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- Review count59
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- First reviewOctober 24, 2013
- Last reviewApril 24, 2024
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- Average rating3.9
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- First review commentMarch 29, 2017
- Last review commentMarch 29, 2017
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TCL Q7 Class Smart TVs offers the perfect TV for fast action movies, sports, and next level gaming with QLED Quantum Dot technology and HDR ULTRA with Dolby Vision IQ you can enjoy enhanced contrast and vivid colors. TCL’s High Brightness PRO Direct LED Backlight produces up to 1,000 nits peak brightness for dazzling specular highlights, perfect for any viewing environment. Full Array PRO local dimming with up to 200+ zones adapt to on-screen content for deep blacks without image blooming powered by TCL's AIPQ Engine Gen 3, an advanced processor optimizing each scene with machine learning for an unrivaled cinematic experience. 120Hz native panel refresh rate with Motion Rate 480 focuses on best-in-class motion clarity producing smooth video playback. With TCL's Game Accelerator 240 and Auto Game Mode gameplay is blistering fast keeping you ahead of the competition. TCL Q Class Smart TVs are True Premium TVs.
Customer Rating
4
Excellent picture quality at a reasonable price
on June 14, 2023
Posted by: KusMoG
The TCL 65Q750G's picture quality is great thanks to local dimming. With local dimming it leverages the cheaper LED LCD technology to achieve the same concept as OLED by improving the contrast of blacks and dark colors. The results don't come close to OLED but it’s much less expensive.
When viewed from a close distance, using the "Apple Original Films" production splash screen's fade to black as a reference, I can still see the blacks as a very deep dark gray or faintly illuminated black. Watching the same animation on my phone and tablet, which have OLED displays, the blacks are *completely* black and it looks like the screen is turned off. There is a knock on OLED technology though besides price: it is more susceptible to screen burn in than LED LCD displays. So, with local dimming, you can achieve something similar to OLED but with worry of screen burn-in, which occurs when a pixel remains static for too long, combined with heat.
The 2 most popular formats of HDR are supported, Dolby Vision and HDR10.
The colors are vibrant, and images are clear when viewed from a distance of at least 5 feet away from the TV. It looks so good that images on the home screen look like they're painted on. 4K content looks extremely GORGEOUS! Part of what helps with this is that the screen is matte, not glossy. It will still show reflections but it's resistant to them.
When viewed from 4 feet away you begin noticing jagged edges. From 3 feet away you can start seeing individual pixels.
Non 4K content looks great on it as well thanks to the uniformity of the brightness, the color depth, and the matte display. You'll still see fuzziness though, when viewed from close proximity, and most over-the-air and live TV streaming content is still in 720p or 1080i. ATSC 3.0 (marketed under the branding "NextGen TV") supports 1080p and up to 2160p 4K/120Hz but it's bleeding edge technology and many TV stations don't support it yet. I live in NYC and to my knowledge, there is only one station that supports ATSC 3.0, and it's a Korean language station that my TV antenna isn't even able to get reception for. I see no ATSC 3.0 or NextGen TV branding for this TV anywhere, so it's probably a safe assumption that it doesn't have a ATSC 3.0 tuner.
Non 4K content looks great on it as well thanks to the uniformity of the brightness, the color depth, and the matte display. You'll still see fuzziness though, when viewed from close proximity, and most over-the-air and live TV streaming content is still in 720p or 1080i. ATSC 3.0 (marketed under the branding "NextGen TV") supports 1080p and up to 2160p 4K/120Hz but it's bleeding edge technology and many TV stations don't support it yet. I live in NYC and to my knowledge, there is only one station that supports ATSC 3.0, and it's a Korean language station that my TV antenna isn't even able to get reception for. I see no ATSC 3.0 or NextGen TV branding for this TV anywhere, so it's probably a safe assumption that it doesn't have a ATSC 3.0 tuner.
There are 4 HDMI ports, but each have specific capabilities:
Port 1: up to 4K/144Hz
Port 2: up to 4K/120Hz
Port 3: up to 4K/60Hz
Port 4: up to 4K/60Hz; is also the ARC/eARC port
Port 1: up to 4K/144Hz
Port 2: up to 4K/120Hz
Port 3: up to 4K/60Hz
Port 4: up to 4K/60Hz; is also the ARC/eARC port
It’s a shame that its ARC/eARC port is only HDMI 2.0 and only capable of up to 4K/60Hz. You can’t make use of HDMI 2.1 inputs on your AV receiver if you’re using one and get HDMI audio or HDMI-CEC for them at the same time. You’d need to plug the receiver to a HDMI 2.1 port, which doesn’t have ARC, so it won’t return sound over HDMI. To get sound, you’ll need to connect the optical port on the TV to your receiver. With this connection, you’ll lose HDMI-CEC so you can’t control the receiver’s volume with the TV’s remote.
For PC gamers, the TCL 65Q750G supports FreeSync.
The TCL 65Q750G is powered by Google TV so if you've already invested in the Android ecosystem, you may be very happy with it. It runs on TCL's AIPQ 3.0 processor. When I use the app, "DevCheck" to survey the hardware, it identifies the processor as a Mediatek MT5889, which is a 800MHz-1300MHz ARMv8 processor BUT the apps that are compatible with it are armeabi-v7a because it's a 32-bit processor. You will NOT be able to install 64-bit apps on it.
I had no issues with playing 4K Dolby Vision content with Dolby Atmos. Every app I ran on it was quick, including loading times. I didn't experience any lag with navigation inside apps. I did experience occasional lag while navigating around Google TV's home screen.
Be aware that it's a Google TV interface, which is based off Android TV, but heavily driven by promotional content, unlike a standard Android TV interface. Google TV's home screen is littered with content recommendations, that you CANNOT hide. Your personal library of apps is relegated to just a single row, with 7 app icons fully visible at one time for a total of 12 apps on that row. You have to navigate all the way to the last icon on that row to get the option to view your entire app library, and it's the only method to view it, unlike on a standard Android TV where you have a dedicated tab on the top of your home screen to view your entire library of apps. On Google TV, the Library tab only shows your purchased video content from Google's Play Store. It will NOT show your purchased apps. The Apps tab focuses on promotional video content. Your apps, just like on the home screen, is relegated to a single row of 7 app icons at a time.
If you can get past this annoyance, it's essentially Android TV natively on your TV. You won't have to select a different input. The TV input *IS* Android TV unless you select the option to set the TV up as "Basic TV" (more on this later). You'll have access to Android TV's library of apps, as well as the ability to sideload standard Android apps, which usually require the use of a keyboard and mouse to use since they're not designed for TV remote use.
The 65Q750G comes with 24GB of usable internal storage (from 32GB but 8GB is reserved for the system).
With Google TV comes Google Assistant and Chromecast built-in. There is a physical switch for the TV’s microphone (for hand-free operation) on the bottom of the TV, to the left of the multi-function power button. If you turn off the microphone via the switch it will alert with 4 bright yellow LEDs that will remain on while the microphone is off. If you have another Google Assistant device in the same room, the 65Q750G has priority and will intercept all "Hey Google" commands, while intrusively interrupting the content you're watching by muting the volume and displaying the Google Assistant overlay over what you're watching. If you don't have a Google Assistant device in your room, it's arguably convenient because now you do have one. You can control your smart home devices (like light bulbs) or ask questions with your voice.
Even if you have the TV’s microphone off, you can still use the microphone that’s on the remote.
Even if you have the TV’s microphone off, you can still use the microphone that’s on the remote.
For owners of Google Assistant devices that don't want the TV to intercept commands, pay close attention during the initial TV setup and opt NOT to set up “Hey Google” when it asks.
With Chromecast, you can cast Chromecast-enabled videos to the TV. Unlike mirroring, you don’t have to have the video playing or open on the device you’ve casted it from.
If you set the TV up as "Basic TV" as opposed to "Google TV" during the initial TV setup, you will lose access to nearly all Android TV functions. You'll only have Live TV (which is the coaxial tuner input), HDMI inputs, and the preinstalled bundle of Android TV apps to access.
Unfortunately, the 65Q750G is not compatible with Wi-Fi6 (802.11ax). For internet streaming, chances are your internet speeds won't even go as fast as Wi-Fi5 (802.11ac), never mind 6. But 6 still offers a more stable connection (particularly for distance away from router/access point), especially with multiple Wi-Fi devices in your area, so your connection reliability will only go as far as Wi-Fi5 on this TV.
There is also an ethernet port for a wired network connection.
The remote control is excellent! It's simple rectangle with curved edges that make it comfortable to hold, and lays flat on a table without wobbling. The build is a nice solid feeling plastic, and the buttons are pleasantly soft, shallow, but tactile, not gummy. The buttons on the remote are intuitive, and the branded media keys are well placed on the bottom, away from the main controls and shaped very differently so you don't accidentally press them. Every button also lights up automatically when its surroundings are dark.
The battery compartment is a simple standard slide off compartment, and holds 2 AAA batteries. The remote is operated by Bluetooth (it has infrared too but I don’t know when it’s used) so you can control the TV without being in the line of sight of the TV.
There are no dedicated media control buttons like Play, Pause, Forward/Next, or Rewind/Previous. These functions are only available on the remote via the "123" button inside apps when media is playing. Pressing this button displays on overlay on the bottom-right corner that auto-hides
after 10 seconds of inactivity. This overlay has Play, Pause, Stop, Rewind, Settings, Forward, Red, Green, Yellow, and Blue functions selectable on-display as a substitute for physical buttons on the remote.
There are no dedicated media control buttons like Play, Pause, Forward/Next, or Rewind/Previous. These functions are only available on the remote via the "123" button inside apps when media is playing. Pressing this button displays on overlay on the bottom-right corner that auto-hides
after 10 seconds of inactivity. This overlay has Play, Pause, Stop, Rewind, Settings, Forward, Red, Green, Yellow, and Blue functions selectable on-display as a substitute for physical buttons on the remote.
The TV is mountable on a VESA 300x300 mount and uses 4 x M6 18mm screws, which thankfully are a common type and length of screw easily found in hardware stores, including national chain ones like Home Depot. These screws are not included with the TV. The screws that are included are meant for the TV stand, should you choose to use them. Curiously it does come with 2 x M6 16mm screws on the top 2 mount locations. For the safety of the TV, I don't advise using them for mounting since they're shorter than 18mm.
It has a USB port that can be used for power and external USB storage BUT the port is only USB 2.0. Once again, not making it future proof. The USB 2.0 makes file transfers of large files like movies, extremely slow over a local network. You can use USB 3.0 external storage and transfer content to the drive from a capable PC, then plug it back into the TV when done, but this makes things more inconvenient.
Pros:
-Excellent picture quality, brightness, and contrast.
-Excellent backlit remote that automatically lights up when dark and makes buttons look clearly and legible.
-Google TV includes Google Assistant, Chromecast, and a vast library of apps from the Google Play Store
-Excellent picture quality, brightness, and contrast.
-Excellent backlit remote that automatically lights up when dark and makes buttons look clearly and legible.
-Google TV includes Google Assistant, Chromecast, and a vast library of apps from the Google Play Store
Cons:
-ARC/eARC port is HDMI 2.0 so inputs from a receiver is limited to 4K/60Hz if you want HDMI audio and HDMI-CEC for them
-USB port is only USB 2.0
-Lack of options to customize home screen to show your content/apps
-ARC/eARC port is HDMI 2.0 so inputs from a receiver is limited to 4K/60Hz if you want HDMI audio and HDMI-CEC for them
-USB port is only USB 2.0
-Lack of options to customize home screen to show your content/apps
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+3points
6of 9voted this as helpful.
MX Keys S Logitech Wireless Keyboard — a low-profile full-size keyboard that offers a fluid, precise typing experience and customizable, time-saving Smart Actions that automate your most repetitive tasks with a single keystroke. The backlit keyboard features smart backlighting that lights up when your hands approach it and automatically adjusts to suit the time of day.
Posted by: KusMoG
16.75 x 5 x .25" (front) / .75" (back)
1 lbs 12 ounces
1 lbs 12 ounces
The MX Keys S keyboard is nearly identical to the MX Keys and even moreso to the MX Keys for Business since that version used the Bolt receiver instead of Logitech's older less reliable Unifying receiver.
It does come with an upgrade that will make you willing to trade up if you're already an owner of one of them.
And if you're not, with the MX Keys S, this is one I can finally recommend getting. I'm not going to bury the lede. I'm going to straight to it.
The MX Keys S finally allows Backlighting customization. This is what many, myself included, have been waiting for. Asking for. BEGGING for. It's not perfect, and I'm betting it will still anger some with the way Logitech settled. But it will work for most.
It does come with an upgrade that will make you willing to trade up if you're already an owner of one of them.
And if you're not, with the MX Keys S, this is one I can finally recommend getting. I'm not going to bury the lede. I'm going to straight to it.
The MX Keys S finally allows Backlighting customization. This is what many, myself included, have been waiting for. Asking for. BEGGING for. It's not perfect, and I'm betting it will still anger some with the way Logitech settled. But it will work for most.
With the Options+ software the MX Keys S allows you to keep the backlighting on for up to 30 minutes. And THANKFULLY, it's very generous with the customization of backlight's duration. You adjust the backlight duration using a slider and from 5 to 60 seconds, the selections are 5 seconds apart. From 1 minute to 30 minutes, the selections are 1 minute apart.
With this, you can combat the finicky behavior of the proxity sensor and eliminate the flashing. The proximity sensor will only come to play to wake the keyboard after a lengthy period of time of your choosing (up to 30 minutes) instead of relying on it to detect activity while you're in the middle of typing.
There is no "Always On" option unfortunately. Not even for while the keyboard is plugged in and charging.
There's also a caveat to this setting: When plugged into USB C, the MX Keys S ignores this setting and will automatically hibernate after 5 minutes of inactivity. The proximity sensor will turn off. To wake the keyboard back up, you would need to press a key on the keyboard.
It's a step in the right direction. Logitech's other full sized wireless backlight keyboard, the K800, never had it this good.
With this, you can combat the finicky behavior of the proxity sensor and eliminate the flashing. The proximity sensor will only come to play to wake the keyboard after a lengthy period of time of your choosing (up to 30 minutes) instead of relying on it to detect activity while you're in the middle of typing.
There is no "Always On" option unfortunately. Not even for while the keyboard is plugged in and charging.
There's also a caveat to this setting: When plugged into USB C, the MX Keys S ignores this setting and will automatically hibernate after 5 minutes of inactivity. The proximity sensor will turn off. To wake the keyboard back up, you would need to press a key on the keyboard.
It's a step in the right direction. Logitech's other full sized wireless backlight keyboard, the K800, never had it this good.
You can toggle backlighting on or off.
You can also toggle Automatic Brightness.
With Automatic Brightness on, MX Keys S will manage the brightness according to the amount of light in your environment.
With Automatic Brightness off, you have the option of setting the brightness to one of its 7 levels of brightness. And the MX Keys S gets very bright. For comparison, somewhere between the MX Keys S's level 2 and 3 brightness is the max brightness of Logitech's K740. Unlike with my old K740, the lowest brightness on the MX Keys S is very usable. But I prefer mine on level 2. Besides being close to the max brightness of my K740, it lessens the intensity of the light bleed that you get coming from underneath the keys of the MX Keys S. If your keyboard on a surface low enough and easily looking over the keys, the light bleed won't be a problem at all. But I have a tall desk, where the surface is almost up to my chest. Because of this, I can see the gaps underneath the keys, hence the distracting light bleed.
