08 Nov
Blog

Intel Core i9-12900K Review: Let’s Call It a Comeback

Intel Core i9-12900K in one motherboard.

Intel Core i9-12900K

RRP $ 619.00

"The Intel Core i9-12900K undercuts the competition in terms of price and delivers too high a performance."

advantages

  • Outperforms the Ryzen 9 5950X on most workloads

  • Significantly cheaper than the Ryzen 9 5950X

  • DDR5 support

  • Solid overclocking headroom

  • PCIe 5.0 on supported motherboards

disadvantage

  • High power requirement

  • Runs a little hot

"Intel is back." It's a phrase you've mumbled ad nauseam if you've been paying attention to CPUs in the past few years, even before Intel fell behind AMD. It wasn't until AMD started to hit the desktop market with the introduction of Ryzen 5000 that Intel started putting those words into action – and the result is Alder Lake.

The Core i9-12900K is Intel's flagship Alder Lake chip and, after thorough testing, has earned a spot on our list of the best processors you can buy. Not only does it represent a new generation of processors, it's also the first release under a new CEO, the first time Intel has used its 10nm manufacturing process on the desktop, and the first time we have a hybrid CPU architecture in a slot-in processor.

It also represents a company that has rested on its laurels long enough to lose the thunder. AMD has overtaken Intel in the desktop and server market, and Apple has abandoned its longstanding partnership with Intel to develop its own chips that are faster and more efficient. However, Alder Lake shows that Intel is indeed back.

Specs: What is the difference between Alder Lake?

Intel Core i9-12900K box.

The Core i9-12900K is Alder Lake's flagship chip that sits above the Core i5 and Core i7 models. There are two variants available, both of which are enabled for overclocking.

The KF series chip lacks integrated graphics, but is also a little cheaper. In terms of performance, the two chips are identical.

Cores Base frequency Max. Boost frequency Intel Smart Cache (L3) Integrated graphics Basic service Maximum turbo performance Suggested price
Core i9-12900K 16 (8P + 8E) 3.2 GHz (P core), 2.4 GHz (E core) Up to 5.2 GHz 30 MB Intel UHD 770 125W 241W $ 589
Core i9-12900KF 16 (8P + 8E) 3.2 GHz (P core), 2.4 GHz (E core) Up to 5.2 GHz 30 MB N / A 125W 241W $ 564
Core i7-12700K 12 (8P + 4E) 3.6 GHz (P core), 2.7 GHz (E core Up to 5.0 GHz 25 MB Intel UHD 770 125W 190W $ 409
Core i7-12700KF 12 (8P + 4E) 3.6 GHz (P core), 2.7 GHz (E core) Up to 5.0 GHz 25 MB N / A 125W 190W $ 384
Core i5-12600K 10 (6P + 4E) 3.7 GHz (P core), 2.8 GHz (E core) Up to 4.9 GHz 20 MB Intel UHD 770 125W 150W $ 289
Core i5-12600KF 10 (6P + 4E) 3.7 GHz (P core), 2.8 GHz (E core) Up to 4.9 GHz 20 MB N / A 125W 150W $ 264

A comparison of the specifications with AMD brings practically nothing. Not only do AMD and Intel use different architectures, the latest AMD chips don't use a hybrid architecture like Intel's. Both the Core i9-12900K and AMD's Ryzen 9 5950X are 16-core processors, but these cores couldn't be more different.

That's because the Core i9-12900K uses two types of cores. Instead of 16 large cores, it uses eight high-performance (P) cores and eight efficient (E) cores. The P-cores do the big, important tasks, while the E-cores clean everything up in the background. The Core i9-12900K is technically a 16-core processor, but only eight of these cores are comparable to AMD.

The two specs I can compare are price and performance. The Intel chip draws a lot more for performance – up to 241 watts at maximum turbo. The 5950X is only rated at 105W, although it can get closer to 200W when overclocked. However, this is well below the Core i9-12900K. The 5950X only requires a single 8-pin CPU connector while the Core i9-12900K requires two.

The power consumption is higher on the Core i9-12900K, but the price is lower. At recommended price, the Core i9-12900K is $ 210 cheaper than the 5950X, although prices are closer to most retailers. The Core i9-12900K retails for around $ 650 while the Ryzen 9 5950X costs around $ 750. However, a $ 100 price difference is a significant loophole.

Test configurations

Intel Core i9-12900K in one motherboard.

Before I get into the results, here are the four rigs I used for testing:

Erlensee DDR5 Erlensee DDR4 AMD Zen 3 10th generation Intel
Central processor Intel Core i9-12900K Intel Core i9-12900K AMD Ryzen 9 5950X Intel Core i9-10900K
GPU Nvidia RTX 3090 Founders Edition Nvidia RTX 3090 Founders Edition Nvidia RTX 3090 Founders Edition Nvidia RTX 3090 Founders Edition
R.A.M. 32GB SK Hynix DDR5-4800 32GB Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4-3200 32GB Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4-3200 32GB Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4-3200
Motherboard MSI Z690 Carbon WLAN MSI Pro Z690-A DDR4 Gigabyte Aorus B550 Elite Asus Tuf Gaming Z490-Plus
CPU cooler Corsair H115i Elite Capellix Corsair H115i Elite Capellix Corsair H115i Elite Capellix Corsair H115i Elite Capellix
power supply Be calm! 850W 80 Plus platinum Be calm! 850W 80 Plus platinum Be calm! 850W 80 Plus platinum EVGA G6 1000W 80 Plus Gold
storage Corsair MP400 1TB SSD Corsair MP400 1TB SSD Corsair MP400 1TB SSD Crucial MX500 2TB SSD

For my most important CPU and gaming tests, I ran the Alder Lake bank with DDR5. DDR5 is a platform perk, after all, so it should sit next to the processor to show what the Alder Lake and Z690 are capable of. Similarly, I ran my tests on the latest build of Windows 11 to make sure it was downloading the patches for the recent bugs caused by AMD chips.

Of course, DDR5 and Windows 11 Alder Lake appear in the most positive light. Even so, I retested DDR4 and Windows 10 to see the differences, and while there are some clear differences, they don't apply to all workloads.

power

Intel has promised a huge leap forward with Alder Lake, and based on my results, the Core i9-12900K delivers. In my testing, one thing became clear: Intel is capable of delivering the same 16-core performance as the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, and not only at a lower price, but with half of its cores at full power.

Intel Core i9-12900K AMD Ryzen 9 5950X Intel Core i9-10900K
Cinebench R23 single core 1,989 1,531 1,291
Cinebench R23 multicore 27,344 27,328 13,614
Geekbench 5 single core 2,036 1,726 1,362
Geekbench 5 multicore 18,259 14,239 10,715
PC Mark 10 9.092 8,254 7,593
Handbrake (seconds, lower is better) 47 58 72
Pugetbench for Premiere Pro 1,066 992 855
Pugetbench for Photoshop 1,315 1.009 1,023
7-zip 126.215 139,074 86,172

Cinebench R23 illustrates this perfectly. This demanding benchmark tasked the CPU with rendering an image, so it's a great way to isolate the processor from other components. If all cores are working, the Core i9-12900K and Ryzen 9 5950X deliver almost identical results.

That doesn't look good, but it's important to keep an eye on Alder Lake's hybrid architecture – and the fact that it's $ 200 less than the Ryzen 9 5950X. The single-core score highlights the discrepancy where the Core i9-12900K is almost 30% faster. Compared to the Core i9-10900K, the new chip is almost 62% faster in the single-core Cinebench R23 test.

The Core i9-12900K competes with the Ryzen 9 5900X in terms of price and the 5950X in terms of performance.

Geekbench 5 is a bit tighter, whereby the Core i9-12900K leaves the AMD chip behind by around 28% in the multi-core test. That's a massive improvement, but almost entirely on the back of DDR5. With DDR4, the Core i9-12900K is actually slower in the multi-core test than the Ryzen 9 5950X, but it retains the lead in the single-core test.

However, PC Mark 10 provides a good look at how these chips stack up overall. There the Core i9-12900K is around 10% faster than the Ryzen 9 5950X and around 20% faster than the 10th generation chip.

Both Intel chips have the edge when it comes to creative apps. Although the Core i9-10900K scores below the Ryzen 9 5950X in the Premiere Pro benchmark, it shouldn't be anywhere near as close as it is. The biggest difference comes from Photoshop, where the Core i9-12900K has a 30% lead over the Ryzen 9 5950X – likely on the back of DDR5.

Pins on Intel Core i9-12900K.

Of the seven benchmarks I ran, the Ryzen 9 5950X only took first place in one: 7-Zip. In this test, the Ryzen 9 5950X is about 10% faster than the Core i9-12900K. This result explains the narrower Geekbench results because Geekbench takes into account file compression and decompression.

Intel supplied. The Core i9-12900K competes with the Ryzen 9 5900X in terms of price, but competes with the Ryzen 9 5950X in terms of performance – and comes out with a clear lead.

Games

Intel has touted the Core i9-12900K as the best gaming CPU out there, and my results confirm it. It shows some clear advantages over the Core i9-10900K, but largely corresponds to the Ryzen 9 5950X. Still, there are a few issues with Alder Lake and certain games.

All of the tests listed below were run at 1080p with the graphics presets High to Ultra. I also ran tests at 1440p and 4K, although there isn't much to report. The differences are consistent at all resolutions, and at 4K, where games are tied to the GPU, the three chips show no difference in performance.

Intel Core i9-12900K AMD Ryzen 9 5950X Intel Core i9-10900K
3D Mark Time Spy 19396 17922 18341
Red Dead Redemption 2 137 fps 135 fps 129 fps
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 118 fps 121 fps 122 fps
Forza Horizon 4 234 fps 201 fps 200 fps
Civilization VI (shooting time, lower is better) 7.3 seconds 7.5 seconds 6.5 seconds

Assassin's Creed Valhalla is the best place to start as it is an example of a game that struggles with Alder Lake. It lags behind both the Ryzen 9 5950X and the Core i9-10900K. Worse, I couldn't get the benchmark to work consistently. The game crashed instantly, causing a headache for hours when I fixed an issue with no clear answer.

Ubisoft and Intel confirmed that Valhalla has an issue with the Core i9-12900K, but did not want to provide any further details. Regardless, if the game worked, it performed slightly below the Ryzen 9 5950X and Core i9-10900K. I haven't encountered any issues with other games, which suggests that this issue is on Ubisoft's side.

3D Mark shows a clearer scaling between the three chips, with the Ryzen 9 5950X and the Core i9-10900K in a close grouping, while the Core i9-12900K shoots forward. The end result is about 8% faster than the Ryzen 9 5950X, likely aided by DDR5's improved bandwidth. As I'll go into in the next section, DDR5 showed a clear advantage in this benchmark.

For the first time in a while, Intel is showing a clear lead in gaming.

My Ryzen 5950X result was almost identical to the one I got with the same chip in the Origin Neuron. However, the average score of the 3DMark leaderboards is slightly higher. This is likely a memory problem; Even with XMP enabled, the Ryzen 9 5950X delivered below-average results. You'd have to tighten the timings to get a higher score, an issue the Core i9-12900K doesn't have.

Forza Horizon 4 produced the largest difference in raw frame rate, with the Core i9-12900K having a 16% advantage over the other two chips. Forza also delivers frame rates specifically from the CPU, and the Core i9-12900K has some great advantages. At 1080p, it outperformed the Ryzen 9 5950X by 21% in CPU render frame rate and 10% in CPU simulation.

That game also showed a difference at 1440p, with the Core i9-12900K maintaining a solid 22 fps lead over the other two chips. While some games don't benefit much from Alder Lake – take my Red Dead Redemption 2 results as an example – others will do so for big wins.

For the first time in a while, Intel is showing a clear lead in gaming. The Core i9-12900K may be over the top for most games – after all, it's still tied to the GPU at 4K – but it still seems to go beyond last-gen parts and the competition.

DDR4 vs. DDR5

Intel Alder Lake box with DDR5 memory.

I did my main tests with DDR5. There is no getting around it: DDR5 offers advantages over DDR4. There's no world in which I could compare the Core i9-12900K to the Ryzen 9 5950X without sacrificing Intel's newer version.

DDR5 is an Alder Lake perk, so it's as relevant to performance as the processor itself. Even so, I retested a limited set of benchmarks with DDR4 to gauge how much difference you can expect with the new memory standard.

DDR4 DDR5
PC Mark 10 8794 9092
3D Mark Time Spy (total) 18175 19396
Red Dead Redemption 2 (1080p Ultra) 114 fps 115 fps
Geekbench 5 single core 1902 2036
Geekbench 5 multicore 12969 18259
Pugetbench for Premiere Pro 1019 1066

Overall, the differences are small – apart from an oddly large gap in my multi-core Geekbench 5 results. In games, DDR5 made no difference in Red Dead Redemption 2, and in 3D Mark Time Spy it meant a nearly 7% increase. That's not to be sniffed at, but consider the differences between the runs and the difference doesn't look that big.

Likewise, PCMark 10 with DDR5 only showed a 3% increase, and PugetBench for Premiere Pro showed virtually no difference. The eccentric is Geekbench's multi-core test, which showed an increase of almost 41% with DDR5. This illustrates the main performance point of DDR5: it really depends on the application.

DDR5 has a lot more bandwidth, but that comes at the expense of latency. Obviously, modern applications prefer bandwidth more, but some do so much more than others. Overall, you can see a slight upturn in DDR5, with some applications taking up the new memory standard particularly well.

