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Hands on with Microsoft Surface Pro X, a new direction for Surface There are sacrifices: the microSD slot, USB-A port, and headphone jack. BY MARK HACHMAN
M
icrosoft’s Surface Pro X adds a formerly missing piece to the Surface lineup: an always-on, always-connected device that enables productivity wherever you go. What it changes on the inside—especially the custom Snapdragon 8cx-based processor that Microsoft co-designed with Qualcomm—
IMAGE: MICROSOFT
is reflected by dramatic changes on the outside: a pair of USB-C ports, a rechargeable pen tray...and the unfortunate removal of the headphone jack, USB-A, and the microSD slot. There’s also a SIM slot for connectivity, though it’s well hidden. The 14-inch Surface Pro X tablet is priced from $999 to $1,799 (from Microsoft.com [go.
NOVEMBER 2019 PCWorld 7
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HANDS - ON: MICROSOFT SURFACE PRO X
pcworld.com/sfpx]) and will ship on November 5. That base price is a few hundred more than the cheapest $799 configuration of the Intel-based Surface Pro 7. As shown below, users will get to select from various memory and storage options, as well as consumer and business versions. A new Surface Slim Pen and Surface Pro X Signature Keyboard are also specific to the platform. Both the Slim Pen and keyboard appear to be sold separately, though we don’t have prices for either.
A BOLD NEW LOOK FOR SURFACE It’s sort of hard to believe that the first thing worth highlighting is the Surface Slim Pen, but it absolutely is. With the Type Cover inclined, there’s absolutely no indication that anything’s changed. Detach the Cover, though, and a small cubby is revealed: a new, flattish Surface Slim Pen! That recharges when tucked away! That launches the Whiteboard app! And that won’t get lost! Yes, exclamation points 8 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2019
are absolutely demanded here. As an occasional inker who has at one time or another touched almost every Surface tablet in existence, a literal handful of Surface Pens
Folded up, Microsoft’s Surface Pro X looks normal...
…but when unfolded, Microsoft’s Surface Pro X reveals the rechargable Surface Slim Pen in its dedicated charging dock.
IMAGES: MARK HACHMAN
live in the bottom of my backpack. A safe, secure place to store a digital pen is absolutely worth applause, though I’m a teeny bit concerned that it will vampirically steal away power from the Surface device, which I consider more of a priority. Securing the pen has been a problem that’s demanded a solution for years. While Dell’s Inspiron 7000 Microsoft’s Surface Pro X reveals a pair of USB-C ports on the side. Black Edition laptops (go. After years of ignoring USB-C, it’s sort of pcworld.com/dlbl) got there first, Microsoft earns second place for the Surface Pro X. hard to believe Microsoft jumped into it with The Slim Pen is flattish, rather than both feet, but it certainly did. Three ports perfectly cylindrical as the regular Surface Pen that you’d expect to see in a Surface—the is. It felt comfortable in the hand and inks with USB-A port, the microSD slot squirreled 4,096 levels of pressure, which is pretty away under the kickstand, and the standard for competitive styluses. The stylus is headphone jack—have all disappeared. It’s a apparently not compatible with the recently plus for all those who have made the leap to announced Universal Stylus Initiative, Bluetooth earbuds, but ditching so many unfortunately, although it is usable with other legacy ports so quickly is disconcerting. Surface devices. It’s a whopping $145 (go. On the plus side, one of the understated pcworld.com/w145), though. features of the design is Microsoft’s ability to Equally appreciated: not one but two squeeze a 13-inch, 2880 x 1920 display into USB-C slots on the left side of the tablet. what it calls a 12-inch chassis. (The tablet Microsoft will still use the Surface Connector measures 11.3 x 8.2 x 0.28 inches, slightly to power the tablet, but it sounds like USB-C smaller than the Surface Pro 7.) The bezels are might be an option in a pinch. Each port can extremely thin. One of the Surface family’s supply 15W of power. signature features is a bright, pixel-rich NOVEMBER 2019 PCWorld 9
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HANDS - ON: MICROSOFT SURFACE PRO X
A screenshot of the available configurations for the Microsoft Surface Pro X.
display, and the Pro X lives up to that tradition. The Surface Pro X weighs exactly the same as the Surface Pro 6: 1.7 pounds. (Microsoft hasn’t yet published a weight for the Surface Pro 7.) Again, it’s to Microsoft’s credit that it feels like a Surface tablet: There’s only one matte-black color option for the aluminum chassis, but both the tablet and keyboard feel sturdy, with a solid connection between the keyboard and chassis. What’s inside the Surface Pro X, though, is just as noteworthy as the outside. Here are the primary specs: Display: 13-inch (2880x1920) (267ppi) touch PixelSense display Processor: Microsoft 3GHz 8-core SQ1 (co-designed with Qualcomm and based on the Snapdragon 8cx) Graphics: Adreno 685 10 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2019
Memory: 8GB-16GB LPDDR4x Storage: 128/256/512GB SSD Ports: Surface Connect, nanoSIM, 2 USB-C Camera: 5MP (user-facing) with Windows Hello; 10MP (rear) with 1080p video Battery: 13 hours (estimated) Wireless: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)/Bluetooth 5.0/Qualcomm Snapdragon X24 LTE Operating system: Windows 10 Home (consumer) / Windows 10 Pro (business) Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.2 x 0.28 inches (7.3mm) Weight: 1.7 pounds Color: Aluminum (matte black) Additional features: Quick charging: 80 percent in an hour Price: Preorders start at $999 on Microsoft.com (go.pcworld.com/b999).
Leaked reports of a Surface Pro tablet running a Qualcomm 8cx chipset were correct, although Microsoft has customized and rebranded the chip as the Microsoft SQ1. We’re told that the SQ1 now runs at a full 3GHz, rather than the projected 2.84GHz Qualcomm itself estimated back at Computex (go. pcworld.com/qlbn). The power-sipping SQ1 A closeup of the Surface Slim Pen. pushes battery life to 13 hours, Microsoft says. With that Qualcomm chip comes several ran fine, as did YouTube, subject to the peripheral advantages. For one, there’s a constraints of the demo Wi-Fi. microSIM slot hidden away in the rear of the The traditional concerns with running an chassis, plus eSIM configuration options. Next ARM chip on top of Windows are the lack of to that SIM slot is a sort-of user-upgradable performance and the limitations of Windows hard drive—it’s accessible only with special emulation. Microsoft has been working to tools. While YouTube videos may explain how mitigate each, but we think that there’s still to do it, Microsoft doesn’t anticipate that it’s some emulation taking place. going to be as easy as swapping out an SD All in all, the Surface Pro X is the thinnest, card, for example. The tablet’s battery can be lightest, fastest-charging, and most powerful recharged to 80-percent capacity in an hour, Surface Pro ever, Microsoft claims. We can using Qualcomm’s quick-charging mechanism. believe all the labels except the last, which we Does the Surface Pro X feel fast? Sure, can confirm when we have the Surface Pro X under the limited constraints of a demo in to test. showcase. Web browsing (either on Edge or VIDEO: HANDS-ON: the Chromium-based Edgium) felt fast, but we MS SURFACE PRO X weren’t allowed to load Google’s Chrome to Watch now at go.pcworld.com/mpx compare, nor run other benchmarks. Netflix NOVEMBER 2019 PCWorld 11
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Microsoft Surface Pro X vs 12.9inch iPad Pro: Which big-screened productivity tablet is best? Old enemies, new battle. BY MICHAEL SIMON
I
n the world of ultraportable 2-in-1 tablets that can work as hard as they play, there are but two options: the iPad Pro and the Surface Pro. And on October 2, Microsoft unveiled not just a refreshed Surface Pro 7 (go.pcworld.com/spr7), but the brand-new Surface Pro X (see page 7) (available from microsoft.com [go.pcworld. com/sfpx]), an always-on, always-connected 12 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2019
tablet that seems solely designed to take on the 12.9-inch iPad Pro (available from apple. com [go.pcworld.com/ipdr]). So let’s dive in and see how these two tablets stack up.
DESIGN With either the Surface Pro X or the iPad Pro, you’re getting a modern tablet with a giant display surrounded by slim bezels, all packed IMAGE: MICROSOFT/APPLE
in a thin, lightweight frame: Surface Pro X: 11.3 x 8.2 x 0.28 inches iPad Pro: 9.7 x 7 x. 0.23 inches While the Surface Pro X technically has slimmer side bezels, the top and bottom bezels are wider. The iPad Pro’s bezels, on the other hand, are uniformly spaced around the screen, giving the package more balance and symmetry than the Surface Pro X’s. The iPad Pro has slightly flatter edges, while the Surface Pro X’s edges have a bit of a curve to them. At 1.4 pounds, the iPad is also a bit lighter than the 1.7-pound Surface. Around the back, both sport a single camera lens (the Surface Pro X’s is centered, while the iPad Pro’s is in the top left corner). And of course, the Surface includes its trademark kickstand that blends into the bottom half of the tablet when not in use. Winner: iPad Pro
DISPLAY Both tablets sport a 3:2 display ratio rather than 16:9. The Surface Pro X’s 13-inch display is ever so slightly bigger than the iPad Pro’s 12.9-inch. Resolution-wise, the two displays are very similar as well: Surface Pro X: 2880 x 1920, 267ppi iPad Pro: 2732 x 2048, 264ppi However, the difference between them is greater than a few pixels and a tenth of an inch. For one, the iPad’s display has rounded corners that match the device and give the
bezels and the screen a seamless flow. It also features two distinctive Apple technologies: True Tone, which adapts the display’s color temperature based on ambient light, and ProMotion, which can adjust the refresh rate up to 120Hz to be more responsive to touch or stylus input. The Surface Pro X uses Microsoft’s PixelSense display, which also adapts to lighting, but has a standard 60Hz refresh rate. Both displays feature a P3 wide-color gamut, but the iPad is significantly brighter at 600 nits versus the Surface’s 450 nits. Winner: iPad Pro
PERFORMANCE AND SPECS While previous (and current) Surfaces all use Intel processors, the Surface Pro X is a different animal. Instead of Intel inside, it has the SQ1, a custom Snapdragon 8cx-based processor that Microsoft co-designed with Qualcomm. The 3GHz SQ1 has 8 cores and 2 teraflops of graphics power, and is based on ARM, which could cause issues with some Windows apps. Qualcomm has released some preliminary benchmarks on the Snapdragon 8cx (go. pcworld.com/sn8c) but the SQ1 variant is unknown and untested, so we have no clue how it stacks up to its peers. The iPad Pro also runs an ARM-based processor, called the A12 Bionic. It’s a generation behind the newer A13 in the iPhone 11, but it’s still plenty capable, with a NOVEMBER 2019 PCWorld 13
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MICROSOFT SURFACE PRO X VS 12.9 -INCH iPAD PRO
64-bit ARMv8 octa-core CPU and a dedicated neural engine that runs five trillion operations per second. So the SQ1 certainly has its work cut out for it. Because the Surface Pro X is a full-fledged Windows machine, it comes with way more RAM than the iPad. While the iPad Pro has 4GB of RAM, the Surface comes with either 8GB or 16GB, depending on your configuration. That’s a PC-level of memory that straight up blows away the iPad. The Surface Pro X also comes with LTE in every configuration, whereas you’ll need to pay a $150 premium with the iPad Pro. Winner: Surface Pro X
STORAGE When it comes to storage, the Surface Pro X model starts at 128GB, twice as much as the iPad Pro base model. Both offer 256GB and 512GB options, while the iPad Pro goes all the way up to 1TB. However, you can actually swap out the drive on the Surface Pro X for a different one. While Microsoft doesn’t recommend doing it yourself and instead suggests you consult “a skilled technician following Microsoft provided instructions,” it’s an option that isn’t available with the iPad. Winner: Surface Pro X
PORTS The very short list of ports on both the Surface Pro X and the iPad Pro tell their own story: 14 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2019
Surface Pro X: 2 USB-C, Surface Connect port, Surface Keyboard connector port, nano SIM iPad Pro: USB-C, Smart Connector, nano SIM USB-C is your only choice for connecting peripherals other than the respective keyboards. You can forget about the headphone jack on both as well. You’ll need either a dongle, or Bluetooth headphones, or USB-C. Notably, the Surface Pro X doesn’t use its USB-C port for charging. While a USB-C charger will presumably fill up your tablet if you plug one in, you’ll still need to carry the Surface Connector for reliable power. Winner: Surface Pro X
REAR CAMERA Tablets this big aren’t known for their photo-taking expertise, and if you’ve ever seen someone try to take a pic with a 13-inch tablet, you can see why. So both have acceptable, but relatively pedestrian rear cameras: Surface Pro X: 10MP with 1080p HD and 4K video iPad Pro: 12MP, f/1.8, with 1080p HD and 4K video While the iPad’s sensor is technically superior, you probably won’t be using either one to take pictures or videos, even if you do have hands large enough to handle it. Winner: iPad Pro
The Smart Connector for the iPad Pro’s keyboard is one of just two “ports.”
BIOMETRICS
BATTERY LIFE
The front cameras are far more useful, and not just for taking selfies. While the specs are mediocre—5MP on the Surface and 7MP on the iPad Pro—both tablets use their front cameras for 3D facial scanning. On the Surface Pro X, it’s called Windows Hello, while Apple called it Face ID on the iPad, but they’re basically the same, using an IR blaster and a camera to create a 3D model of your face that is authenticated each time you unlock your device or access a site with a password. It’s fast, it’s easy, and, most importantly, it’s even more secure than a fingerprint sensor. Winner: Tie
While neither company likes to tell us what size battery is inside their tablets, we know from teardowns that the iPad Pro’s is 9,720mAh, which Apple estimates will get you up to 10 hours of “surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video, or listening to music.” In our testing, we’ve found that Apple’s battery estimates are pretty spot-on, if not a little conservative. Microsoft says the Surface Pro X will get 13 hours with “typical device usage,” but those estimates are based on 150-nit brightness, which is probably lower than most people will set their screens (we run our tests at 200 nits’ brightness). So it remains to be seen whether NOVEMBER 2019 PCWorld 15
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MICROSOFT SURFACE PRO X VS 12.9 -INCH iPAD PRO
You won’t be taking many pictures with the iPad Pro or the Surface Pro X.
the Surface Pro X can last longer than the iPad Pro. Winner: TBD
OS AND APPS The differences between Microsoft’s and Apple’s respective OSs are well documented when it comes to PCs, but the distance between them is even greater when it comes to tablets. That’s because Surface devices run Windows 10, while the iPad runs iOS (which is branded iPadOS as of the latest release). However, now that the Surface Pro X uses an ARM processor, some old Windows apps aren’t going to work. While 32-bit app will run just fine, developers who run 64-bit apps 16 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2019
are going to need to retool them for the new architecture, and that’s going to take time. For example, Adobe has announced that it will be bringing its Creative Cloud apps to the Surface Pro X “as soon as possible,” beginning with the Fresno drawing app that recently landed on the iPad platform. Obviously, Microsoft’s Office 365 Suite will be fully optimized and ready to roll, as will many others, including Chrome and Firefox. But while the iPad Pro may have more apps at the start, the potential is far greater for the Surface Pro X. With the full version of Windows at its disposal, the Surface will only get better and more powerful—assuming developers sign on to support it. So for now, the iPad Pro has the edge, but that could
change quickly. Winner: iPad Pro
ACCESSORIES Because these are both classified as 2-in-1 devices, they each have accessories that turn them into pseudo-laptops. Apple’s Smart Keyboard for the iPad Pro will set you back $199. Microsoft sells a regular Surface Pro X Keyboard for $140. The Surface Pro X Signature keyboard, which has a special charging dock for the Slim Pen, sells in a bundle with the Slim Pen for $270. However, both of Microsoft’s Surface Pro X keyboards include a trackpad for controlling a cursor, while the iPad Pro’s relies solely on touch, even with the keyboard attached. The styli have other differences. The Surface Slim Pen has some neat Office control tricks built in, while the Apple Pencil is more of a drawing tool. Apple’s second-generation Pencil offers magnetic charging and storage on the iPad itself, and it costs $129. The Surface Slim Pen, which is available separately for $145, can charge via USB-C with an included charging base, or charge wirelessly when nested in the Surface Pro X Signature Keyboard.
