CraigB's stats
- Review count198
- Helpfulness votes2,810
- First reviewFebruary 11, 2013
- Last reviewAugust 11, 2026
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.2
- Review comment count7
- Helpfulness votes6
- First review commentNovember 29, 2013
- Last review commentJanuary 31, 2017
- Featured review comments0
Questions
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- First questionNone
- Last questionNone
- Featured questions0
- Answer count43
- Helpfulness votes54
- First answerMarch 24, 2015
- Last answerNovember 6, 2021
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- Best answers7
The ROG Zephyrus G14 features a premium aluminum CNC-machined chassis that delivers exceptional durability in a slim 0.72-inch profile and a lightweight 3.48-lb build. Powered by the latest Intel Core Ultra 9 386H processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop GPU, the Zephyrus G14 delivers performance and portability to play games, create content, and multitask. The OLED ROG Nebula Display HDR brings visuals to life with an ultra-fast 0.2ms response time, vivid 3K resolution, 1100 nits peak brightness in HDR, and VESA Certified DisplayHDR TrueBlack 1000 for deeper contrast and richer colors. Dolby Atmos audio with dual woofers delivers immersive sound, while ROG Intelligent Cooling~paired with an upgraded exhaust vent design~improves airflow to help maintain sustained top performance during intense gaming sessions.
Customer Rating
5
Further refined update to a great laptop
on August 11, 2026
Posted by: CraigB
Great
Core i9 Ultra more power efficient
Intel Wi-Fi instead of MediaTek
Screen brightness up to 1100nits
Subtle but good anti reflective coating
Hinge seems to have improved further
Finally has a full-sized SD card slot
Thunderbolt 4 support
More zones for Slashdot lights
Presence sensor
Ambient light sensor
Windows Hello face login support
Long battery life
Increased wattage of power brick
Light and versatile
Thicker chassis used to improve cooling
Excellent sound for the size
Great typing experience
Metal chassis feels premium and strong
Display hinge feels smooth and consistent
Supports MUX switch and Optimus
Upgradable SSD and Wi-Fi
Core i9 Ultra more power efficient
Intel Wi-Fi instead of MediaTek
Screen brightness up to 1100nits
Subtle but good anti reflective coating
Hinge seems to have improved further
Finally has a full-sized SD card slot
Thunderbolt 4 support
More zones for Slashdot lights
Presence sensor
Ambient light sensor
Windows Hello face login support
Long battery life
Increased wattage of power brick
Light and versatile
Thicker chassis used to improve cooling
Excellent sound for the size
Great typing experience
Metal chassis feels premium and strong
Display hinge feels smooth and consistent
Supports MUX switch and Optimus
Upgradable SSD and Wi-Fi
Not so great
Still a diving board trackpad
NVME slot only PCIe 4
RAM soldered in and not upgradable
Limited RAM limits performance when using Optimus
AI buying it all up memory and storage creating gaming sacrifices
Intel Arc iGPU poor gaming performance compared to the previous Radeon
Armory Crate and Optimus conflict sometimes disabling the iGPU or dGPU
Still a diving board trackpad
NVME slot only PCIe 4
RAM soldered in and not upgradable
Limited RAM limits performance when using Optimus
AI buying it all up memory and storage creating gaming sacrifices
Intel Arc iGPU poor gaming performance compared to the previous Radeon
Armory Crate and Optimus conflict sometimes disabling the iGPU or dGPU
Out of the box, the 2026 G14 looks nearly identical to the previous 2 models. This isn’t a bad thing as the Zephyrus line didn’t need any major changes. It feels like a premium laptop that can be subtle enough in style and light enough in build to use for productivity purposes as well as gaming.
Chassis and Ports 9.5/10
The aluminum chassis feels rigid and sturdy with the slight chamfer on the edges so it doesn’t feel sharp in the hands. While it does support charging via USB-C, this would only be suitable to keep the battery topped off during casual use or for slower charging. For gaming using the dGPU you are going to need to use the included power adapter that looks like and oversized and squared off USB-C plug. For 2026 Asus bumped up the capacity of the charger from a max of 200 watts to a standard of 250 with a peak of 300 watts. This means you don’t have to choose if you want more power for the CPU or GPU anymore. There is one USB-A 3.2 on each side for peripherals such as a mouse or flash drive. The left USB-C port is USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 and the right side USB-C port is only version 3.2. A nice change is the SD card slot on the right side is now full sized like the G16, so you don’t need a USB adapter anymore.
The aluminum chassis feels rigid and sturdy with the slight chamfer on the edges so it doesn’t feel sharp in the hands. While it does support charging via USB-C, this would only be suitable to keep the battery topped off during casual use or for slower charging. For gaming using the dGPU you are going to need to use the included power adapter that looks like and oversized and squared off USB-C plug. For 2026 Asus bumped up the capacity of the charger from a max of 200 watts to a standard of 250 with a peak of 300 watts. This means you don’t have to choose if you want more power for the CPU or GPU anymore. There is one USB-A 3.2 on each side for peripherals such as a mouse or flash drive. The left USB-C port is USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 and the right side USB-C port is only version 3.2. A nice change is the SD card slot on the right side is now full sized like the G16, so you don’t need a USB adapter anymore.
Screen 10/10
It is possible that there are better laptop screens out there, but it is hard to fault this one. Asus was able to more than double the max brightness of the OLED over previous generations which makes it better for both gaming and casual use even in brightly lit environments. The pixel arrangement doesn’t exhibit any noticeable color fringing on text and with the 3K screen everything is very sharp with the inky blacks you expect. So far, there has been no sign of PWM flicker even at low light levels. It also still supports VRR and 120Hz refresh rate. The 240Hz is still reserved for the 16 inch. They finally added an ambient light sensor so it can adjust automatically. However, Microsoft’s implementation of adaptive brightness is best left off if you use night shift. As it adjusts it essentially turns night shift off and on as the color temperature shifts. If you use night shift, then it is best to only have on automatic brightness adjustments. With the factory color calibration of the screen the system feels well suited regardless of what you use it for. Some complained about screen wobble on past models but this one seems to have the most stable screen of any laptop I have used.
It is possible that there are better laptop screens out there, but it is hard to fault this one. Asus was able to more than double the max brightness of the OLED over previous generations which makes it better for both gaming and casual use even in brightly lit environments. The pixel arrangement doesn’t exhibit any noticeable color fringing on text and with the 3K screen everything is very sharp with the inky blacks you expect. So far, there has been no sign of PWM flicker even at low light levels. It also still supports VRR and 120Hz refresh rate. The 240Hz is still reserved for the 16 inch. They finally added an ambient light sensor so it can adjust automatically. However, Microsoft’s implementation of adaptive brightness is best left off if you use night shift. As it adjusts it essentially turns night shift off and on as the color temperature shifts. If you use night shift, then it is best to only have on automatic brightness adjustments. With the factory color calibration of the screen the system feels well suited regardless of what you use it for. Some complained about screen wobble on past models but this one seems to have the most stable screen of any laptop I have used.
Keyboard 9/10
The keyboard feels the same as previous generations. It works great for typing and gaming with a good amount of travel and no discernable wobble. While it could be argued that Asus needs to try to move onto hall effect switches, that tech would feel like too much of a compromise towards the gaming focus for a well-rounded laptop. The design might be dated but it still works great with fast, consistent response. Just like previous generations there are some minor backlight uniformity issues, but it seems like it has been improved further. The keyboard feels linear with a distinct but silent activation point and a soft landing. If you tend to type heavy, you will appreciate the dampened feeling at the end.
The keyboard feels the same as previous generations. It works great for typing and gaming with a good amount of travel and no discernable wobble. While it could be argued that Asus needs to try to move onto hall effect switches, that tech would feel like too much of a compromise towards the gaming focus for a well-rounded laptop. The design might be dated but it still works great with fast, consistent response. Just like previous generations there are some minor backlight uniformity issues, but it seems like it has been improved further. The keyboard feels linear with a distinct but silent activation point and a soft landing. If you tend to type heavy, you will appreciate the dampened feeling at the end.
Trackpad 7/10
While the keyboard might still be ok even if a bit of an old design, the trackpad feels dated for a premium laptop. It does seem like it has improved slightly but it is still a diving board design. Current premium laptops have moved onto haptic designs as the tech has fully matured. While the diving board design does feel well built and works smoothly, it doesn’t change the fact that it feels out of place for the class.
While the keyboard might still be ok even if a bit of an old design, the trackpad feels dated for a premium laptop. It does seem like it has improved slightly but it is still a diving board design. Current premium laptops have moved onto haptic designs as the tech has fully matured. While the diving board design does feel well built and works smoothly, it doesn’t change the fact that it feels out of place for the class.
Speakers 9.5/10
The Zephyrus line has for years had some of the best speakers available, particularly when you consider the size of the chassis. While they can get loud enough to be heard in the next room it’s the richness and clarity that makes the difference. Of course they won’t compare to discrete speakers they are some of the best if not the best sounding in such a small chassis. The sound is well balanced without the hollowness or tin can sound that many have. They are good enough to where listening to music or watching a movie with them doesn’t feel like you are sacrificing. More importantly, if you want to game without headphones on Turbo they can easily overpower the air rushing sound of the cooling fans. With the Dolby software you can customize them further.
The Zephyrus line has for years had some of the best speakers available, particularly when you consider the size of the chassis. While they can get loud enough to be heard in the next room it’s the richness and clarity that makes the difference. Of course they won’t compare to discrete speakers they are some of the best if not the best sounding in such a small chassis. The sound is well balanced without the hollowness or tin can sound that many have. They are good enough to where listening to music or watching a movie with them doesn’t feel like you are sacrificing. More importantly, if you want to game without headphones on Turbo they can easily overpower the air rushing sound of the cooling fans. With the Dolby software you can customize them further.
Battery 9/10
While the battery hasn’t changed, the design of the new Core Ultra 9 has made a noticeable difference in battery life, at least for casual use. When running on silent using the iGPU the battery life seems like it is likely higher than 12 hours during casual use. It is hard to estimate the actual time since Windows battery estimates fluctuate frequently. The longest stretch the laptop was used off the charger was about 6 hours over 2 days without plugging in and that used less than 50% of the battery. This is without using G-Helper to undervolt the system or disabling any cores. That was with the screen brightness around 40% most of the time. If you want to game on battery with the dGPU you are looking at a max of 2 hours of gameplay. Battery life gaming on the iGPU is unknown as the Intel Arc graphics are much weaker, and even more so when paired with less RAM, than the old Radeon option meaning a lot more sacrifices to quality and frame rate are needed. However, if you can find the right settings the power efficiency seen for casual use should also translate to longer gaming on the iGPU as well.
While the battery hasn’t changed, the design of the new Core Ultra 9 has made a noticeable difference in battery life, at least for casual use. When running on silent using the iGPU the battery life seems like it is likely higher than 12 hours during casual use. It is hard to estimate the actual time since Windows battery estimates fluctuate frequently. The longest stretch the laptop was used off the charger was about 6 hours over 2 days without plugging in and that used less than 50% of the battery. This is without using G-Helper to undervolt the system or disabling any cores. That was with the screen brightness around 40% most of the time. If you want to game on battery with the dGPU you are looking at a max of 2 hours of gameplay. Battery life gaming on the iGPU is unknown as the Intel Arc graphics are much weaker, and even more so when paired with less RAM, than the old Radeon option meaning a lot more sacrifices to quality and frame rate are needed. However, if you can find the right settings the power efficiency seen for casual use should also translate to longer gaming on the iGPU as well.
Performance 9/10
After comparing this to a family members older 2025 G14 speced similar, the performance improvements are modest. The CPU is about 10% faster than the old AMD option. With AI gobbling up all the memory even the new RTX chips have been delayed so any performance improvements are appreciated. Even though the 5070Ti remained unchanged, and thankfully still has 12GB of VRAM, the larger power brick did allow it to squeeze out a few more FPS. Doom Eternal set to Ultra Nightmare returned an average of 118.9fps with a 1% low of 95.5fps and a 0.1% low of 60.9fps. GTAV returned an average of 82.1fps with a 1.0% low of 72.8fps and a 0.1% low of 67.4fps. Both games were played with the system plugged in on Turbo with Ultimate enabled, VRR enabled, and DLSS off. When running the integrated benchmark in Forza 5, the weak spot of this system having 16GB of RAM came to the surface. With the Extreme graphics preset, it returned 115fps. However, that was with a stutter count of 32, and the GPU Limited percentage of only 35.5. Unfortunately, limited RAM seems like its going to be the new norm for the next few years. Thankfully minor game tweaks can smooth out those dips with no discernable change in quality. The same can’t be said for gaming on the iGPU since not only do the Intel Arc graphics perform much worse than the outgoing Radeon, the 16GB RAM becomes even more of a bottleneck. If you are thinking of gaming on battery with the iGPU it is best to keep your expectations low. You can definitely get good battery life that way but graphics are going to need to be dialed down significantly.
After comparing this to a family members older 2025 G14 speced similar, the performance improvements are modest. The CPU is about 10% faster than the old AMD option. With AI gobbling up all the memory even the new RTX chips have been delayed so any performance improvements are appreciated. Even though the 5070Ti remained unchanged, and thankfully still has 12GB of VRAM, the larger power brick did allow it to squeeze out a few more FPS. Doom Eternal set to Ultra Nightmare returned an average of 118.9fps with a 1% low of 95.5fps and a 0.1% low of 60.9fps. GTAV returned an average of 82.1fps with a 1.0% low of 72.8fps and a 0.1% low of 67.4fps. Both games were played with the system plugged in on Turbo with Ultimate enabled, VRR enabled, and DLSS off. When running the integrated benchmark in Forza 5, the weak spot of this system having 16GB of RAM came to the surface. With the Extreme graphics preset, it returned 115fps. However, that was with a stutter count of 32, and the GPU Limited percentage of only 35.5. Unfortunately, limited RAM seems like its going to be the new norm for the next few years. Thankfully minor game tweaks can smooth out those dips with no discernable change in quality. The same can’t be said for gaming on the iGPU since not only do the Intel Arc graphics perform much worse than the outgoing Radeon, the 16GB RAM becomes even more of a bottleneck. If you are thinking of gaming on battery with the iGPU it is best to keep your expectations low. You can definitely get good battery life that way but graphics are going to need to be dialed down significantly.
Cooling 9.5/10
The new G14 is slightly thicker, about 1mm, to accommodate better cooling, but the overall wattage was bumped up. The net result is that this version runs just around 12 to 15 degrees cooler than the previous generation. While you can’t defy the laws of thermodynamics, Asus has done a good job of balancing managing the heat and the sound for such a compact chassis. The system does get hot when running on Turbo, but the heat is pushed to the back of the chassis and away from your hands. It also does this without any hint of bearing whine or intrusive sounds. You just hear the sound of air rushing out of the chassis. While I rarely game for long enough to push thermal management to the limits, it doesn’t seem like this unit will have any issues staying stable. Going based off memory, it seems the keyboard on this latest one stays even cooler than older generations.
The new G14 is slightly thicker, about 1mm, to accommodate better cooling, but the overall wattage was bumped up. The net result is that this version runs just around 12 to 15 degrees cooler than the previous generation. While you can’t defy the laws of thermodynamics, Asus has done a good job of balancing managing the heat and the sound for such a compact chassis. The system does get hot when running on Turbo, but the heat is pushed to the back of the chassis and away from your hands. It also does this without any hint of bearing whine or intrusive sounds. You just hear the sound of air rushing out of the chassis. While I rarely game for long enough to push thermal management to the limits, it doesn’t seem like this unit will have any issues staying stable. Going based off memory, it seems the keyboard on this latest one stays even cooler than older generations.
