Netgear Nighthawk X10 AD7200 Smart WiFi Router Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

Netgear

Have $500 lying around? Netgear has something that you might want to spend that on: the all-new Nighthawk X10 AD7200 Smart Wi-Fi router. It’s the second router on the market that supports the latest 802.11ad Wi-Fi standard, after the TP-Link Talon AD7200. (UK and Australian prices are yet to be announced, but the US price converts to roughly £400 or AU$650.)

You can read more about 802.11ad here, but in a nutshell it works on the 60GHz frequency band. This allows for extremely fast Wi-Fi, up to 4.6Gbps in the case of the X10, but it’ll only hit that speed at extremely short range — up to about 30 feet — and with a clear line of sight.

Overkill

Obviously, in order to experience 802.11ad, you need compatible devices and as far as I know there’s only one right now on the market, the Acer TravelMate laptop, which can connect at 2.3Gbps over Wi-Fi, in my trial. But even then, there’s not much you can do with that speed. This is because on the other end of the connection, currently the fastest home devices would top out at the speed of a wired Gigabit connection. And Gigabit is already much faster than anything in your home would require to work well.

But the X10 itself can do more than Gigabit. It supports link aggregation, allowing you to combine two of its six network ports into a single 2Gbps connection. It also has a 10Gbps fiber port to connect to a supported NAS server. This means if you’re a hardcore user, and willing to spend more on super-high-speed peripheral devices, you can truly enjoy 802.11ad speed. Now.

For most other home users, however, the Netgear X10 is way ahead of the curve and as good as future-proof. But for the most part, it’ll be about as useful as any other quad-stream 802.11ac router.

Full technical features:

• AD7200 Quad Stream Wave2 Wi-Fi supports wireless speeds up to 4,600Mbps (60GHz band) + 1,733Mbps (5GHz band) + 800Mbps (2.4GHz band)
• Built-in Plex Media Server
• 1.7GHz quad-core processor with high-performance active antennas
• Six Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports with dual ports that can be operated in line aggregation mode for faster file transfers (up to 2Gbps wired speeds)
• Two USB 3.0 ports
• Automatic backup to the cloud with Amazon Drive
• Netgear ReadyCloud that provides easy and secure way to access USB-connected storage
• 10Gbps fiber port for super-fast connection to a supported NAS server
• MU-MIMO for simultaneous streaming of data to multiple devices
• New Netgear Up app for Android or iOS mobile device to help with the setup process
• Netgear Genie app for a personal dashboard to monitor, control and repair your home network, now works even when you’re away from home

While extremely expensive, the X10 seems to be the most souped-up router to date. Who knows, it might just be worth every penny. Check back soon for CNET’s full review.

Samsung Gear 360 review – CNET

The Good The well-priced Samsung Gear 360 produces some of the best spherical video you can get from a consumer-grade 360-degree camera at the moment. Easy to use on its own or with its full-featured mobile app. Can be used as a single-lens wide-angle video camera. Clips can be transferred, trimmed and shared with your Galaxy phone or edited on a computer. Body is splash- and dust-resistant and battery and storage are removable.

The Bad The camera’s app currently works on only select Samsung phones. The lenses can be easily scratched and replacements aren’t available. Included editing software is Windows-only and editing without it is difficult at best. Transferring clips longer than a couple of minutes takes a long time.

The Bottom Line The Samsung Gear 360 is great for simple 360-degree video and photos. You’ll just need the right Galaxy phone and a Windows computer to get the most from it, right out of the box.

Samsung’s Gear 360 is one of the best consumer 360-degree cameras you can get at the moment, and yet for most people it’s probably not going to be “the one to get.”

Mainly that’s because the camera — available for $350 in the US and £350 and AU$500 in the UK and Australia — is currently only officially supported for use with Samsung Galaxy S6/S7, S6/S7 Edge, S6 Edge+ and Note 5 phones for use with the Samsung Gear 360 Manager app. That cuts a lot of other Android and all iOS users out.

