07 Oct
Blog

Adidas RPD-01 Review: Good Sound, Overmatched Features

adidas rpd 01 rating 5

"The RPD-01 fits and sounds good, but is superior in the feature department."

  • Workout-friendly design

  • Function control

  • Good sound quality

  • Missing functions compared to the competition

  • No storage case / bag

When I tested the Adidas RPT-01 a few months ago, I welcomed them as functional fitness-focused headphones in an on-ear class that frankly doesn't offer many other solid options.

With the RPD-01 – the wired in-ear version of the RPT-01 – Adidas succeeded in developing another powerful pair of workout wearables. However, unlike the relatively uncompetitive on-ear headphone genre, the $ 100 RPD-01 faces far tougher competitors, most of which are from the function-oriented JLab Audio brand.

In other words, the RPD-01 is facing an uphill battle.

What's in the box?

From the point of view of sustainability, Adidas is the packaging of the RPD-01. Almost everything is made of cardboard and has a fairly compact footprint. There are three additional pairs of earbuds and ear fins, a very short USB-C charging cable and your standard literature. But beyond that, this box is nothing more than cute, sustainable cardboard.

Adidas RPD-01 headphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

The setup is standard on the RPD-01. If you've paired at least one Bluetooth enabled product with your mobile device in the past, you'll know everything you need to know. Hooking up to these wired buds is as easy as it should be, and you'll be ready to start working with these on your ears in no time.

The RPD-01 has built-in Bluetooth 5 technology, and Adidas rates the buds with a range of 10 meters. While these workout earbuds are rarely that far from your mobile device, extensive testing has shown this area to be accurate. This is the term I use liberally to place my phone in a far corner of my house and travel to the most opposite point of my belongings possible. The earphones had no noticeable dropouts.

design

I have not been silent about the general style of a pair of earbuds like the RPD-01 in the past. True wireless is just the far more popular design aesthetic than a setup where the buds are connected by a wire. Even if it's old news by now, I won't be afraid to repeat it.

Adidas RPD-01 headphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

Aside from the disclaimer, I'm a huge fan of the design of the RPD-01. At 23 grams, the RPD-01 is significantly heavier than the JLab Audio Epic Sport2, which weighs only 14.8 grams. But they don't feel like a heavy burden as the buds sit comfortably in my ears and the flexible neck band rests around my neck. I swapped a bit with the various earbuds and ear fins that were available to me but ended up on the setup the buds came with to achieve my preferred balance of safety and comfort.

As evidence of this combination, I got on my bike over the weekend to see how the RPD-01 would handle a bumpy ride on some easy trails and gravel roads. To cut a long story short, an alleged weekend cruise resulted in a three hour hike of 27 miles that somehow spat me into the nearest town. Many things went wrong that afternoon, but the RPD-01 was one of the things that went right. I never had to adjust them and my ears were one of the few tireless parts of the body left after the gracious end of the ride. So I have to go home: The Adidas RPD-01 were both comfortable and safe for the duration of an extremely long, bumpy bike ride.

The RPD-01 is available in three colors including night gray, light gray and tint of green. It has a three-button control system for processing music, adjusting volume and answering or rejecting calls. On the other side of the neckband there is an action button that can be used to call up a voice assistant or a Spotify playlist via the Adidas headphones app. It's pretty simple, but it works well, which is more than I can say for some frustrating touch controls I've been looking at lately.

The Adidas RPD-01 were both comfortable and safe for the duration of an extremely long, bumpy bike ride.

One disadvantage of the RPD-01 is the significant lack of a suitcase, bag or even a pocket to keep them in. The JLab Audio Epic ANC has an included carrying case and the JLab Audio Epic2 has a sturdy case. I know Adidas has kept things to a minimum and there are probably people out there who would enjoy that approach, but the idea of ​​protecting these headphones when not in use appeals to me more.

characteristics

Of the many wired neckband earphones I tested this year, the RPD-01 had the worst characteristics. That doesn't mean the lack of these features is inherently bad since the RPD-01's are still quite useful training buds in my book, but it does mean that there are similarly designed options across the board that have better features in the same Own price range.

Adidas RPD-01 headphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

The JLab Audio Epic Sport2 are the obvious comparison here, as they too are mostly intended as training buds. While the RPD-01 has 12 hours of playtime and an IPX4 weather resistance, the Epic Sport2 shatters those stats with 20 hours of playtime and an IP66 rating.

The JLab Audio Epic ANC is not designed for movement, but has a weatherproof protection class IP54 and a battery of 20 hours when active noise cancellation is switched off and 15 hours in total when the function is activated. Even the 1More Dual Driver ANC has better weather resistance with an IPX5 rating while reflecting the battery stats of the JLab Audio Epic ANC.

Of the many wired neckband earphones I tested this year, the RPD-01 had the worst characteristics.

If the RPD-01 were the cheapest buds at the party, I could understand this feature mismatch, but both JLab products cost less than the $ 100 RPD-01, which is a significant blow to the overall value of those buds. To be clear, 12 hours of battery life is still decent for cable buds, and an IPX4 rating should get you through the gym. But when real wireless options like the JLab Epic Air Sport ANC (15 hour lifespan, IP66 rating) beat the RPD-01 for the exact same price, I wonder who exactly these headphones could make sense for.

Audio quality

The only clear advantage that Adidas has over JLab Audio with the RPD-01 is the sound quality. While the audio quality of the Epic ANC is average and the call quality of the Epic Sport2 is mediocre, the RPD-01 does a particularly commendable and sometimes truly extraordinary job in both areas.

Adidas RPD-01Nick Woodard / Digital Trends

They do not match the audio quality of the 1More Dual Driver ANC, which remains the benchmark for sound in this form factor. However, the 6 mm neodymium drivers built into the RPD-01 effectively process the pair's frequency range from 20 to 20,000 kHz. When auditioning my playlist for these reviews, the RPD-01 moved through a number of tracks with no problem. On Lil Nas X's Old Town Road, the now legendary bass hook was intact just before Ed Sheeran's acoustic cover of Candle in The Wind shot into my ears with impressive clarity.

When it came to phone calls, several family members checked in during this brutal weekend bike ride, and while those earbuds didn't have enough passive noise cancellation to block out the noise on my end, I was pleased to report that the microphone picked up my voice was clear to hear large rigs fly by on my journey along a major highway.

The takeaway here is the RPD-01, which offers quality sound for $ 100. Is the sound so much better than both JLab products that I would give up objectively better functions for it? Probably not. However, if you hope to get close to 1More sound levels without paying the full $ 150, you are sure to get closer than JLab's alternatives.

Our opinion

The RPD-01 fits and sounds great, but unfortunately every pair of choker earbuds we tested this year outperforms them in terms of total number of features for the price. In particular, if two of these pairs are cheaper, then despite the functionality of these buds, Adidas won't be put in a favorable light.

Are there any better alternatives?

Both the $ 80 JLab Epic ANC and the $ 50 JLab Epic Sport2 offer better features across the board, although they have a noticeable difference in sound quality. The 1More Dual Driver ANC is closer to a full package of audio and features, but at $ 150, it is the more expensive option.

How long will they last?

The RPD-01 are a flexible pair of buds with reasonable weather resistance, but they don't include a storage case or pouch, which exposes those buds to the elements or even bite-sized pets. If my phone charger and Xbox controller were current readings, nothing is certain when a puppy is teething.

Should you buy it?

No, unless you really care about good sound quality rather than better features. If not, then both the JLab Epic ANC and the Epic Sport2 are better buys.

Editor's recommendations




06 Oct
Blog

Asus ZenBook Flip S UX371 Review: Tiger Lake Doesn’t Roar

asus zenbook flip s ux371 review olympus digital camera

Asus ZenBook Flip S UX371

"The ZenBook Flip S UX371 is one of the first Tiger Lake laptops, but it does not make optimal use of Intel's new processor technology."

  • Very solid build quality

  • Spectacular display

  • Excellent keyboard and useful NumberPad touchpad

  • Very good port selection

  • Disappointing processor performance

  • The gaming falls short of expectations

Intel has released its latest architecture, Tiger Lake, which promises higher performance for both the CPU and the GPU. We've already looked at an Intel Tiger Lake prototype and were impressed with the performance of the platform. Now we had time with our first full Tiger Lake system, the Asus ZenBook Flip S UX371.

This 2-in-1 laptop is priced at $ 1,500 and comes with an 11th Generation Intel Core i7-1165G7 CPU, 16GB of RAM, a 1TB PCIe solid state drive (SSD), and a 4K OLED display. It looks strong on paper, but does it meet our high expectations?

performance

It is risky to be one of the first companies to bring out a laptop based on a brand new platform. Asus may have run counter to this risk with the ZenBook Flip S, as its benchmark results don't live up to Tiger Lake's promise. I blame the CPU's overly conservative vote. During all of my CPU tests, the fans barely spun even under the heaviest loads. I had to listen carefully to the bottom of the case to hear they were running at all. That tells me the laptop isn't working hard enough to keep the fans busy. I tried setting the Asus fan speed utility to performance mode but it made no difference.

In Geekbench 5, the ZenBook Flip S was faster than laptops with the 10th generation Core i7-1065G7, but not by much, mostly in single-core mode. It scored 1,535 single-core and 4,913 in multi-core mode. Compare this to the Microsoft Surface Book 3 13, which runs the Core i7-1065G7 at 1,316 and 4,825 points. The Samsung Galaxy Flex with the same 10th generation CPU scored 1,264 and 4,583 points. We didn't expect that from Tiger Lake.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

In our handbrake test, which converts a 420MB video to H.265, the ZenBook Flip S lasted one second less than four minutes, identical to the Surface Book 3 13. In the older version of the same test, the ZenBook Flip S lasted two seconds under four minutes and hit the Galaxy Flex by just 16 seconds. Again, this is not the expected performance.

I ran Cinebench 20 and the results were even worse. The ZenBook Flip S achieved 482 points in single-core mode and 1,254 points in multi-core mode. The surface book 3 13 managed scores of 429 and 1,433.

The benchmark results don't live up to Tiger Lake's promise.

Note that the Intel Tiger Lake reference laptop we tested with a Core i7-1185G7 performed much better on all of these benchmarks – even better than the clock speed increase would indicate. Geekbench 5 scored 1,563 and 5,995 points, respectively, and the handbrake test was completed in less than three minutes. The Cinebench 20 scores were 463 and 2092. These scores (with the exception of the single-core Cinebench score) represent bigger differences than I would have expected between the two Tiger Lake CPUs.

