OS - Organizer

6:12 pm | April 26, 2023

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Tags: CPU, OS, RAM, SSD | Comments: Off

AyaNeo Air Plus: Two minute review

AyaNeo is making PC handhelds as fast as you can buy them. It seems only a few weeks have passed since we looked at the gorgeous AyaNeo 2, another excellent handheld gaming PC. Yet, here we are with the all-new AyaNeo Air Plus device — available in several different configurations, no less, and all very exciting.

The flagship version I’ve been testing packs in the same AMD Ryzen 7 6800U chipset that we saw in the more-premium AyaNeo 2, but in a smaller form factor that makes it a far more comfortable device for portable play. As a result, for my money, this is currently the best handheld gaming PC on the market. It offers the same AAA performance of the AyaNeo 2, at a price point closer to the Steam Deck, but in a device that’s just simply more comfortable to play for extended lengths of time by virtue of its compact design, fronted by a 6-inch 1080p display.

The end result is something quite special — a truly portable gaming PC capable of better performance than the Steam Deck, with full-fat Windows 11 to play about in. Yes, it remains more expensive than Valve’s handheld, and the Steam Deck is the recommended option for those who want a more console-like experience. But for those that are willing to trade a degree of convenience in favor of frame rate, resolution and portability, the AyaNeo Air Plus is an incredible device.

AyaNeo Air Plus: Price and availability

AyaNeo Air Plus screen — (Image credit: Future / Gerald Lynch)

How much does it cost? Starts at $599 (model reviewed RRP $979)
When is it available? Available now in Glacier Blue, Starlight Black and Classic Grey
Where can you get it? Available online direct from AyaNeo, with third-party retailers to follow soon

AyaNeo Air Plus: Specs

Here is the AyaNeo Air Plus configuration sent to TechRadar Gaming for review:

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 6800U

RAM: 32GB LPDDR5 6400 (16GB option available)

SSD: 512GB (1TB and 2TB options available)

Size: 237mm X 91.4mm x 23.1mm

Weight: 525g

Screen: 1920 x 1080 / IPS / 6-inch / 400nits / 368 PPI / Touch-enabled

Input: Hall sensor joysticks / Hall sensor triggers / Fingerprint scanner

Battery: 46.2Wh / PD3.0 65W Fast Charge

Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6 / BT 5.2 / USB-C (USB 4) x 2 / Micro SD

OS: Windows 11 Home

The AyaNeo Air Plus starts at an affordable $599 for its lower-powered models, but to get into the Steam Deck-beating territory, it stalks, you need to cough up for the premium AMD Ryzen 7 6800U model. At that point, you’ve comfortably got a machine that outperforms Valve’s model — at a significantly higher price, of course, which is fair enough, considering Valve helps to subsidize Steam Deck costs through Steam store game sales. In terms of value, you’ll likely get more pure gaming mileage with a gaming laptop of similar cost, and more functionality with keys and trackpad too. But you’ll lose the magic of it being a truly handheld machine along the way. And this is still cheaper than the premium AyaNeo 2, despite near-identical internal specs delivering the same fantastic AAA PC gaming performance.

AyaNeo also offers other variants of the Air Plus in less powerful configurations, including Intel Alder Lake Core i3 1215U builds starting at $649, and additional AMD Ryzen 3 7320U and Ryzen 5 7520U variants starting at $599. Each offers either 128GB or 512GB SSD storage, and 8GB or 16GB of LPDDR5 storage. All other specs remain the same.

Value: 3.5 / 5

AyaNeo Air Plus: Design

AyaNeo Air Plus controls — (Image credit: Future)

Great size for a Windows portable
Ergonomic controls
Premium Hall sensor triggers and sticks

AyaNeo has had a fair few goes at creating handheld PCs at this point, and the refinements it’s been making along the way are really starting to pay off. While this is not as luxurious as the AyaNeo 2, instead designed to land at a more affordable price point, I’d argue this is the better machine for portable play in many ways.

That’s in large part because of the screen size. The AyaNeo Air Plus opts for a 6-inch touch display compared to the 7-incher on the AyaNeo 2. Both are gorgeous; rich IPS displays with contrast ratios and color depth to rival an OLED panel. But the smaller screen on the Air Plus facilitates an overall smaller, lighter design, making it far easier to play and hold for longer play sessions. It puts the oversized Steam Deck to shame in this respect. And, as I’ll discuss in a bit, it also helps to increase battery life. Interestingly, the brightness steps on the AyaNeo Air Plus feel a little… off? After about 30% brightness, you’re so close to max visible brightness that I rarely went above that value, so it doesn't seem worth any potential battery trade-off to go any higher. Regardless, it’s a sharper, brighter display than you’ll find on a Steam Deck, even before you hit the halfway mark.

Not every difference in design next to its pricier AyaNeo 2 stablemate is for the better: you’ve only got two USB-C ports (one on the top edge, one on the bottom) compared to the three found on the AyaNeo 2, and the sticks are inferior Joy-Con clones rather than the Xbox-like sticks on the AyaNeo 2. But again, in service of a smaller overall device, they’re smart choices, and the drift-free Hall sensors are still present in the sticks for accurate control. Each has an adjustable RGB light underneath, too.

It's ergonomically very comfortable, and more traditional in size and shape than the Steam Deck. A slight curvature to the back shell where your palms sit lets your fingers hug the AyaNeo Air Plus without cramping (though it is a fingerprint magnet on the rear), and shoulder and trigger buttons are in easy reach, with just the right amount of travel and clickiness. Those triggers are analogue compatible too, again with Hall sensors, letting you dial in fine input — perfect for, say, revving an engine at just the right speed in a racing game like Forza Horizon 5. The D-Pad pivots well, and gives you the precision you need for platformers and brawlers. Start and select buttons sit under the D-Pad on the left, and X, Y, A, and B buttons sit above the right stick — buttons a little smaller perhaps than we’d like, but again in service of added portability.

There’s a few extra buttons that you won’t usually find on a traditional console handheld here. Next to the shoulder buttons are two clicky hotkey buttons that can be configured for whatever use you see fit —say, for instance, bringing up the onscreen touch keyboard, or Task Manager. Then below the right stick are two circular buttons, one larger than the other. The bigger opens up the Aya Space game launcher and device settings software with a long press, while a short press brings up an overlay for quick settings like TDP, brightness and volume control. The smaller button is configurable, but I left it as its default ‘Show Desktop’ function, which is always handy. Up top is a power button which also doubles up as a fingerprint scanner — it’s far, far more reliable than that seen on the AyaNeo 2, thankfully.

That top edge is capped off by a thin horizontal volume rocker, a mic spot, the first of the USB-C ports and a large exhaust vent, pushing out air pulled in from a fan intake grill on the rear of the device. The lower edge houses the AyaNeo Air Plus’s stereo speakers, the second USB-C port, a 3.5mm headphone jack and a microSD slot, covered by a flap. Those speakers are reasonably loud, and won’t be drowned out when the fans need to kick in.

Design: 4.5 / 5

AyaNeo Air Plus: Performance

AyaNeo Air Plus top I/O — (Image credit: Future / Gerald Lynch)

Great AAA gaming performance
Better-than-expected battery life
Could be quickly overshadowed by a growing number of rival devices

Though it’s not packing discrete graphics, the superb performance of AMD’s Ryzen 7 6800U chipset, paired with the 32GB of RAM in our review unit, means that the AyaNeo Air Plus can handle any game I throw at it. Yes, you may need to dial the resolution down a tad, drop the graphical presets to lower settings, and accept that you won’t get Cyberpunk 2077’s ray-tracing ‘Overdrive’ mode running here. But if you’ve ever dreamed of playing Elden Ring on the toilet (or should that be the nightmare?), the AyaNeo Air Plus makes that possible at solid frame rates.

Performance in many aspects is similar to that of the AyaNeo 2: though that’s a more premium device in its external design, reflected in its pricing, the internal specs are essentially identical.

As you’d expect, indie games like Hades and Night in the Woods will easily play at 1080p / 60fps without the AyaNeo Air Plus breaking a sweat, with a sweet spot between 5W and 8W for 2D titles and retro 3D games. Cranking things up a notch, a 10W TDP and 720p resolution saw an enjoyably stable 30fps for Grand Theft Auto V on medium settings — an experience that could scale to 60fp or higher resolutions with ease at a higher TDP (at the expense of battery life). Similar fun could be had with The Witcher 3 at a 30fps cap on Low settings at a 720p resolution by pushing the TDP on the chipset up to 20W — a superior handheld experience compared to the Nintendo Switch port, for instance. Those that are wanting to dabble with emulation will have a great time, too, with upscaled PS2 and Gamecube easily achieved across the vast majority of titles, and even solid performance with platforms as demanding as the PS3.

Where the AyaNeo Air Plus beats out the AyaNeo 2; however, by some distance is in battery life. With a smaller 6-inch display, the Air Plus is less power-hungry, and given that the smaller screen size facilitates a smaller handheld overall, that, combined with battery improvements, makes for a better device all around, in my opinion. Lower-end games, such as indies or retro titles, will happily run for between 3 and 4 hours at a 1080p resolution and between a 5W or 8W TDP, while an online shooter like Destiny 2 can get upwards of two hours of play at 720p and a 30fps cap. The real top-tier titles, like the PC God of War port, is still going to push the AyaNeo Air Plus to its limits in terms of battery life. But if you’re conservative in your settings, you can still eke out close to an hour and a half of play before the battery throws in the towel.

As has become the norm with PC portables, your mileage will vary based on your stomach for lower frame rates and resolutions versus battery life. You will have to be prepared to tweak TDP settings to find the happy balance you’re comfortable with. This isn’t quite pick-up-and-play, then, though honestly, PC gaming in any form factor never has been. But the compromise feels much fairer here than with its AyaNeo 2 predecessor. In portable PC terms, this is as good as it currently gets.

Just how long the AyaNeo Air Plus sits on top of the PC gaming handheld pile is debatable. However — as AyaNeo’s own recent, busy product roadmap shows, this is a product category growing at an incredible rate. Competition is landing thick and fast, and devices like the upcoming ASUS ROG Ally will give the AyaNeo Air Plus a run for its money. For now, however, the AyaNeo Air Plus is leading the pack.

Performance: 4.5 / 5

AyaNeo Air Plus: Software and features

Homescreen of the AyaNeo Air Plus — (Image credit: Future / Gerald Lynch)

The AyaNeo Air Plus runs full-fat Windows 11 Home, meaning you can dig around in the back end of Microsoft’s operating system with impunity. If you want to install any and every Windows application, fire up a Word document or even run your business, nothing is stopping you from doing that on the AyaNeo Air Plus.

That’s a double-edged sword, however. Despite technically supporting touch input, it’s still an operating system best navigated with a keyboard and mouse, and AyaNeo’s efforts to translate that to touch, stick and face button mappings is admirable but ultimately flawed. Likewise, its Aya Space frontend, which acts as both a game launcher and hardware setting configuration application, is better in theory than in practice. It is not quite a match for the Steam Deck SteamOS experience, let alone something as well polished and focused as the Nintendo Switch operating system. The shortcut overlay, accessed by pressing the AyaNeo logo ‘Home’ button on the device, is more useful, though, letting you quickly tweak fan settings, TDP draws to eke more power from the device, as well as resolution settings, brightness, volume and quick-launch buttons for apps or features like the onscreen keyboard.

Should you buy the AyaNeo Air Plus?

Buy it if...

You want relatively powerful PC gaming on the go

This is a handheld PC with as much power as you can currently fit into a device this size, making for a great gameplay experience.

You want your mobile devices to actually feel portable

The size and shape of the AyaNeo Air Plus makes it far easier to actually travel with, without compromising comfort.

You are comfortable with Windows

AyaNeo Air Plus gives you access to the full functionality of the Windows operating system — and all the potential that brings with it.

Don't buy it if...

You’re on a tight budget

You’ll get a ‘good-enough’ handheld PC gaming experience from a Steam Deck, but at a much cheaper price.

You want a more console-like experience

The Aya Space software isn’t good enough to keep you from having to delve back into Windows constantly.

You want to be able to get real work done on your gaming PC

If that’s the case, you may want to pick up a keyboard-equipped gaming laptop instead.

Also Consider: Valve's Steam Deck

If our AyaNeo Air Plus review has you considering other options, you should consider…

How I tested the AyaNeo Air Plus

Review test period: two weeks
Gaming across Steam / Epic Games. AAA games and indie titles
Light web browsing and general Windows PC tasks

Over the course of two weeks testing the AyaNeo Air Plus, I played a range of modern, classic, indie, and AAA PC gaming titles, ranging from everything from Cyberpunk 2077 to Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords. I even played some retro titles via emulation software.

Though it’s pricier than the Steam Deck, the AyaNeo Air Plus justifies that by being the superior machine in many ways. For example, it’s more powerful, has a more comfortable form factor, and has better specs in key departments, including screen quality. Its only drawback is its software, which hasn’t been as perfectly optimized for handheld play in the same way that the Steam Deck equivalent has. Having said that, you get far more flexibility with the native full-fat Windows on offer here.

Working as a technology and gaming journalist for more than 15 years, I’ve tested (and in many cases owned) every major games console since the SNES, dozens of gaming PCs, and reviewed countless games along the way. I’m a regular gamer at home across Xbox Series X, PS5, and Nintendo Switch consoles, and I have my own gaming PC equipped with the latest generation of Intel processors and an Nvidia RTX 3080 GPU. I’ve also tested many of the new wave of gaming handhelds, including devices from Ayn, Anbernic, PowKiddy, and other AyaNeo models.

How the Steam Deck breathes life into underrated old games

Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 review: a pricey pen display for pros

8:49 am | April 17, 2023

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Tags: OS | Comments: Off

Wacom Cintiq Pro 27: two-minute review

Weighing in at a hefty 15.8lbs (7.2kg) and with a 26.9-inch UHD display, the Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 pen display makes an immediate impression out of the box. Designed specifically for use in professional settings, Wacom’s largest pen display more closely resembles a computer monitor than a traditional graphics tablet.

This doesn’t appear to be accidental, as it offers a number of features and attributes that are more typically found in PC gaming monitors, such as refresh rates up to 120Hz and a 10ms response time. While this helps the Cintiq Pro 27 to effectively double as a monitor for use beyond graphic design, it doesn’t come with any sacrifice to its functionality as a pen display.

