Netflix is giving viewers the chance to ignore the visuals of shows and movies entirely and go full audio. In an update first spotted by XDA-Developers and then Android Police, Netflix has started rolling out an audio-only mode for its Android app users.
When watching a video, subscribers will see a “video off” button at the top of the full-screen video player. Once the video is turned off, a blank screen will appear along with all of the playback controls, like a scrub bar, forward and backward buttons, and speed adjustments. You can see that screen below, thanks to Android Police.
Image: Android Police
There’s also an audio-off option in the app’s settings, which lets viewers decide whether they always want the audio off or only when they’re using headphones or external speakers. It’s unclear when all Android users might receive this update; two Verge staffers weren’t able to access the audio-only mode just yet.
This is an intriguing update, though, if only because audio is having a moment. There is, of course, all the buzz around the podcasting industry and Spotify’s efforts to overtake it, but also Twitter launching audio tweets and apps like Clubhouse and TikTok focusing on audio as critical to their success. I wouldn’t have expected Netflix to include an audio-only mode, but if it wants people to spend more time on the app, that means supporting them in situations when they can’t fully give their attention to a screen.
Last week, we brought you leaked renders of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro wireless earbuds. This week, we go one better: a 360-degree video that seems to show Galaxy Buds Pro from every angle.
The Galaxy Buds Pro are said to be Samsung’s next big noise-cancelling wireless earbuds, tipped to launch alongside the Korean tech titan’s Galaxy S21 flagship phone on 14th January.
As you see from the twirly video posted on Voice by reputable leaker Evan Blass, the buds look closer to the Galaxy Buds+ than this summer’s bean-shaped Galaxy Buds Live.
(Image credit: Evan Blass / Voice.com )
If the rumours are true, the Galaxy Buds Pro will boast AKG-tuned audio, improved noise-cancelling, a beefier battery life (courtesy of the 500aMh charging case), Bluetooth 5.1 and USB-C charging. Three gloss finishes are said include “Phantom Violet” and “Phantom Black” (pictured above).
Blass’s post is the latest in a string of Galaxy Buds Pro leaks that have revealed much about the spec and even the predicted price, but we expect Samsung to save a few surprises for the yet-to-be-confirmed launch on 14th January.
Samsung released its first pair of true wireless Galaxy Buds back in 2019 to mixed reviews. The more recent Galaxy Buds Plus and Galaxy Buds Live haven’t raised the bar much either, so it’ll be interested to see how the Galaxy Buds Pro measure up against the Apple AirPods Pro and rumoured AirPods 3 buds.
Google’s newest (and really rather good) Chromecast with Google TV video streamer is adding one of its notable missing apps, namely Apple TV. But that’s all about to change, following news that the streaming dongle will receive the Apple TV app in early 2021.
This follows an October announcement that the Apple TV app is arriving on some Sony TVs, and marks the second major addition of Apple services to Google products, following the recently added support for Apple Music on Google Assistant smart speakers not two weeks ago.
With the addition of the Apple TV app, Chromecast with Google TV users can access Apple TV+ (although of course, you’ll need a paid subscription – and you may want to click the link and read our review to decide whether that’s right for you). Apple TV originals such as Ted Lasso, The Morning Show, Defending Jacob, Greyhound and Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special will be integrated into Google TV’s content aggregation system, too, which will allow the software to recommend them based on your interests and viewing habits.
Additionally, the Apple TV app will give Chromecast users access to their purchased iTunes library of TV shows and movies, as well as any Apple TV channels to which they’re already subscribed.
Google hasn’t specified an exact date for when the Apple TV app will arrive on the Chromecast with Google TV, but the firm promises that it should launch in early 2021, first on the Chromecast with Google TV and followed by other Android TV OS-powered devices later in the year.
Under intense review, we called Google’s latest streaming dongle “one of the best video streamers available, thanks in no small part to the Google TV platform and excellent voice remote”, with our only real gripe being the lack of Apple content. Happily, that’s changing in 2021.
MORE:
Beyond the dongle, What is Google Chromecast? Which apps and products are supported?
See our pick of the Best media streamers 2020: The best TV streaming devices
Looking for an “OK Google” speaker? Read Best Google Assistant speakers 2020: best Google smart speakers
Google phones are also being enhanced: Google Pixel smartphones get audio upgrade
(Pocket-lint) – Lenovo makes several of the very best laptops that sit under the four-figure mark. And this, the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7, is probably the one you should buy.
Sure, the MacBook Air is a more exciting prospect, and even more powerful. But the Yoga Slim 7 is actually one of the best reasons not to buy a MacBook in 2021. Oh, and we should probably mention it’s hundreds cheaper too.
Its build quality is superb, it almost certainly has more power than you need, its screen is excellent in most respects, and the AMD version (as reviewed here) can even handle some recent-ish games well enough.
Lenovo once again gives us a masterclass on how to make a world-class laptop for under a grand. There’s very little reason to spend any more unless you need an ultra-high-resolution screen.
Design
Dimensions: 320.6mm x 208mm x 14.9mm
1.4kg claimed weight (1.326kg measured)
Finishes: Slate Grey / Orchid Purple
Aluminium shell design
High-end laptops are an odd category. Sometimes when you spend more to jump up a league, you end up with a laptop that feels less expensive. A lot of the most pricey ones use magnesium alloys rather than primarily aluminium ones: lighter but less metallic to the touch.
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7’s case panels are aluminium. It leads to weight of 1.3kg rather than, well, a couple of hundred grammes less, but you get the same lovely cool-to-the-touch feel as a MacBook.
Pocket-lint
The screen is stiff, the keyboard doesn’t bow under the pressure of your fingers, and it’s a classy-looking laptop in a minimalistic sort of way.
This isn’t quite the device you might expect given that it’s part of the Yoga series, though. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7’s screen folds open to 180 degrees, not a hybrid-style 360 degrees, and it does not have a touchscreen.
It’s definitely a laptop, not a lifestyle gadget that thinks it can replace an iPad. Lenovo has its eyes on MacBook Air buyers, thus some of the core stats are similar. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 is 16mm thick, just like an Air, and the weight is more-or-less the same too.
Display
14-inch IPS panel, 300 nits birghtness
1920 x 1080 pixel resolution
No touchscreen control
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 has a 14-inch IPS LCD screen. It’s here we see this laptop start to move away from one that costs hundreds more – but less so than you might guess.
Pocket-lint
This is a 1080p screen, which means you’ll see slight pixellation in small fonts. Lenovo does make a 4K version, but this doesn’t seem to be sold as widely as the Full HD Yoga 7 Slim.
In almost every other respect, though, we have no complaints. It actually outperforms Lenovo’s own claims in some areas.
For example, Lenovo says the 1080p Yoga 7 Slim reaches 300-nit brightness. But it actually hits 385 nits by our measure. That extra headroom makes the display look clearer outdoors, and it also has a reflection-reducing matte finish. When you have some high-end laptops touting 500 nits as some kind of untouchable achievement, it shows just how well set this laptop is.
Lenovo says the screen’s colour matches the sRGB colour standard, the old industry standard for monitors and printers. But its colour coverage is actually 20 per cent richer than that by our measure.
Sure, a MacBook Air or Dell XPS 13 has deeper colour still, but you only need to worry about that if you’ll colour grade video or do other pro imaging work. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7’s colour looks well-saturated to our eyes.
Part of that eyeball-pleasing effect is thanks to the display’s great contrast: it’s 1762:1 at max brightness, which is an excellent result for an LCD screen. Blacks don’t look washed out and grey.
Pocket-lint
All it really lacks in this class is the slick presentation you get from a glass-topped glossy screen. The screen image of a glossy display can seem to “pop” more than a matte one like this, and the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 has a plastic top layer with a slightly raised surround.
However, this is more a result of the decision to use a matte finish than a way for Lenovo to save a few pennies when making the Yoga Slim 7.
Keyboard & Touchpad
2-level white LED backlight
NUMPAD-free chiclet keyboard
Wide aspect textured glass trackpad
Want some more proof Lenovo isn’t cost-cutting on the sly? The Yoga Slim 7 has a mid-size textured glass touchpad.
Pocket-lint
This laptop sits right at the border where we tend to see manufacturers switch from using relatively cheap plastic pads to fancier glass ones. Seeing textured glass in a laptop range that starts at this price is by no means a given though.
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 ‘pad also has zero pre-click wobble, and nice’n’firm clicker feedback. We also saw zero driver or sensitivity issues, which often makes us disable tap-based button response in Windows 10.
In short: this is one of the best pads you’ll see in this class.
