Asus Kunai 3 Gamepad Review: A great accessory for gaming on ROG phones

There are so many great games on Android, and with our smartphones nowadays being computing powerhouses, you’ll never be stuck on the choice of what to play. From games on the Play Store to emulators such as AetherSX2, you can play both new games and the classics. However, finicky touch controls make it so that your phone may not necessarily be the most comfortable to play games on. There are controllers you can get for phones though that makes it a bit easier, and the Asus Kunai 3 Gamepad is one such controller.

The Asus Kunai 3 Gamepad launched in white alongside the Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro, though the controller itself has been out for quite a while now. If you have an ROG phone, you can buy it with a shell that will let you slot your phone in between both ends of the controller, a bit like a Nintendo Switch. If you don’t, though, the controller can still be used entirely detached from the phone and works over Bluetooth. While I’ve seen some say that it works with PC, I wasn’t able to get it working.

To put a long story short, the Asus Kunai 3 Gamepad works great when you have an Asus ROG Phone to use it with. When you can use the controller wired by connecting it to the shell for the phone, that’s when it’s at its best. Otherwise, there are other controllers you can get that might be better if you have another phone, even though the Kunai 3 is so good. Using it wirelessly just isn’t the same, and you’ll need to prop your phone up against something then, too.

Asus Kunai 3 Gamepad

The Asus Kunai 3 Gamepad is a great controller if you have an ROG phone, though make sure you get it for the right model.

Features:

Pros: Cons:

See at Asus

Asus Kunai 3 Gamepad: Specifications

Specification	Asus Kunai 3 Gamepad
Dimensions & Weight	154.8 x 110.3 x 66.8 mm 198.8g
Inputs	Two analog thumbsticks with clickable buttons (L3/R3) One mechanical D-pad ABXY face buttons Two triggers (L2/R2) Two bumpers (L1/R1) M1 and M2 macro keys Menu and Options buttons (labeled Start and Select in some games)
Ports	USB-C plug for Asus phone connections USB-C  in mobility mode
Compatibility	Over Bluetooth v4.2 with most Android phones (six hours battery) USB-C connection with Asus ROG phones

About this review: I received the Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro from Asus on the 17th of June, 2022 alongside the Asus Kunai 3 Gamepad. My colleague, Aamir Siddiqui, also received the device from Asus, but did not receive the Kunai 3 Gamepad. While the company provided us with review units, it did not have any input into the contents of this review.

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Asus Kunai 3 Gamepad: Look and feel

The Asus Kunai 3 Gamepad is really lightweight, and it’s made of plastic. It feels a little bit cheap (especially when in “mobility mode” — that is, the way you see it above), but that’s not always a bad thing. It doesn’t add much weight to your phone (and the Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro is a bit of a hefty beast anyway), and if you’re worried, it comes with a carry case that you can bring it around in.

The Asus Kunai 3 Gamepad is comfortable to use for long periods of time

The controller itself will be familiar to anyone who has used a Nintendo Switch, and the buttons are clicky and tactile. They’re comfortable to use for long stretches of time, and the Asus Kunai 3 Gamepad has accompanied me on a few flights at this stage for a few hours at a time. It works in the likes of AetherSX2, so I’ve been playing games like The Simpsons: Hit & Run while on the go, thanks to this controller. My unit doesn’t have any dead zones or drifting, either.

I tested the sensitivity of the joystick using the Gamepad Tester app. (Note: I didn’t draw in the full circles of the X and Y axes).

Gamepad tester (Free, Google Play) →

There’s not a whole lot else to the controller, really. If you’re using it docked on an Asus ROG phone, then keep in mind it will cover the headphone jack so you won’t be able to use wired audio when playing. You can charge when playing thanks to the side USB-C port, and it’s also possible to plug in the Asus AeroActive Cooler 6 at the same time, too.

Basically, the best experience I’ve had with this controller is using the speakers over my phone, as it’s the only way I can play without frustration from audio latency. The Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro has front-facing speakers so it’s not a problem in that regard. As well, it’s not usually an issue for me to be able to play out loud in my apartment, but if it would be for you, then it may not be worth it.

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Asus Kunai 3 Gamepad: Gaming Experience

The Kunai 3's integration with Asus phones is incredible

The gaming experience on the Asus Kunai 3 Gamepad will wildly differ depending on the device you’re using it with. If using it with an Asus ROG phone, it’ll be up there as one of the best mobile gaming experiences that you’ve ever had. If you’re not, though, then it will probably be fairly subpar. Its integration with Asus phones is incredible, and the ability to turn your phone into a Nintendo Switch and how cool that is can’t be understated. If you have to use the controller in its mobility mode, though, then it’s probably not worth it.

Here’s the thing, controllers that are full controllers and are used externally to a device (i.e. controllers that don’t attach to the phone) often have some kind of attachment that will at least hold your phone up. Given that this is clearly a product designed for the company’s own phones first, and other devices are an afterthought, that’s not the case here. You’ll need to prop your phone up against something to look at it while playing, which means that it’s not particularly portable for most people.