A size comparison between the Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 and One by Wacom, medium — A size comparison between the Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 and One by Wacom (medium) graphics tablet. (Image credit: Future)

Wacom Cintiq Pro 27: specifications

Dimensions: 379 x 638 x 31mm (100 x 100mm stand)
Active drawing area: 335 x 596mm
Weight: 15.9lbs (7.2kg)
Connections: USB-C, HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-A
OS requirements: Win 10 or later, macOS 10.15 or later
Bit-depth: 30-bit
Color coverage: 98% DCI-P3, 99% Adobe RGB
Pen pressure levels: 8,192

In our time with the Cintiq Pro 27, we found that it helped us speed up workflow while also eliminating any concerns about excessive desktop clutter when taking its place as both a pen display and PC monitor in one.

This kind of versatility does come with a hefty price tag, however, as the Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 will set you back a cool $3,499 / £3,499 / AU$5,499. It’s this price that is the display’s most significant issue, being roughly twice as expensive as its much smaller sibling the Wacom Cintiq Pro 16 ($1,599 / £1,399 / AU$2,399) and thus representing a considerable investment for those considering adding it to their workstation.

That said, there are a lot of differences between the Pro 27 and the Pro 16 model beyond just display size, such as the Pro 27’s superior refresh rates (up to 120Hz vs 60Hz), greater color gamut (30-bit vs 8-bit) and the versatility it offers to also act as a computer monitor.

This versatility does a lot to help the Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 from a value perspective, and professional creatives with the money to spend will get a very impressive and powerful pen display capable of elevating design potentials.

Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 review: design

For those accustomed to more traditional pen displays, the size and weight of the Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 will take some getting used to. This doesn’t mean that the display itself is excessively bulky or likely to upset the delicate balance of your desktop as it resembles a computer monitor.

That said, it is a pen display first and foremost, and the ease of its adjustability in terms of tilt or extension make creating with it a simple task. A mechanism at the rear of the tablet helps to adjust and lock its angles in place, limiting any concerns that the display could shift halfway through working with it.

Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 pen display in use — The Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 is heavy, but no more bulky than a typical PC monitor. (Image credit: Future)

Setting the tablet up is a straightforward 'plug and play' process, and optional accessories such as a pen holder are easily attachable to the sides of the display. There are a number of mount holes around the display’s exterior, which are designed for workspace customization through the ability to mount devices such as cameras, microphones or lights.

At its size, however, the Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 can be uncomfortable to sit close to for longer lengths of time. This is an issue to be aware of, as creating and drawing with any pen display will almost always involve you having to sit as close as possible to its screen.

Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 review: performance

The Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 works out of the box with preloaded gestures for both your fingers and the included Wacom Pro Pen 3, and these will be familiar and feel intuitive to anyone used to working with other tablets such as an iPad.

Naturally, as a multi-touch display, the Cintiq Pro 27 is very responsive when using either the pen or your fingers to work on designs. At times, these levels of sensitivity can actually be a frustration when in use – if you’re drawing with the pen while multi-touch is enabled, for example, it’s not uncommon to start a pen stroke and then have it evaporate because you’ve accidentally grazed the display with your finger.

Fortunately, turning multi-touch on and off is straightforward with the simple push of a button located at the rear of the display. There are a number of other handy buttons at the rear as well, as the display offers express keys to which you can assign shortcuts based on your anticipated needs.

The Wacom Pro Pen 3 as included with the Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 pen display — The Wacom Pro Pen 3 is designed to be highly customizable in order to better suit your workflow. (Image credit: Future)

The Wacom Pro Pen 3 also comes with a variety of customization options, including adjustable weight and accessories to adjust grip thickness, the configuration of the pen’s buttons and 10 replacement nibs (five standard, five felt) and a nib removal tool as well. Using the pen with the Cintiq Pro 27 is also a breeze thanks to the design of the tempered glass display, which features a slight coarseness to offer some friction to ensure the pen doesn’t shudder or slide.

Pressure sensitivity for the Wacom Pro Pen 3 is very much on the higher end at 8,192 levels, which is great for anyone who expects to work with more specific details in their design. Of course, some softwares you might use will have different level caps, so it isn’t necessarily guaranteed that you’ll always be working with the pen’s peak sensitivity.

During our time with the Cintiq Pro 27, we worked primarily with three software programs – Clip Studio Paint, Adobe Photoshop and 3D-modelling program Blender – and the display made working with each of these programs comfortable and enjoyable, as well as helping workflow feel more fluid and faster than usual.

However, we did find that not all of the Cintiq Pro 27’s gestures would translate to every program. This isn’t necessarily a problem that can be blamed on the display itself, but it’s something to be aware of when preparing to work with it.

The Cintiq Pro 27 boasts a 30-bit color gamut, with 98% DCI-P3 and 99% Adobe RGB, as well as HDR Gamma support. As with other Wacom Cintiq models, the Pro 27’s parallax is generally very minimal, regardless of the angle you’re working with.

We also spent some time putting the display through its paces as a monitor, since it can effectively double as one, including testing it for gaming. There were surprisingly no issues that we experienced with any task, and even when using it for gaming the Cintiq Pro 27 didn’t suffer from any obvious screen tearing or lag issues.

Should you buy the Wacom Cintiq Pro 27?

Buy it if...

Don’t buy it if...

Acer Travelmate P2 review

12:27 pm | April 14, 2023

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Tags: CPU, GPU, OS, RAM | Comments: Off

Acer Travelmate P2: 30 second review

If asked, most users would like the sleekness and portability of an Ultrabook but at an affordable price point. They’re unlikely to get that combination, but they might get a system like the Acer Travelmate P2 and at least feel that its technology is comparable with those more expensive laptops.

The Acer Travelmate P2 (TMP215-54), is a general-purpose machine with a powerful processor, NVMe storage, upgradable memory and a good selection of ports.

At the volume point in the Acer laptop model, the Travelmate P2 comes in a very wide range of SKUs, starting with Intel Core i3 models. Moving up from the popular I5 machines, Acer also makes Core i7 variants for those that need even more power.

Alternatively, Acer has AMD Ryzen 3, 5 or 7 options for those that don’t want Intel hardware.

Depending on the spec, and if they have a 14” or 15.6” display, they range in price from around $400 to over $1000 and can come with up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of NVMe SSD space.

That relatively low pricing hints that these machines aren’t sophisticated designs, constructed largely of plastic and polycarbonate, and the components, such as the screen, aren’t of the highest specification.

The weakness of this model is that the integrated GPU isn’t anything special (on Intel), but if you’re not editing video or connecting to a 4K external monitor, the Travelmate P2 is a decent daily driver.

The Travelmate P2 might not be the best budget laptop we’ve seen, but it is far from the worst.

Acer Travelmate P2: Price and availability

Acer Travelmate P2 TMP215-54 — (Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

How much does it cost? $400-$1500
When is it out? It is available now
Where can you get it? You can get it in most regions direct from Acer or through an online retailer.

Travelmate P2 TMP215-54 Specs

The Acer Travelmate P2 that was sent to us for review came with the following hardware:

Model: TMP215-54 (NX.VVSEK.004)
CPU: Intel Core i5-1235U
GPU: Iris Xe 80EU Graphics
RAM: 8GB DDR4 (single DIMM)
Storage: 256GB Hynix NVME
Screen: 15.6" LED backlight 1920 x 1080 @ 60 Hz
Weight: 1.9 kg
Dimensions: 35.97 x 24.425 x 2.07 cm
Camera: Webcam (1280 x 1024)
Networking: WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.0
Ports: 1x HDMI, 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (with power off charging), 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, 1x Ethernet LAN, Headphone/microphone combo jack, 1x MicroSD card reader
OS: Win 10 Pro 64-bit + Windows 11 Pro Licence
Battery: 56 Whr 3-cell Li-ion battery

Our review machine, the Travelmate P2 TMP215-54 (NX.VVSEK.004) isn’t one of those sold directly in the UK, but is available through Curry’s business channel and other retail outlets.

The pricing of this machine can vary wildly depending on the SKU, and in the UK alone Acer sells 28 different specifications. It has a UK cost of £764.38 inclusive of VAT.

The closest equivalent US customers have to that model is the TMP215-54-52X7 (NX.VVRAA.001), which has the same processor as our review hardware, but 16GB of RAM and 512 GB SSD, all for $949.99.

With this wide selection of potential hardware, it's probably the best plan to decide what your budget limits are and then see what options Acer has for that money.

As we’ll talk about later, upgrading the SSD and RAM on these machines is possible, which might save you money over having lots of either item pre-installed.

Value: 4 / 5

Acer Travelmate P2: Design

Black is not optional
Excellent port selection
On the heavy side

This laptop is a by-the-numbers design in that there isn’t anything exotic or special to talk about, either inside or out. It comes only in black, and this colour scheme inherently attracts dust the moment after it comes out of the box.

A feature we appreciated most was that it came with an Ethernet port, although Acer was forced to make one that expands to accommodate the cable end in this case. That’s useful, especially getting the system over the tsunami of updates that any new Windows machine will be subjected.

We also liked the keyboard, which is big enough to have a numeric pad, even if it’s a little narrow, and the touchpad is also well-sized, but because of the numeric pad offset, it’s not very central.

One curiosity is the screen hinges that tease that they might be fully reversible but aren’t. These hinges do allow the screen to fold flat, travelling 180 degrees from the close position to fully extended. Not sure what the value is in this much rotation, but it’s what it can do.

Ports are mostly along either side, other than a MicroSD card slot on the front edge. The rear edge is exclusively allocated to an exhaust vent, and the underside has extensive vent holes for bringing air in to be expelled rearwards.

One slight disappointment is that the webcam doesn’t have a physical privacy cover, instead opting for a software solution. The Acer Spin 714 Chromebook had a physical cover, so why not this PC?

Considering that this laptop is designated a ‘Travelmate’, the mass of this machine is on the high side at 1.9 kg or over 4 lbs. That’s plenty to be carrying around, and this isn’t the machine you can practically hold with one hand and operate with the other.

With so much mass involved, at least those designing it kept a reasonable balance between the display and base so that it's stable even if the screen is angled extremely.

However, for those that travel extensively with their machine, the Travelmate P2 probably isn’t ideal from a portability perspective.

Where it might be better fitted is in a home office where it operates as a desktop replacement system connecting to the house router with ethernet and peripherals with its many ports.

Though, as we’ll cover later, the battery capacity of this model does enable a working day away from a power socket if required.

In short, the Travelmate P2 was built to a price, but that cost looks reasonable value for money when you look at the part specifications.

Design: 4 / 5

Acer Travelmate P2: Hardware

12th Gen CPU
Cheap SSD
User upgrades possible

The highlight of this P2 SKU is undoubtedly the 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1235U processor, a design we’ve seen previously that sports ten cores and can process 12 threads simultaneously.

What’s slightly odd about this intel design is that instead of balancing the performance and efficiency cores, it has just two P-cores and eight E-Cores. That makes it good for both multitasking and power efficiency, but it lacks performance punch for the most demanding applications.

We’ll talk about raw performance below, but for general use, this is a good processor.

Where this machine is less impressive are some of the OEM parts that Acer chose to install on it, and the SK Hynix SSD is one of those. The 256GB capacity seems on the modest side of capacity, and we found this model being sold on retail for only $25.

It doesn’t cost much to boost the SSD to something much more suitable, and thankfully with this machine, that type of enhancement is possible.

To gain access inside requires the removal of 12 screws and a small plastic spudger to free the back. Once inside, both the DDR4 memory slots and the M.2 NVMe drive are both accessible. As the P2 isn’t one of those stupidly thin Ultrabook designs the memory is slotted, it could easily be enhanced beyond the 8GB it came with. The maximum memory of this processor is 64GB, but even 16GB by adding another 8GB module would enhance operations.

Included in the box was a small tray and ribbon cable that allows a SATA SSD or hard drive to be mounted inside, and this could be very useful if only for cloning the existing drive to temporary storage before upgrading the M.2 drive. The M.2 slot will take Gen 3 drives that don’t have a heatsink attached, and those can be found with capacities up to 4TB.

One side note to our internal investigations was the battery, the one that Acer claims is 56 Whr. Based on a quoted voltage and amperage printed on the battery, our maths says 54.5 Whr is a more accurate number.

That said, whatever it is, the battery in this laptop is undoubtedly one of the best aspects.

If that’s one of the best, the worst is undoubtedly the screen. We’re unsure what the exact technology used in the display is, but it is not bright, and the viewing angles aren’t great, suggesting that it isn’t an IPS screen.

To make it workable, we were forced to use full brightness, and even then, the colours it produced were subdued. Like the SSD, this looks like another cost-saving choice on Acer’s part.

Hardware: 4 / 5

Acer Travelmate P2: Performance

Good processor
Lower spec Iris Xe GPU
User upgrades possible

Acer Travelmate P2 Benchmarks

This is how the Acer Travelmate P2 performed in our suite of benchmark tests:

3DMark Wild Life: 6891; Fire Strike: 2525; Time Spy: 1123;
Cinebench R23 CPU pts: 1596 (single-core); 6869 (multi-core)
GeekBench 5: 1557(single-core); 6356 (multi-core), 11369 (OpenCL)
CrystalDiskMark: Sequential Read: 3395MB/s; Sequential Write: 1988 MB/s
PCMark 10 (Office Test): 4995
PCMark 10 (Battery Test): 10h 43m
Windows Experience Index: 8.0

The performance offered on this machine is something of a mixed bag. We’ve previously tested other machines using the same Core i5-1235U and got better scores than these, and the difference may be down to the memory specs.

While the Iris Xe 80EU GPU is better than the dire UHD Graphics that older Intel processors offered, the 96EU version used on the Intel Core i7-1260P and Core i7-1195G7 is twice as fast when pushed by a Core-i7 class processor.

The graphics performance is acceptable for web use and even video playback, but it isn’t anything we’d recommend trying to game with or is ideal for using CAD applications.

The SK Hynix SSD is reasonably quick at reading, allowing the laptop to boot smartly, but its write speed is less compelling. As already mentioned, a higher-performance SSD with greater capacity would be a good upgrade for this SKU.

What’s interesting is that the Windows Experience Index number and the PCMark 10 scores are decent, and with a faster SSD, these would be even better.

What doesn’t need any help is the battery score as tested by PCMark10. At over ten hours, with the screen brightness turned down to 120 nits, that’s more than a working day of use.

