Gigabyte is adding a new case to its range with the Aorus C 700 Glass, which proves to be a large flagship model turns out. The striking design with the mainboard tray tilted back and numerous lighting elements is particularly striking.
Gigabyte manufactures the housing from steel, aluminum, plastic and glass. The mainboard tray, which is tilted back, not only shapes the look, but should also benefit the airflow. The complex lighting system can either be controlled and synchronized via RGB Fusion 2.0 or controlled directly via buttons in the lid. Other buttons allow you to control the fan speed. The I / O panel with USB 3.1 Gen-2 Type-C, four USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI port and the audio buttons are also located in the lid.
The 301 x 714 x 671 mm (W x H x D) large and over 19 kg heavy colossus should also with inner Convincing values. Gigabyte ensures that powerful and oversized high-end components can easily be accommodated. The maximum CPU cooler height is 19, 8 cm extremely lush, the same applies to the graphics card length of up to 49 cm. If you like, you can also align your graphics card vertically, but you need a riser cable for this. The mainboard may have a maximum of E-ATX format. From the factory, three 120 – mm front fans and two 120 -mm rear fan for cooling. These five fans are PWM models, the two rear fans are illuminated by A-RGB LEDs. An A-RGB and PWM hub is included. In addition, three 120 – or 140 – mm lid fans can be installed will. The front fan slots support alternatively 140 – mm fans, at the rear the two 120 mm fan can be replaced by a 140 mm fan. Water cooling users can have a maximum of one 360 – mm radiator behind the front and even one 420 under the lid -mm radiator installed. The Aorus C 700 Glass can offer four combined 2.5- and 3.5-inch drive slots and six pure 2.5-inch drive slots.
Gigabyte does not provide any information on the price of its new flagship case. The Aorus C 700 Glass has not yet been found in German retail either.
LG has released details on the Mini panel LED, which will consist of 30. 000 small LEDs, can offer 2. 500 areas of micro dimming and with a contrast that can reach the value of 1, 000, 000: 1
by Roberto Colombo published on 29 December 2020 , at 15: 21 in the Audio Video channel Quantum dot LG
Mini LED is Micro LED are preparing to be the trending topics of the CES 2021 as regards the TV area. The news is that LG will also focus on Mini-LED technology for its range of televisions 2021, throwing a blow to the competitor Samsung, also adding one layer of Quantum Dot to its panels. The new line of LG TVs will be characterized by the name QNED Mini LED
LG QNED Mini LED at CES 2021
At the moment there is only an anticipation launched via a press release, so there are few details, especially regarding the quantum dot layer that will be inserted between the Mini LED backlight and the LCD panel, on which we will also find a NanoCell layer.
LG has however released details on the Mini LED panel, which will consist of 30. 000 small LEDs , able to offer 2. 500 micro dimming zones and with a contrast that can reach the value of 1, 000, 000: 1 .
“ LG QNED Mini LED is the new LCD TV to beat “so the trademark is presented to CES 2021, with a line-up on the new technology that will affect both 4K and 8K TVs, pushing up to the top of the range LG QNED TV 8K by 86 inch .
The new series will not declare the end of the OLED, but it demonstrates how the new technologies knocking on the door promise to make great steps forward to TV, overcoming some of the limitations of the current proposals. Appointment set for 11 January 2021, when LG officially unveils all new products for next year.
vivo is expected to launch the X60 series today, but it’s also continuing work on its host of mid-rangers. The latest phone we hear of is called vivo Y31s 5G and appeared on China Telecom’s website with all its specs and photos. It is a more affordable version of the vivo Y52s 5G with downgrades in the chipset and main camera departments.
vivo Y31s listed at China Telecom
The vivo Y31s 5G has a Snapdragon 690 chipset and a single memory tier – 6/128 GB. The screen has a 6.58” diagonal and much like on the Y52s is of the LCD variety.
vivo Y31s 5G
The dual setup on the back sees the Y52’s 48MP sensor reaplaced with a more basic 13MP one, while a 2MP secondary snapper is mostly serving decorative purposes. At the front an 8MP camera is sitting inside a waterdrop notch.
The vivo Y31s 5G is powered by a 5,000 mAh battery with 18W fast charging over a USB-C port. It also sports a 3.5mm audio jack.
The phone is expected to start selling on December 31 at which point we’ll learn if the listed price of CNY1,798 (about $270) is real or just a placeholder.
The Chinese giant presented today in China its new top of the range. Many news and confirmations made official by Xiaomi. Everything you need to know about Xiaomi Mi 11 in the full article
by Lorenzo Tirotta published 28 December 2020 , at 18: 41 in the Telephony channel Xiaomi
The ‘presentation event of the Xiaomi Mi 11 , held in China today. The Chinese brand has formalized its high-end device, the only one in the series for now, confirming much of the information received in recent weeks from the numerous leaks leaked on the device but also offering unpublished information unveiled during the presentation. As we have widely anticipated, Xiaomi Mi 11 is the first official smartphone with the Snapdragon chipset on board 888 , offering a chance to see it in action early in the new year. Let’s find out the official features of the device between confirmations and news.
Design
Xiaomi Mi 11 does not change the design of its predecessors, but sports an innovative display with a quadruple curvature on the sides that brings the metal frame to a thickness of 1, 8 mm. There are two variants presented, the first with a back cover in glass while a second version Leather. The island that houses the cameras has three circular modules : the main one from 108 MP is the largest of the three, recognizable by a silver ring visible along the perimeter. The thickness of the edges of the screen is limited; at the top left there is the small hole that houses the selfie cam.
Technical characteristics
Xiaomi Mi 11 sports a display AMOLED with four curves from 6, 56 inches with resolution QHD + with a refresh rate up to 120 Hz . The maximum brightness reaches the high figure of 1. 500 Nit . A novelty revealed during the presentation is the protection Gorilla Glass Victus for the front.
The multimedia compartment consists of one triple cam on the back and a single selfie cam from 20 MP . The main is a 108 MP followed by an ultra wide angle from 13 MP from 123 ° and a module of 5MP reserved for macro shots . The smartphone records videos up to 8K resolution.
The flagship of Xiaomi Mi 11 remains its processor, the model Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 which will offer an unprecedented user experience in terms of speed and reliability. The smartphone has three memory combinations: 8 / 128 GB , 8 / 256 GB and 12 / 256 GB not expandable. The fingerprint sensor is mounted below the display.
The battery is from 4. 600 mAh and offers the possibility to upload to 55 W via cable, up to 50 W wirelessly and to 10 W with reverse charge. As we have recently seen in this article, Xiaomi has decided to follow in Apple’s footsteps, by removing the charger from the package for environmental reasons. The Chinese brand has stated that it will give the possibility to separately receive the charger from 55 W at the user’s discretion, who will decide whether to obtain it or renounce it if he already has others in possession.
Price and availability
Despite the presentation today, Xiaomi Mi 11 will be available starting from 2021 . The introductory price starts from CNY 3. 999 for version 8 / 128 GB , equal to approximately 500 EUR at the exchange rate. CNY 4. 299 ( 535 EUR) for version 8 / 256 GB and finally CNY 4699 ( 585 euro ) for the version 12 / 256 GB . The first flash sale was scheduled for January 1st 2021 but it remains to be seen which prices will actually be charged in the European regions and in Italy.
It is an open secret that the center screen that we can find in Tesla vehicles is little more than a computer from which we can carry out a multitude of tasks , and This time around, as we see on Twitter, it appears that Tesla is working with Apple to bring its music service to company vehicles.
For now the service does not work, because Tesla is still working on implementing it , but as we can see in the image of the audio sources, we see that sources like Tidal and Apple are present in the vehicle’s sound settings.
For now there is no official announcement l regarding when these services will arrive to Tesla cars, but as we read in the thread, the next service will be Tidal, a service much appreciated for the high quality that it is capable of provide , and knowing that Apple is already in the vehicle software, it shouldn’t take long for it to appear.
There have been some conversations recently pairing Apple with Tesla, so it is no wonder this audio source has finally appeared on company vehicles , something not to be confused with Apple CarPlay or similar functionalities.
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Jordi Bercial
Avid enthusiast of technology and electronics. I messed around with computer components almost since I learned to ride. I started working at Geeknetic after winning a contest on their forum for writing hardware articles. Drift, mechanics and photography lover. Don’t be shy and leave a comment on my articles if you have any questions.
The last time we built the RGBaby, a neat, tidy, and small RGB system that was easy to carry around, we used a Jonsbo A4 case. Now, Jonsbo has built another small chassis, this time the BO 100, as spotted by Hermitage Akihabara.
This case takes a different approach, instead placing a 4mm thick tempered glass window at the front with a nice aluminum enclosure around the system. It also has a leather carrying strap, making it look a bit like a high-tech handbag.
It’s only suited for use with Mini-ITX boards and dual-slot graphics cards. Due to the limited GPU length of 207mm, 140mm wide, and 48mm thick, you won’t get the biggest GPUs into here, and certainly not an RTX 3090 — you’ll need a short-format card for this case, but that’s a sacrifice you’re willing to make for an SFF system, right?
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(Image credit: Jonsplus)
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(Image credit: Jonsplus)
However, despite being placed close to the side, the GPU should get decent cooling due to the perforation in the side panel that supplies it with fresh air. The CPU can be well-off, too, with space for CPU coolers up to 158mm tall, or you can opt to install a 120mm AIO.
The entire internal chassis is made from steel and slides right out the back of the case. This should make assembly quite easy with open access from all sides.
