Organizer
Gadget news
Anker Solix C1000 portable power station review
7:19 pm | November 4, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro | Comments: Off

Anker has quickly become a company that I trust a lot of my gear with. Currently, Anker cleans my house, protects my home with security cameras, and powers my house -- quite literally. I have a handful of Anker Power Stations and many of the best portable power stations from Bluetti, EcoFlow, Jackery, and others. What's remarkable is that Anker has two prominent positions in my home that I rely on daily. 

First up, Anker runs my whole home backup thanks to the Anker Solix Home Power Panel and Automatic Transfer Switch, along with a pair of F3800s. In the event of a power outage, I can run my entire home -- including my regular lights and outlets, fridge, laundry, dishwasher, Wi-Fi and more -- off of battery backup. Pretty cool! Additionally, I have a few other backups for heavy-use zones, such as my primary workstation. This is where the Solix C1000 comes into play - but more on that later.

Anker Solix C1000: Price and Availability

The Anker Solic C1000 usually costs around $1000; however, when writing this, I saw a deal for $579 on Anker's website. Occasionally, deals work for the power stations if you want to wait and snag a significant discount.

Anker Solix C1000: Unboxing and First Impressions

Unboxing the Solix C1000 was exciting because I was shocked at how small the entire unit was. Overall, I am impressed with how clean and compact this unit is for the power delivery it can give.

I could snag an extended battery for my C1000, so I grabbed the C1000 and attached the external battery with a single cable, adding another 1056Wh to my workstation in the backup, bringing the total to 2112Wh.

Anker includes all the cables for the power station, including the AC charging cable I use for this particular setup.

The pairing process with the Anker App was super easy as well. Plus, a huge bonus is that I can connect to this power station over Wi-Fi and control it from anywhere in the world or via Bluetooth if there is no Wi-Fi.

Anker Solix C1000

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)

Anker Solix C1000: Design and Build Quality

Specs

Capacity: 1056Wh
Output: 1800W (AC)
Ports: Multiple AC, USB-A, USB-C, and DC ports
Charging: AC, solar, and car charging compatible

The Anker Solix C1000 offers excellent ports on the front of the power station, just under where there is an integrated light bar. Under the screen lives the USB ports, two USB-A and two USB-C, one of which can reach 100w output. Additionally, there are six AC outlets on the front that I can plug gear into. The last thing worth mentioning in this section is the built-in handles. Yes, power stations can be heavy, but this one has two carry handles built into the frame of the top outside edges of the C1000 Portable Power Station.

Anker Solix C1000

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)

Anker Solix C1000: In use

As mentioned above, my Anker Solix C1000 is the power station and UPS I have entrusted to run my primary workstation in my home office. And, unlike some home offices, mine is far from simple and minimal, thus drawing considerable amounts of power. Right now, my main desk supports a hot-swappable monitor (currently, my BenQ MA320U), two Thunderbolt Docks (both from Satechi), Multiple Satechi USB-C power supplies (one on either side of my desk), Three or four AC Plug power Strips mounted under my desk, My MacBook Pro, My iPad Pro, a handful of desktops I am in testing with, a handful of laptops I am testing as well, a BenQ Monitor light bar, a Govee light strip, A Govee Glide Hexa Pro on my wall, a lamp, a Google Home Hub, an Apple HomePod Original, a TP-Link Deco Wi-Fi Point, a network switch, a Mac Mini running a media server, a Synology BeeStation, a space heater, an Apple TV and ways to MagSafe Charge my iPhone 16 Pro, wireless charge my AirPods, and my Apple Watch. All of this gear (mostly) is sitting on a FlexiSpot E7 Pro Standing Desk.

It's a lot. But what's even crazier is that 95% of all of that gear is running through my desk, which, as a standing desk, I didn't want to bog down with cables hanging, so there is only one cable hanging down, which gets plugged directly into my C1000. I've tested a power outage many times, and so far, the C1000 can handle that super desk's worth of gear without even breaking a sweat.

Before this portable power station found its home inside my office at the foot of my desk powering my workstation, I was able to take this thing outside to run a pressure washer, recharge some drill batteries, power my living room lamps during an outage before I had my whole home backed up, and much more.

Anker Solix C1000

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)

Anker Solix C1000: Final verdict

All around, the Anker Solix C1000 has been a lovely little Portable Power Station that I can't imagine not having in my workflow at this point. It's powerful, has a great port offering, is super easy to use in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth-only environments, is expandable, and so much more. If you're looking for a portable power station, check out the Solix C1000 as a baseline at a minimum of what you should be looking for.

SwitchBot K10+ Pro Mini Robot Vacuum review
7:16 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Robot Vacuums Smart Home | Comments: Off

SwitchBot K10+ Pro: two-minute review

If you want a compact robotic vacuum cleaner, the pint-sized SwitchBot Mini Robot Vacuum K10+ Pro could be just what you're looking for. Don't be put off by the diminutive design – this robot vacuum is packed with tech, from intelligent room-mapping and app control, to self-emptying and some of the quickest navigation we've ever seen.

It squeezes with confidence – and often at speed – between furniture legs, cleaning carpet inaccessible by larger robots, and the equally compact dock will appeal to those with small apartments, too. It also taps into SwitchBot’s existing smart home ecosystem, and can be controlled by voice via Alexa or Google Assistant.

However, this small robot's suction power isn't a match for bigger, pricier rivals, and the mopping function – which merely drags a disposable wet wipe across the floor – failed to impress. As with many robot vacuums, you need to watch out for high doorway thresholds, as anything over 20 mm will be a struggle for the K10+ Pro to clear consistently (although some of today's best robot vacuums don't have such an issue with this, thanks to some new and innovative engineering solutions) .

Those factors aside, this compact vacuum is still a good option for smaller, mostly carpeted homes, or for focusing on specific zones of larger properties. Install it upstairs, away from the tougher challenges of the kitchen and hallway, and your guest bedrooms will be spotless, while giving up precious little space for the robot and its dock.

That's the short version; read on for my full SwitchBot K10+ Mini Robot Vacuum review.

SwitchBot K10+ Pro mini robot vacuum in its dock

(Image credit: Future)

SwitchBot K10+ Pro review: price & availability

  • List price: $599.99 / £599.99
  • Launched: August 2024
  • Available: US / UK

The $599.99 / £599.99 K10+ Pro sits above the regular $399.99 / £399.99 K10+ in SwitchBot's lineup of mini robotic vacuum cleaners, but some way below the flagship S10, which costs $1,199.99 / £1,099.99.

It looks almost identical to the K10+ but the Pro model gains a set of useful extra features, including a PSD distance sensor for more accurate navigation, a silicon anti-tangle brush, and a 3,000Pa suction system (20 percent more powerful than the K10+). It also benefits from an antibacterial dustbag, which the regular K10+ lacks.

A price difference of $200 / £200 is fairly significant at this end of the robotic vacuum market, especially when the two robots look almost exactly the same. But pet-owners will surely be drawn to the anti-tangle brush of the Pro, along with the extra suction power.

