explore42's stats
- Review count211
- Helpfulness votes626
- First reviewFebruary 26, 2016
- Last reviewAugust 13, 2026
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.3
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- Answer count23
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- First answerFebruary 26, 2016
- Last answerDecember 23, 2021
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Amazfit Active 3 Premium GPS running smartwatch helps you train smarter and beat personal bests. Features a stainless steel frame, sapphire glass, and bright 1.32" AMOLED display (3,000 nits). Includes AI marathon coaching, VO2 Max, precise GPS with offline maps, music storage, Bluetooth calls, 12-day battery, and 24/7 health tracking.
Customer Rating
5
Track Your Workouts and Gain Some Insight
on August 13, 2026
Posted by: explore42
Over the past week I have worn the Amazfit Active 3 during several types of workouts – see my comments below. Overall I found this watch to be reasonably accurate when measuring heart rate information, displaying routes run/cycled and levels of sleep. Because of the depth of the options and the use of four buttons and display swipe commands it can take some time to familiarize yourself with its many screens and functions. NOTE that it lacks an ECG function and AF alerting if that is a requirement. The screen is bright and easy to read however I found that it gets smeary from sweat and suntan lotion easily. The charging pod does not include a charging cord or supply and it requires a power connection via a USB-C cable. The battery life is long but this depends on the options you select such as always on display and continuous heart rate which can lessen it. The Zepp mobile app does a good job of extracting the watch data and putting it into useable fitness information. If you are looking to track your workouts and gain some insight into your overall fitness I highly recommend this Active 3 Premium.
To validate the Amazfit Active 3 accuracy I compared it with my Apple iWatch and Aura ring. When cycling outdoors and on my indoor trainer I also used my Garmin chest strap and bike computer. Throughout all my workouts I found that this watch reported my heart rate and heart rate avg to be within 1 or 2 beats of all my devices. All the mapping that was provided on the watch or in the Zepp file during the walk, running and cycling were good enough to track my workout locations. There were some discrepancies but for the most part I found it to be accurate enough to give me insight into my workouts.
To validate the Amazfit Active 3 accuracy I compared it with my Apple iWatch and Aura ring. When cycling outdoors and on my indoor trainer I also used my Garmin chest strap and bike computer. Throughout all my workouts I found that this watch reported my heart rate and heart rate avg to be within 1 or 2 beats of all my devices. All the mapping that was provided on the watch or in the Zepp file during the walk, running and cycling were good enough to track my workout locations. There were some discrepancies but for the most part I found it to be accurate enough to give me insight into my workouts.
Cycling: The amount of data provided by the watch and displayed in the Zepp app really surprised me. Before riding I selected the outdoor cycling workout so the start time and end times were the same for all my devices. After the ride I compared the information and found that the Amazfit was slow in the AutoPause and Resume function because it listed the ride as lasting 6 minutes longer than the Garmin and iWatch provided. This additional time affected the overall speed by lowering it. On the plus side the distance, climbing altitude gain, heart rate avg and max as well as the route shown in the app were accurate. The app also provided additional information that surprised me such as the avg grade and elevation gained and lost. On my indoor trainer the Zepp app showed all my heart rate data and provided a Training Effect graph of my Aerobic and Anaerobic efforts.
Elliptical: When using the elliptical I decided not to preselect the activity and see if the watch detected my arm movements and started the correct workout. At the two minute mark the watch asked me if I wanted to record an elliptical workout which I selected. Interestingly it started the workout one minute after I started and not at the very beginning so my watch time at the finish was 9 minutes vs the 10 minutes on the machine. The heart rate and avg heart rate were accurate even with my arms in constant motion.
Elliptical: When using the elliptical I decided not to preselect the activity and see if the watch detected my arm movements and started the correct workout. At the two minute mark the watch asked me if I wanted to record an elliptical workout which I selected. Interestingly it started the workout one minute after I started and not at the very beginning so my watch time at the finish was 9 minutes vs the 10 minutes on the machine. The heart rate and avg heart rate were accurate even with my arms in constant motion.