Wi-Fi 10/10
This is an easy one. Intel doesn’t get everything right, but one thing they do well is Wi-Fi. Compared to the previous generation of G14 a family member has, this Intel card kept completely stable and locked in at higher speeds. The old MediaTek would choose 5Ghz while sitting right next to the access point. This Intel card can stay locked in on 6E at 2400Mbps while in another room. While the MediaTek card could be swapped out on the older G14, it is nice to see this one come with a solid Wi-Fi card.
This is an easy one. Intel doesn’t get everything right, but one thing they do well is Wi-Fi. Compared to the previous generation of G14 a family member has, this Intel card kept completely stable and locked in at higher speeds. The old MediaTek would choose 5Ghz while sitting right next to the access point. This Intel card can stay locked in on 6E at 2400Mbps while in another room. While the MediaTek card could be swapped out on the older G14, it is nice to see this one come with a solid Wi-Fi card.
Final Thoughts
The upgrades to the G14 are mostly evolutionary. The previous G14 was and still is a solid system. The question is if you should get the older generation or this new one. The previous generation would win out on gaming on the iGPU. However, if you prefer substantially longer battery life for casual use, a much brighter screen, and cooler operation then this latest of the G14 is worth considering.
The upgrades to the G14 are mostly evolutionary. The previous G14 was and still is a solid system. The question is if you should get the older generation or this new one. The previous generation would win out on gaming on the iGPU. However, if you prefer substantially longer battery life for casual use, a much brighter screen, and cooler operation then this latest of the G14 is worth considering.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Experience the speed, precision, and control of the Razer Huntsman V3 HE Magnetic Mini 65% 8KHz, a compact esports keyboard built for cleaner, faster execution. Powered by Razer~ Hall Effect Magnetic Switches, it delivers incredible precision with Rapid Trigger for lightning-fast repeated inputs, adjustable actuation from 0.1~4.0 mm, and a 100-million keystroke lifespan for lasting competitive performance. Execute every input with greater confidence through advanced controls made for competitive play. Razer~ Snap Flex lets you trigger precise actions on key release for tighter control and faster response, while Razer~ Snap Tap prioritizes the latest input between two selected keys for near-instant directional changes. With Dynamic Keystroke, assign up to 4 actions to a single keystroke and cancel instantly to adapt on the fly. Stay ahead of every play with true 8000 Hz HyperPolling, delivering a polling rate 8 times faster than the industry standard for near-zero latency response. Its compact 65% form factor gives you more room to maneuver your mouse while remaining easy to position and tournament-ready. Finished with textured doubleshot PBT keycaps, a durable 5052 aluminum alloy top case, and hybrid onboard storage for up to 6 profiles, this keyboard is built to perform wherever competition takes you.
Customer Rating
4
Solid gaming first keyboard with practice
on July 30, 2026
Posted by: CraigB
Solid keyboard with practice
Great
Solid aluminum top plate
Quick response
Infinite adjustability
Doubleshot PBT keycaps for durability
Backlighting is even
Hypershift, Snap tap, Rapid Trigger, Snap Flex, and Dual-keypress support
Customizable activation point
Activation resets from any lifting of key
Solid aluminum top plate
Quick response
Infinite adjustability
Doubleshot PBT keycaps for durability
Backlighting is even
Hypershift, Snap tap, Rapid Trigger, Snap Flex, and Dual-keypress support
Customizable activation point
Activation resets from any lifting of key
Not so great
No palmrest
Synapse still needs a revamp
Keys are overly sensitive in normal mode for typing
Keys may require calibration out of the box
No backlight for secondary functions
HE keys sacrifices the option of custom key switches
No palmrest
Synapse still needs a revamp
Keys are overly sensitive in normal mode for typing
Keys may require calibration out of the box
No backlight for secondary functions
HE keys sacrifices the option of custom key switches
Design and Appearance
Out of the box the keyboard feels solid. Initially it feels like plastic, but the top deck is brushed aluminum. In the box is the keyboard, removable USB cord, and a sheet with important shortcuts. With its overall size and removable cord this could make a great lan party or tournament keyboard, but Razer missed the opportunity to provide a travel case. Possibly because this might conflict with their dedicated portable keyboards. The keycaps are doubleshot PBT, which is good for durability of the finish, but has caused some backlight uniformity issues on past Razer keyboards I have owned. It seems with this model that has been improved and overall consistency is much better. The same cannot be said of the secondary function labels which are very hard to see since they have no backlight. While it is nice to see Razer finally build a keyboard with Hall Effect switches it does make you wonder why the change. They have been very vocal about the inconsistencies of hall effect switches and the superiority of optical switches. It would be interesting to see Razer’s reason for the change of heart, but it is nice to see the option.
Out of the box the keyboard feels solid. Initially it feels like plastic, but the top deck is brushed aluminum. In the box is the keyboard, removable USB cord, and a sheet with important shortcuts. With its overall size and removable cord this could make a great lan party or tournament keyboard, but Razer missed the opportunity to provide a travel case. Possibly because this might conflict with their dedicated portable keyboards. The keycaps are doubleshot PBT, which is good for durability of the finish, but has caused some backlight uniformity issues on past Razer keyboards I have owned. It seems with this model that has been improved and overall consistency is much better. The same cannot be said of the secondary function labels which are very hard to see since they have no backlight. While it is nice to see Razer finally build a keyboard with Hall Effect switches it does make you wonder why the change. They have been very vocal about the inconsistencies of hall effect switches and the superiority of optical switches. It would be interesting to see Razer’s reason for the change of heart, but it is nice to see the option.
Setup and Performance
Setup is straightforward with Synapse prompting for install if you have not already installed it. There are 5 built-in profiles that come preconfigured and you can customize from there. They are Default, FPS Rapid Trigger, Analog WASD, Racing, and High Sensitivity. By default, the main difference between the factory profiles is the Activation Point or in the case of Analog the WASD keys emulate a joystick. You can change modes via hotkeys and activation of each mode is confirmed with the flash of a corresponding color before returning to your settings in Chroma if you have them configured. Hypershift, Snap tap, Rapid Trigger, Snap Flex, and Dual-keypress support are supported but not activated by default.
Setup is straightforward with Synapse prompting for install if you have not already installed it. There are 5 built-in profiles that come preconfigured and you can customize from there. They are Default, FPS Rapid Trigger, Analog WASD, Racing, and High Sensitivity. By default, the main difference between the factory profiles is the Activation Point or in the case of Analog the WASD keys emulate a joystick. You can change modes via hotkeys and activation of each mode is confirmed with the flash of a corresponding color before returning to your settings in Chroma if you have them configured. Hypershift, Snap tap, Rapid Trigger, Snap Flex, and Dual-keypress support are supported but not activated by default.
So far, this is probably the fastest responding keyboard I have ever tried. In fact, sometimes it makes me wonder if the keyboard has an issue or if it is pushing my skills to the limit. Out of the box, causal typing was harder than normal. The keycaps taper a bit more than I am used to causing some imprecise typing. Combine that with the hall effect sensors and near instant activation a brush of a neighboring key means a few unintended letters would show up in every word. After several days it has improved but activation point may need to be lowered further in normal mode. Of course, you want sensitivity in a gaming keyboard but even in gaming you want to avoid accidental presses. If you are new to hall effect switches get ready for an adjustment. Another thing to keep in mind is since the activation point is adjustable there is no distinct click once you hit it like on a Cherry Red. It feels linear and slightly clacky with very little wobble. However, traditional linear keys you typically still feel a subtle activation point which you don’t feel the Huntsman Mini. It is a tradeoff for flexibility and speed but if you are used to feeling that activation point your fingers might cramp and you might end up slamming the keys hard for a while before you acclimate like I did.
As I have become more accustomed to the keyboard, I am preferring this keyboard for gaming even if my typing has suffered slightly. It’s hard to describe accurately but the hall effect switches feel smoother. I still have a long way to go in improving my response times but ability to reset on even the slightest lift the key has gradually made me care less about feeling a specific activation point which makes repeated key presses feel quicker and more natural.
Finals Thoughts
For some gamers, the hall effect sensors can feel a bit too sensitive and potentially inconsistent. It can also feel slightly less versatile than other options due to being finicky for regular typing. That said, if want a solid gaming first keyboard that is focused on maximum response times, sensitivity, and customizable action above all else then the Razer Huntsman V3 Mini HE could be a good fit.
For some gamers, the hall effect sensors can feel a bit too sensitive and potentially inconsistent. It can also feel slightly less versatile than other options due to being finicky for regular typing. That said, if want a solid gaming first keyboard that is focused on maximum response times, sensitivity, and customizable action above all else then the Razer Huntsman V3 Mini HE could be a good fit.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Theragun Prime (6th Generation) delivers scientifically proven powerful percussive therapy in our most durable design yet ~ built to withstand intense training, outdoor adventures and everyday wear and tear. Its impact-resistant rubber exterior and reinforced corners protect against drops up to 10 feet, making it ideal for the most demanding lifestyles. Simple one-button controls let you adjust massage intensity across 5 speeds, while the patented triangle grip - now with a wider opening for easier handling - ensures a secure, comfortable hold and better leverage to reach every muscle. Real-time LED indicators show how much pressure you're applying, and the quiet, adaptive motor maintains speed and power under pressure to prevent stalling. Apply up to 35 lbs. of force to work through deep knots and tight muscles, helping relieve pain, improve flexibility and accelerate recovery. With a 2-hour battery life and 2 versatile attachments for full-body recovery, Theragun Prime keeps pace with your toughest days. Bluetooth connectivity unlocks app control via the Therabody app, where you can adjust settings, monitor pressure levels and follow guided routines. Plus, Coach by Therabody - included free in the app ~ creates personalized recovery plans based on our goals and activity data, helping you stay consistent with your recovery.
Customer Rating
5
Improved quality and durability
on February 11, 2026
Posted by: CraigB
Great
New construction feels more durable
Strong motor
Noticeably quieter than older generation
Grip has more texture to hold securely
App now shows video demonstrations
Includes pressure coach on device as well as in app
Integrates with Apple Watch, Garmin, Google Fit, and Strava
App design is further simplified making it easier to see what to do
Uses USB-C for charging
Still fully functional without app
New construction feels more durable
Strong motor
Noticeably quieter than older generation
Grip has more texture to hold securely
App now shows video demonstrations
Includes pressure coach on device as well as in app
Integrates with Apple Watch, Garmin, Google Fit, and Strava
App design is further simplified making it easier to see what to do
Uses USB-C for charging
Still fully functional without app
Not so Great
App still doesn’t pause between sections
Pressure readout doesn’t seem to work consistently
2 tips have been removed since the 4th generation
Bag no longer included
App still doesn’t pause between sections
Pressure readout doesn’t seem to work consistently
2 tips have been removed since the 4th generation
Bag no longer included
Design
The 6th generation of the Theragun Prime sticks with the same overall design that it has had since the start. It is a triangle shape with 3 different grip sections that help you reach all areas of your body. This latest version now has a more textured soft touch finish which allows a better grip. While subjective, the plastic feels sturdier when compared to the 4th generation. On device you have the power button, speed indicator, and pressure level indicator. The Theragun works with the app as well as independently via the power button on device. This means you don’t have to worry about the device not working if you don’t have it connected to your phone, which is becoming rare. Unfortunately, since the 4th generation Therabody has decided to remove two percussion tips and the carrying bag. On the plus side, Therabody now uses USB-C for charging reducing the chargers you need to carry when traveling.
The 6th generation of the Theragun Prime sticks with the same overall design that it has had since the start. It is a triangle shape with 3 different grip sections that help you reach all areas of your body. This latest version now has a more textured soft touch finish which allows a better grip. While subjective, the plastic feels sturdier when compared to the 4th generation. On device you have the power button, speed indicator, and pressure level indicator. The Theragun works with the app as well as independently via the power button on device. This means you don’t have to worry about the device not working if you don’t have it connected to your phone, which is becoming rare. Unfortunately, since the 4th generation Therabody has decided to remove two percussion tips and the carrying bag. On the plus side, Therabody now uses USB-C for charging reducing the chargers you need to carry when traveling.
Usage
For those who already have used percussion devices and want to get started, the process is simple. You just long press on the power button. Once the device is turned on, you quick press the power button to choose the speed level. After that, you can see the pressure level via an integrated power bar on device. For anyone who needs more guidance or prefers tracking, you can pair it with the Therabody app. The idea of the connection to your health account is so Therabody can better suggest routines you should use with the Theragun for the best results based on activities.
For those who already have used percussion devices and want to get started, the process is simple. You just long press on the power button. Once the device is turned on, you quick press the power button to choose the speed level. After that, you can see the pressure level via an integrated power bar on device. For anyone who needs more guidance or prefers tracking, you can pair it with the Therabody app. The idea of the connection to your health account is so Therabody can better suggest routines you should use with the Theragun for the best results based on activities.
If you decide to use the app, you can choose the type of recovery needed. For example, if you are needing recovery from a jog you can choose the workout and distance. The app will choose the recommended recovery routine and guide you through the process. During the process it will show you a video demonstrating the technique to massage the area as well as a power graph and countdown timer. It also shows you what area is next. However, it doesn’t pause when switching to the next section. When you are first learning a new area you are likely to miss the first few seconds as you figure out what you are doing. It would be great if Therabody allowed for a gap of a few seconds while it demonstrated the area and technique before continuing. Regardless, if you are new to percussive therapy it still makes the process very easy. The only issues experienced were minor in that sometimes the pressure graph on the app stopped working and also once the video stopped playing.
Performance
Coming from a Therabody Prime 4th generation, I can say that the 6th generation isn’t drastically different, but it is more refined. Not only does it feel stronger, it feels more well built. The original 4th generation you had to be careful of grease on the shaft. It was also louder and had a rattle. This latest version exhibits none of those issues. Furthermore, the device is overall much quieter at any speed. Max speed on the 6th generation is quieter than low on the 4th generation. Furthermore, it seemed impossible to stall out the motor. Even maxing out the pressure the motor never skipped a beat or changed tone. While this is far more pressure than you need to exert on your muscles it suggests this version will have no trouble keeping up.
Coming from a Therabody Prime 4th generation, I can say that the 6th generation isn’t drastically different, but it is more refined. Not only does it feel stronger, it feels more well built. The original 4th generation you had to be careful of grease on the shaft. It was also louder and had a rattle. This latest version exhibits none of those issues. Furthermore, the device is overall much quieter at any speed. Max speed on the 6th generation is quieter than low on the 4th generation. Furthermore, it seemed impossible to stall out the motor. Even maxing out the pressure the motor never skipped a beat or changed tone. While this is far more pressure than you need to exert on your muscles it suggests this version will have no trouble keeping up.
Results
While there were certain areas that a little help from someone else is good, it was possible to do each routine alone using the different grips. With the help of the coach to target the routines needed for recovery, there was a noticeable difference in recovery time. Specifically, during longer jogging sessions my quads would ache afterwards effecting my sleep. Since my old Theragun had died I had been trying heating pads but the effect goes away once you stop applying heat and it isn’t comfortable to sleep using one. With the Theragun, going through the recovery routine would calm my quads down to where I was able to get restful sleep without an issue and without the need to overheat from a heating pad. The effects lasted longer. The main challenge was that some areas would either tickle or cause my muscles to twitch uncontrollably, but overall it was still worth it and it gave family members a good laugh.
While there were certain areas that a little help from someone else is good, it was possible to do each routine alone using the different grips. With the help of the coach to target the routines needed for recovery, there was a noticeable difference in recovery time. Specifically, during longer jogging sessions my quads would ache afterwards effecting my sleep. Since my old Theragun had died I had been trying heating pads but the effect goes away once you stop applying heat and it isn’t comfortable to sleep using one. With the Theragun, going through the recovery routine would calm my quads down to where I was able to get restful sleep without an issue and without the need to overheat from a heating pad. The effects lasted longer. The main challenge was that some areas would either tickle or cause my muscles to twitch uncontrollably, but overall it was still worth it and it gave family members a good laugh.
