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- Review count266
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- First reviewJanuary 28, 2017
- Last reviewJune 17, 2026
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- Average rating4.1
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- Answer count16
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- First answerJune 2, 2017
- Last answerDecember 9, 2021
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The soundcore Liberty 5 Pro Max by Anker helps you stay organized, focused, and in control with advanced AI features and an intuitive case display. Whether you're in meetings, classes, or interviews, the AI note-taking feature automatically transcribes conversations in real time and generates summaries with key action items, so you always have a clear record. A 1.78" AMOLED touchscreen on the charging case provides direct access to settings, noise control, and tools like the AI voice recorder without reaching for your phone. Multiple sensors and the Thus~ AI Chip help keep your voice clear on calls, while adaptive noise cancelling reduces background distractions. HearID 5.0 delivers a personalized sound profile, and built-in voice commands let you skip tracks, take calls, and adjust volume hands-free, even without an internet connection.
Customer Rating
4
Excellent Performance / So-So Battery Life
on June 17, 2026
Posted by: NAMO
TLDR: Excellent Audio Quality & ANC Performance. But, key features are locked behind a paywall making the Pro Max a difficult recommendation over Pros.
PROS
Excellent Audio Quality
Excellent ANC Performance
Easy to Use App
Excellent Audio Quality
Excellent ANC Performance
Easy to Use App
CONS
Expensive Pay Wall for Premium Features
Little Reason to Buy over Liberty 5 Pro
Mandatory Firmware Update Doesn't Enable LDAC Support
Expensive Pay Wall for Premium Features
Little Reason to Buy over Liberty 5 Pro
Mandatory Firmware Update Doesn't Enable LDAC Support
APP and SET-UP
Anker has done an outstanding job designing the Soundcore app. It is logically laid out and is intuitive to navigate. Settings and ANC features are easy to find and customize to your liking. I like Soundcore's audio customization feature. It helps to tailor audio playback to your preferences to lows, mids, and highs. I found that the music tailoring algorithm works quite well, though it is VERY laggy when changing from one profile to another during customization. I often got confused if the changes took effect or not, only to find that it took several seconds for the app to change from one profile to another, often creating mis-matched choices.
Anker has done an outstanding job designing the Soundcore app. It is logically laid out and is intuitive to navigate. Settings and ANC features are easy to find and customize to your liking. I like Soundcore's audio customization feature. It helps to tailor audio playback to your preferences to lows, mids, and highs. I found that the music tailoring algorithm works quite well, though it is VERY laggy when changing from one profile to another during customization. I often got confused if the changes took effect or not, only to find that it took several seconds for the app to change from one profile to another, often creating mis-matched choices.
ANC
Anker's ANC performance is on par with the big names in the business. It is a marked improvement over the Liberty 4's. Testing in my office while typing and TV playing softly in the background resulted in excellent attenuation. To simulate noisy environments like airplanes and outdoor wind, I place a desktop fan directly to the side and have it blow toward the earbuds. A person would be surprised at just how poorly most earbuds preform while attempting to tune out this artificially induced wind noise. The Liberty 5 Pro Max's handled the environment with ease. Again, performing just as well as my big-name players' products. Anker's new AI-powered chip seems to have a great deal of on chip computing power & is able to easily transition between environments. The Adaptive Noise Cancellation works surprisingly well.
Anker's ANC performance is on par with the big names in the business. It is a marked improvement over the Liberty 4's. Testing in my office while typing and TV playing softly in the background resulted in excellent attenuation. To simulate noisy environments like airplanes and outdoor wind, I place a desktop fan directly to the side and have it blow toward the earbuds. A person would be surprised at just how poorly most earbuds preform while attempting to tune out this artificially induced wind noise. The Liberty 5 Pro Max's handled the environment with ease. Again, performing just as well as my big-name players' products. Anker's new AI-powered chip seems to have a great deal of on chip computing power & is able to easily transition between environments. The Adaptive Noise Cancellation works surprisingly well.
BATTERY LIFE
This is one area where the Liberty 5's fall slightly behind their competition. Battery life with ANC turned on and the sound enhancements enabled reduced battery life to just 4.5 hours. I managed to get about 4 hours with constant use. This is slightly less than most of my other buds that often get close to 6 hours, while some achieve even more. However, a quick 5-minute charge gets you quite a bit of play time. I measured close to a couple of hours, so it is hard to fault the reduced battery life.
This is one area where the Liberty 5's fall slightly behind their competition. Battery life with ANC turned on and the sound enhancements enabled reduced battery life to just 4.5 hours. I managed to get about 4 hours with constant use. This is slightly less than most of my other buds that often get close to 6 hours, while some achieve even more. However, a quick 5-minute charge gets you quite a bit of play time. I measured close to a couple of hours, so it is hard to fault the reduced battery life.
AI NOTE TAKING
Honestly, this is where things decline and my enchantment with the Pro Max's falls. Why? Anker has chosen to lock a great deal of the benefits of buying the Pro Max's behind an additional pay wall. Buyers get 120 minutes of AI note taking and storage per month at no charge. However, this ends at the end of 24 months. Unfortunately, this does not include Anker's excellent Aggregate Summary function or web search function. For those features, buyers are required to pay an additional $8.33/month for 1200 minutes or a whopping $19.99/month for unlimited minutes.
Honestly, this is where things decline and my enchantment with the Pro Max's falls. Why? Anker has chosen to lock a great deal of the benefits of buying the Pro Max's behind an additional pay wall. Buyers get 120 minutes of AI note taking and storage per month at no charge. However, this ends at the end of 24 months. Unfortunately, this does not include Anker's excellent Aggregate Summary function or web search function. For those features, buyers are required to pay an additional $8.33/month for 1200 minutes or a whopping $19.99/month for unlimited minutes.
Why do I have a beef with this? Simple. This paid feature doesn't provide any additional benefits that my Pixel 10 Pro doesn't already do at no additional cost. Same with real-time translation.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This is one of the most difficult ratings I've had to give to date. On one hand, the Liberty 5 Pro Max's are an awesome set of earbuds. Audio quality, call quality, ANC quality are all top-notch. It's hard to find any fault with them. However, the Liberty 5 Pro's have every bit of tech that the Pro Max's do, minus the audio recording. This is something your cell will do just as easy, if not better. Not to mention that when I compare the Pro Max's to my Liberty 5's, I don't notice a huge improvement in performance. Granted I would rate the ANC performance of the Pro Max's better, but it is not a night-and-day difference to justify the Pro Max's over the Liberty 5's or Liberty 5 Pro's.
This is one of the most difficult ratings I've had to give to date. On one hand, the Liberty 5 Pro Max's are an awesome set of earbuds. Audio quality, call quality, ANC quality are all top-notch. It's hard to find any fault with them. However, the Liberty 5 Pro's have every bit of tech that the Pro Max's do, minus the audio recording. This is something your cell will do just as easy, if not better. Not to mention that when I compare the Pro Max's to my Liberty 5's, I don't notice a huge improvement in performance. Granted I would rate the ANC performance of the Pro Max's better, but it is not a night-and-day difference to justify the Pro Max's over the Liberty 5's or Liberty 5 Pro's.
In conclusion, I'll give the Pro Max's a 4-star rating, along with a recommendation. Are their features worth it over the Liberty 5 Pros, or Liberty 5's? That's something each buyer will have to decide. For me, they are not. But, if you want an outstanding set of earbuds with top-notch audio quality, the Pro Max's give the big names in the business some serious competition.
RECOMMENDED
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Power up your performance with CLIPPER PRO MINI 60~s enhanced Hall Effect tech. MGX HYPERDRIVE CORE magnetic switches unlock Rapid Trigger and next-generation Hall Effect features: Multi Action, Tap Lock, and Smart Tap so players can dominate the competition with game-changing speed and precision. Combined with 8,000Hz hyper-polling for near-instantaneous inputs and FlashTap SOCD for enhanced movement techniques, this supercompact 60% layout delivers a pro-level advantage in a small footprint. This incredibly water and dust-resistant mechanical keyboard is IP57-rated, built to withstand the toughest grind. Connect via USB-C to USB-A cable for enhanced control on PC, Mac, or console
Customer Rating
4
Excellent Quality, But Too Small for Everyday
on June 15, 2026
Posted by: NAMO
TLDR: Awesome Customization Options & for Gaming, but too small as a daily driver
PROS
Numerous Key Customizations
Smooth Hall Effect Switches
100 Million Keystrokes Reliability
8000Hz Refresh Rate
Numerous Key Customizations
Smooth Hall Effect Switches
100 Million Keystrokes Reliability
8000Hz Refresh Rate
CONS
Web Interface not my favorite, but far superior to iCue
Wired Only Connectivity
60% Form Factor Doesn't Have Room for Arrow Keys
Web Interface not my favorite, but far superior to iCue
Wired Only Connectivity
60% Form Factor Doesn't Have Room for Arrow Keys
SET-UP & USE
Corsair has finally moved passed their iCue software. For good reasons. It was very bloated and was growing long-in-the-tooth. Like other manufacturers, keyboard customization is now accomplished through a web-based GUI. Enter in a specific URL and then allow the browser to connect to the peripheral. It's simple and fairly straightforward but does take a bit of trial and error. Still, it is leaps and bounds better than iCue.
Corsair has finally moved passed their iCue software. For good reasons. It was very bloated and was growing long-in-the-tooth. Like other manufacturers, keyboard customization is now accomplished through a web-based GUI. Enter in a specific URL and then allow the browser to connect to the peripheral. It's simple and fairly straightforward but does take a bit of trial and error. Still, it is leaps and bounds better than iCue.
What sets this keyboard apart from it competitors is the amount of customization Corsair has baked into their web interface. Corsair has unlocked 4 new customizations that I have yet to experience from my other gaming keyboards. These options include Rapid Trigger, Multi-Action, Tap Lock, and Smart Tap. The real star of the show here is the Multi-Action customization option. All of my other gaming keyboards, even the Hall-Effect keyboards, are limited to dual-action set-ups. Multi-Action takes it a step further and allows you to set commands based on the amount of key depress and release. For example, a half key press can be one action, a full depress another, the start of a release another, and then a full release yet another. It offers a lot of advantages of traditional dual action configurations. Corsair claims .2 to 3.8mm of total actuation travel, with full key travel of 4mm. There is a lot of range of motion in Corsair new switches.
