Just over 18 months after it was introduced, the 860 QVO is making way for the 870 QVO. The second iteration of Samsung’s popular budget line has upped the ante with the introduction of an 8TB solid state drive, the first time we’ve seen this capacity hit mainstream.
The drive is available in four versions: 1TB ($129.99), 2TB ($249.99), 4TB ($499.99) and finally 8TB ($899.99). It’s worth noting that buying a pair of 2TB SSD costs roughly the same as the 4TB one.
The hardware
The 870 QVO uses Samsung’s second generation 4-bit MLC V-NAND paired with the new MKX controller. The 2TB model we tested today has a 2GB LPDDR4 which is used as DRAM cache memory. The memory size grows proportionally with the SSD capacity. As expected, the device runs on a SATA interface which is somewhat of a disappointment and limits the expected performance of the product.
(Image credit: Future)
Sadly, despite our best efforts, we couldn’t pry the case open to check the motherboard. It’s worth noting that the drive weighs in at 46g which is significantly lighter than the 62g of the 860 QVO. What it means is that the SSD is likely to be mostly empty space with the 2.5-inch enclosure needed for compatibility with existing systems.
The software
The 870 QVO ships with Samsung's latest iteration of its Magician SSD toolbox, a suite of useful applications that allows you to update the drive’s firmware, enable encryption options, monitor the health of the SSD and more. Samsung also offers a Data Migration software, which enables the user to clone over data from an existing drive to the new SSD via a “custom cloning” feature.
Note that the drive also supports a number of security features like AES 256-bit (Full Disk Encryption), TCG/Opal V2.0 and Encrypted Drive (IEEE1667).
Performance
The Samsung SSD 870 QVO is rated at 560MBps and 530MBps respectively on sequential read and write. Samsung caveats the latter number by adding that the numbers are based on its Intelligent TurboWrite technology; the latter is a fixed amount of SLC buffer (42GB in the 1TB model, 78GB on the others).
Benchmarks
Here’s how the Samsung SSD 870 QVO performed in our suite of benchmark tests:
AS SSD: 502.25MBps (seq read); 483.7MBps (seq write)
AJA: 486MBps (read) ; 466MBps (write)
Once the buffer is full or if the SSD has less than a certain amount of free storage, Intelligent TurboWrite will not work and sequential write performance can fall to as low as 80MBps for the 1TB model and 160MBps for the bigger capacities. Random reads and writes (QD1) are rated at 11K IOPS (a 13% improvement on the 860 QVO) and 35K IOPS.
The drive comes with a three year warranty and has an endurance of 0.33 drive writes per per day (that’s 720TB in total) which is similar to the 860 QVO.
As for the benchmarks, no surprise there: the 870 QVO performs admirably for what it is, a SATA-based SSD. It does hit the quoted numbers under CrystalDiskMark with sequential read speeds of 561MBps/530MBps respectively in read/write using our test system (the Chuwi GBox). Numbers for AJA, ATTO and AS SSD benchmarks were equally impressive but bear in mind that this is a fraction of what PCIe NVMe models can achieve.
The competition
There’s two sides to this: First, the 8TB version. Surprisingly, there is competition at this capacity but not from the usual suspects (Sandisk, Seagate, Sabrent or Kioxia). No, the Micron 5210 ION SSD is an enterprise solid state drive which has been around for nearly two years and has, until now, offered some of the cheapest prices per TB prices on high capacity SSD.
At the time of writing, its highest capacity (7.68TB) can be purchased for $879 from Amazon, which is slightly more expensive per TB compared to Samsung’s 8TB model ($114.45 vs $112.50). It is also slower than its rival but has a longer warranty (five years), a far, FAR higher DWPD (drive write per day) at 0.8 and a Total Byte Written that exceeds 1.1PB (that’s Petabyte).
Micron introduced it as a replacement for large 10K RPM hard disk drives that populate data centers and as such is geared towards those use cases. No surprises here that it uses Micron’s own 3D QLC NAND.
The competition at the lower capacity points is even fiercer; At 4TB, Samsung’s own 860 QVO, by no means a slouch, can be had for $449, Sandisk’s Ultra, for $449.99 - in both cases 10% discounts - while WD Blue hits $527.46 but uses TLC rather than QLC. At 1TB and 2TB, Samsung faces more competition and is likely to be at a disadvantage as faster PCIe NVMe models come down in price rapidly.
Final verdict
We are excited about the 8TB version of the Samsung SSD 870 QVO, less so about the others. Given the current trend, we can expect the next generation, probably called the Samsung SSD 880 QVO to reach 16TB in about two years, which would put it on equal footing with hard disk drives, which are currently at this capacity and very unlikely to grow well beyond that over the next 24 months.
For the other storage tiers though, there’s hardly anything worth getting excited about given the small performance gain over the 860 QVO. Performance is in line with what is expected of a SATA drive and we’ve reached a point where a PCIe NVMe drive, which is capable of achieving far better numbers doesn’t cost a lot more than this one (and is likely to use non-QLC parts).
What to say about the Panasonic HZ1500 OLED TV? As a successor to last year’s GZ1500, not too much is different. While the GZ1500 was a trailblazer in its brand-new HCX Pro Intelligent processor, an improved My Home Screen OS, and the introduction of Dolby Atmos audio, the HZ1500 has less to really make it stand out.
That’s not entirely a bad thing: the HZ1500 keeps the same high-quality OLED panel, knockout picture, and overall design philosophy of its predecessor, and there certainly isn’t much, if anything, to improve on. The blacks are deep, the contrast and color accuracy is exceptional, and there’s near-nothing to fault in the images onscreen, which is the most important thing in any TV review.
That said, the few new additions to the HZ1500 this year are still worthy of note. Dolby Vision IQ is a neat feature to adjust calibration based off ambient light in the room – ideal in the middle of summer, when natural light is persistent even when settling in to watch a movie in the evenings. Filmmaker Mode, aimed at restoring ‘what the creator intended’, feels less necessary, given the light touch that Panasonic gives in the processing department anyway.
The lack of HDMI 2.1 – and, even worse, the current lack of Disney Plus – shows that Panasonic wasn’t too worried about staying ahead of the curve, though these issues likely won’t be a huge issue for many.
All in all, it’s clear that the main changes in 2020 are more to do with the OLED TV range as a whole, with a new HZ920 model designed to bring the OLED experience to those with smaller budgets – and is well worth a look if you’re willing to sacrifice the HZ1500’s stellar Dolby Atmos speakers for a more affordable purchase.
Price and availability
The HZ1500 isn’t the cheapest Panasonic OLED in 2020, but it isn’t the most expensive, either. You’ll find this set in 55-inch and 65-inch sizes (the latter reviewed here), retailing at £2,499 and £3,499 respectively.
For comparison, the lower-end HZ1000 starts at £1,999, while the flagship HZ2000 will be a step up from the HZ1500’s price tag again. The main difference is in audio capability, which we’ll get into in our Audio Performance section, but suffice to say the HZ1500 acts as the middle child in the 2020 Panasonic TV range.
Panasonic doesn’t ship to North America, either, so any US shoppers reading this should take a deep breath and dive into this best OLED TV guide instead.
