30 May
Blog

2020 Toyota GR Supra 3.0 Premium Review: Return of the King

2020 Toyota Supra Review

2020 Toyota GR Supra 3.0 Premium

"Toyota's reborn flagship sports car was worth it."

  • Punchy acceleration

  • BMW infotainment system

  • Excellent cabin ergonomics

  • Overall refinement

Toyota is known for the everyday life of Camry and RAV4 and does not have many nameplates that cause excitement. That is why the return of the Supra is such a big deal. For Toyota, the Supra is what the Ford Mustang is, a legendary performance car with a passionate fan base. Like the Mustang, the Supra became a movie star thanks to the Fast & Furious franchise.

In contrast to previous Supra, the fifth generation 2020 model was developed with external help. It may have a Toyota badge on the hood, but there's actually a BMW Z4 under the 2020 Supra. The two cars were developed together, which gave Toyota a new Supra at a fraction of the cost of self-development. It also means that you can find German DNA on practically every inch of this supposedly Japanese sports car.

A similar strategy spawned the Toyota 86, which partners with the Subaru BRZ. We liked the 86, so can Toyota use the same magic with another partner? To find out, we spent a week with a Toyota GR Supra 3.0 Premium 2020 ("GR" stands for "Gazoo Racing", the Toyota division responsible for fine-tuning the car).

2020 Toyota Supra rear three quartersStephen Edelstein / Digital Trends

The Supra has a base price of $ 50,920, but the premium model offers features like Apple CarPlay wireless, an improved audio system, and a larger touchscreen. Together with an optional driver assistance package, the price of our test car rose to $ 56,615.

Design and interior

Inside and outside, this car is like no previous Supra. Instead of being based on previous models, the exterior design of the 2020 Supra is based on the 2014 Toyota FT-1 concept. The implementation of concept cars in production vehicles is always difficult, since concepts are generally not designed for crash tests or the ergonomics of the interior . While a significant amount of the FT-1 made it to Supra production, some compromises were made. The frontend in particular looks a bit bloated compared to the FT-1, which is probably a concession to the European safety standards for pedestrians.

Apart from the Toyota logo on the steering wheel, the interior is only BMW. The gear lever and the rotating infotainment controller come directly from the German automaker's catalog, and the touchscreen is located on the top of the dashboard and is not embedded in it like any other Toyota. The BMW DNA of the car is also shown in small details. To open the hood, you have to pull the lever twice and press a button on the gear lever to make it work. Even the doorbells have the same clear BMW sound.

The Supra has one of the best driving positions of all current sports cars.

It is not a bad thing. BMW knows a lot about the great interior, and the Supra is no exception. It has one of the best driving positions of all current sports cars. It is easy to feel comfortable, the low dashboard offers an excellent view outwards and all controls are easily accessible from the driver's seat.

However, if you expect luxury, let yourself be disappointed. This may be a BMW interior, but it's an entry-level version, especially compared to the Supra's BMW Z4 sibling.

The 2020 Supra is only available as a two-door, two-seat coupé. In contrast to the "Fast and Furious" -era Supra, there is no removable roof panel. The interior roughly corresponds to that of the convertible Z4 only, although the BMW offers a little more headroom. However, the Toyota offers 10.2 cubic feet of cargo space for the 9.9 of the Z4. The Chevrolet Corvette Stingray and the Porsche 718 Cayman have 12.6 cubic feet and 14.9 cubic feet of space, though divided between the front and rear trunks.

2020 Toyota Supra interior

Technology, infotainment and driver assistance

The Supra has the same iDrive infotainment system as current BMW models with identical graphics, menu arrangement and control dial. The standard touchscreen is 6.5 inches in size, and an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster is also standard. Premium models receive an 8.8-inch touchscreen as well as a head-up display and charging the mobile phone.

Since the Supra uses a BMW infotainment system, it receives wireless Apple CarPlay – the only Toyota model with this function. However, base models do not get CarPlay at all and Android Auto is not available. BMW plans to add wireless Android car to 2021 models, but it's unclear whether the Supra will get it too.

The infotainment experience shows that it is no shame to borrow from the best.

As with the entire interior design, the infotainment experience shows that there is no shame in borrowing from the best. The iDrive system worked just as well in the Supra as in other BMW models, with intuitive menus and a control dial that was much easier to use than the cumbersome touchpad from the Lexus luxury department at Toyota. The only blemishes were a screen that washed out in direct sunlight and an audio system that sounded more impressive on paper than it did in real life. (Premium models receive a JBL system with 12 speakers and 500 watts.)

The driver's standard aids include autonomous emergency braking, a forward collision warning, a lane departure warning with steering assistant and an automatic high beam. The optional driver assistance package offers adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, a rear traffic alarm and parking sensors.

2020 Toyota Supra infotainment controller

Experience driving

Open the hood of the Toyota Supra 2020 and the logic of the BMW partnership becomes clear. The German automaker knows how to build a great driver car, yes, but more importantly, BMW was able to equip Toyota with an inline six-cylinder engine. An inline six was the calling card of the last Supra, but Toyota no longer has one in its lineup. Instead of spending the money to develop a new engine on just one model, Toyota borrowed BMWs.

2020 Toyota Supra logoStephen Edelstein / Digital Trends

The 3.0-liter turbo engine is shared with the Z4 and numerous other BMW models, as is the eight-speed automatic transmission (if you want a manual transmission, get an 86). Our 2020 test car made 335 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque, but 2021 models get a boost to 382 horsepower and 368 pounds per foot. Toyota will add a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine to the range for 2021. All Supra models are equipped with rear-wheel drive to ensure the best possible handling.

Toyota says the 2020 Supra 3.0 can go from zero to 60 miles an hour in 4.1 seconds. That's about as fast as a Porsche 718 Cayman S (the basic Cayman is 0.1 seconds slower, but 0.1 seconds faster with the optional Sport Chrono Package). According to a Motor Week test, it's also 1.0 seconds faster than a 1993 Toyota Supra Turbo, if you're wondering how the modern Supra compares to its movie star predecessor. According to estimates by both manufacturers, the more powerful 2021 Supra 3.0 reaches zero to 60 miles per hour in 3.9 seconds and thus corresponds to the six-cylinder BMW Z4.

What differentiates the Supra from other sports cars is its maturity.

The Supra felt quick, but that wasn't the biggest impression. What differentiates the Supra from other sports cars is its maturity. It was comfortable and quiet enough for a long road trip and agile enough to make the back roads fun. The Supra offers a better balance between comfort and sportiness than its Z4 sibling, which feels more like a traditional luxury car than a real sports car.

Toyota has also achieved this with its own tuning. While some other automakers offer a confusing set of driving modes and expect customers to find out what works best, Toyota stuck with just two modes: normal and sport.

2020 Toyota Supra engineStephen Edelstein / Digital Trends

While the engineers nailed down some details, they missed others. Toyota could have spent a little more time tweaking the steering, which has the same feedback as a worn arcade game. While the Supra is admirably refined, this also makes for a less appealing driving experience. The car only really comes to life when you reach extra-legal speeds. The Supra was also not designed to drive with the windows down, a compromise that would likely result in higher aerodynamic efficiency. Lower the windows at more than the speed of the parking lot and the buffeting noises become unbearable.

Fuel consumption and security

The 2020 Supra has a total output of 26 mpg (24 mpg city, 31 mpg highway), which is identical to the Toyota BMW Z4 sibling and slightly better than a Porsche Cayman S. Over a week's drive, we have an average of 24 mpg in the car's on-board computer.

Since the Supra is a new vehicle, crash test assessments from the Road Safety Insurance Institute (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are not yet available, and predicting future reliability is difficult. However, expect the Supra to resemble a BMW rather than a Toyota in this area, as all of the main components come from the German company. This means that reliability may not be in line with Toyota's reputation.

Toyota offers a three-year comprehensive warranty of 36,000 miles and a five-year warranty of 60,000 miles for the powertrain, which are average for a new car.

How DT would configure this car

Toyota keeps things simple with just two trim levels: Base and Premium. You want to choose the latter if you want the most technology. The premium model comes standard with a larger 8.8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and a head-up display. On the driver's side, the optional driver assistance package, which offers adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, rear traffic warning and parking sensors for $ 1,195, is required to use all functions.

Earlier generations of the Supra have been well served by the aftermarket, and we assume that this will be the case with the new model. Parts may take some time to launch, but numerous upgrades should be available in due course. Papadakis Racing has already brought the BMW engine of the Supra to 1,000 hp, which shows that the engine has great tuning potential.

Our opinion

The wait for the Toyota Supra 2020 was worth it. It is a well-designed sports car that combines driving pleasure with everyday usability and sophistication. Some fans may not like Toyota's use of a BMW platform, but they probably haven't driven the new Supra. From the infotainment system to the engine, the BMW bits make this car so good.

However, this goodness comes at a price. The base price of the Supra of $ 50,920 undercuts the Porsche Cayman and the Chevy Corvette. However, if you activate the check boxes for optional technical functions, this gap is largely closed. The Corvette starts at $ 59,995 – just $ 3,380 more than our test car – and offers a different level of performance. If you're not connected to the idea of ​​a two-seater, you can also have a pretty Ford Mustang for the same price as a basic Supra.

For much less money than the Supra, two sports cars – the Nissan 370Z and the Toyota 86 – offer more personality. With available gearboxes and more visceral driving experiences, they leave the Supra out in sensations. However, no one can keep up with the Supra in terms of performance or technology, and the Supra is the only one of the three we'd like to take on a road trip.

Should you get one?

Yes. The Supra is a great sports car that you can drive every day.

Editor's recommendations




29 May
Blog

Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini Pro Review: Multi-Cam Magic

blackmagic design breath mini pro review hands on dm 10

Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini Pro

"The ATEM Mini Pro is your ticket to professional zoom meetings and a great tool for streamers on all platforms."

  • Very easy to set up

  • Incredibly powerful

  • No driver is required for most functions

  • Low latency HDMI output for gaming

Stop yawning! An HDMI switcher may not sound exciting, but this year the Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini Pro is the most fun for me with a technical product. Developed by a company that manufactures expensive, rack mount devices for broadcasters, this is an affordable multi-camera streaming solution for the rest of us. Finally, you can live out your fantasy of being an evening news director (well, maybe that's just me).

In fact, the ATEM Mini Pro (and a cheaper non-pro variant) has a more realistic goal that focuses on the rise of video conferencing from home: converting a real camera into a webcam. A computer's built-in webcam is mediocre at best, and even standalone USB webcams have limitations. With the ATEM Mini you can connect any camera that has a clean HDMI output (ie without UI overlays), including many mirrorless cameras and DSLRs.

