Huawei’s MateBook is beautiful, but fundamentally flawed
For many people, Huawei isn’t a name they associate with premium gadgetry. Sure, it’s the world’s third biggest smartphone maker, and in China it’s gained a reputation for quality, but in the US and most of the Western world it’s mostly known as a purveyor of cheap phones. With the MateBook, a hybrid tablet that marks the company’s first stab at a full-fledged computer, Huawei is hoping to change that. But while it certainly looks nice, the MateBook’s keyboard cover ultimately dooms it as something I can’t recommend.
Hardware
“Wow, that looks expensive.” That’s something I’ve heard, unprompted, from several different people while testing the MateBook. It has a sleek unibody aluminum design that’s only 6.9 millimeters thin, and it weighs just 1.4 pounds. In comparison, Microsoft’s Surface Pro 4 is heavier and a tad wider at 1.7 pounds and 8.4 millimeters thick. The MateBook’s 12-inch screen takes up most of its front, with very little bezel around the display itself (usually a hallmark of good design). A simple chamfered metal trim adds some additional class.
The MateBook is surprisingly comfortable to hold with one hand, and it feels pretty solid too, with very little flex when I tried to bend the case. Around the sides, you’ve got the usual power and volume buttons, as well as a single USB-C port for charging and plugging in accessories. There’s also an incredibly thin fingerprint reader resting between the volume buttons, which is compatible with the Windows Hello fast sign-on feature. The MateBook’s back is cleaner than most other tablets since it forgoes a rear camera, but there’s a 5- camera up front for video chatting. Huawei throws in a USB-C to micro-USB cable in the box, as well as a USB-C to traditional USB-A adapter.
Unfortunately, Huawei pulled a Microsoft and chose to make the MateBook’s keyboard cover an additional $129. At least it also looks expensive, with a faux-leather finish that wraps completely around the tablet, portfolio style. It offers 1.4mm of key travel, which is impressive for a mere tablet cover, and the buttons are also surprisingly large. The keyboard cover doubles as the MateBook’s kickstand; you just have to fold the back over, similar to Apple’s iPad Pro. It’s fairly thin, but it adds an additional pound of weight to the MateBook. (In comparison, the Surface Pro 4 Type Cover weighs 0.6 pounds.)
That lone USB-C connection probably won’t be enough when using the MateBook as a laptop, so Huawei also developed the MateDock ($89), which adds two USB 3.0 ports, Ethernet and HDMI/VGA connectors. And since this is a hybrid tablet, there’s also the expected stylus, the MatePen ($59), which has 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity, as well as a laser pointer built in. The latter feature probably won’t be useful to most consumers, but I suppose it’s one way Huawei can differentiate it from the scores of other stylii out there.
Display and pen input
The MateBook’s 12-inch display packs in a 2,160 by 1,440 pixel resolution, which is sharp, but less so than the iPad Pro (2,732 x 2,048) or the Surface Pro 4 (2,736 x 1,824). You likely won’t even notice the slightly lower resolution in a screen that size, though. For the most part, the display looks adequate, with strong colors and detail. But it’s also a surprisingly dark at times; I had plenty of issues using it outside in direct sunlight. Even sitting in front of a window with sun pouring in was enough to wash it out. And it didn’t help that the screen is also very reflective, which makes things seem even darker. When it comes to watching movies and reading digital comics, it didn’t have much of a “wow factor.”
Huawei’s MatePen felt similar: It’s an adequate stylus, nothing more. It worked well enough for jotting down handwritten text and drawings in OneNote, and it effectively detected varying levels of performance. But the pen itself isn’t comfortable to hold, and writing on the screen feels nothing like actual handwriting. I gave Microsoft lots of credit for trying to mimic the feeling of pen and paper with its latest Surface Pen (it even has different styles of tips for different tastes). The MatePen feels like Huawei didn’t consider much about the handwriting experience; it simply created a stylus because everyone else did. But hey, it at least has a laser pointer!
Typing (and cover) experience
This is where Huawei truly broke my heart. On paper, the MateBook’s keyboard should be fantastic. I was looking forward to feeling every bit of its 1.4mm key travel, I really was. But looks can be deceiving. While mashing down on those keys feels pretty good, it couldn’t keep up with my (admittedly harsh) typing style. I could type quickly, but most of the time I’d end up with gibberish that I’d have to go back and correct. I was able to type around 60 words per minute in TypingTest.com’s Aesop’s fables test, which discounted words that I misspelled. On the MacBook Air and my desktop keyboard, I get around 90 accurate words per minute. Key comfort is a big deal, sure, but accuracy is just as important.
Similarly, the keyboard cover’s trackpad looks inviting, with a large and seemingly smooth surface. But it’s incredibly inaccurate when it comes to mousing around Windows; navigating through menus and websites with links closely packed together was an exercise in frustration. The trackpad’s buttons have trouble determining if I’m trying to left- or right-click, and you can forget about trying to highlight text and scrolling at the same time. I gave up after several minutes of trying to copy large chunks of notes for this review.
The MateBook’s cover proves that Huawei has learned how to mimic designs from better computer makers, but doesn’t actually have a clue why consumers love Apple’s trackpads or Lenovo’s keyboards.
Oh, and I haven’t even gotten to the best/worst part: Huawei’s keyboard makes for a terrible kickstand. It can hold the MateBook up in two positions — 67 degrees and 52 degrees — but there’s no flexibility outside of that. And it’s not even good at maintaining those angles. If you move the screen too far back, or simply shift the MateBook the wrong way, the entire thing falls apart. As someone who’s grown to love the Surface’s stable, fully articulating kickstand, Huawei’s implementation feels like a complete disaster. And you can forget about holding the MateBook on your lap: It works, but only if you sit just right. Otherwise get ready for your 12-inch tablet to come crashing to the floor.
