Today Motorola has officially taken the wraps off the Moto G Play (2024). This phone will become available in the US at Amazon, Best Buy, and Motorola's online store on February 8 for just $149.99. Subsequently, you'll also find it at Consumer Cellular, Verizon, Xfinity Mobile, Visible, Cricket, AT&T, UScellular, Cox Mobile, Straight Talk, Walmart Family Mobile, Total by Verizon, and Simple Mobile.
In Canada, it arrives earlier, namely on January 26, at "select carriers and national retailers" but unfortunately Motorola hasn't announced a price for Canada, only saying it varies by...
When it comes to advancing the tech of OLED TVs, brightness is usually the big battleground, and Panasonic is putting forward its best fighter yet. The flagship Panasonic Z95A OLED TV for 2024 is a knockout in picture quality from my earlier experience with it, combining Panasonic's 'Master OLED Ultimate' panel with boosted micro lens array (MLA) tech and an upgraded processor to achieve next-level brightness.
The new Panasonic Z95A model was announced on January 8, and while I've seen it in action, I haven't yet been able to measure just how much brighter it is – but given that last year's flagship Panasonic MZ2000 beat out the competition (it achieved 1,480 nits in Filmmaker mode and 1,366 nits in Standard picture mode, making it brighter than the LG G3 and Samsung S95C), there's a good chance we might see a repeat of this result over the LG G4 and Samsung S95D in 2024.
Outside of the upgraded panel, Panasonic has also made some other big changes, including a partnership with Amazon to use the Fire TV software instead of Panasonic's own platform. This brings together Panasonic's elite TV tech with Amazon's slick interface, which means that you can access all of Fire TV's bevy of smart features, such as Alexa-enabled smart home control, its Ambient Experience, and its great streaming service support. There are also new gaming features, including a 144Hz refresh rate for PC gamers, but the Z95A still only comes with two HDMI 2.1 ports.
Will the Panasonic Z95A be this year's best OLED TV? It's far too early to tell without being able to do our own test of the picture quality, but I did get a look at it during CES 2024, and was bowled over by its crisp picture detail and intuitive smart home features.
Panasonic's Z95A: Likely price and availability
From left to right, the 77-inch Z93A beside the 65-inch and 55-inch Z95A in the Panasonic booth at CES 2024. (Image credit: Future)
Announced in January 2024
Likely to be released later this year
No confirmed price yet
The Panasonic Z95A OLED TV comes in two screen sizes, both 55- and 65-inches. Unlike last year's MZ2000, though, the TV maker has released the larger 77-inch size under a different model name. It's calling it the Z93A and from what we can tell, this mainly comes down to the fact that it uses a 'Master OLED Pro Cinema panel', which is essentially the same as you'll find in the Panasonic MZ1500 (i.e. no MLA), making it less bright than the Z95A (which is visible in person, but the Z93A certainly isn't dim by OLED standards).
As is usual with Panasonic TVs, these won't come to the US, but will be available in the UK, Europe and Japan. When will they be available to buy in these markets? Panasonic will likely release the TVs much later this year (the MZ200 arrived in the second half of 2023) so we don't yet know how much they will cost. But we expect to see similar prices to the MZ2000, which launched at £2,699 for the 55-inch, £3,599 for the 65-inch, and £4,499 for the 77-inch.
It would be nice if Panasonic could bring down the cost of the sets to be more in line with its rivals this year – last year's MZ2000 was priced higher than the same sized 65-inch LG G3, and 55-inch and 77-inch Samsung S95C – but it's not likely. Panasonic uses much more advanced speaker tech, which must add to the price, for example.
Panasonic's Z95A: Features
A Panasonic spokesperson demonstrates the new Fire TV features by asking Alexa to open the curtains and turn on the lights. (Image credit: Future)
Fire TV Ambient Experience and Alexa widgets
Access to Apple Home and Google Assistant
144Hz refresh rate for PC gamers
The most attention grabbing new feature with the Z95A is the Amazon Fire TV software. It replaces Panasonic's smart TV platform, my Home Screen 8.0, which was what we found to be one of the downsides in last year's MZ2000 because it was clunky and difficult to navigate. The home screen is now a curated feed of the best streaming services, allowing you to see what you're watching instantly and easily navigate between apps. You can also set up a profile so you can better curate personalized recommendations.
Access to the Fire TV Ambient Experience also means that the Z95A can be a central hub for your smart home, giving you the ability to control smart home devices with Alexa. During a demo of these features, we were able to see how you could simply command Alexa to draw the curtains or turn off the lights via the TV. Even in a busy convention center, the mics were able to pick up commands like "Alexa turn on the lights" or "Alexa open the curtains" and trigger the actions on an adorably miniature sized home model (as seen in the picture above). With access to Apple Home, AirPlay and Google Chromecast, you'll also be able to use tools like viewing a security camera's livestream. It's very much the future of home tech that puts the TV at the center of the home.
As for gamers, the Z95A is packed to the brim with gaming features, including 4K 144Hz as a new feature (compared to 4K 120Hz in the MZ2000), while VRR, ALLM, AMD FreeSync Premium, Nvidia G-Sync and Dolby Vision gaming capabilities all return from last year's MZ2000. However, there are still only two HDMI 2.1 ports, which is a bit of a shame considering the focus on improving the gaming experience as a whole.
Panasonic packed in an improved processor called the HCX Pro AI Processor Mk II, which not only enhances the picture quality but powers new gaming features, such as a new Game Mode Extreme that instantly updates the TV's settings to be more gaming optimized. To access these features, there's also the Game Control Board, which works as a dashboard for all the adjustable gaming settings.
