João Silva 1 hour ago Featured Tech News, Monitors
MSI has revealed a new curved gaming monitor named Optix MAG301CR2. This is a 30-inch frameless design monitor with a 1500R curvature and support for MSI’s Mystic Light RGB tech.
The MSI Optix MAG301CR2 features a 30-inch curved VA panel with 200Hz refresh rate, 1ms MPRT, and a WFHD resolution (2560×1080). Featuring Adaptive Sync (FreeSync Premium), this monitor “provide gamers with a captivating, tear-free gaming experience”. Other interesting gaming-oriented features include Night Vision, a smart black tuner that increases visibility in darker areas, and multiple gaming modes for your favourite games.
With 300nits of brightness, a 3000:1 contrast ratio, this 10bit panel (8bit+FRC) can cover up to 82% of the DCI-P3 wide colour gamut and 102% of the sRGB colour spectrum. This monitor is described as HDR Ready, but given the 300nits of brightness, HDR content might seem less vivid than on more capable displays. For added convenience, users can customise the monitor’s settings through the Gaming OSD app.
The back of the monitor features an RGB Mystic Light halo, allowing users to synchronise with other Mystic Light compatible products. Also on the back of the monitor, there are 2x HDMI 2.0 ports, a DisplayPort 1.2, a USB-C port (DP alt. mode), an 3.5mm audio-out jack, a USB-B 3.2 Gen1 port, and 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen1 ports. Besides the VESA 75x75mm support, the included stand offers great ergonomics including tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustment.
MSI is yet to reveal the pricing and availability of the Optix MAG301CR2. You can learn more about this monitor HERE.
KitGuru says: Are you a fan of curved gaming monitors? What do you think of the latest from MSI?
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Andrew Munro 5 hours ago Featured Tech Reviews, PC, Reviews
We love reviewing the biggest, most powerful systems here on KitGuru but not everyone needs a huge PC glowing like a disco. For casual users and businesses there are some far more practical options available. The ASUS PN50 Mini PC is a tiny system but don’t let that fool you. Featuring a Ryzen 7 4700U, integrated AMD Radeon Vega 7 graphics, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5, 8K and 4x 4K monitor support as well as upgradable memory and storage, this little machine punches above its weight class.
Watch via our Vimeo channel (below) or over on YouTube at 2160p HERE
Specifications:
Review model: ASUS PN50 Barebones system (No OS, SSD or RAM included)
Barebones configuration price: £369.99
AMD Ryzen R7-4700U (8-core, 15W TDP)
Integrated AMD Radeon Vega 7 Graphics
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 (Gig+)
Bluetooth 5
Monitor support: 8K support, 4 x 4K support
IR Sensors for use with remote control
Dual-array microphones
3 in 1 card reader
Front I/O: 1 x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C (Support Display Port 1.4, Battery Charging 1.2) 1 x USB 3.2 Gen1 1 x Audio Jack (Line in/ Mic in/ Headphone out) 2 x Microphone Array 1 x IR receiver 1 x 3 in 1 Card reader
Side I/O: 1x Kensington Lock
Rear I/O: 1 x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C (Support Display Port 1.4) 2 x USB 3.2 Gen1 1 x HDMI 2.0 Port 1 x Display Port 1.4 1 x RJ45 LAN 1 x DC-in
90W Power Adapter
Storage supported: 1 x SATA 6Gb/s for 2.5″ 500G/1TB HDD 1 x M.2 2280 for SATA & PCIe 128G/256G/512G/1TB SSD (Supports NVMe)
RAM supported: 2 x SO-DIMM, DDR4-3200MHz memory (4GB to 64GB)
Dimensions: 115 x 115 x 49 mm
Weight: Under 0.7Kg
The PN50 is aimed at businesses, both office and retail, those that just want a compact system and even home-theatre setups. Since it’s so small it can easily be tucked out of sight where other systems would struggle to fit, and can even be attached to the back of a monitor via the included VESA mount. Weighing less than 1kg, dimensions of 115 x 115 x 49 mm and a sleek black, brushed, aesthetic the PN50 will suit any home or office setup.
As this is a barebones system it does not come supplied with any storage drives, RAM or even operating system. Of course, depending on your use for the system will depend on what you choose to install but for our test purposes we chose 16GB of G-Skill Ripjaws SO-DIMM DDR4 3200MHz RAM and 1TB WD Blue SN550 NVMe SSD.
Installation is easy, even if you’re not a confident PC builder the instructions are clear. I don’t think you should be put off and I’d give it a good 8/10 for how easy it is to install or even upgrade.
If you take a look at the specifications above, connectivity wise, it really does have a lot going for it, more so than a lot of full-sized systems. This is excellent for business users as well as home use too. On the front we also have one combination audio jack for line in, mic in and headphone out, dual-array microphones for use with Windows Cortana and an IR receiver for use with a remote control, which is another great feature that will appeal to businesses and a 3 in 1 micro-SD card reader.
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(Pocket-lint) – If you’re looking for an intelligent smart home speaker, then one powered by Google is a great alternative to the Amazon Echo range.
Like the Amazon Echo smart speakers, Google Home devices – most of which are now Nest branded – are available in a range of sizes. They all have Google Assistant built-in – meaning they can carry out the same tasks – but they have very different designs and specifications which will determine where you put them around your home and what you use them for.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Google Home and Nest devices to help you work out which is right for you.
Which is the best Google Nest speaker for you?
The Nest Mini – which replaces the original Google Home Mini – is small and cheap enough to go into any home. It has the same features of Google Assistant as its larger siblings, but in a much more manageable size.
The Nest Audio is the latest speaker in the family, a great performer at a great price and a replacement for the original Google Home.
The Google Home is the original speaker, but has now been replaced and bettered by the Nest Audio.
The Google Home Max is a powerful speaker, which when combined with Google Assistant could make it the only one you need in your home for entertainment.
The Google Nest Hub is a great choice for those with compatible smart home devices, offering excellent control, whilst also delivering a good enough sound and all the features that come with Google Assistant.
The Google Nest Hub Max adds a larger display and a camera, making it a full Nest device, as well as a smart display. It too offers all the features that come with Google Assistant, as well as bigger sound compared to the Nest Hub.
Pocket-lint
Google Nest Mini
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Dimensions: 42 x 98mm, 181g
Connectivity: 802.11b/g/n/ac (2.4GHz/5GHz), Bluetooth 5.0, Chromecast and Chromecast Audio
Google Assistant: Yes (Always-on/always-listening/voice-activated)
The Google Nest Mini is the second generation of the Google Home Mini, and it remains the smallest of Google’s smart home speaker range. Like the Amazon Echo Dot, it’s a small puck-like device that is available in four colours – all of which have fabric covers that aren’t interchangeable. The fabric is made from recycled bottles in the Nest Mini though, making it more sustainable than the original Google Home Mini.
Thanks to its diminutive size, the Nest Mini can be placed virtually anywhere, including wall-mounted thanks to its built-in wall-mount, and even kept out of sight if you wish. It can load up content on any Chromecast device, giving you voice-controlled access to movies and TV shows from supported services.
The Nest Mini gives you access to all those Assistant-powered features, so it’s a smart home control device, it’s an entertainer and a plaything, it’s a quiz master, a reference tool and so much more. It’s everything the big Google Home is without the larger speaker.
The Google Nest Mini is compatible with numerous smart home devices, the list of which is constantly growing. It also works with Spotify, Google Play Music, as well as a multitude of other audio services.
Google Nest Mini review: Mini update, max impact
Pocket-lint
Google Nest Audio
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Dimensions: 175 x 124 x 78mm, 1.1kg
Connectivity: 802.11b/g/n/ac (2.4GHz/5GHz), Bluetooth 5.0, Chromecast and Chromecast Audio
Google Assistant: Yes (Always-on/always-listening/voice-activated)
Nest Audio refreshes Google’s standard speaker, boosting eco credentials with more recycled material, while bringing in a fresh new design too.
Rather than 360-degree sound, the sound is now directional, but with a good size of speaker driver and a tweeter in this compact unit, the sound quality is really good for the price.
All the same Google Assistant functions are supported, and the Nest Audio can be stereo paired to make a bigger sound delivery.
One thing is clear – there’s no reason to consider the Google Home – the Nest Audio is better in every way.
Google Assistant: Yes (Always-on/always-listening/voice-activated)
The Google Home is the regular-sized smart speaker from Google. It’s the original member and the one that will likely be most popular because of the way it blends style and function. It’s pricier than the Google Nest Mini, but delivers way more punch.
The Google Home sports a design that’s reminiscent of an air freshener, with a slightly bulbous bottom that tapers in towards the top. On the angled top of the Home there is a touch-sensitive surface that can be used to control a variety of functions. You can also change the colour of the base to suit your style.
Its sound quality is good, but it probably isn’t fit to be your main party speaker, even if it is a step-up from the Nest Mini. It offers all the connected functions of Google Assistant, so it’s a natural smart home hub, letting you control all your devices, as well as accessing a wide range of Google services, information and giving you control of your Chromecast.
The Google Home has all the same smarts as the Google Nest Mini, only with more power under the hood. You can also purchase different bases to change the style of your Google Home speaker, too, which you can’t do on the Mini.
Google Home review: A better voice assistant than Amazon Echo?
Google
Google Home Max
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Dimensions: 336.6 x 190 x 154.4mm, 5.3kg
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n/ac (2.4GHz/5Ghz), Bluetooth 4.2, Chromecast and Chromecast Audio, USB-C, 3.5mm auxiliary
Audio: 2 x 4.5-inch dual voice coil woofers, 2 x 0.7-inch tweeters, six microphones with far-field voice recognition
Audio formats: HE-AAC, LC-AAC+, MP3, WAV, FLAC, Vorbis, Opus
Processor: 1.5GHz Quad-core ARM
Google Assistant: Yes (Always-on/always-listening/voice-activated)
Google Home Max is max by name and max by nature. It’s large in size and it delivers high-quality sound that can fill a room. A large price tag puts the Google Home Max in the premium smart home speaker bracket – competing with the Sonos range and the Apple HomePod.
Packing four drivers and six Class-D amplifiers, the Google Home Max makes the sound performance of most other smart home speakers pale in comparison. We certainly found it to be capable in terms of sound, but many may recoil at the price tag.
It’s on the large size too, as far as wireless speakers go, so finding a home for the Home Max could be tricky.
We imagine most people will put one in their living room or bedroom. It’s not for wall-mounting but can be positioned either vertically or horizontally making it pretty versatile. It offers all the same features as the smaller Nest Mini and Home though, just with better sound capabilities.
Google Home Max review: Cranking smart speaker audio to the max
Pocket-lint
Google Nest Hub
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Dimensions: 178 x 118 x 67.3mm, 480g
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n/ac (2.4GHz/5Ghz), Bluetooth 5.0, Chromecast and Chromecast Audio, 15 W adapter, DC power jack
Audio: Full range speaker, two microphones with far-field voice recognition
Display: 7-inch
Processor: 1.5GHz Quad-core ARM
Google Assistant: Yes (Always-on/always-listening/voice-activated)
Google Nest Hub (formerly Home Hub) is a speaker like the other Home devices but it adds a 7-inch touchscreen to its list of attributes – yes, it’s a smart display. The sound quality isn’t as good as the Max or the original Home but the display is an excellent feature for watching quick YouTube videos, reading news snippets and controlling smart home devices.
It offers all the same features as the other Home products, along with a great design, YouTube integration (which Amazon’s Echo Show does not) and it is fantastic for smart home control, with the list of compatible devices growing constantly.
There’s no camera as there is on the larger Nest Hub Max but it makes for a great smart home hub.
Google Nest Hub review: The new hub of your smart home?
