ASUS have announced their latest Intel-Driven Copilot+ PC, the Zenbook S14 powered by the new Intel Core Ultra 7 (Series 2) processor, which is now available to pre-order in Australia.

The Zenbook S14 (UX5406SA) comes as a part of ASUS’ latest wave of AI products which have previously included AMD and Qualcomm powered offerings. This latest Zenbook S14 uses the newly announced Intel Lunar Lake CPUs which can generate up to 47 Trillion Operations Per Second (TOPS) to power the on-board AI functions including Microsoft CoPilot (with a dedicated Copilot Key on-board), as well as the ASUS-exclusive StoryCube and MuseTree apps. 

The Zenbook S14 utilises the new Ceraluminum material announced for the Zenbook S16, and comes in a Zumia Grey colourway. The Ceraluminum offers the strength of ceramic, with the design options of metal, with the S14 including US MIL-STD 810H military-grade certification to protect it on the go. At just 1.1cm thin and 1.2 kg light making it ASUS’ slimmest 14” AI PC.

ASUS has been including stunning displays in their Zenbook series and the S14 is no different with a Pantone validated 14” 3K touch display capable of 120Hz refresh rate.

The new Intel Core Ultra 7 (Series 2) processor is matched with 32GB LPDDR5X and 1TB SSD and comes with Intel ARC Graphics. ASUS are also spruiking some incredible battery life, which offers a number of benefits, with up to 27 hours of unplugged use ensuring all-day productivity.

While you’re on the road, you’ll find a load of connectivity options with USB Type-C (Thunderbolt 4) and Type-A ports-onboard, as well as HDMI out. There’s Wifi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 on offer for connecting wirelessly as well. 

Bradley Howe, Head of Consumer, Systems Business Group, ASUS Australia, said: “We’re excited to collaborate with Intel on the launch of the new ASUS Zenbook S 14. This device offers quick access to AI experiences and is our thinnest, lightest and most powerful PC yet. We wanted to create a device for those looking to combine performance with aesthetics that will last throughout the day also making this our longest-lasting PC with up to 27 hours of battery life.”

The new ASUS Zenbook S14 with Intel Core Ultra 7 (series 2) processor is available for pre-order for $3,399 from today through ASUS E-shop, JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman and Officeworks. You’ll be able to see them in-store from September 24th. 

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The ninth generation Lenovo Legion Pro 5i was announced earlier this year at CES. There’s been a focus on AI powered laptops, but sometimes it’s nice to kick back and play some games and the Lenovo Australia team have sent across one of their Legion Pro 5i 2024 models over for review.

The Legion Pro 5i (16”, 9) we’ve received is the full business, including a 14th gen Intel Core i9-14900HX processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU, 32GB of DDR5 RAM and a 1TB gen 4 M.2 SSD.

It’s a lot of hardware and carries a $4,489 AUD RRP – but you can find good deals if you shop around. 

I’ve had a great time with the Legion Pro 5i for a couple of weeks now and here’s how it went.  

Hardware

Design

The Legion Pro 5i in its 9th generation hasn’t changed much since last years model, offering the same grey colour option with that look and feel of a Lenovo Legion laptop. 

Like most gaming laptops, the Legion Pro 5i is fairly chunky in design with a thick profile that also extends back beyond the hinge giving it a slightly thicc(?) rear end. That bump gives you more room for both ports and cooling exhaust. 

As a gaming machine you can definitely expect a focus on cooling with hexagonal vents on the base drawing air in, and exiting through the vents on the back and sides. 

It’s a pretty loud experience when you crank the performance up. The new Lenovo ColdFront cooling system is in effect though, offering a software based system which uses the dual fans and heat pipe to be quieter – though in performance mode, I can tell you it moves a lot of air and isn’t quiet.

There’s a vast array of ports on the Legion Pro 5i, with an ethernet jack, USB Type C and dual USB Type A ports alongside a HDMI port and the proprietary power connector port on the rear. There’s ports on the sides too, a USB Type A and Type C ports on the left, and USB Type A port on the right along with the combo audio jack and privacy shutter for the webcam. 

The large 16” display is in 16:10 aspect ratio and defines the overall shape of the laptop. The only large bezels around the display are at the top where a slight lip protrudes to make opening the laptop easier, as well as fitting in the 1080p webcam.

Unfortunately you’ll be typing in your password every time you login, as the webcam doesn’t support Windows Hello, and there’s also no fingerprint reader.

I do like the full-sized Lenovo Legion ‘TrueStrike’ keyboard on the lower deck which includes a numeric keypad. I like the raised guides on the S key for centring your fingers during games, and the abrasion resistant paint on the keyboard should keep it looking schmick for a long time.

The keyboard is backlit, including a 4-zone RGB system that can be tuned through the Legion Vantage software.

Display and Audio

The 16″ WQXGA (2560 x 1600) resolution IPS panel is paired with a dual speaker system tuned by Nahimic Audio.

The 16” display is nice and big with excellent viewing angles. The IPS panel can support up to 240Hz refresh and supports NVIDIA G-Sync which looks great. I like the viewing angles on the IPS panel, but I would like to see an option for an OLED panel to give deeper blacks and a little more pop to the colours as I find this to be a little muted. 

Overall though it’s a decent display that can be seen in almost any lighting conditions, with the matte finish a great help to eliminate reflections and glare. 

The audio is surprisingly good for a 2-speaker system, though running 2W speakers is a great way to do it. There’s plenty of power in the speakers, which isn’t a problem with the Nahimic Audio tuning delivering a clear sound full of crystal clear mids and highs, with a satisfying low end that while it isn’t super bass heavy, delivers more than I’m used to on a laptop. 

Performance

Stacked to the gills, there’s little more you could want from a gaming laptop. There’s an Intel Core i9-14900HX processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU, 32GB of DDR5 RAM and 1TB gen 4 M.2 SSD.

The Legion Pro 5i will eat up any office work, web browsing or video watching, and works well for any creators with video editing or 3D rendering.

Gamers will love the experience on the Legion Pro 5i with the RTX4070 able to produce a solid 60fps on a slew of games including Cyberpunk 2077, Sons of the Forest and Fortnite.

That performance obviously comes at a price and that price is cooling with the Legion Pro 5i getting quite loud when under load. 

As usual we sent it through 3DMark and here’s how it went

Battery and Charging

The 80Whr battery in the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i can be charged using the simply massive 300W charger included in the box. 

The 80Whr battery would normally be massive in any ultraportable, however you get around six hours of use doing fairly mundane office work, web browsing and YouTube. As a gaming laptop though, you’ll want to play some games on the go – but be warned, you can drain the battery on performance mode in just under an hour. 

The good news is that the 300W charger is fast, getting you up to 50% charge in just 15 minutes before getting to 100% full in under an hour. 

Software

The Lenovo Legion Pro 5i includes a copy of Windows 11 Home with an assortment of pre-installed apps and utilities. 

The pre-installed apps include the usual suspects: MS Office 365 trial, McAfee Livesafe 30-day trial (which it will remind you is about to expire constantly), as well as some Lenovo utilities.

The list of Lenovo utilities includes Lenovo Now, a sort of hub for Lenovo services. You also get apps for all those services including Lenovo Vantage which is used to manage your laptop or get support, Lenovo Hotkeys, a place to set custom functions like changing the power profile or refresh rate, Legion Arena for managing your games.

While there’s a lot there, I generally use Lenovo Vantage the most. It’s easy to use and changing settings is relatively pain free. I’ve often changed to the dGPU only for gaming before switching back to the integrated GPU for simple office work – it helps with fan noise. 

Should you buy it?

As far as pure performance goes, the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i has got absolute boat loads of it. 

For gamers there’s not a lot to wish for in the laundry list of specs, however the battery life is on the low side if you’re really wanting to play games on the go and it’s very loud when under load. The display is also a little muted on colours, but at 16”, it’s still big and bright and that’s what you need. 

All that said, if you have the money to spend – and some time to check out some deals, the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i is a great laptop for gamers. 

You can check it out over on the Lenovo online store. 

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We have seen some CoPilot+ PCs make their way onto the Australian market but not everyone thinks that they, nor the world, are ready for that just yet.  AI might be the next big thing but is it really ready for the primetime?

For a vast majority of us there’s not much of a need to CoPilot+ and lucky for us there are plenty of options available.  HP sent us one such option recently, the HP Spectre x360 16, a big, bright and beautiful laptop that has left us incredibly impressed.

The Spectre x360 range from HP is the premium convertible laptop range with 360 degree hinges and touch displays of either 14- or 16-inch in size.  The HP Spectre x360 16-inch laptop we were sent is their most premium Spectre laptop with a touch 2.8K OLED display, with 32GB of RAM, 1TB SSD, an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H 3.80GHz processor and a NVIDIA GeForce RTX4050 GPU.

The Spectre range can cost anywhere from the top end $5,148 (review laptop) down to just $2,999 for the 14-inch Ultra 5, 16GB, 512GB version.

Hardware and design

Our HP Spectre x360 16 in Nightfall black aluminium with their ‘sandblaster finish’ and while it sounds spectacular it is just marketing speak.  It is black.  It does have stylish edging though to make it less of a black block.

I quite like this styling.  Without being over the top it is an elegant design that looks good without being gaudy or cheap.  Speaking of cheap, which it is far from, it does not feel cheap with the premium build quality exactly what you would expect from a brand that has been making laptops for a long time.

The HP Spectre x360 16 is HP Spectre x360 weighs 1.95kg which, although not the lightest laptop around, is easily manageable if you were carting it around for personal use.  

As with so many laptops these days, there are not a lot of ports on this laptop but there are enough.  There is a single USB Type-A port, a full sized HDMI 2.1 port, a headphone/microphone combo jack and two Thunderbolt 4 with USB Type-C 40Gbps ports.  

I’m not sure what else you may want to connect but this is enough for any productivity laptop in 2024.  Connectivity-wise the Spectre x360 16 supports Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 and while Wi-Fi 7 would be nice but at this stage real world speeds won’t make that much of a difference.  

The keyboard is a laptop keyboard with minimal travel, which I actually prefer.  It is not as pronounced as the keyboard on say, a MacBook Air but it is really easy to type on accurately and with speed.  

One of my must-haves is a backlit keyboard and luckily the HP Spectre x360 16 has this.  There are three brightness settings for the backlight with one of them being off (if you call that a brightness setting).

The touchpad is massive, HP’s biggest ever in a laptop and its great although if you like the left and right click it is difficult to reach all the way to one side quickly with such a big touchpad.

As you may have guessed from the name and the pictures you’ve already seen in the review, the laptop lid rotates around a full 360 degrees.  There is some stiffness to the hinge on the laptop but this means that it will not shake or wobble or fall out of the position you are using it in.

The hinge not only allows you to use the laptop in tent style but also as a tablet – the Spectre x360 16 does support pen use and although HP did not send a pen for me to try I would definitely be buying the pen to use with this.

Performance

The review version of this laptop is specced to the highest level possible so you’d expect it to handle all my productivity purposes easily – and it did.  I was able to run all software needed, including video editing software (this laptop did have a Nvidia GeForce RTX4050 GPU installed) without any issues.  

Using the HDMI port or the Thunderbolt 4 ports I was able to easily drive a 45-in LG OLED curved gaming monitor.  

Whether you need this much power is up to you and what your requirements are.  If you are a creator you will most likely want the discrete GPU but for standard productivity purposes I doubt it.  Obviously this would change the price extensively too.

The camera supports Windows Hello login which I love and wish all laptops had it.

Display is beautiful

The display is beautiful to look at, as many OLED laptops are these days.  Its specs are: 

40.6 cm (16″) diagonal, 2.8K (2880 x 1800), OLED, multitouch-enabled, 48-120 Hz, UWVA, edge-to-edge glass, micro-edge, anti-reflection Corning Gorilla Glass NBT, Low Blue Light, SDR 400 nits, HDR 500 nits, 100% DCI-P3

The high resolution display is a pleasure to use with accurate colours that pop and deep blacks and I can see why HP recommends it for creators.  