Panasonic Z95A: Picture quality
Even though they're small dots (admittedly in bunches), the white tones in this image pop a little more on the Z95A (left) than the MZ980 (right). In real life, it's even starker. (Image credit: Future)
Master OLED Pro Cinema panel with MLA tech
Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ Adaptive and HLG support
It's the enhanced HCX Pro AI Processor Mk II that's also behind a lot of the improved picture quality in the Panasonic Z95A. In addition to Dolby Vision gaming at 144Hz, the chip powers Dolby Vision IQ Precision for added picture precision and brightness. It's also behind a new '4K Remaster Engine', which Panasonic says gives automatic noise reduction a boost when watching the best streaming services. Outside of Dolby Vision, there's also the usual support for popular formats such as HDR10+ Adaptive, HDR10 and HLG.
The combination of the new processor, boosted MLA panel and Panasonic's multi-layer heat management configuration has given the Z95A a boost in brightness and overall picture quality. When viewing the model next to the Z93A during a demo, the lack of MLA in the larger model is slightly noticeable. But what was even more of a stark contrast was when comparing the Z95A to the MZ980, which of course isn't exactly a fair comparison given that it's not the flagship model from last year, but uses a 'regular' OLED panel without MLA or Panasonic's other brightness-boosting tech.
Regardless, I could see that the whites were far starker and stood out considerably – in fact by so much that you can even slightly see the difference in the picture above for yourself (if you look at the center of the image, the whites appear more fuller and brighter on the left than they do on the right), though this is way more pronounced in person. The spectrum of colors was also another major difference between the two. The Z95A set looked to have a level richness that made it pop a lot more when compared to the MZ980.
Panasonic Z95A: Sound quality
The 55-inch and 65-inch Z95A shown off at the Panasonic conference during CES 2024. (Image credit: Future)
Dolby Atmos sound with 360 Soundscape Pro
Customizable directional speakers
The audio quality of the Z95A was another high point during the demo. Panasonic's 360 Soundscape Pro tech provides Dolby Atmos spatial audio with seven speaker channels, which means you won't need one of the best soundbars to get immersive audio.
During the demo, I also got to test out the 'Pinpoint Positioning' feature in the audio settings, which lets you manually adjust the direction of the speakers depending on your living room setup. While most households will no doubt sit directly in front of their TVs, I can see this feature being useful in more of a mismatch setting – it steers the 'sweet spot' of the sound to wherever you're sitting, including off to the side.
From a technical standpoint, the only slight difference between the 55- and 65-inch Z95A is that the larger model has a slightly higher wattage of 160W (compared to 150W). In terms of the speaker channels, there are two side-firing, two upward-firing, three forward firing, and a subwoofer.
Panasonic Z95A: Early verdict
The Z95A delivers richer colors than the MZ980 when shown side by side. (Image credit: Future)
While the Panasonic Z95A OLED TV may not look too different on the surface from last year's MZ2000 – it has the same swivel design and black bezels – there's a lot going on under the hood that shows how it has improved.
From what I've seen so far, my first impressions are that it has a lot of promise to be a knockout OLED TV in 2024 and I'll be excited to hear more about what Panasonic decides on the pricing front, and to get it in our testing labs. As ever, it's such a pity that our US readers will miss out on it.
The Puget System workstation PC is a tough product to review in a traditional sense, since there's very little on the market to really compare it to outside of enterprise channels other than the Mac Pro, but there is no doubt that when it comes to professional workstations running anything other than macOS, Puget Systems can build you exactly what you need. You'll just have to pay for the privilege.
The unit I received in for review featured an AMD Threadripper Pro 5975WX 32-core CPU, which isn't even the latest workstation chip available, and still cost close to $11,500 in the US. Playing around with the part configurator, you can build a system that can cost you close to $40,000, but which will likely have more computing power than just about anyone in or out of industry would ever really need. But hey, if investors are lining up to sign the check, there are worse systems to splurge on, believe me.
We've tested many of the best workstations out there, and in terms of performance, you'll get a PC that's only as good as its parts. Fortunately, the Puget Systems workstation has a huge assortment of parts to choose from, both mainstream and pro-channel components like Nvidia Ada workstation GPUs. This also means that a Puget Systems workstation can range in price from eye-watering to bank-account-shattering.
The lowest configurable system I was able to put together using Puget Systems' online builder costs $3,132.26, while the most devil-may-care configuration I was able to build ran to just under $61,000, and quite frankly it could beat the Mac Pro into the ground through the sheer weight of its specs, including multiple 48GB Nvidia RTX 6000 Ada cards and 1TB DDR5-5600 REG ECC.
Understandably, that was not the system Puget Systems sent me for review. That system, which featured an AMD Threadripper Pro WRX80 ATX board with a Threadripper Pro 5975WX 32-core processor, 256GB DDR4-3200 REG ECC memory, an Nvidia RTX 4090 GPU, a 4TB Sabrent 4TB Rocket 4 Plus SSD, Noctua CPU cooling fans and a Fractal Design Define 7 case came out to $10,569.12, not including shipping.
For the same price, I could get a Mac Pro with M2 Ultra with 24-core CPU, 76-core GPU, and 32-core neural engine, 192GB unified memory, and 4TB SSD storage in a stainless steel frame (without $400 wheels), no peripherals, and no preinstalled software for $10,599.
