by Mattia Speroni, published on 18 December 2020, at 11: 31
?? Skylum Luminar AI is the photo editing software presented these days that brings Artificial Intelligence to the service of the user, both expert and novice, allowing him to edit photographs quickly. ?
Skylum officially presented the new photo editing software called Luminar AI that promises to revolutionize the work of creatives around the world thanks to its features. As the name suggests, there are many integrated technologies that exploit the Artificial Intelligence , following that which is a trend also carried out by competitors, such as Adobe. All this without limiting the user’s creativity.
Luminar AI promises to be usable by all users, both those more savvy than beginners. Thanks to the integration of Artificial Intelligence in many processes it will be possible to minimize changes more boring, thus leaving more space for the creative part. The words of Alex Tsepko (CEO of Skylum) sum up this idea “we created Luminar AI so that people can focus on the results and photos and not worry too much about the editing process” .
The computational and analysis models allow you to scan the photographs and find the problems that could worsen their quality. At this point the software itself recommends the user on the steps to follow helping him for the most common operations. For those who have more experience, they can choose whether to skip a step, customize it or modify it manually, thus giving a more “personal” .
The photo editing software applies effects intelligently adapting to the various needs of different professionals such as photographers, designers, communicators and digital artists. According to Dima Sytnik (CPO of Skylum) “in less than two minutes, creators can go from a raw image to 10 or more starting points with a rich rendering to start with “.
1699. 99 ?? Buy Now
Among the tools of Skylum Luminar AI we find for example Body AI for changing a subject’s body, or Iris AI to change its eyes. Again with regard to the portraits we also find Face AI and Skin AI which help to define face and skin of the person portrayed personalizing it.
Obviously, an intelligent function dedicated to the sky could not be missing, and it is called Sky AI . Artificial Intelligence automatically recognizes the sky in a photograph and allows you to change its appearance. Atmosphere AI instead adds fog and haze in a realistic way .
For those who want to waste little time to personalize and improve their images, you can use Accent AI which allows you to apply a series of automatic filters to improve the overall appearance in a single pass. The instrument Composition AI instead it will allow you to cut images to get the perfect composition.
Users can download Luminar AI as a standalone application or as a plug-in for Lightroom Classic and Photoshop or as an extension for Apple Photos. The license for one computer has a price of 79 EUR instead for two computers a discount is applied and you get to 99 EUR.
by Antonio Delgado Make 15 minutes …
Gigabyte has announced an External SSD that uses real USB 3.2 connectivity from 20 Gbps, i.e. USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 , to achieve operating speeds close to that of an internal NVMe SSD. Specifically, this unit is capable of exceeding 2. 000 MB / s connected to a USB-C port
The messy nomenclature current USB, defined more by marketing issues that seek to deceive the user rather than logic, makes us see devices with “USB 3.2” that are really USB 3.0 by using the name “USB 3.2 gen1”, the same for USB 3.1, which is now called “USB 3.2 gen 2”. However, what should be the real USB 3.2, dubbed USB 3.2 Gen 2×2, is not so easy to see, and this Gigabyte VISION is one of the few external drives that use this format with which speeds of 20 Gbps are achieved.
Available with 1 TB capacity, uses a controller Phison E 12 , that we have already seen in SSD NVME , to manage their 3D TLC NAND memory cells with which it manages to reach those speeds, all integrated in a resistant housing that allows it to comply with the military standard MIL-STD – 810 G 516, 6, resisting fall Ace up to 1.2 meters high.
At the moment we do not know its price and availability in our country.
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Computer Engineer by training, editor and hardware analyst at Geeknetic since 2011. I love gutting everything that comes my way, especially the latest hardware that we get here for reviews. In my spare time I fiddle with 3d printers, drones and other gadgets. For anything here you have me.
Samsung is it continuing its push to deliver more and more affordable 5G and the Galaxy A32 5G will likely be the Korean maker’s best effort yet. We’ve already seen the A32 5G in detailed renders as well as an FCC listing and now we have a Geekbench test run which revealed the phone is powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 720 chipset.
Samsung Galaxy A32 5G Geekbench scorecard
The A32 5G appeared with the same SM-A326B model number as seen before. It managed 477 points in the single-core department and 1,598 multi-core points thanks to the Dimensity 720 5G chipset and 4GB RAM. We can also notice the phone is running Android 11 which matches previous rumors from earlier this month.
We’re expecting a 6.5-inch display with a waterdrop notch and a plastic build all around. The back will house a quad-cam setup with three individually protruding lenses aligned vertically alongside a fourth module that sits flush with the back. The main sensor is said to come in at 48MP while the remaining three are yet to be detailed.
The Galaxy A32 5G will house a side-mounted fingerprint reader on the right-hand side while the bottom comes with a USB-C port flanked by a speaker, microphone and a headphone jack.
Source | Via
The Samsung Galaxy M12 was expected to arrive with a 7,000 mAh battery, but it turns out that won’t be the case as the M12 bearing model designation SM-M127F/DS has been certified by FCC with a 6,000 mAh battery.
The documents on the regulator’s website don’t explicitly mention the battery capacity, but they do tell that M12 will pack a battery with model code EB-BM207ABY, which is a known 6,000 mAh cell.
FCC doesn’t detail all the specs of the Galaxy M12, but thanks to Geekbench, we know it will have an Exynos 850 SoC and boot Android 11. The unit that ran the benchmark test had 3GB RAM onboard, but we might see more memory options.
Leaked renders of the Galaxy M12 revealed the smartphone will sport a notched display and come with a quad camera on the rear. It will feature a side-mounted fingerprint scanner and have a USB-C port at the bottom joined by a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Leaked render of Samsung Galaxy M12
Source | Via
We all know that Xiaomi has been offering good smartphones with a nice specification at a very affordable price for quite a few years . Not only that, most of the models of this Chinese manufacturer are also distinguished by good working time on a single charge, and as an example let’s use the latest versions of Redmi Note. Nevertheless, the leader in this category is still Motorola, which has recently been releasing very interesting devices with Power that last up to several days on the battery, which is very rare in smartphones. Xiaomi decided to react and here we have the answer in the form of Redmi 9 Power – a very attractive budgetary with a capacious battery 6000 mAh. And how does the rest of the specification look like?
“src =” https://www.purepc.pl/image/news/ 2020 / 12 / 17 _ xiaomi_redmi_9_power_premiera_attractive_built_smartphone_with_capable_battery _ 6000 _ mah_0.jpg “>
Xiaomi Redmi 9 Power has 6, 53 – inch IPS screen with satisfactory Full HD + resolution (2340 x 1080 pixels), which is covered with Gorilla Glass 3. Inside there is a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor 662 made with lithography 11 nm, which works with 4 GB RAM LPDDR4X and 64 GB of UFS 2.1 internal storage or 128 GB UFS 2.2 The main camera consisting of lenses also looks decently 22 Mpix, 8 Mpix wide angle, 2 Mpix for macro shots and 2 Mpix for depth measurement. In a small cutout in the display we find a selfie camera and 8 Mpix video calling.
