Spotify’s in-car streaming device is being accredited by the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) in the US, The Verge reports. The device – first announced back in 2019 – is a voice-activated personal assistant that you mount on your dashboard. It means you can control music streaming in your car just by speaking.
It’s changed a little since it was first touted. The screen has got bigger and rectangular, making it look more like a smartphone than Spotify’s initial render (see below).
(Image credit: Spotify)
But it should work pretty much the same, with a Bluetooth connection to your phone and voice controls, so you can stay focused on the road.
So when will it launch? It’s anyone’s guess. An FCC accreditation just means the device is safe to use and approved for sale, but that’s no guarantee the product will ever hit shop shelves. According to a statement, Spotify is “continuing tests of a voice-controlled music and podcast device to help us learn more about how people listen to audio in the car.” Let’s hope it’s not long before we can test it for ourselves.
MORE:
In-car audio madness: Mercedes MBUX Hyperscreen is a giant 56-inch OLED ‘in-car cinema’
360 audio comes to the car:Panasonic and Klipsch team up to support in-car Dolby Atmos Music
And again: Harman Kardon brings 3D spatial audio and live music concerts to your car
Xiaomi’s smart watch is finally landed also in Italy. Mi Watch offers a full experience with large AMOLED display and Alexa support. For 24 hours today, 15 January, the smartwatch is discounted for only 99 EUR
by Lorenzo Tirotta published on 15 January 2021 , at 11: 31 in the Wearables channel Xiaomi
The Chinese giant distributed its Mi Watch also in Italy . The company has accustomed us to wearables of good workmanship with a quality-price ratio among the best on the market . The smartwatch was presented last September in China, and is practically the same one that arrived in Europe. Mi Watch offers a 1 AMOLED display, 39 inches with resolution 454 x 454 pixel a double button on the right, one of which is dedicated to sports mode.
There are the main sensors integrated in the watch: SpO2 to measure blood oxygen saturation, the heart rate monitor to monitor heart rate in addition to sleep monitoring . On the side sport , Mi Watch is a companion reliable who lacks nothing: ben 117 different training modes and a compact design with a feather weight of 32 grams offer a great experience.
Among the other peculiarities of the wrist wearable we find the voice support to Alexa , the remote function of the cam and the water resistance to 5ATM . There is no shortage GPS and Bluetooth version 5.0 .
Autonomy is one of the strong points of the device, its battery from 420 mAh offers a duration of 16 days and recharges in just 2 hours.
Prices and availability
Xiaomi Mi Watch was launched in Italy at a price of 129 euro in three different colors: Beige, Black and Navy Blue. Just for today, 15 January 2021 , for the fastest the launch price was lowered to 99 EUR, available on Amazon.it and mi.com or in the numerous Mi Stores in Italy.
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In addition to the various smartphones of the Galaxy series S 10 and Galaxy Buds Pro earphones, Samsung also presented the so-called SmartTag yesterday, which is a Bluetooth accessory that will allow users to never lose any object. Here’s how it works.
by Bruno Mucciarelli published 15 January 2021 , at 11: 14 in the Telephony channel Samsung
In addition to Galaxy S series smartphones 21 and to the earphones Galaxy Buds Pro , Samsung, has decided to present a small but ingenious Bluetooth accessory capable of allowing everyone not to lose any type of object it will be associated with. Let’s talk about the Samsung SmartTag that is a small square-shaped device a few millimeters thick and equipped with a Bluetooth 5.0 LE module capable of being located in any place and therefore capable of ” following ” every single object to which it will be associated such as keys, wallet or other.
Samsung SmartTag: here’s how it’s done and how it works
SmartTag measures 4 x 4 cm and is approximately 1 cm thick with a weight that is just over 10 grams. It can boast the IP certification 53 and is powered by a battery from 220 mAh which should guarantee an autonomy of 280 days before being replaced. The small accessory can be connected to the house or car keys, to the backpack, to the dog collar or wherever you want, with the possibility of discovering its position at any time thanks to the Bluetooth 5.0 LowEnergy . Galaxy Smart Tag is made of plastic and as mentioned it is also created to withstand rain, a very useful function especially when used with pets.
How does it work? Among the peculiarities of Galaxy SmartTag there is the possibility of using SmartThings Find , the new feature being released by Samsung, to find the tag using the Galaxy product network. Even if it’s not connected directly to a Galaxy smartphone, the tag emits a BLE signal that can be picked up by nearby Galaxy devices. At this point the information collected, encrypted and protected, is sent to the owner , the only one who will be able to accurately know its position, with the possibility of quickly recovering the ” lost ” device. Specifically, the new Galaxy SmartTag accessory sees the presence of a button that allows you to quickly find the connected smartphone. Moreover, thanks to the app created specifically by Samsung, it will be possible to customize the function of the button on the tag and maybe use it to turn on the home light using SmartThings.
Who will buy one of the smartphones of the Galaxy S line 21 from 14 to the 28 January will receive a free SmartTag . SmartTag is marketed at price of 34, 90 euro and is available starting today. During the presentation, Samsung also announced the arrival of a second version , SmarTag +, equipped with UWB module but will arrive later in the year.
The corona pandemic also determines the CES 2015, and not just organizationally. With AirPop, a company founded in the year 2015 comes on the scene and presents the smart breathing mask Active + at the virtual technology show, which with an intelligent Sensor and its own app.