As well, keep in mind that in the most popular Android titles like Call of Duty: Mobile and PUBG Mobile, you won’t be able to use this controller. That’s because both of those games have disabled controller inputs as the developers feel they make the game unfair for users who don’t have additional peripherals. Your best bet is to map the controller inputs to touches on the display, but that’s a lot more trouble than it’s worth and nigh-on impossible unless you’re using an Asus phone with this controller.

You'll have a great time with emulators

That’s another thing, too. There is no dedicated app for this controller on other phones, and even the pairing process over Bluetooth is a bit of a nuisance. You’ll need to slide the slider to Bluetooth mode (which, by the way, is really difficult to tell if it’s in it or not), tap the home button once, then hold it for 3-5 seconds and let go. Then it will enter pairing mode. Pairing it to my phone this way took multiple tries but it eventually worked, though there’s no way to set up any custom binds or inputs. Even using the Armoury Crate app on the Play Store didn’t do anything.

On the bright side, anything that supports standard controller inputs will support the Kunai 3’s buttons, as it just sends standard key events that can be read by any app. You’ll have a great time with emulators, and AetherSX2 works too, though you need to go to controller settings, “port 1”, and select “automatic mapping”. If you have an ROG phone, then all of this is moot, as you can modify all applicable settings right from your phone.

All of this is to say that if you have a phone that isn’t an Asus ROG phone, you should look at alternatives, like the Razer Kishi v2 instead. Not only will that work with an app on any of your Android devices, but it can also attach to practically any Android phone and wrap it in a way similar to what Asus does here.

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Should you buy the Asus Kunai 3 Gamepad?

The problem with the Asus Kunai 3 Gamepad is that it’s a super good controller, but it’s only that good when used with one specific phone. If you’re using it with other devices, it instantly loses a lot of its appeal, and I don’t really think there’s any reason to get it over something like the Razer Kishi v2. However, if you have an Asus ROG phone, then I think this is probably the best controller available to you on the market. It integrates seamlessly with Asus’ software, and not only that, it’s built for ROG phones. I’d love to see it even be used with a PC, but from what I can see, that just isn’t happening. I plug it in, my PC identifies it as a Kunai 2 (for some reason?), and then it doesn’t work.

In short, if you have an Asus ROG phone of some kind, then this controller is a must-have if you’re gaming. I’d still pick up the active cooler first (just because that also has control buttons on it), but this is a close second. When emulating games and playing other titles, it’s a fantastic addition to my gaming setup, and it’s been serving me well on my travels when I just want to kick back and relax a bit. Not having wired audio sucks, but that’s the biggest criticism I can make of it when using it with an ROG phone. Everything else is pretty much perfect.

Buying this peripheral will set you back a fair bit, as it will cost around $200. It’s a steep price to pay, but it’s also a stellar product for ROG phones. If you have another device from another manufacturer, I’d think long and hard about why you want this exact controller, rather than picking up any of the others on the market that do the same for less — a lot less.

Asus Kunai 3 Gamepad

The Asus Kunai 3 Gamepad is a great controller if you have an ROG phone, though make sure you get it for the right model.

See at Asus

The post Asus Kunai 3 Gamepad Review: A great accessory for gaming on ROG phones appeared first on XDA.

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Balmuda Phone Review: A small Android phone that surprisingly finds a market in Japan

Despite Balmuda’s history, the company is probably best known for its products like its relatively pricey toaster and electric kettle. So what happens when a modern design company wants to dip its toe into the smartphone market? It creates its smartphone, of course. The Balmuda Phone launched in Japan towards the tail end of 2021, and due to its poor reception, it was allegedly discontinued only a few months after its launch.

Despite this, the smartphone is still sold in stores and can be readily purchased on or off contract. So how does a phone that wasn’t well received get a second chance? It gets repurposed by those selling it. Rather than being marketed as a high-end Balmuda, it is sold as an affordable and compact smartphone that is great for first-timers. Best of all, the phone costs virtually nothing when purchased under contract. You can see how at this point, it might become alluring. For most, this is enough to make a sale. But is a compact smartphone with the Balmuda name any good? Let’s find out.

Balmuda Phone: Specifications

Specifications	Balmuda Phone
Build	IP4X Colors: Black White
Dimensions & Weight	123mm x 69mm x 13.7mm | 138g
Display	4.9-inch Full HD LCD display
SoC	Qualcomm Snapdragon 765
RAM & Storage	6GB RAM + 128GB internal storage
Battery & Charging	USB-C wired charging Wireless charging Charger not included
Security	In-display fingerprint scanner
Rear Camera(s)	48MP f/1.8
Front Camera(s)	8MP f/2.0
Port(s)	USB-C
Audio	Single rear-firing speaker
Connectivity	5G  – n3/n28/m77/n78 LTE – Band 1/2/3/4/8/12/17/18/19/28/41/42 3G – Band 1/2/4/5/8 GSM – 850/900/1800/1900
Software	Android 11
Other features	n/a

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Balmuda Phone: Design

The Balmuda Phone is a unique piece of technology, not because it packs interesting features, but because it is a smartphone made by a non-smartphone company. It shows what comes to market when a company isn’t accustomed to the landscape it’s entering and truly believes in its vision. While this approach has been successful in the past for a limited few, the chances of it amounting to success are truly rare.

