04 Jan
Blog

Garmin Vivomove Sport Review: Hidden Screen, Obvious Talents

Garmin Vivomove Sport real hands.

Garmin Vivomove Sport in the test: the fashionable smartwatch with a hidden display

RRP $ 179.00

"The fashionable Garmin Vivomove may have a hidden screen, but once you put it on, the watch's extensive technology and health tracking talents are evident."

benefits

  • Looks like a fashion watch

  • Screen completely hides when not in use

  • Gesture control is reliable

  • Comprehensive health and activity tracking

disadvantage

  • OLED screen has a low resolution

  • Battery life just average

Garmin's new Vivomove Sport for 2022 is literally a hybrid smartwatch as it has physical pointers that move around the watch face and a screen that stays completely hidden until needed. It's the opposite of the Fitbit Versa 3, which is its biggest competitor and will appeal to anyone who finds the Fitbit's boring design off-putting. The good news is that it's not just the design that I like about the Vivomove Sport, as I found out.

draft

The Garmin Vivomove Sport is very good at disguising its hybrid smartwatch status as the small OLED screen is completely hidden until needed. When I say whole, I mean it too. I challenge you to look at the photos with the screen off and tell me there is one at all. I really like this approach, especially as more and more hybrid smartwatches are increasingly integrating active e-ink screens, where the design is away from the "watch" and much closer to the "smartwatch".

Garmin Vivomove Sport screen.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Not like this here, and it looks great for that. The dial is simple, with Garmin branding stamped on it, six hour markers, and some redundant chronograph-style markings on the bezel. The surface has a subtle vinyl record finish that is barely noticeable if you don't look closely while the baton hands are silver. There is no second hand, no buttons on the case and no crown.

Garmin Vivomove Sport watch face close-up.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The case is made of fiber reinforced polymer (which Garmin has used on other models, including the Fenix ​​range) and has glass over the dial with a very slight curve around the edges. It feels smooth and warm, but it can get greasy. It's attached to a simple rubber strap, which on my test device is black, but you can also get the Vivomove Sport in Ivory, Cocoa or Cool Mint. The Vivomove Sport is very light and comfortable to wear at just 34 grams. I wore it 24 hours a day for five days with no irritation or overnight problems or even the need to adjust the strap because it got too hot or sweaty.

Garmin Vivomove Sport Screen.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

I like the design. It's very understated, but the simplicity means it goes with anything, especially black, and the 40mm case size is modest and fits most wrists. You won't make a statement with the Vivomove Sport, but because of the hidden screen you won't advertise wearing a smartwatch either. It just looks like a pretty ordinary fashion watch. This is exactly what a good hybrid smartwatch should be and ideal for anyone who doesn't like the sportiness of a fitness band or the geekiness of a full touchscreen but understands the need for a screen to increase its utility but doesn't want to see it all the time.

Screen and menu

Garmin's decision to hide the screen works from a design perspective, but what if it's on? It activates when you raise your wrist or double-tap the glass to view the time, battery status, and date information. You also tap the glass skillfully to operate the menu system, so Garmin can do without buttons on the case and it is an accurate and reliable system. Swipe the screen to view steps, heart rate, health data, and more. The pointers automatically rotate out of the way when you look at these screens.

Garmin Vivomove Sport step count.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Garmin Vivomove Sport Body Battery data.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Garmin Vivomove Sports Heart Rate.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Long press the screen to open the exercise menu, where you can quickly activate a walking, running, cycling, weight training, yoga, meditation or swimming session. Dig deeper and you'll find more detailed health functions like VO2 Max, blood oxygen and fitness age, as well as some settings for the watch. The on-screen options may seem small, but they're actually easy to find and press with your finger due to the accuracy of the watch's touch-sensitive glass.

Unfortunately, the OLED screen is bright, but not very high-resolution with only 72 x 154 pixels. The information displayed is noticeably blurry, almost like it's a little blurry or the glass is smeared, and it looks out of place next to the physical pointers and markers on the dial. It doesn't affect functionality or readability, but it's distracting and looks cheap.

Software and app

I used the watch with the Garmin Connect app connected to a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 before it was released, and it's compatible with iOS too. I didn't have any connection issues and syncing was flawless. It lacks some features like the Google Assistant or the Siri integration you'll find on competing models like the Fitbit Versa 3.

Garmin Vivomove Sport screen.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Garmin Vivomove sports cleats.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Garmin Vivomove Sport side profile.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Garmin Vivomove Sport.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Notifications are delivered reliably, but the screen is small. So don't expect anything other than basic information. Tap the incoming notification and you'll get more details, but it's of little use as a message spans multiple screens. The notifications work exactly the way you want them from a hybrid smartwatch: as a prompt to make a decision whether to pick up the phone or not.

By default, the vibrating alert isn't very strong, but exploring the settings menu can make it longer for the buzz, although battery life suffers. This is not the only customization option as many aspects of the watch can be changed from within the app, from the watch face to the exercise options displayed to gesture control options to the orientation of the hands.

The Garmin Connect app is colorful to look at and quick to use. It's packed with information and data, but I found it to be often tightly presented and awkward to find. A slide-in menu offers even more options, and navigating through it can be confusing and time-consuming. It's definitely for the data junkie, and I've rarely found anything that gives me advice on what to do with the data or how to make improvements. Instead, Garmin urges you to be motivated to participate in Community Challenges, either pre-generated or created with friends.

The Vivomove Sport may not be an expensive Garmin sports smartwatch, but with Connect it's definitely still comprehensive enough to be used by both casual coaches and serious athletes. There are features like adding details about your shoes and bike, saving routes you have run regularly and then navigating with Garmin's PacePro pacing system, as well as the ability to create custom workouts for the watch. All of your statistics, from sleep to stress to heart rate, are visible on individual screens with historical data for up to a year.

It's as complex as you want it to be, and if you only want to record a workout or two a week it's as ready to do so as it is all more strenuous.

Health tracking

I've followed workouts with the Vivomove Sport and the Apple Watch Series 7 together, and the Garmin returned significantly higher values ​​than the Apple Watch. The average heart rate during Vivomove Sport was about 10 beats per minute higher, which probably had an effect on calorie burning, which was usually 50 or 60 kcal higher as well. When comparing Garmin's sleep tracking with the Oura ring, neither of the two agreed on the timing of the sleep phases, but were almost identical for heart and respiratory rates.

Garmin Vivomove Sport training mode.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Garmin Vivomove Sport training mode.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Garmin Vivomove Sport GPS mode.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Neither of these are medical devices so results will always vary, but in my experience, the Apple Watch tends to match most other wearables in terms of activity tracking and heart rate. I am using the Garmin Vivomove Sport before its official announcement and with a special version of the Garmin Connect app, so adjustments to the watch's firmware and algorithms can be made after its release.

What else? There is menstrual cycle and pregnancy tracking, a way to manually log fluid intake, GPS tracking with your phone, various security features including emergency location sharing, and some mindfulness style relaxation features. Garmin's Body Battery is an unusual addition that might come in handy, but it's not implemented very well. It assesses your energy levels to understand if it is a good time to exercise or to make an effort in general. I didn't find it helpful in everyday life, mainly because you have to look for your battery level in the app. The Oura Ring has a similar Readiness Score, but it appears first thing in the morning on the app's home screen, making it more helpful for planning your day.