To summarise, the processing power of this model is probably overkill for general office use, but the GPU isn’t anything special.

In the American SKUs of the Travelmate P2, we noticed a few machines with discrete Nvidia GeForce MX330. That would make a modest difference to graphics performance, and probably a better choice would be an AMD Ryzen-based P2 with its faster integrated Radeon RX Vega 7 or 8 Graphics.

But, these specification machines are at the higher end of the cost spectrum.

Performance: 4 / 5

This version of the Travelmate P2 had some highs and a few lows, but most models are good value for money, considering the functionality and performance offered and the price asked.

Our review machine using a 12th Gen Core-i5 processor looks like a sweet spot where you get the best deal without spending excessively.

However, there is one aspect of the P2 we didn’t care for, and that was the liberal plastering of bloatware on the Windows 11 installation.

Users don’t want to have Norton leap up five seconds after the first boot to tell them the sky is falling or some of the other dubious software installed on this machine. If users want those things badly enough, they will install them, and to assume otherwise is just rude.

Customers should therefore budget an afternoon to strip the machine of everything they didn’t pay for so they can use the one thing they did.

Not sure why some brands seem so unwilling to accept most customers don’t want bloatware, but Acer remains one of them.

Acer Travelmate P2: Report card

Should I buy a Acer Travelmate P2?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

Motorola Edge 40 Pro review: A confident flagship with few flaws

12:00 am | April 10, 2023

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Tags: Google Pixel, OS, US | Comments: Off

Motorola Edge 40 Pro: Two-minute review

With the Motorola Edge 40 Pro, Motorola has once again made its Pro handset a true Android flagship. The company has packed in all the de rigeur trappings of a flagship phone – so you’re getting the best processor, all the latest connectivity standards, nicer materials, and the like.

The phone impresses at everything you would want it to do. Even its plain black colorway is nice to look at. The soft round edges are comfortable to grip, and the material at the rear feels nice to the touch.

The software is clean and well considered – it’s closer to a stock Android experience than most; with some minor additions. There are some small issues, of course – the phone insists that you choose from a selection of recommended Moto apps during the initial setup, and downloads them unless you manually unapprove each one, but after that Motorola leaves you to it. The company promises three years of software updates, but we note with trepidation that the Motorola Edge 20 and Edge 30 are still on Android 12, even as Google is prepping Android 14 for release.

Images of the 2023 Motorola Edge 40 Pro in Interstellar Black — (Image credit: Michael Allison / Future)

The camera takes images quickly and the sensors capture good dynamic range, although shots overall are only just above average. The front-facing camera is decent, but smooths out the skin in portrait shots a little too much.

The phone excels in the battery life and charging departments, thanks to optimizations facilitated by its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, and 125W fast-charging tech.

The Motorola Edge 40 Pro is a strong entry into what’s shaping up to be a competitive market for Android phones in 2023. At £799.99 (availability and pricing have yet to be confirmed for the US and Australia), it’s a little expensive, but you are definitely getting what you're paying for here.

Motorola Edge 40 Pro review: price and availability

Priced at £799.99 in the UK (directly converts to $995 / AU$1,480)
Unconfirmed for the US but Motorola says it may have something to announce later in the year
Available from April 4

The Motorola Edge 40 Pro is on sale as of April 4.

In the UK, the phone is priced at £799.99, which is comparable to competing phones from Apple, Samsung, and Google. The OnePlus 11 is a bit cheaper in the UK – at £729 for the base model, while the Xiaomi 13 will set you back £849. The Edge 40 Pro is priced cheaper than most brands’ Pro variants, so there’s some unmistakeable value here, if you want to look at it that way.

Motorola has not yet announced an Edge 40, 40 Fusion, 40 Neo, or 40 Ultra model. While either of those first three more affordable variants could emerge down the line, as some rumours have suggested, it’s hard to imagine Motorola releasing an Motorola Edge 40 Ultra this year when – spoiler alert – the Edge 40 Pro is so good.

The company has not announced US or Australia availability. It’s available directly from Motorola now, and will be available from more retail outlets in the coming weeks.

Value score: 4 / 5

Motorola Edge 40 Pro review: specs

Motorola Edge 40 Pro review: design

Borderless design
Curved edges
Soft-touch matte glass.

The Motorola Edge 40 Pro takes a lot of its design DNA from the Motorola Edge 30 Ultra, rather than the Edge 30 Pro. It’s all the better for it, though. It has the same soft-touch matte glass you’ll find on the Edge 30 Ultra, a similar rear camera layout, and a nigh-identical front design. It even has similar dimensions – although the cases aren’t transferable, in part because with the Edge 40 Pro, Motorola has made the welcome decision – from an ergonomic standpoint – to switch back to a rounded-edge design.

The iPhone 12 made flat sides on smartphones popular again, and many manufacturers rushed to copy Apple. However, flat sides aren’t always the best tool for the job, even if they are now regarded as ‘modern’. They can dig into the palm, and cause otherwise well-balanced phones to sting.The Edge 40 Pro feels a lot nicer in the hand; it’s nicely rounded, well balanced, and soft to touch, compared to the Motorola Edge 30 Ultra.

The rounded look and feel is accentuated by the curved edges of the display. The curved vs flat debate has raged ever since Samsung introduced curved edges on its Edge phones. If you like them, you like them; if you don’t, you don’t. These curves are a lot subtler than the extreme curves you’ll find on a Pixel, and more like what you’ll find on top-end Chinese phones from the likes of Xiaomi and Oppo. They’re aesthetically pleasing, but in functional use they can be a little annoying sometimes, and I think flat edges would be better practically speaking.

Now, let’s talk about materials. This year, Motorola has gone all in on premium materials. The matte glass from the Edge 30 Ultra returns, but Gorilla Glass Victus covers the phone on both sides rather than the older Gorilla Glass 5 on the Edge 30 Ultra or Gorilla Glass 3 on the Edge 30 Pro. The sides are aluminum. I keep comparing this phone to the Edge 30 Ultra because again, while it’s this year’s‘Pro’ model it’s more or less an upgrade of last year’s Ultra and more deserving of the Pro name than last year’s Pro.

Motorola has made a phone that is nice to look out and nice to hold, and that’s all it really needs to do.

Design score: 4 / 5

Motorola Edge 40 Pro review: display

6.7-inch Full HD+ (2400x1080) pOLED
Up to 165Hz variable refresh rate
Curved-edge display

The Motorola Edge 40 Pro has a good-looking display, and the specs – like the rest of the phone – sit up there with some of the best. It’s a large and immersive 6.67-inch Full HD+ panel, that’s only broken up by the 60MP front-facing camera (more on that later). It’s great for scrolling your social feeds or watching videos on your commute, and it’s also great for games. The taller, narrower 20:9 aspect ratio, paired with the phone’s more rounded form means that it’s a lot more comfortable to hold for long periods than an iPhone and, of course, native Android tools like split screen make good use of the available display space too.

As with all Android flagship phones, the 40 Pro sports a high refresh rate, although the 165Hz maximum available here exceeds the 120Hz peak of most rivals. The refresh rate is set to adaptive 120Hz by default, meaning it’s optimized depending on what you’re doing on your phone, but you can also manually set it to 60Hz, 120Hz, or 165Hz; with 60Hz the best option for conserving battery, and 165Hz delivering maximum fluidity for gaming.

You can choose between Natural and Boosted color profiles too. I prefer Boosted as I’m a fan of bright, popping colors but, of course, your mileage may vary. It's a bright display that can go up to 1300nits in peak conditions; that’s not quite as bright as the super-bright iPhone 14 Pro Max, but it is brighter than the iPhone 13 Pro Max, and it’s almost double the Motorola Edge 30 Pro’s 685nits.

Display score: 4.5 / 5

Motorola Edge 40 Pro review: software

Android 13 at launch
Clean take on Android
Three of years OS updates + four years security updates

Motorola’s software is very clean. It reminds me of Google’s take on Android – except Motorola has left in some things in that Google has taken out.

The software itself works well and is unobtrusive. The interface uses Google’s Material You design language, and if you’ve encountered it on a Pixel phone, and loved it, you’ll love it here too. There are small differences mostly with regards to theming and customization, and to my eye they’re for the better. On Motorola’s MyUX, for example, you can still change your font and icon size, as you could on Pixels running Android 11 and older – someone should let Google know that leaving this option in neither ended the world nor broke Material You.

Motorola promises three years of software updates and four years of security updates. It’s on a par with Google for the former, but behind Google’s five years of security updates for its Pixels.

While three years of updates is admirable from the point of view of reducing e-waste and helping people keep their phones for longer typically is, the regularity with which Motorola rolls out updates is less so. Perhaps people don’t care about updates as much these days.

Maybe Android updates have gotten increasingly incremental, and those who do want regular updates already look to literally any other Android brand (aside from HMD Global, which is just marginally less terrible in this respect) or believe that Google's habit of instead keeping features up to date via the Play Store is enough. Either way, we won’t be holding our breath for Android 14 or 15 to come to this phone quickly. For context, Motorola just rolled out Android 13 to the Edge 30 Pro. If you’re buying the Motorola Edge 40 Pro, know that you’re going to have to be very happy with Android 13, or consider looking elsewhere.

Software score: 3 / 5

Motorola Edge 40 Pro review: cameras

Triple rear camera layout (50MP + 50MP + 12MP)
60MP selfie camera
Raw support

The Motorola Edge 40 has a great camera experience and set up The Motorola Edge 40 Pro has a triple-lens rear camera setup, comprising a 50MP f/1.8 main camera, a 50MP f/2.2 ultrawide – with a 114-degree field of view, and a 12MP telephoto.

The power of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor is on show here in spades. Images capture quickly and speedily, and shots have good dynamic range and color reproduction. However, image quality is one area where you’re reminded that – despite the similar-looking software – this isn’t a Pixel (or any other of the best camera phones currently out there, for that matter). Crop in on images and they quickly begin to resemble watercolor paintings, as fine detail goes missing. For sharing to Instagram or TIkTok, though you’re good. Images taken at night are also serviceable, but you likely won’t be printing them out and framing them.

Looking back at our reviews of the Motorola Edge 30 Pro and Edge 30 Ultra, the failings seem to be about the same here. It is a Motorola phone with a Motorola camera. Amazing on paper, just good in real life. It’s a Motorola camera. It should do a lot better than it does. It just doesn’t.

Motorola Edge 40 Pro camera samples

Image 1 of 8

Images from the Motorola Edge 40 Pro showing off its zoom and portrait features. — (Image credit: Michael Allison / Future)

Testing out the zoom on the Motorola Edge 40 Pro. You can zoom in really far (up to 16x, as in the image on the furthest right – but you probably shouldn't).

Image 2 of 8

Motorola's portrait mode has a range of focal lengths. Above depicts 35mm, 50mm and 85mm.

Image 3 of 8

Not entirely sold on how the camera captures my darker skin. The front camera tries to smooth it out entirely in broad daylight, creating a weird effect. It's somewhat ok at night, and the rear camera does the same as the front camera during the day.

Image 4 of 8

Camera samples from the Motorola Edge 40 Pro — (Image credit: Michael Allison / Future)

The ultrawide camera can fit a lot of stuff in.

Image 5 of 8

Image 6 of 8

And the regular wide camera is good in broad daylight.

Image 7 of 8

Checking out the ultrawide camera again, because I love ultrawide shots.

Image 8 of 8

The Motorola Edge 40 Pro at night. — (Image credit: Michael Allison / Future)

The Motorola Edge 40 Pro is decent at night too.

This is a Motorola phone with Motorola cameras, and it should do better. While the specs promise outstanding performance, the reality is rather underwhelming; it’s just ‘good’, where it should be amazing.

There is one thing I must call out, though. You can overcome the phone’s image quality shortcomings to a degree by shooting in RAW format. As on Apple’s iPhones, you can tweak the exposure and color of RAW images to a greater degree than you can that regular images, enabling you to push shots that might otherwise only be a 6 or 7 to 9 or even 10. It’s not something everyone will want to get into (I don’t), but if you like this phone and want to improve the quality of its camera output, it’s an option.

Camera score: 3.5 / 5

Motorola Edge 40 Pro review: performance

Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC
12GB RAM (LPDDR5X)
Up to 512GB of storage (UFS4.0)

In terms of specs, the Motorola Edge 40 Pro is every inch a proper flagship that’s comparable to the best that Samsung, Oppo, and Xiaomi have to offer. This means it has all the requisite high-end Android specs, including the latest chipset in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, backed by 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM, with either 256GB or 512GB of UFS4.0 storage. Basically, it is a very fast phone and – when it comes to downloading Netflix shows I trick myself into thinking I’ll have time to watch, or hoarding graphic novels on Comixology – I know I’m not going to get pestered by low-storage warnings.

It also supports all the latest connectivity standards, including USB 3.2, Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 6E, and Wi-Fi 7. 5G on a flagship is, these days, a given.

There are dual speakers at the top and at the bottom of the handset. They’re Dolby Atmos-tuned, and they’re great for watching TIkToks and other videos in those rare instances when you’re not listening over headphones.

There’s not much to say about the specs. They’re all very good and Motorola gets top marks here for putting together a compelling package.

Performance score: 4.5 / 5

Motorola Edge 40 Pro review: battery

4,600mAh battery
Supports 125W TurboPower charging
All-day battery life

The Motorola Edge 40 Pro is powered by a 4,600mAh battery. That’s not especially large in the Android world – where Samsung and Google have equipped their latest flagships with 5,000mAh batteries, but a combination of the incredibly efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and 125W fast charging mean that battery life is unlikely to be an issue here.

First, let’s talk about longevity. Motorola’s phone proved very efficient in our testing, with the battery making it through a full day or slightly more. According to accubattery, the phone’s battery can last for around six hours of screen-on time – given my typical use patterns, and mixed usage will see that stretch into two days. I found that to be pretty accurate. Not that it ever got to that. Trying to kill the battery, so that I could see how fast it would charge to 100% from zero, was harder than anticipated – as is typical of Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 phones.

The 125W fast charging is the real deal. Motorola says the Edge 40 Pro can go from 0 to 100 in about 23 minutes, and that’s more or less what we saw. When 125W charging is enabled, a little indicator pops up showing just how fast the phone is charging, along with a ‘125W TurboPower’ icon on the lock screen. There are situations where the charger may not be able to draw the full 125W due to a bottleneck somewhere in the chain, in which case you’ll still get the ‘TurboPower’ indicator right around there but with no 125W notation. It’s still fast, which is nice to know, just not super-fast.

