Samsung Philippines announced that the Galaxy Watch5 and Galaxy Watch5 Pro are now able to track your blood pressure and take ECG (electrocardiogram) readings in the country following certification clearance and a new firmware update.
The ECG and blood pressure measurements only work with a paired Samsung phone with the latter requiring an initial setup in the Samsung Health Monitor app with an actual blood pressure monitor.
Once the initial reading is synced to the Health Monitor app, you will be able to measure your blood pressure via the Galaxy Watch5 series’ BioActive sensor and...
The best routers that support the latest Wi-Fi 6E technology are still relatively expensive, but that does mean that the current generation of Wi-Fi 6 routers is coming down in price, with models such as Asus’ new RT-AX59U Extendable router being one of the most affordable that I've seen so far.
You’re not going to get top-of-the-range performance from a router that comes in at around $150, but the Asus RT-AX59U provides good mid-range performance at a very competitive price. And, like all of the latest Asus routers, it is now described as an ‘extendable’ router – meaning that it can be used with any other Asus router that supports the company’s AiMesh technology to create a more extensive mesh network in the future.
(Image credit: Future / Cliff Joseph)
Most Wi-Fi 6 routers are festooned with antennae that are designed to improve the reach of the Wi-Fi signal, but the Asus RT-AX59U has an unusually svelte design, consisting of a slim, upright tower that takes up very little space. It stands just 200mm 131mm wide and only 37.5mm thick and weighs a mere 460g, so you can easily sit it on any convenient shelf when connecting it to your existing broadband modem or router.
Despite that slimline design, the RT-AX59U manages to squeeze in five internal antennae to help transmit the Wi-Fi signal far and wide. The router’s compact and lightweight design also means that you can easily fix it to a wall if you want - the higher the better to help the signal reach as far as possible - and there’s a wall-mount kit included in the box as well.
The Asus RT-AX59U is a good mid-range router that offers dual-band Wi-Fi 6 - using the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz frequency bands - with a top speed of 4.2Gbps (although, strictly speaking, it’s 4.177Gbps). And, as mentioned, it also supports Asus’ AiMesh technology, which allows it to work with other Asus routers as part of a wider mesh networking system if you need to upgrade your network in the future.
(Image credit: Future / Cliff Joseph)
The router also includes four Gigabit Ethernet interfaces as well - one of which is used to connect it to your existing broadband modem or router, while the other three provide wired networking for devices such as a games console or smart TV that may work better with a wired connection. There are also two USB ports, which will allow you to connect USB storage devices that you can share on your network - although it’s odd that only one of these uses USB 3.2, while the other opts for the aging USB 2.0.
(Image credit: Future / Cliff Joseph)
Asus’ Router app makes it easy to get started, as you can simply use the app to scan a QR code on the base of the router and automatically connect to the router’s new network. You’re then prompted to create a new name and password for the network, and I was pleased to see that the app also asks if you want to merge the two 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz frequency bands to create a single network, or if you prefer to create two separate networks instead.
The app has plenty of other useful features too, including a QoS option - quality of service - that allows you to prioritise specific tasks, such as gaming, so that they get maximum performance. And, unlike many of its rivals, Asus provides free parental controls, with content filters that can protect children by blocking unsuitable online material (whereas some companies require an additional monthly subscription for parental controls).
My only complaint is that I was unable to find a proper manual on Asus’ website, which might be useful for more advanced users who want greater fine control over their network settings.
(Image credit: Future / Cliff Joseph)
Asus RT-AX59U: Benchmark
Ookla Speed Test - 2.4GHz (download/upload) Within 5ft, no obstructions: 150/150Mbps
Within 30ft, three partition walls: 150/150Mbps
Ookla Speed Test - 5.0GHz (download/upload) Within 5ft, no obstructions: 150/150Mbps
Within 30ft, three partition walls: 150/150Mbps
20GB Steam download - 2.4GHz Within 5ft, no obstructions: 19MB/s
Within 30ft, three partition walls: 19MB/s
20GB Steam 20GB download - 5.0GHz Within 5ft, no obstructions: 19MB/s
Within 30ft, three partition walls: 19MB/s
You’re not going to get top-of-the-range speed from a low-cost router such as this, but the Asus RT-AX59U proves more than capable of handling anything that our 150Mbps office broadband can throw at it. As I expected, devices in the same room as the RT-AX59U don’t show any major speed improvements, recording 150Mbps on the Ookla speed test and 19MB/s for Steam downloads on both the 2.4GHz and 5.0Ghz bands.