While that Mac Pro configuration is undoubtably solid, that really is as good as it gets right now as far as Mac Pro units go, and we haven't even touched the tip of the iceberg for what Puget Systems is capable of producing. Yes, without question, you will end up paying a serious premium to beat the Mac Pro. But if you're playing with these kinds of table stakes, the kind of workstation you can build with Puget Systems will simply outclass anything that the Mac Pro can provide at this point, especially if you're looking at a workload that isn't easily portable to macOS like machine learning workloads that rely almost exclusively on Nvidia's CUDA.
Ultimately, whatever Apple's Mac Pro can do, so can a Puget Systems workstation, and if you've got a workload that doesn't easily square with the almighty cheese grater, Puget Systems will be able to build you exactly what you need.
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Puget Systems Workstation: Price & availability
As a custom workstation builder, Puget Systems PCs can range in price from the more modest AMD Ryzen 7000-series or Intel 13th-gen PCs starting at about $3,000 and going all the way up to an AMD Threadripper Pro 7995WX 96-core monster with 1TB DDR5-5600 REG ECC (8x128GB) memory, three 48GB Nvidia RTX 6000 Ada GPUs, a 25 gigabit PCIe network card, a pair of Micron 15.36TB 7450 Pro NVMe U.3 SSDs (6,800 MB/s read), an additional pair of 8TB NVMe M.2 SSDs rated for 7,000 MB/s read), an Asus 24x DVD-RW SATA drive for the hell of it, a 1600W 80 Plus Platinum PSU, a 360mm AIO CPU cooler, and a Noctua case fans upgrade kit to help cool this beast; all for $60,832.03, built to order, and you can get it in about a month.
In our Mac Pro review, meanwhile, we noted it maxes out at an Apple M2 Ultra with 24-core CPU, 76-core GPU, 32-core neural engine, 192GB unified memory, 8TB SSD storage, additional wheels for the workstation, a magic mouse and magic trackpad, and preinstalled Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro, at a total cost of $12,847.98.
For a lot of folks, especially video editors or musicians, the choice of a Mac Pro will be a foregone conclusion, especially if you're very used to the ecosystem and the workflow from specific Mac-only apps. Many users won't be able to easily connect or port over their workloads to a windows based system, so this might be something of a wistful bit of Windows shopping (or Linux, if you prefer, Ubuntu 22.04 LTS can be preinstalled on a Puget Systems workstation), and if that's you, then you know best what you need.
However, if you're not tied into the macOSphere and you're wondering what you can get beyond the Mac Pro, well, you can get an awful lot, especially if you've got the budget to go big.
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Puget Systems Workstation: Specs
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Puget Systems Workstation: Design
Where Puget Systems really shows off its work is in the design of its workstations. While all of the parts are sourced from major parts manufacturers like Sabrent, PNY, Noctua, and others, Puget Systems goes further than simply installing your components and calling it a day.
From the transparent plastic braces Puget Systems uses to mount CPU coolers and hold up heavyweight graphics cards to the pristine installation of case fans and cable management, the interior of a Puget Systems workstation is some truly high-quality building.
Even more impressive is the binder Puget Systems sends along with your well-packaged workstation. Not only does it catalog the steps your workstation's technician, who is named in the documentation, takes to assemble your build with individual timestamps for progress, the binder is also full of individual benchmark scores using the latest tools to measure PC performance.
Not only does this help ensure that your workstation arrives in working condition, it also shows that the unit didn't leave the shop without undergoing sufficient testing to make sure it was in good working order.
Moving out from the internals, the exterior of the Define 7 case is more than adequate for a workstation that is meant to get work done rather than it is to look pretty for investors, but you won't need to hide this away when the VCs come by to take a look at your operations.
In terms of assembly and setup, it really is as simple as pulling the Define 7 case package out of the larger Puget Systems box, sliding out the workstation, plugging it in, and pressing power. You might need to provide your own peripherals, but if you've spent this kind of money at this point, you'll already be on the prowl for the best business monitors, best office keyboards, and other office essentials.
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Puget Systems Workstation: Performance
Performance is something of a moving target on a Puget Systems workstation since so much is going to depend on the build you select. In my case, the workstation I built was more geared toward matching the Mac Pro in terms of price, rather than trying to go as high up the stack on specs as I could.
Still, I did benchmark the hell out of this system, putting CPU, GPU, and other components through the ringer as well as using this as my main workstation PC for close to two months (thanks to the infinite patience of the Puget Systems team), so I certainly didn't skimp on data, even if your mileage is going to vary quite a bit with different builds.
In terms of CPU performance, the 32-core AMD Threadripper Pro 5975WX certainly chewed through multicore processes, but it lagged behind the best processors on the market currently in single core performance, so I would definitely recommend upping the processor to the newer workstation chips if you're going Threadripper or Xeon.
On the graphics side of things, the Nvidia RTX 4090 made short work of the various GPU benchmarks I ran on it, and in terms of compute, the RTX 4090 is the best graphics card on the consumer market, but you can go much higher into the Ada workstation cards that will absolutely run circles around whatever you're going to get out of a GeForce card.
The Sabrent Rocket 4 PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD in the workstation I reviewed was about as fast as you're going to get with PCIe 4.0, and it made content creation much smoother when loading saving data to disk. I was running the best video editing software and photo editor tools, and the 256GB DDR4 RAM, while not the fastest on the market, made sure I had more than enough memory to open as many Photoshop files and Adobe Premiere Pro projects as I wanted without breaking a sweat.
The productivity scores on the Puget Systems workstation were impressive, but this isn't really the kind of workstation you spend a down payment for a house on just to run Office apps. It's good to know you can though.
Finally, putting the Puget Systems workstation through a number of creative workloads, this machine's purpose really shone through. Easily one of the best video editing computers out there, this is the kind of computer build for processing large amounts of media and making something beautiful with it without having to worry too much about slow process times or hanging load screens.
