Walmart recruits its employees to deliver your packages
Walmart has been struggling to compete with shipping perks offered by companies like Amazon. And in its latest attempt to contend,it has turned to employees — asking them to deliver packages on their way home.
In a previous move to lower its own shipping costs and still remain appealing to customers, Walmart created their “Pickup Discount” program, which lowered the price of online items if buyers agreed to pick them up from a store rather than have them shipped to their home. The company also launched and subsequently killed its Prime-like subscription service. And last year, Walmart bought Jet.com to boost its online shopping presence.
But Amazon is a hefty foe and last month it dropped its free shipping threshold back down to $25, undercutting Walmart’s $35 minimum. And with Amazon also beginning to compete in the brick-and-mortar world with its drive-through grocery stores, rumored convenience stores, and book outlets, Walmart will have to compete on multiple fronts.
The employee-delivered shipping service is being tested in three stores — two in New Jersey and one in Arkansas. For its employees, the program is completely opt-in and the company says those choosing to deliver packages can decide how many they want to take on and on what days. They can also limit the size and weight of their deliveries. It’s unclear what the compensation is for the added work, but it’s obviously less than what they’re paying for typical delivery services.
Walmart says that 90 percent of US residents live within 10 miles of one of its 4,700 stores. But for this new service to work, it will depend on how worthwhile they can make the initiative to its one million employees.
Via: Bloomberg
Source: Walmart
WWDC 2017 Spoiler-Free Video Stream
Apple’s WWDC keynote will be kicking off at 10:00 am Pacific Time on Monday, and as is tradition, some MacRumors readers who can’t follow the event live are interested in avoiding all of the announcements and waiting until Apple posts the recorded video of the event so as to experience it without already knowing the outcome.
For those individuals, we’ve posted this news story, which will be updated with a direct link to the presentation once it becomes available from Apple. No other news stories or announcements will be displayed alongside this story.
Apple has become quicker about making event videos available for replay over the past several years, and videos are now frequently available within an hour of an event’s conclusion.
Users waiting for the video to be posted are welcome to gather in the thread associated with this news story, and we ask that those who follow the events refrain from making any posts about Apple’s announcements in this thread.
Related Roundup: WWDC 2017
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Review: Belkin’s $350 Thunderbolt 3 Express Dock HD Looks Great, but Could Use More Ports
With the flood of full-featured Thunderbolt 3 docks about to hit the market, it’s time to take a look at Belkin’s Thunderbolt 3 Express Dock HD, one of the major contenders users have been waiting for in addition to the OWC Thunderbolt 3 Dock and CalDigit TS3 that we’ve also recently reviewed. As with the other docks we’ve looked at, Belkin’s offering includes a variety of ports and even charging capabilities all over a single Thunderbolt 3 cable, making it a great option for turning the new MacBook Pro into a robust desktop setup.
Belkin’s Thunderbolt 3 Express Dock HD is launching this Monday, June 5 (exact time still to be determined), and will be available directly from Belkin and through Apple, as well as from other select retailers, but we’ve already had a chance to spend a little time with it to see how it compares to the competition.
The Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Express Dock HD is fairly stylish, with a horizontal design constructed primarily of aluminum and tapering slightly back to front in both horizontal and vertical dimensions. The sides and rear port panel of the dock are a glossy black plastic that come with a clear plastic protection film that’s surprisingly difficult to get a fingernail under to remove.
At 8.17 inches maximum width by 3.4 inches deep by a maximum of 1.2 inches high, it has the same general footprint as OWC’s dock and CalDigit’s TS3 Lite. The silver aluminum finish complements silver MacBook Pro machines well, and the darker gray Belkin logo and word mark in the front corner of the top are not overly distracting. A small LED near the left side of the front glows orange when there is power to the dock and turns green when the dock is connected to a computer.
As with other docks, Belkin’s offering comes with a fairly large external power brick that rivals the dock itself in size, although it can usually be tucked away a bit. Belkin also includes a 1-meter Thunderbolt 3 cable in the box.
Like the CalDigit TS3 and Elgato’s upcoming dock, Belkin’s dock supports up to 85 watts of charging power over its Thunderbolt 3 cable, enough for not only the 13-inch MacBook Pro but also its larger 15-inch sibling. Docks with lower ratings, such as OWC’s at 60 watts, may be unable to keep up sufficiently with a 15-inch MacBook Pro under heavy load.
One area where Belkin’s dock comes up a bit short is in the array of ports offered. The front of the dock includes a single USB 3.0 (5 Gbps) Type-A port and a combined audio in/out port for easy access. The rear of the dock hosts a Gigabit Ethernet port, an audio port, two more USB 3.0 Type-A ports, a pair of Thunderbolt 3 ports, and a DisplayPort port. It’s a basic set of options that may be sufficient for many users, but there aren’t any advanced options here as seen on some other docks, and something as simple as a few more USB ports would have been nice to include.
On the plus side, all three of the USB ports on Belkin’s dock can provide stand alone charging even when the dock isn’t actively connected to a computer, something that isn’t necessarily the case with other docks. That means you can leave your Apple Watch or iPhone hooked up via the dock to charge overnight even if your computer is asleep or turned off.
As with other Thunderbolt 3 docks, Belkin’s dock can support a single 5K display or dual displays at up to 4K resolution using a combination of one Thunderbolt 3 port, the DisplayPort port, and any necessary adapters.
Priced at $349.99, Belkin’s dock is a bit more expensive than most of the other flagship models, which tend to come in at around $300, although Belkin’s previous docks have frequently been available at less than list prices through Amazon and other retailers, so we’ll have to wait and see whether that premium based on list prices can be overcome once it launches.
At the full $350 list price, it’s hard to recommend the Belkin dock over other options though, especially since its array of ports is more on par with the $200 TS3 Lite from CalDigit than the $300-level docks that include additional ports such as an SD card slot, FireWire, eSATA, or extra USB ports.
The full 85-watt charging support is a welcome inclusion, which helps separate the Belkin dock from some other competitors. It’s also a pretty good looking dock, with the subtle tapers in multiple dimensions and smooth curved aluminum body offering a sleeker look compared to some other simpler or more industrial looking designs.
Despite its drawbacks, Belkin’s dock performs well for the features it has and is likely to be a popular option given the company’s reputation for quality and its close relationship with Apple that should see prominent placement in Apple retail stores and at Apple.com.
Note: Belkin provided the Thunderbolt 3 Express Dock HD to MacRumors free of charge for the purposes of this review. No other compensation was received.
Tags: Belkin, Thunderbolt 3
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What to Expect at WWDC 2017: Software Updates, Mac Notebook Refresh, New iPad Pro, Siri Speaker Possible
Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference kicks off on Monday morning, with a keynote event that starts at 10:00 a.m. This year’s event promises to be exciting, because alongside new versions of iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS, there are also rumors suggesting we’re going to see several hardware updates.
New Mac notebooks are likely to be unveiled, and there’s apparently a 70 percent chance we’ll see the much-rumored 10.5-inch iPad Pro and a 50 percent chance Apple will use the event to introduce its Siri speaker, designed to compete with the Amazon Echo.
Check out the video and list below for an extensive overview of what we expect to see introduced at the event.
