Video | Mobiles365

Apple iPhone 12 review: yes, buy it! (video)

Posted on November 11, 2020November 11, 2020 by Anton D. Nagy

This is the iPhone 12, what Apple Calls Blast Past Fast, whatever that means, and yet what I’m gonna call the iPhone most people should buy, even if a couple of the reasons that made its predecessor so popular took a back seat.

That more affordable price strategy that we praised which separated the XR from the 11 went down the drain; an odd move considering that the price drop happened even with the iPhone 11 being superior. 2020, being as tough as it’s been, would’ve made that strategy even more ideal, but it’s important to look at the bigger picture. In Apple’s defense, you can still buy the XR and 11 for less money, and it’s important to clarify that the iPhone 12 is NOT an iterative update. This is an entirely different animal that’s so much better than its predecessor, that for the first time ever, I’m seriously questioning if you need to go Pro.

I’ve always been fascinated by the purpose of the non-pro iPhones. In the past, the slogan was the right amount of everything, and that held true for the most part. It wasn’t the best looking phone but it resembled the Pro in many ways. The display wasn’t the best, but it nailed color accuracy like few at its price, and even if it didn’t have all the cameras, it had the most popular ones in tow.

Hardware

By contrast, the iPhone 12 doesn’t really follow on any of that. It’s actually more similar to the 12 Pro than you think. If you were to stack them both side by side from the front, you wouldn’t be able to tell a difference. They share the exact same design language, the same size, and for the first time, some of the differences are kind of welcome. The aluminum build is not just lighter to hold, but also provides this matte finish on the sides that is gorgeous and not prone to fingerprints. And sure, the back glass is not exempt from smudges or looks as red as experts wish it did, but I don’t care, Product Red continues to be my favorite finish.

Seriously, a comparison with the iPhone 11 would be more to show the new vs the old, but not to measure similarities. This new flatter finish makes the old curves seem dated, and also contribute to durability in the process. It’s dramatically smaller than what we had before, but looks can be deceiving.

See, this is a way more efficient display than what we had on its predecessor. It’s the same 6.1-inch diagonal, but since the technology jumped from LCD to OLED, the bezels were trimmed. Rumors pointed to this also being an OLED made by a different manufacturer, but if Apple also dubs this as a Pro Display XDR, who are we to argue? We have the same color accuracy and contrast ratio, the same viewing angles, and even the same loud dual firing speakers to enhance content consumption. I know, odd move in offering their Pro display on a non-pro smartphone.

If only that efficiency extended to the entire display and that right antenna band were a fingerprint scanner during this pandemic. Many rumors surfaced over improvements to Face ID, or the reduction of the module, but nope. The same exact obstructive notch that’s been pretty useless all year while wearing a mask.

It’s also sort of Pro if you look at the internals. Same 5nm A14 Bionic chip that powers Apple’s next-generation products, but with a few things trimmed down. There’s a bit less RAM, and Storage tiers were cut in half, though upgrading to more storage is actually less expensive. Everything else, from the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, to the IP rating, heck even the support for all flavors of 5G is the same.

I’d give the hardware a solid A. The smaller footprint makes this an ideal one-handed phone, though keep in mind that even if the ceramic shield on the glass is harder to break, it’s still just as easy to scratch. Get a case, and if you want to enhance the flat design of this phone, channel sponsor SUPCASE has got the coolest case EVER. Here’s the perfect iPhone 4 bumper throwback with the new UB Edge. It’s a matte and scratch-resistant metal bumper with elevated bezels to protect the screen and the back along with cut-outs to make all features accessible. It’s also modular with a detachable clear back panel in case you want added protection, all for just $19 on Amazon. If you wanna go fancier and with full-screen protection, there’s the new UB Royal made of a shock absorbing TPU, faux leather, and a hand strap. Simply search iPhone 12 Case by SUPCASE on Amazon to find all their options. We’ve partnered with SUPCASE to give away an iPhone 12 mini and 12 Pro Max, so follow the link in the description to participate and enter promo code POCKETNOWMAX to enhance your chances to win.

Performance

Now, back to internals and performance, let’s be real, Apple knows its market and cares so little about most of the numbers that they rarely provide detailed specs. All people want is for the thing to work as advertised, and hey, I just reviewed the most affordable iPad a few weeks ago and realized it made no sense to go Pro. The experience using it was nearly identical to using an iPad Pro, and that’s kind of the same story here.

Can you really name an App that’s exclusive to the iPhone 12 Pro? None, right. That’s the beauty of iOS. All apps run, from the cheapest iPhone SE to the most expensive 12 Pro Max. Maybe they’ll launch a second faster on one than the other, but it’s not as if you’ll feel short-changed by any iPhone that’s still being sold.

The iPhone 12 may be shorter on RAM, but I bet you won’t be able to tell. Apps launch quick, games play just the same, and every single element of iOS 14 is here. From the picture in picture to the more compact Siri that has evolved a bit, to the new automated AirPod Switching and spacial audio, to widgets on the homes screen, it’s all here.

And since we began talking about it, you really gotta hand it to Apple for how good they are at locking you into their ecosystem. The Apple Watch continues to be my favorite Smart Watch, I edit videos on a Mac so AirDrop is crazy convenient, I handle my scripts with the new iPad Air, and now that Apple One came to town, it’s making it harder and harder to switch away.

iOS 14

That said, let’s talk about the state of iOS 14. It is a bit buggy, I know. I’m willing to forgive it for now given the much-needed changes in visuals. What I battle with is the state of widgets. I have more than 90 apps on my phone, at most 10% of these support the new feature. I wonder what’s the holdback?

Also, if you come from an iPhone 11 or XR, the other change to notice is endurance. You may complain about LCDs all you want, but those two phones were all-day battery champs thanks to how efficient the technology became, plus the larger power packs. I’d call the iPhone 12 a decent one day phone like the Pro. I’m sure the A14 is helping, but the smaller battery is not.

Phone calls are just as good as with every iPhone, and to not be bothered about which flavor of 5G to get is awesome. I’ve tested this phone on multiple carriers, and even if Ultra Wide Band is currently hard to find, at least I know my phone will support it down the line.

Camera

Now if there is one reason why you’ll debate going Pro, even more, is the cameras. Yes, you only get a primary and ultra-wide at the back, losing the added kick of the telephoto, but then the specifications between the existing ones are the same, and once you dig into the results, the dilemma only gets more complicated.

Apple’s new image processing proves major improvements to an already great phone. You’ll actually notice when you take a still that processing continues even after the fact. The result is a fantastic detail, crazy good dynamic range, and colors that are so balanced that you’ll have an easy time editing in postprocessing to your preferred tone if need be. I’m not a fan of Apple not making it easy to switch focal lengths on this phone, nor would I recommend that you push it to 5X digital, but if you stick to the ultra-wide, primary and then fumble to 2X, I have photos where you won’t be able to tell if they were taken with the Pro or the regular. I’d even say that 2X digital is good enough for social media if you’re not too picky.

Night Mode now makes it to all cameras and what I’d call fairly usable from the primary or selfie, with the Ultra Wide being ok, but I do wish we had the option to select the mode, and not depend on the camera app determining that you need it or not.

I do like selfies and portraits from this phone a lot. The lens is wide enough to not bloat your face, it handles depth really well, and about the only thing to debate is how it handles skin tones. I’m sure most of you won’t complain, but yeah there is a tad of beautification going on here.

Seriously the reason I drift most to iPhones is for video, but first, go to Settings, Camera, Record Video, switch off HDR Video. Like sure this phone can do Dolby Vision HDR, but unless you’re a pro, you’ll wanna disable this. It’ll make your Instagram stories look blown up, and if you plan to edit these videos, apps like Final Cut still don’t support it.

Stick to regular video for now, which is the best from a phone in my opinion, with great stabilization and color, great dynamic range, no warping as you walk, and a very smooth operation to switch between focal lengths. At night I will recommend you get a gimbal to reduce the warping, I won’t recommend the ultra-wide, and yeah, Apple needs to do something about how it’s lenses handle flares with all these greens pots.

The thing is the selfie video on this phone, and the way it captures audio is so good, that if any of you are considering starting a YouTube channel, this should be your primary vlogging camera. Just spare yourself the complexity.

Conclusion

To conclude, I think it’s important to consider a few things. This is not the iPhone it used to be, and Apple has made it clear. If you’re on a budget and don’t care yet about 5G, you have the iPhone SE, XR, and even the 11 for a lot less money. You could even wait for the iPhone 12 mini and pay less money for that same 5G experience.

The iPhone 12 kind of reminds me of the “grow with your vehicle” mentality we’ve seen from car makers, where those who bought a Honda Accord as teenagers saw the later generations grow and evolve along with them. I actually think this phone is a very good deal even with the bump and price.

Think about it, you have the same aluminum and glass, the same display, the same complete 5G, and most of the camera experiences that will cost you four figures if you bought a Samsung Galaxy. It lags behind on 2020 essentials like high refresh rates, but we know a lot of services still don’t take advantage of it.

I think the iPhone 12 is not just all you need, but honestly, a dramatic leap forward when compared to its predecessor. It’s definitely not what I’d call as affordable, but the technologies used and its capabilities aren’t cheap either. The combination does so well in blurring the lines with the Pro, that I think it’s honestly the better buy, but expect that other review coming very soon.

The post Apple iPhone 12 review: yes, buy it! (video) appeared first on Pocketnow.

LG 38WN95C review: best LG monitor for work and play (video)

Posted on October 17, 2020October 17, 2020 by Anton D. Nagy

If you’re looking for the best monitor there is for pretty much any task you wanna throw at it, this is it. With 178 FoV, elegant design, great color accuracy, plenty of connectivity options, and tiltable design, the LG 38WN95C is our Editor’s Choice for the best monitor in its class.

This is the LG 38WN95C, what the company dubs as a wider, well-rounded experience, and what I’m gonna call one of my favorite products of 2020. See, one of the biggest challenges with what I do is that I can’t just use any monitor. There are specific reasons why it needs to be the best at certain things, and after spending some time with it at CES 2020, it was enough for me to know I needed to try it out.

I know for some of you a monitor is about refresh rate, or for others about the size. While for me, my workflow has a couple of demands.

The first is I need monitors, not just one. I handle a ton of tasks at once, so I either need more than one, or a canvas that’s large and wide enough to achieve the same task.

