Apple : LG hints strongly at flexible phone plans, but says time isn’t right |
- LG hints strongly at flexible phone plans, but says time isn’t right
- Microsoft Azure Kinect could power the next generation of VR
- LG G8 is coming, but the LG V50 isn't far behind with 5G
- LG DualScreen: first look at LG's alternative to foldable phones
- Microsoft HoloLens 2 brings even more VR power
- Alcatel's new smartphones bring flagship features to budget buyers
- First look: TCL's 'affordable' foldable phone concept launching in 2020
- Nokia 9 PureView launches with more rear cameras than any other smartphone
- Nokia promises to 'double-down' on retro phone reboots in 2019
- Best microSD cards of 2019: Flash memory for cameras, drones and more
- Instagram could be planning public Pinterest-style collections
- Best external hard drives of 2019
- Best Linux laptops of 2019: the top open-source notebooks
- The best rugged laptops of 2019: we test drop-proof laptops for working outside
- The best mobile workstations 2019: the most powerful laptops for businesses
- Huawei unveils the future of file-sharing
- Huawei Mate X: first look at a truly impressive foldable phone
- Best business laptops 2019: top laptops for work
| LG hints strongly at flexible phone plans, but says time isn’t right Posted: 24 Feb 2019 01:18 PM PST LG has confirmed its interest in flexible phones, and dropped a huge hint that it’ll be getting into that market, but believes that the time isn’t right now. The statement came from Kyle Yoon, senior product manager for LG Mobile, during a briefing asking why the brand hasn’t launched a competitor to the Samsung Galaxy Fold and the Huawei Mate X: “When it comes to foldable, [the day will come] when we’ll all have a foldable device. That’s only if the Play Store has [apps in] a native resolution in those ratios, if the price of foldables will come down - we want to deliver a device more people can use that’s affordable and [offers] more content with 5G. We’re focused on that first but foldables… yes, we will have those devices.” LG has curiously decided that instead of just staying out of the big-screen market altogether, it’s choosing to release an add-on instead: the LG DualScreen.
The LG DualScreen extender (Image credit: TechRadar) This clips onto the LG V50 and provides a second 6.2-inch display that flips out to increase the real estate available for the user - but it’s a long way from the widescreen fold-out phones that Huawei and Samsung have made, with thick bezels in between. It makes sense that LG wouldn’t want to jump feet-first into the flexible smartphone market, as it’s mobile arm has posted losses for a number of quarters now. LG Electronics’ president and head of mobile, Kwon Bong-seok, said recently that the brand wouldn’t be doing anything dramatic as it looks to re-establish itself in the smartphone market - but also reiterated that LG was ready to go with a flexible phone when the opportunity was right. Good to stay flexible?It’s an interesting move from LG - we’ve seen two brands announce commercially-available products this year, and a host of other companies (such as Xiaomi and Alcatel) have shown off concept devices, so if LG has something to prove its technological prowess in this area, why not go for it? It feels like the DualScreen is an attempt to offer the market something, which makes something that’s just. fine as an accessory feel almost like an apologetic move now so many brands are talking about a glossy, flexible future. It would be good to see LG pushing back to the sharp end of the smartphone market, as it’s a company with some genuine innovation and technological prowess inside - and the more players competing for consumer dollars will just lead to better phones. Will LG offer a flexible smartphone by the end of 2019? It could very well depend on the performance of Samsung and Huawei’s efforts, which will go on sale in the coming months.
MWC (Mobile World Congress) is the world's largest showcase for the mobile industry, stuffed full of the newest phones, tablets, wearables and more. TechRadar is reporting live from Barcelona all week to bring you the very latest from the show floor. Head to our dedicated MWC 2019 hub to see all the new releases, along with TechRadar's world-class analysis and buying advice about your next phone. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Microsoft Azure Kinect could power the next generation of VR Posted: 24 Feb 2019 01:08 PM PST Microsoft wants to make creating AI-powered apps simpler than ever with a new developer kit that harnesses the power of both Azure and HoloLens. At its launch event at MWC 2019 in Barcelona today, the computing giant unveiled the Azure Kinect Developer Kit, a single device that combines all of the company’s high-end AI sensors in one place. That’s right – the Kinect technology first rolled out to aid Xbox gaming is being boosted by some powerful AI tools such as depth and motion-sensing technology.
(Image credit: Microsoft) Azure KinectAzure Kinect can be used to help developers create services that better understand the physical world, meaning richer virtual and augmented reality experiences. Using a new time of flight depth sensor developed for its newly-announced HoloLens 2 headset, Azure Kinect can accurately sense depth and pinpoint how human bodies move. The sensor is paired with a high-definition RGB camera and a 7-microphone circular array to enable greater accuracy than ever before. Microsoft says this could cover a wide range of use cases, mentioning an existing trial which is helping detect patients who could suffer a potentially fatal fall whilst in a hospital. Azure Kinect is being used by a healthcare tech firm called Ocuvera to determine early clues to the most at-risk patients, and notify a nurse to tend to them before they fall. Preorders for the Azure Kinect DK are open today starting at $399, however only the US and China will initially be able to do so, with more countries hopefully following soon.
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| LG G8 is coming, but the LG V50 isn't far behind with 5G Posted: 24 Feb 2019 10:53 AM PST LG has unveiled not one but two smartphones at MWC 2019: its new flagship LG G8 alongside the company's first 5G phone, the LG V50 ThinQ. The LG G8 has some intriguing features, including advanced hand-scanning tech for aerial gesture controls and even authentication. But its unveiling is a bit overshadowed by the V50’s 5G capability given the industry’s excitement with the high-speed communication system. Regardless, LG has followed most other phone makers in announcing a flagship handset with a few new bits to charm casual consumers, while also introducing a phone poised to harness 5G for customers eager to buy cutting-edge tech.
LG G8: gestures to the maxThe LG G8 looks to be a suitable flagship with a couple novel advances. The phone uses a depth sensor (which LG is calling ‘Z Camera’) combined with time of flight tech to intricately track hand movement in front of the camera. This system, if it works well in its final software, can scan through skin to identify users by the shape of their veins, a unique biometric identifier LG calls Hand ID. The logic? Facial identification can be fooled by 2D images, but vein identification is far harder (it requires a pulse, for one). This system also tracks hand movements, allowing users to use midair gestures for certain controls. The phone also lacks a front speaker, opting instead to channel sound through the front display, which LG is calling Crystal Sound OLED. It packs a 6.1-inch QHD+ display and a flat (no camera bump) rear cover. LG V50 ThinQ: the first 5GThe LG V50, on the other hand, packs several cutting-edge components to link up to 5G (whenever network infrastructure is built out enough to deliver 5G, anyway). The phone packs the brand-new Snapdraon 855 chip with a Snapdragon X50 5G modem along with a Qualcomm connectivity chip to enable the phone to connect to WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5. The V50 is highly-specced in every other department, packing a 6.4-inch QHD+ OLED display, a 4,000mAh battery and even a vapor chamber to keep the phone cool while engaging in demanding activity, like streaming media or playing games. The LG V50 will be available from Sprint exclusively in the coming months, per an official press release. Other service providers will eventually get the phone; Verizon has already announced it will carry the phone “this summer" in the US, which means by September.
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| LG DualScreen: first look at LG's alternative to foldable phones Posted: 24 Feb 2019 10:45 AM PST Well, this is something new: LG's take on the foldable world of smartphones is that we don't need them... just yet. What we all want really is a second screen that we can bolt on the side. What to call it? How about the LG DualScreen? That sounds about right, and that's just what's appeared at MWC 2019. Designed as a companion to the LG V50 (curiously not the LG G8) this is essentially a fat ol' case that the phone clips into.
From there you'll get access to another display that can communicate with the phone, giving you the equivalent of a secondary monitor for your phone that's tethered onto the side. We've got no idea when the LG DualScreen will be coming to the market, or the cost, but it can't be that far away - we'd expect it to launch before the summer this year, and we highly doubt it will be cheap.
