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HMD Skyline runs Geekbench, confirms Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset
12:59 am | June 19, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Comments: Off

HMD is working on a device dubbed Skyline, which looks suspiciously like a Lumia phone. This device will allegedly be powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2, which is confirmed by the first Geekbench results. The motherboard is listed as “Tomcat”, which is a code name for the Skyline (we’re not sure whether Skyline is the retail name). The phone runs Android 14 with 8GB of RAM, based on info recorded by Geekbench. HMD Skyline runs Geekbench 6.3.0 Based on the previous leak, this will allegedly retail for €460 in an 8/256GB configuration (and €520 for a Business Edition). It will have...

Apple iOS 18 Neural Engine reaches impressive score on Geekbench
10:51 pm | June 18, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Comments: Off

Apple revealed iOS 18 at the WWDC 2024 earlier this month, promising plenty of AI-infused features. The beta OS is already seeding to developers, and one of them decided to benchmark the CoreML engine, which is used for machine learning. According to user @lafaiel on X, the machine learning score improved by 25% after an update to iOS 18. The phone used was an iPhone 15 Pro Max that scored 6,249 in the Geekbench ML Score on iOS 17.5.1 and increased to 7,816 once the phone was updated to iOS 18. While the raw numbers do suggest a 25% increase, real-life improvements are not that...

LG Z3 OLED TV review: extraordinary 8K pictures at a hefty price
10:00 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Televisions | Tags: | Comments: Off

LG Z3 OLED TV: Two-minute review

The first thing to know about the LG Z3 OLED TV is its price: £7,999/$9,999 for a 77-inch screen size. While such a cost puts LG’s 8K OLED TV beyond the reach of most households, it doesn’t stop the Z3 from being not just one of the best OLED TVs, but stellar enough with its performance to make real inroads into the tough job of justifying such a 4K TV-busting price.

For starters, looking at the LG Z3 OLED TV, it's hard to overstate the jaw-dropping precision, detail and clarity you get when over 33 million self-emissive pixels produce their own light and color completely independently of their neighbours. Many people who have spent time with the best 8K TVs compare it to looking through a window rather than watching TV, but that experience is particularly acute when the pixels are combined with the pixel-level light control that only OLED technology can currently deliver (without spending six figures on a monster micro-LED display).

Unlike its 88-inch sibling, the 77-inch Z3 uses LG’s brightness-boosting Micro Lens Array technology, which adds more intensity to OLED’s light control advantage and, in conjunction with a much-improved new picture processor, opens up a wider but still beautifully natural and nuanced colour range. LG’s 8K monster delivers extraordinary big-screen gaming performance, too.

Its audio isn’t as potent as its pictures, and nothing – except a massive discount – gets around that hefty price. But the AV world would undoubtedly be a sadder, duller place without LG’s no-compromise, envelope-pushing 8K beast. 

LG Z3 OLED TV showing black and white image

Along with 8K resolution, the LG Z3 brings all the regular picture benefits of OLED TV tech such as powerful contrast (Image credit: Future)

LG Z3 OLED TV review: Price and release date

  • Release date: March 10, 2024
  • 77-inch: £7,999 / $9,999 (around AU$15,000)
  • 88-inch: £24,999 / $24,999 (around AU$37,600)

When the 77-inch version of the Z3, the LG OLED77Z3, first launched, LG told us it wasn’t scheduled to go on sale in the US, while a search of UK and Australian retailers found it selling for a life savings-draining £14,999 in the UK and $15,999 in Australia. As we were in the process of writing and publishing this review, though, things changed pretty radically. First, the 77-inch Z3 suddenly appeared for sale in the US – priced at a relatively reasonable $9,999. Then it started showing up on many UK retailer sites costing just £7,999 – an overnight cut of almost 50% – while disappearing from Australian retailers.

All of this is a bit confusing, but the happy upshot is that for UK and US buyers the 77-inch Z3 is now a lot more approachable than it used to be. That’s not to say, of course, that it’s suddenly a mass market proposition. It still costs £3,500/$5,500 more than the 77-inch version of LG’s current flagship LG G4 4K OLED TV. It’s also the case that Samsung’s flagship 75-inch 8K TV, the Samsung QN900D, costs £1,500 less than the OLED77Z3. So it remains the case that going 8K costs more than sticking with 4K – especially in the OLED world.  As I’ll discuss in the Value section later, though, the Z3 is just about unique enough to make its price at least feel appropriate.

LG Z3 OLED TV review: Specs

LG Z3 OLED TV shown from rear

The LG Z3's side-mounted connections include four HDMI 2.1 ports (Image credit: Future)

LG Z3 OLED TV review: Features

  • 8K OLED screen
  • MLA brightness-boosting technology
  • Comprehensive gaming support

As you’d hope for a 77-inch TV that costs £7,999 / $9,999, the OLED77Z3 is packed with cutting-edge features. Starting, of course, with that all-important 8K (7680x4320) resolution. 

Some may question its importance, I guess, given that genuine 8K content remains extremely hard to find. However, one or two 8K green shoots are forming out there –including the ability to film your own 8K content on some of the latest smartphones, and hints of potential 8K gaming developments. 

Some also argue that 8K doesn’t actually deliver a perceptible picture quality difference over the 4K resolution of the best TVs. 

However, fitting so many pixels into a 77-inch screen delivers a much smaller pixel pitch than you get with a 4K resolution – and I’ve witnessed before how much this can improve your viewing experience, albeit more in areas such as depth of field, object three-dimensionality and noiseless immediacy than mere sharpness and detail.

Even better for the LG Z3’s usefulness in today’s limited 8K content world, 4K sources can look amazing on it too thanks to the power of the TV’s AI-infused Alpha 9 Gen 6 picture processor. Anyone who thinks upscaling is still the ugly mess it was when the first HDTVs rocked up a couple of decades ago is in for a shock if they get a chance to see how effectively the Z3 can add millions of extra pixels to 4K sources in real time.

Not all 8K TVs boast processing as potent as the LG Z3's, of course. But in this case, the idea that 8K TVs have no current purpose just doesn’t hold up. I’ll come back to this more in the picture performance section.

