original game.

Strikers feel like Persona-Lite

Not only was Persona 5 able to hold gamers' attention for nearly 100 hours or more, it also told a story so compelling that many people were eager to play it again right from the start. With the main character Joker, a fish out of the water who slowly expands his social circle over time and withdraws the mystery of his own past and the fantastic world he and his friends face, it was a game about that one begged to be played – and one that for the most part justified its ridiculous length.

All of the fantastic visual and acoustic elements are still there, but everything stagnates compared to the epic story told in the original game.

While Strikers makes up about a third of the run time, its incentives to keep playing dry up relatively quickly. The mystery of the return of "palaces," an otherworldly manifestation of people's subconscious, is quite an interesting storyline, but it lacks the personal side that was the driving factor in the original game. The characters in whose palaces the phantom thieves dive are not nearly as interesting or well developed as those in the first game, and the desires that define their unconscious dimensions are only superficial in comparison.

Alice Persona 5 strikers

The Phantom Thieves themselves are as well-written as ever, but when fully sculpted from the jump it just reminds you of how great their getting together was in Persona 5. Without this trip, it's just a lot of hilarious banter and nudge buttons occurring within the group. This extends to the gameplay, which has many different elements from the original game but drops the incredibly popular social stats and links. Playing as a joker is like a fly on the wall, with the character's interjections not having nearly the same weight.

There are a couple of new cast members joining the team. I don't see them going to be anyone's favorites though, as they're mostly treated as a means of operating the plot rather than as fully worked out additions to the thieves. Given that Strikers serves as the sequel to Persona 5, the lack of the new and interesting characters that Persona 5 Royal fans loved makes this spinoff pretty thin.

Musou gameplay lacks a challenge

Persona 5's turn-based gameplay has been replaced with the Musou gameplay from Koei Tecmo's Warriors series. This is one of the main reasons Strikers is a shorter proposition than its predecessor. The game impressively translates many of the combat elements from the original game into the spin-off, and there are a surprising amount of attacks and skills that the player can use to stay true to the spirit of the series.

Playing as a joker is like existing as a fly on the wall.

Another recent Musou game did something similar. In Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, almost all of the tricks of Link & # 39; s sleeve from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild have been carried over into the spin-off prequel. Age of Calamity is an example of the tight integration of these features, and it just goes to show that Strikers didn't.

Joker Persona 5

Whether you hit the attack button, swap characters out quickly with a "Squadron Pass," or do great damage to a character's Persona Skills, there is very little strategy for maintaining your SP for advanced attacks. Persona 5's turn-based combat could have dragged harmless battles out longer than necessary, but every conflict felt crucial – – One wrong move could prove disastrous for the squad.

The game impressively translates many of the combat elements from the original game into the spin-off.

There is no such threat in Strikers. This can be seen in the number of times the game gives you a lifeline. Most battles can be ended in seconds if the player feels the tide turned against them, and dungeons have incredibly frequent checkpoints where players can leave and regroup for free. In Persona 5, the decision to tackle a palace required careful planning, and once you were inside the only way forward was. The dungeons in Strikers offer so little challenge that I didn't feel compelled to buy new items or equip new equipment on a regular basis.

Our opinion

Persona 5 Strikers is as eye-catching as Persona 5, and features the same beautiful artwork and animation, great dialog, and brilliant music. Unfortunately, it lacks the meat on the bone that made the original an addicting experience for its loyal fan base. It also offers little incentive for newbies to play it, although it drastically shortens its immense length.

Is there a better alternative?

Age of Calamity is a superior musou game. Those looking to immerse themselves in the world of Persona, as daunting as it may be, better spend their time with Persona 5 Royal.

How long it will take?

Even when rushing through the main game, it would take a player anywhere from 20 to 30 hours, or between 30 and 50 hours staying around and smelling the roses.

Should you buy it?

No. Only die-hard Persona 5 in desperate need of more Persona content will get much out of this split.

Editor's recommendations




09 Feb
Blog

Vizio OLED 4K HDR TV Review (OLED65-H1) | OLED for Everyone

Vizio OLED 4K HDR TV test (OLED65-H1): OLED for everyone

"Vizios H1 OLED is a great TV at a great price."

  • Perfect black levels

  • Excellent out-of-box color

  • Ideal for playing

  • Sleek, sleek design

  • Difficult cable management

  • Low risk of burn-in

It's been over a year since Vizio unveiled the OLED65-H1 TV at the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show – and the longest we've ever waited for a TV to be checked. And while it took a long time, we still think it's a tough competitor that brought OLED TVs to the lowest prices we've ever seen. Was it worth the wait?

Details about the 4K HDR television from Vizio OLED (65-H1)

While we tested the 65-inch model OLED65-H1, our test also applies to the 55-inch model.

Screen size Model no RRP
55 inches OLED55-H1 1000 dollars
65 inches OLED65-H1 $ 1500

Out of the box

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

The package contains a remote control (not a voice remote control), batteries for the remote control and several parts for the TV stand. While there was a product information brochure for the TV itself, we couldn't find any instructions on how to assemble the stand. Perhaps that was an oversight for our test device, but luckily we were able to sort the assembly without too much trouble.

Physically setting up the Vizio OLED65-H1 is a two-person job. And to be honest, this is a bit of a fearful proposition, as evidenced by the huge stickers on the front warning you of where to (and where not) to hold the H1 while handling it. It boils down to having a really expensive, somewhat flexible OLED screen that needs to be laid flat to assemble properly. That can be tricky to say the least. You can feel the screen flex a little in your hands when you hold it and move it. Hence, one has to be incredibly careful with assembly and placement. Ideally, as already mentioned, it would be a two-person job.

Ports and cable management

Vizio OLED 4K HDR TVDan Baker / Digital Trends

Vizio OLED 4K HDR TVDan Baker / Digital Trends

Vizio OLED 4K HDR TVDan Baker / Digital Trends

Vizio OLED 4K HDR TVDan Baker / Digital Trends

The Vizio OLED65-H1 has three downward facing HDMI ports (one is an eARC and the other two are labeled 4K 120 Hz). There are also some ports on the side (composite, HDMI and USB) for easier access. Vizio has gone to great lengths to keep the back of the H1 clean and tidy by using various access panels and channels to manage the cables, including the power connector. The channels route the cables to the center of the device and down through the stand to keep it looking neat and organized. This makes for a neat job, but it also cuts the cable length in half, which can make hooking up your components a problem.

A note about these HDMI connections: While only two are labeled as 4K 120Hz, Vizio assures that they are all HDMI 2.1 connections, which in addition to a 4K resolution of up to 120Hz also have a variable refresh rate (VRR) and support an automatic low latency mode (ALLM). At the time the television was evaluated, this did not appear to be the case. However, since then Vizio has released a firmware update that addressed the issues it encountered while testing the TV with a Sony PlayStation 5 (see below).

The curved stand on the OLED65-H1 looks great, although the idea of ​​putting most of the weight on the little foot sticking out from the center and back doesn't exactly instill confidence. And while the plastic access covers look great after being pressed in, they are difficult to snap into place and are used to shorten the cables, as mentioned above.

Black levels

Vizio OLED 4K HDR TVDan Baker / Digital Trends

Vizio OLED 4K HDR TVDan Baker / Digital Trends

The black levels of the Vizio OLED65-H1 are impressive – after all, it is an OLED television. So when you turn the pixels off, you get real black perfection. But that's not the whole story of a good image – you also need good gradients that result in dark grays, shadow detail, and dissolves. And here the H1 struggles a little. You may actually have trouble seeing dark pictures unless you have a very dark room. It doesn't go smoothly out of the black so there is a lack of shadow detail, which makes viewing really dark scenes in any location other than a completely dark room a challenge.

Other than that, the black uniformity is perfect and sets the TV for excellent contrast. The gray uniformity was also nearly perfect.

brightness

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

The interesting thing about the H1 is that with the ready-to-use calibrated picture presetting, the television did not get very bright – only about 400 nits at its peak for HDR and about 300 for SDR. That's not much of a difference between HDR and SDR. However, after resetting the TV and changing some settings, the performance was significantly better and was as expected: closer to 400 nits in SDR and almost 650 in HDR with a 10 percent window for the measurement.

Color accuracy

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

Adjustments in brightness can often have a negative impact on color accuracy. However, the OLED65-H1's ready-to-use color is fantastic in calibrated image mode.

Motion handling

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

While the OLED65-H1 handles colors well, it could do better when it comes to handling movement. It has a bit of an issue with motion blur, and we noticed a stutter in the content at 24 Franes per second (fps). Admittedly, this was with the motion and jerk compensation settings turned off. However, when these settings are enabled, even at the lowest level, they will introduce the “soap opera effect”. In our opinion, this is not worth compromising on.

Image processing

Image processing is an area where Vizio still has little room to grow. It's just not as pristine as LG or Sony OLED TVs are. Vizio's processing has come a long way this year, but the H1 hasn't cleaned up low-resolution, shallow bit-depth content as flawlessly as some competing OLEDs. The H1 looks amazing with high definition content, but you may notice a bit more streaks in wide color ranges when streaming content from Hulu, YouTube, or other sources that is limited to 720p or otherwise heavily compressed than you might do with other OLED TVs.

Burn-in potential

Vizio OLED 4K HDR TVDan Baker / Digital Trends

Vizio OLED 4K HDR TVDan Baker / Digital Trends

It wouldn't be an OLED TV review if we didn't talk about the burn-in potential. While burn-in is nowhere near as much of an issue as it has been in the past, there are risks involved in running an OLED TV really hard. So, if you're the type of person who plays the same video game eight hours a day, or watches the same cable news channel every day / all day, you may have an issue with graphic banners or chyrons burning into your screen. Even so, the OLED65-H1 does a lot to combat burn-in. If you rest on a static screen for more than 30 seconds, the H1 will go dark. It also features pixel shift technology and a brightness limiter to prevent burn-in.