DesignThe LG DualScreen clips fairly nicely alongside the LG V50, but it adds rather a large amount of heft to your unit. It draws power and data from the pogo pins at the rear of the phone, although the information is sent wirelessly. It's not Wi-Fi, rather a specific short-throw signal that allows for low latency connection - important if you're (spoiler alert) using the DualScreen as a gamepad.
The DualScreen doesn't look good though - it's a fairly chunky device that's lighter than the phone, which makes the balance a little off. We're not saying we'd rather it was heavier, but we guess that it's a little bit unbalanced compared to other 'real' foldable phones. The bezels around the 6.2-inch OLED screen (which is only Full HD, rather than the QHD option on the V50) are rather chunky and look a little cheap compared to the phone itself, and their presence means that you can't have any apps that spread over the two screens. LG believes that this is fine, as too few apps are capable of working in these large-screen modes that the likes of Samsung and Huawei are throwing out with their foldable devices. The rear of the phone is shiny and it's easy to get smudged with fingerprints - but there's nothing new there and holding the device with both screens shut feels like you're holding a solid phone indeed. The hinge of the screen also folds the whole way around, so you can prop up the V50 with the DualScreen on and watch a movie, or use the rear screen as a viewfinder for the camera. A new way to use your phoneSo how does the LG DualScreen actually perform? Does it make anything easier or more immersive, or is it just a total gimmick? Well, it's somewhere in the middle. Seeing the device demonstrated, with the LG reps skillfully navigating through the different camera or gaming modes, makes everything look quite slick. Pick it up with no instruction though, and you're instantly lost.
Firstly, there's a small power button that appears on the side of the screen that you'll need to tap to activate the other display. This menu allows you to switch the screen that's in play, or show what's on one display on the other. This is a fiddly experience as it's too small, and flipping the displays around didn't feel hugely intuitive (or have a point to it, necessarily).
We tried watching a video while browsing the web, and in fairness it worked rather well. You could easily stream a YouTube video or Netflix show on one side and then browse for info on the other - but all that did was increase guilt that we're not focusing enough on what's important in life, adding in another distraction. The gaming mode was the most appealing, with the DualScreen functioning as the place to see the gameplay and the bottom for gamepad controls, with four to choose from. This was easily the coolest bit, but despite LG claiming it worked just like a Bluetooth controller, it wasn't easy to set up for a few games.
The camera is probably where the LG DualScreen was at its most impressive, with the phone showing you the live image on the screen and then the options available if you used the other sensors and how that would change your photo. The screen quality of the DualScreen was just fine though, and at no point did we feel it was too low-res. We wish it was the same 6.4-inch size as the phone though, if nothing else just to make things more aesthetically pleasing Early verdict
The LG DualScreen shows promise. It feels like something that needed to be made to convince users that there's something innovative in the pipeline, worth waiting for and spending a little more for. It's certainly a boon for the LG V50's innovation reputation, if nothing else. The overall effect could have been more premium though, and it would have been wonderful if LG had made more easy-to-use features. Like its phones, it's the interface that gets in the way the most, with the DualScreen not acting in the way you might expect and packing some fat bezels too. We're still waiting for the price to really deliver a verdict here, but we don't expect it to be cheap and it's hard to see how many people really want something like this at the moment, especially when foldable phones are drawing the eye so much. MWC (Mobile World Congress) is the world's largest showcase for the mobile industry, stuffed full of the newest phones, tablets, wearables and more. TechRadar is reporting live from Barcelona all week to bring you the very latest from the show floor. Head to our dedicated MWC 2019 hub to see all the new releases, along with TechRadar's world-class analysis and buying advice about your next phone. Image credits: TechRadar This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Microsoft HoloLens 2 brings even more VR power Posted: 24 Feb 2019 09:33 AM PST Microsoft has revealed an upgraded version of its HoloLens mixed reality headset at MWC 2019. The HoloLens 2 was unwrapped at a media event today by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who noted that, “this new medium is just the beginning of experiencing what's possible - when you connect the digital world with the physical world to transform how we work, rest and play.” “Our collective opportunity has never been greater... this future is here.”
(Image credit: Microsoft) HoloLens 2Four years on from the original device's launch, HoloLens 2 offers a significant hardware upgrade on the first-generation device, providing more immersion than ever before. The new unit will offer than double the field of vision than the original Hololens thanks to a newly-designed 2K MEMS display that features eye-tracking for the first time. HoloLens 2 also adapt to you personally, learning from your gestures to lead to even more in-depth experiences, calibrating to an individual's own hands, and can now adopt holograms in real-time thanks to new “intent detection” tools. Security is provided by the same iris authentication tools used in Windows Hello, with logins starting as soon as you put on the device.
(Image credit: Microsoft) Comfort and openMicrosoft has also improved the comfort of the design, scanning the heads of thousands of people to create a more elegant, universal-fit design system that it says can fit more kinds of people than ever before – even if you wear glasses. HoloLens 2 is also lighter and more durable due to a new carbon-fibre build that “sets a new standard for comfort”, Microsoft’s Alex Kipman said. Microsoft showcased a number of impressive demos in its event designed to show off the sheer scale of use cases it anticipates for HoloLens 2, from construction workers to nurses to schoolchildren. The device will be ready to use out of the box for business customers, as well as all Microsoft's own suite of mixed-reality specific solutions on Microsoft Dynamics 365. This now includes a new Guides feature that will allow companies to train workers faster than ever before, offering step-by-step instructions for mechanics, construction workers or maintenance crews. And thanks to the new HoloLens customization program, companies can tweak the kit to their own needs, adding specific services, apps or branding. Microsoft is also opening an open app store, allowing developers to create their own marketplaces for content, and will support all web browsers - not just Edge. Firefox is the first big partner to sign up, with its new browser offering available on HoloLens 2. HoloLens 2 preorder are open now, with price schemes starting at $125 per month, or an enterprise edition available soon, costing from $3500. MWC (Mobile World Congress) is the world's largest showcase for the mobile industry, stuffed full of the newest phones, tablets, wearables and more. TechRadar is reporting live from Barcelona all week to bring you the very latest from the show floor. Head to our dedicated MWC 2019 hub to see all the new releases, along with TechRadar's world-class analysis and buying advice about your next phone. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Alcatel's new smartphones bring flagship features to budget buyers Posted: 24 Feb 2019 08:00 AM PST Smartphone maker Alcatel has launched three new smartphones (and a tablet) at MWC 2019, as it looks to bring high-end features right down to the budget end of the market. The most interesting of the three new arrivals is the Alcatel 3 (2019), which features a tall 19.5:9, 5.94-inch HD+ display complete with teardrop notch, octa-core Snapdragon 439 chipset, either 3GB or 4GB of RAM, the choice of 32GB or 64GB of storage, dual rear cameras, 8MP front camera, fingerprint scanner and face unlock. The 13MP and 5MP rear cameras come with the ability to recognize up to 21 different scenes and automatically adjust settings accordingly. That's an extremely strong spec sheet for a phone which will set you back just €159 (around $180, £140, AU$250) for 3GB/32GB and €189 (around $210, £165, AU$300) for the 4GB/64GB model. You'll be hard pushed to find another smartphone offering this amount of storage and RAM for the money. The Alcatel 3L is very similar, with the only differences between it and its more expensive sibling being its quad-core Snapdragon 429 chipset, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage, lack of a fingerprint scanner and less premium rear design. It will cost €139 (around $160, £120, AU$220) when it goes on sale later this year. Both handsets offer AR emoji, allowing you to become one of three animals on-screen, or a simple man or woman. The front facing camera tracks your facial movement and mimics your face, mouth, eyes and brows on the digital character on screen. Lots of memory for not much moneyThe Alcatel 1S is an entry-level offering, with a 5.5-inch HD+ display, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, fingerprint scanner, face unlock, dual rear cameras and a 5MP selfie snapper for just €109 (around $120, £95, AU$170). You won't find another phone with this much storage at this price. Finally, there was also an Android tablet on show in the form of the Alcatel 3T 10, an affordable big screen slate with a price tag of €179 (around $200, £155, AU$280). It offers up a 10-inch display, 4G connectivity, dual front facing speakers, 4,080mAh battery and Android 9 Pie. MWC (Mobile World Congress) is the world's largest showcase for the mobile industry, stuffed full of the newest phones, tablets, wearables and more. TechRadar is reporting live from Barcelona all week to bring you the very latest from the show floor. Head to our dedicated MWC 2019 hub to see all the new releases, along with TechRadar's world-class analysis and buying advice about your next phone. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| First look: TCL's 'affordable' foldable phone concept launching in 2020 Posted: 24 Feb 2019 08:00 AM PST Electronics manufacturer TCL, the brand behind Alcatel and BlackBerry smartphones, has confirmed at MWC 2019 that it will launch a foldable phone in 2020 which won't cost anywhere near as much as the Samsung Galaxy Fold. It also had a concept foldable smartphone on show in Barcelona, Spain, although it was behind glass so we couldn't physically touch it or try it out. The key takeaway here though is the fact TCL says its foldable device will have an "affordable price point". It wouldn't be drawn on just how much it's planning to charge, but it did tell us that it won't be producing a device which costs anywhere near $2,000 (the price of the Galaxy Fold). A TCL spokesperson told us "it's not important to be first. We don't want to rush or be the first [to launch a foldable phone]. We want to bring something to the market that's really accessible and useful for the user." That's why we won't see TCL, or its Alcatel or BlackBerry sub-brands, launch a foldable phone in 2019. It's happy to play the waiting game, see what rivals launch and then offer something more cost-effective next year.
