11 Jun
Blog

Dell XPS 15 (9500) Review: The Best 15-inch Laptop

dell xps 15 9500 review 2020 03

"The elegant design and impressive performance of the Dell XPS 15 make it an excellent choice for creative people."

  • Efficient design

  • An additional Thunderbolt 3 port

  • World class display

  • Excellent performance

Dell hit 15 gold with the XPS. It was the perfect alternative to the MacBook Pro 15-inch, a laptop with problems ranging from thermal throttling to unreliable keyboards.

But now that Apple has the 16-inch MacBook Pro, the ball is back on Dell's pitch. The new XPS 15 is the answer. With improvements to almost every aspect of the design, this is the biggest revision of the XPS 15 since its debut.

Is this the ultimate premium laptop for creative people?

design

Known and yet fresh. That's how Dell describes the new XPS 15, and I have to agree.

The look of the Dell XPS 15 has not changed in almost five years. It took a long time to redesign, especially with all the advances the XPS 13 has received over the years.

Almost every aspect of the XPS 15 has been updated in some way. The only design elements that have remained intact are the black carbon fiber fabric used in the palm rests and the aluminum on the lid. The use of aluminum and carbon fiber makes the XPS 15 look like an XPS product, but this is where familiarity ends.

The first thing you'll notice is the display. The XPS 15 now has an aspect ratio of 16:10 for a slightly larger screen. I really like this choice. It made a difference with the XPS 13, and with the larger XPS 15 it made an even bigger difference.

More screen and less wasted space are always good.

The screen measures 15.6 inches and offers a resolution of 3,840 x 2,400. That's more pixels than a conventional 4K screen and a higher pixel density than the 16-inch MacBook Pro. Angry.

Of course, a bigger screen generally means a bigger laptop. Not here. Despite the larger display, the dimensions of the new laptop roughly correspond to those of the previous model. It still weighs only 4 pounds (or 4.5 for the version with the larger battery) and is 0.71 inches thick. More screen and less wasted space are always good.

This emphasis on efficiency also applies to other areas. The keyboard has a wider, more comfortable layout with larger keycaps and a lot of travel. The touchpad is significantly larger and now corresponds to the size of the MacBook Pro 16 inches. However, you don't need to worry about it being too big – the palm rejection is as good as it gets.

My device had a problem with the touchpad. When pressed, it moves slightly as if it were working, but does not register a click. I learned that I have to push harder for it to work as expected. It's annoying with an otherwise excellent tracking experience.

There's no question that some design elements of the laptop were inspired by the MacBook Pro 16-inch, but it doesn't feel like a copycat. The look is XPS through and through.

The port selection has been reduced this time and the HDMI and USB-A ports have been replaced by plenty of USB-C. Two of them are Thunderbolt 3 ports and one is a standard USB-C 3.1 port. Fortunately, Dell has kept the SD card slot, which is a great blessing for creatives. No doubt some of them will miss their old peripheral ports like a wired mouse, but more future-proof, more powerful ports like Thunderbolt 3 are never a bad thing.

Display and speakers

Dell boasted of its new speakers, which are now located directly on the keyboard deck. The placement offers a much more satisfying audio experience than in previous years, and more bass can be heard here than I've ever heard of an XPS product.

However, this doesn't mean that it competes with the MacBook Pro 16-inch. It still fades in terms of clear bass and full mids. The speakers of the XPS 15 are even thinner than the 13-inch MacBook Pro.

If you are a video or photo editor, you will love this screen.

The display and speakers have been redesigned for the better. The larger panel that Dell chose is as good as they come. Although it is an LED (not OLED), 100% was achieved in both sRGB and Adobe RGB color spaces. It also has one of the most color-accurate screens I've ever seen – even the MacBook Pro 16.

Although I miss the deep black and high peak brightness of the OLED screen (which is no longer on sale), this is still one of the best laptop displays I've ever tested. If you are a video or photo editor or even a graphic designer you will love this screen.

Of course, you do not get this high-resolution screen in the basic model. It's an $ 294 upgrade to make the 1,920 x 1,200 jump – but it's a must for creatives.

Battery life

Thanks to this insanely high-resolution screen, the battery life is impaired. Dell has put a large 86-watt-hour battery in this model, but the 4K + XPS 15 still only lasts about 6 hours with a light workload. Don't expect to spend all day outside of a store.

The 1080p version of the XPS 15 was a record for battery life in the past, but this 4K model sucks batteries away like no one cares.

It is particularly noticeable when you do hard work. I tested this with the Basemark benchmark, which puts a heavy load on the CPU, and it only took less than 3.5 hours. This is not uncommon for a 15-inch 4K laptop, but it is something you should be aware of.

Compared to the MacBook Pro 16-inch and other 4K laptops, the battery life of the XPS 15 is even.

performance

The performance of the XPS 15 has always been the most important feature. In contrast to laptops like the Surface Laptop 3 15 or the LG Gram 15, the XPS 15 is not just a larger screen. It is more power. It has a 45 watt processor with up to eight cores and 16 threads. It also has an option for a discrete graphics card and plenty of memory.

My test device came with the Intel Core i7-10875H, the Nvidia GTX 1660 Ti, 16 GB RAM and a 512 GB SSD. This, of course, is one of the high-end configurations that costs $ 2,200. That's expensive, yes – although it's $ 500 cheaper than a similarly configured 16-inch MacBook Pro.

The system measures quite well. In Cinebench R20 it stomps on the MacBook Pro 16-inch and the XPS 15 from last year. However, the gap in Geekbench 5 is even bigger. However, this lead does not hold up in real performance. It's 5% slower than the MacBook Pro in handbrake video encoding and 15% behind last year's XPS 15.

Video exports to Adobe Premiere Pro are a good challenge for both discrete graphics and a powerful processor. Rendering a 2-minute 4K clip for ProRes 422 took 8 minutes and 42 seconds. Compare this to the 9 minutes and 27 seconds for the Razer Blade, which is equipped with a six-core processor and a powerful Nvidia RTX 2070 for graphics.

It's a solid performance, though it's not earth-shattering. The XPS 15 that I tested last year did that in under 5 minutes thanks to the Core i9-9880HK. It was a faster, fully unlocked processor, and the 32 GB of RAM that was included in my test device didn't hurt either. The latest version of this unlocked 10th generation chip has not yet been shipped in the XPS 15, although Dell says it will be available soon.

While the XPS 15 is a powerful laptop, it is also a fantastic 15-inch laptop in general.

The Microsoft Surface Book 3 was another laptop that surpasses this XPS 15 in terms of video editing. Although there is only one quad-core processor, its powerful graphics dominate the Premiere rendering.

The XPS 15 costs from $ 1,300 for the base model, which gives you only a quad-core processor, integrated graphics and 8 GB of RAM. This model doesn't work nearly as well as the model I've tested, but should be more than sufficient for buyers who don't have a specific, demanding application in mind. While the XPS 15 is a powerful laptop, it is also a fantastic 15-inch laptop overall. The basic model is well suited for users who are looking for a first-class laptop for everyday use.

Gaming performance

The XPS 15 has never been a gaming laptop, and that hasn't changed. The system continues to prioritize processor performance, making the GPU not glow like a gaming laptop.

However, upgrading from the Nvidia GTX 1650 to the 1650 Ti offers a significant improvement in game performance that I was happy to see. It was 105 to 20% faster than the previous model and can play most games with at least 60 frames per second (FPS). In Battlefield V I had to reduce the settings to medium to get there, but in Fortnite and Civilization VI you can easily play at maximum settings and still get 60 FPS.

This is an important number because the screen is locked at a refresh rate of 60 Hz. Anything over 60 FPS is not seen.

The only game that proved unplayable at maximum settings was Assassin's Creed Odyssey. Only 26 FPS were achieved with Ultra High, 47 FPS with High (the middle setting of the game).

There are many more powerful gaming laptops out there. Laptops with more graphics options like the Surface Book 3 or Dell G5 SE are also better gaming experiences. But for those who want to use the XPS 15 on the side for a couple of games, it's just the ticket.

Our opinion

The Dell XPS 15 is the best 15-inch notebook you can buy. The design is beautiful, the screen is out of this world and the performance is impressive. The eight-core Intel Core i7 model I've tested isn't the most powerful version of this laptop, but with the Core i9 on the way, the XPS 15 will likely be one of the most powerful video editing laptops you can buy. However, it is not cheap. To get a model that is similar to the model I tested, easily spend over $ 2,000 on the combination of a premium case, a color-accurate 4K display, and powerful fixtures.

Are there alternatives?

If you want an even more powerful XPS laptop, wait for the Dell XPS 17. Not only does it have a larger screen, it also has a powerful Nvidia RTX 2060 graphics card for even better performance.

The MacBook Pro 16-inch is a good alternative, although it's a little more expensive.

How long it will take?

The Dell XPS 15 should last for at least four or five years. From the components inside to the durability of the chassis, everything is first class. However, the guarantee has nothing special. It's still just a one-year standard hardware warranty, although Dell offers premium care packages like extended support up to four years or accident damage service.

Should you buy it

Yes. It's the best 15-inch laptop you can buy, and an excellent choice for creatives who need a lot of power under the hood.

Editor's recommendations




11 Jun
Blog

Motorola Edge review: Stunning Display At A Reasonable Price

Motorola Edge Review screen angle

"The significant daily benefits of the Motorola Edge, from battery life to performance, outweigh the few frustrating disadvantages."

  • Great screen

  • 5G at a reasonable price

  • Outstanding battery life

  • Strong suitability for everyday use

  • Pretty, easy-to-use design

  • Fingerprint sensor is unreliable

  • Software can get frustrating

  • Camera needs to be improved

The Motorola Edge is so correct that I almost forget the annoyances. It's the best looking Motorola phone in ages, and yes, I'm counting the Moto Razr in that statement. The screen is a killer. I also liked to use it, especially because it's light, compact, and disappears in my pocket or bag. It's ideal for everyday use if you're not looking for a game-oriented powerhouse with the best camera.

However, there are some irritations in terms of build quality, security and software, which are very frustrating and are not entirely offset by the significant benefits. I've been using the phone for almost two weeks now and here are the good and bad details in more detail.

design

The Motorola Edge has been my favorite design for Motorola phones for some time. A main reason for this is the 19.5: 9 aspect ratio screen, which makes the body slim, much like Sony did with the 21: 9 aspect ratio Xperia 10 Plus. The advantage is that the phone doesn't need that much stretch, even though the screen is 6.7 inches and you can still reach the screen buttons with your fingers. It even fits in your pocket.