The price for this category is excellent at $ 595 for the Pro and $ 295 for the Standard model. Many people have been interested in the ATEM Mini line again due to limitations in social distancing due to COVID-19, so both the standard and pro versions are reordered from large retailers. Blackmagic Design told me it was "to build as soon as possible", but it has proven difficult to keep up with demand.

To put it plainly, this product is more than exaggerated if you only want to use a single camera as a webcam. However, if you need to conduct more complex video conferences or YouTube livestreams or just want to specify as an additional participant in the zoom call, the ATEM Mini is a game changer.

Plug and play

One thing I've always appreciated about Blackmagic design products like the Pocket Cinema Camera series is that their advanced features don't clog up the elegant user interface.

The same philosophy is intact in the ATEM Mini Pro. In combination with the control software – the same program with which the professional ATEM switch is operated for $ 10,000 – the available fine tuning is almost unlimited. You can add custom graphics, program macros, control Blackmagic cameras, and more. It is stunning for the uninitiated.

Or you can ignore all of this.

In a world that is increasingly moving towards software interfaces, the ATEM Mini (refreshing!) Is a bit old-fashioned because it handles so much at the hardware level. No driver needs to be installed even with four HDMI sources. Simply connect the ATEM Mini to your computer via USB and it will appear as a selectable webcam in Zoom, FaceTime or other video conferencing and streaming apps. It is the definition of plug and play.

Blackmagic Design provided a Pocket Cinema Camera 4K to test for this test. I used it with a 12-40mm f / 2.8 Olympus lens (courtesy of Lensrentals) as an A-camera to get an adjustable field of view that was more than wide enough for my close-up video conferencing. I filled in the remaining HDMI inputs with my personal mirrorless Fujifilm X-T2 camera, a Nikon D780 DSLR and my Xbox One X.

Video newbies pay attention: all of these sources were originally set to different resolutions and frame rates, and that's … perfectly fine! The ATEM Mini instantly converts various signals into a single, uniform output. It only works as long as your source is not using copy protection.

Using the ATEM Mini Pro

With four numbered buttons, you can switch between inputs on your computer without stopping in the video feed. As far as is known, only a single camera is connected. Optionally, you can choose from a selection of built-in transitions to play when you switch inputs, including crossfades, dips, and deletes. There are even buttons that let you change the duration of these transitions from half a second to 2 seconds.

Picture-in-Picture (PIP) is integrated at the hardware level. This is ideal for presenters who want to stay on the screen while looking at a second angle. Video game streamers are an obvious target here.

There's also a dizzying array of audio controls that can be a little daunting for anyone who's never run a broadcast studio before. With two 3.5 mm jacks, you can not only use audio from one or all HDMI inputs, but also connect external microphones. You can switch each audio input individually and adjust it for each individual level. You can also select AFV (audio follows video) at each input to automatically use the audio from this source when switching.

That sounds complicated, but there is a separate button for everything. Once you know the different abbreviations, it's easy. You don't have to dive through menus and don't have to remember keyboard shortcuts. The buttons are backlit with different colors. White indicates what has been selected, green indicates what is shown in the preview, and red indicates what is active. So you get a lot of information at a glance.

Do you have an external monitor? This is where the real fun begins. When you connect it to the ATEM Mini Pro's HDMI output, you get a streaming command center with a multiple view of all inputs and volume levels on the screen for each audio source. You can make each entry in full screen mode separately from your live program stream, even if it is not the active entry. Players can use picture-in-picture to overlap in their stream while still playing with a distraction-free view (however, this limits the game to a resolution of 1080p).

Again, all of this is possible without installing a driver. However, some customers should definitely install the software, especially gamers. In addition to the other features that are unlocked, this is the only way to turn on 60fps output. The ATEM Mini is set to 30 fps by default.

ATEM Mini Pro against ATEM Mini

The ATEM Mini Pro is the newer of the two and essentially an ATEM Mini with additional functions. There is no difference in video or audio quality – both support up to 1080p / 60 fps and 10-bit video – but the additional $ 300 detaches the pro toggle from a computer and provides direct hard drive and recording Live streaming via Ethernet to YouTube, Facebook and twitching. It also offers the multiview monitor output mentioned above, which the non-pro model lacks.

Most people will be fine with the ATEM Mini and shouldn't be spending the extra money on the Pro version. Even without directly recording the Pro on the hard drive, you can record your stream on your computer using software from the standard ATEM Mini.

The Pro is still a bargain for what it offers, and if you have the money to burn (after all, it's probably a tax write-off, after all) you might want to access it if you think you are ever in a streaming or situation Record without being connected to a computer. Multiview monitoring is just cool too.

Who can really use it?

With some companies saying that they are now going to let employees work from home indefinitely, many new customers are looking for something like the ATEM Mini. This is the crème de la crème that you can use to turn your camera into a webcam. It's overkill for people who just want to look better with zoom, but zoom hosts who work in an office environment could definitely use the multiple camera and microphone inputs to improve the quality of hybrid remote / local meetings (as soon as social Distance is loosened anyway).

For YouTubers, the ATEM Mini can instantly improve the value of live stream production so you can create professional, broadcast-style streams that go far beyond the basics. During an interview, for example, you can switch between a wide-angle shot and close-up pictures of the host and the guest. Live tutorials, from cooking to photography to make-up, can benefit from different perspectives.

It takes the processing out of the processing.

Since any HDMI device can be a source, I could imagine remote work software developers using it. Mobile app developers can connect a smartphone or tablet and stream the direct experience of using their app on a particular device, while web developers can do the same for websites.

With a document camera – or any camera and a copy stand – even printed materials or other physical media can be transmitted live. This could be important for teachers and artists.

Even for developers who are not interested in live streaming, the ATEM Mini can be a worthwhile investment. Every time you shoot with multiple cameras, you can do live cuts instead of having to load footage from each camera onto a computer and go through the tedious process of cutting in the mail. It takes the processing out of the processing. Makeup artists, chefs and car repair gurus could take advantage of multi-cam productions without having to learn how to be a professional video editor.

The only limitation is again the maximum output resolution of 1080p. This limit applies to both live streaming and hard disk recording. If you have a 4K camera, you just have to live without those extra pixels. I personally don't think this is a problem for YouTube or streaming, where most viewers watch on small phone screens and video quality is limited to compression. Still, 4K is one thing to give up if you want to use the ATEM Mini to cut live instead of editing a video with multiple cameras in the post.

For me, the ATEM Mini saves me time and money. Before social distancing, I drove to the Digital Trends office every second Monday to see my appearance at Digital Trends Live. I did a two hour tour for a 10 minute section. It sounds ridiculous, but it was worth it because the studio's professional cameras and close-ups made it much easier to present the new product that I had in hand.

Now I can do it all from home. Sure, it might not be necessary – a single angle, maybe even sticking to my webcam, would probably be enough. But that would hardly be so cool.

Editor's recommendations




29 May
Blog

Huawei MatePad Pro Review: Tablet Thwarted by the iPad

huawei matepad pro tablet review matebook feat

"A great display and convenient features like wireless charging make the MatePad Pro desirable, but it can't beat the iPad."

  • Colorful screen with an aspect ratio of 16:10

  • Wireless charging is welcome

  • Great audio performance

  • Good multitasking / desktop software

  • Limited availability of the app

  • Mediocre camera

I recently tested the Apple iPad Pro 2020 and the Magic Keyboard. This superb tablet and keyboard have become an integral part of my daily technical routine and replace my MacBook Air and phone for longer use when I'm on the couch.

Huawei's alternative, the MatePad Pro tablet (with keyboard case), is a challenger to Apple's experience, and I was excited to see how it compares to the all-conquering iPad Pro. The MatePad Pro has a lot to offer, but Apple's iPad Pro sets a high standard for deletion.

design

The Huawei MatePad Pro has a 10.8-inch screen, is 7.2 mm thick and weighs 460 grams. The total space requirement differs from the more square iPad due to the wider aspect ratio of the screen, which makes it appear more cinematic.

This is not a heavy device, but it feels significant. Every corner is neatly rounded and the chassis itself is curved, while the weight is centrally balanced. I found this to be a disadvantage when I held it upright with one hand as the top of the tablet felt heavy when the gravity took over. The screen is surrounded by frames that still give your palms enough buffer when you hold it in landscape orientation.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Huawei uses a hole-punch selfie camera with the MatePad Pro, as we saw on some smartphones. It is located in the top corner of the screen and is very good for unlocking the face as it is not covered by the palm of your hand. It disappears quickly when you watch videos, just like on a phone. It is also a good visual indicator of which end is imminent.

Turn the tablet over and everything is very simple in design. There's a dual-lens camera, some Huawei and Harmon Kardon brands (which power the speaker system), and that's all. My evaluation tablet had a muted steel-gray color, but lighter orange and green models are also available. Take a look at the top and bottom. You only see the speaker grille and the Type C USB charging port.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The dimensions of the MatePad Pro make it easy to take with you. I took it out in a small bag when I took a couple of photos and it never felt awkward or added any uncomfortable amount of weight. Even if you wrap it in the keyboard case, it stays that way. The thin screen bezels give it the same modern look that I loved on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e, and apart from the somewhat cumbersome weight balance, the MatePad Pro is a real eye-catcher.

The keyboard case

Huawei sells you a keyboard case for the MatePad Pro if you want to do light work, but it is not a magic keyboard. Instead, think of it as the Huawei equivalent of Apple's Smart Keyboard. It is a wrapper that covers the tablet's body and screen and then opens to reveal a keyboard and provide a convenient way to support the tablet for easy viewing and typing.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The case is magnetically attached to the MatePad Pro, but the connection isn't as strong as I would like it to be. When I "opened" the case to use the keyboard, I often used the edge of the case to do it, and it usually separated from the body, which became frustrating. It doesn't feel very good either. It is a hard structured plastic rather than leather or another soft material.

There are two preset angles for the screen. The base of the tablet magnetically snaps into pre-cut grooves in the case and is far more secure than the back of the case. It will definitely not come off. I found that the two perspectives covered most eventualities, whether I was typing on a desk or watching a video on my lap.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

How about typing? It depends on whether. The keyboard is not suitable for working on your lap because the space requirement is quite small and the whole thing shakes. Put it on a desk and the experience is far more stable. The feeling is pleasant and the keys have a lot of travel. However, the sunken keyboard is small and the keys are loud.

Google's G Suite is not directly supported, and Huawei's browser is not supported by the web-based version. However, this works fine in Firefox – provided that you activate the desktop view. Huawei installs WPS Office pre-installed, and Microsoft Office Mobile is available through the Huawei App Gallery. Both can be scaled to the screen of the MatePad Pro, but Office requires a subscription to save and share documents.