Pocket-lint
Google Nest Hub Max
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Dimensions: 250.1 x 182.55 x 101.23mm, 1.32kg
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n/ac (2.4GHz/5GHz), Bluetooth 5.0, Chromecast and Chromecast Audio, 30W adapter, DC power jack
Audio: Stereo speakers (2x 18mm 10W tweeters, 1x 75mm 30W woofer), far-field mic and voice match technology
Display: 10-inch, 1280 x 800 pixels
Camera: 6.5MP Nest camera, 127 FoV, face match technology
Google Assistant: Yes (Always-on/always-listening/voice-activated)
The Google Nest Hub Max is the biggest Home device with a display and ushered in the name change to Nest. That’s because it incorporates a camera which can not only be used for Duo calling, but offers full Nest Cam functions too, so it also acts as a security device. It will also work with Nest’s face recognition, so it can change the display details to suit different users, though it doesn’t deliver familiar face alerts like the Nest Hello or Nest Cam IQ.
Elsewhere, the Nest Hub Max boosts the experience of the smaller display device, expanding to 10-inches and offering stereo speakers backed with a woofer for better sound delivery.
Otherwise the Nest Hub Max supports Google Assistant offering all the experiences you’d come to expect from Google’s AI system.
Google Nest Hub Max review: Putting the Echo Show on notice
Writing by Adrian Willings. Editing by Britta O’Boyle.
(Pocket-lint) – One of the many benefits to setting up a smart home can be a serious bump in your security – whether you want sensors to let you know when people are around, or to tell you if you’ve left a window open or any other number of things.
A key part of that can be played by smart cameras, not only to keep an eye on your house while you aren’t home, but to let you use a smartphone to check in on things, as well as get notifications when something isn’t quite how it should be.
You might also want to pick up all manner of other smart gadgets, from app-controlled lighting and heating to robotic vacuum cleaners, to flesh out your smart home, but choosing a smart camera can be hard enough in the first place.
Whether you are after a nice and simple model to watch the cat or dog while you are at work, or you want something a little more substantial, such as one with a siren or one that can sing a lullaby, here are the best indoor smart cameras available.
We also have a separate feature for the best outdoor smart home cameras.
Pocket-lint
Nest Cam IQ
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The Nest Cam IQ is the smarter of the two indoor cameras offered by Nest, with the other cheaper model being the Nest Cam Indoor. Featuring a similar design to the Nest Cam Outdoor with a white polycarbonate body, the Nest Cam IQ has a main body on a hinge that connects it to a stem hiding the cables and a base with a USB Type-C connector.
It is one of the more expensive cameras on this list but thanks to its 4K HDR sensor, it will offer a close up tracking view of a person or persons and it is able to distinguish between a person and a thing. It also has Google Assistant built in so you can ask it to turn up your Nest Thermostat or find out how old George Clooney is.
Users will also be able to have a two-way conversation through the camera, night vision has been improved over the Nest Cam Indoor and those who sign up to the Nest Aware subscription will also benefit from facial recognition features and customisable activity zones. For a cheaper option, Nest still offers its Nest Cam Indoor.
Nest Cam IQ review: Great home security lacks an intelligent asking price
Netgear
Netgear Arlo Essential Spotlight
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Netgear offers numerous smart home camera options, including this Arlo Essential Spotlight, which is a completely wire-free camera and weatherproof, meaning you can use it outside too.
The Arlo offers night vision and motion alerts like the rest of the cameras on this list and it has 1080p Full HD resolution. The Arlo Ultra offers video 4K recording and a 180-degree FoV so there are other options in the range to suit various needs.
One of the great things about the Arlo is it provides seven days of viewing, downloading and sharing without a subscription. Most other smart home cameras, aside from the Netatmo Welcome require a monthly subscription to access video recordings over 24-hours old, whereas with Arlo it’s only a requirement for videos over seven days old or if you want a couple of extra features.
Ring
Ring Stick Up Cam
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Ring, best known for its video doorbells, has a couple of different security cameras but the Ring Stick Up Cam is the one recommended for indoor use. It comes in a wired option, battery option and solar-powered option so there are a couple of models to suit different requirements.
The Ring Stick Up Cam has night vision and two-way talk like other cameras on this list and it also comes with a siren. There are no fancy features like facial recognition but the Stick Up Cam is waterproof so it could be used outside too. It is also compatible with Amazon Alexa so if you have an Echo Show or Echo Spot, or a Fire tablet, you will be able to ask Alexa to show the view of your Stick Up Cam.
Unlike some others on this list, you’ll need the Ring Protect plan to see any video history with only live recording viable without a subscription. For those with more than one Ring camera, you might want to consider the Ring Protect Plus subscription, which covers all Ring devices a monthly fee.
Hive
Hive View
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British Gas-owned Hive offers two smart home camera options, including the latest model – the Hive View. It offers 24-hours rolling camera history on the cloud, and it comes in two colour options comprising a black and brushed copper model and a champagne gold and white model.
Although it doesn’t offer as many of the fancy features of some of the others on this list, such as facial recognition, it does have two-way audio, as well as zooming and it offers person detection too, along with sound and motion.
One of the best things about the Hive camera is that it joins the company’s other smart home products, which includes heating, lighting, motion detectors and smart plugs, making creating a smart home far simpler.
Hive View review: Great looks, great performance
Netatmo
Netatmo Welcome
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The Netatmo Welcome camera features facial recognition technology and it is one of the only smart home cameras to do so, aside from the Nest Cam IQ, though that requires a subscription for the privilege. Welcome will capture images of people and allow you to create profiles, after which the camera will send the names of the people it recognises, whilst also notifying you when it detects an unknown face.
It’s possible to customise profiles so if you don’t want it to record your partner at any time for example, you can set it to make sure it doesn’t and you can stop notifications coming through when you are at home too.
Unlike some smart home cameras, Welcome doesn’t offer a speaker for two-way talk, or a siren, night-light or music capabilities, but there are no subscription charges so the price you pay for the camera is all you pay to access your videos. The included 8GB SD card will store up to 100 videos and once storage runs out, the oldest videos will be replaced.
Netatmo Welcome review: Big Brother is watching and knows who you are
Swann
Swann Wire-Free Security Camera
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This Full HD camera boasts an IP65 weatherproof rating so it can withstand everything the weather can throw at it including driving rain, snow and summer heatwaves.
A magnetic mounting stand means you can point it any way you want and the kit includes mounting plugs and screws as well as an adhesive strip.
As with many other cameras, there’s also a microphone and speaker so you can have a two-way conversation with a delivery driver or intruder near to the camera if it’s placed outside.
Unlike several others, Swann’s camera has free local and cloud storage so the footage is saved (seven days) and locally backed-up (two days). You can add extra storage via a subscription should you wish. Video and data is encrypted, while two-factor authentication is in place, too.
TP-Link
TP-Link Kasa Cam KC120
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The TP-Link Kasa Cam KC120 has an easy-to-use app interface, coupled with good quality 1080p video footage. It offers decent night vision, two-way talk functionality and it is compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, meaning you’ll be able to stream the Kasa Cam’s feed on an Amazon Echo Show or Google Home Hub if you have one.
You get two days of video history without a subscription and there are plenty of customisation options, while this camera also offers a strong and stable connection. It does have its downsides though, with recordings sometimes limited, the push to talk function featuring some lag and notifications a little overwhelming at times.
Niggles aside however, the 48 hours of free footage storage is certainly a reason to consider this indoor smart camera – especially as top tier competitor Nest only offers clip storage in the cloud for up to three hours unless you pay more.
TP-Link Kasa Cam KC120 review: Smart home camera is affordable yet imperfect
Logitech
Logitech Circle 2
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The Logitech Circle 2 replaces the Circle smart home camera, bringing the choice of wired or wire-free, weatherproofing and a wider field of view over its predecessor.
It is compatible with Amazon’s Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple’s HomeKit and there are a range of mounts and accessories available for it, allowing you to mount it where you want. The Circle 2 has a 180-degree field of view, it records video in 1080p and it offers night vision up to five-metres.
Additionally, the Circle 2 has a two-way talk and listen function and for those that opt for the Circle Safe Premium subscription, you’ll have access to person detection, motion zones and advanced event and alert filter options.
Logitech Circle 2 review: The best home security camera?
Canary
Canary View
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The Canary View all-in-one security camera can be set up in a matter of minutes and it will learn over time to deliver you smarter notifications. It is capable of Full HD video recording, HD audio recording and you will get instant alerts when activity is detected, along with the ability to view the recorded video. It also offers person detection without subscription, and two-way talk and desktop streaming with a subscription.
There is a 90-decibel siren on board to scare off any unwanted visitors, which can be controlled remotely, and Canary also monitors air quality, temperature and humidity to give you a better idea of your home.
For those after a weatherproof option, Canary also offers the Canary Flex, which can be installed wire-free or plugged in, inside or outside of your home. It’s a smaller device than the standard Canary and it doesn’t have a siren, but it does have a built-in speaker. Bear in mind that the 24 hours of free recording access is shared between all the Canary devices you have.
Pocket-lint
Somfy One
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The Somfy One offers some impressive features including a capable camera that works well in all lighting conditions, a physical privacy shutter and motion-based siren alarm system.
It’s compatible with Nest thermostats, Alexa, Google Home and IFTTT too, making it highly flexible and adaptable to your smart home needs.
Its free plan isn’t quite as good as others – it will only notify and capture footage when the alarm is set, but the subscription costs are cheaper than some others too. There is also a Somfy One+ that comes with a badge key fob and a door or window sensor, as well as a built in battery pack.
Somfy One review: Sound the alarm, smart home security gets serious
Pocket-lint
Withings Nokia Home
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Withings, which was sold to Nokia and then bought back, offers the Home camera. The camera records what is happening in your house, monitors air quality and it will also play a lullaby when the night light is turned on.
The bottom of the stylish-looking camera doubles up as the night light, while the top features environmental sensors to measure temperature, humidity and levels of volatile organic compound (VOC). There is a 5-megapixel CMOS sensor, two digital microphones, a HQ speaker, 135-degree wide angle zoom and night vision on the Home camera.
Any note-worthy thing that happens will be recorded to a cloud-stored video and sent to your smartphone in notification form, while any of the images and videos will then be put into an interactive timeline that turns into a home diary. You get 48-hours free access to your timeline, while anything beyond that requires a subscription.
Withings Home review: More than just a smart camera
Writing by Britta O’Boyle. Editing by Dan Grabham.
(Pocket-lint) – Whether or not you’re on board, the vinyl hype train is in motion – it’s back, baby. There’s even vinyl for sale in some larger supermarkets and there’s also stacks on online retailers like Amazon. After years of apparent obsolescence, we’re in the middle of the great record revival, so it follows that record players are continuing to release regularly, meaning people need to know which ones to consider.
The best Bluetooth speakers to buy today
Vinyl has an inherent desirability to it, and a greater sense of permanence and ownership compared to other platforms. Whether it be the larger album artwork compared to a CD, the physical act of having to get up and turn over the disc to listen to the other side, or that many consider it to sound superior to other formats.
If you’ve been interested in jumping aboard the vinyl bandwagon, but have yet to get yourself a turntable, look no further. We’ve gathered together a bunch of the best record players available today.
Our pick of the best turntables to buy today
Audio-Technica
Audio-Technica AT-LP3
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For its asking price, the AT-LP3 remains our top pick. It’s a fully automatic belt-driven turntable featuring the AT91R phono cartridge that’s easy enough to swap out. The sound is fantastic thanks too, thanks to the anti-resonance die-cast aluminium platter. You will need a decent pre-amp to get the most out of it, but make no mistake, this is a stellar player if you’re connecting it to an amp and speakers. If you want something with its own preamp, then read on…
Denon
Denon DP-450USB
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Also available as the DP-400 without the USB-connectivity at the front (for digitizing your vinyl direct to USB storage), these Denon players are some of the more accomplished record players around and we loved having it to stay. In terms of playing vinyl, the sound reproduction is superb, while the players also have auto-stop and can play 78rpm records as well as 33/45s. There’s a built-in phono stage, but you can bypass it should you wish.