The real test is our back office at the rear of the building, where I normally rely on PowerLine adaptors to provide a wired connection, as our normal Wi-Fi router can’t quite get a reliable signal into that room. And the RT-AX59U didn’t falter as I wandered along the corridor to the back office with our laptop, and maintained top speeds of 150Mbps for Ookla and 19MB/s for Steam on both frequency bands.
Dedicated gamers might prefer a more expensive tri-band router that would allow them to devote one of the frequency bands to their gaming rig. But the RT-AX59U will provide a good, affordable upgrade for web browsing, streaming video and other forms of online entertainment.
Asus RT-AX59U: Price & availability
How much does it cost? £124.99 (approximately US$150/AU$225)
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia
The Asus RT-AX59U has only recently been launched, and it can’t be bought directly from Asus in the US or Australia, so customers in those regions will need to shop around to buy online. However, Asus’ website in the UK lists the RT-AX59U at a very competitive £124.99 (approximately US$150/AU$225).
It’s about the same price as the Linksys Hydra 6, but the Hydra 6 isn’t as fast, offering 3.0Gbps compared to 4.2Gbps for the RT-AX59U. Alternatively, if you want something even faster, then Asus’ TUF Gaming router steps up to 5.4Gbps but is quite a bit more expensive at $199.99 / £170 / AU$369.
That combination of strong performance and competitive price makes the Asus RT-AX59U a good all-around upgrade for anyone that’s still plodding away with an ageing Wi-Fi 5 router.
Value: 5 / 5
Asus RT-AX59U: Specs
(Image credit: Future / Cliff Joseph)
Should you buy the Asus RT-AX59U?
Buy it if...
You need a Wi-Fi upgrade
If your old Wi-Fi 5 router is struggling to cope then the RT-AX59U is a really good upgrade and introduction to Wi-Fi 6.
You’re on a budget The latest Wi-Fi 6E routers are still very expensive, but the RT-AX59U provides good Wi-Fi 6 performance at a bargain price.
Don't buy it if...
You’re a serious gamer The RT-AX59U is fast enough for gaming, but its dual-band networking can easily get congested. A tri-band router will be a better option for competitive gaming.
You have lots of bedrooms The compact design of the RT-AX59U is ideal for smaller homes, but larger homes with lots of bedrooms might need a more powerful router or mesh networking system.
Asus RT-AX59U: Also consider
How I tested the Asus RT-AX59U
Tested it for 3-4 days
Used it as our main office router
Used the Ookla Speed Test app
I set up the RT-AX59U and used it as our main office router, full-time for 3-4 days. For general wi-fi performance, I used the Ookla Speed Test app. I also tested real-world download speed by downloading large game files from Steam.
We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.
Samsung’s Galaxy S23 series boast some impressive camera hardware and now Samsung is giving users a pair of accessories to leverage their cameras. The official Samsung Camera Grip and Slim Tripod are modular accessories compatible with Samsung’s Gadget Cover case. The slim transparent silicone case brings a special attachment point on the back which allows you to swap out different accessories.
Samsung Camera Grip Stand
The new Camera Grip brings a Bluetooth shutter button which is detachable and a grip area for a more traditional photo-snapping experience. The grip attachment...
The vivo iQOO Z7 5G is official and is going on sale as an Indian exclusive on March 21.
Upfront, the iQOO Z7 has a 6.38-inch 1080p AMOLED display with 90Hz refresh rate, 360Hz touch sampling rate, and an advertised 1300 nit peak brightness. There's a fingerprint scanner under the display - another highlight for the price category.
The iQOO Z7 brings a 6nm MediaTek Dimensity 920 chipset, which is the fastest in this price segment, topping over 485k on AnTuTu. You can bundle the Dimensity chip with 6GB or 8GB of RAM.
The iQOO Z7 claims a segment-first 64MP optically-stabilized...
Dell's OptiPlex 7400 All-in-one is an all-around powerhouse that shoehorns the power of a tower into a monitor's form factor. Many people think that All-in-ones can only handle lighter workloads, but thanks to the 12th Gen Intel core processors, the OptiPlex 7400 is a true workhorse capable enough for power users.