Strength/Free training: I wore the watch during weight training and doing calisthenics. The heart rate was accurate even with my arms in constant motion. The Zepp app provided data on the avg/max heart rate, training load and training effectiveness.
Walking: I wore the watch while I cut the grass which takes about an hour and the watch did not query me about an outside walk however it did count the steps I took. Next I did a walk that took me away from my house and after about a quarter of a mile it queried me about wanting to start an Outside Walk workout. The activity recorded a slightly shorter distance than the actual walk so it didn’t include the entire distance prior to the workout start.
Running: For running I used the Outdoor Running workout so that it accurately contained the entire distance from start to finish. During the run and post run I compared the recorded and avg heart rates which were within 1 beat of the other monitors. I was surprised by the amount of data and graphs that this watch provides using the Zepp app. You get the Avg pace, avg cadence, heart rate zones, power output, gradient distribution, stride distance and more Bottom line is you get way more usable information to help you analyze your workout.
Running: For running I used the Outdoor Running workout so that it accurately contained the entire distance from start to finish. During the run and post run I compared the recorded and avg heart rates which were within 1 beat of the other monitors. I was surprised by the amount of data and graphs that this watch provides using the Zepp app. You get the Avg pace, avg cadence, heart rate zones, power output, gradient distribution, stride distance and more Bottom line is you get way more usable information to help you analyze your workout.
Sleeping: The Active 3 tracked my sleep fairly close to my ring and iWatch for total time. The stages of sleep were harder to compare but overall the variations were not that different overall. It does capture nap information but can also confuse a nap with a quiet time like watching a movie. My overall sleep scores and recommendations seemed to keep in line with my other device so I believe this watch can provide insight into your sleep and recovery.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Performance that travels with you. A sleek 14-inch laptop in a stylish new design, built for modern multitaskers to deliver powerful performance.
Customer Rating
5
Processing Power and Memory built for Ai Apps
on August 11, 2026
Posted by: explore42
This laptop is built to make use of Ai apps like Microsoft’s Copilot. The 32gb of Ram and the Ultra 9 processor provide plenty of processing power and memory to handle any office or home application. The lack of a dedicated GPU and the maximum resolution of FHD+ (1920x1200) may be a concern for anyone who is doing complex or heavy photo/video processing. The OLED screen is bright and beautiful and the size of the laptop makes it very portable. The laptop has limited USB ports – one USB-A and two USB-C/Thunderbolt-4 ports but one USB-C is needed for charging. Overall it’s a great laptop for anyone who wants to delve into Ai apps.
Pros:
- OLED Touchscreen
- 32 gb of Ram
- Built in NPU - Ai ready and capable
- Screen folds flat
Pros:
- OLED Touchscreen
- 32 gb of Ram
- Built in NPU - Ai ready and capable
- Screen folds flat
Cons:
- No dedicated GPU
- No physical Privacy shield for camera
- 512 gb is limited storage at this price point
- No dedicated GPU
- No physical Privacy shield for camera
- 512 gb is limited storage at this price point
Display: The OLED display is eye catching and one of the primary benefits of this laptop. The colors saturation is deep and blacks are dark even at wide angle viewing. The FHD resolution at 1920 x 1200 isnt the highest resolution but I’ll take the OLED quality over a higher resolution IPS display. The display has a 60 fps max which is fine for most low level games and video media. The touch screen works nicely and you can fold the screen all the way back so it rest on the desk for touch screen use. It is not a full 2 in 1 because you cannot fold the screen 360 degrees. The display does have a glare guard but the screen does show background glare especially in very bright areas.
Storage and Memory: The laptop comes with 32 gb of low powered LPDDR5 Ram which is hard wired to the motherboard. This should not be an issue for most because the 32gb is plenty for most business, home apps and games. There is only one NVMe slot for storage in this laptop so the storage is limited due to the 500 gb drive and the inability to upgrade without removing the current drive. Note that my laptop came with a M.2 NVMe 2230 and an extender to fit the NVMe 2280 slot so the laptop can support a longer 2280 with the extender removed.
