26 Mar
Blog

Google Nest Hub Review: Small, Simple, and Smart

"Google’s Nest Hub is a great way to keep an eye on your smart home."

  • Simple smart home control

  • No camera on the device

  • Small size means it can be placed anywhere

  • Double as a digital photo frame

  • Affordable

  • No camera means no video chat

  • Poor sound quality

  • The screen is too small for media consumption

This review was last updated by digital trends editor John Velasco on March 25th, 2020.

When the Google Nest Hub ($ 149) arrived on our desk, we were surprised. It couldn't be that tiny little box, we thought. Intelligent displays (intelligent loudspeakers with integrated voice assistants such as Google Assistant or Alexa) should have large screens, large footprints and lots of bells and whistles – right?

Google's Nest Hub has other ideas, and while it's tiny, it has some powerful features that make it powerful under the hood. In a way, its simple approach is a refreshing interpretation of the smart display – but it also feels watered down.

Also worth reading

Also worth mentioning is its bigger brother, the Google Nest Hub Max. It has many of the same functions, but has a larger screen, excellent audio performance and a front-facing camera for video calls. It's also more expensive at $ 229.

Small screen, big world

With a size of just over 4.5 inches, the Google Nest Hub is comparatively small and has a 7-inch screen in portrait format, which is attached to an oval fabric stand on the back. Unlike its competition, the giant Amazon Echo Show, which has a 10-inch screen and 4-inch base, the Nest Hub takes up almost no space and can sit anywhere without taking up a lot of space. This makes it easy to fit in many parts of your home.

Unlike other smart displays, the Nest Hub lacks a camera of any kind. This is either a good or a bad thing depending on how you feel about your privacy and lack of video chat ability. The only buttons on the outside of the hub are volume up / down and microphone on / off.

In addition to the Echo Show and the Lenovo Smart Display (another smart speaker with a screen operated by Google Assistant), the size difference corresponds to the comparison of a tablet with a smartphone. The Nest Hub's small size makes it more versatile – most smart displays are designed for primary kitchen use – but it seems like a missed opportunity as the device comes with six months of free YouTube Premium. The screen is too small to be viewed for a long time.

Greg Mombert / Digital Trends

However, the Nest Hub works as a digital photo frame. If you use Google Photos, you can connect your albums to the device during setup and have photos of your choice rotated throughout the day. We loved this feature and found some long lost gems in our collection.

A function called Ambient EQ automatically adjusts the brightness of the screen so that the device fits into the room. You can also adjust the brightness manually. We also appreciate the interpreter mode, a feature that allows you to communicate with people in different languages.

Keep it real

More reviews for smart displays

We love how easy Google Home makes device setup. The Nest Hub is no different – plug it in, open the Google Home app, and follow simple instructions on both screens to get started. Depending on whether you’re already connected to the Google Home ecosystem, you’ll need to take additional steps.

For example, the app asks if you want to set up Voice Match that automatically recognizes your voice and gives you and others around the house tailored answers. You'll also want to connect to streaming music and video services (you'll need to sign in to your accounts) and smart home devices. This is self-explanatory in the recently revised Google Home app.

In our case, we already have a Google Home device in our test house, which made the setup process as easy as connecting the device.

Greg Mombert / Digital Trends

A smart home love bond

The Google Nest Hub is best when connected to a smart home. We like the pulldown screen, which gives us instant access and control over smart home devices that we have connected. You can still use your voice to control lights, plugs, locks, cameras and more ("Hey Google, turn on the lamp on the ground floor"), but the pull-down menu contains a clear list of connected devices and status of each.

For example, you can tap Lights and get a list of connected lights and their status, or select by room to see a list of all connected devices. You only need a few minutes to organize your devices in every room. It is a user-friendly control panel for all connected devices.

Hey Google, what does my morning commute look like?

Google Assistant works the same regardless of your smart speaker, but the Nest Hub complements your interactions by adding a screen. For example, if you want to create a video tutorial on how to cook eggs hard, just say "Hey Google, show me videos on how to cook eggs hard". You can then select from the results displayed using the touchscreen. For a Google Home Mini or Google Home without a screen, Google Assistant simply reads the instructions. This is not so helpful if you are learning visually.

The hub is a nifty way to get a snapshot of what's happening at home.

There are also other uses. If you've connected a Nest camera (or a compatible camera) to the device, you can view the footage in the Google Nest Hub. We have two Nest cameras in our test house and found that viewing footage from them was a seamless process.

You can also answer the Nest Hello video doorbell on the Nest Hub with bidirectional communication. We don't have Nest Hello in our smart home, but we like the idea of ​​having an extra space to monitor movement at the front door.

Google Home Hub

Google Home Hub

Greg Mombert / Digtial Trends

Since Google Assistant is already connected to Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Maps and other Google platforms, the integration into what we already use is seamless. For example, when we set up the Nest Hub, Google already knew us from our account and usage. Therefore, calendar reminders and the morning commute view were automatically displayed on our home screen. If that scares you, you can adjust what you see.

Ok google, play music on a better speaker

The Google Nest Hub also works as a home hub, but has some shortcomings. The sound quality is the biggest disappointment. It ends up between Google Home and Google Home Mini, and that's not outstanding. It is not loud and bass and treble are missing to make listening a pleasant experience.

The loudspeaker is not loud and the bass is missing to make listening pleasant.

In contrast, the Amazon Echo Spot and Echo Show offer a louder sound and a richer music experience. We understand and respect that Google wanted to keep the device simple, small, and affordable, but it's a missed opportunity not to provide at least adequate sound. Audiophiles or anyone who appreciates a reasonably decent sound will have to pick up another speaker.

The other disadvantage, which we have already pointed out, is the screen. It's just a little bit smaller than we would like. Even an inch would help us enjoy the YouTube videos that we can't access on Amazon devices due to a continuing feud between the two technology giants.

Warranty information

Google offers a one-year limited warranty on materials and workmanship for the Google Nest Hub.

Our opinion

The Google Nest Hub has a lot to offer. We appreciate the focus on smart home controls, the pull-down panel and the functions for digital photo frames. We also appreciate the lack of a camera for those who are concerned about privacy.

We wish Google had made the screen and sound a priority. With free YouTube Premium, it feels like a missed opportunity. At $ 149, however, this is an affordable price for better smart home control.

Is there a better alternative?

It depends on what you are looking for. If you're looking for a smart introductory speaker without a screen, check out Google Home Mini ($ 49) or Amazon Echo Dot ($ 50). Both are enough. If you need the screen for the kitchen and love Google Assistant, the Lenovo Smart Display, available in both 8 and 10 inch sizes ($ 199 and $ 249), is the best choice. However, if you really want the full package, you can pay the additional cost for the Nest Hub Max ($ 229).

If you're interested in Amazon Alexa voice technology, the Echo Show is a great option with a built-in smart home hub, 10-inch screen, and great sound. If you're looking for a smaller smart display, consider the Echo Spot ($ 130), which is meant for a bedside table or desk.

How long it will take?

You can expect Google and Google Assistant to stay here. Google will continue to update and improve Google Assistant technology through firmware updates. However, we cannot guarantee that Google will not introduce another smart display later.

Should you buy it

If you're looking for an affordable smart screen with Google Assistant that focuses on controlling smart homes, buy the Google Nest Hub – as long as you can do without video chats. If you can't, consider the full-featured Nest Hub Max, which also acts as a Google Nest Cam, or maybe an Amazon Echo Show if you prefer Alexa.

Updated March 22, 2019 to add interpreter mode.

Editor's recommendations




26 Mar
Blog

Google Nest Mini Review: Even Faster, Even Smarter

nest mini review google 2nd gen feat

Nest Mini (2nd generation)

"Google's Nest Mini makes an already good device even better and remains the first choice among affordable smart speakers."

  • Fast answers

  • Adjusts the sound based on background noise

  • Environmentally friendly materials

  • Affordable price

  • The maximum volume could be louder

  • Same look as the previous model

This review was updated by Digital Trends Editor John Velasco on 03/25/2020.

The Nest Mini (2nd generation) is the newest mini speaker from Google. The Nest Mini was released on October 22, 2019 and offers a number of improvements, including: B. better sound, faster processing and much more to offer the user a better experience than its predecessor.

We tested the Nest Mini to see how it can compete with the rest of the pint-sized smart speaker pack. Here is our full review of the Nest Mini (2nd generation).

Try these new features

wash your hands

It is more important than ever to make sure that you wash your hands properly, especially if the outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus spreads. The Nest Mini offers a brand new feature to help children. They just say "Hey Google, help me wash my hands" and a melody will play from there for 20 seconds to give you a reasonable amount of time to wash your hands.

Find your keys

Isn't it annoying if you've left your keys somewhere at home while you're late for an appointment? With Google Nest Mini, you can track them down using any of Tile's Bluetooth trackers. To track them down, just say, "Hey Google, where are my keys?" From there, Google Assistant reports the last known location.

Same look, but only a few design improvements

The Nest Mini looks almost identical to the Google Home Mini. It is 1.65 inches tall and 3.85 inches in diameter. It has a fabric design and the same rounded shape. The Nest Mini is available in four colors: chalk, charcoal, coral and a new sky color. We received the chalk color for our evaluation.

Google Nest Mini on the tableJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

The new Mini has some design improvements over its predecessor. Although you may not notice a big difference at first glance, the differences become clearer during the setup process. For example, on the back of the device there is a small cut-out for a screw that you can use to attach it to a wall. The upper part of the Nest Mini fabric is made from 100 percent recycled plastic, while the outer casing is made from at least 35 percent recycled post-consumer plastic. The Nest Mini is slightly heavier than the Home Mini (181 grams versus 173 grams), and you can feel the quality of the craftsmanship when you hold the Nest Mini in your hand.

Key controls, sensors and connections

The Mini is powered by a 15 watt power supply connected to a DC jack. This is a change from the Mini standard Micro USB connector. Even though it would have been ideal to buy USB Type C, since the Nest Mini is unlikely to move around frequently, Google is perfectly fine with opting for a proprietary connection. There is no 3.5mm audio jack to connect an external speaker, but Bluetooth support.