However, I want to use this section to clear up some confusion. Although Alder Lake supports DDR4 and DDR5, they are not interchangeable. You cannot insert a DDR4 stick into a DDR5 motherboard or vice versa. Before you pick it up, make sure you know what type of memory your Z690 motherboard supports.

Windows 11 vs. Windows 10

Windows 11 start deck.

Alder Lake not only represents the introduction of DDR5, but also the introduction of Windows 11. AMD chips have some issues with the new operating system, so I have the same limited set of tests on the Core i9-12900K and Ryzen 9 5950X on Windows performed 11 and Windows 10 to see the differences. There is not much to report.

Intel Core i9-12900K Windows 11 Intel Core i9-12900K Windows 10
PC Mark 10 9092 7919
3D Mark Time Spy 19396 19511
Red Dead Redemption 2 115 fps 112 fps
Geekbench 5 single core 2036 1962
Geekbench 5 multicore 18259 18282
Pugetbench for Premiere Pro 1066 1283

With the Core i9-12900K, the differences are largely negligible. The most noticeable increase came from PC Mark 10, where my Windows 11 rig was almost 15% faster. This is due to a high Creation Score in PC Mark 10, for which Alder Lake seems to be particularly well suited.

Premiere Pro also showed a big difference: about 20% more in favor of Windows 10. However, I used an older version of Premiere for my testing – v15.4, in case you're wondering – which may not have the same optimizations for Windows 11.

AMD Ryzen 9 5950X Windows 11 AMD Ryzen 9 5950X Windows 10
PC Mark 10 8254 8041
3D Mark Time Spy 17922 17572
Red Dead Redemption 2 135 fps 133 fps
Geekbench 5 single core 1726 1710
Geekbench 5 multicore 14239 14084
Pugetbench for Premiere Pro 992 994

There was no difference with the Ryzen 9 5950X either. While 3D Mark Time Spy and Red Dead Redemption 2 had some minor changes, none of them have any consequences. It's true that AMD chips had problems with Windows 11 before, but the latest Windows and AMD updates seemed to have solved them – at least in the tests I ran.

Overclocking, clock rates and thermals

The Core i9-12900K has a single-core boost of 5.2 GHz, which I have repeatedly achieved during testing. All-core frequencies are of course lower. In a 30-minute AIDA64 stress test, the chip reached an all-core frequency of 4.8 GHz and reached a peak value of 84 degrees Celsius with a power consumption of 210 W.

It's 84 degrees, but the Core i9-12900K didn't stay there long. AIDA64 is also a stress test that is still 16 degrees below the maximum operating temperature of 100 degrees. The chip usually stayed at 50 to 60 degrees Celsius under moderate load and only climbed higher when all cores were pushed to their limits.

As high-performance as it is, the Core i9-12900K has a high power requirement.

I dug into Intel's Extreme Tuning Utility (XTU) briefly to get a moderate overclock working. With Speed ​​Booster, I was able to increase the frequency to 5 GHz with the press of a single button. Originally this created a much higher temperature, but after putting my cooler back in place everything went smoothly.

Alder Lake chips are rectangular, so the tried and true pea method of applying thermal paste didn't cover the chip. I just spread the paste a little – not to the edges – as I put it back on to cover it completely. The temperatures have returned to normal.

Although the Speed ​​Booster allows you to overclock without any work, you can get higher clock speeds by manually optimizing the cores. I applied a 300MHz boost to all cores with the Intel Thermal Velocity Boost turned on and was able to hit 5.4GHz while using 300W of power. That is much. As powerful as it is, the Core i9-12900K follows in the footsteps of earlier Intel generations with high power requirements.

Pins on Core i9-12900K.

While there is still a lot of research to be done about how the P-Core and E-Core respond to overclocking, I noticed a few general trends during testing. The increase in the E-Core frequency did not have a major impact on power consumption, thermals or performance. The difference is workload specific, so overclocking your E-cores won't do anything for applications that primarily use the P-cores. On the flip side, the P-cores made up the majority of the performance and heat increases when overclocking, so it's best to be conservative with your P-core overclocks.

Our opinion

The Core i9-12900K represents many things for Intel, but most of all it represents a company ready to get competitive again. Even in the worst case, the Core i9-12900K is the same as the Ryzen 9 5950X – and at a significantly lower price. At best, it outperforms both the best that AMD has to offer and everything else on the market.

Power supply is a problem, as has been the case for the past several generations of Intel. However, high performance demands are much easier to swallow when extra power is on the table, and that's exactly what the Core i9-12900K offers.

Are there alternatives?

There's currently nothing on the desktop like the Core i9-12900K. The closest competitor is the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, although it's not nearly as fast as the Core i9-12900K.

How long it will take?

The Core i9-12900K will last for at least the next few years. When you buy a top of the range processor like the Core i9-12900K, you'll likely be upgrading before performance becomes a major concern.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. At the moment there is nothing that works as well as the Core i9-12900K. That said, it uses a lot of power, so make sure you buy a hefty power adapter and cooler to go with it.

Editor's recommendations



08 Nov
Blog

Forza Horizon 5 Review: Buckle Up and Enjoy the Ride

In Forza Horizon 5, several cars are racing down a hill.

Forza Horizon 5 put to the test: buckle up and enjoy the ride

RRP $ 60.00

"Forza Horizon 5 doubles the series' winning formula to bring players another hit racing game with superpowered next-gen technology."

advantages

  • Driving is as tight as ever

  • Creative story missions

  • Excellent creative tools

  • Apparently endless content

  • Really next-gen look and feel

disadvantage

  • Steep learning curve

  • Formula could use a refresher

  • Slow photo mode is loading

At the beginning of my Forza Horizon 5 adventure, I lose control. As it turns out, my fast sports car is poorly equipped for off-road driving (who would have thought?) And I skid. I spin helplessly as cacti fly in all directions. What do you expect from someone who has never had a driver's license?

I expect the game to warn me or an NPC to speak to me over the radio about my poor skills. Instead, the combo meter goes wild on the screen. Super slides! Perfect 360! Destruction Bonus! Soon I am gaining tens of thousands of experience, which gives me some skill points that I can spend on car perks that further boost my accidental combos. Forza Horizon 5 sees no difference between good and bad driving – it treats the simple act of driving a car as a victory and ensures that drivers are always celebrated for being willing to get behind the wheel.

Forza Horizon 5 doesn't deviate too far from the series formula – and it doesn't have to. Playground Games offers another robust open-world driving experience that shines both in its finely tuned driving mechanics and in a next-generation technical spectacle. It's the definitive racing game of this new console cycle, and it's already hard to imagine any competitor slipping into first place anytime soon.

How I learned to drive

Forza Horizon 5 puts players right in the action – figuratively as well as literally. The game begins with a series of vignettes as various cars exit planes and zoom through the game version of Mexico. It's an exciting opening sequence reminiscent of the Fast & Furious franchise and setting the stage for a more adventurous episode.

It doesn't provide much guidance for newbies. A control chart paints a simple portrait of the game by telling players how to accelerate, steer, and brake, but that is deceptive. Driving the Forza Horizon franchise can actually be quite complicated, causing players to unlearn an “always accelerating” mentality. You have to strategically accelerate, brake in curves and use the emergency brake carefully. It doesn't actually tell players about this, but instead uses a GPS-style line on the screen that indicates when players should slow down. However, it is never directly explained, nor does it provide a glossary of terms for those who have no idea how statistics like torque affect their digital cars.

Forza Horizon 5 features multiple cars in Mexico.

The learning curve can be steep (the game quickly advised me to descend to the easiest difficulty, and it took about 10 hours to tell me I was ready to pick it up again), but the driving feels ironclad, even in the Fail. With so little actual input required, there is a lot of active work going into controlling a car. In one of the ultimate races in the game – nearly 30 minutes of running the gauntlet on winding dirt roads – I was careful, but kept pressing and releasing the triggers to control my speed and keep my car steady. Driving a car in Forza reminds me of walking in Death Stranding: an otherwise simple video game quest so nuanced here that it deserves my full, undivided attention.

I'm not a car guy, but Forza Horizon 5 makes me feel like one.

The beauty of Forza is that it really doesn't matter if you fail. There is no consequence in finishing last in most races. Players will still gain the necessary experience no matter what they do. The game just wants players to enjoy driving without pressure. You can see this philosophy in action in the game's rewind feature, which allows players to turn back time at any time and reset their position with no consequence. Do you beef it all at once? Just try again as often as necessary so that you know exactly how to solve the problem. It's a low-stakes approach that encourages players to perfect the nuances of driving at their own pace without the face of any penalty.

These smooth driving systems are well used by the game's huge vehicle roster. There are over 500 vehicles to collect here, and each one feels like its own tame beast. Vehicle weight, top speed, and a host of other factors are changing the way cars drive them drastically, pushing me to increase my rotation and lock down a list of options I'm comfortable with. Every time I charge up a street race and know that I have to get my light blue Porsche out of the garage, I get a little burst of joy. I'm not a car guy, but Forza Horizon 5 makes me feel like one.

Adventure through Mexico

For those who have played previous Forza Horizon games, the structure here isn't all that different. A huge map fills with icons that indicate the locations of races, collectibles, and stunts. Everything, even just driving around, grants experience and skill points that can be spent on upgrading each individual car's tiny skill tree. There's an absurdly plethora of content here, more than I could ever hope to cover in a concise way, but much of it is the same as previous episodes, just as Ubisoft open-world games tend to hit the same beats (there are wheelspins who have favourited Unlock New Cars, Buy Houses, Fragile Boards That Cut The Cost of Fast Travel, and more).

A car in Forza Horizon 5.

What feels different is the game's story campaign, which better puts a line into the freeform driving gameplay. Every time the player levels up, a new Horizon Story is unlocked, which acts as a small story thread. The basic idea is that the players control a superstar who comes to Mexico to build some kind of racing utopia. You start out by building different outposts on the map that bring different styles of racing to the world (off-road, street racing, and more). The following story beats are short, cute little missions that are the most fun with the driving formula.

On a mission, I take a huge parade wagon for a jaunt. In another, I pay my respects to Lucha Libre, who wrestles with a series of Demolition Derby-style challenges. These little vignettes bring life to the Mexican environment and mix up the established structure. I'm more likely to be forced to take part in random races because I want to climb up and see where my journey takes me next.

A red car drives fast in Forza Horizon 5.

There is still room for the series to undermine expectations in future installments. A mission begins with the dramatic reveal of a jet ski race. For a second, I think it's going to throw me in a head-to-head race against a Ferrari on a watercraft. Instead, it's a standard race where I can see some jet skiers zooming around the side of the road. It's still an exciting race, but one that makes me wonder what Forza Horizon would look like if it got out of its comfort zone more often. I've tried to get it out of my mind, but I can't help but think of Riders Republic. It's a racing game that almost shamelessly borrows the formula from Forza, but finds several imaginative ways for players to explore its world. Forza built a gold standard framework, and now it wouldn't hurt its developers to watch what others build on it and get inspiration for the next ride.

I'm more likely to be forced to take part in random races because I want to climb up and see where my journey takes me next.

The real innovation will come from the dedicated community of the series. Forza Horizon 5 has a robust creation tool called EventLab that anyone can use to run their own races. It's an intuitive tool that players can use to turn any corner of the world into a racetrack by simply driving around and dropping control points. In 10 minutes, I was able to create a three-lap circular route that takes players down a freeway, through the desert, and down some ramps – all during a tropical storm. If I could do something with minimal tinkering that I was proud of, I can't even imagine what others will do with it over the multi-year lifespan of the game.

In addition, there is a huge variety of multiplayer modes, live service events and the promise of inevitable content. The game feels bottomless in ways that many games aim for but rarely achieve. If this were the only Forza Horizon game released on the Xbox Series X, I don't think fans would be disappointed. You will have your hands full.

Technical spectacle

Forza is both a tech showcase and a racing game. Given that this is the first game in the series to grace the Xbox Series X, expectations have been high – and it doesn't disappoint. Forza Horizon 5 takes full advantage of next-generation technology to make cars look photorealistic. Had this hit the market with the Xbox Series X, I'm convinced that the current discussion about which new console is the more indispensable commodity would tend in Microsoft's favor.

In Forza Horizon 5, several cars are racing down a hill.

The spectacle comes to the fore in the game's Mexican landscapes, which are a joy to simply drive through with no destination. What is really amazing is that you never come across a loading zone while driving around. In one race, I zoomed the entire outer perimeter of the map – a 20-minute drive – with no millisecond of downtime. Even fast travel across the map is done in a jiffy, which seems mind-blowing given the scale of the world and the level of detail.

It's a big, beautiful game that never feels like it might collapse under its reach.

The only point the game slows down is in Photo mode. Taking a picture is an oddly long process. Loading in and out of Photo mode can take a few seconds, but the real pain point comes after you've actually taken a picture. Photo processing times are up to 30 seconds, which feels unusually long at the moment. I wanted to take tons of pictures considering how beautiful the world and my car looked, but even the fastest snapshot takes a good minute.

Forza Horizon 5, cars race through a track.

That being said, I can't help but marvel at almost every aspect of Forza Horizon 5. It's a big, beautiful game that never feels like it could collapse under its frame. It never crashed while playing, I hardly had any bugs, and my short time with the online modes was stable. With a game this smooth, the gap between what is displayed on the screen and the technology that powers it becomes negligible. I get lost in the world and really feel like I'm behind the wheel of a car. I even catch my body tilting while turning, like a kid playing Mario Kart.