Performance: The laptop comes with an Intel Ultra 9 processor so it has lots of processing power. But because this laptop does not have a dedicated GPU the Ultra 9 performs both the CPU and GPU functions which can use valuable processing resources. The laptop is Ai ready because it has Intel’s Neural Engine (NPU) is its capable of 50 TOPS. I ran the laptop through several benchmarks including the Geekbench CPU and NPU testing and the fans stayed relatively quiet and the laptop got warm but not uncomfortably hot. Below are the scores I got from the Geekbench benchmark tests.
Storage and Memory: The laptop comes with 32 gb of low powered LPDDR5 Ram which is hard wired to the motherboard. This should not be an issue for most because the 32gb is plenty for most business, home apps and games. There is only one NVMe slot for storage in this laptop so the storage is limited due to the 500 gb drive and the inability to upgrade without removing the current drive. Note that my laptop came with a M.2 NVMe 2230 and an extender to fit the NVMe 2280 slot so the laptop can support a longer 2280 with the extender removed.
Performance: The laptop comes with an Intel Ultra 9 processor so it has lots of processing power. But because this laptop does not have a dedicated GPU the Ultra 9 performs both the CPU and GPU functions which can use valuable processing resources. The laptop is Ai ready because it has Intel’s Neural Engine (NPU) is its capable of 50 TOPS. I ran the laptop through several benchmarks including the Geekbench CPU and NPU testing and the fans stayed relatively quiet and the laptop got warm but not uncomfortably hot. Below are the scores I got from the Geekbench benchmark tests.
Geekbench 7 Scores:
Single Core: 2633
Multi-Core 17614
Open CL: 23489
Single Core: 2633
Multi-Core 17614
Open CL: 23489
Geekbench Ai Open VINO Scores:
Single Precision Score: 4416
Half Precision Score: 36063
Quantized Score: 53704
Single Precision Score: 4416
Half Precision Score: 36063
Quantized Score: 53704
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Utilize the latest technology in wireless charging with this Insignia Qi2 Certified Fast Charge 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Stand for iPhone, AirPods, Apple Watch, and Other Wirelessly Charged Devices. Connect your Apple Watch charger with the included USB adapter (if needed) and place it on the stand~s holder. The stand quickly charges your iPhone (15W), AirPods (5W), and Apple Watch (5W) simultaneously while clearing space on your desktop or nightstand.
Customer Rating
3
Requires iWatch charger – Limited Adjustability
on August 11, 2026
Posted by: explore42
Personally, I think the description is a tad misleading by saying it’s a 3-in-1 Fast Charging stand when it does not include an Apple iWatch charger. The stand itself is built to handle an iwatch charger but one is not included with the purchase. It does include a charger that can charge the phone, ipods and iwatch but only if you purchase the iwatch charger separately. The stand does a good job magnetically holding the iphone however it has a fixed mounting position so you cannot manipulate the angle or height to meet your specific environment. I found that using this as a bedside charger or even a desk charger was problematic because of the lack of adjustability. The stand comes with a USB-C charger and cable that was easy to attach to the base. To attach the non-included iwatch charger you need to remove the cover on the bottom of the base and wrap the excess wire from the iwatch charger around built in standoffs. Bottom line is that adding an iwatch charger is fairly easy and Insignia includes a USB-A to USB-C adaptor in the base so it can handle both style charging cables. Overall it’s a very basic charging stand with limited adjustability.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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Experience the speed, precision, and control of the Razer Huntsman V3 HE Magnetic Tenkeyless 8KHz, an esports keyboard built for cleaner, faster execution in a streamlined tournament-ready layout. Powered by Razer~ Hall Effect Magnetic Switches, it delivers incredible precision with Rapid Trigger for lightning-fast repeated inputs, adjustable actuation from 0.1~4.0 mm, and a 100-million keystroke lifespan for lasting competitive performance. Execute every input with greater confidence through advanced controls made for competitive play. Razer~ Snap Flex lets you trigger precise actions on key release for tighter control and faster response, while Razer~ Snap Tap prioritizes the latest input between two selected keys for near-instant directional changes. With Dynamic Keystroke, assign up to 4 actions to a single keystroke and cancel instantly to adapt on the fly. Stay ahead of every play with true 8000 Hz HyperPolling, delivering a polling rate 8 times faster than the industry standard for near-zero latency response. Its tenkeyless form factor frees up mouse space while retaining the keys needed for competitive play, making it easy to position for home setups, LANs, and tournaments. Finished with textured doubleshot PBT keycaps, a durable 5052 aluminum alloy top case, and hybrid onboard storage for up to 6 profiles, this keyboard is built to perform wherever competition takes you.