The main advantage of the smartphone is, of course, a powerful link 6000 mAh, which we will charge with power 18 In, though – interestingly – in the box we find a charger … 22, 5 W. The rest of the specification of the new Redmi is completed by the non-hybrid DualSIM with a slot for a microSD card, a fingerprint reader (on the side frame), stereo speakers with Hi-Res Audio certification, a mini-jack 3.5 mm and USB-C. However, the NFC module is missing for full happiness. Everything works under the control of the Android system 10. The dimensions of the smartphone are 162, 3 x 77, 3 x 9.6 mm, it weighs 198 grams. Xiaomi Redmi 9 Power has been priced at 10999 rupees (approx. 540 for version 4 / 64 and 11999 rupees (approx. PLN) for model 4 / 128. Unfortunately, we do not know if the smartphone will go to Poland, but we should not regret that – there is already POCO M3 on our market, which has a very similar specification.
| Xiaomi Redmi 9 Power | |
| Screen | 6, 53 inch, IPS, resolution 2340 x 1080 pixels |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 |
| RAM | 4 GB |
| Data memory | 64 UFS 2.1 / 128 GB UFS 2.2 |
| Main camera | 48 Mpix (main unit) + 8 Mpix (wide) + 2 Mpix (macro) + 2 Mpix (depth) |
| Front camera | 8 Mpix |
| Dimensions | 162, 3 x 77, 3 x 9.6 mm |
| Weight | 198 g |
| System | Android 10 |
| Other | USB-C, fingerprint reader, 3.5 mm mini-jack , stereo speakers, non-hybrid DualSIM with microSD slot |
| Battery | 6000 mAh (18 W) |
| Price | 10999 rupees ( okay. 540 for version 4 / 64 or 11999 rupees (approx. 590 for model 4 / 128 |
Source: Xiaomi
A talented phone for music and movies, and well worth considering if you want a smaller or cheaper alternative to the Award-winning Xperia 1 II
Sony’s smartphone output seems somewhat erratic. The Xperia 5 II is the second Sony smartphone we’ve reviewed in 2020, following something of an extended hiatus. There have been Xperia phones in the preceding years, but you’d be forgiven for not noticing as Sony hasn’t really made much noise about them.
That has changed this year and the Sony Xperia 5 II follows the Xperia 1 II, which won our smartphone Product of the Year Award for delivering a level of video and audio performance above that of other flagship Android phones. On paper, it looks like this model can impress us in a similar way: it’s smaller, cheaper and has similar specs, so what’s not to like?
We’re not entirely on board with Sony’s naming convention. “5 II” isn’t the clearest of model names – even before you realise that it’s actually smaller than the 1 II. Here we have a 6.1in OLED screen with a 2520 x 1080 resolution, unlike the 4K screen on the larger model – one of the key differences between the Xperia 5 II and the 1 II. But while we’re missing those extra pixels, we do get an upgrade to a 120Hz display.
Elsewhere, the spec sheet is almost identical, which is no bad thing. That means a 21:9 aspect ratio screen, which makes for a slimline handset. Of course, the bezel is ‘barely there’ thin and there are subtlety curved edges to the frame. The camera bump on the back is clear but less obtrusive than on other phones, such as the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra.
Sony Xperia 5 II tech specs
(Image credit: Sony)
Display 6.1in OLED
Resolution 2520 x 1080 (450 ppi)
Front camera 8MP
Rear camera Quad 12MP
RAM 8GB
OS Android 10
Storage 256GB + microSD
Sony opts to have the fingerprint sensor on the right-hand side of the phone. It’s reliable and fast, though easier to accidentally wake in your pocket. It’s also trickier to operate if your phone is flat on a surface. There are buttons below the fingerprint scanner for one-touch access to Google Assistant and the camera. Again, we find them easy to press accidentally, especially when making calls, but once you know they’re there, it’s easily avoided.
More welcome is the presence of a 3.5mm headphone jack at the top, a microSD slot inside the SIM card tray and the now-standard USB-C connection at the bottom of the phone. The Android 10 operating system is well integrated and while there are some apps in your way when you fire up the phone, they can be removed to leave a clean and quick interface.
The same 12MP f/1.7 wide lens, 12MP f/2.4 telephoto lens and 12MP f/2.2 ultrawide lenses are here, which means the same Sony Pro features, but also excellent images that are natural and detailed when simply using the standard auto mode.
Again, Sony is using the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset and 8GB of RAM, and its operation proves fast and responsive. There’s the same 4000mAh battery, fast-charging for 50 per cent power in 30 minutes, and support for wireless charging, too.
We were blown away by the performance of the 4K screen on the Xperia 1 II, so we’re intrigued to see how this phone compares. Of course, it’s not just a smaller screen here, it’s also a lower resolution. But the good news is that for a lot of the time, you may not really notice.
Watching SD and HD content, we’re hard-pressed to discern any notable differences. This Xperia 5 II delivers sharp, detailed and colourful images. Motion is smooth and there’s little sign of noise. When it comes to much of the video you’re likely to be watching, this phone looks great.
But with 4K content, you will notice a comparative difference. This is when the 4K resolution screen of the Xperia 1 II really shines. You see more detail, sharper edges and a greater resolution on show – those extra PPIs (pixels per inch) really do make a difference. That doesn’t make this Xperia 5 II screen a bad one, but if you want the ultimate UHD experience on a mobile, you need a phone with a true 4K screen.
However, if you’re an avid mobile gamer, you will appreciate the 120Hz screen – it makes graphics smoother and will improve your playing experience.
The Xperia 1 II established a new benchmark for sound quality, so we’re hopeful this model can replicate that success. And it almost does. Using the headphone jack or via the wireless connection, we are treated to a musical, clear and dynamic sound.
The Xperia 5 II successfully delivers something akin to a hi-fi performance, offering scale and authority with the stirring strings and deep bass of the Inception OST, while sounding upbeat and light on its feet with Atlas by Bicep.
But as we listen to Blonde by Roger Eno & Brian Eno and compare it with the Xperia 1 II, it’s clear this phone is missing a layer of detail. The larger Award-winning smartphone manages to peel back one more layer of texture to the track. Playing Chromatics’ Famous Monsters, the Xperia 1 II delivers more punch alongside that extra clarity. That’s not to say we’re in any way disappointed with what we hearing from this model, but the 1 II does pip it.