I contacted Asus and I am confident that they will run their own tests and set the thermal profile to allow the laptop to reach its full potential. If I get better results with a firmware update, I will revise this review accordingly.

Play

It's hard to tell if the ZenBook Flip S is realizing its gaming potential as we don't have any other laptops with the exact same CPU and GPU combo. The closest is the Intel reference notebook. So here I am primarily comparing it, although we have to consider the CPU differential.

The ZenBook Flip S scored 3,947 points in Fire Strike, while the Intel reference laptop scored 5,181 points. The Asus performed much better than the older Acer Swift 5 with Intel Iris Plus graphics, resulting in a score of 2,120. However, I can't help but think that, given the reference laptop's score, there should be a bigger difference.

Next, I ran Civilization VI, where the ZenBook Flip S reached 31 frames per second (fps) at 1080p and medium graphics. That is much less than the 45 fps of the Intel reference laptop. The Asus switched to ultra graphics and managed 17 fps, while the Intel reference laptop ran at 26 fps. The Asus also seems to underperform here. Note that the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7 with the integrated Radeon graphics from Ryzen 4000 achieves 45 fps in 1080p at medium details.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Next, I tested Assassin's Creed Odyssey. The ZenBook Flip S has a 4K display, but I've limited my testing to 1080p for reasons that will become immediately apparent. The ZenBook Flip S managed 11 fps in 1080p with the high graphics preset. While this title is well beyond the capabilities of the GPU, it's disappointing that the HP Specter x360 13 with Intel Iris Plus graphics, which averaged 12 fps, essentially tied the ZenBook powered by Tiger Lake

In Fortnite, the ZenBook Flip S only managed 13 fps in 1080p and high graphics. The Intel reference laptop achieved 34 fps and the Specter x360 13 with Intel Iris Plus ran at 12 fps. Again, this is not what I expected.

That's all of the gaming benchmarks I've run given the disappointing results. As with the CPU test, if I get a firmware upgrade that affects these results, I'll get back to me.

Battery life

The ZenBook Flip S has a battery capacity of 67 watt hours in its thin and light frame, which is impressive for a laptop of this size. At the same time there is the power-hungry 4K OLED display and a new generation of Core i7, which I have not yet passed through our official battery tests. I wasn't sure what to expect.

Unfortunately, the ZenBook Flip S decided to throw us a curveball again. Our most demanding Basemark web benchmark test, which is supposed to show how long the laptop lasted when you hit the CPU and GPU, wouldn't end its test loop. I've tried several times and been unsuccessful. Unfortunately, this means that I cannot report on the longevity under load.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The ZenBook Flip S lasted almost seven hours in our web browsing test, which gives a good idea of ​​life in moderate everyday life. Given the 4K OLED display, this isn't a terrible score, although it is pretty weak compared to the Full HD-equipped Dell XPS 13 that lasted for around 12 hours. Note that the ZenBook Flip S lasted more than an hour longer than the HP Specter x360 13, another popular notebook with an OLED display. Even so, you will likely struggle to work a full day without joining.

In our video test of a Full HD Avengers trailer, the ZenBook Flip S lasted 12.25 hours, which is almost three hours longer than the Specter x360 13. I would have expected this test to be most affected by the display. but the ZenBook Flip S did pretty well. The XPS 13 lasted two hours longer, but that's less of a difference than I expected.

Overall, the ZenBook Flip S offers good battery life for a laptop with a 4K OLED screen. If you plan to be out of the office for eight hours or more, consider taking your charger with you, but the battery will last long enough that you don't need to bring a charger for everyone but the longest of meetings.

design

The ZenBook Flip S is a good-looking laptop with a black aluminum case that is complemented by diamond-cut edges made of red copper (Asus). The usual Asus concentric vortices decorate the lid. It all adds up to an elegant design that works in both a coffee house and a conference room.

The laptop is built robustly. The lid, the keyboard deck or the bottom of the case are not bent, bent or twisted. The 2-in-1 hinge is a little too stiff to open with one hand, but it does an excellent job of holding the display in place in clamshell, tent, media, and tablet modes. It's at least as big as laptops like the HP Specter x360 13 and Dell XPS 13, which makes sense given the premium price.

The ZenBook Flip S doesn't have the thinnest bezels, which is a departure from other newer ZenBook models. The side bezels are thin and the top bezel is adequate, but the lower chin is quite large, adding to the overall footprint that is required. The Specter x360 13 is about the same size, but significantly less deep. However, the ZenBook Flip S is thin at 0.54 inches and light at 2.65 pounds. This is comparable to the Specter x360 13, which weighs 0.67 inches and 2.88 pounds. With thinner bezels, the Asus is more convenient to transport.

Connectivity is strong for a laptop this thin and light with two exceptions. On the left is a full-size HDMI 2.0 port and two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 ports. There is a USB-A 3.1 port on the right. Unfortunately there is no SD card reader, which is a disappointment, and Asus made the strange decision to ditch the 3.5mm audio jack and instead switch to an included USB-C to 3.5mm dongle to leave.

Apparently, Asus customers preferred the HDMI port, so the company decided to remove the 3.5mm jack instead – which is an unfortunate choice as you now have to forego a USB-C port to get some Connect headphones. Wireless connectivity is through the latest features available, Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0, and I saw excellent performance during my review tests.

display

The ZenBook Flip S is one of a growing number of laptops that come with OLED displays, which I find very good. The other OLED laptops we tested consistently deliver great viewing experiences, and I was excited to see if Asus picked a panel as good as other manufacturers.

As I found out when I tested the display with my colorimeter, Asus opted for a spectacular display that has practically no weaknesses.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

First, it's incredibly bright at 492 nits, more than most of the OLED panels we tested. For example, the version of the HP Specter x360 13 has 405 nits, which is still very bright but is not in the same stadium. As usual with OLED, the contrast of the ZenBook Flip S display is extraordinarily high at 491,630: 1 (the Specter x360 13 at 405,210: 1). Compare that to the Dell XPS 15's excellent 1480: 1 IPS display, which is tall for an IPS display but nowhere near as jet black as the Asus'. These numbers exaggerate the difference in the real world, but OLED's contrast offers an obvious advantage in movies, games, and high-resolution photos.

The color gamut with 100% sRGB and 99% AdobeRGB is another strength of the ZenBook Flip S display. The XPS 15 barely beats either of them at 100%, but few displays we've tested recently come this close to maximizing both color spaces. And the ZenBook Flip S is also color-accurate with 0.88 – anything below 1.0 cannot be seen by the human eye and is considered excellent. The Specter x360 13 was less accurate at 1.29. The gamma of the ZenBook Flip S display was also spot on with the ideal gamma curve of 2.2.

Asus opted for a spectacular display that has practically no weaknesses.

Put simply, this is a bright, high-contrast display. I love it as a writer because black stands out against white backgrounds and incredibly wide and precise colors. This is a display that would make any creative professional happy. Whether you're looking at it objectively through a colorimeter or subjectively for any task you want – including bingeing video, which is a real treat – this is a superior display.

The sound from the two downward facing speakers was clear with little distortion at the highest volume. The speakers could get pretty loud with nice highs and mids even though the bass was missing (not surprising). You want to use headphones for music and serious seizures, but the sound is more than good enough for the occasional YouTube and Netflix.

Keyboard and touchpad

The ZenBook Flip S inherits the same keyboard as Asus in the ZenBook 14 UX425 and is a good choice. There is a lot of spring travel, a lot of key spacing and size, and a lighting mechanism with a floor effect that is clear and precise. My favorite keyboards remain the Magic keyboard on the MacBook and the ones that HP uses in the Specter lineup (and the latest Envy 15), but the ZenBook Flip S comes close.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The touchpad is large and wide and contains Asus' NumberPad 2.0, which transforms the touchpad into an LED-illuminated numeric keypad. You turn it on with a long press of a button in the right corner and change the brightness with a button in the left corner. It works fine, and turning on the NumberPad doesn't interfere with using the touchpad as a touchpad. If you enter a lot of numbers, you will appreciate the function.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The touch display is responsive and an active pen that supports 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity is in the box when the laptop ships. However, one didn't come in my box so I couldn't test the pen.

Finally, Windows 10 Hello support is provided by an infrared camera and facial recognition. It was quick and accurate during my tests, and while I prefer a fingerprint reader, it offers an easy sign-in option.

Our opinion

At $ 1,500, the ZenBook Flip S is firmly in the premium segment. And part of what might justify that price tag – on top of the exquisite OLED display – is that it's one of the first laptops to come with Intel's Tiger Lake platform. Unfortunately, Asus has some work to do in order to take advantage of the new platform. The ZenBook Flip S behaves more like a last-generation laptop. This directly reflects how Asus has optimized the laptop's performance.

Otherwise, the ZenBook Flip S is a well-built and attractive 2-in-1 device that can hold its own against other laptops with similar prices and features. It's just such a disappointment that we didn't see Tiger Lake at its best.

Is there a better alternative?

The main competitor of the ZenBook Flip S is probably the HP Specter X360 13, which still runs 10th generation CPUs. It has an equally beautiful OLED display, is a bit smaller, and works just as well. You also spend a few hundred dollars less to configure a similar computer.

If you don't need a 2-in-1, the Dell XPS 13 is a very compelling option. It was recently announced that it is joining the Tiger Lake Club. Once it does, I'm sure it will perform well. It's the best 13-inch clamshell notebook out there, making it a viable competitor to almost every other 13-inch machine.

How long it will take?

The ZenBook Flip S is a rugged laptop that will last forever. It's well built and configured with the latest technology so you can be productive for years. As always, we'd love to see more than a year warranty, but Asus offers one year accident protection.

Should you buy it?

No not yet. When Asus fixes the performance issues, the ZenBook Flip S suddenly becomes a very compelling 2-in-1 device. Until then, I would hold back.

Editor's recommendations




06 Oct
Blog

Dell S2721QS Review: 4K Basics At A Great Price

Dell S2721QS

"The S2721QS from Dell is a simple, no-frills 4K monitor with excellent build quality and an excellent warranty."

  • Excellent workmanship

  • 3 year advance guarantee

  • Clear 4K picture

  • Accurate colors

  • Inconspicuous connectivity

  • Basic equipment

  • Not a lot of bandwidth for photo editors

Dell's 27-inch USB-C monitor is a good buy at around $ 400 – but what if you don't care about USB-C and want a sharper image? For this audience, Dell developed the S2721QS, which offers a 4K IPS panel and simple connectivity for practically the same price. In fact, it's currently reduced to just $ 340, making it one of the more budget-friendly 4K monitors out there. But is it good enough to make our list of best monitors?

design

The Dell S2721QS comes in a large, slim white box. As you unpack, you will be greeted as usual with one of Dell's excellent stands. This has a slightly different design than the P- and U-series monitors, with the back of the foot rounded and the sides angled inward. It's also lighter in color and the neck has a more slender profile than before.

