keyword: Audio

tcl-c81-4k-qled-tv-review:-too-good-to-be-true?

TCL C81 4K QLED TV review: Too good to be true?

(Pocket-lint) – Despite being TCL’s current flagship 4K TV, the C81 costs under a grand in its 65-inch format. A price which becomes all the more eye-catching when a scan of its features uncovers such high-end attractions as QLED Quantum Dot colour technology, support for both of the premium Dolby Vision and HDR10+ high dynamic range formats, and even a built-in soundbar designed by Japanese audio brand Onkyo.

The TCL C81 therefore has all the ingredients it should need to be just the sort of hit with consumers that might put it on the TV map. But what are the compromises to keep that cost down?

Design

  • 3x HDMI 2.0, 2x USB ports
  • LAN & Wi-Fi Multimedia

The C81 looks unusually premium for an affordable 65-inch TV. Its metal frame delivers robust build quality for starters, and it’s remarkably slender across much of its rear panel. Almost OLED-thin, in fact. Even the inevitable ‘chunky bit’ housing the processors, image drivers, connections and a bass speaker is pretty elegantly integrated.

The most striking thing about the C81’s design, though, hangs unusually boldly from the screen’s bottom edge: a built-in soundbar. As well as benefiting aesthetically from a mild blue tint and adding too rather than detracting from the TV’s aesthetic appeal, this forward-facing speaker enclosure looks big enough to potentially do some serious audio damage. 

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Unusually the TCL C81 sits on three feet rather than two. Two of these sit under the left and right corners facing forwards, while the third faces backwards from the middle of the bottom edge, counterbalancing the other two.

While the C81’s key connectivity of three HDMIs and two USBs falls short of the most high-end TVs, it’s good enough for its money. Gamers should note, though, that none of the HDMI ports can handle the 4K at 120Hz or variable refresh rate (VRR) features now being served up by the PS5, Xbox Series X/S and latest generation of Nvidia and AMD graphics cards. However, a provided game preset does get input lag down to a very respectable sub-17ms. 

  • What is ALLM and VRR? TV gaming tech explained

Picture Features

  • HDR Support: HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision, HDR10+
  • Processing engine: Clear Motion and IPQ 2.0 Engine

Affordable 65-inch TVs tend to struggle with high dynamic range (HDR) sources, thanks to a lack of brightness colour range. The C81, however, is having none of that.

For starters, it can produce a peak brightness of 540 nits – that’s substantially higher than the figures possible with most LCD TVs in its price range. It also boasts Quantum Dot colour technology, which can produce wider and more accurate colour gamuts, but is still typically associated with more expensive TVs than this TCL.

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It further bolsters its HDR credentials by supporting both of the Dolby Vision and HDR10+ formats. These improve on the industry standard HDR10 system by providing extra scene-by-scene picture information, usually resulting in more dynamic-looking pictures. Most TVs only support one or other of these (or sometimes neither). Given that there’s plenty of content out there that’s only available in one or other of these formats, the C81’s format-neutral stance is very welcome. 

The TCL C81 uses a VA rather than IPS LCD panel type. This bodes well, since experience shows that VA panels typically produce significantly better contrast than IPS ones, even though it means less wide viewing angles are plausible.

Less promising, however, is the C81’s use of edge-based lighting. Direct lighting – i.e. where LEDs are placed directly behind the screen – typically provides better contrast, especially on screens as large as 65 inches.

However, a Micro Dimming feature raises hopes of some localised light control that might help enhance contrast. In fact, though, this feature merely refers to a system that breaks the image down into small sections for more accurate analysis.

Smart Features

  • Smart System: Android TV 9.0

TCL has turned to Google’s Android TV platform for the C81’s smart features. It’s version 9.0, meaning it benefits from improved stability and responsiveness, as well as enjoying the Android platform’s huge app support (backed up by Freeview Play to provide all the UK’s main terrestrial broadcaster catch up services).

As usual, using Android TV brings with it built-in Google Chromecast support, as well as the Google Assistant voice recognition system. There’s even a mic built into the TV’s main bodywork. 

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The full-screen Android TV interface, though, continues to feel a bit old-school and cluttered – especially given how few customisation options it offers. Android still doesn’t feel as clever as some rival platforms, especially when it comes to providing intelligent viewing recommendations based on viewing habit analysis.

At the time of writing there’s no support on the C81 for Apple TV app or Apple AirPlay. 

The 65C815K handily ships with two remote controls: a long, thin but still comfortable to hold ‘regular’ one; and a smaller, stripped back ‘smart’ one. Either works perfectly well, though most people will likely gravitate towards the smart remote after initial setup.

Picture Quality

The TCL C81 certainly stands out from the crowd. Out of the box its HDR pictures blaze off the screen with a level of brightness and, especially, colour intensity that just isn’t supposed to happen in this price bracket.