Performance and battery life
| Huawei MateBook (1.1 GHz Core M3, Intel HD 515) | 3,592 | 2,867 | E1,490 / P887 | 2,454 | 538 MB/s / 268 MB/s |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet (1.2 GHz Core M7-6Y75, Intel HD 515) | 4,951 | 3,433 | E1,866 / P1,112 | 2,462 | 545 MB/s / 298 MB/s |
| Samsung Notebook 9 (2.5GHz Core i7-6500U, Intel HD 520) | 5,309 | 3,705 | E2,567 / P1,541 / X416 | 3,518 | 539 MB/s / 299 MB/s |
| Dell XPS 13 (2.3GHz Core i5-6200U, Intel Graphics 520) | 4,954 | 3,499 | E2,610 / P1,531 | 3,335 | 1.6GB/s / 307 MB/s |
| HP Spectre x360 15t (2.4GHz Core i5-6200U, Intel HD 520) | 5,040 | 3,458 | E2,672 / P1,526 / X420 | 3,542 | 561 MB/s / 284 MB/s |
| Microsoft Surface Pro 4 (2.4GHz Core i5-6300U, Intel HD 520) | 5,403 | 3,602 |
E2,697/ P1,556/ X422 |
3,614 | 1.6 GB/s / 529 MB/s |
| Lenovo Yoga 900 (2.5GHz Core i7-6500U, Intel HD 520) | 5,368 | 3,448 |
E2,707 / P1,581 |
3,161 | 556 MB/s / 511 MB/s |
| Microsoft Surface Book (2.4GHz Core i5-6300U, Intel HD 520) | 5,412 | 3,610 |
E2,758 / P1,578 / X429 |
3,623 | 1.6 GB/s / 571 MB/s |
The MateBook I tested packed in a Core m5 processor running at 1.1 GHz (with boost speeds to 1.4 GHz) and 4GB of RAM. Not exactly powerhouse specs, but enough to get some work done. When it came to browsing the web, using Slack and typing in Evernote, the MateBook held up just fine. But honestly, the best specs on the market wouldn’t make a difference with such a horrific typing and mousing experience. I also noticed that the MateBook’s back got surprisingly warm whenever I stressed the system.
The MateBook lasted around six and a half hours in our typical battery test, which involves looping an HD video until the computer dies. That’s significantly less than Huawei’s claim of nine hours, and it’s on the low-end of the Ultrabooks we’ve tested.
Battery life
Huawei MateBook
6:35
Surface Book (Core i5, integrated graphics)
13:54 / 3:20 (tablet only)
MacBook Air (13-inch, 2013)
12:51
HP Spectre x360 (13-inch, 2015)
11:34
Surface Book (Core i7, discrete graphics)
11:31 / 3:02 (tablet only)
Apple MacBook Pro with Retina display (13-inch, 2015)
11:23
iPad Pro
10:47
HP Spectre x360 15t
10:17
Chromebook Pixel (2015)
10:01
Lenovo Yoga 900
9:36
Microsoft Surface 3
9:11
Samsung Notebook 9
8:16
Apple MacBook (2015)
7:47
Dell XPS 13 (2015)
7:36
Microsoft Surface Pro 4
7:15
Lenovo Thinkpad X Tablet
7:05
HP Spectre x2
6:43
Razer Blade Stealth
5:48
Dell XPS 15 (2016)
5:25 (7:40 with the mobile charger)
Configuration options and the competition
The MateBook starts at $699 with an Intel Core m3 processor, 4GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD. Jumping up to $849 adds a much more usable Core m5 chip, and for $999 you can get the m5 with 8GB RAM and a 256GB SSD. At the top end, there’s the $1,199 Core M5 model with a 512GB SSD. Huawei also mentioned that it’ll offer Core m7 processors eventually, but it’s not saying anything about pricing and availability of that configuration just yet. And remember, you have to add $129 for the keyboard and another $59 for the MatePen (not that you’d miss the latter).
Huawei is certainly entering a crowded market. Microsoft’s Surface Pro 4 starts at $899 with a Core m3 chip, 4GB of RAM and 128 GB SSD, but at least with that you’ve got the option of a much better keyboard (for an additional $130). If you were really gunning for a hybrid, I’d recommend shelling out $999 for the Core i5 Surface Pro 4. There is of course the slightly cheaper Surface 3, which starts at $499 but is saddled with a much slower Atom processor.
Among other Windows hybrids, there’s the Lenovo X1 Tablet starting at $1,029 (it includes the keyboard cost), and I’m personally looking forward to testing ASUS’s upcoming Transformers. Apple’s iPad Pro is another solid competitor starting at $799, but again you’ll have to add $169 for the keyboard cover. And of course, you’re stuck with iOS and not a full-fledged desktop OS and real productivity apps.
TL;DR: There are plenty of better hybrids out there.
Wrap-up
Huawei’s MateBook is a confounding device. It impresses upon first glance, but it’s not long before you realize it’s only beautiful on the surface. If Huawei’s goal was to prove it could make a premium-looking device, well, mission accomplished. It just forget to make a device you’d actually want to use.
WiFi Nomiku review – CNET
The Good The $249 WiFi Nomiku sous vide circulator lets you use an app to send cook times and temperatures to the device. Food from meals cooked with the Nomiku come out to the correct doneness.
The Bad The countertop kitchen gadget is a lot bulkier and cumbersome than its slimmer, Wi-Fi-less predecessor. The app is sparse when it comes to sous-vide guides and tips.
The Bottom Line The WiFi Nomiku lacks the sleekness and ease of use as similar, less expensive sous vide circulators.
The sous vide game has changed since Nomiku popped up on the scene. The company launched its first immersion circulator on Kickstarter in 2012, making it one of the OGs of at-home sous vide cooking. Nomiku raised nearly $600,000, which proved that home cooks were eager to cook their food in a temperature-controlled water bath.
More about sous vide cooking
- Appliance Science: The warm physics of sous vide cooking
- Buying a sous vide cooker? Grab these things, too
- Spice up your cooking game with sous-vide
Four years later, there’s a new wave of sous vide products out there. And this time, they have Wi-Fi. Once again, Nomiku was one of the first companies to include a wireless connection in an immersion circulator when it launched its Kickstarter campaign for the Wi-Fi version of their original cooker. But a delay in getting the final WiFi Nomiku to backers and retail customers have given other products such as the Anova Bluetooth + Wi-Fi and the FirstBuild Paragon Induction Cooktop opportunities to steal some of the connected sous vide cooking spotlight.