Audio quality

We initially had a bad experience with the H1's sound quality, but restarting the TV improved the audio performance significantly. However, we believe that such a great TV deserves a soundbar for a sound experience that matches the picture quality. Thankfully, Vizio makes some of the most affordable, high-performance soundbars on the market. In our experience, the Vizio Elevate soundbar in particular is an excellent choice.

Play

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

When we plugged in our PlayStation 5, we expected a fairly automated experience. And while the H1 automatically recognized the console and labeled the entrance, the image quality didn't look too good. After looking at this, we realized we weren't getting HDR, which the PS5 does by default. After tinkering with the settings on the H1, we managed to brick the entire TV. Although we could go into the PS5 settings and manually toggle a few things to produce 4K HDR at up to 120Hz, the experience wasn't what we expected at all. It turned out that some bugs needed to be fixed. Since our initial testing, Vizio has released a firmware update that has resolved any issues we encountered. We can confirm that the H1 OLED is an excellent choice for a gaming TV.

Our opinion

The wait for the Vizio H1 OLED is definitely worth it. Kudos to Vizio for reducing the image quality of OLED to an affordable price. While Vizio has cheap competition later this year in the form of the expected LG A-Series OLED, Vizio cut OLED below $ 1,000 first, and we're grateful for that. It took a while to wait for some firmware patches, but in the end the Vizio H1 OLED turned out to be a fantastic TV.

Is there a better alternative?

The LG CX OLED is an inexpensive competitor of the H1 OLED from Vizio, but costs more. For the extra cash, you get a little bit more sophisticated image processing, but we think the image on the Vizio H1 OLED is so good that most people would love to save money while getting great image quality.

How long it will take?

Given Vizio's track record and the inclusion of HDMI 2.1 One inputs through the H1 OLED, this TV should last for many years.

warranty

Vizio grants a one-year guarantee on its TV products. Please refer to the Vizio warranty page for more information.

Should you buy it?

Yes. The Vizio H1 OLED is an excellent value because of its premium OLED image quality and relatively easily accessible price.

Editor's recommendations




08 Feb
Blog

Falcon Northwest Talon Review: An All-AMD Powerhouse

Falcon Northwest Talon Review and Ryzen Radeon NW lead

"The Falcon NW Talon is a medium-sized tower worthy of AMD's ultra-high performance new silicon."

  • Supports a full ATX motherboard

  • Very solid build quality

  • Impeccable cable management

  • Excellent 4K gaming

  • Endless configuration options

  • Too expensive

  • Nvidia graphics offer better value

In a sense, it doesn't matter how fast AMD's Ryzen 9 5950X and Radeon RX 6900 XT are. You also can't buy one right now and may not be able to do so for some time.

Unless you buy it in a hidden, pre-built system like the Falcon Northwest Talon. That PC costs you many thousands of dollars – my device costs $ 5,593 – but let's not forget that the GPU alone costs $ 1,000.

But if you get your hands on something like this, I have no hesitation in saying that you will not be disappointed.

design

The goodness begins with the Talon case, the 20th anniversary edition. Falcon Northwest approaches the aesthetic in a subtle way with a sleek, matte black exterior with simple lines and edges. Nor is it voracious to use lighting. The tasteful lighting comes mainly from the components inside, such as the glowing G.Skill TridentZ RAM sticks and the fans illuminated by ARGB.

But as Falcon Northwest would say, the case itself is just a "blank canvas". You can have it finished in a custom paint job like we did, from a simple logo on the glass to colored artwork or designs that stretch across the top and side walls. The customizations you can make to a boutique gaming PC help brands like Falcon Northwest stand out from other out-of-the-box systems manufacturers.

In addition to the custom graphics, you can choose to have the logo glow in different colors, swap out the aluminum side panels for tinted glass, add different case fans, and so on.

Regardless of what you choose in terms of the finer details, you get an extremely well-built and well-configured gaming PC. The case is made of a 4mm aluminum layer to ensure that there is no hint of flex.

The Talon has a few accessible ports on the top, including a headphone jack, two USB-A 3.0 and one USB-C 3.1 ports, and a glowing power button. This is a preferred place if you want to keep your tower on the floor under your desk. On the back, the Talon offers a standard set of inputs and outputs provided by the motherboard and the graphics card.

With a medium-sized tower like this, you'll be impressed with everything Falcon Northwest can squeeze in without the setup ever feeling cramped. It's only 17 "by 9" and feels compact when coming from a full size tower. That makes it a bit bigger than the Origin Neuron, for example, which is only 16.3 "by 6.8". The Neuron is one of the few other system manufacturers currently supporting these new AMD processors and GPUs.

Unlike the Neuron, however, the Falcon Northwest Talon is a bit more comprehensive and future-proof. It uses the Asus ROG Crosshair VII Dark Hero motherboard, which offers six SATA ports, two M.2 slots, integrated Wi-Fi 6 and two PCIe 4.0 expansion slots with 16 lanes each. Putting a full ATX motherboard into a midsize tower can be tricky, but Falcon Northwest does it great. The Origin Neuron, on the other hand, only offers Micro-ATX options, which have fewer PCIe lanes and less overclocking potential. The situation is similar with the Alienware Aurora R11.

That's not as big a deal as you might think – especially since the Neuron also supports up to 128GB of RAM. The advantage of the Micro ATX board is both a smaller case and a little more space for cooling and tooling.

However, thanks to the flawless cable management that makes upgrading easy in the future, the tight setup of Falcon Northwest works wonderfully. The only limitation is the graphics card, which requires a separate bracket to attach. You have to remove some screws to loosen it and it's a bit of a pain.

But honestly, if you are serious about spending your money on a desktop like this, you want to make sure that you pump it up with the latest components right from the start. And that is exactly what you can do with the talon.

performance

It would be easy to think of the Falcon Northwest Talon as nothing more than a vehicle for the latest AMD parts. That's fair considering how quickly these processors and graphics cards sell out. With the Z490 chipset you can of course also build the Talon around Intel parts. But let's face it, these AMD components are the hot new components everyone is talking about.

Choose from high-end Ryzen 5000 chips, including Ryzen 7 5800X, Ryzen 9 5900X, and Ryzen 9 5950X. If you're just playing, the Ryzen 7 is a perfect fit for you, saving you up to $ 520. But hey, we all want to know what a 16-core Zen 3 processor can do. So that's what we loaded into our configuration.

Ideally, I'd like to compare the Talon to similar configurations on the Origin Neuron and the Alienware Aurora R11, both of which can be configured similarly with the Ryzen 9 5950X. The way these various systems create and cool their components will affect performance. However, you shouldn't expect huge differences in frame rates or render times.

Falcon Northwest combines the CPU with an all-in-one liquid cooling system from Asetek that includes a fairly large cooler with a pair of 140mm fans mounted. In all of my tests, neither the GPU nor the CPU ever climbed above 73 degrees Celsius, and the system remained surprisingly quiet, too.

As can be expected, the Ryzen 9 5950X dominates the benchmarks absolutely. It scored an insane 23,539 in multi-core and 1,537 in single-core. Intel's scant 10-core chips are being hurt by multi-core performance, and the upcoming move to 8-cores in the 11th generation Rocket Lake S chips won't improve the situation.

Again, I haven't tested this chip on other systems, but as the only 16-core mainstream CPU you can buy, you shouldn't expect any other chip to outperform it in multi-core scores.

When you are doing this much, it won't have a massive impact on your daily activities. For tasks like word processing, web browsing, and video conferencing, it's only marginally faster than the latest laptops you can buy.

When creating content, these 16 cores and 32 threads show their potential. In applications like Adobe Premiere Pro and Handbrake, tasks like video encoding can be done in lightning speed, especially if you're upgrading from an older quad-core or six-core processor. It encoded a 4K movie trailer to H.265 in just 49 seconds – a new record among the systems we tested. In Premiere, the performance in Premiere is 60% better than the M1 Mac Mini.

As fast as it did in Premiere, the Radeon RX 5900 XT's performance is holding back from being the absolute best. The Nvidia RTX 3080 tested in PugetBench outperforms the Radeon RX 5900 XT, which was also tested in the Falcon Northwest Talon, by 10%. That doesn't look good, especially given the $ 300 difference in price.

I also tested the GPU-based rendering of the RX 5900 XT with the RTX 3080 in the Blender benchmark. Here the two GPUs exchange the various tests. It's not an absolute win for AMD, it should be for the price, but don't count the Radeon RX 5900 XT out just yet. Gaming is the biggest test of any graphics card, and the RX 5900 XT doesn't disappoint here.

Play

Let's start with 3DMark, which strongly emphasizes the gaming potential of the AMD-based Talon. It outperforms the RTX 3080 – retested in the exact same rig. But it's not a lot. It is only 2% faster in the DX12 test called Time Spy and 6% faster in the older DX11 Fire Strike test.

I didn't have access to the RTX 3090 to test it in the system, but a quick look at the benchmarks shows that the $ 1,399 card has a good lead over the RX 6900 XT. In actual games, the RX 6900 XT can handle 1440p and 4K resolutions quite well. Just make sure you have a monitor that can handle such high frame rates.

