Tag: review

SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds Review: Dongle Earbuds

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Transparency mode, on the other hand, really impressed me. In this mode, the GameBuds picked up subtle ambient sounds and piped them into my ears so effectively that I forgot I was wearing earbuds. In one instance, I didn’t realize I still had them in until my voice sounded muffled. I could hear everyone else I was speaking to just fine.

ANC does drain the battery faster, as does using Bluetooth. SteelSeries claims the GameBuds will get up to 10 hours on a single charge, with the charging case extending that duration up to 40 hours. In my testing, the earbuds lasted a bit longer than 10 hours with mixed ANC use, but I rarely needed to use them for more than 10 hours straight. Between the charging case topping them off, and popping the case on a wireless charger at night, I never got so much as a “battery low” warning.

Built for Gaming

The 2.4-GHz dongle isn’t the only thing that makes the Arctis GameBuds ideal for gaming. SteelSeries has put a fair amount of development behind its Arctis app, with nearly 200 game-specific profiles designed to highlight the sounds you’d want to hear in each game.

I tried this out in my go-to competitive game, Overwatch 2. With this profile, the more bassy tones were somewhat muted. Meanwhile, the higher-pitched sounds—like, say, a Tracer’s footsteps—stuck out way more than they do on my usual headsets. I won’t claim that the GameBuds gave me superpowers, but the subtle footsteps of a flanker behind me now sounded like lightning striking next to me.

Photograph: Eric Ravenscraft

At times, it was almost a bit too much. I found myself playing on a lower volume than I typically do, just so that the harsh sounds weren’t quite so piercing. Still, games like Overwatch 2 rely heavily on sound cues to know what’s happening around you, and noticing a Reaper sneaking up behind you a second earlier can be the difference between life and death.

It’s hard to say how helpful every single one of the nearly 200 profiles would be. And, it goes without saying, but a slightly more optimized audio experience isn’t going to magically make you better at whatever game you play. That said, I’m grateful the option is there. It feels and sounds nicer when care has been taken to tailor my audio experience to a specific game.

Before trying out the Arctis GameBuds, I wasn’t convinced that “gaming” earbuds needed to be a thing. Now? I’m more convinced. The 2.4-GHz dongle, the audio profiles, and the impressive Transparency mode all helped make my gaming sessions easier and more comfortable than I would normally get wearing a full-size headset.

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November 13, 2024
Hisense PX3-Pro Review: A Giant TV Alternative

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We all want a cinematic experience at home, but nobody with a sense for aesthetics wants to hang a gigantic TV in the middle of their living room, even if it can pretend to be art when you’re not streaming The Great British Bake Off.

Short-throw laser projectors, like the Hisense PX3 Pro, sit right on a TV stand and can project a giant 100 to 130-inch image onto a pull-down screen. That makes them a quick and hideable way to get a big-screen experience without cluttering up your visual space.

With its third generation, Hisense has once again made a simple, great-looking model that can act as an all-in-one for everyone from well-heeled average viewers to genuine cinephiles. Whether you’re looking to watch Dune or game at a high refresh rate, it performs as well (and is more convenient) than many superlarge TVs. If you’ve been considering a nice projector, this might be the one.

Short Throw

The PX3 Pro is an attractive gray box that has four white lights on the front when it’s in standby mode. It is a bit more rounded than the previous generations and looks like an old PC tower that’s been turned on its side, with a slit on the top for three lasers to shoot out at your screen.

The back of the unit features three HDMI inputs, Ethernet, and optical audio output, as well as a 3.5-mm port for headphones. There is also a USB charging port, should you want to plug in a streaming device like the Roku Streaming Stick. The unit is powered by a standard two-prong A/C cable, which makes it easy to plug in anywhere (no wall wart). Everything is controlled by a sleek backlit remote that’s long and slim, with a brushed metal exterior.

Photograph: Parker Hall

Short-throw projectors—projectors you can place just a foot or two away from the wall, rather than behind where you sit—were originally marketed as the solution to the problem of projector setup for good reason. Place the PX3 Pro on a TV stand, make sure it is level, and turn it on, and that’s about it. The PX3 Pro has a Google’s Android TV on board, and has Harman Kardon speakers that can even simulate Dolby Atmos object-based surround sound.