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7’s keyboard is less remarkable, but still does the job perfectly well. Key travel is limited, much less than Lenovo’s famously deep ThinkPad laptops, but the actuation feedback is good.
Pocket-lint
This is a relatively fast and light-feeling keyboard. It has a two-level backlight as well, and we switched it on more than usual. The key lettering contrast drops off when there’s a light pointing directly at the keyboard as the keys and surround are a metallic grey, with less contrast in their colour than some.
At a glance you’d guess there’s no fingerprint scanner here. But the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 does have one built into the power button on the side.
Apple macOS 11 Big Sur: All the key new Mac features explored
Performance & Speakers
2x 2W speakers with Dolby Atmos DSP
Ryzen 7 4700U CPU with Vega 8 graphics
8GB DDR4X RAM
Lenovo makes both Intel and AMD versions of the Yoga 7 Slim. Our review model is an AMD one with a Ryzen 7 4700U, 8GB RAM and a 512GB SSD.
Pocket-lint
This setup is not quite as powerful as a MacBook Air’s M1 processor, but it is better than the 10th Generation Intel Core i5 or i7 you might find in another model. You can get a Core i7 CPU version of this same laptop for a mite more, but we’d stick with AMD.
While the Intel offers better performance in single-core apps, the AMD has twice the number of cores, at eight. And while this is a low-voltage processor made for slim and light laptops, it is punchy.
Windows 10 runs like a dream on the Yoga 7 Slim. This is helped by the very fast SSD, which reads data at a shade under 3500MB/s. Once again: no budget-related cuts here.
The Yoga 7 Slim’s Ryzen 7 4700U also has better built-in graphics than anything on the Intel side (bar the latest 11th Generation chipsets with the “Xe” GPU). You may not get a full gaming laptop experience here, but given it slots into a slim and light case we’re pretty happy.
You can play Skyrim at Ultra graphics, 1080p resolution, and see frame rates that hop between 30fps and 40fps depending on what’s on-screen. Subnautica runs well at 1080p, Low graphics. You lose out on some of the more atmospheric visual effects at this setting, but the game still looks good.
The Witcher 3 is more of a challenge, but is still playable. Stick to 900p resolution and you can play at Low settings, 30ps, comfortably, or at Medium if you can live with some dips to the 20fps range when you get into combat or walk around cities.
A laptop with an Nvidia MX450 graphics card, like the HP Envy 13, will run games better. It’s 50-100 per cent more powerful, depending on context. But the results from the Yoga 7 Slim are still much better than those of a vanilla 10th Gen Intel laptop.
Pocket-lint
The Yoga 7 Slim also has respectable speakers, with some caveats to note. There are drivers to each side of the keyboard, in those obvious hole-pocked grilles.
While not quite MacBook-grade, the sound does have some real mid-range output and good volume. But much of that comes from the Dolby Atmos digital signal processing.
Atmos is traditionally a way to add height channels to a mix, whether with real speakers or virtual ones. But in laptops this software’s main effect is to max-out the performance of little drivers.
You hear it in full effect in the Lenovo Yoga 7 Slim, as the speakers sound weak, quiet and thin with Dolby Atmos disabled. Switched on the audio does tend to sound manipulated, which is a combination of the processing’s effect on the soundstage and that the laptop’s drivers are being pushed to their limits when volume is near full. Still, the result remains more powerful than that of some laptops in this price band.
Connections & Webcam
720p webcam with IR for login
1x HDMI, 2x USB-C (1x with DisplayPort)
Connections on laptops are a bit like headphone jacks on phones. Spend more and you often end up with fewer ports. The Yoga 7 Slim has plenty for our needs. You get two USB-C – the standard outlay for an ultra-pricey laptop – plus a stack of “older” connections.
Pocket-lint
There’s a full-size HDMI, two USB 3.2 ports, a microSD card slot, and a headphone jack. It’s only missing connectors that frankly don’t belong on a laptop like this in 2020, such as an Ethernet port and VGA connector.
We like that Lenovo recognises not everyone who buys a Yoga 7 Slim will have switched entirely to USB-C peripherals.
That said, the webcam doesn’t get the same attention. It’s a 720p camera with a soft, dull image. You can use the camera to login, because there’s a Windows Hello-compatible IR camera by its side. This is used to recognise your face regardless of the light level. The webcam itself doesn’t hold up so well in low light.
Battery Life
60.4Wh battery
65/95W charging (65W adapter included)
Charging over USB-C
Lenovo makes a massive statement about the Yoga 7 Slim’s battery, that it can last up to 17.5 hours. We were fully prepared to do our usual spiel about how manufacturers test their laptops’ batteries with benchmarks from the 1970s, using screen settings so dim you can’t even see the display. And then, well, we did some testing of our own.
Five hours of 1080p streamed YouTube at 60 per cent brightness only saw the charge level drop to 70 per cent, suggesting a total runtime of about 16 hours 40 minutes.
Pocket-lint
That seemed almost unbelievably long, so we tried playing The Witcher 3 until the battery died. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7’s brightness was maxed and we minimised graphics settings and resolution, to increase the load on the CPU while still using 100 per cent of the GPU’s power. We started at 4:58pm, it died at 6:47pm. A shade under two hours: better than the vast majority of gaming laptops but then again the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 doesn’t have a dedicated power-hungry GPU.
We like to rely as much on real-world use as possible for our reviews at Pocket-lint. But the Lenovo Yoga 7 Slim’s battery really caught our interest, so we put it through some more battery benchmarks.
PC-testing suite PCMark 10 has a series of tests that emulate the workloads of real-world situations. We tried “modern office”, which uses some basic browsing and productivity apps punctuated by some gaps, stand-ins for your going to make a cup of tea or slacking off on your phone.
The Yoga 7 Slim lasts 20 hours 1 minute at 50 per cent screen brightness, using its CPU-throttling Battery Saver mode. This seemed ridiculous so we re-ran the test at 73 per cent brightness and took off the processor limits. It still lasted 18 hours 11 minutes.
We give in. It’s all true. The Lenovo Yoga 7 Slim lasts forever.
Pocket-lint
Its battery is big at 60.7Wh, 17 per cent higher capacity than the latest Dell XPS 13. But the real hero here is the AMD Ryzen 4700U, which scales so well between exertion levels it starts to look more like the revolutionary Apple M1 CPU.
Charging speed is less impressive, though. It takes around 2.5 hours to charge from flat. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 uses USB-C to charge and comes with a 65W adapter. This laptop does support a form of fast-charging, for 50 per cent juice in 30 minutes – much like a decent Android phone – but this requires Lenovo’s 95W charger (and we didn’t get one in the box).
Verdict
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 is never going to be as renowned as the MacBook Air and Dell XPS 13, but we think it’s a better all-round buy for many. Apple charges a premium for the most comparable Air spec. The closest Dell XPS 13 config costs even more and is worse at playing games.
But it’s not all about money. The Yoga Slim 7 has a lovely aluminium casing, lots of power, lots of storage, a vibrant screen, an excellent glass trackpad, and incredibly long battery life.
Yes, we’d love the Yoga Slim 7 even more if its speakers had higher quality drivers and it had a webcam without cataracts. But would we pay hundreds more for them? Not a chance. As it is this is one of the best laptops available at this price point.
Also consider
Pocket-lint
HP Envy 13
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Pound for pound the HP Envy 13 is probably the most alluring alternative to the Yoga. We loved the late 2019 version for its power and all-metal build, all at the right price. The 2020 update nets you much better gaming performance, thanks to an Nvidia MX450 graphics card. But the Lenovo lasts longer, has a more powerful CPU and a glass touchpad.
Read our review
Pocket-lint
MacBook Air 13
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Ok, so the MacBook Air is a more interesting laptop than the Lenovo Yoga 7, but is it a better buy? For video editing and other intensive jobs we’d buy the Air. Use M1 processor-optimised apps and performance will be better, and the battery will last far longer. However, thanks to Apple’s pricey upgrades system the Lenovo costs a stack less if you need 512GB storage rather than 256GB.
Read our review
Pocket-lint
Dell XPS 13
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The Dell is Windows laptop royalty. But if you’re into the core substance of computing it simply seems clear the Lenovo is a better buy. It’s more powerful, using multi-core optimised apps, the battery is bigger and lasts longer. The XPS 13’s benefits are all to do with design and portability. It has a smaller footprint, is 4mm thinner, and slightly lighter. You’ll have to decide if that’s worth several hundred pounds.
(Pocket-lint) – Amazon’s Alexa is great, a voice assistant that can control all manner of smart home products, answer questions you may have and play the music you request. The Amazon Echo devices aren’t the only speakers that offer the capable Alexa assistant though – there are numerous third party options that have embraced Alexa too.