The brightness is just 400nits but that is incredibly bright inside and can be used relatively comfortably outside but you may have issues with glare outside at times, as you would with most laptops.

Battery and charging

I was able to easily get a day’s use of the laptop doing basic work, playing some basic games and listening to music.  Not sure what more you could ask for but I’m super happy with that.  It wouldn’t be often I’d be away from a charger for that long.

The HP Spectre x360 16 supports HP Fast Charge and, with the laptop off, you can charge from 0 to 50% in about 45 minutes – according to HP.  In my testing, with the laptop on (but lid closed), I was able to charge from 8% to 61% in 39 minutes so you can be sure HP’s statement is fairly accurate.  Another 23 minutes will get it to 80% for that extra bit of peace of mind.

Should you buy it?

The HP Spectre x360 16 is an expensive laptop but you get what you pay for. The OLED display is extremely high resolution and produces amazing colours and incredible blacks. The hinges are solid and allow for full 360 degrees of rotation of the display and the full tablet use.

The laptop is designed for high end users who want to create, and with the inbuilt discrete Nvidia GeForce RTX4050 GPU it can process large videos with ease. It is relatively portable, even though it is packed full of goodness and is a 16-inch laptop, making it incredibly useful for creators on the go.

If you want to check it out, you can head to the HP online store, or the usual retailers. 

The post HP Spectre x360 16 laptop — big and powerful with an OLED display appeared first on Tech Guide.

The recently announced AI focused ASUS range of laptops powered by the new AMD Ryzen AI 300 Series processors. One of the highlights is the new Zenbook S16 with its new Ceraliminum coating which ASUS have sent over for us to check out. 

The Zenbook S16 is available for $3,499 with anAMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 Processor, 32GB LPDDR5X and 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen 4.0 SSD. The laptop includes a large 16-inch 3K ASUS Lumina OLED display powered by AMD Radeon 890M Graphics.

Light and thin, the Zenbook S16 incorporates a brand new material, a Ceraliminum coating which brings strength to the chassis, as well as a durable finish which has a ceramic feel, in a Zumaia Gray colour way.

I’ve been using the ASUS Zenbook S16 for a couple of weeks now and here’s how it went.

Hardware

Design

The laptop is ultra-thin and light despite the 16-inch display, measuring just 1.1 cm thin and 1.5 kg. Despite that 16-inch display, the Zenbook S16 still easily fits into a backpack to take with you on the road.

The lightweight all-metal chassis includes the gorgeous Ceraluminum finish on the lid with the ASUS Zen logo represented by crossing lines etched into it. The Ceraluminum finish feels great, as well as making it both strong and durable, with the Zenbook S16 carrying military spec (MIL-STD 810H) certification making it the perfect road companion. 

Despite that thin profile there’s a wide array of connectivity options including a USB Type-A, as well as USB 4.0 Type-C ports and HDMI 2.1 port and 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack, as well as a full sized SD card reader packed in.

The 16-inch OLED display is gorgeous with slim bezels at the side and a slightly thicker bezel at the top to accommodate the FHD camera at the top which supports IR for Windows Hello – though doesn’t have a privacy shutter.

The lower deck has a spacious Backlit Chiclet Keyboard and enormous precision glass touchpad. The keyboard now has a Copilot PC button to the left of the arrow keys, giving you fast access to the Windows AI assistant. 

At the top of the keyboard, you’ll see what appears to be a gorgeous CNC-machined speaker grill – it’s not. Instead it’s an external vent for cooling, but it looks great. Instead, you’ll find the speakers on the side on the base, using the table to rebound sound up to you. 

Display and Audio

The 16-inch Lumina OLED touch panel on the Zenbook S16 comes in a 16:10 aspect ratio, giving the unit a more squared off look. On the audio side, the Zenbook S16 comes with a 6-speaker audio system from Harman Kardon with powerful bass for a full theatre experience

The display offers refresh rates up to 120Hz making it quite smooth no matter what you throw at it. With a peak brightness of 500 nits, it’s not quite as bright as some of the ASUS Lumina displays I’ve used previously, but still bright enough to use outdoors, though the gloss finish shows a lot of reflections.

The display comes with all the certifications. It carries VESA Certified HDR True Black 500, it’s Pantone validated and has 100% DCI-P3 coverage. 

The touch component is useful, and ASUS have also included stylus support with an ASUS Pen included in the box. The ASUS Pen 2.0 is a lovely stylus to use, nicely weighted and comes with replaceable tips in H, HB and B tip sizes. 

I’m a bit of a fan of stylus’s (Stylii) for productivity and the only downside I see is that there’s no place to dock it, and knowing me, I’ll inevitably leave it at home when I need it.

On the audio side, the 6-speaker Harman Kardon system which includes Dolby Atmos support, sounds good. I’m still a little disappointed there’s no up-firing speakers in that grill above the keyboard, but the audio does sound good.

Of course it’s lacking in the lower end, but the mids and highs sound quite good – and you do get spatial audio effects thanks to Dolby Atmos which also lets you select from one of the preset EQ settings for games, movies, music or voice.

Performance

The key feature for the new ASUS Zenbook S16 is the new AI powered AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor which includes the AMD XDNA Neural Processing Unit (NPU) capable of up to 50 Trillion Operations Per Second (TOPS). The processor is paired with 32GB DDR5 RAM and 1TB SSD storage, with an integrated AMD Radeon 890M Graphics card.

The performance can be managed using the AMD software which lets you choose between Hypr-RX, Quality and Hypr-RX Eco profiles, as well as giving you a custom option. You obviously get more fan noise on the higher end performance profiles – but if you need that grunt, you’re going to get fan noise.

The Zenbook S16 can handle most day-to-day, as well as more power user focused tasks with relative ease. It also has the advantage over other ‘Copilot+ PC’s that have been released, in that the Zenbook S16 uses an x86 based architecture instead of the ARM based architecture on Qualcomm Snapdragon Elite processors, so ALL applications run without compatibility issues or need for an emulator. 

The AMD Radeon 890M integrated graphics though is definitely not going to cover your gaming needs. Using the lowest possible graphics settings in the likes of CyberPunk and Sons of the Forest, the game was lucky to hit low 20’s frames per second.

As usual, we ran it through the usual 3DMark tests and here’s how it went:

Battery and Charging

Powered by a 78WHrs, 2S2P, 4-cell Li-ion battery, the Zenbook S16 also includes a USB TYPE-C, 65W AC Adapter for charging.

The new range of ASUS PCs are ushering in AMD’s AI entry in the Copilot+ category, putting it squarely up against the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Series processors. In Stephen’s review of the Vivobook S15 with the Qualcomm Snapdragon Elite he saw around 18 hours of battery life, which the Zenbook S16 unfortunately falls short of.

The battery life on the Zenbook S16 is closer to 10-11 hours of solid use making it a great laptop for taking on the road where you won’t be seeing a charger until the end of the day.

Once you do get charging, the compact 65W charger gives you a 30 percent charge in 30 minutes, but took a shade over two hours to charge to full. 

Software

Windows

Running Windows 11 Home edition, the Zenbook S16 also includes fast access to the Microsoft Windows Copilot AI thanks to the button on the keyboard. The ASUS website doesn’t list the laptop as a Copilot+ PC, instead noting that there will be a ‘Free update to Copilot+ PC experiences, when available’.

The Windows experience is fine though, with the AMD processor utilising x86 architecture and hence there’s no Prism Emulator here, so it all just works.

In terms of pre-installed apps, you get the usual Microsoft applications including an Office 365 Trial. You also get the apps for configuring your hardware including an AMD app for the Radeon graphics, and the Dolby Access app for your audio.

ASUS have also loaded their apps onto the  Zenbook S16, including their AI powered StoryCube app as well as their ScreenXpert and GlideX apps, as well as the MyASUS app for configuring the hardware and getting support. 

AI

Copilot

The headliner AI feature for Microsoft is of course Copilot. The ‘ everyday AI companion’ as Microsoft calls it, is accessible almost instantly from the dedicated Copilot key on the keyboard. Copilot can do a lot in terms of searching and summarizing your emails or documents, and it can also generate imagery or text based on prompts. It’s a fun tool, and becoming more useful though I still spend a lot of time checking the output.

RECALL

Of course, one of the biggest features of the Copilot+ PC launch: Recall, isn’t launching. Microsoft announced their Recall feature has been ‘delayed’ over privacy concerns.

For those not aware, Recall was the AI powered feature which would be built-in to Windows. The feature would screenshot your activities and then allow you to easily find apps, documents, or messages you’ve previously used, visited or looked at, simply by asking the AI.

AI Co-Creator in Paint

Microsoft has still not sorted out the payments for their AI Image Creator in Paint. I haven’t been able to accrue credit to use here, and seems to underline the lack of Copilot+ functionality for AMD in Windows. 

Instead, I found I could create the image in Copilot using their generative AI.

ASUS AI StoryCube

ASUS have included their AI powered StoryCube app. The app imports photos from your local storage, connected devices, and can also connect to cloud services including Google Photos, iCloud and OneDrive.

The AI component is supposed to parse your photos, then group faces of your family, friends etc. making it easy to find them.  Where it failed for me was the cloud import, where most of my photos are stored. The Story Cube AI app seemed ok, except I had to reauthorise it each time while trying to test it. Suffice to say, I stopped trying. 

Should you buy it?

The ASUS Zenbook S16 is a stylish, and durable machine that has plenty of grunt to easily take care of your day-to-day browsing, office work and even some higher-end creative tasks. 

Where the Zenbook S16 doesn’t hold up is in gaming, and AI is still really waiting for more applications and use cases, but it IS ready to go on the laptop when those applications arrive. 

The Zenbook S16 though is a stunningly light and sturdy bit of kit, which will easily last through the day on a charge, with enough left for you to relax at the end of the day and happily perform most tasks with ease. 

The ASUS Zenbook S16 is available from $3,499 through the ASUS e-Shop, as well as JB HiFi, Harvey Norman, Officeworks, and Bing Lee.

The post ASUS Zenbook S16 (UM5606) Review: AMD AI smarts on show in a thin and light body appeared first on Tech Guide.

Peripheral maker Logitech recently updated their G305 gaming mouse, launching the Logitech G309 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming mouse. The G309 has just launched here in Australia, and around the world so it’s time to give it a whirl. 

Featuring their Lightspeed wireless connectivity, and including a Hero 25K sensor offering improved accuracy at low latency, and Lightforce Hybrid Switches and a refined design based on feedback from their e-sports partners.

Priced at $149.95, the Logitech G309 is aimed at casual gamers wanting a premium experience. I’ve been using the Logitech G309 for a couple of weeks now and here’s how it went. 

What’s in the box and Setup

The small box for the Logitech G309 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming mouse includes everything you need to get up and running. The G309 itself, as well as Lightspeed dongle and a USB extension cable. This mouse has ‘Batteries included’, with a AA battery ready to get you up and running. There’s also a set of grip stickers and a Quick Start guide and safety info.

It’s easy to connect, plug the battery into the mouse and turn it on. You can use Bluetooth, or just plug the dongle into a USB Type-A port on the PC you want to use to use the Lightspeed connection.

There was no issues connecting on Windows or Chrome OS using either the dongle or Bluetooth and I was easily able to pair it to my Android phone via Bluetooth.

For the more advanced users, you can download Logitech G Hub software for PC and Mac. The software can help with a number of configuration options like setting DPI for games, as well as assigning functions for games, or just updating your mouse firmware. 