(Image credit: TechRadar)
Design
Panasonic HZ1500 TV specs
(Image credit: Panasonic)
Screen Sizes: 55-, 65-inch | Tuner: Freeview HD | 4K: Yes (3,840x2,160) | HDR: Yes | Panel technology: OLED | Smart TV: Yes | Curved: No | Dimensions: 1449 x 896 x 350mm (WxHxD) | Weight: 36kg | 3D: No | Inputs: 4xHDMI, 3xUSB, optical, Ethernet, CI slot
Dolby Atmos soundbar
No HDMI 2.1
Swivelling TV stand
The HZ1500 offers the same silhouette as last year’s model. You’ll find a minimal-bezel screen with a ‘blade speaker’ (integrated soundbar) attached on the lower edge, all of which pivots on a circular stand that makes it beautifully easy to adjust the exact angle the TV screen is pointing.
The rear of the television isn’t quite as intuitive, with an uneven surface and indents that require you to reach at awkward positions to attach anything via cable (like HDMI) – largely because these ports have been built around the ‘tower’ structure of the upward-firing speakers. You’ll find four HDMI ports, with one including eARC for connecting a soundbar, but only one out of four is easily accessible at the side.
Panasonic’s 2020 OLEDs do not come with the latest HDMI 2.1 standard, unfortunately, meaning you won’t get 4K video at 120Hz here – though unless you’re planning on making the most of next-gen gaming consoles, you probably won’t miss its presence.
There’s a single remote included, with a bulky numerical pad and worse looks than Samsung’s designer remote or LG’s Magic Remote, but it will certainly do the job – and the dedicated ‘My App’ button is a flexible addition that lets you choose your own favorite app to shortcut to.
(Image credit: TechRadar)
Smart TV (My Home Screen 5.0)
Plain and simple
No Disney Plus
Recommended titles (sometimes)
Panasonic is known for having a pretty pared-back operating system, a proprietary piece of software called My Home Screen.
2020 sees My Home Screen enter its fifth iteration, and there’s not much to report. Viewers will find a very minimal overlay when pressing the Home button on the remote, which conjures up four icons at the bottom of the screen: Apps, Devices, Live TV, and Main Menu (where you’ll find picture settings and the like, though the ‘Picture’ button on the remote is a handy shortcut).
What’s neat, though, is how easy it is to customize. By heading to the ‘Apps’ section, you can head to any streaming service and press ‘Option’ to bring up a submenu, which allows you to ‘Pin’ the app to the Home screen, set as ‘My App’ on your remote, ‘Move’ the app elsewhere, or ‘Show Info’.
We only spotted two minor new features. One is the appearance of recommended titles above certain streaming apps, like Netflix and YouTube – something both Samsung’s Tizen and LG’s webOS (the best smart TV platforms in the business) have done for years. The other is that regularly-used apps will be gently suggested to you for pinning on the home screen if you haven’t got round to it already, and which feels like a somewhat personal nudge for the viewer. (Panasonic, you noticed!)
Our main complaint is with regards to the app support – specifically the lack of Disney Plus. With the Disney Plus app already on a host of streaming sticks, as well as Samsung TVs and LG TVs, this is a bit of a disappointment – and as the biggest streaming service launch of recent months, a very surprising absence.
We expect app support is coming at some point, but those hungry for Disney Plus shows in the meantime should probably look elsewhere (or use a game console / streaming stick that does support it). You do, however, get Freeview Play in the UK.
(Image credit: TechRadar)
Picture quality
Exceptional OLED panel
Dolby Vision IQ for improved HDR pictures
Filmmaker Mode
The HZ1500 will not disappoint you in the picture department. The OLED panel is just as exceptional as in last year’s set, with gapingly deep blacks, sharp detail, and a contrast ratio to die for.
Panasonic prides itself on cinematic images, as evidenced the number of film production studios using Panasonic monitors. The HZ1500 is also calibrated by Hollywood colorist Stefan Sonnenfeld (The Force Awakens), and the result is a knockout picture boasting both smooth motion and exceptional contrast.
When watching Rian Johnson’s Knives Out (Amazon Prime Video, 4K HDR), we were blown away by the level of detail and contrast even in the dark, nighttime scenes outside the family mansion, and in the richness of color that came across even in dimly-lit rooms. It truly felt like a night at the movies, helped by the 65-inch screen and impactful speakers (more on that below).
It helps that the HZ1500 offers universal HDR support, with HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and HLG all present – something you'll find all the way down to mid-range LCDs in the Panasonic 2020 TV range. There's even support for HLG Photo Mode: an HDR image standard used on Panasonic cameras. It pays to stay in the ecosystem, folks.
Upscaling is fully adequate too, even if HD sources tend to take on a slightly grainy effect – something that’s still hard to avoid on such a massive 65-inch screen. But it’s hardly noticeable, and easy to forget when the strengths of this panel are so evident.
(Image credit: TechRadar)
Brightness control is a particular strength of the HZ1500, largely due to the inclusion of two technologies: Dolby Vision IQ, and Filmmaker Mode with Intelligent Sensing.
Both make use of a light sensor on the front of the television casing, adjusting picture calibration based on the level of light in the room you’re watching in – for Dolby Vision content in the first case, and for any non-DV content in the second. It’s a big help if you’re watching in the daytime, or don’t have the luxury of blackout curtains in your ‘personal cinema’ room, especially when it comes to Filmmaker Mode.
Filmmaker Mode is a new TV setting, backed by Christopher Nolan and Martin Scorcese, which effectively resets picture processing to something more akin to the mastering monitors used in production studios. The image tends to get a bit darker and duller, though – which, on a dim OLED panel, can be tricky – losing some of the punch of Normal or Dynamic, and the brightness-adjusting Intelligent Sensing feature helps to manage this.
The difference is especially evident for SDR, and viewers might be better off sticking to a Cinema preset unless they're watching in bright conditions and need the Sensing turned on.
Dolby Vision IQ and Filmmaker Mode are really the only notable changes for 2020, and if you’re still making do with the GZ1500 you probably won’t see much difference – but there’s just enough of an improvement to warrant the new model, and it’s definitely worth considering for a new TV purchase this year.
(Image credit: TechRadar)
Sound and gaming
Dolby Atmos speakers
Rich, detailed soundstage
Unremarkable input lag
What sets the HZ1500 apart in the Panasonic TV range this year is the sound. You’re getting the same panel and processor as the HZ1000 or HZ2000, but with 80W speakers – rather than the HZ1000’s 30W, or the HZ2000’s 140W.
Unlike the HZ1000, you’re also getting Dolby Atmos support, meaning you’ll be able to hear Atmos-mixed movie soundtracks in their full surround sound glory – or as much of it as possible in a single soundbar. The upward-firing ‘tower’ speaker helps here, reflecting audio off the ceiling and towards the viewer – and you’ll be able to calibrate the audio at setup depending on how far away the TV is away from your seat.
The audio is definitely rich and impactful, whether you’re listening to dialogue, the running water in a river, or orchestral movie soundtracks.
Gamers will have to make do with unremarkable input lag (no less than 20ms), but they shouldn’t be disappointed with the picture. We spent a good while roaming through Obsidian’s The Outer Worlds, awestruck at the dazzlingly vivid colors and excellent contrast – especially helpful when attempting to pick out objects and enemies against the background. Whether you’re eyeing up the neon lights up in the galactic night sky, the deep midnight blue of the planet’s rivers, or the bright outline of your HUD, the HZ1500’s OLED panel can deliver those images with aplomb.
Gaming showed off the HZ1500’s audio capability at its best too. Swinging our weapon would emit an immensely satisfying sound, as metal swung across the screen with the sound travelling from one side of the speaker to another. There’s a dedicated game mode too to smoothen out the refresh rate, which – especially in online matches or fast-moving action – can be a big boon.