Second is the avoidance of distractions. The biggest problem with most large monitors is screen glare, which can confuse your content consumption.

And the most important, third is color accuracy. If you’re going to be editing a video, reds must be reds, blues must be blues.

For years LG has been one of the pioneers of Ultra-wide monitors, with some of the best glare-free experiences, and also, the gold standard for color accuracy, and this is their top of the line. This is not an affordable monitor by any means, but it offers the benefit of being everything that everyone wants, in one package.

The unboxing experience is one where I feel the company really goes all out. First of all prepare cause, the box is huge. Like seriously very large. Inside we’re greeted with lots of foam protecting the monitor and judging by the fact that mine traveled a few countries to get here, I say order with confidence.

I recommend following the instructions for taking the monitor out, setting up the metallic stand as the setup is fairly easy if you follow it step by step. At the top, we have a smaller box full of accessories. This is that one product where you seriously won’t have to spend a dime in buying any sort of cables, they’re all here.

The good

My second favorite feature on this monitor is the amount of IO. You get 2 HDMI ports, 2 USB 3 ports, a DisplayPort connector, a headphone jack, and then my favorite, Thunderbolt 3. All these literally enable my current setup. I currently have my mechanical keyboard connected to one of the USB ports, the mouse to the other, and that way, whatever Thunderbolt-capable computer I connect to the monitor will automatically detect them. Thunderbolt 3 also offers 94W power delivery, so you’re pretty much covered on this being the only cable that goes to your computer if need be.

Now let’s talk about why this display matters. This is a 38-inch 21:9 Ultra-Wide monitor at QuadHD+ resolution. That’s 3840 x 1600, which if you do the math is really just a few hundred pixels shy of being 4K. Its design allows for a crazy 178 degrees of field of view, and with very minor bezels on three of its sides, with just a slightly thicker bezel at the bottom.

It’s also the world’s first Nano-IPS monitor with 1 millisecond response times. This allows it to be crazy color-accurate covering 98% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and 135% of sRGB which is also VESA DisplayHDR 600 Certified backed by 450 nits of brightness. Best of all, it’s NVIDIA GSYNC compatible, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro compatible and it offers 144hz refresh rate, so yeah, everything but the kitchen sink in anything you could ask from a monitor. Match that with 2 loud 5W speakers on each side, and yeah, this is the real deal.

Now, while Diego loves the gaming aspects of it, for me this is more a productivity workhorse. I need a large canvas for video editing, that’s also color accurate, something every other gaming monitor can’t really claim. I consider this to be a far better solution than having two monitors stacked together. If you do the math, this is literally the equivalent of two separate 3 x 1 screens side by side, so for any other kind of work, this has allowed me to multitask like crazy.

This monitor is so wide, that there’s even a PBP mode, meaning you can set two inputs to work at the same time on each side of the monitor. It will require you to do a little juggling with the aspect ratios depending on the products you have connected, cause games don’t always adapt.

And speaking of games, it’s the main reason why I’ve left my Nintendo Switch connected permanently to the monitor. At first, you’ll notice resolution to be a bit fuzzy in menus, but when it comes to gameplay, that all goes away. I’d even say that this camera is not doing enough justice to the fluidness of the gameplay. The image quality on this monitor also makes my living room TV look so bad that it’s also become my go-to for watching a movie. Movies are pretty much the same aspect ratio.

The mixed

Now, of course, there’s no such thing as a perfect product, so let’s discuss the issues where I’m mixed with this monitor.

The first is really not a complaint, but really something that comes with the territory. Viewing angles won’t necessarily be the best, and reflections on shadows will be noticeable. For me having a matte screen is more important, so I’m fine, but just keep that in mind.

The second is the materials. I guess for the price I was expecting a bit more metal in the body. Obviously, that won’t bother you in day-to-day use, but just make sure you set it on a sturdy desk as it might wobble a bit if you’re a hard typer.

The third is the on-screen controls. Given the price, I do feel this monitor should at least have some sort of remote control to help you handle them. I’m not gonna call them bad, but since volume controls and brightness controls switch from the computer to the monitor completely, that can be kind of a chore.

Last but not least, yes, you can tilt the monitor, raise it to your preferred height and so many other ergonomic options, but if there’s one I wish wasn’t here is tilt as it’s really hard to tell when the monitor is not tilted. And also, yes I agree with other reviewers that the matte coating does seem like it can peel off from the corners, but no worries, you can’t, or at least not easily.

Conclusion

Probably one of the reasons I like this monitor most is its design. Doesn’t matter who walks into my home office, this monitor is imposing, and it’s elegant. Not really a fan of those gaming monitors that are just over the top with lights and stuff. I honestly prefer my monitors to be simplistic.

To conclude, let’s be honest. The reasons why I’m mixed are more nit-picks than anything. The LG 38WN95C is the best in its class and has won so many awards for a reason. If you’re looking for the best monitor there is for pretty much any task you wanna throw at it, I’d say this is it.

It will cost you though. This is definitely not an affordable monitor, but it also beats the need to have to own more than one monitor to suit your needs. In my book, this is definitely one of my favorite products of 2020. I have no problem recommending that you give it a try.

The post LG 38WN95C review: best LG monitor for work and play (video) appeared first on Pocketnow.

LG 38WN95C review: best LG monitor for work and play (video)

Posted on October 17, 2020October 19, 2020 by Anton D. Nagy

I know for some of you a monitor is about refresh rate, or for others about the size. While for me, my workflow has a couple of demands.

The first is I need monitors, not just one. I handle a ton of tasks at once, so I either need more than one, or a canvas that’s large and wide enough to achieve the same task.

Second is the avoidance of distractions. The biggest problem with most large monitors is screen glare, which can confuse your content consumption.

And the most important, third is color accuracy. If you’re going to be editing a video, reds must be reds, blues must be blues.

The good

The mixed

Now, of course, there’s no such thing as a perfect product, so let’s discuss the issues where I’m mixed with this monitor.

Conclusion

LG 38WK95C

The LG 38WK95C features a Resolution 3840 x 1600 pixel resolution. It comes with a 5mn response time, 21:9 aspect ratio, IPS panel with adaptive sync technology.

View at Amazon

The post LG 38WN95C review: best LG monitor for work and play (video) appeared first on Pocketnow.

New hands-on video of the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE leaves nothing to the imagination

Posted on September 19, 2020September 19, 2020 by Samuel Martinez

The new Fan Edition version of the S20 is scheduled to be announced on the next Galaxy Unpacked For Every Fan event on September 23, but recent leaks and rumors have told us just about everything we would want to know about this new device. Just yesterday, we saw some hands-on pictures of the phone, but now we get a complete video that shows us every detail of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S20 FE.

The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is just days away from its official launch, but we basically know everything there is to know about the device. Now, we have a new video of the Galaxy S20 FE at YouTube channel JimmyisPromo. He walks us through every important detail of the device, and he also takes the time to compare the Galaxy S20 FE to the regular Galaxy S20 and the Galaxy S20 Ultra.

This video comes to confirm tons of the rumors which have been related to the Galaxy S20 FE. First, he claims that this will be an aggressively priced device that may arrive with a $699 or $750 price tag, depending on the storage space you want to get. He also shows us every single side of the phone, pointing out that it will not feature a headphone jack. On the positive side, he mentions that the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE will include a similar camera to the one found in the vanilla Galaxy S20 that is a couple of hundred bucks more expensive than this version. Just don’t expect to find a ToF camera sensor in this device.

Now, we are still waiting for information regarding availability for the 5G and the 4G versions of the device, as we know that the 5G variant will be the version to include a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. In contrast, the LTE-only version will be stuck with Exynos processors.

Source SamMobile

The post New hands-on video of the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE leaves nothing to the imagination appeared first on Pocketnow.

Microsoft Surface Duo Unboxing (Video)

Posted on September 11, 2020September 11, 2020 by Adam Z. Lein

While you may have already seen some unboxing videos of the press-version of the Microsoft Surface Duo, today the device is on sale for real, so we’ve got the retail version to unbox.

The box includes a rubber “bumper” that basically sticks to the edges of the Surface Duo with glue. This is meant to protect it since you can’t really fit a proper case to it due to the 360-degree hinge flipping.

The box also includes a charging brick and a USB-C to USB-C cable along with a little documentation and the SIM card tray key. That’s about it! First impressions of the Surface Duo itself? It’s quite a unique shape, very thin, and very sturdy feeling.

However, the glass panels feel very glossy and will probably accept plenty of fingerprint grease. Check out our unboxing video below.

The post Microsoft Surface Duo Unboxing (Video) appeared first on Pocketnow.

New LG Wing with rotating dual screen has been caught on video

Posted on August 26, 2020August 26, 2020 by Samuel Martinez

LG hasn’t quite jumped on the foldable phone trend. Instead, the company has taken another direction. The company has been working on a new device with a rotating screen that could be known as the new LG Wing, and it seems that it may be closer to a possible launch.

Feast your eyes on the new LG Wing. The new device has been leaked in a video, thanks to the guys at Android Authority. This short clip shows us possible uses for this phone with a rotating display. The main display shows us a navigation app, while the secondary display houses music playback controls, and we can also see the user take a call while on the road.

Maybe the most intriguing part of this video is that it doesn’t show a notch or punch hole in the display to house a selfie camera. This device is also said to be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765 or 765G processor, a main 6.8-inch display, and a smaller 4-inch display that will twist to the side, giving the device a T design. Unfortunately, there’s no clue as to when it may become official, but we will keep you posted if further information gets revealed.

Source Android Authority

The post New LG Wing with rotating dual screen has been caught on video appeared first on Pocketnow.

This is the new Galaxy Note20 and Galaxy Note20 Ultra (video)

Posted on August 5, 2020August 5, 2020 by Anton D. Nagy

Video: Jaime Rivera and Adam Lein

It is about that time, again. After one of the most steady streams of leaks we’ve seen yet, meet the new Samsung Galaxy Note20 series, what the company calls as their “Most Powerful Note Series Yet”, and I think that for the first time since the Galaxy Note 8, I’m actually gonna agree.

See subsequent launches have proven that this line-up is probably Samsung’s most beloved, and yet each year after the Note 4 and then Note 8, many have complained that all we were really getting was a Galaxy S with an S Pen. Just a different chassis with the same specs, display, and camera. And this was always a problem because the Note went from being the vanguard device to being relegated to an iteration of that Galaxy S that would make it Obsolete six months later.