Customer Rating
5
HE keys with lots of Options
on July 28, 2026
Posted by: explore42
Choosing the best keyboard for your gaming experience can be difficult due to the many choices in key switches and configurations. The Hall Effect switches used in this keyboard give you very fast response times with almost the feel of mechanical switches. Personally, I think it is the best compromise between the high speed optical switches and tactile feel of mechanical switches. Razer gives you the ability to customize your keyboard beyond the typical profiles and macros. Whether using this keyboard with it’s HE switches where you can adjust the actuation distance will improve your reaction time is hard to prove but one thing for certain Razer gives you complete control to gain every advantage.
Pros:
- Hall Effect Magnetic switches
- Adjustable actuation via the Synapse software
- Keys and keystroke feel refined
- Total customization in the Synapse app including RGB lighting
- Hall Effect Magnetic switches
- Adjustable actuation via the Synapse software
- Keys and keystroke feel refined
- Total customization in the Synapse app including RGB lighting
Cons:
- Lots of composite / plastic used in the build
- Synapse can be overwhelming in options but there is a tutorial
- Lacks a rotary control for volume, medial control, etc.
- Lots of composite / plastic used in the build
- Synapse can be overwhelming in options but there is a tutorial
- Lacks a rotary control for volume, medial control, etc.
Overall: The keyboard feels solid and the keycaps have a slight roughness that enhances the fingertip feel. The key stroke sound is slightly less than that of Razer’s optical switches and much quieter than the typical mechanical keyboard. The keyboard lacks a rotary control for media but that function is assigned to Function keys. It uses the RGB lighting to validate a function selection versus having a dedicated set of LEDs on the keyboard. When you select a profile the top row of the function keys change color to let you know what has been selected. Razer includes two separate documents with the keyboard to highlight the possible key combinations used to access additional functions which is important if you don’t want to use the Synapse software or want to change profiles mid game.
Synapse software: I am very familiar with the Synapse app because I use it with my Basilisk mouse, BlackShark headset, Freyja HD chair pad and other Razer keyboards. The Synapse software gives you total control over configuring the profiles, macros, RGB lighting and key stroke sensitivity. There are five preconfigured On-Board profiles; Factory Default, Analog WASD, Racing, FPS Rapid Trigger and High Sensitivity plus you can create your own profiles. The Rapid Trigger is great for FPS games and the High Sensitivity is good for fighting games and any game that needs quick reactions.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Feel all the emotion of your music. MOMENTUM 5 Wireless combines our best-ever noise cancellation with brilliant, exceptionally detailed sound. Advanced codecs and a meticulously tuned driver make instruments feel like they~re right there, playing just for you. The new ANC uses twice as many microphones (8) for three times better midrange noise cancellation than MOMENTUM 4 Wireless. The (replaceable) battery provides up to 57 hours of playtime with ANC on. You also get clear calls, gaming mode, and Bluetooth 6.0*. But features don~t define MOMENTUM 5. It~s how effortlessly they disappear, leaving nothing behind but emotion and music.
Posted by: explore42
Overall I found the Momentum 5 headphones to have excellent ANC and audio quality. The controls are accessed via touching the right earmuff and are fairly intuitive once you learn the motions. The mobile app gives you the ability to change equalizers, turn on/off immersive audio and set up sound zones. Note that because the controls are touch you do not have the ability to change or reassign them. I found the fit and feel to be good but like other Sennheiser’s I have owned they can feel a tad tight. The ear muffs are comfortable and help isolate ambient sound but the top support bar isn’t the most padded.
