Denon Dct A100 Manual Muscle

At the risk of flogging the proverbial horse, we often wonder why more people don’t buy mid-sized wagons over medium SUVs. We understand the appeal of the latter body type’s high riding position, with its greater visibility, ease of access and feeling of safety. But with some equanimity we’d counter that passenger car alternatives often offer more, for less.

More cargo space, legroom, equipment, greater fuel economy and handling, and — subjectively we’ll admit — slinkier designs. Wagons are not in vogue, but trends are also not always right by default. Three of the better and more popular wagons on the market can be found here, and yet none of their sales are even a patch on the numbers drummed up by the Mazda CX-5 and Hyundai Tucson. They are the new-generation Volkswagen Passat, the just-updated Mazda 6, and the familiar but still sharp Hyundai i40. We wanted to throw a Ford Mondeo in to the mix, but alas the stars did not align and we couldn’t source one in time. Here we test upper-spec models priced at or around the $45,000 (plus on-road costs mark), using the top-selling engines in their respective line-ups.

The contenders are the Hyundai i40 Premium v the Mazda 6 GT v the Volkswagen Passat Comfortline. Price and equipment All three cars here come absolutely loaded with equipment for the prices, which respectively come in at $43,490 plus on-roads for the mid-range Passat Comfortline 132TSI, $43,990 for the second-from-top Mazda 6 GT 2.5 petrol and $44,850 for the i40 Premium. There’s a caveat, in that we tested the i40 Premium in diesel guise. One, because it was what we could get. But two, because unlike the other pair, it’s actually a bigger seller than its petrol sibling and therefore more consumer-relevant.

Aug 29, 2011 - 2 min - Uploaded by Augis SakysDENON DCT-A100 ＆ LUXMAN CM-2050 - Duration: 0:42. Sugakun 614 views 0:42. Nov 28, 2016. The 2017 Ford Mustang California Special is partly a throwback to the muscle car heyday of tire-smoking Camaros, Challengers, Road Runners and more. A quick tap of the shifter to the left allows for manual gear shifting, though honestly it didn't feel as quick as letting the DCT do all the work.

It’s $42,250 if you opt for the petrol engine in this spec. Each has a rear-view camera, parking sensors, push-button start with keyless entry, electric leather seats, satellite navigation, Bluetooth/USB, multi-zone climate control, an electric parking brake, auto headlights, rain-sensing wipers and daytime running lights. In addition the Hyundai i40 Premium has a massive panoramic sunroof, an electric tailgate, lane assist, park assist and heated front seats. The Volkswagen Passat Comfortline has rear traffic alert, lane assist, electric tailgate, radar-guided cruise control, low-speed autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind-spot monitoring, multi-collision braking system, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration and tri-zone climate control. The Mazda 6 GT has a sunroof, rear traffic alert, low-speed AEB, blind-spot monitoring, front and rear heated seats, head-up display and DAB+ digital radio.

It’s hard to pick a winner. Do you value a sunroof over radar cruise?

A head-up display over Apple CarPlay? A self-parking system over AEB?

Rear heated seats over an electric tailgate? You be the judge. Our two cents: the Mazda or Volkswagen edge the Hyundai. Read our detailed specifications table below for a clearer rundown. Cabins The Hyundai i40 is the oldest design here, dating back to 2011 — a fact that’s clear from the cabin layout. However, despite the slightly dated design and the small lo-fi touchscreen, the Korean’s interior remains well built, and sports high quality plastic and leather materials.

Like the others, you get ample cabin storage (big door pockets that will hold a one-litre bottle, decent glovebox, sunglasses holder and more), well-finished leather seats, plentiful seat and steering wheel adjustment and a crisp sound system with good bass levels. Adding some razzle-dazzle to proceedings is the huge glass roof that lends a tremendous ambience on a spring day — though the cloth cover feels a little flimsy. The Hyundai’s back seats offer good knee-room and shoulder, though it’s third here in toe-room and headroom, the latter of which is affected by the sunroof. Anyone under 180cm will be fine.

The slick design also means small side windows, reducing ‘airiness’. Rear amenities include LED reading lights, air vents, a flip down middle armrest with storage and one-touch windows (that don’t go all the way down, unlike the Mazda and Volkswagen). The second-row seats can be folded flat by levers mounted near the headrests. The cargo area in all three of these cars is massive — more so than like-priced medium SUVs. With the rear seats in use, Hyundai claims 506 litres of capacity, expanding to 1672L with them folded.

The cargo floor length is about 1.9 metres with the front seats in use, and there’s more than a metre between the wheel arches. This about matches the others, give or take a few centimetres.

As with the others, the i40 comes with a pull-out cargo cover and a separate cloth cargo barrier that stows away. It also has the cleverest storage solutions here, with its fantastic rail-mounted adjustable fixed barrier with extendable straps. There are also metal kickplates and a full-size spare wheel under the floor. Compared to the others, the Mazda 6 GT’s cabin looks and feels like Hollywood.

Or more accurately, like a German luxury car. Its touchscreen may be equal smallest here with the Hyundai (7.0-inches), but the way it’s mounted atop the dash, and controlled by the brilliant MZD Connect rotary dial when on the move, is pure BMW.

Also great is the pop-up head-up display, which may look a little flimsy but is a great safety feature (and the only way the get a digital speedo on the Mazda). The leather and plastic materials used are of properly upmarket quality, and the contrasting colours are tasteful. The dials and switchgear are also of a very high standard, as is the newly designed steering wheel. The 11-speaker Bose sound system is the most impressive on paper, and the MZD system offers the best user experience, but in reality it’s only on a par in terms of sound quality. Everywhere else, though, the Mazda feels and looks quite primo. Rear seat occupants also enjoy a little more toe-room than in the Hyundai, and more headroom thanks to the smaller sunroof.

The all-round one-touch windows also go all the way down, and you get rear seat heating — unlike the Hyundai and VW. Cargo space with the seats in use is the same as the Hyundai (506L), expanding to 1648L, making it narrowly the smallest. The Mazda also has a similar pull-up cargo barrier and pull-out vinyl cargo cover to the others, though its spare wheel is steel not alloy, and the tailgate is manually operated. To Mazda’s credit, both it and the Volkswagen have very helpful levers in the cargo area to flip the rear seats without having to walk around to the back passenger doors.

The Volkswagen Passat’s cabin lacks the showmanship of the Mazda, but its design is elegance personified and the materials of consistently outstanding quality. The doors also close with the signature Volkswagen ‘thunk’ it’s so famous for. The Passat also offers the best screen here with superior smartphone integration, has the strongest sound system, and offers magnificently comfortable seats. They’re about the best you can buy on any car under $100k. The German also has the best rear seat space and the best outward visibility, while its seats also fold 40:20:40 (via levers in the cargo area). It’s also the only car here with temperature adjustment for its rear vents, and it has the best LED reading lights and the most accomodating door apertures. There’s no sunroof as standard, however.

Volkswagen claims the most capacious cargo area here at 650L to 1780L, thanks to the boxy design. Its loading floor is the longest and it seats fold flattest and fastest, though the Passat is the narrowest here between the arches. It sports the same cargo blind/cover setup as the others. Meanwhile its electric tailgate opens really high, the back seat fold thanks to flippy levers, there’s a similar blind and cover setup to the Hyundai, a welcome full-sized spare wheel and a loading length nudging two-metres. The Hyundai’s cabin benefits from that massive sunroof, and it’s one that will age well and will fit things that a Tucson just won’t.

The Mazda feels upmarket and European, with by far the most dynamic bent. But the Volkswagen is more spacious and comfortable, which makes it the winner.

Drivetrains Elephant in the room time. Why on earth have we tested a Mazda 6 and Volkswagen Passat petrol against a Hyundai i40 diesel? Mostly because these are respectively the top-sellers in their ranges, and thus are the best reflection of buyer behaviour. They’re also the best value point.

They’re also the cars that we could get at the same time and place. With that out of the way, let’s get down to details. The Hyundai i40 Premium as tested sports a 1.7-litre turbo-diesel engine with the least power here (104kW at 4000rpm) but the most torque (340Nm between 1750 and 2500rpm). The Hyundai engine is matched to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission as standard. An anaemic 121kW/203Nm 2.0-litre petrol can be had, but the diesel is the better bet for an extra $2600. The Volkswagen Passat uses a 1.8-litre turbo-petrol unit with 132kW (between 5100 and 6200rpm) and 250Nm (between 1250 and 5000rpm), likewise matched to a seven-speed dual-clutch auto. There’s no diesel available until you step up to a Highline, priced near $50k.

The Mazda 6 takes a different route, with a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four making 128kW (at 5700rpm) and 250Nm (at 3250rpm), matched to a more conventional six-speed automatic with torque converter. A punchy 129kW/420Nm 2.2 diesel can be had for a $2850 premium. All models tested in this specification level are front-wheel drive. You can get the Passat in all-wheel drive if you step up into the high-riding $50,790 diesel-only Alltrack crossover. As you’d expect, the Hyundai i40 is the most efficient car.

It’s frugal diesel has a factory claim of 5.1 litres per 100km (combined-cycle), though on our mixed-cycle (urban and dynamic loops) test we were averaging in the mid-to-high 9s. It’s on highways where the relaxed oil-burner really shines, and if you do lots of long trips, it’s a good choice. The small capacity turbo in the Passat has a factory claim of 6.0L/100km, though unlike the Mazda it drinks pricier 95 RON premium fuel at a minimum. Our real-world return of 10.5L/100km under hard driving was acceptable given what the diesel Hyundai managed. The Mazda’s larger capacity but normally aspirated SkyActiv unit has a factory claim of 6.6L/100km (91RON and even E10 compatible, laudably), which offsets the real-world reading of around 11L/100km. Both the Mazda and VW have nicely damped and non-intrusive stop-start systems, incidentally.

It’s the Mazda’s ultra high-compression engine we were least enamoured with on test, though. We rarely recommend diesels, but the 420Nm turbo-diesel is a superior choice here. First, the loud idle on cold start detracts from the ambience. The arrival of maximum torque later in the rev band also means you have to work it harder than the others, though its response is instantaneous. Much of this due to the fantastic six-speed auto, which is smooth and intuitive, and in sport mode aggressively downshifts. The Passat’s 1.8-litre turbo-petrol is a gem once you’re up and about, with a typically muscular mid-range that gives it an urgent rolling response, while at lower speeds it’s also exceptionally refined. The DSG auto has the odd moment of indecisiveness around town still, and the throttle response is less immediate than the Mazda. The Hyundai’s diesel is a bit of a slug compared to many others out there, but it’s extremely relaxed, and the broad swathe of torque from low engine speeds gives it an effortless feel and acceptable rolling response.

It’s also exceptionally quiet and refined, either at idle or a cruise. The DCT automatic has some typical urban jitters and indecisiveness, but the Auto Hold function that stops creeping at idle and prevents rollback (the same system is also on the VW) really helps.

We were surprised how much we enjoyed the diesel Hyundai, and its refinement and economy, and price-point equal to petrol rivals, makes a compelling case. Dynamics The benefits of a typical wagon over even the most well-sorted SUV has traditionally been the superior body control and dynamism in corners thanks to their lower centre of gravity. And even the very best of the brilliant modern crossover crop still fall a little short of the best wagons.

The ‘least-good’ performer here (because it’s not bad) is the Hyundai. The independent suspension and damper set up were tuned in Australia, but this earlier iteration falls a little short of the latest Hyundai crop, such as the Sonata, Elantraand Tucson. The suspension isolates the seat and steering wheel from most sharp inputs and lower amplitude ruts, though the huge sunroof has the odd creak over the latter, given it reduces body rigidity in order to offer a better sky view. The car is quite firmly sprung after a European fashion, meaning it stays flat and tied down mid-corner, which is complemented by the well-weighted electro-mechanical steering. My notes mention the car isn’t plush as befits the brand, but it’s controlled and disciplined. Where the i40 is excellent is on a smooth highway such as Melbourne’s Citylink, where its quiet diesel engine is most relaxed and there’s good isolation from wind noise (that slippery shape with good coefficient of drag) and tyre roar.

It’d be a lovely thing to drive up to Sydney. There’s a solid argument, depending on your perspective, that the Mazda is either the best or worst here.

Its NVH suppression, such as tyre roar from its big 19-inch wheels/slim tyre package, engine drone under moderate throttle, is the worst here, which is a long-running Mazda peccadillo. On the other hand, as befits Mazda’s brand, it’s a great corner-carver, with feel-some steering that’s responsive from centre, good turn-in, disciplined body control under lateral loads and when settling after undulations and that well-sorted gearbox calibration mentioned earlier. Considering the low-profile tyres, it’s also good at rounding off sharp edges and hits. We’re impressed with how initial impacts into speed bumps, and the seat feel over cobbles, are both more than acceptable. It’s a quite well-compromised package, this. But it’s not as well-sorted as the Passat, which has the best NVH suppression on test; rounds off square edges, sharp hits and lower-amplitude surfaces better than the others; and offers the best balance between soft (lower force on the compression) damping yet well-sorted body control.

It settles beautifully. The steering is lighter and less communicative than the Mazda’s, but the cushiness on display, which never delves into wallowing or pitching, gives it the best balance. The VW is typically well rounded, in that it’s fun to throw at corners, but also supremely comfortable and quiet. We’re always being criticised for giving Volkswagens such high marks in ride and handling, but it’s not our fault that those engineers in Wolfsburg are so accomplished. Remember that the Passat is VW’s top-seller, so it was hardly going to do a half-cocked job.

Estimated ownership experience The Volkswagen Passat comes with a three-year/100,000km warranty with full roadside assistance. The company offers transparent capped servicing costs that, like with all brands, is scaled to inflation and other potential price drivers.

In other words, prices can change, but have to be advertised. Service intervals are a long 12 months/15,000km, with the first six visits at current prices costing: $482, $482, $563, $656, $482 and $563. You also need to pay $56 every two years for a new pollen filter and $138 every two years for new brake fluid. The Mazda has the same warranty term as the Volkswagen, though roadside assist is $68.10 annually. Service intervals are an inferior 12 months or 10,000km.

Like VW, the prices can change, but at present levels the costs over the first six visits are: $302, $330, $302, $330, $302 and $330. Like the Passat, you’ll need a new Mazda air filter every two years ($67) and new brake fluid every two years ($68). The dealer experiences of these two contenders should be interesting to monitor. Volkswagen has been rightly criticised for years for its middling dealer sales and service experience, finishing poorly in industry surveys. But its current boss has vowed to stop at nothing to fix it. Mazda usually wins or performs strongly in the same tests.

Individual experiences are likely to be different. But it’s the Hyundai with the most comprehensive after sales policy. First, it has a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty, and up to 10 years of roadside assist if you serice the car at a Hyundai dealer rather than somewhere such as Ultra Tune.

Because our test car was a diesel, it’s pricier to service. This is common and offsets the fuel savings. Intervals are 12 months/15,000km and cost (at current rates): $339, $339, $339, $439, $339 and $520. Verdict This was a hard test to split.