Sony’s LDAC technology, which allows for hi-res audio transmission and aims to maximise performance over Bluetooth, is present here too, and you’ll be made aware when you connect an LDAC device and asked to choose between the highest quality, “Sound quality preferred”, or opt for “Best effort”, which will adapt based on your network connectivity.
For many people, a smartphone choice is a straight battle between Apple and Samsung. But if you value music and video performance highly, you really should consider these latest Sony phones.
While its pricier sibling still edges it for 4K video performance and ultimate sound quality, the more compact and affordable Sony Xperia 5 II remains a terrific choice.
SCORES
MORE:
Read our guide to the best smartphones
Read our Sony Xperia 1 II review
Read our Apple iPhone 12 review
Read our Samsung Galaxy S20 review
Last week, we brought you leaked renders of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro wireless earbuds. This week, we go one better: a 360-degree video that seems to show Galaxy Buds Pro from every angle.
The Galaxy Buds Pro are said to be Samsung’s next big noise-cancelling wireless earbuds, tipped to launch alongside the Korean tech titan’s Galaxy S21 flagship phone on 14th January.
As you see from the twirly video posted on Voice by reputable leaker Evan Blass, the buds look closer to the Galaxy Buds+ than this summer’s bean-shaped Galaxy Buds Live.
If the rumours are true, the Galaxy Buds Pro will boast AKG-tuned audio, improved noise-cancelling, a beefier battery life (courtesy of the 500aMh charging case), Bluetooth 5.1 and USB-C charging. Three gloss finishes are said include “Phantom Violet” and “Phantom Black” (pictured above).
Blass’s post is the latest in a string of Galaxy Buds Pro leaks that have revealed much about the spec and even the predicted price, but we expect Samsung to save a few surprises for the yet-to-be-confirmed launch on 14th January.
Samsung released its first pair of true wireless Galaxy Buds back in 2019 to mixed reviews. The more recent Galaxy Buds Plus and Galaxy Buds Live haven’t raised the bar much either, so it’ll be interested to see how the Galaxy Buds Pro measure up against the Apple AirPods Pro and rumoured AirPods 3 buds.
MORE:
Breaking news: fresh Samsung Galaxy S21 leak uncovers huge battery
Read our Samsung Galaxy Buds Live review
Splash the cash on the best wireless earbuds around
Flagship phone leaks: Samsung Galaxy S21
(Pocket-lint) – Lenovo makes several of the very best laptops that sit under the four-figure mark. And this, the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7, is probably the one you should buy.
Sure, the MacBook Air is a more exciting prospect, and even more powerful. But the Yoga Slim 7 is actually one of the best reasons not to buy a MacBook in 2021. Oh, and we should probably mention it’s hundreds cheaper too.
Its build quality is superb, it almost certainly has more power than you need, its screen is excellent in most respects, and the AMD version (as reviewed here) can even handle some recent-ish games well enough.
Lenovo once again gives us a masterclass on how to make a world-class laptop for under a grand. There’s very little reason to spend any more unless you need an ultra-high-resolution screen.
High-end laptops are an odd category. Sometimes when you spend more to jump up a league, you end up with a laptop that feels less expensive. A lot of the most pricey ones use magnesium alloys rather than primarily aluminium ones: lighter but less metallic to the touch.
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7’s case panels are aluminium. It leads to weight of 1.3kg rather than, well, a couple of hundred grammes less, but you get the same lovely cool-to-the-touch feel as a MacBook.
The screen is stiff, the keyboard doesn’t bow under the pressure of your fingers, and it’s a classy-looking laptop in a minimalistic sort of way.
This isn’t quite the device you might expect given that it’s part of the Yoga series, though. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7’s screen folds open to 180 degrees, not a hybrid-style 360 degrees, and it does not have a touchscreen.
It’s definitely a laptop, not a lifestyle gadget that thinks it can replace an iPad. Lenovo has its eyes on MacBook Air buyers, thus some of the core stats are similar. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 is 16mm thick, just like an Air, and the weight is more-or-less the same too.
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 has a 14-inch IPS LCD screen. It’s here we see this laptop start to move away from one that costs hundreds more – but less so than you might guess.
This is a 1080p screen, which means you’ll see slight pixellation in small fonts. Lenovo does make a 4K version, but this doesn’t seem to be sold as widely as the Full HD Yoga 7 Slim.
In almost every other respect, though, we have no complaints. It actually outperforms Lenovo’s own claims in some areas.
For example, Lenovo says the 1080p Yoga 7 Slim reaches 300-nit brightness. But it actually hits 385 nits by our measure. That extra headroom makes the display look clearer outdoors, and it also has a reflection-reducing matte finish. When you have some high-end laptops touting 500 nits as some kind of untouchable achievement, it shows just how well set this laptop is.
Lenovo says the screen’s colour matches the sRGB colour standard, the old industry standard for monitors and printers. But its colour coverage is actually 20 per cent richer than that by our measure.
Sure, a MacBook Air or Dell XPS 13 has deeper colour still, but you only need to worry about that if you’ll colour grade video or do other pro imaging work. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7’s colour looks well-saturated to our eyes.
Part of that eyeball-pleasing effect is thanks to the display’s great contrast: it’s 1762:1 at max brightness, which is an excellent result for an LCD screen. Blacks don’t look washed out and grey.
All it really lacks in this class is the slick presentation you get from a glass-topped glossy screen. The screen image of a glossy display can seem to “pop” more than a matte one like this, and the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 has a plastic top layer with a slightly raised surround.
However, this is more a result of the decision to use a matte finish than a way for Lenovo to save a few pennies when making the Yoga Slim 7.
Want some more proof Lenovo isn’t cost-cutting on the sly? The Yoga Slim 7 has a mid-size textured glass touchpad.
This laptop sits right at the border where we tend to see manufacturers switch from using relatively cheap plastic pads to fancier glass ones. Seeing textured glass in a laptop range that starts at this price is by no means a given though.
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 ‘pad also has zero pre-click wobble, and nice’n’firm clicker feedback. We also saw zero driver or sensitivity issues, which often makes us disable tap-based button response in Windows 10.
In short: this is one of the best pads you’ll see in this class.
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7’s keyboard is less remarkable, but still does the job perfectly well. Key travel is limited, much less than Lenovo’s famously deep ThinkPad laptops, but the actuation feedback is good.
This is a relatively fast and light-feeling keyboard. It has a two-level backlight as well, and we switched it on more than usual. The key lettering contrast drops off when there’s a light pointing directly at the keyboard as the keys and surround are a metallic grey, with less contrast in their colour than some.
