Ultimaker 3 review

Research Center:
Ultimaker 3

Ever since 3D printing hit the mainstream, Ultimaker has been dishing out some of the best printers on the planet, and the Ultimaker 3 continues that legacy. In addition to top-tier printing specs, this new generation brings a host of high-end features and functionality to the table.

But how does this new-and-improved machine compare to previous generations — and more importantly, is it worth dishing out over $3,500 bucks for? We burned through a few spools of filament to find out.

Standout Features & Specs

At first glance, the UM3 doesn’t look much different from the UM2+ – but don’t let the looks fool you. Ultimaker basically kept all the good things about the previous generation, and added some subtle (but important!) upgrades to the new generation.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Here’s all the stuff that didn’t change. Just like the UM2+, the UM3 sports a maximum resolution of 20 microns, a max print speed of 300 millimeters per second, and a build volume of 8.5 x 8.5 x 7.9 inches. It also retains Ultimaker’s removable glass-plate heated bed, and is compatible with the same range of materials.

If we had to choose just two words to sum the UM3’s print performance, we’d have a hard time choosing between “hot damn” and “sweet Jesus.”

Now here’s what’s new. Arguably the biggest addition is the UM3’s dual extruder setup, which allows you to print with two materials at the same time. Most notably, this allows you to use one material for your main object, and Ultimaker’s water-soluble PVA material for your support structures. When soaked in water, PVA will dissolve, leaving you with a totally burr-free print that doesn’t require any cleanup.

On top of that, Ultimaker also built the UM3 with a suite of small upgrades that presumably make it more user-friendly. These include things like removable print cores for easy material swapping; automatic bed leveling functionality; WiFi and Ethernet connectivity; and a camera that lets you check up on print progress remotely.

It’s also worth mentioning that the UM3 doesn’t have swappable nozzles like the UM2+, and also has a much lower minimum resolution (200 instead of 600 microns) – so if you’re after a machine that you can use to print low-resolution prototype parts at ridiculously high speeds, then you might want to stick with the UM2+.

Setup & Configuration

Much to our delight, the UM3 was up and running almost immediately after leaving the box. Ultimaker put in some extra effort to make its latest machine more simple and approachable for beginners, and it shows. All you really need to do is insert the glass build plate, plug the machine in, and flip the power switch. The printer will take care of the rest — including all that pesky bed leveling and calibration.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

The only mildly tricky part of the entire setup process is inserting the filament, but Ultimaker has taken steps to ensure that even this step is simpler than before. The UM3 includes sensors that recognize when you’re using Ultimaker-branded materials, and will automatically identify the filament type when you place it on the spool rack.

From there, all that was left was to feed the filament into the extruder. Thankfully, this was also quite simple and straightforward, as Ultimaker’s onboard setup wizard guided us through the process, and handles all the little steps (heating up the hot end and moving the filament) automatically.

Ultimaker 3 Compared To

FormLabs Form 2

NewMatter MOD-t

M3D Micro

MakerBot Replicator (5th Gen)

Pirate3D Buccaneer

3Doodler 2.0

3D Systems Cube

Ultimaker 2

Formlabs Form 1+

All in all, Ultimaker’s new printer definitely offers one of the most painless and approachable setup processes we’ve experienced. All users, regardless of their familiarity with 3D printing, should have no trouble getting this machine up and running.

Software. Onboard & Offboard

The UM3’s interface retains the tried-and-true single knob approach that you’ll find in previous incarnations of the Ultimaker line. Not too much has changed here. Save for a few new menu items, the UM3’s onboard UI is nearly identical to that of past generations. Luckily, this interface is and has always been great. The menu trees are concise and to the point, making it nearly effortless to locate and manipulate all the printer’s features.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

One of the features we found while exploring the onboard controls was an option to connect to your PC via WiFi. While at first this didn’t sound incredibly important, and the process to do so was a little tricky, once it was set up it was amazing. Being hooked in via WiFi enables near instant transfer of print projects from PC to printer without any hassle with SD cards or USB sticks. If that’s not your jam, you’ll be glad to hear that the Ultimaker 3 sports a USB port instead of SD slot, which is a welcome change from other printers.

When it comes time to prep an object for printing, the UM3 uses Utlimaker’s renowned Cura slicer: arguably one of the best slicers in the game. Cura’s settings and options are numerous, easy to understand, and incredibly robust. The program’s uncluttered menu system gives you control over practically every aspect of the printing process, yet somehow manages to provide such deep control without being too confusing to newcomers.

Print Performance

If we had to choose just two words to sum the UM3’s print performance, we’d have a hard time choosing between “hot damn” and “sweet Jesus.”

This thing prints like a dream, which is nice, since it also costs a small fortune.

This thing prints like a dream — which is good, because it costs a small fortune. Much like its predecessors, the third gen Ultimaker has a maximum resolution of 20 microns, which is one of the highest resolutions you can get with a filament-based printer. Most machines only go as low as 50 or 100 microns (hint: lower number = smaller layers = better detail).

But of course, resolution alone doesn’t necessarily make for a good print. Luckily, the UM3 excels in a variety of different aspects, which ultimately come together to provide top-tier print performance. A closer look at the objects in our testing suite help pinpoint the printers virtues.

As you can see in the above photos, the UM3 is extremely consistent from layer to layer. The printer suffers from almost no Z-axis wobble, which can probably be attributed to its sturdy construction and high-end components.

It also scores high marks in dimensional accuracy, as printed parts were always within a few microns of their digital versions. What you see on your screen is almost exactly what you’ll get out of the printer. This speaks not only to the quality of Ultimaker’s Cura slicing engine, but also to the precision of the machine itself.

