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OnePlus 12R Genshin Impact Edition unveiled with deep customizations, loaded gift box
4:00 pm | February 28, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Comments: Off

Genshin Impact was released in 2020 yet it feels like it has been around for longer – the game won many awards and this January it became the fastest mobile game to reached $5 billion in revenue. This means that the OnePlus 12R Genshin Impact Edition is styled after one of the biggest brands in the world right now. It’s not the company’s first collaboration with the HoyoVerse, but this one is the result of extra effort. The bespoke design is inspired by the character Keqing. It’s painted in Electric Violet and a first of its kind electro-etching process was used to give the rear glass a...

Shark Detect Pro Cordless Auto-Empty System review: untethered performance
3:20 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances Vacuums | Comments: Off

Shark Detect Pro Cordless Auto-Empty System: one-minute review

The Shark Detect Pro Cordless Auto-Empty System is certainly one of the best Shark vacuums out there right now. In my opinion, it may also be among the best vacuums available.

There are certainly some caveats. The price tag, although reasonable compared to rivals, might appear high, plus it isn’t as powerful as some tethered models – an important consideration for those who like to deep clean from time to time.

Still, the Shark Cordless Detect Pro’s power is very good for a cordless vacuum. And since it can be easily disassembled into a handheld, not to mention the fact that it comes with a few attachments, it can be used in a variety of situations. The self-emptying base station, along with its large dust bag, is also a welcome part of the experience since it makes charging and storing the vacuum simple. While most of the best cordless vacuums somewhat fit that description, the majority don’t leave your floors smelling fresh. 

Overall, then, this is a capable cordless vacuum that most people will find more than delivers for their needs.

Shark Detect Pro clleaning a floor

(Image credit: Future)

Shark Detect Pro Cordless Auto-Empty System: Specs

Shark Detect Pro accessories and components

(Image credit: Future)

Shark Detect Pro Cordless Auto-Empty System: Price and availability

  •  How much does it cost? $449.99 / £449.99 / AU$999.99 
  •  When is it available? Available now 
  •  Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK and Australia 

At $449.99 / £449.99 / AU$999.99, the Shark Detect Pro Cordless Auto-Empty System is unlikely to be the budget option for anyone. Of course, you can save a little by skipping the Auto-Empty base station, which brings the price down to $379.99 / £349 / AU$799.99. But, in my opinion, that isn’t enough of a reduction in price to do away with functionality that not only empties the dust bin for you, but charges and stores the vacuum, too. Without the base, you’ll actually have to find a place to plug in the vacuum each time.

Considering that the Tineco Pure One S11 – a cordless stick vacuum with a similar auto-detect feature – comes in at $399.99 / £269 / AU$699, for example, and is missing that self-empty base station, the Shark Detect Pro Cordless’ price tag isn’t bad.

You can certainly spend much more. For instance, the LG CordZero arrives with a self-empty base station that doubles as storage for $999 / AU$1,299 (about £785).

Value: 4 / 5

Shark Detect Pro chamber

(Image credit: Future)

Shark Detect Pro Cordless Auto-Empty System: Design

  •  Easy to assemble and disassemble 
  •  Large LED display 
  •  Base station is discrete and hides the odor-neutralizer cartridge 

Adorned in an attractive white and gold colorway, the Shark Detect Pro Cordless follows the general outline of other such stick vacuums. The floorhead, with a single self-cleaning brushroll, features a strip of LED lights to illuminate any mess in the path of the cleaner. The stem is lightweight but large enough for decent-sized debris to pass through unencumbered, plus it also easily clips and unclips into the floorhead and handheld. Disassembling the vacuum takes just a press of a few buttons.

The handheld itself is the brains of the operation. To convey this fully, a sizable LED display as well as the two control buttons – one for power and one for mode – cover the top of it. This display is bordered by a ring of color that changes with the soil level.

As far as controls go, there are three modes to choose from: Eco, Detect, and Boost. While somewhat self-explanatory, the Detect mode became my go-to option, with the Shark Cordless Detect Pro adjusting its suction power according to the amount of dirt or debris it comes across. This does away with the need to switch from Eco to Max on a particularly dirty section, and then back again, in order to save battery.

