Tech Advisor - September 2024
Uploaded by
Christian WalkerTech Advisor - September 2024
Uploaded by
Christian WalkerSEPTEMBER 2024
INTRODUCING THE NEW
SURFACE PRO
A TANTALIZING GLIMPSE OF THE FUTURE
REVIEWED
APPLE’S INCREDIBLE
VISION PRO HEADSET
CONTENTS
15
NEWS REVIEWS
4 A hacker just leaked 10 15 Microsoft Surface Pro
billion passwords. Here’s 11th Edition
what to do now 37 Google Pixel 8a
7 Windows 11 update 49 Huawei Watch Fit 3
adds new emojis, game 57 Apple Vision Pro
suggestions, and more
9 Latest Windows update causes BUYING GUIDE
reboot loop – what to do if 73 Best smartphone
you’re stuck
11 Don’t fall for the no-bloat FEATURES
‘government’ version of 84 Windows’ Copilot+ AI features
Windows 11 going around feel like early demos at best
13 «Ìw>ÞÜÀÃ 90 Is your SSD about to
on Windows 10 multi-monitor die? 9 warning signs you
set-ups shouldn’t ignore
2 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
73
37 57
84 90
Credit: Getty Images/Andrii Atanov
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 3
NEWS
Credit: Getty Images/gorodenkoff
A hacker just leaked
10 billion passwords.
Here’s what to do now
9ÕÃ Õ`ÌÀ«iV iVÌ >ÌÞÕÀ«>ÃÃÜÀ`Ã>ÀiÃiVÕÀi]Àw>Þ>iÌ i
jump to stronger forms of authentication. ALAINA YEE reports
H
acking into an account doesn’t sounding over a drop of nearly 10
always require deep expertise billion passwords.
in exploiting vulnerabilities. First spotted in a forum on 4 July,
Sometimes it’s a simple as taking leaked RockYou2024 is a compilation of 9.94
information and placing it elsewhere billion leaked passwords. The massive
on the Internet. That’s why the release password dump includes entries from
of massive password collections are the RockYou2021 collection, data
dangerous – and why alarms are now from newer breaches and leaks, and
4 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
data cracked by the
person who posted it.
RockYou2021 released
with 8.4 billion password
entries, including
millions related to
social media sites. For
comparison, the Mother
of All Breaches contained
26 billion pieces
of personal data that
included information
beyond passwords. We recommend you use a password manager such as
You can read up Dashlane (pictured).
on the full details of
RockYou2024 in Cybernews’ report the way to go – think along the lines
(fave.co/3VTMVdD), but this discovery’s of pastaturnfriendlyamalgamation20,
biggest takeaway is that everyone rather than gu3$$this.
should shore up their account security
right away. If you haven’t changed your Set up a password manager. Good
passwords for compromised accounts passwords can be hard to remember,
(especially after the big Ticketmaster especially if you’ve got many to keep
breach in late May), or if you reuse track of. A password manager can
passwords, you could become an easy help you keep track of your whole
ÛVÌvVÀi`iÌ>ÃÌÕvw}qÜ V à ViVÌ]>`ëwiÃiÌiÀ}
when someone tries your leaked login longer, complex ones into login
info across the web, and sees what forms. Dedicated password managers
accounts they can get into. >ÀiÀiyiÝLi>` >ÛiÀi
To better protect yourself, take features, but the ones included with
these steps: an antivirus suite or even Apple,
Google, and Microsoft’s built-in
Use a unique, random, and strong password managers are helpful. (Just
password for each account. Character be sure to separately memorize your
strings that can’t be easily guessed are email password.)
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 5
NEWS
Add two-factor authentication to your
accounts where available. You’ll have
another layer of protection to thwart
VÀi`iÌ>ÃÌÕvw}>ÌÌ>Vð iV>ÕÃiÌ iÞ
can’t pass that second security check,
hackers can’t login as you. These days,
one-time passcodes generated by an
app best balance simplicity and security,
but you can also use hardware dongles
as a stronger option.
Upgrade to passkeys. Two-factor
authentication improves password
security, but it’s not fool-proof, since
some 2FA methods are vulnerable to
phishing attacks. You can sidestep this
issue by using passkeys to log into an
account instead. Due to how they’re
designed, they inherently unique,
don’t require you to memorize any
information, and can’t be phished. If
a hacker steals a website’s customer
login info, that data can’t be used to
get into that site or others.
I personally recommend switching
to passkeys whenever possible – they
require much less thought or effort
than passwords. All you need is a good
backup for your passkeys (in case you
lose your phone or PC, which is where
they’ll be stored). Good news is, many
major password managers now let you
store passkeys on them, too.
6 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
Windows 11 update
adds new emojis, game
suggestions, and more
KB5039302 for Windows 11 brings minor innovations for emoji fans,
gamers, and others. LAURA PIPPIG reports
O
n 25 June, Microsoft released that the software company is rolling
KB5039302 for Windows 11, a out to everyone in one fell swoop.
patch that brings a few small
improvements for users, which are fully THE GRADUAL
`iÃVÀLi`Ì ivwV>V >}i}° 41..176|%*#0)'5
This patch distinguishes between First up, this update adds a new
changes that Microsoft is gradually ‘Game Pass’ recommendation card to
rolling out to users and improvements the Settings home page. The change
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 7
NEWS
affects both Home and Pro editions ̽ÃÜ>ëÃÃLiÌV«ÞwiÃ
of Windows 11, but is usually only from the Windows Share window.
displayed if you’re logged in with your Simply click on the new Copy button.
Microsoft account and actively playing. This update also marks the start of
Emoji 15.1 support is also a new the rollout of the new Account Manager
addition. Windows now supports the in the Start menu. When you sign in
Unicode symbol-like shapes for various to Windows with a Microsoft account,
family constellations, plus several brand- you’ll see an overview of your account
new emojis (namely horizontal and LiiwÌð/ Ãvi>ÌÕÀi>Ã>ÜÃÞÕÌ
vertical head shaking, phoenix, lime, easily manage your account settings.
brown mushroom, and a broken chain).
The ‘Show desktop’ button is also THE IMMEDIATE
back in the taskbar by default. To 41..176|%*#0)'5
change this, right-click on the taskbar In contrast to the previous changes,
and select Taskbar settings to adjust the there are a few minor changes that are
taskbar behaviour. rolling out right away to everyone who
This patch also incorporates installs the update. Among other things,
some minor changes to File Explorer. VÀÃvÌÃwÝ}>«ÀLiÜÌ Ì i
Microsoft writes the following: Snipping Tool, which only recorded
distorted sound while recording video.
You can now create 7-Zip and Tape "Ì iÀLÕ}wÝiÃVViÀÌ iÃ>vi
ƂÀV Ûi/Ƃ,®wiÃÛ>Ì iVÌiÝÌiÕ° ejection of USB devices.
vÞÕÀ} ÌVV>wi]ÞÕV>ÕÃiÌ i To install this Windows 11 update,
«ÀiÃÃÌwi«ÌÌV«ÀiÃÃÌ you can select ‘Check for updates’ on
ÕÃ}ÌÃÃÕV >Ã}â«]Lâ«Ó]>`Ì iÀð your PC or contact the usual Microsoft
/ iÀiÃ>Ã>iÜV«ÀiÃÃ sharing channels.
Üâ>À`Ì i>``Ì>«ÌðÌ
i«ÃÞÕÌÃiiVÌ>``Ì>vÀ>ÌÃ
>`>```iÌ>ð9ÕV>ÕÃi`vviÀiÌ
V«ÀiÃÃÌÞ«iÃÌ>``>ÞwiÃÌ
>ÀV ÛiÃÌ iÀ/Ƃ,vÀ>Ìð9ÕV>
>ÃV >}iÌ iV«ÀiÃÃiÛi>`
ÃiiVÌÌ i`>Ì>ÌÞ«iÃÌLiÃÌÀi`
i>V >ÀV Ûi°
8 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
Latest Windows update
causes reboot loop –
what to do if you’re stuck
The KB5039302 update for Windows 11 causes some PCs to restart
endlessly. Here’s what to do. HANS-CHRISTIAN DIRSCHERL reports
A
s we report on page 7, Microsoft that it can cause Windows 11 PCs to
has released its KB5039302 restart in a continuous loop.
update. While the update had -«iVwV>Þ]7`Üã£ÛiÀÃÃ
some interesting stuff in it, it turns out 23H2 and 22H2 are affected by this
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 9
NEWS
bug. Windows servers are not affected. 7 iÕÀÛiÃÌ}>ÌÃ}}]Ì Ã
Fortunately, KB5039302 isn’t installed Õ«`>ÌiÃÌLi}vviÀi`Ì ÀÕ}
on all Windows 11 computers because 7`ÜÃ1«`>Ìi>`7`ÜÃ1«`>Ìi
it’s an optional update. (It’s a preview vÀ ÕÃiÃðÀÌ ÃÀi>Ã]Ì ÃÕ«`>Ìi
of the standard update for all Windows >ÞÌLivviÀi`vÀÞÕÀ`iÛVi>Ì
11 machines that will be released on Ì ÃÌi°
Patchday in July 2024.)
In other words, KB5039302 will only Microsoft is working on a solution to
be on your Windows 11 computer if you the problem and plans to release it with
explicitly installed it. one of the upcoming updates.
Microsoft wrote the following:
WHAT TO DO IF YOU’RE
ƂvÌiÀÃÌ>}Õ«`>ÌiÃÀii>Ãi`ÓÈ 567%-|4'56#46+0)
ÕiÓäÓ{ xäÎÎäÓ®]Ãi`iÛVià If you’ve installed the update on your
>ÞÌÀiÃÌ>ÀÌ°ƂvviVÌi`ÃÞÃÌiÃ>Þ computer and it enters the never-ending
ÀiÃÌ>ÀÌÀi«i>Ìi`Þ>`ÀiµÕÀiÀiVÛiÀÞ reboot loop, you’ll have to wait until
«iÀ>ÌÃÌÀiÃÌÀiÀ>ÕÃi° Windows 11 begins the Windows 11
recovery environment by itself.
The Redmond software company When it does, select Troubleshoot,
continues: then Advanced Options, then Uninstall
1«`>ÌiÃ]>`w>ÞVV1ÃÌ>
/ ÃÃÃÕiÃÀiiÞÌ>vviVÌ >ÌiÃ̵Õ>ÌÞÕ«`>Ìi°/ iVwÀ
`iÛViÃÌ >ÌÕÃiÛÀÌÕ>>V iÌÃ removal of the update.
>`iÃÌi`ÛÀÌÕ>â>Ìvi>ÌÕÀiÃ]ÃÕV It will take some time for KB5039302
>Ã Õ`* ] iÛ Ý]ƂâÕÀi6ÀÌÕ> to be removed. Once it’s done, restart
iÃÌ«°7i>ÀiÛiÃÌ}>Ì}Ì your computer and it should work
`iÌiÀiÌ iiÝ>VÌV`ÌÃÕ`iÀ properly again).
Ü V Ì ÃÃÃÕi>ÞLiÌÀ}}iÀi`°
7`ÜÃi `ÌÕÃiÀÃ>Ài
iÃÃiÞÌiÝ«iÀiViÌ ÃÃÃÕi
>ÃÛÀÌÕ>â>ÌÃiÃëÀiÛ>iÌ
«ÀÛ>ÌiiÛÀiÌð
And further:
10 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
Don’t fall for the no-bloat
‘government’ version of
Windows 11going around
Windows 11 without any of the bloatware? Sounds promising, but the
alleged ‘Government Edition’ is illegal. LAURA PIPPIG reports
T
here’s an enticing version of Dubbed ‘Windows 11 Government
Windows 11 making its rounds on Edition’ (allegedly meant for
the internet right now, offering government agencies and the like), the
a slimmed-down design without any of ÛiÀÃÃiiÃÌi«Ì}>ÌwÀÃÌ}>Vi°
the usual bloatware bogging down and But you shouldn’t fall for it! Because
bloating up the operating system. there are some risks.
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 11
NEWS
IS THE WINDOWS 11 note added to the tweet draws
GOVERNMENT EDITION REAL? attention to this.
This version of Windows 11 was You should therefore refrain from
apparently caught in a tweet by user trying out this promising Windows
Andy Kirby, who showed screenshots version, no matter how tempting it
of the alleged government edition. might be. Otherwise you run the risk of
He describes the Windows version as your data falling into the wrong hands
>º>Ý>Þ`iy>Ìi`ÛiÀÃÜÌ > – or, in the worst-case scenario, getting
telemetry and Microsoft apps removed a Trojan in your system.
and no hardware restrictions like the
retail version. Just as god intended”. Note: We don’t want to imply that the
For many, this would be the dream. author of the tweet is trying to lure
Not only would programs like Edge inexperienced users to malicious sites
browser, Windows Store, Windows with his statements. However, the term
Defender, and built-in advertising be ‘Government Edition’ is misleading at
removed, but hardware restrictions and LiÃÌ]>ÃÌ«iÃvwV>ÛÛiiÌLÞ
built-in telemetry that collects user data Microsoft and/or governments.
would also be cut out.