Final Thoughts
While there are many percussive therapy devices available now, Theragun still seems to be one of the most polished. It also seems to have improved build quality, but time will tell. Overall, the Theragun Prime makes the process very easy, particularly if you are new to the process. If you are in the market for a percussive massaging tool, the Theragun Prime is worth a look.
While there are many percussive therapy devices available now, Theragun still seems to be one of the most polished. It also seems to have improved build quality, but time will tell. Overall, the Theragun Prime makes the process very easy, particularly if you are new to the process. If you are in the market for a percussive massaging tool, the Theragun Prime is worth a look.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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With Shark FlexStyle, you can easily transform between a powerful, fast, hair dryer, and an ultra-versatile multi-styler with no-heat-damage. One twist is all it takes to flex from one to the other. Attach different stylers and unlock the ability to curl, volumize, smooth, and dry~the choice is yours. Lightweight & powerful, FlexStyle is the answer to fast, easy styling.
Customer Rating
5
Compact and versatile with professional results
on November 30, 2025
Posted by: CraigB
Great
Lightweight
Powerful
Nice color
Quiet for the power
Compact enough for travel
Length makes it easy to reach the back of your head
Heats up fast
Versatile
Easy to use
Long cord
Cool nubs on ends of attachments
Easier and safer for someone younger to use
Very hard to get burned
Power cord swivels in the base
Plenty of third-party accessories available
Lightweight
Powerful
Nice color
Quiet for the power
Compact enough for travel
Length makes it easy to reach the back of your head
Heats up fast
Versatile
Easy to use
Long cord
Cool nubs on ends of attachments
Easier and safer for someone younger to use
Very hard to get burned
Power cord swivels in the base
Plenty of third-party accessories available
Cons
Curlers have a learning curve
Curlers don’t make tight curls or gloss hair
Power brick in middle of cord is a bit awkward
No cord holder
No case
Curlers have a learning curve
Curlers don’t make tight curls or gloss hair
Power brick in middle of cord is a bit awkward
No cord holder
No case
Design and Features 9/10
Out of the box you notice the unique Indigo Rush blue color. A lot of these products are rose gold, white, or silver so it’s nice to see Shark offering more options. The main body is very thin. Even a young teen would have no issues holding it. It is longer than your normal curling iron but more compact than normal hair dryers. It is lightweight, particularly for the power it has. The cord is plenty long; however, the power brick is in the middle of the cord. It’s not a dealbreaker, but you do have to watch out for it as it can pull on the dryer. For example, if the brick is on the counter and slides off it will tug the dryer in your hand or off the counter if you set it down. Near the bottom of the unit are the sliding power button and the speed and heat settings. Further up the body is a cool boost button. In the middle there is a slide lock button that you use to change it from hair dryer to other modes. Attachments just click onto the end with a satisfying click. There is a slide lock you press to remove them. Each attachment has a cool “nub” to hold.
Out of the box you notice the unique Indigo Rush blue color. A lot of these products are rose gold, white, or silver so it’s nice to see Shark offering more options. The main body is very thin. Even a young teen would have no issues holding it. It is longer than your normal curling iron but more compact than normal hair dryers. It is lightweight, particularly for the power it has. The cord is plenty long; however, the power brick is in the middle of the cord. It’s not a dealbreaker, but you do have to watch out for it as it can pull on the dryer. For example, if the brick is on the counter and slides off it will tug the dryer in your hand or off the counter if you set it down. Near the bottom of the unit are the sliding power button and the speed and heat settings. Further up the body is a cool boost button. In the middle there is a slide lock button that you use to change it from hair dryer to other modes. Attachments just click onto the end with a satisfying click. There is a slide lock you press to remove them. Each attachment has a cool “nub” to hold.
While the design would work great for traveling with the lightweight, versatile, and compact design Shark did not include a cord organizer or case. Thankfully, since the FlexStyle has been out for several years others have created accessories to expand it’s capabilities. You can purchase to add more functionality even beyond what Shark offers, including a case. Hopefully someone will create a matching Indigo Rush case soon.
Usage and Performance 9/10
While there will be compromises with creating a tool with so much versatility, Shark has done a nice job of balancing the pros and cons. It’s easy and quick to use. It feels like it heats up almost instantaneously and makes quick work of wet hair. The compact design also feels comfortable in the hand. While the extra length at times feels slightly awkward at first, it is also a bonus making reaching the back of your head more comfortable and natural. It also is quiet for the power. If you are worried about disturbing others in the morning, a single closed door blocks most of the sound. The hairdryer function and oval brush work just like you would expect. They don’t do anything special but they do work just as good as any dedicated styler and that is a good thing.
While there will be compromises with creating a tool with so much versatility, Shark has done a nice job of balancing the pros and cons. It’s easy and quick to use. It feels like it heats up almost instantaneously and makes quick work of wet hair. The compact design also feels comfortable in the hand. While the extra length at times feels slightly awkward at first, it is also a bonus making reaching the back of your head more comfortable and natural. It also is quiet for the power. If you are worried about disturbing others in the morning, a single closed door blocks most of the sound. The hairdryer function and oval brush work just like you would expect. They don’t do anything special but they do work just as good as any dedicated styler and that is a good thing.
The autowrap curlers are where you see more of the compromise. Once you get the technique down for using them they do a good job, but you aren’t going to get tight curls or gloss your hair using them. If you just want to add some curls, then this system works great since it never lets your hair get hot enough to burn and is also hard to get burned by. It does take some practice to use though. You have to put the autowrap curler halfway down your hair, then let it wrap the end of the hair around the curler before pulling it close to the scalp while it rolls the rest up. That part is pretty easy. What is a bit awkward is once you have let it set with heat for 10 seconds you have to use your other hand to press the cool boost button for 10 seconds and then slide the power button offer before removing. The control buttons are slightly recessed but with practice you can feel them. The issue is, depending on where you are curling, it can be a bit of a juggling act trying to hold it and press the buttons to go through the process. If you are the type of person who likes to add curls frequently this routine would probably get to be second nature and worth the tradeoff of reducing the risk of damaging your hair. For once in a while use, like in our family, it can feel awkward without help. Another family member has an older version of this with the same design tradeoff. It seems like a missed opportunity where Shark could have added a curl set button for one handed use where it would automatically run the cool boost and shut off all with one press to set the curl.
Final Thoughts
The Shark FlexStyle is a versatile hair styling tool. With the growing list of third party accessories it has become even better. If you are in the market for a compact styler that is well made but less likely to break the bank, then the Shark FlexStyle is worth a look.
The Shark FlexStyle is a versatile hair styling tool. With the growing list of third party accessories it has become even better. If you are in the market for a compact styler that is well made but less likely to break the bank, then the Shark FlexStyle is worth a look.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Wired Doorbell Plus (2nd Gen) features a bold redesign on the outside and Retinal 2K on the inside. With Motion Detection, Night Vision, and other key features, you can be confident that you~ll see when something happens at your front door.
Customer Rating
4
Good hardware, software still needs refinement
on November 20, 2025
Posted by: CraigB
Great
Fast response
Quickly adjusts IR to prevent blowout
Simple install
Can describe events
AI descriptions allow to search for specific events
Loud microphone
Very clear speech if there is not noise pollution
No ghosting even when poorly lit
Includes a wedge in the box
Simple install
Doorbell rings can now be like phone calls
Doesn’t have the cooldown time between events like previous models
Fast response
Quickly adjusts IR to prevent blowout
Simple install
Can describe events
AI descriptions allow to search for specific events
Loud microphone
Very clear speech if there is not noise pollution
No ghosting even when poorly lit
Includes a wedge in the box
Simple install
Doorbell rings can now be like phone calls
Doesn’t have the cooldown time between events like previous models
Not so great
Birds eye view not working
Doorbell screw locations changed from previous generations
Audio muffled with certain background noises
Chime mini sounds distorted
AI event description delays previews
Announcements on Echo devices inconsistent
Viewing angle reduced from 150 to 140 degrees
Limited functionality without a subscription
Fully dependent on internet
No local storage or AI capability
No Alexa Greetings capability
Installation mounting position is different than previous generations
Birds eye view not working
Doorbell screw locations changed from previous generations
Audio muffled with certain background noises
Chime mini sounds distorted
AI event description delays previews
Announcements on Echo devices inconsistent
Viewing angle reduced from 150 to 140 degrees
Limited functionality without a subscription
Fully dependent on internet
No local storage or AI capability
No Alexa Greetings capability
Installation mounting position is different than previous generations
The design is more rounded than previous generations. Ring has also redesigned the IR ring. Instead of a ring that appears to be a single light, the new version you can see distinct LED strips arrange to be somewhat circular. This latest doorbell no longer works with existing hardwired chimes. Instead, it includes a Chime Mini in the box. Consistent with their product lineup, the Wired Doorbell Plus has no local storage and AI processing is done via the cloud. Functionality is limited without a paid subscription. While it can answer with certain predefined responses, Alexa Greetings capability is limited to the Pro doorbell
Installation 7/10
Installation is easy if you are mechanically inclined. It is very similar to previous generations of Ring doorbells. Strangely, like the past 3 Ring doorbells our family has had the mounting screw locations have been moved again. After years of owning ring doorbells our brick now has multiple holes drilled in it. It would be nice if Ring standardized the mounting holes between doorbell design changes. The most significant difference is when you install the Chime Mini you bypass your existing doorbell chime. It has double sided tape so you can stick it inside your existing chime to take its place. It sounds horrible and distorted but does offer one benefit. The doorbell no longer uses just phantom power from your chime which creates limitations in performance. Instead, the doorbell gets full power at all times.
Installation is easy if you are mechanically inclined. It is very similar to previous generations of Ring doorbells. Strangely, like the past 3 Ring doorbells our family has had the mounting screw locations have been moved again. After years of owning ring doorbells our brick now has multiple holes drilled in it. It would be nice if Ring standardized the mounting holes between doorbell design changes. The most significant difference is when you install the Chime Mini you bypass your existing doorbell chime. It has double sided tape so you can stick it inside your existing chime to take its place. It sounds horrible and distorted but does offer one benefit. The doorbell no longer uses just phantom power from your chime which creates limitations in performance. Instead, the doorbell gets full power at all times.
Video 8/10
The latest version of the doorbell does have some better specs, but some have been downgraded. The resolution has been increased to 2K but the viewing angle has been reduced from 150 in previous generations to 140 degrees. It is not very noticeable but it is unusual to see a previous version having better specifications. Video quality has been improved where faces are sharper. There are signs of compression but Ring has done a respectable job minimizing the effects. With it fully hardwired it means preroll is full quality and the entire video is clear with no ghosting. No more viewing blurry or pixelated preroll. However, dynamic range seems to have decreased. Faces during the daytime are often dark and not very clear even if there is a modest amount of daylight in the area. Night vision is the opposite. Ring really seems to have improved IR exposure. Faces typically blown out by IR up close are not an issue. Even if their face starts out overexposed the camera quickly adjusts.
The latest version of the doorbell does have some better specs, but some have been downgraded. The resolution has been increased to 2K but the viewing angle has been reduced from 150 in previous generations to 140 degrees. It is not very noticeable but it is unusual to see a previous version having better specifications. Video quality has been improved where faces are sharper. There are signs of compression but Ring has done a respectable job minimizing the effects. With it fully hardwired it means preroll is full quality and the entire video is clear with no ghosting. No more viewing blurry or pixelated preroll. However, dynamic range seems to have decreased. Faces during the daytime are often dark and not very clear even if there is a modest amount of daylight in the area. Night vision is the opposite. Ring really seems to have improved IR exposure. Faces typically blown out by IR up close are not an issue. Even if their face starts out overexposed the camera quickly adjusts.
Audio 7/10
The speaker on the doorbell is certainly loud enough. In fact, on full volume your neighbors across the street could easily hear talking. However, understanding is a whole different story. When listening through the app and there is any noise such as traffic, speech sounds blown out. It is like the microphone sensitivity is turned up too high. However, during normal sounds of nature it does a much better job of picking up speech clearly. In fact, during this scenario the audio quality is possibly the best Ring has ever done and conversations feel more natural.
The speaker on the doorbell is certainly loud enough. In fact, on full volume your neighbors across the street could easily hear talking. However, understanding is a whole different story. When listening through the app and there is any noise such as traffic, speech sounds blown out. It is like the microphone sensitivity is turned up too high. However, during normal sounds of nature it does a much better job of picking up speech clearly. In fact, during this scenario the audio quality is possibly the best Ring has ever done and conversations feel more natural.
Performance 8/10
With the fully hardwired setup, response time is greatly improved. No more waiting for the camera to wake from low power mode. Events are quickly announced on any Amazon Echos you have around your house. However, every once in a while, it seemed to stop announcing and showing events. After the doorbell had been installed for a few days it seems to have improved. With updates being automatic it could be that this improved after an overnight update. What will slow things down consistently is turning on AI recognition. When the AI recognition is turned on there is a long delay from when an event happens and when it shows up on the timeline for viewing.
With the fully hardwired setup, response time is greatly improved. No more waiting for the camera to wake from low power mode. Events are quickly announced on any Amazon Echos you have around your house. However, every once in a while, it seemed to stop announcing and showing events. After the doorbell had been installed for a few days it seems to have improved. With updates being automatic it could be that this improved after an overnight update. What will slow things down consistently is turning on AI recognition. When the AI recognition is turned on there is a long delay from when an event happens and when it shows up on the timeline for viewing.
App Notifications and Answering 5/10
It seems like Ring is trying out some new features that haven’t been fully optimized yet. Notifications are usually pretty fast to Echo devices in the house and only delayed by a second or two, but the app is less consistent. Initially it seemed to be due to a new feature where you can receive a call when someone rings the doorbell. When our family tried to use it the phone and app would ring and when you answered it would just spin. We turned that feature off thinking it would help, but currently the phone only rings half of the time when someone presses the button. This is when using the latest app on an iPhone 17 Pro Max with the app set to allow critical alerts. Two different phones had the same experience. When the app did notify of a doorbell press, answering was much quicker than previous Ring doorbells.
It seems like Ring is trying out some new features that haven’t been fully optimized yet. Notifications are usually pretty fast to Echo devices in the house and only delayed by a second or two, but the app is less consistent. Initially it seemed to be due to a new feature where you can receive a call when someone rings the doorbell. When our family tried to use it the phone and app would ring and when you answered it would just spin. We turned that feature off thinking it would help, but currently the phone only rings half of the time when someone presses the button. This is when using the latest app on an iPhone 17 Pro Max with the app set to allow critical alerts. Two different phones had the same experience. When the app did notify of a doorbell press, answering was much quicker than previous Ring doorbells.
Final Thoughts
The Wired Doorbell Plus is a solid product from a hardware perspective disregarding the Chime Mini. However, the software feels like Ring needs time to optimize. For those of you who have had Ring products in the past, this should not be a surprise. If their track record continues, this doorbell will likely improve over time and maybe add a new feature or two. For those unsure, you may want to wait a little bit for Ring to iron things out a bit. For those familiar with the way Ring handles new products and are confident the software will continue to improve, this new fully hardwired version eliminates the compromises of the previous generations.