The Vivomove Sport covers my basic health needs very well, with a lot of leeway even for the more enthusiastic athlete

The touch-sensitive glass and the quick and easy activation of exercise tracking are welcome, as the process can often be a frustrating combination of keystrokes on hybrid smartwatches. Not so here, and by swiping the small screen, you can also see live heart rate and calorie consumption data. The Vivomove Sport covers my basic health monitoring needs very well and also offers plenty of leeway for the more enthusiastic exerciser, but the accuracy can benefit from some tweaks.

battery

Connected to an Android smartphone and with notifications as well as all-day heart rate monitoring, a few recorded training sessions and overnight sleep, the Garmin Vivomove Sport's battery lasted five days before it needed to be charged. You charge the battery with a proprietary cable included in the scope of delivery.

Charge the Garmin Vivomove Sport.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

I didn't turn on blood oxygen monitoring for sleep, which would likely further reduce usage time, but with these settings it is in line with Garmin's expectations for battery life. It's longer than a full-fledged smartwatch like the Apple Watch, but less than very energy-efficient smartwatches like the Huawei Watch GT 3. Five days of use is good, but given the Vivomove Sport's small screen, I would have liked to have had it longer.

Price and availability

The Vivomove Sport is priced at $ 179 and is available now from Garmin's online shop.

Our opinion

The subtle design that goes with everything and the real hands make the Garmin Vivomove Sport an excellent hybrid smartwatch for everyday use.

The precise gesture controls and the bright OLED screen make it quick and easy to use, it works with Android and iOS and the Garmin Connect app is full of data. On the less positive side, the five-day battery life is decent but not overwhelming, and the OLED screen's low resolution is distracting, but the area that is most worrying is the tracking accuracy. Discrepancies between the Vivomove Sport and other smartwatches indicate that there may be too many reports and an update is needed to optimize performance.

I've worn the Garmin Vivomove Sport for 10 frustration-free days at the time of writing. I only had to charge it once, it tracked my activity and sleep, reliably delivered notifications, looked great on my wrist and didn't get uncomfortable. Definitely recommended for the reasonable price of $ 179.

Is there a better alternative?

Garmin's Vivomove Sport's biggest competitor is the Fitbit Versa 3, valued at $ 230. Throughout my time, I've been reminded how convenient and easy the Versa 3 is to use, traits it shares with the Garmin watch. However, I prefer the design and the real hands of the Vivomove Sport by far, and it's significantly cheaper, but I think the Versa 3 is even more comfortable to wear 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If you want a hybrid smartwatch with real pointers on the dial, the best alternative is the $ 195 Skagens Jorn HR, which has an e-ink screen behind the pointers. It shows as much information as the Garmin Vivomove Sport, but is not as easy to use and has no touchscreen. However, it is more customizable, and the design and materials used make it more desirable.

For a hybrid watch with a digital screen, we recommend the Casio G-Shock GBD-200 for $ 149 or its surf-oriented brother, the $ 180 GBX-100NS. Both come with basic fitness tracking and notifications, as well as all of the durability you'd expect from the brand. If you're still considering a full smartwatch, here are the best models right now.

How long it will take?

The Vivomove Sport has a water resistance of 50 meters and is suitable for swimming, while the plastic housing should prove to be durable. Garmin is a well-established company so there shouldn't be a problem with the Connect app continuing to work for years to come.

The Vivomove Sport allows you to grow if your exercise routines or needs or interests change too, making it a safe buy even if you are just starting out with tracking and are unsure of what the future will bring. It's not a high fashion piece so it should look fresh in a couple of years, and the 20mm strap is on quick release pins so it can be easily replaced if it breaks. You get the Vivomove Sport for three or more years.

Should you buy it?

Yes. It's a great alternative to a Fitbit, with a more watch-like design and a reasonable price.

Editor's recommendations



19 Dec
Blog

Amazon Echo Show 15 Review: Large Screen, Larger Utility

The Echo Show 15 is the largest smart display to date.

Echo show 15

RRP $ 250.00

"The strong resemblance to a picture frame suggests the promise of the ideal smart home: a living space filled with normal, expected objects that serve more than one purpose."

benefits

  • Huge 15.6-inch screen

  • Widget functionality makes it easy to see tasks, smart home and more at a glance

  • Various orientation options

  • Visual ID exchange between users

disadvantage

  • Lack of customization and personalization options

  • Software crashes with no explanation

The original model of Amazon's Echo Show looked more like the dream CRTs of the late 90s than a smart display, but the product has improved over time and evolved into its latest iteration. The Echo Show 15, a wide, crystal clear display that looks like a digital picture frame. With a diagonal of 15 inches and a flat back, it looks perfectly mounted on a wall as a truly functional piece of art.

Its strong resemblance to a picture frame suggests the promise of the ideal smart home: a living space filled with normal, expected objects that serve more than one purpose. I've been using the Echo Show 15 for a little over a week and have leaned on it for a lot of different tasks – more than I've ever used a smart display in the past.

Enough screen space to see Casablanca properly

The obvious standout feature of the Echo Show 15 is its screen. It's really massive, which is a huge improvement over the five- and even eight-inch versions. With a diameter of 15.6 inches and a 1080p display, all content is clearly displayed. So it's no wonder that Amazon put a lot of work into the video options of the Echo Show 15.

The Echo Show 15 is a great device for watching content.

You can all watch Prime Video, Netflix, and Hulu on the device. You can also watch YouTube through the built-in Amazon Silk web browser. An on-screen keyboard makes it easy to search for content quickly; Of course, you can also simply ask Alexa to play the video you want.

With a screen this big, the Echo Show 15 seems like the perfect addition to an office, especially when it comes to video conferencing – other than it doesn't work with zoom. According to Amazon, zoom compatibility is coming in the next few months and will use the 5 megapixel camera in the upper right corner of the Echo Show 15.

The beauty of widgets

Aside from streaming all of your favorite shows, the other benefit of having such a big screen is the widget functionality. The Echo Show 15 introduces various widgets that provide at-a-glance access to your favorite Alexa features. You can access it by swiping down from the top of the screen and tapping "Widget Gallery" or simply asking Alexa to open the gallery.

There are several options to choose from:

  • Alexa suggestions
  • Calendar & reminders (daily and monthly)
  • Commute
  • Favorite photos
  • cards
  • Music and audio
  • Proposals for reorganization
  • Shopping List
  • Smart home favorites
  • Sticky notes
  • The daily show
  • To do list
  • weather
  • What to eat
  • Your deliveries

I've spent so much time with the Echo Show 15 thanks to these widgets. You can divide the screen for your widgets into different segments. At first I thought I'd use the Echo Show 15 in the kitchen to work through recipes, but it has found a home in my office (at least for now) as I'm planning for CES 2022.

With the ability to link my Google calendar with Alexa, I can see all upcoming meetings at a glance. I also have my to-do list at a glance and the Smart Home widget allows me to control the devices in my office without saying a word. (Nothing can excite a tech company meeting like giving an Alexa command and triggering half a dozen different devices.)

The Echo Show 15 uses widgets to display information.

At the moment the widgets are exclusively from Amazon. However, the company has released an API that developers can use. Over time, widgets can follow Alexa skills and you have more to choose from than you could possibly dream of.