The end result? A Windows 11 WINDOWS 11 WITHOUT
system that’s extremely neat and tidy. BLOATWARE? IT’S POSSIBLE
ÕÌ]ÕvÀÌÕ>ÌiÞ]Ì ÃÃÌ>vwV> +0|#016*'49#;
Windows version, nor is it a version ‘Purifying’ Windows 11 by removing
specially customized for governments. bloatware from the system isn’t a bad
idea in itself. It can improve overall
WHY IT’S DANGEROUS performance, and it can make the
Again for emphasis: the alleged operating system easier to use.
‘Windows 11 Government Edition’ Fortunately, there is a way to
Ã>v>i°ÌýÌ>vwV> VÀÃvÌ de-bloatware Windows 11 legally: you
product created for governments or can uninstall many of the annoying
authorities – it’s a privately moded programs manually, or you can use tools
version of Windows. In fact, since it like Tiny11 Builder (fave.co/3zB5z2x) to
ÕÃiÃ>ÕvwV>>VÌÛ>ÌÃiÀÛViÌ clear out your system for free.
authenticate Windows, this version is
even technically illegal. The context
12 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
«Ìw>ÞÜÀÃ
on Windows 10
multi-monitor set-ups
It took Microsoft seven months to squash a Copilot bug that caused
desktop icons to jump between screens. MICHAEL CRIDER reports
C
opilot AI is the future of So, why is it that it took them
computing – at least, that’s what months and months to get the thing
Microsoft would like you to working on Windows 10 PCs with more
believe. They went so far as to stick the than one monitor?
name on both their own new Surface Yes, Copilot on Windows 10 is weird.
PCs and other manufacturers’ laptops. Chalk it up to the way Microsoft has
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 13
NEWS
been aggressively trying to get people
off of Windows 10 and onto Windows
11, perhaps. But that’s not a great
strategy to get most of your current
userbase to engage with your shiny new
AI system. (Despite Windows 11 coming
out three years ago and Windows 10
going out of full support next year, the
older operating system still has more
than double the users.)
In any case, Copilot initially caused
some desktop bugs for Windows 10
users with more than one monitor, with
desktop icons sporadically hopping
between screens. So, Microsoft paused
the Copilot rollout for those users – and
it’s been seven months.
A little bugginess is to be expected
with new software, especially when
you’re trying to integrate it so deeply
ÜÌ 7`ÜÃ>`"vwVi]LÕÌ}`
grief that looks bad. A similar issue was
affecting Windows 11, but at least that
one was patched back in February.
VÀÃvÌ >ÃwÝi`Ì iLÕ}>`
Copilot is once again available to
Windows 10 users who have multi-
monitor set-ups, according to the latest
patch report (fave.co/4cO2lGY).
Head to Windows Update and make
sure you’re running the latest version
vÓÓÓvÞÕÜ>ÌÌÃiiÌ iwÝ°ÕÃÌ
don’t expect this to be the last time you
see issues with Copilot.
14 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
Microsoft Surface Pro
11th Edition
Price: £1,049 from fave.co/4cVWAaz
M
icrosoft desperately needs its You’ve seen a Surface Pro before.
new Surface Pro 11th Edition Weirdly, this 13-inch tablet is the
Copilot+ PC to be a success. least interesting part of the whole
It’s something like 80 percent of the way affair. Inside is the key: how well does
there. But the most important thing this Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon X Elite
Windows on Arm tablet does is point to work? Do the new AI experiences
what feels like an inevitable future for actually make a difference? And can
productivity PCs… someday. 7`ÜÃƂÀw>ÞÀi«>Vi>8nÈ
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 15
REVIEWS
PC from AMD or Intel? I have answers. the bundled Slim Pen 2) are ‘optional’
An expanding ecosystem of native adders that are really not.
Arm apps run great on this tablet, and The Surface Pro is somewhat unique,
when plugged in, the performance in that there aren’t too many Windows
seems to be on par or even better tablets in the market. The physical
than Intel’s Core Ultra (Meteor Lake). design is consistent from Surfaces
But whether the app will run or not is past. I tend to use the Surface Pro as
still, unfortunately, a question. When a ‘laptop’ of sorts, but be advised that
unplugged, the story changes yet the Surface tablet mode is gone. That
again, with intensive apps gobbling up does make the new Surface Pro less
great chunks of the tablet’s prodigious of a traditional tablet and more of just
battery life. And I’m just not seeing an oddly-designed laptop. You might
enough in Microsoft’s Copilot+ AI walk away thinking that the Surface
features to overshadow that story, Pro could have been a 360-degree
yet. But the hardware? Rather good, convertible version of the Surface
minus some weirdness. Laptop Go instead.
Because of this, this review will be If you do use it as a desktop device,
much longer than normal, even though Microsoft has left the kickstand in
I’ve tried to break out some of the «>Vi°/ iÃ}wV>ÌV >}iÃÌ i
topics into separate articles. Join me in new ‘wireless’ Flex Pro keyboard, which
the deep end, will you?
BUILD QUALITY
Physically, the Surface Pro 11th
Edition feels very similar to the
Surface Pro 9 (5G), enough that
you’d have to take a close look to
tell the two apart. Microsoft ships
the new Surface Pro in packaging
that matches the metallic colour
options: Black, Platinum, Dune,
and Sapphire. As usual, the
keyboard and pen (the new There’s just the Surface charger slot on the right side
Surface Flex Pro keyboard plus of the Surface Pro 11th Edition.
16 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
changes the Surface
Pro experience. We’ll
talk about that in a bit.
Subtle differences
usually distinguish one
Surface generation
from the next. In this
case, the small ‘bands’
that distinguished
the 5G antennas in
the Surface Pro 9
aren’t there; while the
Surface Pro supports a A pair of USB 4 ports are on the left side of the Surface Pro.
nanoSIM 5G card, 5G
support isn’t yet available and will arrive the delayed ‘Recall’ feature, aka ‘Quickly
in the coming months. It’s not clear w`Ì }ÃÞÕÀ* ½Ã½Ì iÀiÞiÌ]
whether the physical design will change. but will be coming soon. From what I
Essentially, though, the latest can see, all of the obvious shortcuts for
Surface remains unchanged. The same creating a local account are gone, which
dimensions, the same weight. Microsoft jives with our report that Microsoft has
placed the power button and volume deleted its guide to local accounts
rocker on the top, as before, with a pair within Windows.
of USB4 (the non-Intel equivalent of You can charge the new Surface Pro
Thunderbolt 4 ports) to the left of the either via the charger or via the USB
chassis. A Surface Charger port is on ports, and the charger powers and
the right. Microsoft ships a tiny 39-watt charges the tablet even under load.
charger with the Surface Pro, though The tablet worked perfectly attached
without the built-in USB charging port to a Thunderbolt 4 docking station and
that other Surface chargers include. a pair of 4K displays. Note that the
What Microsoft calls the “Out of the headphone jack has disappeared, so
Box” (OOBE) set-up experience felt you’ll need either USB-C headphones
a bit lengthier than normal. Microsoft or Bluetooth to listen to private audio,
advertises some of the AI features within or use a dock or a USB-C dongle with a
Windows, but makes sure to note that headphone jack built in.
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 17
REVIEWS
Though Microsoft built an Arm a rather nifty magnetically attached
chip inside the latest Surface Pro, L>V«>iÌ >ÌÞÕÕÃÌy«Õ«LÞ
Ì iÌ>LiÌÃ`iwÌiÞÌv>iÃð depressing the small divot, then
Under load, you’ll hear the fan pick unscrewing the SSD from its slot.
Õ«ÃiÜ >ÌÃ}wV>ÌÞ]Ì Õ}
there’s no distracting coil whine. While DISPLAY
the fan won’t kick in under normal The Surface Pro 11th Edition’s display is
vwViÜÀ]ÞÕÜ«ÀL>LÞÌVi a mixed bag. The Surface Pro ships with
it under workloads like Photoshop, either a 13-inch (2,880x1,920, 267ppi)
vÀiÝ>«i°ÌÜÃ}wV>ÌÞV PixelSense Flow LCD or OLED display,
under an emulated workload, as the and Microsoft shipped our review unit
*1ÀÕÃy>ÌÕÌ°/ i]ÞÕ½ i>ÀÌ i with the latter option. Microsoft’s public
fan and feel the back of the tablet get ëiVwV>ÌÃÃ>ÞÌ >ÌLÌ Ã, >`
quite hot. I measured a temperature of Vivid colour options are available,
>ÀÕ`{Óð ]LÕÌÞVi>}ÕiÃÕÃ} though only a special ‘HDR’ colour
the new Surface Laptop noticed even «ÀwiÜ>ëÀiÃiÌÞÀiÛiÜÕÌ°
higher temperatures. The OLED display is gorgeous,
While there is no longer any SD as OLEDs are, with inky blacks and
or microSD slot, Microsoft does stunning contrast. But you may notice
>Ü>vwV>ÞÌÀ>i`®Ài«>À> a small bit of grain, depending on
to upgrade the SSD. Access is via how sharp your eyes are. Using the
Surface Pro 9 (5G)’s LCD screen
for comparison, I noticed some
speckling of what looked like
individual pixels on the Surface
Pro’s OLED screen. To be fair,
I didn’t notice this until others
pointed this out during the review
process, but it’s there.
The other thing that’s annoying
is that the panel itself is obscured
by the rounded corners of the
display, similar to the Surface
The Surface Pro has a removable SSD. Laptop Studio. Again, that’s
18 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
picture quality to suit the
ambient light and content
on the display, and these
can be tweaked inside the
Windows Settings menu.
The display is super
ÀiyiVÌÛi]>ÃÞÕV>Ãii
from the photos in this
article. You might yearn for
a matte coating. But how
quickly we take for granted
Surface Pro 9 (front) vs the Surface Pro 11th edition (rear). the 120Hz screen.
The latest Surface Pro’s
not really noticeable. But if you’re supported colour gamut is worse than
taking a screenshot or screen snip, the Surface Pro 9 (5G), save for the
for example, you’ll notice the corners increased support of the DCI-P3 colour
‘disappear’ into the display. The entirety gamut – used for video editing and
of the screenshot appears to be saved, displaying HDR content. For me, that’s
though, and I didn’t notice any UI a signal that the Surface Pro is more
elements that were obscured by the of a content-consumption device than
rounded corners. “When measured ever before.
as a standard rectangular
shape, the screen is 13
inches diagonally (actual
viewable area is less),”
Microsoft notes.
The OLED display
does put out 529 nits of
luminance, however. It does
not carry any HDR ratings
outside of Dolby Vision
IQ, which is now present
on all of the new Surface The new Surface Pro’s supported colour gamut is worse
Pros. Dolby IQ adjusts HDR than the Surface Pro 9 (5G).
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 19
REVIEWS
6;2+0)617%*2#& and the associated Slim Pen 2
#0&|+0-+0)':2'4+'0%' disconnected from Bluetooth, causing
I didn’t have a great out-of-the-box i>y>Ã v«>V° ÃÌ ÕiÌÌ
experience with the Surface Pro 11th keyboards include some button or
Edition, and the Flex Pro keyboard was switch to manually connect them in
>Ã}wV>Ì«>ÀÌvÌ >Ì°½ÕÃi`Ì case they disconnect. This doesn’t. In
tapping the space bar to wake up a the case of the Flex Pro, just clicking
PC. But with the Surface Pro, the tablet in the keyboard caused it to re-pair,
itself could be awake, but it seemed like fortunately. Double-clicking the top of
I needed to tap the space bar to wake the Pen caused it to connect, too.
up the keyboard. That, on top of the But the Bluetooth-connected Flex
ii`ÌÕ«`>ÌiÌ iiÞL>À`½ÃwÀÜ>Ài] Pro keyboard does work, and works
didn’t get me off to a great start. pretty well. A laptop keyboard feels
The keyboard just seemed to stop rigid, and I honestly prefer one. The
working occasionally, too. On one Flex Pro keyboard, while docked, has
occasion, both the Flex Pro keyboard a decent amount of bounce and feels
somewhat cramped.
But even separating
the keyboard by a
few inches from the
tablet gives it a sense
of freedom it lacked
before. It absolutely
solves the ‘lapability’
problem, too – no longer
do you need to balance
the tablet and its
kickstand on your lap.
Instead, you can type on
your lap while putting
the tablet separately
This photo shows off the detached Flex Pro keyboard but
also indicates what it’s like to use the Surface Pro 11th Edition on a tray table. (I didn’t
outside. The display doesn’t put out enough light with the have enough time to
" `ë>ÞÌLiÕÃivÕvÕÃÕ]LÕÌà >`i̽ÃÕÃÌwi° make an Amtrak trip, as I
20 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
that AI hype.
Microsoft says that the
keyboard has a battery life
of 41 hours. From what I’ve
seen, it will recharge when
the keyboard is connected
and when the tablet is
connected to power. The
Flex Pro keyboard doesn’t
seem to recharge when
the tablet is on battery and
doesn’t serve as a reserve
battery for the tablet, like
The Microsoft Flex Pro keyboard for the Surface Pro 11th the Microsoft Surface Book.