Other things that 3D printers typically struggle with (unsupported spans, steep overhangs, and fine details, etc.) seemingly aren’t an issue for the UM3. Save for a tiny bit of noodling on certain archways, our 3DBenchy test prints always came out stunningly clean and with minimal imperfections. You won’t have to do much post-print cleanup with this printer.

UM3’s performance is off the charts good, and the fact that you can print with dissolvable PVA supports makes it even better.

Between this stunning print quality, the UM3’s expansive build envelope, and its heated buildplate, printing performance is off the charts good, and the fact that you can print with dissolvable PVA supports makes it even better. Typically, printing objects that require supports means that you’ll have to clean up the print to remove the evidence of support structures. This can sometimes be a long and tedious process, but dual-extrusion printing with PVA eliminates the need for it entirely. If there’s one feature that justifies the UM3’s exorbitant price tag, it’s definitely this one.

Overall, this UM3 offers top-tier print performance that outshines nearly every other FDM printer on the market right now – though not by a wide margin. It’s worth noting that the UM3’s performance, while undeniably good, definitely isn’t miles ahead of the competition.

Maintenance & Repairability

The Ultimaker3 is built with customization and upgrading in mind, so virtually everything on the printer is easy to access, and can be taken apart with a hex wrench. Oftentimes, you don’t even need tools, as swappable print heads and modular subsystems make investigating issues simple and intuitive to fix with your bare hands.

During our time with the machine, the only problem we really had was the magnetically attached fan on the front of the print head structure. The fan’s magnetic connection was loose and shaky, which caused the piece to swing open during printing. It was definitely a minor inconvenience, and was easily remedied with a piece of tape, but for a machine that costs $3,500, tape shouldn’t be necessary.

All things considered though, taking care of the Ultimaker3 is tremendously simple, and it has plenty of room for upgrades and expansions.

Our Take

The UM3 is a stellar 3D printer, and a standout in the filament-based printer category for its unparalleled blend of print quality, build volume, and ease of use. But the high price tag puts it in an awkward position.

Are there better options?

Yes and no. This is arguably the best FDM printer on the market right now – but it still pales in comparison to the resolution of SLA printers like the Formlabs Form 2. If what you’re after is quality and accuracy, but you don’t necessarily need a huge 8.5 x 8.5 x7.9 inch build envelope, you can get better results from a Form 2. Just keep in mind that SLA printers aren’t quite as simple to work with, maintain, and repair. Simplicity is also a factor here.

The other thing to consider is that, while the UM3 offers incredible print quality, it’s not really orders of magnitude better than other FDM printers that cost far, far less money. You can get comparable print results with a MakerGear M2, or even the Ultimaker 2+ — both of which are more than $1,000 cheaper than the UM3. It might be the top dog in performance, but it’s much closer to the bottom when it comes to value. If you’re on a budget, you can get way more bang for your buck elsewhere.

How long will it last?

The Ultimaker 3 is build to last and designed with upgrades in mind, so it’ll most likely become obsolete because its upstaged by newer, more sophisticated technology – not because its motors fail or its components wear out.

Also, considering the fact that Ultimaker still pushes regular firmware updates to its first generation printers, it’s probably a safe bet that software support for the UM3 will be available for years to come. Properly maintained, this machine could last you a decade or more.

Should I buy it?

Yes. If money is no object and you want the best possible FDM printer you can get, then you needn’t continue searching. This is the one you want.

Just keep in mind that you can get far better print quality from the Form 2 (for the same price), and there are also cheaper FDM printers that cost a lot less and provide only slightly worse print quality.

The best iPhone X battery cases to keep your $1,000 device alive

The iPhone X is the breath of fresh air that Apple fans have needed for years. The all-new OLED display is incredible, the edge-to-edge design is gorgeous, and Face ID has been ruled a success. But the battery life may not be up to scratch if you’re a heavy user. What if you’re away from the charger for a while? The iPhone X’s camera is amazing, you want to use it when you can without worrying about battery life. Why not invest in a battery case for when you need the power most?

We’ve scoured the internet for the best iPhone X battery cases that you can currently buy, and narrowed down the list to the ones you can find below. Don’t worry about power again!

ZeroLemon Extended Battery Case — 4,000mAh ($40)

Battery cases are bound to add some bulk to your slim phone, because adding extra battery also means extra mass. This battery case from ZeroLemon adds an extra 12 hours of talk time to your iPhone X, and thanks to the slim profile, doesn’t add too much bulk. It’s easy to attach, with a slide-and-lock design, and a series of four LEDs that let you know the case’s charge level. Charging the case and syncing your phone to your PC is possible with a USB-C cable, so you won’t need to remove the case to charge it. The downsides? The additional chin at the bottom of the case ruins your phone’s edgeless display, it blocks wireless charging, and there’s no audio via wired headphones — Bluetooth only. Still, for $40, this provides a lot of extra juice.