For 2020, the approach is actually changing. Some cases for the good, others quite interesting, others for the not so good.

I think this is the most interesting change in an approach that the company has done in recent times. Last year we saw a larger and smaller Galaxy Note 10 with slight differences in Specs, and the same happened early this year with the Galaxy S20. For the Note, I want you to remember how the Galaxy S10e was just as powerful as the other Galaxy S10s but yet different in design. Well, this is what we have with this line-up. Two Galaxy Note20s that look similar, are just as powerful, and yet their difference is actually not the size.

If you stacked them side by side, they really resemble each other. I’m glad Samsung finally made the jump to matte glass, which they’re dubbing their new timeless design. Both devices share the same Mystic Bronze finish, but if you go Ultra you have options for Mystic White or Black, and then the Note20 offers Mystic Green and Gray.

The Note20 Ultra is barely 2mm taller, 3mm wider, and around 16 grams heavier, even if the Note20 is a slight hair thicker. Visually they nearly look the same, but once you look closer you’ll see a flat display on the standard variant vs the Ultra. The regular Note20 has a 6.7-inch panel capped at 1080p+ and 60hz while the Ultra is 6.9-inches can do 120hz, though not exactly sure if at Quad HD+ just yet. The Ultra does mention Dynamic AMOLED on the spec sheet, but I didn’t see that mentioned on the regular Note20.

The spec sheet is one of the good things as finally, we get a more powerful Galaxy Note when compared to the S. We’re talking Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ at least in the US, 8/128 in RAM and storage for the regular, 12 and 128 or 512GB (expandable) for the Ultra. There’s barely a 200 mAh difference in battery size, same IP68 ratings, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5, fast and wireless charging capabilities, and ultrasonic fingerprint scanner. Same sub-6 and mmWave across both devices as well. A change might be a new Ultra Wide Band tech that serves to share files or as a digital key is exclusive to the Ultra.

Obviously the signature feature is the S Pen, which is technically the exact same across both devices physically. What changes is latency. Given the 120hz on the Ultra, this allows 9ms of latency while the standard does more like 42ms. If this is something triggered by the display I don’t expect you to notice a difference. What did change is that Air Gestures are now evolving to let you fully control your phone remotely, like when you’re giving a presentation. Honestly, things that sound cool, but that we’ll know more of when we get our full review units.

And since we started with the topic of software, oddly not much changed from a visual perspective, meaning it’s the typical One UI on top of Android 10, with very similar visuals. The important updates are really on how this phone integrates with productivity. Samsung Notes finally offers Live Sync across devices with your Samsung Account and even Microsoft Office, and these can now sync with audio recordings. You can import PDFs for annotations and even auto straighten your handwriting. There’s deeper integration with Microsoft’s link to windows allowing you to live stream your apps on your PC, in addition to better drag and drop features. You even get an Xbox game pass ultimate along with some other perks for gaming. And then Samsung DeX now works wirelessly and especially with Samsung TVs that support it. All these are experiences we’ll dive in soon.

Probably what I’m looking forward to most is the cameras as this is another interesting variation when compared to the S. See the Galaxy Note20 in specs resembles more the Galaxy S20 or 20, which were actually my favorite approach when it comes to specs, as you get a better play of megapixels on the telephoto. By contrast, the Galaxy Note20 Ultra shares the same primary sensor as the S20 Ultra, but then less powerful but still good telephoto and ultra-wide, and yeah we also don’t get that crazy 40-megapixel shooter in the selfie camera. Time will tell if the large hump is worth it when comparing results, as we now even have Laser Auto Focus.

What the company made more fanfare about is that they want to make this a better video camera now that social video is huge. It records 8K at 24fps, options for a more cinematic aspect ratio of 21:9, smooth adjusting of zoom speed between cameras, and even select the direction you want the audio to focus on, and even use the Galaxy Buds Live as a remote Bluetooth Microphone. That I really want to test as rarely do companies get Bluetooth audio sync right.

As for the not so good part, let’s talk price. The Galaxy Note20 starts at $999, which is a $50 hike from the Galaxy Note 10, and sure you do get more size, but half the storage and some other trade-offs to punch in the 5G. The Ultra is where things get steep though starting $1299, a whopping $200 more than last year’s plus, for half the storage as the last year. But hey you get all the perks. Sadly we only had a brief amount of time to get first impressions of them before the event, but I can tell you they are beautiful and finally as powerful as they should’ve always been. Let me know what you think about the price in the comments.

Now the company didn’t stop there. We do have a new Galaxy Watch 3 backed by a design of Swiss Watch Designer IWC Schaffhausen. We have a premium stainless steel body, 3 colors, and yes, the Rotating Bezel is back! It’s actually 14% thinner, 8% smaller and 15% lighter than its predecessor and offers two+ days of battery life, all while offering a larger display, a new approach to workouts, sleep tracking, stress testing, fall detection, and even fitness at home. I’ll get back to you on more details once we have our review units, but so far we have two sizes at 41 and 45mm, and pricing starts at $399 for Bluetooth or $429 for LTE.

We also got the new Galaxy Buds Live in which the focus was ergonomics, active noise canceling with an open-type design which is my favorite, IPX2 water resistance, advanced audio with 12mm drivers, a game mode to reduce latency, beamforming for voice pick up, 3 microphones and a crazy 8 hours of playback without ANC, 6.5 hours with it, and 21 hours on the cradle. All starting at a very aggressive $169.

Last but not least, a Galaxy Tab S7 and S7+ which would be the company’s first 5G tablets. Two sizes 11 and 12-inch with different screen technologies, SUPER Amoled and 120hz on the plus variant. Both powered by the new Snapdragon 865+. There’s a larger S Pen in tow, the new approach to Samsung Notes, a new full keyboard experience, DeX functionality the moment you dock it, and three color options starting at $649 for the 11-inch variant and $849 for the 12-inch plus model.

But here’s the thing. You guys know Samsung. By the time you watch this video, I’m sure there will be one more thing. Stay tuned for the Pocketnow Daily later today as we discuss whatever else we didn’t get for you ahead of time.

But yes, this is the new Samsung Galaxy Family. A new approach, new looks, more powerful, but all things we’ll have to test in our full reviews to tell you which one is right for you.

Let us know what you liked most in the comments!

The post This is the new Galaxy Note20 and Galaxy Note20 Ultra (video) appeared first on Pocketnow.

The Samsung Galaxy Book Flex finally made me replace my iPad Pro (video)

Posted on August 3, 2020August 3, 2020 by Anton D. Nagy

I don’t think anyone celebrated the announcement of iPad OS more than I did last year. I’ve been paying top dollar for iPad Pros for years, so the idea of finally having something as simple as a desktop browser or a file manager was all that I thought I needed. The problem is that while the principle is there, meaning Safari does tell websites that it’s a computer and not a phone, the capability is hit or miss because it still behaves like a phone. While we do now have a file explorer, this whole approach to accessing files between apps, or sharing them is this convoluted set of unnecessary steps.

I was hoping that iPad OS 14 would be the solution, but neither of those things was addressed, and just why widgets don’t work on the larger canvas is just ridiculous to me. And I get it, maybe Apple doesn’t want to have its own iPad to compete in certain ways with the Mac, but have you done the math of how much it costs to buy a decent and fully equipped iPad Pro? It’s between 800 to 1000 dollars for the tablet, over 300 dollars for the keyboard, 120 dollars for the pencil. You’re talking 12 to 1500 dollars for a product that still can’t do everything.

And here’s the thing, I’ve spent two years looking a better alternative. A tablet with pro-grade stylus support for some uses, but that could be a full-blown computer without restrictions for others uses where the iPad failed. First I thought the Pixel Slate could solve the problem, but we know that crashed and burned. The Always Connected PC is really close to this ideal, but some app compatibility holds it back. And then while the Surface Pro was good, it’s still not my favorite form factor. I was seriously starting to lose hope until I found something better.

This is the Samsung Galaxy Book Flex, what the company dubs as QLED brilliance in a powerful 2-in-1, and yeah, there’s actually a broader story as to why this product matters. Thing is Josh’s review from a few months ago left me convinced that this was the product I was looking for, and after a few weeks of use, there’s a lot to say.

Now to clarify, my use of the iPad Pro wasn’t really about the product. Actually what I really need is a seamless combination between a tablet, a precise stylus, and Microsoft OneNote. This allows it to become the digital notepad that I bring to meetings for notes, that helps me prepare my shot list, and then helps me get it done as I highlight its completion.

The reason why I’ve been looking for a replacement is that it’s not really a good laptop, even with the keyboard case. It enabled my work process in ways a regular computer couldn’t, but going back to college reminded me of just how limited iPads are. Yeah, I know, COVID-19 made me do some positive things. But see, the problem is that my entire college platform is just not supported by the browser, which means that no matter how versatile Apple wants to tell you this product is, I still can’t recommend it as a full computer replacement.

For such a steep price you simply can’t rely on a product that’s hit or miss, so let me start this video telling you the reasons why I switched.

The first is this new design language. Usually, laptops have these huge palm rests and tall displays, and for some reason, Samsung decided to move things around in order to provide the same experience on a smaller footprint. This is actually a wider-than-average 2-in-1 that brings the keyboard closer to the center, which gives it this very compact feel. Regardless, it still manages to include a full-size keyboard that’s very smooth to the touch, and we have a wider than average trackpad to match, which I’ve found to be very precise. I don’t know about you, but I’m also a fan of this midnight blue color with chromed edges. It makes you stand out in a sea of gray or black computers.

The second is that this is not a watered-down computer. This is actually Samsung’s top of the line powered by an Intel 10th Generation Core i7, and in the US you have the option for 8 or 12 gigs of RAM depending on size configuration and 512 Gigs of storage. You also get Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5, microSD storage expansion, a headphone jack and USB-C on one side, and then two Thunderbolt 3 ports on the other in case you want to go hard on gaming with an eGPU.

The third is the approach to the display. If you watched my review of the Samsung Q90R, I’m a huge fan of QLED, and this would be the first time we see it reach a laptop. Quantum Dot technology allows for some of the most vibrant colors I’ve seen, great viewing angles, some really good brightness which you can even boost outdoors with the push of a button. The top and side bezels are nearly nonexistent on this 13-inch panel, and I’ll forgive the 720p resolution on the webcam just because they crammed it where it’s supposed to be somehow. Yeah, I agree a bit more resolution than 1080p would’ve been great, though the display technology makes it really hard to notice, and you’re right, the bottom chin was a missed opportunity for a taller screen. That said, I’m one of the weirdos that prefers a 16:9 aspect ratio for side by side productivity.