The 8K resolution gets extra weight in the Z3’s case, too, because it’s delivered by an OLED TV, where every single pixel creates its own light, contributing that bit more potential precision to the 8K experience. The difficulties associated with fitting so many self-illuminating pixels into a 77-inch screen likely impact production yield rates – hence the high price. But the fact that the screen’s lighting is as refined as its pixel count is a key attraction for well-heeled videophiles to ponder.

Happily, the challenges associated with fitting so many OLED pixels into the Z3’s screen hasn’t stopped LG from also fitting this flagship TV with its new Micro Lens Array technology (though not its 88-inch sibling, which has a standard OLED panel). Part of LG’s so-called ‘Brightness Booster Max’ functionality, MLA tech places thousands of tiny mirrors behind the screen to focus the light forward more directly, improving the TV’s brightness without putting more strain on OLED’s organic components.

My measurements revealed a peak brightness from the 77-inch Z3 on a 10% HDR window of almost 1,000 nits and just over 1,000 nits on a 2% HDR window. These numbers are up on LG’s previous Z2 8K OLED range, as I’d expect with MLA in play. They’re only up by between 10 and 15%, though, whereas using MLA technology has increased the peak brightness of the LG G3 and G4 4K TVs to more than 1,400 nits – more like a 25-30% increase over their non-MLA predecessors.

I can’t say for sure why MLA hasn’t had such a dazzling effect on the 77-inch Z3 I tested, but I suspect it has something to do with the EU’s latest round of TV energy consumption regulations.

As ever with a premium LG TV, the Z3’s HDR support encompasses the HDR10, HLG and Dolby Vision formats, but not the HDR10+ format developed as a rival for Dolby Vision. Its connections are headed up by four full 48Gbps bandwidth HDMI ports capable of handling 8K signals at 60Hz and 4K signals at 120Hz.

  • Features Score: 5/5

LG Z3 OLED TV showing image of tigers

The LG Z3 lets you look at nature in all its 'unpixellated' glory (Image credit: Future)

LG Z3 OLED TV review: Picture quality

  • Stunning detail and sharpness
  • Awesome contrast
  • Almost unbelievably good upscaling

To make it absolutely clear just how much the Z3 should be considered a TV of today rather than some potentially distant 8K tomorrow, let’s first focus on its remarkably good 8K upscaling.

The addition of AI to the picture processing world has transformed how well high-resolution TVs can upgrade lower-resolution sources in real time, and this transformation is no more obvious than in the way the LG Z3 converts 4K to its screen’s native 8K pixel count.

The results are pretty much flawless, in fact, resulting in pictures that look sharper, denser and more immediate than they do in their 4K original form. Even more amazingly, the Alpha 9 AI 8K Gen6 processor manages to add the literally millions of pixels required to turn 4K into 8K without exaggerating any noise or grain a source image may contain. It’s arguably this ability to distinguish between noise and ‘real’ picture information when deciding which pixels to add to the image that LG’s latest processor that most goes beyond anything we’ve seen before from the legendary OLED brand.

There’s no obvious lag, over-enthusiastic object edge enhancement or general softness to the 8K upscale, either. On the contrary, it achieves just the sort of three-dimensional, depth-enhanced look associated with a true 8K experience. So to reiterate this point for anyone nodding off at the back, the LG Z3 can make a difference to your AV life right now.

This is not to say that the Z3’s pictures aren’t even better with native 8K, of course. My trusty 8K demo reel of splendid creatures and amazing landscapes by the video gurus at Spears & Munsil looks nothing short of mesmerisingly real. It’s as if the TV has disappeared and a hole has opened up in your wall through which you can literally look directly out on the majesty of nature in all its ‘unpixellated’ glory.

This feels especially true in the Z3’s case because of OLED’s self-emissive nature. Having pixel-level light control working with so many pixels at such a fine pitch delivers a peerless degree of local contrast that feeds into an unprecedented sense of precision and sharpness. that I haven’t seen before. And this peerless local light control feeds into a supremely balanced, ultra-refined and seemingly more expansive colour palette courtesy of LG’s latest panel and processor.

So while the LG Z3’s 4K upscaler makes it relevant as a truly premium performer today, its native 8K performance confirms its arguably peerless readiness for the potential video format of tomorrow.

On top of its resolution joys, the Z3 delivers the other picture strengths OLED is renowned for, such as the ability to combine inkily deep and neutral black tones with peak white picture details even just a pixel apart without any compromise. This results in neither any light ‘blooming’ around stand-out bright objects nor any obvious reduction in the brightness of those same stand-out bright objects to avoid blooming.

The resulting intensity with HDR images makes the 77-inch LG Z3 appear brighter than its measured luminance values would lead you to expect.

You can also watch the Z3 from almost any angle without any loss of contrast or colour saturation unlike most LCD TVs. And LG’s latest 8K motion processor does an excellent job in its ‘Cinematic Movement’ mode of gently massaging away the harsh, resolution-reducing look that judder can otherwise cause during 24 frames a second film presentations.

There are only a couple of negative points I can muster about the LG Z3’s picture. First, while it copes extremely well with good quality HD sources, heavily compressed HD and really all standard definition sources can end up looking a bit soft and artificial despite the stellar efforts of the new processor. Second, while its use of light is insanely precise, it isn’t as outright bright as either premium LCD TVs or some premium 4K OLEDs – especially when it comes to HDR images that flood the whole screen with brightness.

This latter issue is a surprise given that the 77-inch Z3 uses MLA technology – though to reiterate this point, the extra light precision and local contrast control the 8K array of self-emissive pixels delivers does make the screen appear brighter than it actually is.

  • Picture quality score: 5/5

LG Z3 OLED TV remote control on wooden table

The LG Z3's remote control (Image credit: Future)

LG Z3 OLED TV review: Sound quality

  • Virtual 9.1.2-channel upmixer
  • 60W 4.2-channel speaker system
  • Wireless Dolby Atmos and WOW Orchestra support

Tucked away behind the 77-inch LG Z3’s epic screen is a 4.2-channel speaker set up powered by a promising 60W of claimed power. LG’s latest Alpha 9 Gen 6 processor is able to up-mix any source to a virtual 9.1.2 presentation, and to top things off the TV supports both lossless transmission of Dolby Atmos sound to compatible LG soundbars and LG’s Wow Orchestra feature, where the speakers in the TV join forces with the soundbar to create a wider soundstage.