Buy one now from:

Amazon ZeroLemon

Betteck Ultra Slim Backup Battery — 5,200mAh ($31)

Betteck has gone for a more unique style with its battery case. “Ultra” slim might be a stretch, but the case is slim enough that it doesn’t add too much bulk. It slides onto the outside of the phone, eschewing the more usual TPU or slide-and-lock style. A series of four LEDs show the case’s charge level, and it’s chargeable via Lightning cable. In terms of power, you’re looking at a good amount of extra oomph, with a whole day’s worth of extra talk time added on. On the downside, this won’t provide any real protection to your phone at all, it blocks wireless charging, and you’re again limited to Bluetooth headphones. But if you’re the sort of person who goes without a case anyway (seriously, check out the protection these iPhone cases offer!), then the option to simply slide this case on when needed might be appealing.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

AllClap Rechargeable Battery Case — 6,000mAh ($40)

This battery case has the largest capacity on this list, and we’re frankly amazed at how well it manages to pack all that power away. AllClap’s battery case doesn’t add an unsightly chin to your phone, keeping your edgeless display mostly intact, and it doesn’t add much bulk to the phone at all — adding about 0.41-inches of thickness. It’s pure wizardry. Slipping the TPU case onto your iPhone should add around 30 hours onto your call time, and you can charge and sync your phone with a Lightning cable. On the downside, it blocks wireless charging and forces you to use Bluetooth headphones only. Still, it’s hard to argue against this amount of power for this price.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

Himino Lightning Headphone Compatible Battery Case — 3,200mAh ($33)

If you’re fully bought into a pair of expensive Lightning headphones, then the fact that many battery cases don’t support Lightning audio might be a serious turn off. Thankfully, Himino is offering this case with full Lightning audio capabilities. It might not be the biggest in terms of battery power, but it still adds twice your usual capacity, and the hard-shell design should add some protection to your fragile phone. Charge-and-sync via your Lightning cable is supported, making this even more convenient for the Lightning purist, and the charge level is again indicated with a series of LEDs. Perfect for the Lightning audio lover, or anyone who’s stuck with their EarPods (Seriously? There are loads of better headphones out there). Like the other cases, this battery case also blocks wireless charging.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

Alpatronix BXX Qi-Enabled Battery Case — 4,200mAh ($60)

This case is the most expensive on the list, but with good reason. It’s the only battery case we’ve been able to find that supports wireless charging. Specially programmed to charge the phone first and the case second, it’s perfect for anyone who can’t bear to give up their new wireless charger for extra battery capacity. The 4,200mAh-rated battery should provide at least 12 extra hours of talk time, and the design should provide some protection against drops and bumps. The downsides? The case charges by Micro USB connection, and while you can still connect to your PC with that, that means no Lightning headphones. It’s also fairly bulky, adding a sizeable chin to the bottom of the device. Still, this is a solid battery case that offers what no one else does at the moment. Oh, and it comes with a free iPhone X tempered glass screen protector too!

Buy one now from:

Amazon

Benchmark spills the Intel Coffee Lake beans, including a Core i9 laptop CPU

The details of Intel’s remaining eighth-generation rollout are now a little clearer thanks to the diagnostics and benchmarking tool Aida64. The latest beta lists the names of eighth-generation processors that may possibly launch in early 2018, and even lists a Core i9 chip built for laptops. This branding was last used on Intel’s most recent “X-Series” high-dollar performance processors for desktops reaching up into an 18-core model with a $2,000 price tag.

Intel’s eighth-generation rollout began in the late summer with “U” processors for laptops. These chips are based on a refreshed seventh-generation “Kaby Lake” architecture, and were followed by Intel’s first desktop processors in late September based on its eighth-generation “Coffee Lake” design. The batch slated to arrive early next year appear to be a mixture of desktop and laptop processors using the Coffee Lake design.

First up to bat are mobile chips shoved under the Coffee Lake-H banner. The “H” designation used in Intel’s code name typically signifies high performance, thus you’ll see these processors in mobile workstations and high-dollar gaming laptops. The leaked list consists of the Core i5-8000H Series, the i7-8000H Series, and the Core i9-8000H Series. Here they are:

• Core i9-8950HK
• Core i7-8850H
• Core i7-8750H
• Core i5-8400H
• Core i5-8300H

But the list doesn’t stop there. Here are all the other unreleased eighth-generation “Coffee Lake” Intel processors revealed in the benchmark’s release notes:

Celeron
Pentium
Gold
Core i3
Core i5
Core i7
G4900
G4900T
G4920
G4930
G4930T
G4950
G5400
G5400T
G5420
G5420T
G5500
G5500T
G5600
G5600T
G5620
8000
8000T
8020
8020T
8100T
8120
8120T
8300T
8320
8320T
8400B
8400T
8420
8420T
8500
8500B
8500T
8550
8650
8650K
8670
8670T
8700B
8700T

The release notes also reveal processors that fall under Intel’s ninth-generation rollout slated for the back half of 2018. These could be based on a refresh of the current Coffee Lake design using 10nm+ process technology, or Intel’s true ninth-generation design dubbed as “Ice Lake.” They will likely not be a part of Intel’s “Cannon Lake” eighth-generation rollout slated for the end of 2017 that’s based on Intel’s first use of 10nm process technology.

Core i3
Core i5
9000
9000T
9100
9100T
9300
9300T
9400
9400T
9500
9600
9600K

To this date, Intel officially sells 10 eighth-generation processors spanning Core i7, Core i5, and Core i3 parts for desktop and mobile. To better understand all the suffixes in Intel’s processor naming, here’s a brief explanation for each:

B = ?
H = High performance
K = Unlocked
M = Mobile
Q = Quad-core
S = Mainstream performance
T = Lower speed, lower power requirement
U = Ultra-low power
X = Extreme performance
Y = Extreme low power

We won’t officially know Intel’s remaining Coffee Lake processor rollout until sometime after January, so everything listed above must be filed under rumor. Right now, the company is currently locked and loaded to deliver CPUs based on its 10nm Cannonlake architecture before the end of 2017, but we don’t expect to see the resulting products until just before the CES 2018 technology show at the beginning of January.