Software
iOS 11
We’ve heard little about iOS 11 ahead of its debut, so many of the features in the newest version of iOS will come as a surprise. iOS 11 is expected to feature a redesigned interface, with the first major system-wide design changes since iOS 7, but what it will look like is up in the air.
Apple has been rumored to be working on some major updates to Siri, and the company has purchased several AI and machine learning startups, so it’s possible iOS 11 will introduce expanded Siri capabilities.
Rumors have suggested the update will include support for group FaceTime calls for the first time, a feature many have wanted for years, and Apple Music head Jimmy Iovine has said iOS 11 is going to include a new version of the Music app that “better showcases video” as Apple prepares to launch its first original Apple Music TV show, Carpool Karaoke.
Because iOS 10 focused so heavily on the iPhone with few iPad-specific features, iOS 11 is rumored to include some iPad-specific updates, such as improved and expanded Apple Pencil support for the iPad Pro that would allow it to work with more apps and better integration between hardware and software.
Some of the features included in iOS 11 might not be fully revealed until September, when Apple’s much-rumored “iPhone 8” launches. We’ve heard rumors suggesting the device could include features like augmented reality, 3D sensing, and facial recognition, all of which would need to be supported by the operating system and would introduce new functionality.
For more information on iOS 11, make sure to check out our iOS 11 roundup.
macOS 10.13
With iOS 11 expected to see some design changes, it’s reasonable to expect some of the same tweaks to be introduced in the next version of macOS, maintaining shared design elements across the two operating systems.
Other changes introduced in iOS 11, such as any potential Siri improvements, could also come to the new Mac operating system, and because Apple builds on the integrations between iOS and macOS each year, additional Continuity features and cross-device interactions could be included.
Apple introduced Apple File System (APFS) with iOS 10 and macOS Sierra, and while it was implemented on iOS devices, it has yet to come to the Mac. APFS could finally be introduced with macOS 10.13. APFS is optimized for flash/SSD storage and offers features like strong encryption, snapshots for freezing the state of a file system (better for backups), space sharing, and better space efficiency, all of which should result in a more stable platform.
Aside from those guesses, we know little about macOS 10.13, as we’ve heard no rumors about the upcoming software.
There has been some speculation that Apple could go from macOS 10.12 (Sierra) to macOS 11 because of iOS 11, but references to macOS 10.13 have already been spotted. What macOS 10.13 will be officially named remains a mystery, but Apple is likely to continue its California landmark naming scheme.
Apple is supposedly going to use a name that starts with an “M,” and some possibilities include Monterey, Mojave, Mammoth, and Miramar, all landmark names Apple has previously trademarked.
To read more about macOS 10.13, check out our macOS 10.13 roundup.
watchOS 4
Any significant design changes planned for iOS 11 could also bring similar tweaks to watchOS 4, and if there are Siri updates in the works, we can expect expanded Siri functionality in the new version of watchOS as well as in iOS 11.
New watch faces and perhaps new complications are also safe guesses for features that will be included in watchOS 4, but other functionality remains a mystery because we’ve heard no rumors on what to expect in the update.
Apple is continually working to improve battery life and make apps more useful on the Apple Watch, so watchOS 4 could introduce those kind of refinements and improvements.
We’ve heard rumors suggesting Apple could potentially introduce cellular connectivity in a third-generation Apple Watch, a feature that would need to be supported by tweaks to the watchOS operating system.
tvOS 11
If we know little about iOS 11, macOS 10.13, and watchOS 4, we know even less about the next-generation version of tvOS. There have been no rumors or hints giving us an idea of what to expect, and many tvOS features are still in their infancy.
Single sign-on, Live Tune-In, universal search, and the TV app are still evolving and could see some improvements in the next-generation version of tvOS to make them more useful and cohesive for an improved television-watching experience.
Any new features or expanded capabilities introduced to Apple’s personal assistant Siri will likely expand to tvOS, and with Apple Music for iOS rumored to be getting a revamp to better focus on video content, it’s safe to expect some of the same changes in tvOS.
Hardware
MacBook Pro
Apple just introduced 13 and 15-inch MacBook Pro models with a Touch Bar and upgraded internals in October of 2016, but rumors suggest refreshed MacBook Pro machines are already set to debut eight months later at the Worldwide Developers Conference.
Refreshed MacBook Pro devices will not include any design changes, but are expected to feature faster, more efficient Kaby Lake chips, introducing processing improvements. New GPUs and other internal spec bumps could also be included in the refresh.
Rumors suggest Apple is working on a high-end MacBook Pro model that will support up to 32GB of RAM, but whether or not that particular machine will be introduced at WWDC remains to be seen as it was originally rumored for late 2017.
For more information on the upcoming MacBook Pro update, make sure to check out our full MacBook Pro roundup.
MacBook
Apple’s 12-inch MacBook is expected to see a refresh at WWDC, introducing faster Kaby Lake chips with improved graphics capabilities and improvements to app switching and battery life.
Next-generation MacBooks could also include support for up to 16GB of RAM, up from 8GB in current machines, but no external design changes are expected.
For more information on the upcoming MacBook update, make sure to check out our full MacBook roundup.
MacBook Air
Along with new MacBook Pro and MacBook models, Apple is said to be considering announcing a MacBook Air refresh, with new machines that include updated processors.
The MacBook Air was last updated in 2015 and continues to use a previous-generation Broadwell chip. If Apple does go ahead with a refresh, a new machine could use Skylake or Kaby Lake processors, making it viable for several years to come.
An updated chip for the MacBook Air isn’t a sure thing, but if new chips are introduced, it will likely be the only MacBook Air upgrade. External changes like a new display or a new body are not expected as Apple’s low-cost notebook has largely been replaced by the MacBook and the MacBook Pro. It does, however, hold a valuable position in the Mac lineup as Apple’s most affordable notebook.
For more on the MacBook Air rumors, check out our full MacBook Air roundup.
Siri Speaker
Apple has been quietly working on a Siri speaker to compete with the Amazon Echo and the Google Home, and the device, which is already in production, could be unveiled at the Worldwide Developers Conference.
Apple’s Siri speaker will serve as a hub for its services, including Apple Music and HomeKit. To differentiate it from competing products, Apple is said to be focusing on superior sound quality with virtual surround sound technology that’s able to “reproduce sound more crisply” than the Echo or the Home.
Rumors have suggested it could include sensors that would allow it to measure a room’s acoustics and adjust audio levels automatically during use, and it could also include a camera and facial recognition capabilities so it is able to tell between different members of a family.
A Siri speaker mockup with a “Mac Pro-like” concave design (Image via iFunnyVlogger)
Some rumors initially suggested the speaker might have a touch panel, but later information clarifies that it will not include a full display. Design wise, the speaker may feature a Mac Pro-like concave top with built-in controls and a “fat” body covered in speaker mesh. Like the Amazon Echo and the Google Home, the Siri speaker is likely to support third-party services and apps, allowing it to perform a wide range of tasks.
If Apple does debut the Siri speaker at WWDC, it won’t launch immediately – it’s not expected to go on sale until later in the year, perhaps in the fall alongside the rumored “iPhone 8.” If Apple is planning to allow third-party developers to create speaker integrations, an introduction at WWDC ahead of a later launch makes sense.