On top of that, the bundled editing software called Gear 360 Action Director made by Cyberlink is Windows-only. This wouldn’t be so bad if there were more consumer-level editing options for 360 content available, but there aren’t. The bigger issue, though, is that you need either one of those Galaxy phones or the Cyberlink software to easily convert what the camera records from its two separate cameras into an equirectangular view (think flattened sphere) that can be edited and uploaded to YouTube and Facebook.

Basically, if you’re considering the Gear 360 because you want a simple way to capture, edit and share 360-degree video and photos, you better have at least one of the aforementioned Galaxy devices and maybe a reasonably powerful Windows PC, too. You can still use the camera on its own without connecting to its mobile app and do the stitching and editing with other software (here’s how to do it using Kolor Autopano Video software, for example), but it is much more difficult and time-consuming.

View full gallery

A point-and-shoot with two cameras.

Josh Miller/CNET

The camera itself is pretty straightforward to use. With the three buttons on the camera and its small screen you’re able change basic settings and shooting modes, of which there are four: Video, Photo, Time-lapse Video and Looping Video. Switch to the mode you want, press the record button on top and the camera does the rest, simultaneously capturing the view from the front and rear cameras and combining them into one MP4 video or JPEG photo. (You can also shoot with just one of the cameras giving you a regular wide-angle video at resolutions up to 2,560×1,440 at 30 frames per second.)

Want more control? Wirelessly connect the camera to a Galaxy device, open the Gear 360 app and you get a preview of your shot as well as sharpness, white balance, HDR, exposure, ISO limit and wind cut settings. You can also turn on a 2-, 5- or 10-second timer.

When you’re done, you can view and transfer content straight to your Galaxy phone and as that happens it will stitch together the views from the two cameras into photos and videos that will give you the full 360-degree spherical experience. Keep in mind, though, the longer the clip, the longer the transfer takes, so it’s best to keep your videos short.

LeEco uMax85 Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

TV makers with big names in China, like TCL and Hisense, are coming to the US market to challenge the dominance of Samsung, LG and Vizio. And the latest, LeEco, actually bought Vizio earlier this year.

Now LeEco is launching TVs under its own name and packing in some high-end technology at aggressive prices. Its first four will go on sale at the company’s own site, LeMall, in November.

The most remarkable is an 85-inch monster called the uMax85 that’ll cost a cool $5,000. That’s a huge TV and a lot of money, but for perspective, like-sized sets from Samsung and Sony cost $3,000 more, and don’t feature the kind of high-end picture enhancements used by LeEco.

LeEco has an 85-inch TV for $5000
See full gallery

1 – 4 of 8

Next
Prev

The uMax85 has a full-array local dimming (FALD) backlight with 448 zones, more than any other TV we’ve heard claim, including the Vizio Reference series and the Hisense H10 (the Sony Z9D might have more, but Sony isn’t talking). FALD generally provides superior image quality compared to other LCD technologies. LeEco claims 90 percent coverage of the DCI-P3 color space, which is decent but not as wide as some high-end sets, such as OLEDs or LCDs that use Quantum Dots.

Like LG and Vizio TVs, the uMax86 supports both high dynamic range (HDR) standards, Dolby Vision and HDR10. In our tests we haven’t found a definitive advantage for one over the other, but in general it’s nice for a TV to support both. HDR usually provides superior image quality to standard 4K or HDTV video.

LeEco also talks up the TV’s smart innards, including 4GB of memory, 64GB of RAM and a quad-core processor. Its SmartTV system is Google’s Andoid TV. That means it has access to all the apps in the Android TV store, as well as the nifty Cast system used by Chromecast.

James Martin/CNET

In addition to the 85-inch model there’s a trio of smaller, less expensive TVs:

• Super4 X65: 65 inches, $1,400
• Super4 X55: 55 inches, $900
• Super4 X43 Pro: 65 inches, $650

All have 4K resolution, HDR10 (but not Dolby Vision) compatibility, and lack local dimming, so we don’t expect them to perform as well as Vizio’s similarly-priced M series. They have the same smart TV system as the 85-incher, albeit with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage (the 43-incher has 16GB of storage).