Benchmark spills the Intel Coffee Lake beans, including a Core i9 laptop CPU

The details of Intel’s remaining eighth-generation rollout are now a little clearer thanks to the diagnostics and benchmarking tool Aida64. The latest beta lists the names of eighth-generation processors that may possibly launch in early 2018, and even lists a Core i9 chip built for laptops. This branding was last used on Intel’s most recent “X-Series” high-dollar performance processors for desktops reaching up into an 18-core model with a $2,000 price tag.

Intel’s eighth-generation rollout began in the late summer with “U” processors for laptops. These chips are based on a refreshed seventh-generation “Kaby Lake” architecture, and were followed by Intel’s first desktop processors in late September based on its eighth-generation “Coffee Lake” design. The batch slated to arrive early next year appear to be a mixture of desktop and laptop processors using the Coffee Lake design.

First up to bat are mobile chips shoved under the Coffee Lake-H banner. The “H” designation used in Intel’s code name typically signifies high performance, thus you’ll see these processors in mobile workstations and high-dollar gaming laptops. The leaked list consists of the Core i5-8000H Series, the i7-8000H Series, and the Core i9-8000H Series. Here they are:

• Core i9-8950HK
• Core i7-8850H
• Core i7-8750H
• Core i5-8400H
• Core i5-8300H

But the list doesn’t stop there. Here are all the other unreleased eighth-generation “Coffee Lake” Intel processors revealed in the benchmark’s release notes:

Celeron
Pentium
Gold
Core i3
Core i5
Core i7
G4900
G4900T
G4920
G4930
G4930T
G4950
G5400
G5400T
G5420
G5420T
G5500
G5500T
G5600
G5600T
G5620
8000
8000T
8020
8020T
8100T
8120
8120T
8300T
8320
8320T
8400B
8400T
8420
8420T
8500
8500B
8500T
8550
8650
8650K
8670
8670T
8700B
8700T

The release notes also reveal processors that fall under Intel’s ninth-generation rollout slated for the back half of 2018. These could be based on a refresh of the current Coffee Lake design using 10nm+ process technology, or Intel’s true ninth-generation design dubbed as “Ice Lake.” They will likely not be a part of Intel’s “Cannon Lake” eighth-generation rollout slated for the end of 2017 that’s based on Intel’s first use of 10nm process technology.

Core i3
Core i5
9000
9000T
9100
9100T
9300
9300T
9400
9400T
9500
9600
9600K

To this date, Intel officially sells 10 eighth-generation processors spanning Core i7, Core i5, and Core i3 parts for desktop and mobile. To better understand all the suffixes in Intel’s processor naming, here’s a brief explanation for each:

B = ?
H = High performance
K = Unlocked
M = Mobile
Q = Quad-core
S = Mainstream performance
T = Lower speed, lower power requirement
U = Ultra-low power
X = Extreme performance
Y = Extreme low power

We won’t officially know Intel’s remaining Coffee Lake processor rollout until sometime after January, so everything listed above must be filed under rumor. Right now, the company is currently locked and loaded to deliver CPUs based on its 10nm Cannonlake architecture before the end of 2017, but we don’t expect to see the resulting products until just before the CES 2018 technology show at the beginning of January.

Forget Face ID, VoiceGesture reads your lips with sonar to unlock your phone

Voice-recognition technology is getting better and better, but if you’re using it for security applications such as spoken passwords, it is not infallible. A team of researchers at Florida State University in Tallahassee may have a solution for spoofing attacks on voice biometrics, however — and it involves sonar.

Called VoiceGesture, the system developed by the team reappropriates your smartphone as a Doppler radar, transmitting a high-frequency sound from the device’s speaker and then listening to the reflections on the microphone when a person says their passcode. Compared to some of the weaknesses involved in regular voice biometric systems, such as the risk of someone impersonating your voice or using a recorded sample, it’s far more effective.

“Our system evaluation involves 21 users with thousands of passphrases and three types of smartphones: Samsung Note 5, Note 3, and Galaxy S5,” Jie Yang, an assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science, told Digital Trends. “Experimental results show that VoiceGesture achieves over 99 percent spoofing attack detection accuracy at around one percent equal error rate (EER).”

Florida State isn’t the only research institute currently investigating ways to make voice biometrics more secure. Recently, we covered a research project from the University of Michigan, which utilizes an accelerometer-based wearable accessory — currently a necklace, earbuds, or glasses attachment — to measure the unique skin vibrations in a person’s face, throat, or chest when they talk.

But what makes VoiceGesture stand out is the fact that it requires no additional hardware in order to work. Yang says that it can be integrated with existing smartphone operating systems and mobile apps for more secure device login, without having to change the physical devices themselves. He told us that the team has already approached Google, who are reviewing the proposed technique. “We also plan to reach out to other smartphone manufacturers like Samsung and Huawei,” Yang said. Should it prove as secure as the team claims, let us hope this turns up on a next-generation smartphone in the near future.

A paper describing the work, titled “Hearing Your Voice is Not Enough: An Articulatory Gesture Based Liveness Detection for Voice Authentication,” is available to read here.

Forget Face ID, VoiceGesture reads your lips with sonar to unlock your phone

Voice-recognition technology is getting better and better, but if you’re using it for security applications such as spoken passwords, it is not infallible. A team of researchers at Florida State University in Tallahassee may have a solution for spoofing attacks on voice biometrics, however — and it involves sonar.

Called VoiceGesture, the system developed by the team reappropriates your smartphone as a Doppler radar, transmitting a high-frequency sound from the device’s speaker and then listening to the reflections on the microphone when a person says their passcode. Compared to some of the weaknesses involved in regular voice biometric systems, such as the risk of someone impersonating your voice or using a recorded sample, it’s far more effective.