I like how light the keyboard is. It adds very little volume to the MatePad Pro and is quite portable. This is not a great keyboard case for all-day use. However, if you type on an airplane or want to whip out the tablet in a cafe, that's fine.

Huawei sells the keyboard case separately for £ 129, which is about $ 160. It is also available as a package with the tablet.

Display quality

The 10.8-inch LCD screen has a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels and an aspect ratio of 16:10, making it ideal for watching movies. The slim 4.9 mm bezels ensure an excellent full-screen appearance with a rich screen-to-body ratio of 90%.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Amazon's Prime Video and the UKTV Play app are available through the app gallery. However, YouTube can only be accessed via a browser.

The quality varies frustratingly. The resolution of the screen is not high enough to play 4K content via Amazon Prime. Instead, it is downgraded to an uncomfortable level of quality. Compare the Grand Tour on the MatePad Pro with the iPad Pro 2020, and there's a rift between them. The MatePad Pro looks overwhelming.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Switch to YouTube and things couldn't be more different. Watching versions of the stunning 2K resolution videos from Carfection is great. Many episodes use the majority of the screen in the ratio 16:10 and show a wonderful color balance and dynamics.

The screen is more reflective than I would like and has often asked me to pull the curtains so that I can see the screen better. I have nothing to do with the iPad Pro.

Audio comes from four speakers. The stereo separation in landscape orientation is really good, with the language coming through very clearly. There is also a lot of bass booming in the case of the tablet.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Netflix is ​​a no-go, and the same goes for Disney + and NowTV, which keeps subscribers to these services from buying a MatePad Pro. However, Crunchyroll can be viewed through the browser.

I also found the lack of Kindle or Comixology apps frustrating as it took effort to find or create compatible files so I could read them on the MatePad. This has reduced my enjoyment of the MatePad Pro. If watching shows and films or reading books about these services is high on your list, this is not the tablet for you.

software

Just like the Huawei P40 Pro, the MatePad Pro uses Android 10, but without integrated Google services. The open source version of Android is covered with Huawei's EMUI interface and uses Huawei Mobile Services instead of Google Mobile Services. This means that there is no Google Play Store or Google Apps as well as various internal changes that make page loading impossible. Instead, you need to use Huawei's growing App Gallery Store or Amazon App Store for your apps.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The situation regarding the availability of apps has not changed since the test of the Huawei P40 Pro, and only a little since my experience with the folding smartphone Mate Xs.

Many apps that may be considered essential are missing or difficult to install. It is possible to use APK files, but there are always security concerns, and it may be unwise to use them with apps that contain payment or other personal information.

While it is not so important for a tablet to have messaging apps – which is a good thing, since notifications on the MatePad occasionally occur, which is a similar problem to the P40 Pro – the enjoyment comes instead from media and games. The MatePad Pro is restless when streaming apps. So what about games?

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Unfortunately, it's a similar story. Yes, the App Gallery has some big names, including Asphalt 9 and World of Tanks, but I can't find my other main supports like DariusBurst, Hill Climb Racer, Reckless Racing 3 or Riptide GP in the App Gallery.

Riptide GP is available in the Amazon App Store if I want to pay for it again in the past after purchasing it on Google Play. Asphalt 9 Legends is a lot of fun and looks stunning on the huge screen, while the sound is just as bright as when watching videos. I really miss the opportunity to try the other games that I really enjoy.

How about optimizations for the tablet? There is multitasking that works identically with iOS 13 on the iPad. You slide in a special launcher and then tap and drag icons to open two screens at the same time, or tap to display them as a floating window at the top. Not every app supports split screen viewing, including Firefox, if you use it as a browser. Office, WPS Office and the gallery as well as Facebook and Twitter (both installed via an APK) are fine.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The EMUI desktop mode is interesting. EMUI is activated with a shortcut in the notification shadow and is similar to Windows 10. The floating windows are practical and far more customizable than in tablet mode. I found it easier to focus on the job when using it because it feels better to use than the tablet layout. It's also quick to quit and works well with the keyboard – but not all apps work. Even WPS Office warns that some features may not be available when used in desktop mode.

There is also a pre-installed app for kids called Kids Corner. It offers a variety of security measures, from daily limits to blue light filters and a main password. Once inside, there is a painting area, a dictation machine app and a child-friendly camera app. Apps have to be added to Kids Corner manually. You need to look for kid-oriented apps in the app gallery. Although the list is long, many are localized and there were no major brands that I recognized.

My requirements for a tablet are different from those for a smartphone, but there are the same problems that affect the P40 Pro, the Mate Xs and even the Honor 9X Pro. Just as I can't get a line on my P40 Pro or can't access my WhatsApp chat backups, I can't watch Netflix or play DariusBurst on the MatePad Pro. That diminishes my enjoyment of an otherwise perfectly functioning and powerful tablet.

camera

Huawei knows a thing or two about cameras. Finally, the Huawei P40 Pro has the best Android camera available. However, tablets do not require such robust camera systems because they are mainly used indoors. The MatePad Pro has a single 13-megapixel camera on the back with an aperture of 1: 1.8, auto focus and flash. On the front is a single 8-megapixel camera with a fixed focus.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

It’s not great. Huawei tried to arouse interest in the viewfinder with a highly optimized zoom slider. However, this is purely digital, so the quality is poor. Photos taken on a sunny day capture the blue sky, but have problems with overall contrast and leave shaded areas too dark. Photos in the early evening are affected in the same way.

The front camera is acceptable enough for selfies and video calls, but the placement makes it difficult to find a natural angle.

Overall there is really nothing to get upset about. It's a shame considering what Huawei can do with its cameras.

Performance and battery life

The MatePad Pro is the heart of the Huawei Mate 30 Pro and the P40 Pro smartphone. The Kirin 990 chipset is used. It is matched to 6 GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage space and offers space for a proprietary Huawei memory card. MicroSD cards do not fit. Huawei has announced a 5G version, but my test model is just Wi-Fi. The battery has a capacity of 7,250 mAh and is charged via a USB cable connection of type C or wireless charging.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Benchmark apps need to be downloaded as APK files, but Geekbench 5 refused to install through the APKPure store, so I could only use 3DMark.

3DMark Sling Shot Extreme: 4,785 volcano

This is comparable to the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6's score, which contains a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset. I never had any performance issues with the MatePad Pro because apps opened quickly and the operating system was not delayed.

Battery performance is decent. It took me a day and a half during my in-depth tests, which included hours of watching videos, some games, general surfing and light work, and some photos. In normal use, the battery lasts four or five days before it needs to be charged.

However, I didn't use it that way. With wireless charging, you can easily place it on a charging base when not in use and charge the battery constantly. This is a real advantage. This means that the tablet was always on hand and always charged. I didn't have to think about plugging it in overnight.

Price, guarantee and availability

The Wi-Fi Huawei MatePad Pro costs £ 499, which is about $ 610. It comes with a two year warranty if bought in the UK. It is available through Huawei's own online store and in some retail stores, including curries. The MatePad Pro is not officially available in the United States, but can be purchased as an import. The keyboard case costs £ 129 or about $ 158, and an M Pen is yours for £ 100 / $ 122. Huawei also sells the tablet, case, and pen for £ 610 or about $ 745.

Our opinion

The biggest problem with the Huawei MatePad Pro is the Apple iPad. While the MatePad Pro is a good tablet for video, gaming, and easy productivity, there is no compelling reason to prefer an iPad Air or an 11-inch iPad Pro.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes. The Apple iPad is the best tablet you can buy today, and it almost doesn't matter which model you buy.

Yes, the iPad Pro 2020 is the best, but it's also very expensive. If you want the 11-inch model and smart keyboard to match the MatePad Pro and keyboard in our test, the $ 799 tablet and $ 179 smart keyboard cost a total of $ 978 .

Instead, we recommend that you buy the Wi-Fi iPad Air with its 10.5-inch screen for £ 499 or £ 479 and the Smart Keyboard for £ 179 or £ 159. This recommendation applies regardless of whether you are in the United States or the United Kingdom.

If you'd rather stick to an Android tablet, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 is recommended for $ 649 due to the higher availability of the app. The keyboard case costs another $ 179.

Do you want more options? Check out our favorite tablets from 2020.

How long it will take?

This is not a water-resistant or robust tablet. Doing so will take many years in terms of performance, screen quality, and the potential to serve as a general work machine if you also buy the keyboard case. Huawei is confident that the app gallery will fill up over time, so that the availability of the apps can also improve.

My MatePad Pro review has Android 10 with the April security update. While EMUI is receiving updates from Huawei, it is not known whether the core version of Android will change in time.

Should you buy it

No. The MatePad Pro struggles to compete with the Apple iPad Air, which is about the same price when purchased with the Smart Keyboard. It offers better access to apps, an excellent software experience with frequent updates and a similarly impressive screen.

Editor's recommendations




28 May
Blog

Edifier TWS NB Earbuds Review: Lose The Noise, Keep The Cash

Edifier TWS-NB

"By lowering the price of ANC, Edifier has raised the bar for real wireless earphones everywhere."

  • Solid Bluetooth range

  • Affordable active noise cancellation

  • Exceptional sound

  • Good price

  • Bulky design

  • Uninspired app

Earbud enthusiasts get good news courtesy of Edifier. We have reached an important milestone in the actual wireless timeline as legitimate active noise cancellation has entered the budget-friendly atmosphere.

For $ 120, Edifier's new TWS NB earphones offer the coveted ANC feature in one of the cheapest real wireless packages we've seen so far. Apart from the monetary savings, what is the value of these buds on the table?

Out of the box

For better or for worse, I got used to trying out new headphones or earphones first and then scrolling through the data sheet. It leads to some funny comparisons; For example, because of the packaging and components of the Edifier earphones, I would have sworn that this is a far more expensive product.

Edifier TWS NB caseNick Woodard / Digital Trends

The TWS NB arrive firmly in their own foam bedding when you lift the lid of the packaging. In addition to the buds and the carrying case, Edifier included a USB-C charging cable, a start guide and a manual as well as additional ear plugs and ear fins.

The setup is standard, with Edifier using Bluetooth 5.0 in the TWS NB. The company also built an antenna technology called Laser Direct Structuring into the earphones to ensure a stable connection and fight interference.

Edifier projects a range of 33 feet, and I would say that this is somewhat conservative. I moved around the house and between the back yard and the front yard while my phone stayed in the kitchen. Impressively, there were no signal drops.

design

The metallic finish of the TWS NB exudes a futuristic atmosphere with its somewhat strange shape. It is undoubtedly a subjective matter, but at least I enjoy the aesthetics. On the other hand, I caused a little controversy by saying that I liked the unique design of the Microsoft Surface Earbuds 2. So maybe my style tastes of the mainstream.

