(Pocket-lint) – There’s nothing wrong with a trackpad, per se, but let’s be honest – even if they’re getting better every year, there’s still nothing quite like using an actual mouse for your computer, in terms of precision and control, especially if you work from home.
Best keyboards: Our pick of the top PC and Mac keyboards
If you’re finally tired of living that trackpad life, then, you might be on the lookout for a new mouse that doesn’t necessarily assume you’re a hardcore gamer whose biggest priority is stacks of function keys and flashing lights. In fact, most of us just want something compact we can use on the move or something accurate but simple for use at a desk.
We’ve taken a detailed look at the market and here’s our roundup of mice to help you consider what mouse is perfect for you.
Looking for a gaming mouse? Check out our guide to the best gaming mouse instead
Our pick of the best mice around to buy today
Logitech
Logitech MX Master 3
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Logitech only released the MX Master 3 recently, but it’s quickly rocketed up to the top of our list — this is an absolutely superb mouse used by at least two of the Pocket-lint team. It’s weighty in the right way, while still retaining a gliding feeling of control that’s hard to beat.
It’s also wireless, which isn’t completely essential, as this list will demonstrate, but does help with the feeling that you can use it in whatever way you like. The ergonomic design is easy to hold, the clicks of its buttons are satisfying but easily done; it’s the whole package. The only hesitation is that it won’t work for left-handers, an all-too common malaise in the world of the computer mouse.
You can use it with Logitech’s Unifying USB receiver or with Bluetooth.
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Logitech MX Anywhere 3
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If you want a more compact mouse that still has a lot of the brilliant touches that make the MX Master 3 so good, the Anywhere 3 could be perfect. It’s great for smaller hands or a workplace that moves around a lot.
You also get superb ergonomics, great clicking and an uneatably good scroll-wheel, just like on the larger version. It’s available in a few colours to suit your taste, and battery life is stellar too, rechargable by USB-C.
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Logitech G203 Lightsync
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It won’t be the last on this list, but while the G203 Lightsync might be branded as a gaming mouse, we think it’s subtle enough and usable enough to believe that tag.
The fact that it’s wired keeps the price really low for this device, and the performance you get from it is hard to argue with. It’s lightweight and glides nicely, and has six buttons that you can reprogram if needed, for example, to open your most-used applications. Although it does have some LED lighting that is a little “gamery”, it’s pretty subtle and can be controlled to suit your taste, and the white version we’ve been using is particularly handsome.
Microsoft
Microsoft Intellimouse Pro
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That’s right, your eyes don’t deceive you. Chances are you remember the above design from somewhere, whether it’s a school IT lab, an office, or a front desk. Well, wherever that place was, their bosses haven’t scrimped on equipment, because despite its austere looks, the Intellimouse is a seriously great mouse.
With a subtle but effective ergonomic curve, and no unnecessary bells and whistles, there’s a reason why Microsoft’s mouse design hasn’t changed much down the years.
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Logitech Pebble
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If you’re working remotely, or if you have a working commute — or even if you just take the odd work trip, you’ll know the value of portability. Logitech, which you might be noticing as a bit of a repeat feature on this list, has a great option for those who want a more diminutive, easily transported mouse.
The Pebble is nice and tiny, but still really comfortable to use, and has Bluetooth for easy pairing. It’s got a great clicking action for such a small mouse, and is really silent, which we have a lot of time for. If you’re in the need for a mouse that travels, Logitech has got you covered here, and at a really impressive price, too.
Anker
Anker Vertical Ergonomic Optical Mouse
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If you’ve ever worked in a sizeable office environment, you’ve probably glimpsed something like the image above in the far-off distance – there’s always someone in each company who’s discovered the benefit of a vertical mouse.
Anker’s got one of the best in the business, for an extremely reasonable price, if you’re interested in trying out a new orientation in life, and getting your hand relaxed. Some people find that the difference is night and day, and that any discomfort they had eases away instantly, so if you’re not getting on with a traditional mouse, this could be the answer.
Razer
Razer DeathAdder Essential
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We know that we opened this list with a promise to steer clear of putting a pure gaming mouse on it, but the simple fact is that the DeathAdder, from gaming experts Razer, is a genuine classic of the mouse world. It’s been around for years now, with only slight refinements, and that’s because it’s super comfortable, and reliable.
If it’s good enough for gamers to use for hours on end, it might just suit for your work, and if you drop into a game of Modern Warfare at lunch you might just have an advantage. Also, importantly, it’s a low-key mouse that doesn’t cram loads of extra buttons in. Instead, it concentrates on working well and staying comfortable.
Adafruit are not resting on their laurels and they are pressing on with their range of RP2040 ‘Pi Silicon’ based boards which use the same chip as the recently released Raspberry Pi Pico. In a recent tweet Adafruit have announced their latest prototype, the QT Py RP2040 a version of their QT Py CircuitPython and it looks to be an incredibly small board.
Coming soon – Petite Pico Prototypes – QT Py RP2040Can we squooosh an RP2040 into a QT Py shape? With double sided assembly and some 0402 resistors…yes! We stuck to 0805 and 0603 for the supply bypass caps, but went smol for the resistors and 20pF’s. pic.twitter.com/i79SCq3ZXwJanuary 22, 2021
QT Py RP2040 packs a lot of features into a small 22 x 18mm footprint, the same footprint as their older model. The QT Py RP2040 could be the smallest RP2040 board yet, much smaller than the Raspberry Pi Pico’s 51 x 21mm board. QT Py shares something in common with the Raspberry Pi Pico, castellated edges which can be used to embed the board into a carrier board.
Using USB-C for data and power, QT Py RP2040 has a limited amount of GPIO pins, a mere 14 pins. But what we lack in quantity, we gain in choice, we have four analog pins connected to the 12-bit ADC of the RP2040, these can also double as digital pins. There is a single I2C and SPI connection, along with UART. A single STEMMA QT port enables the use of compatible components.
Two buttons, one user programmable, the other to reset the board’s bootloader, and a Neopixel RGB LED complete the top half of the board. On the underside lies the RP2040 powering the board.
In our Raspberry Pi Pico review, we praised the value and versatility of the new microcontroller board. However, Adafruit’s version could be even more compelling, thanks to its small size, larger number of analog connections and USB-C / STEMMA QT connectivity.
There is no word on price or release date as yet, as Adafruit is apparently still experimenting with the board.
Apple may finally be bringing an integrated SD card slot to its upcoming 2021 models of its MacBook Pro laptops, according to a new report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, in a move that would restore the popular port standard to the company’s computers.
The MacBook Pro lineup hasn’t offered an SD card slot since Apple removed the feature in its 2016 redesign, which excised all the ports from the laptops in favor of four universal USB-C ports. This forced many professional users — who rely on the popular memory card format to import photos and videos to their computers for editing — to turn to much-reviled dongles to get the same functionality.
The news comes after an earlier report from Gurman that originally detailed some of the changes that Apple was planning for the upcoming 14-inch and 16-inch designs. These changes include removing the controversial Touch Bar interface in exchange for physical function keys; offering a more squared-off design that’s in line with the recent iPad Pro, iPad Air, and iPhone 12 lineups; adding brighter displays; and bringing back Apple’s magnetic MagSafe chargers. That’s all in addition to the biggest change, which will see the high-end laptops move from Intel’s processors to a more powerful version of Apple’s in-house, ARM-based M1 chipset.
Noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo corroborated those reports by claiming that the new laptops would offer additional ports, but today marks the first confirmation of the SD card slot specifically.
The news of the SD card slot’s return actually comes as an aside in a larger report on Apple’s planned refresh for a “high-end” MacBook Air model, which is said to offer similar MagSafe and processor benefits as the new MacBook Pros. Unfortunately, though, there’s no mention of the SD card slot being offered on the upcoming Air refresh — just a pair of USB-C ports.
(Pocket-lint) – Ask any cyclist what the first thing you should update on a bike is and they will invariably say the wheels. While that’s likely to give you the biggest performance upgrades, it’s hard to quantify that without the humblest of bicycle accessories, the bike computer.
Being of techy mind and body, we’d say that a bike computer is probably one of the first places you want to look to boost your riding experience, and Garmin has long been the leader of the pack. So how does the upper-level Garmin Edge 830 perform?
Design, build and mounting
2.6-inch colour touchscreen, 246 x 322 pixels
Dimensions: 50 x 82 x 20mm / Weight: 79.1g
Varied mounting options in the box
IPX7 water protection
In terms of functionality, the Edge 830 is Garmin’s second-tier device, sitting under the Edge 1030 Plus and above the 530. The 530 is closely related – the biggest difference being the addition of touchscreen controls that you get on the 830 – but the design is essentially the same.
The Edge 830 isn’t the most compact thing around, but the bodywork is all there to support the 2.6-inch display as your visual gateway into a world of data and mapping.
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The design is robust enough, with IPX7 protection, which means it won’t be bothered by rain showers or a soaking when you hit a big puddle. The waterproofing should mean it can withstand complete submersion in water, but that might dampen your ride a little. Having been caught in downpours and some winter floods, the odd soaking certainly doesn’t hamper this device’s performance – you don’t even need to think about it, as you might with an adapted smartphone in a holder.
The 830’s bodywork is a substantial polycarbonate with the front dominated by the display, but still carrying what a smartphone fan would class as bezel. We don’t think the Edge 830 necessarily needs to be smaller, but we do think that in future versions Garmin might aim to either fill more of the surface with display, or reduce that slightly for a more modern look.
The display is colour and while the resolution isn’t high by smartphone standards, it’s good enough to show the details you need. It’s an LCD, illuminated so you can see it easily, dimming in lower light conditions and powering off to save battery life if you use the power saving feature.
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The body carries a power button on the left side, start/pause recording and lap buttons on the bottom, with a central cover opening up to reveal the Micro-USB connection that’s used for charging (USB-C and wireless charging next time please, let’s bring this kit up to date). The buttons mean you can use the device whatever gloves you’re wearing, although much of the interaction relies on the touchscreen.
There’s a twist mount on the rear of the Edge 830 with a number of mounts provided in the box, from handlebar or step mounts secured with the supplied bands, through to the out-front mount, which means you can move the computer out from your handlebars, which we find a better position for glancing when on the go – plus it means it’s not fighting against other handlebar-mounted devices.
The out-front mount has the advantage of allowing easy installation of the Charge Power Pack, which can clip onto the underside to extend the computer’s life by an additional 24 hours. As it is, the battery offers a realistic 15-20 hours of life, extending if you opt for the power saving mode that turns the display off (you can get it to communicate with a compatible smartwatch for at-a-glance views if you wish).
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Installation is quick and easy, while removing the Edge is simply a case of twisting to release it. It can’t be locked in any way, but the Edge 830 supports Garmin’s alarm function, whereby you will get a notification if your bike is moved while you’re away from it – perhaps in a café, for example.
Connectivity, setup and Garmin Connect
ANT+
BLE/Bluetooth
Wi-Fi
The biggest part of setup for the Edge 830 is connecting it to the wider world. The first aspect of this is smartphone connectivity and pairing with Garmin Connect is relatively straightforward. If you’re already a Garmin user – perhaps with a Forerunner for example – you have the advantage of being able to use the Physio TrueUp function to sync across devices so your efforts on one device are reflected in your stats on the other.
Garmin Connect plays a central part here, of course, and once connected to your phone, your details from Garmin Connect will sync to your Edge. If you’re new to Garmin, it’s highly recommended that you setup Garmin Connect in advance of linking to your devices, just to make everything smoother.
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It would be nice to have more customisation through Garmin Connect. As it is, if you want to change the content on the display, you have to set that on the Edge device itself – it would be far slicker if that could be organised in Garmin Connect and synced to the bike computer instead.
The connection with your phone gives the advantage of not only syncing rides and data once you’re done, but allowing smart functions on your ride – like Livetrack via your phone’s data connection (so others can follow your live route, if you permit), notifications and, in some cases, quick replies to those incoming messages so you can keep in touch with people without reaching for your phone (note: this is only available to Android users).
The connection is generally solid, although we’ve had a few occasions where we’ve set out, seen Livetrack fail and had to stop to ensure that the phone and Edge 830 are properly connected before setting off again.
Garmin does get a little confused if you change your phone, in which case the fastest way to connect with the device is remove it from Garmin Connect and then treat it like a new device and re-pair it. As long as you don’t reset your Edge it will then just connect to your device, sync and carry on as normal.
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On top of the Bluetooth connection that the Edge would use with your phone, there’s also Wi-Fi. This means that the Edge 830 can connect to your home Wi-Fi network to update without your phone doing everything. This will again let you sync data, as well as downloading routes.
More significant to its actual function, however, is the ability to sync with additional sensors. While the Edge 830 offers GPS, an altimeter and accelerometer which will provide most of the essential data, there’s support for Bluetooth and ANT+ sensors. This will mean you can use compatible sensors to provide more data, like heart rate, cadence or power – all of which are easily accommodated on the display of the device, and in the subsequent data analysis.
Mapping and routing
GPS
Cycling-specific basemaps
Route syncing, rerouting
While much of the data you might want from a bike computer would be available from something like the Garmin Edge 130 Plus – which is a lot less cash – the advantage that something like the Edge 830 offers is in the route guidance and mapping. The device contains cycling-specific route maps, allowing on-device navigation and browsing.
You can, for example, open up the map on the device, find a place you want to go to and have it plot a route to get you there. It’s a little slow and you don’t get to preview or customise that route, but at least it’s there.
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Navigation of the map when browsing is pretty good – you can drag it around and use the familiar pinch-to-zoom to adjust, but you lose the pinch zooming when you are actually following a navigation route. This makes it much harder to look around the map if you take a wrong turn or hit, for example, a closed gate on a private estate that the Garmin is trying to take you through.
Routes can be created or imported to Garmin Connect to sync to the Edge 830 too, as well as syncing from other apps, like Strava (although only the browser version of Strava currently makes this easy to do). Creating a route in Garmin Connect is easy, either creating an automated route in a particular direction for a given distance, or to somewhere specific you want to go.
Generally speaking it all works well, but we’ve found some anomalies – diverting you to an impractical cycle route over the main road that you’re on, routes through gates that are closed, some unpaved forest routes which don’t suit a road bike, and so on. Essentially, you need to be prepared to take a diversion, which is, again, why the lack of pinch-to-zoom during navigation is irritating.