The dongle itself may look like previous generations, but it’s had an update letting it support dual device connections with compatible keyboards so you don’t need two dongles. The list of compatible keyboards includes the G515 TKL, G715, G915, G915 TKL, Pro X 60 and Pro X TK making it an easy choice for owners of those keyboards to update. 

Design

The Logitech G309 Lightspeed doesn’t have a wild design. It’s a pretty standard looking 6-button mouse with a scroll wheel. 

The real changes in design have come in the overall shape of the mouse. Logitech has improved the Claw and Palm grip, which they say has given it a little more width at the back and more height in the top to more comfortably fit into your hand and making it easier to grasp. 

It works too, it feels great in the hand – even with my larger hands. There is a small area of what Logitech calls ‘Negative Space’ behind the mouse buttons that will attract dust and other gunk, and I’m not a huge fan.

While the space could be a magnet for dirt, the space is where you get the multi-coloured LED which indicates your profile, and also makes it easy to remove the back cover to access the battery and the slot to store your dongle when it’s not in use.

The Lightforce switches have a great click to them, with no extra force required. It’s just a nice, easy click. The scroll wheel though, while it has a great click – It does not have a free wheel option which is disappointing. 

You get PTFE pads on the feet, which offers a super smooth experience with very low friction when moving the G309 across almost any surface. You’ll also see the PowerPlay connector on the base, letting you remove the battery – though the $149.95 price tag is fairly rich to save a few grams on the battery on an already fairly lightweight mouse.

Charging and Battery Life

Running on a single AA battery, or the Logitech G PowerPlay Wireless Charging mat, you have a couple of options with the Logitech G309 Lightspeed Gaming mouse.

You can get up to 300 hours using the Lightspeed connection, or 600 hours using Bluetooth. The Lightspeed connection offers more accuracy and a report rate as low as 1ms, making for a super accurate device – but you’ll pay for that with higher battery drain.

At 300/600 hours, I admit to not having tested this out. I’ve been using the mouse for two weeks though, and it’s currently tracking at 95% after that time. There’s an auto shut off on the G309 as well which will save you some battery. 

Should you buy it?

As far as gaming mice go, the Logitech G309 is a pretty good update in terms of tech and design improvements. 

There’s a couple of issues with the negative space, and I’m not a huge fan of the lack of scroll wheel, but overall, it’s a super comfortable mouse to use and it connects really easily. 

It’s a premium option, so at $149.95 it’s not going to be for everyone – but for anyone starting to get serious about their e-sports career it’s a great starting point. It has the Lightspeed connection, Hero 25K sensor and Lightforce switches – all with a super long battery life and comfortable design. 

If you’re a gamer and want to cut the cord, the Logitech G309 makes for a great option for casual gamers wanting that premium mouse. 

You can check out the Logitech G309 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming mouse on the Logitech website, or through JB Hifi and Bing Lee. 

The post Logitech G309 Lightspeed Gaming Mouse Review: Comfortable wireless gaming with a premium price appeared first on Tech Guide.

The ASUS Vivobook S15 is the company’s first Copilot+ PC model and the first to have the ARM-based Snapdragon X Elite processor to enable the laptop to process AI tasks on the device.

For the moment the Copilot+ PC AI features offer a lot of promise – there’s not a whole lot you can do for now – but you do have the platform that will serve you well into the future when these features flourish and mature.

The ASUS Vivobook S15 has a sleek look with 14.7mm thickness and a weight of 1.42kg.

The laptop has a stunning Lumina OLED 15.6 inch display with a resolution of 2880 x 1620. But it’s not a touch screen.

It would have been nice to be able to interact with the screen but instead you get a MacBook like experience where everything is driven from the keyboard and trackpad.

There is a lot of room to move with a screen of this size so when you’re not working it makes an excellent backdrop to view your content.

On the audio side, the system has been tuned by Harman Kardon with impressive results so the sound can match the quality you’re getting from the screen.

Under the hood is the Snapdragon X Elite processor with 32GB RAM and a 1TB SSD (solid state drive).

The keyboard is wide and extensive and even includes a numerical keypad on the right side.

This threw us off centre a little bit when reaching for the backspace and shift keys on the right side.

Personally, we would have preferred more space either side of the keyboard and the regular keyboard centred on the device. There is, after all, a row of numbers at the top of the keyboard.

The keyboard has blue LED backlighting which, with the silver keys make it less than ideal to read the letters on the keys at times.

The lid has a sculpted shape on the back edge near the hinges and can open up to lie flat on your desktop and to make it easier to view when you’re holding the laptop in your arms.

On the connectivity side, there is a HDMI port, two USB-C ports, a micro SD card slot and a headphone jack on the left edge.

On the right, you’ll find two USB-3 ports capable of 5Gbps transfers.

On the back and on the base of the laptop there are vents to keep things cool. It did such a good job, we never heard the fans once.

Performance wise, the ASUS Vivobook S15 easily held its own with speeds somewhere between an Intel i7 and i9 processor – so not too shabby.

Like we saw with our Surface Pro review recently, the S15 runs the ARM-based Snapdragon X Elite processor and there may be some compatibility issues with certain applications.

But for the most part the ASUS Vivobook S15 was a solid companion to get us through our workload which included running Microsoft Word, Adobe Photoshop and the Edge browser.

Microsoft has Prism which can act as a translator so that more apps will run on ARM despite being designed for Intel architecture.

Apple had a similar application called Rosetta which made it possible for applications written to run on the Intel-based Macs to run on Apple’s own silicon.

If gaming is your central focus, then the ASUS Vivobook S15 is not the product for you.

Gamers can still enjoy some titles but there are some games that won’t work because of the ARM-based architecture.

Graphics performance is OK for most tasks but slightly below the level required to offer a complete gaming experience. ASUS has other products just for you.

With AI, there is plenty of functionality thanks to the Copilot+ PC platform which includes Translation for up to 44 languages in real time for people talking near the computer or on video calls.

Cocreator can turn your doodles into works of art but without a touchscreen you have to rely on the trackpad or mouse.

Another AI feature – Recall – which is like your computer’s photographic memory to help you remember what you saw on your PC, was removed just before the official launch and can now be accessed through the Windows Insider program.

ASUS has also included a range of exclusive software to help customers us AI in their daily lives.

These include ASUS StoryCube – an AI-powered digital asset-management tool, which can automatically organise photos and videos.

ASUS AI Noise Cancellation leverages a deep-learning database to reduce background noise in meetings and calls, for clear audio.

ASUS Adaptive Dimming can recognise when a user looks away and dims the screen, which helps to maintain power consumption.

The laptop will be automatically locked when the user moves away.  And it will unlock when the user return to ensure greater security.

The ASUS Vivobook S15 has a 70 Watt hour battery which a Zeus says can OfferUp to 18 hours of battery life.

We found this was more like 16 hours for us using it as our daily driver for our work and being constantly connected to wi-fi. And that’s still respectable.

The ASUS Vivobook S15 is available now and is priced at $2,699. It’s available from the ASUS E-shop, JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman and Officeworks.

VERDICT

The ASUS Vivobook S15 is a great starting point for customers looking to purchase their first Copilot+ PC and enjoy the benefits of AI as it improves in the months and years to come. On top of that the laptop can easily power you through your work and provide a high quality entertainment experience as well.

The post ASUS Vivobook S15 2024 Copilot+PC review – smarter than your average laptop with onboard AI appeared first on Tech Guide.

The new Microsoft Surface Pro – one of the first cabs off the rank under the Copilot+ PC banner – is a remarkably powerful and useful tablet that will easily meet your productivity and entertainment needs.

The tablet is running the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chip – this is brand-new silicon that brings it into the Copilot+ PC class and enables much of its AI functionality to occur on device.

This new chip has brought to PC users improved speed and battery life for the very first time.

Microsoft was quick to draw comparisons with Apple’s M series chips and while we found they didn’t meet Microsoft’s comparative claims they are not far off in terms of performance.

One of the biggest selling points of the Surface Pro is it’s AI features which will be less attractive to some than the performance and battery life.

Now, the biggest features are Cocreator in Paint which can help turn your doodles into decent images and the Translation functionality which can help break the language barrier.

The other headline feature Recall – which can help you remember what you saw on your PC, was dramatically pulled just days before the official launch and can now be accessed through the Windows Insider program.

The processor running the Surface Pro use mobile ARM technology rather than x86 and x64 chips from traditional PC chip makers Intel and AMD.

It has more in common with your smartphone than a computer, but Microsoft has tinkered with Windows 11 so it can work well with new and older software.

The Surface Pro is a tablet with your choice of 16GB or 32GB RAM and storage options up to 1TB.

Onboard is a 13-inch display with a resolution of 2880 X 1920 add an aspect ratio of 3:2. Our review had the more expensive OLED screen but there is a cheaper LCD version available.

It has a dynamic refresh rate up to 120 Hz.

The screen was remarkably sharp and clear and provided a great canvas for our work and content.

It has a Quad HD front facing Surface Studio camera and comes with Windows Studio Effects which offers automatic framing and other creative filters.

Unfortunately, the keyboard needs to be purchased separately.

But it is high quality and offers an excellent typing experience to turn the tablet into a laptop effortlessly.

What we liked was the ability to use the keyboard wirelessly with the Surface Pro.

This way we were able to keep the keyboard close to us with the display up on the desk.

This offered us some flexibility in how we were able to work.

The keyboard also comes with the Surface Slim Pen so you’re able to write or draw on the screen.

It did come in handy with the Cocreator feature in Paint.

We used the pen to draw a house and Cocreator kicked in and offered us a much better version of the sketch.

The Surface Pro has a kickstand which works well when propped up on a desk but not so stable when you’re trying to type on your lap.

On the connectivity side, there are only two USB C ports on the left edge.

What you don’t get is a physical headphone jack or any memory card slots.

Microsoft is persisting with its blade-like charger which could easily have been a spot for another port or a memory card slot.

You can purchase a Surface Dock to expand your connectivity with prices starting at $419.95. Users may also opt for cheaper third party docks.

On the performance side, the Surface Pro didn’t skip a beat and for our workflow ran admirably.

Naturally, applications like Microsoft Office and the Edge browser worked well with the ARM-based chip under the hood.

But we understand there may be compatibility issues for some professional editing software for video and audio which may not perform at its best.

We also believe some antivirus software will be unable to be installed so you may have to rely solely on the built in Windows Security.

We recommend checking that the software you use the most will work if you are considering this device.

For our workflow we were able to run Microsoft Word, the Edge browser and Adobe Photoshop.

If you’re a keen gamer there are some apps that also won’t work if they use a version of OpenGL greater than 3.3 or have anti-cheat drivers which haven’t been designed for Windows 11 arm based PCs.

But for us none of these limitations were a deal breaker.

We found the Microsoft Surface Pro to be a reliable and sturdy platform.

On the battery side we got just under the 14 hour mark using it as our daily driver, viewing content, connected to Wi-Fi and completing our tasks.

The Surface Pro Copilot+ PC starts at $1899 with the LCD display while the OLED model starts at $2699.

The Surface Pro Flex Keyboard with Slim Pen is $769.95.

VERDICT

The Microsoft Surface Pro Copilot+ PC offers impressive performance and battery life with the bonus of AI functionality on device that will serve users well into the future.

The post Microsoft Surface Pro Copilot+ PC review – power, performance and on-device AI as well appeared first on Tech Guide.

The future has arrived. Apple’s Vision Pro is one of the most impressive pieces of technology we’ve seen in recent years and it paves the way for a whole new computing experience now and well into the future.

Apple has rightly not called the Vision Pro an VR or AR headset – it is all of that and so much more so it deserves not to be pigeon-holed.

We’ve seen many other headsets on the market in the past but none of them have the level of innovation and technology of the Vision Pro.

