Best smartwatches to look forward to in 2016

To hear watch without the word smart in front of it will soon be indicative of a heirloom description. Even luxury watch brands have embraced smartwatches with some exciting announcements having already been made this year and more set to come.

In 2015, we saw Apple finally take the plunge into the smartwatch market, Pebble hit us with not one but three new smartwatches in one year alone, and LG dive even further into the pool with yet another smarter offering. So what else do we have to look forward to? Well, there are plenty of devices left to keep an eye out for.

It seems 2015 was the year of intelligent wrist adornment and chances are, 2016 will continue the trend, so here are all the best smartwatches to look forward to in 2016. We have included devices that have been announced but are not yet available to buy, as well as a few rumoured timepieces for good measure.

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HTC One smartwatch

Rumours that HTC is making a smartwatch have been circulating for some time now. Last year, it was thought the Taiwanese company would launch the Petra smartwatch at Mobile World Congress, but nothing ever appeared. The rumours then suggested the design was being changed to a round model that would apparently appear in 2016.

Since then, serial leaker Evan Blass has shared on Twitter that the HTC smartwatch “should be out mid-April”, suggesting it might launch with the next flagship – the M10. There aren’t many other details at the moment but perhaps 2016 will be the year HTC hops on the smartwatch bandwagon.

READ MORE The Pocket-lint Guide to smartwatch etiquette 

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Apple Watch 2

Apple announced the Apple Watch in September of 2014, releasing it for sale in April of 2015 but rumours have already started circulating for a second generation of the iOS-specific smartwatch.

The Apple Watch 2, as we are calling it for now, has been rumoured to be unveiled at an event on 15 March, with suggestions it will go on sale in June 2016, or the second quarter of 2016. It will apparently come with the same design as the original with the same rectangular screen size options, screen resolutions, and body, which might mean current straps might remain compatible.

Word has it new materials might come for the second generation however, and it is thought it will also sport a front-facing video camera (located near the top of the display) that will allow for proper FaceTime calls. Improved wireless capabilities have also been touted.

READ MORE Apple Watch 2: What’s the story so far?

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Guess Connect (2016)

Guess announced the Guess Connect smartwatch last year at CES. It looked like the traditional Guess Rigor watch but added a notification bar at the bottom of the face, powered by Martian. The company announced there would be several new designs of the Guess Connect appear for 2016, including a leopard print design and a new, smarter option.

In addition to the new colours and styles of the original Guess Connect however, the company is also planning to launch an entirely new model, which will again be powered by Martian. The new watch will focus more on looking like a normal watch, adding just an LED notifier light within the watch housing instead. There are plenty of styles coming with the new model arriving in November.

READ MORE These are the new Guess Connect watches and they are amazing

LG

LG Watch Urbane 2

LG’s second generation of its Watch Urbane offers a full range of wireless connections, including 4G and 3G meaning it will be able to make and receive calls, operating independently of your connected smartphone.

The LG Watch Urbane 2 expands the P-OLED display to 1.38-inches, 348ppi, and is powered by the standard Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 chipset, with 768MB RAM. There’s 4GB of internal storage, should you wish to keep your music offline, and GPS for tracking your runs and so on.

The LG Watch Urbane second edition will be compatible with Android and iOS devices and it will be available in Space Black, Opal Blue, Luxe White and Signature Brown, which refers to the strap colour options.

LG launched the watch before pulling it almost immediately after issues with the display. It has now been confirmed the Watch Urbane 2 hasn’t been cancelled and will make a reappearance in the second half of 2016 so eyes peeled for this one.

READ MORE LG Watch Urbane 2 revealed 

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Haier Watch

White-good manufacturer Haier announced its move into wearables at Mobile World Congress 2016 with the Haier Watch that sports full-blown Android 6.0 Marshmallow rather than Android Wear.

The Haier Watch comes with multiple watch faces and sports Bluetooth 4.0, 8GB of storage and a 1.4-inch display with a 400 x 400 resolution and no flat tyre. The 42mm casing is built from 316L stainless steel and it features an integrated speaker, as well as the ability to be used as an MP3 player. There is also a microphone on board.

Additionally, the Haier Watch has heart rate tracking, activity tracking and it is IP65 water resistant. It will be available in April and pricing is expected to be around €200.

READ MORE Haier Watch: Full Android 6.0 Marshmallow on your wrist

Sammobile

Samsung SM-R150

It looks like Samsung might be working on its next-generation activity tracker if images revealed by Tizen Cafe and later republished by Sammobile are anything to go by. The device is said to be going by the name of Triathlon internally but known by the model number SM-R150 and it appears to look similar to the Gear S2 with a round face and rotating bezel.

Based on the leaked images, it looks like the SM-R150 will feature a heart-rate sensor, something to count workout repetitions, a way to track water intake and some kind of body fat measurement ability. There also seems to be a way to attach the device to your chest.

Huawei

Huawei Watch Jewel and Elegant

Yes, we know the Huawei Watch has already been announced and is currently available to buy – here we are now referring to a couple of women’s models that were announced at CES 2016. The Chinese manufacturer has teamed up with Swarovski to produce the Huawei Watch Jewel and Huawei Watch Elegant.

The Jewel is all about the bling with crystals surrounding the face, while the Elegant model opts for a knurled pattern instead. Both models have genuine Italian leather straps in pearl white and sapphire blue and they both come with 40 pre-loaded faces like the original model, as well as a heart rate sensor and motion sensors for fitness tracking. You will find 10 exclusive feminine watch faces on the new models however. They will be available in March.

It has also been rumoured that the Chinese company has also started working on a second generation of the watch, which has been scheduled to arrive in the second half of the year. If this is the case, we wouldn’t be surprised to see it launch at IFA. The second-generation is rumoured to possibly offer a cellular version but take that with pinch of salt for now.

READ MORE Huawei Watch Jewel and Elegant make Android Wear sparkle

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Casio Smart Outdoor Watch WSD-F10

Casio announced its first smartwatch at CES 2016 in the form of the Smart Outdoor Watch WSD-F10. It runs on Android Wear but it is a little more rugged than its competition with water-resistance up to 50 metres and MSL-STD-810 military compliance. 

There is a 1.32-inch screen on board offering a resolution of 320 x 300 and a choice between monochrome and full-colour mode. The Smart Outdoor Watch WSD-F10 comes complete with a pressure sensor, compass and accelerometer, with users able to check altitude, air pressure, tide graphs and activity, among other things.

The Casio Smart Outdoor Watch WSD-F10 comes in black, orange, red and army green colour options, will cost around $500 and will be available un the US in April.

READ MORE Casio Smart Outdoor Watch WSD-F10 first impressions

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Fossil Q54 Pilot

Fossil announced an addition to its Q range of smartwatches at CES 2016 in the form of the Q54 Pilot. The new device joins the Q Founder and the Q Grant and it has been designed on the original Pilot 54, bringing the case, movement and stainless steel build with it but adding smart technology.

The Q54 Pilot combines Intel Innovation and motion sensors, offering step tracking, calories-burned monitoring and filtered LED colour-coded and vibrations for notifications. A Fossil Q app update means users will be able to choose from three vibration patters to differentiate between notifications and step counting has also been enhanced.

The Fossil Q54 Pilot will be available for between $175 and $215 in the Spring.

READ MORE Fossil Q54 Pilot announced

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Martian Kindred vip

Martian Watches announced the Kindred vip watch at CES 2016, featuring a 38mm face set in a stainless steel case that comes in a range of colours. There are two collections – CL and SP – with the former designed for smart occasions and the latter for the more athletic-minded apparently.