In the Fortnite at Epic settings, the average was 99 fps (frames per second) in 4K and 202 fps in 1440p. That's 14% faster than the RTX 3080 in 4K and 16% faster in 1440p. Of course, with an Nvidia GPU you can enable the game's impressive ray tracing and DLSS effects, although the frame rate has a tradeoff.

Assassin's Creed Valhalla is a newer title that can really test a system's raw graphics performance, and it turned out to be a worthy challenge for the Talon. The RX 6900 XT was really impressive here with an average of 69 fps in 4K Ultra High. But in 1440p the game really shone, reaching 116 fps with maximum graphics quality. It's not a game that you need jittery frame rates for, but being over 60 fps regardless of resolution is an accomplishment.

Civilization VI was the only game I tested where the RTX 3080 beat the RX 6900 XT. In 1080p Medium and 1440p Medium, the RTX 3080 was even 7% ahead. But for a game that is so easy, it doesn't stand out at all in these lower resolutions. The game still averaged 184 fps at 4K in the Ultra settings. The impressive game results are beneficial to AMD. In the past, systems with Intel and Nvidia were more powerful gaming PCs, but AMD has finally caught up in this regard.

That doesn't mean I would necessarily recommend this particular configuration to everyone. The RX 5900 XT clearly outperforms the RTX 3080 only for games – and by a good amount in some games. In terms of content creation, however, it isn't quite as fast as Nvidia's cheaper offering. It also doesn't offer hardware accelerated ray tracing capabilities. This might not be a deal breaker now, but it could easily become a must-see in a couple of years. This is especially true since the AMD portion comes with a slight markup, which costs $ 381 more than the RTX 3080 (instead of $ 300).

If you're already spending more than $ 5,000 on a gaming PC that landed my configuration on, the added cost may not get you into the phase. More power for you! But for my money, the RTX 3080 offers better overall value. This also applies to the Alienware Aurora R11 and Origin Neuron, both of which can be configured in a similar way for more than $ 1,000 less. That's a lot of money. However, the increase in quality and the additional features make it worth your money, especially if you want to take advantage of the additional expansion slots.

Our opinion

If you want to be a part of the AMD action, the Falcon Northwest Talon is a great way to dive in. It is one of the few systems to support these powerful new components in a highly customizable way. There are cheaper options out there, but the Talon's flawless build and neat setup make it a winner.

Are there alternatives?

Many of my favorite gaming desktops haven't announced support for AMD's Ryzen 5000 platform, such as: B. the HP Omen 30L Desktop.

The Origin Neuron is the closest competitor to the Falcon Northwest Talon. I haven't tested the performance yet, but Origin offers a similar configuration in a smaller and cheaper build. The other brand that offers the Ryzen 9 5950X in a gaming PC is Alienware with its Aurora R11. It's cheaper too, but only has Nvidia graphics options.

Falcon Northwest is also selling its smaller Tiki desktop up to the Ryzen 9 5950X, although configuration options are currently quite limited.

How long it will take?

The Falcon Northwest Talon should last at least five years with its current components and much longer if you are ready to upgrade yourself. That's the beauty of desktop PCs. The Talon also comes with a full three-year warranty that covers both parts and labor.

Should you buy it?

Yes. It's the perfect vehicle for the performance of these new AMD components.

Editor's recommendations




07 Feb
Blog

Destruction AllStars Review: Car Game Crashes and Burns

Destruction of AllStars

Destruction AllStars-Test: The new PS Plus giveaway from Sony is canceled

"Destruction AllStars offers satisfying accidents amid a collection of bizarre design choices for 50 cars."

  • Simple controls

  • Exciting crashes

  • Missing online modes

  • Uncooked skills

  • Arrogant microtransactions

  • Distracting DualSense support

Destruction AllStars is a messy video game, but probably not the way Sony intended.

The hyper-stylized vehicle combat game is full of monster-sized cars, loud crashes and bright colors. It also includes a number of 50 car ideas, each designed to take full advantage of the PlayStation 5's unique features. From haptic feedback to integrating it with the console's map function, there's a lot going on under the hood of this month's PS Plus giveaway … so much so that the game's developer is already tracking some of it back in less than a week.

Destruction AllStars' easy-to-understand arcade gameplay offers satisfactory destruction, but a host of bizarre design choices, underdeveloped ideas, and forced PS5 features leave this multiplayer game stuck in the park.

Let yourself be ruined

The core idea behind Destruction AllStars is simple: It's a multiplayer demolition derby where players ram into other cars to earn points. It takes the smash-em-up gameplay from burnout but removes the actual racing component. When it comes to the basics, Destruction AllStars gets a lot right. The familiar drive controls make recording and playing easier from the start. In addition to the standard speed and break skills, players can perform an Aries by either moving the right stick up or sideways, making it easy to deal big hits in a way that feels intuitive.

The cars feel fast and can make sharp turns thanks to a handbrake that makes for high speed fun. Knowing an opponent is on your tail and quickly outmaneuvering them to avoid a collision is an easy pleasure. Likewise, the crashes themselves are just plain joyful. Every time two cars collide, there is a real sense of weight. Metal flies in all directions and there is a satisfactory crunch to emphasize the slam. There's even a satisfying slow-motion glitch in the game's single player mode to really drive it home.

The problem is that finding the right framework for these strengths is difficult. The online Mayhem mode does the best job, throwing players together into a jack-of-all-trades where the one who destroys the most cars wins. It's thin, but it does the game's abandon requirement best with constant chaos.

The crashes themselves are just plain joyful.

The other multiplayer modes cannot shift into full gear. Gridfall is the game's elimination mode, where players try to survive each other in a rapidly shrinking arena. Placing under the first two is as easy as getting out of a car and stepping onto an elevated platform while everyone else struggles. The game doesn't penalize players for just waiting for it and offers little incentive to do anything until there are only two players left.

There's also Carnado, which requires players to grab the aisles and place them in the middle of the arena, much like they did in Destiny 2's Gambit mode, the very confusing twist of the game in a zone control mode that requires walking to get around Collect gears. The objective game has a little more to do, but nothing really takes advantage of the mess and mess that makes it feel like a playlist affair.

Too much character

The game really goes off course when it adds more to the mix. Like Overwatch, Destruction AllStars features unique characters, each with their own car and skills. The roster itself is a wonderfully colorful crew of eccentric characters that includes everything from a handsome luchador to a cat-obsessed e-girl.

Destruction of AllStars

The designs are charming, but the actual character system is missing. Players can get out of their car at any time and park on the map. On foot, players can attempt to take over enemy vehicles or pick up crystals to charge a special ability called a Breaker. The problem is, there is never a good reason to get out of the car. There is no real benefit to the climbing around, and none of the walking skills feel like they're doing much of anything. Every time I activated my breaker, it was done solely to increase my speed so I could get back into a car faster. Imagine if Titanfall had given players the chance to get in and out of their mech at any time. Why would you ever go

Any layers added feel redundant.

Vehicle hero skills aren't particularly convincing either. Each car gets a different “super” that includes everything from a stealth cape to a ramming hull. During my time with the game, none of them seem to make much of a difference in games. I barely notice when an opponent is using their special abilities unless it's something visual like Feugo's burning car. Most of the time I forget to activate mine and it doesn't noticeably affect me.

Any layers added feel redundant. Instead of adding extra depth to the game, they're a distraction that takes a simple premise and makes it overly complicated.

Overstimulation

The gameplay itself is mediocre, but Destruction AllStars includes a handful of head-scratching options that completely prevent it. Some of them are subtle. There is no music during online games, which makes everything feel bizarrely quiet. How can a game with so much style not have a killer soundtrack? The on-screen text is also unreadable across the board, with no way to elevate anything. It's like the game was developed on an IMAX screen.

The feel, trigger feedback and sound effects of the DualSense speaker are constant and often distracting.

Other choices are harder to ignore, like the game's haughty microtransactions. The game offers both in-game currency and premium currency that was purchased with real money. The latter can be used to unlock the game's single player challenges. It also has a truckload of commercial cosmetics. Some of them cost coins in the game, others require real money in addition. Given that the game was originally supposed to be a full retail release, it seems like Sony retrospectively slapped a paywall on features to quickly flip the monetization strategy.

The most frustrating part involves features that are specifically designed for the PS5 hardware. When Astro's playroom shows how much can be done with its unique technology, Destruction AllStars shows how much can be taken too far. The feel, trigger feedback and sound effects of the DualSense speaker are constant and often distracting. Whenever your car is in a rough condition, the triggers vibrate with a loud, clicking rattle that scratches.

Destruction AllStars

Developer Lucid Games has already begun reclaiming some of the game's worst features. Originally, voice chat was always activated by default, with all audio data being transmitted through the DualSense speakers. The controller's built-in microphone was also always on, which meant that the players would unexpectedly share their audio every time it played. There wasn't an option in the game to disable any of this initially. Instead, players had to open the PlayStation menu and manually disable voice chat each round. Just 72 hours later, voice chat was completely disabled.

There's a good chance Lucid Games will revise the game's most puzzling decisions if the community weighs in. Fortnite wasn't built in a day, after all. The only question is whether or not it will go fast enough to keep up with a crowded free-to-play market that is itself an unforgiving demolition derby.

Our opinion

Destruction AllStars has a sturdy engine, but it has been redesigned in almost every way. The unnecessary foot component and character skills make for an otherwise easy but fun pick-and-play game with satisfying wrecks. If you employ excessive DualSense support, the result is a multiplayer game that is messy for all the wrong reasons.

Is there a better alternative?

Codemasters' Onrush includes many of the same ideas, such as: B. Character Skills, in a much more focused package.

How long it will take?

It's a multiplayer game so that depends on the player, but the flat gameplay wears off pretty quickly.

