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samedi 3 septembre 2022

These are the Best Bands, Cases, and Screen Protectors for the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5

Samsung’s new Galaxy Watch 5 series brings a lot of improvements over the last year’s models to improve the overall user experience. The Galaxy Watch 5 checks a lot of the right boxes to become what is arguably the best Wear OS smartwatch on the market right now. But as seen in our Galaxy Watch 5 unboxing, the new smartwatch doesn’t come with a lot of goodies inside the retail box. In fact, Samsung doesn’t even provide additional bands for it, which is why we decided to round up some of the best bands and some other accessories you can buy for your Galaxy Watch 5. So here are the best bands, cases, and screen protectors you can buy for the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 in 2022.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 — Band Size: All 20mm straps are compatible

Both variants of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 use 20mm straps. So the list of bands mentioned in this article will work for both 40mm and 44mm Galaxy Watch 5 models. Notably, all of your favorite watch bands that you may have picked up for the Galaxy Watch 4 series watches will also work with the new models.

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Best Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 bands

We’ve split the bands into different categories based on the material and styling to make it easier for you to find the right one. Be sure to look around and explore various options to find the best band that suits your style.

Simple Silicone and Rubber Bands

Let’s take a quick look at some of the simple silicone and rubber watch bands for the Galaxy Watch 5. These bands are perfect for everyday use and workouts.

    Galaxy Watch Sport band

    Official sport band from Samsung

    The official Galaxy Watch Sports band from Samsung is perfect for those who want to buy a simple-looking band for their watch as a backup band. As an official watch band from Samsung, it tends to be on the pricey side, but we think it's well worth the asking price in terms of the overall quality.
    Galaxy Watch Extreme Sport band

    For those with an active lifestyle

    The Galaxy Watch Extreme sports band, as you can see, comes with a double-toothed design for a more secure fit. This is perfect for those with an extremely active lifestyle. It's available in both small/medium and medium/large sizes, and you also get to choose between a bunch of colors.
    Yeejok silicone band

    Affordable silicone band

    The Yeejok silicone band for the Galaxy Watch 5 and the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is a great option to consider if you don't want to spend a lot of money on a replacement band. These are available in a bunch of different colors and the reviews suggest they offer a comfortable fit at a relatively affordable price.
    Wristology 20mm rubber band

    Simple and comfortable

    The Wristology rubber strap is perfect for everyday use. This particular strap is available in a bunch of different colors. It looks like a traditional strap and is very easy to use.
    Double color silicon strap

    Dual-tone finish

    These straps for the Galaxy Watch 5, as you can see, have a dual-tone finish for a trendy look. You get two straps with each purchase, one of which also looks like the Nike band that you can get with the Apple Watch. These straps are available in a bunch of different colors to choose from, so be sure to look around.
    20mm Wide band

    Extra wrist support

    If you're looking to buy a strap for your Galaxy Watch 5 or the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro with some additional wrist support, then this one is for you. This strap, as you can see, is wider than usual and it also adds a very unique look to the watch on your wrist.

Leather Bands

Leather bands are perfect for those who like to rock a sophisticated look with their watch. They may not be ideal for everyday use or workouts, but they give a classy look for professional purposes.

    Classic brown leather strap

    Leather strap with stitches

    This classic brown strap fits the perfect textbook description of a sophisticated leather strap. It also has white-colored stitches around the edges to make it look better than it already does.
    Black leather strap

    Stealthy black look

    If you want to switch things up and go for a different look, then consider picking up this black leather strap along with the brown one. This elegant strap looks clean and stealthy with matching black-colored stitches.
    GEAK Slim strap

    Slim leather strap

    If you're tired of wearing the bulky leather straps and are looking to pick up something slim, then the GEAK slim leather bands are worth considering. This band, as you can see, is significantly slimmer than the traditional ones, and it also comes with a stainless steel buckle for a classy look.

Metallic bands

If you like pairing your smartwatch with a metallic band then we’ve got some solid options for you:

    Milanese loop

    Classy and formal look

    The metallic Milanese loop bands are extremely popular, so we think these are definitely worth picking up for your Galaxy watch 5. On top of giving a classy and formal look, the Milanese loop bands are also very easy to work with.
    Spigen metallic band

    Premium looks

    If you want a premium-looking strap, especially in black color, then the Spigen metallic strap is a good option to consider. You can also get it in gold and silver finishes if a black-colored metallic strap doesn't suit your style.
    Metal band with diamonds

    Perfect match for jewelry

    This rose gold metallic band for the Galaxy Watch 5 and the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, as you can see, comes with studded diamonds. You can also get the metallic band in black, silver, and bright gold finishes.

Best Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 cases

Cases are great for adding some protection, especially if you want to avoid scuffing the metallic body, while also changing the look and feel of your watch. There’s no shortage of cases to choose from, but we’ve rounded up some of the best ones for your Galaxy Watch 5 below:

Best Galaxy Watch 5 cases

Note: The cases mentioned below are available in both 40mm and 44mm sizes, so be sure to pick the one that fits your watch size.

    SUPCASE UB Pro case

    Rugged protection

    The SUPCASE UB Pro is already one of our favorite cases here at XDA that we recommend for a lot of smartphones. It's a solid option to consider because it adds an additional layer of protection for those who have an active lifestyle. You can add a screen protector along with this for all-round protection for your new smartwatch.