Both collections have a LED light for notifications and a vibration motor. Through the Martian Smart mVip app, you can set seven lights and various vibration patterns to help you differentiate between notifications. Two batteries are on board, one for the analogue movement and one for the smarts. The Martian Kindred vip launches in August 2016 with a starting price of $195.

READ MORE Martian Kindred vip first impressions 

Movado

Movado Bold Motion

HP has announced a partnership with watchmaker Movado to create their first smartwatch called Bold Motion. Movado is bringing the fashion and analogue design while HP is offering the tech smarts.

Bold Motion will be a 44mm stainless steel device with a black PVD finished bezel that features a round-faced with one button and a crown dial. The watch will be waterproof up to 50 metres, which the black silicone strap will also handle without a problem.

Inside the smartwatch, HP has packed in its own hardware and software and the Bold Motion will work with iOS and Android smartphones for notifications. On top of the usual watch functions such as time and date, there are vibrating notifications for calls, emails, texts and social media updates, as well as calendar appointments. The watch will also automatically adjust to new time zones and act as an activity tracker.

The HP Movado Bold Motion will cost $795 and arrive in time for Christmas.

READ MORE Movado announces Bold Motion

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Blocks

Blocks, a modular smartwatch, is nearing the final stages of its Kickstarter campaign so we can expect the device to appear in the first half of 2016. Although the design still hasn’t reached final phase, the latest version is far more market ready than previous we have seen.

The company is working with Compal to produce the modular watch, which will feature a sleek round finish and single button. Thanks to reaching two Kickstarter goals, it will be offering Gorilla Glass protection and an AMOLED display rather than TFT.

The clasp has been redesigned, with the final model set to feature a pop and clip clasp that allows it to be resized to fit any wearer’s wrist. There will also be a bespoke OS on board that will launch with around 20 Blocks apps, along with more from partners.

Under the hood, it should offer the Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, a 400mAh battery, an accelerometer and gyroscopic sensors for motion detection. Bluetooth LE, Wi-Fi, haptic feedback and voice controls will also be onboard. Unlike other watches, the modules will allow for upgrades to the basic design.

The first Blocks smartwatch units will begin shipping in May 2016. There are options to buy alone or with module units as part of a package and pricing starts at $195 on Kickstarter.

READ MORE Blocks modular smartwatch hands on

Pocket-lint

Sony Wena

Sony announced the the Wena smartwatch in the run up to IFA under its First Flight crowdfunding platform, which is part of the Seed Acceleration Program that features other products such as last-years FES Watch.

The Sony Wena approaches things a little differently to the current smartwatch offering, integrating the smart features into the metal bracelet rather than the watch face. It looks every bit like a traditional analogue watch, but the Sony Wena smartwatch has three functions.

It monitors activity through a range of sensors, delivers notifications through a customisable seven-colour LED light and vibrations, and it can perform e-payments thanks to an NFC chip. The Sony Wena smartwatch will go on sale in Japan in March 2016, but there is currently no confirmation for the rest of the world.

READ MORE Sony Wena hands-on

Vogue

Gucci and will.i.am smartband

Gucci and will.i.am collaborated to announce a fashion smartband at Baselworld 2015, which has been in the making since 2011. The smartband is a standalone device, like will.i.am’s Puls that was announced a few months before and the Gucci offering appears to be a fashionable version of it.

It is 3G enabled, voice controlled and it will come with a front-facing camera, along with a heart rate monitor, temperature sensor and GPS. Battery life wasn’t mentioned but if it follows the same path as the Puls, it might be built into the strap.

The Gucci will.i.am smartband will be able to make and receive calls, texts and emails, as well as store music, maps, calendars and track your activity. No pricing or release date information has been provided yet but we will update this feature when we know more. 

READ MORE Gucci and will.i.am unveil fashion smartband 

Tissot smartwatch

Tissot smartwatch

Tissot used Baselworld 2015 to show off a working prototype of its smartwatch that features Bluetooth and NFC connectivity. The smartwatch was housed inside the head of a T-Touch Solar Expert and it will use Bluetooth to connect to an outdoor weather station that will come with the watch.

The station will measure altitude, barometric pressure, temperature and humidity more accurately that if it was built into the watch says the company. You’ll also be able to attach small sensors to items like phones and keys, which the watch will then be able to connect to and direct you to them using its hands as the navigation pointers.

While the Tissot smartwatch is still in prototype phase at the moment, the company hoped to have it finished before the end of 2015 but it has yet to appear so eyes peeled for now.

READ MORE Tissot unveils smartwatch

Bulgari

Bulgari Diagono Magnesium

The Bulgari Diagono Magnesium concept was revealed at Baselworld 2015 and it is claimed to be a luxury timepiece “completely opposite” from other “so-called” connected watches. The company says it is 100 per cent Swiss and NFC-enabled.

The Diagono Magnesium was described as a self-winding, mechanical watch that apparently works with a protected electronic passport called Luxury Wrist Vault. The passport app is said to have a range of possibilities including making payments, logging in securely to a digital community, opening doors and starting your car engine.

Pricing, specs and a release date have yet to be detailed so whether we will see it this year or not is still to be confirmed.

New Balance

New Balance smartwatch

Athletics company New Balance has created a Digital Sport division that will be focusing on devices and embedded technology. The first product will be an Android Wear smartwatch but details are thin on the ground at the moment.

It has been said that the New Balance smartwatch allow runners to track routes with GPS as well as run with music without needing the help of an accompanying smartphone but that’s pretty much all we know at the moment. New Balance has said the smartwatch will be launching by the end of 2016, so we might be waiting a while.

READ MORE New Balance outlines Android Wear running watch plans

Roku 4 review: Rock-solid streaming, now in 4K

The Roku 4 is the company’s updated flagship set-top box with support for 4K (although, bizarrely, it’s still not available in the UK). With so many big-name competitors now on the market, such Amazon Fire TV 4K, is it worth paying $130 for this particular box?

See the thing that makes Roku stand-out from its rivals is that it’s not trying to sell you its own streaming service. Apple wants you to buy movies or apps from Apple; Amazon’s box is basically hardware for Amazon Prime and Instant Video. Roku, on the other hand, is neutral, at least for the most part.

Roku openly lets you decide where you want to purchase content from – whether that be through Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Google Play, or others. So, with Roku, you can get access to not only some of the most popular streaming services out there, including Hulu, but also content from major competitors.

That – combined with support for 4K playback – makes the new Roku 4 worth considering. But there could be other reasons why you might choose this box as your go-to media player, especially when getting ready to waste a weekend binging on your favourite TV shows.

READ: Roku tips and tricks: 14 you likely didn’t know you could do

Roku 4 review: Design

The Roku 4 looks a bit like a frying pan.

Or at least that’s what we’ve been calling it after a friend saw it and laughed about it being so flat and wide that it resembles one. So, the nickname stuck, and now in our house we usually yell: “See if you can rent that movie through the frying pan” or “the frying pan is on input three”.

Pocket-lint

Although its 165mm square footprint and 20mm height looks like what would happen if a semi-truck rolled over Roku 3, the latest model is still very Roku-looking in that it’s made of black plastic, has a little purple cloth tag sticking out of it, and features a large “4” stamped on the top.