Had the $249 (roughly converting to £190 in the UK and AU$340 in Australia) WiFi Nomiku come out earlier, I might have regarded it as a pioneer in connected sous vide cooking. You can pick the temperature for your water bath from an app, along with set a timer and view user-submitted recipes. And food that I cooked with the WiFi Nomiku was delicious. But when you compare the WiFi Nomiku to other sous vide devices, the WiFi Nomiku feels like a dinosaur — big, intimidating and in danger of extinction if it doesn’t evolve. It’s much bulkier than its less-smart model, which makes it harder to use. And the app lacks some of the tools I’ve seen with other products, such as cooking guides that are helpful to sous vide newbies.
When we first reviewed the original Nomiku, we advised you to hold off for the Wi-Fi version or shop around for a cheaper immersion circulator. Unfortunately, the WiFi Nomiku falls short of the competitors that have emerged in the sous vide marketplace. Before you set your sights on this immersion circulator, consider the less expensive and easier to use $199 (roughly £150 and AU$270) Anova Bluetooth + Wi-Fi.
Nomiku’s Wi-Fi sous vide machine needs some…
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Getting started with the WiFi Nomiku
Sous vide is a relatively new cooking method that has been around since the 1970s. You put your food in a plastic bag, get rid of as much air inside as you can (hence the name “sous vide” is French for “under vacuum”) then put the food in a temperature-controlled water bath. Some countertop appliances are self-contained water-bath devices designed just for sous vide. Immersion circulators (like the WiFi Nomiku) attach to the side of the container of your choosing, which means they take up much less storage space than the water-bath devices and are often less expensive.
The original Nomiku (left) is thinner than the Wi-Fi version on the right.
Tyler Lizenby/CNET
With the exception of the wireless connection, the WiFi Nomiku works the same way as the original version. Once you clip the device onto the side of a container filled with water, you can use a green wheel that surrounds the display to select the temperature you want the water to reach. However, the original Nomiku’s turn wheel was small and included notches for your fingers that made it easy to adjust the temperature. The WiFi Nomiku has a larger display and, therefore, a larger turn wheel without finger notches that makes it harder to manually set the temperature. And the dial isn’t the only feature to gain heft with the second Nomiku: At about 3.75 inches wide (about 9.53 centimeters), the Wi-Fi version is almost twice as wide as the original. The added girth and bulky appearance make the WiFi Nomiku feel outdated, even though it’s a new product.
Anki Cozmo Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
Anki, a company that made a splash with AI-controlled Overdrive toy racing cars in 2015, now has a follow-up product called Cozmo. It’s a palm-size robot that will hit home with fans of the film Wall-E. And, much like Wall-E, Cozmo’s expressiveness could be the magic that makes it feel like part of the family.
Anki was known for the artificial intelligence that powered its smart (toy) cars, and now gives that AI a cuddly personality. Cozmo can recognize and remember your face and your name, making it feel almost like a pet dog. It can’t actually speak, but it can get the message across in different ways.
Screenshot by Jacob Krol/CNET
Cozmo has emotions: Happy, Sad, Mad, Angry, Glad, Annoyed and plenty of others. The brain inside of the robot processes interactions invoking these and the algorithms seem pretty responsive in the demo materials provided by Anki.
It “talks” with his own robot sounds, a bit like a droid from Star Wars, so it certainly won’t be quiet. It also moves around, with four wheels and treads, and bulldozer arms. This allows the bot to knock, push and stack “smart blocks,” three of which come with Cozmo in the box, and these will be used for different games.
Cozmo expresses emotions as you play, like a supersmart Furby. If you stack the blocks correctly, it’ll be happy. It’ll be be mad if you knock them over. According to Anki, there will be several games available right out of the box, and the robot will remember your favorites and ask to play those when its programming says it’s bored.
The face of Cozmo reminded me of an old CRT monitor, and it can change depending on what it observes. Not to lean too heavily on the Wall-E comparisons, but it has a glow similar to Eve’s from the animated film.
Anki
While I haven’t gotten to spend any hands-on time with it yet, it’s intriguing to think of an emotion-packed robot that will sell for under $200 in the US, and comes with its own smart blocks and games.
Cozmo will be landing this October and will retail for $180 (about £135 UK, or AU$245). That’s more expensive than robot toys like Sphero’s BB-8, but on paper Cozmo promises to do a lot more.
Xiaomi Mi Max Review
Recently, several smartphone manufacturers have introduced extra-large smartphones, including the Samsung Galaxy A9, LeEco Le Max 2, and Huawei P8 Max. While flagship smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S7 and HTC 10 have trended around 5.2″ for display size, Xiaomi has ignored this trend entirely for their first humongous smartphone: the Xiaomi Mi Max.
With a 6.44″ display, the Mi Max is much larger than what many would consider normal, and it definitely suggests that Xiaomi took the expression “go big or go home” quite literally. Interestingly, Xiaomi is positioning the Mi Max as an affordable mid-range device, one that won’t necessarily compete with LeEco’s phablet, but promises to still offer a great phablet experience.
Recent Xiaomi reviews:
- Xiaomi Mi 5 Review
- Xiaomi Mi 4S Review
- Xiaomi Redmi 3 Review
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Review
So how well does the Mi Max deliver on that promise? Let’s find out with our written review of the Xiaomi Mi Max!
Buy the Xiaomi Mi Max now
Design
Typical: if I had to chose one word to describe the Mi Max’s design, it would definitely be typical. While there is nothing particularly exciting about the design here, I appreciate the Mi Max’s aluminum construction as it provides a premium look and feel. There’s also a few design aspects which make the Mi Max less difficult to hold such as its side tapers on the rear and the perfectly positioned power button and fingerprint reader.
While there are plastic caps on the top and bottom of the Mi Max, which presumably house necessary antennas, these caps are fairly continuous with the rest of the design, in both color and feel. With that said, they may be to blame for notable creaking noises while holding the phone and it’s very likely that they do not help with the phone’s weak structure.
Our Xiaomi Mi Max bends with merely a bit of pressure, an attribute which is remarkably disconcerting. After reviewing many Xiaomi smartphones with excellent build quality over the past few years (some half the price of the Mi Max), I found the Mi Max’s poor build quality to be shocking. Whether this will be an issue you for you will depend primarily on how you use the phone, and it is difficult to deny that this is a very considerable flaw with the device.