Erika Rawes / Digital Trends

The Mini also has a side microphone off slider on the side, so you can turn the microphone off at any time. The volume controls are capacitive touch buttons, but are now on the sides of the device – with associated embedded LEDs to indicate their placement. If you touch each side of the device, the volume will increase or decrease.

However, manual control of the volume is not necessary with the Nest Mini, as the device automatically adjusts the volume to the background noise in the room. We noticed that the Nest Mini produced louder music and reactions during many conversations or when playing television than when the room was completely quiet.

Better sound, but if you put it next to the Echo Dot …

The Nest Mini has a 360-degree sound and the same speaker driver (40 mm) as the Home Mini. With the Nest Mini, however, Google has updated the audio tuning software to improve the sound quality. It is said to have a bass twice as strong without affecting the sound quality.

Google Nest Mini on ledgeJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

When we heard the same songs in full volume on the Nest Mini and on the Echo Dot 3rd generation (with a 1.6-inch driver), there was no doubt that the Echo Dot 3rd generation had a louder sound and had a stronger bass. However, the sound of the Nest Mini was clearer and we could hear every level of music – clear midtones, high notes and bass.

When it comes to speech recognition, the Nest Mini is top notch. It hears commands even in the loudest situations and we believe it outperforms the Echo Dot 3 in this area, although the Dot has four far-field microphones and the Nest Mini only three.

A faster assistant

Google has expanded Nest Mini with a machine learning chip with up to a TeraOPS computing power, with which the device can process commands locally. We absolutely noticed a difference in the response time and quality of the Mini's responses.

Google Nest Mini on the wallJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

It quickly answers certain questions such as "How much does it cost to remodel my kitchen?" And then listen and answer immediately the following questions such as "How long does it take to renovate my kitchen?". The answers are becoming more useful and more detailed.

A feature-rich device

Google is adding more and more features to its home devices. The Nest Mini can make free calls using Google Duo (it basically acts as a home phone) and you can use it as an intercom to call other Google / Nest speakers at home. In addition, you can use the stream transmission and transfer content (music, podcasts, etc.) with your voice from your Mini to other compatible devices. Google Nest speakers can now control more than 30,000 different smart home devices. You can let the Nest Mini speak multiple languages ​​and more.

Our opinion

We were somewhat surprised that Google waited so long to update its mini speaker, but didn't make any drastic changes to the overall appearance of the device. This is partly because they didn't want to fix what wasn't broken. Google made changes to the Mini only when needed to maintain the affordable price without compromising on design quality.

Is there a better alternative?

It depends on whether. Some people may prefer the Echo Dot 3rd generation (retail for $ 50) or the Echo Dot 3rd generation with LED clock (retail for $ 60) simply because of them prefer the Amazon Assistant, Alexa, or the Amazon Alexa app. Some people think that the Google Home app is not as intuitive and user-friendly as the Alexa app. Amazon's Echo Dot speakers also have a 3.5mm audio output jack, while the Nest Mini doesn't.

The Nest Mini now offers a faster and smarter assistant. Yes, the Echo Dot offers a slightly better app and more options (more speaker selection, better compatibility with smart home products, compatibility with Apple Music, etc.), but the Nest Mini still has a lot to offer for those who like Google Home devices .

Do you want more options? Check out our favorite 2019 smart speakers.

How long it will take?

Longevity and longevity are areas where Google Nest speakers are typically successful. In the past, Google routinely makes important updates to its assistant than to its smart speakers. In this way, customers can be sure that their devices are not immediately out of date, as they will be replaced with an updated version a few months later.

Should you buy it

Yes. If you're looking for a powerful, fast, and attractive smart speaker at an affordable price, you won't be disappointed with the Nest Mini.

Editor's recommendations




26 Mar
Blog

Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen) With Clock Review: The Time Is Now

Amazon Echo Dot 3rd generation watch front

Amazon Echo Dot with clock

"If you plan to build your smart home, the Amazon Echo Dot with clock is a smart choice to keep you up to date."

  • LED watch is useful and versatile

  • Physical buttons are easy to use

  • Tons of Alexa skills to add

  • Diverse compatibility with smart homes

  • Distortion at higher volumes

  • Cannot be transferred directly from apps

This review was last updated by Digital Trends smart home editor John Velasco on March 25th, 2020.

Although I'm often surrounded by cool technology, I have to admit that I've never used an Amazon Alexa speaker in my home before. This is partly because I first bought a Google Home and have been on the Google Assistant train since then. If you have invested in the ecosystem, it is also difficult to make the switch.

But here I am, switching to Amazon Alexa with the company's latest affordable smart speaker in the Amazon Echo Dot with Clock. I know what you're thinking. It's just the Amazon Echo Dot that was struck with an LED watch. But don't dismiss it just because it's a subtle change.

Try these new features

Thanks to frequent updates that expand their toolkit, Alexa is getting smarter. While there are some basic features you should definitely know, there are new tricks available every month. With the Amazon Echo Dot with Clock, you can try the following.

Get the latest weather alerts

Storms and other bad weather can occur immediately, which is useful for the latest warnings. The Echo Dot with clock can keep you up to date by saying, "Alexa, tell me if there's a storm alert."

Election updates

There will be a lot of news when the presidential elections are in full swing. So it is a good idea to know what is going on in politics. You can use the Echo Dot with clock to get the latest voting information, debate reviews, and more. All you have to do is say, "Alexa, what's my election update?" Or "Alexa, what happened in the last debate?"

Timekeeping at a glance

Amazon Echo Dot 3rd generation watch angleJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

With the advent of smartphones, the bedroom alarm clock has almost died out. So why in the world do we need another stationary thing to tell us the time? Now that even the Xfinity cable box in my bedroom has removed the clock from its design, there is actually no other way to tell the time when I'm not looking at my phone.

And that's why I can estimate the Amazon Echo Dot with a watch, because when you're half asleep you don't want to fumble around to determine the time. Instead, I can quickly take a look at the puck-sized speaker on my bedside table. Since the brightness of the LED watch adapts to the ambient light conditions, it is never too bright or too dark.

When you are half asleep, you don't want to fumble around to set the time.

It would have been great to see different color options for the LED watch, but the design of this Echo Dot is refreshingly simple and intuitive. There is no fuss about it. You don't even have to touch your phone.

Amazon Echo Dot 3rd generation watch ringJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

Current owners of the 3rd generation Amazon Echo Dot won't notice anything drastically different with the design of this latest model. Except for the addition of this LED watch, the rest of the speaker is the same. It has a fabric outer panel, physical buttons at the top and the characteristic light ring. Only available in sandstone at the moment, it complements any decoration style without overwhelming anything else you might have lying around.

While the Google Nest Mini has a more coherent appearance, mainly due to the use of LEDs and buttons embedded in the fabric cover, the Amazon Echo Dot with clock offers a more tactile experience. That makes it a lot easier when it's dazed.

Don't expect to rock

Due to its small size, the Amazon Echo Dot with watch is not the first choice if you want to listen to music when friends are over. That is definitely no! Audio performance is sufficient for smaller, isolated rooms, but distortion is noticeable at higher volumes, and it becomes clear how difficult it is for this speaker to maintain clarity.

When I started adding more skills and my different accounts, it became clear that Alexa was as capable as Google Assistant.

You can connect a speaker via the 3.5 mm additional socket to increase the music performance if you want. However, this may be a cumbersome solution.

The Amazon Echo Dot with clock is best suited for interactions with Alexa. The four microphones respond well to my voice commands, while Alexa's responses in their standard voice are far more natural compared to Siri or Google Assistant from Apple. All my requests were recognized by the speaker.

Various smart home integration

At first, Alexa didn't seem as smart as Google Assistant. However, when I started adding more skills and my different accounts, it became clear that she was just as capable. It can control my Philips Hue lights, make calls or order a pizza.

The Echo's LED clock provides the ability to display the countdown when a timer is set. It can also show the temperature if you ask Alexa about it. These are minor functions, but it is no longer necessary to fiddle around with my phone. In addition, the same functions that were available with the last one are still available here.

Amazon Echo Dot 3rd generation watch on the tableJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

Although you can't deny Alexa's ability to control different smart home devices, there are still some minor issues I have with Alexa. For example, I can't adjust the volume of the speaker using the volume controls on my smartphone unless I start the Alexa app and choose the volume control option.

Another little complaint I made with Alexa is that I can't get something I hear on my phone through an app to the speaker. With Pandora, I can do this if I'm using a Google Home device but Echo devices don't. Instead, everything is managed through the Alexa app.

You could argue that all of these features can only be achieved by talking to Alexa, but sometimes I still like being in control of my smartphone.

Aside from this complaint, I have to admit that there is a huge library of Alexa skills that enhances the functionality of this virtual assistant using the Amazon Echo Dot with clock. It is impressive, even if it is not quite perfect.

Warranty information

The Amazon Echo Dot with watch comes with a 90-day limited warranty and service.

Our opinion

Adding an LED watch to an existing speaker may seem like a lazy update to Amazon, but the Echo Dot (3rd generation) with watch is still an outstanding example of, with its exceptional $ 60 smart home integration cost Entry-level smart speakers, powerful Alexa assistant, and a design that suits any style of decoration.

Amazon also offers several bundles that are worth a look. As a rule, another intelligent device is packaged without increasing the total costs. For example, the bundle that contains a smart light bulb increases its cost to $ 65 while another bundle with a Smart plug You will reset $ 70.

Is there a better alternative?

If you're just heavily invested in the Google ecosystem, the new Google Nest Mini is the obvious alternative. However, if you appreciate Alexa and just want better sound, you should consider either the new Amazon Echo (3rd generation) or Echo Studio.

Do you want more options? Check out our favorite 2019 smart speakers.

How long it will take?

Amazon has continually expanded Alexa’s feature portfolio to include various capabilities, so you can expect this speaker to continue to add new features. Since the Echo Dot with clock is built to be stationary and solid, it can remain functional for a long time.

Should you buy it

Yes, especially if you want to start building your smart home.

Editor's recommendations




25 Mar
Blog

3D Systems Cube 3D Printer Review

3D Systems Cube 3D printer spool

3D Systems Cube 3D printer

"The Cube 3 is one of the most feature-rich printers you can get for less than $ 1,000, but its hit-or-miss performance can be frustrating."

