Review – Page 57 – Appliances catalogue

10 Sep

Microsoft Surface Duo review: Features, Software and More

September 10, 2020
Posted by Samson

"The Surface Duo is wonderfully thin and wonderfully intelligent and redesigns the smartphone."

Impossible, wonderfully thin
The hinge is perfectly constructed
Luxurious build quality
Smart app management software

Buggy software (still)
Design compromises
Steep learning curve

Technocrats flat-out rejecting a certain amount of Microsoft hardware, hiding the fairly successful Surface product line, ignoring the Xbox platform, and skipping decades of innovation in keyboards and mice. With a knowing twinkle in their eye, these people will point out the failure of Windows Phone, then lean over and say smugly, "Do you remember the Zune?"

Yes, we all remember the Zune. And Clippy. Sigh.

That same crowd put the Surface Duo on the list of flops and found that their hardware just wasn't competing. However, this new device offers a lot more than megahertz and microchips. With the duo, Microsoft wants to rethink what to do with those 7 or 8 ounces of metal and glass that you take with you everywhere like a Bible, just like how the first iPhone turned portable phones into smartphones we can't stop using. But does it succeed?

design

Let's get this out of the way. It's easy to look at a data sheet for the Surface Duo and see a number of tradeoffs. Sure, it's thin, but where's the wireless charging or 5G? Sure, it's way cheaper than other foldable devices, but you are losing the fastest chipset on the market.

Instead, think about design decisions. Smartphone manufacturers have been battling physics and Moore's Law for years to save a tenth of a millimeter from their phones while adding a few minutes more talk time. These decisions are designed to squeeze as much engineering goodness as possible into a device about 7mm thick and about 6 inches long.

The latest example of this is the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G, a beautiful piece of glass 6.5 inches long and 8.8 mm thick. Compare it to the Samsung phone launched in 2019, the Galaxy S10 Plus – a beautiful piece of glass 6.4 inches long and 7.8 mm thick.

Jeremy Kaplan / Digital Trends

Microsoft Duo is different. Each screen is 4.8mm thin, a little over half the size of this new Galaxy. Half the size! When folded, it is 9.9 mm, a little more than a millimeter thick. It's all about the thickness of a magazine, which is just remarkable.

If your average smartphone is roughly the thickness of a PB&J, putting two of them together – like other foldable devices like the Galaxy Z Fold 2 or the LG V60 ThinQ – is like building a hoagie. And I'm not in the habit of putting submarine sandwiches in my pockets.

This is where the "design decisions" come into play. Microsoft engineers wanted a device that was thin enough to make you gasp. That decision powered the hardware and shaped the device. This means that wireless charging was not possible. And 5G chipsets and the multitude of antennas running through the innards of most phones like your circulatory system just don't work. Because of this, Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 865 chip is missing. NFC still requires an additional antenna, which is why it was omitted and with it the possibility of paying in a grocery store or a subway turnstile. And an ordinary battery is too thick to fit in this device. More on that in a second.

Yes, there's a reason the Duo lacks a number of features that are common to other phones. However, it's still some kind of compromise even if you know why they were left out.

Display quality and hinge durability

The Surface Duo consists of two 5.6-inch AMOLED displays with a resolution of 1800 × 1350 at 401 pixels per inch. Microsoft's marketing team calls them "PixelSense Fusion" displays for some reason. Together they make up an 8.1-inch tablet with a resolution of 2700 × 1800. The duo pushes roughly 5 million pixels, in other words what seems like a lot for a device with a small battery. The battery life is still decent, which speaks for countless hours of technical work.

The screens are covered in Corning & # 39; s Gorilla Glass and are deep and dark with clear contrast. When looking at Carfection's 2020 Mini JCW GP review, colors popped off the screen – a little warmer than natural, but very pleasing to my eyes. Thanks to all of those pixels, it's sharp like a turn.

A continuous torque system allows you to fold the device 360 degrees to any position, but there are really four to lean into: flat like a tablet, folded like a book, fully open or closed, and propped up like a tent. This is the last one useful when watching videos. I put the duo next to my laptop and watch music videos or John Oliver. It's liberating.

Jeremy Kaplan / Digital Trends

There is also a special mode. Just open it a crack and you will see it tell you the time and date. That seems a little silly. When you raise your arm, can't you just look at your watch? Oh, that's right – we ditched watches in favor of the more convenient smartphones and then took away some of that convenience. Hmm

In any case, you can stop the device at any point in those 360 degrees, which means you can shorten the tent and crouch if you are a taller person, or more acute if your tabletop is at eye level. Regardless of its position, the hinge is responsive, pliable, and frankly fun. It also holds any position tenaciously; This tablet won't cut you in half. Permanent? You bet.

I most often use the duo with both hands like a book. Opened in my right hand, I open apps and check email with my left hand. However, if there's something to delve into, I fold the device back on itself and do it on a single screen. Note that this still requires two hands. This is a big change from almost every other phone you've used.

With regular phones, you can hold a subway belt on the left and read a Kindle book on the right. The duo is so wide that I can't reach my thumb over it and can barely hit most of the icons at the bottom of the screen. Held in one hand, my thumb hits the center of the screen. Forget about reaching for a menu.

Use the Surface Duo

Nothing escapes the fact that the duo are tough. When I first flushed, I called it light. I was surprised that two screens would no longer weigh. But if I'm being honest with myself, every phone I've worn for the past three years has gotten progressively heavier. We all just ignored it and we're caught up in the race for faster and newer. So I'll say it here. At 250 grams, the duo is heavy. Android Authority called the 220-gram Galaxy S20 Ultra "too damn heavy". If it's more than half a pound, that's worse. I wonder what they are going to say about the Galaxy Z Fold 2 that weighs you down like a brick with about 280 grams.

