Electronic Devices Reviews

Amazon Echo Dot Review Software   Security Big ears.  With the Amazon Dot, we are looking at the smaller of the two speakers from the US-based retail giant. While the assistant Alexa was very convincing in the test, the power consumption and data security provided reasons for criticism. With its Echo and Echo Dot products Amazon is Google's biggest competitor in terms of speaker and home assistant. We have looked a bit closer at the smaller Echo Dot speaker. Amazon's Echo Dot is not much more than a small speaker with seven microphones. The product first becomes really useful with its assistant, Alexa that analyzes and implements voice commands. As well as allowing the user to place orders in Amazon's shop, it can play music and audio books, provide news and weather forecasts. It is also possible to program appointment reminders and Smart Home components. The product costs approximately 60 Euros (~$50). The benefits and risks of Amazon...

Dell Latitude 5280 (7200U, HD) Laptop Review Notebook   Business   Windows   Kaby Lake Small and strong.  Dell has created a significantly lighter chassis now that the aging E-Port is becoming a thing of the past. The lack of Thunderbolt 3, however, severely limits the docking capabilities of this latest Latitude redesign. Like Lenovo, Dell has been slowly moving away from proprietary docking ports to universal USB Type-C and Thunderbolt 3 solutions on the latest Latitude series of business notebooks. This will inevitably alienate some existing users who have grown accustomed to specialized docks that connect to the bottom of the notebook, but the gains in portability and design from the move are hard to overlook. The latest 12.5-inch Latitude 5280 notebook is an overhaul of the existing E5270 with notable improvements in both size and weight while sacrificing as few features as possible. The lowest-end SKU currently retails for $850 an...

Acer Predator 17 (7700HQ, GTX 1070, UHD) Laptop ReviewFlorian Glaser ,  Gaming   Geforce   Kaby Lake   Notebook   Windows 4K Gaming.  The Acer Predator series stands for classical gaming notebooks, which – in contrast to some of their slim siblings – are purely trimmed for performance. After we tested the Skylake version of the Predator 17 in September of 2016, now the Kaby-Lake model, which is similarly built on the outside, must prove itself. Anyone looking for a powerful high-end notebook that offers more power than a  GeForce GTX 1050 Ti  ( Aspire VX5-591G ) or  GeForce GTX 1060  ( Aspire VN7-593G ) will find it in the Predator series. Starting at 2000 Euros (~$2238), the massive gaming giants are either equipped with a  GeForce GTX 1070  (Predator 17) or the front-runner from Nvidia's Pascal-generation, the  GeForce GTX 1080  ( Predator 17 X ), which promises sufficient performance fo...

Lenovo Legion Y520 15IKBN (7700HQ, FHD, GTX 1050 Ti) Laptop Review Windows   Gaming Subdued, yet capable.  Lenovo’s latest budget gaming notebook may not possess the pomp and showmanship of the Legion Y720, but it still manages reasonably good performance—even in spite of its relatively affordable price tag. We take it for a (lengthy) spin in our full review. Just a couple of weeks ago, we reviewed the new  Lenovo Legion Y720 , which we found to be a terrific contender within the midrange gaming notebook segment. Not only was it well-priced given its specifications, but it was solidly built with predominantly reliable performance during gaming. Still, those looking for an even more affordable option—and not concerned with the flashier aspects of typical gaming rig yore, or 4K display options, or potential VR capabilities—will be pleased to hear that today, we’re evaluating the Y720’s more ordinary, middle-of-the-road sibling, the Y520. Curre...

Samsung Galaxy J5 (2016) Smartphone Review Android   ARM   Smartphone   Touchscreen Metalhead.  Plastic before, metal now: The new edition of the Galaxy J5 aims to make a higher-quality impression. However, the inner values have remained mostly the same. Is that enough for a successful update? Samsung has sent the update of its lower mid-range  Galaxy J5  model to our test lab. The new handset carries the article number SM-J510FN. A dual-SIM version also exists, but we are testing a single-SIM model. Unlike the run-of-the-mill polycarbonate used in the predecessor, this time a metal bezel adds more stability and an elegant touch to the handset. Three colors, a strong battery and a slightly larger screen are further differences compared with the predecessor. The recommended price has also skyrocketed: 279 Euros (~$315) is not exactly a bargain. In this article, we aim to find out whether this is enough to still keep up in the h...

Now here’s the Oppo F1s which has an RRP of just $348 and can already be  had for $335 . The first two things we notice are that it’s really well built and that it comes with a decent, silicon case. The case is very similar to the  Incipio case  we reviewed for the  Samsung Galaxy S7  so that’s another $25 value right there. Not only that but it makes the phone instantly more drop-resistant and easier to hold – very refreshing having been struggling with the delicate-looking and slippery  Note 7  whose lack of bezel makes  basic usage an annoying chore . Key specs 5.5in, 720 x 1280, 267ppi IPS LCD screen, 32,3GB RAM; 1.5GHz Octa-core MediaTek MT6750 CPU plus Mali-T860 MP2 GPU, 16/13MP cameras, Android 5.1 with Color OS 3, 3,075mAh battery, Fingerprint readers, microSD slot (shared), [Edit: removed Dual NanoSIM], 155 x 76 x 7mm, 160g. Handling We’ve been living with this phone for a week and frankly, having tested pretty much every o...

If you're going to pay a premium for  a wireless gaming headset , it should sound great, of course, but it should also be comfortable, work with as many devices as possible and look stylish. The SteelSeries Arctis 7 ($150) achieves all of these aims with flying colors, and at a reasonable price to boot. While you'll have to rely on a few annoying work-arounds to make use of every feature, the Arctis 7 sets the standard for what a wireless gaming headset should be: functional, versatile and practical. Design As you can see in our review of the  SteelSeries Arctis 5 , the appearance of the Arctis 7 is nearly identical. The headset is sleek and sophisticated, with an elegant, streamlined appearance and an absolutely foolproof adjustable headband. Rather than having to monkey around with rigid extendable rods, you just adjust two Velcro straps, and the flexible headband will conform to your head's size and shape. Past that, the Arctis 7 comes in either blac...