Despite showing its age a little in terms of cabin presentation, equipment and ride, the Hyundai i40 is a stylish and spacious wagon with a relaxed and quiet diesel engine at a reasonable price. Good ownership costs, too. The Mazda 6 GT has the most upmarket cabin presentation here, and looks a million dollars in your driveway. It’s also the most fun to throw into corners, though its NVH suppression and engine let it down just a little.

So, we’re left again with the austere but well-rounded Volkswagen. No doubt we’ll cop criticism for the choice, but there’s no escaping the German’s practicality, quality and comfort in a class where these talents are most highly sought. Yuneec Breeze Camera DJI Mavic Pro sports by 12.35M effective pixels,1/2.3 inch CMOS and 12.71M total pixels, built in 78 degree field view, f/2.2 lens. It can record 4K resolution video at 30FPS, and it can capture 12MP images in JPEG or RAW formats. But GoPro Karma needs to attach Hero 5 session camera or Hero Black camera to take aerial photographing and it supports GPS and 4K resolution video recording and 12MP photos same as Mavic Pro.

But Hero 5 session can capture 10MP photos instead of RAW format and it doesn’t come with GPS function, too. As for Yuneec Breeze, it boasts 13MP camera which can also take 4k videos. Flight Speed DJI Mavic Pro can support up to 40 mph(65kph) in sports mode without wind to the maximum, and 16.4 ft/s ( 5 m/s ) in Sport mode in terms of Max. Ascent speed and 9.8 ft/s ( 3 m/s ) about Max. Descent speed. About GoPro Karma, it can fly at the speed of 35 mph (56.3kph), Yuneec Breeze can support 80m max flying height, and it is able to fly at the max horizontal speed of 5m/s, and 1m/s Max Ascent Speed.

Therefore, DJI Mavic Pro has the fastest speed of flying. Yuneec Breeze Fight Time and Battery Mavic Pro has 3830mAh 11.4V 3C battery which can support flying for 27 minutes without stop once it charges, and it takes 3.5 hours to charge full, while GoPro Karma with 1220 mAh battery can support only up tp 20 minutes after charging, and Yuneec Breeze is built in 3S 11.1V 1150mAh LiPo battery which can charge full in 10 minutes to 13 minutes.

Therefore, according to the battery, DJI Mavic Pro wins again. Flight Distance DJI Mavic Pro can fly up to 4.3 miles (7km) distance to the highest by its controller. GoPro Karma is able to cover a distance of 0.62 miles (1km), but Yuneec Breeze can only fly 80m Maximum Flying Height.

Therefore, DJI Mavic Pro can fly longest until now. GoPro Karma Remote Controller DJI Mavic Pro has a remote controller with LED screen to show the necessary flight information, and it can connect your phone to take photos or videos like 1080p video.

GoPro Karma also comes with a remote controller with 5inch 720P screen which can take videos online. Yuneec Breeze supports remote control connecting by wifi. DJI Mavic Pro (left) – GoPro Karma (right) Flight Modes Mavic Pro is built in a set of sensors and cameras, which can avoid obstacles effectively, it comes with the flight modes such as Slow down,Sport Mode,Tap to Fly,Visual Tracking,Waypoints, hovering, etc. GoPro Karma has not so many modes, but it can support one key to fly, one key to return. As for Yuneec Breeze, it is equipped with Various automated modes such as Follow Me Mode and Pilot mode. Therefore, Mavic Pro has the most various modes that users want. Price DJI Mavic Pro is the most powerful RC drone in three UAV, so the price of DJI Mavic Pro is the most expensive, according to official, it starts to sell at $749 without remote control, GoPro Karma at $799 without camera, and Yuneec Breeze at $499.99.

However, Gearbest as a Chinese store has started to sell DJI Mavic Pro at $1229.99, but you use this coupon code: RC18OFF to catch it at $1046.72. Yuneec Breeze at $607.56, only 8 pieces left now. When do you buy your kids a mobile phone?

Age 15, 12, eight? With such hectic lives, perhaps separate lives, being able to keep in touch with your kids on the way home, when at a friend’s house, or your ex-partners house, is becoming more the norm. Buying a fully-fledged smartphone and the multitude of questions that brings can be a lot, especially for children under 12. The Gator Watch is an alternative idea: a smartwatch for kids and designed to let you phone the wearer or have them phone you without all the baggage that comes with a traditional mobile phone. We’ve tested it on two of the Pocket-lint kids to find out whether it works, whether they are happy to wear it, or whether it’s a flash in the pan device.

Gator Watch review: Design Coming in blue, black, or pink, the Gator Watch is a fairly chunky device that is simple in its design. The rubber strap and rubber body is easily cleanable.

It’s surprisingly hefty and large for a kids watch though. The sides are adorned with a series of sealed buttons, but the main focus is on the basic colour LCD screen that delivers the time, plus other pertinent information. The watch face can display in either a digital or analogue style. There is a small dedicated charger socket on the back of the watch that lets you charge from a USB socket.

A magnet ensures it stays in place when connected. Setup and management of the watch is achieved via the accompanying iPhone or Android app. Which is a good thing. Gator Watch review: More than just telling the time Where the Gator Watch becomes more than just a watch is the inclusion of a GPS tracker and mobile phone SIM card that roams between EE, O2, and Vodafone for the best signal. The watch can be programmed, via the app, to be able to call up to 10 numbers and receive calls from 10 numbers. Only numbers on the safe “whitelist” are allowed – and in most cases you’ll probably only allow your kids to dial you or your partner. To make a call you just have to long press on the volume controls, rather than having to worry about typing in any numbers, and that’s incredibly handy given your child doesn’t have to remember any long string of numbers.

In the £9/$13.5-a-month subscription you get 60 minutes of calls from the watch, and unlimited calls to it. There is no text/SMS support. Receiving a call is easy: you press a button, and just like the Apple Watch are expected to talk to your wrist, Dick Tracey style. The speaker and microphone are surprisingly good, and the kids will love it. Okay, so it’s unlikely to work in a busy bar, but your kids aren’t going to be in a busy bar are they?

Well, hopefully not. Gator Watch review: Tracking your kids Aside from being able to make and receive calls, the Gator watch also features a GPS tracker. With the aid of the app, you are able to track your kids or be alerted when they walk a certain distance away from you. The app captures the data live and then plots it on a map for you to look at either in real-time or historically. It’s fascinating to see where your kids have been, whether that’s at school, or a friend’s house, and as long as the device has battery and a signal it will continue to ping you updates of the watches whereabouts whether on a wrist or not. In our tests we were able to see our kids had gone to school, where they went with a friend at a play date, even what route they took to get home. Whether you tell your child is your decision, there is no way to tell from the watch that this information is being recorded and shared with the parent.

Gator Watch review: Battery and boredom The battery will need recharging every four days, or sooner if you make lots of calls or travel a lot (the GPS sucks battery like nobody’s business). At first that’s all your kids will want to do: call you. It’s new, it’s exciting, and initially quite fun.

“Dad, I’m upstairs,” “Mum, I’ve made it to the other side of the park,” “Dad I’m sneakily phoning you from the playground during first quarter,” will be the first barrage of calls you’ll receive. But once you’ve told them that it’s really only for emergencies or for when there is a problem, the novelty quickly wears off. Then they’ll forget to charge it one night, and then they’ll start forgetting to wear it, until it is getting dusty in their bedroom along with the remote control car and the solar powered robot you spent one Christmas building together. That’s not to say that’s going to be the case for everyone, but this is a gadget that will soon lose its excitement once the initial play is over. Partly because there’s not exactly much play on offer: there are no games to be found here. The Gator watch suffers the same fate of most smartwatches: when it’s not telling the time it doesn’t do anything to entertain the user.

That’s fine when you aren’t having to remember to charge it twice a week, but for this watch to be the success it has the potential to be, you have to remember to charge it, and for your kids to actually wear it. Verdict From a parent’s perspective, the Gator Watch is great. It lets you keep in touch with your kids while they are wearing it, saves you having to invest in a mobile phone – a tricky situation for kids under 12 we feel – and then track them so you know they are safe. For kids, however, the experience isn’t so exciting after the first couple of days. The seemingly constant need to charge it can be a drag, too, especially alongside all the other things they have to remember for school. For the Gator Watch to work you need to build it into your routine, that’s for sure.

But having used it with the kids we can certainly see its potential. The distinctive drive units are in-house designs, carefully honed over years of development. We are big fans of the company’s 28mm dome tweeter – in previous tests of Emit speakers we’ve found it tends to combine refinement with bite better than most. Here it’s partnered with pair of the company’s distinctive 17cm mid/bass drivers in a two-way configuration.

That large dome in the middle of the cone isn’t just there to look good; it also helps to add rigidity to the magnesium silicate polymer diaphragm. These drive units also use much larger voice coils than is normal. The one used here is 75mm in diameter – more than double the conventional size. The advantages are claimed to be improved efficiency and a reduction of heat build up.

In short you can play louder for longer. Dynaudio has never been a fan of biwiring, believing it doesn’t offer any tangible sonic benefits, so it’s no surprise to find the M30s equipped for single wiring only. After all the engineering involved in the drive units, the cabinets could be seen as ordinary in comparison. Solid MDF boxes standing 96cm high and a bit over 20cm wide, the finish is smart without being spectacular, though we like the speaker’s sparse, almost plain attitude towards decoration.

Those doubled-up mid/bass drivers mean that these speakers generate a pleasing amount of low-end authority. Once the spikes are properly adjusted and tight, basslines are delivered with power and purpose. Listen to Bob Marley’s Exodus and the low-end comes through with authority and agility. There’s a good level of detail here with the speakers revealing a fine degree of subtlety and texture. Marley’s vocals brim with passion; the fine integration between the tweeter and mid/basses generating a midrange of pleasing clarity and insight. The top-end proves equally talented.

That tweeter continues to serve well with its combination of attack and insight. Moving to Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture shows the M30s’ ability to deliver wide-ranging dynamics from low-level instrumental nuances right the way through to the kind of explosive crescendos that rattle your furniture. The stereo imaging is decent too, delivering a fair dose of scale and stability. Other plus points include a relatively even tonal balance, an ability to deliver high volume levels with composure and good refinement.

Put it all together and it’s hard not to admire these speakers. But there’s something missing.

It’s a sense of enthusiasm – a quality that the junior speakers in the range have with abundance. Play upbeat music such as Ryan and Macklemore’s Thrift Shop and these Emits – unlike others we’ve heard in the range – sound a little safe, lacking the sparkle needed to bring the music to life. Blame a shortfall of rhythmic drive and precision coupled to a lack of punch. 2016 is almost in the can and we now know the best phones of the year. My, didn’t that fly?

The quality of this year’s top phones has been incredible – at least it is as long as we sweep the little issue of exploding Samsung Galaxy Note 7s under the fire-retardant carpet. And at least that gave us all something to talk about, eh? Big innovations from the class of 2016 include cameras so advanced they sound like they’ve been teleported out of someone’s daydream and batteries that charge so fast you’ll get a day’s juice in less time than it takes a cup of tea to go cold. For those of you who are out to buy rather than just peer in the shop window wistfully, though, the question is whether it’s worth spending big on the tech wizardry of the iPhone 7 Plus and the cutting-edge software of the Google Pixel. Or should you give your bank balance a break and pick the OnePlus 3 instead? Or, for that matter, Sony’s newest flagship, the Xperia XZ or the unsung and possibly underated Honor 8?

Let’s find out. THE CONTENDERS. OnePlus 3 £329/$493 An amazing phone for bargain hunters with a little money to spend, this £330/$495 wonder seems like it can go head-to-head with mobiles almost twice the price. Serious phone, serious value.

Apple iPhone 7 Plus from £719/$1,078 Another year, another iPhone. But this time you get a 3D Touch screen, a new Taptic Home button and a second ‘zoom’ camera designed to take perfect portraits. Honor 8 £369/$553 All rise for the underdog.

The Honor 8 costs around £200/$300 less than most rivals, but still has high-end specs. But can you live with all the Honor-flavoured quirks? Google Pixel from £599/$898 The first-ever 100 per cent Google designed phone is here to show off Android 7.1’s new software goodies and could mark the beginning of a new era of Google phones. Sony Xperia XZ £549/$823 The Sony Xperia Z6 in all but name, this phone has a pixel-packed 23MP camera and a design tweaked for comfort and durability.

Why do you hate us, Apple? We almost wish the iPhone 7 Plus wasn’t as jaw-droppingly good as it is, because the phone doesn’t even have a headphone jack. We love headphones at Stuff, but we don’t love using a headphone adapter. The rest of the iPhone 7 Plus does a good job of making up for it, though. First, this phone has a second 2x zoom camera, letting you take close-up portraits and gig pics without your shots looking like they’ve been drawn with crayons. The new Portrait camera mode also has a best-yet stab at the ‘blurry background’ effect you can normally only get with a giant high-end camera lens too.

Next up, Apple has updated the iPhone’s Taptic engine, the part that makes the Home button click. At first it seems like this is just about the button, but it’s used all over the place as a very precise percussive feedback, even in games such as Alto’s Adventure. The way the phone responds to your touch is all-new. Let’s not forget the pressure-sensitive ‘Force Touch’ screen either. This lets you access particular parts of an app just by hard-pressing the icon on your homescreen. It’s not just Apple apps either — you can zip right to recently played Spotify albums, for example.

We’re not done yet. The iPhone 7 Plus also has dual speakers: as well as a bassier-than-normal driver at the bottom, the earpiece also acts as a speaker for stereo-effect sound. Let’s get real: it’s still a phone speaker. But it does have better bass than any other phone in this group. TEAM IT WITH Alto’s Adventure. One of the first games to make use of the iPhone 7’s new “advanced rumble” Taptic engine is Alto’s Adventure, quite possibly the artiest endless runner in the universe.

You’ll feel a haptic tap when you pick up a llama: the name of the game. Adobe Photoshop Lightroom The iPhone 7 Plus can shoot RAW photos if you use an advanced camera app such as ProCamera. These are shots untouched by noise reduction jiggery-pokery. Open them in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom and you can bring out more shadow detail for even better results. Design One annoying thing about the iPhone 7 Plus is that it’s big. Bigger than almost all the 5.5in Android phones. It’s just something you have to accept.

It’s otherwise as lovely as ever, though, and there are new shades: black and glossy black. The glossy one is the stealth bomber of phones. Seriously cool. But it is also a fingerprint magnet par excellence and isn’t half easy to scratch. Don’t say we didn’t warn you. Everyone will know you have an iPhone 7 Plus even if you opt for plain old silver too because this is the only iPhone with two cameras on the back. Don’t worry, bragging rights come as standard.

Camera Loads of two-camera phones have appeared over the last five years, but none quite like this. The iPhone 7 Plus has a ‘normal’ camera right next to 2x zoom one that lets you take better, sharper shots of far-away subjects. The killer app is portraits, though. Not only can you stay a bit further away from your muse, the new Portrait mode blurs out the background so your photos look like they’ve been taken by a pro with a £1000/$1500 camera. Instead of, err, a near-£1000/$1500 phone. But hey, a DSLR can’t play any of those brain-rotting casual games.