For additional detail on the Siri speaker, make sure to check out our full Siri Smart Speaker roundup.
iPad Pro
Apple is rumored to have a 10.5-inch iPad Pro in the works, and it could finally make an appearance at WWDC. The new iPad Pro is said to have a body that’s similar in size to the 9.7-inch iPad, but with a larger ~10.5 inch display, made possible through thinner top and side bezels. As seen in the mockup below, said to be based on current iPad Pro rumors, alleged design drawings, and dummy models, the new iPad could potentially be slightly larger than the existing 9.7-inch device.
iPad Pro rumors have largely focused on the new display, but an upgraded model is also likely to feature an upgraded processor, improved cameras, True Tone flash, quad speakers, and a True Tone display, with some of these features being adopted from the previous 9.7-inch iPad Pro.
Apple may also be planning to introduce a new 12.9-inch iPad Pro with updated internal components, but we’ve heard little about it with most of the spotlight on the new 10.5-inch model.
For more on the upcoming iPad Pro refresh, make sure to check out our full iPad Pro roundup.
What’s Not Expected
Many of Apple’s desktop Macs, including the iMac and the Mac mini, are in need of updates, but we’ve heard no rumors suggesting a refresh is imminent. Apple executives have said new iMacs, including high-end pro-level models, are in the works, but it’s not clear when those machines will launch.
WWDC Coverage
MacRumors plans to provide live coverage of Apple’s keynote event here on MacRumors.com and through the MacRumorsLive Twitter account for those who are unable to watch Apple’s livestream.
Following the keynote, we will also have ongoing coverage of all of the announcements and everything that’s discovered over the course of the week.
Related Roundup: WWDC 2017
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Temp Mail is a disposable email service that helps you keep your primary inbox clean (Review)
Overview
Everyone these days is asking for your email address. Want to read an article? You need to register by email first. Want to take advantage of a retail’s offer? You’ll have to sign up with an account. You can’t even comment on a forum or read a thread (with a few exceptions) without having to log in with your email address. Frankly, it’s super tedious. Especially if don’t want to receive countless of offers and newsletters after visiting a website. And now, with the help of apps like Temp Mail you can do just that.
Developer: Privatix
Cost: Free
Impressions
It happened to all of us at some point. You were unable to access a piece of content because you had to log in with your email first. I don’t really appreciate this strategy and I’m sure you don’t either – advertisers and retailers are basically forcing their updates and newsletters down our throats with little regard for our own preferences. Luckily, there are ways to bypass such schemes.
With Temp Mail, it’s super easy to get a disposable, temporary e-mail address that helps you combat spam in your primary email address. Basically, you should use Temp Mail when you sign up for a service you’re planning to use only once.
All you need to do to start using your temporary e-mail address is open the Temp Mail app and choose one that works for you. They are not exactly easy to remember as they are generated as a random association of letters, but you have the option of Copy-ing the address so you don’t have to type it manually. Here are a few examples of email addresses:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Now let’s say you’ve used this email address to comment on a forum and you’re waiting to hear back from a user. You can easily check your inbox by tapping on the big Check the email ring at the bottom of the screen. This action will transport you in your mobile browser of choice where you can see all the emails you’ve received. A basic refresh option lets you see emails as they arrive.
If you’re not happy with the auto-generated email address, Temp Mail allows you to manually choose your ID. Just go to your Inbox and tap on the Change button located in upper option bar. Alternatively, you can generate another auto-created email address by tapping on Delete.
These are pretty much all the options available in Temp Mail. As mentioned above this is not a complex app, but a very straightforward one which does its job quite well.
But I do have a minor complaint: I couldn’t figure out how long it takes for the email to self-destruct. I read somewhere that it survives up to 1 hour, but it would be nice if you’d be allowed to choose how long your email gets to live. Just in case you’re waiting for a reply on a forum and the user responds while you’re asleep or something.
In case you want to use Temp Mail while away from your phone (yeah right), you can also access their services from any web browser by simply going to http://temp-mail.org. In case you would like to learn more or simply join the community of users, you can visit the companies blog to know more.
Conclusion
I really liked Temp Mail. Despite being a super simple app, it’s extremely useful. I haven’t noticed any glitches or problems during the time I was using it, so if you too want to keep your main inbox clean, I fully recommend using this app.
Download Temp Mail from Google Play Store
Apple reportedly turning to freelancers to help improve Maps results
Why it matters to you
Apple Maps has long been criticized for its inadequacies compared to Google’s solution, but this program aims to close that gap.
Apple wants to make Maps better — but it needs your help. The company is expected to unveil a program which permits freelance workers to be compensated for verifying and correcting Apple Maps results, according to a report from French blog iGeneration by way of 9to5Mac.
The program is called TryRating, and thanks to the interface Apple has developed, it’s fairly simple to use. Workers type in a search query, and are presented with a series of Maps results. They then must analyze the results, answering questions about the accuracy of the names, addresses, pin locations, and other details.
From there, Apple aggregates the results of many individuals interpreting the same query, drawing a consensus on how to update the location. And, not surprisingly, the company is very clear on how workers should judge every listing, supplying them with a 200-page book of guidelines.
iGeneration
Workers will reportedly be paid 54 cents for completing a single task, though they are limited to performing up to 600 a week. The system is not totally unlike Amazon’s Mechanical Turk model, which connects clients with a network of freelance workers to handle a variety of what it calls Human Intelligence Tasks.
Apple Maps may have stalled as it came out of the gate in 2012, but the service has made strides in its first five years. However, it still pales in usage when compared to Google Maps, which may explain this initiative. While Google relies on millions of users to crowdsource improvements, Apple is employing just hundreds of independent contractors. And, ironically, the company is directing them to verify these results by any method available — even if that means using Google’s Street View.
While Apple could and likely does employ artificial intelligence to enhance the Maps experience, there are certain judgment calls that only real people can make. The iGeneration report provides the example of French users searching “Brest,” and Apple Maps returning a result for the city in Belarus, rather than the French port city. Apple later corrected that issue in an update. In such cases, artificial intelligence alone can’t determine relevancy. Human input is required to some degree, meaning the TryRating program should ultimately make Apple Maps a much more dependable navigation resource.
LG introduces cleverly named LG Pay in Korea, but only on the G6 for now
Why it matters to you
Samsung Pay and Apple Pay are well established players in the mobile payments space, but LG is now here to make its mark.
They may be useful, but mobile payment services from mobile device makers aren’t all that creative in their nomenclature. Take, for example, the latest tool to enter the increasingly crowded payments space. It’s from LG Electronics, and it’s called — you guessed it — LG Pay. Announced on Friday, LG Pay will depend on Wireless Magnetic Communication technology, and allows customers to make payments by tapping their LG devices to NFC-enabled payment ports.
LG’s biggest domestic rival, Samsung, debuted its own payment tool in the summer of 2015, and has been making its way around the world ever since. LG, however, is still in its more nascent development stages. At launch, LG Pay will be available by way of four credit cards — Shinhan, KB, BC, and Lotte. But the company notes that by the end of September, all major credit cards (in Korea, that is) ought to be supported.
