iPhone 8 Case Compared to iPhone 7 Offers Clear Picture of Size Difference

Though the launch of the “iPhone 8” is months away, case makers have already started creating cases for the device based on leaked design renderings and schematics.

A case designed for the iPhone 8 surfaced on Alibaba, and was purchased by Japanese site Mac Otakara for a series of images and a video. We’ve already seen some iPhone 8 cases so the design shouldn’t come as a surprise, but this particular case includes comparisons to both the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus, giving us a clear picture of how the iPhone 8 might fit into the iPhone lineup if the case design is an accurate representation of the finalized device.

As can be seen in the images, the case is a good deal smaller than the iPhone 7 Plus, but slightly larger than the iPhone 7. That’s in line with rumors suggesting the iPhone 8 will be similar in size to the iPhone 7, but with a display that’s much larger (and edge-to-edge), closer in size to the iPhone 7 Plus display.

An iPhone 7 placed directly inside the case suggests the iPhone 8 will be about the same width as the iPhone 7, but quite a bit taller. Rumors have also suggested the iPhone 8 will be slightly thicker than the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, and Mac Otakara says the iPhone 7 is noticeably thinner, with the case being “quite loose feeling.”

Leaked design renderings and schematics have suggested the iPhone 8 could measure in at 144mm tall, 71mm wide, and 7.7mm thick, compared to the iPhone 7 dimensions of 138.3 x 67.1 x 7.1mm.

The case features a vertical camera cutout to accommodate a rumored vertical dual-lens camera, which may be larger in size than the camera in the iPhone 7 Plus, based on a comparison.

Volume buttons, the power button, and other ports seem to be in generally the same location as the current iPhone 7, with some small variations. The volume buttons and the mute switch are the same size as the buttons on the iPhone 7, but the spacing is slightly different.

Because Apple has tested multiple iPhone 8 prototypes, it’s difficult to determine whether this case accurately depicts the final design of the device. Most of the rumors and design leaks have centered on a device that’s similar to the iPhone 8 case Mac Otakara purchased, with no visible Touch ID button, but we’ve also seen leaks featuring an aluminum device with a rear Touch ID button.

Once we start seeing legitimate part leaks, we should have a much better idea of what to expect when Apple introduces the iPhone 8 this fall.

Related Roundup: iPhone 8 (2017)
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A sheet of this smart fabric can transform any table into a giant trackpad

Why it matters to you

Whether it’s for accessibility purposes or another reason, this giant trackpad material will give you more space to work.

Ever think that the twitchy computer trackpad on your laptop does not give you enough space to work with? Smart materials maker Madison Maxey is here to help. Developed with Brooklyn’s New Lab and Autodesk’s Pier 9 workshop, Maxey has created a Textile Touchpad that looks a bit like a tablecloth but is, in fact, a giant touch-sensitive surface.

“We created the textile trackpad as an early sample that can help designers, the disabled, and the elderly comfortably use a trackpad by expanding the size of the interface,” Maxey, who is founder of the smart fabric startup Loomia, told Digital Trends. “Imagine a designer having an intimate canvas, or shaky hands being able to navigate a computer with a palm instead of a finger. Fabric is a strong platform for large surface-area technology because it can fold into a small space to carry, and expand to cover a table when it’s needed. We decided to build this textile trackpad to show that smart fabric can be more than workout shirts and light up dresses — but can also be a functional part of our experience with the digital world.”

Unfolded, the material measures 30 by 36 inches. Aside from the difference in form factor, though, it works much like any other touch surface and even boasts some smart vibration motors which provide haptic feedback to show that users’ gestures have been picked up.

If you are wondering how much you will need to give Maxey to get hold of one of your own, however, don’t sweat — it’s free. Well, almost. You need to buy components, such as the Adafruit Flora micro-controller that gives it its smarts, but Maxey has made the whole design freely available on Instructables so you can build your own.