Unboxing
Unboxing the All-in-One was incredibly simple. We merely opened the box, pulled the OptiPlex 7400 AIO out, attached the base, plugged the disc drive base into the back of the unit, and then plugged in the power supply.
(Image credit: Future)
First Impressions
Dell's OptiPlex 7400 All-in-One is a handy all-in-one computer with great ports and impressive power.
Specs
Screen: 23.8-inch FHD 1920 x 1080, 60Hz
CPU: 12th Generation i3 - 12th Generation i9
Graphics: Intel® UHD Graphics 730 with 12th Generation Intel® CoreTM i3-12100, i3-12300, and i5-12400 processors
- USB Type-C® port with USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 capability
- USB 3.2 Gen 1 port with PowerShare
- Universal audio port
Rear Ports:
- RJ-45 Ethernet port
- (2) USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports
- (2) USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports with Smart Power On
- Line-out audio port
- DisplayPort++ 1.4a/HDCP 2.3 port
- HDMI-IN - HDMI 1.4a port
- HDMI-OUT - HDMI 2.0 port
Dimensions: 13.54 x 21.26 x 2.07 in / 344.00 x 540.20 x 52.60 mm
Weight: 13.62 lbs. / 6.18 Kg (minimum) - without stand 15.06 lbs. / 6.83 Kg (maximum) - without stand
While all-in-ones have their place, the most obvious benefit is not needing separate units for the monitor and the computer itself. Better yet, this computer has a camera built into the top of the display that retracts when not in use and, when needed, can be popped out (albeit manually). All in all, this all-in-one is ready to go out of the box. Thanks to its touch screen, we only needed to plug in a keyboard and mouse if we wanted to. Eventually, we added a keyboard for ease of typing and a mouse for a more traditional feel, but being able to operate the OptiPlex 7400 without peripherals was quite an interesting experience.
Another noteworthy feature of this computer is the disc drive built into the base. This does not come with all Dell OptiPlex 7400 AIO models, but ours did. For those needing a DVD+/-RW drive, having one integrated within the base of your all-in-one is incredibly handy.
Lastly, even with the stand that has the built-in disc drive, we immediately noticed how adjustable the monitor stand was. Looking at what else is available from Dell, other stand options feature a wider range of motion, yet we could still get the monitor to a comfortable position that allowed for touch, mouse, and keyboard input.
Design and Build Quality
All around, the OptiPlex 7400 is quite sturdy and sleek, thanks to its aluminum chassis. It has built-in speakers that have decent sound quality for a computer. On the back, the all-in-one has a large range of I/O ports, including DisplayPort, HDMI, USB-A, USB-C, and Thunderbolt.
We appreciated the location of them too on this all-in-one. The ports in the back were high enough on the computer that when we had it tilted down, we weren't worried about needing to adjust for the cables sticking out of the back.
In Use
Using this AIO for the last few weeks, we quickly realized just how well it caters to its target market. It is a wonderful option for business computers where space is at a premium in your workplace. The OptiPlex 7400 takes up the same space as an average monitor but being all-inclusive, there’s no need for extra space to store a separate tower unit. Furthermore, the stand can be removed entirely, presenting a VESA mounting bracket so it can be attached to a vast array of stands, arms, and brackets, thus occupying even less space.
(Image credit: Future)
The 10-point touchscreen is responsive and easy to use, making a keyboard and mouse redundant for some workflows. The touchscreen has a 23.8-inch anti-glare and anti-smudge coating and up to a 4K resolution. If the screen is rotated to portrait orientation, the computer recognizes that it has been turned and automatically matches the display to the proper direction.
(Image credit: Future)
Turning to the audio, the built-in speakers are better than your average monitor speakers.
However, they are nothing mind-blowing. They will be more than satisfactory if used in an office setting for quick videos, quiet music, video calls, or notification dings, but nothing more.
This all-in-one has a wide range of ports on the back and left side. There are multiple video outputs, several USB ports - including USB-C - and an ethernet port. Since this is an all-in-one, this computer also has an HDMI-IN, allowing the computer to become a display for a separate client.
