MORE FROM THIS BRAND SUMMARY A radio with a power of 5 watts. That can’t be anything, can it? The opposite is true. The Sangean Revery R5 is the epitome of a device where you should not focus on those kinds of specifications. The reproduction is above average and the possibilities are extensive. A great system to place in a teenage room, bedroom, office or in a kitchen. Hours of listening pleasure guaranteed.
PLUS POINTS Extended feature set Expandable to stereo set or 2.1 Playback quality at normal volume Interference-free radio reception MINUSES No bluetooth Only remotely controllable via app Price on the high side
Table radios come in all colors and sizes and from very cheap knick knacks to devices with serious hi-fi aspirations. The Sangean Revery R5 (WFR – featured in this short review ) certainly does not belong to the first category. A small all-rounder that has more to offer than meets the eye.
Sangean Revery R5 The Sangean Revery R5 is a fairly compact model table radio. Basically it is a mono speaker with an easily readable display and all buttons on the front. It is a neatly finished speaker with rounded corners and with an appearance that hangs between modern design and a little retro look.
The Revery R5 is more than just an FM or DAB + radio. You can also address internet radio and Spotify. In addition to the baked-in option for Spotify, you can use the WFR 249 as a DLNA renderer. This makes it possible to use multiple streaming services from your phone with apps like mConnect (iOS) or BubbleUPnP (Android). In addition, you can connect an external device via the auxiliary input via a 3.5 mm jack plug. And using the Undok app you can connect the Revery R5 with multiple Sangean devices and set up a multiroom system. In short, it is quite a full featured device.
Mono to Stereo Another nice possibility with the Sangean Revery R5 is that you can easily expand from a mono system to a stereo setup. Sangean also offers a matching passive speaker (SP – 40) that you can connect to an RCA speaker output on the back of the Revery R5. That way you get a 2 x 5 Watt music system. Now that doesn’t sound very impressive, but this is a very capable system for a teenage room, kitchen or office. And there is even a subwoofer output available. So if you want some extra support in the bass and if you still have an active subwoofer lying around somewhere that you don’t do anything with, connect that bite.
Quality of display With 5 Watts (or double with a connected passive speaker) of music power, you obviously do not have enough available to make a huge discotheque-like experience. But make no mistake, with the Sangean Revery R5 it is really a case of quality over quantity. There is a lot of control over the built-in full-range driver. On the back there is a small reflex port to support the layer reproduction.
Actually, the rendering is quite impressive for this format, but once at a higher volume you will notice that control and dynamics are significantly lost. That is inherent to the specifications and form factor. At a lower volume there is certainly detail in the sound and the bass reproduction does not sound cluttered or woolly. All in all, an excellent representation, matching the price and the physical possibilities. And for comparison; during the test period, the Revery R5 was right next to the IKEA Symphonic lamp speaker that is also in my study. The latter wins (of course) in terms of user-friendliness because it is simply a Sonos speaker, but the reproduction of the Sangean is more pleasant, more balanced and less tiring. And that is a real compliment to Sangean.
Conclusion A radio with a power of 5 watts. That can’t be anything, can it? The opposite is true. The Sangean Revery R5 is the epitome of a device where you should not focus on those kinds of specifications. The reproduction is above average and the possibilities are extensive. A great system to place in a teenage room, bedroom, office or in a kitchen. Hours of listening pleasure guaranteed.
MORE FROM THIS BRAND RESUME A radio with a power of 5 watts. That can’t be anything, can it? The opposite is true. The Sangean Revery R5 is the epitome of a device where you should not focus on those kinds of specifications. The reproduction is above average and the possibilities are extensive. A great system to place in a teenage room, bedroom, office or in a kitchen. Hours of listening pleasure guaranteed.
PLUS POINTS Extended feature set Off to expand to stereo set or 2.1 Playback quality at normal volume Interference-free radio reception MINUSES No bluetooth Only remotely controllable via app Price on the high side
Table radios come in all colors and sizes and from very cheap knick-knacks to devices with serious hi-fi aspirations. The Sangean Revery R5 (WFR – featured in this short review ) certainly does not belong to the first category. A small all-rounder that has more to offer than meets the eye.
Sangean Revery R5 The Sangean Revery R5 is a fairly compact model table radio. It is basically a mono speaker with an easily legible display and all buttons on the front. It is a neatly finished speaker with rounded corners and with an appearance that hangs between modern design and a little retro look.
However, the Revery R5 is more than just an FM or DAB + radio. You can also address internet radio and Spotify. In addition to the baked-in option for Spotify, you can use the WFR 249 as a DLNA renderer. This makes it possible to use multiple streaming services from your phone with apps like mConnect (iOS) or BubbleUPnP (Android). In addition, you can connect an external device via the auxiliary input via a 3.5 mm jack plug. And with the Undok app you can connect the Revery R5 with multiple Sangean devices and set up a multiroom system. In short, it is quite a full featured device.
Mono to stereo Another nice feature with the Sangean Revery R5 is that you can easily expand from a mono system to a stereo setup. Sangean also offers a matching passive speaker (SP – 40) that you can connect to an RCA speaker output on the back of the Revery R5. That way you get a 2 x 5 Watt music system. Now that doesn’t sound very impressive, but this is a very capable system for a teenage room, kitchen or office. And there is even a subwoofer output. So if you want some extra support in the bass and if you still have an active subwoofer lying around that you don’t use, connect that bite.
Quality of display With 5 Watts (or double with a connected passive speaker) of music power, you obviously don’t have enough available to create a huge disco-like experience. But make no mistake, with the Sangean Revery R5 it is really a case of quality over quantity. There is a lot of control over the built-in full-range driver. On the back there is a small reflex port to support the layer reproduction.
Actually, the display is quite impressive for this format, but once at a higher volume you notice that there is a lot of loss in control and dynamics. This is inherent to the specifications and form factor. At a lower volume there is certainly detail in the sound and the bass reproduction does not sound cluttered or woolly. All in all, an excellent representation, matching the price and the physical possibilities. And for comparison; during the test period, the Revery R5 was right next to the IKEA Symphonic lamp speaker that is also in my study. The latter wins (of course) in terms of user-friendliness because it is simply a Sonos speaker, but the reproduction of the Sangean is more pleasant, more balanced and less tiring. And that is a real compliment to Sangean.
Conclusion A radio with a power of 5 watts. That can’t be anything, can it? The opposite is true. The Sangean Revery R5 is the epitome of a device where you should not focus on those kinds of specifications. The reproduction is above average and the possibilities are extensive. A great system to place in a teenage room, bedroom, office or in a kitchen. Hours of listening pleasure guaranteed.
(Pocket-lint) – The PlayStation 5 is finally here – Sony’s next-generation console brings a brand-new controller (DualSense) and the power to make games that look miles better than anything we’ve seen on console before.
Our PlayStation 5 review
It might still be young, but there are already a host of superb games to pick up for the PS5, between true next-gen experiences and some of the highlights of the last generation running better than ever before. We’ve gathered the very best for you, right here.
Demon’s Souls
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It might be a remake, but this looks like an unbelievable update to the FromSoftware game that started the Soulslike genre off – a fantastical world peopled by terrifying and dangerous opponents that you must explore oh-so-carefully.
The visuals look astonishing, and anyone who played the original knows to expect some of the most memorable locations and battles in all of gaming. It should be a treat for new PS5 owners.
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
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The first Spider-Man game from Insomniac was an absolute blast, and we’ve got a quick follow-up in the form of Miles Morales, taking on the suit and bringing his own new set of powers to the party.
The visuals are amped up and look simply stunning, while the textbook swinging-and-fighting action looks like it’ll be at least as fun as last time out, and that’s a heck of a good thing.
Watch Dogs: Legion
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Legion is out for current-gen consoles and will bring a visually-upgraded experience to PS5, letting players enjoy smoother and quicker performance and load times, as well as visual upgrades to reflections and more.
It’s a fun open-world game in the Ubisoft mold, with the twist being its lack of central protagonist. You instead play as anyone you like, recruiting strangers from the streets to take part in a techie revolution.
Dirt 5
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Dirt 5 is the first true next-gen racer and brings a range of amazing cars and courses for you to enjoy, harking back to the series’ glory days of Dirt 2 with a light, fun feel.
On PS5 you’ll be able to play at 120Hz (if your TV allows for it) to enjoy supreme smoothness and total control, while its integration with the DualSense controller is also something that you have to experience to really appreciate. It’s a great way to scratch that racing itch on PS5.
Sackboy: A Big Adventure
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Sackboy might not quite have the mascot name-recognition of a Mario or Master Chief, but Sony’s keen to fix that, and this charming platformer looks like a solid shout in that regard.
It’ll see you guide the little ragamuffin through loads of themed levels, jumping around and evading peril all the way, with a really nice cartoony sense of fun and visual flair. A great family outing for the new console.
Godfall
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Another game that’s been built expressly for the PS5 is Godfall, which looks like a fun hack-and-slash looter, with a range of classes to play as and loads of missions to complete.
We’ll know more once it launches, but at least from a visual point of view it looks fairly splendid, so should be a good way to see what your new PlayStation can do.
Call of Duty: Warzone
Warzone is still huge, and even with Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War coming onto the scene, the free-to-play battle royale game will be our first-person shooter of choice for the PS5, where we expect its performance to see a bump while loading times get slashed.
There’s loads of content still to come for the mode, including a long-awaited new map at some point we hope, so there’s no time like the present to take your first airdrop into Verdansk.
The Last of Us Part 2
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A siren song for the PlayStation 4, The Last of Us Part 2 is a masterpiece of storytelling and gut-churning action, and we loved every minute of it on the PS4. Our console, though, seemed to hate it, running the hottest and loudest we ever saw it.
If you want to try Naughty Dog’s latest effort without a console’s fans drowning out the sound, get it running on your PS5 and you’ll have a way smoother and more enjoyable experience, trust us.
Astro’s Playroom
This recommendation comes with the bonus that you’ll get it free as part of your PS5 purchase – Astro’s Playroom comes pre-installed on the new console. It’s a fun, and not very long, little romp through some scenarios that serve to showcase what your console, and its fancy new controller, can do.
You’ll get a real feel for the new haptic feedback on DualSense, and the impressive adaptive triggers, too. In short, make sure you check it out, rather than deleting it in favour of bigger games first.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
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One of, if not the very best RPG ever crafted, The Witcher 3 gives you an incredibly rich and detailed open world to explore as Geralt of Rivia, as well as a perilous quest to complete all the while.
It’s simply superb, whether you’re playing cards, fighting griffins or just seeing the sights, and performance is better than ever on PS5, including big improvements to loading times. However, a forthcoming free next-generation update will be the real clincher, tempting us back into yet another playthrough.
FIFA 21
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You’ve got to have at least one sports game, right? FIFA 21 is our pick, the latest in a long line of excellence from EA Sports. This year there are refinements to dribbling and defending alike, and you’ll get a free upgrade if you bought it on PS4.
Pretty soon, though, there will be a full next-gen update to really unlock the game’s new potential, bringing higher-fidelity graphics and shaving load times right down, which will be when we get a real sense for how FIFA will feel on the PS5.
Fortnite
Finally, there’s no ignoring Fortnite, whether you’ve tried it yet or not. The mega-popular battle royale is still just as fun to play as ever, and canny upgrades by Epic Games mean that you’ll feel the difference when playing on PS5, with better resolution and improved visuals.