With Automatic Brightness on, MX Keys S will manage the brightness according to the amount of light in your environment.
With Automatic Brightness off, you have the option of setting the brightness to one of its 7 levels of brightness. And the MX Keys S gets very bright. For comparison, somewhere between the MX Keys S's level 2 and 3 brightness is the max brightness of Logitech's K740. Unlike with my old K740, the lowest brightness on the MX Keys S is very usable. But I prefer mine on level 2. Besides being close to the max brightness of my K740, it lessens the intensity of the light bleed that you get coming from underneath the keys of the MX Keys S. If your keyboard on a surface low enough and easily looking over the keys, the light bleed won't be a problem at all. But I have a tall desk, where the surface is almost up to my chest. Because of this, I can see the gaps underneath the keys, hence the distracting light bleed.
You can toggle the Battery saving mode. When enabled, this automatically turns off backlighting when the battery level drops below 10%.
Finally with the Options+ backlight settings, there is a Reset Backlighting button to restore the backlight settings back to the factory settings.
Unlike the original retail version of MX Keys, the MX Keys S is finally running off of the Bolt USB receiver. Despite it being compatible with bluetooth, the USB receiver is a preferred option for desktop users because BIOS cannot recognize bluetooth devices. Of course, Logitech already has something similar to Bolt with its Unifying receiver, but the technology is so old, and susceptible to interference in certain environments. Bolt is based on the newer Bluetooth Low Energy 5.0 standard operating on a different set of channels, which helps combat the already congested 2.4 GHz spectrum that's home to microwave ovens, phones, wifi signals, etc. Unifying will eventually become obsolete and be replaced by Bolt as no newly released devices are using it.
Everything else the MX Keys S has to offer is about the same as its original. The form factor and size is the same. It's low profile with no wrist rest, so it may be uncomfortable or take some getting used to for some. If you've used Apple's Magic Keyboard, you know exactly what you're in for. Of course a wrist rest can be bought, including one from Logitech specifically for the MX Keys but keep in mind, that also takes away part of what makes the MX Keys series attractive: it doesn't take up a lot of space.
The build of the MX Keys S is made of plastic but with how sturdy the base feels, you would think it's metal. It's not. It's a very hard premium plastic. However, it's lined on the outside with a thinner plastic that isn't as sturdy. In some areas of the lining, when I'm squeezing it from holding the keyboard, it creaks.
Fortunately the keys are atop the sturdy plastic so you never get any creaking noise while typing on it. In fact, the keys are pretty quiet. Some will say silent, but I perceive silence as no noise. You can still hear the keys while typing. But it's very quiet. The travel on the keys is great for typing with a satisfying tactile response. It's good enough for gaming too but clearly nowhere near the kind of tactile response you'd get from a mechanical keyboard.
Fortunately the keys are atop the sturdy plastic so you never get any creaking noise while typing on it. In fact, the keys are pretty quiet. Some will say silent, but I perceive silence as no noise. You can still hear the keys while typing. But it's very quiet. The travel on the keys is great for typing with a satisfying tactile response. It's good enough for gaming too but clearly nowhere near the kind of tactile response you'd get from a mechanical keyboard.
In its effort to accomodate use across multiple devices it compromises its layout:
-For Windows, the MX Keys S is missing the Print Screen and Pause/Break keys. You can program these funtions to any of its 17 programmable keys using the Options+ app but out of the box, these buttons do not exist.
This is a huge problem for users that rely on those keys and work with computers where they're not allowed to install software on them. Logitech made the curiously poor decision of mapping its Screen capturing key specifically to Windows' Snipping Tool app. So without Options+ you can't perform the Print Screen function or have apps map to the print screen key because it doesn't exist on the MX Keys S. There is also no Pause/Break key, which can be a hassle for programmers and terminal users. Logitech's out of the box workaround shortcut for this function is pressing Fn + B.
While you can program both functions with Options+, the software doesn't even list either function in a way that's intuitive.
If you try to map Print Screen to a key, Print Screen isn't among one of the selectable options on Options+. It's listed as "Screen capture". It makes sense, but there's already been a name for it since forever. By listing it as Screen capture, it's not clear if it's the Print Screen key function or another Screen capturing function the way the default function opens Windows' Snipping Tool.
The Pause/Break function is completely absent from its list. You need select "keyboard shortcut" when mapping the key and use Fn+B as the keyboard shortcut. When you do, you'll see that Options+ recognizes the shortcut you entered as "Break".
But again, this is only possible with the Options+ app installed. Out of the box, these keys do NOT exist.
-For macOS, to the right of the space bar are the Command, Fn, and Option keys, in that order. Whereas the traditional Mac keyboard layout goes: Command, Option, Control.
The MX Keys S, like Logitech's Master MX mice series, can pair with up to 3 compatible devices by either Bolt or bluetooth. Switching between devices is as easy as pressing the numbered device button on the keyboard.
If you have a mouse that's compatible with Logitech Flow you can link that mouse to MX Keys S in the Options+ app. With Logitech Flow, you can operate your paired computers with the same mouse like a multi-monitor setup. The mouse seamlessly moves across the screen to the next paired device as if they were the same computer. And you can arrange them like monitors within Options+. The clipboard is also shared. With MX Keys linked to the mouse, it will automatically switch devices (no matter the OS) to the same one as the mouse without needing to press the device key.
With the Options+ app, you can map the 17 programmable keys per application as well.
Something that's currently in beta is "Smart Actions", which are basically macros programmed with If this then that instructions, similar to Samsung's Routines. You'll be able to assign these Smart Actions you create to keys. Conditional triggers will range from Application, Device, and System but they're presently not all available yet.
-For Windows, the MX Keys S is missing the Print Screen and Pause/Break keys. You can program these funtions to any of its 17 programmable keys using the Options+ app but out of the box, these buttons do not exist.
This is a huge problem for users that rely on those keys and work with computers where they're not allowed to install software on them. Logitech made the curiously poor decision of mapping its Screen capturing key specifically to Windows' Snipping Tool app. So without Options+ you can't perform the Print Screen function or have apps map to the print screen key because it doesn't exist on the MX Keys S. There is also no Pause/Break key, which can be a hassle for programmers and terminal users. Logitech's out of the box workaround shortcut for this function is pressing Fn + B.
While you can program both functions with Options+, the software doesn't even list either function in a way that's intuitive.
If you try to map Print Screen to a key, Print Screen isn't among one of the selectable options on Options+. It's listed as "Screen capture". It makes sense, but there's already been a name for it since forever. By listing it as Screen capture, it's not clear if it's the Print Screen key function or another Screen capturing function the way the default function opens Windows' Snipping Tool.
The Pause/Break function is completely absent from its list. You need select "keyboard shortcut" when mapping the key and use Fn+B as the keyboard shortcut. When you do, you'll see that Options+ recognizes the shortcut you entered as "Break".
But again, this is only possible with the Options+ app installed. Out of the box, these keys do NOT exist.
-For macOS, to the right of the space bar are the Command, Fn, and Option keys, in that order. Whereas the traditional Mac keyboard layout goes: Command, Option, Control.
The MX Keys S, like Logitech's Master MX mice series, can pair with up to 3 compatible devices by either Bolt or bluetooth. Switching between devices is as easy as pressing the numbered device button on the keyboard.
If you have a mouse that's compatible with Logitech Flow you can link that mouse to MX Keys S in the Options+ app. With Logitech Flow, you can operate your paired computers with the same mouse like a multi-monitor setup. The mouse seamlessly moves across the screen to the next paired device as if they were the same computer. And you can arrange them like monitors within Options+. The clipboard is also shared. With MX Keys linked to the mouse, it will automatically switch devices (no matter the OS) to the same one as the mouse without needing to press the device key.
With the Options+ app, you can map the 17 programmable keys per application as well.
Something that's currently in beta is "Smart Actions", which are basically macros programmed with If this then that instructions, similar to Samsung's Routines. You'll be able to assign these Smart Actions you create to keys. Conditional triggers will range from Application, Device, and System but they're presently not all available yet.
Battery life is advertisted to last for 10 days with the backlight on its default settings:
30 second backlight duration, Automatic brightness on, battery saving mode on.
With backlight off, it's 5 months.
I haven't had the time to test it but it seems feasible from my short testing of the default settings. It stayed at 100% then at 95% for several hours.
What I did test was battery life with the max settings. Max brightness (level 7), 30 minute brightness duration, battery saver disabled. It lasted about 24 hours on continuous use; a little over 24 in real time when I went out to eat for breakfast and lunch, and slept for 5 hours.
30 second backlight duration, Automatic brightness on, battery saving mode on.
With backlight off, it's 5 months.
I haven't had the time to test it but it seems feasible from my short testing of the default settings. It stayed at 100% then at 95% for several hours.
What I did test was battery life with the max settings. Max brightness (level 7), 30 minute brightness duration, battery saver disabled. It lasted about 24 hours on continuous use; a little over 24 in real time when I went out to eat for breakfast and lunch, and slept for 5 hours.
Charging the MX Keys S from 0% to 100% took about 4 hours (3 hours and 57 minutes) using my 100W laptop charger. So there's no fast charging. It won't take advantage of higher wattage adapters.
You can use the keyboard while it's charging but the USB cable is for charging only. It's not transporting data or operating as a wired keyboard. It's still running wirelessly while charging.
You can use the keyboard while it's charging but the USB cable is for charging only. It's not transporting data or operating as a wired keyboard. It's still running wirelessly while charging.
As far as portability goes, while its minimalist design makes it really slim, it's relatively heavy from the materials and battery. Due to its length, it will only fit lengthwise inside a laptop bag made for a 17" laptop.
Now that we're able to extend the backlight duration for longer than 5 seconds, I can safely recommend the MX Keys S. This is the keyboard most of us have been waiting for. But Logitech shouldn't stop here. We need always on backlighting while the keyboard is charging, PLEASE!
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Experience breathtaking 8K video and immersive 3D audio with our new 7.2-channel 8K receiver. Enjoy space-filling sound from your 7.2 or 5.2.2 setup with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. It’s easy to enjoy all your content with Works with SONOS, Chromecast Built-in, Apple AirPlay, and Spotify Connect—all via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
Customer Rating
3
Great sound, but characteristics of cheap receiver
on April 5, 2023
Posted by: KusMoG
My speaker setup (5.1):
2 x Pioneer SP-FS52 for front left and right (6Ω, 130W)
Pioneer SP-C22 for center (6Ω, 90W)
2 x Logitech Z-5500's individual speakers for rear left and right (8Ω, 69W)
Pioneer SW-8MKS subwoofer (100W)
2 x Pioneer SP-FS52 for front left and right (6Ω, 130W)
Pioneer SP-C22 for center (6Ω, 90W)
2 x Logitech Z-5500's individual speakers for rear left and right (8Ω, 69W)
Pioneer SW-8MKS subwoofer (100W)
I used the Sony STR-AN1000 to replace my previous AV receiver for the HDMI input upgrades because this receiver supports 8k, variable refresh rate, and auto low latency mode, whereas my old one didn't. That's the bad thing about receivers: they can sound amazing as the day you got them for years since amplifier and speaker technology haven't made dramatic advancements over the years but it's things like audio/video formats that have.
The STR-AN1000 is capable of up to:
-7.2 speaker setup
-5.2.2 speaker setup for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X (height speakers)
-5.2 wireless speaker setup (cannot add height speakers, so no Dolby Atmos when wireless speakers are used)
-7.2 speaker setup
-5.2.2 speaker setup for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X (height speakers)
-5.2 wireless speaker setup (cannot add height speakers, so no Dolby Atmos when wireless speakers are used)
They're compatible with Sony’s SA-RS3S & SA-RS5 wireless rear speakers and SA-SW3 & SASW5 wireless subwoofers.
There are 6 HDMI inputs, but only 2 with HDMI 2.1 support, which is responsible for 8K, variable refresh rate, auto low latency mode, and reliable 4k 120Hz with HDR. So it's not exactly future-proof. I learned that the hard way when I had a receiver that had only 2 inputs with HDMI 2.0 and the other 4 were HDMI 1.4. But HDR quickly became mainstream and my receiver quickly became obsolete as I had more HDR-capable devices than I had inputs. So consider that.
There are 2 HDMI outputs which allows a multi-zone setup.
Also in the rear you'll find an FM antenna input, a coaxial input, 3 composite inputs, a Toslink/optical input, an, an Ethernet port, 2 wifi antennas, and a IR remote in and out ports.
I've tried to make use of the IR Remote in port but never got it to work, even when using an IR repeater with an external power source.
The speaker connections can be done by screw (with the standard attached red/black knobs, not actual screws) or by banana plug. Impedance is 6-16Ω.
There are 2 HDMI outputs which allows a multi-zone setup.
Also in the rear you'll find an FM antenna input, a coaxial input, 3 composite inputs, a Toslink/optical input, an, an Ethernet port, 2 wifi antennas, and a IR remote in and out ports.
I've tried to make use of the IR Remote in port but never got it to work, even when using an IR repeater with an external power source.
The speaker connections can be done by screw (with the standard attached red/black knobs, not actual screws) or by banana plug. Impedance is 6-16Ω.
On the front panel there is a 1/4" headphone out jack, and a USB port (5V, 1A) which you can plug in USB storage to play audio media with the receiver's USB file explorer. It's not capable of playing video from USB storage.
There is a 1/8" calibration mic port.
There is a 1/8" calibration mic port.
There are also glaring omissions:
-There is no front HDMI input. I miss this DEARLY as it is a pain to get to the back of my receiver given how heavy the receiver is and not a lot of arm room or light in my home theater stand shelf. I would use this to plug in my laptop, gaming devices that I don't use full time, and digital cameras.
-There is no phono input. So if you plug in a turntable you won't be able to hear the sound as it'll be a whisper. You'll need to purchase a separate phono preamp for it.
-No AM antenna input. So no AM radio.
-No component video input.
-There is no front HDMI input. I miss this DEARLY as it is a pain to get to the back of my receiver given how heavy the receiver is and not a lot of arm room or light in my home theater stand shelf. I would use this to plug in my laptop, gaming devices that I don't use full time, and digital cameras.
-There is no phono input. So if you plug in a turntable you won't be able to hear the sound as it'll be a whisper. You'll need to purchase a separate phono preamp for it.
-No AM antenna input. So no AM radio.
-No component video input.
The STR-AN1000 sound just as amazing as my previous receiver it replaces with my 5.1 setup. But keep in mind a receiver alone won't work miracles if you don't have decent speakers. It's like having an expensive graphics card for a computer but a cheap monitor with bad viewing angles and low resolution. The graphics card can't help your monitor's deficiencies. And the STR-AN1000 can't help a bad set of speakers sound great.
With my speaker setup, it was plenty loud for regular listening with the volume at 23 (out of a max of 74). At max volume, the sound was still clear and clean.
With my speaker setup, it was plenty loud for regular listening with the volume at 23 (out of a max of 74). At max volume, the sound was still clear and clean.
Calibration was easy. The included calibration mic comes with a plastic stand, which is a whole lot better than the paper stands I've been used to with Audyssey calibration.
Movies sound *incredible* with the STR-AN1000 from just 5.1 sound alone. Again, you need a decent set of speakers to unlock the receiver's potential. The rear speakers have clear presence.