PRICE The 12.9-inch iPad Pro is available now from apple.com (go.pcworld.com/ipdr). The Surface Pro X preorder page on Microsoft. com (go.pcworld.com/sfpx) is already up, with a scheduled November shipping
window. As you might have guessed, these tablets aren’t cheap. You’re looking at four figures no matter which model you buy, and possibly a whole lot more—and remember, these prices do not include the keyboard or pen accessories: Surface Pro X, 8GB/128GB: $999 Surface Pro X, 8GB/256GB: $1,299 Surface Pro X, 16GB/256GB: $1,499 Surface Pro X, 16GB/512GB: $1,799 iPad Pro, 4GB/64GB: $999 iPad Pro, 4GB/256GB: $1,149 iPad Pro, 4GB/512GB: $1,349 iPad Pro, 4GB/1TB: $1,549 While they may look very comparable, the Surface Pro X includes LTE connectivity on its price, while Apple charges an extra $150 on top of the above prices. That means the Surface shines at the low end, but the highend iPad is $1,699, $100 less than the Surface and with twice as much storage.
BOTTOM LINE Ultimately, the choice between these two tablets comes down to OS preference, but all things being equal, the iPad Pro gets the edge for one reason: We know what we’re getting. With a new ARM processor, the Surface Pro X can’t be judged on the strength of its predecessors, so we’ll need to run a barrage of tests to see if it’s as good as Microsoft says it is. But if you need a tablet right now, go get a 12.9-inch iPad Pro. After all, you can always sell it later. NOVEMBER 2019 PCWorld 17
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Hands on with the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3: Gorgeous reworking, inside and out The Surface Laptop 3 prices, though, push up well beyond what a student could normally afford. BY MARK HACHMAN
E
ven before you can start talking about the new 15-inch Surface Laptop 3, or AMD’s custom Ryzen inside of it, you simply have to admit: Microsoft’s new all-metal Surface Laptop 3’s are gorgeous.
18 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2019
Full disclosure: I’m typing this on a Microsoft Surface Book 2, so there’s some justification for my love of shiny metal. And that’s where the Surface Laptop 3 starts: with metal options in Sandstone, plus Matte Black, Cobalt Blue and the traditional Platinum. Yes, IMAGE: MARK HACHMAN
Surface Laptop 3 configuration options. Note the most expensive option is either sold out or unavailable.
the Alcantara fabric is still an option, but if you want a Surface Book–like option without the price, Microsoft has you covered. The Surface Laptop 3 ships in two options: the traditional 13-inch form factor, and the new 15-inch option. But while the original Surface Laptop may have been priced affordably for students, the Surface Laptop 3 soars into higher budget ranges. The base prices are $999 for the 13-inch version and $1,199 for the 15-inch. A tricked-out 15-inch laptop costs a whopping $2,799—the same price as the MacBook Pro. However, both the memory and storage in the top-tier Surface Laptop 3 exceed the MacBook Pro’s. The most expensive 13-inch Surface Laptop 3 is
$2,399, $400 more than the most expensive MacBook Pro. Daaaaamn. Is it worth it? Aesthetically, we’ve already told you that we’re a sucker for pretty notebooks, and both are lighter than you might expect. More objectively, when you look at the spec list, there’s a lot to like. Display: 13.5 inch (2256 x 1504) PixelSense; 15-inch (2496 x 1664) PixelSense; both touch-enabled Processor: 13-inch: Core i5-1035G7/ Core i7-1065G7 (Ice Lake); 15-inch: Ryzen 5 3580U Radeon Vega 9 Surface Edition/Ryzen 7 3780U Radeon RX Vega 11 Surface Edition Graphics: 13-inch: Iris Plus 950; 15-inch: Radeon Vega 9, 11 NOVEMBER 2019 PCWorld 19
NEWS
HANDS - ON: MICROSOFT SURFACE L APTOP 3
Memory: 13-inch: 8GB/16GB LPDDR4x; 15-inch: 8/16/32GB DDR4 Storage: 13-inch: 128/256/512/1TB 15-inch: 128/256/512GB M.2 SSD Ports: USB-C, USB-A, Surface Connect, 3.5mm jack Camera: 720p (user-facing) Battery: 11.5 hours (estimated); quickcharges up to 80 percent in 1 hour Wireless: 13-inch: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ax)/ Bluetooth 5.0; 15-inch 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.0 Operating system: Windows 10 Home (consumer) Dimensions: 13-inch: 12.1 x 8.8 x 0.57 in. (14.51mm) / 15-inch: 13.4 x 9.6 x 0.57 in. (14.69 mm) Weight: 13-inch: 2.89 pounds; 15-inch: 3.4 pounds Color: Sandstone, plus Matte Black, Cobalt Blue and Platinum in either Alcantara
fabric or metal Price: Preorders start at $999 at Microsoft. com (go.pcworld.com/bsl3). It’s worth noting that though the Surface Laptop 3 is designed for consumers, there will be a business option that allows corporate buyers to purchase a 15-inch Surface Laptop in a Core (Ice Lake) configuration, with Windows 10 Pro. While we’ve said before that both Surface Laptops are surprisingly attractive, they’re also unexpectedly light: 3.4 pounds for a 15-inch laptop is an unexpected bonus. They’re as sturdy as ever, steadfastly refusing to flop around. As noted earlier, there are several color options from which to choose. The Sandstone option looks particularly attractive. Aside from the obvious differences in size, though, neither of the Surface Laptop 3’s are visually different from the other. They each have a Surface connector and a USB-A port, the same as before. Now, however, the Mini DisplayPort of previous generations has been replaced A new USB-C port now appears on the Surface Laptop 3. with a single 20 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2019
USB-C port. None of the new Surfaces, including this one, enable the USB-C port with Thunderbolt I/O. Nevertheless, there’s enough bandwidth to power a 4K display, we’re told. Though the Surface Pen can be used with the new Surface Laptop 3, that’s not really the point. They can also be used with the The new 15-inch and the existing 13-inch form factors of the Surface Laptop 3, in metal and the traditional Alcantara fabric. Surface Dial, though it’s a bit awkward to pcworld.com/rzsf), but basically, it boils use while in laptop mode. down to this: The Surface Edition chips have The keyboard’s fairly comfortable, with more on-die computational and graphics 1.3mm of travel. After checking the specs, we cores than AMD will offer other PC partners, discovered why it didn’t feel quite as good: making this technically a custom core. The key travel decreased from 1.5mm on the We’d like to say that we noticed previous generation. In any case, the “feel” of differences in each laptop’s performance, but a keyboard is largely subjective. The size of the reality is that we didn’t have time to do the trackpad is now 20 percent larger. much with them. We’ll have more to say if Internally, of course, what makes the we’re able to test the units. So far, though, Surface Laptop 3 so very intriguing is the we’re liking what we’ve seen—as long as it’s new Ryzen chip inside of the 15-inch version, not our credit cards footing the bill. with—wait for it—the Ryzen 5 3580U Radeon Vega 9 Surface Edition. That’s a mouthful. VIDEO: HANDS-ON: My colleague Gordon Mah Ung offers an MS SURFACE LAPTOP 3 in-depth explanation of the new “Surface Watch now at go.pcworld.com/sl3 Edition” AMD Ryzen processors (go. NOVEMBER 2019 PCWorld 21
NEWS
Ears on with Microsoft’s Surface Earbuds: Tapping the cloud for transcription and more At $249, however, the Surface Earbuds are a pricey investment. BY MARK HACHMAN
M
icrosoft’s Surface Headphones probably hitched themselves too closely to Cortana, turning what was an intriguing product into a tchotchke that was handed out at a Surface fan event before Microsoft’s Surface launch
22 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2019
started. With Microsoft’s Surface Earbuds, Microsoft seems determined not to make the same mistake. That’s not a slight against Microsoft. The Headphones offered powerful, selective noise-canceling technologies, but Microsoft positioned them as a Cortana accessory. IMAGE: MICROSOFT
When Cortana was de-emphasized, down went the Headphones. With the Earbuds, Cortana appears just once on the Earbuds’ one-page product sheet. Instead, the secret sauce is its cloud transcription capabilities, plus what Microsoft is touting as a superior audio solution for apps like Spotify. At $249 (go.pcworld.com/byeb), the Surface Earbuds are $50 more than the Apple AirPods—which will inevitably be seen as a competitor even if Microsoft’s earbuds do much more. Microsoft may also have a shot at putting a Cortana-powered earbud on the market before Amazon launches the Amazon Echo Buds at the end of the month for $129.99. Here are the Surface Earbuds in short: They’re 7.2 grams apiece, measuring just under an inch by 0.75 inches. Inside is a 13.6mm driver, good for 20Hz to 20kHz of frequency response. The Earbuds can process both aptX and the SBC audio codecs. They’ll work with Android 4.4 and above, Windows 10, iOS 9, and Bluetooth 4.1/4.2. They’re “waterproof,” with an IPX4 rating that means that they can withstand water being sprayed on them for five minutes. The Earbuds are good for 24 hours of charging via the charging case: 8 hours per charge, with two “refills” from the case.
A COMFORTABLE FIT Viewed on someone else, the Surface Earbuds remind me of ear gauges (go.
Microsoft says the Surface Earbuds come in just a single color, Glacier White, but there were gray earbuds on display, too.
pcworld.com/earg), the polarizing ear jewelry that can be attractive to some and disturbing to others. Microsoft’s Surface Earbuds don’t fit tightly in the ear—and that’s a good thing, in my opinion—instead resting lightly in the ear canal so that you can hear other ambient noise around you. The white discs are in fact control surfaces, which you swipe and tap to execute actions through your Earbuds. I detest in-ear earbuds, because my ear canals either fail to hold the earbuds securely, or they get jammed in so uncomfortably that I quickly remove them. Microsoft provides three sets of silicon tips to fit your ears. The medium-sized tips fit me snugly and comfortably after a bit of adjustment. Microsoft provided guided demos of the Earbuds. When it came to be my turn, I tried NOVEMBER 2019 PCWorld 23
NEWS
HANDS - ON: MICROSOFT SURFACE EARBUDS
on the earbuds, which I was told were controlled by the outer surfaces. A double-tap paused and restarted the music being played by the Spotify app, while the volume was controlled by a swipe up and down. Taps weren’t always recognized, but the swipes worked fine, prudently sliding the volume levels up and down a few notches at a time. Microsoft describes the Earbuds’ sound quality as the The Surface Earbuds charging case. Each case charge can supply three eight-hour charges to the Earbuds. product of a “Surface Omnisonic sound profile with customdesigned drivers and precision tuning have to train. We’re learning that a cloud inspired by listening to the world’s best live model—a massive corpus of information music venues and most advanced audio hosted by Google or Microsoft or Amazon— equipment, delivering an audio experience works much more efficiently. When I tried a that’s rich, immersive and crystal clear.” In the few sentences, the Earbuds correctly crowded venue the audio sounded rich and transcribed what I was saying in a crowded strong, but not necessarily “immersive and room, even with a hoarse voice and against a crystal clear.” I’d probably need exposure in a noisy background. I was told that the mellower venue to appreciate them fully. Earbuds can also translate your speech into Microsoft’s Surface Earbuds also include several languages. the capability to integrate with Office 365 Cool? Yes. But at $249, I’d have to and Cortana, using a prolonged touch and seriously consider whether I needed a hold. Each earbud has two microphones, personal assistant living in my ear. I really liked and they clearly understood what I was the Surface Headphones, and the Surface trying to say when I asked Cortana a couple Earbuds certainly offer the potential to of sample queries. enhance productivity through oral dictation. Transcription is where the Earbuds shine. Will they complement your phone, PC, and Dictation is built into Word—but it’s lousy, smart speaker, though? Those are the and works off of local voice models that you questions that a review will have to answer. 24 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2019
10 burning Microsoft Surface Duo questions we need answered before it goes on sale The devil is in the details. BY MICHAEL SIMON
L
ook out Samsung Galaxy S11, iPhone 12, and Google Pixel 5: There’s a new kid in town—or at least there will be, by the time all of those phones launch in 2020. Microsoft recently gave us a sneak peek of the Surface Duo (go.pcworld. com/sduo), its first phone since the ill-fated Windows Phone, and it’s unique.
IMAGE: MICROSOFT
Something of a cross between a laptop and a Galaxy Fold, the Surface Duo is a device with more questions than answers. What we know for sure is that it runs Android and needs to be opened like a laptop to be used, but there are so many more things we need to know before it goes on sale late next year, like: NOVEMBER 2019 PCWorld 25
NEWS
HANDS - ON: MICROSOFT SURFACE DUO
1. WHAT’S THE RESOLUTION OF THE SURFACE DUO DISPLAYS? The centerpiece of the Surface Duo is obviously the dual display. Microsoft revealed that the phone uses a pair of 5.6-inch screens. But that’s all we know about them. Are they 2K resolution like the Surface Pro X (go. pcworld.com/pr0x) or Are those screens LCD or OLED? Quad HD like the Galaxy Note 10+ (go.pcworld. com/glnt)? Are they OLED or PixelSense IGZO Qualcomm releases is called)? Or will it follow screens? Are they 60Hz or 90Hz? Can you the Surface Pro X and use a custom chip? watch a movie full-screen and have it span Microsoft’s custom silicon would go a long across the hinge? Smartphone display tech has way toward separating the Surface Duo from advanced in leaps and bounds since the days the pack, so the fact that Microsoft didn’t say of the Windows Phone, so the Surface Duo either way during its reveal is intriguing. needs to start with a killer screen.
2. WHAT KIND OF PROCESSOR WILL IT USE? In its exclusive look at the Surface Duo, Wired noted that the unit it saw was powered by a Snapdragon 855 processor, the same found in today’s premium Android phones. That’s going to be outdated by next year, so clearly it’s just a stop-gap. But will it simply run the Snapdragon 865 (or whatever the latest chip 26 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2019
3. HOW MUCH STORAGE AND RAM IS INSIDE IT? Today’s phones can pack half a terabyte of storage and 12GB of RAM at the high end, and Microsoft clearly wants the Surface Duo to be a work-first device. A base model of 8GB RAM/128GB storage like the Surface Pro X seems likely, but we want to know what the maxed-out version is. We’ll take 16GB and at least 512GB, please.
Are you hiding a headphone jack, Surface Duo?
What kind of camera is that inside the top bezel?
4. WILL IT HAVE A HEADPHONE JACK?
camera won’t cut it here, so we’re very interested to see what the Surface Duo delivers.
We haven’t gotten a full 360-degree look at the Surface Duo yet, but from the pictures we’ve seen, we’ve yet to spot a headphone jack anywhere on the device. That’s not surprising—the Surface Pro X doesn’t have one, and the wireless Surface Earbuds just landed—but we’d still like to know for sure.
6. WILL IT HAVE 5G? 2020 is shaping up to be the year of 5G, with a new integrated Qualcomm modem, greater expansion of networks, and maybe even a 5G iPhone. So if the Surface Duo arrives without it, it could be a damper on an otherwise good phone.
5. WHAT’S THE QUALITY OF THE CAMERA?
7. WHAT’S THE BATTERY LIFE LIKE?
According to the pics we’ve seen as well as Wired’s report, the Surface Duo doesn’t have a rear camera. Rather, the selfie camera and the main camera are one and the same. But we don’t know anything about it. Will the final shipping product stick with a single camera or upgrade to a dual or triple array? Will it provide Windows Hello facial recognition? Can you take slowfies like on the iPhone? Obviously a tablet-quality
Here’s the million-dollar question. With two screens to power, the Surface Duo is going to need some serious juice to keep running all day. We don’t know what kind of battery is powering Microsoft’s new phone. Samsung’s Galaxy Fold has set the battery benchmark (go.pcworld.com/flbn) for folding phones at better than 12 hours of actual use, so the Duo has its work cut out for it. NOVEMBER 2019 PCWorld 27
NEWS
HANDS - ON: MICROSOFT SURFACE DUO
8. WHAT KIND OF AN ANDROID SKIN DOES IT HAVE? The most surprising thing about the Surface Duo— other than its very existence—is the OS it runs: Android, not Windows Mobile. But what flavor of Android will it run? It’s not coming out until next year, Will the Duo be like the Pixel or the Galaxy when it comes to updates? so presumably it will have Android 11 on board, but 10. HOW MUCH DOES what kind of launcher will it have? And most IT COST? importantly, will updates arrive on time? Of course, this is what we really need to know. With the other Surface devices, Microsoft The Galaxy Fold starts at $1,980 and the Surface controls the whole stack. Android support Pro X clocks in at $999. So maybe in the adds an extra layer that has been known to middle? Time will tell, but the price could be the delay things. thing that makes or breaks the Surface Duo.
9. WHAT WILL GAMING LOOK LIKE? Microsoft is promising support for the whole Play Store app library, but we didn’t see much about games. With a clamshell design and two screens, the Surface Duo could be the device that truly takes Android gaming to the next level, with split-screen action, unique controls, and unique gameplay. 28 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2019
It’ll be a great productivity device, but what about games?