In fact, the richness of its colours leaves many way more expensive TVs looking flat and muted by comparison. Here for once, it seems, is an affordable TV that really can unlock the joys of the wide colour gamuts and volumes associated with HDR sources.

TCL

It doesn’t take long, though, before something starts to feel a bit off about the C81’s full-on colours: it starts to look overly aggressive rather than delivering a genuinely helpful, measured application of all the colour horsepower QLED technology has clearly put at the C81’s disposal. 

The boldest tones regularly look over-saturated, for instance, standing out unnaturally from the rest of the image. The QLED colours push brightness and saturation so hard that subtle shading gets lost in all the histrionics. Some shades – including skin tones – look pretty unnatural as well.

Fortunately, you can tame the C81’s most gaudy out-of-the-box HDR instincts. The best fix is to try and feed the set as much Dolby Vision or HDR10+ content as possible. The extra picture information supplied by these two HDR formats has a dramatic effect, reining in the TV’s excesses and balancing the tonal range to create a far more immersive, even-looking image. Colours don’t hit the same blistering extremes that they do with HDR10, but they’re still unusually vibrant for such an affordable LCD TV. With bright Dolby Vision and HDR10+ scenes, at least, the C81 can look really very good.

This suggests that the C81’s HDR10 problems are down to issues with its tone mapping engine – the processing it uses to map HDR to its screen capabilities. There are, though, settings that can at least calm the crazy default HDR10 images down. 

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Using the Movie or Low Power presets rather than the default one is a good start. But even with the relatively restrained settings of these presets it’s a good idea to also turn off the Dynamic Contrast and Black Stretch options, since whenever anything’s left in play that might enhance the dynamic range things tend to go off the rails again.

Brightness, too, plays a big part in how well the C81 holds up with HDR10 content. Only with the brightness level reduced by around a quarter from the default 540 nit level do the picture’s excesses really melt away. Which is a pity, of course, since with that much light removed from the picture, colours look less punchy, and the images start to look more typical of the ‘normal’ affordable TV market. 

There’s another issue with C81’s pictures that proves a more stubborn one to address: backlight clouding.

It’s always difficult for edge-lit TVs to control their light evenly across large screens – and the 65C815K proves this point. A number of pronounced areas of light inconsistency are routinely visible during dark scenes – a situation not helped by how they’re not restricted to the image’s edges. 

The extent to which the backlight clouding distracts depends to some extent on ambient light levels. In bright rooms it’s much less likely to be a major distraction than it is in dark rooms. But even the most casual users will likely want to dim the lights for a movie night from time to time, and when they do, as noted previously, there isn’t any setting in the TV’s menus that really fixes the clouding issue really satisfactorily.

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Despite these highlighted issues, with the right content and preset selection, the TCL C81 can deliver good images. As noted, Dolby Vision and HDR10+ images look vibrant and dynamic, plus baseline black levels can actually look pretty respectable for an edge-lit TV too – though ironically this fact arguably exaggerates the impact of the clouding problems.

While motion can cause a little softness to creep into the image, the TV’s native sharpness with relatively static 4K images is also very good. And finally, even though the C81’s processing engine is rather hit and miss, it scores a solid hit when it comes to upscaling HD sources to the screen’s native 4K resolution. 

Sound Quality

Working with Onkyo on the C81’s audio has paid off handsomely. The distinctive integrated soundbar proves to be powerful and expressive, casting sound a surprising distance left, right and forward of the screen. 

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The directness and scale of the sound is backed up by good dynamic range, too, so that punchy, tight bass is able to sit in effective opposition to crisp, clean treble details. High frequency sounds appear largely free of harshness, too, even at high volumes.

There is a limit to the available bass though, so don’t expect the rear-mounted subwoofer to deliver the same sort of rumble depths you’d expect from a good external soundbar. Heavy basslines can cause a little unwanted humming on occasion too, and voices sometimes sound slightly detached from the onscreen action. Overall, though, the C81’s sound is way above the affordable TV norm.

Verdict

At first glance the TCL C81 looks like it might rewrite the affordable LCD TV rulebook. Its QLED colours are explosively rich and dynamic for its price point, and it’s bright enough to give HDR real impact. It pushes the boat out sonically, too, with its impressive Onkyo-designed speaker system.

Unfortunately, closer examination uncovers some clouding issues from the edge-illumination, while many presets are overly punchy when it comes to colour and finesse. It’s a common issue at this price, really, and that’s the compromise.

Still, there are times when – with the right content and/or presets selected – that pictures can look pretty good. Find Dolby Vison or HDR10+ content and this is where the TCL finds its groove. But otherwise the C81 is a bit too out of control and high maintenance to deserve a whole-hearted recommendation.