OS and Apps Everyone knows iOS now, right? You might not know about all the extras iOS 10 added, though. Siri now works in third party apps, 3D Touch adds a whole new later of interaction and there are widgets for your lock screen.

Oh, and you can now delete the Stocks app. Screen The screen specs of the iPhone 7 Plus won’t blow you away. It’s 5.5in across, an LCD and 1080p resolution. In person, though, it is up there with the best. Great contrast, deep blacks and colours that look vivid while being much more natural than a lot of the punchier-looking Androids. We’ve had Google phones for years, but the Google Pixel is the first 100% Google-made phone.

OK, so HTC actually made it, but it had no say about the weird glass panel on the back. A part-glassy backside will let you spot one of these pricey Androids from 50 paces, but it’s really what’s inside that makes the Pixel special. It is the first phone to have Android 7.1 and the new Pixel launcher. It’s a whole new look and feel for Android, and you can only get it with a Pixel right now. Part of this new software is the re-born Google Assistant, now designed to comprehend your love poems and drunken ramblings. In reality, it’s just a lot more like Siri, and will generally spit you out to a Wikipedia page if you ask anything too esoteric. On the bright side, at least it won’t gain sentience and take over the world until at least 2017.

Where software smarts really come good is in the camera. The Pixel has a 12MP rear camera, pretty common nowadays, but also some of the smartest photo-boosting software outside of Blade Runner. It’s HDR’d to the max and its electronic stabilisation is so decent we barely miss proper optical stabilisation.

Like every Google phone to date, this is partly a fancy container for new software, though. And while this phone is as snappy as any around, there are more desirable containers to be found. Still, we’re not going to complain too much about a phone this easy to pocket. TEAM IT WITH Allo. If you really want to fully get on-board with Android 7.1, you need to try Allo. This is Google’s very own new WhatsApp-a-like. It’s similar but smarter, suggesting replies before you’ve even started typing and has integration with the new Google assistant.

Dashlane No-one likes remembering passwords, but using the same one with one character changed is a BAD idea. Dashlane lets you create super-complex passwords and then stores them, leaving you to remember just the one master password. It’ll let you use the Pixel’s finger scanner as a password alternative too. Design Aluminium and glass. That’s what you get here, and lots of it.

Don’t worry too much if you don’t instantly fall in love with the glass back panel. You get used to it after a while, and at least it’s not boring. Aside from a rear finger scanner, what you need to note is quite how small and friendly the Pixel feels. With a 5-inch screen it’s a great choice if holding an iPhone 7 Plus makes you feel like you’re handling a gigantic plank of phone. The Pixel isn’t the slimmest mobile around, but its aluminium curves feel great.

This is a phone you’ll grow to love. Camera On paper the Pixel’s camera doesn’t sound like a killer. It has a high-end 12MP sensor, but no optical stabilisation to counteract a bit of hand wobbliness. However, in person it’s fab. It’s fast, the processing churns out routinely great images and while night shots end up a mite noisier than the best, it’s one of the best non-stabilised night shooters around. Having a brand new fancy-pants sensor from Sony probably helps. It doesn’t have a ‘zoom’ lens like the iPhone or two cameras like the Honor 8.

But we still care most about a) the image quality and b) the hit rate. And the Pixel is a star on both fronts. OS and Apps The Pixel UI is a vision of what Android may become in the future. There are more gestures than you normally get in Android. To bring up the apps menu, for example, you flick up on the home screen rather than pressing one of the soft keys.

Familiar but different. Screen We’re looking at the dinkier of the Pixel twins. This one has a 5in 1080p OLED screen rather than a mammoth one. This keeps it pocket-friendly, if a bit small for movie-watching while you’re on the treadmill. Or the toilet (no-one’s judging).

If that’s an issue for you, consider the bigger Pixel XL. Either way you’ll be getting a high-quality, punchy screen. Now for something completely different.

Like the OnePlus 3, the Honor 8 is a top-end option for those who don’t want to spend £500/$750 or more on a phone. However, it’s also packed with Honor quirks. These quirks range from the colour-saturated blue, gold and pink designs to the in-house Kirin CPU and the unusual Emotion UI software. Some of you won’t like all of these, but maybe a different approach is what you’re after. The back and front are glass, for example, at a time when most top phones now use aluminium to avoid ending up with a phone that looks like a drunk spider’s web of shattered glass.

You’ll have to be careful, but it doesn’t half feel nice in your hand. Like other Honor phones, the Honor 8 also gets rid of the apps menu of just about every other Android, instead dumping everything on your home screens like an iPhone. It’s an unusual approach. Unlike the OnePlus 3 there are also some parts that seem a wee bit less advanced than the pricier competition too. It’s a bit too easy to take blurry photos with the camera, and the CPU isn’t quite as cutting edge as the other phones in our test. It’ll still play demanding games without slow-down, though, so it’s only your late-night camera shoots that’ll suffer. If it wasn’t for the competition at the price, we’d give the Honor 8 even more of an enthusiastic thumbs-up.

But the presence of the OnePlus 3 means this it’s really only for those who want to try Honor’s off-kilter style. TEAM IT WITH Smart Controller. Design Glass on the back, glass on the front and aluminium on the sides, this is the kind of glamour you’d normally have to pay more for. It’s also pretty pocket-friendly thanks to the 7.5mm-thick design and 5.2in screen. It’s the one-colour style that adds the Honor special sauce here. Screen Fresh out of the box our Honor 8’s screen looked a bit ‘cool’, but you can tweak this in the phone’s settings. Other than that it’s a top-quality display, with powerful but not overpowering colour and nicely eye-searing brightness.

It’s a 5.2in 1080p LTPS LCD screen. No standard-setter, but good enough.

Camera The Honor 8 has two cameras on its back, both 12MP. One is monochrome, though, to help boost its low-light skills. It’s a neat idea that makes sense tech-wise, but we’re in the big leagues now and it’s a little too prone to taking blurry photos at night if you don’t keep your hands dead still. OS and Apps EmotionUI 4.1: not all of you are going to like this. It does some strange things, such as ditching the apps menu and plastering your lock screen with wallpapers that could have been lifted from IKEA’s art department. There’s plenty of customisation on tap, though, so you can mod away bits you don’t like. If you’re wondering “whatever happened to the Xperia Z6?”, you’re looking at it.

This is the new king of Sony’s Android kingdom, and despite the name change it’s business as usual. That means you get a sharp and serious-looking phone with camera sensor tech not seen elsewhere. Sony makes most phone cameras’ hardware, you see. Parts to pick up on include severe lines that give the Xperia XZ a monolith-like presence designed to make iPhones look a bit squishy in comparison. It’s also the only phone here to have a finger scanner on the side, because Sony really isn’t into “me too” phone design these days. It’s meant to look like its daddy, not the other phones on the high street.

The bit it doesn’t have, though, is a killer USP. All the other phones here have that one bit of tech to make you go “ooh”, but the Sony Xperia XZ seems to rely on that indefinable slightly smug aura that comes with every Sony flagship. Look down the spec list and you can point out the camera, which has more megapixels than some DSLRs.

However, we’d rather use an iPhone 7 Plus or even a OnePlus 3 if we’re honest. Its pics aren’t quite as hot as hoped. Aside from the camera stall, this is a solid all-rounder. But with such strong competition at all angles, you really have to dig that Sony style for the Xperia XZ to be considered a top buy.

TEAM IT WITH PS4 Remote Play. Design Sony has dropped its obsession with glass. An aluminium rear means you can stop worrying about shattering both sides of your phone. Screen Sony pours colour into its LCD phone screens like they’re reservoirs for the stuff.

The Xperia XZ has the most lively tones of all these phones: great for a punchy look, but may be a bit OTT for some of you. It’s a 1080p screen but that still looks sharp across 5.2in. Camera Play tech Top Trumps with the Sony Xperia XZ and it rules. A 23MP rear camera sounds like a compact killer. Sadly, it’s not. This is possibly the worst camera in this test, making fine details look fizzy and lacking the OIS needed for quality night photography. OS and Apps Sony puts its “we’re so slick” stamp on Android 6.0.1 in the Xperia XZ.

It’s an inoffensive, grown-up look. And it doesn’t ruin Android’s layout either, although does use old fashion apps pages. There are also custom Sony media apps and you can hook up to a PS4 with Remote Play.

When people talk about bargain phones, they normally mean ones that cost around £100/$150. OnePlus proves a £330/$495 mobile can be a bobby dazzler, because in most respects the OnePlus 3 matches phones that costs way over £500/$750. 64GB storage, a faultless aluminium frame, good software and a solid camera will make you wonder whether it’s really worth spending the extra on a Samsung or Apple model. Spoiler: it probably isn’t for many of you. Until recently, you still had to be a bit bold to buy one of these. No shops on the high street sold the OnePlus 3. Now, though, you can buy one from O2.

It’s ready for the masses: come get one. A couple of little extras are missing, like “dunk me in the bath, I dare you” water resistance and expandable storage. However, when you look at how much you save, it’s hard not to be drawn in. If we were to look for potential problems, one of the few that pops up is size. A 5.5in screen means this is a big phone, so do bear that in mind if you think spandex leggings are the height of fashion or if you have Donald Trump-size hands. It is a lot smaller than the iPhone 7 Plus, mind. All that’s left is to wonder what you’re going to do with that £200/$300 left in your pocket.

TEAM IT WITH Evernote. Design Showing Apple how to design a 5.5in phone, the OnePlus 3 feels pretty manageable despite its big ‘ole screen. Its all-aluminium, skinny frame also feels gloriously expensive given the price. One funky little extra is the silent mode switch on the side, perfect for those trips to the cinema. Screen At launch the OnePlus 3 caught some flak over its inaccurate screen colours.

With current software you need to play with the colour temperature to get it looking right, but it’s only as oversaturated as the other Androids here. The main attractions: it’s big at 5.5in and sharp enough to satisfy most with a 1080p panel. Camera Today’s trend is to use a slightly lower-res camera than the OnePlus 3’s, for better low-light performance. However, as it has OIS you can still take good night photos. And with the manual mode you can push stabilisation to the max. Just keep those hands still. OS and Apps OnePlus has pulled quite a trick with the Oxygen UI.

It looks and feels a lot like normal Android 6.0, but has loads more customisation options, as well as a bonus homescreen. It’s called Shelf and holds those notes and widgets you need but don’t want littering your homscreens. How do they do it? This is what you’ll be asking yourself for hours after opening up the OnePlus 3 box. For less than half the price of the Google Pixel XL and iPhone 7 Plus, you get a big-screen phone that looks and feels amazing, can take fantastic photos and has as much power as phones costing well over £500/$750.

Sure, the latest giant iPhone has more eyebrow-raising tech crammed into its aluminium casing. However, when you pay almost £400/$600 extra for the privilege we think maybe you’d get more kick out of spending the cash on a new camera or a 4K TV.

Or, heck, maybe a week abroad to take the sting out of the UK winter. How can phones possibly get better? Weirdly enough, one thing we’ve called a gimmick before could soon be a killer feature: the 4K phone screen. In the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium a 4K screen was almost pointless; the phone was 1080p aside from when using a couple of Sony apps.

However, now that Android natively supports 4K pixel flinging, a humble phone VR headset could look much sharper than even the HTC Vive – you’ll get full HD for each eye with 4K. The Vive only delivers 1080 x 1200 pixels: no contest. It’s all eyes on Samsung to break through this ceiling in 2017. With Google Daydream about to up mobile VR several gears, we have our fingers crossed. We may also see camera resolutions start to leap up again, after many phone-makers actually decreased their megapixel counts in 2016. It’s all down to the latest trend for multi-camera setups, which when used right will let a phone get more out of each pixel.

Pros: • Heart rate sensor is new design • Price is very challenging in the smartband market • Design is modest • OLED Screen • Battery Life as claimed is very good with 30 days autonomy Cons: • Only available in black • It does not have many extras Teclast H10 was yesterday’s talk, now it is Teclast H30, the new smartband from Teclast. With its products like H30, Teclast is expanding much more from just a tablets brand.

Under its H series smartbands, the Chinese manufacturer step into the wearables market. That too at a knockdown price offering tough competition to Xiaomi Mi Band 2 or own Cubot V1. Teclast H30 Teclast H30 – Quick Look At Specifications • Sensors – Pedometer, accelerometer,heart rate • Functions – Alarm, anti-loss phone, reminder calls, heart rate monitor, monitor physical activity (calories burned, distance traveled, steps walked ), remote camera control, sedentary reminder, sleep monitor, notifications apps, watch. • Colors Black • Materials Bracelet is Silicone and case is TPU • Screen – OLED 0.86 “ • Resolution – 96 x 32 pixels • Compatibility – Android 4.3 and iOS 7.0 • Connectivity – Bluetooth 4.0 • Battery – 55 mAh Lithium-Ion • Dimensions – 22.60 x 1.60 x 1.20 cm • Weight – 17 grams • Waterproof – Yes • Language – English, Chinese Design of Teclast H30 Its unisex design makes it clear that is designed for both female and male, adapting well to both in appearance and length of band. To that, it promises to cover between 17 and 22 cm.

Identical to its most basic model, the H30 Teclast presents a smart bracelet made of silicone tips and TPU with metal hook. Its screen is slightly oval in shape that protrudes slightly on the sides. Its 0.86 inches are enough to give us a line of text information.

Its OLED technology makes a good result despite its small size. Screen, as most of the devices, is removable and is carried through a micro USB port located at one end. Its battery is something that one really will stop and think about. For smartbands, battery life is one of the things that we like to be really good.

While the inclusion of a screen always tend to lean hard on the battery, Teclast H30 promises on paper around the month of battery duration. It also includes port to fast charge 55 mAh of charge. Functions For functions like display time, receive alarms, locate the phone if you do not know where we left off, remember the calls that we have pending, view notifications of certain apps like Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp or control the camera remotely and monitor sleep or monitor our physical activity.

Also, if spend much time sitting, we can establish that give us a notice to that we stretch the legs and we move a little. Monitoring physical activity is probably the main reason why we decided to acquire a SmartBand who already have one on your wrist. In this case, we count calories burned, distance traveled and the steps taken.

Box contents 1 x Teclast H30, 1 x USB cable, 1 x user manual in Chinese and English Design and H30 Teclast Battery Price Teclast H30 smartband are presented as one of the cheapest devices now with the smartband trends, with a nice design and a range of set functions. So, it seems to be a smart buy to order Teclast H30 with its price at $18.95. Take a quick look at the auto shows and you can see where the trends are heading in 2017 and beyond. Every automaker is developing a plug-in electric vehicle to contend with clean-air regulations as well as the threat of Tesla. Meanwhile, legacy brands are trying to find new ways to wow consumers in a market that may have peaked in 2015.