“This project was started at Autodesk and there’s a strong open source community there,” she continued. “We decided to open source the prototype instructions so that makers can start to think of smart fabric as a tool for creation, and to align with Autodesk’s philosophy.”

You can check out the Instructables page here.

Does the type of device you use affect your problem-solving skills? Study says yes

Why it matters to you

There’s real evidence that suggests you think differently with a smartphone in your hands than with a mouse and keyboard at your fingertips.

Here’s some food for thought: What if the type of device you use affects your problem-solving skills? Research published in the journal Computers in Human Behavior suggests it just might. Specifically, smartphone users have been found to exhibit more rational, utilitarian decision-making, while their counterparts on PC were found to let emotions undermine their logic more frequently.

In the experiment, roughly 1,000 subjects were asked to decide between two possible outcomes of a moral dilemma. Some were assigned a smartphone to make their judgment call, while others were on a computer. The dilemma took the form of the classic “Trolley Problem,” in which a train is about to hit multiple workers, and the subject is asked if they would divert the train to instead kill one individual rather than several.

There were a few modifications made to the question. In the first trial, subjects could save five workers by pushing one man off a bridge and onto the tracks well before it reached the workers. In another, the subject could pull a switch forcing the train to change tracks, where there would be only one victim instead of five.

In both cases, smartphone users exhibited a higher propensity to choose the utilitarian option — the killing of one to save many — over what researchers termed the deontological response, which would prohibit killing of any nature, regardless of the circumstances.

Not surprisingly, significantly more subjects opted to pull the switch than push the man off the bridge. Regarding the switch question, 81 percent of smartphone users took action, compared to 77 percent of PC users. For the other dilemma, the gulf was a bit wider: 34 percent of phone respondents decided to sacrifice the man’s life, while 22 percent of subjects on computers elected to do the same. As the study states, the act of pulling the switch is considered to be much less emotionally aversive.

So how can we explain the difference? What is it about smartphones that make us into unfeeling, less emotionally driven actors? According to the study, it’s all about the lack of distractions.

The researchers conclude that the digital context of smartphone use is one of time pressure, which facilitates more rash decision making. Smartphones also focus our attention on the task at hand, and cause us to filter out secondary cues much more effectively. Without the time and multitasking resources to consider all the options available, we yield to the numbers argument. On the other hand, experts say computers grant us those luxuries, and thus make moral decisions more challenging by opening the door to increased emotional sway.

As technology bears an increasing influence over our everyday lives, there’s never been a more crucial time to study its effects on how we conduct ourselves — and how different devices and uses might complicate matters further.

Does the type of device you use affect your problem-solving skills? Study says yes

Why it matters to you

There’s real evidence that suggests you think differently with a smartphone in your hands than with a mouse and keyboard at your fingertips.

Here’s some food for thought: What if the type of device you use affects your problem-solving skills? Research published in the journal Computers in Human Behavior suggests it just might. Specifically, smartphone users have been found to exhibit more rational, utilitarian decision-making, while their counterparts on PC were found to let emotions undermine their logic more frequently.

In the experiment, roughly 1,000 subjects were asked to decide between two possible outcomes of a moral dilemma. Some were assigned a smartphone to make their judgment call, while others were on a computer. The dilemma took the form of the classic “Trolley Problem,” in which a train is about to hit multiple workers, and the subject is asked if they would divert the train to instead kill one individual rather than several.

There were a few modifications made to the question. In the first trial, subjects could save five workers by pushing one man off a bridge and onto the tracks well before it reached the workers. In another, the subject could pull a switch forcing the train to change tracks, where there would be only one victim instead of five.

In both cases, smartphone users exhibited a higher propensity to choose the utilitarian option — the killing of one to save many — over what researchers termed the deontological response, which would prohibit killing of any nature, regardless of the circumstances.