“Our system evaluation involves 21 users with thousands of passphrases and three types of smartphones: Samsung Note 5, Note 3, and Galaxy S5,” Jie Yang, an assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science, told Digital Trends. “Experimental results show that VoiceGesture achieves over 99 percent spoofing attack detection accuracy at around one percent equal error rate (EER).”

Florida State isn’t the only research institute currently investigating ways to make voice biometrics more secure. Recently, we covered a research project from the University of Michigan, which utilizes an accelerometer-based wearable accessory — currently a necklace, earbuds, or glasses attachment — to measure the unique skin vibrations in a person’s face, throat, or chest when they talk.

But what makes VoiceGesture stand out is the fact that it requires no additional hardware in order to work. Yang says that it can be integrated with existing smartphone operating systems and mobile apps for more secure device login, without having to change the physical devices themselves. He told us that the team has already approached Google, who are reviewing the proposed technique. “We also plan to reach out to other smartphone manufacturers like Samsung and Huawei,” Yang said. Should it prove as secure as the team claims, let us hope this turns up on a next-generation smartphone in the near future.

A paper describing the work, titled “Hearing Your Voice is Not Enough: An Articulatory Gesture Based Liveness Detection for Voice Authentication,” is available to read here.

Microsoft Office suite finally arrives on Chromebooks via Google Play Store

While there are more alternatives to the Microsoft Office suite than ever before, it’s still the gold standard for many when it comes to productivity software. Now, it’s finally been made officially available on Chrome OS.

When support for Android apps was added to Chromebook laptops, the likes of Excel, Word, and PowerPoint became compatible with the hardware via Office Mobile.

The software, however, wasn’t available for the full complement of Chromebooks on the market. Microsoft did release a statement confirming that it was collaborating with Google to ensure that the Office experience was as good as it possible could be on Chrome OS, but it’s take some time for this partnership to bear fruit.

As of today, the Office suite is available via the Play Store for a wide range of Chromebooks, even though Microsoft is yet to issue an official statement regarding its availability. The Samsung Chromebook Pro, Pixelbook, two models of the Acer Chromebook 15, and the Acer C771 can all download the software, according to a report from Chrome Unboxed.

Chromebooks have emerged as a compelling, cost-effective alternative to Windows laptops in recent years, and they’re especially capable now that they support Windows apps. The fact that these systems now possess official support for Office will make them even more attractive, especially for use in an educational setting, or in the workplace.

There was a time when Microsoft prioritized the Windows version of Office over all others, as anyone who used early Mac versions of the software will be able to attest to. Now, the company’s strategy is very different, making the suite available across a wide range of devices, and even in-browser.

The fact is that the likes of Excel, Word, and PowerPoint are no longer unmatched. Google’s range of competing apps perform much of the same functionality, and they’re completely free to use.

This means that Office has to do more in order to warrant a monthly subscription. Being available on every single device that a user might want to install it on is merely table stakes, especially given that Chrome OS is home turf for Google.

BioLite is bringing solar power and light to remote regions of Kenya

BioLite has always been on a mission to provide affordable and efficient sources of power for use anywhere. Case in point: The company’s very first product was a camping stove that could generate energy from the heat created from burning sticks and leaves while cooking a meal. That energy was stored in an onboard battery pack and could then be used to recharge a cell phone, headlamp, or other small electronic devices.

Subsequent products, including portable solar panels and USB battery packs, continued this trend, allowing outdoor enthusiasts and travelers to live off the grid for extended periods of time. Recently, the company even introduced its new SolarHome 620 kit, which brings an affordable solar power solution to remote cabins and those living the #vanlife too.

But when BioLite first designed the SolarHome, it didn’t necessarily have its usual customer base in mind. In fact, the product was originally built with the idea of bringing light and power to remote corners of Kenya, a place where those resources are often at a premium. As you’ll see in the video above, the installation takes just a few minutes and can transform the lives of the people living in Africa immeasurably. Not only does it provide energy for lights, but it also stores power to recharge a cell phone and power a radio.

The SolarHome 620 kit includes a 6-watt solar panel that is placed on the roof of a house, cabin, or van. That panel collects energy from the sun all day long, storing it in a 20-watt-hour control center that is located inside the structure itself. That box then uses the power to illuminate three hanging lamps that are included with the kit, bringing as much as 400 lumens of light to places where there was only darkness before. This allows students to continue their studies well after sunset and makes life much more productive and convenient for families in general.

The SolarHome control center is also equipped with an FM radio to pick up local broadcasts and has the ability to connect to a smartphone to play back MP3 files. The multifunctional box also includes a USB port for charging cell phones or other electronic devices.

Designed to be easy to install and require very little maintenance, the SolarHome is already having a dramatic impact on the lives that it was designed to help. BioLite says that over 5,000 SolarHome kits are already installed and operational throughout western Kenya, where the product has been received with gratitude.

BioLite is currently completely sold out of its initial batch of SolarHome kits, which are priced at $150. More are expected to become available in February.

BenQ PD3200U review

Research Center:
BenQ PD3200U 4K Designer Monitor

Professional monitors are an odd bunch, at least compared to standard desktop monitors or gaming monitors. They’re not defined by lightning-fast refresh rates, or razor-thin bezels. They’re powerful displays that offer unparalleled picture quality and color reproduction — often clad in simple black plastic.

The BenQ PD3200U is the quintessential pro-grade monitor. It’s sturdy, unassuming, and despite coming in at an enormous 32-inches with a crisp 4K display, almost humble.

