ICYMI: We’re opening (and closing) the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3

This week was dedicated to smartphones at Engadget. Cherlynn Low has spent some time with the Galaxy Z Flip 3 to determine who it is really for. Terrence O’Brien compared and contrasted the Pixel 5a with previous versions to find out where the value of the improved model lies. Cherlynn also put the ASUS-Qualcomm Snapdragon smartphone to the test to see how it stacks up against consumer devices.

Cherlynn Low was blunt about the Galaxy Z Flip 3 in her review. Not only is it the best foldable phone to date with a fast big screen, neat software tricks, and water resistance, it’s also now available for a (relatively) reasonable price of $ 1,000. She says it’s basically a regular smartphone that folds in half with a satisfying snap. The stronger aluminum, sleek hinge, and sturdy screen made this the first foldable she was ready to throw in a purse without worrying about scratches. She liked the widgets available for the Cover Display window, the new color options, and the Flex mode, which makes it easier to use with one hand.

Despite that, she still thinks the Z Flip 3 is a tough sell. The battery life was terribly short and rarely lasted a whole day, and the software was a bit buggy. While most apps scale well on the screen, there was occasionally an aspect ratio mismatch that caused difficulty. For example, pop-up dialogs in The settlers of Catania disappeared in the edges of the screen. Plus, it was hard to find the benefit for a larger mainstream audience who could buy an iPhone or Samsung phone for the same price. For those who are nostalgic or curious enough to buy the Z Flip 3, they will end up with a capable device that has the best that any foldable has to offer.

Terrence O’Brien is quick to point out that the $ 449 Pixel 5a is a bit of a stopgap: the Pixel 4a 5G was a solid offering and the Pixel 6 should be around the corner. That being said, there are still a few things about the 5a that are worth considering. While the 5a retains the same processor, RAM, and camera experience as the previous version, it adds IP67 water and dust resistance and an incredible battery. Terrence said the 4,680mAh battery survived almost 23 hours of video playback before shutting down and was still at 40% after 24 hours of general heavy use.

The rest of the 5a’s features include a metal unibody with a matte texture, an upgrade to Gorilla Glass 6, and a 6.34-inch OLED panel with HDR support and 2,400 x 1,080 resolution. Terrence admits. that the Snapdragon 765G processor is a bit outdated, but also says the 5a still felt responsive and fast when reading emails or reading. The Elder Scrolls: Blades. However, he stuttered several times while browsing YouTube and editing photos. The camera experience is also excellent, although identical to the features of the 4a 5G: an 8-megapixel front camera, a 12.2-megapixel main lens, and a 16-megapixel ultra-wide-angle. Overall, Terrence’s biggest objection to the 5a was that it was a bit boring as it is very close to a reproduction of the 4a 5G.

Qualcomm and ASUS have teamed up to create a smartphone for fans of the Snapdragon chipset, but Cherlynn Low says it’s a bit too specialized to be widely recommended. With a 6.8-inch screen and a weight of 210 grams, it’s one of the heaviest phones it has tested recently – and its look sets it apart from the competition. Cherlynn says its rounded rectangular body, matte blue finish, and shiny red accents make it stand out, but she was less fond of the illuminated icon on the back that can turn on and off.

The rest of the $ 1,499 device includes a 144Hz refresh rate display, full 5G support, and fast charging. The AMOLED panel operates at a resolution of 2448 x 1080 and delivers vibrant colors and deep blacks. However, the 20.4: 9 aspect ratio cut some content like longer message endings in Telegram. The phone includes a pair of Master and Dynamic wireless headphones to pair with Qualcomm’s high dynamic range audio recording to support 24-bit 96kHz high-resolution audio. However, several features had yet to be released and the phone tended to heat up. Cherlynn says unless you’re one fat Fan of Qualcomm or really need the refresh rate, you have better options elsewhere.

First off, James Trew wants you to understand what Loupedeck Live is: a Mac or PC control surface with multiple configurable knobs and buttons. It also wants you to understand what it is best for, which is audio or image editing and a dynamic profiles workflow. When using these profiles, the Loupedeck will automatically switch to the assigned knobs and rotary jets you have selected for this program. This means that Live is adaptive and will follow you with a variety of actions and choices as you navigate.

This contrasts it with the competition, the Elgato Stream Deck, which functions more like a program launcher. The Loupedeck Live offers three control surface models, each physically distinct and intended for different uses; James said the Live version looked good on his desk. He especially liked the mini LCD screens on the buttons, which show what everyone is doing, and the rotating dials, which he found useful for controlling volume or scrolling through a list. James felt that the Loupedeck’s particular strength was the sheer amount of native app support it offers – not only can it be useful for streaming, but it will also come in handy when editing or designing. a logo.