Should I buy it?

No. Unless you're a PS Plus subscriber, there's no real reason to be. If so, it never hurts to download a free game.

Editor's recommendations




07 Feb
Blog

LG CordZero ThinQ Robot Vacuum Review: Eyes Wide Shut

LG CordZero ThinQ Robot vacuum angle holder

LG CordZero ThinQ robotic vacuum cleaner

"This ambitious robotic vacuum tries to do more but trips over the basics."

  • Provides 5-stage HEPA filtration

  • Brush works well on carpets

  • Its bulky size

  • Limited coverage with HomeGuard functionality

  • Expensive costs

  • Corners cannot be cleaned effectively

LG is a company that has brand recognition in nearly every imaginable area of ​​consumer technology. From smartphones to televisions, it's a brand that is trustworthy and has been proven to make amazing products. In the vacuum space of the robot, however, this is an entirely different story.

One could imagine a giant company like LG being seen as a leader in this space, especially if its various smart devices are also highly valued, but it has been an uphill battle to get the same notoriety as iRobot, Shark, too to reach. and Ecovacs. The LG CordZero ThinQ Robot Vacuum is its newest roving bot, packed with unconventional features and a design that is sure to raise your eyebrows. Does LG finally have a winner?

No shame in its scope

Boy, this is the clunkiest robotic vacuum I've seen and tested so far. I can certainly understand the decision to design a robotic vacuum cleaner that looks like a mini-tank, but it's significantly bulkier than its counterparts. "Unconventional" best describes its design, which looks like it fused the head of a cordless vacuum cleaner with the body of a fat robotic vacuum cleaner. Because of its thickness of 5.6 inches, it has problems getting into tighter spaces – like under furniture. For comparison: the iRobot Roomba i3 + is only 3.63 inches thick.

LG CordZero ThinQ Robot vacuum front brushJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

Nevertheless, the design is functional as it has an above-average 0.6 liter trash can. For those with larger spaces, it's helpful because it simply means it can gobble up more dirt before it has to be disposed of. However, the bulky size doesn't help extend battery life. The 100 minute rating is enough to clean my 1,000 square foot apartment, but the Roborock S6 MaxV gets it done compared to around 120 minutes.

Not the hottest in the shed

In addition to the chunky appearance, I immediately notice that the camera sits right on the front of the LG CordZero ThinQ Robot Vacuum. The camera offers the bot its security functions, which I will explain in detail later. However, it is used for navigation through the visual SLAM technology (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping). Essentially, the camera combined with Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) helps in mapping spaces, but in practice it is not as efficient as others. Sensors around the robot help it see edges, objects, and other obstacles, but it is still triggered on wires and clutter.

LG CordZero ThinQ Robot vacuum cleaner brushJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

Once you have done a full cleaning, the generated map will be saved in memory. So you might think that it will be faster or more efficient next time. Unfortunately, this was not the case and often took just as long. I even tried the poop test with this bot where I put fake poop on the floor to see what would happen. In almost every case, it slowly approached and made minor changes to the navigation, but then continued to walk over it. Good thing it's wrong because this bot doesn't wipe.

In all fairness, the sticker price of $ 1,200 doesn't help.

Another area that is problematic is when tackling corners. Since there is only one main brush on the bottom, it just needs to approach the corners. This implementation is not good at trapping debris compared to bots that have a sweeping brush on the side to help direct the debris. With the LG hiring, you're hoping the suction is strong enough to get the job done, but not on hardwood floors.

Speaking of vacuuming, I'm excited to announce that the anti-tangle brush does a good job of collecting hair and balling it up. When certain surfaces such as carpets are detected, extra suction is applied to ensure dirt is engulfed for a thorough clean. It is loud in this mode, but it is not distracting under normal cleaning conditions. Overall, it's good for carpets, but I found it struggling with hardwood floors.

One of the few with HEPA filtration

Catching dirt and debris is the basic job of all robotic vacuums, but not all offer the same level of fine particle collection as this one. In fact, it's one of the few on the market that uses a 5-stage HEPA filter system. Of course, I take the word for filtering 99.9% dust, pollen, and flakes of skin, but when I look at the trash can it's almost impossible to tell as it looks very similar to the other bots I've used.

LG CordZero ThinQ Robot Vacuum CleanerJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

That said, it's nice to know that this filtration method makes it more proactive to capture debris. Even better, the filter is easily accessible and washable, which saves money in the long run as you don't have to take out the extra batter for filters. Finally, I like how the trash can makes it easy to release its contents with the push of a button that opens the lid on the bottom – which minimizes the blowing back of the fine dust particles.

Stick with a security camera

As I mentioned earlier, the LG CordZero ThinQ Robot Vacuum has a camera that effectively turns it into a roaming watchdog. After trying it out, your conventional surveillance camera will not be replaced. This is partly due to the terrible user interface. With the LG ThinQ app, set the HomeGuard feature first by navigating the bot to where you want to see it. The problem with this, unfortunately, is that it is limited to no more than 10 feet from the charging station. In my situation this is a problem as I have the base in the bedroom but want the bot to keep an eye on the front door in the living room.

LG CordZero ThinQ Robot vacuum camera close-upJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

Now the camera only takes a few snapshots when it detects movement – and they look kind of grainy. You can also forget to see something in the dark as the camera does not have night vision. Your standard security camera has better detection and image quality than this, but I can see the benefit that you can access the camera on the go (and manually navigate to where you want to see it in your house).

Our opinion

The LG CordZero ThinQ Robot Vacuum is no ordinary cleaning robot. It aims to do a lot more, but in this attempt to do more, it is not a competitive proposition to measure up to other respected bots in the market. To be honest, the sticker price of $ 1,200 doesn't help either. You can spend a fraction of that on something that is at least more efficient to clean.

How long it will take?

The LG ThinQ app does a good job of maintaining the robot. Accessing the intelligent diagnostics will check if the filter and sensors need cleaning and will show reminders about maintenance. Following the guidelines will only help enhance its proper function.

LG's robot is solidly built so I'm confident it will last. There's a one-year limited warranty in case something goes wrong. There is also a 10-year guarantee on the Smart converter motor.

Is there a better alternative?

The functionality of the surveillance camera is difficult to find in robotic vacuum cleaners, so it is unique in that sense. When it comes to cleaning, however, there are many models to choose from that can clean more efficiently – such as the iRobot Roomba i3 + and the Roborock S6 MaxV. The latter also has a camera with an A.I. drive to detect and avoid obstacles.

Should you buy it?

No, also because the costs are too high and the functionality of the surveillance camera is not so practical.

Editor's recommendations




06 Feb
Blog

Acer Swift 3X Review: Intel’s Iris Xe Max Takes the Stage

Acer Swift 3x rating Iris xe max 1

"The Acer Swift 3X presents Intel's impressive Iris Xe Max in a top-class package."

  • Great job

  • Excellent battery life

  • Aesthetics are attractive

  • Rounded port selection

  • The display is overwhelming

  • The processing quality does not meet the premium standards

  • Bad gaming performance

Intel released its first discrete GPU in 20 years, the Iris Xe Max. However, that doesn't necessarily mean trying to compete with Nvidia for gaming laptops. It was not specifically designed to speed up games, but rather to work with the CPU and speed up a variety of other tasks. An interesting idea for thin and light laptops, right?

So far, the Iris Xe Max has come in three laptops, and we got one of them – the mid-range Acer Swift 3X – for review.

The Acer Swift 3X is not a cheap laptop in its Iris Xe Max configuration – at least not for a typical Swift laptop. At Amazon, it costs $ 1,240 with a Core i7-1165G7, 16 GB LPDDR4X RAM, 1 TB PCIe Solid State Drive (SSD) storage, and a 14-inch Full HD IPS display (1920 x 1080 ) in the aging school 16: 9 aspect ratio. You can spend $ 899 and get a version with only Iris Xe graphics, a Core i5-1135G7, 8 GB of RAM, and a 512 GB SSD.

Does the Iris Xe Max graphics make this laptop a must-have mid-range laptop?

performance

We start with the performance because in this test the rubber hits the road. Either the Iris Xe Max makes a difference to real-world tasks or it doesn't. This is the make-or-break test for the Acer Swift 3X. Reading the description of Intel's GPU will expose you to a variety of buzzwords and jargon, but we will skip most of them here. If you want to dig into the details of the new GPU, check out our guide to Intel's Discrete GPUs and our insight into the Iris Xe Max.

However, one term to keep in mind is deep link. This is Intel's term for technology that tightly ties the CPU and GPU (both Iris Xe and Iris Xe Max) together to enable some sophisticated functionality. Not all of them are yet activated or supported by today's software. So we focus on just one thing: Deep Link Dynamic Power Share. With this function, the system can "switch off" the GPU and supply the CPU with the entire system performance. With the Swift 3X and its 11th generation Core i7, more than 28 watts of power and heat can be delivered to the CPU if required, which should theoretically accelerate CPU-intensive tasks.

The Acer Swift 3X occasionally even questions the performance of H-series machines.

It works? Yes, it actually does. The Swift 3X was competitive in all of our performance benchmarks and occasionally took the crown for the fastest Tiger Lake laptop we tested. This makes it one of the fastest laptops in the U series and occasionally even challenges machines from the H series.

It can't compete with AMD's Ryzen 4000 (or the upcoming Ryzen 5000 laptops) in all cases, but it does show up a lot stronger than most non-Max laptops. However, is that enough to make Iris Xe Max an exciting development? Perhaps not at this point – the GPU on its own makes the Acer Swift 3X a fast laptop, but not without challengers in AMD and Apple, which are faster and either cheaper, thinner and lighter, or both. We'll have to wait and see what other features Iris Xe Max has to offer before we can speak of an unconditional success.