In that regard, the Puget Systems workstation outperformed every other workstation I've ever tested in everything from V-Ray to HandBrake and Photoshop and even down to Lumion 12.5, where it rendered a 30 second 4K@30fps video clip at production quality in about 0.11 fps, finishing the render process in just under two and a half hours, whereas most workstations I test take nearly twice as long.
Given better specs, things would have zipped by even faster, no doubt.
And that, ultimately, is Puget Systems in a nutshell: you can get the level of performance you want, though you'll have to pay for it. Given the current state of enterprise-level investments in technology, this might be a heavier lift than it was back in the heady days of zero interest rates and free money, but if you've got the mind to make a real investment, the Puget Systems workstation is easily one of the best investments you can make.
There are less than 24 hours before the Galaxy Unpacked event for the S24 series starts and we expect that pre-orders will begin immediately after. This means that now is your last chance to secure a $50 Samsung Credit by reserving a phone right now.
Essentially, you fill in this form with your name and email (and optionally your phone number) and you will get an email to remind you when the actual pre-order begins. This email also give you the $50 credit. Note: the credit can't be applied towards the phone's cost, but you can pick up, say, an accessory for it.
If you change your mind...
CPU: Intel Alder Lake N100 Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 12th RAM: 16GB DDR5 Storage: 512GB M.2 SSD Rear Ports: USB 3.2 Gen 2, Type-C with DP 1.4 Alt Mode, RJ45, HDMI 2.0, Mini DP 1.4 Front Ports: USB 3.2 Gen 2, Type-C Data Only, SD Card Reader, 3.5mm Headphone Jack Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2 Audio: HDA CODEC Camera: N/A Size: 117 x 112 x 34.2 mm OS Installed: Windows 11 Pro 21H2 Accessories: VESA Mount
The Geekom Mini Air12 Mini PC is an excellent choice as a light task PC in a compact form. Equipped with the 12th Gen Intel Alder Lake N100 Processor, it creates a balance between energy efficiency and computing power. Our review sample featured a maximum of 16GB DDR5 RAM and a 512GB M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 3 x 4 SSD, upgradable to 2TB if you need it.
Despite the small size and integrated graphics, this small machine still packs the power to support up to three displays, including 8K, making it suitable for a range of tasks and, of course, entertainment. This feature is particularly valuable for professionals in creative fields who require multiple monitors, although video editing applications will struggle with the processing.
Measuring just 116 x 111 x 35mm and weighing in at 498g, the Mini Air12 doesn't compromise on build quality. The high-quality plastic casing feels durable, and the port layout adds to its usability with USB Type A and C available on the front. The cooling system is crammed into a small space but proves to do the job and remains relatively quiet through most processing jobs.
When it comes to design, the Mini Air12 is sleek and understated, with a grey casing and black top plate that should fit unobtrusively into any setup. Its compactness makes it highly portable, ideal if you need a PC that can travel with you. Additionally, internal components for upgrades or maintenance are simple enough, with four screws on the base enabling quick access to the inner workings enabling easy upgrades when needed.
We've tested many of the best mini PCs, and after giving this one a thorough going over, we felt the Mini Air12 is well-suited for a range of applications, from office tasks and education to home entertainment. The inclusion of an SD card slot is a great addition for photography enthusiasts who use Lightroom or Photoshop (or, to be fair, any of the best Lightroom alternatives and best Photoshop alternatives that we've reviewed).
Geekom Mini Air12: Price & availability
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
The Geekom Mini Air12 is competitively priced at $249, down from its original price of $489. This price point makes it an appealing option for if you're looking for a balance between performance and affordability in a mini PC.
Regarding availability, it is readily accessible on the Geekom website. However, availability can vary, and it's advisable to check the website or authorised retailers for the most current status.
Score: 4/5
Geekom Mini Air12: Design & build
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
The Geekom Mini Air12 boasts a design that prioritises functionality and simplicity. It is compact, measuring just 117 x 112 x 34.2 mm, which makes it an ideal fit for tight spaces such as behind a monitor, on a bookshelf or on a desk. This machine is essentially designed for office use, education, and home entertainment. However, that's not to say that the Air12 feels and looks cheap; the casing is made of high-quality plastic, which feels and is durable. Aesthetically, it's understated yet stylish, with the grey casing complemented by a black top plate.
The port layout is a key strength, offering a decent range on both the front and back, including a handy SD card slot on the side, which is particularly beneficial for photographers. Despite its small size, the weight of the Mini Air12 adds to its feeling of quality.
In terms of cooling, the Mini Air12 is equipped with a compact cooling system that manages heat well. The fan noise remains acceptably low, ensuring a quiet working environment.
When it comes to upgradability Internally, the design enables easy access to key components like RAM and M.2 slots through the base, which is held in place by four cross-head screws.
Design: 4.5/5
Geekom Mini Air12: Features
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
The Geekom Mini Air12 is designed to cater to a range of needs, from office work to home entertainment. At its core, the Mini Air12 houses the 12th Gen Intel Alder Lake N100 Processor, a choice that provides a balance of power and efficiency for everyday tasks. The processor is combined with 16GB of DDR5-4800 SODIMM memory and an M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 3 x 4 SSD, which is upgradable to 2TB.
In a machine of this level, the speed of this drive helps boost overall performance with quick boot times and application performance due to the drive data transfer speeds. The connectivity options include Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2, both helping to ensure a stable wireless connection.
The Mini Air12 supports up to three displays, including 8K, great if you need multiple screens for productivity or immersive entertainment experiences. While this feature is particularly advantageous for professionals hooked up to the best monitors for graphic design or the best monitors for video editing, we did feel the processing power provided by this machine won't quite meet professionals' needs.