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November 11, 2024
TCL QM7 TV Review: Great Picture, Suspect Software

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If you’re looking for a TV that maximizes picture performance with a minimal hit to your budget, you may want to keep the lucky number 7 in mind. For the past few years, Hisense’s U7 series TVs have offered some of the best performance you can get for the money, including this year’s punchy U7N (8/10, WIRED Recommends), while TCL’s 2023 Q7 and the upgraded QM7 are similar top performers.

The QM7 usually costs more than the U7N, but it rewards you with a classier design and a slightly more-refined picture. From a pure performance perspective, you’ll have a hard time getting more without spending up, especially if you find it on a good sale.

Unfortunately, the software that drives the experience is harder to stand behind. During my initial evaluation, adjusting the TV’s SDR picture modes also affected the HDR modes, which is problematic for a variety of reasons. TCL provided a fix for me, but there’s no broad update for buyers yet, and at least one other reviewer had a similar issue.

Otherwise, there’s very little to complain about in a TV that adds to its great performance with top-line gaming features and one of my favorite smart interfaces. If you don’t mind rolling the dice on TCL’s potential software bugs, the QM7 could pay off handsomely.

A Slick Setup

Cobbling the QM7’s long pedestal stand together takes a bit more effort than rivals with dual-leg stands, and its 4-pound heft brings the 65-inch model I reviewed to a weighty 50 pounds. The payoff is a sturdy and stylish base, matched by slim chrome bezels and a checkered backside with a center woofer for a classy, if not altogether distinctive aesthetic.

The right-side input hub includes four HDMI inputs, two of which offer HDMI 2.1 support for gaming features like VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) at up to 144 Hz and ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode). Like the U7N, TCL provides a separate HDMI eARC port, meaning you won’t lose a precious gaming port when connecting a soundbar or receiver. That’s always appreciated; the QM7’s Onkyo sound system is decent, but I still recommend a separate audio setup.

Photograph: Ryan Waniata

The backlit remote offers some handy quick keys and a built-in microphone for Google Assistant commands. You can also summon Google hands-free via the TV’s onboard microphone, but if you’re not into an always-listening device you can disable it by flipping the switch beneath the front plate.

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November 9, 2024
Hyte Y60 Review: A Clear PC Case for Great Builders

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Full-height tempered glass and sculpted mesh panels are practically ubiquitous now, so it’s rare for a case to really catch my eye like the Hyte Y60 and its three-piece panoramic window.

It feels like we’re entering a new era of computer case design, though the three panels raise more issues than you might imagine. The front panel has historically been a key intake point for cooling, so turning it into a solid glass panel also means finding new and more clever fan spots, and generally embracing a wider footprint.

The benefits are purely aesthetic, and your building skills will have nowhere to hide. With the Hyte Y60—and given the right desk setup, cable management, and part selection—your build will stand apart from the crowd.

A Touch of Glass

As the key focal point of the case, it’s important that the fit and finish around the glass panel looks tight. While there’s a small gap in between each of the three panels, it’s a consistent gap, with beveled edges that curl in together pleasingly. There’s a distinct line, but it doesn’t take away from the fish tank effect the case is trying to achieve.

Photograph: Parker Hall

Your system will be on full display, for better or worse. If you have ugly components, or can’t keep your cables tidy, there won’t be much to hide behind. On the other hand, if you want to sport custom braided cables, interior LCD panels, or complex RGB patterns, the Y60 will help them truly shine.

It’s worth talking about the elephant in the room here, which is the size of the case itself. Even as someone who often reaches for larger cases, the Y60 is noticeably wider and deeper than I’m used to. At 11 inches wide, it’s a full 2 inches wider than my previous case, the Corsair Air 4000D ($105), which I already felt like took up a pretty good chunk of my desk.