How does a professional monitor stand out from the crowd? Simple. It performs, delivering a great picture with no fuss. Its job is to get out of your way, and fade into the background. But during our BenQ PD3200U review, we found it can do even more than that.

Easy does it

It’s striking how normal the BenQ PD3200U looks when you first get it out of the box. It’s big — at 32-inches it’s almost the size of a small TV — but plain and unassuming. It doesn’t have razor-thin bezels, or a dramatic silvery aluminum stand. It’s black and dark gray. Even display panel is matte.

The BenQ PD3200U is simple, straightforward, and utilitarian. There are no design elements which don’t serve a purpose, and that makes sense. This is a professional, designer monitor. It’s meant to spend its lifetime on a desk or drafting table, and it certainly looks the part.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

The base is rock-solid and appropriately heavy, and the display doesn’t wobble, even when you really give your desk a jolt. On top of that stability it’s adjustable vertically, up and down, horizontally, and side-to-side. It even tilts forward and back quite a bit, so no matter your desk setup, you’re going to be able to adjust it to your liking. A VESA compatible mount is included, so if the stand BenQ has included isn’t to your liking, you’ll be able to find one that works for you — or mount this thing on your wall and just use it as a TV. It’s certainly big enough.

A design this understated might not be to everyone’s taste. Compared to the slick and stylish LG 27UD88-W 4K monitor, the BenQ PD3200U isn’t as striking or dramatic. It’s not going to turn any heads like the LG, with its ultra-thin frame, matte silver stand, and glossy white shell.

Lots of ports, in all the right places

We appreciate the BenQ PD3200U’s port layout. On the right-hand side, the single HDMI 2.0 port sits above the two DisplayPort 1.2 ports, these are easily accessible by just pivoting the monitor on its super-adjustable stand.

The design is functional and understated, but might not be to everyone’s taste.

Just beneath the HDMI and DisplayPorts, there are two USB-A ports, an SD card slot, and a headphone jack.

Tilt the monitor backward, so its lower “chin” juts forward, and you’ll find another set of ports — two more USB-A ports, two USB-B ports, and a micro-USB slot. The micro USB is for the aptly named “hotkey puck” which comes with the monitor. More on that in a moment.

Overall, this is a standard array of ports for a professional monitor, but the layout is convenient and thoughtful.

Controls

The BenQ PD3200U’s on-screen controls spring to life once you touch any of the four little LED touchpads on the bottom right corner of the monitor. To be clear, these are touch activated, not hardware buttons. From the quick menu you can adjust brightness, picture mode, or open the full menu, which is filled to the brim with presets, adjustable color, contrast, and sharpness options, and more.

The menus are clear and easy to navigate, and the touch buttons are quick and responsive. Getting to the option you want to change, making your change, and backing out of the menu is a quick and easy exercise, with no need to fumble across buttons located on the back-side of the display.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Remember the “hotkey puck” we mentioned earlier? Once you plug it in, it makes changing settings even easier. There are four buttons around the outside of the puck, each corresponding to a picture preset. Those presets can be changed by pressing and holding one of the four preset buttons. That way you can switch between modes like Darkroom mode, sRGB mode, or CAD mode — which is optimized for use with Autodesk’s AutoCAD suite — at the touch of a button.

You can also use the puck to navigate the entire display menu, so if touch buttons aren’t really your thing, you can avoid them entirely. It’s not an entirely new idea, and there are a few competitors that offer similar solutions, but it’s always a nice inclusion for a professional monitor. Being able to swap between presets at the touch of a button can save you a lot of headaches when you’re working with multiple color profiles at once.

Pre-calibration Quality

Right out of the box, it’s easy to be impressed by this monitor — for a couple reasons. First, it’s just huge.

Text is inky and sharp, and images have remarkable depth.

It’s hard to overstate how large a 32-inch monitor looks up-close. It completely fills your field of view, and saturates it in vibrant, lifelike colors. At 4K text is inky and sharp, images have a remarkable sense of depth, and 4K games seem to pop right out of the display. It’s not a surprise that 4K content looks great on a 4K display, but that’s certainly the case here.

Loading up our testing rig to play Destiny 2 at 4K was nothing short of spectacular. Similarly, 4K video looks incredible on this display. Even at 60Hz, its maximum refresh rate, everything appears silky-smooth and richly detailed.

However, this isn’t just a monitor for media consumption. It’s a monitor for media creation. In that regard, it holds its own against more expensive competitors, but it’s not the most impressive professional monitor we’ve seen.

Looking at contrast and color gamut, you can see this monitor scores well, but doesn’t quite compete with the top contenders in this arena. The HP Dreamcolor z32x features a wider color gamut, hitting 98 percent of the sRGB space, and 92 percent of the AdobeRGB color space. Even the LG 27UD88-W beat out our BenQ PD3200U, hitting 77 percent of the AdobeRGB space, to the BenQ’s 75 percent.

As we mentioned, it’s not a bad score, but for a professional monitor it’s not as high as we’d expect. However, to the naked eye the BenQ’s display looks vibrant and detailed. Darks are appropriately dark, and highlights are sharp and bright, and our tests bear that out. Its contrast ratio of 670:1 at maximum brightness isn’t the highest we’ve seen, but it’s a bit higher than its competitors. The HP Dreamcolor, for instance, came in at 520:1, and the LG 27UD88-W came in at 620:1.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Moving on to color accuracy, the BenQ managed to steal victory from the jaws of defeat with a near-perfect score. With an average color error of 1.23, to the HP Dreamcolor’s 1.68, and the LG 27UD88-W’s 3.97, the BenQ wins by a significant margin.