The dust cover won’t be to everyone’s taste, since it isn’t hinged and comes completely off. But it’s made from good quality perspex and is strong, while the stand it sits in (while a record is playing) can be used to display the record sleeve.
Roberts
Roberts RT100
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Roberts is best known for its radios, but that hasn’t stopped the British company from producing a turntable. The RT100 has a traditional look as well as a built-in pre-amp so you don’t need to connect it to a phono stage. As with several of the other turntables in this list, a USB connection lets you rip your vinyl collection to your computer.
Gearbox
Gearbox Automatic MkII
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This new player from jazz record label Gearbox Records is a follow-up to the original clear-box player that takes design cues from the iconic 1955 Braun PC 3 SV record player. The main upgrade is the addition of a higher-quality Ortofon OM 10 cartridge which provides a significant improvement in quality.
Its transparent design won’t appeal to all, but we loved it when it was sitting in our living room since it’s such an eye-catcher. It’s heavy on the tech, too, with the ability to send its audio to a Bluetooth speaker and an accompanying app that’ll recognise tracks and add them to Spotify playlists for you. There’s also a built-in valve phono stage so no need for extra hardware – it can be plugged straight into a line-in.
Sony
Sony PS-HX500
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Sony has its own range of turntables too, and the PS-HX500 is an excellent choice. It looks great, sporting a sleek black finish and can also record your vinyl collection to your computer. Where the Sony differs from other turntables on this list though, is that it can record in high-resolution audio. Vinyl can be recorded in DSD and WAV and an editing app for PC and Mac lets you edit your tracks and split them if you record an entire side of a record at once.
Make sure the device you want to listen to your digital tracks on can support high-resolution audio. Some phones can natively support it, while others such as the iPhone, will need a dedicated app.
Audio-Technica
Audio-Technica AT-LPW40WN
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Another super choice from Audio-Technica, the AT-LPW40WN was introduced at CES 2019 in January so it is still pretty fresh out of the blocks. It has a snazzy walnut wood veneer finish which looks a lot more appealing than many designs, a newly-designed cartridge and a preamp so it can connect directly to powered speakers should you choose to do that rather than use a traditional amp-and-speaker setup.
TEAC
TEAC TN300
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TEAC is another hi-fi brand with a heritage in vinyl. The TN300 is one of the company’s latest turntables and is available in a range of colours. It’s engineered to a high degree, comes supplied with an Audio Technica cartridge and has a USB output to storing your vinyl collection as digital files on a computer.
A German retailer ElectronicPartner (via IThome), has shared the specifications for Acer’s next-generation Nitro 5 (AN517-41-R9S5) gaming laptop. On this iteration, AMD joins forces with Nvidia to bring out the best of what the Zen 3 CPU and Ampere GPU architectures have to offer.
The Nitro 5 will leverage one of AMD’s much-awaited Ryzen 5000 (Cezanne) mobile chips for starters. The Ryzen 7 5800H is an octa-core processor with simultaneous multithreading (SMT) with 16MB of L3 cache at its disposal. A Geekbench 5 benchmark of this same Nitro 5 device reveals the Ryzen 7 5800H with a very respectable 3.2 GHz base clock and 4.44 GHz boost clock. It’s approximately 32.7% and 10.2% faster than the current Ryzen 7 4800H in single-and multi-core performance.
Although the Ryzen 7 5800H does come with a Vega iGPU, the Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 3080 (Ampere) will do all the heavy lifting when it comes to graphical workloads. It’s probably the mobile version, which will likely feature cut-down specifications. Thus far, the German merchant listed the graphics card with 8GB of memory, which we presume to be of the GDDR6 type.
The Nitro 5 is equipped with a 17.3-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS panel with a nice refresh rate of 144 Hz. With the GeForce RTX 3080 on duty, the Nitro 5 should have no problems hitting that refresh rate, especially at 1080p. The particular configuration that ElectronicPartner is offering also comes with 32GB of DDR4 memory and a 1TB SSD.
The laptop’s other attributes include a full-size keyboard with backlighting, an integrated webcam with microphone, Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, and a Li-ion battery with a battery life of up to eight hours. The Nitro 5 also provides one HDMI port, three USB 3.0 ports, one USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C port, and a combo 3.5mm audio jack.
The Nitro 5 sells for €1,948.61 (~$2,372.16) at the German store, but that’s with value-added tax (VAT) included. After deducting Germany’s 19% VAT rate, the price comes down to $1,993.41. However, we should bear in mind that electronics are typically more expensive overseas, so the Nitro 5 could end up costing less in the US.
During its typically slick, but untypically pre-recorded, WWDC 2020 keynote briefing in June, Apple announced something that really piqued our interest: spatial audio.
Basically Apple’s take on Dolby Atmos for Headphones and Sony’s upcoming PS5 3D Audio, spatial audio is designed to deliver surround sound and 3D audio via your headphones – specifically your Apple AirPods Pro and AirPods Max headphones. The feature arrived as part of iOS 14 in September.
So how do you get Apple spatial audio? What devices do you need? And what other upgrades are included in the latest iOS 14 update? Answers to those questions and more are just a short scroll away.
Apple AirPods Max review
What is Apple spatial audio?
(Image credit: Apple)
Apple spatial audio takes 5.1, 7.1 and Dolby Atmos signals and applies directional audio filters, adjusting the frequencies that each ear hears so that sounds can be placed virtually anywhere in 3D space. Sounds will appear to be coming from in front of you, from the sides, the rear and even above. The idea is to recreate the audio experience of a cinema.
This is not the first technology of its type. Dolby Atmos for Headphones has been around for some time now, while Sony has its 360 Reality Audio format for music, delivers 3D audio in some PS4 games via its Platinum Wireless Headset, and has gone big on 3D audio for the PS5.
Apple’s spatial audio has a unique feature, though: it not only tracks your head movement using accelerometers and gyroscopes in the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max in order to position the sound accurately, it also tracks the position of the iPhone or iPad that you’re watching on, so that sound is also placed relative to the screen. This means that even if you turn your head or reposition your device, dialogue will still be anchored to the actor on the screen.
Apple has apparently been working on spatial audio for years and it was always part of the plan for the AirPods Pro earbuds – that’s why they’ve got gyroscopes (which were never previously mentioned, by the way).
Apple AirPods 3: price, design, release date, leaks and news
How do you get Apple spatial audio?
Apple AirPods Pro (Image credit: Future)
Apple spatial audio comes as part of the newly released firmware update for the AirPods Pro. You’ll also need the new iOS 14 or iPadOS 14, which is now available. All of these updates are free of charge.
The next-gen Apple operating system is available to all iPhones from the iPhone 6S onwards, and iPadOS 14 works on every iPad since, and including, the iPad Air 2. Does this mean that all of these devices will also support spatial audio? Unfortunately not. Here’s the full list of devices that can handle spatial audio:
iPhone 7 or later
iPad Pro 12.9‑inch (3rd generation) and later
iPad Pro 11‑inch
iPad Air (3rd generation)
iPad (6th generation) and later
iPad mini (5th generation)
It’s also worth noting that Dolby Atmos is only available on Apple devices launched since 2018. While you don’t need Atmos for spatial audio, the two working together will likely produce the best results.
On the software side of things, as long as an app supports 5.1, 7.1 and/or Atmos, it will work with spatial audio. That already includes apps such as Vudu, HBO Go, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video. Netflix does not currently support surround content via iOS devices, but stereo content can also be converted to spatial audio. All a developer needs to do is allow stereo spatialisation via an Apple plug-in.
Once you’ve updated your device and the AirPods Pros/AirPods Max, spatial audio will be automatically enabled. To check, open Settings on your iOS device, tap on Bluetooth, and then tap on the ‘i’ icon next to your AirPods Pros in the list of Bluetooth devices. If the icon next to Spatial Audio is green, it’s enabled. There’s also a neat little demo of the tech included just below this.
(Image credit: Future)
To test it out, fire up a supported video (See on Apple TV+ is a good example), open up your device’s Command Centre by swiping down from the top-right corner of the screen, then press and hold the AirPods Pro volume icon. On the page that opens you will see a Spatial Audio icon. A bright blue icon indicates that Spatial Audio is enabled, but if the sound waves are static it’s not supported by the content you’re watching. If the waves are pulsing, Spatial Audio is enabled and working. You can tap the icon to turn it off and experience the difference it makes.
Apple unveils new iPad, iPad Air, plus Apple Watch SE and Series 6
Apple AirPods Max (Image credit: Apple)
Is Apple spatial audio any good?
Having given spatial audio an initial whirl with the AirPods Pro and a more thorough one since during our AirPods Max testing, we’re certainly impressed.
The way the audio is tied to the screen is incredibly effective and the extra openness and spaciousness to the sound makes for a much more cinematic and engaging experience. There appears to be a slight drop off in terms of directness and punch, but it’s not huge and, broadly speaking, spatial audio so far appears to be a very worthwhile upgrade.
To quote our AirPods Max review, “All told, the effect is superb. The whole presentation is very open, spacious and convincing, and the tracking is amazingly smooth and accurate as you move your head.
“The opening of Gravity is recreated brilliantly by the AirPods Max. The placement of the various voices coming through the radio is brilliantly precise and convincing, there’s excellent weight to the dull thumps against the satellite and the heavy bass notes of the soundtrack, superb all-round clarity, and excellent dynamics as the peaceful scene turns threatening and then catastrophic. It’s easy to forget that you’re listening using headphones, such is the spaciousness of the delivery. It’s terrifically cinematic.
“Simply put, combining an iPad with a pair of AirPods Max headphones gets you the most convincing portable cinema experience that we can think of.”
Will music be available in spatial audio?
(Image credit: Apple)
There’s no reason that this stereo spatialisation can’t be added to the many music apps available on iPhone and iPad, but there have been no announcements on that front yet.
One suspects that now Apple has the technology, it may well look to add music with full-fat spatial audio to its own Apple Music service but, again, that’s not been officially announced.
Apple One bundles Apple TV+, Apple Music and more into single subscription
What about spatial audio gaming?
There’s no reason that other apps can’t also benefit from spatial audio, and we’d be amazed if it’s not picked up very quickly by game developers. Again, there’s nothing official on that yet.
We do know, though, that the movement data provided by the AirPods Pros will be made available to app developers, and that could open up some interesting opportunities such as head-tracking in games and more accurate sensing of movement for fitness apps.
What about spatial audio on Apple TV 4K?
(Image credit: Apple)
Here’s something of a surprise: despite having also had a software update (to tvOS 14), the Apple TV 4K does not currently support spatial audio. That seems odd to us. True, AirPods are more often connected to a portable device than an Apple TV, but spatial audio seems a perfect way for those people without a surround sound system to get a taste of cinema-style sound while watching on their lounge TV.
Apple’s not explained why the Apple TV 4K isn’t getting spatial audio. We had wondered if it was a power issue, but the A10X chip in the Apple TV 4K has more grunt than the standard A10 chip in the iPhone 7, which does support spatial audio, so that can’t be it. Perhaps it needs to be implemented in a different way for Apple TV 4K and will come later, or perhaps Apple has decided to save this feature for the next Apple TV. After all, it’s rumoured that the next-gen Apple TV, expected to arrive in 2021, will be more gaming-focused. Only time will tell.
What other new features are in the AirPods update?
(Image credit: Apple)
Spatial audio isn’t the only new feature included in the AirPods autumn update.
Automatic switching between Apple devices is also part of the package, so you no longer need to manually connect your headphones when turning your attention to a second device. Let’s say you’ve just stopped listening to a podcast on your iPhone and you open Netflix on your iPad – the audio coming from the AirPods is going to automatically switch to what’s coming out of the iPad. Switch to your MacBook for a FaceTime call and it will automatically switch again. An incoming phone call will always take precedence.