Only SFX and SFX-L power supplies are supported, and the front I/O consists of USB Type-C, two USB 3.0 ports, and one audio/mic combo jack.
Jonsbo hasn’t announced pricing or availability yet.
For a long time, Qualcomm has been the most important player in the smartphone market, responsible for the diverse portfolio of Snapdragon processors. MediaTek chips were also quite popular, more than Samsung’s Exynos or HiSilicon’s Kirin, but due to changes in China and India, the manufacturer managed to gain the position of a global leader. Thus, Qualcomm fell to second place. However, the Counterpoint Research report takes into account a certain variable that may cause the Americans to regain their lost podium place very quickly. At stake is the growing importance of the 5G standard, which is appearing in a large number of new smartphones.
According to the latest report, MediaTek has become a global leader in the production of chips for smartphones. In Q3 2020 he won as much as 31 percent.
MediaTek Dimensity 700 officially – support for two SIM cards with 5G
Let’s start with the numbers, because they determine the division of the mobile chip market for smartphones . In the third quarter of the year, MediaTek became the segment leader with the result 31 percent. Qualcomm was immediately behind him with the result 29 percent. The next players were Samsung, Apple and HiSilion, who took equal 12 percent. market and Unisoc (4 percent). The success of MediaTek is justified by the increase in demand for reasonably priced Xiaomi products in India and China. The company used a peculiar “loophole” in the US ban on Huawei. Qualcomm, which gave way to the group’s position, may, however, quickly recover.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 678 – The manufacturer presents a new mobile platform for mid-priced smartphones
It turns out it is apparent that Qualcomm continues to occupy a key position in the sale of chips for smartphones that support the new 5G standard. As interest in these units grew in the fourth quarter of the year and I believe it will continue to climb, the company is likely to regain its “rightful place”. The importance of 5G networks is growing month by month, which is influenced by cloud services, which are not limited to streaming audio and video. Today we also use streaming for backups and games.
MORE FROM THIS BRAND RESUME The AE 520 is a nice, well-built, neutral and transparent sounding speaker. It continues to sound good and transparent, even when the volume is turned up. But even at a low volume the AE will sound 667 neutral and detailed. The AE 667 makes no special demands on the connected amplifier, but those who connect a high-quality amplifier will be positively surprised by these slim floor stands.
PLUS POINTS Sleek rectangular shape without decoration Heavy duty and solid housing Installation is easy No musical preference Detailed, neutral and transparent sound Can play loud and undistorted MINUSES Black high gloss version is sensitive to fingerprints The British loudspeaker manufacturer Acoustic Energy has its roots in the professional world. The very first product, the AE1, was intended for studio use, but soon found its way into consumers’ living rooms. Acoustic Energy claims that its professional orientation has always been central to its design philosophy. The professional DNA is in all models of Acoustic Energy. In our space is a pair of the floor standing model AE 520, the current flagship of the English manufacturer. Acoustic Energy promises a neutral, detailed and transparent sound. We will test that.
Acoustic Energy: British speaker builder
The UK-based speaker builder Acoustic Energy was founded by Phil Jones in West London on April 4 1994. The original name of the company was “Eldonfield Limited”. This name was changed on 28 June 1987 and then “Acoustic Energy” was officially born. Jones was involved in making music and building loudspeakers from an early age. Jones says he was not a bookworm, but he has read many books about designing and building loudspeakers. The first book was that of Gilbert Briggs, the founder of the British Wharfedale.
The very first A product designed and manufactured by Acoustic Energy (AE) was the AE1, a now legendary and world famous loudspeaker that was also very affordable. Advanced with a woofer with an aluminum cone, this relatively small two-way monitor speaker set a new tone in the industry’s standards of audio performance from a compact enclosure that remains the foundation of the design philosophy of Company. Originally the AE1 was aimed at the professional market, but soon the focus was successfully shifted towards consumers.
The company grew steadily and got in 1994 support from overseas OEM manufacturing partner. The financial and manufacturing strength offered supported AE’s ability to expand its global reach. To facilitate this growth, AE moved from London to larger premises in the historic Cotswold town of Cirencester, where the company still resides today. In the spring of 2017 AE took the opportunity to regain full British ownership.
The current trade name is “Acoustic Energy Loudspeakers Limited”. As music aficionados, the four directors, Mat Spandl, Neil Truckell, James Luce and Martin Harding have been involved with the company for over twenty years and collectively combine more than 100 years of experience and knowledge in the audio industry. Since Acoustic Energy was born over thirty years ago, the company has won many awards and accolades from the global hi-fi press.
Acoustic Energy: portfolio It started so all with the AE1, a passive two-way monitor loudspeaker. The AE1 is no longer for sale, at least not in passive form. Acoustic Energy does have an active version of the AE1 in its portfolio. Also read our Acoustic Energy’s Active AE1 review.
For the rest, the company only builds passive models, divided over three product lines. The 100-product line consists of five models. The 107 is the only monitor model and it is with a price of 125 euro each the cheapest loudspeaker from Acoustic Energy. The 107 is a center model, the 108 is an active subwoofer and the 109 and 120 are floor standing models. The 120 is a three-way speaker.
Above the 100 – Product line is the 300-product line and it consists of four models. The smallest is the 307, a monitor model. Then come center model 308 and subwoofer 308. The 309 is a floorstander and the latter was researched by this medium about a year ago. Also read our review about the AE 309 from Acoustic Energy.
Acoustic Energy’s flagship line is the 500-product line . It consists of monitor model 500 and floor uprights 509 and 520. The latter is the subject of research in this review and is the current top model from Acoustic Energy. The AE 520 is also the second three-way model in Acoustic Energy’s current portfolio. For an amount of 1. 995 euro each goes the AE 520 over the counter in a choice of black or white lacquered finish or in walnut veneer. The black version was used for the review. Incidentally, Acoustic Energy supplies a magnetically attached fabric cover to hide the drivers from view. This cover is black, regardless of the color of the case.
We take a look at the construction and technology of the AE 520 and then we will listen to music .
Acoustic Energy AE 520: Flagship Floor Stand A Closer Look The AE 520 is a tall, slim, three-way floorstanding loudspeaker with drivers fitted with a carbon fiber cone. In total no less than six drivers have been installed.
For frequencies above 2.8 kHz, a newly developed carbon fiber dome tweeter from 28 millimeter on top, which is equipped with an aluminum waveguide “ for optimal spread ”.
Above and below the tweeter are midrange drivers with a 125 millimeter carbon fiber cone. They cover the range of an unusually specific 500 Hz to 2.8 kHz. The tweeter is thus located between two equal midrange speakers. This configuration is called d’Appolito setup. By placing the tweeter halfway between the midrange, the mids and highs sensitive to human hearing are reproduced more homogeneously regardless of whether the listener is sitting or standing.
The bass are provided by another three 125 mm carbon fiber cone drivers, stacked in a column in the bottom half of the baffle.
The two mid-toners and three w oofers each have an oversized voice coil of 35 millimeters to ensure low thermal compression and very high motor power . The mid-range speakers each have their own sealed enclosure for acoustic isolation of the three woofers. The woofers are assisted by bass reflection, through a port on the back. The AE 667 cannot be placed very close to a wall behind it.
In each speaker are two circuit boards for the crossover, with the components for the low-frequency part on a separate board. This is to minimize crosstalk between components. The chokes are all air-core for low distortion. The AE 667 features a single speaker terminal. Bi-wiring or bi-amping is therefore not possible.
The rectangular housing is only 185 millimeter wide , but 1. 130 millimeter high and 320 millimeter deep (that is without spikes and feet included). Acoustic Energy has not applied any decorative elements. The black cabinets are hardly noticeable in dim light. The cabinets are very heavily constructed. Each speaker weighs 35 kilogram and is made of Acoustic Energy Resonance Suppression Composite (RSC) material. This material consists of a MDF outer wall with a thickness of nine millimeters and an MDF inner wall of six millimeters, both glued with a bitumen layer of three millimeters in between. The design would be acoustically inert. They stand on solid aluminum plates with spikes. The spikes are adjustable and the AE 667 can therefore be placed wobble-free. Acoustic Energy supplies underpads so that the tips of the spikes cannot damage the floor.
Acoustic Energy specifies the frequency response of 30 Hz to 28 kHz (± 6 dB). The specified sensitivity is 90 dB. The connected amplifier does not have to be a powerhouse. The maximum load capacity is a wide 307 Watts at a nominal impedance of 6 ohms. The maximum sound pressure is 113 dB.
Not everyone can (or will) a surround installation with eleven speakers and a handful of subwoofers. Are you doomed to go for a soundbar? Not necessary. There are also receivers such as the new Yamaha RX-V4A that offer film lovers and gamers an interesting alternative: true multi-speaker surround, but at a modest 5.1 scale and without the complexity of Atmos setups.
In 2020, not many new AV receivers have appeared. This is partly due to the corona situation, partly because manufacturers were waiting for the availability of chips with the latest HDMI video standard. They are now already reaching the consumer – and indeed, the RX-V4A is one of the first surround devices with HDMI 2.1, making it 8K 60 – and 4K / 120 – can process signals. Is that so important? Unless you’ve completely jumped on the latest generation of consoles and bought a high-end TV, that HDMI 2.1 tech isn’t all that relevant yet. It’s different for gamers. They are without a doubt one of the main target groups of this receiver, as it also has a number of features to work better with game consoles. That is of course not surprising, because just like movies, games rely heavily on surround sound to create atmosphere. The film lover who likes to have his Netflix binge watching session served compellingly will of course also find what he likes in the Yamaha RX-V4A. Just like the music lover, who will find the necessary streaming and multi-room options in the MusicCast streaming platform and AirPlay 2. Unique to Yamaha is MusicCast Surround. This allows you to wirelessly connect the rear speakers and subwoofer if desired. This makes the RX-V4A hardly more difficult to connect than a soundbar.