Tap Lock is the next big advancement in game playing. Tap Lock allows you to set a command to engage with the press of a key and not disengage until that key is pressed again. Corsair used the example of crouching on their website, so I had to try it. I can attest; some games require a constant key press to keep your player in a crouched position during movement. With Tap Lock, I can program a button to initiate and command, say a crouch, and maintain it without having to hold the key down, thus freeing up fingers for other commands and movements. It's slick. I've grown to really appreciate it.
CONS
There are too main cons for me. First and foremost is the 60% form factor. While I appreciate the compactness, it is so small that it lacks the dedicated arrow keys for navigation. I can do without a ten keypad, but arrow keys are WAY too important and handy for me. Yes, the Clipper 60 has them, but they are embedded with other keys and require a separate button to activate them. I don't use them often while gaming, but the arrow keys are so intertwined in my daily life, that I couldn't use the Clipper 60 for anything else but gaming. Same goes for the Delete key. It is just too important to do without.
There are too main cons for me. First and foremost is the 60% form factor. While I appreciate the compactness, it is so small that it lacks the dedicated arrow keys for navigation. I can do without a ten keypad, but arrow keys are WAY too important and handy for me. Yes, the Clipper 60 has them, but they are embedded with other keys and require a separate button to activate them. I don't use them often while gaming, but the arrow keys are so intertwined in my daily life, that I couldn't use the Clipper 60 for anything else but gaming. Same goes for the Delete key. It is just too important to do without.
Second. As much as I like the Multi-Tap, it is also challenging. Remembering between which buttons are half-press, full-press, half-release, etc. programmed is exhausting. Also, when you are really into a game, how often do you really think about pressing down a key, let alone if you have to only press it half-way? I am constantly pressing too hard or not enough and it actually makes it harder to game in my book. I've tried and tried and tried to get used to the Multi-Action, but in the end, I've switched back to a more traditional dual action set-up.
FINAL THOUGHTS
If you are a fan of the 60% form factor, the Clipper should be on your shopping list. The hall effect switches feel very smooth and premium. As with all high-end gaming keyboards, RGB lighting is controllable per key or able to be defeated all together. Combine that with a full 8000Hz refresh rate and the Clipper Pro Mini adds up to a great gaming keyboard. However, EVERY single one of my other keyboards perform double duty. They game and I use them for typing on a day-to-day basis. I don't with the Clipper Mini. The lack of dedicated arrow buttons and a delete key make it a non-starter for a dual-purpose set-up.
If you are a fan of the 60% form factor, the Clipper should be on your shopping list. The hall effect switches feel very smooth and premium. As with all high-end gaming keyboards, RGB lighting is controllable per key or able to be defeated all together. Combine that with a full 8000Hz refresh rate and the Clipper Pro Mini adds up to a great gaming keyboard. However, EVERY single one of my other keyboards perform double duty. They game and I use them for typing on a day-to-day basis. I don't with the Clipper Mini. The lack of dedicated arrow buttons and a delete key make it a non-starter for a dual-purpose set-up.
Would I buy the Clipper Pro Mini for myself? No. Would I recommend it to someone looking for a gaming keyboard with this specific form factor? Yes. It is a very good keyboard with premium features and performance. It's just not up my alley.
RECOMMENDED
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Ninja AutoBarista Pro is the only fully automatic machine that crafts true 9-bar espresso, authentic drip coffee, and rapid cold brew drinks like a barista.* Grind iQ technology auto-selects from 50 grind settings for smooth, balanced, results every time. With a 15-bar system tuned to 9-bar pressure, it delivers authentic espresso with real crema across 13 one-touch presets ~ from cold brew to cappuccino. FrothPerfect technology creates hands-free, caf~-quality microfoam in five styles, hot or iced, dairy or plant-based, all with zero barista skills required. The additional bean hopper allows you to effortlessly switch between roasts, no mixing of flavours, no leftover beans, no limits.
Customer Rating
5
Closest Ever to Professional Results at Home
on June 10, 2026
Posted by: NAMO
TLDR: Best home brewed coffee to date.
PROS
13 One-Touch Options
2 Bean Hoppers
Automatic Everything
Customizable Drink Parameters (Strength & Temp)
Takes Whole or Ground Beans
2 User Profiles
13 One-Touch Options
2 Bean Hoppers
Automatic Everything
Customizable Drink Parameters (Strength & Temp)
Takes Whole or Ground Beans
2 User Profiles
CONS
Requires Routine Maintenance
Rinse Cycles Get Coffee Cups Wet
Requires Routine Maintenance
Rinse Cycles Get Coffee Cups Wet
SET-UP
I was a bit apprehensive when the machine includes a QR code for set-up. Whoa! There are a lot of steps to get everything initially square away, at least compared to a pod coffee maker, but the instructions are very concise. Take your time and what seems daunting at first, really isn't. Honestly, after it was all said and done, I think I had more difficulty finding all the packing tape and shipping parts than I did setting up the machine.
I was a bit apprehensive when the machine includes a QR code for set-up. Whoa! There are a lot of steps to get everything initially square away, at least compared to a pod coffee maker, but the instructions are very concise. Take your time and what seems daunting at first, really isn't. Honestly, after it was all said and done, I think I had more difficulty finding all the packing tape and shipping parts than I did setting up the machine.
One of the best features is Grind IQ. I thought it was more of a gimmick than anything, at first. You put whole beans in the hopper and the machine grinds several of them up in an attempt to "get a perfect extraction". I've reviewed a couple of automatic machines and none of them included this feature to date. Not sure what Ninja's reasoning is behind it. But I let it do its thing. After a couple of minutes and three brew cycles, it was ready to brew. Then I tried my first cup of Drip Coffee (my go-to drink in the mornings). Wow!! Grind IQ really does work. On my other machines, you can select how much bean you want in your brew, but those settings seem like the drink is either too strong or too weak. Not sure how Ninja did it, but their coffee is far more precise and tastier than any of my other coffee makers, even the automatic ones. I guess the Grind IQ feature really does pay dividends as the strength settings are far closer together and more "appropriate" for my desired tastes.
USE
I've purposely held off writing this review so I could get as many drinks tried as possible prior to posting. Compared to my other automatic machines, the Ninja is far more advanced and thought out, even when making identical drinks. I've tried numerous drinks, literally back-to-back with my other automatic machines. Lungos, Expressos, Americanos, etc. Not trying to sound like a Ninja fan-boy, but EVERY drink I've tried back-to-back with my other machines has turned out better with the Ninja. Drinks are more consistent, richer, and flavorful with the Ninja. How? I don't know. I just know that even the basic coffee drinks that I turn to in the am are far more palatable and less bitter with the Ninja.
I've purposely held off writing this review so I could get as many drinks tried as possible prior to posting. Compared to my other automatic machines, the Ninja is far more advanced and thought out, even when making identical drinks. I've tried numerous drinks, literally back-to-back with my other automatic machines. Lungos, Expressos, Americanos, etc. Not trying to sound like a Ninja fan-boy, but EVERY drink I've tried back-to-back with my other machines has turned out better with the Ninja. Drinks are more consistent, richer, and flavorful with the Ninja. How? I don't know. I just know that even the basic coffee drinks that I turn to in the am are far more palatable and less bitter with the Ninja.
The same can be said for the foam making as well. A latte or cappuccino in the afternoon makes for a nice pick-me-up. Again, not sure what Ninja does to the foam process that is different than my other machines, but the foam is far more consistent and even compared to the others. Even similarly priced rivals. Again, this was true back-to-back comparisons.
I like the addition of a second hopper included with the Ninja AutoBarista. This is something that my other makers do not have as an option. When poured, the beans immediately go down into wells inside the other machines. Not with the AutoBarista. Beans are contained in a sealed hopper on top and only pulled down inside when brewing a drink. This is great, as I find that I like a different bean when I make a latte or cappuccino. Not a deal breaker, but it is very nice to have the option to have a different bean and flavor profile.
This is something that cannot be done with machines that don't have the external hoppers. While the beans can technically be removed, it is a cumbersome and difficult process and is far easier to just let the beans run out than partially disassembling the maker to get them out. After having a removable hopper with the AutoBarista, I will never go back to the self-contained devices again. I've grown to enjoy the change in flavors too much. It has already spoiled me.
CONS
Like my other automatic machines, the Ninja cleans and purges itself after use. The coffee extractors rinse themselves and the milk frother self-cleans as well. Which is great, but it is also annoying. When you first power up the AutoBarista it goes through a purge cycle, just like when it was powered down. Doing so, cleans the extractors once again. Running water through them gets on the shelf for your coffee cup or mug. This means EVERY single drink you make is wet on the bottom of the cup or mug.
Like my other automatic machines, the Ninja cleans and purges itself after use. The coffee extractors rinse themselves and the milk frother self-cleans as well. Which is great, but it is also annoying. When you first power up the AutoBarista it goes through a purge cycle, just like when it was powered down. Doing so, cleans the extractors once again. Running water through them gets on the shelf for your coffee cup or mug. This means EVERY single drink you make is wet on the bottom of the cup or mug.
The other notable con is that there is maintenance involved with the AutoBarista. Same goes for its competition as well. Unlike other pod brewing coffee makers where you can pretty much just brew and go thousands of times without issue, these automatic machines require weekly and monthly upkeep. It isn't overwhelming or particularly daunting but be prepared to spend a little time keeping it in top shape.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The AutoBarista makes my other machines obsolete. Whether it be a true coffee drink like a drip or Americano, or a milk drink like a latte or cappuccino, the AutoBarista produces superior results. I didn't think making an identical drink could be so much different if I hadn't personally done it from machine-to-machine.
The AutoBarista makes my other machines obsolete. Whether it be a true coffee drink like a drip or Americano, or a milk drink like a latte or cappuccino, the AutoBarista produces superior results. I didn't think making an identical drink could be so much different if I hadn't personally done it from machine-to-machine.
My coffee drinks (espressos, drips, etc.) are smoother and more flavorful with less bitterness. The foam in my milk drinks (my flat whites, lattes, etc.) has much better consistency. I was surprised at just how much better the froth quality was.
The AutoBarista is the closest thing I've used in-home, to actual coffee shop coffee. While I enjoyed my other machines, I did find myself wanting a "bought" coffee fairly frequently. While my makers produced a good product, there was just something that they were missing. Something always seemed just a bit off in quality and gently, yet consistently, reminding me that I was drinking a DIY product.
This is something I haven't encountered yet with the AutoBarista. Granted I haven't had it for a very long time, but I will say, I am far more satisfied with its performance than the machines I've tried in the past. It is the closest thing I've used to get custom-brewed quality and taste at home. EXCELLENT work Ninja.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
I would recommend this to a friend!