Not surprisingly, significantly more subjects opted to pull the switch than push the man off the bridge. Regarding the switch question, 81 percent of smartphone users took action, compared to 77 percent of PC users. For the other dilemma, the gulf was a bit wider: 34 percent of phone respondents decided to sacrifice the man’s life, while 22 percent of subjects on computers elected to do the same. As the study states, the act of pulling the switch is considered to be much less emotionally aversive.

So how can we explain the difference? What is it about smartphones that make us into unfeeling, less emotionally driven actors? According to the study, it’s all about the lack of distractions.

The researchers conclude that the digital context of smartphone use is one of time pressure, which facilitates more rash decision making. Smartphones also focus our attention on the task at hand, and cause us to filter out secondary cues much more effectively. Without the time and multitasking resources to consider all the options available, we yield to the numbers argument. On the other hand, experts say computers grant us those luxuries, and thus make moral decisions more challenging by opening the door to increased emotional sway.

As technology bears an increasing influence over our everyday lives, there’s never been a more crucial time to study its effects on how we conduct ourselves — and how different devices and uses might complicate matters further.

Check out 30 of the best iPhone 7 cases and covers for your shiny new phone

Apple’s iPhone 7 is a sleek smartphone with an elegant design, but it’s a fragile beauty that needs to be protected. Exposing your iPhone to the world could increase the risk of it getting damaged, as all it takes is a single slip to end up with a ding, scuff, or crack that will spoil those good looks. Thankfully, a proper case or cover can help keep your phone safe. After all, you’ll need to keep your phone intact while you wait for the next big thing, right? Check out a few of our current favorites below.

Killspencer Snap Case ($75)

For a snap-on case with a stylish, durable, leather finish and plenty of character, look no further than Killspencer’s Snap Case. The case is made of a basic, slim shell with generous cut-outs for your phone’s camera, ports, and side switch. There’s also well-defined button covers and an optional strap for added security, which is good because this case is more about style than protection. It currently only comes in black, but you can add a two-character monogram if you want. The latter will cost you an extra $30.

Buy one now from:

Killspencer

Griffin Survivor Clear Case ($20)

This protective offering showcases Apple’s minimalist design, allowing you to maintain the look and feel of your smartphone. This is one of Griffin’s slimmest cases for the iPhone 7, but it still offers drop protection from up to four feet. It’s made of tough polycarbonate, and features a flexible TPU frame. The back is scratch-resistant and is available in either a translucent design or one with a subtle tinge of color. The button covers are responsive and there are accurate openings for your phone’s ports, as well as generous cut-outs on the back that ensure you’ll be able to use your phone’s camera and flash without interference.

Buy one now from:

Amazon Griffin

Noreve Tradition Leather Case ($55)

This classy cover for the iPhone 7 is made of high-quality leather. A thin, plastic shell holds your iPhone in place and it’s wrapped in a padded-leather exterior that completely envelopes your phone, protecting it from all angles. The front cover has a magnetic closure, which opens to reveal a couple of handy slots for stowing credit cards. There are also cut-outs for your phone’s speaker, camera, buttons, and ports. The case is currently available in a variety of different finishes and colors.

Buy one now from:

Noreve

CM4 Q Card Case ($35)

Leave your wallet or purse at home with the Q Card Case from CM4. This case combines a number of clever features. The durable, plastic shell will fit your iPhone perfectly. You’ll also find tactile button covers, accurate cut-outs, and textured strips on the sides for enhanced grip. The back sports a leather-style pocket that can hold a couple of credit cards and some cash. There’s also a smart slot that you can slide a card into, allowing you to prop up your phone in landscape view. It comes in black, gray, gold, or pink.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

Apple iPhone 7 Silicon and Leather cases ($35+)

Apple’s case lineup keeps getting bigger and bigger. In March, the Cupertino-based company added seven new colors to its case collection, including sapphire, pebble, and tan. Apple’s soft-touch, silicon bands are lightweight and sport a microfiber lining that helps protect your iPhone from bumps and scratches. Its leather cases are made from a specially-tanned and finished European leather that’s soft to the touch and compliments the iPhone’s finish perfectly.