Pros:
- Excellent Adaptive Noise Cancellation
- Immersive and high-quality audio
- Customizable Experience via the mobile app
- Intuitive Touch Controls with auto pause
- Long battery life and nice carrying case
- Excellent Adaptive Noise Cancellation
- Immersive and high-quality audio
- Customizable Experience via the mobile app
- Intuitive Touch Controls with auto pause
- Long battery life and nice carrying case
Cons:
- Limited voice prompts vs tones
- Top support bar could have better padding
- Limited voice prompts vs tones
- Top support bar could have better padding
Performance: The Momentums are quick to pair with my Bluetooth devices and connect to the Sennheiser Smart Control mobile app. The on/off button is the only physical button on the headphones but there is a line of LEDs that give you the battery level upon start up. The touch controls on the right earmuff are fairly intuitive and easy to use. The auto pause on removing the headphones work without issue. Sadly Sennheiser uses tones vs voice prompts for most of the notifications which at this price point is surprising. The overall sound quality is excellent and you can use the Smart Control app to customize the sound quality to your liking. Note that the app does not allow you to make changes to the touch controls so they are not customizable. The ANC is very good and with the tight fitting earmuffs it really isolates you from background noises. The audio quality is outstanding, the highs and mids are crystal clear and bass is as good as it gets in a headphone. The immersive effects are good and the sound separation adds to the over audio quality. The Smart Control has several preconfigured equalizers or you can create your own. The Sound Zone feature in the app allows you to create custom equalizers and setting for specific zones like home, commute and work.
Fit: The Momentum 5 feels solid and looks like a premium headset. The fit is tight but that adds to the quality of the ANC. The earmuffs don’t interfere with my glasses and they feel relatively soft when wearing the headphones. The size of the earmuffs are smaller than other headphones I own but they do cover my ears completely. The top bar has padding but the padding is very soft thus the bar can become noticeable over time.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Denon AVR-S980H makes your TV sound bigger, clearer, and more immersive~no dedicated home theater room required. Power a full speaker system for clear dialogue and lifelike sound that surrounds you, while keeping your setup simple with one hub for TV, gaming, and streaming. The AVR-S980H grows with you: Begin with a 2-channel setup, expand to 5.1 for movie nights, grow into 7.2 surround~using the same AVR every step of the way. Experience brilliant 4K and 8K visuals with supported TVs. With multiroom audio Powered by HEOS, your soundtrack flows throughout your home.
Customer Rating
5
Sound Experience you cannot get from a Soundbar
on July 19, 2026
Posted by: explore42
Bottomline: Whether you are building a home theatre or just want to listen to pure stereo music this Denon receiver has it all. Over the years I have owned nearly every brand of AV receiver and when it comes to Audio Quality none match Denon. Setup is fairly straightforward using the instructions on your TV and the Audyssey room correction configures the receiver to give you the best listening quality. This is very noticeable when you play a Dolby Atmos movie because the receiver provides a very immersive experience. Denon gives you the choice of listening equalizers as well as options to listen in DTS:X and Dolby Digital. Personally I jump between them because some media – music and movies – sound better in one format vs the other. This Denon does it all and it provides a listening experience you will never get from a soundbar.
Pros:
- Supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X
- Audyssey Room Correction Setup
- Supports 4k and 8k
- 6 HDMI inputs and 2 HDMI outputs
- Bluetooth and Wireless streaming
- Numerous equalizer options for movies and music
- Plenty of Power for most rooms
- HEOS wireless support
Pros:
- Supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X
- Audyssey Room Correction Setup
- Supports 4k and 8k
- 6 HDMI inputs and 2 HDMI outputs
- Bluetooth and Wireless streaming
- Numerous equalizer options for movies and music
- Plenty of Power for most rooms
- HEOS wireless support
Cons:
- Remote is not backlit
- Remote is not backlit
My Setup: I have Definitive Technologies BP9000 series speakers for my front, rear and center speakers, I have a SVS subwoofer that can rock the house. Note that this receiver will work with just about any speaker combination and make them sound better. Plus Denon gives you lots of control over the receiver’s output so that you can customize your listening experience to match your listening taste. For music I have a large selection of LPs and CDs as well as streaming music from Apple music and Amazon music. Amazon music supports songs recorded in Dolby Atmos and the Denon does a great job of making the music immersive. Connecting the hdmi, speakers and subwoofer are simple because everything is prelabeled on the back of the receiver. To run the Audessey room correction app you need to plug in the included microphone. Denon includes a cardboard microphone stand but I used a camera tripod instead because its much easier. You have to create a HEOS account if you plan on streaming directly from the receiver vs using your phone app or media player.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Built for home. Ready for everyone. The AMD processor delivers consistent, seamless performance, while the fanless design keeps bedrooms and shared spaces noise-free and peaceful. Look and sound your best in every call with a 23.8-inch Full HD display, 1080p webcam, dual mics, and fast Wi-Fi for smooth, uninterrupted connections. With HP Eye Ease to reduce blue light and a sleek 3-sided borderless design, it~s built to keep you productive and comfortable all day long.