Over time, widgets can follow Alexa skills and you have more to choose from than you could possibly dream of.

Layout versatility

The Echo Show 15 can be mounted in a horizontal or vertical orientation, which makes it even more versatile than it already was. If you buy a third-party stand, you can even mount it on the countertop at an angle. The different configurations make the Echo Show 15 ideal for so many different tasks, whether in the kitchen or in the office.

It's definitely better for entertainment in the horizontal orientation, but the vertical layout is better for reading content.

Picture in picture

Another new feature that bends in everyday functionality is the picture-in-picture function. The best way to explain is to illustrate. If I have Hulu streaming on the Echo Show 15, I can ask Alexa to show one of my security cameras. It appears in the upper right part of the screen and lets me check things out in the house without losing sight of the big picture.

Visual ID

Visual ID is another new feature. It uses the Echo Show 15's camera to identify individual family members and change the display based on relevance to that person. I admittedly didn't take advantage of that – my wife and I see the same schedule, shopping list, and more. However, it could be useful for a household full of children.

Visual ID could be used to show individual to-do lists for each child in the house, and the calendar could change to show who has an upcoming game or project.

Privacy and security

Any device with built-in microphones and cameras will be the focus of the audit for privacy purposes. We have written extensively about the need for tighter security measures, especially physical privacy screens. The Echo Show 15 delivers that in spades.

The Echo Show 15 uses a physical privacy screen.

It includes a button to turn off the microphone, as well as a physical shutter that blocks your view of the lens. There are two buttons on the top of the Echo Show 15 (or on the side if you've oriented it vertically) that control the volume. In addition, everything else is voice or touch controlled.

As with other Alexa-enabled devices, you can delete your recordings. It's a good idea to keep track of what information your smart assistant knows about you, but the advantage of the Echo Show 15 is that you don't have to worry about it recording you – it can't see anything with the lens closed.

Setup and installation

Setting up the Echo Show 15 is a breeze. It's easy to plug the smart display into an electrical outlet, wait for it to turn on, and follow the on-screen instructions. Nothing more is needed. You will need your Wi-Fi password to log into your home network and then you will need to log into your Amazon account.

Have your phone ready to receive the password for two-factor authentication. If you didn't enable that, do it now. You control the Echo Show 15 via the Alexa app. Here you can change the display, images, and more.

Not that good

While I'm incredibly impressed with the Echo Show 15, there are a few areas that could be improved a bit. First, the software is a little sensitive. Trying to stream content from Netflix or Hulu often crashed an app, but only when I was using the touchscreen to access it. Asking Alexa to open the app or play a specific episode worked just fine every time. I hope this is just a minor issue that a patch can fix.

Another potential problem is weight. The Echo Show 15 isn't easy; in fact, it's just over 4 pounds. If you're lifting weights, it's not a big deal. For an intelligent display? I would be scared of the end result if it fell off the wall.

After all, the lack of customization is disappointing. The Echo Show 15 is so big and so colorful that users could easily turn it into their own personalized device. There's no real way to change the blue background, and the widget arrangement is limited. It feels like an area where Amazon could have enabled a lot more functionality (and maybe still can with operating system updates).

Our opinion

The Amazon Echo Show 15 is the largest and most impressive smart display I've ever used. It became my most-used smart display almost immediately. Just being able to stream all of my security cameras to a single location while keeping track of the weather and my upcoming events is amazing.

It's not perfect, but it's a huge leap in the right direction for smart displays. New smart displays require parity between equivalent models, but in some ways the Echo Show 15 has fewer specifications than the Echo Show 10.

Is there a better alternative?

Nothing fits the Echo Show 15 in terms of size. It's the biggest and worst on the market. At the same time, it only has a 5-megapixel camera versus the Echo Show 10's 13-megapixel camera – a smart display for the same price.

The difference? The Echo Show 10 is a device primarily for communication. It pans to chase you across a room. The Echo Show 15 is for entertainment. In that regard, this smart display is the very best.

How long it will take?

The Echo Show 15 has a robust construction that gives the impression of quality. That is, its weight works against it. Should it fall, its weight could cause more damage. If something happens, it's backed by a one-year limited warranty and service.

Should you buy it?

Yes. The Echo Show 15 is a great device with a lot of utility. It is the natural evolution of the Echo Show, and if you plan to use it for entertainment or special purposes, e.g. For example, to stay on your to-do list, you can't go wrong.

Editor's recommendations



27 Feb
Blog

Xiaomi Mi 11 Review: Beautiful Screen, Bad Battery

xiaomi mi 11 rating camera back hand

Xiaomi Mi 11 review: specs to challenge the Galaxy S21 but not the battery

"The screen, camera and performance of the Xiaomi Mi 11 are enviable, but the battery disappoints and the software has yet to be polished."

  • Stunning screen

  • Capable 108MP camera

  • Very fast wired and wireless charging

  • Bad battery life

  • Software has yet to be polished

  • Not widely available (yet)

If you've looked at the Samsung Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus and shrugged your shoulders without being impressed by the decent but not standout specs, the Xiaomi Mi 11 may be exactly what you're looking for. It has the specs and feature lists we've come to expect from Samsung's reasonably large flagship S-series phones, then charges less than the simplest Galaxy S21 to own the device.

Xiaomi has long excelled by delivering strong specifications on paper coupled with an affordable price, but then stumbled in terms of ease of use and polish. It has a great chance to impress with the Mi 11. Did it do that too?

design

With its metal frame, the curved Gorilla Glass Victus above the screen and Gorilla Glass 5 for the back, the Xiaomi Mi 11 is made of exactly the materials that we expect from a top smartphone today. The hue of the ice blue paint on the back of my Mi 11 changes slightly as it catches the light, it doesn't attract too many fingerprints and the overall footprint of the phone is manageable. At 196 grams, it's not too heavy either.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The camera module on the back is unusual, not only in its shape, but also because of the number of "steps" it takes. There are three different levels, all in different shapes and with different lenses and colors, so that they are immediately recognizable. It's kind of busy like the S21's lens assembly, but it's certainly not to be confused with any other camera array out there.

Maybe it's a good thing it looks different, as the Mi 11 doesn't push smartphone design in any other way. As expected, the curved panes of glass meet the metal case, there are speaker grilles at the top and bottom, no headphone jack and three buttons on the right side of the case. In your hand, it feels like the OnePlus 8, Galaxy S20 +, Oppo Find X2 Pro, and many other phones that have been released in recent years.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

A strange part of the design involves the bezels around the corners of the screen. The edges of the device appear to be at a slightly different angle than the edges of the screen. Once you notice this, it becomes frustratingly difficult not to see them. Even if the glass is curved on the sides, the screen does not extend far down. Some may see this as an advantage, but it also means that the black bezels are more noticeable than we'd like them to be.

Screen and audio

The Mi 11 has a 6.81-inch AMOLED screen with a resolution of 3,200 x 1,400 pixels, a refresh rate of 120 Hz, HDR10 + support and a maximum brightness of 1,500 nits. This goes beyond the specifications of the Galaxy S21 + and is the same as the Galaxy S21 Ultra. However, does it really matter that the FHD + screen performance of the Galaxy S21 + is indistinguishable from the WQHD + screen of the S20 +?