Final Verdict
Throughout our time using this all-in-one, we noticed it ran relatively quietly and stayed cool, even during benchmark testing. Though that is not to say it is designed to take on the most intensive tasks. It fared well in our tests; however, if you are looking for an incredibly powerful workstation, this is not your computer. But it is an excellent option if you need something for an office, meeting space or the like.
Looking for a standing desk for your office? Check out our Best Standing Desks
Lenovo’s Legion line of gaming laptops has been putting out bangers for years. Back in 2021, we reviewed the previous model of this laptop - the RTX 2060-equipped Lenovo Legion 5i - and were generally impressed by the solid performance and fair pricing. More recently, we awarded the Legion 5 Pro a rare 5-star review, again citing its excellent gaming capabilities and sensible price tag.
We’re pleased to report that having spent some time with the most recent 2022 model of the Lenovo Legion 5i, it remains able to trade blows with the best gaming laptops and packs a punch despite its humble appearance.
The model we tested came with an Intel Core i7-12700H CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card, which puts it pretty squarely in the mid-range space as far as gaming laptops go. There’s a variety of other models with different processors and GPUs, all of which look to offer a comparable price-to-performance ratio to our review unit.
(Image credit: Future)
Although this model of the Lenovo Legion 5i (2022) comes with a 1440p display, the RTX 3060 inside it is arguably more of a 1080p card. You can squeeze some extra frames out of it at 1440p using Nvidia’s nifty DLSS tech, however, so the pairing isn’t entirely foolish. There are models of the Legion 5i (and the AMD Ryzen-powered Legion 5) that use a 1080p display instead, but we think opting for the higher resolution is worth it here since the display on our review model is actually excellent for the asking price.
On top of generally solid performance and specs, the Lenovo Legion 5i is also just a very nice piece of hardware. It might sound like a silly thing to fixate on, but all of the best laptops have an appealing physical design, and the Legion 5i is no exception; a sleek metallic grey finish with a backlit keyboard and a robust hinge.
Lenovo hasn’t skimped on the features here either, with a solid selection of physical ports and the latest Wi-Fi 6E capabilities. The DDR5 memory is a great added bonus (especially since a lot of more affordable gaming laptops are still rocking DDR4, and it’s not a mandatory upgrade for the 12th-gen Intel CPU), and we were surprised to see not just regular USB-C ports but also a Thunderbolt 4 port.
It’s a bit on the heavy side, and the battery life is unsurprisingly garbage, two pitfalls that almost every gaming laptop trips into. Ultimately though, this isn’t a laptop for on-the-go gaming; it’s a desktop replacement system, and it does that just fantastically.
Lenovo Legion 5i (2022) review: Price and availability
Starts at $1,099.99 / £1,293.49 / AU$2,349
UK version tested costs £1,800
Massive variety of configurations
The Lenovo Legion 5i starts at $1,099.99 in the US, which gets you essentially the same system as the one we’ve reviewed here, but with a 1080p display and an RTX 3050 Ti instead of an RTX 3060. For our money, the 1080p RTX 3060 model available in the US is a massively better value since it’s only marginally more expensive at $1,229.99.
The highest-spec model - which packs double the RAM and an RTX 3070 Ti GPU - costs $2,499.99 - not quite as much bang for your buck, in our opinion. There are also the Legion 5i Pro models and Legion 5 models of both (which use AMD Ryzen CPUs; note the lack of ‘i’ denoting ‘Intel’). The cheapest Legion 5 available costs $1,049.99, but we wouldn’t recommend getting the bottom-dollar model.
(Image credit: Future)
Our review model is a UK unit that costs £1,500 (AU$3,169), which doesn’t quite hold up to the US pricing but is still decent considering the 1440p screen and i7 processor (the cheaper models in the US use a Core i5-12500H). It looks like this exact model isn’t available in the US; if you want a higher resolution, it means opting for a slightly bigger screen. We ran our tests in 1080p, though, so the performance stats found below will be useful for both British and American readers.
Overall, it’s not going to touch the best cheap laptops out there if you’re looking for a super-budget device, but it does offer a strong level of performance and a wide feature set for the asking price. It’s also worth noting that Lenovo has regular flash sales on its own online store, and many of its gaming laptops come with a free 3-month trial of PC Game Pass, further adding to the value.