    Promoted

    Caseology Vault

    Rugged protection

    The Caseology Vault is a great option to consider if you want a case that offers all-around protection. This case has precise cutouts for all the buttons, but it's only available in matte black color, so keep that in mind.
    Ringke Slim case

    Slim Silicone case

    The Ringke Slim case is available to purchase in a bunch of different finishes, all of which offer a slim fit for your watch. This case comes with precise cutouts for all the buttons, and adds a basic layer of protection without adding too much bulk.
    Spigen Liquid Air Armor
    The Spigen Liquid Air Armor is also a popular pick among those who want to add a decent amount of protection to their Galaxy Watch 5 series watch. One of the best things about this particular case is that it comes with raised bezels to protect the display from accidental bumps.

Best Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 screen protectors

Even though the Galaxy Watch 5 series comes with sapphire crystal on the display (that should make it more difficult to accidentally scratch), it still can be scratched. Buying a screen protector is a must if you want to add complete protection to your smartwatch, as you can just swap out the screen protector after a few months. A lot of manufacturers have made screen protectors for the Galaxy Watch 5 series, but these are the ones that we think are worth considering:

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 screen protectors

Note: The screen protectors mentioned below are available for both 40mm and 44mm sizes of the Galaxy Watch 5, so be sure to pick the right one by clicking the appropriate links.

    Spigen Tempered glass screen protector

    Tempered glass protection

    The Spigen Tempered glass screen protector is once again our top recommendation for the Galaxy Watch 5. This one's available for both 40mm as well as the 44mm variant of the watch, and they both come with an installation kit for easy installation.
    Kimilar tempered glass screen protector

    Alternate best screen protector

    The Kimilar screen protectors offer good protection for your Galaxy Watch 5 for a decent price. One of the best things about this particular screen protector is that you get both wet and dry wipes along with a suction cup to install the tempered glass screen protector.
    Case and screen protector combo

    Affordable combo

    This affordable case and screen protector combo is a great way to protect your Galaxy Watch 5 smartwatch at a relatively low price. Each pack comes with five different colored cases, so you can switch things up based on your attire of the day.

Closing Thoughts

Well, that brings us to the conclusion of this particular collection. From good quality straps to high-end cases and screen protectors, we’ve added pretty everything you’d need to style and protect your Galaxy Watch 5 smartwatch. We’ll continue to keep an eye on the market to see if we can add more options to this collection. In the meantime, let us know which strap, case, or screen protector are you planning to buy for your Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 by dropping a line in the comments below.

    Samsung Galaxy Watch 5
    The new Galaxy Watch 5 offers a modest improvement over the last year's Galaxy Watch 4 to improve the overall user experience.

Samsung also announced its new foldable devices alongside the Galaxy Watch 5 series smartwatch. You can read our Galaxy Z Fold 4 review and Galaxy Z Flip 4 review to learn more about these smartphones in detail.

The post These are the Best Bands, Cases, and Screen Protectors for the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 appeared first on XDA.



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Lenovo ThinkPad X13s review: Windows on Arm takes a big step forward, but it’s not enough

I’m always a fan of Windows on Arm, and the Lenovo ThinkPad X13s is the best WoA laptop that’s ever been produced. Gone are the days of supposedly premium Windows on Arm laptops that have 4GB RAM and 128GB of flash storage. The ThinkPad X13s comes with a Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3, 16GB RAM, and a 512GB SSD. This isn’t for kids anymore.

It all comes in a 2.35-pound chassis, which is just a delight to carry around. On top of that, it has integrated cellular connectivity, so it’s just a delightful machine to take on-the-go.

There are some issues though. For one thing, Windows on Arm still isn’t there. The Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 is absolutely powerful enough to run Photoshop, but thanks to shortcomings from Adobe, the experience is absolutely terrible, despite the app running natively. Also, any browser aside from Microsoft Edge and Mozilla Firefox won’t run natively, which is frustrating. Microsoft doesn’t even have a native Xbox app, just in case you were thinking of using this as a thin client for some cloud gaming. It’s all a bit frustrating after nearly six years since Windows on Arm was announced.

    Lenovo ThinkPad X13s
    The Lenovo ThinkPad X13s is the most powerful Windows on Arm PC to date, weighing just 2.35 pounds and packing perks like 5G.

      Features:

      Pros:

      Cons:

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Lenovo ThinkPad X13s pricing and availability

  • The Lenovo ThinkPad X13s currently starts at $1,301.40 on Lenovo.com
  • It’s also available from carriers like Verizon and AT&T, and retailers like CDW

The Lenovo ThinkPad X13s has been available for a little while now in some configurations on Lenovo.com, but it’s now starting to become more broadly available, showing up with carriers like Verizon and AT&T, which sell a 16GB RAM / 512GB storage model for $1,449.99 or $1,550, respectively, although AT&T is also offering it for $1,399 if you agree to a two-year service agreement.

Beyond carrier availability, it gets a little trickier. When it comes to any business laptop, there are different channels that you can get it through, and the price will vary based on the channel and based on how many you buy. It’s on Lenovo.com, of course, where it currently starts at $1,085.40. That model comes with a Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3, 8GB RAM, and a 256GB SSD, but it’s Wi-Fi only. The cellular tax isn’t much though, because the model that Lenovo sent me costs $1,385.40, including 16GB RAM and a 512GB SSD. It’s about $84 more than the same model without 5G.

Note that the price fluctuates on Lenovo.com. There’s always some deal or another, and ThinkPads seem to be priced high to begin with, just to compensate for that. As it stands right now, those are the prices.