Battery score: 5 / 5

Should you buy the Motorola Edge 40 Pro?

Buy it if...

You want a clean, stock Android phone with fast charging
There are many Android phones which offer even up to 240W fast charging speeds. If you want one that's built with an interface that's how Google intended, this is really your only option.

You want a powerful phone that costs a little less than rivals
Motorola has made a top-tier phone that costs a little less than value rivals like the Pixel 7 Pro and that is commendable.

You want a phone that lasts all day
The charging is incredibly fast, not that you'd need it with how efficiently the processor and battery work together.

Don't buy it if...

You want the absolute best Android camera
Motorola cameras have consistently been ok to good. This touches very good but falls short of great.

You want fast and timely updates.
Motorola is just not that company when it comes to updates. Complaining would be pointless. Just note it, weigh it, and move on.

Motorola Edge 40 Pro: Also consider

Motorola set out to make the vest big Android phone -- but not everyone likes everything.

Google Pixel 7 Pro

Pixel 7 Pro remains a solid phone that has quite a few of the advantages of the Motorola Edge 40 Pro. You keep the same excellent software but pick up faster updates and a better camera. It's a little pricier and the charging is quite literally 10 times slower.

Samsung Galaxy S23

Samsung Galaxy S23 is the best Android phone of the year. A strong update policy, powerful and flexible cameras, and a broad accessory market make this a top pick.

How I tested the Motorola Edge 40 Pro

Review test period = 1 week
Testing included = Everyday usage, web browsing, social media, photography, video calling, gaming
Tools used = Geekbench 6, Geekbench ML, GFXBench, native Android stats

Motorola handed me the phone after the Moto event in London. After which, I used the phone as my main phone for a week. I ran benchmarks for it at TechRadar's London offices, after which I used it as normal.

Normal use for me includes texting a lot on WhatsApp, playing One Piece Bounty Rush and Bleach Brave Souls on auto play while doing other things. I read a few books on the Kindle app (plural, I'm a fast reader). On the weekend, I did watch several TikToks, a brief Netflix show, and then I finally got around to watching the Guardians on the Galaxy Holiday Special on Disney Plus.

The photo testing part of the review involved walking around London in the rain at night. That IP68 rating gave me some extra confidence and I did appreciate the speed of the camera then.

As for me, I've been writing about and reviewing mobile technology since 2014, nearly a full decade. Prior to TechRadar, I worked at Digital Trend's Mobile division, and before that I was at Android Central about Android phones on a daily basis.

Unboxing and First Impressions

ASUS ExpertBook B9 Hinge (Image credit: Future)

We open many laptops here at TechRadar Pro, and unbox machines daily, so we're always excited and curious about what we'll find once we get through the packaging. With the ASUS ExpertBook B9, however, the unboxing was different.

ASUS has designed its packaging here to be reused as a laptop riser or stand, raising the camera to a useful height for video conferencing, but also a more ergonomic height overall. ASUS even chose a sleek color and finish so that it doesn't look like a cardboard box is holding up your expensive laptop. We appreciated the step towards sustainability in packing materials and enjoyed even more that we could use the packaging-turned-stand in a day-to-day scenario.

Design and Build Quality

We liked the unique feel when we first touched the ASUS ExpertBook B9's material. It's not smooth but has a matte finish with a slight texture. Even though it does not have the classic, smooth metallic feel of other high-end laptops, this feels premium. The sharp corners, dark coloring, minimal bezels, and sleek keyboard make this a treat and a device we find ourselves excited to get work done with.

Carrying this laptop in a backpack, briefcase, or bag takes time to grow accustomed to. We frequently doubted we had remembered to put our beloved, powerful computer in our bag because it was so light. Even carrying it around an office, coffee shop, or home office, we were surprised every time we grabbed the device.

In Use

As mentioned, someone on our team used this as their daily driver for a few weeks to get a feel for the machine, and they loved using it. Everyone they interacted with while with the laptop was astonished at how light this machine was and even more shocked when told what was under the keyboard and what the device has for IO.

Specs

Specs as tested

OS: Windows 11 Pro
Processor: 12th Gen Intel Core i7 (1.70 GHz)
Memory: 32GB
Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Display: 14-inch, FHD (1920 x 1080), 16:9, 400nits, sRGB 100%
Storage: 1TB
Ports: 2x Thunderbolt 4 ports, 1x HDMI, 1x RJ45 Micro (via micro HDMI), 1x USB-A, 1x Audio combo jack, 1x Kensington Lock
Battery: 66WHrs
Dimensions: 12.6 x 7.99 x 0.59in / 32 x 20.3 x 1.49cm
Weight: 2.23lb / 1.01kg

This laptop was easy to carry from meeting to meeting, even under an arm while holding a coffee or anything else. While at home, this laptop is just as easy to use and move around, even being light enough to carry on top of that laundry bin or to stack on top of the kids' toys you're putting away on your way upstairs to take a meeting away from the noise (...hypothetically, of course...).

The keyboard is comfortable to type on for a full day. The keys are well-spaced and give enough tactile response that it is satisfying without being too clicky for a quieter environment. The trackpad is generously sized and responsive to our usage and gestures. The surface is smooth enough that our finger(s) can glide across easily without getting stuck or being too slippery.

One thing that we have never seen before is the integration of a numpad into the trackpad itself. As seen above, this numpad is built into the backlighting of the trackpad, allowing it to be non-existent when not needed. However, if we need to enter a massive sum of numbers, everyone knows how helpful a numpad can be.

With this laptop, we can have the numpad off for daily work, and when it comes time to crunch some numbers, we can press the numpad softkey in the top right of the trackpad for a second, and the numpad appears. What is just as astonishing is that the trackpad still works as a trackpad while the numpad is active, allowing us to have the trackpad run double-duty if we need to navigate while entering numbers.

On the back of the laptop, every time the lid opens, the hinge is designed to lift the back of the computer off the desk ever so slightly. While only a factor of five degrees, this still makes a welcomed ergonomic difference for our wrists as we type, raising our fingers off the desktop.

> Check out our pick of the best standing desks

> Cloud PCs can't be benchmarked, so don't even try, Microsoft says

> Also read our review of the Dynabook Portégé X30L-K laptop

The ASUS ExpertBook B9 has many other different elements worth mentioning., including integrated Harman/Kardon-certified speakers, giving out quality audio for a laptop. Naturally, the low end is lacking a bit, but we were pleased with the clarity and quality for a paper-light notebook.

This ExpertBook B9 claims to average just over 11 hours of battery time during regular office usage, which we found that true in our day-to-day use, and PCMark 10's battery benchmark backed us up. The ExpertBook B9 scored 4609 on PCMark 10's Extended test and 5173 on the standard benchmark. A proximity sensor can recognize if you are getting close to the laptop and can wake the screen for you. This could be done with a paired phone as well. There is a webcam shield for added privacy. However, closing the webcam disables the ability to use Windows Hello facial recognition to sign in to the laptop. ASUS included a fingerprint scanner, NFC Card reader (integrated into the trackpad), and the standard passcode entry, all as ways of accessing the ExpertBook B9 quickly and securely.

Lastly, the company has included its MyASUS service with this laptop, which allows onboard system diagnostics, customer services, hardware performance settings, WiFi SmartConnect, Picture modes, Remote file access, and more.

Final Verdict

This laptop took us by surprise, as we saw the spec sheet before getting our hands on this unit and expected it to be powerful. Then when we physically held it in our hands, we thought there was no possible way this was as powerful as the specs made it seem, as it felt way too frail to be that much of a powerhouse.

However, as we were using it, the results far exceeded our initial impression of the laptop thanks to its incredibly lightweight design, incredible battery, ports, and overall power. This is a phenomenal business laptop that can be used in various verticals. Its 14 inch frame makes it an excellent choice for those who need screen real estate for multitasking but also want the option of being portable.

Looking for a new display? Check out our pick of the best business monitors

Lenovo ThinkPad T16 Gen 1 Laptop Review

4:57 pm | March 23, 2023

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Tags: OS | Comments: Off

The Lenovo ThinkPad T16 is the newest addition to the company’s ThinkPad T series, offering a beautiful display, an enjoyable overall feel, and a sleek design. The T16 features a 16-inch display with a 16:10 aspect ratio, allowing the content on the screen to feel much larger due to having more space vertically than those with a 16:9 aspect ratio. Overall, we were quite pleased with the general performance of this laptop and enjoyed using it as our daily driver over several weeks.

Unboxing and First Impressions

Right out of the box, the ThinkPad T16 felt slightly bulky, but not necessarily in a bad way. This laptop could be carried around and worked on heavily without concern of being too frail for a day of tasks. Upon signing in and setting preferences, we noticed the keyboard was responsive and enjoyable to type on.

Lenovo ThinkPad T16 Gen 1 — (Image credit: Future)

Design and Build Quality

Starting with the screen, the 16:10 aspect ratio was unusual, but proved a winner. Having that minimal change from the standard 16:9 aspect ratio immediately makes you feel like you're using a different type of machine due to the extended vertical visibility.

Specs

OS: Windows 11 Pro

Processor: Up to Core i7

Memory: Up to 48GB (16GB soldered + 32GB SO-DIMM) DDR4-3200

Graphics: Up to NVIDIA GeForce MX550 2GB GDDR6

Display: 16-inch, 16:10, (1920x1200)

Storage: Up to 2TB M.2 2280 SSD (one drive)

Ports:

- Thunderbolt 4/ USB4 40Gbps (x2)

- USB 3.2 Gen 1 (x2)

- HDMI, up to 4K/60Hz

- Ethernet (RJ-45)

- Headphone/microphone combo jack (3.5mm)

Battery: 86Wh

Dimensions: 361.9 x 255.5 x 20.5mm (14.25 x 10.06 x 0.81in)

Weight: 1.769kg (3.9 lbs)

Furthermore, we noticed that the materials chosen for the ThinkPad T16 were not just smooth plastic, but offered some more rigidity. Whether you select Storm Grey or Thunder Black for the laptop's color, both are made with durable materials, but what's interesting is that the materials slightly change from color to color. The Storm Grey color has an aluminum top and a bottom cover made of Polyphenylene sulfide, whereas Thunder Black adds Carbon Fiber and Glass-fiber to make up the bottom cover. Lenovo told us that the ThinkPad T16 is tested according to 12 military-grade certifications and uses more than 20 procedures to gain its badging (MIL-STD 810G). In short, this laptop is durable, and designed for work in the real world, not just on a couch or office space.

The ThinkPad T16 Gen 1 utilizes a security protocol called ThinkShield, which uses software and hardware to create a secure working environment. For the latter, a built-in camera shutter and a fingerprint scanner provide security protections, and for software, the Thinkpad T16 includes Windows Hello for facial recognition and Self-Healing BIOS.

Another feature worth mentioning about the laptop’s design is its full-size keyboard and numpad. Most laptops we see default to not including the numpad. However, thanks to the large 16" screen included here, Lenovo had the width to add it in - therefore, if you are working with data, spreadsheets, or anything involving many numbers, you can fly through the entry with the standard numpad.

In Use

While using the ThinkPad T16, it was a pretty good size overall. 16-inch laptops would only sometimes be our choice when looking for a portable and light laptop, though this one stands out. It holds a fine line between large-screen real estate and easy-to-transport, and if we were to be commuting daily and using this laptop on that journey, we might lean towards wanting a smaller size. But, for those who take transit to an office or workspace as the primary location for work, or if you work from home, this laptop is a great choice size-wise. The larger screen gives easy visibility for even smaller content, while the weight and overall footprint are an easy compromise.

As briefly mentioned, the keyboard is full-size with a numpad to the right. After using this laptop, we found the keyboard comfortable to type on, even for extended work sessions. The keys are responsive and satisfying to press while not feeling too shallow like some laptops can.

The trackpad is a good size, easy to use, and responsive. Sadly, only the bottom portion of the trackpad is clickable, though three buttons above the trackpad are also entirely usable to interact with.

Whether we were working on spreadsheets, writing this review, responding to emails, editing photos, or in virtual meetings, this laptop never skipped a beat. Our daily workflow does not require ridiculously high-powered applications, so we threw benchmark tests at the T16 to see how it would handle more demanding tasks. We scored just above 7,500 for the standard multi-core test - lower than higher-end laptops for video editing, engineering, or other high-powered programs. However, this fares pretty well as a business laptop and performs excellently for everyday business needs.

> Lenovo ThinkPad P16 Review

> Check out the best laptops for writers

> Epson unveils its most sustainable business printers ever

Last but not least, the battery on this laptop is, without a doubt, worth mentioning, easily lasting through a day’s work without worrying about the battery. Our day in the life we chose to test this on included emails, review writing, two virtual meetings, and some light photo editing - and by the end of the day, we still had around 30% battery remaining and did not feel like we had to throttle the laptop to make it last that long. Knowing that a battery can last an entire workday without a problem is a considerable asset, primarily if you work away from a desk or workstation.

Final Verdict

Lenovo’s newest addition release to its T lineup is one that we are certainly impressed with. The Lenovo Thinkpad T16 is a phenomenal laptop for productivity, traveling, and general business use, and an all-day battery. The performance is more than adequate for a business professional and will only begin to fall short for intensive creative tasks or complex modeling programs. The price is a little high, but a solid all-around device that is well worth considering if you are in the market.

Looking for a monitor for your workstation? Check out our best business monitors

Oppo Find X6 Pro – Forget the oddball looks, this is a charging demon

5:11 pm | March 21, 2023

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Tags: Australia, OS, UK, US | Comments: Off

Oppo Find X6 Pro: Two-minute preview

One thing you can say about the big and bold Oppo Find X6 Pro is that it makes an impression. Anyone who caught a glimpse of the 6.82-inch phone's back couldn't help but comment on the gigantic, circular camera array. As I see it, you can't talk about the phone without addressing this distinct piece of the phone's hardware.

The reality at this moment is that it's hard to write about much else on the Android 13 handset, which currently looks like it's only set to sell in China. Oppo graciously shipped me the Chinese version, which is packed with Mandarin text and is not currently capable of accepting English apps – including the Google Play Store. As a result, while I could experience the beefy hardware and lovely large screen, take countless photos (and some video), and play around with the pre-installed Chinese version of TikTok, I couldn't test much else. There's no way to benchmark the phone and run my favorite apps, not right now, anyway.