The rollout is also being limited to just one phone, for the time being. If you’re an owner of the LG G6, you can access LG Pay once you update your software to the latest version. Again, moving forward, LG plans to make the feature more widely available.
To ensure users’ security, LG will require smartphone owners to scan their fingerprints each and every time they want to make a payment, which the company hopes will establish a new standard for mobile payments.
According to a Korean press release, Kim Hong-joo, executive director of the MC Product Planning Group at LG Electronics, said, “We will provide customers with safe and convenient next-generation mobile payment standards with LG Pay, which enables customers to easily and quickly settle their smartphones anywhere.”
So look out, Samsung and Apple Pay, the latest payment tool is here, and while it may not be giving you a run for your money yet, we never know what the future may hold for LG Pay.
Lenovo Yoga 720 13-inch review
Research Center:
Lenovo Yoga 720 13-inch
The Windows 10 PC market has grown by leaps and bounds over the last few years, with a plethora of excellent options across incredibly diverse categories. Few categories have more great options than the 13.3-inch 360-degree convertible market, which today offers many outstanding machines from most of the major PC manufacturers.
Lenovo was at the leading edge of this category when it introduced the 13.9-inch version of its excellent Yoga 910 Windows 10 2-in-1. Now, the company has released the Yoga 720 13, which joins 13.3-inch options like the HP Spectre x360 13 and the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1. The Yoga 700-Series is positioned as a more affordable alternative to Lenovo’s top-tier 900.
Having so many great options means that the competition is fierce, and certainly HP and Dell have excellent machines that are going to be hard to beat. The Yoga 720 is a reasonably priced alternative, however, with a retail price of $980 as reviewed (currently on sale for $829), with seventh-generation Intel Core i5-7200U processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD.
Does Lenovo’s Yoga 720 13 have what it takes to do battle in this competitive market?
Solid build quality and understated design
The Yoga 720 13 is a well-built 2-in-1 with a severely understated design aesthetic. It’s an unassuming yet attractive machine that will look good in just about any environment, personal or professional, yet it won’t stand out. Depending on your preferences, that can be a good or a bad thing.
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
The Yoga’s chassis is all-metal, as typical for 2-in-1s in this price range, and its aluminum finish is smooth without feeling slippery. Its Platinum Silver color scheme covers the entire unit, with polished silver trim along the edges helping to outline the touchpad. As expected, the Yoga squeezes its display in between thin bezels to minimize the overall footprint, and Lenovo deserves kudos for putting the webcam above the display, where it belongs.
The Yoga 720 13 is a well-built 2-in-1 with a severely understated design aesthetic.
One important component in any convertible 2-in-1 device is the hinge, which should allow the screen to rotate through its entire range while holding the screen firmly in the desired position. Although the Yoga 720 doesn’t have the elegant watchband hinge that Lenovo uses in the Yoga 910, its simpler hinge works just as well. The rotation is smooth and consistent, and the screen is held in place whether in clamshell, presentation, media, or tablet modes – better than most hinges, in fact.
The Yoga 720 feels solidly built, without any loose or creaky parts, and it’s not hard to carry around given its 0.6-inch thickness. It might be non-descript, but that’s not a bad thing when you consider Lenovo’s focus on quality design and manufacturing.
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
Of course, 13-inch 2-in-1s are meant to be used as tablets, and the Yoga 720 succeeds at being comfortable to hold and use when the screen is wrapped all the way around. The usual 360-degree convertible caveats apply, such as the exposed keyboard and touchpad that feel odd at first, but the more you use the machine, the more natural it feels. The Yoga 720 does suffer a little from lacking hardware volume buttons, which means you’ll be reaching for the on-screen controls if you need to quiet things down.
A solid set of input options
Lenovo makes good keyboards, and the Yoga 720 is no exception. The keys have a light, springy action that requires a comfortable amount of force to engage. The travel is a little short, however, and a subtle bottoming action slightly spoils the experience. Still, it’s a good keyboard, and will please most users. In addition, two levels of keyboard backlighting are available, which light the lettering nicely without significant leakage to distract in dimly-lit environments.
The Yoga 720 has limited connectivity, with a stronger emphasis on the future than on the past.
The touchpad is large enough to be useful, and not too large to take up too much space. The surface is pleasant to use, with just the right amount of friction, and it allows for precise control. Lenovo further guarantees accuracy by adopting the superior Microsoft Precision Touchpad protocol, which seems to ensure smooth and responsive support for Windows 10’s built-in gestures.
Lenovo chose to include a fingerprint scanner for Windows Hello password-less login, rather than an infrared camera and facial recognition. That’s probably fine, because not all systems provide completely reliable Windows Hello support by scanning a user’s face. In our testing, we never had a problem logging in with our finger.
Lenovo Yoga 720 13-inch Compared To
HP Spectre x360 15-bl075nr
Dell XPS 13 2-in-1
Acer Spin 7
HP Spectre x360 13-w023dx
Samsung Notebook 7 spin
Dell Inspiron 17 7000 2-in-1 (2016)
Acer Switch Alpha 12
Dell Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1 (2016)
Huawei Matebook
Vaio Z Flip
Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro
Toshiba Satellite Click 2 Pro
HP Spectre 13t x2
Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro
Toshiba Satellite Click
The Yoga 720 13 also supports the company’s Active Pen, with full Windows 10 Ink support. Lenovo did not ship a pen with our review unit, however, and so we were unable to give it a try. The Lenovo Active Capacity Pen retails for $40, but it’s often available at Amazon at a discounted price.
Not a lot of connectivity, but at least it’s future-proof
The Yoga 720 has limited connectivity, with a stronger emphasis on the future than on the past. Two USB Type-C connections are on the left side of the chassis, one of which supports Thunderbolt 3 for high-speed connectivity. Either port can be used to charge the notebook via the provided USB Type-C cable and AC adapter.
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
Otherwise, a single USB Type-A 3.0 port is on the right side of the chassis, and a 3.5mm headset jack is provided next to the USB Type-C ports. Lenovo opted not to equip the Yoga 720 with an SD card reader. Wireless connectivity includes Bluetooth 4.1 and 802.11ac Wi-Fi.
Display
Our review unit was equipped with a Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) resolution display. Lenovo’s product overview documentation lists a 4K UHD option, but the company hasn’t yet listed it for sale. If you’re accustomed to contemporary 4K displays, then you might find the Yoga 720’s screen to be a little pixelated if you look closely. For most people, however, Full HD is probably fine for a 13.3-inch panel.
In our objective tests, the Yoga 720’s display posted mostly mediocre results. Contrast was low at 600:1, compare to a minimum comparison score of 900:1 as posted by the HP Spectre x360 13. The Yoga’s AdobeRGB color gamut support was on the low side at 70 percent, as was its sRGB score of 91 percent. Color accuracy was also poor at 3.0, exceeded only by the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1. The color accuracy score measures the error of the display, so a lower result is better. The best laptops can reach a score of one, and sometimes lower.
Gamma was spot-on at 2.2, which is a positive, and brightness was 298 nits, which is an average score. Those results all correlate with the subjective experience in using the display. It’s a decent enough experience for the typical productivity work, but it’s not a dream display.