Many will detest the black border used around the display
The curved “2.5D” glass on the front of the Xiaomi Mi Max houses three illuminated capacitive keys, positioned in Xiaomi’s standard layout. The display’s side bezels are quite small, although many will detest the black border used around the display. It’s a shame that Xiaomi did not reconsider the use of the black border for the Mi Max, as it has been criticized with in the past when implemented in phones like the Xiaomi Mi 5.
Display
The extra-large 6.44″ 1080P display on the Xiaomi Mi Max places this phone well into phablet territory. When I fist started using the Mi Max, I had mostly mixed feelings. On the one hand, I immediately enjoyed the extra screen real estate for videos, but on the other, I worried how feasible it would be to use the Mi Max day-to-day. While it is possible to sometimes use the Mi Max with a single hand, it can get very uncomfortable very quickly. Once you are subconsciously accustomed to the Mi Max’s size, however, it seems much more normal in the hand. Still, its size does tend to make it slide out of many non-jean pockets, which is definitely annoying.
I immediately enjoyed the extra screen real estate for videos
Whether the extra-large size is the best fit for you will depend both on your usage and your willingness to change how you interact with your smartphone. For me, the transition to the Mi Max wasn’t difficult, but I will still be returning to my slightly smaller Nexus 6P, for its practicality.
The display itself looks pretty good; it has good viewing angles and accurate color reproduction. The 1080P resolution seems a bit low at this size, and I would have liked to see Quad HD, even if it meant for a slightly higher price. Sunlight readability could use some work, and while the reduced contrast sunlight mode does help, the screen on the Mi Max can still be difficult to read outdoors. With that said, kudos to Xiaomi for including Corning Gorilla Glass 4, something that we don’t often see at this price point.
Performance
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 processor strikes yet again in the Xiaomi Mi Max, and helps make the Mi Max performance comparable to phones with higher-end chips like the Snapdragon 808. MIUI, Xiaomi’s custom software, runs very smoothly on the Mi Max, and the base model’s 3 GB of RAM is generally enough for moderate-to-heavy multitasking. It is important to understand that there are different models available as well, although we do not imagine real-world performance differences between models to be significant.
I also had no trouble playing higher-end games like Asphalt 8, thanks to the phone’s Adreno 510 GPU.
Hardware
The Xiaomi Mi Max offers great call quality, and if you chose to use the device in an official market, you’ll receive 4G LTE speeds. However, if you’re in an unofficial market, like the United States, you’ll be limited to HSPA+ speeds on both AT&T and T-Mobile. That’s quite unfortunate, but it’s worth noting that the Mi Max is an unlocked dual-SIM device, and one of the SIM slots doubles as a microSD card expansion slot, allowing you to expand the phone’s storage up to 256 GB.
The fingerprint reader on the back of the Mi Max is accurate and, in my experience, just a hair faster than the one found on the Nexus 6P. That’s pretty good for the price, and many users will appreciate the added convenience when securing their phones.
What did strike me as odd was Xiaomi’s retreat to microUSB, the now outdated data and charging port standard. While some, like Samsung, have decided to allow USB Type-C to mature before implementing it, Xiaomi embraced it just months ago with phones like the Mi 5, so their inclusion of microUSB now feels like a step backwards more than anything else. With that said, microUSB may still be appealing to those who are still using the older standard and do not want to purchase brand new cables.
A side-firing speaker seems to be a nice compromise in this case
The single side-firing speaker on the Mi Max sounded pretty good in my testing, and sounded only slightly distorted at high volumes. While it would have been great to see front-facing speakers for an even more immersive media consumption experience, they would have likely added to the size of the phone. Therefore, a side-firing speaker seems to be a nice compromise in this case.
Battery Life
Battery life with the Mi Max was excellent in my testing, thanks to its very large 4850mAh non-removable battery. Screen on time did vary considerably depending on my usage. Primarily, I noticed that it did significantly better on Wi-Fi than it did cellular data, but even my heaviest usage was not enough to kill the Mi Max in a single day.
While it does support Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0, Xiaomi has failed to include a Quick Charge 3.0 charger in the box. This was more acceptable even with the more expensive Mi 5, as the charge times still weren’t so bad even on Quick Charge 2.0. But with the Mi Max, the battery is much larger, and therefore takes about four hours to charge…on Quick Charge 2.0! Basically, a Quick Charge 3.0 charger is necessary here, and it’s a shame that Xiaomi is requiring users to purchase one separately.
See also: Quick Charge 3.0 Explained31
Camera
The Xiaomi Mi Max is equipped with a very capable 16 MP f/2.0 rear camera with a dual-LED flash. After taking a closer look at the sample images, it seems that the Mi Max’s camera is one of the best we’ve seen at this price point. Images came out sharp and detailed with visually pleasing color reproduction and great dynamic range.
Autofocus is remarkably slow and finicky
The Mi Max’s camera is far from perfect, however. Autofocus is remarkably slow and finicky and, even when holding the device and subject still, the Mi Max would slightly miss focus more than what we normally expect. It also tended to oversharpen images, to the point of recognition in some images.
Just as is the case with virtually all sub-$250 smartphones, low-light is where the camera truly struggles. While it is possible to get a good image with the Mi Max in a darker environment, it simply can’t be counted out on like some other smartphone cameras can. That’s not a major flaw because of the phone’s price, but it is something to keep in mind.
MIUI’s camera app remains easy-to-use while also offering manual control for those who wish to take advantage of it. The built-in filters are nice to play around with, and the different modes like Panorama can be very helpful in some situations.
Software
Xiaomi has shipped the Mi Max with its own custom version of Android, MIUI 7. Although it is running on top of Android 6.0 Marshmallow, MIUI is a sharp departure from stock Android. And while I do generally enjoy using MIUI 7, I’m looking forward to the production release of MIUI 8, which will bring a great number of UI changes and improvements. At the time of writing, Xiaomi had just begun automatically rolling out MIUI 8 for those on the beta release channel. Normal users can expect the update in the coming weeks.
Since this phone is still shipping with MIUI 7, this part of the review will focus on the MIUI 7 software experience. MIUI has received a number of mixed reviews from Western media, with some criticizing it for being too similar to iOS, and with others praising it for the amount of polish and coherency it offers.