Fresh design The RX-V4A is one of Yamaha’s first AV receivers with a totally new design. The button-rich front of yesteryear is exchanged for a sleeker, more modern front where all the attention goes to a large volume knob in the middle. There is a smaller rotary knob with which you select inputs and a modest display with white letters, for the rest the RX-V4A presents itself very sober. Although the rounded sides and the attractive ventilation holes at the top and two sides also provide a sophisticated touch. What is not striking is that the front panel contains more buttons than first appears. These buttons seem very visible on photos, when the receiver is on the rack in our test room and we look at it from a distance, they are hardly noticeable. You can select things such as presets via these touch buttons. Speaking of remotely: from afar that shiny front appears to be made of dark glass, but this is a plastic.
Ready for the future Because the RX-V4A is a 5.1 receiver, you don’t have a lot of options in terms of speaker setups. That is different with machines that 9, 11 or more channels and designed for Dolby Atmos home theaters. However, this Yamaha is aimed at someone who wants a better surround experience, but who is not looking for the extremes either. The 5.1 input of the RX-V4A is perfect if you like to watch films and TV series via streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Video. These services do have content in Dolby Atmos (5.1.4, where that 4 stands for four extra height channels), but most videos come with a 5.1 surround track. Due to its focus on 5.1, connecting speakers to the RX-V4A is easy. There are few connections at the back and you can therefore do little wrong. At first sight, the speaker terminals only seem suitable for stripped wires, but if you remove the small caps, banana plugs will also fit.
To connect video sources, such as consoles and Blu-ray players, you have four HDMI inputs. There is exactly one HDMI output that you connect to your TV or projector. This is eARC compatible, which means that the sound from TV apps or a device directly connected to your television is delivered to the receiver in the highest quality. Do you have an older TV? Then the receiver will switch back to HDMI-ARC.
For connecting music sources there are three analog cinch pairs and two digital (1 x optical, 1 x coaxial). Yamaha keeps the back relatively sober, but for most this offer will suffice. The modest offer seems to us a strength in this case.
Surround without wires Yamaha offers an option on its newer receivers that makes it easier to install a real surround setup: MusicCast Surround. The wired rear speakers can be replaced with one or two MusicCast with this function 20 or 50 – speakers. If you wish, you can do the same with the subwoofer: instead of connecting a device with cable to the receiver, do the same with the MusicCast 100. Since it is best to place a subwoofer in the front of the room anyway, that wireless sub option may be less necessary. Cordless rear speakers are useful, because you can then replace the longest and usually difficult to hide speaker cables. We have not tested MusicCast Surround with this receiver, but we have tried it before with a previous generation Yamaha receiver. The function works well and delivers a decent result.
With a MusicCast Surround setup, there are two wireless speakers at the back of the room, while the three speakers at the screen (left-center-right) with the cable are connected. This is a reasonable compromise compared to a high-end soundbar with wireless rear speakers. By using three separate speakers at the front, the soundstage with the RX-V4A will usually be larger and more realistic; however, high-end soundbars (such as the Samsung HW-Q 950 will also are often Atmos-compatible and theoretically create a three-dimensional representation via additional overhead speakers. Although the performance of such speakers in sound bars is sometimes very disappointing, depending on the space in which they end up.
Ready for 8K Yamaha positions this receiver as the first of a new generation ready for the future. And indeed, eARC, among others, indicates that it is indeed a future-proof receiver. Thanks to eARC, you don’t have to panic if you have more video sources than the four you can hang on the receiver. You simply connect a fifth to the TV without compromising on audio quality.
In terms of functions, the look of the RX-V4A focused on the horizon. The HDMI 2.1 ports support many new features, for example, including HDR 11 + (a new Samsung HDR standard) and video signals at 4K / 120 and 8K / 60 (HDMI 2.0a is â ???? limitedâ ???? to 4K / 60 and 8K / 30). In addition, there is support for a range of video features intended for gamers, such as ALLM (which automatically switches the TV to the correct game mode) and VRR, QMS and QFT (all of which intervene on the refresh rate and frames to show smoother game images). Note that some of these functions will only come with a firmware update.
The Yamaha receiver also has the HDMI chipset, which seems to have problems with the combination Xbox Series X and a 4K / 120 – or 8K / 60 – video signal. The manufacturer says it will offer a solution for this. A temporary workaround is to connect the new Xbox console directly to your TV and send the sound to the receiver via eARC. With the new PlayStation 5 there is no problem with game forwarding in 4K / 120 or 8K / 60 . After all, Sony does not use the optional video compression that on the new Xbox causes outages.
Handy app to help you The RX-V4A’s TV interface remains quintessentially Yamaha: a bit more technical in appearance and bone-dry when on explanation arrives. Press the button â ???? Setupâ ???? and a menu slides over some of your screen content. This is sufficient on our large 65 inch TV , on a 40 – inch screen it will seem a bit small. You don’t have to descend the menus often to use this receiver, but whoever does it may need the manual initially. It is, in some ways, the flip side of the many options that Yamaha is happy to offer its customers. A plus is that Yamaha really gives you many options to personalize the device. Naming the HDMI inputs appropriately (such as â ???? Xboxâ ???? or â ???? Ziggoâ ????) for example, is very simple.
Positive is that the information-poor interface is supplemented by an app that helps you to set up and use the receiver. This AV Setup app is simple and straightforward, just what you need if you have little experience configuring an AV receiver â ???? perhaps the most complex audio device you can get at home. On the basis of questions you will be helped in very practical settings. You will see, among other things, how to connect the speakers and devices in your specific situation. There is even a checklist that tells you which cables you need. Good found.
Quick measurement  AV receivers can be very complex. If you get started with the many options that such a device offers, you can even quickly get lost at first. In particular the â ???? room correctionâ ???? can seem complicated on some devices, with measurements at various points in the room and target curves you can adjust. Some really like that and that tech path will take you to the very best surround experience too.
However, Yamaha is aiming with this receiver at film lovers who want the best possible result with minimal effort. To achieve this, the RX-V4A is equipped with YPAO, a system that very quickly identifies the acoustic problems in a room. And with â € œ fastâ € we mean exactly that: you take the hockey puck-shaped microphone out of the packaging, plug it in and confirm that you want to take the measurement. Just place the microphone on the back of the sofa … and then test tones sound for a minute to check that your speakers are correctly connected and what the room problems are. And then it is done. It is a big difference from the extensive measurements at Audyssey and Dirac. This is the simple form of YPAO, higher Yamaha receivers come with an advanced version where you can (optionally) measure several times and with extra functions, such as YPAO Volume (which flattens high and low peaks in a mix).
With this entry-level receiver, we really think it is an asset that setting the room correction is so effortless. YPAO does a lot to improve the surround sound (including by matching speakers to each other), which benefits the experience when watching movies and gaming.
Excellent for streaming Despite its relatively modest price tag, the RX-V4A has exactly the same streaming options as the more expensive Yamaha models. Thank you for not being punished for choosing to buy a cheaper model.
Almost all AV receivers from the Japanese brand are equipped with MusicCast, Yamaha’s proprietary streaming and multi-room platform. You control everything via the MusicCast app (iOS or Android), which is now completely on point and works very well. It is really a versatile app, in which you can also select the physical inputs in addition to streaming options elect and sound modes.
H and if you have other MusicCast devices in your home, you can control them all via this one app. This part of the app really looks good: each zone / room is represented by a large photo. You can use your own images here, which really gives the app a personal touch. Streaming audio from one MusicCast device to another is simple. For example, you can play the music you play on a MusicCast Vinyl 500 – turntable in the hobby room can also be heard via the RX-V4A receiver. There are dozens of MusicCast devices, ranging from Sonos-like wireless speakers to hi-fi devices (and even a piano). When building a multiroom system, you can choose from a lot of building blocks.
If you don’t feel like a new app, just use a other ways to stream. Spotify users have it easy: they just see the receiver pop up in the app of the music service. Tap and the music will play on the receiver. The RX-V4A does not have a Chromecast on board, but you can cast the audio from any app on an iPad or iPhone via Airplay 2. That works fine in our experience and is in lossless quality.
A final option is Bluetooth, with support for AAC. This is unusual with mainstream receivers, usually only the basic SBC codec is provided. We are also happy to see that the RX-V4A has a Bluetooth transmitter, not just a receiver. So you can connect wireless headphones when the rest of the family goes to sleep but still want to watch the movie.
Plenty of sound options Via the MusicCast app is the fastest way to discover the many DSP and sound options that are specific to Yamaha receivers. Most AV receivers are full of such options, but the Japanese company is still the main samurai in that area. In addition to typical sound modes such as “stereo”, “stereo over all channels” and â ???? surroundâ ???? (with various decoder and upmixing options) also quirky DSP choices like â ???? Dramaâ ????, â ???? Role-Playing Gameâ ???? and a number of simulations of well-known concert halls. To try to your own taste; we still tend to choose “Pure Direct” for films and TV series with a surround track. With musical content, the result is somewhat more changeable and depends on the content. Sometimes one of those DSP modes can really provide a more enjoyable listening experience. At other times it becomes very artificial. Whatever your preferences, the advantage with this device is that you can easily try out the different choices via the MusicCast app. And that’s the most important thing, we think.