Buy one now from:

Apple

Utomic Edge Corner Protectors ($35)

The most annoying thing about most iPhone 7 cases is that they cover up Apple’s gorgeous design. Thankfully, Utomic has a minimalist alternative that still provides some protection in the form of corner protectors. These are small, flexible bumpers with adhesive that takes 24 hours to properly set. They stick to each corner of your iPhone, and extend from front to back to prevent your phone from touching down on flat surfaces. You also get wipes and an installation sleeve, allowing for the perfect fit. They come in an array of colors, too, and provide decent protection against falls of up to four feet, provided your phone doesn’t land on an uneven surface.

Buy one now from:

Utomic

Snakehive Vintage Leather Wallet ($19)

Snakehive’s leather folio cases are an absolute steal. The leather has a fine grain on the outside, which is pleasant to the touch, and a traditional leather finish on the inside for protection and longevity. We love the black and navy color scheme here, but it’s available in other colors too. Your phone fits perfectly inside, and there’s a very handy magnetic clasp to keep the cover closed. It doubles as a stand for your phone as well.

Buy one now from:

Snakehive

Mous iPhone 7 Case ($50)

A super-successful Indiegogo campaign launched these slick cases, available in wood, marble, bamboo, leather, or Kevlar finishes. Prices vary, and pre-orders for some styles are sold out, but keep an eye on the site for when orders open up again in the future. The cases look great, with the protective Airo-Shock interior keeping the phone safe even when dropped from a great height. Yet the cases have style and class, rather than the rugged toughness usually associated with such protection.

Buy one now from:

Mous

Facebook adds support for Google’s AMP and Apple News to Instant Articles

Why it matters to you

Facebook Instant, Facebook’s news platform, could start to show up in more places.

When Facebook launched Instant Articles in 2015, the crux of the platform was clear: A “faster” and “richer” news experience for users that did not infringe on Facebook’s advertising operation. But things did not go as well as hoped and news outlets have had a tough time generating as much revenue per Instant Article as they have from pages on their own websites. In response, Facebook’s retooled the platform with support for two competing standards: Google’s AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) and Apple News.

Integration with AMP, Google’s open-source effort to speed up mobile web pages and Apple News, an iOS format, comes in the form of an extension to the Instant Articles software development kit (SDK). Using code and Instant Articles markup, the new tool converts between the formats automatically, generating AMP and Apple News versions of every Facebook-optimized article. But they won’t all look the same — publishers will be able to add templates with custom fonts, colors, and captions.

“Our goal is to give publishers control overextending and modifying the Instant Articles building blocks to be the best storytellers on every platform,” Facebook’s Piyush Mangalick, a partner engineering director, said in a blog post. “This new flexibility with Instant Articles is part of our commitment to open standards of collaboration with the community.”

Facebook said the idea came from its Journalism Project, which aims to connect Facebook with media publishers. Programs so far have included hackathons with publishers’ development teams, public service announcements to promote news literacy, tutorials for journalists, and more. But taken more cynically, it is an effort to stem the bleeding.

In April, Forbes, Hearst, The New York Times, and others withdrew support for Instant Articles, and others — including Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal, ESPN, CBS News, NPR, Financial Times, and Vice News have cut down on the number of articles they published through Facebook directly.

Partly to blame is the Instant Articles profit split. Publishers who manually place ads are allowed to keep 100 percent of the revenue, but those which opt for Facebook’s automatic ad placement get 70 percent instead.

Facebook’s tried to smooth out the platform’s rougher edges in recent months. A little over a year ago, the network launched Instant Articles in Latin America and opened Instant Articles to all publishers, and added support for 360-degree videos and photos in February.