Finally, the compact size of the Mini Air12, measuring just 117 x 112 x 34.2 mm and weighing 498g, makes it highly portable. If you need a machine that you can easily transport between home and office or to different locations, then this could be a great option.
Features: 3.5/5
Geekom Mini Air12: Performance
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Benchmarks
Crystal Disk Read: 3439 MB/s Crystal Disk Write: 3030 MB/s GeekBench CPU Single: 963 GeekBench CPU Multi: 2034 GeekBench Compute: 3271 PC Mark: 2908 CineBench CPU Multi: 796 CineBench CPU Single: 825 Fire Strike Overall: 1172 Fire Strike Graphics: 1222 Fire Strike Physics: 6488 Fire Strike Combined: 463 Time Spy Overall: 370 Time Spy Graphics: 322 Time Spy CPU: 2433 Wild Life: 2761 Windows Experience: 7.6
The Geekom Mini Air12's performance in video editing and gaming hinges on its hardware capabilities. For running any of the best video editing software, particularly with HD and 4K content, the Mini Air12's CPU and storage speeds (as reflected in the Crystal Disk and CineBench scores) offer decent performance for light editing tasks. However, intensive editing involving multiple layers or effects is a challenge due to the integrated Intel UHD Graphics and the processor's limited multi-core performance.
In gaming, while the Mini Air12 can handle older or less demanding titles, its capacity to run graphically intensive games like Red Dead Redemption, Assassin's Creed, and Cyberpunk 2077 is limited. The Fire Strike and Time Spy Graphics scores indicate that it lacks the graphical prowess necessary for smooth gameplay in these modern AAA titles, which often require dedicated graphics cards and higher-end CPUs.
While the Geekom Mini Air12 is a competent machine for general use and multimedia, its hardware constraints become apparent in high-resolution video editing and modern gaming scenarios. However, this mini PC is most definitely suited if you have modest gaming and video editing needs rather than anyone seeking a device for high-end gaming or the best video editing computer for a professional. Where the Mini Air12 really excels is for everyday tasks such as Microsoft Office, web browsing and multimedia for which it is ideally suited.
Performance: 3/5
Should you buy the Geekom Mini Air12?
The Geekom Mini Air12 is an excellent compact and efficient mini PC, ideal if you are looking for a space-saving computer for general use, office tasks, and multimedia. Its solid performance, courtesy of the 12th Gen Intel processor and fast SSD, meets the needs of everyday computing and basic creative tasks.
However, its limitations in handling intensive video editing and modern gaming should be noted if you're thinking of using this machine for gaming. The machine also offers excellent connectivity, a quiet cooling system, and portability. While not a fit for high-end gaming or professional video editing, it excels in delivering reliable performance for its intended use cases.
Value: Affordable, efficient for basic tasks; limited for high-end use. (4/5) Design: Sleek, ultra-compact, and portable; ideal for space-saving setups. (4/5) Features: Good connectivity and storage lacks in graphics and gaming. (3.5/5) Performance: Capable for everyday tasks, struggles with intensive gaming/editing. (3/5) Total: Great for daily use, not for graphic-intensive tasks. (3.5/5)
Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event for the Galaxy S24 series is taking place tomorrow and we’ve seen all the specs and design rumors in the past few months but there’s room for some last-minute leaks too.
📦 S24 Ultra Unboxing Leak! see the 3 colors:- Titanium Yellow- Titanium Violet- Titanium GreyCheck out the videos below🔓🎥 #S24Ultra #UnboxingLeak #SamsungUnpacked2024xShopee #Samsung #galaxyS24Ultra #S24Ultra pic.twitter.com/5R2KFvO8x9— TMKTECH (@tmktechfamily) January 15, 2024
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra appeared in a series of unboxing videos, showcasing its three official colors -...
A few months ago OnePlus launched the affordable OnePlus Pad Go in India. Then a month later Oppo released the Pad Air2 in China and it was basically the same hardware under new branding. Now it gets another name – Oppo Pad Neo - as it has quietly launched in Malaysia where it should be available for sale immediately, it is also listed on the company’s Taiwanese site.
There are two versions of the Pad Neo – Wi-Fi and LTE. The former is configured with 6/128GB, the latter comes in an 8/128GB configuration. They are priced MYR 1,200, the latter is MYR 1,400. For what it’s worth, the OnePlus...
The Sony Inzone H5 finds itself in the middle of the pack of the company’s gaming headset range. However, the set is less ‘middle of the road’ and much more ‘hits the sweet spot’ given its balance of performance, features, and pricing. In many ways, I found all my expectations to be greatly exceeded.
If you’re looking for one of the best PS5 headsets in that mid-range price bracket, then you should consider the H5, especially if you’re after something more feature-rich than the relatively bare-bones (albeit still very solid) Sony Inzone H3. Furthermore, the H5 offers a quality audio and party chat experience that easily holds its own in the face of the much pricier Sony Inzone H7 headset.
Standout aspects of the Sony Inzone H5 include its exceptional audio and pristine microphone quality. When paired with the headset’s equally excellent battery life, you’ve got a product that easily justifies its mid-range price tag. An incredibly high level of comfort is another string to its bow, too. With only a couple of minor gripes to contend with, I highly recommend the Sony Inzone H5 if you’re looking for a mid-range powerhouse for your PlayStation 5 console or PC.