Customers have to remember this is a stand-alone spatial computer – powered by an M2 chip (8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine) and a new R1 chip which processes inputs from the onboard cameras and sensors – which can operate on its own even without a phone or laptop nearby.

Naturally, Apple has made Vision Pro fit into its excellent ecosystem so Apple customers already inside the walled garden can enjoy all-new experiences.

And like all of Apple’s other products, the quality, design and finish of the Vision Pro will amaze customers along with the countless other touches that are sure to surprise and delight them.

DESIGN

The Vision Pro has a sleek design that offers the typical high quality you would come to expect from Apple.

It is not a one size fits all product with customers who order the device are required to scan their faces to ensure they have the right size strap and light seal included with the unit.

The Vision Pro has numerous cameras and sensors which are used to allow customers to see their surroundings quite clearly but also to pick up their gestures and movements.

There is a little bit of weight (600-650g depending on the light seal and band you’re using) to the Vision Pro but in the week we’ve been using it we were able to fit it comfortably and securely and use it for hours at a time.

The weight is all in the front – you are literally wearing a computer on your face – but the included straps still provide a balanced and comfortable fit.

We used the main Solo Knit wide band that allowed us to keep everything in place comfortably, but Apple also includes a second Dual Loop band that goes over your head for those who need a little bit of help taking the weight.

When you slip on the Vision Pro, there is a small Fit Dial on the right side to offer a tighter fit or to loosen it.

The battery pack is separate and connects to Vision Pro with their proprietary cable that locks into position.

There is a bit of weight to the battery and users need to be careful that it doesn’t fall out of your hand or your pocket and possibly drag the Vision Pro to the ground with it.

We were constantly mindful to have the battery pack in our back pocket or in our lap but also had to remind ourselves to ensure it was close to us when we stood up or moved around the room.

We found the battery lasted about two to two and a half hours on a full charge but we were able to connect it to power on the included USB-C port so we could work, play and enjoy our content for hours at a time.

The light seal attaches magnetically to Vision Pro and blocks out the light while providing a soft cushion for your face.

The Solo Knit band also has cushioning and can stretch to fit around the back of your head.

EYE PIECES

If you wear glasses, you can either obtain a reader or prescription eyepieces (at additional cost) that attach magnetically inside Vision Pro to replicate the level of correction that your glasses would normally offer.

For our review we had two Zeiss eyepieces that matched our reading glasses prescription and that made viewing vision pro razor sharp and crystal clear.

Inside the Vision Pro are two screens and each have resolution that’s greater than the 4K TV you’re watching in your lounge room.

WHAT’S IT FOR

The Vision Pro is not just a toy or a novelty device. This is a product that can be used to work, for productivity, for education, to enjoy apps, play games, watch sport, stream content and much more.

HOW DOES IT WORK

The Vision Pro uses eye tracking for you to navigate the system.

You simply look at an object to highlight it and gently tap your finger and thumb together to create your virtual mouse click.

The real strength of the device is the fact that there are no complicated controllers that you need to hold and learn.

Unlike other virtual reality headsets, Vision Pro takes no time to learn how to use.

It’s easy to arrange and resize windows as well as opening apps and closing them – it’s literally a glance that’s all that’s required.

APPS

There are already more than 2,000 apps designed for Vision Pro ranging from productivity tools, games, utilities and entertainment – and they all utilise the unique environment that Vision Pro creates.

And there are millions of iPhone and iPad apps that can also be enjoyed on Vision Pro including many games said utilities and other popular apps like browsers, Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, TikTok, Zoom, Webex, Microsoft Word and much more.

Apps and windows float magically in your physical space – you can even stand up and walk up to it and around it. If you open a window in one part of the house and walk to another room – that other window will still be there when you get back.

ENVIRONMENTS

The main area that arranges your apps has three options to the left – Apps, People and Environments.

In the environments section users have the choice to transport themselves to various exotic locations including Joshua tree, a Hawaiian volcano, a beautiful white sandy desert, Yosemite national park, Mount Hood and even the moon.

Each of these environments has its own characteristics and audio that truly transport you to that place.

These environments can also be used as a backdrop for your app windows and Facetime calls with the digital crown offering the ability to wind them up or down depending on the level of immersion you want.

WORK AND PRODUCTIVITY

Apple’s Vision Pro is definitely a work and productivity tool that can help you focus on the task at hand and offer even more screen real estate to spread out your work.

There are a lot of native apps including Keynote that allows users to stay productive.

Keynote for Vision Pro is a remarkable tool that not only helps you create your presentation in the same easy and dynamic way that you would on your Mac but also allows you to rehearse your presentation in a remarkable way.

Users can choose to stand on the stage at the Steve Jobs theatre to rehearse their presentation – the same spot where Apple CEO Tim Cook kicks off his keynote presentations.

And you are totally immersed in the environment which includes not only the hundreds of seats in front of you but, if you look behind you, you’ll see your presentation on the big screen as well as your presenter notes in front of you.

Users can also choose to rehearse in a boardroom setting. This is just one example of how Vision Pro can add a whole new dimension to your workflow.

One of our favourite features of Vision Pro is the ability to connect it to our MacBook and use it as our display.

All you need to do is look at your MacBook Air or MacBook Pro and see the Connect option appear.

Once selected the screen on the laptop goes blank and you are suddenly presented with a stunning 5K display that you can resize and reposition right in front of you.

You can still use the keyboard and trackpad and a connected mouse for your input and control but you now have a dazzling display that only you can see.

This is useful to not only stay focused on your project but also to provide added privacy if you are working on a sensitive project.

CONTENT

Viewing content on the Apple Vision Pro is an experience like no other.

Whether it’s streaming a movie, watching the latest episode of your favourite TV show or catching up on a live game the Vision Pro is nothing short of incredible.

Apple TV+ and Disney+ have Vision Pro versions of their apps so viewers can watch the latest movies and TV shows on the equivalent of a huge screen. Interestingly Netflix and YouTube native apps are not yet available on Vision Pro, but you can still watch their content on the included Safari browser.

Vision Pro is like having a portable home theatre.

Now I have gone to great lengths and considerable cost to create a theatre in my house which offers the best possible audio visual experience.

The Vision Pro viewing offers incredible picture and audio quality and is not too far behind our dedicated home theatre in terms of providing an exciting viewing experience.

But the Vision Pro is a solo device whereas my home theatre has several seats for many people to enjoy the movie.

But watching a regular TV screen means having to sit up and look towards the screen.

With Vision Pro the screen moves with you wherever you are looking or moving your head so it would be possible to recline in a comfortable chair or even lay down in bed to watch your content.

But Vision Pro does have the ability for SharePlay so connected Vision Pro users can watch the same movie or TV show on Apple TV at the same time.

Users can choose to be sitting in the front row middle or back of the theatre.

Disney+ also has backdrop options to give users the impression they are at a unique drive-in cinema.

Our favourite Disney+ backdrop was the Star Wars location Tatooine.

IMMERSIVE CONTENT

The Vision Pro can offer users total immersion and Apple TV has just the content to deliver that experience with its Apple Immersive videos.

These are more than just watching a large screen in front of you – these videos take you inside the world you’re watching whether it’s a mountain climber, sitting beside Alicia Keys at a piano, on an African safari, courtside at a basketball match, behind the net at the football or on the field during an American football match.

The potential is huge for major sports to create an all new way to watch the games as if you are sitting courtside or behind the net or on the sideline.

If I could watch live sport like this every week, shut up and take my money right now!

The NBA has developed an app that allows users to watch multiple games at the same time and choose which game they would prefer on the largest central screen.

The PGA Tour has also created a remarkable app that allows you to track tournaments hole by hole and even present 3D augmented reality versions of each hole that you are able to view in real time. This is simply stunning.

3D

Vision Pro also has the potential to start a 3D revival.

Yes, that’s right. You can watch movies in 3D on Apple TV+ and on Disney+ as part of your subscription.

And there are plenty of titles to choose from including the latest Avatar film and 3D versions of some of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters including Dune and the latest Star Wars films.

GAMING

Vision Pro is a gamer’s paradise with so many apps built specifically for the device but also countless others which can also be enjoyed in an all-new way.

There’s AirDraw that allows you to paint with your fingers in your own open space.

Super Fruit Ninja, the popular Australian made game, which uses the gesture controls to start slicing away at the virtual fruit appearing in front of you.

If you’re a fan of racing games, there are plenty to choose from and you can even pair an Xbox or PlayStation controller so you can enjoy the massive screen inside Vision Pro and the physical controls in your hands.

AUGMENTED REALITY

There are several apps that can add digital content to your own personal space including JigSpace (another Australian app) which allows you to place 3D objects like jet engines and Formula One cars right in front of you and even take them apart.

Another favourite was Exploring Mars Which placed the Mars Rover right in front of us and allowed us to watch it operate and choose its size before our eyes.

We also loved Sky Guide which allowed us to gaze virtually at the night sky and zoom in on various constellations to explore and learn more about the universe.

And there are many more and there will be many more in the future.

FACETIME

Making a Facetime call with the Vision Pro is one of best things we experienced.

You can connect with other Vision Pro users and talk to each other like you’re in the same room sitting at a table.

It is infinitely better than a video call.

So how can you be seen on Facetime with the Vision Pro – there’s no camera on you and you’re wearing a headset.

You’re seen through your Persona – a 3D rendering of your face and hands that can mimic your actions and expressions and provide a realistic version of you.

We tried a Facetime call with Trevor Long and Kane Vato who had also created Personas for their Vision Pro and it was as close to seeing them in person you can get without actually meeting.

And once you turn on the spatial settings the sound when they are talking is coming from the direction you can see them – just like you would in their presence.

You can set backgrounds for the chat, share your own view and even enjoy SharePlay together so you can watch the same TV show and movie like you’re all in the same room.

This is truly one of the most impressive communications experiences we’ve had since the launch of Facetime.

SPATIAL PHOTOS AND VIDEOS

The Vision Pro is actually a 3D camera you can use it to capture spatial photos and spatial videos that are so lifelike it’s like revisiting a moment in time when you watch it. It’s like you’re there again.

iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max can also capture spatial videos so they can be viewed in 3D on Vision Pro and Canon and BlackMagic Design also have plans to release cameras and lenses to create Spatial content.

This is an all-new way of creating and reliving those precious moments in your life.

TRAVELLING WITH VISION PRO

The Vision Pro is an ideal travel companion that allows you to watch content and use apps like never before.

There is a travel mode onboard Vision Pro to ensure all the windows you open stay with you rather than being left behind because the plane is travelling at high speed.

In travel mode it locates your windows relative to the Vision Pro rather than in your location when using it in your home.

The ability to enjoy your huge personal cinema in comfort and privacy makes Vision Pro a great device to take with you on your travels.

WHAT WE DIDN’T LIKE

The one thing that could be better with Vision Pro is the battery.

It’s tethered to the Vision Pro with a proprietary cable and something you must remember to keep in your pocket or close to you.

If you drop it, it could lead to an accident that could drag the Vision Pro to the floor.

We can understand Apple wanting to keep the battery pack separate to the actual Vision Pro to reduce the weight of the product.

Other brands have located the battery at the back of the headband which balances the weight and keeps everything in one place in a compact package.

Battery life could also be better using it steadily for an hour and a half to two hours could easily bring you below 20 per cent.

Vision Pro does come with a charger and a USB-C cable to allow users to keep it plugged in so they can use it for hours on end.

PRICE

OK, let’s talk about the price.

The Vision Pro starts at $5,999 which means it’s not going to be within the reach of most regular customers.

We can understand brand new technology comes at a high cost.

We’ve seen this in the past and notice prices come down in the years that follow.

But you must remember, the Vision Pro is a standalone spatial computer and a powerful one at that.

It offers incredible power and performance which goes a long way to giving users a memorable experience every time they put it on.