Also consider

LG 65NANO906

A new power management system that counteracts most of the contrast issues associated with the 65NANO906’s IPS panel type, together with LG’s excellent Nanocell colour technology, results in LG’s most effective LCD TV to date. Though as with the 65C815K, it’s better suited to bright than dark rooms. score

  • Read our review

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Writing by John Archer. Editing by Mike Lowe.

today-i-learned-about-the-band-making-a-giant-marble-based-instrument

Today I learned about the band making a giant marble-based instrument

Swedish band Wintergatan may be widely known for its Marble Machine music video (which featured a machine dropping marbles to play drums, a bass, and other instruments), but today I learned that they’re building a bigger, better version, and documenting the entire process on YouTube. It’s called the Marble Machine X, and it’s driven by a motor instead of a hand crank, is being built by an entire team of people, and, hopefully will be able to go on tour and be played on stage when it’s finished.

Wintergartan also produced a build log of the first machine, but this new project is way grander in scope, offering a deeper look at the creative process that leads to… well, building a massive musical instrument that uses marbles. The band put out eight build videos for the original machine before it released its debut music video — the build log for the Marble Machine X is at 161 videos and counting. (If you were looking for something to do this weekend, that’s quite a backlog of delightfully nerdy content to fill your time with!)

It also turns out that, when you’re building a machine made to sling marbles to make tunes, almost every part of that process is interesting. The music nerd in me squealed in delight when Martin Molin, the band member that’s working with a team to build the machine, showed off the 28-audio channel cable they’re using to keep the machine looking clean and wire-free. There’s also the fascinating video that first got me hooked, where he shows off an immaculately-crafted wood piece that sorts marbles equally into four tracks. Or, rather, the piece of wood that doesn’t do that job properly, which is why he’s now designing a replacement.

The videos aren’t exactly obscure: Wintergatan has over 2.2 million subscribers on YouTube, and some of the videos about the Marble Machine X have close to that number of views. But somehow I, someone who routinely watches videos about people building weird, awesome instruments, had just missed it until now, so I figured I’d share the joy in case the YouTube algorithm had also kept this hidden from you. I can’t wait to hear Wintergatan fully turn the thing on, and do an epic remaster of the original Marble Machine song.

apple-says-homepod-and-homepod-mini-will-support-lossless-audio-after-future-update

Apple says HomePod and HomePod Mini will support lossless audio after future update

In a new support document on its website, Apple dives a little deeper into the details around the upcoming launch of lossless audio on Apple Music.

Apple now says that both the HomePod and HomePod Mini will support lossless audio after a future software update. That’ll be good news to people who’ve invested in one or a pair of Apple’s smart speakers. Two HomePods grouped in stereo playing a lossless source? Yeah, that’s going to sound wonderful. Apple isn’t yet giving any timetable for when this software update will be released, however.

The document also clarifies that the Apple TV 4K will only support standard lossless audio when the ALAC files become available in June. Apple has said that in most cases, the “Hi-Res Lossless” tier will require external devices like a USB DAC.

Apple uses the document to tout its “commitment” to providing customers with the best possible listening experience. It talks up both AAC — claiming that the format has become “virtually indistinguishable from the original studio recording” as encoding methods have evolved — and its Apple Digital Masters initiative. I continue to think that Apple is much more excited about spatial audio and Dolby Atmos mixes coming to Apple Music than anything to do with lossless itself.

The document also reiterates what Apple told The Verge earlier this week in regards to the AirPods Max: when listening to audio via the Lightning-to-3.5mm cable, the company says it’ll sound fantastic, but it won’t technically be “lossless” due to an analog to digital conversion that occurs in the cable. Apple again confirms that lossless quality will be exclusive to Apple Music:

Can I redownload my iTunes purchases in lossless?

If you subscribe to Apple Music, you can redownload music in lossless only from the Apple Music catalog.

The straightforward answer to the question as written is really a flat “no,” but obviously Apple wants to nudge people towards its subscription service. Apple Music will offer over 20 million songs in lossless quality at launch in June, and that total will reach over 75 million by the end of 2021.

lg-tone-free-hbs-fn7-true-wireless-review:-comfortable-and-clean

LG Tone Free HBS-FN7 true wireless review: Comfortable and clean

(Pocket-lint) – Make a list of things the world is crying out for. How far up your list does ‘another pair of true wireless in-ear headphones’ come? The answer may well be ‘not very’.

However, at least LG’s Tone Free HBS-FN7 aren’t just another ‘me-too!’ by-the-numbers attempt to steal market share from the likes of Apple’s AirPods Pro.

The HBS-FN7 have a feature or two that sets them apart from the majority, including ultraviolet (UV) cleaning. So while the world is all too familiar with products like this, might it find room in its heart for these LGs?

