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The new Mac Mini gets M1 chipset: much faster than the old Intel version, $100 cheaper

This was unexpected – leading up to this event everyone was talking about new MacBooks, but Apple snuck in a new Mac Mini completely unnoticed. It has been two years since the Mini was last updated. That’s not too long ago, but those 8th generation Intel Core processors do feel quite old already.

But there are no Intels anymore, Apple’s petite computer is now powered by its own silicon. Yes, the new Apple M1 chipset that is also at the heart of the new MacBook Air and Pro.

Apple’s testing shows that the CPU delivers 3x the CPU performance of those old Intels. And those old chips came long before Intel stepped up its iGPU game, so Apple octa-core GPU is 6 times as fast. All told, the Mini is 5x faster than the “top-selling PC”, but don’t expect Apple to tell you which one that is.

Still, performance is increased across the board and the company’s messaging is that this can be used by programmers, game developers, music and video editors – the Mac Mini is a professional tool, not just an office computer or an HTPC.

The Mac Mini is aimed at programmers, gamers and music editors

Machine learning performance got boosted 15x, so apps can make heavy use of it. For example, Pixelmator Pro’s feature AI-based image upscaling. M1’s Neural Engine even supports the Tensorflow deep learning framework, which has so far been the exclusive domain of Nvidia (AMD GPUs do support it, but Nvidia is by far the market leader in this segment).

Anyway, unlike the MacBook Air, the Mac Mini has active cooling, allowing it to sustain its top performance for longer. And unlike the Air, you get a decent selection of ports too.

There are two USB-C ports for USB 4 and Thunderbolt (up to 40 Gbps) as well as two USB-A 3.1 Gen 2 ports (up to 10 Gbps), plus a gigabit Ethernet port (there’s Wi-Fi 6 too, if there’s no LAN cable nearby).

Additionally, there’s an HDMI 2.0 port for 4K/60Hz output and DisplayPort (over USB-C) for a single 6K/60Hz monitor. You could also have two 4k/60Hz monitors if you use both the HDMI and the DisplayPort.

The new M1-powered Mac Mini is available to pre-order now, so let’s talk price. It starts at $700 with 8GB of RAM and 256GB SSD. You can upgrade that to 16GB RAM for an extra $200 and push the storage to 2TB total (with 512GB and 1TB stops along the way). Shipping starts next week.

The Intel-powered Mac Mini lives on, by the way, only the Core i5 6-core version, which starts at $1,100. The old 4-core version has gone away (that one started at $800 and had no chance against the M1 Mini, anyway).

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Honor 10X Lite review

Introduction

It’s a fast-paced industry, and six months sounds like a long time for a phone to go without a successor. So Honor is following up on the 9X Lite with the 10X Lite. Hardly a groundbreaking update, but the new model, which we have for review now, brings a few meaningful improvements over the 9X Lite.

Among those are a couple of extra cameras on the back – the 10X Lite now gets an ultra wide-angle module to complement the carried over 48MP main unit, and a 2MP ‘macro’ camera joins the already available depth sensor.

Another step in the right direction is switching to a USB-C port. On a semi-related note, the 10X Lite charges much faster at up to 22.5W (as opposed to the basic 10 watts of the 9X Lite), which is great because it can also hold more charge – the new battery has a 5000mAh capacity, up from 3,750mAh.

Huawei Y7a/P smart 2021 (left) next to Honor 10X Lite

That’s how the 10X Lite sits in the Honor X Lite lineage, but we should also mention that the phone is almost identical to the Huawei P smart 2021 we had over just last week, itself a differently named Y7a. If it weren’t for the rearranged cameras on the back, we’d have sworn that the Honor 10X Lite is the same phone.

Three identical phones: Honor 10X Lite • Huawei Y7a • Huawei P smart 2021

Honor 10X lite specs at a glance:

Body: 165.7×76.9×9.3mm, 206g; Colors: Icelandic Frost, Midnight Black, Emerald Green.
Display: 6.67″ IPS LCD, 1080x2400px resolution, 20:9 aspect ratio, 395ppi.
Chipset: Kirin 710A (14 nm): Octa-core (4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4×1.7 GHz Cortex-A53); Mali-G51 MP4.
Memory: 128GB 4GB RAM; microSDXC.
OS/Software: Android 10, Magic UI 3.1, no Google Play Services.
Rear camera: Wide (main): 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm, 1/2.0″, 0.8µm, PDAF; Ultra wide angle: 8 MP, f/2.4, 120˚; Macro: 2 MP, f/2.4; Depth: 2 MP, f/2.4; LED flash, HDR, panorama.
Front camera: 8 MP, f/2.0; HDR.
Video capture: Rear camera: 1080@60/30fps; Front camera: 1080p@30fps.
Battery: 5000mAh; Fast charging 22.5W.
Misc: Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass, FM radio, NFC.

Honor 10X Lite unboxing

The Honor 10X Lite arrives in a plain cardboard box, but this one has a bit more color on it than the P smart 2021’s – blue sides, a couple of pictures of the phone on top.

The box contents are the same – you get a USB-A-to-C cable and a power adapter aside from the phone. The adapter itself isn’t too shabby as it supports Huawei SuperCharge at up to 22.5 watts and will be much appreciated when having to fill up that big 5,000mAh battery.

Grado GT220

Our Verdict

The GT220 have some areas of true sonic expertise, but they aren’t quite the no-brainer Grado might have wished for

For

Positive, unequivocal sound
Good battery life
Responsive touch controls

Against

Lack a little sonic refinement
Don’t look or feel special
No active noise-cancelling

We’re a little surprised Grado hasn’t found a way to make its first pair of true wireless earbuds open-backed. After all, this is a company so convinced of the benefit of the open-backed arrangement that it configured its first pair of wireless on-ear headphones in this manner. But even a brand as single-minded as Grado has had to sacrifice a principle or two in order to join the ongoing true wireless earbuds land-grab.