Lenovo ThinkPad X13s specs

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3
Graphics Qualcomm Adreno 690
Display 13.3” WUXGA (1920 x 1200) IPS Anti-glare 16:10, 300 nits, 1500:1 Contrast, 100% sRGB
Body 298.7 x 206.4 x 13.4 mm (11.76 x 8.13x 0.53 inches)
Starting at: 1.06 kg (2.35 lbs)
Memory 16GB LPDDR4x-4266
Storage One drive, 512GB M.2 2242 SSD
Ports 2 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (supports data transfer, Power Delivery 3.0 and DisplayPort 1.4a)
1 x Headphone/ Microphone 3.5mm combo jack
1 x Nano-SIM card slot (WWAN models only)
Camera Up to IR & 5.0MP MIPI with E-camera Shutter
Connectivity Qualcomm WCN6855, Wi-Fi 6E, 802.11ax Dual Band 2×2 Wi-Fi + BT 5.1 WWAN Models Only:
Qualcomm Snapdragon X55 5G Sub-6 GHz & mmWave Modem-RF System, M.2 card, with embedded eSIM functionality
Qualcomm Snapdragon X55 5G Sub-6 GHz Modem-RF System, M.2 card, with embedded eSIM functionality
Audio 2 x 2W Stereo Speakers with Dolby Audio, Triple array far-field microphones
Input 6-row, LED backlight, spill resistant, multimedia Fn keys with Unified Communications controls
56 x 115mm (2.24 x 4.53”) glass-like Mylar surface multi-touch touchpad, TrackPoint pointing device
Battery 49.5 Wh
Security Discrete Trusted Platform Module (dTPM) 2.0, Kensington Nano Security Slot, Optional Touch style fingerprint reader on power button, match-on-chip, Power-on password, Supervisor password, System management password, Self-healing BIOS, e-Camera Shutter, Microsoft Pluton Security, Optional Computer Vision-based User Presence Sensing including lock on leave
Color Thunder Black
Material Top & Bottom: Magnesium-Aluminum (top), GFRP (bottom)
OS Windows 11 Pro
Price $1,385.40

Design: A ThinkPad design with a Windows on Arm twist

  • It’s all-black like a ThinkPad, but it’s super light at 2.35 pounds
  • There are two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports

The ThinkPad X13s comes in one color, which is called Thunder Black, which is really just black. I always wonder why Lenovo doesn’t just brand its own colors. The color of a ThinkPad is iconic. It should be called ThinkPad Black, but I digress.

Top down view of Lenovo ThinkPad X13s

Along the top of the lid, there’s a tab with Lenovo’s famous reverse notch, which makes it easier to open. The tab also prints information about the webcam on it. We’ve seen something similar from the new ThinkPad Z13, but this one is just all-black.

Close up of tab on ThinkPad lid

It’s also really light laptop at just 2.35 pounds, which is awesome. It’s taking advantage of the Snapdragon chipset to be fanless and basically be a lot lighter but without making compromises. It’s still a full-size PC with a proper keyboard and such. Being so light, it’s so easy to just throw in a bag and feel like nothing is there at all. It’s a delightful design.

Like I said in the header, it’s a ThinkPad design, in the sense that it’s black and unmistakable for what it is, but it has a Windows on Arm twist. Lenovo did a really good job with this one.

Side view of ThinkPad X13s

The two USB Type-C ports, which are located on the left side, are both USB 3.2 Gen 2, supporting 10Gbps data transfer speeds. Of course, there’s no Thunderbolt here, since that’s an Intel thing. Also, the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 isn’t ready for USB4 just yet, so Qualcomm is staying a step behind AMD here as well. Both ports support Power Delivery, so you can charge with either one, and they support DisplayPort 1.4a too, so you can connect monitors to either one.

Side view of ThinkPad X13s

On the right side, you’ll find a headphone jack and a nano-SIM slot.

I really do like the design of this laptop. When I’m on the road, it’s my favorite thing to bring with me, and that’s really the goal here.

Display: It’s FHD, which is typical for the ThinkPad X13 series

  • The FHD display is 16:10, which is nice
  • The 5MP webcam is excellent

The display is fine for a business laptop, particularly one from the X13 series. The ThinkPad X13 series is all about being small and light, so these 13-inch laptops are usually FHD. It’s also a very business-style screen. It’s matte, so there’s no noticeable glare, and it feels like something that’s made more for productivity.

Close up of ThinkPad X13s display

The aspect ratio is 16:10, which is correct for a modern PC. That means that it’s taller than previous 13.3-inch screens, which were 16:9, and it has more surface area because of it.

Lenovo ThinkPad X13s display test

From my testing, it supports 100% sRGB, 73% NTSC, 78% Adobe RGB, and 79% P3, which is fine. It’s not particularly good, but it’s also not particularly bad. Like I said, it’s a productivity display.

Lenovo ThinkPad X13s display test

Brightness maxed out at 339.6 nits, and the contrast ratio maxed out at 1,450:1. Again, that’s fine. Lenovo offers a 400-nit variant of the screen, which would definitely be better. After all, this laptop comes with cellular connectivity, so you might be using it outdoors in direct sunlight.

Close up of ThinkPad X13s webcam

The webcam is pretty great. It’s a 5MP sensor, which gives it plenty of room for cropping if you’re streaming FHD video. Most of the ThinkPads with FHD webcams that Lenovo is currently offering have 2.1MP sensors, so this is a big step up. It’s important too, given how likely it is that anyone who buys this will be using it for some kind of video call at some point.

Keyboard: The depth is 1.35mm, which is the proper keyboard depth for a ThinkPad

  • The keyboard is similar to what you’d find on a ThinkPad X1 Nano
  • It still has a TrackPoint

The Lenovo ThinkPad X13s has one of the best keyboards available. The key depth is 1.35mm, which is what first debuted on the ThinkPad X1 Nano and the ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga. It’s shown up on other newer ThinkPad models as of late, and the X13s is one of them. It’s fantastic. Others like the ThinkPad X1 Carbon still use a 1.5mm keyboard, and some ThinkPads are even deeper than that. I really feel like 1.35mm is the sweet spot.