Low battery notifications are here now too, with a pop-up notification appearing on your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch to tell you when it’s time to charge.
Audio sharing, which already allows two people to connect their headphones to a single iPhone or iPad, has been expanded to work with Apple TV 4K. Each listener gets independent volume control, which is rather cool.
Finally, there’s something called ‘Headphone Accommodations’, which allows audio to be adjusted to account for hearing differences. This involves going through a guided listening experience that will help select an audio profile that’s tailored to your specific needs. Interestingly, this profile also works in Transparency mode, so can boost the sounds around you as well as those coming from your device.
Best of all, these other new features are available on more headphones than just the AirPods Pros. Automatic switching is available on the 2nd Gen AirPods and the Beats Powerbeats, Powerbeats Pro and Solo Pro. Headphone Accommodations work with all of those models and the standard EarPods that come bundled with new iPhones. Sharing audio, meanwhile, works with all versions of the AirPods and all Beats headphones that have the Apple W1 or H1 chip inside.
Telegram is adding a new group voice chats feature that’s similar to an always-on Discord room. Voice chats are now part of existing text chats, and operate as a persistent option to speak live with friends or family. As they’re always available, you can dip in and out of voice chats just like you would in a Discord room or call.
Telegram is supporting “a few thousand participants,” so even bigger groups for things like live events will include voice chats. The feature appears at the top of an existing group chat, if enabled, allowing anyone to join the conversation freely. On the desktop versions of Telegram for Windows and Mac, you can also use a push-to-talk key for voice chats to control your microphone input.
Telegram’s new voice chat overlay for Android.Telegram
Telegram has also built a useful voice chat overlay for Android, which operates as a system-wide floating widget. It lets you see who’s talking or operate microphone and mute options when Telegram is running in the background.
At the moment group voice chats is focused on audio, but Telegram says it’s adding video and screen sharing features in the coming weeks. If you’re interested in trying out group voice chats you’ll need to be an admin of a group to enable the feature in the group settings menu.
Alongside the group voice chats option, Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has revealed that the service is nearing 500 million users. Telegram now plans to monetize its service with an ad platform that’s designed for one-to-many public channels. Durov describes the platform as “one that is user-friendly, respects privacy and allows us to cover the costs of servers and traffic.”
Update December 23rd 6:15AM ET: Article updated with Telegram monetization plans.
The Realme Buds Air Pro are the first TWS earphones with ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) of the brand. We already reviewed them and established they bring a superb powerful sound, excellent battery life, and an attractive price tag.
Now the accessory, initially launched in White or Black, is also arriving in Grey but the device will be called Realme Buds Air Pro Master Edition. The audio wearable was finally revealed by the company CEO in an official teaser on Twitter and the buds can be seen on the live stream page as well.
— Madhav Sheth (@MadhavSheth1) December 22, 2020
Madhav Sheth, CEO at Realme Europe & India, revealed the new version is designed by Jose Levy – the very same person that was behind the Buds Q. The design is inspired by space capsules and sci-fi, and we can add it looks in unison with nature and might bring a feeling, similar to a rock pebble carved by water.
Both the case and the buds will be a glossy gray color, but the rubbery tips will remain black – this is hardly an issue since they will be inside the ears at all time and it will be a bit harder to spot any dirt. The Buds Air Pro will be unveiled tomorrow alongside the Watch S Pro which was also teased by Sheth earlier this month.
RESUME The Tiglon TPL – 2000 A, the application of a patented magnesium-containing tape reduces the entry and emission of electromagnetic fields. Because power cables are close to audio components and other cables, EMI is often a serious source of interference. The application of magnesium in a cable can be called innovative. This cable does not change the sound. Because apparently less interference signals mix with the audio signal, the noise floor becomes lower and there is mainly an experience of more detail, silence, space and depth. Those changes are subtle and just noticeable. They contribute to an even more natural sound experience.
PLUS POINTS Actually built in accordance with the EMC Provides audible results Very beautifully built Superior Furutech Shielded Connectors MINUSES Higher price, but not unreasonable Not extremely smooth Tiglon is a relatively unknown Japanese high-end company in the Netherlands that produces ands, vibration dampers and audio cables. The brand introduced a new technology to provide cables with effective protection against EMI. As a total surprise, a mains cable from this manufacturer’s range was sent directly from Japan to the listening room. Japan is the audio country pur sang. An important reason to take these types of specialized products seriously.
The operation and influence of mains cables
Power cables (or power cables) appeal to the imagination. In an earlier article, the theory behind power cables was discussed. There is no form of voodoo or supernatural phenomena in cables. There is an immense amount of literature available on how cables work since the 1930s. Just physics and a bit of math. Not all cables in hi-fi island are built according to the theoretically optimal model. This means that cables can react very differently. What has in any case become very clear is that cables and other accessories must be able to convincingly show any added value or improvement immediately after connection. It doesn’t work by listening for weeks and then shouting that a little bit of change can be discerned with a lot of effort. At such a moment it makes no sense to spend money on it.
Issues
In my opinion, manufacturers of mains cables can hardly admit that they are innovating. In a nutshell (see also the earlier publication on power cables), many power cables are themselves an immense source of interference. These cables are very close to sensitive equipment and other analog cables. They cause measurable electromagnetic fields. Those fields radiate into all equipment and other cables in the area. In addition, power cables also absorb all kinds of disturbances from the environment. These are also piped to the connected equipment.
In general, almost all power cables without any forms of shielding or other measures to block and / or receive radiation are worthless. You can just as well use the well-known black and supplied power cords. Some of these are for technical reasons, not discussed further here, even better than a number of so-called ‘audiophile’ mains cables. So, get such cables for a demo, cut them, and look for technology that will help reduce the problematic effects described above.
Tiglon Here and there you see the application of techniques known for eighty years to to suppress those disturbances a little. In any case, Tiglon deserves the honor of offering an innovative solution for electromagnetic radiation. That is generally one of the bigger problems with mains cables. Tiglon is a Japanese company operating in 2010 started with a magnesium speaker mode (MGT series). Various studies are known in the literature on the mechanical damping capacity of metals and ceramic materials. For example, magnesium alloy type AZ 31 BF a value of 10? at 0.1? ys (%). Materials such as copper, aluminum and steel are all under 5. It is therefore not a bad idea to build vibration-damping speaker stands, racks and ‘damping’ insulators (vibration damping devices) for audio components based on magnesium alloys.
But, magnesium has another great property in the form of damping electromagnetic fields. An important product group of the company are all kinds of audio cables, which use magnesium shields to damp EMI. Tiglon has a patent for this application. In terms of content, it concerns a flexible ‘shield’ containing magnesium that is wrapped around the conductors in the cable. So it looks like a kind of tape, like you wrap around the handle of a tennis racket. The discovery that magnesium can dampen electromagnetic waves has been made earlier and several studies are available worldwide. A study is known here into, among other things, the effect of various alloys with magnesium on the damping effect, including the relationship between the damping and the direction of the electromagnetic field (2018 Shangyu Gao et al. College of Materials Science and Engineering , Chongqing University, Chongqing, 20201127140605, China. ).
An inquiry from 2010 also shows the relationship between the cable architecture and the angle of irradiation. It indicates that some architectures are better able to suppress EMI and therefore are more independent of the direction of the electromagnetic field. Tiglon’s patent does not contain the discovery that magnesium blocks electromagnetic radiation, but it concerns the magnesium-containing tape. This makes it possible to provide such a network cable with some flexibility, which would be less successful with a cable with a shield of mu-metal. The Tiglon cable is flexible, but again not an example of a flexible cable.
Tiglon TPL – 2000 A power cable
The TPL – 2000 A is according to Tiglon the best power cable the company can provide. Tiglon uses DF-OFC (oxygen-free copper), uses the previously mentioned magnesium shield and uses additional shielding to block RFI. By means of HSE (Hyper Saturated Energizer), the cable is ‘played in’ in advance and the sound quality also improves. The latter does a considerable drain on the imagination of the undersigned, because as far as is known no theoretical foundation can be found for the ‘anticipation’. The ‘anticipation’ is done by sending a varying current through the cable and by means of high frequencies.
The cable has a bead at both ends. These are windings of magnesium tape. They form a mechanical filter that dampens mechanical energy coming from the connectors. According to Tiglon, cables are very sensitive to mechanical resonances. They affect the sound. The performance of the Tiglon cables can therefore not only be explained by the damping of EMI, but also because of the damping of mechanical energy caused by the magnesium. The signal in a cable, according to Tiglon, is moved according to the impulse law. The transport of electrons then causes micromechanical impulses (ie collisions between electrons). Tiglon’s claim is that external vibrations affect the electrons, ie the nature of those micromechanical impulses (collisions) and then the sound. Pucks, spikes and everything that we place under hi-fi components affects the operation of the micro-mechanical impulses and thus the sound. It is a claim that requires an explanation of how free electrons move in a conductor and whether this transport is affected by external vibrations.
The Paul Drude model teaches that the transport takes the form of a sea of colliding electrons . The direction that electrons get after such a collision is, according to the theory, only dependent on the local temperature. It is interesting to investigate whether external vibrations also influence those collisions, whether this takes place by definition and whether there is an influence on the sound. Nice PhD research.
On the other hand, (poorly built) cables can be microphonic. If the cable moves, a kind of crackling sound can be heard. However, it is about interlinks and microphone cables through which a signal runs. No audio signals pass through power cords. The Tiglon cables are in any case beautiful and very solidly built and are supplied with the Furutech FI – 50 (R) NCF connectors, which are made of metal. Research here showed that a connector made of plastic simply throws the radiation, which, for example, a switched power supply in a device generates, through the IEC connector. Sealing such a connector with a mu-metal shield was discernible in the sound quality. The theory about ‘escaping’ and bringing in radiation through the connectors and chassis parts of audio equipment can be found in a publication by Jeffrey P. Mills (Electromagnetic Interference, Prentice Hall). A power cord with plastic connectors is therefore at odds with the theoretical model.
Tiglon TPL – 2000 A: Listen
Only a single cable was available. Then a choice has to be made which component will be connected. Experience shows that preamplifiers, streamers, music servers and converters can sometimes be sensitive to all kinds of disturbances. The Tiglon TPL – 2006 A was thus connected to an available DA converter. The influence of this mains cable was actually immediately visible. What most likely happened was that there were no failures a bit of space and depth was added to the soundstage, in which sounds became perceptible that would otherwise remain hidden. You hear sound that is not or less perceptible in many other listening situations. The great thing is that sounds die out for a very long time and that such a thing is clearly traceable, until such an often subtle sound disappears behind the distant auditory horizon. Psycho-acoustically speaking, it then seems as if the soundstage becomes much deeper, but also wider.
An additional psychoacoustic perception is that sounds appear to be more clearly defined. That makes sense. As the overall noise floor decreases, sounds stand out more clearly. A funny effect is that you tend to turn the system down. At low volumes there is already such a density of information that it is not necessary to want to hear more by turning the volume very high. What happens is a bit like fog. If there is fog, you will see less, while all hidden objects are indeed around you. When the fog clears, you will see more and more and your field of observation also becomes deeper and wider. In an audio system, interference that ends up in the audio path can hide softer sounds, while that information is actually present in the signal. The observations are in line with the theoretical model and also in line with the intention of this cable. Namely, offering the best possible protection against EMI. So it appears that this cable is keeping some amount of interference out of the DA converter. The noise floor then descends and hidden musical details become discernible.