The height, tilt, and rotation settings in portrait mode are valued by home office users as they enable healthy posture

You lose the swivel function on the stand, but that's not a huge loss at the price, and you keep the great height adjustment, tilt and rotation to portrait – the most important options. As the monitor is designed for use in the (home) office, these adjustments are particularly appreciated as they help you maintain a healthy posture.

The rest of the display is inconspicuous. Boring, but not bad. The back of the monitor is made of durable white plastic, which makes the monitor look like a giant piece of chiclet chewing gum. It looks professional, has slim bezels on the top and sides of the display, and fits in most homes and offices.

However, if you're looking for something a bit more stylish, then you must check out Dell's ultra-thin S2719DC instead.

Connections and controls

At that price, of course, concessions have to be made, and those are additional features. The Dell S2721QS is a monitor and little more. It has two HDMI inputs and a DisplayPort connection. You won't find any USB-C connectivity here, nor a built-in USB hub or any other luxury. The only extra is the inclusion of built-in speakers. They're nondescript and sound thin, but they make a sound loud enough to be heard. So this is a win.

The OSD in the Dell S2721QS offers a fair number of options for a monitor of this type, but some are missing. The OSD is unusually pixelated for a 4K monitor. It has brightness and contrast controls, PiP settings (picture-in-picture), RGB color adjustments, sharpness, response time settings and much more. What is missing? We found that there is no way to adjust the white point temperature, which by default deviates a little towards the cold side. This adjustment is common even with monitors at this price.

With the buttons below, the OSD is always within reach, although in practice you rarely, if ever, have to get involved.

picture quality

Since Dell's S2721QS doesn't score high on features, you can see how the image quality affects it.

With a 4K IPS panel (3840 x 2160 pixels), it offers an incredibly sharp picture, especially when you consider that it gives you that resolution at a diagonal size of only 27 inches. You'll have to rely heavily on Windows screen scaling, which doesn't work too well, but that's not the monitor's fault (macOS image scaling works better). 4K video, pictures, and general usage look extremely sharp, but older programs may look small or blurry. Even so, you'll only find a sharper image on Apple's 27-inch iMac 5K or a 24-inch 4K monitor.

Dell's numbers indicate a brightness of 350 nits and a static contrast ratio of 1300: 1. Our tests showed that the monitor is capable of exceeding these brightness levels and hitting almost 400 nits, in contrast, at 790: 1, it's a bit disappointing. After calibration, it improved to 940: 1.

Since the S2721QS from Dell offers 4K resolution on a 27-inch panel, the image is extremely sharp

Dell claims 99% coverage of sRGB storage space, which is what you should expect from most midrange monitors. Our tests confirmed this number, and we also measured 76% AdobeRGB coverage and 82% of DCI-P3 storage space. If you only use this monitor for internet browsing and basic office tasks, it will work just fine.

You need to look for a full color gamut monitor like the Acer ConceptD CM2 if you need anything for color grading in photography and video editing, or you risk cropping – a phenomenon where colors may appear correct to you when you are at the end of your monitor's gamut, but look more intense on someone else's display or in print.

Gaming performance

Why is there a segment here for gaming performance? This is not sold as a gaming monitor. However, Dell has equipped the S2721QS with Adaptive Sync technology, which is based on AMD's Freesync, and in our tests we also confirmed G-Sync support for Nvidia cards.

The 60Hz refresh rate won't make you the most competitive player on the online battlefields, but adaptive sync will take care of the tearing and some stuttering. Of course, the 4K resolution means you'll need a ton of GPU grunt to get anywhere near the 60Hz refresh rate. Due to the adaptive synchronization, frame rates between 30 and 60 frames per second should still appear fluid thanks to uniform image stimulation. In other words, you'll have a clearer and more consistent experience than without FreeSync or G-Sync support.

Of course, for a more playful monitor, check out 144Hz displays like the Razer Raptor 27. Note, however, that you will likely have to sacrifice resolution to get a higher refresh rate, as most monitors offer 1440p or 1080p resolution at around 60Hz. This Dell can be useful for gamers who prefer extreme image quality over high frame rates, as it delivers a razor-sharp and attractive image.

Our opinion

If you are looking for a solid 4K monitor at an affordable price, the Dell S2721QS is probably the one for you. Apart from the sharpness, it is not outstanding in any area, but more than sufficient for everyday use. It delivers a clean, crisp image with no major imperfections to distract you.

This monitor also has great build quality with a solid range of ergonomic options. Think of this as Dell's entry-level option for a 4K monitor while maintaining great materials quality and warranty and you are on the right track.

Are there alternatives?

Absolutely. If you're not interested in the elaborate stand or material quality, LG offers a 27-inch 4K IPS monitor with similar specs for significantly less. LG also has the 27BL85U, which comes similarly outfitted with an equally impressive stand for roughly the same price, and this one includes USB-C. If you're looking for something in this format and resolution, but with a wider color gamut for photo work, the Dell U2720Q may be better for you, albeit at a higher price.

How long it will take?

The Dell S2721QS should have a lifespan of at least five years, of which Dell covers three years with an advance replacement warranty. This means that in the event of a disaster, the company will send you a new (refurbished) monitor first and then let you return the old one after you are set up.

Should I buy it?

Yes. If you want a simple, no-frills 4K display, you can't go wrong with the Dell S2721QS.

Editor's recommendations




05 Oct
Blog

The Haunting of Bly Manor Review: Gothic Horror With A Heart

In 2018, The Haunting of Hill House became a hit in the Halloween season for Netflix with its intergenerational story of a family tormented by supernatural beings in a haunted house. The 10-episode series was so well received that Netflix announced a follow-up project a few months later. Now The Haunting of Bly Manor offers another modern reinterpretation of a classic Gothic horror story.

The Haunting of Bly Manor premieres on Netflix on October 9, and while it feels similar to Hill House in developing its story (and even sharing several cast members with its predecessor), Bly Manor still features plenty of strong horrors and narrative twists to keep you guessing while the story is wrapped up in a new set of themes.

Show creator and co-producer Mike Flanagan returns behind the camera for The Haunting of Bly Manor, which follows an American who agrees to look after the niece and nephew of a British businessman on the family estate. Hill House actress Victoria Pedretti portrays Dani Clayton, the young governess whose experience in the family's seemingly idyllic summer home takes a terrible turn when the children act strange and supernatural beings make their presence known.

Back to the past

While The Haunting of Bly Manor is thematically different from Hill House, much of the series' story structure and framework will feel familiar for better or for worse to fans of the latter.

Flanagan has an affinity for playing with schedules and using flashbacks to make audiences unsure how key events in each character's story and the overarching story relate. This narrative technique was well used in The Haunting of Hill House, which produced many of its greatest revelations from the sudden convergence of the characters' individual storylines. This trend continues with Bly Manor, which similarly devotes large chunks of its story – in some cases entire episodes – to a character's story and perspective on events to date, and then brings that narrative detour back into the primary story arc for a revelatory aha Moment.

Resorting to this storytelling device isn't necessarily a negative for Bly Manor, as anyone familiar with Flanagan's previous work – Hill House in particular – will enter the series with a level of convenience that will allow you to spend more time on it Struggling to capture what's happening on the screen to make sense of it.

The Haunting of Bly Manor's narrative structure isn't the only element it shares with Hill House, either. One of the aspects of Hill House that gave it a hefty helping of second-viewing appeal was Flanagan's talent for adding subtle elements to scenes that anticipate future events or simply reward eagle-eyed viewers. Hill House's popularity led to countless articles about the unique ghosts that showed up in certain scenes but likely went unnoticed, and Bly Manor continues to test your attention to what is going on in the background of each scene.

These traits – along with the presence of several Hill House cast members – make Bly Manor seem a bit too familiar at times, but luckily the impressive cast performances and some significant thematic differences set the new series apart from its predecessor.

Horror with a heart

Pedretti is especially entertaining as the former school teacher who arrives at the mansion with her own serious baggage to find herself in the middle of a far more sinister ordeal. The arc of her character makes her waver between moments of heartbreaking helplessness and inspiring strength, and she makes both extremes seem equally plausible in her portrayal of a woman struggling to feel comfortable in her own skin.

T & # 39; Nia Miller and Rahul Kohli also deliver unforgettable performances as longstanding housekeepers and cooks on the property, respectively. Both actors delve deep into their characters, transforming roles that might have been readily available in the story into all-too-human characters to invest in increasingly as the terrifying story progresses.

Young actors Benjamin Evan Ainsworth and Amelie Smith appear well beyond their years as siblings Miles and Flora Wingrave, portraying their characters with just enough nuance to keep the secret of their experiences high throughout the series.

Aside from commendable performances, it's the themes of the story that ultimately set Bly Manor apart from Hill House the most.

Sentimental fear

While The Haunting of Hill House used the genre of Gothic horror to investigate how addiction, trauma, and abuse can drive wedges into a family and curl outward for generations, The Haunting of Bly Manor is at its core a story about that Power of love and memory to overcome our mortal life.

The famous (or perhaps infamous) Hill House had an audience that alternated between screaming and crying with its surprisingly resonant emotional depth, and Bly Manor does a similar feat. The individual love stories at the core of each character's arc at Bly Manor are authentic and powerful, making the entire series feel more surprising than bleak. It is not an easy feeling to make your way into a Gothic horror story, and it is thanks to Flanagan's vision for the series and its talented cast that Bly Manor can hit that tricky tone so well.

Gothic horror has always been about more than just fear, and with both The Haunting of Hill House and The Haunting of Bly Manor, Flanagan has proven that he is not only aware of that fact, but himself with all of them Nuances and potentials of the genre offers. In this way, he has also brought the works of writers Shirley Jackson and Henry James back to the public – another laudable achievement – and again reminded us that the horror genre is truly timeless.

All nine episodes of The Haunting of Bly Manor premiere on October 9th on Netflix.

Editor's recommendations




30 Sep
Blog

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE Review: The Phone to Beat Under $700

Samsung Galaxy S20 Fe review 1

"Most of the great Galaxy S20 experience for hundreds of dollars less – it's a winning combination."