All these audio features only add up to a mixed bag of sound performance, though. On the upside, the AI upmixer option does a startlingly good job of taking limited-channel audio tracks, even plain stereo, and remixing their details into a much larger soundstage. Details are cast far and wide and are spaced around so artfully – including being given a sense of verticality – that it’s sometimes hard to believe you’re not listening to a native Dolby Atmos mix.

The remix helps the soundstage appear even bigger than the king-sized screen, making it more immersive – a feeling enhanced by the speakers being sensitive enough to pick out lots of detail without making anything sound harsh or exaggerated. Bass impact is diminished by LG Z3’s upmixer, though, leaving soundtracks feeling a bit thin – so much so that action movie fans might prefer to turn the upmixer off, despite its other strengths.

There also isn’t enough power available to the audio system to deliver the sort of volumes and raw impact with action movie soundtracks that pictures as big and resplendent as those the 77-inch Z3’s screen delivers deserve to be partnered by. Finally, while the sound can spread beyond the TV’s sides, it doesn’t enjoy much forward impact, typically seeming more like it’s happening behind the screen rather than around your seating position.

  • Sound quality score: 3.5/5

LG Z3 OLED TV support feet

The LG Z3's support feet are a bit spindly for an otherwise premium TV (Image credit: Future)

LG Z3 OLED TV review: Design

  • Distinctive and attractive ‘strata’ rear design
  • Ships with feet this year
  • Designed for wall mounting

As with LG’s previous 8K TVs, the Z3 features a so-called Gallery design that’s intended to look particularly good when hung on a wall. So its bezel is slim and enjoys a premium finish, build quality is excellent throughout, and the rear angles in steeply from the screen’s edges so the TV looks unusually thin from all but the most extreme viewing angles.

That doesn’t mean, though, that the LG Z3 doesn’t also cater to people who’d rather place the TV on a stand. It ships with a pair of feet and features a very distinctive high gloss, almost mirrored rear finish together with comprehensive cable management features. In other words, LG is happy for its flagship TV to be admired from any angle.

While it’s nice to now find feet included rather than them being an optional extra, they are a bit spindly and basic for a TV that looks so premium in other ways. Also, while the 77-inch LG Z3 tries to create the illusion of being very slim around the back, in reality, it sticks out quite a long way when it’s hung on your wall.

  • Design score: 4/5

LG Z3 OLED TV smart menu

The LG Z3's webOS 23 smart interface supports multiple user profiles (Image credit: Future)

LG Z3 OLED TV review: Smart TV and menus

  • webOS 23 smart system
  • Voice control support
  • Support for multiple user profiles

Smart features on the Z3 are provided by LG’s 2023 WebOS platform. This delivers a rich landscape of apps covering all the most important global streaming services – including in the UK all of the main terrestrial broadcaster catch-up apps, as well as the Freeview Play app that brings all these terrestrial broadcaster services together in an easy to browse ‘umbrella’ interface. 

The webOS interface can be upgraded to the latest webOS version, too, and while I still have fond memories of the old webOS system that used to superimpose its content over the picture rather than the interface taking over the whole screen as it does now, LG has continued to refine the home screen’s layout and content options to a point where the new approach is finally starting to win me over.

LG's extensive and effective voice control support also means you don’t even have to engage with the menus that much if you’d rather not. Plus, there’s now support for multiple user profiles so that different members of your household can establish their own personal OS ‘space’, complete with personal content recommendations and even personal preference picture settings.

  • Smart TV & menus score: 4.5/5

LG Z3 OLED TV side view

the Z3 features a Gallery design that’s intended to look particularly good when hung on a wall. (Image credit: Future)

LG Z3 OLED TV review: Gaming

  • 4K 120Hz support on all HDMIs
  • AMD Freesync and Nvidia G-Sync support
  • 13.5ms input lag in Game mode

The LG Z3 is as spectacular a gaming display as I’ve seen. Its sheer size, for starters, lets you become immersed in gaming worlds more than any small monitor ever could.

This is especially true as the Z3’s upscaler arguably works even more effectively with 4K and HD games than it does with video, making the likes of Viking-era England in Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla and modern-day Mexico in Forza Horizon 5 even more irresistibly beautiful places to hang out. Here again, you get an 8K boost without necessarily needing an 8K source.

The TV’s ultra-high resolution, extreme contrast and peerlessly precise lighting really help to enhance the sense of depth and three-dimensionality of first and third-person games too, while colours look gorgeously vivid and clean, but also subtly shaded and refined.

The HDR gaming support extends to a dedicated Dolby Vision game mode, meaning you can enjoy the most dynamic HDR gaming format without having to put up with high input lag. Talking of input lag, in its fastest Game mode the LG Z3 takes just 13.5ms to render images received at its inputs.

The Z3 is capable of taking in 4K 120Hz signals across all four of its HDMI ports, too, meaning dedicated gamers can attach a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and gaming PC simultaneously with no compromise to performance. If you manage to find a PC capable of outputting 8K resolution games at 60Hz, the Z3 will support those too.

The comprehensive approach to gaming extends to support for variable refresh rates that takes in official support for both the AMD Freesync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync formats as well as the standard HDMI-based system. There’s support for HDMI 2.1’s Auto Low Latency Mode switching as well, and gamers can call up a dedicated Game Dashboard menu that provides access to a range of gaming features plus information on the incoming gaming signals.

I guess ultra-competitive gamers might prefer a much smaller screen than the LG Z3’s so they can take the whole image in at a glance more swiftly. Anyone who prefers games not totally built on reaction times, though, or who prefers immersion to milliseconds of responsiveness won’t be able to tear their eyes away from the Z3’s gaming glories. 

  • Gaming score: 5/5

LG Z3 OLED TV showing colorful image

(Image credit: Future)

LG Z3 OLED TV review: Value

  • Retails for £7,999 / $9,999
  • Offers a unique set of features
  • Dazzling performance – but you may still need a soundbar

This is the trickiest part of the review for the 77-inch LG Z3. Dropping essentially £8K/$10K on a TV is clearly not something most households will be able to do. Plus, you can buy 75 and 77-inch 4K OLED and 8K LCD TVs for far less. Even Samsung’s flagship 75-inch 8K LCD TV, the excellent QN900D, only costs £6,499.

