Warner Bros.’ Hogwarts Legacy is based on the company’s Wizarding World IP and was the best-selling game of 2023.

Warner Bros. Discovery plans to leverage its intellectual property to launch more video games based on its biggest franchises, the company said in its second-quarter earnings call on Wednesday. In addition to developing games in-house, Warner Bros. is also looking to license its IP to other studios. Warner Bros.’ Hogwarts Legacy, based on the company’s Wizarding World IP, was the best-selling game of 2023, but few Warner Bros. assets have been fully utilized in the gaming medium .

During a Q&A on Warner Bros. Discovery’s second-quarter 2024 earnings call (first reported by IGN), CEO David Zaslav said there’s “a lot of interest” among outside parties in turning Warner Bros. IP into video games. “We have 11 studios, we have a lot of IP,” Zaslav said on the call. “And there’s a lot of people who are interested in leveraging some of that IP into games, and we’re looking at that,” he added.

JB Perret also noted that Warner Bros. franchises are “high in demand,” which could help with new game launches. The exec also cited the free-to-play segment of games as an area of focus for the company, which has seen mixed results with its AAA first-party titles.

Last year, Hogwarts Legacy, based on the popular Harry Potter series, sold more than 22 million copies, making it the biggest game of 2023. However, in 2024, Warner Bros. Games released Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, which was a critical and commercial failure, causing Warner Bros. games revenue to fall 41% in the second quarter of 2024.

“We need great games, but the reality is … in the space of just 12 months, we went from having a record year in 2023 with Hogwarts Legacy to, unfortunately, the opposite with Suicide Squad,” Perrette said on the earnings call.

Zaslav and Perret were responding to questions about the “uneven performance” of WB’s games over the past few years, the “strategic value” of video games to the conglomerate and whether the company sees games as a core part of its vast portfolio.

Warner Bros. Games, a division of Warner Bros. Global Streaming and Interactive Entertainment, has released games based on popular Warner Bros. franchises such as Batman and Harry Potter, but many of the company’s biggest titles, such as Game of Thrones and Superman, remain underutilized when it comes to interactive media.

According to Zaslav , the company needs to change that and realize the full potential of its IP as video games : “… we have to get bigger. The IP that we own and the value it has in the gaming industry is something that we want to leverage,” he said in response to a question.

Warner Bros. said during its third-quarter earnings call in November 2023 that it would focus on turning its biggest franchises into live-service games and extending the lifecycle of its releases. “Ultimately, we want to drive engagement and monetization at higher levels over longer cycles,” Zaslav said at the time. “We currently lack scale and see a significant opportunity to drive additional post-purchase revenue.”

Warner Bros. made its biggest bet on the live service model earlier this year with the release of Rocksteady’s Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, with plans to add content post-launch. However, the game faced criticism over its live service model and poor sales led Warner Bros. to take a $200 million loss on the title. In our own review, we felt the game was handicapped by Rocksteady’s decision to move away from its expertise in single-player story – driven titles .

However, in March of this year, Warner Bros. reiterated its commitment to a live service model for gaming, despite Suicide Squad’s subpar critical and commercial performance.

The post Warner Bros. Plans To Make More Games using its own IP and License Franchises to outside Studios appeared first on Review Products.

With Samsung promising four years of Android OS updates, are these the phones worth buying and holding onto until 2027? Here’s our review.

Samsung’s Galaxy A series brings some of the company’s premium software features to the mid-range segment at a slightly higher cost compared to the Galaxy M and Galaxy F series. The company launched the Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35 smartphones in India earlier this year, priced at under Rs 40,000 and Rs 30,000 respectively. These devices are powered by the company’s Exynos chip and come with four years of OS updates up to Android 18. But how do they compare to smartphones in the same price range? I’ve been using both the handsets for a while now and here are my impressions.

Samsung Galaxy A55 vs Galaxy A35 Price in India

The Samsung Galaxy A55 is priced at Rs 39,999 for the 8GB+128GB RAM and storage model. The phone also comes in 8GB+256GB and 12GB+256GB memory models, priced at Rs 42,999 and Rs 45,999 respectively.

Meanwhile, prices of the Samsung Galaxy A35 start at Rs 30,999 for the base model with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage, while the 8GB+256GB storage variant is also available for Rs 33,999.

The Samsung Galaxy A55 has a flat display, flat edges and a flat back panel.

The Galaxy A55 comes in Ice Blue and Navy, while the Galaxy A35 comes in Ice Blue, Lilac and Navy. Samsung sent us both the Ice Blue (Galaxy A55) and Lilac (Galaxy A35) devices for review.

Both devices are sold in a slim box that includes a charging cable, a SIM ejector tool, and some documentation, but they don’t come with a clear TPU cover or charging brick, so you’ll need to buy those separately.

Samsung Galaxy A55 vs Galaxy A35 Review: Design

The Samsung Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35 share a striking similarity in appearance, with the SIM tray location, USB Type-C port, triple rear camera layout, and bottom speaker grille. The Boost device also features a new key island for the volume and power buttons, which are also in the same location. If you look at both the devices together, you’ll be indistinguishable.

Among Samsung’s mid-range smartphones, the Galaxy A series is known as the most premium looking smartphones, and the Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35 are no exception. The back panel is very similar to this year’s Galaxy S24 (review) device, which is a premium smartphone. In my experience, both the Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35 have a glossy back panel that is less susceptible to fingerprints.

Samsung Galaxy A55 (left) and Galaxy A35

On the front, these devices come with a Super AMOLED screen with up to 120Hz refresh rate and Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection. The display bezels are quite thick and the selfie camera is located in a center-aligned punch-hole cutout.

The Galaxy A55 has flat brushed aluminum edges, while the Galaxy A35 also has flat matte-finished aluminum edges. Neither phone came with a TPU case, so we used them without a cover during the review.

Samsung Galaxy A55 vs Galaxy A35 Review: Specs and Software

Both the Samsung Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35 feature 6.6-inch Full HD+ (1,080 x 2,408 pixels) Super AMOLED displays with a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of up to 1,000 nits. Protected by Gorilla Glass Victus+, these screens are flat with somewhat thicker bezels compared to other devices in their price range.

Samsung is promising four OS upgrades and five years of security updates for the Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35, meaning these devices running Android 14-based One UI 6 will be supported until 2028. That’s far better than any other mid-range smartphone, even by today’s standards.

The phone comes with a few pre-installed apps, including Spotify, but you can uninstall them. The Galaxy A35 also downloaded Candy Crush Saga via the pre-installed AppCloud service, but there doesn’t appear to be an opt-out option. And both phones periodically prompt you to enable the built-in Glance lock screen feature after every software update, requiring a few taps to skip through this menu.

Samsung’s One UI 6.1 Interface

However, the software experience is largely clean, which is to be expected of Samsung’s One UI interface, which has matured over the years since it was introduced in 2018. These Galaxy A- series smartphones also come with features like Samsung Wallet for contactless payments and secure document storage, advanced Link to Windows integration, and Good Lock for further customization and theming options.

The devices also come with Samsung’s Object Eraser feature, which uses machine learning to remove unwanted objects in photos.In terms of connectivity, both the devices have 5G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, GPS, a USB Type-C port for charging, data transfer, and audio output, but no 3.5mm audio jack.

Samsung Galaxy A55 vs Galaxy A35 Review: Performance

The Galaxy is powered by a 4nm Exynos 1480 chip with up to 12GB of RAM, while the Galaxy A35 5G is powered by a 5nm Exynos 1380 processor with 8GB of RAM. In theory, these devices should have enough performance overhead to stay fast for a few years, and they’ll handle everyday tasks like web browsing, social media apps, light gaming, and photo and video capture without a hitch.

Most games were playable on the Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35, with titles like Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) and Asphalt 9 running well without throttling even after around 30 minutes of gameplay. However, slightly heavier titles like Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile couldn’t run without noticeable lag, and even the Galaxy A55 struggled with MiHoYo’s graphics-intensive Genshin Impact.

Android 14-based One UI 6 offers a polished software experience on the Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35, with a few exceptions. RAM management is excellent, and your most used apps like Instagram, WhatsApp, Gmail, Outlook, X (formerly Twitter), Threads, etc. remain in memory even when you switch between apps.

Samsung should follow Motorola and Nothing’s lead and stop annoying users with prompts to enable features like Glance on their Galaxy A series phones with every software update, especially after the user has explicitly opted out once. On both devices, updates were available after the initial setup process. Additionally, Samsung has finally added support for system A/B updates (Galaxy A55 only), making it much faster to use your phone after an update.

The displays on the Samsung Galaxy A55 (left) and Galaxy A35 offer decent outdoor visibility.

We also ran synthetic benchmark tests, and both the Samsung Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35 lagged behind the competition: the Galaxy A55 scored 1,132 points and 3,346 points in Geekbench 6’s single-core and multi-core CPU tests, respectively, while the Galaxy A35 scored 1,013 points in the single-core test and 2,805 points in the multi-core test.

In the AnTuTu v10 benchmark test, the Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35 scored 678,167 and 606,767 points respectively. Interestingly, the Galaxy A55’s PCMark Work 3.0 score of 13,315 is only slightly higher than the Galaxy A35, which scored 13,176 points.

For comparison, the iQoo Z9 I recently reviewed had a single-core score of 1,151 points and a multi-core score of 2,669 points. It also scored 687,545 points in AnTuTu v10. The Dimensity 7200 chip in iQoo devices performs better than the Exynos chips in these devices. The AnTuTu score and Geekbench single-core score of the iQoo Z9 is higher than both the Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35, and the price of this device starts at Rs 19,999.