While the Yoga 720’s display would have been superior just a few years ago, it doesn’t measure up to today’s laptops. Compared to its competition, it’s an inferior experience that detracts from the machine’s overall value.
Speakers
The Yoga 720 has two JBL-branded speakers located on the bottom of the chassis, which provide decent enough sound for the usual PC audio and watching video. Lenovo boasts Dolby Audio Premium support, and while we thought the sound was more than adequate, we’d nevertheless recommend plugging in some headphones for the best audio experience.
A solid performer that punches above its weight class
Our Yoga 720 13 review unit was equipped with a seventh-generation Intel Core i5-7200U processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. As such, it’s a solid overall performer – let’s dig into the details.
In terms of our objective benchmarks, the Yoga 720 with its Core i5 held its own against our comparison machines equipped with the theoretically more powerful Core i7. From the Geekbench benchmark, to the more challenging Handbrake test of encoding a 420MB 4K video to H.265, the Yoga 720 performed just as well as it’s more powerfully-equipped competition.
One thing we didn’t like, though, were the fans. They can become surprisingly loud at heavy load. In addition, the heat is vented straight out of the back of the unit, directly underneath the display, so using the Yoga 720 in a lap can be uncomfortable.
Super-speedy storage is a plus
Lenovo equipped the Yoga 720 13 with one of the fastest NVMe M.2 SSDs around, the venerated Samsung SM961. Accordingly, the machine provides seriously fast read and write times that beat some more expensive competitors.
The Yoga 720 achieved class-leading storage performance using our standby CrystalDiskMark benchmark, hitting 2,060 megabytes per second read speeds, and 1,209MB/s write speeds. Simply put, it has excellent performance that demolishes every one of our comparison systems.
Kudos to Lenovo for choosing a great hard drive.
Gaming
The 13.3-inch Windows 10 2-in-1 market isn’t intended to make gamers happy. In fact, there isn’t currently a machine in this segment that provides anything approaching real gaming performance – and that’s just fine, because gaming isn’t why people buy these machines.
The Lenovo Yoga 720 is no different, of course. It uses the same Intel HD 620 graphics that are usual for this class of machine, and it performs accordingly. It’s competitive with our comparison group, but that’s not saying much.
You can play solitaire on the Yoga 720, and maybe some older gaming titles if you dial down the settings. But modern 3D games are out of the question, unless watching slideshows is your idea of fun.
Thin and light, but battery life suffers
The Yoga 720 13 is a reasonably thin Windows 10 2-in-1 at 0.6 inches thick, but that’s still a little thicker than other similar machines such as the HP Spectre x360, and the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1, at .54 inches. Its 2.9-pound weight is about par for this class of machine, making the Yoga 720 as easy to carry around as its competition.
In terms of battery capacity, the Yoga 720 13 comes in at a modest 48 watt-hours. That’s short of the HP Spectre x360 13’s 57.8 watt-hour battery, but a bit larger than the XPS 13 2-in-1’s 46 watt-hour battery.
On our Peacekeeper benchmark, which is a rather demanding test, the Yoga 720 managed a merely respectable score, achieving four hours and 23 minutes on our Peacekeeper test. That’s behind both the Spectre x360 and the XPS 13 2-in-1, the latter of which uses a low-power Intel Core i7-7Y75 CPU. It’s ahead of the Lenovo Yoga 910, which had a 79 watt-hour larger battery, but was tested with a battery-draining 4K UHD display.
While the Yoga 720’s display would have been superior just a few years ago, it doesn’t measure up to today’s laptops.
On our moderate benchmark that loops through a series of live web pages, the Yoga 720 performed a bit worse. It managed to run for six hours and 35 minutes, which was barely ahead of the Yoga 910, but behind the XPS 13 2-in-1, and significantly less than the Spectre x360.
Our final test loops a video from local storage, and the Yoga 720 ran for nine hours and 54 minutes. That’s behind all the comparison machines, including the Yoga 910.
Given that our review Yoga 720 also used an Intel Core i5-7200U that should use less power than all but the XPS 13 2-in-1’s low-powered CPU, these results are mediocre. Lenovo’s decision to equip the Yoga 720 with a modest battery might cause issues for anyone who needs to work away from a plug for as long as possible.
Software
Our Yoga 720 was a Microsoft Signature Edition variant, meaning it enjoyed a limited load of extra software. Other than the usual Windows 10 first-party apps and games, the only additional software were two useful Lenovo utilities, and a Dolby utility for adjusting audio settings. Lenovo does preload its own App Companion utility that gives you the chance to load up your own extraneous software.
Warranty
As usual for consumer notebooks, the Yoga 720 comes with a one-year parts and labor warranty.
Our Take
The Lenovo Yoga 720 13 is a solid Windows 10 2-in-1. It performs admirably, it’s built well, and it has a good keyboard and touchpad. Its battery life is sub-par, however, and the display could be better. It might be priced aggressively, but it needs to be, as it falls behind competitors in key areas.
Is there a better alternative?
The 13.3-inch Windows 10 2-in-1 market is full of great alternatives, but the key players in that space are the HP Spectre x360 13 and the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1. Each is available with seventh-generation Intel Core processors, each is as thin and light as the Lenovo 720, and each has a Full HD display option.
The Yoga 720 provides a lower cost of entry. As configured, with Core i5-7200U processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB, the HP Spectre x360 runs $1,090, although that includes an HP Active Pen. The Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 runs $1,250. The Yoga 720 is a more economical $980.
The Yoga 720 and Spectre x360 are closer in price with a more robust configuration, namely an Intel Core i7-7500U, 16GB RAM, and 512GB. With this kit, they sell for $1,300 and $1,350 respectively. The XPS 13 2-in-1 jumps to $1,800, though its configuration is only available with a 3,200 x 1,800 display.
In terms of performance, all the machines perform similarly enough that the typical productivity user won’t be able to tell the difference between them. Where the Yoga 720 falls behind is in battery life and display quality.
How long will it last?
The Yoga 720 has up-to-date components, including a super-fast SSD, and a seventh-generation Intel Core processor. It also offers state-of-the-art USB Type-C ports, making it relatively future-proof. It’s therefore likely to last a long time, particularly for the productivity tasks that the typical user cares about.
Should you buy it?
If you’re looking for the most affordable 13.3-inch Windows 10 2-in-1 you can find that’s still dipping a toe in the premium segment, then the Yoga 720 13 is a good option. If you’re willing to spend just a bit more, however, competitor systems make this Lenovo look less appealing.
Lenovo Yoga 720 13-inch review
Research Center:
Lenovo Yoga 720 13-inch
The Windows 10 PC market has grown by leaps and bounds over the last few years, with a plethora of excellent options across incredibly diverse categories. Few categories have more great options than the 13.3-inch 360-degree convertible market, which today offers many outstanding machines from most of the major PC manufacturers.
Lenovo was at the leading edge of this category when it introduced the 13.9-inch version of its excellent Yoga 910 Windows 10 2-in-1. Now, the company has released the Yoga 720 13, which joins 13.3-inch options like the HP Spectre x360 13 and the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1. The Yoga 700-Series is positioned as a more affordable alternative to Lenovo’s top-tier 900.