Whoever reads it like this might not be impressed, because there is no mention of mega improvements, blasting eruptions of increased dynamics, instruments that suddenly come out spectacularly and an impressive increased sound quality. Apparently it is always others within hi-fi island who are allowed to experience all this. It really has never happened here. But, what this TPL – 2006 A does here is unmistakably discernible. But see it above all as one of the small steps that you can take with well-chosen cables and accessories and that together form a system that is neutral and sounds just a little closer to a real live music experience. So I wonder what will happen if multiple devices from such an audio system are equipped with these cables.
Tiglon TPL – 2000 A: epilogue The Tiglon TPL – 2006 A reduces the entry and emission of electromagnetic fields through the use of a patented magnesium-containing tape. Because power cables are close to audio components and other cables, EMI is often a serious source of interference. The application of magnesium in a cable can be called innovative. This cable does not change the sound. Because apparently less interference signals mix with the audio signal, the noise floor becomes lower and there is mainly an experience of more detail, silence, space and depth. Those changes are subtle and just noticeable. They contribute to an even more natural sound experience.
Price indication: 2. 400 euro
Black Forest Audio | www.blackforestaudio.com
(Pocket-lint) – Picking the right pair of headphones for running is anything but easy, with hordes of options all vying to accompany you on your pavement-pounding jaunts.
A good pair should be able to comfortably stay in your ear, withstand sweat, wind and rain and, of course, deliver solid sound. However, these factors aren’t necessarily all guaranteed – even if you opt for something a little expensive – and you’ll have to weigh up just how much you want to spend and, perhaps, whether you want them to double up as your everyday pair, too.
To help you make the best decision for your ears, we’ve gathered together some of the top headphones for running – from corded to true wireless, and around-ear to in-ear – at a variety of budgets. On your marks, get set, go!
Our pick of the best headphones for running
Beats
Beats Powerbeats Pro
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We could bore you to tears about why Beats’ Powerbeats Pro are the best overall headphones for running. Put simply, though, they win out because they offer the perfect blend of comfort, sound and stability.
They’re without question on the pricey side, but it’s more than worth it to know these things are never coming loose or succumbing to sweat (thanks to the IPX4 rating and mini vent).
They’re even comfortable when worn for longer stretches, since there’s no cable behind the neck pulling the hook on your ear, and offer a, quite frankly, insane battery life for true wireless headphones – 9 hours of listening time that extends to 24 with the battery case.
If you can stomach the price tag, there’s very little to dislike about Beats’ latest headphones.
Beats Powerbeats Pro review: Perfect workout companions
Anker
Anker Soundbuds Slim+
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Plenty of running headphones require a significant investment, but Anker’s Soundbuds Slim+ let you get started for a budget price tag.
Considering the outlay, these in-ear buds offer excellent audio quality – more in line with the mid-level offerings – and also manage to eke out 10 hours of playtime.
They’re naturally not as stable as around-ear designs, but the slim build, as the name suggests, and wings help things stay relatively stable.
The package includes multiple ear tips, meaning you can tinker with the fit, and the IPX7 rating ensures you don’t have to worry about rain or sweat.
Bose
Bose SoundSport
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If your priority is great sound, Bose delivers an expert offering with its exercise-focused headphones.
They’re a little long in the tooth, granted, but, as with any Bose product, the quality is long-lasting. Plus, the design still holds up really well against competitors, with the company’s StayHear+ tips giving you a lightweight and sturdy fit throughout runs. Just watch out for that six-hour battery – it sneaks up on you.
It’s important to note that Bose also offers a Pulse edition of the SoundSport, too, which features a built-in heart rate monitor. While not totally necessary for all users (especially runners who already have a dedicated watch), it is a handy add-on.
Jabra
Jabra Elite 75t Earbuds
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Jabra’s Elite 75t aren’t specifically designed to accompany you on winding runs – despite being water and sweat resistant – so it’s a testament to their quality that you would never really know.
The truly wireless design gives you a bit more freedom when on the move, and we’re big fans of the Jabra Sound+ app, which lets you equalize music until your heart’s content.
It’s not just about the comfy design, either, with roughly 7.5 hours of battery backed up by a total of 28 hours total when you take advantage of the charging case.
Jabra Elite Active 75t review: True wireless sport star
Beats
Beats Powerbeats
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Imagine the stable comfort and sound quality of Beats’ Powerbeats Pro, then add a cable that sits behind your head – that’s essentially what the latest generation of the Powerbeats gives you.
Since the design is a little more traditional, the price tag reflects that, making them a top pick for those who want a pair of Beats but don’t want to shell out for the Pro model.
Since Beats is Apple-owned, you get the H1 chip underneath the hood, too, which allows for instant pairing with Apple devices. And, perhaps best of all, the battery will last up to 15 hours before it needs to juicing back up with a Lightning cable.
Beats Powerbeats review: Great earphones without the ‘Pro’ price
Sennheiser
Sennheiser CX Sport
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Sennheiser’s CX Sport is another great-sounding pair of mid-level headphones, delivering some of the best audio quality for when you’re on the go.
The design is similar to many in the wireless-but-wired crop, giving you splash- and sweat-proofing, as well as a choice of four adapters and fins that fit round your ear.
You also have the really handy music and call control remote on the cord itself, letting you increase/decrease volume and pause/play.
They’re not quite elite on the battery front, giving you a total of six hours before they need recharging, but it should be enough to suit occasional runners and those who don’t mind recharging once a week.
Apple
Apple AirPods Pro
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We wouldn’t necessarily recommend all of Apple’s earbuds for running sessions, but the AirPods Pro – not just the best AirPods yet for audio quality – are both sweatproof and waterproof.
With the design now progressing to in-ear, with a choice of three sizes of silicone tips, they’re also a much more secure fit for running than previous models – even if they can’t quite match up to the lock-fit of the Powerbeats Pro.
Active noise cancellation means you don’t have to max out the volume to drown out the sound of your commute, or, more importantly, the music at your gym, with the AirPods Pro able to last 24 hours with the help of the charging case, too.
Apple AirPods Pro review: Silence is golden
Jaybird
Jaybird X4
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Jaybird’s latest entry to its mid-range line is the X4, which really doubles down on the water-resistance to remain useable in all kinds of conditions.
The upgraded IPX7 rating means the corded wireless headphones are able to withstand sweat or rain, and, thankfully, the audio quality remains very respectable – even if it isn’t quite on par with the elite options on this list.
To make sure the fit is precise, Jaybird also includes a number of different tips, while battery life gives you eight hours from a two-hour charge.
(Pocket-lint) – Getting a solid desktop PC can be a bit of a gamechanger in different ways. Depending on what you buy or build, it could mean getting a machine that unlocks your potential for home working, or it could be a monster gaming rig for recreational purposes.
The best all-in-one computer: Amazing desktops for your home or office
Either way, though, you’re going to want to pair it with some proper speakers, to make sure that you’re not stuck with muted video or forced to always used headphones if you want to hear anything. We’ve gathered some of the very best speakers for desktop computers right here for you to pick from.
Our pick of the best desktop PC speakers to buy today
Creative
Creative Pebble Desktop Speakers
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Creative has a wide range of really impressive speakers for your desktop, including some that go up to extremely expensive price tags, but we think the best pick for most people is its Pebble set.
These are really affordable, but they also have a fun and unique design that makes them a great addition to any setup. They sound really solid and are small enough to not dominate a desk.
Logitech
Logitech G560
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Logitech is one of the kings of the computer peripheral world, and it’s no surprise that it’s got its fingers in the pie when it comes to speakers. It, like Creative, has a few to pick from.
Our best-loved, though, are the G650, a great pair of speakers that work really nicely with the accompanying subwoofer to get a major boost to their base. They also look great, with clean RGB capabilities that are perfect for gaming.
Creative
Creative GigaWorks T20
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Creative strikes again with this mid-range speaker set, and while they don’t have the same funky design as the Pebbles, the splash of yellow on the speakers still make the T20 something memorable.
They also sound really great and have a pretty classic desktop look to them, making them fit in really nicely either side of a computer monitor.
Bose
Bose Companion 2 Series III
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Bose is a really well-known audio brand, so it’s no surprise that it’s got some great speakers to offer up in this category, too. The Companion 2 are so good that this is the third time Bose has updated them subtly.
You get really nice balanced sound, as per Bose’s pedigree, and a design that’s really mature and classy.
Razer
Razer Nommo Pro
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If you want a distinctive look for your setup, gaming expert Razer might have an option for you in the form of the Nommo Pro, a funky-looking pair of speakers with a powerful sub to go with them.
These sound really excellent and are well-balanced for your gaming needs, plus a handy little puck controller gives you easy volume control on your desktop.
Logitech
Logitech Z623
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Our last option again comes from Logitech, with a mid-range system that has a massive sub to make sure that it can pump out bass to compete with anything.
The design is industrial, with exposed speaker grilles that we really like, although it could be a little brutal for some people’s tastes. For a mid-range speaker setup with a subwoofer, though, this is well-priced and well-specified.
Writing by Max Freeman-Mills. Editing by Conor Allison.
(Pocket-lint) – Think of sports earphones and there’s a certain aesthetic in mind. In most cases you’ll be looking at plastic ‘buds, often brightly coloured or – in the case of on-ears – covered in a canvas-like material. Those bright colours used to complement the colour schemes you’ll often find on training shoes and tracksuits.
What you probably don’t see that often is a pair of ‘buds built using traditionally luxurious or premium materials. At least, not until now. Enter the Beoplay E8 Sport by Bang & Olufsen – which seeks to marry the sporty and premium into a single product.
Design
4 silicon tips (XS, S, M, L) & Comply Foam tips; 3 earfins (S, M, L)
Finishes: Black, Oxygen Blue (and limited edition collab models)
IP57 water- and dust-resistant
Bang & Olufsen’s argument for not rushing into the sports earbud market is based around its own insistence on using particular materials and not compromising on its design principles. In this instance, specifically, it means B&O sticks to its tradition of using aluminium in at least part of the design.
Pocket-lint
On the E8 Sport you’ll spot it in a couple of places. Firstly, when you open up the case you’ll find a brushed aluminium surface covering the entirety of the top of the case, with cutouts where the earbuds sit to charge. In our model it’s finished in matte black, camouflaging it with the rest of the case, but if you angle it towards some light you’ll notice the polished, chamfered edge reflects light. Secondly – and echoing that design – on the ‘buds you’ll find another polished, chamfered aluminium ring.
Get it in matte black and you get that classy, stealthy look that works just as well in your everyday carry as it does in the gym. But it’s not the only option, so those who want a splash of colour have options: the limited Fernando Alonso version features a teal metallic ring around the touchpad; the Rapha edition has a red ring around; or there’s an Oxygen Blue model which has a pastel turquoise colouring for those who feel black is a bit too boring.
Pocket-lint
Being sports earphones, of course, the design focus is also on grip-ability. Interestingly, B&O has taken this focus and applied it not only to the ‘buds, but to the case as well. Both have a ridged finish around the outside, so that when you’re holding the case or wearing the earbuds, they’re very unlikely to get slippery, even when wet.
B&O’s earbuds are water resistant to IP57 levels, which means they’ll get through your sweaty sessions, or runs in the rain. If the ‘buds get too grubby or sweaty, you can remove them and wash them under running water quickly to get the grime off.
In our own testing, the ‘buds stayed in our ears very securely with the default tips and wings applied. It’s a secure fit, but one that doesn’t feel too snug or pressured. It’s a nice light balance that ensures these ‘buds don’t get uncomfortable after a run, but also means the chance of one falling out is slim – so nothing to hold you back from that personal best attempt.
One of our favourite elements to the design is actually the hinge of the charging case. Like so many other manufacturers, you flip open the lid to get to your ‘buds, but the movement of this hinge is so smooth. It’s not loose or tight, which adds to that overall feeling of attention to detail in design. It’s a luxurious touch that makes it feel like the ‘buds are worth their rather high price tag.