Fourth is something I’ve wanted for years. The display includes a WACOM digitizer, and that little extra block on the right side of the computer is the same exact S Pen you get on the Galaxy Note, meaning the silo design charges it while tucked in and also spares you the need to worry about magnets or having it fall off. But then the gravy on top is that this is not just another computer with a stylus, Samsung baked its Galaxy Note software in such a way that this is literally a Galaxy Note on a larger canvas. Extract the Pen to be greeted by the company’s Air Menu at the right, Control your computer with Air Gestures for when you want to give a presentation remotely, and then the full list of Galaxy Note apps is all here if that’s your thing.

For me, it’s the fact that Samsung and Microsoft have been collaborating on Microsoft Office support for years on the Galaxy Note. Sure being able to doodle on your spreadsheet is not new, but added precision of the S Pen matched with the tighter integration and the tighter integration with the S Pen leads to a more natural experience. You can fully place the tablet in tent mode or flip it as a tablet all together and use it as a tall or wide notepad, which I’ve been using to turn in my hand-written statistics home works.

The fifth is the resulting performance. Onboard we have Windows 10 Home Edition, so that typical quick boot and speedy performance to launch and move around apps are here. This is a U Series chip, so you get top of the line clock speeds, and keep in mind that these 10th generation processors got a significant boost in integrated Iris Plus graphics. This means you can run Fortnite at 1080p and do some video editing with what’s onboard, or connect an optional eGPU through Thunderbolt to do some heavier lifting. Yes, there is a very subtle fan for cooling given the added power, but that’ll mostly be off unless you tax it. It’s the same experience I noticed with Battery life. Samsung advertises up to 20 hours of endurance which we know that no company actually achieves. My daily usage gave me more of an 8 to 10-hour average, but I’m one of those people that depend on Chrome. Rule of thumb is if you need it to last longer, switch Chrome off and notice the fans switch off with it.

Sixth is the topic of the ecosystem. In all fairness, you just gotta hand it to Apple for how well they blend their products, while most competitors still struggle to make their phones and computers talk to each other. Samsung by contrast takes the ecosystem idea further. The trackpad is actually a Qi wireless charger for any product that supports it. DeX comes pre-installed in case you want to fully control your Galaxy Phone, and you can use the Your Phone app to control others as well. You can then bring your phone’s gallery or sync your Samsung Notes through your Samsung Account, which comes very handy especially if you use a Galaxy Note.

But alright, you guys know me all too well, and handwriting love letters is not my thing. There is a lot to like about this product, and then a few things I’m mixed about.

I already mentioned the display resolution and the bottom bezel, but then there’s also the hinge, which is probably one of my favorite design aspects as it’s really smooth to prop this computer in whatever position you want. The problem is that if you’re in a windy situation the screen will tend to wobble a bit in laptop mode, and then if you place it in tablet mode, I wish it had magnets to create a tighter seal between the bottom and the top, even if that’s a bit of nitpicking.

The second, yes my brother Flossy Carter is right, the speakers are good, but not great. The software includes a ton of ways to tune them, and I could watch a movie in them but they’re not my favorite. That said, try the DAC on this computer, either on the headphone jack or USB-C. The audio quality is so loud and crisp that I can’t go higher than 60% volume. It’s crazy good.

And the last is a couple of stupid nit pics, like the persistent LED indicator which serves no purpose, the fingerprint scanner on the keyboard which is a nice idea, but makes the right shift key smaller and is cumbersome to reach in tablet mode. And also that I wish the function lock wouldn’t control the cursor keys as I do prefer short cuts over function keys, but it switches the arrow keys to become home, page up or page down.

To conclude, notice that there are things I like and there are a few things I’m mixed about, but nothing really that I can’t say I don’t like. I now understand why Josh gave this an Editor’s Choice in his review, which I can totally back in my second impressions. The Samsung Galaxy Book Flex is the Galaxy Note tablet that I always wanted, which also happens to be a Windows 10 computer without compromise.

I even thought that the idea of replacing the iPad Pro with a computer would be added bulk, but do the math of the iPad Pro with that Magic Keyboard in price, weight, and thickness, and let’s just face the facts. There are just too many limitations for the price. And sure, you can argue with me that you can edit videos on an iPad with Luma Fusion, or that you can do some Photoshop with the new app. Which should be fine for amateurs. On full Windows 10, these are not just stripped-down versions of Photoshop or Premiere Pro, which you can then assist for rendering with the modularity of an eGPU over Thunderbolt 3… stuff an iPad just can’t do. If you think of it, the Galaxy Book Flex is like a 13-inch MacBook Pro with iPad Pro capabilities, for the price of just one of the two products.

I do think it’s time it’s finally time to switch. And listen, no hate on the iPad Pro, it’s still a good product, but these are sadly just powerful tablets on paper if the operating system does not do more than just iPad things. In their current state, I do think Apple needs to tune down the name Pro if it only caters to artists, musicians, and designers. The Galaxy Book Flex on the other hand is able to serve all kinds of Pros, and even in the best economy, people can’t just buy a laptop and a tablet. It’s one of the main reasons why this has quickly become one of my favorite products of 2020.

What about you? What are your thoughts on the Samsung Galaxy Book Flex?

The post The Samsung Galaxy Book Flex finally made me replace my iPad Pro (video) appeared first on Pocketnow.

New Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5G has appeared in a new leaked video

Posted on July 10, 2020July 10, 2020 by Samuel Martinez

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5G is one of the devices we expect to launch in the next Galaxy Unpacked event, alongside the new Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series. This device is not expected to be very different from its regular LTE version, but now we can see the device in its new Mystic Bronze color variant.

New post at Patreon: "Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5G, Mystic Bronze – 360 Spin" [https://t.co/qcEu4M4Vfz] pic.twitter.com/2hbpUmjEff

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) July 2, 2020

We have received a new video leak of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5G, thanks to Evan Blass. He posted this image on Twitter, where we can get a 360 spin of the device that doesn’t look that different from the regular Galaxy Z Flip. However, it is believed that the Galaxy Z Flip 5G will come with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ processor under the hood.

Source SamMobile

Via Twitter

The post New Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5G has appeared in a new leaked video appeared first on Pocketnow.

LG Velvet review: style vs substance? (video)

Posted on June 25, 2020June 25, 2020 by Anton D. Nagy

LG is changing things up! And that’s a really good thing, for the most part. Where will you land in this new, stylish brand that finally breaks away from the Vs and the Gs of the world? This is our LG Velvet review.

High style

Like many of you, my excitement over the LG Velvet was due to its skin-deep beauty. It’s not to say that LG has made bad looking phones over the last few years — they just felt so familiar with each passing product. Now with a totally new name and a new look, there’s some excitement about the new branding. The Velvet is a fashion-forward device, complete with a slew of different colors — mine is the Aurora Green, but I have seen that Illusion Sunset popping up for some of our other friends. Green is my jam, but I do feel a little bit of envy for that gradient version.

LG’s commitment to a flashier design continues with the camera module. Thank goodness we don’t have another big rectangle or circle or huge camera hump — it’s just nice to see a company try something different. LG calls this the raindrop camera design and aside from the main sensor it literally doesn’t stick out that much. In a lot of ways, the first glance at the LG Velvet is striking because it is subtler than many other phones we’ve seen in 2020. Instead of going hard in the paint with features, camera sensors, or even size, LG manages to make a phone instantly memorable when the light hits it just right. Granted, the sheen needs a clean from time to time, due to a rather fingerprint prone finish. The entire phone is also meant to be pretty sturdy, as LG has made the Velvet MIL-SPEC certified, which is nice for a style-forward device.

Keeping hold of the LG Velvet isn’t too difficult, however, as a few choices led to an ergonomic handling experience. The 6.8-inch P-OLED Full HD+ display is a bit narrow and a bit tall, making it easier to grip. Though a curve on the screen might not appeal to everyone, there is also a curve on the back, resulting in a really thin device that, to me, is a pretty radical change from the G and V line thickness. But there’s just enough space for LG to continue providing a couple of specific features — there is a headphone jack and a convenient shortcut key that gives easy access to Google Assistant. You can even hold it down and talk to the Assistant walkie-talkie style.

Coming back to the screen, there is one thing LG hasn’t been able to shake, and it’s their notch. Ultimately this is not a huge deal, but it’s worth mentioning because in some apps it still cuts into the content. Overall, the viewing experience is high quality and indicative of what LG has done in years past. This might not be a high refresh rate or high-resolution display, but it’s vibrant and enjoyable for all forms of media.

Clearly, from the outset, LG wanted to turn heads and keep the eyes on their new device. And choices in color, form, and handling all achieve that. But a high style goes beyond just the singular device, as my unboxing of LG’s special package showed. If I can get a little meta for a bit, there are a few more design details I want to share because I think it’s the crux of the LG Velvet’s charm. See, from the phone to the LG Dual Screen to the other accessories came from Korea, and messing around with every bit gave me a taste of a different smartphone culture.

You’re so extra

LG is no stranger to accessorizing — like many of their recent releases, the Velvet came with a few friends. First off, a couple of cases that are overtly fashionable, including this red and black case that has a handle strap on the back. It’s not the kind of case you’d see often here in the States — and having been to Asia often, I know style like this is way more common there. It’s a shame we don’t have more products in the West that are this fashionable; unless you go seeking out the accessories for yourself, most smartphone experiences here are largely utilitarian.

But there’s plenty of use cases for extra tools on the LG Velvet like the included Wacom Bamboo Pen. While it might not nestle its own stylus in the body, the Velvet has full stylus support and the software provides a lot of options. Buttons on the pen can help you write on a quick screenshot, bring you to QMemo to write up a note, or even get you to a coloring app when you just want to pass the time with some zen. The more I peel back the surface layers of the LG Velvet, the more obvious it is that LG is prioritizing functional style.