With the GT220, then, Grado has delivered a visually unremarkable and predictably configured pair of earbuds that go without some of the niceties (such as active noise-cancellation or a control app) and has slapped a premium price tag on them. So can such a small, unassuming product really be worth such big money?

Comfort

(Image credit: Grado)

We’re not off to the most auspicious start. The GT220 are small and light – just 5g per earbud – but their polycarbonate housing is unyielding to the touch and doesn’t make the Grados feel like the premium product they’re priced as.

Despite following the established (and effective) ‘twist and lock’ fit template, the GT220 prove less than straightforward to get into position. There’s a choice of just three sizes of eartips in the packaging, which really isn’t enough. And even if one of these fit properly, getting the in-ears sitting comfortably and securely proves trickier than it should be.

Perseverance brings its rewards, though: once the GT220 are positioned to your satisfaction they turn out to be nice and stable. The mechanics of the fit provide a little passive noise-cancelling, too, which is doubly welcome given their lack of active noise-cancellation.

Build

(Image credit: Grado)

Grado knows what it’s doing when it comes to build quality. That polycarbonate material may not feel in any way luxurious, but it is at least hardwearing and resilient, and everything here is constructed with complete precision.

Each earbud has a capacitive touch-surface on its outer plane (beneath the big, stylised ‘G’ logo that lights up depending on what the GT220 are doing). It’s responsive and reliable, difficult to confuse, and covers every major function: play/pause, volume up/down, skip forward/backwards, answer/end/reject call, and for summoning a phone’s voice assistant. The Grados are compatible with both Siri on iPhones and Google Assistant on Android phones, and though there is only one mic in each earbud, there’s nothing wrong with either call quality or voice assistant comprehension.

Grado GT220 tech specs

(Image credit: Grado)

Bluetooth version 5.0

Battery life 6 hours + 30 hours from the charging case

Charging time 2 hours

Frequency response 20Hz-20kHz

Impedance 32 ohms

Weight 5g (each)

On the inside, the GT220 are fitted with a single 8mm polyethylene terephthalate full-range driver in each earbud. Bluetooth connectivity is via aptX, which is fine for getting high-resolution audio files on board without fuss, but we do wonder why the Grados’ premium price tag doesn’t stretch to aptX Adaptive compatibility – is no Grado owner likely to watch video content while wearing their GT220?

At least aptX Bluetooth assists in delivering quite impressive battery life numbers here. Despite their compact dimensions, the earbuds can hold up to six hours of power – and the equally compact charging case (which weighs in at just 42g) holds another five full charges.

So, as long as you don’t thrash the volume control, a reasonable all-in figure of 36 hours between case charges is achievable. The case can be charged using either a USB-C cable or any Qi-certified wireless charging pad, and from ‘flat’ to ‘full’ it takes a couple of hours.

Sound

(Image credit: Grado)

Get the GT220 satisfactorily positioned in your ears and it doesn’t take long for them to reveal what they’re all about. Like many a pair of Grado headphones, the GT220 are absolutely unequivocal.

Once through a song as familiar as Fleetwood Mac’s You Make Loving Fun (as an MQA-powered Tidal Masters stream) is enough for the GT220 to give a reasonably full account of themselves. The overall sound is clear, detailed and completely direct. There’s an immediacy to the way they serve up the tune that sets them apart from the majority of their competitors.

The bottom of the frequency range may not have quite the impact the best of their rivals can offer, but it’s filled with information concerning texture and timbre. There’s a positivity to the way the GT220 handle the attack and decay of bass sounds that contributes no end to their overall speed.

Higher up, the midrange is treated with similar attention. Detail levels remain high – even minor transient details are picked up on and described. Clarity is impressive too, and as the GT220 establish a reasonably broad and deep presentation, a vocalist has the whole of the midrange in which to stretch out and do their thing. A listen to one as characterful as James Carr’s during Pouring Water On A Drowning Man confirms the Grados are as adept at extracting the nuance from a singer as any nominal rival – and more adept than most, at that.

But the GT220 overplay their hand a little when it comes to the top of the frequency range. We’re fans of speed and substance where treble sounds are concerned, but the Grados need a little more refinement to the way they handle the highest stuff. At some point ‘assertive’ can become ‘overconfident’, and the GT220 could do with backing off their attack just a touch. An already trebly recording such as Saint Etienne’s Only Love Can Break Your Heart can eventually become a little tiring in the Grados’ hands, especially if you’re listening at significant volume.

This high-end exuberance also contributes to their slightly disjointed way with timing. Broadly speaking, the overall sound of the GT220 hangs together pretty well – but they don’t render the momentum and drive of music with the finesse of, say, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2.

Elsewhere, though, they remain an accomplished listen. Both the broad and low-level harmonic dynamics of Telemachus’ Caroline What Is Wrong With You are described in full, with a kind of casual authority. The same tune allows the GT220 to showcase their out-and-out scale and insight, too.

Verdict

The Grado GT220 don’t look or feel particularly premium, and they go without some of the specification niceties that you might reasonably expect at this sort of money.

They’re not the most accomplished listen where timing or top-end refinement is concerned, either. But if you like your music to sound upfront and fast, detailed and immediate, then you’ll find an awful lot to like here.

SCORES

Sound 4
Comfort 4
Build 4

MORE:

Read our guide to the best wireless earbuds

Read our Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 review

Here are the best Apple AirPods alternatives 2020

Intel Core 10th Generation: Laptop CPUs for all needs

Family of Processors of 10 to Laptop Generation

Within the tenth generation of Intel Core processors , the company offers a wide catalog of solutions for laptops of all kinds , from high-performance models for gaming or content creators, to models designed for ultrabooks and ultrathin laptops where lightness and high autonomy are a priority.