If you do happen to have the requisite pile of cash lying around, though, it is worth pointing out that the LG Z3, which combines 8K resolution with an OLED display that enables every single one of its pixels to be illuminated by its own light independent of its neighbours, is a unique proposition. One, moreover, that results in unprecedentedly precise and immersive pictures.

  • Value score: 3.5/5 

LG Z3 OLED TV showing colorful image

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the LG Z3 OLED TV?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if…

Also consider...

How I tested the LG Z3 OLED TV

Samsung QN900D showing test pattern

(Image credit: Future)
  • Tested over 10 days
  • Tested with 4K Blu-rays, streams from multiple platforms, Freeview HD broadcasts, and HD Blu-rays
  • Reviewed in light and dark room conditions, from multiple viewing angles and distances

The 77-inch LG Z3 was tested in a dark dedicated test room, as well as being used for multiple days as a regular living room TV, with all the varied light conditions and sources regular day to day TV use brings.

The dark test room sessions involved feeding the TV our 8K showreel from Spears & Munsil, and a series of 4K Blu-ray and 4K HDR stream sequences that we’ve learned are particularly good at highlighting any strengths and weaknesses a screen may display.

The native 8K demo reel mostly features HDR images of lovely vistas and animal close-ups, while the 4K discs most used for this ‘stress testing’ phase of the review are the first of Andy Muschietti’s recent It films (which features a tricky mix of deliberately exaggerated extremely dark and extremely bright, colourful sequences) and the stunning looking (and sounding) Top Gun: Maverick.

During its living room life, the LG Z3 was presented with everything from grubby standard-definition digital broadcasts from both the TV’s own tuner and a Sky Q box, HD feeds from those same sources, as well as 4K HDR Sky Sports feeds and 4K streams from multiple streaming platforms including Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+.

Gaming plays a big part in the LG Z3’s appeal, meanwhile, so I made sure I spent far too long checking it out while playing Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Baldur’s Gate 3, Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla and Forza Horizon 5. 

You can read an in-depth overview of how we test TVs at TechRadar at that link.

Oppo Reno12 Pro 5G in for review
8:47 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Comments: Off

This is the Oppo Reno12 Pro - a svelte and sexy-looking phone that just made its global debut. There has been a Reno12 Pro for the Chinese market since May, but this is a slightly different phone. It swaps the Dimensity 9200+ for a less powerful but more efficient Dimensity 7300-Energy. The phone ships with nothing more than a USB cable, there's no charger in the box of the global version. Upfront is a 6.7-inch OLED with a 120Hz refresh rate and a slightly peak brightness of 1,200 nits. But it's not the display itself that grabs the attention here - it's the quad-curved corners. The...

Polar Grit X2 Pro review
7:58 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Fitness Trackers Gadgets Health & Fitness | Tags: | Comments: Off

One-minute review

The Polar Grit X2 Pro is the brand’s attempt to introduce an outdoor sports watch that can compete with both long-term rivals and those brands that are new to the space.

The Grit X Pro was launched two and half years ago, and while it offered improvements on Polar’s first Grit watch, it was still lacking some big features to compete with the best running watches out there.

That changes with the Grit X2 Pro. By adding features such as free topographic maps, dual-frequency GPS, new biometric sensor technology and an AMOLED color screen, Polar is hoping to level the playing field somewhat and better compete with top-end rivals.

What we get with the Grit X2 Pro is an outdoor watch that definitely feels more in line with models such as the Garmin Epix Pro, the Suunto Vertical and the Apple Watch Ultra 2; but in many respects, it isn't a better watch than any of these.

Polar has definitely made moves in the right direction in terms of mapping and navigation to make the device a great outdoor companion, while adding a color screen and innovations such as dual-frequency GPS also heighten its appeal. Crucially, the software that wraps this all up has also improved.

The Grit X2 Pro is absolutely better than the Grit X, and also steps up on the Grit X Pro; but its price, along with the rival watches and features available around the same price, means it doesn’t quite stand head and shoulders above other outdoor watches right now.

Polar Grit X2 Pro: Specifications

Polar Grit X2 Pro watch worn on the wrist with clock face and step count

(Image credit: Future)

Polar Grit X2 Pro: Price and release date

The Polar Grit X2 Pro launched in March 2024 and is available to buy directly from Polar. It’s also available from watch-specific outlets such as First Class Watches. Priced at $749.95 / £649.99 / AU$1,099.99, it’s significantly more expensive than the Grit X Pro at launch.

Compare that to rival outdoor watches – the obvious comparison here is the Garmin Epix Pro (47mm edition), which comes in at $899.99 / £829.99 / AU$$1,529. There’s the Suunto Vertical (from £545), too, although unlike the Grit X2 Pro and the Epix Pro, it doesn’t include an AMOLED display. Also in this company is the Apple Watch Ultra 2.

Value score: 4 / 5

Polar Grit X2 Pro: Design and screen

  •  Attractive, rugged design with nicely textured buttons 
  •  Bright and vibrant AMOLED screen 
  •  Built with military-grade durability 

Polar Grit X2 Pro watch on a log showing clock face and step count

(Image credit: Future)

You certainly can’t accuse Polar of trying to model the Grit X2 Pro on other outdoor watches; you won’t mistake it for an Apple Watch Ultra 2, Garmin Epix Pro or a Suunto Vertical, that’s for sure.

While the look is in keeping with its predecessor, the case size has grown from the 47mm of the Grit X Pro to the 48.6mm-sized case here. It’s slightly thicker (13.4mm compared to 13mm) and heavier (57g up from 47g), too. The Grist X2 Pro definitely has the stature and feel of a watch such as the Garmin Epix Pro. It isn’t the smallest watch that you wouldn’t think twice about wearing to bed, but neither is as hulking as the Coros Vertix 2S, for example.

The rear of the case is made from bio-based plastic, while you have a choice of either a stainless steel or titanium front case, with the latter pushing up the price. Both include the 5-button array of nicely textured buttons that are easily located and responsive when your hands are sweaty or you’re wearing gloves.

Polar Grit X2 Pro watch on the wrist showing bezel thickness

(Image credit: Future)

These are joined by a new 1.39-inch, 454 x 45 resolution AMOLED touchscreen, which delivers a step up on the Grit X Pro display for both screen estate and screen colour. The display is protected by Sapphire glass and is one you can keep on at all times, which you may well wish to do since the raise to wake support isn’t always reliable. There’s a new flashlight mode, but it’s of the kind that illuminates the screen as opposed to a unit that’s built into the watch case. A high-quality AMOLED, it displays a decent top brightness, accurate colours and offers excellent visibility both outdoors and indoors.