The company’s LeMall website will offer limited-time discounts ($1,000 off the 85-incher; $200 on the smaller sets) for people who sign up in time for the “flash sale” on November 2. LeEco’s representatives didn’t tell CNET when those discounts would expire.

Moov HR Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

Moov

There are a lot of devices out there that promise to measure heart rate. Most do this with a sensor on your wrist or a strap around your chest. What intrigued me about the Moov HR is that it promises to measure “EKG-accurate heart rate” with a headband or swim cap.

The technique isn’t all that different from other trackers. It uses the green LED lights and optical sensors you’ve seen in Fitbits and the Apple Watch, but the sensors on the Moov HR measure blood density around the temples, rather than blood flow on the wrist. The company said this unique technique “determines heart rate with ultra-fine precision.”

The sensor on the Moov HR is waterproof and will last up to six hours, but that’s only half the story. It’s when you connect to the Moov app on Android or iOS that you can unlock the device’s full potential. The app can coach you through a variety of high intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts within your target heart rate zone. This will ensure that you burn more calories and fat in the shortest amount of time. Workouts include HIIT running, indoor cycling and a bodyweight circuit.

Moov

I didn’t get a chance to see the Moov HR in person, but my colleague Lexy Savvides did. During her brief time with the device, she said that it seemed pretty accurate and the band was comfortable to wear, although she didn’t do anything strenuous with it.

The Moov HR will be available in two models, one comes with a sweatband (Moov HR Sweat) and the other with a swim cap (Moov HR Swim). Both models will begin shipping in February 2017 for $99. For a limited time, you can preorder a Moov HR for $60. International pricing and release information wasn’t immediately available, but the full US price converts to about £80 in the UK and AU$130 in Australia.

We will have a full review of the Moov HR in the coming months.

Sony Xperia XZ review – CNET

The Good Sony’s Xperia XZ looks good, it won’t die when you spill your drink on it and its bold screen makes mobile games look great.

The Bad Its battery life doesn’t impress, and nor does the camera. Its full HD display isn’t as high resolution as most of its rivals.

The Bottom Line The Sony Xperia XZ is a decent all-round phone, but it doesn’t offer any competition to its main rival, the Galaxy S7. Its high price means the XZ isn’t the phone to go for.

Visit manufacturer site for details.

Sony needs to get it together. I’ve reviewed its phones — from the top of the line down to the most basic — for several years now, and I hate to see the Xperia family decline. Hard truth: It just can’t keep up with its competitors. Take this “flagship” Xperia XZ, for example. It looks good, the screen is great and the Xperia line was water-resistant before IP68 was a glimmer in Samsung’s eye.

But that’s not enough of a reason to buy it. It costs a lot: $687, £540 or AU$999. Google’s Pixel and Samsung’s Galaxy S7 phones have much better cameras and longer battery life, for the same price or less. And their fingerprint readers work all over the world — for some insane reason, Sony turns it off for the US. While there’s little that’s seriously wrong with the Xperia XZ, there isn’t much to grab my attention, and that’s a big contrast from even a year ago when Sony was an undersung brand just waiting for its time in the sun.

The Xperia XZ is a decent Android phone, but you’ll probably feel more connected with the Google Pixel, OnePlus 3 or Galaxy S7. This one will get the job done; it just won’t dazzle you while it does it.

View full gallery

It’s Sony’s signature black block. That’s metal this time, not glass.

Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Refined design

• 161 grams (5.67 ounces)
• 146x72x8.1mm (5.7×2.8×0.3 inches)
• Fingerprint scanner on right edge — but not in the US
• Water resistant
• 32GB built-in storage

If you’ve seen last year’s Xperia Z5, you’ve basically seen the XZ. The newly rounded edges make the XZ a smidge more comfortable to hold, while also making it look less boxy. The back panel is metal, not glass, and while there’s a seam separating it from a plastic strip at the bottom, it’s smooth and feels good to hold.