Having so many great options means that the competition is fierce, and certainly HP and Dell have excellent machines that are going to be hard to beat. The Yoga 720 is a reasonably priced alternative, however, with a retail price of $980 as reviewed (currently on sale for $829), with seventh-generation Intel Core i5-7200U processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD.
Does Lenovo’s Yoga 720 13 have what it takes to do battle in this competitive market?
Solid build quality and understated design
The Yoga 720 13 is a well-built 2-in-1 with a severely understated design aesthetic. It’s an unassuming yet attractive machine that will look good in just about any environment, personal or professional, yet it won’t stand out. Depending on your preferences, that can be a good or a bad thing.
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
The Yoga’s chassis is all-metal, as typical for 2-in-1s in this price range, and its aluminum finish is smooth without feeling slippery. Its Platinum Silver color scheme covers the entire unit, with polished silver trim along the edges helping to outline the touchpad. As expected, the Yoga squeezes its display in between thin bezels to minimize the overall footprint, and Lenovo deserves kudos for putting the webcam above the display, where it belongs.
The Yoga 720 13 is a well-built 2-in-1 with a severely understated design aesthetic.
One important component in any convertible 2-in-1 device is the hinge, which should allow the screen to rotate through its entire range while holding the screen firmly in the desired position. Although the Yoga 720 doesn’t have the elegant watchband hinge that Lenovo uses in the Yoga 910, its simpler hinge works just as well. The rotation is smooth and consistent, and the screen is held in place whether in clamshell, presentation, media, or tablet modes – better than most hinges, in fact.
The Yoga 720 feels solidly built, without any loose or creaky parts, and it’s not hard to carry around given its 0.6-inch thickness. It might be non-descript, but that’s not a bad thing when you consider Lenovo’s focus on quality design and manufacturing.
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
Of course, 13-inch 2-in-1s are meant to be used as tablets, and the Yoga 720 succeeds at being comfortable to hold and use when the screen is wrapped all the way around. The usual 360-degree convertible caveats apply, such as the exposed keyboard and touchpad that feel odd at first, but the more you use the machine, the more natural it feels. The Yoga 720 does suffer a little from lacking hardware volume buttons, which means you’ll be reaching for the on-screen controls if you need to quiet things down.
A solid set of input options
Lenovo makes good keyboards, and the Yoga 720 is no exception. The keys have a light, springy action that requires a comfortable amount of force to engage. The travel is a little short, however, and a subtle bottoming action slightly spoils the experience. Still, it’s a good keyboard, and will please most users. In addition, two levels of keyboard backlighting are available, which light the lettering nicely without significant leakage to distract in dimly-lit environments.
The Yoga 720 has limited connectivity, with a stronger emphasis on the future than on the past.
The touchpad is large enough to be useful, and not too large to take up too much space. The surface is pleasant to use, with just the right amount of friction, and it allows for precise control. Lenovo further guarantees accuracy by adopting the superior Microsoft Precision Touchpad protocol, which seems to ensure smooth and responsive support for Windows 10’s built-in gestures.
Lenovo chose to include a fingerprint scanner for Windows Hello password-less login, rather than an infrared camera and facial recognition. That’s probably fine, because not all systems provide completely reliable Windows Hello support by scanning a user’s face. In our testing, we never had a problem logging in with our finger.
Lenovo Yoga 720 13-inch Compared To
HP Spectre x360 15-bl075nr
Dell XPS 13 2-in-1
Acer Spin 7
HP Spectre x360 13-w023dx
Samsung Notebook 7 spin
Dell Inspiron 17 7000 2-in-1 (2016)
Acer Switch Alpha 12
Dell Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1 (2016)
Huawei Matebook
Vaio Z Flip
Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro
Toshiba Satellite Click 2 Pro
HP Spectre 13t x2
Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro
Toshiba Satellite Click
The Yoga 720 13 also supports the company’s Active Pen, with full Windows 10 Ink support. Lenovo did not ship a pen with our review unit, however, and so we were unable to give it a try. The Lenovo Active Capacity Pen retails for $40, but it’s often available at Amazon at a discounted price.
Not a lot of connectivity, but at least it’s future-proof
The Yoga 720 has limited connectivity, with a stronger emphasis on the future than on the past. Two USB Type-C connections are on the left side of the chassis, one of which supports Thunderbolt 3 for high-speed connectivity. Either port can be used to charge the notebook via the provided USB Type-C cable and AC adapter.
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
Otherwise, a single USB Type-A 3.0 port is on the right side of the chassis, and a 3.5mm headset jack is provided next to the USB Type-C ports. Lenovo opted not to equip the Yoga 720 with an SD card reader. Wireless connectivity includes Bluetooth 4.1 and 802.11ac Wi-Fi.
Display
Our review unit was equipped with a Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) resolution display. Lenovo’s product overview documentation lists a 4K UHD option, but the company hasn’t yet listed it for sale. If you’re accustomed to contemporary 4K displays, then you might find the Yoga 720’s screen to be a little pixelated if you look closely. For most people, however, Full HD is probably fine for a 13.3-inch panel.
In our objective tests, the Yoga 720’s display posted mostly mediocre results. Contrast was low at 600:1, compare to a minimum comparison score of 900:1 as posted by the HP Spectre x360 13. The Yoga’s AdobeRGB color gamut support was on the low side at 70 percent, as was its sRGB score of 91 percent. Color accuracy was also poor at 3.0, exceeded only by the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1. The color accuracy score measures the error of the display, so a lower result is better. The best laptops can reach a score of one, and sometimes lower.
Gamma was spot-on at 2.2, which is a positive, and brightness was 298 nits, which is an average score. Those results all correlate with the subjective experience in using the display. It’s a decent enough experience for the typical productivity work, but it’s not a dream display.
While the Yoga 720’s display would have been superior just a few years ago, it doesn’t measure up to today’s laptops. Compared to its competition, it’s an inferior experience that detracts from the machine’s overall value.
Speakers
The Yoga 720 has two JBL-branded speakers located on the bottom of the chassis, which provide decent enough sound for the usual PC audio and watching video. Lenovo boasts Dolby Audio Premium support, and while we thought the sound was more than adequate, we’d nevertheless recommend plugging in some headphones for the best audio experience.
A solid performer that punches above its weight class
Our Yoga 720 13 review unit was equipped with a seventh-generation Intel Core i5-7200U processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. As such, it’s a solid overall performer – let’s dig into the details.
In terms of our objective benchmarks, the Yoga 720 with its Core i5 held its own against our comparison machines equipped with the theoretically more powerful Core i7. From the Geekbench benchmark, to the more challenging Handbrake test of encoding a 420MB 4K video to H.265, the Yoga 720 performed just as well as it’s more powerfully-equipped competition.
One thing we didn’t like, though, were the fans. They can become surprisingly loud at heavy load. In addition, the heat is vented straight out of the back of the unit, directly underneath the display, so using the Yoga 720 in a lap can be uncomfortable.
Super-speedy storage is a plus
Lenovo equipped the Yoga 720 13 with one of the fastest NVMe M.2 SSDs around, the venerated Samsung SM961. Accordingly, the machine provides seriously fast read and write times that beat some more expensive competitors.