It’s a vibrant and fun game, the same as ever, and an ongoing partnership with Marvel means that it’s also home to all manner of superhero storylines, too.
Writing by Max Freeman-Mills. Editing by Dan Grabham.
The wait is (almost) over, Apple fans. Pre-orders for the HomePod mini, iPhone 12 Max Pro and iPhone 12 mini open today from 1pm GMT / 5am PT / 8am ET, or midnight Saturday 7th November AET time.
The two iPhones will arrive to pre-order customers next Friday (13th November), while the miniature HomePod will be available the following Monday (16th November).
The HomePod mini is a smaller (3.3in tall) and cheaper (£99/$99) version of the existing HomePod, essentially combining streaming and Siri voice assistant into a more compact and accessible form. That’s a proven package we are bound to get on with, but the jury’s out on whether it will it impress in the sound department like its sibling does.
Apple HomePod Mini: features, design, specification
The iPhone 12 mini, meanwhile, is essentially the iPhone 12 scaled down to an iPhone SE-like, 5.4in-screen form factor, available from £699 ($699, AU$1199) for the 64GB variant. It also comes in 128GB (£749, $749, AU$1479) and 256GB (£849, $849, AU$1449) versions.
Like the new iPhone 12, it boasts an industry-leading IP68 rating for water resistance, meaning you can submerge it in up to six metres of water for up to 30 minutes. Keeping the screen safe is something Apple refers to as a ‘Ceramic Shield’, which is apparently tougher than any smartphone glass. The company says it’s four times more likely than the iPhone 11’s screen to survive a fall without cracking.
The iPhone 12 Pro Max is the flagship handset, priced from £1099 ($1099, AU$1849) for the 128GB model. There’s also 256GB (£1199, $1199, AU$2019) and 512GB (£1399, $1399, AU$2369) options. Essentially it’s a larger version of the iPhone 12 Pro, sporting a 6.7in display compared to its sibling’s 6.1in screen real estate.
It took a long time. With the complete conversion to the battery-electric drive, Smart 22 Years after the first City Coupé arrived at Nicolas Hayek’s original idea. In the urban ultra-short distance, only the electric drive offers a high degree of efficiency and consistent emission restrictions.
But as a four-door? Doesn’t a Stretch Smart water down the cheeky cross-parking to the orthodox city mini? Or is the Forfour an intelligent four-seater, slightly shorter than Volkswagen’s three-part up vocals (3490 vs 3600 mm) and thus the smartest Smart? Which of course also means that the best Smart would be a Renault Twingo.
Smart EQ Forfour exterior view (9 pictures) The body of the Smart EQ Forfour is identical to that of the Renault Twingo. It is 80 cm longer than a fortwo and one centimeter shorter as an Up-Mii-Citigo from the Volkswagen group. (Image: Florian Pillau
) Unexpectedly, the Smart scores points when entering. In this discipline, the Seat Mii electric (test) also surprised positively. After all, one approached him skeptically in Spartan mode. When getting in the Mii is better for your back than mine 20 Years old BMW 3 Series E series 46. The Smart takes my 84 – year-old mother in noticeably more relaxed : The higher seating position combined with sufficient headroom at the entrance make you shine. A friendly introduction to the Smart.
Surprising room comfort In the rear, however, the destination is not as surprising as the way. Once you have climbed the two-seater bench, the knee freedom is naturally restricted. The fact that Smart cannot do magic is shown by a front seat backrest, which rubs a little more on the knee in the Up comparison. After all, the Renault-Benz is also a little shorter. However, you have to expressly praise both small cars for how easily they can accommodate four adults even over longer distances.
With 91 liters of trunk volume, the long Smart pulls clearly the shorter one behind the Volkswagen construction. With 91 liters of volume and an adjustable loading floor, the three group microcars outclass the Smart. The Forfour offers the same maximum volume with the rear seat backrest folded down with 696 liters. In terms of space, it is on a par with the Volkswagen and an adjustable loading floor (standard on the Up, Mii and Citigo) is no longer missing, as it automatically creates a flat surface. For the purchase of bulky goods, we recommend the Smart with the optional foldable passenger seat back.
Loving details Details reveal a simultaneously loving and knowledgeable look at everyday life. A belt with Velcro fastener on the passenger seat is used to fix small items. The storage package installed in the test vehicle contributes a practical network on the passenger side of the center console. The “passion” equipment line of the test car includes pompadour pockets on the front seat backrests and practical storage compartments in the doors with nets. The “exclusive” package of the test car includes a center armrest. The sitting position is pleasantly upright, comfortable and found in a few seconds. However, the upholstery gives too few contours and too much foam appearance – not an uncommon phenomenon in small cars calculated with a sharp pen.
The smart cockpit can only be treated here by retreating into the lens. You like it or you don’t. The billowing half-circle speedometer can be read off properly and gives plenty of space for an unadorned, but pragmatic on-board computer. The power meter Mickey Mouse ear, which instead of a rev counter shows the power output, is at best unnecessary. But that’s just part of smart folklore.
All operating elements are ergonomic and self-explanatory. You can quickly get to grips with the media system with built-in 8-inch touchscreen included in the expensive lines and packages without having to consult the operating instructions. In the multimedia sector, Smart traditionally has more expensive and more comprehensive solutions than the competition for small cars. Android Auto and Apple Car Play are part of the media package, as is a rear view camera with a large picture.
Smart EQ Forfour space (6 pictures) The sitting position is good, the Easy entry. The switch for the seat heating is an ergonomic outlier. The belt for securing utensils on the passenger seat, like the net on the center console, is a good, practical idea. Both belong to an expensive equipment package. (Image: Florian Pillau) In terms of multimedia and connectivity, the Up, Mii and Citigo cannot keep up. A reversing camera is only available for the VW and with a comparatively tiny picture. For Volkswagen’s smallest, multimedia is limited to a smartphone holder with an app. However, this is standard at Volkswagen, while in the equipment package hierarchy from Smart the connectivity package requires at least just under 2000 euros presupposes. On the other hand, there is not even a USB plug as standard.
3600 High-quality options Sensible optional extras such as seat heating in the rear or a large, electrically opened fabric roof are only available in this class in the Smart Forfour. The outrageously expensive “prime” equipment line even includes leather upholstery. The windy trunk cover made of poorly laminated egg cartons, however, would not even dare to offer Lada. With every removal and installation, the feel of the precarious is presented – and not stylish urbanity.
The new mobility is started like the day before yesterday. This is always the case with cost-sensitive electric city vehicles. So the key is turned in the ignition lock until you are startled by a warning buzzer, like with the egg boiler. In the lower left part of the huge speedometer, which takes over the entire instrument cluster here, the “ready” indicator appears in green. The Forfour sets itself in motion with the usual ease that is always required for electromobility. The maximum 60 kW put a smile on your face, even if the pedestrian warning noise makes the light-footed Smart seem to groan and groan. A sound check seems to be desirable.
One-pedal driving is not possible with the Smart. In normal mode, the recuperation should adapt to the vehicle in front via radar. In practice, however, you hardly notice any of this. The maximum recuperation power that is available in the efficiency-optimized ECO drive program (only 41 kW power) is set, does not brake approximately to a standstill. That is a matter of taste, but an adjustable recuperation would have been nice.
(Pocket-lint) – What gift do you get the gamer in your life at Christmas? Buy them a game and it’s either the wrong one, they’ve already got it, they’ve completed it, or it’s just so last month.
But a well-judged gaming accessory can not only add hours of enjoyment, it can also make them better too.
So here, are our favourite picks of some of the best gaming accessories around that make perfect Xmas gifts without breaking the bank. All the gifts for gamers on this list will certainly bring hours of entertainment in the months ahead.
Pocket-lint
Oculus Quest 2
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They might be a real gaming enthusiast, but there’s a good chance that your gift recipient hasn’t got into virtual reality (VR) yet. It’s been expensive and niche for a while. Oculus has changed the game a bit, though, with its great standalone headset, the Oculus Quest 2. This is quality VR without any wires or complex setup, and is a great way to get into VR without compromising.
Oculus Quest 2 review: VR superstar
Pocket-lint
Sega Genesis Mini
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Mini games consoles are pretty much the rage nowadays, and the Sega Genesis Mini (or is that the Sega Mega Drive Mini?) is one of the best made yet. Sega has made a little marvel here, with a really great range of classic games to play and a price tag that is very reasonable. We can’t recommend it highly enough, in all honesty.
Nintendo
SNES Classic Mini
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Nintendo was pretty much first on the mini-console train, though, and if your target was more of a SNES gamer then you can relive those years too with the Nintendo Classic Mini Console. They’ll be able to plug it straight into their TV via a HDMI socket and play classics like Super Mario Kart, Legend of Zelda, and F-Zero. Nostalgia never looked so good.
Pocket-lint
Steelseries Arctis 1 Wireless for Xbox
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Don’t be fooled by the name – the thing that’s great about this wireless headset is that it works with every console, PC and mobile, all through one simple dongle. That makes it a perfect gift for any gamer, helping them to upgrade to immersive sound, and letting them chat in parties much more easily. Plus, it might save anyone living with them from overheard audio, too!
Corsair
Corsair Dark Core RGB SE Wired/Wireless Gaming Mouse with Qi Charging and MM1000 Qi Wireless Charging Mouse Pad
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If they’re a PC gamer this is the way to really show you care. Having a good mouse is important, and you can’t just get away with the one that came with the PC an eon ago. This Combo delivers an ultra-fast low-latency mouse that can wireless charge and store profiles for different games and settings, and the multiple buttons can be programmed any way they want with macros or simple actions making it fully customisable to personal preference. The charging mat also doubles as a charging mat for your phone while you’re playing.
Corsair
Corsair K95 Platinum
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PC gaming isn’t just about having a fast mouse, it’s about having a great keyboard too. This state-of-the-art keyboard features an aircraft-grade aluminium frame, storage to store profiles and dynamic lighting to make everything more “wow”. Oh and while you might not understand, they’ll love the 100 per cent CHERRY MX Speed RGB mechanical key switches.
Seagate
Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X/S
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There’s only one way right now to expand the internal storage of an Xbox Series X or S – this card from Seagate, which is pricey but matches all the specs of the Xbox’s own SSD.
That means it works with quick resume functions, and runs games just as quickly as the console’s own storage. It’s the perfect gift for someone who’s got a new Xbox, although it doesn’t come cheap at all.
WD_Black
WD_Blac SN850 NVMe SSD
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It might seem a little in-depth, but trust us – this little bit of storage will blow away any gamer you give it to. If they’re a PC gamer, it’ll give them some of the fastest read/write speeds around anywhere, helping with load times and more.
The real trick may come, though, if they have a PS5. This is one of very few drives that are fast enough to potentially be used as expandable storage for Sony’s new console. It’s not confirmed yet, though, so maybe hold off if that’s your plan!
Pocket-lint
Nanoleaf Rhythm starter kit
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Nanoleaf is a fully-customisable smart lighting system featuring wall-mounted triangular lighting panels that snap together with simple connectors to create whatever shape you can imagine. The starter pack is expandable with extra panels that can be bought and combined to create bigger and bolder designs in future too. The Nanoleaf starter pack also includes the Rhythm Module though – which transforms the light panels into a dancing light show that reacts to surrounding sound. This is bound to make any gaming area stand out.