One of the great things about cordless vacuums is the versatility of being able to remove the handheld and use it for not only more detailed spot cleaning, but also vacuuming the ceiling or upholstery, for example. And, with the couple of attachments Shark has included, I was able to do just that with this vacuum.

The self-emptying base station is fairly discrete, despite containing a 2L dust bag. It features a handle to not only hold the Shark Detect Pro Cordless for easy grab-and-go use, but to charge it as well.

In addition, this Shark Cordless vacuum takes advantage of the company’s odor neutralizer technology. Unlike the Shark Stratos corded vacuum I tested, the odor neutralizer cartridge is inserted into the base station, not the floorhead. How the vacuum still manages to spread that scent around to leave floors smelling fresh is beyond me – but it works.

Design: 4.5 / 5

Shark Detect Pro auto-empty base

(Image credit: Future)

Shark Detect Pro Cordless Auto-Empty System: Performance

  •  Powerful… for a cordless vacuum 
  •  Does well on edges and corners, but not going backwards 
  •  A bit heavy when using overhead 

The performance of the Shark Detect Pro Cordless is pretty impressive for an untethered stick vacuum. If you’re hoping for suction comparable to that of the most robust corded vacuum cleaners out there then, sadly, cordless models aren’t quite there yet.

But that’s the price you pay for the convenience of cordless. Having tested this model right after the Shark Stratos corded model, it was obvious to see that the Detect Pro Cordless needed an extra pass to clean up extra dirty areas compared to the Stratos, not to mention the fact that it didn’t perform as well sucking up debris with the backward pass.

Nevertheless, I found performance more than acceptable, even in homes where the Shark Detect Pro Cordless might be the only vacuum cleaner. It was able to pick up fine dust as well as large debris without too much issue; I even managed to vacuum up trimmings off a Christmas tree (not just individual needles).

The Shark Detect Pro Cordless was able to get pretty close to the edges and corners of floors. And the LED lights on the floorhead made it easy to see if any mess remained to be cleaned up – at least on hard flooring.

Shark Detect Pro control panel

(Image credit: Future)

I tested this vacuum across carpets, rugs, and different types of hard flooring, and found that it performed equally well across all surfaces. Getting under furniture was no hardship, as it’s possible to get the floorhead to essentially lay flat. 

Getting up high proved a cinch, too. I simply removed the floorhead and clipped on one of the attachments to remove cobwebs in the corners of rooms. The only real issue with using the Shark Detect Pro Cordless in handheld mode is its weight. Using it to clean the couch wasn’t a problem, but holding it over my head for extended periods of time did become tiring.

As for the self-emptying base station, it does a wonderful job of keeping the vacuum charged and accessible. It’s also quick with the self-emptying function; it pulls the contents of the dustbin into the bag in the basestation. Plus, it does so more quietly than using the actual vacuum (69dB vs 76dB during use).

Performance: 4.5 / 5

Shark Detect Pro control panel

(Image credit: Future)

Shark Detect Pro Cordless Auto-Empty System: Battery

  •  Around 60 minutes’ runtime in Eco mode 
  •  Battery life drops significantly in other modes 

The 60 minutes that the Shark Detect Pro Cordless can muster is fairly impressive, although it isn’t quite out of this world – and, of course, that’s 60 minutes in Eco mode. When using the vacuum in Detect mode, for instance, the LED display was showing a single bar of battery life after about 20 minutes. If you have a big area to clean, you might have to do it in shifts if it’s particularly dirty.

Battery: 4 / 5

Shark Cordless Detect Pro Auto-Empty System: Report card

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

How I tested

I used the Shark Detect Pro Cordless Auto-Empty System for a few weeks. I used it on carpet, upholstery, hard flooring, and even ceilings. And, in the course of these different cleaning scenarios, I tried all the different attachments, as well as using just the handheld on its own. I tested the odor neutralizer to see (or smell) if it was a gimmick or worthy addition, plus paid attention to how well it cleaned edges, corners, and debris of all sizes.