The changes aren’t huge and it still bears the unmistakably monolithic Sony design, but XZ looks and feels like more of a refined, luxurious option than its predecessor.

The phone is water and dust resistant (IP68 rated, if you’re wondering), but that doesn’t mean you can take it in the swimming pool. The protection it has is designed to keep it safe from accidental drink spills or rain, but it’s not an underwater camera. Sony’s official advice states, “You should not put the device completely underwater; or expose it to seawater, salt water, chlorinated water, or liquids such as drinks. Abuse and improper use of device will invalidate warranty.” Yikes.

View full gallery

Just a power button? Yes, but only in the US. Elsewhere it pulls double duty.

Andrew Hoyle/CNET

There’s a fingerprint scanner on the right-hand edge, built into the power button. Its position means the scanner is right beneath your thumb when you hold it in your right hand, or under your index finger when you hold it in your left. It’s quick to register your fingerprint, and I found it to be fast and accurate in granting access.

Those of you in the US should note that the fingerprint scanner is disabled in the model sold there. In America, it’s just a dumb power button. It’s an odd move and it does put the XZ a step down against rivals like the Galaxy S7, which have the scanners built in wherever you buy them.

There’s 32GB of built-in storage as standard, but you can pop in a microSD card to expand that to your heart’s content. The XZ uses the new USB type-C, so prepare to replace your stash of old Micro-USB cables.

Bold display

• 5.2 inches
• Full HD (1,920×1,080-pixel resolution)

Colours really pop on this screen, making it a good option if you like playing vibrant games like Candy Crush or watch colourful TV shows like “Power Rangers.” Although maybe that’s just me.

It’s a bright screen too, easily countering the overhead lights in CNET’s London office, and being easily readable under Britain’s grey, autumnal clouds. How it fares under midday summer sun remains to be seen, but I’m comfortable saying it’ll be at least as good as most of its main rivals.

It has a full HD (1,920×1,080-pixel) resolution, which is sufficient to make apps and games look crisp, but it’s not as high as you’d expect from a top-end flagship. Phones such as the Galaxy S7, LG G5 and HTC 10 all pack ultra high resolution displays, so the XZ feels like it’s coming up short here. For everyday use this won’t make much difference, but if you want to use a phone with a VR headset — where the phone will be displayed close up in front of your eyes — that lower resolution will be noticeable.

View full gallery

The Xperia XZ runs Android Marshmallow.

Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Android Marshmallow, with additions

• Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow software
• Sony custom interface
• Too much preinstalled software
• 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
• 3GB RAM

The phone arrives with Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow on board, which isn’t the absolute latest version — that honour goes to Android Nougat — but it’s the most recent version you’ll find on most phones at the moment. Sony has confirmed that the XZ will get the update, but hasn’t yet set a firm date.

LeEco LePro 3 Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

The LeEco LePro 3.

James Martin/CNET

Chinese company LeEco launched a slew of products and services today here in San Francisco, including a video streaming platform, four TVs and an electric car. It also unveiled two phones, the LePro 3 and the Le S3.

The more powerful device, the 5.5-inch Le Pro 3, features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage. It has a 16-megapixel camera, a fingerprint reader and a USB Type-C port. (In 2015, LeEco was one of the first companies to integrate Type-C in its phones, starting with the Le 1 Pro Superphone.) The Le Pro 3 also boasts a massive 4,070 mAh battery — and with Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0 technology, it’s supposed to charge up to 33 percent in 20 minutes.

Perhaps its most compelling feature is its price. It costs $399, significantly less than other flagships that run upward from $700 or more. (UK and Australian details have yet to be announced but that converts to around £325 or AU$520.) But it’s not the only inexpensive high-end handset. The OnePlus 3, from another scrappy startup based in China, costs $399 too. It has a Snapdragon 820 processor, similar camera specs, 6GB of RAM and 64GB of internal memory. It has a lower battery capacity, however, at 3,000 mAh.