Design

  • Black or white finish
  • Weigh: 5.6g per earbud
  • Included charging/self-cleaning case

The wireless earbud arrangement pioneered by Apple, whereby a stem drops from the wearer’s ear like some hi-tec jewellery, is a bit of a ‘Marmite’ proposition, isn’t it? So whether you dig it or despise it, that’s the route LG has gone down with the HBS-FN7. The stem is pretty short here, mind you, though that’s counterbalanced (literally) by the fairly bulbous in-ear area of the FN7 design.

  • Best true wireless earbuds: Wire-free Bluetooth audio bests

At less than 6g per earbud, though, the LG are undeniably easy to get comfortable and to wear – even for hours on end. They’re provided with a selection of hypoallergenic eartips, too, so even the uncommonly sized ear should have no trouble finding a decent fit.

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The options for earbud finish – it’s shiny white or shiny black – look good until they’re dulled by fingerprints. And that happens pretty much immediately.

The brilliantly compact charging case – which is less than 3cm deep, less than 6cm in diameter, and a mere 39g – is in a much more successful (and slightly grippy) matte finish. Fingerprints, therefore, are less of a bother here.



Best USB-C headphones for Android phones 2021


By Dan Grabham
·

You won’t be staggered to learn, given that it’s LG we’re discussing here, that build quality is beyond criticism. Keep them safely in their case when you’re not using them and the HBS-FN7 will last a long time. 

Features

  • Bluetooth 5.0
  • IPX4 splash resistance
  • Ultraviolet (UV) cleaning
  • Sound tuned by Meridian
  • Active noise-cancellation (ANC)
  • Battery capacity: 390mAh (case), 55mAh (per ‘bud)

Having promised an unusual feature or two, that may as well be where we start – with LG’s UVnano technology. Pop the earbuds into their charging case, close the lid and wait for the little blue LED to illuminate – this indicates the case is scrubbing the earbuds free of bacteria using UV light. And in these ‘hand-sanitiser everywhere you turn’ times, that can only be a good thing, right?

Pocket-lint

Elsewhere, it’s business slightly more as usual. The FN7 use Bluetooth 5.0 for wireless connectivity, and are compatible with SBC and AAC codecs. That’s more than good enough to access some hi-res audio from a top-tier streaming service subscription, but it would have been nice to see aptX Low Latency too – after all, we all like to consume a bit of video content on the move, don’t we? 

The sound, once it’s on board, is delivered by a couple of 6mm neodymium full-range drivers. And as another differentiator, LG has opted to give the FN7 a bit of hardcore hi-fi credibility by continuing its partnership with UK specialist Meridian. So there are some Meridian-derived equalisation (EQ) settings to be investigated. 

There’s active noise-cancellation (ANC) included here too, and while that’s hardly a revolutionary feature it’s not especially common down in lower price brackets. There are a couple of intensities to choose from – ‘high’ and ‘low’, naturally – as well as an ‘ambient sound’ setting that boosts external noise to keep you orientated. Noise-cancelling can be switched off, too.

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Battery life is an OK-we-suppose 5 hours from the earbuds (with noise-cancelling switched on), with another three full charges available from the charging case. So 20 hours, all in, is plenty long enough to go between charges, but there are plenty of alternative earbuds that will go for longer. For recharging there’s USB-C or wireless Qi charging is available.

Interface

  • Raised touch-surface
  • Control app

There’s the tiniest little bump at the top of each FN7 stem – it’s a capacitive surface, and it proves extremely responsive. So you can instruct the earbuds to ‘play/pause’, ‘volume up/down’, ‘skip forwards/backwards’, ‘cycle through noise-cancelling options’ and ‘answer/end/reject call’ really easily and with confidence.

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Alternatively, you can always avail yourself of LG’s impressive Tone Free control app. It’s very nicely rendered, is unswervingly stable and reliable, and has quite a breadth of functionality. Rearrange the way the touch-controls respond, explore Meridian’s EQ presets (‘natural’, ‘treble boost’, ‘bass boost’ and ‘immersive’ are pretty self-explanatory), control noise-cancelling intensity, or save a couple of EQ presets you’ve defined yourself.

It’s here where you can update software too, and where you can provoke the earbuds into emitting a piercing chirrup. ‘Find my earbuds’, that last feature is called – and they’d have to be quite a long way away for you to fail to hear them calling to you.  

Sound quality

As far as sound quality is concerned, what the HBS-FN7 do well they do very well indeed. Where they’re found wanting, though, they fall down quite heavily.

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On the plus side, set the EQ to ‘natural’ and the balance of the sound is very nicely judged. The low frequencies have weight but plenty of momentum too – so a chunky tune like The Bug’s Poison Dart hits more than hard enough, but doesn’t get bogged down by its own heft.