  • About simplified user experience

  • Double extruder

  • Self-calibrating

  • Wi-Fi connectivity

  • Closed design

  • Under $ 1,000

  • Buggy, frustrating software

  • Advanced user controls are missing

  • Expensive proprietary filament cartridges

  • Loud operation

  • Unheated bed occasionally causes misprints

As with beer, steaks, and roofers, you get what you pay for when it comes to 3D printing. Fancy features come at a price, and if you want to have two extruders and touch screens on your printer, for example, you'll have to spend a lot of money – unless you buy a Cube 3. This printer was developed by 3D Systems and offers a range of highs -End features for under $ 1,000.

It almost seems too good to be true, so we got our hands on one and put it to the test.

Features and specifications

For a printer with such a low price, the Cube 3 offers some incredible specs. In addition to a neat, completely closed design, the printer is equipped with two extruders, a maximum resolution of 70 micrometers, Wi-Fi connectivity and an integrated touchscreen for navigation. You'll find it hard to find some of these things on a $ 3,000 printer. So if you see them on a printer that costs less than $ 1,000, you'll see a unicorn riding a centaur.

Setup and configuration

3D Systems designed the Cube 3 to be user-friendly, and nothing makes this clearer than the ridiculously simple setup process. The machine is ready for use almost immediately, and once you start it up, it does almost everything for you – including calibration and leveling of the build plate. All you have to do is tap a few buttons on the device's built-in touchscreen display and you're done.

3D Systems Cube 3D printer LED screen 2 "data-image-id =" 811539BIll Roberson / Digital Trends

BIll Roberson / Digital Trends

The hardest part of the whole process is likely to be entering your WiFi password so you can connect the Cube 3 to your home network. To do this, you have to scroll through the alphabet to find and enter every number / letter / symbol. It's a bit annoying for sure, but it's not that difficult in the big scheme of things either. Entering the password is the most difficult part of the entire setup process? That says something.

Construction quality and design

Many 3D printers do not try to hide the fact that they are 3D printers, but the Cube 3 does, and we appreciate it. Instead of leaving all belts, motors and gears visible for everyone, 3D Systems stowed everything in a neat plastic housing and gave the machine a clean, smooth and inviting appearance. If you value aesthetics, this printer should definitely be on your radar.

If we had to summarize the printing performance of Cube 3 in one word, that word would probably be "meh".

This is also not a problem in the processing quality department. The plastic case feels a little thin and fragile at certain points, but the printer is fairly sturdy and well built overall. I had to move it between the DT office and my house a couple of times, and each time I just put my hand through the opening and carried the thing around on my forearm. Everything about the printer is closed and secure, so I didn't have to worry about damaging it – even if I had to take it with me on the bus one day.

3D Systems also included a number of other small design features that make the Cube 3 great to use, such as a waste collection system, a removable build plate, and a rapidly changing filament system. But some of them are mixed blessings.

Take the filament spool system, for example. Cube 3 PLA is supplied in these small, pre-packed spools that are attached to the sides of the machine and snap into the extruder (printhead) with a simple turn. This makes filament insertion a breeze, but it also means that you can't use cartridges made by someone other than 3D Systems, which is a little annoying. It is exactly the same problem you encounter with 2D printers: once you buy the device, it only works with a certain type of ridiculously overpriced ink cartridge. Your average PLA or ABS spool costs around $ 30, but these fancy (and admittedly practical) spool cartridges from 3D Systems cost you $ 49 per pop.

Another double-edged design feature is the magnetically attached construction board of the printer. The absence of clips makes the plate very easy to remove, which makes prying your finished objects off the plate a little easier. The downside, however, is that it's not heated and isn't quite as safe as if it were cut off. We had a couple of printing problems (more on that in a moment) with the Cube, and as far as we can tell, they were caused either by the building board moving on its magnetic armature so easily or by the filament not adhering properly to the unheated board. This didn't happen with every press, but it happened often enough that it was remarkable.

Last but not least, there is network connectivity. Cube 3 can connect to your computer via WiFi. That's great. Depending on the complexity of the object you want to send, this can take a few minutes to a few hours. With more complex models, it takes ages to transfer them to the printer over WiFi, and many basic models take a few more minutes. Wireless connectivity is great, but annoyingly slow most of the time.

All in all, I would say that while the Cube 3's design is far from perfect, its pros and cons definitely outweigh the disadvantages.

User interface and software

With just a touchscreen and a single button, navigation on the Cube's user interface should be a matter of course for anyone using a smartphone – which is practically everyone at the moment.

But the software you need to use to actually do the damn thing is terrible. We don't normally look too deeply at software reviews in our 3D printer reviews, but it was bad enough to warrant a discussion.

With such a low price, the Cube 3 offers some pretty incredible specs.

In contrast to most other 3D printers, which are designed for open source slicer programs such as Cura or Slic3r, Cube only works with its own software program called Cubify. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, and Cube 3 is definitely not the only 3D printer that runs on proprietary software. Unfortunately, the program that works with Cube 3 is a pain. It's like the crappy software that comes with some all-in-one printers / scanners / copiers. It looks good, but it doesn't work very well and is so simplified that it's frustrating to use.

Performing basic tasks (connecting to the printer, adding an STL file, changing the fill settings, etc.) is easy enough, but there are practically no advanced user controls, and some things just don't work properly.

For example, after loading an STL file onto your "shelf", the printer only appears to accept it in about 50 percent of the cases. The other 50 percent see an error message explaining that the model may not work with the printer and may need to be re-synced to get the best results. This is pretty annoying and happened to us on several computers. Oddly enough, the prints would work well if we ignored the warning.

3D Systems Cube 3D printer LED screen "data-image-id =" 811538BIll Roberson / Digital Trends

BIll Roberson / Digital Trends

In other cases, STL files loaded easily, but the program did not allow us to save the changes we made. This made it impossible to print with the desired settings. There have been several instances where this has happened to us. The only way to fix this was to close the program, reopen it, and try again. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't – which is insanely frustrating.

If 3D systems could fix this software, they would have an impressive little printer under $ 1,000 in hand, but currently this software is a major obstacle to usability.

Printing performance

If we had to summarize the printing performance of Cube 3 in one word, that word would probably be "meh". It's nowhere near as accurate or detailed as high-end printers, and the objects it produces are far from perfect – but it also has some redemption features that you wouldn't normally find in this price range.

The machine is ready for use almost immediately.

For starters, it has two extruders, so it can print in two different colors or materials at the same time. This is fantastic for two reasons. First, you can print two-color objects at once. Secondly, it is possible to print your object with a material and to print the supports with the absolutely fantastic water-soluble filament from 3D Systems. This means that you don't have to spend half an hour breaking off supports and cleaning your pressure. You can simply drop the finished product into a water bath and let the supports dissolve.

Nevertheless, the printing performance of the Cube 3 leaves something to be desired, even with two extruders. With Cubify software you can only print with layer thicknesses of 200 or 70 microns. So you have to choose between fast and low resolution or slow and detailed. To be fair, there is this compromise in every 3D printer, but Cube 3 doesn't offer you any options for the middle ground. If you want to print at 100 microns, you're out of luck.

Print speed and resolution are decent, but have problems with fine details and dimensional accuracy. The dimensional accuracy was omnipresent when we ran the 3D benchy test. The lengths and widths of certain parts ranged from exactly up to 200 micrometers. You honestly wouldn't be able to see this with the naked eye, and it probably doesn't matter whether you're just printing soap dishes and candle holders for your home – but if you need extreme precision, that's probably not the case. t the printer you should be using.

The biggest problem we encountered with the Cube 3 was an abundance of misprints – no matter how many times we calibrated it. If you do not apply the adhesive properly to the bed, the first layer may not adhere strongly enough to the ceramic substrate, which can (and will) lead to printing errors. But we also found printing errors when we applied the glue perfectly. So it's more of a hit-or-miss affair. We are not quite sure whether we should blame the unheated bed of the machine or the fact that it moves easily on the magnetic armatures, but the fact is that we have a number of printing errors with the Cube 3 and this couldn't I don't know how to avoid them.

Maintenance, repairability and upgradeability

One of the things we liked most about the Cube was that it was easy to maintain. 3D Systems has thought about this area and it really shows it. The quickly changing filament system is child's play and the magnetically anchored pressure plate can be easily removed for cleaning. There are also waste bins that automatically collect excess filament and a self-calibration system that levels everything with just a few clicks. Regardless of how you look at it, maintaining and servicing the Cube 3 is a breeze.

Just don't break it. The completely closed design of the printer makes disassembly difficult. So if something goes wrong internally, you probably can't fix it yourself.

You can't update it much either. This device is not designed for upgrades or accessories of any kind – except for software and firmware updates, which we sincerely hope will be available soon.

Conclusion

The DT accessory package

Improve your game and get the most out of your equipment with the following extras selected by our editors:

3D systems Isense 3D scanner ($ 455)

3D Systems 2.37 fl oz cube adhesive ($ 9)

3D Systems Sense 3D scanner ($ 386)

The Cube 3 scores with great design and useful features, but the poor reliability and frustrating software of the machine sometimes make it difficult to use. This is a great option for anyone looking for an easy, non-technical way to get started with 3D printing. However, users looking for high quality prints and advanced printing options should look elsewhere.

However, this is also one of the most powerful printers you can find for less than $ 1,000. Even with occasional misprints, this device offers you a lot of money.

Heights

  • About simplified user experience
  • Double extruder
  • Self-calibrating
  • Wi-Fi connectivity
  • Closed design
  • Under $ 1,000

Lows

  • Buggy, frustrating software
  • Advanced user controls are missing
  • Expensive proprietary filament cartridges
  • Loud operation
  • Unheated bed occasionally causes misprints

Editor's recommendations




24 Mar
Blog

Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Review: Powerful, Affordable, Expandable

Dell Inspiron 15 7000 2020 review

"The Inspiron 15 7000 is nothing special, but its expandability makes this midrange laptop something special."

  • Practical expandability

  • Solid productivity performance

  • Good keyboard and touchpad

  • Attractive price

  • The color accuracy of the screen is deactivated

  • Uses older graphics card

Laptops are nowhere near as upgradeable as they used to be. Whether it's battery, storage, or storage, you stick with everything you buy.