The Wired Doorbell Plus is a solid product from a hardware perspective disregarding the Chime Mini. However, the software feels like Ring needs time to optimize. For those of you who have had Ring products in the past, this should not be a surprise. If their track record continues, this doorbell will likely improve over time and maybe add a new feature or two. For those unsure, you may want to wait a little bit for Ring to iron things out a bit. For those familiar with the way Ring handles new products and are confident the software will continue to improve, this new fully hardwired version eliminates the compromises of the previous generations.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Alienware 27 280Hz QD-OLED Gaming Monitor - AW2725D - 26.7-inch QHD 280Hz, NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatible, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro
Customer Rating
5
Well balanced budget gaming OLED
on November 8, 2025
Posted by: CraigB
Great
Clean design
Reflective screen better for high contrast in the dark
Nice color calibration out of the box
Very bright for light-controlled room
Flat stand allows more room on the desktop
Integrated cooling fan ensures monitor doesn’t overheat
280Hz refresh gets you closer to 360Hz without the price bump
QHD panel is sharp without requiring beefier GPU
Dark blue color is a nice change from the standard black or white monitors
FreeSync and G-Sync support
3-year burn-in warranty
Clean design
Reflective screen better for high contrast in the dark
Nice color calibration out of the box
Very bright for light-controlled room
Flat stand allows more room on the desktop
Integrated cooling fan ensures monitor doesn’t overheat
280Hz refresh gets you closer to 360Hz without the price bump
QHD panel is sharp without requiring beefier GPU
Dark blue color is a nice change from the standard black or white monitors
FreeSync and G-Sync support
3-year burn-in warranty
Not so great
Blacks turn gray in brighter rooms
Screen glare
Some prefer passively cooled monitors
USB ports are on the bezel
Minor purple fringing on text
No light sensor
Blacks turn gray in brighter rooms
Screen glare
Some prefer passively cooled monitors
USB ports are on the bezel
Minor purple fringing on text
No light sensor
The Alienware AW2725D is an incremental upgrade from the previous version going from 250Hz to 280Hz, but it puts it closer to the 360Hz category without the large price bump that goes with that upgrade. The monitor is sleek and clean looking, particularly for a gaming monitor. Instead of the standard Black or white color it is a dark blue that could be described is midnight. A nice change is the stand is a flat rectangle that doesn’t take up a lot of desk space and you can still place things on top of it unlike the arms many gaming monitors have. The monitor has adjustments for height, rotation, and tilt. The HDMI and Displayport connections are downward facing on the back of the monitor. The monitor does offer a built in USB hub, but strangely the ports are facing downward on the bottom of the bezel. It has 1 USB-C and 1 USB-A plug. While it may be a convenient location to plug in a flash drive it feels a bit awkward for other uses.
Setup 9/10
Setup is easy and straightforward. Just use the thumbscrew to attach the base to the stand and then click the screen into the stand. After plugging in the cords Windows automatically recognizes the monitor and prompts you to install the Alienware Command Center software. When you click “yes” it handles the rest including installing a color calibration profile. The strange thing is the monitor defaults to 60Hz with HDR and Auto HDR off. Of course, it isn’t hard to change but it is just strange that it doesn’t default to 280Hz and HDR on Auto as there is no need to safe power for a desktop monitor like you would on a laptop. Alienware Command Center allows you to configure the HDR mode or set custom monitor options as well as configure your lighting preference for the Alienware logo and power light.
Setup is easy and straightforward. Just use the thumbscrew to attach the base to the stand and then click the screen into the stand. After plugging in the cords Windows automatically recognizes the monitor and prompts you to install the Alienware Command Center software. When you click “yes” it handles the rest including installing a color calibration profile. The strange thing is the monitor defaults to 60Hz with HDR and Auto HDR off. Of course, it isn’t hard to change but it is just strange that it doesn’t default to 280Hz and HDR on Auto as there is no need to safe power for a desktop monitor like you would on a laptop. Alienware Command Center allows you to configure the HDR mode or set custom monitor options as well as configure your lighting preference for the Alienware logo and power light.
Performance 8/10
Out of the box, the monitor is set up on the standard profile where the colors look very accurate, and the tone is just slightly on the warm side. Brightness is good for a light-controlled room. You will see the limitations of this more budget-oriented OLED sooner than higher-end ones in brighter rooms. On SDR mode it maxes out around 250 nits and in HDR True Black it is around 400 so it doesn’t have a ton of headroom to fight against light. The screen is also glossy to help boost contrast but that means in a bright room you will see more glare. Blacks will turn dark gray, and the screen may appear slightly dim if the room is very bright. In most situations this will be minimal, but this is definitely a monitor for gaming first. There is also some minor purple fringing on text, but it is slight so most people would be fine doing productivity work with this monitor. Burn in controls are not customizable. The only manual option is pixel refresh. A plus is that it comes with a 3-year burn in warranty. Cooling is a concern and Alienware chose active cooling on this model. While some may consider it a con, the fan is not audible and it keeps the monitor temps more stable than passive options can.
Out of the box, the monitor is set up on the standard profile where the colors look very accurate, and the tone is just slightly on the warm side. Brightness is good for a light-controlled room. You will see the limitations of this more budget-oriented OLED sooner than higher-end ones in brighter rooms. On SDR mode it maxes out around 250 nits and in HDR True Black it is around 400 so it doesn’t have a ton of headroom to fight against light. The screen is also glossy to help boost contrast but that means in a bright room you will see more glare. Blacks will turn dark gray, and the screen may appear slightly dim if the room is very bright. In most situations this will be minimal, but this is definitely a monitor for gaming first. There is also some minor purple fringing on text, but it is slight so most people would be fine doing productivity work with this monitor. Burn in controls are not customizable. The only manual option is pixel refresh. A plus is that it comes with a 3-year burn in warranty. Cooling is a concern and Alienware chose active cooling on this model. While some may consider it a con, the fan is not audible and it keeps the monitor temps more stable than passive options can.
Of course, looking past all that, the big question is how does it do for gaming? If you are gaming in a low light or a dark room, you would not only enjoy the inky blacks of an OLED but the near instant response times with no perceivable ghosting or stuttering. For most people short of an Esports Gamer the 280Hz is going to be buttery smooth and the QHD display gives enough detail without killing your GPU and your framerate. So far, there has been no sign of flickering.
Final Thoughts
If you are a gamer that is looking for a budget conscious OLED monitor that can be a great gaming monitor and a respectable monitor for productivity use, then the Alienware AW2725D could be a great fit.
If you are a gamer that is looking for a budget conscious OLED monitor that can be a great gaming monitor and a respectable monitor for productivity use, then the Alienware AW2725D could be a great fit.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The ROG Zephyrus G14 has been redesigned with an all-new premium aluminum chassis for increased durability and elegance. At 0.63 inches thin and weighing in at just 3.46lbs, this gaming powerhouse combines portability with cutting-edge technology. Featuring the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor and NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti laptop GPU, the Zephyrus G14 achieves unparalleled gaming performance. The Zephyrus G14 features an OLED ROG Nebula Display. Enjoy rapid 0.2ms response times, vivid 3K resolution, and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. Elevate your audio experience with new upgraded woofers, offering a 252% volume increase, 100Hz bass frequency, and Dolby Atmos support. For intense gaming sessions, the ROG Intelligent Cooling integrates liquid metal and aerodynamic 2nd Gen Arc Flow Fans to sustain peak performance.
Customer Rating
5
The sweet spot for performance and value
on May 14, 2025
Posted by: CraigB
Great
Excellent quality 3K screen
VRR up to 120Hz
Great typing experience
Great speakers
Aluminum chassis feels premium, light, and strong
Very thin for the performance
No screen wobble
Windows Hello facial login
SD card slot
Includes Advance Optimus and MUX switch
Ports are towards the rear on the sides and out of the way
Large, smooth trackpad
Upgradable SSD and Wi-Fi
32GB of RAM should last for several years
More VRAM this year for the mid tier GPU
Can be silent and functional when needed
Reasonably quiet even on Turbo
iGPU power enough for gameplay while extending battery life
Good Wi-Fi even though it is MediaTek
Long battery life on silent eco mode
Nearly as performant as the 5080 but a better value
Excellent quality 3K screen
VRR up to 120Hz
Great typing experience
Great speakers
Aluminum chassis feels premium, light, and strong
Very thin for the performance
No screen wobble
Windows Hello facial login
SD card slot
Includes Advance Optimus and MUX switch
Ports are towards the rear on the sides and out of the way
Large, smooth trackpad
Upgradable SSD and Wi-Fi
32GB of RAM should last for several years
More VRAM this year for the mid tier GPU
Can be silent and functional when needed
Reasonably quiet even on Turbo
iGPU power enough for gameplay while extending battery life
Good Wi-Fi even though it is MediaTek
Long battery life on silent eco mode
Nearly as performant as the 5080 but a better value
Not So Great
GeForce Driver issues with latest version
MSI Afterburner causes severe lag
Armory crate has buried some useful settings
MicroSD card slot instead of full sized
Keyboard backlight uniformity issues
Single zone RGB
Trackpad rattles when tapped
RAM not upgradable
No ethernet port
Only one USB-C 4 port
Doesn’t always wake from sleep
GeForce Driver issues with latest version
MSI Afterburner causes severe lag
Armory crate has buried some useful settings
MicroSD card slot instead of full sized
Keyboard backlight uniformity issues
Single zone RGB
Trackpad rattles when tapped
RAM not upgradable
No ethernet port
Only one USB-C 4 port
Doesn’t always wake from sleep
Chassis and Ports 9.5/10
The 2025 G14 looks identical to the previous generation but that is a good thing. It feels solid with no hint of flex. There is no detectable screen wobble. Included is a 200-watt power brick with the proprietary slim power adapter. Asus limits the GPU to 110 watts, but with G-Helper you can go as high as 120. You get two USB-A and two USB-C with one of each on each side towards the back. Only one USB-C port is version 4. The intake vents have a dust filter to help slow down buildup of dust internally.
The 2025 G14 looks identical to the previous generation but that is a good thing. It feels solid with no hint of flex. There is no detectable screen wobble. Included is a 200-watt power brick with the proprietary slim power adapter. Asus limits the GPU to 110 watts, but with G-Helper you can go as high as 120. You get two USB-A and two USB-C with one of each on each side towards the back. Only one USB-C port is version 4. The intake vents have a dust filter to help slow down buildup of dust internally.
Screen 10/10
Asus lists the screen as 400 nits SDR and up to 500 nits. Windows reports a peak brightness of 616. Overall, it gets bright enough to work in a well-lit room and has the inky blacks of an OLED. It supports VRR up to120Hz which is very playable without sacrificing battery life. The 3K screen seems like a bit of an overkill at 14 inches but it does look very sharp. While there is no mention of pixel arrangement it doesn’t exhibit the color fringing that you normally see with OLEDs that causes blurry text. Even checking close up, it isn’t visible. This means that, unlike many OLEDs, it can do well both with gaming and productivity. With 100% of DCI-P3 it also does very well for professional work without needing to depend on an external monitor for color accuracy. It does seem to have an anti-glare coating, but not so aggressive that it crushes the contrast.
Asus lists the screen as 400 nits SDR and up to 500 nits. Windows reports a peak brightness of 616. Overall, it gets bright enough to work in a well-lit room and has the inky blacks of an OLED. It supports VRR up to120Hz which is very playable without sacrificing battery life. The 3K screen seems like a bit of an overkill at 14 inches but it does look very sharp. While there is no mention of pixel arrangement it doesn’t exhibit the color fringing that you normally see with OLEDs that causes blurry text. Even checking close up, it isn’t visible. This means that, unlike many OLEDs, it can do well both with gaming and productivity. With 100% of DCI-P3 it also does very well for professional work without needing to depend on an external monitor for color accuracy. It does seem to have an anti-glare coating, but not so aggressive that it crushes the contrast.
Keyboard 9/10
Asus states the keys are 12.24% larger than before, but comparing it to a family members older Zephyrus it is hard to see. Travel feels like it has increase and activation is more consistent. Typing had no issues with missed keys and showed no signs of ghosting. Activation in typing and gaming has been very reliable. A weak area that remains from every white/silver Zephyrus is backlight uniformity and consistency. Asus seems to have improved the contrast making the keys easier to read, but the backlight is still inconsistent from key to key. The secondary markings are almost unreadable. The backlight is a single zone. Individual RGB keys would be nice for color coding for games to better highlight groups. Looking beyond those shortcomings, the keyboard is excellent in regular usage. The keys have a silent tactile feel with about half the travel of a dedicated low-profile mechanical. Travel is even with no detectable wobble and activation is roughly at the midpoint.
Asus states the keys are 12.24% larger than before, but comparing it to a family members older Zephyrus it is hard to see. Travel feels like it has increase and activation is more consistent. Typing had no issues with missed keys and showed no signs of ghosting. Activation in typing and gaming has been very reliable. A weak area that remains from every white/silver Zephyrus is backlight uniformity and consistency. Asus seems to have improved the contrast making the keys easier to read, but the backlight is still inconsistent from key to key. The secondary markings are almost unreadable. The backlight is a single zone. Individual RGB keys would be nice for color coding for games to better highlight groups. Looking beyond those shortcomings, the keyboard is excellent in regular usage. The keys have a silent tactile feel with about half the travel of a dedicated low-profile mechanical. Travel is even with no detectable wobble and activation is roughly at the midpoint.
Trackpad 8.5/10
It seems like Asus has made some gains in their trackpads, but there is still room for improvement. It is much larger than my older style and the glass surface feels smoother. Palm rejection has improved with no false activations so far. The click also feels better than it used to with a softer feel with a firm click. The one area that may have actually become worse is the diving board rattle. It seems every diving board style trackpad has this but this generation the rattle when tapped seems louder. It would be nice to see Asus transition to a haptic version, but it is the only gripe with this trackpad. In daily usage it does the job smoothly and reliably.
It seems like Asus has made some gains in their trackpads, but there is still room for improvement. It is much larger than my older style and the glass surface feels smoother. Palm rejection has improved with no false activations so far. The click also feels better than it used to with a softer feel with a firm click. The one area that may have actually become worse is the diving board rattle. It seems every diving board style trackpad has this but this generation the rattle when tapped seems louder. It would be nice to see Asus transition to a haptic version, but it is the only gripe with this trackpad. In daily usage it does the job smoothly and reliably.
Speakers 9.5/10
It feels like high end laptops are hitting the peak of what they can do out of a small chassis. Asus says they have increased the volume 252%. They don’t specify what it is 252% louder than, but they do get very loud. They get loud enough to where people on the opposite side of the house can hear what game you are playing. If you enable Dolby Atmos, the default mode does make the speakers noticeably quiet for surround sound. While volume is good, it is the sound quality that stands out. These are the best speakers I have heard in a Windows laptop. For the size they also have a surprising amount of bass.
It feels like high end laptops are hitting the peak of what they can do out of a small chassis. Asus says they have increased the volume 252%. They don’t specify what it is 252% louder than, but they do get very loud. They get loud enough to where people on the opposite side of the house can hear what game you are playing. If you enable Dolby Atmos, the default mode does make the speakers noticeably quiet for surround sound. While volume is good, it is the sound quality that stands out. These are the best speakers I have heard in a Windows laptop. For the size they also have a surprising amount of bass.
Battery 9/10
Asus has struck a good balance between battery life and weight. While you could drain the battery in less than 2 hours on Performance with the right game using the dGPU, the iGPU is a better choice. The Ryzen processor seems a good fit for this since integrated Radeon graphics performance is better than Arc. While I haven’t had the opportunity to try gaming on battery I have gamed on this processor on a previous system. Based on that, I wouldn’t be surprised if you can get over 4 hours of gaming using the iGPU. If you just need to do basic productivity work and you run it in silent on Eco it is closer to 9-10 hours before even trying to tweak things further with G-Helper.
Asus has struck a good balance between battery life and weight. While you could drain the battery in less than 2 hours on Performance with the right game using the dGPU, the iGPU is a better choice. The Ryzen processor seems a good fit for this since integrated Radeon graphics performance is better than Arc. While I haven’t had the opportunity to try gaming on battery I have gamed on this processor on a previous system. Based on that, I wouldn’t be surprised if you can get over 4 hours of gaming using the iGPU. If you just need to do basic productivity work and you run it in silent on Eco it is closer to 9-10 hours before even trying to tweak things further with G-Helper.