Which is exactly what this version of the LG Dual Screen is. Think back to my earlier remark that up until now, most LG and, honestly, most smartphone experiences here in North America are largely utilitarian. LG’s Dual Screen has always fit this description. But now with a white version that is sleeker, thinner, and appealing to the eye, a sense of style has finally made this special case one that I’d keep on the phone more often. All of the functions are the same — a second Full HD+ panel complete with the same exact notch gives you room to multitask, get distracted, maybe get a little creative by using the case as a stand, and do some unique gaming with the LG Gamepad. It’s easy to say that none of what we’re looking at is new, but when the look is new, it actually matters. I don’t use this word much in these reviews, but so far you’re seeing how important aesthetic is to the LG Velvet. Bear in mind that everything I just showed you is still coming straight from Korea — this is how general smartphone culture is in Asia: easy on the eyes, fashion-forward, high on style, and all about that first impression.

Upper-middle

Getting underneath it all, LG has put together a spec list that we haven’t seen too much of yet in 2020 — starting with the Snapdragon 765G, the 5G enabled middle-tier processor that still brings some great performance. Speaking strictly about gaming, I was still able to get some high settings enabled in Call of Duty: Mobile, so this is still a high-performance chipset. 6GB of RAM and 128GB of expandable storage round out the performance stats. I haven’t experienced any hiccups with my own device and it’s clear to me that this overall configuration is really good for daily usage and the occasional heavy use day. After all, when you get extra with the accessories, you might be asking a little more of this phone than is intended — the Velvet is not a super high tier flagship.

And that is no more apparent than in some of the other parts LG had to dial back on. LG touts a 3D audio speaker experience, which actually doesn’t sound too bad, but I wanted to focus on the headphone jack. See, while LG is finding new areas of brand identity and marquee features, the Quad-DAC got put on the chopping block. This might make some sense because audiophiles will have to go to LG’s flagships to enjoy high fidelity audio — ultimately, it’s still nice that there’s a headphone jack at all. But one thing I do like is that LDAC and aptX HD are supported, meaning your more everyday media listener will get some good quality sound anyway.

A quick word on the software — I know it’s a point of contention for some. LG’s UI has come a long way and really my problem with it is skin deep. I’d just like some new icon designs, some updated animations, and just an overall tightening of the interface. The feature set is still high, but most of those options are tucked away neatly in their own page in the settings — the days when LG’s software used to throw tutorials galore in your face are largely behind us.

A 4300 mAh battery is also pretty middle of the road, but it does a decent job of getting the LG Velvet to a full day of use. That is if you aren’t going crazy with the Dual Screen case. Obviously, powering two screens at once will significantly reduce the total screen on time. My main problem is, well, I already misplaced the little magnetic connector for charging the phone and case together. Thankfully, wireless charging still works even when the Dual Screen case is on.

Rain drop, or tear drops?

Which brings us, finally to the cameras, and unfortunately this is where LG has departed from their previous releases the most. You need only look at the camera menu to see that a lot of different options you might expect are missing: Manual Video, in particular. Speaking strictly about the specs, the main sensor is a 48MP shooter backed by an 8MP wide-angle and a 5MP depth sensor. The front-facing camera is a 16MP shooter capable of 4K video recording despite having a really narrow field of view.

Feature inclusions like ASMR audio recording and 3D stickers paint a specific picture — the cameras are here for when the casual user needs to either capture some quick memories or have a little bit of fun. But when taking the cameras at their base quality, we’re just not seeing anywhere near the quality we’ve come to expect from even LG themselves. The main energy was put into the selfie shooter and the main sensor, which makes sense — for the main cameras, zooming is obviously not ideal but then the wide-angle camera doesn’t put out very high-resolution results either. It’s as if the ultrawide was just put there in case you need it, but you should never rely on it. After all, you can’t even record 4K with it — many of the main features are saved for the main sensor. You could get some decent results in bright conditions, like with most phones, but that quickly falls apart in lower light situations and the Night View mode doesn’t really help as much as it should.

It’s easy to say we have high hopes for the Velvet to be an all-around great time — and in designing the cameras the way they did, we’d hope the quality matched the beauty. But this isn’t a creator’s phone, like many of the G and V line smartphones were positioned. Instead, this is a design-forward device meant to look memorable, not to capture memories.

Final thoughts

So it’s clear how LG is positioning the Velvet — it’s one of the best looking phones a casual everyday user can have. It has capabilities that aren’t necessarily new, but they are way more accessible now because LG put their design hats on and made them way more appealing. The problem is, corners had to be cut for the sake of making this phone something casual users could afford. And by upping the feature set, they had to skimp out somewhere. One important thing I learned is that maybe we’ve been thinking of the Snapdragon 765G incorrectly this whole time — it’s just under flagship-level performance, making it an upper-middle tier spec. And as a 5G enabled chipset, it might be incorrect to think it would drive the price down that much.

This is the hard part — we don’t know if this phone will be available in more places outside of Asia, but even if it was, the phone still comes in at the equivalent of $750. That doesn’t sound like an affordable mid-range phone, and that’s because it isn’t. For all the Velvet provides, this is actually a really useful phone. The problem is, the one part that might be important to some of you is what LG cut down the most. It’s the easiest phone to photograph, but it isn’t easy to photograph with. And if that matters to you, maybe the LG Velvet’s beauty is only skin deep.

The post LG Velvet review: style vs substance? (video) appeared first on Pocketnow.

Microsoft Surface Book 3: detached ideals? (Video)

Posted on June 23, 2020 by Anton D. Nagy

It's only fair to share...

A lasting design

It might be my first rodeo, but I know that this is basically the same convertible laptop many of you might be rocking right now — on the outside, at least. Microsoft has done well to up their design game over the last few years, but it’s hasn’t ever veered into the flashy territory. Matte plastic, gray colors, simple four squared logo, and solid feel throughout. That includes the signature hinge, the literal bridge between the two halves of this whole. We’ve known this hinge for quite some time, including the fact that it keeps the laptop from closing all the way. As long as you’re not just stuffing this laptop in a pocket with small bits jumbling around, nothing should get in that hinge and ruin stuff. Despite how high the build quality is all around, I do admit that this little gap forces you to be a bit more mindful of your product. This little sign right here makes it clear: this is no ordinary laptop.

But it does a lot of laptop things really well. The bottom half has your standard inputs, with a good touchpad and a great keyboard. This thing is a joy to type on, which is a win for tasks like writing scripts, emails, or Twitter rants. And you already know the script you’re reading right now was written using this thing — especially into the night, as the backlight LEDs do a good job of illuminating every key. I have no problem with the size of the keys nor their position — I mean, the control key is missing on the right side, but I don’t use that one much anyway.

Red line

We’re going to stick to the laptop configuration as we discuss what Microsoft did to make the Surface Book 3 more powerful. First off, it’s a sturdy base complete with the right ports — 2 USB-A ports, an SD card slot, one USB-C port, and the magnetic spot for the proprietary fast charger. The headphone jack is on the screen side. Like many laptops under the 15-inch screen size this year, the CPU gets the upgrade to Intel’s 10th generation while discrete graphics finally start to appear within nimble form factors. That is the case here, with the GTX 1650. What does that mean for performance?

Well, for one thing, that means the Surface Book 3 opens up to more than the productivity crowd. See, the line already proved itself to the office or classroom audience: the webcam is 1080p and surprisingly high quality, which makes remote learning and conference calls a treat. There’s even a rear camera that is geared toward snapping documents and capturing notes off the teacher’s whiteboard.

It’s just that now those people get to scratch the gaming itch with the 1650, even if settings still have to be low for current titles. But you can get into games like Warzone pretty smoothly while having reborn classics like Persona 4 Golden and the new Streets of Rage always at the ready. I even got to do some video editing in Davinci Resolve Studio. 4K timelines might struggle a bit while scrubbing, but turning down the preview resolution and using proxies make the work a lot easier. A 1080p timeline with minimal graphical elements will do just fine here.

And the top half makes these visual tasks all the better with a 3000×2000 resolution display that is fun to view. I’m admittedly not to used to a more narrow aspect ratio, but it’s really not that hard to get used to. What is hard to get past is the glare — the screen is pretty bright and plenty viewable throughout shaded environments where the Surface Book feels at home. But if the sun is bearing down on it, the viewing experience falls apart. It’s not like you’d be taking the top half to places rougher than your desk or bed too often, anyway.

It’s clear that the enhancements in this third edition of the Surface Book managed to pack as much power as this current design can handle — because in order to achieve the convertible nature, the essentials needed to be in the detachable half.

Separation anxiety

Hence, all those vents around the display. That has to ensure that the laptop’s CPU — housed in this top half while the GPU stays within the base — keeps cool. But compared to most laptops in this segment, this is the 15W version of Intel’s 10-gen CPU. Lower power results in moments of lag when you’re really pushing the laptop to its limits, like in the gaming and editing examples I mentioned. It has to be in the screen, though, because you still need to do things after you hit that detach button. The performance is fine for your typical Windows Tablet Mode experience. When watching Netflix or YouTube, detaching seems like a good idea but I think many of you, like me, would only do it once in a while.

And that’s because using just the screen alone brings with it a small sense of constant separation anxiety. The Windows Tablet Mode is okay, but typing in it makes me miss the comforts of the keyboard. Windows warns you when you’re about to detach and break programs that need the GPU. And from a practicality standpoint, it’s not like you’ll be playing many games without the base there to let the screen lean to a comfortable angle.

The separation anxiety extends beyond just the form factor — Microsoft claims to forego the Thunderbolt port is in the name of security, but as someone who has an eGPU to extend my laptop’s power, it’s still a bummer. I suppose the Surface Book 3 is already tablet + eGPU in one product, considering how the parts are separated.

Two batteries, one in each half, power the experience separately or in tandem in the obvious scenarios. A Surface Connect 102W charger found on both halves of the Book is a surefire way to get back some power in a hurry, which is needed because battery life is just okay. While battery saver modes will get you a fair amount of browsing, writing, and some media done; for my heavy use scenario of video editing, I just barely scraped 3 hours at full power. Not that I do that often, it’s just a way of testing how far the Surface Book 3 can go under conditions that push its capabilities. If you went low power settings on everything and stuck to just browsing and writing, I imagine you could get above the 5 hour mark, maybe closer to 10. But doesn’t that feel odd to do, considering the new features and higher power we just talked about?

The Surface Book 3 is constantly in a war between its two configurations — if you’re a tablet user, it’s too obvious that the real fun is in the full set up. If you’re looking at this as your main laptop, you might end up neglecting an entire half of the experience.