The Balmuda Phone quickly sets itself apart from the crowd by having a design that, upon first glance, looks nothing like what’s currently on the market. But if we go back, maybe a decade ago, when there were more experimental devices, we can see where the Balmuda Phone might have gotten its inspiration. The phone has glimpses of the Palm Pre, Microsoft Kin One, and others. While Palm found design inspiration from an ostrich egg, Balmuda was more concerned with avoiding hard lines, making every effort to incorporate sloping curves on every angle of its phone.

On the front, we get a small but usable 4.9-inch Full HD display with a punch hole cut out in the upper right corner for a front-facing camera. The display is crisp (449 PPI) and works well in most conditions, but the panel is an LCD, so you shouldn’t expect deep blacks or colors that pop. Another thing to note is that there are two different color options for the Balmuda Phone, black and white. If you have the black model, the bezels surrounding the display aren’t as noticeable, but with the white model, you’ll probably see some extra space towards the top and bottom of the display.

The device’s rear has a distinct look, housing the circular power button/fingerprint sensor on the left-hand side and a camera lens on the right. There is a speaker grill and flash between the power button and camera, with a small LED indicator light that sits right next to the camera. Imagine my surprise the first time I received a message and saw it flashing: it was delightful because it’s not something you often see these days. Unfortunately, looking through the settings menu, there isn’t a way to customize the color or pattern, so you’ll be stuck with a soft white illumination for all alerts.

Thanks to its smaller footprint, sloping curves, and 138g weight, the Balmuda Phone should feel pretty good in the hand. The device cradles your palm, and to be frank, feels like the complete opposite of what you’re used to when handling a smartphone. The phone is made from plastic, which feels somewhat cheap in 2022, and the textured surface on the rear provides just enough grip to feel comfortable. Oddly, the carefully crafted design by Balmuda is something I couldn’t appreciate, perhaps due to years of using squared-off slabs constantly etching themselves into my palm.

Regarding environmental protection, the Balmuda Phone offers an official IPX4 rating. The device is certified for use near water and can take occasional splashes, but it cannot be submerged and is not considered waterproof. The rating also means that it can most likely protect against sweat.

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Balmuda Phone: The software

The Balmuda Phone comes loaded with Android 11, and as of July 2022, it has received the June 2022 security update. Since this is a carrier-branded device, a few carrier-specific apps are included that aren’t part of Android, but nothing intrusive. The Android 11 experience is clean with little added touches by Balmuda here and there. These “touches” are one of the most surprising aspects of the phone’s software because they are thoughtful additions.

The “Stripe” functions are an interesting part of the home screen, giving users quick access to shortcuts by swiping the stripes set in the background. You can set the stripe function to perform a predetermined action or set it to launch your favorite app. Best of all, it’s customizable. You can adjust the stripes to conform to a right-hand or left-hand grip, or you can disable it altogether. You can also set up the colors to suit your mood.

Balmuda has tools and accompanying widgets like schedule, clock, notes, and calculator. This is nothing new, as most phones have these apps installed, but Balmuda’s take on them is pretty good. For example, on its Scheduler app, the layout is beautiful and intuitive. You can pinch to zoom in and out of your schedule, showing you your day, week, or even monthly schedule. There is also integrated weather, showing what the weather will be like up to a week in advance within the calendar view.

image via Balmuda

The clock app is also beautiful, offering time, weather integration, a stopwatch, alarms, and a countdown timer. It’s hard to describe, but the look and feel make the experience seem elegant. The same goes for its notes and calculator apps, with small touches giving just a bit more energy than your standard apps on other devices. The sound design is also charming, with elegant and fun tones for ring tones, notifications, and even charging. Everyone will have their preference with these kinds of things, but for a first try, Balmuda nailed it, giving a captivating and memorable experience.

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Balmuda Phone: Camera and Entertainment

The camera is an essential part of any smartphone’s arsenal. Without a proper camera, the phone could be pretty much DOA to many discerning consumers. If you’re someone that wants excellent photos from your smartphone, the Balmuda Phone isn’t for you. It has a single 48MP camera, which means you will be limited in the kinds of photos and videos that you shoot.

Perhaps what’s surprising about the phone is that it doesn’t perform well in bright environments. Enabling HDR does help the quality but to see this kind of quality from a new smartphone is kind of appalling. As you can imagine, it doesn’t do so well once the lighting gets dimmer. For those that like the ability to dial in camera settings, there aren’t those kinds of choices. At best, you’ll be able to select a mode comprised of movie, photo, dish, portrait, and night sight. I have my opnions, but I’ve left some samples of photos so you can be the judge.

When watching movies on the Balmuda, the smaller screen doesn’t look all that bad. But an area that does need improvement is the audio. The single speaker on the rear is not enough and will exercise your muscle memory from years past, having you cupping the back of the phone to channel the sound forward. If that wasn’t enough, the audio isn’t crisp and often gets distorted when played out at louder volumes. It isn’t the worst thing in the world, but those that want to use this as a media consumption device might want to look elsewhere. Also, this device has no audio jack, with Bluetooth and USB-C audio passthrough being the only options.