There are some rare exceptions to this trend. One of them is the latest Inspiron 15 7000 model from Dell. This Inspiron is not soldered on, but has easily accessible RAM slots and additional connections for a second PCIe M.2 SSD and even a 2.5-inch drive.

It starts at just $ 800, although the 7591 we tested was a bit more powerful. This special configuration for $ 1,050 includes a Core i7-9750H, the GTX 1050, 8 GB RAM, a PCIe SSD with 512 GB and a full HD non-touch display (1,920 x 1,080). That's a very attractive price for a 15-inch laptop with so much performance.

Is the upgradeability of this laptop different from the crowded field of excellent 15 inch laptops?

Upgradeable internals

The Inspiron 15 7000 is a "midrange" laptop, but that doesn't mean it isn't built well. The model I checked is made from stamped aluminum. This is a nice improvement over the 7590, which uses a magnesium alloy. This means that the 7591 is solidly built for a laptop of this price, without the lid, the keyboard deck or the housing bending or bending significantly.

This is important for a laptop that you want to open. The option to expand is not just a function for hobbyists. You can save money by updating it yourself, and you can even extend the lifespan – as long as you're ready to dig a little.

Turn the laptop over and you will find standard Phillips screws (no hex screws that require special tools). Remove them (the back three can easily be detached and left in the case), and you can gently break the cover off and reveal the inside.

You can save money by updating it yourself, and you can even extend its lifespan.

There you will find two RAM slots, a second M.2 PCIe slot for an SSD and a 2.5-inch bay for a third drive. If you have installed a single RAM stick, you will be running in single-channel memory mode. This has a significant impact on performance. Connect a second customized module and switch to two-channel mode to significantly accelerate storage performance.

If you add a second M.2 SSD, you can configure RAID 0 (striping) or RAID 1 (mirroring) for either better performance and more storage space, or redundancy and more reliability. Finally, you can add a third 2.5-inch drive for additional storage.

As mentioned earlier, this is an unusual level of access and upgradeability for an Ultrabook. You'll need to switch to an expensive premium laptop like the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 2 to find a laptop that can add a second SSD with RAID support. With some other laptops like the Dell XPS 15, you can replace RAM and (single) SSD. However, the Inspiron is the only notebook in its class that allows you to add up to two additional drives.

Surprisingly, although the Inspiron 15 7000 is uniquely expandable, it's not overly large or heavy. It's 4.12 pounds, which is lighter than the 4.5 pounds of the XPS 15, but heavier than the 3.76 pounds of the ThinkPad. At 0.78 inches thick, the Inspiron is a bit thicker than some of the premium models, but not much. You don't have to lug around a bulky laptop to improve upgradeability.

The connectivity, which also affects how well you can equip a laptop, is very good. You get three USB-A ports, a USB-C port with Thunderbolt 3 support, a full-size HDMI 2.0 port and a microSD card reader. Connect it to a Thunderbolt 3 dock and you can connect to multiple 4K displays and a variety of other peripherals. However, wireless connectivity was a step back since only Wi-Fi 5 was used instead of the newer Wi-Fi 6 standard for Bluetooth 5.0.

performance

I ran our usual performance benchmarks before adding a second 8 GB RAM module and the performance was disappointing as expected.

Before adding the additional RAM, for example, the Inspiron achieved 1,071 in Geekbench 5 in single-core mode and 3,864 in multi-core mode. After adding the RAM, these numbers were shifted to 1,124 and 4,695. Compare that to the Lenovo Yoga C940 15 with the same CPU and the same two-channel RAM at 1,106 and 5,117.

The upgrade had less impact on our more realistic tests. In Handbrake I encoded a 420 MB video in H.265 to test the content creation performance. Before the upgrade, the Inspiron took a full 3 minutes to complete the test. After that it took two minutes and 50 seconds. The Lenovo C940 lasted 2 minutes and 17 seconds.

By adding the second RAM module and switching to two-channel mode, Geekbench performance was increased by 12% and the laptop was updated with the competition. The increase in the handbrake test was only around 6%. The memory I bought was from Crucial, a single stick with 8 GB of DDR4-2666 MHz RAM that only cost about $ 30. This is one of the more cost-effective performance improvements I've seen for some time.

I didn't notice any difference in the SSD performance compared to the RAM upgrade. The Western Digital PCIe offered an average performance that is lower than the much faster SSDs in the XPS 15 and ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 2 in the Lenovo Yoga C940 equipped with Intel Optane.

However, if you add a second SSD and configure RAID 0, storage speeds will increase significantly. This is another performance boost that is quite unusual for ultrabooks and that only Lenovo matches.

Design and display

Upgradability is good, but the Inspiron still needs to work well as a laptop. The good news is that it is a solid offering in many ways.

The keyboard is comfortable, with plenty of travel and a snappy mechanism. It doesn't quite match the keyboard level of expensive laptops like the XPS 15 and HP Specter x360 15 or the Magic Keyboard of the new MacBook Pro 16, but is good enough for fast typing.

The touchpad is also above average and offers plenty of space for a Windows 10 touchpad (but not like the massive version on the MacBook) and support for Microsoft Precision touchpad drivers. Windows 10 multi-touch gestures work fine and it's a pleasure to use them.

Next is the ad. At 15.6 inches, Full HD is a little less sharp than I prefer. For me, 1440p or 4K is a very preferred resolution for these larger panels. The screen that Dell chose for the Inspiron doesn't bother you in everyday use. At 323 nits it is pretty bright, although the contrast only reaches 820: 1. That is below the 1000: 1 threshold that we like to see.

The color gamut was average at 74% of AdobeRGB and 98% of sRGB, but color accuracy was unsatisfactory at 4.52 (1.0 and below is considered excellent). You shouldn't rely on this laptop to make precise photo edits.

The Lenovo Yoga C940's panel was similar, with better contrast and color accuracy, but slightly less impressive color accuracy. If you want a fine-tuned swatch, you'll need to upgrade to a laptop like the Dell XPS 15 and Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme.

After all, battery life also plays a role. Here you make a real compromise for the additional storage option. If you choose the 2.5-inch drive bay, you're limited to a 56-watt-hour battery – like in my test device. If you give up this slot, you can use a 97-watt-hour battery, similar to the XPS 15.

This had a negative impact on the battery life. For example, the Inspiron fell behind the Lenovo Yoga C940 by about 6 hours in our web browser test and by just under an hour in our video loop test. However, the Inspiron did surprisingly well in our demanding Basemark web benchmark test with 4 hours and 40 minutes, well over an hour longer than yoga.

Game performance

My test device was equipped with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 instead of the GTX 1650, which is an optional upgrade. The GTX 1050 was only very popular a year or two ago and offers a passable experience when playing casual games and modern titles with lower resolutions and graphic details.

I ran our usual set of gaming benchmarks and the Inspiron was run in accordance with other laptops running the GTX 1050. Fortnite displayed 52 frames per second (FPS) with 1080p and high graphic details, and Epic 41 FPS. In the meantime, the Inspiron managed 77 FPS in Civilization VI at 1080p and medium details and 40 FPS at Ultra.

This is not a dedicated gaming laptop. So be ready to reduce the resolution and graphic details.

In a heavier game like Assassin's Creed Odyssey, the Inspiron achieved 32 FPS at 1080p and High Detail and dropped to unplayable 17 FPS at Ultra High Detail. Overall, these results are on average 10-15 FPS lower than those of laptops equipped with the newer GTX 1650, including the Dell XPS 15 and Asus ZenBook 15 UX534. If you want to play more on this laptop, you want to upgrade to this faster card.

The Inspirion 15 7591 is suitable for casual games and even comes out in modern titles. However, this is not a dedicated gaming laptop. So be ready to reduce the resolution and graphical details to get the best experience possible.

Our opinion

The Inspiron 15 7000 is a unique upgradeable ultrabook. The ability to add two storage drives is more than almost any other laptop I've tested. Do-it-yourselfers will love it from a conceptual level, but it's a throwback to a time when laptops can last more than a few years.

Unfortunately, the configurations from Dell are confusing. The 7591 I tested only came with a single RAM module, and the older GTX 1050 is a bottleneck when gaming. You can opt for the 7590 with its GTX 1650, but you can only add one additional drive.

Whether you choose the $ 800 base model or something with discrete graphics, the Inspiron 15 7000 is a balanced mid-tier laptop.

Are there alternatives?

Yes, there are several 15-inch alternatives, although there aren't many in this price range. The HP Envy 15 is outdated, as is the ZenBook 15 from Asus. The 15-inch Surface Laptop 3 uses weaker quad-core processors, as does the LG Gram 15.

The XPS 15 from Dell offers a more stable case, faster performance options and a better screen. With the same specs, it's around $ 300 more expensive, although the XPS can be configured much higher. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 2 almost corresponds to the expandability of the Inspiron and can also be a little faster, but is twice as expensive.

If you want to consider a 2-in-1 device, the Lenovo Yoga C940 15 is a good option. It's a bit faster to play than the Inspiron and around $ 500 more expensive. The expandability of Dell is also not possible.

How long it will take?

The Inspiron 15 7000 is well built and should last as long as you need it. With the ability to easily open the case and update components, you can add more RAM and memory as needed. That means the Inspiron lasts a little longer than your average laptop.

The 1-year warranty is industry standard and, as always, is disappointing.

Should you buy it

Yes. It's a solid laptop for the price, and the expandability features are a plus.

Editor's recommendations




23 Mar
Blog

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 Earbuds Review

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2

"Sennheiser has managed to make the best-sounding earphones even better."

  • Unsurpassed sound quality

  • Stellar active noise cancellation

  • Easy setup and control

  • Revised battery life

  • Lean aesthetics

  • Expensive

  • Comparatively bulky design

In our humble opinion, the original Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless were the best sounding real wireless earbuds you could buy. But the excellent audio quality was costly, not just the high price that went with it. Sennheiser's first crack in real wireless simply didn't have the features that justified its price, with poor battery life being the biggest mistake.

Fortunately, two years turned out to be enough to fix some shortcomings. Sennheiser's recently announced $ 300 Momentum True Wireless 2, which is slated to hit stores in April 2020, are the five-tool stars we wanted from their predecessor. Thanks to the significantly improved battery life and the additional active noise suppression, Sennheiser has combined its incomparable sound quality in one overall package. Or at least damn close.