For everyone, and no one

You can’t be watching this video and not think to yourself, “Damn, that’s really cool.” But every feature that makes this convertible laptop cool, a consistent proof of concept, and one of the most enviable current laptops also makes this product so aspirational.

Let’s start from the ground up. A convertible base that houses a second battery, a great keyboard, a decent port selection, and — most importantly — the GTX graphics elevates the Surface Book to usability levels that include gaming and content creation. Past Surface Book users will feel the envy — to gain the right spec sheet, you have to shell out so much money. I don’t know of anyone that is serious about gaming or creativity that could just get the performance they really need from a laptop that is slimmer in both form and price. And for that matter, I don’t how many of you are active tablet users who would need to level up to an experience that, admittedly, only the Surface Book 3 can provide.

Office professionals can definitely find use cases for the unique form factor. Media junkies, too, though the number of scenarios significantly dip. Casual gamers get to have their cake and eat it too, with the laptop of their dreams finally supporting their extracurricular activities. And on that train of thought, is this laptop great for students? It can be. But literally every type of user I have just mentioned comes with a huge asterisk: this can be for them. if they can afford it.

Let be clear — I have adored my time with the Surface Book 3. It’s an instantly memorable experience, even if it’s one that fans have experienced before. Advancements in laptops, in general, have helped this Book line ascend to the same heights, and that’s incredible. But the Surface Book is already a luxurious item, and those evolutions only drive the cost up.

My 32GB RAM, 512GB storage, 13.5-inch edition, i7 CPU, GTX 1650 review unit is the one I would want, for the tasks I need to accomplish. But that’s already $2499. If you want to reach for the stars with the 15-inch edition that packs 32GB of RAM, a 2TB SSD, and a bump up to the GTX 1660ti, it’s another $900. The Surface Book 3 is the fanciest tablet of all time, just inches shy of being a great performing laptop. But for these specs, you could just get one of those laptops and save upwards of $1500. So it begs the question: is $1000 enough “cool” for you?

The post Microsoft Surface Book 3: detached ideals? (Video) appeared first on Pocketnow.

It's only fair to share...

iPhone SE vs Poco F2 Pro: Sorry Apple! (video)

Posted on June 14, 2020June 14, 2020 by Anton D. Nagy

It’s no secret that the iPhone SE has brought the mid-range and more affordable smartphone segment to more people’s attention. But in plenty of markets outside of the US, there are contenders that are attempting their own takes on this low-compromise package. And depending on where you are, the returning Poco brand might be the smartphone that is best equipped to challenge the iPhone SE. This is Pocketnow and this is the iPhone SE vs Poco F2 Pro.

The way back machine

One of the fun parallels that these phones have is that they are both drawing on particular parts of smartphone history. The iPhone SE’s inspirations are really obvious — this is the return of the all metal design that a ton of people missed from the days before iPhone X. It’s got all of the old-school tropes: the tactile home button, the Touch ID scanner that it provides, the huge bezels as a result, and — perhaps most importantly — the smaller size. Don’t get me wrong, a smaller phone is always a refreshing prospect because high end smartphones are all about the latest and the greatest and biggest screen specs. But some out there won’t appreciate how the viewing experience shrinks accordingly. Now, thanks to the Bionic A13 processor this phone can still handle any game you throw at it, but handling might feel a little cramped. The screen is still high quality, at least in terms of what Apple has been putting out for years since this old design last made it into our hands. The 4.7 inch Retina IPS display is still great with colors, detail, and contrast.

But the very things that the iPhone might lack are addressed in one way or another in the Poco F2 Pro. Let’s start off with the design — Poco went to the glass on glass design that most flagships utilize by default, so it’s not like there is a radically different look or feel. In fact, this phone will look virtually identical to the Redmi K30 Pro, which kind of makes sense since both brands are under the Xiaomi umbrella. In any case, Poco sports some other significant extras like a headphone jack, an IR blaster, and — most notably — a pop-up camera. This is where Poco’s blast from the past design derives from: 2019’s unique trend of hiding front facing cameras so that the dream of an all-screen front can be realized. And I have to say, it’s great to see it back.

Think for a second about how 2020 has been all about the punch hole, and then in the context of this comparison, Apple has never gotten close to this kind of screen experience. So it’s already dope that the Poco F2 Pro is all display all the time — 6.67inch AMOLED display that includes even more features Apple haven’t attempted yet: an in-display fingerprint reader and an Always on Display. Yes, the phone might be a little unwieldy for some, but compared to some other behemoth phones we’ve used this year, Poco put the F2 Pro in a pretty good middle ground. All games and media look great on here with nothing notching or hole punching into the content. And honestly the pop up camera is just a design flourish that I’ll always appreciate, especially in this case because it makes face unlock a little more fun with extra bits of customization — oh and face unlock is yet another feature missing in the iPhone SE.

Having the right priorities

It might sound like I’m harping on what the iPhone SE lacks compared to its Android competitor, but it’s not to say that the general experience is bad. Most of what makes an iPhone an iPhone is still here — it’s just that most of the features the Android competitor might have are things Apple have yet to attempt at all. Where it truly counts in the iPhone SE is in the internals, tuned specifically to bring a great quality of life to the masses of general users who aren’t trying to be cutting edge or, as we’ll explore later, those who aren’t looking for the best creative tool. The Bionic A13 and 3GB of RAM are perfectly suited for everything you might install from the App Store and everything you might do in a typical work-life balance.

I keep using the ‘quality of life’ phrasing because Apple didn’t skimp on certain features from the flagship iPhone lineup — water and dust resistance, fast charging, and wireless charging all illicit the same response: damn, back in 2016 I would have killed to have these features in the iPhone 6 or 7. Granted, that’s because the iPhone SE’s battery life is a little too much like it was back then — users will probably end up searching for a cord or a charging mat well before bedtime.

So there’s no doubting that Apple have done right by prioritizing the right stuff right now. The difference here, however, is that Android OEMs like Xiaomi and thus their sub-brand Poco have been doing this for years. We love the iPhone SE for bringing a fresh and affordable version of iOS, but in plenty of markets around the world Android has been easily accessible in so many affordable ways. Sure, the Poco F2 Pro might be more expensive in most markets and it’s certainly more expensive compared to the original F1, but it still achieves the same everyday flagship experience for a price that undercuts many top of the line offerings. In that way, Apple and Poco have really similar missions.

So, it’s great that Poco got the Snapdragon 865 and at least 6GB of RAM in here, with a 4700mAh battery that can last a day and a half until needing a charge via 30W fast charging. The pop up camera does mean that the F2 Pro loses any IP certifications, but the thing that stings me a bit more is the loss of convenient wireless charging.

The discussion of Android vs iOS is always a bit weird and futile — if you’re considering the iPhone SE, know that iOS is pretty much completely how you’d expect it. The overdone answer to the question is that Android is far more customizable, which is underlined by the fact that the Poco Launcher in this version of MIUI is one of dozens of takes on Google’s operating system. Poco does add in a dedicated theme engine and app as well as the Game Turbo mode that stops notifications from interrupting your enhanced Snapdragon 865 gameplay. Can Android operating systems get a little too far into the weeds with their feature sets? Absolutely. That’s one of the reasons why iOS is the champion of — use it because it’s simple and it works. But that just points to another truth about Android vs iOS: if you’re already into it, you’ll probably stick with it anyway. And in either case, these two phones are good representations of their respective daily software experiences.

One VS Many

The camera discussions that include the iPhone SE are always interesting. After all, the iPhone SE just has one camera on the front and back without any extra bells or whistles. Granted, the Bionic A13 provides some software backup for things like portrait mode and better HDR processing, but ultimately you get one good shooter for times when your day to day companion needs to capture some memories. The iPhone SE sticks with a single 12MP rear shooter and a 7MP front facing camera. With a little bit of creativity, features like 4K 60 video recording and Apple’s portrait mode will give you enough extra room for fun. But putting this camera system up against the Poco F2 Pro shows the obvious holes in either camp.

The Poco’s pixel binning 64MP main sensor brings in some good looking results that sometimes look like a toss-up against the iPhone. The other sensors include depth for portraits, a 13MP ultrawide, and a 5MP macro. See, I meant it when I said you can get fancy or you can get weird. Actually, the 5MP macro lens is a bit of a surprise because it gets some great shots. And at 5MP it’s over twice the quality of the common 2MP offerings.

The front facing cameras are more of a disparity, as the Poco F2 Pro hides a 20MP shooter with more beauty mode options. Both selfie shooters can only go up to 1080p video capture, however. Speaking of video, Poco takes pages out of Xiaomi’s book by included little additions like a Movie Frame mode and a Vlog mode that guides you through filming and creates a stylish highlight reel. This is all on top of the phone’s own 4K 60 and, actually, 8K video recording. I don’t think I would really call 8K a true win in the Poco column, though, just from a practicality standpoint.

Speaking of practicality, the one thing missing from the iPhone SE camera is a night mode — this is still a bit of a head-scratcher, but in comparing this phone’s low light shooting to the Poco’s night mode was interesting. It seems that Poco is able to make something useful compared to the iPhone in only the darkest of situations. If there is even a little bit of light, the iPhone is still able to eek out something visible. I attribute this to two things — the iPhone has a sensor capable enough of flooding in enough light while the Poco just doesn’t have a good enough night mode compared to some high performers we’ve seen in other phones.

The best way for me to put it is this: Apple’s quality in photo and especially video is hard to match, but it’s unfortunately limited because of the iPhone SE’s singular approach. Meanwhile, the Poco F2 Pro has good enough quality across the board but provides you with some more choices to get fancy or get weird while you’re snapping away.

Good enough?

The philosophy behind the iPhone SE is kind of simple — find the aspects that can be dialed back without sacrificing, in particular, the day to day experience. It’s for that reason that the iPhone SE is so compelling, because most other phones in the same price range have to actually skimp on some of the key internals. Meanwhile, here comes Poco with a similarly priced phone that still has the top specs that you might expect from an Android device. Some parts of the phone are either minimized or stripped out altogether, like wireless charging and overachieving camera software. It seems to me that Poco has the Price is Right mentality — have a price in mind and try to mash as much in the phone as possible without going over. Meanwhile, Apple honed in on minting the basics — this is a phone that just works, with a little bit of nostalgia sprinkled in.