First of all, we are going to review the three great families of tenth generation Intel Core processors for laptops. Each one is intended for a type of equipment depending on the uses and sectors to which they are oriented.

H Series for High Performance Laptops

In this way, for gaming or high-performance laptops, Intel has a complete catalog of processors from the Intel Core i9, Core i7 and Core i5 range, with models that reach up to 8 cores and 19 threads and a Boost speed of up to 5.3 GHz .

They are processors that we can see in gaming laptops, equipment for content creators or any laptop where a high CPU performance is sought .

U and Y series for versatile laptops that offer autonomy and mobility

For ultra-thin equipment Intel offers its U and Y range, it is about processed res from 2 to 6 cores that combine a configurable TDP ranging from 16 W up to 25 W in the U range and from 4.5 “to 15 W in the Y range, along with Boost speeds that can reach up to 4.9 GHz.

These ranges of processors are designed to guarantee greater portability and autonomy and are mainly designed for compact and light equipment that can be taken anywhere. To meet all needs, Intel has different processor architectures in these two ranges U and Y that are designed to meet all needs, outside of the high performance offered by the H range.

Currently on the market coexist laptops with CPUs of 2 types of 2 families for the U series and Y series: Comet Lake and Ice Lake.

Comet Lake: The CometLake-U and CometLake CPU families -And they are based on Intel Skylake architecture a 15 nm. This range is focused on providing great performance at low energy consumption, favoring autonomy and mobility without giving up performing tasks that require performance.
Ice Lake: On the other hand, we have the Ice Lake-U and Ice Lake-Y CPU families based on the Sunny Cove architecture to a manufacturing process of 12 nm. We will see each of these ranges separately in the following sections. This Ice Lake range is aimed at laptops where portability is the main feature sought by consumers and is endowed with superior graphics performance thanks to integrated Iris Plus graphics chips up to 100 execution units.

We will see each of these families separately in the following sections.

Intel 12 a Generation H Series: Highest Performance for Gaming and Creators

The 10th generation Intel Core range of processors for gaming, content creation or, in general, high-performance laptops, reach speeds of up to 5.3 GHz Boost, Highest Speed never seen in a notebook processor, and they are equipped with the latest technologies such as Intel Wi-Fi 6, Optane Memory, Thunderbolt 3, Intel Thermal Velocity Boost or Intel Dynamic Tuning, in such a way that maximum performance can be squeezed out in each specific situation with the latest in connectivity.

Also, thanks to Intel Speed Optimizer technology, you can get an increase performance in a simple way, with just one click in the Intel Extreme Tuning Utiliy or Intel XTU application. This is in addition to the 201 Extra MHz that are achieved when the processor is below the 200 ° C, activating the Intel TVB (Intel Thermal Velocity Boost) technology present in all Core i7 and Core i9 of the line.

All This range of H-series processors includes native support for the HEVC codec of 12 bits , with serial encoding and decoding, and support for VP9 decoding of 12 bits. That means full compatibility with playback, streaming and even editing of premium 4K UHD content , with support also for high-resolution videos of 481 º or HDR.

All 10th Gen Intel Core processors for high performance notebooks along with Intel chipset 499 for notebooks include support for the latest technologies, with Thunderbolt 3.0, USB 3.0 Gen 2, WiFi 6 AX 400, Optane Memory and support for a multitude of displays through DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.0, as well as support for dedicated graphics through port PCIe 3.0 x 24.

Below we show you the entire range of H-series CPUs of the 11to Intel generation, from the Core i5 to Core i9, which can be found in notebooks on sale today.

8 / 24

16 MB

DDR4 – 2933

Processor	Architecture	Base Speed
Boost (1 core)	Cores / Threads	Unlocked	Cache	Memory	TDP
Intel Core i9 – 10980 HK	Skylake to 15 nm	2.4 GHz	5.3 GHz
Yes
DDR4 – 2300	64 W
Intel Core i7 – 10875 H	Skylake to 16 nm	2.3 GHz	5.1 GHz	8 / 19	No	24 MB	DDR4 – 2933	64 W
Intel Core i7 – 10850 H		Skylake a 16 nm	2.7 GHz	5.1 GHz	6 / 14	Partially	15 MB	DDR4 – 3200	48 W
Intel Core i7 – 10750 H	Skylake a 16 nm	2.6 GHz	5.0 GHz	6 / 15	No	14 MB	DDR4 – 2933	48 W
Intel Core i5 – 10400 H	Skylake to 16 nm	2.6 GHz	4.6 GHz	4/8	No
8 MB	64 W
Intel Core i5 – 10300 H	Skylake to 16 nm	2.5 GHz
4.5 GHz	4/8	No	8 MB	DDR4 – 3200	64 W

Within this range, the Intel Core i9 – 10980 HK is the company’s most powerful processor for laptops. It is a CPU that offers desktop performance in a portable format with a TDP of 48 W . Offers 8 cores and 16 threads thanks to Hyperthreading technology and reaches speeds of 5.3 GHz Boost as standard, speeds that can be increased thanks to the possibility of overclocking with its multiplier unlocked.

The laptop whose photo we show above is the ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo GX 550 L , with Intel Core i9- 10980 HK. This laptop was recently analyzed in Geeknetic and its characteristics and the great performance provided by the Intel Core i9 processor and the rest of the components have earned it to become the best laptop we have analyzed so far .

This is certainly one of the reasons why the Intel Core processors of 12 generation H series, are the most popular CPUs in gaming laptops and for creators on sale right now.