Top down view of ThinkPad keyboard

Lenovo actually put a lot of work into making its new 1.35mm keys feel like the older 1.5mm keys, making sure that you’d still need the same amount of force to press them. To me, the shallower keys just feel more modern, but that level of force feels natural. It’s just a great keyboard, and I do hope that Lenovo brings it to the rest of the ThinkPad lineup.

Close-up of ThinkPad touchpad and TrackPoint

The biggest flaw, of course, is the TrackPoint, a relic from the age when Windows touchpads were terrible. Companies like Dell and HP still use variants of the TrackPoint on certain mainstream models of their business laptops, but Lenovo does it on all ThinkPads. If you don’t want it, you can either ignore it or buy something else.

Because of that little red nub in the keyboard, the touchpad also had physical buttons above it. Those are designed for use with the TrackPoint. In other words, ThinkPads just tend to have smaller touchpads than the competition because they’re handicapped by a relic from decades ago.

Performance: The Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 is a huge improvement, but it’s not enough

  • The Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 is a major improvement over Gen 2, but not over an Intel Core i5
  • Battery life is great, but doesn’t live up to Windows on Arm promises

I’ve always been a pretty big Windows on Arm advocate, but after using this device for a few weeks, I wasn’t really feeling it performance-wise. As usual, it’s great when you’re running native apps. Microsoft’s Edge browser works great, and since I almost never use Edge regularly, it’s another chance to reacquaint myself with it. Office works great too.

Windows 11 supports 64-bit app emulation, so if an app doesn’t work natively on Arm, it will still work. It just won’t work well, and with the big performance gains from the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3, I was hoping it would be better. While it’s not terrible, you can still just feel it. It’s like if you’re watching a movie and the sound is a fraction of a second off from the video. It’s not bad, but you can always feel that it’s there.

Let’s back up a bit though, because I do want to talk about what an improvement the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 is over Gen 2. The original Snapdragon 8cx was both in December 2018, nearly four years ago and after the two previous generations being repurposed mobile processors. The goal with the product lineup was and still is to compete with an Intel Core i5 with a chipset that’s designed from the ground up for laptops. Back then, it was an eighth-generation U-series Core i5 that Qualcomm was competing with, and even the even bolder claim was that that was supposed to be based on single-core scores.

Angled view of Lenovo ThinkPad X13s

There was only one problem. The Snapdragon 8cx didn’t actually ship until November 2019, as the SQ1 in Microsoft’s Surface Pro X. For a proper Snapdragon 8cx-branded processor, that wouldn’t arrive until early 2020 with the Samsung Galaxy Book S. In other words, by the time the product shipped, Intel was up to 10th-gen.

The Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 wasn’t much better because it was just a 150MHz clock speed bump, but Qualcomm still started comparing it to a 10th-gen Core i5. For practical purposes, you can think of the Snapdragon 8cx, Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2, Microsoft SQ1, and Microsoft SQ2 as the same chipset.

That’s why the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 was so exciting. It promised real performance gains for the first time in years; meanwhile, Intel and AMD are cranking out new generations like clockwork. The new chipset was announced in December 2021, but again, here we are. It’s now nine months later, both Intel and AMD have revved their chipsets, and Qualcomm looks pale in comparison.

Take a look at the Geekbench benchmarks below. Unfortunately, this is still the only native benchmark that runs on Windows on Arm, out of the suite that I use.

ThinkPad X13s
Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3
HP Elite Folio
Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2
Lenovo ThinkPad X13 Gen 2
Core i5-1135G7
Geekbench 5 single-core 1,124 801 1,388
Geekbench 5 multi-core 5,893 3,150 5,298

As you can see, there’s a 40% boost in single-core and an incredible 87% increase in multi-core over the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2. That’s something that should absolutely be commended. But still, it loses out in single-core to a Core i5-1135G7, beating it out in multi-core. The single-core score there is the one that’s problematic, and of course, there’s also the fact that I still compared this to an 11th-gen Intel processor with 12th-gen on the market and 13th-gen around the corner.

The point is that as usual, the performance is great if you’re running native apps. I just wish that Qualcomm tried to stay ahead of Intel a little more. It feels like every time the firm tries to pull ahead, it takes so long to ship that it falls behind.

Qualcomm is finally delivering on battery life

Battery life is phenomenal though, something that’s always been a promise of Windows on Arm but hasn’t really been delivered. It’s going to be a key value proposition of buying the Lenovo ThinkPad X13s.

In my battery testing, I just use the device for work as I normally would with the screen at a medium brightness, and I measure the average times it takes for the battery to die. The worst I got was 336 minutes, which would be really good for any Windows laptop. That was an exception though, because the regular results I got were closer to 450 minutes, which is about seven and a half hours. That’s wild.

The best score I recorded was 508 minutes, or eight hours and 28 minutes. Wild.

But Windows on Arm really isn’t there yet

  • We’re still lacking critical software for this to be a fluid experience, including apps from Adobe, Google, and even Microsoft

I mentioned native software above, but I didn’t go too deep into what the key pain points are. Let’s talk about them.

Adobe has done a terrible job of supporting Windows on Arm. Photoshop does run natively, but it’s terrible. Every time I try to open a bunch of files, it throws errors that make it unusable. This is after fixing a warning from Adobe that the laptop doesn’t support OpenGL, OpenCL, and needs a driver update. Adobe was rather quick to bring its apps to Apple Silicon, but as is plain as day, there are already more users running Arm Macs than running Arm Windows PCs, despite the massive head start that Microsoft had.

Message showing why Photoshop doesn't work on a PC where it should

And then there’s Google. The Chrome browser still doesn’t run natively, despite the fact that the Mountain View firm has had it ready for Windows on Arm for years now. I was told by a source that it’s “like Amazon and Chromecast support”. This presents a broader issue though. Microsoft Edge and Mozilla Firefox are the only native browsers available, and that’s Google’s fault too.