Lincoln Continental led the pack in 2016, but the hottest 2017 new car debuts will be EVs and performance models As a result, we’re seeing more SUVs and performance cars flooding the market. Supercars returned from Ford and Acura in 2016, and more are coming in the next few years. Bigger, badder pickup trucks are on the way, too. But the immediate future has the themes of green and mean dominating in 2017. Here are the seven cars that should rattle the industry before the year is out. Combine the utility of a crossover and the economy of a Prius to get Kia Niro Would it surprise you to know September 2016 was the biggest such month of gas-guzzling ever? We keep hearing how gasoline engines get more economical by the year, but it doesn’t matter much when consumers switch to SUVs and drive more.

So let’s say a highly economical utility vehicle — the Prius of SUVs, if you will — is essential for the U.S. Kia recognized that void and developed the Niro, a tallish wagon that can crack 50 miles per gallon. It debuts in early 2017. What looked like a masterpiece in concept form remained largely unchanged in the Lexus LC 500 production car You always see amazing concept cars appear at auto shows then never go to production or (worse) turn out to be diluted disappointments. It happens all the time, but Lexus made sure it didn’t with the LC 500. To our eyes, it’s the best-looking car the brand ever produced, and its all-new platform and 471 horses make it drive and sound equally magnificent.

We imagine it’ll make Jaguar F-Type buyers consider a Lexus for the first time, and that alone makes it a game-changer. Tesla Model 3. Model 3, the hottest auto story of 2016, enters the market in 2017 The first affordable Tesla may be the most hyped release of all time and will rattle the industry one way or the other. If Model 3 is everything Elon Musk says it will be, automakers will scramble to get their versions to market. Should Model 3 prove to be tougher to produce than it was to promote, Tesla will serve as a test-case for how not to manage a debut. Either way — and we’re leaning toward it being highly successful — this car will be a huge deal in 2017.

Honda Civic Type-R. World’s most powerful Honda Civic After decades of lusting after the Honda Civic Type-R, American consumers will have their wish granted in 2017. This vicious-looking, rip-roaring compact car ups the ante in a segment where Ford, Volkswagen, and Subaru have battled for years. With the arrival of the game-changing Acura NSX and the Civic Type-R the following year, Honda will mean something entirely different — more than “that Accord brand” — to U.S.

Consumers in the near future. Chevrolet Bolt EV.

2017 Chevrolet Bolt This first-of-its-kind electric car might find its way to a few dealerships in 2016, but any meaningful inventory will arrive in ’17. For EV enthusiasts, investors, and environmental advocates, it won’t come soon enough. In short, the holy grail of plug-ins — 200 miles at $30,000 — becomes a reality with Chevy Bolt EV. Actually, GM did the industry one better by making it 238 miles. And if you live in a state where EV incentives rule, this car will cost much less than $30K. Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. The new Pacific Hybrid will introduce soccer moms to plug-in power Minivans may not be what they used to be, but the new Chrysler Pacifica makes a strong case for soccer moms in 2016.

Already surging to the top of the segment’s sales charts, there’s more to come with the plug-in hybrid model arriving in early 2017. Capable of 30 miles on electric power without range restrictions, this van should take EVs beyond Silicon Valley. Since this model qualifies for the full $7,500 tax credit, FCA could price the plug-in that much above the standard edition for maximum impact. Honda Fuel Cell Clarity. Fuel cell vehicles officially become a thing when Honda Clarity arrives Toyota already released its Mirai fuel cell vehicle, but it’s dealt with a lack of hydrogen fueling infrastructure in California. By the time Honda releases its Clarity model in 2017, things should be better on that front. More importantly, consumers looking for a zero-emissions vehicle will get a segment-topping 366 miles of range in a Clarity.

Priced at $60,000, this model could make headway against battery EVs and Toyota’s own fuel cell vehicle in one fell swoop. Pros: * Good build and design * Good performance * Good camera * Above average battery life * Low price Cons: * Plenty of pre-installed apps * Clunky UI The ASUS Zenfone 2 Laser series from last year proved to be an attractive offering for those who are looking for Laser AF-packing smartphone without breaking the bank.

They even released three variants – 5.0-inch, 5.5-inch, and a 6.0-inch. For 2016, ASUS took almost everything that made the Zenfone 2 Laser series successful, improved on it, then crammed it inside a single successor – the Zenfone 3 Laser. Design and Construction The Zenfone 3 Laser’s design is very much different from its predecessor. It is now sleeker and more premium. Gone are the chunky build with a rounded rear and plastic body. Replacing it is a thinner and lighter body at 7.9mm and 150g (vs 10.8mm and 170g of the ZF2 ZE550KL), aluminum chassis, and a 2.5D glass covering the entire front of the device. Speaking of the front, we have the 5.5-inch display.

Above it are the earpiece, sensors, and the 8MP front camera. Down below are three unlit capacitive buttons for Back, Home, and Recent Apps. On the left, we have the hybrid SIM card tray while on the right are the metallic volume and power/lock keys with concentric circle texture. Up top is the 3.5mm headset jack and microphone, while the down at the bottom is the loudspeaker, microUSB port, and microphone. Flip it on its back and you will see the 13MP camera, dual-tone LED flash, Laser AF, and the fingerprint scanner.

You can also notice that the back part is segmented, the middle one is all metal while the top and bottom parts are plastic. On the hand, the Zenfone 3 Laser is nice to hold thanks to its slimmer and lighter body. The cold aluminum back also feels good on the hands.

All in all, it’s more attractive and mature-looking compared to the Zenfone 2 Laser. Display and Multimedia The Zenfone 3 Laser now has a 5.5-inch IPS display with a Full HD resolution or equal to 401ppi. If we look back at the Zenfone 2 Laser family, the only model that has that kind of resolution is the 6-inch variant. Protection is handled by Gorilla Glass 3 and not Gorilla Glass 4 like with the 6-inch ZF2 Laser. As expected, display quality is good with punchy colors and good viewing angles.

It’s also bright enough to be used outdoors during a sunny day. Like with most Zenfones, you tweak the display’s color temperature and select your preferred screen color mode inside settings.

The loudspeakers, on the other hand, are very audible and is good enough for calls, music, and movies. It has good trebles and soft bass but tends to distort at louder volumes. There’s an Audio Wizard on board as well should you wish to tweak audio settings. OS, UI, and Apps The software is handled by Android 6.0 Marshmallow with ZenUI 3.0.

It uses an app drawer and squarish icons with rounded corners. Although running fairly new Android system, some of its features (like the App and Widgets tabs) reminds us of older Android versions, but you can easily remedy that with a launcher. ASUS has been criticized before with their pre-installed apps, but sad to say they haven’t done anything drastic about it yet. Like the rest of the Zenfone 3 family, the ZF3 Laser comes with tons of ASUS apps and third-party apps (Puffin, Amazon Kindle, Instagram, Trip Advisor, Beauty Plus, Facebook, Messenger, Lazada, Need For Speed: No Limits, and Sim City).

Not to mention Google’s own apps as well. After setting up the device, you will be bombarded by app updates from the Play Store, and if you have a slow internet connection, it will take a while before all of these apps are updated. The good news is, you can uninstall those apps that you don’t need which saves precious memory from its 32GB of storage with a usable space of 23.89GB. You can further expand it via microSD card, but at the expense of dual-SIM connectivity.

Camera Imaging is one of the strengths of the Zenfone. At 13MP with Sony IMX214 sensor, it can produce sharp, yet clean photos with good colors. With the help of Laser AF, it can achieve fast focus times so all you have to do is point and shoot. The 8MP selfie camera, on the other hand, has a wide-angle lens for those group selfies and comes with a beautify feature which is a staple in current Zenfones. Check out the samples below. As for in-camera features, the ZF3 Laser has tons. It has Auto HDR, HDR Pro, Manual mode, Super Resolution, Low Light, Depth of Field, Panorama, Smart Remove, and Time Lapse to name a few.

With videos, the ZF3 Laser maxes out at Full HD at 30fps in MP4 format. Although no 4K, it has 3-axis EIS and 6-direction EIS compensation for stable videos. It works well and was able to keep shaking at the minimum even when we’re casually walking. Watch the sample videos below (watch the second video for the EIS test).

Performance and Benchmarks Powering the Zenfone 3 Laser is a modest Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 octa-core CPU clocked 1.4GHz and an Adreno 505 GPU. However, ASUS equipped it with 4GB RAM which is found in most high-end smartphones. That should be enough to handle multiple apps at the same time. True enough, it was able to handle light to heavy tasks with ease, even in gaming as tested with NFS: No Limits.

Check out the benchmark scores below: * AnTuTu – 43,542 * Quadrant Standard – 20,484 * Vellamo – 1,700 (Multicore), 1,216 (Metal), 2,393 (Chrome) * 3D Mark – 290 (Sling Shot using ES 3.1) * PC Mark – 4,848 (Work 1.0), 3,344 (Work 2.0), 3,287 (Storage) Connectivity and Call Quality The Zenfone 3 Laser features connectivity functions important to users such as dual-SIM connectivity with 4G LTE, WiFi, Bluetooth, and GPS. However, as mentioned earlier, the SIM tray uses a hybrid setup so if you use a microSD card you will lose the dual-SIM function. We didn’t encounter any issues with mobile data can detect even a weak LTE signal. Calls are loud and clear as well as long as your area has a health coverage. Battery Life Providing power for the Zenfone 3 Laser is a 3,000mAh non-removable battery. With light calls and texts, heavy social media on WiFi, with a little bit of gaming can yield 9 to 10 hours of life, which is not bad. PC Mark’s battery test yields 9 hours and 54 minutes, while our routine video loop test (1080p video on loop in Airplane mode with headset plugged in at 50% brightness and volume) got us 11 hours and 32 minuteswhich is good.

Conclusion ASUS did a good job in making the Zenfone 3 Laser. It’s a worthy successor to the Zenfone 2 Laser thanks to the improved and more premium design, upgraded internals, and good pricing. At Php11,995, it’s not heavy in the pockets and in fact, it’s the most affordable 4GB RAM smartphone in the Zenfone 3 family.

So if you’re one of those who is looking for a smartphone with said strengths, the Zenfone 3 Laser should be on your list. The Pros Compact design; Very bright and colorful display; Improved butterfly keyboard; Excellent battery life; Impressive stereo speakers The Cons Not as fast as 7th-gen Intel-powered laptops; No SD card slot Verdict The new MacBook Pro is an excellent ultraportable with a brighter display, more compact design, and superb battery life, but it’s not the fastest. The entry-level, 13-inch MacBook Pro doesn’t have the buzz-worthy Touch Bar everyone is talking about, but that doesn’t mean this isn’t a formidable laptop.

For $1,499, you get a brighter and more colorful screen than the previous 13-inch MacBook Pro, a bigger touchpad, louder speakers, and speedier performance, all wrapped up in a design that’s thinner, lighter and smaller than its predecessor. The battery life is pretty awesome, too. If you wanted an adaptive, multi-touch screen above the keyboard that provides all sorts of nifty shortcuts, you’d have to fork over $1,799 for the Touch Bar model.

Is the more affordable new MacBook Pro we reviewed worth it? Yes, but it isn’t as fast as cheaper Windows laptops with Intel’s newer 7th-generation processors, and Apple ditched some useful ports to achieve this svelte design. Design: Honey, I Shrunk the MacBook Pro The new MacBook Pro looks both classic and modern, but I wouldn’t call it thrilling. The aluminum body is certainly compact, as it has 23 percent less volume and is 17 percent thinner than the last 13-inch Pro.

There is remarkable precision at work here, including the tiny speaker perforations that flank the keyboard, which give the deck a striking symmetry. Then there’s the perfectly carved lip, which makes opening the lid effortless.

If I had to choose, I’d opt for the new Space Gray color over the Silver, as the former hue has a more sophisticated vibe. But I do wish Apple would be a little more daring with its use of materials; for example, I like the way Dell uses carbon fiber on the inside of the XPS 13 to achieve a soft-touch feel.

This is one of the brightest displays around, registering 495 nits in our testing. Measuring 11.97 x 8.36 x 0.58 inches and weighing 3.02 pounds, the new 13-inch MacBook Pro is smaller in every dimension than the previous model, which weighed 3.42 pounds and measured 12.35 x 8.62 x 0.71 inches. Still, 13-inch Windows ultraportables weigh less and are just as thin or thinner, such as the 2.7-pound Dell XPS 13 (11.98 x 7.88 x 0.33-0.6 inches) and the 2.8-pound HPSpectre x360 (12.03 x 8.58 x 0.54 inches). The 13.9-inch Yoga 910 measures 12.72 x 8.84 x 0.56 inches and weighs 3.04 pounds. Ports: Too Minimalist I hope you like dongles.

This 13-inch MacBook Pro sports two Thunderbolt 3 ports on the left and a headphone jack on the right. The good news is that the Thunderbolt 3 ports, which have a USB-C connector, enable power and data over a single connection.

They offer blazing fast transfer speeds (up to 40 Gbps) and will let you connect two 4K monitors. You must charge the laptop using either one of the two ports, as Apple has retired its MagSafe connection.

(If you wanted to spend $1,799 on the Touch Bar 13-inch MacBook Pro, you’d get 4 Thunderbolt 3 ports.) Unfortunately, Apple got rid of the SD card slot, which means you’ll need to use a USB-C card reader or connect your camera directly to the laptop using a dongle. The similarly-thin HP Spectre x360 and Yoga 910 also ditch the SD card but manage to include one full-size USB port. The thicker XPS 13 includes two USB 3 ports, an SD Card reader and one Thunderbolt 3/USB-C port.

Apple sells a $69 USB-C Digital AV Multiport adapter that includes connections for HDMI and a full-size USB port for connecting devices like the iPhone, cameras and other peripherals. You can also pick up a USB-C to USB adapter for $19, but there’s also plenty of third-party options that are cheaper. The MacBook Pro isn’t as speedy as Windows ultraportables with 7th-generation Intel processors. Display: Super Bright and Colorful Apple says that the 2560 x 1600-pixel Retina display on the 13-inch MacBook Pro is 67 percent brighter than before. We didn’t see that much of a difference, but this is still one of the brightest panels around; it registered 495 nits in our testing, which is significantly higher than the 385 nits on the last model. By comparison, the Dell XPS 13 hit just 302 nits, the HP Spectre x360 317 nits and the Lenovo Yoga 910 292 nits.

This display also offers rich colors, as evidenced when I downloaded a 4K photo of a sunrise shot through a wave. I saw vibrant blues, greens, yellows and oranges. When watching the Rogue One trailer, I could make out every scratch on a box a rebel was hiding behind, as well as the drops of sweat on his forehead. My only complaint when watching video is that I wish the black levels were higher. These are the best speakers I’ve heard on this size laptop.