Comet Lake U and Y CPU Family: Up to 6 cores in ultra-thin format

La 12 he generation of Intel Core Comet Lake processors is also integrated in the U and Y pa ra laptops that seek to combine performance with lightweight, thin formats and that guarantee superior autonomy.

With models of up to 6 cores and 14 execution threads with TDPs ranging from 19 until the 28 W configurable as Core i7 – 10710 U, it is possible to have notebooks with contained thicknesses, very light and high autonomy, but without sacrificing excellent performance, even in tasks that require multi-core power.

Is achieved a 19% higher overall performance than previous generation and we have up to 48% more productivity in office environments than with the ninth generation.

This range of processors reaches speeds close to 5.0 GHz to offer maximum performance when Needed via higher Core Boost and up from a more moderate base frequency.

Supports the latest DDR4 memory and low-power alternatives LPDDR3 and LPDDR4x, along with the latest in connectivity from Thunderbolt 3 , USB-C 3.2 gen 2 or Optane Memory H SSD support 12.

U-Series

4/8

2.7 GHz

Y-Series
Processor	Architecture	Cores / Strands
GPU EUs	TDP	Base Frequency	Multicore Boost Frequency	Frequency Boost 1 Core	GPU Boost Frequency
Core i7 – 10710OR	Skylake to 15 nm	6 / 15	28	19 W ~ 28 W	1.1 GHz	3.9 GHz
4.7 GHz
1,16 GHz
Core i7 – 10510OR	Skylake to 16 nm	4/8	16 W ~ 25 W	1.8 GHz	4.3 GHz	4.9 GHz
1,16 GHz
Core i5 – 10210OR	Skylake to 15 nm	4/8	28	19 W ~ 28 W	1.6 GHz	3.9 GHz	4.2 GHz	1,12 GHz
Core i3 – 10110OR	Skylake to 15 nm	2 /4	28	19 W ~ 25 W	2.1 GHz	3.7 GHz	4.1 GHz	1,10 GHz
Core i5 – 10510Y	Skylake to 16 nm	28	4.5W ~ 9W	1.2 GHz	3.2 GHz	4.5 GHz	1,19 GHz
Core i5 – 10400Y	Skylake to 16 nm	28	4.5W ~ 9W	1.1 GHz	2.8 GHz	4.1 GHz	1,11 GHz
Core i5- 10210Y	Skylake to 16 nm	28	4.5W ~ 9W	1.0 GHz	4.0 GHz	1,11 GHz
Core i3 – 10210Y	Skylake to 16 nm	2/4	28	4.5W ~ 9W
1.0 GHz	3.7 GHz	4.0 GHz	1,10 GHz

Among the different laptops that we can find with these processors we can highlight the ASUS Zenbook UX 499 FL, a team equipped with Intel Core i7 – 10510 U and that it has become the Best Ultrabook that passes through our laboratory.

Ice Lake U and Y CPU Family: For ultra-thin and light notebooks

Intel Core U and Y processors from 12 are based on the new and more efficient manufacturing process of 14 Intel nanometers. These are processors designed for maximum mobility and portability in very thin and light equipment with the latest in connectivity and technologies, including AI acceleration in tasks such as automatic image processing or video filters.

Available in models with 2 and 4 cores and 4 and 8 threads respectively thanks to hyperthreading, and with speeds of up to 4, 200 CPU MHz, Intel Core processor line of 12 3rd generation U and Y Ice Lake integrate the new Intel Iris Plus GPUs, with numerous improvements in performance and functions over previous generations. They offer up to 64 execution units with speeds of up to 1. 201 MHz and a performance with which it is possible to view 4K HDR content , edit videos of that quality or even play games like Battlefield V at FullHD in a fluid way .

Three AI acceleration systems.

Intel Smart Cache Technology enables both the CPU and GPU to share the latest-level cache (up to their maximum 8MB) to significantly increase performance, while the inclusion of the Intel Gaussian & Neural Accelerator (Intel GNA 1.0) adds IA acceleration to computers that integrate the Intel Core U and Y processors of 10th generation Ice Lake.

In total there are three AI acceleration systems in these processors, since both CPU and GPU and GNA 1.0 accelerators will work together to optimally speed up the entire AI process.

In this way, the CPU offers low latency with great flexibility when managing AI workloads. On the other hand, the GPU specializes in high intensity AI tasks , such as processing in video editing or games. Finally, GNA 1.0 is geared towards local AI tasks such as speech recognition and processing.

Included Support for 3 DDR4 memories. 100 MHz and up to LPDDR4x of 3. 775 MHz high performance, along with support for the latest connectivity technologies such as Wi-fi 6 AX 360, USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 by 12 Gbps or fast Thunderbolt 3.