Even so, I am ready to look beyond weight if you can do more with it. And you can! It just takes some work.

Here's the thing: this device is incredibly familiar, but it doesn't work quite like other smartphones. Keep in mind that the Duo is the first device I've ever seen and it knows how to hold it thanks to a series of sensors that line the edges of each screen.

Jeremy Kaplan / Digital Trends

Thanks to these accelerometers, gyroscopes and magnetometers, it knows when you are holding it like a book and reacts appropriately when you camp it next to your plate. (Caution: The speakers are on one side of the display, so camp them right or pump soundtrack on your roommate. You won't be happy.)

Common gestures are more or less the same, except that you have to learn some new ones. Swiping up and left or right is different here. Some phones come with a menu with the latest apps. Here's where you can use this action to close an app and forget about it off-screen.

Likewise, you can move a window from one screen to the other by dragging it from the bottom to the top and hurling it over the partition. This action is absolutely fascinating. I could do it all day. Drag the default settings menu down at the top of the screen. Do it from ¾ the way down for a search bar.

Details like this litter the user interface and show the attention to detail Microsoft has wasted on this device. Look at the row of quick start icons that stretch across the bottom of both screens. Open an app on one screen and the six icons will flit and dance to the other side, where they'll nestle together to adjust. It's charming.

When it comes to buttons, the duo has little to offer: the right screen has a volume rocker, an on / off switch, and a biometric reader in a dent that sits right under your thumb. I worried unnecessarily about that. It works well. It also gives the entire duo a little vibration when you record it as the device notices you and suggests that it rarely goes. I like that. It's like the rumble of an engine on the gas.

software

The Duo runs Android 10 with a little Microsoft. To take advantage of the real estate, Microsoft worked closely with the team of software engineers at Google to create special functions just for a device like this one with two screens: a new type of icon groups a pair of apps and launches them side by side, one per Screen. This seems immensely powerful.

Likewise, Microsoft has integrated drag-and-drop functions into some of its apps, with which you can, for example, highlight a few sentences from an email in Outlook and drag them into tasks where they become the agenda.

The big feature is dual screen support: expand an app to fill both screens by dragging it from the bottom to the hinge. Outlook has been redesigned to show a list of emails on the left and a reading pane on the right. It's kind of a game changer. Think for a second how many times you hit the back button on your phone to go back to what you did.

Microsoft has integrated a smart keyboard for this device into SwiftKey, which can be used to switch between single, double and full screen mode. Thanks to all of these sensors, it knows if the left or right screen is active and moves to pick up just that thumb. Getting to the center of the keyboard can be difficult in full screen mode, but it's still neat to hold the duo like a small laptop. I wipe more often than usual.

Jeremy Kaplan / Digital Trends

Finally, the company built a key instruction into the duo: use the screens wisely. Apps that others launch do so intelligently on the second screen, so you can keep doing what you did. The All Trails app starts Google Maps on the second screen. News apps can access individual site apps from the screen.

I'm just glossing over these tech efforts because there are few: Microsoft built drag and drop support into an app or two, including OneNote, which I've never really found convincing use for. And almost no apps are designed to make smart use of both screens, despite Microsoft talking about this device a year ago. Sure, they can invent this new user interface, but it's up to others to make hay with it. Google has had endless problems getting developers to create apps for big screens, as has Samsung. Microsoft has struggled in the past to get developers to support its latest initiatives. There is a risk that Instagram, Tik Tok, Adobe, and everyone else will simply refuse to do the job, which dramatically hinders the duo.

Speaking of work, this is clearly work in progress. After I and a number of other journalists complained about annoying malfunctions in the software, Microsoft released a weekend update that improved the camera, reduced the jerky scrolling, corrected strange behavior and much more.

But it's still not quite there, which is frustrating. Every now and then I open the duo and no screens appear, but both. Or I expect an app on the left and right. Or I turn the device and the app stubbornly refuses to leave portrait mode. These mishaps are hard to forgive. Those basics have to work every time … or Microsoft sees a higher response rate than the national debt.

camera

Outside of smartphone reviewers, few people take advantage of the ridiculously advanced features built into today's smartphone, like unexpected extras in a cookie. Spinach and chocolate chips? No thanks. Butterscotch and Baked Beans? Why would you even offer this? By skipping these unwanted features, Microsoft saved money and avoided the raised bezel that scars the back of most flagship phones.

It must be said that the company has also made compromises.

The duo contains a single camera: an 11-megapixel sensor with a basic aperture of 1: 2.0, very small pixels and without OIS (optical image stabilization). It's on the right side and ready for a selfie if you want. There is 4K 60 fps video, slow motion video support, panorama and portrait mode as well as digital zoom up to 7x. But they are basic things, and not everything works well.

Jeremy Kaplan / Digital Trends

The autofocus on this camera is … not good, let's just come out and say it. I saw some bees buzzing around my Rose of Jericho bushes, and after saying a silent prayer for them (after all, someone has to do it) I leaned over for a moment, pressed the button, and watched the bees whiz before the camera picked up a shot. It took a few tries before I learned to properly measure my recordings.

And while the colors are decent, your photos will never match the great shots from the best camera phones like the Huawei P40 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro. That said, it does some nice tricks: start the camera, flip the right control panel (the one with the lens) back, and the camera app will automatically switch to the correct control panel so you can snap a picture of what you are look at. Flip it back and you're ready for selfies. Expand the app to fill both areas and you'll be able to see your photo library on one side and the live image on the other, making it easy for you to review all of those self-portraits.