Edition, with the included Slim Pen 2. The Flex Pro keyboard
ships with a haptic
have done before with the Surface Go). touchpad, which simulates the actual
The Flex Pro hinge folds down, physical click of a touchpad. It’s wider
>Ü}ÞÕÌy«ÌÕ`iÀi>Ì >` than the previous Surface Pro Signature
elevate the keyboard angle a bit. It keyboards, too – 11.25- versus 10mm.
works pretty well, and my typing was When the keyboard is ‘off’ or in standby
decent on the detached keyboard. mode, the haptic keyboard shuts down
The weird thing is that the Bluetooth too, which is a bit disconcerting. And
connection allows the keyboard to be sometimes it just glitches, as when I ran
placed a tremendous distance away a test, and then the keyboard suddenly
– around 10m in my living room and shut off without warning.
probably more. That’s well beyond I really do like how the Surface Slim
the useful range of the keyboard and Pen 2 interacts with the Surface Pro’s
screen. Wireless makes for a lovely digitizer, though. Inking is probably
addition, but does feel a bit like overkill. the best I’ve seen on a Surface device,
As for the Copilot key – all it does is based on my example lines below. I look
launch a generic old Copilot app that ÌÃii ÜVÃiÞÌ i¼yÜývÀ
y>ÌÃ>ÀÕ`Ì iÃVÀiii>ÞÌ iÀ the physical tip of the pen (perfectly,
app. It feels rather anticlimactic, after all from what I see) and if there’s any judder
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 21
REVIEWS
time with the tablet I’ve
rescinded that. It seems
pretty clear, up and down.
The tablet does ship with
Dolby Atmos for Speakers
that’s on by default,
though, so that certainly
contributes positively.
The tablet also ships
with a 1440p front-facing
webcam as well as a
Inking on the Surface Pro 11th Edition. The lines in the 10Mp rear-facing webcam.
bottom half of the screen were drawn with a straight edge. Microsoft has invested
It’s all helped by the 120Hz screen. in exemplary webcam
experiences, especially
or wobble as I draw a straight line with with some of the Windows Studio
a ruler. The tell is the diagonals, where Effects AI features I’ll talk about in a
you see the most wobble. Here, though, bit. This webcam is excellent, easily
there’s really not much at all. the equal and then some of the best
As with other recent Surface pens, webcams I’ve reviewed: sharp, clear,
the Slim Pen 2 recharges in its cubby, great colour, and intelligently focusing
which is now always exposed in what and exposing the camera for your
Microsoft says is a bid to make it always face rather than the background. I
apparent and accessible to the user. almost think that it does a better job of
lighting your face in a dark room, lit by
9'$%#/#0&+1 just the tablet itself, than it does with
The Surface Pro 11th Edition seems this moderately lit shot above.
to include the same 2-watt speakers With Cortana essentially dead,
as its predecessor. Surfaces have there’s no need to test the mic pickup
had a reputation for powerful audio across the room. But the AI noise
and this new Surface lives up to it. wÌiÀ}ÃiÝViiÌ]Ã} ÌÞLiÜÜ >Ì
My early impressions were that the Ì iƂÃÕÃ<i £{½ÃƂ>Õ`wÌiÀÃ
sound became muddy as the volume `iÛiÀi`°/ iwÌiÀÃÃ} ÌÞ«Vi`Õ«
climbed, but after spending more the lead vocals from a rock song, but
22 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
>LÃÕÌiÞwÌiÀi`ÕÌ>L>V}ÀÕ` #+':2'4+'0%'5
white noise track of rainfall that I played 9+6*+0|9+0&195
at loud volume right to the side of the There’s a problem, which I’ll use as a
ÌiL°/iÀÀwVÜÀ iÀi° transition point to talking about some
of the Surface Pro’s
AI app experiences:
there is a lack of
available AI testing
apps for NPUs.
UL’s Procyon app
includes a ‘vision AI’
test, which evaluates
the AI performance.
But both that test
plus Geekbench ML,
which also promises
to evaluate AI
performance, would
only run on the
CPU. I also couldn’t
w`>Þ}iiÀ>ÌÛi
AI applications
that would run
on Arm, let alone
take advantage
of the NPU. So
Qualcomm’s
vaunted NPU really
isn’t put to good
use inside the
Surface Pro from
The Surface Pro 11th Edition includes an ultrawide 1440p webcam,
which I dislike; it’s just too wide for a single-person perspective. But a third-party app
in video, turning on the Windows Studio Effects’ Automatic Framing perspective.
allows the camera to zoom in, plus add additional effects. Microsoft would
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 23
REVIEWS
Studio Effects replicated
functions in Zoom, Teams, or
Google Meet: background
LÕÀÀ}>`>Õ`wÌiÀ}°
Eye Contact made it seem
as if you were staring at
the camera at all times.
Automatic framing centers
you in the picture by using
cropping effects. Those all
existed before the Surface Pro.
The most useful addition
Turning on all available Windows Studio Effects options is a ‘teleprompter’ addition
(some are choices between multiple options) doesn’t max to Eye Contact, so if you’re
out the Snapdragon X Elite’s 45 TOPS NPU. reading text from a screen
during a call, you’ll still seem
probably vehemently disagree with that, like you’re focused in on the listener.
of course, as there are several Windows Several ‘Creative Filters’ (Illustrated,
applications that now use AI. (I don’t Animated, Watercolour) don’t do
think most users will care
whether they use the
CPU, the NPU, or the
cloud, but I’ll note what I
noticed anyway).
And yes, Recall is
on hold. So one of the
y>}Ã «vi>ÌÕÀiÃvÌ Ã
tablet is gone.
Microsoft has a few
new Studio Effects,
subtle improvements
that may matter to you Image Creator is still pretty standard AI art, but it looks nice.
if you’re on a lot of I still don’t know what if anything the little ‘29’ token counter
video calls. The older Ã}wiÃ]>Ì Õ} >Ãi`°
24 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
anything and are useless. And a new out what you want, and then add the
Portrait Light addition to make me look prompt, with an adjustable ‘creativity’
‘natural’ just yellowed out my screen. slider that allows Cocreator some
They all use the NPU. Interestingly, leeway. But it’s more fun when you enter
using as many Studio Effects as I could the prompt, then sketch out what you
simultaneously didn’t go over 25 want, and Cocreator responds in real
percent of the available NPU resources. time. You don’t get the photorealism
The application that Microsoft is that Image Creator offers, but you have
pushing people to use most seems to ÀiVÌÀÛiÀÌ iw>ÕÌ«ÕÌ°
be the dual generative
AI functions in Paint,
which use the NPU
and the optional-but-
not-really Surface Slim
Pen 2: Image Creator
and Cocreator. Image
Creator (formerly called
Cocreator, too – don’t
ask) is Microsoft’s
generative AI service,
and it uses the cloud to
deliver really wonderful
1,152x1,152 images.
The new Cocreator
is part of Paint, but a
separate function from
Image Creator – it
doesn’t have to be, but it
is. Cocreator is essentially
the same as Image
Creator, but it uses your
pen input as guidance to
create the image. It’s hit
or miss. You can sketch Two attempts by Paint Cocreator on the Surface Pro.
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 25
REVIEWS
Cocreator seems to work best app runs in Arm. Still, readers took to
when it understands what you draw. It the Internet to complain about two
did pretty great with my awful drawing functions that they felt were lacking:
and prompt of a mountain range and the lack of support for Google Drive
forest. But it completely whiffed on a and problems connecting to Brother
sketch of an astronaut standing on the printers.
moon’s surface with the Earth in the There are several issues here. First
background (see images on page 25). is whether you’ll be simply able to
Live Captions are more useful than do something. Microsoft is already
I thought they’d be. They not only working to eliminate third-party printer
caption any video you have (like a drivers, preferring its own native IPP
video of a wedding or graduation, say) drivers instead. So in the case of the
but they will also translate any audio – Brother printer, I thought I’d be able
whether that’s on the screen or via the to print a page, just as you’d expect.
tablet microphone. Just make sure you Nope. Oddly, I was able to scan with
enable that in the app’s settings. my Brother printer, but not print, even
The kicker? These AI art apps need after downloading drivers. I had no
to be connected so that Microsoft can luck at all with an older HP LaserJet
vet your images for, well, inappropriate multifunction printer.
things. It sort of defeats the whole ÕÌëiVwVÌ À`«>ÀÌÞÕÌÌiÃ]
purpose of a local NPU, right? such as those that accompanied
older printers that you probably
THE WINDOWS own, probably won’t work. Certain
ON ARM APPS ISSUE ‘assistant’ apps such as Razer Axon
Using a Windows on Arm PC in 2024 won’t either. Fun story: just plugging
still reminds me of a Chromebook: in a Razer USB-C hub, which usually
many, many, apps and functions just auto-downloads Razer software, caused
work via the Arm chip on the Surface the Surface Pro to crash, reboot, then
Pro, but some do not. To save time and show a black screen until I removed
space, I wrote about my experiences the hub. But Razer Synapse and Cortex
trying a number of apps on the Surface work in Arm. I gave up on installing
Pro in a separate story. There’s a lot! Logitech Options, which helps control
Browsers, especially, are coded for Arm, mice and keyboards, after about 15
but even the notoriously slow Slack minutes of inactivity.
26 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
that is supposed to step
in and emulate an app not
ÜÀÌÌiëiVwV>ÞvÀƂÀ°
In practice, several apps
– including some testing
apps – simply refused to run
if it detected an Arm chip,
or generated some other
error. That’s supposedly the
developer’s fault, we’re told.
Google, at least let the Prism emulator try… That really doesn’t matter
when it doesn’t work. We ran
Most of the apps I tried in my into that with some of our testing apps,
>VV«>Þ}>ÀÌViÀ>ÕÃÌwi° ÕÌ which didn’t work or generated errors.
I couldn’t try everything, and certain Ditto for Google Drive.
VPNs (Nord, for example) didn’t work As I found, a number of productivity
while others did. The other concern applications already have native
– whether manufacturers will write applications written for Arm, and
software drivers for older hardware that matters. Adobe Photoshop, for
that connects to Arm PCs – is just too example, is written natively in Arm.
big to address here. Basically, if those Lightroom is as well. In Photoshop, at
functions can be included in Windows least, the features found in both the X86
i«ÀÌ}]ÞÕ½Liwi°Ƃ`ÀÛiÀvÀ and Arm apps appear to be identical.
some piece of purpose-built hardware Other Adobe applications are on their
Àii>Ãi`wÛiÞi>ÀÃ>}¶½``ÕLÌÌ° way. (Adobe Lightroom connects to the
Keep in mind that web apps can cloud and runs natively on Arm, and
step in, too. People complained online Lightroom Classic runs, according to my
that Google Drive’s app doesn’t run on colleague Gordon Mah Ung, only via
Arm. It doesn’t. But the web app can emulation but runs well).
step in for some of that functionality Photoshop’s generative AI features
and works well. still use the cloud and not the
The second issue is simply how well Snapdragon NPU, however. Frankly, I
those apps will run, if at all. Microsoft doubt you’ll care how those AI functions
developed an emulator called Prism are processed, just that they are.
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 27
REVIEWS
an older, simple 3D
top-down shoot
’em’ up. The latter
À>]Ì iwÀÃÌ``½Ì°
I’m not going to
kill myself trying
dozens of games
when Microsoft has
already told us that
the Surface Pro isn’t a
Photoshop likes the Snapdragon X Elite and its Adreno GPU. gaming machine.
If an app is not written to Arm, 2'4(14/#0%'
and has to be emulated, the Surface All that leads us to the performance of
Pro’s CPU kicks into high gear. That’s a the Surface Pro 11th Edition. I leaned
problem. Take our Handbrake test, for on our familiar benchmarks, trying to
example. The open-source codec does quantify some of what I had anecdotally
ship with an Arm version, but I used that experienced above. But I tested in
as well as an older, unoptimized version three modes: plugged into the wall, as
for compatibility’s sake. you would normally use the tablet, on
The Surface Pro doesn’t deal well battery, and by dialling up the Windows
with un-optimized apps. In Handbrake’s power slider to maximum settings. On
case, the rear of the tablet became some tests I experienced little changes.
quite hot over the duration of the On others, the difference was more
test, around 38°C. (The new Arm- profound.
powered Surface Laptop, reviewed by a For better or for worse, we don’t
colleague, soared to around 29°C). But have too many rivals to Qualcomm’s
the battery life plunged. I’ll talk more Snapdragon X Elite processor. With
about that in the next section. Intel, I had but a single Core Ultra
As for games? Nah. I saw the (Meteor Lake) laptop on hand and
Snapdragon X Elite running Baldur’s no tablets – Microsoft wasn’t exactly
Gate 3 at 30 frames per second at rushing to send the Surface Pro 11
Low detail settings. As I detailed in my with Meteor Lake inside. So, instead,
other story, I tried Saints’ Row IV and my colleague Adam Murray sent me a
28 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
Meteor Lake X1 tablet from OneXPlayer. But there were wrinkles. Though
I also used the Asus ZenBook 14 OLED PCMark 10’s Apps test ran, PCMark’s
with a Meteor Lake chip inside. Finally, conventional tests did not. (Weirdly,
I compared it to the Surface Pro 9 (5G) PCMark didn’t run on the Asus
with a Microsoft SQ3 / Qualcomm notebook either). Procyon’s AI test
Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 chip inside for a usually offers the choice of the CPU,
gen-over-gen comparison. GPU, or NPU to test the AI capabilities.