Here's what I can tell you. This is a big, thick phone with three (count 'em three!) 50MP sensors on the back, which includes a wide, ultra-wide, and periscope telephoto (3x optical). They all get an image-processing assist from the leading-edge Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 mobile chipset and Oppo's MariSilicon X imaging NPU, as well as some tuning, courtesy of the company's ongoing partnership with Hasselblad.

Oppo Find X6 Pro rear camera array — Hope you like your camera arrays big, really big. (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

I was generally pleased with the phone's image capture capabilities, though it does push things a bit far with 120x (digital) super zoom that essentially turns photos into impressionistic paintings.

The other highlight here is the battery life and ultra-fast charging capabilities. This is one of the few smartphones still shipping with a dedicated charging adapter (it oddly still features a USB-A port), and, in this instance, it's a 100W powerhouse that – in my experience – can charge the phone from 0% to 100% in 30 minutes.

In China, the the phone starts at CNY¥5,999 (approximately $870 / £710 / AU$1,305 when converted directly) and tops out at CNY¥6,999 (approximately $1,020 / £830 / AU$1,520) across three memory and storage configurations and reports of devices shipping from March 24.

Hands-on Oppo Find X6 Pro review: Price and availability

From CNY¥5,999 (approximately $870 / £710 / AU$1,305)
Unconfirmed for the US, UK or Australia

Oppo is bringing its Oppo Find X6 Pro (and the Find X6) to China – announcing the phones on March 21 and promising an on-sale date of March 24. No details are currently available for the rest of the world. Both Find X6 and Find X6 Pro will be available in a variety of materials and colorways.

The handset is offered in the brown and faux leather I tested, as well as green and black finishes.

The base model comes equipped with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage for CNY¥5,999 (approximately $870 / £710 / AU$1,305), there's a 16GB RAM and 256GB storage option (converting to approximately $945 / £770 / AU$1,415) and a top-tier 16GB and 512GB model (black and green, only), which by directly translating prices comes in at $1,020 / £830 / AU$1,520.

For context, the Oppo Find X5 Pro started with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage for ¥6,299 (which converts to $915 / £750 / AU$1,370), while the actual starting price in the UK and Australia came in notably higher at £1,049 / AU$1,799.

Hands-on Oppo Find X6 Pro review: Specs

Oppo Find X6 Pro back — The Oppo Find X6 Pro is undeniably bold. (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Hands-on Oppo Find X6 Pro review: Design

That's one big camera array
Sturdy look and feel
Is that screen curve a little too retro?

The Oppo Find X6 Pro is a mood and one you will probably either love or hate. Leaving aside the supple faux leather (Oppo calls it "Vegan Leather") back, which adds a warmth otherwise missing from most smartphones, the Oppo Find X6 Pro's camera array, which is designed to look like a professional camera lens, is so startlingly big that it can almost be used as a finger rest (a genuine boon, ergonomically speaking). The circle, which houses the phone's three 50MP cameras, flash, microphone, a sensor and prominently features the camera-maker (and Oppo tech partner) Hasselblad's brand name, takes most of the top third of the phone's back.

After a week of playing with the X6 Pro, I'm a little less overwhelmed by the giant camera circle as I initially was but I still don't like it. Most of the Oppo Find X6 Pro's body measures 9.5mm (it's only 9.1mm thick, if you opt for one of the glass finishes). However, the camera array pushes that girth to roughly 14mm(!). Because of that sizeable bump, it's impossible to place the phone "flat" on any surface. It will always sit at a noticeable angle, unless, of course, you flip it over on its mostly-flat screen.

Image 1 of 5

Oppo Find X6 Pro power button — A side view of the Oppo Find X6 Pro. With its single button, it's a pretty clean look. (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Image 2 of 5

Oppo Find X6 Pro base and ports — No 3.5mm headphone jack, but dual-SIM-supporting, with a physical SIM tray on offer. It does support 5G, if you were wondering. (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Image 3 of 5

Oppo Find X6 Pro camera bump — Oppo Find X6 Pro has the independent volume buttons on its left side. (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Image 4 of 5

Oppo Find X6 Pro top edge — There are speaker and microphone slots on top of the Oppo Find X6 Pro. (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Image 5 of 5

Oppo Find X6 Pro volume buttons — Despite the large camera array, this is a pretty well-balanced piece of hardware. (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

If you can ignore the camera bump, there's actually a lot to like about this robust flagship. The body is an expertly crafted mix of brushed aluminum and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (on the front) and at 164.8mm x 76.2mm x 9.5mm, the Oppo Find X6 Pro is actually slightly smaller and lighter than the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra despite offering a marginally larger screen.

The handset feels good, especially because of that fake leather. The front and back tapers make the aluminum edge thinner, which also makes the phone a little more comfortable to hold. On other hand, the curved or 'waterfall' display feels a bit retro, like a Samsung Galaxy design from 2014. I think Oppo could've split the difference here and made the back curved and the screen completely flat, however.

This is otherwise a clean and solid-looking design. There are no grilles, just aggressive drill-throughs for the USB-C charging port, speaker, microphone, and SIM slot, on the bottom edge and, on top, a speaker, microphone, and what I believe is an IR controller for use with third-party consumer electronic devices like your AC unit or TV. The volume controls are on the left and sleep/wake button is on the right side.

The phone is IP68-rated, which means it can handle dust, a splash, and even a dunk in the toilet (not that I recommend testing it though). It's a shame that the phone's closest sibling in the US – the OnePlus 11 – never received and IP certification as some of its predecessors did (in order to range with T-Mobile).

Hands-on Oppo Find X6 Pro review: Display

Oppo Find X6 Pro home screen — This is a nice, big screen. (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

6.82-inch 19.9:8 1Hz to 120Hz AMOLED with LTPO3
Enough nits to beat back the sun
LTPO means you get faster refresh without all the battery suck

Oppo Find X6 Pro selfie camera — (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

While I'm not in love with the design, I can credit Oppo for not skimping where it matters. The screen, for instance, is all the latest imaging technology stuffed into a larger, edge-to-edge display. There is only a small circular cutout for the 32MP selfie camera. By using an LTPO3 (low-temperature polycrystalline oxide) AMOLED display, the panel can save power, with a variable refresh rate range from 1Hz to 120Hz.

The screen defaults to a power-saving Full HD+ resolution of 2376 x 1080 but can run at 3168 x 1440 (Quad HD+); both look good. Under the screen is an effective optical fingerprint reader.

While I couldn't test any of my favorite apps on the Oppo Find X6 Pro, I did enjoy a lot of Chinese-language videos and trailers on their version of YouTube and the original Chinese TikTok. The display is also an excellent viewport for the powerful camera array.

Oppo Find X6 Pro outside screen — Oppo Find X6 Pro screen can handle the bright sunlight. (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

It's clearly ready to handle all of your most demanding content, with support for Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HDR10+. Without any US-based apps, though, I found it a little hard to press the handset on some of these capabilities.

With 800nits of base brightness but up to 2,500peak nits, the display was more than able to hold up in direct sunlight – beating out the iPhone 14 Pro's impressive brightness ceiling.

If I have one criticism of the display, it's the curved edges. I just think it looks too much like an old Samsung. Next time, Oppo should go for a perfectly flat screen; like the more affordable Oppo Reno 8 series.

Hands-on Oppo Find X6 Pro review: Software

Oppo Find X6 Pro display — Oppo Find X6 Pro running ColorOS 13.1 (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Android 13 with Oppo's ColorOS 13.1 running on top
Intuitive, despite running a Chinese version of the OS

Even though much of my test unit interface was in Chinese, I could still see the utility of the ColorOS platform. There are customizable widgets, places to collect and organize apps, quick access to health metrics like "Steps walked" and numerous recognizable apps like Videos (sort of YouTube), a web browser, a photo gallery, games, and social media. I can access quick functions (some of which were in English) by swiping to the right on the Home Screen or use a single tap to optimize the system.

Hands-on Oppo Find X6 Pro review: Cameras

Oppo Find X6 Pro camera array closeup — At least the giant bump is filled with excellent cameras. (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Three 50MP cameras, all with OIS
Big Sony sensors
32MP selfie camera

Once you get a good look at all the cameras on the Oppo Find X6 Pro, you start to understand why Oppo felt it was necessary to house them in such an ostentatious bump. These are some of the best mobile sensors paired with some very good lenses. Plus, the resulting image-capturing capabilities are almost uniformly excellent.

Here's what we have:

50MP Sony IMX989 f/1.8, 23mm main camera
50MP Sony IMX890 f/2.2, 15mm ultrawide camera
50MP Sony IMX890 f/2.6 3x optical zoom, 65mm periscope telephoto camera
32MP Sony IMX709 f/2.4 front-facing camera

I was generally impressed with all four cameras. The colors and clarity of virtually all the shots is above average in the flagship space, with tremendous color verity and impressive clarity.

I took portrait mode photos with both the selfie and rear main camera and was pleased with the bokeh effect, which I could edit after I took the photo.

The periscope camera's 3x optical zoom is useful and on par with, for instance, Apple's iPhone 14 Pro. There's also an effective 6x hybrid zoom, that combines digital and optical for what looks like fully-optical zoom. Oppo chose to include a digital zoom that goes up to 120x, but I wouldn't recommend using it. Unlike Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra's Space Zoom, which uses some controversial wizardry to create stunning images of, for instance, the moon, Oppo's super zoom turns images into impressionistic paintings. They're fun to look at but otherwise useless.

Image 1 of 2

Oppo Find X6 photo with Hasselblad settings — A photo taken using the Hasselblad pro-level controls. (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Image 2 of 2

Oppo Find X6 Pro standard settings — The same photo without those controls. Definitely no longer an artsy shot. (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

As you would expect, the 50MP ultrawide can create some stunning images, especially when you use it in a skyscraper-filled city.

With the Hasselblad-branded Pro mode (under "More" in the camera app) you gain control of ISO (basically sensor light sensitivity), shutter speed, focus, and white balance. Not many will dig into these settings, but if you like more artistic control over your shots and the ability to separate focus and light metering, these are useful and powerful controls.

The Oppo Find X6 can also shoot up to 4K video at 60FPS (in Dolby Vision, if you choose) for some extra-crisp video.

At night, I put the phone on a tripod, selected Night shooting and then the "tripod mode" in the camera app. The phone did a nice job with astrophotography, though I think it may have over-compensated a bit on auto-adjusting the contrast.

More than once, the phone's on-screen controls stopped responding to my touch, as if the phone was otherwise occupied, I could, however, put the phone to sleep and instantly regain control.

Oppo Find X6 Pro camera samples

Image 1 of 17

Oppo Find X6 Pro review photos — Ultrawide shot (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Image 2 of 17

Image 3 of 17

Image 4 of 17

Image 5 of 17

Image 6 of 17

Oppo Find X6 Pro review — 3x periscope zoom (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Image 7 of 17

Image 8 of 17

Image 9 of 17

Image 10 of 17

Image 11 of 17

Oppo Find X6 review photography — The super zoom on this phone turns birds into paintings (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Image 12 of 17

Image 13 of 17

Image 14 of 17

Image 15 of 17

Image 16 of 17

Image 17 of 17

Hands-on Oppo Find X6 Pro review: Performance

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC
MariSilicon imaging NPU
UFS 4.0 storage and fast LPDDR5X RAM

I couldn't install Geekbench to run proper benchmarking tests, but anecdotally, this is a responsive phone, which shouldn't be a surprise considering it top-tier Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset.

It should also perform a variety of tasks more efficiently, thanks to its use of the latest flash storage standard, UFS 4.0.

This, by the way, is a 5G phone, though I could not test connection speeds on a US cellular network. Perhaps more interesting, this is one of only a handful of phones that already supports Wi-Fi 7.

Hands-on Oppo Find X6 Pro review: Battery

5,000mAh battery
Ships with a 100W fast charger
Great battery life

A 5,000 mAh battery means the Oppo Find X6 Pro is ready to work all day and more. In my anecdotal tests, I had no trouble using the phone all day long to take photos and videos and watch a lot of Chinese TikTok videos. In fact, a single charge lasted two days. But that's not the most exciting thing about this phone's battery performance.

Oppo still includes a power adapter with the Find X6 Pro, and not just any adapter. It's a fast 100W charger that, in my tests, recharged the phone from 0% in 30 minutes. It was blazingly fast and basically sets a new benchmark, at least with most other phones in the US, across the pond and beyond 100W is far from the ceiling, with the Realme GT 3 recently launching with unmatched 240W speeds.

The phone also supports 50W wireless charging (with a promised 100% in 50 minutes) and even 10W reverse charging. I used it to charge up a pair of Apple AirPods Pro.

Oppo Find X6 Pro: Early Verdict

If you can get past the oddball design that screams, "Look at my cameras!" this is a powerful handset that, because it's coming from Oppo, could undercut a lot of the flagship competition on price.

It doesn't skimp on processor, display, memory, or storage. The cameras are all above average (even with the super zoom overreach). The battery is big and long-lasting, and fast wired charging is the best I've seen yet.

I don't know if the Oppo Find X6 Pro will ever go on sale outside of China, but if it does, you should give it a look.

Hands-on Oppo Find X6 Pro review: Also consider

If you like the combination of powerful components, a big screen, and excellent camera chops, any of these phones that are available in the US, UK, and Australia right now should fit the bill.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

A tougher build, faster memory and storage, a more efficient battery, a custom-tuned chipset and a new 200MP main camera hidden behind a familiar design; the S23 Ultra is a more substantial upgrade than you might first realize. Provided you're not dissuaded by the steep asking price, in every other regard you'll be getting one of the best phones in the world.

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra

While there was never any question that Samsung would be offering up a new Ultra for 2023, there was nothing inherently wrong with its predecessor, and aside from running on the previous year's internals and a lower resolution primary camera, you're getting a very similar experience from a device with a year's worth of price reductions under its belt worth considering.

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

If you're after a large-screened flagship phone with class-leading performance and a capable camera setup that isn't the Galaxy S23 Ultra, Apple will accept a similar amount of money for their latest top dog.

How I tested the Oppo Find X6 Pro

Oppo Find X6 Pro top two-thirds — Oppo Find X6 Pro in my hand. (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Test period = One week
Testing included = Photography, some content consumption. Indoor and outdoor use.