Out of the box

Aside from a few changes, nothing much has changed in terms of design from generation to generation. Sennheiser has shrunk the new buds by almost 2 mm to reduce weight and improve comfort. However, they have the same sharp aesthetics as the originals and have the silver Sennheiser logo on each end cap. The same applies to the supplied charging case; It maintains the pill form of the first version and is wrapped in a familiar, sleek fabric.

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 case

Aside from the buds themselves and the case, the package included a quick start guide, three additional pairs of silicone earplugs, and a charging cable that is just as short as the previous iteration. I exchanged the earbuds that came with the buds for a slightly smaller option, and then put them in to get a firm but secure fit. With a quick glance at the manual, I went seamlessly through the setup process, in which both buds were touched simultaneously to put them in pairing mode, find them in my phone's Bluetooth settings, and connect.

design

I registered with these buds within the first few hours and noticed the size. Don't get me wrong, they're not the bulkiest earbuds I've dealt with, but they certainly won't go away in your ear like lighter options like the Samsung Galaxy Buds + do.

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 Nick Woodard / Digital Trends

Sennheiser has made progress by making Momentum 2 smaller than the originals, and I can confirm that this helped balance the load. Overall, they're comfortable earbuds, and I haven't noticed any major concerns when I wear them for extended listening sessions. However, if larger buds bother you more, I would take this into account when considering Sennheiser.

characteristics

The highlight in the converted bag with functions for the Momentum True Wireless 2 is the battery life. The originals offered disappointing four hours of playback on a single charge and a total of 12 hours on the case, neither of which could compete with much cheaper options like Apple's AirPods or Jabra's Elite Active 75T. It was a glaring flaw in an otherwise outstanding pair of buds and clearly something Sennheiser had to correct.

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2Nick Woodard / Digital Trends

The second generation of Momentum offers seven hours per charge and a total of 28 hours in combination with the charging case. Using active noise canceling and listening at louder volume usually affects these numbers, but for the most part, these juiced buds have kept the end of the battery bargain.

As is common today with wireless earbuds, the Momentum True Wireless 2 has customizable touch controls and detection features that pause playback when you remove an earbud. This "smart pause" function, as Sennheiser calls it, was slightly different from others that I auditioned because it stopped playing more gradually than a more abrupt pause in the sound. It's a small detail, but it became more and more important to me over time.

The Momentum 2 was easy to use with the touch controls. It takes a little trial and error to put all the commands into memory – things like volume controls are separated by buds, and more than once I've cranked up the volume instead of dampening it – but when I did, it was easy that control experience without reaching for my cell phone.

Like its older relatives, the Momentum 2 have IPX4 weather resistance. Essentially splashproof, but not completely waterproof. They were good for the light workouts I could do while practicing social distance, but I can't speak for how they would do in repeated sweaty sessions.

App optional, but not required

The Momentum True Wireless 2 have their own app called Sennheiser Smart Control. Since the earphones won't be available to the general public until next month, I've interacted with a beta version of the app so your mileage may vary. But for my money, the app itself was a decent compliment, but it wasn't necessary to enjoy these buds.

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2Nick Woodard / Digital Trends

They offered the opportunity to customize your touch controls, although after learning the standard controls, I didn't want to go back to the drawing board. There is also a tab where you can toggle the buds 'transparent hearing' function on and off so that you can record the sounds of the environment around you if you wish. But I could do that with a few blows to my right bud.

From my point of view, the most useful functions in the app were the settings that you could use to deactivate things like smart pause or the option to answer calls automatically. The equalizer provided with the app was useful for getting a little deeper or more heights out of the buds, but I always wanted to reset the buds to their original mood.

The audio quality is increased with ANC

At the expense of repetition, the first generation Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless were the best wireless earbuds we've ever heard. The company, widely known as a leader in audio quality, shouldn't have had to add much to the next edition to maintain the status quo.

Instead, they added active noise cancellation to the Momentum 2. In my opinion, this is a pretty big deal.

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2Nick Woodard / Digital Trends

Everything that has been applauded about the original is still there. The clarity, the impressive low-end, the breathtaking stereo images. I was impressed with how listening to selections like George Ezras Shotgun, the earbuds could easily keep up with the song's tight bass notes while refusing to overwhelm the singer's tremendous vocals. I've heard some pretty powerful earphones, but this is just another experience. The sound draws you into the music and devours you when you record notes and instruments that simply are not available from competitors.

Now take all of that and add active noise cancellation. With properly fitting earplugs, the earphones can solidly exclude ambient noise without this function. My morning dog walk along a busy road has never been so calm.

By tapping my right bud three times to activate active noise cancellation, I only heard Bill Burr's giggles during the Monday Morning Podcast. While I was working on the couch a few meters from my partner, I couldn't understand a word when she tried to communicate. Not ideal from a relationship point of view, but ideal for suppressing office noise, and probably very effective for travel.

Our opinion

Sennheiser has managed to make the best sounding earbuds even better by adding active noise canceling and significantly improving battery life. Earphones were previously available at a premium price and don't make a mistake, they still do. But with everything they have to offer, the Momentum True Wireless 2 offers remarkable value for money.

Are there any better alternatives?

The Sony WH-1000XM3 does most of what the Sennheiser do for around $ 70 less. They don't quite match in terms of audio quality, but are a viable option for those who aren't interested in the Momentum True Wireless 2.

Another cheaper model, the Samsung Galaxy Buds + for $ 149, offers solid sound and an industry-leading 11-hour playback time. They just lack the active noise cancellation function and they cannot keep up with the premium audio quality.

How long will they last?

Sennheiser has a history of exceptional workmanship with its products and there is no reason to believe that the Momentum 2 will be an outlier. It remains to be seen how fast the true wireless audio world moves, how long it takes for the technology behind the buds to become obsolete.

Should you buy them

Yes. They're still a bit tall and one of the more expensive pairs out there, but you won't find anywhere else earphones that sound so good with this wealth of quality features.

Editor's recommendations




21 Mar
Blog

Intel Frost Canyon NUC (NUC 10i7FNHAA) Review: Big Win

Intel Frost Canyon NUC

Intel Frost Canyon NUC (NUC 10i7FNHAA) review: Big win for developers

"Intel's Frost Canyon NUC is powerful, yet surprisingly easy to update."

  • Small form factor

  • Solid CPU performance

  • Easy to update RAM, hard drive

  • Energy efficient

  • Many ports (for its size)

  • Very poor game performance

  • CPU cannot be replaced

  • Loud

Small PCs are usually associated with compromises that are often lacking adjustments, future upgrades, power supply and port selection.

Then there is Intel NUC (short for Next Unit of Computing), which makes these functions his selling point. For this reason, this long line of miniature PCs, which is now seven years old, is unique.

The NUC I'm looking at today, officially called NUC10i7FNHAA, is one of the most powerful so far. It has a 10th generation Intel Core i7 processor with six cores, a 256 GB solid-state drive, a 1 TB SATA hard drive, 16 GB RAM and Windows 10 Home.

In contrast to some of the NUC systems I have tested, it is sold as a fully functional PC and not as a barebone. It contains everything you need at a price of $ 1,049. Is it the ultimate mini PC?

Design and ports

There is not much to say about the external devices of the Intel NUC10i7FNHAA. If you've ever seen a NUC, it looks similar. It offers the dark gunmetal exterior of other newer NUCs instead of the silver of previous models. It has a glossy black plastic lid.

The size of NUC has not changed significantly over the years. This model is 4.4 cm wide, 4.4 cm deep and two cm tall. It is not the thinnest NUC, but also not the thickest and many times smaller than a typical desktop PC.

Intel Frost Canyon NUCMatt Smith / Digital Trends

Nevertheless, it has many ports. The front offers a USB-A 3.1 port, a USB-C 3.1 port and a headphone jack.

On the back you will find a Thunderbolt 3 port, two additional USB-C 3.1 ports, Ethernet and HDMI output. Thunderbolt 3 is particularly nice to have. While it is common on laptops, it is still rare on PC desktops. This is a solid connectivity area that covers most options, though the lack of DisplayPort could bother some.

Internals and updateability

Due to its size, the tiny body of the Frost Canyon NUC can be expected to hide complex internals. That's not the case. Intel has been around for seven years, and it shows.

You open the NUC by unscrewing the four feet on the underside of the machine. After loosening (they cannot be completely removed, so you cannot lose them), the base plate loosens with a jerk.

Intel Frost Canyon NUCMatt Smith / Digital Trends

This provides access to the RAM-SO-DIMMS, the smaller sticks that you would normally find in a laptop instead of larger desktop DIMMS. You also have access to the M.2 drive and hard drive. This is all you can replace in the NUC10i7FNHAA since the CPU is soldered to the mainboard.

Upgrade options are limited. There is no free RAM slot, no free M.2, no free SATA. What is installed is all the desktop can handle.

However, these parts can be easily removed and replaced if necessary. The NUC10i7FNHAA supports up to 64 GB of RAM, far more than the 16 GB installed.

There are restrictions on what a NUC can handle due to its small size, but what is available is impressive.

You will find a few open headers in it, but most users won't care. This includes two empty USB 2.0 headers and a FRONT_PANEL header.

There are, of course, limitations to what a NUC can do due to its small size, but what is available is impressive. The components that you can update are easy to find and are immediately accessible after removing just a handful of screws. I would argue that the Frost Canyon NUC is easier to maintain than most desktops sold by major manufacturers.

CPU performance

The Frost Canyon NUC I tested, model number 10i7FNHAA, had an Intel Core i7-10710U processor. This is a 12-thread mobile processor with six cores and a base frequency of only 1.1 GHz, but a maximum turbo frequency of 4.7 GHz.

It is a powerful chip. Geekbench 5 delivered a single-core result of 1,099 and a multi-core result of 5,702. These numbers don't break records, but exceed most laptops and small desktops. The Dell XPS 13 7390, which we tested with the same processor, achieved a higher score of 1,250 in the single-core test, but stayed behind with a score of 5,491 in the multi-core test.