The screen falls over both sides of the phone in the same way as the Motorola Edge Plus and Huawei Mate 30 Pro, and helps you forget the large and slim aspect ratio by removing the side bezels. I think it looks great and although the functionality is shaky, more on that later, it gives the Edge a striking, modern look that is rarely seen on widely used devices.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

It's light at 188 grams, but fairly thick at 9.3 mm, and the body is very slippery. For this reason, a case for long-term use is required. The back of the phone is made of plastic, although it really feels like glass, but it has already noticed some uncomfortable scratches on the back even though it has spent most of its time indoors. This is unfortunate because I love the way the back of the edge looks.

Motorola’s decision not to make the phone very thin means that the camera module doesn’t protrude half a mile and instead is almost flush with the back of the phone. The Motorola logo is etched under the highly reflective black housing, which then takes on a rainbow effect in the right light. It is reminiscent of Samsung's aura glow color on the Galaxy Note 10 Plus.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

So all right? No not really. My Motorola Edge review has a striking seam where the glass of the screen meets the body, and it's not consistent around the phone. Run your finger along the bottom left and it's very pronounced, almost as if the screen glass was misaligned, while being perfectly smooth and fitting in the upper right corner. You also don't have to struggle to find this, as you notice every time you hold the phone.

This is a problem with waterfall displays because my Huawei Mate 30 Pro test model has the exact same problem. It distracts and feels like poor build quality, whether it is real or not. The Motorola Edge scores some important design points and can then lose as many.

Screen and security

The 6.7-inch OLED touchscreen offers a resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels, a refresh rate of 90 Hz and HDR10 support. The aspect ratio of 19.5: 9 is very cinematic and gives the Edge a screen-to-body ratio of 95.9%, which is only interrupted by a small selfie camera with a punch that is barely noticeable. The waterfall display makes the background image look great. If the phone is covered, a white notification light runs along the side, which attracts your attention.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

If you watch the ever stunning carfection channel on YouTube in 1080p and set the color profile of the screen to Saturated, it becomes clear that the Edge screen emphasizes the colors strongly, but never oversaturated. Instead, you get a wonderful balance between black and shadow with light blue and red, resulting in an engaging and enjoyable visual experience. Compare it to the iPhone 11 Pro, which has the natural color profile active, and there are times when the Edge looks just as good, and that's a huge praise indeed.

HDR10 videos can be played back easily, and some of the breathtaking films look even better when zoomed in, so that they fill the entire screen, which also brings the cascade edge into play. The audio is also good, with a single speaker at the bottom of the phone, as well as audio from the speaker used for voice calls at the top of the screen. There is a lot of volume and a decent amount of bass, but also a certain amount of vibration through the body of the phone. Overall, the Edge is an excellent media smartphone.

Motorola Edge fingerprint sensorAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

There is a fingerprint sensor on the screen that is slow, unreliable and frustrating. It often takes several attempts to recognize your finger, and then about a second to unlock the device, or worse, a second or two to actually activate the sensor. This means that you tap the screen and press the power button in the hope that it will wake up to make the situation worse when the software gets into trouble. Using Face Unlock as an alternative compromises security and isn't much faster either. Security on the edge is a disappointment.

software

My review Motorola Edge installed Android 10 with the security update from May 2020 and exaggerated the very easy adjustment from Motorola. Visually, it's very similar to the look of Android on a Google Pixel 4, with the app taskbar up and the notification shadow down unaffected and all gesture controls and notifications untouched. This is a good thing since Android 10 is easy to use, attractive and fast.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

However, Motorola has added a selection of tools and features, some of which have been successful. I like the peek display, where notifications are sent on the lock screen and more information is shown by touching the icon. The edge light effect, where the sides of the screen light up to alert you to a new notification, caught my attention.

How about the edge of the screen in general? Edge Touch lets you open the app bar and notification shadow from the side of the screen, interact with some app shortcuts, and generally use the phone with one hand. It's not very successful and has often misunderstood my touch. I switched it off. Even then, the accidental interactions don't stop. I often accidentally open Google Assistant and often find that I've moved apps around on the screen. Also, tapping buttons on the edges of the screen is frustrating because they often don't work.

Motorola Edge App Drawer "class =" m-Karussell - picture dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn2.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/motorola-edge-apps-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https : //www.digitaltrends.com/data: image / gif; base64, https: //www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7App drawer from Motorola Edge Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Motorola Edge Moto action menu "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn3.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/motorola-edge-moto-actions-640x640.jpg "srcset = "https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7The Motorola Edge Moto Actions menu Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Motorola Edge screen customization menu "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn4.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/motorola-edge-select-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https : //www.digitaltrends.com/data: image / gif; base64, https: //www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Motorola Edge's screen customization menu Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

An excellent function is hidden. Since some apps don't work well with the waterfall screen, especially if the text wraps around the edge and makes reading difficult, you can switch any app from an edgeless to a standard full screen view. It is in the helicopter view of open apps and by tapping the app icon. Very practical and a great way to avoid at least some of the interference caused by this type of display.

Most apps ran smoothly, but not the standard camera app. It doesn't want to be in a hurry at all, and when you try it, it crashes often, sometimes to the point where the phone needs a restart to work again. This most often happens when you open the camera from the lock screen, either after unlocking it or when you use the quick gesture to rotate your wrist. Motorola forces you to do this instead of adding a swipe icon. I missed various photographic moments while the camera app fell over for this reason.

camera

The camera app can be painful, but what about the camera itself? On paper, it's a solid performance with a 64-megapixel main camera with an aperture of 1: 1.8, an ultrawide camera with 16 megapixels and 1: 2.2, and an 8-megapixel telephoto lens for 2x optical Zoom shots. There is also a time-of-flight sensor that helps with portrait and bokeh shots. On the front there is a 25 megapixel wide-angle selfie camera with an aperture of 1: 2.0.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The results are good, but not quite as good as I expected, and it looks like Motorola still needs some tweaking. The differences in exposure and dynamic range between standard, wide-angle, and 2x zoom shots are significant, and wide-angle has problems, especially in difficult lighting. The colors are muted and the exposure is too low. Although this can be fixed with some edits, the shots can only be shared if you optimize them. This is not acceptable.

Shoot with the standard camera and the photos are generally much better, but exposure remains problematic. You can't always tell when this will happen, which makes it difficult to predict whether a photo will come out well.

I like macro mode, which can take some very detailed close-ups, and portrait mode is good too. Macro mode, however, requires a very steady hand, while edges when taking portraits can falsely become blurred. The night mode brightens pictures a little and without much influence on details. However, it's not a drastic change like you find on phones like the Huawei P40 Pro.

The Motorola camera app, if it has no problems opening it, is one thing apart. Motorola has placed the Google lens button right next to the shutter button, and not only is it too easy to accidentally press, it's also easily confused with the button used to switch between the rear and front cameras, which is annoying right on the page is placed. You also cannot edit the primary function switch. You must therefore go to a separate menu to activate night or portrait mode. Selfies in good light are great, with bold colors and lots of details, but in low light, it's not that good even in night mode, and edge detection in portrait mode is random.

Motorola Edge Review Standard "class =" m-Karussell - picture dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn4.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/motorola-edge-standard-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https : //www.digitaltrends.com/data: image / gif; base64, https: //www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Motorola Edge standard lens Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

motorola edge review wide "class =" m-Karussell - picture dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn5.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/motorola-edge-wide-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https : //www.digitaltrends.com/data: image / gif; base64, https: //www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Motorola Edge wide angle lens Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

motorola edge review 2x "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn6.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/motorola-edge-2x-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https : //www.digitaltrends.com/data: image / gif; base64, https: //www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Motorola Edge 2x zoom Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The Motorola Edge's camera is just not very consistent, although the hardware is good and it can take some great photos under the right conditions. It's probably all software-related, which means future updates can bring improvements, but the Edge's camera isn't currently inspiring you to use it.

Power and battery

The Motorola Edge does not use Qualcomm's flagship Snapdragon 865 chipset, but the Snapdragon 765G chipset. This will make many think that this is a “middle range”, but real-world performance is anything but. Ordinary, everyday tasks like taking photos, using email, making calls, and checking social media apps are as fluid and fast as you want them to be.

Geekbench 5: 1785 Multi Core / 573 Single Core

3DMark Sling Shot Extreme: 2800 (volcano)

The situation is different with the benchmark results. The closest competitor to the Motorola Edge is the OnePlus 8, which houses the Snapdragon 865 chipset, and which exceeds these numbers. Even the aging Asus Zenfone 6 with last year's Snapdragon 855 processor leaves the Motorola in the dust. However, it beats the Samsung Galaxy A51.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

However, the poor benchmark numbers do not lead to slowness. Asphalt 9 Legends is solid if you don't crank up the graphics properly, and DariusBurst is great too. No, the Motorola Edge isn't really for hardcore gamers, but it's okay for casual gaming. Motorola has added a game mode that minimizes distractions, as well as an option for virtual shoulder buttons that are easily programmable for individual games.

Motorola did the right thing with the Edge battery. It has a capacity of 4,500 mAh and it is absolutely no problem to take two full days, sometimes saving energy. However, if you add a few video calls, you will need to charge them sometime in the evening of the second day. Although my phone is currently mostly connected to Wi-Fi, the Edge typically ended a normal day with more than 60% remaining power, even when connected to a smartwatch and using voice calls, photos, and app usage. This is an excellent achievement.

It is quickly charged with the supplied charger with 18 W. Charging from zero to full takes almost an hour and 40 minutes and only reaches 26% after 20 minutes. There are faster charging systems, and unfortunately the Edge doesn't have wireless charging. Since my area is not a 5G coverage area, I was unable to test the Edge's 5G connectivity. However, I had no problems with regular calls and 4G LTE reception, but Wi-Fi sometimes failed when I was further away from my router. Many will also like to look at the bottom of the phone and see a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Price, guarantee and availability

The Motorola Edge costs £ 549 or about $ 695 and can currently be pre-ordered in the UK on Motorola's own website through the O2 network, as well as from retailers such as Amazon and Argos. A publication in the United States has been cited, but there are no details at the time of writing.