Meet Windows 10X, a ‘new expression’ designed for dual-screen devices Ten ten? BY BRAD CHACOS
N
early a decade after the fabled Microsoft Courier (go.pcworld. com/mscr) was strangled in its crib, PC makers desperately want dual-screen hardware to become a thing. Lenovo’s Yoga Book (go.pcworld. com/yoga) dropped all the way back in 2016, while Asus (go.pcworld.com/aspr), HP
IMAGE: MICROSOFT
(go.pcworld.com/2s15), and even Intel itself (go.pcworld.com/inds) have all teased dual-display devices of their own in recent months. Now all that hardware is getting some much-needed software backup: At its recent Surface event, Microsoft revealed Windows 10X (ten ten?), a version of the popular operating system designed NOVEMBER 2019 PCWorld 29
NEWS
WINDOWS 10X
specifically for Windows devices with multiple displays, and championed by a dual-screen Surface Neo. It’s “made to adapt to you in both form and function,” Microsoft hardware chief Panos Panay crowed during the Neo’s introduction. “Windows has always been about productivity, and now we take that to a new level on dual screens,” Microsoft’s Carmen Zlateff explained during a dedicated reveal of Windows 10X itself. Both Panay and Zlateff called Windows 10X a “brand-new expression” of Microsoft’s operating system created for this new breed of devices. Applications open on whichever screen you summon them on, leaving the second 30 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2019
Holding an app between displays will cause it to “Span” across both screens.
Multitasking two apps on one screen while the Surface Neo keyboard and Wonder Bar consume the other.
display ready to multitask. Clicking a button on the edge of the app can shift it to the other screen when you need to rejigger things. If you need to dedicate your focus on a single task, you can “Span” an app across both screens by dragging it halfway between them. It will expand to fill both displays. Windows 10X reacts to the accessories you use with your dual-screen device as well as the way you’re holding it, a behavior Microsoft called “Postures.” The Surface Neo, for example, supports a magnetic Bluetooth keyboard that covers about two-thirds of one display. Windows 10X recognizes the hardware when you flip it into place, shrinking the display into a supplementary “Wonder Bar” with “rich expressive input” (like selectable emoji) and a touchscreen experience designed to mimic a trackpad. You can still move apps to the Wonder Bar as well: Zlateff moved a Netflix stream from the main display to the Wonder Bar as part of her presentation. Microsoft apps (if not also third-party programs) will be optimized to give you the best possible dual-screen experience. Outlook will show your inbox on the left screen and messages on the right if you “Span” it, for example. Or, if
you leave the email app on a single screen, clicking on links will open your browser on the other display. Groovy. Surface Neo isn’t launching until holiday 2020, and part of the reason Microsoft’s showing Windows 10X and Neo off now is to entice developers to support its new paradigms as well. While reliable leaker Evan Blass broke news of Windows 10X with a claim that it will “run desktop applications in containers,” Microsoft’s formal early reveal didn’t get into nitty-gritty technical details. There’s no official word whether Windows 10X will rely on virtualized containers, a stripped-back version of Windows 10 similar to Windows 10 S, or the full-blown version of the operating system. We’ll no doubt hear more as Microsoft dishes out more details to developers ahead of Surface Neo’s holiday 2020 launch.
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NEWS
Hands-on with HP’s new Spectre x360 13: Shrunk down and supercharged with Ice Lake Boasting a 10th-gen Ice Lake CPU under its hood, the HP Spectre x360 is nearly an inch less deep than its predecessor. BY BEN PATTERSON
M
ore of a refinement than last year’s full-on revamp, the latest HP Spectre x360 shaves off nearly an inch of depth, crams a tiny IR camera into its superslim display bezel, and boasts crazy battery life. Oh, and Ice Lake!
32 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2019
Set for release in October, the new HP Spectre x360 13 features the same classy gem-cut design as its predecessor (go. pcworld.com/pr13), although a ruler will tell you that it’s nearly an inch (or 23mm, to be precise) less deep. That’s a neat trick given what’s inside: IMAGE: BEN PATTERSON
Intel’s 10th-generation Ice Lake CPU (go. pcworld.com/10ic), including your choice of either quad-core i5 ($1,100) and i7 ($1,300 and up) configurations, complete with Iris Plus integrated graphics on the Core i7 models. Sweetening the deal is up to 22 hours of battery life, depending on the panel you pick.
SPECIFICATIONS CPU: Core i7-1065G7 or Core i5-1035G1 Graphics: Integrated Iris Plus (Core i7) or Intel UHD G1 (Core i5) Memory: Up to 16GB LPDDR4 Storage: Up to 1TB SSD with 32GB of Intel Optane memory Display: 13.3-inch 1W FHD (400 nits), UHD AMOLED (400 nits), FHD with Sure View privacy toggle (1,000 nits, available January 2020) Networking: Wi-Fi 6, optional Gigabit LTE with 4x4 antennas Connectivity: Two Thunderbolt 3 ports, one USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A port, combo audio jack Dimensions: 12.08 x 7.66 x 0.67 inches Weight: 2.88 pounds First and foremost, let’s talk Ice Lake. We have two quad-core choices here: the Core i5-1035G1 with Intel UHD G1 graphics, or the Core i7-1065G7 with souped-up Iris Plus graphics. In our general initial Ice Lake performance preview (go.pcworld.com/ilpr) this summer, we found that 10th-gen Ice Lake CPUs cranked out impressive results when it
comes to multi-core encryption and encoding tasks, while integrated Iris Plus graphics performance rivaled that of entry-level dedicated graphics cards such as the Nvidia GeForce MX150. That said, Ice Lake’s performance improvements will be far less dramatic for single-core day-to-day activities like web browsing and Office, while the Core i5’s integrated Intel UHD G1 core is more on a par with previous-gen Whisky Lake processors. We’ll be curious to see how the i7 and i5 Ice Lake chips perform in this latest HP Spectre x360 13.
COOLING AND THERMALS So, how did HP manage to put a more demanding Ice Lake CPU into a smaller shell? First, let’s note that while the new HP Spectre x360 13 is indeed about an inch less deep than its predecessor, it’s also 2mm thicker, while at the same time 10 grams lighter. In any case, HP says it’s boosted the laptop’s air outlet height from 2.5mm to 2.8mm while adding an inlet hole to the rear vent and upping the number of heat pipes from one to three. There are also more inlet holes under the keyboard, plus a bottom graphite sheet for added heat disbursement.
DISPLAY AND BEZELS Next, let’s jump to the display—or rather, the ultra-slim top and bottom screen bezels, with the top bezel now 5.85mm (versus 17.35mm NOVEMBER 2019 PCWorld 33
NEWS
HANDS - ON: HP SPECTRE X360 13
previously, or a 66.3-percent reduction), while the bottom bezel is just 11.09mm (compared to 25.82mm in the 2018 model), making for an overall 90 percent screen-tobody ratio. That looks good on paper, and in person, the nearly bezel-less screen looks even better. To keep the HP Spectre x360’s web/IR
cam in the tiny new top bezel, HP developed a 2.2mm IR webcam, which HP claims is the smallest in the world to support Windows Hello authentication. HP says their new IR camera has a smaller circumference than a grain of rice, and based on the plexiglassencased sample I saw, that sounds about right. As far as the actual display goes, you get the choice of three: a one-watt, 400-nit full-HD display, a 400-nit UHD AMOLED display, and (available in January 2020) a 1,000nit FHD display with HP’s Sure View privacy toggle, which is designed to foil prying eyes by greatly reducing the screen’s viewing angles. For each display, you’ll also get the option of an anti-reflection and anti-smudge surface.
With its slimmed-down top and bottom bezels, the HP Spectre x360 13 achieves a 90 percent screen-to-body ratio.
BATTERY AND DESIGN
The HP Spectre x360’s new IR webcam is just 2mm thick, allowing it to fit in the 5.85mm top display bezel.
HP is promising up to 22 hours of battery life from the HP Spectre x360 13’s 60Wh battery, but that’s only with the 400-nit FHD 1-watt panel. If you opt for the 4K OLED or the 1,000-nit FHD with the Sure View toggle, you’ll have to temper your battery-life expectations accordingly. (HP didn’t give us battery estimates for the OLED or Sure View panels.) Smaller though its footprint may be, the new HP Spectre x360
34 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2019
boasts essentially the same gem-cut design and machined CNC aluminum shell as its predecessor, and it also carries over some of our favorite design choices. For example, the power button still sits on one of the rear angled corners, handy for protecting it from accidental pushes, while one of the two The latest HP Spectre x360 has the same gem-cut design as its predecessor, along with one of the two Thunderbolt 3 ports sitting in Thunderbolt 3 ports sits on the angled right-rear corner; the power button sits in the other corner. the other angled corner. Also returning is a side switch that electrically disables the IR webcam, while a new dedicated mic mute button on the keyboard will mute not only the HP Spectre x360’s built-in microphone, but also the mics on headsets or any other connected A switch on the right edge of the HP Spectre x360 13 electrically devices. An embedded LED disables its IR camera, while a new mic mute button with an LED indicator sits on the keyboard. indicator lets you know if the mic mute is activated. Memory options will include 8GB or simultaneous gigabit Wi-Fi and LTE streaming 16GB of DDR4 RAM, which should allow for and downloads. plenty of multitasking headroom, while Overall, this latest version of the HP storage options range from a 256GB solid Spectre x360 13 looks even more promising state drive to a roomy 1TB Intel SSD with than the last one, and I can’t wait to see how 32GB of Optane memory. it performs with Ice Lake under the hood. On the networking front, the HP Spectre We’re planning on putting it on our test x360 will have Wi-Fi 6 and optional gigabit bench around the time it goes on sale, so LTE, with 4x4 antennas allowing for stay tuned. NOVEMBER 2019 PCWorld 35
NEWS
Samsung’s Chromebook 4 and Chromebook 4+ offer affordable, small luxuries Continuing the trend of well-built low-end Chromebooks. BY MELISSA RIOFRIO
S
amsung’s Chromebook 4 and Chromebook 4+, both announced October 7, represent one big upgrade and a bunch of little ones to the company’s popular line of entry-level
36 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2019
Google machines. The laptops started shipping the day they were announced, with starting prices of $230 and $300, respectively. The big upgrade is the Chromebook 4+ itself (pictured at top), which has a roomy IMAGE: SAMSUNG
15.6-inch display with a nice Full HD resolution (1920 x 1080). While the most common Chromebook display size continues to be 11.6 inches (that would include the Chromebook 4), a larger display size offers greater productivity, as well as a better visual experience for videos and games. The Chromebook 4+ also appears to have fairly slim bezels, while the Chromebook 4’s bezels are pretty chunky (see below). The little upgrades are common to both laptops, which are identically configured save for their display, weight, overall dimensions, and number of USB-C ports. We’ll run through the specs first, then talk over a few key details.
Chromebook 4, two on the Chromebook 4+) Connectivity: Wi-Fi5 (2x2), Bluetooth Audio: Stereo speakers Battery: 30Wh with 30W USB-C adapter Dimensions (inches): 11.33 x 7.96 x 0.66 (Chromebook 4) and 14.16 x 9.64 x 0.65 (Chromebook 4+) Weight: 2.6 pounds (Chromebook 4) and 3.7 pounds (Chromebook 4+) While overall the configurations remain modest, it’s nice to see Intel processors in Chromebooks, even if the Celerons are almost as low-end as one can get. We’ve used other Chromebooks with this CPU, and they work fine for everyday browsing tasks. Both Chromebooks offer USB-C: The
FEATURES CPU: Intel Celeron N4000 RAM: 4GB or 6GB LPDDR4 Storage: 32GB or 64GB eMMC Display: AntiReflective LED, 11.6-inch (1366 x 768) or 15.6-inch (1920 x 1080) Ports: MicroSD card reader, headphone/microphone jack, USB 3.0 Type-A, USB 3.1 Type-C (5Gbps) (one on the
The Samsung Chromebook 4 offers both a USB-A and a USB-C port for versatile connectivity.
NOVEMBER 2019 PCWorld 37
NEWS
SAMSUNG CHROMEBOOK 4 & CHROMEBOOK 4+
The Samsung Chromebook 4 has an 11.6-inch display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels (HD).
Chromebook 4 has one port, while the Chromebook 4+ has two. The AC adapters run off the USB-C port, which means you may need to juggle a bit on the Chromebook 4 if you want to, say, run a 4K display (which both can do) and power the laptop. While you won’t find machined aluminum or other fancy materials on these affordable laptops, the matte-silvery (“Platinum Titan”) plastic chassis is attractive. Samsung hid all the screws for a sleeker look. The company also says the shells have met eight “military-grade standards” for 38 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2019
durability (though no actual spec designations were noted). Samsung was a Chromebook pioneer, and its Google products continue to be popular sellers. But even as some Chromebooks come out with nicer features (and higher prices), the bestsellers continue to be models around $250 or less—and some of those are rock-bottom basic. The Chromebook 4 and Chromebook 4+ seem to be part of the trend toward better-built and betterequipped Chromebooks at the low end, and that’s a good thing.
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Reviews & Ratings
TESTED IN PCWORLD LABS WE PUT HARDWARE & SOFTWARE THROUGH RIGOROUS TESTING
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s pairs solid business features with consumerfriendly touches Lenovo’s ThinkPad dresses down into business casual, trading some performance for an affordable price tag. BY MARK HACHMAN
L
enovo’s ThinkBook 13s is a deliberately intriguing combination of a business notebook with consumer flourishes, aimed at the vaguely-defined space between a home
IMAGE: MARK HACHMAN
business and a more traditional consumer PC. It largely succeeds. The ThinkBook 13s (also known as the ThinkBook 13s-IWL) sacrifices just a bit on the performance front for including an NOVEMBER 2019 PCWorld 41
REVIEWS
LENOVO THINKBOOK 13S
8th-gen Whiskey Lake processor, but places it inside a sturdy chassis with a very good keyboard on top. It includes a combination of legacy USB-A and forwardlooking USB-C ports, an The bold branding signals that this isn’t strictly a business laptop. excellent audio Graphics: Intel UHD 620 system, with decent battery life. And at a Memory: 4GB-16GB DDR4 2400MHz price hovering between $700 to $800, (8GB, as tested) you’re left with a pretty solid midrange Storage: 128-512GB M.2 SSD PCI-E laptop for general use. NVMe (256GB as tested) BASIC SPECS Ports: 2 USB Type A (USB 3.1 Gen 1) 1 Lenovo claims that the suggested retail price USB-C (Gen 2, DisplayPort), HDMI 1.4b, of the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s we tested is over 3.5mm jack $1,100, but we couldn’t find a single price Camera: 720p HD Camera (user-facing), suggesting it was over $1,000. Online, the fixed-focus prices we saw at press time averaged about Battery: 45Wh, 78Wh $800 or slightly less, and should eventually Wireless: 802.11ac (2x2); Bluetooth 5.0 fall. Otherwise, there’s a healthy mix of Operating system: Windows 10 Home features catering to consumers and small Dimensions: 12.11 x 8.52 x 0.63 inches businesses. (15.9mm) Display: 13.3-inch (1920 x 1080) IPS Weight: 2.9 pounds, 3.6 pounds with anti-glare (non-touch) charger (measured) Processor: Intel 1.6GHz Core i5-8265U Color: Aluminum (Whiskey Lake [go.pcworld.com/wslk], as Additional features: Fingerprint sensor tested); 1.8GHz Core i7-8565U inside power button 42 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2019
Price: $1,189 MSRP (Lenovo.com [go. model was not equipped with a touchscreen. pcworld.com/b13s]); with coupon, $713.49; A generous vent underneath the chassis $749 at Newegg (go.pcworld.com/13il) helps pull air from the outside, venting it out Amazon: $754 (go.pcworld.com/lnam). through the back of the chassis via a small Other configurations range from $1,049 to grille running along one half of the hinge’s $1,649 MSRP on Lenovo.com (go.pcworld. length. I did notice a slight fan whine while it com/b13s). was running, which can kick in—though very Lenovo’s ThinkBook 13s manages to quietly—even during mundane, innocuous exude an aura of stability while still not tasks such as typing this sentence. breaking your back. It’s chunky, though not Officially, the ThinkBook 13s is built to overly heavy. Officially, it’s made of aluminum withstand dousing with up to 2 ounces of and magnesium metal and sports a Mineral water, extreme temperatures, and vibrations. Grey finish, with a zinc-alloy hinge. I couldn’t (We didn’t test any of those claims.) The hinge discern any keyboard flex, and the display steadfastly refused to flop about while shaking it. While it’s not a 2-in-1, the A pair of USB Type A ports adorns the right side of the chassis... attractive IPS display folds back flat. Total luminosity is 301 nits maximum, close to but exceeding the 250 to 260 nits we consider appropriate for daily use. Note ...while a more complex arrangement of USB-C and an HDMI port is mounted on the left. Note that there is no ethernet jack, so you’ll have to use Wi-Fi or a dongle. that our review NOVEMBER 2019 PCWorld 43
REVIEWS
LENOVO THINKBOOK 13S
Lenovo includes a 73-watt charger using its own plug, rather than a USB-C connector.