Unfortunately I didn't have a source with IMAX audio to test that. I also don't
Unfortunately I didn't have a source with IMAX audio to test that. I also don't
There is a 360 Spatial Sound Mapping (360SSM) feature expands a stereo sound signal to use all your speakers and output them in a way that sounds immersive but in many cases unrealistic. Like, when I'm watching baseball, when it switches to show the announcers in the play-by-play booth, their voices are coming from all over my speakers when they should just be in front of me. It's great for music though, and if you want that encompassing immersive sound. Be aware though, this mode is nothing like 360 Reality Audio, which offers actual discrete sound spacing.
It's terrible for movies because it has no regard for realistic spacing. But 360SSM isn't supported when in Dolby or DTS mode which is what you'll typically use for movies anyway.
It's terrible for movies because it has no regard for realistic spacing. But 360SSM isn't supported when in Dolby or DTS mode which is what you'll typically use for movies anyway.
There is a 3 month free trial coupon to a single service that offers 360 Reality Audio, with the most well known services being Amazon Music and Tidal.
Spotify, YouTube Music, and Apple Music do NOT support Sony's 360 Reality Audio.
I opted for Tidal with my free trial since they offer master quality audio with their service, along with 360 Reality Audio, and Dolby Atmos audio.
Now THIS is where the 360 audio magic happens. I listened to both of Dua Lipa's studio albums in the 360 Reality Audio-encoded format on Tidal and they sound *amazing* particularly because you can hear the audio clearly spaced out by location. The singing is in front of me. Certain instruments to the left. Others to the right. Specific echo effects coming in from the rear. It's like surround sound with movies, but for music. The sound placement effects sound mastered with intent instead of just having sound all around you like the 360 Spatial Sound Mapping. Thanks to the 360 Reality Audio's sound spacing I'm able to hear more detail then in songs that I never heard before because they get muddled within the layers of sound in the traditional stereo format.
Here's the problem: 360 Reality Audio is behind a paywall of the service's highest tier. There is no standalone offline file format for 360 Reality Audio. They're tied to specific streaming services.
And there is a VERY limited catalog of 360 Reality Audio-encoded music. So it may definitively not be for you if none of your favorite artists or music are even produced in 360 Reality Audio.
When my trial is up, I won't resume my subscription because there is way too little of the music I like available for it, especially with hip hop.
Spotify, YouTube Music, and Apple Music do NOT support Sony's 360 Reality Audio.
I opted for Tidal with my free trial since they offer master quality audio with their service, along with 360 Reality Audio, and Dolby Atmos audio.
Now THIS is where the 360 audio magic happens. I listened to both of Dua Lipa's studio albums in the 360 Reality Audio-encoded format on Tidal and they sound *amazing* particularly because you can hear the audio clearly spaced out by location. The singing is in front of me. Certain instruments to the left. Others to the right. Specific echo effects coming in from the rear. It's like surround sound with movies, but for music. The sound placement effects sound mastered with intent instead of just having sound all around you like the 360 Spatial Sound Mapping. Thanks to the 360 Reality Audio's sound spacing I'm able to hear more detail then in songs that I never heard before because they get muddled within the layers of sound in the traditional stereo format.
Here's the problem: 360 Reality Audio is behind a paywall of the service's highest tier. There is no standalone offline file format for 360 Reality Audio. They're tied to specific streaming services.
And there is a VERY limited catalog of 360 Reality Audio-encoded music. So it may definitively not be for you if none of your favorite artists or music are even produced in 360 Reality Audio.
When my trial is up, I won't resume my subscription because there is way too little of the music I like available for it, especially with hip hop.
The STR-AN1000 supports Spotify, and the 360 Reality Audio provider services- Amazon Music, nugs.net, and TIDAL but not natively. You need a device with its app to cast to the receiver to make use of the aforementioned services.
It also supports Chromecast audio as well as bluetooth audio.
As far as terrestrial radio goes, it only supports FM radio. It allows up to 30 presets, all of which you can rename manually. It's unable to pull radio station names from the internet despite being connected to the internet. The default names are FM 1, FM 2, and so on.
Tuning to a radio station is a nightmare because you can't speed through the station numbers. When you hold down the button to find a station it will automatically stop at each and every station it finds, so you have to press and hold the button again and again until you get to the station you want.
It also supports Chromecast audio as well as bluetooth audio.
As far as terrestrial radio goes, it only supports FM radio. It allows up to 30 presets, all of which you can rename manually. It's unable to pull radio station names from the internet despite being connected to the internet. The default names are FM 1, FM 2, and so on.
Tuning to a radio station is a nightmare because you can't speed through the station numbers. When you hold down the button to find a station it will automatically stop at each and every station it finds, so you have to press and hold the button again and again until you get to the station you want.
The remote itself is pretty horrible. Its line of sight is terrible with a seemingly low angle range for its IR sensor. I had to purchase an IR repeater for the first time ever so I'm able to use the remote outside of its sensor's limited range. Even then, the my IR repeater wouldn't work when I plugged it into the STR-AN1000's IR in port as per the manual. My IR repeater uses an external power source since I anticipated the receiver's IR port being passive (not active like cable set top boxes). Using an external power source still did no good. So in the end, I used the old fashioned, stick an IR emitter in front of the IR sensor method to repeat the IR signal.
The problems with the remote don't end there. Volume control is also terrible. If you hold down volume up or down to quickly change volume, it will initially change the volume from 7 to 14 steps (it's inconsistent when held down) then STOP. Then resume changing the volume until you let go of the button. Why did Sony have the remote stop in the MIDDLE of changing the volume while the button is held down? It's so stupid and annoying! Because of this, sometimes I find it quicker to either rapidly tap on the volume up/down button to change the volume, or go to the volume dial in front of the receiver to quickly change the volume.
The problems with the remote don't end there. Volume control is also terrible. If you hold down volume up or down to quickly change volume, it will initially change the volume from 7 to 14 steps (it's inconsistent when held down) then STOP. Then resume changing the volume until you let go of the button. Why did Sony have the remote stop in the MIDDLE of changing the volume while the button is held down? It's so stupid and annoying! Because of this, sometimes I find it quicker to either rapidly tap on the volume up/down button to change the volume, or go to the volume dial in front of the receiver to quickly change the volume.
Another annoying thing about this unit is that it runs warmer (at times hot) than any receiver I've ever owned, even while it's turned "off" (on standby)! And generated heat means electricity usage. And this is with a 6" height clearance in my home theater stand. You'll definitely need the clearance because if you don't, considering how warm it gets, you may end up damaging it over time without proper ventilation.
As good as the STR-AN1000 sounds, it's not competitively priced for what it's lacking. My old receiver sounded just as great with a lot of the same features, such a Chromecast audio, and some that the STR-AN1000 is missing like phono, and a front HDMI aux input for nearly half the price. It just didn't have the HDMI 2.1 support. Unless you're sold on Sony's 360 spatial sound mapping and their 360 Reality Audio format, you're better off with another receiver that has the features that the STR-AN1000 has AND lacks while still sounding just as good.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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+3points
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Whatever you dream, bring it to life with a flexible, premium laptop that’s built for big ideas. Need a ton of processing power? It's got you. Too many open tabs while planning your next adventure? Don’t stress have power to spare with our best processor series. Every detail of Galaxy Book3 Ultra is expertly crafted to deliver the ultimate Galaxy experience. Make magic happen from just about anywhere with a super thin and ultralight design that’s built to move with you. Bring projects to life on our largest, most stunning display ever. Add to that a long lasting battery and plenty of ports, and it’s easy to see you’ve got a PC with muscle for your every hustle.
Customer Rating
4
Powerful laptop best with Samsung phone/tablets
on April 1, 2023
Posted by: KusMoG
-Build & Design-
Its design is a very pleasing understated look of space gray.
It feels very solid, and largely has no flexing, except for the bottom where it’s a cover that can be unscrewed to access the internal part. It is most vulnerable around the speaker grills, where my Book3 Ultra has begun creaking when pressure is applied near the left speaker grill.
You can feel some heft to it, but at the same time, it’s light for a laptop of its class- 16” with a discrete GPU.
It's also really slim, with it being just a bit taller than half and inch with the lid closed at 5/8”.
Its design is a very pleasing understated look of space gray.
It feels very solid, and largely has no flexing, except for the bottom where it’s a cover that can be unscrewed to access the internal part. It is most vulnerable around the speaker grills, where my Book3 Ultra has begun creaking when pressure is applied near the left speaker grill.
You can feel some heft to it, but at the same time, it’s light for a laptop of its class- 16” with a discrete GPU.
It's also really slim, with it being just a bit taller than half and inch with the lid closed at 5/8”.
The display is prone to wobbling while typing but in actual use, it’s barely noticeable. However, the wobbling DOES become an issue if you plan to type while using the camera. If you’re in the middle of a video call and need to type during it, even on a flat hard surface, you will appear shaky.
The display is hard glass, so it’s similar to a phone or tablet’s display. The display bezels are relatively thin at about 1mm except for the bottom, which is about 1 inch.
The display is hard glass, so it’s similar to a phone or tablet’s display. The display bezels are relatively thin at about 1mm except for the bottom, which is about 1 inch.
The keyboard is full sized, except for the numpad which have slightly slimmer keys. The numpad may be an issue for users that frequently use it for computations since the /,*,+,- keys are awkwardly placed.
The keys are easy to read and brightly backlit with 3 levels of brightness.
They keys are shallow but have decent tactile feedback. I found it fine for typing. They just won’t satisfy serious keyboard gamers because there’s so little travel.
The keys are easy to read and brightly backlit with 3 levels of brightness.
They keys are shallow but have decent tactile feedback. I found it fine for typing. They just won’t satisfy serious keyboard gamers because there’s so little travel.
The fingerprint reader on the power button is extremely fast and accurate. You also will not accidently press the power button because it is shallower than the other keys and needs a very deliberate press. I can rest my finger on it comfortably with NO worry of accidentally pressing it.
Windows 11 allows you to register multiple fingerprints. I was able to register all 10 of my fingers.
Windows 11 allows you to register multiple fingerprints. I was able to register all 10 of my fingers.
The touchpad is 5 7/8”x 4 ¼” making it larger than average. It’s also off-center because of the numpad. I thought it would bother me, but it being centered with the QWERTY portion of the keyboard does help with my touch typing since I can rest my hands normally without accidentally triggering the touchpad.
The touchpad is smooth and silent; no loose sounding parts.
However, you cannot do physical clicks on the top 1” of the touchpad. It just will not press.
The touchpad is smooth and silent; no loose sounding parts.
However, you cannot do physical clicks on the top 1” of the touchpad. It just will not press.
-Display-
It is a 2880 x 1800 AMOLED display. The blacks appear true black. I had a YouTube video end in a black screen and I thought the laptop went to sleep. Turns out it was still on.
The screen is pretty reflective since it’s a glossy display, but it hasn’t bothered me as much as I thought it would.
HDR on it looks beautiful but for me the default colors are way too saturated. You can change the screen mode with the Samsung Settings app. I’ve found the “Photo editing (Adobe RGB)” works best for me but there is also the more muted “Natural (sRGB)” mode and a “Movie (DCI-P3)” mode. “Auto” mode, which is supposed to switch the screen mode depending on content, and Samsung’s signature Vivid mode, round out the other options.
There’s a HDR+ option to brighten the screen though this does affect the look of the color profile making the lighting look bluer.
It is a 2880 x 1800 AMOLED display. The blacks appear true black. I had a YouTube video end in a black screen and I thought the laptop went to sleep. Turns out it was still on.
The screen is pretty reflective since it’s a glossy display, but it hasn’t bothered me as much as I thought it would.
HDR on it looks beautiful but for me the default colors are way too saturated. You can change the screen mode with the Samsung Settings app. I’ve found the “Photo editing (Adobe RGB)” works best for me but there is also the more muted “Natural (sRGB)” mode and a “Movie (DCI-P3)” mode. “Auto” mode, which is supposed to switch the screen mode depending on content, and Samsung’s signature Vivid mode, round out the other options.
There’s a HDR+ option to brighten the screen though this does affect the look of the color profile making the lighting look bluer.
-Sound-
The speakers are side-firing and sound loud and clear enough even without Dolby Atmos or an equalizer on. In a quiet room, volume at 13 is comfortable enough for me to hear. With Dolby Atmos on, not only can the speakers sound louder, it also expands the sound stage. I tend to keep it off though because sometimes it sounds too unnatural to me. Unfortunately, it’s lacking in bass with or without Atmos.
The microphone uses Intel’s Smart Sound which impressively eliminates all background noise. I’m able to clap and have the tv on in the background and they won’t be heard in my audio or video recordings; just my voice. You can turn this off in the settings if you want background noise recorded.
The speakers are side-firing and sound loud and clear enough even without Dolby Atmos or an equalizer on. In a quiet room, volume at 13 is comfortable enough for me to hear. With Dolby Atmos on, not only can the speakers sound louder, it also expands the sound stage. I tend to keep it off though because sometimes it sounds too unnatural to me. Unfortunately, it’s lacking in bass with or without Atmos.
The microphone uses Intel’s Smart Sound which impressively eliminates all background noise. I’m able to clap and have the tv on in the background and they won’t be heard in my audio or video recordings; just my voice. You can turn this off in the settings if you want background noise recorded.
-Camera-
Pretty mediocre. It’s not good in low lighting producing a blurry image. The images appear soft even under good lighting.
Video suffers from the same issue, made worse by the wobbly screen which will come through in your recorded videos, if it wobbles.
Pretty mediocre. It’s not good in low lighting producing a blurry image. The images appear soft even under good lighting.
Video suffers from the same issue, made worse by the wobbly screen which will come through in your recorded videos, if it wobbles.
-Ports/Slots/Expansion-
There are 2 Thunderbolt 4 (which is USB 4 compatible)/USB-C ports and a full-sized HDMI 2.0 port on the left side of the laptop. Either of the 2 Thunderbolt 4/USB-C ports can be used for power.
There are 2 Thunderbolt 4 (which is USB 4 compatible)/USB-C ports and a full-sized HDMI 2.0 port on the left side of the laptop. Either of the 2 Thunderbolt 4/USB-C ports can be used for power.
On the right is a 3.5 mm audio in/out combo jack, a USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, and a microSD slot.
It’s a shame there isn’t a USB-C port on the right side because then you’d be able to charge the laptop from either side. Since I’m right-handed, I also found it inconvenient to plug in USB-C cables. I have to be careful that I don’t scratch the laptop trying to find the port with my left hand.
It’s a shame there isn’t a USB-C port on the right side because then you’d be able to charge the laptop from either side. Since I’m right-handed, I also found it inconvenient to plug in USB-C cables. I have to be careful that I don’t scratch the laptop trying to find the port with my left hand.
It's not HDMI 2.1 so 8K resolution is not supported, nor will any other future technologies that require 2.1.
The microSD reader is a spring-loaded push slot. When a card is inserted, nothing protrudes out of the laptop. It sits completely flush.
I think I was a poor decision to go with microSD instead of a full sized SD because most creators with high end cameras use SD cards. You can easily use a microSD to SD adapter, which some microSD cards tend to include for free and leave it inside the laptop if you mainly use microSD.
The microSD card reader doesn’t appear to be capped, as I was getting max UHS-I read and write speeds with my SanDisk Extreme microSD card.