There are many customers who are avid gamers who wouldn’t bet an eyelid paying thousands of dollars to ensure top level performance and low lag when it comes to playing the latest games.

By that logic, Vision Pro should attract the customer who wants not only an excellent gaming device but a device that provides the ultimate productivity tools and a stunning way to view their content.

VERDICT

Apple’s Vision Pro is one of the most advanced products we’ve ever seen. Apple has created an all-new way to work, play, communicate and consume content as only Apple could. The Vision Pro is exciting – but it is the product’s potential that has us even more excited. This is a true game changer.

* For more Australian Vision Pro reviews check out Trevor Long at EFTM and Val Quinn at Gadget Guy.

The post Apple Vision Pro review – the future has arrived. It’s a game-changing experience appeared first on Tech Guide.

Netgear has always led the way creating a robust and reliable wireless network with its Orbi products and its latest offering – the Orbi 970 – packs in the latest Wi-Fi 7 technology and raises the bar in terms of speed and quality.

Tech Guide replaced all the networks at our place with the new Orbi 970 and it gave us high speed connectivity in our two-storey home from the front of the house all the way to the back, upstairs and down.

Today it’s not uncommon for a household to have more than 40 or 50 connected devices or maybe even more from your smart TV, laptops, smartphones, gaming consoles, printers, smart devices, security cameras and much more.

We are also spending more time working from home so having a robust connection for high quality video calls and downloading and uploading files is essential.

On top of Wi-Fi 7, the Netgear Orbi 970 packs in so much new technology to create a network that’s going to keep you connected at high speeds across your entire home.

There are three units in the box – a main router and two satellites which can provide coverage at up to 660 square metres.

These units are taller than the previous Orbi units but have a more cylindrical look and a smaller footprint.

The Orbi 970 has four bands – a 6Ghz band, two 5Ghz bands and a 2.4Ghz band.

The 6Ghz band was introduced with the Wi-Fi 6E and Netgear expands that channel to 320Mhz to increase the speeds and performance – and you can tell.

The Orbi 970 also has enhanced dedicated backhaul – this is the channel that brings data back from the satellites to the main router – to keep the wi-fi fast on the other bands.

The Orbi 970 uses both the 6GHz and 5Ghz bands at the same time to reduce the amount of network traffic and keep you connected at high speed.

What it also does is enable your connected devices to simultaneously send and receive data across these bands which increases throughput.

The other problem with older standards of wi-fi is interference. This new Netgear Orbi has smart interference management to reduce the network congestion and keep things moving along.

The Netgear Orbi 970 a 10 Gigabit internet and Ethernet port which will be able to handle even faster internet speeds when they are available.

Netgear says Wi-Fi 7 delivers up to 2.4x faster speed than Wi-Fi 6 and is also backwards compatible with older devices.

Naturally if you have a Wi-Fi 7 device, like the latest Microsoft Copilot+ PCs and the latest smartphones, you’ll enjoy the full benefits of this latest technology.

The Orbi achieves all this with an innovative high performance antenna array that sprays out 360-degree Wi-Fi coverage to reaches every corner of your home.

It certainly did that for us.

Set up is really simple and is managed through the Netgear Orbi app which takes you step by step through the process.

Basically it involves connecting the main router to your existing NBN modem router, connect via the Orbi app before renaming the network and creating your own password.

The next step is to choose locations in your home for the two satellites.

In our case, the main router was located on the lower floor in the middle of the house, so we placed one satellite towards the back of the bottom floor and the second satellite upstairs towards the front of the house.

Then it was a matter of the router locating those other satellites and bringing them online and communicating with them.

The whole setup process took roughly about 20 minutes.

The Orbi app also comes in handy to manage the network with the ability to see the devices on your network as well as set up parental controls and give you an excellent top down look on the entire network.

The main router and the satellites also have Ethernet ports, so you can connect nearby devices like smart TVs, gaming consoles and computers.

But the wireless performance will still offer the same performance and reliability.

The Orbi 970 creates up to three separate networks – a main network, a smart home IoT network and a separate network for guests.

The IoT network runs on the 2.4Ghz band and that makes adding new smart home devices even easier.

So how does the network perform? The answer is amazingly well.

We were stunned to see amazing speeds in all corners of our home.

We have a 1Gbps NBN fibre to the home connection through Aussie Broadband and we were able to enjoy most of that speed anywhere in our home.

Now there are two speeds to look at here.

The Netgear Orbi app provides a speed test which looks at the speed of the network between the satellites and the router inside your home.

The Speedtest app by Ookla tests just how fast your internet connection is in various locations around the house.

We tested for both speeds on the bottom floor – front, middle and back and front, middle and back on the top floor and found we achieved speeds that were well over 900Mbps in all areas of the house.

And these speeds were tested in the usually busier morning period of the day.

The Netgear Orbi 970 also comes with a one-year subscription to Netgear Armor which is powered by BitDefender.

This offers an added layer of security and a VPN that helps plug up any vulnerabilities in your network and on your connected devices.

The Netgear Orbi 970 has created easily the best wi-fi network we’ve ever had.

We are seeing consistent high speeds across our entire home.

But this level of quality and reliability does come at a price.

The Netgear Orbi 970 3-pack is priced at $4,299. That’s not cheap.

There is no question about the quality of the wireless network and, at this price, this would be seen an investment.

An investment in your connectivity which is not just about entertainment and gaming but also for education and work.

For those who are renovating their home or building a new home this would be an ideal addition.

The Netgear Orbi 970 is the Rolls Royce of mesh systems.

But there are other Netgear Orbi options that are a lot cheaper but you it won’t be Wi-Fi 7 and it won’t have the range and quality of the latest Orbi 970.

 VERDICT

The Netgear Orbi 970 is the new benchmark when it comes to creating the ultimate wireless network in your home. It is not the cheapest – but it is the best.

The post Netgear Orbi 970 Wi-Fi 7 review – the Rolls Royce of mesh systems appeared first on Tech Guide.

Who says a computer has to take up a lot of space? Not Geekom. It’s new Mini IT13 has a footprint that’s smaller than a CD case yet still offers remarkable power and performance.

The Geekom Mini IT13 is running Windows 11 Pro and measures just 11.7cm x 11.2cm x 4.92cm and can be used at home or in your office.

Being so small it could be used anywhere.

This style of PC is almost a specialty product that, because of its small size, means it can be used in a variety of ways and in a variety of places including inside vehicles, in caravans, in stores as point of sale (POS) computers, in boardrooms and meeting rooms and as a media centre connected to a TV.

Geekom is a Taiwanese company that’s been operating for more than 20 years building mini PCs which have sold around the world including the US and Europe. It has now entered the Australian market.

Under the hood of the device we were sent for review is the 13^th Gen Intel Core i9-13900H along with the Intel Iris Xe graphics with 32GB RAM and 2TB of SSD storage.

So just looking at those specs should tell you that despite the Geekom’s small size it can certainly still deliver stunning performance and punch well and truly above its weight.

The latest CPU of the i9-13th is paired with a 4×4 ultra-fine mini motherboard, and the ultra-high turbo frequency reaches up to 5.4 Hz.

You also can’t hear it while it’s running thanks to the quiet fan keeping things cool.

While the Intel Iris Xe Graphics onboard the Geekom’s Mini IT13’s CPU performs well to meet your general needs and for casual games, users should look at an external discrete graphics card to meet production needs like high-end video editing and to play the latest cutting edge games.

With the Geekom Mini IT13 you can really spread out your work. It can simultaneously power two 8K displays and two 4K displays – so up to four monitors in total via its two HDMI 2.0 and two USB-C 4.0 port.

On the connectivity side there are also three USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, one USB 2.0 port, an SD card reader and a 2.5GbE LAN port.

It also has Wi-Fi 6E which supports dual-stream Wi-Fi in the 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz bands along with Bluetooth 5.3.

Another plus about the device which some customers will appreciate is that it offers easy internal access so it’s possible to expand the memory and make other tweaks.

Also includes in the box is a VESA mounting plate.

This means you take advantage of the spot on the back of your monitor if it’s sitting on your desk and place it on the rear of the screen and completely out of the way.

Now the computer is really small right? One reason for that is that it doesn’t include the power supply which is separate and connect to the power cord.

And this power supply brick has almost the same volume as the Geekom Mini IT13 itself. This is not even close to a deal breaker, but you need to find room for the power supply and the power cord.

But on the plus side it does come with a HDMI cable.

The Geekom Mini IT13 i9 with 32GB RAM and 2TB SSD storage is available now and is priced at $1,299 – that’s down from $1,999.

The i5 version with 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD is $849 (down from $999) and i7 with 32GB RAM and 1TB SSD is $1,199 (down from $1,499).

www.geekom.au

VERDICT

The post Geekom Mini IT13 review – a tiny but mighty PC that can fit anywhere appeared first on Tech Guide.

When is a router not a router? When that router looks like the D-Link Aquila Pro AI M30 which is designed to blend in or fade in to the background in your home.

This worked out well for our review because my daughter had asked me to come and fix up the wi-fi in her two-level apartment.

The issue for her was that upstairs, where the NBN modem router was located, the wi-fi was good not great but downstairs it was rubbish.

This is a common occurrence for many NBN customers with the modem at the front of the house and their TV and gaming consoles and anything else that needs the internet located at the back of the home.

So it’s the Aquila Pro Wi-Fi 6 mesh wi-fi router to the rescue.

My daughter wouldn’t want anything too big and definitely nothing that obviously looks like a modem with flashing lights.

The Aquila Pro was the perfect fit. The two-pack ($399.95) includes two routers that look more like a work of art than a tech product.

In fact, it won the 2023 Good Design Award.

With its curved wing design, the Aquila Pro looks more like a sculpture than a piece of technology but under the hood it’s got what you need.

This includes speeds of up to 3Gbps with 160Hz bandwidth support along with a Gigabit Internet WAN port and four Gigabit LAN ports so you can plug in other products like smart TVs, gaming consoles, 4K players and set top boxes.

It also has AI onboard including AI Wi-Fi Optimiser, AI Mesh Optimiser and AI Traffic Optimiser which all add up to improved wi-fi performance in your home.

Wi-Fi Optimiser works out the best channel for each connected device on the network while AI Mesh Optimiser can also head off any potential network issues.

The AI Traffic Optimiser make sure that you have uninterrupted 4K and 8K streaming with AI-powered QoS (quality of service) technology to make sure your connections are fast and smooth.

Set up is a breeze thanks to the Aquila Pro companion app that takes you step by step through the process.

In our case, it was a matter of first of connecting the D-Link router to the modem and establishing that connection before positioning the second unit downstairs and joining them together using the WPS (Wi-Fi protected setup) button on each unit.

This got the two units talking to each other and connecting.

As a result the faster connection downstairs was extended and shared downstairs.

Our subsequent speed tests showed the wi-fi speeds downstairs were the same if not slightly faster than those upstairs.

Even the wi-fi speeds upstairs had improved from our first test thanks which the Aquila Pro routers.

What helps here is the special antenna array system which cover up to 465 square metres. And if you buy the three pack you can cover up to 650 square metres.

As we demonstrated with my daughter’s two-level apartment – the Aquila Pro is built to handle multi-storey dwellings.

The one downside of the device is it offers one combined network and doesn’t separate the 2.4Ghz band from the 5Ghz band.

Having the 2.4Ghz band on its own makes it easy to connect certain smart products that can only connect to the 2.4Ghz portion of the network.

But that’s not an issue here because the AI Wi-Fi Optimiser steers the product to the right band.

The D-Link Aquila Pro is available now and priced at $399.95 (two pack) and $549.95 (three pack).

VERDICT

The D-Link Aquila Pro AI M30 Wi-Fi 6 mesh system is easy to set up and manage and is designed to sit in the background offer a faster and more robust wireless network. It’s a no-fuss system that delivers excellent results.