READ: Roku 3 review

On the rear, you’ll find an optical audio port, microSD slot, Ethernet, and HDMI connector. The coolest design element of the frying pan, however, is a button on the top: this handy thing makes your remote emit a sharp beeping sound when pressed. That’s right: Roku 4 has a remote finder. Yas!

Roku 4 review: Remote

Speaking of the remote, nothing has changed. It looks just like Roku 3’s remote, meaning you’ll be able to use it to voice search – just like you can with the Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV. Just press the search button, and then speak the name of a movie, director, or actor. But it probably won’t work.

When we reviewed Roku 3, we thought voice search was pretty decent. But somehow it seems like things have gotten worse since then. It definitely had a hard time understanding us. We searched for numerous things, and it hardly got anything right. Either we have bad diction, or Roku voice search is a bit meh.

Pocket-lint

When voice search works, Roku will display results from all the services and channels you have downloaded. It’ll also switch-up the order of results to avoid any bias. Unfortunately, Roku isn’t good at contextual searches like Amazon and Apples’ boxes, so you can’t search for things like “shows with doctors”.

Beyond voice search, the Roku 4 remote offers directional arrows, the usual control buttons, as well as buttons specifically for Netflix, Amazon, Rdio, and Sling. We can’t help but wonder who really uses Rdio that much to need a dedicated button. Roku really should let users program these buttons themselves, but we can see the appeal of quick access ones to the most popular services.

Oh, and of course the remote comes with Roku’s now-iconic headphone jack and bundled earbuds for private listening. We can definitely imagine it coming in handy late at night when you want to watch TV but still let your household sleep in total silence.

Roku 4 review: Software

Roku 4 is a breeze to setup: plug it in, then create or sign into your Roku account, and start browsing channels to download. Simples. Roku hasn’t really changed anything here – despite its new OS 7 software. The interface is still easy to use, and actually seems a bit faster than Roku 3.

The interface is dated though. It has a purple and black theme (you can change it) with left- and right-side panes on the home screen. The left displays every section available – including My Feed, Movie Store, TV Store, Search, Streaming Channels, and Settings – while the right pane shows all your downloaded channels. Channels can be things like Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Sling, or whatever you choose.

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Roku even offers a section that shows you all the 4K content available from major services. But when we checked it there were only like 100 movies and and 50 shows to watch in Ultra-HD from all providers, including Netflix and Amazon. We browsed movie options in the 4K Ultra HD section supplied by M-Go but didn’t find anything too exciting. We also voice-searched for 4K movies, but nada. That goes to show 4K’s standing: it’s progressing, but there’s not a whole bunch of native content just yet.

If you’re not happy with the results from Roku Channels, you can always access external content by inserting a micro-SD card or USDB drive into the side. It’s a solid option for those of you who are torrent hounds (tut tut).

You’ll likely use the home the most to select from your top-downloaded channels (you can rearrange the order of channels), as well as Search and Streaming Channels for when you want to find stuff to watch or download, respectively. You might also find yourself using Roku’s My Feed section.

Under My Feed, you will see all the movies or shows you have “followed” (you will see the option to follow something whenever you conduct a search for it). The purpose of this area is to give you updates when a particular movie/show has appeared or is about to disappear or even be discounted on a service.

So, if Netflix has just added your favourite TV show, you’ll instantly know. But during our short time with this device, we never had a chance to put My Feed to the test. We followed a few things but didn’t get any notices. Plus, we found it really annoying that we couldn’t follow things within channels.

Let’s say you we’re looking at a show in Hulu. You can’t follow it directly from there; you need to search for it and then follow. You can, however, follow things from the iOS or Android apps. These were recently updated with a modern design and the ability to make 4K screensavers.

Pocket-lint

Roku 4 review: Streaming

Roku 4 is wider in build because it’s packed with more goods, including a faster quad-core processor and support for improved Wi-Fi (802.11ac). It can also stream 4K video at 60 frames per second. The Amazon Fire TV maxes out with 4K at 30fps. But you’ll need a 4K TV with a HDCP 2.2-compliant HDMI input to watch 4K from either of those boxes anyway – so be sure to check.

Which was our first stumbling block: we don’t own a 4K telly at home yet, which obviously dictates the implication of Roku 4’s success. However, we got a friend to bring over a compatible TV one Saturday to check out some Ultra High-Definition goodness. And, if you can source the content, it sure does look great.

And finally, Roku 4 can play games! But, again, there’s only a small selection of titles available. It’s an option nonetheless. The remote has motion control, meaning it doubles as a game controller. But if you’re looking to really get some gameplay out of your set-top box, we think Amazon Fire TV or the new Apple TV each have more to offer in that department.

Verdict

When it comes to streaming 4K content, the Roku 4 offers one of the most compelling solutions out there – well, out somewhere, as it’s not available in the UK just yet. But for those in the US it’s an ideal way to watch 4K content, if you have a compatible 4K TV.

As an update to Roku 3 that’s the main take-away difference (well, that and the remote finder to help stop you losing the little devil down the back of the sofa). So if you don’t have a 4K TV then there’s nothing extra here for you for that $130 cover price. Sure there are some tweaks to the new OS 7 operation system – but we think it still looks old and boring, especially when compared to the flashy interface of Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV.

But keep in mind all these competing media boxes are roughly the same. They play well with multiple services, giving you ample opportunity to waste a weekend binging on your favourite TV shows and movies – but we do prefer the Roku’s “equal opportunity” of streaming sources from multiple app locations in the one place – so if you’re locked into Amazon’s ecosystem (or, to some degree, Apple’s), then staying put so that all your kit plays nice might be the easy option until 4K truly kicks off with bags of content. 

Still, for some of the smoothest (Roku 4 operates up to 60fps in 4K, for whenever there’s the content) Ultra-HD video you can watch – if you can find anything to watch, that is, given 4K’s relative infancy – the Roku 4 is a top choice. As a first streaming box purchase or 4K upgrade option it’s a great option.

 

Google DeepMind explained: What is it and how is it tackling AI and health?

Healthcare is about to get a lot smarter.

The same Google company that taught a computer how to master the ancient game of Go has just created a new division completely dedicated to solving healthcare issues, and it’s kicking things off in the UK with at least one mobile app. We’ve detailed everything you need to know below.

Google DeepMind: What is it?

Google bought DeepMind Technologies for $650 million in January 2014.

Prior to Google, DeepMind’s website described the company as a “cutting edge artificial intelligence company”. It had created a neural network capable of learning how to play video games in the same way as humans. Google’s purchase of DeepMind would presumably help it to compete against other companies focused on deep learning, including Facebook, which hired an NYU professor to lead its artificial intelligence lab.

Demis Hassabis, Shane Legg, and Mustafa Suleyman founded DeepMind Technologies in London in 2010. Google only acquired it after Hassabis demonstrated his program with superhuman gaming abilities. That program, according to The New Yorker, combines two forms of brain-inspired machine intelligence: a deep neural network and a reinforcement-learning algorithm.

Google DeepMind: Did it teach a computer to master Go?

Most people heard of Google DeepMind in early 2016, when its AlphaGo program beat a human professional Go player. Google DeepMind taught a computer program the ancient game of Go, and its highly-intelligent computer program, AlphaGo, is capable of winning the game every time – even when pitted against three-time European Go Champion Fan Hui.

The point of Go is to control at least 50 per cent of the board. Needless to say, it’s difficult to do. Now, in order for computers to play, they must be programmed to recognised all the variations. Chess, in comparison, has 10 to the power of 60 possible plays. In fact, chess was mastered by a computer game in 1997, but the first classic game to be mastered by a computer was Noughts and Crosses (also called tic-tac-toe) in 1952.