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

When I put the Mi 11 next to the S21 +, I really can't see any difference when playing high definition videos on YouTube – but that's not a bad thing as it looks amazing. This version of Iz * One's panoramic music video (below) looks sharp and stunning on both phones. It offers a multitude of colors and deep contrasts, perfect control during the sequences with flashing lights and fast movements as well as high brightness. Xiaomi adapts Samsung's screen performance to the Mi 11.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The excellent dual speaker system from Xiaomi with audio tuned by Harmon Kardon is clear and loud, with only minimal harshness at maximum volume. The speakers are too small for a lot of bass, but the Mi 11 has a deeper sound than the iPhone 12 Pro and sounds very similar to the Galaxy S21 + overall. It's also great to see AptX HD and AptX Adaptive on the list of Bluetooth features, which means the Mi 11 will stream the highest quality audio to compatible headphones. YouTube music sounded great when listening to the Vivo TWS Neo earbuds with AptX Adaptive, and there was little occasional lag while gaming.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

I couldn't find any downsides with the display itself, but was surprised that the 120Hz refresh rate had to be turned on instead of setting it by default. Some people may miss out because of this quirk. Otherwise, the Mi 11's audiovisual experience is superb and certainly on par with the very best phones you can buy today.

camera

The multilevel module on the back of the Mi 11 contains three cameras: a 108-megapixel main camera with a 1 / 1.33-inch sensor and optical image stabilization, a 13-megapixel wide-angle camera and a 5-megapixel macro camera. It doesn't have an optical zoom but has some unusual video camera features and it can also record 8K videos. The 20-megapixel selfie camera is located in a hole cutout on the screen.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The 108MP sensor seems to be the ISOCELL HM3 from Samsung, which can also be found in the Galaxy S21 Ultra. I enjoyed using the Mi 11 as I'm sure it will take good photos, but I missed an optical zoom feature and found there were more images to edit than on the Galaxy S21 Ultra. The white balance, for example, seems to be a weak point in the camera.

xiaomi mi 11 rating pond sign "aria-descriptionby =" gallery-7-2631160

xiaomi mi 11 review cropped character "aria-descriptionby =" gallery-7-2631171

  • 1.
    Mi 11 original
  • 2.
    Mi 11 cropped version

However, there is no denying how much detail the camera captures. In the photo of the pond above, there is a small sign on the wall in the center of the photo. Only when you zoom in to the right can you clearly read the message "Don't leave any trash, take it home". The same photo shows the beautiful tone of the Mi 11, which very effectively captures the colors at the end of winter.

The large sensor adds a deep, natural depth of field and is really more effective than the random portrait mode for adding bokeh to your photos. Dim light is good too. The early morning red sky photo still shows a decent level of detail, even though the 2x setting is a digital zoom. Some edge distortion is noticeable in wide-angle shots and the colors are a little muted.

The Mi 11's camera, whether it's still images or videos, is a great partner.

The auto focus makes the 5 megapixel macro camera more user-friendly than most, but it's still not quite as good as the Galaxy S21 Ultra's macro mode, which uses the wide-angle camera. It's problematic because it's a bit of a hit or a miss when it comes to whether it focuses on what you want. Tapping the screen helps, but the camera never seems to be happy with the distance from the subject. It therefore takes time to do everything “just right”. That's fine if your subject is stationary and you don't mind taking multiple photos, but not if it's moving. Either way, you will need patience and a blank gallery to get a usable photo or two.

Video and editing modes

The Mi 11 camera gimmick (and yes, they are gimmicks) is related to video. When you hit the Movie Effects setting, you'll get a selection of clever, but very niche video effects for you to try out. Magic Zoom creates your own dolly shot (like that famous shot by Jaws) while Time Freeze keeps your subject in the shot as the world continues to move around it, and Parallel World folds the scene on itself in an inception style .

Each works reasonably well and is due to Xiaomi's artificial intelligence (A.I.) and software efforts, but they can only be used in very specific situations. Magic Zoom works best when there is a large distance between you and your subject, so it needs to be quite large. Time Freeze needs people to work and they have to do something vaguely interesting to make it interesting. Movement restrictions that I live in mean these features are mostly unusable for the time being. But even when I see real people again, I can't see these features being used except out of curiosity.

Wed 11 edited sky photo Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The 8K video recording feature is available at 24 frames per second (fps) or 30 fps, resulting in massive file sizes (at least 500MB per minute) and content that you can only really enjoy on an 8K TV. There are plenty of other modes too, from a 15 second short video setting to a dual video mode that lets you record with both the front and rear cameras. There are a lot of things you can try out – just don't expect them to be features that you use every day.

Xiaomi's photo editing mode is similarly fun and once again shows its A.I. Skills. There is an effective editing feature that can be used to change the appearance of the sky, such as: B. a bokeh portrait mode for the sky, which is surprisingly good at completely changing the mood of a photo. The Mi 11's camera, whether it's still images or videos, is a great partner. The features can be playful, but there's plenty to do on occasion and the quality of the main camera is undeniable.

Software and performance

My test Mi 11 exaggerated Android 11 with MIUI 12 and installed the security patch from January 1, 2021. It's the best version of MIUI I've used, but that's not a clear recommendation – it just means it's not as fussy as older versions. On the positive side, it's very pretty and very fast, and for the most part, the settings menu is very well laid out. Every app I've downloaded has worked without any problems and isn't frustrating to operate.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

However, there are some issues that you won't find with the S21 + or iPhone. The keyboard is at the very bottom of the phone, which can be a hassle to use. Notifications do well in the notification shadow and you can interact with them there, but I didn't always get them all and sometimes the phone would deliver a multitude of notifications together when I unlocked them for some other reason. There is also no "jump" to the notification shadow. So if you swipe the screen to reveal hidden messages, the shadows will simply close and you will be returned to the home screen.

I like the different options that always appear on the screen, the numerous customization options for the display, and the dark mode. Oddly enough, dark mode also adds darkness to the wallpaper, but this can be turned off by digging into the settings. This is probably the biggest problem with MIUI. The endless customization means investing time getting it just right and sometimes not knowing why something looks or works like this.

xiaomi mi 11 review notifications "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn2.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/xiaomi-mi-11-notifications-640x640.jpg "srcset = "https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

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xiaomi mi 11 check camera modes "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn5.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/xiaomi-mi-11-camera-modes-640x640 .jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Finding the macro mode in the camera app is a good example of MIUI being crowded and chaotic. This is not a standard setting in the option list in the viewfinder, is not a "flower" symbol next to the wide-angle and zoom options, and is not hidden in the "More" menu. Instead, it's under another menu at the top of the screen that is far too easy to miss.

None of these things make MIUI particularly bad. They just mean that the Mi 11's software has a steep learning curve before it really feels at home, especially if you're coming from an operating system like iOS or Android on a Google Pixel phone.

The new Snapdragon 888 chip from Qualcomm supplies the Mi 11 with power. My trial version has 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, but a 256GB model with 12GB of RAM is also available. I can't understand why you need 12GB of RAM as I never thought the phone would be slow to respond. I've played Asphalt 9: Legends and it's fluid, very fast, and the screen looks wonderful. Due to its moderate weight, the Mi 11 is ideal for playing. There is also a game mode that can save notifications and mute calls.