Image Credit: TechRadar The foldable phone challengeTCL explained that it had to overcome three core challenges when designing its foldable phone concept. First up is the flexible display, which it has produced itself (with the help of sister company CSOT), so it won't need to rely on the likes of LG or Samsung to supply the panel - this could help to keep the cost down, but will likely mean a reduction in quality in comparison to those South Korean giants. Next up was the challenge of the mechanics of the folding hinge, and TCL has developed a few different options for different form factors, allowing a display to be safely folded by 180 degrees. Finally, it has had to develop a software solution to allow for larger applications, multi-tasking, gaming and more across a display which bends in half and potentially moves from one size and aspect ratio to another almost instantly. While we were able to see the foldable display and hinge in the flesh, it's not clear how far TCL has got with developing the software. We hope it does a lot better than the Royole FlexPai, which suffered from major software issues when we got hands on with it at the start of the year.
Image Credit: TechRadar Meet DragonHingeThe concept we got to see was snazzily named the TCL DragonHinge, which is a pretty awesome name for a phone if you ask us, but that's highly unlikely to be a name used for the final device. It's technically the name for the patented casing and hinge TCL has created for its flexible displays, rather than the device has a whole. We'd be surprised if the foldable concept phone we saw is the final device which launches next year, as it appeared to have a high-end spec line-up, including a 7.2-inch QHD+ (2048 x 1536) AMOLED display and four rear cameras - which doesn't sound very affordable to us. This DragonHinge device also features a 90.73% screen-to-body ratio, ensuring bezels around the large display which folds in on itself - like a book - are kept to a minimum. While the folding form factor is similar to the Samsung Galaxy Fold, there's no additional screen on the front (when folded), which means you'd have to open it up whenever you wanted to use it - potentially another cost-saving measuring. As this is just a concept device, the design, specs and form factor could change entirely before TCL launches its first foldable device in 2020, and it had some other example designs of what we may be able to expect in the future. These included a form factor more akin to the flip-phones of old, and a similar DragonHinge device which folded the opposite direction, keeping the screen on the outside of the device instead. View our TCL DragonHinge foldable phone concept gallery below MWC (Mobile World Congress) is the world's largest showcase for the mobile industry, stuffed full of the newest phones, tablets, wearables and more. TechRadar is reporting live from Barcelona all week to bring you the very latest from the show floor. Head to our dedicated MWC 2019 hub to see all the new releases, along with TechRadar's world-class analysis and buying advice about your next phone. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Nokia 9 PureView launches with more rear cameras than any other smartphone Posted: 24 Feb 2019 07:30 AM PST Nokia has announced its latest range of phones at MWC 2019, with a quartet consisting of the Nokia 1 Plus, Nokia 3.2, Nokia 4.2 and the flagship Nokia 9 PureView. It's the Nokia 9 PureView which is the standout smartphone here, with a market-leading five (yes, FIVE) rear cameras. The Nokia 3.2 and Nokia 4.2 build on previous low-end generations, while the Nokia 1 Plus offers another super-entry level handset next to the bargain basement Nokia 1.
Nokia 9 PureView
The Nokia 9 Pureview. Image Credit: TechRadar The most interesting device launched is the Nokia 9 PureView, a handset with five 12MP rear cameras. Two of these are RGB snappers and the other three are monochromatic, and with all five perched on the rear of the device along with a flash and time-of-flight hole, you'd be forgiven for thinking the phone looks like a creepy spiders' eye. Nokia is marketing the handset strongly towards an audience of photography enthusiasts, with a partnership with Adobe Lightroom to help photographers with their post-processing, and Google Photo's reliable range of effects available to use with the device. Clearly HMD Global (the Finnish firm behind Nokia handsets these days) wants to give the great camera phones, like the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus, Google Pixel 3 and iPhone XS Max, a run for their money. You also get a 5.99-inch, QHD+ pOLED display, Snapdragon 845 chipset, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of RAM, 3,320mAh battery and Android 9 Pie. The Nokia 9 PureView price is $699 / AED 2,299 (around £540, AU$980) and is expected to go on sale in the coming weeks. New budget options
The budget Nokia 4.2. Image Credit: TechRadar The Nokia 4.2 comes with a 5.71-inch HD+ display, Snapdragon 439 chipset, either 2GB or 3GB of RAM, the choice of 16GB or 32GB of storage, dual rear cameras, an 8MP selfie snapper, 3,000mAh battery and Android 9 Pie. It's set to cost $199 / AED 599 (around £150, AU$270) for 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, and $169 (around £130, AU$230) for the 2GB/16GB model. Next up is the Nokia 3.2, with a 6.26-inch HD+ screen, Snapdragon 429 chipset, 2GB or 3GB of RAM, 16GB or 32GB of storage, 13MP rear camera, 5MP front camera and Android 9 Pie. The Nokia 3.2 price is $169 / AED 469 (around £130, AU$240) for 3GB/32GB and $139 / AED 569 (around £105, AU$200) for 2GB/16GB. Finally there's the Nokia 1 Plus is, with a 5.45-inch FWVGA+ display, quad-core MediaTek chipset, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of storage, 8MP rear camera, 5MP front camera, 2,500mAh battery and Android 9 Pie Go Edition. The 1 Plus is aimed at developing markets, will be available from mid-March and is priced at just $99 / AED 299 (around £75, AU$140). MWC (Mobile World Congress) is the world's largest showcase for the mobile industry, stuffed full of the newest phones, tablets, wearables and more. TechRadar is reporting live from Barcelona all week to bring you the very latest from the show floor. Head to our dedicated MWC 2019 hub to see all the new releases, along with TechRadar's world-class analysis and buying advice about your next phone. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Nokia promises to 'double-down' on retro phone reboots in 2019 Posted: 24 Feb 2019 07:21 AM PST Yearning for an 8210? Wishing for an updated Nokia N-Gage? Desperate for a N95 re-imagining? Well, you may be in for a treat this year. During the HMD Global press conference at MWC 2019, company CEO Florian Seiche took to the stage to reveal that over 10 million rebooted 3310 and 8110 handsets have been sold worldwide, and he revealed HMD will "double down" on retro phone reboots in 2019. Seiche didn't reveal which iconic handsets were in line for a reboot, but none were announced in Barcelona. Instead, the only new feature phone on show was the Nokia 210. Old, but newWhile the reboots to date have only been feature phones, they still pack a web browser, Facebook, WhatsApp, 4G connectivity, rear cameras and an update to the classic Snake game - ensuring they are more relevant to today's world. The biggest selling points for them, aside from the relatively low price tags, is battery life, with the handsets able to last up to a month on a single charge. While the Nokia retro reboots are unlikely to replace your everyday smartphone, they may a great option to use as festival or emergency device. MWC (Mobile World Congress) is the world's largest showcase for the mobile industry, stuffed full of the newest phones, tablets, wearables and more. TechRadar is reporting live from Barcelona all week to bring you the very latest from the show floor. Head to our dedicated MWC 2019 hub to see all the new releases, along with TechRadar's world-class analysis and buying advice about your next phone. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Best microSD cards of 2019: Flash memory for cameras, drones and more Posted: 24 Feb 2019 06:54 AM PST If you're looking for the best SD and microSD memory cards for your camera or smartphone in 2019, then you've come to the right place, as in this guide, we've collected the best memory cards that can boost the storage space of your device. The best memory cards will have fast data transfer rates which are essential for recording in ultra high definition (4K) resolutions as well, as your camera will be writing a lot of data to the memory card. Of course, the best memory cards will also provide much needed extra capacity to your devices, allowing you to store more files. In 2019, there is a huge range of devices that require memory cards, from phones and cameras, to laptops, security cameras, drones and much more - so our list of the best SD cards money can buy can help ensure you get the most out of your device. In our list of the best SD and microSD memory cards, we look at value for money, speed and capacity, and our price checking software will make sure you get the very price. The best microSD cards of 2019
The best SD card you can buy is technically a microSD card, albeit one that can be used full-size when married to the proper hardware. Despite not being the most resilient SD card on the market, the Samsung Evo Plus’ 100 megabyte per second (MB/s) read and 90MB/s write speeds are impressive nonetheless. Not only that, but there is a wide variety of sizes to choose from too, so whether you need 32GB of storage or 128GB, rest assured you’re in good hands.