We start with Cinebench R23, where the Swift 3X scored 5944 points in multi-core mode and 1496 points in single-core mode. I tried the utility to switch from optimized mode to performance mode and I didn't see much of a difference unlike some others (e.g. the HP Command Center utility in the Specter x360 14) that have greater impact. This multi-core score is the fastest we've seen in an Intel U-Series CPU. It beats faster Core i7-1185G7 laptops like the MSI Prestige 14 Evo (5,789) and the Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 in its more effective performance mode (4,988).

Note that with a 45-watt Core i7-10750H, the Razer Blade scored 6,166, meaning the Swift 3X was in close proximity to a much faster CPU.

In Geekbench 5, the Swift 3X wasn't quite as strong – probably because Dynamic Power Share has the greatest impact on longer, sustained processes. The Swift 3X scored 1,551 points in the single-core test and 5,847 points in the multi-core test. The Prestige 14 Evo was slightly faster (1,593 and 5,904), as was the Intel Tiger Lake reference laptop, which is based on the same MSI computer (1,563 and 5,995). The Acer Swift 5 with the same CPU as the Swift 3X scored higher in the single-core test with 1,580 and almost as high in the multi-core test with 5,836. Interestingly, the Swift 3X managed to outperform the Lenovo Yoga 9i 15 with a Core i7-10750H (1,285 and 5,551).

In our handbrake test, which encodes a 420MB video as H.265, the Swift 3X finished the process in 2 minutes and 36 seconds, which is again (technically) the fastest among Intel U-series laptops. The Prestige 14 Evo – also with its faster CPU – took four seconds longer, which resulted in a virtual tie. Note that the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7 with an AMD Ryzen 4800U processor takes 2.2 minutes to complete. This means that while Iris Xe Max speeds up Tiger Lake's performance, it cannot compete with AMD on some tasks.

Finally, I ran the PCMark 10 Complete benchmark, where the Swift 3X scored 5,117 points. This is the second highest score in our laptop database, only behind the Lenovo Yoga 9i 15. The individual essentials, productivity and creation values ​​of the Swift 3X were not all individually highest, but were in the upper range. To examine the creation portion of the test, which focuses on photo editing, video rendering and playback, and video editing, the Swift 3X had the highest score (5,334) of any U-series laptops we tested – shown once again, Deep Link does its Job.

The closest was the Prestige Evo 14 with 5036 points. This is a good sign of performance in Adobe apps and other creative tools, which will only improve as more Deep Link features are introduced. Simply put, the Swift 3X did very well in this benchmark.

Intel didn't specifically design the Iris Xe Max to speed up modern games.

Intel's Iris Xe Max has a real impact on a laptop's performance even at this early stage. The Swift 3X screams through productivity tasks and is well suited for creative tasks for a U-series CPU. If you're looking for the fastest CPU performance in an Intel-based ultrabook, contrary to your intuition, you should choose a model that includes Intel's discrete GPU.

If you're looking for a gaming laptop, as mentioned in the introduction, Intel didn't specifically design the Iris Xe Max for speeding up modern games. With some titles it works well, with others Intel transfers the order to the Iris Xe, which is also on board. The Iris Xe Max did well in the 3DMark Time Spy benchmark with 1,889, which is a few hundred points above the typical Iris Xe GPU.

In Fortnite, however, the Max managed 34 fps (frames per second) with 1080p and high graphics and 22 fps with epic graphics. This is comparable to the Yoga 9i 14, which achieved 40 fps and 27 fps in performance mode, and the MSI Prestige 14 Evo, which achieved 42 fps and 28 fps. Fortnite is clearly a title that the Iris Xe Max doesn't shine on.

design

Acer didn't just copy the design of the non-Max Acer Swift 3 when creating the Swift 3X. There are some similarities, but the Swift 3X looks very different, including a choice between Steam Blue (my review unit) and Safari Gold instead of plain utility silver.

The hinge has also been redesigned and decorated in an “electric blue” that draws attention to the laptop lid. And the back corners have a nice angularity that adds to the aesthetics. However, it is not an attention seeker like the HP Specter x360 14. The bezels disappoint a bit. First, they're not as small as some other modern day laptops, with a screen-to-body ratio of 84% (many exceed 90%), and second, they're made of plastic rather than behind the glass. This gives the laptop a no-nonsense look when viewed from the front.

The Swift 3X isn't quite as slim as some of its 14-inch competitors, either.

The construction doesn't quite match the standard of many other premium laptops. The chassis is made entirely of aluminum, but the lid is quite flexible and the keyboard deck has some flex. However, the underside of the chassis is robust. The hinge is very stiff and requires both hands to open the laptop – in contrast to the Dell XPS 13, which can be easily opened with one hand – but holds the display firmly in place. Overall, I'd say the build quality is more in the mid-range than the premium range, which makes the laptop more attractive than the $ 1,200 on my review unit at a starting price of $ 899. The MSI Prestige 14 Evo, for example, is the same price – without the Iris Xe Max, of course – and feels a lot more solid than the Swift 3X.

The Swift 3X isn't quite as slim as some of its 14-inch competitors, either. It comes in at 0.71 inches thick and weighs 3.02 pounds. This compares to the Prestige 14 Evo at 0.63 inches at 2.85 pounds, the Asus ZenBook 14 UX425 at 0.54 inches and 2.58 pounds, and the Acer Swift 5 at 0.59 inches and 2.31 pounds. It's not that the Swift 3X is a humorous ultrabook – it just doesn't feel as thin and light as some of the other options.

Finally, the Swift 3X offers a solid range of connectivity options. On the left side of the case, you'll find a proprietary power port (which will likely provide enough juice for the Iris Xe Max), a full-size HDMI 2.0 port, a USB-A 3.2 port, and a USB-C port with Thunderbolt 4 On the right side you will find another USB-A 3.2 port and a 3.5 mm audio jack. What you won't find is an SD card reader. This is a bummer as this machine is at least partially geared towards creative types.

The wireless connection is provided via Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1.

display

The Swift 3X has a 14-inch Full HD 16: 9 IPS display which, according to my colorimeter, is generally a little below average for premium laptops. For example, the color gamut is a bit narrow at 95% of sRGB and 71% of AdobeRGB (premium laptops usually achieve 97% and 75%, respectively). However, the color accuracy is quite good at 1.18, with 1.0 or less being considered excellent.

At the same time, the brightness is 284 nits below our 300 NIT threshold, which ensures that a display with the typical bright office environment lighting is visible. And the worst contrast is at 740: 1, where many premium laptops are at 1000: 1 or more, or at least very close to it. The combination of brightness, low contrast and a narrow color gamut gives the display a subdued appearance.

Overall, the display is certainly good for productivity work and watching Netflix, but it won't blow your mind. Throw in the 16: 9 aspect ratio when many competitors are switching to higher ratios like 16:10 and 3: 2 and the Swift 3X's display isn't exactly impressive.

Audio is closer to par, with two downward-facing speakers that provide enough volume for YouTube videos but not enough for watching a Netflix movie with friends. The mids and highs are fine, but the bass is missing. You want to use headphones or bluetooth speakers for Netflix binging and listening to music.

Keyboard and touchpad

It appears that Acer pulled the keyboard from the previous Acer Swift 3. The Swift 3X has the same appearance, meaning the keycaps are smaller, which in my experience leads to a search for keys. The mechanism is very clicky and requires a bit of pressure to intervene, but offers a solid ground effect. It depends on preference, of course, but I would rate the keyboard as being behind the HP Specter x360 14 and Dell XPS 13 in terms of accuracy and general typing speed.

The touchpad is small but functional. The surface is pleasant to swipe and the keys respond, but are a bit loud. Thanks to the Microsoft Precision touchpad drivers, multi-touch gestures react quickly and precisely. There is no touch display which is a shame for me personally. I miss touch when it's not there, especially for scrolling long web pages and tapping the occasional on-screen button.

Windows 10 Hello login support without a password is provided by a fingerprint reader in the upper right corner of the keyboard deck. It was quick and accurate in my tests.

Battery life

You'd think that 59 watt hours of battery life in a 14-inch laptop and very fast CPU performance could result in poor battery life. You'd be wrong as the Swift 3X is way behind the nine hours of typical Evo spec use.

In our web benchmark, which runs through a number of popular websites before the laptop goes to sleep, the Swift 3X lasted 11.5 hours. The Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 outperformed this by more than an hour and the MSI Prestige 14 Evo by almost four hours. Next, I went through our video test grinding a Full HD Avengers trailer and the Swift 3X lasted about 15.75 hours, a strong score that is still nearly three hours less than the Yoga 9i 14 and 30 minutes less than the MSI Prestige 14 Evo was.

In the battery test for PCMark 10 applications, the Swift 3X lasted 14 hours, second only to the Yoga 9i 14 in our database and almost four hours longer than the Prestige 14 Evo. In the PCMark 10 gaming test, which stresses both the CPU and the GPU, the Swift 3X only lasted 1.5 hours, which was the worst, with the Prestige 14 Evo and Dell XPS 13 finishing second and third. Most other laptops lasted about an hour longer than the Swift 3X in this test.

Overall, the Swift 3X showed solid battery life that lasted a full day with no issues, at least as long as you don't push the CPU and GPU. Again, the Swift 3X exceeds the Intel Evo certification requirements of nine hours of typical use, which not every Evo-certified laptop we tested has achieved.