I know I’m supposed to have a personal pick here, but honestly, it’s hard because these phones manage to hit pretty much every note they’re aiming for. So I’ll put it this way — in 2020 it is rare for a phone to prioritize the most basic aspect of a smartphone: the viewing experience. Notches and hole punches are small annoyances that are amplified when screens like the one on this Poco F2 Pro arrive. It just so happens that nearly every other essential in this phone, minus the camera, have been met. So, because I want some good viewing time, I would take the cameras for their ‘good enough’ quality and enjoy myself on one of the few large and totally in charge screens we’ve gotten so far this year.

The post iPhone SE vs Poco F2 Pro: Sorry Apple! (video) appeared first on Pocketnow.

Samsung Galaxy S20 vs OnePlus 8 – $300 difference? (video)

Posted on June 4, 2020June 4, 2020 by Anton D. Nagy

In this comparison we look at two widely available phones that have different philosophies regarding the everyday Android experience. On the one hand, the long standing pedigree of Samsung up against the upstart that has made more waves recently than ever in OnePlus. This is our Samsung Galaxy S20 vs the OnePlus 8 video.

Easy to grasp

You’ll notice that we’re talking about the lower tiers of both lines in this comparison. The OnePlus 8 also has the big brother Pro model, which gets a lot of the attention — however, it’s important to remember that the OnePlus 8 is the one available in carrier stores and across many online platforms, making it one of the most accessible OnePlus devices in the company’s history. It’s a move that brings it closer to the kind of proliferation Samsung has had for years — the Galaxy S20 is the smallest of the S20 lineup, with the S20+ and the S20 Ultra rounding out the high premium tiers.

And right off the bat, I’m already a fan of the handling on both sides. These are smaller phones, after all, with the S20 finding itself a little undersized in comparison. The S20+ is more up to size against the OnePlus 8. That said, the OnePlus 8 feels like a great middle ground for people that want a good amount of screen without sacrificing ergonomics. It’s also the flashiest current OnePlus device, with this Interstellar Glow colorway that is not found in the Pro models. Contrast that to the baby blues of my Galaxy S20 and S20+, which still look pretty good. On the topic of the backings, the camera modules are in line with either company’s existing design language — the OnePlus 8 keeps the triple camera setup right in the middle while the Galaxy S20 has the now infamous rectangle over on the top corner.

Going around the devices, the main difference between both thin phones is an extra input for the OnePlus 8 — the Alert Slider. I appreciate tactile options of any kind and OnePlus has done well to make this toggle synonymous with their brand. Other than that, many of the differences are only skin deep, as both phones bring high end specifications to a design that is really easy to grasp and understand: for those who want good quality of life in their everyday smartphone usage, both phones immediately fulfill that criteria once they’re in your hand.

And as premium offerings from both companies, the specifications really do line up — the Snapdragon 865 is the processor throughout with 8GB of RAM and 128 of onboard storage. For biometrics, in-display fingerprint readers and face unlock capabilities are found throughout. Both features are pretty reliable for both phones, but Samsung keeps sticking to an Ultrasonic reader that feels just a tad bit slower. I tend to opt for face unlock, but obviously that is something a little harder to use these days.

These differences in fingerprint scanner technology mean that you can’t protect the Galaxy S20 with just any screen protector. Actually, the list of options available is VERY limited and quite expensive.

Discrepancies in the hardware list might sway you one way or another depending on your needs. The OnePlus 8 Pro has a sizeable battery at 4300mAh, splitting the difference between the S20’s 4000 and the S20+ with its 4500mAh battery. No matter how you slice it, that’s quite a bit of battery for phones that are delightfully thin. Battery life in either case is more than enough for a full day of work and play, but the Galaxy S20 has 15W wireless charging while the OnePlus 8 didn’t get any at all — fast wireless Warp Charging was saved for the OnePlus 8 Pro.

OnePlus also provides a higher tier configuration with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of onboard storage for a higher price, but the Galaxy S20 has a microSD card slot to cover that base. It might sound like I’m just running through the spec sheet but I did want to ensure that the details get out there before I dive into the real crux of this comparison — how both companies leverage such hardware to make two unique takes on Android.

Speed, two ways

And that’s because OnePlus’ claim of “The Speed You Need” deserves to be a focal point: from their display down to the software in Oxygen OS, this phone is a breeze to use. The screen of the OnePlus 8 is a Full HD+ AMOLED panel that tops out at 90hz, potentially bringing a higher refresh rate to more people and showing them how anything above 60hz really makes smartphones feel a bit more futuristic. OnePlus did a great job of tuning their software and the display to provide a smooth and pleasing experience in Oxygen OS.

And if there’s one thing OnePlus fans swear by the most, it’s Oxygen OS — a smooth, speedy, and minimalistic take on Android that has a great aesthetic, to boot. Customization is still abundant, right down to OnePlus’ own font; and there are some extra features that are delightfully practical, like the Reading Mode to make your OnePlus device more comfortable to read like a Kindle. And it’s not like OnePlus forgets that speed can be applied in other situations: enhancements like the gaming and even more powerful Fnatic Mode help make mobile gaming a high performance endeavor, as well.

One of the reasons why the OnePlus 8 line might strike users as faster and smoother is because it doesn’t have too many Android alternatives — OnePlus Switch and OnePlus’ own gallery apps are here, but otherwise, many of the trappings of stock Android are the default. Contrast that to the Samsung philosophy, which dives into an ecosystem riddled with Samsung’s many alternatives. It’s important to note that even with all of these first party apps and settings that might overwhelm users, the Galaxy S20 doesn’t fall behind in terms of speed. Its Quad HD Super AMOLED display can do 120hz if the resolution is brought down to Full HD, making it look faster than the OnePlus 8. However, differences between 90hz and 120hz are up to your perception and how useful it is for your usage.

Now, in terms of this comparison, I get to bring back a phrase I coined long ago — Galaxy Syndrome. It’s a term I use to describe a problem I see many Galaxy users face; in having a phone with so many features and apps Samsung has developed, people tend to find that at least half of them never get used. It’s different for everyone — you might not use Bixby because Google Assistant is already there, Samsung DeX is probably a great way of expanding the phone’s usage but it just collects dust, and Samsung’s many other preinstalled applications are nice to have but end up sitting in that Samsung folder out of sight. Some features do prove useful, like the Edge Panel. But in the end, none of these extras slow down the S20’s overall experience, which means Samsung gets credit for saturating their phones with features without sacrificing speed. Perhaps the best way to put it is that the Samsung ecosystem is trying its hardest to be the way you get things done, while the OnePlus ecosystem is just trying to make systems that already exist easier. If you are entrenched in the Galaxy ecosystem by now, sticking to it is a no-brainer. But they also ask you to pay a premium to stay in it.

Go wide or go long?

So where does Samsung direct the value of their phones? For the S20 line, the tag was “The Phone that will Change Photography.” Obviously this was meant mostly for the S20 Ultra with its 100x zoom, but the S20 has its own way of prioritizing far reaching photography. 12MP main and ultrawide sensors accompany the 64MP telephoto sensor, the Samsung built BRIGHT sensor that is actually almost as wide in focal length as the 12MP main. With zoom as a priority here, this 64MP lens is cropping in to provide what is essentially a lossless quality at the same final resolution as the other sensors. This high powered shooter also provides 8K recording in video.

OnePlus, on the other hand, stuck to a camera package we’re pretty used to seeing: a 48MP main sensor with a 16MP ultrawide and a 2MP macro lens. Perhaps the main misstep for some people here will be the macro lens — that’s not a knock on macro photography, just a commentary on how these 2MP results don’t do it much justice. Based on the spec alone, the OnePlus 8 might fall behind because it doesn’t prioritize zoom, but that’s obviously up to you to decide. I don’t really use zoom too often, so having ultrawide cameras on both of these already satisfies me.

But in terms of sheer quality, it’s hard to go up against the already established tuning of Samsung’s hardware and software. But OnePlus was up to the task. The main sensors show that the OnePlus 8’s pixel binning 48MP camera can go toe to toe with the Galaxy S10’s main at 12MP. Wide angle pictures have similar results, though the shooter on the Galaxy S20 is a little wider. And finally in terms of zoom, the OnePlus 8 finds itself outdone because the 64MP sensor telephoto BRIGHT sensor helps achieve far reach with diminishing returns outside of 10x zoom. In night situations, the night modes do a good job of getting a more usable shot, but the Galaxy S20 actually goes into the 3 to 10 second exposure times so its results are often better.

Video looks pretty good from both phones unless you get into the zoom levels because the diminishing returns are far more obvious on the OnePlus 8. And if you are a big selfie taker, the front facing cameras, the OnePlus 8 does have the higher megapixel count with 16 over the 10 of the S20. However, it’s the S20 that can shoot videos at 4K for the front as well as add in some more finetuned beauty effects and live focus video.

It’s clear that while OnePlus wants you to have a good time with its cameras and a better time using the smartphone as your daily communication tool, Samsung is always trying to even the feature lists between the various parts of the smartphone. Just like with the software, Samsung is inundating the user with tools that might mean speedy and smooth experiences on the daily, as long as you get used to going through all the things in front of you.

Paying for it

And as you might expect, the Galaxy S20 does bring a ton of features and capabilities to to the table but it asks more of your wallet. Quite literally everything in the S20 is done right, but it might be too much for some of you — and the price of $999 for this, the smallest of the lineup, might be too much, as well. Don’t get me wrong, I do think Samsung has come far enough to be one of the most reliable smartphones you can get during any given season. But their steps forward are starting to feel like grasping for straws when the price doesn’t seem to fit what makes the store shelves.

On the other hand, people think the OnePlus philosophy has been led astray — paying upwards of $699 feels like a gut punch to those who remember the days of flagship level sub-$400 OnePlus devices. I can understand that frustration, but when putting this phone up against the $1000 S20, I find myself still thinking that OnePlus is holding steady to their Never Settle axiom. No, it doesn’t do everything the S20 does — but if you don’t need it too, then you’re getting you’re money’s worth, because OnePlus has continued to close the gap.

I still think that if you were to walk into a carrier store and see the Galaxy S20 and the OnePlus 8, you’d see the shine of the OnePlus 8 first and get intrigued — and then you’d probably end up noticing that the phone that changes photography might not be as practical than the speed you need.

The post Samsung Galaxy S20 vs OnePlus 8 – $300 difference? (video) appeared first on Pocketnow.

There is now a video of the upcoming Google Android TV streaming device

Posted on June 4, 2020 by Samuel Martinez

It's only fair to share...