That's an apt comparison because I really feel like a kid again when I drive through Mexico. I am transported back to a time when every game felt like a magic trick. It is harder to spot sleight of hand when you are simply delighted with the act itself. Forza Horizon 5 is the most eye-catching and spectacular Las Vegas act you can imagine. I can see through the illusion if I break down the formula long enough, but sometimes it's more fun to shut up and enjoy the ride.

Our opinion

The Forza Horizon series has always been a gold standard for the racing genre, and Forza Horizon 5 holds it critically first. The racing gameplay is as fine-tuned as ever, creative story missions give it a firmer backbone, and it brings out the best in next-gen technology. There's not everything there to welcoming new racers, and veterans may think his formula could use a few more twists, but it's clear that Playground Games is making this series a science. Unless someone can radically reinvent what a racing game can be, expect this game to be miles ahead of the competition by the time it continues.

Is there a better alternative?

Riders Republic borrows the same structure, but gets a little more creative with gameplay. But if you want a full-fledged racing simulator, Forza Horizon 5 feels unbeatable.

How long it will take?

The central story can take 15 to 20 hours to complete, but there is a lot more game after that. With over 500 cars, tons of multiplayer modes, and a top-notch creation tool, a dedicated gamer can nag on it for years.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. Forza Horizon 5 is the Xbox Series X's killer app, right next to Microsoft Flight Simulator. If you don't normally love racing games, this might be selling you under the premise.

Editor's recommendations



08 Nov
Blog

Ring Alarm Pro Review: Peace of Mind When You’re in the Dark

ring alarm pro test 2020q1 lifestyle insitu alarm base station keyboard input

Bell Alert Pro

RRP $ 300.00

"Never worry about power or internet outages again, because the Ring Alarm Pro will continue to work."

advantages

  • Double as a Wi-Fi 6 router

  • Backup of the internet for all devices

  • Lots of accessories to expand the system

  • Battery backup in the event of power interruptions

disadvantage

  • Separate app required for router settings

I have been using the Ring Alarm (2nd Generation) for almost a year now and have had very few complaints about the system or service. It kept me informed of what was going on in my apartment when and not being there, while frequent updates of Ring's services made the experience even sweeter. Add to that the range of Ring devices and accessories and it becomes a breeze if you're looking for a complete all-in-one security system for your home.

So how can Ring do it better? Maybe by making sure that all of my devices stay connected even when the power and internet go down. The Ring Alarm Pro serves this purpose but is different from other offerings in that it effectively acts as an Eero Wi-Fi 6 router to keep not only your Ring devices active and connected, but everything else on the network as well.

Setup and installation

The Ring Alarm Pro is available in a variety of configurations – which is good because it covers both small and large spaces – with the ability to add accessories to the system at any time. The five-part basic kit costs US $ 200 and consists of a base station, keyboard, contact sensor, motion detector, and range extender. I tested the eight-piece kit ($ 300) which has everything that is in the five-piece but includes three additional contact sensors.

Ring Alarm Pro in the closet.

In contrast to the Ring Alarm (2nd Gen), which I had hidden on a corner table, the Ring Alarm Pro has to be placed near your internet modem. If you already have a modem gateway that doubles as a router, you will need to connect the Ring Alarm Pro with an Ethernet cable. After setting it up through the Ring app, the only problem I stumbled across was connecting my previous sensors. They just didn't want to connect at first, but updating the Ring app seemed to fix the problem.

software

The Ring app went through a lot of updates, but it can be a bit overwhelming to navigate the app to find various settings. If you've been a long-time Ring user you shouldn't have too many problems, but anyone who is new to the Ring should have a serious look at the app. Regarding arming / disarming the security system, I like that the option is conveniently available right from the main screen. If there is one critical feature I would recommend to turn on, it is setting up the geofence – so that you will be automatically notified of arming / disarming the system based on your phone's GPS location.

In order to access or change some of the router settings, you will need to do so through the Eero app. This can cause confusion for some people as it is technically a separate app, but it is required if you are monitoring traffic on your network, changing the settings of the router, and adding additional Eero Wi-Fi 6 mesh extenders want to add. Personally, I would have preferred some of these options to be accessible through the Ring app as it means one less app to manage.

Home security performance

During the time I have been using the Ring Alarm (2nd generation), I have never had any problems. Whenever a door or window opens, I am informed about these events via the app, which can be combined with other automations, e.g. If you have pets nearby, I also recommend adjusting the sensitivity of your motion sensor as they can set off the alarm if they move. This happened once a year that I was using Ring Protect Plus and I got a call from Ring's professional monitoring service.

Ring motion sensor attached to the wall.

I really like that there are so many accessories connected to the Ring Alarm Pro home security system that you can sleep knowing that you are safe. Aside from the usual sensors, there are also those that can detect other hazards – like water collecting on a floor or even being able to watch out for fire / carbon monoxide sirens that you may already have.

Some home security systems can become vulnerable, but the Ring Alarm Pro cannot.

What really sets the Ring Alarm Pro apart from other home security systems is that it provides backup support for internet and power outages. This is not new in and of itself as other systems have similar automations, but what differs from Ring's offering is that Internet backup is available for all devices – not just the Ring Alarm Pro and its connected sensors. Would you believe it would work?

I tested this by unplugging the Ethernet cable connected to the Ring Alarm Pro from my modem, as well as the power cord. Within a minute, I received a notification that the Ring Alarm Pro was running on battery power and backup internet. I was very surprised to see that all of my devices, such as my laptop and smartphones, were still connected so I could keep working. Ring Protect Plus includes 3 GB of backup data service, but you can sign up for additional data through the Ring app for $ 3 per GB.

Bell alarm keypad on the table.

Fortunately, I haven't experienced an emergency situation, but I like how the Ring Alarm Pro takes that extra step to provide protection in other situations. Take, for example, an evening storm that cuts power for a few hours. Some home security systems can become vulnerable, but not the Ring Alarm Pro, which goes beyond that by providing total security.

WiFi 6 mesh router

There's no denying that I love multifunctional devices that eliminate the need to buy multiple devices – and the Ring Alarm Pro is one of them! Part Home Security Hub, part Wi-Fi 6 Router, it helps a growing smart home by expanding Wi-Fi coverage. Before installing the Ring Alarm Pro, I used an Eero mesh WiFi router with two other extenders in other parts of my home. Exchanging it with the Ring Alarm Pro and connecting the existing extenders was a breeze.

I appreciate the convenience of being able to expand the coverage when I move into a larger room.

Usually devices in my bedroom were struggling to stay connected to my living room router, but the Wi-Fi 6 mesh extender I set up helped fix the problem. Although my apartment is about 1,000 square feet, I appreciate the convenience of being able to expand the coverage if I ever move to a larger room with the Ring Alarm Pro. I can also see which connected devices are consuming the most data and even have the option to pause data usage. For parents, this is an incredibly powerful tool for managing device usage throughout the day.

Our opinion

Ring was a pioneer in the video doorbell space and has expanded into other categories to further expand its ecosystem. With the Ring Alarm Pro, it is the iterative home security system that needs to be beaten right now because it will really continue to protect your home if there is an emergency. Other systems have problems when the power or internet goes out and some of your other devices are left in the dark, but the Ring Alarm Pro keeps chugging as if nothing happened. And. oh yes it doubles as a Wi-Fi 6 mesh router!

Is there a better alternative?

Nothing matches the depth and utility that the Ring Alarm Pro offers, but SimiplSafe's home improvement security system is the closest competitor. While it may not have as many accessories and devices as Ring, SimpliSafe offers one of the best professional home monitoring services out there. In addition, many of the key devices, such as the base station and Smart Lock, are beautifully designed to match any facility.

How long it will take?

If the previous iteration of Ring is any indication, the Ring Alarm Pro should remain in good working order for a long time. Since this is a router and remains stationary, there is very little chance of it getting damaged – even more so if you're like me and place it in a locked room in your entertainment center. There is a one year limited warranty that covers it for defects.

Should you buy it?

Yes, you kill two birds with one stone, because the Ring Alarm Pro doubles as a Wi-Fi 6 mesh router and home security base station. You will never have to worry about home security and power outages again.

Editor's recommendations



07 Nov
Blog

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro Review: Lovely Display Saves Day

Lenovo Ideapad Slim 7i Pro review

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro

RRP $ 1,420.00

"Despite a few flaws, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro is one of the better new Windows 11 laptops you can buy."

advantages

  • Solid productivity performance

  • High resolution 90 Hz display

  • Great keyboard and touchpad

  • Simple but attractive aesthetics

disadvantage

  • Build quality is a little below average

  • Battery life is mediocre

Apart from the Surface devices, new Windows 11 laptops have so far been sparse.

Now there's Lenovo's IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro, one of the most anticipated newbies with Microsoft's latest operating system, and it promises to take advantage of Windows 11 with high-end components and a productivity-friendly 16:10 high-resolution display.

The IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro is said to be a prime example of the “Midrange Plus” lineup from Lenovo, which offers some of the same features that you will find in ThinkPads and a high quality finish that is nevertheless (relatively) affordable.

My configuration was $ 1,420, which is not that cheap. The $ 1,190 launch configuration is also in a confusing place. But in the end it all comes down to whether this is a good laptop for the money. Despite a few problems, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro makes a promising start into the Windows 11 era of laptops.

draft

A Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro sits on a table, at an angle to the view of the back and lid.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

When I judge the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro as a premium laptop, I have to pick out a few nits in terms of build quality. It's made of machined aluminum, which is a good thing, but I found the lid a bit pliable and the keyboard deck and case base had some flexibility. That would be a suitable build quality for $ 1,000 or less, but at over $ 1,400, it's missing something. The HP Specter x360 14, for example, is only a few hundred euros more and is rock solid, while the Asus ZenBook 13 OLED is several hundred euros cheaper and more robust. However, the hinge on the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro is superb, making it easy to open the laptop with one hand while holding the display firmly in place.

The IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro has minimal bezels on the top and sides and a larger chin than the Dell XPS 13. An inverted notch on the top houses the cameras and adds a convenient opening for opening the lids. Together with the larger 16:10 display, the chin makes the laptop lower than it could be, while the side bezels keep it relatively narrow.

It's a well-sized laptop that is easy to carry around.

Overall, the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro is in line with other 14-inch laptops with 16:10 displays such as the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9. At 0.67 inches, it is thin, although not as thin as the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 with 0.59 inches. At three pounds, its weight is average for 14-inch laptops. The ThinkPad is half a pound lighter, however. Overall, the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro is a well-sized laptop that is easy to transport.

Aesthetically, the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro matches many newer laptops that use a minimalist design. It seems the more laptops I check, the more similar they look. The Ideapad is available in slate gray (my test device) or light silver. It has very simple lines and angles, a curved trailing edge and subtle logos that give it a very nondescript appearance.

As with so many similar laptops, including the Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1, it's an attractive laptop, but it won't stand out. The HP Specter x360 14, with its gem-cut design and bright accent colors, offers a much bolder design. Do you like the look of the IdeaPad? Probably, unless you want a laptop that makes a fashion statement. It certainly won't offend you.

Along the left side of the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro are two USB-C with Thunderbolt 4 ports (one of which is used for power supply).

Along the right side of the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro you can see a USB A 3.2 Gen 1 port and a 3.5 mm audio jack.

Connectivity isn't a strength. On the left you will find two USB-C with Thunderbolt 4 ports (one of which is used for power supply) and a USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 port and a 3.5mm audio jack on the right.

Unfortunately there is no SD card slot or HDMI which is disappointing. Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 take over wireless tasks.

power

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro sits on a table.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

My test device was designed for more powerful laptops with a 35 watt Intel Core i7-11370H CPU, the 11th. It's an interesting processor that divides the difference between, for example, an 8-core / 16-thread Core i7-11800H with 45 watts and a 28-watt 4-core / 8-thread Core i7-1185G7. The Core i7-11370H is a productivity CPU through and through – it's supposed to be fast enough to handle demanding productivity workflows, but it's not in the same league as processors, which are faster in creative applications.

The first thing to note is that Lenovo has included its Performance Optimization utility that allows you to switch between battery saving, smart cooling, and extreme performance modes. The utility only made a difference in two of our benchmarks, our Handbrake test, which encodes a 420MB video in H.265 and Cinebench R23. Both are CPU-bound, and this is where the utility had the biggest impact.

For example, in Handbrake it took the IdeaPad 202 seconds to complete in intelligent cooling mode and 155 seconds in performance mode. That's a significant difference, and in fact, it was almost the same as the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio with the same CPU in that laptop's performance mode. The same was true for Cinebench R23, where the IdeaPad's score jumped from 5,544 to 6,150, a more competitive result.

The IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro is a fast productivity laptop.

However, the utility made little to no difference in Geekbench 5, PCMark 10, and 3DMark Time Spy. But the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro also scores well in these benchmarks in intelligent cooling mode and is ahead of the U-series competitors and close to the Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 with its Ryzen 7 5700U and the Surface Laptop Studio in all but that 3DMark test. The fastest notebook in our comparison list was of course the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4 with a Core i7-11800H. Upon closer inspection of the PCMark 10 benchmark, the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro did well in all tests, including Essentials, Productivity, and Content Creation.