Our opinion

The Acer Swift 3X on its own is a pretty mundane, high-budget, low-midrange ultrabook without considering the inclusion of the Iris Xe Max. The components are okay for $ 1,200, but the build quality and keyboard aren't snuff-safe.

Take advantage of the great CPU performance of the Iris Xe Max and Deep Link, plus long battery life, and the Swift 3X becomes a more attractive option. It's a good choice for anyone who wants to occasionally encode video but don't want to spend the money on a laptop with a 45 watt CPU and faster discrete GPU.

Are there alternatives?

The MSI Prestige 14 Evo is almost as fast as the Swift 3X without the Iris Xe Max on board and costs the same. It's also thinner, lighter, better built, and better looking. However, the Swift 3X offers better battery life.

If you are looking for the ultimate in CPU performance, then you should take a look at an AMD Ryzen 4000 laptop (soon to be Ryzen 5000). One option today is the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7 with the Ryzen 7 4800U. It's cheaper than the Swift 3X, but it offers much faster CPU performance and extends battery life.

Finally, the Dell XPS 13 9310 remains a solid competitor, as is the case with every laptop we test in the 13- or 14-inch class. It has a smaller display, but a productivity-friendly aspect ratio of 16:10. The XPS 13 is also significantly better built, also offers a superior display, and can be configured with more RAM and storage.

How long it will take?

The Acer Swift 3X is not the most rugged notebook we've tested, but it should offer years of reliable service. The components are up to date which is a plus, but the 1 year warranty (industry standard) is, as usual, too short.

Should you buy it?

No. Iris Xe Max graphics offer the best CPU performance you can get in an Intel-based ultrabook. However, if CPU performance is most important to you, there are other, better options. And apart from the equipment of the Iris Xe Max, the Swift 3X cannot be particularly highlighted.

Editor's recommendations




06 Feb
Blog

2021 Acura TLX A-Spec SH-AWD Review: Cyborg Sport Sedan

2021 acura tlx review front three quarters

2021 Acura TLX A-Spec SH-AWD Review: Reclaiming the Golden Age

"The redesigned 2021 Acura TLX takes on the battle of German luxury brands with style and sportiness."

  • Sharp styling

  • all wheel drive

  • Sporty interior

  • Powerful standard motor

  • Insurmountable infotainment system

  • Not for tall people

Like an aging millennium, Acura aims to recapture the glory days of the nineties. In this golden age, the first generation NSX and Integra Type R emerged – the redefined what performance cars could be and are now collectible. With the possible exception of the current-generation NSX, nothing Acura has done since has generated the same enthusiasm from fans or critics.

The 2021 Acura TLX is the latest attempt at a comeback from the luxury brand Honda. Acura threw it all on the new TLX, including a sophisticated all-wheel drive system and an unorthodox infotainment system, to outperform the competition. This competition includes the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Genesis G70, Infiniti Q50 and Volvo S60, as well as more recent entries like the Cadillac CT4 and the recently updated Lexus IS.

Prices for the 2021 TLX start at $ 38,525 for a base front-wheel drive model and rise to $ 49,325 for the all-wheel-drive Advance package with peak performance. Our test car was an all-wheel drive A-Spec package with sporty styling elements and a base MSRP of $ 47,275.

Design and interior

The 2021 TLX is a revamped model, but it still looks familiar to me. This is because Acura was heavily adopted from the well-received Type-S concept first shown in 2019. For brand continuity, the 2021 model also retains many of the styling features of the previous generation TLX and other newer Acura models, including “Jewel Eye LED headlights and a pentagonal grille. However, designers have prepared a completely different dish than these familiar ingredients.

Comparing the TLX 2021 to the 2020 model is the same as viewing the before and after photos on a Weight Watchers ad. The new model looks much tighter and sportier than the old version and also has better proportions. It has a lower roof and wider stance than the 2020 TLX. So it looks like it's gliding across the road surface instead of protruding over it. Acura also pushed the front wheels further forward and gave the 2021 TLX the classic silhouette to the rear, which always ensures a good design. These LED headlights are also slimmer and have curved elements inspired by the headlights found on the Acura ARX-05 racing car.

Under the skin is a new Acura exclusive platform so the TLX isn't just a crazy Honda Accord. Acura claims a 50% increase in overall torsional stiffness compared to the previous generation TLX, which is important for handling and refinement. Acura also used aluminum for the front bumper, hood, front fenders, and front damper mounts, mainly to improve weight distribution from front to rear rather than to save weight.

The new model looks much tighter and sportier than the old version and also has better proportions.

The interior is more of a sports car than a sedan. The dashboard is low and tilted forward for better visibility. A high center tunnel brings the controls closer to the driver's right hand. Inside, most of the other sports sedans feel like regular cars with some racing jewelry attached. This is a complete (and very functional) rethinking of what a sports sedan interior could be – and you still get the hit parts. The TLX A-Spec models have a flat-bottomed steering wheel, metal shift paddles and bright red leather upholstery.

The 2021 Acura TLX doesn't offer much more interior space than the 2020 model and actually has a little less headroom in the rear. The 2021 TLX also has the lowest rear headroom among its competitors and is also at the bottom of the rankings for front headroom. The Acura has less legroom front and rear than the segment-leading Lexus IS and Audi A4, but none of these sedans are particularly generous in this area.

The TLX offers more shoulder room than its competitors and creates a feeling of spaciousness despite its relatively narrow dimensions. The seats in our test car were quite comfortable despite the thick side cushions. However, we would have preferred more thigh padding for extra support when cornering. The Acura's trunk is larger than average, but is still well below the 17.0 cubic feet of the BMW 3 Series.

Technology, infotainment and driver assistance

The standard infotainment system includes a 10.2-inch screen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and an integrated WiFi hotspot. Advance Package models have a 10.5-inch head-up display.

Acura gave the 2021 TLX its True Touchpad surface, so you get a trackpad instead of a touchscreen. Similar to a laptop, moving your finger over the pad manipulates a cursor on the screen, but the cursor automatically jumps from icon to icon for better control. While it was easy to use, we didn't see the advantage of this user interface over a touchscreen or the rotary control you get with BMW's iDrive system.

Aside from the unorthodox True Touchpad finish, the rest of the infotainment system wasn't that remarkable. Aside from cute animations for the driving modes, the screen's graphics were simple and while competitors like Audi and BMW offer fully digital instrument clusters, each TLX model receives analog displays with a 7.0-inch TFT display in between. We welcomed the fact that Acura included analog controls for key functions – including scroll buttons on the steering wheel – but we would also have liked buttons to answer and end calls.

The 17-speaker audio system offered good sound quality, as one would expect from a high-end system.

Acura offers three audio systems for the 2021 TLX. Base models receive an unbranded 10-speaker system, Technology Package models a 13-speaker ELS Studio system, and A-Spec Package and Advance Package models a 17-speaker 3D ELS Studio system. In our A-Spec package test car, the 17-speaker system offered good sound quality, as one would expect from a high-end audio system.

The standard AcuraWatch driver assistance package for the TLX includes forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, lane departure warning, departure reduction, adaptive cruise control and traffic sign recognition. A traffic jam support function enables the adaptive cruise control to continue working in slow stop-and-go traffic.

At higher speeds, the adaptive cruise control impressed with smooth acceleration and braking, although, as is often the case with these systems, the lane centering function caused problems even when cornering gently on motorways. The lane departure warning system was also a bit overly sensitive and flashed its warnings like a particularly nervous driving instructor.

Experience at the wheel

Sportiness is supposed to be one of the TLX's main selling points, and it looks pretty good on paper. The TLX comes standard with a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder, turbocharged engine that produces 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. That's better than the standard drivetrains in most competing sedans, and there's a more powerful Type S version on the way. It will be a 3.0-liter, turbocharged V6 with an estimated 355 horsepower and 354 lb.-ft. of the torque. A 10-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters is the only transmission available.

The TLX has front-wheel drive as standard, which is usually not the best basis for a sports sedan. However, our test car had the optional super handling all-wheel drive system (SH-AWD). This is one of the most advanced all-wheel drive systems on the market that, under certain conditions (the standard split is 30/70 front / rear), can transfer up to 100% of the torque to the rear wheels to mimic the feeling of rear-wheel drive. It can also redirect torque between the left and right rear wheels – known as torque vectoring.

SH-AWD offers plenty of grip, so you can open the throttle almost anytime without worrying about losing traction.

Why is it all important? A four-wheel drive preloaded at the rear reduces the workload on the front wheels, which are already steering and doing most of the braking. By sending more power to a rear wheel, torque vectoring also helps in cornering the car by pulling the rear around. This power is effectively used to steer the car from behind. The fourth generation SH-AWD system in the 2021 TLX reinforces this effect a little more than the outgoing version and, according to Acura, can transfer the power 30% faster from the front to the rear axle.

SH-AWD is the TLX's secret weapon. It offers tons of grip and allows you to almost always open the throttle without worrying about losing traction – it's as if the laws of physics no longer apply. Torque vectoring also makes the car feel agile despite lackluster steering. In our hands the bike felt too imprecise in the TLX's "Normal" and "Comfort" riding modes, while the "Sport" mode added so much weight that the bike felt like it was spring loaded.

On winding roads, it seemed like the all-wheel drive system was doing most of the work, magically fixing everything, regardless of what the driver was doing. That was confident, but it didn't inspire drivers of more traditional sports sedans either, and made us wonder if we would have been just as impressed with a front-wheel drive TLX.