If you do a lot of filming, especially in 4K, then you're going to want a reliable microSD card that can write large amounts of data fast, which is exactly what the Samsung Pro+ can do. It features a U3 rating and read/write speeds of 95MB/sec and 90MB/sec. The kind of speeds the Samsung Pro+ microSD card can handle will be largely wasted for day-to-day tasks, such as being installed in a smartphone, but for 4K video, this is a fantastic buy.
SanDisk claims this microSD card can read up to 95MB/s and write 90MB/s, and in tests it came pretty close to those speeds. This makes it a very fast card, and with smaller files it's even faster, which means this is a great card for action cams, drones or burst photography. Again, it's a bit on the pricey side, but if you don't mind spending a bit above the odds, you'll get a great microSD card for your needs.
The Lexar 1000x isn't the fastest microSD card here, but it has a lot going for it. For example, its read speeds are still some of the fastest around, and it's priced cheaper than many of its competitors. While it falls short with its write speeds, the difference won't be too noticeable for many people. It also comes with a microSD to USB 3.0 adapter, which makes it easy to transfer your files to a PC.
As you can probably tell from the number of entrants it has in our best microSD list, Samsung is excellent at producing fast, efficient and dependable microSD cards. The Samsung Evo Select is another great all-rounder that can happily sit in a digital camera, drone, phone or Nintendo Switch games console. While it doesn't necessarily excel in any one task, it is a strong performer that does the job well. Currently Samsung Evo Select microSD cards are only available from Amazon. While that makes hunting for a bargain a bit more tricky, it at least means you can buy with confidence from a reputable seller.
The SanDisk Ultra microSD is a brilliant microSD card for people who are looking for large capacities, with the latest version offering up to 400GB of storage space. That should give you plenty of room for storing high resolution images and video files. Write speeds are good, but they are not the fastest we've seen. If you shoot in 4K, that might be an issue, but for many people the slightly slower speeds are worth it for the amount of storage space you get.
If you're looking for a microSD card to put inside an action camera, like the Go Pro, then you want something that can record data quickly, while also being able to withstand drops, shocks and splashes. This is where the Kingston microSD Action Camera comes in - it's designed especially for action cameras. This means it has an incredibly robust design, as well as good read and write speeds. It's a bit overkill if you're just going to use it in a smartphone, so one of the other microSD cards in this list could be better suited to your needs.
Many microSD cards are low capacity, which is fine if you just need an extra bit of space in your smartphone or tablet, but if you're taking lots of high resolution images, or you want to take advantage of modern smartphone's support for microSD cards up to 2TB in size, then the Integral 512GB microSDXC Class 10 Memory Card is definitely worth considering, offering a huge 512GB of storage space. Of course, you can also get versions with less space if you don't need as much, but for those of you who need to store large files, this is the microSD card for you. How to choose your microSD memory card
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| Instagram could be planning public Pinterest-style collections Posted: 24 Feb 2019 06:30 AM PST Ever wished Instagram was a bit more like Pinterest? You could be in luck – code discovered in Instagram for Android suggests the app is about to launch a new feature to make your collections public. First discovered by regular tipster Jane Manchun Wong and reported by TechCrunch, the feature would let you show off a collection of pictures to the wider world. Instagram told TechCrunch the new option isn't currently being tested – so we don't know if or when it's going to roll out, or which countries it's going to appear in at first. It does look to be on the way though.
Collections in Instagram let you save photos privately in groups (themed around travel, cooking, friends, or whatever you like). The toggle switch that's been found would let you make one or more of those collections viewable by anyone else. Testing, testing...Instagram is constantly testing new features of course, and isn't shy about ripping off good ideas other people have – like the Stories concept that Snapchat introduced. In this case it would be drawing inspiration from Pinterest, which lets users compile boards of images based around particular themes. It could also boost e-commerce activity on Instagram at the same time, making it easier to showcase groups of products for sale. While it started as a simple photo-sharing app, Instagram has since grown to do just about everything else instead – including direct messaging. And speaking of messaging, parent company Facebook – which smartly decided to buy Instagram nearly seven years ago – is apparently planning to integrate communication channels across Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Best external hard drives of 2019 Posted: 24 Feb 2019 06:22 AM PST Buying the best external hard drive for your needs is essential, so our guide to the top external hard drives can help make sure you buy the right one for you. The reason why you'll need to think carefully when buying the best external hard drive is that you'll want something that can safely and reliably store your important documents, while also quickly and easily expanding the storage space of your PC, laptop or games console. So, we've listed the best external hard drives money can buy in 2019. Each external drive on this page has been carefully picked to make sure it offers fast data transfer speeds – essential if you move lots of big files regularly – while also offering sturdy build quality so you don't have to worry about them breaking and losing your files. When buying the best external hard drive for your needs, there are certain things you need to take into account. For example, you'll want to make sure you have a drive that offers fast data transfer speeds. The biggest deciding factors when it comes to data transfer rates is the connection the drive uses, and whether it is a standard hard drive or a solid state drive (SSD). Many external hard drives use USB 2.0 connections, but for faster speeds you'll want USB 3.0 or ideally the newer USB Type-C connection. You'll need to ensure your PC or laptop also has a USB Type-C port. You'll also need to think about how much storage space you need. The best external hard drives offer a range of capacities. We'd recommend 500GB to start with, as that gives you plenty of space to store your files without costing too much money. However, if you deal in large files, such as high resolution photos and videos, then you may want to consider buying a bigger drive, with external hard drives offering terabytes (TB) of storage space. Buying the best external hard drive for your needs involves figuring out how much space you need. You don't want to buy an external hard drive that's too small, and end up running out of space, but neither do you really want to pay over the odds for storage space you'll never need. In this guide we list the best external hard drives with both traditional hard drives and faster (and more expensive) solid state drives. Still, the best external hard drives are also dependable and rugged, so you can safely store your data without worry. The best external drives will also be light enough to carry in your bag, with large capacities so that you can keep your data safe when travelling. There's a huge range of external hard drives on offer, so we've put together this list of the best external hard drives to help you find the perfect one for your needs.
An external hard drive you can buy without breaking the bank, Buffalo's MiniStation Extreme NFC could be your match made in heaven. With compatibility for both Mac and Windows machines, the Buffalo MiniStation Extreme NFC is very flexible, and comes with a rugged case that's dust and water resistant, along with a built-in USB 3.0 cable. Not only is your data kept protected from knocks and drops with the rugged shell, but it's also got 256-bit AES security features and NFC (Near Field Communication) features as well. Essentially it allows you to unlock the drive to get to your files quickly and easily by tapping the supplied NFC card onto the drive's body. Pretty neat!