Facebook also tried to give outlets greater freedom in design — and monetization. Since January, Instant Articles partners have combined multiple posts into a single digest; readers with the latest version of Facebook’s iOS and Android apps can access the posts from the News Feed and publisher’s pages. And publishers now have the freedom to insert advertisements every 250 words (up from the previous 350).

But Facebook might be changing course. Reports suggest the social network’s pursuing original video, partnering with content creators like BuzzFeed and Vox to produce television-like shows from which it will take a 45 percent cut of ad revenue.

Lost your Android phone? Here are three apps to help track down and retrieve it

Updated on 05-24-2017 by Carlos Vega to include Android Device Manager.

No matter how cautious people are with their electronic devices, everyone’s endured the awful experience of losing a smartphone –after all, it happens to the best of us. Whether it occurs after a raucous night out with friends, or you’ve had the unlucky experience of running into a skilled pickpocket, it’s always a drag to reach for your digital friend only to come up empty.

Luckily for Android users, there are a range of applications and programs specifically designed for the tracking down and locating a lost or stolen smartphone. To help you sift through the sea of available options, we’ve compiled this list of the absolute best methods for finding and retrieving lost Android devices.

Note: Digital Trends doesn’t condone the use of these phone trackers for anything other than locating a lost or stolen Android phone. While these apps work wonders for finding a wayward phone, it’s never cool to be a creep. Please use sound judgment when employing the services of the following programs.

Find My Device

Features:

• Track your phone via GPS
• Erase your phone remotely
• Remotely play a sound
• Lock your phone remotely

Google’s Find My Device app is a must-have for Android users. The app is simple to use, and all you have to do to get started is download it from the Play Store. After you install the app, it will ask you to log in, and to make sure Location is turned on. Once the app is installed and running, you will be able to locate your device, assuming it’s turned on and connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data.

To track your device, go to android.com/find in any browser, whether on your computer or another smartphone. If your lost device has access to the internet, location is on, and Find My Device is running, you will be able to locate it. One of the great features here is that you can lock the device and write a message with an accompanying phone number. That way if someone finds or has your device, all they have to do is press the Call Me button on the screen to call the specified phone number. You can also choose to play a sound or erase the phone remotely if you have no other choice.

Remember that if you track your phone using a browser, however, you will have to log in to your Google account. If you logged in from someone else’s smartphone or desktop browser, then you’ll want to log out of all your accounts when finished. If you leave your account logged in, anyone with access to that computer will be able to track your smartphone. The app only takes a minute to install and set up, and because it is so easy to use, it should be your first choice for finding a lost Android device.

Download now from:

Google Play

Find My Android Phone!

Features:

• See the GPS location of your phone via the app’s built-in map
• Keep tabs on missing or lost phones with real-time updates
• Receive navigational assistance from the app when locating a phone
• Delete any messages from a tracked phone

Family Safety Productions’ app Find My Android Phone! makes it incredibly easy to find a stolen or lost Android phones with its superior tracking technology. Perhaps one of its greatest features is that the application allows users to track the cell phones of any family member who syncs their phone to the program — though, we don’t condone the act of spying on spouses or loved ones unless necessary. When hunting down a lost or stolen phone, the application provides real-time location updates, which constantly change as the phone in question moves. The app also provides accurate GPS directions, and relies on its triangulation algorithm to produce a spot-on location.

The application’s easy-to-use website allows for quick viewing of all synced phones, and also provides the same real-time mapping as the application. Considering that the app is free, Find My Android Phone! remains one of the best options for locating your Android device after it’s either fallen victim to a long night on the town, or become the object of a thief’s obsession.

Download now from:

Google Play

Lost Android

Features:

• Read sent and received SMS messages via your computer
• Wipe your phone or SD card’s memory remotely
• Start a flashing screen alarm on the phone
• Forward any calls to a desired number of your choice
• Start and stop your device’s Wi-Fi and GPS functions
• Locate your phone via a GPS or network connection

Lost Android — or Android Lost, depending on the webpage — is a fantastic app, one that excels when it comes to finding your lost Android device. Although the Android app is technically still in beta, it still manages to provide users an incredible amount of features and benefits, many of which remain exclusive to this impressive app.