Razer
Razer Nommo Chrome speakers
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Made by gaming hardware maker Razer, these speakers deliver plenty of punch immersing gamers into the worlds they are playing. Coming with custom woven glass fibre 3-inch drivers, a wide sound field with high positional accuracy, dedicated rear-facing firing bass ports and bass control with automatic gain control technology, gamers can also choose from 16.8 million colours and pre-set lighting effects to personalize their listening experience, or take immersive gameplay up a notch with ambient lighting that reacts to your every move.
Under the hood, Dell’s Tiger Lake update to its XPS 13 2-in-1 convertible makes it the best iteration of the line yet. But an unreasonably shallow keyboard makes using it as a laptop a chore.
For
Strong performance
Bright screen
Clear audio
Against
Low keyboard travel
Few ports
Not upgradeable
Dell’s latest iteration on the XPS 13 2-in-1 brings
Tiger Lake
to this popular line of convertibles, complete with
Intel Evo
certification that promises a better mobile experience. That means you’ll be getting up to 11 hours of battery life, plus features like instant wake. You’ll also get Intel’s new Iris Xe integrated graphics, plus
Thunderbolt 4
ports.
That’s a lot of quality-of-life improvements (or at least quality of your PC life), and our benchmarking shows that you can expect strong performance on CPU-heavy tasks like Geekbench and video editing as well. But that arguably doesn’t matter if the laptop itself is difficult to use, especially given that convertibles sell themselves on their all-in-one nature. We had complaints about Dell’s new keyboard direction for this line of computers on last year’s model, saying it resembled Apple’s much-maligned butterfly keyboard. How does this new model hold up?
Dell’s latest XPS 13 2-in-1 updates last year’s model with a silver and black color scheme that makes it look largely generic on the outside, but much more premium on the inside. While the silver case does have a slightly glittery finish that gives it some texture, its noticeable hinge means it doesn’t give too sleek of a first impression –that is, until you open it up.
Opening the XPS 13 2-in-1 reveals an all-black keyboard surrounded by a comfortable black “woven glass fiber” cushion that has a leathery appearance. It feels great on my wrists while typing, and its checkerboard pattern immediately makes the laptop look boardroom-level fancy.
That impressive look means you might want to take this machine into the conference room with you, but since it’s sacrificed most I/O options in exchange for a thinner form factor, you’ll probably need to bring a dongle or two. There’s a single Thunderbolt 4 port on the laptop’s left side along with a microSD card reader, as well as another Thunderbolt 4 port on the laptop’s right side next to a 3.5mm combination headphone and microphone jack. That’s all the connectivity you’ll get out of the box, though our review unit did come with a USB Type-A to USB Type-C dongle for connecting older devices to the laptop’s Thunderbolt ports more easily.
That lack of ports does mean the 2-in-1 is impressively thin, though other recent machines have offered more connectivity while still hitting the same thinness. At 11.7 x 8.2 x 0.6 inches, it’s roughly on par with the 11.6 x 7.8 x 0.6 inch non-convertible
XPS 13 9310
, as well as the 12 x 8.3 x 0.6 inch
Zenbook Flip S
. The Dell clamshell has the same ports as the 2-in-1, while the Asus has a full HDMI connection and a USB Type-A port. The non-convertible
Zenbook 13
is slightly thinner than the XPS 2-in-1 at 11.9 x 8 x 0.5 inches, despite also having a full HDMI connection and a USB Type-A port.
The XPS 13 2-in-1 is also slightly heavy for an ultraportable, though certainly not clunky. At 2.9 pounds, it’s heavier than its 2.8-pound nonconvertible cousin, as well as the 2.7-pound ZenBook Flip S and the 2.4-pound Zenbook 13.
Productivity Performance of Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (9310)
The Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 is the first Evo-certified Dell convertible, which means it packs a Tiger Lake i7-1165G7 chip and has a number of mobile optimizations such as greater than 9 hours of battery life and the ability to wake from sleep in less than 1 second. The laptop’s Evo features held up in our testing, but even beyond that, it was able to excel against other i7-1165G7 laptops like the nonconvertible XPS 13, the ZenBook Flip S and the ZenBook 13 in most tests.
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
In Geekbench, which tests general system performance, the 2-in-1 snagged 5,571 points, more than any other contender. The nonconvertible XPS 13 was the closest, with a score of 5,254 points, while the Zenbook 13 was next with 5,084 points and the ZenBook Flip S lagged behind with 3,880 points.
Both of Dell’s recent XPS options lagged behind on file transfer speeds, though. The 2-in-1 transferred 4.97GB of files at a rate of 503.1 MBps, while its nonconvertible cousin was faster at 806.2 MBps. But both Dells lagged behind Asus’ machines, as the ZenBook Flip S was much speedier at 1,297.2 MBps and the ZenBook 13 was respectable at 966.8 MBps.
However, video editing once again put the 2-in-1 in the spotlight. On our Handbrake video editing benchmark, which tests how long it takes a computer to transcode a video down from
4K
to
FHD
, the XPS 13 2-in-1 was easily the fastest computer we tested, with a time of 15:52. The next quickest contender was the ZenBook 13, with a time of 17:51, while the nonconvertible XPS 13 had a time of 18:22 and the Flip S was the slowest with a time of 22:05.
New to Intel’s Tiger Lake chips are Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics, which we tested using 3DMark’s Fire Strike benchmark. The ZenBook 13 performed best here, with a score of 4,407, with the 2-in-1 coming in next with a score of 3,847. The nonconvertible XPS 13 and ZenBook Flip S rounded out the list with scores of 3,598 and 3,351 respectively.
If you’re curious how those numbers translate to games, we also played about a half hour of Overwatch on the XPS 13 2-in-1 at various settings. Despite some hiccups on the first try, the system ran mostly smoothly after a reboot. At 1920 x 1080, we were most comfortable playing on low settings, which tended to hover around 60 fps exactly and had the fewest drastic framerate drops. Medium settings will drop you down to 30-40 fps, but runs the risk of occasional dips into the 20s.
We also stress tested the XPS 13 2-in-1 by running it through Cinebench R20 on a loop 20 times. It started off with fairly strong performance at 2,056.3 points, before dropping off to an average of 1,584.8 points. During this benchmark, its CPU ran at an average clock speed of 2.53 GHz and had an average temperature of 60.3 degrees Celsius.
Display on Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (9310)
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The XPS 13 2-in-1 has a basic 13.4 inch LED touchscreen that, despite not being
IPS
or
OLED
, makes an impression thanks to a bright backlight and a 16:10 1920 x 1200 aspect ratio.
I tested the 2-in-1’s screen by watching the trailer for The Devil All the Time on it. The first thing I noticed was how bright the picture was, though this didn’t save the screen from having poor viewing angles. Regardless of how much surrounding light I had on it, the 2-in-1’s screen tended to wash out whenever I got more than a 45 degree angle away from the center. Still, the blacks were deep and the colors were accurate, if not particularly vivid.
The taller aspect ratio also proved helpful when scrolling through webpages, although that feels more intuitive in vertical orientation in tablet mode.
According to our tests, the XPS 13 2-in-1 has an average brightness of 488 nits, which was the highest among the laptops we compared it to. By comparison, the non-convertible XPS 13 had an average brightness of 469 nits, while the ZenBook Flip S and ZenBook 13 had average brightnesses of 370 nits and 375 nits, respectively.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The color rankings were a bit closer. According to our colorimeter, the 2-in-1 covers 70% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, which is indistinguishable from the conconvertibles XPS 13’s 69% score. Asus’ laptops performed generally better here, with the ZenBook 13 covering 76.1% of the DCI-P3 spectrum and the ZenBook Flip S hitting a much wider 113.1%.
Keyboard and Touchpad on Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (9310)
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Keyboards are often the bane of convertible laptops, and the XPS 13 2-in-1 is a great example of this form factor’s greatest weakness.
The difficulty with putting a keyboard on a convertible is making sure it doesn’t become distracting or cumbersome when the laptop is in tablet mode. One answer to this issue (while also keeping the device thin) is to heavily reduce key travel distance. This will make the keys seem flatter and less present when not in use. That seems to be the answer Dell has gone for here, but the issue with this solution is that it greatly hampers the keyboard’s comfortable usability in laptop mode.
The XPS 13 2-in-1’s keyboard easily has the shallowest travel distance of any laptop keyboard I’ve reviewed yet, which makes it difficult to feel much feedback when typing. This meant that not only did I make frequent typos while using it, but I also had to completely change up my typing style. While I usually type with all of my fingers, I found that I frequently lost track of where I was on the keyboard as I typed, and that the best way to keep track of my finger placement and thus increase speed and reduce typos was to limit my typing to just my two index fingers.
That might sound like overkill, but this strategy isn’t too dissimilar to my approach when using a touchscreen keyboard, which the XPS 13 2-in-1’s keyboard shares some similarities to due to the lack of noticeable feedback on each keypress. Even so, my speed on 10fastfingers.com tended to hover anywhere from 59 wpm to 70 wpm, with my average being closer to 80, as well as having far fewer typos.
While your mileage may vary on typing speed or accuracy, the keyboard also just isn’t very comfortable. The lack of travel distance also made the keyboard feel hard and tough to press, like I was repeatedly jamming my fingers up against a wall as opposed to pressing buttons. Even Apple’s much-maligned butterfly keyboard, which has similar issues, feels comparatively cushiony when bottoming out.
In tablet mode, I also still found myself accidentally pressing keys more often than I’d like. Keyboard input is disabled in tablet mode, so this doesn’t have any effect on your activity, but it still felt clumsy and made me wonder if the sacrifices to the keyboard’s travel distance were worth it.
With all that said, the 2-in-1’s touchpad and touchscreen input are both excellent. The laptop uses Windows precision drivers and expertly handles multi-touch gestures on either device, and the 4.4 x 2.6 inch touchpad in particular is smooth and feels almost cushiony to the touch. This mirrors the cushiony, leathery material on the laptop’s wrist rest area, which is also comfortable.
Audio of Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (9310)
The XPS 13 2-in-1 has bottom-firing speakers on either side, which I tested by listening to Be Prepared from the Lion King soundtrack — the original one. I found that despite being somewhat quiet, the laptop packs impressively true-to-life audio.
Be Prepared is arguably more dialogue than music, which turned out to be a great way to demonstrate the XPS 13 2-in-1’s voice quality. Scar’s actors in this scene (he actually swaps from Jeremy Irons to Jim Cummings partway through, fun fact) sounded clear and unmuddled throughout, with a rich quality that both expressed performance and clarity. That’s despite the song’s numerous background sound effects, like hissing geysers, which did not distract and sounded as atmospheric as ever.
The backing music also didn’t lose its bass, nor did the xylophone segments sound tinny, regardless of how high I raised the volume.
That leads me to the speakers’ biggest issue: They don’t get very loud. Even at maximum volume, I had difficulty filling more than one room with sound. Still, if you’re sitting next to the laptop, it gets plenty loud for personal use.
Upgradeability of Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (9310)
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
There’s not much point to opening the XPS 13 2-in-1, though Dell hasn’t gone out of its way to make it too difficult. Just use a Torx screwdriver- we used a T5 bit- and remove the 8 screws along the bottom, then pry off the case with a spudger.
Once you’re inside, the only component you’ll have access to is the battery. The RAM is soldered in and the SSD and networking cards are unfortunately inaccessible. That’s not too unexpected for an ultraportable convertible, but it does mean you’ll want to make sure you like your laptop’s configuration before you buy it.