Our opinion

The Motorola Edge has strong advantages and disadvantages. The size, performance, and screen are excellent, and long battery life is a serious advantage, the camera is decent, and the price is reasonable because the phone has 5G for the future. These benefits pay off every day and make it very easy to live with. Elsewhere, it's not as good as it should be due to software and security vulnerabilities, but some aspects could be improved in the future by software updates.

Is there a better alternative?

The major challenger to the Motorola Edge is the OnePlus 8. In the UK, it costs £ 599, or $ 699 in the US. While not the most exciting phone you can buy today, it is very reliable and extremely powerful. It has 5G, ready for the future and more power than the Edge. This is the better buy unless you can upgrade to the OnePlus 8 Pro at £ 799 (or $ 899). Spend a little more again and the Samsung Galaxy S20 for $ 999 (or £ 799) is a great phone. If you haven't opted for Android, the Apple iPhone 11 is also an excellent buy for $ 699 or £ 729 with great camera, design, software, and battery life.

How long it will take?

While 5G is not an advantage at the moment, it will become more desirable in the near future and the Motorola Edge ensures that you are ready for the day without spending a fortune. It's moderately durable with Gorilla Glass 5 on the front and plastic on the back, but as I have already noticed, it can be scratched fairly quickly. According to Motorola, the phone is water-repellent, but does not offer an IP protection class. This means it's okay when it rains, but not if you drop it in the bathtub.

According to Motorola, the Edge is guaranteed to get Android 11, but according to the company, it is not certain whether one will arrive afterwards. Based on that, you should only expect one big Android update after purchase, and that's not great.

Should you buy one?

Yes, despite the inconvenience, the everyday life of the Motorola Edge is excellent overall, so it is still worth buying if you are interested in the screen and design.

Editor's recommendations




11 Jun
Blog

The Outer Worlds Switch Review: Another Disappointing Port

the outer worlds change the evaluation

The Outer Worlds for Switch Rating: Port tariffs bad

“The Outer Worlds is a fun game. It's just a shame that the switch port doesn't run better. "

  • Great world exploration

  • Well-written dialogue

  • No content is cut out of the game

  • Terrible step in the graphics

  • Bad frame rate

  • Sputtering and pop-ins

  • Long loading times

Just when it looked like the horde of badly rushed switch ports was behind us The outer worlds proves that there is always room for more.

News that The outer worlds would come to Nintendo's hugely popular switch console, cautiously optimistic. I thought it might have the polish that other switch ports were missing as no attempt was made to make up for the console's success. While this version is not an unplayable bug, which is more than can be said of some other ports, it is certainly not well made – and does not do justice to the original game.

A nice mess

The outer worlds wasn't the most visually impressive game when it came out in 2019, but it had stunning aesthetics. What he lacked in character models or high-resolution textures, he made up for with wonderfully detailed planets and a coherent appearance that underlined his snarky capitalist dystopia. When I played on an Xbox One X, I was amazed by the living foliage, the blinding sky, and the lovable rust buckets that were used as spaceships.

On the switch, I felt like I was playing a completely different game. The switch port has not met my expectations in many ways, and more importantly, it does not do justice to the unique style of the game.

When I took my first steps on Terra 2, the introductory planet was in The outer worlds I could immediately say that this port would be rough. Still, I made my way and was convinced that I would find the psychedelic fields that I fell in love with when I first played on Xbox One X. Then I realized that I was in these areas. And they weren't psychedelic at all.

The screenshot of the outer worldsObsidian

Textures look amateurish, and anything outside of your immediate area is a blurry mess. Not only is the bad graphics a big disappointment, it also makes it more difficult to engage in ranged combat. The almost constant pop-ins often took me out of the game and I was frustrated.

To make sure, I briefly revised the game on Xbox One X and PC to see if I remembered wrong. That was not me.

In fact, it was worse than I thought. Entire objects and details such as bricks, bushes or paths have completely disappeared. It's not just about looks. Missing objects change the overall feel of the game, as I now walked through a barren landscape rather than a lush planet. I have lost the feeling of wonder associated with exploring a new world.

Looks bad, plays worse

Play The outer worlds on the switch should be impressive. With more than 10 GB, it takes up more space than many other switch titles, and there are seemingly endless loading screens that indicate that a game is being created that deserves such a long wait. You can easily wait up to 30 seconds every time you enter and leave your ship or building and when you are traveling. There is also a lot of sputtering and lag, especially when it's outside.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and BioShock Infinite done. So why not? The outer worlds?

After a while I wondered if a game of this kind with reduced graphics would ask too much. Maybe this just goes beyond what the switch can handle. But The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and BioShock Infinite managed to make the leap to an acceptable level of quality. So why not? The outer worlds?

The switch port targets an inconspicuous 30 frames per second, but even that feels spotty. This is particularly problematic during combat, in addition to the rendering problems removed. In hand-to-hand combat, I swung wildly against enemies who had just dodged a hair, while long-range combat was difficult due to the unresponsive frame rate. If you wait 30 seconds to reappear when you die in the middle of this mess, the experience will get worse.

It's a shame

The technical problems are indeed insurmountable. They make it impossible to recommend the port.

Still, it's worth remembering The outer worlds is a great game. It's not the best game I've ever played, even within the genre, but it's a solid choice that delivers a decent story and doesn't go beyond the greeting. Fallout fans, especially those who love it Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegaswill love it. Obsidian, the developer behind it The outer worldshas worked on these two Fallout titles and the relationship is easy to see.

The screenshot of the outer worldsObsidian

The outer worlds brings biting wit in small details and dialogues, an abundance of characters that you can love and hate with the same passion, and an open world that is ripe for exploration. The world or worlds are smaller than the maps of other popular open world games, including The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the wild and Witcher 3, they're both on switches. But planet hopping is fun and I enjoyed seeing the worlds differ.

Even though I often wanted to run through my run because of the confused graphics and technical problems, I couldn't help exploring every detail. What does this terminal say? What does this message reveal about a character who has not been around for a long time and whom I will never meet?

Among the porting problems, The outer worlds remains solid and the port offers all the functions and story beats of the original. It's just a shame that things are not going better.

Our opinion

The outer worlds is a great open world first person shooter with well written dialogue and building the world. However, playing on the switch is a disadvantage for the original game. It often feels like a chore.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes. The outer worldson literally any other platform. It is available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Windows.

You can play under switch games The Witcher 3 or Breath of the wild, However, these titles differ greatly in tone, style and many gameplay elements. There is nothing like it The outer worlds on the counter.

How long it will take?

This can vary a lot depending on how far you want to go in side quests. If you stick to the main quest, you can easily measure 20 hours, but a predecessor will spend closer to 40 on the game. I played for about 30 hours and was picky about which side quests and companion quests I wanted to accept.

Should you buy it

No, you shouldn't buy the switch port from The outer worlds. Unless, and this is a slightly special exception, the Switch is your only gaming device and this game is your alley. If you don't have a PC to run the game on, a PS4 or Xbox One – and many players don't – then for sure. The problem is not there The outer worlds. It's like the game is so much better wherever you can play it. For Fallout or FPS fans who only rely on the Switch, however, it's a good title to add to the library. Just be prepared for an imperfect game.

Editor's recommendations




10 Jun
Blog

Lenovo Yoga C640 Review: The Ultimate Student Laptop?

Lenovo Yoga C640 Review C740 01

Lenovo Yoga C640 Review: The Ultimate Student Laptop?

"The Lenovo Yoga C640 is a killer value for students and budget laptop buyers."

  • Great battery life

  • Clean, portable design

  • Excellent ad for the price

  • Enormous value

  • Solid build quality

  • The keyboard is a bit flat

  • No Thunderbolt 3 port

You don't have to spend more than a thousand dollars on your next laptop. This is especially true if you are a student or a person who prefers office apps.

Lenovo apparently agrees, as its new Yoga C640 for $ 600 is specifically targeted at this target group. This is a very attractive price for a laptop that makes few compromises.

Unlike its adventurous predecessor, the Yoga C640 is a proven Intel laptop with a 10th generation Intel Core i3 processor, 8 GB RAM and a 128 GB SSD. Did Lenovo make the best laptop you can buy at this price?

design

The Yoga C640 has a fully aluminum construction that does not do justice to the low prices. There is a small piece of flex in the keyboard shelf and on the bottom of the case, and there is no flex on the lid. It doesn't quite match the build quality of some other Yoga models, like the much more expensive Yoga C930.

The lid can be opened almost with one hand, with only a little friction lifting the chassis floor off the surface of the desk. However, this is a 360-degree convertible 2-in-1, which means that the display changes from clamshell to tent, media and tablet modes. The tight hinge ensures that the display stays in place in all of these modes.

The Yoga C640 feels more elegant and modern than most $ 600 laptops.

Like many yogas today, the aesthetics are pretty conservative. It is a gray color in gunmetal without bling. There is no chrome stitch on the laptop, except for a small stain that surrounds the logo. It won't be noticed in a crowd, especially not compared to laptops like the Specter x360 13 from HP, the "Look at me!" Compared to the $ 650 Acer Swift 3 with its typical silver chassis, the Yoga C640 seems to me to have a more elegant and modern design. The same is true compared to the $ 560 HP Pavilion x360, which isn't as refined and slim as the Yoga C640.

The Yoga C640 is not the smallest 13-inch notebook. At first, the bezels are not huge, but not as small as the Specter x360 13 or the Dell XPS 13. This makes the case a bit larger than that of very small 13-inch laptops. However, the Yoga C640 is quite thin. It measures 0.67 inches thick, which is identical to the Specter x360 and only slightly thicker than the XPS 13. The Yoga C640 weighs 2.98 pounds compared to the HP at 2.88 pounds and the Dell at 2.8 pounds. Portability is comparable to these high-end laptops, although they are much cheaper.

The Yoga C640 receives the same type of privacy screen for the webcam that adorns the ThinkPad line. This is called TrueBlock Privacy Shutter and works similarly. Simply slide it over to physically block the webcam. I prefer the HP button on the Specter x360 13, which turns the webcam off electronically and hackers don't have anything in the system they can access if you want to turn off the 720p webcam.