Since Oppo sent me a Chinese version of the Oppo Find X6 Pro (an update with access to US-based Google Play and associated apps is expected on March 24), I was significantly limited in how I could use and test the phone. I couldn't benchmark it or load any of the apps I use to test its core capabilities. So I focused primarily on the design, screen, cameras, and charging capabilities.

As for who I am, I've been writing about technology for 31 years and testing smartphones for almost 20.

Samsung Galaxy A54: Two-minute preview

Seldom are mid-range phones as memorable as their flagship counterparts, but Samsung's Galaxy A series – and its A5X devices in particular – are often notable entrants into the mid-range market each year; unquestionably serving as some of the best Samsung phones money can buy.

They've seen a lot of success in past generations, with both the Galaxy A50 and Galaxy A51 being among the best-selling phones in the world, in their respective launch years; making the arrival of this newest entry for 2023 – the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G – all the more significant.

A few days shy of a year on from the introduction of the Galaxy A53, Samsung showcased both the Galaxy A34 5G and Galaxy A54 5G alongside one another, hoping to rejuvenate the company's presence in the mid-range phone market by once again offering trickle-down premium features and long battery life in a stylish package that costs around half as much as the flagships they take inspiration from. As the numbering suggests, it's the A54 that's the fuller-featured off these two latest A-series entrants; with a more premium build, more competent cameras and more power at its disposal.

Samsung Galaxy A54 5G hands on Awesome Violet back angled — (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

Compared to its predecessor, the A54 has a marginally smaller 6.4-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED display, which now peaks at 1,000nits (that's 200 more than the A53). You'll find Gorilla Glass 5 on the front and back, and the IP67-certified design embraces the floating camera aesthetics first introduced on the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra and subsequently adopted by the company's current flagship Galaxy S23 series, from the start of the year.

Just a few weeks prior to the A54's debut, Samsung announced a successor to the silicon that powered 2022's Galaxy A53 – the Exynos 1380. This just so happens to be the chip that keeps the A54 ticking over, paired with 8GB of RAM in most markets (although there is also a 6GB RAM variant in some regions), alongside either 128GB or 256GB of storage, bolstered by increasingly-novel microSD expandability, up to 1TB.

Samsung's also proud to shout about the phone's 5,000mAh battery (that's larger than both the S23's and S23 Plus' batteries), which the company promises delivers up to two-day longevity, twinned with support for 25W fast-charging – just like the standard Samsung Galaxy S23.

While most numbers go up between generations, when looking at the A54's camera compared to its predecessor, the digits actually drop, but in this instance that could be a good thing. Rather than a 64MP lead snapper, the A54's camera array is fronted by a new 50MP sensor with larger pixels, improved autofocus and OIS (optical image stabilization), paired with a 12MP ultrawide, a 5MP dedicated macro camera and a 32MP front-facing punch-hole camera.

Samsung Galaxy A54 5G hands on Awesome White back angled — (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

On the software side of things, Samsung has pulled the impressive commitment it's made with its flagship-class Galaxy S and Z phones down to the A54 too, meaning this mid-ranger – which arrives on One UI 5.1 atop Android 13 – enjoys the same four years of OS updates and five years of security updates; granting the A54 a far longer lifespan than the majority of its equivalent rivals, from a software standpoint.

The Galaxy A54 was announced on March 15, with a progressive rollout across European markets, starting with France. Pre-orders in the UK kicked off on the same day, with an on-sale date of April 25, while in the US pre-orders start March 30, with and on-sale date of April 6. In Australia, the A54 is available from March 31.

US and Australian customers will find the starting price of the A54 unchanged from its predecessor, at $449.99 and AU$699 respectively, however, in UK customers can expect a £50 price hike compared to the A53; taking the starting price from £399 to £449 for an 8GB RAM / 128GB Galaxy A54.

Stay tuned for a full review and in the meantime, why not check out our rundown of the best cheap phones, as well as our full Samsung Galaxy S23 review, Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus review and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra review.

Hands-on Samsung Galaxy A54 review: Price and availability

Pre-orders kicked off from launch day (March 15) in markets across Europe, with an on-sale date in the UK of April 25 and a pre-order bonus of a free pair of Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 earphones.

While a pre-order date still isn't confirmed for Australia, the A54 goes on sale on March 31, with the option of a free Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 (40mm) available to claim on purchases made between March 31 and April 13. Samsung Australia is also offering a bonus year of Samsung Care Plus Lite on purchases made before June 30.

In the US, pre-orders run from March 30, with an on-sale date of April 6 and a trade-in offer of up to $250 on select devices, as well as a discount on a pair of Galaxy Buds Live, for $49.99.

Hands-on Samsung Galaxy A54 review: Specs

Samsung Galaxy A54 5G hands on Awesome Lime side — (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

There are a number of obvious tweaks and refinements that Samsung has exacted on the A54 between generations, including a fractionally smaller and brighter screen, a new camera system that – among other things – drops its predecessor's depth sensor, plus there's a choice of punchier, more eye-catching colorways.

Hands-on Samsung Galaxy A54 review: Design

Samsung Galaxy A54 5G hands on Awesome Lime back angled — (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

Gorilla Glass 5 front and back
IP67-certified construction
Smaller but heavier than Galaxy A53

The Galaxy S22 Ultra enjoyed a design language all its own last year, while the contour-cut camera aesthetics originally introduced on the Galaxy S21 series persisted across most of the company's other 2022 smartphones. However, this year – as with the Galaxy S23 and S23 Plus – the Galaxy A54 now shares in the more contemporary floating camera design first seen on last year's Ultra.

While the A53's raised camera module was pretty tasteful (I preferred it to the full contour-cut look of the S22 and S22 Plus), the revised look of the A54 is even cleaner; even if it is at the expense of some individuality compared to market rivals. To counter this, this year's model comes in a range of more punchy colors; namely Awesome Lime and Awesome Violet, while Awesome Graphite and Awesome White are a little more modest.

Image 1 of 5

Samsung Galaxy A54 hands-on A34 green back angled — Samsung Galaxy A34 (left) | Samsung Galaxy A54 (right) (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

Image 2 of 5

Samsung Galaxy A54 hands-on A34 front — Samsung Galaxy A34 (left) | Samsung Galaxy A54 (right) (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

Image 3 of 5

Samsung Galaxy A54 hands-on A34 green side closeup — Samsung Galaxy A34 (left) | Samsung Galaxy A54 (right) (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

Image 4 of 5

Samsung Galaxy A54 hands-on A34 green back straight perspective — Samsung Galaxy A34 (left) | Samsung Galaxy A54 (right) (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

Image 5 of 5

Samsung Galaxy A54 5G hands on Awesome Graphite Violet White back — (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

After seeing the A54 side by side with its launch sibling, the A34, I was a little envious of the latter's more exciting pearlescent finish, which adds rainbow hues across the back of the phone when held against the light; it's markedly more eye-catching compared to the flat colors behind the Gorilla Glass 5 on the A54 line, which only catch fingerprints and smudges under the same conditions.

With its smaller display, the A54 is fractionally thicker than its predecessor but perhaps more noticeable is the difference in weight. By gaining 13 grams between generations, the A54 finds itself over the 200-gram threshold (at 202 grams) where a handset's weight starts to feel noticeable in the hand, especially for its screen size. Even so, it's comfortable to hold and construction feels solid (even if the plastic frame looks to be on the chunky side, proportionally), bolstered by IP67-certified dust and water resistance, for added peace of mind.

Hands-on Samsung Galaxy A54 review: Display

Samsung Galaxy A54 5G hands on Awesome Lime front angled — (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

6.4-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display
120Hz variable refresh rate. 240Hz touch sampling rate
1,000-nit peak brightness + Vision Booster

On the surface, the A54 features a similar display to its predecessor, however, Samsung has made small but meaningful upgrades that deliver a better overall viewing experience.

Moving from a 20:9 to a 19.5:9 aspect ratio means the A54 has a Full HD+ display that's 0.1-inches smaller than its predecessor, at 6.4-inches. Usually, a smaller screen at the same resolution would suggest a sharper image between generations, but as it's the aspect ratio that's brought about this size difference, image sharpness remains consistent.

What Samsung calls an 'Infinity-O display' is actually just in reference to the punch-hole front-facing camera at the top-center of the screen, while a relative thick bezel (which gets wider along its bottom edge) sits between the phone's frame and the pixels of the display. The Super AMOLED panel at play delivers great contrast and vibrant colors, this year folding in the company's Vision Booster tech, for more accurate viewing against a range of different ambient lighting conditions.

Speaking of lighting, the A54 also boasts a 200-nit bump to peak brightness, which now tops out at 1,000-nits, meaning the outdoor display visibility should be even better compared to the A53 and its predecessors by quite a stretch.

There's the ability to lock the phone at 60Hz to conserve power or enable adaptive mode, so the phone can scale up to 120Hz or down, as needed (it also has a 240Hz touch response rate).

Blue light filtration – branded on the A54 as Eye Comfort Shield in the phone's Quick Settings – has also been almost halved (12.5% down to 6.5%, according to independent certification from SGS) compared to the A53's screen, for less disruptive viewing in low light or late at night. Meanwhile, a wealth of controls let you tweak color profiles (the phone is set to 'Vivid' out the box), as well as color temperature and you even have the option of tweaking independent RGB sliders.

Hands-on Samsung Galaxy A54 review: Software

Samsung Galaxy A54 5G hands on Awesome Lime Quick Settings — (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

Runs Android 13 on top of One UI 5.1 out the box
4 years OS updates + 5 years security updates

For existing Samsung Galaxy users, the One UI 5.1 experience atop Android 13 should feel immediately familiar; squircle icons, Samsung apps sitting in parallel with Google apps – such as the Galaxy Store and Play Store – along with a few handy extras, like the ever-present Edge Panels, which can be swiped out to offer access to favourite apps and contacts, and even pairs of apps for instant split-screen multitasking, easily.

The A54 does give you the option of which additional Samsung apps you want to install during setup, so that apps like the Samsung Browser and Samsung Calculator aren't compulsory inclusions, but there are unquestionably a few additional pre-loaded third-party offerings that could be considered bloatware which need to be removed manually once setup is complete.

Coming from a Pixel or Motorola, or even iOS, there's a definite learning curve that centers around getting to know One UI's specific visual language, but once you've mastered that, the experience is enjoyable to use, full-featured and, as such, pretty powerful.

One small but welcome enhancement on the A54 is an improved haptic feedback system, which more closely mirrors the premium haptic experience you'd find on flagships like the Galaxy S23, OnePlus 11 and Xiaomi 13 Pro; serving up precise vibrations for everything from unlocking the phone to zooming in when using the camera.

The biggest win for the A54's software experience has to be its support, with Samsung matching the commitment it's made with its flagship phones by promising users four years of OS updates and five years of security updates, expanding the phone's lifespan far beyond many rivals around the same price point.

Hands-on Samsung Galaxy A54 review: Cameras

Image 1 of 2

Samsung Galaxy A54 hands-on A34 green camera closeup — (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

Image 2 of 2

Samsung Galaxy A54 5G hands on Awesome White front camera closeup — (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

50MP f/1.8 main camera w/ OIS
12MP ultrawide + 5MP macro camera
32MP f/2.2 front-facing camera
One fewer camera sensors than Galaxy A53

The camera has always been a big focus for Samsung's Galaxy A5X devices and the new lead 50MP f/1.8 sensor on the A54 looks like a nice step-up compared to the 64MP sensor leading its predecessor's camera system.

Despite a slight drop in resolution, the move to a larger 1/1.56-inch (up from 1/1.7-inch) sensor, with larger 1µm pixels (up from 0.8µm) and improved range of motion from the OIS (optical image stabilization) system (1.5-degrees of motion up from 0.95), should all result in greatly improved image capture, particularly in low light.

Samsung's ongoing commitment to tight integration with social apps like Snapchat persists on the A54, letting you get better quality results when grabbing shots with Snap filters and the like, through the camera's dedicated 'Fun' shooting mode.

Image 1 of 2

Samsung Galaxy A54 5G hands on Awesome White camera UI — (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

Image 2 of 2

Samsung Galaxy A54 5G hands on Awesome White camera UI Fun mode — (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

The Fun photo mode integrates Snapchat filters into the native camera app.

Interestingly, the move to a main sensor with all-focus pixels might be the reason behind the loss of the fourth depth sensor, found on the back of last year's Galaxy A53, while a 12MP ultrawide and a 5MP dedicated macro sensor persist, along with a 32MP front-facer.

Samsung promises greatly improved VDIS (video digital image stabilization) when shooting with the A54 and capable editing tools like Photo Remaster and Object Removal after capture.

Hands-on Samsung Galaxy A54 review: Performance and audio

Samsung Galaxy A54 hands-on A34 green white back angled handheld — The Samsung Galaxy A34 (left) and the Galaxy A54 (right) (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

New 5nm Exynos 1380 SoC
Up to 8GB RAM w/ RAM Plus up to 8GB
Up to 256GB storage + microSD up to 1TB
Stereo speakers

Just weeks before the Galaxy A54's debut, Samsung Semiconductor pulled the wraps off the Exynos 1380 – a mobile SoC (system on chip) operating as the successor to the Exynos 1280, which happened to power 2022's Galaxy A53.

It was actually the 1380's announcement that served as one of the last big indicators that the Galaxy A54 was about to launch and, sure enough, the phone arrived packing this new silicon. Built on a similar 5nm process to the 1280 but with the promise of improved power and efficiency, better graphical performance (great for gaming) and a denser NPU (neural processing unit), equipped to better handle AI-based tasks like image processing more efficiently.

In most markets – including the UK – the A54 comes paired with 8GB RAM (LPDDR4X), however, there's a 6GB RAM model in some regions too. Regardless, the A54 enjoys One UI's RAM Plus feature, which let's you use a portion of the phone's storage as additional memory to allow more apps to remain open simultaneously and to speed up app load times as desired.

Speaking of storage, the A54 comes with either 128GB or 256GB of space, paired with what's become something of a novelty – even in the mid-range market – microSD expandability up to 1TB.

Connectivity includes 5G, WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 (up from Bluetooth 5.1 on the Galaxy A53) and an eSIM (meaning dual-SIM functionality is possible). The phone's earpiece and down-firing speaker work in tandem to create a stereo pair when you don't want to use headphones too.