The latest generation of the Western Digital My Passport range of external hard drives has landed, coming in sizes from 1TB to 4TB. It features cloud storage and 256-AES encryption, along with WD's own backup software. Best of all, it is a very good performer when it comes to data transfer speeds, beating many of its competitor. Unsurprisingly, it doesn't reach the top speeds of solid state external drives, but for external hard drives based on traditional HDDs, this is the drive to get.
If you'd rather have an external hard drive that took advantage of solid state drive (SSD) speeds, then the Samsung Portable SSD T5 is definitely the best external hard drive for you. Samsung has a brilliant reputation for external SSDs, thanks to products like the T3, and the T5 builds on its predecessor by adding a fast USB Type-C connection that ekes out every last drop of performance from the solid state drive inside. Of course, it's also backwards compatible with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 if your PC doesn't have USB Type-C. It's expensive, but it's well worth the cash. Read the full review: Samsung Portable SSD T5
The Adata SD700 will suit those looking for a rugged storage device that can provide ample capacity without costing too much. It performs superbly well and remains the only SSD we’ve seen that is IP68 rated. Thanks to the solid state drive that resides in this external hard drive, it's a lot faster than external drives that use traditional spinning hard drives - so you're getting great transfer speeds as well as rugged protection. It also comes in capacities up to 1TB, so you don't have to worry about missing out on storage space just because it uses an SSD - this drive really does hit all the right notes.
If you're looking for the absolute largest capacity external hard drive, then the WD My Book Duo 4TB is the one to get, offering a huge 4TB (you can also get versions with up to 20TB) of storage space over two hard drives. If you don't mind sacrificing some of the ample storage space you can set the drives up in a RAID array, so you have file backups of your files should one of the drives die. This USB 3.0 drive has many of the features of a fully-fledged NAS device (including a high price), and if you have a router with a USB 3.0 port you could use this as a network attached storage device in its own right. The device, which comes with two-year warranty, has 256-bit AES hardware encryption, and automatic backup software (WD SmartWare Pro). Worth noting that the enclosure used is fully serviceable and that WD ships the drive already pre-formatted for Windows users (NTFS).
If you have a device with a Thunderbolt port, then this is a great option, as it provides twice the speeds of standard USB 3.0 drives. It's also not especially expensive compared to other Thunderbolt drives. The price is kept down due to its use of a traditional hard drive, rather than an SSD, which limits the potential speeds. It also comes with a USB 3.0 port for people without access to Thunderbolt.
If you want to combine speed and capacity, then the Seagate Backup Plus Desktop Drive 5TB is definitely worth considering. It comes in a range of sizes up to 8TB and it beats the competition when it comes to read and write speeds as well. On top of this storage and speed, you get a decent amount of peace of mind thanks to Seagate's lower than average failure rates, especially in bigger capacity hard drives. You also get backup software, and the drive is compatible with both Windows and Macs, though it's formatted for Windows out of the box unless you go for a Mac-specific hard drive - though these are more expensive.
Even if we had mixed feelings on past versions of the My Passport Wireless, the 2016 “pro” variant of the external HDD restores faith in the Western Digital name. The design, for one, has been overhauled and no longer resembles the My Passport Ultra or My Passport for Mac. Instead, there’s now a more premium feel to the My Passport Wireless Pro. It resembles an external DVD drive, but considering the onboard SD card slot, don’t worry about getting it confused with anything else. For photographers, this will make the Wireless Pro stand out. For everyone else, there’s a massive 6,400mAh battery built into the device. This lets the drive be used completely free of wires over 2.4GHz or 5GHz channels. When it’s wired up, however, don’t expect cutting edge connection tech, as the My Passport Wireless Pro uses only USB Type-B to Type-A. Completely absent is the latest and greatest USB-C connection. Where the My Passport Wireless Pro compromises on affordability, it’s able to benefit in just about every other area. Of course, not everyone needs a wireless hard drive or SD card support, but for those who do, it’s almost essential. Read the full review: Western Digital My Passport Wireless Pro
You may have stumbled upon the LaCie Porsche Design Mobile Drive when perusing the Apple website for USB-C accessories. There’s a reason for that: the Porsche Design ships with both USB Type-C to Type-A and USB Type-C to Type-C connectors, making it a worthy candidate regardless of your setup. It’s expensive for an external hard drive, don’t get us wrong, especially if you’re in the market for the top-end 4TB option. On the other hand, this is an HDD that could theoretically output speeds of up to 5Gbps, if it weren’t hindered by the limits of SMR (Shingled Magnetic Recording) technology. Comprising five 800GB platters in a 15mm form factor, the LaCie Porsche Design Mobile is an excellent challenger to the Seagate M3, though it’s notably bigger in both weight and dimensions. Sure, it packs an extra convenience factor in the form of USB-C, but it should be noted that the Porsche Design Mobile is still limited to USB 3.0 speeds. Plus, even an aluminum finish can’t prevent it from clashing with your Rose Gold MacBook. Nevertheless, LaCie’s offering is the best USB-C external HDD money can buy, at least for the time being. Read our full review: LaCie Porsche Design Mobile Drive 4TB
Typically, iStorage hard disks cater best to governments and multinational organizations around the world, for good reason too – they offer tight security like no other drives around. If someone tries to tamper with your iStorage drive, you can configure it to self-desturct. What's more, the data is encrypted by the 256-bit AES protocol, with multiple forms of protection in place to ensure the bad guys don't get in no matter how persistent. When you consider all that extra security, the prices won't scare you away either. Sure, it's still expensive, four times the price of an equivalent 2TB drive, and unlikely to be the most nimble performer. But, you're paying for a product that's virtually uncrackable. Bear in mind, though, you'll get no help from the manufacturer if things go awry and you lose your password. Read our full review: iStorage diskAshur DT Gabe Carey and Matt Hanson also contributed to this article This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Best Linux laptops of 2019: the top open-source notebooks Posted: 24 Feb 2019 06:11 AM PST If you want an alternative to Microsoft's Windows or Apple's macOS operating systems, then Linux, the open source operating system that's been knocking about since 1991, is the way to go, and in this guide we'll show you the best Linux laptops that come specially built for running the software. Because none of the main notebook vendors – bar Dell – offer Linux as a base OS option, this leaves other smaller companies the ability to carve a niche for themselves. Of course, you can install Linux on many existing laptops, however some manufacturers lock down their products that makes installing Linux instead of Windows a real pain - and you can completely forget about running Linux on a MacBook. The five of the best Linux laptops you can buy today on this page have been fine-tuned to run a specific flavor of Linux (like Ubuntu, for example), which means they will run the popular open source operating system out of the box without any annoying fiddling about needed.
Dell XPS 13 Developer Edition The XPS 13 retains its crown as the undisputed champion of the Ultrabook market, and one can only admire Dell for its unwavering Linux support on a flagship machine. The laptop is customisable so you can configure it to be suitable for everything from routine office tasks to gaming, depending on how much you’re willing to pay. If you wish, you can plump for the most expensive XPS 13, which has a 4K (3,840 x 2,160) InfinityEdge touchscreen. The slightly more wallet-friendly configuration runs with a Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) 13.3-inch InfinityEdge non-touch display. It’s also worth bearing in mind that the higher-res screen will tax the GPU and CPU more, and may affect battery life adversely. As this is touted as a 'Developer' edition, it's surprising there aren't more customisation options. The basic model - which costs $1049.99 at the time of writing - comes with 4GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD, and cannot be upgraded during checkout. The more expensive version allows you to choose between the default 512GB SSD or to pay extra for a 1TB solid-state drive. All models come preinstalled with Ubuntu 16.04 LTS and 8th-generation Intel CPUs.