The K10+ Pro’s price puts it roughly on par with other mid-range robotic vacuum like the Roomba Combo J5 Combo from iRobot. That model also works as a mop, but it too requires the user to manually swap the mopping attachment in and out to switch between the vacuum and mop functions. Unlike the SwitchBot and its disposable wet wipes, the Roomba has a washable and reusable (then eventually replaceable) mopping cloth.

The SwitchBot’s price falls between the Eufy Clean X8 Pro (which acts only as a vacuum with self-emptying bin), and the pricier Eufy X10 Pro Omni, which has a rotating and self-cleaning mop.

While not uncomfortably expensive, the SwitchBot K10+ Pro feels like it charges a premium for its compact size. Instead of being a smaller and therefore cheaper model, it sells its dimensions as a benefit rather than a byproduct. That’s mostly fine, but this price point causes the SwitchBot to fall between two categories of robot – ones that only vacuum, and ones that also mop. At 3,000Pa, the suction is fine but a little below what other models at this kind of price point offer.

Buyers will need to decide if they value the compact size above all else. Or, if they would rather spend less and lose the mop, or pay more for a robot that puts a greater emphasis on mopping.

  • Value for money score: 3.5 out of 5

SwitchBot K10+ Pro specs

SwitchBot K10+ Pro review: design

  • Shallow and compact design
  • Self-empties dust into the (also compact) dock
  • Unusually, the mop relies on disposable wet wipes

Based on photos alone, you might think the K10+ Pro looks like any other robotic vacuum, but when you see it in person you realize just how compact it really is. It's a circular robot with a diameter of just 9.76 in (24.8cm) – compared to 13.39 in (34cm) for the SwitchBot S1 Plus – and a height, including the top-mounted radar, of 3.62 in (9.2cm). These diminutive dimensions help the SwitchBot drive between and under furniture in ways larger robots cannot.

SwitchBot K10+ Pro mini robot vacuum in its dock

(Image credit: Future)

The docking station and dust bin is also smaller than most of its rivals. It's so compact, SwitchBot suggests you could even tuck it under a chair. The all-round diminutive size makes the K10+ Pro ideal for smaller homes, or even as a second robotic vacuum tasked with cleaning lesser-used parts of a larger home, such as the spare bedrooms or office.

The robot itself has a radar on top, plus sensors on its front and side, and a cliff sensor underneath, to help navigate without crashing, getting stuck or falling down the stairs. There are just two buttons on the robot, for powering it on or off and telling it to go back to its charger. Every other function is controlled by the SwitchBot smartphone app, which is free for iOS and Android.

SwitchBot K10+ Pro mini robot vacuum, with mop wipe and onboard dustbin taken out

(Image credit: Future)

The top cover is secured by magnets, and when removed reveals a power switch that's only needed during the initial setup process, and the dust bin. The bin's filter is easy to remove and clean, and handily the smartphone app notifies you when the bin has been removed or replaced.

Turn the K10+ Pro over and you'll find a spinning side brush for flicking dust and dirt out from corners of the room, and a rotating anti-tangle brush made from rubber. During my month of testing the brush didn't once get tangled up, although a fair bit of hair collected at either side. Thankfully this doesn't restrict its movement, and is easy to extricate by removing the roller and snipping at the hair with some scissors.

The robot comes with a mopping attachment, which is fitted manually to its underside and, rather unusually, uses wet wipes instead of a washable pad or cloth. SwitchBot says this is an improvement over robotic vacuum cleaners that use washable towels for their mops, since it employs a clean wipe every time. I can see the logic here, but fitting a new disposal wipe after every mop seems wasteful.

Either way, the K10+ Pro won’t give your hard floors a particularly deep clean, since the wipes are simply dragged over the surface with no real pressure behind them. If you need a mopping robot, I'd recommend upping your budget if possible and going for a model with a mechanical spinning mop, like the Eufy X10 Pro Omni or Eufy Omni S1 Pro.

Dock for SwitchBot K10+ Pro with lid open to show dust bag

(Image credit: Future)

Back to the K10+ Pro, and the compact charge station houses a generous 4-liter dust bag that should last for months before it needs taking out and replacing. The robot automatically empties into the dustbag when its own bin gets full (at a brief but rather loud 83dB), but there's no water supply for the mop, since it uses wet wipes instead.

Although compact, the top-opening charge dock is plenty large enough to house a spare dust bag and filter, plus a pack of wet wipes and a brush for detangling the robot – all of which is included in the box. It makes for a handy way of storing everything associated with the K10+ Pro, instead of inevitably losing its various components in a cupboard elsewhere.

  • Design score: 4.5 out of 5

SwitchBot K10+ Pro review: performance

  • Quiet, with moderate suction power
  • Mop function is not worth the effort
  • Good but not infallible navigation

Before I conducted a set of controlled tests with the K10+ Pro, I set it up and simply used it as my vacuum cleaner. The setup process is quick and easy. Just download the SwitchBot app, follow the instructions to connect the robot to your Wi-Fi network (this step failed at first, then worked fine when I tried again), and let it map your home.

I used the app to name each room and adjust the room boundaries slightly. The robot did a decent job of working out where room thresholds were, but got a bit confused by a hallway connecting the kitchen, bathroom, lounge and bedroom. A couple of minutes of tinkering in the app, and the map was perfect.

I was particularly impressed by how it confidently drove under a bathroom cupboard with less than 0.4 in (1cm) of clearance without even a moment of hesitation. I also liked how it could drive itself between the three legs of a table I have next to my sofa. Other, larger robots can't fit through here, or between the legs of my office chair, so the floor between the legs is always missed. Not so with the smaller SwitchBot.

However, while its navigation is mostly very good – and it really is capable of getting to places larger vacuums can't – it repeatedly drove at full speed into a fireplace hearth. This made me question the SwitchBot's intelligence, but I saw no other collisions during the mapping and cleaning process.

SwitchBot K10+ Pro mini robot vacuum struggling to get over a room threshold

(Image credit: Future)

The K10+ Pro is quite good at driving over high thresholds, which have been a problem for much more expensive robotic vacuums in the past, like the Eufy S1 Pro. The SwitchBot sometimes had to back up and try a different angle, but it very rarely failed to clamber over what is a rather high threshold between my hallway and kitchen.

The same gung-ho approach couldn't be replicated in the lounge, however, where it repeatedly got stuck in a thick rug. I had to mark this area as a no-go zone in the app, which was disappointing but hardly a surprise. Only one robot that I've tested, the Eufy X10 Pro, has so far managed to successfully wade through the rug without calling for help.

As with other robotic vacuums, the K10+ Pro can be configured to clean each area once or twice, and there are four suction modes to pick from, called Quiet, Standard, Strong and Max. Via the app you can create a room-by-room cleaning plan, with the ability to set a suction strength and cleaning time (once or twice) for each room, before you set the robot on its merry way. It automatically increases suction power when driving from a hard floor to carpet, but doesn’t ramp up the power specifically when there’s more debris to tackle, as some more advanced robovacs can.