Interestingly, one day before DeepMind made its announcement, Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s CEO, wrote on Facebook that his AI team was getting close to achieving the exact same breakthrough. He even said the researcher who had been working on the project sat “about 20 feet” from his desk: “I love having our AI team right near me so I can learn from what they’re working on.”

Anyway, Google made a lot Go players happy with its achievement. More importantly, its research from the project could affect how computers search for a sequence of actions. And, as Google said, that’s just one more rung on the ladder toward solving artificial intelligence. This type of research, for instance, could further facial-recognition processing and predictive search.

READ MORE: Google just taught a computer to master Go

Google DeepMind: What is DeepMind Health?

DeepMind Health is a division within DeepMind.

While DeepMind is focused on solving computer intelligence, DeepMind Health is focused on healthcare issues. It is collaborating directly with “frontline clinicians to develop technology that helps improve patient care.” The company said is tackling healthcare because it’s an area where DeepMind Health believes it can “make a real difference to people’s lives across the world”.

Google DeepMind: How will DeepMind Health tackle healthcare?

DeepMind Health said it is starting in the UK, with the National Health Service, to ensure that “clinicians get the tools and support they need to continue providing world-class care.” DeepMind Health aims to support clinicians by delivering the “technical expertise needed to build and scale technologies that help them provide the best possible care to their patients.” The initiative thus far relies on smart mobile apps.

Google DeepMind: What are the first DeepMind Health apps?

The first app is called Streams. It can help detect acute kidney injuries that might go unnoticed. DeepMind also plans to integrate technology from a task management app, called Hark, to better spot patients who are at risk of become progressively worse.

This is early-days territory, however. DeepMind Health said Streams is still very early in its development and has only completed two small-scale pilots thus far. But it will continue to work on Streams and aims to do some peer-reviewed research this year. Oddly, artificial intelligence is not part of the early pilots. DeepMind Health said it’s “too early to determine where AI could be applied.”

Nevertheless, the division is “excited” about possibility of using AI in the future.

Google DeepMind: Want to know more?

Watch the video above and check out DeepMind Health’s website.

Apple likely won’t launch iPad Air 3 but rather smaller iPad Pro in March

Apple isn’t introducing an iPad Air 3 at it’s yet-to-be-confirmed March event.

According to 9to5Mac, Apple will unveil a 9.7-inch iPad, but it’ll be branded as iPad Pro rather than iPad Air 3. Sort of how the MacBook Pro line comes in 13-inch and 15-inch sizes, the iPad Pro line will come in 9.7-inch and 12.9-inch sizes. Rumours have claimed the iPad will feature four speakers, Apple Pencil support, the same processor, and the same amount of RAM as the iPad Pro.

It therefore makes sense that this next iPad would fall under the iPad Pro line. Also, Apple ditched the “Air” name when it launched the 12-inch MacBook, even though that machined seemed like a direct successor to the MacBook Air. So, maybe Apple just wants to do away with the Air moniker altogether for its devices. Either way, expect a 9.7-inch iPad Pro to debut on 15 March.

The tablet will supposedly begin shipping as soon as 18 March and might even work with a smaller version of Apple’s Smart Keyboard cover attachment that debuted alongside the 12.9-inch iPad. If so, the cover will be ready for March.

The 9.7-inch iPad Pro should be available in the same colours and storage capacities as the larger iPad Pro, but the new device will be closer in price to the existing iPad Air 2 that starts at $799 and goes all the way up to $1,079.

Apple iPad Air 3: What’s the story so far?

Apple offers three iPad ranges comprising the Mini, Air, and Pro, with five iPads available in total – the iPad Mini 2, iPad Mini 4, iPad Air, iPad Air 2, and iPad Pro. The iPad Air 2, which was unveiled in late 2014 alongside the iPad Mini 3, is well overdue for an update. Apple typically updates its devices annually, but for whatever reason, no new iPad Air was launched in 2015.

Although the iPad Air 2 is the same height and screen size as its predecessor, the iPad Air, it’s thinner and faster and features Touch ID. It is thought the new 9.7-inch iPad, which we are calling the iPad Air 3 for the sake of this feature, will be faster than its predecessor when it launches, but that’s just speculation for now and there is plenty more where that came from.

This is Pocket-lint’s guide to the rumours surrounding the iPad Air 3, or smaller iPad Pro as it is also being called. We have laid out all the latest gossip, hints and leaks about the next 9.7-inch iPad so you can see what might be coming in one place. Keep checking back for more information as we will be updating this feature as more leaks and rumours appear.

Apple iPad Air 3: Release date

Chinese technology site MyDrivers claims Apple is looking to release the next 9.7-inch iPad tablet around March 2016. This has since been supported by 9to5Mac, who says sources claim an event will be taking place on Tuesday 15 March. This site also claims the device will be branded under the iPad Pro name, rather than the iPad Air family.

March events are becoming a pattern for Apple so it isn’t a completely unreasonable suggestion that the iPad Air 3, or a smaller iPad Pro will appear within this first quarter. The company is also rumoured to be prepping the Apple Watch 2 and the Apple iPhone 5SE for the same timeframe, so with all that in mind, we could very well see the new 9.7-inch iPad debut alongside a new watch this spring.

If the iPad Air 3, or smaller iPad Pro does debut alongside the iPhone 5SE, 9to5Mac has claimed they will be put for sale online and in retail stores by 18 March – just three days later. With such a short window before launch, Apple will probably skip offering pre-orders for the new devices altogether, which is something very atypical.

Apple usually releases new iPhone models about two weeks after they’ve been unveiled and given an online pre-order period, though the iPad Pro took a whopping two months before it released. 9to5Mac said manufacturing of the new iPhone was ramped up in January. If that’s true, Apple likely has a healthy enough stock to begin selling the handset straightaway.

Nowhereelse

Apple iPad Air 3: Design

Alleged design sketches give a purported first look at what the upcoming tablet might look like and feature. According to the drawings, the iPad Air 3 could sport a four-speaker design (at the top and bottom edges), as found in the iPad Pro for boosted stereo sound, making the idea of the new iPad falling in the iPad Pro line more feasible. The new tablet is also said to be coming with a rear LED flash, making it the first iPad to include flash capabilities. 

These two features may require a slight redesign of the iPad Air’s body, but it will likely continue to be ultra thin. If the iPad Air 3 gets a rear-camera flash, this could mean it will also come with camera improvements, such as an updated 12-megapixel camera found on the iPhone 6S, which would be an upgrade over the iPad Air 2’s 8-megapixel camera.

Supporting the claims of a rear camera flash and four-speaker design is a leaked third-party case, found by Macotakara and republished by Apple Insider. The apparent iPad Air 3 case also indicates the Smart Connector found on the iPad Pro will be coming to the new 9.7-inch model. It has also been suggested the new 9.7-inch device will be compatible with Apple Pencil, which if true, is another good reason for the iPad Air 3 coming in under the iPad Pro name instead.

Further design sketches released by Engadget – from a “reliable source” – also support the quad speakers, flash and Smart Connector, so there is certainly increasing gravitas about the existence of those features. The Engadget drawings also sport measurements and, if true, suggest that the iPad Air 3 will actually be fractionally thicker than its predecessor, by 0.05mm, and slightly wider, by 0.1mm.