Should I buy the Panasonic HZ1500 OLED TV?
(Image credit: Panasonic)
Buy it if...
You want a knockout home cinema for movies. You don’t get much better than this OLED display, and Panasonic is all about recreating a movie theater experience.
You don’t want to buy a separate soundbar. The HZ1500 comes with stellar built-in speakers and Dolby Atmos surround sound. You won’t get the full effect of having numerous speakers set up around the room, but it’s a good sight better than the average television set.
You’re watching in the daytime. We’re not judging: if you’re partial to watching blockbuster movies in the middle of the day, the new Intelligent Sensing and Dolby Vision IQ features will help the picture compete with the ambient light around you.
Don't buy it if...
You want a bargain. There are cheaper OLED TVs out there, some of them even by Panasonic! Wait for the HZ980 model, or check out last year's LG B9 OLED for a true value OLED.
You already have an external audio setup. If you have a soundbar and surround sound speakers already, the blade speaker on the HZ1500 may not feel so necessary.
You watch a lot of Disney movies. The lack of Disney Plus is a travesty. A travesty!
The Xiaomi Mi 10 is a great-looking phone. Shiny, curved glass around the back, a cool metal frame at the sides, and a bold, zingy, 90Hz screen on the front - what’s not to love? Not much, actually, at least when it comes to its design and screen. Xiaomi’s come a long way, and the Mi 10 series is its best-looking to date.
That said, its interface is still occasionally questionable. For example, it still doesn’t give you the option to activate an apps tray, and its virus scan feature interrupts whatever you’re doing every time an app installs, so the interfaces found on phones from the likes of OnePlus are more polished.
The Xiaomi Mi 10’s camera is also not quite as good as it could be, given the £799 / AU$1,699 (roughly $990) asking price. The main 108MP sensor is a solid performer - we’ve seen it do great things on the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra and the Xiaomi Mi Note 10.
That being said, it can’t quite stack up to the 50MP main camera on the Huawei P40 Pro, and more to the point, the phone misses out on the telephoto camera the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro packs, falling behind phones like the OnePlus 8 Pro in terms of versatility.
What you do get with the Xiaomi Mi 10, however, is flagship power, a flagship screen, and seriously good sound from the stereo speakers, not to mention decent battery life, wireless charging, and 30W fast charging too, as well as 5G.
Later down the line, if you can find the Xiaomi Mi 10 at the right price, then it’s a great phone in a bubble. That said, when set aside other similarly priced devices, its camera and UI hold it back from excellence.
Xiaomi Mi 10 price and release date
Out now in the UK and Australia
Costs £799 / AU$1,699
The Xiaomi Mi 10 is available right now in the UK and Australia for £799 / AU$1,699 (roughly $1,000). It was announced in China in February alongside the Mi 10 Pro, a similar phone with a superior camera system.
Both phones have seen a staggered global launch and can be bought directly through Xiaomi’s online store, as well as third-party channels like Amazon.
(Image credit: TechRadar)
Design
Great fit and finish
Metal frame and high-gloss glass back
Available in Coral Green, Twilight Grey, and Peach Gold
There’s no doubt about it, the Xiaomi Mi 10 is a great-looking phone. The front is all-screen Gorilla Glass 5, curving elegantly into the metal frame, which rounds off beautifully to the curved glass back.
The Mi 10’s four rear cameras jut out from the otherwise uninterrupted back panel, and in-hand and to the eye, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with the Xiaomi Mi 10’s design, until you get your grubby fingerprints all over it - it holds onto them for dear life.
At 208g, it isn’t quite iPhone 11 Pro Max beefy (226g), but it’s still at the upper end of the smartphone weight spectrum.
(Image credit: TechRadar)
Buttons are all on the right-side - power and volume rocker; at the base there's a USB-C port and at the top, an IR blaster.
The stereo speakers bookend the phone at the top and bottom, and the only warning we’d impart to potential buyers aside from the fingerprint-loving finish, is that the Mi 10 is big. If you’re after a small phone, look elsewhere.
Display
Large 6.67-inch display
AMOLED screen with punch-hole camera
1080 x 2340 resolution, 90Hz refresh rate
The Xiaomi Mi 10’s Super AMOLED screen packs a 1080 x 2340 resolution and measures 6.67 inches, making it a similar spec on paper to the Motorola Edge’s screen, albeit with a less dramatic curve. The specs translate to 386 pixel-per-inch clarity, which is better than an iPhone 11, but worse than an iPhone 11 Pro.
Being a Super AMOLED display, color pop and depth are abundant, whether gaming, watching, or just aimlessly swiping through the UI. It has a max manual brightness of about 500 nits - lower than the Samsung Galaxy S20, or OnePlus 8 Pro, but gets much brighter in auto mode, so is still easy to view indoors and out in all but the brightest conditions.
The Xiaomi Mi 10 screen’s HDR10+ accreditation means HDR movies look excellent, especially in darker environments, and viewing angles are great, especially for an OLED panel.
(Image credit: TechRadar)
Camera
108MP, f/1.7 primary sensor
13MP, f/2.4 ultra-wide camera
2MP macro and depth sensors
No telephoto option
The Xiaomi Mi Note 10 introduced Samsung’s 108MP camera sensor to the world and boy did it impress when it dropped. The huge-resolution sensor has since been reprised on the Motorola Edge Plus and Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, as well as the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro - and it’s also leading the charge on the Mi 10.
What’s interesting about the Mi 10’s implementation of the 108MP camera sensor is that this is the first time we’re seeing it with no telephoto secondary camera.
Instead, Xiaomi’s banking on the big pixel numbers making digital zoom a viable alternative. Is it? In bright conditions, for the most part, yes, as you can see in the 2x zoom picture in the camera samples further down.
In low light, however, zooming is out of the question.
The Mi 10’s shooting modes are comprehensive: photo, video, portrait, night mode, pro mode - all the usual suspects are accounted for. There’s also a 108MP photo mode that delivers full-res images that look fantastically detailed in well-lit scenes.
Automatic mode on the Xiaomi Mi 10 is great. The phone packs optical image stabilization, so shots look at least sharpish across most lighting conditions, and capturing at 25MP by default, using 4-in-1 pixel combining (or pixel binning), detail is plentiful. That resolution translates to 4344 x 5792 photos by default, with each file size clocking in at around 7-10MB.
(Image credit: TechRadar)
Compared to other cameras on the scene, the Mi 10 falls behind the P40-series when it comes to tonal and color nuance. The iPhone 11 manages to pull out better dynamic range, and the Pixel 4 clearly betters Xiaomi’s flagship when it comes to white balance, but we are nit-picking slightly for these comparisons.
Most people who buy the Xiaomi Mi 10 will love the camera. The huge sensor size delivers stacks of depth for a smartphone, and dynamic range is at least decent. Night mode, however, it's noticeably behind the aforementioned Apple, Google, and Huawei phones.
The 13MP f/2.4 ultra-wide camera’s performance is mediocre, with no autofocus resulting in middling utility. In all but the best lighting conditions, it’s also very soft, and compounding this fact is the odd decision to not make it accessible in night mode.
Luckily, you can shoot pro mode images with it, so can grab up to 30-second long shutter speed shots, giving it some versatility in low-light if you know what you’re doing.
The macro camera, which clocks in at 2MP is, honestly, a bit of a joke, as you can get higher-impact macro shots from the main camera across more lighting conditions, so we’re just going to skip over it.