The bottom of the laptop is a cover that can be unscrewed. The screws are underneath the rubber feet.
With the cover off you’ll have access to the inside of the laptop where you’ll find 2 m.2 slots; one with the included 1TB SSD, and the other is empty.
With the cover off you’ll have access to the inside of the laptop where you’ll find 2 m.2 slots; one with the included 1TB SSD, and the other is empty.
RAM is NOT expandable.
-Battery/Power-
On a set 120Hz refresh rate with HDR on, with web browsing, MS Word, and light video watching (less than 30 minutes total) I got a screen on time of about 4 hours.
On a set 120Hz refresh rate with HDR on, with web browsing, MS Word, and light video watching (less than 30 minutes total) I got a screen on time of about 4 hours.
On 60Hz, HDR off, I got 6 hours of screen on time.
It comes with a 100W USB-C charger. Thanks to it being USB-C, you’re not tied to proprietary chargers. In fact, I was able to charge with my 65W charger while working. It just charges slower than the stock 100W.
Charging the laptop from 0% to 100% took me 1 hour, 14 minutes.
One huge problem is, the charger isn’t powerful enough to charge the laptop when used in High Performance Mode. So the battery will always drain when you’re trying to use the laptop to its full potential, particularly with gaming, which uses the discrete GPU. It’s expected as Samsung warns you about battery drain in High Performance mode in its Settings.
-Performance-
It uses the latest generation of Intel’s processors, a 13th Gen i7-13700H.
The 1TB SSD is plenty fast with sequential reads of 6600 MB/s and sequential writes of 4900 MB/s.
Startup time from power off to Windows desktop-
using power button: 16 seconds.
lifting the lid with Auto booting on: 18 seconds.
It uses the latest generation of Intel’s processors, a 13th Gen i7-13700H.
The 1TB SSD is plenty fast with sequential reads of 6600 MB/s and sequential writes of 4900 MB/s.
Startup time from power off to Windows desktop-
using power button: 16 seconds.
lifting the lid with Auto booting on: 18 seconds.
Surprisingly I never felt any performance drop from thermal throttling, even while gaming in High Performance mode with maximum settings.
Loading Photoshop and Premiere Pro both took 7 seconds each.
Working with both was a breeze with no slow down. With Premiere Pro, I always found it useful to change the Performance Mode (accessible via the Quick Settings icon in the system tray) to High Performance when exporting because it does shorten the time to complete.
Loading Photoshop and Premiere Pro both took 7 seconds each.
Working with both was a breeze with no slow down. With Premiere Pro, I always found it useful to change the Performance Mode (accessible via the Quick Settings icon in the system tray) to High Performance when exporting because it does shorten the time to complete.
Gaming was the complete surprise. I was able to run Shadow of the Tomb Raider with its highest preset setting in its native 3k resolution and still get over 60fps frame rates. In fact, I’m able to get 60fps with the game in near max custom settings.
The huge caveat is gaming needs to be played on High Performance mode to get the best settings. On Optimized, it’s 1080p gaming. And on battery it’s 720 with the lowest settings. This laptop was not meant for graphically demanding games to be played on battery.
While playing Shadow of the Tomb Raider on max settings plugged into power, I got about 10%-15% battery drain per hour.
The huge caveat is gaming needs to be played on High Performance mode to get the best settings. On Optimized, it’s 1080p gaming. And on battery it’s 720 with the lowest settings. This laptop was not meant for graphically demanding games to be played on battery.
While playing Shadow of the Tomb Raider on max settings plugged into power, I got about 10%-15% battery drain per hour.
-Samsung features/software-
The only real bloatware preinstalled is McAfee. The rest is Samsung software where bloatware is subjective. The problem is a lot of Samsung’s apps don’t offer a uniform experience and are inferior versions of their Android counterpart.
The only real bloatware preinstalled is McAfee. The rest is Samsung software where bloatware is subjective. The problem is a lot of Samsung’s apps don’t offer a uniform experience and are inferior versions of their Android counterpart.
Bixby cannot open all apps the way the Android version can. It recognizes Photoshop but won’t open it when I tell it too. It won’t enable/disable Dolby Atmos. There are no Routines.
Samsung Studio Plus can add audio and stickers (which include your own images) to videos. You can crop and resize videos.
Samsung Notes is the familiar app you’d find on Samsung’s Android devices. Only now you can access your notes on your laptop since they sync.
Samsung Pass only works with Chromium-based browsers, so no Firefox or Windows apps.
If you have a Samsung phone or tablet, you use the following:
Quick Share allows you to send files wirelessly over WiFi. It’s Samsung’s version of AirDrop and works seamlessly as long as the Quick Share app is logged into your Samsung account. If it’s not logged in, Samsung phones can still find the Book3 Ultra, but you’ll need accept a prompt with a PIN number that shows up on the laptop to confirm it’s the same PIN on your Samsung mobile device. It’s SO much better than transferring files over Bluetooth, which is dreadfully slow.
Quick Share allows you to send files wirelessly over WiFi. It’s Samsung’s version of AirDrop and works seamlessly as long as the Quick Share app is logged into your Samsung account. If it’s not logged in, Samsung phones can still find the Book3 Ultra, but you’ll need accept a prompt with a PIN number that shows up on the laptop to confirm it’s the same PIN on your Samsung mobile device. It’s SO much better than transferring files over Bluetooth, which is dreadfully slow.
Multi control allows you to connect to your Samsung phone and/or tablet and control them with your laptop as if they were additional screens. After you connect, you’re given the option to arrange the devices as if they were monitors. You can drag and drop files to and from your laptop and connected Samsung phone/tablet.
All in all, the Book3 Ultra is a powerful laptop not held back by throttling and best for users with a Samsung phone and/or tablet. Just bear in mind that in High Performance mode the charger won’t be able to hold a charge.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The high-performance USB4 multi-port hub incorporates the latest USB4 controller from Intel, offering compatibility with Thunderbolt and older USB specifications. With up to 20Gbps of throughput, dynamic data, and display bandwidth allocation for efficient display data flow, you can easily create a dual-monitor setup. Enjoy up to 4K resolution using DisplayPort, HDMI, or USB-C and access data faster without affecting system performance. Additionally, it has two USB SuperSpeed+ 10Gbps ports (1 USB-C and 1 Type-A) for charging or connecting peripherals. It is also equipped with a USB-C Power Delivery port to charge your laptop and power your connected devices with up to 85W pass-through power.
Customer Rating
3
Good companion for 2 monitor setup but has limits
on January 6, 2023
Posted by: KusMoG
At 3.8 oz and 5"(L)x2"(W)x0.5"(H) it's lightweight and compact enough for a laptop on the go in need of a multi-monitor setup. Just be aware that you will need either a USB 4 port, a Thunderbolt 4 port, OR a Thunderbolt 3 port in order for this hub to work.
There are vents behind each port, and the casing itself appears to be made of aluminum, which is great because if you push the hub to its limits (e.g. transferring large amounts of data over a long period of time) it will get warm. I can't tell if there are heatsinks inside but it never got too hot to touch during my testing. Just be aware that the hub will generate heat with use.
***If you are using it on a desktop PC, review your motherboard's Thunderbolt 4 capabilities: you MAY need to use a Displayport cable to connect the DisplayPort in to your graphics card's DisplayPort out in order to drive a display from the port.
I was able to drive one 4k monitor at 60Hz using the hub just fine with no lag or any other issues.
I was also able to drive a 1080p HDMI monitor at 60Hz.
I was also able to drive a 1080p HDMI monitor at 60Hz.
I wasn't able to drive 2 monitors (one monitor connect to DP, another connected to HDMI) at once using the hub though despite using a Thunderbolt 4 port and additional power by connecting the hub's "Power In" port to my second Thunderbolt 4 port with a power delivery capable USB cable. And that's why I'm taking away 2 stars.
As a USB data hub, you'll find a USB 3.2 10Gbps Type A connector port, and a USB 4 Type C connector port which is capped at 10Gbps. So you will NOT get full USB 4 speeds (40Gbps) with this hub. It seems like it was designed to be a display hub first and foremost.
If you're aware of its limits, j5create's USB4 hub is a good companion for your multi-monitor needs, particularly on the go. However, my inability to drive 2 monitors at once left much to be desired, and with USB4's large bandwidth capabilities, I'm sure there are other hubs that can or will be able to do this.
And while the 10Gbps cap for the data ports is fine for now, I question its ability of being future-proof as the USB4 standard begins to become the mainstream norm.
And while the 10Gbps cap for the data ports is fine for now, I question its ability of being future-proof as the USB4 standard begins to become the mainstream norm.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Meta Quest Pro is a virtual reality system that unlocks new perspectives into how we work, create, and collaborate, so you can go beyond what was previously possible. A completely reimagined headset is slimmer and more well-balanced for long-lasting comfort. Breakthrough high resolution mixed reality passthrough uses full-color sensors to let you see and engage with the physical world around you–even as you connect, work and play in virtual spaces. Multiple room-sized displays let you skip between tasks to get more done, more easily. Connect better with friends or collaborate with peers like never before with real-time avatar expressions that mirror your authentic facial reactions. Intuitive, redesigned controllers dispense with tracking rings, using self-tracking cameras to capture a greater range of motion and fine motor controls to translate detailed finger operations like writing and drawing into VR. Advanced multi-point haptic feedback makes virtual interactions feel more real. Meta Quest is for ages 13+. Certain apps, games, and experiences may be higher.
Customer Rating
3
A high quality Quest 2. But is that what you want?
on November 2, 2022
Posted by: KusMoG
Pros:
-Build Quality and design of headset and controllers
-Comfortable
-Slim, portable charging dock
-Sharper display and colors with a slightly better horizontal field of view
-Passthrough camera is now in color
-Build Quality and design of headset and controllers
-Comfortable
-Slim, portable charging dock
-Sharper display and colors with a slightly better horizontal field of view
-Passthrough camera is now in color
Cons:
-Very poor image quality from color passthrough, unable to read off of backlit digital displays
-No network storage support (eg. Samba)
-Lack of standalone business and productivity apps
-Very poor image quality from color passthrough, unable to read off of backlit digital displays
-No network storage support (eg. Samba)
-Lack of standalone business and productivity apps
The Quest Pro is a good looking piece of kit. It’s an unassuming matte black, aside from the front of the headset, which is glossy. The build feels solid and premium, especially the Pro controllers.
The Pro controllers feel nice in the hands and the buttons are responsive and relatively quiet, including the trigger buttons. They’re a lot better than the Quest 2 controllers. They’re able to track independently so they don’t need to be in the line of sight of the headset. You can replace the strap with included nibs for use with apps that support it for better precision.
The Pro controllers feel nice in the hands and the buttons are responsive and relatively quiet, including the trigger buttons. They’re a lot better than the Quest 2 controllers. They’re able to track independently so they don’t need to be in the line of sight of the headset. You can replace the strap with included nibs for use with apps that support it for better precision.
The headset wears comfortably as long as you don’t tighten the fit too tight. Otherwise the pressure of the wear is felt mostly on your forehead. There is an ample amount of cushioning from what feels like faux leather to me.
Unlike the Quest 2, which had only 3 preset IPD distances, the Quest Pro has continuous IPD adjustment from the range of 55-75mm. Instead of using a glasses separator like the Quest 2, the Quest Pro has a dial in front of the headset which allows you to adjust how near or far lens are from your face, which allows spacing for glasses. There’s no dioptric adjuster like with the GearVR or binoculars, so if you wear glasses, you’ll need them when wearing the headset.
It comes with a USB-C charging dock which is surprisingly slim and lightweight, so it’s portable. It’s about 1.75” at its thickest but mostly ¾" inch thick elsewhere. The dock charges both the headset and the controllers. And because it’s powered through a USB-C port, you don’t need proprietary cables or chargers. The controllers connect to the dock magnetically, while the headset doesn’t.
Setup is simple and straightforward. If you’ve owned a Quest 2, it is exactly like that.
In fact, the whole operating system is just like the Quest 2. You’re just running it on Quest Pro hardware.
With that said, out of the box it isn’t traditionally suited for enterprise use. There’s no way to centrally manage the device or provision them for deployment. No biometric security, despite having facial recognition cameras. No network drive support. No external USB storage support.
There is also no way to organize files or the apps you’ve downloaded. Any app you’ve downloaded will permanently remain visible in your library, regardless of whether it is installed or not.
The Quest operating system is best suited for VR gaming and entertainment.
You can however, multitask by opening up to 3 different 2D windows or apps at once.
In fact, the whole operating system is just like the Quest 2. You’re just running it on Quest Pro hardware.
With that said, out of the box it isn’t traditionally suited for enterprise use. There’s no way to centrally manage the device or provision them for deployment. No biometric security, despite having facial recognition cameras. No network drive support. No external USB storage support.
There is also no way to organize files or the apps you’ve downloaded. Any app you’ve downloaded will permanently remain visible in your library, regardless of whether it is installed or not.
The Quest operating system is best suited for VR gaming and entertainment.
You can however, multitask by opening up to 3 different 2D windows or apps at once.
The Quest Pro has a color passthrough camera, which appears to be a black and white camera with a color overlay. At times, I can see part of the visuals in black and white. The quality of this camera is unfortunately similar to that of the Quest 2’s. The only noticeable difference is that it’s in color. There’s a lot of noise, which results in things appearing blurry. It makes it tough to read things in the real world, making the Quest Pro a very poor Mixed Reality device. You also can’t read anything from a backlit screen because it produces a glare when seen from the Quest Pro. So you can’t see what's on your monitor, smartphone, or TV, among other things.
The visuals are what shine with the Quest Pro, and I believe it’s due to the pancake optics. Compared to the Quest 2, you get a slightly better horizontal field of view (no change with vertical though), and the colors look more robust on the Quest Pro. It is so much easier to find the sweet spot of the display when putting on the headset than it was with the Quest 2. The visuals are also slightly sharper despite having roughly the same resolution as the Quest 2. But that’s another problem with the Quest Pro. There’s no improvement in resolution. So when you’re multitasking with multiple windows on the Quest Pro, everything still looks soft, and the edges look jagged, despite text being legible. It can make working on it an uncomfortable experience. By no means would it ever be a desktop replacement for me.
While it disappoints me in work, with gaming it’s a welcome improvement over the Quest 2. Since the headset doesn’t apply pressure to my face, I can wear it for a longer period of time comfortably. The controllers feel like a high-end gaming console’s controllers. And the visuals in games pop a bit better than the Quest 2.
Unfortunately, the battery only lasts about 2 hours from my tests. I read that Meta suggested it was 1 to 2 hours but I was never able to get it to be as bad as 1 hour.
The Quest Pro has a USB-C port located on the left side of the headset that you can charge or transfer data from. Or you can charge the headset on the included dock. Both methods will take 1.5 hours to charge the headset from 0% to 100%, using the included 45W charging adapter.
The controllers take 3 hours and 8 minutes to charge from 0% to 100%.
The Quest Pro has a USB-C port located on the left side of the headset that you can charge or transfer data from. Or you can charge the headset on the included dock. Both methods will take 1.5 hours to charge the headset from 0% to 100%, using the included 45W charging adapter.
The controllers take 3 hours and 8 minutes to charge from 0% to 100%.