Edifier TWS NBNick Woodard / Digital Trends

They also felt comfortable and made the TWS NB worthwhile for longer listening sessions. They are large and unfortunately there is no way around it. Pulling off a hoodie became a problem because the earbuds were likely to get caught and then get lost in a dark fabric cavity when I threw the garment into the laundry basket. Sure, you know, you could remove the earbuds before you peel off that layer, but that feels like an unnecessary inconvenience, however minor it may be.

Apart from IPX4 water resistance, there is not much on the Edifier product page about the functions of the TWS NB as earphones for active people. As I learned from my own experience, there is a reason for this. The earphones are absolutely safe and move at the pace of everyday life. But take it with you for a jog and chaos will occur. They never fell out of my ear, but no matter how many times I adjusted the buds to keep the ear fins in place, I couldn't help feeling like I was wearing dangling earrings – or how I imagine that feeling.

I swapped the ear fins for the larger pair that came with it, and that helped to some extent, just not as much as I hoped.

The charging case, which Edifier calls "anodization-processed, light-resistant aluminum", is larger than alternatives such as the Apple AirPods or Google Pixel Buds 2. The rectangular shape of the housing almost resembles a harmonica.

properties

Interestingly, when it comes to playback time, the TWS NB takes up space on both sides of the coin. When active noise cancellation is activated, they are only suitable for 5 hours of audio. This corresponds to devices with prices similar to the Amazon Echo Buds, but most people want more when the battery stops there.

Edifier TWS NBNick Woodard / Digital Trends

However, without ANC, the TWS NB will play for 11 hours, with two additional charges included in the case. This makes it one of the best – in particular the Samsung Galaxy Buds + and the Sony WF-SP800N – for a significantly lower proportion of changes.

There are only two buttons on the Edifier earphones, one each on the multifunctional variant. You can use both buttons to switch between active noise cancellation and ambient noise mode. The same applies to changing titles or answering and declining calls. It takes a bit of leg work to familiarize yourself with the controls, but they work well after the first learning phase.

Edifier has its own app that is paired with the TWS NB … and that's about all there is to say. The app can turn ANC on and off and change tracks, but the buds themselves can do it themselves. Unless I lack anything essential, the app is not a factor for the time being.

Audio quality

For the battery life and ANC features offered at this price, all I really hoped for from the TWS NB was passable audio to add to the ensemble. I have that and more.

Edifier TWS NBNick Woodard / Digital Trends

The earphones each have a 13 mm graphene membrane, which Edifier announces as "one of the strongest materials in the world" with an "incredible strength-to-weight ratio". Of course this speaks mostly of the market, but in my experience these drivers have something to offer.

On tracks like Megan Thee Stallions Savage Remix (children hear that today, right?), The TWS NB showed an above-average low-end response. At the other end of the musical spectrum, songs like The Devil Went Down to Georgia by Charlie Daniels Band have proven that the Edifiers offer more than reasonable clarity on costs. It is difficult to slaughter a good violin to be transparent, but the NWS-TB still delivered exceptional results.

The earbuds also have aptX support, which is a nice addition considering that some higher-priced options are missing. You are also able to with regards to call quality, although nothing in this part of my audio tests screams exceptionally. Still, I think the majority of listeners will enjoy Edifier's sound quality.

Active noise cancellation

I will take on the role of skeptic when I talk about active noise cancellation for $ 120 just because it hasn't really happened yet, at least not in a remarkable sense. Amazon's Echo Buds came closest, using noise reduction technology that worked well for $ 130. So far, active noise canceling wireless earphones have not been on the radar for this cheap price.

Edifier TWS NBNick Woodard / Digital Trends

The TWS NB have feed-forward ANC technology, which means that microphones on the outside of the buds analyze and dampen outside noise. It's closer to the basic end of noise cancellation, but that's not a big deal at this price. Well done, it can still be an effective way to keep unwanted noise out of your listening experience.

Because of my time with these buds, the technology is indeed well done. During a walk along a fast flowing river, switching on the ANC function with a double press on one of the two buds completely canceled out the noise of the water. Another double tap on one of the buds brought Edifier's ambient sound mode into play, which was a nice touch when the need to repeatedly greet another dog walker came up again and again.

I wouldn't compare this to the top ANC technology in products like the Sony WF-1000XM3, but I would say that the TWS NB offers worthwhile noise cancellation features for what you pay for.

Our opinion

The Edifier TWS NB are part of a growing trend for bulky earbuds that I'm honestly not on board with. However, they are leading the way in another trend, namely, low-cost real wireless earbuds that do not limit functionality. That is why we can all gather together.

Are there any better alternatives?

The $ 130 Amazon Echo Buds literally fit some better, with the added benefit of Alexa’s hands-free feature. The Sony WF-XB700, which is also priced at $ 130, has a 9-hour battery life, though the noise cancellation features are missing.

How long will they last?

The TWS NB have a 1-year limited warranty and are equipped with scratch-resistant hardware. You should be able to deal with some wear and tear without the crack.

Should you buy them

Yes. You may want to find another pair if you are a runner. By lowering the entry fee for active noise cancellation, the Edifier TWS NB has raised the bar for real wireless earphones everywhere.

Editor's recommendations




27 May
Blog

Ring Alarm (2nd Gen) Review: New Look, Same Great Protection

Ring alarm (2nd generation) keyboard on the wall

Ring Alarm Security 5-piece kit

"The ring alarm offers excellent home surveillance with a surprisingly low monthly fee."

  • Affordable professional surveillance service

  • Quick setup

  • Backwards compatible with 1st generation hardware

  • Solid range of accessories

  • Needs better camera integration

The new ring alarm (second generation) starts at $ 200 for the five-part kit. However, there are several other kits and bundles to choose from. You can also add accessories later at any time if necessary.

Ring intends to make home security simple, easy and safe. Unlike traditional security systems that require professional installation, it is a do-it-yourself solution where you set everything up. However, Ring Alarm continues to offer 24-hour home surveillance to give homeowners another pair of eyes when they're not there.

What's new?

Basically nothing changes in the basic requirement of the new ring alarm. It is the same home improvement security system that consists of a base station, contact sensors, a motion detector, a keyboard and a range extender. They attach the contact sensors to doors, windows or other entry points throughout the house that then communicate with the base station and send warnings as soon as they are triggered.

Door alarm (2nd generation) Door sensor on the doorJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

What is special about the new hardware is that Ring has reduced the size of each component by around 30%. For example, the keyboard is 38% smaller than its previous counterpart in the first generation system.

Despite the reduction, the sensors are not significantly smaller than those used in other systems such as SimpliSafe or Xfinitys Home Security. Ring is catching up instead of leading with a much smaller design.

Another important change concerns the batteries used by the sensors. The first generation version requires a 3 V lithium battery that is not as readily available as the new version CR2032 coin cell batteries. It's a boring detail, but you'll appreciate the change when it comes to replacing a battery.

Mix and match compatibility

If you happen to own the first generation ring alarm, you can mix and match the hardware to work with the new system, and vice versa. I'm glad to see that owners don't have to drop the old hardware when planning an upgrade. Interoperability is always a welcome relief as it helps maintain the value of the system over time.

It is always a welcome relief when there is interoperability.

Setting up is a breeze with the on-screen instructions in the Ring app. The base station can be connected directly to a router or wirelessly via WLAN. Placement at home is crucial, however, as the gateway communicates with the various sensors. There is also a range limitation for the sensors. For smaller places like my home, range is not a problem as everything is within 50 feet of the base station. Fortunately, the basic model of the ring alarm, the five-part kit, comes with a range extender that attaches an additional 250 feet.

After reclassifying the sensors, the entire setup process was completed in less than 30 minutes. If you need additional sensors, Ring offers a range of accessories to choose from – such as flood sensors, smoke and carbon monoxide sensors and more.

A lot of control, but could be smarter

In the Ring mobile app, you can access and change all settings of the Ring Alarm home security system. You can quickly activate and deactivate the system in the dashboard of the app by pressing the corresponding buttons. In a critical situation, I like how I can use the exclamation point button on the dashboard to quickly request help and trigger the alarm. The same controls are on the keyboard for quick access.

When I resort to some of the app's detailed controls, I find it useful that I can set the mode for each sensor. For example, I turned off the window sensors when they were in home mode, which prevents them from notifying me when I open or close them. At the same time, I switched off motion detection with my Ring Indoor Cam to prevent even more redundant notifications from being sent to me.

Conversely, when the system is activated in away mode, all sensors are monitored and set to trigger the alarm when triggered. Speaking of which, the base station sends out a deafening 104 dB siren that is more than loud to deter an intruder and hear my neighbors.

Although there are enough controls to customize the security system to my liking, it could be more intelligent. One complaint I have is that the alarm does not go off when my ring indoor camera detects motion in away mode, so it just sends the typical push notification instead.

Also, there doesn't seem to be an option to force the camera to turn on and shoot footage when one of the sensors is triggered – something that would be useful if my front door opened, regardless of where the camera is at home.

Finally, it would be helpful if Ring Alarm could see whether I was at home or not. In fact, there have been several cases where I forgot to activate it before leaving. Therefore, it would be nice if the app suggested to put it into vacation mode.

Affordable 24/7 home surveillance

The most attractive aspect of the ring alarm (second generation) is the affordable cost associated with its professional 24-hour home surveillance service. You must subscribe to Ring Protect Plus, which is $ 10 a month or $ 100 a year, but has the benefit of a real-time emergency response.

When an alarm is triggered, not only will you receive a notification on your smartphone, but a representative from Ring's professional surveillance service will call to check. From there, you can simply speak the verbal password to ignore the alarm or have emergency services sent to your home.

Base station for ring alarm (2nd generation) on the tableJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

The monthly cost of $ 10 for Ring Protect Plus also covers video history for all cameras connected to your Ring account for up to 60 days. In the event that the power supply fails at home, the base station has a 24-hour backup battery and a cellular service to continue the service. If you are heavily invested in the ring ecosystem, the cost is a bargain as this also includes professional monitoring.

Our opinion

With the ring alarm (2nd generation) you are protected in protecting your house – without having to cost an arm and a leg for a professional surveillance service. The five-part base kit costs $ 200 and the surveillance service costs $ 10 a month (or $ 100 a year). This makes it extremely competitive with other services that have both a higher initial investment and a higher monthly fee.

Is there a better alternative?