The heart of the breathing mask is the Halo sensor, which connects to the Android smartphone or iPhone via Bluetooth . It is powered by a button cell that is supposed to last for six months. The sensor collects data on breathing behavior, breathing cycle, pollutants trapped in the filter and more. In Active mode, Halo also detects breaths per minute or per step, which are then collected in the app. The iOS app has an interface to Apple HealthKit.
The filters of the AirPop Active + are clipped into the mask and, according to the manufacturer, should 99 Stop percent of all PM-0.3 particles, including dust, allergens, fine dust and microbial particles. The halo sensor warns when the halo sensor needs to be changed.
The fabric mask is washable and seals with a soft-touch membrane. Due to the 3D shape, the filter does not lie directly on the face, which is supposed to benefit the comfort.
Halo-Sensor
(Image: AirPop )
Sales start in February The AirPop Active + should be available in February in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The price is 150 euros. AirPop offers the Active + in black, white and yellow. The scope of delivery includes four easy-change filters, each with a maximum of hours of use.
In addition to AirPop, gaming specialist Razer also presented a breathing mask at the CES 2021. The N 95 mask with LED lighting and a transparent front is called Project Hazel, but it is still a concept and not closed for the foreseeable future buy.
Back in May 2019, Spotify announced that it would be publicly testing a voice-controlled smart assistant for cars that the company called “Car Thing.” But nearly two years on, we haven’t heard much from the project — though that might change soon. A Car Thing with a totally new design and a bigger screen has appeared in FCC filings.
This new version of the Car Thing seems like it will function similarly to the 2019 version — it’s a “voice controlled accessory for phone/Spotify App with supporting display and buttons,” according to a description found in the filings. “Bluetooth enabled for communication with the Car Head Unit. Powered from a 12V outlet,” continues the description, bluntly.
The design, though, is radically different. The new Car Thing looks almost like a mini-tablet, with some kind of button and a large knob. It’s pictured at the top of this post. Compare it to this image from Spotify of the version it announced in 2019:
Spotify’s image of what the Car Thing looked like in 2019.Image: Spotify
And if you want to get a better look at the newer version, we’ve collected some photos from the new FCC filings in this gallery, including a few of the device powered on. Disappointingly, though, it’s hard to tell anything about how the device actually works from the photos, or what the software looks like.
It’s also unclear if this is a product people will ever be able to get their hands on. A product hitting the FCC doesn’t necessarily mean that it will be released for the general public. And we never heard much about the 2019 version of the Car Thing following its initial announcement (though that one also had a trip through the FCC).
Spotify didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment.
Fans of the classic PlayStation 2 should enjoy this Raspberry Pi project created by a maker known online as Farizno. Affectionately dubbed the PiStation 2, this project is exactly what it sounds like — a PS2 Raspberry Pi crossover.
Inside this PlayStation 2 (not the slimline edition) is a Raspberry Pi 4 with a 1TB SSD configured to emulate tons of retro gaming classics and more. Because a Pi is used as the main board, any USB or Bluetooth controller will work—this includes both PlayStation and Xbox controllers.
The Pi is wired to the actual PS2 buttons so, for example, the power button will safely shutdown the Raspberry Pi. The eject button is wired to control an LED strip.
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(Image credit: Farizno)
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(Image credit: Farizno)
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(Image credit: Farizno)
A 3D printed piece was used to help mount the Raspberry Pi ports to the back of the PS2. It even uses a custom fan that operates in accordance to CPU temperature. The rig is also designed to use a custom GUI with multiple OS options like Kodi and Emulation Station.
If you want to read more about this project, check out the Instructables project page for complete steps. Also visit our list of Best Raspberry Pi Projects for more cool creations from the maker community.
The end has finally come for Adobe Flash on the Raspberry Pi. What once powered many memes and early Internet games is no more. With the latest update to Raspberry Pi OS, Adobe Flash has been removed from the official Raspberry Pi operating system but this brings about an issue of its own.
Adobe Flash was once the darling of the late 1990s and early 2000s web. Embedded games, interactive interfaces and full blown applications were built with Flash, but over time it became bloated, buggy and a security risk. The removal of Flash from Raspberry Pi OS has been on the cards for quite some time and with the January 11 update they have finally removed it. The removal of Flash does have one impact on Raspberry Pi OS. The popular Scratch 2 programming application will now no longer work as it relies upon Flash. So before you update your Raspberry Pi to the latest OS, ensure that your projects work with the Scratch online editor.
Looking through the release notes, the other changes to Raspberry Pi OS in this release are largely bug fixes for the new PulseAudio configurations introduced in the December 2020 update. There are a few fixes for the Chromium web browser, notably removal of artifacts in Google Maps 3D view. An updated Linux Kernel, now 5.4.83 and updated Raspberry Pi firmware keeps your Pi securely up to date.
Raspberry Pi OS is available from the Raspberry Pi website, where it can be downloaded as a disk image, or via the Raspberry Pi Imager tool.
Let’s be honest. This wasn’t the CES anyone wanted. We’ve been covering North America’s largest tech show for years, so we can definitively say that, without in-person booths and demos, it’s just not the same. The most interesting things at any show happen outside of the scripted press conferences where we get to see and touch products in person, talk to product managers off the record or wander the halls, looking for the unexpected.