LeEco’s second device is the Le S3. Though it also has a 5.5-inch screen, its specs are scaled back. It’s equipped with a Snapdragon 652 chipset, a 16-megapixel camera that can record 4K video and 32GB of internal memory. It will cost $229 (about £185 or AU$300).

This is a developing story. Check back soon for more hands-on photos, video and analysis.

Wink Hub 2 review – CNET

The Good The companion app is the $99/£80/AU$130 Wink Hub 2’s strongest asset — the layout is logical and step-by-step tutorials make it relatively easy to pair (most) devices.

The Bad I received a steady stream of error messages when trying to create automation rules and never managed to run one successfully. Occasionally latency issues slowed things down and Lutron devices are still laughably difficult to connect to Wink.

The Bottom Line The Wink Hub 2 is fine, but it’s hard to recommend over platforms like Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit that reduce challenging behind-the-scenes integrations to simple voice commands.

Wink’s Hub 2 gave me major deja vu. Not only does this slab of white plastic look very similar to the startup’s first-generation Wink Hub, it also works roughly the same.

That means you’ll run into occasional in-app glitches, latency issues and connectivity woes. And, priced at $99/£80/AU$130, this smart home gizmo also costs $20 more than the original version.

Yes, Wink has made some improvements over generation one. Hub 2 has more memory, supports Bluetooth, comes with an Ethernet port and works with dual-band Wi-Fi. But that isn’t enough to recommend it over the interactive voice-control platforms that have emerged since from Amazon and Apple.

Wink takes another stab at the smart-home…
See full gallery

1 – 5 of 6

Next
Prev

A utilitarian hunk o’ plastic

No one has found a truly engaging aesthetic for a smart-home hub and the white plastic Wink Hub 2 is no exception. While this model feels heavier and more durable than its predecessor, it isn’t much of a design improvement. The two iterations have roughly the same measurements and they’re, well, seriously boring-looking.

Instead, the most significant updates are hidden inside the hub itself. There you’ll find 512 MB worth of memory (up from 64 MB), an Ethernet port for connecting the hub directly to your router and support for both 2.4 and 5GHz Wi-Fi, as well as Bluetooth-enabled devices.

Here’s a list of the automation languages Wink’s Hub 2 works with:

• Bluetooth LE
• Kidde
• Clear Connect
• Z-Wave
• ZigBee

Note: You can still buy the first-generation Wink Hub for $69/£55/AU$90 while supplies last.

Hubs, hubs and more hubs:

• Faster, slimmer and safer: Wink rolls out the Wink Hub 2
• Harness your smart home with Wink’s low-cost hub
• Lowe’s Iris focuses on the future, loses sight of the present
• Insteon’s HomeKit Hub shows potential, but needs work
• Streamline your connected home with SmartThings 2.0

View all of your Wink-connected devices from the app’s home screen and select “Add a Product” to pair more.

Screenshot by CNET

Testing out Wink’s new hub

All of those improvements are a step in the right direction, but I didn’t notice any distinct differences between testing the first- and second-generation Wink Hubs.

The good news is that it’s still (mostly) easy to pair devices. I connected a Nest Learning Thermostat, a Nest Cam Indoor, a Lutron Serena window shade and a Lutron Pico remote. I also connected to our Chamberlain MyQ Garage door opener account, but that product isn’t currently installed at the CNET Smart Home so I couldn’t actually control it.

Netgear Mobile Router MR1100 Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

It may not look like much, but it’s got it where it counts.

Aloysius Low/CNET

You’ll soon be able to download movies in a matter of seconds thanks to the palm-sized Netgear Mobile Router MR1100.

The portable pocket router taps into gigabit-capable LTE networks and can download up to 1 gigabyte of data per second. But there’s a big catch — it’s only available from Australian carrier Telstra, which announced last year that it can reach speeds of 1Gbps.