  • Colorful design

  • Great display with 120Hz refresh rate

  • Great camera

  • 5G connectivity (in the US)

  • Low price for the specs

  • Mediocre battery

  • Plastic back

There is no getting around it – phones are becoming very expensive. However, as flagship devices are becoming more and more expensive, a completely new market segment has emerged: the premium midrange. This is exactly where the Samsung Galaxy S20 Fan Edition lives. If you're looking for a premium Samsung experience without paying an arm and a leg, this is the way to go.

The name "Fan Edition" doesn't really describe what the phone really is. A better name would be the Galaxy S20 Lite. You don't really get all that the Galaxy S20 has to offer. But you get all the essentials with a few extra bonus features and a tempting price cut.

Hardware, design and display

It's clear that the Galaxy S20 FE is a derivative of the original Galaxy S20 – it looks just like the standard device. But it also consists of slightly different materials. Gone is the glass back in favor of the standard Galaxy Note 20's plastic back. Though it's not that high quality in theory, I like the soft-touch feel it offers and I didn't really miss the glass.

The device also differs from the standard Galaxy S20 in that it is available in a wider range of colors. I'm reviewing the Cloud Navy model, but it's also available in more interesting colors like Cloud Red, Cloud Lavender, and Cloud Orange. Safe to say there should be something for everyone.

The rest of the phone design is pretty normal. There is a USB-C port at the bottom, a volume rocker and a power switch on the right, and a rectangular camera module at the top left on the back of the phone. It's not as thick as the Galaxy S20 Ultra or the Note 20 Ultra, which is nice to see, but of course you don't get the same camera specs as the more expensive phone, either. We'll get into that later.

The Galaxy S20 FE is actually a bit larger than the standard Galaxy S20. While the original device has a 6.2-inch display, the S20 FE has a larger 6.5-inch display. Also in contrast to the Galaxy S20, this phone has a resolution of 1080p. It seems that the high resolution is a feature that Samsung wants to reserve for its more expensive devices.

It still looks good. It's a Super AMOLED display with an impressive 120Hz refresh rate, just like the other S20's. The result is an extremely smooth experience and a display that responds very well to touch. We hope to see more high refresh rate phones showing up in the next year, but by then it's pretty impressive to see a $ 700 phone running at 120Hz. It also beats competitors, if only marginally.

The most obvious competitor here is the OnePlus 8, which also has a resolution of 1080p but limits the refresh rate to 90 Hz. (The upcoming Google Pixel 5 will also have a 1080p 90Hz display.) To be clear, the difference between 60Hz and 90Hz is much more obvious than the difference between 90Hz and 120Hz. But for those who can notice a difference, 120Hz is estimated.

It should also be noted that the display is flat and not curved. I like the look of curved displays, but others disagree. With the flat panel display in mind, there is no way you should run into so many problems related to accidentally squeezing your palm.

Performance and specifications

Samsung has made clear compromises in design and display, but not really under the hood. You still get a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor in the US 5G version, or an Exynos 990 outside of the US, coupled with 6GB or 8GB of RAM – and as a result, the phone can easily handle anything you can throw at it in 2020 and beyond. This includes productivity apps, mobile games, etc.

Predictably, the phone handled games like Call of Duty: Mobile with no problem, and multitasking with even four or five apps is no problem. The benchmark results confirm the excellent performance in daily use. Here is an overview of the results we have achieved.

  • AnTuTu: 550,800
  • GeekBench 5: 889 single-core, 3,101 multi-core

These results don't quite get as high as we got with the OnePlus 8, but they are close and in real life you won't really miss the extra 20 single-core points on GeekBench 5, check the 6GB RAM model in the lower price range. So, if you really care about this performance benefit, upgrading your RAM might be the way to go.

Cameras

Gone are the days when incredible cameras were reserved for the best of the best phones. With devices like the Google Pixel 4a, it is becoming increasingly clear to phone makers that those who spend $ 450 or more on a phone should be able to get a premium camera experience. While you don't get the same zoom quality as the Galaxy Note 20 or the same main resolution sensor as the Galaxy S20 Ultra, the Galaxy S20 FE still offers a versatile, high-quality camera experience.

The phone offers three camera sensors, including a 12-megapixel standard sensor, an 8-megapixel sensor with a telephoto lens, and a 12-megapixel sensor with an ultra-wide-angle lens. I really appreciate that, and while some might prefer either a telephoto or an ultra-wide device to the other, simply having both means the camera will be useful in all sorts of situations.

On paper, the specs don't quite match the standard Galaxy S20, but the photos seemed pretty good in everyday use. They're still colorful and crisp, with enough dynamism to create a punchy photo, but not so much that they wander into unnatural territory. These days, photo quality may have more to do with post-processing than sensor quality. So it makes sense that the slightly worse specs don't really result in worse photos than the Galaxy S20.

The photos are pretty good in low light. As you would expect, photos can get noisy in very low light. However, in general, the phone can capture enough detail to get decent shots. The same goes for really enlarged photos. The telephoto camera offers 3x optical zoom and up to 10x digital zoom – and the result is up to 30x hybrid zoom. Photos at this zoom level aren't that sharp, of course, but Samsung has invested seriously in cleaning up zoomed footage from its photos, and it shows. The 3-10x shots are solid, but you'll rarely want to use 30x.

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The selfie cam looks pretty solid too. The front-facing camera is 32 MP and doesn't have the dual-phase detection autofocus of the original Galaxy S20, but it still captured colorful selfies with more than enough detail. The higher resolution selfie camera is here for a reason – if you're not using the wide angle sensor, the picture is really just being cropped, and therefore the photo is only at a lower resolution.

One feature that the Galaxy S20 FE lacks is the ability to record videos in 8K. This is because you will need a higher resolution camera to do this. Even so, the camera can record 4K video at 60 frames per second, which should be more than enough for most, and saves you the maximum storage capacity.

Battery life and charging

Power is supplied by a 4,500 mAh battery, which apparently can be used for a whole day without any problems. I ended a heavy use day with about 20% battery remaining, which is not a ton but is still okay. If you are used to charging your phone every night, you shouldn't have any problems.

Fortunately, the phone is easy to charge too. Unlike the OnePlus 8, this phone supports wireless charging. You also get 25W wired fast charging. At this point I was distributing wireless chargers around my house so it was nice to be able to use them while testing this phone.

software

As expected, the Galaxy S20 FE comes with the Samsung One UI 2.5 (Android 10). I'm not going to go into the specifics of the Android customizations – you can read extensive settings in our Galaxy S20 and Galaxy Note 20 reviews – but I'll say that the bloatware on this phone seems to have been reduced a bit compared to some others . This is mainly due to the fact that you can instantly choose which apps are installed on your device. While all of the additional Samsung apps and Microsoft apps are enabled by default, just take the extra moments to adjust the pre-installs when you set up your phone, it's worth it.

In general, the software was responsive and smooth. Love or hate One user interface, Samsung has done a great job of making the entire user interface coherent and easy to use with one hand. Samsung wins for customizability too. So if you really enjoy optimizing and thematizing, you will enjoy the experience here.

Our opinion

The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE offers the flagship cell phone in a $ 700 cell phone. You really don't miss much here. Sure, a screen resolution of 1440p is always good, and some of the camera specs don't reach the height of the standard Galaxy S20 or Note 20. But with a premium processor, still awesome display, premium feel, and great camera system, you are it can't do much better in the price range.

I would have liked Samsung to have brought out this phone along with the rest of the Galaxy S20 lineup, but it makes sense why it didn't in order to get those high sales first. However, if Samsung continues to bring out phones of this quality in this price range, companies like OnePlus should be very concerned.

Is there a better alternative?

It depends on what you are looking for. The OnePlus 8 is the main competitor here. While it's a great phone, it doesn't have the same camera quality, it doesn't hit the 120Hz refresh rate, and it doesn't charge wirelessly. However, OnePlus offers a cleaner and arguably better software experience.

If you are really on a budget then you should also consider the Pixel 4a or wait for the Pixel 4a 5G. They have amazing cameras and simpler software, although the specs and performance don't match the Galaxy S20 FE or the displays.

Of course, if you're not married to Android, then you should also consider the iPhone 11, which is available at a similar price, has even better performance, and a fantastic camera. However, you will not get the same ad. You also don't get 5G and have to deal with the iPhone notch.

How long it will take?

With Snapdragon 865 water resistance and IP68, the Galaxy S20 FE should easily survive a normal two year phone cycle and longer if you want or need it. Again, the plastic back helps here – while it doesn't feel premium, it helps keep the phone more likely to remain crack-free throughout its lifespan.

Should you buy it?

Yes. Sure, you could spend an additional $ 300 on a slightly better phone, but if you want flagship quality for $ 700 this is the phone to beat right now.

Editor's recommendations




29 Sep
Blog

Apple Watch SE Review: The Best Apple Watch for Most People

Apple watch se review case

"The Apple Watch SE foregoes some of the more noticeable features of the Series 6, but retains almost all important functions with the same design at a lower price."

  • Stylistic look

  • Very customizable

  • Comprehensive health surveillance

  • Responsive, fluid performance

  • Reliable, user-friendly software

How exactly do you make the Apple Watch better? It's already a feature-rich, well-made, easy-to-use wearable to buy as a smartwatch if you have an iPhone. The answer is, they're making it cheaper, and that's exactly what Apple did with the Apple Watch SE. A price cut comes with a reduction in functionality, of course, but how much does this affect the SE and should it put you off?

The answer is no, it definitely shouldn't put you off. In fact, it will be the Apple Watch model that is slated to be purchased this year.

design

The Apple Watch SE looks exactly like the Apple Watch Series 5 and Series 6. It has a 1.78-inch retina screen under Ion-X reinforced glass with a density of 326 pixels per inch. The digital crown is on the side with a single button underneath. The aluminum housing is available in sizes 44 mm (shown in our photos) or 40 mm and can be made in silver, space gray or gold. If you like the look of the Series 5 or 6, you will like the SE.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

I picked a gold version that is paired with the Charcoal Sport Loop band and as you'd expect everything is beautifully done and presented, right down to the packaging that it arrives in. The SE is only available in aluminum with the posher. more expensive and slightly more durable surfaces made of titanium and stainless steel, which are reserved for the 6 series. The gold is less on your face than the renders on Apple's website suggest, and it's a more brassy tone than I expected. It works very well with the blue and gray accents of the carbon ribbon. Since the screen is usually black, the overall picture is more noble than the silver model and more interesting than the room gray version.