Holding that screen to your wrist is a very comfortable silicone strap with a stainless steel buckle; the strap is designed to help improve the reliability of optical heart rate tracking. You do have the option of a leather band, too, although you’ll have to pay extra for that luxury.

In terms of durability, the Grit X2 Pro retains the same MIL-STD-810H military standard of durability as the Grit X Pro, and arrives with the same waterproofing rating. This means it will happily handle being submerged in up to 100 meters of water, and the watch does offer both pool and open water swimming modes.

Design score: 4.5 / 5

Polar Grit X2 Pro: Features

  •  Dual-frequency GPS 
  •  Free offline maps 
  •  Elixir sensor brings ECG measurements 

Polar Grit X2 Pro watch on the wrist showing offline maps

(Image credit: Future)

The addition of a few significant features see the Grit X2 Pro take a sizeable leap ahead of the Grit X Pro. The first is the addition of the free, topographic maps, with Europe and US maps already preloaded onto the watch. The Grit X Pro only offered the ability to view simpler breadcrumb trails via third-party app Komoot, so this is a massive change on the mapping support front.

This brings improvements on the navigation front, too, with support added for importing routes from Strava (if you have a premium subscription) – although this has also been rolled out to the Grit X Pro.

On the tracking front, much of what we’ve already seen introduced on Polar’s Vantage V3 watch has been added on the Grit X2 Pro. There’s new swimming metrics, the ability to view your vertical and 3D speed, and Polar’s new Work-rest-guide for indoor training, to prompt you when to rest and resume sets during workouts.

Polar Grit X2 Pro watch showing nightly skin temperature reading

(Image credit: Future)

However, the big one here for outdoor lovers is the dual-frequency GPS mode, which seeks to improve outdoor tracking accuracy when in deeply wooded areas, during adverse weather conditions, and when in the vicinity of tall buildings. While not new to outdoor and sports watches in general, it means the Grit X2 Pro joins the Vantage V3 and the Ignite 3 in benefiting from the latest positioning technology innovation.

Another promised advancement concerns the change in the sensor technology Polar includes in the Grit X2 Pro. Polar’s new Elixir sensor setup is designed to sit closer and more comfortably on your wrist. It packs in Polar’s latest generation optical heart rate sensor technology, along with the ability to track SpO2 levels and skin temperature at night. It also adds ECG measurements – although, unlike Apple or Samsung’s inclusion of an ECG sensor on their smartwatches, it isn’t designed for medical use. Instead, it’s there to help make the most of Polar’s fitness tests, which previously required an external heart rate monitor.

Polar also wants the Grit X2 Pro to be a better smartwatch, so the notification and music control features included on the Grit X Pro remain, with the added colour touchscreen now making what was pretty basic smartwatch support more engaging to use.

Features score: 4 / 5

Polar Grit X2 Pro watch elixir sensor

(Image credit: Future)

Polar Grit X2 Pro: Performance

Polar Grit X2 Pro watch showing hiking mode

(Image credit: Future)

Getting the watch setup with Polar’s Flow companion smartphone app can typically be a little hit and miss in terms of pairing watch to app, though thankfully it was straightforward here. Like the Vantage V3, the Grit X2 Pro does have a tendency to disconnect itself from the paired smartphone, which can at times be irritating if you’re relying on the notifications feature, for example.

When it’s time to get tracking, there are more than 150 sports profiles from which to choose, and you can control which ones show up on the watch from the Flow app. Polar has essentially taken what it offered on the Vantage V3 and presented them here in a more rugged frame.

Most notable over the Grit X Pro is the dual-frequency mode offered here, which in testing proved a strong example of how such a feature can boost outdoor tracking accuracy in problematic areas. It was certainly a cut above the Grit X Pro, holding up well in testing against watches offering similar support such as the Garmin Epix Pro and the Apple Watch Ultra 2. The Grit X2 Pro isn’t the very best in class for this type of support, and does still have a habit of smoothing out corners like the Vantage V3, but overall it performed very well in our tests.

The Grit X2 Pro makes improvements to mapping and navigation support, too, which brings Polar’s outdoor watch much closer to Garmin, and now Suunto, in this regard. Having a splash of colour on-screen also makes using those features more pleasing.

Polar Grit X2 Pro watch navigation feature

(Image credit: Future)

Maps are easy to read, nicely detailed, and you can use both the touchscreen and physical buttons to interact with them. There’s support for turn-by-turn guidance – although, like the Vantage V3, it’s accessible only through third-party app Komoot; this isn’t the case for using Garmin and Suunto’s outdoor watches. Is it the best mapping and navigation support available on an outdoor watch? No. Is it a huge step in the right direction for Polar? Absolutely.

In terms of the other components that make up Polar’s sports tracking, such as its FitSpark suggested workouts, and its Training Load and Recovery Pro insights, features are certainly easier to engage with and metrics to absorb than elsewhere. The presentation of some training insights could perhaps benefit from being more simplified, because there are absolutely some useful insights here.

Sleep tracking is a standout feature for Polar’s watches, and that doesn’t change with the Grit X2 Pro. Nightly recharge measurements and being able to view your general energy boost from sleep are useful added sleep insights, that’s crucially underpinned by sleep tracking that beats what you’ll get from Garmin and Polar for accuracy.

Polar Grit X2 Pro watch showing cardio load status

(Image credit: Future)

Polar’s heritage is built on heart rate, yet the heart rate tracking performance on the Grit X2 Pro appears to fall in line with our experience of the Vantage V3. That new Elixir sensor array didn’t show any notable signs of improvement from Polar’s previous Precision Prime sensor sensor technology. It’s generally fine for steady-paced workouts, but even on easier runs, the maximum and average heart rate readings seemed a little off at times against both Polar and Garmin heart rate monitor chest straps at times.

Thankfully, Polar has addressed some issues regarding how smooth its software runs on its watches. It has boosted CPU speeds (from 120MHz to 275MHz) and ramped up the memory, all while keeping storage at the 32GB of the Grit X Pro. As a result, swiping through screens is a smoother experience, and performance doesn’t labor in the same way it did on previous Grit watches.