For everyday cleaning the K10+ Pro performed well. The app is easy to use and it takes just a couple of taps to tell the robot to clean a specific area, a certain room or the entire floor. It's also easy to create a schedule, which is where robots like these work best. Configure it to clean high-traffic rooms frequently, and this little-and-often approach will keep your floors looking their best. Alternatively, I can see a compact robot like this being perfect for giving your spare bedrooms a weekly clean, or even taking charge of the entire upstairs, while you use a conventional vacuum in the kitchen, hallway and lounge.

Time for the more specific tests. This involves using a mix of oats and flour on hard floors and carpet, then seeing how the robot performs as we cycle through all of suction strengths and cleaning modes.

SwitchBot K10+ Pro mini robot vacuum on hard floor, with crumbs from pickup tests alongside

(Image credit: Future)

Quiet mode is fine for a light, frequently vacuum of low-traffic areas, and at just 64 dB it is remarkably quiet. It'll pick up larger debris like oats, but as with other robotic vacuums the K10+ Pro tends to flick everything around on its first pass, rather than pick it all up. You really need to set the vacuum to pass every area twice. That way debris gets flicked around a bit initially, but is mostly collected on the second pass.

Cranking the power setting up to Max increases the volume to 70 dB, and there's a noticeable difference in suction power. More debris is picked up on the first pass, then almost everything else is picked up the second time around. That said, the K10+ Pro still isn't as powerful as some pricier rivals, since it offers just 3,000 Pa of suction, compared to 5,000 Pa or even 8,000 Pa for more expensive options from the likes of iRobot and Eufy. Even on maximum power it failed to suck up flour from the shallow grooves between floorboards, and had a habit of leaving arcs of flour on the floor every time it turned around.

It performed similarly on carpet, where maximum strength wasn't quite enough to pull every bit of flour out of the floor. During this test I also found it failed to clear a circa-2cm threshold between the exposed floorboards of the hallway and the bedroom carpet. This is a common stumbling point for robotic cleaners of all prices, and despite trying for several minutes, the SwitchBot eventually failed to climb onto the carpet and called for help via the app. You'll need to bear this in mind if you're shopping for a robot vacuum, since very few manage this journey from floorboards to carpet reliably.

Close up of buttons and camera on SwitchBot K10+ Pro mini robot vacuum

(Image credit: Future)

The K10+ Pro is one of the quickest robotic vacuums I've ever reviewed, driving faster than most others when it has the space to do so. I reckon it would easily clear the challenging thresholds if it gave itself a run-up, but SwitchBot doesn't seem to have programmed it to do so. One for a future software update, perhaps – just so long as it can reliably distinguish between a tricky threshold and a staircase.

Generally, and thresholds aside, the K10+ Pro does a decent job of navigating between rooms. However it will occasionally drive straight into objects, like chair legs and door frames, and do so repeatedly, as if feeling instead of seeing its way around, until a clear path is discovered. Its behavior sometimes reminded me of older, less intelligent robotic vacuums. It's unlikely to damage anything, but this headbutting approach makes the robot seem less smarter than it claims to be.

As is often the case with robotic vacuums, the K10+ Pro is good at light, frequent cleaning, but struggles to pick up absolutely everything when tasked with fixing a specific problem, like the spilled cup of oats and flour used in our tests. The debris left behind was completely removed by a regular handheld vacuum in a matter of seconds.

SwitchBot K10+ Pro mini robot vacuum flipped over to show underside, with rubber roller removed

(Image credit: Future)

Moving to the mopping function, and this is really more of a quick wipe than a thorough scrub. More expensive robots have motorized mops that spin and push down onto the floor with real force, but here it's just a case of fitting an included wet wipe and telling the robot to get to work. I like how the wipe holder stores neatly inside the charging dock, but fitting a fresh wipe each time is a bit of a pain.

Attaching the mop switches the robot from vacuum to mopping mode, but this is very much a manual process. You have to fit the mopping attachment (which covers the rotating rubber brush) and tell it to go mop a specific room or area, then detach it to turn the robot back into a vacuum cleaner. The rotating side brush operates in both modes.

While handy for a quick wipe, the mop isn't capable of lifting any serious stains. In fact, it failed to fully remove some freshly split hot sauce from the kitchen floor, despite passing twice over the liquid. The wipe became dirty, so it had clearly done something, but this is really no more than a very light clean. A pack of 30 wipes is included in the box, each with a couple of holes for fixing to the mop attachment, but I can't see many owners buying another pack when they run out.

  • Performance score: 3.5 out of 5

SwitchBot K10+ Pro review: app

  • Easy to use
  • Lots of functionality
  • Apple Home requires additional hub

This robot uses the same app as other devices made by SwitchBot, which is handy if you want to build out your smart home with the company's devices, like door locks, motorized window blinds, security cameras and the Bot from which the firm gets its name.

You'll need to buy a SwitchBot Hub for some of these, but the vacuum works fine on its own – although you will need that hub if you intend to control it from Apple Home via the Matter wireless standard. Incidentally, voice control via Alexa and Google Assistant works without the hub.

The setup process is quick and easy, with the robot mapping your home on its first exploratory outing. You can then use the app to split the map into rooms and name them accordingly. With that set, you can ask the robot to go clean a specific room, or create a cleaning plan where a different suction setting is used for each room. It's also possible to draw no-go zones (such as a thick rug that the robot will get stuck in), or draw a specific area you want cleaning.

These are all common features across various robotic vacuums. There's nothing that really makes the SwitchBot app stand out from the crowd, but it's nice to see how the ‘Mini' name doesn't mean it's lacking in features.

  • App score: 4 out of 5

Should you buy the SwitchBot K10+ Pro?

Buy it if...

You're tight for space

This robot is much smaller than many of its rivals. This means it can be tucked away more neatly, but also that it can drive into tight spaces inaccessible by others, producing a more thorough clean – especially between furniture legs.

You plan to buy more SwitchBot devices

SwitchBot makes a wide range of smart home devices, all of which can be controlled from the same app as the robotic vacuum. You'll need the company's hub to get the most out of it, but the products can create a nice little home automation system.

You're happy to mop manually

This robot's mopping function is perfunctory at best, so only consider it if your priority is vacuuming.

Don't buy it if...

You need a good mop

The mopping function of this robot is little more than a wet wipe. You're best doing the mopping yourself, or picking a robot better-suited to the job, like one with powered rotating mops.

You want massive suction power

This robot is great for light, frequent cleans, but it lacks the suction power of larger rivals. We found it struggled to lift flour out from a wooden floor, so if it's outright power you need, we suggest you look elsewhere (and possibly also up your budget).View Deal

You have high doorway thresholds

Like some other robotic vacuums, the K10+ Pro struggles to clamber up from a hallway with exposed floorboards to the higher carpet of the next room. It just can't climb over doorway thresholds with confidence, so if you have lots of those we suggest you give this model a pass.