The turbocharged engine delivered more than enough thrust, with just a hint of the delay in throttle response normally associated with turbos. The ride quality was tough, but not inadequate for a sporty car like this one (if you want unadulterated luxury, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class or the Volvo S60 are better choices), and the overarching Advance package includes adaptive dampers. This could have offered a better compromise between ride and handling. In short, the TLX is the real deal when it comes to performance, but it feels different from its competitors.

Fuel economy and safety

Fuel economy figures for the 2021 Acura TLX are 25 mpg (22 mpg city, 31 mpg highway) with front-wheel drive (A-Spec models are rated at 30 mpg highway) and 24 mpg combined (21 mpg city, 29 mpg highway) with all-wheel drive . That's slightly below most of the competition and is difficult to achieve with spirited driving. According to the car's on-board computer, the average was 21.7 mpg over a mix of city, highway, and backroad driving.

The Acura TLX 2021 received the "Top Safety Pick +" rating from the IIHS – the company's highest safety rating. The TLX received the top rating "Good" in all IIHS crash tests and the rating "Superior" for the headlights and front. Crash Prevention Technology – National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) crash test assessments are not yet available.

Acura offers a four year base 50,000 mile warranty and a six year 70,000 mile powertrain warranty – pretty common terms for a luxury car.

How DT would configure this car

Our ideal TLX is similar to our test car – an SH-AWD model with the A-Spec package. As mentioned above, SH-AWD is the TLX's standout feature and offers better bad weather capability than the front wheel drive. So, in our opinion, it would be well worth the extra cash (a $ 2,000 option).

The A-Spec package includes styling features that make the TLX stand out, as well as all the major technical features. Gray 19-inch wheels and available red leather upholstery add style. The ELS studio sound system with 17 loudspeakers and mobile phone charging are also included. The A-Spec is also included in the technology package, which includes USB ports on the back seat, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic warning, and front and rear parking sensors.

The expanded Advance package offers features such as wood paneling, heated outboard rear seats, a head-up display and a surround-view camera system. However, we didn't miss these features during our week with the A-Spec model.

Our opinion

The 2021 TLX is Acura's most powerful effort yet to regain the magic of its early days. It's not perfect – the Genesis G70 offers better driving dynamics, the BMW 3 Series has a better infotainment system, and the Cadillac CT4 and Volvo S60 have more sophisticated driver assistant technology – but the TLX offers a good combination of sporty driving dynamics and high driving dynamics -end Functions. More importantly, it has a unique character.

Many other sedans offer feature laundry lists, a vibrant driving experience, and the allure of a luxury brand. It's not enough to build a car that is fancier than your run-of-the-mill grocer – luxury cars are already filling Whole Foods parking lots across the country. The TLX is successful because it is something different – just like the Acura symbols of the 90s.

Admittedly, that also means that the TLX is not suitable for everyone. Whether it's the car depends on whether you can enjoy the mechanized driving experience and live with the unusual infotainment interface. The other defining features of the TLX – its exterior and interior design – are also subjective. Every car (and every car company) has its quirks, but these Acuras are more visible than most.

Should you get one

Yes. The TLX may be different, but that's a good thing.

Editor's recommendations




06 Feb
Blog

Netatmo Smart Video Doorbell Review: Aiming Too Hgh

Netatmo video doorbell mounted on brick

Netatmo Smart Video Doorbell

"The Netatmo Smart Video Doorbell is a great video doorbell with a few small flaws and one big one – the price."

  • Intelligent A.I. Camera detection

  • Clear video day and night

  • Expensive

  • Narrow field of view

  • Blocky design collides with some decor

When asked to review the Netatmo security camera a few months ago, I was impressed with the functionality but not impressed with the design. Fortunately, Netatmo has made some progress in this category with its Smart Video Doorbell. The wired doorbell from Netatmo brings person recognition and the known functions of artificial intelligence (A.I.) to a thankfully smaller form factor.

Netatmo hasn't quite shaken off its blocky roots yet, however, as the design of this doorbell reminds me of something you might see in Minecraft. The doorbell consists of three squares stacked on top of each other. The top square has the camera and Netatmo branding, the middle square has a loudspeaker grille for bidirectional communication, and the bottom square has the button with a bell symbol. Overall, the aesthetic works for me. It looks modern so it looks a little different on a brick home, but you can go upstairs well.

Installation first

The installation is very easy. Netatmo even included a silicone lock that you slide the doorbell wires through for additional sealing. It's a nice touch that I haven't seen before. You can also use a 25 degree offset to see if your house is mine and the door is set back from the brick siding. A carillon module is included in the scope of delivery, which you must also connect to your transformer. So make sure you know where that is. Netatmo also includes an additional backup, which is a first in my career as a doorbell checker. Better to have it and not need it, I suppose.

Netatmo

The video feed is very good. My backyard in Chicago is currently a snowy landscape so I can't comment on the color rendering, but I can tell you the white balance is spot on. A fish-eye effect can be seen at the edges of the field of view with a diagonal of 140 degrees. The infrared image is also quite good at night. There's a lot of camera in this doorbell.

Netatmo has some work to do on its aesthetics, but this is a solid step in the right direction.

The speaker built into the camera is loud and clear. Netatmo doesn't list an official speaker volume specification, but it is certainly clear enough for a conversation to take place. Both the two-way conversation and the video feed are pretty lag-free, so you don't get those awkward pauses where you say something and then wait for the voice to go through.

Return home

The doorbell also works with Apple's HomeKit, although I mainly used the Netatmo Security app for my tests. After my review of the Logitech video doorbell, it was a nice change of pace. Netatmo is still doing smart things with A.I. like focusing and cropping on the motion themes in the thumbnails of saved events. In the first few days, of course, a floodlight in the frame was identified as a person, but that's why detection zones are important.

The software has some special features that are difficult to reconcile with one another. For example, to view the live camera, you need to press a phone icon in the middle of the screen. To terminate the connection, you must also press a hang-up key. While watching the live feed, you can unmute the speaker and microphone on the doorbell to have a conversation with whoever is there. I've got the thinking behind it – you "call" the camera to have a conversation with whoever is at the door.

Screenshot of the Netatmo Security App.

Netatmo doubles the "phone call" metaphor when the doorbell rings. The app not only rings your interior, but also initiates a call between you and the doorbell. Other doorbells, like our recently tested Wyze video doorbell, simply send you a notification and you can choose whether or not to respond. This feature follows the Netatmo video calling metaphor, but just because I can streamline it doesn't mean it's a good idea.

One of the few that support HomeKit

The addition of Apple's HomeKit brings a nice new level of automation that we explored in the Logitech video doorbell. You can use the motion sensor on the doorbell to trigger other actions around the house, although I haven't found one that makes sense yet. The video feed also works more intuitively through HomeKit. You don't have to ring the doorbell to see what's going on outside. With the Netatmo app, Android users can also enjoy the doorbell.

Our opinion

Overall, this is a solid entry into the video doorbell space. Netatmo has some work to do on its aesthetics, but this is a solid step in the right direction. To be honest, the blocky doorbell doesn't suit every type of home. Integration with Apple HomeKit is easy without excluding Android users. The video feed is great and has a slightly narrower field of view than others on the market.

As a stand-alone doorbell, this is exactly the right thing for you. It does everything a video doorbell needs and uses Smart A.I. to find out what's important in a particular clip. I would love to test this out in a non-winter month to see animals running across my deck so I could really say that A.I. Through my steps, however, my review of the Netatmo video camera gave me a good idea of ​​what to expect. When putting your smart home piece together piece by piece, this is a good addition as long as you like the look.

Is there a better alternative?

The Netatmo video doorbell does a lot of things right, but Netatmo is charging nearly $ 300, and there are other options worth considering. From a design perspective, I prefer the rounded look of the Arlo Video doorbell or the Nest Hello. From the point of view of the field of view, 140 degrees is the center of the road. Doorbells like the Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro give you full 180-degree top, bottom, left, and right angles. Simply put, for its price point, the Netatmo should be the best of all, and it really isn't.

Will it take?

The Netatmo video doorbell works between -10 and 40 degrees Celsius and is IP44 compliant. Netatmo products are guaranteed for two years. The silicon barrier helps keep water out of the electronics, so I see no reason why this doorbell shouldn't last long.

Should you buy it?

No. At $ 300 there are other options that do a better job. See the Wyze Video Doorbell at 1/10 the price. It is true that Netatmo does not charge a subscription service and that all videos are stored locally on an included SD card. However, at this price point, it's hard to recommend, especially when video doorbell prices are generally falling.

Editor's recommendations




05 Feb
Blog

Apple AirPods Max Review | Funnest Headphones Ever

Apple AirPods max

"The AirPods Max are exquisitely crafted headphones designed for Apple lovers."

  • Best-in-class ANC

  • Amazing transparency mode

  • Excellent workmanship

  • Excellent sound quality

  • First class call quality

  • Charges via the Lightning cable

  • Heavy on the head

I'm a headphone freak and have been for almost two decades. And, without a doubt, at $ 550, the Apple AirPods Max are the most fun headphones I've tested in 10 years – but that doesn't necessarily mean you should buy them.

I've heard a lot about these headphones over the past few weeks and now that I've got hold of a pair, I have to be honest: I disagree with a lot of what I've heard. I want to dig into these headphones not just from the perspective of someone who has tested headphones over the years, but also as a studio musician, fan of high-end sound, and a person who loves making smart purchases with hard-earned money. Let's examine what's good, what's great, and what's not about the AirPods Max, and of course, make some comparisons with the Sony WH-1000XM4 and the Bose ANC 700.