Battery Life of Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (9310)
The Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 is Intel Evo certified, which means Intel has verified that it has at least 9 hours of battery life on FHD screens. That held true during our testing, though the 2-in-1 faced some stiff competition from other Tiger Lake laptops.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
During our battery benchmark, which continually browses the web, streams video and runs OpenGL tests over Wi-Fi at 150 nits of brightness, the XPS 13 2-in-1 held out for 10 hours and 52 minutes. That’s significantly longer than the 8:11 battery life of the nonconvertible XPS 13, but not quite as lengthy as the 11:07 life of the ZenBook 13 or the 13:47 ZenBook Flip S’s endurance on the same test.
Heat of Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (9310)
The XPS 13 2-in-1 is thin and designed to be held when in use, which makes strong heat management vital. Luckily, the XPS 13 2-in-1 more than meets the task.
We took the 2-in-1’s temperature after streaming 15 minutes of video over YouTube. The touchpad was the coolest spot, at 74.7 degrees Fahrenheit (23.7 degrees Celsius), while the keyboard (between the G and H keys) was the next coolest location at 81 degrees Fahrenheit (27.2 degrees Celsius). The bottom of the laptop jumped up to a still manageable 88 degrees Fahrenheit (31.1 degrees Celsius), while the hottest location was near the print screen key. Even this just ended up being 92.3 degrees Fahrenheit (33.5 degrees Celsius), which is still plenty comfortable to the touch.
Webcam on Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (9310)
The XPS 13 2-in-1’s 720p webcam might not match the webcam built into a dedicated tablet, but it still manages to come out above most laptop webcams, which often feel like afterthoughts.
That’s because its picture lacks any kind of noticeable grain or color inaccuracy, which means that any photos you take will appear true-to-life as opposed to distorting your picture. This extends to texture too, and the camera works well across lighting levels, able to perform well in low light and only improving more with greater ambient brightness.
The camera also intelligently swaps to a vertical orientation when using the 2-in-1 in tablet mode and holding it vertically. While your selfies aren’t bound to look as good as those taken on an iPhone, it’s good to know you can recreate that casual experience here.
The 2-in-1’s camera also has an IR sensor for Windows Hello.
Software and Warranty of Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (9310)
The Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 packs the usual Windows bloat, like Netflix and Microsoft Solitaire Collection, but the real depth of this laptop’s pre-installed software is in the 13 utility programs Dell includes alongside it.
Some of these programs are helpful, like Dell Mobile Connect, which lets you access your phone’s functions and mirror its screen to your laptop. Dell Update, meanwhile, lets you update your BIOS and drivers. But plenty of these programs are either niche, or just hidden storefronts.
For instance, Dell Cinema Guide lets you consolidate your streaming apps into a single program, while “MaxxAudio Pro by Waves” attempts to use your webcam to make spatial audio more realistic on headphones. These might be helpful to some users, but most will likely end up skipping them. Most egregious are inclusions like Dell Digital Delivery, MyDell and “Dropbox promotion,” which attempt to get you to buy even more software.
Because these programs are so hit and miss, it’s very likely some users will ignore them entirely and thus miss out on the more helpful utilities. Meanwhile, competitors like Lenovo are making the utility experience more accessible by bundling programs like these together into one package — Lenovo’s is called Vantage.
We’d prefer a solution that lets us choose whether we want to turn on a movie or nighttime screen color mode without having to click on “Dell CinemaColor” and hoping that’s how we access it.
Configurations of Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (9310)
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The XPS 13 2-in-1 9310 starts at $1,099 with options ranging up to $1,949, so it’s got plenty of configurability.
Our $1650 review unit packed an Intel Core i7-1165G7 CPU with 16GB of LPDDR4X memory and a 512 GB SSD. If you don’t quite need that much power, there are also Core i3 and Core i5 options that will cut your price down by a few hundred dollars, plus you can lower your memory and storage down to 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD for even more savings. Conversely, you can also choose up to 1TB of storage if you need more space.
Our review unit also used a 1920 x 1200 WLED display, but if you’re a 4K fanatic, you can also upgrade to a 3840 x 2400 WLED screen instead.
Bottom Line
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The XPS 13 2-in-1 is a powerful convertible with a bright screen and plenty of mobile convenience thanks to its Intel Evo certification. But its keyboard hampers its laptop usability.
When it comes to performance, it’s hard to beat the new 2-in-1. It leverages the same CPU as both other recent convertibles and other recent ultraportables to much greater effect in tests like Geekbench and Handbrake, though it can be on the slow end on file transfer speeds. Still, it’s in-app performance is impressive.
The Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 has also got a bright (if not overly colorful) screen, a more-than-decent webcam and clear audio for such a small size. Were it not for one glaring flaw, the new XPS 13 2-in-1 would be a no-brainer.
The biggest factor drawing this convertible down is the keyboard. While your experience may differ from mine, I found it inaccurate and uncomfortable, thanks to the smallest travel distance on keypress I’ve encountered yet. Typos were prevalent when I was using it, and I was a slower typist than usual.
While keeping the keyboard so flat does fit the tablet mode well, even this intention doesn’t succeed. I still found the keyboard distracting when using the 2-in-1 as a tablet, and still pressed plenty of keys when holding it as one (though keyboard input is disabled in tablet mode).
You can get around this flaw by using an external keyboard, sure, but that negates the point of the machine. As an all-in-one portable device, the XPS 13 2-in-1 is powerful, but doesn’t make for the most convenient, comfortable-to-use laptop.
If you’re willing to sacrifice some performance for a more comfortable keyboard while still buying a convertible, the
Asus ZenBook Flip S
promises 1.4mm of travel. It also has a 4K OLED screen at $1,450, while the XPS 13 2-in-1 doesn’t have 4K options until you hit the $1,950 price point.
If you just want an ultraportable, the
ZenBook 13
generally outperformed the nonconvertible
Dell XPS 13
in our benchmarks, aside from Geekbench, while costing much less and having a much larger (and faster) SSD. It’s a good choice if value is your prime concern, but the XPS 13 does have the trendy, taller 16:10 1920 x 1200 aspect ratio.
If a poor keyboard doesn’t bother you, then the XPS 13 2-in-1 is a clear standout here. It performs well and has great convenience features like strong audio and a good webcam. But if you want one device that can do it all, then you’re better off sticking to something that can support comfortable typing for longer periods.
Our first response on the new Xbox Series X, the console that kicks off the ninth generation. Waiting for the PlayStation 5, here are the performance considerations, the tests on consumption, noise and loading times, and everything we can expect in the tomorrow of video games
by Rosario Grasso published on November 2020 in the Videogames channel Microsoft Xbox
“The ninth generation begun is” as Master Yoda would say. Well, after the endless flurry of rumors, rumors, more or less definitive specifications, announcements, denials and the usual process that anticipates the debut of a new generation of consoles, Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 are between us, or at least in the hands of the specialized press. A point that should not be overlooked so superficially, given the difficulties that producers are encountering in churning out the new systems en masse, with the health crisis that complicates everything.
new generation of consoles starts from two assumptions: greater computing power with the ability to play, even on consoles, at high refresh rates , resolutions up to 8K in upscaling and with latest generation visual effects such as Ray Tracing . The second assumption is the SSD , which will significantly speed up uploads and remove some historical obstacles for developers, who will be completely free to structure their game worlds without having to mind the restrictions related to the bottleneck generated by mechanical discs.
Let’s start from one point, the Xbox Series X review , with this type of timeline, cannot be exhaustive: it’s not so much because we have the console in the editorial office for only two weeks, but it is more a matter of vision and perspective. Evaluating if a console is presenting the specifications and has the prerogatives to be successful is almost impossible in such a short time, because “win” a “console race” depends on many factors, not all, or perhaps few or very few, controllable by console manufacturers. It would be better to say that it is a challenge, a bet that is launched by trying to guess what the entertainment tastes of current and future players will be (considering that PS4 and Xbox One have been on the market for 7 years now).
We can immediately make some assessments on energy consumption, temperatures , operating efficiency, skin characteristics, interface user, noise, loading times , but then the quality of the next exclusive and non-exclusive games, the capacity to update systems with new firmware, future features and offers for customers will, as usual, make a difference.
Although PlayStation has hands down won the previous generation, the two rivals (Nintendo, for obvious reasons, plays on a separate field) are very close. We saw it in the war of embargoes they triggered at the time of unboxing and we see it on many other fronts, starting with the technical specifications. Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 are both based on Zen 2 architecture for the CPU and RDNA 2 with hardware support for Ray Tracing as regards the GPU. This obviously comes with a lot of advantages, and could be considered indispensable from the point of view of developers, who are not so forced into a laborious conversion work when switching from one console to another.
Xbox Series X features a GPU at 52 Compute Unit , i.e. a significantly higher architectural density than to PlayStation 5, which stops at 36 Compute Unit . So, in terms of theoretical maximum computing power we are at 12 TFLOPS versus 10, 23 TFLOPS . Microsoft has thought of a fixed frequency system, with the CPU (practically identical between the two consoles, 8 cores) running at 3.8 GHz and the GPU set to 1825 MHz, against the variable frequencies of PS5, i.e. up to 3.5 GHz for the CPU and up to 2, 23 GHz.
It is very difficult, if not impossible, to say which of the two producers has guessed the correct path. Because it depends on how the games are made and to what depth they can exploit the hardware they run on. It can be said that a game well optimized for the Xbox Series X hardware has the potential to run better than the corresponding version of the PS5. This is what currently happens with Xbox One X and PS4 Pro : Several games feature a more stable frame rate and slightly higher resolutions on One X than on PS4 Pro. But in the coming months, this comparison will be done game by game .
Technical specifications
Here are the full technical specifications of the two new Xbox consoles.
Xbox Series X
CPU
3.6 core custom Zen 2 CPU GHz (3.4 GHz with SMT)
GPU
Custom RDNA 2 GPU 12 TFLOPS, 52 CU a 1, 825 GHz
SOC size
360, 45 mm
Processing
7 nm Enhanced
Memory
GDDR6 from 16 GB with bus from 320 bits wide
There memory bandwidth
10 GB a 560 GB / s (memory accessible by games), 6 GB at 336 GB / s
Internal memory
1TB Custom NVME SSD
Actual I / O Speed
2.4 GB / s (Raw ), 4.8GB / s (compressed, with custom hardware decompression lock)
Expandable storage space
support for the 1TB Seagate Expansion Card for Xbox Series X | S perfectly matches the internal memory (sold separately). Support for external HDD with USB 3.1 (sold separately).
Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1, Dolby TrueHD with Atmos, L-PCM up to 7.1
HDMI
1 HDMI 2.1 port
USB
3 Gen 1 USB 3.1 ports
Wireless
802. 11 ac dual band
Ethernet
802. 3 10 / 100 / 1000
Radio accessories
Dedicated Dual Band Xbox Wireless Radio
Format
15, 1 x 15, 1 x 30, 1 cm
Weight
4.4 kg
Xbox Series S
CPU
3.6 GHz (3.4 GHz with SMT) 8 core custom Zen 2 CPU
GPU
4 TFLOPS, 20 CU a 1, 565 GHz
SOC size
197 , 05 mm2
Memory
GDDR6 from 10 GB with bus from 128 bits wide
Memory bandwidth
8 GB a 224 GB / s (memory accessible by games), 2GB a 48 GB / s
Internal memory
NVME SSD customized by 512 GB
Actual I / O Speed
2 , 4GB / s (Raw), 4.8GB / s (compressed, with custom hardware decompression lock)
Expandable storage space
Support for Seagate 1TB Expansion Card for Xbox Series X | S perfectly matches internal memory (sold separately). Support for external HDD with USB 3.1 (sold separately)
Performance target
1440 pa 60 fps, with support up to 120 fps. It also supports native 4K if the developer chooses to render at 4K. It also contains advanced scalar hardware if connected to a 4K TV
HDMI 2.1 Features
Auto low latency mode. HDMI variable refresh rate. AMD FreeSync
Audio functionality
L-PCM up to 7.1, Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1, Dolby TrueHD with Atmos
HDMI
1 HDMI 2.1 port
USB
3 Gen 1 USB 3.1 Ports
Wireless
802. 11 ac dual band
Ethernet
802. 3 10 / 100 / 1000
Radio accessories
Dedicated Dual Band Xbox Wireless Radio
Format
6.5 × 12, 1 × 27, 5 cm
Weight
1, 92 kg
Test
These assessments must also be made in the light of the cooling systems and the energy efficiency of the two systems. Consoles, even more so than traditional desktop PC systems, must not overheat and must not incur energy inefficiencies, so that they can be used by the widest possible audience. After our first tests, we must say that they both work well and that they give a feeling of efficiency and stability greater than previous console launches. Xbox Series X features a voluminous fan at the top , and blows the hot air through a grille, towards the top.
In other words, if you are playing a Gears 5 and put your hand over the console, then you can feel a flow of hot air. Perhaps disturbing, certainly unusual if it is true that we are used to systems that emit the air from the rear. That said, based on the tests we’ve had so far, Xbox Series X overheats less than Xbox One X, is significantly less noisy, and is more efficient on the floor. of energy consumption . Immediately above the fan we have a perforated structure where, for each hole, there is a part in reflective green which returns a pleasant aesthetic effect, recalling the I find the typical green of the Xbox world. As for the power supply, the Xbox Series X comes with a 315 W and, as with all Xboxes from Xbox One S, the power supply will be internal. The regulators supply up to 100 W per square inch, with a charge peak of 128 TO.
The temperature test was done with the thermal imaging camera FLIR One , already used here in the editing of Hardware Upgrade for other works, for example for the thermal tests of laptops. We recorded a temperature of almost 48 ° C in the upper part of the console, which is the one that, for obvious reasons, heats up the most. Even after hours of gameplay, however, the Xbox Series X does not overheat excessively, and it always remains very quiet.
We were surprised that with the game running there is no noticeable increase in noise compared to the console at idle. We also tried to run Gears 5 for several hours and noises and temperatures increase a little: the console is therefore confirmed to be really very efficient in both aspects. The figure of just over 30 dB means that it is almost completely silent. Of course, as long as it is positioned in an airy environment and with the upper part completely free from obstacles.
Rather, it is the optical reader, when engaged in reading a disc, that generates the conditions of greatest noise. Moreover, it is a much quieter reading than that of the PS4 Pro player, which represents one of the sore points of the previous generation Sony console. Xbox Series X also is the most efficient console in terms of power consumption .
We ran the consumption test in idle and with three different games, Halo 5: Guardians, DooM Eternal and Gears 5 . Xbox Series X always holds firmly under the 190 Watts of power consumption and, beyond the case of Gears 5, always shows superior performance to the previous generation console. A very interesting data, which confirms the excellent manufacturing quality of the Xbox Series X power supply.
Given the debut of the SSD on consoles, it is very interesting how they improve i loading times of the games. It’s not so much how much it takes for the console to boot up in wonder, but how game loading times are cut, as our graph shows. The tests were carried out under normal conditions and not the presence of the Quick Resume functionality, which we will see better later.
The importance of the SSD does not end in the loading times because, as mentioned before, the very approach of the game developers, and will affect the shaping of the game worlds of future titles. We will explore this point further below.
Xbox Series X also gives the feeling of being a very compact system from the point of view of internal components, pursuing an approach already started with Xbox One X. An excellent engineering, therefore, which allowed to contain the dimensions and to give the console a minimalist aesthetic appearance, in line with the trend of the moment in terms of furnishings. In other words, if the designers of Microsoft Xbox drew on the way of thinking of an interior designer when they thought about the design of the new console, it seems that those of Sony were more based on the tastes of gamers and younger audiences.
The new Xbox Series X gamepad
The Xbox Series X gamepad is certainly not an evolution from previous generation Xbox gamepads. When you have it in your hand it immediately gives the feeling of great agility, with a very stable grip thanks to the increase in the knurled surface. This type of motif is in fact more accentuated and now also affects the upper part of the gamepad, starting with the triggers. Microsoft has also revised the buttons, since now they return a consistent sound feedback, as well as tactile, to the pressure, which provides greater guarantees about the fact that the pressure has occurred. The directional cross has also been significantly improved, and is now much more precise, with interesting implications also as regards the typing of the texts.
In addition, a vibration effect has been applied to the two upper triggers that reproduce a different type of feedback depending on what is happening in the game. These triggers have a different operation than the Xbox One pad triggers: inside them, in fact, there is an ERM (Eccentric Rotating Mass) motor , i.e. a system similar to the one already integrated into the controller handle. These vibration motors are activated at specific points and at different levels of intensity through a mechanical oscillation that rotates around a point of balance. This is a different technology than those based on sound waves (at the base, among others, of the Linear Resonant Actuators of the Nintendo Switch Joy-Con), which on paper guarantee more articulated vibrations and different levels of intensity.
Compatibility with a multitude of devices, apart from Xbox, is very important. The new controller, in fact, works with both Xbox Series X and Xbox One through the classic Xbox Wireless Radio proprietary protocol. At the same time it is compatible with PC, Android and iOS via the Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) protocol . Compared to the past, change the type of port on the controller, now type USB-C where up to the past generation was mini-USB type. The console, on the other hand, has no USB-C input on the body (unlike the PlayStation 5).
In addition, the new controller uses a higher frequency of communications with the system, in order to reduce latency. It falls within the concept that Microsoft with the new console is identifying with the name of Dynamic Latency Input (DLI) , that is a series of system-wide improvements that include a specific technology in the console and that also affects the HDMI connection to the TV / monitor.
At the bottom of the device we find the share button . With a single press we will create a screenshot, while with the double press on the screen the acquisitions and shares section will open where we can configure the type of acquisition. In all cases, however, these are clips with strong compression, basically usable for editorial purposes like ours (we had to proceed with the acquisitions with external box with the contents on the new consoles you see on the site these days).
SSD
With Xbox Series X debuts in console world the SSD as a reference point for storage. This has very important advantages not only in terms of game loading times, but also and above all of gameplay. Developers will have more design freedom for game worlds and will be able to manage large open worlds and populate them with very different polygonal objects.
At the same time, we have lower specifications compared to PlayStation 5. Sony beat a lot on this point in the advertising phase of its new console: where PS5 is inferior in terms of GPU, it catches up compared to Xbox Series X thanks to the technology behind the SSD . If at Microsoft the declared performances in terms of Throughput I / O are the following, 2.4 GB / s (raw) 4.8 GB / s (compressed) , Sony declares 5.5 GB / s (raw), 8-9 GB / s typical (compressed) . Also from this point of view it is extremely difficult to immediately verify what the real repercussions of the theoretical specifications are, because we will have to wait for the work of the developers from the point of view of optimizing their games on the basis of the new hardware.
Microsoft has inserted a new chip of custom I / O located in the SoC of the new console and a decompression system that has been designed to deliver data in a precise and timely manner. With the new API DirectStorage and the new hardware decompression, Microsoft is able to further improve the performance of I / O and reduce CPU overhead, both of which are essential for speeding up loads. Looking ahead, the Xbox Series X Streaming Feedback Sampler (SFS) is a game changer for streaming game worlds and their levels of visual detail.
SFS can be further exploited to increase the level of detail of the textures by loading on the memory only the strictly necessary contents. In fact, much of the latency of a hard disk is that it employs a mechanical head that moves across the surface of the disk (platter) to search for the data it needs: a mechanism that takes more time to search than to do. actual reading. Therefore, the same data is often duplicated hundreds of times simply to make it easier to find.
One point where Microsoft seems weaker than Sony is the available storage expansion system. . On the rear of the console is one slot for the Seagate Branded 1TB Expansion Card , at prices not exactly affordable. Sony, on the other hand, has thought of a more versatile NVMe SSD slot inside the console, to which it is possible to connect a traditional NVMe SSD, easily available on the market.
Microsoft has the advantage if you look at the size of the main unit inserted into the console. If in the case of PS5 it is 825 GB, of which just over 650 GB available to the user, Xbox Series X offers a 1 TB drive which, net of the console operating system installation, offers approximately 900 GB freely manageable by players.
HDMI 2.1 and 120 Hz
A separate discussion must be made regarding the connection HDMI 2.1 . If up to Xbox One X we had two HDMI ports (one input and one output) now we only have one port, but of the HDMI 2.1 type, which is capable of providing enough bandwidth to handle image streams up to to 4K and to 120 Hz . It is precisely this latter aspect that interests us most, since now, even on consoles, you can enjoy very high refresh rates, with a consequent reduction in latencies.
Who plays on console is used to much higher latencies than 100 thousandths of a second, with disadvantages especially from the point of view of the integrity of the competitive multiplayer gaming experience. Now, since launch, Xbox Series X allows you to play Gears 5, in multiplayer mode Versus , with latencies wandering around on 30 / 40 thousandths of a second . But be careful, because to enjoy the 120 Hz you need to have the right monitor / TV, considering that traditionally in the PC environment, high refresh rates are managed via DIsplayPort and not HDMI. It may therefore happen that your monitor to 144 or 240 Hz has the HDMI 1.4 connection, insufficient for new consoles (bandwidth level to play in 1080 p requires at least an HDMI 1.4b connection).
Once the connection is successfully established, the Xbox Series X dashboard will immediately detect the ability to activate the 120 Hz and will ask if you want to switch to high refresh rate. From the display and TV options in at any time the user can choose the resolution and refresh rate based on the specifications of the connected monitor / TV. There is also a diagnosis screen, where Xbox Series X clearly highlights what the TV supports and what it doesn’t: for example, with the monitor 360 editorial Hz reports that “Your TV configuration supports up to 1080 p natives to 120 FPS “.
To these is added the tool to calibrate the TV: step by step, right from the console point of view and therefore in such a way that it is affordable for everyone, it explains how to perform a precise calibration for any type of television. A similar tool allows you to calibrate the HDR for games. Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S are able to leverage an innovative HDR rebuild technique to enhance existing SDR games with no developer work and no impact on available CPU, GPU or memory resources.
Xbox Series X, like the previous generation, can read discs Blu Ray 4K Ultra HD .
Xbox App
The new Xbox Series X debuts Xbox App (also available for Xbox One). This is associated with the console and allows you to remotely manage its contents, then start a download, manage friends lists, chat with them, search for new contents and purchase them, manage the acquisitions made on the console and share them, and much more. yet. As happens for a device like Oculus Quest 2 , even the Xboxes are in this way manageable via the smartphone.