Price score: 4.5/5
Lenovo Legion 5i (2022) review: Specs
The Lenovo Legion 5i comes in a wide range of configurations, with the CPU and GPU being the primary varying factor. It can come with an Intel Core i5 or i7 processor and a variety of Nvidia RTX 3000 GPUs, from the 3050 up to the 3070 Ti. RAM and SSD capacity also vary between models; you can see the version we received below, along with the highest-spec and lowest-spec configurations.
(Image credit: Future)
Lenovo Legion 5i (2022) review: Design
Robust, well-designed chassis
Relatively thin, but heavy
Ports are mostly on the rear edge
Lenovo hasn’t made any huge changes to the physical design of the Legion laptop line for a little while, but that’s fine by us. This Legion 5i is a good-looking laptop with a relatively minimalist style, a far cry from the gaudy RGB-laden products that typically populate the gaming laptop section of your local tech hardware store.
The exterior is mostly brushed metal, which gives the chassis a solid, durable feel that should hold up to bumps and drops. It’s also thinner than many gaming laptops in its power and price class, making it a bit more portable, but this is somewhat counteracted by the metal construction resulting in increased overall weight. It’s not the heaviest gaming laptop we’ve reviewed, but at two and a half kilos for a 15-inch model, it’s certainly not lightweight.
While there are some USB ports and a headphone jack on the sides of the laptop, most of the physical ports are situated along the back edge. This will be a matter of personal taste; we’re divided here on the TechRadar team as to whether these rear ports are actually more convenient. Some gaming laptops position literally all the ports on the rear edge, which can make plugging in a USB mouse or flash drive inconvenient, so it’s good to see that at least some of the ports are more accessible here.
(Image credit: Future)
The keyboard isn’t doing anything particularly revolutionary here, but it’s comfortable to use and the slightly curved shape of the keycaps means that your fingers easily find each key when you’re typing. Lenovo has done a good job of packing in a full-scale keyboard with a numpad here. Nothing feels cramped, and the arrow keys jut out slightly from the keyboard’s outline to avoid compacting the up and down buttons (as many laptops do).
The touchpad is perfectly fine but isn’t likely to see much use since this is a gaming laptop, and anyone using it for extended periods is almost certainly going to connect a gaming mouse. The same goes for the twin stereo speakers, which are functional but decidedly unimpressive. Know that you’re going to want a proper gaming headset - though again, this is a criticism we could level at the majority of gaming laptops.
Design score: 4/5
(Image credit: Future)
Lenovo Legion 5i (2022) review: Features
Wi-Fi 6E and Thunderbolt 4 support
Good display
Legion software suite is just okay
The Lenovo Legion 5i’s display is a pretty straightforward 1440p panel, which offers a snappy 165Hz refresh rate for esports gaming and generally pretty excellent color reproduction. We do wish the blacks were a little deeper, but considering the price point here, we couldn’t reasonably expect visual perfection. Some cheaper versions are available with a 1080p display instead (specific model availability varies a lot between regions, though).
Above the display is a 720p webcam and mic array, which feel like a bit of an afterthought but are a welcome inclusion nonetheless for anyone who might want to use this laptop for video calls. We were pleased to see a physical kill switch for the camera on the side of the laptop, so you can disable it when you’re not using it. Don’t expect to use it for streaming, though, since we’d say 1080p is really the minimum for that.
All models of the Legion 5i (including the entry-level configurations) use Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.1. The former has been around for a while in more premium gaming laptops, so it’s good to see that it’s now becoming the norm - replacing the slower Wi-Fi 6 standard - in more budget-friendly devices too.
(Image credit: Future)
There’s also Thunderbolt 4 support, specifically for one of the USB-C ports on the laptop's right-hand side. It can’t be used for input power delivery so you won’t be able to charge the laptop with this port, but the speed of Thunderbolt 4 will no doubt be a boon for users who intend to take advantage of the USB-C ports.
Lastly, we need to discuss the preinstalled software that comes with the Legion 5i. Lenovo Vantage is a relatively straightforward utility software for monitoring and tweaking your system performance; it’s nothing groundbreaking, but it does the job well enough. There’s also the Legion AI Engine, which uses deep learning to intelligently redirect power between the CPU and GPU to optimize performance.