Both the Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35 feature 6.6-inch Super AMOLED screens with a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of up to 1,000 nits. These screens are bright enough to be used outdoors during the day, as long as auto-brightness is enabled. One UI also has an Extra Dim mode that can be enabled via a quick settings toggle. This mode allows you to dim the screen even further to reduce eye strain.

Equipped with 5,000mAh batteries, the devices are highly optimized, and in our HD video loop battery playback test, the Galaxy A55 lasted 28 hours 14 minutes on a single charge, while the Galaxy A35 lasted 26 hours 34 minutes. In real-world usage, with moderate usage, they didn’t need to be charged more than once every 30-35 hours.

Samsung doesn’t include a 25W charger with the Galaxy A55 or Galaxy A35, so you’ll need to buy one separately. My Belkin USB PD 3.0 charger charged both devices up to 50 percent in about 45 minutes, but it took an average of an hour and 25 minutes to charge from 0 to 100 percent. Both devices are IP67-rated for dust and water resistance, which means they shouldn’t be damaged if you accidentally drop them in water, which is good for a mid-range device.

Samsung Galaxy A55 vs Galaxy A35 Review: Camera

Both the Samsung Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35 have a 50-megapixel main camera with f/1.8 aperture, a 5-megapixel macro camera with f/2.4 aperture, and a 12-megapixel and 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera with f/2.2 aperture, respectively. The Galaxy A55 has a 32-megapixel front-facing camera, while the Galaxy A35 has a 13-megapixel front-facing camera for selfies and video calling.

The Samsung Galaxy A55’s Auto (left) and Portrait modes produce images with vibrant, punchy colors.

The Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35 feature the same camera interface as the more expensive Galaxy S series smartphones, which includes a Pro mode that lets you tweak various settings, including white balance, focus, and exposure. You can also access these settings when shooting video using the Pro Video mode, which is great. Both devices also support Samsung’s Super Steady (stabilization), Slow-Mo, and Super Slow-Mo modes for video recording.

The main cameras on the Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35 are capable of taking detailed images, and both devices support 2x in-sensor zoom, which allows you to take clearer images of objects at a distance. These cameras work very well outdoors when there is sufficient natural light, and tend to provide somewhat more vibrant colors in images. These devices can also take high-quality portrait shots, which work best in natural light.

The Galaxy A55’s ultra-wide-angle camera is slightly better than the one on the Galaxy A35, but both are significantly worse than the main camera, especially in low light. They can be used to take photos of nearby buildings and other subjects, but images taken with these cameras are a bit distorted around the edges and color accuracy isn’t as reliable as with the more advanced 50-megapixel main camera.

Samsung’s Camera app takes long exposure photos by default in low-light conditions (Night Shot), but you can manually disable it with a tap to capture darker but less blurry images of moving subjects. For very dark scenarios, the Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35 come with a dedicated Night mode that delivers very bright images that are smoothly processed to reduce noise.

The 5-megapixel macro cameras on the Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35 were able to capture images of the subject well, but only when there was enough natural light. Also, I had to tap the subject in the viewfinder to take multiple images of the subject to ensure the image was in focus. Selfies taken using the front cameras on both phones are clear, but selfies taken with the Galaxy A55, which has a higher-resolution 32-megapixel camera, have more detail.

Samsung Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35 Take Nearly Identical Macro Photos

Both the Samsung Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35 support video recording at 4K/30fps or 1080p at 30fps and 60fps. The rear cameras’ gyroscope-enabled Super Steady mode provides excellent stabilization in most lighting conditions. The selfie cameras on both phones offer 4K/30fps and 1080p/30fps, while the Galaxy A55 also offers 1080p/60fps video recording from the selfie camera.

Samsung Galaxy A55 vs Galaxy A35 review: Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35 have great cameras and processors, but are they the best mid-range smartphones you can buy right now? The answer depends on what you want from a smartphone. Subjectively speaking, these are good-looking smartphones that are promised to receive Android OS updates for four years, plus one year of security updates.

It’s also nice to see that these phones are IP67 rated, and battery performance is excellent, despite Samsung sticking to support for 25W charging and not including an adapter in the box.

On the other hand, if you want a smartphone with pure performance, you’re better off looking at the Nothing Phone 2 (Review), OnePlus 12R (Review), or iQoo Neo 9 Pro (Review) rather than the Galaxy A55. Similarly, the OnePlus Nord CE 4 5G (Review), Redmi Note 13 Pro, Infinix GT 20 Pro, or iQoo Neo 7 Pro (Review) offer better CPU performance at a similar price point.

If you’re looking for a smartphone with good camera performance under Rs 40,000, Samsung’s Galaxy S23 FE (Review) is a good choice. It has more versatile cameras, including a good telephoto camera, and a more powerful Exynos chip. As an alternative to the Galaxy A55, you could also consider the Google Pixel 7a (Review). Other alternatives to the Galaxy A35 include the Galaxy M55 (Review), Vivo V30e, and Oppo Reno 11 5G.

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Nothing Ear and Ear (a) come with ChatGPT integration, but is it worth it? Here’s our review.

Nothing has come a long way since the early days of the Ear 1. In a very short space of time, the company has churned out some decent products, starting with TWS and moving on to phones and wireless audio products. 2024 is already looking exciting for Nothing, and I recently got my hands on the Nothing Ear and Nothing Ear (a), a brand new set of TWS from Carl Pei’s London-based venture. Of note, Nothing’s third-generation TWS has been launched, showing no signs of iteration whatsoever. This is confusing and interesting at the same time. For me, who has been following Nothing closely since its early days , it’s confusing because their naming convention has always not been very good. However, by the second generation, I and other users had pretty much got the hang of it, but the third generation saw the company do away with it altogether. The Nothing Ear is the successor to the Ear 2, which was launched last year. The bonus here is the Nothing Ear (a), a new affordable TWS offering from the company that features a signature transparent design packed with features.

Pricing is Rs 11,999 for the Nothing Ear and Rs 7,999 for the Ear (a), the company’s new sub-Rs 10,000 offering in its TWS lineup, and I’ve been using both the products for calls, conferencing, streaming and music to see if they’re worth it.

Blank ear to ear(a): Design and function

Both the Ear and Ear (a) feature Nothing’s signature transparent design, which makes them eye-catching even after all these years. The best part is that the Ear still stands out thanks to its transparent design. Case in point, people around us asked us about the design multiple times during the review. But what confused us the most was that we couldn’t tell the Ear from Ear 2 (review) when we placed them on the table. Indeed, they are exactly the same if you don’t look closely. As you would expect from Carl Pei’s ventures, there is a lot of attention paid to the small details, from the printed branding to other elements of the Ear.

 Though the company claims that the Ear’s case is pressure-resistant and scratch-resistant, our review unit did get scratched during daily use, which is the biggest weakness of Nothing Audio’s transparent designs. The Ear is available in white and black color options.

Like previous generation TWS, Ear also supports gesture control. For example, pinch once to play or pause a song or answer or end a call, pinch twice to skip forward or reject a call, and pinch three times to go back to the previous song. Pinch and hold to switch between ANC and transparency modes. The best thing about Ear is that you can tune the gesture control to your liking using the accompanying app. The Ear case is lightweight at less than 52 grams , and each earbud weighs less than 5 grams.

The Ear’s high-quality Bluetooth codec support has an impressive list, including AAC, SBC, LHDC 5.0, and LDAC. However, iPhones (and some Android devices) still support the AAC (and SBC) codec, which meant that higher bitrate streaming wasn’t possible, so we had to test the Ear with an Android phone. For the uninitiated, LHDC offers the best streaming quality at up to 1Mbps 24bit / 192KHz, while LDAC offers a lower data rate of up to 990kbps (24bit/ 96KHz). Most Android devices support LDAC, though.

Talking about the upgrades of Nothing Ear, the body is now IP54 rated and the case is now IP55 rated for water and dust resistance. Other features include in-ear detection, Google Fast Pair, Microsoft Swift Pair, dual connectivity, Clear Voice technology with three microphones per earbud, LED charging status, support for low latency mode, and more.

Meanwhile, Nothing Ear (a) is an all-new TWS priced under Rs 10,000 that also features an eye-catching and distinctive transparent design. The Ear (a) comes in three colors – yellow in addition to the usual black and white – marking the first time that Nothing’s audio products have a color other than black and white. The company shipped the yellow model for review and it’s definitely turning heads. As mentioned above, the Ear (a) is the bumblebee of TWS products. During the review, the Ear (a) received more inquiries due to its unique color choice compared to the Ear.

of the Ear (a ), which is slimmer and more compact than all Ear products released so far . Compared to the Ear, the Ear (a) has a clearer orientation and the opening of the case is easily identifiable. Like other Nothing products, the Ear (a) also pays close attention to details, such as the Ear’s metal hinges visible through the plastic transparent case.

The Nothing Ear (a)’s charging case doesn’t seem as sturdy as the Nothing Ear’s, which isn’t surprising, but while the yellow color does a good job of hiding scratches, the clear top case cover isn’t scratch-proof.

The feature set of the Ear (a) remains the same, including active noise cancellation up to 45dB. It also has an adaptive ANC algorithm, IP54 water and dust rating on the earbuds, and IPX2 on the charging case. It supports AAC, SBC, and LDAC Bluetooth codecs. The company has dropped support for the LHDC audio codec, opting to offer it on the more expensive Ear, which is not a wrong decision considering the pricing of the Ear (a).