Connectivity is mediocre even for a budget microlight. There are two USB-A 3.1 ports, a USB-C 3.1 port and a 3.5 mm audio jack. There's no Thunderbolt 3 port – not that we're expecting one for this price – and no microSD card reader, which is disappointing. Wireless connectivity is also a step back with Wi-Fi 5 (instead of the newer Wi-Fi 6 standard) and Bluetooth 5.0.

Keyboard and touchpad

If you like the typical Lenovo Yoga keyboard, you will love the Yoga C640. As always, it has a lot of space and a crisp mechanism. The trip is a little too flat for my taste, but I consistently hit about 90% of my usual 90 words per minute or so. I still prefer the keyboard of the HP Specter x360, and the new Magic keyboard of the latest Apple MacBooks is my absolute favorite.

Thanks to the Microsoft Precision touchpad drivers and a smooth and comfortable surface, the touchpad also works well. It's not a big touchpad, but it takes up most of the available space under the keyboard for a modern, efficient design.

As with all 2-in-1 devices, the display is touch sensitive and as precise as expected. Lenovo has added support for its active pen with 4,096 pressure sensitivity levels (the pen itself is an option for $ 69). This is acceptable at this price, and although I haven't had a chance to test the coloring on the Yoga C640, I suspect it will be as good as the rest of the Yoga line.

Windows 10 Hello login support without a password is provided by a fingerprint reader in the top right corner of the keyboard deck. It is very accurate and fairly quick – I never had to swipe again to log on to the Yoga C640. Once again, Lenovo has built a valuable feature into an affordable laptop.

display

One area where budget laptops are often neglected is the display quality. And that makes sense – manufacturers have to cut costs somewhere in order to fit in a cheap price range. After so much good news with the Yoga C640, I approached the display test with some concern.

As it turns out, I shouldn't have worried. According to my colorimeter, Lenovo chose an average display, that is, an average display for premium laptops. For a $ 600 laptop, it's excellent. The colors weren't particularly wide at 73% of AdobeRGB and 96% of sRGB, but they're suitable for everyone except the most demanding photo and video editors.

The contrast was very good at 1040: 1, which is above our preferred threshold of 1000: 1, and the color accuracy was excellent for an inexpensive laptop at 1.07 (anything below 1.0 is considered excellent). The ZenBook 13 UX333's display had slightly more colors and contrasts, but the Yoga's display was more accurate, even though creative people wouldn't like it. The brightness was her weak point at 242 nits. I like it when displays in brightly lit environments reach at least 300 nits for good graphics.

Still, the Yoga C640's display is comfortable for both productivity work and watching Netflix. The latter was made more pleasant by audio, which as usual had little bass, but was loud and clear and had clear mids and highs. You want to connect headphones to get the best music quality. However, you can flip the display and enjoy Netflix bingeing without having to worry about connecting an external sound.

performance

If you switch from the Qualcomm 650 ARM CPU of the C730 to an Intel Core processor, you can expect a leap in performance. The dual-core core i3 is the entry-level model in the current core product line from Intel and does not quite correspond to the four standard cores that you see in premium laptops. However, Windows 10 runs faster than an ARM CPU and doesn't give up compatibility with older desktop applications and peripherals.

I couldn't make a direct objective comparison between the two processors because not all of our benchmarks are run on ARM. I ran Geekbench 4 on the Yoga C640 and it doubled the performance of the Yoga C630 in the single-core test and was more than 30% faster in the multi-core test. With 4,670 single-core and 8,750 multi-core values, the Core i3 is far behind the next level of the core CPU, the Core i5, which achieved over 15,000 points in the multi-core test. A laptop like the Lenovo Yoga C740 equipped with the Core i5 is significantly faster with more demanding workloads and multitasking.

The Yoga C640 will be fast enough for office workers and students.

The Yoga C640 took almost 6.5 minutes to complete our handbrake test, which converted 4K video at 420MB to H.265. The Yoga C740 ended 2 minutes faster. Our previous low-cost laptop, the Asus ZenBook UX333, was completed around the same time with its 8th generation Core i5. Suffice it to say that this entry-level Yoga C640 is not suitable for heavy-duty applications.

While it's far from the fastest laptop I've tested, I found it fast enough for my usual work. For ordinary office workers and students, the Yoga C640 is fast enough to keep up with their work. Note, however, that you can upgrade to a 10th generation quad-core Core i5 and a 256GB SSD for just $ 170 more while keeping the laptop's budget and increasing performance and storage significantly. This is around $ 100 less than the comparable ZenBook UX333 (8th generation).

Note that if you are a player, this is not the right laptop for you. You're limited to Intel UHD graphics, which let you play older titles with lower resolutions and graphic details, but choke on modern things.

Battery life

Next is the battery life, the main strength of the predecessor of the Yoga C640. This year's model still has the same battery life of 60 watt hours and has a CPU that may be less efficient on paper. So I was looking forward to seeing how it was compared in our standard battery tests.

The results were fascinating. First, the Yoga C640 took around 3.5 hours in our demanding Basemark web benchmark test, which loads the CPU, an average score for a Windows 10 laptop. The Yoga C630 lasted almost 9 hours, a spectacular score. The benchmark was slower, but it shows that ARM CPUs can consume power even under stress. The ZenBook 13 UX333 took almost 5 hours to complete this test, making it a longer-lasting option for demanding jobs.

With a single charge, you can watch amazing videos on the Yoga C640 for 24 hours.

In our web browsing test, which is a good indicator of overall productivity longevity, the Yoga C640 took about 10.5 hours, an hour behind the Yoga C630. Again, the Yoga C640 did a good job on a Windows 10 laptop – for example, it surpasses the 8 hours of the Acer Swift 3 – but it's not in a completely different class. When I ran our video test, where a 1080p Avengers trailer was looped until the battery showed that the Yoga C640 shocked me. It ran just over 23 hours, the best score we saw in this test. This even exceeded the very expensive Dell Latitude 7400, our previous leader, by a full 80 minutes.

The bottom line: if you want to watch videos on the Yoga C640, you can do that for almost 24 hours, which is remarkable. When you do standard productivity work, you get a whole day of work with the laptop.

Our opinion

The Lenogo Yoga C640 is an excellent laptop for $ 600 and a very good budget option for $ 770 if you upgrade to a Core i5 and 256 GB of storage. It's well built, has great input options, offers good productivity performance and superior battery life for the price, and looks good too.

In fact, it is so good that it replaces the Asus ZenBook UX333 as our favorite affordable laptop. The fact that you get the flexibility of a 2-in-1 for less money is just the icing on the cake.

Are there alternatives?

The ZenBook UX333 is a competitive option if you only need a Clamshell laptop. Hopefully Asus will update it to 10th generation CPUs as it is limited to 8th generation parts.

If you can spend more money, the HP Specter x360 13 is a great 2-in-1 alternative. It's faster, has a better display option with its OLED panel, and is one of the hottest laptops ever.

If you are looking for a laptop with a 360 degree hinge, I recommend the HP Specter x360. It's small and nifty like the Dell XPS 13 and a little cheaper.

If you're a MacOS fan, you can consider the new MacBook Air. It's faster, has the superb Magic keyboard, and comes as close to the budget as you'll find in the Apple range.

How long it will take?

Thanks to up-to-date components and a solid construction, the Yoga C640 lasts as long as you need it. The only real limitation is the lack of Thunderbolt 3 support, but you can't expect this high-speed sport for just $ 600. As usual, the 1-year warranty is standard and disappointing.

Should you buy it

Yes. The Yoga C640 is an uncomplicated laptop set at an attractive price.

Editor's recommendations




09 Jun
Blog

Amazon Fire HD 8 Review (2020): Low-Priced for a Reason

amazon fire hd 8 2020 review 3

"The Amazon Fire HD 8 is the only sensible choice in its price range, but there are good reasons for that."

  • Amazon integration

  • Very affordable

  • Good battery life

  • Alexa

  • Software can feel like an advertisement

  • Slow performance

  • Below average display

The tablet market is in a strange place. Apple dominates and the iPad is our first choice for those who can spend up to $ 300. However, if you can't (or don't want to) spend that much or just don't like the Apple ecosystem, your options are limited. Amazon is one of the few alternatives that has been offering extremely affordable tablets for years. An updated version of the Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet was recently released.

Amazon's new Fire HD 8 isn't fundamentally different from the previous generation Fire HD 8, but it does offer some upgrades. For example, there is now a USB-C connector on the bottom as well as a new chip that offers 30% better performance.

However, the heading is still the price. At an extremely low price of $ 90, the Fire HD 8 may be the best option under $ 100 – also because it's one of the few options under $ 100. But what are the victims?

A basic design with a few quirks

The Fire HD 8 offers an 8-inch display with a half-inch frame around the display. The tablet is available in different colors, which is perhaps the most unique thing about it. These colors include white, black, twilight blue and plum. I checked the white model and it looks good enough – although the more colorful models have more flair.

As someone who normally uses the entry-level iPad for all tablet needs, the Fire HD 8 feels a bit thick at 9.7mm compared to 7.5mm from the iPad. Given the overall size, it's still pretty light. However, once you add a case, it becomes even stronger. Because of this mass, the tablet feels relatively tough. It is largely made of plastic, which does not scratch or dent easily.

The layout of the buttons and ports on the Fire HD 8 could take some work. The webcam is arranged horizontally rather than vertically. When used in the horizontal layout, the volume rocker, the power switch, the USB-C connector and the headphone jack are on the left. In the end, I didn't mind the layout, but it's a little strange to have the USB-C port on top and the power switch and volume rocker on the bottom if you want to use the device in portrait mode. There is a MicroSD card slot on the right to expand the built-in memory.

This is the first Fire HD tablet to have a USB-C port. You won't be charged really fast through this connector, but it is convenient to charge your modern devices with the same cables, and the inclusion of such a connector is somewhat overdue for Amazon.

There is a 2-megapixel camera on the back of the device, which takes mediocre pictures at best. The selfie camera on the front is also 2 megapixels in size. Even if it is suitable for video chatting, a better camera would have been desirable.

Overall, the Fire HD 8 is designed to get the job done. Due to the low price, you have to do without the premium feeling of Apple's iPad for beginners, but this does not make the use of the tablet difficult.

Mediocre display

While the design is okay, the display leaves something to be desired. This is also to be expected from a device in this price range, but it is still important to note.