I asked Vivaldi about what its roadmap for Windows on Arm looked like, since I definitely didn’t want to use Edge in my time with this unit. There isn’t one. Vivaldi, like pretty much all Chromium browsers aside from Edge, can’t be compiled for Arm until Google offers Widevine support for Arm. If Vivaldi compiled the browser anyway, streaming services like Netflix wouldn’t work. The alternative would be to use Microsoft’s PlayReady, but that would take a fair amount of work, and let’s face it; Windows on Arm doesn’t have the market share for such a project to be worth it.

Now, let’s talk about the most frustrating offender, Microsoft. Yes, Edge runs natively, although frankly, it couldn’t even bother to have Edge Chromium ready for Arm when it was made generally available. Now that Apple has shown that Arm computers can be good, Microsoft is finally starting to take it seriously, releasing software like Visual Studio for Arm. But if you want to know how little it cared before about its own project, just know that it finally offered native support for the Camera app for Insiders recently. I can’t tell you how many Arm PCs have given me an error when launching the camera, but now, after nearly six years since Windows on Arm was announced, there’s going to be a native Camera app.

That’s a pretty basic example of how little effort Microsoft has put into its own Arm platform until this year. Here’s another one. There’s no Xbox app for Windows on Arm. One thing I thought this machine would be great for is game streaming. After all, why not? Microsoft has a cloud gaming platform, and these types of lightweight machines are perfect for it. I also feel like these types of machines that should be perfect to show off the future of gaming. Unfortunately, the Xbox app is x64 only, so you’ll have to use the Edge browser.

This is the problem though. After half a decade of Windows on Arm, we really should be able to pick up an Arm PC and experience it like any other Windows PC. That’s just not the case. I’m not expecting a lot either. When Photoshop is native, that should work properly. Browsers should be quick and smooth, and I shouldn’t be forced to use Edge if I want a good experience. This is basic stuff. It’s one thing when it happens when something is new, but Windows on Arm isn’t new anymore.

Should you buy the Lenovo ThinkPad X13s?

So, who should buy the Lenovo ThinkPad X13s?

You should buy the Lenovo ThinkPad X13s if:

  • You’re on the road a lot
  • You’ll be using your PC for productivity
  • You use Microsoft Edge

You should NOT buy the Lenovo ThinkPad X13s if:

  • You use any browser besides Edge or Firefox
  • You use Photoshop, ever
  • The bulk of your work isn’t done in the browser

I’m a fan of Windows on Arm, and I love where it’s going, but it’s just not there yet, and as you can probably tell from the review, I’m a little frustrated that it’s not further along after almost six years. It took Apple doing it for Microsoft to take this seriously, as the Redmond firm often seems committed to coming in second place when it comes to things that will actually be successful in the consumer space.

There are definitely things that the ThinkPad X13s is great for, my own frustrations aside. If you use Microsoft Edge or Mozilla Firefox, you’ll have a pretty great experience out of the gate. And as long as you’re using it for productivity in apps like Office and Teams, it’ll be great. You’ll just have an ultra-light laptop that has integrated 5G connectivity. The hardware has so much potential.

    Lenovo ThinkPad X13s
    The Lenovo ThinkPad X13s is the most powerful Windows on Arm PC to date, weighing just 2.35 pounds and packing perks like 5G.

      Features:

      Pros:

      Cons:

The post Lenovo ThinkPad X13s review: Windows on Arm takes a big step forward, but it’s not enough appeared first on XDA.



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To Plus, or to Max, that is the iPhone 14 question

Apple’s “Far Out” event is just days away. We’re expecting the company to reveal the iPhone 14 lineup and Apple Watch Series 8. That’s in addition to other potential products — such as the AirPods Pro 2, Apple Watch Pro, and Apple Watch SE 2. We’ve been hearing rumors about the iPhone 14 series for a year now — quite literally. In fact, the first whispers revolving around this line started surfacing prior to the iPhone 13 launch.

One of the notable details we learned about this year’s release is Apple potentially discontinuing the Mini variant. Instead, the company would seemingly go for a larger, 6.7-inch regular model. In this case, we’d get two 6.1-inch models and two 6.7-inch ones — with each having a regular and a Pro variant. At first, the iPhone naming assumption was 14, 14 Max, 14 Pro, and 14 Pro Max. Of course, that would make sense — since Max refers to the larger screen size, while the Pro label distinguishes between their capabilities. Plus, there’s already precedent for the more ridiculous-sounding Pro Max.

Back in July, a report claimed that Apple will revive the Plus branding for the larger, non-Pro iPhone 14. Of course, not everyone took this report very seriously. Why would the Cupertino overlord bring back a dead tag it hasn’t used in years? In an unexpected turn of events, some leaked photos surfaced online a few days ago. They portray alleged cases for the larger iPhone 14 model. Surprise, surprise — the case labels it as Plus, rather than Max.

So, will it be the iPhone 14 Plus or Max? It could be either of them, and we likely won’t find out for sure until September 7. However, here’s why I personally think it would make more sense for Apple to revive the Plus branding.

iPhone 14: What Plus and Max insinuate

Earlier this year, we learned that Apple could start including the latest chip solely on Pro iPhones. So the regular iPhones would stick to year-old chipsets. This potential change allegedly aims at further distinguishing between the regular and Pro iPhones. By increasing the Pro exclusives, undecided customers could go for the more expensive model. So how is this relevant to the Plus/Max branding?

iPhone 13 Pro Max and iPhone 13 Mini

iPhone 13 Mini and iPhone 13 Pro Max

Put the words Plus and Max side by side. The former points to something additional, while the latter goes for a maxed-out item. Plus is more, and Max is the most. The larger iPhone 14 offers more screen, but it’s not maxed out in terms of technical specifications and features. By keeping the Max branding exclusive to the larger Pro model, Apple further distinguishes between the regular and Pro variants. Plus is inferior to Max, and despite it sounding irrelevant, it could make a lot of difference in the marketing department.