Pinch controls to skip tracks, toggle noise-cancelling modes, and adjust the volume are also supported, and the best part is that all of this can be customized through the Nothing X app.

Nothing’s companion app for audio products, X, is one of the best TWS apps I’ve reviewed in recent years. It’s feature-rich and puts you in control of precisely how you like your music experience. The feature set includes Advanced EQ with Profile Sharing, Bass Enhance, Control Customization, Find My Buds, Personal Sound Profiles, and Ear Tip Fit Test.

Nosing ear: Specifications

• Drivers: 11mm dynamic drivers
• Diaphragm: Ceramic
• Supported codecs: AAC, SBC, LHDC 5.0, LDAC
• ANC: Up to 45dB and Transparent Mode
• Weight: 4.62 grams (each bud), 51.9 grams (case)
• Battery: 46mAh (earbuds), 500mAh (case)
• Fast charging: yes (10 minutes of charging with ANC off gives 10 hours of charge)
• Companion App: Nothing X
• Bluetooth: Version 5.3
• Waterproof and dustproof: Earphones are IP54 and case is IP55 waterproof and dustproof
• Gesture control: Yes

Blank ear(a): Specification

• Drivers: 11mm dynamic drivers
• Diaphragm: PMI + TPU
• Supported codecs: AAC, SBC, LDAC
• ANC: Up to 45dB and Transparent Mode
• Weight: 4.8 grams (each bud), 39.6 grams (case)
• Battery: 46mAh (earbuds), 500mAh (case)
• Fast charging: yes (10 minutes of charging with ANC off gives 10 hours of charge)
• Companion App: Nothing X
• Bluetooth: Version 5.3
• Waterproof and dustproof: IP54 earphones and IPX2 case waterproof and dustproof
• Gesture control: Yes

Nothing but ear to ear (a) performance and battery life

Like the design of the Ear, most of the features are carried over from the previous model Ear (2), which is fine. Starting with gesture control, the Ear supports a lot of pinch controls that work perfectly. However, there was a slight delay in switching between ANC and transparency mode with pinch-and-hold gestures. Also, Nothing X is pretty much the same since Nothing Ear, which means Nothing has not changed the Nothing Ear app interface at all.

Useful features like In-Ear Detection, Low Latency Mode, High Quality Audio, Personal Sound Profile, Dual Connect, Eartip Fit Test, Find Earbuds, Firmware Update options are hidden under device settings. Hopefully Nothing can find a way to at least put the sound profiles somewhere accessible with a single tap. Personal Sound Profile is not available when LDAC mode is on, which defeats the purpose of creating custom profiles in TWS.

We’ve been seeing the same Nothing X app since the Ear (1) and there aren’t many changes between the Ear (Stick) and Ear (2). This is also the case with Nothing Ear, which is technically the fourth generation TWS product from the London-based company. However, this time around, a Bass Enhance feature has been added, which dynamically improves the impression of low frequencies in real time. The level can be chosen according to preference. For me, level 3 of Bass Enhance was perfect for all kinds of music. Then there are the other customization options we saw earlier on the Ear (2).

When it comes to actual audio performance, the Nothing Ear is near perfect. Simply put, it improves on the already decent Nothing Ear (2). When I listened to The Wilderness’ album “Explosions in the Sky,” I noticed the balance that the Ear TWS offered. The album’s tracks cover a good amount of frequency range to give me a good idea of how good the TWS’s sound quality is. Next, Grimes’ track Oblivion offered enough dynamic range to see how small and large dynamics are handled by the Nothing Ear, and it did not disappoint. I then moved on to a gritty electronic track, and there is no better choice than Pray for Me from Marvel’s Black Panther soundtrack. It has perfect bass, treble, dual vocals, and excellent treble, allowing me to test how well the TWS can handle all of this. Interestingly, the Nothing Ear handled all of this comfortably.

The company has upgraded the 11mm dynamic driver to use a ceramic diaphragm. Compared to the Ear (2), the highs and mids have been improved, and the bass is deeper. After using the Ear for a few hours, one thing is clear: the new TWS is ideal for bass lovers. However, the bass-heavy default settings didn’t suit me, so I’m enjoying customizing it to my liking. The ANC has also been slightly improved compared to the Ear (2).

The AirPods Pro (2nd gen) remain the benchmark for ANC, but it’s also worth noting that the AirPods Pro (2nd gen) are nearly twice the price.

A minor issue I faced was that the sound quality changed depending on the ANC mode. The company defines three noise cancellation modes depending on the actual scenario: High is “Subway/Plane”, Medium is “City/Cafe”, and Low is “Office/Indoor”. Nothing Ear provides good sound quality during calls for both the caller and the recipient. It also has an ear tip fit test that checks the amount of sound leakage detected and recommends the best fitting size.

There has also been an improvement in the battery department. The Earbuds can play music for up to 5 hours with ANC on, which increases slightly to 6 hours with ANC off . Using the charging case extends the battery life by a little over 4 hours. With the charging case and ANC, the battery life is supposed to be up to 24 hours, but in our hands, it lasted for 20 hours, which is great. They also support wireless charging up to 2.5W, which is a bonus. TWS also supports fast charging.

The Ear (a) falls a little behind the Ear when it comes to performance credentials. It offers a decent sound output for the price. Like other Nothing audio products, the Ear (a) is a little bassier out of the box, and even with the new Bass Enhancement feature, you can dynamically improve the impression of low frequencies in real time. You can play around with the sound settings in the Nothing X app. From songs by Imagine Dragons to AR Rahman, the Ear (a) handles everything comfortably and with ease. The ANC is excellent, softening the surrounding sounds while commuting on the subway or walking through a busy street. The best thing about the Ear (a) is the comfortable fit, which doesn’t tire you out even after long hours of wearing it. I used the Ear (a) at the airport and on the plane, and even though my commute was over 6 hours in total, I never got annoyed using the TWS.

Another area where the Ear (a) excels is call quality. Thanks to Nothing’s Clear Voice technology, voice during calls is crisp and clear. The TWS gets high marks for features like dual connectivity and low latency mode that make gaming sessions more enjoyable. It would have been nice if Nothing had added support for the LHDC codec to make this product more versatile. There’s also no wireless charging or personal sound profiles, but given the price, these absences aren’t surprising.

The company claims up to 5.5 hours of battery life with just the earbuds and up to 24.5 hours with the case, both with ANC on. In our review, we used the earbuds for 4 hours straight and still had 30% battery left. Of course, using the charging case will improve the overall output. Plus, there’s quick charge support that provides up to 10 hours of battery life with just 10 minutes of charging.

ChatGPT integration in Nothing Ear and Ear (a)

ChatGPT from OpenAI needs no introduction, and Nothing’s announcement of the integration that all audio products have access to is a masterpiece. Luckily, I had access to the ChatGPT integration while writing this review. Thanks to this integration, all I can say is that ChatGPT is finally wireless. I was able to test the integration on my Nothing Ear and Ear (a). There is one big limitation, however: you need a Nothing Phone. Once your Nothing Phone and X App are updated to the latest firmware , you can install the ChatGPT app and sign in. Once all this is done, open the Nothing X App and you will be prompted to activate the ChatGPT integration.

To use ChatGPT wirelessly with Nothing TWS, pinch and hold the stem and you can ask ChatGPT anything that comes to mind. ChatGPT does not have access to location, so queries like “Take me home” or “Suggest a good place to eat” will not return any results until you add location to the voice prompt. For example, you need to say “Suggest a good restaurant for lunch around CP New Delhi” . This will return a large number of results. Compared to Google Assistant, ChatGPT is not yet up to date , so questions like “Which constituency will I vote in today for the 2024 general elections” returned very general answers. Of course, there is a lot of work to be done. Compared to many rivals, Nothing’s new TWS option offers a new experience, which to me is a great attempt to offer a unique suggestion. However, it is too early to compare ChatGPT with Google Assistant on TWS.

Ear to Ear(a): Verdict

Nothing has done a great job with its TWS portfolio, and the Ear is arguably the company’s best product to date. What Nothing is doing now is what Apple has been doing for years – essentially the same design, but with upgraded internals, be it their smartphones or the AirPods series. In the case of the Nothing Ear, the eye-catching transparent signature design helps. There are a lot of improvements internally (compared to the Ear 2), including ANC, sound, and battery life. At this price, the Nothing Ear ticks all the boxes and is future-proofed with ChatGPT integration.

The Nothing Ear (a) is a new affordable TWS from Nothing that comes with an amazing package. The distinctive transparent design is still rare on the market and is better than other TWS options in the same price range. The audio quality is great for the price, and the call quality is also excellent. The battery life is also decent. There are some drawbacks, such as the glossy charging is prone to scratches, no support for LHDC, and no wireless charging. If you are looking for the perfect TWS package, the Nothing Ear (a) offers great value for money.

If you’re looking for an option around the Rs 10,000 mark, the Sony WF-C700N (Review) are good choices alongside the Galaxy Buds FE. There’s also the OnePlus Buds 3 (Review) in this price range.

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Infinix aims to offer basic features in a segment that doesn’t have many options in the mix.

Infinix makes decent smartphones in the sub-Rs 10,000 price range and offers pretty good hardware with them too. The brand launched the Infinix Smart 7 HD in April last year and has now revamped the model with the latest Infinix Smart 8 HD. The new phone comes with a slightly revised look and packs 3GB of RAM instead of 2GB on last year’s Smart 7 HD. We have tested the device thoroughly and in this article, we will tell you whether this entry-level smartphone is value for money or not.