The Yoga 720 achieved class-leading storage performance using our standby CrystalDiskMark benchmark, hitting 2,060 megabytes per second read speeds, and 1,209MB/s write speeds. Simply put, it has excellent performance that demolishes every one of our comparison systems.
Kudos to Lenovo for choosing a great hard drive.
Gaming
The 13.3-inch Windows 10 2-in-1 market isn’t intended to make gamers happy. In fact, there isn’t currently a machine in this segment that provides anything approaching real gaming performance – and that’s just fine, because gaming isn’t why people buy these machines.
The Lenovo Yoga 720 is no different, of course. It uses the same Intel HD 620 graphics that are usual for this class of machine, and it performs accordingly. It’s competitive with our comparison group, but that’s not saying much.
You can play solitaire on the Yoga 720, and maybe some older gaming titles if you dial down the settings. But modern 3D games are out of the question, unless watching slideshows is your idea of fun.
Thin and light, but battery life suffers
The Yoga 720 13 is a reasonably thin Windows 10 2-in-1 at 0.6 inches thick, but that’s still a little thicker than other similar machines such as the HP Spectre x360, and the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1, at .54 inches. Its 2.9-pound weight is about par for this class of machine, making the Yoga 720 as easy to carry around as its competition.
In terms of battery capacity, the Yoga 720 13 comes in at a modest 48 watt-hours. That’s short of the HP Spectre x360 13’s 57.8 watt-hour battery, but a bit larger than the XPS 13 2-in-1’s 46 watt-hour battery.
On our Peacekeeper benchmark, which is a rather demanding test, the Yoga 720 managed a merely respectable score, achieving four hours and 23 minutes on our Peacekeeper test. That’s behind both the Spectre x360 and the XPS 13 2-in-1, the latter of which uses a low-power Intel Core i7-7Y75 CPU. It’s ahead of the Lenovo Yoga 910, which had a 79 watt-hour larger battery, but was tested with a battery-draining 4K UHD display.
While the Yoga 720’s display would have been superior just a few years ago, it doesn’t measure up to today’s laptops.
On our moderate benchmark that loops through a series of live web pages, the Yoga 720 performed a bit worse. It managed to run for six hours and 35 minutes, which was barely ahead of the Yoga 910, but behind the XPS 13 2-in-1, and significantly less than the Spectre x360.
Our final test loops a video from local storage, and the Yoga 720 ran for nine hours and 54 minutes. That’s behind all the comparison machines, including the Yoga 910.
Given that our review Yoga 720 also used an Intel Core i5-7200U that should use less power than all but the XPS 13 2-in-1’s low-powered CPU, these results are mediocre. Lenovo’s decision to equip the Yoga 720 with a modest battery might cause issues for anyone who needs to work away from a plug for as long as possible.
Software
Our Yoga 720 was a Microsoft Signature Edition variant, meaning it enjoyed a limited load of extra software. Other than the usual Windows 10 first-party apps and games, the only additional software were two useful Lenovo utilities, and a Dolby utility for adjusting audio settings. Lenovo does preload its own App Companion utility that gives you the chance to load up your own extraneous software.
Warranty
As usual for consumer notebooks, the Yoga 720 comes with a one-year parts and labor warranty.
Our Take
The Lenovo Yoga 720 13 is a solid Windows 10 2-in-1. It performs admirably, it’s built well, and it has a good keyboard and touchpad. Its battery life is sub-par, however, and the display could be better. It might be priced aggressively, but it needs to be, as it falls behind competitors in key areas.
Is there a better alternative?
The 13.3-inch Windows 10 2-in-1 market is full of great alternatives, but the key players in that space are the HP Spectre x360 13 and the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1. Each is available with seventh-generation Intel Core processors, each is as thin and light as the Lenovo 720, and each has a Full HD display option.
The Yoga 720 provides a lower cost of entry. As configured, with Core i5-7200U processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB, the HP Spectre x360 runs $1,090, although that includes an HP Active Pen. The Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 runs $1,250. The Yoga 720 is a more economical $980.
The Yoga 720 and Spectre x360 are closer in price with a more robust configuration, namely an Intel Core i7-7500U, 16GB RAM, and 512GB. With this kit, they sell for $1,300 and $1,350 respectively. The XPS 13 2-in-1 jumps to $1,800, though its configuration is only available with a 3,200 x 1,800 display.
In terms of performance, all the machines perform similarly enough that the typical productivity user won’t be able to tell the difference between them. Where the Yoga 720 falls behind is in battery life and display quality.
How long will it last?
The Yoga 720 has up-to-date components, including a super-fast SSD, and a seventh-generation Intel Core processor. It also offers state-of-the-art USB Type-C ports, making it relatively future-proof. It’s therefore likely to last a long time, particularly for the productivity tasks that the typical user cares about.
Should you buy it?
If you’re looking for the most affordable 13.3-inch Windows 10 2-in-1 you can find that’s still dipping a toe in the premium segment, then the Yoga 720 13 is a good option. If you’re willing to spend just a bit more, however, competitor systems make this Lenovo look less appealing.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X smartphone review
Research Center:
Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X
Xiaomi may capture headlines for stunning, high-power smartphones like the Mi Mix and the Mi 6, which are great devices; but arguably the company does low-cost hardware with strong spec lists better. Its latest is the Redmi Note 4X, an update to 2016’s Redmi Note 4, which costs about $160 depending on the color you choose. That’s not very much money for a smartphone today, especially one with features like the Note 4X.
Like all Xiaomi phones, if you want to own one outside China, you have to use an import service to get it. It’s not difficult, but it can be a challenge down the line if the phone breaks, and making sure it connects to your chosen network. It’s extremely tempting to pick up a $160 phone that looks like it should cost twice that, so should you?
We’ve been using the Redmi Note 4X for the last two weeks to find out, and the answer is no. It’s a fantastic phone for the price, but the dealbreaker is its lack of 4G LTE connectivity.
Stylish design
If you’re familiar with the Redmi Note 4, little has changed with the Redmi Note 4X. Two small screws on both sides of the MicroUSB charging port have been removed for a cleaner look, and the antenna bands have been minimized and replaced by shiny strips, rather than cheap-looking white plastic. Nothing major, but enough to make the Note 4X a modern, sleek looking phone you’ll be proud to hold.
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
It’s quite thick at 8.5mm, but it’s comfortable to hold due to a 2.5D piece of curved glass over the screen, and a perfectly curved aluminum rear panel. Cradling the Redmi Note 4X, you’ll find it ergonomical. The power button falls easily to thumb or finger (depending if you’re left or right handed), and the rear-mounted fingerprint sensor is ideally placed, so your finger avoids the camera lens above it. It’s a grippable phone, and one that doesn’t feel too slippery.
If you like phones without much branding, the Redmi Note 4X will please you. Only a Mi logo is etched into the back, and the usual three Android capacitive keys sit below the screen, glowing when the phone is awake. The Note 4X is available in several different colors, including silver, gold, black, and pink, plus the light green version seen here. The light green has a slight matte effect, but retains a decent light-catching glow, as well as a subtle, tactile texture. Phones in multiple colors are becoming more popular, and to find such unique hues on a phone so competitively priced is very welcome.
Minimalist, stylish, and pleasant to hold, it’s surprising the Redmi Note 4X costs so little.