I’ve tested a lot of gear over the years from laptops and audio equipment to vacuum cleaners and air fryers, and so have been able to use my expertise towards giving an honest and fair opinion, not to mention a critical eye, to any product I test. 

Read more about how we test

Tested December 2023

Nutribullet Pro 900 blender review: compact and convenient
3:00 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances | Comments: Off

Nutribullet Pro 900 blender: One minute review

Nutribullet is a top name in the blender market and sells a wide range of powerful personal blenders such as the Nutribullet Pro 900, also known as the Nutribullet 900 Series in the UK and Australia. If you’re thinking about investing in one of the best blenders for 2024, you might want to consider the Nutribullet Pro 900 for its simple functionality and easy-to-store structure. Alternatively, you may want to invest in one of the brand’s more traditional countertop blenders such as the Nutribullet Smart Touch Blender, which works well for preparing larger quantities in one go.    

But for instant results when preparing dips, sauces, and smoothies, the Nutribullet Pro 900 is a great mid-range option. It features an extractor blade that spins an impressive 24,000 RPM, which is 50% more power than the original Nutribullet. It’s a great buy if you want to invest in a blender that doesn’t take up too much room on your worktop, and its powerful motor is great for making silky smooth drinks, sauces, and drips quickly

Nutribullet Pro 900 box

(Image credit: Future)

Nutribullet Pro 900 blender: PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

With its 900-watt motor, this is a mid-range Nutribullet blender, but a powerful one at that. If budgets won’t stretch to its very reasonable $99.99 / £89.99 / AU$119.95 price tag, you can spend a little less and buy the equally efficient 600-watt Nutribullet 600 Series ($69.99 / £69.99 / $99.95). If you want to invest in the brand’s most powerful model, you can choose the Nutribullet 1200 Pro+ ($119.99 / £119.99  / $189.95), which is double the power of the original Nutribullet. 

Depending on your region, you can buy the Nutribullet Pro 900 that we’ve taken a closer look at here as either as a 4-piece set, or as a seven piece set.

The seven-piece set seems to generally be better value as for the extra spend you get a tall cup and an oversized cup that can be sealed with either a ‘stay-fresh’ resealable lid or a flip-top lid for use on the go. It’s worth noting that for optimum performance, Nutribullet suggests that you replace the extractor blade every six months, which is something to bear as these cost around $15 / £10 / AU$20.     

Price: 4 / 5

Nutribullet Pro 900 smoothie ingredients in the chamber

(Image credit: Future)

Nutribullet Pro 900 BLENDER: DESIGN

  •  Simple to use push, twist and blend design  
  •  Stylish Champagne finish 
  •  Dishwasher safe BPA-free cups  

With its eye-catching Champagne finish base, silver accents, and black accessories, this has to be one of Nutribullet’s most stylish blenders. It’s 14-inches / 36cm tall, with a smooth form that’s easy to wipe clean and can be easily dismantled for convenient cupboard storage.    

There are seven pieces in the set that I found very easy to put together without having to look at the instructions. There are two cups in the box, including one tall 680ml BPA-free container that can be paired with either a stay-fresh lid or the flip-top lid. This means you can make a smoothie and conveniently store it or take it with you for drinking on the go. There’s a larger 909ml oversized cup for when you want to make larger quantities - I was able to make two smoothies using this vessel and enough dip for around three people in one go. There’s also a ‘handled comfort lip ring’ in the box, which makes the cups easier to hold. 

I like the way the high torque power base sits securely on the countertop and the cable is a nice length so that it reaches the plug with ease. There aren’t any controls on the design, which keeps things simple and makes it very straightforward to use. 

Assembling the design was fuss-free and the clean-up was relatively straightforward. I simply wiped down the base and placed the cups in the dishwasher. On the odd occasion that I had used thicker ingredients inside such as pancake mixture or walnut dip, I needed to give the cup a good rinse before popping in the dishwasher. This ensured caked-on ingredients were dislodged and ensured a more thorough clean. The blades could them be simply rinsed clean straight after use and left to dry. 