The feverish vocal in the midrange of the same tune is detailed, packed with character and enjoys a lot of breathing space too, and as a consequence there are real powers of communication on display here.

And the top of the frequency range has ample crunch but doesn’t get particularly hard, even if you like to listen at oppressive volumes. 

The integration of the whole frequency range is smoothly achieved, too, so there’s convincing unity to the sound – nothing is overstated or underplayed. (Of course, mess with the EQs and you can undermine all of this good work. The choice, as always, is yours.)

The soundstage upon which all this happens is properly laid out and coherent. There’s more than enough space available for each individual strand of the recording to be identified, but that’s not at the expense of unity or integration – there’s proper confidence to the way the FN7 stage a song.

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What there isn’t much of, though, is dynamism or attack. The LG just can’t summon the reserve to put much distance between the quietest and the loudest parts of a recording, and neither can these ‘buds shine much of a spotlight on the little harmonic variations that are so important to giving the listener the complete picture. Attack, of which in normal circumstances The Bug is far from short of, is of the mildest, politest type. And anyone who knows this recording knows ‘polite’ isn’t really what it’s aiming for.

The active noise-cancelling is only a qualified success, too. Set to ‘high’ it undoubtedly takes quite a lot of external noise out of the equation – but it introduces a slight-but-definite hiss at the bottom of the noise-floor as it does so. Set it to ‘low’ and it may as well be set to ‘off’.  

Verdict

We go out as we came in: by pointing out that you’re spoiled for choice where products of this type are concerned.

The LG HBS-FN7 have some real strengths, no doubt about it – the balance of their audio reproduction, the quality of their construction and the excellence of their control app, for instance, as well as the reassurance of their self-cleaning technology.

But if the reason you’re buying earbuds is to get as complete an account of the music you like as your budget will allow, they come up fractionally short. Still, the UV cleaning technology is undoubtedly a special attraction.

Also consider

Pocket-lint

Sony WF-1000XM3

For a little less than the cost of the LG, Sony will sell you equally adept (and more attacking) sound, much better noise-cancelling and a different, but equally odd, physical form. You’ll have to clean the bacteria off them manually, mind you…

  • Read our review

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Writing by Simon Lucas. Editing by Mike Lowe.

gigabyte-details-fi32u-gaming-monitor-with-4k-resolution,-hdr-and-144hz-refresh-rate

Gigabyte details FI32U gaming monitor with 4K resolution, HDR and 144Hz refresh rate

Last month, Gigabyte announced its first gaming monitor to sport HDR, 4K resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate. Now, the full spec sheet for the FI32U has been revealed, fully detailing Gigabyte’s impressive upcoming 32-inch display. 

For those that care about gaming performance and picture quality equally, the Gigabyte FI32U comes equipped with a 31.5-inch Super Speed IPS panel with a 4K resolution, a 144Hz refresh rate (120Hz console mode), and a 1ms G2G response time. The 10-bit (8-bit + FRC) panel covers 95% of the DCI-P3 gamut and 123% of the sRGB spectrum and features DisplayHDR 400 certification. Rated brightness is set at 350 nits and the contrast ratio at 1000:1.

Like most other premium gaming monitors, the FI32U packs a slew of gaming-oriented features including Aim Stabilizer Sync, Black Equalizer, ANC for consoles, and the Game Assist overlay. Other features include flicker-free technology, OSD Sidekick, Dashboard overlay, PIP, PBP, HDR modes, a 6-axis colour control, and a KVM switch.

Available video outputs include 2x HDMI 2.1 ports and a DisplayPort 1.4. There’s also a 3.5mm mic jack, a 3.5mm audio jack, 3x USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C port. Both audio ports are powered by an Audio ESS Sabre HiFi chip. The back of the monitor features RGB Fusion 2.0 lighting, which users can synchronise with other compatible RGB products of their system.

The included stand of the Gigabyte FI32U is very versatile, allowing users to swivel (±20º), pivot (+90º), tilt (-5º to 21º), and adjust the height (0-130mm). Kensington lock and support for VESA wall mounting 100x100mm is also included.

KitGuru says: Looking for a new high-end monitor? The Gigabyte FI32U might be worth considering.

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What’s the best student laptop? We asked students

Shopping for a laptop can be stressful — doubly stressful if you or your children will be learning online for the first time. Kids of different ages have a range of different laptop use cases and different needs. And as the choices for best laptop and best Chromebook evolve, so do students’ needs. So I spoke to some experts on the subject: students themselves.

My recommendations here are meant to accommodate a variety of preferences and price ranges. But they’re a jumping-off point rather than an exhaustive list: every student is different. Before making a decision, you’ll want to make sure you read reviews and try out devices yourself if you can. I’ll do my best to keep this article up to date with items that are in stock.