The 8-inch LCD display has a resolution of 800 x 1,280, which is slightly below average. The maximum brightness is also low. Therefore, in direct sunlight, you may have difficulty seeing what you are doing. The colors are also subdued, making videos less haunting and exciting.

Digital Trends found that the display was somewhat flawed when reviewing the 2018 Fire HD 8 model. It is therefore disappointing that Amazon has not updated it. While the display does the job in most situations, you will have problems using it outdoors, and the films will not look as sharp as on more expensive tablets.

Poor performance, good battery life

It doesn't look much better under the hood. Android devices often work well when you receive them. In the next few years, they will slow down. Unfortunately, this is not the case here. The Amazon Fire 8 HD is ready to use.

This tablet is powered by a MediaTek MT8168 processor with 2 GB RAM and 32 GB or 64 GB storage. If you want to expand this memory, a microSD card slot is integrated in the device.

The specs are undoubtedly modest, and while the tablet performs well in everyday use, if you are interested in mobile games, you will need something with a little more momentum unless you are mainly interested in basic games. This tablet is not suitable for games. However, it should be fine for streaming videos, surfing social media, etc.

While the performance is somewhat disappointing, the battery life is solid. Amazon rated the battery life up to 12 hours, and I found that it could easily stand two days of moderate use. If you don't regularly forget to charge your devices, you'll find that battery life is more than long enough for most.

Amazon forward software

Aside from the price, the main reason someone wants to buy a Fire HD tablet is to integrate with the rest of the Amazon ecosystem. For those who use more stripped-down versions of Android on their cell phones, such as those on Google's pixel cell phones or OxygenOS from OnePlus, the highly optimized Fire OS on the Fire HD 8 looks a bit chaotic – and sometimes a bit dated.

Deep integration with Amazon services can be very helpful for Prime subscribers who already use Amazon's apps and services heavily. Thanks to the instantly installed apps, you get quick and instant access to services such as Audible, Prime Video, Kindle, etc.

Many of these services are also integrated directly into the start screen. Swipe right and you'll have access to your books. Swipe right again and you'll see videos. There are games and apps again. It's an intuitive way to scroll through Amazon's services. However, if you're not using every single Amazon service, these sections of the home screen are for promotional purposes only – in full-screen mode. For example, on the Video tab, you can only view Prime Video content. Even if you download the Netflix app, you shouldn't expect Amazon to recommend content on this tab.

Fire OS does not use Google Play services, so you can only access Google services like Google Drive, YouTube, etc. if you download them. Even then, you won't be able to access the Google Play Store without great effort.

The Amazon Appstore is also limited. There are many gaps in most streaming services, social media apps, and some of the most popular games. For example, you can't download an official YouTube app, and the fitness junkies can't download services like MyFitnessPal.

Then you have the ads. If you take full advantage of Amazon services, you may not care so much about them – but if you choose in general, as most people are likely to do, the ads will get a little much. Every time you see the lock screen, you see a different set of books or shows that Amazon believes you want to read or view, and Amazon regularly fills your notification shadow with other ads.

Alexa is part of the Fire tablet experience and works well. They have all the Alexa functions you need for the Echo, as well as the ability to control certain aspects of the tablet software, such as: B. opening certain apps, playing videos on Prime Video etc.

If you are something like me, you will ultimately have a love-hate relationship with Fire OS. It works great in many situations, but only if you're seriously connected to the Amazon ecosystem – and if not, much of the operating system is just bloatware.

Price, availability and warranty information

The slow performance, bloated software, and limited app selection would be unforgivable if it weren't for the price. At $ 90, however, there is almost no competition for the Fire HD 8. You might find a cheap Samsung or Lenovo tablet that matches the price, but otherwise you'd have to look for no-name tablets that aren't offered to everyone Advantage over the Fire HD 8.

Of course, this tablet is available directly from Amazon. You only get a 90-day limited warranty here, which only covers manufacturing defects.

Our opinion

The Amazon Fire HD 8 is a solid budget option for those who need an entertainment device or are connected to the Amazon ecosystem and are looking for a device that uses it. However, the device is far from perfect. It has a relatively poor performance, the software can feel like a big advertisement, and the display is not great.

Is there a better alternative?

There are no solid alternatives in this price range, as the available options come from no-name brands or are underwhelmed. It may be worth taking a look at a refurbished iPad or saving money for something better, like a cheap Lenovo option or the entry-level iPad – although the entry-level iPad still costs $ 250 on sale.

How long it will take?

You should get a year or two of normal use of Amazon Fire HD 8. Slow performance worsens over time, which you should be aware of as it is not particularly good at first, but if you only really use it when watching videos and browsing social media, this should be fine. Physically, the tablet is strong enough to withstand most everyday use, but you don't want to drop it or get it wet.

Should you buy it

No. Although there is little competition, the Amazon Fire HD 8 is too affordable by itself.

Editor's recommendations




08 Jun
Blog

Disney+ Review: An Affordable Ticket to the Magic Kingdom

Disney Plus lifestyle

"While the user interface is rough, it will be difficult to miss the allure of Disney's best films and shows."

  • Disney's best in one place

  • Every Simpsons episode

  • 4K HDR and Dolby Atmos

  • Impressive original series

  • Buggy interface

  • Wonky search

  • Not a recently watched list

It was easy to think for months before his debutDisney + than another streaming service. But as it got closer to the launch date, the opportunities became more enticing. Imagine: The splendor of ground-breaking properties worth a century, from Mickey to Marvel, everything on request. It's a fantastic idea, especially for $ 7 a month.

However, a streaming service is much more than an idea, and as the rocky start of Disney + reminded us, delivering huge files to millions of households via a pipeline scattershot is not easy. Whether it's a studio powerhouse or not, Disney competed against rivals that have been around for over a decade, and initially this type of delivery was pretty overwhelming.

In the months that followed, however, the Disney streamer evolved from a chunky, faulty, work in progress product to something closer to the polished perfection of many of Disney's other companies.

This is not a Netflix clone

Starting Disney + for the first time shows that surface-level design has a lot to like. An appealing layout of the panels above divides the content into five pillars: Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and (because Disney owns everything) National Geographic.

You can create your own avatar (and turn off background video in Settings), download titles to view offline, and stream on up to four devices at the same time.

Below the main window you will find shows and films, which are divided into helpful categories. These recommend what you should watch based on your viewing habits, display the latest additions to the library, and allow you to watch series or films that you have already seen. At the bottom of the home screen are curated collections that change regularly with topics like animals and nature, Disney Channel movies, beasts and monsters, Out of the Vault, and Disney Through the Decades, which, it sounds, titles from Categorize 1920s. A familiar control panel on the left contains search and start symbols as well as other navigation options. As expected, everything looks very similar to Netflix, but with a Disney touch.

In the early stages of the service, many users struggled to open the app or launch certain titles due to website overload (10 million subscribers signed up in the first few days), while slow loading times seemed taken for granted. There have also been bizarre pragmatic design errors, including the lack of a "Recently Watched" or "Continue Watching" section.

Fortunately, many of the early issues with the service have been resolved, from adding a Watch Next category to the ability for users to restart movies or TV episodes (another feature that was missing at launch).

However, there are still a few problems – including the Wonky search function. For example, if you want to see the original 101 Dalmatians, typing "101" in the search area will show some live action movies and a sequel animated directly on video, but not the original movie. This is because this particular film is called "one hundred one" in the library and the search system is not intelligent enough to find it. Some apps allow voice search directly in the Disney + search area, but finding a particular movie should be a lot easier.

A / V grade, with a hook

A driving force behind Disney's $ 7 value proposition is the inclusion of extras like 4K HDR, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos for select titles at no extra charge. Amazon does this too, but with Netflix you can choose the most expensive tier for this privilege. This option makes watching Disney gems like The Empire Strikes Back in 4K HDR with Atmos pretty epic, even if it's the “Extended Edition”.

(Note: As of June 2020, Dolby Atmos will be temporarily disabled on Disney + for all devices due to bandwidth issues during the coronavirus pandemic.)

But there are some strange obstacles here as well. For one thing, like most services, there are several device restrictions. Currently, the Apple TV 4K generally seems to be the preferred Disney + device for video and audio quality, with Roku's 4K streaming devices in second place (because they don't support Dolby Vision). Other devices like Chromecast, Roku TVs and surprisingly the new Nvidia Shield and Fire TV 4K sticks don't seem to support Atmos at the moment, but they do support HDR.

Disney +

It is more unexpected that the question of which titles will work as advertised still seems to be in question. Like the Star Wars collection, the original series The Mandalorian by Disney + 4K HDR and Dolby Atmos should support. But unlike Empire, I couldn't download The Mandalorian in Atmos on my Apple TV 4K. In the meantime, a colleague was able to download the Star Wars films and The Mandalorian in both 4K HDR and Dolby Atmos on a Roku Streaming Stick +. It is clear that there are still some problems to be solved.

(Note: At the time of publication. Disney has not released a comprehensive list of supported devices for each format. However, we assume that Atmos support will also be available for other devices in the future. Sequel follows …)

Content is indeed king

Access to most of the best Disney products of every generation is fantastic, although the user interface – and some aspects of the presentation – continues to cause problems.

If you grew up with Disney / Pixar, your brain will almost certainly fall into the nostalgically sunken place as you scroll through childhood titles. From sleeping beauty and the fox and the dog to the search for Nemo and Toy Story, everything is there. Mostly.

Your brain will fall into the nostalgically sunken place.

It is clear that Disney + is not exactly comprehensive even for older titles, probably due to licensing issues. I'm a big fan of those old 50s goofy shorts that "teach" you how to do things like driving or skiing – the latter is there, but the former is not. It's something like a pattern. A larger omission is the original Muppet Show, though most films are available.

It's not a big deal, but we hope that eventually everything will show up.

After an initial delay in collecting all Star Wars and Marvel content due to license agreements with Netflix or other terms, both brands are now essentially complete in the Disney + library. There remain one or two exceptions – like the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special, which may not see the light of day anywhere – but the service has practically become a focal point for fans of both franchisees.

In his honor, Disney even accelerated the arrival of some major releases to put them into service as quickly as possible in special circumstances. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and Frozen 2 were launched into the coronavirus pandemic both months earlier than originally planned.

The library also contains many natural shows by Nat Geo, and there are plenty of Disney Channel series for millennials, from Hannah Montana to Boy Meets World.