How I tested the SwitchBot Mini Robot Vacuum K10+ Pro

I set up the K10+ Pro and used it as my only vacuum for a couple of weeks before starting the review. I then carried out a range of specific cleaning tasks to assess its mapping, navigation, suction and mopping abilities.

Read more about how we test

  • First reviewed October 2024
Asus ProArt PZ13 2-in-1 laptop review
6:33 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

Asus ProArt PZ13: 30-second review

Specs

CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus
Graphics: Adreno X1
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 1TB SSD
Rear Ports: 2 x USB-C 4.0, microSD reader
Front Ports: None
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
Audio: Dual speakers, average quality
Camera: Rear 13MP, Front 5MP
Size: 297.5 x 202.9 x 9.4 mm, 0.85 kg
OS installed: Windows 11 Home Copilot+
Accessories: Keyboard cover, Asus Pen 2.0 stylus

The Asus ProArt PZ13 complements the two ProArt laptops from Asus and, of the three, is the one that raises the most interest. It's essentially a tablet and laptop in one and is not only packed with AI processing power but also features a DCI-P3 colour gamut 13.3-inch OLED screen that will instantly appeal to creatives.

However, while this machine runs on Windows 11 Home, it's powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Plus, which is partnered with Adreno X1 graphics. That combination produces a performance that excels in many tasks, especially with Adobe and creative apps, which for the most part it handle absolute ease. However, with some apps, including our 3DMark and PCMark benchmarking software as well as many games, they refused to run.

Through testing, many aspects made this machine stand out, and it truly is a viable alternative to the Microsoft Surface Pro 11, offering excellent battery life and a lightweight but ultimately robust build. General performance across Adobe apps such as Photoshop and Premiere Pro was excellent, even without the full compatibility for Premiere Pro, with high-resolution images from the Sony A7 IV and Canon EOS R5 C being handled easily. The touchscreen and stylus, with all those points of sensitivity, made working directly on the images a fluid process. Likewise, editing 4K video, with a little storage capacity boost from a Samsung T5 EVO 8TB, was equally smooth, even if the edits for the particular piece were relatively simple.

It's worth noting, that Premiere Pro isn't 100% compatible as with several other apps, and as you start to install further apps and games, the limitations of the ARM processor become apparent. So, not yet the best video editing laptop option, even with the broad color space coverage - although during installation of Premiere Pro, for example, there is a note that Adobe is working on the ARM version of the software. Until then, the Intel version will be used. In reality, most jobs run smoothly enough, but as the processing power demands increase or more graphically demanding tasks are applied, the machine does, at present, start to struggle.

Likewise, when it came to gaming, things weren't so smooth, as quite a few of the games refused to load at all since they were designed for different processing architectures. So, while this tablet has power and puts in impressive performance, at present, there are some compatibility issues.

Asus ProArt PZ13: Price & availability

ASUS ProArt PZ13

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Priced at around $1,099.99, the Asus ProArt PZ13 is available through retailers such as Best Buy, Amazon, and the Asus website. 

  • Price: 4/5

Asus ProArt PZ13: Design & build

ASUS ProArt PZ13

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

The ProArt PZ13 is designed as a two-in-one machine, so that you can use it as a creative tablet or laptop. As such, it comes with a removable keyboard, which is sleek and slim and doubles as a protective case and stand, although the link between the keyboard and monitor free moving so unlike a laptop won't support itself. This essentially means that on a table you can open it up like a laptop of the stand will support the monitor, however, on a lap that support is a little more tricky although not impossible. 

One standout feature especially it you're working out in the field is that the PZ13 is IP52-rated, meaning it's dust-resistant and splash-proof, as well as being far more durable than your average tablet or laptop. This is something Asus has emphasised across its full line of ProArt laptops, and sure enough, in use, the ProArt has travelled through a variety of photo and video shoots, as well as delivering workshops and lectures, and not always in the most computer-friendly environments, where it proved to be an excellent, robust choice.

When it comes to size and weight, the PZ13 is slim and well weighted, measuring 29.75 x 20.29 x 0.90 cm and weighing just 850g. As you'd expect for a tablet, there's also a stylus, and if you want to remove the keyboard for a more slimline machine, it's quickly detached from the base. The case, of which the keyboard is part, further enhances the design with a green finish and a kickstand that enables you to prop up the screen when used as a laptop, although it's not ideal when supported on a lap. 

A clever feature of the design is that the magnetic keyboard can be detached, rotated 180 degrees, and folded under the screen where it holds in place. This means that the keys are against the screen rather than facing down, offering a far more comfortable feel to the tablet compared with other devices.

The overall design and build is excellent, with a high-quality feel throughout the usage and design of the machine. Connecting to external devices is also quick and easy using one of the two USB4 ports, one of which can be used as the power in. There are also the usual array of wireless connection options including Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

The 13.3-inch, 3K (2880 x 1800) OLED 16:10 aspect ratio screen is fully touch responsive and also features stylus support. The screen-to-body ratio is 87% so essentially covers most of the front of the tablet when used with the stylus which provides one of the most responsive and natural-feeling digital work surfaces available. What really stands out about the screen, aside from the 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut, is the surface itself. While glossy, reflections are well managed, and the viewing angle is superb, making it easy to adjust and enhance images directly on the screen.

When it comes to physical ports, again, the PZ13 is tailored to creative users, and while there are only a couple of options with two USB4 ports and an SD Express 7.0 slot if you're on the move then this should for the most part suffice. One of those USB4 ports is used for the power, although it can also be used for accessories and storage when not connected to power. These ports can be used to maximise transfer speeds to the machine and ensure that when dealing with high-resolution video stored on an external device, the speed of transfer is fast enough to keep up with the pace of the application—specifically, Premiere Pro in this test.

Overall, the Asus ProArt PZ13 is one of the sleekest tablet/laptops available. The size and connectivity options, touch screen and USB4 ports when coupled with the full version of Windows, make this an excellent choice in terms of design for creative users.

  • Design: 4.5/5

Asus ProArt PZ13: Features

ASUS ProArt PZ13

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

The big features of the ProArt PZ13, aside from the large 13.3-inch OLED touch display with a 2880 x 1800 resolution, include its two-in-one design and integration with AI toolsets and CoPilot.

As a tablet, the computing power delivered by the Snapdragon X Plus chip, while not as powerful as Intel or AMD alternatives, provides solid AI-enhanced performance, especially for creative apps that support this technology. 

The ProArt PZ13 is equipped with the Snapdragon X Plus X1P 42 100 Processor (3.4GHz, 30MB Cache, up to 3.4GHz, 8 cores, 8 threads) alongside the Qualcomm Hexagon NPU, which offers up to 45 TOPS (trillion operations per second) and supports AI processing. Graphics are handled by a Qualcomm Adreno GPU, which is relatively untested with larger creative apps, but despite the lack of full support, especially for Premiere Pro the tablet still delivered an impressive performance during testing.