95% of people find the camera perfect for 95% of the photos they want to take. Most of them would be happier with a camera as powerful as the Google Pixel 4a, which is literally $ 1,000 less than the fancy phones I mentioned earlier. No one looking at your photos will ever know that your pictures could have been a little better. More importantly, nobody will care.

performance

As you've probably heard, the Surface Duo runs last year's Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 platform, the same chip used in the 2019 Galaxy S10 phones rather than the 2020 Galaxy S20. The same processor as in the 2019 OnePlus 7 Pro instead of the 2020 OnePlus 8. The same … well, you get the picture. It also has 6GB of DRAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage depending on how much money you want to lose.

But is any of that really important? The benchmarks certainly tell a story: we ran the popular 3DMark suite of benchmarks and got results in line with last year's chips:

3D Mark Sling Shot Extreme: 5,745 (OpenGL)

3D Mark Sling Shot Extreme: 5,055 (volcano)

Geekbench 5 CPU: 735 single core, 2,768 multi core

But numbers are numbers; real performance is something else. Over the course of several days and a series of apps, I never had the feeling that the performance was below average anyway. If you've bought a laptop in the past few years, you know what I mean: it is probably good enough for most of your work, isn't it? Sure, a new one is faster, but it's just good enough for surfing the web and checking your email.

Battery life

The duo are a marvel of engineering for a variety of reasons. One of them is the 3,577 mAh battery, which is spread over two different sides of the device. According to Microsoft, special controllers ensure that both sides run evenly and wear out. Amazing! You will never notice, but I find such little facts fascinating.

Jeremy Kaplan / Digital Trends

The company claims you have up to 27 hours of talk time, but let's face it: who wants to spend that much time chatting? In my tests, I was able to easily stretch the battery throughout the day with a lot of Internet surfing, email use, and video-based use. The box contains an 18 watt fast charger that seemed to do the trick.

Our opinion

The Surface Duo is eye-catching, functionally distinctive and expensive. Having two screens seems like a novelty, but I've been better able to work with two screens working more or less together. With my calendar on one side and my email on the other, I can see my day at a glance. With my inbox on the left and a reply message on the right, my phone is suddenly much better at email. And propping it up to watch a video is just incredibly satisfying.

However, the fact that the software still needs work is worrying. How long does the polishing take? And will developers adopt this strange new device? We still have questions.

Is there a better alternative?

The obvious alternatives are foldable screen devices like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 and the LG V60 ThinQ. The duo makes them seem silly. These things are just huge, and in the case of the Galaxy Z Fold 2, hundreds of dollars more. And anything with 5G could be a smarter buy given the huge global pressure to develop the new networking technology. Microsoft can't just "add" it. It's either there or not, and in two years' time the lack of 5G will become more prominent, just as poison ivy will develop days after you touch this pretty plant.

How long it will take?

The physical shortcoming of such a device should be the hinge, but this one feels designed for nuclear warfare. The software could be the Achilles' heel, however: developers should start supporting the features Microsoft developed as it will be widely supported in future Android builds. But will they?

Should you buy it?

Are you the kind of person who buys version one of anything? Who likes to dazzle friends with the latest sharpness? Then grab the duo and impress the world. Everyone else should wait a couple of weeks to make sure Microsoft can resolve the software issues and encourage Twitter, Facebook, Zoom, and the world's game makers to endorse this platform. And they will … probably.

Editor's recommendations

10 Sep

Blog

Anker Soundcore Spirit Dot 2 Review: Good, But Puzzling

September 10, 2020
Posted by Samson

Anker Spirit Dot 2 earbuds

Anker Soundcore Spirit Dot 2

"The Spirit Dot 2 offers the winning combination of good sound and affordability."

Secure fit
Excellent passive noise reduction
Solid bottom end

Average characteristics overall
Limited touch controls

One of my biggest and perhaps only complaints about the Anker Soundcore Spirit X2 was the design of the ear hook. It's not that putting these hooks over your ears is uncomfortable as they fit nicely. When compared to traditional true wireless earbuds, the ear hook style is a far less appealing option.

The $ 80 Anker Soundcore Spirit Dot 2 is the company's answer to people wanting the value of the Spirit X2 in a more compact package. Features may not be quite the same, but the Dot 2 has the preferred earbud design at the same price as the Spirit X2.

Is that enough? Time to find out.

Out of the box

There is nothing special about the packaging of the Spirit Dot 2 or any of the accessories inside other than the fact that the packaging they come in is very similar to the Spirit X2 so I had to double check and make sure I did grabbed the right buds. This should of course be coordinated with Anker's uniform color scheme.

Anker Spirit Dot 2 earbuds Nick Woodard / Digital Trends

Aside from the buds and their charging case, the Spirit Dot 2's package includes four additional pairs of earplugs, two pairs of “Airwings” (or ear fins), a USB-C cable, and the standard documentation. For what it's worth, I stuck to the earplugs and ear fins that the Spirit Dot 2 came with. However, your mileage and ears may vary. So it's nice of Anker to offer different options at this price.