System76 Serval WS System76's Serval WS is the ultimate powerhouse of laptops. Available with a 15-inch or 17-inch display, it incorporates an 8th generation Intel Core i7 CPU which is usually found in desktop machines. The Serval WS is highly customisable incorporating up to 64GB of system RAM and up to 12TB of storage. Buyers are also offered a variety of Nvidia GeForce GTX 10-series GPUs, and gamers will further appreciate the choice of either a Full HD or 4K display. It's clear that a lot of thought and care has gone into the design of the Serval WS, given that each key on the keyboard comes with its own multi-colour backlight. The laptop, like all System76 models, comes preinstalled either with the firm’s own custom POP!_OS or Ubuntu Linux. This notebook also offers impressive connectivity chops with both USB 3.1 Type-C and Type-A ports (the exact number of ports varies by model). One thing to be aware of is that this laptop is a fairly hefty beast, with the basic 15-inch model weighing 3.4kg and the 17-inch version tipping the scales at 4.17kg. This heftiness is matched only by the weighty price tag: the base 15-inch model is equipped with a GTX1060 and a relatively basic 8GB of RAM and a 250GB SSD for storage, but costs an eye-watering $1,989 (around £1,515, AU$2,695).
Purism Librem 13 Purism embarked upon a quest to build the most secure laptop ever and (obviously) chose Linux (PureOS) to power the device – it is the only notebook vendor on the market to offer physical kill switches as standard on its laptops. Instead of going mainstream, the company tapped into the crowdfunding community to gain more than $430,000 (around £300,000, AU$550,000) worth of funding, allowing it to adopt a stricter ethos than most firms when it comes to privacy, rights to free software and security. The Librem 13 might look and feel like a bog-standard laptop but there's far more to it than meets the eye (for example, the company designed its own motherboards). In addition, Purism’s commitment to Linux (and security in general) certainly goes beyond most of the vendors on this list.
System76 Oryx Pro The Oryx Pro was built for Linux and indeed currently offers a choice of either Ubuntu 16.04 or System76’s own Ubuntu-based Pop!_OS 17.10 on purchase. The chassis is made from lightweight aluminium with a matte black finish and you even have a choice of display size (15.6 or 17.3-inch). Graphics are provided by GeForce GTX 10 series GPUs and the Oryx packs an Intel Core i7 quad-core processor (with Turbo to 3.8GHz) into its thin frame. The online store encourages you to customise the Oryx to suit your needs. By default you get 8GB of RAM and a 250GB SSD, but you can pay extra to upgrade to 64GB of system memory with a 2TB SSD if you wish – although the top-end configurations get very expensive here. You can also choose between Nvidia’s GTX 1060 and GTX 1070 when it comes to the GPU, and it’s possible to add extra drives, or purchase a laptop bag designed to carry and protect your machine. The warranty of the notebook can be extended to provide coverage for three years.
System76 Galago Pro On paper, the Galago Pro from System76 is an absolute beast of a machine, and yet it weighs less than most laptops which also have a 13-inch screen. This is a notebook that rivals the Dell XPS 13 Developer Edition, featuring an aluminium chassis, and managing to make space for up to 32GB of RAM (yes, 32GB). The Galago Pro has two hard drive bays. The 'OS Drive' in the first bay is a 120GB SSD by default but can be specified at up to 2TB when you order. You can also choose to install a second SSD in the other bay of up to 4TB capacity. If that wasn’t enough, it has a 13.3-inch display with a resolution of 3,200 x 1,800, an Ethernet port, an SD card reader, two USB ports and a Thunderbolt 3/USB Type-C/mini-DisplayPort connector. In a nutshell, you will be hard pressed to get anything in Windows-land that can deliver this sort of compute power and storage capacity. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The best rugged laptops of 2019: we test drop-proof laptops for working outside Posted: 24 Feb 2019 06:06 AM PST In this list of the best rugged laptops of 2019, you'll find our picks for the best laptops that can be used in extreme environments, and are built to survive drops, knocks and spills. We scoured the internet for the best laptops that can take a beating, and the best rugged laptops can handle basically anything you can throw at them – literally. The best rugged laptops are been built with rigid and robust chassis that can withstand high pressure, extreme drops and even exposure to liquid without a worry. To ensure that these laptops can survive, they have been subjected to rigorous tests, so you can use them in complete confidence that they have been built to last. So, whether you work on a busy work site, spend a lot of time in the most dangerous places on Earth, or if you’re just kind of clumsy, we’ll help you find the best rugged laptops on the market. We’ve even included our exclusive price comparison tool, so that you can spend less time shopping for the best rugged laptop, and more time saving.
Image Credit: Dell If you want an extremely rugged laptop, you’re going to want the Dell Latitude 14 Rugged Extreme – it’s in the name. And, while it’s a bit old right now, it’s still a well-designed rugged laptop that meets military standard requirements. It features a rigid magnesium alloy build, shock absorbent case, is IP65 certified against dust, sand and water – it can even handle extreme temperatures. Like the rest of Dell’s catalog, you can configure the dell Latitude 14 Rugged Extreme however you like.
Image Credit: Dell Dell may be a mainstream laptop manufacturer, but it still makes the best rugged laptops around. The Dell Latitude 14 Rugged is a fantastic machine that combines a tough outer shell with components that are pretty powerful for the category – including an Intel Core i5 processor and dedicated AMD Radeon graphics. The display looks decent, with a matte finish that makes it comfortable to use outdoors – which is probably where you’ll use it. It’s the less ‘extreme’ version of the Latitude 14 Rugged Extreme which sits at the top of our list of the best rugged laptops.
Image Credit: Panasonic If you want one of the best 2-in-1 laptops, but you don’t want something that feels like it’s going to snap in half the first chance it gets – the Panasonic Toughbook CF-33 is for you. This 2-in-1 has a flexibility that most rugged laptops just don’t. If you need something that’s easy to carry while you do stock takes and jot down notes, then tablet mode will work wonders. Then, if you need to type up some documents, you can attach the keyboard and comfortably type away. It may be expensive, but it’s one of the only 2-in-1 laptops that can actually take a beating.
Image Credit: HP You might think the HP ProBook x360 11 G1 EE is a normal laptop at first glance. However, once you dive deeper, you’ll see there’s more than meets the eye. While it isn’t designed for big drops and dangerous environments, it's still one of the best rugged laptops for most everyday users – it’s built to withstand more knocks, drops and liquids than the everyday laptop. This is due to an industrial rubberised body, spill resistant keyboard and Corning Gorilla Glass 4 display. It’s not going to be as robust as some of the other rugged laptops on this list, but it’s easily portable and the screen can be flipped – making it a rugged 2-in-1 laptop.
Image Credit: Lenovo Similar to the HP ProBook x360 we mentioned earlier, the Lenovo ThinkPad 11e is more like a standard laptop that just so happens to be a bit rugged. Still, you can just tell that Lenovo has put effort into the construction of this device, as it includes more robust inputs, and can survive drops of up to 90cm. It also features military specifications, that make this a laptop that can survive the harshest conditions. What’s more, it’s affordable, while still offering enough processing power for everyday tasks.
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| The best mobile workstations 2019: the most powerful laptops for businesses Posted: 24 Feb 2019 05:52 AM PST Welcome to our list of the best mobile workstations of 2019. On this page you'll find the top powerful business laptops that combine the power of desktop workstations, with the portability and convenience of the best business laptops. The best mobile workstations, then, are devices that allow you to complete intensive tasks, such as video editing and rendering, while away from the office. Thanks to advances in modern mobile technology, laptops are now more capable than ever before, with processor makers like Intel and AMD working hard to make mobile chips that can perform brilliantly at multitasking. Meanwhile, mobile graphics cards have also advanced, allowing for brilliant performance in laptops that remain thin and light. This level of performance in a mobile workstation does come at a cost, however, as the parts they use, build quality and the level of after-sales services mean that these are an investment that can be expensive, but choosing the right one means you'll have a solid and dependable performer that will help you with your work for years to come. Thanks to our price comparison tool, we can help take the sting out of the price tag by helping you find the very best prices for these excellent mobile workstations. So, read one for our list of the best mobile workstations money can buy in 2019.
If you'd prefer a Best Desktop Workstation roundup or, if you're interested in a business laptop that isn't necessarily a workstation, we've got you covered. Because mobile workstations are so specialist - and come with such a high price tag - finding one that suits your business needs is important, and we're here to help with this list of the best mobile workstations in 2018.