For starters, users have the ability to automatically forward any SMS messages received on their phone to their email inbox, and even have the option of sending SMS messages directly from their computer. Lost Android also allows users to activate a remote-controlled alarm, even if your phone is in “Silent Mode.” Moreover, the app allows users to wipe any content from a lost phone, forward all calls sent to the phone, and produce a pop-up message that lets any would-be thieves know to return the device ASAP.

Like Find My Android Phone!, Lost Android doesn’t cost a dime to download, and the fact it affords its users a laundry list of available benefits makes it an attractive solution for find your phone.

Download now from:

Google Play

MSI’s assault on Computex includes new gaming laptops, updated wearable PC

Why it matters to you

MSI is raising the bar for quality PC gaming and VR experiences with its refreshed lineup of desktops and laptops appearing at Computex.

Prior to Computex opening its doors in Taipei, MSI revealed its lineup of products heading to the show. These include an updated backpack PC for anchor-free VR gaming, a new line of gaming desktops, new entries to its GT series of gaming laptops, and a new entry in its Vortex family of compact gaming PCs. The laptops are actually available to purchase now, while all other products have no release dates and pricing.

VR One Backpack PC

For starters, the company updated this wearable PC for virtual reality with seventh-generation Intel Core processors. The device weighs a mere 7.93 pounds, enabling users to freely move around in their virtual experience without feeling weighed down and anchored to a stationary VR-capable PC. It comes with two hot-swappable 90-watt-hour batteries to keep users in the virtual world without having to completely exit due to a dead battery.

The two VR One models are mostly the same outside their obvious graphics chip and price differences. The GTX 1060 model only has 6GB of GDDR5 video memory and 256GB of internal storage whereas the GTX 1070 model has 8GB of GDDR5 video memory and twice the storage. Either model is a great cord-free VR option although you may find that the 256GB SSD may fill up extremely fast.

GeForce GTX 1070 Model
GeForce GTX 1060 Model
Model:
VRONE065
VRONE067
Processor:
Intel Core i7-7820HK
2.9GHz base, 3.9GHz boost
Intel Core i7-7820HK
2.9GHz base, 3.9GHz boost
System memory:
16GB DDR4 @ 2,400MHz
16GB DDR4 @ 2,400MHz
Graphics memory:
8GB GDDR5
6GB GDDR5
Storage:
512GB SSD
M.2 NVMe, PCIe Gen3 x4
256GB SSD
M.2 NVMe, PCIe Gen3 x4
Audio:
Nahimic Sound
Nahimic Sound
Ports:
4x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A
1x Thunderbolt 3
1x HDMI 2.0
1x Mini DisplayPort 1.2
1x Audio port
4x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A
1x Thunderbolt 3
1x HDMI 2.0
1x Mini DisplayPort 1.2
1x Audio port
Connectivity:
Wireless AC (2×2) (Killer 1535)
Bluetooth 4.1
Wireless AC (2×2) (Killer 1535)
Bluetooth 4.1
AC power adapter:
230 watts
230 watts
Battery pack:
2x 8-cell 90-watt-hour batteries
2x 8-cell 90-watt-hour batteries
Dimensions:
15.9 x 11.5 x 2.4 inches
15.9 x 11.5 x 2.4 inches
Weight:
7.9 pounds
7.9 pounds
Operating system:
Windows 10 Pro
Windows 10 Pro
Color:
Black
Black
Price:
$2,299
$1,999

MSI’s assault on Computex includes new gaming laptops, updated wearable PC

Why it matters to you

MSI is raising the bar for quality PC gaming and VR experiences with its refreshed lineup of desktops and laptops appearing at Computex.