Intel Frost Canyon NUCMatt Smith / Digital Trends

For comparison: An HP Specter x360 13 with a Core i7-1056G7 achieved 1,164 points in the Geekbench 5 single-core test and 3,981 points in the multi-core test. The only mobile chips that can significantly outperform the Core i7-10710U are Core i9 silicon, like the Core i9-9880H in the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 2. It achieved 5 single-core and multi-core in Geekbench Test 1,196 and 6,529 points. respectively.

The NUC 10i7FNHAA's performance is solid at $ 1,049. Desktops and all-in-one devices from major brands usually offer a Core i5 processor like the Core i5 9400 at this price. This processor is somewhat competitive with the Core i7-10710U, but will fall behind in most cases.

In addition to Geekbench, I started Cinebench R15. My Frost Canyon NUC scored 980 points there. This is less impressive, but still acceptable for the price. I noticed that the NUC had to accelerate during this test. The first test run achieved a higher result with 1,180 points, but successful test runs always achieved a value in the range of 900. The number of points I reported of 980 is the average of 5 test runs.

Our handbrake benchmark, which encodes a 420MB 4K video file from H.264 to H.265, took just over two and a half minutes. The Dell XPS 13 7390, which had the same Core i7-10710U processor, was three minutes slower. The NUC 10i7FNHAA even beats some laptops with Core i9 processors, like the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 2.

This NUC can meet the needs of many photo and video editors, developers and engineers.

Intel introduces this Frost Canyon NUC, the 10i7FNHAA, as a small workstation that is suitable for many content creators. It works well enough for that as long as you don't work with cutting-edge content like 8K videos. There you need a more powerful computer.

However, this NUC can meet the needs of many photo and video editors, developers, engineers, etc. Call it appropriate. That may not sound like much praise, but given the price of $ 1,049 and the small footprint, it would be stupid to expect more. This is a powerful PC for its price.

Player, look somewhere else

What about games? It’s not great. The fast Core i7-10710U processor does not contain the latest graphics from Intel, but the older Intel UHD solution. It scored only 1,288 in 3D Mark Fire Strike and only 490 in Time Spy.

These values ​​are solid for Intel UHD. However, Intel's Iris Plus graphics are about twice as fast. And even a discrete entry-level graphics solution like the GTX 1650 Max-Q from Nvidia can score over 3,000 points in Time Spy. That's six times faster than Intel UHD.

In summary, you can not play most modern games.

In summary, you can not play most modern games. A title with relatively simple 3D graphics such as Fortnite or World of Warcraft may offer acceptable performance with a resolution below 1080p and low graphics settings. Everything else demands too much.

The Frost Canyon NUC has a Thunderbolt 3 port, through which an external graphics dock can be connected. However, given the price of an external graphics dock, it's not a great solution for games. You're better off with an entry-level gaming desktop.

power consumption

Size is not the only advantage of a desktop based on mobile hardware. The use of mobile hardware also significantly reduces power consumption. Intel's Frost Canyon NUC consumes power under a variety of workloads.

The system only consumes 9.8 watts when idle. This is equivalent to many 13-inch laptops and less than most 15-inch systems. Desktop consumption can be very high, but it rarely happens that a desktop consumes less than 20 watts when idle. Therefore, the power consumption of the NUC is excellent.

Intel Frost Canyon NUCMatt Smith / Digital Trends

In Cinebench, power consumption reached a maximum of 98 watts and then held at 57 watts after thermal throttling had limited the processor. This is again comparable to modern laptops. Mid-range desktops that I tested easily exceeded 100 watts in the benchmark.

Low electricity consumption means lower electricity costs and less impact on the environment. It can also mean less fan noise. Unfortunately, this is not the case here. The Frost Canyon NUC turned out to be an exuberant PC puck, the fan of which was audibly buzzing even when idling. It's good that the NUC is small, as you may need to place it out of earshot.

Our opinion

The Intel NUC 10i7FNHAA, like the NUC models before, is a unique interpretation of what a desktop should be. It is not for everyone, but it is absolutely fulfilling its mission. The NUC is simple, compact and energy-efficient. It accomplishes all three goals and is one of the best mini PCs I've tested.

Is there a better alternative?

It depends on what you want.

If you only want a desktop and are not interested in the size, there are numerous options available worldwide. Dell's XPS desktops are consistently among our best desktops and remain our first choice.

Apple's Mac Mini is the best known alternative. However, it is a bit bigger, almost 20 cm wide and deep. While you can buy a six-core Mac Core for $ 1,099, this model only has 8 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage. A Mac Mini with similar RAM and memory will bring you back $ 1,500.

If you want a small desktop, especially one that runs Windows, the NUC 10i7FNHAA – and the NUC models in general – remain a good choice. The most common brands in the U.S., such as Dell, HP, and Lenovo, offer small PCs. However, they are mainly designed for the business-to-business market, which leads to a high price for many models.

How long it will take?

You can't replace the NUC 10i7FNHAA's processor, but the Core i7-10710U is fast enough to stay relevant for at least a few years. The RAM and the hard disk can also be replaced without any problems. I think you will benefit from it for at least five years.

Intel grants a standard 3 year warranty. This is unusually good in the PC area, where a 1-year warranty is standard.

Should you buy one?

Yes, if you want a powerful desktop PC that fits almost anywhere. The Frost Canyon NUC fits into a niche like previous models. But if this niche is perfect.

Editor's recommendations




20 Mar
Blog

Insta360 One R Review: Modular 360 action cam

insta360 one r review 7498

Insta360 ONE R Twin Edition

"That's how 360 should have been made from the start."

  • Modular design

  • Excellent stabilization

  • Long list of additional features

  • Well-built editing app

  • Competitive price

  • Small screen

  • Occasional mistakes

Although 360-degree cameras see everything around them, they can only be used to a limited extent. However, the Insta360 One R is not a typical 360-degree camera. In fact, it doesn't have to be a 360 degree camera at all. Thanks to the modular platform, you can replace the 360 ​​lens with a conventional wide-angle camera lens. There is even a 1-inch Leica branded sensor mod for capturing higher image quality, but one was not provided for this test.

The One R consists of three main components: the interchangeable camera module, the battery and the touchscreen. Each is a separate piece, but the latter two are more permanent because they are used with both camera modules. The $ 480 Twin Edition (tested) includes a 5.7K 360 Mod and a 4K wide angle mod.

The Insta360 One R not only fixes the limited number of applications for a 360-degree camera, but also has a long list of features and a well-designed mobile app to access them. Not only does it break 360 out of its niche, it also competes with GoPro as an action camera.

We loved the Insta360 One R when we saw it at CES 2020 and it won the Top Tech of CES Award for the photography category. Let's see if it meets our expectations.

Modular design

When assembled, the One R is more or less similar to a typical action camera. A plastic protector wraps around the top and sides of all three parts and contains a GoPro-compatible holder at the base.

The camera module is connected to both the core (the part with the LCD screen) and the battery. As a useful addition to vloggers, the non-360 module can even be mounted backwards so that the screen itself is visible during the recording. The camera module jumps off the base with a tiny lever and can then be pulled out of the core with a good jerk.

Although the Insta360 One R consists of modular components, it is not much larger than a typical action camera. Both the camera module and the core are approximately the size of a golf ball (if golf balls were dice). The small size makes installation easier in the sense of a conventional action camera. However, you should use a selfie stick to keep your fingers away from the lens and pick up the camera handheld.

The simple controls include a power switch on the top right with the record button next to it. In a small door on the side there is a USB-C port and a microSD card slot.

The rest is done via the touchscreen. Most 360 cameras do not and rely on a smartphone connection instead. Therefore, the screen is a huge advantage – a huge importance because the actual size of the screen is only about an inch wide. This is a limitation of the modular structure.

The on-screen controls for recording and playback are intuitive, but you need to know the correct gestures to access them. A swipe to the left opens the recording settings, to the right is the playback, additional settings are opened from above and different recording modes are called up from below. This is not very different from the number of working action cameras. Therefore, it should at least be known to customers who have used something like a GoPro.

The touchscreen could also be a little picky. It often took a few swipe attempts to land in the mode I wanted, rather than scrolling right past it.

The Insta360 One R is waterproof up to 16 feet without an additional housing. (The included frame doesn't provide additional water protection.) We tested the camera in a snowstorm – including dropping a sled into a pile of snow – and had no problems with moisture ingress.

The modular structure may be unique, but the One R was still simple and user-friendly. Trying to remember gesture control takes time, but no more than any other miniature camera. The mode wheel kept rolling over the option you wanted and it's easy to accidentally press buttons when changing mods.

Nevertheless, the One R is the first modular action camera of its kind to be impressively impressive.

User experience

Exchanging lenses with an action camera is actually a lot of fun. Unlike a DSLR, you don't swap lenses to get closer or further away, depending on whether you want an immersive view, a wide-angle front-facing camera, or a wide-angle rear-facing camera. Insta360 also includes options for digitally adjusting the viewing angle. This will of course crop the video, but before those pixels are thrown away, the One R uses the extra cropping space to improve electronic image stabilization.

The controls on the camera offer enough so that you can escape without having to rely on the mobile app and not that you want to do without it entirely. Controlling the camera through the app opens a long list of options, including manual exposure and RAW photos. The app also offers tutorials on recording and editing.

With the 360 ​​lens, the app also enables tracking – hold the subject and the 360 ​​video is adjusted so that the person or object is always in front and in the middle. This chase worked well and kept pace even when the selected face was partially covered, but stops the chase when the view is completely blocked. The 360 ​​videos can also be viewed in three main perspectives: ultra-wide, wide, or tiny planet (with the entire field of view grouped into a circle that gives the impression that you are walking on a tiny planet). .

Where the app really shines is in the editing. It felt more complete than the company's desktop software and had more options than most other mobile video apps. You can easily trim clips, add filters, and even join multiple clips together. You won't find any advanced editing controls, but it does the job for occasional use.

FlashCut is an option from the "Stories" section of the app that A.I. to quickly convert multiple clips into an edited video. Starting with a topic, select a few clips. You can see which one you want by looking at the front camera, rear camera, forward motion, or face icons. The app then puts them together into music and various special effects.

In fact, the app is too powerful for my iPhone 7, which has to be replaced and there is no more storage space forever. It ran seamlessly on the latest iPad, but owners of older devices should expect slow performance and performance with large storage requirements (these 5.7K 360 files are not small).