We’re not making explicit But only the CPU test was offered by
comparisons to the Apple MacBook, the app and Underwriter Labs, the
though our Macworld colleagues’ review developer, didn’t provide an alternative.
of the Apple M3 MacBook Air does AI art apps besides say, Cocreator,
allow for some comparisons. We’ll note don’t really use the NPU. So, yes –
those where appropriate. We’re trying Qualcomm’s vaunted AI TOPS wasn’t
to give you a representative idea of the put to the test.
Surface Pro’s performance rather than That just underscores some of the
establish which Windows on Arm tablet compatibility issues Windows on Arm
is the best of the bunch. still has and you can see why some
I used a selection of tests: think that these early ‘AI apps’ within
Cinebench, which measures how fast a Windows are just tech demos.
laptop’s CPU chews through a rendering Cinebench accommodates both X86
task, and Handbrake, which does and Arm, though the most recent R24
the same over a prolonged period. I (2024) release includes a dedicated Arm
added the popular Geekbench test, version that the earlier versions lacked.
too. The PCMark Apps test calculates The Surface Pro, with its 10 performance
the time it takes to perform standard cores, won in the most recent R24
VÀÃvÌ"vwVi>`7iLLÀÜÃ} release. Intel’s Core Ultra does well on
tasks. 3DMark (both Time Spy and the older versions.
Night Raid) measure how well the So far, the Surface Pro more than
Snapdragon X Elite’s Adreno GPU fares. holds its own against the Windows
I also added PugetBench’s Photoshop tablet, losing to the Asus notebook.
benchmark to try and add a more Note the inclusion of the ‘Max’
ÌiÃÛiÜÀ>`°Ƃ`w>Þ]ÕÃi` entry. That’s where I dialled up the
Procyon’s AI Vision test to try and Windows 11 performance slider, up
measure the chip’s AI capabilities. two notches from its most conservative
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 29
REVIEWS
in terms of performance,
when the tablet is just
running on battery power.
(I didn’t run the tablet on
maximum, while on battery).
We’re seeing similar
scores here, with drops
across the board for the
Snapdragon X Elite as
well as the Core Ultra. We
typically don’t use the quick
and easy-to-run Geekbench
test, but I did so here, just
‘Recommended’ setting. There’s a small to add another layer of benchmarks.
but notable difference in some tests. This test uses both CPU and GPU
For comparison: the 15-inch M3 benchmarks, which I again ran on
MacBook Air reports a Cinebench 2024/ battery power, wall power, and at
R24 score of 658 in multi-core and 141 maximum settings. I’ll combine the
in single-core performance, according two images together (one on battery
to Macworld. The Surface Pro is faster. power, one on wall power) for brevity’s
Now, let’s look at how the Surface sake. Again, remember that the ‘max’
Pro fares against the other competitors settings are only run on wall power.
Geekbench still
loves the Adreno
CPUs inside the
Snapdragon X
Elite, but gives
the nod in GPU
performance to the
Core Ultra.
In Geekbench
6.2.2, which
delivers
performance
30 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
There are two points
to make here. First, no
one will ever be totally
Ã>ÌÃwi`ÜÌ Ì i>Û>>Li
benchmarks. You either
choose the latest one and
toss out any comparisons
you’ve made before or
you choose an older
one and face howls of
protest that your tests are
unfair. Second, testing
is a question of time as
well as effort: testing on
battery, on wall power,
and on maximum settings
is already time-intensive
enough.
Scores on both battery
and a plugged-in laptop
results consistent with Geekbench 6.3, are close to one another. As for the
the 15-inch M3 MacBook Air scored optimized Handbrake scores? It really
11,936 in the multi-core test and 3,144 didn’t make an enormous difference.
in the single-core test. It’s closer here. On the optimized Handbrake app, the
Let’s move to Handbrake.
Handbrake is a open-source
transcoding test and we
typically use an older version
for compatibility’s sake. We
do so here, if only to show off
the comparison to the
other products. But wait! We
also tested with an optimized
Arm version, too.
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 31
REVIEWS
it’s an easy win for the
Surface Pro. On wall
power, though, the Asus
notebook is the best bet.
The problem with
our graphics tests are
that they really aren’t
too representative.
Microsoft has said that
the Surface Pro and
Surface Laptop are
productivity machines
wÀÃÌ]Ì}>}* ð
Surface Pro recorded a time of 2,258 And there have been numerous reports
seconds, about 5 percent better than from our reviews and reporters, plus
the unoptimized app. On battery, it across the Internet, that align with that
was slightly slower: 2,278 seconds. On statement. Games simply don’t run on
maximum settings, I recorded a score of the Snapdragon X Elite as well as they
1,743 seconds, which is a dead heat. do on X86 PCs.
We’ll talk about the effects of Still, a GPU has more purposes
unoptimized apps on the Surface than gameplay, as we’ll see next. Note
Pro’s battery-life results further below. the differences in 3DMark’s tests. The
Now, let’s look at a more practical cross-platform Night Raid test favours
test: PCMark Apps, which is a direct Arm while the more traditional Time
measure of how well the
Surface Pro will fare in
`>ÞÌ`>ÞvwViÜÀ
and web browsing.
Disappointingly, it
wouldn’t run the generic
PCMark 10 test –
application compatibility
held it back.
On battery power,
32 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
Spy test used
for our gaming
notebook reviews
leans towards the
X86 processor
from Intel. It’s
worth noting that
3DMark didn’t
even run until I
downloaded the
very latest benchmark direct from UL, question we haven’t had answered yet
on advice from Qualcomm. is if we’ll see an Arm chip paired with
Photoshop, however, is a nice an Nvidia GPU… although we’re hoping
practical tool to see how well the Nvidia answers that question in 2025.
Surface Pro runs. PugetBench is a Last but not least: AI. Again, this
benchmark released by Puget Systems, is a disappointment. We were hoping
which directs Photoshop to perform for some AI-on-AI competition, but the
various tasks. Since it depends on NPU tests didn’t run on our systems.
the version of Photoshop already on UL Procyon, which measures how well
the laptop or tablet – and Photoshop the chips process AI ‘machine vision’
has both an Arm as well as an X86 calculations, ran only on the CPU. But
version – this is a nice test to compare boy, did Qualcomm score a win here.
the two platforms. Normally, we’d close out our
Again, the Snapdragon X Elite performance testing with some
and Adreno GPU
are holding their
own, though the
clamshell barely
tops the tablet. If
you thought that
Arm wasn’t suitable
for creative work,
you may have to
think again. One
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 33
REVIEWS
comparative battery-life tests. But VÀÃvÌ"vwViÜÀÛiÀÌ iVÕÀÃi
I’m making a conscious decision not of a day) still yielded battery life of 10
to, if only because I don’t think that hours, 29 minutes.
the Surface Pro (204) compares well ÕÌ VÀÃvÌÎÈxÀ"vwVi>««Ã>Ài
to a gaming-esque X1 tablet and the relatively light workloads and they’re
Asus notebook. optimized for Arm. I don’t have a
That doesn’t mean that I didn’t huge amount of data supporting this
test the Surface Pro – just that I think thesis, but when I ran an intensive, un-
the results should stand on their own. «Ìâi`>`LÀ>iÌiÃÌ]Ìwà i`
Matt Smith’s review of the Surface in just under 34 minutes. It chewed
Laptop (fave.co/4cwrJBj) has a much through a whopping 31 percent of the
better opportunity to answer this available battery, enough that Windows
question, comparatively. reported that it only had one hour and
When I connected the Surface Pro 15 minutes left. That’s huge! But it’s a
tablet to a pair of wired headphones potential Achilles heel of the Surface Pro.
(gasp!) and performed our standard The PugetBench Photoshop
video rundown test – set the luminance LiV >Àwà i`>LÕÌÓÇ
to 250-260 nits and loop a 4K video minutes. It’s running Photoshop, but an
until it expires – the Surface Pro lasted optimized version. When it was done,
13 hours 44 minutes. Fantastic! But 89 percent of the battery was left…
I thought, well, would Bluetooth though Windows thought that equated
deliver better battery life? It’s more to about three hours and 15 minutes
realistic, anyway. So I ran the same test left. Again, not great, but unoptimized
connected to Bluetooth headphones. apps may make a difference here,
The tablet lasted 13 hours, 47 minutes especially on battery.
or about the same. As for the optimized version of
vÞÕ}>Ì iÜ>ÞL>VÌÌ iwÀÃÌ Handbrake? Um, well, ugh. My test took
few paragraphs of this review, though, 34 minutes, and dropped the battery
you’ll remember that there’s an issue from 68 percent to 35 percent. That’s a
with how the Surface Pro’s Snapdragon 33 percent drop in 34 minutes.
X Elite chip handles intensive loads. On mains power, the Surface Pro
-i̽ÃÌ>>LÕÌÌ >ÌLÀiyÞ°ÀÃÌ] is excellent performance-wise. On
there’s good news: using the PCMark battery, it can last for hours and hours…
10 Apps rundown test (which simulates provided that it’s not doing much.
34 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
when plugged in.
But on battery,
under load – and
especially with an
unoptimized app that
requires it to rev up
and rev up hard – Arm’s
Ã>VÀwV}L>ÌÌiÀÞ
life for additional
performance.
I liked the Surface
Pro 9 (5G) because it
ran Microsoft’s core
apps well, and that
/ i-ÕÀv>Vi*À££Ì `Ìà ÜÃ`iwÌi«ÀÃi° was all that I thought
customers would ask of
8'4&+%6 it. Now, Windows on Arm’s ecosystem
Here’s where I stand: the Surface Pro is expanding. The border is moving
££Ì `Ìà ÜÃ`iwÌi«ÀÃi° through Adobe’s productivity sphere
Arm’s CEO didn’t tell me that half of right now.
the world’s PCs will eventually run Again, though, this isn’t the ‘it just
Arm. But you know, there’s a decent works’ tablet that we all hoped for.
case to be made that a chunk of the It mostly works. In some sense, the
world’s business/productivity PCs could Surface Pro 11th Edition feels like a
eventually switch from X86 to Arm. powerful Chromebook, doing just
That’s what they need, after all: long short of everything you’d want from a
battery life and moderate performance. productivity machine and very little in
But the Snapdragon X Elite the way of gaming.
undercuts that. Snapdragons have I haven’t tested the Meteor Lake
always been engines of weak to version of the Surface Pro. I don’t care
moderately-powered PCs, but with at all that Intel’s Lunar Lake is coming,
battery life that lasts and lasts. Now, something always is. But I’m still
Qualcomm is dashing to become the inclined to stick with the tried-and-true
fastest CPU. And it’s succeeding, at least world of Intel’s Core Ultra and AMD’s
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 35
REVIEWS
Ryzen processors rather than make the
leap to Windows on Arm. Not yet. But
½>ÃÀiVw`iÌÌ >ÌƂÀVÕ`
be the way forward for a good chunk
of the PC market. This story ain’t over.
Mark Hachman
52'%+(+%#6+105
• 13-inch PixelSense Flow (2,880x1,920;
267ppi) up to 120Hz with dynamic
refresh rate and 10-point multitouch,
optional OLED screen
• Windows 11 Home
• Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite
3.4GHz X1E-80-100 processor
• Qualcomm Adreno GPU
• 16GB/32GB RAM
• 256GB/512GB/1TB SSD
• 2x USB-C
• Quad HD front-facing Surface Studio
Camera
• 2-watt stereo speakers with Dolby
Atmos
• Dual Studio Mics with voice focus
• Wi-Fi 7
• Bluetooth 5.4
• 48Wh/53Wh battery
• 287x209x9.3mm
• 895g
36 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
Google Pixel 8a
Price: £499 from fave.co/3yQdKri
G
oogle is back with another a storage issue and a lack of innovation
edition of its mid-range A-series in the charging department.
smartphones and the Pixel 8a Are these still problems now I’ve
has been under the microscope for been testing the Pixel 8a as my daily
many reasons. `ÀÛiÀvÀ>viÜÜiiö i̽Ãw`ÕÌ°
For starters, Google pushed the
price up by £50 to £499 in the UK DESIGN
meaning it’s positioned closer to the The design language of the Pixel
y>}à «*Ýin°Ì½ÃivÌ ivÕÀ phones has stayed largely unchanged
Ài>ÃÃÃ>`} Ìw`Ì >À`Ì for a few years now and the 8a is no
recommend the Pixel 8a when it was exception. It’s a case of small tweaks
announced, also citing the new colours, here and there, with the most obvious
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 37
REVIEWS
being the more rounded
corners of the phone and
Google’s latest colourway
choices. You still get that
iconic camera bar across the
back, which is a bit divisive,
but I like it – even to stop the
phone sliding off things.
And it will if you leave
it to its own devices. It’s You still get that iconic camera bar across the back,
}Ì>}ÃÃiÀwÃ Ì > which is a bit divisive, but I like it.
most phones which gives a
premium feel but also makes it slippery. the normal Obsidian black and
/ ivwV>V>Ãi i«Ã>Ì Õ} Porcelain white options is Aloe green.
miss Google’s fabric ones of old), I thought this looked horribly garish
depending on what it comes into in stock images but in real life, it’s
contact with. I thought this looked really quite nice.
horribly garish in stock images but in The phone is still IP67 waterproof
real life, it’s rather quite nice. making it fully dunkable.