After using MIUI day-to-day myself, I think it’s a great alternative to stock Android, especially for users who wish to customize and tweak. The stock apps are well designed, the UI is remarkably responsive, and the ability to do things like restrict data for specific apps is invaluable. To top it off, the MIUI receives weekly updates, so you’ll be getting bug fixes and new features very often.
With all of that said, the software experience for those importing the device is far from perfect. Reseller loaded bloatware, a hellish bootloader unlocking process, and missing Google apps are major hurdles that importers will face. Even if you do get Google apps up and running with the installer app from the Mi App Store, there are still issues to be had. Random Google app crashes, Google Now issues, failure to place calls with Google Voice, and the inability to do things like consume DRM-protected content can make this experience less than ideal for Westerners.
Gallery
Price & Conclusion
You can purchase the Xiaomi Mi Max in a number of different models globally. Pricing starts at 1499 RMB in China, or about $228, but will pricing will vary based on region. Each model is available in either silver, gold, or dark grey.
The Mi Max is perhaps Xiaomi’s most interesting foray into a single smartphone sub-market. While it has undercut the competition in price, it has also cut corners in many areas, some more than others. The device’s cheap build quality, poor imported device software experience, and lack of U.S. availability are clearly disappointing attributes. But no smartphone is perfect, and the Mi Max has plenty to offer for the price. Its impressive camera, excellent battery life, and smooth performance are all great reasons to buy this phone.
Recent Xiaomi reviews:
- Xiaomi Mi 5 Review
- Xiaomi Mi 4S Review
- Xiaomi Redmi 3 Review
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Review
If you are looking for a great extra-large smartphone on the cheap and can get past its quirks, the Xiaomi Mi Max is likely the best fit for you. With that said, similarly sized options like LeEco’s Le Max 2 are promising and, while they may be priced higher, they may also offer a much more refined experience overall.
It will be very interesting to see where this market heads in the near future. But, we want to know, would you switch to an extra-large smartphone? Let us know in the comment section below!
Buy the Xiaomi Mi Max now
Fujifilm Instax Share SP-2 Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
The Share SP-2 is an instant-film printer for your smartphone.
Fujifilm
Fujifilm’s Instax instant film cameras are fun to use, but since the cameras are completely analog you get one print for every shot you take. Not only can it get expensive (a single picture costs about $0.50 to $1) but it’s the only picture you get — there is no digital version.
Fujifilm redesigned the SP-2.
Fujifilm
The Tokyo-based imaging company’s solution is the $200 Instax Share SP-2 mobile printer (about £150 or AU$270), which lets you transform any photo on your smartphone or tablet to an instant film print. To use it, you just need a smartphone or tablet with the company’s updated Share app for iOS or Android installed. The printer creates its own Wi-Fi network that you connect your device to and from there you just use the app to pick, edit and send photos to the printer.
A 10-print cartridge of instant film sits inside, the kind most commonly associated with Polaroid cameras. It’s the same film used for Fujifilm’s Instax Mini cameras and can be found for about $20 (about £18, AU$30) for a two-pack. The prints are small at 3.4 by 2.1 inches (86 by 54 mm), though the actual image size is 2.4 by 1.8 inches (62 by 46 mm).
That’s not exactly cheap, but the benefit here is that, unlike using one of the Instax Mini cameras, there are no wasted prints since you’re using shots from your smartphone. And the app has been updated with new filters and templates including the ability to create your own. You can also adjust the brightness, contrast and saturation of prints.
Fujifilm says it used a new laser exposure system to drop the print time to 10 seconds. That’s not a huge increase in speed from the SP-1 — it took about 16 seconds for one of those to go from photo print — but, you know, faster is faster.
The SP-2’s design is also completely new, making it look more like a modern mobile accessory and not a bland, utilitarian photo printer.
Look for the Fujifilm Instax Share SP-2 in mid-July.
HP Elite x2 (2016) review – CNET
The Good The updated HP Elite x2 has a slim, sturdy design, a more comfortable keyboard than Microsoft’s Surface Pro and it includes that keyboard in the base price. With a fingerprint reader, replaceable components and docking options, it’s suitable for both work and play.
The Bad The Elite’s touchpad is easily confused, sometimes unresponsive, and the battery won’t quite last a full day.
The Bottom Line HP’s Elite x2 is a must-look for any buyer considering a Microsoft Surface-like computer, and the quality bundled keyboard means it effectively costs less, too.
“The tablet that can replace your laptop.” That’s what they say in those Microsoft Surface ads. But the Microsoft Surface Pro doesn’t come with a keyboard — if you want to replace your laptop, you’ll need to pay $130 extra for that in the US.
The HP Elite x2 is different. Starting at the same $899 as a Surface Pro 4 (£708 in the UK or AU$1661 in Australia), HP’s 12-inch tablet includes the keyboard cover that Microsoft’s slate lacks. And a fingerprint sensor. And a non-proprietary USB-C charger that can power other devices as well.
And — get this — a design where users can actually open up the case and replace the components, including the battery, storage module, Wi-Fi chip and the colorful display. As far as we’re aware, it’s the first ultrathin, fanless tablet to offer such easy access.
So last month, I tried to replace my laptop with an Elite x2. Here’s what happened next.
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HP’s Elite x2 includes the keyboard that Microsoft’s Surface Pro lacks.
James Martin/CNET
The commute
At just under two pounds and 13.45mm thick — with the keyboard attached — the Elite x2 is among the most portable computers I’ve ever carried. I love how the fabric-covered keyboard and shiny silver kickstand snap into place, how easily it slips into my messenger bag and that it barely seems to add any weight. Sometimes I walk out the door and wonder if I forgot to pack it.
On the train, things aren’t quite as easy. I use the Elite x2 on my lap, adjusting that shiny silver kickstand again and again to find the best angle, its corners digging into my thighs. The Elite can’t quite lean back far enough to align with my face unless I risk it tumbling backwards. A jolt as the train comes to a stop — the tablet pops right off its magnetic hinges. Both pieces clatter to the floor.
This computer can survive a tumble.
GIF by Sean Hollister/CNET
After the spill, the Elite x2 is perfectly fine — no damage to the strong aluminum rim or shock-resistant Gorilla Glass 4-covered screen, which HP claims it tests to military durability standards. But every time it happens over the next few weeks, I can’t help but think I’d be better off with a traditional clamshell PC.