The post D-Link Aquila Pro AI M30 mesh router review – a stylish and simple way to boost your home’s wi-fi appeared first on Tech Guide.

There are often times when we need to connect our computer or mobile device to a TV for a presentation or to enjoy your content on a larger screen and the Verbatim Share My Screen 4K makes it really quick and easy.

Yes, there are ways to mirror your screen but it’s hardly ever a seamless experience when you try and convince one brand of laptop to talk to a particular brand of smart TV.

There is no such issue with the Verbatim Share My Screen 4K.

It doesn’t matter what laptop you have – Windows (Windows 7 and later), Mac (macOS 10.2 and later) or Chrome OS – you connect the transmitter to laptop and the receiver to the TV, monitor or projector and you’re good to go.

It even works with smartphones and tablets running Android.

This is especially effective when you need to share your screen for a presentation in an office you’ve never visited before.

If there is no existing wireless set-up or cable it can be an anxious set up – that’s the last thing you need before an important presentation.

You’re already nervous and want to nail it, not stuff around with the AV set-up and typing in their guest wi-fi password correctly.

Thankfully the Verbatim Share My Screen 4K is super simple to set up.

The receiver connects to the TV or monitor with a HDMI cable – this isn’t included so you need to supply your own.

The receiver also needs power through its USB-C port, and you do get the USB-A to USB-C cable but you need your own plug – you can use the one that charges your phone and you can also use your own USB-C to USB-C cable.

Next you plug the transmitter into a USB-C port on your laptop or Android device.

When we got to the right input on the screen, we pressed the button on the receiver and the button on the transmitter to sync them together and we were looking at our laptop display on our 85-inch TV.

The device supports 4K resolution at 30Hz which is suitable for presentations, streaming and gaming.

And there is no mess of cables – it’s all happening wirelessly.

It will work within a 10m range between the receiver and the transmitter so that offers a lot of flexibility.

And it’s so simple to set up – anyone can do it.

The transmitter attached to your laptop or Android device has a USB-A port as well and this means it can act like a hub so you can connect a keyboard, mouse or external hard drive.

The Verbatim Share My Screen 4K is ideal for a professional or a student and anyone else who wants to get what’s on their smaller screen on their TV screen with minimal fuss and next to no set-up.

It is available now and is priced at $199.

The post Connect your laptop to your TV quickly and easily with the Verbatim Share My Screen 4K appeared first on Tech Guide.

The new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air with the M3 chip is an impressive update for the extremely popular laptop and would be a welcome improvement for customers looking to upgrade.

Like the iPhone, each improvement to the MacBook Air is incremental and probably wouldn’t appeal to a customer who purchased the laptop in the last year or two.

The iPhone 15 released last year will probably win more customers who have much older devices rather than someone who purchased the iPhone 14.

It’s the same thing for the new MacBook Air with M3.

Yes, there are significant improvements even from the M1 version and slight improvements from M2 (which is still on sale at a reduced price) but the release cycle will make this model appeal to customers who have had their laptop for more than a couple of years.

We were offered the 15-inch MacBook Air for this review but of course the smaller 13-inch is identical in terms of power, quality and performance.

It’s good Apple gives you the choice with the 15-inch MacBook Air the more recent addition to the line-up.

Both models have the stunning Liquid Retina display with up to 500nits of brightness and support for up to a billion colours

On the performance side then new M3 MacBook Air laptops offer a noticeable improvement from the M1 and a slight improvement over the M2.

Apple says the M3 is 60 per cent faster than the M1 MacBook Air and 13x faster than the Intel-based models released a few years ago.

The new models offer impressive performance improvements to help improve your workflow and power through those intensive tasks that need to be completed wherever you happen to be.

The appeal of the M3 chip also means using high end applications on the move or in the studio, the factory or the office and having that power at your disposal.

An engineer, for example, can’t always be stuck behind a big workstation looking at a 3D design.

That’s the type of power the MacBook Air with M3 is now capable of.

It can bring your work where you need it most or where you would prefer to complete it rather than being tied down in one place.

One of the most impressive improvements is the ability for the MacBook Air with M3 to now support up to two external displays when the laptops lid is closed.

This is ideal for anyone who needs to multitask across various apps and documents – you can now really spread out your work.

And because you can now have the lid of the laptop closed, it really saves on your desktop space. But some may argue having the lid open would technically offer a third display.

The M3 has a powerful 8-core CPU, up to 10-core GPU and can support up to 24GB of unified memory. Unified memory is the new name Apple uses for RAM.

Here are the improvement the M3 offers:

– Game titles like No Man’s Sky run up to 60 per cent faster than the 13-inch MacBook Air with the M1 chip.

– Enhancing an image with AI using Photomator’s Super Resolution feature is up to 40 per cent faster than the 13-inch model with the M1 chip, and up to 15x faster for customers who haven’t upgraded to a Mac with Apple silicon.

– Working in Excel spreadsheets is up to 35 per cent faster than the 13-inch model with the M1 chip, and up to 3x faster for customers who haven’t upgraded to a Mac with Apple silicon.

– Video editing in Final Cut Pro is up to 60 per cent faster than the 13-inch model with the M1 chip, and up to 13x faster for customers who haven’t upgraded to a Mac with Apple silicon.

– Compared to a PC laptop with an Intel Core i7 processor, MacBook Air delivers up to 2x faster performance, up to 50 per cent faster web browsing, and up to 40 per cent longer battery life.

And when it comes to AI, the M3 Apple silicon is more than up to the task thanks to its more efficient 16-core Neural Engine along with accelerators in the CPU and GPU to boost the machine learning on device.

This means customers will see impressive AI performance to improve your productivity add enhance your creativity but to also to do things like real time speech to text and translations.

The MacBook Air is not only for productivity but also for communication and has an excellent 1080p FaceTime HD camera as well as a three-mic array and enhanced voice clarity for superior audio for your video calls.

We used the FaceTime camera whenever we are away for our live tech segments on Sky News.

And when it’s time to enjoy some entertainment, the MacBook Air offers spatial audio along with Dolby Atmos so you can really enjoy music and movies like never before.

Another impressive feature of the MacBook Air with M3 is the amazing 18-hour battery life which means it will run all day and night if it has to.

The 13-inch MacBook Air with M3 starts at $1,799 and the 15-inch MacBook Air with M3 starts at $2,199.

Both are available in four colours: midnight, starlight, silver and space grey.

Customers can still purchase the 13-inch MacBook Air with M2 starting at $1,599.

VERDICT

Apple’s new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air with M3 is arguably the best laptop you can buy right now in terms of performance, quality and value. Despite its small size and thin design, the new MacBook Air with M3 is a powerhouse that should never be underestimated.

The post 15-inch MacBook Air with M3 review – this thin and light laptop punches above its weight appeared first on Tech Guide.

The Chromebook has gone to the next level after more than 10 years of fast and reliable performance and the best security. Introducing the ASUS Chromebook Plus.

The ASUS Chromebook Plus has twice the performance of previous models, an improved 1080p+ IPS display with webcam, built-in Google apps and new and powerful AI capabilities.

For those new to Chromebooks – it is a laptop computer that’s not a Windows PC or a Mac – but a Google-powered cloud computing experience that offers most of the same capabilities as a regular laptop so you can stay productive, informed and entertained.

Tech Guide recently received the new ASUS Chromebook Plus which is powered by the Intel Core AMD Ryzen 7000 Series processor with 8GB RAM and 128GB local storage.

Outwardly, the ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 has a 14-inch screen and looks like a regular laptop.

It has two USB-A ports, two USB-C ports, a full size HDMI port and a headphone jack along with, of course, Bluetooth and wi-fi connectivity.

Users have Google’s best apps and features at their fingertips – Gmail, Google Photos, Chrome, Google Meet, Google Chat, Docs, Slides, Sheets, Google Drive, Google Calendar – are you getting it.

It takes advantage of the cloud for processing and storage, and it does it with impressive speed.

Users can also access dedicated apps like you can with a smartphone or tablet like Instagram, Whatsapp, Facebook, Messenger, TikTok, Stan, Disney+, Netflix, Prime Video and much more.

You can also play all the popular games like Minecraft, Candy Crush Saga and Roblox.

Users can even get into cloud gaming with GeForce Now Priority tier – all Chromebook Plus models comes with a free three-month trail so you can play the latest games anywhere.

And there’s the Google Play Store to let you access any app you want.

And when the apps are launched the ASUS Chromebook Plus offers you the option to view it like you’re on your phone, on a tablet or in a resizable size that lets you go fullscreen if you prefer.

We liked the new enhanced editing features for your photos with the introduction of Magic Eraser, HDR and Portrait Blur – the same features you can access with the recent Google Pixel smartphones.

But don’t underestimate the ASUS Chromebook Plus’s capabilities.

You can make video calls, personalise the desktop and wallpaper and sync all your files even when you’re offline.

What about video editing?

You can use video editing software that’s available on the Google Play Store on the Chromebook Plus including Lumafusion.

With Lumafusion you can add your clips, music and photos and add a world of effects.

Users can even use Adobe Photoshop on the Web to get into your photo editing.

Adobe Express is also available for Chromebook Plus so you can do things like design content for TikTok, Instagram Reels, logos, cards and resumes.

Naturally it is possible to also connect your Android smartphone to the ASUS Chromebook Plus.

When your phone and the laptop are linked you can user your phone as a hotspot, access your messaging, access your recent photos from your phone and stream apps that are installed your phone to the Chromebook Plus.

Available in black or white, the ASUS Chromebook Plus has a solid built yet it still lightweight at just 1.44kg.

We were impressed with the instant wake-up and performance so you can open the laptop and get to work, browse the web or check your emails almost instantly.

Unfortunately the display is not a touchscreen but that’s not a dealbreaker for us – just ask any MacBook user.

The fullsize keyboard is also well-spaced and has a satisfying amount of travel when you’re typing.

We had the white ASUS Chromebook Plus for our review and it has light grey keys with black writing on each key.

But when the backlight comes on, those letters become almost impossible to read. We had to turn down the backlight brightness to zero to use it.

That was only a minor complaint – overall we really rate the ASUS Chromebook Plus and have been using it as our daily driver for some time and it provided everything we needed to work, connect and play.

The battery life easily got us through the entire day at more than 10 hours.

The ASUS Chromebook Plus is available now and is priced at $1049.

VERDICT

The ASUS Chromebook Plus is a well-designed and surprising powerful that offers a fast and efficient computing and connectivity experience.

The post ASUS CX34 Chromebook Plus review – the laptop with more power, performance and security appeared first on Tech Guide.

The ASUS Zenbook Duo with its dual 14-inch OLED displays and detachable Bluetooth keyboard has sent laptops in a completely new direction.

ASUS is thinking outside the square with the Zenbook Duo (UX8406) and the idea of having two displays – instead of just one like a regular laptop – is a game changer.

Under the hood is the Intel Core Ultra 9 processor with Intel’s first integrated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) to handle the heavy lifting when it comes to AI processing.

From the moment you turn the ASUS Zenbook Duo on you immediately notice the snappy performance even with both screens running.

Each of the 14-inch OLED screens has a 3K resolution with a 120Hz refresh rate so it looks sharp and bright.

Design-wise the ASUS Zenbook Duo, which is running Windows 11 Home, doesn’t look any different than a regular laptop when it’s closed.

It is 1.99cm thick and weighs in at 1.65kg (with the keyboard attached) and 1.35kg (without the keyboard).

Now what makes the ASUS Zenbook Duo so versatile are the different modes that you can use depending on your task and how much room you’ve got to move.

LAPTOP MODE

Naturally you have laptop mode which means using the Zenbook Duo like a typical laptop.

In this mode you have a 14-inch display and a physical keyboard and can be used when there’s not much space like when you’re on a plane or public transport or anywhere else space is tight.