The screen is often black because the SE doesn't have the always-on screen feature of the Series 5 and 6 and only shows the time you raise your wrist or tap the screen. If the last Apple Watch you used was Series 3 or 4, this is nothing new. After using the Series 5 last year, I miss it on the SE, but the wake up gesture is so accurate and immediate that figuring out what time it is is never difficult.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The 44 mm Apple Watch SE is light at 36 grams and the Sport Loop bracelet adds practically nothing to it, so it is comfortable to wear not only during the day but also at night. The SE supports WatchOS 7's sleep tracking feature, so if you want to wear it while you sleep, this is a good combination. Replacing the belts only takes a few moments. So if you need a metal band during the day and want to keep the sports loop or other band for the night, you can do it without a fuss.

Learn about the square shape of the Apple Watch. When you put on the Apple Watch SE or an Apple Watch, you will immediately notice how little it affects clothing and movement. The digital crown is never in your wrist, and the tabs on the strap have only a slight overhang so they don't get caught on the sleeve of your shirt. The lack of sharp or sharp edges combined with the smooth ceramic and sapphire caseback means you will never feel it on your wrist regardless of your movement. Round smartwatches that mimic traditional watch designs are rarely as convenient.

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The shape of the Apple Watch may be controversial to some, but it makes a great smartwatch that can be worn all the time. It's by far the least intrusive watch-like wearable out there, and that wearing and forgetting is essential if you want to get the most of it. You will often forget that you are wearing the Apple Watch until a haptic tip reminds you.

Wash your damn hands

While it's technically a WatchOS 7 feature, the automatic hand wash timer is one of the many health and fitness monitoring features on the Apple Watch SE and excellent. The Apple Watch SE is a product of its time. She listens to the tone and waits for the movement in which you wash your hands. She then starts a 20-second timer to make sure you are doing the recommended exertion. It's shockingly effective.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The timer credits you with the time already spent washing and shows a soap countdown before a haptic tip lets you know you're done. It never failed to tell when I was washing. In contrast to the manual hand wash timer from Wear OS, which you have to start yourself, this function is completely input-free. The Apple Health app even has a dedicated section for hand washing data. It's a dream feature for 2020 clean freaks.

Sleep and fitness tracking

Sleep Tracking is another new feature of WatchOS 7. With the right band, Apple Watch SE is comfortable enough to wear while you sleep and automatically detects when you go to sleep. You can also set up a sleep schedule with Wind Down, which will prepare the phone for the night. It will still add helpful shortcuts to the lock screen, such as: B. access to the timer, the alarm or the music. This will reduce the distraction while the watch only shows the time and your alarm until it gets dark while you sleep.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The sleep data shown is not very comprehensive. It lists your bedtime and calculates averages, but does not provide detailed sleep phase metrics. Sleep Tracking is a nice addition to Apple Health and helps to create an overall picture of your lifestyle. However, it does not provide a thorough analysis of sleep patterns. It's intended for occasional use only, and while the impact on the battery is relatively minor, the time between charges increases, which can prove to be more useful.

Workout tracking is excellent. The workout can be started on the watch and there are a variety of specific activities to choose from. Data is collected in the Apple Health app and displayed along with daily activity data. Apple Health doesn't go into the details and instead simplifies goals using the activity ring system. The idea is to close every ring – goals based on exercise (represented as burning calories), exercise, and standing – each day, which is easy to understand and motivating.

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The Apple Watch SE is not for marathon runners, hardcore cyclists or anyone else fixated on their VO2 Max. It provides a comprehensive view of daily activities and overall health without getting too nerdy. It shows you if you are burning fewer calories than usual, if you are exercising more than the week before, and how far you need to go to reach a daily goal.

You won't get electrocardiogram (EKG) or blood oxygen (SpO2) monitors on Apple Watch SE, but there is a heart rate sensor on the back that detects irregular rhythms, as well as fall detection and noise monitoring. Apple's mindfulness feature, Breathe, is there, and the watch can be set up to remind you to take a few moments each day to relax. It also reminds you to get up once an hour if you've been sitting for too long. It all adds up to a comprehensive, coherent and complementary package of functions that keep you up to date and motivate you.

All health monitoring functions on the Apple Watch SE work outside of the initial setup with very little input from you, while the data in the app is displayed attractively and clearly. Serious sports enthusiasts may not find the data in sufficient detail and may also benefit from the Series 6 SpO2 monitoring, but for everyone else, the Apple Watch SE is the wearable health monitor they need. Apple's new Fitness + program, which works in conjunction with your Apple Watch SE, will be rolled out later this year and has the potential to make it an even more rounded package.

Use the Apple Watch SE

The health and fitness features make up a large part of the watch's appeal, but what about everything else? Everything you do on the Apple Watch SE is incredibly polished, straightforward, and quick. It has the same dual-core processor as the Series 5, not the updated S6 Series 6 processor, but I didn't even wish the SE had any more power as the response is almost instantaneous, even when running data-intensive applications how to use cards or access to e-mail. The Digital Crown is a joy to use as the feel of it matches the rotation required to move it through the operating system. The button below activates the dock, which can be filled with current apps or a selection of favorites for quick access.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Notifications are handled professionally. Let's use a Twitter notification as an example. If there is an image in it, the watch will display it without waiting for it to appear. You get an extremely tactile haptic alert, you raise your wrist and the message is displayed almost instantly, where it can be viewed, liked and retweeted in its entirety from your wrist. It is great.

Now, take advantage of this experience with Apple's messaging, email, and many other apps, including Microsoft Teams. Usually you can do with most – such as B. Reply, mark, like or delete – interact quickly and easily without reaching for your phone. Then extend that speed and functionality to the vast majority of other installed or third-party apps that you might install yourself. If you choose the cellular model (for $ 50 more upfront plus monthly service charges), you can make and receive calls regardless of your phone. Even if you don't, you can still use the Apple's phone functionality to watch with Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. The voices are loud and clear and useful when your hands are full.

The watch supports Apple Pay, shows music controls when music is playing on my phone, there are plenty of fun and useful watch faces to choose from, and there is Siri too. You can even create Memoji on the Apple Watch. This process is incredibly quick and smooth given the multitude of choices and animations. This is a very good example of the great fluidity and performance of the Apple Watch SE no matter what you do.

battery

The Apple Watch SE can be used for two days before charging. This will vary based on your use, but for me from 9 a.m., usually with an hour of tracking exercise, then overnight to track sleep, and by day two it was up to 18% less than 6 p.m.

Monitoring your sleep overnight has used up between 15 and 25% of the battery. This variant makes the second full day a hit-or-miss. If you don't bother with sleep tracking and instead charge or turn off the watch overnight, two days of use is no problem at all. Even with an hour of fitness tracking, the SE will last from early morning until after midnight with about 60% of the battery left.

Not that it matters. In order for a smartwatch with Google's Wear operating system to last two days, it takes special modes, a clever second screen, or very careful use. In other words, you can't really rely on it. The Apple Watch SE doesn't require any special attention, and that makes life a lot easier.

Price and availability

The 44mm Apple Watch SE is $ 309 while the 40mm model is $ 279, assuming you choose a Sport Loop, Solo Loop, or Sport Band strap (including the Nike models ). If you want the braided solo loop, pay $ 329 or $ 359 – or buy it later for $ 99. Add cellular connectivity to both models for $ 50 plus a monthly carrier fee.

In the UK, the 44mm Apple Watch SE is £ 299 or £ 349 with cellular connectivity and the 40mm model is £ 269 or £ 319 with cellular connectivity. Adding the solo braided loop increases the cost to £ 349 for the 44mm model and £ 319 for the 40mm model.

Apple Watch SE is available immediately through the online and retail stores of Apple, Amazon, and many other retailers.

Our opinion

The Apple Watch SE is almost flawless and Apple is once again showing everyone else how smartwatches are made. But what about the missing features – are they preventing it from being a must have? Keeping the display on all the time is the most unfortunate omission that can affect everyday use. Knowing that these are series 5 and 6, they are just a little more enticing. The EKG and SpO2 features are more specialized, and those who feel like they're using them regularly enough can justify the extra $ 120 to buy a Series 6. Anyone else won't miss it.

Spending more on a stainless steel, ceramic, or Hermés Apple Watch gives you only boastful rights as they are all technically identical and the SE's performance is excellent on last year's processor. I have no hesitation in recommending the lower-cost, almost fully featured aluminum Apple Watch SE, but will have to wait until I've worn the Series 6 for a while to be sure if the SE is the Apple Watch bought this year shall be . However, at this point in time, it looks like it could be very good.

Is there a better alternative?

Not really. If you own an iPhone and are thinking about buying a smartwatch, then you should get the Apple Watch. However, what about the $ 399 / $ 429 Apple Watch Series 6? Several features are added – including the ECG, SpO2, and the always-on screen – but they look the same. The jump in price is significant if you're not expecting to use the advanced health features. You can also find a Series 5, which may be available at a slightly cheaper price than the Series 6, and enjoy the always-on screen and an EKG.

Smartwatches that use Google WearOS, Samsung Tizen, and Huawei Health can connect to iPhone, but they don't offer the same level of integration with iOS, and you'll miss out on some features, including messaging support. Many cost about the same price as the Apple Watch SE, but the performance and features aren't that good.

The only other alternative you should seriously consider for your iPhone is the $ 299 Withings ScanWatch. It has all the health tracking features from the Series 6 including an EKG and SpO2 measurement, better sleep tracking and a very attractive design. There is less emphasis on the related elements like notifications, but they are there and work well enough.

How long it will take?

Smartwatches don't follow the same upgrade cycle as a smartphone, and the Apple Watch should easily last three or more years if handled well. For example, the aluminum body can be damaged if you are careless. However, the Apple Watch SE is waterproof up to 50 meters. The abundance of replacement belts also helps to extend the service life.

Your own needs will determine whether the additional health-related features of the Series 6 will become more useful in the near future. If you think it might, the increased spending on the Series 6 may prevent you from feeling like you need to update the SE early on. Software support should last at least three years. For example, WatchOS 7, the latest version, is compatible with Apple Watch Series 3 2017.

Should you buy it?

Yes, the Apple Watch SE has almost everything you would expect from a smartwatch.

Editor's recommendations




27 Sep
Blog

Blink Indoor Review: Can’t Handle the Great Indoors

Flashing indoor on the table

"Despite its name, the Blink Indoor just doesn't cut it to handle the interior of the home."

  • Battery life of up to two years

  • Live playback limited to 30 seconds

  • A wired power source is optional

  • Very simple motion detection trigger

At the beginning of this year, the surveillance camera manufacturer Blink released the Blink Mini to expand its portfolio. This is certainly a step in a new direction as it was the company's first indoor camera following the success of its Blink XT outdoor cameras.