The Spirit Dot 2 connects to your mobile device like you are used to from most real wireless earbuds. When you pull them out of the charging case, the automatic pairing function is activated. All you have to do is find them in your phone settings and connect. In addition to the Bluetooth 5 technology supported by these buds, the Spirit Dot 2 has two transmitters that allow each earbud to be individually connected to your phone, according to Anker. The company says this can result in up to 30 percent lower latency. While I can't specifically prove this statistic, I can say that I didn't experience any significant latency issues when watching YouTube or TikTok clips on my phone.

design

I wouldn't call the Spirit Dot 2 the smallest buds I've ever put in my ears – at first glance, that honor might go to the 1More Colorbuds – but they're certainly small and significantly less vigorous than a pair like that Edifier TWS NB. It is a vague way of assessing the size of these buds, but without access to weight specifications, it is the best I can offer.

Anker Spirit Dot 2 earbuds Nick Woodard / Digital Trends

Probably the most comparable buds to the Spirit Dot 2 are the Google Pixel Buds 2. Both use similar ergonomic shapes with ear fins to position them securely in your ear. The Spirit Dot 2 are a bit more voluminous and therefore put more pressure on my ears. However, the secure and comfortable seal of the Spirit Dot 2 exactly reflects my experience with Google Pixel Buds 2. The more expensive Google product offers more comfort when listening over a longer period of time.

Although Anker recommends these buds for various purposes such as training, sports, or travel, at the time of this review I was unable to test the Spirit Dot 2 due to the poor air quality in my area. I did take them for a few walks and a handful of home workouts, however, and they held up well during these activities.

The Spirit Dot 2 have no buttons, but opt for touch controls only. This works, but in limited capacity. You can play, pause and skip tracks, answer and end calls, and activate your voice assistant with a series of taps and presses – and all of these controls work as advertised. However, the Spirit Dot 2 does not contain a volume control. Anker redirects you to the "connected device" to adjust the volume in the buds manual. That may be fine if I'm taking the train during a commute (before 2020, of course), but the last thing I want to do when I'm jogging is unzipping my belt pouch, pulling out my phone, and turning up the volume. For my taste, the controls on the Spirit Dot 2 are a command that isn't fully functional, and that's an issue at this price point too.

The charging case, by the way, is a medium-sized jar with Anker's logo embedded over a lid that slides out to reveal the buds. I didn't originally plan to mention it as it seemed mostly unspectacular. But after getting through a round of chewing from a curious pup, I felt compelled to vouch for the sheer robustness of the case.

properties

I've pointed out the discrepancy between the Spirit X2 and the Spirit Dot 2 before, and I'm here to tell you that those differences are actually very real. Again, the Spirit Dot 2 offers the preferred design, but they find it difficult to compete with their counterparts with earhooks overall.

Anker Spirit Dot 2 earbuds Nick Woodard / Digital Trends

The Spirit X2 has a battery life of nine hours per charge and a total playback time of 36 hours if the charging case is taken into account. In comparison, the Spirit Dot 2 offers only 5.5 hours of play time per charge and a total of 16 hours. That's better than the Google Pixel Buds 2, and since I've given the similarly priced 1More Colorbuds and their six-hour battery a pass, I'm reluctant to do the same with the Spirit Dot 2. But with buds like the $ 40 SoundPeats Truengine SE, or with the $ 30 JLab Go Air offering six or five hours of playtime, the bar will soon change for that price.

The IP68 weather resistance of the Spirit X2 protects the ear hook buds from being completely submerged in up to 2 meters of water for no more than 30 minutes. With the Spirit Dot 2, they can be immersed up to a meter deep with an IPX7 rating. This is better than most of the other budget buds we checked out at Digital Trends. This means that the Spirit X2 have full dust protection, which the Spirit Dot 2 lacks.

Both the Spirit X2 and the Spirit Dot 2 have Anker's "SweatGuard technology", which is essentially a coating of the buds that is supposed to offer more protection against sweat. Again, I don't think I've tested these buds long enough to tell how well this feature works, but I think it's important to mention as it's clear that Anker is at least making the extra effort to make his Make products work up a sweat. friendly.

Audio quality

In terms of the sound quality of the Spirit Dot 2, I thought there was a lot to like here, but also plenty of room for improvement.

Anker Spirit Dot 2 earbuds Nick Woodard / Digital Trends

The Spirit Dot 2 has smaller drivers than the Spirit X2, 8 mm versus 12 mm. However, both pairs feature Anker's BassUp technology which, according to Anker, uses an algorithm to analyze and amplify the bass. While they didn't quite produce the "wow" factor that I experienced with the Spirit X2, the Spirit Dot 2 are certainly powerful earbuds when it comes to the low end. My personal workout playlist contains everything from Big Sean and Eminem's No Favors to Granger Smith's Backroad Song. While I thought the Spirit Dot 2 was crowding the lower end of the latter, these buds generally have solid bass that will please most bass-loving fitness junkies.

With a solid bass foundation, the Spirit Dot 2 have decent clarity for their cost, even if the rest of a track is sometimes overshadowed by low notes. I think I prefer the sound signature of the 1More Colorbuds – which rely far less on the lower end for a more balanced, pleasant sound – but I don't think most folks with the Spirit will have much to complain about the audio quality of Dot 2 However, the Spirit X2 has aptX support, while the Dot 2 of the same price has no support. They support AAC and SBC codecs, but skipping aptX leaves a puzzling void on the Dot 2.

Perhaps the most underrated aspect of the Spirit Dot 2's sound is the passive noise reduction that the seal provides in your ear. It does a remarkable job of blocking your surroundings – my air purifier, blasting on a "turbo" about two meters away, went essentially inaudible – and serves as the basis for clear calls with the earbuds' built-in microphones. Anker seems to have the large insulation firmly under control, as the Liberty 2 Pro also has a very good seal. Sure, active noise cancellation is great when done well. However, for $ 80, it's hard to complain about how much sound these buds passively keep away from your ears.