SimpliSafe is another do-it-yourself security service that needs to be considered due to its robust range of accessories. In addition to the usual sensors, SimpliSafe also offers a Smart Lock, special smoke and CO detectors, a key fob and a glass break sensor. SimpliSafe accessories are cheaper ($ 15 for an input sensor versus $ 20 for ring). To top it off, further settings and data protection regulations must be adjusted with SimpliSafe.

How long it will take?

Because the base station remains stationary and is in your home, it is unlikely to be damaged or need to be replaced. However, the sensors need to be replaced and the alarm keypad needs to be recharged occasionally unless you want to connect it to the power source.

Ring offers an extended warranty on all devices connected to your Ring Protect Plus subscription, so malfunctions due to defective parts or workmanship are covered until you stop service.

Should you buy it

Yes, especially if you are already invested in the ring ecosystem and want an affordable professional home surveillance service. If you already own the first generation model, there is little incentive to upgrade as the basic features and service remain the same.

Editor's recommendations




25 May
Blog

Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Review: Astounding 2-in-1 Value

Lenovo Ideapad Duet Review 06

"The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet offers tremendous value for everything this affordable 2-in-1 tablet can do."

  • Outstanding build quality

  • Lighter than the iPad

  • Enormous value

  • Long battery life

  • Narrow keyboard layout

  • The whole package is a bit chunky

  • Mediocre performance

Google's Pixel Slate was promising. It was a 2-in-1 tablet with the flexibility of the Surface Pro, accompanied by the fullness of the Android app ecosystem. For one reason or another, the product was discontinued less than a year after its launch. It was such a failure that Google announced it would finally leave the tablet market and compete for products like the $ 400 Surface Go 2 from Microsoft and the $ 329 iPad from Apple in the lower price segment.

Now Lenovo is filling the hole that the Pixel Slate has left. The IdeaPad Duet is a compact 10.1-inch tablet with a starting price of $ 279. The best part? The stand cover and keyboard are included for this price. This is an attractive price for anyone looking for a tablet. Can the Duet for Chrome OS do what the Pixel Slate couldn't?

design

The Duet is in itself as slim a tablet as you would expect. It's 0.28 inches thick compared to the Microsoft Surface Go 2 at 0.33 inches and the base iPad at 0.29 inches. This is quite thin and makes it pleasant to hold the duet in one hand. The duets are also characterized by impressive build quality, with a combined metal and plastic case that feels solid and is exceptionally light at just £ 0.99. The Surface Go 2 costs £ 1.2 and the iPad £ 1.07.

Things change a little when you add the rear stand cover and keyboard. In this case, the duet, 0.71 inches thick and 2.03 pounds thick, gets pretty chunky. It's thicker and heavier than the Surface Go 2 with built-in stand and $ 130 type cover, and the iPad with $ 159 smart keyboard. Note that both the Duet and Surface Go 2 solutions include a touchpad, but not the iPad. You'll need to upgrade to the much more expensive iPad Pro and add the magic keyboard to include a touchpad in the keyboard cover.

The Duet is also an attractive tablet in its ice blue and iron gray color scheme, which is transferred to the fabric cover on the stand cover (at least the gray). It's a conservative design that's neither boring nor fancy, and ends up right in the goldilocks zone with good looks.

One disappointment is the only USB-C port that serves as the only connection. There's no 3.5mm audio jack and no included adapter – that's a shit that limits you to connecting headphones or speakers via Bluetooth. This is an area I wish it hadn't followed the example of the iPad. There is also no SD card slot, another disappointment. Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 4.2 ensure that you are connected wirelessly.

Keyboard and touchpad

As already mentioned, the Duet comes with a stand cover and a removable keyboard in the box, which makes the tablet an enormous value. With Surface Go 2 and iPad, spend at least $ 130 more to get the same functionality. The question is, what is the quality of these components?

The stand cover is attached to the back of the tablet with an amazingly strong magnet that makes for a surprisingly safe combination. The stand reaches up to an impressive 135 degrees. This fits the Surface Go 2 and leaves the tablet lying in a comfortable angle for coloring. It also holds the tablet at a good angle on a flat surface. However, like most detachable tablets, it's awkward in a round.

You'll spend hundreds more on a Surface Go 2 or iPad to use the same functionality.

The keyboard itself is a little less impressive. It is connected to the tablet via pogo pins and other magnets. It's safe to say the key spacing (the distance between the center of each key) is a healthy 18mm and the travel is 1.3mm. The layout still felt tight – especially the tiny punctuation marks on the right. However, the key mechanism was clicking and quiet, which is great. In contrast to Microsoft's award-winning Type Cover, the keyboard of the Duet cannot be supported at an angle, so that only the flat option is available.

The glass touchpad performs better. It is inevitably rather small due to the overall dimensions of the tablet, but it works smoothly and has a satisfactory click. Moving and using Chrome OS multi-touch gestures felt natural and precise. Then remove the back cover and keyboard and you get a slim tablet that is great for swiping through websites and reading e-books and other documents. The touch display reacts and everything feels natural again. You can pick up an active pen as an optional purchase.

There is a lot of value here. You'll spend hundreds more on a Surface Go 2 or iPad to use the same functionality – and value is the real story. The keyboard isn't perfect, but the fact that Lenovo includes it in the duet's low price makes things far more palatable.

Display and audio

Lenovo rates the display at 400 nits. Although I can't measure it with my colorimeter due to a lack of Chrome OS support, the screen seems bright enough for everyone except to work outdoors in direct sunlight. The colors of the display seem to be sufficient for internet surfing, productivity work, and watching Netflix, but they're probably not wide and not accurate enough for professional photo editing. And that's fine, because you don't want to work that way on this tablet.

You can get a better display on other tablets. The aspect ratio of 16:10 enables comfortable use in portrait format, and the resolution of 1,920 x 1,200 is sharp on the 10.1-inch panel. The larger 10.5-inch display of the Surface Go 2 with 3: 2 and 1,920 x 1,280 only offers a slightly higher resolution, but the difference is not noticeable. For comparison: The 10.2-inch 16:10 display of the iPad offers a much sharper resolution of 2,160 x 1,620 and a brightness of 500 nits.

The duet's audio is fine. There are two first-class speakers above the display that produce a decent sound that is sufficient for occasional YouTube videos or melodies. However, you should connect Bluetooth headphones or an external Bluetooth speaker.

performance

The Duet is based on a MediaTek Helio P60T processor with eight cores and has 4 GB RAM. Storage is eMMC, which is common for Chromebooks, but not as fast as a solid-state drive. It can be configured with 64 GB for $ 279 and 128 GB for $ 299. It's clear that double the storage is worth the $ 20.

In terms of synthetic benchmarks, the first test I ran was Geekbench 4 (Geekbench 5 is probably not available for the Duet due to the processor). The duet scored 1,376 in the single-core test and 5528 points in the multi-core test. This is almost the end of our database, especially the single-core test, which is outperformed by older Intel Pentium processors. Next, I ran the Tachometer 2.0 test to see how well the MediaTek CPU performed on web-related tasks compared to the Intel alternatives. The duet scored 27 points in the test, which puts it at the bottom of our ranking. Again, you need to look at older Intel Pentium processors to get the same performance.

This isn't the fastest Chrome OS device I've used. By far not.

This isn't the fastest Chrome OS device I've used. By far not. For example, the Asus Chromebook Flip C436 achieved a much faster 97 with a relatively inexpensive 10th generation Intel Core i3 processor. The Chromebook Flip C436 was also much faster subjectively. Where the duo sometimes lagged behind when several Chrome tabs were open and some Android apps were running in the background, the Asus did not miss a beat. The difference is noticeable.

However, this does not make the duet perform poorly. Ultimately, I found it more than fast enough for the tasks I can imagine it to be: surfing the web, quick notes and changes with the Android version of Microsoft Office apps, and watching YouTube videos and Netflix. It would be an excellent device for children and could even work well if brought to college. Chrome OS really helps here as it is so thin and light compared to Windows 10, but I will find that the Apple iPad is a bit smoother than the Duet.

The Duet can run Android games, but they're not as smooth as some other Chrome OS devices. A more demanding title like Asphalt 9 sometimes showed some choppiness, and you won't see that with the iPad. If gaming is important to you, consider Apple's tablet.

Battery life

Being a slower and more energy efficient CPU – because that's another important aspect here – has its advantages. Although the Duet only has a battery capacity of 27 watt hours, which is fairly light, it showed excellent battery life.

For example, the duet in our most demanding Basemark web benchmark test lasted an impressive eight hours. This is one of the longest periods we've seen in this test, and it's much longer than the Surface Go 2 or iPad.

In our web browser test, the duet lasted almost 14 hours, which in turn is an excellent score and is more than three times as long as the Surface Go 2. This laptop will have to get you through a day and a half or more of work in front of you. If you want to watch videos, you are less impressed by the duet. We managed to go through our local Full HD Avengers trailer for 12.5 hours, which is good but not great. The Surface Go 2 managed around an hour less, which is the only battery test that it could keep up with the Duet.

Chrome OS

A tablet is only as good as the software that runs it, and Chrome OS has come a long way. Thanks to the new software update, Chrome OS can now be run much better on a tablet than it was just a few weeks ago.

When you remove the tablet, the Duet automatically switches to Chrome OS tablet mode. In tablet mode you get some additional gestures, e.g. For example, swipe up to see all apps running, and swipe up and hold to open the app drawer. In the "Running apps" view, you can drag apps left and right to use Chrome OS's split screen view. Finally, Chrome has a new feature for showing open tabs. Switch to tablet mode and the tabs will disappear. They are replaced with a thumbnail view that you can access by tapping a number icon that indicates how many open tabs you are running.

All of these features are fluid enough to use, and they improve Chrome OS on a tablet like the Duet. It's more than what Windows 10 offers in tablet mode. More importantly, you can run Android apps for touchscreen devices directly from the Google Play Store. They run without problems and – apart from games – with a lot of performance as long as not too many apps are open at the same time.

Of course, Chrome OS iPadOS, which was developed exclusively for tablets, cannot withhold a candle. They don't have that many gestures at their disposal, and iPad apps tend to be more elegant and refined than many Android alternatives. Still, the Duet is a functional and usable tablet, and I can see that it takes a few minutes from my iPad.

Our opinion

The IdeaPad Duet is an OK tablet for the price. That said, if your budget is tight and you really want a Chromebook, the Duet will meet your needs without killing you.

But throw in the included stand cover and keyboard and suddenly the duet is a serious value. You'll spend hundreds more on another tablet to get the same functionality, and that makes the Duet a very attractive option indeed.

Are there alternatives?

It is obvious which products are most likely to compete with the IdeaPad Duet, and I compared them in this review. The Microsoft Surface Go 2 is the Windows 10 competitor. It costs about $ 100 more and has great options for Type Cover and Surface Pen that make it even more expensive. If you'd rather run Windows 10 than Chrome OS, Surface Go 2 is the natural alternative.