That means the BenQ capable of reproducing color nearly perfectly. Any score below 1.0 is considered to be perfect, so with 1.23, the BenQ comes awfully close. Let’s see if we can shave it down with calibration.

Post-calibration Quality

Calibration doesn’t always radically change a monitor’s performance, but in some cases, it will give you a little extra mileage and help gloss over some of your monitor’s flaws. Think of calibration like honing your kitchen knives. It’s not going to make them better, but it will make them sharper. With the BenQ, that’s exactly what we see after calibration.

Contrast, brightness, and color gamut all remained unchanged, but there was an important improvement: Color accuracy got even better. We saw the BenQ PD3200U’s pre-calibration score of 1.23 go down to .93, pushing it just over the edge into pitch-perfect territory.

There was a key improvement: Color accuracy got even better

To be fair, that’s the kind of improvement we saw from the HP Dreamcolor z32x also, which improved on its initials core of 1.68 by hitting .84. It’s important to point out that even though the Dreamcolor’s overall color error is lower than the BenQ’s, once you get under 1.0, the variances are rather minor. The LG 27UD88-W also improved, going from 3.97 to 2.34, but that’s still a little outside what you’d want from a professional monitor.

If you picked up the BenQ PD3200U hoping to pare down that color error, and you don’t have access to a professional colorimeter like a Spyder5 or Spyder4, just check out our guide on how to calibrate your monitor.

Warranty information

The BenQ PD3200U comes with a standard three-year limited warranty covering manufacturer defects and shipping damages, and units which arrive dead — provided you report the DOA unit within 30 days. It’s a typical warranty period for the category. You also get three years out of the HP Dreamcolor z32x, though only one year from the LG 27UD88-W.

BenQ PD3200U 4K Designer Monitor Compared To

BenQ EX3200R Gaming Monitor

Samsung CF791

Dell S2716DG

HP Dreamcolor Z32x

Philips 276E6ADSS LCD monitor

Asus ROG Swift PG27AQ

Dell SE2716H

Asus ROG Swift PG279Q

Acer XB270HU

Acer S277HK

Acer XB280HK

Acer B286HK

AOC G2770PQU

HP 27xi

Samsung SyncMaster P2770HD

Our Take

4K is more commonplace now than it was just a few years ago, but that doesn’t make it any less awe-inspiring. With the right display, 4K content just sings. It’s rich and lavish, with detail that isn’t present on even the sharpest 1080p or 1440p display.

Prices have come down, but it’s still an expensive segment of the market — especially in the professional monitor market. That’s where the BenQ PD3200U really shines. Standing up against monitors that are three to four hundred dollars more isn’t an easy task, but the PD3200U sure makes it look that way.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes, but not at this price. At $800, the BenQ PD3200U isn’t exactly a budget monitor, but with killer 4K performance and pitch-perfect color accuracy it offers quite a bit for that price tag. As a professional monitor, it undercuts the competition by a fair margin. The HP Dreamcolor z32x starts at $1,326, and the BenQ’s higher-end sibling, the BenQ PV3200PT, starts at $1,300.

While the Dreamcolor features a wider color gamut, both displays feature near-perfect color accuracy, rich, high-contrast displays, and simple, professional designs. The BenQ PD3200U is missing that “looking out a window” quality the Dreamcolor possesses, but it’s much more affordable.

If you don’t need professional-level color accuracy, or you want something a little more stylish, the LG 27UD88-W is a compelling alternative. It starts at $700, so you’ll save a little cash, but keep in mind you won’t be getting that pitch-perfect color accuracy you find on the BenQ PD3200U.

How long will it last?

It’s hard to say exactly how long this monitor will last, but it’s built like a tank. The stand is rock-solid, and the plastic frame around the display will protect the edges of your screen from any knicks and scratches it might get during moving.

And have we mentioned it’s 4K?

Hardware, particularly gaming hardware, hasn’t quite caught up to the demands 4K places on modern desktop computers, but it’s gaining steam fast, which means 4K content is going to become more and more common and much more accessible.

That means the monitor will outlast your current desktop hardware, and will see you through at least a couple years of hard use.

Should you buy it?

Yes. If you’re a professional looking for a display designed for creative use, you can’t do much better than the BenQ PD3200U — not without spending an extra couple hundred dollars. At this price, the BenQ is a steal. If you need a new workhorse monitor and you’re ready to step up to 4K, give this screen a serious look.

Here’s every Enhanced game for the PS4 Pro

Which PlayStation 4 games have been boosted for the PS4 Pro?

Console manufacturers have long used a “tock” model of updating hardware. Until now.

The releases of the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X represent a “tick” in the development of their consoles. These are not releases of new consoles build from the ground up, but improvements on the existing hardware. Without going into vast detail and promotional talking points, these improvements mean more power.

Note: This is a constantly-updated list. Check for often for the latest Enhanced PS4 Pro games!

What does this mean for a PS4 Pro gamer?

There are many shades of grey, but mostly it means higher resolution graphics and more frames per second. Due to the fact that that it is being left to game developers to decide how they utilize the new processing power in the PS4 Pro, there is no uniform level of improvement.

There are myriad other graphical tweaks developers are implementing, such as enhanced textures and deeper draw distances. For the purposes of this list, however, we are just going to take a highest numbers claimed for resolution and framerate.

The List

Note: Some of these resolutions come with various caveats in regard to lowering other settings in order to achieve highest graphics quality. This means that console only players will be getting a chance to dip their toes in the previously PC owned world of setting tweaks. There are also a few games that are listed as adaptive 4K. In short, this means that the system will scale resolution up or down on its own. When there is less action on screen you are likely to have higher resolutions, whereas moments with tons of elements being rendered at once may see the resolution lowered.