Cooling 9.5/10
Asus claims they have further improved cooling in the latest generation. While I don’t get an opportunity to game for multiple hours often, I can say it handles heat well in the 30-60 minutes I usually get. The top of the keyboard near the screen gets hot but the keyboard area stays manageable. Even though the center of the keyboard gets hot, the heat doesn’t transfer much to the keys and is mostly on the metal chassis below. The current design does a good job of shedding the heat to the center and back off the chassis away from your hands. Comparing it to a 2025 G16 a family member has; it does feel slightly cooler in the keyboard area. It also sheds the heat and cools back down quicker. While it can definitely get hot, it seems to have better control on thermals making me wonder if Asus was too conservative.
Asus claims they have further improved cooling in the latest generation. While I don’t get an opportunity to game for multiple hours often, I can say it handles heat well in the 30-60 minutes I usually get. The top of the keyboard near the screen gets hot but the keyboard area stays manageable. Even though the center of the keyboard gets hot, the heat doesn’t transfer much to the keys and is mostly on the metal chassis below. The current design does a good job of shedding the heat to the center and back off the chassis away from your hands. Comparing it to a 2025 G16 a family member has; it does feel slightly cooler in the keyboard area. It also sheds the heat and cools back down quicker. While it can definitely get hot, it seems to have better control on thermals making me wonder if Asus was too conservative.
Wi-Fi 9/10
I can’t give full credit with the history of MediaTek, but so far this Wi-Fi card has been surprisingly good. Unlike previous cards this one hasn’t randomly disappeared or stopped functioning after waking from sleep. I only have Wi-Fi 6E so that is as far as I can test but in most cases the system prefers 5Ghz since 6Ghz is so sensitive to obstructions. That said, this card has been one of the fastest and most well behaved on my network.
I can’t give full credit with the history of MediaTek, but so far this Wi-Fi card has been surprisingly good. Unlike previous cards this one hasn’t randomly disappeared or stopped functioning after waking from sleep. I only have Wi-Fi 6E so that is as far as I can test but in most cases the system prefers 5Ghz since 6Ghz is so sensitive to obstructions. That said, this card has been one of the fastest and most well behaved on my network.
Performance 8.5/10
Of course, as a slim laptop you don’t expect it to be the top performer but, at least for right now, it seems to be hampered by some driver issues. Out of the box, everything was working surprisingly fast but then in the process of trying to find the limits problems were found. For starters, the latest version of the GeForce driver caused the screen to flash and change brightness. Then the driver crashed twice. The easy fix is just to roll back the driver. The main issue is having Afterburner just installed caused games to be unplayably slow at any resolution. Hopefully there will be a fix in the future but without it I can’t get the full picture of the systems capability, but you can get a general idea.
Of course, as a slim laptop you don’t expect it to be the top performer but, at least for right now, it seems to be hampered by some driver issues. Out of the box, everything was working surprisingly fast but then in the process of trying to find the limits problems were found. For starters, the latest version of the GeForce driver caused the screen to flash and change brightness. Then the driver crashed twice. The easy fix is just to roll back the driver. The main issue is having Afterburner just installed caused games to be unplayably slow at any resolution. Hopefully there will be a fix in the future but without it I can’t get the full picture of the systems capability, but you can get a general idea.
On Turbo, Forza Motorsport benchmarked at 38FPS, DLSS off, and every setting maxed out to see the upper limit. While Doom Eternal doesn’t have a benchmark, it felt smooth with every setting maxed out, DLSS off, native resolution. Halo Infinite was smooth on Ultra at native resolution with no scaling. If feels like there is more headroom in this card. The largest game I threw at it still left over 2GB of VRAM. Without Afterburner it is hard to say but it felt like the GPU still had some headroom as well. Early benchmarks suggest the same with the 5070ti coming in less than 10% slower than the 5080 but at a much better value.
Final Thoughts
The 2025 version of the G14 feels like a refinement of the first generation of this chassis. While there is still room to improve, such as finally fixing the normal quirks of Asus laptops like the screen not always turning on from sleep, it feels like the most polished version of the series so far. If you are in the market for a compact and versatile premium laptop and prefer a balance of value and performance, then this Zephyrus G14 is worth a look.
The 2025 version of the G14 feels like a refinement of the first generation of this chassis. While there is still room to improve, such as finally fixing the normal quirks of Asus laptops like the screen not always turning on from sleep, it feels like the most polished version of the series so far. If you are in the market for a compact and versatile premium laptop and prefer a balance of value and performance, then this Zephyrus G14 is worth a look.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Hisense U6 Series is the access point for serious sports fans like you. It~s the ultimate in Mini-LED technology: hyper-real contrasts, bright lighting and rich shadows. This is the kind of TV that drops you right in the action so you can catch all the details~down to every bead of sweat on a player~s brow.
Customer Rating
5
Well balanced entry level mini-LED TV
on May 9, 2025
Posted by: CraigB
Great
Near OLED level black levels
No risk of burn-in
Very color accurate
Very good sound for built-in speakers
Bright enough for well-lit rooms
No visible blooming
Limited glare
Fast built-in Fire TV
Simple setup
Includes EQ for adjusting sound
Supports ethernet connection as well as Wi-Fi
Alexa voice assistant is responsive
Includes a powered USB-A port for other streaming devices
Turns on fast
Near OLED level black levels
No risk of burn-in
Very color accurate
Very good sound for built-in speakers
Bright enough for well-lit rooms
No visible blooming
Limited glare
Fast built-in Fire TV
Simple setup
Includes EQ for adjusting sound
Supports ethernet connection as well as Wi-Fi
Alexa voice assistant is responsive
Includes a powered USB-A port for other streaming devices
Turns on fast
Not so great
Controller has small, indistinct buttons
Controller buttons not visible in the dark
Controller power button didn’t respond reliably
Limited options for naming inputs
TV sometimes lags in certain menus
HDMI inputs close to the outer edge may cause routing issues
Faint vertical band on left and right side with solid colors.
Controller has small, indistinct buttons
Controller buttons not visible in the dark
Controller power button didn’t respond reliably
Limited options for naming inputs
TV sometimes lags in certain menus
HDMI inputs close to the outer edge may cause routing issues
Faint vertical band on left and right side with solid colors.
Out of the box you will notice the TV is thicker than most TVs are now. It isn’t as thick as old-fashioned LCD TVs but a far cry from the ultra-thin OLEDs, but that comes with an upside. You don’t need to be concerned with burn-in. It also seems to offer more space for good speakers. You can install it using the included feet or a VESA mount for a wall. There is no HDMI cable included. Only the remote and feet.
With Fire TV included setup is very simple. All settings are integrated into one interface, and it walks you through the setup. A surprising bonus is the inclusion of a ethernet port for those of you who either prefer hardwired connections or just want to eliminate any Wi-Fi issues. Besides the HDMI ARC port, there are 3 additional HDMI ports which is standard nowadays. What isn’t standard is an off-air antenna connection, SPDIF, compositive video in via stereo jack, and headphone jack. It is rare to see those as options on most modern TVs. If you want to use your own streaming device there is also a powered USB-A port. The ports are facing to the side of the TV, but they are close to the edge meaning you might have issues where your cables can’t bend enough to be fully hidden behind the TV.
Smart TV OS 10/10
While some manufacturers like to create their own custom SmartTV OSes which are often slow and clunky Hisense, thankfully, opted for Fire TV. Right out the box it made setup simple, and all the major streaming platforms were available. The TV would turn on fast and be responsive each time. It must be said though that the remove sometimes misses button pressing for turning on and off. A bonus if you have Amazon Prime is Luna is also integrated. All you need to do is pair a Bluetooth game controller and you can stream games straight from your account. The interface was smooth and consistent. The only hiccup experience seemed to be when changing settings in Ambient mode.
While some manufacturers like to create their own custom SmartTV OSes which are often slow and clunky Hisense, thankfully, opted for Fire TV. Right out the box it made setup simple, and all the major streaming platforms were available. The TV would turn on fast and be responsive each time. It must be said though that the remove sometimes misses button pressing for turning on and off. A bonus if you have Amazon Prime is Luna is also integrated. All you need to do is pair a Bluetooth game controller and you can stream games straight from your account. The interface was smooth and consistent. The only hiccup experience seemed to be when changing settings in Ambient mode.
Sound 9/10
While the EQ profile needed some tweaking for our taste out of the box, the sound from the built-in speakers was surprisingly good. It was also nice that Hisense opted to include an actual EQ and not just treble and bass adjustments. Of course, it won’t compete with a dedicated sound system, but if you don’t care about surround sound and rumbling base the built-in speakers do a respectable job. It even has a subwoofer. While it won’t provide thumping bass it does provide more depth to the sound. The default sound profile seems to favor dialog, and that’s even before turning on dialog enhancement. In fact, our family felt it was too strong out of the box. It seems to have plenty of adjustment for those who have trouble understanding dialog.
While the EQ profile needed some tweaking for our taste out of the box, the sound from the built-in speakers was surprisingly good. It was also nice that Hisense opted to include an actual EQ and not just treble and bass adjustments. Of course, it won’t compete with a dedicated sound system, but if you don’t care about surround sound and rumbling base the built-in speakers do a respectable job. It even has a subwoofer. While it won’t provide thumping bass it does provide more depth to the sound. The default sound profile seems to favor dialog, and that’s even before turning on dialog enhancement. In fact, our family felt it was too strong out of the box. It seems to have plenty of adjustment for those who have trouble understanding dialog.
Screen 8/10
If you are thinking this would be a budget alternative that looks as good as an OLED panel you would be wrong but only if you can compare them side by side. It is close enough that the average person won’t be able to tell the difference if this TV wasn’t sitting right next to one. Blacks are very dark and it can display bright scenes right next to dark with no discernable blooming. With 1000 nits of brightness bright rooms are no problem. The glass seems to have a mild anti-glare, but you will still get some minor glare and reflections. The TV does even better in a dark room where it does not have to fight against ambient light and reflections. In fact, in our family the issue when the room was dark was the screen was too bright, almost hurting our eyes. It does have a light sensor as well as some adjustments up and down to suit your preference. By default, the automatic brightness seems too dim in bright rooms and too bright in dim rooms. Thankfully there are several methods to adjust it to your preference. When it comes to color accuracy you can tell things have improved greatly over the years. Particularly if you use FilmMaker mode the colors look correct and appropriate to the scene. No over saturated colors or blown out reds but what appears to be very color accurate. The one area that the panel has a small weakness is what some refer to as a dirty screen door effect. If a single color is displayed on the screen, such as white, you can see inconsistent bands of a darker version of the color and some faint blotches. Adjusting dynamic contrast reduces the effect. Thankfully, while it does have this weakness you are unlikely to see it while watching normal videos as any inconsistencies are invisible unless you display a single color across the entire screen.
If you are thinking this would be a budget alternative that looks as good as an OLED panel you would be wrong but only if you can compare them side by side. It is close enough that the average person won’t be able to tell the difference if this TV wasn’t sitting right next to one. Blacks are very dark and it can display bright scenes right next to dark with no discernable blooming. With 1000 nits of brightness bright rooms are no problem. The glass seems to have a mild anti-glare, but you will still get some minor glare and reflections. The TV does even better in a dark room where it does not have to fight against ambient light and reflections. In fact, in our family the issue when the room was dark was the screen was too bright, almost hurting our eyes. It does have a light sensor as well as some adjustments up and down to suit your preference. By default, the automatic brightness seems too dim in bright rooms and too bright in dim rooms. Thankfully there are several methods to adjust it to your preference. When it comes to color accuracy you can tell things have improved greatly over the years. Particularly if you use FilmMaker mode the colors look correct and appropriate to the scene. No over saturated colors or blown out reds but what appears to be very color accurate. The one area that the panel has a small weakness is what some refer to as a dirty screen door effect. If a single color is displayed on the screen, such as white, you can see inconsistent bands of a darker version of the color and some faint blotches. Adjusting dynamic contrast reduces the effect. Thankfully, while it does have this weakness you are unlikely to see it while watching normal videos as any inconsistencies are invisible unless you display a single color across the entire screen.
Final Thoughts
For a budget-oriented mini-LED TV Hisense seems to have done a very nice job. While a budget TV comes with compromises it doesn’t feel like it in the case of this TV. If you are in the market for a budget mini-LED TV, then the Hisense U6 Mini-LED is worth considering.
For a budget-oriented mini-LED TV Hisense seems to have done a very nice job. While a budget TV comes with compromises it doesn’t feel like it in the case of this TV. If you are in the market for a budget mini-LED TV, then the Hisense U6 Mini-LED is worth considering.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Powerful bass from a portable speaker. The ULT FIELD 3 is designed to be carried in one hand and comes with a stowable shoulder strap to make it easy to transport. It's also waterproof and dustproof, so that you can take your favorite music to the beach and beyond.
Posted by: CraigB
Great
Solid build quality
Includes carry strap
Clean attractive design
Straps attach very securely
IP67 water rating
Clear vocals
Can be linked with other Sony speakers with party mode
Can connect to a second Field 3 for stereo mode
Surprisingly good as a speakerphone in calls
Supports multipoint Bluetooth
USB-C charging doesn’t require special cables
Custom EQ option
Battery care option extends battery lifespan
Works well for resonating bass
Works as a power bank to charge your phone
Good battery life
Solid build quality
Includes carry strap
Clean attractive design
Straps attach very securely
IP67 water rating
Clear vocals
Can be linked with other Sony speakers with party mode
Can connect to a second Field 3 for stereo mode
Surprisingly good as a speakerphone in calls
Supports multipoint Bluetooth
USB-C charging doesn’t require special cables
Custom EQ option
Battery care option extends battery lifespan
Works well for resonating bass
Works as a power bank to charge your phone
Good battery life
Not so great
Occasional Bluetooth stability issues when using Prioritize Sound Quality
Sound can be a bit boxy
Attractive white design also shows dirt easier
No stereo jack
EQ doesn’t offer as much bass as Ult Mode
Straps are hard to remove once attached
Turning off ULT mode seems to turn off all bass
Occasional Bluetooth stability issues when using Prioritize Sound Quality
Sound can be a bit boxy
Attractive white design also shows dirt easier
No stereo jack
EQ doesn’t offer as much bass as Ult Mode
Straps are hard to remove once attached
Turning off ULT mode seems to turn off all bass
The Sony ULT Field 3 has a simple, clean design. The finish of white textured cloth looks elegant, but over time it will likely collect dirt quicker than darker colors. In the box are the speaker, carry strap, and USB-C charging cable. The speaker feels solid and well built. It has a slight heft to it but is not excessively heavy. The included carry strap almost feels overbuilt and includes metal clips on the ends to attach to the straps on the speaker. The strap attaches via straps hidden behind rubber plugs on the speaker. The clips are easy to install and stay secure very well. However, removing the strap is more challenging due to barbs on the clips. While difficult, it does mean they are unlikely to ever come loose accidentally. There is a USB-C charging port and battery mode button behind a rubberized door on the back of the speaker. The battery button is for changing battery care mode and checking battery charge status. When care mode is enabled, it stops charging the battery at 90% to extend the lifespan of the battery at the cost of some runtime. There is no stereo jack, and playback is only via Bluetooth. The speaker supports party mode where it can be connected to other compatible Sony speakers. I do not have another to try this feature out.
For setup you can connect as a standard Bluetooth speaker without the app. However, the core features of editing Bluetooth connection profiles and creating custom EQs will not be available. You also lose the DJ function. For Android phones you can pair via a quick tap on the speaker. If you have a second Field 3 you can connect them as a Stereo pair. You can also connect it to other compatible Sony speakers with Party Connect.