From portable speakers to Alexa-compatible soundbars, we’ve gathered together the very best Amazon Echo alternatives. If you’re after Google Assistant speakers, we have a feature for those too.
Pocket-lint
Sonos One (2nd gen)
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Sonos entered the Alexa-enabled speaker market with the Sonos One. As well as Alexa, it also offers Google Assistant too, making it one of the most capable smart speakers around. As you’d expect, it sounds fantastic and looks just as good too, though not all of Alexa’s skills are available as yet.
If you want one of the best sounding speakers around though, with Sonos multi-room capabilities and Alexa built-in, look no further. Sonos also offers a cut-down version of the Sonos One – Sonos One SL – that doesn’t have the smart element, if you’re not so fussed about it.
Sonos One review: Superb sound with added bonus of Alexa and Google Assistant
Pocket-lint
Libratone Zipp 2
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The Libratone Zipp 2 is a fantastic sounding portable speaker with interchangeable jackets. Sound is fired out in 360-degrees and the overall profile can be adjusted using the companion app.
In its second generation, the Zipp 2 is like an Amazon Echo Plus on steroids. It sticks to its successful roots, marrying great design with good sound, voice control and a decent app. The fact it’s portable also means you can take Alexa with you wherever you go.
Libratone Zipp 2 review: A sensational-sounding smart speaker
Pocket-lint
Bang and Olufsen Beosound A1 2nd Gen
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Bang and Olufsen has refined an already impressive speaker with this refresher of its diminutive but powerful A1 wireless speaker. One of the key additions is built-in Alexa support, making it a smarter speaker than ever before.
Elsewhere, though, you get superb sound and a really distinctive and classy design, plus the build quality that B and O is known for. It’s by no means the best bit of value on this list or the wider market, but if you’re looking for a high-class mini speaker, it’s a superb pick.
Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 2nd Gen review: The portable Bluetooth speaker king
Pocket-lint
UE Megablast
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Ultimate Ears offers the Megablast (and smaller Blast), both offering always-on Alexa voice-control, that’s always listening out for your voice. The only caveat is that you need a Wi-Fi connection, so it can only be used at home.
Being a dedicated speaker first and foremost, the UE Megablast sounds fantastic and it’s portable and waterproof so while Alexa won’t work outside your Wi-Fi connection, the Megablast stills offer great portable speaker functionality around the house.
Ultimate Ears Megablast review: Mr Boombastic, say me fantastic
KitSound
KitSound Voice One
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The KitSound Voice One is essentially an Amazon Echo Plus, but with even better audio grunt. It was made in collaboration with Amazon, so you get the full Alexa experience, meaning it can answer questions, play music from various sources and control smart home devices.
It’s capable of hearing you speak from the other side of the room and up to eight Voice One speakers can be connected together for multi-room playback.
Kitsound Voice One speaker preview: First impressions of the 130 Amazon Echo competitor
Sonos
Sonos Move
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Sonos took a leap into the future (or the present, if you prefer) by finally releasing a portable speaker towards the end of 2019, and it’s a seriously impressive bit of kit. With that textbook Sonos sound balance and great volume, even when you’re outside, it’s a brilliantly versatile speaker.
When you’re at home, though, you can dock the speaker and have it connect to your home Wi-Fi to become a really capable smart speaker, with Alexa compatibility just like the Sonos One. It’s arguably the best of both worlds, although it does have a pretty hefty price tag to go with it.
Sonos Move review: Finally, a portable Sonos with Bluetooth connectivity
Pocket-lint
Bose Home Speaker 500
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The Bose Home Speaker 500 features a well-known Bose design but it adds a display on the front, which is quite unique for smart speakers. The Home Speaker 500 has eight mic arrays to make sure it hears your Alexa commands, and there is a chance other voice assistants could be added in the future too.
The Bose Home Speaker 500 supports Amazon’s multiroom platform, allowing you to group this speaker with other Alexa speakers and it also sounds excellent.
Bose Home Speaker 500 initial review: Alexa for audio connoisseurs?
Writing by Britta O’Boyle. Editing by Max Freeman-Mills.
A place of pilgrimage not only for motorsport fans: the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart is a lush playground for photographers – full of shapes, colors and contrasts.
The first motifs can already be seen under the canopy – a look up into the reflective facade is enough. I found the sculpture “Inspiration 192”, about which everything at Porscheplatz revolves, in Morning light is less exciting than later in the afternoon. Because then I discovered that the museum building also reflects this optical fixed point when depicting it.
Eye-catcher: in front of the spectacular museum building the sculpture with the three s.
(Image: Porsche Museum)
What is immediately noticeable when entering the museum is the winking attention to detail: The corona distance markings painted on the floor in front of the museum ticket office are based on a starting grid on the racetrack. At the foot of the escalator, before the impressive staircase leads into the actual museum hall, a glass front provides a view of the museum workshop. Here the mechanics dedicate themselves to both historical and current vehicles.
Distance rule with style: Already on the At the museum, visitors feel almost like being on the racetrack.
In the museum itself, automobile and racing history awaits, from Porsche tractors to super sports cars of the most modern design. Approximately 80 Vehicles can be seen, including racing cars and production vehicles, prototypes and studies. Automobilophiles will want to grapple with the technical details of the exhibits down to the last detail, with the audio guide helping; Photographers will instead focus more on aesthetics.
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(Pocket-lint) – There are several options available if you’re in the market for a video doorbell, with Nest, Arlo and Netatmo all offering their own take on the smart doorbell and Ring providing five models alone.
The various options can be confusing, with some requiring hardwiring, while others can simply be stuck onto the front of your door.
This feature runs you through the differences between Ring’s video doorbells, Nest Hello, Arlo’s options and Netatmo’s Smart Video Doorbell to help you figure out which video doorbell is the right one for you.
Wired video doorbells
Nest
Nest Hello
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Features: Person detection, motion detection, sound detection, two-way talk and listen with noise and echo cancellation, quiet time, scheduling, Quick Responses, Google Assistant compatible, facial recognition, activity zones
Camera specs: 160-degree FOV, 4:3 aspect ratio, night vision, HDR imaging, 1600 x 1200 video, 60fps
Requirements: Wired
Subscription: £5/month or £50/year for 30 days recorded video, facial recognition and activity zones
Nest Hello is a slim, sleek video doorbell. It’s smaller than the Ring doorbells at 117 x 43 x 26mm and it’s more premium looking. Its small size is a result of it requiring hardwiring however, which is no problem if you already have a wired doorbell, but more of a process if you don’t.
A camera lens is at the top, a button with an LED ring is positioned at the bottom, and there is a microphone and a speaker, allowing you to have a conversation with the person at your door using the Nest app. There are Quick Responses in the app, enabling you to play a pre-recorded message to visitors, while a Quiet Time feature offers the ability to turn off the indoor chime for a set period of time.
Hello’s HD camera shows a head-to-toe image of the person at your door, as well as a group of around five people and it has night vision and HDR imaging. Hello also offers both person detection and facial recognition, as well as activity zones, though the latter two require a Nest Aware subscription.
Nest Hello is compatible with Google Assistant speakers. You can get visitor announcements in the Nest app and any Google Assistant-enabled speakers you have in your home will announce when someone is at the door. If you have a Nest Aware subscription and you’ve saved their face, it will announce who it is. For those with Nest Hub or the Nest Hub Max, both devices will automatically stream the Nest Hello’s view when the doorbell rings.
Read the full Nest Hello review
Ring
Ring Video Doorbell Pro
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Features: Two-way talk and listen with noise cancellation, advanced adjustable motion detection, Alexa compatible, interchangeable face plates
Camera specs: 160-degree FOV, infrared night vision, 1080p
Requirements: Wired
Subscription: £2.50/month or £25/year for up to 30-days recorded video
The Ring Video Doorbell Pro is the closest to the Nest Hello, offering a slim build and a rectangular shape but with straighter edges than the Nest option.
It measures 114.3 x 46.7 x 20.3mm, so it’s pretty close in size to the Hello and smaller than the wire-free Video Doorbell 3, though this is again down to it being hardwired. There is no battery option for this Ring model, meaning unless you have a wired doorbell already, the installation process is trickier than the other Ring models.
The Pro offers many of the same features as the Ring Video Doorbell 3 but it improves on some of them, including motion detection. The Ring Video Doorbell Pro has advanced motion detection, offering customisable motion zones – that you can draw on screen in the app – as well as human detection. There is no facial recognition though – you’ll need the Nest Hello doorbell for that.