Best laptop for students

Google’s Pixelbook Go has solid battery life and a rippled base that’s easy to grip, making it a good choice for kids.
Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

Best laptop for elementary school

For younger students, a touchscreen device is easier to use than a keyboard and touchpad, says Michelle Glogovac. Glogovac’s five-year-old son uses an iPad for Webex meetings with his kindergarten class. He’s gotten the hang of it; Glogovac says he’s already learned how to mute and unmute himself, “a skill that many adults aren’t familiar with.”

That said, it may be worth investing in a keyboard case if you go the tablet route. Glogovac has to type her son’s meeting codes and passwords for him, which can be cumbersome on the iPad’s flat screen.

As kids get older, their best laptop choice will vary depending on their needs. As a parent, it’s important that you and your child are in sync about how they intend to use it and the size of the programs they want.

Kristin Wallace purchased a budget HP laptop for her daughter, Bella, but didn’t realize how quickly the nine-year-old would fill up 32GB of storage. “It is really slow and has no space for games. I need a computer with more storage space,” said Bella, who uses the laptop to Zoom with friends and take virtual guitar lessons and math enrichment classes. Wallace plans to buy Bella a better device in the next few weeks.

Audio quality is an important consideration for kids’ laptops. Lisa Mitchell, an elementary library media specialist, says her students use their devices to watch YouTube videos in addition to their online classes. Battery life is also a plus, even for distance learners who may not be far from a wall outlet. Bella likes to use her laptop all around the house and doesn’t want to bring the cord with her.

Durability is also worth paying for, according to Mitchell. If you’re using a tablet, get a protective case. “If a reasonably-priced insurance or replacement policy is available, it’s usually worth the extra expense.”

Check out:

  • Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Edition ($199): a colorful, fast tablet with kid-friendly content
  • Lenovo Chromebook Duet ($279): a tiny 10-inch Chromebook with a detachable keyboard
  • Apple 10.2-inch iPad ($329): a great budget tablet that supports the Apple Pencil
  • Microsoft Surface Go 2 ($399): a solid Windows tablet with a built-in kickstand
  • Google Pixelbook Go ($649): a sturdy touchscreen Chromebook

Lenovo’s Chromebook Duet is just $289, but it can run plenty of tabs and apps with no problem.
Photo by Monica Chin / The Verge

Best laptop for middle school

The middle school students I spoke to don’t use their laptops for much more than web-based schoolwork and browsing. Don’t be too concerned about power — prioritize a machine that’s comfortable and easy for your child to use.

“We just got the most basic Chromebook and it is totally perfect,” says Gabrielle Hartley, an attorney and mother of three children who take a mix of in-person and online classes. “The most basic Chromebook serves all the needs of the basic middle schooler.”

Chromebooks, like this one from Acer, are a good choice for students who use Google Classroom.
Photo by Monica Chin / The Verge

Hartley’s son Max, who is in eighth grade, agrees. “I would really like a gaming PC or gaming laptop that can plug into a monitor and run video games with 120fps, but I really don’t need that,” Max says. “Most eighth graders aren’t going to be running any video games on their laptops or any software that requires a lot of power.”

Max mostly uses his laptop for Google Classroom applications, including Gmail, Slides, Google Docs, and Google Sheets. They’re very easy to use on his device, which he describes as “a run-of-the-mill Samsung Chromebook.” That said, if your child is starting middle school this year, it could be worth checking with their teachers to see what operating system is most compatible with their workflow. Caspian Fischer Odén, a ninth grader from Sweden, told me he has trouble with his Chromebook because his school has blocked downloading apps from the Google Play Store.

Even kids with more demanding hobbies think a budget device can get the job done. Sam Hickman, an eighth grader from the UK who uses his laptop for photo and video editing, says, “For most middle schoolers, any processor developed within the last two years will be able to handle any tasks they can throw at it.”

So, what is worth paying for? A comfortable keyboard, several students told me. Many middle school kids aren’t used to typing for long periods of time. You should also look for a device that’s compact and easy for them to carry around, particularly if they’re preparing for in-person school. Shoot for an 11- to 13-inch model — certainly nothing larger than 15 inches.

Check out:

  • HP Chromebook x360 ($279): an affordable Chromebook with great battery life
  • Lenovo Flex 3 Chromebook ($350): a small but sturdy laptop made for students
  • Lenovo 300e ($378): a durable 2-in-1 with a stylus
  • Acer Aspire 5 ($466): a portable option for kids who need a 15-inch screen
  • Microsoft Surface Laptop Go ($549): an attractive, light Windows laptop

The Surface Laptop 4 is a capable, no-nonsense laptop — just what many high schoolers want.
Photo by Monica Chin / The Verge

Best laptop for high school

High schoolers’ laptop needs can vary based on their interests, but most don’t need powerful machines with lots of bells and whistles — especially if they come with glitches or serious downsides that could interfere with schoolwork. Miles Riehle, a student at Laguna Beach High School, has a high-end Surface Pro 7 but finds it overwhelming. “There is so much other stuff that I don’t use very often,” he said. “Something simpler might be a little more straightforward.”