Now we're getting another indoor camera with the aptly named Blink Indoor, which looks very similar to its sibling – the Blink Outdoor. Compared to the Mini, the Blink Indoor is priced higher at $ 80 and is billed as a wireless solution. When the Blink Mini sells for $ 35, are you ready to pay the premium?

Lots of similarities

Place the Blink Indoor and Blink Outdoor cameras side by side and it will be difficult to tell them apart. From their square plastic design to being powered by two AA lithium batteries, they have a lot in common. The only difference, however, is that the back cover on the Blink Indoor does not have the same weatherproof cover. And, oh yes, the indoor is available in white while the outdoor is available in black. You can also use the Blink outdoor camera indoors if you want. However, you cannot use the indoor camera outdoors as it is not weatherproof.

Flashing indoor on the counterJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

On the technical side, it's exactly like the Blink Outdoor, which in itself is similar to the previous Blink XT2 camera. It offers 1080p video recording, up to 30 frames per second, infrared night vision, and the same 110 degree field of view. The narrow field of view is still limited compared to the 140 degree range of the Ring Indoor Cam. However, if you want to monitor the entrances in the house, it is enough if you collect important information.

Since the Blink Outdoor has the same specs, its performance is no different. The 1080p video it produces is passable and clear enough to see scenes, but fine details are difficult to see. It suffers from its dynamic range and often blows out the highlights. Night vision holds up with its range of around 25 feet, but it's rather soft.

Limitations with live view

Due to its battery life, the Blink Indoor has a relatively brief live view when accessing the camera directly through the app – and that's a problem. If you access the live view, you will receive a smidgen over 30 seconds before the disconnection. I thought there was an option to customize, but there isn't. Once that 30 second mark is reached, a button will appear on the screen asking if you want to continue. Of course, you can press it after every 30 second mark, but that's a pain.

Interestingly, you can actually firmly connect the Blink Indoor to a power source because there is an exposed micro-USB port on the back. However, even with constant power supply, the live view is still limited to around 30 seconds. There are also controls for the sensitivity of the motion detection as well as the ability to set up motion zones to reduce false alarms. Speaking of which, it lacks advanced peer detection like person or pet detection, which will help reduce false positives.

Less of an indoor camera

As mentioned earlier, the Blink Mini was released as the company's first indoor camera solution earlier this year. However, the Blink Indoor Camera behaves more like an outdoor camera than an indoor camera, especially when it includes the same wall bracket as the Blink Outdoor. Because of this, when you put it on a table or countertop, you cannot articulate it for different angles.

Flash inside the cameraJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

Let's talk about the battery life. It's neat that the battery can last up to two years, but the app does a terrible job of showing you the remaining battery life. Instead of a percentage or a bar, the app only shows a vague "OK" after almost a week. Of course, battery life mainly depends on how often it is triggered. There is the option of plugging it into a power source, but making it more difficult that no cable is offered in the box.

Our opinion

There is only a $ 20 difference between Blink Outdoor and Indoor, with the main difference being the weatherproof construction of the former. At $ 80, the Blink Indoor is a tough sell as it has limited real-time streaming of video and lacks the advanced features of its contemporaries.

How long it will take?

The all-plastic construction makes it light, but still feels solid to withstand small drops. If it is defective, it is backed by a 1 year limited warranty.

Is there a better alternative?

While video quality is no different, given its $ 35 cost, the cheaper Blink Mini is a better buy. You're sure to save money and don't have to worry about live streaming restrictions.

Alternatively, the Eufy Indoor Cam 2K Pan and Tilt is an excellent offer. With tons of features, including 360-degree coverage. The Ring Indoor Cam is also a good choice at $ 60. It offers person recognition to reduce false alarms and integration into the ring ecosystem.

Should you buy it?

No. It lacks the need to turn it into a functional indoor camera and it is more expensive than much more powerful counterparts.

Editor's recommendations




26 Sep
Blog

Yamaha SR-C20A Review: Clear Sound In a Compact Package

Yamaha C20A soundbar

"The SR-C20A is the bar that Yamaha wanted, but it lacks the low-end sound."

  • Compact, stylish design

  • Easy adjustment

  • Exceptionally clear sound

This year we've seen a lot of sound bars that made it big. The LG SN11RG was a cinema giant, and the Samsung HW-Q800T was a big, powerful device in itself. However, some selected bars went in the opposite direction, such as the Panasonic SoundSlayer and the Zvox AV157. These little bars still charge full size pricing, with both retailing for $ 300.

Yamaha is breaking that mold with its $ 180 SR-C20A. The C20A is wider than the competing soundbars, but not much taller and significantly cheaper. The compact bar is designed to produce a big sound in the smallest of spaces, which has led Yamaha to promote it as a soundbar that extends beyond the living room.

design

The Yamaha experts told me that while they were working on their latest line of soundbars, they obtained information from current Yamaha soundbar owners. According to Yamaha, they found that many owners of these bars were not using them as part of a traditional living room theater setup. Instead, Yamaha bars were found all over the home, from the bedroom to the office, and often placed in narrow spaces that were sometimes unsuitable for larger bars.

Yamaha C20A soundbarNick Woodard / Digital Trends

With that information, Yamaha made the C20A, which is a little over 23 inches wide by approximately 2.5 inches and weighs only 3.9 pounds. In comparison, the company's SR-B20A is 35 inches long and 7.1 pounds, with the older YAS-109 having similar dimensions. However, this isn't the smallest bar out there. Both the Panasonic SoundSlayer and the Zvox AV157 are only 17 inches wide, with the latter weighing just 2.8 pounds.

While the C20A looks petite and undersized with a 65-inch television – or perhaps a 100-inch projection screen – its remarkably compact footprint offers the bar a great deal of versatility in terms of uses. Since the bar is getting the same sleek redesign as the larger B20A, I have to say I'm a fan of the way it's built.

Since the bar is getting the same sleek redesign as the larger B20A, I have to say I'm a fan of the way it's built.

Under the hood of the C20A are two drivers for the front left and right channels, a built-in subwoofer driver, and two passive coolers. The goal here, Yamaha told me, was to put the greatest possible sound in the smallest possible bar. I'll break it down completely later, but if you think there is no way there is no way to build such a small soundbar without making audio concessions, you wouldn't be wrong.

configuration

WLAN cannot be configured with the C20A and a wireless subwoofer cannot be supplied. The device is very simple. It contains a remote control supplied as well as an optical cable to connect the bar to your display. Because of this simplicity, there are no hidden complications or problems with setting up. Most all-in-one bars offer this simplicity, so this is nothing new. However, instantly improving your TV's sound in less than five minutes is always a nice benefit.

Yamaha C20A soundbar with remote controlNick Woodard / Digital Trends

As a not entirely critical but very helpful additional step in the setup process, I would recommend downloading the Yamaha Soundbar Remote App. The physical remote works just fine and the remote app generally has no other functionality. However, there is a volume control that will tell you exactly how loud your bar is. It's also easier to tell when to use the soundbar's ClearVoice and bass enhancement features.

links

The C20A has an interesting number of connections. It only has one HDMI-ARC port, and I have conflicting thoughts about it. Since this bar was built to be compatible with several different setups, I can understand why it doesn't have the extra ports that could be beneficial for a theater soundbar.

If part of the utility of this bar includes integration with a gaming station, as Yamaha suggests, an additional HDMI port would be just as necessary, if not more, than if the C20A was primarily intended for a living room. The Panasonic SoundSlayer, which unlike the Yamaha, outwardly calls itself a gaming soundbar, has a corresponding HDMI input and output to better support combat stations, although it is priced at $ 300.

Yamaha C20A soundbarNick Woodard / Digital Trends

In addition to the HDMI connection, there are two digital optical inputs, an analog audio connection and a USB input, which are only intended for firmware updates. In particular, the C20A lacks the subwoofer output found in the larger Yamaha B20A. This means that you don't have the option of adding a separate powered sub and that the output of the beam itself gets stuck.

The B20A has a bluetooth multipoint that allows you to connect to two different devices at the same time.

The B20A has bluetooth multipoint so you can connect to two devices at the same time. For example, this could mean two different phones that multiple members of the same household can use to play their own music. Or it could be your phone and an Amazon Alexa device, giving your Dot, Flex, or other Echo device the ability to broadcast through the C20A's far more powerful drivers. I've reported that I'd prefer the Yamaha YAS-109's built-in Alexa compatibility, but I don't think Alexa over Bluetooth is a bad way to go.

Sound quality

In order to properly characterize the sound of the C20A, I think it is important to consider the environment for which it was designed. In contrast to the DTS Virtual: X-capable B20A, it was not specially developed as a home theater solution. There's no rule that says you can't incorporate the C20A into your living room, and I imagine some people will just do it because of its minimalist aesthetic. In all of the press materials provided by the company, however, Yamaha is not afraid to emphasize that the C20A is a bar that can go beyond normal living space.

Yamaha C20A soundbarNick Woodard / Digital Trends

I actually agree with the marketing and outside of the living room I think the audio profile of the C20A makes the most sense. It produces a very clear sound and is ideal for acoustically oriented music. Basically, I really enjoyed hearing the C20A when a song didn't need a substantial bass backbone to sound like it should.

I think it works in a smaller space like a bedroom too, where Yamaha's ClearVoice technology can help you hear every clever line from New Girl, even at a lower volume. The company also markets the C20A as small enough to slide under a monitor, enhancing gaming audio. The gaming preset of the C20A provided a more intense sound experience during the game.

When a song didn't need a solid bass backbone to sound like it should, I really enjoyed hearing the C20A.

In these applications – in a bedroom, as part of a gaming setup, or in a smaller room where you want to hear more detailed music – I think the C20A is excellent.

However, if you expect the C20A to effectively fill a living room, the limitations of this bar show up.

The sound is still clear, to be fair, and it gets loud for the package it comes in. But as much as Yamaha has tried to pack bass in the tightest of spaces with passive radiators, the C20A just can't fill the low end of the frequency range enough to provide a great movie viewing experience. As a Marvel nut, I tried the original Avengers (2012) with the C20A. The most challenging scenes, from Bruce Banner slamming his fists against a table to intimidate Natasha Romanoff (and the audience), to the epic Iron Man versus Thor clash in the woods, lacked the power that normally drives them.