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Diversions and rerouting isn’t the fastest either. Often you’ll be asked to turn around repeatedly before you’ll eventually be given a new route – but it will find that route.
Overall mapping and directions is good, as is GPS, all on that glanceable big display so you can easily head out and explore. A top tip is to search for and save your home location, so you can easily sort out a return route if you decide you just need to get back home again.
Advanced features and functions
Training and workouts
Strava Segment support
Outside of routing and all that data collection there’s a lot more that the Edge 830 will offer. Part of the Garmin family, it will offer the sort of performance tracking and training guidance that Garmin’s running watches offer. That means you’ll get recommendations for your recovery time after a ride, the opportunity to log food or water consumption during a ride, and a report on what sort of training aims your ride achieved.
One element that’s slightly under-represented is Garmin’s Training Status. While those using Garmin’s running devices get a training status update from just a couple of runs, for cyclists you only get that if you have a power meter – and to calculate FTP (functional threshold power) you also have to ride with a power meter and heart rate sensor), so this is definitely a device that offers more as you add accessories.
Best fitness trackers 2021: Top activity bands to buy today
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You can structure workouts via your Edge, to ride indoors or outdoors, the former meaning you don’t have to worry about traffic on your intervals. The Edge 830 is compatible with smart trainers so you can pair your Wahoo Kickr with your Edge, for example.
There’s support for mountain biking, with integrated Trailforks routes so you can find something offroad to ride in your local area. There’s Strava integration too. Not only can you sync routes to the Edge, but you can setup Segments too.
This will let you compete against yourself or friends on Segments. That might spur you on to get a PB on a Segment, or be totally disheartened when you realise just how far off the pace you might be when you head out with a friend.
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While Segments will give you a report of how far you have remaining and how far ahead or behind your target pace you are for a favourite stretch, Garmin will also give you guidance on climbs. This is automated, giving you the ClimbPro display when you hit a decent uphill stretch. It might help you balance your effort, showing how much further there is to climb.
What all this accounts to is a comprehensive offering for those who want to just ride, those who want data, as well as those who want to take things a little further.
Verdict
The Garmin Edge 830 is one of the most appealing in the Garmin cycling computer line-up. A slightly more affordable price than the leading Edge 1030 Plus, plus the touch functionality over the Edge 530, sees it sit in a sweet spot.
The performance is generally very good, too, but there’s clearly room for improvement in order to draw this bike computer closer to the excellent performance that people are used to from smartphones. Faster rerouting, better map navigation, an increase in display quality, and wireless charging, are all easy targets for Garmin’s product development team.
Unpacking 2021 with a bang, we have the Samsung Galaxy S21 for you today. Samsung has rearranged its yearly release schedule to pull its high-end S-series reveal for January, and could there be a better way to kick off the year?
We did say ‘bang’, but it’s hardly the most thunderous of those – out of the trio of Galaxy S21 phones announced, we’ll now be presenting you the smallest, vanilla one. We also have the Ultra at the office, but you’ll need to wait a bit more for that – no event starts off with the headliner anyway.
For the second year in a row, Samsung unveils three phones as part of the spring flagship roster (even though it’s very much winter this time around, at least where we are). And, much like last time, there’s a very clear divide between the ultimate uncompromising Ultra and the two more restrained and down-to-earth ‘regular’ S phones. If anything, the gap has even widened.
The examples are plenty, some of them more significant than others. Take the displays for example. Unlike last year when all three phones had 1440p resolution panels, now only the Ultra gets the higher resolution, the ‘mainstream’ S21s stand at 1080p. All three screens were curved in 2020, now it’s just the Ultra. All three S20s had the same high-refresh rate implementation, now the Ultra gets a more advanced Adaptive mode than the other two.
How about the cameras? The S20 Ultra had a vastly superior setup than the other two, regardless of issues it might have had with realizing the full potential of all of its impressive hardware. Well, the S21 Ultra builds on top of that and comes with further improved internals in the imaging department. The S21 and S21+, meanwhile, reuse last year’s bits. Hmm.
But there’s more. In the case of the small Galaxy S21 we have here, a final blow hurts the most – it’s got a plastic back. It’s hardly the end of the world, and we’ll go on to rationalize how that’s actually a good thing on the next page. But it goes to emphasize the further differentiation between the one true flagship and the others that stand below it. And then further down below it.
Some genes are shared among all in the family, after all. The chipset is the same on all three (still different from region to region, but that’s a whole other topic), all have the second-gen ultrasonic fingerprint reader from Qualcomm, as well as stereo speakers and IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. And no, none of them has a microSD slot, that one was most surprising.
Here it is, the high-end Galaxies’ new and improved (read ‘smaller’) retail box. Following in the footsteps of Apple, Samsung has chosen to remove the charger and headphones from the retail bundle, resulting in a more compact box.
Yes, yes, you’re supposed to already have chargers at home, so not including one with every phone should help reduce waste, plus the decreased shipping volume will lower the carbon footprint along the logistics chain. It’s a noble concept though somehow saving the environment still doesn’t feel like the key driving factor.
Having said that, at the S21 keynote, Samsung mentioned that adapters will now be sold at a reduced price, and this seems like a step in the right direction.
Anyway, what you are getting in the box is the phone itself and a USB-C-to-C cable. That sort of means you need to have a moderately contemporary USB PowerDelivery charger lying around, or a USB-A-to-C cable if you intend to use an adapter that doesn’t have a Type C out.
As it came to light around the iPhone 12 launch days, local regulations in France specifically mandate that all phones sold in the country come with a headset. So S21s in France will indeed ship with the usual set of AKG-branded earbuds we’ve gotten used to from Galaxies in recent years. Still no charger, though.
NEC has announced the launch of the new MultiSync monitor EA 242 F and EA 272 F, characterized by the possibility of acting as a docking station: you can connect a notebook with a single USB-C cable that passes the video signal and nutrition
by Riccardo Robecchi published 21 January 2021 , at 17: 41 in the Device channel NEC
The world of work has undergone a decisive change of direction in 2020, with the workforce that has had to transform overnight tomorrow (quite literally) becoming more mobile and flexible. A change that also requires new tools, able to better respond to the needs dictated by this greater mobility. The NEC MultiSync EA 272 F and the NEC MultiSync EA 242 F , monitor respectively from 27 inches and from 24 inches, allow you to act as a complete workstation offering all the connectivity you need with a single USB-C cable , which also carries the video signal and power, thus simplifying the management of corporate devices ( and creating less cluttered desks).
NEC MultiSync monitors marry smart working (and cable reduction)
Whether you work from home or in the office, having the ability to work with your laptop by connecting it with a single cable to a docking station is a convenience notable, as it allows access to keyboard, mouse, other peripherals and an external monitor without having to manually connect them every time (while maintaining greater order on the desk and containing the overall dimensions). For this reason more and more manufacturers are introducing in their range monitors equipped with USB-C connections that also offer the charging of the connected device and so is Sharp NEC Display Solutions.