Then there is the entry-level Apple iPad for $ 329. There is no pen support that puts it behind the duet for anyone who wants to write or draw on the display, and the keyboard is an expensive addition. Here, too, it depends on the choice of operating systems: If you want iOS instead of Chrome OS, the iPad is the obvious choice.

If you're looking for Chrome OS, but would rather use a Clamshell laptop, the $ 650 Pixelbook Go is probably your best bet. Yes, it's more expensive, but you get a better display, an excellent keyboard, and an overall improvement in build quality.

How long it will take?

Chrome OS is pretty efficient and is updated regularly. Therefore, the duet should take a while to become obsolete. And its physical construction should keep it well beyond the one-year warranty.

Should you buy it

Yes. At $ 279, the Duet is a bargain with the included stand cover and keyboard. You can even use it as a second or third device to surf the Internet more than enough. If you need something very portable to search a document, the Duet can do it too.

Editor's recommendations




23 May
Blog

JLab Audio Studio ANC Review: Big-Time Battery Life

JLab Studio ANC headphones

"JLab offers excellent battery life and ANC at a very attractive price."

  • Incredibly good battery life

  • Serviceable ANC on a budget

  • Very affordable

  • Not the most convenient

  • Modest sound quality

As a rule of thumb, any product that offers an all-star range at a rock-bottom price initially has a twofold reaction: intrigue, then skepticism.

When the $ 59 Studio ANC headphones from JLab Audio arrived with the promise of more than 30 hours of battery life and active noise cancellation on the packaging on my doorstep, I was optimistic to find out if this new on-ear offering was actually available good – or too good to be true.

Out of the box

I will not waste time describing the packaging of the Studio ANC to you, as it is a largely unforgettable case. It's no small thing at JLab – it's not a bad thing that they focused on the present rather than the wrapping paper.

JLab Studio ANC headphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

The headphones are supplied with a surprisingly padded travel bag, an additional cable, a USB charging cable and a user manual. You do not need the manual to connect the Studio ANC to your mobile device as this is standard if you ever have experience with Bluetooth pairing. However, I would recommend reading the manual to fully understand the controls that are distributed across the four buttons on the headphones.

JLab equips the Studio ANC with Bluetooth 5 technology, which is solid considering that much more expensive headphones still work with older versions of Bluetooth that lack the range and speed advantages of the newer technology.

After some time with these headphones, my connection was easy. The range was also exceptional, so I could move around my house without worrying about a break while my phone was charging.

design

Studio ANC's on-ear style makes it a kind of mediator between over-ear headphones and in-ear wearables, which leads to a mixture of advantages and disadvantages.

At 141 grams, the Studio ANC are much lighter than many full over-ear cans. At the same time, they keep the design of their bigger brothers and only underline the subtle aesthetic that has made in-ears so popular.

The Studio ANC have ear cups, which JLab calls "Cloud Foam", and an adjustable headband made of synthetic leather. It is a comfortable combination at first, but I couldn't help noticing that the feeling wears off over time. For most, it may not be a big deal, but the headphones created more pressure than necessary, and it has become a factor in longer listening sessions.

You will find four buttons on the right. There is a round power switch that allows you to answer or end calls in the moonlight and activate the voice assistant of your choice. There are volume buttons that you can use to scroll through the tracks. And there is the active noise canceling button, which is camouflaged as well as the JLab logo on the right ear cup that I would have completely overlooked without the manual.

properties

I immediately feel compelled to address one of JLab's greatest demands first: more than 34 hours of playback without ANC and more than 28 hours with the function activated. For comparison, the recently released Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 are 20 hours or less without ANC and are priced at $ 250.

JLab Studio ANC headphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

If the Studio ANC has a catch, the battery life is not sufficient. I have listened to them regularly over the past week and have not even unpacked the charging cable. This is remarkable for headphones at this price and one of the best aspects of Studio ANC for me.

There is not much to mention in terms of features. The integration of the voice assistant works well and I was able to use Amazon Alexa as my standard A.I. Do. although JLab only lists Apple's Siri and Google Assistant as options. It was okay to go for walks, although I would warn against exercising with them. There is no waterproof rating for Studio ANC on the JLab website. This gives cause for concern as to how they would withstand sweat or rain.

Audio quality

If you've been waiting for the moment when these headphones have inevitably returned to Earth, you've come to the right place. Despite the reasonable comfort and some great features for little money, the Studio ANC sounds just the way it is – just another pair of headphones for $ 60.

JLab Studio ANCNick Woodard / Digital Trends

That doesn't mean they're bad. If you listen almost exclusively to podcasts these days (like yours really), I would recommend them without hesitation. You don't need enough audio quality to enjoy Conan O & # 39; Brien Needs a Friend, and Studio ANC fits that bill exactly.

However, if you are hoping for solid cans to listen to music, you may want to continue shopping. Regardless of the genre, I couldn't escape an apparently distant sound with a strangely hollow low-end. In this case, you get what you pay for, and I wouldn't buy it if you expected great, affordable audio quality based on the Shure SE 112.

There is no equalizer with which you can create the audio of the Studio ANC. However, a JLab branding tool is available for download. They recommend a burn-in time of at least 40 hours – which in a nutshell means that different tones and frequencies are played through the headphones in order to achieve optimal performance.

In addition to the microphones designed for active noise cancellation, the Studio ANC has a third microphone that allows you to receive your voice for phone calls. I found the call quality admirable so that my conversations could break through the turbulence of a windy spring day while walking.

Active noise cancellation

Active noise cancellation in the Studio ANC is a no-frills feature. It only offers an ANC level and there is no ambient sound mode. You have a button to turn on and off and that's it.

JLab Studio ANC headphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

The ANC function is effective at least in connection with budget headphones. If you activate the ANC function, you will not have an uninterrupted listening room, but you will hear hard noises such as lawn mowers or power tools that are damped to a certain extent. If you want more effective noise cancellation, you have to pay for it. Otherwise the Studio ANC can be serviced in this department for its price.

JLab is not the only company that makes extremely cheap ANC headphones. Anker makes a pair with hybrid ANC at similar prices, and companies like Cowin and TaoTronics are also on the market. However, we haven't had a chance to test these other products yet. Therefore, I cannot currently judge how well the Studio ANC is stacking up.

Our opinion

While JLab has missed the brand in terms of audio quality, the company has still delivered incredibly affordable headphones with excellent battery life and adequate active noise cancellation.

Are there any better alternatives?

The $ 70 Shure SE 112 are currently our most popular, affordable headphones, and offer great sound quality at a price that won't take your toll on your finances. If you don't mind spending more on a product with similar battery life and improved audio, the Sony WH-CH710N for $ 199 is a good option.

How long will they last?

The Studio ANC feels sturdy enough, although I wouldn't back up my bets on cheap headphones that are build quality to withstand the test of time.

Should you buy them

Yes. They are not for audio enthusiasts. For less than $ 60, you get a pair of headphones that last for almost an entire week without a fee. These are useful for people who are looking for a simple, affordable, and reliable set of cans.

Editor's recommendations




22 May
Blog

Apple MacBook Pro 13-Inch Review: For The Hobbyist

Apple MacBook Pro 13 review 2020 03

Macbook Pro 13-inch touch bar

"The new keyboard of the MacBook Pro makes it a worthy choice for aspiring creatives."

  • Industry leading display

  • Thin and light design

  • Excellent new keyboard

  • Hard-as-rock processing quality

  • Confusing processor selection

  • Average battery life

The MacBook Pro 13 plays a crucial role in the Apple product range. It's not a real "pro" laptop – that's the MacBook Pro 16. It's for the hobbyist. The amateur. The aspiring professional.

Let's be honest. The number of people who actually need professional services is relatively small, while hobby graphic designers, YouTubers, music producers and photographers are a dozen. It's a demographic group that includes some of Apple's biggest fans, and the MacBook Pro 13 shows why.

Price and configurations

The way Apple rates the MacBook Pro reflects the emerging hobby nature of this laptop. It is expensive. Even more expensive than before. The base model starts at $ 1,299, which sounds like a fair price.

Until you find that Apple sells old hardware in a new laptop. Except for the keyboard, this “new” MacBook Pro is identical to the one it sold a year ago.

This is not what other laptop manufacturers do. You can purchase the latest 10th generation processors in the Dell XPS 13, Surface Laptop 3, or HP Specter x360 in configurations starting at $ 1,200 or less. This is also not Apple's standard practice. The company tends to update its Macs more slowly than other companies. However, when a new model comes out, it often has the latest silicon.

And I can't imagine Apple launching a new flagship for iPhone or iPad that uses last year's processor. Instead, old designs are released with new processors like the iPhone SE.

This makes configuring a MacBook Pro a complete mess. Good luck choosing between the 8th generation Core i7 and the 10th generation Core i5. Oddly enough, it's the 8th generation that costs $ 100 more with a similar configuration. Apple charges you $ 200 for the modest leap from 8th generation Intel processors to 10th generation Intel processors. It also costs more for faster memory, perhaps when trying to sweeten the business with high-end models.

There is a glimmer of light in the new configurations. Warehouse. The base model now comes with a 256 GB SSD instead of 128 GB, and the $ 1,799 model has 512 GB. This is already the standard for many laptops, and I'm happy that Apple is following this example.

performance

One thing could change my bad impression of the MacBook Pro 13 hardware options. Performance. Maybe Apple has invented something special. This is possible because the 10th generation Intel Core chips in more expensive configurations are specific to the MacBook Pro.

My test device had the Intel Core i5-1038NG7, a 25-watt processor with four cores and eight threads. It is similar to the Intel Core i5-1035G7, a 15-watt processor that is used in many 13-inch laptops such as the Dell XPS 13, the HP Specter x360 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3.

Those 10 extra watts do bring some power, but as I've learned, it's a modest increase. The MacBook Pro 13 beats most other 13-inch laptops in Cinebench R20 and Geekbench 5 – especially laptops that don't put a heavy load on the CPU, like the Specter x360 or the Razer Blade Stealth. The Dell XPS 13 is a notable exception. It uses thermal tricks to push the processor more than others, and although it has a lower-performing chip, it outperforms the MacBook Pro 13 in most benchmarks.

The performance of the MacBook Pro 13-inch is a must for a hobbyist.

However, the MacBook Pro 13 strikes back in real applications. I encoded 4K video in Handbrake to H.265 in just over 3 minutes, which is 10 seconds faster than the Dell XPS 13. This is the best video encoding rating I've seen from a 13 inch laptop so far but not by much. This also applies to the $ 1,799 model with the 10th generation Core i5, 16 GB RAM and 512 GB storage.