Our opinion

These should have cost $ 60, or at least less than $ 80. Anker's pricing for these buds is puzzling as they lag significantly behind when compared to the Spirit X2 at the same price. While they sound great and come at an affordable price, which can prove to be a winning combination for many, it can be difficult to fully recommend them against the competition (including Anker's own line).

Are there any better alternatives?

The $ 100 1More Colorbuds sound better but aren't that well equipped for training. The Anker Soundcore Spirit X2 for $ 80 at the same price offers better features overall and comparable sound quality. but their ear hook design may be less desirable to some people. For half the price, the $ 40 SoundPeats Truengine SE offers a fascinating mix of convenience and sound quality, but it lacks bonus features like wireless (or fast) charging.

How long will they last?

The Spirit Dot 2 comes with an 18 month limited warranty, feels durable, and is solidly water resistant. In other words, they are well suited to persist for the foreseeable future.

Should you buy it?

If features you can forego to take advantage of the in-ear style of the Anker Soundcore Spirit Dot 2, they're a great option. But if ear hooks aren't a deal breaker, the Spirit X2 are better across the board.

Editor's recommendations

09 Sep

Blog

Nikon Z 5 Review: Full-Frame but Too Slow

September 9, 2020
Posted by Samson

nikon z 5 review 7529

"The Nikon Z 5 would be a great entry-level full frame camera if it weren't for the unreliable auto focus in low light and slow burst speed."

Good picture quality
Compact
Affordable
Dual SD slots

Slow autofocus in low light
Inconsistent autofocus in mixed / low light
Slow burst mode at 4.5 fps

While the race for mirrorless full images develops from sprinting speed to marathon, camera setups are becoming more and more diverse – and cheaper. The Nikon Z 5 is currently the company's cheapest full-frame camera on the market and less expensive than the aging DSLR D610. The Nikon Z 5 with a kit lens costs $ 1,400 or $ 1,700 and combines size, ergonomics, stabilization, and even most of the image quality of the company's more expensive Z 6. In fact, the Z 5 even offers an upgrade that the Z 6 and Z 7 don't offer – two SD card slots.

However, the entry-level designation introduces some important cutting features of the more expensive models. The speed is reduced significantly, 4K videos can only be recorded with one trim and the design is not quite as robust. The question is, does the Nikon Z 5 offer enough to save $ 1,400? Called a camera for “more than just photographers”, who is the Z 5 best suited for?

I spent almost two weeks trying the Z 5 to see where the entry-level full screen mode stands. During this time, the Nikon Z 5 has proven to be a good full-frame camera for beginners in my opinion, which is unfortunately held back by below-average autofocus in poor lighting conditions and slow burst speeds.

Hillary K. Grigonis / Digital Trends

Simple design

While the design of the Z 6 is almost the same as the Z 7, the Z 5 deviates a little more from this family line in good and bad ways. On the positive side, the Z 5 offers two UHS-II SD card slots. This is ideal either to create backups in the camera so that a card failure doesn't mean a catastrophe, or to create an overflow for fewer card swaps. The Z 5 also doesn't use XQD cards, a good move for an entry-level camera considering the card type is available in three digits at retail outlets, much compared to the Affordability SD which was a lot of high capacity cards for only $ 20.

Despite the addition of an additional card slot, the Z5 is only an inch wider than the Z 6 and Z 7 and doesn't add any weight. At less than a pound and a half, the camera is light enough for all-day shooting. (I can't say that for the rough texture of the included neck strap, though.) Combined with the kit lens, the Z 5 didn't cause any major pain during a two mile hike.

The Z 5 uses a magnesium alloy frame, but combines it with a plastic housing that feels like an entry-level Nikon DSLR. The body is weatherproof, but not as sturdy as the Z 6 and Z 7. So I would still have an inexpensive rain poncho in my pocket for more than a drizzle.

Hillary K. Grigonis / Digital Trends

The camera's control scheme is a nice mix of access to controls and not overwhelming novice users. There is no additional LCD screen on top of the camera. I contend that an upward-facing LCD isn't particularly uncommon for mirrorless screens, but its absence here departs from Nikon's design choices in its entry-level full-screen DSLR, the D610, which kept the screen intact.

The camera's control scheme is a nice mix of access to controls and not overwhelming novice users.

Instead, the mode dial at the top is within easy reach of the shutter button, dual control dials, and keyboard shortcuts for recording videos, adjusting ISO, and tweaking exposure compensation. With practice, all of these controls can be accessed without pulling the camera away from your face, although it's difficult to blindly distinguish between the ISO and Exposure Compensation buttons, as opposed to the easily recognizable raised record button.

Although the Z 5 is an entry point into the full-screen category, it retains my favorite camera control: the joystick. This is a quick and ergonomic way to adjust the autofocus point. However, toggling between autofocus modes, as well as a number of other controls that Nikon's DSLRs leave plenty of room for, requires switching to the quick menu or assigning them to the two custom buttons on the front. Most beginners don't mind, however, as controlling the camera is less daunting. Shortcuts to customize burst mode and a focus option for the back button, as well as playback, menu, and display options take up a remainder of the camera's rear controls.

Hillary K. Grigonis / Digital Trends

Even for the low price, the connections were not removed – in contrast to the two SD card slots, the Z 5 still has connections for microphone, headphones, HDMI, USB and a cable release. As with many full-frame mirrorless cameras, the Z 5 lacks a pop-up flash.