Infinix Smart 8 HD Price in India

The Infinix Smart 8 HD is priced at Rs 7,990 and comes with 3GB RAM and 64GB storage. It comes in four colour options – Crystal Green, Timber Black, Shiny Gold and Galaxy White. We got the Crystal Green colour option for our review. In the box, you will find the smartphone, a clear case, a charging brick, a USB Type-A to USB Type-C charging cable, a user manual and a SIM ejector tool.

Infinix Smart 8 HD review: Design

The phone looks pretty similar to its predecessor. The matte back panel barely features the Infinix logo, and the camera module protrudes quite a bit from the matte polycarbonate side rails. The main difference between the Smart 8 HD and the 7 HD is the texture on the back panel. Instead of a textured polycarbonate back panel, you get this unique shimmery design. The phone uses a side-mounted fingerprint reader instead of the rear-mounted one used on the 7 HD. Despite the heavy use of polycarbonate, the Infinix Smart 8 HD feels good in the hand with flat sides and a thickness of 8.5mm.

Infinix Smart 8HD Back Panel Infinix Smart 8HD Back Panel

The Infinix Smart 8 HD looks very different from its predecessor.

Weight distribution is good, and at 184 grams, it doesn’t feel bulky. For a short time, I used this smartphone as a secondary smartphone, and I had no problem carrying it in the same pocket as my daily smartphone. The Smart 8 HD’s bezels are quite thick, but that’s not a problem considering the price. The front camera uses a punch-hole cutout, which is refreshing for an entry-level smartphone. However, there is no official IP rating or splash resistance, so it’s not wise to take it swimming. A dedicated microSD card is included, making it a good choice for those who want more storage space but need to use two 4G SIM cards.

Infinix Smart 8 HD review: Specifications and Software

The smartphone is powered by the Unisoc T606 SoC, an entry-level processor that can handle light tasks with ease. You can use the smartphone for daily VoIP calls, checking emails, replying to texts on WhatsApp, and light website browsing. I had a second 4G SIM card inserted while I was carrying the device and the reception was good. The internet speeds are not as fast as 5G-enabled devices, but considering it is a 4G smartphone, it works well enough.

For a smartphone in this price range, it is good to see the phone moving to a USB Type-C port instead of the usual micro USB port. It has a fingerprint reader on the side, which is a nice feature at this price range. Face unlock is also available, but we don’t recommend it as it is not secure. The Infinix Smart 8 HD is powered by a 5,000mAh battery and can be charged using the included 10W charger. It runs on Infinix’s XOS 13 based on Android 13 Go. It uses a Dynamic Island-like feature that Infinix has named Magic Ring, but it has limited functionality. The brand has not made any promises regarding future software updates, which may be a bit worrying for those who want to keep the smartphone for a long time.

Infinix Smart 8 HD review: Performance

Being an entry-level device, our expectations on performance were not very high. Nevertheless, we ran all the required benchmarks on the device and the scores were decent for a smartphone in this price range. It scored 2,32,007 in AnTuTu v10.2.1 , 379 in single-core and 1,322 in multi-core tests in Geekbench 6. The Infinix Smart 8 HD sports a 6.6-inch HD+ LCD with a 90Hz refresh rate which seems new in this price range, while Xiaomi’s Redmi A3 offers the same. The display shows colors well when viewed from the front, but colors start to wash out when viewed from an angle. Indoors, the brightness levels of the smartphone are adequate with a peak brightness of said to be 500nits . But, when you take it outdoors, the display is quite disappointing.

Infinix Smart 8HD Display Infinix Smart 8HD Display

The Infinix Smart 8 HD’s display is barely readable outdoors.

The smartphone’s bottom speaker offers acceptable sound quality despite having very little bass. When played at maximum volume, it can sound sharp and volume adjustments will be required to improve clarity during playback.

Android 13 Go edition is quite lighter than the full version, which works in the smartphone’s favour quite a bit. The smartphone did not feel slow or lagging while scrolling through the UI of the smartphone, but it is a bit slow to launch third-party apps. Despite the price, the performance of the Infinix Smart HD 8 is quite good. It is not a gaming device but it can handle basic casual games without any issues. Subway Surfers ran well without any lag and the touch response rate of the smartphone was also good.

Considering it is an entry-level processor, I was surprised to see the phone heat up after just 15-20 minutes of playing casual games. There are also heating issues while using the camera app, but everyday tasks like web browsing and using messaging apps like WhatsApp work just fine.

The phone achieved a respectable 20 hours and 10 minutes in our battery loop test. After a full day of use, including calls, streaming videos, and even taking photos with the default camera app, there was about 30% battery left at the end of the day, which is decent for a phone in this price range. In our battery charging test, the phone charged just 4% in 30 minutes, 27% in an hour, and was fully charged in 3 hours. This may seem a bit slow, but most phones in this price range perform similarly.

Infinix Smart 8 HD review: Camera

The Infinix Smart 8 HD sports a dual rear camera setup with a 13MP primary camera with f/1.8 aperture and a 0.08MP secondary camera. The smartphone uses an 8MP camera for selfies. The camera UI is simple and without any fancy features. It offers basic photo and video controls as you would expect on an Infinix smartphone.

The Infinix Smart 8 HD has one user-accessible camera.

The 13MP main camera takes decent images even in sunlight, and although it takes a second for the final image in the gallery to appear, the result is very different from the image you see in the Camera app’s viewfinder when you take the shot.

The camera does a lot of processing in the background, but the results are average. Images have good saturation but lack detail resolution. I took a few shots of moving and still objects in sunlight and the results were satisfactory for a smartphone in this price range. The camera handles backlit situations well in portrait mode and has decent edge detection, which is typical for a smartphone in this price range.

The phone uses 2x digital zoom and a lot of processing to produce softer images, but in enough light you can take serviceable photos. As expected, the phone struggles with low-light photography.

Daytime photo taken with 2x digital zoom

The night mode gives you clearer images and decent colors. One thing that caught my attention is that you can’t set the exposure when using the dedicated night mode, which can lead to bad photos and you having to retake them. In other words, the low light performance is not what you would expect from a smartphone in this price range and is not reliable at all.

Night mode photo from the main rear camera

The Infinix Smart 8 HD’s front camera doesn’t perform well in low light.

The 8MP selfie camera is adequate for daytime shots. Photos taken are sharp enough with a good level of detail. The front camera struggles quite a bit in low light, taking noisy and blurry images. The Infinix Smart 8 HD can shoot videos up to 1080p 30fps with the main camera. If you stay still, the results are mostly good. If you start moving or panning, the video shakes a lot and becomes unusable. Video performance in low light is not great, and recorded videos are very blurry and noisy. The front camera takes pretty good daytime shots in both moving and stationary situations, which is a plus.

Infinix Smart 8 HD Review: Verdict

The Infinix Smart 8 HD is a good device if you want a second phone with a long battery life and you are on a tight budget. However, it has some drawbacks like very slow support for 10W charging, poor camera performance in low light, unreadable outdoors and very limited viewing angles. So, it is good for calls and basic app usage, but not much more. There is no doubt that there is not much choice in this price range, but Xiaomi offers something similar with the Redmi A3 starting at Rs 7,299. It has a better processor, more RAM variants and a 90Hz refresh rate display. You can also consider the Redmi 13C (starting at Rs 7,699), which is a little more expensive but has a better display and cameras.

The post Infinix Smart 8 HD Review: The most basic Android Go smartphone appeared first on Review Products.

The Dreame L10s Ultra delivers a suction power of 5,300Pa.

Robot vacuums have started to gain popularity since the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to maintaining hygiene to curb the spread of bacteria and viruses, the introduction of work-from-home environments has forced us to keep our spaces clean and tidy at all times. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in home appliances has enabled major brands to equip robot vacuums with smarter sensors. These machines have become a necessity rather than a luxury, with notable features such as mapping capabilities, self-cleaning mechanisms, and cameras.

Xiaomi-backed Dreame, which makes a range of smart home devices, recently launched the Dreame L10s Ultra to cater to this competitive market. Priced at Rs 74,999 in India, the robot vacuum is auto-empty and auto-cleaning, and offers auto-dust collection, mopping, and drying support.

However, it is currently being discounted on Amazon for a much cheaper price (Rs 58,999), making it an even more appealing buy if you keep an eye on this e-commerce listing.

Is the Dreame L10s Ultra worth considering over the competition? Find out in this review.

What’s in the box

The retail box of the Dreame L10s Ultra is quite heavy, with the package weighing around 13 kg (the base station weighs 8.9 kg and the robot weighs 3.7 kg). Apart from the robot and the base station, the box contains two rotating mop pads, a bristle-free rubber brush, a filter cleaning brush, a power cord, a multi-surface floor cleaner, and a dust bag. The brand has bundled an extra dust bag with the device. Dreame claims that one dust bag can provide up to 60 days of cleaning, but you may need to purchase more later. It is priced at Rs 4,199 for four pieces and the new accessory set (roller brush, two side brushes, two filters, six mop pads, and two dust bags) costs Rs 7,990. Considering the overall price, it would have been nice to see a few more accessories included.

Dreame L10s Ultra review: Design

Setting up the Dreame L10s Ultra is easy. The mop pad connects to the built-in magnets, and the side brushes clip onto the bottom of the unit. Once you’ve filled and inserted the fresh water tank and cleaning agent, plug the base station into a power source. The device can be controlled remotely using the Dreamehome or Mi Home app, or you can connect it to Wi-Fi and access it with Alexa or Google Home.