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November 8, 2024
Apple iMac (M4, 2024) Review: Small but Worthwhile Upgrades

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The iMac M4 still features multiple variants, starting with the $1,299 model that includes an 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 16 GB of RAM, and 256 GB of storage—and just two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports. (Sorry, there’s no Thunderbolt 5 available on the iMac unlike the MacBook Pro or Mac Mini with M4 Pro.) At least it supports two 6K external displays now instead of one. Note that Apple’s fancier peripherals still cost extra no matter how you configure the machine, including the Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keyboard ($30) and Magic Trackpad ($50).

Photograph: Christopher Null

Tick up the price ladder and you’ll add additional power and storage space, USB ports, a better keyboard (with a Touch ID fingerprint reader), and more. My tested configuration—a full $1,000 pricier at $2,299—included a passel of upgrades comprising a 10-core CPU and GPU, 24 GB of RAM, 1 TB of storage, four USB ports, gigabit Ethernet on the power brick, and Apple’s new nano-texture glass upgrade for the 24-inch screen.

This lattermost option alone is a $200 upgrade, but it’s the best of the bunch and the one you should absolutely put on your iMac. Much as I said in my review of the MacBook Pro M4 Pro, it makes the 4,480 x 2,520-pixel display look like a glare-free photograph. It’s hard to imagine using the machine without it—though I’m still baffled as to why the iMac does not feature a touchscreen, which is all but standard among competing all-in-ones smaller than 30 inches in size.

Another notable upgrade is the webcam, which is now an impressive 12-megapixel sensor, up from a lowly 2.1-megapixel version in the iMac M3. The Center Stage feature is effective, auto-centering the frame during video calls, even if you’re moving around. Apple’s new Desk View feature is also in the mix. Designed primarily for education purposes, this lets you add a top-down view of your desk to your video stream so you don’t have to hold things up to the camera lens. It’s certainly a niche feature, but some may find it useful. The three-microphone and six-speaker setup from the iMac M3 hasn’t changed, and they both remain sharp.

There are only two things on my colleague Stolyar’s 2023 iMac M3 “Tired” list that Apple didn’t address with this 2024 release. The first is the lack of screen height adjustability, which I’m willing to give Apple a pass on. Adjustable height is uncommon on 24-inch all-in-ones across the board, and the iMac does at least have a tilt feature, which is about as much as I expect in a machine of this size.

The other issue is thornier: the price. Even at its base price of $1,299, the iMac is expensive compared to other smaller all-in-ones. And with all the bells and whistles, it’s considerably more expensive than many Windows all-in-ones with nearly twice the LCD surface area. That’s a tough challenge to overcome.

If you’ve made it this far in the review, there’s a strong chance you already have an Apple silicon iMac on your desk. That’s another issue. Do the upgrades in the M4 edition merit junking (er, trading in) your old computer to get your hands on this new one? Only your accountant can help you answer that one.

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November 7, 2024
Apple MacBook Pro (16 Inch, 2024) Review: More Power

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Then there’s the display notch, where the webcam sits at the top of the screen. It’s still an eyesore—and during my testing, it covered up dialog boxes more than once. Also, the MacBook Pro fan has always been extremely loud under load, and it’s just as noisy today, and the power brick is still white, even if your laptop is Space Black.

These aren’t fresh concerns, and they’re all minor complaints next to a fresh, weightier concern: At 4.7 pounds, the MacBook Pro M4 feels very heavy—and sure enough, it’s a full half-pound heavier than the M3 Max version I reviewed exactly a year ago. However, inexplicably, it is still 19 millimeters thick. Where has that extra half a pound gone? Must be the tantalizing internal upgrades that are going to blow our minds, right?

Power Boost

The obvious upgrade is Apple’s new M4 Pro CPU, which is the mid-level offering between the standard M4 and M4 Max, not including a rumored M4 Ultra in 2025. The new features on the M4 silicon are too numerous and too nerdy to list here, but the short of it is that you’re getting more cores on both CPU (14 on this configuration) and GPU (20), and (also as configured here) 48 GB of unified memory, which is designed to speed up everything from video processing to DNA sequencing, if that happens to be your hobby.