At a glance you’d guess there’s no fingerprint scanner here. But the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 does have one built into the power button on the side.
Lenovo makes both Intel and AMD versions of the Yoga 7 Slim. Our review model is an AMD one with a Ryzen 7 4700U, 8GB RAM and a 512GB SSD.
This setup is not quite as powerful as a MacBook Air’s M1 processor, but it is better than the 10th Generation Intel Core i5 or i7 you might find in another model. You can get a Core i7 CPU version of this same laptop for a mite more, but we’d stick with AMD.
While the Intel offers better performance in single-core apps, the AMD has twice the number of cores, at eight. And while this is a low-voltage processor made for slim and light laptops, it is punchy.
Windows 10 runs like a dream on the Yoga 7 Slim. This is helped by the very fast SSD, which reads data at a shade under 3500MB/s. Once again: no budget-related cuts here.
The Yoga 7 Slim’s Ryzen 7 4700U also has better built-in graphics than anything on the Intel side (bar the latest 11th Generation chipsets with the “Xe” GPU). You may not get a full gaming laptop experience here, but given it slots into a slim and light case we’re pretty happy.
You can play Skyrim at Ultra graphics, 1080p resolution, and see frame rates that hop between 30fps and 40fps depending on what’s on-screen. Subnautica runs well at 1080p, Low graphics. You lose out on some of the more atmospheric visual effects at this setting, but the game still looks good.
The Witcher 3 is more of a challenge, but is still playable. Stick to 900p resolution and you can play at Low settings, 30ps, comfortably, or at Medium if you can live with some dips to the 20fps range when you get into combat or walk around cities.
A laptop with an Nvidia MX450 graphics card, like the HP Envy 13, will run games better. It’s 50-100 per cent more powerful, depending on context. But the results from the Yoga 7 Slim are still much better than those of a vanilla 10th Gen Intel laptop.
The Yoga 7 Slim also has respectable speakers, with some caveats to note. There are drivers to each side of the keyboard, in those obvious hole-pocked grilles.
While not quite MacBook-grade, the sound does have some real mid-range output and good volume. But much of that comes from the Dolby Atmos digital signal processing.
Atmos is traditionally a way to add height channels to a mix, whether with real speakers or virtual ones. But in laptops this software’s main effect is to max-out the performance of little drivers.
You hear it in full effect in the Lenovo Yoga 7 Slim, as the speakers sound weak, quiet and thin with Dolby Atmos disabled. Switched on the audio does tend to sound manipulated, which is a combination of the processing’s effect on the soundstage and that the laptop’s drivers are being pushed to their limits when volume is near full. Still, the result remains more powerful than that of some laptops in this price band.
Connections on laptops are a bit like headphone jacks on phones. Spend more and you often end up with fewer ports. The Yoga 7 Slim has plenty for our needs. You get two USB-C – the standard outlay for an ultra-pricey laptop – plus a stack of “older” connections.
There’s a full-size HDMI, two USB 3.2 ports, a microSD card slot, and a headphone jack. It’s only missing connectors that frankly don’t belong on a laptop like this in 2020, such as an Ethernet port and VGA connector.
We like that Lenovo recognises not everyone who buys a Yoga 7 Slim will have switched entirely to USB-C peripherals.
That said, the webcam doesn’t get the same attention. It’s a 720p camera with a soft, dull image. You can use the camera to login, because there’s a Windows Hello-compatible IR camera by its side. This is used to recognise your face regardless of the light level. The webcam itself doesn’t hold up so well in low light.
Lenovo makes a massive statement about the Yoga 7 Slim’s battery, that it can last up to 17.5 hours. We were fully prepared to do our usual spiel about how manufacturers test their laptops’ batteries with benchmarks from the 1970s, using screen settings so dim you can’t even see the display. And then, well, we did some testing of our own.
Five hours of 1080p streamed YouTube at 60 per cent brightness only saw the charge level drop to 70 per cent, suggesting a total runtime of about 16 hours 40 minutes.
That seemed almost unbelievably long, so we tried playing The Witcher 3 until the battery died. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7’s brightness was maxed and we minimised graphics settings and resolution, to increase the load on the CPU while still using 100 per cent of the GPU’s power. We started at 4:58pm, it died at 6:47pm. A shade under two hours: better than the vast majority of gaming laptops but then again the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 doesn’t have a dedicated power-hungry GPU.
We like to rely as much on real-world use as possible for our reviews at Pocket-lint. But the Lenovo Yoga 7 Slim’s battery really caught our interest, so we put it through some more battery benchmarks.
PC-testing suite PCMark 10 has a series of tests that emulate the workloads of real-world situations. We tried “modern office”, which uses some basic browsing and productivity apps punctuated by some gaps, stand-ins for your going to make a cup of tea or slacking off on your phone.
The Yoga 7 Slim lasts 20 hours 1 minute at 50 per cent screen brightness, using its CPU-throttling Battery Saver mode. This seemed ridiculous so we re-ran the test at 73 per cent brightness and took off the processor limits. It still lasted 18 hours 11 minutes.
We give in. It’s all true. The Lenovo Yoga 7 Slim lasts forever.
Its battery is big at 60.7Wh, 17 per cent higher capacity than the latest Dell XPS 13. But the real hero here is the AMD Ryzen 4700U, which scales so well between exertion levels it starts to look more like the revolutionary Apple M1 CPU.
Charging speed is less impressive, though. It takes around 2.5 hours to charge from flat. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 uses USB-C to charge and comes with a 65W adapter. This laptop does support a form of fast-charging, for 50 per cent juice in 30 minutes – much like a decent Android phone – but this requires Lenovo’s 95W charger (and we didn’t get one in the box).
Verdict
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 is never going to be as renowned as the MacBook Air and Dell XPS 13, but we think it’s a better all-round buy for many. Apple charges a premium for the most comparable Air spec. The closest Dell XPS 13 config costs even more and is worse at playing games.
But it’s not all about money. The Yoga Slim 7 has a lovely aluminium casing, lots of power, lots of storage, a vibrant screen, an excellent glass trackpad, and incredibly long battery life.
Yes, we’d love the Yoga Slim 7 even more if its speakers had higher quality drivers and it had a webcam without cataracts. But would we pay hundreds more for them? Not a chance. As it is this is one of the best laptops available at this price point.
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Pound for pound the HP Envy 13 is probably the most alluring alternative to the Yoga. We loved the late 2019 version for its power and all-metal build, all at the right price. The 2020 update nets you much better gaming performance, thanks to an Nvidia MX450 graphics card. But the Lenovo lasts longer, has a more powerful CPU and a glass touchpad.