While the remote's bass expansion button makes a difference, the C20A is too low on bass to correct things completely. That doesn't mean that I think less about this bar. It effectively serves its mission of being smaller, and it sounds great in small spaces. But I can't help but believe it's in some strange soundbar limbo. For a small soundbar, it is significantly cheaper than the US $ 300 Panasonic SoundSlayer or the US $ 300 Zvox AV157. However, each of these soundbars has been designed to achieve specific goals. The SoundSlayer has positioned itself as a game-specific solution, and Zvox has mainly designed its bar to make dialog easier to hear.

The C20A didn't choose a lane of its own to stay on and instead does several things well instead of doing one thing great. While that's not necessarily a bad way to go, the main thing that sets this soundbar apart from the better-sounding B20A is its size. Unless you really need something that small and are paying an extra $ 20 for enhanced bass, DTS Virtual: X and a subwoofer out seems like a natural way to go.

Our opinion

The SR-C20A is the soundbar Yamaha designed it for – a compact bar that fits into tons of nooks and crannies of a modern home – and it deserves praise for it. At the same time, it comes at the expense of the low-end range needed as a compelling solution for movies, while the costs and features too closely mimic their more powerful cousins.

Are there any better alternatives?

For $ 200, the Yamaha SR-B20A is a better option for larger spaces, but it doesn't offer the luxury of compact versatility that the C20A prides itself on. Off-brand, Vizio's V-Series 2.1 bar costs the identical $ 180 and comes with a wireless subwoofer that will almost certainly solve any problems you've had with the C20A. With a compact size and clear audio. along with a better balance for music. What matters to you, you must be willing to spend $ 300 on the Zvox AV157 which is a significant price increase.

How long it will take?

The SR-C20A is light enough to throw around, but I wouldn't recommend doing so. It feels like a sturdy product though, with connections that aren't exactly state of the art, but don't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.

Should you buy it?

That is a difficult question. If you need clear sound and strong vocals in a smaller space in your house, the C20A is a solid, somewhat expensive option. However, if you're hoping to find an all-in-one bar for movies and TV in your cavernous living room, I'd spend the extra buck on the B20A.

Editor's recommendations




26 Sep
Blog

Zvox Accuvoice AV157 Review: TV Dialog Loud And Clear

Zvox AccuVoice AV157 TV speakers

Zvox Accuvoice AV157 review

"It's not pretty, but the AV157 shows all of the dialogue you have been missing."

  • Small footprint

  • Easy connections and setup

  • Super clear and adjustable dialogue

  • Expensive for a small speaker

  • No wireless connections for music

We have been adding speakers to our home televisions for years. First two speakers for stereo sound, then four, then five and so on. Some of us have full 7.2.4 systems with Dolby Atmos that imitate the cinema experience at home. With the number of soundbars growing, our options for bigger, better sound are more numerous than ever. But when we wrap ourselves up more, do we actually hear what's important? When actors, news anchors, or respondents speak, do we hear what they are saying?

Judging by the huge surge in the use of closed captioning for everything from Netflix to YouTube to Facebook videos, the answer is no – and it's not because we're going numb.

It turns out that more speakers do not lead to a more understandable dialogue. In fact, it seems to be harder to hear, especially if the producers of the movie or show didn't pay close attention to the quality of their audio mix, or if there is a lot of bass.

Therefore, it makes sense that Zvox, a company that has focused heavily on improving the clarity of TV sound, has carved out a niche for itself in making soundbar-like speakers with the goal of listening to speech too facilitate.

The latest product is the $ 300 Zvox Accuvoice AV157 TV speaker, which includes 12 levels of Zvox speech enhancement technology.

Is it the TV dialogue enhancer you've been waiting for? Let's find out.

What's in the box?

Zvox AccuVoice AV157 TV speakersSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The AV157 is delivered in an easily recyclable box. Depending on the recycling facilities you live in, some poly bags with cords and a polythene sleeve for the speaker may need to be thrown in the trash. Otherwise the packaging is quite environmentally friendly.

The packaging contains the loudspeaker, a remote control, batteries, three types of audio cables (optical, 3.5 mm analog and cinch up to 3.5 mm), a power supply unit and a very clear quick start guide.

design

Zvox AccuVoice AV157 TV speakers "class =" m-Karussell - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn2.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/zvox-accuvoice-av157-tv-speaker-5- 640x640.jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAASimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Zvox AccuVoice AV157 TV speakers "class =" m-Karussell - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn3.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/zvox-accuvoice-av157-tv-speaker-1- 640x640.jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAASimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Zvox AccuVoice AV157 TV speakers "class =" m-Karussell - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn4.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/zvox-accuvoice-av157-tv-speaker-3- 640x640.jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAASimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The AV157 is available in three colors: black, a gray-pewter color called titanium, and "Espresso" which, as the name suggests, is medium brown. Whichever you choose, the color only affects the appearance of the speaker cabinet – the front metal grille is always black.

The housing surface is made of shiny, structured plastic. While perfectly solid and well built, the overall appearance doesn't convey much in terms of high-end quality. It doesn't look like you're expecting a $ 300 speaker – in fact, it couldn't look more general.

The advantage of the sleek Jane facade is that the AV157 is easy to ignore, whether you place it on a surface in front of your TV or mount it on the wall (two threaded holes on the back allow this) very much that additional speakers should be heard and not seen.

It's about the size and shape of a large center-channel speaker (for those familiar with 5.1 setups), which means it's tiny compared to even the smallest soundbars.

At 17 inches wide and just under three inches tall, it's much narrower than the $ 400 Sonos Beam, which is already pretty small at just 27 inches. It is just as wide as the Panasonic Soundlayer and only one centimeter larger.

There are no physical buttons on the speaker and apart from a small Zvox logo, nothing disturbs the design of just one speaker.

Even the large, easy-to-read digital display showing volume, input and sound mode is hidden behind the grille and only activates for a few seconds, so you can see the results of your remote control commands before you switch off again.

On the back you will find the few connection options: an optical connection, a 3.5 mm analog input and a headphone and / or subwoofer output. For some reason, the Zvox product page for the AV157 shows the 3.5mm analog input as compatible with an optical miniplug cable, but I can tell you for sure that this is not correct.

Connecting the AV157 to your TV couldn't be easier.

With these inputs, in combination with the cables provided, you can connect the AV157 to practically any source, as long as that source is not only intended for HDMI. While this is rare, there are some TVs that are gradually phasing out support for analog and optical outputs in favor of HDMI ARC and eARC. So it is best to check the outputs on your TV.

The supplied infrared remote control is just as inconspicuous in design: Just a small, robust, rubberized plate with large, easy-to-read labels and easy-to-press buttons. Thanks to the rubber membrane that covers the buttons, the remote control should be able to withstand encounters with the occasional spilled drink far better than regular remote controls.

It would be nice if the remote control buttons were backlit, but the high contrast of the bright white labels against the black of the membrane is still legible in all rooms except the darkest.

Setup and connections

Zvox AccuVoice AV157 TV speakersSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Connecting the AV157 to your TV couldn't be easier. Simply select the appropriate cable (I recommend the optical cable for best results), plug the ends of the cable into the appropriate ports on your TV and speaker, plug in the power adapter, and you're done.

You should never have to guess what volume level you are at, and the large, bright display means you will never be in doubt.

There's no bluetooth, no Wi-Fi, and no apps. This can limit the functionality of the AV157, but there is something to be said for technology that works the moment you plug it in.

That's not to say you can't play music through the AV157 – you can. However, you will have to plug your music source into one of the available inputs, which might be fine in the iPod era, but it's a bit boring these days.

A clever solution is to connect the AV157 to an Amazon Echo device using the 3.5 mm jack as an external speaker. As long as your favorite streaming music service is supported by Alexa, you're good to go – no remote control required. In addition, many of the popular music streaming apps are supported by the many smart TV operating systems. Navigating through music on your TV might sound strange, but it works.

user friendliness

Zvox AccuVoice AV157 TV speakersSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The included remote control is a breeze. Key presses generate immediate reactions.

I'm a big fan of the four digit alphanumeric display. You should never have to guess what volume level you are at or, with the AV157, what speech enhancement mode and level you are at. The large, bright display means you will never be in doubt. Adjusting the brightness of the display would be a nice perk, especially if you're using the AV157 in very bright or dark rooms, but it's never left on long enough for it to matter.

For example, you can use the AV157 with your existing remote control to increase / decrease the volume and mute it, but not all functions are available. For this reason, you should keep the factory remote control close at hand.

As good as the remote control is for basic functions, the deeper settings of the speaker could be easier to use.

Although the labels are easy to read and the buttons easy to press, some of the features (like switching between Accuvoice and Supervoice modes) require a long press of a button instead of each mode having its own discrete button.

This is especially true of the mysterious Other Settings button, which gives you access to three different settings: bass, treble, and output levels. However, you need to go through each setting and increase / decrease the settings with the volume.

With complex devices like A / V receivers, I get that – there are hundreds of settings and you can only have that many buttons. But the AV157 doesn't do that much and there seems to be plenty of room on the remote for a few more buttons.

Even so, for most people, these settings will be of the "set and forget" sort. While I'd prefer easier access to them, it's by no means a deal breaker.

Sound quality

Zvox AccuVoice AV157 TV speakersSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The main job of the Accuvoice AV157 may be clearer dialogue, but it's a surprisingly good all-round speaker for all types of TV audio with a bigger, bolder sound than its tiny frame suggests.

Zvox's promise of “room-filling 3D sound” may be a little optimistic – especially when comparing the AV157 to what an inexpensive soundbar with a wireless subwoofer can offer – but there's no doubt that you'll get the Pump up bass levels and use the third stage There's more than enough power and range in surround sound mode to enjoy Hollywood blockbusters like the Marvel & # 39; s Avengers movies.

It is enough to just use the six standard levels of Accuvoice enhancement to make speech easier to hear.

It can also get remarkably loud if you so choose. Near the top of the volume range, the bass begins to decrease, causing a slight knock inside the case. However, this is to be expected with a speaker of this size.

More importantly, however, you have tremendous control over the ability to hear dialogue.

It is enough to just use the six standard levels of Accuvoice enhancement to make speech easier to hear. The moment you activate AC 1 – the first stage – the music, sound effects and virtually all other non-speech audio will drop noticeably as the dialogue jumps forward.

The result is so strong and creates a huge increase in volume. You can even reach for the remote control to decrease the volume after entering Accuvoice mode.

connected: How Zvox's Accuvoice technology makes it easier to hear voices

Each successive level increases this effect further until the voices have reached an almost painfully bright clarity. Put the AV157 in Supervoice mode and the effect is even more noticeable. As someone who fortunately doesn't have significant hearing loss, I can't testify how well these modes work for someone who has hearing problems, but it's hard to imagine how voices could get clearer. By the time you reach Supervoice Level 6, the dialogue is so sharp and bright that you can barely focus on anything else.