Both the MultiSync EA 272 F that the MultiSync EA 242 F offer connection to the laptop via a single USB-C cable, through which they also supply up to 65 W power to charge the battery. It is also possible to connect additional devices via VGA, HDMI and DisplayPort , with the latter port also allowing cascade connection (the so-called daisy chaining ) of additional monitors. There are also three USB ports to connect the various peripherals. An RJ connector is missing – 45 for connectivity net.
Both models can be adjusted in height, tilt and swivel. The company has also added a blue light filter that reduces fatigue, particularly in the evening hours. Among the technical characteristics of the IPS panel we find resolution Full-HD (1920 x 1080), brightness equal to 250 cd / m², contrast of 1000: 1 and coverage higher than 100% of sRGB gamut (102% for the model from 24 inches and 101, 6% for the model from 27). The response time is 5 ms in the case of EA 272 F and 6 ms for the EA 242 F, while the update frequency is 60 Hz.
“The world of work is changing, with workers divided between home and office” , says Jan Gräf, Sharp NEC Display Solutions Europe Desktop Product Manager. “It was therefore important to offer solutions that were suitable for any type of environment. The presence of USB-C technology in both models was very important. Users can meet all their needs with a single cable. At the same time they can benefit from great flexibility, connectivity and a future-proof solution as well as… very tidy! “
No information about price and availability was disclosed. The official website offers more information.
The German company Tuxedo brings that 15, 6-inch notebook InfinityBook S 15 with Intel’s Tiger Lake processors and pre-installed Linux operating system. Thanks to its compact dimensions, the model is quite light, and also provides a 73 -Watt-hour battery for a long runtime.
The heart of the InfinityBook S 15 optionally forms a Core i5 – 1135 G7 or Core i7 – 1165 G7 Intel’s 10 Nanometer Production. Both come with four CPU cores, but the i7 model has a higher clock rate, uses more level 3 cache and has a more powerful graphics unit. Both models have Tuxedo with a Thermal Design Power (TDP) of 28 watts run, which ensures high turbo clock frequencies.
Long battery life and many connections The 15 , 6-inch IPS display covers 74 percent of the sRGB color space and lights up with up to 300 cd / m². The housing is made of aluminum and plastic; the complete notebook weighs around 1, 74 kilograms. The battery should last up to 19 hours – under realistic office conditions, Tuxedo promises 11 hours at half display brightness.
On the connection side, the InfinityBook S is 15 well equipped: 1 × Thunderbolt 4 as USB-C port including USB 4, DisplayPort Altmode and Power Delivery, 2 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbit / s, once each type A and type C), 1 × USB 2.0 type A, HDMI 2.0, audio combo jack, micro SD card reader and Gigabit Ethernet. Wi-Fi 6 (WLAN 802. 11 ax) and Bluetooth 5.1 are also included.
Tuxedo InfinityBook S 15 (19 Pictures) (Image: Tuxedo) From 802 Euro can be pre-ordered The basic configuration of the InfinityBook S 15 with Core i5 – 1135 G7, 250 GByte small SATA-6G-SSD and 8 GByte DDR4-SDRAM costs just under 940 Euro. Buyers can have various operating systems preinstalled, from the Tuxedo OS they have customized themselves to Ubuntu LTS and openSUSE – Windows 10 are available at an additional cost. If you want to save money, order without an SSD and retrofit one yourself. The interior is freely accessible thanks to the removable underside. Delivery is to begin at the end of February 2020.
Comparable notebooks with Tiger Lake CPU, lightweight housing and 250 – cd / m² display are available in small numbers 700 Euro available, but without the promised Linux compatibility and less maintenance-friendly.
The S21 gives here and takes there, but ultimately strengthens the Galaxy reputation
For
Rich, smooth display
Solid battery life
Superb all-round camera
Against
No microSD slot, earbuds or charger
Sony rival sounds better
With flagship smartphones from the likes of Samsung and Apple reliably refreshed every year, it’s perhaps unrealistic to expect every handset to make giant strides in terms of performance or specifications. So, it’s little surprise that the new Samsung Galaxy S21 is more of a refinement of its predecessor than a revamp.
Last year’s Galaxy S20 line-up marked a thorough overhaul, bringing in 5G support and 120Hz refresh rate displays for the first time, plus significant camera upgrades. But for the S21 range, the gains are more marginal – the camera software has been enhanced, the design is arguably better and it packs the company’s most advanced processor yet (the 5nm Exynos 2100).
Of the three-strong, 5G-supporting Galaxy S21 range, you’ll want to consider the two more premium models, the S21+ S21 Ultra, if you’re after a large screen, a top-spec camera (offered by the S21 Ultra), or are particularly excited by the prospect of using your phone to unlock your car (both support the UWB tech that makes this possible).
But for those who are happy with a 6.2in screen and relatively affordable price tag, the ‘standard’ S21 offers the bulk of the S21 features in the smallest, most affordable package of the three.
Pricing
For in-range comparison, the S21+ costs £949 and £999 for the same RAM and storage sizes (for the US or Australia, add $200 or AU$200 onto the cost of each S21 model). The S21 Ultra starts at £1149 ($1200, AU$1849) for the 128GB and goes up to £1329 ($1380, AU$2149) for the 512GB variant.
The Galaxy S21 (alongside the S21+ and S21 Ultra) is available from 29th January – its Galaxy S20 predecessor began shipping at the beginning of March 2020. Those who pre-order the handset before this date will get a free pair of Galaxy Buds Live true wireless earbuds, plus a free Galaxy SmartTag.
The Galaxy S21 has 8GB RAM and is available in 128GB and 256GB storage options, priced £769 ($799, AU$1249) and £819 ($850, AU$1349) respectively. That’s considerably less than the price of the 5G, 12GB RAM version of the S20 at launch last year, and slightly less than the 4G, 8GB version of the S20.
That considered, Samsung has priced the S21 pretty nicely, however, the microSD card slot for expanding the devices’ built-in storage is no more for the S21 and S21+.
Screen
(Image credit: Samsung)
In terms of its screen, the series’ biggest evolution is that the S21 Ultra now offers the 120Hz refresh rate at its maximum resolution (3200×1440). That rate alongside the Galaxy S21’s lower resolution (2400×1080) still works wonders for responsiveness and smooth motion performance.
Samsung Galaxy S21 tech specs
(Image credit: Samsung)
Screen 6.2in
Resolution 2400 x 1080
Cameras x3 (12MP, 12MP, 64MP)
Finishes x4
Dimensions (hwd) 7.1 x 15.2 x .8cm
Weight 171g
The S21 Ultra is the only handset in the series to get the S-Pen, as it debuts in the Galaxy S series. However, don’t rule out the accessory coming to smaller phones in the future, as Samsung president TM Roh hinted that the company plans to expand the S Pen “across additional device categories”.
Samsung has stuck with the screen sizes of its S20 line-up, meaning the S21, like its predecessor, has a 6.2in display. The Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity-O screen supports HDR10+ and has a Full HD resolution of 2400×1080, rather than 3040×1440. This results in a slightly lower pixel density, but that shouldn’t put you off.
In our review of the S20, we called its screen ‘richly colourful and impressively detailed’, and thankfully it’s more of the same this time around. In fact, the S21’s display is very similar, in character if not in resolution.