Due to its tablet design, the RAM and ROM are fixed, with 16GB LPDDR5X on board and a 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD. However, as we did in this test you can utilise the USB4 ports to boost the storage at up to 40Gbps. 

One of the standout software features enhanced by artificial intelligence is the Asus suite of AI-powered workflow apps, and these are accessible through the ProArt Creator Hub. This suite includes applications such as the AI-powered StoryCube, which utilises the machine's AI capabilities to help organise media files.

Alongside the apps, the Creator Hub enables you to manage system resources. If an application requires more allocated processing power than others, the Hub lets you assign resources as needed. It also provides an overview of hardware performance, such as heat levels and usage, and allows you to switch between modes depending on whether you need longer battery life or full power.

For creative users the Hub also gives you quick control over various display settings, including colour gamut adjustments. This feature enables you to quickly switching between modes such as standard, vivid colours, sRGB for web content, DCI-P3 for cinematic tones, and Display P3 for photography.

When you combine these display modes with Asus 2.0 stylus support, you get a highly natural way of interacting with the screen and pen strokes, making the PZ13 ideal for both photographic and art-based work.

As for power, the PZ13 comes with a 65W power supply but is also compatible with most PD power banks and stations. During testing, it was paired with a Bluetti AC60 and charged in the field via USB Type-C. Internally, it houses a 70WHrs, 3S1P, 3-cell Li-ion battery, which offers a surprising amount of battery life, considering the tasks the tablet was used for.

  • Features: 4/5

Asus ProArt PZ13: Performance

ASUS ProArt PZ13

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Benchmarks

Crystal Disk Read: 5130.53MB/s
Crystal Disk Write: 4883.76MB/s
GeekBench CPU Single: 10746
GeekBench CPU Multi: 2294
GeekBench Compute: 10073
PC Mark: n/a
CineBench CPU Multi: 5494
CineBench CPU Single: 1065
Fire Strike Overall: 906
Fire Strike Graphics: 860
Fire Strike Physics: 13589
Fire Strike Combined: 455
Time Spy Overall: n/a
Time Spy Graphics: n/a
Time Spy CPU: n/a
Wild Life: 11377
Windows Experience: n/a

The ProArt PZ13 is by no means the first two-in-one tablet in this price range, but considering the competition, it packs a surprising amount of processing power for the price.

From the outset, it's worth noting that there are some compatibility issues with certain applications. For instance, Adobe Premiere Pro on installation shows a message indicating that it hasn't been programmed for use with the ARM processor. However, the Intel version of the application can still be used. 

In practice, through the test Premiere Pro worked without issue, handling files from the Sony A7 IV, and delivering an impressive performance, capable of editing and grading FHD and 4K video footage with relative ease.

That said, some games present challenges. For example, Hogwarts Legacy refused to load beyond a certain point just going to a black screen, and many other games experienced similar issues, although some did play without issue. So, if you're considering this device for gaming, it might be best to wait until full support arrives for the CPU and GPU, those games that do play, play smoothly. However, for video streaming and playback, the speed of the machine is clearly evident.

In regular use, the PZ13 performs exceptionally well. For tasks like Google Docs and web browsing, the laptop ran for a full working day—well over 10 hours with some breaks—without needing a charge. With more power-intensive applications such as Photoshop and Premiere Pro, the battery life dropped more swiftly. However, it still managed a solid 4-6 hours, again factoring in breaks during working sessions.

While the PZ13 generally feels like using any other high-powered PC laptop or tablet, you may occasionally notice that some applications, particularly games, won't load. Overall, the performance of this two-in-one is exceptional with the high quality screen, along with the robust yet stylish design making it a great option if you're looking for an on-the-go solution.

  • Performance: 4/5

Should you buy the Asus ProArt PZ13?

The Asus ProArt PZ13 2-in-1 design is an ideal option for creative professionals, but it does have its limitations. The incredible touch screen and its pressure point sensitivity, along with tablet-to-laptop flexibility and AI-powered features, make it perfect for artists, photographers, videographers, and content creators who need a lightweight computer. However, its ARM-based Snapdragon X Plus processor does create compatibility issues with certain applications, especially those that demand high processing power or still need to be optimised for ARM architecture.

All things considered, this is a great machine that balances battery life, features, and power. As long as gaming isn't high on your priorities and creative applications such as the Adobe suite are, then this is a perfect choice. 

ASUS ProArt PZ13

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Buy it if...

Portability is a priority

If you need a lightweight, versatile device with a long battery life for creative work on the move, the ProArt PZ13 excels. It's perfect for those who travel frequently or require a compact yet powerful setup for fieldwork.

It would help if you had a colour-accurate display

The OLED display with 100% DCI-P3 support makes it an excellent choice for photographers, videographers, and graphic designers. Its vibrant and accurate colour reproduction is ideal for creatives working with visual content.

Don't buy it if...

It would help if you had extensive port options

With only two USB-C ports and a microSD slot, connectivity may be limited without the use of external hubs or dongles. If you rely heavily on multiple peripherals or wired connections, this could be a drawback.

You rely on heavy-duty apps

The ARM-based Snapdragon X Plus chip might struggle with more demanding software that isn't optimised for ARM architecture. If your workflow involves power-hungry apps or games, this limitation may affect performance.


We've tested the best photo editing PCs - and these are our top picks

Huawei Mate70 and vivo S20 launch dates leak
6:31 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Comments: Off

The Huawei Mate 70 series is coming this month - that much has been officially confirmed by the company itself. We just don't have the exact unveiling date yet, but fret not, for prolific Chinese leakster Digital Chat Station seems to have the answer. According to him, right now the tentative event date for the unveiling of the Mate70 series is November 19 or thereabouts. He also revealed that vivo might launch the S20 series on November 28. Leaked Mate 70 series camera covers Earlier today Red Magic announced its event for the 10 series taking place on November 13, the Oppo Reno13...

Tecno starts campaign to fight skin tone bias in cameraphones
5:35 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Comments: Off

Tecno launched the #ToneProud campaign to end skin tone bias in imaging technology. The company sent out a press release explaining the campaign's goal of raising awareness about skin tone diversity while introducing its 268 skin tone database to consumers. The campaign lays on the backbones of the Universal Skin Tone technology, introduced by Tecno last year. Tecno said in today's world, technology and AI shape perceptions and raised the question of whether smartphones truly capture “the full spectrum and beauty of human diversity, especially in often-overlooked emerging...

Apple’s affordable Vision Pro launch delayed past 2027
4:39 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Comments: Off

With its $3,500 price tag and limited market availability, Apple Vision Pro did not turn out to be a huge commercial success. Apple is expected to launch a successor sometime next year with the upcoming Apple M5 chip, but that device is not expected to come with a lower price tag. Noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests a more affordable Vision Pro device is still in development, but its production and launch have been postponed beyond 2027. Kuo also reiterated that Apple will update its Vision Pro with the M5 chip next year. He also mentions that the M5 Vision Pro will hardly...