U-Series

32 W

1300 MHz

1149 MHz

i5 – 1041 G7

4/8

1200 MHz

1065 MHz

Sunny Cove a 12 nm

16 W / 32 W

Y-Series

9W / 15 W

100

i3 – 1005 G4

CPU Model	Architecture	Cores / Threads	EU graphics	Cache	Base / Max TDP	Base Frequency	Turbo 1 Core	Turbo all Cores	iGPU Frequency
i7 – 1068 G7	Sunny Cove a 12 nm	4/8	65
8MB	2300 MHz	4424 MHz	3600 MHz	1149 MHz
i7- 1068 G7	Sunn and Cove to 12 nm	4/8
65	8MB	19 W / 32 W	3900 MHz	3600 MHz
Sunny Cove a 12 nm	6MB	19 W / 32 W	3800 MHz	3300 MHz	1060 MHz
i5 – 1035 G4	Sunny Cove a 12 nm	4/8	65	6MB	19 W / 28 W	1149 MHz	3700 MHz	3400 MHz
i5 – 1041 G1	Sunny Cove to 12 nm	4/8	41	6MB
15 W / 32 W	1005 MHz	3700 MHz	3400 MHz	1060 MHz
i3 – 1030 G1	2/4	41
4MB	1200 MHz	3500 MHz	3400 MHz	927 MHz
i7 – 1065 G7	Sunny Cove a 12 nm	4/8	100	8MB	1005 MHz	3800 MHz	3400 MHz	1149 MHz
i5 – 1035 G7	Sunny Cove to 11 nm	4/8	6MB	9W / 15 W	900 MHz	3700 MHz	3200 MHz	1060 MHz
i5 – 1035 G4	Sunny Cove to 11 nm	4/8	65	6MB	9W / 15 W	733 MHz	3500 MHz	3300 MHz	1065 MHz
1Sunny Cove a 14 nm	2/4
65	4MB	9W / 15 W	1149 MHz	3300 MHz	3200 MHz	917 MHz
i3 – 1005 G1	Sunny Cove to 11 nm	2/4	45	4MB	9W / 14 W
1149 MHz	3200 MHz	3200 MHz	927 MHz

In the extensive catalog of Ice Lake processors we find models with different TDP, the vast majority configurable, which allows the creation of laptops with ultra-thin designs and even with passive cooling systems, while their autonomy reaches entire work sessions.

Likewise, this range has CPUs that can also accommodate laptops that provide great mobility, connectivity and performance at a very contained price.

This is the case of the ASUS VivoBook S 19 that we recently analyzed. It is a laptop with a great quality / price ratio that integrates the IceLake-Y CPU Intel Core i3 – 1005 G1.

This laptop from only 634 euros showed in the tests carried out in Geeknetic a great ease when performing office automation, navigation and connectivity tasks. All in a compact design of just 19 mm thick and kg of weight and an autonomy of more than 6 hours performing intensive tasks.

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Nokia with its own TV set based on Android TV

HMD Global, the current owner of the rights to the Nokia brand, intends to expand its product portfolio with a smart TV device. However, it is not a smart TV, but a set-top box that extends the capabilities of any compatible receiver. Considering the potential equipment of the Streaming Box 8000, because that is the name of the equipment, I dare to say that it has a real chance for market success. Of course, a lot depends on the price in specific markets. I think that the premiere is a matter of weeks, so today it is worth taking a look at what the Streaming Box model 8000 is with the characteristic logo of the Nokia brand. In addition to the partial specification, we managed to get to know the appearance of the set-top box.

We already know what the Streaming Box TV set-top will look like 8000 signed with the Nokia brand. Here is the equipment that will hit our store shelves.

Xiaomi Mi Box 4S Pro – new TV set-top box with 8K support

Streaming Box 8000 is the upcoming a set-top box with the Nokia logo, well-known on our market, The device will work under the control of Android TV 10, which means the possibility of installing many useful applications, the core of which are programs offering access to platforms VODs such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and YouTube. The Amlogic S 905 X3 will be responsible for performance. Users can count on 4K resolution support, but there is no information about Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.

OPPO TV S1 smart TVs with QLED 4K and OPPO R1

The price of the add-on is to be around 100 dollars, which makes it slightly more expensive than the Xiaomi proposal. All electronics are enclosed in a black rectangular ascetic housing. On the back there is a power socket, LAN port, HDMI, AV and AUDIO outputs and a USB-C port. On the right edge you will find a single USB port. An equally elegant remote control resembles a typical TV accessory with a large number of buttons and buttons dedicated to streaming services, the Google Play shopping platform and the Google Assistant. Now we can wait for the official presentation of the device.

– Android TV Guide (@androidtv_rumor) November 4, 2020

Source: Android TV Guide

MSI Optix MAG322CQR 31.5in 165Hz Curved Monitor Review

James Morris
6 hours ago
Featured Tech Reviews, Monitors, Peripheral, Reviews

Going for a curved monitor used to mean compromising on other areas, especially for gaming. Refresh rates in particular were generally lower. But now curved gaming screens with no deficiencies are arriving, and the latest contender from MSI is the Optix MAG322CQR. With a 31.5in diagonal and 2,560 x 1,440 pixels, it promises high-resolution gaming, but crucially, it offers a 165Hz refresh rate and adaptive sync.

The MAG322CQR is based around VA panel technology, as with most curved screens. It offers a 1500R curvature, which is fairly pronounced. As we typically see with VA panels, the contrast is high at 3,000:1, but brightness is mediocre at 300cd/m2. Pixel response is quoted as 1ms, but this is MPRT rather than grey-to-grey, which is likely to be higher. MSI promises 96 per cent of the DCI-P3 colour space and 124 per cent of sRGB, which are both strong figures. The adaptive sync system used is AMD FreeSync Premium, which is the middle of the three levels and promises at least 120Hz at Full HD resolution as well as support for low framerate compensation.

You can tilt and change the height of the MAG322CQR, but strangely there’s no swivel ability. For video connectivity, you get one DisplayPort and two HDMI plugs, and there’s even USB-C. You get a two-port USB hub, too. So everything looks good on paper for a capable gaming screen with plenty of connection options. The price looks a little high, but not outrageous, at a little under £450. Could this be the high-refresh curved gaming screen you’ve been looking for? Let’s find out.