The 8a is a relatively compact
phone by modern standards and it’s DISPLAY
been on a diet, now just 188g – 5.5g Overall, not much has changed about
lighter than the Pixel 7a. Build quality the screen on the Pixel 8a from its
is better than many rivals and though predecessor. It’s still a tiny bit smaller
there’s a plastic rear cover (made from than the regular Pixel 8 at 6.1-inch,
76 percent recycled materials), its which these days is pretty compact.
>ÌÌiwà >iÃÌivÌ iViÃÌ You still get an OLED panel with
plastic-backed phones I’ve tried. The an FHD+ resolution so that makes the
100 percent recycled aluminium frame pixel density marginally higher than
is strong but it’s curious that Google still Ì iy>}Ã «]ÌÌ >ÌÞÕV>ÌVi
puts Gorilla Glass 3 on the front when the difference.
that version is over 10 years old now. One key upgrade is that Google has
My review sample in Bay blue bumped the refresh rate up to 120Hz
matches the Pixel 7 Pro and alongside >}ÌÌ iwÀÃÌƂÃiÀië iÌ}
38 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
beyond 90Hz (though the jump isn’t using it indoors or out. I just wish
as big as 60- to 90Hz). It’s a welcome the screen didn’t have such a chunky
change for a smoother experience but bezel around it. A 2024 phone bezel
there’s no LPTO tech here so the phone shouldn’t be this big, especially at this
can only switch between 60- and 120Hz. price. I did get used to it, but every
The feature (called Smooth Display) now and then I look at the 8a and think
in the settings is switched off by default ‘wow, this looks dated’.
which feels slightly odd. Google is Within the screen details is a built-
trying to save battery life, but it feels w}iÀ«ÀÌÃV>iÀÜ V ÞÕÜÕ`
pointless having premium features like expect, of course. It works well based
this and not using them. on my extensive testing, though not
Overall the screen is high quality y>ÜiÃÃ>`Ì iÀi½Ã>Ãv>ViÕVv
once again with punchy colours, good you prefer which also works very well.
viewing angles, excellent contrast and However, it’s less secure and so can’t be
plenty of brightness. Google rates it used for the likes of Google Pay.
at 1,400 nits for HDR and 2,000 nits On the audio side, the 8a has stereo
peak. I measured it as 812 nits with speakers which punch out decent
autobrightness turned off which is quality audio just like the 7a did. There’s
impressive and I didn’t have any issues no headphone jack as usual.
2'4(14/#0%'
When it comes to smartphone
components and performance
you probably fall into one of
two categories: you just want
the phone to work smoothly
and you don’t care how it
happens, or you like to dive
into the details in what I like to
call smartphone Top Trumps.
If you’re in the former
camp, then there’s nothing
The screen offers punchy colours, good viewing angles, to worry about. During my
excellent contrast and plenty of brightness. multiple weeks with the Pixel
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 39
REVIEWS
8a, the phone has run
perfectly smoothly.
One or two tiny hiccups
were app related and
therefore not inherent
to the phone.
For those in the
latter camp, the Pixel 8a
isn’t the fastest or most
exciting phone in the
mid-range category.
Sure, it has the Tensor
G3 chip found in the
y>}Ã «`iÃ]iÛi
the Pixel 8 Pro. It’s a During testing, the phone ran perfectly smoothly.
solid chip but compared
to some rivals and factoring in the Poco F6 Pro: 4,509
L>ÃVn v,Ƃ ]ÞÕV>w`LiÌÌiÀ Poco F6: 4,994
elsewhere if you shop around.
Benchmarks show it’s behind some GFX Manhattan 3.1
others in CPU and graphics tests so Google Pixel 8a: 104fps
power users might want to consider Samsung Galaxy A55: 57fps
going elsewhere. However, the Google Pixel 7a: 62fps
target market for the Pixel 8a should Nothing Phone (2a): 57fps
have no problems and outpaces Redmi Note 13 Pro: 39fps
big-name competitors like the Poco F6: 115fps
Samsung Galaxy A55.
Battery life
Geekbench 6 (multi-core) Google Pixel 8a: 15 hours, 2 minutes
Google Pixel 8a: 3,955 Samsung Galaxy A55: 12 hours, 26
Samsung Galaxy A55: 3,447 minutes
Google Pixel 7a: 2,588 Google Pixel 7a: 10 hours, 49 minutes
Nothing Phone (2a): 2,602 Nothing Phone (2a): 16 hours, 16
Redmi Note 13 Pro: 2,872 minutes
40 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
Redmi Note 13 Pro: 11 hours, 55 2024 including Wi-Fi 6E, NFC, GPS,
minutes Bluetooth 5.3 and 5G. It’s a dual-SIM
Poco F6 Pro: 11 hours, 2 minutes phone, albeit with one nano-SIM slot
Poco F6: 10 hours, 26 minutes and support for eSIM, rather than
two physical cards.
Charge in 30 minutes
Google Pixel 8a: 41% PHOTOGRAPHY
Samsung Galaxy A55: 52% Camera tech hasn’t changed from the
Google Pixel 7a: 38% Pixel 7a, but that’s not inherently a bad
Redmi Note 13 Pro: 87% thing. That phone got a reworked set-
Poco F6 Pro: 81% up built from the ground up, featuring a
Poco F6: 74% higher resolution 64Mp main sensor.
The rear is completed with a 13Mp
The main thing to point out to ultrawide as usual and while there’s
anyone is that there is now a 256GB no telephoto (to be expected), it’s
storage capacity rather than just the refreshing to see Google not try and
standard 128GB. However, you can only bump the number of cameras up with
get this in the Obsidian black colourway. something like a 2Mp macro.
In terms of other specs, the Pixel Photos from all three cameras are
8a has all the things you’d expect unsurprisingly excellent. The Pixel 8a
vÀ>>ÃÌy>}Ã « >`ÃiÌ is a great phone for point-and-shoot
situations, with plenty of
different modes to play
around with if you wish. It
doesn’t have any kind of
Pro mode, though.
You should expect
decent results from just
about any phone this
price in daylight, but
Google pulls ahead of
the pack when conditions
get trickier. The main
The Pixel 8a is a great phone for point-and-shoot situations. sensor being larger helps
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 41
REVIEWS
As you
can see
from our
test shots,
the Pixel
8a takes
excellent
photos.
42 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 43
REVIEWS
44 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
but it’s Google’s software
which is simply more
advanced.
Night Sight is still the
best night mode I’ve used
>`}ÛiÃÞÕVw`iVi
to take shots once it gets
dark, rather than leaving
your phone in your
pocket because you know
there’s no point shooting.
You’ll want to stick to Using a 30-watt Google charger, I saw the phone charge from
the main camera really, dead to 41 percent in 30 minutes.
but the others are still
above average in this respect. battery side of things. Despite a slightly
The other advantage of having a larger 4,492mAh battery and upgrade
Pixel phone is getting Google’s latest to the Tensor G3 (with its improved
i`Ì}>}V>ÌÞÕÀw}iÀÌ«ÃÜÌ «ÜiÀivwViVÞ®]Ì iÀi½ÃÃ}wV>Ì
the likes of Magic Editor, Magic Eraser, improvement compared to the Pixel 7a.
Photo Unblur and more. You can get It will last a day but unless you’re
these on other phones – even iPhone having a particularly light day where it’s
– via Google Photos but you’ll need a mostly sat on a desk or in a pocket not
Premium Google One subscription to doing much (like most of my workdays),
access some. it won’t go further.
The Pixel 8a also has prowess Despite this, the 8a lasted an
when you switch to video recording. impressive 15 hours and two minutes in
All three cameras can record up to our usual PCMark battery test. Based on
4K resolution (with 60fps on the main this test alone, it’d be one of the best
camera), though I was happy enough battery life phones you can buy, though
with the results at Full HD. Ài>ÜÀ`ÕÃ>}i`iýÌÀiyiVÌÌ >Ì°
Despite affordable phones with
BATTERY LIFE 67-, 90- or even 100+ watt charging
Sadly, there’s not much improvement being readily available, this appears
or innovation when it comes to the to be something Google is unwilling
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 45
REVIEWS
to upgrade. You still get basic 18-watt The Android 14 interface isn’t hugely
wired charging and there is, for better different from the previous version
or worse, no adapter in the box. so it’s AI features that are causing a
Using a 30-watt Google charger, I buzz this year, of course. And Google
saw the phone charge from dead to 41 >ÃÃii}Þwi`Ì i*Ýin>ÜÌ
percent in 30 minutes. AI tricks, even though a lot of them
Wireless charging is slow at 7.5 have been around for a while, such as
watts, but I can live with it since this Magic Eraser (remove objects from the
feature is still rare on mid-range background of any photo) and Live
smartphones and paired with a charger Translate (for real-time conversations in
like Google’s Pixel Stand 2 makes for a multiple languages).
nice desktop or bedside set-up. My favourite new feature is Circle
to Search where a long press on the
SOFTWARE navigation bar allows you to circle any
Being the maker of Android, the Pixel part of the screen to search for whatever
phones should offer the pinnacle when it is your highlighting. This could be
it comes to software and for many users some food you want a recipe for, a
that is the case. landmark you want to visit or some
Of course, some of it is subjective sneakers you want to buy.
and although, for example, Xiaomi’s There are plenty more features to
HyperOS
(formerly MIUI)
has grown
on me a lot
recently, it’s a
relief to switch
back to stock
Android where
things are a
comparative
oasis of
calm, free of
bloatware and
distractions. The Android 14 interface isn’t hugely different from the previous version.
46 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
discover and some are useful
like Hold for Me where the
phone sits in a phone queue
for you and lets you know
when you’re up next. There
are also security features
such as a free VPN as part of
a Google One.
In a world where so many
products, including phones,
launch with half of the main
features coming at a ‘later
date’ the Pixel 8a bucks the My favourite new feature is Circle to Search where a long
trend with its ready to go AI press on the navigation bar allows you to circle any part of
portfolio and you know you the screen to search for whatever it is your highlighting.
Ü}iÌÕ«`>ÌiÃwÀÃÌ°
Speaking of which, one of the best ÀiVi`>ÌLÕ̽w`}Ì in>
things about buying a Pixel phone is the harder to get my head around.
market-leading software support (which In isolation, this is another decent
Þ->ÃÕ}y>}Ã «ÃV>>ÌV ®°9Õ phone from Google and I would be
get a whopping seven years of both pretty happy on the whole to carry
security and OS updates, so you’ll get on using it as my main phone. It’s got
all the way to Android 21 in theory. a nice design, a lovely screen (bezel
Whether you want to keep a aside), smooth enough performance,
phone that long, or how well it will above-average cameras, there’s wireless
run that version in 2031 (or if Google charging and Google’s top-notch
does indeed keep that promise) is software experience – including AI
not easy to answer but it’s the best features available out of the box.
out the right now and gives you more However, the phone is stuck in
yiÝLÌÞÌ >>ÞÀÛ>ð a slightly odd position this year –
particularly with the price bump in the
8'4&+%6 UK. It means that you should seriously
Typically, the Pixel phones, particularly consider splashing a little extra to get
the A-series, are a no-brainer Ì iy>}à «*ÝinÜ̽Ã`ÃVÕÌi`
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 47
REVIEWS
at plenty of retailers or last year’s Pixel QZSS, NavIC
7a which will still be supported up to • USB Type-C 3.2
2026 for operating system updates • Fingerprint scanner (under display,
and 2028 for security. optical)
Then there are lots of great rivals • Non-removable 4,492mAh lithium-
from the likes of Samsung, Xiaomi and polymer battery
Motorola which have things like better • 152.1x72.7x8.9mm
raw performance, longer battery life and • 188g
faster charging. Chris Martin
52'%+(+%#6+105
• 6.1-inch (2,400x1,080; 430ppi) OLED,
HDR, 120Hz display
• Android 14
• Google Tensor G3 (4nm) processor
• Nona-core (1x 3.GHz Cortex-X3, 4x
2.45GHz Cortex-A715, 4x 2.15GHz
Cortex-A510) CPU
• Immortalis-G715s MC10 GPU
• 8GB RAM
• 128GB/256GB storage
• Two rear-facing cameras: 64Mp, f/1.9,
26mm (wide), 1/1.73-inch, 0.8μm,
dual pixel PDAF, OIS; 13Mp, f/2.2,
120-degree (ultrawide), 1.12μm
•-iwiV>iÀ>\£Î «]vÉÓ°Ó]Óä
(ultrawide), 1.12μm
• Stereo speakers
• No 3.5mm audio jack
• Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual/tri-
band
• Bluetooth 5.3, A2DP, LE
• NFC
• GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS,
48 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
Huawei Watch Fit 3
Price: £139 from fave.co/3WgeZJF
T
he Watch Fit 3 sees Huawei take On paper, the Watch Fit 3 promises
ÌÃwÌiÃÃÌÀ>ViÀ>`Ã>ÀÌÜ>ÌV a whole lot for not a lot of your money
hybrid and make it more and with no single smartwatch maker
smartwatch. Along with a revamped fully nailing things at the affordable end
design and a bigger screen, the Watch of the market, it’s there for Huawei to
Fit 3 gets new watch faces, richer sleep grab that best cheap smartwatch crown.
tracking, an improved heart rate sensor
and now adds more sports modes. DESIGN
Crucially, it doesn’t budge from its Huawei has essentially ripped up the
very reasonable price tag that won’t script for the design Fit 3. While the
see it measured up against the Apple >`ÌÓi`iwÌiÃÃÌÀ>ViÀÃ
Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch or the with slightly wider, Fitbit Charge-like
Google Pixel Watch. Think more Xiaomi, shaped screens, that look goes out
À]Ƃ>âwÌ>` Ã>ÀÌÜ>ÌV ið the window.