The so-called “lapabilty” problem isn’t unique to the Elite x2, by the way. It’s simple geometry: a kickstand and detachable keyboard take up way more room than a standard laptop bottom.
Depending on your commute and the shape of your lap, it might not be an issue at all.
The desktop
While the Elite x2 only has three visible ports — a full-size USB 3.0 port for thumbdrives and peripherals, a USB-C port for charging and a 3.5mm headset jack for audio — you can buy one of three different docking stations (starting at US$150) to turn it into a fully-fledged multitasker.
LG SH7B review – CNET
The Good The LG SH7B offers excellent performance for the money, particularly for movies. The connectivity on offer is better than most competitors with HDMI, optical, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Streaming options include Google Cast, Spotify and Pandora.
The Bad Adding surrounds is a little ad hoc. If you want to listen to music, a dedicated stereo system will sound better for the money.
The Bottom Line The LG SH7B proves how far affordable sound bar/wireless subwoofer systems have come, and sounds equally credible with movies and music.
While Samsung and LG may be known variously as “those TV guys,” or even “they make cell phones,” both have been making inroads into audio for some years. Samsung says it wants to compete with Bowers and Wilkins, and LG was collaborating with hi-fi specialists as far back as 2008.
While LG’s partnership with Mark Levinson was short-lived, the company has seemingly been focused on sound quality ever since. The last few years of LG sound bars have been largely excellent — see 2015’s LAS751, for example — and the SH7B continues in this tradition.
For a $400 sound bar, the LG SH7B has a few more features than most in its price class, including multiroom streaming, Bluetooth and an HDMI input. Its performance is also a cut above competitors with a skilfully blend between the wireless sub and sound bar. While it’s best for movies, as most sound bars are, if you’re looking for a music player as well it will also do a more than creditable job.
Design
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The LG SH7B is a wireless soundbar and subwoofer combo which offers excellent performance and a wealth of connectivity options.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Slimline and discreet, the LG doesn’t impose itself too much on your living area. It’s roughly 42 inches wide and 2 inches high — and designed to complement 49-inch TVs — and the design features a mesh grille and finned ends. The LED display pokes through the grille and informs you of volume or your input. As the SH7B lacks an onscreen display, most of the functions are performed via this one-line readout.
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Sarah Tew/CNET
The subwoofer is a small, bookshelf-speaker-sized unit with a similar grille to the main speaker. It’s compact enough to be placed out of the way and yet we found that despite its diminutive size it was capable of plenty of impact. It connects to the soundbar wirelessly, so the only cable is the AC power cord.
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Sarah Tew/CNET
Though the remote that shipped with the LAS751 was a metal-decked affair, the SH7B is simple plastic. All of the functions for adjusting sound presets are available, though advanced functions such as streaming and adding rear speakers are provided by the Music Flow app.
Features
The SH7B is a 340W sound bar with a wireless subwoofer which offers HDMI input and output. The rest of the connectivity offering is high with the addition of Bluetooth wireless, digital optical, analog 3.5mm, plus Ethernet and Wi-Fi networking options.
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Sarah Tew/CNET
Of interest to people looking for a true surround system the sound bar is able to pair with other wireless LG speakers to act as surrounds, though competitors implement it more seamlessly.
The sound bar is part of LG’s Music Flow multiroom system, which boasts its own app. One of our favorite things about this player is that it can also serve as your on-the-go player, which enables you to seamlessly playback your Now Playing on your system when you get back home.
Bose QuietComfort 35 Review
This article originally appeared on our sister site SoundGuys.com. For the full review & ratings, check out their Bose QuietComfort 35 Review!
For a long time, the QC25 headphones by Bose were the standard when it came to active noise cancelling. Now there are plenty of other great ANC headphones to choose from and some, like the Sennheiser Momentum Wireless and the Parrot Zik’s had one thing that the QC25s didn’t: Bluetooth. So now Bose has ditched the wires and the new QC35s can finally join the Bluetooth club, but is it too late?
What’s Inside
![Bose QC35[6] copy](https://www.aivanet.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/1466934611_6129469208419.jpg)
In the box you’ll get a hard shell carrying case, the headphones, a 3.5mm audio cable, a micro USB charging cable, airplane adapter, and the instruction booklet.
Build & Design
![Bose QC35[1]](https://www.aivanet.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/1466934612_4157033771276.jpg)
If you’re familiar with Bose products, you’ll immediately recognize the new QC35s. They have the same design that we’ve all grown familiar with from the padded oval-ish ear cups to the top of the headband, Bose didn’t make any drastic design changes. That said, the new QC35s aren’t exactly the same as the previous model. They are definitely bigger. At first it’s kind of hard to tell, but if you hold them next to the QC25s you’ll immediately see the difference. The headband is slightly thicker, the ear cups are slightly bigger, and the headphones overall are slightly heavier. Of course this is to be expected considering these new headphones have basically all of the components built-in, unlike the QC25’s which siphoned off some of the responsibility to the audio cable.
![Bose QC35[5]](https://www.aivanet.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/1466934613_4149281743914.jpg)
This time around the microphone and playback controls are now incorporated into the headphones instead. Bose also decided to ditch the AAA battery required for the QC25s in favor of a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that’s built into the headphones. This is good since you won’t have to worry about finding another AAA battery when it dies, but bad if your headphones die mid-flight since you’ll have no choice but to find a way to recharge them if you want ANC. All that, plus the active noise cancelling components makes the light weight of these headphones pretty impressive. Sure they’re heavier now, but only just. Maybe it’s the extra padding on the headband or something like a placebo effect, but these still feel very light and not heavy on the head at all.
![Bose QC35[3]](https://www.aivanet.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/1466934613_5838972106576.jpg)
The headband is still very flexible and the headphones can fold down even smaller thanks to the ear cups being able to rotate 90-degrees and the headband folding at the hinges. The left ear cup still has an audio input for those times when the battery dies, but besides a tiny little microphone that’s all you’ll find. The right ear cup is where the magic happens. On the side there’s the power/Bluetooth pairing switch and two small grills where the microphones are. On the bottom of the ear cup are small indicator lights and the playback controls. One little thing that I appreciate is that the volume buttons are slightly raised above the multifunction button in the middle which helps to easily locate them while wearing them.