As you dive into the sound settings, you discover even more options that you can use or not to adjust the sound. We find the Dialogue Level setting handy, with which you can bring dialogues more to the foreground in a film. You can also quickly turn the sub quieter or louder. That is handy if you decide to watch a Michael Bay movie and discover that the director has gone all out in the LFE channel again.
By the way, you can also do all of the above calls via the supplied remote. It’s not a super luxurious thing, but it is effective. There are quite a few buttons on it, but compared to the cabinets of some rivals â ???? Denon for example â ???? it’s not overwhelming. A number of settings are conveniently accessible immediately, such as that Pure Direct option. Also very practical: you can call up four scenes both via the app and via the remote. These are presets that you set and that, for example, take you immediately to the Blu-ray player and select the correct sound modes. It is worth setting the scenes, because after that it is very comfortable to work â ???? also for other family members who may not feel like a workshop â ???? how do I operate the AV receiver (and what is such a thing actually)? â ????.
Mando Approved The RX-V4X was set up just in time for the last two episodes of â ???? The Mandalorian S2â ???? (Disney +, Dolby Digital, via an Apple TV 4K). Especially in the exciting final to save baby Yoda from the clutches of the perfidious Moff Gideon, the Yamaha receiver got a chance to prove its worth. True to the Star Wars credo pioneered by Lucas and Williams, this series uses music by Ludwig Göransson almost continuously to get you in the right mood. The composer does work more subtly than with the big Star Wars films, for example by exchanging the large orchestral movements of Williams for soft pan flutes that are played playfully in the background by the Yamaha. The soundstage that the RX-V4A creates is spacious and well-defined, an important feature if you want to discover why surround is also worthwhile with subtle mixes. This is also the case with games. It’s not all about explosions and gunshots. With an accurate surround you can also access, say, â ???? CoD: Warzoneâ ???? pick up small audio cues that tell you something about the position and armament of your opponents.
Bombast can also handle the Yamaha. We remain in the Star Wars universe and switch to “Rise of Skywalker”, to the scene where the not-dead Emperor Kylo Ren seduces by him “everything” ??? ? to offer. In terms of adjustment, that single YPAO measurement has delivered an excellent result on our DALI Rubicon speakers. We are effectively in the middle of a sound bubble, and the emperor’s grave voice comes full and menacing from the center speaker. The Monitor Audio Silver W 11 – sub complements the rest of the speakers quite well, which is mainly a matter of good tuning by YPAO. (A sub is usually active and owns its own amplifier.) When the Emperor reveals that he has thousands of Star Destroyers in reserve and the many spacecraft come out of the ground, the spectacle enthusiast in us is spoiled with earth-shaking rumble and a menacing atmosphere. This is exactly what you are looking for if you go to the trouble of building a real surround setup.
Also later in the same movie, during the lightsaber fight between Kylo Ren and Rey, the Yamaha comes across as convincing. The pair fight on the debris of the Death Star, in the middle of a stormy sea, which creates a lot of sound effects that come at you from all sides. The Yamaha receiver manages that well. The main channels are well represented, so you get the screams and the swishing lightsaber sounds fine. The mood-building water sounds â ???? crashing waves, especially â ???? are transmitted sufficiently powerfully. A more expensive receiver may provide a bit more body and definition, but this is a good performance for this price segment.
In terms of power, the RX-V4A delivers enough to drive typical speakers at living room volumes. . It is of course a great contrast to the previous receiver, the Denon AVC-A 110 with 11 reinforced channels. But that device literally costs ten times more and is certainly intended for another target group.
Conclusion The reasonable price point of the Yamaha RX-V4A makes this receiver a real alternative to better sound bars. Sure, you still have to buy the necessary speakers, but if you choose well, you will end up with a price tag that is lower than a high-end soundbar, but you do enjoy a better surround experience with films, TV series and games. The option to work with wireless rears is particularly useful if you do not want to run cables through the living room.
The RX-V4A is a well-equipped machine that is very expensive for 500 euro (which is not much for a receiver) much offers. There are plenty of HDMI inputs, excellent streaming options and an easy-to-use room correction function that still works fine. For Dolby Atmos you have to go to a higher model, but those who are satisfied with a nice 5.1 setup to take their Netflix viewing experience to a higher level will be satisfied with this Yamaha.
Yamaha RX-V4A
â ?? ¬ 499 | yamaha.com
Rating 4.5 out of 5
by Mattia Speroni, published on 26 December 2020, at 08: 01
?? Adobe Premiere Pro yes updates and in the latest beta version supports the new Apple M1 processor (part of the Silicon family). This will promise not to have to use Rosetta 2 and the Intel version. But beware of bugs! ??
Immediately after the announcement of the new products of Apple that adopt architecture Silicon (we tried MacBook Air), Adobe confirmed that it would support the new M1 SoC with its main applications. After Photoshop and Lightroom it is now time for Adobe Premiere Pro that, in beta version, it is ready to be tried by users.
Adobe Premiere Pro in beta version supports Apple Silicon
One of the executives of the company stated in the post linked to the launch that “our team is working hard on a version of Premiere Pro that will run natively on the new Apple Silicon-based M1 processor. The first public beta is available today and we invite you Your feedback is welcome. We will update the beta frequently as new builds become available “.
As stated therefore, this is not a “finished” product and bugs to be fixed and new features are expected in the coming weeks. However, this is a start, thus allowing you not to have to use the Rosetta 2 simulation for the version designed for Intel.
Again according to what is reported, the first public beta of Adobe Premiere Pro has all the main editing functions for color, graphics and audio, Productions and multicam. The company decided to give users support for codecs such as H. 264, HEVC and ProRes right away. Given the large code and the complexity of the project, the news will come gradually.
After Effects and Media Encoder are not yet available for Apple Silicon (will arrive at a later time). This means that Rosetta 2 and the Intel version will need to be used when needed. Then there are a series of features that are not activated in the native version for Apple M1 while there are also some bugs, as visible in the link attached above. But the road is marked.
I think we all remember the sensation the fact that the Apple iPhone 7 smartphones debuted without the popular mini connector -jack 3.5 mm. Even to this day, a lot of high-end devices have this socket, but on the other hand, the increasing popularity of wireless headphones has meant that over time we have somehow coped with the lack of this connector in many flagships. This year, Apple went a step further and decided not to add a charger to the box – so the user has to take care of charging a discharged device himself. This controversial trend is starting to intensify. First, Samsung followed in the footsteps of the Americans, and now a similar decision has been announced by Chinese Xiaomi.
The statement reads that it is primarily about environmental protection. At the same time, the company realizes that this decision may not appeal to many customers. Well, at least the latter we can be in 100% sure …
Xiaomi Me 11 – new photos reveal the original design of the flagship
Xiaomi is famous for the fact that he likes to imitate other companies, so we are not surprised by the latest decision of this manufacturer. This information is already official, and it was shared by Lei Jun, the general manager of Xiaomi. At the same time, the company is aware that this provision may not appeal to many customers. On the one hand, a large group of customers already have a compatible charger at home, but on the other hand, the desire to use super-fast charging means an additional ( and probably a considerable) expense.
MIUI update 12. 5 will go to selected Xiaomi smartphones in December. We know the list of novelties in the Android overlay
In addition, Lei Jun revealed the design of the retail packaging for Mi 11, which – not surprisingly – is not only thinner than the boxes of other phones with an attached charger, but also reveals some interesting features of the upcoming flagship, such as the camera 108 Mpix, Super AMOLED HDR screen 10 + or audio tuning by Harman Kardon. The smartphone itself is to offer a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon processor 888, to 12 GB of RAM and – as you can see in the pictures that appear – quite original design. The premiere is to take place on 28 December.
With AMD’s new Zen 3-based Ryzen 5000 processors offering new levels of compute, gaming, and power efficiency performance to mainstream desktop users, it is a great time to be a Mini-ITX fan. In this review, we examine the ASUS ROG STRIX B550-I Gaming Mini-ITX motherboard and see how it handles the AMD Zen 3 flagship CPU.
Watch via our Vimeo channel (below) or over on YouTube at 2160p HERE
Video Timestamps:
00:00 Start
00:15 Introduction / the board
01:53 Rear mounted M.2 connector
03:05 Memory support / CPU socket
03:56 Top edge connectors
05:22 Right side of board / front panel connectors
05:57 PCI expansion slot area / M.2 daughterboard details
07:09 M.2 heatsink / right of M.2 connector
07:45 Front panel audio header / rear Type-C audio header
08:24 Rear I/O panel
09:34 Power delivery
10:57 VRM hardware components
14:17 Fan BIOS control
14:58 Test system / hardware
15:40 Test results
16:58 Thermal performance with M.2 SSDs
17:14 Audio test results
17:22 Manual overclocking and unusual sensor details
20:12 Overclocked results and power consumption
20:54 VRM and CPU temperatures
22:08 Luke’s closing thoughts – Pros and Cons
Coming in at around the £200 mark, this high-end B550 offering features an actively cooled 8+2 power stage design, dual M.2 sockets, plentiful quantities of 10Gbps USB on the rear and internally, and high-speed wired and wireless networking connectivity. ASUS also included a unique feature in its USB Type-C audio connector.