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Ok, so the MacBook Air is a more interesting laptop than the Lenovo Yoga 7, but is it a better buy? For video editing and other intensive jobs we’d buy the Air. Use M1 processor-optimised apps and performance will be better, and the battery will last far longer. However, thanks to Apple’s pricey upgrades system the Lenovo costs a stack less if you need 512GB storage rather than 256GB.
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The Dell is Windows laptop royalty. But if you’re into the core substance of computing it simply seems clear the Lenovo is a better buy. It’s more powerful, using multi-core optimised apps, the battery is bigger and lasts longer. The XPS 13’s benefits are all to do with design and portability. It has a smaller footprint, is 4mm thinner, and slightly lighter. You’ll have to decide if that’s worth several hundred pounds.
Writing by Andrew Williams.
Xiaomi today introduced a new smartphone called Redmi 9 Power, but it’s not an entirely new smartphone. It’s a Redmi Note 9 4G launched in China last month with an additional 2MP macro camera.
This means the Redmi 9 Power has a Snapdragon 662 SoC and runs Android 10 with MIUI 12 on top. The smartphone comes with 4GB RAM on board and has two storage options – 64GB (UFS 2.1) and 128GB (UFS 2.2). But it also comes with a dedicated slot for a microSD card, allowing storage expansion by up to 512GB.
The Redmi 9 Power is built around a 6.53″ FullHD+ LCD that has a notch for the 8MP selfie camera. The back of the smartphone, which has an anti-fingerprint texture and a pattern similar to Realme C3’s, is home to a quad camera setup comprising a 48MP primary, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP depth and 2MP macro units.
Redmi 9 Power • Realme C3
The Snapdragon 662-powered smartphone comes with AI Face Unlock and a side-mounted fingerprint reader for password-less unlocking, and fueling the entire package is a 6,000 mAh battery that charges through a USB-C port at up to 18W.
Interestingly, Xiaomi has bundled a 22.5W power adapter with the box instead of 18W.
The rest of the highlights of the Redmi 9 Power include a 3.5mm headphone jack, stereo speakers, splash proofing, IR Blaster, and reverse charging support.
The Redmi 9 Power is offered in Blazing Blue, Electric Green, Fiery Red, and Might Black colors. The 64GB variant is priced at INR10,999 ($150/€120) and shelling out INR1,000 ($14/€11) more will get you double storage.
Redmi 9 Power has four color options
The smartphone will go on sale in India starting December 22 through Mi.com, Amazon.in, Mi Home, and other retail stores across the country.
Source 1 | Source 2
The best gaming laptops come in all shapes and sizes, for different needs and budgets. Because while a tricked out $5,000-plus model with the highest-end graphics and best display might give you the best gaming laptop experience, most of us can’t afford a rig like that. And even if we could, it wouldn’t be the best gaming laptop for those who travel frequently with their PC.
Thankfully, there are more gaming laptop options now than ever, from budget-friendly to VR-ready. Some come with full-size Nvidia GeForce GTX or RTX graphics cards, while others go for the more efficient Max-Q designs that enable thinner chassis and (sometimes) quieter fans. While many of the best gaming laptops come with a 1080p display and high refresh rates, some include 4K screens.
One of the newest innovations we’ve seen is AMD SmartShift, which shares power between the CPU and the GPU based on need. We saw this in the Dell G5 15 SE, but it won’t be in other laptops until 2021.
To help you find the best gaming laptop today, we’ve compiled a list of the best models we’ve tested and reviewed recently. For much more on how to narrow down your list of best gaming laptop considerations, check out our best gaming laptop buyer’s guide. But here are a few quick tips to get you started down the road to the right portable gaming rig for you.
While many gamers may go to desktops to get the most performance for their money, try lugging a tower, monitor and keyboard around in your backpack. When you need a powerful rig you can take with you, there’s no substitute for a gaming laptop.
Best gaming laptops at a glance:
The Best Overall Gaming Laptop
CPU: Intel Core i9-10980HK | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q | Display: 15.6 inches, 1920 x 1080, 300 Hz | Weight: 5.3 pounds (2.4 kg)
Great gaming performance
300 Hz display
Well-executed RGB light bar
High-end build
Cramped keyboard
Tinny audio
The MSI GE66 Raider is a gaming laptop, and it’s saying it loud with a massive RGB light bar. It’s new look is aggressive, but it’s not just talk, with options going up to an Intel Core i9-10980HK and Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q.
For those looking for esports-level performance in games like League of Legends or Overwatch, there’s an option for a 300 Hz display.
And while it’s not the slimmest laptop around (or even MSI’s thinnest), it does feel remarkably portable considering the power inside, and we can’t help but appreciate high-end build quality.
Read: MSI GE66 Raider review
Best Thin and Light Gaming Laptop
CPU: AMD Ryzen 4900HS | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Max-Q | Display: 14-inch, 1920 x 1080 120Hz | Weight: 3.5 pounds (1.6 kg)
Good looks
AMD Ryzen 4900HS offers strong performance
Stellar battery life
Comfortable keyboard
Fan sometime whirs when idle
No webcam
No Thunderbolt 3
For those looking for something slim and attractive, our pick is the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14. As far as gaming laptops go, the Zephyrus is unassuming in either white or gray with minimalist stylings. But with the AMD Ryzen 4900HS and Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Max-Q in our review unit, you get strong productivity and gaming performance. It’s not the best performer on the market in terms of graphics, but it’s the best value for most people.
The battery life is also surprisingly long for a gaming notebook and the keyboard is clicky and comfortable. The fan, however, sometimes goes off even when just sitting on the desktop, and this system doesn’t come equipped with a built-in webcam.
Read: Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 review
Best Thin and Light Gaming Laptop (Alternate Pick)
CPU: Intel Core i7-10875H | GPU: Nvidia RTX 2080 Super Max-Q | Display: 15.6 inch, 1920 x 1080, 300Hz | Weight: 4.7 pounds (2.1 kg)
Thin and light
Stunning design
Great selection of ports
300 Hz Display
Uncomfortable keyboard
Expensive
If you want higher specs and are willing to pay more for a thin and light gaming laptop, the Razer Blade 15 Advanced Model is a strong choice. It has a sleek design that’s easy to take with you anywhere, and has a nice selection of ports if you also want to plug in a bunch of peripherals.
While the Zephyrus stops at an RTX 2060, the Blade goes up to an Nvidia RTX 2080 Super Max-Q. It also has options for a faster 300 Hz display, which is great for esports.
Instead of a Ryzen chip, Razer has opted for Intel’s 10th Gen H-series processors to power the Blade 15. It’s not as power efficient, but offers strong performance.