Battery and security

Now we come to the biggest disappointment in the Mi 11 – the battery. The 4,600mAh cell may have the capacity to last a long time, and comes with wired and wireless fast charging, but doesn't have the guts to last longer than a full day (and even then, it's just that) when it does Fall is under heavy use.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

At the moment I mostly use Wi-Fi, and even then the Mi 11's battery life showed up. With some videos, some photos, a short gaming session, and normal use outside of those things, the battery dropped to 60% in the early afternoon. That's at least 20% less than most other phones, including the Galaxy S21 Ultra. Take it outside and connect to a cell signal and things are worse.

With moderate use, the battery drains at an alarming rate, and even in the middle of the day I wondered if I needed to charge it before going to bed. The cell is not small and the phone does not get hot, suggesting that it is a software optimization issue and future software updates may improve battery life. Fortunately, there is a wired 55 watt charger in the box, which promises a quick charging time of 45 minutes. If you have the Xiaomi 50W wireless charger, the charging time is still less than an hour. However, this is not included with the phone.

The biggest disappointment in the Mi 11 – the battery.

The security systems are better, but also not perfect. The built-in fingerprint sensor sometimes takes a few longer hits than expected to unlock the phone. So if you lift your finger too quickly, it won't open. It's frustrating that this isn't always the case. Hence, it is difficult to adjust your usage to compensate for this. However, the face unlock is very quick, so you may not be using the fingerprint sensor at all.

Price and availability

Choosing the Mi 11 over the Galaxy S21 or S21 + is one thing, but getting your hands on a Mi 11 is another. Xiaomi does not officially sell its smartphones in the US, so you will have to import one. Likewise, the phone has not yet been confirmed for launch in the UK, but we expect it to be available soon as it is available in parts of Europe. It starts at 749 euros, which converts to about 900 US dollars or 650 British pounds.

Our opinion

The Mi 11 is a really powerful device with a fantastic screen, a powerful 108 megapixel camera, and lots of the right features and specs for a very reasonable price. However, all of this doesn't quite make up for disappointing battery life and MIUI issues related to notifications and menu clutter. Xiaomi's hardware is excellent as always, but also, as we see too often, the software – although improved – can't compete with competing phones from Samsung, Apple and OnePlus.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes. If you don't want to spend $ 1,000 on the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra or the iPhone 12 Pro – our top two picks – and want something around $ 700, then the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is just like the Google Pixel 5 a good buy If the Xiaomi Mi 11 launches in the UK in the near future, it will be a great alternative to the OnePlus 8 Pro which, while excellent, does not have the latest Qualcomm chip. The camera is also not as powerful as that of the Mi 11.

How long it will take?

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor is up to date and has more than enough features to keep the phone fresh for two or three years. Xiaomi's MIUI software updates are more frequent than the Android version updates. While the latest software is now running, it won't when Android 12 releases later this year and it may take a while for the update to be available.

Unfortunately, the Mi 11 is not waterproof and the glass body is not particularly resistant to damage if the phone is dropped. A case would be a very good idea if you want the phone to last a long time. The Xiaomi Mi 11 has 5G connectivity provided you have coverage near you.

Should you buy it?

No. It's a capable phone with a lot of good points, but the battery life is disappointing and the additional camera features – while technically impressive – don't keep enough long-term interest. Also, you need to import it to the US and there is no final UK release date yet.

Editor's recommendations




03 Oct
Blog

The Best iPad (2020) Screen Protectors

The eighth generation iPad (2020) has landed, offering a great Apple tablet experience at a low price. It offers possibly the best software that you can find on any tablet manufacturer, while the long-lasting battery and huge ecosystem of useful apps are sure to please the vast majority of users. It also has a very clear and colorful 10.2-inch display that is satisfactorily rich and vibrant, although not quite as sharp as the screen you find on an iPad Pro. However, like any other touchscreen, if you accidentally drop or hit it, it can crack.

Fortunately, we've rounded up the top five iPad (2020) screen protectors you can buy right now. This maintains the iPad's pretty display in one piece, and maintains the responsiveness and level of detail of the screen.

JETech glass screen protectors

JETech screen protector for iPad 8 (2020)

The JETech Screen Protector for iPad (2020) is sold in a pack of 2 and offers all the technical data you need from a protector. It's made of glass with a hardness of 9H, which means it can withstand most scratches without showing a single blemish. The hardened glass is also very thin at only 0.33 m, which enables 100% transparency and a high degree of responsiveness. The protector is also fingerprint and dust proof, while it's designed for easy, bubble-free installation as it also comes with a stylet. Highly recommended.

Apiker glass screen protectors

Apiker screen protector for 10.2-inch 8th generation iPad (2020)

The Apiker Screen Protector is another easy-to-use and extremely reliable protection for the iPad (2020). It has a hardness of 9H and offers your iPad the greatest possible resistance to scratches and cracks that is possible with tempered glass. It's also extremely thin, and 0.3mm thick ensures that it doesn't affect the functionality of the touchscreen or interfere with the use of the Apple Pencil (if any). This also gives it 99% HD clarity and 99% transparency, while the hydrophobic coating protects your iPad from water and fingerprints. It comes with an alignment frame to make it easy for you to use it properly.

Supershieldz Film screen protectors

Supershieldz screen protector for Apple iPad 10.2 inch (2020: 2019, 8th: 7th generation)

Here is a screen protector for the iPad (2020) that comes in a high quality three-pack. It's not quite as heavy as other protectors on this list as it is made from PET film rather than tempered glass. However, it still protects the iPad from the vast majority of the abuse you are likely to throw at it. The fact that it's made of plastic rather than glass also means it's more transparent and delicate than other protectors, so you can keep using your iPad as if it wasn't even there. Be warned, however, that some buyers have warned of the difficulty of applying this protection (at least when compared to other products) as using PET film increases the chances of bubbles if you don't install it carefully enough.

Omoton glass screen protectors

Omoton screen protector for iPad 8 .: 7th generation (10.2 inch, iPad 2020: 2019)

Omoton's screen protector for the iPad (2020) is the thinnest protector on this list that is made of glass. At just 0.26mm thick, it offers as good as the greatest possible transparency and responsiveness you can expect from a glass protector, ensuring full compatibility with the Apple Pencil. In addition, it protects your iPad from everyday damage with a hardness of 9H. Unlike some protectors, there is no hole for the selfie camera, which is supposed to help protect the camera from dust and dirt. It also has a hydrophobic and oleophobic coating, which makes it resistant to water and fingerprint stains. Anyone concerned about the installation is designed to be bubble free. The slightly rounded edges make it easier to hold when applying to the iPad. Comes in a pack of two.

ZoneFoker glass screen protectors

ZoneFoker 8th Generation iPad Screen Protector (10.2 Inch, 2020)

This list is rounded off by ZoneFoker with an iPad (2020) screen protector. It is sold in packs of 2 and is another piece of tempered glass that has a hardness of 9H so it can withstand scratches from hard objects such as keys and knives. It also offers a transparency of 99.99%, ensuring that the iPad screen does not lose its gloss or color. ZoneFoker also claims that it is smoother than other protectors. Another nice feature is that it allows for repeated installations. So if you have a blister the first time you applied the protector, you can remove it and try again. Like other protectors on this list, it's also hydrophobic and oleophobic. Highly recommended and also well rated online.