Specification:

Screen size: 31.5-inch, 16:9 aspect
Native resolution: 2,560 x 1,440
Curvature: 1500R
Refresh rate: 165Hz, AMD FreeSync Premium
Panel type: VA
Contrast ratio: 3,000:1 (typical)
Brightness: 300cd/m2
Response time: 1ms MPRT
Display inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0b 1 x DisplayPort 1.2a
USB hub: Yes, 2 x USB 2.0
Tilt: 5 degrees forward, 20 degrees backward
Raise: 130mm
Swivel: No
Portrait: No
Other: Audio output

Retail Price: £448.99 (inc. VAT)

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AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT: Sapphire shows manufacturer cards Nitro and Pulse

Sapphire is the first manufacturer to have its own versions of AMD’s Radeon RX 6800 XT and Radeon RX 6800 revealed. The company shows five models on its own product page, which are equipped with the RDNA-2 graphics chip Navi 21 alias “Big Navi” and 16 GByte GDDR6-RAM appear:

Radeon RX 6800 XT Nitro + SE Radeon RX 6000 XT Nitro + Radeon RX 6000 Nitro + Radeon RX 6800 XT Pulse Radeon RX 6800 Pulse According to the images, the Nitro versions all use the same PCB and the same cooler. The graphics cards are 310 mm long, 55, 3 mm high and 134, 3 mm thick, therefore occupy about 2.7 slots . Sapphire should therefore accommodate more cooling surface than AMD in the reference models (267 mm long, 2.5 slots thick).

As with Sapphire’s earlier versions of the Radeon R9 Fury, Radeon RX Vega 64 and Radeon RX Vega 56 the cooler protrudes over the board so that part of the air flow is discharged upwards unhindered. Nvidia and its partner manufacturers use the same principle for the GeForce RTX 3000 graphics cards Introduced.

Sapphires Radeon-RX – 6000 – graphics cards (20 Photos) Radeon RX 6800 XT Nitro + SE (Image: Sapphire) Special Edition with RGB fans SE is at Sapphire usually for Special Edition and includes the Radeon RX 696 XT Nitro + SE individually controllable RGB LEDs in the three fans and a USB-C connection with DisplayPort 1.4 Altmode and Power Delivery. The normal Nitro models only have RGB LEDs on the back and the top edge and replace the Type-C connection with a third DisplayPort 1.4 (as well as HDMI 2.1). XT and non-XT differ in the GPU expansion with 72 or 60 Compute Units (4608 vs. 3840 Shader).

The Radeon RX 6800 According to the pictures, XT Pulse uses the same cooler as the Nitro graphics cards, but without RGB LEDs and other fan covers. The Radeon RX 6000 Pulse (not XT) is built narrower with 2.5 slots. Common to all five graphics cards are the two eight-pin power connections and switchable dual BIOSes. Sapphire does not yet name clock frequencies and power limits on the product pages.

AMD brings the Radeon RX 6800 XT and Radeon RX 6000 on 18. November 696 for 650 or 580 US dollars on sale – the chip manufacturer has not yet confirmed euro prices.

(mma)

HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro vs Apple AirPods Pro: dynamic cancellation and price makes the Chinese win

On the one hand FreeBuds Pro from HUAWEI , earphones just arrived on the market from the other side Apple AirPods Pro which instead have now been present for some years. Two true wireless headphones that seek to take music listening to the next level. How do they differ? Here is our comparison.

by Editorial team published 10 November 2020 , at 09: 01 in the Audio Video channel

Apple Huawei

Apple v. HUAWEI. Android versus iOS. A comparison still open especially in the field of smartphones but now also in that of true wireless headphones, that is the earphones that in recent years have literally flooded the market among young people but also among professionals. Comfort, no wires, all connected via Bluetooth in an instant and above all an autonomy that can increase thanks to the case.

The new HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro still raise plus the asticella proposing itself as the first earphones in the world with not only active but also dynamic noise cancellation. A suffix that “ Pro ” which has a decidedly overbearing aspect in the world of in ear headphones. This is not present in the headphones of the Cupertino house which, however, introduce the element of ” spatiality ” during listening thanks to a software intervention. Aesthetically they look alike and we will see in our review if HUAWEI has surpassed the software power of Apple and its AirPods Pro with its dynamic cancellation.

AirPods Pro cost list 279 ?? while HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro are sold at a price of 179 ??. A difference of 100 ?? that we will evaluate considering the design but also the usability, the autonomy and clearly the sound.

DESIGN: similar and with silicone bulb

The most noticeable change of the AirPods Pro compared to the second generation AirPods involved the design most voted to be in-ear . After years of bucking the competition that had long since adopted earphones with silicone rubber pads, Apple has decided to use them in its new Pro version, thus managing to improve noise cancellation, a fundamental feature of this new generation of earphones.

Same thing did HUAWEI which has always adopted an “ open ” design that Apple has placed with its first and second generations of AirPods. The Chinese company has worked to make them comfortable during use even when listening to music for hours and hours. The work carried out by the Shenzhen engineers achieves an important generational leap compared to the previous FreeBuds with the ability to present itself on the market as a valid alternative to Apple’s headphones, which has always been at the top of the ranking of users’ satisfaction.

Both earphones are made of polycarbonate high quality with a main body with strongly anatomical lines capable of allowing the best ergonomics inside the auricle especially for multiple types of ears.

C ?? it is clearly the silicone bulb capable of completely sealing the auricle while the coating of the headphones is completely shiny allowing a beautiful effect sight and touch. In this case HUAWEI decides not only to focus on white but offers its own headphones with a triple color. Users can therefore choose the purchase of the FreeBuds Pro both in classic white color then the black one always totally glossy or even in Silver Frost which is opaque unlike the others. Apple with the AirPods Pro instead maintains its philosophy by offering users a single color which is then the classic white one that has always characterized every single accessory of the bitten Apple.