New additions to the Disney + library have appeared relatively quickly since the service started. 5 to 10 tracks are added every week – usually on a Friday. This content includes everything from fresh episodes of the original series to classic films and TV shows that were first added to the Disney + library.

As for Disney + Originals, The Mandalorian is the flagship of the service, but there's also plenty of entertainment in the reality series The World, according to Jeff Goldblum and family-friendly competition shows like Shop Class and Be Our Chef series. On the film side, the Disney + original features Star Girl and Timmy Failure are clever, but not necessarily a must.

Disney knows its audience, and newer original series like Prop Culture and Disney Gallery take audiences behind the scenes of some of the studio's most popular franchises and add another level of entertainment to some of the service's most popular content.

Several new Star Wars and Marvel series are just around the corner, but most will be available in late 2020 at the earliest (and possibly later due to production delays due to the pandemic). In contrast, Netflix has hundreds of original series and thousands of films. So it is certainly a debate between quality and quantity.

Our opinion

Disney seems to have spent more time securing content for its new streaming service than designing its user interface, but it has come a long way since the early days of its launch. Disney managers know that the allure of all of these legendary shows and films is hard to miss for a monthly fee less than what you'd pay to rent two films for the evening.

Is there a better alternative?

There is much. They have Netflix, Hulu (which can be bundled with Disney +), Amazon, HBO Max, Apple TV + and the list goes on. What Disney brings is something nobody else has, and that's the real genius of Disney + (and the impetus behind the streaming wars). It is something of a hostage situation. You have it, we want it. And it's very affordable right now.

How long it will take?

The new Disney streamer is going nowhere – the mega-studio will be there in the long run. In addition, I expect this service to continue to improve as Disney finds its way into the streaming world. Expect more features and fewer errors over time.

Should you buy it

If you love Disney, you want Disney +. If you love even one or two of these franchise companies, Disney + makes sense for cost reasons. However, if you're only interested in The Mandalorian to see what all the fuss is about and what's not particularly related to one of the Disney franchise companies, you can sign up for a month at any time, sign up through the best Sneak a show and get started Back to your favorite streaming services until season 2 is available. The decision likely depends on how much you value access to the Disney vault.

Editor's recommendations




08 Jun
Blog

Logitech Circle View Review: All About Privacy

Logitech Circle View on the edge

"This exclusive HomeKit camera attaches great importance to privacy from the inside out."

  • No additional app download required

  • The electronic lock helps protect privacy

  • Designed to work indoors and outdoors

  • Easy setup

  • A paid iCloud subscription is required to save videos

  • Expensive costs for basic security functions

I've been tracking Logitech security cameras from the start, starting with the original Logitech Circle in 2015, followed by its successor with Logitech Circle 2 in 2017. I enjoyed the plethora of accessories that the Circle 2 used as an indoor surveillance camera for the outside area as well as the "Day Brief" mode, in which clips were put together for a time-lapse overview.

With the introduction of the third generation model, the Logitech Circle View, these functions were dissolved. Instead, there is a big focus on privacy. The camera is even available exclusively for Apple's HomeKit smart home platform. Data protection is a hot topic among surveillance cameras today more than ever. Is the new Logitech camera enough?

You don't have to download an app

When setting up the circle view, I immediately noticed that no additional app had to be downloaded. Everything is done through the iOS Home app, so you don't have to register a new account or download an app – much like any other camera.

HomeKit optimizes the setup process. This is a stroke of luck for anyone who is not tech-savvy. After a few simple steps, scanning a QR code and choosing a routine, the circle view was ready to monitor my apartment. In a way, it is strange not having to download an app, but the obvious advantages of HomeKit's exclusivity are that it uses all of the camera's privacy features.

In comparison, setting up the ring cameras is a bit more complex, also because you have to download an app and register a new account. Who would like to remember a password? I am happy to just unlock my smartphone and use a native app. With Google’s Nest cameras, you’ll also need to download another app to sign in to your Google Account. Of course, it is convenient to use your Google account, so you need one less password to remember. However, you still need to download a separate app to access the camera.

Emphasis on privacy

Ring's problems have certainly changed the way people look at surveillance cameras at home, but we're beginning to see proactive measures to address the issue during the development phase – and Logitech Circle View is one of them. Appropriate measures are taken to address concerns. This is a relief as privacy is a top priority.

First, there is a button on the back of the camera that can effectively cut audio and video. This is useful if you are still paranoid that someone is watching on the other end. The disadvantage of this data protection lock, however, is that you cannot remotely turn on the camera with the home app. This is a useful feature for those who are concerned about privacy. Logitech takes an extra step by designing the camera to tilt all the way down to point to the base.

Logitech circle view down

Logitech Circle View rear privacy button

Second, thanks to the support of HomeKit Secure Video, the camera saves recorded footage in your iCloud account. However, you must adhere to Apple's 200GB iCloud plan. That means you have to subscribe to the $ 3 monthly plan. Unfortunately, the free 50GB plans for 5GB and $ 0.99 per month do not support video cloud storage, but you can still access a livestream and have two-way audio. Since the encrypted footage is stored in iCloud, there is little concern that a third party can view it. including Apple.

Designed for inside and outside

With the redesign of the camera, the Circle View does not support the multitude of accessories that the predecessor was able to provide. I really enjoyed how the Circle 2 transformed from a stationary camera into something that can be plugged in, attached to a window, or even battery operated. Nevertheless, the design of the Circle View with its metal base and matt surface gets a higher quality construction. It is a nice looking camera.

It is frankly a good looking camera.

It also helps that it can be used indoors and outdoors thanks to its IP64 degree of protection. The only challenge when mounting outdoors is to find a nearby outlet because the attached power cord is 10 feet long. Speaking of which, the cable cannot be detached from the camera because it is integrated. I prefer a micro USB or USB-C connector for the power supply, but it makes sense to integrate the cable for weather resistance.

Data protection comes at the price of functions

I welcome the camera's focus on privacy. Compared to its contemporaries, however, the Logitech Circle View lacks some urgently needed functions.

As a surveillance camera, the 1080p clips are sharp, filled with solid details and the colors are displayed precisely. It helps that the field of view is 180 degrees, which ensures adequate coverage, but there is a noticeable fish-eye effect. In poor lighting conditions, the quality of the film material becomes softer, but this is typical. When it is completely dark, the infrared sensors snap into place to illuminate areas up to 15 feet away. For small apartments (like mine) it is sufficient. It does, however, follow the range of other cameras, such as the 20-foot range of Nest cameras.

There are controls in the Home app that let you choose what type of motion the camera should detect. This includes people, animals and even vehicles. However, some of the more advanced features we get in other cameras are missing, such as: B. Zone detection and face detection. I would very much have liked the ability to select zones in camera view to monitor motion just because it helps reduce the number of notifications sent to my iPhone. Many budget cams actually have this feature, like the Wyze Cam V2 for $ 20 and the Blink Mini for $ 35. This is mainly due to the fact that HomeKit does not support this feature, but an update to the platform may finally bring it.

A relief to know that privacy is top priority!

I'm also excited to see how the camera can be used with other devices supported by HomeKit to improve its functionality through automation. For example, it is wonderful that there is an option to automatically turn off the circle view when it detects that I am at home (via the GPS location of my iPhone), but I also want it to work in conjunction with another gadget , maybe a smart lock to automatically record footage when the door is opened or closed.

Our opinion

If privacy is a top priority in your list for a surveillance camera, the Logitech Circle View is an excellent choice. For Apple users, this is one of the few options currently available on the market that support HomeKit.

Security camera privacy scorecard
Logitech circle view
2-factor authentication X.
Mandatory 2-factor
Privacy lock X.
Local memory
App lock
Detection zones
face recognition X.

Is there a better alternative?

The $ 160 price for the Logitech Circle View is expensive when compared to some of its direct competitors. Take EufyCam 2, for example. In addition to HomeKit, it also supports Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant with a recent firmware upgrade. Although it costs $ 220 more, you get two cameras instead of a single while offering local storage.

At the other end of the spectrum, the Ring Indoor Cam is a balanced $ 60 surveillance camera that has received some new data protection features and can be integrated with other Ring products for a more comprehensive security solution. If you're on a serious budget, the Wyze Cam V2 is an excellent budget offer for $ 20 and doesn't skimp on features.

Do you want more options? Check out our favorite smart home surveillance cameras.

How long it will take?

Thanks to its solid construction, high-quality materials and protection class IP64, the Logitech Circle View does not give the impression that it will soon go bad. In this rare case, however, a one-year limited warranty applies.

Should you buy it

Yes, especially if the setup is a breeze, you don't need to install another app and data protection is paramount.

Editor's recommendations




06 Jun
Blog

Samsung Galaxy Buds Review: Surprisingly Excellent True Wireless Buds

Samsung Galaxy Buds review full performance

"The Galaxy Buds are a valuable pair of real wireless earphones."

  • Six hours of battery life

  • Sweatproof

  • Light, comfortable fit

  • Wireless charging case

  • Only 7 hours of battery in the case

This review was last updated by Nick Woodard, employee of Digital Trends A / V, on June 5, 2020.

It's an exciting time for real wireless earbuds. With new chips that promise more compact designs and better battery life and finally make it real products, there are more reasons than ever to shorten the cable for your listening time.

Samsung Galaxy Buds is one of the first true next generation wireless headphones to hit the market and features the latest technology. With a battery life of six hours, a wireless charging case and a lightweight, nimble design, there's a lot to love about the company's newest buds.

Most impressive is that the Galaxy Buds feature set is available at an affordable price of $ 129. The buds were even bundled with pre-orders for the S10, S10 + or Fold phones. The combination of technology and value made the Galaxy Buds one of the best wireless earbuds you can currently buy, at least until the Galaxy Buds + came on the market.

Out of the box

The Galaxy Buds come in a small box with a charging case, a long USB Type-C cable, three sets of silicone earplugs and sports fins, and a small instruction manual. When you open the case, it immediately becomes clear that Samsung's successor to the 2018 Gear IconX is significantly smaller and lighter than its predecessor, so that it can sit more comfortably in your ears.