Design: 4.5 / 5

Nutribullet Pro 900 berry smoothie ingredients

(Image credit: Future)

Nutribullet Pro 900 BLENDER: PERFORMANCE

  • Crushes ice and blitzes seeds, tough skins and stems with ease  
  • Powerful 900 watt motor  
  • Fast 24,000 RPM  

Nutribullet blenders have been designed to be easy to use and efficient and the Nutribullet Pro 900 is just that. To blend ingredients smooth, it’s a simple matter of filling the cup, twisting on the extractor blade and turning it upside down onto the base. Then a simple push and twist and the device will start to blend. To stop blending it’s a simple matter of twisting the cup the alternate way and it will immediately stop. There’s no pulse function here, however, so you’ll need to keep an eye on it if you’re after a certain texture – for a chunky guacamole, for example. 

To find out just how well the blender performs, I used it to make a smoothie and a dip.  In my berry and avocado smoothie I used fine and tough ingredients and packed a handful of spinach, chopped avocado, frozen berries, a spoon of nut butter, honey, a splash of maple syrup and some almond milk into the cup. 

Nutribullet Pro 900 avocado and berry smoothie

(Image credit: Future)

With its 24,000 RPM extractor blade, this blender prides itself in making a smoothie in one minute and this seemed to work well for me. The blade has a cyclonic action that is designed to force your ingredients down so that it can achieve the smooth blend of your dreams, and the 900-watt motor claims to create less aeration than the original Nutribullet so you have a purer consistency too. After one minute the mixture was very smooth and well blended. To make it even smoother and ensure the frozen berry seeds were nicely crushed I added another 30 seconds to the timing. 

When using a Nutribullet, the liquid should always be added last and the cup has a max line that you shouldn’t go over.  To stop the smoothie becoming too thick and also make sure all the ingredients got captured by the blade, I had to  experiment with how much almond milk to put inside. When there wasn’t enough liquid inside, I found myself having to shake the cup mid-blend to ensure everything got combined. 

To see how well the design could tackle thicker dips and nuts, I also used the device to make Roasted Walnut and Red Pepper Dip. The recipe includes whole walnuts, pepper, whole garlic cloves and olive oil. As a much thicker sauce, a shake of the cup 30 seconds in was again needed. I was impressed at how quickly these ingredients could be mixed to create a satisfying consistency for a dip, however.  

Performance: 4.5 / 5

Nutribullet Pro 900 walnut dip results

(Image credit: Future)

SHOULD I BUY THE Nutribullet Pro 900 BLENDER?

I was very impressed by the design, performance and aesthetics of the Nutribullet Pro 900 blender and would recommend it for anyone wanting to make smoothies, pancakes and dips in a hurry. It does a great job at whizzing cold ingredients super smooth with a simple push, twist and start. To get smoother results, you simply twist and press down. 

I think this design is a particularly good buy for who already has a traditional blender and wants to prepare smaller quantities of their favorite drinks and snacks. But bear in mind this only has one speed setting.  Should you want to make chunkier dips and sauces, you’ll need to guestimate how long to blend for.

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 first renders reveal similar design
2:58 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Comments: Off

Samsung released the Galaxy S24 flagships last month, and the company is now working on the next foldables, traditionally launched in summer. There might be six months until the phones arrive, but we already get to see the first Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 renders, based on the info acquired by OnLeaks. The smartphone depicted looks almost identical to the Fold5 and Fold4, but the corners of the frame are slightly sharper, and the sides are now completely flat. The foldable will undoubtedly bring the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and Galaxy AI – Samsung's own take on generative AI...

vivo V30 Pro review
2:39 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones reviews | Comments: Off

Manfrotto Befree Advanced Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod review
2:30 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Camera Accessories Cameras Computers Gadgets | Comments: Off

Two-minute review

For some photographers, the most lightweight travel tripods are the only option when it comes to traveling, and the Manfrotto Befree Advanced Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod is one of the lighter and more compact options available. At just 2.75lbs / 1.25kg and with a folded length of 16.1in / 41cm, it’s an extremely portable travel tripod that you can comfortably carry over long periods, barely noticing it's there.