In terms of colours, 9to5Mac has said there are rumours to suggest the iPad Air 3 might be coming in the same colour options as the iPhone 6S. If this is the case, we can expect silver, space grey and gold like the iPad Air 2, but also perhaps a rose gold model.

Of course, the design sketches have not been officially confirmed and third-party cases certainly aren’t gospel, so take everything you see here with a grain of salt for now.

Engadget

Apple iPad Air 3: Specs

Despite the lack of rumours surrounding the iPad Air 3, it is possible to predict a number of possible specs based on what Apple has done in the past.

The iPad Air 3 will certainly feature a newer, faster processor than its predecessor. The iPad Air 2 has an A8X chip, and the iPad Pro has the A9X, so we’d expect the A9X or possibly even an A10 chip. Bloomberg is reporting that the iPad Air 3 will come with Apple’s A9X processor, along with support for the Apple Pencil an Smart Connector for keyboards and other peripherals. Supporting this is 9to5Mac who suggests Apple is working on a 9.7-inch panel that will work with Apple Pencil, which also explains the theory of a smaller iPad Pro rather than an iPad Air 3.

Chances are the RAM will also increase for the new model too. The iPad Air 2 has 2GB of RAM and the iPad Pro comes with 4GB. It is rumoured the new 9.7-inch iPad will come with the same processor and RAM as the iPad Pro, meaning the A9X and 4GB.

In terms of display, it’s more than likely you will see the same 9.7-inch size make another appearance along with Touch ID. Rumored specs from site MyDrivers suggested a resolution of 2334 x 3112, which would make it Ultra HD. The iPad Air 2 has a 1536 x 2048 screen resolution so if the rumours are true, you can expect a sharper images on the new model.

Apple is also said to be working on the next-generation of pressure-sensing display technology that will work on screen sizes as large as the iPad Pro, according to AppleInsider, but it might not be ready for the iPad Air 3.

Apple iPad Air 3: Software

If the tablet arrives in March, it will likely run iOS 9. If it comes later in the year, expect it to launch with iOS 10. Apple’s iOS 9 introduced improvements to Siri and Apple Maps, multitasking for iPads, a new keyboard, and more so the iPad Air 3 should get all that at least.

It has also been said that Apple is also testing a new version of iOS that incorporates a Classroom application. Apparently a preview of the software will come with the upcoming iOS 9.3 update.

Want to know more?

Check out Pocket-lint’s Apple and Apple iPad Air 3 hubs for all the latest news.

Next Nexus (2016): Release date, rumours and everything you need to know

Google’s Nexus programme gives birth to a pure Android smartphone every year, sometimes two, or perhaps a tablet. The idea behind the Nexus is to showcase Android in its purest form, away from the poking and prodding of manufacturer skins.

It’s given rise to some great device over the past years, but in recent times, has seen some of the most competitive Android handsets offered up. Where manufacturer flagships are often fighting to be king of the spec sheet, Nexus doesn’t always go toe-to-toe. There has often been compromises and we’ve see the exclusion of some features, like microSD card slots.

Importantly, the Nexus is the chance for Google to say “this is what Android is”. With 2016 well under way, we’re looking forward to the next Nexus, in a year that’s rumoured to be bringing some big changes.

Next Nexus (2016): Release date

It’s no secret that Google’s Nexus devices arrive in line with the latest version of Android and the likelihood of that changing is slim to nothing.

With that in mind, don’t expect a new Nexus anytime before the end of September. The Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P were both announced on 29 September 2015, hitting the shelves in October so expect a similar timeframe for 2016’s Nexus device or devices.

We’d expect Android N to make its appearance around this time and the next Nexus will be the showcase device for it.

Next Nexus (2016): Manufacturer

There are currently two Nexus smartphone models. The Nexus 5X is the cheaper and smaller of the two available, manufactured by LG. The Nexus 6P is the larger and more premium device made by Huawei.

Both showcase the manufacturers’ skills bringing with them character from the company who created them. The older Nexus 6 was distinctly Motorola and similar to the Moto X family, while the more recent Nexus 6P is clearly a Huawei device, similar to the P series.

Rumour has it this might not be the case for Nexus devices going forward. Sources talking to The Information claimed that Google is looking to play a much greater role in the hardware design, as well as software, which would make the smartphone manufacturer more of a contractor than a partner. As The Information rightly points out, some larger brands might not be completely au fait with this idea as they already get very little from the Nexus partnership.

There are separate reports that suggest that HTC might be lined up to produce the next Nexus. Whether this is with design control, or in more of an OEM role, we simply don’t know. One thing we do know however, is that LG won’t be manufacturing the next Nexus after it told Cnet it will be putting its resources into the recently launched LG G5.

Next Nexus (2016): Design

Whether Google will update both devices to continue offering two Nexus models is a question that remains unanswered. It has been claimed that it will be offering two, and HTC will be making both. We’d take this with a pinch of salt for now but with LG pulling away from the programme, it could be a plausible suggestion.

We currently have no idea what the next Nexus will look like, but if HTC were to take on the task, it would be reasonable to suggest its next flagship may have a big part to play. From that you can expect premium manufacture and design, and probably in metal. An educated guess would be to look towards the quietly launched A9 for an insight in to HTC’s future handsets, perhaps with the Nexus falling into line here.

Some reports have suggested the next Nexus devices will be smaller than the current offering – with 5-inch and 5.5-inch models claimed compared to the 5.2-inch and 5.7-inch devices available now, reportedly they are going by the model numbers T50 and T55. Whether Google’s alleged bid for more control results in only Google branding is another suggestion.

Google doesn’t have a huge wealth of industrial design experience, although it does offer an interesting device in the Pixel C tablet. If the software giant applies the same principals of Pixel to the next Nexus devices, we could be in for some great handsets.

Next Nexus (2016): Hardware

Aside from the display sizes, there haven’t been any suggestions as to what hardware we may see on the next Nexus. We’d expect Google to continue with the precedent it has already set – offering powerful devices at a reasonable price.

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 will probably make an appearance in at least one of the devices and we would also expect an identification sensor of some description, as well as USB Type-C and a good performing camera.

In the past, Nexus devices fell down when it came to the camera. This was rectified for the latest devices though so we would expect Google to continue to invest an interest in a good camera performance.

Next Nexus (2016): Software

The next Nexus will come with the next version of Android. That’s also no a secret. What features will come with Android N, as it is currently being called, are not yet known but multi-window mode has cropped up. It is also being rumoured that Android N will drop the apps tray.

What we do know at the moment is Google’s annual developer conference – Google I/O – will run from 18 May to 20 May, during which the company will undoubtedly preview Android N and some of the new features coming to the software.

As usual, some kind of sweet treat will be used for the name. It was suggested that Google might consider an online poll to decide what the official name will be, but whether that will happen or not is yet to be seen. Obviously Android Nutella would be a massive win for humankind, but we suspect it will fall to something like Android Nougat.

Next Nexus (2016): Conclusion

At the moment there isn’t a great deal to conclude about the next Nexus but that will change over the next few months. The Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P were both heavily leaked previous to their official unveiling so we wouldn’t be surprised if the same happened for the 2016 devices.

All we know for sure is that the next Nexus device, or devices, will arrive with Android 7.0 and this is more than likely to happen to in Q4. We will be updating this feature as more leaks and rumours appear so keep checking back.