£200 is steep for a B550 motherboard, even in the typically more expensive Mini-ITX form factor. And with tough competition from the similarly priced ASRock B550 Phantom Gaming-ITX/AX motherboard in particular, can ASUS’ ROG STRIX B550-I Gaming prove its worth? Let’s take a look.
Features (information taken from the ASUS webpage):
AMD AM4 socket: Ready for Ryzen™ 5000 Series/ 4000 G-Series/ 3000 Series Desktop Processors
Best gaming connectivity: PCIe® 4.0-ready, dual M.2, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C® plus HDMI™ 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 output
Smooth networking: Onboard WiFi 6 (802.11ax) and Intel® 2.5 Gb Ethernet with ASUS LANGuard
Robust power solution: Teamed power stages with ProCool II power connector, high-quality alloy chokes and durable capacitors
Renowned software: Intuitive dashboards for UEFI BIOS and ASUS AI Networking make it easy to configure gaming builds
DIY-friendly design: Includes Q-connector, BIOS FlashBack™ and FlexKey
Unmatched personalization: ASUS-exclusive Aura Sync RGB lighting, including Aura RGB header and addressable Gen 2 RGB header
Industry-leading Gaming Audio: Audio USB Type-C®, AI Noise Canceling Microphone, SupremeFX S1220A codec, DTS® Sound Unbound™ and Sonic Studio III for immersive audio
The Asus RT-AX82U is a powerful mid-range gaming router, offering a myriad of features at a reasonable $229 price. It also proved stable throughout testing and offers the latest in Wi-Fi 6 technology.
For
Supports Wi-Fi 6
Programmable LED RGB lighting
Excellent range and throughput
Integrated security
Ease of setup
Granular control of QoS modes
Against
Only four Ethernet ports
Single USB port
No integrated WTFast
Dual-band only
Minimal effect with gaming port
Asus is well established in many aspects of the PC/gaming market, selling a wide range of motherboards, monitors, notebooks, network hardware and more. Today, we turn our attention to the company’s recent mid-range gaming router, the RT-AX82U. It brings Wi-Fi 6, easy setup and solid performance to the table, along with a typical stealthy exterior, complimented by some flashy RGB that both looks good, and is easy enough to turn off.
Design
Image 1 of 3
(Image credit: Asus)
Image 2 of 3
(Image credit: Asus)
Image 3 of 3
(Image credit: Asus)
At times, it can be hard to define precisely what a gaming router is, as opposed to the more mainstream siblings. The Asus RT-AX82U causes no such confusion, however, and ticks off all of the right design boxes. This starts with the four vertical antennas, and then moves on to the matte-black finish, with an angular body that strikes a successful balance between artful and aggressive. The dimensions are 10.8 x 7.3 x 6.5 inches (275.5 x 184.4 x 165 mm) with antenna, and it weighs in at 1.6 pounds (740 grams).
There are four status LEDs that provide connectivity information at a glance. These designate power, a WAN connection, and each of the two Wi-Fi frequencies.
Perhaps the signature feature for a gaming router has become the LED lighting. For those that seek out this feature, and want every accessory to have RGB lighting, the RT-AX82U delivers the goods with a choice of “Lighting vibe.” This includes several multi-color modes that have different lighting effects, which can be matched to different moods or applications.
The flip side of this is that not everyone wants such a colorful router, preferring their networking hardware to be more… unobtrusive. For those in the stealth router camp (for example for a bedroom deployment), one of the modes totally disables the light show.
Specifications
Processor
1.5 GHz tri-core processor
Memory
256 MB Flash, 512 MB RAM
Ports
RJ45 for 10/100/1000 BaseT for WAN x 1, RJ45 for 10/100/1000 BaseT for LAN x 4 USB 3.2 Gen 1 x 1
Encryption
WPA3-Personal, WPA2-Personal, WPA-Personal, WPA-Enterprise , WPA2-Enterprise , WPS support
Wi-Fi Technology
OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access)
Beamforming: standard-based and universal
1024-QAM high data rate, 20/40/80/160 MHz bandwidth
Dimensions
275.5 x 184.4 x 165 mm (WxDxH) with antenna
275.5 x 184.4 x 65 mm (WxDxH) without antenna
Weight
740 g
Price
$229.00
The Asus RT-AX82U sticks to its mid-range aspirations in the specs department. From the hardware perspective, it’s based on a 1.5 GHz tri-core processor, with 512 MB of RAM and 256 MB of flash storage. It runs Asus’ proprietary OS.
As usual, the rear of the router houses the connection ports. This includes a single WAN port and four LAN ports, one of which is designated as a dedicated Gaming Port. Each Ethernet port supports 10/100/1000 transfer rates, though hopefully no one is still using anything less than a gigabit device. The USB port is 3.2 Gen 1×1 (effectively rebranded 3.0), and there is also a power switch that’s useful for router reboots. Happily, we did not have any issues requiring a manual reboot during testing.
Wirelessly, the big news is that this router supports the latest generation of wireless connectivity, Wi-Fi 6, previously designated as 802.11ax, and has 160 Mbps channels. This translates into speeds up to 5400 Mbps, if you combine both the 2.4 GHz frequency that has a max speed of 574 Mbps, and the 5 GHz frequency that tops out at 4804 Mbps (dual-band). Modern wireless standards are supported, including OFDA, MU-MIMO, beamforming, and the latest security standard of WPA3-personal. The router is also fully backward compatible to 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) and 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4) devices.
Setup and Features
(Image credit: Asus)
Going from out of box to up and running (or more specifically, up and routing) took just a few minutes. As seen above, once plugged in, the router automatically goes into a setup process that prompts the user to go through the steps for a basic setup. This includes setting passwords for each of the Wi-Fi networks.
(Image credit: Asus)
As older firmwares often have security holes, we appreciate that Asus included a step in the setup process to upgrade the firmware to the latest version. This ensures that all the latest security updates are applied, along with bug fixes. For our testing, the RT-AX82U was running firmware version 3.0.0.4.384.9948.
(Image credit: Asus)
Once the initial setup is complete, we can get into optimizing the router for gaming. The router’s features are easily navigated via the left-hand panel. Under the setting “Adaptive QoS” we have a choice to enable QoS, which stands for Quality of Service. We went with the “Adaptive QoS,” which then allows us to choose a mode.
This allows the router to then analyze traffic as it passes through it, and categorize it. For example, if Games is selected, the router will then give gaming traffic priority, sending it ahead of other types of traffic. This traffic shaping allows users to make the most of their bandwidth, facilitating a good gaming experience while also simultaneously streaming video or audio content.
(Image credit: Asus)
There’s also a games section of the setup. This includes a Gear Accelerator that can prioritize gaming devices “For the best gaming experience.” A “Mobile Game Mode” is also available, but this requires downloading the Asus Router App to the mobile device. Finally, port forwarding is supported.
One minor downside is the lack of WTFast (a gaming private network service) integration, which some higher-end Asus routers have featured.
Security
The Asus RT-AX82U includes a number of security features. Network Protection with Trend Micro can provide antivirus on a network level, for no additional charge. Also, malicious sites are blocked at the router to keep the entire network secure.
Performance
When it comes to bandwidth, the Asus RT-AX82U performed quite well. We test routers both in a “near” location, at 8 feet away, and also at a “far” location, 36 feet away, on a higher floor, with ductwork in the way. The bandwidth test uses NetPerf software, with a Wi-Fi 6 client. For the latter, we have a laptop with an Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 160MHz wireless adapter, set to use the widest 160 MHz channel width on the 5 GHz frequency. (Note that Gamefirst VI software was disabled throughout testing, which can provide further client-side traffic shaping.)
2.4 GHz near
2.4 GHz far
5 GHz near
5 GHz far
Bandwidth (Mbps)
227.99
122.03
884.13
745.69
The Asus RT-AX82U delivers very solid speeds, particularly on the 5 GHz frequencies. Also impressive was the minimal dropoff in speeds on the far 5 GHz test. If you have devices that aren’t in close proximity to the router, like a TV or console, this looks like a good option.
Next, we looked at gaming performance. For this, we used an Asus ROG G512 Strix i7 RTX 2070 16GB/512GB gaming laptop. For internal control, we ran the same tests on both wired and wireless connections.
For the wired tests, the laptop was connected to the router via a CAT 5e cable. We ran tests both with the connection to an Ethernet port on the router and then also while connected to the dedicated Gaming Port.
(Image credit: Asus)
Wireless tests were done on the 5 GHz frequency (with a single 2.4 GHz test just out of curiosity to confirm our suspicions). We played the game Overwatch and measured the frames per second (fps) with the software FRAPS. While normally fps in a multiplayer game like Overwatch can vary quite a bit depending on where you are in a level and what’s happening with other players. To minimize this variance, we ran our tests in the training level, where we’re technically connected to the servers but there aren’t a bunch of other players running around, shooting at us.
What’s interesting about Overwatch and some other multiplayer games is that, contrary to what you might expect, frame rates actually are impacted by network latency and throughput. Basically, if your connection isn’t consistent, your system has to do additional work to interpolate position and resend packets. This shows up both as spikes in ping time as well as reduced fps, particularly minimum fps.
In order to simulate gaming on a congested network, such as your roommates watching Netflix while you try to game, we stream ten 8K videos simultaneously from YouTube. (In case you are wondering, an 8k video needs about 50 Mbps of bandwidth, and we have a 300 Mbps cable connection, so it effectively saturates the connection, and then some). We measure the congestion using PingPlotter and count the spikes, which indicate when the network is over-congested. Finally, the Stats for Nerds tool in YouTube gives us an indicator of the dropped frames — which translates to stuttering and hanging video streams.