Hands-on Samsung Galaxy A54 review: Battery life

Samsung Galaxy A54 5G hands on Awesome Lime USB C — (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

5,000mAh battery
25W wired fast charging
No power adapter in-box

Just as with the company's flagship phones, Samsung chose to omit the power adapter from the box of the Galaxy A53 and that practice continues with the A54, which comes boxed with a USB-C cable, SIM tool and paperwork, but no charger.

If you do want to power the A54 back up, however, it's rated to match the Galaxy S23's 25W fast charging speeds, which Samsung promises means a full charge in 82 minutes or less.

Perhaps the most notable claim, though, is that the hardware at play paired with a generous 5,000mAh battery, mean the Galaxy A54 is designed to last up to two days on a single charge in general use – a claim I'm keen to put to the test and will do soon, so don't forget to check back.

First tested March 2023

Xiaomi 13 review – a sleek and sophisticated iPhone alternative

7:01 pm | February 26, 2023

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Tags: Gorilla Glass, OS | Comments: Off

Xiaomi 13: Two-minute preview

The Xiaomi 13 arrives as the successor to the company’s 2022 flagship, the Xiaomi 12, and stays true to its predecessor’s philosophy: premium performance in a compact package.

Beyond a marginal size increase, the phone’s display is largely unchanged, but Xiaomi’s knack for brightness and vivid colors is delivered in a much sleeker, almost iPhone-like design, that looks smarter than many of the best Android phone designs so far in 2023.

The Xiaomi 13’s impressive speeds are made possible by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset – similar to the processor you’ll find powering Samsung’s newly released Samsung Galaxy S23 line – and the device is offered in two memory variations: 8GB or 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM, paired with 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage.

The phone’s 4500mAh battery remains unchanged from the Xiaomi 12, and the latter’s 67W wired charging, 50W wireless charging and 10W reverse wireless charging capabilities are carried over, too.

Xiaomi 13 review with Xiaomi 13 Pro front straight — The Xiaomi 13 (left) launched alongside the Xiaomi 13 Pro (right) at MWC 2023 (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

On paper, the biggest difference between the Xiaomi 13 and its predecessor is the former’s Leica-branded camera array. Comprising a 50Mp f/1.8 main shooter with OIS, a 10MP f/2.0 telephoto camera with 3.2x optical zoom, and a 12Mp f/2.2 ultrawide sensor, the Xiaomi 13’s sensor setup looks to have made the phone a much more versatile beast for photographers – though Xiaomi’s partnership with Leica doesn’t seem to have resulted in too many brand-specific benefits, as far as we can tell.

Naturally, we’ll have to spend more time testing all elements of the Xiaomi 13 to deliver our final verdict on this premium flagship, but our first impressions suggest it could be a real contender for Android fans with a soft spot for Apple’s design philosophy.

For those looking to spend a little more money, our hands-on Xiaomi 13 Pro review may shed some light on whether the jump up to Xiaomi’s even-more premium handset is worth it.

Hands-on Xiaomi 13 review: Price and availability

The Xiaomi 13 was first announced alongside the Xiaomi 13 Pro in China on December 11, but both devices launched globally on February 26 at MWC Barcelona.

The Xiaomi 13 series is unlikely to officially launch in the US or Australia, as neither is a key international market for the brand, however, the phone will arrive in the UK on March 14, available directly from Xiaomi and via 'official retail channels' including local retailers, such as Currys and Argos.

Despite multiple memory configurations being made available internationally, in the UK the Xiaomi 13 will only be available in black and come with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, priced at £849 (approximately $1,015 / AU$1,510). That's £100 more than its predecessor's starting price but the base Xiaomi 12 sported only 128GB of storage. You're actually paying the same as last year's 256GB Xiaomi 12, and both storage and RAM are faster and more power efficient on this year's model.

Hands-on Xiaomi 13 review: Specs

Xiaomi 13 review front twisted handheld — (Image credit: Future | Axel Metz)

As mentioned above, the Xiaomi 13 comes in two memory variations – 8GB or 12GB of RAM with 256GB of storage.

It’s worth flagging that, in China, the phone is available in three storage variations – 128GB, 256GB and 512GB – with 8GB RAM offered on the 128GB model and 12GB RAM on the 512GB model. The 256GB model is offered overseas with a choice between 8GB and 12GB of RAM.

Suffice to say, it's frustrating to see Xiaomi limiting the storage options on the Xiaomi 13 outside of China, and it means the otherwise impressive phone is far less flexible than, say, the Samsung Galaxy S23 on the global market.

Hands-on Xiaomi 13 review: Design

Xiaomi 13 review side handheld — (Image credit: Future | Axel Metz)

iPhone 14-like straight-sided design is a great size
Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection
Nice color options

Xiaomi has opted for a decidedly iPhone 14-like design with the Xiaomi 13, which is by no means a criticism (if you’re an iPhone fan, that is).

Coming in at 71.5 x 152.8 x 8 mm and weighing 185g, the phone sports a glossy, straight-edged aluminum body that’s more conservative than boundary-pushing, but it feels great in the hand and its size – for me, at least – hits a rare sweet spot between being comfortable to navigate and large enough to look impressive. For reference, the Xiaomi 13 sits halfway between the Samsung Galaxy S23 and S23 Plus (and therefore the S22 and S22 Plus) in terms of size, almost to the millimeter.

Internationally, the Xiaomi 13 is available in three standard colors: Black, White and Flora Green. In China, the company has also produced a gray and a light blue version, as well as limited edition iterations in more eye-catching red, green, yellow and blue designs. Every variant comes with a glass back, save for the vegan leather-equipped light blue model which, for obvious reasons, weighs a little more than the rest (you’re looking at 189g rather than 185g).

Xiaomi 13 review back angled handheld — (Image credit: Future | Axel Metz)

My Flora Green model looks great, with the visible divisions between the rear camera sensors (more on these later) a particularly nice touch, in my opinion.

The phone’s glass back may seem a little glossy to some, but the upside there is that the Xiaomi 13 doesn’t feel like a device that’ll smash into a million pieces if you drop it. It is an absolute fingerprint magnet, mind you.

As we’ve come to expect from handsets in this price range, the Xiaomi 13 also boasts an IP68 rating for dust and water protection. I haven’t had a chance to properly test out either resistance just yet, but we’ll be updating this review in due course.

Hands-on Xiaomi 13 review: Display

Xiaomi 13 review front angled handheld — (Image credit: Future | Axel Metz)

6.36-inch E6 OLED display is suitably bright
Gorilla Glass 5 front
Larger, brighter display compared to predecessor

The Xiaomi 13’s 6.36-inch OLED display is a touch bigger than its predecessor’s, though the phone’s 1080 x 2400 resolution, 120Hz refresh rate and support for a range of HDR standards are in keeping with the Xiaomi 12.

Like the 12, you’re also getting a flat screen with a punch-hole camera at the top, and the bezels are similarly (and thankfully) small.

In my brief time with the Xiaomi 13 so far, I’ve found the phone to be exceptionally bright and responsive, with its 120Hz refresh rate making motion (from gaming or scrolling through social media) a smooth experience.

A peak brightness of 1,900nits means the Xiaomi 13’s display is sufficiently visible whether you’re indoors or in direct sunlight, too (though, being in London, I haven’t spent too much time using the phone in environments that aren’t covered by gray skies). This also marks a significant bump over its predecessor’s display, which topped out at 1,100nits.

Hands-on Xiaomi 13 review: Cameras

Xiaomi 13 review camera closeup — (Image credit: Future | Axel Metz)

Smart-looking Leica-branded triple rear camera setup
3.2x 10MP f/2.0 telephoto lens w/ OIS

The Xiaomi 13 boasts a Leica-branded triple rear camera setup that comprises a 50MP f/1.8 main shooter with OIS, a 10MP f/2.0 telephoto camera with 3.2x optical zoom and OIS, and a 12MP f/2.2 ultrawide sensor.

The latter camera represents the biggest difference between the Xiaomi 13 and its predecessor, which limped along with an underwhelming 5MP ‘telemacro’ sensor. Xiaomi’s partnership with Leica has also brought with it an ALD lens coating that supposedly improves their quality, and the overall appearance of the phone’s camera setup is much smarter than that of the Xiaomi 12.

The phone can shoot video in up to 8K quality at 24fps, and it also sticks with its predecessor’s 32MP selfie camera (though adds a wider f/2.0 aperture).

We’ll be putting the Xiaomi 13’s various cameras through their paces for our full review, but my first impressions are pretty good. Early pictures taken on the main camera appear vibrant and detailed, if a little dark on occasion (owing to the high contrast), while the ultrawide lens offers impressive depth of field.

Incidentally, Leica offers two shooting modes on the Xiaomi 13: Vibrant and Authentic. The former makes colors look brighter and more saturated, while the latter is meant to replicate the original Leica look by encouraging bolder contrast and a greater dynamic range. I haven’t had a chance to compare both modes just yet, but we’ll be updating this review soon.

Hands-on Xiaomi 13 review: Performance and audio

Xiaomi 13 review USB-C — The Xiaomi 13 uses USB-C (Image credit: Future | Axel Metz)

Super-fast Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset
Wi-Fi 7
Powerful speakers

The Xiaomi 13 packs the best mobile SoC Qualcomm has to offer in 2023: the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. There’s no bespoke version of the chipset here (which you’ll find in Samsung’s Galaxy S23 line), but from a practical point of view, the Xiaomi 13 still boasts the fastest silicon around (the Xiaomi 13 Pro uses the same processor, too).

Beyond the chipset, the phone comes in two memory variants, internationally: 8GB or 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM, accompanied by 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage.

As mentioned in the display section of this hands-on, the Xiaomi 13 has felt suitably speedy in my limited time spent with the device, so far. Neither gaming nor general browsing has caused the phone to noticeably heat up, though I’ll be trying out some more demanding tasks for our full review. Naturally, we’ll be running benchmark tests, too.

The Xiaomi 13 is a 5G phone, so you’ll be able to connect to the faster mobile network if it’s offered where you live, but as with all phones, your speeds will depend more on your network and area than the phone you’re using. Wi-Fi 7 is also an impressively new networking technology that, if you can connect to a supported network, will support up to 3.6Gbps.

I’ve been pleasantly surprised with the Xiaomi 13’s audio credentials so far. The phone’s dual speakers are Dolby Atmos-tuned, and though they don’t provide a true spatial audio experience, they do offer an exceptionally loud sound with decent bass.

Hands-on Xiaomi 13 review: Software

Xiaomi 13 review with Xiaomi 13 Pro front angled — (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

Runs Android 13 on top of Xiaomi MIUI 14
3 years OS updates + 5 years security updates

The Xiaomi 13 runs Android 13 with Xiaomi’s MIUI 14 interface, which will be familiar to anyone who’s ever used a Xiaomi phone.

Personally, I find Xiaomi's default preference for three-button navigation at the bottom of the screen annoying, so I immediately switched my Xiaomi 13 over to gesture-based navigation (which, yes, made the experience of using the device decidedly more iPhone-like).

MIUI does have its perks over the stock Android experience. Floating apps and the range of vibrant wallpapers are great, and the left/right separation of top-screen menus (one for notifications, one for quick settings) keeps clutter to a minimum on the Xiaomi 13.

There are only a handful of pre-loaded apps – some of them annoying (Booking.com), some of them useful (YouTube) – but downloading your favorites from the Google Play store is as quick and easy as you’d expect, and the third-party bloatware is removable

I haven’t yet spent enough time with the phone to encounter any bugs, though our experience with the Xiaomi 12 (which seemed to close apps whenever it felt like it) suggests there may well be a few to come.

Hands-on Xiaomi 13 review: Battery life

Xiaomi 13 review front angled screen off — (Image credit: Future | Axel Metz)

4500mAh battery is the same as predecessor
67W wired fast charging (charger in box)

The Xiaomi 13 has a 4500mAh battery that supports 67W wired charging, 50W wireless charging and 10W reverse wireless charging. That’s the same battery tech as you’ll find in its predecessor, the Xiaomi 12 and seems plenty fast enough for most users.

Naturally, we haven’t been able to test the phone’s battery life just yet, but Xiaomi says its latest flagship can reach full charge within just 38 minutes. If true, that’s quicker than the Samsung Galaxy S23 and iPhone 14 – arguably this phone’s closest competitors.

First tested February 2023

Xiaomi 13 Pro review – a camera-led flagship for the world

7:01 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Tags: OS, Qualcomm Snapdragon | Comments: Off

Xiaomi 13 Pro: Two-minute preview

The wait felt long but Xiaomi is finally bringing its latest flagship line – the Xiaomi 13 series – to international markets. The best phones on the global stage, like the iPhone 14 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, have a new contender to worry about; one that doesn't mess around, based on my initial time with the Xiaomi 13 Pro.

Although it's intended as a direct successor to Xiaomi 12 Pro, one of the 13 Pro's biggest selling points (that new Leica-branded camera system) is actually a direct continuation of the technology first seen in the China-exclusive Xiaomi 12S Ultra that we encountered later into 2022, in August.

Our first taste of the company's newly-minted relationship with the optical wizards at Leica, mated with Sony's sizeable 1-inch IMX989 sensor and Xiaomi's own image processing, proved to be a recipe for success; impressing reviewer Basil Kronfli, who described the 12S Ultra as "the best camera phone I've used."

A photo of the Xiaomi 12s Ultra smartphone — Xiaomi 12S Ultra paired Leica optics with a 1-inch Sony sensor. (Image credit: Basil Kronfli / TechRadar)

With such lofty praise, the 12S Ultra's absence from the international market felt like a crying shame, making the Xiaomi 13 Pro's fresh international release all the more significant.

That killer camera setup, features a trio of 50MP rear sensors, including a 3.2x telephoto with a floating lens arrangement. The Xiaomi 13 Pro also comes with a ceramic-backed body, plus Qualcomm's latest and greatest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 mobile chipset, with faster and more efficient memory and storage than its predecessor.

For charging, we get the same impressive 120W wired, 50W wireless and 10W reverse wireless charging as before, but this time paired to a larger, 4,820mAh battery. Nice.

Although the verdict is still out on whether this is one of the best Android phones of the year, it certainly has the makings of a great flagship device, one that I can't wait to sink my teeth into for a full review, so don't forget to check back soon for a final verdict.