Naturally, there’s the amply hyped, upgraded Neural Engine, now at 16 cores, designed to power on-device AI workloads (and the new Apple Intelligence) at three times the speed of the M1. My tested configuration also added a 2-terabyte solid-state drive, so this rig is about as loaded as it gets.

Aside from the motherboard, there are new features that may be more immediately visible—three to be exact. First, the USB ports support Thunderbolt 5 (120 Gbps/sec) for faster data transfer speeds. A new 12-MP webcam features “Desk View,” which lets you share a livestream of your desk while you’re screen-sharing. Lastly, there’s a “nano-texture” screen upgrade option, which is Applespeak for its glare reduction technology that debuted on the Studio Display. I have the feature on my test machine, and if nothing else in the MacBook Pro M4 gets you excited, this should. It makes the screen feel like you’re looking at a photograph. (The upgrade will cost you $150.)

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November 7, 2024
Apple Mac Mini (M4, 2024) Review: A Small Yet Powerful Desktop

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the best part about the Mac Mini has always been its simplicity. This tiny desktop PC is easy to add to any workstation—just plug it into your peripherals, and that’s it. Apple’s latest version maintains this reputation, though with a new look for the first time in more than a decade. It also supports a pair of processors: the M4 or M4 Pro chipset.

It’s the most affordable way into what the latest and greatest Macs have to offer, including Apple Intelligence, the company’s artificial intelligence features. The base model with the M4 starts at $599, while the M4 Pro–powered Mac Mini starts at $1,399. Apple’s only other desktop option is the new iMac with the M4, starting at $1,299.

As is the case with most Apple hardware over the past few years, the new Mac Mini sports incremental updates over its predecessor. That’s not a bad thing. This is still a great little computer, and you can build an affordable, stationary setup around it. But anyone with a recent Mac Mini (2020 or newer) shouldn’t feel the need to upgrade unless you’re feeling a performance drag.

Miniature PC

The Mac Mini is a computer designed to sit stationary on your desk, but now that it’s smaller and more portable than ever, it’s a little enticing to just pick it up and throw it in a bag for hybrid work setups. Maybe you have a monitor and peripherals at the office or the same at home—after all, this thing has a smaller footprint than a MacBook (5 x 5 inches) and weighs just 1.5 pounds (down from 2.6 pounds).

It is slightly taller though, with vents that slope down for airflow, but retains its cube-like shape. This shape still slots in nicely at the base of Apple’s Studio Display, not that you have to spend the absurd price on this lovely monitor. (We have plenty of more reasonably priced monitor recommendations here.)

The front of the Mac Mini.

Photograph: Brenda Stolyar

A lot of people compared the Mac Mini’s new look to an Apple TV box, but I think it looks more like a mini Mac Studio—especially with the new port arrangement. Apple finally added ports to the front (a gripe I had with the M2-powered version), which means I can spend less time annoyingly reaching over to the back to plug a cable in.

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November 7, 2024
Alpine A290 Review: Price, Specs, Availability

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The idea of boosting the performance of otherwise normal cars has always had its appeal. Bootleggers in the American West would modify their pickup trucks in the 1930s prohibition era to outrun the police. The result was the birth of the hot rod.

Boosted saloons in the 80s were the result of racing homologation, which required manufacturers to produce a certain number of road car versions of their racers in order to compete. Hot hatches, too, were born from rally homologation, with tricked up versions of daily hatchbacks offering cheap thrills as well as practicality.

While American muscle cars will always be popular in their homeland, and German performance saloons continue to sell well, hot hatches have died out. The rise of SUVs, the lack of demand for smaller cars, and electrification are all key factors in this. But with the new A290, a modified version of the new Renault 5, Alpine is bringing it back, albeit in EV form.

The A290 is Alpine’s first new car in seven years, and the first model in its entirely new lineup of all-electric machines. It will be followed by the larger A390 crossover, and the new A110, an EV version of the French brand’s acclaimed low-slung sports car. The A290 is “the hot hatch of the electric age”, according to Alpine, and it’s easy to see the appeal. It’s built on Renault’s new AmpR Small platform, which it shares with the new Renault 5. It’s got 220 hp in GTS form, and weighs 1,479 kg. Its nearest rival, and another electric hot hatch, is the upcoming Mini Electric John Cooper Works. That’s got 254 hp, but it also weighs 1,670 kg, a significant 191 kg difference.

