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Showing posts with the label Hamish Hector

Xiaomi Mi Smart Projector 2 review

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One-minute review  If you’re looking for a compact projector which can output a decent image and won’t break the bank, the Xiaomi Mi Smart Projector 2 ticks all of those boxes. However its similarity to its Xiaomi Mi Smart Compact Projector predecessor has us confused about what's new about this new model. The design and features of both projectors match up exactly, offering you a Full HD (1080p) image in sizes from 60-inch to 120-inch – provided you have the wall space. The end result is a decent image that offers brilliant colors thanks to HDR10, but struggles with detail during darker scenes. To achieve the best picture quality you’ll want to be in a pitch black room (or at least make it as dark as you can make it) as the 500 lumens bulb struggles to compete against other light sources. This means you’ll be forced to watch at night or install black-out curtains, but you’ll be happy with the results you can achieve. You’ll also find the projector’s built-in speakers offer a...

Lenovo Legion 7 (Gen 6) review

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Two-minute review The Lenovo Legion 7 (Gen 6) is a fantastic laptop that delivered astounding performance across (almost) all of our tests. If you've saved up enough and want to upgrade your gaming setup to one of the best out there, this is a machine you'll seriously want to consider. Fans of RGB lighting will have plenty of customization options across the whole outer shell of the laptop, allowing you to give your device its very own unique glow. The slick casing looks stylish even with the lighting turned off though, giving you a more professional look if you need a device for both work and play. The RTX 3080 GPU and AMD Ryzen 7 5800H CPU powering the model we were sent allowed the Legion 7 laptop to achieve impressive scores in all of our performance benchmarks, beating out most devices on our best gaming laptops list. (Image credit: Future) It only performed poorly in one area, as these impressive components drain the battery life incredibly quickly. You...

I Expect You To Die 2 review

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If the game’s name and James Bond-inspired opening cinematic didn’t clue you in, I Expect You To Die 2 is a VR title that pays homage to the best classic spy movie tropes. From over-the-top plans for world domination to kooky laser death traps, your VR headset will thrust you into the center of the missions as you continue your adventure to stop the evil Zoraxis organization. We had the chance to try out the game before it launched, and we had an absolute blast playing it. While our various failures had us feeling more like Austin Powers than a debonair superspy, each explosion and laser through the face just made finally solving a stage that bit more satisfying. Review information Time played: 4 hours Platform: Oculus Quest 2 If you’ve ever dreamed of being the next 007, or are looking for an escape room-esque experience to play at home, this laugh-out-loud VR title could be exactly what you’re looking for. It provides a great balance of grand adventure, with humor and cha...

Marsback Zephyr Pro Review

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Two minute review  The Marsback Zephyr Pro gaming mouse is a brilliant entry level option that’s sure to wow your rivals with its bold design and unique features. Thanks to the highly customizable settings, you’ll get a leg up over the competition by ensuring your mouse plays exactly how you need it to. When you need to get back to work (or swap to a new game) you can easily switch to the appropriate profile to match your preferences. Fans of RPGs or gamers that like having plenty of mouse buttons may be let down by the Zephyr Pro’s limited options, but that’s to be expected of a device at its price. You still get two side buttons though, which for many will be more than enough to make your gaming experience a little smoother. Of course we can’t forget the most over-the-top element: the in-built fan that promises to cool your palm and keep sweat away. In our testing, it definitely lived up to this promise, and it’s near silent too - so it won’t disturb you while you focus duri...

Sonos IKEA Symfonisk Picture Frame with Wi-Fi Speaker review

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Two-minute review  The Sonos IKEA Symfonisk Picture Frame with Wi-Fi Speaker is a superb device that succeeds at blending together both style and function. If you want a wireless speaker that will impress but won’t disturb the layout of your room, this is an excellent solution. Jump to Price and availability Design Setup Audio performance Should I buy it? For the price ($199 / £179 / around AU$270) you’ll get a great-sounding device that delivers exciting audio, thumping bass, and clarity that’s unmatched by most cheaper options. You can turn the volume up without fear of distortion, and preset volume limits are there to help keep your neighbors happy. Thanks to its sleek form factor, the Picture Frame can fit almost anywhere, from hanging on your wall to resting on your mantlepiece – and the 3.5m power cable almost guarantees that it’ll be near enough to a socket to fire it up. Through the Sonos app, you can integrate this speaker seamlessly with your pre-existing ...

TCL RP620K 4K TV

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One minute review  The TCL RP620K series of 4K TVs are the first Roku-powered devices from the TV brand to hit the UK, and this budget-friendly selection could tempt anyone looking to upgrade their home cinema display from HD. The Roku TV OS is really easy to use and provides simple yet effective quality of life features (such as the ability to label HDMI ports and rearrange the homepage) that make navigating to your favorite devices and streaming services a breeze. We had the chance to test out the 55-inch version and, while you shouldn’t expect to be blown away by the hardware, for a budget TV you’ll get great quality performance. This is helped by the TV’s use of Dolby Vision, a powerful HDR technology that can output brighter colors and darker blacks than the usual HDR 10 Plus standard. Unfortunately, the TCL RP620K series’ LCD displays aren't quite powerful enough to get the most out of the software, but Dolby Vision still gives it a leg up compared with other budget opti...

Sennheiser MKE 400 (2021) review

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One minute review  The Sennheiser MKE 400 (2021) is a brilliant compact shotgun microphone that will be perfect for vloggers and budding filmmakers, with its simple yet effective controls and great performance for the price making it easy to produce brilliant results. The super-cardioid recording pattern and the mic’s low-cut filter (alongside the windsock) do a brilliant job of reducing noise from most sources. Some issues can occur in particularly loud environments, but if you’re careful with your recording, your subject can often cut through the worst of it. It’s also pretty small and not heavy at all, meaning it won’t weigh your camera setup down. This mic is excellent for carrying around if you’re looking to travel light but still need all your equipment, making it an especially good choice for travel vloggers.  You also won’t need any specialist kit to start using this mic – one of the cables in the box instantly lets you hook it up to your smartphone so you can sta...