Editor's recommendations




01 Oct
Blog

New Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro has a 108MP Camera and 144Hz Screen

Xiaomi does not let Samsung, OnePlus and Google steal the inexpensive, exciting smartphone fun and has launched the Mi 10T Pro. It starts at 599 euros or around 700 US dollars, putting it in direct competition with the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE and the OnePlus 8 (soon to be the 8T), plus roughly the same price as we expect for the Pixel 5.

There are several standout features for the Mi 10T Pro to consider, starting with a 108 megapixel camera with optical image stabilization on the back. Xiaomi and Samsung worked together to develop the 108MP camera technology. Here are some new features that are supposed to get you off the Samsung version. This includes six long exposure modes, e.g. E.g. one in which a static subject can be isolated from a blurry, moving background, a burst mode that converts still images into video, and a selection of new filters.

The 108MP camera includes a 13MP wide-angle camera and a 5MP macro camera, as well as a 20MP selfie camera, which is located in a hole in the screen. What else can the camera do? It records 8K videos at 30 frames per second, simultaneously records videos with the front and rear cameras, and adds HDR to selfies. The design of the camera module is reminiscent of the Vivo X50 Pro and is located in a 9.18 mm thick, 218 gram housing made of metal and Gorilla Glass 5 and is available in black, silver or blue.

The 20: 9 aspect ratio screen measures 6.67 inches and has a refresh rate of 144 Hz with AdaptiveSync technology so that the refresh rate always matches the content on the screen. A Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor with 8 GB of RAM provides the power, and a massive 5,000 mAh battery provides the power. You have the choice between 128 GB or 256 GB of internal storage, two stereo speakers, a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, 5G connectivity, NFC, Wi-Fi 6 and 33 W fast charging.

xiaomi mi 10t per messages

xiaomi mi 10t per news lite

  • 1.
    Xiaomi Mi 10T
  • 2.
    Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite

Xiaomi has also announced two more phones in the Mi 10T family: The € 449 Mi 10T has the same processor, screen and 5,000 mAh battery as the Pro, but swaps the 108-megapixel camera for a 64-megapixel camera out. The 279 Euro / 326 Mi 10T Lite has a different design with a top-center-mounted camera module with a 64-megapixel main camera, an 8-megapixel wide-angle camera and a pair of 2-megapixel cameras for macro and depth. It uses the Snapdragon 750G processor and the 6.67-inch screen has a refresh rate of 120 Hz.

Details of the final release date are pending, however the phones are expected to be available in the UK and Europe, but not officially in the US, although it would be possible to import one.

Editor's recommendations




30 Jun
Blog

2020 Subaru Outback Touring XT Review: Big Screen

2020 Subaru Outback

2020 Subaru Outback Touring XT review: tons of technology

"The 2020 Subaru Outback is a robust, practical car that doesn't save on technology."

  • Powerful turbo engine

  • A large screen that justifies its size

  • Comfortable ride

  • Well-executed driver assistant technician

  • The price rises quickly with options

The Subaru Outback was developed under the motto "If you can't beat them, join them". In the 1990s, Subaru took one of its four-wheel suits and added some SUV-like styling details to create the outback. The model is still popular, even though other SUV cars have been pushed out of the market.

The outback remains a convincing SUV alternative, also thanks to a spacious loading space and all-wheel traction. The outback was revised for model year 2020 and expands the mix by more technology. The car is available with an 11.6-inch touchscreen and Subaru's DriverFocus system, which uses a driver-related camera to detect distractions.

Outback 2020 prices start at $ 27,655, but our test car was a Touring XT model priced at $ 40,705. It had every bell and whistle, including the large touchscreen, DriverFocus and a more powerful turbo engine.

Design and interior

The Subaru Outback 2020 is still essentially a car version of the Subaru Legacy sedan (which was also redesigned for the 2020 model year). The outback not only has a tailgate instead of a trunk, but also has plastic trim for an SUV-like look. The outback drives up a lot for a car too, so it feels more like an SUV. Its 8.7 inch ground clearance is actually more than a Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4.

The interior is typical Subaru, with a simple but reasonable layout.

Despite the redesign, it is difficult for you to distinguish the Outback 2020 from its predecessor. The new model is also quite large as the Outback 2019. It is a little wider and longer, but with the same wheelbase. The 2020 Outback runs under the skin on the Subaru Global Platform, on which most of the automaker's other models are based. Subaru claims that the 2020 Outback has 70% stiffer torsional stiffness than its predecessor, which helps improve handling and creates a more solid feel. According to Subaru, the new model can absorb more than 40% more energy even in front and side impacts.

2020 Subaru outback rearStephen Edelstein / Digital Trends

The interior is typical Subaru, with a simple but reasonable layout. Our touring test car was fully leather-cushioned, but the materials didn't feel worthy of the $ 40,000 price tag. Like many other car manufacturers, Subaru opted for a piano-black plastic panel that scratches and smears easily and, in our experience, creates a lot of glare on sunny days.

In terms of interior space, the outback is inexpensive compared to the compact crossovers that you can buy for similar money. It has more front legroom than a Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4, and with rear seats folded down, more cargo space than a Ford Escape. However, the outback follows Subaru's own forester, thanks to its larger, more box-shaped body.

Technology, infotainment and driver assistance

The big technical news for 2020 is an available 11.6 inch touchscreen in portrait format. The screen is standard in all outback trim levels, with the exception of the base model (which has a 7.0-inch touchscreen), while Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across the board.

Many automakers have large screens installed, but most don't seem to know what to do with all of these properties. Subaru did something smart and straightforward – it just enlarged the menu icons. You don't have to blink to see anything on this screen, and the large icons are easier to find while driving. Subaru also placed icons for climate control at the bottom of the screen – roughly where analog controls are usually – and included an analog volume control, which is still the best tool for this job.

2020 Subaru Outback interiorStephen Edelstein / Digital Trends

The 2020 Outback also gets Subaru's EyeSight Driver Assistant technology, which uses forward-facing cameras near the rearview mirror instead of the radar equipment used by most other automakers. Adaptive cruise control with lane centering is standard, while blind spot monitoring, lane change assistant and rear cross traffic alarm are optional extras. The Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4 are equipped with adaptive cruise control as standard. The Ford Escape costs extra, but the Ford system has a stop-and-go function.

Subaru did something smart and straightforward – it just enlarged the menu icons.

On the highway, adaptive cruise control was characterized by a constant pace, but reacted slowly when cars drove abruptly. In a straight line, the lane centering function did its job with the smoothest steering inputs, but had problems with even the slightest turns. These are issues that we have seen with most of the competitor systems, and overall performance has been good for a vehicle in this price range that lacks the more sophisticated sensor suites of high-end models.

Subaru is one of a few automakers (along with BMW and Cadillac) that use a driver-side camera to ensure that people don't use these technical features irresponsibly. The DriverFocus system, which was introduced in the Forester, sends audio and video warnings when the driver takes his eyes off the road. As with the Forester, we found DriverFocus to be fairly inconspicuous, with no false alarms.