All of this means that the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro is a fast, productivity laptop that can handle anything a typical user will throw at it. Put it in performance mode, which has the fans spinning up and a lot louder, and it can handle lighter creativity tasks better. It won't compete with the faster Intel CPUs or AMD's Ryzen 5000 series for developers, but it's better than the typical thin and light Intel laptop.

Geekbench (single / multiple) Handbrake
(Seconds)		 Cinebench R23 (single / multiple) PCMark 10 3DMark time spy
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro (Core i7-11370H) 1578/5957 202 1514/5544 5149 1888
Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 (Ryzen7 5700U) 1184/6281 120 1287/8013 5411 1247
Samsung Galaxy Book (Core i5-1135G7) 1401/5221 180 1361/5391 4735 1584
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 (Core i7-1165G7) 1327/5201 N / A 1469/4945 5147 1776
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio (Core i7-11370H) 1321/5131 179 1304/5450 5091 4266
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4 (Core i7-11800H) 1520/7353 106 1519/10497 6251 6691
MSI Sumit E13 Flip Evo (Core i7-1185G7) 1352/4891 207 1360/4392 4872 1751

With Intel Iris Xe graphics, the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro is not a gaming laptop. The 3DMark Time Spy score is average and it only managed 22 frames per second (fps) at 1200p and epic graphics in Fortnite. This is in line with other Iris Xe laptops and means that the IdeaPad is best for older titles or newer titles with lower resolutions and graphics settings. Or just stick to casual gaming.

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Image of the display of the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Lenovo equips the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro with a 14-inch 16:10 IPS display in a so-called “2.8K” resolution at 2,880 x 1,800. It's a sharp and bright display with dynamic colors that aren't over-saturated and enough contrast to make black text appear on a white background. It also runs at 90 Hz (60 Hz is configurable), which makes movements and animations on the screen a little smoother. I found the display to be pretty good during my tests and when I wrote this review. There's also the option for a 2.2K (2,240 x 1,400) IPS display that runs at 60 Hz, which I haven't tested.

My colorimeter agreed with my impressions. The display was quite bright at 369 nits, above our 300 nits threshold, beating the 238 nits of the Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 for $ 1,000 and the 326 nits of the Samsung Galaxy Book for $ 900, the both real middle class are machines. The IdeaPad was also brighter than the 306 nits of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 for $ 1,885, and that's officially a premium laptop from Lenovo.

The IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro also has wider than average colors, with 80% AdobeRGB (72% closer to average) and 100% sRGB (95% is average), much better than the Inspiron 14 2-in-1's 52%. from AdobeRGB and 69% from sRGB and 48% and 64% of the Galaxy Book. The IdeaPad even beats the ThinkPad's 76% and 100%. These colors were also fairly accurate with a DeltaE of 1.65 (1.0 or less is excellent), compared to the Inspiron 14 2-in-1 with 1.8, the Galaxy Book with 2.41, and the ThinkPad with an even better 0 , 99. Finally, the IdeaPad's contrast was 1,340: 1, well above our preferred 1,000: 1 and much higher than the other three laptops I used for comparison.

Close-up of the webcam, screen and bezels on the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Those are excellent results for a laptop that was not explicitly designed for developers who demand even wider colors – although the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro's colors are certainly wide enough for the less demanding creative types. When searching our database, I couldn't find a current 14-inch laptop for the same money or more that had a better display – and most had significantly worse displays. The display also supports Dolby Vision High Dynamic Range (HDR), which makes it a great laptop for binding HDR content from Netflix and other streaming services. Lenovo charges a pretty penny for the IdeaPad, and the display helps justify the investment.

Sound is provided by two downward facing speakers under the front of the cabinet, and the sound was clear and bright. There was minimal bass as always. The only problem is that the volume was low even at full volume, but there was still a hint of distortion. You want headphones for Netflix and music, and sound quality isn't one of the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro's strong points.

Keyboard and touchpad

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro keyboard and trackpad.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro has the same keyboard design found on all Lenovo laptops that are not labeled as ThinkPad. It's roomy with large and comfortably shaped keycaps. The “TrueStrike” switch mechanism was adopted from Lenovo gaming laptops and offers a tactile feel. The switches are snappy, with a soft bottom movement that makes for a precise feel. There was also a lot of travel for this type of keyboard.

It's not quite as comfortable as HP Specter or Dell XPS keyboards, but it's close enough. Most people will love this keyboard.

The touchpad was large and took up most of the palm rest space. Kudos to Lenovo for using the larger display. The touchpad surface was smooth, with just enough friction for precise swipes, and the buttons made a healthy click without being loud. It's a Microsoft Precision touchpad, and so the usual Windows 10 multi-touch gestures were well supported. The touch display was responsive and welcome too.

An infrared camera and facial recognition have Windows Hello support, and it was quick and reliable. Lenovo has incorporated its user presence detection technology, which locks and hibernates the laptop when the user leaves the area, keeps the laptop unlocked when the user is in front of it even when the keyboard and touchpad are not in use, and the laptop automatically reactivated when the user returns from an absence. It can even pause a video when the user leaves. Overall, it's a handy system that works well, and I had to turn it off to run my battery tests unless I wanted to sit in front of the laptop for hours.

Battery life

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro sits at an angle on a table.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

With a 61-watt-hour battery and a high-resolution 14-inch display, the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro made me very curious about its battery life. I was also wondering how the 35 watt CPU would fare.

Initially, the IdeaPad was inconsistent in our web browsing test. When I first ran the test, the laptop only lasted 6.25 hours, which is a miserable score compared to the 10 hours or more we like to see from thin and light premium laptops. I ran it a second time and it lasted 7.75 hours. That's better, but still way behind the field.

The battery life is not a strength of the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro.

For example, the Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 lasted 12.9 hours in this test, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio lasted 10.5 hours. However, just as worrying as the short run time was the inconsistency. In our video benchmark, which runs through a local Full HD movie trailer, the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro managed 12.75 hours, which is a decent score that surpassed the 11 hours of the Inspiron but behind the 14 hours of the Surface Laptop Studio lagged behind.

In the PCMark 10 Applications battery test, which is the best indicator for the longevity of productivity, the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro lasted 9.25 hours. We didn't test the Surface Laptop Studio in this review and the Inspiron 14 2-in-1 wouldn't complete it, but the IdeaPad scores below average for thin and light laptops. Most last at least 10 hours, and some, like the MSI Summit E13 Flip Evo, can last 13 hours or more. In the PCMark 10 gaming battery test, the IdeaPad only lasted 95 minutes, which indicates that the laptop is maintaining its performance on battery power.

Overall, the battery life is not a strength of the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro. Whether it can last a full day at work depends on your workflow – if it's tough at all, have your charger with you just in case.

Our opinion

The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro is positioned as a mid-range laptop, but priced like a premium device, and luckily it lives up to the latter. The build quality is a bit poor and the battery life mediocre, but the performance is solid and the display is excellent for this device class. It is a good looking laptop that is reasonably sized and attractive with a simple design.

The additional features, such as user presence detection technology, are welcome additions that add value. The IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro is a solid addition to the 14-inch clamshell market and is conquering a healthy niche for itself thanks to its outstanding display.

Are there alternatives?

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9 is a great alternative if you're willing to spend a little extra cash. The display isn't that good, but the battery life is spectacular and the build quality is much better.

HP's Specter x360 14 is another solid option that is also a bit more expensive but gives you the flexibility of a 2-in-1, sleek design, and the option for an even better OLED display.

As always, the Dell XPS 13 is a great choice if you're willing to cut down on the size of the display (and chassis). It's fast, durable, and incredibly attractive and well built. Again, you'll be spending a little more, but it's worth it.

How long it will take?

The IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro could feel a bit more robust, but is built well enough to last for several years of typical use. Its components are up to date and are designed to keep Windows 11 running. As always, the industry standard one-year warranty is disappointing.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. Offering great performance and a beautiful display, the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro will meet most of the needs of the most demanding productivity user. Only the battery life stands out as a real minus.

Editor's recommendations



07 Nov
Blog

Beats Fit Pro Review: The Best Beats (or Apple) Buds So Far

Beats Fit Pro.

Beats Fit Pro Review: The Best Beats (or Apple) Buds So Far

RRP $ 200.00

"They're the AirPods Pro, but more secure, Android-compatible, and lower-priced."

advantages

  • Comfortable, secure fit

  • Excellent ANC

  • Excellent transparency

  • Very good sound quality

  • Funny extras (head tracking)

disadvantage

  • No wireless charging

  • Limited control settings

  • No EQ settings

When looking for a set of true wireless earbuds, you have more choices than ever and many more features to consider. Active noise cancellation (ANC), comfort, secure fit, battery life, sound quality, wireless charging, in-ear sensors and so on. This can be a tough decision even if you're using our guide to the best true wireless earbuds.

Well, your decision has gotten even tougher: the $ 200 Beats Fit Pro, with its unique wing tips and loads of advanced features enabled by Apple's H1 wireless chip, makes a compelling case that you actually do it all can get – without compromise. How good are they? We think they are Beats' best earbuds yet.

These wings

Beats Studio Buds alongside Beats Fit Pro.Beats Studio Buds (left) and Beats Fit Pro. Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Probably the most unique aspect of the Beats Fit Pro is the wing tips that protrude from the outer surface of the earbuds and curve inward towards your ear. When the earbuds are properly positioned, the tips should anchor just below the arch of your anthelix – a firm, ridged fold of cartilage. Insertion is pretty easy – just slide the earbuds into your ear canal, then twist them back and forth a little. With a little practice you can do it in one go.

When I first saw photos of the Fit Pro, I was skeptical of how convenient these pointy tips would be. Beats isn't the first company to use this design – you can find similar rubber anchors on the Sony WF-SP800N, Jaybird Vista 2, Bose QuietComfort earbuds, and the JBL Reflect Mini NC – but unlike those other earbuds, the Fit Pros wingtip shows are more dramatic in your ears.

If you need prescription glasses or want to wear sunglasses, then you should. The Fit Pro is not in your way.

I didn't have to worry. They are made of super soft silicone rubber. And while I wouldn't go so far as to say that you won't notice them at all, they are very convenient, even for long periods of time. More importantly, they do what they were designed to do: lock the Fit Pro in place so you don't keep pushing it back whenever you try to remove it while running or doing activities.

But what I like most about the wingtips is that they don't bother the glasses at all – unlike the Powerbeats Pro's over-ear hooks. So if you need prescription glasses or want to wear sunglasses for protection, go to the Fit Pro, out of the way.

The design has only one possible downside. The wingtips are nicely integrated into the plastic of the multifunction buttons – so much so that you can't really see where the rubber ends and the plastic begins. However, this means there is no way to replace them if the wing tips are ever damaged or simply wear out with use. You need to buy new earbuds.

The multifunction buttons are super easy to press – almost too easy. Inserting the buds into your ears without accidentally squeezing them can be tricky. However, they reward you with a tactile click that leaves no doubt that you pressed them correctly. There's no way to customize the controls other than the long press action, which can be set using iOS or the Beats app for Android to trigger either ANC mode changes or volume.

Eliminate the noise

Beats Fit Pro.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The Beats Fit Pro use the same ANC and transparency system as the AirPods Pro, with similarly impressive results. External noises like the roar of fans or the rumble of traffic are significantly reduced, leaving you with a nice, quiet bed to play your audio on, whether it's music or podcasts. Hell, you can just turn on ANC and use it for some quiet in a noisy home or coffee shop.

From Chick Corea to Megan Thee Stallion or a Brahms concert, the Fit Pro will make everyone happy.

Oddly, while the Fit Pro's transparency mode is way better than the Studio Buds – and slightly as good as the AirPods Pro – the ANC mode isn't quite as good as the Beats Studio Buds, which is frankly a surprise. I attribute it to Fit Pro's slightly larger pressure equalization openings, a feature that increases the overall comfort of wearing ear canal-sealed headphones. In this case, however, those vents seem to let in just a little more sound than they did on the Studio Buds, and I believe that's what degrades the Fit Pro's ANC performance. To be clear, we are not talking about day and night, or even close to such a difference. It's subtle, and you might not even notice it, but hey, you are paying me big bucks to point out this stuff.

Highest sound …

Man wears Beats Fit Pro.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The Fit Pro sound really good – better than the Studio Buds, and I think they're better than the AirPods Pro, too. They have a wide soundstage and a defined stereo image that puts them on par with the excellent Jabra Elite 7 Pro. But the real surprise here is the Fit Pro's sound signature.

Despite its workout-friendly design (which screams to be compared to the Powerbeats Pro), the Fit Pro doesn't place special emphasis on the bass. Not that there isn't a lot of bass response – there is – it's just that Beats tamed the lower end of the Fit Pro to be more proportional to the rest of the frequency bands. While they may not offer the pounding rhythm you want for an intense workout, they are much better suited to playing a wide variety of genres.

Fit Pro includes head tracking sensors that allow you to experience Dolby Atmos in a whole new way.

You can create the world's most eclectic playlist, jumping from a jazz master like Chick Corea to Megan Thee Stallion and then to a Brahms concert, and the Fit Pro will happily render them all, with lots of detail and zero harshness in the high frequencies.

I still wish Beats (and Apple) would give us control of the EQ when a little more boom is needed, but it's really hard to complain considering how great the Fit Pro is right out of the box Box sounds.