On our tests, this screen reproduced 113 percent of the sRGB color gamut (higher numbers are better) while turning in a Delta-E color accuracy score of 1.0 (closer to 0 is best). This makes the MacBook Pro’s display more colorful but not quite as accurate as the XPS 13 (93.6 percent, 0.76 Delta-E), Spectre x360 (101, 0.74) and Yoga 910 (98, 0.76). Audio: Best in Class Whether you like to binge watch Netflix, rock out on Spotify or hear every detail in that movie you’re scoring in Final Cut Pro, you’ll love the improved stereo speakers on the 13-inch MacBook Pro. In fact, these are the best speakers I’ve heard on this size laptop. Apple redesigned the speakers to deliver twice the dynamic range and three times the peak power while minimizing distortion.

When I played “Don’t Wanna Know” by Maroon 5 and Kendrick Lamar at max volume, Adam Levine’s soaring falsetto sounded crystal clear. On Twenty One Pilots’ “Heathens,” the bass line had plenty of bunch which never got lost amidst Tyler Joseph’s vocals.

Keyboard and Touchpad: A Better Butterfly Unless you’ve used the 12-inch MacBook’s keyboard, like I have for the last couple years, you’ll find the butterfly keyboard on the 13-inch Pro to be disarmingly flat at first. But while this second-generation layout technically has the same low amount of travel (0.5 mm) as that notebook, the new one offers better tactile feedback, thanks to an improved dome switch design. I typed this entire review on the 13-inch MacBook Pro, and found it to be plenty speedy and fairly comfortable. On the 10FastFingers typing test, I averaged between 65 and 70 words per minute with 5 to 6 errors. I did miss some keys at times, forcing me to correct small mistakes. The Force Touch trackpad continues to click without clicking like before, as there’s a Taptic Engine that delivers precise haptic feedback. What’s different is the size; this touchpad is positively huge at 5.3 x 3.3 inches, which is 46 percent larger than the last 13-inch Pro.

And yet the trackpad never registered accidental swipes or clicks as I typed. My only advice is to disable the Force Click function in settings; I found myself inadvertently long pressing on words to look up their meanings when I only wanted to select text. On the Laptop Mag web surfing test, the 13-inch MacBook Pro lasted an awesome 12 hours and 21 minutes Performance: Good, But 7th Gen Would Be Better While other Windows laptops are opting for Intel’s latest and greatest 7th-generation Kaby Lake processor, Apple chose to stick with a 6th-generation Core i5 CPU on the 13-inch MacBook Pro running at 2-GHz. You also get 8GB of RAM, 256GB of flash storage and Intel Iris Graphics 540. The result is a notebook that’s faster than the previous Pro but not as speedy as the competition.

Even when I had more than a dozen tabs open in Chrome, along with Firefox, Safari and Pixelmator running in the background, the MacBook Pro never stuttered like the Core m-powered 12-inch MacBook that I typically use. On Geekbench 4, which measures overall performance, the 13-inch MacBook Pro scored 7,053.

That’s above the ultraportable category average of 6,618, but below the mark posted by the $1,099 Dell XPS 13 with a 7th-generation Core i5 processor (7,287). Powered by 7th-generation Core i7 chips, the $1,300 HP Spectre x360 (8,147) and $1,200 Lenovo Yoga 910 (8,102) also outpaced the MacBook Pro. The 13-inch MacBook Pro should have no problem crunching numbers, but again it fell behind 7th-gen Core-powered Windows notebooks. It took the Apple notebook 4 minutes and 39 seconds to match 20,000 names and addresses.

That beats the 6:24 average but is more than 30 seconds slower than the XPS 13 and a good minute behind the Spectre x360 and Yoga 910. The new MacBook Pro does smoke the competition when it comes to its flash storage.

It transfered about 5GB worth of files in just 10 seconds, which translates to 508.9 megabytes per second. Graphics: Iris is Pretty Solid Apple opted for Iris 540 graphics on the 13-inch MacBook Pro, which is backed by 64MB of eDRAM, which is supposed to accelerate both graphics and processor workloads. It delivered mixed results on our tests. You can certainly game on this notebook, as we saw during a playthrough of the Dirt 3 racing game.

At full HD resolution at medium settings, the MacBook Pro notched an average of 35 frames per second, which is perfectly playable. That’s higher than the Dell XPS 13’s 28 fps at the same settings and the 25 fps category average. However, the Core i7-powered HP Spectre x360 (40 fps) and Yoga 910 (50 fps) both scored higher. On the Cinebench OpenGL graphics rendering test, which simulates a car chase scene, the MacBook Pro achieved a decent 35.69 fps, but both the Dell XPS 13 (42.62 fps) and Spectre x360 (43.8 fps) scored higher. Battery Life: Superb Endurance Apple rates the 54.5 watt-hour battery in the 13-inch MacBook Pro for 10 hours of web surfing time, but we saw more impressive results. On the Laptop Mag web surfing test, in which we set the screen at 100 nits of brightness and surf the web over Wi-Fi, the MacBook Pro lasted an awesome 12 hours and 21 minutes. That beats the last 2015 MacBook Pro we reviewed, which lasted 12:04.

This MacBook Pro’s runtime obliterates the ultraportable average of 7:58, and it beats both the HP Spectre x360 (10:06) and Yoga 910 (10:36) by about 2 hours. However, the Dell XPS 13 lasted for an even longer 13:49.

Heat: A Quiet Partner The 13-inch MacBook Pro runs cool in some spots and warm in others, but the fan kept things quiet during our testing. After streaming full-screen video for 15 minutes, the touchpad registered just 85 degrees, which is well below our 95-degree comfort threshold.

However, both the keyboard and the bottom of the notebook reached 98 degrees. It was noticeable but not uncomfortable. Software: Siri inside, No bloat One of the benefits of opting for a Mac is that you don’t have to worry about unwanted third-party software taking up storage space. It’s really all about a pure macOS Sierra experience, which gives you Siri on the Mac for the first time. There’s also an Optimized Storage feature that can help free up space when you need it, support for Apple Pay purchases online and an improved Photos app that automatically curates images into ready-made collections called Memories. Configuration Options The entry-level, 13-inch MacBook I reviewed starts at $1,499 and includes a 2-GHz 6th generation Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of memory and a 256GB PCI-e based SSD, plus Intel Iris graphics.

Upgrading can get pretty pricey, as jumping up to a Core i7 CPU costs $300. Opting for 16GB of RAM will cost you $200, as will 512GB of flash storage.

A 1TB SSD will run you $600. If you would prefer to check out Apple’s innovative new Touch Bar, which puts a multitouch screen above the keyboard to give you a wide range of contextually relevant shortcut controls depending on the app you’re using, you’ll have to pay $1,799.

You’ll also get a Touch ID button for logging into your Mac and making Apple Pay purchases with a tap of your finger, as well two additional Thunderbolt 3 ports and a faster 2.9-GHz processor. Bottom Line The 13-inch MacBook Pro improves upon its predecessor in nearly every way. It’s faster, lighter and more compact, and it offers a brighter display and considerably longer battery life than most Windows machines. I also like the rich and powerful stereo speakers. However, while I’m glad Apple included 2 fast Thunderbolt 3 ports, I wish it kept a traditional USB 3.0 port around for charging the iPhone and connecting other peripherals, as well as an SD card slot. At $1,499, the MacBook Pro also has a higher starting price than most premium Windows ultraportables, and it’s $200 more than its predecessor. I’m also not a fan of the decision to opt for an older 6th-generation Intel processor, which means you simply don’t get as much performance as systems with 7th-gen CPUs, such as the Dell XPS 13, HP Spectre x360 and Yoga 910.

The HP and Lenovo have the added benefit of being 2-in-1s with touchscreens you can use as tablets. So, yes, the new MacBook Pro is an excellent laptop, and I strongly recommend it. But I also wish Apple included the latest Intel processors for the price. Cons • Limited control without app / desktop app • Limited display or information on camera body (LCD would be nice) • App quite glitchy at times (may vary depending on phone, and app version) • Very easy to accidentally record video when picking up the camera The Nikon KeyMission 360 is one of the first 360×360 all-in-one cameras available with 4K video recording.

The camera can take 360×360 photos and is shockproof, waterproof, and freezeproof. It also features built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for easy connection to your smartphone, using Nikon’s Snapbridge 360/170 app. Features The Nikon KeyMission 360 is shockproof to 2m, waterproof to 30 meters (with underwater lens protectors fitted) and freezeproof. There are two f/2.0 lenses built-in, for a full 360×360 image and with two 21 megapixel sensors, the camera can take 30 megapixel still photos. The camera records 4K UHD video and has built-in Wi-Fi, NFC and low-power Bluetooth.

With two ultra-wide-angle lenses covering a full 360×360 degrees care needs to be taken to avoid getting your fingers in the shot and unfortunately, there’s no avoiding you being in the shot. The Nikon KeyMission 360 is designed to be extremely easy to use, with just two buttons on the camera. A video button that when pressed will switch the camera on and start recording video, and a photo button that will switch the camera on and take a photo. The camera has a switch in the battery / memory compartment to switch airplane mode on and off, so you can use the camera without having to think about connecting the camera to a smartphone. Controlling the camera fully requires the installation of Nikon’s Snapbridge 360/170 app, which is available for both Android and iOS. If you use an Android phone with NFC then this makes connecting the camera to the smartphone much easier, as you just touch the two NFC points together on both devices.

Key Features • 2x 20.1mp 1/2.3inch CMOS sensors • 2x f/2.0, 1.6mm (8.2mm equivalent) ultra-wide-angle lens • 30mp (29.9mp) stills photos • Waterproof to 20m with standard lens protection, 30m with underwater lens protection • 4K (UHD) Video recording • Built-in Wi-Fi, NFC and Bluetooth • Video modes: Standard, Superlapse, Timelapse, Looping • ISO100 to ISO1600 • Active D-Lighting Handling The square shaped Nikon KeyMission 360 is quite compact for a dual lens 360 camera and features a standard tripod socket underneath. Provided with the camera is an adapter and mount system, along with two sticky pads, one flat and one curved. You also get an extra set of lens protectors, these are underwater lens protectors, and these will let you go down to 30m underwater. The standard lens protection is only rated up to 20m. In the box you get: The Nikon KeyMission 360, a silicon jacket, the standard lens protectors, two underwater lens protectors, a base adapter, two base mounts, a user manual, warranty card, USB cable, a lithium-ion battery and charging AC adapter. We go over what’s in the box in this unboxing video.

Connection screen App Gallery Paired Camera You can use the Nikon KeyMission 360 without pairing the camera to your smartphone, but once you do pair it to your smartphone using Nikon’s Snapbridge 360/170 app you get a whole range of features and options as well as a gallery of images downloaded from the camera. Additional video samples can be found on the Using the underwater lens protection, for when you want to go beyond 20m underwater, results in a black line joining the two halves of the video, as shown here. The closest focus distance of the fixed focus lens is 30cm, which means objects closer than this will look soft and blurred, as seen in the underwater fish tank above. Video quality is quite good, although, when viewing on YouTube, you’re viewing a zoomed in view, which can make the video look softer than it is. In addition to this, there is no image stabilisation, so if you are on a bumpy ride, bike, or jogging over rough terrain, then the video may not be as pleasant to view, and some kind of stabilisation system may be needed. Nikon KeyMission 360 Sample Photos Car 1/125 sec f/2.0 1.6 mm ISO 100 Bike 1/250 sec f/2.0 1.6 mm ISO 100 Lowlight 360 Photo1 1/25 sec f/2.0 1.6 mm ISO 1600 Lowlight 360 Photo2 1/25 sec f/2.0 1.6 mm ISO 1600 Aston Martin 1/640 sec f/2.0 1.6 mm ISO 100 Underwater Photo 1/100 sec f/2.0 1.6 mm ISO 720 St Pancras 360 photo 1/100 sec f/2.0 1.6 mm ISO 140 Video Snapshot of 4K video (St. Pancras) Still photos are taken at a resolution of 7744 x 3872 (30MP) and are roughly 11-12MB in size.

Towards the top and bottom of the image is quite distorted, and objects that are closer to the camera aren’t stitched together as well as distant subjects. If it’s the sky in the top of the image, then this isn’t an issue. Purple fringing and chromatic aberration can be an issue, the further away from the centre of the lens the objects are.

With extreme wide-angle lenses, the view is very distorted, with straight edges becoming very curved depending where they are in the frame. You’ll also want to use some kind of “selfie” stick or small tripod or monopod to try and keep your hand out of the shots. Value For Money There are a limited number of alternatives that give a full 360×360 view – and fewer still that record at 4K resolution. The only other 4K 360×360 camera we know of is the Kodak Pixpro 360-4K, and for this, you’ll need to have two of the cameras stuck together (around £750/$1,125 for two) for the full 360 view, plus you’ll need to stitch the video together later on your computer. Other 360 cameras with two lenses for full 360 view: • Ricoh Theta S – FullHD video resolution, 2 lenses for 360 view, £299/$448 • Samsung Gear 360 – 4K (UHD) video, and 30mp still images, £349/$523 (Nb. Samsung phones only!) • LG 360 Camera, 2K video, £175/$262 Specifications. IQI announced before some days their latest product the IQI I3 which is an upgrade of the I2 and was released on October 15 2016.

The i3 smartwatch will have an upgraded MTK6580 Quad-core CPU, a new sport style design and BT headset. The IQI I3 comes out in two versions to choose, one with leather straps and with silicon strap. Design The IQI I3 comes with a touch display amoled of 1.39 inch and 400 x 400 screen resolution.

The IQI I3 is made out of metal and has only one physical button on the left side of the watch. Under it we can find the microphone of the device. IQI I3 will come out in gold, black and silver. The band length is 22.0 cm and band wide is 2.4 cm.

The IQI I3 weights 80 grams and it’s dimensions are 4.60 x 4.60 x 1.55 cm. Hardware IQI I3 is equipped with a Quad core Mediatek MT6580 cloacked at 1.3GHz. The CPU is helped by the 512MB of RAM and the 4GB of internal storage. The smartwatch doesn’t support storage expansion.

Features Like previous versions I3 is running Android 5.1 out of the box and has installed Google Play to download and install many apps. The smartwatch features pedometer, heart beat measurement, accelerator and the watch display lights up when you move your hand. Also features Bluetooth 4.0 and with that can connect to other android devices. A grate feature is the presence of a GPS sensor and wifi which means that can connect with satellites and the internet if there is any need. What is really impressive is the existence of more than 70 languages inside the watch, a feature that existed even from the previous model, I2.

Battery IQI I3 features a 350mAh battery that can keep the watch up and running for about 2-3 days in standby mode or about a day after normal use. Conclusion IQI I3 is the new sporty version of I2. With the supported sim, gps and wifi we will never get lost and you always find your way. Featuring android 5.1 and google play to install apps and games.

The IQI I3 comes out in two versions to choose, one with leather straps and with silicon strap. Should you buy new or used? For car shoppers, it’s one of the eternal questions, but it’s not all that simple. When we looked at vehicles that had the highest depreciation after just one year of ownership, many well-made cars and trucks were clear candidates to buy used. Dealing with a lightly owned model could save consumers as much as $20,000, and you only have to wait one year after they leave the dealership.

