Month: April 2020

In a bit of a shocking move, HP has decided to make its upcoming Chromebook-focused virtual event into a public affair, issuing not only an open invite for anyone to attend, but also a sign up form to get a feel for the number of attendees expected for the event. From what we can tell at this point, the form entry isn’t required to watch the event, but by filling it out I’d assume you’ll get a followup email to confirm the details of the event before things go live on May 5th at 10AM PST.

While we will be getting the scoop on all this a few days prior, it is an interesting play by HP who, by and large, don’t hold these types of events on a regular basis for any of their products. As a matter of fact, as long as we’ve been covering Chromebooks, there’s never been any sort of public-facing device reveals for Chrome OS hardware. We’ve had a couple press-only virtual events, but that is about it. While I expect companies like Apple, OnePlus, Google, and Samsung to figure out ways to deliver their normal keynote events in an all-digital manner, it’s great to see HP dive in and do the same even though we didn’t really expect it at all.

Even more interesting is the fact that this event looks to be squarely for the new Chromebook Enterprise offerings. I could see HP putting together a whole event to unveil a bunch of stuff while including a few new Chromebooks, but to do all this for only Chromebooks? That’s a bit new to us as well.

Whether you sign up or not, we’ll be sharing the details of the event – mainly the link for your watching pleasure – at a later date when we have them. More importantly, we wanted to share with you the first look at one of the new devices HP is ready to unveil to the world as ‘The Chromebook of the Future.” That’s a bold statement and from what we can gather, this will likely be one of the ‘Hatch’-based Chromebooks like the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook and the ASUS Flip C436. That means all the goodies are on the table like fingerprint scanner, Bluetooth 5, WiFi 6, NVMe storage, and 10th-gen Intel processors.

Behold, our first look at HP’s latest, greatest Chromebook. This image is directly pulled from the sign-up form for the event we mentioned above. There are a few observations we can make quite quickly. First, this is what appears to be a very thin convertible. Second, pen support looks to be on board as well. Third, the bezels on all sides are very thin, giving the device a very futuristic look. Finally, it would appear this device will be a 16:10 or 3:2 device, making the tablet orientation a bit more tablet-like and less ridiculous when held vertically.

From some of the language in the emails we’re seeing about this event, we’re expecting more than one device to be debuted, but we don’t have those firm details just yet. My guess is we could see a convertible and clamshell device, but likely no tablets. This event looks to be focused towards the enterprise end of the market, so it will be interesting to see how HP targets these new Chromebooks both from a marketing and price point angle. Their last big enterprise effort – the HP x360 14 G1 – was basically a regurgitation of the well-liked x360 14, but did little to justify the massive price hike. I sincerely hope HP doesn’t make that mistake again and gets back to delivering cutting-edge Chromebook experiences like the HP Chromebook 13 G1 did in its day.

We’ll get more info about where to check out the event in the coming days, but if you think you’d like to attend live, make sure and fill out the form and let them know Chrome Unboxed sent you.

Lenovo’s Yoga C630, which we reviewed late 2018, got high marks for its convertible design, excellent battery life, and LTE connectivity. It was an ARM-based device running on a Snapdragon 850 processor (CPU) and 8GB of RAM, which at the time made it rather powerful in this category of devices. It was compared as a cheaper alternative to the Samsung Galaxy Book2, another hot ARM-based device at the time.

Lenovo has refreshed the C630 with the C640 I’ve been using for the last week. Instead of running on ARM, it has moved to 10th Gen Intel Core “Comet Lake” CPUs. Also gone, unfortunately, is LTE connectivity for staying in touch with cellular data instead of Wi-Fi. A lot has otherwise remained the same with a few tweaks here and there. Is it still worth the bargain price?

Lenovo Yoga C640 at a glance

Lenovo supplied Windows Central with a review unit of the Yoga C640, with 10th Gen Intel “Comet Lake” Core i3-10110U CPU with two cores and a turbo frequency up to 4.1GHz. Backing up the CPU is 8GB of DDR4-2400MHz RAM that is soldered to the board (no option for upgrades) and a 128GB M.2 PCIe solid-state drive (SSD). It uses a small 2242 M.2 format that can be upgraded, but not to something larger like the 2280 size.

This is the baseline model that Lenovo has to offer, starting at about $630. That’s a stellar price even for the relatively low-end hardware inside, as we will see when it comes to features and build quality.

Lenovo allows you to customize the Yoga C640 to your liking at checkout, currently offering up to a 512GB SSD and 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10510U CPU. This high-end model tops out at about $910 before any of the frequent Lenovo coupons and sales.

What I love about Lenovo’s Yoga C640

Compared to the Yoga C630, the C640 is a bit thicker at 0.67 inches (16.95mm) compared to 0.49 inches (12.5mm). It’s also heavier at 2.98 pounds (1.35kg) compared to 2.65 pounds (1.2kg). However, thanks to the chin bezel being shrunk down to better fit the 16:9 display, the laptop isn’t quite as deep. That means the palm rests are about a half-inch less spacious, but I didn’t find it to be an issue when typing.