… and also spatial audio with head tracking

Beats Fit Pro.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

For Apple – and therefore for Beats – spatial audio is a big deal. The company has done it all with the support of Dolby Atmos Music on the Apple Music streaming service. Any headphone lets you enjoy the 3D aspects of Dolby Atmos, but the Fit Pro includes head tracking sensors that allow you to experience Dolby Atmos in a whole new way. When the feature is on (you can turn it off in the iOS Control Center), Dolby Atmos songs will respond to the orientation of your head. Sounds strange – and takes getting used to. But when you turn your head from side to side it sounds like the song is being played "in front of you," so turning your head to the left balances the chant towards your right ear and vice versa. If you turn your head for more than a few seconds, this position becomes the new front.

It also works with Dolby Atmos, 5.1, and 7.1 movie soundtracks, but in these situations the “front” is always the position of your screen, whether it's an iPhone, iPad, or your TV (Apple TV 4K only ). I'm not sure if head tracking is a big reason to buy the Beats Fit Pro, especially if you're an Android user (only Apple devices currently support head tracking), but it's a fun feature that does Music and movies can do a lot more entertaining.

Call quality

Beats Fit Pro.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

In all but the loudest environments, the Fit Pro delivers very good call quality. Like most true wireless earbuds, you struggle with loud noise, but when it's relatively quiet your callers will be able to hear you without a problem. They're much better suited for calls than the Studio Buds, which sound a little mushy in comparison.

Beats doesn't include a separate sidetone adjustment so you can hear your own voice clearly, but you can switch to transparency mode before or during a call, which boils down to the same thing. And because the Fit Pro's transparency mode is so good, it helps make these earbuds very capable conversationalists. The fact that you can use both earbuds independently for both calls and music is a bonus.

Battery life

Beats Fit Pro charging case.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

After a few years of stagnation, Apple has started to improve the listening time you can get on a single charge of its earbuds. The Beats Fit Pro are designed for six hours with the ANC or transparency mode activated, which makes them the longest-lasting ANC earbuds in the Beats or Apple range (the AirPods Pro are 4.5 hours at the end and the Studio Buds are preserved five hours). . Better still, if you turn those modes off, that number jumps to seven hours – not quite the nine hours you get from the Powerbeats Pro, but pretty decent nonetheless.

The charging case, which disappointingly does not support wireless charging (Qi or MagSafe), can increase these numbers to up to 27 or 30 hours. A quick five minute charge gives you an extra hour of playtime.

Our opinion

Contents of the Beats Fit Pro box.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The Beats Fit Pro are essentially Apple's AirPods Pro, but with a more secure fit, Android compatibility, slightly better sound, and a lower price point. That makes them almost perfect in our books.

Is there a better alternative?

If you want everything the Apple ecosystem has to offer (head-tracking spatial audio, Find My Network, quick toggling between Apple devices, and hands-free Siri) then no, there aren't any better alternatives at this price point if it is the truth is about wireless earbuds. If you really want / need wireless charging, get ready to pay $ 49 more for it AirPods Pro.

However, if you are less picky about these features, this is the Jabra Elite 7 Pro deserve your full attention. They're just as good or better for ANC, transparency, and sound quality, and many people will find them more convenient, but almost as certain. They also have wireless charging and an incredible amount of customization for EQ, controls, and more. And they are the same price as the Beats Fit Pro.

How long will they last?

It's good that the Fit Pro has a longer battery life than Apple's other earbuds (except for the Powerbeats Pro) as, in our experience, this is the only area that can greatly reduce the life expectancy of the earbuds. Even if they drop 50%, you still get three hours on ANC, which while not great, is still perfectly usable for most situations.

It's harder to tell how much life you're getting out of the flexible wing tips. If those get shredded or torn, it's the earbuds.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. Despite some missing features like EQ, control adjustments, and wireless charging, that is Beats Fit Pro are an outstanding set of true wireless earbuds.

Editor's recommendations



07 Nov
Blog

Riders Republic Review: True Freedom in an Open World Game

A biker does a trick in Riders Republic.

Reiter Republic

RRP $ 60.00

"Riders Republic is a thoroughly entertaining extreme sports game that avoids the mandatory insignia of most open world games."

advantages

  • Easy to understand gameplay

  • Everything feels rewarding

  • Complicated world design

  • Crazy sporting events

  • Excellent social modes

disadvantage

  • Camera is not ideal

  • Stylistically inconsistent

  • Arrogant microtransactions

Ubisoft's open world games can be a chore. Franchises like Assassin's Creed and Far Cry follow the same structure and throw players on a gigantic map with a seemingly endless number of activities to do. These are massive games full of distractions that you will keep playing even when you are running out of good times. But Riders Republic, the publisher's newest title, wields that power forever; it removes any constraint from one of gaming's weariest ideas.

Riders Republic was developed by the team behind Steep and is an open-world extreme sports game that is structurally not far from Assassin's Creed Valhalla – only with bicycles instead of longships. A big world with a laundry list of symbols to jump back and forth between? That’s what you’ll find here. The main difference, however, is that I actually wanted to complete activities and didn't feel like I had to. Who cares if a game has a million things to do when they're not really fun?

Riders Republic works because it never forgets to be, above all, fun. Regardless of whether players cycle through a ravine in a wingsuit or cycle down a mountain with 31 other players in a giraffe suit, every micro-challenge is a quick and digestible hit for the joy of extreme sports. It's not the deepest experience, but it's one I was happy to immerse myself in for an hour and just as easily could walk again without feeling pressured to move on.

X game

Riders Republic is essentially a much more goofy twist on the Forza Horizon series. Players are thrown onto a giant map made up of California state parks that Frankenstein have pieced together into a natural sports utopia. The only real direction they're given is to compete in various events – there's biking, snowboarding, skiing, jetpacking, and wingsuiting – and earning enough stars to complete the ultimate Red Bull sponsored race. The game doesn't really care what you do once it lets go of you – and that's a relief. I've never felt so free in a genre that is supposedly based on freedom.

There's a simple but effective catch here. Almost everything that players do gives them stars. Finish a race? Get a star even if you are last. Discover a landmark on the map? Take a star. Did you accidentally perform a stunt while exploring? Here is your star. It doesn't matter if you're good at the game or just there to play around; Riders Republic will make you feel like you are making progress no matter what. No activity feels like a waste of time or something that you have no choice but to assert yourself.

A biker does a trick in Riders Republic.

This hook works just as well because the sports gameplay is so easy to learn and play from moment to moment. Cycling or skiing is as easy as accelerating and steering. Certain gear can drift, boost, or pull tricks, but nothing ever feels overly complicated. The effectively simple mechanism directs the focus to the essentials: the thrill of racing through an open world with full freedom. It is so much fun to fly through a canyon with a jetpack and immediately switch to a snowboard and then tumble out of the air to slide down a snow-capped mountain.

The only point where the game gets tricky is with the control options. Players have a few different control schemes, but there are two primary ones. One assigns tricks to the face buttons, while the other (called Trickster) lets players use the right stick instead. The latter feels a lot better and gives players much more precise control when it comes to performing tricks and landing. Unfortunately, this means that camera control is sacrificed, which is not always feasible. Considering the game is getting messy with its massive multiplayer races, sometimes I really had to adjust the angle to see over the herd of drivers in long giraffe costumes that enveloped my field of vision. You will also get more points for tricks if you land them in Trickster mode yourself. It's a shame that the more natural and rewarding control scheme is the less practical.

No matter what sport I play, the controls feel so intuitive that I can navigate the complicated world with ease.

It's a minor complaint by and large. No matter what sport I play, the controls feel so intuitive that I can navigate the complicated world with ease. The landscapes are carefully constructed to turn simple stretches of terrain into bike paths or snow trails that put my skills to the test, even if I'm just driving around freely. You could take all of the actual goals and objectives out of Riders Republic and I still think I'd love to just drive around and soak it all up (there's a zen mode where you can do just that, too).

The social network

There's no shortage of things you can actually do to take advantage of these pleasing mechanics and smart world design. Players compete in various challenges that appear on the map as they advance each "career". Most of the events are about racing, but there is a little extra spice here and there. One of my favorite missions was asking me to ride my bike around a small campsite delivering pizza while my character was complaining in Italian the whole time.

Riders Republic is best when it's silly. While standard races are consistently fun tests of skill, some of the stranger missions add absurd charm to the game. In one race, I snowboard through a blizzard while classical music is playing. In another, I'm in a group of cyclists dressed in T. rex inflatable suits. You never know what a particular challenge will look like until you start the race, and out of curiosity that made me try as many as possible.

Riders looks out over a snowy horizon in Riders Republic.

Playing solo would be entertaining enough on its own, but the game's social integration really makes it special. During the game, the map is constantly populated by other players who go about their business (or at least ghost data from real people). It is impossible to feel alone while driving. Sometimes I would find myself riding a wingsuit down a mountain to a racing marker just to skim a running bike race. It seldom happens that I really feel part of an online world full of people, even when playing a 100 player game like Fortnite.

Playing solo would be entertaining enough on its own, but the game's social integration really makes it special.

This feeling is best illustrated in the game's mass races, which are a standout feature. Players can line up for a 64-player race at various intervals. It is absolute chaos in the best sense of the word. Watching a crowd of bikers clash at the start line is pure slapstick comedy, and it's an exhilarating feeling to be ahead of the pack. They are also usually some of the longer gauntlets in the game and act as a multisport triathlon. Every time one shows up on the map, I stop what I'm doing to participate.

Other online modes are just as creative. There's a brilliant 6v6 trick attack mode that works like a team version of Graffiti by Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. Considering this is a live service game that will likely be updated over time, I am already excited about the possibilities here. This is what makes Riders Republic particularly fun. This is a solid, insane foundation that feels like it could be twisted in an infinite number of ways. While Ubisoft doesn't, the game includes a creation tool that allows players to create their own custom events. Keep giving me a reason to invite me in, and I'll keep going until my legs (well, thumbs, I think) are sore.

Out of fashion

The most noticeable aspect of the game is its sense of style. While the game's spiritual predecessor, Steep, was a bit more down to earth, Riders Republic is all about pizzazz. The colors are bright, the cosmetics are crazy, and the soundtrack is eclectic. It's an all-round happy atmosphere for players of all ages.

However, all of this is a bit unfocused. As I played through the game, I was never quite sure who the intended audience was. Take the soundtrack, for example. It's not just between genres, but also between eras. In a minute I'll hear a pretty modern sounding pop rock song. In the next minute, Ice-T's 1988 Hit Colors began playing. I later become a parachutist as the ukulele cover of Gangster’s Paradise, followed by The Offspring’s Staring at the Sun. Sometimes the soundtrack tries to be hip and youthful. Sometimes Tony Hawk tries to be a pro skater. At other times, I have no idea who it is addressed to.

A neon wingsuit flies through a canyon in Riders Republic.

This is also present in the dialogues that try to sound young and hip, but end up slipping into terrifying terrain. Jokes keep falling flat when non-gamer characters dive into the MTV humor of the "for Shizzle" era. It all has a "How are you fellow children?" Atmosphere that feels a little strange.

Then there's the game's cosmetics store, which opens the dreaded microtransaction conversation. While some clothing and items can be bought with in-game currency, others can only be bought with real money. However, these higher quality items get mixed up with anything else that feels unnecessarily deceptive. I would often see an item of clothing that I dug up in the store, instinctively click on it, and realize that it took me real money to buy it. Given that this is a full retail game, the microtransaction addiction feels a bit aggressive here – especially since kids are a likely target audience here.

Playing through the game, I'm never quite sure who the intended audience actually is.

I enjoy Riders Republic the most when I just ignore these aspects completely. Due to the free and fluid pace of the game, I can turn the volume down and have music or a podcast play in the background. I don't mean that as a blow to the game; it speaks to how strong the core gameplay is. The fact that I can block out the loudest parts and still feel like I'm getting the full experience is impressive. Riders Republic gives you the freedom to play your way, and that includes the freedom to get rid of things you don't want to do.

Our opinion

Riders Republic makes optimal use of Ubisoft's open world template. It's a thoroughly fun extreme sports game with lots of variety, an abundance of challenges to hunt, and great social hooks. All of its sporting events are easy to learn and play, making it perfect for quick drop-ins. Its sense of style has gotten a little out of hand and it doesn't have the sleekest camera solution, but I'm always excited to heat it up and see how much more it can beat its craziness.

Is there a better alternative?

Tony Hawks Pro Skater 1 + 2 is a bit more stylistically focused. If you want something less arcade-like and more technical, the Forza Horizon series offers an identical structure.

How long it will take?

That depends on how much time you want to invest. It feels like there are well over 100 hours of content here for the die-hard who want to play it like a service game. Even if you just hit the correct endgame, you will likely pass the 30 hour mark.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. Riders Republic is just fun. Few games this year have given me such simple joys that make me want to keep playing.

Editor's recommendations



07 Nov
Blog

iRobot Roomba j7+ Review: Closer to a Tangle-Free Life

iRobot Roomba j7 + on hardwood floor.

iRobot Roomba j7 +

RRP $ 850.00

“Do more cleaning, worry less. The iRobot Roomba j7 + is more intelligent than your average robot vacuum cleaner. "

advantages

  • Good job avoiding wires

  • Self-draining floor with a low profile

  • Solid all-round cleaning

  • Cleans efficiently in a zigzag pattern

disadvantage

  • The thorough carpet cleaning service is missing

  • A little noisy when vacuuming

Experience goes far. This is especially true in the world of robotic vacuums, where iterative improvements in technology over the years have resulted in smarter, more efficient bots that clean faster. Gone are the days of worrying about robotic vacuums falling down stairs or aimlessly cleaning one spot. Today's robotic vacuums are better than that – but there is still one major thing that will trip them up.