However, even in a down year, there were some bright spots that give us hope for a tech-filled 2021. From a new generation of powerful AMD laptops to a super-sleek compact chassis and even an RGB mask, these are the hottest new products unveiled this week.
Best CPU: AMD Ryzen 5000 Mobile
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
AMD’s Ryzen 5000 series granted the company the performance lead over Intel in desktop PCs for the first time in more than a decade, and now AMD has brought that same powerful Zen 3 architecture to laptops — and in record time.
The four-, six- and eight-core ‘Cezanne’ Ryzen 5000 Mobile series should bring the best of Zen 3 to laptops, granting the company the lead in single- and multi-threaded applications over Intel’s Tiger Lake chips that still top out at four cores. These powerful new chips will also find their way into gaming laptops hosting the fastest mobile GPUs, finally giving us high-end options for AMD’s mobile platforms.
The entire Ryzen 5000 Mobile lineup comes with threading enabled, higher clock speeds than their predecessors, and brings AMD’s innovative new boost technology to laptops for the first time, which promises higher performance in lightly-threaded work and longer battery life. AMD even threw in two new overclockable HX-series models that support core, memory, and fabric overclocking, which could be a potent combination with the company’s RDNA2 mobile GPUs that land later this year. — Paul Alcorn
Read more:AMD Announces Ryzen 5000 Mobile ‘Cezanne’ Processors, Zen 3 and Overclocking Comes to Laptops
Best GPU: Nvidia RTX 3060 12GB
(Image credit: Nvidia)
Nvidia effectively wins this one by default, because nothing else was really announced. Sure, GeForce RTX 30-series GPUs are coming to gaming laptops as well, but those are just power-optimized versions of the Ampere GPUs we already know and love — well, those of us who are lucky enough to have found one in stock, at any rate.
The GeForce RTX 3060 sounds like an amazing value proposition. Performance looks like it should come pretty close to matching the RTX 2070 Super, a card that launched at $500. What’s more, Nvidia has elected to go with a 12GB VRAM configuration, which is more memory than any of the other RTX cards outside of the RTX 3090 and Titan RTX. It’s about time, I say! Plenty of games won’t need 12GB, but there are enough that now creep past 8GB that it’s a welcome change, and 6GB definitely wouldn’t feel right on a $330 mainstream card that’s supposed to last a few years.
The real question: Is there a chance in hell that Nvidia and its partners will have enough RTX 3060 cards available at launch to satisfy the demand? My crystal ball is literally laughing at me for even asking, and suggesting I check back around Computex time to see if things have improved. — Jarred Walton
Read more:Nvidia RTX 3060 (12GB) Coming in Feb for $329
Best Laptop: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga
(Image credit: Lenovo)
In the ultraportable category, CES 2021 was dominated by business laptops to go with the launch of Intel’s 11th Gen vPro mobile processors. Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Titanium impressed with its looks and the thoughtfulness given to its design. The 3:2 aspect ratio on the 13.5-inch, 2K display is great for all types of work, as it provides a taller screen. It also makes for a much better tablet experience than a 16:9 laptop. That display also promises Dolby Vision HDR support, while the audio will come from Dolby Atmos speakers.
At 0.45 inches thick, the Titanium Yoga is the thinnest ThinkPad ever, but still tested to military standards. While we haven’t had hands-on due to the virtual nature of CES this year, it looks like it will be a stunning and lightweight convertible 2-in-1at just 2.54 pounds. — Andrew E. Freedman
Nvidia’s new RTX 30-series mobile GPUs and new processors from both Intel and AMD meant a slew of gaming notebooks at this year’s CES. But the MSI Stealth 15M was one of very few to utilize both a new processor and GPU. This laptop is, at 0.6 inches thick, somewhere in-between full-on gaming and an ultraportable. It’s combining a 35-watt Intel Core i7-11375H CPU with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Max-Q GPU, which should be somewhat formidable for most games.
The all-aluminum stylings and black and white color options appear quite slick. Some of MSI’s other ultraportable gaming options, like GF75, will offer a 45W processor and similar GPU, but it’s also a bit bulkier. For those who want it thin, the Stealth is one of a few laptops in an area we’ll keep a close eye on. — Andrew E. Freedman
Read more: MSI Debuts Stealth 15M With Tiger Lake H35, Powerhouse GE76 Raider
Best Case: iBuyPower Revolt 3 MK3
(Image credit: iBuyPower)
Taking credit for perhaps the most improved product at this year’s CES, iBuyPower’s Revolt 3 MK3 desktop is a drastic departure from the
Revolt 2
’s RGB and glass-heavy horizontal design. Instead, what we’ve got here is a compact tower with no glass or RGB but plenty of vents on all sides.
Not only does that give it a more understated look that’s easier to fit into your typical office and plenty more space for air to enter and escape the machine, but it’s also more equipped to take advantage of the small form factor footprint that unifies the Revolt line. A handle on the top makes this case easy to pick up for transport, plus it’s got a hook on either side for holding peripherals like headsets.
The side of the case also has a swing-out door for housing a 280mm radiator, plus you can also add on an optional 80mm exhaust fan at the top. The case also comes with a 700 W SFX-L power supply pre-installed alongside pre-routed cables, which makes for one less component you’ll need to buy and should make for less cable clutter.