Experience driving

Another big change for 2020 is under the hood. For the first time since 2009, the Outback is available with a four-cylinder engine with a turbocharger. As with all Subaru engines, a “boxer” configuration allows this engine to sit lower in the chassis, which helps improve driveability. Together with the Ascent, the turbo engine delivers 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. You have to pay extra for this force. Base Outbacks receive from the Forester a 2.5-liter boxer four-cylinder with naturally aspirated engine that delivers 182 hp and 176 lb-ft.

The base engine offers competitive numbers for this segment, but the optional turbo engine is the partback of the outback. Only the Jeep Cherokee, which is available with a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder with 270 hp, offers a similar combination of performance and utility in a vehicle of this size.

2020 Subaru Outback touchscreenStephen Edelstein / Digital Trends

Regardless of the engine, the outback receives a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and all-wheel drive. Like the Ascent and the Forester, the all-wheel drive system also has an “X-Mode”, which is designed for light off-roading. This doesn't turn the outback into a hardcore off-roader, but it comes in handy for unpaved roads and deep snow.

The optional turbo engine is the part of the outback.

On the road, the extra power of the turbo engine was a stroke of luck when other vehicles were overhauled. However, the engine and transmission did not always seem to be on the same side, which resulted in uneven power output, which we did not remember from the same combination when climbing higher. Although the outback was smaller and had a lower center of gravity, it did not have the cornering capabilities of the Ascent. The handling wasn't bad, but the outback's limits felt much lower than those of its big siblings.

Subaru also found a good balance between handling and driving quality. The outback felt almost luxurious and absorbed bumps without feeling floating and separate from the road. A comfortable ride is probably more important to the person buying this car than a few extra degrees of manageability. If you want a sporty Subaru, buy a WRX STI.

Fuel consumption and security

Our turbo test car has a combined output of 26 mpg (23 mpg city, 30 mpg highway). This is a significant improvement over the old six-cylinder outback, which could only produce 22 mpg together, and a little behind a turbocharged Honda CR-V (29 mpg combined) and a non-hybrid Toyota RAV4 (28 mpg combined). According to the car's on-board computer, we reached an average of 22 mpg over a week's drive.

The 2020 Outback received the highest Top Safety Pick + rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Subaru offers a three-year basic warranty of 36,000 miles and a five-year warranty of 60,000 miles for the powertrain. That's about the average of a mainstream brand, although Hyundai and Kia offer longer warranty periods. Subaru also has an excellent reputation for reliability.

How DT would configure this car

Our ideal outback would be equipped similarly to the car we tested. It may be a significant price increase, but if you want technology, the Touring equipment variant is the right one. The Touring is the only equipment variant that is equipped with the DriverFocus deflection function as standard. It also has an 11.6-inch touchscreen, leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats and an electric sunroof.

2020 Subaru Outback in frontStephen Edelstein / Digital Trends

We would shell out for the turbo engine too. Although we haven't had a chance to test the base machine, our experience in the Forester shows that this would be the wrong choice. The Forester felt sluggish with this engine and things are unlikely to change in the heavier outback.

Our opinion

The Subaru Outback is a familiar sight on roads in the northeast and northwest, but the latest version is aimed at a much broader appeal. The outback still offers great utility and all-wheel traction in a low-key package, but now with more technology and a better turbo engine.

For the last generation outback, buyers had chosen between an economical but underperforming four-cylinder engine and a powerful but thirsty six-cylinder. The Turbo Four of the 2020 Outback makes the difference and offers an urgently needed performance increase without destroying the mileage.

No one bought a 2019 outback for their infotainment system, but the 2020 model gets one of the largest screens in a mainstream car. Unlike its rivals Ford and Toyota, Subaru also used this large screen effectively. Subaru's EyeSight Driver Assistant technology is still among the best in this price range, and the DriverFocus feature ensures that it is not misused.

As the only car of a mainstream brand that is still on the market, the outback mainly competes against SUVs such as the Honda CR-V, the Toyota RAV4 and the Ford Escape. The Subaru is close to the competition in terms of interior space and fuel consumption, and shows how close they are to conventional cars. The outback also has a much stronger tech game thanks to its 11.6-inch touchscreen and EyeSight and DriverFocus driver aids. The 260-horsepower engine provides additional fun that most other small SUVs don't have.

Should you get one?

Yes. The outback offers an impressive combination of technology and utility.

Editor's recommendations




27 Mar
Blog

LG V60 ThinQ Dual Screen Review: Flagship Spec, Meh Features

lg-v60-thinq

LG V60 ThinQ 5G Dual Screen Test: Not quite a flagship

"The LG ThinQ V60 5G has a massive battery and a unique dual-screen case, but poor software and mediocre design hold it back."

  • Dual screen case can be useful

  • Excellent performance

  • Long battery life

  • Reasonable price

  • Frustrating software

  • Camera is far from the best

  • Slow fingerprint sensor

The LG V50 ThinQ brought a number of innovations to the company's smartphone line. It was the first LG phone to support standard 5G bands and the first LG phone to join the folding phone trend, albeit with an accessory that added a second display instead of a foldable OLED screen. Now LG wants to repeat the trick.

Just a problem. The phone on which it is built – the LG V50 ThinQ – was average at best.

That doesn't mean that the new LG V60 ThinQ is a bad phone. With a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor, 8 GB RAM and Android 10, the device has a lot to offer. However, given the price of $ 800 or $ 900 with the dual-screen accessory, it's hard for him to stand out from the many outstanding flagship phones you can buy today.

Design and ports

The LG V50 offered an iterative design update compared to the 2018 LG V40. So you would expect the newer LG V60 to modernize things a bit. Fortunately, it does.

While the V50 had a notch that was almost as big as that of the iPhone X, the V60 swapped things for a smaller semi-circular section. This makes the huge display look even bigger. While a hole cutout like the Samsung Galaxy S20 series would make the phone look even more modern, the small cutout of the V60 is acceptable.

Christian de Looper / Digital Trends

The phone has two design modes depending on whether you are using the dual screen case or not. Without the case, the phone looks and feels relatively slim, especially for a device of this size. The camera module on the back isn't flush like the V50, but it doesn't protrude as far as the latest iPhone, Pixel, and Galaxy models.

Below is a USB-C port and a headphone jack. The volume rocker and a special Google Assistant button are on the left. The power switch is on the right.

However, add the display case and it's a completely different ball game. The LG V60 is not small at first and the case is bulky. However, the advantage is the second display and the protection of your phone in the event of a fall.

The phone with a connected dual screen is actually thinner than "real" foldable phones like the Samsung Galaxy Fold. With the case, the LG V60 sits at 0.59 inches thick, while the Galaxy Fold has a bulky 0.66 inches thick when closed. This is surprising and a point for LG.

Placing the device in your pocket is easy. All you have to do is slide it in from the top and make sure the USB-C connector is inserted into the phone connector. You must then use the supplied magnetic USB-C adapter or wireless charging to charge the phone. On the front of the case you'll see a small monochrome display that shows information such as the time, battery life and notifications. It is a practical addition.

The LG V60 is available in two colors – Classy Blue and Classy White. They both look good, but I'm a fan of Classy White's slightly pearlescent look.

Display quality

While the LG V60 ThinQ 5G has an OLED display, the resolution is 1,080p – a step back from the 1,440p screen of the V50 ThinQ. Combine this with the fact that the refresh rate is only 60 Hz and you have a very mediocre viewing experience, at least compared to other modern flagships.