• Abzû – 2400X1350 with an “increased framerate”
• Arizona Sunshine VR – 1920X1080
• Assassin’s Creed: Ezio Collection– Native 4K at 30fps
• Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate – 2880X1620 at 30fps
• Batman Return To Arkham – 1920X1080 at 30fps
• Battleborn – 4K at 30fps
• Battlefield 1 – 2880X1620 at 60fps
• Battlezone VR – 3360X1890
• Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition – 4K
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 – 4K
• Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare – 4K
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered – 4K
• Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy – 2560X1440
• Darksiders: Warmastered Edition – 4K at 60fps “in moment to moment gameplay”
• Dark souls 3 – 1920X1080 at up to 60fps
• Death Stranding – 4K (Release in 2018)
• Deus Ex: Mankind Divided – 4K
• Destiny 2 – Adaptive 4K
• Diablo 3: Ultimate Evil Edition – 4K
• Dishonored 2 – 2560×1440
• The Division – 4K
• The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim Special Edition – 4K
• The Elder Scrolls Online – 4K
• F1 2017 – 4K
• Fallout 4 – 1440p
• Farming Simulator – 4K
• FIFA 17 – 4K up 60fps
• Final Fantasy 15 – 3200X1800
• Firewatch – 2560X1440
• For Honor– 2560X1400
• Full Throttle Remastered – 4K
• Ghost Recon: Wildlands – 2560X1440
• Grand Turismo Sport – 4K
• Gravity Rush – 3840X2160
• Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice – 60fps
• Helldivers – 4K at 60fs
• Here They Lie – 4K
• Hitman – 4K at 60fps
• Homefront: The Revolution – 4K
• Horizon: Zero Dawn – 4K
• Hustle Kings – 4K 60fps
• Infamous: First Light – 3200X1800
• Infamous: Second Son – 3200X1800
• Injustice 2 – 2560X1440
• Killing Floor 2 – 4K
• Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX – 4K at 60fps
• Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue – 4K
• King of Fighters 14 – 4K
• Knack – 3072X1728
• Knack 2 – 1800p
• LA Noire – 4K
• The Last of Us Remastered – 2560X1440 max. 1800p at 60fps or 2160 at 30fps
• The Last Guardian – 3840X2160 at variable frame rate. 1080p locked at 30fps
• Lego Harry Potter Collection – 2560X1440 at 60fps
• Let It Die – 2560X1440
• Life is Strange: Before the Storm – 4K
• Little Nightmares – 2880X1620 at 60fps
• Madden NFL 18 – 4K or 1080ps at 60fps
• Mafia 3 – 2560X1440
• Mantis Burn Racing – 4K at 60fps
• Mass Effect: Andromeda – 3200X1800
• Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor – 4K or 1080p at 30fps
• Middle-earth: Shadow of War – 4K cinematics and 1080p
• MLB The Show 17 – 4K, 2560X1440, or 1080p with “enhanced frame rate”
• Mother Russia Bleeds – 3840X2160
• MotoGP 17 – 2560X1440 at 60fps
• NBA 2K17 – 4K at 60fps
• NBA 2K18 – 4K at 60 fps
• Neon Chrome – 4K
• Nex Machina – 3360×1890 at 60fps or 1080 at 60fps locked
• Nier: Automata – 1080p at 60fps
• Nioh – 1080p display: 1920×1080 (Movie Mode)
• No Man’s Sky – 3200×1800
• Outlast 2 – 2560×1440 at 60fps
• Overwatch – 4K at 60fps
• Paladins – 4K
• Paragon – 1080p at 60fps.
• PaRappa the Rapper Remastered – 4K (dynamic).
• PES 2017 – 4K at 60fps.
• Pyre – 4K at 60 fps.
• Ratchet & Clank – 3200×1800
• Resident Evil 7 Biohazard – 3840×2160
• Resogun – 4K
• Rez Infinite – 3840 x 2160 at 60fps
• Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration – 4K at 30fps
• Rocket League – 4K
• Smite – 4K at 60fps
• Snake Pass – 2688×1512 at 30fps
• Sniper Elite 4 – 1920×1080 resolution at 60fps
• Super Stardust Ultra – 4K at 60fps
• The Surge – 4K at 30fps
• Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization – 60fps
• Tethered – 4K at 60fps
• Thumper – 4K at 60fps
• Titanfall 2 – 2560×1440
• Trackmania Turbo – 2880×1620 at 60fps
• Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End – 2560×1440 at 30fps
• Uncharted 4: Lost Legacy – 4K at 60fps.
• Verdun – 3200×1800 at 60fps.
• Victor Vran: Overkill Edition – 2880×1620 at 60fps
• Viking Squad – 3840×2160 at 60fps
• Watch Dogs 2 – 3200×1800
• Wheels of Aurelia – 3840×2160 at 60fps.
• Wipeout Omega Collection – 4K (dependent on motion blur settings) at 60fps
• The Witcher 3 – 4K
• The Witness – 4K at 60fps
• World of Tanks – 3200 x 1800

With all the various upgrades to existing games that will now be available on the PS4 Pro there is a decent argument for a PS4 Pro owner to revisit some of the games that may have sitting on the shelves gathering dust. The only difficulty will be tracking what sort of upgrades will be getting applied to each title.

What games will you be re-playing on your PS4 Pro?

Why are we reviewing PlayStation 4 games on Android Central? Let us explain.

PlayStation 4

• PS4 vs. PS4 Slim vs. PS4 Pro: Which should you buy?
• PlayStation VR Review
• Playing PS4 games through your phone is awesome

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