One of the Type A ports is labeled with a small battery, alerting you that it can be used to charge a phone or other device, even while the laptop is otherwise powered off. Lenovo doesn’t pack in any adapter dongles within the ThinkBook box. Lenovo is known for its keyboards, and typing on the ThinkBook keyboard was comfortable enough. The keys are resilient and springy, though, without much travel—I prefer the deeper keyboards found on the ThinkPad series. Note that the function keys were designed with an eye toward privacy: There are dedicated buttons to disable the webcam and mic, as well as the trackpad. Interestingly, the ThinkBook 13s also has dedicated calling keys for Skype. There’s no Windows Hello–certified webcam, but there is a certified fingerprint
has been tested for up to 25,000 open-close cycles, Lenovo says—about 8 times per day for 8 years. A practical number of ports split the difference between the consumer and business user. On the left, there’s a plain-jane USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 port, (without Thunderbolt capabilities) a full-size HDMI 1.4b port, a headphone/mic 3.5mm jack, as well as a proprietary power plug—one of the only slightly disappointing features on the ThinkBook 13s. On the right, Lenovo has included a pair of USB 3.1 Type A ports, managing the transition between the Type The keyboard of the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s. A and Type C generations. 44 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2019
reader hidden beneath the power button. In my experience, Huawei’s fingerprint readers do a great job of detecting your fingerprint and logging you in, but the ThinkBook’s identification capabilities were equally robust over the few days I spent testing the laptop. As for that webcam—well, even though there’s a keyboard button to turn it off, Lenovo goes the extra mile. Just above the cutout for the camera lens is a tiny, almost imperceptible version of the ThinkShutter slider that can easily be slid closed or open to physically reveal or conceal the lens. A tiny red dot visually signals when it’s blocked, though it’s so small, against the glare of the screen those of you with poorer vision may be unable to tell. Perhaps a brighter shade of paint might solve the problem? In any event, the webcam is a fixed-focus 720p camera, just serviceable enough for Skype calls. The audio experience that the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s delivers is surprisingly good.
When the ThinkShutter slide is shut, a tiny red dot indicates that the webcam is physically unable to record you. An extremely thin switch above it slides it open and closed.
A fingerprint reader is located to the left of the power button.
The speakers produce a strident, full-throated range of sound that’s excellent in the midrange and not too shabby on the lower end, either. In testing the ThinkBook 13s against my normal range of streamed YouTube music and other prerecorded samples, there were several occasions that I simply leaned back and enjoyed the music. The ThinkBook 13s builds in Harman speakers that are enhanced by Dolby Audio, turned on by default. There aren’t any presets for rock, pop, and the like, though the Dolby algorithm itself seems to understand and adjust. This may be an inexpensive notebook aimed at small businesses, but the audio was definitely designed with the consumer in mind. Lenovo can’t quite get away from the usual mix of Windows bloatware and third-party apps. But one real plus is the Lenovo Vantage app, which provides comprehensive tools for NOVEMBER 2019 PCWorld 45
REVIEWS
LENOVO THINKBOOK 13S
updating the BIOS software and other system apps, and fine-tuning other system functions. Business and consumer users alike will appreciate its detailed explanations and controls. Some of the functionality is reproduced elsewhere in the Windows 10 Settings menu, but it’s still a good starting
point to explore the nooks and crannies of the ThinkBook 13s. It’s worth noting that while the ThinkBook 13s shipped with the Windows 10 October 2018 Update installed, Microsoft almost immediately pushed the April 2019 Update (version 1903) to the laptop as part of its daily updates. We accepted it, and tested the laptop using the April Update.
MIDDLING PERFORMANCE
Sizable vents underneath the ThinkBook 13s suck in air, then vent it through the hinge. Unfortunately, expect the rubber bumper that supports the laptop to scuff.
The ThinkBook’s downward-facing speakers deliver audio that you’ll actually want to listen to. Also note the user-serviceable screws.
46 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2019
Notebook buyers will have to step a bit gingerly though the logjam of not one but three competing Core processors, all shipping this holiday season and all competing for your dollars: Intel’s two 10th-gen Core chips, code-named Ice Lake and Comet Lake, will be selling alongside the more established (and still worthy) Whiskey Lake 8th-gen chips. (At press time, we didn’t have any to test.) Though the 10th-gen chips offer some performance and graphics advantages, they’re really more wellrounded platforms. Nice if you can afford them, but
PCMark 8 Work 2.0 (Native resolution) HP Spectre x360 13 (2019) (Core i7-8565U)
3,632
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (6th Gen) (Core i7-8550U)
3,533
HP Spectre x360 13T (Core i7-8550U)
3,510
Samsung Notebook 9 Pen (Core i7-8550U)
3,474
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s (Core i5-8265U)
3,415
Lenovo ThinkPad L480 (Core i5-8250U)
3,150
Microsoft Surface Pro 6 (Core i5-8250U)
3,077
Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 (Core i5-8250U)
2,860 LO N G ER B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T ER P E R F O R M A N C E
PCMark 8 Creative 2.0 (Native resolution) Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (6th Gen) (Core i7-8550U)
3,582
HP Spectre x360 13 (2019) (Core i7-8565U)
3,541
HP Spectre x360 13T (Core i7-8550U)
3,519
Samsung Notebook 9 Pen (Core i7-8550U)
3,515
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s (Core i5-8265U)
3,397
Microsoft Surface Pro 6 (Core i5-8250U)
3,253
Lenovo ThinkPad L480 (Core i5-8250U)
3,244
Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 (Core i5-8250U)
2,932 LO N G ER B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T ER P E R F O R M A N C E
PCMark 8’s scores establish the central thesis of the ThinkBook 13s: average in terms of performance, but the low price makes it a good value.
don’t discount a Whiskey Lake platform like the ThinkBook 13s because it doesn’t sport the latest label. It’s important to place these results into the proper perspective. Many of the notebooks we test are consumer PCs, some with high price tags attached. We compared the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s to a variety of the consumer and business machines, weighted more toward the consumer market. Pay attention to where the ThinkBook 13s places—though its results are middling overall, its absolute scores aren’t bad. And for the price, it may be worth a purchase. Historically, PCMark 8’s suite (Work, Home, and Creative) offers a range of applications tests, from general office work (word processing and spreadsheet calculations) to VoIP NOVEMBER 2019 PCWorld 47
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Lenovo’s ThinkBook 13s again falls to the middle of the pack in this Cinebench test.
Cinebench RT15.038 (All threads) HP Spectre x360 13 (2019) (Core i7-8565U)
calls, image manipulation, light gaming, and even some video editing. PCMark 10 modernizes all of these tests, and combines them into a single overall benchmark. For simplicity’s sake, we’ve provided the PCMark 8 Work and Creative tests below, comparing the ThinkBook 13s to some of its competitors. It fares pretty well. We have fewer PCMark 10 scores to compare to, but here are some representative samples to place the ThinkBook’s performance into context. The ThinkBook 13s scored 3,752, slightly higher than the 3,737 that the wellregarded Dell XPS 13 48 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2019
623
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (6th Gen) (Core i7-8550U)
604
Lenovo ThinkPad L480 (Core i5-8250U)
595
Microsoft Surface Pro 6 (Core i5-8250U Lenovo ThinkBook 13s (Core i5-8265U)
576 567
Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 (Core i5-8250U)
558
HP Spectre x360 13T (Core i7-8550U)
553
Samsung Notebook 9 Pen (Core i7-8550U)
532 LO N G ER B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T ER P E R F O R M A N C E
HandBrake 0.99.0 Encoding (H.264) (Seconds) Lenovo ThinkPad L480 (Core i5-8250U)
3,701
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s (Core i5-8265U)
3,799
Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 (Core i5-8250U)
3,874
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (6th Gen) (Core i7-8550U)
3,879
Microsoft Surface Pro 6 (Core i5-8250U)
4,116
Samsung Notebook 9 Pen (Core i7-8550U)
4,137
HP Spectre x360 13 (2019) (Core i7-8565U) HP Spectre x360 13T (Core i7-8550U)
4,302 4,373 S H O R T E R B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T E R P E R F O R M A N C E
Intel’s “Whiskey Lake” architecture and the ThinkBook’s robust cooling propel it high up in the Handbrake video-conversion test, a real-world transcoding exercise
3Dmark 8 Sky Diver 1.0 Overall (Demo mode off) HP Spectre x360 13 (2019) (Core i7-8565U)
4,925
Microsoft Surface Pro 6 (Core i5-8250U)
4,690
Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 (Core i5-8250U)
4,658
Samsung Notebook 9 Pen (Core i7-8550U)
4,520
HP Spectre x360 13T (Core i7-8550U)
4,370
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s (Core i5-8265U)
4,286
Lenovo ThinkPad L480 (Core i5-8250U)
4,274
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (6th Gen) (Core i7-8550U)
4,199 LO N G ER B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T ER P E R F O R M A N C E
Battery Life (Minutes) HP Spectre x360 13 (2019) (Core i7-8565U)
971
HP Spectre x360 13T (Core i7-8550U)
769
Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 (Core i5-8250U)
633
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s (Core i5-8265U)
608
Samsung Notebook 9 Pen (Core i7-8550U)
599
Microsoft Surface Pro 6 (Core i5-8250U) Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (6th Gen) (Core i7-8550U) Lenovo ThinkPad L480 (Core i5-8250U)
588 527 493 LO N G ER B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T ER P E R F O R M A N C E
There’s enough battery life to last ThinkPad 13s users a full day’s worth of computing.
Though the differential between the top and bottom laptops under this 3DMark 3D performance evaluation is relatively tight, the ThinkBook 13s still falls well down the ranks.
9370 (go.pcworld. com/x319), a 2018 laptop based upon a Kaby Lake-R chip, and the 3,882 score reported by the Samsung Notebook 9 Pro (2019) (go.pcworld. com/nbk9). Top scores go to the HP Spectre 360 x15 (go.pcworld. com/sx15), at 4,691—a pricey, top-end consumer laptop. While PCMark attempts to simulate real-world tests, the Cinebench test is synthesized. Cinebench appears in two versions, each rendering a scene using Maxon’s rendering engine. The difference between the two tests (R15 and R20) depends NOVEMBER 2019 PCWorld 49
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LENOVO THINKBOOK 13S
on the complexity of the scene, with the R20 test being the more difficult of the two. We’ve used the older R15 test for our comparison. The open-source HandBrake tool is a prolonged CPU test that transcodes a Hollywood movie into a format suitable for watching on an Android tablet. Though it’s possible that more and more people are watching movies on their laptops, it’s still a practical task that shows how a prolonged activity stresses the CPU on the ThinkBook 13s. Don’t expect to play many quick, actionoriented games on Lenovo’s business-consumer notebook, because of the integrated graphics. There’s an enormous cluster of laptops that all use the UHD 620 chipset, which will be good for some basic, older games. Still, if you’re willing to dial down the details, you can probably still have good experiences on Fallout 4 (go.pcworld.com/flo4), for example, or Batman Arkham: Origins (go.pcworld.com/ bark), neither of which are especially ancient.
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s PROS
• Surprisingly good audio quality. • 10 hours of battery life. • Affordable price. CONS
• Middling performance. BOTTOM LINE
Lenovo tweaks its business notebook PC platform with consumer-friendly touches, such as a robust audio experience. $754
50 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2019
Finally, there’s battery life, one of the more important measures of a laptop. The ThinkBook13s fares pretty well here with just over 10 hours, about enough for a day of work and then some. (To test, we take a 4K movie and loop it over and over until the battery expires.) Some of the consumer laptops pull in much higher numbers, but laptop manufacturers have begun taking advantage of low-power displays that extend battery life further.
BOTTOM LINE While Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Carbon (go. pcworld.com/crbn) 6th-Gen remains the superior business notebook in Lenovo’s stable, the MSRP is well over $1,000. (Prices on the base models have fallen to $999, as the 7th-Gen models [go.pcworld.com/crb7] have begun to ship.) It’s probably worth considering picking up a deal on the older X1 Carbon generation as well as considering the new ThinkBooks. There’s a lot to like about Lenovo’s consumerbusiness hybrid, though. Save for a lack of a dedicated ethernet port, there’s a businessfriendly mix of connectivity options, and good battery life, with consumer-friendly multimedia options. Though the performance is relatively average, being able to buy the ThinkBook 13s at an affordable price helps elevate it. So pay attention: if the price is close to MSRP, look elsewhere. At prices near the $800 or so that Lenovo is currently charging, the ThinkBook 13s is a solidly well-rounded notebook that we’d recommend buying.
MSI’s GE65 Raider: A little thick, but a lot fast The GE65 Raider 9SF packs an 8-core 9th-gen Core i9 and GeForce RTX 2070 graphics into a relatively compact body. BY GORDON MAH UNG MSI’s GE65 Raider is proof positive of how far gaming laptop performance has come. Just two years ago, a top-end gaming laptop would run on a quad-core 7th-gen CPU. The GE65 Raider IMAGE: GORDON MAH UNG
doubles the core count with its 9th-gen Core i7-9880H chip. Real-time ray-tracing support? The GE65 Raider has that, too, with its full-power GeForce RTX 2070. All this, mind you, weighs just over five NOVEMBER 2019 PCWorld 51
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MSI GE65 R AIDER
pounds. This much power at this weight comes with a compromise, though, which we’ll get to later. First up, the full specs:
Networking: Killer E2600 Gigabit Ehthernet and Killer Wi-Fi 6
SIZE AND WEIGHT SPECS CPU: Intel 9th-gen Core i9-9880H 8-core CPU RAM: 16GB DDR4/2666 GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Display: 15.6-inch IGZO 240Hz 1080P screen with Optimus Storage: 1TB Samsung PM981 NVme SSD Battery: 51Whr Ports: Mic in, Speaker out analog ports, 1 USB-C 10Gbps, 1 USB-A 10Gbps, 2 USB-A 5Gbps,1 miniDisplayPort 1.2, 1 HDMI 2.0
The laptop measures in at 14 inches wide, 9.76 inches deep, and 1 inch thick. It weighs just a shade over five pounds alone. Throw in its massive 280-watt brick, and you add another 2.18 pounds to your backpack. We should point out we actually found the size of the GE65 to be very appealing. It’s not anywhere near as slender as its GS65 Stealth sibling, but it feels and looks amazingly compact considering its performance. That same thickness also lets MSI jam in up to seven heat pipes inside. The CPU gets two dedicated heat pipes and two more shared with the GPU, while the GPU gets three dedicated pipes.