Best TV and movies to watch this weekend on Amazon, Netflix, Now TV and more: Spectre, Vikings…

The weekend is upon us again and although we’ve been extremely busy in Barcelona, seeing the latest phones and smart devices debut at Mobile World Congress, that hasn’t stopped us trawling through the TV shows and movies available on catch-up and on demand services to bring you our highlights.

Each week we propose five programmes or films we think you’d like to watch, all of which available on a streaming service, either paid, subscription or completely free.

You can also watch them all on a streaming device, such as those available from Roku, including the Roku 3 and Streaming Stick.

So have a look at the following and if you like our choices, make such you make a mental note to watch one or more of them this weekend. After all, you don’t need to hit record or mark the listing in the Radio Times. All of the shows or movies on offer can be viewed when you want.

The History Channel

Vikings

(Amazon Video)

The fourth season of Vikings is now two episodes in and if you haven’t caught up with the show yet, what the heck are you doing?

It is, quite simply, the best show about Vikings ever made – being executive produced by a historian who knows a thing or two about the subject matter. And it’s proved so popular, its lead, Travis Fimmel, is also the star of the forthcoming World of Warcraft movie.

Danjaq, MGM

Spectre

(Sky Store, Google Play, Amazon Video, Sainsburys Entertainment on Demand)

Bond is back and now available to rent or buy across a number of the main screening services.

Finally, after many teasers over the last three films, James Bond is confronted with the evil organisation known as SPECTRE, with Christoph Waltz playing the lead bad guy. Ex-WWE star Batista (listed in the credits as Dave Bautista) is great as henchman Mr Hinx. And there’s a return for gadgtery at last.

Sky

Alan Partridge’s Mid Morning Matters

(Now TV)

Aha! Alan Partridge is back and all six episodes of series 2 of Mid Morning Matters are available to view on Now TV.

Each episode is 30 minutes long and the format feels less forced this time around, with the previous series originally made for Fosters and first screened on the internet. The TV Alan is a better Alan, and we’re sure you’ll laugh as much as we did to every darn minute of it.

Columbia Pictures

Django Unchained

(Netflix)

Quentin Tarantino’s first western is arguably better than his most recent – The Hateful Eight. It’s certainly got more heart as it follows the story of a free slave turned bounty hunter and his quest for vengeance.

Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz and Leo DiCaprio are superb in their roles, but it is the return of Miami Vice’s Don Johnson to the big screen that delights most.

20th Century Fox

The People vs OJ Simpson: American Crime Story

(BBC iPlayer)

An all-star cast line-up for this real-life biopic detailing one of the most shocking cases of the 90s. Oscar-winner Cuba Gooding Junior slips on the leather glove of former TV, movie and American football star Simpson, while John Travolta and David Schwimmer play his lawyers – both turning into celebrities themselves in the process.

Indeed, Schwimmer plays Robert Kardashian, father of Kim and her sisters, so even if you don’t give two hoots about the murder case, his story in itself is fascinating to watch.

With a Roku streaming player you can turn any TV into a Smart TV. Stream your favourite TV show or movie from one of the 1,700+ channels including Netflix, NOW TV, Sky Store, Google Play, BBC iPlayer, ITV Player, All 4, Demand 5 and many more. With a ton of great movies and TV shows available, you can find the perfect title to match your mood. Enjoy hundreds of free channels, your favourite subscription-based services, rent or buy. You choose what to watch, where to watch it, and how much to pay for it!

Don’t have a Roku streaming player yet? Shop now at Argos!

Sony Xperia X Performance vs Xperia Z5: What’s the difference?

Sony announced the X series at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, comprising three new smartphones. The company also confirmed the Z series will end with the Xperia Z5, leaving the new X range to take over. 

The Xperia X Performance sits at the top of the X series, although sadly it won’t be making its way across to Europe or the US, stopping its journey in Asia. That’s not to say it isn’t important though, because in actual fact, the X Performance could very easily have been the Xperia Z5’s successor.

With that in mind, we have decided to compare the two devices to see where the difference and similarities are. How does the Xperia X Performance stack up against the Xperia Z5 and would it be worth the upgrade if it ended up in our waters?

Xperia X Performance vs Xperia Z5 design

The Xperia X Performance measures 143.7 x 70.4 x 8.7mm and it weighs 165g. It trades the frosted finish that comes with the Xperia Z5 for an aluminium finish on the rear and adds a glass overlay to the front.

The same OmniBalance design is still present, along with the signature side power button that incorporates the built-in fingerprint sensor that Sony introduced on the Z5. In fact, aside from the materials and the rounder edges of the Xperia X Performance, these two smartphones look very similar. They both offer the capless Micro-USB and waterproof and dustproof ratings of IP68 and IP65.

The Xperia Z5 is a little larger than the X Performance, but it is also slimmer and quite a bit lighter. The Z5 measures 146 x 72 x 7.3mm and hits the scales at 154g.

Xperia X Performance vs Xperia Z5 display

The Xperia X Performance comes with a 5-inch display, which is a little smaller than the 5.2-inch display found on the Xperia Z5. Both have Full HD resolutions, which means the X Performance is ever so slightly sharper at 441ppi in comparison to the Z5’s 424ppi. This will not be noticeable to the human eye at this size however.

Both devices have the same Sony technologies on board, including Triluminos and X-Reality. Despite being only 0.2-inches smaller than the Z5, it is worth mentioning the X Performance is a little easier to manage and the display size seems to suit the design of the device a little better. 

Aside from that however, you would get a very similar experience on the Xperia Z5 and X Performance when it comes to display.

Xperia X Performance vs Xperia Z5 camera

The Xperia X Performance features a 23-megapixel rear sensor with 24mm wide-angle G lens. It offers sensitivity up to ISO 12800 and it comes complete with HDR and Superior Auto+, as well as a new software feature called Predictive Hybrid Autofocus. This latter feature allows the camera to track and predict movement, with the idea being that you never miss a moment because the camera has already shot it.

In terms of rear camera, the Xperia Z5 is the same. It also offers a 23-megapixel sensor, 24mm wide-angle G lens and sensitivity up to ISO 12800. It doesn’t offer the Predictive Hybrid Auto Focus feature however. 

The front cameras are different. The X Performance comes with a 13-megapxiel front snapper offering an aperture of f/2.0 and sensitivity up to ISO 6400. The Z5 on the other hand has a 5-megapixel front camera with a narrower f/2.4 aperture. This should mean the X Performance would be better at capturing low light selfies but in terms of the main camera, you should get a similar camera experience as the Z5 aside from having to keep a closer eye out for those special moments.

Xperia X Performance vs Xperia Z5 hardware

The Xperia X Performance comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, supported by 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. There is a microSD slot for storage expansion and a 2700mAh battery powering everything. 

The Xperia Z5 features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of internal memory and microSD support so the same as the Xperia Z5, aside from the newer and faster processor in the X Performance.

There is also a slightly larger battery at 2900mAh in the Z5 but considering the new processor, we suspect there won’t be much difference in actually battery life, with both devices claiming to offer up to two days.

Xperia X Performance vs Xperia Z5 software

The Xperia X Performance will launch with Android Marshmallow from the box. There should also be a few software changes but it is unclear what these will be at the moment as the devices at MWC were not final software. 

The Xperia Z5 is currently on Android Lollipop but it will eventually get an upgrade to Marshmallow, and more than likely any of Sony’s own software updates. This should result in a very familiar experience between the two devices.

Xperia X Performance vs Xperia Z5 conclusion

The Xperia X Performance is the smaller and faster of these two devices, but it is a little heavier and thicker than the Xperia Z5 and it offers a smaller battery capacity. The X Performance does have a more streamlined and exciting design with the metal finish however.