This does not mean that the MacBook Pro is a content creation machine. Exporting a 4K 2-minute clip to ProRes 422 took a painfully long 16 minutes. The 16-inch MacBook Pro does this in about half the time thanks to more processor cores and a discrete graphics card. The problem is that starting at $ 2,499, the laptop is more than twice as expensive as the entry-level MacBook Pro. The $ 1,799 is priced in between, but not in terms of performance.

However, the MacBook Pro 13-inch will come over for a hobbyist. If you're producing music in logic, photography in Lightroom, or YouTube videos in Final Cut, the 13-inch MacBook Pro won't stand in your way too much unless you use the device with high resolutions or codecs. If you don't make a living from these applications, it's not possible to pay at least $ 2,499 for a laptop. In this case, you only have problems with hiccups or longer render times.

Of course, the MacBook Pro 13 can easily handle dozens of Chrome tabs, Slack, Spotify, and video streaming. If that's all you need to do, the cheaper MacBook Air is probably the better choice.

design

The four-year-old design of the MacBook Pro 13 is now being repeated for the fourth time. This is not unusual for Apple and is not necessarily a bad thing. There are areas where the MacBook Pro is still a leader. You can open it with one finger, but the screen isn't shaky. The speakers are unprecedented, blowing every other 13-inch laptop out of the water. They have more bass and a rich stereo spread that highlights details in songs like you've never heard in a laptop.

However, there are some wrinkles, including the screen bezels. With the MacBook Pro 16, Apple has reduced the frame in favor of a larger screen. This is less wasted space and more screen space. However, the MacBook Pro 13 is stuck with chubby bezels. Rumor has it that a 14-inch MacBook Pro is in the works that follows a similar approach, but is unlikely to be launched in 2020.

It has a super slim profile that dozens of laptops have tried but failed to replicate.

But you can't blame Apple for its unibody aluminum case. Many have tried to duplicate Apple's machined aluminum case. The space gray color scheme still looks fresh and sophisticated, especially when it sits next to light gray surface devices or one of the countless nondescript black laptops. I wish the MacBook Air's gorgeous gold finish was an option.

I also can't complain about the size. The MacBook Pro isn't the thinnest or smallest 13-inch notebook in the world, but it still feels slim. Without the setting next to the 0.58-inch XPS 13, it wouldn't be crazy to assume that the 0.61-inch MacBook Pro is thinner. The unibody structure gives it a super slim profile that dozens of laptops couldn't replicate.

The MacBook Pro 13's Thunderbolt 3 ports were a trendsetter when first released, but they're pretty standard today. The $ 1,799 model has four Thunderbolt 3 ports, while the $ 1,299 model only has two. In the cheaper model, Apple places both ports on the left side, which is somewhat impractical for charging purposes.

Display quality

The MacBook Pro series is a leader in display quality, although this image has slowly changed in recent years. The MacBook Pro 13's 2,560 x 1,600 screen is particularly sharp for a 13.3-inch screen. If you are used to a 1080p screen, you will immediately notice the difference in sharpness.

Laptops like the XPS 13 or Specter x360 now offer 4K screen options that are even richer in pixels and yet are just as bright, vivid and color accurate. The 4K Specter x360 is $ 500 cheaper while the XPS 13 is $ 140 cheaper. HP even offers an OLED option that offers incredible black levels that traditional LEDs can't match. These days, these screens are even better equipped than MacBook Pro for precise photo editing.

Rumor has it that Apple is investing in the next development of its display technology, the mini LED, but it looks like we have to wait further.

The magic keyboard and touch bar

In addition to the internal updates, the Magic Keyboard is the most important feature of the MacBook Pro. Is it a sad state? Perhaps, but on the one hand you can count how often Apple has reversed the course so sharply. It's big business.

I am not convinced that this will be Apple's last attempt to reinvent the keyboard, but at the moment it has withdrawn to a traditional design. Each key has a scissor switch, a rubber dome and a full millimeter of travel.

However, it's not a return to the MacBook Pro 2015. The keycaps are more stable and less shaky, and the keystrokes have a sharper click. It's fantastic – a quiet, comfortable keyboard that made me feel right at home. The reverse T-shape of the arrow keys is available again, as is the Esc key. All of this came first for the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro 16-inch, but I'm still happy.

The Magic keyboard is a quiet, comfortable keyboard that made me feel right at home.

The trackpad hasn't changed and it shouldn't. A lot of technical magic happened on the first design in 2016, and it's still the best trackpad on a laptop.

The touch bar is instead of the function line and has not grown as I hoped in recent years. It still freezes occasionally and I can't decrease my music or screen brightness. It is rarely useful and I often forget that it is there. I was thrilled when Apple introduced it in 2016. What an exciting innovation! Since then, however, Apple has done very little to develop a function that is considered necessary.

The Touch ID is still located in the top right of the touch bar and offers quick registrations and purchases for applying payments. I miss facial authentication in terms of Face ID or Windows Hello. The Mac is still the only major operating system that doesn't implement facial recognition.

Battery life

The current MacBook Pro has never had excellent battery life. You can expect a single charge to last around 6 to 7 hours, depending on how hard you push it. In my typical workflow for web apps, the average was 6.5 hours.

Compared to 1080p laptops like the XPS 13 or the Specter x360, the MacBook Pro breaks down. The XPS 13 should give you an extra 4 hours of battery life, which makes the MacBook Pro look rather weak in comparison.

However, once you jump on the 4K screen, the score is a bit more even. I haven't tested the latest 4K model of the XPS 13 yet, but in previous generations it lasted 45 minutes less than the MacBook Pro when surfing the Internet in the same battery test.

Our opinion

The MacBook Pro 13-inch is a mixed update. It fixes the problematic keyboard, but Apple's decision to stick with legacy hardware for entry-level configurations is a big issue. The design ages in some ways, but remains slim and can be compared well with most alternatives. The MacBook Pro gives you the feeling that you can do anything, but you only have the right tools if you choose the most expensive configurations – which are indeed very expensive.

Are there alternatives?

The best 13-inch laptop is the Dell XPS 13. It beats the MacBook Pro in most areas and looks just as good. Even the 4K model undercuts the price of the MacBook Pro.

If you're set up on a Mac, your other two options are the MacBook Air and the 16-inch MacBook Pro. Both offer better value for money than the MacBook Pro 13. The MacBook Air configured with the quad-core Core i5 is ideal for students and anyone who runs simpler applications. The MacBook Pro 16 is the best choice for serious creatives.

How long it will take?

The MacBook Pro 13 should last for at least five years. Apple is known for making extremely reliable products. However, if you buy the entry-level model for $ 1,299, this processor lags a year behind other new laptops you buy in 2020.

Should you buy it

Yes. It offers just enough extra power to be a solid option for aspiring creative professionals.

Editor's recommendations




21 May
Blog

Microsoft Surface Book 3 15 Review: Graphics, Unleashed

Microsoft Surface Book 3 review 01

"The Surface Book 3 is not for everyone, but it is a unique laptop that is a pleasure to use."

  • Unique 2-in-1 design

  • Large, sharp display

  • Powerful graphics

  • Great video editing performance

  • Excellent keyboard

  • Limited processor performance

  • Very overpriced

  • Reduced battery life

The Surface line has never been known for its performance. They are devices to be held, played and drawn. The performance is not a weakness, but for most Surface devices it is in second place behind the design.

That was a problem for the Surface Book. It is the only Surface product that Microsoft often calls "powerful" – especially for the large 15-inch model.

The latest version, the Surface Book 3, doubles this performance promise with better graphics via the Nvidia GTX 1660 Ti and updated Intel processors. But don't be fooled – the Surface Book 3 still doesn't have the heart of a real workstation laptop. Does that hold you back?

performance

Performance is the only major change in the new surface book. So let's start there. The Surface Book 3 extends its processor and GPU to the latest Intel or Nvidia silicon. In this case, it is the 10th generation Intel Core Ice Lake processors and the Nvidia GTX 1660 Ti. My test device came with a Core i7, 16 GB RAM and a 1 TB SSD.

The CPU performance alone is not impressive for such a large device. There is one main reason for this: The same 15-watt chip is used that is also used in small laptops such as Dell XPS 13, Surface Laptop 3 and HP Specter x360 13. This is important. Not only is this less power than the CPUs in most 15-inch laptops, but there are only four processor cores available. The Dell XPS 15, ThinkPad X1 Extreme and 16-inch MacBook Pro all have up to eight cores.

The difference in the number of cores makes a massive difference in performance. If you add four cores with a laptop like the Dell XPS 15, the Cinebench R20 multi-core test scores 53% better than the Surface Book 3.

The 15-inch Surface Book 3 has an ace up its sleeve. Graphic.

It's not that Microsoft is deliberately limiting performance. The Surface Book 3 must contain most of its components – CPU, memory and more – in its tablet section. Everything sits behind the screen, like an iPad or a Surface Pro. As much as I want Microsoft to do technical magic and use a 45-watt processor, there are limitations that are inherent in this design.

But the 15-inch Surface Book 3 has an ace up its sleeve: graphics. It now uses the Nvidia GTX 1660 Ti and is available in all configurations. And as we'll see, the Surface Book 3 can use these graphics in a way that other laptops can't.

I loaded a 2 minute 4K video project into Adobe Premiere and started rendering the clip in ProRes 422. To my surprise, the Surface Book 3 completed the task in just 5 minutes and 25 seconds. This is really fast. Despite four additional cores, the XPS 15 only beat 30 seconds in the same rendering test. Options like the MacBook Pro or the Razer Blade aren't even that fast.

The Surface Book 3 can maximize the load on its CPU and GPU in many places during the entire rendering time. The system can transfer the additional load on the processor to the graphics card. This is not possible with a standard laptop, in which these hot components are all housed in the same housing. The Surface Book 3 has the graphics card in the base, while the CPU and other components are behind the screen.

Ironic, isn't it? The same reason why the Surface Book 3 is processor-controlled also gives the graphics card so much room to breathe. The only catch (and it's a big one) is the fact that this only applies to software that the GPU can use. Demanding software that the GPU cannot use does not benefit from the boost it can offer.

Of course, a powerful graphics card has other uses. Although the Surface Book 3 is anything but a gaming laptop, it surprised me with its gaming chops.

3DMark's time spy test increased 33% over the Surface Book 2, which used the GTX 1060. While a laptop like the XPS 15 has a much more powerful processor, the GTX 1660 Ti helps make the Surface Book 3 a better laptop. With a resolution of 1080p and graphics at Ultra, Battlefield V played at a speed of 60 frames per second. It doesn't make much sense to go beyond that because the Surface Book 3's display is updated at 60 Hz.