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 49
REVIEWS
to look at. The crown is
useful at least, mainly
for scrolling through
menu screens and is
also used effectively in
scenarios like navigating
the app launcher, where
a twist of the crown can
quickly reveal the labels
underneath app icons to
help identify what they do.
The Huawei feels like an Apple Watch clone. You can also double tap
it to get into your most
In its place is a squarer design that recently used apps.
instantly make the Fit 3 look like a There’s a good range of colours
regular smartwatch. you can pick the Watch Fit 3 up in.
Many smartwatches are accused Take your pick of Gold, Silver, Pink and
of being Apple Watch clones but that Tarnish case shades and there’s also
really does apply here with the Fit 3. Ì i«ÌvyÕÀi>ÃÌiÀ]Þ
The 43.2mm sized watch features a and leather straps. There are buttons
matte, aluminium alloy case with two on the case back you can press to clip
physical buttons on the right
hand side, and it’s those
buttons that scream Apple.
/ iLÌÌiÃ>y>Ì
kind that gives you quick
access to the Fit 3’s workout
tracking screen.
The top button is a red
watch crown that simply
doesn’t feel as elegant or
pristine as Apple’s crown and
slightly detracts from what The red watch crown doesn’t feel as elegant or pristine as
is largely a nice smartwatch Apple’s crown.
50 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
away the lugs to make
it pretty straightforward
to switch up straps.
Those additional straps
will cost you £30.
Huawei sticks to
the same level of
Ü>ÌiÀ«Àw}>ÃÌ iÌ
2, so you’re getting a
5ATM-rated design, which
does mean you can take it
swimming and submerge it Compared to other screens on smartwatches at this price, the
in water up to 50m depth. Fit 3 is one of the best.
DISPLAY good job of masking it with the
As mentioned, the screen on the latest user interface and its collection of
Fit is bigger than the one on the Fit 2, watch faces. It’s a screen that’s nicely
jumping from a 1.74-inch AMOLED to responsive to touch and is everything
a 1.82-inch one with a 480x408-pixel ÞÕ½`iÝ«iVÌÌw`>Ã>ÀÌÜ>ÌV
resolution. Huawei has planted great that costs much more than the Fit 3.
screens on its pricier smartwatches and It is a display that can be set to
it’s nice to see that even the Watch Fit 3 stay always-on, at the expense of the
gets a good one too. maximum battery life you’ll enjoy in
Compared to other screens between charges. If you can live without
on smartwatches at this price, the a 24/7 screen, the raise-to-wake gesture
Fit 3 is one of the best. It’s sharp, support here is very good.
colours are accurate and with a 1,500 Huawei has also found room for a
maximum nits brightness, it goes speaker and microphone and that does
very bright too. When I’ve left it on mean you can take calls when paired to
nearly top brightness at night waking your Android or iPhone over Bluetooth.
up the screen feels like turning on a It also means you can play music from
smartphone torch. the watch sans headphones. It’s a
There is some bezel around the surprisingly good performer, offering
display, though Huawei does a very plenty of volume and good clarity that
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 51
REVIEWS
makes it very usable for handling calls The watch software itself is at least
from your wrist. pretty easy to get to grips with in
comparison. Swipe left and right to
SOFTWARE see your screen widgets, swipe down
Huawei employs version 4.20 of its own to see the settings menu and up to
Harmony OS operating system, so that’s ÃiiÞÕÀÌwV>Ìð`½Ì >Ûi
the same software running on its Watch many complaints with how things run
4 and Watch GT 4 series smartwatches. on the watch and it runs nice and
That means you get something which smooth as well.
is compatible with Android smartphones There’s a nice array of smartwatch
and iPhones. Most features are available vi>ÌÕÀiðÌvviÀÃÃ`ÌwV>Ì
across those platforms with some support, well-optimised music playback
exceptions. You can’t sync music for controls, a nice bunch of pre-loaded
instance when using it with an iPhone, watch faces and a nice weather widget.
while you’ll need to have an iPhone or a There is NFC contactless
Huawei smartphone to use the remote payment support through Huawei
camera shutter feature. Pay, though unlike Huawei’s other
Everything is set up in the Huawei smartwatches doesn’t offer access to
Health app, which is a bit busy and is the AppGallery storefront. If you’re
worth spending a bit of time in to work looking for the basics and those basics
out what’s actually going to be useful on to work in a pretty slick manner, the
a daily basis. Watch Fit 3 delivers on that.
FITNESS &
64#%-+0)
Fit is in the name so it’s
ÃÕÀ«ÀÃiÌw`Ì >Ì
Huawei promises to track
a lot on the health and
wÌiÃÃvÀÌ°
It has the key sensors
ÞÕ½`iÝ«iVÌÌw`
including ones to track
The watch software itself is at least pretty easy to get to grips. heart rate and blood
52 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
Huawei lets you
switch between
viewing your activity
rings and its healthy
clover, which are
designed to mark when
you’ve completed
healthy habits during
your day. It’s an
example, however,
where Huawei tries
to do a lot, and the
/ iÕ>Üi«iÀvÀÃÜi>Ã>wÌiÃÃÌÀ>ViÀ° wealth of features gets
a little overwhelming.
oxygen levels. It also includes built-in When it’s time for bed, Huawei
*-]Ü V Ã>Ü>ÞÃ>LÕÃÌw` includes version 4.0 of its TruSleep sleep
a cheap smartwatch. monitoring system, capturing insights
If you’re not the sporty type and like sleep duration, sleep stages, sleep
mainly looking to use the Fit 3 to track scores along with offering some sleep
your steps, sleep and maybe pay a analysis and recommendations to
bit more attention to stress levels and improve your slumber time.
daily heart rate, the Fit 3 performs well Taking it to bed with the Oura Ring
>Ã>wÌiÃÃÌÀ>ViÀ° Gen 3, I found sleep duration and the
The improved Activity Ring widget time I fell asleep on most nights were
is now more glanceable and engaging pretty similar. It also did a nice job of
than it was on the Fit 2. Accuracy-wise, capturing the extra naps I’d recorded
daily step counts were generally within when unwell during testing. The sleep
ÎääÌxääÃÌi«ÃvÌÜÌ iÀwÌiÃà analysis and recommendations aren’t
trackers I wore alongside it. It supports anything groundbreaking, offering
inactivity alerts and Huawei has gone tips like telling me to air out the room
big with awarding you virtual badges for before sleeping or to try a hot foot bath
hitting major milestones, so get used to or stretch before bed.
those appearing each time you launch Huawei’s added some health-centric
the Huawei Health app. features it’s already rolled out to its
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 53
REVIEWS
It was a similar story
for average resting
heart rate readings,
Ì Õ} w`Ì i
presentation of the
data in the app not
super intuitive and a bit
clunky overall.
As a sports watch,
you’ve got your pick
over well over 100
sports modes, with
Some of the information on offer in Huawei’s Health app. core modes including
running, cycling and
other smartwatches and that includes swimming both in the pool and open
ÌÃÃViÌwVV>ÀiVÕÌiÀÜ V Ü Ü>ÌiÀ°Õ>Üi >Ã>``i`«ÀwiÃvÀ
prompt you to log meals throughout football and e-sports, and now also
the day in the app and then use your includes a new track running mode.
workout tracking data with the idea There’s automatic exercise
vÜÀ}ÌÜ>À`Ã>V>Ài`iwVÌÌ recognition for some of those modes
lose weight. while Huawei has promised a new smart
Unfortunately, the concept of suggestions mode that recommends
manually tracking meals minus a workouts based on your workout history
database of foods to lean on makes it a and calorie consumption. Those didn’t
bit of a chore of a feature to use. appear at all during my testing.
It’s also brought in a TruSeen 5.5 For some of those core modes,
heart rate monitoring setup to promise Huawei retains its useful warm-up
a boost in heart rate accuracy, and the and cool-down animations, though it
speed with which you can take SpO2 appears to have dropped the ability
readings as well. For on-the-spot heart to import routes like you could on the
rate readings, the Watch Fit 3 felt pretty Watch Fit 2.
reliable on the whole and matched up There’s a single-band positioning
ÌÌÜÌ iÀwÌiÃÃÌÀ>ViÀÃÜÀi>Ì setup here as opposed to the newer
the same time. and more accurate dual-band one that
54 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
appears on its other watches. In terms recommended recovery time after
of GPS accuracy, I found that on some you’ve tracked a workout.
runs, metrics like distance tracked and Overall, it offers a lot compared
average pace were nicely in line with a to rivals and the core tracking
dedicated running watch I wore on my experience is solid.
other wrist.
On other runs, the Fit 3 slightly over- BATTERY LIFE
reported distance, but it wasn’t a horror Huawei’s smartwatches typically put in a
show. Heart rate tracking accuracy for really strong performance here and it’s
workouts at an easy to moderate pace no different with the Watch Fit 3.
was generally solid, helped by the For the Watch Fit 2, Huawei claimed
}`wÌ}ÌÜÌ Ì iÞÃÌÀ>«Ì >̽à up to 10 days in typical usage and 7
available for the Fit 3. days in heavy usage. It’s quoting the
There’s an array of training and very same numbers for the Fit 3, which
analysis available on the watch and off packs in a 400mAh capacity battery. It
it. You can follow structured running now additionally states what you can
sessions or create your own and follow expect when the screen is on 24/7, with
a range of training plans that can be that number dropping to 4 days.
synced from the Huawei Health app. I’d say that those numbers ring
You can view your running ability true once again. I found that the
index and training load and see your battery lasted roughly a week, though
with more regular workout
tracking, that fell just below.
Overall, though the showing
has been very good, and
while it hasn’t improved on
the Fit 2, it certainly has
performed worse, even with a
bigger screen in place.
There’s a quick-charge
mode to give you a day’s
play from a 10-minute charge
The presentation of the data in the app isn’t intuitive and and it can get from 0- to 100
can be a little clunky. percent in just an hour, which
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 55
REVIEWS
price. It certainly
feels like a more
polished affordable
smartwatch than
something like the
Honor Watch 4 and
the Redmi Watch
{]Ü iÌÃwÌiÃÃ
and smartwatch
features feel better
A quick-charge mode gives you a day’s play from a 10-minute charge. executed than
they are on the
is impressive. When using GPS, I found Xiaomi Watch S3. Bottom line, If you’re
that an hour of tracking saw the battery looking for a cheap smartwatch with a
drop by just under 10 percent. That’s great screen and you can live with the
exactly the sort of numbers I saw with quite blatant Apple Watch-aping look,
similar tracking on the Fit 2. some pretty slick software with some
When you do get low, you’re thoughtful touches, then this is well
grabbing a proprietary charging cable worth a look. Mike Sawh
to get it powered back up again. There’s
a quick-charge mode to give you a day’s 52'%+(+%#6+105
play from a 10-minute charge and it can • 1.82-inch (480x408; 347ppi) AMOLED
get from 0- to 100 percent in just an always-on display
hour, which is impressive. • Bluetooth 5.2
• 9-axis IMU sensor (Accelerometer
8'4&+%6 sensor, Gyroscope sensor,
The Huawei Watch Fit 3 is now very Magnetometer sensor)
much a smartwatch and a very likeable • Optical heart rate sensor
one available at a really good price. • Ambient light sensor
There are some design elements • Magnetic charging pin
that work and some that don’t in my • 43.2x36.3x9.9mm
opinion, with software and performance • 28g (without strap)
that feels very much in line with other
smartwatches in and around the same
56 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
Apple Vision Pro
Price: £3,499 from fave.co/4622CE7
A
pple’s Vision Pro spatial gut, that you’re doing things that are
computer, a VR headset with going to be the way it is at some point
pass-through video, hand in the future. After a week of using
tracking and eye tracking, is not just Apple Vision Pro every day, one thought
another VR headset. It’s not just an keeps passing through my head. “This is
expensive Meta Quest 3 with higher- going to be great…one day.”
quality displays. It’s those things, but But that’s the rub. That greatness of
it’s not just those things. There are this product feels like it is always just
moments when you really feel, in your off in the distance somewhere. Really
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 57
REVIEWS
trying to use the Vision Pro
as anything more than a
media consumption device
right now is an exercise
in compromises and
ivwViVÞ]>`iÛi>Ã>
pure consumption device
there are big drawbacks
and trade-offs.
If only it was lighter. If
only it was less expensive.
If only I could plug USB-C
devices into it. If only there Apple loves digital crowns. It makes you wonder when the
more apps. If only the iPhone will get one.
apps were better. If only.