The case isn’t just a luxury item though, it’s practical too. You can place it on a wireless charing pad to refill the battery inside when empty or – if you prefer – use the Type-C connector on the back.
Pocket-lint
One of our favourite elements to the design is actually the hinge of the charging case. Like so many other manufacturers, you flip open the lid to get to your ‘buds, but the movement of this hinge is so smooth. It’s not loose or tight, which adds to that overall feeling of attention to detail in design. It’s a luxurious touch that makes it feel like the ‘buds are worth their rather high price tag.
The case isn’t just a luxury item though, it’s practical too. You can place it on a wireless charing pad to refill the battery inside when empty or – if you prefer – use the Type-C connector on the back.
Features and performance
Bluetooth 5.1 and aptX
7 hours music playback
30 hours including case
Audio transparency mode
While there’s no active noise-canceling (ANC) to speak of here, there are plenty of modern features that help the E8 Sport perform really well in terms of connectivity and longevity.
The fit of the tips means these ‘buds offer a decent passive seal to help keep out unwanted noise, so ANC isn’t a serious miss here. However, you do get an audio transparency mode that you quickly access by tapping the left earbud. That feature’s enabled by the touch-sensitive panels on the two ‘buds, which you also use to play and pause or skip forwards and back between tracks.
Pocket-lint
If you load up the Bang & Olufsen app on your smartphone you can adjust the level of audio transparency you want too, it’s not a case of being stuck with an all-or-nothing approach.
Other useful modern tech includes Bluetooth 5.1, which helps the ‘buds stay connected with each other and with the source device. With that, and aptX support for Android users, we got a consistent and lag-free experience during our testing. Not once did we find the connection drop, even when leaving the source device in another room.
Like the connection, you rarely have to worry about the battery life either. Bang & Olufsen claims you get up to seven hours of music playback when you remove the ‘buds from the case, before the need to dock again for recharging. In our daily use we were easily able to listen for a solid two or three hours with the app showing a percentage drop of around 30 per cent.
Pocket-lint
If you somehow do end up using these ‘buds for the full seven hours, you’ll get just over three additional full charges from the battery in the case before you need to plug it in or place it on a wireless charging base. That’s a considerable 30 hours total.
Sound
20Hz – 20KHz frequency response
5.7mm electrodynamic drivers
Customisable EQ in app
Like its focus on design, B&O has a set approach for sound quality and it’s very much ‘how the artist intends you to hear it’. That means you don’t get lots of heavy bass. Instead, the result is clarity and detail, but with quality, balanced mid-level and low frequencies.
That’s the default at least, and it’s a great place to start, because – while not loud and prominent – bass is well controlled and detailed. We did find that you lose some of that balance, losing the bass, when you turn the volume down – but once you’re up to 50 per cent or higher, there’s a great balance to everything.
Pocket-lint
Unlike some other manufacturers, Bang & Olufsen actually lets you adjust the equaliser too. Rather than have complicated faders on screen, you get a single dot that lets you choose the way you want the music to feel, whether that’s warm and mellow or bright and exciting. If you want a dynamic, exciting sound with more bass you can have that. What’s more, you can create different profiles for different moods and save those in the app with their own names.
So, for instance, if you want a particular kind of sound for when you’re working out and another for when you’re listening to music on the bus/train, or when you’re working at your desk, you can have a different profile for each scenario. Regardless of how you adjust it, there’s a certain ‘signature’ to everything in the way you get clarity. There’s tight control everywhere, so you never get distortion in the upper frequencies, and bass retains its feel and tightness even if it is more prominent in your preferred profile. The end result of all this is a sound that’s incredibly versatile.
Best noise-cancelling (ANC) headphones 2020 for blocking out noise when you’re working from home
Verdict
Bang & Olufsen’s E8 Sport true wireless ‘buds set themselves apart from the usual crowd by looking and feeling ultra-premium. These in-ears also just happen to be waterproof, practical and durable too. It’s a great combination, plus the sound profile and fit is superb.
Combine that practicality with B&O’s signature sound and an app that lets you customise the equaliser to your liking, and you’ll find this is probably the best-sounding pair of workout headphones on the market.
Except, thanks to that premium styling, you can wear these ‘buds during your commutes to work with your business attire and nothing would look out of place. How’s that for premium and versatile.
Alternatives to consider
Pocket-lint
Powerbeats Pro
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Since launch, the Powerbeats Pro has been virtually unchallenged as the top workout headphones. It’ll cost you less than B&O’s effort, and has a design that’ll keep these ‘buds stuck on your ears while delivering great sound and battery life.
Read our review
Pocket-lint
Master & Dynamic MW07 Go
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Master & Dynamic’s smaller and more affordable true wireless ‘buds deliver dynamic sound in design that fits snugly in the ear with a flexible, grippy comb-fin. Battery life isn’t as good as B&O’s, but the cost is a lot lower.
The best Lightning headphones 2020 for your iPhone or iPad
We’ve tested a pile — these are the best RGB mouse pads out there. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
For many, mouse pads have become a commodity — or even unnecessary — with many optical mice claiming to work with most surfaces. But when it comes to PC gaming, a mouse pad can be crucial, guaranteeing a level and/or extra-slick surface. That means smooth, precise, error-free movements. And if you’re adding an accessory to an RGB-enabled gaming setup, doesn’t your best gaming mouse deserves something pretty to dance on too?
RGB mouse pads are becoming more readily available online. But many come from companies you’ve never heard of, and others may lack the features you have in mind. Mouse pad shopping might sound simple once you’ve decided on a material, but when you toss in RGB lighting strips and customization software, it’s easier to get buyer’s remorse.
When buying an RGB mouse pad, ask yourself these questions:
Do you have an available USB port? RGB mouse pads need something to power all those colorful lights. If you don’t want to sacrifice a port, look for a pad with a USB passthrough port or consider ditching RGB altogether.
Hard or soft? Hard, plastic surfaces are more slippery, so your mouse will quickly glide across the surface with minimal force from your hand. These are best reserved for more competitive gamers (or at least those with a mouse with CPI control). Alternatively, soft cloth mouse pads generally offer more precise control.
Does it come with software? If there’s no software, it’s likely that you won’t be able to customize the mouse pad lighting’s colors or effects, and if you are, the options will be limited. Most of the mouse pads on this list feature free software for controlling the lighting.
How many RGB zones do you want? An RGB zone is individually customizable via software, so if you want to see more than one color at a time on your mouse pad, make sure you buy a pad with at least 2 RGB zones. Note that RGB zones are different than “RGB LEDs.”
Best RGB mouse pads at a glance:
1.Razer Firefly V2
2. SteelSeries QCK Prism
3. Cooler Master MP750 (M)
4. Omen by HP Outpost
5. SteelSeries QCK Prism Cloth (XL)
6. Patriot Viper Gaming LED Mouse Pad
7. Thermaltake Level 20 Extended Gaming Mouse Pad
The Best RGB Mouse Pads You Can Buy Today
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The Razer Firefly V2 is the best RGB mouse pad for a plethora of color. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
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1. Razer Firefly V2
Best RGB Mouse Pad Alternative
Surface: Hard, micro-textured plastic | Measurements: 14 x 10 x .01 inches (355 x 255 x 3mm) | RGB Zones: 19 | Software: Razer Synapse 3 | Base: Rubber
Large number of RGB zones
Bright RGB lighting
Braided cable
Mouse cable catch
Attracts fingerprint smudges
Software can be complex
If our top recommendation, the reversible SteelSeries QCK Prism below, isn’t in stock, the Razer Firefly V2 is a great alternative and also the most colorful RGB mouse pad we’ve tested. It has a whopping 19 customizable zones, and despite the thin lighting strips, the LEDs’ brightness visibly outshined competitors.
The mouse pad is fit for competitive gaming with what Razer calls a “micro-textured” plastic surface that feels slightly rough and enables speedy mouse movements but easily gathers fingerprints and smudges. Razer’s Firefly V2 is only 3mm thick, but its rubber base prevented any movement during gaming. Its cable catch, while a small detail, successfully kept our mouse’s wire in check.
Razer Synapse 3, the detailed accompanying software, gives RGB tweakers full rein over all those lighting zones. You get brightness controls, seven presets, including a Reactive one that works with supporting Razer mice, and can sync the lighting with other Razer RGB devices. We also appreciate the toggle to “Switch off lighting when the display is turned off.” The software’s Chroma Studio (pictured above) function is where the more advanced customization occurs with numerous effects layers and the ability to control the effects’ cycling speed, duration and intensity. But its complexity means it’ll take a longer to master than simpler apps.
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The SteelSeries QCK Prism is the best RGB mouse pad we’ve tested. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
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2. SteelSeries QCK Prism
Best RGB Mouse Pad
Surface: Reversible (hard polymer plastic or micro-textured cloth) | Measurements: 14 x 11.5 x 0.3 inches (356.7 x 292.4 x 8.7mm) | RGB Zones: 12 | Software: SteelSeries Engine 3 | Base: Silicon rubber
Many RGB zones
Classy and reactive RGB lighting implementation
Reversible surface
Software has many pre-made themes
Reversible surface can obscure upper-right corner of RGB border
Plastic side attracts fingerprints
The SteelSeries QCK Prism is the best mouse pad with RGB. It’s not just a light show; the QCK Prism is fully outfitted for serious gaming. The square within the RGB border easily comes off, allowing gamers to choose between its hard polymer side for speedy gaming or the micro-textured soft cloth surface for greater control. It’s almost like getting two mouse pads in one.
When gaming, the mouse pad felt solid and reliable, thanks to its relatively heavy feel and thick rubber base that wouldn’t move an inch no matter how aggressive we moved our mouse. However, we noticed the removable area sticking up a tiny bit in the upper-right corner, which slightly cut into our view of the lighting in the upper-right corner when in a typical seated position. Plus, the plastic side easily attracted fingerprints.
The dignified, rubber black border framing 12 RGB zones provides a clean look that proves you can have colorful lighting without sacrificing class. The SteelSeries Engine software opens up waves of lighting customization options, but it’s also easy to get a mesmerizing effect without spending a lot of time in the app. There are eight well-designed presets that are attractive, including the sunrise-like 8:00 or the pink, orange and purple-themed Disco Mode. You also get reactive lighting around gaming scenarios, like low ammo or health with Dota 2, CS:GO, Utopia 9 and Neverwinter and the ability to sync lighting with other SteelSeries RGB products . SteelSeries also makes a cloth-only version of this mouse pad and an XL one, (which we’ve also listed below).
The Cooler Master MP750 (M) is the best RGB mouse pad for gamers on a budget. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
3. Cooler Master MP750 (M)
Best Budget RGB Mouse Pad
Surface: Soft cloth | Measurements: 14.57 x 10.63 x 0.12 inches (370.08 x 270 x 3.05mm) | RGB Zones: 1 | Software: Cooler Master MasterPlus | Base: Rubber
Spill-resistant
On-the-fly control button
Removable cable
Limited lighting options
RGB colors on software can look different in real life
Visible stitching
If you can’t image spending a lot on a mouse pad, the Cooler Master MP750 (M) is usually $25-$35 without sacrificing much. Cooler Master claims the finely textured cloth offers a “slick texture and smooth maneuverability.” It proved sufficient for the average gamer but didn’t immediately feel like anything special during teting. More unique is its spill-resistant coating. When I spilled water on it, the large droplet easily rolled off, and I could quickly clean up the remainder with a tissue. You can also unplug its MicroUSB to USB-A cable for times when you don’t want RGB or a wire.
The MP750 (M)’s RGB border shines pretty brightly. A handy button lets you cycle through static colors without opening software. Unfortunately, black stitching interrupts the RGB frame, and I worry about getting things, like jewelry, getting caught between loops and causing damage.