Read: Razer Blade 15 Advanced Model review
Best 17-inch Gaming Laptop
CPU: Intel Core i9-10980HK | GPU: Nvidia Geforce RTX 2080 Super | Display: 17.3 inch 3840 x 2160 60 Hz HDR400 | Weight: 6.6 pounds / 3 kg
Bright, colorful, large screen
Comfortable, clicky per-key RGB keyboard
Thin for a gaming laptop
Hot and loud
Pricey
The Alienware m17 R3 can get expensive, especially the way we reviewed it with a 10th Gen Intel Core i9 and RTX 2080 Super. But it also has a fantastic, colorful 17-inch display, perfect for those who want the biggest screen they can get on a gaming notebook. The 4K 60 Hz HDR option is bright and colorful, but if you prefer, there’s also an option for 1920 x 1080 at 144 Hz.
The power we got out of the top tier components was tremendous, with amazing performance across our gaming suite. It also did quite well on our productivity benchmarks, should you want to use this as a workhorse as well.
The m17 R3 has a comfortable RGB keyboard and, for a gaming notebook, isn’t all that thick at 0.9 inches. But these components do suck battery power, so be sure to bring the charger.
Read:
Alienware m17 R3 review
The Best Budget Gaming Laptop
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 4600U | GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 | Display: 15.6-inch, 1920 x 1080 | Weight: 5.3 pounds / 2.4 kg
Great value
Comfortable keyboard
Good webcam
Dim display
The Acer Nitro 5 is the best gaming laptop for those on a tight budget. For the price, you’ll get a great value on entry level performance. While you’ll sacrifice a bright display, the keyboard is comfortable and you even get a decent webcam.
Our review unit had an AMD Ryzen 5 4600U paired with an Nvidia GeForce 1650. We’ve seen a few Ryzen-based gaming laptops get better than expected battery life, and the Nitro 5 lasted over 11 hours.
If you’re handy, there’s plenty of room for upgrading (and you’ll want to consider it down the line with just 256GB of storage in our review unit), but for $700, you’re getting a lot for the money.
Read: Acer Nitro 5 (AMD) review
The Best Splurge Gaming Laptop
CPU: Up to Intel Core i9-9900K | GPU: Up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 | Display: Up to 1920 x 1080, 144 Hz with G-Sync | Weight: 8.5 pounds / 3.9 kg
Strong gaming and productivity performance
Beautiful new design
Upgradeable CPU and GPU
Extremely pricey
No 4K options
The Alienware Area-51m, with its desktop-class Core i9-9900K and Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080, is the best gaming laptop for those with a big gaming budget. It offers laptop performance so strong that it will appeal to power users more used to desktops. That’s assuming you can afford it without taking out a second mortgage.
It’s awesome that you can upgrade nearly all aspects of the Area-51m, and I hope more desktop replacements go this route. But Alienware still has to release details about how new GPUs will be sold or if and when that replacement program will come to fruition. Then of course there’s the question of how future graphics modules will be priced compared to their standard desktop-card counterparts.
The process to make major upgrades yourself requires some tools and patience, but the ability to replace the CPU, GPU, RAM and storage is truly impressive.
You can also see our complete teardown of the machine.
The Best Esports Gaming Laptop
CPU: Intel Core i9-10980HK | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super | Display: 17.3-inch, 1920 x 1080, 300 Hz | Weight: 6.3 pounds / 2.9 kg
High refresh rate display
Strong gaming perfomance
Underside stays cool
No webcam
To play esports titles like the pros, you need a laptop with the fastest screen you can get. The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 ($2,199.99 to start, $3,299.99 as tested) is a bit pricey because it pairs a 300 Hz display with the top-end parts needed to play games at frame rates that can take advantage of it. But in our testing, that meant smooth animations so you never miss a frame.
Sure, it’s a bit thicker than some competitors like the Alienware m17 R3, but it also managed to outperform them.
If you’re using this laptop to stream your games, though, you’ll most certainly want to also buy a webcam, because the Strix doesn’t have one built in.
Read: Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 G732 review
The Best Dual-Screen Gaming Laptop
CPU: Intel Core i9-10980HK | GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 2080 Super Max-Q | Display: 15.6-inch IPS 60Hz 3840 x 2160 primary, 3840 x 1100 ScreenPad Plus secondary display | Weight: 5.3 pounds (2.4 kg)
Attractive sci-fi style
Nice 4K display
Second screen lifts up for improved cooling and viewing angles
Awkwardly displaced input devices
No webcam
Only one Thunderbolt 3/USB-C port
It’s admittedly expensive with a starting price of $2,999 (and $3,699 as tested), but Asus’ dual-screen ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 gaming laptop adds a handy, eye-catching second screen while improving cooling and keeping fan noise down in the process. If it weren’t for the awkward input devices and the lack of a webcam, this would be a near-perfect portable gamer.
There are single-screen laptops that will deliver similar performance for less, with better input devices as well. But if you like the idea of a portable with a second screen for Discord chats and YouTube hints as you make your way through the latest AAA title, the Zephyrus Duo 15 is easily the best option we’ve seen yet. Rather than just slapping on another screen, Asus used the space available below its ScreenPad to improve cooling considerably, for more reliable frame rates and quieter operation.
Read: Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550 review
| CPU | GPU | RAM | Storage | Display | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSI GE66 Raider | Up to Intel Core i9-10980HK | Up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q | Up to 32GB | Up to 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD | Up to 15.6 inches, 1920 x 1080, 300 Hz | 5.3 pounds / 2.4 kg |
| Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 | Up to AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS | Up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Max-Q | Up to 16GB | Up to 1TB NVMe SSD | 14-inch, 1920 x 1080, 120 Hz | 3.5 pounds / 1.6 kg |
| Razer Blade 15 Advanced Model | Up to Intel Core i7-10875H | Up to Nvidia RTX 2080 Super Max-Q | 16GB | Up to 1TB NVMe SSD | 15.6-inch, Up to 1920 x 1080 300 Hz or 4K OLED 60 Hz | 4.7 pounds / 2.1 kg |
| Alienware m17 R3 | Intel Core i9-10980HK | Nvidia Geforce RTX 2080 Super | 32GB DDR4 | 2x 1TB PCIe M.2 SSD (connected over RAID0) | 17.3 inch 3840 x 2160 60 Hz HDR400 | 6.6 pounds / 3 kg |
| Acer Nitro 5 | AMD Ryzen 5 4600U | Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 | 8GB | Up to 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD | 15.6-inch, 1920 x 1080 | 5.3 pounds / 2.4 kg |
| Alienware Area 51-m | Up to Intel Core i9-9900K | Up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 | Up to 64GB | Up to 2TB (RAID0) + 1TB SSHD | 17.3-inch, 1920 x 1080, 144 Hz | 8.5 pounds / 3.9 kg |
| Asus ROG Strix 17 G732 | Up to Intel Core i9-10980HK | Up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super | Up to 32GB | Up to 2TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD in RAID0 | 17.3-inch, 1920 x 1080, 300 Hz | 6.3 pounds / 2.9 kg |
| Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 | Intel Core i9-10980HK | Nvidia GeForce GTX 2080 Super Max-Q | 32GB 3,200 MHz DDR4 | 2x 1TB NVMe SSDs (RAID0) | 15.6-inch IPS 60Hz 3840 x 2160 resolution primary display, 3840 x 1100 ScreenPad Plus secondary display | 5.3 pounds / 2.4 kg |
MORE: How to Buy a Gaming Laptop
MORE: Best Gaming PCs
MORE: Best Ultrabooks and Premium Laptops
Qualcomm has unveiled its new mid-price mobile device chip. Snapdragon 678, because this is the name of the new model, is the successor of Snapdragon 675. However, it is not a system developed from scratch, but an improved version of its predecessor in several ranges. Looking at the dry technical specification describing the real possibilities and features of the processor, I dare to say that the new proposal of the American manufacturer will work even in the so-called mediums aspiring to be called flagships. So we can expect increased performance, wider photographic possibilities and smoother gameplay in three-dimensional mobile games. Let’s take a look at the specs in detail.