When the ‘wow’ moments pass (and Vision Pro. It may look to you very much
there are some big ‘wow’ moments) like using a Meta Quest 3 or similar
you’re left wondering when Vision Pro competing consumer headset.
is going to do this, or why it doesn’t do These videos in no way capture
that, and eventually decide to just go the experience. Apple’s micro-OLED
ahead and use your Mac or your iPad or `ë>Þà >ÛiVÀi`Liw`iÌÞ]VÕÀ
iPhone to do what you want to do. depth, and dynamic range. You don’t
Some of Vision Pro’s shortfalls can see pixels. There’s no ‘screen door
be addressed with software updates, effect’. In the right lighting, you can
others are hardware related, but either get a bit of lens glare but it’s less
way it’s hard to recommend this pricey pronounced than with most other
face computer right now for any but the headsets. Looking at rendered content
most die-hard early adopter Apple fans. on something like a Meta Quest 3
versus an Apple Vision Pro is like using
+0%4'&+$.'$76.+/+6+0) an old 1080p TV vs a new 4K HDR
HARDWARE OLED. Apple pulls a lot of tricks behind
You have no doubt seen videos and the scenes to make this work, like
screenshots online which show the foveated rendering (where only the
point-of-view experience of Apple ëiVwV«>ÀÌvÌ iÃVÀiiÞÕ½Ài}
58 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
at is rendered in full resolution and in a generation or two, it’ll be much
everything else is a little fuzzy – just like ÀiÌÕÌÛi>`yÕ`°
your actual vision). The same goes for pass-through
Speaking of tracking: it’s kind of like video. The view of the outside world is
magic. Just look at something and it both the best I’ve ever seen and still not
immediately highlights. Pinch, even with good enough. Apple keeps the entirely
your hand relaxed down low, and you’ll photon-in-to-photons-out latency down
select it. There’s no need to wildly swipe to 12 milliseconds or less, but the
and poke at the air in front of you and video feed quickly becomes grainy and
people near you will barely know that colours mute when you leave a brightly-
you’re doing anything at all. lit area. I don’t think of my home as
‘Look and pinch’ is the primary particularly dark, but my typical lighting
means of interacting with visionOS, wasn’t bright enough to get great
and it’s both technically impressive w`iÌÞÕiÃÃÌÕÀi`>ÌÀi
and limiting. After years of multitouch lights than I’m used to.
interfaces, having one touch point Sound quality from the little speakers
(per hand) feels like a handicap. integrated into the strap is surprisingly
Locking your gaze on things takes good, and though it ‘leaks’ to others
some adjustment, too. Our natural pretty easily at higher volumes, it’s a
instinct is to look at something to target comfortable way to mix outside audio
it but look away, which doesn’t work (which you want if you’re seeing the
here. You have to keep staring at the outside world) with spatial audio from
interface element in order to operate it. the apps you’re using. AirPods Pro
Imagine turning off a light switch: You make a great way to prevent others
just look at it long enough to accurately from hearing your content, but they
move your hand toward it, but Vision typically prevent you from hearing the
Pro wants you to keep staring at it until world, too. Ideal for isolated, immersive
the action is complete. experiences but not so much for
If you bring a window close enough augmented reality.
you can literally poke and swipe at it The straps work well – the dual
directly, but with no tactile feedback, loop band distributes the headset
it’s not really a great experience. It’s like weight more evenly, the light seals are
wrestling a ghost. It all works incredibly comfortable and block out light very
well, but it also gives you the sense that well, though the magnetic attachments
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 59
REVIEWS
can’t keep them on well enough. It thing. Eventually, it will all need to
can be tricky to physically handle the be integrated, but for the next few
Vision Pro without accidentally popping years, making the headset lighter by
the light seal off. The tendency is to detaching the battery pack is the way
grab it by the light seal to remove it, to go. Finally, there’s no data input at
but Apple instructs you to grab the all – no USB-C, no Lightning, nothing
front display instead. Otherwise, you – though Apple sells a $300 (around
risk separating the light seal from the £235) Developer Strap that replaces the
display and dropping it. audio strap with a dongle that it says,
The weight, around 600- to 650g, “provides a USB-C connection between
is not necessarily heavy in itself, but Apple Vision Pro and Mac”. The USB-C
all that weight is hanging out in front port on the battery pack is for power
of your face instead of distributed only and won’t recognize any other
around your head. So to keep things in peripheral devices plugged into it.
«>Vi]Ì iÃÌÀ>« >ÃÌ«>ViÃ}wV>Ì
pressure on the light seal. Apple’s EARLY, OFTEN
pathological aversion to plastic means %.70-;|51(69#4'
they used aluminium and glass to give The software situation is best described
the device a premium feel, but I’d take >üyi`}}½°ÀÌ iÜÀ`½ÃL}}iÃÌ
plastic any day if it shaved 150- to and most valuable tech company with
200g off this thing. decades of software to lean on, it’s
The entire front of the device is a little frustrating how limited some
VÀi`LÞ}ÃÃÞ]>}Ì`vwVÕÌÌ of the apps and interfaces are. With
see what’s going on and diminishing the exception of immersive video and
its trademark feature, EyeSight. It’s some games, everything feels like a
`iwÌiÞ>Vi`i>LÕÌÌÃ«Þ y>Ì}*>`Ü`Ü]iÛiÌ iiÃ
does not work as Apple advertises that aren’t iPad apps.
and merely serves to add cost and You can resize windows freely, but
complexity for no good reason. they just don’t look and feel like the
And while it looks clumsy in pictures, ‘big boy’ versions you get on a Mac.
the external battery pack was the Third-party apps are mostly iPad apps,
right move. It’s not very cumbersome with fewer than a thousand visionOS-
in practice, and any weight that can ëiVwV>««Ã°/ ÃiÌ >Ì>ÀiÌ iÀivii
be put somewhere else is a good rushed. They’re frequently buggy, often
60 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
But they’re also
always anchored to
the space, instead of
to you. If you want
a window to follow
you as you walk
around, you have to
literally grab its little
window bar at the
bottom and carry
it. More than once
Carrot Weather is a ‘spatial’ app but doesn’t really do anything the I have awkwardly
iPad or Mac version doesn’t. been unable to
w`>ÀÕ}>««
ÕÃÌ>y>Ì}Ü`ÜÌ >ÌÀiÃiLiÃ> because it’s in the other room. The
iPad app, and feature ‘spatial’ features wÀÃÌÌiÞÕÜ>>ÀÕ`ÞÕÀ ÕÃi
that are gimmicky. For example, Carrot looking for where you left the Safari
Weather (pictured above) is great, but window hanging, it’s kind of amazing.
it’s little more than an iPad app with Every time after that, it’s frustrating.
an option pop-out ‘full globe’ view Why can’t I double-pinch the window
that makes you say ‘oh neat’, but isn’t bar to anchor the window to me, instead
actually useful. I want to look around of to its position in my living room?
the real world and see isobars and radar Something so simple feels like a slam-
precipitation in the sky. dunk visionOS 2.0 feature.
In fact, most of what the Vision If you want to run multiple apps
*ÀiÝ«iÀiVi>ÕÌÃÌÃy>Ì} at once (and of course you do), you’ll
windows anchored in the spaces around µÕVÞw`ÞÕÀÃivÀÕ}ÕÌv
you. I don’t mean to discount this physical space. Layering windows on
technical feat. The windows are crisp top of each other is a poor experience
and vibrant, and really appear to be that makes it hard to select what you
an part of your real environment. They want or switch to the desired app,
occlude the real world as appropriate, ÃÞÕw`ÞÕÀÃiv>ÀÀ>}}Ì iÃi
V>ÃÌÃ >`ÜÃy>ÌÃÕÀv>ViÃ]>`iÛiÀ large-ish windows in the air all around
waver even a millimetre. your desk or sofa or whatever. Then you
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 61
REVIEWS
Home View
is a poor app
management
interface and is
not customizable.
̽ÃÌ iwÀÃÌ
thing that has
to change in
visionOS 2.0.
have to turn all over the place to use Ì iwÀÃÌ«>}ivÕvwÝi`Ƃ««i>««Ã
different apps. Again, it’s amazing at and the next pages full of your apps,
wÀÃÌ]>`µÕVÞLiViÃ>iÝiÀVÃi >« >LiÌV>À`iÀ°/ iwÀÃÌ«>}i
in frustration when you start asking, is not in alphabetical order, confusingly.
“Where do I put all this stuff?” There is no way to change any of
There are no window management this, and it’s frustrating as hell. Perhaps
features to speak of. A command that most perplexing is that iPhones, iPads,
gathers and arranges all your windows and Macs have a dock but the Vision
around you, akin to Mission Control on Pro does not. Top of the list for visionOS
a Mac, feels like an obvious omission. 2.0 is an entirely new Home View and
There’s nothing like Split View on iPad app management experience.
to let you glue two apps together. It’s easy to complain about this stuff
Something like Stage Manager would because the limitations and potential
let you ‘stack’ multiple apps and switch solutions to them seem so obvious.
LiÌÜiiÌ iÜÌ ÕÌw`}iÜ And yet, the experience of physically
airspace to locate every app you want placing apps in the real world is kind
to run, but it’s not there. of amazing. As limited as everything
App management problems aren’t feels right now, it still hits you in your
just limited to the apps that are running. }ÕÌ]Ì >ÌÛiÀÞwÀÃÌ`>Þ]ÕÃÌ Ü
The Home View presents apps as little useful it’s going to be to put apps in a
circles in a honeycomb-like array, with place. One day, an AI-powered smart
62 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
grocery list will be pinned virtually friends or other Apple stuff. The most
on your fridge, the way you used to obvious ‘spatial’ candidate among
attach a paper shopping list to it with Apple’s own apps has to be Maps, but
a magnet. It will update automatically you only get the iPad app. Bizarrely,
as you open your cupboards and fridge there’s no Contacts app at all. Your
to see what is missing, and it will pop contacts are synced and usable within
up into your view when you go to the apps, but there’s no place inside Vision
grocery store, following you around Pro to manage them. Instead, there’s
and highlighting aisles and shelves with a top-level ‘People’ section on the
the items you need. Home View, but that’s only a way to
The possibilities for integrating start FaceTime calls since there’s no
computer-rendered graphics into the FaceTime app either.
real world, combining interactivity, It all feels oddly half-baked for a
intelligence, location, and your own company that’s in the position Apple is
personal preferences, feel limitless. in today. Some apps and experiences
We have always been able to imagine are fantastic, while others feel
Ì iÃiÌ }Ã]LÕÌÌ ÃÃÌ iwÀÃÌ incomplete or missing entirely.
product to deliver an
experience that feels like
it’s actually building the
technology to make it
happen, and maybe it’s
not that far away.
It’s also worth
mentioning the apps that
are simply missing, or
just poorly represented.
There are no Calculator
or Weather apps. Nor
can you not use Find My
to locate your Vision Pro
hardware, there’s no Find When you video chat with someone they see a digital
My app (even the iPad representation of you called Persona (in beta). Mine looks
version) to locate your better than most, but still pretty weird.
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 63
REVIEWS
241&7%6+8+6;14 when you just need a larger screen but
.#%-|6*'4'1( don’t have room for it. When it comes
The keyboard is hilariously basic to getting things done, a physical
and next to impossible to use for secondary monitor is going to be faster,
anything more than entering URLs – if sharper, and better in almost every way.
you want to type sentences, pairing Oh, and the audio will only come from
a Bluetooth keyboard is mandatory. your Mac instead of playing through the
You can use dictation, but that’s even Vision Pro speakers for some reason.
less productive than it is on iPhone or When you’re viewing your Mac this
iPad because selecting text to make way, adding visionOS or iPad apps to its
corrections with the ‘look and pinch’ left or right, you feel like it expands your
interface is kind of awkward. V>«>LÌiÃ>ÌwÀÃÌ°VÕÃÞÕÀÌ>Ã
If you aim to be productive you >Ì >`ÜÌ > ÌiÃÜ`Üy>Ì}
really need a keyboard and touchpad off to your left, Safari to the right, and
at a minimum, and a MacBook at most. some streaming video playing off in
Here’s one of Vision Pro’s neatest the distance, or maybe Apple Music
tricks – just look at a MacBook that’s up above. And all you have to do is
logged into the same Apple ID and a glance over at any of these windows
iVÌLÕÌÌÜ>««i>Ày>Ì} for your Mac’s keyboard and trackpad
above it. One pinch-select later, you’ve to automatically control that app via
}Ì>y>Ì}{ ÛÀÌÕ>`ë>ÞÜÌ Universal Control. It’s like magic, and it
remarkable quality and
fairly low, but noticeable,
latency. But there’s only
one, and it can’t even be
a secondary display to
your real-life MacBook
display, which turns off.
You can do the same
with a Mac desktop
using the Vision Pro
control panel.
That limits the This keyboard is terrible, and suitable for little more than
usefulness to those times pecking out or short search terms.