The key drawback here is the potential for noise. We’ll have to get our hands on it ourselves to say anything definitive, but all those holes do mean you’re probably not going to have much sound dampening.
But that’s an easy tradeoff for such a step forward in usability and looks compared to the oddly-shaped Revolt 2. Plus, you’ll be can get the Revolt 3 MK3 in white too. — Michelle Ehrhardt
Read more: iBuyPower Goes Back to Basics (In a Good Way) With Revolt 3 MK3 SFF PC and Case
Best Motherboard: EVGA Z590 Dark
(Image credit: EVGA)
Intel’s Rocket Lake-S CPUs may not quite be here yet, but motherboard makers rarely let a CES go by without a cadre of new boards to show. And over the last couple of days, we’ve seen details of nearly 50 Z590 motherboards land in our inboxes. While many are intriguing, the EVGA Z590 Dark stands out.
The design of the E-ATX board has an understated aggressiveness, with its large copper heatsinks and black…well, pretty much everything else. The board backs up its aesthetics with a crazy overbuilt 22-phase VRM and a 10-layer PCB. Most of the connectors are angled, to help in hiding cables, which is aided by a cutout in the area of the 24-pin power and USB header connectors.
The board’s primary oddity is a CPU socket that’s rotated 90 degrees. That could complicate some cooler setups, and you only get two RAM slots. But the latter is a nod to memory overclockers, who often get better results on two-slot Mini-ITX boards. No word yet on rated supported RAM speeds, but you can bet they’re going to be among the fastest on the market. And while you lose RAM slots, the board ships with an extra pair of SATA ports (8 total), so you can probably plug in every functional SATA drive you’ve got in a drawer or a box in the back of your closet. For faster storage, the EVGA Z590 Dark has three M.2 slots. And if 11 drives isn’t enough for you, you may want to consider a drive storage rack, or perhaps talking to a professional about your digital hoarding disorder. — Matt Safford
Read more:
EVGA’s New Z590 Dark Motherboard Offers The Meanest Look
Best Monitor: LG UltraFine 32EP950
(Image credit: LG)
There’s no denying the image quality boost offered by OLED, with its deliciously deep blacks. When it comes to PC monitors though, finding an OLED screen in a size that can comfortably sit atop a desk has been virtually impossible. Enter the LG UltraFine 32EP950, an OLED stunner in an eye-pleasing 31.5-inch form factor.
LG’s 4K OLED monitor targets professionals with a lot of color (a claimed 99% of DCI-P3). But enthusiasts of any kind will appreciate the bevy of ports, which includes DisplayPort, HDMI and even USB-C with 90W charging.
But what really makes this UltraFine ultra fine is that it brings us closer to being able to put the amazing contrast of OLED right in our home office without necessarily breaking the bank — or desk like you would with the more common, larger OLED TV alternatives. — Scharon Harding
Read more:LG Debuts 31.5-Inch OLED Monitor At CES 2021
Best Concept: Razer Project Hazel
(Image credit: Razer)
CES 2021 was different this year, for all the reasons our lives are different right now. But we certainly didn’t expect to see Razer, a gaming-focused company, make a concept mask that might even make the category kind of cool.
Project Hazel is not for sale — and may never be. But the ideas make sense. It’s clear to allow you to see others’ emotions, as well as for the hard of hearing to be able to read lips. There are voice amplifiers so that you aren’t muffled by the mask. The case is also a charger, and it has UV lights to disinfect the mask. The whole thing would be an N95 respirator, and oh, yeah, there are two Chroma RGB rings.
There are some questions we have, like if the mask’s ability to let in fresh air and expel CO2 would completely protect against an airborne virus like the one that causes COVID-19. But the thoughtful ideas could make for an improved mask in a world where it looks like we’ll be wearing them more often. — Andrew E. Freedman
Read more: Razer’s Project Hazel Is an RGB Face Mask for Our New Normal
Best Keyboard: Asus ROG Claymore II
(Image credit: Asus)
Tenkeyless (aka TKL) keyboards are very popular with gamers, because they save space by doing away with the numeric keypad many people only use for work. However, there are times when you really need those extra keys and Asus’ new ROG Claymore II keyboard has the answer: a numpad that slides on and snaps into its right side.
The Claymore II works in both wired and high-speed 2.4 GHz wireless modes. You can also swap out the USB-C cable with one of your own.
This keyboard also uses Asus’s own opto-mechanical keys in either Blue or Red style. This allows for less key wobble than traditional mechanical keys and lets more RGB light through. — Avram Piltch
Read more:Chop off Your Numpad with the Asus ROG Claymore II
Best Mouse: Thermaltake Argent M5 RGB Gaming Mouse
(Image credit: Thermaltake)
We didn’t see a lot of mice at this year’s CES, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t still a clear winner. Thermaltake’s peripherals have been less than beautiful in the past, but this year’s CES saw a change in direction for the company with its new Argent line. Meaning “silver,” the idea behind Argent is to pair Thermaltake’s impressive technical features with premium build quality and silver finishes.
Take the Argent M5 RGB Gaming Mouse, our favorite mouse from this year’s show. While it does separate itself from the rest of the Argent line with a black main body, it’s still got a slick, symmetrical look that’s highlighted by RGB alongside its sides and bottom and a textured metallic silver scroll wheel on top. Achieving that symmetrical look means that the design here is ambidextrous, which can be a mixed bag for right-handed gamers, but lefties will be sure to appreciate the extra usability.