As for the 20MP selfie camera, along with the 108MP main camera, this is a highlight, delivering decent performance across photo and video in all but the darkest lighting conditions.
Camera samples
Image 1 of 7
A shot at 1x zoom.(Image credit: TechRadar)
Image 2 of 7
When shooting at 2x zoom in well-lit conditions the lack of optical zoom isn't too much of an issue.(Image credit: TechRadar)
Image 3 of 7
Dynamic range is a struggle when shooting backlit black cats.(Image credit: TechRadar)
Image 4 of 7
A wide-angle shot.(Image credit: TechRadar)
Image 5 of 7
An ultra-wide shot.(Image credit: TechRadar)
Image 6 of 7
(Image credit: TechRadar)
Image 7 of 7
(Image credit: TechRadar)
Specs and performance
Snapdragon 865 power
Available in multiple configurations
Up to 256GB of storage
The Xiaomi Mi 10 has a Snapdragon 865 chipset but is available in a couple of flavors, with 128GB or 256GB of storage. That said, in the UK and Australia, it’s shipping in its highest spec version as standard - 256GB of storage with 8GB of RAM for £799 and AU$1,699.
The result is a great phone for gaming, with top-tier flagship power, a gorgeous screen, and plenty of space for even the most monstrously massive titles.
Benchmarks are nothing short of stellar, with the phone achieving a Geekbench 5 multi-core score of over 3,300, and this is reflected in day-to-day use and gaming performance.
Xiaomi’s MIUI 11 interface is hit and miss. On the plus, it’s stable and looks clean, which is a good start. The experience falls behind when it comes to UI versatility - you can’t activate an apps tray for example. Additionally, when apps install in the background, the UI pulls you out of whatever you’re doing, taking you to a virus scanning screen. This results in a jarring user experience.
App support is excellent, though, and it does have some advantages when set aside phones from Huawei, given Xiaomi has access to the full gamut of Google services.
Connections on the Mi 10 are flagship across the board, with NFC and 5G. There’s no microSD card slot inside, but with 256GB of storage, there probably won’t be a need to bump up the phone’s capacity in your time with it.
The under-display fingerprint scanner is fine; it doesn’t work as well as some of the competition, but face unlock is quick to fire and does the job.
(Image credit: TechRadar)
Battery life
4,780mAh battery
Wireless and reverse wireless charging
Fast 30W wired charging
The Xiaomi Mi 10’s big battery clocks in at 4,780mAh, which is very generous from a capacity point of view. Even with the screen refresh rate set to 90Hz, you’ll still get a full day out of it. The Mi 10 seamlessly switches between 60Hz and 90Hz depending on the app you’re using to ensure the mode doesn’t sap too much juice.
After 90 minutes of Full HD video played back at max brightness, the Mi 10 battery dropped by about 10%, and from flat, it charges up in around 70 minutes with 30W fast charging. The phone also supports wireless charging at up to 30W, which is incredibly impressive, and it offers 5W reverse wireless charging too.
Should I buy the Xiaomi Mi 10?
(Image credit: TechRadar)
Buy it if...
You find it for a great price The Xiaomi Mi 10 is a really competent phone. The things that hold it back are, for the most part, only noticeable when you set it side-by-side with other phones in its price range. In turn, if you find it at the right price - less than a OnePlus 8 Pro - you can confidently pick one up.
Gaming is a priority With its Snapdragon 865 chipset, gorgeous screen, and decent speakers, not to mention the phone’s storage capacity of up to 256GB, if your priority is gaming, the Mi 10 is about as good as it gets.
You hate headphones and love streaming video The Xiaomi Mi 10’s screen is a beauty, and those stereo speakers are loud with decent sound separation, so you can happily power through a couple of episodes of Brooklyn Nine-Nine without tinny, bad-speaker ear-bleeding.
Don't buy it if...
You love an app drawer Xiaomi’s interface, MIUI, doesn’t give users the option to add an app drawer to the experience. While this is fine if you’re coming from an iPhone, most Android users will be used to not having to host all of their apps on their home screens.
You need a telephoto camera The Mi 10’s camera is competent, provided you don’t need to zoom in too much, thanks to a 108MP main sensor and an impressive ultra-wide secondary camera. While we could take or leave the macro camera, if you can live without a telephoto option, the Mi 10 will suffice.
You want a small phone The Xiaomi Mi 10 is a looker, with a big, bold screen, and glass and metal fused to look sleek, but small it ain’t with its 6.67-inch screen - small hands might want to pick up a Mi 9 SE.
First reviewed: June 2020
from TechRadar: Technology reviews https://ift.tt/3ikv4rQ
RAM Tracking is a British company that offers cloud-based fleet management services to enterprise customers. Founded in 2004, RAM Tracking has served over 9,500 customers by providing GPS tracking solutions to over 75,000 vehicles.
The company is known for providing smart vehicle tracking systems, dash cameras and software that helps businesses in managing their fleets efficiently. Thanks to an in-house development team, RAM Tracking is able to offer customized solutions based on the requirements of a business, and is able to offer regular updates on the software that it provides.
The company collects a wide range of data with the help of various sensors. This data is useful in providing deeper insights to business owners, helping them stay on top of their fleet operations. Unlike other fleet management companies, RAM Tracking allows customers to access their data at any point for up to three years, as it is stored on cloud servers.
(Image credit: RAM Tracking)
Pricing
Like quite a few other fleet management solution providers, RAM Tracking does not list its pricing and contract details on its website clearly. Businesses are expected to connect directly with the company to get a quote tailored to their requirements. However, the website does mention that RAM Tracking offers a range of services and products that will suit most businesses.
Going by a few online reviews left by customers, we can assume that RAM Tracking offers long-term contracts of 3, 4 and 5-years in length. There is no mention of a monthly or short-term contract. Some users have hinted that this is one of the cheapest enterprise-grade fleet management solutions on offer, which is good to hear; but you will only really find out when you get a quote from RAM Tracking directly.
There is no mention of the minimum number of vehicles required to be eligible for RAM Tracking’s fleet management solution. However, the company does offer the services of experts to install the hardware inside vehicles, the cost of which is included in the contract.
(Image credit: RAM Tracking)
Features
RAM Tracking is a smart fleet management service provider that not only offers real-time fleet tracking but also helps in ensuring that all your assets are in the best of health to operate efficiently.
The company claims that it works in conjunction with clients closely by helping them manage their fleet efficiently, ensuring that compliance requirements are met and fleet management goals are achieved.
Some of the features of RAM Tracking’s solution are:
Fleet tracking
Hardware
Compliance management
Asset tracking
Field service and scheduling
(Image credit: RAM Tracking)
RAM Tracking’s telematics solution offers a 24/7 tracking facility that maintains a thorough history of the vehicle’s movement even during non-business hours, thus reducing the scope for asset misuse and fuel wastage.
The software RAM Tracking offers helps businesses in creating efficient routing plans, cutting down the admin time required in route planning and other activities. It also ensures driver safety by keeping a check on the vehicle’s speed, plus the software provides accurate ETAs for better client satisfaction, enabling re-routing options, accurate client billing and more.
Drivers often follow their favorite route regardless of whether it is the most fuel and time-efficient one, potentially delaying deliveries as well as incurring extra expenses. RAM Tracking not only helps the operators to create routes efficiently but it also helps them in ensuring that drivers follow the assigned route.