First, with the ULT mode off it sounds as if the speaker has no bass at all. It can save battery life but would drastically reduce the quality of music. One place where it could be useful is if you are listening to podcasts or other speech as the bass doesn’t matter. In ULT mode the speaker is surprisingly good at producing resonating bass such as what is produced by a bass guitar. No surprise that it struggles to reproduce punchy bass with its small woofers. The overall sound is clean and precise even at high volume with no perceivable distortion. Vocals are crisp and clear, slightly bright, but not harsh. The sound is also slightly boxy but not over the top. The sound is very directional and you can tell exactly where the music comes from. From a distance, it sounds more like you are standing in front of a stage with the performer versus being in an auditorium. If you are thinking of using custom EQ to try to tweak out the boxy quality, you will find it comes at the cost of bass. While Custom EQ does offer 7 bands, it seems as though Sony has opted to limit the maximum bass to the preset ULT setting. It’s a bit of a shame as it would be nice to have the extra tunability. That said, most people would like the standard ULT profile as it makes the music feel lively and lets the vocal stand out without being offensive. Periodically while using the speaker, it would start to have issues with having a solid connection to my phone while playing music causing stutters. This is the Bluetooth profile that favors audio quality. While I could have changed Sony Connect to use the profile that prefers connection stability over audio quality the issue was not very common.
It might seem strange for a Bluetooth speaker to offer speakerphone capability, but it comes in handy. If someone calls while you are listening to music, you don’t have to worry about stopping the music or disconnecting from the speaker. You can answer the call straight from the speaker and the music is paused automatically. Audio quality from the person speaking was clean and clear and people reported the echo cancelling mics sounded good. They said it sounded like a good quality speakerphone. It did pick up some background noise but not enough to interfere with the call and it made talking on speakerphone feel more natural than on the phone itself. Part of the reason is the voice of the person you are speaking to sounds far higher quality than the little speaker built into the cellphone. It seemed like a gimmick at first. It may not be required but it is surprisingly nice to have.
Overall, the Sony ULT Field 3 is a solid small portable speaker and the departure from the flashy speakers from the past is appreciated. If you are looking for a small to midsize portable speaker the Field 3 is worth considering.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Ninja~ CREAMi~ Scoop & Swirl turns almost anything into ice cream, soft serve, and much more at the touch of a button. Customize flavor, control ingredients, and choose classic scooped or swirled.
Posted by: CraigB
Great
Adds even more dessert options beyond the standard Creami
Easy to learn particularly if you know how to use the original Creami
Dishwasher safe
Makes it easy to have ice cream that is healthy and tastes good
Includes lots of recipes
Simple to use
The same base can be used for ice cream, soft serve, and milkshake
Works with simple regular ingredients
Can turn existing store ice cream into new creations
Color coding and keyed parts ensure you don’t put it together incorrectly
Tells you if you forgot to install a part
Adds even more dessert options beyond the standard Creami
Easy to learn particularly if you know how to use the original Creami
Dishwasher safe
Makes it easy to have ice cream that is healthy and tastes good
Includes lots of recipes
Simple to use
The same base can be used for ice cream, soft serve, and milkshake
Works with simple regular ingredients
Can turn existing store ice cream into new creations
Color coding and keyed parts ensure you don’t put it together incorrectly
Tells you if you forgot to install a part
Not So Great
Loud
Takes up a lot of space
Good results are temperature sensitive
Looks and sounds like it is about to break with certain recipes
Pints take more space due to soft serve spout
Old Creami accessories are not compatible
Getting soft serve right takes trial and error
Loud
Takes up a lot of space
Good results are temperature sensitive
Looks and sounds like it is about to break with certain recipes
Pints take more space due to soft serve spout
Old Creami accessories are not compatible
Getting soft serve right takes trial and error
The Ninji Swirl by Creami is an upgraded version of the original Creami that adds soft serve capability. With a footprint nearly double the size and the weight to match this Swirl will likely need a dedicated spot unless you are ok with moving a 26-pound appliance on a regular basis. It is also very tall but should fit under most cabinets, but just barely. Thankfully there are no moving parts or things to worry about on top. The design is mostly chromed plastic, gray, and black with a few levers that are white. From a distance the appearance is nice but a bit busy in the Ninja way. Part of the unit sticks out for a drip tray under the soft serve area but you can store that underneath when not in use.
It seems Ninja is worried about people being confused about how to use it as there are stickers all over the device and accessories that describe their function and some even include QR codes with more information. While the Swirl is more complex, the extra stickers may give the impression to some that it is hard to use and that is not true. Initially there is a learning curve but going through things step by step you realize it is a lot simpler than it seems. Setup is very simple as the only thing you need to install is a drop tray and plug it in. After washing all you need to do is choose your first recipes. The only frustrating part of setup is realizing you must wait 24 hours to enjoy your creation. The one exception is if you want to change a store-bought ice cream into something else.
Probably the main challenge of the Swirl is determining what you are going to make with so many options. Out of the box you get 2-pint containers with lids. With so many recipes and low-calorie options, you are likely going to want to purchase extras. That does lead to a downside of the new pint containers. With the soft serve spout, they take up even more space in the freezer. The storage lids do ok but don’t feel fully secure either.
Making standard ice cream is straightforward and identical to the older generation Creami. You just create your base and make sure it doesn’t go above the max fill like. Let it freeze for 24 hours, and you are good to go. Where things require more experimentation is on the soft serve side. Depending on how well your freezer does it might take more or less time for the process to work. Ninja lists a specified ideal freezer temperature range but if you have an old school freezer that likes to go well below zero it might take some extra work. On my freezer it likes to freeze things well below zero regardless of the setting. This means the Creami pints are extremely cold when you go to spin them. This doesn’t seem to be a problem if you are making them into standard ice cream, but it does if you are making soft serve. It seems like it is related to the process of adding air but when making soft serve if the pint was overly cold the entire container will shake, rattle, and move to the side as it is processed in the Swirl. It also looks as though it was to rip the pint off the base. So far it has held up fine but when a base does this it typically requires a respin. While most times it seems slightly quieter than the original Creami it is much louder when this happens. Either way the Swirl is still very loud. An easy workaround to reduce the shaking is to leave the pint on the counter for a few minutes to warm up. Again, this only applies to the soft serve options and a little trial and error, and you can get it sorted out. Until then, you still have perfectly edible soft serve with the texture just not perfect.
The more you use it you start to realize how simple the process is. You just make your base, then process it to ice cream or with one extra step to soft serve. There are some things to remember like how to lock the pint into the process or retracting the press if stops but those quickly become second nature. The parts have color coding to help you learn but it doesn’t take long to get the hang of it.
What seems to be more of a challenge besides finding the optimum freeze temperature for your base is mastering a good soft serve swirl. You can adjust the speed it pushes out the soft serve but getting it right still takes practice, but the process is fun. What is nice is if you don’t want to use it all you can just level off the top of the pint and put it back in the freezer for later. Another option is you can process it first as ice cream and then use the remainder as soft serve.
If you have an original Creami model you can already make a version of soft serve. However, the Swirl does seem to make the soft serve slightly softer and airier without making it watery but most people probably wouldn’t notice the difference. Regardless, the Swirl makes the process easier and more fun. More so if you have kids.
Cleanup is easy. If you are going to reuse the parts soon you can just rinse them. If not, then just toss them in the dishwasher as all the parts are dishwasher safe. However, you will want to remove 2 seals periodically as they can hold ice cream and over time could start to smell. Thankfully removing the seals is not difficult.
Final Thoughts
The Ninja Swirl by Creami is fun new version in the Ninja Creami line. It’s easy to get the hang of, provides even more dessert options, and is fun to use. If you are looking for an all in one cold dessert maker, the Ninja Swirl by Creami is hard to beat.
The Ninja Swirl by Creami is fun new version in the Ninja Creami line. It’s easy to get the hang of, provides even more dessert options, and is fun to use. If you are looking for an all in one cold dessert maker, the Ninja Swirl by Creami is hard to beat.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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CraigB's Review Comments
Watch your favorite movies, TV shows and sporting events in crisp 1080p resolution with this Samsung UN65FH6001FXZA HDTV, which features Clear Motion Rate 240 to preserve picture detail during fast-action sequences.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5This is an awesome TV for the cost
By Korom
from Raleigh, NC
First, this is a fantastic monitor. If you have a receiver for your HDMI switching and watch TV with the sound through that receiver then this is the PERFECT TV for you. I use it with my Denon e300 receiver, all my HDMI inputs go into the receiver with one HDMI cable going to the TV. Minimal fuss and muss. The picture quality is truly incredible for a LCD TV, the blacks are very very good, almost as good as my Panasonic Plasma but its understandable that its not that good as LCD cannot show true black like a plasma can. I checked 3 bars for the sound quality but honestly I never used the internal speakers. I gave this 5 stars and would have given it 6 stars if I could have (on a 5 star scale) because the picture quality is just that good.
Bottom line: Fantastic TV for the price.
CraigB
Texas
An LED TV is a type of LCD TV
November 29, 2013
Folks. For those of you telling this reviewer that he is talking about the wrong TV because he calls it an LCD, it is an LCD. LED TV's are still LCD TV's. The difference is the backlight behind the LCD is LED's instead of CCFL(fluorescent). Both still have and LCD screen that you actually look at up front.
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Microsoft Band 2 (Large): Keep track of your health and fitness goals throughout the day by monitoring your heart rate, steps taken, calories burned, sleep quality, hours slept and other helpful metrics. Just pair with your Windows Phone, Apple iOS or Android device via Bluetooth to receive alerts at a glance.Discover how the technology of Microsoft Band 2 can assist you in a healthy, productive lifestyle. Learn more ~
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Best fitness tracker for the money
By CraigB
from Texas
When choosing high end fitness bands, my choices went back and forth between the Microsoft Band 2 and the Fitbit Surge. Fitbit has been in the business for fitness wearables for longer but I chose the Band 2 for what I felt was better value for my money. I purchased during a $50 off sale making it even more attractive and $50 less than the Surge. My main phone for this review is a Lumia 1520 with Windows 10 Mobile. I assume others will write reviews of the phone for other platforms and that is where this review starts. This fitness wearable is by far the most compatible. It supports iOS, Android, and Windows Phone/Mobile. Fitbit does as well but support for Windows Mobile is more limited. Comparing it to the Surge, it has more customizability, color screen, and a partially metal build. It feels more premium than the Surge. The metal does have 2 downsides. The first is that the finish used shows scratches extremely easily. See included picture. The second is that sweat and soap cause a foul smell very quickly requiring regular cleaning.
The Band 2 can be worn in two positions. The first is with the screen facing outwards like a watch. I tried this but it felt uncomfortable and viewing the screen was awkward particularly considering the screen doesn’t have a vertical view. This leads me to my preferred position which is with the screen facing inwards. It is much more natural to view and operate. It also feels more comfortable and is in fact the recommended way to wear the device. If there was any concern it is that wearing it inward the screen is always contacting surfaces when you lay your arms down. It uses gorilla glass but it still concerns me that I might scratch the screen. Every fitness wearable wasn’t completely comfortable to wear for one reason or another but this one starts to feel about like a watch after an adjustment period. Before you get the size right you might put it a place that binds you wrist or hits a nerve. I also learned it can get the heart rate just fine without tightening it down so far you hit nerves. Just like a watch it will take some fiddling to find your perfect tightness. Fortunately, the latching mechanism feels strong and has more adjustments than a tradition watch as well giving you more flexibility. Just make sure you use the sizing guide on the size of the box to choose the correct size. It shows wrists sizes with the wrist sideways.
Now the big question is how it works for tracking vitals. I haven’t worked with VO2 Max so I can’t comment on that but after getting the fit correct, the heart rate seems pretty close. Checking manual it was usually within about 10BPM or less from actual. Tracking steps seems a little different. It is difficult to verify but it seems to be a little high on the number of steps sometimes compared to my old hip worn pedometer. It just seems like I can reach 5,000 steps fairly easily. I am not a runner so I have not tested the GPS but I have read that some units have come from the factory with a bad GPS. What’s really nice is with all the vitals it gathers, more than just heart rate, it should be a fairly accurate color estimate. It has guided workouts you can add but I used the generic color tracking and added my own workout types to track. You can add things like HIT and weight training for your own purposes but it uses all the sensors to estimate the color burn instead of estimating based on the workout type. I feel this is more accurate but cannot verify. When you start workout mode, by default the screen stays on showing your workout time and heart rate. I suspect it is not as accurate as a chest band but it seems pretty good. After your workout is done you can see the entire workout on your phone or the website with your heart rate the entire time and your max marked. If there was any gripe it would be that you can’t have it vibrate when you hit your target or max heart rate. That would have been a great feature but, who knows. Maybe they will add it in the future. You can even use the website to compare your vitals to others in your height, weight, and age category. It’s all anonymous and very informative.
When not working out it still tracks your heart rate all the time but the other useful time to check is when you are sleeping. It can detect your sleep but if it gets it wrong you can only delete the time, not edit. You are better off starting your sleep tracking yourself. While sleeping, it will monitor you and in when you wake up you can see what your resting heart rate was overnight to get an even better picture of your health. It also has a smart alarm you can activate. If you want to wake up at a set time, just set the alarm and it will vibrate to wake you up. What I really like is if you activate the smart alarm and set it for 7:30am it will wake you up somewhere between 7:00am and 8:00am when you are most awake. That means you don’t wake up to an alarm feeling like you haven’t rested. You can even set the strength of the vibration.
Since this is a little bit of a smart watch you can add some apps. Since the phone doesn’t have any memory though, expect to only have them work when around your phone. It can control music on your phone and even use voice recognition with Cortana. I am running a prerelease build of the phone software so on occasion the connection dropped but it wasn’t hard to get back. I have found the notifications actually quite nice. I can leave the phone in one place in the house and still get notifications and respond to basic texts. I can also connect my phone to the stereo and change tracks and turn the volume up or down. It’s a standard feature for a smart watch but this is a fitness wearable and much cheaper than a smart watch. There are even some extra apps you can add and some third part utilizes to customize it further but if you want a smart watch more you might want to go that route. If you want a smart fitness tracker, this thing is hard to beat.
Pros
Solid (premium) build quality. It often gets looks and people asking what it is
Tracks more vitals than any other fitness wearable
Comfortable after figuring out your preferred fitment
Bright, sharp screen with auto brightness
Smart Alarm
Customizable workouts
Workout coaches
Customizable with smart watch type features
Solid latching mechanism
Good battery life for its functionality (2 days with no GPS and auto on screen)
Fast charge time (30 minutes to 80%)
Gorilla glass screen
Works on iOS, Android, Windows Mobile, and Web. The web is the most feature rich
Integrates with Health Vault
Constant heart rate
Portal to compare health
Rich sleep stats including restful sleep, times awake, resting heartrate, and recovery
Solid (premium) build quality. It often gets looks and people asking what it is
Tracks more vitals than any other fitness wearable
Comfortable after figuring out your preferred fitment
Bright, sharp screen with auto brightness
Smart Alarm
Customizable workouts
Workout coaches
Customizable with smart watch type features
Solid latching mechanism
Good battery life for its functionality (2 days with no GPS and auto on screen)
Fast charge time (30 minutes to 80%)
Gorilla glass screen
Works on iOS, Android, Windows Mobile, and Web. The web is the most feature rich
Integrates with Health Vault
Constant heart rate
Portal to compare health
Rich sleep stats including restful sleep, times awake, resting heartrate, and recovery
Cons
Cannot change band because electronics are built in
Metal area is a trap for sweat and soap requiring regular cleaning to prevent odor
Cannot change screen orientation
Awkward wearing screen outward
Metal finish is easy to scratch
No build in memory to bring music and store GPS while leaving phone behind for a time
Water resistant instead of waterproof
Possible to scratch screen with it facing downward
Sync is a bit slow
Cannot change band because electronics are built in
Metal area is a trap for sweat and soap requiring regular cleaning to prevent odor
Cannot change screen orientation
Awkward wearing screen outward
Metal finish is easy to scratch
No build in memory to bring music and store GPS while leaving phone behind for a time
Water resistant instead of waterproof
Possible to scratch screen with it facing downward
Sync is a bit slow
CraigB
Texas
Additional Findings
January 9, 2016
I just wanted to add an extra observations to my original review.