Prior to Computex opening its doors in Taipei, MSI revealed its lineup of products heading to the show. These include an updated backpack PC for anchor-free VR gaming, a new line of gaming desktops, new entries to its GT series of gaming laptops, and a new entry in its Vortex family of compact gaming PCs. The laptops are actually available to purchase now, while all other products have no release dates and pricing.

VR One Backpack PC

For starters, the company updated this wearable PC for virtual reality with seventh-generation Intel Core processors. The device weighs a mere 7.93 pounds, enabling users to freely move around in their virtual experience without feeling weighed down and anchored to a stationary VR-capable PC. It comes with two hot-swappable 90-watt-hour batteries to keep users in the virtual world without having to completely exit due to a dead battery.

The two VR One models are mostly the same outside their obvious graphics chip and price differences. The GTX 1060 model only has 6GB of GDDR5 video memory and 256GB of internal storage whereas the GTX 1070 model has 8GB of GDDR5 video memory and twice the storage. Either model is a great cord-free VR option although you may find that the 256GB SSD may fill up extremely fast.

GeForce GTX 1070 Model
GeForce GTX 1060 Model
Model:
VRONE065
VRONE067
Processor:
Intel Core i7-7820HK
2.9GHz base, 3.9GHz boost
Intel Core i7-7820HK
2.9GHz base, 3.9GHz boost
System memory:
16GB DDR4 @ 2,400MHz
16GB DDR4 @ 2,400MHz
Graphics memory:
8GB GDDR5
6GB GDDR5
Storage:
512GB SSD
M.2 NVMe, PCIe Gen3 x4
256GB SSD
M.2 NVMe, PCIe Gen3 x4
Audio:
Nahimic Sound
Nahimic Sound
Ports:
4x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A
1x Thunderbolt 3
1x HDMI 2.0
1x Mini DisplayPort 1.2
1x Audio port
4x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A
1x Thunderbolt 3
1x HDMI 2.0
1x Mini DisplayPort 1.2
1x Audio port
Connectivity:
Wireless AC (2×2) (Killer 1535)
Bluetooth 4.1
Wireless AC (2×2) (Killer 1535)
Bluetooth 4.1
AC power adapter:
230 watts
230 watts
Battery pack:
2x 8-cell 90-watt-hour batteries
2x 8-cell 90-watt-hour batteries
Dimensions:
15.9 x 11.5 x 2.4 inches
15.9 x 11.5 x 2.4 inches
Weight:
7.9 pounds
7.9 pounds
Operating system:
Windows 10 Pro
Windows 10 Pro
Color:
Black
Black
Price:
$2,299
$1,999

You aren’t ready for this crazy 8K monitor. No really, you probably can’t use it

Dell’s UP3218K is more monitor than you can handle. Seriously.

The race to cram more Ks into every device shows no sign of slowing down. 4K televisions are reaching mainstream price points, smartphones are packing in 3K and 4K screens, and Apple seems insistent on making 5K the standard for its premium desktops. These examples are beautiful, cutting-edge, pixel-dense screens. And all of them have nothing on Dell’s new UP3218K monitor.

Parse the name closely, and the gist of what it offers is clear – it’s a 32-inch screen with 8K resolution. 8K is, well, a lot of Ks, and it’s even more impressive in context of the display’s size. The UP3218K’s resolution of 7,680 x 4,320 adds up to over 33 million pixels, or 280 pixels per inch. Even the iMac with Retina comes up shy of 15 million pixels.

It’s a good thing 8K is a niche, because nothing is ready for it.

What does 33 million pixels look like? Exactly like whatever’s on the display, which is the entire point. The individual pixels are virtually impossible to see with the naked eye, and if any hint of them becomes visible, it’s likely due to the source content rather than the display. Apple’s iMac with Retina already managed to achieve this effect when viewed from a couple feet away, but the UP3218K stands up to scrutiny. You’ll go cross-eyed before seeing a jagged edge.