The keyboard is removable and links to the laptop via Bluetooth. While the keyboard is magnetically attached to the Zenbook Duo its internal battery is being charged.

If you decided to remove the keyboard in this mode, the lower 14-inch OLED screen comes to life.

By pressing six digits to the screen (three with each hand), a virtual half keyboard appears, and you can still use the main screen along with the top half of the bottom screen like the previous models of the Zenbook Duo, so you open your emails above the keyboard while you’re on a video call in the top screen.

It’s also possible to choose to have full virtual keyboard that takes up the whole lower screen.

DUAL SCREEN MODE

If you want to make use of the entire space of two screens you can do that in Dual Screen Mode and combine the screen real estate into one space.

When you combine the two 16:10 displays you have a 19.8-inch display area – and that offers a lot of room to move.

The quality of the screens are impressive, and they have been Dolby Vision certified so your content, websites and apps will look amazing.

And on the audio side, the built-in speakers are also Dolby Atmos certified so you have a deluxe entertainment device as well.

DESKTOP MODE

This is by far our favourite way to use the ASUS Zenbook Duo in desktop mode so we can have two screens at our fingertips to improve our efficiency, spread out your work, enjoy your content and multitask.

There is a kickstand on the back of the laptop to position the display either with two landscape displays or over another way with two portrait screens.

And the keyboard can stand alone and connect via Bluetooth so you can really power through your work like you’re using a desktop computer.

This can make a huge difference to users as they manage their workflow or create content.

SHARING MODE

Sharing Mode is another extremely useful mode when you want to show others documents or make a presentation.

Now rather than huddling around a small laptop display, you can make use of the 180-degree hinge and lay out both displays flat on a table.

If the people you’re chatting with are sitting opposite you it possible to replicate the screen on your side so they can see on their side it is the right way up.

And when you’re done everything folds back to the size and shape of a regular closed laptop.

CONNECTIVITY

On the connectivity side there are two USB-C/Lightning ports and a regular USB port on one side and a full size HDMI port on the other side alongside a headphone/mic port.

There are also plenty of vents on three sides of the displays so things will stay nice and cool no matter how hard you work the ASUS Zenbook Duo.

The Bluetooth keyboard also has its own USB-C charging port if you need to top it up, but it draws power from the laptop’s battery every time it is attached.

PRICING

The ASUS Zenbook Duo 2024 (UX8406) is available now and is priced at $3,999.

When you consider what you get this is actually a reasonable price.

There are some foldable laptops in the market, including the recent HP Spectre, and they offer similar functionality like desktop mode.

But because it is a foldable display you’re going to be paying a premium at up $9,000.

ASUS achieves the same thing with a 180-degree hinge and at less than half the price.

The ASUS Zenbook Duo is one of the most impressive laptops we’ve seen.

It offers so much versatility and quality it can cover your needs anywhere whether it’s for work or play.

* This post was supported by ASUS

The post Hands-on with the ASUS Zenbook Duo – this has sent laptops in an exciting new direction appeared first on Tech Guide.

The Meta Quest 3 is an impressive improvement over the previous model and offers an excellent entry into the world of VR with lots of content to enjoy on this high quality hardware.

If you’re a fan of the Meta Quest 2 – then you should absolutely get yourself the Meta Quest 3 – it’s a lot better but also more expensive.

In our eyes the Meta Quest 3 is still a product that will have a core group of fans – but it could be more approachable for your average consumer.

While it’s pretty easy to set up and get started, you still need to be fairly savvy to handle the controllers and find your way around.

For us it’s the controllers that are likely to be the deal breaker for newcomers.

For myself, I didn’t mind them, but it still took me a while to get the hang of it and getting to know which button does what.

But when you change the game or experience – you need to relearn what the buttons can do.

The quality of the experience is undoubtedly high – much clearer than the Meta Quest 3 and more responsive.

For us we could get the hang of the controllers and what you need to do with them but for adults who aren’t so savvy this could be a one-hit winder.

I showed the Meta Quest 3 to my wife and while she was completely immersed in the Nature VR app where you explore various landscapes – she found the controllers confusing and hard to use and at one point she handed them back to me so she could just turn around on the spot and enjoy the stunning virtual environment.

There are some simple hand tracking controls (where you don’t need the controllers) but they are still quite rudimentary and a long way from being effectively usable to the point where you can put down the physical controllers and enjoy the same experience.

Getting your head around the trigger and the side grab button along with a joystick and three surface buttons on each controller stopped us in our tracks a few times.

Mark Zuckerberg, when the Meta Quest 3 was unveiled a few weeks after Apple’s Vision Pro, described the product as the best value headset you can buy.

This was an obvious dig at Apple’s pricey Vision Pro which will go on sale in Australia for around $6,000 later this year compared to Meta Quest 3’s $799.99 price tag.

Zuckerberg made the comparison, not us, so I will continue with it.

Comparing the Meta Quest 3 to the Apple Vision Pro is like comparing a Toyota Camry with a Lamborghini.

But I do agree with what he said about value – for what you pay and what you get, there is a lot to enjoy with the Meta Quest 3.

I’ve used the Apple Vision Pro and it’s in a class of its own.

And the main reason for that, apart from its slick design stunning video and audio quality, eye tracking and incredible performance, is the fact there are no controllers.

All you need are your hands and a few simple intuitive gestures to create an even more memorable and immersive experience.

That’s why Apple is going to make VR/AR/Mixed Reality/Spatial Computing more mainstream.

And it’s because I could put the Apple Vision Pro on my mother’s head and she would be able to use it.

But ironically, it’s huge price will probably play against this appeal to mainstream customers.

I know what you’re thinking.

This bloke is making a big deal about the Meta Quest 3’s controllers but it’s like driving a car with a crappy steering wheel and hard to find controls. It impacts on the overall driving experience.

The upside of the release of the Apple Vision Pro is that is it validating the whole world of VR and Meta and other companies like HTC which has been in VR for years and making slow headway.

And Meta and HTC will also benefit because Apple getting involved makes customers think it’s even more worthwhile.

A rising tide lifts all boats.

When Apple Vision Pro is released, more people will be interested in VR and only a handful will be able to afford it which makes Meta Quest 3 even more attractive for most customers.

You just have to put up with those cumbersome controllers.

But let’s get on with the review.

The unit is a little bulky and front heavy, but the weight can be balanced out with an additional rear battery strap (that’s an extra $219.99).

There is a head strap that can help take the weight and an eyepiece hood that blacks out the room and forces you to focus on the screens.

You can easily adjust, tighten and loosen the Meta Quest 3 strap to comfortably suit the size of your head.

These small displays each have a 2064 x 2208 pixel resolution with up to 120Hz adaptive refresh rate – that’s a 30 per cent improvement over the previous model.

In the games we played, the resolution provided a life-like quality and plenty of detail but there was still an animated, cartoon like quality in a lot of the games and apps.

That’s not a fault of the Meta Quest 3 – there’s plenty headroom with the resolution – we just have to wait for the developers to come up with the content that takes advantage of that quality.

What’s also impressive is the directional audio quality which come from strap mounted mini speakers that directs sounds into your ears.

Users can also easily set boundaries so they don’t bump into the furniture, or they can choose to stay seated.

When you come close to the boundary, the pass through cameras come on so you can see your surroundings through the internal displays.

The other attraction is the huge amount of content available whether you want to play a game, go exploring, do some exercise with a fun workout, watch your content or improve your skills.

We played Vader Immortal, Star Wars Tales from Galaxy’s Edge, The Room puzzle game and explored Nature Treks VR and each was excellent.

It captivated my family who were all eagerly awaiting their turn.

That’s the other thing about VR – it’s a solo experience, you’re off in your own little world.

As far as we know there are no multiplayer games where you can see your friends in the games.

Imagine completing a campaign or a mission like that?

But there is no denying the complete immersion of the experience. Once you slip on the Meta Quest 3 you are transported to another world.
We lost track of time and our orientation in the room we were playing. We recommend finding a room with plenty of space to move around if you’re not going to play seated.

The total weight is 515g – that’s more than half a kilo – and after a little while it does get heavy, and you’ll need to take a break.

Another thing that will make you take a break is the average battery life which just got to two hours of use during our review. Then it takes another two hours to charge to 100 per cent again.

That’s the Meta Quest 3 headset on its own – but with the Elite Strap with battery (for an additional $219.99) you can stretch that out by another couple of hours.

PRICING

The Meta Quest 3 is priced at $799.99 with 128GB storage. The only other storage option is quite a jump to 512GB which is priced at $1,049.99.

Users can also purchase an Elite strap ($119.99) which offers a little more support for the weight of the device.

But we’d recommend going for the Elite strap with battery ($219.99) to double the battery life.

And if you want to take the Meta Quest 3 anywhere there’s also a carrying case for $119.99.

VERDICT
The Meta Quest 3 is an excellent VR headset that offers a stunning experience. Improvement is needed with the controller – or getting rid of it altogether – but the device shows there is definitely an exciting VR future awaiting all of us.

The post Meta Quest 3 review – stunning and immersive VR experience but controllers need some work appeared first on Tech Guide.

The need for wi-fi speed has never been more apparent in today’s households as we stream content, playing online games and connect numerous smart devices.

The good news is Netgear’s Nighthawk RS700S Wi-Fi 7 tri-band router can provide the speed you need and more.

Wi-Fi 7 is the very latest wireless standard and one that will be used by more and more products so it doesn’t hurt jumping in early to future proof your home at a time when we take streaming 4K and gaming with low latency for granted.

Wi-Fi 7 is onboard the upcoming Samsung S24 Ultra, the Google Pixel 8 and the Pixel 8 Pro but you can be certain new smartphones and laptops will be supporting Wi-Fi 7 as sure as nose on your face.

So what’s new with Wi-Fi 7?

For a start it has three bands – 2.4Ghz, 5Ghz and 6Ghz – and can achieve speeds up to 19Gbs.

The new ultra-wide bandwidth offers 2.4x the speed to your connected devices and Wi-Fi 7-compatible devices like smartphones and laptops enjoying up to 5Gbps.

The device uses multiple wi-fi bands at once to the reliability of the network, reduce latency and deliver data with maximum speed.

The Netgear Nighthawk RS700S is powered by Broadcom’s BCM6726/3 Wi-Fi 7 System on a Chip (SoC) and has a 10Gb internet port to support the faster internet speeds when they are available along with four 1Gb LAN ports for faster wired connections.

There is also a 10Gb LAN port to connect a Ethernet switch or a separate mesh wifi satellite.

There are few things different about the RS700S.

Firstly, it is more like a tower rather than the traditional Nighthawk shape with wings. This slick design means a much smaller footprint

There are also no antennas poking out.
All the technology is contained in the narrow chassis while still offering 360-degree coverage over 325 square metres.

It’s all thanks to the new internal 3D antenna design – that’s more than enough to cover your entire home – even multi-storey homes.
Set up is remarkably simple thanks to the Netgear Nighthawk app which steps you through the whole process and also allows you to change the name and password to the new wireless network.

Once we were connected out tests over wi-fi were seeing speeds well over 900Mbps – some as high as 975Mbps.

We have a 1Gigabit per second plan through Aussie Broadband so the Netgear Nighthawk RS700S was giving the speeds we’re already paying for.

And as more Wi-Fi 7 products become available those speeds will improve even further and maintain that new consistency.

The RS700S can handle up to 200 connected devices on your network – and that’s a lot. We have more than 70 at our place and that still leaves plenty of room to add plenty more.

The Netgear Nighthawk RS700S Router is priced at $1,499 and can provide the sort of coverage you’d expect from a mesh wi-fi system so that can justify this price

Technical specifications:

– 320MHz high-capacity channels & 4K QAM – New, ultra-wide bandwidth means 2.4x the speed to your connected devices. WiFi 7 smartphones and laptops can get speeds up to 5Gbps.