Apple's most powerful laptop ever is also the best workstation laptop in 2018. It comes with the innovative Touch Bar that makes certain tasks much easier, but it's the powerful innards that really impress us with this mobile workstation. It features up to 32GB of RAM and a super-fast solid state hard drive, and comes with Intel's latest and most powerful processors. You can configure the MacBook Pro 2018 to match your needs and budget, and it all comes in Apple's trademark gorgeous design. If you're looking for the best mobile workstation that combines design and power, then this is a brilliant choice. As long as you have the budget. Read the full review: MacBook Pro (15-inch, mid-2018) review
Not only is the Razer Blade one of the best gaming laptops money can buy, it is also an excellent desktop replacement and mobile workstation for non-gamers, thanks to its excellent array of features and powerful components. It’s thin, powerful and includes some of the latest hardware money can buy. Read the full review: Razer Blade review
HP's mobile workstation Ultrabook has already reached its third generation but the last one is still very much a best-in-class especially when it comes to sheer value for money. It is one of the cheapest workstations on the market to offer a professional dedicated graphics card, and the most affordable business laptop to come with a whopping half-decade warranty. HP opted for a 14-inch diagonal which may well hit a sweet spot for some. Read the full review: HP ZBook 14 G2
HP calls it the perfect combination of brains and beauty and it is kind of hard to disagree. The G3 is essentially a mobile workstation that has been squeezed in an Ultrabook form factor. A 4K monitor adorns it and there's plenty of oomph under the hood. It is actually the only device known to us that comes with a Xeon CPU. Add in extensive ISV certification, a super-long warranty and MLD-STD 810G certification and you have a very attractive candidate. Read the full review: HP ZBook Studio G3
Despite being just over 10mm thick and weighing just over 1.16Kg, the HP Spectre Pro 13 G1 manages to pack a proper Core i7 CPU with a full HD 13.3-inch display, a massive 4-cell 38Whr battery and three USB Type C connectors. This makes it a formidable mobile workstation that offers plenty of power for even the most demanding of tasks. If you want a laptop that offers similar performance to your work desktop PC, then this brilliant machine is definitely worth considering. Its 3 Year Next Business Day onsite warranty also means if something goes wrong with the device, you can quickly get it fixed without missing out on work.
Lenovo hails this model as the world's first multi-mode workstation, one that manages to combine power and creativity thanks to a 360-degree hinge that has, to some extent, set the standard when it comes to convertible or 2-in-1 designs. What's more, it is one of the very rare laptops to come with built-in Wacom Active ES pen technology, capable of delivering 2048 levels of pen pressure sensitivity and tilt recognition.
As with most of Dell's laptops you can configure the Precision 7720 to meet your needs, which makes it one of the best workstation laptops in the world. By boosting the processor, screen and GPU of this laptop (compared to its base model) you'll get an excellent laptop for heavy-duty work. The 17-inch screen (which can be upgraded to 4K), is brilliant for photo and video editing, but it does mean that it's a bit larger and heavier than other machines in this list. It's also pricey, especially if you configure it with the latest components, but it remains a brilliant
The ThinkPad T-series is a no-nonsense design with a focus on robustness over style. Even so, the T460s' 18.8mm thickness is within 1mm of the MacBook, and it's actually lighter at 1.4kg. It's not as powerful as some of the workstation laptops in this list, but it's not as expensive either, which makes it a great choice if you're looking for an accomplished workstation laptop for less hardcore workloads, while also keeping to a budget. Read the full review: Lenovo ThinkPad T460s
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| Huawei unveils the future of file-sharing Posted: 24 Feb 2019 05:46 AM PST Huawei has revealed what it says is a revolutionary new way to quickly share files between your phone and your PC. At its MWC 2019 launch event in Barcelona today, the Chinese tech giant unveiled Huawei Share, a new service which means you can transfer files with just a tap. Enabled via an NFC OneHop sticker attached to one of the company’s Matebook laptops, users can transfer text, photos or files almost instantly to and from their phones.
One touchThe company says Huawei Share will support transfer speeds of up to 30MBps, making it perfect for when you need to share things fast. However you will need one of Huawei’s devices to utilise Huawei Share, as the service only works on the company’s EMUI 8.0 software and later – meaning it won’t be available in the US for the time being. Huawei Share works both ways between phones and laptops, with users also to do a three-finger down swipe on the Matebook display to select an area to screenshot. Another nifty feature sees you just shake you smartphone and tap to record up to 60 seconds of real-time screen capture from the laptop across to your device. Users can also copy and paste text across devices thanks to the new “Clipboard Sharing” feature, allowing speedy copying of information across devices. The launch came alongside Huawei’s reveal of three new Matebook models, with a premium Matebook X Pro device unveiled alongside new editions of its Matebook 13 and Matebook 14 models.
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| Huawei Mate X: first look at a truly impressive foldable phone Posted: 24 Feb 2019 05:45 AM PST The Huawei Mate X is shaping up to be the foldable phone that fixes our concerns over the yet-to-be-held Samsung Galaxy Fold, but expect to pay more for it. We got to see Mate X smartphone and its folding Falcon Wing hinge in action, and although Huawei wasn't ready to let us touch it, we know a lot of details. For one thing, it'll be expensive. It cost €2,299 (about $2,605, £1,996, AU$4,769) with 512GB of internal storage and 8GB of RAM. It's been in the works for three years, according to Huawei, and will launch in the UK on EE and Vodafone this year. It's poised to be one of many foldable phones at MWC 2019. But from what we've seen so far, the Huawei Mate X holds a lot of promise, claiming to be 'the world's fastest foldable 5G phone.' Here's what we saw. The foldable 8-inch Huawei Mate X screenThe Huawei Mate X folds out into a 8-inch Android tablet, with a 6.6-inch screen on one side and a 6.4-inch (technically 6.38-inch) screen on the other when folded up. Its screen size seems just right for what we've envision from the future of foldables.
This OLED display is bigger than Samsung's Fold, which is 7.4-inch unfolded with a folded 4.6-inch bezel-heavy screen... on just one side. Huawei knows it has a winner here in terms of size, one that Samsung can't address until the Fold 2. When the Huawei Mate X is unfolded, there's no notch or corner cutout for the camera, either. Huawei's first foldable phone has a bezel-reduced FullView display.
The way it folds is a little different, too. The 8-inch screen folds so that it splits into two, broken-down displays faces the outside. Samsung's phone folds inward, with an extra small outer screen. Dimensions and gripHuawei calls its sophisticated-looking folding hinge the Falcon Wing hinge, and it allows the Mate X to lay completely flat, measuring just 5.4mm thin. The company says the hinge has 100 components inside of it. For a comparison, this foldable phone is thinner than an iPad when it's laid out in tablet mode. Apple's only managed to get its form factor down to 5.9mm thin.
There is a prominent grip on the Mate X that Huawei says is an 'ergonomic curvature'. It's made a good case for why this grip exists: firm, secure holding in the hand. Really, the grip exists for another good purpose: it's where a lot of the major components are stored. The camera system is here, so is a 2-in-1 fingerprint sensor / power button. The Huawei Mate X will come in an Interstellar Blue color, according to the company, but you'll only see it on the thin top and bottom, and on the back unfolded. It'll also have a case to protect those screens. No word on if the case is included for free. Specs and battery lifeHuawei claims to have the word's fastest foldable 5G phone, and that's not a claim as to how fast you can unfold and fold this thing. That's what it sounded like at first. No, the the company proudly claimed that "5G is on" in its super-charged Kirin 980 chipset, another knock to the fact that the Galaxy Fold will have a 4G LTE at its lofty starting price. Samsung didn't even mention the price of the 5G version.
It has the world's first 7nm 5G chip and sports a quad 5G antenna design, which can reach speeds of 4.6Gbps. You can download a 1GB movie in three seconds, says Huawei. The company touts that these speeds are 10x current 4G LTE capabilities and it's able to pull them off in 2019 because it's in the middle of building 5G networks, so it's able to do live testing. Here are more Huawei Mate X specs announced at the press conference: it'll come with 512GB of internal storage, 8GB of RAM, and support Huawei's smaller nano memory cards. The battery life, despite the 8-inch screen size, is massive at 4,500mAh. It seems to be broken up into two parts, like the Galaxy Fold. It's a bit bigger than Samsung's battery capacity, but then again the screen is larger, so it should even out. The Mate X should also break records for charging. Huawei's 55W SuperCharge tech not only surpasses the 40W charging in the Huawei Mate 20 Pro, it can reach 85% battery life in just 30 minutes. The camera systemHuawei didn't go into detail regarding how many cameras the Huawei Mate X has, but its camera system is located in down the spin hinge, which ends up with a USB-C port at the bottom.