Since there’s only one RGB zone, there’s not that much to do in the Cooler Master Master Plus software. There are four lighting modes — Color Cycle, Static, Breathing or off — and five speed settings via a toggle. Static and Breathing modes offer a color picker, but it wasn’t always accurate. For example, when I tried to make a peach and white breathing effect, I instead got white-ish purple flickering. And when I tried to make it flash white, I was met with various shades of blue. Note Cooler Master also makes large and extra large versions of this mouse pad.
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The Omen by HP Outpost is the best RGB mouse pad that also offers wireless charging. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
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4. Omen by HP Outpost
Best Wireless Charging RGB Mouse Pad
Surface: Reversible (hard plastic or cloth) | Measurements: 13.63 x 13.55 x 0.42 inches (346.2 x 344.17 x 10.67mm) | RGB Zones: 2 | Software: Omen Command Center | Base: Rubber
Qi wireless charging supports smartphones and other devices
USB passthrough port
Reversible surface
Hearty build
Reversible surface is hard to remove
Further RGB zones are hard to see
Expensive
Mice with wireless charging, like the Asus ROG Chakram and Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro SE are gaining popularity because they let you to use your mouse wirelessly without ever having to plug it in for a charge, so long as you’re using the right mouse pad, like the Omen by HP Outpost. Besides Qi wireless charging, it has a USB Type-A passthrough port and reversible surface. You’ll have to pay a lot ($100), but it’s hard to find a rival with these capabilities. It also connects via USB Type-C but includes an adapter for USB Type-A ports.
The Outpost’s 5W Qi charging is conveniently at the pad’s upper-left area, so it doesn’t interfere with the gaming surface. It flawlessly charged various devices, not just HP’s own mice. That makes it more versatile than some other mouse pads with this feature, but your devices will charge slower on this 5W charger than on many other Qi chargers, which are rated up to 10-15W.
The pad’s sturdy and heavy (1.53 pounds). Like the SteelSeries QCK Prism above, its reversible surface has a hard plastic side for quick mouse movements and a cloth one for more control. But the Outpost’s pad is much harder to flip. Plus, we wonder about the longevity of the thin, octagonal sticky strip that holds the mouse surface down after many swaps.
You only get two RGB zones here, and one is a small Omen logo. Omen Command Center software lets you pick between static color (presets or a color slider with RGB values and intensity slider) or animations. There are three pre-made animations for the Omen logo and four for the second zone surrounding the gaming surface. We appreciate that each animation also has up to four color schemes: Spectrum, Ocean (our favorite), Jungle and Volcano.
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The XL version of the SteelSeries QCK Prism Cloth is the best extended mouse pad with RGB flair. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
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5. SteelSeries QCK Prism Cloth (XL)
Best Extended RGB Mouse Pad
Surface: Soft cloth | Measurements: 34.4 x 11.8 x 0.2 inches (900 x 300 x 4mm) | RGB Zones: 2 | Software: SteelSeries Engine 3 | Base: Rubber
Reactive RGB lighting available
Friendly software customization
Could be taller
Visible stitching
Available here for $59, the SteelSeries QCK Prism Cloth (XL) is the best large RGB mouse pad. Its “micro-woven” cloth surface stays in place thanks to a silicon rubber base, and its RGB lighting can be used as a gaming advantage, as its programmable to communicate things like game alerts (low ammo or health, for example) and Discord notifications. Its extra-wide surface offers room to keep your best gaming keyboard, but we wouldn’t mind a little more height. With our keyboard and wrist rest in place, there’s little vertical space remaining. Cooler Master’s XL RGB mouse pad is 1.6 inches (40mm) taller.
The QCK Prism Cloth (XL)’s two-zone RGB border shines evenly throughout. But it’s hard to miss its stitching, even though SteelSeries used clear thread.Plus, I can easily wiggle the stitches, which isn’t promising for long-term use during aggressive gaming sessions.
SteelSeries’ Engine software offers a decent range of customization options for the top and bottom RGB zones but not as many pre-made themes as with the reversible SteelSeries QCK Prism (listed above). You can control the speed in seconds and pick between Steady, ColorShift, Multi Color Breath, each with 3-4 pre-selected color schemes and the ability to control brightness. Among the large RGB mouse pads we’ve tested, none offer greater customization options than the QCK Prism Cloth (XL), which is even cheaper than some rivals.
For a cheaper option, consider the Aukey XL RGB Gaming Mouse Pad. It’s currently $35 (we’ve seen it as low as $27) and offers a thick, squishy cloth surface that makes movements a little smoother while fighting off (rather than absorbing) spilled water droplets. But while it has ample preset effects to toggle through, the two RGB zones aren’t individually programmable, as there’s no software.
Want even more mouse pad? We’ve also tried out the 3XL version of the QcK Prism Cloth, and it offers the same brilliance and functionality at 48 x 23.2 x 0.2 inches and $100. There are also 4XL (48 x 30 x 0.2 inches, $120) and 5XL (63 x 31.5 x 0.2 inches, $150) versions. Sadly, no matter the size, you still only get 2 RGB zones.
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
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7. Thermaltake Level 20 Extended Gaming Mouse Pad
Best RGB Mouse Pad Features
Surface: Textured cloth | Measurements: 35.4 x 15.8 x 0.2 inches ( 900 x 400 x 4mm) | RGB Zones: 3 | Software: TT iTake | Base: Rubber
Versatile texture
Stays clean
Provides CPU temperature information
Syncs RGB with Razer products
Visible stitching
Inconsistent static lighting
Expensive
The Thermaltake Level 20 Extended Gaming Mouse Pad is packed with features if you can stomach its $60 price. My favorite is its ability to communicate CPU temperature range by making the lighting 1 of 6 colors. There’s also a music setting, where the bottom left, top right and Thermaltake logo on the left flash respective colors in sync with audio from your PC. And voice assistant dependents will appreciate the ability to control RGB by speaking to an Amazon Alexa device. You can also do this through Thermaltake’s well-functioning and thorough software
But besides its flash, there’s substance. If you don’t like hyper-slippery cloth mouse pads, the textured weave pattern Thermaltake used here is a fantastic balance. Thermaltake’s extended mouse pad also provides 4 more inches of roaming room north to south than the SteelSeries QCK Prism Cloth (XL) above. It stays in place but notably takes in moisture from drinking glasses, leaving on a temporary damp mark. Visible stitching, meanwhile, makes damage easier. On the other hand, the mouse pad’s surface fights off stains, which I tested by eating many a snack over it.
If you have any Razer products using Razer Chroma, you can get the colors to sync for nice touch. I got it to work nicely with a Razer DeathAdder V2 Mini mouse. But if you like customizing, you’ll be frustrated with the inconsistency with colors selected in Thermaltake (or Razer Synapse) software. Trying to set it to a static yellow resulted in a multi-color effect that was mostly aqua green. The photo above shows what’s supposed to be red on top and orange on the bottom. It still looks beautiful, but if you want accurate software customization, look elsewhere
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The Patriot Viper Gaming LED mouse pad brings a lot of style. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
6. Patriot Viper Gaming LED Mouse Pad
Most Stylish RGB Mouse Pad
Surface: Hard polymer plastic | Measurements: 13.9 x 9.5 x 1.8 inches (35.4 x 24.3 x 0.6cm) | RGB Zones: 6 | Software: None | Base: Rubber
Unique shape
Bold logo
On-the-fly controls
Detachable MicroUSB braided cable
A little rough
No software
Expensive for what you get
If you’re eyeing RGB mouse pads, you can handle bold looks. While all the mouse pads above feature exciting LED effects, the Patriot Viper Gaming LED Mouse Pad ($29 as of writing) has a daring shape. Going past your standard rectangular design, Patriot’s pad is a dodecagon, a 12-sided figure. The Viper logo is also a bold stamp, evoking shameless memories of a Transformer or Megazord.
The Viper Gaming LED has a pretty large surface area of very rigid and slightly textured polymer plastic. It’s the hardest mouse pad on this list, and some hard, plastic mice, such as the Cooler Master MM711, made a rough-sounding noise running across it. But after over a week of use, the mouse pad fought off fingerprints better than other plastic mouse pads on this list. Meanwhile, the rubber spanning the entire back of the pad is textured, so it stays in place.
Patriot’s RGB mouse pad doesn’t have companion software. Instead, you control the RGB effects with a control box on the braided, detachable MicroUSB cable. One button browses through different light effects: single or multi-color breathing, a clockwise or counterclockwise spiral, steady lighting with one or rainbow colors and off. Even though there are six RGB zones, you can’t make each zone the color you want. Instead, the second button on the control box toggles through available color schemes for your desired effect. I didn’t have trouble finding a likable effect, but those seeking customization or advanced effects should look at something like the Razer Firefly V2 above.
The MSI Prestige 14 Evo brings a first-class Tiger Lake processor to MSI’s productivity ultrabook, but it’s held back by a dim screen and quiet/tinny speakers.
For
Strong performance
14-inch display
Great webcam
Against
Dim display
Quiet, tinny audio
MSI’s back with an Intel Evo-certified update to its Prestige 14 productivity line. Alongside another, non-Evo refresh, this brings Tiger Lake to the gaming company’s productivity ultrabooks. While we miss the pink color option we saw with its 10th gen machines, this latest iteration of the Prestige 14 gives it industry-leading performance. But performance isn’t the only thing that matters, especially in the best ultrabooks.
MSI Prestige 14 Evo Specs
CPU
Intel Core i7-1185G7
Graphics
Intel Iris Xe
Memory
16GB LPDDR4-4267
Storage
512GB NVMe SSD
Display
14 inches, 1920 x 1080, IPS-level
Networking
802.11 ax Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1
Ports
2x Thunderbolt 4, 1x USB 2.0 Type-A, 1x microSD card reader, 1x 3.5mm combination microphone/headphone jack
Camera
720p, IR
Battery
52 Whr
Power Adapter
65W
Operating System
Windows 10 Home
Dimensions(WxDxH)
12.6 x 8.6 x 0.6 inches (37.1 x 21.8 x 1.5 cm)
Weight
2.8 pounds (1.3 kg)
Price (as configured)
$1,149
Design of the MSI Prestige 14 Evo
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The Evo-certified update to the MSI Prestige 14 keeps the same basic look as previous releases, but unfortunately lacks the bright pink option from the
Ice Lake model
we reviewed earlier this year. Instead, you’ll have a choice between white and black here, though each comes with snazzy metallic lining on the edges of the lid and the touchpad.
There’s some extra styling on the MSI Prestige 14 Evo that gives it a premium look. On our gray model, a metallic blue strip accentuated the edges of the laptop’s lid and its touchpad, and in the right light, almost looked like it was an LED strip.
The rest of the laptop is more plain aesthetically, with the majority of the case being taken up by a uniform, somewhat glittery gray surface that’s unfortunately prone to collecting fingerprints. If you flip the laptop over, you’ll notice that the laptop’s vent hole placement resembles a city skyline, though this isn’t something you’ll see during typical use.
The keyboard is also home to a nice visual touch, as its keycaps are decorated with a slightly lighter version of the case’s color scheme.
Opening the laptop lid also lifts the keyboard off the desk at a five degree angle, to make for easier typing and better cooling.
There’s a wide variety of ports for such a small laptop. The laptop has two
Thunderbolt 4
ports, and the right side has a single USB Type-A port, a 3.5mm combination headphone/microphone jack and a microSD card reader. That last inclusion is a rare but helpful addition, although it’s unfortunate that the Type-A port is just USB 2.0 as opposed to belonging to a more recent connection standard like USB 3.2.
This is the first non-convertible 14 inch Tiger Lake ultrabook we’ve reviewed, so it’s a touch larger than the closest competitors we have on record. At 12.6 x 8.6 x 0.6 inches, it’s certainly not large, but it is a touch longer than rivals. The Dell XPS 13 and Razer Book 13, for instance, are 11.6 x 7.8 x 0.6 inches, while the Asus ZenBook 13 is a slightly chunkier 11.9 x 8 x 0.5 inches.