The best operating system may depend on what your child is used to. Aryan Nambiar, a student at Barrington High School in Illinois, has an iMac at home and enjoys using an iPad for his schoolwork. Riehle says he would prefer a Chromebook because he has an Android phone and often uses Google services.

But almost every student I spoke to agreed that the most important feature of a high school laptop is portability. Kids attending in-person classes may be carrying their device around for much of the day with a stack of other books. Look for a 13- or 14-inch screen, or a lighter 15- to 17-inch model.

Students also recommend something sturdy. “Most high schoolers I’ve seen will throw their laptop in their bag without too much care,” says Moses Buckwalter, a student at Penn Manor High School. Backpacks can be jostled in the hallway as well. Distance learners can still run into trouble at home. “Anything can happen,” says Aadit Agrawal, a high school student from India. “My own brother scratched my laptop with his nails.”

Battery life is another key feature. “It can be a real struggle to find a place to charge while in class,” says Cas Heemskerk, a sophomore from the Netherlands. Unlike college students, many high schoolers don’t have frequent breaks to juice up their devices, so try to find something that can last a full day.

Many students recommend a touchscreen with stylus support. Nambiar uses the feature for his biology class, where he does a lot of visual modeling. “The touchscreen is always a bonus for drawing diagrams, whereas if you’re using a laptop it’d be a whole process to submit a diagram you drew,” Nambiar says. Riehle uses a Surface Pen to fill out school forms and annotate PDFs. Agrawal finds it useful to take notes on the same screen as his online lessons.

Depending on the broadband situation in your area, you may also want a laptop with multiple connectivity options. Agrawal’s online classes are sometimes interrupted by powercuts, so he recommends an LTE model. Matej Plavevski, a junior at Yahya Kemal College in North Macedonia, recommends looking for an Ethernet port in case slower connections disrupt meetings. That’s hard to find on smaller laptops, but there’s a slew of affordable dongles and docks to consider.

Check out:

  • Acer Chromebook Spin 513 ($349): a convertible Chromebook with all-day battery
  • Apple iPad Air ($599): a powerful tablet with a great screen
  • Acer Chromebook Spin 713 ($629): a fantastic Chromebook that’s not too pricey
  • Dell XPS 13 ($931): a solid clamshell Windows laptop
  • Surface Laptop 4 ($999): an excellent, light laptop that’s comfortable to use

For college students seeking an affordable laptop, HP’s Envy x360 performs just as well as some expensive competitors.
Photography by Monica Chin / The Verge

Best laptop for college

College kids are justified in spending a bit more money than other age groups. Some (especially in STEM courses) can expect to do some fairly demanding work. Assad Abid, an electrical engineering undergrad from Pakistan, needs to run simulation software for his assignments. Aakash Chandra, a student at New Horizon College of Engineering in India, does a lot of coding, in addition to creative work in Premiere Pro and Photoshop, and gaming. Students also noted that it’s worthwhile to pay for a laptop that will last for a few years after graduation. That means you won’t have to worry about finding and financing your next device until you’re (hopefully) settled into a job.

But among high-end, capable devices there’s still a wide range of options. Students stressed that a college laptop should be light. Expect to bring it between classes, meals, meetings, the library, and other locations on campus. “It’s a boon that I can carry my laptop as well as some notebooks without feeling like I’m carrying too much for six hours a day,” says Haseeb Waseem, a senior at Villanova University.

The Dell XPS 13 has a variety of configurations. Students with light workloads may prefer the base model, while gamers and creatives can add a GPU.
Photo by Monica Chin / The Verge

Another universally-lauded feature: battery life. Waseem, who uses an HP Spectre, says the all-day juice gives him “the flexibility to study in a bunch of different locations, and even outside.”

Speakers and webcams are often overlooked, even in top-end devices. But students say it’s worth looking for good ones if you’re starting college this year. Zoom will be a large part of university life this semester: many kids will be attending virtual classes, while others will still be meeting with clubs, study groups, and professors as well as hanging out with friends online. Waseem isn’t satisfied with his laptop’s audio and picture quality, which he says has made it difficult to pay attention in class and to engage with other students.

Many students will need to invest more in areas tailored to their interests and schoolwork needs. Chandra’s dream laptop would include a stylus and touchscreen for his creative work as well as a high-end GPU. Waseem, who uses his laptop for a hodgepodge of activities, including streaming, coding, social media, video chatting, and Microsoft Office work, would prefer to prioritize a large screen to keep track of his multitasking.