Posted by: explore42
Bottom line: This HP OmniStudio is fine for web surfing, most business apps and light gaming but it lacks the processing and video capacity to do much more than that. It also has a hum/buzzing sound from the fans that are noticeable even when doing light duty functions. It’s not a deal breaker for me but if you are looking for a very quiet system this might not be the best choice. The OmniStudio does have a touch screen that works nicely but as a desktop device I am not sure that is a large benefit.
Pros:
- FHD Touch Screen
- 1 tb of NVMe storage
- 16 gb of Ram
- Lots of USB ports
- Speakers and Camera built in
- All in One with a nice stand
Cons:
- Fan noise
- Has minimal processing and graphics capabilities
- No dedicated NPU for Ai fans
- FHD Touch Screen
- 1 tb of NVMe storage
- 16 gb of Ram
- Lots of USB ports
- Speakers and Camera built in
- All in One with a nice stand
Cons:
- Fan noise
- Has minimal processing and graphics capabilities
- No dedicated NPU for Ai fans
Hardware: This system is built using an AMD Ryzen 540 and its powerful enough for simple task but it will definitely struggle doing anything complex. I’ve included the Geekbench scores below and they are what you would expect from an entry level system. The 16gb of Ram is plenty for a system like this and the 1tb of NVMe storage is more than enough for most users. The video is integrated and handled by the Ryzen 540 and it provides full HD graphics. For watching media and playing simple games this is fine but it will struggle with any complex photo processing. The speakers provide adequate audio and using the web cam you can do video calls quite easily. The FHD display is a IPS panel that is also a touch screen. The screen is bright and colorful and responds well to the touch. On the back there are two USB-C ports and two USB-A ports – Note that one of the USB-A ports are used to support the wireless mouse and keyboard. The keyboard and mouse both connect via the included wireless dongle.
Geekbench 6 scores:
Single Core: 1394
Multi Core: 4540
Open CL: 4696
Single Core: 1394
Multi Core: 4540
Open CL: 4696
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Elevate your gaming adventure with the Acer Nitro V 16, your gateway to an adrenaline-charged journey. This laptop is the perfect blend of power and style, pushing the boundaries of what~s possible on a laptop. Powered by the Intel~ Core 7 processor 240H and NVIDIA~ GeForce RTX 5050 Laptop GPU, the Acer Nitro V 16 unleashes exceptional speed and cinematic visuals for smooth, immersive gameplay and streaming.
Posted by: explore42
Bottom line: The Acer Nitro is a good entry level gaming machine and it can handle typical home and business applications. The overall build is solid and the laptop is light enough to carry to/from school, work and home. The main downside to this laptop is the fan noise. When playing anything from Wobbly Life to Planet Crafter the noise was noticeable. When just doing Office type apps or surfing the web the fans stayed quiet.