Connection
![Bose QC35[2]](https://www.aivanet.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/1466934614_3020259462297.jpg)
Bose doesn’t really like to take too many risks with their products, and the connection is a great example of this. It does’t have any crazy 100 foot range like we’ve seen in some Bluetooth speakers, but within the standard 33 foot range the connection works great. There wasn’t any skipping unless I was at the fringes of that 30 feet with a wall or two in the way. For regular usage, these should work just fine. You can control volume, skip between tracks, answer/end phone calls, and pause or play music just with a simple taps and clicks. There’s also a new app to go along with these but honestly I’m not sure why. There isn’t much extra functionality you get out of the app and it kind of seems like a waste to me. The only useful feature as far as I can tell is the ability to set a timer for the headphones to automatically turn off so that you can save battery. It also tells you how much battery is left and lets you rename the headphones, but was an app really necessary to do that?
Battery Life
Since you no longer need triple AAA batteries, you’ll have to rely completely on the built-in battery. Bose claims that while you’re connected via Bluetooth and have ANC turned on, the QC35s will give you a solid 20 hours of constant playback and in hour testing that was pretty spot on, though we got slightly less about 18 or 19 hours. If you’re going to be taking an obscenely long flight where you’ll need more than that, you can always plug in the included audio cable and only use ANC, which will double the battery life to about 40 hours.
Sound Quality
![Bose QC35[4]](https://www.aivanet.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/1466934614_4964405667037.jpg)
As one would expect, the ANC on these is great. Even without music playing a good amount of outside noise disappears the moment these touch your ears. We did most of our testing with ANC turned on, but we also did some testing with it turned off just to see if it affected sound quality and though soundstage does seem a little more constricted with ANC, it wasn’t anything too drastic.
Lows
Bose isn’t known for having the biggest bass, and the QC35s are no exception. But if happen to throw too much bass at them while they’re on max volume (like in the song “Unnecessary” by Childish Gambino), they do seem to have a weird rattle that wasn’t present in the previous version. That said you probably shouldn’t be blasting music into your ears at that volume anyway, but it’s just something to take note of. If you listen to your music on regular volumes you won’t have an issue.
Mids
As you may have guessed these are great in the mid-range, but Bose products usually are. Instruments that live in the mids like strings and even vocals have a good amount of detail and just sound gorgeous. A good example is in “La Valse d’Amelie “ by Yann Tiersen where nothing gets lost in the mix and there isn’t any muddiness at all.
Highs
Highs sound good but mainly because there isn’t harshness at all, even at max volume. Of course, this could be (and probably is) because of how Bose tends to cut off highs leaving less detail, but that’s a price I’m willing to pay to not deal with piercing any piercing sounds. Overall, these provide a comfortably pleasant listening experience.
Small side note: call quality was really good on these as well. When you answer a call the ANC is turned off and the microphones in the headphones let you hear what’s going on around you too which is a nice touch.
Conclusion
Bose products are so hard to hate, and it’s never been so apparent to me than with the QC35s. Don’t let anyone tell you different, these are a really good pair of headphones. With the exception of one or two things, they’re basically perfect. Of course this is assuming you don’t mind the tweaks to the sound (which a lot of people seem to). But it’s still so hard to justify the $350 price tag. Sure these are super comfortable, and the ANC is great, but I’ve heard headphones that are literally a third of the price with 80% of the functionality. That said, if you tend to like Bose products chances are you’ll like these too.
Buy from Amazon
This article originally appeared on our sister site SoundGuys.com. For the full review & ratings, check out their Bose QuietComfort 35 Review!
Bose’s best headphones are even better wireless
When it comes to headphones, it can sometimes be easy to forget about Bose. The company doesn’t debut new models as frequently as the competition, choosing instead to focus on quality, comfort and its highly touted noise-canceling tech. Bose’s previous noise-canceling model, the QC25, has been around awhile, and despite its popularity, there was one thing missing: a wireless edition. Announced just over a week ago, the QuietComfort 35s mix that trademark sound and feel in a $350 package. I spent a few days using the headphones to see if they met my high expectations.
Let’s start with the aesthetics. Unlike rivals such as Beats and SMS Audio, Bose never attempted to win us over with fashion. And it doesn’t really need to, given its knack for a comfortable fit and external noise blocking. These new QuietComfort 35s have a design similar to that of their predecessor, the QC25, except they come in all black (pictured) or silver. Personally, I prefer the more sophisticated solid color scheme over the previous two-tone look. It’s a subtle change, but an improvement nonetheless.
All of the controls are on the right ear cup, with a power slider on the outside shell that doubles as a Bluetooth pairing button. Along the rim, there are volume controls and a play/pause key beside LED indicators that let you know when the headphones are paired and when the battery is running low. A double click on the play/pause button will skip ahead to the next track, while a triple click will go back to the previous song. Typically these controls are scattered across individual buttons, which are sometimes on the outside panel of the ear cup. Bose has assigned them to a single control, and honestly, it’s a much better solution.
The QC35s are made of glass-filled nylon with a leather outer headband and ear pads. The frame may look like plastic, but Bose says otherwise, and the nylon is advertised to be more durable than regular plastic, too. There’s also a matte finish, which helps the headphones to not look cheap. Bose’s choice to go with nylon also keeps things lightweight — something I’ll address more in a moment.
The inside of the headband is actually made from Alcantara, a softer material used in luxury car interiors. The ear pads are soft and cushy but provide enough insulation between your head and the rim of the ear cup to keep things nice and comfy, even during long listening sessions. In addition to folding in for easy stowage in the included case, the ear cups themselves also rotate to sit flat — a common feature for headphones these days.
In terms of the overall weight, Bose nailed it. These are the first headphones I can remember using that didn’t cause at least some type of discomfort after an hour or so of continuous listening. The combination of the weight, along with the tension of the headband, keeps things super comfortable, and the QC35s never felt like they were pinching my head. It’s easy to understand why Bose’s gear is a top choice among frequent fliers.