If the app or mini touchscreen is not enough, voice control to start or stop recording and to mark important moments is also included.

While the One R is both fun and intuitive to use, I've encountered a few bugs. When I played one of the first videos I made, the video stuttered. The camera froze due to an HDR photo. I couldn't make the errors recur, but the experience wasn't 100% seamless.

Image quality and additional functions

The 4K wide-angle mod takes pictures from a 1: 2.8 lens on a sensor with about 12 megapixels. Videos can be 4 × 3 (4000 x 3000) with full sensor at 30 fps or Ultra HD (3840 x 2160) at 60 fps. HD video is available at up to 200 fps for slow motion.

The 360 ​​Mod uses a slightly brighter 1: 2.0 lens. The still images are 18.4 megapixels, while the videos are 5,760 pixels wide. However, keep in mind that these pixels are spread across the entire 360 ​​by 360 degree field of view, rather than all of them appearing on the screen at the same time, so the actual resolution is much lower.

Videos from both mods met expectations for their respective categories with good details and colors. With auto adjustment, the exposure was generally good and on the track enough to only occasionally require a minor adjustment in the mail.

With the 360 ​​mod, the camera had some strange stitches on too close objects that blurred details, created an abrupt transition, or even caused a color to bleed up the stitch line. Sewing on objects one foot or more away, however, looked great.

The stabilization of both mods is excellent. Since the 360-Mod can stabilize without trimming, it is almost as stable as a tripod. The wide-angle mod isn't quite as stable, but it's impressive compared to other action cameras. I had my 7 year old carry the camera on a helmet mount and the results were surprisingly smooth.

Still images matched the expectations of the action camera and category 360. The wide-angle lens causes noticeable barrel distortion, but captures a beautiful wide-angle view. When you activate Color Plus in the app, beautiful, vivid colors are created and the shadows are enhanced. But even without this function, we were impressed by the bright blue sky and the colorful details. HDR The mode also enhances the shadows a little, but takes longer and does not work with moving subjects.

The One R's website shows a starry time-lapse, but we were having a grainy mess when we tried to photograph the stars in the camera's Night Shot mode. Which is not surprising since it is an action camera, but it is bad advertising.

However, the Insta360 One R combines the functions of the company from several camera generations in one, including a long list of special functions. The R will be one of those cameras that you really need to research and deepen in tutorials – built right into the app – or you'll find a new feature you didn't know you had in a year.

The 360 ​​Mod can make a selfie stick invisible or capture bullet time effects. Hyper-lapses and slow motion are integrated in HDR, night shot mode and one-touch color correction with Color Plus. The R is even compatible with an Apple Watch app for remote shooting. With the accessories, you can also add a microphone, take pictures from an "invisible" drone, dive deeper under water or extend the battery life.

A mod expected in April allows the camera to take 3D pictures. Live streaming is also listed as "coming soon".

Our opinion

Most 360 cameras have a short-lived cooling factor, but the Insta360 One R may be able to extend that cooling factor to the life of the camera. If the scene isn't interesting from every angle, just swap the mod for an action camera that doesn't affect resolution on large harvests. And when replacing the mods no longer feels new, the camera itself and the app are equipped with enough recording and editing modes to promote your creativity for months.

The Insta360 One R does everything that an action or 360 camera can do – and much more. Video is not only solid, but paired with excellent stabilization. The Insta360 One R isn't perfect, with a few minor flaws and freezes and the small sensor limitations of every action camera. Insta360 released at least two firmware updates during the test, so hopefully these issues will be short-lived. However, the modular design, video quality and additional functions – not to mention the cheap price of $ 480 for both camera mods – are worth a few quirks.

Is there a better alternative?

Only if you want to buy two cameras. The Insta360 One R Twin Edition essentially consists of two cameras in one with the two mods. The Rylo's ability to redesign it and the user-friendly app make it its closest competitor, but cropping 360 videos and swapping camera mods are not the same thing. The tiny screen gives the GoPro Hero8 an advantage, but only here if you only want an action camera without the 360 ​​functions.

How long it will take?

The Insta360 One survived being hurled into snow banks with no problems. However, as a modular camera, more connections and things may need to be broken, and with modular cameras, there is not enough history to determine whether this is the case or not. But at least with the mods, you don't necessarily have to replace the whole thing if a component breaks.

Should you buy it

If you can't choose between an action camera and a 360 camera or just looking for a 360 camera, buy the Insta360 One R. The videos are great, versatility unbeatable, the app extensive – and it's just one great time to shoot.

Editor's recommendations




20 Mar
Blog

Ultimaker 2 review | Digital Trends

"The Ultimaker 2 deserves its reputation for impressive details, the ability to quickly crank out rough objects when needed, and a robust, user-friendly design."

  • High maximum resolution

  • Outstanding workmanship

  • Easy to maintain and repair

  • Expensive

  • Fight with certain fine details

Ultimaker is probably one of the biggest names in 3D printing alongside MakerBot – and for good reason. In recent years, the company has pumped out some of the best Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) machinery in the business, and the brand has become very popular as a result.

The first generation Ultimaker (sold as a DIY kit) was released in 2011. A few years later, the company launched a new and improved version called Ultimaker 2. Then came the Ultimaker 2 Extended (a larger version) and the Ultimaker 2 Go (a smaller version).

Apart from the dimensions, the core pressure specifications are almost the same for all of the company's machines. To get an idea of ​​how they are doing in a market crowded with all kinds of upstarts, we took the flagship Ultimaker 2 for a vortex.

Features and specifications

The Ultimaker 2 is immediately ready for use and offers impressive numbers. In addition to the enormous construction area, it also offers a maximum resolution of 20 micrometers – the smallest layer thickness that is currently offered by almost every consumer-oriented FDM printer on the market. This is also not a problem in the speed department. A well-set Ultimaker is said to be able to spit out ABS or PLA (regardless of the brand for both) at a maximum speed of 300 millimeters per second.

Setup and configuration

While the original Ultimaker required a lot of assembly, the Ultimaker 2 is almost completely pre-assembled and ready to print. As soon as you have removed it from the packaging, all you have to do is insert the building board, connect the machine and set the switch to "On".

It only takes a few minutes for the device to be set up and turned on. After that, however, some configuration is required before you can print out the Hello Kitty toothbrush holder you've always dreamed of. The next step is to calibrate the machine and ensure that the build plate is in the right place.

You will need to manually level the printer's glass build plate by adjusting the extruder tip so that it is exactly 1 millimeter from the glass at all four corners. The quick start guide recommends placing a piece of paper under the tip and lowering it until you feel some resistance as you pull the paper out – which is easy enough. Without these instructions, it is almost impossible to look at a millimeter.

The next step is to feed filaments into the extruder. We got into trouble here. Our unit was a bit moody and we had to deal with it a bit (more on that later) to get the filament through the feeder – but after this initial hiccup, everything went floating.

Construction quality and design

You don't want to keep it on your coat, but for 3D printers this is one of the more attractive options. No attempt is made to hide the fact that it is a 3D printer, but it also doesn't look as scratchy and cobbled together as many printers. The motors are enclosed in the main structural supports of the machine, and all other moving parts are neatly hidden behind the opaque Plexiglas walls from Ultimaker.

This thing could probably withstand a minor earthquake.

The Ultimaker's appearance is only surpassed by its build quality. The frame of the machine is made of this material called Dibond – basically there are two pre-painted aluminum sheets that are connected to a solid polyethylene core. It is widely used in the manufacture of signs and is an extremely durable material.

These supports and everything else on the printer are held together by a variety of steel screws, resulting in a very sturdy little box. It's almost unnecessarily strong. Your printer may not have to endure much abuse over the course of its life, but this thing could probably withstand a minor magnitude earthquake – let alone an occasional bump, crash, or stubborn soccer ball.

User interface and software

A single button, which also acts as a button, controls every control of the Ultimaker 2, which should be simple and intuitive for practically everyone. If you've ever used an iPod or car stereo, you can easily use this unit. Simply turn the knob to scroll through the available options and press it to make a selection. Ultimaker's menu trees are extremely logical and well designed, making it difficult for you to get lost or confused when you use them.

Ultimaker 2 info screen 2

Bill Roberson / Digital Trends

To start printing, first download a print file (.stl or .obj) and then run it through Ultimaker's accompanying (and free) slicer program called Cura. This is the software that divides your digital model into individual layers that the printer can understand. We won't go into software criticism too much here, but compared to the other slicer programs, Cura is definitely one of the best. The learning curve is not particularly steep and the user interface makes it easy to use without restricting access to advanced features.

Once you've run your file through Cura, all you have to do is load it onto an SD card, insert it into the Ultimaker slot and get started. If necessary, you can also connect the device directly to your computer via USB 2.0. However, we prefer the SD method because you don't have to be tied to the device.

Printing performance

There are no two options – the Ultimaker 2 prints like a boss. It is extremely dynamic and has stood out in many ways in our tests.

At the beginning we took care of the print quality. The biggest selling point of this machine is its incredible print resolution of 20 microns – this is currently the lowest layer thickness that a 3D printer offers at the consumer level. To test this, we printed something with extremely subtle details and curves – a Buddha statue with a stormtrooper helmet – with the highest resolution settings. The printing took almost half a day, but when it was done we were quite impressed. With such thin layers, you can hardly see that there are layers at all, even in the most drastic curves.

The Ultimaker 2 can pump out some of the highest resolution objects we've ever seen.

If you don't mind waiting around, Ultimaker offers incredible print quality – but you don't always have 12 hours to wait for a print to complete. Next we tried to find out how fast it goes.

In order to test the speed, we first printed a 1x1x1 centimeter cube with an average layer thickness of 100 micrometers. Ultimaker can be much higher and much lower, but we always start with 100 microns because it keeps things mathematically simple and it's also the minimum layer height for most 3D printers.

Ultimaker 2 pumped out the cube in about 7 minutes 50 seconds, which is pretty good. The more expensive Form 1+ SLA printer from FormLabs took about 9 minutes with similar settings.

After this first test, we increased the print speed settings to 300 millimeters per second – the highest possible print speed – and printed the same 1x1x1 cube with the same resolution. It came out pretty sloppy, but the whole process only took about 3 minutes and 30 seconds, which is damn fast. As far as we can tell, the print speed specifications provided by Ultimaker are absolutely correct – everything depends only on your resolution / speed settings.