Pros:
- Open NVMe Slot so you can add more storage
- Decent specs for an entry level gaming computer
- IPS display has fast 165 hz refresh rate
- Nitro Sense software allows you to control the laptop functions
- Acer My Key lets you assign a shortcut to the Acer key
- Open NVMe Slot so you can add more storage
- Decent specs for an entry level gaming computer
- IPS display has fast 165 hz refresh rate
- Nitro Sense software allows you to control the laptop functions
- Acer My Key lets you assign a shortcut to the Acer key
Cons:
- The fans can get noisy when playing games
- No dedicated NPU for Ai fans
- The fans can get noisy when playing games
- No dedicated NPU for Ai fans
Tech Specs: The display is a WUXGA (1920 x 1200) which means it is a wider display which is great for gaming and business apps. The fast 165 refresh rate means clearer imaging during fast games and improved movie/video performance. The laptop is equipped with the Nvidia 5050 video card which is entry level but still provides decent Frames Per Second on most games – see the test results below. The Intel ultra 7 provides plenty of processing power without an abundance of heat. As stated above though, when the fans kick in due to processing demands the fan noise can get noticeable. Luckily I only experienced this when running the laptop in Turbo mode and doing some heavy gaming, it was reasonably quiet when surfing the web or doing Excel, Word type business apps. The storage is a 512 GB NVMe M2 2280 Gen4 card and there is an open slot if you want to add more storage. The laptop has 16gb of Ram which is generally enough for most applications. The Ram is composed of two 8gb sticks so it is dual channel memory which is good but it means upgrading could be expensive.
Acer Software: Acer adds several programs including one with Ai apps if you want to use them. The Nitro Sense gives you dashboard so you can monitor the system, configure the RGB Lighting on the keyboard, system mode (Quiet, Balanced, Performance, Turbo) and to configure your user experience . The software is intuitive and gives you control over how the laptop functions. The Acer My Key allows you to assign a short cut or function to a special key located above the numerical keys.
3DMARK Scores
Steel Nomad Score = 1993
Battlefield V @ 1080p = 155+ FPS
Apex Legends @ 1080p = 140+ FPS
GTA V @ 1080p = 170+ FPS
Fortnite @ 1080p = 155+ FPS
Red Dead Redemption 2 @ 1080p = 100 FPS
3DMARK Scores
Steel Nomad Score = 1993
Battlefield V @ 1080p = 155+ FPS
Apex Legends @ 1080p = 140+ FPS
GTA V @ 1080p = 170+ FPS
Fortnite @ 1080p = 155+ FPS
Red Dead Redemption 2 @ 1080p = 100 FPS
Geekbench 6
Single Core Score = 2708
Multi Core Score = 12597
Open CL Score = 95518
Single Core Score = 2708
Multi Core Score = 12597
Open CL Score = 95518
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Game even faster with the SANDISK Optimus GX 7100 NVMe SSDs with PCIe Gen 4.0 boasting Sequential Read/Write speeds up to 7,250/6,900MB/s (1TB and 2TB models). Improve system responsiveness and help minimize game lag with Random Read/Write speeds up to 1M/1.4M IOPS (1TB and 2TB models) and integrated SANDISK nCache Technology. With a power-efficient architecture for laptops and handheld gaming consoles, conquer your gaming sessions or creative workflows while on-the go. Store more games and content with capacities up to 4TB on M.2 2280.
Customer Rating
5
Performance Gaming Storage
on May 26, 2026
Posted by: explore42
One of the easiest ways to upgrade the storage on your gaming computer is to install a new NVMe SSD. Whether you are replacing the OEM drive or adding a new drive to an open M2 slot in your gaming system the Sandisk Optimus GX is one to consider. The Optimus GX is designed for gaming and it balances high speed performance with reliability. Note that this drive is thin and does not have external heat sinks which makes it more compatible with various thin laptops and gaming systems but it also could be an issue if its located near a high heat source.
In my testing this Sandisk Optimus GX did outperform my OEM WD Gen 4x4 drive by as much as 25% on the CrystalDiskMark benchmarking app. However due to the high cost of storage these days it’s tough to decide if the improvement was cost justifiable over a slightly slower NVMe SSD. My gaming computer’s OEM drive was nearly full and it had a second M2 slot so I added the Sandisk drive to give me more storage.