There are facial recognition cameras that can capture your facial expressions for your avatar to display. However, this feature along with other biometric features such as hand tracking, are turned off by default for privacy concerns. At the moment, with the lack of apps supporting it, I find it more of a novelty. It also makes for an awkward experience as an early adopter as the other people you collaborate with will need a Quest Pro also to be able to have the facial expression feature.
While the Quest Pro supposedly has a 50% better processor than the Quest Pro, I haven’t been able to notice its benefits. All the apps made for Quest were designed for the Quest 2 or earlier headsets.
Besides that, I’ve found that the Quest Pro still struggles with loading pages quickly with the native Meta Quest Browser. The browser also isn’t supported by some websites, making it difficult to work from as a true standalone device. I couldn’t find anything in the options to sign into VPN.
Besides that, I’ve found that the Quest Pro still struggles with loading pages quickly with the native Meta Quest Browser. The browser also isn’t supported by some websites, making it difficult to work from as a true standalone device. I couldn’t find anything in the options to sign into VPN.
The native file manager is barebones and has no access to the local network via Samba or anything of the sort. There is no native option to access popular 3rd party cloud storage, such as Google Drive or Dropbox. It only allows cloud syncing with Meta.
Unfortunately, almost everything I loved about the Quest Pro I could already do with the Quest 2. I don’t think the better comfort and the premium controllers justify the additional cost, especially when I take into account pricey features like facial recognition, which doesn’t have real practical use at this stage.
Meta set such a low bar with its color passthrough camera, which was absolutely critical for the Mixed Reality experience on it to be worth anything while. But instead it settles for mediocre visuals.
Meta set such a low bar with its color passthrough camera, which was absolutely critical for the Mixed Reality experience on it to be worth anything while. But instead it settles for mediocre visuals.
Because of that, I can’t with good conscience recommend buying the Quest Pro. Not right now.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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+12points
12of 12voted this as helpful.
Take on your ultimate adventure with Galaxy Watch5 Pro¹. It’s our most advanced outdoor watch yet, featuring a 2x stronger⁵ Sapphire Crystal Glass display. Power through intense activities, even with GPS on, with a long-lasting battery. Stay on the right trail even in unfamiliar terrain thanks to voice or vibration guided turn-by-turn navigation⁹. Push your body further with accurate sensors that help keep a closer eye on your heart rate³, and BIA² measurements that help you track your physique. Get the rest you need to stay energized on your journeys with Advanced Sleep Coaching¹. Look sharp on every expedition with bands and watch faces that you can match to any outfit. Plus, pair your watch with the rest of your Galaxy for a connected network of devices that work together to help go stronger and harder than ever before. Whether you’re hiking, kayaking⁴ or camping, get ready to take it to the extreme with Galaxy Watch5 Pro.
Customer Rating
3
Nothing Pro about it. It's a Galaxy Watch5 Plus.
on September 6, 2022
Posted by: KusMoG
It's called the Galaxy Watch5 Pro, but I feel like it's a marketing gimmick to broaden the potential market for it. Using Samsung's own naming conventions, I would call it the Galaxy Watch 5 Plus, or Galaxy Watch5 Ultra if I'm being generous.
Battery
Its standout feature for the average user is its larger battery, which delivers on battery life.
With Always On Display on, Wi-Fi on, Bluetooth on, heart rate measured every 10 minutes, An hour of streaming video played via the Samsung Internet app, Internet browsing, notifications, sleep tracking with snore detection on, using the flashlight a few times, several hours of GPS use (if I had to guess I'd say 3 hours), and 1 hour of working out on the elliptical, I got 2 days and 10 hours of battery life, enough to get 3 nights of sleep tracking because I started wearing it in the evening that I got the watch. So that was night 1. Then I was able to sleep with it for the next 2 nights. The 3rd night was a close call because the watch warned me that my watch won't last the night to sleep track. It was wrong.
Its standout feature for the average user is its larger battery, which delivers on battery life.
With Always On Display on, Wi-Fi on, Bluetooth on, heart rate measured every 10 minutes, An hour of streaming video played via the Samsung Internet app, Internet browsing, notifications, sleep tracking with snore detection on, using the flashlight a few times, several hours of GPS use (if I had to guess I'd say 3 hours), and 1 hour of working out on the elliptical, I got 2 days and 10 hours of battery life, enough to get 3 nights of sleep tracking because I started wearing it in the evening that I got the watch. So that was night 1. Then I was able to sleep with it for the next 2 nights. The 3rd night was a close call because the watch warned me that my watch won't last the night to sleep track. It was wrong.
With normal use: Always On Display off, Wi-Fi on, Bluetooth on, heart rate measured every 10 minutes, no streaming video, light internet browsing (checking up on US Open scores), GPS use (about 3 hours), and 1 hour of working out on the elliptical, I got 2 days and 23 hours.
So I would say it's safe to use intensively to still last you the day without the slightest worry of needing a charge.
Charging the watch takes a little over one hour using the stock charging puck.
However, charging it with the Samsung Duo charger takes about 4 hours. Evidently, the Duo charger doesn't take advantage of the Watch5 Pro's fast charging.
My Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra's reverse charging also charges at the pace of 4 hours for a full charge.
However, charging it with the Samsung Duo charger takes about 4 hours. Evidently, the Duo charger doesn't take advantage of the Watch5 Pro's fast charging.
My Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra's reverse charging also charges at the pace of 4 hours for a full charge.
Unfortunately, the Watch5 Pro's included watch band, the sports D-band, doesn't play nice with wide/long chargers because of its no-gap style that won't allow the watch to lay flat near the Watch5 Pro itself. The D-band also doesn't opento expose the bottom of the watch like a traditional band. Think of a Rolex watch band. It only opens via the clasp. You can't really push the band aside to expose the bottom of the watch to charge because the material is too stiff.
Style and comfort
It looks a lot like the Galaxy Watch5 (and Watch4 for that matter) expect that it's thicker, with a raised capacitive bezel. It kind of reminds me of a wrist compass.
I think if you're comfortable with wearing G-Shock watches, the thickness of the Galaxy Watch5 Pro will be no problem for you whatsoever. It looks worse in pictures than it actually is on your wrist, however it's going to look awkward on small wrists. Surprisingly, it doesn't feel as heavy as you'd think it would. Opting for titanium over stainless steel surely helped with that. I added a plastic case over the Watch5 Pro and it still doesn't feel that heavy to me.
I had no issues sleeping with it like others have, so your mileage may vary.
I found the sports D-band too bulky and restrictive to my liking. It feels comfortable, but I guess the magnet adds weight, and it's very inconvenient to adjust the size on the fly since it's designed to set it up to a fixed size similar to the typical d-band style watch band with metal links.
Fortunately, you can replace the watch band with most 20mm watch bands.
It looks a lot like the Galaxy Watch5 (and Watch4 for that matter) expect that it's thicker, with a raised capacitive bezel. It kind of reminds me of a wrist compass.
I think if you're comfortable with wearing G-Shock watches, the thickness of the Galaxy Watch5 Pro will be no problem for you whatsoever. It looks worse in pictures than it actually is on your wrist, however it's going to look awkward on small wrists. Surprisingly, it doesn't feel as heavy as you'd think it would. Opting for titanium over stainless steel surely helped with that. I added a plastic case over the Watch5 Pro and it still doesn't feel that heavy to me.
I had no issues sleeping with it like others have, so your mileage may vary.
I found the sports D-band too bulky and restrictive to my liking. It feels comfortable, but I guess the magnet adds weight, and it's very inconvenient to adjust the size on the fly since it's designed to set it up to a fixed size similar to the typical d-band style watch band with metal links.
Fortunately, you can replace the watch band with most 20mm watch bands.
Durability
Unlike the regular Watch5 which has an aluminum body, the Watch5 Pro uses a titanium body so it's more durable. I accidentally brushed my Watch5 Pro against the metal door handle at a Planet Fitness as I was exiting and I panicked. But when I checked my watch, there were no scratches. So it survived that test. Like the regular Watch5, it also uses a sapphire crystal display. After a week's use I haven't found any scratches on it. The raised bezel prevents it from being a point of accidental contact.
I have found the display to be kind of a fingerprint magnet though.
Unlike the regular Watch5 which has an aluminum body, the Watch5 Pro uses a titanium body so it's more durable. I accidentally brushed my Watch5 Pro against the metal door handle at a Planet Fitness as I was exiting and I panicked. But when I checked my watch, there were no scratches. So it survived that test. Like the regular Watch5, it also uses a sapphire crystal display. After a week's use I haven't found any scratches on it. The raised bezel prevents it from being a point of accidental contact.
I have found the display to be kind of a fingerprint magnet though.
Software
The Watch 5 Pro comes with One UI version 4.5 which is based on WearOS 3.5, the latest iteration of both.
Google Assistant comes preinstalled, but Samsung's own Bixby is still available. You can configure the top button's press and hold function to be assigned to either.
Google Maps can give you turn-by-turn navigation but only via driving, walking, or cycling. Transit directions are still notably absent and will need to be done from your phone to appear on the Watch5 Pro.
Many watchfaces allow the use of "complications" which are like widgets. For example, I use Samsung's My Photo+ watchface where not only do I use my own pictures, but I have the Battery %, Timer, Date and Weather, and Alarm complications set up. If I want to start a timer, I tap on the timer complication on my watchface and set the timer. Then on my watchface I can see the timer counting down in real time. The same goes with my alarm. I can set it up from my watchface then see the countdown from my watchface. It's extremely convenient.
The Watch 5 Pro comes with One UI version 4.5 which is based on WearOS 3.5, the latest iteration of both.
Google Assistant comes preinstalled, but Samsung's own Bixby is still available. You can configure the top button's press and hold function to be assigned to either.
Google Maps can give you turn-by-turn navigation but only via driving, walking, or cycling. Transit directions are still notably absent and will need to be done from your phone to appear on the Watch5 Pro.
Many watchfaces allow the use of "complications" which are like widgets. For example, I use Samsung's My Photo+ watchface where not only do I use my own pictures, but I have the Battery %, Timer, Date and Weather, and Alarm complications set up. If I want to start a timer, I tap on the timer complication on my watchface and set the timer. Then on my watchface I can see the timer counting down in real time. The same goes with my alarm. I can set it up from my watchface then see the countdown from my watchface. It's extremely convenient.
Health tracking
It has everything the Watch 4 had: ECG, Stress, Body Composition. And it also still doesn't have blood pressure in the US.
It can track your heart rate continously, where you can see what your current heart rate is in real time from the watch's heart rate panel, but you can't see the real time measurements graphed in the Samsung Health app. Instead it will show the range of your heart rate over a period of time.
There is a temperature sensor on the Watch 5 series, but it hasn't been enabled yet. There is no word or even the slightest hint of when this feature will be enabled. It may be enabled close to the release of the Galaxy Watch 5's successor, the way Google Assistant became available on the Watch 4 short months before the announcement of the Watch 5.
It has everything the Watch 4 had: ECG, Stress, Body Composition. And it also still doesn't have blood pressure in the US.
It can track your heart rate continously, where you can see what your current heart rate is in real time from the watch's heart rate panel, but you can't see the real time measurements graphed in the Samsung Health app. Instead it will show the range of your heart rate over a period of time.
There is a temperature sensor on the Watch 5 series, but it hasn't been enabled yet. There is no word or even the slightest hint of when this feature will be enabled. It may be enabled close to the release of the Galaxy Watch 5's successor, the way Google Assistant became available on the Watch 4 short months before the announcement of the Watch 5.
"Pro" features
So aside from the larger battery, the features Samsung sets aside exclusively for the Watch 5 Pro to label it "Pro" are:
-Routes: where you upload a GPX file of your route for turn-by-turn navigation. It explains the easiest way to upload a GPX file, which is to get it from your previous hikes or cycling tracked exercises from the Samsung Health app. So you will have to have gone through the route previously. But there are other ways to get a GPX file. You'll want to research that on your own because I won't have enough space in this review to explain them.
-Track back: which is basically an extension of Routes. It's only available on the Hiking and Cycling exercises, and accessible from the exercise's options (gear icon) after you start the exercise. You won't want to start Track back until you reach the point in your route where it's time for you to turn back to your starting point.
My issue with this is that it's like the crumbs of Hansel and Gretel, it will give you the same route you took to get there but in reverse. So if you were cycling in one-way traffic, this feature can be useless.
And that's it.
These are very niche features, and for the more seasoned adventurer, these Pro features may be lacking compared to the competition that were designed for the outdoors with longer battery life than the Watch 5 Pro.
So aside from the larger battery, the features Samsung sets aside exclusively for the Watch 5 Pro to label it "Pro" are:
-Routes: where you upload a GPX file of your route for turn-by-turn navigation. It explains the easiest way to upload a GPX file, which is to get it from your previous hikes or cycling tracked exercises from the Samsung Health app. So you will have to have gone through the route previously. But there are other ways to get a GPX file. You'll want to research that on your own because I won't have enough space in this review to explain them.
-Track back: which is basically an extension of Routes. It's only available on the Hiking and Cycling exercises, and accessible from the exercise's options (gear icon) after you start the exercise. You won't want to start Track back until you reach the point in your route where it's time for you to turn back to your starting point.
My issue with this is that it's like the crumbs of Hansel and Gretel, it will give you the same route you took to get there but in reverse. So if you were cycling in one-way traffic, this feature can be useless.
And that's it.
These are very niche features, and for the more seasoned adventurer, these Pro features may be lacking compared to the competition that were designed for the outdoors with longer battery life than the Watch 5 Pro.
There's just way too little from the Watch 5 Pro to differentiate itself to be called a "Pro". Everything I love about the Watch5 Pro is available on the regular version. The biggest distinguisable feature is the longer lasting battery.
It all comes down to your use case. If battery life was a problem for you with a smartwatch, the Watch5 Pro is definitely for you, and if you don't mind its thicker look, you'll love it. But for everyone else skip the Watch5 Pro. The Watch6 should have the worthy features to differentiate it from the standard Watch5 because the Watch5 Pro doesn't.
It all comes down to your use case. If battery life was a problem for you with a smartwatch, the Watch5 Pro is definitely for you, and if you don't mind its thicker look, you'll love it. But for everyone else skip the Watch5 Pro. The Watch6 should have the worthy features to differentiate it from the standard Watch5 because the Watch5 Pro doesn't.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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-2points
0of 2voted this as helpful.
Hearing is believing. Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro pack a studio-worthy listening experience into our most comfortable design yet —wear them as long as you want. Stimulate your senses with enhanced 360 Audio that surrounds you in your favorite beats like never before. Feel every note like you’re there with Hi-Fi sound quality. Stay focused on the sounds you love with Intelligent Active Noise Cancellation that quiets even the loudest outside sounds. Work out worry-free with moisture resistance that stands up to rain. Pair your Buds2 Pro with the rest of your Galaxy for new ways to enjoy pro-quality sound wherever you happen to be. Whether it’s a podcast, a call or your favorite playlist, listen blissfully with Galaxy Buds2 Pro. Now you can hear translations through your Buds while on calls or during face-to-face conversations
Customer Rating
4
1 of the best earbuds, but bad Samsung multi-point
on August 28, 2022
Posted by: KusMoG
Pros:
Comfortable fit
Understated but attractive design
Great sound quality even at 16 bit
Louder than the average wireless earbuds
Good ANC
Clean yet thumping bass
Earbuds can play independent from one another
Comfortable fit
Understated but attractive design
Great sound quality even at 16 bit
Louder than the average wireless earbuds
Good ANC
Clean yet thumping bass
Earbuds can play independent from one another
Cons:
Samsung integration
-requires the Wearables app on all devices for full functionality
-buggy "seamless earbud connection"
-Touch controls can be finicky
No custom EQ
Samsung integration
-requires the Wearables app on all devices for full functionality
-buggy "seamless earbud connection"
-Touch controls can be finicky
No custom EQ
Design/Fit
==========
The Buds2 Pro are lightweight and small enough that they don't protrude from my ears very much. The curved outer design allows me to sleep with them on without really hurting my ears. Keep in mind, everyone's ears are different so your mileage may vary.