You would probably also get better selfies with the X Performance over the Z5 but the main camera performance should be pretty similar, as well as the software experience and display.

Would the X Performance be worth the upgrade? If you were moving from the Xperia Z3+ then absolutely. If you were moving from the Z5 and wanted a nicer design and the latest processor, as well as camera improvements then probably. The X Performance makes the updates in the places that matter but the Z5 is a good device in its own right. Lucky that seeing as unless you live in Asia, you can’t upgrade anyway.

Apple and FBI to testify at Congressional encryption hearing

As the battle between Apple and the FBI over unlocking a terrorist’s iPhone rages on, the US House Judiciary committee will discuss encryption next week. The committee scheduled a hearing for next Tuesday (March 1st) where FBI director James Comey will testify alongside Apple SVP and general counsel Bruce Sewell. This isn’t the first time the Judiciary committee has met on the subject of encryption, including briefings from both the government and representatives from tech companies.

Next week’s hearing follow the recent back and forth between Apple CEO Tim Cook and the US Justice Department over unlocking the cellphone of the terrorist responsible for the attack in San Bernardino, California last December. In an interview last night on ABC News, Cook reiterated that helping authorities unlock the device would be “bad for America.” However, the US Department of Justice is trying to force Apple to comply with the FBI request by offering “reasonable technical assistance” to access stored data.

“Americans have a right to strong privacy protections and Congress should fully examine the issue to be sure those are in place while finding ways to help law enforcement fight crime and keep us safe,” said committee chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and ranking member John Conyers (D-MI) in a statement.

Many folks in the tech industry have been calling for a discussion on encryption and security between companies and the government, so you can bet we’ll tune in next week as the hearing begins. You can stream it from the Judiciary committee’s website right here when the time comes.

Source: House Judiciary Committee

Razer’s Blade Stealth gaming ultraportable is all work and no play

At some point, every laptop-owning PC gamer asks the question, “Can I hook a desktop graphics card up to my notebook?” Until recently, the answer was no, but times are changing. In the past year Alienware, MSI and ASUS have all announced laptops with external GPU accessories, promising a workhorse on the go and a gaming behemoth at home. Razer’s take on this trend took CES by storm, running away from the electronics show with Best of CES awards for both People’s Choice and Best PC. And why not? The Razer Blade Stealth is sleek with impressive specs and has a strong pedigree. Still, there’s a problem: This ultraportable laptop ships without the GPU dock it needs to actually play games. Whoops.

Hardware

At a glance, the Razer Blade Stealth looks exactly like the company’s last two gaming laptops, just smaller. It has the same matte-black aluminum chassis, the same ridged accents on its lid and the same MacBook-esque unibody design. Don’t let the familiar design language fool you, though: Despite the Stealth’s aggressive exterior, this is actually a lightweight productivity machine.

At 2.75 pounds and measuring barely more than half an inch thick, the Stealth is wonderfully light. More than once over the course of my testing I tossed it in my bag and forgot it was there for the lack of added weight. Razer is quick to point out that the new Blade’s 0.52-inch chassis is both thinner and lighter than the 13-inch MacBook Air, but those bragging rights come with a price. The Stealth may best Apple’s kit on dimensions, but it loses a bit of connectivity in the process.

The thickest point of the Stealth’s frame is home to two USB 3.0 connections (one on each side), a multipurpose audio jack, an HDMI socket and a Thunderbolt 3 port. That’s not bad — two standard USB ports and a video output are nothing to complain about in an Ultrabook — but if you’re a shutterbug like me, you’ll miss having a memory card reader.

It’s great to see Razer adopt Thunderbolt 3, at least: The USB-C port is not only extremely versatile (with ridiculously fast 40Gbps data-transfer speeds and the ability to pull double duty as a DisplayPort output) but is also the connector through which you’ll hook up Razer’s Core GPU docking station. Better still: Razer says it’s not doing anything to limit the Core to just the Blade. That means any Thunderbolt 3 laptop that supports Intel’s detachable graphics standard will work with the Razer Core. Until then, though, the poor Thunderbolt 3 port is little more than a place to plug in your charging adapter.

Keyboard and trackpad

Before Razer made a name for itself with thin gaming laptops, oddball Windows tablets and modular PCs, it was primarily known for its peripherals: mice, keyboards and gamepads, all tricked out with a distinctive Razer style. They were so distinctive, in fact, that something about the Blade Stealth’s keyboard looks, well, wrong. It looks too normal.

The Stealth is the first Razer Blade laptop to do away with the company’s signature font — a blocky typeface composed of mixed capital and lowercase letters. It’s such a small change that I almost didn’t notice it. No, I’m not overreacting: This change was likely a conscious move on Razer’s part to present the Blade Stealth as a little more professional than the other machines in its lineup. One less reason for the other folks in the conference room to question your work computer. OK, maybe I am overreacting, but it’s still a noteworthy change.

How’s the keyboard for actual typing? It’s good, but there are some compromises. The Stealth’s keycaps are full size and well spaced, but they have notably less travel compared to Razer’s other Blade laptops. There’s more than enough give for comfortable typing, but I found the keyboard a little stiff when playing games — an odd sensation considering Razer’s deep experience with keyboards.

Speaking of departures from the norm, the Blade Stealth also has a buttonless trackpad — a first for the company. I typically prefer separate, distinct mouse buttons, but in Razer’s case this is an improvement: The company’s previous laptops all featured excellent trackpads with somewhat mushy mouse buttons. Now all that’s left is a great trackpad. That’s one less negative, and it’s better suited to the Stealth’s Ultrabook form factor. I can’t complain.

Display and sound

When it comes to laptop screens, Razer’s offerings run the gamut from unremarkable to absolutely stunning. The Stealth, it turns out, falls into the latter camp. It’s almost as if the 12.5-inch 3,840 x 2,160 IGZO touchscreen was created with the sole purpose of exhausting my go-to adjectives for display technology: It’s gorgeous, striking, breathtaking and stunning. This panel has everything you could possibly want in a laptop display: wide viewing angles; lush, beautiful color reproduction; and deep blacks. It is, objectively, an excellent screen. It also might be overkill.

Don’t get me wrong: Ultra-high-resolution displays are the way of the future, but they tend to put a dent in the portable, all-day productivity that consumers are looking for when they buy an ultraportable. The Stealth’s 4K display, brilliant as it is, means you aren’t going anywhere without a power adapter for very long (more on that later). It could just be that I’m getting old, but I also found the pixel density on the notebook’s 12.5-inch screen a little straining. Sure, I loved having that real estate, but I found myself squinting and leaning closer to my monitor than I would have liked, even with Windows 10’s scaling dialed up to 250 percent. As much as I love the display for its 100 percent Adobe RGB color space, I eventually found that a little odd, too. Here we have an ultraportable with the perfect display for editing high-resolution digital photos but no built-in card reader with which to access them. Again, weird.

By and large, overkill is the name of the game when it comes to Razer’s laptops — unless you’re talking about the speakers. Those are, and always have been, merely average. Every Blade I’ve tested has offered clear, well-separated stereo sound with enough oomph to fill a small room. They never sound tinny, and they don’t crackle or pop at loud volumes. The Stealth follows suit with a pair of nice, well-balanced speakers. They’re hardly exceptional, but you’ll never hear them crack or distort either.