Dreame L10s Ultra has a premium round design with a white finish and a front-facing camera for navigating around a room. The disk-shaped cleaning robot features a raised module on top for a built-in LIDAR for the navigation system. There are three buttons on the top – Spot Clean, Power (or Sweep) and Dock – that can be used to perform core functions without needing a phone. It has a flexible bumper and includes a Laser Distance Sensor (LDS), AI Vision Sensor and Line Laser Sensor, which recognize blocks that are in the way and display them on the map.

Dreame L10s Ultra Review: Setup, Mapping

In the first run, Dreame L10s Ultra uses its AI-powered RGB camera and 3D structured light to create a 3D map of your floor while finding obstacles. It detects walls, cupboards, and furniture on the floor and remembers different paths, bedrooms, living rooms, and dining areas. You can create multiple maps for a multi-storey home and set no-go zones from your phone via the paired app. The robot vacuum took about 5 minutes to map our 1200 sq. ft. apartment. In the first run, it considered part of the bedroom as the dining area, and still the mapping is amazingly accurate.

Dreame L10s Ultra features AI-enabled RGB camera and 3D structured light.

The pairing app for the Dearme L10s Ultra is packed with customization options. The app’s main screen displays the charging and cleaning status of the robot. You can schedule cleaning cycles and have it vacuum, mop, or both in specific rooms or zones. You can also create no-go zones for areas you don’t want it to clean. It can be sent to specific rooms to vacuum, mop, or do both at the same time. Users can set humidity levels and suction power, which can be adjusted accordingly for each area. Isn’t that smart?

The main screen of the Dreamehome app will show you the charging and cleaning status of your robot.

Dreame L10s Ultra Review: Cleaning and Performance

The best feature of Dreamebot L10s Ultra is the self-cleaning mop and auto-drain system. The robot automatically dries the mop and adds water and cleaning solution. The station automatically refills detergent and water, and provides the robot vacuum with liquid for the mopping function from a small tank. It comes with AI features and smart navigation to avoid collisions with walls and obstacles. To prevent children from touching the vacuum, enable the child lock by long pressing the Leave and Dry buttons on the base station. It also asks questions about your pets during setup to enhance cleaning and prevent possible pet accidents in the house while cleaning.

The on-board camera of the Dreame L10s Ultra keeps you updated on the status of your vacuum while you are away. We found this feature effective when it gets stuck on a rug or caught in the strap of a cloth bag. It also doubles as a security camera, which is useful especially for people who have pets. You need to set a 4-digit activation code to configure the built-in RGB camera. Two-way audio is provided so you can command it to vacuum while you are away for work. It cleans a 3-meter area in 2 minutes.

The AI sensor of Dreame L10s Ultra allows it to run on carpets. Compared to a normal roll vacuum, its 5,300Pa suction power and bristle-free rubber brush effectively picks up loose dust from small mats. It lifts the mop when it detects carpets or mats. There are multiple alternatives with higher suction power, but I felt this was enough to pick up general household dirt. Sometimes I change the suction power to remove debris from carpets. At this point the device becomes very noisy and I can still hear it from another room while I’m working. The big problem is that the vacuum is loud when set to the highest suction power. However, the station itself is quiet enough. The robot will talk loudly about what it is doing when it starts or returns from the dock for mopping or charging the battery. In addition, you can see the location of the robot on a map while cleaning. It’s easy to find it.

The Dreame L10s Ultra comes with a rubber brush instead of a bristle brush.

As someone with waist-length hair, I commend Dreame for opting for bristle-free rubber brushes, as they ideally prevent hair from getting tangled and clogging the brush. The side brushes do tend to get tangled, but I was able to remove them after a few passes, meaning they’re effective on pet hair. Automatically detects changes in floor type while driving: The robot recognized the textured ceramic tiles in the utility area as it drove along and adjusted its behavior accordingly.

Dreame L10s Ultra Review: Maintenance

The Dreame L10s Ultra’s base station water tank has a capacity of 2.5 liters, but the robot carries 80ml of water on board, so it won’t go to the base station too often during cleaning unless the battery gets low in the middle of cleaning. Once mopping is finished, the robot returns to the charging station, where the mop is automatically washed with cold water on the dock to remove odors. This may be less effective than using hot water. The dirt then reaches the base station’s dirty water tank, which can be removed manually. After cleaning, the mop is dried with hot air. Using Dualboost 2.0 technology, the device blows air into the robot’s dust box, which is then sucked into the station’s dust bag. This dirt is stored in the base station’s dust bag, which can be emptied manually when notified. Dreame claims that one bag can provide up to 60 days of cleaning, but it never filled up in two weeks of testing. Other maintenance includes opening and removing the brush tray to clean the dirt that has accumulated on the sides.

To charge, attach the Dreame L10s Ultra to the docking station. The app displays the remaining battery level, and the battery lasts up to 160 minutes without interrupting charging, enough to vacuum and mop an apartment’s 800 sq. ft. carpeted area (1,175 sq. ft.). Perfect for vacuuming and mopping in a room that’s not messy.

Dreame L10s Ultra review: Verdict

If you are looking for a fully automated robot vacuum mop and don’t mind the hassle of cleaning on our side, consider the Dreame L10s Ultra, which requires less manual maintenance. The automatic dust emptying feature adds a significant amount to the price, but it is justifiable given the features present even in the premium model (Dreame L20 Ultra). The vacuuming and mopping features are effective and the robot vacuum gives you the option to use it as a mobile surveillance camera. The robot is priced at Rs 74,999, but keep in mind that this robot comes with ongoing costs, such as replacing accessories and approved cleaning solutions. If the floors at your home are mainly carpeted, this is not a good choice. For those who live in large houses with different types of floors or owners who have animals that shed, it is worth considering. If you are able to do it on the price side, the L10s Ultra is one of the best options you can buy right now.

If you are on a budget, you can also check out affordable options from brands like Xiaomi and Eureka Forbes.

Dream L10s Ultra

• Price: 74,999
• Rating: 8/10

Pros:

• Effective vacuuming and mopping
• Automatic Ejection
• In-vehicle camera
• Smart Mapping
• User-friendly apps

Cons:

• expensive
• noisy
• No additional accessories available
• Lack of self-cleaning with hot water

The post Realme L10s Ultra Robot Vacuum Review: A Great Mop and Vacuum Combo appeared first on Review Products.

Lenovo’s Yoga laptop lineup has included 2-in-1 options for the past few years. Now, the company has equipped the Yoga 7i 2-in-1 variant with new Intel Core Ultra H-series processors, which also give it an OLED display and improved battery life. The new Yoga 7i 2-in-1 is also being called an AI laptop, as it comes with a dedicated Copilot key.

After using the Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 for over a week, here’s what I think about this convertible laptop: I’m not a fan of convertibles, be it laptops or cars, but for those who want the best of both worlds – a laptop and a tablet – the Yoga 7i might be an option.

Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 Price in India

Starting with the price, the Yoga 7i 2-in-1 is neither too expensive nor too cheap. Prices start at Rs 1,01,990 for the model with an Intel Core Ultra 5 125H CPU, a 14-inch OLED display with WUXGA resolution, and 16GB RAM . This is the model that was sent to us for review.

The laptop has rounded corners, making it comfortable to hold.

A model with Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU, 14-inch OLED WUXGA display, and 16GB RAM is also available for Rs 1,19,990 . Finally, the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H option with 2.8K OLED display and 32GB RAM is available for Rs 1,29,990 . All models come with integrated Intel Arc Graphics. The laptop comes in two colour options – Tidal Teal and Storm Grey. The Yoga 7i 2-in-1 box also comes with a Lenovo digital pen and a 65W charger. We received the Tidal Teal model.

Let’s talk about the design. The Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 features an all-aluminum design with curved edges and rounded corners. There are no sharp edges anywhere on the laptop. The design language is also very minimalistic, with a small Lenovo logo and Yoga branding on the lid. Since this is a 2-in-1 laptop, we need to talk about the 360-degree hinge. Lenovo says that they have reduced the size of the hinge, which makes it easier to open the lid with one hand. We found this to be true, but that’s also thanks to the inverted notch on the top for the webcam, IR sensor, and microphone. The hinge is very durable and I don’t think it will be an issue in the long run. When you use the laptop in normal mode, the hinge lifts up slightly, which also helps with cooling.

The Yoga 7i 2-in-1 has plenty of connectivity options, but the power button is oddly placed.

Moving to the side, the laptop has all the ports you need. The laptop’s power button is located on the right side next to the microSD card slot and a USB Type-A (USB 3.2) port. The placement of the power button is not ideal; I accidentally pressed it while trying to lift it using the right edge, which locked the laptop. On the left edge, there is an HDMI 2.1 port, dual Thunderbolt 4 USB Type-C ports, and a combo headphone port. At the back, there is an exhaust vent.

The bottom of the laptop has two large grills for cooling and rubber feet. The panel is removable and made from 50 percent recycled aluminum. The laptop weighs 1.49 kg and is 16.64 mm thick at its thinnest point. It’s also rated to withstand 21 MIL-STD 810H durability tests, though we don’t recommend dropping the laptop to find out. We didn’t notice any bending in the lid or back cover. Everything feels well-built.

In tent mode, the speaker faces away from you.