In the meantime, read on for my hands-on experiences with the Xiaomi 13 Pro, and if you're curious about its smaller-but-still-potent launch sibling, we also have a hands-on Xiaomi 13 review for you to enjoy too.

Hands-on Xiaomi 13 Pro review: Price and availability

Image 1 of 5

Xiaomi 13 review with Xiaomi 13 Pro backs angled — The Xiaomi 13 (left) launched alongside the Xiaomi 13 Pro (right) at MWC 2023 (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

Image 2 of 5

Xiaomi 13 review with Xiaomi 13 Pro cameras closeup — (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

Image 3 of 5

Image 4 of 5

Image 5 of 5

Xiaomi 13 review with Xiaomi 13 Pro USB C — (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

Both the Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 13 Pro were first unveiled for the Chinese market back on December 11 2022, however, fans globally have had to wait until the Mobile World Congress trade show in Barcelona, Spain, where on February 26, the phones released globally, accompanied by the addition of the Xiaomi 13 Lite.

Although a global release, with Xiaomi's absence from the US and Australian markets, you likely won't see the phones available unless purchased through gray market channels in each region.

Prospects in the UK are (ironically) sunnier for the Xiaomi 13 Pro's availability, with Xiaomi itself, along with 'official retail channels' and local retailers, like Currys and Argos, stocking the phone from March 14.

In the UK, the Xiaomi 13 Pro is priced at £1,099 (approximately $1,310 / AU$1,950), undercutting the aforementioned iPhone 14 Pro Max and S23 Ultra by £100 and £150, respectively, but falling short of the recently-released OnePlus 11, which packs the same chipset and relies on the expertise of Hasselblad for its camera credentials instead of Leica.

For context, the standard Xiaomi 13 costs £849 (approximately $1,015 / AU$1,510) and the Xiaomi 13 Lite comes in at £449 (approximately $535 / AU$800), in the UK.

Hands-on Xiaomi 13 Pro review: Specs

Xiaomi 13 Pro review front straight — (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

In China, you'll find the Xiaomi 13 Pro with more memory (8GB or 12GB), storage (128GB / 256GB / 512GB) and finish (blue or ceramic white, black or green) variations than the rest of the world, while most international markets serve the phone up with 12GB of RAM and either 256GB or 512GB of storage, along with ceramic white or black finishes. UK buyers only have a single 12GB RAM, 256GB storage option in ceramic black to choose from, but I'm not complaining.

Why Xiaomi pairs down the variety of 13 Pros customers can opt for overseas – especially in the UK – is unclear, but at a guess it's that the company can't guarantee sales in the same way it can in its homeland.

Like the Galaxy S23 series, the Xiaomi 13 Pro also benefits from the latest in memory and storage technology; with faster and more power efficient LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage (up from LPDDR5 and UFS 3.1 on the Xiaomi 12 Pro).

Hands-on Xiaomi 13 Pro review: Design

Xiaomi 13 Pro review back angled — (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

Elegant ceramic finish
Sizeable camera bump
Fingerprint magnet

Unlike previous generations, the Xiaomi 13 series isn't quite as consistent across models, aesthetically speaking.

The 13 and 13 Pro both sport a pillowed back (hewn from Gorilla Glass in the case of the 13 and ceramic in the case of the Pro), as well as a prominent squircle Leica-branded camera bump. And what a bump it is; the Pro's, in particular, has to make room for that huge 1-inch sensor and two OIS systems, meaning it rises high off the phone's back.

In truth, it's unapologetic, which I admire, and while it perhaps doesn't look quite as elegant as the Xiaomi 12 series' camera modules, it's an undeniable statement; representing the phone's power and photographic prowess.

The 13 and 13 Pro also stand apart from one another with the latter's use of a rounded aluminum frame (not unlike the OnePlus 11), to the standard model's decidedly iPhone 14-like flat polished edging. Oddly enough, the Xiaomi 13 Lite most closely emulates Xiaomi 12 series design language out of the three new phones.

Image 1 of 9

Xiaomi 13 Pro review angled camera bump — One heck of a hump. (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

Image 2 of 9

Xiaomi 13 Pro review side camera bump — (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

Image 3 of 9

Xiaomi 13 Pro review fingerprint smudges — Keep your polishing cloth close... (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

Image 4 of 9

Xiaomi 13 Pro review USB-C — The elliptical speaker grille resembles an audio waveform. (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

Image 5 of 9

Xiaomi 13 Pro review top angled — One of the few phones that still features an IR blaster, to control your TV, aircon and more. (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

Image 6 of 9

Xiaomi 13 Pro review side buttons — Hardware buttons all fall on the phone's right side. (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

Image 7 of 9

Xiaomi 13 Pro review back straight — (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

Image 8 of 9

Xiaomi 13 Pro review fingerprint sensor — (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

Image 9 of 9

Xiaomi 13 Pro review USB C straight — (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

The ceramic black back (pictured) of the 13 Pro is cool to the touch, while its rounded form makes this fairly large phone sit comfortably in the hand; although that polished finish is no-less susceptible to fingerprints and smudges than glass (even the included flexible transparent case holds onto them too).

At 229 grams, the Xiaomi 13 Pro is a heavy device too – even for its size. Sure, it's not as weighty as the S23 Ultra (234 grams) or the latest Pro Max iPhone (240 grams) but it's in the same ballpark, for sure. It's rounded form is IP68 dust and water resistant too, which is appreciated.

Although more colorways would be welcome, the fact that it's only available in black in the UK isn't all that bad, as it best complements that large camera bump and serves up the most tasteful appearance overall (fingerprints permitting), in my opinion.

Hands-on Xiaomi 13 Pro review: Display

Xiaomi 13 Pro review MIUI 14 software — (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

6.73-inch 'AdaptiveSync Pro' AMOLED display w/ exceptional brightness and viewing angles
Dynamic 1Hz to 120Hz refresh rate. 240Hz touch sampling rate
Gorilla Glass Victus front

Brightness was one of the big wins for the Xiaomi 12 Pro's display, especially during video playback, and that's what's seen the biggest upgrade. The Xiaomi 13 Pro's screen now tops out at a beaming 1,900nits, up from 1,500 previously.

To the eye, while brightness is undeniably impressive, I was also surprised by the screen's exceptional viewing angles, which appear to show minimal brightness drop-off or color distortion, even at extreme angles.

Beyond these key traits, the 13 Pro serves up a viewing experience similar to its predecessor, set behind a layer of protective Gorilla Glass Victus.

The 6.73-inch 20:9 E6 AMOLED 'AdaptiveSync Pro' display boasts a dynamic 1Hz to 120Hz refresh rate, with a 240Hz touch sampling rate that's ideal for gaming. The WQHD+ resolution at this size also ensures that it's sharper than most rivals' screens, with a pixel density of 522ppi.

Xiaomi's MIUI software also serves up plenty of control over the viewing experience, which itself is flexible enough to support various display standards; from Dolby Vision to HDR10+. What's more, it comes with SGS Eye Care certification, which means the 13 Pro's screen is equipped to ensure less eye fatigue than some competitors' displays (likely possible through included technologies like its 1920PWM dimming and adaptive reading mode).

There's also a perfectly responsive optical in-display fingerprint sensor, however, the face unlock enabled by the punch-hole in the top-center of the screen is even more eager to unlock the phone at some impressive angles and distances.

Hands-on Xiaomi 13 Pro review: Software

Xiaomi 13 Pro review front angled on stand — (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

Runs Android 13 on top of Xiaomi MIUI 14 out the box
3 years of OS updates, 5 years security updates
Duplicate apps aim to add value

Xiaomi's MIUI has long pulled away from the established Android user experience you'll find on phones like Google's own Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, with a layout and behavior that, on the surface, is more reminiscent of Apple's iOS.

Swiping down from the top right reveals the quick settings menu, while pulling from the top left corner brings in your notifications. There's no apps drawer by default, and Xiaomi also favors three-button navigation as standard. However, both of these interface choices can be reverted, to reinstate the drawer and favor gestures instead, by altering settings.

In fact, MIUI 14 running atop Android 13, as it comes on the Xiaomi 13 Pro, is heaped in customization; with a theme store that can change everything from the wallpaper to apps icons, plus the ability to swap out UI animations and more.

Xiaomi 13 Pro review quick settings — Is that you Control Center? (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

There are also a fair number of third- and first-party apps that stand alongside the expected gamut of Google apps, including Chrome, Google Photos, Google Maps and the like. The third-party entries, for the most part, feel like spam (I don't need Booking.com at my beck and call), but can thankfully be uninstalled.

As for the first-party apps, while there are a fair number of duplicate offerings to Google's pre-installed suite of service, Xiaomi does try to offer a little added value. Xiaomi's web browser, for example, has a number a nice additional features not found on Chrome, like a built-in video downloader.

Xiaomi 13 Pro review optimizer software — (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

There are also characterful elements that add a little zest to what is otherwise and conventional user experience, like the way storage used is represented by a virtual liquid that sloshes around on-screen and reacts to how you move and rotate the phone in your hand.

Xiaomi's also continuing its respectable commitment to software support for its flagship devices, and both the Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 13 Pro arrive with up to three years of subsequent OS release updates and five years of security updates. That's on-par with Google Pixel and a year less than Samsung and OnePlus, in terms of OS support, but still, pretty good.

Hands-on Xiaomi 13 Pro review: Cameras

Xiaomi 13 Pro review camera closeup — (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

First Leica-branded triple rear camera setup for Xiaomi, globally
50MP f/1.9 main camera w/ OIS, Sony IMX989 1-inch sensor and Leica Vario-Summicron ASPH 23mm lens
50MP f/2.0 'floating' telephoto camera w/ OIS and 3.2x optical zoom
50MP f/2.2 ultrawide camera w/ 115° FoV

If you're willing to embrace the Xiaomi 13 Pro's not-insignificant camera bump, you'll be gaining what looks to be a formidable trio of 50MP sensors, tuned in partnership with the camera masters at Leica.

While the Xiaomi 12S Ultra was the first phone to leverage Xiaomi's Leica partnership after the camera company's previous collaboration with Huawei came to an end, the Xiaomi 13 series is the first of the company's devices to launch internationally packing Leica-supported camera tech.

Beyond the branding on the back and the elaborately-named 'Vario-Summicron ASPH' lens setup, Leica's involvement also carries across to the software side of things too. You have the choice of shooting in 'Leica Vibrant' or 'Leica Authentic', with Vibrant pushing contrast and color saturation, while Authentic intended to yield more true-to-life imagery; something I'll be putting to the test come the full review.

What Xiaomi's calling the 'master-lens system' makes picking the right lens for the the intended result easier and more akin to rifling through a bag of physical lenses, while the 'Xiaomi Image Engine' is in place to deliver less shutter lag than previous entries and faster autofocus on subjects, even if they're in motion.

There's also the option to shoot in Pro mode, which allows for 10-bit RAW DNG capture, with color profiles on hand, created by Adobe.

Xiaomi 13 Pro review camera modes — (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

50MP across the board ensures a greater level of consistency when shooting the same scenario using all three of the phone's rear lenses, however, that huge one-inch Sony sensor's ability to combine four pixels into one larger 3.2μm binned-pixel should make for some excellent low light shooting, supported by an OIS (optical image stabilization) system called 'HyperOIS' and an 8P lens configuration for greater clarity and reduced reflectivity.

The 50MP telephoto sensor, with its 3.2x optical zoom, also sounds impressive, thanks to its floating lens construction – which should prove particularly helpful when capturing portrait shots.

There's also 8K video capture at 24fps on the table, along with Dolby Vision-compliant 4K video capture at 30fps, with promised enhancement for recording at night.

It's also worth mentioning that there's a 32MP front-facing punch-hole camera, set into the top of the display, that supports HDR and portrait shooting too.

If it isn't already obvious, the cameras are a huge part of what defines the Xiaomi 13 Pro experience and there's a lot to dig into, for which I'll be serving up camera samples and a complete evaluation come the full review.

Hands-on Xiaomi 13 Pro review: Performance and audio

Xiaomi 13 Pro review performance Game Turbo — The Xiaomi 13 uses USB-C (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset
Connectivity includes the latest Wi-Fi 7 standard
Powerful stereo speakers

Both the Xiaomi 13 and 13 Pro run Qualcomm's latest and greatest mobile SoC – the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. While not the tuned variant exclusive to Samsung's Galaxy S23 series, even in its standard form, it's already proven its potential as one of the best pieces of silicon on the market; offering notable gains in performance, graphics and gaming, and AI computing.

As mentioned earlier, the global 13 Pro can be had with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage, both of which boast greater read and write speeds, as well as improved power efficiency, compared to the RAM and storage in last year's Xiaomi 12 Pro.

Connectivity includes 5G, with dual SIM support, NFC and support for the latest Wi-Fi 7 standard and speeds.

On the audio side of things, Xiaomi launched the Xiaomi 13 Pro alongside the Buds 4 Pro true wireless buds, which can connect over the phone's Bluetooth 5.3 connection, while integrated stereo speakers boast Dolby Atmos support. In practice, there's a definite bias towards the down-firing speaker, but volume and overall clarity seem strong, based on my initial impressions.

Hands-on Xiaomi 13 Pro review: Battery life

Xiaomi 13 Pro review charger — (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

Larger 4,820mAh battery than predecessor
120W wired fast charging (charger in box)
50W wireless and 10W reverse wireless charging support

A lot of the Xiaomi 13 Pro's size and weight presumably comes from the new, high-capacity, higher-density 4,820mAh battery it has to find room for.

Like its predecessor, Xiaomi has seen fit to grace the 13 Pro with an impressive set of numbers when it comes to charging: 120W 'HyperCharge' fast wired charging, plus rapid 50W wireless charging and 10W reverse wireless charging (compatibility permitting) that's collectively faster than pretty much any other phone that supports all three technologies.

Xiaomi quotes a rapid recharge time of only 19 minutes to 100% over wired charging, and the Surge charging chip onboard keeps watch over the recharge process to make sure things stay cool, stable and safe, and battery health over time remains as good as it can be.

By comparison, the standard Xiaomi 13's 67W fast wired charging promises to reach 100% in 38 minutes, which is still very respectable and both entries in the series stand head and shoulders above both Apple's and Samsung's newest flagships, in terms of quote recharge time. As for real-world performance, you won't have to wait long to find out from us whether Xiaomi is true to its word.

First tested February 2023

« Previous Page — Next Page »