In terms of battery life, the Grit X2 Pro will get you through a week with features such as dual-frequency GPS mode and sleep tracking engaged. Polar quotes up to 10 days in smartwatch mode and 43 hours of GPS battery life. Those are the same numbers attached to the Vantage V3. If you decide to use those features regularly and turn the screen to always-on, battery life will drop to a maximum of five days. As such, if you can live without a 24/7 screen, the Grit X2 Pro will last noticeably longer between charges.

There’s a slight change with the charging setup here, too: the proprietary cable remaining the same as Polar switches from a USB-A to a USB-C connection when you want to power up that watch again.

Performance score: 4 / 5

Polar Grit X2 Pro watch showing 'fueling' feature

(Image credit: Future)

Polar Grit X 2 Pro: Scorecard

Should I buy the Polar Grit X2 Pro?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

First reviewed: June 2024

Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro emerge in Samsung Members app code
7:14 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Comments: Off

Samsung is rumored to bring a major design change to its Galaxy Buds lineup with the Buds3 and Buds3 Pro. These will be the first wireless earbuds in the Galaxy Buds series to feature stems and we now get another look at the Buds3 Pro thanks to images that were discovered by @AssembleDebug in collaboration with Android Authority. The new images emerged in the source code of the Samsung Members app and show that Buds3 Pro will be available in white and black colors. The stems will sport a downward-facing line which could be the rumored “Blade Lights” feature. Buds3 Pro will also feature...

Send Anywhere review: A web-based solution to sending files to someone else
6:45 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro Software & Services | Comments: Off

As our world increasingly relies on digital tools, the need for seamless and secure file sharing has never been greater. Whether sharing cherished memories with loved ones or collaborating on crucial projects at work, the choice of file transfer tools can make a difference. Enter Send Anywhere is an innovative file transfer solution that has been making waves with its unique approach to this common challenge. 

In this post, we’ll examine Send Anywhere's unique features and operation in depth and carefully weigh its strengths and weaknesses. Get ready to dive into the world of seamless file sharing!

You can learn more about Send Anywhere from the official website. It's available for Android and iOS. 

Features

Send Anywhere is a file transfer service that enables users to send files directly to each other without needing cloud storage. Unlike traditional file-sharing services that need user registration and file uploads to a server, Send Anywhere allows for direct, peer-to-peer data transmission using a one-time, six-digit code or a link. This system aims to simplify the sharing process while prioritizing security and privacy.

Among the features: 

Direct transfer: Files are sent directly between devices without being stored on any intermediary servers, reducing the risk of interception or unauthorized access.

Ease of use: The transfer process is simple, requiring a one-time code shared by the sender with the recipient to start the transfer.

Multi-platform support: Send Anywhere is available on various platforms, such as iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac, enabling seamless file sharing across different devices.

No file size limit: Unlike many other services, Send Anywhere does not impose file size limits, which is a significant advantage for sharing large videos or data files.

Secure transfer: Files are encrypted during the transfer, ensuring that your data remains secure from cyber threats.

Why use Send Anywhere?

Send Anywhere has several advantages that set it apart from similar services. By avoiding the cloud, Send Anywhere ensures the privacy of your files. This means you don’t have to worry about data retention on servers, which improves security. Direct transfers also mean faster delivery, as files don’t need to be uploaded and downloaded from a server. 

Moreover, users can transfer files without signing up or providing personal information, which is excellent for privacy-conscious individuals. Lastly, the ability to send files through various methods, such as a link, email, or a one-time code, provides flexibility based on the user’s preferences and needs.

Some people might find a few drawbacks to Send Anything. First, it requires a stable and reasonably fast internet connection for a smooth transfer, which can be limited in areas with poor connectivity.

Although Send Anywhere provides a basic service for free, some advanced features, such as increased file transfer limits and permanent links, are not free.

The absence of cloud storage is both a benefit and a limitation. While it enhances security, no backup is available if the transfer fails or files must be resent or accessed.

Finally, some users have reported that the interface, particularly on mobile versions, can be confusing or cluttered, which might discourage less tech-savvy individuals.

Pricing

Send Anywhere pricing June 2024

(Image credit: Send Anywhere)

Send Anywhere provides a free version with basic functionality suitable for casual use. It offers two additional versions, Lite and Standard, for more advanced needs.

The Lite version costs $5.99 monthly and allows you to download up to 200GB of content. It provides faster subscriber-only servers, the ability to email large files, link management, and customization of the download page.

The Standard version, priced at $9.99 per month, increases the download limit to 500GB and offers further customization of the download page.

Discounts are available when purchasing either of these packages yearly, not monthly. 

Final Verdict

Send Anywhere stands out in the crowded field of file transfer services by offering a secure, direct, and user-friendly solution. Its emphasis on privacy and security makes it especially appealing in an era where data breaches are a constant threat. However, potential users should consider the absence of cloud storage and the limited free version features before fully committing to it. For those looking for a straightforward, reliable means to share large files quickly, Send Anywhere is undoubtedly worth considering.

In summary, while the service has its limitations, its benefits make it a strong contender for anyone’s file-sharing toolkit, particularly if security and privacy are top priorities.

More from TechRadar Pro

Discovering SHAREit: A comprehensive review
6:04 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro Software & Services | Comments: Off

Sharing files between devices is a common need for many individuals. Whether it’s photos, videos, music, or documents, transferring files quickly without cables or a data connection is invaluable. SHAREit is a powerful app designed to make file sharing effortless and efficient across various platforms. 

In this post, you will learn more about what SHAREit offers, its advantages and disadvantages, and who benefits most from its features.

The SHAREIt app is available for Android and iOS. You can also use it on Windows and macOS.

Features

In today's era of instant communication and digital transformation, there is a growing need for a reliable, high-speed file transfer tool. SHAREit is an app that has redefined file-sharing standards by offering a variety of impressive features designed to meet the demands of fast and efficient digital exchange.

Here are the key features that contribute to its popularity and functionality:

Cross-platform compatibility: SHAREit breaks down the barriers between different operating systems. With Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS support, users can transfer files across various devices without worrying about compatibility.

Transfer large files with lightning speed: Speed is one of SHAREit's most crucial aspects. Users can transmit large files up to 200 times faster than Bluetooth, reaching up to 20M/s, which is invaluable for extensive files such as HD movies or comprehensive project documents. 