QoS
Avg. FPS
Min. FPS
Avg. Latency
8K Dropped Frames
Pingplotter Spikes
Notes
Ethernet
No
109.3
97
64
n/a
0
Ethernet + 10 8k videos
No
112.2
85
262
16.80%
3
videos barely played
Ethernet + 10 8k videos
adaptive, game priority
120.0
400
252
34.00%
6
Ethernet, gaming port
No
111.6
96
63
n/a
0
Ethernet, gaming port, 10 8k videos
No
109.9
94
255
32.40%
3
Ethernet, gaming port, 10 8k videos
adaptive, game priority
115.0
98
250
5.00%
2
5 GHz
No
116.3
97
234
n/a
0
5 GHz + 10 8k videos
No
93.8
76
261
13.30%
3
5 GHz + 10 8k videos
adaptive, game priority
111.0
95
255
32.20%
3
2.4 GHz + 10 8k videos
adaptive, game priority
110.7
99
259
48.60%
7
For our baseline, with QoS disabled and no videos streaming, the fps in Overwatch is 109 on Ethernet, and 111 on the Gaming Port — a minimal difference between the two that translated through on the rest of the tests. Somewhat surprising is that fps improves slighting when we’re connected wirelessly on 5 GHz, checking in at 116 fps.
When we ramp up the network congestion and stream videos, the fps remains pretty consistent on Ethernet. It does take a modest hit to performance when connected via 5 GHz, dropping down to a still very playable 93.75 fps. Obviously, the game of choice and your specific hardware will impact performance as well.
With the addition of the QoS, set to gaming priority, in each case the fps increased compared to our baseline results. On the gaming port, we measured a 4.7% increase, while the regular Ethernet port showed a 9.7% improvement. Compared to the congested testing, the 5 GHz Wi-Fi also showed an 18.7% increase in fps, though performance was 4.6% slower than the uncongested network performance. Regardless, the results demonstrate the value of the QoS feature.
While gaming can be done on the 2.4 GHz frequency, take note that with this older technology, the 48.6% dropped frames result was the highest of any of the tests. In addition, we had the highest number of Pingplotter spikes on this frequency. Friends don’t let friends game on 2.4 GHz.
What’s interesting is that, even though ping latency is much higher, that doesn’t really correspond to the in-game latency. (Tracking actual game network latency is far more complex than what we’re doing with PingPlotter.) You can see that with QoS enabled, the average ping times drop slightly in the overloaded configuration. More importantly, actual gaming network traffic gets prioritized above the video streams, which means latency and performance are mostly back to where we started.
Pricing and Bottom Line
The Asus RT-AX82U sells for $229. This puts it solidly into the upper mid-range segment of gaming-focused routers, and it offers considerable value at this price point. We were impressed by the high fps scores, the option for gaming centric QoS settings, and the integrated security. Areas for improvement include the single USB port, the limited Ethernet ports, the minimal effect of the Gaming port, and the lack of WTFast on a gaming router.
Overall the Asus RT-AX82U offers a good combination of throughput and gaming performance, all in an attractive, reasonably compact package. We have several other gaming routers (and even non-gaming routers) that we’ll be testing, but we started with Asus as its routers have a good reputation. This is currently the one to beat, and we’re looking forward to seeing how the other routers stack up.
Do you want to have your cake and eat it? We wouldn’t argue with you. You can easily enjoy the best of both worlds, combining the old-school sound of vinyl with the crystal clear convenience of wireless digital music – and this complete music system does just that.
We’ve put together a system that does what every great hi-fi should: be more than the sum of its parts. Yes, all the components here are excellent in their own right but that does not automatically make for a great system. We’ve selected these products because we know they work well together, complementing each other’s strengths and ironing out what little weaknesses there might be.
Read on for why this turntable and streaming system, featuring products from Rega, Naim and Fyne Audio, works quite so well.
Here’s a brilliant turntable, tablet and wireless speaker system
Here’s an excellent hi-fi system combining vinyl and streaming
Enjoy CDs and streaming with this complete digital hi-fi system
The system
Turntable: Rega Planar 3/Elys 2 (£649, $945) Streaming system: Naim Uniti Atom (£2249, $3290) Speakers: Fyne Audio F501 (£1099) Phono stage: Rega Fono MM MK3 (£200)
Total: £4197
We can’t think of another product that has dominated its market sector with the authority of Rega’s Planar 3 turntables. The original was launched in the late 1970s, and since then subsequent iterations have invariably remained the obvious choice in the class.
Rega will supply the Planar 3 without a cartridge for £550, but our sample has the company’s long-running (and rather good) Elys 2 moving-magnet fitted. The cartridge works so well as part of the package that we would advise anyone to spend the extra. Either way, try to position the deck well away from the speakers.
See our complete list of the best turntables
(Image credit: Rega)
To our ears, this version of the Planar 3 sounds considerably cleaner and clearer than its talented predecessor. There’s greater transparency and more resolution of detail too. It also becomes clear that the engaging musical character of the last generation hasn’t been diluted at all; if anything this new version is even more fun, and it’s right at home with all types of music.
There’s scale here, and a surprising dose of authority. Large-scale dynamic shifts are delivered with enthusiasm while shifts of a more subtle variety are handled with finesse.
Tonally, things are nicely balanced. By the highest standards, the Elys 2 could do with a touch more refinement at the top end, but there’s little else at this price that does notably better.
Importantly, the cartridge – and the complete package for that matter – conveys the music with cohesion and sparkle. The Rega ties together the individual strands in such a way that the music makes total sense. The music’s message and its emotional content are communicated with utmost clarity.
(Image credit: NAIM)
And it feeds into the Naim Uniti Atom fairly simply, via the excellent Rega Fono MM MK3 phono stage, a capable-sounding Award-winner that boosts the signal from the record deck before feeding it into the Uniti Atom.
While the Uniti Atom is often described as a streamer, to do so is to do it something of a disservice. In effect it’s a system, to which you need attach only a suitably talented pair of speakers. And, in this case, a turntable.
The onboard amplifier is Class A/B, derived from the NAIT integrated amps. Naim says this presents a number of technical diffculties in terms of production and integration, especially in so small a unit, but its efforts are evident in the musical performance set loose.
As well as being able to play USB-stored music and pick up media elsewhere on your network, the Uniti Atom benefits from having Google Chromecast, Tidal, Spotify Connect and Internet radio built in, with further wireless connection available via AirPlay and Bluetooth aptX HD.
The most immediately noticeable upgrade from the Uniti Atom’s predecessor, the UnitiQute 2 is the level of clarity and insight. The UnitiQute is still an exceptional product that’s found a home on our personal hi-fi racks since we reviewed it two years ago – but the Atom is like opening a door and now listening to the music from inside the room.
From the opening brass parps of The Street’s It Was Supposed To Be So Easy to the hazy tremolo synthesizer hook of Blinded By The Light, via percussive snaps and Mike Skinner’s iconic conversational vocal, you can almost feel the textures through your fingers. And to say it sounds lean does not mean the Uniti Atom is lacking weight. It just doesn’t carry any fat.
(Image credit: Future)
Timing was a forte of the last generation of Naim’s all-in-ones, so we’re pleased to find none of it sacrificed this time around.
We make an attempt to wrong-foot the Uniti Atom with a grander arrangement, via Tidal, using Sergei Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No1 In F-Sharp Minor, but have no luck. The Naim is entirely unfazed by the scale of the recording, the speed or intensity at which the pianist’s fingers are working, or with organising an orchestra around him.
There probably aren’t two much more disparate pieces of music we could use for testing, but the Uniti Atom treats both with the same level of insight, regimental timing and contouring dynamics – and that’s true of everything else we play that stylistically falls in between. If you hear the Uniti Atom and fail to be excited at the prospect of ownership then, quite frankly, there’s little hope left for you.
(Image credit: Fyne Audio)
So, what speakers to pair with such a remarkable pair of sources? Fyne Audio’s F501 floorstanders are previous Award winners in their own right, and thrillingly accomplished for their price.
Compact yet substantial At 98cm tall, 20cm wide and 32cm deep, the F501s are of unremarkable dimensions for a product of this type, and in terms of build quality and finish, they’re exactly what a floorstander at this price needs to be – that’s to say they’re sturdily made, from the chunky locking spikes beneath the substantial plinth all the way along the gently curved MDF-beneath-real-wood-veneer cabinets.
After the usual leisurely running-in period, we get the F501s positioned just so in our listening room.
It’s safe to say the thoughtful Fyne approach makes the speakers pretty forgiving of room position, but we find the F501s to be happiest – like the majority of loudspeakers we listen to – out in some free space, and toed in just a fraction towards our listening position.
At this sort of money, loudspeakers need to be able to turn their hands to any type of music without alarms – but we have to start somewhere, so we give the F501s the chance to show off their chops with Diana Krall’s version of Almost Blue.
This is a high-gloss hi-fi recording, with painstakingly recorded piano and close mic’d vocal supported by stand-up bass, brushed drum kit and economical guitar – and the F501s absolutely lap it up.
But while they’re borderline-fanatical about laying out the last scrap of information, the F501s don’t sacrifice the coherence or unity of a performance in the process. Timing and integration are excellent, and the sympathetic responsiveness of the musicians is never understated or overlooked.