The Befree Advanced costs $319 / £279 / AU$555 which is an attractive price for such a compact and lightweight tripod when compared to some alternatives, but you can get a much more fully featured tripod, if slightly heavier, for a similar price or less, such as the 3LT Brian 2.0 Travel Tripod. 

Going heavier is arguably worthwhile for the additional functionality. For example, the 3LT offering has a built-in monopod and a taller maximum height. However, if weight is your main concern, you’ll struggle to find a better Befree Advanced alternative at this price, and you can find deals on it for less than the list price mentioned above (see below).

Weight versus features is a typical quandary when buying a travel tripod; you often have to make concessions in one area to be able to take advantage of the benefits in another. In this case, I can’t get away from the cost versus features aspect of the tripod – you can get so much more for your money with competitor models.

Manfrotto Befree Advanced Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod carry bag

(Image credit: James Abbott)

The Befree Advanced is advertised as a tripod for advanced hobbyists and has a maximum height of 59in / 150cm alongside a maximum payload of 19.8lbs / 9kg, and packs down to 16.1in / 41cm. However, the Befree Advanced provides adequate support for professionals because the fairly narrow four section legs are surprisingly rigid.

In terms of design and build quality, you can’t fault the Befree Advanced because it looks, feels and performs much more smoothly than Manfrotto’s budget travel tripods, so there’s an immediately obvious advancement here. The leg twist locks are better made and operate more positively, while the compact ball head locks much more firmly with no slippage which is exactly what you’d hope for at this price point.

The 494 aluminium center ball head is robust, with great control knobs despite its compact size and light weight. However, it's something of an oddity. While it uses the Manfrotto 200PL-PRO plate which is RC2 and Arca-swiss compatible, the ball head isn’t compatible with L brackets for quickly and easily allowing photographers to switch between portrait and landscape format shooting while enjoying full movement of the ball head.

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Manfrotto Befree Advanced Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod folded on ground

(Image credit: James Abbott)
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Manfrotto Befree Advanced Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod leg lock

(Image credit: James Abbott)
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Manfrotto Befree Advanced Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod leg twist lock

(Image credit: James Abbott)
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Manfrotto Befree Advanced Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod at minimum height

(Image credit: James Abbott)

This begs the question, why even bother with a plate like this because it’s full of promise yet fails to deliver? Not to mention, it could be confusing when looking at the specs because if you use an L bracket, the natural assumption would be that it’s compatible with the tripod head. Of course, this won’t be of concern to many photographers who don’t use L brackets, but it’s something you need to know before considering the Befree Advanced.

In use, the Befree Advanced is quick and easy to set up, and with the exception of the of the leg lock buttons that unlock the leg angles and feel a little cheap for the price of the tripod, nothing else can be criticized in terms of quality. There’s also an accessory mount for screwing in accessory arms to hold lighting, tablets and anything else you need to support close to the camera, and if you need to shoot closer to the ground than 16.1in / 41cm minimum, the center column can be inserted into the legs upside down.

Manfrotto Befree Advanced Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod ball head

(Image credit: James Abbott)

Beyond this, the Befree Advanced is a standard travel tripod with no other bells or whistles; it does what it says on the tin and it does it well; it’s undoubtedly a tripod for those who only require simple features. The accessory mount is nice to have and useful if you need it, while the average maximum height of 59in / 150cm is ideal for travel, landscape and city shooting despite not being the greatest maximum height available.

The Befree Advanced is an attractive travel tripod despite its overall simplicity and the Arca Swiss tripod plate quirk it suffers from. It’s certainly not a perfect package, but where it excels is in its compact size and light weight. Plus, in some cases, equally lightweight options are shorter and not quite as sturdy. In a nutshell, if you need a decent lightweight travel tripod, this remains an option worth considering despite one or two shortcomings.

Should I buy the Manfrotto Befree Advanced Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod? 