We watch the Kilauea volcano erupt in the BBC’s Perfect Planet documentary and find it a great advert for the S21’s punchy colour palette, the yellow and orange hues of the lava eye-dazzlingly bright and saturated. The picture is crisply sharp, and that’s backed up with decent levels of detail in rubble, sea and smoke.
However, in comparison, both Sony’s similarly priced Xperia 5 II and more expensive flagship Xperia 1 II boast better all-round screens. We prefer the Samsung’s enthusiastic colour palette – we play the second episode of WandaVision on Disney+ and as colour floods the house and washes over the screen, reds, greens, yellows and oranges look more solid – but the Sonys are sharper and deliver better overall contrast, their OLED displays doing a particularly great job of producing deep blacks that don’t sacrifice dark detail.
Sound
(Image credit: Samsung)
Similarly, the two Sonys better the Samsung for sound quality. We plug in our wired Sennheiser Momentum earbuds via the Sony’s 3.5mm headphone jack (the Samsung’s USB-C output also requires a dongle adapter) and play coney island by Taylor Swift and The National. The Sonys serve up more space around the acoustic plucks and drum and greater vocal expression. Their dynamic and rhythmic superiority mean they also keep a better musical handle on the composition underneath the vocals.
While the S21 isn’t quite as sophisticated a sound, it’s perfectly listenable. There’s clarity and detail throughout the presentation, but particularly in its open midrange, and the delivery isn’t bereft of punch and solidity. The Samsung performs well for a smartphone, the Sonys simply perform more like a dedicated music player. Note that Samsung has removed the bundled earbuds (as well as the charger plug) from the box, so you’ll need a pair of your own.
Features
(Image credit: Samsung)
The Samsung manages to outperform the Sonys in terms of its camera performance, as the Galaxy S21 proves one of the best camera phones around. Like the S21+, the S21 pairs a triple-lens rear camera comprising ultra-wide 12MP (capable of a 120-degree field of view), wide-angle 12MP and 64MP telephoto lenses with a 10MP front snapper – but Samsung has taken further strides in the AI processing department to get even more out of it.
The S21‘s luscious colour capture makes the Sonys’ seem washed out in comparison, while the Samsung takes the spoils when it comes to sharpness and clarity too. Compared with the S20, shots are a little brighter – sometimes at the expense of some shadow detail and depth – and slightly sharper. It’s a close call though, which shows how well Samsung did with the S20’s shooter.
Thanks to an improved Night Sight mode, our attempts at night-time photography with the S21 surface more brightness and highlights. The S20 might grasp some of the night hues more accurately, but its successor digs up more detail overall.
Samsung has also tweaked its Portrait Mode, which now lets owners adjust the lighting and add background effects to their selfies, while Single Take, which works to create a portfolio of all the ‘best moments’ you capture in one shot, now includes a slow-mo capture and Highlight Video reel. The 30x Space Zoom now has a ‘lock’ to help steady photo capture at its maximum reach, too.
For video recording, not only is there 8K video recording at 24fps (or 4K shooting at 60fps), an all-new Director’s View lets you see and switch between all four lenses during recording – handy for making short movie clips. Samsung’s new Galaxy Buds Pro wireless earbuds can also enhance the movie-making experience by allowing you to capture both ambient sounds (through the S21’s mic) and your voice (through the Buds Pro’s mic) at the same time.
The rear camera is the most noteworthy design development of the S21, with its all-new contoured bump in the top left-hand corner blending into the metal frame. Our Phantom Violet sample (a new colourway for Samsung) looks sleek, with the rose gold bump and frame an attractive match for the purple matte-finished rear panel. It looks just as good with the alternative Phantom Grey, Phantom Pink and Phantom White colour options.
The plastic casing – one of the sacrifices for the lower pricing – doesn’t make the device feel as premium as the glass-backed S20, but it is lightweight (171g) and easy to hold in the hand. And its IP68 rating, which is standard for Galaxy S devices in recent years, means it should be well protected from water, dirt and dust. Officially, they should be resistant to submersion up to a depth of 1.5m underwater for up to 30 minutes.
Verdict
While not offering any notable AV upgrades over the S20, the Samsung Galaxy S21 shuffles the S series along nicely with camera enhancements, aesthetic improvements and some modest functionality boosts. It sacrifices some screen spec, premium build and accessories in order to hit a lower price tag, but there is still an excellent balance between performance and value.
The S21 is far from an overhaul of its predecessor, and certainly not a reason for S20 owners to upgrade, but Android fans with older handsets looking for an all-new shiny device can’t go far wrong here – especially if camera performance and value are high on their priority list. Either of the Sony Xperias are better bets for those who place greater importance on music listening, so that’s one area we would hope Samsung advances for the next generation of Galaxy S phone. For now, though, the line’s reputation as one of the market’s best all-rounders remains intact.
The vivo X60 Pro+ brings an upgraded version of the gimbal stabilization system, better sensors for the cameras and a fast Snapdragon 888 chipset to deliver the new image processing algorithms. There’s a lot to cover, but let’s start with that monstrous camera setup.
Meet the vivo X60 Pro+
The main module is built around a large 1/1.3” ISOCELL GN1. This one has a classic OIS rather than a gimbal. This camera’s large 1.2µm pixels (2.4µm with binning) and the bright f/1.57 aperture are a great foundation for excellent low-light imaging.
Super Night Mode 2.0 builds on that – it can work at just 0.01 lux (that’s the illumination of a quarter moon). It improves light sensitivity by 38.8% and focus accuracy by 22% compared to the previous generation.
50 MP main camera (GN1 sensor) and 48 MP ultra wide (IMX598) with gimbal stabilization
The ultrawide module (114°, 14mm) is the one with the gimbal stabilization system. It can correct ±3° of movement, around three times what a typical OIS system can manage. This camera is based on the IMX598 sensor with 48MP resolution and 0.8µm pixels (this used to be the main sensor in the X50).
Next up is the 8MP periscope camera with 5x optical magnification, which can go up to 60x with digital zoom. There’s a second telephoto camera on board with a 32MP sensor and a 50mm lens (2x magnification) for mid-range zoom and portrait shots.
Check out that ZEISS logo on the back of the phone. The T* anti-reflective coating is applied to both sides of each lens. There’s also a nano-crystaline structure that is the first of its kind on a smartphone.
Now we can move on to the chipset. Snapdragon 888’s GPU is 35% faster and 20% more power efficient than the previous generation. vivo paired the chipset with fast LPDDR5 RAM, which can transfer data at up to 6,400 Mbsp (16% higher than the X50 Pro+ RAM). Storage uses an enhanced version UFS 3.1 that is 14% faster than the storage of the old Pro+.
The curved 6.56” OLED display has a 120Hz refresh rate and 240Hz touch sampling rate. It also boasts HDR10+ and very accurate color calibration. It’s properly bright too, topping out at 1,300 nits. Its one weakness is that the resolution is 1080p+ (sounds like perfect for many). The camera can record 4K HDR10+ videos for your enjoyment as well as 8K videos.
What’s left? The battery – 4,200 mAh power pack can be charged at 55W through the USB-C port. There’s no wireless charging though, even though the back is covered with high-grade leather (available in Phantom Blue and Classic Orange).