When it comes to pairing a Bluetooth speaker or headphones with a mobile device or laptop, it’s not uncommon to have to try a few times. There are exceptions, but for me, pairing a device rarely happens on the first try. That wasn’t the case here, though: I had no trouble linking the QC35s with my MacBook Air and Moto X. The ability to get everything up and running in a matter of seconds is always a good thing. If you prefer to make the connection via NFC, the QC35s support that as well. Once paired, the Quiet Comfort 35s will let you know how much battery is left, as well as announce which device you’re connected to. For example, you’ll hear “Now connected to ‘Billy’s MacBook Air’” or some such. You can turn off the voice prompts if you prefer, but I appreciated getting an update on the power level.
What about using these headphones for in-flight entertainment? The company isn’t leaving travelers without a way to tap into the music and TV an airline offers to pass the time. There’s a wireless dongle included with the QC35s that plugs into those headphone jacks at your seat. It’s a pretty nice touch, if you ask me.
With the QuietComfort 35s, Bose continues its tradition of solid audio quality. Everything is crisp and clear, with a respectable amount of bass for a well-rounded sound. The low-end tones are nowhere near what’s become the norm on headphones these days (read: overpowering), but there’s still enough bass to give you some thump when a song demands it. The QC35s sounded good across a wide variety of genres, including hip-hop, electronica, bluegrass and metal. At higher volumes, I noticed the headphones favored treble a bit more than at a medium or low level. Some songs showcased this more than others, but when I did notice it, I quickly reached for the volume controls to try and remedy the issue. I didn’t encounter any of the distortion that some others have, even with both my phone and the headphones cranked all the way up.
Speaking of volume, the QuietComfort 35 is a strong performer. Sometimes wireless headphones and earbuds just aren’t loud enough for most people to like to listen to at near-deafening levels. I’m happy to report that these headphones are an exception; they get pretty loud. Thankfully, they stop short of painful, so unless you’ve already suffered some hearing loss, I doubt you’ll take issue with the volume here.
Bose promises 20 hours of battery life in wireless mode, and that’s with noise canceling enabled. I actually got a bit more time out of them. I needed a charge after about a week of using the headphones for about three to four hours a day. In wired mode, you can expect battery life to double, even with noise canceling turned on. When you do run out of juice, though, the QC35s will function just fine as a passive set.
The only real gripe I had with battery life is that the headphones don’t turn off automatically, or at least I thought they didn’t. I left them on overnight by accident and they were still on the next morning when I woke up. I didn’t realize at the time that the Bose Connect app (iOS and Android) allows you to switch on an “Auto Power-Down” feature to save your battery when you forget to shut them off yourself. That time can be as little as five minutes or as long as three hours. By default, that feature is disabled, hence my overnight battery drain. The app also lets you manage connected devices, tweak settings and download any updates.
With the Bose QuietComfort 35, the company finally caters to those who’ve been clamoring for a wireless version of its popular noise-canceling headphones. Faithful fans of the brand won’t be disappointed either: The company’s trademark noise cancellation, crisp audio quality and comfortable fit make these some of the best wireless headphones I’ve tested. Sure, they don’t have a flashy design, but they do their job, and they do it well for at least 20 hours on a charge. Perhaps the only surprise here is that Bose set the price at $350, just $50 more than the wired QuietComfort model. That’s on par with other sets, which is really just the bow around a rather stellar package. My expectations for the QC35s were high, and Bose managed to exceed them with another great product.
2017 Chevrolet Volt review – Roadshow
The Good Genuinely usable range on a single charge, plus stress-free hybrid motoring and the EV torque we love.
The Bad Muted handling and styling that still won’t win anyone over.
The Bottom Line Not a quantum leap, but a big step forward. The new Volt really impresses.
The first-generation Volt was a bit of a hard car to love, one of those cases where a product shoots down the middle and fails to impress on either ends of the spectrum. It had styling that looked like a very conservative attempt at being different, performance quite good in some regards and quite middling in others, and a powertrain that behaved unlike a hybrid but certainly wasn’t an EV — despite numerous marketing attempts to the contrary.
It was, in short, a bit of a tough sell for many, but those who bought into the cult of Volt tended to be pretty happy campers. For the rest of us needing more convincing, here’s the new 2017 model. It’s better-looking, better-performing, goes further on a charge and has a whole raft of new abilities that will keep you safer and more entertained when on the road.
What’s new?
For 2017, the Volt gets a 20-percent boost in battery capacity, up to 18.4 kWh. Despite that, the battery pack is actually 20 pounds lighter than before! (Viva technology.) These improvements plus plenty of other engineering tweaks result in a huge, 40-percent improvement on EV range compared to the outgoing Volt, offering up to 53 miles on a charge.
Volt’s new battery pack offers 20 percent more range and weighs 20 pounds less. Viva technology.
But the Volt’s changes aren’t restricted to improvements under the skin. There’s the new look, which brings the car more in line with Chevrolet’s other offerings. In that way it asks for a little less attention than the outgoing Volt, but it also lacks the sort of edgy appeal found in other modern Chevys, like the latest Corvette or even the new Malibu. It is, in other words, a fine but boring-looking car with a very orthodontial grin.
Many more updates are found on the inside, including a raft of new safety and convenience features like adaptive cruise control, lane-keep-assist and support for both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Those last two earn the car major bonus points in my book, but even if you’re not the sort of person who wants to let their smartphone call the shots, the Volt’s updated infotainment system is a much faster and more compelling option than that found on the original Volt.
On the road
The best thing about driving the last-generation Volt was the throttle response. It zipped away from the line with far more aplomb than you’d expect, and I’m glad to say that genetic trait has been inherited. The new Volt, too, will squirt itself into openings in traffic with just a light twitch of your right foot, which makes this thing far more fun to drive than to look at.
This thing is far more fun to drive than to look at.
The handling, however, is pretty conventional. The Volt pitches and rolls quite a bit and is easily disturbed. The car tips the scales at 3,500 pounds, down about 200 pounds over the outgoing model but hefty for a car of this size. Still, given the bulk of that mass is positioned down low, I’d actually hoped for better handling. Steering, too, is vague. The lack of resistance makes for a relaxing drive, but the lack of feedback makes you wish the car would just drive itself.
Headroom and comfort up front is fine, offering much the same relaxed seating position as found in the old car. Rear seat legroom is ample too, but headroom back there leaves a lot to be desired. I can’t help wishing Chevy would turn the Volt into a proper hatchback, giving a lot more room in the rear for passengers, cargo, plants, dogs and whatever else you feel like hauling emissions-free.
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