The lower price tag doesn't fare terribly on the Z 5's viewfinder either. The electronic viewfinder shows enough details with 3.69 million points and is denser than the new Panasonic Lumix S5. The important thing is that the Z 5 shows a fairly accurate representation of your shot, unlike some budget cameras I've tried that don't give an accurate preview of the exposure or color balance. The 3.2-inch touchscreen is tilted for wide-angle shots, but doesn't fold forward for vlogging or selfies.

Hillary K. Grigonis / Digital Trends

Stuttering performance

Budget cameras are known to be slow, and the Z 5 is no exception. Despite the same processor as the 12 fps Z 6, the Z 5 offers less than half this speed. Some might argue that the Z 5 uses SD cards instead of the faster but more expensive XQD cards, but the transfer rates we're looking at here are well below the SD speed threshold. Curious.

With a maximum burst speed of 4.5 frames per second, I'm not even sure why there is both a low and high speed option as even high speed is pretty slow. Thankfully, the shutter speed is still a maximum of 1 / 8,000 (entry-level cameras used to be regularly limited to 1/4000), which is useful for bright situations.

The top speed of the Z 5 of 4.5 fps is switched off for about 21 pictures with RAW + JPEG. The official number of buffers on the back of the camera is 16, but the pace is slow enough for the camera to write some of these shots while it takes the rest. In JPEG mode, it will take a few more shots with the camera recording for more than 20 seconds before stopping.

However, what is a little more difficult to determine from a quick look at the camera's specifications is the auto focus. With a 273 point hybrid system, the Z 5's system looks almost identical to the Z 6's until you dig a little deeper into the details. And if you dig far enough, you'll find the camera's biggest flaw: an autofocus detection range of only -2 EV, or -3 when using autofocus in low-light camera's conditions. However, Nikon rated AF with a f / 2 lens in low light, so the kit lens and many other lenses available for the system don't work as well as what Nikon claims, a claim that is already not great. It's not outright lying, but it's misleading.

The autofocus of the Z 5 in limited light is consistently poor.

This is why the Z 5's autofocus struggled indoors. Even in a room with windows on three walls, the Z 5 was slow to focus. In low light, the camera often took two to five seconds to get involved in the subject and occasionally did not find the subject at all. While this is not a problem for still images, capturing motion in limited light with such a delay becomes problematic. However, the camera automatically activates the autofocus mode in poor lighting conditions – a plus when you consider that the mode must be activated in the menu for the original Z 6 and Z 7. Low-light autofocus is more accurate and allows you to focus in difficult scenarios, but it is slow.

Because of the way the autofocus system works, the camera can also find it difficult to focus on dark objects. As with any contrast detection system, however, this should be mitigated by the phase detection points of a hybrid system. The Z 5 made it much easier to focus on subjects with a lot of contrast, such as B. Lights or a bright object on a dark background, but it shouldn't be as hard as it is on dark objects. It's a hybrid autofocus system that only acts as a contrast agent in some cases, and that's disappointing.

Low-light autofocus was a complaint on the Z 6 and even the Z 7 with a tendency to get hit or miss, but the Z 5's autofocus in limited light is consistently poor. In comparison, the Z 6 is rated in such a way that it reaches -6 EV in poor lighting conditions, whereas the Z 5 is only -3.5.

Hillary K. Grigonis / Digital Trends

What makes autofocus really disappointing in low light is that the Z 5 would otherwise be an excellent camera in the dark. The five-axis stabilization in the body is solid. If I did everything in my power to help the camera stay close to a tripod – holding my breath and supporting the camera with my elbows – I could get close to one with the kit lens at 24mm Shoot down for half a second. This is an excellent system for the price of the camera, but the slow autofocus in low light makes it difficult to take pictures before the camera even has to go that low. Of course, stabilization isn't just for low light – stabilization comes in handy when you're working with telephoto lenses.

Continuous autofocus provides clear, slow-action photos most of the time, although roughly half of the shots where the subject came directly on the camera were soft. It is not intended for action, but in general use it will take some sharp shots, such as taking pictures of children or people moving at walking pace.

The focus system recognizes eyes pretty easily and quickly.

The Z 5's autofocus isn't bad, however. Eye AF worked well and even outperforms the more expensive Canon EOS R6 when it comes to focusing on the lashes when shooting from a high angle. The focus system recognizes eyes pretty easily and quickly. The system is not fast enough when doing sports, for example, but as already mentioned, the Z 5 is not an action camera. Pet Eye AF is included but I couldn't get it to work on my cat. (To be fair, I couldn't use the Canon version on my cat either.)

The Z 5 adds a new option for autofocus bracketing that automatically adjusts the focal length between shots in a series in order to later create a focus stack on a computer. The new function is easy to use for anyone who has previously worked with Nikon bracketing or time lapse. However, the recordings are activated by pressing Start in the menu. This means that you will see the menu in the viewfinder and not be able to perfect the composition before you hit start. It's a usability bug that we hope will be improved in later firmware updates.

Excellent pictures and videos

The Z 5 makes fewer sacrifices when it comes to image quality. With a 24.3 megapixel full-frame sensor, the Z 5 only has a slightly lower resolution than the more expensive Z 6. The larger sensor size makes it easier to create bokehs with the kit as well and offers a lot of flexibility in the post. The detail is good, and when it's perfectly focused, even the kit lens is pretty sharp.

ISO 12800 with noise reduction and harvest Hillary K. Grigonis / Digital Trends

A lower resolution is a good sign of ISO, and under perfect conditions I was able to bring out the noise of an ISO 12800 shot with little loss of detail. Photos are best kept under ISO 6400, which has noticeable color noise but can be easily corrected with software.