The Sony Inzone H5 gaming headset comes in white or black and has a retail price of $149.99 / £139.99, firmly placing it in the mid-range bracket alongside similarly excellent PS5 sets like the SteelSeries Arctis 7P+ Wireless. Readily available to buy from Sony’s official online store or retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Currys, it’s also significantly more affordable than the Sony Inzone H7 ($229 / £169).
Design and features
(Image credit: Future)
The Sony Inzone H5 shares the same sleek, curved, and white design aesthetic as the other members of the Inzone headset family while also maintaining the impressive build quality we’ve come to know from the range. The outer headband has a subtle textured feel and the ear cups are built with a sturdy plastic that’s resistant to wear and tear.
The plush ear pads and head cushion provide a superb level of comfort that makes the headset pleasant to use for longer periods. I did find the cushioning began to irritate my ears after around four to five hours of constant use. This was swiftly remedied with a quick 10-20 minute break, however.
The headset features an on-board microphone that unfortunately cannot be removed from the device. This makes it largely unsuitable for on-the-go or outdoor usage. That being said, the mic is built to the same high level of quality found all over the headset and has enough flexibility and sturdiness to rest in a position that suits you best.
Lastly, several onboard inputs set the H5 apart from the cheaper H3 model. Next to the power button on the right cup are two switches that affect game-to-chat audio balancing. On the rear of the left cup, you’ve got a volume dial as well as the USB-C and 3.5mm jack ports for wired use (both cables included along with the wireless dongle). I found all of these modules to be easily locatable while the headset was being worn, making quick adjustments during play incredibly easy to do.
Performance and battery life
(Image credit: Future)
Regardless of whether you primarily play on PS5 or PC (PS4 isn’t listed on the box, but the headset will work on Sony’s last-gen machine), the Sony Inzone H5 offers fantastic audio quality for both play and casual music listening. Better yet, its built-in 360 Spatial Sound support helps bring the best PS5 games’ audio design to the forefront by improving dynamic range. Not only does this help the best single-player games feel that much more immersive, but the headset’s ability to pick up on the volume and direction of even very subtle sounds makes it an excellent choice for online multiplayer games where spatial awareness can be key to success.
Dropping into matches of PUBG Battlegrounds, I felt I was able to make progress more effectively, especially in those opening few circles where listening out for distant noises is crucial in surviving while you loot and build your loadout. And in the realm of single-player, I was even more enraptured by the bustling streets of Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name’s Sotenbori district.
The headset’s bass profile is especially impressive, providing punchy lows that don’t register as overly muddy or drown out other audio. This strength in bass was especially welcome when paired with Guilty Gear Strive’s thunderous metal soundtrack. It also helped to highlight particularly meaty explosions in games like Returnaland Doom Eternal.
Voice chat quality is also a particular high note. Jumping into a party chat with friends to play online multiplayer in Gran Turismo 7and Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising, I was clearly heard by others, and I found my voice registered with an impressively high level of clarity. Overall, the Sony Inzone H5 is a fantastic choice for players who regularly play with friends online.
Another highlight of the Sony Inzone H5 is its brilliant battery life. You’ll get roughly 25-28 hours on a full charge. However, I did notice a relatively long charging time, taking approximately three to four hours to go from empty to full. As a result, it’ll pay to charge the headset overnight if you’re able to do so.
Rounding out the package is the Inzone Hub, which is the range’s dedicated PC customization app. Overall, this app is a fairly mixed bag, and its PC exclusivity means that PS5 players will have to rely on their console’s relatively limited audio settings to tinker with their sound. As far as I could tell, EQ settings on PC did not save to the headset for use on PS5. That’s a shame, as it’s a feature enjoyed by the RIG 600 Pro HS headset and its dedicated PC and mobile app.
The Inzone Hub has basic equalizer and dynamic range controls. There are a couple of preset EQs for bass boosting and general music listening, and users are also able to make their own custom profiles to better suit their preferences, which is welcome. However, aside from toggling spatial sound and automatic power-off, that’s really all you’re getting from the Inzone Hub.
Should I buy the Sony Inzone H5?
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Overall, the Sony Inzone H5 is extremely easy to recommend if you’re looking for a new PS5 headset and operating with a mid-range budget. While PS5 players may miss some of the extra customization afforded to PC players via the Inzone Hub app, the out-of-the-box experience still impresses with high-quality, immersion-enhancing audio and a terrific microphone that makes it ideal for online play and party chatter. It’s definitely one of the best wireless gaming headsets available in the mid-range price bracket.
Buy it if...
Don't buy it if...
How we reviewed the Sony Inzone H5 gaming headset
I tested the Sony Inzone H5 over a week and a half, primarily with PS5 games that boast rich audio design such as Gran Turismo 7, Returnal, and PUBG Battlegrounds. I also hooked it up to my PC with the USB dongle and found the rather basic Inzone Hub app to still offer some customization that helped titles like Final Fantasy 14 Online and Doom Eternal stand out even more when played via Steam.
In comparison to my usual, everyday headset - the RIG 600 Pro HS - I found audio and mic quality to be comparable in quality. However, the Sony Inzone H5 certainly wins when it comes to build quality and slightly edges out in the realm of comfort.
• Original review date: January 2024 • Launch price: MSRP at $599 / £579 / AU$1,119 • Lowest price now: $979.23 / £582.34 / AU$999
Update – April 2025: The RTX 4070 Super was the best graphics card for 1440p and light 4K gaming on the market last year, and with the release of the RTX 5070 this year, you'd hope that prices would come down, but inexplicably, that isn't the case.
It would be one thing if the RTX 5070 was totally out of stock online and was a substantially worse card than the RTX 4070 Super, but that isn't the case. The RTX 5070 might have been disappointing, but it is still a better GPU than the RTX 4070 Super, even if by the barest of margins.