UPGRADE OPTIONS First the bad news: There are neither ports nor doors on the GE65 Raider. And you’ll probably want to look up some YouTube videos before you split it up. The good news is pretty good, though. Inside the GE65 Raider you’ll find two M.2 slots (one used), two SO-DIMM slots, an M.2 wireless module, and a spot and cabling for a 2.5-inch drive. Unlike those thin gaming laptops, you can access it without having to remove the motherboard. 52 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2019
per-key RGB backlighting, and the key skirts are translucent to accentuate the lighting. The lighting is decent, but not dazzling along the lines of say, Razer’s keyboards. Like Las Vegas, it’s way cooler at night. One complaint we have: The 10-key is styled after a phone 10-key, not the more favored calculator 10-key, which would correctly place the 0 key under We didn’t split the case open on the GE65, but other teardowns your right thumb when entering in indicate it has two M.2 slots, a 2.5-inch drive bay, and two accessible memory slots. numbers. MSI claims the GE65 Raider TRACKPAD AND KEYBOARD features “Giant Speakers,” which seems to The trackpad features two “mouse” buttons mean 5X larger chambers, along with a total without clickpad support (where the entire of four speakers. We listened to several songs trackpad clicks). Because the keyboard on YouTube (because that’s where people features a 10-key number pad, the trackpad is get music today) on the GE65 Raider, correctly offset and centered on the Y button. comparing it to HP’s Omen 2XS and Dell’s It’s fairly smooth but with a slight metallic drag XPS 15. We found all to be, well, decent for a to its surface. It’s also Microsoft Precision laptop. The GE65 Raider had a slight edge in driver-compatible, so you get the full complement of Windows 10 gestures. The keyboard is Steel Series-branded and is a fairly pleasant experience with decent travel. It is slightly mushy and doesn’t feature much tactile click, but hey, it’s a laptop keyboard, right? It features NOVEMBER 2019 PCWorld 53
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bass response but also Cinebench R15 nT tended to be thin (Multi threads) midrange. Frankly, a decent Bluetooth Alienware Area 51m R1 2,030 (Core i9-9900K) portable speaker Acer Predator Helios 700 1,801 (Core i9-9880H) KB Open probably sounds MSI GE65 Raider better than all three 1,600 (Core i9-9880H) laptops to our ears. Alienware M15 R2 1,238 (Core i7-9750H) Don’t be Dell G7 1,204 disappointed too (Core i7-9750H) HP Omen 2XS much—there’s only so 1,180 (Core i7-9750H) Default much space you have MSI GS75 Stealth 1,158 (Core i7-8750H) to work with and these Alienware M15 1,139 are performance (Core i7-8750H) laptops, not boom Acer Predator Triton 500 1,108 (Core i7-8750H) boxes to sling over LO N G ER B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T ER P E R F O R M A N C E your shoulder. Let’s just Cinebench R15 is a good workload to approximate multi-core performance. say the GE65 Raider sounds better than Core i9-9880H in the GE65 can’t be thinner and smaller laptops and be happy touched. The GE65 Raider also comes in just with it. ahead of the 8-core Ryzen 7-based Predator CPU PERFORMANCE Helios 500. Our first test is Maxon’s Cinebench R15. It’s a What the GE65 Raider can’t compete with popular benchmark to measure CPU are the large-bodied gaming laptops such as performance by rendering a 3D model. While the Acer Predator Helios 700 with the same few people actually do 3D modeling, the test CPU but more cooling and power, or the scales very well with CPU core count, which Alienware Area 51m, which uses a desktop means the more cores you feed it, the higher 8-core Core i9-9900K inside. A midsize the score. Also, it lets us test a system’s laptop losing to large laptops isn’t much of a performance on a single thread (core) or surprise, but the GE65 also slightly multi-threaded. underperforms against the Dell XPS 15 with Starting with multi-threaded performance: the same CPU too. Against every single 6-core Intel CPU, the Why? Well, there’s more nuance here, 54 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2019
Cinebench R15 1T (Single threads) Alienware Area 51m R1 (Core i9-9900K)
207
Acer Predator Helios 700 (Core i9-9880H) KB Open
201
MSI GE65 Raider (Core i9-9880H)
199
Alienware M15 (Core i7-8750H)
188
HP Omen 2XS (Core i7-9750H) Default
187
Acer Predator Triton 500 (Core i7-8750H)
178
MSI GS75 Stealth (Core i7-8750H)
175
Alienware M15 R2 (Core i7-9750H)
175
Dell G7 (Core i7-9750H)
171 LO N G ER B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T ER P E R F O R M A N C E
HandBrake 0.9.9 Encode 1080p MKV (Seconds) Alienware Area 51m R1 (Core i9-9900K) Acer Predator Helios 700 (Core i9-9880H) KB Open MSI GE65 Raider (Core i9-9880H) Dell G7 (Core i7-9750H) Alienware M15 R2 (Core i7-9750H) Acer Predator Triton 500 (Core i7-8750H) MSI GS75 Stealth (Core i7-8750H) Alienware M15 (Core i7-8750H) HP Omen 2XS (Core i7-9750H) Default
1,128 1,349 1,445 1,740 1,798 1,827 1,929
Cinebench R15’s singlethreaded performance gives you a better idea of how it’ll perform in the vast majority of mainstream apps.
which we’ll explain in our HandBrake section, but it’s probably easier to understand that the XPS 15 is made for shorter sprints of multi-core performance. If you want to know how most mainstream applications will perform, running Cinebench in singlethreaded mode can give you a good idea. This measures the same workload, but using a single CPU core. Most tasks such as Office work, web browsing, and even photo tasks typically use a single thread.
1,980 2,071 S H O R T E R B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T E R P E R F O R M A N C E
We use HandBrake to measure CPU-based encoding performance.
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For the most part, it’s fairly close. The the CPU heats up long enough that we see Core i9-9880H CPUs have small clock speed the impact as it reaches its thermal limit. advantage, so they outperform 9th-gen While the Dell XPS 15 outperformed the 6-core Intel chips by about 5 percent. Against GE65 Raider in the short Cinebench test, once 8th gen 6-core Intel chips, you’re looking at we subjected both to a marathon, and not a about an 11 percent advantage. If you keep sprint, the GE65 Raider’s thicker chassis and hearing that there’s been “no change” better cooling power allowed it to finish far between generations of Intel CPUs from the ahead of the XPS 15. The GE65 is outperformed peanut gallery, note that the difference only by the thicker and larger laptops. between a 7th-gen quad-core and a 9th-gen GRAPHICS PERFORMANCE 8-core is about 29 percent in single-core The other half of the GE65 Raider’s appeal is performance. Of course, it’s about 115 its GPU. Our configuration included Nvidia’s percent in multi-core performance. GeForce RTX 2070. It’s nicknamed “Max P” One issue with using Cinebench R15 as by industry insiders because it’s the version the only way to measure a laptop’s performance is its short duration. A multi-core 3DMark Fire Strike 1.1 Graphics run might take just a (GPU score) minute or two at most. Alienware Area 51m R1 26,787 That’s not really (Core i9-9900K) Acer Predator Helios 700 enough to heat up a 25,589 (Core i9-9880H) KB Open laptop, so we also use Alienware M15 R2 21,786 (Core i7-9750H) an older version of the MSI GE65 Raider 20,123 free HandBrake utility (Core i9-9880H) to encode a 30GB file MSI GS75 Stealth 19,579 (Core i7-8750H) using the Android HP Omen 2XS 18,379 (Core i7-9750H) Default Tablet preset. The task Alienware M15 can take as long as 45 18,213 (Core i7-8750H) minutes on a 7th-gen Acer Predator Triton 500 15,263 Dell G7 quad-core laptop, and (Core i7-9750H) 15,034 about 24 minutes on LO N G ER B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T ER P E R F O R M A N C E an 8-core laptop. As HandBrake is multiThe GE65 pretty much outruns all other laptops except for those much larger, and much heavier. threaded, that means 56 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2019
3DMark Time Spy 1.1 Graphics (GPU score) Acer Predator Helios 700 (Core i9-9880H) KB Open
10,508
Alienware Area 51m R1 (Core i9-9900K)
10,427
Alienware M15 R2 (Core i7-9750H)
8,424
MSI GE65 Raider (Core i9-9880H)
7,658
MSI GS75 Stealth (Core i7-8750H)
7,512
Alienware M15 (Core i7-8750H)
7,013
HP Omen 2XS (Core i7-9750H) Default Dell G7 (Core i7-9750H) Acer Predator Triton 500 (Core i7-8750H)
6,937 5,692 5,526 LO N G ER B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T ER P E R F O R M A N C E
3DMark Port Royal Graphics (GPU score) Acer Predator Helios 700 (Core i9-9880H) KB Open
5,691
Alienware Area 51m R1 (Core i9-9900K)
5,672
Alienware M15 R2 (Core i7-9750H)
5,059
MSI GE65 Raider (Core i9-9880H)
4,148
MSI GS75 Stealth (Core i7-8750H)
4,146
HP Omen 2XS (Core i7-9750H) Default
4,080
Alienware M15 (Core i7-8750H)
DirectX 12 performance puts the GE65 Raider high on the list, with only RTX 2080 laptops beating it.
that runs at the GPU’s maximum clocks or “maximum performance,” because the laptop has the thermals to handle it. Nvidia doesn’t like calling it “Max P” since it highlights just how compromised “MaxQ” laptops can be in performance sometimes. You can see why in our first graphics performance test below. Using UL’s 3DMark Fire Strike (and honing in on just the graphics performance test), the GeForce RTX 2070 in the GE65
3,837
Dell G7 (Core i7-9750H)
2,991
Acer Predator Triton 500 (Core i7-8750H)
2,987 LO N G ER B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T ER P E R F O R M A N C E
3DMark’s Port Royal measures ray-tracing performance, and the RTX 2070 is basically as fast as RTX 2080 Max-Q GPUs.
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outperforms all but the most powerful (and much larger) gaming laptops. 3DMark Fire Strike, however, is fairly old at this point and measures only DirectX 11 performance. To see how the laptop performs in DirectX 12, we run 3DMark Time Spy. Again, we focus in on just the GPU performance. While the older-gen GeForce GTX 1080 in a large Alienware outpaces the GE65 Raider in DX11 performance, the script is flipped here, with the RTX 2070 in front of the GTX 1080. The only laptops faster than the GE65 Raider are based on RTX 2080 cards, so no real shame at all. Our last test using 3DMark is the Port Royal test, which measures GPU performance in Microsoft’s DirectX 58 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2019
Rise of the Tomb Raider Very High DX11 19x10 (Fps) Alienware Area 51m R1 (Core i9-9900K)
162.5
Acer Predator Helios 700 (Core i9-9880H) KB Open
145.8
MSI GS75 Stealth (Core i7-8750H)
122.4
MSI GE65 Raider (Core i9-9880H)
112
Alienware M15 (Core i7-8750H)
106.2
Acer Predator Triton 500 (Core i7-8750H)
92.2
Alienware M15 R2 (Core i7-9750H)
91.1
Dell G7 (Core i7-9750H) HP Omen 2XS (Core i7-9750H) Default
82.3 56.6 LO N G ER B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T ER P E R F O R M A N C E
In DX11 mode, the GeForce GTX 1080 laptops can outperform the GE65 Raider, but we’ll note that only the 17-inch laptops can do so.
Middle-earth: Shadows of Mordor 19x10 (Fps) Alienware Area 51m R1 (Core i9-9900K)
197.2
MSI GE65 Raider (Core i9-9880H)
153.7
MSI GS75 Stealth (Core i7-8750H) Alienware M15 (Core i7-8750H) Acer Predator Triton 500 (Core i7-8750H) Dell G7 (Core i7-9750H)
149.7 131.4 120 116.6 LO N G ER B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T ER P E R F O R M A N C E
The RTX 2070 is about the equal of a GTX 1080 on the desktop and we see that reflected in Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor.
Raytracing API. Again, only laptops based on the RTX 2080 can beat the GE65 Raider. We do again see that the GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q variants pale in comparison. We also run real-world games. First up is Rise of the Tomb Raider set to its Very High setting at 1080p resolution and in DX11 mode. Just as we saw in Fire Strike, the older GeForce GTX 1080 parts spring back into the mix under DX11 games. One thing you may notice in the chart: The only laptops that outpace the GE65 Raider are 17-inch laptops, which tend to have more space to work with for thermals. The last game we ran was Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor set to Ultra and at 1080p resolution. We didn’t have the Acer Predator
Helios 700 in these results but overall, the GE65 Raider represents well. It is essentially as fast as very high-clocked GeForce GTX 1080 laptops that are larger and thicker.
BATTERY LIFE: NOT GREAT, NOT TERRIBLE
Battery life means more on today’s gaming laptops, as more people demand it and more models offer better-than-token efforts. For our test, we loop a 4K video with the display set at about 250 nits’ brightness (a good setting for daytime interior environments) and plug in a pair of earbuds. We also set the laptop to airplane mode and turn off the RGB keyboard features. Battery life is typically dictated by the size of the battery plus all of the hardware that’s running. Another major factor for gaming 4K Video Battery Life laptops specifically is (Minutes) whether the laptop uses MSI GS75 Stealth Nvidia’s G-Sync. G-Sync 399 (Core i7-8750H) requires the GPU to be Acer Predator Triton 500 354 (Core i7-8750H) connected to the MSI GE65 Raider 274 (Core i9-9880H) display, which means Dell G7 the discrete GPU and its 223 (Core i7-9750H) RAM are turned on the Alienware M15 193 (Core i7-8750H) whole time. Alienware Area 51m R1 134 The GE65 Raider, (Core i9-9900K) HP Omen 2XS interestingly, doesn’t 130 (Core i7-9750H) Default include G-Sync despite LO N G ER B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T ER P E R F O R M A N C E its use of a 240Hz The compromised battery capacity hurts the battery life of the GE65 Raider. panel. The high refresh NOVEMBER 2019 PCWorld 59
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means very low latency and very little visible tearing, because redraws are happening at three times the rate of a 60Hz panel. The biggest compromise in battery life is the 53-watt-hour battery. That’s about the size used in a lot of 13.3-inch thin-and-lights. For comparison, the Dell XPS 15 packs a 98-watt-hour battery. The GE65 Raider ran just over 4.5 hours before going dark. Its sibling, the GS65 Stealth, ran just over 6 hours with its 80Whr battery. In the end we’d rate it as not great, but not terrible either.
BOTTOM LINE Overall, we’d have to say there’s a lot to like in the GE65. The main highlight is the 8-core Core i9-9880H, which offers a significant performance increase over previous chips. Against a 6-core 8th-gen, you’re looking at about a 57-percent increase in performance. More significantly: If you’re upgrading from a quad-core 7th-gen Core i7 chip, you’re in the ballpark of a 118 percent uptick in multi-threaded workloads. So yes, worth it if that’s your jam. On graphics or gaming, the GE65 and its GeForce RTX 2070 punches out of its weight class and genuinely makes us wonder whether the thinner GeForce RTX 2080 Max Q are worth the trade-off—especially since 60 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2019
the GE65 Raider really isn’t that much larger or thicker than most Max-Q laptops. The only serious compromise here is the battery. A longer run time would have made the GE65 perfect (and likely thicker). Still, if you want a lot of performance in a compact laptop and are willing to give on battery life, the GE65 Raider should be on your short list.
MSI GE65 Raider PROS
• 8 cores of computing power in a laptop! • GeForce RTX 2070 neutralizes any need for a GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q. • Relatively light and compact. CONS
• Compromised battery capacity. • 280-watt AC adapter is truly the shape and the size of a brick. • 10-key design won’t make corporate accounting happy. BOTTOM LINE
MSI’s GE65 Raider is proof positive of how far gaming laptop performance has come, with its 9th-gen Core i7-9880H and full-power GeForce RTX 2070. All this in a laptop that weighs just over five pounds. Only the battery life disappoints. $2,699
The best 4K graphics card for PC gaming We explain the best graphics card you can buy for gaming at 4K resolution, and other options for higher and lower budgets. BY BRAD CHACOS
4
K gaming used to break the bank. For years, 3840 x 2160 monitors cost a small fortune, and the ferocious graphics cards needed to drive a 4K display cost even more. That’s not even counting the price of the highenergy power supplies required to juice all that hardware. It still is expensive—at least if you want the best possible 4K gaming experiences. But now we have options. An Ultra HD gaming setup won’t be cheap, but with basic 4K monitors available for around $200 and
IMAGE: BRAD CHACOS
upper-midrange graphics cards able to drive them at a decent clip, you no longer have to remortgage your house to achieve satisfying 4K gaming. We’ll break down all your options here, because not everyone can afford the face-melting GeForce RTX 2080 Ti and its unbelievable performance. Not sure if 4K gaming is right for you? Be sure to check out our overarching guide to
VIDEO: BEST 4K GRAPHICS CARD FOR GAMING Watch now at go.pcworld.com/kkg
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BEST 4K GR APHICS CARD FOR PC GAMING
the best graphics cards for PC gaming (go. pcworld.com/4kgr), where we also explore your best video options for 1080p and 1440p resolution, and share tips to keep in mind while you’re on the hunt for new hardware.