While pre-owned is the best call for a luxury sedan, there are many cars you should not buy used However, some consumers simply refuse to deal with a car that’s been in the hands of another owner. There might be concerns about how a previous owner handled oil changes and maintenance, not to mention the way they added options and made decisions about the interior. Buying new means you can mold the car in your style and personality. You can still get great value on many cars and trucks by avoiding the used market. According to a study by iSeeCars.com, there might only be a 7% price difference after one year of ownership. Here are 10 models you can feel confident buying new.

Land Rover Range Rover. It may not rank high on safety, but Wrangler is a popular vehicle that holds its value There’s no question Jeep owners love their Jeeps. Despite being fraught with safety risks and a 100% risk for recalls, these trail dominators have an audience that will never abandon them. To pry a Wrangler Unlimited a year after the original owner bought one, you’d have to pay about 92% of the original sticker price. Why not invest the $3,076 and break yours in on a favorite trail? Seems like a small price to pay for a decade or so of thrills. Chevrolet Colorado.

American Psychiatric Association has already confirmed that taking selfies is a mental disorder. It even has got a special term – ‘selfitis’. But I am not going to teach you what you have to do or not. Instead I am going to introduce you another great device designed for those who like this occupation. We have already met selfie-centric smartphones such as iNew Pandora R9 that is known as the main rival to the Oppo R9. But probably, the best selfie-focused smartphone is the Oppo R9S that comes with a 16MP front camera with f/1.7 aperture.

But this model is not a competitor to them – the Leagoo T1 is more known as a rival to the Oppo F1 – another great device for the same market. Well, we have reviewed the Leagoo T1 Plus a few weeks back, and found out it’s a pretty nice phablet at an affordable price tag.

So it’s expected to see similar features this model as well. Besides the selfie-centric nature of the Leagoo T1 there are many attractive specs that have turned into selling points for it.

So let’s meet them to understand whether this handset is worth the price tag it is sold at,though I have to say it costs too less. Leagoo T1 Appearance First thing we have to mention is that the Leagoo T1 is a mid-range handset, but some of its features are seen mainly on high-end models. For example, you will have some difficulties when looking for a mid-range smartphone made of metal. But as I say the Leagoo T1 will sport some features inherited from top-end models and the housing is the case. It is made of metal, and there are also two plastic parts on the top and bottom sides of pack panel for better antenna signal. Next, the Leagoo T1 has refused all kinds of physical buttons on screen.

Moreover, it has placed the touch buttons on screen unlike many Chinese smartphone makers that put them below the screen to save some area. But the UI of Leagoo T1 allows it hide them when they are not used and bring them back just swiping from down to up on home screen. Thus the standard three buttons (+ one for those, who want to use it with one hand) won’t grab any area of your phone. Well, the phone sports a 5-inch capacitive IPS touchscreen at resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels (294ppi) and made of OGS technology that means it is a regular smartphone and we can’t think of it as a phablet.

So when comparing it to other phones, be careful to get a smartphone not a phablet. As for OGS technology, we have already seen it on such devices as the Elephone S1 and Doogee Homtom HT6. So thanks to it an additional air gap is between the display and the touchscreen, which affects the better saturation and sensitivity as well as lighter weight (143 grams).

Generally, the Leagoo T1 is very light when holding in hand, and it has no common things with the Leagoo M5 launched recently that weighs 179 grams. The screen is also packed with a 2.5D glass, and the edges are bit curved, though this phone cannot be put into the category of curved-edge screen phones. Plus, it is protected with Gorilla Glass 4 technology, which means we are dealing with a scratch resistant display. Well, the screen is also have an oleophobic coating, therefore it won’t keep fingerprints or water on it. The upper right side of the front are located a 5MP camera, a proximity sensor, a speaker, and a flash light to take clearer selfies in low light conditions. The back of the phone comes with an 8MP camera that can be interpolated up to 13MP. It is provided by Samsung, so you can be sure the interpolation won’t affect the quality of photos much.

There is an additional noise cancellation microphone above the camera module, a two-tone flash below it, and a fingerprint scanner. The bottom side of back panel carries a brand logo and a speaker grille. The right side carries a unlock button and a SIM card slot. The volume rocker is on the left side.

A micro USB port and a microphone are on the bottom side, while the 3.5mm audio jack is on the top. As I said, the Leagoo T1 housing is made of metal not taking into account two plastic parts, and the frame is also made of metal.

This give a feeling of a high-end smartphone when handling. Moreover, thanks to rounded edges it doesn’t make any inconvenience when using the phone. Thus the ergonomics of the Leagoo T1 is just great. The overall build quality is great, and no one will complain on it. But as the phone is very thick 7.5mm, the battery is not that large. And finally, the Leagoo T1 comes in three color to choose from – Champagne Gold, Rose Gold and Titanium Grey.

Leagoo T1 Performance This handset comes with a MediaTek MT6737 quad-core processor clocked at 1.3GHz. It is paired with a 2GB of RAM, ARM Mali-T720 GPU, and 16GB of ROM, which can be expanded up to 128GB via microSD card slot.

This CPU is 20-30% faster than its previous version and it also provides up to 25% of power saving. Obviously, this is not the fastest SoC we have ever seen, but it works smoothly, there are no lags and the phone doesn’t hang ever. Leagoo-t1-storage The Leagoo T1 was tested via different benchmark tests and it showed respectable scores. First, it was out into AnTuTu Video Tester 3.0, and the Leagoo T1 showed it fully supports 11 items, partially supports 7 items and doesn’t support 12 items scoring 524 points.

Moreover, the phone was tested for heating after gaming, and it has had a 37.1 degrees C on the upper side, while the lower side has had 36.5 degrees C temperature. Well, after different tests we decided to test it via benchmarks, and surprisingly it scored around 29700 points (there were more than one tests, and it scored 29708 and 29956). The Leagoo T1 was tested even via GeekBench 3, and the Leagoo T1 scored 596 points in single-core test and 1672 points in multi-core test as well. As for the battery, the Leagoo T1 is packed with a 2400mAh battery, which is a bit disappointing. But as I said above, the manufacturer has had to choose between the thickness and battery capacity, and it preferred the phone to be thicker rather than the battery to be larger. But do not hurry to make assumptions, because we have also tested the battery and the charging/drainage time.

First, the battery on the Leagoo T1 charges very fast, and though there are not special software for it, it took only 2 hours to charge fully. Leagoo-t1 charging. On the other hand, the battery drained fully after 6 hours of continues YouTube video playing on WiFi.

The Leagoo T1 was also tested for chatting, web browsing, downloads and installs and it was able to serve us about 5 hours. For example, the same Leagoo T1 lasted 4 hours and 6 hours for video playing and typical use test, respectively. Well, we also managed to understand the battery comes at smaller capacity, but it can serve owners for a long time. Thanks to Ultra Power Saving Mode you can disable many processes running on the background and save up to 30% of power. Leagoo-t1-power-saver Leagoo T1 Connectivity I don’t know how strange it can sound, but the Leagoo T1 comes with 4G LTE support.

Thus besides the 2G (GSM: 850/900/1800/1900) and 3G (WCDMA: 900/2100) networks it faces no problems even on 4G frequencies (800/900/1800/2100/2600MHz). So you can use the Leagoo T1 worldwide via 2G network, and UK/Euro/Asia via 3G/4G. The Leagoo T1 also comes with dual-SIM card support, Bluetooth 4.0, OTG micro USB interface, fingerprint scanner that can unlock the phone or launch an app in just 0.19 seconds (360 degrees of recognition angle and 508 of recognition resolution), WiFi and GPS.

Leagoo-t1-gps-test Leagoo T1 Cameras Finally, we’ve got to cameras. At the beginning of the review, I said many think the Leagoo T1 is competing with the Oppo F1, which is another selfie-centric smartphone. Before we start learning the key features of its camera, seems the Leagoo T1 I capable of taking great photos, but it has no chances against the abovementioned phone. The Oppo F1 is packed with an 8MP front camera at f/2.0 aperture, 1/4″ sensor size and it can record videos at 1080p.

On the back this device carries a 13MP camera at f/2.2 aperutre, LED flash and can record videos at 1080p as well. But everything is not as bad as you can think.

The Leagoo T1 sports an 8MP camera from Samsung that can be interpolated to 13MP. But this is not the main characteristic of this camera module. The back camera is accompanied with a dual-tone LED flash and an f/2.2 aperture. Moreover, the Leagoo T1 camera supports many features like V Gesture Capture, Smile Capture and Voice Capture. The sample photos below show the Leagoo T1 is really great when taking macro captures in day light, and though we haven’t provided low-light condition photos, it is great even there.

As for the front, the phone is powered with a 5MP camera interpolated to 8MP. It comes with an f/2.2 aperture lens and a Highlight Smart Flash light. Thus you can capture clearer selfies in dark conditions. Seems the Leagoo T1 yields its competitor, but it’s not so. This phone comes with many apps and software enhancements that make the capturing process fun. For example, the Leagoo T1 supports Screen Flash that turns the screen into a camera flash. Second, you can use the fingerprint scanner not only to unlock the phone but also to get selfies.

Lastly, the phone comes with Beautify 4.0 app, which allows users to use different effects to make a photo better and nicer. Leagoo OS 2.0 The Leagoo T1 runs on Android 6.0.4 Marshmallow and Leagoo OS 2.0 based on Google’s operating system. This means you are able to download anything you want from Play Store as well as use tons of features available via the custom UI. The phone supports different gestures, say you can double tap to unlock the phone, or you can write any letter you want without touching the screen and the phone will launch the corresponding app.

You can also change the layout of standard buttons from the settings. One more interesting feature of this UI is related with swiping – two-finger swiping changes the wallpaper, while the three-finger swiping captures screenshot. And finally, the phone supports Dual Tag feature meaning the phone allows users to create and access two social media channels simultaneously.

The Bottom Line The Leagoo T1 has been considered to be an actual competitor to the Oppo F1. But this handset can compete with many other devices as well. I guess the key feature of this smartphone is not the screen, metal housing, great custom UI or cameras – the Leagoo T1’s selling points is how the manufacturer could get maximum from existing hardware and software combination.

Moreover, the phone is priced only at $108, which means you will acquire a premium looking smartphone with many acceptable features. We break down the new features that make the 2016 MacBook Pro a must-have machine. After months of rumours, the new MacBook Pros are here, packing new hardware, a new design, and an undeniably cool OLED panel on the keyboard. But what exactly has Apple done to make them the most interesting MacBook Pros yet?

Here’s all you need to know about the 2016 MacBook Pro. 2016 MACBOOK PRO – TOUCH BAR The rumours have been flying around for months, and now it’s finally official. Yes, the OLED panel at the top of the keyboard will replace the function keys, in the form of Touch bar. So, what does it do? Well, it’ll do what the function keys did, and more – plus, it’s customisable.

Firstly, the panel will allow you to change the volume and screen brightness, as well as displaying control buttons for whatever music you’re listening to, such as Play/Pause, Forward, and Back. But it can also adapt to whatever program you happen to be using, making it a whole lot more useful than physical keys. It can display shortcuts to your favourite websites when using Safari, or show browser functions such as ‘back’.

Or ‘forward’. It will also let you do things such as straighten photos using a scale when running photo manipulation software, plus, the panel will show typing suggestions which you can just tap to create preset responses to messages, much like Google’s ‘suggestions’ in Allo. There’s support for emojis, too. And it’s not just context-specific functions either. The strip also allows you to use Apple’s Touch ID tech, which means you’ll now be able to log in to your MacBook Pro, buy stuff online, and switch user accounts using your fingerprint. Colorvision Spyder2express Windows 7 Driver. The future is here!

2016 MACBOOK PRO – HARDWARE UPGRADES As expected, Apple has packed some powerful new hardware into its new MacBook Pros. The range now comes equipped with Intel’s Skylake processors, a significant improvement over last year’s Pros, which came with Broadwell chips. Specifically, the new machines will come with either a Intel Core i5 or i7 processors. The 13-inch edition gets dual-core chips while the 15-inch will receive quad-core processors with higher clock speeds.

That should ensure some seriously speedy performance, especially when paired with the 8GB of RAM in the 13-inch model, and especially with the 16GB of RAM in the 15-inch version. The 3.1GB/s SSD is also 50% faster, and this time around can be configured up to 2TB. Plus, Tim Cook and his cohorts have crammed upgraded graphics into both Macbooks. Specifically, the 13-inch Pro will pack more powerful Intel Iris graphics, while the 15-inch will feature a dedicated AMD Radeon Pro GPU based around the company’s new Polaris architecture. Apple claims the AMD tech makes the 15-inch model 2.3 times faster than the previous-gen MacBook Pro. 2016 MACBOOK PRO – FINALLY, A REDESIGN Considering the MacBook Pro’s previous design had been the standard for the last four years, it’s about time Apple changed things up and thankfully it finally has. This year, the company has managed to shave some excess millimetres off the case of the MacBook Pro, which now measures just 14.9mm in thickness (13-inch) or 15.5mm (15-inch), and weighs just 3lbs (13-inch) or 4lbs (15-inch) – half a pound less than the previous versions in both cases.

This is a very portable laptop. Elsewhere, the trackpad is twice as big as the trackpad in the previous version and the new MacBooks come in either a silver or space grey finish. And when it comes to the display, the screen is 67% brighter and has 25% more colours than the previous model. 2016 MACBOOK PRO – HELLO, USB C Ahead of the launch, many speculated that we would finally see the introduction of USB Type-C ports on the MacBook Pro. And now, the rumours have been proven right, with Apple providing four USB Type-C/Thunderbolt connections on its latest machine.

Each connection can be used as a power, thunderbolt, usb, display port, HDMI, or VGA port, which means no more MagSafe connections, unfortunately. 2016 MACBOOK PRO – PRICE AND AVAILABILITY You can pick up the 13-inch MacBook Pro without the Touch Bar for £1,449/$2,248, while the version with the OLED panel will start at £1,749/$2,623. If you go for the 15-inch variant, you’re looking at a starting price of £2,349/$3,523. The machines are available to order as of now, so get to it if you’re convinced by the latest MacBook Pro upgrade. WHAT IS THE STEELSERIES ARCTIS 3? The Arctis 3 is SteelSeries’ new gaming headset with virtual 7.1 surround sound. The Arctis is designed to look subtle and classy compared to other gaming headsets.

It’s a reasonable headset but if your budget will stretch then we’d recommend buying the Arctis 5 instead. STEELSERIES ARCTIS 3 – DESIGN, BUILD AND FEATURES The first thing you’ll notice about these headphones is their grown-up look; the design is pleasingly understated. Made predominantly out of matte-black plastic, they feature some gloss-black highlights.

A ski goggle-style strap rests on top of your head, taking the weight of the headset in the softest way possible. Add this to the sumptuous construction of the earpieces, and the Arctis 3 is one of the most comfortable headsets I’ve ever worn. If you’re planning a long gaming session then you’ll really appreciate it. They don’t become too warm on your ears either – unlike most over-ear headsets.