Whereas the Yoga C630’s lid was aluminum and base was magnesium alloy, the C640 employs an aluminum lid and PC plastic with a glass fiber blend for the base. It’s plenty sturdy, and it’s finished with an iron-gray “sandblasted” coating that feels a lot like the soft-touch type Lenovo uses on the ThinkPad lineup. It’s smooth to the touch and overall just a lot more comfortable to hold compared to something like the all-aluminum Yoga C740.

The backlit keyboard stretches from edge to edge, leaving just enough space on either side for dual top-firing 2W speakers. Like the C630, audio is still a bit flimsy despite Dolby Atmos. Sound is clear and unmuffled (especially when in notebook mode), but it’s not as deep or full as larger Ultrabooks. Typing is stellar with full-size Shift, Ctrl, Tab, and Backspace keys. There’s plenty of key travel despite the thin chassis, and keys are spaced appropriately. The only thing to note is that the up and down arrow keys are compressed into the size of a single regular key.

Just below the keyboard is a fingerprint reader embedded into the palm rest. It works with Windows Hello for extra security. Lenovo’s trend of putting an unobtrusive webcam shutter into its laptops continues here. The 720p camera is nothing miraculous but gets the job done for video conferencing, something especially important while many people are working from home. The Precision glass touchpad is sized appropriately for the device and tracks perfectly.

The C640 is perfectly sized to be a convertible that can convert into tent, stand, and tablet modes. It’s not too heavy or thick to be held as a tablet, and the narrow bezel that remains prevents accidental touches. The power button has been repositioned and set into the chassis edge to prevent unwanted presses when the tablet is held in two hands. You can add Lenovo’s Active Pen 2 for about $70; the review unit didn’t include one so I can’t comment on how well it inks. However, the pen offers 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity and two customizable buttons.

The touch display is rather basic with only an FHD option, but that’s sort of expected at this price. It is considered “anti-glare” to help with the glossy finish, but at a maximum 305-nits brightness, there are still some issues with working in a sunlit room. I had brightness cranked up above 85% when working during the day. It does lower down to just 2.9 nits brightness, though, making it ideal for late-night viewing even without Windows 10’s night light feature.

I tested brightness and color with Datacolor’s SpyderX Pro and came away with 100% sRGB, 80% AdobeRGB, and 81% DCI-P3 coverage. It’s a great looking panel despite the average brightness, and it will do the trick for work or media.

I used the Yoga C640 for everyday productivity work for a few days, including word processing, heavy web browsing, video streaming, and email. Even with the low-end Core i3-10110U CPU, it handled everything efficiently. I didn’t get into photo editing or gaming — if those are on your list and you’re firm on this laptop, you’ll want to consider upgrading to a Core i5 or Core i7 version. Even then, something with Intel’s Ice Lake integrated Iris Plus graphics or a dedicated GPU will make a lot more sense.

One of the shining features that have carried over from the Yoga C630 is battery life. The 60Wh battery is rather large for a laptop this size with this level of hardware, and I clocked just less than 14 hours from PCMark10’s Modern Office battery test. That’s slightly less than the 15 hours seen in the C630, but 14 hours is still above average and figures out to about 11 or 12 hours of regular usage. If you’d like to head out in the morning to the office or elsewhere, you won’t have to worry about hauling the (albeit small) AC adapter with you.

What I dislike about Lenovo’s Yoga C640

Other than the middling audio and so-so webcam I already mentioned — both things I can live with — I must talk about port selection. The Yoga C630 featured dual USB-C ports (one reserved for charging) alongside dual USB-A, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a SIM slot. The Yoga C640 has been pared down to just one USB-C, with charging instead of going through a barrel slot. No, you cannot use the USB-C port on the right side for charging. It would have been nice to see the dual USB-C ports make a return here, especially considering how long the battery lasts and the options for alternate connectivity without a charger attached.

Finally, the fan behavior is notable. Even with Lenovo’s Intelligent Cooling feature disabled in the Vantage app, it seemed to kick on and off way too frequently, sometimes spinning up and down 40 times in a minute under low load. With the PC being pressed, it turns on and stays on as it should, which is far less noticeable. At least it’s quiet, so if you’re not in an otherwise silent room, you likely won’t hear it. Still, it’s an issue that should be fixed.

Should you buy Lenovo’s Yoga C640?

The Yoga C640 sits among some tough 13-inch convertible competition, including premium options like the HP Spectre x360 13 and Dell XPS 13 2-in-1. That’s where most people begin their search, and both devices toe the line of being perfect PCs. Despite competitive pricing, however, they’re out of budget range for a lot of people. That’s where a truly budget option like the C640 excels.

It doesn’t quite have all the same magic as the C630 predecessor, but it still nails the basics. Typing and pointing are comfortable, the display is colorful and is inking-compatible, and it’s built to a high standard that’s not always evident with a device at this cost. Lack of LTE is a shame because it helped make the C630 something special for those always on the move. LTE was included in the features when the C640 was first revealed, but it has since gone by the wayside in North America. Lenovo does say it expects LTE is some other regions at some point.