The ideas behind the camera system on a foldable are impressive. You can finally see yourself when you take a selfie with the main camera; not having to choose between blindly snapping a pic with the the better rear camera and using an underpowered lower-megapixel selfie camera. Likewise, when someone else is taking a photo of you, you can primp and adjust your hair with a live view. Using the 6.6-inch screen, you can see what they see on the 6.4-inch side. This is a real-world use case of a foldable phone for average consumers. Early thoughts on price and release dateHuawei is known for undercutting Samsung, Apple, and other top-tier smartphone makers on price. But it'll actually be more expensive than the nearly $2,000 Galaxy Fold. Obviously, the tech inside is expensive, and the fact that it touts 5G means it's pricey. Huawei needs to convince us its software is as good as or better than Samsung's, which looks to make multi-tasking as easy as possible in tablet mode.
We're also interested in finding out about the bendable screen durability. How does it hold up? Does the plastic covering scratch easily? Two outer screens seems prone to danger, even with a case. We still don't have the official release date. The Samsung Fold comes out on April 26, so Huawei may be itching to compete with this first true foldable phone sooner rather than later in 2019. We're just as eager to know if you'll be able to buy it in the US, where Huawei phones aren't sold due to government pressure over potential spying (or at least they're not easy to buy from reputable retailers in America). The Huawei Mate X seems almost too good to be true in some ways. It has a larger 8-inch screen closer to today's tablets, and folds with two outers screens closer to the size of current flagship smartphones. That we can get behind. Durability remains our biggest question, along with availability besides the newly announced EE and Vodafone carrier details. We'll have more on Huawei's first foldable in the coming days, as we're bound to hear a lot of additional details at MWC 2019. All image credit: TechRadar
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| Best business laptops 2019: top laptops for work Posted: 24 Feb 2019 05:42 AM PST If you're looking to buy a new laptop for work, then this list of the best business laptops will help you choose. The best business laptops combine cutting edge productivity features with slimline designs and long battery life that provides mobility and productivity - essential functions for the modern workplace. While compiling this list of the best business laptops, we've taken into consideration a number of key factors including power, battery life, feature set and sheer value for money. This means that we've selected a wider range of laptops to suit most (if not all) budgets and hopefully all tastes; there's a mix of cutting-edge products and old favourites here. Almost all of them come with the professional version of Windows 10 to enhance their business credentials. We also have our very own price comparison tool that will compare prices and make sure you're buying the very best business laptop for the very best price. If you're looking for a bit more power, then check out our list of the best mobile workstations, as well as our pick for the best business desktop PC.
Where to buy business laptops
Previous versions of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon have been the absolute best-in-class when it comes to business laptops, and this year's model is no exception, with Lenovo delivering a thinner and smaller design with practically no trade-offs. Despite its small size, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon comes with pretty much every feature you need in a productivity machine, making it the best business laptop money can buy. Thanks to a battery life of up to 15.5 hours, and a rapid charging feature that brings the battery back up to 80% capacity in only an hours, the X1 Carbon is an ultrabook that lets you keep on working while you're on the move.
Huawei may not be the first name you think of when looking to buy a new business laptop - whereas Dell and Lenovo are two names you'd more likely associate with notebooks for work, but the Chinese company has proved to be an excellent laptop manufacturer with its new MateBook X Pro. It has a beautiful design that will get appreciative looks in the boardroom, it's light enough to carry around with you, and it has powerful components and excellent battery life. It's also one of the cheaper ultrabooks on the market.
Believe it or not, Dell classifies the XPS 13 as a business laptop, albeit one that is geared towards a home office environment but businessmen (and women) will love the design. This ultraportable laptop – as Dell puts it – punches above its weight with Windows 10 Pro across the entire range as well as rather attractive pricing. This award winning laptop (it won best laptop of the year from us and many others) manages to pack a 13.3-inch display into the chassis of an average 11.6-inch model. It was also refreshed in 2018 with even better components, for a much improved business laptop experience. The laptop can be upgraded to 16GB of RAM and a 1TB M2 SSD drive. Battery life is exceptional as well with almost 22 hours of continual use when using productivity applications. In 2019, Dell has once again given the Dell XPS 13 a boost when it comes to components, and the webcam is now placed above the screen for better video calls, which helps make the Dell XPS 13 2019 once again one of the best business laptops money can buy.
The 2018 model of the 13-inch Macbook Pro with Touch Bar is a brilliant upgrade to Apple's formidable laptop range, and it's one of the best business laptops money can buy. While Microsoft had the performance edge over last year's MacBook Pro, with the Surface Book 2, Apple has come out swinging with some seriously beefed up specs for the 13-inch MacBook Pro 2018. The 13-inch model can be configured with the latest Intel Core processors, all USB-C ports are not Thunderbolt 3, and you can have up to 16GB of RAM. If you want even more performance, the 15-inch version is worth considering, as it bumps the specs up even more.
HP was the only one of the three big laptop vendors who didn't have a flagship thin-and-light laptop: Dell has the XPS 13 and Lenovo, the Yoga 900. That is now no longer the case with the introduction of the HP Spectre Pro 13 G1. This is a device that not only oozes luxury with a combination of colours and a clever design but also one that packs some incredible components. Despite being just over 10mm thick and weighing just over 1.16Kg, it manages to pack a proper Core i7 CPU with a full HD 13.3-inch display, a massive 4-cell 38Whr battery and three USB Type C connectors.
Lenovo took an existing form factor and refined it to deliver the new 2016-2017 ThinkPad E470. Powered by the 7th generation Intel Core processors, this particular SKU has a 14-inch FHD anti-glare display, powered by a discrete Nvidia Geforce 940MX 2GB GPU. Equipped with a spill resistant keyboard, a TrackPoint and a 3+2 buttons click pad, the E470 has more than enough ports and expansion capabilities to keep the average user happy. Shame that it doesn't do DisplayPort, so no 4K output.
We’ve been waiting years for a new MacBook Air, and it’s finally here. Now thinner, lighter and with a Retina display for the first time, it’s easily the best MacBook Air we’ve ever used, and it makes it one of the best business laptops in the world as well, thanks to its thin and light design, improved hardware for better performance (including 8th-generation processors, more RAM and faster SSDs) and affordable price. We just wish that these were full-fat U-series quad core chips, rather than the Y-series dual-core fanless processors. Still, this means that you’re going to easily get all-day battery out of this thing, which makes it one of the best Macs for travel. Read the full review: MacBook Air 2018
Last year’s Dell XPS 15 was already one of the best laptops you could buy, but now that Dell has taken the beautiful redesign of the Dell XPS 13 and applied it here – while also making it a convertible. This makes it easily one of the best business laptops money can buy in 2018. It looks fantastic, feels great to use and it packs one of those new Intel Kaby Lake G-series CPUs featuring ‘discrete-class’ Radeon graphics. This means that this laptop packs serious power – even if it can get a little loud. Read the full review: Dell XPS 15 2-in-1
The Surface Book 2 (13.5-inch) is another entry from Microsoft in our best business laptop list, and it's worthy of its spot, as Microsoft has crafted one of the most powerful 2-in-1 laptops in the world. The Surface Book 2 has some powerful enough components to handle most day-to-day tasks, and even some light gaming and video editing if you go for a model with a dedicated graphics card. If you want a bigger screen, then there is also a 15-inch version of the Surface Book 2, which comes with more powerful components. Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Book 2 (13.5-inch)
Chromebooks might not be the most obvious devices for business laptops, but the Asus Chromebook Flip proves that they can be excellent work tools. It comes with a full-fat Intel Core processor, full HD 1080p display and backlit keyboard. ChromeOS is now a more robust operating system with plenty of tools, and if you rely on web-based CMS or Google Docs to do your work, then the Asus Chromebook Flip is an affordable, well built and handy business laptop. Check out our laptop buying guide video below.
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