The microphone is well-designed: it retracts when not in use, hiding inside the left hand can. You can adjust the arm of the microphone to achieve the perfect position, but a slightly longer arm would have been welcome.

There’s a volume control on the headset as well as a microphone mute button. To get the “virtual 7.1 surround” and noise-cancelling software for the microphone, it’s necessary to set up an account – with a secure password – and enter a product key. It’s a pain, especially if you don’t want to give away personal details just to use a headset that you paid for. But at least SteelSeries benefits, by getting my email address – something it celebrated by immediately sending me emails. ARCTIS 3 – AUDIO QUALITY The sound from the Arctis 3 is surprisingly rich. There’s ample bass without being overbearing, as it can be in some Corsair gaming headsets. The range across the entire spectrum is clear.

In FPS games you’ll be able to hear every footstep and shell-casing hitting the floor, while still experiencing the booms and explosions. Not much will leak out, either.

However, they aren’t as isolating as other headsets. If other people in the room are watching TV, you’ll know about it.

The microphone picks up sounds clearly, and is bi-directional on the PC (with the software installed). SteelSeries claims it will strip out background noise so only your voice is transmitted. This is clever, but note that it won’t work on the Xbox and PS4. In my experience, the noise reduction didn’t have any noticeable effect, and the software crashed a few times too. I’m not completely sold on the “Virtual Surround” sound either. For only a little more money SteelSeries could have included a USB connector for real surround sound, like the Arctis 5.

SHOULD I BUY THE STEELSERIES ARCTIS 3? Those who like the design and comfort of these headphones should note that Arctis 5 costs only slightly more and includes a USB connection – so “real” 7.1 surround sound – and a few other nice features, too, effectively making the Arctis 3 appear redundant. As soon as Trusted gets an Artctis 5 in for review, we’ll update this review with our findings. Another option is the Corsair Void RGB. These headphones are cheaper, have a clearer microphone and – more importantly, you don’t have to give away your email address to get them working. VERDICT The Arctis 3 look great, are comfortable to wear and benefit from decent sound quality – but they just don’t offer enough to rival other headsets in the same price range. The MacBook Air is a dead laptop walking.

When Apple released its new MacBook Pros, which are thinner and much more powerful than the Air, but decided not to refresh its mainstream consumer laptop, the company sounded the latter’s eventual death knell. I don’t think there will ever be another new MacBook Air released.

Tim Cook’s company has a long history of continuing to manufacture and sell obsolete versions of its products (see iPod touch) so it’s no surprise that Apple is still offering the 13-inch MacBook Air, which hasn’t been updated in close to two years. At first blush, it seems crazy to even consider buying an obsolete laptop.

However, there are six solid reasons why you still might want to buy a MacBook Air. Under $1,000 The cheapest new MacBook Pro starts at a pricey $1,499, but the 13-inch MacBook Air still goes for $999. The 12-inch MacBook, which is too small and limited for most people, starts at $1,299. Considering that the average laptop sells for around $650, it’s clear that most people can’t afford to spend $1,500 or more. The best solution for most cost-conscious consumers is to buy a Windows laptop.

However, if you really want a MacBook and can’t afford a Pro, the Air could be your best and only choice. Longer Battery Life You can never have too much battery life and the MacBook Air likely lasts longer on a charge. The 13-inch Air endured for a full 14 hours on the Laptop Mag Battery Test, which involves continuous surfing over Wi-Fi. Though we haven’t benchmarked the new MacBook Pros yet, we know that Apple only claims a maximum battery life of 10 hours, which is 40 percent less. The 12-inch MacBook tapped out on our test after 9 hours and 38 minutes. Regular USB Ports All of the current-generation MacBooks have only USB Type-C or Thunderbolt 3 ports. While those new ports provide a lot of benefits now and in the future, most peripherals still use the old, square USB Type-A connector.

Instead of buying a raft of dongles, adapters and new peripherals, MacBook Air-owners can easily connect with their dual USB 3.0 ports. 4. SD Card Slot If you use a regular camera and like to transfer images to your laptop, the new MacBook Pros don’t make it easy. You’ll need to use a card reader or attach a USB cable from your camera to the laptop. The MacBook Air has a good-old SD card slot. It’s just plug and play. MagSafe Connector All of the new Macs charge via USB Type-C / Thunderbolt 3, which is a great because it means that they can send power, data and video over a single connection.

However, if you’re using your laptop in the living room and your toddler trips over its power cable, your $1,500 could come crashing to the floor. The MacBook Air uses Apple’s old MagSafe power connector, which is made to detach when someone puts pressure on the wire. So, if you accidentally give the MagSafe tag, it’ll just snap out, rather than causing your notebook to go down with it. 6. Better Keyboard The new MacBook Pros have a slightly-updated version of the shallow, “butterfly” switch-enabled keyboard which debuted on the 12-inch MacBook.

While these keys are pretty snappy, considering their low 0.5mm travel, they just aren’t as good as the traditional keyboard on the MacBook Air, which is much deeper and more responsive. If typing comfort is a priority, the MacBook Air is your best choice. Bottom Line There are plenty of reasons not to buy a MacBook Air. It has an outdated Intel 4th Generation Core Series processor and a low-res, 1440 x 900 screen. However, for consumers who don’t need the latest and greatest technology but do want an affordable MacBook with great usability and epic battery life, these laptops are still a strong choice.

Back at Photokina, Panasonic announced a new top-of-the-line bridge camera in the shape of the FZ2000. It follows on from the very well received FZ1000, bringing with it a host of new features. It’s also a very strong competitor for Sony’s also excellent RX10 III. We take a look at how the two cameras stack up against each other. Panasonic FZ2000 vs Sony RX10 III: Sensor Both the cameras feature a one-inch sensor, a very popular sensor kind for premium compact and bridge cameras. Both are also 20.1MP resolution which should give you plenty of scope for both detail and should you need to crop an image.

The Sony has a “stacked” sensor design, which promises better image quality than conventional sensor designs. Panasonic FZ2000 vs Sony RX10 III: Lens Sadly for Panasonic, in this area the Sony is the clear winner. It has a 25x optical zoom, offering a very versatile 24-600mm in 35mm terms, with a respectable maximum aperture range of f/2.8 – 4. It comprises of 18 elements in 13 groups. That’s not to say that Panasonic’s offering is bad – with a 20x optical zoom (24-480mm) at f/2.8-f/4.5, there’s still plenty of versatility – just not quite so much. Panasonic FZ2000 vs Sony RX10 III: Video.

The FZ2000 is an SLR-style bridge camera with impressive video capabilities Panasonic was keen to push the video specs of the FZ2000 upon release, suggesting that the bridge camera is a tool that can be enjoyed by both videographers and photographers. To that end it offers unlimited 4K video recording. Similarly, the Sony offers 4K with full pixel read out – it’s a close call when it comes to video.

Panasonic FZ2000 vs Sony RX10 III: Screen While both cameras offer a three-inch screen, it’s a game of swings and roundabouts when it comes to individual specifications. The Sony’s screen is higher resolution at 1,228,800 compared with Panasonic’s 1040k-dot offering.

However, while the Sony’s tilts, the Panasonic’s is fully articulating and is touch-sensitive – we’d say this means that Panasonic’s just has the edge. Panasonic FZ2000 vs Sony RX10 III: Viewfinder The two cameras are very evenly matched when it comes to the viewfinder. Both have 2360k-dot resolutions, and both offer 0. Algorithm In C Sedgwick Pdf Files. 7x magnification. Both also have a sensor which switches on the viewfinder automatically when you lift the camera to your eye.

Panasonic FZ2000 vs Sony RX10 III: battery life When it comes to battery life, Sony manages to pip Panasonic to the post offering 420 shots compared with 350. That said, it may be worth investing in a second battery for both of these cameras. Panasonic FZ2000 vs Sony RX10 III: dimensions and weight. The FZ2000 looks to be a very impressive camera While the Panasonic is ever so slightly larger than the Sony, it somehow manages to be a touch lighter. Neither of them are particularly lightweight, but of course if you compare carrying one of these to carrying a DSLR with a range of lenses, you’ve got a significant size and weight saving. Panasonic FZ2000 vs Sony RX10 III: price Here’s where there’s another marked difference. You can pick up the Sony RX10 III for around £1,546/$2,319 – a hefty investment.

By contrast, the FZ2000 will be almost £500/$750 cheaper, retailing for around £1,099/$1,648. Still not cheap, by any stretch, but a significant saving none-the-less. Panasonic FZ2000 vs Sony RX10 III: conclusion It’s a tough call between these two cameras. On the surface, Sony appears to just about take the lead with the extra zoom, and slightly better battery life. But the Panasonic is very closely matched, offering a better screen and other appealing features such as 4K Photo – not to mention a price which is markedly cheaper.

Recently, Xiaomi Mi Note 2 rocked the market with its wondrous design and dual curved screen. Xiaomi always has been anti-Samsung and anti-Apple. The smartphone manufacturer from the ancient Chinese land has always believed in quality and affordable price. The release of Xiaomi Mi Note 2 once again appears to be the ultimate threat to the internationally renowned Samsung Galaxy Note 7.

Get ready Samsung; Xiaomi is going to give you a tough time. And we don’t mean concerning battery explosion It’s somewhat difficult to pick only one from Xiaomi Mi Note 2 and Samsung Galaxy Note 7. Both have the curved display, almost same hardware. The only tremendous difference originates in the price tag and design. At one side is the internationally brand known to the world for more than a decade. On the other side is the budget-friendly, so-called ‘Made in China’ flagship which is working day and night to conquer are whole tech market, internationally.

That’s why we are comparing both flagships. Let’s see who wins the duel of Xiaomi Mi Note 2 Vs Samsung Galaxy Note 7: Design & Appearance The comparison gets tough in the start. Why? That’s because one of the hardest questions in the world is: which one has the most awe-inspiring design, Xiaomi Mi Note 2 Vs Samsung Galaxy Note 7? The fact is both flagship has almost the same pattern. Xiaomi previously had the front logo which allowed the company’s terminal to be somewhat distinctive.

With the front, Mi logo gone, Xiaomi Mi Note 2 appears to be a ditto copy of Samsung Galaxy Note 7. Left (Xiaomi Mi Note 2), Right (Samsung Galaxy Note 7) The material from which both smartphones forge is the same which is aluminum alloy and glass. Regarding size, Mi Note 2 appears to be bigger and 0.3mm thinner than Note 7. Mentioning the weight, Mi Note 2 beats it’s competitor again when becoming 3 grams lighter than Note 7 in the war of Xiaomi Mi Note 2 Vs Samsung Galaxy Note 7. Body Layout The frame of Note 7 is 0.05mm thinner and perfectly molded when matched to Note 2.

Still, we think that much gap is negligible. The screen to body ratio is also different 77% and 72% for Samsung Galaxy Note 7 and Xiaomi Mi Note 2, respectively. Left (Samsung Galaxy Note 7), Right (Xiaomi Mi Note 2) To be honest, in appearance Xiaomi Mi Note wins the beauty contest. Mi Note 2 blends with two colors silver and black and reflects a charming blue shade.

Left (Samsung Galaxy Note 7), Right (Xiaomi Mi Note 2) Concerning durability, Samsung Galaxy Note 7 takes the lead with the Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection on the back and IP 68 certified. Whereas, it is the first time Xiaomi used Gorilla Glass 3 protection in Mi Note 2 and sadly it’s not waterproof. Bottom (Samsung Galaxy Note 7), Top (Xiaomi Mi Note 2) The competition of Xiaomi Mi Note 2 Vs Samsung Galaxy Note 7 gets tied with the 3D curved rear design of Mi Note 2 which not only provides better grip to the phone but further exaggerate its charm. Too bad, Samsung Galaxy Note 7 only has a plain back.

Winner: None Screen & Display People think, we are always on Xiaomi side but what we will say in this category will justify that we are rather neutral. Both, Mi Note 2 and Galaxy Note 7 are large phones, not phones actually but phablets. Note 2 integrates 5.7 inches 1080p LG OLED curved display, but Note 7 takes the lead here with the same screen size but a stunning 2K resolution Super AMOLED Technology. Even though, Xiaomi Mi Note 2’s display panel shows some breathtaking brightness and color contrast with 100000:1 contrast ratio and 110% NTSC. Still, it is no match for Samsung Galaxy Note 7’s natural, detailed and balanced display.

Plus Samsung Galaxy Note 7 has an always-on display. Hope Xiaomi will develop it soon for Note 2. So what if Samsung Note 7 doesn’t have a 4K resolution, still it yields one on secondary displays with the high-dynamic-range video feature. Left (Mi Note 2), Right (Samsung Galaxy Note 7) The curve screen finishing seems to be equal and spotless for both the terminals. Xiaomi Mi Note 2 just appears like it’s not Xiaomi’s first attempt and Samsung has made this beauty like Note 7 in Xiaomi Mi Note 2 Vs Samsung Galaxy Note 7. Still, the question remains: When will we see a 2K display in Xiaomi smartphones, even 4K is out? Winner: Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Hardware and Performance We are damn sure that Xiaomi Mi Note 2 takes the clearcut win here with the all new Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 821.

Meanwhile, Exynos 8890 Octa (Snapdragon 820 in China and some other places) under the hood of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is not bad but still it doesn’t stand a chance against Snapdragon 821, and so are the GPUs (Adreno 530 vs. Mali-T880 MP12).

Don’t believe us? The benchmarks are here as a prove. A tie can be seen regarding memory and storage as both flagships. What’s more surprising is that the even variants are the same. But Note 7 has the memory expansion option available with the MicroSD slot while Mi Note 2 lacks. • Standard Edition (4 + 64GB) • Higher Edition (6 + 128GB) The price is a factor here as Xiaomi’s higher variant is way cheaper than Samsung’s standard one making Xiaomi Mi Note 2 the choice of the budget-friendly audience.

Winner: Xiaomi Mi Note 2 Camera With the latest 22.5 MP Sony IMX318 Exmor RS rear camera, Mi Note 2 is way better than Samsung Note 7 which has only 12 MP Sony IMX260 Exmor RS. Still, not go on the pixels. The image output has a slight difference.

Indeed Note 7 has fewer pixels but f/ 1.7 aperture, l aser autofocus and BRITECELL type camera allowing it to focus better and give a natural look and sufficient light. Both terminals have the same camera placement but different layout (square for Samsung and circle for Xiaomi). Left (Note 7), Center (Note 2), Right (Mi Mix) Both terminals have the same camera placement but different layout (square for Samsung and circle for Xiaomi). With the circle layout, the camera takes hold of bigger lens.

Even Mi Note 2 has an advance EIS triaxial video image stabilization while Note 7 has the standard 4-axis iOS. Here are some samples to further justify that Xiaomi Mi Note 2 camera is much better than Samsung Galaxy Note 7. Winner: Xiaomi Mi Note 2 Operating System Xiaomi Mi Note 2 runs on MIUI 8 based on Android 6.0. Meanwhile, Samsung Galaxy Note 7 runs on TouchWiz UI based on Android 7.0. So, of course, regarding OS Note 7 is better as it runs on the latest Android.