Would Apple revive a retired branding, though?

Apple doesn’t oppose digging its own (brand) grave

side profile of Apple MagSafe charger connected to the iPhone 12

MagSafe charging on the iPhone

So, some might wonder — why would Apple re-introduce a branding it hasn’t used in years? The answer is quite simple — the company doesn’t care. When the Cupertino firm initially retired the MagSafe on the Mac, it then reintroduced it on the iPhone later on. Another example is iBooks — the company brought back the term (which used to refer to a hardware line) as a now-retired app name. Just because we haven’t seen a Plus since the iPhone 8 doesn’t mean the Plus is gone forever.

A less-confusing iPhone 14 series

iphone 13 series

iPhone 13 series

Apple is all about simplifying people’s lives with its devices. It tends to avoid long product names that mean nothing to customers. Its branding is straightforward — for the most part, at least. By going for iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, and 14 Pro Max, the company eliminates a common factor/term that could cause confusion amongst customers. This way the lineup is self-explanatory. Otherwise, people might not be able to tell whether the iPhone 14 Max or the iPhone 14 Pro is the higher-end model. In fact, it might seem like the 14 Max is more powerful than the 14 Pro — even though it’s the other way around. Plus hints at an extra, and Max is much more than just that.


If Apple calls it the iPhone 14 Max, the entire line might appear more streamlined — 14, 14 Max, 14 Pro, and 14 Pro Max. Just two suffixes shuffled around, depending on the device specs. However, taking the semantics into consideration, the company could go for a more distinct branding. Ultimately, we will get an official look in just a few days. In the meantime, we can endlessly speculate and observe how the stars are aligned, in a hopeless attempt to find out early.

Do you personally think it will be called the iPhone 14 Plus or Max? Let us know in the comments section below.

The post To Plus, or to Max, that is the iPhone 14 question appeared first on XDA.



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How to use the 24-hour time lapse feature on Samsung Galaxy phones with One UI 4.1 and above

Samsung’s One UI is inarguably one of the most feature-rich Android skins on the market. It packs a boatload of extras that you don’t get on Android skins from other OEMs, and Samsung keeps adding even more features with each major update. However, due to the sheer number of features Samsung adds to One UI with each successive update, some of the features fly under the radar. The 24-hour time lapse feature in the Gallery app on One UI 4.1 is a case in point.

With the Galaxy S22 series launch, Samsung rolled out the One UI 4.1 update. It brought several new features, including an enhanced S Pen and Samsung Notes experience, Director’s view in the Camera app, an improved photo and video editor, and the aforementioned 24-hour time-lapse feature, among others. The latter is one of the coolest additions in One UI 4.1, but it often goes unnoticed as it doesn’t have a dedicated option in the Gallery settings and its toggle only pops up on select images.

If you’re wondering how you can make 24-hour time lapse clips on your Galaxy phone running One UI 4.1, you’ve come to the right place. Follow the steps provided below to create some amazing time lapse clips like these using the 24-hour time lapse feature.

How to use One UI’s 24-hour time lapse feature

The 24-hour time lapse feature in One UI 4.1 uses AI to recognize skies or sunsets in your photos automatically. When it successfully recognizes skies or sunsets in a photo, it presents a button that lets you create a time lapse clip of the scene with just one tap. Here’s how it works.

  • Open the Gallery app on your Samsung device running One UI 4.1.
    Screenshot of Gallery app in Samsung One UI.
  • Navigate to a photo in which the sky takes up a significant part of the frame. If the AI is able to recognize the sky in the image, you should see a clock icon pop up in the bottom-left corner.
    Screenshot of an image open in the Gallery app on Samsung One UI with arrow pointing at 24-hour time lapse button.
  • Tap on the button and let the AI work its magic.
    Screenshot of loading icon over image in the Gallery app on Samsung One UI.

Within a few seconds, the feature will deliver a 12-second time lapse clip of the scene, complete with a soothing background score.

Screenshot of 24-hour time lapse UI in the Gallery app on Samsung One UI.

You can tap the save button in the bottom toolbar to save the clip to your gallery or use the share button to share it with friends instantly. If you don’t like the results, you can use the remove button to get rid of the 24-hour time lapse suggestion, and the time lapse toggle will no longer show up on that particular photo.

In my testing, I found that the feature works best in landscape photos with an empty foreground. While the time lapse toggle does show up on some images with a subject in the foreground, the results are slightly inconsistent. At times, the AI does a great job of lighting the subject in accordance with the changing color of the sky. But, more often than not, the resulting clip looks unnatural because of a faint glow that appears around the subject when the sky goes dark. Images captured around sunset, when there’s barely enough light, produce more natural-looking clips than those captured in broad daylight.

It goes without saying that the feature doesn’t actually create time lapse clips. It simply emulates a time lapse by changing the color of the sky and the foreground in stills. Due to this, some of the clips end up looking unnatural. But you can fine-tune it by editing your stills before creating the time lapse. The 24-hour time lapse feature in One UI 4.1 is definitely worth checking out. Now that you know how to use it make sure you give it a go on your Samsung device and share your creations in the comments section below.

The post How to use the 24-hour time lapse feature on Samsung Galaxy phones with One UI 4.1 and above appeared first on XDA.