Manfrotto Befree Advanced Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod at minimum height

(Image credit: James Abbott)

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How I tested the Manfrotto Befree Advanced Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod

The Manfrotto Befree Advanced Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod was tested over a period of time using several different camera and lens combinations to test how the tripod stood up to standard use in travel-oriented scenarios. Cameras used included a premium compact, an APS-C mirrorless camera and a full-frame mirrorless camera. The tripod was also carried around with other photographic kit in my f-stop backpack to evaluate performance over longer shoots such as landscapes.

With nearly 30 years of photographic experience and 15 years working as a photography journalist, I’ve been covering photographic accessories such as tripods for many years. As a professional photographer I frequently use a range of accessories to enhance my photography and bring my working experience of using these to reviews where I can consider how effective photographic accessories are from both a professional and enthusiast point of view.

First reviewed February 2024

Samsung is now mass-producing 1 TB microSD cards, sales will begin in Q3 ’24
2:01 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Tags: | Comments: Off

Samsung revealed today two new milestones for its memory business. The company is now sampling 256 GB SD Express microSD cards, and also revealed it commenced mass production of 1 TB UHS-1 microSD cards. The SD Express cards by Samsung can reach up to 800 MB/s read speed, which is faster than a SATA SSD (up to 560 MB/s) and 4x faster than traditional UHS-1 memory cards (up to 200 MB/s). The cards will have a Dynamic Thermal Guard (DTG) to maintain the optimum temperature even during long usage sessions. Samsung created the 1 TB microSD card by stacking eight layers of its...

Balatro review – jokers to the right
1:16 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Comments: Off
Review information

Platform reviewed: PC
Available on: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
Release date: February 20, 2024

Balatro does for poker what Shotgun King did for chess: turn a relatively straightforward and iconic game into something more outlandish and - arguably - something even more fun.

A deckbuilding roguelite at heart, those unfamiliar with the rules of poker will be relieved to hear that Balatro only really loosely bases itself around the popular card game. You’ll play hands like three-of-a-kind and straight flush, but this is just the skeleton of what Balatro offers.

The meat of it, then, is how you’re encouraged to build and improve your deck through a variety of means. A baseline knowledge of poker actually won’t get you very far in Balatro; it’s playing its own game, with its own unique set of rules; this is what truly sets it apart from other deckbuilders on the market. 

I'm the Joker, baby

Balatro

(Image credit: Playstack)

If you’re unfamiliar with Balatro, then I’ll briefly get you up to speed. Starting with a standard 52-card deck, you’ll be dealt cards with which you must play a scoring poker hand. This could be a simple pair, a flush (five cards of the same suit), or a straight (five cards that rank up in sequence). Doing so scales the amount of chips you’ll earn, as well as a multiplier (referred to in-game as ‘mult’). The formula - chips multiplied by mult - is your score for that hand. You have a limited number of hands per round, and you must cross the score threshold to move up to the next.

The real magic of Balatro is how you go about ensuring a high score each round. These come in the form of Jokers; think of these as passive abilities that form the core of your build. Jokers come in many forms; some can be as simple as increasing your score when certain hands, suits, or individual cards are played.

Best bit

Balatro

(Image credit: Playstack)

Balatro has a very simple but effective way of letting you know your deck is killing it. When the score multiplier on the left of the screen starts flaming, that’s its way of telling you that you’ve managed to build an excellent deck.

Others are decidedly more complex. For example, one Joker boosts score if a numbered card from the Fibonacci sequence (that’s Ace, 2, 3, 5 or 8) is a part of your hand. Another permanently boosts your mult based on the number of booster packs you’ve opened and promptly skipped over.

Said booster packs are the other major contributor to success in a Balatro run. Alongside Jokers, they can be purchased in the shop you’ll visit between each round, and provide a random assortment of cards. These include Planet cards, which permanently boost the level of a type of hand (thus increasing its score and multiplier), and Tarot cards, which can apply modifiers to existing cards in your deck, such as changing their suit or offering buffs like additional mult or cash earned when played. 