The Pro has two-way talk with noise cancellation and it is also compatible with Alexa so you can ask the Echo Show to present your front door. It also has a 160-degree FOV and night vision so you’ll get the same picture quality as the Video Doorbell 3.
Read the full Ring Video Doorbell Pro review
zatznotfunny
Arlo Video Doorbell
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Features: Motion detection, two-way talk and listen, Quick Responses, Siren, Direct-to-mobile video calling, 1:1 aspect ratio, Google Assistant, Alexa compatible
Camera specs: 180-degree FOV diagonal, 1:1 aspect ratio, night vision, HDR, 1536 x 1536 video
Requirements: Wired
Subscription: Three-months free Arlo Smart, then from £2.49 a month for 30 days cloud storage
The Arlo Video Doorbell is slim and sleek, like the Nest Hello and Ring Video Doorbell Pro, as a result of it being another wired option so fine for those with a wired doorbell, but a little more hassle for those without.
There is a camera at the top and a button at the bottom and the Arlo Video Doorbell features a siren, that can sound automatically during an event, or be triggered remotely to deter intruders. As with the Nest Hello, the Arlo Video Doorbell has a number or pre-written responses that can be sent from the app if you aren’t home to answer the door, and there is two-way audio on board too.
Where the Arlo Video Doorbell differs from others on this list is it’s viewing angle. Rather than a traditional 16:9 aspect ratio, the Arlo Video Doorbell has a 180-degree field of view with a square aspect ratio, designed to allow you to see a person from head to toe, as well as any packages on the doorstep, for example.
The Arlo Video Doorbell will also video call your phone when someone has pushed the button, reducing the response delay found with some video doorbells when the notification has to go through the app. There’s no facial recognition like the Nest Hello, but the Arlo Video Doorbell has night vision, motion alerts and HDR video. It is also compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
There’s no longer a free tier on the subsciptions – if you want cloud storage after the initial trial finishes, you’ll need an Arlo Smart plan.
Netatmo
Netatmo Smart Video Doorbell
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Features: Alerts for attempted theft of doorbell, weatherproof, Apple HomeKit compatible, person detection, video call on smartphone when doorbell rings
Camera specs: HDR, infrared night vision, 1080p
Requirements: Wired
Subscription: MicroSD storage, no subscription required
Netatmo revealed its Smart Video Doorbell at CES 2019 but it’s not yet available to buy. It has a compact and elegant design – rectangular in shape and a little larger than the Nest Hello.
The Netatmo Smart Video Doorbell is compatible with Apple’s HomeKit so you can ask Siri to show you your front door on your iOS device and it offers person detection too. Despite Netatmo’s Welcome camera offering facial recognition however, the Smart Video Doorbell doesn’t have this on its list of features.
It will alert you if someone tries to tamper with it though and it will video call you on your smartphone when someone rings the doorbell, like the Arlo Video Doorbell. The Netatmo Smart Video Doorbell is wired so it will need to replace an existing wired doorbell or will need professional installation.
Battery-powered video doorbells
Ring
Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus
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Features: Pre-roll video capture, two-way talk and listen with noise cancellation, adjustable motion detection, Alexa compatible, interchangeable face plates, quick-release removable battery pack
Camera specs: 160-degree FOV, night vision, 1080p
Requirements: Battery or wired
Subscription: £2.50/month or £25/year for up to 30-days recorded video
The Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus is designed to be battery powered, for easy installation wherever you want to put it. In this latest version of the Ring, you get all the features you get elsewhere, but with the addition of pre-roll video.
Pre-roll video captures 4 seconds of video before the motion alert was triggered. That means you can look back a little further and see what happened before that person reached the door. The idea is to remove the potential for something to be missed because that person didn’t make it to the door, for example.
Otherwise, the feature set is the same as the Ring Video Doorbell 3. That includes the option for two-way conversations, adjustable motion detection zones, interchangable face plates and the option to run it from battery, or hook it up to existing wiring. Installation is really easy for battery-powered operation, with everything you need in the box.
Where the Video Doorbell 3 Plus (and 3) differ from the Video Doorbell 2, is that they offer 5GHz Wi-Fi in addition to 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, but otherwise the quality of the video is the same at 1080p, with a 160-degree lens. Again, you get more options for storage with a Ring Protect Plan.
Read the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus review
Ring
Ring Video Doorbell 3
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Features: Two-way talk and listen with noise cancellation, adjustable motion detection, Alexa compatible, interchangeable face plates, quick-release removable battery pack
Camera specs: 160-degree FOV, night vision, 1080p
Requirements: Battery or wired
Subscription: £2.50/month or £25/year for up to 30-days recorded video
The Ring Video Doorbell 3 replaces the Video Doorbell 2. As we said above, it’s basically the same device, but it offers additional Wi-Fi connectivity so will likely give you a more reliable connection, as well as offering improved motion detection. The 3 doesn’t get the pre-roll function of the 3 Plus, however.
Elsewhere, the features, functions, design and installation are all the same as the Video Doorbell 3 Plus or the Video Doorbell 2. As we said, this is essentially a replacement for the older device and while it will offer some slight changes, it is likely to be more expensive than the older model as a result.
Ring
Ring Video Doorbell 2
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Features: Two-way talk and listen with noise cancellation, adjustable motion detection, Alexa compatible, interchangeable face plates, quick-release removable battery pack
Camera specs: 160-degree FOV, night vision, 1080p
Requirements: Battery or wired
Subscription: £2.50/month or £25/year for up to 30-days recorded video
The Ring Video Doorbell 2 is the successor to Ring’s original Video Doorbell but has now been replaced by the Ring Video Doorbell 3. That might mean that you can find this model for cheaper than some other options, but the Wi-Fi might not be as good and the motion detection isn’t as good.
It does, however, offer the same quality of video capture and pretty much the same set of feautres, working through the app and offering you longer online storage of video with a Ring Protect subscription.
Read the full Ring Video Doorbell 2 review
Ring
Ring Video Doorbell
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Features: Two-way talk and listen with noise cancellation, adjustable motion detection, Alexa compatible, interchangeable face plates, built-in battery pack
Camera specs: 155-degree FOV, night vision, 1080p
Requirements: Battery or wired
Subscription: £2.50/month or £25/year for up to 30-days recorded video
Ring has released a new version of its entry-level device, but has given it a technical upgrade. The Ring Video Doorbell supports 1080p video, so that’s the same resolution as other devices in the range and it also supports the same range of smart functions, along with the need for a subsciption if you want to access that captured video in the cloud.
Again, you get everything you need in the box and it connects wirelessly to your home network (2.4GHz only) and is battery powered. The big difference here is that the battery is part of the main unit, so rather than just removing the cover and swapping the battery, you’ll have to take it off and recharge, so you might be without a doorbell while that is happening. It’s more affordable as a result, however.
Ring
Ring Door View Cam
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Features: Two-way talk and listen with noise cancellation, impact sensor, glass viewer, privacy zones, smart alerts, Alexa compatibility
Camera specs: Infrared night vision, 1080p
Requirements: Battery powered
Subscription: £2.50/month or £25/year for up to 30-days recorded video
The Ring Door View Cam adds a viewfinder, with the idea being that you replace your existing door viewer with the Door View Cam turning it into a security device. It’s really designed for those living in appartments or those who are renting.
The Door View Cam comes with many of the same features as other Ring video doorbells, including two-way talk and listen with noise cancellation, HD video and motion detection, but it adds a few extras too. An Impact Sensor will alert you if someone knocks on your door rather than pushes the doorbell for example, and Privacy Zones allow you to turn off audio recording, as well as block out certain zones in front of your doorbell.
Read the full Ring Door View Cam initial review
Arlo
Arlo Essential Wire-Free Video Doorbell
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Features: Motion detection, two-way talk and listen, Quick Responses, Siren, Direct-to-mobile video calling, 1:1 aspect ratio, Google Assistant, Alexa compatible
Camera specs: 180-degree FOV diagonal, 1:1 aspect ratio, night vision, HDR, 1536 x 1536 video
Requirements: Battery
Subscription: Three-months free Arlo Smart, then from £2.49 a month for 30 days cloud storage
The newest addition to Arlo’s selection is the the Essential Wire-Free Video Doorbell. It offers similar functionality to the wired version of this bell – except that you’ll need batteries to power it.
That will make installation easier, while still giving you at 1:1 view and access to Arlo’s AI features via a Smart subscription.
A note about price, availability and subscriptions…
Just buying a doorbell isn’t quite the end of the story. Arlo, Ring and Nest all offer subscription packages that you’ll want to consider, while Netatmo (when it finally launched) stores video locally meaning there are no extra charges with that device.