Xbox Game Pass
A key component of Microsoft’s offering for this generation is Xbox Game Pass, to the point of being integrated directly into the console dashboard. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate includes all the benefits of Xbox Live Gold and beyond 100 quality games for console, PC and Android mobile devices, all at a low monthly price.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members can also access the EA Play at no additional cost. EA Play subscription includes more than 60 among the best games for PC and Electronic Arts consoles, such as FIFA 20, Star Wars Battlefront II, Titanfall 2 and Need for Speed Heat. It also includes some of EA’s most popular franchises, such as Battlefield, Mass Effect, Skate and Sims, access to trial versions of the games and discounts on EA digital purchases.
To Regarding backward compatibility , Microsoft has done a great job, making almost all games from the past Xbox available also on the new Series X and Series S. There may be problems only with certain games built around the logic of Kinect , but otherwise it almost always goes smooth as oil. While in the case of PS5 there may be some more hitches, probably due to the major architectural changes especially related to the functioning of the storage unit.
Smart Delivery and Quick Resume
These are two of Microsoft’s most touted Xbox Series X features. Very interesting is Smart Delivery , the technology of Xbox Series X that allows you to play the best version of games in based on your console. All Xbox Game Studios games that are optimized for Xbox Series X, including Halo Infinite , will support Smart Delivery. This means that if you purchase the Xbox One version of a supported title, Microsoft will identify it and serve you the optimized version for the new console on the Xbox Series X, at no additional charge, when available. Smart Delivery is implementable by all Xbox developers.
For some years now, Microsoft’s strategy has provided for a decentralization with respect to hardware , in order to allow for gamers to choose which device to play on while remaining in the Xbox ecosystem. This started with Xbox Play Anywhere and reaches a later stage with Smart Delivery. In the future, the approach will be further expanded when the cloud gaming technology Project xCloud is sufficiently refined.
The Quick Resume technology, on the other hand, will allow you to resume the game from where you left off . Quick Resume allows you to resume several games at the push of a button, instantly switching to the action, where you left off (even weeks later), “for multiple games at the same time”. It needs to be specifically supported by games, so it may not work with the 60% of titles.
Think you are playing a game and turn off the console later. Upon reopening, if you decide to return to play with that specific game, just click on the corresponding icon and the game will be immediately restored, as can happen in a Windows environment with an application running and immediately available through the taskbar.
Conclusions
Ultimately, what is Xbox Series X like? It certainly represents a very important evolution in hardware compared to the previous generation, from a certain historical point of view in consideration of the fact that Zen 2 and RDNA 2 are recently introduced technologies also in the PC world. The GPU configuration gives it more computing power than the PlayStation 5 which, together with the SSD, will allow developers to release gaming experiences that in many ways are unprecedented in the console world.
Xbox Series X gives the feeling of being engineered in an accurate and very precise way, and offers interesting performances both in terms of silence and temperatures. In addition, it is the most efficient console ever in terms of energy consumption. Of course, as we mentioned, there is insufficient data to be able to give a complete judgment, because the performance on the market will depend on other factors, on the future support and on how the video game and entertainment industry will change. From these points of view, despite recent efforts, Microsoft could still pay a gap compared to Sony PlayStation, in terms of games and exclusives.
Xbox Series X is also minimalist, not only in appearance but also in functionality. Microsoft gives the feeling of having wanted to develop something “clean”, without overdoing it. It provides a very competitive hardware, for the price at which it is granted, but leaving doubts about the level of innovation of the Series X project. Microsoft gives the feeling of having taken great care in improving the hardware, but the rival has focused on the ‘to offer players a different experience compared to the past generation, in terms of controllers, user interface and other elements in such a way as to convey the idea that something changes in the way of playing, beyond the power made available to the players. We close with a scheme of Pros and Cons in comparison to PS5 .
PRO
More powerful hardware than PS5, especially the GPU
Quiet and optimized from the point of view of energy consumption 5873
Short tests: activity tracker, privacy app and Fairphone camera modules Activity tracker: Xiaomi Mi Band 5 Privacy-App: Access Dots Camera modules for the Fairphone 3 The activity tracker Mi Band 5 now also measures stress and REM sleep with the well-known sensors. In addition, the affordable everyday tracker with call display and notifications offers rudimentary smartwatch functions.
Under Android you normally don’t notice when an app taps the camera or microphone Access Dots shows a virtual LED in the status bar as long as there is access – comparable to the webcam LED on the notebook.
Fairphones are the only smartphones that can be upgraded. The new camera modules for the Fairphone 3 improve the image quality – at night the photos show more details. You only need a screwdriver and ten minutes to install it.
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Microsoft’s new generation of consoles, the Xbox Series, builds on the Xbox One series and can in turn be used as a streaming client for commercial music and video services and – in the case of the Xbox Series X – as Blu-ray and UHD -Blu-ray player use.
In the past few days, lists had already appeared in the US media stating which streaming services should be launched will be usable on the Xbox Series. However, some of them are limited to the US market.
As of today, the German series consoles will launch for Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Disney +, Sky Ticket, Zattoo, DAZN, Eurosport, Spotify , Deezer, YouTube, Vimeo and Twitch apps are available. There are also apps for a range of services related to US sports (NBA, MLB, NHL). At the 10. According to US media reports, Apple TV + will be added in November.
We can already confirm that Netflix and Disney + in 4K with increased contrast range in the formats Dolby Vision or HDR 10 and stream it to the new consoles with 3D sound in Dolby Atmos format. At Amazon Prime, there are currently still problems with HDR on a test device, but Microsoft is already working on a solution.
“No Dolby Vision for physical media” fans of the Ultra HD Blu-ray had hoped that with the new generation of consoles, Microsoft would finally support Dolby Vision when playing 4K discs. This is currently not the case on the Xbox Series X, however. Upon request, Microsoft issued the following statement:
” Xbox Series X | S support Dolby Vision for streaming applications at launch and are off Spring 2021 the first consoles to offer Dolby Vision for video games. Xbox Series X supports UHD Blu-Ray media and game discs – Dolby Vision for physical media is not supported. ”
It is worth noting that Microsoft is correct in its opinion on supporting Dolby Vision for physical media categorically denied. In contrast to video games with Dolby Vision, the company does not give any outlook that this situation will change in the future.
(Pocket-lint) – Having a smart home isn’t just about clever appliances or smartphone-controlled heating, you can also get clever lights too. That doesn’t just mean smartphone control, but can also sort you out with all kinds of other great features.
The best smart alarm clocks 2020: Wake up in style
You switch lights on or off everyday and they can play an essential part in creating an ambience in a room. Some smart lighting solutions enable you to recreate the colours within a particular image, while other solutions just mean you don’t need to get up off the sofa to turn the lights off.
Best of all, these smart bulbs will almost always be a big upgrade on your old bulbs in terms of energy efficiency. They’re generally LED, meaning they use less energy to run, but scheduling also makes sure that you can turn them off when you’re not around, or geo-gate them to only be on if you’re at home.
Here are some of the best smart lighting options to consider.
Our pick of the best smart lighting
Philips
Philips Hue
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Philips Hue is probably the most well known when it comes to smart lighting and for good reason with numerous features and various bulbs, lamps and other lights, such as strips, available. The wireless system allows you to use your smartphone to not only switch the LED bulbs on and off, but pick the colour and brightness you want, as well as recreate colours within a specific image, like a sunset you uploaded to Instagram or a painting on your wall.
You can program specific times, for example waking everyone in the house up at 7am every day with bright lights and the Hue system also has a party mode for flashing in time with your music. Philips Hue is compatible with the IFTTT service, as well as Apple’s HomeKit, Google’s Assistant and Amazon Alexa, meaning you can create recipes to take your smart lighting to a different level or control them with your voice
Philips Hue complete system review: A shining light in the smart home
Hive
Hive Active Light
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Hive, perhaps best known for its smart heating system, offers three bulbs in its smart lighting range. The Hive range isn’t as feature rich as the likes of Philips Hue but you’ll still be able to control your lights from your smartphone whether home or away, schedule them and change the colour to create your perfect ambience, assuming you buy the Colour Changing bulb.
There aren’t any strips or lamps available with Hive, like there are with Philips Hue, but Hive does offer both a GU10 and E14 candle bulb, as well as B22 bayonet, on top of the standard E27 bulb. The GU10, E14 and B22 bulbs aren’t currently available in a colour changing option but they do come in white dimmable and cool to warm white options. The Hive Active lights are also compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant so if you have an Amazon Echo device, or Google Home home device, you can control your lights with your voice too.
Hive review: The British Gas system that’s the hub of all things
Osram
Osram Lightify
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Osram’s Lightify is one of the closest to Philips Hue in terms of bulb type availability. Its wireless system offers not only standard screw and bayonet bulbs, but GU10s, LED strips and garden spotlights too, all of which can be controlled through the Lightify smartphone app.
There aren’t quite as many features as there are with Philips Hue, but you’ll still get remote access to your lights, scheduling functionality, ambience creation and scene creation. You won’t be able to sync your lights to your music or a film as yet, but the Osram Lightify system is cheaper than Hue, there is a good range of bulbs and it is compatible with most smart home platforms.
Osram Lightify review: Lights out for Philips Hue?
Ikea
Ikea Home Smart
View offer on Ikea.com
Are there any pies Ikea doesn’t have a finger in? The Swedish furniture giant offers numerous options when it comes to smart lighting, at Ikea prices, making smart lighting more accessible than it has been in the past and the system is excellent. There are numerous plug-and-play kits available, from standard white dimmable options, to colour adjustable options where users can switch between warm white and bright white.
Unlike Philips Hue and Osram Lightify, Ikea offers only one coloured bulb option at the moment, but there are several bulb fittings available if you’re after a white colour spectrum, including GU10s, along with light panels with wireless control. Ikea’s smart lights are said to last for 25,000 hours and along with smartphone control via the app, there is also a remote control and dimmer control. The Home Smart (previously called Trådfri) lights are also compatible with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit and Google Assistant, which you’ll need to pair them up with if you want to control them away from home.
Ikea Trdfri review: Affordable smart lights and plugs
Sengled
Sengled
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Sengled Wi-Fi Classic is one of the only smart lighting options that doesn’t require an additional hub in the UK – at least for many of its products anyway. Instead, the Wi-Fi Classic, Sengled Boost and Sengled Colour Plus bulbs can be taken straight out of their packaging, screwed in and connected directly to your router through the one of the dedicated Sengled apps.
The Wi-Fi Classic option is the cheapest, offering white dimmable light, while the Sengled Colour Plus is a coloured bulb with a built-in speaker and the Senged Boost is a white dimmable light with WLAN boosting capabilities. There is also a Sengled Element range, though this requires a hub. Features including scheduling, dimming and smartphone control from anywhere are available across the Sengled range. The Sengled Wi-Fi Classic bulbs are also compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, allowing for voice control with a compatible device.
Pocket-lint
Tapo
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For those who want simplicity over all else, Tapo offers a really nice solution in the form of its smart bulbs, which don’t require a bridge or hub of any sort.
They’ll connect to your Wi-Fi and work nicely with Google Home and Amazon Alexa, and the most affordable version has dimming to let you set the mood. It’s not as sophisticated a system as the likes of Philips Hue, but it’s a superb option if you want your first smart bulb.
Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Light Bulb review: Simple smart lighting
Belkin
Belkin WeMo Smart LED lighting
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Belkin offers all sorts of WeMo connected devices and included within the range is the WeMo Smart LED bulb and the WeMo Light Switch, both of which allow lighting control from an iPhone or Android device. The WeMo Smart LED Bulb replaces your existing bulbs enabling you to control, schedule and fully dim them from anywhere using the WeMo Link, Wi-Fi and the WeMo app. It’s worth mentioning that like most of IKEA smart lights, the WeMo bulbs only offer variants of white light rather than millions of colour options.