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True Wireless Multi Platform Gaming Earbuds. The Razer Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed is built for gamers who want low latency performance and everyday convenience in one true wireless design. These gaming earbuds support both 2.4 GHz Razer HyperSpeed Wireless and Bluetooth 6.0, making them ideal for competitive play, casual gaming, and daily listening across multiple devices. Connectivity and Latency. Connect using 2.4 GHz Razer HyperSpeed Wireless for gaming grade, lag free audio on compatible devices such as PC, smartphones, PlayStation 5, Steam Deck, and more. Switch to Bluetooth 6.0 for stable connections, improved efficiency, and reliable performance in busy wireless environments.Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation. Stay focused with Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation designed to reduce outside distractions. Whether gaming, traveling, commuting, or watching shows, ANC helps maintain immersion and clarity.HyperSpeed Case and Dongle. The included HyperSpeed Case functions as both a charging case and a 2.4 GHz wireless receiver. Use the compact removable dongle on the go or connect the case to your setup to play and charge at the same time. Keeping the dongle inserted enables 2.4 GHz wireless through the case for desktop or portable setups. All Day Battery Life and Durable Design. Enjoy up to 40 hours of total battery life, with up to 10 hours on the earbuds and up to 30 additional hours from the pocketable charging case. USB C passthrough allows continued use while charging, and an IPX4 water resistant design helps protect against sweat, rain, and daily use.THX Spatial Audio and Custom Controls. On PC, activate THX Spatial Audio in Razer Synapse to experience 7.1.4 surround sound for greater positional accuracy and immersion on Windows 11 systems. Fine tune settings, gestures, and touch controls using Synapse 4 or the Razer Audio App, with an on case LED bar providing clear charging and pairing status."
Customer Rating
3
Decent Audio/Below Avg ANC/Terrible Integration
on June 6, 2026
Posted by: NAMO
TLDR: Average ANC / Poor Ambient Noise Control / Average Performance
PROS
Good Audio Quality
Up to 40hrs of Battery Life
Easy to Use Android App
Easy Android Set-up
Good Audio Quality
Up to 40hrs of Battery Life
Easy to Use Android App
Easy Android Set-up
CONS
Difficult Computer Set-up
Average (At Best) ANC Performance
Below Average Ambient Noise Control
Bass is Good, but Nowhere Near Competition
No USB-C to USB-A Adapter Included
Difficult Computer Set-up
Average (At Best) ANC Performance
Below Average Ambient Noise Control
Bass is Good, but Nowhere Near Competition
No USB-C to USB-A Adapter Included
SET-UP
As much as I've complained about Razer's software over the years, I can honestly say, they have taken considerable strides in making the software better. This is particularly evident in Razer's Android app. A user couldn't ask for a simpler, easy to use, app. Controls are minimal and straightforward. Everything in the app is logically presented and easy to use first time out of the box. Excellent work Razer!
As much as I've complained about Razer's software over the years, I can honestly say, they have taken considerable strides in making the software better. This is particularly evident in Razer's Android app. A user couldn't ask for a simpler, easy to use, app. Controls are minimal and straightforward. Everything in the app is logically presented and easy to use first time out of the box. Excellent work Razer!
Now, the not so hot. Razer, are you ever going to get your Synapse software up to the competition? Even though I appreciate your efforts to improve Synapse, these new Hammerheads really show just how behind the times your Synapse software is. Setting up the new Hammerheads with a Windows PC was an exercise in frustration. WAY more frustrating than I've experienced with others' earbuds.
The included pamphlet does little to help the end user. It took me nearly 20 minutes to get the Hammerheads to work with my PC. Why? Because of poor Razer documentation and details. Synapse does not contain the necessary files to natively allow your Hammerhead v3's to work out of the box and Razer doesn't tell you this. Something I haven't had to do for a LONG time is go to the manufacturer's website to decipher how to make their product work.
Synapse doesn't natively support all the modules to make the v3's work properly. Nope. Users have to download the separate pairing utility and the firmware updating utility. I don't mind having to download additional software, what I do mind is there is no documentation or tutorial to make it easier on the buyer. Had I not went to the help section, I would still be trying to get the Hyperspeed dongle to work.
This is unacceptable in today's day and age. There are too many other options out there and it is off-putting when a user has to struggle to get their latest gizmo or gadget figured out.
On a positive note, the Hammerheads did ship with the latest firmware update. Thank you Razer.
SOUND QUALITY
On a lighter note. There is nothing off-putting about the v3's audio reproduction. The ear buds have a nice, consistent quality with just enough openness to not feel burdened or over-tasked. Bass goes down deep enough to be pleasing, but falls short of the competition in attitude and aggression. Others go down considerably farther and offer more oomph.
On a lighter note. There is nothing off-putting about the v3's audio reproduction. The ear buds have a nice, consistent quality with just enough openness to not feel burdened or over-tasked. Bass goes down deep enough to be pleasing, but falls short of the competition in attitude and aggression. Others go down considerably farther and offer more oomph.
I find the standard Razer audio profiles unpleasant. Everyone of them seems to over-emphasize the high-end treble making the v3's sound brash and harsh. Unpleasantly so. However, with a little tweaking, it's easy enough to roll back the upper frequencies making for a much more pleasant and uniform experience. Kudos to Razer for making the equalizer so easy to tweak and tailor to end-users' preferences.
ANC
Unfortunately, this is another area that leave me uninspired. The v3's eek out an average score (for me) in their ANC capabilities. Whether it be paired via Bluetooth to my Pixel 10 Pro or connected to my PC, the ANC is just so-so. The v3's cannot effectively drown out the keystrokes of my membrane keyboard, or effectively drown out ambient TV noise in the same room. Even with the volume down low, the ANC properties are quite poor and TV audio is very perceptible with little to no perceivable attenuation. To make matters worse, when switched to Ambient mode, it introduces a terrible amount of digital hiss into the audio. MUCH more than any other earbuds or headphones I've reviewed recently.
Unfortunately, this is another area that leave me uninspired. The v3's eek out an average score (for me) in their ANC capabilities. Whether it be paired via Bluetooth to my Pixel 10 Pro or connected to my PC, the ANC is just so-so. The v3's cannot effectively drown out the keystrokes of my membrane keyboard, or effectively drown out ambient TV noise in the same room. Even with the volume down low, the ANC properties are quite poor and TV audio is very perceptible with little to no perceivable attenuation. To make matters worse, when switched to Ambient mode, it introduces a terrible amount of digital hiss into the audio. MUCH more than any other earbuds or headphones I've reviewed recently.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I appreciate Razer's hard work in making the Hammerhead v3's so easy to use with mobile devices. Set-up, configuration, usage is so simple. I wish their gaming side was more refined. If it wasn't for the help section on their website, I'd still be struggling. It's not as simple as plugging in the dongle and getting the software. Users need additional software not mentioned any place but the help section and there is a specific set of steps that must be followed to get the Hammerheads to communicate with not only the PC, but the dongle as well.
I appreciate Razer's hard work in making the Hammerhead v3's so easy to use with mobile devices. Set-up, configuration, usage is so simple. I wish their gaming side was more refined. If it wasn't for the help section on their website, I'd still be struggling. It's not as simple as plugging in the dongle and getting the software. Users need additional software not mentioned any place but the help section and there is a specific set of steps that must be followed to get the Hammerheads to communicate with not only the PC, but the dongle as well.
Mix the complicated set-up process with below average ANC performance and it makes the Hammerheads a tough sell. Luckily, they do have good audio quality. I found their overall music and gaming abilities quite good with no glaring issues or unpleasantries. If you are fully invested in the Razer ecosystem, the Hammerhead v3's may make more sense, but if not, there are better performing alternatives in the marketplace.
FINAL VERDICT: AVERAGE
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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The TCL RM9L Series: The Ultimate RGB Mini-LED TV engineered for unparalleled performance. Experience revolutionary visuals with TCL~s RGB LED Technology delivering 100% BT.2020 Color*, bringing breathtaking clarity and vividly lifelike color to every scene. With up to 5,600+ Discrete Dimming Zones (16,000+ Color Zones) and an astonishing 9,000 Peak Nits brightness, enjoy dynamic contrast and truly immersive HDR. Its SuperThin 1.4~ profile combines elegance with practicality, featuring integrated cable management for a seamless setup. Powered by the TSR AI Pro Processor and a 144Hz WHVA 2.0 Ultra Panel, the RM9L ensures optimized picture quality and ultra-smooth motion for gaming, movies, and sports. Completing the premium experience is immersive spatial sound by Audio by Bang & Olufsen, delivering cinematic audio that matches the stunning visuals. Finally, to match the premium picture, the RM9L features Expandable Home Theater with Audio by Bang & Olufsen, an integrated spatial sound system complete with built-in subwoofers, surround channels, and a center channel, providing a truly immersive Dolby Atmos experience.
Customer Rating
5
Big, Beautiful Colors / Big Sound / Top-Tier
on May 26, 2026
Posted by: NAMO
TLDR: TCL's all-out effort in RGB-Mini LED TV's. They left nothing off the table.
CONNECTIONS
AirPlay 2
Bluetooth 5.4
HDMI 2.1 x 4 (144Hz)
AirPlay 2
Bluetooth 5.4
HDMI 2.1 x 4 (144Hz)
KEY SPECS
Up to 6000 Nits Peak Brightness
5600 Local Dimming Zones
100% BT.2020 Color Reproduction
288Hz Variable Refresh Rate Compatible (144Hz Inputs)
Dolby Vision / Dolby Vision IQ / HLG / HDR 10 / HDR10+ / IMAX Enhanced
Dolby Atmos / DTS Virtual X
Up to 6000 Nits Peak Brightness
5600 Local Dimming Zones
100% BT.2020 Color Reproduction
288Hz Variable Refresh Rate Compatible (144Hz Inputs)
Dolby Vision / Dolby Vision IQ / HLG / HDR 10 / HDR10+ / IMAX Enhanced
Dolby Atmos / DTS Virtual X
PROS
Excellent Sound Quality for a Flat-Panel
Backlit Remote
Accurate Color Reproduction
Best-In-Class Processing Power
Minimal Blooming / Excellent Light Control
Excellent Sound Quality for a Flat-Panel
Backlit Remote
Accurate Color Reproduction
Best-In-Class Processing Power
Minimal Blooming / Excellent Light Control
CONS
Remote Lacks Essential Playback Controls
Hernia Causing Heft - Eat Your Wheaties
Remote Lacks Essential Playback Controls
Hernia Causing Heft - Eat Your Wheaties
INSTALLATION & SET-UP
First off, big thanks to TCL for springing for in-home delivery. The RM9L weighs in at a hernia inducing 143 pounds (without stand and/or shipping pallet). Make sure you have a heavy-duty mounting bracket and plenty of studs to anchor that bracket to. You will need it. Even after eating our Wheaties, my teenager and I struggled to get it lifted and placed on its mounting bracket. The RM9L is, by far, the heaviest TV I've ever mounted.