Yo-Yo Desk 90 standing desk converter review: a great standing desk if you don’t want to replace your tabletop
4:28 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro | Comments: Off

If you’re looking to try a sit-stand desk without investing in a full electric tabletop, look no further; the Yo-Yo Desk 90 is a fantastic split-level desk converter that will get you started on your quest to increase your time spent standing.

With this clever, 15-height standing desk converter, any desk can be transformed into a standing desk, provided it’s sturdy and large enough to house it. Luckily, it comes in three sizes; the Yo-Yo desk converter 80, 90 and 120, with the numbers correlating to the width of the surface. For this review, I tested the Yo-Yo Desk 90.

So, how does the Yo-Yo desk stand up against some of the best standing desk converters and even the best standing desks? We put it to the test. 

Yo-Yo Desk 90 desk converter: Specs

Made from engineered wood with aluminium, the Yo-Yo Desk 90 desk converter is a robust unit of a standing desk converter, available in both black and white colorways.

In itself, it weighs 20kg, but it can support up to 15kg, meaning your laptop, monitor and a few other peripherals can safely stand upon its 89cm x 59cm top surface and 89cm x 32cm keyboard tray. The main worktop lifts from 15cm to 35cm high, and the keyboard from 0 - 35cm, offering a good range of height for most people - though if you’re on the taller side (and if you also want to use a standing mat) it will be a little on the low side.

For what it is and for its build quality, I’m pretty happy with the price of the Yo-Yo desk 90 desk converter. At £329.95 (£199.95 / £379.95 in its smaller and larger configurations, respectively), it’s a darn sight cheaper than a full standing desk, but of course you lose some of the height potential and electronic features. There are regular discounts, too, so watch out for those to save a little extra. 

With its smooth-action gas spring, the Yo-Yo Desk 90 offers 15 adjustable heights, and allows you to swiftly and safely switch from sitting to standing in seconds using easy-press levers on each side.

Yo-Yo Desk 90 desk converter: Shipping & unboxing

Arriving in just one box, the Yo-Yo Desk 90 is impressively easy to set up - though you’ll need two people to lift its 20kg frame out of its packaging and onto a desk. Inside, you’ll find the main frame and the unattached keyboard tray, two keyboard tray brackets, eight screws and a Philips Screwdriver.

Yo-Yo Desk 90 desk converter: Assembly

Once unboxed, it’s as simple as attaching the side cap to the connecting arm, using the provided screwdriver to affix the keyboard tray brackets to the tray and then hang the tray brackets on the rotating bracket holders before tightening everything up.

Yo-Yo advertises that this takes only five minutes, and I’m sure that’s true if you know exactly what you’re doing, perhaps having installed a Yo-Yo Desk before - but for me, it took about 10 minutes.

Yo-Yo Desk 90 desk converter: First impressions

Yo-Yo Desk 90 during our review in an office environment

(Image credit: Yo-Yo )

 When I first saw the fully built Yo-Yo Desk 90 on my workstation, I was pretty happy with the results. Sure, it’s not exactly a looker, but it does offer plenty of real estate and impressively smooth motion. It takes a little while to get used to the controls, for some reason - it feels almost as though you really want to crank the levers, but the gas canisters do their job well of smoothly and effortlessly switching between the tabletop and standing configuration.  

Yo-Yo Desk 90 desk converter: Design

The Yo-Yo Desk 90 is a split-level sit-to-stand desk, meaning it offers a keyboard and mouse tray as well as a higher surface for your monitor and any other peripherals - it supports clamp-mounted monitor arms, too - meaning you’ll have no trouble filling its 89cm x 59cm top surface and 89cm x 32cm keyboard tray.

While its overall look is very functional, it’s well thought-through; the extra depth squeezed into the keyboard tray where the frame cuts into the way the unit compresses in such a way that the keyboard doesn’t need to be repositioned every time. 

There are a few drawbacks to note. A big one for me is that, especially with these mechanical controls, I’d have liked to see a cable port in the rear of the worktop to keep cables tidy and clear of the mechanisms. I also found the keyboard tray regularly falls off, becoming unhinged from its hooks as the day goes on. It’s not the end of the world if you’re only placing your keyboard and mouse on there, but I wouldn’t load it up with anything that can be spilled or broken too easily just in case.

Yo-Yo Desk 90 desk converter: Performance

Yo-Yo Desk 90 during our review in an office environment

(Image credit: Yo-Yo )

The Yo-Yo Desk 90 desk converter is wonderfully easy to adjust, smoothly transitioning between its 15 height settings with minimal effort - though you’ll need to keep an eye out for loose cables that might get caught during use. It’s whisper-quiet, too, meaning it won’t disturb your colleagues.

It does wobble ever so slightly, but I could say that for many a desk I’ve worked on over the years, and of course that also comes down to the surface it’s standing upon. 

Yo-Yo Desk 90 desk converter: Accessories

While Yo-Yo doesn’t offer any accessories that can be integrated into the desk, there are a number of add-ons available, from office chairs to monitor arms and other peripherals. 

For more office furniture accessories, we reviewed the best standing desk mats

Yo-Yo Desk 90 desk converter: Final verdict

If you already have a tabletop you like, or don’t want to invest in a full standing desk setup, the Yo-Yo Desk 90 desk converter is a fantastic option that will meet most people’s needs. 

Granted, it’s a bulky alternative, and if you really value the feng shui of your deskspace you might find it a little too makeshift for your needs, but its range of heights, sturdy frame and smooth adjustment system work effectively. It’s a shame about the keyboard tray, and that this issue seems to be problematic for a fair few customers, but if you don’t mind the mild inconvenience of re-hooking it once or twice a day, it’s not the end of the world.

Overall, it’s a great product, and it’s a mainstay for many offices for a reason. 


For more workspace essentials, we reviewed the best office chairs.

Realme GT7 Pro to debut internationally in three weeks
3:44 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Comments: Off

The Realme GT7 Pro was introduced today in China, and in three weeks the new flagship will start its international rollout. The flagship will launch on November 26 in India, and it will be the first phone in the country with Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. The phone was announced today with the latest Snapdragon chipset, a massive 6,500 mAh battery and one of the most impressive screens on the market, with a peak brightness of 6,000 nits. It was announced in China with Realme UI 6.0 on top of Android 15, and we expect the same variant to appear worldwide, marking the...

Mario & Luigi: Brothership review: a vibrant new era for Nintendo’s dynamic duo
3:01 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Comments: Off
Review info

Platform reviewed: Nintendo Switch
Available on: Nintendo Switch
Release date: November 7, 2024

Mario & Luigi: Brothership is an excellent return to Nintendo’s otherwise languishing role-playing game (RPG) spin-off series, packed chock-full of charm, wit, and whimsy, plus pleasingly detailed combat mechanics that will deliver hours of fun.

In their latest gander, the mustachio'd brothers are whisked away to the land of Concordia and on a quest to reunite its fragmented lands following the destruction of the Unitree that once connected them. It’s a tale with a strong narrative theme; that the bonds between friends, family, and even foes have innate power. In classic Nintendo style, every possible aspect of the game centers itself around its morals to charming effect.