One of a kind

Balatro

(Image credit: Playstack)

Balatro offers you so many tools to create unique decks, then. And typically, I’ve found the best method of success is purchasing whichever Jokers show up early for added survivability, and then aiming to further bolster the deck around what those perks offer. As an example, I came across a Joker that condensed Hearts and Diamonds, and Spades and Clubs, into two suits. This effectively doubled my chances of scoring flushes, and thus, I built a deck to practically guarantee I could create that hand on every turn.

This also means that subsequent Balatro runs can feel decidedly different from the last. And eventually, you’ll get a decent grasp on how to create a run-winning deck consistently. Thankfully, winning with a deck unlocks higher difficulties, allowing you to turn up the challenge and start unlocking some of the more sought-after deck types, Jokers, and more.

Conversely, as is the nature of roguelites, Balatro does feature a degree of randomness - further exacerbated by the fact you’re working with a 52-card deck. Sometimes, runs just won’t go your way. Especially in the early game, this can be frustrating, as you’re still figuring out the long-term plan for your deck and set of Jokers.

Furthermore, each level of Balatro (known as an Ante) ends with a boss encounter. These are naturally much harder, applying debuffs to your deck for that round only. Such debuffs can sometimes be particularly punishing, effectively hard-countering your build. One boss permanently de-ranks any hand type you play, while another draws your cards face-down. I think it’s awesome that bosses can be so scary in Balatro, but if you’re particularly unlucky, they can bring an abrupt end to a solid run should the criteria align against you. 

Under the spell

Balatro

(Image credit: Playstack)

Balatro’s user interface is honestly sublime, combining a slick-yet-simple aesthetic with crystal-clear readability. All the information you need is presented right on the main screen of play. Meanwhile, additional details on your cards and Jokers are visible just by hovering over them. There’s very little in the way of vagaries here. All ancillary info about your current run, as well as a handy guide on how to create certain hands, are available to view in a separate ‘Run Info’ menu, too.

Accessibility

Balatro

(Image credit: Playstack)

Balatro offers a decent amount of accessibility options. High-contrast cards can improve readability, and effects such as screenshake and the CRT filter can be switched off if you prefer a cleaner picture.

This readability also plays into the satisfaction of scoring a big hand. When you play your hand, you’ll get a clear breakdown of how each card and Joker tallies up your score, with each sequentially applying score and mult based on your build. Delightful, audible pings accompany this, shifting higher in pitch as your score skyrockets. This approach to sound design is borderline hypnotic, pairing seamlessly with play to help make Balatro an utterly moreish experience.

Overall, then, Balatro hardly puts a foot wrong. The game offers a remarkably deep roguelite experience. There’s not a single mechanic that feels out of place; everything works in tandem to allow you to build exceptional decks time and again. And sure, that degree of randomness can frustrate and bring runs to a premature end. But as individual runs are on the shorter side (typically around 20-30 minutes), it’s easy to pick yourself up and try again with a whole new approach. Whether you’re into the roguelite subgenre or not, Balatro is an absolutely essential play. 

Check out more top titles by visiting our guides to the best Steam games and the best RPGs you can play right now.

Honor Flip foldable coming this year, Ring also in development
12:49 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Comments: Off

Honor said it was pondering a flip foldable last year but it wouldn’t rush one to the market until it had a product that stands out. Well, it seems like the company has made some progress on that end as CEO George Zhao confirmed that Honor’s flip foldable is coming later this year in an interview with CNBC. Honor CEO Gheorge Zhao Zhao shared that Honor’s flip foldable is in the final stage of development and that the company is very positive about the outlook of foldables going forward. In addition, Honor is also working on a smart ring, which will unsurprisingly be called Honor...

Honor Flip foldable coming this year, Ring also in development
12:49 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Comments: Off

Honor said it was pondering a flip foldable last year but it wouldn’t rush one to the market until it had a product that stands out. Well, it seems like the company has made some progress on that end as CEO George Zhao confirmed that Honor’s flip foldable is coming later this year in an interview with CNBC. Honor CEO Gheorge Zhao Zhao shared that Honor’s flip foldable is in the final stage of development and that the company is very positive about the outlook of foldables going forward. In addition, Honor is also working on a smart ring, which will unsurprisingly be called Honor...

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