Month: November 2019

We featured this Chromebook deal a few days ago but I felt that it deserved a second visit for a couple of reasons. The first reason is the price. Walmart knocked $100 off the already inexpensive Core i3 Acer Chromebook 715 but now, you can get if for even less. $279 will score you a 15.6″ Full HD Chromebook with a Core i3 processor, 4GB of RAM and a whopping 128GB of storage. This model also happens to be one of the first on the market to include a built-in numeric keypad.

The chassis of this Chromebook is solid with what feels like an all-aluminum build and overall, it just feels premium. However, there are a couple of things you should know before you pull the trigger on this one. The stock photos on Walmart’s website show the 715 model that’s equipped with a fingerprint sensor. This version DOES NOT have biometrics. Not a huge deal for most users. Besides, the specs on the Chromebook listing don’t state that it has the sensor.

Now for the bigger caveat about this Chromebook. I received an email from one of our regular readers who had purchased this device and he had a concern about one of the features listed on the product. The Backlit Keyboard.

Acer’s website landing page for the Chromebook 715 does say that this feature is optional but Walmart’s listing specifically lists a backlit keyboard. Take that for what it’s worth. Walmart and other resellers generally pull their information from the manufacturer. So, there isn’t much you can do about it.

However, when my Acer Chromebook 715 arrived today and I unboxed it, I lifted the lid to see the usual Intel and Acer stickers on the keyboard deck. Right there, in black and white were the words “Backlit Keyboard.” Again, this Chromebook is hands-down the cheapest Intel Core device you’re going to find anywhere but this is a gross oversight on Acer’s part. We love all the peeps over at Acer but we’re hoping that they will address this one quickly. Even if it is just a simple notation on Walmart’s listing to point out the mislabeling, something should be done to warn buyers.

That being said, I can still recommend this device for anyone on a budget who wants a powerful Chromebook with a lot of premium features. I just wanted to make sure you know, going in, what you’re going to get. You can find the Acer Chromebook 715 Core i3 at the link below. (I have reached out to Acer and they are currently taking a look at this model and the listing.)

Samsung has unveiled its Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Galaxy Note 10+ ahead of the film’s release on December 20.

The black handset sports the red detailing – which extends to the S Pen – and includes a specially-designed case with a metal badge. It screams Dark Side, and may just lure you over if you have the cash. It drops in the US on December 13 with a price tag of $1,299.99.

The phone is set for release here in the UK at some point, but a date and price has yet to be confirmed. If we work on the assumption of a straight conversion, that puts the cost in the ballpark of £1,000, but it’s likely the price will be bumped up somewhat.

Samsung also dropped an ad to accompany the new colourway, but the actual phone is nowhere to be seen. There is, however, a Chewie dog and a cat intent on turning the kid in the advert to the dark side, so that’s fun.

Fresh benchmarks for Intel’s 10th-Generation Comet Lake-S (CML-S) processors have started to appeared in the Geekbench 4 database. The results reveal the chips’ core counts, L2 and L3 cache, as well as the preliminary base and boost clocks. But as always, it’s wise to take these with a some grains of salt, since they are submissions of unreleased hardware.

As a quick refresher, Comet Lake-S will replace Intel’s current Coffee Lake Refresh lineup. The upcoming Comet Lake-S chips continue to hail from Intel’s 14nm process node. However, they’re likely to be based on an improved 14nm+++ process. Comet Lake-S is also expected to bring higher core counts and more cache.

Starting with what we assume is the flagship part, the unidentified Comet Lake-S processor will apparently come rocking 10 cores and 20 threads. It seemingly has 640KB of L1 cache, 2.5MB of L2 cache and 20MB of L3 cache. Geekbench 4 lists the processor with a 1.51 GHz base clock and 3.19 GHz boost clock.

The other unknown Comet Lake-S part is said to sport six cores and 12 threads, plus 384KB of L1 cache, 1.5MB of L2 cache and 12MB of L3 cache. Geekbench 4 identified the chip as having a 1.99 GHz base clock and 2.89 GHz boost clock.

According to Geekbench 4’s report, both Comet Lake-S processors are equipped with Intel’s UHD Graphics 630, which is the same iGPU (integrated graphics processing unit) that debuted with the chipmaker’s Coffee Lake family. It’s perplexing that Geekbench 4 only detects 23 EUs (execution units) for both Comet Lake-S parts when the UHD Graphics 630 is known to offer up to 24 EUs. When it comes to speeds, the 10-core chip’s iGPU is clocked at 1.2 GHz, while the six-core is confined to 1.15 GHz.

AMD has already landed the first blow with its third-generation Ryzen desktop processors that maxes out at 16 cores with the AMD Ryzen 9 3950X. Obviously, Intel would be at a disadvantage core-wise if Comet Lake-S arrives topping out at just 10 cores, as rumored. So, It’ll be interesting to see how Intel ends up responding. 

Nvidia recently shook up the graphics card market with its line of Super RTX and GTX cards, and now it appears the company may be preparing to deliver that same performance boost to the mobile computing market. Mobile Max-Q versions of Nvidia’s GTX 1650 Super up through the RTX 2080 Super have shown in a leak from NotebookCheck translated and shared by Hothardware .