The Prestige 14 Evo is surprisingly lightweight, though, matching the Dell XPS 13’s 2.8 pounds. That does make it slightly heavier than the ZenBook 13’s 2.4 pounds, but it’s still not as weighty as the Razer Book 13’s 3.1 pounds.
Productivity Performance on the MSI Prestige 14 Evo
This is our first time looking at a shipping laptop with the Core i7-1185G7 CPU. Every other Tiger Lake i7 laptop we’ve reviewed has an i7-1165G7, besides a whitebox system featuring the chip. What’s the difference? Not much. The 1185G7 has a slightly higher max turbo speed (4.3 vs 4.1 GHz), but both can run between 12W and 28W of power. Still, the Prestige’s chip is just a touch more, well, prestigious.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
You can see this in action on the Prestige 14 Evo’s Geekbench 5.0 results. This synthetic benchmark tracks general performance across a number of arenas, and the Prestige 14 Evo scored higher than any computers we tested it to. At 5,718 points, it’s closest match was the Razer Book 13 (5,460), coincidentally also made by a manufacturer known for gaming. The Dell XPS 13 was next (5,254), while the Asus ZenBook 13 came in last (5,084).
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
This trend continued in our Handbrake video editing test, where we track how long it takes a machine to transcode a video down from
4K
to
FHD
. The Prestige 14 Evo completed the task in 12:27, while the Razer Book 13 took slightly longer at 14:46. The Zenbook 13 trailed behind with a 17:51 time, while the XPS 13 took the longest at 18:22.
The Prestige and the Razer Book once again lead scores in graphics testing, with all machines using Intel Iris Xe internal graphics which we benchmarked using 3DMark Fire Strike. Here, the Prestige scored 5,240 points and the Razer Book 13 scored 5,216 points. The Zenbook 13 dipped significantly with 4,407 points, and the XPS 13 rounded out the rankings with an even lower 3,598 points.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The one category where the Prestige isn’t on top is on file transfer speeds. Here, it copied 4.97GB of files at a respectable 805 MBps, which was about on par with the XPS 13’s 806.2 MBps and was much higher than the Razer Book 13’s 479.2 MBps. Still, the ZenBook 13 was the leader here, with a transfer speed of 966.8 MBps.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
We also ran the MSI Prestige through Cinebench R20 20 times in a row to test how it holds up to extended strain. Our average score was 2206.2, which was impressive given that our first test earned 2268 points and that we tend to see a significant drop as the stress test continues.
During the stress test, the Prestige 14’s CPU ran at an average clock speed of 3434.1 GHz and an average temperature of 85.3 degrees Celsius (185.54 degrees Fahrenheit).
Display on the MSI Prestige 14 Evo
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
At 14 inch screen on the MSI Prestige 14 Evo is
IPS-level
, but my viewing experience found that it was almost uncomfortably dim.
I tested the display on the MSI Prestige 14 Evo by watching the Wonder Woman 1984 trailer on it. To the screen’s credit, I found that the viewing angles on this screen were almost complete, with the image never washing out regardless of how far away I got from the display, whether horizontally or vertically. The panel also wasn’t reflective, and I was able to clearly see the image in both normal and low light.
The difficulty was in the actual image on screen. While I could follow the action well, the Prestige 14 Evo is more than just dim. It borders on dark. Colors also weren’t vivid or striking, though blacks were impressively deep.
Our testing backed up my impressions. Our luminance testing found that the average brightness across the Prestige 14 Evo’s screen was 284 nits, which is much lower than even its closest competitors. That would be the ZenBook 13, which had a 370 nit average brightness. The Razer Book 13 and Dell XPS 13, meanwhile, far exceeded these two laptops at 436 and 469 nits, respectively.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The Prestige 14 Evo did fare better on color, registering a 78.9% DCI-P3 rating on our colorimeter. That’s more than we saw on the XPS 13 (69.4%) and the ZenBook 13 (76.1%), though it’s not quite as high as the Razer Book 13’s score (80.7%). Still despite scoring high on official benchmarks, the dim screen held the colors back in practice, since I had to strain more to see them.
Keyboard and Touchpad on the MSI Prestige Evo 14
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The keyboard on the MSI Prestige 14 Evo makes a strong first impression thanks to some snazzy decoration and the laptop’s hinge lifting it five degrees off the desk, but it starts to show some minor weaknesses with further use.
Keypresses are cushiony but still feel tactile, and there’s enough key travel for you to get an idea of when your press is registered. The issue comes with the construction of the keycaps themselves. They’re sturdy enough, but the top of each keycap can start to feel slippery during quick typing, which can get disorienting when touch-typing and is likely to cause the occasional typo.
Still, I was able to maintain a high words per minute count on 10fastfingers.com, where I scored 76 wpm on most tests. That’s just a few points below my 80 wpm standard.
The Prestige’s precision touchpad is generous, and multitouch gestures register well. My only complaint is that the laptop’s fingerprint reader sits in the touchpad’s upper-left corner, and running your finger over it doesn’t register as moving the cursor. So, essentially, it acts as a dead zone that you could accidentally run into during use. However, the touchpad’s larger overall size means this isn’t much of an issue in practice.
Audio on the MSI Prestige Evo 14
The MSI Prestige 14 Evo features a bottom-firing speaker on either side. I tested their audio by listening to Mood by 24kgoldn, and I had a subpar listening experience.
The most immediate issue with the Prestige 14 Evo’s audio is its volume — or lack thereof. Even at 100%, the Prestige 14 Evo was quiet, just barely able to fill my small office with music. Even for personal use, you’ll probably want to keep it at close to 80% of its max volume.
Volume wasn’t the Prestige 14 Evo’s only problem, though. Its audio also tends to come across as tinny and weak. For example, Mood opens up with thunderclaps meant to evoke a raging storm, but they sound more like rustling leaves here. The song’s frequent drum beats also bear a remarkable similarity to clapping hands.
Essentially, the Prestige 14 Evo’s speakers are so poor that my first impression of them was “Are these mono?”
Upgradeability of the MSI Prestige 14 Evo
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
We opened the MSI Prestige 14 Evo by removing the 7 Phillips Head screws along its bottom with a J0 screwdriver. Note that there is a screw underneath a “factory seal” sticker in the center of the case’s lid that you’ll have to remove alongside the screws on the laptop’s side.
Inside the Prestige 14 Evo, you’ll find the M.2 SSD and the networking chip, but since the RAM is soldered in and there’s no slots for expanded storage, the only change you’ll be able to make is swapping out the SSD for one with a larger capacity.
Battery Life on the MSI Prestige 14 Evo
The Evo branding suggests the MSI Prestige 14 should last long. But we have our own battery test, which continually browses the web, streams video and runs OpenGL tests over Wi-Fi at 150 nits of brightness. It confirmed that the Prestige 14 Evo does indeed last for a while before turning off.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Specifically, we found that it had 12:25 hours of battery life on our test. That puts it a little over an hour behind the Asus ZenBook 13 (13:47), but it’s still ahead of the XPS 13 (11:07) and the Razer Book 13 (11:44).
Heat on the MSI Prestige 14 Evo
The MSI Prestige 14 Evo doesn’t get that hot under strain, but it does heat up more frequently than we’d like, even during casual tests.
After 15 minutes of streaming YouTube, the touchpad was the Prestige 14 Evo’s coolest location. It registered 77.7 degrees Fahrenheit (25.4 degrees Celsius). The next hottest location was the keyboard at 87.3 degrees Fahrenheit (30.7 degrees Celsius), while the laptop’s bottom measured 92.3 degrees Fahrenheit (33.5 degrees Celsius).
Its hottest location was slightly above its F4 key, where it hit 93.4 degrees Fahrenheit (34.1 degrees Celsius).
All of this is within what we’ve seen from similar 14 inch Tiger Lake laptops like the Lenovo Yoga 7i, but what makes the Prestige 14 Evo stand out is just how frequently it heats up. Even just sitting idle off to my side as I wrote this review, its fans were on full blast most of the time. This got noisy fast, and I quickly took to turning the MSI off when it wasn’t in use.
Webcam on the MSI Prestige 14 Evo
The MSI Prestige 14 Evo’s webcam reflects the need for strong video conferencing during the pandemic. The picture is so clear that I thought it might have been 1080p when I first turned it on. No, this is a 720p camera, but my mistake indicates how highly I think of it.
In both normal and low light, the Prestige 14 Evo’s camera displayed virtually no grain and was true-to-life in capturing the color and texture of my face. More impressive, however, is that I was able to easily capture a photo in front of my office window without it being washed out by background light. Instead, I was surrounded by the cityscape surrounding my apartment, a rare treat even on the best webcams.
The Prestige 14 Evo’s webcam also acknowledges privacy concerns, and the laptop’s Fn bar has an option to turn it off on the hardware level so that you don’t have to worry about being recorded without your knowledge. It also has an IR sensor for use with Windows Hello.
Software and Warranty on the MSI Prestige 14 Evo
The MSI Prestige 14 Evo comes mostly free of bloat, but because this is a productivity laptop coming from a brand known mostly for gaming, MSI’s snuck in some utility software to prove that it’s not limited to helping players up their K/D ratios. So, on top of standard Windows pack-ins like Microsoft Solitaire Collection and Spotify, you’ll also find apps like the MSI Center for Business & Productivity.
The MSI Center for Business & Productivity is essentially a fancy name for a program that lets you change your CPU’s power consumption based on which apps are open, plus direct more CPU resources to certain productivity programs like Photoshop. It also has noise cancellation functions, and can help you clear SSD space. It also has a unique feature to link iOS devices to your computer as a second display.
ColorDirector for MSI, Music Maker Jam and PowerDirector 17 Essential for MSI are also present and are more akin to bloat. These Cyberlink photo/video editing apps aren’t particularly popular choices among professionals, but I suppose they could make for a good way to get your feet wet before dipping into anything more advanced.
MSI Prestige 14 Evo Configurations
The Evo-certified MSI Prestige 14 has five available configurations, with price and availability depending on theretailer. Our configuration had an Intel Core i7-1185G7 CPU 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. It cost $1,149 at B&H and Newegg at time of review.
The cheapest version we could find was the version with the i5-1135G7, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, which came in at $1,099 at B&H at time of the review.
On the other side of the spectrum, the most advanced version we could find had the same specs as our review unit, except for having a 1TB SSD. It cost $1,199 at Best Buy at the time of review.
Bottom Line
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The MSI Prestige 14 Evo may seem premium at first, thanks to its name and the shiny trim along its outer edges, but on further inspection, it has serious compromises on everything but its performance.
While the Prestige 14 Evo largely boasted slight performance improvements over competitors, its gains were mostly meager, with the
Razer Book 13
in particular nipping at its heels across our tests. This is unfortunate, given that the Razer Book 13 has a brighter screen as well as louder and, in our experience, clearer audio.
Granted, the $1,599 Razer Book 13 is also more expensive than the Prestige 14 Evo, and the
Dell XPS 13
, which has similar strengths, is even more unapproachable at $1,650.
But the $999
Asus Zenbook 13
, which has a larger SSD and a brighter screen, is actually cheaper than the Prestige 14 Evo. MSI’s machine outclasses it a touch more on performance than the Razer Book 13 and the XPS 13, but the ZenBook actually has faster file transfer speeds than any of them. Its speakers were similarly tinny to the Prestige 14 Evo, but were much louder.
So whether you settle on the Prestige 14 Evo depends on your priorities in a laptop. If budget and performance are your first concerns, then it’s a pretty enticing machine. But if you’re willing to take a slight performance hit and pay a few hundred dollars more, you can get a machine with much higher quality components. Alternatively, if you’re OK with a noticeable but not oppressive performance dip, you could also get a machine with overall better components while paying less.
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