(Image credit: RAM Tracking)
Other key features are:
Tracking: While this is a basic feature of any vehicle tracking solution, RAM Tracking offers an easy to use interface that makes vehicle tracking a snap for everyone. Its software refreshes once every 60 seconds keeping operators informed about the vehicle’s location, and shows the vital details of all drivers like Driver ID, vehicle registration details, speed of the vehicle, the direction it is following and more. Quick reports like the vehicle’s mileage on a daily, weekly or monthly basis can be accessed at any time from the software.
Compliance and safety: The solution helps drivers maintain important documents and communications on the cloud and reduces the need for paperwork. Documents like proof of delivery can be shared with operators directly ensuring ETAs are met. It allows departments like HR and others to run reports for hours worked. The software alerts drivers in case they are not following any regulatory guidelines like journey time without rest and other policies.
Reports: RAM Tracking offers detailed reports on various aspects of the fleet. Reports like timesheets, financial reports, and more help decision-makers identify the assets that need replacement, or drivers that need coaching on their driving behaviors (or the ones that need to be rewarded for efficient driving).
Geo-fencing: One of the most basic yet essential features of RAM Tracking is the ability to create a geo-fenced area around a vehicle. Every time an asset/vehicle enters or exits the geo-fenced area, the system alerts admins to the asset’s location. The software also sends immediate alerts based on incidents like a crash, harsh braking or sharp turns, helping ensure the safety of drivers and vehicles alike.
(Image credit: RAM Tracking)
Support
RAM Tracking offers support via a direct helpline number, email, and an online form. It has quite a few videos, blogs, FAQs and other training material for customers to solve basic queries around the use of the software, and generally better understand the product.
RAM Tracking’s social media channels also seem to be active with regular tweets and posts on its official Facebook page.
Final verdict
RAM Tracking's software is easy to use and the intuitive interface helps admins track vehicles efficiently. Feedback left by users on various websites seems to be positive about the service, albeit with a few mentions of some occasional cloud sync issues.
Best rugged tablets of 2020: Water resistant, drop-proof and shockproof slates
from TechRadar: Technology reviews https://ift.tt/2YLT7rD
The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is the third version of Amazon's popular streaming dongle, which has been updated to support 4K viewing.
It's pretty similar to the second gen Fire TV Stick, which boasts an 802.11ac Wi-Fi chip and a 1.7GHz quad-core processor – but buying one of these 4K-enabled streamers still won’t break the bank at under $50.
The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K also has a built-in voice assistant, courtesy of Amazon Alexa. There's also a huge range of content to choose from the many apps on offer, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and more. Which begs the question: who needs a smart TV?
Amazon has rectified some of the issues we had with the previous Fire TV Stick model. But a few small, niggling problems remain that made our experience with the device less-than-perfect. But, importantly, not far off.
Since the Fire TV Stick 4K was released, Amazon has made a push into televisions with the unveiling of a number of new Fire TV Edition sets, as well as a new Amazon Fire TV Cube, which is an updated version of its Alexa-enabled hands-free streaming media player, adding Dolby Vision and a few other new features to the mix.
Titled simply 'Free', the new tab sits on the Fire TV's navigation bar, collating together the freely available programming in one handy place.
In a blog post, senior product marketing manager Michael Polin wrote that, "The new Free tab offers customers a single destination to a curated selection from thousands of free movies, TV shows, news, and more."]
The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is available to buy for $49.99 / £49.99, which works out at around AU$68 based on current conversion rates – however, it's not yet available to buy in Australia and there's so far no word on when Amazon will begin selling it in this territory.
Compared to the non-4K version of the Fire TV Stick, you’re looking at a price increase of around $10 / £10, which we think is very reasonable considering the increased quality of content you’ll be getting with support for 4K, Dolby Vision, HDR, HDR10+ and Dolby Atmos.
Similar products, including Google's Chromecast Ultra, retail for around $69, so the Fire TV Stick 4K is a good option if you’re looking to spend under $50 - still, it’s worth bearing in mind that you will need to buy subscriptions to use many of the apps like Netflix and Prime Video, which can soon add up.
Image Credit: TechRadar
Design
If you’ve used the previous Amazon Fire TV Stick before, you’ll notice that the new version hasn’t changed very much in terms of design.
Measuring 99mm x 30mm x 14mm, the Fire TV Stick 4K is as unobtrusive and compact as ever, designed to plug directly into the HDMI 2.2 port on your TV. The stick itself is a little bit wider than a standard HDMI cable, so Amazon has included a male-to-female HDMI extender cable in case you have trouble fitting it in.
Amazon says the extender cable can also be used to improve the WiFi connection and remote control performance.
The outside of the Fire TV Stick 4K is largely the same as the previous model, only now it features the Amazon arrow logo without any text. On the inside, you have an 802.11ac Wi-Fi chip and a 1.7GHz quad-core processor like before, but now of course, the Fire TV Stick has support for 4K, as well as Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.
On the side of the Fire TV Stick 4K you’ll find a micro-USB port to connect the power adaptor.
Image Credit: TechRadar
Now on to the remote; the biggest change here is that it now includes volume buttons and a power button. The inability to change the volume using the the previous model’s remote was a particular sticking point for many users, who found it annoying to constantly switch between it and their TV’s remote, or asking Alexa to change the volume.
The remote therefore can now be used to change the volume on your TV, AV receiver, or soundbar, which is far more convenient.
Like it’s predecessor, you’ll still find a microphone button at the top of the remote, which can be used to summon Alexa without having to say “Alexa” before every command you make.
Setting up the Fire TV Stick 4K is absolutely seamless, thanks to the simple user interface and responsive remote control. During setup, the Fire TV Stick needs to be plugged into the mains as well as the HDMI port on your TV - all the cables and adaptors you’ll need come in the box.
Once you’ve plugged the Fire TV Stick into your TV, you're then prompted to set up the remote – you’ll be walked through the entire process by your TV so you don’t need to worry about leafing through manuals.
Like its predecessor, the Fire TV Stick 4K user interface is extremely easy to navigate, even for those who haven't even used a streaming device before. Recently accessed shows and apps can be found on the home screen, or you can scroll up and across to find different content and apps.
As well as being easy to use, the UI is very responsive and quick to load, and there’s a fantastic selection of streaming apps to choose from. To test how easy it is to sign up to a new service, we tried setting up an account with Disney Life through the Fire TV Stick 4K.
The whole process was extremely simple, with the option to link your new account to an existing social media account like Facebook – although the experience will vary between different apps, it’s encouraging that we didn’t run into any issues while setting up accounts with the platforms we don’t already subscribe to.
Image credit: Amazon
Using the remote to control the Fire TV Stick 4K is similarly effortless, and the Alexa-powered voice search functionality is quick and accurate when you’re using apps like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video.
However, voice search doesn’t work with every app on the service – UK viewers will notice that you can’t use it with BBC iPlayer, which means you have to manually type search terms within the app. Furthermore, you won’t be able to use your voice to skip to the next episode on many apps that otherwise support voice control, which is slightly annoying.
Another issue we found with voice search is that when you make a request that the Fire TV Stick 4K is unable to support, whatever content you are playing disappears, and you have to then select it again from within the app or Fire TV homepage to start it up.
That being said, the voice search is generally very good, and you can even use voice commands to turn your TV on, control your smart devices, and view live camera feeds from compatible smart security cameras on your TV, which is really useful.