There’s more to the monitor than its pixel count, however. In our tests, we found it can render the entire sRGB, AdobeRGB, and Rec. 709 gamuts, as well as achieve an average color error value below one (after calibration). Contrast wasn’t bad either, at a maximum ratio of 650:1, though the best monitors do manage to exceed a ratio north of 1000:1. The edge-lit panel doesn’t include local dimming – monitors almost never do.

Dell opted for a glossy finish on the UP3218K, as it enhances perceived contrast and lets colors shine. That’s important for a display built for high-end professional work. However, Dell treated the display with a coating that reduces glare. Reflections are still visible, but usually aren’t distracting.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

We were a bit miffed to see the Dell’s on-screen menu, though easy to navigate, doesn’t offer settings for gamma or specific color hue/saturation. It only offers adjustment for brightness, contrast, color space, and color temperature. That’s mostly excused by compatibility with X-Rite colorimeter tools, which Dell says will allow for extremely precise calibration. Still, we’d prefer to see all options built-in to the monitor menu, too.

The little things count

The UP3218K’s pixel count isn’t its only shocking specification. Its price – a whopping $5,000 – will also raise eyebrows. Given how much it costs, it’d be reasonable to expect some luxury, and the monitor delivers. While the chassis itself is plastic, aluminum covers the major touch points such as the edges of the display and the back panel. The materials feel sturdy, even when handled more roughly than most people will treat a display this expensive.

What does 33 million pixels look like? Exactly like whatever’s on the display, which is the entire point.

A rugged silver stand holds the panel upright. It provides a wide variety of ergonomic options including tilt, swivel, and height. It can even rotate 90 degrees to hold the monitor vertically. Dell’s monitor stands have a good reputation, and the UP3218K upholds it, but the VESA mount makes it possible to use a different stand, if desired.

We know none of this sounds incredible, features like these can’t be taken for granted. LG’s Ultrafine 5K monitor, for example, looks and feels chintzy despite its $1,300 price tag. We suspect the kind of people who actually buy the UP3218K won’t care at all about its looks – what it does will be far more important – but Dell’s attention to detail is always appreciated.

Nobody’s ready for this

8K. Yep. That’s a lot. Does anyone really need this?

The answer is yes – but most people don’t. 8K is for those who produce extremely high-end photo and video content. The massive advertisements that span the sides of buildings in cities across the globe are shot, edited, and finalized at massive resolutions, and an 8K monitor gives those designers a chance to see results at 1:1 scale – or, if not that, as close as any monitor yet can come. Cutting-edge video also benefits, as 4K can be edited with plenty of room to spare, and an 8K monitor is obviously the only way to see the result of an 8K video.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

It’s a good thing 8K is a niche, because nothing is ready for it. Connection standards aren’t ready for it, so two DisplayPort connections must be used at once, as was true with Dell’s 5K monitor. Most video cards aren’t ready for it, so only the latest hardware from AMD and Nvidia can drive it. Windows isn’t ready for it, so we ran across numerous bugs, from wallpapers that didn’t fully load to a display driver that regularly crashed just while browsing the web. Even the content isn’t ready for it, so there’s virtually nothing to view or watch.

What about 8K gaming? That, too, is a beautiful dream. Many games will boot up on the UP3218K, and render at 8K resolution, but playing is another story. Even Diablo 3, now five years old, didn’t come close to fluidity when played on a GTX 1080. The hardware to power 8K gaming in modern titles doesn’t exist – yet.

Dell’s UP3218K is a very big, very nice monitor with all the Ks a kid could ever need, but it’s priced at $5,000, and most software just isn’t ready to handle it. To buy it is to buy a small slice of the future. It’s awesome, it’s beautiful, it’s luxurious – but for most people, it won’t be much use until the rest of the world catches up.