starts at $700, but Nvidia’s own Founders Edition models have dried up. Most custom options start around $720 or $730 (go. pcworld.com/cs72) and only get more expensive as you add features (go.pcworld. com/addf). You can occasionally find custom THE BEST 4K GRAPHICS models on sale for around $700, however. CARD: NVIDIA GEFORCE That’s a lot of money, but it buys you stellar RTX 2080 SUPER 4K gaming performance. The GeForce RTX Your best option for PC gaming at 4K 2080 Super achieves the hallowed 60 frames resolution on a standard 60Hz display is the per second in most modern games with all Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super (go. standard graphics settings configured to pcworld.com/80sp). Its price theoretically maximum or near-maximum. It’s fast. Like other RTX 20-series graphics cards, the GeForce RTX Ray tracing at 1440p in 2080 Super contains dedicated Shadow of the Tomb Raider hardware for real-time ray tracing 55 tasks, but the strenuous cutting43 Nvidia GeForce RTX 73 2070 (FE) edge eye candy absolutely tanks 61 frame rates and will often require 59 47 Nvidia GeForce RTX a drop to lower resolution. If 80 2070 Super (FE) 68 possible you’ll want to pair it with 66 Nvidia’s performance-enhancing 53 Nvidia GeForce RTX 88 Deep Learning Super Sampling 2080 (FE) 75 (DLSS) technology to gain back 68 some of those lost frames, 53 Nvidia GeForce RTX 90 2080 Super (FE) though DLSS can negatively 76 impact visual quality at times. 83 68 Nvidia GeForce RTX Some games appear noticeably 109 2080 Ti (FE) 95 blurrier with DLSS enabled. RTX Ultra RTX Ultra/DLSS RTX Med/DLSS RTX Med AMD’s rival Radeon graphics LO N G ER B A R S I N D I C AT E B E T T ER P E R F O R M A N C E cards lack real-time ray-tracing capabilities. The most powerful Ray-tracing performance at 1440p resolution (NOT 4K) in Shadow of the Tomb Raider. Radeon option, which we’ll 62 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2019
discuss shortly, isn’t at the GeForce RTX 2080 Super’s performance level. If you want to drive a 4K/60 display with minimal visual compromises, the GeForce RTX 2080 Super is your best bet. Don’t confuse the RTX 2080 Super with its predecessor, the non-Super RTX 2080. Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 2070 Super. You’ll still find nonSuper versions on sale exchange for maximum eye candy, the RTX all over the place for prices close to the Super 2070 Super should be able to hit that in version, but the older model is slower—and virtually every game with all visual bells and barely faster than the $500 GeForce RTX whistles cranked to the max. The card also 2070 Super (go.pcworld.com/sp70). Don’t be a sucker. supports real-time ray tracing. The $400 Radeon RX 5700 XT (go. OTHER OPTIONS pcworld.com/rdxt) doesn’t pack specialized That GeForce RTX 2070 Super is also worth hardware for ray tracing, but it’s such an considering for 4K gaming if you don’t have outstanding value proposition that it might $700+ to spare on an RTX 2080 Super. The not matter. AMD’s graphics card comes within lower-priced sibling can also hit 60 fps at 4K striking distance of the GeForce RTX 2070 resolution, though you will need to drop Super’s performance (it’s only about 5 down graphics settings to High to achieve percent slower) for $100 less. It’s significantly that frame rate. faster than the comparably priced $400 Very intensive games may require GeForce RTX 2060, which isn’t really a dropping one or two particularly intensive contender for 4K gaming. Everything we said graphics options down to Medium, if 60 fps is about the RTX 2070 Super above holds true a must-have. If it’s not, and you’re fine with a for the Radeon RX 5700 XT as well. console-esque 30 frames per second in If you’re considering the Radeon RX NOVEMBER 2019 PCWorld 63
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BEST 4K GR APHICS CARD FOR PC GAMING
5700 XT for 4K gaming in particular, consider the $440 Sapphire Nitro+ Radeon RX 5700 XT (go.pcworld.com/ nt57) specifically. Sapphire’s Trixx software includes a “Trixx Boost” function (go.pcworld. com/trxx) that creates new, slightly lower monitor resolutions (3264 x 1836 for 4K The Sapphire Nitro+ Radeon RX 5700 XT. gaming by default) that enable vastly faster performance. There’s little to no hit on visual gaming experience possible, the monstrous quality, thanks to a boost from AMD’s GeForce RTX 2080 Ti (go.pcworld.com/ti28) blows even the RTX 2080 Super away—but it Radeon Image Sharpening technology. costs $1,050 or more on the street (go. With Trixx Boost’s custom resolutions pcworld.com/by15). Even this beast can’t enabled, the Nitro+ delivers 4K performance feed a 144Hz 4K display to its full potential at or above the GeForce RTX 2080 Super’s level for hundreds of dollars less. You can manually configure custom monitor resolutions in other software if you don’t want the Nitro+, but Sapphire’s software makes the whole process dead simple. Finally, if you’ve purchased one of those newfangled 144Hz 4K displays or just absolutely, Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Founders Edition: An unassuming beast. positively want the best 4K 64 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2019
with all in-game eye candy maxed out, but nothing else comes close to touching its performance. Yes, it also supports ray tracing, though yes, you’ll still probably need to drop your game’s resolution to be able to enable it at higher visual settings.
HOW TO CHECK YOUR MONITOR’S REFRESH RATE
adapter properties link at the bottom of this page, then click the Monitor tab in the new box that appears. It’ll house a drop-down menu with your available screen refresh rates. If what you see appears slower than what your monitor should be capable of, you might need to dive into the options menu for your specific monitor, which is accessible via hardware buttons on your display. Got it? Good. Again, if 4K gaming winds up being a bit too rich for your budget, or you’re more interested in the ultra-fast refresh rates that are easier to achieve at less strenuous resolutions, be sure to check out our guide to the best graphics cards for PC gaming (go.pcworld.com/4kgr) to see the best GPU options for 1080p and 1440p.
A lot of this advice revolves around the refresh rate of your monitor. The faster your monitor refreshes, the faster the graphics card you can use. If you aren’t sure how fast your monitor is, click the Start button in the lower-left corner of the Windows 10 taskbar, then head to Settings > System > Display. Scroll down past where you see the resolution for your monitor(s) listed, then click Advanced Display Settings at the bottom of the page. You’ll see more-detailed stats for your display listed, including the refresh rate in hertz (Hz). If you have multiple monitors, you’ll be able to switch among them. Some monitors can run at different speeds depending on their settings. To see what’s available for You’d need a $1,200 GeForce RTX 2080 Ti to feed this 4K, 120Hz display well. yours, click the Display
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Logitech MX Keys: A wireless keyboard that does much more Paired with the MX Master 3 mouse, the MX Keys can power up to three computers at once. BY MICHAEL ANSALDO
Keyboards and mice have a pretty buttoned-down reputation, but ironically some of their most demanding users are right-brain types. That’s whom Logitech is targeting with its MX Master 3 mouse (go.pcworld.com/mxm3) and MX Keys companion keyboard (go. pcworld.com/mxky). Both these peripherals have been 66 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2019
designed with an emphasis on comfort and customizability to appeal to software developers, designers, and other “creatives.” The MX Keys, reviewed here, is a wellconstructed low-profile keyboard that can pair with up to three devices and, when used with the MX Master 3, control multiple computers in a single workflow. It does so much more than just type, which is why it’s earned an Editors’ Choice. IMAGE: LOGITECH
DESIGN The MX Keys is built on a single metal plate, giving it a durability that would seem to make it an ideal mobile accessory. You’ll think twice about tossing it in your gear bag, though, once you feel the full weight of its nearly 1.8 pounds. The keyboard is actually best suited for your desktop, where its heft keeps it from shifting and sliding under typing force. The full-size keyboard (16 x 5.18 x 0.8 inches) replicates the layout of the luxurious Logitech Craft (go.pcworld.com/lgcr), with alphanumeric keys, a number pad, and a dozen function keys that double as multimedia controls. These last can be “set” to either function or media by pressing Fn+Esc, so you never need to hold the Fn key. MX Keys is also outfitted with proximity sensors, so the keys illuminate when your hands approach the keyboard and fade when you move them away. This backlighting turns off automatically when the battery falls below 10 percent charge. At the same time, a battery indicator above the number pad will glow red and you’ll receive an onscreen notification. Logitech says the battery should last about 10
days with backlighting always on, and a generous 5 months with it off. A pair of dedicated buttons gives you manual control over several levels of illumination, so it should be easy to find a sweet spot between those extremes.
CONNECTIVITY Both the MX Keys and the MX Master 3 mouse connect your computer via the Logitech Unifying Receiver. Just plug this dongle into a free USB-A port on your PC or Mac, and the computer should recognize the keyboard instantly. You can connect up to three devices via the Unifying Receiver or Bluetooth. For the latter you press one of the Easy Switch buttons until its LED blinks to indicate it’s in pairing mode. Then find and select MX Keys from the list of available Bluetooth devices on the laptop, tablet, or phone you’re trying to connect. You’re asked to enter a numerical code on the keyboard and press the Easy Switch button again to complete the pairing. Once multiple devices are paired with the keyboard, you can switch among them by
The MX Keys keyboard is roomy and comfortable to use.
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LOGITECH MX KEYS
toggling the Easy Switch button to the appropriate channel. If like me, however, you tend to use multiple computers at the same time, you can use the MX Keys in combination with the MX Master 3 mouse to control them simultaneously using Logitech Flow. All the computers have to be on the same network, with the Logitech Options software installed on each and Flow enabled in it. Once that’s done you can use the mouse across computers simply by dragging the cursor off the edge of one screen and onto the other. Better yet, you can transfer images, text, and even entire folders between computers by copying them on one and pasting them on the other. And because the MX Keys follows the MX Master 3 from one computer to another, you can type
on multiple devices in one seamless workflow. It even works across operating systems; I used it regularly to transfer files between a MacBook Air and an Acer laptop.
CUSTOMIZABILITY Like the MX Master 3 mouse, the keyboard can be customized with Logitech Options software. Once you download it, you can remap any of the function/media keys, as well as the calculator, screen capture, look up, and lock keys by selecting it from a graphic image and choosing from a list of shortcut options. The software also lets you see what devices are paired with each Easy Switch, manage on-screen notifications, and enable/disable battery saving mode. Of particular note to Mac users is an option to always keep the keyboard in Mac layout.
Many of the keys can be mapped to other shortcuts in the Logitech Option software.
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You can see what devices MX Keys is paired with in the Logitech Options software.
TYPING FEEL Thanks to its ample size, MX Keys provides a roomy and comfortable typing experience. The keys are smooth, with a slight dip that nestles your fingertip. The
Logitech MX Keys PROS
• Sturdy construction. • Can connect with up to three devices. • Can control multiple computers at once when used with MX Master 3 mouse. CONS
• Expensive. • Probably too heavy to travel with you. BOTTOM LINE
MX Keys is an excellent standalone keyboard, but it can really streamline your workflow when used with the MX Master 3 mouse. $99
low-profile design doesn’t allow much travel and you don’t get the tactile or aural feedback you’d get from a mechanical keyboard. In fact, you have to fairly stab the keys hunt-and-peck style to get any sound out of them at all. That’s all the better for your coworkers if you work in a trendy open office setting, but it might be unnerving for typists who rely on key clatter to connect with what they’re typing.
BOTTOM LINE The MX Keys is easily once of the best wireless keyboards I’ve ever used. Like the MX Master 3, it’s an expensive peripheral at $100, but well worth the investment for power users who are finicky about their peripherals. NOVEMBER 2019 PCWorld 69
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Amazon Echo Frames: Hands-on first impressions Alexa is moving out of the house to become a mobile digital assistant. BY MICHAEL BROWN
N
o company has managed to make smart glasses that the average person would want to buy. Amazon’s Echo Frames could change that by making its Alexa digital assistant accessible from anywhere your smartphone has internet access. I checked them out at Amazon’s recent Devices event in Seattle and came away impressed. The $180 Echo Frames (go.pcworld.com/ ecfr) are one of two devices that Amazon announced as “Day 1 Editions.” If you want to buy a pair (or the Echo Loop smart ring, which I didn’t get a chance to play with), you’ll need 70 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2019
to request an invitation. Like the Echo Buds (go.pcworld.com/ecbd) that were also announced yesterday, Frames depend on your smartphone to reach the internet. The factor that all three of these new mobile devices have in common is that they eliminate the need for you to pull your smartphone out of your pocket or purse to summon Alexa. That handily blunts one of the key advantages that Google Assistant and Apple’s Siri have had over Alexa. The Frames look like ordinary—if not especially fashionable—eyeglasses with very slightly thicker, spring-loaded arms. The springs relieve stress on the Frames when you IMAGE: MICHAEL BROWN
put them on and take them off, just like most high-quality eyeglass frames). Amazon supplies them with clear plastic lenses, but there are instructions in the package that you can provide your optometrist, so as to fit them with prescription lenses. Unlike some other efforts at building smart glasses—Google Glass, for example—Echo Frames don’t have an integrated camera, and they don’t have an integrated display. What they do have are two tiny speakers on each arm and a built-in nearfield microphone for summoning Alexa,
asking her questions, and giving her commands. The speakers are designed so that sound reaches the wearer’s ears, but doesn’t get loud enough that folks nearby can hear it. The room where the demos took place was quite loud, but I couldn’t hear the speakers while other reporters were getting their demonstrations of the Frames. There are three buttons on the Frames’ right-hand arm: The button closest to the hinge mutes the microphone, the one behind that (toward your ear) increases
Amazon makes a valiant effort to make its Echo Frames look fashionable.
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HANDS - ON: AMA ZON ECHO FR AMES
the volume, and the third decreases the volume. Tapping the exterior of the righthand arm pauses any music that might be streaming over the Bluetooth connection to your phone. In addition to listening to music and dealing with Alexa, you can also use the Frames for hands-free phone calls and for sending and receiving text messages. The Frames will alert you to incoming texts and read them aloud to you. In order to avoid being inundated with unimportant notifications, the Frames app will allow you to create a VIP filter that will alert you only when messages from folks or apps on a whitelist arrive. You can elect to have it recite text messages from your family, your
boss, and home security system, for instance, but ignore anything else. Ignored messages will remain in your inbox, of course; their arrival just won’t be announced in your ear. An Amazon product manager told me the Frames are expected to deliver 14 hours of battery life with mixed use (phone calls, Alexa dialog, and music streaming) at a volume level of 60 percent. They’ll come with a magnetic charging cable that connects to a contact on the right-hand arm. I was impressed with how light the Frames were, but that will obviously change if you have them fitted with prescription lenses, depending on how thick your lenses are.
The Echo Frames feature buttons on the underside of the right-hand arm: The button closest to the lenses mutes the microphone. The next button to the right increases volume, and the third button decreases volume. Tapping the side of the arm pauses music playback.
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The All-new Kindle Oasis upgrades to warmer light and lighter weight Modest improvements add polish to this near-perfect e-reader. BY MICHAEL ANSALDO
The very name of Amazon’s “All-new Kindle Oasis” would seem to herald a radical overhaul. Thankfully, the changes to Amazon’s top-shelf e-reader are far less dramatic. Beyond the introduction of a new color-adjustable front light that can warm or cool the screen’s illumination, the All-new Kindle Oasis remains strikingly similar to its predecessor. And that’s good news. It’s still the best e-reading experience you can buy. IMAGE: AMAZON
The All-new Kindle Oasis is no impulse purchase, though. The base level device, which includes 8GB of storage and Wi-Fi connectivity, starts at $250 if you’re willing to tolerate “special offers”—i.e., advertisements—displayed on your lock screen. Prices rise steadily from there. That same unit is available without ads for $270. A 32GB model with Wi-Fi runs $280 with special offers and $300 without. Finally, a 32GB model that adds free cellular connectivity and includes special offers costs NOVEMBER 2019 PCWorld 73
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KINDLE OASIS
$350. Three months of Kindle Unlimited are included for free with all of these; you’ll be charged $10 a month if you choose to keep it thereafter.
Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and 4G LTE where available in the US Battery life: Up to six weeks on a single charge
SPECS, FEATURES, PRICE
DESIGN
The All-new Kindle Oasis is a luxury e-reader, which shows in the generous feature list: Storage: 8GB/32GB Display: 7-inch (diagonal width) with E Ink Carta and 25 LED front lights, 300 ppi, 16-level grayscale Dimensions: 6.3 x 5.6 x 0.13-0.33 inches Weight: 6.6 ounces
The 2017 Kindle Oasis nailed the luxury feel of a premium product, so it’s no surprise that the All-new Kindle leaves most of its design elements intact. The dimensions are identical, and the weight nearly so. Amazon removed the rear-housing magnets that attached the previous model’s cases, dropping the weight from 6.8 to 6.6 ounces. The aluminum backplate (available in Graphite or Champagne Gold), glossy black bezel, and glare-free glass are all still here. Like the previous Oasis, this new version has an IPX8 rating, meaning it can withstand submersion in up to two meters of water (go.pcworld. com/2mwt) for an hour at a time. It’s hard to imagine a reading scenario that would require that kind of aquatic abuse, but it should put at ease users who like to read in the bathtub or on the beach. The new lighting feature adds a “warmth” slider under the brightness slider in the settings menu. By dragging a finger left to right you can adjust the color tone The All-new Kindle Oasis keeps much of the look and functionality of its predecessor. incrementally from cool to warm to
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The new color-adjustable front light lets you cool or warm the Oasis’ lighting.
better suit day or night reading. You can also schedule the warmth level to change automatically with sunrise and sunset, a feature that will be familiar to anyone who has used Apple’s Night Shift to control the color of their Mac’s display. The other most notable change is that with the magnets gone, the Oasis now snaps into its cover like other Kindles. So, be prepared to tack the cost of a new cover onto the total purchase price. I was provided the
Charcoal Black water-safe fabric cover (go. pcworld.com/fblk), available for $40 on Amazon and also offered in Punch Red (go. pcworld.com/pnrd) and Marine Blue (go. pcworld.com/mrbl). A Kindle Oasis Premium Leather cover is available for $65, and a Kindle Oasis Leather (go.pcworld.com/ltrs) cover is $50 in either Black (go.pcworld. com/ltbl) or Merlot (go.pcworld.com/ltml). The All-new Kindle Oasis comes in 8GB and 32GB models. Which one is best for you NOVEMBER 2019 PCWorld 75
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KINDLE OASIS
depends largely on whether your reading habits lean more toward e-books or storagesucking audiobooks. The latter will also deplete the Oasis’ battery faster, which Amazon says can last up to six weeks on a single charge under the most austere circumstances: reading only a half-hour per day with wireless and Bluetooth turned off and the light setting at 13 (out of 24). Your mileage will vary.