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Balmuda Phone: Battery and Performance

The Balmuda Phone isn’t packing the fastest SoC or even the biggest battery; in day-to-day use, it shows. While the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765 processor is okay for the most part, sometimes you can feel or even see the slight jitters or stutters now and then when scrolling through web pages, watching YouTube, or playing games.

As far as the 2,500mAh battery goes, it is possible to get through a day of use. Suppose you’re an average user like myself. In that case, you’ll maybe use the phone for a few hours of music streaming, web browsing, some light social media use with apps like Instagram and Twitter, and occasionally message with apps like WhatsApp, Voice, Slack, etc. If this is the way you use your phone, you’ll get through a day without issue, but you might feel a bit nervous when you head home with only around 30 percent battery remaining.

If you’re a power user, you’ll tack on navigation, taking photos and videos, watching videos like YouTube, taking calls, and more on top of the average experience. With this kind of use, you can expect the battery to be pushing its limits, leaving roughly under 10 percent left at the end of the day. Luckily, you will have the option to charge your phone wired via USB-C or wirelessly.

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Final Thoughts

Balmuda is well-known in Japan for offering designer goods like toasters, vacuums, electric kettles, and more. While not always the most practically priced, there is a following. Unfortunately, the company stepped out of its lane with the Balmuda Phone and tried to approach the smartphone business like its other projects, and it didn’t quite nail the landing.

With that said, there is a market in Japan for smaller smartphones. The Balmuda Phone is probably the best example of this, with a few others like the Rakuten Mini and the Sharp シンプルスマホ (Simple Smartphone). While these aren’t generally marketed as compact smartphones, they are marketed with ease of use and first-time buyers in mind. Despite reports of the extremely high asking price for the Balmuda Phone, since that time, the price of the phone has dipped quite a bit and can be purchased for under $200. Furthermore, the phone is just a penny if you sign a contract with a wireless carrier.

Balmuda Phone

The Balmuda Phone offers a design like no other.

Purchase directly from Balmuda Japan

But I think even at the adjusted rate, this is a niche device that not many will pick up. Plus, if you step into the mid-range market, where the Balmuda should sit, plenty of better options are available. I don’t think there has ever been a company outside of the phone industry that has produced a genuinely successful product. The space is just too competitive, and things are bound to go wrong without a strong foothold. Hopefully, this will be a lesson to not only Balmuda but others, and maybe one day, we will get an impressive smartphone from a company on the outside looking in.

If you want a good small phone, consider picking up the Asus Zenfone 9 instead.

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SwitchBot Smart Home Controls Review: Your smart home starter pack

SwitchBot offers a range of products to introduce smart components into your home. From automated curtain openers to hands-off light operation and security devices, the SwitchBot range could ease your journey into smart home products

I live in a dumb home. Built one hundred years ago with solid brick interior walls, it is not receptive to any appliance that relies on a Wi-Fi signal. Presently, I have a Wi-Fi mesh system throughout the house to try and get some sort of Wi-Fi signal in each room. I also have Wi-Fi repeaters to run my robot vacuums like the Dreame Bot D10 Plus on test throughout the property. So the house is not a perfect candidate for a smart home environment.

But I really like the advantages of a smart home and want some of the benefits it offers.  So I started my journey there with some technology from SwitchBot. SwitchBot sells a range of products that will get you started on the road to a smart home. Their products range from curtain rods and motors for automated curtain adjustment to automatic humidifiers and LED strip lights, there will be something to start you off.

My ‘starter pack’ from SwitchBot included two $29 SwitchBot smart button pusher devices, two $19 SwitchBot remote control one-touch buttons, a $14.99 Thermometer and Hygrometer meter, and a $39 SwitchBot hub.

The SwitchBot button pusher device is designed to be stuck with an adhesive pad to a switch so that when the switch is invoked, a mechanical arm extends from the device housing and physically turns on the light switch or power switch.

SwitchBot programmable remote control switch

The SwitchBot remote can be configured in the app to invoke the button pusher to turn on or off the switch, or power supply where the button pusher is situated. It can be used in two ways and in reality, I did not need the second remote control device.

The Thermometer and Hygrometer meter passively records the temperature and humidity and displays them on the app. It is designed to be used with other devices and programmed in the app to switch on other appliances using the SwitchBot smart button pusher when the programmed threshold is reached.

If you buy the correct combination of SwitchBot items, you can get your smart home up and running fairly easily. In essence, there is no complicated wiring to do – and you do not need to use voice control if you do not want to. The products can be controlled by the Switchbot app, and most of the devices can be controlled by a remote control device. The setup seems fairly easy for each device, and you can get your smart home up and running easily if you want to. I was inspired to give it a go.

SwitchBot

The SwitchBot range of smart home products and combos will get your home automation system up and running quickly and easily

Features:

Pros: Cons:

View at SwitchBot

Navigate this review:

• Pricing and availability
• What’s in the box?
• Design and features
• Who should buy one?