Legion Arena, on the other hand, is pointless. It’s a ‘shared launcher’ tool that allows you to launch games from different apps (like Steam, Epic, or GoG) all in one convenient place. Every gaming laptop seems to have a version of this now, and it’s broadly useless. What’s wrong with desktop shortcuts?
Features: 4.5/5
Lenovo Legion 5i (2022) review: Performance
1080p is ideal; 1440p is an option for most games
12th-gen Intel i7 CPU works hard
Gets a little warm when gaming
Benchmarks
Here's how the Lenovo Legion 5i (2022) performed in our suite of benchmark tests:
3DMark Night Raid: 52,681; Fire Strike: 20,792; Time Spy: 9,753 Cinebench R20 multi-core: 7,313 GeekBench 5: 1,768 (single-core); 12,904 (multi-core)
PCMark 10 (Modern Office): 8,062 PCMark 10 (Battery life test): 3 hours and 32 minutes TechRadar Battery Life Test: 3 hours and 59 minutes Total War: Warhammer III (1080p, Ultra): 66 fps; (1080p, Low): 175 fps Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p, Ultra): 70 fps; (1080p, Low): 113 fps Dirt 5 (1080p, Ultra): 75 fps; (1080p, Low): 159 fps
Considering the price point, the overall performance of the Lenovo Legion 5i (2022) is incredible. Sure, that RTX 3060 isn’t going to blow you away with 4K gaming delights, but it provides excellent framerates at 1080p in all the best PC games. You can comfortably play Cyberpunk 2077 at maxed-out settings in FHD without your fps dropping below 60.
It’s definitely competent enough to make full use of the 1440p display in our review model, too - provided you dial back the graphical settings a bit. You can also use DLSS to boost the framerate at higher resolutions. We don’t feature these in our benchmarking tests since they’re not running natively, but you should be aware that it’s an option!
The Intel Core i7-12700H at the heart of this Legion laptop is fantastic; the upgraded performance/efficiency split core architecture of Intel’s 12th-generation processors produces amazing multicore performance, meaning that the Legion 5i sings in CPU-intensive games such as real-time strategy titles. DDR5 memory support is also a nice bonus here; Lenovo could’ve easily stuck with cheaper DDR4 instead.
(Image credit: Future)
CPU performance outside of games is great too, with decent results in the Cinebench R20 and GeekBench 5 multicore tests. The midrange GPU means that this isn’t going to be the perfect machine for high-end workloads like video editing or 3D animation, but it should be able to handle some casual creative work - something that is in increasing demand among younger users.
The twin fans that comprise the Legion 5i’s cooling solution aren’t too noisy - a rare sight among gaming laptops these days, which frequently sound like they’re about to blast off Team Rocket-style - but the laptop’s metal casing does get a bit warm on the underside during extended use.
It’s nothing too egregious (we’ve reviewed laptops that could double as space heaters) but it’s too hot to actually put it on your lap while you’re gaming. If you’re planning on using this laptop for long gaming sessions, you might want to invest in one of the best laptop cooling pads - or just get a hardback book to prop up the back edge and give the fans underneath some breathing room.
Performance score: 4.5/5
(Image credit: Future)
Lenovo Legion 5i review: Battery life
Maxes out at four hours
Significantly less for actual gaming use
Supports fast charging
We could fill this entire section in basically every gaming laptop review with a single sentence reading ‘look, it’s a gaming laptop; the battery life is bad’. But we won’t, because we’re professional journalists (and our editorial overlords would shout at us).
This wasn’t a shock. With any modern gaming laptop you’re going to spend most of your time near a wall outlet, and the overall battery life isn’t terrible, so we can’t count it too much against the Legion 5i. On the bright side, it charges very fast indeed, topping the battery up by as much as 80% in just half an hour.
Battery life: 3.5/5
Should you buy the Lenovo Legion 5i (2022)?
Buy it if...
You want bang for your buck
While there are certainly cheaper laptops out there, the Lenovo Legion 5i (2022) offers a perfectly sound price-to-performance proposition with affordable entry-level configurations.
You need lots of ports
The Legion 5i has basically every physical connection you could want from a gaming laptop, including Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, and an Ethernet port to ensure your internet connection remains speedy and stable.
You like esports games
The 165Hz screen is great for twitchy esports shooters like CS:GO and Valorant, where high refresh rates are king, and the RTX 3060 GPU should be able to easily handle running those games at buttery-smooth framerates.