In general, the search functionality is better than the previous model, as you can now search for shows by actor and specifically for 4K content, as well as searching for show titles directly. Amazon’s own content is predictably prioritized above other results from platforms, which could be irritating if you're primarily a Netflix user, for example.
Overall, the selection of apps available is extremely good, and you should be able to find most streaming platforms you can think of – although UK viewers won’t be able to find Now TV, and US viewers won't be able to stream on Walmart's Vudu, which is currently a large source of Dolby Vision content. Still, there's such a huge variety of content, so you probably won’t miss the odd niche app unless you are a diehard fan.
If you want to take your Fire TV Stick 4K abroad – and its portability makes it a great traveling companion – you may want to install a VPN to unlock content from your home country.
Final verdict
Overall, we're impressed with the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K. The interface is super responsive, quick to load, and it’s set out in an intuitive way.
Navigating through the different apps, shows, and movies is simple, with recently accessed content displayed on the home screen, however, you may find search results overly skewed towards Amazon’s own content if you’re used to using different streaming platforms.
Speaking of, the lack of consistency across different streaming platforms is an issue that affected the previous model of the Amazon Fire TV Stick. Hopefully future updates will provide more parity across the different platforms so that the experience is as streamlined as possible no matter where you watch your content but, for now, it's something we think most folks can look past.
The Amazon Fire TV Stick is one of our most highly-recommended pieces of entertainment kit – and one of the best streaming devices you can currently buy.
That means if you've been looking for a new streaming option you may have come across it before. Why is it such a hit? Well, it combines the smart voice-powered features of Alexa with the best streaming services available today.
Since this review was first published, Amazon has launched a new version of the Amazon Fire TV Stick – check out our Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K review for all you need to know. This updated device is capable of 4K HDR playback, and boasts a number of new specs and features, including an 802.11ac Wi-Fi chip and a 1.7GHz quad-core processor – as well as the ability to combine with Echo speakers wirelessly to create a home cinema system.
Despite this, the regular Amazon Fire TV Stick that came before it (the one we're reviewing here) is still a solid streaming device and remains one of our favorites despite its 4K upgrade. That means it's perfect if you're not too fussed about 4K UHD resolution, or your TV doesn't even support it anyway. This is the device we'll be taking a closer look at throughout this review.
Titled simply 'Free', the new tab sits on the Fire TV's navigation bar, collating together the freely available programming in one handy place.
In a blog post, senior product marketing manager Michael Polin wrote that, "The new Free tab offers customers a single destination to a curated selection from thousands of free movies, TV shows, news, and more."]
The biggest difference between this older version of the streaming stick and the newer model (as well as the discontinued Amazon Fire TV), is that the latter two boast 4K streaming capabilities. However, Amazon doesn't hold buying a budget streaming stick against you. Despite the fact newer devices are on offer, this one provides you with brilliant value for money whether you're streaming in 4K or regular HD.
Despite its affordable price tag of $39.99 (£39.99 / AU$69.99), the Fire TV Stick has a fantastic voice search interface that we've found both snappy and speedy.
Check out the best 40-inch TVs to plug your streaming stick into
The voice feature allows users to access most of the apps that we'd all need on a regular basis. Just throw in the platform's rich search library, through Amazon Video, and you have all the ingredients for a capable streaming sticks that's got the basics sorted.
Despite the fact that the latest version of the streaming stick has had significant improvements since its first release, there are still a few issues we wish had been ironed out. For example, despite its big choice of apps, major streaming services like Now TV are missing, and we've also found that the voice search doesn't cover enough of the big services.
Having said that, if you can stay within the confines of Amazon's video safe haven, you'll find a lot to love about the budget-friendly Amazon Fire TV Stick. On the other hand, if you're the kind of cinephile who doesn't like being constrained to a handful of services, you'd be better off examining Roku's offerings or Google's Chromecast instead.
If you’ve used an Amazon Fire TV Stick in the past, then design-wise this latest version will be very familiar.
The stick measures 85.9 x 30.0 x 12.6mm, and it's designed to plug straight into an HDMI port on the back of your TV.
You might find that Amazon’s hardware is a little wider than your standard HDMI cable. But luckily, in the likely event that it’s too bulky to plug directly into the HDMI port, Amazon also includes a short male-to-female HDMI cable to help it fit.
On the side of the stick is a micro USB port for powering the device. If you’ve got a newer TV, then there’s a good chance it’ll have a USB port on the back for powering gadgets. But again, if not Amazon also handily includes a power adaptor in the box, and the supplied USB cable should be more than long enough to reach a power supply.
But although on the outside things feel very much the same, internally the device has seen a bit of an upgrade over the previous generation of Fire TV Stick. Firstly, its Wi-Fi has been upgraded from 802.11n to the faster 802.11ac standard, which should allow content to buffer as quickly as possible. Its CPU has jumped from a dual-core to a quad-core, Dolby support has jumped to 5.1, and the Bluetooth version has gone up from 3.0 to 4.1.
Unfortunately the one spec you’re likely to care the most about, resolution, has seen no change between the previous generation of the Fire TV Stick and this one. It’s still a 1080p, non-HDR streaming stick, despite Google’s Chromecast Ultra proving that the dongle form factor is able to handle 4K just fine. If you want a streamer that’s able to handle 4K with the Amazon name on it, then you’ll need to spend more on the premium Amazon Fire TV dongle or something similar.
Image credit: TechRadar
So far so similar. But where you'll find the biggest change with this version of the Amazon Fire TV Stick is in its remote. The bottom six buttons are exactly the same as on the previous remote, as is the four-way nav pad which allows you to navigate the device’s menus.
But what’s changed is the addition of a voice control button. You hold it down to summon Alexa: in theory that makes up for the simplicity of the remote by allowing you to search for the exact show that you want without having to type using an on-screen keyboard.
However in practice its functionality is limited, something we’ll cover in more depth in the performance section below.
You also have the option of using the Fire TV remote on a smart device, which has the benefit of offering an on-screen keyboard that’s much faster than using the remote to type. Annoyingly, though, this keyboard is limited to apps which use Amazon’s own keyboard. Again, this is very much a device for Amazon lovers, but if you love other services and apps, you'll come up a little short.
This means that for an app like BBC iPlayer, which has its own keyboard built into the software, you won’t be able to use the app’s on-screen keyboard – instead you’ll be forced to laboriously navigate the keyboard on your television screen using the remote.
The selection of apps, in the UK at least, is fairly decent. Catch-up services from each of the major broadcasters are present (including UKTV), as are Netflix and Amazon Prime Instant Video (naturally). The one major omission from a UK perspective is Now TV, which is all that prevents the Amazon Fire TV stick from having a full suite of software.
For customers in the US there are even more options like Hulu, Sling TV and DISH's new DISH Now service that lets you stream content from your Hopper to your Amazon Fire TV wherever you are in the world.
There's no doubt that the Amazon Fire TV Stick is one super speedy device. Scrolling through menus is delightfully quick, and once you find something you want to watch it loads almost instantly (although that does also depend on the speed of your internet connection).
The Amazon Fire TV Stick’s user interface is laid out in a straightforward way that's bound to make sense for those who haven't even used a streaming device before. Recently accessed shows and apps can be found on the home screen, or you can scroll up and across to find different content and apps.
The most annoying thing about the experience is that for many apps you can’t access their content directly from the home screen. Instead, you’ll have to navigate to the app first, and then find content within the app.
The result is that finding what you want to watch may take you a little longer depending on which platform it’s on, especially if you’re making use of the Fire TV Stick’s search functionality.