– Multi-Link Operation – Uses multiple wi-fi bands at once to improve network reliability, reduce latency, and ensure data is delivered with maximum speed.

– Lower latency – Dramatically upgrades gaming and interactive online experiences and opens the door for immersive next-gen AR and VR.

– More Capacity for Data-Intense Activities – Connect up to 200 devices, such as security cameras, smart home devices, and speakers, while enjoying 4K/8K video streaming, online gaming and HD video conferencing.

– Multi-Gig Speeds with 10GbE Internet Port – Use the 10 Gig internet port for cable and fibre plans up to 10Gbps. Compatible with any internet service provider.

– More wired ports on every device – Plug in wired devices to improve performance via a 10Gbps and four 1Gbps LAN ports.

VERDICT

The Netgear Nighthawk RS200S Wi-Fi 7 router can offer you expectational wi-fi speeds and coverage in your home now and well into the future.

The post Netgear Nighthawk Wi-Fi 7 Router review – expectational speeds and coverage that’s future proof appeared first on Tech Guide.

The new 16-inch MacBook Pro with Apple’s M3 processor under the hood is an absolute powerhouse that will change the working life of professional users.

I am typing this review on the Space Black 16-inch MacBook Pro which won’t go anywhere near testing the capabilities of this laptop but for creative professionals, coders, film makers and researchers who are dealing with high end applications and terabytes of data this is an absolute game changer.

The model we were loaned for review is running Apple’s M3 Max chip with 48GB unified memory (what we used to call RAM) and a 1TB SSD (solid state drive).

We received the new Space Black model which is stunning.

Apple says it was created with a new chemistry that forms an anodize seal to repel fingerprints.

In the time we’ve been using the MacBook Pro we’ve noticed there are less fingerprints and other marks, but it hasn’t eliminated them altogether.

But the good news is one easy wipe with a cloth and it’s back to looking brand new again.

To be fair, there is no way our workflow would bring the MacBook Pro with M3 Max above any sort of level that would raise a sweat.

But if your job is editing 4K and 8K videos, rendering 3D graphics, using Photoshop to edit huge images, going through mountains of data as a researcher or creating cutting edge games, then you are in the right ballpark.

We’ve been told that some tasks for professionals are so intensive they could only be performed on a desktop computer connected to power.

But what if I were to tell you the new MacBook Pro with M3 Max can allow you to perform those same tasks anywhere you want while running on battery power, that would really provide the type of freedom you wouldn’t have known before.

This flexibility alone makes the 16-inch MacBook Pro with M3 Max worth every penny.

And we’ll tell you up front, these laptops aren’t cheap but for the power, performance and flexibility they provide, to the appropriate user it is a “shut up and take my money” situation.

Our review model with the above specs is priced at $6,899.

What Apple has been able to achieve with its M3 family of silicon is groundbreaking.

The Holy Grail of computing is being able to provide high performance, tremendous capabilities and power efficiency. Apple has achieved this with M3.

The power and performance speak for themselves but it’s the power efficiency that everyone can truly appreciate.

We were already impressed by the capabilities of the new 16-inch MacBook Pro with M3 Max but what you get on top of that is an incredible 22 hours of battery life.

In our years of reviewing laptops we’ve never seen power and performance backed with such high power efficiency.

The M3 Max chip aboard our review unit has a 40-core GPU which means it can deliver up to 20 per cent faster graphics performance than M2 Max and 40 per cent faster than M1 Max.

It also includes a new feature called Dynamic Caching which is like a high tech traffic cop that intelligently designates what resources your applications and tasks require to maintain overall efficiency.

Also on board is hardware-accelerated rendering features Mesh Shading and Ray Tracing which not only allows film makers and game developers to create more realistic light and shadows in their projects but also makes those games on the MacBook Pro with M3 Max even more enjoyable to play.

The 16-inch MacBook Pro with M3 Max was able to offer noticeable performance improvements when using high end applications like Redshift, Affinity Photo and DaVinci Resolve Studio.

With redshift the new M3 Max MacBook Pro offered a 5.3x improvement for faster rendering when compared to the 16-inch MacBook Pro with Intel Core i9.

Image processing in Affinity Photo was also 3.6 times faster and noise reduction performance in Davinci Resolve Studio was 2.7 times faster.

These improvements can help improve a professional’s workflow and the sheer amount of work they’re able to get through in a single sitting.

Anything that can save you time while maintaining the same level of power and performance is well worth paying attention to – and that’s exactly what the M3 Max powered 16-inch MacBook Pro can provide.

The 16.2 inch liquid retina XDR display has a resolution of 3456 x 2234 which gives you a grand total of more than 7.7 million pixels.

The screen has up to 1600 nits of peak brightness thanks to more than 10,200 Mini LEDs which provide 2,554 local dimming zones.

So you not only get a great view of your work but when it’s time to relax and watch a movie you can enjoy the amazing picture quality which includes HDR, so you see amazing detail in the lighter and darker areas of the screen.

It also sounds great thanks to the six speaker sound system with four force-cancelling woofers and two tweeters which can create a three dimensional sound stage with Spatial Audio.

You can enjoy this sound quality whether you’re listening to music or watching a movie with Dolby Atmos.

On our travels, we used the 16-inch MacBook Pro as not only our work device but also to watch movies and the experience was remarkable.

We also used the MacBook Pro to cross for our Sky News technology segments while we were overseas and took advantage of the 1080p FaceTime HD camera which automatically optimises the quality so we were looking our best.

We were also able to connect over Wi-Fi 6E which can tap into that standard’s 6Ghz band to achieve even faster wi-fi speeds.

On the connectivity side, there are three Thunderbolt 4 ports – two on the left and one on the right along with the HDMI port which makes it easy to connect to TV or a HDMI display without an adapter and the SD card reader. It also has a 3.5mm headphone Jack.

The M3 Max MacBook Pro offers full native resolution on the included display and up to four external displays – up to three with 6K resolution over Thunderbolt and one external 4K display over HDMI.

The 16-inch MacBook Pro with M3 Max is available now and starts at $5,999. The 14 inch MacBook Pro with M3 Max is available for $5,599.

VERDICT

Apple has come up with a standout product in the 16 inch MacBook Pro with M3 Max. It has created the perfect mix of power, performance, software and power efficiency that will enable professional users to do so much more in less time anywhere they want. It has truly set an all-new standard.

The post Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro with M3 Max review – a gamechanger for professional users appeared first on Tech Guide.

This is the “go big or go home” tablet. The 14.6-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is a tablet on steroids and it has the power and features to back it up as well.

Tablets have become a lot more powerful in recent years – so powerful they can take the place of your laptop or step in as an alternative.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is one of those tablets.

It is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 3.36Ghz octa-core processor and 12GB RAM which makes it quite a capable device.

On the design side, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is remarkable with a thickness of just 5.5mm.

This makes it thin enough to slide under a door.

And it weighs in at 732g.

It is made of aluminium with flat edges and a matte finish on the back so you can get a better grip when you’re holding it.

Another key feature is the durability. The tablet has an IP68 dust and water rating so it’s as tough as your smartphone. That will give potential users peace of mind.

It is available in graphite or beige – that’s it. We would have liked to see some other strong colours.

We had the beige model for our review. Not a colour we would have chosen but it grew on us.

The first thing you notice about the tablet is the stunning 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display which makes whatever you’re watching or playing or whatever app you’re using just pop.

Samsung has always excelled with their displays and the 14.6-inch screen on the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is gorgeous.

It also has 120Hz adaptive refresh rate so the colours and brightness that already knocks your socks off is also backed by a smoothness that tops everything off when watching movies, playing games and scrolling around.

Throw in HDR10+ and the already excellent viewing experience gets even better when watching 4K content on streaming services.

Having a screen of this size can supersize things like apps and games you would normally play in portrait mode on your smartphone.

On the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra it’s on a much grander scale.

The screen real estate also lends itself to easy multitasking so you can spread out your work. It’s possible to run three apps at the same time.

The tablet also comes with the S Pen so you’re able to write and draw on the screen or jot down some notes.

The responsiveness is excellent and not far off using a real pencil on paper.

It can attach magnetically on the back of the Tab S9 Ultra when you’re not using it, but it will come loose if you put the tablet in a backpack.

We would have preferred a top magnet to hold the S Pen on the edge but that would have it made it just like the iPad Pro and the second generation Apple Pencil.

Users can purchase a keyboard case and cover ($359) to really transform the tablet to a laptop. We didn’t receive this accessory to use with the tablet for our review.

And not only does the Tab S9 Ultra look amazing it also sounds amazing as well with Dolby Atmos and the AKG Harman tuned quad speakers. Turn it up to full volume at night and you’ll wake people up in your house.

There are two rear cameras – a 13-megapixel wide and 8-megapixel ultrawide and two on the front – both 12-megapixel – one primary and one ultrawide so you can easily snap a quality selfie.

Being a larger tablet means Samsung can also fit in a larger battery – and that’s exactly what it did.

The battery aboard the 14.6-inch Galaxy Tab S9 is a colossal 11,200mAh which lasted us more than two days with steady use.

The smaller tablets in the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 range have 10,090mAh (12.4-inch) and 8,400mAh (11-inch) and the battery is consistently relevant with the screen size it is powering.

In other words, the larger screens have larger batteries and deliver similar battery life.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra tablet isn’t cheap – it starts at $1,999 for the wi-fi model with 256GB storage and 12GB RAM.

Move up to 512GB storage and 12GB RAM and the price goes up to $2,199.

And this moves up to $2,449 when you opt for the 5G model.

The smaller tablets start at $1,299 (11-inch Galaxy Tab S9) and $1,699 (12.4-inch Galaxy Tab S9+).

VERDICT

Samsung has produced a winner with the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra. The huge 14.6-inch device is both a huge and fun playground and a productive workspace with the power and features to deliver a memorable experience.

The post Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra review – a huge tablet that’s big on power and performance appeared first on Tech Guide.

Do you need to tidy up your desktop, get yourself organised and charge your smartphone and earbuds at the same time? Then what you need is the ALTI Wireless Charging Desk Mat from Journey.

The desk mat (which is 68cm long and 37cm wide) has a magnetic edge on the left side so the charging pad (10cm x 37cm) can neatly attach itself.

The mat itself is made of felt and vegan leather and users can choose which material they prefer being on top by simply flipping it over.

It is a very generous size so it will cover most of a regular-sized desk.

The charging pad connects to power via a USB-C cable and can charge your iPhone if it has wireless charging or MagSafe, and any Android phone with wireless charging capabilities.

We tried it on our iPhone 14 Pro Max and the ALTI charging pad magnetically held it in place to ensure it was charging.

Other smartphones just need to be positioned correctly to receive a charge.

You can also charge AirPods Pro and AirPods with wireless charging cases – there’s a spot marked out so you know exactly where to put it.

Users can also charge the Galaxy Buds and other earphones that have wireless charging cases.

Having the charging pad only requires you to have a single included USB-C cable connected to a port on a wall charger.

This means no more multiple cables cluttering your workspace.

What also reduced the clutter is being able store papers and documents between the felt and vegan leather layers so they are out of sight but still literally at your fingertips.

It’s also an excellent work surface so you can still use your computer mouse accurately and it will also quieten your keyboard because it is on a softer surface rather than resting on wood.

And with the charging pad right beside you, you’re never going to miss any calls or messages.

If you would prefer your phone and earphones to be charging on your right side then you just have to turn the ALTI Wireless Charging Desk Mat upside down and attach the charging pad on the right.

The Journey ALTI Wireless Charging Desk Mat is available now in black or grey and is priced at $149.

www.journeyofficial.com.au

The post Keep your desk organised and your devices charged with the ALTI Wireless Charging Mat appeared first on Tech Guide.