In both earphones we find a more or less long stem at the base of which there are holes for positioning a microphone. That of HUAWEI’s FreeBuds Pro is completely different from what we have seen so far. We have here a temple which is shorter compared to previous versions and also slightly enlarged becoming rectangular and no longer cylindrical. The reason is soon said given that inside there is practically the heart of the headset with all the concentrate of technology that concerns the dynamic noise reduction.

Apple’s AirPods Pro instead see a fully cylindrical stem with an end part which no longer has that thick and perforated chrome area present with the classic AirPods but a thin shiny circle divided into two sections, much less conspicuous especially due to the absence of the hole with the grill for the microphone. The stem as mentioned is shorter than before but above all it sees the presence of a small notch in possession of a force sensor capable of guaranteeing customized commands from iOS.

In in this case the ergonomics are still excellent for both. The headphones are very well balanced once worn and hardly, even after hours of continuous use, it will be necessary to remove them to give a little ?? of breath to the auricle. There are two magnets at the base of the legs of the earphones for connection with enclosures . Instead, the shape of the stem is different since for the FreeBuds Pro they see the presence of four very small slits which allow you to insert a double microphone as well as a duct able to completely eliminate the noise of the wind. Strongly aerodynamic design of the duct that does nothing but suppress the passing wind by effectively reducing noise and above all ensuring excellent conversations with the most crystal clear audio possible even during running sessions or even bike rides.

And just talking about the interaction of the two headphones on the stem we can only see the fact that they are similar. HUAWEI decides to keep a smooth design throughout the length of the same by proposing a touch-sensitive area to interact with the algorithm and therefore guarantee truly multiple functions for the user. There are so many interactions that can be set with your fingers via the headphone stem:

only once allows you to

Answer or End the call
Play or Pause music

To merge fingers twice allows you to

Reject the call
Play the next song

Pinching the fingers three times allows you to

Play the next song

Pinch and hold allows you to

Left: Noise Control or Activate the Voice Assistant
Right: Noise Control or Activate Voice Assistant

Finally, the sliding of the fingers along the inside of the stem allows you to increase or decrease the volume.

Apple instead it changes the design compared to the past and offers a small notch with a force sensor capable of guaranteeing customized commands from iOS. You can activate, by holding down, noise cancellation or Siri. By pressing it quickly, however, it is possible to activate the playback of the music, from where it was last time you listened to it, or to answer or end a call.

As regards the case. Both are used as the main accessory to recharge the headphones once placed inside. Their shape is different but similar. Apple tries to maintain as much as possible a rectangular shape with strongly rounded corners and rather small dimensions (60. 6 x 45. 2 x 21. 7 mm). HUAWEI, on the other hand, decides for a slightly more rounded case with a slightly larger size (70 x 27. 3 x 24. 6 mm) although it is still capable of not creating clumsy bulges in the pocket.

Both the transport and charging cases are made of rigid polycarbonate so as not to damage the headphones once inserted inside. Pleasant to the touch with a completely smooth plastic for that of Apple and matte , but only in the Silver Frost version, for HUAWEI. Build quality important for both. Present a lid firmly fixed to the upper part of the cases by means of a hinge capable of opening quickly even with one hand. Magnetic closures that tend to seal everything making it difficult to accidentally open the cases, thus preserving the earphones.

Convenient then the status LED present in both which allows you to understand based on the color if the battery of the case is charged, discharged or if the device is connected to the smartphone. Finally present the wireless charging which allows therefore simply place the case on a Qi base to start charging. Also present is the classic one wired with Lighting cables for AirPods Pro and USB-C for FreeBuds Pro.

FUNCTIONALITY?? and USE: simple, comfortable and valid

HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro and AirPods Pro are simple to use, comfortable to hold on your ears and technically sound. On the ergonomics we find them very similar given the presence for both of the silicone rubber. The user will find it for both in three different sizes and with the possibility of to measure the right size of the rubber pad once inserted through the algorithm .

For Apple it is called ” V erification of the fit of the earphones ” and can be evaluated through the menu on iOS. In this case the user, to actually understand which of the three different sizes of the rubber pads is the most reliable and perfect for the ear duct, will only have to wear the AirPods Pro then start the procedure and wait for the outcome of the? ? Apple’s algorithm that will check if that type of grommet allows the best grip in the pavilion.

For HUAWEI instead it is called ” Adaptation test ” but in truth everything is practically identical to that of Apple. In this case the test is carried out by simply listening to the music reproduced by the application which at the same time, in a completely autonomous way, understands if the size of the silicone rubber pads is the right one.

first start will be immediate for both. Just open the case and in the presence of an iPhone for the AirPods Pro and a smartphone HUAWEI for the FreeBuds Pro, you will have automatic recognition of connected headphones as soon as after the notification with on-screen popup. In case of connection to other devices you will have to act on the button present in both to put everything in pairing mode via Bluetooth.

HAUWEI enriches the FreeBuds Pro operating system by proposing a specific application on the store where it will be possible to act on the settings of the headphones and where you will always have the command of the same with related information. This allows you to use the information and commands even on other non-HUAWEI smartphones. Apple instead allows you to change the settings of the AirPods Pro only in the Settings menu which unfortunately makes them inaccessible on other non-Apple smartphones. A lack that has given rise to third-party apps for Android but which in fact allow you to have some useful information or settings, but which are not native and complete.

Again through the HUAWEI application, which we remember is downloadable on the Play Store, it is then also possible to decide whether to let the sensors detect whether or not we are wearing headphones, we can find the earphones in case we lost them outside the case and finally we can also decide whether to record the audio in high quality that is to 20 kHz .

On comfort we can only declare that we are in the presence of definitely top of the range earphones. Both guarantee use in extreme situations such as workouts or even bike rides. Once worn, both AirPods Pro and FreeBuds Pro do not pop out of the ear cup unintentionally. Clearly the silicone rubber will tend to seal more by plugging in some situations a little? more than other types of non-in-ear headphones.