Ride Overhaul

This is felt in the way the A290 drives. While it shares the basic underpinnings with the Renault 5, including its thin battery that sits low underneath the car, Alpine has completely overhauled the suspension and braking system. The dampers have hydraulic bump stops, which help offer comfort as well as responsiveness, and the motor’s sub-frame has been created from scratch, too, made from aluminium to help keep the weight down. There are also front and rear anti-roll bars, developed by Alpine, while a multi-link rear axle offers further stability and precision.

This all combines for a smooth ride that is firm enough to feel sporty but not too harsh. It absorbs bumps well, and you get plenty of feedback through the steering wheel. In Sport mode the steering has pleasing resistance and feels surprisingly natural. The steering lightens in Comfort and Save mode, for easy cornering around town. When pushed there is of course understeer, being front-wheel drive, but lifting off mid corner allows the back end to move slightly, giving the car a playful character when under duress.

The Alpine’s 220 hp gives a good initial punch out of corners, but it fades away quickly and lacks a real surge of excitement. The 52 kWh battery is the same used on the top spec R5, but the sound is very different. For the A290 there is ‘Alpine Drive Sound’, which Alpine has developed with French audio brand Devialet. Essentially, it’s a whirring electrical noise that is said to be an enhanced version of the natural sound the electric motor makes. It’s not particularly inspiring, but does give good aural feedback, in the same way an engine does, letting you know where the grip is as you accelerate and decelerate.

When it comes to electric range, the Alpine has up to 236 miles with the 180 hp model, and 226 miles with the 220 hp motor. The Mini JCW offers slightly more with 251 miles.

Assertive Aesthetic

Design-wise, the A290 looks aggressive without being overly shouty, and is different enough from the Renault 5. The Renault is softer and leans more into its cult 80s aesthetic, but the A290’s wide body, flared arches and angled lines allude to its sporty credentials. The ‘X’ headlights reference classic rally cars, while the squat silhouette and faux side strakes give it a muscular appeal. It is bulkier than it could be, but in a world of cut-and-paste car design, it stands out.

Inside, the steering wheel feels suitably sporty. Its flat-bottomed design is said to be inspired by F1, as are the ‘RCH’ and ‘OV’ buttons, which can be found on Ocon’s and Gasly’s F1 car. The former is for adjusting the levels of brake regeneration. It is far more satisfying to use a twisty button than press a touchscreen. Simply click it left for one-stop increments of less regen, and right for more.

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November 7, 2024
Sony PlayStation 5 Pro Review: More Power, More Immersion, More Money

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I remember the first time I watched a tutorial on Blender, a 3D computer graphics software, explaining how metal surfaces have colored reflections, while non-metal surfaces don’t. It was a fascinating art lesson and something I don’t think I ever would’ve noticed if no one had pointed it out. I felt excited to learn about such a cool, if inconsequential detail about how our world looks. While testing out Sony’s PlayStation 5 Pro, I experienced that same feeling over and over again.

Generally, video game graphics have reached the coveted point of “good enough.” When Horizon Zero Dawn came out in 2017—years before the PS5 would come out—no one thought its visuals were lacking. Far from it. Yet, when Sony released a remaster of this less-than-a-decade-old game that, arguably, no one asked for, it was … actually pretty good.

The visual comparisons between the two versions of the game highlight what “better graphics” means in the modern era. Rather than focusing on things like adding more pixels or polygons, the current flex comes from either adding more stuff to the game world or getting more frames with the visuals you have. And the PS5 Pro offers a lot more room for both. Whether that makes it worth the $700 asking price is more subjective.