Transfer all file types: Whether it's photos, videos, music, installed apps, or any other file, SHAREit can handle it. It's not just the variety of files that's impressive; there's no size limit, making the transfer of substantial data packets hassle-free.

No internet required: SHAREiit operates independently of an internet connection by utilizing Wi-Fi Direct for file transfers. This saves on data usage and means that files can be shared anywhere, anytime.

CLONEit feature: With the CLONEit feature, users can clone a device and send all its content to another device. This is especially helpful when changing phones, as it streamlines the process of transferring contacts, SMS messages, MMS messages, music, videos, apps, and other data from an old device to a new one.

Group sharing: With SHAREit, one can share files with friends simultaneously. By connecting multiple devices to a single sending device, files can be transferred to the entire group simultaneously, saving time and maintaining consistency in shared information.

Video player: Integrated into the app is a media player that allows users to play videos in HD and select from various video formats, making it a multi-functional tool beyond mere file transfers.

Music and content discovery: SHAREit is not just about sharing; it's also a portal to a world of content. Users can listen to music, watch endless videos, and even discover trending content updated regularly within the app interface.

Secure transfers: The software ensures secure transfers with privacy protection. Files are saved directly onto the recipient's device without leaving traces in the cloud, preventing any chance of data leakage.

Easy to use interface: SHAREit sports an intuitive, user-friendly interface that simplifies sharing. Easy connections via QR codes and a straightforward layout ensure that even the least tech-savvy users can share files without a steep learning curve.

Why use SHAREIt?

Clocks

(Image credit: Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay)

There are many great things about SHAREit. My favorite features are the ones that you're less likely to find in similar solutions. It all starts with its robust file management system that goes beyond basic transfers. SHAREit also has powerful file management functionality. Users can view, move, or delete files directly within the app, which helps manage device storage efficiently and effectively.

Whether you're sharing a simple JPEG image, a large software file, or a high-definition video, SHAREit can handle it. File size is not limited, giving SHAREit a significant edge over email or instant messaging tools that commonly have restrictions.

SHAREit enhances group interactions by allowing multiple people to connect and receive files simultaneously. This feature is perfect for meetings, social gatherings, or when distributing files to a team, ensuring everyone gets the data promptly and uniformly.

SHAREit is not just about utility; it's also about entertainment. The app integrates a media player for music and videos and provides access to a vast selection of online content for streaming directly within the app. This makes it a versatile multimedia tool that goes beyond mere file sharing.

Finally, all of these features come at no cost. SHAREit is free to download and use, providing an accessible solution for everyone.

Some individuals may have reservations about SHAREit despite its positive attributes.

In February 2021, Trend Micro, a global leader in cybersecurity, discovered several vulnerabilities in the SHAREit app that hackers could exploit to carry out malicious activities, including executing arbitrary code and leaking sensitive user data. Although the app's developers have addressed these issues, the situation highlighted potential risks associated with using the platform.

Questions regarding how SHAREit handles user data arise, as with any app that requires access to files and media on a device. The app's permission requirements are extensive, and there have been concerns about how SHAREit manages this data, especially concerning user privacy.

One of the most frequent complaints among SHAREit users is the excessive number of ads displayed within the app. While the app is free to use and relies on an ad-supported model to generate revenue, users often find the quantity and intrusiveness of ads to be excessive, detracting from the user experience.

SHAREit has been criticized for bundling additional features and content, such as games and other apps, that not all users find helpful. This clutters the user interface and can lead to unnecessary data consumption and storage space usage.

Users have reported unreliable connections and transfer failures, especially when sharing files over longer distances or between different platforms. Such technical glitches can hinder the smooth functionality that SHAREit promises.

Final Verdict

SHAREit is known for its speed, versatility, and wide range of features that exceed basic file transfer requirements. Whether you need to send a single photo to a friend nearby or share important documents across different platforms, SHAREit simplifies the process, saving time and boosting productivity. In addition to its file transfer capabilities, SHAREit functions as a compact entertainment hub, making it valuable and essential in today's digital toolkit.

And yet, you should also be aware of the concerns that previous customers have commented on, including the inclusion of advertising, sometimes unreliable connections, past security issues, and more. 

More from TechRadar Pro

Oppo Reno12 Pro arrives in Europe with two 50MP portrait cams, Reno12 tags along
6:00 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Tags: | Comments: Off

Oppo has reworked the Reno12 series a bit and it is bringing the two phones to the European market. They have a new energy efficient chipset, new AI functionality and even a unique communications feature for emergencies. We should note that these are different from the Reno12 and 12 Pro for China. The first difference is the Dimensity 7300-Energy chipset, which was optimized by MediaTek and Oppo for “exceptional power efficiency”. The phones are equipped with 12GB of RAM (LPDDR4X) and 256GB (vanilla) or 512GB (Pro) storage (UFS 3.1). Expansion is possible with up to 12GB of virtual RAM and...

Orico Mecha 2TB portable SSD review
5:06 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Orico Mecha 2TB portable SSD: 30-second review

Specs

Capacities available: 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
Size: 141.5x55x16mm
Weight: 120g
Enclosure material: Alloy + Silicone
Connector: USB3.2 GEN2x2 Type-C
Technology: QLC NAND Flash
Warranty (in years): 5-years
Rated R/W speeds (MB/s): Read up to 2050MB/s, Write up to 1800MB/s
Software bundle: N/A

The Orico Mecha 2TB portable SSD is a portable hard drive designed to withstand conditions that would cause most other portable SSDs to fail. The drive's overall aesthetic reflects its robust nature, and its triple defence shield ensures that it's waterproof, dustproof, and shockproof, all helping to protect Yata even in harsh environments. 

We've tested out the best portable SSDs and the best rugged hard drives, so we were keen to get our hands on the Orico Mecha to find out what it offers. Performance-wise, the SSD supports speeds up to 20Gbps, with read speeds up to 2050MB/s and write speeds up to 1800MB/s. This makes it suitable for transferring large files, such as video and image files quickly, and can be used as a working drive to both store and edit creative work. As well as the tough outer casing the internals feature advanced electronics with a high-performance SSD chip that features temperature lock technology that will prevent the drive from overheating, and sure enough through the test for short on-site edits of 4K video from the Canon EOS R5 C the drive handle the footage and edit with ease.