In this case, for both, the ” Transparency ” mode (which HUAWEI calls Aware) and which allows you to listen to perfection everything that surrounds us without the need to remove the headphones from the ears. For HUAWEI, the Voice mode is also interesting, which allows human voices to stand out by significantly reducing environmental sounds.

QUALITY ?? SOUND: HUAWEI has dynamic cancellation

Now let’s talk about the audio quality of the earphones. In both devices the technological presence is massive above all because it is also accompanied by Artificial Intelligence capable of guaranteeing maximum comfort with noise suppression.

HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro see the presence of the Kirin A1 which is a chip specifically designed to obtain high performance with optimized encoder for stable connection without interference even in crowded environments. There is no latency that guarantees watching movies or making gaming sessions precisely without delays or system lag. On the active noise suppression we have achieved an important result especially for its dynamism that is not present in AirPods Pro. Yes, because the processor understands, thanks to the microphone, the sound level present outside and therefore allows you to calibrate the suppression in an intelligent and autonomous way.

Three mode: the Ultra one to immerse yourself in listening to music in extreme travel or high noise situations, then the Comfort which allows you to increase the user’s concentration reducing the noises of the office or library and finally the Standard mode which guarantees immersion in case of listening in a bar or a busy street. The sound is always with a high volume and above all clear and detailed in its definition even with high bass.

Apple relies on its Apple H1 chip instead also integrated on second generation classic AirPods. A processor with excellent performance both for wireless connections that hardly deteriorate or are not made. Our tests have revealed an H1 chip that is always ready when needed and above all capable of better regulating active noise cancellation. The sound is thick and deep even if, as always for Apple earphones, the bass is not exaggerated and rather is missing in some situations. Advantage for those who prefer their absence, but a disadvantage for those who cannot do without them.

Excellent predisposition of HUAWEI earphones to calls. The conversation in headphones is practically perfect with a crystal clear voice and effective for both the listener and the speaker. The tests conducted have rewarded this aspect as a result of an excellent job by the Shenzhen-based company, which has always been a pioneer in this field.

AUTONOMY: excellent for both

Apple declares the autonomy of the new AirPods Pro in 4 and a half hours with active noise cancellation with at least a 24 hours with using the charging case. The case itself allows charging both via Lightning cable and in Wireless mode, a considerable advantage in the latter case if you have any Qi-supporting base.

Indeed the autonomy confirms the expectations since with AirPods Pro we can do over four and a half hours with ANC active while watching a streaming movie or even while listening to music from Apple Music or other services. We also tried to intersperse the music or movies with HD voice calls and the result allowed us to reach 5 hours without problems.

For HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro the company declares 4 hours with ANC activated in continuous playback. The tests, however, allowed us to obtain more than 4 and a half hours of use with the cancellation activated, a sign that the potential is all there. Not only because the autonomy rises to 7 and a half hours if we do not activate the ANC. This is always playing any audio.

The battery of the case guarantees us to have up to 20 hours of playback with full charge. A really important time that in the practical test allowed us to never run out of water. On charging, the case is recharged at 6W with the USB-C port while via the wireless one it is possible to reach a maximum of 2W. The time taken is however short because the earphones take less than three quarters of an hour to reach 100% from 0 while the case with the cable charging is ” full ” in less than an hour.

So on autonomy we are practically on the same line. Apple travels with its AirPods Pro on 4 and a half hours with active noise cancellation while HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro reach and exceed 4 and a half hours. The charging case then allows both to practically obtain the 24 hours of use before having to recharge the accessory.

CONCLUSIONS: the price and the dynamic ANC makes HUAWEI win

HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro and Apple AirPods Pro are undoubtedly two of the best active noise canceling headphones on the market today in this price range. They are antagonistic to each other and in fact have improved aspects compared to past generations with the introduction, above all, of active noise reduction. The quality is high for both with a product, that of HUAWEI, devoted more to automatic adjustment of noise cancellation which becomes dynamic and therefore adapts to external situations. A significant plus that highlights the work of the Shenzhen company.

C ?? is also from emphasize the price. AirPods Pro cost 279 ?? against i 179 ?? that you will have to pay for the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro , these days and up to 11 November even discounted by additional 17 ??, to 159 ??. An important difference that could turn the balance in favor of one rather than the other as well as considering the ecosystem to work on.

	ASUS ROG Theta 7.1
Headphone design	Round, Closed
Destiny	Gaming headphones
Connectivity	Wired, USB-C extendable to USB-A
Frequency response	20 Hz – 40 kHz
Impedance	32 ohms
Converter	Neodymium, 4 per side: 40, 30, 30 and 30 mm – ESS SABER 9601
Reduce environmental noise	SI Noise Cancellation
Passthrough	No
Surround Sound	Yes, Hardware – Realtek Built-in DAC ARE Yes, software
Microphone	Detachable, uni-directional, AI noise canceling
Microphone frequency response	100 Hz – 12 kHz
Microphone sensitivity	– 40 dB ± 3 dB
Additional equipment	Detachable microphone Documentation Additional fabric pads 100 – cm USB-C to USB cable -A
Dimensions and weight	from 20 cm to 22 cm upwards from 18 cm to 29 cm wide 650 grams (real

Our Verdict

For

Against

Comfort

Build

Sound

Verdict

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DESIGN: similar and with silicone bulb

FUNCTIONALITY?? and USE: simple, comfortable and valid

QUALITY ?? SOUND: HUAWEI has dynamic cancellation

AUTONOMY: excellent for both

CONCLUSIONS: the price and the dynamic ANC makes HUAWEI win

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