SwitchBot Range: Pricing and availability

SwitchBot’s devices include items such as the smart humidifier filter for the SwitchBot humidifier for $7.99  to the Wi-Fi smart lock for $129.99.

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SwitchBot Range: What’s in the box?

SwitchBot programmable remote control for controlling the SwitchBot Smart Button pusher

SwitchBots are a modular set of components that are bought separately and combined to get the automation solution you want for your home. Each box contains the item itself and a range of other accessories. For example, the $29 SwitchBot smart button pusher contains the device itself, a user manual, a spare adhesive pad, and two add-on adhesive pads.

The $19 SwitchBot remote control one-touch button contains the remote, a user manual, and an adhesive pad. Indeed, only the SwitchBot Thermometer and Hygrometer meter did not have any adhesive pads included in the box as the device itself had a recess to hang it on the wall.

The $14.99 Thermometer and Hygrometer meter is designed to be used with the $69.99 SwitchBot smart humidifier or other compatible devices such as air-conditioning units. The Thermometer and Hygrometer meter will record the temperature and humidity in the room. It can be programmed in the app to either switch on the air-conditioning if the temperature gets too high, or start the smart humidifier if the humidity gets too low

SwitchBot Thermometer and Hygrometer meter

About this review: This review was written after testing a selection of SwitchBot home automation products, provided by SwitchBot for a period of six weeks. SwitchBot did not have any input in this article.

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Design and Features:

SwitchBot has a range of home automation products that integrate with Alexa, Siri, and Google Home.

• Simple devices to add home automation to your home
• No need to change existing switches or appliances
• Simple setup and installation
• Integration with existing devices
• Control from one central location
• Voice assistant compatibility

The $99 curtain rod smart electric motor sits on a curtain rod and can control the opening and closing of curtains or shades as per a specific schedule. The mini plug will switch off the power to appliances remotely, or use a set of rules in the hub to automate the power to the device. You can install security cameras to monitor your space and receive push notifications when activity is detected. Likewise, you can automate aspects of your routine so that you no longer need to manually remember to do things. Obviously, you can turn the coffee machine on, or switch on the air conditioning if the temperature reaches a certain point.

App screens showing appliances to connect, report of temperature and humidity and remote button programmed actions

Intelligent automation

SwitchBot programmable hub for universal IR device control

The  $39 SwitchBot hub will pair with any of your current devices that operate using infrared and allow you to control them all using the SwitchBot app on your phone.

Overall, you can apply rules to the hub so that when certain conditions are met, the hub will trigger an action with the remote item. Similarly, you can add appliances to the app to control a variety of appliances from one app. The app then behaves as a remote control device so you can control the device with your phone.

You need to connect the appliance to the hub and your phone in order to control the appliance. Specifically, the appliance must support IR. You can not control the appliance using Bluetooth. Surprisingly, the only downside to creating a remote control hub is that if you connect an appliance category that is not listed in the app, then the device will no longer work with your voice assistant.

App indicating if there are bots nearby, automated scene settings and devices installed

The SwitchBot app quickly installs and connects to each device seamlessly. Usefully, it detects which SwitchBot devices are in the range of the app allowing you to add them to the application and pair the device. Obviously, depending on the SwitchBot product you own, set different configuration options for each module.

Simple to install and configure

Firstly I set the SwitchBot Bot to turn on the light in the office. So all I had to do was remove it from its box and peel the label off the adhesive pad. Then I stuck the pad onto the light switch surround making sure that the remote arm would press the switch to activate it. Thereafter I configured the ‘Lights On’ action in the app.

SwitchBot Bot with activated arm extended to push light switch or power button

Finally, I paired the SwitchBot remote to the app so I could use the remote, or the app to switch on the light when I wanted. There is around half a second delay between pushing the remote or invoking the command in the app before the light will switch on. It usually takes me about five seconds to get to the light switch.

Acceptable delays?

I felt that the delay was still more productive than leaving my chair and manually switching the light on. Of course, I became annoyed, that although the mechanical arm rotates from the SwitchBot housing to switch on the lights, I still had to leave my desk to turn the light off. Naturally, I used another bot at the other edge of the light switch and configured this action to turn the lights off.

Two SwitchBot button pushers to control switching on and off the left-hand light switch

In reality, I never imagined that I would use the remote to turn the lights on or off. I thought that it would be much easier to do this in the app. However, it takes no time at all to stop typing, pick up the remote, and click to activate the light switch. Undeniably, it would take me far longer to unlock the phone, find the app, navigate to the correct bot, and either turn on or off the light switch.

Minor irritation

Although a couple of things annoy me, I am pleased with my set-up. Certainly, the light switch now looks cumbersome with two bots stuck onto the housing of the switch. Indeed, I find it much harder to switch the light on normally as the bot boxes are in the way. Besides, I lose the remote control bot from time to time and spend too long looking for it. However, as it comes with an adhesive pad, I could stick it to my monitor screen or a better accessible wall and know where it is at all times.