First off, big thanks to TCL for springing for in-home delivery. The RM9L weighs in at a hernia inducing 143 pounds (without stand and/or shipping pallet). Make sure you have a heavy-duty mounting bracket and plenty of studs to anchor that bracket to. You will need it. Even after eating our Wheaties, my teenager and I struggled to get it lifted and placed on its mounting bracket. The RM9L is, by far, the heaviest TV I've ever mounted.
After getting my workout for the day, the RM9L is extremely easy to get set-up. Our household is primarily an Android-based ecosystem, so setting up the TCL was an easy lift (pun intended). Using my Pixel 10 Pro, the TCL started up and with just a few clicks, had logged into my Google account, logged into Wi-Fi, and had reached out and got an update. Not to mention, during set-up, it asked me what streaming services I wanted to pre-install. I clicked all my apps of choice & aside from DirecTV stream, all apps downloaded and logged me in using credentials obtained from my phone. Super slick and so much easier than in the past. Kudos to Google and their refinements.
AUDIO
The RM9L features audio tuned by Bang & Olufsen. I've had numerous TV's in for review and this TCL has the best audio of any flat-panel TV I've ever heard. The RM9L features a 4.2 surround system built-in. It houses L&R speakers, 2 surround speakers, and dual subwoofers. Everyone that has ever purchased a flat-panel TV over the years knows just how weak and anemic the speakers are. No matter how good the picture is, I've never heard a TV that had decent audio. The RM9L changes my expectations. Sound is actually fairly robust and enveloping. I was surprised at just how full-bodied the audio quality is. A lot of that comes from the included B&O subwoofers built into the top of the TV. They add just enough low frequency extension to keep the audio from sounding thin and uninspired. Again, the RM9L is the first TV I've reviewed to date that I can honestly give a thumbs up for audio quality. It far superior to any other TV I've had to date.
The RM9L features audio tuned by Bang & Olufsen. I've had numerous TV's in for review and this TCL has the best audio of any flat-panel TV I've ever heard. The RM9L features a 4.2 surround system built-in. It houses L&R speakers, 2 surround speakers, and dual subwoofers. Everyone that has ever purchased a flat-panel TV over the years knows just how weak and anemic the speakers are. No matter how good the picture is, I've never heard a TV that had decent audio. The RM9L changes my expectations. Sound is actually fairly robust and enveloping. I was surprised at just how full-bodied the audio quality is. A lot of that comes from the included B&O subwoofers built into the top of the TV. They add just enough low frequency extension to keep the audio from sounding thin and uninspired. Again, the RM9L is the first TV I've reviewed to date that I can honestly give a thumbs up for audio quality. It far superior to any other TV I've had to date.
BRAINS
TCL spared no expense putting their top-of-the-line processor in the RM9L. When the TCL arrived, I purposely left my streaming stick off and used the Google apps to stream. I am thoroughly impressed at just how responsive the TCL is as a streaming platform. Their new CPU is superior to any of my other streaming sticks. While the Google ecosystem isn't as intuitive as a dedicated streaming device, I have zero complaints about the RM9L's responsiveness and usability. Additionally, TCL claims their AI processor (isn't everything AI anymore) can do per pixel analysis of video reproduction. While I have no way to test this, it seems legitimate from what I can tell. Motion is smooth and clear and light and artifact control seem to be the best in the business.
TCL spared no expense putting their top-of-the-line processor in the RM9L. When the TCL arrived, I purposely left my streaming stick off and used the Google apps to stream. I am thoroughly impressed at just how responsive the TCL is as a streaming platform. Their new CPU is superior to any of my other streaming sticks. While the Google ecosystem isn't as intuitive as a dedicated streaming device, I have zero complaints about the RM9L's responsiveness and usability. Additionally, TCL claims their AI processor (isn't everything AI anymore) can do per pixel analysis of video reproduction. While I have no way to test this, it seems legitimate from what I can tell. Motion is smooth and clear and light and artifact control seem to be the best in the business.
A feature that I never thought I would really care about, but have been using it more and more, is Google Gemini. It can be accessed by either speaking directly to the TV or by holding the microphone button down and speaking into the remote. If there isn't a bunch of ambient noise in your house, the TV is plenty responsive by merely speaking "OK Google". Any additional noise can easily be overcome by speaking into the remote. It works quite slick and I find it ridiculously useful, where I thought I never would. From checking the weather, to getting movie times, or even asking about current events, its intuitive and easy. Having it integrated seamlessly into a TV is really changing my mind.
PICTURE QUALITY
BLOOMING / LIGHT CONTROL - This is, by far, the biggest issue with any display technology outside of OLED's. Edge-lit panels are the biggest offenders, while the best panels have FALD (Full Array Local Dimming) technology. This allows the CPU to control individual zones on the display. The more zones, the more control over light the TV has. TCL claims 5600+ dimming zones. Doing some quick math, at 5600 zones, this would put a dimming zone approximately every .75 square inches (if my math is right). Furthermore, TCL touts that the RM9 has 11,520 Precise Color Zones on this 98" model. This translates into a Precise Color Zone approximately every .35 square inches. Needless to say, the picture quality is top-notch. I noticed no discernible blooming or artifacts during my testing. Even the darkest of scenes in the new Star Trek movies failed to produce any blooming around stars to spaceships. Something I haven't ever been able to say about any other panel outside by beloved OLED. Colors are rich and vibrant and pop with an authority that would have been inconceivable just a few years ago.
BLOOMING / LIGHT CONTROL - This is, by far, the biggest issue with any display technology outside of OLED's. Edge-lit panels are the biggest offenders, while the best panels have FALD (Full Array Local Dimming) technology. This allows the CPU to control individual zones on the display. The more zones, the more control over light the TV has. TCL claims 5600+ dimming zones. Doing some quick math, at 5600 zones, this would put a dimming zone approximately every .75 square inches (if my math is right). Furthermore, TCL touts that the RM9 has 11,520 Precise Color Zones on this 98" model. This translates into a Precise Color Zone approximately every .35 square inches. Needless to say, the picture quality is top-notch. I noticed no discernible blooming or artifacts during my testing. Even the darkest of scenes in the new Star Trek movies failed to produce any blooming around stars to spaceships. Something I haven't ever been able to say about any other panel outside by beloved OLED. Colors are rich and vibrant and pop with an authority that would have been inconceivable just a few years ago.
To fulfill my amateur ambitions of being a video snob, I typically disable any post processing settings in the menu. Black level enhancements, contrast enhancements, color enhancements, they all get turned off. I want a picture as close to perfect as I can get, with no external intervention from the TV. With this RM9L, there is one setting that I turned on, that I have never turned on in ANY TV I've ever reviewed or tested. That setting is the ambient light control. Why? This TCL can output an eye-watering 6000 nits at peak brightness. WOW! It is incredibly bright in dimly lit movie rooms. I've never tested a TV that can output so much light.
TCL has done a great job of including nearly every conceivable current audio and video technology into their TV. Dolby Vision, Dolby Vision IQ, Variable Refresh Rates, AMD Freesync Pro, HDR 10, HDR 10+ Gaming, HLG, Dolby Vision Gaming, IMAX Enhanced, Dolby Atmos, and DTS Virtual X. This is the most extensive and comprehensive list I've ever seen in a TV. Impressive!
One thing that I do find quite odd is that out of the box color accuracy was not nearly as good as I expected it to be. Using the recommended FilmMaker Mode and changing the color balance to Warm still left way too much blue in the picture. I had to take out a BUNCH of blue at the high end to get the color back to the D65 spec. I was surprised that such a high-end TV was so far out of adjustment out of the box.
However, a little work paid huge dividends. As you can see, I was able to get the picture dialed into near perfection, even if I wasn't unable to fully get all the blue pulled out. Aside from that mild blue error (nearly imperceptible), all other primary, secondary, and grayscale colors were spot on. Overall errors were some of the lowest I've ever got out of a TV to this day, espeicially the grayscale. Great work TCL!
NEGATIVES
Overall, I like the included remote. Not only does it feel premium, but the inclusion of a backlight is a game changer. I would hate to use a remote without a backlight after having this. Frankly, a backlight is a necessity with the TCL remote. Nearly all the buttons are the same size and shape and without said backlight would have made it nearly impossible to find the proper button in the dark. Also, the remote is sorely missing dedicated playback controls. I would have loved to see TCL put in Play, FF, and Rew buttons. It would make the remote so much more useful.
Overall, I like the included remote. Not only does it feel premium, but the inclusion of a backlight is a game changer. I would hate to use a remote without a backlight after having this. Frankly, a backlight is a necessity with the TCL remote. Nearly all the buttons are the same size and shape and without said backlight would have made it nearly impossible to find the proper button in the dark. Also, the remote is sorely missing dedicated playback controls. I would have loved to see TCL put in Play, FF, and Rew buttons. It would make the remote so much more useful.
I've already touched on the other negative above and that is the overall out-of-the-box color accuracy.
CONCLUSIONS
Is the RM9L a great TV? Yes, it is. It's hard to find any meaningful faults with the device. Outstanding color accuracy and reproduction, best-in-class audio, and a powerful processor make for a great device. Though it's not an OLED, I found no evidence of halo or blooming in the picture even during the darkest of sci-fi films. I've never been able to say this about any other display technology outside of OLED's.
Is the RM9L a great TV? Yes, it is. It's hard to find any meaningful faults with the device. Outstanding color accuracy and reproduction, best-in-class audio, and a powerful processor make for a great device. Though it's not an OLED, I found no evidence of halo or blooming in the picture even during the darkest of sci-fi films. I've never been able to say this about any other display technology outside of OLED's.
Colors are rich, bright, and vibrant. Far superior to any color reproduction I've experienced on any other TV, from any other manufacturer, including my OLED. The TCL AI processor does an excellent job at cleaning up the picture, regardless of the streaming service. I noticed substantially less blocking and streaming artifacts. Granted a 4k stream looks far better than an HD or SD stream, but even those are cleaned up nicely without looking fake and unnatural.
Audio quality is best-in-class, or at least best that I've ever tested. No, it won't replace a dedicated AVR and surround sound system, but it gives soundbars a run. Again, this is something I've never been able to say about any other TV to date.