An ergonomic triangular design integrates the comfortable rubber ear fins and the soft rubber ear plugs and offers a very solid fit and an excellent seal. This is easily one of the most convenient real wireless earbuds we've tested. While Apple's ear-tip-free AirPods can be a bit rough during longer listening sessions, the Galaxy Buds are almost unnoticed after insertion.

properties

First of all, the headphones from Samsung offer a solid battery life of six hours per charge – one hour more than comparable Apple and Jabra models. It was impressive at the time of his debut, although the bar has now been raised. The Galaxy Buds + offers 11 hours of playback, while the Edifier TWS NB offers five hours of noise reduction and 11 hours without this feature.

Unfortunately, the impressive playback time is not answered with a lot of juice in the case itself, which is our only real criticism of the Galaxy Buds. The Galaxy Buds case offers only seven hours of extra battery life, while competitors offer 20 to 30 hours or more.

The most convenient real wireless earbuds we've ever tested.

This is less of a concern for Galaxy phone owners, as the case includes the ability to wirelessly charge from the back of new Galaxy phones (or a standard wireless charging pad). However, this means that you won't be able to spend days at a time without finding a charging station or outlet. However, plugging in your headphones after 13 hours of play isn't a big deal for most of us, and it's a low price for all the other properties of the buds.

In addition to good battery life and a wireless charging case, the Galaxy buds offer a number of cool functions. Changing songs or adjusting the volume is done, for example, using intuitive touch controls that can be adjusted in the Samsung Wear app. With the app, you can also choose between five different equalizer settings to adjust the sound of the headphones to your ears and your taste in music.

Perhaps the most useful feature of the app is "Find my earbuds", which does exactly what you think it does and prevents you from digging through the sofa cushions or jeans pockets when the buds disappear.

The Galaxy Buds are particularly impressive due to the use of the two on-board microphones integrated in each headphone. During a call, the headphones can analyze how loud the sounds are around you. To do this, use the microphone on the outside of each headphone when the ambient noise is quieter, and the microphone near the inside of the headphone when it is louder. You can also use the microphones to whistle the sound of the outside world while listening to Samsung's ambient noise mode, which even includes a function that uses filtering to emphasize the sound of human voices.

Both ambient noise mode and call mode worked well during testing, allowing employees to be heard over music without removing the earbuds, and to call both quiet and noisy rooms without missing a beat. Call quality isn't as good as Apple's AirPods, but it does the job.

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

Ambient sound mode is great for situations like running or cycling where you want to jam but don't want to miss a scream or car horn when you need to hear it. And that's not the only way Samsung has targeted its latest earbuds to those who like to sweat: The Galaxy Buds have IPX2 protection, which means they're protected from dripping water (or sweat). It's not as good as the IP56 rating of Jabra models like the Elite Active 65t, but given the fact that Apple's more expensive AirPods don't offer any water resistance, this feature is welcome. You'll have to pay $ 250 for the AirPods Pro to get Apple's water resistance.

I took the headphones on a 5 mile run on a treadmill and found them great for training. Their lightweight and compact design keeps them in place, and thanks to the IPX2 rating, you don't have to worry about them breaking a sweat.

Audio performance

The ergonomic design of the Galaxy Buds and the soft silicone earplugs enable them to seal very well in your ears, to achieve a warm bass and a low mid-range and to avoid hard, thin sounds.

There are no real wireless earphones that we have tested and that feel so liberating.

During my time with the headphones, I heard a variety of pieces of music and played everything from the Beatles to Kendrick Lamar. Overall, the headphones performed well on all pieces of music and offered a relatively flat response despite the playback, even with large differences between the genres.

My preferred equalizer mode was the "Dynamic" setting, which allows the sound to be adjusted to best suit what you are listening to. The "Soft" mode and the "Clear" mode were also interesting. The former allowed you to hear things with a rounder, less harsh sound signature, and the latter only brought out a hint of the glow from acoustic guitars and cymbals.

Although I preferred Dynamic most often, it was nice to have a choice when it came to adapting the sound to the music. One option I wanted was standard on all wireless headphones.

The Galaxy Buds don't offer the vivid clarity that we've experienced from real wireless headphones like the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 or the Master and Dynamic MW07 and MW07 Plus, but they deliver a pleasant and customizable sound for well below half the price could easily be enjoyed every day. In fact, their sound is just as good or better than that of the more expensive Apple and Jabra models.

The stable Bluetooth 5.0 connection also made it great when cleaning my living room and kitchen, so I could just put your phone on a table or counter and forget it.

To listen to your favorite music in all styles on the go, the Galaxy Buds absolutely serve their purpose, and the lightweight design underlines the luxury of not having cords. Honestly, there are still very few real wireless earphones that we have tested that feel so liberating.

Warranty information

Samsung offers a one-year warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.

Our opinion

With a host of great features, six-hour battery life, and a fantastic list price of $ 129, the Galaxy Buds are currently the most compelling true wireless earbuds on the market.

Is there a better alternative?

The Galaxy Buds + are the obvious option here, with improved battery life and other features for an additional $ 20. The aforementioned Edifier TWS NB may fit even better because it offers good active noise cancellation for $ 10 less.

You should also consider Amazon's Echo Buds. They are a great alternative if you are already deep in Amazon's Alexa ecosystem.

Other close competitors to the Galaxy Buds – Apple's AirPods and Elite Active 65t and Jabra Elite 75t from Jabra – offer steeper sticker prices, although you may find the earlier Jabra model at a discount once the 75t arrives.

How long will they last?

Samsung has made durable products in the past, and we don't expect the buds to be different. With replaceable earplugs and ear fins, we expect a long lifespan.

Should you buy them

Yes. If you are looking for comfortable, real wireless earbuds with excellent battery life, good sound and an affordable price, you have come to the right place.

Editor's recommendations




06 Jun
Blog

Sony WF-1000XM3 Review: Everything Wireless Earbuds Should Be

sony wf 1000xm3 rating 2

"The WF-1000XM3 is a groundbreaking pair of fully wireless earphones."

  • Excellent sound and call quality

  • Fantastic battery life

  • Great noise cancellation

  • Convincing app-based functions

  • Comfortable fit

  • No water resistance

  • A bit bulky

This review was last updated by Nick Woodard, employee of Digital Trends A / V, on June 5, 2020.

For years we have considered Sony to be one of our favorite in-game headphone manufacturers. The noise-canceling WH-1000XM3 (and its two predecessors) continues to top our list of the best headphones and deserves the publisher's award. When Sony launched its new true wireless earbuds, which feature the same amazing noise reduction technology that the company packaged in its award-winning over-ears, we paid attention to that.

The new WF-1000XM3 earphones are everything we hoped for. They offer significant noise cancellation, high fidelity, and the same great app-based features we've loved by the company for years. But in the period since its debut, some strong rivals have emerged. The AirPods Pro from Apple were launched along with the Google Pixel Buds 2 and the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2. We still highly value the WF-1000XM3, but competition has shown that Sony's performance is no longer unique.

Fit and ready

The name of the WF-1000XM3 confusingly bears an "M3" or Mark 3 that matches the hugely popular over-ear WH-1000XM3, although this is only the second edition from Sony in this special range of true wireless earphones. The new buds come in an elegant black-copper charging case with a flat top that is embossed with the Sony logo.

The USB-C case is of considerable size, but still fits in most pockets. With the flat top, you can easily lay it on top of surfaces when you have the buds. The cap can be flipped up to reveal the two earphones inside and a large red LED on the front of the case indicates whether they are charging.

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

The buds look good aesthetically, but there's not much to write home about when it comes to style. This is probably a targeted decision by the Sony team. Given that many buyers of noise canceling headphones are commuters and business people, it makes sense for the company to stick to a proven design with simple pill-shaped cases and a black-and-case – gray color scheme with small copper accents. They are bulkier than the AirPods Pro, but also inconspicuous compared to Apple's legendary white golf tees.

If you've been in the work world for a while, you'll know what it looks like: the headphones resemble miniature versions of the Bluetooth headset that you may have worn in the city in 2006. The oval shell connects an ergonomic interior with rounded acoustic chambers that culminate in soft silicone earplugs. Sony offers two different tip thicknesses in three sizes (small, medium and large), but they guarantee that you will find a pair that suits you.

Features and controls

There are very few wireless earbuds that compete in terms of features with the Sony WF-1000XM3. For starters, the headphones offer a solid battery life of 8 hours per noise-canceling charge and an AirPods Pro that performs best for 6 hours when the device is turned on. The case also contains a lot of juice and offers three full charges for 18 hours of backup battery when you use the headphones with noise canceling activated, and 24 hours without the camera turned off.

There's also a quick charge feature that lets you play back 90 minutes in just 10 minutes – ideal for those who forgot to charge before commuting or on short flights. However, a newer pair of Sony earphones, the WF-SP800N, has the XM3 beat in the battery department. The 800N offers 9 hours of playback with the ANC on and 13 hours without.

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

A glossy touchpad on the outside of each bud allows you to play and pause music, access your voice assistant, and change songs. However, Sony also has some other useful extras built in, including the ability to long-touch the left earbud to temporarily produce sound, so you don't have to take off your headphones while trying to hear announcements or order drinks on the plane.

Speaking of removing earphones like the AirPods Pro. The WF-1000XM3 has sensors that interrupt the music and eventually go to sleep when removed. When you reinsert it, playback continues or the connection is activated and re-established, depending on how long you have left it.

These headphones offer amazing noise reduction due to their size.

Regarding the marquee function, noise cancellation, Sony has packed the tiny buds with its QN1e noise cancellation chip (the same one in the popular over-ear noise cancelers) and attached two microphones to each earphone to hide the outside world. This processing works like an absolute magic and drowns out keyboard clicks, noise from public transport and loud calls in the office.

You won't get the same insane reduction you'll hear on the larger WH-1000xM3 over-ears, but these headphones have an amazing reduction in size and are linked to the fact that they are excellent passive noise isolation very impressed with her performance in noisy rooms.

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

Each earphone can also be used separately for calls or music, and the microphones and noise canceling have worked wonders for the clarity of the calls. The sound quality is similar to many dedicated Bluetooth headsets.

Unlike many headphones where apps are designed primarily for pairing, the Sony Connect app offers some great features, including the ability to adjust equalization, the level of noise reduction you want, and the button for Google Assistant – the primary voice assistant – assignable on these headphones.