USAGE While Amazon has diligently made regular updates to its Kindle devices, the evolution of
the e-reader’s software has been much slower. That means if you’ve owned any Kindle in the last few years you won’t have any particular problem using the new Oasis right out of the box. Devices settings, Goodreads, and the book store are all parked where you’d expect them, in the top toolbar along with the Home and Back buttons. Text on the 300ppi display of the All-new Kindle Oasis is noticeably crisper than on either my 8th-generation or All-new Kindle, both of which top out at 167 ppi. It’s the closest I’ve seen an e-reader come to the experience of reading a printed text on paper.
The waterproof Oasis can be safely read in the bathtub and will even survive if you drop it in the water.
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Of course, you can customize the font, type size, line spacing, page margins, and more to your liking. Now that even the entry-level Kindle includes front lighting, the feature doesn’t seem so novel anymore, but it’s still a welcome inclusion for nocturnal readers. As with the warmth lighting, you can adjust it manually in the settings menu. I found it easier, though, to leave it to the device’s built-in light sensor to adjust it automatically based on the room’s ambient light. I usually found its level selection just right. Reading on the Oasis remains a luxurious affair. I’ve always found it a little awkward to hold the basic Kindle or Kindle Paperwhite. Holding with thumbs on their bezels inevitably results in errant page swipes, so I typically resort to cupping those devices by the edges. That solves the page-turning issue but makes my hands fatigue faster. The Oasis’s battery bump makes the perfect handle for cradling the device comfortably in one hand. From there you can easily manage the page-turn buttons with your thumb, which I find much more precise than fingerswiping the touchscreen. Its feather-light weight allowed me to read for hours without any physical discomfort. I’m not a bathtub reader, but in the interest of stress-testing the Oasis’ waterproof feature I submerged it in a bowl of water. Other than a few page turns, no doubt from the pressure of the water on the
touchscreen, the device showed no signs of malfunctioning. Again, odds are the Oasis won’t be subjected to that level of water exposure during real-world reading, but it can handle a few drops of rain or a splash in the pool.
BOTTOM LINE The All-new Oasis remains the ultimate Kindle. Its level of luxury is unparalleled in the e-reader category, and certainly no other reading device can match the range of content a Kindle can provide. Understandably, even the base-level Oasis won’t fit within everyone’s budget. For those folks, the scaled-down Kindle Paperwhite (go. pcworld.com/prwt) or All-new Kindle (go. pcworld.com/alnw) will let you take advantage of all the digital content Amazon has to offer at a fraction of the price.
Kindle Oasis PROS
• New color-adjustable front light lets you cool or warm the lighting. • Waterproof. • Light weight and sharp text makes it comfortable to read for hours. CONS
• Can only play audiobooks from Audible. • Expensive. BOTTOM LINE
The All-New Kindle Oasis is well-built and a pleasure to read on. It’s well-worth the expense for serious readers. $249
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U O Y Y WH TOP S N A R C O F G N I Y PA
WS O D WIN S ’ OFT R LY S E O M R S FOR ( MIC R) I Y E T D I N D UR EFE PAI D SEC H S WIT DOW R N A I P W AS N A H O C NOW S SU ON. N T O R I UT NO D SOL N EE A F A NEY N MC A W O M D H HAC D A N I E L K R Y A BY M R A T I O N B ILLU
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WHY YOU CAN STOP PAYING FOR AV SOFT WARE
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ou don’t need to pay for antivirus software anymore. Microsoft’s Windows Defender, a free service that’s built right into Windows 10, is now as good as the paid antivirus/antimalware solutions that have been collecting your money for years. There, we said it. Many PC users became accustomed to paying for antivirus software for two reasons: Good, free alternatives were scarce, and Microsoft offered minimal protection via Windows, ceding the category to Norton, Kaspersky, and a host of other third-party vendors. Windows’ first antimalware efforts were so abysmal that testing agencies like AV-comparatives.org and AV-test.org used Defender as the baseline (i.e., junk) level of performance. In December 2013, for example, AV-test.org tested how well 23 antivirus vendors blocked real-world malware samples using Windows 8.1. Microsoft finished dead last (go.pcworld.com/wn81). That was then. Over the intervening years, Microsoft started taking endpoint security seriously. In 2019, Microsoft’s own Windows Defender Antivirus, built right into Windows 10 for free, often outperforms paid services. (Windows now lumps Windows Defender Antivirus underneath what it calls Windows Security, which includes Windows Firewall and other tools.) It’s not perfect: The incidence of “false positives,” where legitimate apps are mistaken for malware, can be high. One test 80 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2019
also noted that it slowed down a low-end PC more than others do. You can decide for yourself: Are these “costs” more affordable than paying $60-plus per year? We still review the best antivirus apps (go. pcworld.com/ant1), and there are still some reasons why you’d want one, which we’ll get into later. But first let’s look at how far Windows Defender has come, and how well it could stand on its own as your primary antivirus package.
WHY YOU SHOULD USE WINDOWS DEFENDER TO PROTECT YOUR PC Two separate testing houses, AV-comparatives and AV-test, rank Windows Defender nearly at the top of the products both labs have tested. It’s important to note that antimalware testing is a time-intensive process. Even sites like AV-comparatives use automated tests that crawl the web and seek out malicious sites and URLs, trying to reproduce real-world scenarios that all of us would encounter in our daily work. One key point stood out: In AV-comparatives’ test (go.pcworld.com/ avct), Microsoft was one of the four vendors (out of a total of sixteen) that didn’t allow any malware to take over its test systems. Vendors whose PCs ended up compromised with malware included big names, such as McAfee and Symantec. (Malware and protection mechanisms are constantly evolving.
AV-comparatives ran its tests from February through May, 2019, to demonstrate the “average” level of protection over time.) Above is a snapshot of AV-comparatives’ findings. To be fair, the AV-comparatives test showed a few weaknesses with Windows Defender. The tests revealed three “userdependent” test cases, where Defender didn’t immediately identify the malware, and asked the user for permission to install the file. That’s not ideal—users would probably be inclined to allow the malware onto the system. Windows Defender was also unusually heavy-handed with false positives, blocking a massive 74 legitimate apps and services. (This is an instance where your own experience can serve as a sounding board. Think back: Has Windows 10’s Windows Defender blocked an app you knew to be legitimate?)
For its part, AV-test ranked Windows Defender as a Top Product in its June 2019 antivirus group test (go.pcworld.com/jn19). Defender caught every piece of malware the agency threw at it, including every “zero-day” sample that reproduced real-world testing, with zero false positives. AV-test ranked Defender six out of six for the group test, scores that Defender has been at or near for AV-test’s April roundup (go.pcworld.com/ ap19), the February roundup (go.pcworld. com/fb19), and December 2018 (go. pcworld.com/de18) and October 2018 tests (go.pcworld.com/oc18), too. Overleaf is a snapshot of the AV-test June 2019 roundup. It’s important to reiterate that Defender scored highly (with a perfect score in the June update) in terms of zero-day attacks. Historically, that was one of the knocks against Defender: Microsoft couldn’t react NOVEMBER 2019 PCWorld 81
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quickly and effectively enough to combat new, emerging attacks. Defender’s repeated success in third-party tests proves that Microsoft has overcome these obstacles. AV-test also ranked Defender above the industry average in terms of performance, such as installing apps and copying files, a significant improvement on AV-comparatives’ own test from April, where Defender performed poorly (go.pcworld.com/19ap) in those same comparisons. The UK’s SELabs is yet a third source of antimalware testing, and it, too, ranked Defender at the top of its list of antimalware solutions. The report (available only via a downloadable PDF [go.pcworld.com/dpdf]) gave Defender a perfect 100-percent accuracy rating. Of the top antivirus testing agencies, Defender scored three out of three. Multiple test results make the case that Windows Defender is good enough to protect your PC from viruses and malware. Of course, you should always practice safe Internet practices, such as not clicking on unknown links and attachments, and not wandering through the dark corners of the web. And don’t forget, Windows Sandbox (go.pcworld.com/sbox; added to Windows 10 Pro machines as part of the May 2019 Update [go.pcworld.com/ m19u]) allows you that extra protection in case you do want to explore a risky site or app. 82 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2019
GREAT FREE ANTIVIRUS OPTIONS CAN BE ADDED TO DEFENDER OK, maybe you’re still not convinced. If you want an extra layer of antimalware protection, Defender makes that easier, too. Historically, running two antivirus programs was considered a bad idea, because of potential conflicts. Windows 10 allows you to run whatever antimalware
(go.pcworld. com/avtt) and AV-comparatives (go.pcworld. com/avct), though both tested the paid versions. (To our knowledge, there is no difference between the paid and free versions in terms of anti-malware There’s a number of free antivirus solutions from which to choose, though protection.) BitDefender is a preferred choice. (Note that this screen has been taken from the paid security suite.) Again, we’d rate Windows program you choose, and optionally leave Defender as sufficient protection for everyday Defender in place to periodically check for use, with Windows’ ability to layer on threats as a secondary measure. (Go to additional antimalware capabilities as a Settings > Update & Security > Windows security blanket. Security, then click on Virus And Threat WHO SHOULD BUY A PAID Protection. Scroll down to Windows ANTIVIRUS PRODUCT Defender Antivirus options and make sure The reason you may still want a paid antivirus periodic scanning is toggled on.) and antimalware solution is if you want more Here you have a wealth of free antivirus services, tied up in a neat package. The options, from AVG to Avast to Avira and many leaders have moved beyond traditional more. BitDefender Internet Security’s free protections, offering related services such as option (go.pcworld.com/btdf), however, is so effective and unobtrusive that you’ll forget VPNs, credit monitoring and protection, and that it’s there—which, really, is what you want online vaults for your passwords and other in an antivirus program that guards your PC. critical documents. It, too, is rated as a top product by AV-test While some attackers simply want to NOVEMBER 2019 PCWorld 83
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WHY YOU CAN STOP PAYING FOR AV SOFT WARE
crash your system, remember that there’s far more money to be made in attacks like ransomware (go.pcworld. com/rnsm), which encrypt your PC and then demand that you pay for the Established antivirus/antimalware products from McAfee, Symantec, and others decryption have branched out to offer VPNs, password vaults, and other security services. key. Both for example. Subscribe to LifeLock or a Malwarebytes and BitDefender, among credit-monitoring service. Google Chrome others, have developed free antiand other browsers will manage your ransomware solutions, which again provide passwords, or you can pick from a list of the a free alternative. best password managers (go.pcworld. Windows has its own free protections that com/pswd). What paid antimalware suites help stop ransomware (go.pcworld.com/ prtt), including Windows Defender as well as offer are vetted services, all rolled up into a protected folders that can be locked down neat, manageable package, as well as and secured. Nothing’s perfect, and no one peace of mind. can say for sure that a new attack won’t be That convenience comes with a price, able to break Windows’ protections. But that however, one that will hit your wallet every year argument applies to paid services as well. as part of a recurring subscription. If you want Alternatively, you can roll your own to keep paying for these kinds of services, a-la-carte security suite, building on top of that’s fine. But if you’re looking for a way to Windows’ own antimalware service. Seek save money, cutting out your existing paid out your preferred VPN provider from our antivirus subscription in favor of Windows list of best VPNs (go.pcworld.com/vprv), Defender is worth a good, hard look. 84 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2019
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iPHONE 11 NIGHT MODE VS PIXEL 3 XL, GALAXY S10+ & ONEPLUS 6T CATCHING UP AND DOMINATING ONCE AGAIN, APPLE ARRIVES LATE AND STEALS THE SHOW. BY MICHAEL SIMON
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IMAGE: APPLE
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Night Mode on the iPhone 11 is quicker to get to, easier to use, and offers more controls than its peers.
N
ow that Apple’s finally debuted Night Mode for the iPhone 11, it’s time to compare it to the Android competition. It was just about a year ago when Google launched its innovative Night Sight mode to critical acclaim. With the ability to turn unusable low-light scenes into spectacular, backlit, frame-worthy photos, Night Sight was the prime example of just how far ahead Google was when it came to photography. Since Night Sight’s launch, Samsung, OnePlus, Huawei, and LG have all developed low-light modes for their cameras. Keep 88 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2019
reading as we take a close look at how Apple’s new low-light camera stacks up against the best Android has to offer.
THE INTERFACE While the iPhone bakes night mode into the camera like the other phones, the implementation is a little different. The Galaxy S10, Pixel 3 XL, and OnePlus all require swiping to a separate mode, but they can be used whenever you’d like. The iPhone’s Night Mode, on the other hand, is available only when there is insufficient light. The option appears as a half-moon icon in the upper right
All four cameras were able to lighten up a very dark scene, but the iPhone 11 (lower left) was the only one that preserved the natural color and detail of the subjects.
corner next to the flash, and can be toggled off and on with a tap.
THE SHOOTING Night Mode looks the same as any other mode on your phone’s camera app, but it handles shooting much differently. Because
Night Mode bumps the exposure and slows down the shutter speed, the processing time is increased. So while you can tap the shutter and instantly take a regular photo, you’ll need a second or three to take a night photo. On the Pixel, you’ll see a countdown indicator in the center of the screen that tells you to hold your phone still while it processes, while the S10 and OnePlus 6T merely tell you to hold still without telling you how long. They all take an extra second or two to optimize the image, which prevents you from taking another photo until it’s done. The iPhone puts the countdown timer at the bottom of the screen so it doesn’t NOVEMBER 2019 PCWorld 89
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interfere with what you’re shooting. It also differs in the control you have over how slowly it shoots. The camera app tells you exactly how long the processing will be—generally one or two seconds, depending on the available light—so you know ahead of time how long you need to keep your hand still. It’s a mystery with the other phones. The iPhone process was also quicker than the rest of the pack on average because it optimizes as it processes, eliminating the extra step. You can manually adjust the processing time up to 10 seconds to enhance the image further. Plus you can actually see what’s happening in your shot as it processes, a rarity for processing-heavy modes. None of the other night modes offers nearly as much transparency or control, and it shows how
much thought and detail Apple has put into its system. Apple may be playing catchup, but Night Mode doesn’t feel rushed or duplicative. It’s unique, intuitive, and even a little innovative, and people will enjoy using it more than they would the others here.
THE RESULTS But how you shoot doesn’t mean nearly as much as what you shoot. I’m simply blown away by what Apple has accomplished with Night Mode on the iPhone 11. When I first tried Night Sight on the Pixel 3 last October, I couldn’t believe what Google was able to do with its AI and processing. In no uncertain terms, Apple’s Night Mode makes Night Sight look amateurish. I tested the four cameras in various settings.
With barely any light the iPhone 11 (left) produced an image with remarkably more color and detail than the Pixel 3 XL (second from left), Galaxy S10+ (second from right), and OnePlus 6T (right).
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The Pixel 3 XL (top right) beats the iPhone 11 (top left) on this shot of a ride in motion, but even the iPhone 11 at its worst is still better than the Galaxy S10+ (bottom left) and OnePlus 6T (bottom right).
The iPhone 11 consistently delivered sharp, detailed shots that didn’t look washed-out or unnatural. In a couple of my nighttime sky shots, it even captured a couple of stars that I could barely see with my eyes, which straight up blew my mind. It didn’t always win, but it was the most consistent (other than the OnePlus 6T, which was consistently the worst). Apple’s behind-the-scenes AI also understands nuance. Even in shots where the cameras all performed well, the iPhone’s shots looked more natural and less
exposed, due to the system’s ability to understand what’s being shot. Shadows and highlights remained even as the scene was brightened, and colors were as rich as they would be in full light. The iPhone consistently performed at least as well as the NOVEMBER 2019 PCWorld 91
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Pixel, and it often trounced it. Take the shot of the framed photograph on the previous page, taken in a room with very little light. The S10+ struggles mightily to make out shapes and colors. The Pixel 3 pulls out an impressive level of detail. But the iPhone 11’s shot looks like it was taken with the lights on. The texture of the frame is visible, the colors are sharp and accurate, and my reflection on the glass is captured as part of the scene. If you zoom in, you can even read some of the words. In the carnival shots, you can also see Apple’s processing prowess in action. There’s some slight blurriness in the shots of moving
rides, but the end result looks more like a stationary picture than a moving one. The Google Pixel actually gets the edge here, due to its excellent detail and the slight light trailing in the iPhone 11 photo. But when the same ride was stationary, the iPhone 11 was incredibly impressive, even managing to capture a star while enhancing the sky’s twilight hue. Of course, Google’s Pixel 4 (go.pcworld. com/pxl4) is right around the corner and will surely improve on Night Sight. But at the moment, Apple’s Night Mode is the one to beat. In one fell swoop, Apple went from the sidelines to stardom, and every other phone maker should take notice.