The vivo X60 Pro+ has a high-quality leather back, available in: Classic Orange • Phantom Blue
And by the way, the phone comes with a charger, cable, USB-C headset and a USB-C to 3.5 mm adapter in the box (to use with the Cirrus CS4313 DAC), plus a clear protective case. You know, unlike some phones.
The vivo X60 Pro+ is available in two versions, the base model has 8GB of RAM and 128GB storage and costs CNY 5,000 ($775/€635). If you need more memory, the 12/256 GB version is CNY 6,000.
You can pre-order it, but only in China at this point. You can find it on Tmall, JD, Suning and others. Pre-orders end on January 30.
Here’s a table comparing the Pro+ with the vivo X60 and X60 Pro+. It’s in Chinese, but the relevant numbers should be easy enough to read. All three phones have 5G connectivity and 5 nm chipsets that run OriginOS 1.0 (based on Android 11).
A new Linux port allows Apple’s M1 Macs to run Ubuntu for the first time. Corellium, a security firm that offers a virtualized version of iOS for security testing, has successfully ported Ubuntu over to M1 Macs and released a tutorial for others to follow. The modified version of Ubuntu boots into the regular user interface and includes USB support.
The team at Corellium have detailed exactly how they managed to get Ubuntu running, and it’s a good in-depth read if you’re interested in the details. While a number of M1 components are shared with Apple’s mobile chips, the non-standard chips made it challenging to create Linux drivers to get Ubuntu running properly.
Apple hasn’t designed its M1 Macs with dual-boot or Boot Camp in mind. Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering, has previously ruled out official support for natively booting alternate operating systems like Windows or Linux. Virtualization seems to be Apple’s preferred method, but that hasn’t stopped people from making their own ports.
Linux is now completely usable on the Mac mini M1. Booting from USB a full Ubuntu desktop (rpi). Network works via a USB c dongle. Update includes support for USB, I2C, DART. We will push changes to our GitHub and a tutorial later today. Thanks to the @CorelliumHQ team ❤️ pic.twitter.com/uBDbDmvJUG
— Chris Wade (@cmwdotme) January 20, 2021
Hector Martin, a developer who regularly gets Linux running on a variety of hardware, is also porting Linux to M1 Macs. Developers seem to be enticed by the performance benefits offered by Apple’s M1 chips, and the ability to run Linux on a silent ARM-based machine. “I’ve been waiting for an ARM laptop that can run Linux for a long time,” said Linux creator Linus Torvalds back in November. “The new Air would be almost perfect, except for the OS.”
Corellium CTO Chris Wade describes this new port as “completely usable” on a Mac Mini M1, and it works by booting the full Ubuntu desktop from USB. You will need a USB-C dongle to get networking working, though, and the process to get the port running will require some familiarity with Linux and custom kernels. Corellium has posted a tutorial on the process, if you’re interested in trying this beta project out.
Corellium has some experience in working around Apple’s operating system protections. Corellium offers security researchers a virtual iPhone to help with vulnerability exploration. It’s a process that has angered Apple enough to file lawsuits against Corellium. Apple lost an early challenge against Corellium late last year, after initially filing a lawsuit against the company on copyright grounds back in August 2019. Apple later alleged DMCA violations in January 2020, and a judge dismissed the copyright infringement claims in December. A ruling on the separate DMCA allegations has been deferred.
When Apple first announced the M1 chip, many people were interested in seeing macOS running on ARM instead of Intel-based hardware. Due to the change, Macs were seemingly bound to macOS and Apple’s walled garden rules, but one Linux development group has found a way around this, enabling Ubuntu OS to run on M1 powered Macs.
Corellium is a start-up company specialising in virtualisation and emulation of ARM-based platforms. Using its expertise in these areas, the company has created a “completely usable” version of Linux for Apple’s M1-powered devices. In the tweet posted by Chris Wade, the CTO of Corellium showed photos of a Mac Mini M1 running a version of Ubuntu.
Linux is now completely usable on the Mac mini M1. Booting from USB a full Ubuntu desktop (rpi). Network works via a USB c dongle. Update includes support for USB, I2C, DART. We will push changes to our GitHub and a tutorial later today. Thanks to the @CorelliumHQ team ❤️🙏 pic.twitter.com/uBDbDmvJUG
— Chris Wade (@cmwdotme) January 20, 2021
As per Chris Wade, the Ubuntu OS was booting directly from the USB interface and it already supports AIC, UART, SMP, USB, I2C, and DART. There are still some limitations in this distro, such as network connectivity only working through a USB-C dongle and GPU acceleration isn’t supported yet.
If you are interested in running Linux on a device equipped with an M1 chip, you can check Corellium’s project on GitHub HERE. A proper tutorial to get everything up and running should be made available soon.
KitGuru says: Do you own a new M1 Mac? Are you tempted to dual-boot with another OS?
Since Apple launched ARM Macs, various groups have tried to port Linux to the machines. The software provider Corellium, known for its practical tools for iOS virtualization, which Apple would like to prevent, has now had its first success. The developers were now able to boot a full Ubuntu rpi desktop on the M1 Mac. The machine is a Mac mini.
Code and tutorials There are still some restrictions – you have to go into the network with a USB-C dongle (USB support works) and you cannot use the integrated Ethernet. Corellium had been trying the port for weeks. The necessary code and patches are distributed via the company’s GitHub repository. A tutorial is also available there. Corellium hopes that other developers will participate in the project.
Starting point Raspberry Pi GPU acceleration is also not yet possible. Graphics are completely rendered via software, which is still relatively little fun in everyday use. Apple uses its own graphics units in its ARM Macs, so the appropriate drivers must first be found for this; It was initially unclear whether this was already being worked on. Corellium started from the starting point of the Raspberry Pi, which is also ARM-based and uses an adapted Ubuntu. I2C and DART are already running Chris Wade, Corellium’s chief technology officer, said the port is “fully usable”. You can boot via USB.
Ubuntu on an iPhone 7 Most recently, a hobbyist managed to install Ubuntu on an iPhone 7. It was even a model whose flash modules were defective – it is used via netboot. In order for this to be possible, however, a jailbreak had to be performed beforehand. The hack succeeded with a “largely” unmodified Ubuntu version 20. 04 for ARM 64. Nevertheless, some patches were necessary.
The Raspberry Pi Pico is aimed at projects for which a Raspberry Pi is too big, too power-hungry, too complicated – or too expensive. The Pico costs 4 euros, is a little bigger than an Arduino Nano and has the economical 32 – Bit microcontroller RP 2040 developed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation itself Has. The 5.1 centimeter long and 2.1 centimeter wide Pico fits on breadboard for simple circuit construction. It can be programmed and supplied with energy via a micro USB socket, but otherwise runs with voltages from 1.8 volts – also on a rechargeable battery or a battery -Platinum with 32 connections represents 26 GPIO pins with 3.3 volts ready, including the usual functions such as I²C, SPI, UART, PWM and ADC as well as timer.