Yesterday we saw some images that gave us an idea of what the next Google Android TV dongle would look like. The guys over at XDA developers have now posted a video, where they mention the device’s features and more.

The new video from Google’s Android TV device gives us a better idea of what the new device, codenamed “Sabrina,” may deliver. This video was part of a leaked firmware found by the XDA Developers team. It shows a device with a native Android TV built-in, which will come under Google’s Nest brand. This device is expected to launch alongside the Google Pixel 4a, so it seems that we may get to see it until next month.

Source Android Authority

Via XDA Developers

The post There is now a video of the upcoming Google Android TV streaming device appeared first on Pocketnow.

It's only fair to share...

OnePlus 8 Pro review: 2 months later, good updates? (video)

Posted on June 2, 2020June 2, 2020 by Anton D. Nagy

You know what they say: “Be careful what you wish for cause you might just get it.” I’ve been reviewing OnePlus phones since the 3T and every single one was marred by the word “but,” and the infamous “for the price” catchphrase. The phone is great, “but” it lacks water resistance. Or it’s water resistant “but” it lacks a certification. Or the display is 90hz “but” its very dim. Or Warp Charging is super fast “but” there’s no wireless charging. Or the camera has improved “but” it’s only good “for the price.”

We Power Users are like Darth Vader. We’ll hold any company accountable for what they promise, even remotely while staying at home. I know, I loved the meme. Point is, I think OnePlus got tired of having its strategy be considered an excuse.

This is the OnePlus 8 Pro, the company’s showcase of what it’s like to lead with speed, and really, and what I’d call, the company’s first-ever true flagship, that’s still priced a tad below than the phones it’s trying to compete with. This phone actually felt more baked than the OnePlus 8 when I first started testing, but it’s received the same exact software updates, so let’s see if it does live up to the major leagues. This is our OnePlus 8 Pro review a month later.

Launching two flavors of the OnePlus 8 was a rather interesting approach. Satisfy the price-centric fanbase with the flagship killer we reviewed last week, and serve its most demanding followers with the true powerhouse they’ve been asking for. That said, I feel the OnePlus 8 Pro has a tougher chance at succeeding. It has no carrier partners, limiting its exposure, which only makes it harder for any consumer who’s new to OnePlus to pick this phone over a Galaxy or an iPhone for a meager one or $200 price difference, which only dilutes to a couple of bucks once financing kicks in.

I’ll give you a couple of reasons why this phone is better than that Galaxy and iPhone, and then I’ll tell you what things might be reasons to think twice in order to help you decide.

What we like

The first thing to admire is that this phone might look like a OnePlus 7T Pro, but it’s actually quite different. Just like Samsung refined the S10 to only look like the S9 but feel different, it’s the same story here. It’s hard to show this on camera but this looks like a far more elegant finish, and fingerprints are no longer an issue with this new tone of matte glass. Fan favorites like the three-way mute slider also make a much-appreciated comeback. Somehow this phone manages to be 3mm taller, 2mm narrower, a hair thinner and about 5 grams lighter than its predecessor, all while having a 10% larger battery, the coil for the reverse wireless charging we’ve been begging for.

This is not just any wireless charging also. WarpCharge 30T was already the king of speedy wired top ups, going from zero to 50% in around 23 minutes, and now we’re gonna give the crown to its wireless counterpart. The Warp Charge 30 wireless charger is optional, but for the typical $70 that most other fancy Qi pads will cost you, this stand goes from zero to 50% in a similar 30 minutes.

In typical OnePlus fashion, these are also not just any set of internals. It’s powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, more than enough of the fastest RAM and storage in the industry based on the tier you pick. The latest Wi-Fi and Bluetooth standards, and finally, an IP68 water and dust resistance.

Actually, there are a boat load of other certifications like HDR10+, and A+ on Displaymate, in addition to SGS Eye Care Certification, and you know what, I’m not gonna argue. Colors are vibrant, and the level of detail is well up there with any competing device in this category. At 6.78 inches diagonal, an insane 1300 nits of brightness, and 10-bit color depth, this is the most beautiful display I’ve seen on a OnePlus phone. I won’t be the judge of calling it better than that of the Galaxy S20, but unless Samsung removes the limitations on its phones, 120hz at Quad-HD+ resolution is technically superior. A new MEMC algorithm allows you to boost video reproduction to 120 frames per second for the fans of augmented motion, though I’ll admit I switched that off. It’s as controversial as the curves that lack palm rejection, but at least they lead to more immersive content consumption once you match the performance of the dual-firing speakers. (Speaker Test)

120hz refresh rate is one of those things you won’t know you’re missing until you do. You don’t have to be a power user to notice when your device lags, so be warned, once you Oxygen OS on this display, it’s gonna be very hard to go back. OnePlus has been perfecting its skin of Android for years, so much so that regardless of how much it looks like stock, it’s so much more than that.

This is not like on the Pixel where you’re forced to get used to the new gestures. With Oxygen OS you can pick whichever option you want. You don’t even have to choose if you prefer the Amazon assistant over the Google Assistant as you can set the former to the power button and the later to the gesture. You don’t have to put up with a half baked feed on the launcher, cause the Google Launcher now comes here by default. You can control the accents of the buttons or their design, and go for a blend of dark and light elements on the UI. About the only thing I wish was here was an automatic way to enable the dark theme between sunrise and sunset.

Other than that you’ve got Zen mode to disconnect you from your phone every now and then. Reading mode to make this display more apt for a book while you commute, or lots of a gaming features that’ll help you take advantage of all the hardware tucked in.

It’s really the blend of this display matched with the fluidness of the experience that spoils you. This wouldn’t be the first phone I use at this refresh rate, and yet I’d praise OnePlus most for knowing how to take advantage of it. My only word of advice is that you don’t push the 120hz with Quad HD+ resolution. Sure, the phone can do it, but I did notice a good hit in battery life. Even at max refresh rate, Full HD+ is more than enough for this screen size, and it helped me get through a day of heavy use.

The catch

So what’s missing? If we finally get the OnePlus flagship we’ve been asking for, then what’s the catch? Well I’ll give you three.

The first is more a US thing, but well, you can’t buy this phone on any carrier. For some reason, you can only do that with the OnePlus 8, which means that if you depend on subsidies or specific carrier bundles, this is not your phone.

And that actually leads to the second reason, and it’s the approach to 5G. Unlike say a Galaxy S20+ which by design offers all flavors of 5G, this device is only capable of sub-6. Meaning, if you buy it unlocked, it’ll work fine on T-Mobile, but it won’t work on the higher mmWave band that Verizon offers. And sure, this might not be much of a problem for you now, but if you decide to hold on to this phone for more than a year, this is not as future-proof a solution as what Samsung is offering.

Third, let’s talk about the camera. It’s better, but still not great. In its defense, Even if it hasn’t received much recognition, you gotta admit the spec sheet makes this quite the monster. I mean the main camera sensor size is almost as large as that on the Galaxy S20 Ultra, and larger than the S20+. Then it switches the formula of the S20 Ultra in using probably the same 48 megapixel sensor for the ultra-wide instead of the telephoto, acknowledging user preference. The problem: implementation.

Software updates have really made miracles with some of my original complaints, but not all of them. Colors during the day are as expected, with very good saturation in most scenarios, though reds do seem a bit too intense for my taste. But then you struggle with the problem of having such a large sensor matched with such a sharp aperture, as keeping subjects in focus in a shot can be a struggle the closer you get. Take a step back, switch to the wide and you’ll be pleased with the very little distortion the camera offers, and I gotta say this telephoto is not just sharp, but good enough to go closer, though once you get to 30X the photo is pretty much useless. Also, try to keep a steady hand with it as keeping focus can be a chore. Even the super-macro mode that uses the standard camera and a motor proves to provide some insane detail, where you remember just how bad the OnePlus 8 is with a separate camera. No, the elephant in the room here with this fourth camera sensor is the color filter camera that enables photochrom mode. OnePlus claims that you can get some very neat infrared shots, and I would agree if detail wasn’t so bad, and focus wasn’t so far. And sure, it does serve as an X-Ray for certain thin plastics, and even to see hidden camera modules on your Pixel. Trust me, you’ll use it once and forget it’s there.

My biggest problem is that there are good and bad changes in low light. If you stick to the regular camera, you’ll get some crazy good results, to the point where the camera can even balance to show the crescent moon. The problem is that the wide angle was better than it is now, with more grain and artifacts showing up than before.

Portraits do see an improvement in less of that aura grow around subjects, but I’d recommend you stick to the wide version as the close-up requires you to step back quite a bit. Detail seems pretty much the same. But then one thing that’s made dramatic improvements is selfies and selfie portraits. These have always been quite washed out before, and yet now I see detail in skin tones I hadn’t seen before.

Last but not least, the one thing that never gets improved and we wish it would be is video. Yes, you can do 4K at 60fps, but the typical warping and moiré of the Android codec will follow you along as the phone tries to stabilize the shot. I’m not saying the results are bad, but definitely not the quality you get from an iPhone. And in that same sense, selfie video is once again washed out, lacking in dynamic range, and capped at 1080p, even with enough megapixels to go further.

Conclusion

To conclude, I think there’s a lot to say about OnePlus and its first attempt at making a true flagship. I have to praise the efforts in not just giving us a great display, but one of the best of the year. We’re not just getting wireless charging, but the fastest ever done. We’re not just getting something close to Stock Android with Oxygen OS, but an implementation that’s truly better. Match all that with the spec frenzy mentality we’ve known OnePlus for, and then complete the equation with Water Resistance, and this is almost the whole package.

Really what’s missing here is two things, one is all flavors of 5G for those of you that plan to hold on to this phone for more than a year, and second, we need to match these cameras with better software. Leading with speed and specs isn’t everything if the implementation is not as fantastic as the numbers.

That said, I have no problem recommending the OnePlus 8 Pro. It’s not the perfect phone, but hey, no phone is. I know many of you don’t really care about 5G yet, and I don’t have to tell you how well this camera performs if you install the Gcam APK from XDA-Developers. Point is, most of what’s missing has a solution, and everything else is here. The OnePlus 8 Pro is almost the whole package, and still manages to be priced for a lot less than flagships that still don’t hold a candle against it.

OnePlus 8 Pro review gallery

The post OnePlus 8 Pro review: 2 months later, good updates? (video) appeared first on Pocketnow.