Check out:

  • Acer Swift 3 ($613): a super light laptop that performs well
  • HP Envy x360 13 ($689): a fast and stylish 2-in-1
  • Dell XPS 13 ($930): a solid clamshell Windows laptop
  • Surface Laptop 4 ($999): an excellent, light laptop that’s comfortable to use
  • HP Spectre x360 14 ($1,269): a premium convertible with standout battery life
vendors-prep-atx12vo-motherboards-ahead-of-intel-12th-gen-alder-lake-release

Vendors Prep ATX12VO Motherboards Ahead of Intel 12th Gen Alder Lake Release

(Image credit: Corsair)

When Intel introduced its ATX12VO (12 volts only) power connector specification last year, it only got support from a small number of motherboard and power supply manufacturers. A year later, the situation among motherboards is looking better. That’s good news for Intel’s upcoming 12th Gen Alder Lake CPUs, which should arrive for desktop PCs by early 2022.

State of the ATX12VO Union

Intel formally introduced its ATX12VO spec on April 30, 2020. Meant to cut down on idle desktop power, the power connector was initially supported by ASRock with its Z490 Phantom Gaming 4SR motherboard and High Power with its HP1-P650GD-F12S power supply. While Intel also talked about  PSU support from Corsair, Channel Well and FSP, (which actually demonstrated an ATX12VO PSU at CES 2020), those power supplies never hit retail

This week, overclocker Roman “der8auer” Hartung asked several makers of the best motherboards and best power supplies about their plans to support ATX12VO this year. ASRock revealed that it’s about to release its Z590 Pro 12VO motherboard. And as noted by German tech site HardwareLuxx today, Asus already has a version of its Prime Z490-S with an ATX12VO connector. The enthusiast’s video also pointed to Asus working on an ATX12VO motherboard. 

Meanwhile, Gigabyte and MSI have not made any comments regarding their ATX12VO motherboard plans.  

Of course, Intel’s partners are keen on staying mum on future plans regarding the unreleased Alder Lake platform. However, a rumor last week pointed to Intel pushing motherboard makers to adopt ATX12VO for the platform’s upcoming LGA1700 motherboards. 

On the PSU side of matters, Seasonic told der8auer that it has already developed its Focus GX650 that complies with Intel’s ATX12VO requirements, and other models are awaiting Intel’s certification. Corsair, which sometimes sells Seasonic-made power supplies, also indicated plans to release a Corsair-branded ATX12VO PSU. In the meantime, those who already have an ATX12VO motherboard and a standard PSU can use Corsair’s ATX12VO adapter cable.

Useful Tech or Much Ado About Nothing?

The single-rail ATX12VO power delivery standard is appealing for a few reasons. First, the new ATX12VO connector is smaller, which is important for modern ultra-compact form-factor (UCFF) PCs. 

Second, the most power-hungry components today only use 12V rails; whereas many of those that need 5V and 3.3V either have their own power circuitry (for example, M.2 SSDs) or can use DC-to-DC converters that are now sometimes located inside PSUs (but which could be re-located to the motherboard). That means transitioning to ATX12VO could simplify PSUs and potentially make them cheaper. 

Next, conversion of 12V to 5V and 3.3V on motherboards is said to be more power-efficient, so ATX12VO is expected to reduce desktop PCs’ power consumption. 

From an environmental point of view, every watt counts, so as various government regulations get stricter, it makes sense for pre-built PCs to identify paths to efficiency. Usage of 80Plus Titanium or 80Plus Platinum-badged PSUs is expensive, so ATX12VO seems like a potential way for OEMs to reduce power consumption of their low-end and midrange PCs.  

Yet, the industry is not eager to transit to ATX12VO. For one, moving DC-to-DC converters to the motherboard won’t radically reduce power consumption of a PC. Unless someone runs millions of PCs, 4-5W savings aren’t significant. 

On top of that, adding converters to motherboards increases their overall footprint and bill-of-materials (BOM) cost. 

Further complicating things, 3.3V and 5V rails are used by all controllers, all SATA storage devices, all add-in-cards, (including graphics cards, audio cards, RAID controllers and Thunderbolt adapters) and the vast majority of USB devices. 

So far, Intel’s ATX12VO has not gained much traction on the DIY market, largely because it does not bring any significant benefits. With some motherboard vendors sharing plans to increase ATX12VO adoption, this could change, but only time will tell how enthusiastic PC builders will be about ATX12VO. 

With OEMs, the situation may be different, as many systems have to comply with new environmental regulations. But it remains to be seen which route PC makers will choose. 

We’ll have to keep our eyes on this space to see if ATX12VO takes off or falls flat like DTX motherboards.