To go with its delightful tone is a robust combat system, largely following suit of its series predecessors but with the added flair of Luigi Logic, new Bros Attacks, and a power-up system called Plugs. It’s silly and fun, offering a moderate challenge as you time your attacks and counters between the two brothers. However, later in the game, the sheer number of enemies can become a bit repetitive, and you’ll likely end up skipping your fair share of battles. Overall, though, it’s very rewarding, and there’s a great variety of enemies and interesting bosses to tackle, making it a standout Nintendo Switch game of 2024.

However, like other recent releases such as The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Brothership also suffers from occasional performance issues. These are particularly prevalent when there are several enemies on screen or heavy particle effects, affecting even the island navigation map later in the game when more areas are unlocked.

It’s an unfortunate issue, as the game is so beautifully visualized that you want to lavish on every detail. The new 3D sprites for its cast of characters are a welcome visual upgrade, adding new depth of emotion and gesture both in and out of combat. Its lush and well-detailed overworld offers a reasonable amount of exploration, though some of the earlier levels feel underdeveloped when you revisit them towards the end of the game.

While it’s not exactly a contender for game of the year, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Brothership. The game is great fun, but it’s also warm and inviting, blending some of the franchise's most beloved Mushroom Kingdom friends and foes with charming new Concordian companions to create a rich world filled with love and connection. There’s a real resonance in how Mario & Luigi: Brothership delivers its moral lesson, but entwined with bonny Nintendo flair and slapstick nonsense that makes the game feel truly special.

In-game screenshot from Mario & Luigi: Brothership

(Image credit: Nintendo)

You can make me whole again

Once transported to Concordia, Mario and Luigi and their new guides Connie and Snoutlet sail the open seas in search of fragmented islands from the former continent of Concordia with a mission to reconnect them to the new Unitree. Each island bears a distinctive theme; from the dance and rhythm-crazed populace of Twistee Island to the rival fire and ice villages of Heatfreeze Island and the desert dwellers of Allsand Island.

The game’s main hub, Shipshape Island, also teems with life, populated by side characters like three gossipy hens that’ll give you clues for side quests as well as equipment and resource shops for stocking up between islands. Along the way, the crew of adventurers grows to welcome a plethora of new characters, with my personal favorite being a band of kids going by the moniker of the IDLE group. As with all of the new companions, Brothership relishes in exploring the bonds they share and create, and there’s a wealth of relations explored through the lens of Concordia. From parental to sibling, found family and friendship to rivalry, and even bonds of love, Nintendo deftly toes the line of cheesiness, keeping the game firmly in the realm of fuzzy feelings.

In-game screenshot from Mario & Luigi: Brothership

(Image credit: Nintendo)

It’s not just Concordians that decorate the storyline; throughout the game, you’ll encounter familiar faces from the Mushroom Kingdom, from predictable appearances like Princess Peach, Starlow, and Bowser to welcome surprises like Birdo and even a first-time Mario & Luigi appearance for Dorrie.

This does, however, mean the game can be pretty wordy, often splicing the action with extended character development and conversation that can make the game drag a little at times. In saying that, I did find it hard to breeze through some of the dialogue where I truly enjoyed watching the story play out, especially thanks to its quirky comedy and hyperanimated style. The volume of characters also means there’s a little pressure on some of the characters to condense their personality. Starlow, for example, is a little subdued compared to previous entries in the series, especially when it comes to her love-hate relationship with Luigi.

In-game screenshot from Mario & Luigi: Brothership

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Land, Ho!

The main quest line is pretty extensive, totaling around 40 hours if you skip every side quest, based on my total game time which was 50 hours after completing a vast majority of optional quests. Occasionally, there are split decisions thrown into the narrative that slightly alter the means or order of storyline progression, but overall it’s pretty linear.

Using Shipshape Island, Mario and Luigi navigate through channels across the oceans of Concordia to scope out the dispersed islands and connect them to the Unitree. The duo then unceremoniously launch themselves upon these islands’ shores, punctuated by an excellent running gag of Luigi never quite sticking the landing, before venturing to solve an ongoing issue for the island’s population or rescue missing Concordians.

Exploring each island is fun, and the game’s new Bros Moves add new dimensions to exploration, especially when boosted later in the game. The first move unlocked, UF-Bro, is easily my favorite; it’s ridiculous but comes in pretty handy and allows for creative level design. There are some pacing issues in level development, however, and it's especially noticeable later in the game when you hop between more complex levels and the fairly basic initial islands. Plus, a lot of time is spent running around thanks to the sparsity of teleportation pipes and very simple maps.

Image 1 of 5

In-game screenshot from Mario & Luigi: Brothership

(Image credit: Nintendo)
Image 2 of 5

In-game screenshot from Mario & Luigi: Brothership

(Image credit: Nintendo)
Image 3 of 5

In-game screenshot from Mario & Luigi: Brothership

(Image credit: Nintendo)
Image 4 of 5

In-game screenshot from Mario & Luigi: Brothership

(Image credit: Nintendo)
Image 5 of 5

In-game screenshot from Mario & Luigi: Brothership

(Image credit: Nintendo)

With the main quest completed and balance restored, the pair must activate each island's lighthouse, thus tethering the entire land mass to Shipshape Island. Especially towards the end of the game, it’s delightfully silly to see Shipshape lug around an entire continents-worth of islands.

There’s also a wealth of side quests to enjoy, an abundance of puzzles, a respectable level of collect-a-thon objectives, and bundles of items and equipment to hoard. Many quests see the mustachio’d bros reconnect or resolve issues between loved ones, with progressively more memorable and interesting missions as the game develops. Some quests need to be completed before the main story progresses, unlocking fun easter egg interactions and unique items that make them feel worthwhile.

Best bit

In-game screenshot from Mario & Luigi: Brothership

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Birdo isn’t in the game an awful lot, but there are some great moments in there for the flirtatious pink dinosaur. In particular, one side quest sees an admirer smitten by Birdo’s beauty seeking Mario and Luigi’s help to unite with her. It’s a fun and ever-so-random jaunt that’ll give franchise fans a chuckle.

Occasionally, you even get the opportunity to remote-control Luigi, either by stationing him strategically while using Mario to move around the level or even fully controlling him - though there are only a handful of moments where you get full Luigi action. The main mechanic for giving Luigi some autonomy is Luigi Logic, which triggers when there’s an interactive object or puzzle mechanic he can help with. Broadly, it’s great fun, and can also save time when it comes to farming coins and items, but there are quite a few times when Luigi will get left behind off-screen, which causes Mario to stop in his tracks, turn about-face, and find his stranded sibling. It’s not frequent, but the separation anxiety can be a bit irritating at times.