When I take off my shirt, the Buds2 Pro don't fall out. What does happen though is that the shirt lifts my ears, which interferes with the touch controls.
The medium tips fit me fine, without falling off, and they feel very comfortable.
The matte black is lowkey but very attractive to me. They pair well with anything I wear, for casual or professional setting.
==========
The Buds2 Pro are lightweight and small enough that they don't protrude from my ears very much. The curved outer design allows me to sleep with them on without really hurting my ears. Keep in mind, everyone's ears are different so your mileage may vary.
When I take off my shirt, the Buds2 Pro don't fall out. What does happen though is that the shirt lifts my ears, which interferes with the touch controls.
The medium tips fit me fine, without falling off, and they feel very comfortable.
The matte black is lowkey but very attractive to me. They pair well with anything I wear, for casual or professional setting.
The case was a LOT smaller than I imagined they'd be. They're actually smaller than the case for the wireless earbuds I was previously using, which I thought already had a small case. Turns out the Buds2 Pro's case has them beat.
The problem with the case however is that the magnets that attract the earbuds into the case are not strong at all.
A slight shake while open and upside down will have the buds easily fall out.
The case's magnet that closes its clamshell is strong, however, and requires a bit of force to open. So they won't likely fall out from the case accidentally opening. It's when you're putting them back in the case where it could be an issue.
The problem with the case however is that the magnets that attract the earbuds into the case are not strong at all.
A slight shake while open and upside down will have the buds easily fall out.
The case's magnet that closes its clamshell is strong, however, and requires a bit of force to open. So they won't likely fall out from the case accidentally opening. It's when you're putting them back in the case where it could be an issue.
Battery
=======
Volume was set to a fixed 80 on my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra for all tests.
Surprisingly, Samsung's battery claims are pretty accurate for average battery life.
With my first trial, where I had ANC on but occassionally used ambient mode purposely but mostly accidentally from touching the buds:
right earbud- 4 hours, 42 minutes, 52 seconds
left earbud- 5 hours, 16 minutes
=======
Volume was set to a fixed 80 on my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra for all tests.
Surprisingly, Samsung's battery claims are pretty accurate for average battery life.
With my first trial, where I had ANC on but occassionally used ambient mode purposely but mostly accidentally from touching the buds:
right earbud- 4 hours, 42 minutes, 52 seconds
left earbud- 5 hours, 16 minutes
With my second trial with ANC on but little to no use of ambient mode:
right earbud- 5 hours, 19 minutes
left earbud- 5 hours, 30 minutes, 31 seconds
right earbud- 5 hours, 19 minutes
left earbud- 5 hours, 30 minutes, 31 seconds
I suspect the 1st trial was under the 5 hour claim because of the use of the microphones while under ambient mode.
With ANC off, on my first trial, again with occassional use of ambient:
left earbud- 6 hours, 55 minutes, 21 seconds
I missed recording the right earbud, but they died first.
left earbud- 6 hours, 55 minutes, 21 seconds
I missed recording the right earbud, but they died first.
The second trial with ANC off and touch controls off to prevent accidentally going into ambient:
left earbud- 8 hours, 28 minutes, 32 seconds.
Forgot to record right earbud but they died first and only a little before left.
left earbud- 8 hours, 28 minutes, 32 seconds.
Forgot to record right earbud but they died first and only a little before left.
So the claim of 5 hours ANC and 8 hours ANC off seems pretty fair to me.
Charging
========
The buds themselves charge surprisingly fast inside their case.
In just 10 minutes they went from 0% to 31%.
13 minutes- 40%
21 minutes- 59%
32 minutes- 71%
45 minutes- 82%
Once hits around 82-84% charging slows down to a crawl.
Then it speeds up around 94%.
From 0% to 100% it took me 1 hour and 7 minutes the first time.
It took me 1 hour and 14 minutes the second time.
========
The buds themselves charge surprisingly fast inside their case.
In just 10 minutes they went from 0% to 31%.
13 minutes- 40%
21 minutes- 59%
32 minutes- 71%
45 minutes- 82%
Once hits around 82-84% charging slows down to a crawl.
Then it speeds up around 94%.
From 0% to 100% it took me 1 hour and 7 minutes the first time.
It took me 1 hour and 14 minutes the second time.
The case holds 3 full charges, and for the 4th attempt it will take your buds from 0% to 35%.
While the case charges wirelessly, it doesn't do fast charging.
Wireless charging on Samsung's Duo charger takes about 11 hours, despite it just being 500mAh. For comparison, my S22 Ultra is 5000mAh and charges in about 2-3 hours on the same pad.
Wired charging, which uses USB-C, takes about 90 minutes.
Wireless charging on Samsung's Duo charger takes about 11 hours, despite it just being 500mAh. For comparison, my S22 Ultra is 5000mAh and charges in about 2-3 hours on the same pad.
Wired charging, which uses USB-C, takes about 90 minutes.
Sound
=====
On my S22 Ultra using the Samsung Scalable Codec, my FLAC audio sound amazing! The first thing I noticed is that they're loud. The Buds2 Pro's 80 volume setting is like my Jabra Elite Active 75t's 100. Besides that, at the highest volume they're loud without distorting.
The bass is evident and thumping but unlike some other buds, they don't sound exaggerated. The bass sounds clean with no muddy wamrth.
Sound separation is excellent too.
However I feel that the 24-bit audio may be gimmicky. I downloaded 24 bit audio samples along with 16 bit samples of the same song from the same website and played them with the app PowerAmp. My ears weren't able to tell the difference but they both sounded fabulous.
So while 24-bit audio is a Samsung device only feature, I don't think you're missing out on much with that.
I think a better way of putting it is that non-Samsung devices won't be able to use Samsung's proprietary SSC, which sound great.
=====
On my S22 Ultra using the Samsung Scalable Codec, my FLAC audio sound amazing! The first thing I noticed is that they're loud. The Buds2 Pro's 80 volume setting is like my Jabra Elite Active 75t's 100. Besides that, at the highest volume they're loud without distorting.
The bass is evident and thumping but unlike some other buds, they don't sound exaggerated. The bass sounds clean with no muddy wamrth.
Sound separation is excellent too.
However I feel that the 24-bit audio may be gimmicky. I downloaded 24 bit audio samples along with 16 bit samples of the same song from the same website and played them with the app PowerAmp. My ears weren't able to tell the difference but they both sounded fabulous.
So while 24-bit audio is a Samsung device only feature, I don't think you're missing out on much with that.
I think a better way of putting it is that non-Samsung devices won't be able to use Samsung's proprietary SSC, which sound great.
Playing them on my PC, which I assume uses the SBC codec, the sound was noticeably flatter/less depth.
I think the most important thing about the sound with the Buds2 Pro is that it has a great neutral sound signature.
With the Galaxy Wearables app, you have preset EQs, which cover a wide range of audio taste. The bass boost effectively gives you the exaggerated bass, but without muddiness.
Unfortunately, for the audio-savvy, there is no EQ that you can customize for yourself.
I think the most important thing about the sound with the Buds2 Pro is that it has a great neutral sound signature.
With the Galaxy Wearables app, you have preset EQs, which cover a wide range of audio taste. The bass boost effectively gives you the exaggerated bass, but without muddiness.
Unfortunately, for the audio-savvy, there is no EQ that you can customize for yourself.
I found the 360 audio very gimmicky and don't see any practical use for it with music.
For video, however, if you wanted that simulated 360 audio effect it's there. It just feels like a gimmick since the source audio isn't desgined for 360.
With head tracking on, the audio balance slides according to your head position. Sometimes there is a bit of a delay in tracking your head movement though.
For video, however, if you wanted that simulated 360 audio effect it's there. It just feels like a gimmick since the source audio isn't desgined for 360.
With head tracking on, the audio balance slides according to your head position. Sometimes there is a bit of a delay in tracking your head movement though.
ANC
===
The ANC is great for earbuds. Their main concentration is with low frequency sounds. It does an excellent job blocking out my fan, the AC, and my PC fans.
It's virtually futile with high frequency noises though. Talking, crying, honking can be heard.
On the NYC, I haven't found a single ANC headphones that effectively blocks its noise entirely. With the ceramic tiles amplifying the sounds, the subway is just too loud. But the Buds2 Pro does a great job of blocking the harsh offensive noise. It's dulled significantly. With music on a high volume you can block most of the sound out. Just not Showtime or the mariachi bands though.
===
The ANC is great for earbuds. Their main concentration is with low frequency sounds. It does an excellent job blocking out my fan, the AC, and my PC fans.
It's virtually futile with high frequency noises though. Talking, crying, honking can be heard.
On the NYC, I haven't found a single ANC headphones that effectively blocks its noise entirely. With the ceramic tiles amplifying the sounds, the subway is just too loud. But the Buds2 Pro does a great job of blocking the harsh offensive noise. It's dulled significantly. With music on a high volume you can block most of the sound out. Just not Showtime or the mariachi bands though.
Ambient mode/Speak to chat
==========================
Ambient mode works well when you just want to hear your surroundings as if you weren't wearing the earbuds. However when you start speaking, it can feel a bit uncomfortable. Your voice does sound a bit processed.
==========================
Ambient mode works well when you just want to hear your surroundings as if you weren't wearing the earbuds. However when you start speaking, it can feel a bit uncomfortable. Your voice does sound a bit processed.
Speak to chat works well and immediately but I can't find myself using it because I talk to myself sometimes, as well as like to sing along to music.
Calls
=====
Every call I've tried on them sounded clear from my end. When I asked the person on the other end how I sounded, they said I sounded clear. At no point was there ever any confusion in our conversation. Even with my AC on, the caller on the other end heard me clearly. The buds seemed to have made an attempt at blocking out background noise.
=====
Every call I've tried on them sounded clear from my end. When I asked the person on the other end how I sounded, they said I sounded clear. At no point was there ever any confusion in our conversation. Even with my AC on, the caller on the other end heard me clearly. The buds seemed to have made an attempt at blocking out background noise.
Calls can be made and received by a single earbud without relying on the other, so you can have one still in its case.
Controls
========
Touch controls can be finicky because the buds are small and rounded. If you have bad coordination, it can take some practice find the touch panel to tap. The top edge of the buds is a dead zone. Because they're touch, they're susceptible to accidental presses, sometimes from your own ears. Like if you lay your head against a wall or pillow, it pushes your fleshy ears in and can trigger the touch controls of your buds.
Other than that, the controls are the touch version of controls you'd find for buds with physical buds, bud instead of pressing it's tapping.
Single tap to pause/play.
Double tap for next track.
Triple tap for previous track.
Tap and hold will toggle ANC by default.
========
Touch controls can be finicky because the buds are small and rounded. If you have bad coordination, it can take some practice find the touch panel to tap. The top edge of the buds is a dead zone. Because they're touch, they're susceptible to accidental presses, sometimes from your own ears. Like if you lay your head against a wall or pillow, it pushes your fleshy ears in and can trigger the touch controls of your buds.
Other than that, the controls are the touch version of controls you'd find for buds with physical buds, bud instead of pressing it's tapping.
Single tap to pause/play.
Double tap for next track.
Triple tap for previous track.
Tap and hold will toggle ANC by default.
With the Wearables app, you can customize the touch controls. Tap and hold can be used to control the volume, however if you do that, the functions are fixed to their respective buds: tap and hold left is for volume down, right is for volume up.
Under Labs, the app's beta features, there is "Double tap earbud edge", which you can use for volume command.
However tapping the edge of the earbud itself is very hit or miss, hence why it's a beta feature. As many others on the internet have suggested, I found better success tapping that fleshy triangle part of my ears as my way of tapping the "earbud edge".
However tapping the edge of the earbud itself is very hit or miss, hence why it's a beta feature. As many others on the internet have suggested, I found better success tapping that fleshy triangle part of my ears as my way of tapping the "earbud edge".
Waterproof/Sweatproof
=====================
Waterproofing checks out. I've cleaned my earbuds under a running faucet several times with no issues. Music will still play while in contact with water too. Rest assured it will work perfectly fine if you're caught in the middle of a rain downpair while wearing the Buds2 Pro.
I had no issues with sound while sweating hard during my elliptical workouts. However, the sweat did loosen the seal of my silicone tips. Just not to the point where the buds would fall out. When I shake my head while sweaty on the elliptical, they still won't fall off.
=====================
Waterproofing checks out. I've cleaned my earbuds under a running faucet several times with no issues. Music will still play while in contact with water too. Rest assured it will work perfectly fine if you're caught in the middle of a rain downpair while wearing the Buds2 Pro.
I had no issues with sound while sweating hard during my elliptical workouts. However, the sweat did loosen the seal of my silicone tips. Just not to the point where the buds would fall out. When I shake my head while sweaty on the elliptical, they still won't fall off.
Multi-device
============
This is where the Buds2 Pro stumbles. Seamless connection is only supported by Samsung devices and it doesn't appear to be at a system level. It appears to be dependent on the Galaxy Wearables app. Unlike bluetooth's standard multipoint, Samsung's own method is a lot more buggy. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't. I can't make rhyme or reason as to why it behaves the way it does. When it does work, it works like multipoint, with the added convenience of visual notifications on the device letting you know your device connected to the buds. But it doesn't always work.
Despite not being a Samsung device, a PC can benefit from the seamless connection with Samsung's Galaxy Buds app (download from the Microsoft Store). But it's just as finicky as with my S22 Ultra and Tab S8 Ultra. All top of the line flagship devices. Samsung would've been better off with the standard Bluetooth multipoint. It doesn't have the bells and whistles but at least it works reliably on an Android system level.
============
This is where the Buds2 Pro stumbles. Seamless connection is only supported by Samsung devices and it doesn't appear to be at a system level. It appears to be dependent on the Galaxy Wearables app. Unlike bluetooth's standard multipoint, Samsung's own method is a lot more buggy. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't. I can't make rhyme or reason as to why it behaves the way it does. When it does work, it works like multipoint, with the added convenience of visual notifications on the device letting you know your device connected to the buds. But it doesn't always work.
Despite not being a Samsung device, a PC can benefit from the seamless connection with Samsung's Galaxy Buds app (download from the Microsoft Store). But it's just as finicky as with my S22 Ultra and Tab S8 Ultra. All top of the line flagship devices. Samsung would've been better off with the standard Bluetooth multipoint. It doesn't have the bells and whistles but at least it works reliably on an Android system level.
Loved the Buds2 Pro and would recommend them.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Introducing Logitech MX Master 3S – an iconic mouse remastered. Designed for designers and engineered for coders, now with Quiet Clicks and 8K DPI any-surface tracking for more feel and performance than ever before. It’s ergonomic silhouette is crafted to support your palm and fingers and allows you to work comfortably for hours across multiple computers and operating systems in one fluid workflow. With MX Master 3S, you can truly master what you make.