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vendredi 2 septembre 2022

AMD Ryzen 7000 Series: Release date, price, and everything you need to know

AMD’s 2022 Product Premier included an assortment of new CPUs, desktop and mobile graphics cards, and some laptops APUs. In addition to the new Ryzen 6000 series APUs and its Ryzen 7 5800X3D V-Cache processor, AMD also announced the Ryzen 7000 series of CPUs. While there are still some details to be unveiled, most of the information is now official. Here’s everything you need to know about the AMD Ryzen 7000 series CPUs:

Navigate this article:

AMD Ryzen 7000 Series CPUs: Specifications

The official launch of the Ryzen 7000 series desktop CPUs was on August 29, 2022, so we know most of what there is to know. The new processors are based on AMD’s Zen 4 architecture. The new Zen 4-based chips joining the list of best AMD CPUs are built on TSMC’s 5nm process and they’ll be compatible with AMD’s new AM5 platform.

AMD Zen4 platform

Model Cores/Threads Boost / Base Frequency Total Cache PCIe TDP
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X 16C / 32T Up to 5.7 / 4.5GHz 80MB Gen 5 170W
AMD Ryzen 9 7900X 12C / 24T Up to 5.6 / 4.7GHz 76MB Gen 5 170W
AMD Ryzen 7 7700X 8C / 16T Up to 5.4 / 4.5GHz 40MB Gen 5 105W
AMD Ryzen 5 7600X 6C / 12T Up to 5.3 / 4.7GHz 38MB Gen 5 195W

Along with the above specs, Ryzen 7000 comes with support for DDR5, and there’s no DDR4 support. AMD said that DDR4 has seen its day, DDR5 is the future, and prices for the memory technology are starting to come down.

There’s also support for PCIe 5.0, which will double the bandwidth of PCIe 4.0. That means much faster SSDs, and depending on the motherboard you choose, faster graphics as well.

AMD Ryzen 7000 Series CPUs: AM5 Platform

Perhaps the most important thing to note here is AMD is going to move to a Land Grid Array (LGA) style of processor with AM5. This change will eliminate the Pin Grid Array (PGA) that has been used by AMD for Ryzen desktop CPUs since the launch. Here, take a look at the AMD AM5 socket that was shown to us during the AMD 2022 Product Premier:

AMD AM5 CPU socket

Even though AMD will be using LGA for the first time for Ryzen CPUs, it’s no stranger to this socket. The company uses an LGA socket for both its EPYC enterprise processors and Threadripper processors. AMD has confirmed that it’s using an LGA1718 pin design with two different orientations of pins. The new socket is much denser than its old socket F which had 1207 pins. And just to put things into perspective, Intel’s new 12th-gen Alder Lake CPUs use an LGA1700 socket.

For those of you who don’t know, this change also means the bottom of the Zen 4 CPUs will only have contact pads now instead of pins. The pins will instead be defined at the socket level, rather than on the processor. Here’s a quick look at what the Ryzen 7000 CPUs will look like:

AMD Ryzen 7000 CPU Package design

The AMD Ryzen 7000 CPUs will have a square package with a rather unique heatspreader design. AMD has made some space to accommodate the power circuitry between the gaps. The CPU package also has two notches along with a yellow arrow on the top left corner to help guide the user.

AMD had already confirmed the support for AM4 coolers with its upcoming AM5 platform, but it reiterated the same at CES 2022. You can expect the mounting holes for AM5 to be the same and you’ll be able to use the same CPU cooler that you’re currently using your AM4 CPUs.

Notably, AMD has also confirmed that the upcoming AM5 will be a long-lived platform, which will be used until at least 2025, but possibly even longer. In fact, the same was confirmed by AMD’s Dr. Lisa Su in a roundtable interview. She confirmed that the change from AM4 to AM5 was required due to the support for new standards including DDR5 and PCIe 5.0.

For those of you who are curious, the AMD AM4 socket has been around since 2016, and it was used for five years over five generations. The AM2/2+ and AM3/3+ were also around for three and four years, respectively.

AMD Ryzen 7000 Series CPUs: Performance

In addition to confirming the AM5 socket and showing us the updated heatspreader design, AMD also showcased to us what the upcoming Ryzen 7000 CPU can do. AMD showcased a prototype of Zen4-based Ryzen 7000 CPU codename “Raphael” being used to play Halo Infinite. AMD confirmed that it was using one of the next-gen 7000 series chips for the demo along with a Geforce RTX 3080 graphics card attached to a prototype LGA1718 reference system.

The demo video embedded above (time-stamped) with gameplay footage lacks a lot of details including the achieved frame rates, but the company said the test CPU was hitting 5.0GHz on all Zen4 cores. This is obviously not the kind of performance test to form an opinion on the upcoming CPUs, so we’ll for more info to decide whether or not these new chips will make it to our collection of the best gaming CPUs when we do our own testing.

AMD Ryzen 7000 Series CPUs: Pricing & Release Date

AMD’s AM5 platform alongside the new Ryzen 7000 series CPUs are set to arrive on September 27, 2922. Pricing is as follows:

Ryzen 9 7950X Ryzen 9 7900X Ryzen 7 7700X Ryzen 5 7600X
$699 $549 $399 $299

AMD will be launching new 3D V-Cache versions of these processors later this year.

AMD Ryzen 7000 Series CPUs: Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the Ryzen 7000 series CPUs:

Can I use the same CPU cooler with Ryzen 7000 processors?

Officially, all AM4 coolers should fit AM5 boards, although AMD did tell us that around 5% of coolers might not fit. For these, most companies will just offer a new mounting kit.

What CPU socket does the Ryzen 7000 series processor use?

The AMD Ryzen 7000 CPUs are built on the AM5 platform and require the new AM5 CPU socket with the new LGA1718 design.