The color was what I would expect from a Nikon DSLR – broadly accurate, with the occasional tendency to skew the white balance a bit green for my tastes. Skin tones are rendered pretty well.

RAW files are also what I would expect from an entry-level full-screen Nikon DSLR. I was able to restore a good amount of detail and even texture from the shadows until I almost inverted a silhouette. As with almost any camera, it is harder to recreate blown highlights, and photographers should be best wrong on the too dark, not too bright side.

The Nikon Z 5 offers 4K video, but with a 1.7x crop and without all the frills of the Z 6 and Z 7, such as. B. N-Log. The 1.7x crop means both light loss and lenses aren't that great, but this isn't uncommon for an entry-level option. As with the pictures, colors and sharpness are consistently good, and the Z 5 searches less sharply than a Nikon DSLR while taking the picture.

Our opinion

The Nikon Z 5 is a good full-frame camera for entry-level users – but slow autofocus in low light, inconsistent accuracy in mixed lighting, and a sluggish burst mode prevent the camera from being a great full-screen option for entry-level users. The Nikon Z 5 is a great option for avid photographers, influencers, and other creative types who regularly take photos in good light.

Image quality and design are both superb, while slower performance is Nikon's clear differentiator when it comes to the extra $ 400 for the Z 6. If the Z 5 were $ 1,000 or even $ 1,200, this would be an easy recommendation. But at just $ 400 less than a significantly more powerful camera, it's a tough sell.

How long it will take?

Camera bodies typically last a few years, and the Z 5 is likely no exception. The weather seal and materials are not as high quality as the Z 6 and Z 7, but with the right care the camera housing should continue to serve you well in the future.

Is there a better alternative?

If you want a full-screen Nikon and you can't spend more than $ 1,400, no. Even the aging Nikon D610 only focuses on -1 EV and costs $ 200 more at list price. Waiting for an additional $ 400 for the Z 6, however, is a good idea for any photographer who regularly takes photos indoors or of moving subjects.

However, the full frame mirrorless market is crowded for photographers who have not yet invested in a lens system or are ready to make a switch. The Canon EOS RP has a better autofocus system thanks to the dual pixel technology and is designed for a focus of only -5 EV, but it lacks the stabilization in the body. Outside of these two models and older generations, it's hard to find another camera for $ 1,400. The Sony A7 III is a faster camera but costs $ 600 more. The very new Panasonic Lumix S5 offers better autofocus, advanced video modes, and faster bursts, but again is in the $ 2,000 range, not less than $ 1,500.

Moving to the Crop Sensor category fixes these performance issues, but it sacrifices the larger sensor. Nikon's own Z 50 is much faster with similar ergonomics and lens compatibility, but autofocus in low light is still not ideal. The Fujifilm X-T30 has a faster burst, more video capabilities and great autofocus, but it is not stabilized. The Sony a6600 offers fast burst and autofocus while maintaining stabilization, but it also has this smaller sensor.

Should you buy it?

Buy the Nikon Z 5 if you want a full-screen Nikon, take pictures outdoors in good light, and can't spend more than $ 1,400. However, if you're planning on taking a lot of shots in sub-ideal conditions, including low-light or fast-moving subjects, avoid the Z 5. Wait until you can save another $ 400 on the Z 6, or pull a crop sensor or the unstabilized EOS RP.

Editor's recommendations

07 Sep

Blog

Unagi Model One E500 E-Scooter Review: Classy Commuter

September 7, 2020
Posted by Samson

Unagi Model One E500

"The Unagi has been carefully designed and is a scooter that makes a statement."

Stylish, noble looks
Loaded with well thought-out functions
Robust construction
Customizable performance for different levels of difficulty

Expensive for its top speed and range

There are plenty of capable e-scooters from companies like Bird, Xiaomi, and Razor for half the price or less Unagis Model One E500. However, no other model combines the refined design, build quality and driving characteristics of the Unagi. When you're selling a personal transportation device for just under $ 1,000 against a strong bunch of competitors that go out the door for $ 350- $ 500, you should be better delivering in every way and over-delivering where it matters . And that's exactly what Unagi does with Model One.

Unagi Model One E500 front left

Unagi sells the One E500 model with two 250-watt, 16-newton-meter electric motors, one on each wheel, for $ 990. The One E250 model has a single motor on the front wheel and is priced at $ 840. If, in my opinion, you're already paying a premium price for the Model One's design and build quality, the extra $ 150 is well worth the price for the extra torque. Unagi rates the E250 for 6-degree inclines, but the E500 for 15-degree hills.

I tested a gray Unagi Model One E500. The E250 and E500 are also available in matte black, scarlet red, cosmic blue or sea salt, a very light gray. If you still want more customization, Unagi sells the twin-engine One500 of the Model One for $ 1,290 with many premium options for customization. The company will also work with you if you want to use your own design for your roller finish.

The Model One's handle folds up with a clever one-finger trigger and clicks into place for easy carrying. The E500 weighs just 26.5 pounds, which adds to its appeal for urban commutes, especially when dealing with stairs.

Build and build

The technical data sheets for many e-scooters read almost the same, but the Model One stands out. Carefully selected component materials, intuitive controls and cleverly designed, unique functions make the Unagi something special. From magnesium alloy handlebars to tailor-made solid rubber tires with integrated air suspension, every part of the One model is a boaster. Even the one-of-a-kind peek-a-boo stand, usually a cumbersome addition if any, is a clever functional detail. The Unagi Model One is a perfectly functioning mid-range electric scooter and an art of micro-mobility.

However, Model One does not emphasize form over function. Every design and component decision improves the strength of this e-scooter, increases its performance, or improves the user experience.