No doubt, MIUI 8 is simple, flat and one of the most stable OS on the planet. Still, all Xiaomi smartphones run on Android 6 and even some on Android 5.1. That’s disappointing for Xiaomi Mi Note 2. Xiaomi Mi Note 2 can be comparable only if we have the Android 7.0 upgrade.

Left (Xiaomi Mi Note 2) Right (Samsung Galaxy Note 7) Note 7 OS is heavily optimized to make full use of the curved screen operation. In Xiaomi Mi Note 2 Vs Samsung Galaxy Note 7, Samsung is experimenting curved screen for years now and Xiaomi just seems to be a fresh entry in it. Winner: Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Features Samsung is always famous for providing some breathtaking new and advanced technologies. Such tech like iris scanner and pulse sensor highlights Galaxy Note 7 and are missing in Xiaomi Mi Note 2. Xiaomi launched the first ultrasonic fingerprint reader in Mi 5S but sadly it’s not in Mi Note 2. Apart from this, the most important feature of Note 7 is the S-Pen and its features.

Unfortunately, in Xiaomi Mi Note 2 Vs Samsung Galaxy Note 7, Mi Note 2 has no particular identification apart from the rear logo and 3D curved back. Winner: Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Connectivity Another draw is coming up. We all know that Xiaomi smartphones lack Band 2 and 4 LTE network.

While, Samsung Note 7 provides most of the bands. But, that’s not the case with Xiaomi Mi Note 2 as the Chinese smartphone manufacturer has launched a global version of sporting six modes and 37 frequencies sport for 600Mbps 4G Network, allowing it to be the phone with the most running networks on the planet. Mi Note 2 also highlights Dual-SIM while we have to select the model for Samsung Note 7 (Duos) and pay some extra cash. The reception seems to be strong for both, and all the other aspects are identical.

Winner: Xiaomi Mi Note 2 Battery At last the most famous section for which we’re waiting for a long time. We’ll know that Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is the safest phone in the world. No short circuit, no blast at all. Just kidding!

It’s the most dangerous thing to have in your pocket or anywhere else. Don’t trust it! It will blast like a suicidal bomber. If you’re not aware just search the internet, it’s full of videos.

So, a quick charge technology, 2K display, curved technology, S-Pen is of no use if it’s sure that it will blow up anyway. Meanwhile, Xiaomi Mi Note 2 is: Another Samsung Galaxy Note 7 that won’t explode!

Even, Xiaomi Mi Note 2 has a Li-Polymer of 4070 mAh with quick charging. There are 570 amperes more than Note 7 and like we said it wouldn’t explode. Still, wireless charging is what we miss in Mi Note 2. Winner: Xiaomi Mi Note 2 Conclusion Even though Samsung Note 7 has more features and a good resolution when matched to Mi Note 2.

Still, they are of no use when you are not guaranteed that whether your Note 7 will explode or not. So, it’s better to avoid it. Even the price difference is tremendous (nearly 2x the price): • $800 to 900 for Samsung Galaxy Note 7 and $413 to $516 for Xiaomi Mi Note 2 Even Samsung apologizes for the world and has recalled Samsung Galaxy Note 7. Thankfully, we won’t see it again.

So the winner of Xiaomi Mi Note 2 Vs Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is: Xiaomi Mi Note 2: (4 wins) Samsung Galaxy Note 7: (3 wins), Draw: 2 Overall Winner: Xiaomi Mi Note 2 (xiaomitoday.com, https://goo.gl/X3cHLy). Call us greedy, but we don’t care that all of the 2017 models aren’t here yet. We know what they are, what they look like, and what they do. They may be brand new, but they’re already old news!

We want to know what’s next, so we’re already looking to 2018 to see what the next big thing could be. And the great part is, there won’t be just one blockbuster in ’18, there could be 10. The 2018 model year is a big changeover year for the industry. Veteran nameplates will get redesigns, all-new models based on popular concept cars are slated to debut, and a few icons will return to see if they can cut it in the 21st century.

If 2017 is the last stand for a number of competitive models, the year after represents the next great leap. 2018 Chevrolet Equinox Barring some major shift, the current trend of more power, greater fuel economy, and better technology will continue, and new models will likely make some of the best new cars on the road now feel ancient. There’s still some time between now and then, but we already have an idea of what things are going to look like in the next 15 months or so. So for a hazy glimpse into the automotive future, check out these 10 cars that are slated for release in 2018. 2015 Ford Ranger Wildtrak The new Bronco is made possible by the return of the midsize Ranger pickup. But don’t think it’s a second coming of the rugged compact truck that Ford sold for 19 years; Ford still makes a Ranger for the global market (seen above), and it’s become something akin to a slightly smaller (though no less capable) Ford F-150.

Ford is bound to create some daylight between its two pickups, so expect it to be more of a Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon fighter than an old-school, spartan hauler. Chevrolet Equinox. 2018 Chevrolet Equinox The strong-selling but long in the tooth Equinox is new, and Chevy is so excited about it that it’s already debuted it. The ’18 will be 400 pounds lighter than the current model, can get 40 miles per gallon from either its available 2.8 liter diesel — yes, diesel — engine, or 1.6 liter turbocharged four, and have a fresh look that brings it closer in line with the rest of the brand’s lineup. If you’re in the market for a midsize SUV, you might want to wait for this one. If you don’t feel like waiting, then you’ll probably be able to get a hell of a deal on ’17 models. Dodge Challenger AWD.

Nissan Concept 2020 Vision Gran Turismo concept The GT-R is still great, but it will also be 11 years old when it’s replaced. Rumor has it that Nissan has big plans for its next-generation supercar: The 2018 GT-R will borrow heavily from the Gran Turismo concept (above), and its twin-turbo V6 will be closely related to the one found in Nissan’s 2015 Le Mans racer. What’s more, an electric motor will help drive even more power to all four wheels. We’ll miss the current GT-R, but we’re thinking the new one will make saying goodbye a lot easier. After a long – some might say interminable – wait, Apple’s new MacBook Pro is here, and it’s proving to be controversial. Unveiled this week is the Cupertino firm’s vision of how touch and notebooks can co-exist, and it’s a very different interpretation compared to the 2-in-1’s and convertibles we’ve seen in Windows land. Not all the new MacBook Pro models are created equal, however, and it’s the new, $1,499 entry-level model which has landed first on the SlashGear test bench. Unfortunately, that means I can’t tell you about the experience of living – albeit even just briefly – with the Touch Bar, because that’s one of the missing features on the entry-level MacBook Pro.

Instead, you get a regular strip of function keys, sharing real-estate with the familiar shortcuts for volume, brightness, and media control. It’s not the only difference between it and its more expensive siblings, either. The extra $300 you spend on the Touch Bar-equipped 13-inch MacBook Pro doesn’t just get you the slender touchscreen strip. It also doubles the number of Thunderbolt 3 ports you have, not to mention upgrading the processor from a 2.0 GHz dual-core Core i5 to a 2.9 GHz version. The Intel graphics take a small step up, too, from Iris 540 to Iris 550, and not only does the more expensive notebook have Touch ID, but a third microphone rather than the two on the entry-level model.

In fact, assuming you’re enamored of the Touch Bar, there’s only one slightly unexpected benefit of going for the cheapest MacBook Pro, and that’s the battery. Even though Apple rates both notebooks the same for typical runtime – up to 10 hours of wireless web browsing or iTunes movie playback, or up to 30 days of standby time – the $1,499 version actually has a slightly larger li-poly pack inside. Admittedly, it’s a fairly small difference: 54.5 watt-hours versus 49.2 watt-hours. Given what little time I’ve had to actually use the new MacBook Pro, I can’t tell you how long the battery holds up in regular use yet.

That’ll have to wait for the eventual review. What I have done, though, is charge it up with the included power adapter and USB-C cable. I suspect the pair of Thunderbolt 3 ports on this particular MacBook Pro may prove more of a hindrance than just forcing users to add a dongle or three to their laptop bag. On the more expensive versions, the absence of MagSafe 2 feels justified by the quartet of Thunderbolt 3, any of which can be used to charge the notebook up.

After all, you still have three remaining ports to play with. On the entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro, however, plug in the power supply and all of a sudden you’re down to a single spare port for everything else. Now, Thunderbolt 3 is a mighty capable connection, at least in theory: after all, each supports charging, DisplayPort, up to 40 Gbps of Thunderbolt data, and up to 10 Gbps of USB 3.1 data. However the number of actual peripherals that can take advantage of that are fairly limited.

What’s more likely is that you’ll be doing a fair among of plugging and unplugging of single-purpose dongles, and having lived with a 12-inch MacBook for the past couple of years, I know how frustrating that can be at times. Even with a fairly compact USB-C hub – I like Huawei’s – it’s a chore to have all that dangling off the side of your notebook, particularly if you’re trying to use it on your lap. If you’re viewing the $1,499 13-inch MacBook Pro as a 13-inch MacBook Air alternative, that limitation becomes even more noticeable. Yes, the older Air might be a little bigger than its new cousin, but it uses that space to fit in a MagSafe 2, two USB 3, a Thunderbolt 2, and an SDXC card reader. None of them are as individually flexible as a Thunderbolt 3, true, but I suspect they’ll be more immediately-usable. In the process you miss out on the performance improvements.

The sixth-gen Core i5 is not to be sniffed at – in this case the i5-6360U – with a solid 8GB of memory (albeit slower 1,866 MHz LPDDR3 than the $1,799 model’s 2,133 MHz) and 256GB of storage. Honestly, benchmarks only give a fraction of the story, but in Geekbench 3 it came in at 3,128 for the single-core test and 7,099 in the multi-core test. Those doing heavy-duty video editing – or wanting to play games, for that matter – will, as before, likely want to look to the 15-inch MacBook Pro instead. That gets AMD discrete graphics as standard after all.

Apple isn’t referring to the “Butterfly” keyboard on the new MacBook Pro as its second-generation, at least not officially, though it probably could. It’s based on the same premise as the ‘board in the 12-inch MacBook, a single flexing assembly which makes for less keycap wobble, but modified with greater travel and a different dome mechanism underneath. As on the 12-inch, the keys themselves are larger with less space in-between. I’m a fan of the original “Butterfly” keyboard, personally, though I know many others aren’t. Happily, the new MacBook Pro strikes a balance somewhere in-between old keyboard and new. You get the increased stability of each individual key, but there’s a more definite depression when your finger strikes. Even if you disliked the MacBook’s keyboard, it’s worth keeping an open-mind for this new iteration.

Underneath there’s a significantly larger trackpad than before, and it’s another carry-over from the MacBook. Courtesy of Force Touch you have the sensation of movement without a physically hinged ‘pad, along with the ability to press “deeper” into the click to summon context-relevant extras such as dictionary definitions or address look-ups. Even though I have relatively narrow wrists, I was a little concerned that the wider area on the new MacBook Pro could lead to issues with accidental taps, but Apple’s updated palm-rejection appears to be doing the trick. There’s no denying that this is a less exciting MacBook Pro than the more expensive models. Indeed, with no Touch Bar and half the ports, there’s far more of a sense that Apple built this particular notebook to a budget. Yes, the company can bill its new line-up as starting from $1,499, but it’s really from the $1,799 point upward when it begins to sparkle.

Personally, the reason I’d buy this over the 13-inch MacBook Air is the display. Once you’ve spent some time in front of a wide color gamut panel, it’s hard to go back to a screen which doesn’t have P3 support. Until now, that’s meant an iMac Retina 5K, a 9.7-inch iPad Pro, or, most recently, the iPhone 7: if you’ve wanted P3 and a portable Mac, you’ve been out of luck. That all changes with the new MacBook Pro, and it’s another astonishing display.

Colors are richer and deeper – reds and greens particularly, without the unnatural hue and bleed of over-saturation – while contrast is much improved too. Side-by-side with the old 13-inch MacBook Pro, and the difference is night and day. I’m even okay with giving up the illuminated Apple logo on the lid for it (you get a shiny badge instead). Still to come: battery life, how that double port situation holds up, everyday performance, and if Apple really has done audio magic with its “completely redesigned speakers.

In short, I’ll have more on the new 13-inch MacBook Pro – not to mention its siblings – in the coming weeks, though if you’re already convinced it’s shipping from today. • Pros Speedy performance; Moderate gaming prowess; Comfortable typing experience; Strong audio • Cons Dim, dull default display; Hefty; Mediocre battery life • Verdict The Dell Precision 7510 is a speedy and highly customizable business laptop. Dell’s 15.6-inch Precision 7510 (starting and tested at $1,129) business laptops support everyone from video editors to serious number crunchers, thanks to the line’s highly customizable specs. We tested a configuration with a Core i5 processor, which we appreciated for its speed, comfortable keyboard and gaming capability. As long as you can accept its dim display and heft, the Precision 7510 is definitely worthy of consideration.

Design The Precision 7510 is a machine built to replace workstation PCs, so we’re not surprised that it looks very plain. The laptop features a black, soft-touch lid with a cross-weave pattern and a silver, metallic rim with beveled edges. Measuring 1.3 inches thick and weighing 6 pounds, the Dell Precision 7510 is one hefty beast, but that’s typical of notebooks that offer an option for workstation CPUs. The more mainstream Lenovo ThinkPad T560 (0.88 inches, 4.8-5.2 pounds), HP ProBook 650 G2 (4.8 pounds, 1.1 inches) and 14-inch Dell Latitude E7470 (3.13 pounds, 0.74 inches) are all thinner and lighter. On the left side of the Precision 7510, you’ll find the device’s HDMI port, Mini DisplayPort connector and USB 3.0 port.

The laptop’s other three USB 3.0 ports, SD memory reader, headphone jack and security lock slot live on the machine’s right side. Dell placed the ports for Ethernet and power on the backside.

Durability Dell says the Precision 7510’s chassis “has been subjected to MIL-STD 810G testing,” the same tests that the U.S. Military uses to make sure equipment is rugged enough for its needs. Unfortunately, Dell doesn’t specify which tests the laptop passed, through 810G standards are typically nothing to scoff at, as they test survival under excessive heat, cold, shock and collision.

Security and Manageability The Precision 7510 makes you pay extra for most security options, with only a TPM 1.2/2.0 chip coming standard; that chip is used to secure sensitive information with increased security. For $18, you can get Intel vPro technology, which some companies use for remote management of devices. Similarly configured ThinkPad T560 and Latitude E7470 notebooks offer vPro by default. Some companies use a Smartcard reader for identity verification, and Dell charges an extra $18 for this option. If you want a Fingerprint reader, Dell sells it only in conjunction with the Smartcard reader, for a total of $46. Dell charges $140 for a Smartcard reader with Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS)-level Fingerprint reader. These additions may be worth the cost for your company, but they should come standard and not cost extra.

Display Turning on the Precision 7510 for the first time, I held my fingers on the brightness key, hoping.