Opening the lid reveals a keyboard and a large trackpad. The laptop has two speakers with grills on either side of the keyboard. The 14-inch OLED display has slim bezels on all sides and a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels at 60Hz with a 16:10 aspect ratio. The display is glossy but offers 400 nits of brightness and 600 nits of peak HDR brightness. It’s fine indoors but not suitable for outdoor use due to the glossy panel. The blacks are deep and the colors are vibrant. It has a wide viewing angle and very little color shifting. It’s a great panel for watching content, photo editing, and even drawing. Speaking of drawing, the display supports multi-touch and also comes with a Lenovo Digital Pen 2 that can be used as a stylus. The display is also Dolby Vision HDR certified and covers 100% DCI-P3 color space. There’s also a 2.8K PureSight OLED model with a 120Hz refresh rate.

I primarily used the Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 in laptop mode, although touch input is excellent in tablet mode, and you can use multi-touch gestures supported by Windows 11. As a tablet, the Yoga 7i is a bit bulky for my taste and wasn’t fun to use while walking around the house. You can also use it in tent mode, but in that case, the speakers face the wrong way.

Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 Review: Keyboard, speakers, touchpad, camera

The Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 has a great keyboard, and it’s clear that Lenovo also makes ThinkPad laptops that are known for their keyboards. Typing on the 2-in-1 was comfortable as the keyboard had ample key travel and good tactile feedback. There is also ample spacing between the keys so it doesn’t feel cramped. The laptop also has a dedicated Copilot key located in front of the left arrow key. You can toggle through the Copilot chatbot with the press of a button. The keyboard also has a backlight with two levels of brightness and an adaptive mode that can automatically dim or brighten the backlight depending on the environment.

Lenovo has equipped this laptop with two speakers. The speakers are placed on either side of the keyboard, so they face upwards. The volume isn’t great, but the quality is good. There’s no distortion, and Dolby Atmos is supported. However, there are some flaws in the placement, and the speakers move to the rear when you use the laptop in tablet or tent mode. In noisy environments, you’ll probably want to use headphones.

Beneath the keyboard is a large touchpad that supports multi-touch gestures in Windows 11. It has a nice click and smooth surface. In tablet mode, the touchpad and keyboard are also automatically disabled.

Moving on to the webcam, the Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 has a Full HD camera with a privacy shutter. The video quality is good and it also supports AI features like Windows Studio Effects and Smart Gestures. The notch that houses the webcam also has an IR blaster that supports face authentication login via Windows Hello.

Now, let’s talk about the specs. This 2-in-1 laptop is well equipped and comes with either an Intel Core Ultra 5 125H or Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU. The chipset is paired with integrated Intel Arc Graphics. The laptop can be configured with up to 32GB of LPDDR5X-7467 RAM and up to 1TB of NVMe storage. Both of these are soldered in, so you can’t upgrade the RAM or the storage.

In terms of connectivity, the Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 offers Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3.

This laptop runs Windows 11 Home out of the box and comes bundled with Office Home and Student 2021. It doesn’t have any special software, but you get Copilot support with a dedicated key. It also has Lenovo AI Engine+, Windows Studio Effects, Smart Noise Cancellation, and other handy features. It also comes with Lenovo Vantage software that lets you fine-tune your system to your liking. Features include Super Resolution, Dolby Atmos sound profiles, different modes tailored for different activities, three power modes, and Flip to Boot, which powers up the laptop as soon as you open the lid, just like the Apple MacBook.

Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 Review: Performance

Performance-wise, this laptop is perfect for everyday use, content consumption, and creative endeavors. I didn’t encounter any major issues during my time with the Yoga 7i 2-in-1.

Multitasking on the laptop is also excellent, especially in tablet mode. Thermal management is also excellent, with the built-in cooling system doing a great job of minimizing heat. However, there were a few times when the laptop suddenly got hot and the fans turned on even though I had no programs running, which is probably a bug in Windows 11. Overall, the laptop performs very well.

Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 Review: Battery life

Battery life on the Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 is very good. Lenovo has included a 71Whr battery, and the laptop consistently performs well enough to get through a day’s worth of use, including browsing, working with multiple tabs in Chrome, watching YouTube videos, streaming Netflix, and light photo editing. This is true in both regular laptop mode and tablet mode, with tablet mode actually offering better battery life.

The laptop comes with a manual privacy shutter for the webcam

The laptop comes with a 65W charger in the box that supports fast charging – it takes around 1.5 hours to fully charge the laptop and just 30 minutes of charging will get the battery to around 80% .

Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 Review: verdict

As I said at the beginning, I am not a big fan of 2-in-1 laptops, but if you are looking for a powerful laptop that can also be used as a tablet, the Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 is a good choice. Even the base model priced at Rs 1,01,990 is a good option and you get good performance and long-lasting battery from this laptop. The OLED display is great for content consumption and creative work, but you can spend a little more and get a 2.8K OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and get an even better experience. The only drawback is that you cannot upgrade the speakers and storage. But overall, the Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 is an easy 2-in-1 laptop to recommend.

The post Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 Review: The best of both worlds? appeared first on Review Products.

We’ve picked the best camera phones photographers should buy, based on reviews of the top-rated Samsung, Google, Apple iPhone and more.

The title of best camera phone is fiercely contested. Major manufacturers like Apple, Samsung, and Google are constantly competing to offer better features, higher resolutions, and sharper lenses. Other manufacturers like Oppo, Xiaomi, Vivo, and Honor also offer affordable options.

At AP, we take smartphone reviews as seriously as we do testing the best mirrorless cameras. After all, more images are now taken with smartphones than with anything else. We look at image quality, video quality, usability, durability, battery life, ease of use, and more. If you want to learn more about our testing criteria and what to look for in a smartphone camera, we’ve put together a guide on how to choose at the bottom of this page.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra – Samsung’s best camera phone ever?

As smartphone cameras continue to improve at an accelerated pace, the question arises as to whether they can replicate the quality of a digital camera. With smartphones offering interchangeable lenses, larger sensors, and RAW imaging capabilities, the answer is “not yet.” In some genres and situations, such as portrait photography, a camera is better than a smartphone. But for most users, the best smartphone cameras will accomplish everything you need to.

Best Camera Phones: A Quick List

For those who want to get straight to the point, here is a quick reference list of the top rated camera phones recommended by our team:

• Best Samsung Camera Phone: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
• Best Apple Camera Phone: iPhone 15 Pro
• Best Google Camera Phone: Google Pixel 8 Pro
• Best iPhone with Long Zoom: iPhone 15 Pro Max
• Best Honor Camera Phone: Honor Magic 5 Pro
• Best Xiaomi Camera Phone: Xiaomi 14 Ultra
• Best for close-ups: Vivo X100 Pro
• Best iPhone 14: Apple iPhone 14 Pro
• Best small Samsung flagship: Samsung Galaxy S24
• 2nd Best Google Smartphone: Google Pixel 8
• Second Best Samsung Phone: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
• Best camera phone under $500/£500: Google Pixel 7
• Best looking camera phone: OPPO Find X5 Pro
• Best Used Samsung Camera Phone: Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G
• Best used iPhone for photography: Apple iPhone 13 Pro

Read on for more details on each phone, including key specs and our review team’s testing results.

Best Samsung Camera Phone: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Pros:

• Improved image quality
• Vastly improved screen (less reflections and better scratch resistance)
• Added AI features including handy reflection removal

Cons:

• Macro mode lags behind other modes
• Shutter lag for fast moving subjects
• 45W charging is slower than competitors

Main Specifications:

• 200MP f/1.7 main camera with OIS
• 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide-angle camera
• 10MP f/2.4 3x telephoto camera with OIS
• 50MP f/3.4 5x telephoto camera with OIS
• 12MP f/2.2 PDAF selfie camera
• 8K 30fps video, 4K 120/60/30fps
• From $1,299/£1,084 (256GB)

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is Samsung’s flagship model with a 200MP sensor with pixel binning technology. The telephoto camera has been upgraded to a new 50MP 5x telephoto zoom. The S24 series’ AI technology improves night photography, noise performance, zoom quality, and HDR imaging.

Best Apple Camera Phone: iPhone 15 Pro

Pros

• Improved photo and video capture modes
• Strong and sturdy construction
• USB-C port

Cons:

• A minor upgrade from the iPhone 14 Pro
• Main Specifications:
• 48MP wide camera, f/1.78 aperture
• 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera, f/2.2 aperture
• 12MP 3x telephoto camera, f/2.8 aperture
• 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED screen
• iOS17 Update
• Price: From $1,149 / £1,266

The iPhone 15 Pro also offers usability improvements like auto portrait mode and post-capture portrait conversion, as well as a new log profile and USB-C connectivity for video capture.

Best Google Camera Phone: Google Pixel 8 Pro

Pros:

• High-resolution sensor
• Advanced Calculation Functions
• Pro Control Options

Cons:

• Price increase from previous model
• No 1TB storage option
• Main Specifications:
• Triple camera setup: 14mm, 25mm, 113mm equivalent
• Android Operating System
• 30x super-resolution zoom
• 10.5MP f/2.2 selfie camera with autofocus
• Price: $999-$1179 / £999-£1179

The Google Pixel 8 Pro is known for its superior hardware and advanced software, including AI features like “Best Take” and “Magic Editor,” as well as improved low-light performance and a new “Pro” mode that gives you manual control over exposure settings.