Vintage-style switches

The bot will only work on ‘rocker-style’ light switches. Moreover, if you have an older type of switch that uses a toggle light switch, then the SwitchBot bot will not manually turn these on and off for you. Obviously, finding the right type of other appliance that can be controlled by the hub, was a challenge. All in all, I wanted to make sure that everything currently controlled by a voice assistant would still work with the SwitchBot items. Basically removing automation capabilities are as simple as deleting from the app and taking the adhesive pad off the item.

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Who should buy a SwitchBot home automation solution?

You should buy the SwitchBot devices if:

• You want to automate your home without modifying any of your existing devices.
• Add to your range of items until you have the automation you want in the rooms you want.
• SwitchBot is modular, so you can add components until your house is as smart as you want it to be, or around your budget and grow from there

Why I like the SwitchBot range

Undoubtedly SwitchBot smart home products are simple to fit, connect and use. Indeed, you could buy a couple of items and extend your collection when your budget allows. Furthermore, you do not need to shell out on items that will be of no use in your home. Likewise, if a component breaks, you only have to replace that particular component and not the whole set. Chiefly, you do not need to spend cash on new parts every time one gives you trouble. Therefore this suits budget-conscious enthusiasts who do not want to replace their electrical system to get a smart home.

At $11.99 for the smart thermometer and $39 for the hub mini on Amazon you could quickly build yourself a universal remote. Then add your existing infrared devices and get yourself some home automation routines to start your smart home. Thus, you can increase your home automation product range at a speed and budget to suit your pocket.

SwitchBot

A range of smart home products that are simple to fit and manage and will bring home automation to your life controlled by voice, remote, or an app.

View at Amazon

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HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook Review: The new poster child of Google-powered laptops

The concept of a premium Chromebook is still outrageous to many. It’s not hard to see why, with so much focus on budget devices from the companies making them. But the HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook is as premium as it gets. No corners are cut, with nothing built down to a budget. This is a high-end laptop, period.

It mimics the Windows version of the Dragonfly in that regard. The best of HP design is blended with the top hardware available from Intel. This is an expensive Chromebook, too, unapologetically. With no new Pixelbook from Google anywhere in sight, there’s a vacancy for a new hero product. And HP is happy to try and fill it.

The HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook was announced right at the beginning of 2022, and since then it has been an eager wait. Its primary target market may well be the enterprise, but this is still just about the most desirable of today’s best Chromebooks. So, is it as good as we hoped? Is it worth that high asking price? And should you get one?

Yes.

HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook

A high-end, stylish, powerful Ultrabook that just happens to run ChromeOS instead of Windows.

Features:

Pros: Cons:

See at HP

Navigate this review:

• Pricing and availability
• Specs
• Design and features
• Performance and battery life
• Who should buy one

Pricing and availability

The HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook is available to order now from the HP website with prices starting at $1,559 for the default configuration. There are extensive options that can be applied covering virtually all aspects of the hardware.

The default option comes with a 12th Gen Core i3, a Full HD anti-glare display, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. The asking price can be reduced by changing the display to the QHD+ option with no anti-glare, removing the included pen, and reducing the SSD to 128GB. This makes the cheapest HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook $1,412.

It’s also worth noting that for just $3 HP will upgrade the included power adapter from 45W to 65W which is absolutely worth doing.

This review was conducted using a pre-production sample loaned to XDA by HP, used over the course of three weeks. HP had no input on the content of this review.

HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook: What’s in the box?

When you order an HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook and crack open the box, here’s what you’ll find inside:

• HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook.
• Digital Pen.
• 45W USB-C power adapter.

As previously mentioned, the pen can be removed at the point of order if you don’t want it and the power adapter can be upgraded to a 65W unit.

HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook specs

Specification	HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook
Display	13.5-inch Anti-Glare WLED (1920 x 1280), 400 Nits 13.5″ BrightView LED  (2256×1504), 400 Nits 13.5″ BrightView WLED (1920×1280), 1000 Nits Gorilla Glass 5
Processor	Intel Core i3-1215U Intel Core i5-1235U Intel Core i5-1245U Intel Core i7-1265U
RAM	8GB 16GB 32GB
Storage	128 GB PCIe NVMe SSD 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD 512 GB PCIe NVMe SSD
Battery	4-cell, 50-WHr Fast charging (90% charge in 90 mins) 45W power adapter (optional upgrade to 65W)
Security	Fingerprint scanner
Webcam	5 MP Integrated webcam privacy cover
Ports	2 x Thunderbolt 4 w/ USB 4.0 1 x USB Type-A 1 x HDMI 1 x 3.5mm combined headphone and microphone
Connectivity	Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX211 and Bluetooth® 5.3 combo Optional vPro Optional Intel XMM 7360 LTE Advanced Cat 9 WWAN Broadband Wireless AT&T and Verizon support
Audio	Dual stereo speakers Audio tuned by Bang & Olufsen
Dimensions and Weight	11.59 x 8.73 x 0.65 in Starting at 2.8 lb
Other features	Haptic Trackpad Digital pen included Optional ChromeOS with Chrome Enterprise Upgrade

Design and features: First Chromebook with a haptic trackpad

• Convertible design with a 3:2 aspect ratio
• Digital pen support (pen included)
• Thunderbolt 4 ports
• The first haptic trackpad on a Chromebook

Whether Chromebook or Windows, HP is making some of the finest-looking laptops in the world right now. The Elite Dragonfly Chromebook is yet another notch on that belt. It ticks all the boxes. For one, HP went with the superior 3:2 aspect ratio, with two-fold benefits. Firstly, it provides more vertical screen space, so that’s a win. Secondly, as a result of the increased tallness, you end up with more space for a larger trackpad. Another win.