Compatibility is worth mentioning with the drive supporting USB 3.2 Gen2x2 protocol, which instantly makes it compatible with various devices, including laptops, desktops, and smartphones. In the box is a 2-in-1 data cable (C to C/A) maximising the options for connection. One issue to note is that if your computer is USB 3.2 Gen 1 or uses Thunderbolt 3 or 4, then the maximum transfer rates will be reduced to that of USB 3.2 Gen 1 which is around 1000MB/s. 

While the price is relatively high for a 2TB drive, the fact that it's quite so robust and, with the right connection, offers outstanding speeds, this is a great option, especially for creative professionals such as photographers and videographers. 

Orico Mecha 2TB portable SSD: Price & availability

ORICO Mecha Portable SSD 2TB

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

The Orico Mecha 2TB portable SSD is priced at £121/$149 and can be purchased from online retailers like eBay and Amazon.

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  • Score: 4/5

Orico Mecha 2TB portable SSD: Design & build

ORICO Mecha Portable SSD 2TB

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Orico's SSD features a decidedly outdoorsy and robust design, which reflects its intended use as a portable SSD that can be used in tough environments. The exterior of the drive features a high-strength alloy and silicone shell that you can feel with, providing excellent protection against being dropped, sudden shocks and being bashed around in a kit bag. What's more, with the USB Type-C cable removed, there's a silicon plug that protects the port making the drive completely water-resistant. While Orico states that the drive is waterproof, there is no IP rating for the drive, so although it is well made and seemingly sealed, it's worth taking care over water ingress. 

However, the design is robust, and with the hanging loop, the drive can easily be tethered to the inside of a backpack so it can be located when needed. To connect to a computer, a USB cable with a C to adapter is included. This can be swapped and changed, but it is of high quality and will help to maximise those transfer speeds with the right equipment. 

Overall, the materials used in the construction are all of high quality, and while it may not have any official ratings for water or dust ingress, the drive feels reassuringly durable. 

  • Design & build: 4/5

Orico Mecha 2TB portable SSD: Features

This SSD is aimed at professionals working in the field, and in environments that would test most portable SSDs to the point of destruction. Taking a look at the features, it's possible to see just how robust this drive appears to be and raises a high standard for real-world tests. Firstly, the outer shell, made from alloy and silicon, is well-made and finished and feels incredibly durable. There's nothing lightweight or flimsy about the build, and unlike some other metal enclosures, this drive feels solid with no flex.

The alloy case will inevitably aid with the cooling of the drive when put under load editing video and images, but to ensure that the drive doesn't overheat and burn out it features a high-performance chip with temperature lock technology

In order to reach impressive transfer speeds, a USB 3.2 Gen2x2 connection is utilised, which has wide compatibility with various devices. It's worth checking to see if your hardware has this exact configuration, which is mainstream. However, Mac users, along with some high end laptops, may find that the performance will be throttled due to the backward compatibility of thunderbolt ports to USB 3.2 Gen2x1 rather than USB 3.2 Gen2x2.

  • Features 4/5

Orico Mecha 2TB portable SSD: Performance

ORICO Mecha Portable SSD 2TB

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Benchmarks

CrystalDiskMark, read: 2068.62MB/s Write: 1836MB/s
AJA: read: 1849MB/s Write: 1665MB/s
ATTO: read: 1930MB/s Write: 1740MB/s
AS SSD: 1898.15MB/s Write: 1654.79MB/s

The stated performance is impressive with the quoted speeds highlighting rates of up to 20Gbps. However, tested on a MacBook Pro 16-inch M1 (still one of the best MacBook Pro laptops for our money), those transfer rates looked more like read 989MB/s and Write 919MB/s; this is due to the downgrade in performance for the Gen2x2 connection going through the Thunderbolt 4 ports. However, switching over to one of the best mini PCs - the Intel NUC 9 Ghost Canyon with a PCIe USB 3.2 Gen2x2 card - performance rates were far more impressive. 

In continuous test, the drive was put under strain for several hours in an environment of around 20ºC. The drive continued to perform extremely well, with the transfer speeds keeping up the pace with little overall effect on the performance. 

Switching the testing from the studio to the field, the drive was first used as a backup drive for images and video during a day's shoot. Due to the Thunderbolt to USB 3.2 Gen2x2 downgrade, transfer speeds were slightly slower than expected. However, at nearly 1000MB/s, those speeds were still impressive, enabling 200GB of data to transfer from an OWC CFExpress card in 5 minutes and 37 seconds.

Doing the same on the Intel NUC 9 Ghost Canyon sees a leap in performance, although, in the field, the computers are connected to a Bluetti AC180 with a compact monitor to monitor the download speeds. Here again, with the Thunderbolt 3 connection for the OWC CFExpress to the ORICO Mecha Portable SSD 2TB, the transfer rate is more impressive at 2 minutes 30 seconds.

Switching the drive's use from storage to editing in Final Cut Pro X on the Mac and Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve on the Intel NUC 9, the drive is able to keep up with the demands at an impressive rate. Despite being used as a working drive, the enclosure stays impressively cool, and intermittently checking the transfer rates with AJA System Test Lite shows little, if any, drop in performance. 

With the transfer test completed, it was time to put the drive through a few additional tests, including being dropped from a height and sprayed with water. In both tests, the drive, although cosmetically affected with some slight wear and tear, continued to work well. Overall, it was an impressive all-around performance.

  • Performance: 4/5

Should I buy the Orico Mecha 2TB portable SSD?

The Orico Mecha SSD is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a durable, high-performance storage solution that can be used for storage or as a portable working drive. The rugged build quality with the strong alloy to protect the delicate electronics surrounded by the silicon provides an impressive amount of protection, and throughout the test, the high-speed capabilities impressed and proved that this is a great drive for a variety of environments and uses, from the office to the great outdoors. 

Looking at a few points about the drive that are worth considering, while the drive is impressively robust it doesn't have any official certification or rating so some care will need to be taken when using it in adverse conditions, then there's the USB 3.2 Gen2x2 issue, especially for Mac users, although you'll have a fast drive it will be about half of its overall potential. Still, although the price might be a consideration, the SSD's performance and durability do justify the investment.

ORICO Mecha Portable SSD 2TB

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Buy it if...

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