Ring offers video functions for the retail price, but you’ll need the Ring Protect subscription if you want to see recorded video or download video. At a basic level (£25/$30 a year or £2.50/$3 a month) it will save video from one camera for 30 days so you can review it after the fact (otherwise, if you don’t answer, you don’t see the video). The Protect Plus option covers you for unlimited cameras, but costs £80/$100 a year (£8/$10 monthly).
Nest offers video functions for its retail price too, but as with Ring, you’ll need a Nest Aware subscription to download videos, as well as access features like familiar face detection and activity zones. Otherwise you only get 3 hours of video you can look back at.
Nest Aware starts at £4/month or £40/year for storing 5 days of video. For £8/month or £80/year, you’ll get 10 days of video history and £24/month or £240/year will give you 30 days. The cost will add up if you have more Nest cameras too so be mindful of that.
Arlo has now scrapped its free cloud offering, so after the initial 3-month trial, you’ll have to have an Arlo Smart subscription or you’ll lose access to any sort of cloud storage. You’ll still be able to live view and answer calls, but there will be no record of what happened if you’re not paying. Arlo Smart costs from £2.49/$2.99 a month.
Conclusion
The Nest Hello has the strongest feature set of the smart doorbells being compared here, with facial recognition and visitor announcements both excellent elements. It also has a good aspect ratio for a wider shot, great video quality, HDR, and it offers extra features too, like quiet mode and scheduling.
Hello also has the most expensive subscription package though and it requires hardwiring, which makes it an expensive option, especially with professional installation. Still, for those with Google Home devices, it’s the option we’d recommend.
Ring’s Video Doorbell 3 is a cheaper alternative to Hello and though it lacks some of Nest’s features, it has the benefit of interchangeable plates, as well as running on batteries so installation is significantly easier. The Ring subscription options are also cheaper and it is Alexa compatible so for those with an Amazon Echo Show, it’s certainly the obvious choice. It’s likely to be the most popular device for those wanting a battery-powered video doorbell.
The Arlo Video Doorbell offers some great features including compatibility with Amazon Alexa, Google Home. It also has a 1:1 aspect ratio field of view, direct to mobile video calls and a nice design. The wire-free version is so new, it’s not widely available to buy yet.
The Netatmo Smart Video Doorbell also goes back to hardwiring, meaning installation may not be that simple but if you’re an Apple HomeKit fan, it’s one of the only video doorbells compatible. It has some good features like person detection, a simple design and it stores videos locally so no need for any subscriptions. Only downside, you have to wait for it to be available.
As it became known a few days ago, SteelSeries has taken over the accessories specialist KontrollFreek, which is still rather unknown in this country. After the Danish gaming peripherals manufacturer bought A-Volute, one of the largest developers of 3D audio solutions, at the beginning of the year, the takeover of KontrollFreek is another promising purchase, in order to generate new synergies, according to SteelSeries CEO Ehtisham Rabbani and to market itself better as a label.
As a pioneer in the highly competitive game accessories industry, SteelSeries would like to continue to sell and continuously develop high-quality gaming equipment to casual gamers and enthusiasts alike. SteelSeries decision seems clear in view of the fact that KontrolFreek is a company that specializes in the manufacture of console accessories, one would like to catch up with the know-how now bought in to big manufacturers like Logitech or Razer and thus create a better market starting position.
The FreekNation community founded by KontrolFreeks with more than four million active members will do a lot to help implement the brand in the growing segment for controllers and accessories to accelerate and thus create a new basis for fresh console, PC and mobile gamer products.
Both companies have not yet commented on the financial framework for the takeover.
Continuing this year’s theme of nonconformity, the world’s biggest annual consumer electronics show will be a markedly different affair in January.
Rather than taking over Las Vegas for several days in the new year, CES 2021 – the 51st edition of the event – will be an all-digital experience for the first time. Companies will be sharing their latest and greatest innovations online via the organiser’s media hub, as opposed to at a physical event in the Las Vegas Conventional Center.
So what can you expect (other than tip-top reporting from a fresh-faced, jet-lag-free What Hi-Fi? team)? Here are the CES 2021 dates, participating brands and our expectations of what new products to expect…
CES 2020: all the highlights from LG, Samsung, Sony and more
16 hi-fi and home cinema products we want to see in 2021
CES 2021 dates
CES 2021 will officially take place from Monday 11th to Thursday 14th January, a week later than the show’s usual dates. A heads-up for forward planners: CES is due to return to Las Vegas from 5th to 8th January in 2022. (We hope.)
The first day will be the ‘media day’, when over 20 companies will host their biggest press conferences of the year. Essentially, that’s when you can expect a raft of new product announcements.
Exhibitors will be able to use the following days to show off their newly announced kit through online demos and presentations.
CES 2021 will officially kick off on Monday at 11:30pm GMT (6:30pm ET, 3:30pm PT) with an opening keynote by Verizon’s chairman and CEO, Hans Vestberg. The keynote will discuss, “5G as the framework of the 21st century, the essential tech of the present and accelerated tech of the future to move our global community forward, such as telemedicine, tele-education and more”.
On Tuesday at 12:30pm GMT (7:30am ET, 4:30am PT), Samsung, Fox Sports and ATSC will host a ‘Next Generation Television in Focus’ session concerning the advent of 8K Ultra HD and NEXTGEN TV. “A revolution in TV is coming, and with it will come advanced display technologies giving consumers a taste of truly immersive viewing experiences. How are consumer expectations going to change and how are leading manufacturers aiming to meet — and even exceed — those expectations?”
The CES 2021 schedule can be viewed here.
(Image credit: CES)
CES 2021: who will exhibit? What will be announced?
CTA, the event’s organiser, is expecting more people to ‘attend’ than ever before, owing to its digital nature. Over 1000 companies are set to offer over 100 hours of programming. Big AV hitters Sony, Samsung, LG, Philips, Panasonic, TCL and Hisense are all officially involved, as are audio companies including Audio-Technica and Pioneer.
Brands who are not officially linked to the show will no doubt use the CES timeframe to make announcements of their own, too.
LG
LG has picked up a ‘CES Best of Innovation Award’ ahead of the show, with its OLED TV technology being recognised in the gaming category. The company’s announcement reads: “Particularly noteworthy for 2021 are LG’s latest entertainment products including LG OLED, LG NanoCell, NEXTGEN TVs and TONE Free earbuds. More details on specific LG Home Entertainment products honoured will be announced at CES 2021 in January.” Watch this space, then.
Sony Press conference: Monday 11th January, 10pm GMT (5pm ET, 2pm PT) Sony is usually nothing if not prolific at CES, so while we’re cautious to presume anything next year will be typical, we’re at least hopeful that the Japanese giant will have plenty of new products in store for us in January. New 2021 Sony TV ranges and presumably plenty of PS5 talk will no doubt be on the cards, and our fingers are crossed for more Sony audio product reveals than were at CES 2020, too. Could CES 2021 mark the introduction of the highly anticipated Sony WF-1000XM4 (successors to the WF-1000XM3)?
Samsung 2021 looks to be quite the exciting year for Samsung. It has already confirmed plans to launch a consumer MicroLED TV early in the year, and last month it registered a host of new QLED TV technology trademarks – which we’d presume would be at the core of a new-and-improved QLED offering for 2021. Samsung is also tipped to launch its Galaxy S21 phone on 17th January (a month earlier than usual), when we could also see new Galaxy Buds Pro true wireless earbuds.
Panasonic TV reveal: Friday 8th January, 10am GMT (5am ET, 2am PT) Panasonic is due to unveil its 2021 TV line-up the week before CES kicks off. The company is behind some of the best TVs of 2020, so we are expecting plenty more where that quality came from in the new sets, which hopefully sport next-gen HDMI features for gamers this time.
Harman HARMAN ExPLORE: Thursday 7th January, 2pm GMT (9am ET, 6am PT) While not officially associated with CES, Harman is hosting a ‘HARMAN ExPLORE’ virtual event that will ‘offer a behind the scenes look at what’s in-store for 2021’ from the Harman-Kardon and JBL brands. Expect new audio hardware – headphones, portable speakers and high-end kit – as well as plenty of automotive audio talk. It’s 2021 marks JBL’s 75th birthday, so we’re expecting the brand to celebrate in style.
More to follow…
CES 2020 highlights
CES 2020 marked the 50th year of the Consumer Electronics Show, and predictably TVs stole a lot of the spotlight, with 8K TVs from Samsung, Sony and TCL, an impressive-looking 4K OLED flagship from Panasonic, and new rollable and 48in LG OLEDs all giving us a glimpse of the sets that could be in our living rooms in a few months. The 8K push this year isn’t surprising considering the Tokyo Olympics is set to be broadcast in 8K in the summer.