Customer Rating
5
Very Customizable, Tracks glass, and now Silent!
on June 14, 2022
Posted by: KusMoG
Pros:
-Mouse can be used on virtually any surface, including glass
-Ergonomic; comfortable with any grip
-Very silent
-Pairs with up to 3 devices so you can switch between them (can only use with one device at a time)
-Long battery life
-Very smooth scroll and thumb wheels
-Extremely customizable when used with Logitech's Options+ software
-Logitech Flow allows use of mouse between up to 3 PCs at the same time and copy/paste across them
-8000DPI sensor for quicker movement on high resolution displays
-Mouse can be used on virtually any surface, including glass
-Ergonomic; comfortable with any grip
-Very silent
-Pairs with up to 3 devices so you can switch between them (can only use with one device at a time)
-Long battery life
-Very smooth scroll and thumb wheels
-Extremely customizable when used with Logitech's Options+ software
-Logitech Flow allows use of mouse between up to 3 PCs at the same time and copy/paste across them
-8000DPI sensor for quicker movement on high resolution displays
Questionable Pro:
-Uses Bolt receiver, which supposedly provides a more reliable connection
-Uses Bolt receiver, which supposedly provides a more reliable connection
Cons:
-May be jarring to users of the older MX Master series mice at first due to all the changes they made
-Bolt receiver is not backwards compatible and doesn't support Unifying receiver devices
-145Hz polling rate means it's not made for serious gamers
-Flow only compatible with Windows and MacOS
-(for left-handed people) It's a right-handed mouse
-May be jarring to users of the older MX Master series mice at first due to all the changes they made
-Bolt receiver is not backwards compatible and doesn't support Unifying receiver devices
-145Hz polling rate means it's not made for serious gamers
-Flow only compatible with Windows and MacOS
-(for left-handed people) It's a right-handed mouse
Questionable Con:
-Battery indicator is now just one bigger LED, no longer showing levels
-Battery indicator is now just one bigger LED, no longer showing levels
For some reason in 2022, Logitech appears to be the only brand with mice on the market that tracks on glass. So if you have a glass table to use your mouse on like I do, and don't want to use a mouse pad, Logitech's MX series of mice appear to be your only option. Thankfully, Logitech does an amazing job with the MX Master line making it feel like a premium device that it's worth.
Thanks to its ergonomic design, it never feels uncomfortable using the MX Master 3S. It's tall enough and curved in the right way to allow your hand and fingers to naturally rest on it. The soft rubberized texture of the base provides a comfortable feel. I've used the mouse all day and my wrist never feels tired from it.
What's new to the MX Master 3S that was absent from the Master MX 3 that preceded it are the silent left and right click buttons. What was once the loudest parts of mouse, on the 3S it's now the most quietest. The amazing thing is, it still feels tactile. It doesn't feel mushy or suppressed. You'll feel the click like you always do. It's just A LOT less noisy. The change is so dramatic that you may hate initially, like I did. I wanted a silent mouse, but when I first used the 3S I instantly felt regret and frustration. My brain was so used to expecting a sound when I click that when I didn't with the 3S it felt extremely jarring to me. I think I may have been clicking harder than I needed to out of reflex. Fortunately, within a half hour, maybe an hour at most, I got used to the silent click and wound up falling in love with it like I thought it would. Oh my GOD, I *WISH* I had this 20 years when I was up using a computer during late hours when my parents expected me in bed.
The left/right click buttons aren't the only thing that's gone quieter. The scroll wheel is also a lot more quiet, even in ratchet mode, where the wheel has tactile "steps" when you spin it.
The back/forward side buttons are also relatively quiet.
All in all this mouse seems to be designed to work quietly. The loudest part of the mouse is probably the thumb button.
The left/right click buttons aren't the only thing that's gone quieter. The scroll wheel is also a lot more quiet, even in ratchet mode, where the wheel has tactile "steps" when you spin it.
The back/forward side buttons are also relatively quiet.
All in all this mouse seems to be designed to work quietly. The loudest part of the mouse is probably the thumb button.
None of the buttons feel cheap. They all have a pleasant tactile responsive feel. No soft mushy feel. No sticky feel.
The thumb button is easier to find and on the MX Master 3S than the 2S and older because it has a very slight bump to help feel your way to locating it. It also feels easier to press because there is now a groove on the side of the mouse to allow the button to be pressed deeper. You won't accidentally press it while resting your thumb there because of where the button is placed, in the center of the base of mouse on the left side. It's hard for me to explain. It's not easy to press the button by accident, but it's easy to press the button when you need to.
The thumb button is easier to find and on the MX Master 3S than the 2S and older because it has a very slight bump to help feel your way to locating it. It also feels easier to press because there is now a groove on the side of the mouse to allow the button to be pressed deeper. You won't accidentally press it while resting your thumb there because of where the button is placed, in the center of the base of mouse on the left side. It's hard for me to explain. It's not easy to press the button by accident, but it's easy to press the button when you need to.
There are 2 wheels on the mouse, the scroll wheel in between the left/right click buttons for scrolling with your index finger, and the thumb wheel on the side for scrolling with your thumb. There is no longer the rubberized coating on the wheels but they still have a good feel to them. I like this change as I imagine the wheel will be easier to clean over time as it collects dirt and grime. The rubber from the older versions made it tougher to clean as dirt would stick to it. Now it's just all steel.
The thumb scroll wheel is now placed above the back/forward buttons instead of beside them.
Thanks to this, the thumb scroll wheel is in its own row and the wheel is now wider making it more easier to use than ever before.
The scroll wheel has SmartShift, which automatically switches the scroll wheel from line-by-line scrolling to hyper-fast scrolling when you scroll faster.
Or you can use the Shift wheel mode button below the scroll wheel to switch between Ratchet (tactile steps) and Free spin (no tactile steps) immediately.
The thumb scroll wheel is now placed above the back/forward buttons instead of beside them.
Thanks to this, the thumb scroll wheel is in its own row and the wheel is now wider making it more easier to use than ever before.
The scroll wheel has SmartShift, which automatically switches the scroll wheel from line-by-line scrolling to hyper-fast scrolling when you scroll faster.
Or you can use the Shift wheel mode button below the scroll wheel to switch between Ratchet (tactile steps) and Free spin (no tactile steps) immediately.
With the use of Logitech's Options+ software, the mouse is extremely customizable. Every button on the mouse can be remapped. You can even map buttons for specific applications only, instead of making the changes global.
With Options+ you can also change the speed of both wheels, as well as change the direction of the scrolling of the wheels.
You can also change the pointer speed by changing the sensor range. The range is from 200DPI to 8000DPI by steps of 50 DPI. The default DPI out of the box, and without the Options+ software is 1000DPI. I found 8000DPI way too fast and frenetic for me to be precise with it with my use case, even though I have a 3 monitor setup with 4K monitors, but this may be helpful for others with a more expensive setup like a multi-monitors using 8K monitors which have twice as many pixels, making the average mouse pointer feel slower with the default sensor. The higher DPI sensor would allow the mouse pointer speed to move faster.
The Options+ software is also where you can set up the MX Master 3S with Flow. Flow allows you to use and control multiple computers with Options+ also installed seamlessly. Switch to another computer by simply moving your cursor to the edge of the screen. Flow also allows your to copy and paste content between those computers. However, since Flow is dependent on the Options+ software, it's only compatible with Windows and MacOS. So there is no first-party solution from Logitech for Linux, Android, or iOS.
With Options+ you can also change the speed of both wheels, as well as change the direction of the scrolling of the wheels.
You can also change the pointer speed by changing the sensor range. The range is from 200DPI to 8000DPI by steps of 50 DPI. The default DPI out of the box, and without the Options+ software is 1000DPI. I found 8000DPI way too fast and frenetic for me to be precise with it with my use case, even though I have a 3 monitor setup with 4K monitors, but this may be helpful for others with a more expensive setup like a multi-monitors using 8K monitors which have twice as many pixels, making the average mouse pointer feel slower with the default sensor. The higher DPI sensor would allow the mouse pointer speed to move faster.
The Options+ software is also where you can set up the MX Master 3S with Flow. Flow allows you to use and control multiple computers with Options+ also installed seamlessly. Switch to another computer by simply moving your cursor to the edge of the screen. Flow also allows your to copy and paste content between those computers. However, since Flow is dependent on the Options+ software, it's only compatible with Windows and MacOS. So there is no first-party solution from Logitech for Linux, Android, or iOS.
Whereas "MX" meant the mouse employs Darkfield technology to allow tracking on virtually any surface, the "Master" means the mouse is able to pair with up to 3 devices. With a button found under the mouse, you can switch between those 3 devices. Out of the box, "1" is paired to the included Bolt receiver.
What may comes as unfortunate news to loyal Logitech users is that the Bolt receiver is not compatible with devices that use the older Unifying receiver. First introduced with Logitech's business line of products, it was designed to be more secure and perform better under busy environments that would typically cause interference with the wireless connection. Typically when this happens, users are advised to get a USB extension cable to connect the USB receiver to, so you can bring it closer to the mouse for a more reliable connection. In theory, Bolt should help prevent this. Unfortunately, I'm not in an environment with that kind of interference so I can't test this claim.
What may comes as unfortunate news to loyal Logitech users is that the Bolt receiver is not compatible with devices that use the older Unifying receiver. First introduced with Logitech's business line of products, it was designed to be more secure and perform better under busy environments that would typically cause interference with the wireless connection. Typically when this happens, users are advised to get a USB extension cable to connect the USB receiver to, so you can bring it closer to the mouse for a more reliable connection. In theory, Bolt should help prevent this. Unfortunately, I'm not in an environment with that kind of interference so I can't test this claim.
Logitech claims it has a battery life of *up to* 70 days, carefully wording it so that 70 days is their claim max point. So don't expect 70 days. The reality is, how long it lasts will vary depending on the user and how they use it. For example, with me, I'm on the computer almost all day and night, over 8 hours a day. I haven't owned the 3S long enough to test its battery life in real time to see it go from 100% to 0% but I've seen it lose 10% of battery in my 3 days of use. That would amount to about 30 days, which is the same amount of battery life I got with my MX Master 2S, which Logitech also claimed "up to 70 days". So, if you're a previous MX Master 2S or Master 3 user, expect the same amount of battery life as that. To me, this is very good battery life, as I'm an abnormal user. I spend way too much time on the computer. Perhaps the average user will get 45-50 days out of it. For someone like my mom, who is elderly and not on the computer as much, 70 days is definitely possible. This is thanks to how power efficient the mouse is. It goes into sleep mode after a long period of inactivity. I have never felt the need to power my mouse off.
The mouse charges via USB-C, and Logitech claims 3 minutes of charging will give you about a full day's worth of use.I haven't been able to test this yet because I'm still working with the initial charge that it came with out of the box, which was 45%. In 5 days of use, I've only lost a reported 10%.
That's a notable thing about the battery reporting with the MX Master 3S. You can only see the battery percentage through the Options+ app or bluetooth if you have it connected via bluetooth. And it only reports the battery percentage in intervals of 5%. So the 35% battery I'm seeing now actually means 31% to 35%.
That's a notable thing about the battery reporting with the MX Master 3S. You can only see the battery percentage through the Options+ app or bluetooth if you have it connected via bluetooth. And it only reports the battery percentage in intervals of 5%. So the 35% battery I'm seeing now actually means 31% to 35%.
The battery indicator on the MX Master 3S is just a single LED, albeit larger and easier to see. On the MX 2S and older, there were 3 LEDs so you could see the battery level. With one LED, you can now only see whether the battery is above 10% (green), below 10% (red), or charging (blinking). I honestly don't think this is that bad because when it turns red, that's your reminder to charge it or else it will die. And being in the red with 10% will give you 3 days of extensive usage to do it, which is plenty of time.
For loyal MX Master mouse users coming from the 2S or older, you may be in for a real unpleasant shock from all the changes they've made to the 3S. But give it time and you'll fall in love with it like I did. Bolt is the future, and Unifying will get phased out. Got to start somewhere. 3S is a great start.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The WH-1000XM5 headphones rewrite the rules for distraction-free listening. Two processors control 8 microphones for unprecedented noise canceling and exceptional call quality.
Customer Rating
4
Incredible if you don't mind that they can't fold
on May 31, 2022
Posted by: KusMoG
Pros:
-Rich in features
-Can charge the battery from 0% to 100% in less than an hour with a 45W PD charger.
-Excellent transparency mode
-Lightweight
-Touch panel is more responsive
-Long 30 hour battery life with noise cancelling and high resolution audio (LDAC) on.
-Settings save on the headphones including EQ
-Rich in features
-Can charge the battery from 0% to 100% in less than an hour with a 45W PD charger.
-Excellent transparency mode
-Lightweight
-Touch panel is more responsive
-Long 30 hour battery life with noise cancelling and high resolution audio (LDAC) on.
-Settings save on the headphones including EQ
Cons:
-No longer collapses to smaller size
-No wind reduction ambient mode
-plastic construction still prone to creaking
The XM5s are an addition to Sony’s 1000X line of headphones with 2 undeniable improvements over its previous generations and those are its microphones and its battery charging capabilities.
The rest are pretty subjective when compared to its previous iteration, the WH-1000XM4, which is a good thing that Sony is still keeping this model in the market.
-No longer collapses to smaller size
-No wind reduction ambient mode
-plastic construction still prone to creaking
The XM5s are an addition to Sony’s 1000X line of headphones with 2 undeniable improvements over its previous generations and those are its microphones and its battery charging capabilities.
The rest are pretty subjective when compared to its previous iteration, the WH-1000XM4, which is a good thing that Sony is still keeping this model in the market.
CONSTRUCTION/DESIGN:
It’s still made of the plastic similar, if not the same, as the XM4. Unfortunately, I’ve found this material to be prone to creaking ever since the XM3. After 5 days of wear my once silent XM5 began creaking whenever I move around while wearing them. It did go away 2 days later, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it returned.
The black version of the XM5 is prone to showing fingerprint stains a lot more easily than previous versions.
The cushioning is made of a different material from previous generations that feels more comfortable on the skin; smoother, less abrasive. The size of the cushion is less thick than the XM4 but I didn’t find it less comfortable. They still sweat up the ears on a warm day or after extended continuous use.
The headphones’ length adjustment is via stepless plastic rods so you’ll no longer hear clicks when adjusting them.
Unfortunately, the ear cups no longer collapse to a smaller size for portability.
They’ll still swivel, but when rested around your neck, the ear cups will swivel facing up.
The proximity sensor is no longer visible but it’s still there in the left ear cup.
The XM5s do not have any water or sweat resistance, and the included written materials advise users not to work out with them.
It’s still made of the plastic similar, if not the same, as the XM4. Unfortunately, I’ve found this material to be prone to creaking ever since the XM3. After 5 days of wear my once silent XM5 began creaking whenever I move around while wearing them. It did go away 2 days later, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it returned.
The black version of the XM5 is prone to showing fingerprint stains a lot more easily than previous versions.
The cushioning is made of a different material from previous generations that feels more comfortable on the skin; smoother, less abrasive. The size of the cushion is less thick than the XM4 but I didn’t find it less comfortable. They still sweat up the ears on a warm day or after extended continuous use.
The headphones’ length adjustment is via stepless plastic rods so you’ll no longer hear clicks when adjusting them.