Barely Qualcomm announced its flagship chip for a year 2021 – Snapdragon model 888, and already boasts another, this time a mid-range chip made in 11 – nanometer technological process. Kryo cores 460 operate here at a frequency of 2.2 GHz, which in combination with Adreno graphics 612 and Spectra chip 250 L responsible for image processing and 8 GB make the unit noticeably more efficient than its predecessor. In the subject of photography, we can count on camera support with a resolution of up to 192 MP and video recording in 4K. The image will be displayed on the FHD + screen (2520 x 1080 pixels) with 10 – bit depth of color.
Qualcomm Snapdragon modem X 12 LTE will allow you to get download speeds up to 600 Mb / s and send to 150 Mb / s. WiFi is 802. 11 ac Wave 2 operating in two ranges – 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz with the MIMO 1×1 option. The Qualcomm Snapdragon unit 678 has Bluetooth 5.0, Beidou, Galileo, GLONASS, GPS, QZSS, SBAS, USB-C (3.1) and aptX audio compatibility. Smartphones equipped with the said system will be able to be charged with Qualcomm Quick Charge 4+. We will get to know the first devices in Q1 2021.
Source: Qualcomm
The haptics are brand plastic bomber, the ergonomics a disaster. But, there is no other way to write it: The Polaroid Now is simply beautiful. One likes to be photographed with a camera like this, so it doesn’t really matter what the result looks like in the end. The Polaroid Now is a current instant camera, its optical model is found in the Polaroid OneStep from 1977 – including rainbow colors.
The Polaroid Now is very colorful. Our test model was red; blue, yellow, green, black or all white variants are also available. The recommended retail price of the camera itself is 80 Euro , but you can find them cheaper. In a bundle with 2 film cassettes there is the Now for about 140 Euro.
The Now is a model that is particularly easy to use, similar to the Fujifilm Instax SQ1. It does not have Bluetooth or WLAN, which is why it is not like its sister OneStep + from the year 2018 can be paired with the smartphone.
The technical data are quickly defined: The scarce 450 Gram heavy camera works with Polaroid i-Type or 600-Film. These have the typical square Polaroid format with an image area of almost eight by eight centimeters. There are eight recordings in a film cassette. The prices per photo fluctuate a lot, depending on which version and package size you choose: with a classic white frame, with a camouflage frame, blue frame, golden frame, for black and white pictures, with wrong colors … , 60 you have to calculate at least one euro . The slightly smaller Instax Square films from Fujifilm cost around one euro per picture.
Auto-fix focus The Polaroid Now has an integrated lithium-ion battery that is charged via micro USB. Polaroid supplies the right cable, but a power plug is not included. If in doubt, you have to borrow it from your smartphone. And since many current models already work with USB-C connectors, the connector archive is the right place to go. The Now shows the charge level via a small LED above the USB port.
The Polaroid Now is charged via USB.
The objective System consists of polycarbonate and acrylic glass lenses and offers two focal lengths, each with different fixed focus zones. The fixed aperture is f / . For close range – for example for portraits – the Polaroid Now uses 35 mm, everything from 50 centimeters to about 1.3 meters. This is a relatively large distance from the subject, which restricts the composition of the picture, as you always capture a comparatively large amount of accessories. Cameras like the Fujifilm SQ1 get closer here and have a close range (in selfie mode) with a focus range of 30 to 50 centimeters. By default, the Polaroid Now works with a 30 – Millimeter focal length and a focus range of 0.6 meters to infinity.
Polaroid says that the Now has an autofocus. What is meant, however, is that the camera itself decides when to work with which focal length (and which focus area). Photographers cannot influence this in any way. And that is a major weak point in the camera. To make matters worse, the camera does not show its focal length decision anywhere and you can only hear the change with a short click. If you want to consciously provoke this change, you can press the shutter button halfway and experiment with the distance to the subject – and just listen.
Fiddly manual In fact, the system worked fine in most cases. Not always, however. And when you consider what each individual picture costs, every missed shot hurts. But not only the “autofocus” stands in the way, the Polaroid Now is a fine weather camera that needs a lot, a lot, a lot of light to take good pictures. Therefore, by default, she takes photos with flash. And it is not exactly of the “fine spirit” type, which is why you often just flash your motifs “dead” in the standard area. The typical instant photo look. It burns a little less at close range. Here, however, flashed images sometimes get too dark if there is backlighting.
On switch, flash button, status display – the operating elements of the Now are straightforward.
Completely delivered But you are not: The standard flash can be switched off with a button on the back if you have made sure that the light is otherwise correct. If you press the flash button for about a second, you also activate a mini exposure compensation. The service is tricky and requires the greatest attention. In the small round display, in which the recordings usually count down, then appears a narrow line that can be shifted up and down with short tips on the flash button – from -1/2 EV to +1/2 EV. If the correction has been set successfully, the circular display alternately shows the number of films and the EV settings. Well, you can’t work miracles with it, but you can get closer to a balanced exposure and a somewhat more natural impression.
Immediately does not mean immediately The self-timer button (9 seconds) also has a double function. If you press it twice in quick succession, you start a double exposure. The mini-display on the back then flashes to indicate that it can start and after the second exposure the camera spits out the image.
Then it doesn’t matter whether you wave like crazy or the instant picture patiently stares at. It takes about ten minutes until the photo is ready, and after about 5 minutes you can at least roughly assess whether the shot went wrong or not. Immediately is relative.