Photograph: Eric Ravenscraft

Better Graphics

In most PS5 games, adjusting graphics boils down to one of two simple options: Fidelity (sometimes called Quality) mode versus Performance mode. The former is focused on getting the best possible picture quality, while the latter prioritizes more frames per second, and thus a smoother gameplay experience. The pitch for Sony’s latest console is that with more horsepower under the hood and fancy new AI and ray-tracing features, you won’t have to choose between one or the other.

The reality is more complicated. Much like gases expanding to fill the volume of their containers, video games tend to expand to fill the amount of processing power available to them. This is why despite some games being capable of running in 4K at 60 frames per second at least as far back as the PS4 Pro, it’s still not the default today. Every console is capable of running Stardew Valley in 4K at 60 fps. But it’s a lot harder to render a photorealistic, foliage-covered, post-apocalyptic sandbox.

Developers have to make choices about what to include and what to cut when designing their virtual worlds. Is it important to have more trees and bushes? Or should more people be walking around? What should a player see if they look in the mirror? These kinds of things might seem unimportant until you walk into a bustling space metropolis that feels like a ghost town.

Even More Immersive

While testing the PS5 Pro, many of the games I played felt more lively and full. Not because there were more pixels necessarily, but because developers weren’t budgeting their effects so tightly. In Spider-Man 2, for example, switching from Performance to Fidelity mode on the original PS5 would add more cars on the roads, more pedestrians on the sidewalk, and more trees and bushes strewn about. On the PS5 Pro, however, there were more of all of these things in Performance mode than the regular PS5 had in Fidelity mode.

Screenshot courtesy of Eric Ravenscraft

Sony PS5 Performance Mode (Spider-man 2)

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November 6, 2024
Keychron K2 HE Review: An Affordable Hall Effect Keyboard

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This is a fantastic direction for peripherals. Gaming keyboards have long been incredibly homogenized with angular, all-black cases and unavoidable bright shine-through RGB. I often found myself buying keyboards with sub-par performance purely because I wanted something good-looking on my desk. That’s why I love the K2 HE’s design so much. It indicates a shift in gaming peripherals, especially performance-oriented ones, to more diverse and stylish designs.

I generally think it’s important for products to look good, not just function as advertised. So much of what we own today can be treated as temporary and can feel easy to throw away without a second thought. A thoughtfully designed product, whether it’s a keyboard, a computer case, a pen, or a lamp, can compel you to keep it for longer, even care about maintaining it. Best of all, you feel better using it. This has been possible for years with high-end, $500+ mechanical keyboards, but I’m glad to see it become more democratized and accessible.

Software Customization

The Hall effect switches work incredibly well and are deeply customizable using Keychron’s browser-based Launcher software. Just like on the Q1 HE, each key’s inputs and actuation distance can be independently customized, and they can even be programmed to have multiple inputs at different distances.

The rapid trigger feature, which I feel is one of the biggest draws of Hall effect switches, works perfectly. This setting allows for faster key inputs by actively changing the actuation point of the switch. A traditional mechanical keyboard switch has one predetermined point where it registers a keypress, and to register a second keypress, the switch needs to be released, return to above that point, and then be pressed down past it again. With rapid trigger enabled, a Hall effect switch only has to move back up a slight amount, then it can be pressed down again to register another keypress. This allows for much faster reactions when gaming and some serious typists even report that they can write faster with the setting enabled.

Photograph: Henri Robbins

Like every other Keychron keyboard, I am a bit frustrated that it needs to be plugged in to edit the layout using Launcher, but that’s a necessary sacrifice when building a keyboard on well-documented open source software like QMK.

The RGB is easy to adjust and has countless settings ranging from static colors and RGB color shifts to a “heat map” setting that gradually changes the color of a key based on how often it is pressed. The wireless connectivity works flawlessly, but I found that pressing a key wouldn’t automatically reconnect the keyboard after it sat idle for a while. Instead, I had to use the slider on the side to switch from wired back to wireless mode.

I don’t have any genuine issues with the K2 HE. For the price, it’s a bargain. It looks fantastic, has a clean and deep typing sound, feels great to type on, and comes with some of the best Hall effect switches available today. For $140, there isn’t another keyboard that’s anywhere near as solid as this one.

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November 6, 2024