For those of you who want to view the display outside in sunlight, it doesn't seem to get that bright. For me that is not a big deal because outside exercises are typically the type where I don't use real time tracking but if you are the type who needs to read the display in direct sunlight, you might find it difficult. I will be checking further and report back if I find anything because indoors it is so bright that I wonder if I have done something wrong in the setup. Even with this finding I still feel it is the best for the money.
Also, if you happen to swap between phones or get a new phone you will have to factor reset the band. I periodically switch phones and discovered this. The system is designed to easily replace your band while using the same phone but if you move the band to any phone, even one that was restored from a backup of your original you will have to factory reset the band and set it back up. Not a huge deal because little is actually stored on the phone.
One other huge bonus for Windows Phone/Mobile users. If for some reason you either forget or choose not to wear your band and have a Lumia that is capable you can use it to augment your Band. Sometimes for different reasons I don't want to wear my band and only need to track steps. If I just keep my Lumia 950 in my pocket, it will track my steps and add them to what the band couldn't track. That particular feature is one I really love. The only caveat to that is while it updates the steps on the app and portal, the extra steps from your phone don't get transferred back to your band. This means if you took 2,000 steps with your band and phone and an additional 5,000 with only your Lumia the app will report 7,000 steps total which is correct but your band will continue to report 2,000 steps. Minor quibble though for a great additional feature for Windows Phone fans.
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ecobee ecobee3 Programmable Touch-Screen Wi-Fi Thermostat: Maintain a comfortable home with this programmable thermostat, which is Apple~ HomeKit-enabled, so you can control the temperature remotely using your compatible device. Home IQ helps you conserve energy.
Overall
1 out of 5
1 out of 5cant set custom temps..sensors are glitchy
By annaj
i was trying to get this thermostat to set 4 or 5 different temps automaticly per day. an ecobee tech couldnt help me get this done on my web portal account . the sensors dont read the occupancy after being in the room for hours like being in a bedroom all night when u wake up the sensor will read unoccupied or sitting in the living room all day the same thing will happen after a few hours. a regular programable thermostat would have been a better choice.
CraigB
Texas
Did you try IFTTT
February 7, 2016
I was just wondering if you have looked into IFTTT to set those custom automatic temps. I haven't tried your exact scenario but the Ecobee3 can be connected to an IFTTT account to extend it's functionality.
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Your household wants to play, stream and work online all at once. With this Linksys router, you can do it all without buffering or other interruptions. Use the Smart Wi-Fi app to get started, control, and monitor your home network from anywhere.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Solid router with good range and speed
By CraigB
from Texas
I am posting this review after about a week of use. If I find anything more significant after posting I will add it as a reply to my original post. Be sure to check there for additions.
I needed to upgrade my WiFi because the internet service in my area was about to be upgraded to exceed the capacity of my current wireless N solution. This router seems as if it was marketed towards moderate power users as well as people with less technical skills who need an upgrade. Packaging is minimal the same as most routers today. It comes with a CD for documentation but it is not used for setup. This is a good thing because as an AC router most people upgrading to this would have newer devices, few of which have an optical drive.
I needed to upgrade my WiFi because the internet service in my area was about to be upgraded to exceed the capacity of my current wireless N solution. This router seems as if it was marketed towards moderate power users as well as people with less technical skills who need an upgrade. Packaging is minimal the same as most routers today. It comes with a CD for documentation but it is not used for setup. This is a good thing because as an AC router most people upgrading to this would have newer devices, few of which have an optical drive.
For the non-technical
This is not very hard to set up. You plug power into the only spot it fits. There are three antennas that screw into very noticeable spots on the back. And the internet plug is clearly labeled. The instructions tell you what to do in a few steps to get the device to take care of the rest. It also has the wireless already set up if you are afraid to do it and even comes with a sticker with the information so you will know what the password is to get on the WiFi. It already has a guest WiFi too but there is a separate login so someone can’t just borrow your internet without you giving them the password. If you feel more comfortable there are apps for iPhones and Android phones to control the device. Speed and range are very good but if you can it is always recommended to install it as close to the center of your house and avoid metal. The router can pretty much take care of itself after that and it shouldn’t require any further work.
This is not very hard to set up. You plug power into the only spot it fits. There are three antennas that screw into very noticeable spots on the back. And the internet plug is clearly labeled. The instructions tell you what to do in a few steps to get the device to take care of the rest. It also has the wireless already set up if you are afraid to do it and even comes with a sticker with the information so you will know what the password is to get on the WiFi. It already has a guest WiFi too but there is a separate login so someone can’t just borrow your internet without you giving them the password. If you feel more comfortable there are apps for iPhones and Android phones to control the device. Speed and range are very good but if you can it is always recommended to install it as close to the center of your house and avoid metal. The router can pretty much take care of itself after that and it shouldn’t require any further work.
For the technical people
If you are looking for a device with tons of granular settings, this might not be the device. Of course the power users I am referring to would probably be better suited sticking with the WRT series. I doubt this device will ever see an aftermarket firmware. It attempts to have a clean interface but that means it will feel slower than a power user router for some settings changes as transitions and animations run their course. Setting changes that require a reboot happen nearly as fast as the fastest routers out there. Although the stock firmware attempts to look fancy and simple it still has a decent amount of settings for all but the most extreme power users. The antennas use a standard connection so if you wanted to upgrade to larger ones later that is possible. Hardwired speed has been very good. I’m just a casual gamer but this hasn’t slowed me down at all and I cannot tell the different hardwired from my old gaming router. Wireless speed is actually very good as well although I was never able to achieve the 1300Mbps link speed advertised even right next to the unit. I maxed out at 900Mbps and it is possible that is related to my AC devices. My old router would drop down to the 39Mpbs on the opposite side of my house whereas this one can maintain at least 177Mpbs and often more.
If you are looking for a device with tons of granular settings, this might not be the device. Of course the power users I am referring to would probably be better suited sticking with the WRT series. I doubt this device will ever see an aftermarket firmware. It attempts to have a clean interface but that means it will feel slower than a power user router for some settings changes as transitions and animations run their course. Setting changes that require a reboot happen nearly as fast as the fastest routers out there. Although the stock firmware attempts to look fancy and simple it still has a decent amount of settings for all but the most extreme power users. The antennas use a standard connection so if you wanted to upgrade to larger ones later that is possible. Hardwired speed has been very good. I’m just a casual gamer but this hasn’t slowed me down at all and I cannot tell the different hardwired from my old gaming router. Wireless speed is actually very good as well although I was never able to achieve the 1300Mbps link speed advertised even right next to the unit. I maxed out at 900Mbps and it is possible that is related to my AC devices. My old router would drop down to the 39Mpbs on the opposite side of my house whereas this one can maintain at least 177Mpbs and often more.
So far during my ownership the stability of this device has reminded me of the old Linksys routers how even the cheap ones never locked up. I’m hoping it stays this way. If you want to change settings, you can do so the standard way most technical people do via the IP address or it has a built in URL. Thankfully it doesn’t require some odd application for initial setup. Unlike standard routers, this one is cloud connected when you choose so meaning remote access is passed via the cloud. It does support some dynamic DNS options but they seem more to push you towards connection via their cloud. Fortunately, this is optional except if you want to take advantage of the built in USB ports and access files remotely. I don’t have a spare drive to test right now so unfortunately I could not test the NAS performance. It does have a very basic QoS which allows you to set up to 3 services or devices as high priority but that’s pretty much it. It has some newer options but then oddly has more old services, such as Real Player and Rhapsody.
Pros
Large, replaceable antennas
Great Range
Reliable
Gigabit Ports
Fast Processor
Status lights can be turned off
Decent amount of features for all but the heavy power users
Doesn’t require a special application for setup or CD
Has USB ports for attaching a hard drive
Offers automatic firmware upgrades to keep security up. Good for keeping non power users safe (Can be turned off)
Documentation is thorough if you need help. You just click help on the top bar
Major changes that require a restart are almost unnoticeable to users as it restarts fast
Has WiFi secured by default and requires a password to be configured during setup. This is good if you are buying one for family and just want it secure without needing to help them. It even has a handy sticker with device specific WiFi passwords so someone can’t just look up a default WiFi password for the unit and borrow internet.
Large, replaceable antennas
Great Range
Reliable
Gigabit Ports
Fast Processor
Status lights can be turned off
Decent amount of features for all but the heavy power users
Doesn’t require a special application for setup or CD
Has USB ports for attaching a hard drive
Offers automatic firmware upgrades to keep security up. Good for keeping non power users safe (Can be turned off)
Documentation is thorough if you need help. You just click help on the top bar
Major changes that require a restart are almost unnoticeable to users as it restarts fast
Has WiFi secured by default and requires a password to be configured during setup. This is good if you are buying one for family and just want it secure without needing to help them. It even has a handy sticker with device specific WiFi passwords so someone can’t just look up a default WiFi password for the unit and borrow internet.
Cons
Interface tries too hard to be attractive slowing it down with animations
Only supports 2 Dynamic DNS providers.
QoS settings seem to cater to power users but offer little customization
QoS rule changes require moving service or devices boxes around and the interface jumps quickly between sections. This often causes you to accidentally move something you didn’t intend to.
Included “Apps” are of limited usefulness and only work on iOS and Android which leaves out anything Windows (No Windows 10 Universal Apps) and no Mac. No configuring your router with touch, like via a Surface, using a Windows App.
Interface tries too hard to be attractive slowing it down with animations
Only supports 2 Dynamic DNS providers.
QoS settings seem to cater to power users but offer little customization
QoS rule changes require moving service or devices boxes around and the interface jumps quickly between sections. This often causes you to accidentally move something you didn’t intend to.
Included “Apps” are of limited usefulness and only work on iOS and Android which leaves out anything Windows (No Windows 10 Universal Apps) and no Mac. No configuring your router with touch, like via a Surface, using a Windows App.
Final Notes
Higher end units near this price point I have owned have had large aluminum heatsinks to dissipate heat. This one has one very small heatsink. I suspect heat stress will be higher on this unit and might be why this case has such a large open cavity you can easily see straight through the vent holes. I suspect longevity will be lower but only time will tell. So the unit has not felt very warm so fingers crossed.
Higher end units near this price point I have owned have had large aluminum heatsinks to dissipate heat. This one has one very small heatsink. I suspect heat stress will be higher on this unit and might be why this case has such a large open cavity you can easily see straight through the vent holes. I suspect longevity will be lower but only time will tell. So the unit has not felt very warm so fingers crossed.
CraigB
Texas
Longer term observations
February 22, 2016
Adding to my original review I have found some new observations to add to this router. I switched to using it as an access point, which takes a little digging, and found out that once you do so you lose a lot of features that should still work but are removed. For example, as an access point you get no guest networks. You can only have 1 2.5GHz WiFi and 1 5GHz. All features such as WMM and QoS are completely gone. Remote administration is turned off. I have also experienced an odd condition where my Xbox One cannot connect using the exact same key as my old router that my Xbox was connected to. I have also experienced 1 lockup where the unit just completely stopped responding and had to be power cycled. Over all it's still a good router but it feels like it could use a little more firmware refinement.
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Microsoft Band 2 (Large): Keep track of your health and fitness goals throughout the day by monitoring your heart rate, steps taken, calories burned, sleep quality, hours slept and other helpful metrics. Just pair with your Windows Phone, Apple iOS or Android device via Bluetooth to receive alerts at a glance.Discover how the technology of Microsoft Band 2 can assist you in a healthy, productive lifestyle. Learn more ~
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Best fitness tracker for the money
By CraigB
from Texas
When choosing high end fitness bands, my choices went back and forth between the Microsoft Band 2 and the Fitbit Surge. Fitbit has been in the business for fitness wearables for longer but I chose the Band 2 for what I felt was better value for my money. I purchased during a $50 off sale making it even more attractive and $50 less than the Surge. My main phone for this review is a Lumia 1520 with Windows 10 Mobile. I assume others will write reviews of the phone for other platforms and that is where this review starts. This fitness wearable is by far the most compatible. It supports iOS, Android, and Windows Phone/Mobile. Fitbit does as well but support for Windows Mobile is more limited. Comparing it to the Surge, it has more customizability, color screen, and a partially metal build. It feels more premium than the Surge. The metal does have 2 downsides. The first is that the finish used shows scratches extremely easily. See included picture. The second is that sweat and soap cause a foul smell very quickly requiring regular cleaning.
The Band 2 can be worn in two positions. The first is with the screen facing outwards like a watch. I tried this but it felt uncomfortable and viewing the screen was awkward particularly considering the screen doesn’t have a vertical view. This leads me to my preferred position which is with the screen facing inwards. It is much more natural to view and operate. It also feels more comfortable and is in fact the recommended way to wear the device. If there was any concern it is that wearing it inward the screen is always contacting surfaces when you lay your arms down. It uses gorilla glass but it still concerns me that I might scratch the screen. Every fitness wearable wasn’t completely comfortable to wear for one reason or another but this one starts to feel about like a watch after an adjustment period. Before you get the size right you might put it a place that binds you wrist or hits a nerve. I also learned it can get the heart rate just fine without tightening it down so far you hit nerves. Just like a watch it will take some fiddling to find your perfect tightness. Fortunately, the latching mechanism feels strong and has more adjustments than a tradition watch as well giving you more flexibility. Just make sure you use the sizing guide on the size of the box to choose the correct size. It shows wrists sizes with the wrist sideways.
Now the big question is how it works for tracking vitals. I haven’t worked with VO2 Max so I can’t comment on that but after getting the fit correct, the heart rate seems pretty close. Checking manual it was usually within about 10BPM or less from actual. Tracking steps seems a little different. It is difficult to verify but it seems to be a little high on the number of steps sometimes compared to my old hip worn pedometer. It just seems like I can reach 5,000 steps fairly easily. I am not a runner so I have not tested the GPS but I have read that some units have come from the factory with a bad GPS. What’s really nice is with all the vitals it gathers, more than just heart rate, it should be a fairly accurate color estimate. It has guided workouts you can add but I used the generic color tracking and added my own workout types to track. You can add things like HIT and weight training for your own purposes but it uses all the sensors to estimate the color burn instead of estimating based on the workout type. I feel this is more accurate but cannot verify. When you start workout mode, by default the screen stays on showing your workout time and heart rate. I suspect it is not as accurate as a chest band but it seems pretty good. After your workout is done you can see the entire workout on your phone or the website with your heart rate the entire time and your max marked. If there was any gripe it would be that you can’t have it vibrate when you hit your target or max heart rate. That would have been a great feature but, who knows. Maybe they will add it in the future. You can even use the website to compare your vitals to others in your height, weight, and age category. It’s all anonymous and very informative.
When not working out it still tracks your heart rate all the time but the other useful time to check is when you are sleeping. It can detect your sleep but if it gets it wrong you can only delete the time, not edit. You are better off starting your sleep tracking yourself. While sleeping, it will monitor you and in when you wake up you can see what your resting heart rate was overnight to get an even better picture of your health. It also has a smart alarm you can activate. If you want to wake up at a set time, just set the alarm and it will vibrate to wake you up. What I really like is if you activate the smart alarm and set it for 7:30am it will wake you up somewhere between 7:00am and 8:00am when you are most awake. That means you don’t wake up to an alarm feeling like you haven’t rested. You can even set the strength of the vibration.
Since this is a little bit of a smart watch you can add some apps. Since the phone doesn’t have any memory though, expect to only have them work when around your phone. It can control music on your phone and even use voice recognition with Cortana. I am running a prerelease build of the phone software so on occasion the connection dropped but it wasn’t hard to get back. I have found the notifications actually quite nice. I can leave the phone in one place in the house and still get notifications and respond to basic texts. I can also connect my phone to the stereo and change tracks and turn the volume up or down. It’s a standard feature for a smart watch but this is a fitness wearable and much cheaper than a smart watch. There are even some extra apps you can add and some third part utilizes to customize it further but if you want a smart watch more you might want to go that route. If you want a smart fitness tracker, this thing is hard to beat.