Canon’s RF mirrorless lenses have received lots of praise for pushing optical boundaries and for their great image quality. This great video review takes a look at one of those lenses, the RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM.

Coming to you from Gordon Laing, this excellent video review takes a look at the Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM lens. The 15-35mm f/2.8L comes with two Ultra-Low Dispersion elements for reduced chromatic aberrations, three aspherical elements for reduced spherical aberrations and distortion and improved sharpness, Air-Sphere Coating for reduced flaring and improved contrast, image stabilization of up to five stops, Nano USM for quick and nearly silent autofocus with full-time manual override, a customizable Control Ring, and fluorine coating on the front and rear elements to resist smudges. It also comes with a nine-blade diaphragm for smoother bokeh. Beyond the optical features and improvements, the RF version also comes with an extra millimeter on the wide end over its EF cousin, extending its versatility. Altogether, the RF 15-35mm f/2.8L looks like a fantastic upgrade over its EF predecessor and a great addition for many photographers using Canon’s mirrorless system. Check out the video above for Laing’s full thoughts. 

If you’ve shopped for a graphics card that is small enough to fit inside a mini-ITX case lately, you may have been frustrated with the results—there’s just not a lot of them available. Don’t blame PowerColor (not entirely, anyway). It just released its second mini-ITX graphics card in four months, a Radeon RX 5600 XT.

This newest entry follows the launch of a miniaturized Radeon RX 5700 XT last December. It was reported at the time that it would be exclusive to Japan, and that still seems to be the case.

In contrast, PowerColor’s shortened Radeon RX 5600 XT is listed at Scan for £299.99. A straight conversion puts it at around $372 in US currency. As our friends at Tom’s Hardware note, subtracting VAT puts the cost closer to $300 (which is more in line with regular 5600 XT cards), if and when it launches in the US. I’m guessing it probably will.

The listing doesn’t specify the dimensions. However, it’s not going to be bigger or longer than the ITX version of the 5700 XT, which measures 175mm x 110mm x 40mm (6.89 x 4.33 x 1.57 inches). Like that model, the 5600 XT occupies two PCI Express slots.

One other notable bit about this card is the memory. Though the dimensions are not specified, the listing indicates it ships with 6GB of GDDR6 memory at 14Gbps. 

The 5600 XT launch was a bit of a mess because AMD changed the specs at the last minute, from 12Gbps to 14Gbps memory. This left its hardware partners scrambling to update their designs to validate the new memory, and when possible, issue BIOS updates for existing cards that shipped with the slower memory. Neither of those headaches apply to this card.

What other options are there? I sorted Newegg’s GPU section to only show mini ITX cards and it only came up with just six models. Out of those, only half them showed up as being in stock, and all three were from marketplace sellers with inflated prices. No thanks.

Scan has a few more options, just be sure to check the listings to make sure the card is actually an ITX model (a search for ‘ITX graphics cards’ returned some results that were clearly not ITX). In case you’re not familiar, mini ITX cases are even smaller than micro ATX ones. They’re great if you’re dealing with limited space, they just require more careful component selection.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 is one of the most anticipated phones of 2020, which is why when an image of what appears to be a brand new Note phone was spotted on the South Korean maker’s own website, and that new phone had no notch or pin-hole camera to be seen on its screen, phone enthusiasts the world over got excited.

They got excited as the prospect of a Samsung Galaxy Note 20 smartphone equipped with a futuristic under-screen front-facing camera could of just crept a tiny bit closer.

The mystery Note-style phone is sandwiched between a Galaxy S10+ and Galaxy S20, and while its top-left hand corner of the screen cannot be seen, thereby holding the potential for a tiny pin-hole camera to be tucked away out of sight, the chances of Samsung abandoning its Infinity-O screens and moving the pin-hole from where it was positioned on the Galaxy Note 10 series, bang in centre, seems off.

And it especially seems off considering the mystery Galaxy phone looks so much like a Note phone. You can check out the image (which has now been taken down from the Samsung website) causing all the ruckus below and make up your own mind.

The new Samsung Galaxy phone image was first reported on by SamMobile, with one of the site’s readers spotting it on the Samsung Rewards section of the official Samsung website.

Now, whether the phone is genuine and what we’re looking at here is a teaser image of the Galaxy Note 20 remains unclear. The image is obviously a mock-up of sorts, and Samsung has past form using made-up concept phones in its advertising imagery, so it is definitely worth taking with a grain of salt. And especially so as the design leaks we’ve seen so far show the Note 20 with hardware buttons on the right hand side of the frame, which in this image remains completely clean.

However, there have been rumours that Samsung is working on underscreen camera technology and that it is going to launch a phone with the technology this year, so this image certainly can’t be ruled out entirely. After all, the Note series is Samsung’s technical leader and it would make perfect sense for a new technology of such magnitude to debut on a Note phone.