On the inside, the Argent M5 is packing DPI support from 100 to 16,000, plus a polling rate under 1ms and 64Kb of memory. The mouse’s 8 programmable buttons also use Omron switches, and the wired version’s cable is both braided and detachable.
That’s right- the Argent M5 also comes in both wired and wireless options, which gives it plenty of versatility. The wireless version of the mouse does lose RGB along its bottom and sides, likely to save battery life, but in exchange, it can connect over either Bluetooth 5.0 or 2.4GHz using a USB adapter.
All of this leaves us with a powerful, versatile Thermaltake pointer that finally looks the part. — Michelle Ehrhardt
Read more: Thermaltake’s Attractive Argent Peripherals Pair Silver and RGB Elements
Best Headset: Lenovo Legion H600
(Image credit: Lenovo)
It’s hard for a headset to stand out in an all-virtual CES. After all, we can’t test the audio quality, comfort or even durability. But what makes the Lenovo Legion H600 innovative actually has nothing to do with any of those characteristics. The standout feature is the wireless headset’s ability to charge wirelessly. But unlike other wireless charging gaming headsets we’ve seen, the Legion H600 gets its charge all while hanging attractively in its headset stand.
Sadly, you’ll need a specific headset stand to make this happen. The Legion S600 Gaming Station comes at an additional cost but also brings its own Qi wireless charger, as well as two USB Type-A passthrough ports. We’d rather the cans and headset stand/charger come bundled together. But if you’re willing to make the investment this looks like a clean, clever way to charge and store your cans, as well as other devices. — Scharon Harding
Read more:Lenovo’s Legion H600 Is a Wireless Charging Headset That May Actually Make Sense
Samsung’s big Unpacked event is in the books and with all the limelight focused on the three new Galaxy S phones, it’s would be easy to miss out on the Galaxy Smart Tag – Samsung’s latest Bluetooth tracking tile. It comes in two variants – Smart Tag that uses Bluetooth 5.0 Low Energy (LE) and Smart Tag+ that leverages Ultrawide Band (UWB) and will launch later this year.
Both trackers help you locate missing items when you attach them to whatever you see fit. You can clip them up to your keys, wallet, backpack or even to your pet’s leash. They pair with Samsung’s SmartThings app and you can then check out the tag’s last location, and play a sound to help you locate it in tight spaces. The trackers have a range of 120m.
They also serve as a one-touch IoT control meaning it can switch on or off connected Samsung appliances like TVs, robot vacuums and other appliances. Both are IP53 water and dust resistant.
The Smart Tags will be compatible only with Galaxy smartphones, tablets and wearables, though, which limits their use case.
The regular Galaxy Smart Tag goes for $29.99/€34,90 while the Tag+ will retail for $39.99. Both will be available in packs of two as well which will lower the price per item. Sales are scheduled to being on January 29.
The dream of using your phone to unlock your car door (instead of carrying around a bulging key fob) may be one step closer today: Samsung has announced partnerships with Audi, BMW, Ford, and Genesis to do just that, saying the feature may be available as soon as August 2021. And excitingly, those digital car keys should work with Apple iPhones and across other Android brands, too.
That’s because Samsung is part of multiple standards bodies that are working on the tech, including the Car Connectivity Consortium and the FiRa Consortium, of which Apple is also a leading member. “You’ll even be able to share your digital key across smartphones, regardless of brand or platform,” Samsung’s Kevin Chung announced during the company’s Galaxy S21 event today.
Unfortunately, it’s not yet clear which automakers will support the coolest, securest version of this tech: UWB. It uses small, standardized beacon-like pulses of low-power energy, preferably from multiple parts of your car at once, to figure out exactly where you are in relation to your car’s handle from a sizable distance away.
Samsung says with the new digital keys, “you’ll be able to unlock your car door when you reach it, no sooner, no later,” but I’m pretty sure it’s only referring to UWB there. The fallback is NFC, where you’d likely need to pull your phone out and tap it to your car, like you do with tap-to-pay NFC transactions today.
The AR viewfinder for UWB-equipped phones and cars.Image: Samsung
Samsung also showed off how the tech can let you find your car in a crowded parking lot, with an augmented reality viewfinder it says it’s bringing to Samsung phones — but the fine print says it only works with UWB-equipped cars and UWB-enabled phones.
Every iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 comes with UWB now, but Samsung says only the Galaxy Z Fold 2, the new S21 Plus and S21 Ultra (so, not the S21?), and the “Galaxy Note 20+” (presumably referring to the Note 20 Ultra, which has UWB) will support the AR viewfinder.
Apple is also waiting for carmakers to adopt UWB and had to roll out its own version of digital car keys with NFC to start, and only on the 2021 BMW 5 Series. But BMW announced earlier today that it’ll support UWB, branded as “Digital Key Plus,” with the electric BMW iX.
Samsung’s also introducing a UWB-based tracking tag for finding your lost gadgets later this year, though — like the car keys — it’s starting off with a less impressive Bluetooth version instead that won’t let you locate them as precisely.
The Galaxy S21 trio is here and it comes with two important discounts. First, we had to wait less than 12 months for it. And second, they are €50 cheaper than last year’s models (€100 in the case of the Ultra).