Car technology and audio also basked in the limelight, as did true wireless headphones from the likes of Technics. We even got confirmation of the Playstation5 logo ahead of the PS5 release date later this year.
Despite obvious trends emerging, thousands of brands showed a vast range of consumer electronics – from smart robots to high-end hi-fi – within the walls of the Las Vegas Convention Centre and several other venues across the city.
Best new products of CES 2020
Best TVs of CES 2020
Best audio of CES 2020
5 key highlights from Sony at CES 2020
5 key highlights from LG at CES 2020
5 key highlights from Panasonic and Technics at CES 2020
5 key highlights from Samsung at CES 2020
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Qualcomm has unveiled its new mid-price mobile device chip. Snapdragon 678, because this is the name of the new model, is the successor of Snapdragon 675. However, it is not a system developed from scratch, but an improved version of its predecessor in several ranges. Looking at the dry technical specification describing the real possibilities and features of the processor, I dare to say that the new proposal of the American manufacturer will work even in the so-called mediums aspiring to be called flagships. So we can expect increased performance, wider photographic possibilities and smoother gameplay in three-dimensional mobile games. Let’s take a look at the specs in detail.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 678 is the latest smartphone chip that replaces the existing Qualcomm Snapdragon model 765. We check what are the changes to the predecessor.
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Barely Qualcomm announced its flagship chip for a year 2021 – Snapdragon model 888, and already boasts another, this time a mid-range chip made in 11 – nanometer technological process. Kryo cores 460 operate here at a frequency of 2.2 GHz, which in combination with Adreno graphics 612 and Spectra chip 250 L responsible for image processing and 8 GB make the unit noticeably more efficient than its predecessor. In the subject of photography, we can count on camera support with a resolution of up to 192 MP and video recording in 4K. The image will be displayed on the FHD + screen (2520 x 1080 pixels) with 10 – bit depth of color.
Qualcomm and ASUS join forces to create a new smartphone for gaming
Qualcomm Snapdragon modem X 12 LTE will allow you to get download speeds up to 600 Mb / s and send to 150 Mb / s. WiFi is 802. 11 ac Wave 2 operating in two ranges – 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz with the MIMO 1×1 option. The Qualcomm Snapdragon unit 678 has Bluetooth 5.0, Beidou, Galileo, GLONASS, GPS, QZSS, SBAS, USB-C (3.1) and aptX audio compatibility. Smartphones equipped with the said system will be able to be charged with Qualcomm Quick Charge 4+. We will get to know the first devices in Q1 2021.
LG cut down to the bone to bring us a 32-inch monitor with 4K prowess. For under $400 you get native 4K, HDR support and even Adaptive-Sync. Gamma and HDR performance could use work, but this is still a great choice for budget 4K.
For
Decent build quality
Good contrast
Adaptive-Sync
Against
No portrait mode or adjustable height
No USB ports
HDR is lacking
Like many vendors, LG has a wide variety of monitors depending on your focus. There’s the UltraWide line, UltraGear line targeting those seeking the best gaming monitors and UltraFine monitors aimed for video and photography. The LG 32UN500-W is a shot at another market: those who want a 4K resolution HDR monitor on a budget.
The 32UN500-W is a stripped down version of the LG 32UL950-W and 32UN650-W. Both are pricier monitors in the UltraFine line for art and video work. To deliver the 32UN500-W’s excellent $350 MSRP while retaining the basic features you’d expect in a 4K HDR monitor, LG had to make a few changes and cuts. What you’re left with is a large monitor that’ll do you just fine if you don’t live on the bleeding edge of gaming or productivity.
LG 32UN500-W Specs
Panel Type / Backlight
VA / W-LED
Screen Size / Aspect Ratio
31.5 inches / 16:9
Max Resolution & Refresh Rate
3840 x 2160 @ 60 Hz
Native Color Depth & Gamut
10-bit / DCI-P, HDR10
Response Time (GTG)
5ms
Max Brightness
350 nits
Contrast
3,000:1
Speakers
2x 5W
Connectivity
2x HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4, 3.5mm Audio Out
Power Consumption
Up to 55W
Up to 55W
28.1 x 20.2 x 8.2 inches (713.7 x 513 x 208.28mm)
Weight
16.9 pounds (7.7kg)
Warranty
1 year
Right from the jump, you can see a few places where LG made cuts to reach the price point on a 32-inch panel. The 32UN500-W sports a VA panel, which is often preferred due to its high contrast levels. You lose the excellent response times of the TN panels, but make up for it with excellent contrast and image depth.
This monitor has a refresh rate of 60 Hz, which some gamers might scoff at, but if you’re gaming at 4K without a beefy enough graphics card, you won’t always be hitting 60 frames per second (fps) anyway. The 32UN500-W is about those trade offs for size and resolution.
Here, you have 3840 x 2160 native resolution (140 ppi) with support for AMD FreeSync, although LG doesn’t specify the range. Even though the monitor’s not Nvidia-certified, we were able to get G-Sync running on it as well (see our How to Run G-Sync on a FreeSync Monitor article).
There’s HDR10 support and the monitor is rated at a brightness of 350 nits, so we’re not expecting it to be the best HDR monitor. But it still looks pretty good when combined with the pixel density, a high contrast ratio and a solid color gamut. Again, there’s a little give-and-take here.
Assembly and Accessories of LG 32UN500-W
The 32UN500-W is fairly easy to put together out of the box — no tools needed. The stand isn’t attached, but it’s a standard VESA 100 x 100mm mount that you can snap right on. You then slide the bottom of the stand into place and use the metal screw handle to tighten it into place. It only took me a few minutes from box to desk.
The monitor comes packaged with a high-speed HDMI cable, DisplayPort cable and a power supply, both in the same stark white as the back of the monitor.The power supply is not a standard IEC cable; instead, it’s a DC power cable with a huge brick near the plug, which could be an inconvenience for those with a tighter power strip.
Product 360: LG 32UN500-W
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Keep in mind that 32 inches is a lot of screen, particularly if you’re used to 24-27 inches. Make you sure you have adequate space to sit far enough away from the monitor so you can take in the entire image.
The LG 32UN500-W’s bezels are relatively thin. The physical bezel on the top and sides is 0.125 inch thick, but a black border continues onto the actual display space. All told, the darkened space is around 0.25 inch, which is small enough that the clip on my Logitech C920 (one of the best webcams) actually intrudes into the display space a bit. The bottom bezel is around 1 inch thick, sporting the LG logo and not much else.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Without the stand, the monitor is 1.8 inches thick. Oddly, LG decided to make the front black but the back white. On the underside of the monitor near the LG logo is a control nub which you hold in to turn the monitor on and rock in four directions to navigate the on-screen display (OSD) controls (more on that in the next section.
On the rear of the 32UN500-W is one DisplayPort 1.4 and two HDMI 2.0 ports, alongside a 3.5mm audio out and the power supply port. It’s worth noting that these are all rear facing, so DisplayPort and HDMI cables will stick out a bit if you’re trying to wall mount the monitor. There are also two integrated speakers.
The 32UN500-W’s stand is another place where LG made a cut over its more expensive models. It doesn’t offer height adjustments like the stands on the 32UN550-W or 32UN650-W models do; the height is the height. You can tilt the screen, but it doesn’t rotate for a portrait view. There’s also a little wobble to the monitor overall in the stand, but that’s to be expected in this size.
OSD Features
Pressing the control nub on the bottom activates the OSD for the 32UN500-W. This begins with a smaller menu with only four options: Power Off, Input, Picture Mode and Settings. “Power Off” is up on the menu, which is activated by pushing the nub away from you. It took a little while to get used to that, but eventually it became second nature. If you don’t press the nub first, left and right changes the monitor’s volume, while up and down shows your current port and picture mode.
You can connect multiple systems into the LG 32UN500-W and manage them with the Input Options menu. The Picture Mode menu offers a few presets: Custom, Vivid, HDR Effect, Reader, Cinema, FPS, RTS and Color Weakness. By default, the 32UN500-W is set to “Vivid,” which has reds that are way too oversaturated out of the box.
Any image mode other than Custom locks out options like contrast and sharpness sliders or the Response Time setting. When connected via HDMI, there are four gamma modes, multiple color temp options and direct RGB sliders. We used the monitor’s default settings for our testing.
I used DisplayPort to test the monitor with an Nvidia graphics card and unofficial G-Sync support. When I turned on the FreeSync option, I was locked out of the Color Adjust menu. The same is true if you turn on HDMI Ultra Deep Color on an HDMI port. In addition, passing an HDR signal to the monitor greyed out the Reader, Color Weakness and HDR Effect picture presets.