Otherwise, the main areas to explore are in the game’s dungeons; the Great Lighthouses, and later in the game, various enemy strongholds. The level design for dungeons is pretty consistently well-balanced throughout the game, offering a decent level of challenge and platforming fun while still incorporating a healthy dosage of combat opportunities; though perhaps a little too healthy in places.

In-game screenshot from Mario & Luigi: Brothership

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Timing is everything

Combat in Mario & Luigi: Brothership is fun and engaging, leveraging the same timed attack and counter mechanic as previous games in the series with the added twist of power-up Plugs and Luigi’s Logic as well as inventive new Bros Attacks to mix things up.

Plugs offer a solid level of variety and dynamic gameplay to battles and become pretty much essential as the baddies scale. Certain combos create enhanced attack, defense, and support abilities during combat, which you can bolster further with clever choices in equipment and leveling bonuses - though you can easily make most compositions work if your timing is solid and your stats are balanced.

Some of the Bros Attacks are more satisfying than others. For example, in Flash Clock, Mario & Luigi dash across a monochrome battlefield where time stands still, taking turns to wallop the enemy if you hit their corresponding attack buttons in good time. That’s eminently more engaging than Mix Tornado, in which you frantically lob orbs of Mario’s fireballs and Luigi’s ice into a spinning tornado in the hopes you complete it enough to whip the enemy into a frenzy.

Image 1 of 8

In-game screenshot from Mario & Luigi: Brothership

(Image credit: Nintendo)
Image 2 of 8

In-game screenshot from Mario & Luigi: Brothership

(Image credit: Nintendo)
Image 3 of 8

In-game screenshot from Mario & Luigi: Brothership

(Image credit: Nintendo)
Image 4 of 8

In-game screenshot from Mario & Luigi: Brothership

(Image credit: Nintendo)
Image 5 of 8

In-game screenshot from Mario & Luigi: Brothership

(Image credit: Nintendo)
Image 6 of 8

In-game screenshot from Mario & Luigi: Brothership

(Image credit: Nintendo)
Image 7 of 8

In-game screenshot from Mario & Luigi: Brothership

(Image credit: Nintendo)
Image 8 of 8

In-game screenshot from Mario & Luigi: Brothership

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Every story must have a villain, but Mario & Luigi: Brothership has several; the most prominent of which being Bowser and the mysterious Zokket. We all know and love Bowser and his modus operandi, and Brothership conveys it with wonderful whimsy. Zokket’s forces, however, are slightly more sinister.

Co-captained by Ecks, Ten, and Shun (AKA the Extension Corps), Zokket’s army is on a quest to harvest and spread ‘Glohm’ throughout Concordia and sever the connections between its denizens. Both monsters and the Mario brothers alike can be inflicted by this gloom, which is designed much like Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’s malice. In battle, it serves as a new gameplay element that prevents the infected brothers from working together on high-damage attacks and Bros Attacks.

There’s a wide range of enemies in the game, with each offering a fairly distinct move set, and the bosses are pretty fun across the board. The slapstick style and expressive animations keep combat light and fun, but later in the game, the grind becomes a little excessive. Especially as I’d leveled well, I ended up skipping a fair few encounters, even with newer enemies I hadn’t yet tired of, but I still enjoyed pretty much all of the key boss fights.

Bursting with life - literally

While the character design maintains the stylistic simplicity of the wider Mario universe, its aesthetic value is high, which really brings the Mario & Luigi franchise into the modern era of gaming following the ten years of its absence.

Brothership brings the world of Concordia to life with exuberant color and sound. It’s bright, well-stylized, and lush, and the 3D sprites massively expand the depth of emotion and motion possible for the various characters. Combat animations are punchy and energizing, and the music perfectly accents the on-screen action to keep you locked in.

In-game screenshot from Mario & Luigi: Brothership

(Image credit: Nintendo)

That does mean, however, that it’s even more of a disappointment to see frame rate drops, which get progressively worse as the game progresses. Towards the end of the game, even the island navigation screen drops frames significantly due to the volume of cubic sparkle effects on screen, and some of the wonderfully animated cutscenes heavily feature the same particle effects and thus suffer the same fate.

When there are many enemies on screen or a series of consecutive graphically intense attacks, combat can also suffer - which is less than ideal when there are timed attacks to tackle. I didn’t experience an unforgivable level of performance issues, and hopefully, at least some of these can be fixed in a later patch. Still, it’s always disappointing to see, especially when the game is so lovely to look at.

Otherwise, animations are broadly smooth. I gladly sacrificed a few turns and counters during combat to enjoy every detail of enemy attack animations, and the cutscenes are just delightful. I even nearly shed a tear during a few, though I’m especially soppy when it comes to a good tear-jerker.

In-game screenshot from Mario & Luigi: Brothership

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Should I play Mario & Luigi: Brothership?

Play it if…

You want a modernized Mario & Luigi RPG
While Brothership does well to capture what made earlier games popular among fans, it's added in a good amount of depth and aesthetic appeal to make the game feel contemporary.

You want a moderate challenge, but a lot of heart
It's no Baldur's Gate 3, but Brothership takes an earnest swing at combat. It's pretty approachable, and will give you the option to dial down the difficulty of combat, but only after you've given it a good go.

Don’t play it if…

Performance issues grate on you
It's far from a poor performance, but the occasional frame rate drops are disappointing, and especially when you're trying to enjoy the beautifully animated world of Concordia.

Accessibility

There are no dedicated accessibility settings on Mario & Luigi: Brothership. There’s one difficulty setting, but if you lose a combat or time-based mini-game a few times, you’re offered an easy mode to help you overcome the challenge. This is particularly disappointing when combat is so heavily based on timed and held button inputs, and where there are multiple times that visual cues are delivered by color. Players with congenital red-green color blindness, in particular, would have great difficulty in performing many Bros Attacks and puzzles.

In-game screenshot from Mario & Luigi: Brothership

(Image credit: Nintendo)

How I reviewed Mario & Luigi: Brothership

I played over 40 hours of Mario & Luigi: Brothership on Nintendo Switch OLED. During that time I completed the main story and played in a combination of both handheld and docked mode. While docked, I played on a 1080p monitor and used a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller. In handheld mode, I played using the standard Joy-Con controls.

To draw comparisons, I've reflected on my experience with other series entries such as Mario & Luigi: Dream Team and Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story as well as other turn-based RPGs like Octopath Traveller, alongside different games from the wider Mario franchise such as Super Mario: Odyssey.

First reviewed November 2024.

Red Magic 10 series is getting official on November 13
2:49 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Comments: Off

The Red Magic 10 series finally has an official announcement date: the event is set for November 13 at 15:00 Beijing time (that's 11 PM on November 12 in LA, 2 AM in New York, 7 AM in London, 8 AM in Berlin and Paris, and 12:30 PM in India). The Red Magic 10 series is now up for reservation in China, and if you do take this free step then you can receive your device as soon as within half an hour after placing the full order on the day of the event in some regions. You'll also receive exclusive perks worth CNY 599 ($85) and a limited number of custom gifts. The Red Magic 10 series...

« Previous PageNext Page »