Best iPhone with Long Zoom: iPhone 15 Pro Max

Pros:

• 5x zoom lens
• Excellent display quality
• USB-C connection

Cons:

• Might be too large for some users
• A minor upgrade from the previous model, but at a high price
• Main Specifications:
• 48MP wide camera, f/1.78 aperture
• 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera, f/2.2 aperture
• 12MP 5x telephoto camera, f/2.8 aperture
• 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED screen
• iOS17 Update
• Price: $1299/£1199

The iPhone 15 Pro Max has a 5x optical zoom lens for increased telephoto reach, and shares many improvements with the iPhone 15 Pro, including USB-C charging and 24MP effective resolution.

Best Honor Camera Phone: Honor Magic 5 Pro

Pros:

• High-resolution triple camera
• High-end features at an affordable price
• Great screen

Cons:

• Portrait mode could be better
• Standard Video Options
• Main Specifications:
• Triple 50MP camera system
• 13mm, 23mm, 90mm equivalent
• Android 13 operating system
• 4K Video
• Price: $1099 / £949

The Honor Magic 5 Pro has a triple array of 50MP cameras, excellent low-light performance, and a super macro mode for close-ups. It also has a 100x digital zoom mode, but it’s more of a novelty than a practical tool.

Best Xiaomi Camera Phone: Xiaomi 14 Ultra

Pros:

• 1 inch main sensor
• 50MP Quad Camera
• RAW shooting and Pro mode
• Photography kits available

Cons:

• Expensive
• Selfie camera has no autofocus
• Limited availability in the market
• Main Specifications:
• 50MP quad camera system with Leica lenses
• 12mm, 23mm, 75mm, 120mm equivalent
• Android 14 operating system
• 8K Video
• Price: £1299

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra comes with a 1-inch main sensor, adjustable aperture on the main camera, and great video options, making it a strong contender in the high-end smartphone market.

Vivo X100 Pro: A smartphone with flagship cameras

Main Specifications:

• Main camera: 50MP, f/1.75, 1-inch sensor, OIS, 23mm, AF
• Ultra-wide camera: 50MP, f/2.0, 15mm, AF
• Telephoto camera: 50MP, f/2.5, 4.3x, 100mm, OIS, AF
• Selfie camera: 32MP, f/2.0, fixed focus
• Video: 8K 30fps, 4K 60/30fps, 1080p 240fps
• Display: 6.78″ AMOLED, 3000 nits brightness
• OS: Android 14
• Price: 1199 EUR (EUR), 89999 INR (INR), 780-900 GBP (UK)

Camera Performance:

The Vivo X100 Pro’s camera system was developed in collaboration with Zeiss and delivers excellent photography performance. With a 1-inch sensor and f/1.75 aperture, the main camera excels in detail, color reproduction, and dynamic range. The Zeiss APO floating telephoto camera with periscope design offers impressive close-up photos even in low light conditions thanks to its 100mm focal length and f/2.5 aperture. The ultra-wide-angle camera is not Zeiss-branded, but its color and exposure performance is good.

Review Summary:

Joshua Waller highlights the Vivo X100 Pro as a very capable camera phone, especially noting the low light performance due to the large sensor. However, the selfie camera is less impressive due to the lack of autofocus. Overall, the Vivo X100 Pro is worth its flagship price tag due to its outstanding camera capabilities.

Samsung Galaxy S24/S24+: High-resolution all-rounder

Main Specifications:

• Camera setup: 12MP ultra-wide, 50MP main, 10MP telephoto, 12MP front
• Video: 8K video
• OS: Android 14
• Price: High, but varies by model

Camera Performance:

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24+ are great all-around cameras, with a high-resolution main camera and an autofocus selfie camera. They lack a dedicated macro mode and have lower-resolution ultra-wide and telephoto cameras compared to the S24 Ultra, but they perform well in most scenarios.

Apple iPhone 14 Pro: The best iPhone for photographers

Main Specifications:

• Camera configuration: 4 cameras, 3x and 2x telephoto, 48MP main sensor
• Video: 4K 60fps
• OS: iOS
• Price: From $999 / £1,099

Camera Performance:

iPhone 14 Pro features a new 48MP sensor for excellent low-light performance and flexibility, with a range of specialist modes including Macro and Portrait, making it a versatile choice for photographers.

Google Pixel 8: AI-powered photography at an affordable price

Main Specifications:

• Camera setup: Dual camera, wide and ultra-wide
• Video: 4K 60fps from rear and front cameras
• OS: Android
• Price: $699 / £699

Camera Performance:

The Pixel 8 delivers consistently superior photos with better exposure, detail and colour reproduction thanks to Google’s advanced computational photography features, and includes an improved ultra-wide module with autofocus and a new macro mode.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: An all-round flagship

Main Specifications:

• Main camera: 200MP, 1/1.3″ sensor, f/1.7
• Ultra-wide camera: 12MP, 1/2.55″ sensor, f/2.2
• Telephoto camera: 10MP (3x zoom, f/2.4), 10MP (10x zoom, f/4.9)
• Video: 8K 30fps, 4K 60fps
• Price: $1,683 / £1,399

Camera Performance:

The S23 Ultra’s 200MP main sensor uses pixel binning to enhance detail and lighting, and it has a versatile camera system with four lenses, although clarity may be lacking at the 10x telephoto.

Google Pixel 7: The best phone under $500/£500

Main Specifications:

• Camera setup: Dual camera, 50MP main, 12MP ultra-wide
• Video: 4K 60fps
• OS: Android
• Price: $594 / £526

Camera Performance:

The Pixel 7 has great photography features, including night photography and up to 8x digital zoom, but it lacks the Pro mode and macro capabilities.

OPPO Find X5 Pro: Stylish and powerful

Main Specifications:

• Camera setup: Triple camera system, Hasselblad branded
• Video: 4K 60fps
• OS: Android
• Price: $889 / £749

Camera Performance:

The Find X5 Pro has good image quality and excellent low-light video performance, although its short telephoto lens is a slight drawback.

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G: Best Used Samsung

Main Specifications:

• Camera configuration: 4 cameras, 2 telephoto lenses
• Video: 8K
• OS: Android
• Price: $600 / £600 (refurbished)

Camera Performance:

The S22 Ultra’s multiple lenses offer great flexibility and good image quality, but the 100x digital zoom is very much a gimmick.

Apple iPhone 13 Pro: The best used iPhone for photography

Main Specifications:

• Camera configuration: 3 x 12MP cameras, 13mm, 26mm, 77mm equivalent
• OS: iOS
• Price: $938 / £717

Camera Performance:

The iPhone 13 Pro improves on the 12 Pro with a faster lens, a new macro mode and a longer telephoto shooting range, enabling better image stabilization and cinematic video.

The post Best Camera Phones For Photography in 2024 appeared first on Review Products.

This rugged laptop has been designed for professional workspaces away from the comfort of office life.

The Durabook S15 is a rugged laptop designed for professionals needing a computer that will work in environments that aren’t always ideal for normally delicate computing equipment, and it can do this without compromising on performance. Its robust construction, complying with MIL-STD-810H standards, ensures reliability in challenging environments, while the high-performance Intel Core processor offers decent computing power. The large 15.6″ FHD DynaVue sunlight-readable display enables easy outdoor screen visibility. Unlike other rugged laptops, the Durabook keeps things lightweight and relatively slimline, making it highly portable, especially with the carry handle. Overall, the S15 is a versatile, durable, and powerful enough computing solution for field and industrial professionals.

Pros

• +High-end performance
• +Durable design
• +Bright display for outdoor use

Cons

• -Not waterproof
• -Average camera
• -Limited processing power

DURABOOK S15: 30-SECOND REVIEW

SPECS:-

• CPU: Intel Core i5 (12th Gen)
• Graphics: Intel Iris Xe; Optional NVIDIA Quadro T1000
• RAM: 32GB – Up to 64GB (4800 MHz DDR5)
• Storage: 500GB (256GB-2TB NVMe PCIe SSD; Optional 2nd/3rd storage)
• Rear Ports: Thunderbolt 4, USB 3.2 (Type A/C), HDMI, VGA, Ethernet, Serial, Nano-SIM, DC-In
• Front Ports: Audio in/out, microSD card
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth V5.3; Optional GPS, 4G/5G
• Audio: Integrated microphone, High Definition Audio, Speakers
• Camera: Optional 2.0/5.0 MP; IR for Windows Hello
• Size: 375mm x 273mm x 29.5mm; Weight: 2.6kg
• OS installed: Windows 11 Pro 64-bit
• Accessories: Various, including SSDs, Docking Stations, Adapters

The Durabook S15 strikes a fine balance between rugged durability and a sleek, slimline design. Its build quality is reassuring and reinforces its capability to withstand challenging conditions; it’s also a reflection of its rugged aesthetics.

WIth plenty of experience testing the best rugged laptops, one aspect that really stands out is how this model is impressively adaptable, offering customisation options, including CPU and GPU variations at the time of purchase. Our test of the base model, equipped with an Intel i5 CPU and Intel Iris XE GPU, demonstrated sufficient flexibility with ample RAM, 32GB, and storage expansion options. Despite not being waterproof, its IP5X rating highlights its resilience in tough environments.

In use, the S15 effortlessly handles office tasks and internet browsing, with Windows operating smoothly across various applications. However, its base GPU does show limitations when pushed with graphically intensive tasks, a gap filled by the optional NVIDIA Quadro T1000 variant for those needing extra power. Durability tests, including repeated drop tests, underscore its robustness, easily surviving falls from typical working heights.

In essence, the Durabook S15 very much feels like that link between the refined style of the best business laptops we’ve tried and the durability of full-on rugged models. While it may struggle with high-end gaming or demanding CAD applications, its core strength lies in its tough build and operational flexibility. Durabook offers enhanced versions if you are looking for additional power, which makes the S15 a versatile choice for professionals who require a durable yet capable laptop.