While the Pixel 3 XL (center) and Galaxy S10+ (right) all performed well, the iPhone 11 (left) enhanced the ride and the sky behind it without losing a sense of reality.
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Here’s How
HOW TO BUILD, MAINTAIN, AND FIX YOUR TECH GEAR
Android 10: Ten essential tips for overlooked features The latest version of Android is packed with new features, but some are quite subtle, so let’s point them out. BY RYAN WHITWAM
A
ndroid 10, previously known as Android Q, has finally started rolling out after months of beta testing. The Android of today is much more feature-rich than it was in the past, and that means some genuinely useful features could escape your notice. No one
IMAGE: RYAN WHITWAM
wants that, so here are 10 tips to get the most out of the latest version of Android.
1. USE THE NEW GESTURE NAVIGATION LIKE A PRO Google has a new gesture navigation system in Android 10, and it can be much better NOVEMBER 2019 PCWorld 95
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than the 2-button gesture setup from Android Pie, as long as you know how to use it. As this is a full gesture setup similar to the iPhone, some of the intricacies are unclear. In addition to swiping up on 2. the gesture area to go home, you can swipe left and right to quickly cycle between recent apps. The back gesture has gotten a lot of attention because of the way it interferes with opening navigation drawers on the edge of the screen, but there’s a simple way to avoid accidentally triggering the back gesture. Just drag in and down toward the opposite corner of the screen. As long as you’re far enough away from a horizontal swipe, the back gesture won’t fire, and you can open the drawer every time.
2. SAVE YOUR EYES WITH DARK THEME Google has teased us with dark mode options in previous beta versions of Android, but Android Q is the first one that stuck. The final version of Android 10 96 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2019
includes a Dark Theme system UI, and there are already some apps that will respect your dark mode setting. To turn on dark mode, open the quick settings and just tap the Dark Theme icon. You can also find it under Settings > Display > Dark Theme. Sadly, there’s no way to automatically schedule the Dark Theme like there is on Samsung’s phones, but the quick setting is easy enough.
3. SHARE YOUR WI-FI VIA QR CODES Sharing your Wi-Fi password with guests is the polite thing to do, but you should be using a strong password that’s probably annoying to read off. Android 10 makes it easier with QR code sharing. To get someone on your network, go to the Wi-Fi
3.
settings, and tap on the settings gear next to your network. Tap the Share button, verify your fingerprint, and your phone generates a QR code. To join via a QR code on another Android 10 phone, tap the QR icon next to Add Network on the main Wi-Fi network list. Point your camera at the QR code, and you’re connected.
contained an address or web link, Smart Reply can offer to open those instantly, too. Be on the lookout for these new bubbles when you get a message.
4. SMARTER SMART REPLY Google’s Smart Reply system is getting even smarter in Android 10. Instead of simply suggesting text replies, Smart Reply can offer to send emoji. If the message
4.
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where you can choose between several different accent colors and icon shapes.
6. GET MORE DONE WITH FOCUS MODE
5.
5. CHANGE THE HIDDEN THEMING OPTIONS Google is working toward proper theme support in Android little by little, but there’s already some basic theme control if you know where to look. First, you’ll need to activate developer options. Go to Settings > About Phone and tap on Build Number seven times. Then open the developer options menu under System > Advanced. Scroll all the way down to the bottom, and you’ll find the 6. Theming section 98 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2019
Smartphones are made to be engaging, but sometimes you just need to get some work done. Google added Digital Wellbeing in Android Pie, and Android 10 takes it a step further with Focus Mode. This feature lets you disable apps you use too much, helping you focus. You can find Focus Mode under Settings > Digital Wellbeing > Focus Mode. Simply
the gear in the notification long-press menu to access more features like disabling the pop-over alert and setting silent or alerting for different notification channels within an app.
8. USE THE NEW FILES APP 7.
select the apps you find distracting, and turn on Focus Mode. Make sure you add the quick settings so you can quickly turn Focus Mode on and off.
7. SILENT AND ALERTING NOTIFICATIONS Google has struggled with how to make notifications more configurable without making the process hopelessly confusing. The process is now much simpler in Android 10. You can long-press on any notification to get options for Alerting and Silent. Just flip an app over to silence it if it’s bothering you too 8. much. You can tap
Google’s Files app in Android Pie was not really worth using, but it beefed up the experience considerably in Android 10. You can access the app via Settings > Storage > Files, and there’s also a Files icon in the app list. The new Google Files app shows the full folder hierarchy on your internal storage with multiple view options. There are also shortcuts to find all images, audio, videos, and more. You can even have more than one copy of the Files app open at a time by using the New Window command in the overflow menu.
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for your peace of mind, but the ads you see won’t be as relevant to your interests.
10. RESTRICT LOCATION PERMISSIONS
9.
9. OPT OUT OF AD TARGETING Google has long offered a way to opt out of ad-targeting on Android, but the feature was buried deep in your account settings. Android 10 puts it in a much more accessible location. Check Settings > Privacy > Advanced > Ads to find the Opt Out toggle. If you flip the switch, your activity won’t feed into Google’s ad algorithms. 10. That’s good 100 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2019
Android 10 has a whole new menu for monitoring how apps use your location under Settings > Location. There, you can see the apps that most recently grabbed your location, allowing you to block anything you don’t trust. Under the App Permission submenu, you can change the way apps access your location as well. You now have the option of allowing location access all the time or only when the app is open.
How to collaborate on Microsoft Office files in G Suite Share, edit, review, and revise Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files in Google’s business Suite. BY MICHAEL ANSALDO
O
ne of the hallmarks of collaborating in G Suite is the ability to edit Docs, Sheets, and Slide files simultaneously with other collaborators and see the changes in real time. Now you can do the same with Microsoft Office files without having to convert them to the corresponding G Suite format. Here’s how to get started.
SHARING OFFICE FILES The first step to collaborating in G Suite is
sharing a file with your collaborators. That starts with adding the file to Google Drive. Go to drive.google.com and log in if necessary. On the top left, click New > File Upload. Select the Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file you want to add and click Open to upload it. Next, right-click the file and select Share. In the field that opens, enter the email addresses of your collaborators, then click the pencil icon to the right. Select Can Edit from the drop-down menu, which will allow NOVEMBER 2019 PCWorld 101
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them to add and edit content as well as add comments. Add a message to the Note field and make sure the Notify people box is checked. Then hit Send. The recipient will receive an email with a direct link to the file.
HOW TO EDIT MICROSOFT OFFICE FILES IN G SUITE The process for editing Office files in G Suite lets you suggest edits in Microsoft Word files before G Suite is virtually the same as with making the changes final. any of Google’s native formats. First, go to your Google Drive folder and doublefiles only, you can also propose edits without click a Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file. This making any changes to the original text. will open a preview. At the top, click Open To do this, select Suggesting mode from in Google Docs/Sheets/Slides. The file will the drop-down menu on the top right of the open and you’ll see a .docx, .xlsx, or .pptx toolbar. To suggest an edit, type the proposed file extension next to the filename on the top change where you think it should go in the left of the screen to indicate you’re viewing it document. This suggested text is displayed in in Microsoft Office format. a new color, and the text you mark to delete or Once you start editing a document, spreadsheet, or slide, any changes to the content will be saved to the original Microsoft Office file and be instantly viewable by all other collaborators. However, in Word G Suite lets you suggest edits in Word files before making the changes final. 102 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2019
replace will appear crossed out. The document’s owner will get an email alerting them to the suggested edits. When they click on an edit, they’ll be You can assign comments as tasks for specific people by entering their email address. given the option to their email address. accept or reject it. If it’s accepted, the change Once a comment has been addressed, will be made to the original file. the person can hit the Resolve button in the comment box to hide it from view. They can ADDING COMMENTS Whether you’re working on documents with also reply directly to comments within the your collaborators simultaneously or comment box. separately, you can communicate using FINDING SUGGESTED Comments. To add a comment to any Office CONTENT file, click the speech bubble icon in the top When you’re editing a Microsoft Word file in G right of the screen and select Add Comment. Suite, you can use the Explore panel to search Click the text, cell, or section you want to the web and your own Google Drive files for comment on, enter your comment in the box information and images related to the current that opens, and click the Comment button. document. With your Word file open in You can direct your comments to one or Google Docs, click the Explore icon in the more specific people by entering a plus sign lower right corner, and any available relevant followed by their email address with the files and web content will appear in the Explore comment. Each person will receive an email panel on the right. You can also do targeted with your comment and a link to the file. If searches of the web and your files using the you want to assign the comment as a task to search window at the top of the panel. someone, check the Assign To box next to NOVEMBER 2019 PCWorld 103
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G Suite’s Explore pane helps you search for relevant content without leaving the document.
REVIEWING CHANGES
panel. Choose a version to see who edited the file and what changes they made. To restore an earlier version of a file, select the version and click Restore This Version > Restore.
G Suite keeps track of all the changes made to a document going back to its original iteration. It’s easy to review changes, grab text from a previous version to add to a newer one, or revert back to an older version altogether. If you have editing permissions for a document, spreadsheet, or slide, you can compare earlier versions of the file by going to File > Version History > See Version History. All versions of that You can review changes and revert to older file versions using G Suite’s Version History tool. file will appear in the right 104 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2019
Ask a PC expert: Should you buy a used graphics card? We answer a common question from our Full Nerd community! BY BRAD CHACOS
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CWorld CPU whisperer Gordon Mah Ung says it’s (mostly) safe to buy a used CPU (go.pcworld. com/most). But is it safe to buy a used graphics card? Lots of people swear by it, but GPU expert Brad Chacos isn’t so bullish. Graphics cards have a lot more moving parts than static CPUs, and it’s easy to overclock the snot out of them. It all boils down to the risk-to-reward ratio. Brad explains why he typically isn’t interested in used graphics cards, what to look out for if you are
shopping for a used graphics card, warranty concerns, and the price-to-performance differences between used and new GPUs. Check it out in the video below, and hit up our guide to the best graphics cards for PC gaming (go.pcworld.com/4kgr) if you want to invest in something fresh out of the box after watching.
VIDEO: SHOULD YOU BUY A USED GRAPHICS CARD Watch now at go.pcworld.com/buy
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How to install a smart switch Installing a smart switch is an easy project that anyone can tackle. BY DAN MASAOKA
T
he process of installing a smart switch is no different than replacing any other type of electrical switch in your home. You’ll want to take the proper precautions (we’ll help you with that, too), but you don’t need to hire an electrician, and you won’t need any special tools. You can do the job with a screwdriver and a pair of pliers or wire cutters. A non-contact voltage tester (go. pcworld.com/vtst) is handy if you want to be extra safe, and you can buy one of those for 106 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2019
less than $15 on Amazon. There are many types of smart switches, and while this story isn’t intended to help you decide which smart switch is best for your needs, it will guide you through the process of installing any one of them. That’s because they’re all essentially the same in terms of their wiring. There are a few important distinctions you’ll want to keep in mind. First and foremost, an on/off switch will do just that: In one position, it will send electricity to the IMAGE: DAN MASAOKA
socket your light bulb is screwed into, turning it on. In the other position, it will stop electricity from flowing to that socket, turning the bulb off. A dimmer switch can also Single-pole switches are the easiest to replace, since only one switch vary the amount of controls the circuit. In a three- or four-way circuit, more than one switch can turn the bulb on and off. electricity flowing to the socket, so that you can brighten or dim the light bulb as well as turn three- or four-way circuit, you’ll typically it on or off. need to replace the other switch or switches If you want to change the color of your on that circuit with companion switches from lighting, you’ll need a smart bulb, not a the same company that made the smart smart switch. Unfortunately, smart dimmer swtich you’re installing. (The latest Wemo switches and smart bulbs typically don’t WiFi Smart Light Switch 3-Way [go.pcworld. com/wemo] is an exception to that rule, and work together. That’s because smart bulbs it can also be used in a single-pole are equipped with radios that depend on a installation. It cannot, however, dim a light.) steady supply of electricity to operate, and a In this how-to, we’ll replace a single-pole dimmer varies the amount of electricity switch with a C by GE Start Smart Switch flowing to the bulb. Motion Sensing+Dimmer (go.pcworld.com/ DO YOU NEED A SINGLE cstt), but the process isn’t radically different POLE SWITCH OR 3-WAY? for a multi-way circuit. (And if you don’t need Next, you’ll need to determine if you need a all the features this dimmer offers, GE single-pole or a three-way switch. If only one Lighting offers four simpler and lessswitch controls the flow of electricity to that expensive alternatives [go.pcworld.com/ bulb you want to control, you have a singlegeli].) The first step—and the most important—is to identify which circuit pole switch. If two switches can control breaker controls the electricity flowing to it—for example, switches on opposite sides that switch and to turn it off. of the room—you have a three-way switch (if The next step is to remove the cover more than two switches control the same plate so you can access the switch itself. light, it’s described as a four-way circuit.) Waving a non-contact voltage tester inside If you’re replacing a dumb switch on a NOVEMBER 2019 PCWorld 107
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the junction box is the best way to confirm ground wire will prevent you from getting that electricity is not flowing to the switch. shocked if there’s a short circuit. The battery-powered tool should beep and If your home lacks a ground wire, you light up if it detects current. If there’s more might not be able to install a smart switch, than one switch in the box, make sure they although there are various workarounds that also don’t have electricity flowing to them. we won’t get into here. If your home lacks a Once you’ve confirmed that the power is neutral wire, you might consider installing a off, remove the screws holding the switch to Lutron Caséta smart dimmer (go.pcworld. com/ltrn), as it does not require a neutral the junction box and pull it out so you can wire to operate. access the electrical wires. Most smart switches require four wires to operate, INSTALLING A including a “neutral” wire which should be SMART SWITCH colored white or gray. The neutral wire Now that you’ve determined your home’s carries power back to the circuit breaker wiring situation and purchased a smart panel to complete the circuit, so despite its switch or dimmer, you’re ready to install it. innocuous-sounding name, an electrified Once again, make sure you’ve turned off the neutral can shock you if current is flowing power to the switch. It’s always a good idea through it. If your wiring doesn’t include a to double-check that the power to the neutral wire, your choice of smart switch will switch is still off using the voltage tester. be limited (more on that in a bit). Disconnect your old switch from your The “line” wire that carries power from home’s wiring. You might need to snip and the breaker panel to the switch will strip off about a half inch of the wire sheath customarily be colored black, red, or blue. to expose the copper wire underneath. You The “load” wire carries electricity to the socket (and by extension, to the bulb) and will typically be colored white or gray, like the line wire. The final wire, protective ground, will be either a bare Disconnect your old switch from your home’s wiring. The C by GE smart wire or a wire in a switch we’re installing uses pigtail wires; other switches have screw terminals and still others rely on backstabs. green jacket. The 108 PCWorld NOVEMBER 2019
can use the wire snippers or a dedicated tool for this step. Smart switch manufacturers use different wiring techniques. Some have screw terminals that you bend the If your smart switch has pigtails, like the one in our example, twist the like wire emerging from wires together (neutral to neutral, load to load, and so on) and secure each of them with a wire nut. your wall around, others have pigtail wires that you bind to your home’s wiring removed from the existing switch. Now using wire nuts, and still others have replace the cover plate. Note: It’s best backstabs that you push your home’s (solid) practice to use plastic cover plates with wires into. smart switches. Metal plates are pretty, but The C by GE switch we’re installing in this they can block the signals the smart switch’s example uses pigtails, so twist each of the radio depends on to operate. line, load, neutral, and ground wires to the Finally, go to your breaker panel and matching wires emerging from the junction restore power to the switch. box, using a wire nut to hold them together. Flip the switch to ensure it properly If you’ve installed a switch that doesn’t controls the fixture. Don’t panic if the light require a neutral wire (such as the Lutron bulb doesn’t turn on, there’s always a chance Caséta mentioned earlier), put a wire nut on that the bulb is burned out even if it was the end of that neutral wire coming out of working before you changed switches. To the wall, making sure that none of the bare verify that it’s still operational, screw it into a copper wire remains exposed (you can snip fixture you know is working and check that off the excess, or wrap the wire and the wire before you do anything else. nut in electrical tape). Finally, once you have the switch working Push the excess lengths of wire back into correctly, install the mobile app you’ll need the junction box, and then do the same with to control it from your smartphone or tablet. the switch and secure it to the box with Congratulations! You’ve just replaced a either the provided screws or the screws you dumb switch with a smart one. NOVEMBER 2019 PCWorld 109