If you want uncompromising picture and audio quality in a flat panel TV, the RM9L is it. It has the best audio and video quality of any display I've tested to date.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Denon Home 400 wireless smart speaker delivers Dolby Atmos Music, enveloping you in rich, expansive sound that reveals every nuance. Built-in dual height speakers add a lifelike vertical dimension for an all-in-one immersive experience. With the HEOS app, setup takes just minutes and streaming and control are effortless. Stereo-pair two speakers for even more expansive sound. The result of more than a century of Denon's legendary craftsmanship, the Denon Home 400 blends high-performance audio with an elevated design that complements any space~making it easy to enjoy extraordinary sound anywhere you listen.
Customer Rating
5
Big Audio, Big 3D Soundstage
on May 7, 2026
Posted by: NAMO
PROS
HUGE sound
6 Independently Powered Drivers (4.5" Woofers x 2, Front Facing Tweeters x 2, Top-Firing Tweeters x 2)
Big 3D sound
Can be linked to another 400 to form a stereo pair
HUGE sound
6 Independently Powered Drivers (4.5" Woofers x 2, Front Facing Tweeters x 2, Top-Firing Tweeters x 2)
Big 3D sound
Can be linked to another 400 to form a stereo pair
CONS
HEOS app is meh
HEOS app is meh
CONNECTIONS
Wi-Fi (2.4Ghz, 5GHz, 6GHz)
AirPlay 2
Bluetooth
3.5mm Headphone
USB-C
Wi-Fi (2.4Ghz, 5GHz, 6GHz)
AirPlay 2
Bluetooth
3.5mm Headphone
USB-C
SET-UP
The Home 400 is extremely easy to set-up. After downloading the Heos app, initial set-up is uneventful and polished. The app walks you step-by-step through the set-up and everything went without any issues. After initial connection, I was prompted for a mandatory firmware update and then a couple days later, was prompted for another firmware update. Both updates went without issue. No drama, no issues, nothing. Kudos to Denon for making such a polished user experience.
The Home 400 is extremely easy to set-up. After downloading the Heos app, initial set-up is uneventful and polished. The app walks you step-by-step through the set-up and everything went without any issues. After initial connection, I was prompted for a mandatory firmware update and then a couple days later, was prompted for another firmware update. Both updates went without issue. No drama, no issues, nothing. Kudos to Denon for making such a polished user experience.
HEOS APP
Like the 200, the same issues I have with the Heos app applies to the 400. While the Heos app works and allows you to link the big streaming services, there isn't a true integration that allows your app of choice to fully function from within Heos. My app of choice, Amazon Music, has elements accessible within Heos, but it isn't the full experience. It more like Amazon Music Lite.
Like the 200, the same issues I have with the Heos app applies to the 400. While the Heos app works and allows you to link the big streaming services, there isn't a true integration that allows your app of choice to fully function from within Heos. My app of choice, Amazon Music, has elements accessible within Heos, but it isn't the full experience. It more like Amazon Music Lite.
My preference is to use the Heos app to get the Home 400 set-up, updated, and adjust the equalizer to reflect how I generally like the audio curves. As far as music streaming, I find the best way to access the Home 400 is via Bluetooth. This way I can get the full Amazon Music app experience while still sending audio to the 400. Surprisingly, Bluetooth has come far enough that with my Pixel 10 Pro, I can stream HD, Ultra HD, and Atmos-enabled tracks directly to the 400 without down-sampling. Perfect!!!!
SOUND QUALITY
There's nothing to complain about (at least in my book) regarding the Home 400. Audio is full-bodied with deep, impressive bass, and the angled drivers create a very spacious sound stage. The extra woofer over the 200 adds impressive bass and the 2 top, angled tweeters make an Atmos soundtrack sound that much more enveloping. Lows are punchy and deep and mids and highs are crisp and clear. Denon has spent a great deal of time fine-tuning the drivers and it really pays off. Kudos to Denon for using soft-domed tweeters in their new products. To me, very few manufacturers know how to properly do hard-domed tweeters. These Denon tweeters have a nice, calm, relaxed sound that isn't harsh or brash. The mids and highs are very pleasant without being in-your-face bright. Excellent!
There's nothing to complain about (at least in my book) regarding the Home 400. Audio is full-bodied with deep, impressive bass, and the angled drivers create a very spacious sound stage. The extra woofer over the 200 adds impressive bass and the 2 top, angled tweeters make an Atmos soundtrack sound that much more enveloping. Lows are punchy and deep and mids and highs are crisp and clear. Denon has spent a great deal of time fine-tuning the drivers and it really pays off. Kudos to Denon for using soft-domed tweeters in their new products. To me, very few manufacturers know how to properly do hard-domed tweeters. These Denon tweeters have a nice, calm, relaxed sound that isn't harsh or brash. The mids and highs are very pleasant without being in-your-face bright. Excellent!
FINAL THOUGHTS
If it isn't too hard to figure out, I'm very impressed with the Home 400. It takes everything I love about the Home 200 and makes it that much better. Deeper bass and more spacious soundstage. The Home 400 is made for larger rooms and areas and if it isn't enough, it can be linked to an additional 400 to make a stereo pair.
If it isn't too hard to figure out, I'm very impressed with the Home 400. It takes everything I love about the Home 200 and makes it that much better. Deeper bass and more spacious soundstage. The Home 400 is made for larger rooms and areas and if it isn't enough, it can be linked to an additional 400 to make a stereo pair.
How much do I like the new Home products? Would I choose a Denon or their competitor's products? I have, and do, own both. After true back-to-back listening sessions, I can say, in my opinion, that these new Home speakers are superior. I prefer their sound over the competition. The bass and spacious sound seems to defy the laws of physics.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Wherever life takes you, the Acer Swift Go 16 AI is designed to move with you. Its slim, ultra~thin design slips effortlessly into your day, while all~day battery life and the powerful AMD Ryzen~ AI 9 465 processor deliver seamless performance ~ so you can work, create, and stay connected effortlessly, wherever you go. A stunning WUXGA (1920 x 1200) touch matte display makes every moment more immersive, while built~in AI performance helps ideas take shape so you can stay one step ahead.
Customer Rating
4
Extremely Capable, but lacks decent display
on May 5, 2026
Posted by: NAMO
KEY SPECS
AMD Ryzen 9 AI 465 (10C / 20T) (4 Performance / 6 Efficient)
32GB DDR5 RAM
1TB Gen 4 x 4 NVMe SSD
5.0MP Front Camera with Facial Recognition (Windows Hello)
Radeon 880M Integrated Graphics
MediaTek Wi-Fi 7
AMD Ryzen 9 AI 465 (10C / 20T) (4 Performance / 6 Efficient)
32GB DDR5 RAM
1TB Gen 4 x 4 NVMe SSD
5.0MP Front Camera with Facial Recognition (Windows Hello)
Radeon 880M Integrated Graphics
MediaTek Wi-Fi 7
PORTS
HDMI 2.1 x 1
USB-C x 2 (40Gbps)
USB-A 3.2 x 2
3.5mm Headphone Jack
MicroSD x 1
HDMI 2.1 x 1
USB-C x 2 (40Gbps)
USB-A 3.2 x 2
3.5mm Headphone Jack
MicroSD x 1
PROS
32GB of RAM
Powerful multi-core processor
Wi-Fi 7
32GB of RAM
Powerful multi-core processor
Wi-Fi 7
INITIAL SET-UP & CONFIGURATION
Props to Acer. My initial set-up went without a glitch. The laptop started and installed all necessary drivers and devices with ZERO fuss. Granted after start-up and activation, there was a firmware update pending for the device, but no worries, it too went without any issues. On top of that, the firmware update went very quickly, taking less than a quarter of the time most other manufacturers' firmware updates take.
Props to Acer. My initial set-up went without a glitch. The laptop started and installed all necessary drivers and devices with ZERO fuss. Granted after start-up and activation, there was a firmware update pending for the device, but no worries, it too went without any issues. On top of that, the firmware update went very quickly, taking less than a quarter of the time most other manufacturers' firmware updates take.
One thing I have to mention, as it is a huge pet peeve of mine, is the amount of bloatware that came pre-installed on this device. This new Acer Swift has more pre-installed bloatware than any other laptop I've reviewed to date. I counted a total of 23 different apps, services, programs, offers, analytics, telemetry, etc. All unnecessary. To add insult to injury, Acer chose to bundle McAfee with the Swift. Ugh. A resource hog and nearly impossible to cleanly remove from your system. Double Ugh.
PERFORMANCE AND USE
It's hard to find fault with AMD's latest Ryzen AI processors. This one is no exception. This Ryzen 9 contains a total of 10 cores. 4 Zen 5 Performance cores, 6 Zen 5c Ultra-Efficient cores, and an integrated Neural Processor to handle onboard AI tasks. Together they make for a peppy and responsive laptop. Not to mention, it seems to be very efficient thermally. Even during benchmarking the cooling fans never got annoyingly loud or obtrusive. Did they spin up? Yes. Was it distractingly loud and unpleasant? No, not at all. While not the quietest laptop I've reviewed recently, I have no objections or complaints about the fan noise. I will say that these fans do spin up more often than similarly spec'd Intel-based Swifts, but it is worth the tradeoff for me to get the increased performance that the Ryzen 9 offers of lesser Intel and AMD chips.
It's hard to find fault with AMD's latest Ryzen AI processors. This one is no exception. This Ryzen 9 contains a total of 10 cores. 4 Zen 5 Performance cores, 6 Zen 5c Ultra-Efficient cores, and an integrated Neural Processor to handle onboard AI tasks. Together they make for a peppy and responsive laptop. Not to mention, it seems to be very efficient thermally. Even during benchmarking the cooling fans never got annoyingly loud or obtrusive. Did they spin up? Yes. Was it distractingly loud and unpleasant? No, not at all. While not the quietest laptop I've reviewed recently, I have no objections or complaints about the fan noise. I will say that these fans do spin up more often than similarly spec'd Intel-based Swifts, but it is worth the tradeoff for me to get the increased performance that the Ryzen 9 offers of lesser Intel and AMD chips.
Unlike most laptops, the Swift is able to fold completely flat. No, it's not a 2-in-1 that can be folded into a tablet, but I am surprised at just how convenient it is to fold flat. I had never given it much thought. Even looking at Acer touting the feature on their website, I dismissed the convenience factor. But after spending quite a bit of quality time with the Swift, I see just how convenient the fold flat feature is during daily use. Who would have thought?