In my testing this Sandisk Optimus GX did outperform my OEM WD Gen 4x4 drive by as much as 25% on the CrystalDiskMark benchmarking app. However due to the high cost of storage these days it’s tough to decide if the improvement was cost justifiable over a slightly slower NVMe SSD. My gaming computer’s OEM drive was nearly full and it had a second M2 slot so I added the Sandisk drive to give me more storage.
Installation: Installing an NVMe drive is simple if you have an open slot. You physically mount the drive and then use Windows Disk Management to get it recognized and formatted. Once it was formatted I used Steam’s settings to move my games onto the new Sandisk drive. Sandisk has a Sandisk Dashboard software app that monitors the health of the SSD. There is also the Acronis image software app that allows you to copy over an entire drive. This is useful if you are replacing an existing drive.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Play to win with SCUF Omega for PS5. Designed for performance, speed, and control by the brand who defined the pro controller. 11 additional, fully customizable inputs (x4 rear paddles, x2 side buttons, x5 G-Keys) for quicker reactions in your favorite games. Endurance TMR Thumbsticks are durable, accurate, and smooth. Adjustable Instant Triggers with Omron mechanical switches for mouse-click like activation for the fastest shots. Customize your setup through the SCUF Mobile App, remap every command where you need it, adjust to true 0% deadzones, tune response curves, and more. Ultra-low latency, PC 1K wireless/wired polling for lightning-fast inputs.
Customer Rating
5
Sets the Standards for Customization
on May 14, 2026
Posted by: explore42
The SCUF Omega is the most customizable controller I have ever used. I don’t care what game you are playing this controller will make you rethink what you need at your finger tips to win. You need a function to win – there is a button for that. Need a longer thumbstick – they are included. Need super-fast triggering – there is an option for that. Bottom line is this controller has enough configurable buttons and included options to meet every requirement that I can think of. As far as controllers go this sets the standards for customization.
Pros:
- Feels very solid and it is easy to grip
- Four rear paddles and two side buttons
- Wireless, Wired and Bluetooth connectivity
- Removeable face plate for easy access to optional Thumbsticks
- Lots of accessories including a very nice protective case
- Three stored Profiles for Shooters, Sport and Racing
- Mobile SCUF app is intuitive and detailed
- Status and RGB lighting
- Feels very solid and it is easy to grip
- Four rear paddles and two side buttons
- Wireless, Wired and Bluetooth connectivity
- Removeable face plate for easy access to optional Thumbsticks
- Lots of accessories including a very nice protective case
- Three stored Profiles for Shooters, Sport and Racing
- Mobile SCUF app is intuitive and detailed
- Status and RGB lighting
Cons:
- Not fully integrated with iCUE yet
- No Game specific profiles
- Not fully integrated with iCUE yet
- No Game specific profiles
Setup: You can connect the controller via a USB cable or use the wireless dongle or use Bluetooth. Under the removable cover there is a switch that needs to be set for the type of connectivity you plan on using. There is also a switch that needs to be set for PS or PC. Once you have those set you have to download the SCUF app on your mobile device and then use Bluetooth to pair the device with the controller. The SCUF app is intuitive and detailed and it allows you to assign keyboard and system functions to the secondary switches on the controller. For me this meant I was able to assign the F and R keys for War Thunder to the side switches for faster reaction time. If you ok with the default settings you can simply connect the controller to a Play Station or PC. There is also a mode switch with three preconfigured gaming profiles for Shooters, Sport and Racing.
Software: Currently the only software you can use to configure this controller is the SCUF mobile app on IOS or Android. The app is intuitive and very detailed. It gives you the ability to assign Keyboard, Gamepad and Audio functions to the various buttons and switches on the controller. Hopefully in the near future this controller will be compatible with Corsair’s iCUE software and allow you to assign keyboard strokes and macros from a pc.
Accessories: The controller comes with several interchangeable accessories. There are three additional Thumbsticks, side and inner paddle blanking plates if you chose not to want those switches, a USB dongle and a very nice carrying case.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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8 years, 6 months ago
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explore42
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Is this hardwired or does it plug into an outlet?
Contractor needs to know: Is this hardwired or does it plug into an outlet?
Mine is hard wired. I would suspect it is whatever the installer chooses to do.
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explore42
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