Don't buy it if...
You’re a streamer Anyone hunting for a gaming laptop to stream on Twitch with should probably be looking at some slightly higher-end hardware; the 720p camera and RTX 3060 on offer here aren’t quite going to cut it.
You don’t want to wear a headset While most gamers will be perfectly happy with donning a pair of cans to play, some prefer speaker audio - and in this area, the Legion 5i underdelivers. If you want to be playing music, movies, or game audio out loud, you may be better served elsewhere.
You want ultra portability The Lenovo Legion 5i (2022) is actually fairly thin and compact for a gaming laptop, but its all-metal construction makes it quite heavy overall, and it’s still a 15-inch laptop so it won’t fit in smaller bags.
Lenovo Legion 5i (2022) review: Also consider
If our Lenovo Legion 5i (2022) review has you considering other options, here are two more laptops to consider...
How I tested the Lenovo Legion 5i (2022)
(Image credit: Future)
I used the laptop for everyday work for two weeks
I played games on it for just under eight hours in total
I dropped it on my kitchen floor
Anyone who knows me won't be shocked to hear that I've reviewed dozens upon dozens of gaming laptops, and at this point, my testing process is quite refined. I spent close to eight hours just playing games such as Destiny 2 and Cyberpunk 2077 on the Lenovo Legion 5i (2022) - outside of work hours, to be clear - as well as using it for general tasks during the day.
I specifically used it to write the majority of this review (along with some other articles) in order to get a good feel of the keyboard quality, and specifically used it without a mouse for the majority of my non-gaming time with it - something I would never normally do, but it's useful for gauging the performance of the trackpad.
I also, upon first unboxing the Legion 5i, managed to drop it directly onto the wooden floor of my kitchen. This was not an intentional piece of durability testing, but the laptop was mercifully undamaged, allowing me to remark on its robust chassis. While years of testing laptops may have attuned me to their strengths and flaws, it has not made me any less of a klutz.
The Oppo Find X6 Pro is arriving next week, and the phone maker shared some camera samples, confirming once again the partnership with Swedish photography company Hasselblad and revealing some details about its cameras.
The trio of photos revealed incredible details in picture clarity, as well as some minor details on the shooters. The primary camera is going to have a 23mm equivalent lens with an f/1.8 aperture; the eagle shot's EXIF reads 144mm focal length, but that could well include digital zoom. It does confirm a very bright f/2.6 aperture on the telephoto lens, though.
Oppo...
Is Ice Universe is obsessed with bezel thickness? Yes, but we don’t mind – The Cat reports that the upcoming Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max will set a new record in that regard.
The black border around the screen of the new flagship will measure only 1.55mm, way down from the 2.17mm of the current iPhone 14 Pro Max. The current record is held by the Xiaomi 13 with 1.81mm thickness. For comparison, the Galaxy 22 and S23 bezels are around 1.95mm.
The glass panels of the iPhone 15 series were shown on video a couple of weeks ago. The person handling the panels reported that the bezels on the Pro...
Qualcomm just announced its Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 chipset for upper-midrange phones and now Xiaomi and Realme have confirmed their first phones set to utilize the latest SoC. The official Weibo pages for both brands confirmed their upcoming devices will be the Redmi Note 12 Turbo and Realme GT Neo5 SE.
In addition, tipster Yogesh Brar revealed that the Poco F5 is also set to launch with the SD7+ Gen2 chip soon. Qualcomm is also rumored to launch another midrange chipset with the Snapdragon 685 and we get info that it might debut on the Redmi Note 12 4G.
Redmi Note 12 Turbo and...
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 is the cheapest entry into the Arctis line, providing an accessible way in the world of dedicated headsets. Armed with a 3.5mm jack for connectivity, you can use this model on various devices, such as your PS5 or Nintendo Switch, or Xbox Series X.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 gains extra points because you can use it on any device with a headphone jack, such as one of the best Android phones. It’s a viable, if dull option, for a starter setup. It does just enough to be considered one of the best wired gaming headsets.
Price and availability
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 is currently available for $59.99 / £49.99 / AU$139, which makes it one of the best budget gaming headsets on the market. It was released in August 2022 and essentially replaces the older SteelSeries Arctis 3 from 2019. You’ve got the choice of either white or black, though you’ll see the black variant discounted more often.