The WeMo bulbs can be controlled independently or in groups and the WeMo Link can handle up to 50 bulbs. The WeMo LED bulbs offer compatibility with IFTTT, meaning you can create various recipes like the Hue system and they are also compatible with Google Assistant for voice control. There is also a WeMo Light Switch that is designed to replace a standard light switch in your home and allow you to turn your normal lights on and off from anywhere using a smartphone.
LIFX
LIFX
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Originating on Kickstarter, LIFX is an LED light bulb that can be controlled using a smartphone app but like Sengled, it doesn’t require an additional hub. From the LIFX app, you can turn your lights on or off, adjust brightness, change the colour, and even create a light show to go with your music.
Like many of the smart light solutions available, LIFX also offers a wake-up feature, allowing you to wake up naturally each morning with automatically increasing light, or drift off with slowly dimming lights. The company also offers LIFX PLUS bulbs which have the additional advantage of a night vision settings, and like Philips Hue and Osram Lightify, there are LED strips available too.
Lightwave
Lightwave
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Lightwave is not just about lighting, it’s about controlling your entire home whether that be heating, electricity or lighting. It’s a clever system that requires you to swap your sockets and switches for Lightwave units that offer push-buttons and LED indicators, rather than changing out your bulbs like others on this list.
Once you have installed the system, you use the switches and plugs as normal but you get the additional functionality of being able to remotely control and monitor your lighting, power and energy usage from an internet-enabled device. The Lightwave app will let you to set routines based on your usual daily activities, as well as remotely control things.
Nanoleaf
Nanoleaf light panels
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Nanoleaf is a fully-customisable smart lighting system featuring wall-mounted triangular lighting panels that snap together with simple connectors to create whatever shape you can imagine. The starter pack is expandable with extra panels that can be bought and combined to create bigger and bolder designs in future too.
Nanoleaf light panels are app-controlled (iOS and Android) and the system is compatible with most smart home platforms, including Google, Amazon and Apple, allowing for voice control. Like other smart lighting options, Nanoleaf can be programmed to turn on and off at specific hours, and switch light scenes. The Nanoleaf starter pack also includes a Rhythm Module, which transforms the light panels into a dancing light show that reacts to surrounding sound.
Nanoleaf
Nanoleaf Canvas
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Nanoleaf Canvas are fully-customisable six-inch squares that can be connected together and installed anywhere in your home, walls or ceilings, using the included 3M stickers. The lights can be expanded with multiple panels, up to a total of 500 squares, meaning you can fill entire walls with colourful lighting if you so wish.
The panels are touch-sensitive and can be controlled in a variety of ways with gestures, voice commands via a personal assistant or from your phone. Nanoleaf Canvas can also be installed in a multitude of patterns and customised to your own personal taste and the lights can react to the sound in the room – syncing to music or just providing a brilliant light show in your living room.
Pocket-lint
Cololight Smart LED Panels
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If you are interested in customisable smart lighting panels that allow you to create your own patterns and shapes, but don’t like the idea of mounting them on your walls then these lights may be the answer.
This kit contains six hexagonal light panels that can be connected together in various different shapes. They’re then mounted on the hefty stone base that sits nicely on your desk, mantelpiece or windowsill. You can then choose from a variety of different shades, scenes and lighting options from within the app with ease.
The highlights to Cololight’s smart LED panels is they’re not only customisable in the way you connect them, they’re also expandable. So you can purchase additional panels to create larger designs. You’re not restricted to a single design either as you can easily remove the linking modules and create an entirely new look in a matter of seconds.
These lights also react to sound so can be used to create an awesome little light show with to go along with your music as well.
For the price, this is a nifty little smart lighting system that’s a cool addition to the home.
Calling all Stargate fans! This project, created by Kristian Tysee, uses a Raspberry Pi to bring a little piece of your favorite SciFi series home. It’s a complete (albeit miniature), nearly functional Stargate. If you’re not familiar with the series, these are wormholes across space that enable travel across great distances, but they can only stay open for a limited amount of time. To “dial in” a destination address the “ring” will rotate and lock a sequence of symbols into place.
The Stargate responds to actual addresses used in the show. It can spin, the chevrons move and lights turn on when the wormhole is established. An infinity mirror effect is used to simulate the open portal.
The address is dialed in using the DHD (Dial Home Device) controller. When a proper address is used, sound effects from the show begin to play while 122 LEDs illuminate the infinity mirror.
While the portal is “open”, you will hear random soundbites from the TV series. The portal will only be open for 38 minutes, just like in the show. At the end of the 38 minutes, a soundbite will be played that mentions the time limit in some way, signaling the portal is about to close.
The Stargate is about 15″ (39cm) tall and totally operated by a Raspberry Pi using three motor hats. When it boots, a custom Python script is used to manage the DHD input and control the Stargate.
Visit TheStargateProject website to read more about it—there you’ll find more details and an in-depth look at the creation process behind this entertaining, interstellar device.
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Over the last several years, Jabra’s true wireless earbuds have consistently earned positive reviews and are often at the top of recommendation lists for people who aren’t interested in Apple’s AirPods. Last month, the company announced its latest set — and first to ship with active noise cancellation. The $230 Elite 85t are Jabra’s most premium earbuds yet and meant to go toe-to-toe with the AirPods Pro and Bose’s new QuietComfort Earbuds. But in a surprise bonus, Jabra said it would bring ANC (albeit a less effective implementation) to its existing Elite 75t and Elite Active 75t via a firmware update.
The 85t buds have a new chip dedicated to noise canceling, which allows them to cancel out a wider range of outside sounds than the 75t, where the ANC feature feels tacked on. But while they look and feel very similar to the prior model, Jabra has made some consequential design choices. Most notably, the 85ts now have a “semi-open” design that eliminates the plugged-up ear feeling of older sets. That change comes with sacrifice, however, as these earbuds aren’t capable of the same resounding, impactful bass as the 75t. Jabra has also switched to oval-shaped ear tips — likely necessitated by the larger 12mm drivers and ANC circuitry — that feel slightly less secure in my ears compared to the older round style. And the Elite 85t buds are rated IPX4 for water and sweat resistance, a downgrade from previous Jabras.
But even with those changes, the Elite 85ts are among the better noise-canceling earbuds on the market, thanks to their best-in-class controls, wealth of features, and reliable performance. The main question is whether the noise cancellation is worth the added cost over the Elite 75t. Considering the differences in water resistance and sound quality, it’s not a straightforward answer.
Picking up the 85ts, everything feels very familiar. They’re slightly larger and heavier than their predecessors, the drilled microphone holes are much smaller (likely to keep out dust), and the most obvious change is those oval speaker grills. The case has also grown in size a tad, but it includes Qi wireless charging; the 75t buds are only available with wireless charging if you order them direct from Jabra. (The charging LED is at least now on the case’s front instead of bafflingly on the back near the USB-C port, as it is on the 75ts.)
The Elite 85t earbuds (left) are slightly larger and heavier than the 75t (right).
There’s still a circular button on each earbud that responds to single, double, and triple presses. You’re given a ton of freedom over customizing the controls in the Jabra app, and those changes — like any EQ adjustments you make — stick with the earbuds from device to device. The 85t earbuds are rated IPX4 for water and sweat resistance, which is down from the IP55 of the Elite 75t and IP57 of the Elite Active 75t. IPX4 puts these at par with the AirPods Pro and QuietComfort Earbuds and means they’re capable of surviving splashes of water, but heavy sweaters should be wary of making these their fitness earbuds. (It’s unclear whether Jabra eventually intends to release an Active version of the 85ts.)
The Elite 85 earbuds have Jabra’s excellent customizable controls and a new semi-open design for improved comfort.
Before we get to the noise cancellation, let’s quickly call out one of the best things about Jabra earbuds: multipoint. While most true wireless earbuds can only connect to a single device at a time, Jabra’s can handle two at once. You can be listening to music from your laptop and take an incoming call on your phone without having to manually switch the earbuds over.
That’s a trick that the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, Sennheiser True Momentum Wireless 2s, and Sony’s 1000XM3 buds are simply incapable of. (I’d argue AirPods get a pass here since they can now automatically switch between Apple devices without you having to do anything, and if you own AirPods, you’re probably in that ecosystem.) Multipoint works well on the 85t earbuds, seamlessly switching back and forth between your phone and PC or tablet based on what’s actively playing audio. All of Jabra’s earbuds dating back to the Elite 65t offer this feature, but here, you can combine the convenience of multipoint with powerful noise cancellation.
Jabra’s active noise cancellation performance in the 85t buds is impressive. You can adjust the intensity of ANC with a slider in the Jabra app, and at maximum, I’d say it’s up there with the Sony 1000XM3 or AirPods Pro — but definitely a rung beneath the QuietComfort Earbuds, which I view as the new benchmark.
But as I mentioned earlier, the 85t earbuds differ from past models because of their new semi-open design. When you turn ANC completely off (which can only be done inside the Jabra app), you can definitely hear more ambient noise than with the 75ts, which seal into my ears really well and have the added benefit of great passive noise isolation. I found that the new, oval-shaped tips of the 85 didn’t quite twist into my ears as snugly or as deep; they never fell out or came close, but I could remove them with less effort than the 75ts. This comes down to preference: I know there are many of you who will prefer the airy design of the 85t, which can be worn for long stretches without any noticeable discomfort or pressure buildup.
But keep in mind that Jabra recently updated the Elite 75t with active noise cancellation. By itself, it’s less effective than the 85t, but the noise isolation of the 75t earbuds helps make up the gap some. In the end, I think it’s almost a wash between the two. The Elite 85ts still won out and hushed more noise when I tested them side by side in a coffee shop or on the streets of Brooklyn, but not lopsidedly so. If you’re someone who dislikes the plugged-up feeling that regular earbuds can give, the 85ts are the better choice, but the added comfort means paying more. I don’t mind that closed-off feeling at all, so I’d probably stick with the 75ts.
Compared to competitors, the 85t earbuds have a unique strength: they can pair with two devices at once.
That’s also because of sound quality. The 85ts use new 12mm drivers that deliver slightly better detail and presence (and roll off some of the harshness of the 75t treble), but there’s really not that much of a difference between these two sets of earbuds. The 85ts have a fuller mid-range; the overall EQ feels less blatantly V-shaped — but all of this can be adjusted to your liking.
However, while the semi-open design results in a wider soundstage, it also means the 85ts lose some of the amazing low-end kick that the 75ts are capable of. If you lean toward less sculpted EQ, you might prefer the more even balance of the 85ts; the bass isn’t lacking, it’s just not as head-rattling as the 75ts. I’m pleased when using either set, but even the higher-end 85ts trail competitors like Sennheiser and Bose if top-notch sound is your deciding factor.
Battery life is rated at 7 hours with ANC off (half an hour shorter than the 75t) and 5.5 hours with it enabled, which is fairly standard. Factoring in the case, you can get up to 25 hours of total listening time. As has become standard for Jabra, call quality remains a strength on the 85ts. People said my voice was crisp and came through clear without much background noise. But you can still only use the right earbud by itself since that’s the primary bud that relays audio to the left one. I wish Jabra would make them both independent (especially at this higher cost), but we’re not there yet.