DURABOOK S15: PRICE & AVAILABILITY

The Durabook S15 Semi-Rugged Laptop is available online from both the official Durabook site and elsewhere. Expect prices of around $2000 / £1800 plus.

Score: 4/5

DURABOOK S15: DESIGN & BUILD

The Durabook S15’s design is instantly recognisable as rugged, with the style highlighting the durable nature of the machine and how it is tailored to demanding field environments. Its exterior is notably tough, featuring a large, easy-to-use lever lock on the lid that ensures the laptop remains closed even when dropped, and it’s designed in such a way that it’s unlikely to be accidentally released.

The laptop’s build quality is reflected in design elements such as the toughened corners and overall sturdy construction. It is designed to withstand a significantly higher degree of physical stress compared to standard laptops, including resistance to knocks, scratches, and bashes, of which it sustained quite a few through the test.

This durability is not just superficial; the attention to detail extends to the protection of vital components. All ports on the S15 are safeguarded by strong plastic doors, ensuring they remain free from dust and damage. This includes the expansion slot, which is versatile enough to accommodate traditional optical drives or a range of other drive types, such as NVMe SSDs. The laptop even supports RAID array configurations, demonstrating Durabook’s commitment to providing flexible and practical solutions for field use.

One user-friendly feature is the inclusion of a convenient carry handle, making the laptop extremely easy to transport. This may seem like a minor addition, but for professionals working in field conditions, such convenience is invaluable. Overall, the Durabook S15’s design and build quality clearly reflect a deep understanding of the challenging environments it is intended for, offering a highly functional and robust computer for on-site professionals.

Design: 4.5/5

DURABOOK S15: FEATURES

The Durabook S15 is a decent blend of rugged durability and computing power, designed to meet the needs of professionals in demanding field environments. One of the standout features of the S15 is its incredibly thin and light profile, which is unusual for a rugged laptop. Despite weighing just 2.6kg and being only 29.5mm thin, it does not compromise on strength. It can endure a 4-foot drop and is both IP5X and MIL-STD-810H certified, ensuring reliability in challenging field conditions.

When using laptops outside, being able to see the screen clearly is essential, and here, the S15 features a 15.6-inch Full HD DynaVue sunlight-readable display, offering up to 1,000 nits brightness, making it perfect for outdoor use. Inside powering the graphics is Intel Iris Xe graphics, offering the average graphics processing speed that’s required for standard Windows operation. For professionals needing more graphics power, such as in rendering or CAD applications, there’s an option to upgrade to the NVIDIA Quadro T1000 at the time of purchase.

Mobility is a key aspect of the S15’s design, with options for 4G LTE or 5G cellular connections, along with Bluetooth V5.3 and Wi-Fi 6E. For remote workers, the optional built-in GPS is a great addition, providing accurate location tracking. The laptop also features a long-life battery, capable of operating up to 12 hours of standard use, and the option of a bridge battery for swapping in the field, which is crucial for many industries.

Beyond just being a laptop, the S15 can transform into a mobile workstation. It can be equipped with up to three storage drives, supporting RAID 0 and RAID 1 configurations. The flexibility extends to its media bay, which can be converted into an ExpressCard 54 slot, broadening its use.

The connectivity and security features of the S15 include an array of ports, including Thunderbolt 4, USB 3.2 Type-A/-C, HDMI, and VGA, ensuring easy connection in any work setting. Security is paramount, with multi-factor authentication options like Windows Hello webcam, RFID/NFC, smartcard, and fingerprint readers safeguarding sensitive data.

The ergonomic design of the S15 includes a 98-key membrane keyboard with a dedicated numeric keypad and optional LED backlight. Finally, the S15 offers expandability, and it can be configured with a dedicated graphics card for specialised tasks like graphics rendering and CAD programs and configured with additional connectivity options like a 2nd RJ-45 and a 2nd RS-232 port, making it an adaptable tool in an evolving mobile work environment. These are all added at the time of purchase and are not additions to the laptop you can make later.

Features: 4/5

DURABOOK S15: PERFORMANCE

BENCHMARKS

• Crystal Disk Read: 3647.40MB/s
• Crystal Disk Write: 2200.13MB/s
• GeekBench CPU Single: 3970
• GeekBench CPU Multi: 1871
• GeekBench Compute: 8727
• PC Mark: 4314
• CineBench CPU Multi: 4147
• CineBench CPU Single: 1374
• Fire Strike Overall: 2581
• Fire Strike Graphics: 3053
• Fire Strike Physics: 9825
• Fire Strike Combined: 791
• Time Spy Overall: 929
• Time Spy Graphics: 830
• Time Spy CPU: 2895
• Wild Life: 5757
• Windows Experience: 8.1

The Durabook S15 delivers a robust performance across various benchmarks, indicative of its capabilities in handling a range of tasks from basic to moderately demanding applications.

In terms of storage performance, the Crystal Disk scores are quite impressive. The read speed of 3647.40MB/s and write speed of 2200.13MB/s suggest that the S15 is more than capable of handling large files and data-intensive operations swiftly, making it suitable for applications that require quick data access and processing.

The Geekbench scores offer a glimpse into the CPU’s capability. A single-core score of 3970 and a multi-core score of 1871 demonstrate that while the S15 is competent in handling everyday tasks efficiently, it might face some limitations in heavily multi-threaded applications. The computed score of 8727 further underscores its adequacy for general computing tasks.

In the CineBench tests, which are more focused on the CPU’s rendering capabilities, the S15 scores 4147 in multi-core and 1374 in single-core tests. These scores reflect its ability to manage moderately demanding rendering tasks, although it may not be the top choice for highly complex rendering work.

The graphics performance, as indicated by the Fire Strike and Time Spy benchmarks, shows a decent capability with overall scores of 2581 and 929, respectively. The laptop seems to handle standard graphical tasks well, but it might not be optimal for high-end gaming or advanced 3D rendering. The Wild Life score of 5757 further reinforces this perspective.

Lastly, the Windows Experience score of 8.1 is a good indicator of the laptop’s overall capability to provide a smooth user experience for most typical applications and tasks.

The Durabook S15 appears to be a solid performer for everyday professional tasks, including data management and basic graphical applications. It offers quick storage speeds and decent CPU and GPU performance, making it a reliable choice for professionals who require a rugged laptop with balanced performance features. However, for highly demanding graphical or rendering tasks, it might be worth considering models with higher-spec CPUs and GPUs.

As well as the standard computing performance test, this is a tough laptop, and as such, the durability of the S15 also needed to be tested. In the product description, Durabook highlights that the laptop is IP5X rated and drop-proof to 4 feet.

In the first test, the laptop was used in a CNC, laser and 3D print workshop, left between the Bambu Labs A1 and the SnapMaker Artisan with CNC tooling. It was left open to the debris created by the two machines. While most laptops will withstand this amount of dust, it can render keys and ports blocked. Here, due to the design of the keyboard, the dust was not an issue, and a quick shake and vacuum quickly returned the machine to an almost new condition. Likewise, the plastic port covers did their job of keeping dust out.

The next test was to see how the laptop would cope with being used in light rain. It’s worth noting that this is not a waterproof laptop, so time in the rain was kept to five minutes. Here again, the laptop functioned without issue and continued to work after the product shot without issue.

The final test was the drop test here, measuring four feet off the floor. The laptop was dropped, then dropped again, rotated, dropped, etc. and aside from a nasty crack as it hit the stone and then the wooden floor on countless occasions, it seemed to be absolutely fine.

Performance: 3.5/5

SHOULD YOU BUY THE DURABOOK S15?

Deciding whether to purchase the Durabook S15 hinges on your specific needs. Its rugged design, MIL-STD-810H and IP5X certifications make it an ideal if you’re a field professional working in uncontrolled environments, workshops, warehouses and factories.

The inclusion of a 15.6” Full HD DynaVue display and options for Intel Iris Xe or NVIDIA Quadro T1000 graphics make it versatile for a range of professional tasks. Moreover, its lightweight and slim profile defies the typical rugged laptop stereotype, enhancing portability.

However, the S15 might not be the best fit for those requiring a machine for advanced gaming or intensive multimedia tasks like high-end video editing or 3D rendering nor should it be as that’s not it’s key market. While it performs well in standard and moderately demanding applications, its capabilities in handling extremely graphics-intensive tasks are limited. Additionally, the investment cost, which starts relatively high, should be considered, especially if your requirements are more aligned with general computing rather than rugged field use.

Buy it if…

You’re working in the field.

If you’re a professional working in demanding field conditions or rough environments, the Durabook S15 is an excellent choice. Its rugged design, reliable performance, and durable build make it ideal for handling the rigours of outdoor or industrial work.

You have expansive storage needs.

If you require a laptop with versatile storage options, the Durabook S15 is a great choice. It supports up to three storage drives, including options for NVMe PCIe SSDs and traditional SATA SSDs, providing ample space and fast data access.

Don’t buy it if…

You need a machine for advanced gaming and graphics.

The Durabook S15, while robust and efficient for standard tasks, isn’t built for advanced gaming. Its graphics capabilities are limited, making it unsuitable for high-end gaming experiences.

You’re creating complex multimedia projects.

Professionals in fields requiring intensive multimedia creation, like high-resolution video editing or 3D rendering, might find the S15’s performance restrictive. It’s designed more for durability than for high-end creative tasks.

The post Durabook S15 Review appeared first on Review Products.