If it’s on one of the platforms supported by Amazon’s universal search (Amazon Prime and Netflix being the two main examples) then you’ve got the perfect device for it. You have two options here. Either you head up and left on the main menu to reach the search box, and enter the TV show or film name on the on-screen keyboard, or you can simply hold down the voice search button on the remote and say the name of the content you’d like to watch.
If you’ve ever used Alexa on one of Amazon's Echo range of smart speakers, then you’ll know it’s a very accurate piece of voice recognition software. And with the Fire TV Stick that was no exception. It was able to understand what show we were looking for almost every time, and on the one occasion it didn’t, it presented two options for us to choose from on the screen.
Image credit: TechRadar
But our biggest bugbear is that a lot of the streaming services on the Fire Stick aren’t covered by this universal search functionality, and this makes their content much harder to find.
For example, when we reviewed the Fire TV Stick, if you search for a show that’s only available through the BBC iPlayer, Amazon’s software will have absolutely nothing to show you. It’s not even intelligent enough to know which streaming service the show is available on.
Instead you’ll have to navigate to the app in question (which can be done using voice search), open it, and manually find the program via the app’s own interface – and here you won’t be able to use Alexa to search, so you’ll have to navigate an on-screen keyboard using your remote.
The search function, including Alexa, is more or less limited to searching for program titles, despite the steps Amazon has taken with its X-ray functionality, which allows you to access IMDB information within its shows.
Search for ‘Jeremy Clarkson’ for example, and rather than bringing up Amazon’s flagship show, The Grand Tour, you’re instead confusingly given a link to the TV show Dexter of all things.
Although Amazon’s search functionality is fast and accurate, it only covers a fraction of the content you’re likely to be streaming, and it’s not nearly as clever or as capable as Alexa is on the Echo, which is a real shame for those who have become accustomed to her super helpful recognition smarts.
We also feel that Alexa is under-utilised when it comes to controlling the playback of content. You’re able to skip ahead to the next episode using your voice, but you’re not able to skip back an episode – and if you’re watching a series on anything other than Amazon Prime then you won’t even be able to skip forward.
Image credit: TechRadar
We liked
The Amazon Fire TV Stick’s interface is quick and snappy. It’s intuitively laid out, and finding most content is quick and easy. And it's that interface that makes it one of our top (if not the top) affordable streaming devices around.
Once you get to your content it streams without any complaints or buffering. And playback is smooth and looks good.
The voice search functionality is quick and accurate when searching for Amazon or Netflix content, and it’s also a speedy way of hopping between apps. Most major streaming services are supported, but it's definitely one for the die-hard Amazon fans.
We disliked
Although you can access Amazon and Netflix content from the home screen or search results directly, most other apps require you to launch the app in question first and then navigate to its content. This limits the usefulness of the device’s search functionality, especially its excellent Alexa voice recognition search.
Alexa is also under-utilized when it comes to controlling playback. You can use it to skip to the next episode, but you can’t skip backwards, and nor can you jump to a particular episode.
Resolution is limited to 1080p, although this is perhaps understandable given that this is a budget-focused device.
Being able to use the Fire TV app to enter text is useful, but the amount of situations in which this actually works is very limited.
Image credit: TechRadar
Final verdict
The Amazon Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote can at times feel like a missed opportunity. There’s so much functionality here that should make the device easier to use, but which ultimately only ends up being of benefit for Amazon’s own video content. Great for Amazon fans and for watching Netflix shows, not so great for everyone else.
That's because if you’re watching Amazon or Netflix content then the interface is a dream. It’s quick, voice search works well, and it’s easy to find what you want to watch.
Venture into more niche streaming services, however, and the stick’s functionality is much more basic, offering merely a portal to each app’s own interface rather than functionality of its own.
This is a solid piece of streaming hardware, but it’s not the step forward we hoped Alexa might have enabled it to be.
If you’re in the market for a Fire TV device, it might be best to try your luck with the Amazon Fire TV Cube or new Fire Stick 4K instead. But if you want a capable streamer that gets the job done this one is more than enough to get you up-and-running.
The Samsung NU8000 (UN55NU8000, UE55NU8000) may not be the best TV money can buy right now, but this is a great mid-range Samsung TV if you need to stick to a budget. It's not exactly cheap, but it has a more affordable price tag than the truly high-end models.
The good news is this screen from the Samsung NU8000 Series doesn't look like a budget TV. It's bright, colorful, and comes stocked with the latest version of Samsung’s Smart TV OS. We've also found it's great for gaming thanks to its wonderfully low input lag, and is capable of producing breathtaking HDR images to boot.
[Update: Be sure to read ourSamsung Q95T 4K QLED TV review– we awarded this stunning flagship 4K TV 4.5 out of 5 stars, thanks to its excellent picture quality, great sound, and cool gaming features.]
If you're looking for the best 4K TVs on the market right now, then check out our pick of the cream of the crop: 10 best 4K TVs available in 2020
But it isn't all good news. We have two problems with this screen.
The first is that the Samsung NU8000 is an edge-lit LED-LCD panel. Because it's not full array, this means its control over where light is dispersed isn’t always spot-on.
The second, is that its motion settings can be a challenge to configure. At full blast, you might be subject to the soap opera effect (this is when the image looks artificial and plastic-y like a bad soap opera set) but, turn them off, and you might get motion artifacting. There's a happy medium in the advanced settings, but ultimately these issues are what stops this screen from topping the midsize screen league.
If you're looking for something a bit brighter with a few more control zones? Don't miss out on the excellent TCL 6-Series Roku TV (R617, R615). You can check out some new Samsung TVs in our relevant guide too.
We have some qualms about the NU8000 series, but none of them concern the design itself: out of the box, this is an incredibly visually appealing TV.
The shining design feature of the NU8000 – and the attribute that sets it apart from other TVs in its class – is its lack of a plastic frame around the top and sides of the screen. Without the frame, the TV is ultra-minimalist, clearly taking a page from Samsung’s mobile division.
To prevent any damage to the screen while unboxing it, Samsung provides cardboard guards that stick to the sides and protect the screen – showing that the designers have thought through the setup process from start to finish.
To further maximize this minimalist aesthetic is Samsung’s T-shaped stand with removable back cover that hides wires. It takes seconds to unclip the back covering, weave cables through the stand itself, and come out with a clean install each and every time.
Image Credit: Samsung
Around the back of the TV you’ll find a nice brushed aluminum finish, plus four HDMI ports, two USB ports, an ethernet port and an RF cable tuner jack - which is perfect if you use an indoor antenna and plan on using Samsung’s neat TV Plus channel directory.
If there’s any nitpick to be made about the TV’s design, it’s that the screen uses a VA panel with edge-lit LED lighting. Despite its best efforts, local screen dimming isn’t excellent and nowhere near as good as OLED panels in a similar price range - but more on that in the performance sections down below.
Design TL;DR: The NU8000 is a seriously gorgeous TV. The lack of a frame around the top and side, plus the elegant T-shape stand, all help to make the design aesthetic match the picture performance.
Image Credit: Samsung
Smart TV (Tizen with Samsung SmartThings)
One of Samsung’s big talking points for its 2018 TVs is how easy they are to setup. Download the Samsung SmartThings app, they say, and you’ll be up and running in no time.
While this generally holds true, it does mean creating a login for Samsung’s SmartThings or remembering a password that you made ages ago. If it saves you time in the long run will ultimately depend how quickly you can sign up for the service or remember said password - any delay, and it might just be that Samsung’s new-and-improved setup takes longer than it did last year.