Polaroid Now: Sample images (8 images) As long as they don’t move too fast, pets are a great motive for instant photography, if it weren’t for flash. This cat does everything right, she sits still and does not look at the camera.
Conclusion and alternatives The Polaroid Now is an instant camera with a good mood design. It is easy to use, but not necessarily intuitive. A quick look at the manual does not hurt. The setting options are somewhat more complex than, for example, with an Instax SQ1, so the double exposure function invites you to be creative. And that’s also easy on the wallet, because you get two exposures on one photo. With about 1, 60 Euro the single images are not a bargain, if you want to use bright frame colors or special editions, you have to dig deeper into your pocket. Alternatives are plentiful on the market, both from Polaroid and Fujifilm. If you are looking for something more unusual, look at Lomography.
Are a possible alternative also mini photo printer like the Canon Selphy Square QX 10. For example, it prints pictures from a smartphone in a Polaroid design with a white frame. Here the costs per print are around 80 Cent and significantly higher image quality. In addition, you can design the pictures more freely, make collages, insert writing, add filters – last but not least, every picture is also a sticker.
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Microsoft celebrated 2020 with the Surface Duo a comeback on the smartphone market, now the folding smartphone is also being sold in Germany. At the beginning 2021 the Surface Duo will be available, the company announced.
The distinctive feature of the Duo are the two 5.6-inch screens that work either separately from one another or together as one large display. Both are connected with a 360 – degree hinge. Together they come to 8.1 inches of diagnosis and 2700 x 1800 pixels. The Surface Duo is powered by the somewhat aged Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 and has 6 GB of RAM and a maximum of 256 GByte memory on board.
Microsoft relies on Android Saved Microsoft has with the wireless standards, the camera and the battery. The Surface Duo does not support 5G, has only one camera with 11 – megapixel sensor and only comes despite two screens to a battery capacity of 3577 mAh. The duo is charged via USB-C, not wirelessly via the Qi standard. With 250 grams and just under a centimeter closed, the Surface is quite thin and light for a folding smartphone. When it comes to the operating system, Microsoft is open and relies on the Google platform Android, but with its own launcher. Many Microsoft services such as Outlook or the mobile Office package are preinstalled.
The Surface Duo should not be a bargain. In the USA, Microsoft started with an MSRP of 1400 dollars. Although this price has meanwhile been reduced by 200 dollars, the folding smartphone is still clearly in the range of the smartphone -Luxury class.
Folding smartphones are available in different designs Folding smartphones or foldables are offered by several manufacturers in various shapes, most with flexible displays that can be folded horizontally or vertically. As a rule, the sensitive folding display is on the inside and is supplemented by a smaller or larger external screen, for example on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 or the Motorola Razr. Only Huawei dares to put the flexible screen on the outside with the Mate Xs. Microsoft’s approach with the Surface Duo is similar to that of LG, but there the second display with a special cover is only flange-mounted on request.
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Accessory company Nomad is expanding its case lineup once again with its first MacBook Pro sleeves, available today. The cases might be the nicest that Nomad has made so far, but with a starting price of $229.95 (for the 13-inch model) and $249.95 (for 16-inch MacBook Pros), they’re also the most expensive.
The MacBook Pro cases are made out of the same brown Horween leather that Nomad uses for most of its products. But instead of the plastic shell the company uses on its iPhone cases (which I’m less of a fan of), the new cases are just solid expanses of leather on the outside, backed by EVA foam to keep your computer safe, with a final layer of microfiber cloth for the interior.
I’ve been able to use one of the cases for the past few days, and I’ve been pretty impressed by the quality. The leather looks and feels great, and Nomad has been pretty thoughtful about some of the details, like the hidden magnetic snaps that keep the case shut or the small cutout on the side that allows for accessing the USB-C ports for charging or docking your laptop while it’s still in the case.
Sliding a MacBook in or out of the case is easy, and the case itself feels solid enough, although there are likely more durable options, if protection is the number one priority — especially given the cost. Additionally, as an owner of a MacBook Pro with just two USB-C ports, I did have to think about which direction I was placing my laptop inside the case to line up the ports with the charging cutout. And while that cutout is useful, I did have some concerns that it would provide a good avenue for dust or debris to make its way inside the case over time.
Given the current state of the world, I haven’t been able to extensively test how the leather holds up in the stress of a daily commute, but the company does promise that the exterior should develop a nice patina over time, similar to its other cases.
The leather laptop cases are designed specifically to fit Apple’s 13-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros (from the 2016-era design), although you’ll likely be able to fit other similarly sized laptops, too. Just be aware that it might be a bit tighter or looser than you prefer.
The cases are available now on Nomad’s website.
Photography by Chaim Gartenberg / The Verge
João Silva
26 mins ago
Featured Tech News, Motherboard
Biostar has announced a new mATX motherboard as part of its B550 lineup. The B550M-Silver is a motherboard aimed at gamers and casual users, offering a neat package of features while also featuring a stylish design worth of showing off.
The Biostar B550M-Silver comes in a black and silver theme, following the design of its predecessors, and LED Rock Zone RGB lighting technology, allowing users to customise the RGB lighting to their liking and synchronise it with other devices. This motherboard features 4 DIMMs, allowing it to handle up to 128GB of RAM clocked at 4933+ MHz. Besides the wide memory compatibility, this board also supports PCIe 4.0 and USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 connectivity, while also being compliant with the WiFi 6 standard.
Featuring Biostar Digital PWM technology, Dr. MOS, and 2.5Guard, the B550M-Silver offer stable, reliable, and efficient operation in “any use case”. For those interested in overclocking, Biostar has implemented A.I. TP Control technology, providing a “user-friendly BIOS environment”. Additionally, if a problem occurs during boot after overclocking, the built-in Debug LED system can help users to identify the problem by turning on the corresponding LED light.
The rear I/O panel features multiple connectivity options including 2x WiFi Antenna ports made to support WiFi 6, a GbE LAN port powered by Realtek RTL8125B chipset, and a PS/2 keyboard/mouse port for legacy devices. The rear I/O panel also features 8x USB ports, with one being a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port, another being USB-A 3.2 Gen 2. You also get four USB-A 3.1 Gen 1 ports and two USB-A 2.0 ports.
Other outputs in the rear I/O panel include a DVI-D port, an HDMI port, a DisplayPort, and 3x audio outputs powered by Realtek ALC1150.
Biostar hasn’t shared the pricing and availability of the B550M-Silver mATX motherboard, yet. You can learn more about it HERE.
KitGuru says: Are you in the process of changing your CPU and motherboard? Will you be considering the Biostar B550M-Silver?
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