But is it even worth upgrading from an S20 to an S21? That’s a topic for another article, here we wanted to focus on how the new S21 models compare against each other. Remember that pre-orders will run until January 29, so you have time to think about which one to get. The lists below offer quick reminders of the Pros and Cons of each of the three.
Clearly, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is far and away the best-equipped phone. It’s the only one that keeps the screen resolution at 1440p+ and is the first Samsung to reach 120Hz at that resolution. And it has the most advanced adaptive refresh rate of the bunch, going as low as 10Hz, and the brightest too, peaking at 1,500 nits.
The camera is miles ahead as well. This phone can record 4K 60 fps video with any of its cameras. Yes, even the selfie cam. And it has excellent zoom performance: 1x to 3x is handled by the 108 MP sensor, there’s a 3x telephoto lens for mid-range zoom, then from 10x to 100x the periscope lens takes over.
The major criticisms against the S21 Ultra is that it is big and expensive. Charging doesn’t seem that fast, but 50% charge in 30 minutes is not necessarily bad. And we wish there were some brighter color options, but that feels like nitpicking.
Samsung’s first 1440p+ 120Hz display (10-120Hz), 1,500 nits
First S Pen support outside of Note series
108MP main camera with 9-in-1 pixel binning, 12-bit RAW
Two tele cams: 10x periscope and 3x lens, both with OIS
Ultra wide camera with autofocus
40MP selfie camera, 4K at 60 fps filming on all lenses (front and back)
More RAM on base model – 12GB, 16GB option
Optional 512GB storage
Larger 5,000mAh battery
Wi-Fi 6E (6GHz band for less interference, lower latency)
UWB (fast phone-to-phone file sharing, direction finding)
Better pre-order freebies (with Galaxy Buds Pro)
Large and heavy (165.1 75.6 x 8.9mm, 228g)
Most expensive (€1,250/£1,150)
Charging limited to 25W, was 45W on S20 Ultra
Dull color options
The Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G feels like it’s in no-man’s land. It’s not the best of the three and not the cheapest. Compared to the vanilla S21, the advantages are few and mostly related to size. Other than that, it’s almost the same phone.
And we said we’re not going to compare it against the S20+, but the 2020 model is still in the back of our minds. Samsung could have kept the Plus display at 1440p+ resolution and it still wouldn’t have stepped on Ultra’s toes (whose display is brighter and has a more advanced adaptive refresh rate system). Or at least it could have upgraded the cameras compared to the smaller S21.
As it stands, the only two reasons to pick the S21+ over the vanilla S21 are screen size and battery life. As for the S21 Ultra, let’s just say that the €200 price difference is the only thing the Plus has going for it.
Screen almost as large as Ultra’s, 6.7”, and it’s flat
Battery almost as large as Ultra’s, 4,800mAh
UWB (fast phone-to-phone file sharing, direction finding)
The Samsung Galaxy S21 5G doesn’t suffer as much as the Plus from its downgrade to 1080p+ resolution due to its smaller display size. Also, the 6.2” panel is great for everyone who thinks that 6.5” phones are too big.
There are a few odd downgrades compared to the Plus and the Ultra. For one, while all three have Gorilla Glass Victus on the front, the S21 is the only one with a “glasstic” back. Also, it loses the Ultra Wide Band feature, which is like “super Bluetooth”. It offers faster data transfer speeds between phones and it can detect the direction of a device with great precision.
As with the Plus, the main advantages of the Galaxy S21 seem to be related to its size. This may end up a repeat of the Note20/Note20 Ultra situation where barely anyone has seen the non-Ultra in real life. But at least the vanilla S21 has “small and cheap” going for it, which the S21+ does not.
Most compact and lightest (151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9 mm, 202g)
Most affordable (€850/£770)
1080p+ display, 48-120 Hz
12MP main camera, fixed-focus ultra wide camera, 10MP selfie
“Glasstic” rear panel
No UWB support
The Galaxy S series has been around for over a decade but this year we’re starting to see some major changes as the company reshuffles its portfolio. The division between the S Ultra and the other S-phones has become quite stark, at the same time the division between the S Ultra and Note Ultra has blurred.
Samsung introduced the Ultra badge a little under a year ago. Back then, the camera was the major difference between it and the Plus model. That is true this year as well, but the display has emerged as another important distinction.
Easily the most impressive of the three new models is the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, which marks a number of firsts for the Galaxy line (the S family especially). And as we said, it’s all down to the screen and the camera.
The 6.8” Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel is a tad smaller than last year, but still has curved sides and now Gorilla Glass Victus protection. And it kept its 1440p+ resolution while the other two S21 models dropped to 1080p+.
This is Samsung’s first display able to run at 120Hz refresh rate while rendering at the full 1440p+ resolution. And it’s an Adaptive Refresh Rate (ARR) display, which can drop to 10Hz, when you don’t need the extra refreshes. This will reduce power usage, especially for static screens (think Always On Display). This also the brightest display of any Galaxy so far, with a peak of 1,500 nits.
The other major change is that the S21 Ultra supports the S Pen. Or rather any Wacom stylus. You can get a big, comfy one or a small, easy to pocket one. Which is important as (unlike the Note), there’s no place to stash the stylus – some Samsung cases have a compartment for it, but it’s that or your pocket.