There are numerous other options in the OSD. Super Resolution+ improves clarity on images with lower resolution, Black Level lets you change the contrast ratio, DFC automatically adjusts the brightness according to what’s on the screen.
Hands-on with LG 32UN500-W
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In standard SDR at 4K the crowds and shining colorful flags and awnings of the Miami level in Hitman 2 looked fantastic. Even if you’re not taking the plunge into HDR, this should be a great budget monitor for your needs. In fact, I’d gather a number of folks buying this monitor probably won’t spin up HDR at all.
Let’s put the 32UN500-W through its paces shall we? First, I tried out some 4K HDR video content. Given that this was an LG monitor, I went with the LG OLED test video first. Right off the bat, the colors absolutely popped, and the great contrast of the VA panel offered some deep blacks. It’s no LG CX OLED TV, but it’ll certainly do for normal lighting conditions for day-to-day work and play.
Creative apps like the Adobe Creative Suite, including Adobe PhotoShop and Adobe Premiere Pro are great about using the available screen space, allowing you room for your current project while also opening more panels. With TweetDeck, which shows Twitter feeds in columns, I was able to double the number of available columns I could take in on a single screen. No scrolling, ma! If you’re working from home right now and are not a top-tier art professional needing perfect color accuracy, this is a great monitor.
The next step was running through a few movie scenes packed with color. Blade Runner 2049 and John Wick 3: Parabellum are fantastic showcases for 4K HDR. The Oscar-winning cinematography of the legendary Roger Deakins makes Blade Runner 2049 a wonderful choice to show off your new monitor or TV. What could’ve been drab and lifeless colors on another monitor pop on the 32UN500-W, especially against darker scenes, thanks to the high contrast ratio. The brilliant gold cityscape with the bright blue accents of the city streets or the pink and purple tones of the huge holographic Joi look fantastic.
Many of John Wick 3’s action scenes allowed me to take in the 4K detail work and great colors on the 32UN500-W. The shifting red and green highlights during the horsebound chase sequence, and bright, striking crimson of Angelica Huston’s coat among the mostly blue Ruska Roma theatre came through. John Wick 3 is just an excellent use of color contrast, and this monitor’s wide color gamut and saturation combine for a pleasing video watching.
The two 5W speakers on the 32UN500-W use MaxxAudio and are fine. You’re not getting a ton of bass or anything, but these are built-in speakers. I generally use a pair of headphones, but if you’re building a PC, don’t have intense audio needs and want to skip buying a set of speakers, this monitor has you covered.
Onto gaming then. I hooked up to my Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Super via a DisplayPort cable. Hooked up to HDMI, you have access to the native 4K resolution and 60 Hz refresh rate, but note the ports on the 32UN500-W are HDMI 2.0, not HDMI 2.1. If you have an AMD graphics card, you can run FreeSync over HDMI, but you need HDMI 2.1 or DisplayPort to activate either Nvidia G-Sync or Windows’ built-in variable refresh rate. This all made DisplayPort the more appealing option for Adaptive-Sync.
Recent release Immortals Fenyx Rising sees Ubisoft moving away from its normal lean on realistic worlds toward something more fanciful and fun. It’s one of the better games from Ubisoft this year, and one of the most beautiful when you find just the right combination of lighting and location. In addition, it supports HDR, making it great for testing purposes.
With HDR on, gliding over the Valley of Eternal Spring was an amazing explosion of pink and green, with fields gently swaying below. Fenyx’s luminescent wings pulsed with light. The frame rate-killing vista from the Hall of the Gods was a sight to behold, especially on the 32UN500-W. There was very little ghosting during play, but I also lacked the horsepower to really push Immortals far above 60 fps at 4K.
Brightness and Contrast of LG 32UN500-W
Our testing includes use of a Portrait Displays SpectraCal C6 colorimeter To read about our monitor tests in-depth, check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.
For comparison, we brought in a couple monitors in the same price range as the LG 32UN500-W. The Philips 328E1CA is a 32-inch VA panel, like our review focus, but curved and with a 75 Hz refresh rate. Then there’s the AOC CU32V3, another 4K VA panel that matches the 32UN500-W’s 60 Hz refresh.
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We recorded the LG 32UN500-W at 375.4 nits at max brightness, which is more than good enough for your normal well-lit living room or office. It’s also the brightest of the monitors in our comparison group. The black level of 0.16 nits, on the other hand, isn’t the lowest among our competing monitors, but all the numbers here are just a hair away from each other.
That leaves us with a contrast ratio of 2,353:1 with the monitor set to max brightness. That’s well below the rating from LG of 3,000:1, but it’s possible you could achieve that with some tweaking. Still, the LG 32UN500-W’s contrast ratio is decent for this price — just below the Philips and far above the AOC. It’s also better than what we’d expect from most IPS or TN competitors.
Benchmarks: Grayscale and Gamma Tracking
We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
As you’ll notice in the graphs above, the LG 32UN500-W has pretty solid grayscale tracking. The only visible error (above the 3 Delta E threshold represented by the yellow horizontal line) is at 90% brightness, where the monitor has a blue tint. This is good performance, especially for a more budget screen.
The LG 32UN500-W’s 1.9 average gamma is below the 2.2 we’d like to see, and you’ll see visible grayscale errors, particularly at 10% brightness and from 60-90% brightness. On the dimmer side of the spectrum, you can expect lost shadow detail while at the 60-90% brightness steps, you’re looking at a more washed out image.
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
With a grayscale error of 2.84dE, the LG 32UN500-W is in third place among our comparison group, but all three numbers here are excellent and below the 3dE visible threshold. We look for each monitor to have the tightest gamma range possible, and, again, the LG 32UN500-W didn’t do badly here, but both the Philips and AOC screens did better.
Color Gamut Accuracy of LG 32UN500-W
For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here.
LG 32UN500-W color gamut – Default settings, DCI-P3 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The LG 32UN500-W provides excellent accuracy with just a 2.1dE out of the box when it comes to its native DCI-P3 color space, meaning no visible errors. As per the chart above, green, cyan, and yellow get somewhat close in terms of the DCI-P3 spec. The red looks undersaturated, but, again, you shouldn’t notice this during daily use. Blue, meanwhile, is oversaturated at the 100% mark but undersaturated elsewhere.
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The color gamut error of 2.12dE put the LG in the middle of the pack between these three monitors, but with some calibrating, the LG should be even more accurate. According to our measurements, the LG 32UN500-W covers 85.3% of DCI-P3. This is good for a budget monitor and in line with the all displays in our comparison group.
In terms of the smaller sRGB space, this monitor will look extra colorful at 126.5% coverage. If you’re looking for perfectly accurate color gamuts for photo work, you should consider something more targeted at creative professionals.
HDR Performance of LG 32UN500-W
Without any edge-array or, better yet, full-array local dimming (FALD) backlight, or DisplayHDR certifications for brightness, HDR performance on the LG 32UN500-W is bound to be lacking. Contrast won’t change much from SDR to HDR content, meaning you won’t notice a huge difference between the two.
LG 32UN500-W color gamut HDR default, P3 (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
With HDR on, the LG 32UN500-W shows a notable shift to blue, as well as oversaturation of that color up until the 100% saturation point, where blue starts lacking. Red is undersaturated at the 100% mark, while yellow and green also struggle. If you want a premium HDR experience, you’ll have to pay more than what LG is asking for the 32UN500-W.
The 32UN500-W’s grayscale tracking shows obvious errors from 35% brightness on, where the image has an overly cool look to it. While EOTF tracks well, you’ll want to get a monitor with an edge array or FALD backlight if you want serious HDR performance.
Bottom Line
The LG 32UN500-W comes in at a compelling $350 MSRP while offering a large, 4K screen with support for HDR content and Adaptive-Sync. Gamers shouldn’t get too excited — with a 60Hz refresh rate and 5ms GTG response time, this isn’t one of the best 4K gaming monitors. But it’ll at least enable casual gamers who don’t mind frame rates of 60 fps and under. If you’re looking for more serious 4K gaming on budget, check out the Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q.
The LG wins out in some other comparisons though. The BenQ PD2700U 4K HDR is a 27-inch IPS monitor that stacks up well, but it lacks DCI-P3 color and costs $50 more. And jump up to 32 inches from the same manufacturer, the BenQ PD3200U, you’re looking at a price premium of $350. Another competitor is the Dell U3219Q UltraSharp, a 32-inch IPS monitor that the LG 32UN500-W stacks up well against pound for pound. You get better DCI-P3 color and picture-in-picture functionality, but is that really worth the $440 price hike. (And that’s the sale price. The monitor’s MSRP is actually $1,049.99.) The VA panel alone gives the LG a leg up, but price keeps it more than competitive.