The refresh is expect in March 2020, and the leaked graphics cards are believed to be the following:

Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q with 8GB GDDR6 (80W TDP)

Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q with 8GB GDDR6 (80W TDP)

Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Super Max-Q with 8GB GDDR6 (80W TDP)

Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super Max-Q with 4GB GDDR6 (35W TDP)

Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Super Max-Q with 4GB GDDR6 (35W TDP)

When the first Super RTX graphics cards launched, they boosted the performance of existing cards. But, they didn’t quite manage to outshine what AMD had done with the introduction of the Radeon RX 5700 on a price-to-performance level. AMD’s high performance, value, and efficiency thanks to its 7-nanometer architecture helped it get an edge, even if it’s not competing at the highest-end.

A mobile battle

Now, AMD is geared to gain even more ground in the mobile space with the Radeon RX 5500M. That’s where Nvidia’s new graphics processors could come in to keep its footing.

These new Super Max-Q graphics processors would effectively take all the recent GPU offerings from Nvidia (excluding the MX models) and upgrade them for better performance. And, that comes at a time when we’re seeing more machines that can use the extra performance, like the Asus gaming laptop with a 300Hz display.

AMD’s RX 5500M may be a strong low-to-mid-range options, but it’s just that. As of yet, AMD doesn’t have the anticipated RX 5300M or RX 5700M available in laptops to round out its performance options.

Nvidia’s launch of Super Max-Q GPUs in early 2020 could help it cement its dominance in the mobile gaming space, making it harder for AMD to break in even if its Navi mobile GPUs are competitive.

Nostalgia is a hell of a drug, and one that multimillion-dollar tech companies take advantage of all the time. From Netflix listings that are stuffed full of remakes to the retro consoles that line store shelves for Christmas, it’s hard not to approach this reboot culture without some cynicism. That is why the unveiling of the new Motorola Razr initially filled us with equal parts glee and trepidation.

As one of the most iconic phones in history (and one we used with pride and joy), it’s impossible not to fall for the hype, without the fear of getting hurt. With a folding screen magically crammed into the classic Razr design, however, the new Razr appears to be everything a gadget fan could wish for and more. Having been lucky enough to get our hands on one in the flesh, we’re happy to report that our ticket for the hype train appears to be very much justified.

Old dog, mind-blowing tricks

When closed, the Razr is essentially a wider version of the original, with the shape, chin and stealth black paint job all present and accounted for. It even sports the same 14mm thickness when closed too.

The most noticeable difference is a large external screen (more on that later), but on the whole, it feels simultaneously both wonderfully familiar and refreshingly novel. Open it up, though, and something truly special happens.

Hidden within the sleek black clamshell is a 6.2-inch plastic OLED display, which inexplicably manages to smoothly unfold and reveal its full glory when the Razr is flipped open. Motorola invested an incredible amount of research into the new Razr’s hinge, which is the secret sauce behind the display’s contortion skills.

We won’t dive into the details too much, but it’s essentially comprised of moving plates, allowing the screen to fold back into itself at the joint and form a bell shape. This not only protects the screen from creasing when folding, but it also means that there are zero gaps when the Razr is shut, completely protecting the screen from dust and debris.

When fully open, the hinge also forces the screen to remain completely rigid and flat, providing the same experience you’d find on any other regular smartphone. Unlike Samsung’s Galaxy Fold, there’s also no noticeable crease to distract you, which is a big win for the Moto camp.

Speaking of the Fold, Motorola stated that it tested out various prototypes, including handsets that followed the Fold’s regular-to-big screen philosophy. It finally opted for the current design – namely, a regular smartphone that folds down to half the size. This wasn’t, apparently, purely an excuse to revive the Razr for the sake of it. Rather, this form factor is aimed at people who want a more pocketable, easier-to-handle smartphone experience.

Specced for purpose

We’re not ones to dive into clock speeds and benchmarks, but at €1,599 (around £1,366), you’ll probably want to know what you’re getting for your pile of cash. The answer is a single 16MP camera, a mid-range processor and a 2,510mAh battery.

Camera aside, those specs don’t inspire much, but Motorola is adamant that every single component was carefully chosen with design in mind. The processor, it believes, is more than fast enough to deal with everything you’ll throw at it while being very power efficient. Given the smaller-than-average battery, we can only hope the claim of all-day battery life proves to be true.

Beyond that, though, Motorola believes that the Razr will inherently change the way you use your phone. The external display allows you to read notifications and reply to messages and emails, control music and use the Google Assistant, all without having to flip your power-hungry screen open.

Not only that, but we’re also told that this quick-fire use of the external display also means you’ll be less tempted to fire open full apps and get lost in a thumb-scrolling black hole. The cynics among us might label this as an excuse for the small battery, but we can also see how Motorola’s philosophy could work.

Call it a comeback

Motorola hasn’t exactly lit the phone world ablaze for a long time, but the Razr could change that. While its ludicrously high price tag will make it more of an exclusive luxury for early adopters to start with, the Razr is definitely paving the way for a new generation of incredibly exciting tech.

Will it be the phone of choice for spec fiends? Absolutely not, but make no mistake, this is an absolutely wondrous combination of nostalgic design and ingenious engineering and our first impressions have left us with a big goofy smile on our face.

In a world stuffed with identi-slab smartphones, the new Razr is a welcome hurricane of fresh air.