Ultimaker 2 Stormtrooper Buddha

Bill Roberson / Digital Trends

But speed is of course only part of the equation. To get an idea of ​​how the printer handles other things – overhangs, unsupported areas, etc. – we also printed a special object designed by Thingiverse user Cntrl V, which you can see here. The idea is to adjust your quality / speed settings so that the printer completes the object in less than an hour and then see how the piece comes out.

After running this test a few times, it's pretty clear where the Ultimaker excels and comes up short. Overhangs and unsupported spans don't seem to be a big problem, and the machine can handle them easily even at higher speeds.

The entire machine can be dismantled with three Allen keys.

However, some of the finer details (such as small numbers and letters) can break down if the printer moves very quickly. We also have a ton of plastic burrs and imperfections caused by over-extrusion – but that's to be expected from almost any 3D printer that works at high speeds, so we can hardly knock Ultimaker for it.

Overall, the big disadvantage is that Ultimaker 2 is a very dynamic machine that offers impressive quality and speed. With every 3D printer you use, there will always be a compromise between time and quality. But the great thing about Ultimaker 2 is that you can choose which side you prefer. It can make really high-quality, high-resolution prints if you don't mind waiting, but it can also spit out prints at a frantic pace if you're just looking for a low or medium quality resolution.

Maintenance, repairability and upgradeability

One of the things that we really liked about the Ultimaker was the fact that the entire machine can be assembled and disassembled with just three different Allen keys. Most screws and bolts are also the same size. So if you ever have problems with anything, it's pretty easy to disassemble the machine to assess the problem.

For example, when we unpacked our demo machine for the first time, we had some problems getting the filament feed to pick up the strand of ABS we wanted to give it, and after half a dozen unsuccessful attempts, we decided to take the entire module apart to get it see what the problem was. A few minutes and a couple of hex keys turn later and we had successfully broken it open and identified the culprit – an over-tightened thumbwheel (the thing that grips / pushes the filament). A quick adjustment solved the problem and a few screws later we were back in business.

Ultimaker 2 drive belt

Bill Roberson / Digital Trends

As mentioned earlier, the Ultimaker 2 is a pretty solid little machine. In the event that something breaks or stops working (which is really inevitable), Ultimaker offers a full suite of spare parts for the printer. Hot end cooling fan crap? Do you need a new stepper motor? Accidentally broken a belt? Don't worry – the company's website has everything you need to get to your door with just a few clicks.

The updateability is also pretty decent. There is a replacement kit on the back of the machine with mounting holes for an additional filament feed that you can use to upgrade your machine to a double extruder if you tend to. Granted, Ultimaker doesn't sell all of the parts you need to accomplish this, but there is at least one third-party that sells kits for it.

Conclusion

The Ultimaker 2 has earned a good reputation in the three years it was available. After using it for almost a month, we can confidently say that it definitely lives up to this reputation.

Printouts are fast, detailed, and precise – and if you don't mind waiting a few extra hours for them to finish, the Ultimaker 2 can pump out some of the highest resolution objects we've ever seen from a 3D consumer level have printers. In addition, it is extremely well built, easy to maintain and suitable for upgrades.

At $ 2,500, it's definitely one of the more expensive printers you can buy, but that extra money isn't wasted. In this case, the high price correlates directly with a high quality level – in almost every respect.

Heights

  • High maximum resolution
  • Outstanding workmanship
  • Easy to maintain and repair

Lows

  • Expensive
  • Fight with certain fine details

Editor's recommendations




18 Mar
Blog

1More Stylish Review: Affordable Apple AirPods Killers

1More stylish real wireless earbuds

1 MORE stylish real wireless in-ear headphones

"The perfect real wireless headphones for the masses."

  • Basic water resistance

  • Great battery life

  • Clear, aptX-capable sound

  • Compact charging case

  • Very convenient

  • No ability to introduce ambient noise

At just $ 100, 1More's stylish real wireless earbuds outperform Apple's industry-leading AirPods with longer battery life, more ergonomic design, and better overall sound. When we reviewed them in 2019, they were awarded the Editor & # 39; s Choice Award for their combination of price and performance. One of our only criticisms at that time was a lack of volume control.

As of March 2020, an app-based software update has resolved this problem: You can now also control the volume. Although we have not changed our rating, we can safely say that we are now more excited about the 1More Stylish.

Out of the box

With round rubber ear fins on the outside of the slim, oval earbuds, the second-generation Stylish model looks identical to the company's original real wireless offering, the Stylish TWS – a pair that ended last year mainly due to its low fanfare debuted deep battery life of 2.5 hours per charge.

1More stylish review

1More stylish review

1More stylish review

1More stylish review
Dan Baker / Digital Trends

The simple, ergonomic design was one of the few things the original Stylish TWS model had to offer. So it's really nice to see that it stays that way. The new buds are shockingly light and comfortable, and the ear fins (which are referred to as "o-hooks") mean they never feel like they're falling out of your ears. With four sets of earplugs and three different ear fin sizes, you are sure to get an excellent fit.

Another thing the headphones have for them is the variety of colors. The new model is available in four different colors – pink, gold, mint green and black (the color of our test device). So you can customize your earphones to your personal style.

No matter where I went – from long runs to long bike trails and beyond – the headphones stayed true to my Oneplus 6 middle-aged.

Speaking of appearance: The new Stylish is located in a slim, egg-shaped charging case that matches the color of the headphones and is charged with the included micro USB charging cable. One thing I particularly like about this model is that the company also includes a small drawstring bag made of thick plastic to keep the charging case and the cable between the inserts inside. This ensures that the headphones and their case always stay dry in wet sports bags or on rainy days, and means that you never need a micro USB cable in the USB-C era.

characteristics

These little earphones contain a lot of juice. The 1More Stylish offers six and a half hours of listening time on a single charge (at 50 percent volume). That's less than the expensive new Powerbeats Pro (which is one of our leading vendors), but it's about an hour and a half longer than Apple's AirPods and half an hour more than the original Samsung Galaxy Buds. although the new Galaxy Buds + are undoubtedly in a class of their own with an amazing 11 hours.

The charging case is very light, but it also offers three charging processes for a total of 26 hours of listening time on the move, which corresponds to or exceeds almost every large player. There's also a quick charge feature that gives you three hours of listening time with just 15 minutes of plug time.

1More stylish reviewDan Baker / Digital Trends

Getting started with the new 1More Stylish is easy. Simply open the case to put it into pairing mode, then pair it with your device's headphones. As with AirPods or the new Powerbeats Pro, you can pair each headphone individually if you want to use one at a time. Contrary to what we found with the Powerbeats Pro, I had no problems with the Bluetooth 5.0 of the 1More Stylish connection when testing. No matter where I went – from long runs to long bike trails and beyond – the headphones stayed true to my Oneplus 6 middle-aged.

In terms of connectivity, 1More is still committed to providing the best possible wireless listening experience for the money, so it has added aptX and AAC capabilities to the new Stylish so you can hear all your music in high quality.

1More Grammy winner Luca Bignardi hired to make sure these headphones reproduce the studio sound accurately.

Now that you can update the Stylish with volume controls via the 1More app – something you still can't do with AirPods – we are fully satisfied with the Stylish controls that let you play and pause music, and change tracks can (two forwards, one for back), answer calls or access Siri or Google Assistant.

The only thing missing is the ability to bring in the sounds of the outside world. With more expensive options like the Samsung Galaxy Buds and the Jabra Elite series, you can hear what's going on around you via external microphones on the headphones. This makes the Stylish less ideal for training environments where you may need to hear pedestrians or car horns, although I will say that I used them personally while commuting by bike because my music is so quiet that I have the world around me can hear around anyway through the thin rubber earplugs. As with the Powerbeats Pro, another solution is to connect only one earphone for heavy traffic.

Speaking of training: the headphones don't have an official IP rating for water or dust resistance, but 1More assured us that they are sweat and waterproof, and I didn't have any problems with the headphones even during my long – and very sweaty – runs.

1More stylish reviewDan Baker / Digital Trends

Audio performance

The sound is relatively clean and dynamic, with the added benefit that aptX gives a certain clarity that many real wireless headphones lack regardless of price – although iPhone users don't get this benefit.

Compared to the Jabra Elite Active 65t and Apple AirPods, the Stylish had a greater sense of musical energy and space in my ears, making it more fun to hear overall.

I've been a huge fan of 1Mores Tuning since I got to know the company's outstanding triple driver model, and although the individual 7mm titanium composite drivers in style don't offer the same clarity or vibrancy across the frequency spectrum still say 1More cares a lot about how they sound.

1More stylish review

In fact, the company commissioned Grammy-winning engineer Luca Bignardi to ensure that these headphones accurately reproduce the studio sound – a feat that I can personally say because I've checked some of my own home mixes for headphone accuracy.

With powerful bass and balanced mid and high frequency frequencies, the headphones sounded all the genres I listened to, from dynamic live jazz and country music to pop hits made in the studio, exactly as I expected. Sure, they don't have the same musicality as Sennheiser's $ 300 momentum radio model, but they sound more than decent at a third of the price (and they also offer better battery life and overall performance).

Warranty information

1More Stylish is guaranteed for one year from the date of the original retail purchase against defects in materials and workmanship.

Our opinion

With a sleek design, great battery life, and incredibly low price, the 1More Stylish are the best wireless earbuds you can buy right now.

Is there a better alternative?

The closest competitor in price is the Samsung Galaxy Buds with a battery life of six hours, an IPX2 rating, and a wireless charging case for $ 129. For $ 29 cheaper, we would still take the 1More model, whose charging case contains significantly more juice than the 7-hour case you get with the Galaxy buds, up to 30 minutes more battery life per charge, and with the same convenience Offer. For more options, check out our list of the best real wireless headphones.

How long it will take?

1More makes extremely solid products and we expect them to be no different. With regular use, they should last several years until the battery life deteriorates – as is the case with all real radio models.

Should you buy it

Yes. If you need a pair of wireless earbuds, be sure to add them to your shortlist. There are currently no products that come close to the 1More Stylish for $ 100, and very few that compete at higher prices themselves.

Editor's recommendations




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