Will Ryzen 7000 series have mobile CPUs?

AMD has only confirmed desktop CPUs but there are rumors about Ryzen 7000 mobile CPUs launching soon after the desktop parts.

We’re constantly on the lookout for more questions around the Ryzen 7000 series chips, so be sure to ask us your questions by dropping a line in the comments below.

AMD Ryzen 7000 Series CPUs: Final Thoughts

Intel’s 12th-gen Alder Lake CPUs have managed to take the lead from AMD’s current generation of CPUs. In fact, the Core i5-12600K has become our pick for the best CPU on the market right now, followed by the Ryzen 5 5600X. AMD’s upcoming V-Cache processor is expected to bridge the gap but we think it’ll be the Ryzen 7000 series chips that will truly take the lead from Alder Lake. Not to mention, the new Ryzen 7000 series CPUs will also support DDR5 and PCIe Gen 5, both of which are exclusive to Alder Lake CPUs in the desktop space right now.

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OBS Studio now offers native support for Apple silicon

A new version of OBS Studio has been released,  bringing many new changes to the software. OBS Studio 28 is a significant upgrade compared to previous versions, bringing HDR 10-bit color support, a UI framework using Qt6, support for ScreenCaptureKit, and more. While there are a lot of improvements and changes, it comes at a cost, with some older operating systems losing support.

If unfamiliar with OBS Studio, it is a popular free open-source app frequently used for live streaming. The app offers many different options and can be customized in several ways. Despite being a powerful tool, it also offers support for third-party plug-ins. The app is also compatible with Windows, Linux, and macOS. With something as intensive as OBS Studio, it is essential to have a native version so that the app can take advantage of all the power a computer offers. Despite Apple launching its M1 processor nearly two years ago, it has taken some time for apps to gain native support.

    Apple MacBooks featuring M1 and M2 processors
    Apple silicon laptops featuring M1 and M2 processors

Apple knew this could be a problem, and it was careful when switching over to its own chips. The firm found a way for existing Intel apps to run on Apple silicon computers using Rosetta 2 technology. For the most part, the results were impressive. While it isn’t entirely necessary to have a native Apple silicon version of an app, it does allow the app to run more efficiently.

You can now download the latest app version directly from the OBS website listed in the link below. Just be sure to choose the macOS version that corresponds to your computer. If you are using an Intel model, download the Intel version. Download the Apple Silicon version if you are using a Mac with Apple Silicon. As mentioned before, the new release of OBS Studio drops support for older versions of macOS, with the minimum requirement being macOS Catalina 10.15 or later.


Source: OBS Studio
Via: 9to5Mac

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AirPods Pro 2: What we know so far about the upcoming Apple earbuds

Apple’s family of AirPods has become popular amongst newer iPhone and iPad users. Considering that these devices lack a headphone jack, several people have resorted to the company’s wireless solution. Through AirPods, users get to take advantage of continuity features, such as switching the audio source from their iPhone to their new Mac automatically. To cater to different budgets and needs, the company has an entry-level model, in addition to AirPods Pro and AirPods Max — for those looking for more advanced features. The Pro model has been around for years, and Apple reportedly will be releasing the AirPods Pro 2 very soon. Here’s everything we know about them so far.

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AirPods Pro 2: Release Date

Apple Far out iPhone event 2022

For the past few months, rumors have pointed at a late 2022 AirPods Pro 2 release. The company launched the first-gen model back in October 2019. So there is a possibility that Apple will give the second-gen upgrade some stage time during its Far Out iPhone event. The keynote will be taking place on September 7, and we expect the company to reveal the iPhone 14 and Apple Watch Series 8. If the AirPods Pro 2 don’t make an appearance during this particular event, then Apple may reveal them later this year through a Newsroom post or during the Mac/iPad event.

AirPods Pro 2: Pricing

AirPods Pro open case with tree background

AirPods Pro

Apple currently sells the AirPods Pro for $249. Rumors point to the discontinuation of the first-gen model when the 2nd gen debuts. This makes us believe that the pricing won’t see a significant change. If Apple introduces a notably more expensive price tag while killing the original product, users on a tight budget (who are looking for ANC-enabled AirPods) will run out of options.

Design

Mahmoud wearing AirPods Pro

AirPods Pro

We had been hearing about a stemless redesign for the AirPods Pro 2. However, recent leaks suggest that Apple will retain the current design — for the most part at least. These upcoming earbuds will allegedly feature a stem that is similar to that of the first-gen model. The charging case, though, might get tweaked to include speaker grilles. Those would allow users to play a louder sound when pinging the device through the Find My app. The charging port will still likely depend on the Lightning standard, though.

Features

AirPods Pro closed case next to MacBook Air M1 and iPad Air 5

The current AirPods Pro model comes packed with plenty of offerings. These include ANC and Dolby Atmos playback support, in addition to water resistance, Find My support, and more. We expect the AirPods Pro 2 to include all of these features and more. Leaks make us believe that the second-gen model will replace the proximity sensor with a skin detector for a more accurate auto pause/play. That’s in addition to potential fitness tracking and body temperature monitoring feature. In the audio quality department, Apple could be switching to Bluetooth 5.2, supporting lossless playback, and improving ANC.


With the AirPods Pro 2 potentially launching as soon as September 7, we can only sit tight and wait for the company to officially reveal them. While the rumors make them appear as a minor upgrade, the company could still have a few tricks up its sleeve. Ultimately, we can’t judge or evaluate an unreleased product — as the puzzle is still missing some of its pieces.

Do you plan on buying the AirPods Pro 2? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments section below.

The post AirPods Pro 2: What we know so far about the upcoming Apple earbuds appeared first on XDA.



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