The speakers’ cleverly judged crossover points mean, from the bottom of the frequency range to the top, there’s no noticeable gear-change to the F501s’ delivery. This unified tonality, along with the sweet timing and transparency of their sound, makes the picture the Fyne Audios paint absolutely convincing. Which is just what it needs to be when it’s relaying the signal given by such stellar system-mates.
3 great turntable music systems
Here’s a superb-sounding hi-fi system with streaming skills
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold, the first folding-screen PC, shows a clever way of moving mobile computing forward and is built solid. But there are some kinks to work out in Windows 10 and other software.
For
Folding OLED display
Feels surprisingly durable
Luxury materials
No bloatware
Against
Starts at $2,499 without accessories
Subpar battery life
Some software bugs need to be ironed out
Intel’s Lakefield chips aren’t very powerful
For every innovation to happen, someone has to go first. The worry is how they stick the landing, as that often has implications for the perception of new technology for months or years.
Lenovo is the first to market with a foldable Windows 10 PC. The ThinkPad X1 Fold ($2,499.00 to start, $3,099.00 as tested) is a tablet. Or maybe a laptop? Maybe a book?
That price is eye-popping, which is often the case for first-generation technology. Lenovo has built this with an eye on durability, and added in some premium leather. It’s powered by Intel’s low-power Core i5 Lakefield processor, which enables the form factor.
But Windows 10 wasn’t made for foldables. Lenovo has done some nice work with its own software to soften that blow, but there’s still a bit to be done to make foldables like this take their place among the best Ultrabooks.
Design of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold
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Your first impression of the ThinkPad X1 Fold may be disbelief. The device ships flat, like a tablet. Then you can just fold it closed. Like a book. Open, close. Open, close. Yup, this laptop… tablet — whatever you want to call it — can fold.
This isn’t the first foldable device in the world, of course. Samsung, Huawei, and Lenovo’s own phone arm, Motorola have all released folding phones, which have been of varying (often disappointing) quality. But this? No, this feels solid.
When it’s closed, the ThinkPad X1 Fold looks like a fat notebook – but a premium one, like a Moleskine. It’s bound in black leather with the ThinkPad X1 logo stamped in the front. On the back, there’s a kickstand that folds out. There is a bit of a space between the screens, though if you use the optional physical keyboard (more on that below) then no space shows at all.
You open the device the same way you would open a book, and that’s when the 13.3-inch foldable touchscreen amazes, revealing itself without showing the crease. There is, however, a significant bezel hiding some of the components.
While you can’t see the crease while the display is on (it’s visible when off), you may feel it. All you need to use the screen is a light touch. But if you press a bit harder, you can feel some of the pieces under the OLED panel. But I opened and closed this plenty, and I really didn’t have any doubts about durability, as long as you don’t toss it around.
The bezel and the sides are made from plastic, but the X1 Fold doesn’t feel cheap. There are, however, only two ports: a pair of USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports. You can use either for charging, and depending on the way you use the device (more on that in the next graph), it’s possible the other port will be covered. The rest of the sides are populated by a power button, volume rocker and some speaker grilles.
There are a handful of different ways you could hold or use the device. The most obvious is using the Fold as a straightforward Windows 10 tablet. That works exactly how you would expect, and you can use it in landscape or portrait, with Windows rotating automatically.
You could also bend the X1 Fold part way and hold it like a book, perhaps if you have an e-reader program that supports two pages at once, or if you wanted to consult two documents at the same time. This was the posture I used the least while trying the Fold though; I was just more comfortable holding it like a tablet.
But you can also use it folded part of the way on its side, sort of like a laptop. The Windows 10 touch keyboard leaves a lot to be desired, but you can attach the Fold’s small Bluetooth keyboard to the half with magnets and use half of the 13.3-inch display like a regular laptop.
Alternatively, you can keep the Fold like a tablet and stand it up with a kickstand. Pair that with either the mini keyboard (which works both on or off the screen and has a touchpad) or your own separate Bluetooth keyboard and mouse and you’ve got an instant work setup. It won’t replace a primary monitor, though if you plug one in via USB Type-C, it could be a secondary one. This, to me, was my favorite way to use it. The kickstand works great in landscape mode, but while it works in portrait mode for those who want a taller display, it doesn’t feel as steady.
At 2.2 pounds, the X1 Fold isn’t much heavier than competing notebooks. But in such a compact package, it can feel a bit heavy in your hand. It’s 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches folded and 11.8 x 9.3 x 0.5 inches unfolded, which is remarkably thin for a Windows device.
There’s one other laptop powered by the same Intel Lakefield chip to enable lightweight designs: the Samsung Galaxy Book S, which is 2.1 pounds and 12 x 8 x 0.5 inches in a more standard clamshell shape. Another portable tablet-style device, the non-folding Microsoft Surface Go 2, is lighter at 1.2 pounds and is 9.7 x 6.9 x 0.3 inches.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold Specifications
CPU
Intel Core i5-L16G7
Graphics
Intel UHD Graphics
Memory
8 GB LPDDR4X-4267
Storage
1TB PCIe SSD
Display
13.3-inch, QXGA, 2048 x 1536 foldable OLED touchscreen
Networking
802.11ax Intel Wi-Fi 6. Bluetooth 5.1
Ports
2x USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2
Camera
720p
Battery
50 Wh
Power Adapter
65 W
Operating System
Windows 10 Pro
Dimensions(WxDxH)
Folded: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches / 236 x 158.2 x 27.8mm
Unfolded: 11.8 x 9.3 x 0.5 inches / 299.5 x 236 x 11.5 mm
Weight
2.2 pounds / 1 kg
Accessories
Lenovo Mod Pen, Lenovo Fold Mini Bluetooth Keyboard
Price (as configured)
$3,099.00
Productivity Performance on the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold
With the Intel “Lakefield” Core i5-L16G7, 8GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, the ThinkPad X1 Fold trades some performance for flexibility. The processor is good enough for basic computing needs, but no more. Ths chip uses one Sunny Cove core for loads that need bursts of power along with four low-power Tremont cores. If you have a few browser tabs and email, you’ll be fine. Beyond that, consider alternatives.
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On Geekbench 5.0, the Fold notched a single-core score of 871 and a multi-core score of 1,799. Both of those are higher than the scores from the Lakefield processor in the Samsung Galaxy Book S, but there may have been some optimizations and software updates since then. The Microsoft Surface Go 2, with an Intel Core m3-8100Y, had a higher single-core score (1,147) and multi-core score (3,117).
The X1 Fold copied 4.97GB of files at a rate of 452.51MBps. That’s not the fastest out there, but it’s speedier than both the Galaxy Book S and the Surface Go 2.
It took the ThinkPad 33 minutes and 42 seconds to complete our Handbrake test, which transcodes a 4K video to 1080p. The Galaxy Book S took 41:16 and the Surface Go 2 lagged at 48:14. Mainstream laptops often take less than 20 minutes. The Dell XPS 13, for instance, took 18:22.
To stress test the ThinkPad, we also ran a modified version of our Cinebench R23 gauntlet. Usually, it goes for 20 repetitions, but because of Lakefield’s slow performance and an attempt to complete the test before the heat death of the universe, we ran it five times to stress test the Fold. It was largely stable. Surprisingly, the first score was the lowest at 1,775. It went up to the 1790’s across the next three runs, and then settled in the 1780’s.
Usually, we measure CPU speeds. Logging software we tried seemed to be way off on measurements, listing impossibly fast clock speeds that you can’t achieve even on high-end desktop processors. HwInfo did, however, suggest CPU temps of around 81.4 degrees Celsius (178.5 degrees Fahrenheit) on the Sunny Cove core and 82.7 degrees Celsius (180.9 degrees Fahrenheit) on the Tremont cores. But you should take that with a grain of salt, considering the clock speeds displayed.
Display on the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold
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If there’s anywhere the ThinkPad X1 Fold has to completely and utterly nail it, it’s with the 13.3-inch, 2048 x 1536 foldable OLED touchscreen. After all, it’s the part the entire device literally hinges around, and it has to look and feel good.
You can’t see the hinge when the screen is flat, as long as the display is on. But it does appear faintly when the display is powered off. You also can’t feel the hinge, though if you press hard enough you may feel other components under the display. Luckily, a soft touch is all you need.
I’m not all that worried about durability or anything getting under the screen. Unlike the original Samsung Galaxy Fold smartphone, the X1 Fold has a border completely surrounding the screen. Something could get in the leather folio’s spine, maybe, but it would be tough to get something under the screen.
The 13.3-inch screen has a 4:3 aspect ratio, which is a good choice. As a tablet or monitor, it’s tall and provides plenty of space for work. When you fold it to use like a laptop, it’s more cramped — half of the monitor is covered and you get a 1536 x 1006 resolution and around 9.5 inches diagonally. The netbook is back, baby!
The display covers 104% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, which is one of the benefits of OLED. The blacks are deep, and in a trailer for Wonder Woman 1984, the blue seas outside Themyscira made me long for an island vacation (or any vacation, really). The Galaxy Book S (80.5%) and Surface Go 2 (76.1%) are still good, but they don’t use OLED. That preserves the battery (see the battery section below), however.
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The X1 fold measured 301.4 nits on our light meter, falling behind both the Book S (334 nits) and Surface Go 2 (408 nits). I didn’t have any issues with this in the most colorful scenes, but there were a few rare times where I wanted to mash the brightness toggle just a few more times.