Pros
Solid (premium) build quality. It often gets looks and people asking what it is
Tracks more vitals than any other fitness wearable
Comfortable after figuring out your preferred fitment
Bright, sharp screen with auto brightness
Smart Alarm
Customizable workouts
Workout coaches
Customizable with smart watch type features
Solid latching mechanism
Good battery life for its functionality (2 days with no GPS and auto on screen)
Fast charge time (30 minutes to 80%)
Gorilla glass screen
Works on iOS, Android, Windows Mobile, and Web. The web is the most feature rich
Integrates with Health Vault
Constant heart rate
Portal to compare health
Rich sleep stats including restful sleep, times awake, resting heartrate, and recovery
Solid (premium) build quality. It often gets looks and people asking what it is
Tracks more vitals than any other fitness wearable
Comfortable after figuring out your preferred fitment
Bright, sharp screen with auto brightness
Smart Alarm
Customizable workouts
Workout coaches
Customizable with smart watch type features
Solid latching mechanism
Good battery life for its functionality (2 days with no GPS and auto on screen)
Fast charge time (30 minutes to 80%)
Gorilla glass screen
Works on iOS, Android, Windows Mobile, and Web. The web is the most feature rich
Integrates with Health Vault
Constant heart rate
Portal to compare health
Rich sleep stats including restful sleep, times awake, resting heartrate, and recovery
Cons
Cannot change band because electronics are built in
Metal area is a trap for sweat and soap requiring regular cleaning to prevent odor
Cannot change screen orientation
Awkward wearing screen outward
Metal finish is easy to scratch
No build in memory to bring music and store GPS while leaving phone behind for a time
Water resistant instead of waterproof
Possible to scratch screen with it facing downward
Sync is a bit slow
Cannot change band because electronics are built in
Metal area is a trap for sweat and soap requiring regular cleaning to prevent odor
Cannot change screen orientation
Awkward wearing screen outward
Metal finish is easy to scratch
No build in memory to bring music and store GPS while leaving phone behind for a time
Water resistant instead of waterproof
Possible to scratch screen with it facing downward
Sync is a bit slow
CraigB
Texas
Band split after serveral months
May 23, 2016
As others who have discovered after owning the Band 2 for a while, the band itself tends to split. Even if you are gentle the rubberized material just doesn't seem to hold up. The good news in my case is I leave reasonably close to a Microsoft Store. I brought it to them and as always they took great care of me. The assistant store manager was the one who assisted me and he said that Microsoft is aware of the problem and is already working to fix the issue. I had the same problem with the first generation Type Cover for the Surface. Back then they took care of me and ultimately Microsoft corrected the issue. It's unfortunate this kind of thing gets through but at least it doesn't seem to be a hassle to get it resolved.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
Enjoy powerful performance with this compact HP Pavilion Wave computer. The Intel i3 processor provides fast data handling, while the 1TB hard drive lets you store plenty of files. This HP Pavilion Wave computer has 8GB of RAM to run the latest applications and four USB ports for connecting multiple accessories.
Overall
3 out of 5
3 out of 5Still can't get the speaker/microphone to work.
By Murphdad013
from New York , ny
The HP help line is terrible and Best Buy was no help at all. In fact I spoke directly ....finally...with someone at HP who said that my Paviliion Wave needed an external microphone headset for montonaccess Cortona. WRONG!!!!
CraigB
Texas
It has a built in microphone
January 16, 2017
I own this unit and it has a built in microphone. I use it for Cortana regularly. Sounds like the support person got it wrong.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
Arlo Pro takes the worrying out of life with the 100% Wire-Free indoor/outdoor home monitoring system. Arlo Pro includes rechargeable batteries, motion and sound-activated alerts, 2-way audio, a 100+ decibel siren, and 7 days of free cloud HD video recordings. Arlo covers every angle to help keep you safe and protected.
Overall4 out of 5
4 out of 5Good system with lots of potential
By CraigB
from Texas
Pros
Extremely Quick setup (A 2 camera system takes roughly 30 minutes)
Very easy set up. It comes with basic instructions but the app nicely walks you through each step
No need to run wires
Compact
Discreet cameras easily blend in with lighter color homes
Good daytime video quality for the price
Includes microphone and speaker
Flexible mounting options. Included option is easy but other fixed mounts can be used
Large rechargeable batteries
Motion trigger is supposed to get an update to determine if the motion is by a person
All devices get regular security updates. Even the cameras get updated wirelessly. Nice considering cameras are a new target for hackers.
Inanimate objects don’t seem to cause false motion triggers
Standard external hard drive can be used for local storage
Basic plan included for free
Easily expandable
Extremely Quick setup (A 2 camera system takes roughly 30 minutes)
Very easy set up. It comes with basic instructions but the app nicely walks you through each step
No need to run wires
Compact
Discreet cameras easily blend in with lighter color homes
Good daytime video quality for the price
Includes microphone and speaker
Flexible mounting options. Included option is easy but other fixed mounts can be used
Large rechargeable batteries
Motion trigger is supposed to get an update to determine if the motion is by a person
All devices get regular security updates. Even the cameras get updated wirelessly. Nice considering cameras are a new target for hackers.
Inanimate objects don’t seem to cause false motion triggers
Standard external hard drive can be used for local storage
Basic plan included for free
Easily expandable
Cons
Support for Windows is poor for the new touchscreen devices.
No Windows app for Windows 8 and 10 devices of any size.
Video quality, mainly night time, is probably not good enough for legal purposes.
Night video quality makes recognition near impossible past approximately 10 feet
Easy to steal or move regardless of mounting
Camera speaker is not very loud
Provided screws use too fine of a thread and the metal head strips out easy
All videos are public if someone can intercept your emails on the way to your inbox. (Email delivery by design is not encrypted so if someone intercepts your emails on the way they can see any of your videos with audio)
Recording time is fixed so even if motion or sound is still occurring you can miss recording
Web interface has some bugs such as freezing on zoom, Live play button disappears, and touch doesn’t work.
Sound recording doesn’t occur until a few seconds after video recording
At least one camera exhibited a noticeable “ticking clock” sound when recording audio
Connecting them hardwired defeats the weatherproofing
Instructions do not give tutorial about advanced features but rather let you discover them
No organizer for hard drive recordings
Dependent on good upload internet speeds. The more cameras you have, the faster the upload speed you need. This can be a limiting factor for some.
Long lag time to start live viewing even with very fast connection
Support for Windows is poor for the new touchscreen devices.
No Windows app for Windows 8 and 10 devices of any size.
Video quality, mainly night time, is probably not good enough for legal purposes.
Night video quality makes recognition near impossible past approximately 10 feet
Easy to steal or move regardless of mounting
Camera speaker is not very loud
Provided screws use too fine of a thread and the metal head strips out easy
All videos are public if someone can intercept your emails on the way to your inbox. (Email delivery by design is not encrypted so if someone intercepts your emails on the way they can see any of your videos with audio)
Recording time is fixed so even if motion or sound is still occurring you can miss recording
Web interface has some bugs such as freezing on zoom, Live play button disappears, and touch doesn’t work.
Sound recording doesn’t occur until a few seconds after video recording
At least one camera exhibited a noticeable “ticking clock” sound when recording audio
Connecting them hardwired defeats the weatherproofing
Instructions do not give tutorial about advanced features but rather let you discover them
No organizer for hard drive recordings
Dependent on good upload internet speeds. The more cameras you have, the faster the upload speed you need. This can be a limiting factor for some.
Long lag time to start live viewing even with very fast connection
Setup was very easy, particularly for a security camera system. The entire process is achieved by following the steps one by one as the app tells you. Install the app, set up your Arlo account, plug in the base unit to power and internet, sync the cameras, hang the cameras, and you’re done. A two camera system only took approximately 30 minutes. The kit includes metal bases, screws, and wall anchors but the screws are small and easy to strip. The metal bases work with a strong magnet included inside the camera. Although convenient, the metal bases allow someone to easily steal or move these expensive cameras so placement is important. Netgear offers screw in mounts for a more rigid and secure mounting. The entire hardware and software process has had a lot of thought put into making it easy. There are no complicated router changes needed to be made at all or complicated programming. Oddly some features, like changing the recording quality, must be done on a regular computer for which there is no app.
There is one strange feature omission from Netgear. This system has a Pro designation and yet support for regular, more modern computers, is limited. Businesses by and large use Windows computers and the most popular type of Windows computers selling today are Windows 2-in-1 convertibles with touchscreens this trend is forecasted to increase and yet this system is barely even useable by any touchscreen Windows device. This is also odd because what better way to check out a security video than on a large screen. You are forced to use a browser to view videos which the experience varies based on browser. Simple things like moving a slider don’t work because the website doesn’t work with touch. Browser administration has other bugs, such as the Live Video button disappearing. If this was an app you wouldn’t have to worry about how the end user’s choice of browser affects the experience. Not having a Universal Windows app is a missed opportunity. I have seen a large increase in clients that are buying Windows 2-in-1 systems instead of desktops or Android/iOS tablets for their primary system. A Windows Universal app they could support such systems, or any other form factor of Windows for that matter. Imagine if the app was on Xbox One in your living room and you want to check on things outside. Just say “Hey Cortana, open Arlo” and you could see your video feed or videos quickly and easily from the convenience of your couch on a big screen. That would be great. If you have smaller Windows devices, the website is unusable. It tries to get you to use an app that doesn’t exist. Oddly enough if you have a link to a shared video the same website will serve you the video in a mobile optimized format. Smaller Windows devices and Windows Mobile devices are left unsupported. Future updates and app releases could easily alleviate this but for now Windows support is poor.
The base unit comes with a Sync/Siren button, network port, and two USB ports for storage. The siren is loud and sounds like newer smoke alarms. It can be trigger locally, by the app, or via configurable rules such as motion or audio sensing. You can switch the base unit to modes for recording for motion and/or audio, no recording, or armed or disarmed based using Geofencing. You can also define your own custom modes allowing specific cameras and audio for each to be on or off. Due to battery restrictions, there is no continuous recording. Recording time from motion is a default of 5 seconds regardless of if the motion continues. Cameras include built in IR for night vision, motion sensor, microphone, and speaker and are weatherproof assuming the charging plug cover is on. One large difference with the Pro version is the inclusion of large rechargeable batteries which should last quite a long time between charging. When video is recorded, it is uploaded via your internet connection to your account meaning a good upload internet speed is important. Videos are stored in a calendar format and can be viewed, shared, or deleted from the interface.
Overall performance when factoring in the price for features was good. Shuddering and lag was minimal with surprisingly good wireless range. Remote viewing of live video is reasonably quick although it still took several seconds and is highly dependent on your internet upload speed. Audio took about 2 seconds to start every time after a motion trigger recording or manual live viewing and had a slightly audible tick-tock sound. The built-in speaker is barely audible at max volume. As with all security systems, there is a loss of some detail to do recording compression. Daytime recordings show signs of video compression but subjects are still reasonably recognizable at approximately 25 feet. Nighttime viewing brings recognition down to approximately 10-15 feet before subjects hard to recognize. Although not official, friends in law enforcement said it is not good for legal purposes as they must have a definitive, recognizable face to use the video. Motion detection was generally good but people moving fast could often elude the recording. Due to the fixed recording time, the system could also miss recording an event if it ran past the configured time.
A big concern is the video sharing feature. Arlo by default emails you anytime it records. It conveniently sends you a screenshot of what it recorded. However; the email sends a direct link to the video that can be viewed without logging in. This would be even more concerning if you had cameras in your house. By definition, is sent unsecured between providers. Although the industry is trying to improve that, you should always assume your emails have no encryption when sent to you. This means that it is possible and relatively easy for criminals to eavesdrop and see your videos with audio without ever knowing your account info. The good thing is that is easy to remedy turning off the feature that emails you when it records a video. That way the link to the video won’t be sent out on the web unsecured and your videos are still stored in the cloud without being shared openly. Hopefully, Netgear will remedy this in the future.
Overall, it is a nice system for the price point when compared to the competition. Compared to legacy DVR and NVR security camera systems this makes the whole process a lot more accessible for the average consumer. As long as you keep your expectations in line it is a nice system. All security camera systems, particularly ones costing less than $2,500 have limitations.
Overall, it is a nice system for the price point when compared to the competition. Compared to legacy DVR and NVR security camera systems this makes the whole process a lot more accessible for the average consumer. As long as you keep your expectations in line it is a nice system. All security camera systems, particularly ones costing less than $2,500 have limitations.
A standout feature, even comparing to high end systems, is this system will automatically get updates for security. Anyone who watched the news in late 2016 saw that the biggest hack was perpetrated using devices, such as camera systems, that weren’t updated. That is something still lacking in the “professional” security camera world. You also won’t have to hire someone to come pull wiring through your house or small business. Cameras can be placed wherever you can mount a base. If for some reason, such as poor signal, the place doesn’t work they are easy to move. It not be a real high definition security camera system but it also costs nowhere near as much. Just be sure you can accept the Cons before buying. The overall system is well thought out and with continued improvement of the listed cons this could be the best system for nearly any price.
CraigB
Texas
New developments after extended use
January 31, 2017
I have discovered some new elements to the system with more use.
The first is that I did find a way to adjust video quality via the app and not just the website. It turns out the way it is displayed is as one of 3 choices instead of a slider.
Next is that the cameras only work with Netgear's proprietary charger. Even though it uses USB both the manual an other say it only works with the Netgear one.
Finally I discovered that the motion detection does sometimes act strange. I purchase one additional camera and for some reason no matter the sensitivity of the motion it records a motion even every 30 seconds at night. I have observed that it seems to happen more if my neighbor has a light on but even that is not consistent.
+4points
4of 4voted this comment as helpful.
CraigB's Questions
CraigB has not submitted any questions.
This SanDisk Ultra Plus 16GB microSDHC memory card features a Class 10 UHS-1 speed rating to ensure quality video recording performance, while the rugged construction protects your media from damage due to temperature, X-rays, shock and water.
Will this work on a vita?
No it will not. Sony uses a proprietary memory card for the Vita. It needs to be a Vita memory card unfortunately.
11 years, 5 months ago
by
CraigB
Texas
Easily capture 4K Ultra HD video footage with your enabled smartphone, tablet or camera with this SanDisk Extreme Pro microSDXC memory card, which features a 64GB capacity, read speeds up to 95 MB/sec. and write speeds up to 90 MB/sec.
Will this card work in the Samsung galaxy note 4?
If you are talking about from a technical standpoint, yes. Your device can support up to a 128GB microSD. This card should be fast enough to support 4K recording. It records 4K reliably for my phone. Unfortunately, I cannot comment if there might be any unknown incompatibility issues. Even though it technically should work, sometimes one phone just doesn't work with one brand, make, and model of card that it should. That said, this card in my personal experience has been rock solid stable.
11 years, 5 months ago
by
CraigB
Texas
Easily capture 4K Ultra HD video footage with your enabled smartphone, tablet or camera with this SanDisk Extreme Pro microSDXC memory card, which features a 64GB capacity, read speeds up to 95 MB/sec. and write speeds up to 90 MB/sec.
Very costly
How can Best Buys ask $299, when the same card is available on Amazon for $80?
It's not a big deal in the end. I purchased one using Best Buy's Price Match Guarantee. They were shocked themselves at the difference as several employees checked the screen to compare the price. They told me that Amazon's sale price was $150 below their ACTUAL cost but they honored the Price Match Guarantee anyway and I got my rewards. If you buy one, just get them to match the price and after enough lost revenue they will go back to negotiate a better price on their end.
11 years, 5 months ago
by
CraigB
Texas