Unagi Model One components The Unagi Model One E500 comes fully assembled, but those are the parts.

Let's start at the bottom. The Model One's deck is made from a single piece of machined aluminum for light weight without compromising stiffness, and is covered with embedded silicon for traction.

The Unagi's custom-made 7.5 inch solid rubber wheels cannot go flat because you do not inflate these tires. Instead, thin cutouts in the wheel deform when you roll over obstacles and smooth the ride like a conventional tire.

Bows to both technology and tradition, the One model has two braking systems. Both bikes have electronic anti-lock braking systems with variable force control. Traditionalists can activate a friction brake on the rear wheel by stepping a heel on the rear fender.

Every part of the Model One is a braggart.

The 250 watt front and rear wheel motors of the E500 combine 500 watts with a peak output of 1,000 watts. They also deliver plenty of torque for typical flat urban roads. The neodymium magnets of the motors are protected from overheating by a continuous monitoring system. There are three modes of operation: Eco, recommended for beginners, limits the top speed to 9 to 11 miles per hour; Standard increases the maximum to 11 to 13 mph; Pro allows you to get the Model One up to a maximum of 15 to 17 mph. Single and twin engine versions of the Model 1 have the same top speed, but the E500's double the torque gets you there faster and handles inclines better. These speeds work well for urban commutes, although you may want a faster top end if you're driving in suburbs or rural areas. You may notice the top speed of 20 mph on the Unagi website – there is a rumored handlebar button code that removes the cruise control. I left it in stock and hit a maximum of 16 mph during my test drives.

As with all e-scooters and e-bikes, the Unagi's top speed will vary based on many factors, including gradient, temperature, and rider weight. While typical e-scooters have weight restrictions of 225 pounds for driver and cargo, the Model One can carry up to 275 pounds, a tribute to the e-scooter's deck strength and engine torque.

A 9,000 mAh lithium-ion battery delivers the stated range of 15.5 miles per charge, which varies primarily based on speed, incline and rider weight. Here, too, it is sufficient for typical urban use. At 26.5 pounds, the Unagi is light enough to drag yourself into a building and recharge during the work day – it only takes four to five hours.

With the folded tube on the Unagi Model One, it's easy to carry the 26.5 pound e-scooter.

Exotic materials help keep this weight down; Unagi claims that the TORAY carbon fiber used in the Unagi's lightweight tube is the same used to build Elon Musk's Space-X rockets and that the handlebar is made from a magnesium alloy. When it is time to fold, the patented one-button folding mechanism works smoothly and holds securely.

Unagi Model One E500 dashboard

The handlebars hold the throttle and brakes of the scooter, the horn, the light control and the drive and mode control buttons.

Unagi Model One (center) rear light From left to right: Juiced Bikes Scorpion E-Bike, Unagi Model One E500 E-Scooter and Super 73 S1 E-Bike.

In addition to the side reflectors on both wheels, the One model has a 47 lumen LED front light and a red LED at the rear. In the photos above you can see the front and rear LEDs on the Unagi Model One E500 very early one morning on my street, for comparison between a Juiced Bikes Scorpion and a Super 73 S1.

horse riding

Unlike some of the fat-tire e-bikes I tested, I wasn't interested in riding the Unagi off-road or on the beaches we live on in North Carolina. Instead, I looked for experience in the city and our neighborhood to see how the E500 behaves as convenient city traffic.

You can choose to run the E500 with just one engine or both engines, which provides an extra dose of torque. This winding power will get you up to speed and uphill. Battery range and top speed are the same regardless of the drive configuration selected. Therefore, there is no great incentive to drive at half power.

Eco mode is a great option for beginners to stay below 18 km / h, but I quickly got addicted to Pro mode's pull mode. With both engines in play, you need to be ready for this machine to take off. It's also a mini wake-up call for the first time.

The Unagi Model One is a classic ride with sleek looks and design features.

The E500 accelerates quickly up to 13-14 mph and then at a leisurely pace it reaches its top speed of 17 mph. Fifteen miles an hour feels faster on a scooter than an e-bike, but it's not that fast, and I found it easy to maintain, comfortable. The super smooth gas and the brake create trust and distinguish the Unagi. Many e-bikes have choppy throttles and brakes that seem to toggle between on and off, which can lead to unexpectedly abrupt changes in speed. I was also pleased to find that the solid rubber, vented tires actually smoothed the ride.

As with all light two-wheelers, changing direction is easy – sometimes too easy. When I was driving in our neighborhood at the beginning of my tests, I saw our postman pull up in their vehicle across the street. I smiled and waved, and when I did, I was quickly grateful for the Unagi's electronic anti-lock brakes because I almost ran into their door. The One model is perfect as a steering vehicle, but you have to be willing to change direction even with small body weight shifts. Once I got used to the responsiveness of the e-scooter, the Unagi's solid component structure helped with cornering and with precisely maintaining the desired driving line.

Our opinion

Unagi Model One E500 at the marina

The Unagi Model One E500 is an attractive, stylish e-scooter with a restrained appearance – at least with a medium gray finish. Transporting the E500 is a breeze, and the granular controls and solid, responsive driving behavior quickly instill confidence. This ride fulfills its design function perfectly. It's not a high-performance scooter and would soon be out of its element in almost any off-road situation. But it's not built to race or drive in the rough. The Unagi Model One is a classic, nifty urban commuter. The Model One costs more than you'd have to spend on an e-scooter with similar speed and range specifications, but it's definitely worth the extra cost. While I had the Unagi, I was seriously thinking about showing it as art in our home.