Keyboard, Touchpad and Stylus on the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold
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Without any other accessories, the keyboard on the ThinkPad X1 Fold is the touch keyboard that’s built into Windows 10. If you have the device folded halfway like a laptop, it’s still a bit cramped, and a touch solution won’t let you type as quickly or efficiently as on a physical keyboard.
There are solutions to this — you can use any Bluetooth keyboard and mouse you want, especially if you have it set up as a full display with the kickstand.
Our package included the $89.99 Lenovo Mod Pen and $229.99 Lenovo Fold Mini Bluetooth Keyboard, which really feels like the way the X1 Fold is intended to be used. The keyboard is super thin, tiny, and can be attached to half of the X1 Fold with magnets (this shuts off that half of the screen). You can also use it like a normal Bluetooth keyboard.
But to fit in the Fold, the keyboard is tiny and cramped. The letters and numbers are laid out well enough, but when you get to special characters, things get weird. For instance, one key is used for a period, right carrot, question mark and slash. It’s a period by default, or a right carrot with a shift. That’s expected.
For a slash, you need to press function and that key, and for a question mark you need to hit function, shift and that key. There are several keys like that, and most of them have common special characters that require three keys to use. It’s incredibly frustrating for even the most simple documents and emails. Some keys, like the colon and tilda, are dramatically shortened. There’s no backlight, but I can get past that.
I hit 98 words per minute on the 10fastfinger.com typing test, which is fairly low for me, and my errors skyrocketed. And that was on a test without special characters.
The touchpad is minuscule. It’s honestly kind of adorable. I was surprised to see it uses Windows Precision drivers, and with the exception that I often hit the edges of the touchpad, it largely was OK to use, even if it didn’t feel great. If you like four-finger gestures, that may be out of the question, but I could make three-finger gestures work.
You can charge the keyboard wirelessly by placing it in between the folded screen.
In the future, I would love to see Lenovo try to make something wider, or perhaps that extends. I might even be willing to work with something that wraps around the foldable for a better typing experience.
The Mod Pen fits into a loop on the side of the keyboard, so it all travels as one package. Mercifully, the pen charges over USB Type-C rather than using batteries, which many styluses of this size do. Lenovo claims it will last 156 hours on a charge. It has 4,096 degrees of pressure sensitivity and works at up to a 60 degree angle. I don’t see this being used much for art on this type of device, but it’s fine for note taking.
I do wish Lenovo would steal from Microsoft’s Surface Pen and include an eraser on the back, but you can assign that feature to one of two programmable buttons if you use Lenovo’s optional Pen Settings software.
Audio on the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold
I’m not going to say that the audio experience on the Fold is amazing, but it’s far better than I expected. In general, I’d say it’s about as good as the average laptop, but not as loud. It didn’t quite fill my apartment with sound as I listened to the Arctic Monkeys’ “Do I Wanna Know?”, though for listening on my own it’s fairly usable. The song’s drums and bassline were clear, but lacked a kick. Interestingly, all of the speaker grills are on the left side of the device, or the top when in portrait mode, which did kind of throw off my balance.
You can change some equalizer presets in the Dolby Access software that’s included, but it’s not very in-depth, and I didn’t find it to make much of a difference.
Upgrading the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold
The big difference between configurations of the X1 Fold is storage. Buy what you’ll think you’ll need for the long run, because the device is effectively sealed.
Yes, there are some visible screws underneath the kickstand. There’s even a small door, but you can’t completely access it, as it’s partially covered by the cover. A maintenance manual shows that you effectively have to remove the entire leather cover and then open the device to get to anything, which could void your warranty if you’re not careful. Consider this thing a closed box.
Battery Life on the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold
An OLED display and a battery small enough to fit into a foldable won’t get you all-day battery life. On our battery test, which browses the web, runs OpenGL tests and streams video, all while connected to Wi-Fi and set at 150 nits of brightness, the X1 Fold ran for 6 hours and 3 minutes. This number was achieved from a separate unit with 256GB of storage, due to testing equipment being spread out during the pandemic, but we expect numbers would be similar on the 1TB version.
That means that while the device itself is extremely portable, you may have to also consider bringing the charger along, which is a bit of a bummer.
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The Samsung Galaxy Book S, another Lakefield device, ran for 9:40. That didn’t have an OLED screen, though. Microsoft’s Surface Go 2 ran for almost two hours more than that, lasting 11:38.
Heat on the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold
We took heat measurements while running our Cinebench R23 stress test. That benchmark is far more than one would usually run on this computer, so it shows us some worst-case scenarios for heat.
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Notably, our heat camera showed that the left side of the tablet (in landscape) heated up far more than the right side, suggesting that the processor is in that portion of the device. The hottest it got was 40.5 degrees Celsius (104.9 degrees Fahrenheit). On the back, the same portion hit 36.4 degrees Celsius (97.5 degrees Fahrenheit).
Webcam on the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold
The 720p webcam on the ThinkPad X1 Fold is about what you might expect. Like many laptop webcams released this year, it takes a picture you could consider serviceable, but not great. A photo at my desk was grainy and a bit dim. The Surface Go 2 was the gold standard this year, with a camera that supports 1080p video, and I hope to see something like that in more laptops and foldables in 2021.
But the bigger issue is the placement. As a tablet held in landscape, the camera works exactly as you would expect. But if you turn it to portrait, or use it like a laptop with the keyboard attached, the image appears sideways in video calls, as that’s the way the camera is oriented (my colleagues were very confused when I called into a meeting like that).
Lenovo does have software to try to combat this, and you can use it to rotate the image. At best, then, using the X1 Fold in those postures creates an image more like a phone, tall with black bars on the side. It’s better than being sideways, but it feels more than a little unrefined.
Software and Warranty on the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold
The ThinkPad X1 Fold we reviewed had no junk at all, not even the usual bloat that comes with Windows 10.
On most Windows 10 notebooks, Lenovo only includes its Vantage software (seen here in a dedicated enterprise version) for easy access to warranty status, quick camera and microphone toggles and to easily check your serial number.
But in this case, Lenovo has a bunch of other software just to make the foldable work as expected. When the X1 Fold was originally revealed, there was a plan to release it with Windows 10, and then later with Windows 10X, a touch-focused version of the operating system designed for foldable devices. But with Windows 10X delayed to 2021 — and starting on single-screen laptops instead of foldables — it working on regular Windows 10 is more important.
Most of the hard work is handled by Lenovo Mode Switcher, which lives in the task bar, recognizes which way your device is aligned and provides a method to move windows side-to-side or one on top of the other. It works as expected, but if you switch modes or rotate the device, the windows often don’t stay organized.
There’s also Lenovo Camera Settings, which lets you rotate your camera picture, Lenovo Display Optimizer to calibrate the OLED screen and the optional Lenovo Pen Settings to adjust the buttons on the pen and check its battery status.
All of this points to one issue — Windows 10 isn’t fully there as a tablet-only operating system, nor as one for foldables. Windows Hello is needed, and Lenovo deserves credit for getting it to work this much, even if there is some jankiness around it. Once, I got the Windows 10 login screen to turn vertical, as if it were on a Windows phone, with large black bars on the sides. It stayed that way on the desktop, too.
Lenovo sells the ThinkPad X1 Fold with a 1-year warranty, which can go up to three years at an additional cost.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold Configurations
Our ThinkPad X1 Fold review unit was the top-end, $3,099 configuration with an Intel Core i5-L16G7 “Lakefield” processor, 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM a 1TB PCIe SSD and Windows 10 Pro.
There are a number of other configurations, but they all have the same CPU and memory. The other differences come down to the amount of storage, which version of Windows 10 you get, and if the package includes the keyboard and stylus accessories.
The base option is $2,499, with 256GB of SSD storage and Windows 10 Home. Notably, this option doesn’t include the keyboard or stylus. If you want those later, the Mod Pen costs $89.99 on its own, while the mini keyboard runs for an eye-watering $229.99.
To get that option with the accessories included in the box, it’s $2,749 with Windows 10 Home or $2,799 with Windows 10 Pro. From there, prices increase with storage and all have Windows 10 Pro.
In 2021, configurations with 5G support will be available, but exact pricing and availability hasn’t been announced.
Bottom Line
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There is no doubting that the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold is a first-gen product that isn’t for most people. If the $2,499 and up price tag (before accessories) doesn’t scare off all but tech-savvy CEO’s, it’s the fact that there are still some kinks to work out in the software.
And yet, I’m really surprised by how much I’ve enjoyed using it. While the Core i5 Lakefield chip isn’t the most performance-oriented slice of silicon, all of my x86 apps work on it, and as long as I stick to my normal workflow of browsing, writing, using some spreadsheets and watching video, this will handle things nicely. For photo editing, I would want just a tad more power.
The keyboard is a smart idea that needs more time in the oven. No individual key on the keyboard should require three buttons to press, especially if it’s as commonly used as a plus sign, a hyphen or a question mark. I would also like to see it somehow attach to the back of the device, as I tended to leave it elsewhere in my apartment and had to search for it when I needed it.
The hardware could use some slimming down, but it’s sturdy. I trust this to fold and not break. But I need Lenovo — and any other PC vendor considering moving into folding PCs — to ensure that the UX is perfect. That may mean waiting for Windows 10X, if Microsoft does a better job of adapting its own OS to the form factor than an OEM could do.
But Lenovo, for a first try, has impressed. Still, the expense and the quirks you get for this high price mean that you should probably wait for future generations. But I have hope that these kinds of devices will get a lot better before too long.
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