Design and Features
(Image credit: Future)
Nothing stands out about the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1. You’ve got a sturdy ski-band head strap, as you’ll find with some of the SteelSeries’ other models, coupled with some memory foam earcups. What I most appreciate about the design above all is the lightweight nature of the headset, as it clocks in at just 236g grams, making it one of the lighter headsets I’ve had sat on my head for some time.
You’ll find the standard suite of on-cup controls with the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1, including a volume rocker and a mute mic button placed sensibly behind your head for easy access. The microphone is cleverly hidden in the main body of the right cup and sits flush with rounded edges. It’s a neat touch, as it can be pulled out, ready for use, and retracted when you don’t need it. It also means that there’s no risk of losing it as you may with a detachable mic, nor do you have to put up with its presence at all times.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 is rocking the same 40mm custom Neodymium audio drivers that you’ll find in higher-end offerings, such as the SteelSeries Arctis 7P+ Wireless. It’s great SteelSeries didn’t cheap out with smaller or weaker audio drivers here. As expected from a vastly cheaper headset, the frequency range and sensitivity aren’t as good as with the flagship models; you’re looking at 20–22,000 Hz and 93 dB, which is serviceable for a broad soundscape but will miss the more nuanced details.
Performance
(Image credit: Future)
Considering the price tag, I was impressed by what the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 was able to crank out both as a gaming headset and as a pair of wired headphones. For the asking price of $59.99 / £49.99 / AU$139, you’re getting a lot of bang for your buck here, as this model sounds better than it has any right to be.
I wasn’t exactly blown away by the sound reproduction when playing Dead Space on PS5, but every key beat was present. I could accurately hear Isaac Clarke’s heavy footsteps, slamming doors behind me, and the screech of undead nasties bursting out of the vents. It’s a similar story with EA UFC 4, the headset captures everything from checked leg kicks to knockout strikes with suitable weight, despite feeling a little flat and muddy at times when the audience piped up.
Listening to music with the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 is a pleasant experience, but it doesn’t really wow either. I put the 3.5mm jack-enabled headset through its paces with Party Cannon’s Partied in Half EP and Pharmacist’s Flourishing Extremities On Unspoiled Mental Grounds album. Surprisingly, there’s enough bass presence and accuracy on the low end to convey the weight needed with minimal fuzziness. Listening on my Sony Xperia 1 II, softer genres of music sound better, such as Aqua Regia by Sleep Token and Fight by Me and That Man. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 is no replacement for the best headphones, but they aren’t a write-off.
Where I felt most let down by the SteelSeries Arctis 1 was with the microphone itself. While the quality is passable, it’s the connectivity method where this model suffers. Because you can only plug in with a 3.5mm jack through the DualSense or Xbox Wireless Controller, you don’t come through as crystal clear as with USB. A dedicated splitter, featuring both a microphone and headphone jack, is provided for use on PC, and I found it to be a little middling when hooked up to my Razer Blade 15.
As much as the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 achieves as a budget product, I can’t help but think you’re better served by spending a little more and going for the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 instead. At $99 / £85 / AU$199 (roughly $40 / £35 / $AU60 more), you’re getting a far more capable gaming headset that sounds much better, and benefits from microphone monitoring and USB-A and USB-C connectivity. Still, if you’re in a tight spot and after something cheap and cheerful, the Nova 1 could be the right holdover.
(Image credit: Future)
Should you buy the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 headset?
Buy it if…
You’re working with a tight budget
While the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 isn’t exceptional, it’s certainly decent enough for the asking price of $59.99 / £49.99 / AU$139 from a build and sound quality point of view.
You need an extra pair of headphones
The 3.5mm jack on the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 means you can also use them as dedicated headphones on a compatible smartphone or gaming laptop. They sound good enough to be considered a good spare if you need something sturdy to chuck into your bag.
Don't buy it if...
You want fuss-free connectivity
There’s no getting around the inelegant solution of the headphone and microphone splitter cable included here. With headsets like this, USB is the way to go, making this outdated choice a little hard to understand.
You want microphone monitoring
If you’d like to hear yourself through the chaos of gameplay, then the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 isn’t for you. You’re better off spending a little extra money and opting for the Nova 3 instead.