On the performance front, the great rivalry rages on and probably always will. Do I get an AMD processor or an Intel processor? Both are options in the Swift family of laptops. I was able to make back-to-back comparisons as I recently received a laptop for review powered by Intel's latest Core Ultra 7 355 processor (4P Cores / 4 Ultra-Low Power Cores), as well as a machine with AMD's Ryzen AI 5 340 from 2025 (6C / 12T). How does the Ryzen 9 stack up to similar models? Passmark scores are as follows:
Ryzen 9 (2026) Intel Ultra 7 355 Ryzen 5 (2025)
CPU 32722.4 (89th Percentile) 20005.9 (70th Percentile) 19010.3 (56th Percentile)
2D Graphics 945.6 (77th Percentile) 877.9 (69th Percentile) 887.7 (71st Percentile)
3D Graphics 6655.9 (42nd Percentile) 4539.6 (36th Percentile) 4105.1 (35th Percentile)
CPU 32722.4 (89th Percentile) 20005.9 (70th Percentile) 19010.3 (56th Percentile)
2D Graphics 945.6 (77th Percentile) 877.9 (69th Percentile) 887.7 (71st Percentile)
3D Graphics 6655.9 (42nd Percentile) 4539.6 (36th Percentile) 4105.1 (35th Percentile)
The new Ryzen 9 AI processor is powerful. Besting its closest rival that I've been able to test by over 30%. Would an Ultra 9 be closer? Yes, definitely, but the AI 9 is an extremely powerful processor. Not to mention, the new Radeon 880M graphics are more capable than even last year's Ryzen mobile graphics. Not revolutionarily so, but it is a definite evolutionary step in the right direction. One drawback of having all this compute power on tap is the amount of heat it produces. Granted AMD has worked wonders over the years in reducing power consumption, but the AI 9 does make considerably more heat than its lesser competitors and because of this battery life is shorter and the fans do spin up more often to maintain temps.
NEGATIVES
1. System is held back by an average NVMe drive. Besting only 4770.83MB/s transfer capabilities, which is slightly more than 1/2 the speed a good Gen 4 drive can deliver. A quality Gen4 x 4 drive will do roughly 7000MB/s.
1. System is held back by an average NVMe drive. Besting only 4770.83MB/s transfer capabilities, which is slightly more than 1/2 the speed a good Gen 4 drive can deliver. A quality Gen4 x 4 drive will do roughly 7000MB/s.
2. Wish it was an OLED display. After using an OLED laptop, it is hard to go back to a non-OLED model. The black levels leave me wanting and the display just lacks that great inky black panel that I have grown to love over the years. Quite frankly, a laptop with this prowess should have an OLED panel. The laptop exudes high-end hardware strapped to an entry-level display.
3. Bloatware. This new Acer takes the crown for amount of bloatware that comes pre-installed. I counted a total of 23 apps, links, and other forms of telemetry software. Even after a clean Windows 11 installation to rid myself of McAfee Anti-Virus (pre-installed), Acer still snuck 7 telemetry and reporting services back in and all were set to AutoStart.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Do I like the Acer Swift Go 16? Yes. Do I love it? No. This is a top-tier laptop. There is no other way to put it. I appreciate the amount of raw computing power that this laptop offers. Not to mention the included 32GB of RAM puts it in the top-tier among others in the market. Most laptops only offer 16GB. This wasn't a big deal a couple of years ago when you could easily upgrade RAM, but not in today's day and age where RAM is now soldered directly to the motherboard and is non-upgradeable. Because this laptop packs so much potential, I feel the antiquated LED screen is out of place on such a highly spec'd device.
Do I like the Acer Swift Go 16? Yes. Do I love it? No. This is a top-tier laptop. There is no other way to put it. I appreciate the amount of raw computing power that this laptop offers. Not to mention the included 32GB of RAM puts it in the top-tier among others in the market. Most laptops only offer 16GB. This wasn't a big deal a couple of years ago when you could easily upgrade RAM, but not in today's day and age where RAM is now soldered directly to the motherboard and is non-upgradeable. Because this laptop packs so much potential, I feel the antiquated LED screen is out of place on such a highly spec'd device.
A second reason as to why I don't love the Acer is the amount of unnecessary bloatware that comes pre-installed. Even after a clean Windows install, the analytics and telemetry services still got re-installed without my intervention. Not a fan.
In the end, would I recommend this PC? Yes. Especially if I had an external OLED monitor to connect it too. It has a TON of processing power and even with all the compute power it has managed a good 5 to 6 hours of battery life for me to date. Some days better than others, but I get about 6 on average. Not bad for this amount of performance.
RECOMMENDED
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Denon Home 200 wireless smart speaker delivers stereo sound and Dolby Atmos Music in a single speaker, immersing you in rich, detailed spatial sound that reveals every nuance. With the HEOS app, setup takes just minutes and streaming and control are effortless. Stereo-pair two speakers for even more expansive sound. The result of more than a century of Denon's legendary craftsmanship, the Denon Home 200 blends high-performance audio with an elevated design that complements any space~making it easy to enjoy extraordinary sound anywhere you listen.
Posted by: NAMO
TLDR: Denon's latest attempt to dethrone the king of streaming & their hard work shows.
CONNECTIONS
USB-C
3.5mm Headphone
Bluetooth
Wi-Fi (2.4, 5, 6GHz)
AirPlay 2
USB-C
3.5mm Headphone
Bluetooth
Wi-Fi (2.4, 5, 6GHz)
AirPlay 2
PROS
Excellent iOS & Android support
Huge, spacious sound
Trouble-free set-up
Smart Assistant Compatible
Excellent iOS & Android support
Huge, spacious sound
Trouble-free set-up
Smart Assistant Compatible
CONS
Cannot stream directly from Amazon Music app to the Home 200 with Android
Limited music app functionality within Heos
Cannot stream directly from Amazon Music app to the Home 200 with Android
Limited music app functionality within Heos
INITIAL SET-UP
I'll admit it's been a while since I've given Heos a go. I had some of Denon's first generation Heos speakers when they hit the market. I had such high hopes. They sounded great and performed well, but Denon's primary competitor was already well established in the market and everything revolved around their products. So much so, that I eventually abandoned the Heos ecosystem and switched over. There was just too much left wanting that was not fully baked into the Heos ecosystem yet, not enough products, not enough infrastructure.
I'll admit it's been a while since I've given Heos a go. I had some of Denon's first generation Heos speakers when they hit the market. I had such high hopes. They sounded great and performed well, but Denon's primary competitor was already well established in the market and everything revolved around their products. So much so, that I eventually abandoned the Heos ecosystem and switched over. There was just too much left wanting that was not fully baked into the Heos ecosystem yet, not enough products, not enough infrastructure.
Fast forward many, many years now and Denon has grown and refined the Heos ecosystem both in terms of available products and app compatibility, support, and development. Denon deserves props for making sure their apps are squared away prior to introducing a new product to the market. The Heos app is very user-friendly and setting up a Home 200 for the first time was stress and drama free. Kudos Denon. Unlike some of your competitors, the Heos app walked me through your new Home 200 series speaker set-up without error.
Same kudos to your firmware. Upon initial set-up, like nearly 99% of the products after launch, there was a mandatory firmware update waiting for the 200. I am happy to report that the 200 downloaded, installed, and re-connected to the app and network without error or issue. I can't stress how uncommon this seems to be recently and Denon gets props from me for their efforts. Another firmware popped up today for the 200. Any issues? None. Great work!
SOUND
How does the Denon Home 200 sound? There is no other way to say it. There is no way a speaker this size should sound so big, open, and spacious. The 200 seems to defy the laws of physics. The 200 combines a 4" woofer with 2 angled high-frequency tweeters. Together, along with Denon's Atmos processing makes the little 200 sound unbelievably full and spacious from just a single, small package. I routinely found myself surprised while streaming Atmos-enabled audio, at just how enveloping the sound was.
How does the Denon Home 200 sound? There is no other way to say it. There is no way a speaker this size should sound so big, open, and spacious. The 200 seems to defy the laws of physics. The 200 combines a 4" woofer with 2 angled high-frequency tweeters. Together, along with Denon's Atmos processing makes the little 200 sound unbelievably full and spacious from just a single, small package. I routinely found myself surprised while streaming Atmos-enabled audio, at just how enveloping the sound was.
EXPANSION
The additional driver in the Home 200 makes for a totally different experience compared to last generation. The added channel separation and makes for a tremendously wider soundstage compared to its predecessor. While the Home 200 will happily play and stand on its own, one must not forget that it is part of a larger Heos ecosystem. The 200 can be paired with an additional 200 to expand the already impressive soundstage and used as a set of stereo Left & Right speakers, or it can be used as a surround speaker set when paired with a Heos soundbar. My how far wireless technology has come over the years. This was something unheard of 5 years ago.
The additional driver in the Home 200 makes for a totally different experience compared to last generation. The added channel separation and makes for a tremendously wider soundstage compared to its predecessor. While the Home 200 will happily play and stand on its own, one must not forget that it is part of a larger Heos ecosystem. The 200 can be paired with an additional 200 to expand the already impressive soundstage and used as a set of stereo Left & Right speakers, or it can be used as a surround speaker set when paired with a Heos soundbar. My how far wireless technology has come over the years. This was something unheard of 5 years ago.
CONS
The biggest drawback for me is the Heos app. For me, my music service of choice is Amazon Music. As a primarily Android user, I don't like the fact that I can't select the Home 200 as a destination in the Amazon Music app without the addition of the Heos app. Not that I dislike the Heos app, it's just that gives you more of an Amazon Music Lite experience and loses some of the Amazon app's functionality. Not a deal breaker by any means, and honestly the Heos app is just as good as its competitor after their much-maligned app redesign.
The biggest drawback for me is the Heos app. For me, my music service of choice is Amazon Music. As a primarily Android user, I don't like the fact that I can't select the Home 200 as a destination in the Amazon Music app without the addition of the Heos app. Not that I dislike the Heos app, it's just that gives you more of an Amazon Music Lite experience and loses some of the Amazon app's functionality. Not a deal breaker by any means, and honestly the Heos app is just as good as its competitor after their much-maligned app redesign.
Could I offset some of my gripe by streaming to the 200 via Bluetooth? Yes. Definitely. Unfortunately, that also negates the ability to stream high-resolution audio to the device, as Bluetooth is a very lossy transport protocol. Denon's primary competitor is the same way, or was the last time I used their products and app.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Do I like the Home 200? ABSOLUTELY. The sound from a speaker, not as big as a 2L of soda, is huge. Mids and highs are clear and intelligible, and for only having a 4" driver to work with, bass is actually decent. By Denon adding an additional tweeter and applying the Atmos processing, it makes the little 200 sound much bigger and room filling than it actually is. The more I listen to the 200, the more impressed I am with it. So much so, that when I compare it back-to-back with the Home 400, I am much more impressed by what the little 200 offers compared to its bigger brother.