That said, what you are treated to once you get past the login screen is a phenomenally robust, blazing fast interface. Navigating the nooks and crannies of Tizen feels like an exciting treasure hunt as you never quite know what goodie you’re going to uncover next.
You might try your hand at using Samsung’s TV Plus mode that piles in free streaming channels on top of your existing line-up from your cable provider or OTA antenna. You might wander into the app store, shop around the universal guide or setup a new smart home device with Samsung SmartThings. There’s a gallery mode and a slow-but-tolerable web browser.
Overall, there’s enough on offer here without feeling hopelessly overwhelming, all while providing the key essential streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video in 4K Ultra HD.
Where the operating system falters is through its dependence on Samsung’s smart assistant, Bixby. While it’s imbued with the power to track down shows, control the smart home and answer queries it rarely does any of the above phenomenally well. Search for “Thor”, for example, and Bixby will insist it heard “Four” – no matter how emphatically you say the name of the god of thunder.
Barring some issues with Bixby that will undoubtedly be fixed in the months to come, overall Tizen with Samsung SmartThings is a supremely smart, comprehensive operating system.
Smart TV TL;DR: Tizen is perfectly packed with content - there’s not too much or too little. Now if only Samsung would’ve used Google Assistant instead of Bixby...
Want to know more about Samsung's TV OS? Check out the best smart TV apps for your Samsung TV
Image Credit: Samsung
HD/SDR Performance
When it comes to taking old HD and SD content and transforming it into fantastic-looking 4K, you need a great upscaling engine. Thankfully, Samsung is no slouch in that arena. To that end, Samsung’s NU8000 does surprisingly well with 1080p - even if it’s a tinge darker and a bit less detailed than similar content played in 4K/HDR.
For example, we played the original Iron Man through FXNow and Chromecast, and it looked surprisingly good for a movie that came out 10-plus years ago. Even though dark scenes lacked a bit of detail they weren’t very grainy – which speaks volumes about the TV’s ability to clean up old content.
Another scene, though, proves there’s still some room to improve: In Iron Man 2, Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark interrogates Mickey Rourke’s Whiplash and the color gradation is super obvious – a problem that might be worse if you’re watching it via Apple TV as the NU8000 automatically changes it to Game Mode.
Things are better when there is less motion and much more color on the screen, but realize that there might be moments where you’ll wonder where everything went wrong.
Editor's Note: If you're prone to seeing the soap opera effect and want to turn it off, go into Settings->Picture->Advanced Settings->Auto Motion Plus and then turn Blur Reduction up to 10, while cranking the Judder down to 0.
Thankfully, the NU8000 does a spectacular job when it comes to color and contrast. The key weapon in the NU8000’s arsenal is Samsung’s HDR+ upconversion algorithm that takes SDR content and expands its colors and opens up the contrast of the screen. With it, HD/SDR content won’t look half its age and you’ll get more of a dramatic contrast when watching older films that weren’t shot in HDR.
The issue with HDR+ (and something you’ll want to immediately correct in the settings) is that it automatically changes the color tone to warm - adding a sepia-like filter to the content. If you want to remove the warm hue, you'll need to go into the settings and set the Color Tone back to standard.
Thankfully, Samsung allows a fair bit of customization to the image. You can change the color tone for each of the inputs, turn motion smoothing on/off and affect local contrast by altering how much local dimming the TV is doing.
Without any tampering the images are fine – most times, they’re bright and beautiful. But if you don’t like motion smoothing or are inadvertently put into Game Mode by mistake while watching a movie, however, image quality can go downhill quickly.
HD/SDR TL;DR: It’s not the best upscaling in the world, but the NU8000 definitely has the chops to turn old HD content into watchable faux-4K HDR.
Image Credit: Samsung
4K/HDR Performance
A lot of what was said above in the HD/SDR section applies here in the 4K/HDR section: Most times, images look outstanding with a few minor exceptions.
One of the test pieces of content we used was Planet Earth II on Netflix. In beautiful 4K with HDR+ mode turned on, Planet Earth II looked simply astounding. The colors of the rainforest and the stark contrast-rich areas of the mountains will brighten any AV enthusiast’s day.
Of course, Planet Earth II plays to the TV’s strengths. There’s more color in rainforests and oceans than your typical football stadium, and fast motion is relatively infrequent in the highest mountains in the world. Even when there is motion, it’s usually captured in broad shots with slow pans - rarely is it done by flipping back and forth between cameras.
Take something that the Samsung NU8000 might not be built for - shaky cam footage shot while the cameraman is on foot - and you’ll start to see the screen’s real issues with motion.
The best example of this can be found watching Fastest Car on Netflix. Many of the scenes shot at the racetrack near the end of each episode are all filmed without tripods creating a small problem for the NU8000 where it builds extra frames making the camera shake even harder. You can turn off motion when this happens, but should you switch over to sports you’ll see major artifacting. Sometimes it feels like you can’t win.
Well, unless you’re playing games on it. Then you very much can win.
One of the new features for 2018 was the Auto Game Mode and Game Motion Plus - two technologies that help consoles look and play even better. What happens here is that the NU8000 recognizes that a game console has been plugged in and will purposefully reduce input lag - i.e. the bane of gamers everywhere.
Game Mode, in and of itself would make this TV a gamer’s best friend. But, tack on the brightness, color reproduction - and relatively low price - we talked about earlier, and you truly have one of the best gaming TVs you can buy, even two years later.
4K HDR Performance TL;DR: While weird motion handling hurts the overall image quality, 4K HDR images are bright and beautiful, with good color reproduction.
Sound
One might think that, with 40-watt speakers, the NU8000 would have some of the best sound on a flatpanel TV. Sadly, that isn’t the case.
Bass rattles the screen, high volume sound crackles and pops, and mids and highs sound confined. And that’s just some of the issues here.
Concerned that we were hearing something that didn’t exist, we invited friends to try the TV for themselves. Each time, around 50% volume they said they could hear audible crackling and rattling bass - issues that just couldn’t be ignored.
If there’s a bright spot here its that Samsung is attempting to dovetail the great work that its sound labs have done in California with its TV manufacturing business in Korea.
The result are modes like Sound Optimization that analyzes the type of audio content playing on screen and EQs it for you. TV shows will have their dialogue-centric mids enhanced while explosion-laden movies will have their bass emphasized. This software alone doesn’t help the TV overcome its issues with audio but it’s definitely a step in the right direction toward a solution.
Verdict
The NU8000’s overall score depends which screen size you’re after: many of the prices have changed since we first published this review, but right now the 55-inch TV is priced at $1,000 (£799 / AU$1460). At those prices, it's hard to give the NU8000 a glowing recommendation. The best deal, in our opinion is the 49-inch model, which has also changed since first publication and now comes in at just $850 / £679.
What’s good here is that Samsung has made a colorful, competent mid-range set - it does decent upscaling with some help from HDR+ Mode, Tizen with Bixby is one of the best operating systems on the market and Game Mode is truly useful for that audience. But unfortunately, all that being said, its many downsides keep the NU8000 from becoming a truly stand-out TV in an increasingly crowded section.
Need a better alternative?
8 best 4K TVs you can buy in 2020
The TV market has never been better in terms of offering amazing picture quality and loads of features for less money than ever before. In this guide we round up our top recommendations for the best 4K TVs to buy right now.
from TechRadar: Technology reviews https://ift.tt/2Iaiufw