The router features a battery life of 24 hours of continuous use, an impressive claim for sure. The MR1100 charges through a USB Type-C connector, and features a LAN port as well. The downloads are sped along by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X16 LTE modem.

The speed sounds amazingly fast — as fast as if you were to hook up your PC to the router using a LAN cable. But bear in mind this will likely blow your data cap without you noticing. Though of course that depends on your data plan and the size of the files that you download.

You may well be tempted, but don’t start planning your move Down Under just yet. A Telstra spokesperson told CNET that the carrier is unlikely to offer unlimited data plans on its upcoming superfast service. There’s no word on capped data plans for now either. Furthermore, the network isn’t quite ready — the router and service will likely launch in a few months, perhaps over Christmas or another upcoming holiday period.

There’s no word yet on when this will be available in other countries.

Key features

• Gigabit LTE speeds
• 24 hour battery life
• Type-C and LAN ports
• Available soon in Australia

Fabriq Alexa-Enabled Smart Speaker Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

It’s been over a year since Amazon offered up its voice-activated virtual assistant “Alexa” to third-party developers. With just a few lines of code, any gadget that features a microphone, speakers, and an internet connection can be an Alexa gadget.

Enter Fabriq, the maker of a new, small-sized smart speaker with Alexa functionality built right in. At just $50 (£40/AU$65), it’s the same price as the Editors’ Choice-winning Amazon Echo Dot, but it comes with a few additional advantages. For starters, it’s a more powerful speaker than the Dot, and it features a built-in battery, too, letting you unplug the the thing and take it with you for up to 5 hours on a charge. You can also sync multiple speakers together over Wi-Fi for simultaneous playback — the Echo Dot can’t do anything like that.

It’s not a slam dunk, though. Unlike the Echo and the Echo Dot, the Fabriq speaker isn’t an always-listening device. That means you’ll need to press a button in order to activate Alexa. You also can’t connect it with an existing audio setup like you can with the Echo Dot. And, as far as Bluetooth speakers go, the sound quality is pretty average.

Still as an Echo-alternative, there’s an awful lot to like here. With almost all of Alexa’s smarts — everything from music and news to third-party skills, smart home control, and yes, terrible jokes — Fabriq offers plenty of tech appeal in an attractive little package. If you’re intrigued by Echo, but want something a little more portable, it’s definitely worth a look.

Design and features

Fabriq is about the size of a baseball, and it comes in your choice of three designs: “Earl Grey,” “Jack Plaid,” and “Splat.” All three make for a good-looking little speaker, and each gets complemented by a ring of LEDs around the base capable of flashing out a rainbow pattern in sync with whatever song you’re streaming.

Those LEDs will also light up when you press the microphone button to talk to Alexa, Amazon’s cloud-connected virtual assistant. She’s just as smart here as she is in Amazon’s own smart speakers, with features that include:

• Streaming music on demand from Amazon Prime Music, Spotify, Pandora or Amazon Music Unlimited
• Playing podcasts from iHeartRadio and TuneIn
• Reading off news, sports, weather and traffic updates
• Looking up facts and calculating figures
• Setting timers and recurring alarms
• Controlling Alexa-compatible smart-home devices

In addition to those core capabilities, Fabriq also has access to Alexa’s growing library of third party “skills.” Essentially the apps of Alexa, these extras can add all sorts of tricks to Alexa’s toolkit, everything from hailing an Uber and ordering a pizza to playing interactive voice games and running advanced smart home controls. None of them cost anything, and you can enable each one simply by asking Alexa to do it.

Sound quality

So the smarts are sound, but how about the speaker? To my ear, it packs a more powerful punch than the Echo Dot, but falls somewhere short of the Amazon Tap. In other words, it’ll fill a small to medium-sized room with plenty of sound, but it isn’t loud enough to play DJ at a noisy party — though, in fairness, I can’t imagine expecting much more from a $50 Bluetooth speaker.