You can find the RTX 5070 online for at or slightly above MSRP pretty easily (the lowest price I've found is this MSI RTX 5070 Shadow OC card at Walmart for $669.99), so going out of your way to buy the RTX 4070 Super at a massive premium doesn't make any sense.
Original unedited review follows...
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super: Two minute review
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super is a graphics card with a lot of expectations built up around it after it's announcement at CES 2024, and if you've yet to upgrade your graphics card in a minute and you've been waiting for a sign, this release is what you've been waiting for, whether you end up buying it or going with a competing card from AMD or Intel.
Looking across the lineup of Nvidia graphics cards in 2023, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 definitely reviewed as one of Team Green's best thanks to fantastic performance and a more accessible price compared to the rest of the GPU market at the time. At $599.99 in the US (about £480/AU$840), the RTX 4070 Super is going to retail (at MSRP) for the same launch price as the card it refreshes, while the RTX 4070 will see a healthy price cut when the RTX 4070 Super goes on sale on January 17, 2024.
In terms of what you're getting for that same amount of money, you're going to get substantially more SMs for more processing power as well as a slightly faster base clock speed. But, sadly, we're still stuck with just 12GB GDDR6X VRAM which does hamper this card's 4K potential. If you're looking for the best 4K graphics card, you may have to wait to see what the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super or Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super have to offer later in January.
If what you're looking for is the best 1440p graphics card on the market, well, in terms of sheer performance, look no further. Between upgraded specs and DLSS 3 with Frame Generation, Nvidia Reflex, and a host of other tech packed into this card, you'll be playing the best PC games at high settings with the best 1440p monitors for many years to come.
Still, it's not an unqualified win for Nvidia here. For one, the price of the Nvidia RTX 4070 Super is still $100 (about £80/AU$140) more than the AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT that it's directly competing with. And while the RTX 4070 Super does outperform the best AMD graphics card for the midrange on a number of levels, gaming sadly isn't one of them, unless you lean heavily on ray tracing.
Even in places where you factor in DLSS, without frame generation, Nvidia lags behind the RX 7800 XT overall when it comes to gaming. And once AMD releases its own frame generation tech for FSR in the coming weeks, the advantage Nvidia gets from DLSS 3 with Frame Generation will likewise tighten up. On this point, gamers are going to have some harder questions to ask themselves than anyone else, and the price of the RX 7800 XT alone might be more than enough to tip the scales for them.
Still, it's hard to argue that Nvidia hasn't delivered an absolutely phenomenal card with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super, and for midrange users out there who want fantastic gaming as well as content creation features and raw performance, this is almost certainly going to be at the top of the list when making your choice about a new upgrade.
How much is it? US MSRP $599.99 (about £480, AU$840)
When is it out? January 17, 2024
Where can you get it? You can buy it in the US, UK, and Australia
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super goes on sale on January 17, 2024, for $599.99 in the US (about £480/AU$840), which is the same price as the launch MSRP of the RTX 4070 when it launched in April of 2023.
And while we love to see prices stay more accessible for gamers and creators, Nvidia is still charging a premium for its card vis-à-vis AMD's competing RX 7800 XT, which has competitive performance for about $100 less.
Still, despite not being the best cheap graphics card on the market, for what you're getting, the price on the RTX 4070 Super is a very good value overall. While not quite AMD levels of performance for price, this is about as good a value as you're going to get from an Nvidia GPU on the market today (at least until we see what the RTX 4070 Ti Super and RTX 4080 Super are working with later this month).
Value score: 4/5
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super: Design
Gorgeous all-black finish
Same size as base RTX 4070
Still requires 16-pin power
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super Founders Edition is easily one of the sexiest graphics cards I've laid hands on in a long while. The all-black shroud, fans, and trim give it a very sleek look that might not have any of the flash of RGB bedazzled third-party cards, but as far as Nvidia's lineup goes, this is easily the most attractive.
In every other way, barring the Super branding, this card is identical to the original RTX 4070, so it comes with all its positives and negatives as well. Its smaller than its larger siblings, so its much more manageable in a wider variety of cases, but it is still heavy enough that some kind of GPU support is going to be needed if you don't have a vertical card adapter for your case.
The cooling solution is also fairly good and has plenty of power for cooling. Its 16-pin connector means that if you don't have an ATX 3.0 power supply, you'll need to use a two-8-pin-to-one-16-pin adapter, which might make cable management a bit of a hassle.
Design score: 4.5/5
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super: Features & specs
21% higher SM count
Slightly faster base clock
STILL just 12GB VRAM
When it comes to the RTX 4070 Super, there is a lot to appreciate here. For the same price as the RTX 4070, you're getting a far more SMs (56 to the RTX 4070's 46, a 21% increase), so that also means that you're getting a hefty upgrade in terms of CUDA cores (7,168 to 5,888), ray tracing cores (56 to 46), and tensor cores (224 to 184) over the original RTX 4070.
You're also getting a slightly higher base clock rate of 1,980MHz , which is about 3% faster than the base RTX 4070. For that, the RTX 4070 Super also has a 220W TGP, which unfortunately means that you're not going to get any RTX 4070 Super cards with an 8-pin connector like you can with the RTX 4070.
Beyond that, there isn't too much different spec-wise with the RTX 4070 Super than you have with the RTX 4070, and this unfortunately includes the 12GB GDDR6X VRAM configuration. Mind you, this is plenty for 1440p gaming, but if you've got one of the best 4K monitors, you'll have to accept some settings compromises if you want to game seriously at 4K.