Unfortunately, the ear cups no longer collapse to a smaller size for portability.
They’ll still swivel, but when rested around your neck, the ear cups will swivel facing up.
The proximity sensor is no longer visible but it’s still there in the left ear cup.
The XM5s do not have any water or sweat resistance, and the included written materials advise users not to work out with them.
SOUND:
The XM5’s sound is easily the most balanced since the XM2 going away from the bass-heavy and generally muddy sounds of the XM4 and especially the XM3, without losing much of the punchiness. It’s a cleaner-sounding bass. The default sound is Sony’s typical warm sound but thanks to the customizable and responsive EQ using Sony’s Headphones app, you can change this to get a more neutral sound. The EQ settings save directly on the headphones themselves so the sound will stay that way no matter what device you connect to, until the next time you change the EQ settings from the app.
I always struggle to describe sound quality because I’m not an audio expert, but music of all genres sound great to me on the XM5.
Supported codecs are SBC, AAC, and LDAC. Like with the XM4, AptX is not supported. This may not be a huge deal if you’re using the headphones on Apple, PC, or newer Android devices as they’ll support the theoretically best option for those.
While I didn’t experience any latency issues with videos except one time with YouTube (turning headphones off and on again fixed issue), I did for gaming.
The XM5’s sound is easily the most balanced since the XM2 going away from the bass-heavy and generally muddy sounds of the XM4 and especially the XM3, without losing much of the punchiness. It’s a cleaner-sounding bass. The default sound is Sony’s typical warm sound but thanks to the customizable and responsive EQ using Sony’s Headphones app, you can change this to get a more neutral sound. The EQ settings save directly on the headphones themselves so the sound will stay that way no matter what device you connect to, until the next time you change the EQ settings from the app.
I always struggle to describe sound quality because I’m not an audio expert, but music of all genres sound great to me on the XM5.
Supported codecs are SBC, AAC, and LDAC. Like with the XM4, AptX is not supported. This may not be a huge deal if you’re using the headphones on Apple, PC, or newer Android devices as they’ll support the theoretically best option for those.
While I didn’t experience any latency issues with videos except one time with YouTube (turning headphones off and on again fixed issue), I did for gaming.
NOISE CANCELLING:
The XM5 still lives up to being one of the best in the market for active noise cancelling headphones in its price range. When compared to some of its competitors using their demo display at my local store, it’s embarrassing to hear how much better the XM5 was.
At the same time, it claims to have the best noise cancelling yet with the help of 2 processors. I still own the XM4 and to my ears, the XM4 still does a better job and cancelling noise than the XM5.
However, when record the sound inside the earcups with noise cancelling on using a tiny microphone for both the XM4 and XM5, to my surprise, the XM5’s do produce lower decibels of sound than the XM4.
I’m no expert at this, but if I had to come up with some sort of explanation I think it may be because the XM4 produces a more apparent white noise sound that’s mostly absent on the XM5. While this white noise helps mask outside noise better for my ears, it still does attribute to noise volume. The noise cancelling on the XM5 produces a much cleaner sound with less cabin pressure.
The XM5 also has an active optimizer that uses the mics to assess your surroundings and change the noise cancelling characteristics accordingly. My issue with it though is it doesn’t work the way you want it to sometimes.
I can tell it’s working when I hear the sudden changes with no music playing. The easiest way I can get it to noticeably work is by turning the air conditioner on. As I move closer to it, I can hear the noise cancelling change like a flick of the switch. I also feel a change in air pressure with my ears. One way of resetting this is by going into transparency mode.
But there are times when the noise cancelling changes to make it sound worse and allows the noises that I consider more annoying, to be more easily heard. I liken the auto optimizer as an audio version of a camera’s auto focus. Sometimes it focuses to a noise cancelling profile I wasn’t aiming for. You have no control over the auto optimizer, not even from the app.
What shines is the ambient mode, which is customizable to 20 levels with 20 allowing the mode outside sound. It almost sounds like you’re not wearing any headphones at all, or perhaps more accurately, wearing open back headphones. I feel comfortable enough to wear them while watching TV and talking to people.
The bad? Wind Noise Reduction is now missing from the Ambient mode settings. And no, the XM5’s noise cancelling isn’t effective enough to eliminate wind noise.
The XM5 still lives up to being one of the best in the market for active noise cancelling headphones in its price range. When compared to some of its competitors using their demo display at my local store, it’s embarrassing to hear how much better the XM5 was.
At the same time, it claims to have the best noise cancelling yet with the help of 2 processors. I still own the XM4 and to my ears, the XM4 still does a better job and cancelling noise than the XM5.
However, when record the sound inside the earcups with noise cancelling on using a tiny microphone for both the XM4 and XM5, to my surprise, the XM5’s do produce lower decibels of sound than the XM4.
I’m no expert at this, but if I had to come up with some sort of explanation I think it may be because the XM4 produces a more apparent white noise sound that’s mostly absent on the XM5. While this white noise helps mask outside noise better for my ears, it still does attribute to noise volume. The noise cancelling on the XM5 produces a much cleaner sound with less cabin pressure.
The XM5 also has an active optimizer that uses the mics to assess your surroundings and change the noise cancelling characteristics accordingly. My issue with it though is it doesn’t work the way you want it to sometimes.
I can tell it’s working when I hear the sudden changes with no music playing. The easiest way I can get it to noticeably work is by turning the air conditioner on. As I move closer to it, I can hear the noise cancelling change like a flick of the switch. I also feel a change in air pressure with my ears. One way of resetting this is by going into transparency mode.
But there are times when the noise cancelling changes to make it sound worse and allows the noises that I consider more annoying, to be more easily heard. I liken the auto optimizer as an audio version of a camera’s auto focus. Sometimes it focuses to a noise cancelling profile I wasn’t aiming for. You have no control over the auto optimizer, not even from the app.
What shines is the ambient mode, which is customizable to 20 levels with 20 allowing the mode outside sound. It almost sounds like you’re not wearing any headphones at all, or perhaps more accurately, wearing open back headphones. I feel comfortable enough to wear them while watching TV and talking to people.
The bad? Wind Noise Reduction is now missing from the Ambient mode settings. And no, the XM5’s noise cancelling isn’t effective enough to eliminate wind noise.
FEATURES:
*Speak-to-chat allows you to enter ambience mode with the “Focus on voice” option on automatically whenever you speak. While it’s supposed to make you hear voices better, “Focus on voice” option does so at the expense of making the environment sound less natural and your own voice sound muffled. Unfortunately, with Speak-to-chat there is no way to enter ambience mode without the “Focus on voice” option. This mode also isn’t great to have on if you’re the type of person that likes to sing along to the music while listening to it as that would activate Speak-to-chat.
*Covering the right ear cup with your palm enters Ambient mode in its max 20 setting, as long as it stays covered. It returns back to the mode you were previously in once you uncover the right ear cup. This is convenient for times when you want to be alert of your surroundings for a brief or sudden moment.
*Multipoint allows the headphones to connect to 2 different devices at the same time. Unfortunately, this still won’t work with the LDAC codec.
*Automatic Power Off allows the headphones to automatically turn off after a certain period of time when you aren’t wearing your headphones.
*”Pauses when headphones are taken off” allows you to do just that. While they are taken off, the touch panel is disabled as well so it prevents accidental inputs. Wearing the headphones again will unpause. This is all provided that the app that’s playing supports pausing. For example, it won’t work with watching live channels on the ESPN app.
*Quick Access is the replacement of the Custom button function of the older gens. Double-pressing or triple-pressing the NC/AMB button allows you to assign a Service function to it. Unfortunately, it’s essentially a beta with these headphones since the only service that works for it is Spotify. You can’t even assign a voice assistant to this button anymore. The voice assistant is accessed by press-holding the right ear cup.
*Voice assistant: When set to Google Assistant and Alexa you will still need to be connected to a device with these apps as they cannot be used with the headphones alone. The XM5 just natively supports them to allow faster responses and the ability to read your notifications out to you. You can also use it for any other voice assistant, but it is basically just a Bluetooth audio extension of your phone and slower.
*Speak-to-chat allows you to enter ambience mode with the “Focus on voice” option on automatically whenever you speak. While it’s supposed to make you hear voices better, “Focus on voice” option does so at the expense of making the environment sound less natural and your own voice sound muffled. Unfortunately, with Speak-to-chat there is no way to enter ambience mode without the “Focus on voice” option. This mode also isn’t great to have on if you’re the type of person that likes to sing along to the music while listening to it as that would activate Speak-to-chat.
*Covering the right ear cup with your palm enters Ambient mode in its max 20 setting, as long as it stays covered. It returns back to the mode you were previously in once you uncover the right ear cup. This is convenient for times when you want to be alert of your surroundings for a brief or sudden moment.
*Multipoint allows the headphones to connect to 2 different devices at the same time. Unfortunately, this still won’t work with the LDAC codec.
*Automatic Power Off allows the headphones to automatically turn off after a certain period of time when you aren’t wearing your headphones.
*”Pauses when headphones are taken off” allows you to do just that. While they are taken off, the touch panel is disabled as well so it prevents accidental inputs. Wearing the headphones again will unpause. This is all provided that the app that’s playing supports pausing. For example, it won’t work with watching live channels on the ESPN app.
*Quick Access is the replacement of the Custom button function of the older gens. Double-pressing or triple-pressing the NC/AMB button allows you to assign a Service function to it. Unfortunately, it’s essentially a beta with these headphones since the only service that works for it is Spotify. You can’t even assign a voice assistant to this button anymore. The voice assistant is accessed by press-holding the right ear cup.
*Voice assistant: When set to Google Assistant and Alexa you will still need to be connected to a device with these apps as they cannot be used with the headphones alone. The XM5 just natively supports them to allow faster responses and the ability to read your notifications out to you. You can also use it for any other voice assistant, but it is basically just a Bluetooth audio extension of your phone and slower.
CONNECTIONS:
*Bluetooth 5.2
*3.5mm audio: works without battery use but without noise cancelling/transparency, and works with battery to use powered functions like noise cancelling/transparency. Bluetooth functions do NOT work while wired, so you cannot use microphone. Inline wired microphones will NOT work because jack doesn’t support input.
*USB-C for charging only; does NOT support USB audio.
*Bluetooth 5.2
*3.5mm audio: works without battery use but without noise cancelling/transparency, and works with battery to use powered functions like noise cancelling/transparency. Bluetooth functions do NOT work while wired, so you cannot use microphone. Inline wired microphones will NOT work because jack doesn’t support input.
*USB-C for charging only; does NOT support USB audio.
CHARGING:
I used a Samsung 45W Fast Wall Charger and to my surprise I got way better than advertised results!
3 minutes of charging gave me 3 hours and 50 minutes of LDAC playtime with noise cancelling.
Charging from 0% to 100% took only 52 minutes. I dramatic improvement from the XM4 which took 2 hours and 50 minutes using the same charger.
I used a Samsung 45W Fast Wall Charger and to my surprise I got way better than advertised results!
3 minutes of charging gave me 3 hours and 50 minutes of LDAC playtime with noise cancelling.
Charging from 0% to 100% took only 52 minutes. I dramatic improvement from the XM4 which took 2 hours and 50 minutes using the same charger.
Battery Life:
I got 30 hours of battery life with noise cancelling using LDAC while playing a 24-bit FLAC album on a loop. So their battery claims are accurate; not an oversell or undersell.
I got 30 hours of battery life with noise cancelling using LDAC while playing a 24-bit FLAC album on a loop. So their battery claims are accurate; not an oversell or undersell.
I'll miss the portability of the XM4 but the incredible charging time of the XM5 and the amazing transparency mode is what seals the deal for me. Ambient mode has NEVER sounded this good and natural on a Sony noise cancelling headphone, and very close to a leading competitor known for having this quality. Highly recommended if you don't mind that it can't fold anymore.
My biggest concern is its durability over time.
My biggest concern is its durability over time.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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KusMoG's Review Comments
Make your home an internet haven with this versatile Linksys Velop wireless Wi-Fi system. Three identical tri-band dual-stream AC2200 routers, each equipped with a quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 processor, deliver lightning-fast internet. Equipped with Bluetooth 4.0/LE, this Linksys Velop wireless Wi-Fi system is simple to set up and pairs easily with computers, tablets and smart devices.
Overall3 out of 5
3 out of 5Optimized for distance, not speed. Limited admin
By KusMoG
First off, let me preface by saying that I'm coming off using an EA9500, a traditional router that costs $100 less than a Velop 3 pack. I also live in an apartment building with a highly congested 2.4GHz space; so bad it affects speeds dramatically and makes the connection highly inconsistent.
With that said, I wasn't really impressed with the Velop at all, for the amount of money it will cost you. It runs on 2.4 and 5.0GHz bands but which your device is connected to is entirely managed by the Velop mesh router themselves. You can't select it yourself. So for some *stupid* reason, even though my Galaxy Note 5 is capable of connecting to the 5.0GHz band, it connects me to 2.4. Because of this I get a slower and inconsistent connection due to the 2.4GHz congestion in my building.
There's also no web administration page, so you can't configure your Velop Wi-Fi from a computer. You need to do it through their app. That means your doing all the heavy lifting of port forwarding and such, from your phone. I'm not sure if they have an app for tablets.
As far as range goes, it will do the job. You will get a strong signal as long as you are near one of the nodes. But the catch is it only extends the wireless signal for as well as it currently performs in your environment at 100% signal and you have no control over which wi-fi band it connects to, like you do with a traditional router. So if your 2.4GHz band wi-fi is terrible to begin with at 100% signal, I suggest you stay very far away from this unless you want buyer's remorse.
I can only recommend the Velop wi-fi 3-pack to users, most especially with wi-fi dead spots in their home, that have great consistent connection in terms or speed and reliability on both 2.4 and 5.0GHz band with a traditional router at 100% signal. This mesh router will be music to your ears since it will be capable of extending your wi-fi range through your house with minimal signal loss.
I can't stress this enough but this router isn't 5.0GHz friendly. I suspect it recognizes when a device is a phone and connects it to the 2.4 GHz band to prioritize distance. It just doesn't offer the flexibility and power administrators want to manually control these connections. I'll be putting all my wireless devices back on my EA9500 because it clearly outclasses the more expensive, less admin-friendly Velop.
KusMoG
Attention Kristine the Linksys Support rep
March 29, 2017
Hi Kristine,
So I called the number you gave me and spoke with a Linksys representative named Kim (Badge ID# 21791) and she agreed with my review. She said it was a product limitation and that users are not able to select the wi-fi band since it's designed to run on a singular network. She also said there is a web UI but it's virtually the same as the app and offers no additional settings or features. So I stand by my review.
It's an awful lot of spend to spend to have so little control. 2 5.0 GHz bands exists on the node but it's USELESS if and when the Velop decides on its own not to connect using that band, instead choosing the inferior 2.4GHz band. This router is a huge step back for IT professional users.
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KusMoG's Answers
Bring your A-game anytime, anywhere. Introducing a universal mobile gaming controller that fits most smartphone devices, designed to bring console-level control to your on-the-go gaming. With this controller by your side, wherever you go, victory will follow.
Will it fit the Galaxy Note 20 ultra
Yes it will. The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, while not officially listed as supported, probably because it wasn't available for Razer to test at the time, is the Kishi's limit.
3 years, 7 months ago
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KusMoG