Christian de Looper / Digital Trends

Maybe mediocre is not the right word. The colors on the display were still bright and vivid, and thanks to the fact that it is an OLED display, the black levels were still deep and dark. We could see the display easily even in bright sunlight. It is an excellent representation in many ways. However, the competition has brought the display quality to a new level, so the LG V60 ThinQ feels left behind.

You will also see an optical fingerprint sensor on the display – another slight disappointment. Although the sensor was accurate, it reacted somewhat slowly. I can't help but assume that an ultrasonic sensor would have performed better. This phone has no face recognition. Therefore, a fast fingerprint sensor is important.

The dual screen case

The most interesting feature of the LG V60 ThinQ is of course the dual screen case. It's not a "real" foldable phone like the Galaxy Fold or Motorola Razr. While these phones offer a single foldable display, the dual screen accessory offers a second display of the same size and resolution.

Christian de Looper / Digital Trends

The dual screen can be useful, especially when multitasking and playing. With multitasking, the second display makes it easier to watch videos on one side and record them on the other. By using the LG Game Pad with compatible games, mobile gaming becomes even more intense.

On the other hand, the extra bulk is a serious problem. If you are used to a big phone and use your phone for high productivity, the case is absolutely worth the extra batter. But if you see it more as a gimmick, you can safely skip buying a game.

You can also turn the case on and off if you want. It is easy to add or remove the case. You can just keep it at home. Or you can leave it at home for everyday use, but bring it with you for trips of several days. This increases the versatility that a "real" folding phone cannot offer. You also have additional accessories that allow you to keep an overview.

performance

The LG V60 has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor as well as 8 GB RAM and 128 GB storage. There is also a microSD card reader so you can expand the built-in memory if necessary.

In daily use, the V60 ThinQ is relatively fast even with heavy multitasking. This is expected from a Snapdragon 865-equipped phone. It did well in benchmarks, although there aren't many Snapdragon 865 smartphones to compare with. Here are the benchmark results we've achieved.

  • Geekbench 5 CPU: 920 single-core, 3410 multi-core
  • AnTuTu 3DBench: 548.375
  • 3DMark Sling Shot Extreme Volcano: 6,542

The phone continued to perform well during mobile gaming. I played a few rounds of Fortnite and Asphalt 9 on the phone with good results. However, this is what I would expect from any flagship phone, so LG doesn't earn any bonus points here.

software

The LG V60 ThinQ 5G has Android 10 with the LG skin over it. At first glance, the software looks good. But the more I used it, the more bloatware I found, and much of it can't be easily removed.

Part of the bloatware is common for Android skins – like a gallery app when most people are likely to use Google Photos. Other unnecessary software is less common and includes preinstalled games like Modern Combat 5 and Sniper Fury, which are thankfully removed. Some apps are installed by the network operator. McAfee recommended by T-Mobile. It all adds up to too many apps and is frustrating. Even worse, many of the apps can only be "deactivated" so that they still take up space.

Christian de Looper / Digital Trends

Other aspects of the software could also use work. It has long been known that LG's skin apps are reordered, and that still happens here. After we decided to sort apps alphabetically, we installed some new apps – and they were placed at the bottom of the list instead of in alphabetical order. Also, the phone kept telling me to learn how to use gestures.

In a word, LG's software can be described as annoying. At a time when even Samsung is trying to downsize its Android skins, LG would do well to follow suit.

Photo and video quality

Christian de Looper / Digital Trends

LG updated the camera array for the V60. The end result is a triple lens system with a 64 megapixel 1: 1.8 main sensor, a 13 megapixel 1: 1.9 ultrawide lens and a 0.3 megapixel time-of-flight lens that captures depth information.

It is somewhat disappointing to see the lack of a telephoto lens. Most flagship phones offer this feature, and some, like Samsung's S20 range, offer zoom features that range from great to class-leading. In defense of LG, the fact that the main sensor has 64 megapixels allows the phone to take lossless pictures with 2x zoom. This is just as easy in the camera app as in phones with telephoto lenses. With the digital zoom, the phone can deliver photos with up to 10 times the resolution.

In general, photos taken in good light are detailed, but the camera struggled with low-light conditions, which will be disappointing in 2020 when iPhone 11 Pro and Pixel 4 are great for shooting in low-light conditions.

The most interesting thing about the camera of the V60 is the fact that thanks to the Snapdragon 865 chipset it can record 8K videos. However, this takes up space (362 MB per minute). Despite the high resolution, the video did not look as good as the one recorded on the iPhone thanks to the iPhone's improved stabilization and image processing.

The front-facing camera has a size of 10 megapixels and is fine for most applications. The camera struggled again in low light, and in portrait mode it had some problems with edge detection and hair. This is not a big disadvantage, but something to consider when other manufacturers put millions in their camera software.

Great battery life

The best thing about the LG V60 ThinQ is the battery. The device is powered by a huge 5,000 mAh battery. That's a lot of juice, even for a phone with a 1440p 120Hz display. When you consider that the display comes with 1080p and 60 Hz, the phone easily lasts a day of heavy use, with a solid 40 percent remaining.

As expected, the dual display accessories drained the battery considerably, and I found that the phone still contains a lot of petrol even after the second display has been used for a long time.

To really put the battery to the test, I set it up so that a 1080p video is continuously streamed over WiFi, with the display at full brightness. It took almost 13 hours. It is an excellent result.

Price, availability and warranty information

The LG V60 ThinQ costs $ 800 without the dual display accessory or $ 900 with the accessory. Unfortunately, at the time of this writing, it was only available from AT&T and T-Mobile, and there is still no word on an unlocked version of the phone.

The V60 comes with a one-year warranty. If you register the device with LG, you will receive a second year free of charge. The limited warranty covers manufacturer defects, so you are unlikely to discover them in the second year of use.

Our opinion

The LG V60 ThinQ is a solid phone that is disappointed by a frustrating software experience and so-so functions. From the camera quality to the design to the display, the LG V60 ThinQ stands short of its competition.

However, if you're just looking for a flagship phone and don't want to pay more than $ 1,000 for the Samsung Galaxy S20, consider the LG V60 ThinQ.

Are there alternatives?

If you want a Snapdragon 865-equipped phone in the price range below $ 800, this is the way to go – but only because it's the only option. If you can wait a bit, it is worth doing so as OnePlus 8 is likely to offer a better viewing and software experience and is likely to support 5G.

If you don't mind spending a little more money, consider the Samsung Galaxy S20, which offers a more modern design and better camera, but still supports 5G.

How long it will take?

If you choose the LG V60 ThinQ 5G, you should expect a lifespan of at least two years, which you can extend to three or four years. The device has a glass facade, so we recommend buying a housing. It also has an IP68 water resistance. Although we don't recommend letting it swim, it should survive accidental falls in the pool or bath.

LG doesn't have the best track record of software updates. Although the phone comes with Android 10, the latest version of Android, you shouldn't expect timely updates in the future. For this reason, the phone may lose relevance earlier than expected.

Should you buy one?

No. We only recommend buying this phone if you like the idea of ​​the dual display case. Otherwise, the features are not convincing enough to warrant the purchase of this device.

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