Do I like the Home 200? ABSOLUTELY. The sound from a speaker, not as big as a 2L of soda, is huge. Mids and highs are clear and intelligible, and for only having a 4" driver to work with, bass is actually decent. By Denon adding an additional tweeter and applying the Atmos processing, it makes the little 200 sound much bigger and room filling than it actually is. The more I listen to the 200, the more impressed I am with it. So much so, that when I compare it back-to-back with the Home 400, I am much more impressed by what the little 200 offers compared to its bigger brother.
The Heos app and ecosystem now have a robust assortment of products and has excellent app integration. If you are like me and haven't given the Heos products and the Heos ecosystem a try in a number of years, Denon deserves a second look. Their newest line of products has more than won me back.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
I would recommend this to a friend!
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This is a Gaming Headset for PC/XB/PS. Experience the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Omni—the ultimate universal gaming and entertainment headset. Experience true Hi Res 96kHz/24 bit wireless audio over 2.4GHz and Bluetooth LE, with OmniPlay letting you connect up to five devices and mix up to four audio sources at once. Enjoy simultaneous PC and console audio unique to SteelSeries, and broadcast quality voice with the ClearCast Pro high bandwidth omnidirectional microphone with advanced AI noise rejection built-in. Hybrid ANC and Transparency Mode keep you in control, while dual hot swap batteries deliver uninterrupted play. Fine tune everything instantly using the Arctis Mobile App, GG/Sonar PC Software, or the GameHub’s OLED display. One headset for all your systems, all at once.
Customer Rating
3
Poorly Designed App / Poor ANC / Avg Sound Quality
on April 27, 2026
Posted by: NAMO
TLDR: Supports multiple simultaneous connections, but below average noise cancellation mar otherwise good audio reproduction.
PROS
Supports Hi-Res Audio
Up to 4 Device Simultaneous Connectivity
True Line In / Line Out Connections
Intuitive Scroll Wheel & OLED Display
Hot Swappable 2 battery set-up
Supports Hi-Res Audio
Up to 4 Device Simultaneous Connectivity
True Line In / Line Out Connections
Intuitive Scroll Wheel & OLED Display
Hot Swappable 2 battery set-up
CONS
Sloppy Manual Documentation
Extremely poor ANC performance
Sloppy Manual Documentation
Extremely poor ANC performance
APP & SET-UP
The SteelSeries GG app makes it easy for gamers to capture their game play and audio. Honestly, I find it the easiest software to date to allow for game captures, providing easy to understand settings and options for game play. The GG app will automatically scan for games and depending on the game, will automatically capture in-game clips based on pre-defined criteria. Take Black Ops 7 for instance. The GG app can automatically save clips of any headshot, any long shot, and any triple kill or more. That's just an example and the criteria will vary by game with some games supporting more options than others. But I think its great for content uploaders and makes capturing moments easy without a ton of editing and searching.
The SteelSeries GG app makes it easy for gamers to capture their game play and audio. Honestly, I find it the easiest software to date to allow for game captures, providing easy to understand settings and options for game play. The GG app will automatically scan for games and depending on the game, will automatically capture in-game clips based on pre-defined criteria. Take Black Ops 7 for instance. The GG app can automatically save clips of any headshot, any long shot, and any triple kill or more. That's just an example and the criteria will vary by game with some games supporting more options than others. But I think its great for content uploaders and makes capturing moments easy without a ton of editing and searching.
AUDIO PERFORMANCE & ANC
Once I figured out that you have to manually adjust audio settings on the Base Station, I was able to get the audio pleasing enough. Steel claims audio reproduction capabilities of 10 - 40000Hz. Far beyond the ability of human hearing. Those are very good specs, but I think are very optimistic. The 40mm drivers will only go so deep, it just physics. To be fair they do a very admirable job of reproducing crisp, clean audio especially when using high resolution sources like Amazon Music. I have no complaints about the Nova Pro's mids and highs. They are comfortably open with just enough airiness to keep the audio from feeling overly compressed. Its a pleasing spaciousness.
Once I figured out that you have to manually adjust audio settings on the Base Station, I was able to get the audio pleasing enough. Steel claims audio reproduction capabilities of 10 - 40000Hz. Far beyond the ability of human hearing. Those are very good specs, but I think are very optimistic. The 40mm drivers will only go so deep, it just physics. To be fair they do a very admirable job of reproducing crisp, clean audio especially when using high resolution sources like Amazon Music. I have no complaints about the Nova Pro's mids and highs. They are comfortably open with just enough airiness to keep the audio from feeling overly compressed. Its a pleasing spaciousness.
One thing that I can't speak highly of is the Active Noise Cancellation. I find its performance is sub-par compared to the competition. If you look at the SteelSeries website they talk about how they tuned their ANC against hair dryers and jet engines. If so, I think it may be the only thing they tuned their ANC against. The Nova Pros don't effectively eliminate outside speech or other ambient sounds. I tried all the settings in the Base Station. ANC Low, ANC Med, ANC High, Transparency On, Transparency Off. A TV in the same room, playing at a volume level of 3 (just barely audible & my go-to test environment for ANC products), isn't effectively drowned out, regardless of the Nova's settings. The Nova Pros have some of the least capable ANC capabilities of all my headphones, even being bested by some that have no ANC technology built-in. Voices, keystrokes, etc. aren't effectively drowned out.
GAMING PERFORMANCE
The Nova Pro Omni's gaming performance is decent. The Omni's offer 360-degree audio processing and Steel has a TON of built-in EQ settings for game play. It makes it extremely easy to get the Omni's tailored for best performance during game play. Find your game of choice and a simple point-and-click get the Nova's configured for what Steel feels is best for said game. It works well and most games are spot on, but I feel that the overall changes between games are minimal.
The Nova Pro Omni's gaming performance is decent. The Omni's offer 360-degree audio processing and Steel has a TON of built-in EQ settings for game play. It makes it extremely easy to get the Omni's tailored for best performance during game play. Find your game of choice and a simple point-and-click get the Nova's configured for what Steel feels is best for said game. It works well and most games are spot on, but I feel that the overall changes between games are minimal.
The same with Sonar. It is Steel's approach to allowing the headphones to pinpoint footsteps, gunshots, etc. It works well, but is nothing special that the competitors don't already do with their products and software. I do find the 2.4GHz responsiveness very good with minimal, if any lag or hiccups. Even when using other 2.4GHz transmitters, I haven't experienced any hiccups or interference during gameplay. But like I said above, there is just too much ambient noise that is allowed through during quiet passages.
BASE STATION
The Base Station is a nice piece. It has a lot of things to like. It accepts 2 different USB-C sources, plus Bluetooth. It also has genuine line-out and line-in connections for direct connection to sources and destinations that support 3.5mm inputs and outputs. A fantastic addition for those with powered speakers. It makes for a great way to play high resolution audio to those said speakers. Great job Steel!
The Base Station is a nice piece. It has a lot of things to like. It accepts 2 different USB-C sources, plus Bluetooth. It also has genuine line-out and line-in connections for direct connection to sources and destinations that support 3.5mm inputs and outputs. A fantastic addition for those with powered speakers. It makes for a great way to play high resolution audio to those said speakers. Great job Steel!
The monochrome OLED display is generously sized and extremely easy to read. Having just a jog wheel and what equates to a back button, makes changes and navigation extremely easy. Steel also deserves kudos for making the entire package USB powered. No additional power connections are required!!! Major, major props Steel!! Not only is the Base Station powered via USB, but there is also enough overhead to allow for charging of the Nova's back-up battery as well. Outstanding!! I find charging times slow, but not objectionably slow. The Base Station is a nice, tidy package and Steel has put a lot of effort and design into it & should be recognized for their efforts.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Do I like the Nova Pros audio quality? They are average. Would I buy them for myself or recommend them? No. The Nova Pro Omni represents Steel's best offering in the premium headphone market. However, it falls far short of the competition. The app has limited functionality with the Nova Pros. Users can't make the same changes to the headphones and the Base Station from within the app, that they can make on the front panel of the Base Station. This forces users to bounce back and forth between the app and the Base Station to dial in the system.
Do I like the Nova Pros audio quality? They are average. Would I buy them for myself or recommend them? No. The Nova Pro Omni represents Steel's best offering in the premium headphone market. However, it falls far short of the competition. The app has limited functionality with the Nova Pros. Users can't make the same changes to the headphones and the Base Station from within the app, that they can make on the front panel of the Base Station. This forces users to bounce back and forth between the app and the Base Station to dial in the system.
Secondly. The ANC is subpar compared to competing products. As I stated above, it cannot effectively overcome ambient noises. Transparency modes make little difference and upping the ANC aggressiveness really only seems to add more digital hiss than anything.
For me, the Arctis Nova Pro Omni's are a no-go. There is just too much left on the table that Steel's competitors don't do leaps and bounds better, particularly in the noise cancellation department.
NOT RECOMMENDED
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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-6points
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Flip your day, your way. More than just a laptop~it~s your all-day, anywhere companion with 4 flexible modes. Power and performance for AI acceleration, it keeps pace with your most creative ideas and demanding workloads. With fast charging and a design that~s both sleek and durable, the OmniBook X Flip moves as effortlessly~and stylishly~as you do.
Customer Rating
5
Long Battery Life / Excellent Speed & Thermals
on April 26, 2026
Posted by: NAMO
TLDR: Beautiful screen, premium feel, cool and composed. An excellent 2-in-1.