Wires, cables, and other minor clutter around the house can still trip the best robotic vacuums out there. As a pioneer in this area, iRobot aims to address this ubiquitous problem with its Roomba j7 +. When it comes to experience, nobody gets more out of it than iRobot. The Roomba j7 + not only has a self-draining base, but is also equipped with a camera that helps it avoid obstacles better. While there is a lot of talk about how to avoid annoying cables on the floor, seeing is believing. The times of pre-cleaning could be over if it can actually do this without errors!

Put up

Unsurprisingly, setting up the iRobot Roomba j7 + was effortless. Because everything was already assembled in the packaging, so all you had to do was remove the self-draining base, connect the charging cable and dock the robot vacuum. Worth mentioning are subtle additions to the self-draining base, such as the fact that it has a much lower profile than any other self-draining container I've seen. There's even a little nook inside the base to store an extra bag, filter, and side brush. I appreciate that as they are usually kept elsewhere and quickly forgotten.

Top of the iRobot Roomba j7 +.John Velasco / Digital Trends

After everything was unpacked and connected, all I had to do was launch the iRobot app on my phone to guide myself to connect it to my home's Wi-Fi network. Having used the Roomba i3 + before, I thought it at least copied my apartment plan, but it didn't. Instead, the Roomba j7 + used the first run to vacuum and actively map my entire apartment. I had to run it a few more times before it realized there was an accessible route to the bedroom.

software

What I like about the iRobot app is that it's intuitive and simple. Once a map of my apartment has been created, I can go into the app to label the different rooms, add partitions to differentiate one room from another, and set “exclusion” zones to prevent the Roomba j7 + there cleans. The latter ability comes in handy when you have areas that you don't want the bot to disturb, such as B. the position of pet bowls. The ability to customize the map in this way alleviates the annoying instances of a robotic vacuum cleaner simply rolling through an area and everything in its path.

You can also schedule Roomba j7 + to clean automatically. I would still recommend adult supervision because you just never know what can happen – even more so when pets are at home. You don't want to come home to find that your cat's tail is caught in the robot hoover when you haven't been there.

Obstacle detection and avoidance

With the help of its front camera and Genius 3.0 Home Intelligence technology, the Roomba j7 + is better equipped to recognize obstacles and avoid them. I have to admit, it's great for avoiding cluttered charging cables near power outlets and power strips, but it's not infallible. There were mainly two cases in which it did not avoid obstacles: On the one hand, a paper bag lying on the floor, on the other hand, a lined up cat toy. I'll say that when I put a charging cable in its path, it paused for a moment to assess and then walked around it to continue cleaning.

While it's not perfect, it should be noted that the Roomba j7 + is currently trained to detect cords, cords, headphones, and pet droppings. Other clutter like shoes and socks will eventually be added through a software update to improve obstacle avoidance. On top of that, constant training and reviews help the robot make smarter decisions when it comes to cleaning – so I'm confident it will get better over time.

Close up of camera on iRobot Roomba j7 +.John Velasco / Digital Trends

When the cleaning is done, you can return to the cleaning history to evaluate some of the obstacles it encountered. While avoiding everything wasn't perfect, I suspect it will get better over time as checking the obstacles in the app trains his vision better. For now, however, I would rank the Samsung Jet Bot AI + just ahead of the iRobot champion when it comes to detection and avoidance.

Cleaning performance

If there is one thing you can rely on with iRobot, it is that its robotic vacuum cleaners offer above-average cleaning performance. With its side sweeping and underside brushes, it pulls in dirt and debris that is scattered on my wooden floors. Cat litter isn't thrown in all directions as the side sweeping brush rotates at a gentle speed, while the three-stage cleaning system and 10-fold hitch suction technology ensure that all debris is captured.

It does good to avoid messy charging cables near power outlets and power strips.

The Roomba j7 + is also an efficient bot that doesn't waste time devising a game plan for cleaning up rooms. It works efficiently and effectively by navigating in traditional zigzag patterns. Nooks and crannies are handled well too, but I find that when bumping into furniture it can just be a little bit aggressive.

iRobot Roomba j7 + on hardwood floor.John Velasco / Digital Trends

While the Roomba j7 + is a solid cleaner for hard floors, it gets stuck with carpets. Superficial things like pet hair and other crumbs are easily picked up by the multi-surface rubber brush, but I am not convinced of its deep cleaning performance on carpets. It just doesn't achieve the same deep cleaning sensation that my bare feet experience on carpets cleaned with cordless vacuums.

Battery life

Since my apartment is roughly over 1,000 square meters, there has never been a battery on one of the robotic vacuum cleaners I tested. The Roomba j7 + cleaned for over 40 minutes without a battery warning. When the battery ran out, it would automatically return to the base station to recharge.

iRobot Roomba j7 + in charging station.John Velasco / Digital Trends

There the contents of his trash can are also thrown into the self-empty base. Then it roars like a jet plane because it needs the suction force to remove all of its contents. You could say it's deafening so keep that in mind. With the robot hoover itself, it is moderately noisy during cleaning, so if you are concentrating on something you will want to let it run at a different time.

Our opinion

While it's not the revolutionary robotic vacuum I was expecting, the iRobot Roomba j7 + is an iterative model that sits reasonably between the Roomba i3 + and s9 + at $ 850. It's a smart, efficient and feature-rich robot hoover that offers a well-rounded cleaning performance that is enhanced by its smarter avoidance and self-emptying system.

Is there a better alternative?

The Samsung Jet Bot AI + is the only other robotic vacuum cleaner that outperforms the iRobot offering. In addition to superior avoidance detection, it's a notable revolutionary robotic vacuum cleaner as it doubles as a roaming security camera to patrol the house when you are not around.

Alternatively there is the Roborock S7 and its self-draining base. It also delivers solid cleaning, enhanced by the fact that it has a mopping function that really makes hard floors feel squeaky clean.

How long it will take?

The iRobot Roomba j7 + is made of various sturdy plastic materials and still feels like a solid, well-made bot. Of course, it takes some maintenance to keep it in tip-top shape – like removing any tangles around its side sweeping brush and cleaning the sensors. There is a one year limited warranty that covers it against defects.

Should you buy it?

Yes, mostly because it specializes in avoiding the hassle of cables. Even if pre-cleaning before vacuuming isn't entirely eliminated, you don't have to worry about having to take care of it all the time throughout the cleaning routine.

Editor's recommendations



07 Nov
Blog

Hisense U7G 4K HDR TV Review: Confidently Click Buy Now

Hisense U7G television shows a picture of breakfast items.

Hisense U7G 4K HDR TV

RRP $ 900.00

"At under $ 1,000, the Hisense U7G is an unmistakable value."

advantages

  • Impressive brightness

  • Solid black levels

  • Excellent backlight control

  • Great to play with

  • Easy adjustment

disadvantage

  • Bad off-angle performance

  • Potentially dirty screen effect

My pick for the best TV under $ 1,000 for the past few years went to a TCL TV, but this year Hisense is at least a co-owner of that coveted spot with its U7G 4K ULED TV. At well under $ 1,000, this TV exceeds my expectations almost every step of the way – through the lens of a very picky TV enthusiast (me).

For most people, the U7G is absolutely a breeze. Here's why.

Out of the box

Hisense U7G TV remote control in hand.Riley Young / Digital Trends

Over my 29 years in consumer electronics, I have preached that heavy equipment is premium equipment. Of course, that notion has its limits – you don't want 25-pound headphones. But by and large, the best devices in each category have a certain weight, because even in the digital age, quality components tend to weigh more than cheap components.

This would mean that the Hisense U7G would not qualify as a premium television. It's amazingly easy. So much so that I had serious concerns about its overall build quality and its potential to impress me with its performance. But since I was able to move the U7G from place to place very easily in my test lab, I've found this TV to be well built and should stand the test of time.

Close up of The Hisense U7G TV stand.Riley Young / Digital Trends

As a bonus, the U7G is very easy to assemble and mount on the wall. Stand-alone installation requires just a few feet, and for those using a media center or sideboard, the footprint of the U7G is 47.75 "wide by 10.5" deep.

The box with the TV contains the feet, screws for the feet, a Google Voice remote, batteries for the remote, and some paper-printed product literature that you probably don't need.

Details on the U7G series

While we tested the 65-inch model 65U7G, our test also applies to the other screen sizes available in the series.

Screen size Model no RRP
55 inches

55U7G

 $ 700
65 inches 65U7G $ 900
75 in 75U7G $ 1,200

Put up

Hisense U7G TV with a picture of a chocolate ice cream bar on the screen.Riley Young / Digital Trends

One of the things I like the most about Hisense TVs is their ease of setup – especially when it comes to having the right picture mode presets for all of the different inputs and streaming apps on board.

I realize that a lot of people buy a TV, plug it in, turn it on, endure the necessary setup wizard, and then start watching TV right away without ever touching the picture settings. That's a shame. To get the best picture out of any TV – and the Hisense U7G in particular – it pays to take a little time to make at least a few simple adjustments.

By default, the TV is in a standard picture preset that ultimately suits your tastes, but the TV is also in a low-power mode that I strongly recommend users turn off right away. This eco setting limits the peak brightness of the TV and if you don't turn this off you will never know what your TV is really capable of.

Once the TV's eco mode is turned off, I would also suggest turning off motion smoothing. While motion smoothing is helpful for some fast-moving sports content, it makes movies and some TV shows look artificial and introduces the soap opera effect which I think is terrible. However, not everyone agrees with me. So if you like the smooth looking movement feel free to leave it on – just know, I'll never watch TV with you.

Personally, I think the pro move is to select Theater Day as the picture mode. If the color temperature seems a little warm to you or the picture doesn't seem so vivid, this is normal. Give your eyes a chance to get used to it. I think you will find that it looks a lot more authentic. Theater Day also gives you the best brightness output for SDR content without messing around with other settings.

A photo of kiwi fruit on a Hisense U7G television.Riley Young / Digital Trends

As soon as Theater Tag is selected for an HDMI input, it is also selected for the others. And if you select Theater Tag in one streaming app, that is the default for other streaming apps (again, this applies to SDR content). Most TVs don't offer this convenience, which is why I commend Hisense for making TV setup easy.

For HDR content, I recommend choosing HDR Theater and I recommend Dolby Vision Custom for Dolby Vision. Here, too, these picture modes are used across the board as soon as they are selected for an HDMI input or a streaming app.

One final note on setup: Android TV / Hisense's setup wizard will ask you lots of questions about privacy. Take a moment to read this information and choose carefully based on how well you are collecting data about your viewing habits. Also note that you can keep your ad data to yourself, but at the expense of relevant content suggestions.

Dimensions / specifications

Image of berries on a tree shown on the Hisense U7G TV.Riley Young / Digital Trends

As is common with TV reviews, I used a Spectracal C6 colorimeter profiled on an X-Rite i1Pro spectrometer along with the Calman Ultimate software to measure the out-of-the-box performance of the U7G before making detailed adjustments. Since few people will pay to have such a TV calibrated, I think these numbers are the most valuable.

I checked the peak luminance performance for SDR on Theater Night (283 nits) and Theater Day (566 nits). Theater Day looks just bright enough to provide a good-looking picture in a room with moderate natural light. This isn't overwhelming brightness, but it is definitely above average for televisions priced below $ 1,000. The backlight setting can be increased to increase the brightness in brighter rooms, but the black levels take a beating and look a bit greyish.

For the HDR theater mode, I got between 930 and 950 nits depending on how long I tested the peak brightness. I think almost 1,000 cd / m² in HDR is a good figure for a television in this price range. That's definitely bright enough to make HDR look like HDR, and that's again above average for a TV in this price range.

Interestingly, I found that the HDR standard mode didn't get any brighter than HDR Theater. This is atypical and another reason for me to recommend the HDR theater setting.

I also checked the U7G's 2 point grayscale performance and found it to be flawless. And I don't mean just for Hisense, I mean the grayscale was on Sony A80J accuracy levels. I expected this would result in excellent color accuracy, but oddly enough it didn't.

Normally, accurate grayscale means that the colors are tracking well, but technically the television has chromatic aberrations that go into the visible spectrum. However, they're not so significant that I think most viewers would notice.

Given that the TV is so cheap, a videophile on a budget might do well to buy the U7G and have the color calibrated by a professional. For the modest total cost of ownership increase, I think returning it to the right person might be worth it. However, most people will be happy with the color if they're not downright impressed.

Backlight and black levels

A photo of kiwi fruit on a Hisense U7G television.Riley Young / Digital Trends

I am very impressed with the backlight performance of the Hisense U7G. I have observed little to no blacks (where dark grays / shadow details are represented as black). There was also surprisingly little blooming and halo around light objects on dark backgrounds, which is impressive considering how bright the TV can get.

I have a new favorite piece of content to check black levels, shadow detail, blooming and halo effects all at once: Night on Earth, which is available on Netflix. I watch the show with the subtitles on and quickly learn everything I need to know about backlight controls and the black level performance of a television.