The Surface Book 3 was particularly impressive in Assassin's Creed Odyssey, a tough game that challenges even high-performance gaming PCs. While the game was almost not playable on the XPS 15, the Surface Book 3 can process it at an average of 48 frames per second even at extremely high settings. Microsoft even fixed the battery issue that prevented the Surface Book 2 from charging while playing.

Not all applications are ready to use the GPU in this way. You're not as lucky in Lightroom, and even video encoding software like Handbrake is limited to the CPU. The surface book 3 is painfully slow in these situations. Even smaller laptops such as the Dell XPS 13 and the MacBook Pro 13-inch are making their mark in video coding thanks to better thermals or processors with higher performance.

Yes, the Surface Book 3 can be a powerful laptop depending on the task. It's a surprisingly powerful video editing device and even a decent gaming laptop when you need it.

Surface book 3 as a tablet

The Surface Book 3 remains an adventurous design for Microsoft too.

It is a 2-in-1 device like the Surface Pro, except that the screen is attached directly to the "dynamic pivot hinge" at the base. With a surprisingly close connection, the tablet part is plugged into the base to create a laptop experience with very few compromises.

The tablet can be removed relatively easily by pressing a function key. You can even reattach the tablet backwards so that it can be used for presentations or watching videos. It's an intuitive alternative to using stands or magnets to hold up the screen.

The new Surface Book 3 works just like the original launched four years ago.

However, I miss the tablet stand. I often use tablets in the kitchen when cooking or cleaning, for which both the Surface Pro and the iPad are good. There is no way to support the Surface Book 3 without reattaching it to the large base. The lack of an adjustable stand also makes writing on the tablet a bit awkward. It is most convenient to turn the keyboard backwards.

In the era of the iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard, the Surface Book 3 solution isn't the only game in town. Despite the emphasis Microsoft places on the experimental design of its products, the new Surface Book 3 works just like the original launched four years ago.

The software also feels frozen in time. Windows 10 is still lacking a robust, touchable app ecosystem and meaningful gesture support so that tablet mode feels anything but complementary. This is more forgivable here than on the Surface Pro, but it rains on the parade of the impressive tablet hardware.

The tablet itself only weighs 1.8 pounds, which is slightly heavier than the 1.4-pound iPad Pro (12.9-inch). The Surface Book 3's total weight is a hefty 4.2 pounds, but for its size, the tablet feels remarkably light.

It's easy enough to hold a clipboard in one hand and use it with your Surface Pen, or to scroll the web while lounging on the couch. Unfortunately, the pen is not included and was not included in my test device.

Battery life is the main problem in tablet mode. Only part of the battery is available in tablet mode because the battery is split between the tablet and the keyboard dock. You can only expect a few hours of battery life from the tablet alone – long enough to watch a movie in bed, but not much more.

The Surface Book 3 as a laptop

The Surface Book 3 is more than the Surface Pro and should be a laptop experience.

The blunt hinge is not noticeable when the laptop is open, but it makes the device thicker. At the thickest point it is 0.90 inches. That's a lot of pressure in many backpacks. Otherwise, it's a robust, exceptionally well-built laptop. Just think about the size before buying.

Like all Surface products, the Surface Book 3 also has a first-class keyboard and a touchpad. Because the keycaps are located above the keyboard deck, it is an extremely tactile keyboard that mimics an external keyboard more than most laptop keyboards. If you miss that click feeling on modern laptops, you'll love typing in Surface Book 3.

If you are not a professional photo editor, you will enjoy this large, crisp display to the fullest.

The same applies to the glass touchpad, which has a quiet click mechanism and precise tracking. The touchpad is big enough, although I would like to see it expanded. The MacBook Pro 16 has a larger trackpad, and even the new Dell XPS 15 has expanded in size to take advantage of every millimeter of available space. There's no reason the Surface Book 3 couldn't be bigger.

The speakers are not in the base of the laptop, but in the tablet itself. This ensures good positioning as they point directly at your ears. However, they are not the loudest or booming speakers in the world to watch movies.

You will definitely not complain about the ultra-sharp 3240 x 2160 display. It is a beautiful, high-contrast screen. As long as you stick to the sRGB color mode, it is even color accurate. It's not bright enough to compete with the MacBook Pro, and the color gamut isn't wide enough either. However, for anything other than professional photo editing, you'll enjoy this large, crisp display.

Since the case hasn't changed in four years, the Surface Book 3 gets stuck on an older set of ports: two USB-A ports, a full-size SD card slot, the Surface Connect dock for power, and a USB -C connector. The lack of Thunderbolt 3 is a blatant omission. Microsoft continues to avoid the powerful, super-fast port technology that almost all competitors use. Since Dell switches to four Thunderbolt 3 ports on its XPS 15 and XPS 17, the options of the Surface Book 3 are a bit outdated.

Battery life is an integral part of the laptop experience, and the Surface Book 2 was a record holder. Thanks to its two batteries – one behind the screen and one in the base – it took 20 hours of local video playback. The Surface Book 3 still has a whopping 82 watt hours of juice, and yet in some tests the battery life has been reduced by more than 50%.

Local video playback takes 13 hours and 42 minutes, while moderate internet surfing is closer to 8.5 hours. It takes me through the working day, but the huge reduction is pretty disappointing. I suspect a firmware update might fix the problem, but Microsoft has not yet responded with an explanation.

After all, the price of the Surface Book 3 cannot be overlooked. The 15-inch model costs a whopping $ 2,400, but only has 256 GB of SSD storage. Even the expensive 16-inch MacBook Pro offers twice as much storage space for the same price. If you're more expensive than a brand that most already criticize as overpriced, you're in trouble.

The only way to add more space to the Surface Book 3 is to spend an additional $ 400, which also gives you up to 32 GB of RAM. Due to the limited configuration, it is difficult to customize the Surface Book 3 exactly as you want it.

Our opinion

The Microsoft Surface Book 3 remains a niche laptop, especially in its 15-inch form. The price is insane and the mediocre processor limits the type of work it excels at. However, the impressive graphics performance makes the Surface Book 3 a solid video editing and gaming machine. However, the unique design remains its main attraction

Are there alternatives?

The closest alternative to the Surface Book 3 are the other Surface products like Surface Pro 7, Surface Pro X or Surface Laptop 3. The Surface Laptop 3 is the only one that is also available in this size, although it does not offer any discrete products graphics option.

If you can give up the tablet experience, the Dell XPS 15- and 16-inch MacBook Pro offer better processor performance. The XPS is also a lot cheaper.

How long it will take?

The Surface Book 3 should last longer than a few years. Due to its unique design, you cannot update the memory or memory yourself. The Surface Book 3 offers a 60-day return policy and one year of in-store technical support if you live near a Microsoft Store. The guarantee is a standard one-year fixed-term contract.

Should you buy it

Yes. Thanks to some powerful graphics, the Surface Book 3 is by far the most powerful Surface device ever made.

Editor's recommendations




21 May
Blog

Blink Mini Review: Slim On Features, Light On Price

blink mini review 3 of 6

Blink Mini Review: Light functions, low price

"Just another mid-of-road offering in an increasingly competitive, affordable space."

  • Affordable costs

  • Easy setup

  • Crunchy sounding audio

  • Soft looking video footage

  • Favorable construction

After the Amazon subsidiary Blink tackled the outside area with its wireless surveillance camera, it wants to repeat the same success indoors with the Blink Mini. What is remarkable from the start is the low cost of $ 35. The price alone is of course not a measure of the true value of a camera.

Easy setup

Setting up the Blink Mini is a breeze, especially when you compare it to its outdoor sibling, the Blink XT2. Unlike this camera, the Blink Mini does not require a synchronization module because it is directly connected to a home's Wi-Fi network. Which makes sense since it should be stationary somewhere in the house.

The app has a clear layout that allows you to quickly jump to a live view, view all clips stored in the cloud and even change some settings. The appearance of the app is not excellent, but it doesn't matter to me, since all functions of the camera are easily accessible and are not hidden under a cumbersome menu interface.

The basics of privacy

During the setup process, I had to check my email address to sign in properly. Although this was not apparent, it is actually a two-factor authentication. This is a relief as it provides an additional layer of security for those who are concerned about hacking. It is only available through the email address. You cannot select a phone number instead.

I am pleased that there is an option to set up activity zones so that motion detection can be set for certain areas in the camera view. I can block areas to reduce false alarms, but it doesn't stop the Blink Mini from constantly shooting footage when motion is detected in those zones – such as: B. a doorway, a visible pet, or other minor activity. In contrast, cameras such as the Google Nest Cam IQ use indoor facial recognition technology to only record when an unknown face is encountered.

The Blink Mini is currently uploading video clips to the cloud with a total allocation capacity of 120 minutes thanks to the free trial version of Blink's subscription plan. This will change as of December 31, 2020, when users will need to subscribe to the $ 3 monthly plan for additional cloud storage. There is no local storage, but the company plans to release Blink Sync Module 2, which works with the Blink Mini to store clips locally on a flash drive.

I am pleased that there is an option to set up activity zones.

When accessing a live view, a blue LED on the camera lights up to indicate that someone is watching. Although a visual cue is great, I would have liked an accompanying audible alarm.

A boring design

The Blink Mini's design is not pretty. It's generic and has an all-plastic construction that feels a little cheap.

I think it's good that the included USB cable has enough range to attach it to a wall. This gives the Blink Mini a more impressive presence than if it is simply placed on a flat surface. Because of the 110 degree field of view, it's best to place it in corners to adequately cover an entire room.

Soft in detail

The Blink Mini records videos in a resolution of 1080p. When you look at the footage, the details are a bit soft, which is to be expected given the price. Some other notable quirks are artifact elements that appear in the shadow, even when there is enough light, a colder color temperature, and the inability to process high-contrast scenes. It's far from perfect, but at least the footage can be used to determine who's in the frame and what's going on.

The infrared night vision ensures clarity when there is not much ambient light. Details have a significant impact, but this is generally expected. The built-in speaker produces razor-sharp audio data, making conversations in both directions child's play.

Our opinion

It may not look very pretty and it doesn't offer many features, but the Blink Mini has everything you need for a surveillance camera.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes. The Wyze Cam V2 offers an impressive array of features, including the option to turn into a webcam.

How long it will take?

It looks cheap and feels cheap, but if it stays undisturbed on a wall or counter, you shouldn't have to worry about it going bad. Blink offers a 1-year limited warranty against defects and normal use.

Should you buy it

If you have already invested in the Blink ecosystem, this is a useful addition due to the low cost. If not, you can find better alternatives without spending a fortune.

Editor's recommendations




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