They do not have an IP protection class for water resistance, so the use of the fitness room is at your own risk

For some, the biggest shortcoming of the WF-1000XM3 is that they are not water resistant. The use of the fitness room is therefore at your own risk. At the start and during the first check, you couldn't control the volume without reaching for your phone or calling your voice assistant. Sony has now fixed this with a new option in its app that allows you to choose between volume control and ANC on / off.

Typically, we would pursue a manufacturer of $ 230 in-ear headphones for lack of water resistance because one of the best use cases for real wireless earphones is in the gym, where sweat can be a serious factor. However, we do not believe that the absence here is a big deal for two reasons. First, the headphones seem to be designed for office and business trips rather than the Iron Palace, and second, Sony claims there have been no complaints about previous generation earphones breaking at the gym. Sony appears to be confident that you can use the WF-1000XM3 for workouts, provided you don't sweat buckets.

Nevertheless, the AirPods Pro from Apple manage to offer IPX4 with the most bells and whistles. Sony's proprietary WF-SP800N also offers IP55 water resistance.

Sound quality

Sony has equipped its latest earbuds with its proprietary DSEE HX engine, which is designed to improve the lo-fidelity sound for better overall clarity. It works wonders on the WF-1000XM3, combining noise cancellation with the best fidelity you'll find in wireless earbuds.

We listened to everything from the lavish pop of Gen Z icon Billie Eilish to the indie rockers Golden Daze, and we're all impressed with everything we've heard.

The highs are clear and crisp, and there is a strong lower end that never becomes a mud pit. Instead, songs feel like they have a weight and depth that we often miss with other pairs of real wireless earbuds that feel a little over the top in terms of their sound profiles.

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

Plus – and that's a big plus – the sound is customizable. If the sound signature isn't quite what you want, you can adjust it using the EQ settings in the app so you never get annoyed with the way the headphones treat certain genres. Do you want a little more shine and pool shimmer in your jazz recordings? Simply increase the heights by one touch. Problem solved.

While playing around with the EQ settings is fun, we've spent most of our listening time with the headphones in the normal, flat EQ position. This is because they feel very well adjusted at the factory. Everything we heard about the WF-1000XM3 seemed to be exactly what the mixing technician intended, and that's really all we can ask of any headphones, especially real wireless in-ears.

Our opinion

The first great wireless noise canceling earphones are here with a Sony logo. With the WF-1000XM3, Sony has managed to offer a pair of groundbreaking earphones that seem to be worth the $ 230 premium easily.

Is there a better alternative?

Apple's AirPods Pro has been launched for $ 249 since the Sony WF-1000XM3 debuted. Sennheiser's Momentum True Wireless 2 is also a good comparison, although they are more expensive at $ 300.

The actual competitor here could be internal though, as the Sony WF-SP800N outperforms the XM3 in key categories like battery life and water resistance. They may not sound as good or have the noise canceling capabilities of the 1000XM3, but the SP800N still sounds less solid for $ 30.

How long will they last?

Sony has been making great headphones for decades, and we have no reason to believe that the build quality of the WF-1000xM3 is different. It is worth noting that the lifespan of all real wireless headphones is limited by the lifespan of the battery. However, we assume that you will have at least a few years before the batteries show excessive wear.

Should you buy them

Yes – and especially if you are an Android user. If you want feature-rich headphones with real wireless headphones and like the sound of silence, the Sony WF-1000XM3 is still one of the best you'll find.

Editor's recommendations




06 Jun
Blog

Apple AirPods Pro Review | Apple’s Best Buds Yet

Apple Airpods Pro review DB 18

"Terrifyingly good, the AirPods Pro are a big win for Apple."

  • Clear, responsive sound

  • Excellent noise cancellation

  • Comfortable

  • Superior call quality

  • Wireless charging case

  • Questionable long-term battery life

This review was last updated by Nick Woodard, employee of Digital Trends A / V, on June 5, 2020.

I can't remember the last time an Apple product switched from a credible rumor to a product on the shelf in less than three weeks, but that's exactly what happened to the new AirPods Pro.

When Apple confirmed its existence, real name, and arrival date, many of us were surprised in the technical media. But here we are. You can now purchase the AirPods Pro – a new in-ear version of the radio buds with active noise cancellation – for $ 250.

I hadn't expected much from the AirPods Pro, other than the fact that they would almost certainly be off the peg. The standard Apple AirPods have never impressed me, although I will admit that I understand why tens of millions of people use them. AirPods are both a communication tool and a way to listen to music and movies. To my great surprise, Apple has a pair of buds here, and rightly so.

Still iconic, just smaller

Apple hasn't given up its golf tee design for the AirPods Pro – the tee is just a little shorter now. Instead of opting for a large disc or an oval shape, as we see with so many competing radio buds, the AirPods Pro offer a more covert aesthetic than their non-professional counterparts. Love it or hate it, the design has become an icon and even a kind of badge of honor for Apple believers.

The shorter stem poses my only real concern. Battery life. We know the battery is not replaceable, and although Apple offers a "battery service" option for its AirPods, it means a slight discount on a pair of brand new buds.

This is a problem when the life of the super-small, noodle-shaped battery in the standard AirPods is limited to charging cycles of 2 to 3 years. I am concerned that this problem will worsen with the AirPods Pro because the battery is necessarily smaller.

The Pro has a similar battery power as the standard AirPods and achieves a listening time of around 4.5 to 5 hours and / or a call time of 3.5 hours per charge. The charging capacity of the supplied wireless charging case (wireless) is more than 24 hours. The charging case is an upgrade for the standard AirPods. However, the battery bar has since been raised. Options like Sony's WF-SP800N offer nine hours of active noise cancellation and 13 hours of playback without ANC.

Here's a tip for you

Aside from the shorter stem, the most obvious visual change to the AirPods game book is the addition of a silicone earplug.

Instead of sitting outside your ears and shouting at them through the door and allowing so many other outside noises, the AirPods Pro use an in-ear design that seals the entrance to the ear canal and transmits the sound directly across the hallway to your eardrum. This seal is important to block out noise and, as a bonus, provides better bass response.

The AirPods Pro come with three sets of silicone earbuds – unfortunately not Comply foam people – but these are not ordinary earbuds. Instead of sliding (with difficulty) on a small knob, as so many other in-ear buds require, the AirPods Pro tips snap into place with a satisfactory click that is both easier to replace and as safe as the more conventional design.

Siri is always listening

As expected, Siri is on deck for iOS users and is constantly waiting for voice commands such as "call mom", "pause music", "how do I get to the gym?" And my personal favorites: "What does the fox say? ”

It would be more appropriate to call these "grip controls" or perhaps "grip controls".

If you want to control music playback, answer a call, or turn noise cancellation on and off without saying a word or taking your phone out of your pocket, you can use the touch controls built into each of the two earphone sticks. It would be better to call these "grip controls" or maybe "grip controls" because you have to grip and squeeze the stems.

If you are an Android user and want to access Google Assistant, you can download one of the many apps that the AirPods can use on an Android phone like an iPhone from the Google Play Store. If you're looking for native Google Assistant support instead, check out the Google Pixel Buds 2.

Let it in or exclude it

As is common with most active noise canceling headphones, AirPods Pro offer the option to either turn off noise or let everything in.

Apple calls the latter function "transparency mode" and it is a fitting title. As we found on the Beats Solo Pro, the sound fed in by the outside world is surprisingly natural – so close to just pulling out the buds as we've heard so far.

This is ideal to keep an eye on the bus that will mow you at an intersection. I wish the function would be adjustable, like in the Amazon Echo Buds, where I can choose how much of the outside world to dial in.

What is more impressive than Apple's transparency mode is how well the noise cancellation technology works. To be honest, I was shocked. Since Apple bought the company, I haven't been impressed by the noise canceling brand. So I didn't expect much from the AirPods Pro, but Apple's first attempt at active noise cancellation is right up there with Sony and Bose.

When I first pushed the second AirPod Pro into my ear (which activates noise cancellation – it turns off when a bud is removed), I had the same disturbing growl that I had on many when I first put the Bose QC 35II on years ago. The effect is immediately noticeable and very impressive.

I compared the AirPods Pro to the Sony WH-1000XM3 in any noisy environment I could use – in the office, on bus-lined streets, on a light rail train, and pretty much everywhere except on an airplane – and found that the Noise canceling effect between the two was practically indistinguishable. I haven't had a chance to compare the AirPods Pro with the Bose Soundsport Free yet, but I expect a similar experience.

Also a note on call quality. The Apple Airpods Pro hit the pants of the Sony WH-1000XM3 for phone calls. Not only did they master the windy conditions better, they also almost eliminated background noise. I was standing next to a bus engine during a call and it was almost inaudible. Bose is likely to launch a new product that is a leader in call quality, but the AirPods Pro should work very well for most users.

Clean, full, detailed

Just when I was amazed at how well the AirPods Pro operated noise cancellation, I was just as impressed with the sound quality. Sure, I'll look at the sound profile of the Sony WF-1000XM3 or the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 in a direct comparison, but the fact that the AirPods Pro even play in the same league is again a bit of a shock.

Hats off, Apple. You did it well.

I don't think AirPods Pro demography is the most demanding audiophile, so I think most owners will find the sound quality impressive. Buyers will be more than satisfied. The fact that the AirPods Pro can resolve fine details, has a full, rounded bass that is just as coherent as punchy, clear mids and a noticeable transient response that goes with some piquant highs is remarkable when you consider Apple's weak history in terms of sound quality, department considered.

Hats off, Apple. You did it well.

Our opinion

Apple's Airpods Pro doesn't have to be great for people to buy. Their simple user interface ensures that iPhone owners treat them as standard. All the more remarkable is the fact that they are great. Even Android owners might want to give them a look.

Is there a better alternative?

The Sony WH-1000XM3 mentioned above offers a slightly superior sound quality with a loss of call quality and a compact form factor. The Amazon Echo Buds are much cheaper, but they don't sound as good and are not as effective in noise cancellation.

How long it will take?

Based on reports from original AirPods that will die out after 2 to 3 years, I expect the AirPods Pro to experience battery failure in about the same amount of time.

guarantee

The AirPods Pro is only guaranteed for one year against manufacturer defects – this does not cover any damage. Adding AppleCare + for $ 29 will give you much better protection for up to two years.

Should you buy it

Yes. These are great compact, comfortable, and remarkably effective real wireless earbuds.

Editor's recommendations




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