You might find a monitor with a better stand, better response time, or USB ports. But you’re not going to find many great 32-inch 4K monitors with HDR support at this price point. (The competition in this article and the Samsung UJ590 are probably the closest in this range.) For $349, you’re looking at a great performer for work, some video watching, and a little bit of light gaming. And you can use the money you save for upgrading other parts of your system.
It’s not the first time a high-end audio brand has collaborated with an aspirational automobile manufacturer to produce audio kit not intended for use behind the wheel of your hypercar – in the past few years Porsche has teamed up with KEF to produce headphones and wireless speakers and Klipsch worked with McLaren on a set of sports in-ears to name just two. But if ever a set of monolithic floorstanders harked back to the 1930s supercar they’re named after, its the new Bugatti Royale.
Bugatti is collaborating with premium German audio firm Tidal (no relation to the music streaming service) to create “the Bugatti of home audio,” and it’s kicking things off with this remarkable set of speakers.
Bugatti connoisseurs will almost certainly know that the French car manufacturer produced only six of its huge Type 41 motor vehicle (better known as the Royale) between 1926 and 1933, a car intended to be the biggest, most luxurious, most expensive in the world. And only four of those were actually sold. Obviously, both Tidal and Bugatti are hoping to avoid a similar situation with the new Royale speakers, but there are several more positive similarities.
Tidal is offering two limited-edition versions of the Royale speaker – Edition Blanc and Edition Noire (yes, black and white) but there will apparently be an almost limitless selection of customisation options for buyers, similar to the way that Bugatti allows its customers to personalise their hypercars in various veneers and finishes. Buy a set of Royales, and you’ll be able to pick from various materials, with carbon fibre, leather, precious metals, dark aluminium and polished stainless steel on the menu – but not cheese. The speakers are available in one of two themes – Monocoque or Duotone cabinets, and piano finishes are also available.
The Bugatti logo also adorns the speaker and ‘Tidal for Bugatti’ is branded on the back. Each Royale stands almost 1.5m tall and weighs a whopping 160kg – about as heavy as a reindeer.
(Image credit: Bugatti)
Under the bonnet, each speaker comes with four long-throw subwoofers and two front-firing woofers with aluminum diaphragms. The Royale also features one high-efficiency diamond tweeter (the same as those found in the cars) and one high-efficiency ceramic midrange driver, though customers can upgrade the latter to a diamond one.
Interestingly, the Royales are active speakers, meaning they house what Bugatti is calling “extremely powerful amplifier channels” inside the cabinets. The matching Bugatti-branded music controller (pictured) will allow you to connect to your sources, including music streaming services and TVs.
And the price? It hasn’t been disclosed; a sure sign that if you need to know, you can’t afford them. A fee involving six figures is likely…
MORE:
Want to get up to speed on in-car audio tech? Read our hands on with the Sennheiser Ambeo Mobility sound system
Prefer a Burmester and Porsche collaboration? See our Burmester High-End Surround Sound System (2020 Porsche 911) review
More high-end speakers? See 12 of the world’s most expensive loudspeakers
In cooperation with the Vizrt Group, NVIDIA presents a new feature of its own GeForce graphics cards, which focuses on streaming content, especially game streaming. Using the “NDI Screen Capture HX” software from the Vizrt Group and the NVEC encoder of the Turing and Ampere GPUs, the cards can stream their video signal over the network so that it can be processed elsewhere.
NVIDIA has been very active in this segment for some time. NVIDIA Broadcast is the central software platform for streamers who want to make their content available directly. Virtual screen backgrounds, automatically following camera sections and an improvement in audio quality using RTX Voice are the central functions here. Broadcast is intended as a local overall solution that takes over all the necessary functions where the stream is created.
NDI Screen Capture HX works with the GeForce GPUs in the form that the screen capture is made available as an NDI source in the network. This NDI stream can then be received and processed on another PC by software such as OBS Studio, XSplit or TriCaster. This is particularly interesting if the processing and processing of the stream takes place on a second system. Previously, for example, a capture card had to be used.
NDI Screen Capture HX can stream the stream in 4K resolution and with up to 120 Hz transmitted. On the GPU side, hardware acceleration using an NVEC encoder is supported. The Vizrt Group and NVIDIA speak of low transmission latencies. The audio signal is of course transmitted synchronously with the video signal. Additional audio signals can add further input.
NDI Screen Capture HX is offered as part of the freely available NDI tools. You can find the corresponding downloads at www.ndi.tv. The corresponding remote station, for example the Open Broadcaster software, is also available free of charge.
The new interface of the Amazon Fire TV is officially in release. The company has just announced it and in the coming weeks all the Fire TV Sticks on the market will see the update and users will be able to enjoy the novelty, indeed the many novelties.
by Bruno Mucciarelli published 16 December 2020 , at 10: 01 in the Audio Video channel Amazon
Amazon is ready to release the new graphical interface for the Fire TV Stick in the coming weeks. A major update that will completely change the interface graphics that all users use daily to watch movies and TV series on the big screen. Amazon will make this available in the coming weeks and will do so for the third generation Fire TV Sticks and the Fire TV Stick Lite.
Amazon Fire TV: here’s how the graphical interface changes
The new graphic interface will therefore be available on the new Fire TV Stick (3rd generation) and Fire TV Stick Lite and will offer a more personalized, fast and intuitive experience. This is the biggest update of the Fire TV interface ever made by Amazon and there are actually a lot of news.
Here are the different most important features:
Redesigned design and navigation: it is now easier and more immediate to reach what you are looking for. With the Main Menu in the center of the screen, you can easily navigate to the most important features, such as your Profiles, the Library, the Home, the search page and much more. At the top you can discover popular content and watch trailers, at the bottom you can browse a large selection of films and series.
Screen ?? Home ?? redesigned: the Home screen has a new look and feel. You can find movie and TV show tips from subscription streaming services like Prime Video, plus tips on popular apps and games. Content suggestions appear in the line ?? Suggested for you ?? and will refine over time.
Enhanced Content Discovery: in the section ?? Find ?? it is possible to search, browse by filtering for example by Film or TV Series, or explore the recommended categories such as ?? Science fiction ?? or ?? Documentaries ??. Now you can also find the most suitable content for yourself through:
L ?? using the bar ?? Search ?? to perform custom searches.
Go to ?? Most Popular ?? on the home page to view popular content available for quick access.
Quickly browse your favorite apps with App Peeks to see which ones are available.
User Profiles: with user profiles, Fire TV offers a personalized experience for up to six family members. After setting up an Alexa voice profile, changing Fire TV profiles is as simple as saying ?? Alexa, switch to my profile ??.
Improved navigation with Alexa: Alexa allows you to use your voice to navigate the UI, just say ?? Alexa, go to Home ?? or ?? Alexa, go to the Library ??. It is also possible to say phrases like ?? Alexa, show me action movie ??. Also, coming early next year, Alexa Explore will provide a dedicated section where you will be able to discover all of Alexa’s features, view connected smart home devices, and more.
The new Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) update is out, and as per usual it includes a bunch of changes and fixes that will make your streaming life just a little bit better. The biggest change in this version of OBS is support for the feature that Twitch debuted in Twitch Soundtrack — the ability to play music in a second track while you’re streaming to Twitch, so that it can be stripped out of your recorded broadcast, or VOD (video on demand).
This release adds a second audio track when streaming to Twitch which will be saved to the VOD instead of the stream audio. You can enable this feature in Output settings when streaming to Twitch. Special thanks to @Twitch for assisting during the development of this feature!
— OBS (@OBSProject) December 15, 2020
For the uninitiated: it’s normal to play music in the background of live streams, but issues around copyright mean that it can be dangerous. Twitch has been engaged in an extended battle with the music industry because streamers habitually play copyrighted music on-stream that they don’t have the rights to; it came to a head earlier this year, when streamers were flooded with copyright takedown requests from the music industry. Those requests were based on copyrighted music found in clips from streams and full recorded broadcasts — which is what Twitch Soundtrack, and by extension this feature, are meant to solve.
OBS pointed out that Twitch helped with the development of the feature, which is interesting because the company already has Soundtrack. I can only imagine it means that this is the latest front in Twitch’s fight with the music industry — because if streamers get used to stripping music from their VODs as a general practice, the problem of people broadcasting copyrighted music on Twitch might eventually solve itself. Though, personally, I believe that’s wishful thinking. Either way, OBS implementing the feature means that more streamers will use it.
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