Performance and battery life

Razer Blade Stealth (2.5GHz Intel Core i7-6500U, Intel HD 520)	5,131	3,445	E2,788 / P1,599 / X426	3,442	1.5 GB/s / 307 MB/s
Toshiba Radius 12 (2.5GHz Intel Core i7-6500U, Intel HD 520)	5,458	3,684	E2,865 / P1,622	3,605	552 MB/s / 489 MB/s
HP Spectre x2 (1.2GHz Core M7-6Y75, Intel HD 515)	3,395	3,307	E1,884 / P1,148 / X331	2,737	554 MB/s / 281 MB/s
Microsoft Surface Pro 4 (2.4GHz Core i5-6300U, Intel HD 520)	5,403	3,602	E2,697/ P1,556/ X422	3,614	1.6 GB/s / 529 MB/s
Lenovo Yoga 900 (2.5GHz Core i7-6500U, Intel HD 520)	5,368	3,448	E2,707 / P1,581	3,161	556 MB/s / 511 MB/s
Microsoft Surface Book (2.4GHz Core i5-6300U, Intel HD 520)	5,412	3,610	E2,758 / P1,578 / X429	3,623	1.6 GB/s / 571 MB/s
Microsoft Surface Book (2.6GHz Core i7-6600U, 1GB NVIDIA GeForce graphics)	5,740	3,850	E4,122 / P2,696	6,191	1.55 GB/s / 608 MB/s

Let’s be real: Without the Core GPU docking station, the Stealth isn’t much of a gaming laptop. It is, however, one hell of a workhorse. Between the Intel Core i7-6500U pulsing inside and the 8GB of RAM, there was nothing in my normal workload that the machine couldn’t handle. A disorganized mess of social media, video, Google Docs and music streaming tabs? Sure. A cavalcade of messaging and VoIP apps? No problem. The Razer Blade Stealth could shrug off anything I threw at it. It just couldn’t do it all day long.

The Stealth survived Engadget’s standard battery test (where we loop an HD video at a fixed brightness until exhaustion) for a little over five and a half hours. If we were looking at any of Razer’s previous Blade laptops, I’d consider this pretty decent — but it’s disappointing for a machine billing itself as the “ultimate Ultrabook.” That said, it seems to be a trade Razer made intentionally: The whitesheet the company sent over with my review unit specifically calls out the 4K-version laptop as having up to six hours of battery life, as opposed to the eight promised on the lower-resolution QHD model. Buyers should choose their configuration wisely (more on that in a moment) and pack their AC adapter: Neither build is likely to make it a full workday without a recharge.

Battery life

Razer Blade Stealth
5:48
Surface Book (Core i5, integrated graphics)
13:54 / 3:20 (tablet only)
MacBook Air (13-inch, 2013)
12:51
HP Spectre x360
11:34
Surface Book (Core i7, discrete graphics)
11:31 / 3:02 (tablet only)
Apple MacBook Pro with Retina display (13-inch, 2015)
11:23
iPad Pro
10:47
Chromebook Pixel (2015)
10:01
Lenovo Yoga 900
9:36
Microsoft Surface 3
9:11
Apple MacBook (2015)
7:47
Dell XPS 13 (2015)
7:36
Microsoft Surface Pro 4
7:15
Microsoft Surface Pro 3
7:08
HP Spectre x2
6:43
Toshiba Radius 12
5:12

What about gaming? Without the Stealth’s GPU dock, your options are limited. Integrated graphics have come a long way in the past decade, but Intel’s HD 520 chipset simply won’t cut it for modern PC games. Rise of the Tomb Raider, for instance, barely manages to eke out 15 frames per second on its lowest available graphics and resolution settings, while Fallout 4 won’t even run for a lack of more-advanced DirectX features. Persistent users can find the occasional diamond in the rough — Star Wars: Battlefront is surprisingly playable on low graphics settings at 720p — but without Razer’s desktop GPU accessory, the Stealth won’t be able to replace your gaming rig.

Still, that doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun: The machine is more than capable of handling games like Fallout: New Vegas, World of Warcraft, Portal 2 and League of Legends, as long as you dial the resolution down to 1080p. That 4K screen is beautiful, but don’t expect to use it for gaming without the help of a discrete GPU.

For now the Blade Stealth is best suited to light entertainment and creative productivity, and Razer knows it — which is probably why each machine comes with a full license for the FL Studio 12 Producer Edition. The free music production suite is a nice addition, but you know what’s nicer? It’s not pre-installed. Like all of Razer’s laptops, the Stealth comes with virtually no bloatware.

Configuration options and the competition

There aren’t a lot of configuration options to pick from here. Each SKU features the same basic specs: a 2.5GHz Intel Core i7-6500U processor (3.1GHz with Turbo Boost), integrated Intel HD 520 graphics and 8GB of RAM. The only real differences come down to the display and storage capacity. For $999 and $1,199, you can buy a 128GB or 256GB Stealth with a QHD 2,560 x 1,440 display. This will eke out a little more battery life than our review unit, but the color reproduction will be a little less accurate, with a 70 percent Adobe RGB gamut as opposed to the 4K model’s 100 percent Adobe RGB color space. If you’re willing to drop $1,399 or $1,599, you can get a 4K rig with 256GB or 512GB of storage, but then you’re giving up two hours of battery life. Choose wisely.

Need an ultraportable with longer battery life? There are thankfully plenty of options. Dell’s XPS 13 is rated for almost two more hours than the Stealth and can be had for as low as $800 (make that $1,300 if you’re dead set on having an ultra-high-resolution screen). The $1,200 Lenovo Yoga 900 is a compelling option too, scoring almost 10 hours of battery life with the same processor, RAM and storage space as the Stealth (albeit with a slightly less impressive 3,200 x 1,800 display). If you can do without Windows, check out the MacBook Air: Its 1,440 x 900 screen may be low-res by comparison, but it’s hard to argue with 12 hours of runtime.

Oh, but you’re looking at the Blade Stealth for ultraportable hybrid gaming and can’t wait for that graphics adapter? That’s different. As of this writing, there are precious few machines on the market with external desktop GPU docks. MSI’s GS30 Shadow pulls off the external-graphics-dock trick but costs as much as a fully loaded Stealth and dies even faster, barely making it to two hours on battery, according to most reviews. If you must have a laptop with a GPU dock and need it now, check out Dell’s Alienware 13. It still won’t last long without an AC adapter, but at least it has a GeForce GTX 860M to game on when you’re rocking just the laptop. If you can wait, however, sit tight: Engadget will be putting the Stealth’s own Core dock through its paces once it’s available. Then we’ll know how the Stealth really stacks up against the competition.

Wrap-up

The Stealth reminds me of Razer’s first gaming laptop. It’s well designed and competitively priced but maybe a little too ambitious for its own good. By shooting for the moon to create the “ultimate Ultrabook,” Razer kitted out the Stealth with best-in-class components that ironically keep it from competing with the longest-lasting laptops in this category. Portability and longevity are two of the key components that make an ultraportable, well, ultra portable. Six hours of battery life isn’t abysmal, but the Stealth’s best competition can last twice as long. That’s a problem.

The laptop’s saving grace lies in the same ambition that makes it a bit of a misfit in the world of Ultrabooks. When the Razer Core launches, the Stealth will have the potential to pull double duty as an ultra-powerful PC gaming desktop. If that trick works, it will more than make up for the middling battery life for some gamers. The potential is exciting, and we can’t wait to see if the Stealth lives up to it.