That hurdle aside, the S Pen offers the same true to life experience of taking notes and sketching your ideas, plus handy shortcuts that we’re used to. This version of the stylus doesn’t have a battery, so the Bluetooth functionality you’ve seen on the Notes (remote camera shutter key, motion gestures) is not available.
The first camera upgrade you’ll notice is that there are two telephoto lenses now. The periscope was extended to 10x optical magnification and a traditional 3x lens was added to fill in the mid-range zoom gap. Below that, the high resolution main sensor handles the 1x to 3x range with lossless digital zoom.
The 108MP main sensor has been upgraded too. Samsung calls it a “Bright Night sensor”, which uses its 9-in-1 pixel binning to 12MP, plus improvements in processing for superior low-light shots. You can get even better results from it if you do manual editing as it can output 12-bit RAW photos.
The S21 Ultra is the first Samsung to support 4K 60fps video recording with all cameras. All cameras, including the 40MP selfie camera, the 12MP Ultra Wide module (with Dual Pixel AF), the two tele cameras as well.
Now we get to the smaller (but still important) stuff. This is the first phone to support Wi-Fi 6E – that’s 802.11ax working in the less cluttered 6 GHz band, which means higher bandwidth and lower latency.
The 5,000 mAh battery has the same capacity as last year, but it officially drops the maximum wired charging speed to 25W (that’s fast enough for a 50% charge in 30 minutes). And, controversially, there’s no charger in the box. The good news is that you can use any USB Power Delivery charger you have (PPS is supported), wireless chargers work too.
The Ultra starts at 128GB storage, same as the other two phones, and has a 256GB option. If you really need a lot of storage, the top configuration comes with half a terabyte.
That is tied to 16GB of RAM. If you think both numbers are overkill, the base RAM capacity is 12GB (the other two new S phones get only 8GB with no option for 12GB, which feels downright pedestrian).
Samsung is building two versions of the S21 Ultra – one with the Snapdragon 888 and one with the Exynos 2100. You don’t get a choice, the chipset is decided by where you buy the phone. As usual, North America gets the Snapdragon, Europe and India get the Exynos. In either case the phone runs Android 11 with the latest One UI 3, which has some exclusive features (including the ones related to the S Pen).
The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra starts at €1,250/£1,150 for the 12/128 GB model. That’s €100/£50 less than the S20 Ultra last year. Note: there are no 4G-only versions of the S-series this year.
The phone will be in stores from January 29, but it will probably arrive earlier if you pre-order one. If you do, you’ll get a pair of the new noise-canceling Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro and a SmartTag for free.
Samsung has unveiled its new generation of smartphones as part of an unpacked event. A trio of Galaxy S was presented 16 – models – the standard model Galaxy S 21 5G, the Galaxy S 21 Plus 5G and the top model Galaxy S 21 Ultra 5G.
Will come to the top the Galaxy S 21 Ultra 5G posed. With its 6.8-inch display, it offers a particularly large screen diagonal. Unlike the previous generation, the Dynamic AMOLED panel can now also achieve its maximum refresh rate at full resolution of 3. 200 x 1. 440 pixels . An automatic adjustment of the refresh rate in the range between 10 and 120 Hz depending on the respective screen content. A cover made of the particularly robust Gorilla Glass Victus is supposed to protect the display. For the first time, the Ultra model can also be used in combination with an optional Samsung stylus. However, it is not included in the scope of delivery.
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With the new, powerful Exynos 2100 Samsung is using a new high-end SoC in-house in Europe. The SoC is combined with 12 or 16 GB RAM and 128, 256 or 512 GB of internal memory. The main camera uses a 108 – MP- Sensor. You will be two 10 – MP cameras set aside that work with different zoom levels. The quartet is completed by a 11 – MP ultra wide angle camera. The front camera is also impressive – it solves with 40 MP on. The battery is 5. 00 0 mAh in size and can be used with up to 25 watts to be charged. Wireless charging is possible with up to 15 Watts supported. The 5G smartphone already supports Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2.
Samsung’s top model costs in the cheapest equipment variant with 12 GB RAM and 128 GB memory 1. 249 Euro. The top configuration with 16 GB RAM and 512 GB memory should be 1. 429 Euro. The regular trade can offer black and silver in terms of colors, titanium, navy blue and brown are also available exclusively in the Samsung online shop.
The basic model will be simpler and cheaper
The two smaller models Galaxy S 21 5G and S 21 Plus 5G differ visually differs from the Ultra model mainly through the much narrower camera combination on the back. The three cameras are located one below the other on the left edge and thus decisively shape the new design. One 12 – MP main camera comes with a 64 – MP zoom camera and one 11 – MP ultra wide angle camera combined. In video mode, as with the Ultra model, recordings of up to 8K are possible. With the basic model you have to make friends with a back made of polycarbonate plastic, with the Plus and Ultra models, however, glass pulls over the back. While the Galaxy S 21 5G has a 6.2-inch display, the Galaxy S receives 21 Plus 5G a 6.7 inch display. The resolution for both models is 2. 400 x 1. 080 pixels specified. This means that the resolution is lower than in the previous generation, but the displays of the new Galaxy models can consistently with 108 Hz work. The front camera appears as a centrally placed hole solution. It solves with 10 MP on. 5G is always on board.