This is a dual-slot card that is identical in size to the RTX 4070 Founders Edition, as well as utilizing the same cooling solution, so it will run a slight bit hotter thanks to the increased power flowing into the card, but it's not a whole lot so that it'd be noticeable.
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super: Performance
Outstanding overall performance
12GB VRAM hampers 4K potential
Falls behind RX 7800 XT somewhat in gaming performance
In terms of performance, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super is about as solid a graphics card as you'll find in the midrange, offering fantastic gaming performance, while outshining the competition in non-gaming tasks like content creation and compute-heavy workloads.
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During synthetic workload tests, the RTX 4070 Super loses out somewhat to the RX 7800 XT on some tests while winning out on others, so when you don't factor in ray tracing, it's a bit of a wash. Once ray tracing is included, however, you so end up with about 23% stronger ray tracing performance for the RTX 4070 Super, which is expected given the maturity of Nvidia's tech versus AMD's.
It's also worth noting that the Nvidia RTX 4070 Super's compute performance is about 18% better than the RX 7800 XT, and overall, the RTX 4070 Super outperforms the RTX 4070 by about 17%, on average.
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Moving on to creative benchmarks, as expected, the Nvidia RTX 4070 Super outperforms the AMD RX 7800 XT when it comes to 3D rendering tasks thanks to the strength of Nvidia's CUDA processing, which most renderers use.
In terms of rasterization performance, the two cards are about even, while the RTX 4070 Super pulls slightly ahead of the RX 7800 XT in terms of video encoding, but only by about 1%. Over its predecessor, the RTX 4070 Super renders 3D scenes and rasterizes noticeably faster, but it's pretty much even on the video encoding side.
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When it comes to gaming performance, however, the RX 7800 XT pulls ahead of the RTX 4070 Super in a big way, especially at lower resolutions.
In 1080p gaming, the RTX 4070 Super consistently lags behind the RX 7800 XT when ray tracing isn't factored in, and when it is, this advantage is generally diminished (on average) when bringing balanced upscaling to bear, though the RTX 4070 Super and the RTX 4070 tend to do much better than the RX 7800 XT when pure ray tracing is involved.
Against its predecessor, the RTX 4070 Super offers about a 14% average FPS increase over the RTX 4070 at 1080p, an advantage that I expect will grow wider once better drivers are released to support the RTX 4070 Super post-release.
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The story is similar with 1440p gaming where the RX 7800 XT does generally outperform the RTX 4070 Super when ray tracing isn't involved, and lags behind when it is.
Upscaling helps here as well, but broadly speaking, the RTX 4070 Super is going to outperform the RX 7800 XT when ray tracing, and overall provides about a 9% better fps than the RTX 4070, on average. I suspect this latter figure will be higher once post-release drivers are installed, since the RTX 4070 outperforms the RTX 4070 Super in Metro: Exodus when it shouldn't, and so i believe this game is a bit of a driver outlier.
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At 4K, the RX 7800 XT manages to hold up better in absolute terms thans to its larger 16GB frame buffer vs the RTX 4070 Super's 12GB, but the GDDR6X memory and more mature ray tracing cores make ray tracing at 4K a better overall experience with the RTX 4070 Super than with either of the two other cards tested against here.
Ultimately, then, it comes down to whether you're really all that enthusiastic about ray tracing performance. If so, the RTX 4070 Super is the card you're going to want, but at $100 cheaper, the RX 7800 XT offers a much more compelling option for pure rasterized graphics than the RTX 4070 Super. This, ultimately, keeps the RTX 4070 Super from running away with the title of best midrange graphics card, but it's a much tougher fight for the RX 7800 XT than it was when it first launched against the RTX 4070.
Performance score: 4.5/5
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Should you buy the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super?
Buy the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super if…
You want the best midrange graphics card overall Given the strength of this card in all categories, on balance, it's the best you're going to find in the midrange.
You want very strong ray tracing performance With the maturity of its ray tracing cores, the RTX 4070 Super is the best ray tracing GPU in the midrange, for sure.
You want some creative performance as well With its strong CUDA backbone, the RTX 4070 Super is a great option for those looking to get into creative content work, especially 3D modeling.
Don’t buy it if…
You don't want to spend a fortune Given the price of the competition, there are better graphics cards for your money than the RTX 4070 Super
You don't care about ray tracing or compute The strongest asset this card brings to the table are its ray tracing and tensor cores, but if you don't care about ray tracing or machine learning tasks, the RX 7800 XT will offer a better overall gaming performance.
Also consider
AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT The AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT is arguably the best gaming GPU for most gamers, and at a substantial discount from the RTX 4070 Super, it's a hard card to ignore.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 The RTX 4070 might not be as fast as the RTX 4070 Super or have as many processing cores, but it is still a powerful midrange graphics card that's going to be a lot cheaper now that the RTX 4070 Super has hit the shelves.
I spent about a week working with the Nvidia RTX 4070 Super, including using it as my main work PC graphics card for content creation work. I ran our standard battery of tests on it and its two main competitor cards due to time constraints (you can see my RTX 4070 review for its relative performance versus many more cards, and than consider a roughly 12%-15% better performance over that for the RTX 4070 Super).
I've been reviewing computer hardware, including graphics cards, for years now, and I am intimately familiar with the kind of performance you should expect from a graphics card at this price point. I bring that knowledge to bear on my graphics card reviews and make sure that every graphics card I compare to the card under review is retested using the most up-to-date drivers to get the best relevant data for comparison, even (as in this case) it means I only test the most relevant competing cards to provide the reader with the most important comparative data when they are considering making their next graphics card purchase.
First reviewed in January 2024
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.
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