The great thing about this Netflix nature documentary series is that it is shot almost entirely at night – hence the title. They use special cameras and technology to take night pictures – action in nature that has never been seen before. The show is extremely gloomy on average, except where it isn't, which makes for a hell of a torture test, and I can tell you the U7G passed the test with ease.

Close-up of the edges of the Hisense U7G TV stand.Riley Young / Digital Trends

I've seen almost no noticeable blooming from the edges of the TV or halos around bright objects, the best test of which is the closed captions, which are bright white on an almost pitch black background. It's rare that I don't get distracted by a backlight system while watching dark content, but the U7G just got me to enjoy the content – that's a great endorsement.

HDR highlights were exactly what I expected / wanted for a TV in this price range. I think the U7G is a bit high on the brightness curve in terms of accuracy, but it's fun. The U7G reminds me of some Samsung TVs in this regard, but with better blacks for the price. HDR had pop and I enjoyed it.

Movement and processing

The movement performance was good – overall in the middle range. I saw a bit of stuttering and flickering when panning vertically, but that wasn't a consistent problem. Movement problems didn't occur often enough to upset me, which means most people will be very happy with this TV presentation.

Upscaling and processing were generally just fine. The U7G doesn't clean sound as well as a Sony TV, for example, but neither does most TVs. In particular, I noticed a bit of color streaking on low bit depth content from streaming services. The U7G isn't going to make Bob Ross look like a 4K studio master on PBS, but it's good for the type of content most people will be watching today. For the price, I couldn't ask for anything better. You'd have to pay MUCH more to get better build quality so I'm giving it back to Hisense to strike a good balance.

Games

Car video game played on the Hisense U7G TV.Riley Young / Digital Trends

According to the Xbox Series X 4K TV details, the Hisense U7G supports almost every gaming parameter available, including variable refresh rate. I wasn't expecting VRR on this TV, but when I enabled it on the Xbox Series X, I got no argument. What a pleasant surprise! I was only able to verify HDMI VRR and FreeSync support for the U7G – the jury has yet to be on G-Sync for PC gamers.

The U7G will be great for gamers. The input lag is super low (less than 15 milliseconds for 4K and about 7 ms for 1080p and VRR) and the HDR images are fantastic. There is great shadow detail and very little motion blur. All the essentials for a great gaming TV are in place.

Bonus material

The Hisense U7G is an Android TV with Google Assistant support and support for Google smart home devices. It's not as fancy a platform as Google TV, and the U7G has no hope of upgrading to Google TV in the future, but Android TV is a solid platform that will work well for years to come.

Our opinion

The U7G is currently the best TV you can buy for under $ 1,000. This honor was once shared with the TCL R645, however, supply chain issues have raised the price of the TV, leaving the U7G with that title for now. I also have to call the U7G the best TV for enthusiasts who don't have a big budget. This TV proves that you have great picture quality and you can't spend a small fortune.

Is there a better alternative?

At the price, no. The U7G offers unique value in 2021. However, the Hisense U8G only offers slightly higher performance (brightness) for $ 100 to $ 200 more.

How long it will take?

The Hisense U7G is positioned in terms of performance and features to perform well for several years. Hisense provides a one-year parts and labor warranty on its televisions provided they are used in a non-commercial environment.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. The U7G is a great television. The low price makes it a headless buy.

Editor's recommendations



06 Nov
Blog

MSI Summit E16 Flip Review: Stepping Up to Compete

MSI Summit E16 Flip sits on a table.

MSI Summit E16 Flip

RRP $ 2,299.00

"The MSI Summit E16 Flip is a decent laptop for content creators, if only it was a little cheaper."

advantages

  • Solid build quality

  • Attractive aesthetics

  • Strong productivity performance

  • Excellent IPS display with 120 Hz refresh rate

  • Very good keyboard

disadvantage

  • Too expensive

  • Battery life is mediocre

  • Small touchpad

I really liked the MSI Summit E13 Flip, especially the modern aesthetics, excellent battery life, and solid performance. It turned out that MSI can make an excellent productivity-oriented 2-in-1 convertible for the popular gaming laptops, even if the price was a bit steep.

MSI has a larger version of the device, the Summit E16 Flip, which not only expands the 16:10 display from 13.4 inches to 16 inches, but also adds a separate GPU via Nvidia's GeForce RTX 3050. It has a similar look and feel, but is more aimed at developers who can take advantage of the extra power of a GPU for applications that can use it, like Adobe's Creative Suite.

I tested the top-end Summit E16 Flip with a Core i7-1195G7 CPU and the RTX 3050, which has a retail price of $ 2,299. The three available models only differ in their RAM and storage, whereby the test device with 32 GB RAM and a 2 TB SSD is the top model. As with the 13-inch model, the Summit E16 Flip is a bit pricey – but I enjoyed the machine enough to justify the investment.

draft

Rear view of the MSI Summit E16 Flip.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Like its smaller brother, the Summit E16 Flip has a slim, completely black case with just a few rose gold accents in an MSI logo on the front and along the beveled edges on the lid and touchpad. The larger model doesn't have the cropped chassis and lid corners of the 13-inch model reminiscent of the HP Specter line, including the Specter x360 15, but the rose gold and black color scheme still hints at HP's machines .

The lines of the 2-in-1 are simpler, with a slightly angled edge along the back of the case and a steeply angled keyboard deck. It's an elegant overall look that is not overrated and is more eye-catching than the HP Envy x360 15, which is also available in black but has a deliberately minimalist design. As with the smaller version, MSI also notes the use of the golden ratio (1.68) when designing the dimensions of the laptop.

The display bezels of the 2-in-1 display aren't tiny at the top and bottom, so the overall dimensions of the Summit E16 Flip are a bit excessive. It's almost as wide as the Specter x360 15, but over an inch deeper thanks to the taller display and larger bezels. However, it's thinner at 0.67 inches and slightly heavier at 4.4 pounds compared to the Specter x360 15 at 0.79 inches and 4.23 pounds. The Summit E16 Flip is also deeper than the Envy x360 15 with its 16: 9 display, while again it's thinner and slightly heavier compared to the Envy’s 0.72 inches and 4.11 pounds.

MSI Summit E16 Flip folded back.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Overall, the Summit E16 Flip is a large convertible 2-in-1, but not unexpected considering it's a large and tall display. You won't want to hold it in your arm to ink, but that's typical of larger 2-in-1 devices.

The Summit E16 Flip is made from CNC machined aluminum, which fits its premium character. Accordingly, the entire chassis is torsion-resistant, without the lid (as shown on the 13-inch model), the keyboard deck or the case's underside sagging. It is slightly on par with the Specter x360 15 and is ahead of the Envy x360 15, which had a bit of keyboard flex.

The Summit E16 Flip is a very well made laptop. The hinge can be easily opened with one hand, which is unusual for convertible 2-in-1s, and holds the display in its four positions – clamshell, tent, media and tablet. It also supports the keyboard deck at an angle for a more comfortable typing experience and improved airflow.

On the left is a full-size HDMI port and two USB-Cs with Thunderbolt 4 (one of which is for charging).

Two USB-A 3.2 ports, a 3.5 mm audio jack and a microSD card reader on the right side of the MSI Summit e16 Flip.

Connectivity is a strength. On the left is a full-size HDMI port and two USB-C with Thunderbolt 4 ports (one of which is used for charging) and two USB-A 3.2 ports, a 3.5mm audio jack and a microSD card reader on the right.

Given the usefulness of this 2-in-1 for creatives, a full-size SD card reader would have been desirable. The latest in Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 offer fast wireless capabilities with the right router.

power

MSI Summit E16 Flip folded back in a tent fold.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The Summit E16 Flip uses a 28-watt 4-core / 8-thread Intel Core i7-1195G7, which is a fast chip, but it's still intended for thin and light laptops rather than portable powerhouses. This is in contrast to the 45-watt Core i7-10750H with 6 cores and 12 threads in the HP Specter x360 15 and the 8-core / 16-thread AMD Ryzen 7 5700U in the HP Envy x360 15.

Then there are clamshell laptops like the Dell XPS 15 and MSI Creator Z16 that use the latest 8-core / 16-thread Core i7-11800H CPUs that are significantly faster – though it's not entirely fair, these portable ones Compare workstations with a Convertible 2. in 1. My performance expectations for the Summit E16 Flip have been lowered despite everything.

According to our benchmarks, the Summit E16 Flip's performance was strong for productive work, but mixed for creative endeavors. Note that MSI provides a utility to switch from "balanced" to "powerful" modes and this made a noticeable difference in some of these results, but not enough to warrant analysis. If you need a little more power, you can switch the 2-in-1 to overdrive.

The MSI Summit E16 Flip balances CPU and GPU performance very well.

The Summit E16 Flip performed well in Geekbench 5 and beat the Specter x360 15 in both the single and multi-core tests, but lost in the multi-core test against the blazingly fast AMD Ryzen 7 CPU in the Envy x360 15. In our Handbrake test, which converts a 420MB video to H.265, the MSI couldn't compete with any of our comparison devices except for the LG Gram 16, which uses a slower Core i7, but it wasn't much slower than the Specter x360 15. The same applies to Cinebench R23, another CPU-intensive benchmark. The Summit E16 Flip scores exceptionally well in the PCMark Complete test, and its values ​​for essentials, productivity and content creation are also good for the CPU class.

One surprising result was Pugetbench, which uses Adobe Premiere Pro to handle a number of demanding video editing tasks and can use both the CPU and GPU to speed up performance. Here the Summit E16 Flip achieved an excellent score of 552, which was significantly higher than all the others except for the Dell XPS 15 (which beat it) and the MSI Creator Z16 (which dominated this benchmark). MSI coordinated the CPU and the GPU excellently to achieve a good performance in this practical test.

The Summit E16 Flip is not the fastest notebook in the 15- and 16-inch class, but it is fast enough for a convertible 2-in-1. It's faster overall than the HP Specter x360 15, and while the HP Specter x360 16 was announced with a 35-watt H-series CPU, the details are sparse – it could be another solid competitor, but we won't know until we i have compared it. Either way, the Summit E16 Flip is a 2-in-1 device that can handle your demanding productivity tasks, but not handle demanding creative workflows that are CPU intensive.

Laptop Underdog bench 5 Cinebench R23 Budget bank Handbrake
(Seconds)		 PCMark 10 3DMark time spy Fourteen days
(1080p epic)		 Civilization VI (1080p Ultra)
MSI Summit E16 Flip (Core i7-1195G7) 1607/6096 1589/5344 552 175 5681 4138 52 fps 62 fps
HP Specter x360 15 (Core i7-10750H) 1237/5013 1102/5492 339 160 4676 2325 54 fps 60 fps
HP Envy x360 15 (AMD Ryzen7 5700U) 1198/6790 1258/8131 185 116 5419 902 20 fps N / A
Dell XPS 15 OLED 2021 (Core i7-11800H) 1544/7692 1513/9979 509 101 6024 4540 50 fps 73 fps
MSI Creator Z16 (Core i7-11800H) 1540/7625 1444/9615 738 103 6486 6322 59 fps (1200p) 92 fps
LG gram 16 (Core i7-1165G7) 1573/5454 1394/4137 N / A 213 4827 1390 13 fps n / A

The Summit E16 Flip is equipped with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 GPU, an entry-level graphics chip. It does well in the 3DMark Time Spy test, not too far behind the RTX 3050 Ti in the Dell XPS 15 and well ahead of the GTX 1650 Ti in the HP Specter x360 15. When testing the performance in some popular games, I found the Summit E16 Flip at 1080p or 1200p and moderate graphics settings a competent performer.

Fortnite reached 52 frames per second (fps) at 1200p and epic settings, behind the Specter x360 15 but ahead of the XPS 15 and competitive with the MSI Creator Z16 (with an RTX 3060). In Civilization VI, the Summit E16 Flip hit 62 fps at 1080p and ultra graphics, slightly ahead of the Specter x360 15 and behind the XPS 15 and Creator Z16, but not by much. MSI's 2-in-1 hit 43 fps at 1200p and high graphics, way behind the XPS 15 and Creator Z16, and it dropped from there as the resolution and graphics settings went up.

In Battlefield V, the Summit E16 Flip finally ran at 49 fps at 1200p and medium graphics, again clearly behind the XPS 15 and the Creator Z16, but still playable. Even at 1600p and ultra graphics, the Summit E16 Flip achieved 30 fps.

As long as you agree to the graphic quality limitation, you can play modern titles at 1080p or 1200p. It's not a gaming laptop, but it's not a bad entry-level device.

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Close up on the MSI Summit E16 flip display.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

I criticized the Summit E13 Flip for its poor calibration, with colors and gamma that were far away. I noticed this when I was doing my tests and before I pulled out my colorimeter. With the display of the Summit E16 Flip, which looked very bright, with dynamic and natural colors and deep blacks, there were no such problems. And the large 16-inch display has the productivity-friendly 16:10 aspect ratio with a sufficiently sharp QHD + resolution (2,560 x 1,600). I really enjoyed using the display while doing my tests.

I was not wrong with my impressions. According to my colorimeter, MSI picked an excellent IPS panel for the Summit E16 Flip and calibrated it much better. First, it was very bright at 482 nits, well above our 300 nit threshold. The colors were much wider than the average premium display at 89% of AdobeRGB (most displays are around 72%) and 100% of sRGB (with 95% close to average).

I discovered by accident that the display supports a refresh rate of 120 Hz.