The carrying case supports wireless charging.
A few other things worth touching on quickly:
Jabra’s “HearThrough” passthrough mode still isn’t as natural-sounding as what I’ve experienced with the AirPods Pro or Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, where it can often sound like you’re not wearing earbuds at all. With these earbuds, the outside world still sounds a little digital and over-processed, but it’s perfectly usable for keeping aware of your surroundings.
The Jabra Sound Plus mobile app remains excellent. With it, you can set up different “moments” with customized ANC / HearThrough preferences for each environment. There’s a built-in hearing test for tailoring the sound to your own hearing profile (I found the difference to be negligible), and you can even play white noise and other sounds when you need to focus on something and music or podcasts are too much.
Unlike previous Jabra earbuds, the 85ts no longer offer Amazon Alexa as a voice assistant. I barely ever took advantage of this option, and seeing as it’s now gone, I’m guessing that was true of most people.
Overall, I think the Elite 85t earbuds are Jabra’s best earbuds yet: the noise cancellation is quite good, they deliver rich audio quality, and you can use them with two devices at once. But there are a lot of people who will be better off saving money and just going for the Elite 75ts. For me, the older earbuds fit better, and I prefer their noise isolation over the semi-open feel of the new buds. But maybe the combination of noise cancellation and an airy fit is just what you’ve been looking for. If the AirPods Pro don’t meet your needs, it’s hard to go wrong with the Jabra Elite 85t.
Our journey through time from Windows 1 to Windows XP tells how Microsoft technically advanced the Windows operating system.
(Image: Albert Hulm)
Operating system architecture: The technological development of Windows The Root The memory is tight Virtualized early Company chance Segment curse Article in c’t 27 /2020 read The DOS of these days, which Microsoft had sold cheaply and expensively to IBM, offered a pure text interface that usually consisted of a fixed matrix of 80 characters and 25 Lines consisted: The user had to enter commands using the keyboard. There were the first tentative attempts by individual programs to use the graphics capabilities of the PC to display italic or bold text, for example in Microsoft’s Word. The smooth fonts commonly used today with variable spacing were out of the question.
The roots Word could even be operated with the mouse. Every program needed its own driver for the graphics card used if it wanted to use the graphics. The same applied to the output of work results on the printer. Each manufacturer came up with their own user interfaces. “Large” application programs that combined word processing, database and spreadsheets under one surface were very popular, such as Open Access from SPI.
At that time, Windows came in handy as a complement to DOS. It created a framework for graphic applications that software manufacturers could build on. Initially, it only brought a few adjustments to the hardware: drivers that controlled the printer and graphics card and integrated the mouse. For access to the hard drive, i.e. the files, DOS continued to be used. The old DOS devices were also used to contact the printer.
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Tidal’s expansive, accessible and hi-res-inclusive catalogue remains the best option for streaming-savvy audiophiles
For
Great sound quality
Hi-res Masters
Intuitive and expansive
Against
Masters can be hard to find
Tidal has been riding an encouraging wave of momentum since its celebrity-studded re-launch in March 2015. And in 2017 it became the first service to offer hi-res audio streaming, thanks to its adoption of MQA technology.
These hi-res (typically 24-bit/96kHz) tracks, which it calls ‘Tidal Masters’, initially numbered in the tens of thousands but now make up a catalogue in the millions, all available to subscribers of its £20 per month HiFi (CD-quality) package at no additional charge.
But Tidal is now far from the only hi-res player in the music streaming game, with both Qobuz and now Amazon Music HD offering better-than-CD streams – the latter at a significantly lower price. So is Tidal still number one?
Features
(Image credit: Apple / Tidal)
Hi-res and CD-quality streams aren’t actually the be-all and end-all of Tidal’s offering, with the 60-million-track catalogue also available to stream in 320kbps to subscribers of its Apple- and Spotify-rivalling £10 per month Premium tier.
Tidal’s availability is on the rise too. As well as being accessible via its PC and Mac desktop apps, web player (HiFi subscribers will need Chrome for lossless sound) and Android and iOS mobile apps, Tidal has expanded into Apple and Android TV apps, and Apple CarPlay.
Tidal apps also form part of several networked hi-fi products’ offerings, from Sonos, Bluesound and Denon Heos kit, to Linn, McIntosh, Naim and Cyrus. Google Chromecast is supported as well, while Tidal Connect – a similar concept to the Spotify feature with the same suffix – is the first technology able to cast MQA and Dolby Atmos files.
Initially, Tidal HiFi members wanting to take advantage of Masters were limited to the desktop app or a Bluesound Node 2 streamer (which could connect directly to Tidal Masters via the Bluesound app, negating the need for a PC or laptop), but those Masters are now available via both Android and iOS, as well as being supported natively by a number of those aforementioned hi-fi components.
There are a few complications, however. Listening through a computer, via its 3.5mm headphone output, or through a connected (non-MQA-enabled) DAC gives the Tidal desktop app the reins over MQA’s core decoding, which has a limited output of 24-bit/96kHz. In other words, even if you’re streaming a 192kHz file, it will only be unpackaged to 96kHz.
Similarly, the iOS and Android apps can only complete the first ‘unfold’ of MQA file decoding, outputting streams at a maximum of 24-bit/96kHz. The only way to entirely unpackage an MQA file for playback, and therefore give you a more accurate representation of the file based on your system characteristics, is by pairing your Apple or Android device with an MQA-compatible DAC, taking the decoding process away from the software (Tidal app).
The benefit of owning kit with built-in MQA decoders – such as the Audirvana Plus 3 computer software, the Bluesound Node 2i or Meridian’s Explorer DAC 2 – is that all decoding is done by the hardware (bypassing the app in this respect altogether), which can unpackage the entire MQA file for playback in its original resolution.
Tidal also offers a growing catalogue of Dolby Atmos Music tracks, with support opened up to include most Atmos-compatible kit – from soundbars and TVs to Award-winning AVRs and smart speakers.
To play these immersive tracks, Tidal HiFi subscribers need to connect their Atmos-enabled device to a compatible streamer running the most recently updated Tidal app. Supported streaming devices include the Apple TV 4K, Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, Fire TV Cube, Fire TV Stick (2nd gen), Fire TV (3rd gen), Nvidia Shield TV and Nvidia Shield TV Pro (2019 or newer).
Ease of use
(Image credit: Apple / Tidal)
They are also helpful to identify a Masters file’s resolution. The Meridian Explorer 2, for example, lights up to show whether a track has a sampling rate of 88kHz or 96kHz, or 176kHz or 192kHz. Without it, the resolution remains a mystery. We highlighted this when we first reviewed Tidal Masters but, unfortunately, it remains an issue.
We also noted that Masters music can be hard to find, and that’s still the case. Only a minority of tracks (around 450 albums-worth) are easily discoverable in the Tidal desktop app, found in the ‘Home’ tab under the ‘Master Quality Audio Albums’.
The other million-odd Masters (such as Fleetwood Mac’s remastered Tusk) are buried within Tidal’s 60m+ database of tracks, and there’s no way to specifically search for them.
However, Tidal has built on its discovery feature with Masters-specifics playlists such as ‘Tidal Masters: New Arrivals’ and ‘Tidal Masters: Essentials’, as well as some genre-specific (‘Tidal Masters: Motown’) and artist-specific (‘Tidal Masters: The Smiths’) options.
(Image credit: Apple / Tidal)
Those Masters playlists are a welcome addition, although we’d still like to see a larger dedicated section, categorised by genre or era – much like the rest of Tidal’s catalogue.
But Masters aside, the service’s layout is exemplary and has actually been tidied up and streamlined in recent months. The desktop app’s large number of tabs has been reduced to match the smartphone app, with the majority of content now grouped under the catch-all ‘Home’ tab.
At the top is a big and bold selection of featured content, while below that you’ll find playlists created for you, based on your listening habits. ‘Recently Played’ allows you to quickly hop back into an album or playlist, while ‘Suggested New Tracks’ and ‘Suggested New Albums’ guides you to the latest new releases that Tidal’s algorithms believe will be up your street.
Tidal appears to have taken a leaf out of Spotify’s book by prioritising the discovery of new music tailored to your tastes, and it does so effectively. Just a couple of weeks of listening and favouriting is enough to start getting worthwhile recommendations.
Below these personalised sections in the Home tab, you’ll find sections dedicated to the most popular playlists and albums on the service, as well as mood-based playlists, podcasts, radio stations and the Tidal Rising section, which helps promote new talent.
Away from ‘Home’ the two main tabs are ‘Explore’, which duplicates many of the discovery elements of ‘Home’ and seems rather redundant, and ‘Videos’, which hosts music videos. The final tab is ‘My Collection’, which groups all of your favourited music and custom playlists and also houses your downloads.
Tidal has also partnered with Tune My Music and Soundiiz to offer two ways of importing playlists from other streaming services, meaning you needn’t drag and drop everything again if you’re migrating from one of its rivals.
Performance
(Image credit: Apple / Tidal)
Whether you’re listening to 320kbps, CD-quality or hi-res streams, Tidal sounds great compared to its rivals. We’d wholeheartedly recommend signing up for Tidal HiFi if you can.
While the 320kbps streams just pip their Spotify and Deezer equivalents with a slightly richer, fuller-bodied sound, tracks streamed in lossless offer much more detail, a better sense of space and a tighter handle on timing than their 320kbps counterparts.
In America’s Sister Golden Hair, the catchy guitar chords are fuller and ring truer with more twang. Harmonies sound like they’re being sung with greater enthusiasm, and the bells underneath are less hollow-sounding.
(Image credit: Apple / Tidal)
Masters tracks increase the level of insight again, prizing open the soundstage and giving the bare acoustic strumming in Christopher Stapleton’s A Simple Song greater freedom of movement. It digs up more inflections in the accompanying vocals, too.
Play the Masters version of Dear Life by Beck and the piano-led rhythm is executed more precisely than the CD-quality version. And that organisation and punctuality put Tidal’s Masters just ahead of the hi-res streams offered by rivals Qobuz and Amazon Music HD, which lack a little sonic cohesion in comparison.
Amazon Music HD does counter with an occasionally more open and detailed delivery, but it’s the Tidal Masters that are most musical.
And the fact you can now cast these hi-res files to compatible devices via Tidal Connect makes listening to high quality music only more convenient. We tested the feature using the Bluesound Node 2i, and enjoyed a comparably insightful and musical performance as when using the built-in Tidal software.
Bluesound is one of a few manufacturers currently updating its products to allow for Tidal Connect – along with Cambridge Audio, KEF, Dali, iFi, Lyngdorf and NAD – but the wider compatibility is spread the better, as far as we’re concerned.
Verdict
(Image credit: Apple / Tidal)
While Tidal’s £10 per month tier is arguably just as appealing as similar offerings from the likes of Spotify and Apple Music, its top HiFi tier is what makes it stand out from the crowd.
Where Masters were once a niche sub-section of the service’s offering, the catalogue is now much bigger and much easier to take advantage of, thanks to broader device support. Of course, we won’t be happy until every track is available in Masters quality on every device, but there’s no doubt Tidal is already ahead of the pack here.
The arrival of Amazon Music HD will no doubt have Team Tidal looking over its shoulder, and you wouldn’t bet against Bezos’s crew catching up at some point, but if you’re in the market for superior music streams right now, Tidal is the service we’d most heartily recommend.
SCORES
Performance 5
Features 5
Ease of use 5
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