PORTS
HDMI 2.1 x 1
USB-C x 2 (Thunderbolt 4)
USB-A x 2
3.5mm Headphone x 1
HDMI 2.1 x 1
USB-C x 2 (Thunderbolt 4)
USB-A x 2
3.5mm Headphone x 1
KEY SPECS
Intel Ultra 7 355 - 8 Cores (4Performance, 4 Ultra Low Power)
16GB LPDDR5X RAM
1TB NVMe SSD (Gen 4 speed)
1920 x 1200 OLED Display HDR 300 nits
MediaTek MT7925 Wi-Fi 7 / Bluetooth Adapter
Intel Ultra 7 355 - 8 Cores (4Performance, 4 Ultra Low Power)
16GB LPDDR5X RAM
1TB NVMe SSD (Gen 4 speed)
1920 x 1200 OLED Display HDR 300 nits
MediaTek MT7925 Wi-Fi 7 / Bluetooth Adapter
PROS
Excellent Battery Life
Cool & Quiet even during benchmarking
Gorgeous OLED display
Backlit Keyboard
Excellent Battery Life
Cool & Quiet even during benchmarking
Gorgeous OLED display
Backlit Keyboard
CONS
Not 4k
Pre-Installed Bloatware
Hidden HP Analytics
Not 4k
Pre-Installed Bloatware
Hidden HP Analytics
SET-UP
Every HP computer I've been lucky enough to review always comes with too much bloatware pre-installed. Frustrating and annoying. This Omnibook is no exception. It comes loaded up with multiple "offers" as well as McAfee Anti-Virus and tons of HP pre-installed analytics, telemetry, and diagnostics software. Too much really. Thankfully, once activated, Microsoft makes it easy to reach out and download a clean, unadulterated version of Windows 11 via the Media Creation Tool. After successful set-up and some use, that is exactly what I did. Why? Because McAfee just seemed to bog the system down too much and with Windows Defender now included with Windows 11, the need for a dedicated antivirus program is mostly unnecessary.
Every HP computer I've been lucky enough to review always comes with too much bloatware pre-installed. Frustrating and annoying. This Omnibook is no exception. It comes loaded up with multiple "offers" as well as McAfee Anti-Virus and tons of HP pre-installed analytics, telemetry, and diagnostics software. Too much really. Thankfully, once activated, Microsoft makes it easy to reach out and download a clean, unadulterated version of Windows 11 via the Media Creation Tool. After successful set-up and some use, that is exactly what I did. Why? Because McAfee just seemed to bog the system down too much and with Windows Defender now included with Windows 11, the need for a dedicated antivirus program is mostly unnecessary.
BATTERY LIFE
It's hard to find fault with the Omnibook X for daily use. Battery life is exceptional. It easily lasts a full workday and maybe a bit more. I am at 88% right now and my estimated battery life is still over 5 hours. One thing that really goes a long way in increasing battery life is the excellent thermal characteristics of the Omnibook design combined with the efficiency of Intel's latest Ultra 7 processor. The Omnibook rarely breaks a sweat for anything but the most demanding tasks. Unlike most of my other laptops, the Omnibook rarely needs its cooling fan. That is a HUGE win for battery life. Watching motorcycle videos on YouTube, surfing, email, etc. it runs cool and quiet. If, for some reason, the laptop does ask for cooling, the fan is pleasantly quiet. One of the quietest fans of any laptop I've used to date. Even when I was stressing the laptop, getting benchmarks scores, the fan was never loud or obnoxious.
It's hard to find fault with the Omnibook X for daily use. Battery life is exceptional. It easily lasts a full workday and maybe a bit more. I am at 88% right now and my estimated battery life is still over 5 hours. One thing that really goes a long way in increasing battery life is the excellent thermal characteristics of the Omnibook design combined with the efficiency of Intel's latest Ultra 7 processor. The Omnibook rarely breaks a sweat for anything but the most demanding tasks. Unlike most of my other laptops, the Omnibook rarely needs its cooling fan. That is a HUGE win for battery life. Watching motorcycle videos on YouTube, surfing, email, etc. it runs cool and quiet. If, for some reason, the laptop does ask for cooling, the fan is pleasantly quiet. One of the quietest fans of any laptop I've used to date. Even when I was stressing the laptop, getting benchmarks scores, the fan was never loud or obnoxious.
SCREEN
There isn't much to dislike about the OLED goodness. Colors are rich, vibrant, and saturated. If I were to nit-pick, there are a couple of things that I have to mention about the screen. One, it isn't 4k. Second, peak brightness is limited to a maximum of 300 nits. Third, overall color accuracy is a bit off and not as precise as some of its competitors. The same negatives can also be positives as well. For instance, less pixels and limited brightness go a LONG way to overall battery life. More pixels require more power. Lastly, even though overall color accuracy isn't as good as its rivals, you would be hard pressed to tell without having a colorimeter to spoil it.
There isn't much to dislike about the OLED goodness. Colors are rich, vibrant, and saturated. If I were to nit-pick, there are a couple of things that I have to mention about the screen. One, it isn't 4k. Second, peak brightness is limited to a maximum of 300 nits. Third, overall color accuracy is a bit off and not as precise as some of its competitors. The same negatives can also be positives as well. For instance, less pixels and limited brightness go a LONG way to overall battery life. More pixels require more power. Lastly, even though overall color accuracy isn't as good as its rivals, you would be hard pressed to tell without having a colorimeter to spoil it.
BLOATWARE
This is really my only true sticking point with Windows-based HP laptops. I dislike their inclusion of so much bloatware. McAfee has gotten better over time, but I still find it a resource hog and like Norton, it becomes so intertwined with your system that you can never seem to really get rid of it all. If you do, your machine never feels right again until you re-image it with a clean Windows install. As you can tell I've had bad experiences with McAfee in the past and refuse to use it to this day.
This is really my only true sticking point with Windows-based HP laptops. I dislike their inclusion of so much bloatware. McAfee has gotten better over time, but I still find it a resource hog and like Norton, it becomes so intertwined with your system that you can never seem to really get rid of it all. If you do, your machine never feels right again until you re-image it with a clean Windows install. As you can tell I've had bad experiences with McAfee in the past and refuse to use it to this day.
HP is a big offender too. I think I counted 11 different programs they have pre-installed. Everything from analytic and diagnostic programs to various telemetry metrics, to their Omen Gaming Hub. It is all truly unnecessary and does nothing but send data back to HP and eat up processor power. Even after a clean install, the software found its way back on to my system. There were 5 more HP analytic programs set for AutoStart. Not cool.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Would I recommend the Omnibook X? Yes, absolutely. It's a great, little everyday laptop / tablet. Did I need to go through all the troubles just to eliminate McAfee and the added HP bloatware? No. Am I glad I did? Yes. This little laptop is a great piece of gear and what I did made it even better. It is quiet and composed. Whether I'm watching videos, the news, checking emails, or just surfing, the Omnibook never seems to sweat. Even when the fan did spin up during benchmarking, it was surprisingly quiet. After I got all my benchmarks ran, it hasn't spun up since. Take this review for instance, I've been working on it for over an hour now and streaming a YouTube video in the background. Still no fan.
Would I recommend the Omnibook X? Yes, absolutely. It's a great, little everyday laptop / tablet. Did I need to go through all the troubles just to eliminate McAfee and the added HP bloatware? No. Am I glad I did? Yes. This little laptop is a great piece of gear and what I did made it even better. It is quiet and composed. Whether I'm watching videos, the news, checking emails, or just surfing, the Omnibook never seems to sweat. Even when the fan did spin up during benchmarking, it was surprisingly quiet. After I got all my benchmarks ran, it hasn't spun up since. Take this review for instance, I've been working on it for over an hour now and streaming a YouTube video in the background. Still no fan.
If you are in the market for a lightweight, reasonably powerful 2-in-1, the Omnibook X should be on your shopping list. With a great screen and excellent battery life, the HP Omnibook X hits a sweet spot of power and performance in a lightweight and attractive package.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
I would recommend this to a friend!
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4of 4voted this as helpful.
NAMO's Review Comments
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HP OMEN Obelisk by HP Desktop: Play graphically intense games with this HP OMEN Obelisk desktop computer. You can easily store large amounts of media and other data on the 1TB hard drive and install games and programs on the 256GB SSD for fast access. This HP OMEN Obelisk desktop computer has 16GB of memory for multitasking effectively, and the Intel Core i7-9700 processor handles resource-intense programs efficiently.
How many cores are there in this pc
8 Cores / 8 Threads. Intel has disabled hyper-threading on its i7 processors.
7 years, 1 month ago
by
NAMO
HP OMEN Obelisk by HP Desktop: Play graphically intense games with this HP OMEN Obelisk desktop computer. You can easily store large amounts of media and other data on the 1TB hard drive and install games and programs on the 256GB SSD for fast access. This HP OMEN Obelisk desktop computer has 16GB of memory for multitasking effectively, and the Intel Core i7-9700 processor handles resource-intense programs efficiently.
The advertisement and stated processor says its a 9th gen i7-9700 however if you click on the pdf information for this computer it states that it is an 8th Gen i7-8700? Also indicates that graphics are onboard and not the GPU?
It is the 9th Generation 9700 processor with an nVidia GTX 1660Ti graphics card. I believe all the Intel processors include onboard graphics.
7 years, 1 month ago
by
NAMO
This Pioneer BDR-XD05S external drive allows you to archive up to 128GB of data on BD-R QL media and up to 100GB of data on BD-R TL media, plus supports DVD and CD formats, so you can burn your favorite movies and music to discs.
can a windows 7 computer boot from this drive ?
You should have no issues as long as your bios supports this feature.
8 years, 11 months ago
by
NAMO
This Pioneer BDR-XD05S external drive allows you to archive up to 128GB of data on BD-R QL media and up to 100GB of data on BD-R TL media, plus supports DVD and CD formats, so you can burn your favorite movies and music to discs.
Is this compatible with a Surface Book?
Mine did not work correctly with a Surface Pro, even with a powered hub. It has worked perfectly with every other computer and/or laptop I've tried it with, though.
8 years, 11 months ago
by
NAMO
Relax and enjoy your favorite films, sporting events or shows on the expansive 65-inch screen of this LG 4K HD TV. Active HDR with Dolby Vision creates an immersive experience with clear images. This LG 4K HD TV features a thin OLED design, giving the television a slender silhouette that doesn't take up much space.
Difference between the 2016 vs 2017 models? Any one what the pros/cons?
From my research, it appears the big differences are that the 2017 models come with LG's latest OS installed (WebOS 3.5 vs WebOS 3.0). LG has also worked some magic on the video processing too. They are now able to get more detail in the very darkest portions of an image, where the 2016 models would sign off on the darkest details earlier & just represent them as total black. Lastly, they able to tweak the light output on the panels to improve overall brightness, which was a common complaint of the 2016 models that were installed in fairly bright rooms from what I have heard.
Thanks. Hope this helps.
Thanks. Hope this helps.
9 years, 1 month ago
by
NAMO
Relax and enjoy your favorite films, sporting events or shows on the expansive 65-inch screen of this LG 4K HD TV. Active HDR with Dolby Vision creates an immersive experience with clear images. This LG 4K HD TV features a thin OLED design, giving the television a slender silhouette that doesn't take up much space.
When is bestbuy going to sell the LG B7 65 inch model?
I don't think they will. It is my understanding that the B7 is identical to the C7, but intended for Costco and/or Sam's only.
9 years, 1 month ago
by
NAMO