The HP Elite Dragonfly is the best-looking Chromebook you can buy right now.

The result is a 13.3-inch ultrabook form factor with a large trackpad and a larger feeling display than its size would suggest. Folded up, the laptop is still extremely portable, though slightly squarer in form than a traditional 16:9 machine. It is, as you would expect, remarkably thin, too at just 0.6-inches when closed. Weight starts at just 2.6lbs, too, so it really is a “toss in the bag” kind of laptop. Given its enterprise targets, that’s even more important. The thin nature of the chassis didn’t mean excluding legacy ports, though. There’s still a full-sized HDMI output and a USB-A connector that you pop down. Clever.

The visual aspects of the design are striking, too. For one, it doesn’t have that screaming Chromebook logo on the lid like so many others. It’s still there, but it’s subtle and small. It only comes in one color, blue, which is fine because it’s gorgeous. HP took all the guesswork out of which color to buy and just made the Dragonfly in the best one. Job done. This is arguably the best-looking Chromebook right now.

It’s also one of the most versatile. The bezels on the display are slim, but not too slim, for being convertible you need a bit of something to grasp when using the Dragonfly as a tablet. ChromeOS still isn’t perfect in its touch-optimized mode, but it’s probably less frustrating than Windows 11. Pop the display right the way around and the hardware keyboard turns off and you have yourself a large tablet. The fingerprint scanner still works though, which is a nice touch, so you still have secure, easy login.

This mode is also the best to make use of the included digital pen. The pen snaps to the side of the laptop to charge and, well, just works. There’s no pairing process to worry about, just snap it on for a few minutes, get it juiced up, and get to your digital scribbling. Or you can use it like a stylus. It’s a great pen, and even though I’m not the biggest fan, I did find myself really enjoying using it. ChromeOS offers a selection of features other than writing and drawing, but even just as a way to jab at the screen and scroll through web pages, I’m happy with it.

The display is covered in Gorilla Glass 5, so it’s tough, and the version I have here has the QHD+ resolution and 400 nits brightness. It’s plenty bright enough indoors, but as this one doesn’t have the anti-glare finish, outdoors and just rooms with bright lights can be an issue. You get a lot of reflections, and so the additional brightness on the 1000 nits option would probably be the one to get if anti-glare doesn’t grab you.

HP is still partnered with Bang & Olufsen for its audio, and while it’s hardly a concert in your office, the speakers are excellent. The dual stereo setup is positioned at the front edge of the laptop. As such, whichever mode you use it in, the sound will never be muffled by a desk or even by its own chassis. As far as laptop speakers go, these are very good and quite loud.

Enterprise-friendly features

The HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook is built for Chrome OS Enterprise, so the hardware has certain important and desirable features. The most impressive is Intel vPro support, with this being the first Chromebook yet to support the feature. This provides important hardware features such as enhanced security, Wi-Fi 6, and Thunderbolt 4, all of which of course, the Dragonfly has.

The Dragonfly is the first Chromebook with Intel vPro

The webcam has an integrated privacy slider and the Dragonfly also benefits from HP’s excellent fingerprint scanner. Every so often you’ll need to revert to your password or PIN code for added security, but most of the time you’re logged in with that single tap.

Also of interest to the enterprise crowd, and perhaps to some consumers, is cellular support. In the U.S. both Verizon and AT&T are listed as supported, and there are plans for a 5G version in the future. Alternatively, pairing an Android phone to ChromeOS still provides support for instant tethering.

HP also has its own app for seamless drag-and-drop functionality between the Dragonfly and your smartphone. And that includes those with an iPhone, something ChromeOS doesn’t offer with its own comparable feature.

The haptic trackpad needs to be on every laptop from now on

Let’s talk a little about the haptic trackpad on the HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook. It’s magnificent. And it needs to be on every laptop from now on. It’s hard to put into words just how much better it is than a traditional trackpad.

From a technical perspective, HP has worked alongside Google to ensure that owners of the Dragonfly are able to upgrade firmware through ChromeOS. This is traditionally one area Chrome OS still lacks severely compared to Windows or macOS, but that’s beginning to change.

To press, the trackpad feels just as responsive as a traditional one. You get that same satisfying click, only there’s no movement. I can liken it to the haptic home button on the iPhone SE. It’s that same exact sensation. It feels like you’re pressing it, but in reality, you’re not. It’s really clever. It also doesn’t suffer from needing to be ‘clicked’ at a certain location like traditional trackpads. You get the same responsiveness across its entire surface.