Raspbery Pi Pico (7 images) The Raspberry Pi Pico is slightly larger than an Arduino Nano
(Image: Raspberry Pi Foundation) Pico-Chip RP 2040 The only 2 square millimeters large The RP 2040 leaves the Raspberry Pi Foundation from TSMC with 40 – manufacture nanometer structures. The microcontroller has two ARM cores of the type Cortex-M0 +, which can be used with up to 133 MHz clock. Also installed are 133 KByte SRAM, divided into several banks, so that the two controllers can do it in parallel to be able to use. A special feature are eight programmable I / O (PIO) state machines.
Except for the RP 2040 on the Raspberry Pi Pico there are still 2 MByte QSPI flash for program code and a voltage converter.
software tools The Raspberry Pi Foundation provides a GCC toolchain for programming the Pico in C. Alternatively, programs for the Pico can be written with MicroPython or Microsoft Visual Studio Code. There are also optimized libraries for floating point calculations for the GCC toolchain, the Cortex-M0 + has no FPU.
Variants from other companies Besides the Raspberry Pi Pico there are other RP 2040 – Boards from other manufacturers such as Adafruit and Sparkfun. Some of these boards have more flash memory, charge controllers for lithium batteries, 5-volt-tolerant GPIO pins or USB-C.
Eben Upton from the Raspberry Pi Foundation announces in the Blog about the Adafruit Feather RP 2040, the Adafruit ItsyBitsy RP 2040, the SparkFun Thing Plus – RP 2040, the SparkFun Pro Micro – RP 2040 and the plug-in module SparkFun MicroMod RP 2040 Processor for MicroMod baseboards with M.2 socket.
Pimorini has the PicoSystem with a small display, directional pad and fire buttons, especially for games on the RP 2040 developed.
Beginning Power Delivery Cable Charger Qi charger Conclusion Comments by Matthias / / 20. 01. 2021 18: 07 Clock
If you want to charge your iPhone and iPad quickly, you need the right combination of power adapter and cable. We show good and cheap alternatives to expensive Apple accessories.
Whoever one of the iPhone – 12 – models, must also invest in a power supply or use an old one. For the first time Apple does not include a charger, allegedly for environmental reasons. However, many suspect that Apple is simply interested in maximizing profits. In order to achieve the maximum loading speed, there are a few points to consider. There are also alternatives to the original Apple accessories, which are technically very good, more compact and even cheaper.
By “fast charging” Apple understands that, for example, an empty iPhone battery in 30 minutes on 50% is charged. To switch to fast charge mode, the iPhone needs – 12 – Row a power supply unit with at least 20 Watt. Older iPhones from iPhone 8 onwards require a power supply unit with at least 18 Watt. The following iPad models charge with a charger with at least 18 Watt fast:
iPad Pro 12, 9 ″ (1st generation and newer) iPad Pro 11″(1. Generation and newer) iPad Pro (10, 5 ″) iPad Air (3rd generation) iPad mini (5th generation) 20 Watts may be a lot in the Apple cosmos. Users of some Android devices can only smile mildly here. For example, from 500 euros available Oppo Reno 4 Pro (review), Oppo Find X2 Pro (review) and Realme X 50 Pro 5G (test report) with up to 65 Watt.
Power Delivery Buyers should definitely pay attention to the free charging standard Power Delivery with their new charger. It is absolutely necessary for Apple devices to switch to fast charging mode. But not only iOS, but also many Android devices support the Power Delivery fast charging standard. Apple itself refers to the fast charging standard simply as “fast charging for iPhone”. Manufacturers of devices with Android operating systems often use the term USB-PD.
Still It gets more complicated with the names of the charger manufacturers. For example, Anker writes about its current PowerIQ 3.0 power supplies. They support the fast charging protocols from Power Delivery, Qualcomm and a few more.
With USB -PD negotiate the power supply unit and the end device the combination of voltage and current. The power pack usually offers various combinations from which the end device picks the right one. This is done via the Control Channel (CC) of the USB-C connector. This is another reason why it is important to choose the right cable. If the chip in the cable does not work correctly, it transmits a maximum of three amps.
USB Power Delivery 3.0 is the first standard, Qualcomms Quick Charge and Apple Lightning can replace. With USB-PD 3.0, the previous power profiles with the fixed assignment of voltage and maximum current are being replaced by flexible power rules. The higher the nominal power, the more combinations are possible.
Whoever is lower wants to get into the matter, we recommend the article on USB-PD: USB Power Delivery.
The correct cable Another requirement for fast charging on the iPhone and iPad is a USB-C to Lightning cable. If you use the cable supplied by Apple, there should be no problems with the energy transfer. However, if you buy a cable, you have to be careful. Because, as we already did in our USB-C cable purchase advice: Not everyone can determine everything, there can be large differences between what are apparently the same. To be on the safe side, we recommend that you have an MFi certification. This is always on ” Made for iPhone / iPad / iPod” – or ” Made for iPhone ” – Imprint on the packaging recognizable.
A problem that apparently mainly Apple users have: The cables break in heavily used areas, for example directly behind the Lightning or USB-C connector, and then no longer work reliably. That is with a cable, which individually already by the 20 euros, especially annoying. We recommend using other brands, especially when it comes to cables. We have had good experiences with anchors in the past. For a long time this has been Anker Powerline II USB-C to Lightning cable in use with us and shows hardly any signs of use.
The Anker Powerline III Flow has a very soft coating and hardly gets tangled. Anker advertises that it is particularly stable. But also with Spigen , Ugreen and Amazon Basic there were few problems in the past.
Charger The original power supply from Apple with a performance of 20 Watt costs about 20 Euro. This is an extremely reasonable price for Apple. Nevertheless, it is worth thinking outside the box. For example, the Anker Powerport III Nano also 20 Euro, sometimes only 17 Euro. It offers 20 Watt with Power Delivery, but also supports other fast charging standards for fast charging of other compatible end devices. It is also significantly more compact than the original Apple charger.
Another corner cheaper and even more powerful is the charger Spigen Steadyboost 27 W PD . However, it is a bit bigger. 27 costs Euro the PD power supply from Aukey and offers two USB-C ports with a total of 30 Watt.
Qi charger Starting with the iPhone 8, Apple smartphones also charge wirelessly using the Qi charging standard. Apple even specifies a maximum charging current of 7.5 watts. As our comparison test: The best Qi chargers shows, with some Qi chargers even a little more is possible. Also the current iPhone – 12 – series supports Qi up to 7.5 watts. However, this also offers the option of connecting the in-house Magsafe adapter. It holds magnetically on the back and then offers a charging current of up to 15 watts, as Apple clarifies. But not the iPhone 12 Mini, that only works 12 Watt. The Magsafe must also be connected to a Power Delivery capable power supply unit with at best 20 watts hang in order to be able to transmit its full power. Who wants the fast wireless charging on the iPhone 11, you currently have to use the original Apple accessories. There are currently no real alternatives from third-party manufacturers. Alternatively, we recommend our large comparison test: The best Qi chargers.
Conclusion If you want to charge your iPhone or iPad quickly, you have to with exception of the wireless Magsafe adapter do not necessarily have to use expensive Apple accessories. Sometimes the third-party power supply and cable are not only cheaper, but also better. We recommend the very compact yet fast power supply Anker Powerport III Nano in combination with the durable and chic Anker Powerline III Flex .
Who is currently buying an iPhone 12 we recommend our posts iPhone 12: This is how quickly the new models become cheaper and cheaper than the iPhone 12: Contract vs financing vs purchase.