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Also this Galaxy S 21 – models come with a Exynos 2100. The main memory is always 8 GB, the internal memory is optionally available 128 or 256 GB. Samsung is canceling the micro SD card reader, which means that memory expansion is no longer possible. The operating system for the new Galaxy S models is Android 11 with Samsung’s revised user interface One UI 3.1. While the Galaxy S 21 5G with a 4. 00 0 mAh battery, the Galaxy S receives 21 Plus 5G a 4th 800 – mAh battery. That’s why the 128 g heavy Galaxy S 21 5G but also significantly lighter than the 200 g heavy plus model. Fast charging, wireless charging and reverse charging are also required for the Galaxy S 21 5G and S 21 Plus 5G cannot be waived. However, Samsung generally refrains from including power supplies with the new generation. One follows the example of Apple. All Galaxy-S 16 – Models are dust and water protected according to IP 68.
The Galaxy S 21 5G is offered in the colors purple, gray, white and pink and should at least 849 Euro. Compared to the previous generation, the entry price has dropped by 50 Euro. The plus model has a starting price of 1. 049 – Euro the 1st 00 0 euro mark. It is available in either silver, black or purple. The Samsung online shop also has red and gold. Double storage costs with Galaxy S 16 5G and Galaxy S 21 Plus 5G each 50 Euro surcharge. Samsung Galaxy Buds Live (Galaxy Buds Pro for the Ultra model) and Galaxy SmartTag are available for pre-orders.
The Gladius is the top gaming mouse from ASUS. At the CES 2021 the third generation has now been unveiled – in both a wired and a wireless version.
ASUS emphasizes that they want to consistently develop the mouse. The ROG Gladius III models receive a new hybrid mouse shape that is said to be equally suitable for palm, claw and fingertip grip. Both models have been slimmed down significantly. The ROG Gladius III Wireless has changed from 100 to 89 g slimmed down. The wired version is even easier with 50 g. PTFE mouse feet and particularly flexible “ROG Paracord” cables should also ensure that the mouse is handled with as little resistance as possible. The ROG Gladius III Wireless cable can easily be removed from the USB Type-C port on the mouse.
A total of six freely assignable keys are available. The main switches are each located in a “ROG Push-Fit Switch Socket II”. This allows them to be exchanged easily. This allows defective switches to be changed easily, as well as individual adjustments to the switches. In addition to 3-pin switches, new optical switches with five pins can also be installed. A replacement pair of optical Omron switches is included with the ROG Gladius III. ASUS also includes a replacement set of mouse feet. As a sensor, ASUS installed an unnamed new optical sensor with 19. 00 0 DPI, a maximum mouse acceleration of 50 g and a maximum mouse speed of 400 ips. 1: 1 tracking without angle snapping is promised.
The ROG Gladius III Wireless should achieve a latency of less than 1 ms in 2.4 GHz operation. Alternatively, it can also be connected via Bluetooth 5.1 LE. In Bluetooth mode, one button allows you to easily switch between three paired Bluetooth devices. No details are given yet about the battery life. There is space for up to five profiles in the mouse’s enlarged memory. The profile change is possible via a button on the underside of the mouse. Aura sync lighting with three zones illuminates the logo, the scroll wheel and a cyber motif on the side.
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For prices and availability of ROG Gladius III and Gladius III Wireless has not yet given ASUS any information. The prices of the previous generation could provide a clue: A ROG Gladius II Wireless, for example, is currently available for just under 100 euros.
Also the latest generation of the ASUS VivoBook S 14 can come up with a compact and elegant housing and powerful hardware. As part of the digital CES 2021, the new edition has now been presented, which has even earned Intel’s Evo certification.
The new ASUS VivoBook S 14 (S 435) is an elegant, light 14 – inch notebook for on the go and thanks to its new hardware components should prove to be a powerful companion in everyday life. ASUS relies on an Intel Core processor of the 11. Generation, from an integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics, up to 16 GB LPDDR4X working memory and Intel Optane Memory H 10 is supported. Either an Intel Core i5 – 1135 G7 or Core i7 – 1165 G7 are available, both of which offer four Tiger Lake cores each. In addition, a fast PCIe SSD with a capacity of up to 1 TB is installed.
Visually, a full metal case in the color deep green is used, which tries to set itself apart from the standard with diamond-cut edges and a bright, yellow enter key and yet offers a noble, simple appearance . In addition, there is the almost frameless NanoEdge display with a high screen-to-body ratio of 90%, which is native with 1. 920 x 1. 080 resolves pixels. The 11 – Zöller only lifts about 1.3 kg the scales and comes to a height of slim 15, 9 mm.
Compared to the previous generation, ASUS wants to further improve the cooling efficiency and ensure quieter operation. At the same time, the Taiwanese promise a performance jump of up to 30% and longer battery life. On the connection side, there are two Thunderbolt 4, one USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A, an older USB 2.0 socket and a microSD card reader. Headphones can be connected via a 3.5 mm jack socket. It connects wirelessly via WiFi 6 and Bluetooth.
The ultrabook is charged via Type-C, and a quick charge function is also included. The chiclet keyboard has LED backlighting, the number pad can optionally be displayed in the touchpad and even a fingerprint sensor is integrated.
The new ASUS VivoBook S 14 (S 435) is to be delivered in Germany in the course of the first quarter at a price from 799 Euro.
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