The haptic trackpad also comes into play elsewhere in ChromeOS. For example, when dragging windows to snap into place, as it snaps into position you get feedback through the trackpad. This sort of feature is simply not possible without haptics. Hopefully, we see more of these going forward.

Performance and battery life: 12th Gen Intel CPUs bring the power

• Range of 12th Gen Intel CPUs
• Fast NVMe storage
• Decent but not outstanding battery life

The HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook is no longer the only Chromebook with a 12th Gen Intel CPU, but the crowd is hardly packed. As such, when I say that we haven’t seen a Chromebook before with this type of performance, it’s really true. Our review unit came with the Intel Core i5-1245U. This is a 10-core CPU made up of two performance cores and eight efficiency cores. It has a base TDP of 15W, but will turbo, and HP’s cooling for it channels air out of the laptop at the back in the hinge area. Most of the time it runs pretty cool and quiet, making the most of those efficiency cores. But if you start doing something more intensive you will hear the fans ramp up.

Measuring performance in a Chromebook is a little different from a Windows PC or a Mac. But here’s the thing; this thing absolutely rips. My own current Chromebook is also from HP, running a Ryzen 5 and 8GB of RAM, and the Dragonfly is leagues faster. Linux runs better, Chrome runs better, Android apps run better, the whole experience is just, well, better. Tasks that can still trip up my own Chromebook, including areas of the XDA CMS, barely bother the Dragonfly. One of my most used apps on a Chromebook is the Linux version of GIMP, and it just feels much more like a native experience vs something running in a container than on any other Chromebook I’ve used.

There are benchmarks, though. But I couldn’t get the Android version of Geekbench to work properly, nor others from 3DMark. So we’re limited to those that can utilize the browser.

Benchmark	Score
Kraken JavaScript (lower is better)	524
Jetstream 2 (higher is better)	201
Octane 2.0 (higher is better)	79,782
WebGL Aquarium (10,000 fish)	60 FPS
WebGL Aquarium (15,000 fish)	60 FPS
WebGL Aquarium (20,000 fish)	34 FPS

There isn’t a lot to directly compare this Chromebook to right now, but it’s easily at the top of the tree for performance. And while it’s not an apples-to-apples comparison, the Dragonfly scored better in the top three benchmarks in that chart than my Mac Mini with the fabled M1 chip. Running in Chrome, just as on the Dragonfly, the Chromebook was the winner in every single test. For what that’s worth. What it does at least give an impression of, though, is that this isn’t to be shrugged off because “it’s just a Chromebook.” This is a laptop packing performance.

It’s also worth touching on gaming briefly. At the time of this review, the HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook wasn’t whitelisted for the Steam on Chromebooks test, also known as Borealis. The hardware inside is easily capable based on Google’s requirements, so it should, at some point, be able to join in. It’s hardly a gaming laptop, but as the Steam Deck has proved, you don’t necessarily need insane power to have a good time.

The WebGL Aquarium benchmark

Where things take a turn not necessarily for the worse, but, for the less impressive, is battery life. With all this performance comes the need to actually power it. Toss in the higher resolution display (or the higher brightness if you go for that option) and you’re looking at between 6-8 hours of real-world use. I used the Dragonfly as my main work machine for most of the review period and never managed to quite go a full day before I needed the charger. It’s not bad, but it could easily be better, especially given the enterprise focus HP is pushing.

What I did find is that when the laptop was closed it would drain more power than other Chromebooks I’m used to using. This could be a bug, it could just be how it is on this particular machine, but it certainly didn’t help eke out the battery life. It does charge quickly, though, and if you upgrade to the 65W charger you’ll be in an even better place. The charger isn’t particularly large so it’s at least highly portable.

Who should buy the HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook

• Perfect Chromebook for enterprise users.
• Price could be offputting for consumers.
• About the best Chromebook you can buy right now.

Exactly who should buy the HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook isn’t the easiest question to answer. On one hand, everyone should buy one, because it’s about the best-performing Chromebook money can buy. And the best looking. And it’s incredibly versatile. But for consumers, the price is a big deal. This is an expensive laptop. Ignoring the whole ChromeOS vs Windows debate as to which is ‘better,’ this thing is pricey. And as such, it’s simply not going to be for everyone.

The HP Elite Dragonfly is the poster child of Chromebooks.

What it’s really for is the enterprise crowd. HP and Google have a solid package to offer, and there’s a compelling case (to discuss another day) that ChromeOS makes more sense for many businesses in 2022 than Windows. It’s purposely easier to manage, the Google Workspace suite covers most of the major bases and there’s always Parallels for ChromeOS for those few times you really might need access to Windows.

Without a new Pixelbook from Google, this is the new yardstick. This is the poster child for Chromebooks in 2022. Even if ChromeOS can’t truly use all that performance today, there will come a day it can. Sometimes parting with a review unit is especially hard because the device in question was so special. This was one of those times. The HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook is just that good.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to lament the loss of a haptic trackpad in my life.

HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook

You won't find many Chromebooks like this in 2022, with HP's latest flagship model setting a pretty high bar if you can budget for it.

See at HP

The post HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook Review: The new poster child of Google-powered laptops appeared first on XDA.

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