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Best Beats wireless headphones Buying Guide: welcome to What Hi-Fi?’s round-up of the best Beats wireless headphones you can buy in 2021.
Beats had already established itself as the headphone make of choice for youngsters, athletes and hip-hop artists alike, but since it was bought by Apple in 2014 the brand’s profile has gone stratospheric.
Beats has a reputation of putting bass before quality, and although we felt this was the case with a few of its earlier models, there are now some excellent Beats wireless headphones around.
We’ve rounded up the best Beat wireless headphones we’ve tested, from in-ears to on-ears, including a true wireless option. Hopefully, there’ll be a pair of Beats wireless headphones sate your audio appetite.
(Image credit: Beats)
1. Beats Powerbeats3 Wireless
Eminently practical and great-sounding and arguably the best wireless Beats headphones around.
SPECIFICATIONS
Connector: n/a | Cable length: 1.3m | In-line remote and mic: Yes | OS support: Android/iOS | Bluetooth: Yes | Noise-cancelling: No
Reasons to Buy
Great fit
Long-lasting battery
A fun listen
Reasons to Avoid
Overbearing bass
Could be clearer
Now Beats is owned by Apple, its headphones are seamlessly compatible with iOS devices thanks to the inclusion of Apple’s W1 chip. The Powerbeats 3s are only noise isolating, not noise cancelling (i.e. the earbud seals off your earhole from outside noise), but at this price, that’s to be expected. And the snug fit means they’re not going anywhere. The battery lasts a healthy 12 hours, while just five minutes of plug time will get you an hour’s use. Handy if you’re about to dash out the door.
The bass can be a little overwhelming at times but can be a benefit in noisy environments. And they’re a lively, fun listen.
Read the full Beats Powerbeats3 Wireless review
(Image credit: Beats)
2. Beats Solo Pro
Awesome noise-cancelling meets an even-handed and balanced wireless Beats sound.
SPECIFICATIONS
Connector: 3.5mm | Cable length: N/A | In-line remote and mic: No | OS support: Android/iOS | Bluetooth: Yes | Noise-cancelling: Yes
Reasons to Buy
Clear, impactful sound
Great noise-cancelling
Well built
Reasons to Avoid
Could time better
A bit snug
If you’re looking for Beats wireless headphones, the Solo Pro should be right up there on your list. They feel sturdy and well built, but classy with it, like a premium SUV rather than a tank. The battery life also impresses, standing at 22 hours, or 40 with noise-cancelling disabled.
Unlike some on-ears, the bass doesn’t overwhelm, and they make for a nicely balanced listen. They’re a little snug (though it might depend on the size of your bonce) and you’ll find better timing elsewhere, but they’re still a class act all the way.
Read the full Beats Solo Pro review
(Image credit: Beats)
3. Beats Powerbeats Pro
Sporty types will lap them up. Audiophiles, not so much…
SPECIFICATIONS
Connector: N/A | Cable length: N/A | In-line remote and mic: No | OS support: Android/iOS | Bluetooth: Yes | Noise-cancelling: No
Reasons to Buy
Very consistent
Comfy
Marathon battery
Reasons to Avoid
Limited dynamic range
Need more bass
Audio lacks vim
Sporty types in the market for the best Beats wireless headphones should look no further. The Powerbeats Pro are truly wireless, so you won’t get tangled in any cables while you work out. They fit well and are extremely comfortable to wear, so they won’t hinder you as you exercise. And they perform superbly thanks to Apple’s H1 Bluetooth chip which ensures a stable wireless connection.
The 9-hour battery life is more a marathon than a sprint, and you get a further two charges from the supplied carry case. The audio lacks a little energy, which is a shame given they’re meant to power you through your runs, but they’re still a good choice to get hot and sweaty with.
Read the full Beats Powerbeats Pro review
(Image credit: Beats)
4. Beats X
These Beats wireless headphones pack a seriously punchy sound.
SPECIFICATIONS
Connector: N/A | Cable length: N/A | In-line remote and mic: Yes | OS support: Android/iOS | Bluetooth: Yes | Noise-cancelling: No
Reasons to Buy
Excellent wireless connection
Simple yet stylish
Sound packs energy
Reasons to Avoid
Need more detail
Midrange lacks refinement
These Beats wireless headphones have a cable connecting the two earbuds – it means you won’t lose either one. They’re lightweight, and the cable not too obtrusive. They stick together with magnets when not in use too, making them easy to store.
Wireless performance is typically excellent, and the eight-hour battery life should be long enough for most people. The audio packs plenty of punch, though it could do with a tad more detail to bring out the finer elements.
Read the full Beats X review
(Image credit: Beats)
5. Beats Flex
Fun and fuss-free wireless Beats headphones.
SPECIFICATIONS
Connector: N/A | Cable length: N/A | In-line remote and mic: Yes | OS support: Android/iOS | Bluetooth: Yes | Noise-cancelling: No
Reasons to Buy
Punchy lows
Durable build
Extra features for iOS users
Reasons to Avoid
Treble is rounded off
Fit may be an issue
The Beats Flex are a step up from Apple’s bog-standard Lightning wired buds. They’re available in some fresh hues (including the Yuzu yellow sample before you), they charge via USB-C, have a 12-hour battery life, and courtesy of one-tap audio share you can split sounds with nearby Beats or AirPod headphones (provided you have an iPhone 8 or later running iOS 14). And they’re very affordable, too.
Four ear tip options gives a good chance of finding a decent fit, and the cable is flat, like a strand of tagliatelle. Magnets keep the earbuds together when not in use.
Pairing is a doddle (even more so using an Apple device). They don’t support some iOS 14 features, including automatic switching to another device or hands-free Siri support. And there’s no noise-cancelling either, but with the correct seal you’ll still enjoy good levels of passive noise isolation.
Audio quality is good, but not great. There’s just not the same impact that the best at this price manage to pull off. Still, the Flex offer a considered, smooth sound profile that’s preferable to one that is harsh or bright through the upper frequencies. A solid Beats bet at this end of the market.
Read the full Beats Flex review
(Image credit: Beats by Dre)
6. Beats Solo 3 Wireless
Great wireless tech makes these wireless Beats headphones an excellent choice.
SPECIFICATIONS
Connector: 3.5mm | Cable length: 1.5m | In-line remote and mic: Yes | OS support: Android/iOS | Bluetooth: Yes | Noise-cancelling: No
Reasons to Buy
Strong audio
Clear midrange
Healthy battery life
Reasons to Avoid
Lack detail
Tight fit
No Lightning connection
The Beats Solo 3 Wireless are long-lasters: a whopping 40 hours of battery life should see you through most of a week’s use, and if you do run out of juice, just plug them into your device using the supplied cable. The wireless connection is rock solid, making them some of the most reliable Beats wireless headphones we’ve tested.
They deliver a full-bodied sound with bags of energy, but you can get greater subtlety and refinement elsewhere. Not a bad shout for cutting through the hustle and bustle of your local gym, though.
Read the full Beats Solo 3 Wireless review
MORE:
These are the best wireless headphones for running and the gym
Check out the best Sennheiser headphones
Our definitive list: Best headphones
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