Incredibly, this happens with little distortion – and only with the highest boost values.

It takes getting used to, and it's worth noting that there's no free lunch here: to make the dialogue clearer, the AV157 highlights all of the other parts of the soundtrack.

As an experiment, I ran the AV157 through the optical port on my TV and my 5.1.2 home theater system through the HDMI ARC output at the same time to see if I could eat my cake. It kind of worked, but I couldn't keep it up due to a small but noticeable delay between the two sets of speakers.

The music on the AV157 is surprisingly good. I tested it with Tidal on an Apple TV 4K fed into my TV via HDMI. What really amazed me is that the room-filling 3D sound that Zvox promises is much clearer with music than with film or TV soundtracks.

As you can imagine with a speech enhancement speaker, the vocals are extremely clear even in the surround sound entry-level mode. The AV157 can't quite compete with the Sonos Beam for music – it lacks the beam's warmth and resonant bass – but most genres sound very good.

You just have to be careful with some bass heavy tracks. Post Malone and Swae Lee's Sunflower is a good example of a song that, even at moderate volume, outperforms the AV157's ability to reproduce bass, with more of the aforementioned knocking effect.

Our opinion

The Zvox Accuvoice AV157 is a great way to get much better sound from your TV through a very small speaker. But where it really stands out is the voice enhancement – something you just can't get out of a regular soundbar at any cost.

Is there a better alternative?

If speech enhancement is not critical, there are plenty of great sound bars out there that can be used to enhance your TV sound. And if a small speaker is important to you, $ 400 Sonos Beam is a great place to start.

However, if you want better dialogue, the only real competition to the AV157 is one of the other Zvox TV speakers, like the one $ 250 AV155 or the tiny $ 170 AV100 Mini. Each improves speech intelligibility, but only the AV157 has all twelve levels of the combined Accuvoice and Supervoice modes.

How long it will take?

The Zvox warranty is only one year, but I suspect that if something goes wrong with the AV157, something will happen very quickly. Otherwise, this speaker should give you many years of use. No battery needs to be replaced. If the power adapter ever fails, it's an affordable accessory. Even if the remote stops working, Zvox only charges $ 15 for a replacement.

Should you buy it?

Yes. For those who find it increasingly difficult to understand what is being said on TV shows and movies, the AV157 is the best way to improve intelligibility without resorting to subtitles.

Editor's recommendations




25 Sep
Blog

Lenovo Legion Y27q-20 Review: 1440p Gaming Done Right

Lenovo Legion y27q 20 review y20q 10

"The Lenovo Legion Y27q-20 offers fluid, ultra-fast gaming in an elegant design."

  • Simple, lightweight design

  • 165Hz refresh rate

  • Excellent ergonomics

  • Decent value for 1440p

  • 1 ms response time

  • No speakers

  • Bad contrast

  • Frustrating controls

It's an ideal time to upgrade to higher resolution games, but you will likely need a new game monitor. That doubles when you've updated your PC's graphics card, whether it's a lower-priced RTX 20 series or one of the new 30 series cards.

The Lenovo Legion Y27q-20 offers a resolution of 1440p and a refresh rate of 165 Hz and is in every way an upgrade of your old 1080p monitor. It is quickly becoming a crowded space, however, and $ 430 isn't the cheapest price out there. Does the Legion Y27q-20 have the picture quality and gaming performance to secure it?

design

While nothing special, the Legion Y27q-20 is not devoid of embellishments, including Lenovo's signature circular cheese grater design on the back of the case. Oddly enough, it's not dissimilar to Apple's Mac Pro or Pro Display XDR. For a gaming peripheral, it's rather sleek and not as bulky as some Acer Predator or Asus ROG monitors.

But don't get too excited. Like most gaming monitors, the Legion Y27q is mostly made of plastic and has a large lower bezel. The HP Omen 27 gaming monitor has more class in my book, but the Legion undercuts the price of this monitor considerably. Fortunately, the stand is made of metal, which offers a lot of stability.

The Legion Y27q's screen, base, and stand are individually wrapped, but I got them assembled in seconds thanks to the monitor's simple VESA mount. The entire package weighs just 14.7 pounds, which makes it even easier to set up. The Acer Nitro XZ272U is lighter at just 11 pounds, but the Y27q isn't far away.

After setting it up, I was delighted to discover how adjustable the Legion Y27q is. With tilt, turn, height and swivel adjustment, you are sure to find something that meets your needs. Switching from landscape to portrait is a notable addition that gaming monitors like the Predator XB273U and Dell S-Series monitors lack.

Ports

The connections are on the back and face down. You won't find any surprises here – just a DisplayPort 1.2 and HDMI 1.4. These are older port standards, but for a 1440p gaming monitor, they're all you need.

The Legion Y27q-20 even has additional USB connectivity to sweeten business. On the back, you'll find a USB-B 3.1 upstream port and a USB-A port, while two USB-A ports flank the side. You will also find a headphone / microphone jack here. These are nice additions to an otherwise fairly simple gaming monitor that turns into a USB hub.

The monitor is supplied with power via the rectangular “Trim Yellow” power connector from Lenovo next to a relatively small external power supply module.

Unfortunately, Lenovo didn't think the Legion Y27q-20 needed speakers. Lenovo sells a separate model with a cone-shaped speaker in the base, but it's missing here. That's a shame. I still think most monitors should include speakers, even if they're not the largest in the world. Yes, most people use headphones or external speakers, but for the rare occasional time you want them, they're missing.

Buttons and Menus

The on-screen menu is accessed using the six buttons just below the control panel. There are no fancy joysticks or buttons behind the screen.

Once you are in the menu, you can adjust settings like brightness and contrast as well as switch between different game settings and color profiles. Lenovo offers genre-specific profiles for first-person shooters, strategy games, and more. You can also switch to "Extreme" mode, which takes you from three milliseconds to one.

Navigating the menu with the buttons is a frustrating experience.

The problem? Navigating the menu with the buttons is a frustrating experience.

For starters, the button furthest to the right is the power button, but it feels identical to the other buttons. Accidentally turning off your monitor during a game is no fun. This can happen if you reach for brightness controls while gaming in a darker environment, especially because the monitor lacks adaptive brightness.

The symbiology used on the buttons and in the menu is also confusing. What looks like a back button is actually a select button that is disoriented while navigating the menu. It would have been a good idea to do some additional user testing on these.

Game performance

The Legion Y27q-20 uses a 27-inch panel with a 2560 x 1440 resolution. Playing games at 1440p is great. It's not quite 4K, but it's also not nearly as demanding when you have more of a mid-range system. The RTX 2070 Super I tested it with push games like Battlefield V and Fortnite well over 100 frames per second, even at maximum settings.

Thanks to the refresh rate of 165 Hz, the gameplay feels incredibly smooth. Sure, there are 240Hz, 300Hz, or even 360Hz monitors out there – but unless you want to be a professional gamer (and maybe even then) 165Hz should work fine. This is especially true if you are playing in 1440p.

This is not true G-Sync.

Nvidia G-Sync stickers are placed all over the Legion Y27q-20, but it's not a real implementation. Instead of a physical G-Sync module, it is certified by a solution that Nvidia calls "G-Sync Compatible". Essentially, this means it's a Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) monitor that Nvidia checked for flickering, ghosting, and tearing. This is not true G-Sync.

And yet the gaming experience on the Legion Y27q-20 is super fluid. As soon as you jump into the Nvidia control panel and change the refresh rate to 165 Hz, you'll immediately notice the smooth animations, even of your cursor, as you move it across the screen. Next, you want to enable the Extreme setting to achieve the specified response time of one millisecond.

Response time is about how quickly the pixels on your monitor can change color. There is no agreed measure of response time, so the difference between 1 ms and 3 ms can be inconsistent depending on the monitor. However, with the Legion Y27q-20, you can tell the subtle difference in responsiveness when you switch between the two settings.

picture quality

Thanks to the IPS display (In-Plane Switching), the Legion Y27q-20 can also be used for activities outside of the game. It's pretty bright with a maximum of 415 nits, and the color saturation isn't bad either. With 99% of sRGB and 77% of AdobeRGB, the Legion Y27q is as colorful as you can expect from a gaming monitor.

Many inexpensive or medium-sized gaming monitors opt for VA panels (vertical orientation) or TN panels (twisted nematic). These screens tend to have worse viewing angles, so I am pleased that Lenovo has chosen IPS.

However, it wasn't perfect. The contrast was low at only 650: 1, which was affected by the flat black values. The images look a bit washed out next to other displays. For comparison: the Acer Nitro XZ27 has a size of 1,060: 1, which leads to much richer images and colors.

The Legion Y27q is a hit or miss in terms of image quality.

The second problem was color accuracy. With an average Delta-E of 3.07, the color accuracy is surprisingly poor for 202o. The Nitro XZ272U, for example, has an average of 1.23. Again, this isn't the biggest issue for gamers, but there's no reason a $ 430 monitor should be so poorly calibrated.

I tried calibrating the screen myself to see if I could improve some of these numbers with my Spyder5Elite. The gamma has been corrected from 2.1 to 2.2 and the color accuracy has been reduced to 1.85. Both are positive improvements in image quality, which shows that this panel could have used an additional factory calibration. However, contrast and black levels were not helped.

The Legion Y27q is a hit or miss in terms of image quality. It's not a screen that you want to perform precise color grading or watch movies all the time.

Our opinion

With RTX 30 series graphics just around the corner, gaming monitors like the Lenovo Legion Y27q-20 will soon become important. There are some cheaper options that result in higher resolutions and refresh rates, but the Legion Y27q-20's looks and responsiveness make it a solid option for a monitor upgrade.

Are there alternatives?

The Acer Nitro XZ272U is only $ 330, though it's also a 27-inch 165Hz gaming monitor. It uses a VA panel and has a response time of 4 ms instead of 1 ms. It even has a curved screen.

Another option is the Asus TUF VG27 gaming monitor, which is available for $ 479. Finally, the $ 400 Dell S2719DGF is another great option. It has a 1ms response time and 155Hz refresh rate, but uses a cheaper TP panel.

How long it will take?

The Lenovo Legion Y27q-20 should last around five years. The standard warranty is three years, but with the refresh rate of 165 Hz and the resolution of 1440p you are equipped for PC games longer.

Should you buy it?

Yes. The Legion Y27q-20 combines features, design and performance in one affordable package.

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