Bright screen, long-lasting battery
The Redmi Note 4X has a Pixel XL-size screen, and it’s big, bright, and beautiful. It’s not an AMOLED panel though, but an IPS LCD screen that measures 5.5-inches and has a 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution. It can’t compete with the Pixel XL, the Galaxy S8, or the LG G6; but holds its own against the OnePlus 3T, various Honor phones, and even some more expensive Huawei devices like the P10 Plus.
Minimalist, stylish, and pleasant to hold, it’s surprising the Redmi Note 4X costs so little.
There are plenty of customization options. A Reading Mode reduces glare and cuts down on sleep-disturbing blue light, plus adjustments can be made to the color and contrast, helping tailor the screen’s look to your personal preference. It’s also very bright with a maximum output of 450 nits, and it’s easily viewable in bright sunlight with the brightness slider cranked right up. The ambient light sensor is quite aggressive though, and it doesn’t recognize when you’re looking at the screen, resulting in the brightness dimming at inopportune moments.
A massive 4,100mAh battery keeps the screen on — that’s enormous compared to most flagship smartphones. The result? At least two days use. Yep, we said, “at least.” Leave the phone on standby, and use it normally through the day, and you’ll be charging on the third day. The Redmi Note 4X sips from a vast well of battery power. Unfortunately, that well isn’t quickly replenished, due to no fast-charging system, so plan for a two hour recharge when it’s close to empty.
Android Marshmallow, and solid performance
Here’s the big difference between the older Chinese Redmi Note 4 and the new globally compatible Note 4X: It has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor inside, rather than a MediaTek chip. The Redmi Note 4X is almost identical to the international version of the Note 4 released after the Chinese version though. Confused? Don’t be, just remember the Redmi Note 4X is the model to buy, and you’ll be fine. There’s a version with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, and another with 4GB of RAM and 64GB storage space. Our review model is the former.
Judging whether a smartphone has enough performance isn’t that complicated. We use the phone daily, for a similar range of tasks, and if it’s slow, buggy, or annoying, it gets a big strikethrough next to its name. We’d never expect to see this with a device that costs $500 or more, but one that costs less than $200? That seems more likely. The fantastic news here is the Redmi Note 4X is strikethrough free.
After a solid hour playing games, reading email, checking social networks, and generally zipping between the home screens and different apps, the Redmi Note 4X hadn’t stuttered. Its very hard to argue against a phone that costs so little, yet performs so well. Running AnTuTu 3D benchmarking test returned a 62,771 score, while 3DMark’s Slingshot Extreme returned a score of 461, neither of which set the record charts alight, but are consistent with the Snapdragon 625-powered Huawei Nova.
The phone runs Android 6.0.1, with Xiaomi’s MIUI 8.2 user interface over the top. It’s one of the best third-party user interfaces out there, with the biggest change over stock Android being the lack of an app drawer. All your apps are spread over multiple home pages, just like Apple’s iOS. Android purists will be annoyed by other small changes, such as the altered notification shade, custom icon designs, and other visual tweaks throughout the operating system. Google Play came pre-installed on our phone, but be aware that due to the custom nature of MIUI, some apps — such as the updated Netflix app — may not work. It’s a rarity this happens though, and every other app we used operated without a problem.
Is it all good news? No. The Redmi Note 4X is still a mid-range phone, with a mid-range processor, and a custom UI. This means scrolling isn’t always buttery smooth, some of the transitions are a beat too slow, and in some games when the going gets really tough — driving the fastest cars in Reckless Racing 3, for example — there’s evidence of frame rate drops. Android Pay also won’t work, as there’s no NFC onboard.
Still, for the price, the Redmi Note 4X is a solid performer. It’s a shame it does not come with the latest version of Android.
Good camera
A 13-megapixel rear camera sits at the top-center, and it’s good. That’s right. Good. It’s not often we get to praise what has become a very typical camera setup, but the pictures we took with the Redmi Note 4X were pleasing, offering detail, and handling challenging light in a satisfactory way.
It’s still far from perfect, and the f/2.0 aperture does limit its capabilities in low light, but show it some sunny skies or an expansive landscape, and the results are eyebrow-raisingly good. Yes, it washes out the sky on overcast days, and no, it doesn’t have two lenses or a wealth of different modes. However, take regular photos in everyday situations and you’ll likely be happy with the results.
The camera is quick, and we love being able to use the fingerprint sensor to take a photo in the app — it’s really convenient.
Warranty, availability, and price
It suffers because it doesn’t support the most commonly used 4G LTE bands for the U.S.
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X isn’t sold in the U.S., the U.K., or officially any places outside China and Xiaomi’s usual markets. That means you have to import it if you want one. Ours came from GearBest, an importer of Chinese electronics we’ve used several times, and the experience has always been good.
What does this mean if it goes wrong? It comes with a three-day dead-on-arrival warranty, a 45-day money back guarantee, plus a one-year warranty to cover against defects. For after sales service, you’ll still have to communicate primarily by email and the post. If you break the phone due to mistreatment, drop it in the bath, or change the software and brick the phone, it won’t be covered; but that’s to be expected.
How much is it? The price varies due to currency fluctuations, but you won’t pay much more than $200. At the time of writing, the light green model we tested is available for just $167 through GearBest with free delivery. There are other importers out there, and prices for the Redmi Note 4X will vary between them.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X Compared To
OnePlus 3T
Google Pixel XL
LeEco Le S3
Huawei Mate 9
ZTE Axon 7
LeEco Le Pro3
HTC Bolt
Lenovo Moto Z
Alcatel Idol 4S
Meizu M3 Note
Moto G4 Plus
Oppo F1 Plus
Lenovo ZUK Z1
LG G4
OnePlus One
Our Take
A real smartphone bargain, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X has battery life to spare, but misses out on crucial connectivity options.
Is there a better alternative?
The Redmi Note 4X, like the vast majority of Xiaomi phones, suffers because it doesn’t support the most commonly used 4G LTE bands for the U.S. and the U.K., which restricts its connectivity to 3G. You must be prepared to accept this, if you buy one. The frustrating thing is, if the Note 4X supported all international bands, it would be unstoppable in terms of value.
We consider 4G LTE connections to be essential, where available, and therefore suggest you look at the $250 Honor 6X, the $200 ZTE Axon 7 Mini, or the $230 Moto G5 Plus. All three are more expensive than the Note 4X, but they operate properly in the United States.
How long will it last?
Xiaomi does update its software, but the phone doesn’t run Android 7.0 Nougat, or have the latest security update from Google. This is a common compliant with many phones, not just those made by Xiaomi. It may get updated to Android 7.0 Nougat, but don’t expect major updates down the line.
The phone itself is not especially durable, and isn’t water resistant; but the body is made from plastic and metal, so should resist average wear and tear from regular use. Due to its relative low power, depending on your needs, it will likely need replacing after two years of use.
Should you buy it?
Not if you value 4G LTE connectivity. It’s really the only reason not to pick up the Redmi Note 4X, which is otherwise astonishingly good value for money. It did everything we asked, has battery power to spare, a good screen, and a solid if unremarkable camera. All for less than $200.
AIVAnet 