Build quality

The most noticeable design element when looking at the AirPods Pro are the metal ear cups. They sit comfortably in the hand – in fact, every part of these headphones feels good. The fabric material in the headband has a cool suspension, the telescopic part of the headband has a satisfactorily smooth movement, the ear cups are squishy and covered in a lush textile, and even the oversized digital crown and the noise-canceling / transparency mode can be toggled button feel good to turn and push. It's really amazing how comfortable it is to hold them.

Riley Young / Digital Trends

But as satisfactory as they are, they aren't called cell phones – they are called headphones, and they need to feel great on your head. For some users, the AirPods Max may feel perfectly fine. Deep auricles, breathable ear pads and a balanced clamping force help a little. The problem, however, is that there is a lot of weight to compensate for. Too much weight in my opinion. These materials are beautiful. This makes the AirPods Max feel super luxurious, but in practical terms, these headphones may be too heavy for some people. Especially if, like me, you wear headphones for hours.

To be clear, Apple has done an impressive job of reducing the stress on the crown and ears through clever engineering and materialsThis is one reason why headphones like the Sony XM4, Bose ANC700, and even the Bowers and Wilkins PX7 Carbon Edition are made from high-quality plastic and composites instead of metal: because they're good for acoustics and they're lightweight and comfortable.

Connectivity

Riley Young / Digital Trends

As you'd expect, the AirPods Max work best with Apple products. Not only do you instantly connect, but you can switch from one Apple device to another in no time. Another benefit is that you can use an iOS device to turn off ANC in the headphone section of the control panel, and you can actually play with the digital signal processor (DSP) over the accessibility section – which I'll mention again later when we talk about sound quality. Unfortunately, if you're an Android user, you lose all of that. As far as I can tell, there is no turning off the ANC or adjusting the DSP without an Apple device. For connectivity, AirPods Max win for Apple users, while Sony and Bose, which both have apps for both platforms with lots of customization options, win for everyone.

The oversized digital crown is awesome.

Control elements / interface

When it comes to controls, I have to give them to the AirPods Max. The oversized digital crown is awesome. It's easy to find if you're wearing headphones, and the volume knob is oddly enough to turn satisfactorily – you even hear a tiny click when you adjust the volume. The digital crown is also extremely accurate and grainy. I had no problem hitting my volume sweet spot, while with other headphones and volume controls, I'm always a click away from the volume that's too loud or too soft.

Riley Young / Digital Trends

Plus, an almost comically large button just for toggling between ANC and transparency modes is a spring in the cap of the AirPods Max. Again, finding the button while wearing the headphones is no problem, and pressing the buttons with satisfaction is a far better one Experience than holding your hand over the right ear cup of the Sony XM4 or looking for the right button on the Bose ANC 700. I used to think the swipe control thing was cool too, but now I'm kind of over it. The AirPods Max have simple controls for which headphones I want to use. This is the kind of thing Apple is doing right now.

Where is the power switch?

On the subject of battery life, charging times, and the fact that there's no power switch – this may surprise you: I don't have any problems with it. Let me finish

Some think the fact that the AirPods Max doesn't have a power button and can't actually be turned off completely is ridiculous. I do not think so.

The AirPods Max go into a power-saving mode after a short while when you put them down. In fact, I put it on my desk around 8 p.m. and picked them up the next day at 7 a.m. and they had laid off a measly 7%. With five minutes of charging, I can get that blackout and a lot more back, which gives you 1.5 hours of listening time.

When the AirPods Max aren't used for about 72 hours, they go into a kind of ultra-low power mode and use even less power. In practice, with such a slow power failure, it is hard to imagine that a power switch is absolutely necessary. Maybe when you keep it around your neck as a fashion accessory all day long? But even then, it's not like they drain quickly and die of you that day.

Riley Young / Digital Trends

For the claimed 20 hour battery life, I've found this rating to be conservative. With ANC, I've approached 25 uninterrupted hours of play and that's enough to take advantage of a few days before you have to think about recharging. So I'm fine with the battery life, even if the rating is about half that of the Sony XM4 – in real life it's perfectly fine.

I think the valuable thing about this always on standby strategy is that whenever you get a call or a Zoom call, they are ready to go. Just put them on and click to reply. I love that – it's far better than long-pressing a power button and waiting for the headphones to boot while the phone keeps ringing.

What I don't like is the USB-C lightning cable that comes with the headphones. I think it was a mistake to choose a flash when USC-C is a much more sensible choice.

It is not a case

Riley Young / Digital Trends

One area where I agree with other reviewers and commentators is what is called the "case" that comes with the AirPods Max. Since there are many others throwing away this "non-fall" as I call it, I don't feel the need to use more vitriol. It's not a case, it's not a shelter, and if it weren't for the magnets in it which are required to activate the ultra-low-power modeI would say throw it away.

The transparency mode is amazing.

ANC and transparency mode

I want to start with transparency mode because it's amazing – perhaps the most impressive feature of the AirPods Max. It's as close to NOT wearing headphones as I've ever heard it. Everything else pales in comparison.

I'm also looking forward to checking out active noise cancellation on a flight someday, as the AirPods Max, as far as I can tell, may just rule the skies. Since I'm not getting on planes yet, to test the headphones I tried the AirPods Max, Sony XM4, and Bose ANC 700 near some loud fans and an HVAC system. The AirPods Max did very well compared to the best noise-canceling headphones I tested.

Riley Young / Digital Trends

The AirPods Max make it even better every day. They sound like hammering a mechanical keyboard, sipping coffee, and other annoying things. I wore them to a coffee shop and was surprised at how little I heard of the espresso machine and general barista noises. Is it the best noise cancellation on the planet? I can not say it yet. I really have to get on a plane to be sure, but it's damn close. Close enough that I can't call the Sony XM4 the reigning champion anymore, now that there's another big dog on the hill. However, I'll say the AirPods Max won't make anyone crave for more noise cancellation.

Call quality

The AirPods Max are great for making phone calls and taking video conferences – even better than the Bose ANC700, which are great on their own. I found that ambient noise was very well muffled while the clarity of the voice was excellent. The AirPods Max are also very adept at dealing with wind noise.

Sound quality

Before I get into fidelity, I want to mention that I ran some testing with Spatial Audio which, if you're not familiar, is a 3D sound competitor to Dolby Atmos, DTS Headphone: X, and the like. I think it's fun to watch movies, but I'm less enthusiastic about the implementation for music. It's a cool feature, but not a selling point for me.

When it comes to audio fidelity, the AirPods Max sound really good. In particular, I think the midrange has great presence and clarity – something you won't get as much of on the Sony XM4 as the midrange has a bump that tends to clutter the vocal range.

Sony's mid-bass bump is also notable because it gives the XM4 more punch. In direct comparison to the AirPods Max, the Apple cans are less effective. That doesn't mean the AirPods Max lack solid bass. They actually get very deep – deeper than the Sony XM4 or Bose ANC 700 – so everything is sound there. I just noticed that the bass guitar was less prominent on a lot of the tracks I love listening to, and the kick drum had a little less punch than the XM4 and Bose headphones. As mentioned earlier, the more balanced mid-bass enables tThe excellent midrange response from Max.

"I found that Apple Music sounded better than Spotify with the Apple AirPods Max. "

In the high altitude region, cymbals and brass instruments sparkle very well, which I liked very much – sibilance or harshness are irrelevant here. I didn't see a particularly well-executed instrument separation, however, and as far as soundstage and imaging go, I think the AirPods Max are average.

In general, I feel a little closer to the music listening to the Sony XM4 and Bose ANC700, but I feel like hearing more detail with the AirPods Max, which are sure to be the most balanced of the three headphones I compared.

One interesting note: I found that Apple Music sounded better than Spotify with the Apple AirPods Max, and I suspect Apple is using the AAC codec (the only codec supported by the AirPods Max) during the MP3-based deployment from Spotify is more lossy. Another reason to delve into the Apple ecosystem for listening to music.

Riley Young / Digital Trends

I've noticed some have said that the AirPods Max sound better with the ANC off. I didn't think so. Maybe the frequency response is flatter, but I feel like the music is losing part of its life. I've also heard that adjustments to the DSP via the Accessibility menu in iOS could improve the sound, but honestly I like the way they sound instantly with the balanced setting and slight boost setting.

From an audio point of view, I like the AirPods Max very much, and I would like to continue listening to the AirPods Max a little longer, as I suspect that my preference for punch will wane over the weeks and months, but right now I prefer the Sony XM4 -Sound signature. However, this is a deeply personal preference. I can see why someone would prefer the sound of the Max in the long run, and I'll adjust this rating as I change my tune. You sound very good. Good enough to justify the $ 550 price tag.

As for the cool factor, there's no doubt that the AirPods Max have it in their spades, and there's no doubt that they are one of the most fun headphones I've had the chance to test out in many years.

Our opinion

The AirPods Max are near perfect, with top notch noise cancellation, the most remarkable transparency mode I've ever heard, balanced and detailed sound with lots of deep and musical bass, and a very top notch feel. My main complaints are its weight, which I fear won't work for hours of use, and the lack of a proper carrying case.

Is there a better alternative?

For a higher level of convenience, I would recommend considering the Sony WH-1000xm4, which offers competitive sound quality and noise cancellation, as well as superior battery life in a lighter headphone. The Sony also come with a legitimate carrying case and are more portable. Nevertheless, the AirPods Max are wonderful premium headphones with unmatched build quality.

How long will they last?

Given the excellent build quality just mentioned, I can imagine that the AirPods Max will last as long as the battery allows. They come with Apple's standard one-year warranty against manufacturer defects.

Should you buy it?

If you don't mind a heavier headset with a premium price tag then absolutely yes.

Editor's recommendations




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