Then again, the sound quality could stand to be a bit sharper. At loud volumes, things get just a touch “fuzzy,” with some slight clipping whenever the speaker tries to punch above its weight. The sound quality wasn’t bad by any stretch, but I’d hesitate to classify it much higher than “average.”

Chris Monroe/CNET

Outlook

As of writing this, Fabriq doesn’t show up in the Alexa app as a supported device, which means I wasn’t able to use that app to tweak any of the speaker’s Alexa-specific settings. That kept me from doing things like customizing what news sources it pulled from for flash briefings, viewing my voice input history, and selecting a default music streaming service.

I suspect that this will change by the time Fabriq officially launches on October 30, and I’ve asked Fabriq’s team to confirm as much. When I hear back, I’ll update this piece accordingly.

Shortcomings aside, Fabriq proved to be a capable Alexa gadget. It did a nice job understanding my voice commands, and though it sometimes needed to think a second or two longer than the Echo Dot before pulling up a song I had requested, I came away satisfied with the user-friendly smarts. At just $50, it shows a lot of promise.

I’ll be spending some more time with Fabriq, and keeping an eye out for any updates as it gets closer to launch. I’m also hoping to get my hands on a second speaker so I can test out synchronized playback. That’ll be a nice feather in Fabriq’s cap if it works as promised, since neither the Amazon Echo nor Amazon Echo Dot currently offer anything like it.

Zerotech Dobby Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

The Dobby is a tiny drone with big ambitions

We check out some of the zippy selfie drone’s coolest features.

by Luke Lancaster

Close

Drag

The Dobby selfie drone is small. At least, it’s small enough to fit in your pocket. It’s cheap. At least, it’s cheap compared to its competitors. And it packs in features like 4K video recording, image stabilization, gesture control and target tracking.

Zerotech’s Dobby is available now for $399 in the US and AU$599 in Australia. There’s no UK distributor, but the price coverts to around £325. Compared to rival drones with built-in cameras that can retail for over a grand, the Dobby’s an attractive option for hobbyists.

The rotors fold in, making for a very petite package.

Dave Cheng/CNET

Key Specs:

• Digital image stabilization
• Removable battery with 9-minute flight time
• 13-megapixel camera, 1,920×1,080p video recording
• Target tracking and facial recognition
• Automatic takeoff and landing
• Foldable design
• 199g
• Companion app
• 16GB storage
• Can hover indoors/outdoors in winds up to 28km/h (17mph)

Using the new Qualcomm Snapdragon Flight platform (the one unveiled at CES), the Dobby’s tracking mode uses facial recognition and target lock to get the drone to follow you around. Little features like that and the one-button takeoff and orbit mode make it feel very clever.

That said, the Dobby isn’t exactly hands-free — while you can leave it hovering or set it to automatically grab some footage, it’s going to need steering from the app at some point.

The four rotors are on arms that fold into the body, leaving you with a slim profile that’ll slip comfortably into your pocket when you’re done flying your drone around.

You pilot the Dobby through a companion app with a live camera feed.

Dave Cheng/CNET

From our brief hands-on time, the target tracking and facial recognition held up reasonably well, and I only clipped my fingers in the blades once going for the gesture-controlled palm landing. More impressively, the live camera feed to the app and touch screen controls made piloting the Dobby a very smooth experience.

Speaking of the companion app, you can also instantly push photos and videos from the paired drone to your phone and out to social media with a couple of button presses.

For your troubles, you’ll get about 9 minutes of flight time from the battery (and fast charging gets you back in the air in about 45 minutes). Those minutes go by very quickly, especially if you’re out and about or have the drone set to follow you on a hike. It makes the extra batteries — available for AU$59 — close to a necessity.

Zerotech packs clever features into a very small package for a surprisingly low price, and apart from still waiting on features like voice control to roll out and a few struggles getting airborne indoors, it’s a fun way to play around with drone photography.