The colors were also accurate with a Delta E of 1.12 (1.0 or less is considered excellent). The contrast of 1,140: 1 was above our threshold of 1,000: 1. This is much better than the IPS display of the HP Envy x360 15 with 270 nits, 71% Adobe RGB and 95% sRGB with an accuracy of 1.06 (slightly better) and a contrast ratio of 900: 1. Of course, the HP Specter x360 15 with its OLED display had even wider colors at 99% AdobeRGB and 100% sRGB, with an accuracy of 1.21 and an ink-black contrast ratio of 426,180: 1.

In an interesting twist, I discovered quite by accident that the display supports 120 Hz, although this is nowhere mentioned in the literature I received with the test device. I tried running Assassin's Creed Valhalla which wouldn't run properly and in the settings I noticed that the game was set to the non-native 60Hz by default.

Lo and behold, I could switch to 120 Hz if I wanted to. I checked the display settings and there it was, set to 120 Hz by default. I didn't notice anything prior to this discovery, but when I switched back and forth between 60Hz and 120Hz I found that things went a little smoother. So that's another plus point for the display, which MSI should advertise more prominently.

Close-up of the webcam of the MSI Summit E16 Flip.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Overall, the Summit E16 Flip's display is great for productive work, with more than wide and accurate colors and contrasts that make black text stand out on a white background. It's also good enough for developers who might want a slightly larger AdobeRGB color space but could certainly get their job done with this 2-in-1. It's an excellent display that justifies the Summit E16 Flip's higher price tag.

The sound was surprisingly quiet, even at maximum volume. The mids and highs were clear and comfortable, and there was even a hint of bass, but it just wasn't a lot of volume. It's good audio for Netflix and the like, but you should do this in a quiet setting. Headphones are needed when you need to drown out background noise.

Keyboard and touchpad

MSI Summit E16 Flip Keyboard and Pen.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Like the smaller model, the Summit E16 Flip also has an excellent keyboard. It has a lot of space and large keycaps, even if you tuck in the small numeric keypad on the right. The switches offered a lot of spring travel with 1.5 mm, a light touch and a snappy mechanism. My only complaint was that the floor movement was a little softer than I like, but that's nits. I would rate this keyboard at the top of the list with the best, including versions of the HP Specter and Dell XPS lines.

But I have a bone to pick with MSI. There's plenty of room on the palm rest for a huge touchpad – that's one of the advantages of a taller display. And yet a tiny, wide-format touchpad is built in, which leaves almost an inch of free space at the top and bottom.

Dell used this space with the XPS 15 and equipped one of the largest touchpads that you will find on a Windows computer. The E16 flip touchpad is fine for what it is, with a smooth surface, reliable support for Windows multitouch gestures thanks to Microsoft Precision touchpad support and firm but quiet buttons. But it's so tiny.

Tablet mode and stylus on the MSI Summit E16 Flip.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

MSI contains its active pen in the box and can be magnetically attached to the housing or cover of the Summit E16 Flip. It supports 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity with tilt and is charged via USB-C. Although the 16-inch 2-in-1 is quite unwieldy in tablet mode when you place it on a surface and use it for drawing or taking notes, the pen works admirably. The touch display also responded.

A fingerprint reader provides Windows Hello support on the palm rest. As with most fingerprint readers today, it was quick and reliable. MSI has also implemented some options to turn off the webcam for privacy reasons. You can either press a key on the keyboard or flip a physical switch to electronically turn off the webcam so that hackers can no longer take advantage of it.

I prefer this to the physical sliders and those other manufacturers use. HP developed the concept with its Specter x360 13 and Specter x360 15, but has since moved to physical covers that are controlled by keyboard keys.

Battery life

MSI Summit E16 Flip sits on a table.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

MSI put 82 watt hours of battery into the case of the Summit E16 Flip, which is close to the 83 watt hours of the HP Specter x360 15 and significantly more than the 51 watt hours of the Envy x360 15. I didn't have spectacular battery life with a large, high-resolution display expected.

What I got was longevity that may or may not last a day's work depending on the workload. In our web browsing test, the Summit E16 Flip lasted eight hours, which is below the 10 hours we'd like to see in this test. While the Specter x360 15 only lasted 6.2 hours with its OLED display, the Envy x360 15 lasted a more impressive 11 hours. That puts the result of the Summit E16 Flip into perspective.

In our video test, which repeats a local Full HD Avengers trailer, the Summit E16 Flip achieved 10.75 hours, an OK result compared to the Specter x360 15 with just 6.5 hours and the Envy x360 15 with 13 , 65 hours.

The battery life of the MSI Summit E16 Flip is only mediocre.

I also ran the Summit E16 Flip through the PCMark 10 Applications battery test where it reached nearly 8.5 hours. Again, that's less than the 10 hours we saw in this benchmark, which best approximates battery life to productivity. The Specter x360 15 was significantly lower with 5.5 hours and the Envy x360 15 was again significantly stronger with 12.5 hours. The Summit E16 Flip lasted 2.25 hours in the PCMark 10 gaming battery test, which is roughly average. This test seems to measure how hard a laptop is working on battery life, rather than reflecting total battery life.

Overall, the battery life of the Summit E16 Flip is only mediocre. As I said earlier, it may or may not get you through a full day of work, and I suspect it won't if your workflow is above average. Take your charger with you when you're on the go.

Our opinion

The MSI Summit E16 Flip is a nice-looking and well-built 2-in-1 convertible with an outstanding 16-inch 16:10 display. It's big and inconvenient like a tablet, but that's to be expected with such a large display. It's an admirable work machine for productivity and can handle entry-level creative tasks too. The keyboard is very good, but the touchpad is way too small given the space available.

MSI made one of the better large format 2-in-1 convertibles you can buy. If you're looking for a flexible machine that can handle serious jobs, the Summit E16 Flip should be on your list.

Are there alternatives?

The Specter x360 15 is a solid alternative, although it is getting on in years. Its 45 watt CPU and separate GPU perform well, and the OLED display is excellent. You will also save some money.

The new Specter x360 16 is likely to be another good alternative, although its 35-watt CPU is unlikely to offer much better performance. But you have an OLED display option and a display that is just as big and expansive. However, we don't know much about the machine, including the price.

Finally, if you don't need a 2-in-1, the Dell XPS 15 is a solid choice. It has an even better build quality, an even better display, and its performance is better for developers. They pay similar prices for the same configurations.

How long it will take?

The Summit E16 Flip is solidly built and should be productive for years. Its components are modern and cutting edge, including the fastest WiFi you can get, and it should keep up with Windows 10 – and Windows 11 – for as long as you need it. The one-year warranty remains disappointing at this price.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. You'll love the looks and performance of the Summit E16 Flip – just be prepared to charge it.

Editor's recommendations



06 Nov
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TCL Roku TV Alto R1 Wireless Soundbar Review: It’s So Easy

TCL Roku TV Alto R1 wireless soundbar

TCL Roku TV Alto R1 Wireless Soundba

RRP $ 179.00

"Roku and TCL are teaming up to make the sound of your Roku TV a simple plug-and-play experience."

advantages

  • Easy setup with just one cable

  • No additional remote controls required

  • Good audio quality

  • The voice enhancement and volume control features are nice

disadvantage

  • No Dolby Atmos

  • Only works with Roku-enabled TVs

  • No audio input connectors

When building a home theater, one of the first things you can do after choosing a TV is adding a sound system. One of the easiest ways to do this is to buy one of the best sound bars out there. Let's face it, the built-in speakers in TVs won't fill the space and will help you immerse yourself in your favorite movies. Roku knows this and is committed to enhancing your audio experience while keeping setup simple. At CES 2021 in January, Roku announced a partnership with TCL to launch a wireless soundbar for Roku-enabled TVs.

The new Alt R1 is the result.

This new soundbar is designed to work seamlessly with Roku TVs and is virtually effortless to set up. Where more home theater sound systems as a bare minimum require connecting a cable to your TV – the only cable needed to set up the Alto R1 is the one that supplies power. Part of the special sauce that makes this minimalist approach possible is Roku's proprietary Wi-Fi audio streaming technology. What sounds good in theory, how does it look in reality? Follow me and I will answer exactly that question.

Can it really be that simple?

The back and connections of a TCL Roku TV Alto R1 Wireless Soundbar.Chris Wedel / Digital Trends

Unpacking the Alto R1 Soundbar only includes the 31.5-inch speaker, wall-mounting hardware, papers, and a power cord. No additional cables are included as none are required as the only connector on the soundbar is for the power cable.

My skepticism grew when I began to think that pairing the soundbar with the TV couldn't be that easy. So I turned on my 65-inch TCL Roku TV and plugged the Alto R1 into the wall socket. To pair the soundbar with the TV, press and hold the Home button on your Roku remote for 5 seconds, select Set Up Devices, then select Wireless Soundbar. After that, the TV and Alto R1 recognized each other and the soundbar processed an over-the-air software update.

Adding the soundbar to my Roku TV couldn't have been easier. There is no need to manage additional cables or remote controls. The TV will automatically know the Alto R1 is paired, and if the volume is adjusted using the Roku remote, the changes will be made through the soundbar rather than the built-in TV speakers. I use a Caavo Control Center to manage my home theater and after making a few adjustments, I controlled the volume for the newly paired soundbar.

Features and sound quality

TCL Roku TV with an Alto R1 wireless soundbar.Chris Wedel / Digital Trends

In use, the Alto R1 is just as straightforward as the setup. It's a two-channel, 120-watt soundbar that is entirely controlled by the Roku remote and your TV. However, that is not a problem. If you just want to enhance the sound of your Roku TV or use it to play music from your phone via bluetooth, this soundbar can do it for you.

While you won't find fancy features like Dolby Atmos and virtual surround sound in options like the Sonos Beam (Gen 2), The Alto R1 has a couple of tricks like the ability to bring the dialogue of everything you see more into focus and automatically lower the volume of the commercials. There is also a bass boost feature and volume control options within the sound settings that can be accessed by pressing the star button on the Roku remote.

In addition to the skepticism I had about the simplicity of setting up the Alto R1, there were doubts about the audio quality and how in sync it would be with the content on the screen. Since the soundbar is completely wirelessly connected to my TV, I expected a delay in what I saw on the screen and when I would hear it. To my delight, I didn't notice it in the least.

Roku remote control. Chris Wedel / Digital Trends

Roku uses Wi-Fi instead of Bluetooth to handle connectivity, which greatly reduces latency and increases information capacity. I've seen 4K HDR movies, live soccer matches, and regular TV programs, and it all worked wonderfully. Of course, even with bass boost enabled, the Alto R1 won't compete with a dedicated subwoofer setup, but it won't try either.

I have a relatively large rectangular living room, so it's difficult to fill it with balanced audio. The sound setup I usually use is a Vizio soundbar with two wireless satellite speakers and a wireless subwoofer – and it works. When I first started using the Alto R1, I lowered my expectations for a full-fledged audio experience. But surprisingly, the wireless soundbar did a good job.

The sound was crisp and the voice enhancement features did a good job. There was no difference between day and night, but there was enough improvement when it was on that I can safely say it was worth it. The soundbar is designed for TVs 43 inches and larger, and I think in most situations the Alto R1 will make most users pretty happy.

Our opinion

TCL Roku TV Alto R1 soundbar under a television on a media stand. Chris Wedel / Digital Trends

I'd love to say that the Alto R1 is a great choice for anyone who just wants better sound for their home theater and doesn't want to mess with a lot of setup – and I almost can. I almost say because it's only true if you have a Roku TV. Now, you don't have to have the absolute best Roku TV, but you do need a TV with a Roku built in. So if you're using one of the many great Roku streaming devices that you plug into your TV, you won't be able to use the Alto R1.

Roku and TCL had a clear focus on what the Alto R1 would be good at – straightforward set-up process and ease of use. For those two points, the two companies did a fantastic job with this product. Moving from out-of-the-box to using the soundboard couldn't be much easier. The Alto R1 does not advertise cutting edge features or even those that are becoming commonplace among other products such as Dolby Atmos and virtual surround sound. By including options like these, the other by-product would be an increase in cost, and at $ 180 it's hard to argue what the Alto R1 brings to the living room.

Is there a better alternative?

There are many soundbars out there that offer a full feature set, but are overpriced. However, if you're willing to pay a little more but don't want too much more, then the Yamaha YAS-209 tops our list of the best sound bars under $ 500 at around $ 350. This soundbar not only offers a wider soundstage with support for DTS Virtual: X, a virtual 3D surround sound profile, but also brings a quiet rumble to your favorite programs thanks to a separate subwoofer. It won't be quite as easy to set up as the Alto R1, and it will cost you a few dollars more, but the Yamaha YAS-209 offers a more immersive home theater audio experience.

How long it will take?

TCL and Roku have both been in the home audio and video scene for a while and bring that experience to the Alto R1 soundbar. Both companies have also done a great job supporting their respective products, and thanks to the Alto R1's Wi-Fi connectivity, the soundbar can receive OTA software updates to ensure it has a long life.

Should you buy it?

Yes, if you're someone who wants to be engulfed by what you see from every angle, this is not the soundbar for you. While the Alto R1 does a solid job of producing good audio with virtually zero latency, it's not a surround sound device. This is because it is limited to 2 channels and does not have the ability to replicate 360 ​​degree audio. However, if your goal is to improve the sound well beyond what your TV has built in, aren't spending a lot of money on it, and have a Roku-enabled TV, then the Alto R1 is worth considering.

Editor's recommendations



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