64 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
For example,
while working on this
review and taking
notes on my MacBook
in a virtual display,
ÕÃi`Ì iy>Ì}
visionOS Safari
window to my left to
order some wings for
lunch. I was able to
successfully navigate
Using Vision Pro as a big virtual Mac display is its best productivity the site and place
feature, which is not quite the compliment you think it is. my order, thanks in
large part to address
makes you feel like a productivity god. autocomplete and easy Apple Pay
(It’s worth noting that a mouse will not checkout (you do not want to type a
work with Vision Pro. Even the mouse credit card number on the visionOS
attached to your Mac will only work keyboard), but it would have been a
within your Mac display window. It’s a lot faster and easier with a real cursor
touchpad or nothing.) and keyboard. I could have opened a
But then you try to do
stuff and you realize that
you’re just turning your
head all over the place to
use lesser versions of the
apps you have on your
>V]>`Ì iÃiy>Ì}
windows are getting in the
way of each other. With few
exceptions, opening up
new windows on your Mac
(perhaps adding them to
new Spaces) is faster and Look-and-pinch takes a little getting used to, and is no
easier. substitute for real multitouch.
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 65
REVIEWS
browser tab on my Mac, made my order, environment, like the Disney El Capitan
and closed it again in less than half the Theatre or the sands of Tatooine.
Ìi>Ãw``}>ÀÕ`ÜÌ >` Movies made for 3D have never looked
pinch in visionOS. And I could have better. Watching the latest Avatar or
used the browser of my choice. Guardians of the Galaxy in 3D just about
The entire Apple Vision Pro beats a real cinema.
experience sometimes feels that Then there are the ‘spatial’ videos,
iÌ >Ì°/ iwÀÃÌviÜÌiÃÞÕ` the 180-degree 3D video that Apple
something, the possibilities are so has made available in the TV app.
exciting that you lose sight of just There are a handful – among them an
ÜivwViÌÌ>Ài>ÞÃÀ} Ì immersive dinosaur experience, an up-
now. As time goes on, you realize close meeting with rhinos, and an Alicia
you could just do whatever you’re Keys performance while you’re standing
doing faster and easier on your next to her piano – and they’re all
iPhone or Mac. Better apps and better spectacular.
visionOS features will improve all that, They’re also not entirely new.
but it’s not here yet. There are lots of 3D 180-degree or
360-degree videos out there on the
+0%4'&+$.'$76+51.#6+0) web, including on places like YouTube
/'&+#%1057/26+10 and DeoVR. But playing these videos
If there’s one area where the Vision through the web doesn’t work at
Pro app experience does not let you all right now, and won’t until Apple
down, it’s media consumption. Between supports the proper WebXR standards.
the impressive built-in speakers and Stand-alone video players like Moon
spatial audio, the beautiful and bright Spatial Player and Reality Player are
displays, and all the magical head and working on support for these videos,
hand tracking, simply watching videos but it’s rough and buggy right now.
is an absolute delight. The thing that strikes me most about
Whether it’s Apple TV+, Disney+, media consumption is just how isolated
ÀiÛi iÌyÝ>LÀÜÃiÀÌ iÀi½Ã it is. Obviously there are times when
iÌyÝ>««®]ÛiÜ}y>ÌVÌiÌ you want that, but watching movies or
is gorgeous. It’s sharp, bright, and TV is often a very social experience.
has great colour and dynamic range. When I showed the Disney Theater to
Some apps let you watch in a virtual ÞÜvi]Ì iÛiÀÞwÀÃÌÌ }Ã iÃ>`
66 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
environments
for years.
Speaking
of 3D video,
capturing
spatial videos
with the Vision
Pro or your
iPhone 15 Pro
is surprisingly
great. The
resulting video,
Why can’t I watch a movie in a virtual cinema with someone? limited though
it may be, is
was, “Wouldn’t it be cool if you could like looking into a live diorama cutout
look to the side and see me in the seat of a moment from your past. There are
next to you, and I could see you, and plenty of restrictions – it works best
we could watch a movie together sitting at a distance of around 1- to 2m and
next to each other even if we were requires a steady camera – but this is
hundreds of miles apart?” honestly a much better way to relive
It’s such an obvious scenario, such a iÌÃÌ >y>ÌÛ`i°ÌviiÃÜiÀ`
perfect ‘you can only do this in Vision to say it but it’s the closest thing Vision
Pro’ example, but it’s not something Pro has to a killer feature.
Vision Pro can do with ease. Apple
has all the pieces – Personas (in beta), 24+%+0)6*#6
SharePlay, spatial audio – they just need +51761(%10641.
to be glued together better. One would While we don’t review products based
think that this sort of ‘only on Vision on price, obviously value is always a
Pro’ experience would have been a top consideration, and the pricing of Apple
priority during development, rather Vision Pro must be discussed. Not only
than just watching video in a virtual is the device crazy expensive, but just
environment at a higher quality than about everything involved with it is.
on the many other VR headsets that For the headset itself, one could
have been doing virtual theatres and almost justify the sky-high starting price
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 67
REVIEWS
of £3,499. Yes, that’s
literally seven times
the price of a Meta
Quest 3. But with the
insanely great displays,
hand and eye tracking,
and all the other
things that produce a
`À>ÃÌV>Þ } iÀw`iÌÞ
experience, you can
almost justify it. Almost.
But what is up with
the pricing of all the If only this USB-C port passed data in addition to power.
other Vision Pro stuff?
Most of it is priced at £199, no matter the YouTube API given that YouTube
Ü >ÌÌÃ> Õ}iÀi`y>}vÌ iÀi doesn’t have its own app, but should
ever was one). It’s almost as if Apple is be a £1.99 app at best, not £4.99.
just trying to see what they can get So many other apps feel totally bare
away with. The Travel Case would be bones and borderline unusable unless
overpriced at £149, and it costs £199. you pony up for pricey subscriptions,
A spare battery, despite holding less like cooking app Crouton (which warns
power and being less functional than you emphatically not to cook while
most £69 power banks, costs £199. The wearing Vision Pro).
light seal, which is just some foam and It’s hard to see spatial computing
fabric and magnets, would be ‘Apple as The Future when everything about
Priced’ at £49, but costs (you guessed it feels so expensive. It feels like a
it) £199. An extra single or double band hobby for the kind of wealthy people
each costs £99, which is easily double who drop money on app subscriptions
what they should. without a thought, and not in keeping
Even the app developers seem to be with democratizing exciting new
thinking that if you’ll pay almost £4,000 technology. I look forward not only to
for this headset, you have money to a more affordable spatial computing
burn. I can really appreciate the Juno device, but a more affordable spatial
app as a sort of ‘wrapper’ around computing ecosystem.
68 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT in low light. Then you’ve got the way
Speaking of what I can’t wait to see in a this hardware was meant to basically
future version, a better price is just the be used indoors at your home or
beginning. There are so many things vwVi°/ iÀi½ÃViÕ>ÀViVÌ]
Apple needs to address before this can and no way for apps to follow you or
really take off. to be anchored to objects that move.
Obviously, there’s the visionOS stuff. Remember that next time you see
I should be able to anchor apps to me someone pretending to use one in
not to the environment. There should be public on your social feeds.
a class of “heads-up-display” widgets The USB-C port on the battery back
Ì >ÌÃÌVÞwi`vÛiÜ°/ iiÌÀiÞ really should be used for both power
isolating experience needs to feel more and data, too. That would enable
social, with immersive SharePlay video physical security keys, microphones and
viewing, much-improved Personas, and audio interfaces, HDMI input (with an
real spatial-oriented social media and adapter), external storage, and a host of
communication apps from third-party other extremely useful functions.
developers. Window management and
text input need a massive overhaul. It 8'4&+%6
needs more gestures and some variety There’s so much interesting new stuff
of multitouch, as well as Find My, going on with Apple Vision Pro that we
Weather, Calculator and all the other could opine about it all day. It’s not just
missing apps, and real spatial versions Apple’s newest device, and the most
of the iPad apps. iÝ«iÃÛiwÀÃÌ`iÛVi>V>Ìi}ÀÞvÀ
But some of what the Vision Pro Apple since the original Mac (when
needs can’t be addressed without new >`ÕÃÌi`vÀy>Ì®°/ iÀi>ÀiiÌÀiÞ
>À`Ü>Ài°/ iwi`vÛiÜÃ>LÌÌ new interaction models at play, social
narrow with noticeable black borders mores being tested, and the legal and
like seeing the world through a scuba regulatory challenges are surely just
mask (Apple won’t say what it is, but getting started.
it looks like 100 degrees). It needs to At the end of the day you have
shed about a third of its weight. Video Ì>i>Õ`}iÌV>\ÃÌ ÃwÀÃÌ
passthrough might not be necessary generation device worth it? Leaving
down the road, but in the meantime, >iÌ >ÌƂ««i½ÃÌ iÀwÀÃÌ}i
it needs to be a lot better, especially products were never priced this
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 69
REVIEWS
far beyond their
competitors, its still
hard to recommend
right now.
More than anything
else, Apple Vision Pro
needs to demonstrate
a reason why it must
exist. There’s nothing
you can do with it right
now that can’t be done
in some other way,
usually easier, faster,
and more affordably. The Apple Vision Pro is full of promise.
It desperately needs
some ‘killer apps’. It needs to do things are advised to wait for the former, and
that you just couldn’t do if you didn’t everyday fans can wait for the latter.
>Ûi¼Ã«>Ì>V«ÕÌ}½>`y>Ì} Jason Cross
some iPad app windows around your
apartment isn’t it. 52'%+(+%#6+105
There’s a ton of promise, both for Capacity
Ì Ã`iÛViëiVwV>Þ>`Ì iLÀ>`iÀ 256GB; 512GB 1TB
spatial computing push in general. But
we don’t review potential, we review Display
products. Apple Vision Pro the product, 23 million pixels; 3D display system;
not the idea, is still too limited, too Micro-OLED; 7.5-micron pixel pitch;
isolating, too minimally useful either 92% DCI-P3; supported refresh
for productivity or entertainment to be rates: 90Hz, 96Hz, 100Hz; Supports
worth jumping in on. playback multiples of 24- and 30fps for
Some of that can be addressed with judder-free video
more mature software (both visionOS
and apps), but some of its shortfalls Video mirroring: Up to 720p AirPlay for
simply require more capable hardware. mirroring your view in Apple Vision Pro
Even diehard Apple early adopters to any AirPlay-enabled device, including
70 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV (2nd data within apps; make purchases from
generation or later), or AirPlay-enabled the iTunes Store and App Store
smart TV
Audio
Chips Spatial Audio with dynamic head
M2: 8-core CPU with 4 performance tracking; personalized Spatial Audio
VÀiÃ>`{ivwViVÞVÀiÃÆ£äVÀi and audio ray tracing; six-mic array
GPU; 16-core Neural Engine; 16GB with directional beamforming; supports
Õwi`iÀÞ H2-to-H2 ultra-low-latency connection
to AirPods Pro (2nd generation) with
R1: 12-millisecond photon-to-photon MagSafe Charging Case (USB-C)
latency; 256GB/s memory bandwidth
Audio Playback: Supported formats
Camera include AAC, MP3, Apple Lossless,
Stereoscopic 3D main camera system; FLAC, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus
spatial photo and video capture; 18mm, and Dolby Atmos
ƒ/2.00 aperture; 6.5Mp
Video Playback: Supported formats
Sensors include HEVC, MV-HEVC, H.264, HDR
2x high-resolution main cameras; with Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG
6x world-facing tracking
cameras; 4x eye-tracking
cameras; TrueDepth camera;
LiDAR Scanner; 4x inertial
measurement units (IMUs);
Flicker sensor; Ambient light
sensor
Optic ID
Iris-based biometric
authentication; Optic ID data
is encrypted and accessible
only to the Secure Enclave There’s so much interesting new stuff going on with Apple
processor; secures personal Vision Pro that we could talk about it all day.
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 71
REVIEWS
Battery (claimed)
Up to 2 hours of general use; video
watching up to 2.5 hours; Apple Vision Pro
can be used while charging the battery
Connectivity and wireless
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.3
Operating system
visionOS
Interpupillar Distance
51- to 75mm
Weight
600- to 650g
Accessibility
6Vi"ÛiÀÆâÆVÕÀwÌiÀÃÆ i>À}
device support; closed captioning; voice
control; switch control; dwell control;
pointer control; support for Made for
iPhone bi-directional hearing aids;
support for Made for iPhone switch
controllers
Built-in apps
App Store; Encounter Dinosaurs; Files;
Freeform; Keynote; Mail; Messages;
Mindfulness; Music; Notes; Photos;
Safari; Settings; Tips; TV; Books;
Calendar; Home; Maps; News;
Podcasts; Reminders; Shortcuts; Stocks;
Voice Memos
72 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
Best smartphone
The 10 best phones available now. ANYRON COPEMAN reports
T
he smartphone market moves But if you’re looking for the absolute
fast, and there seems to be best of the best, you’ve come to the
almost no break between À} Ì«>Vi°Ì½Ã`vwVÕÌÌÜ ÌÌi`Ü
launches these days. How can you the hundreds of phones we review each
decide which is the best phone for you? year to just 10, but that’s exactly what
9ÕÀwÀÃÌ`iVÃÃLiÌÜii> we’ve done here.
iPhone or Android phone – both are We can easily recommend all the
included here. Then, how much are you phones below, but each model stands
willing to spend? Maybe a budget or out for individual reasons. Whether
mid-range phone will offer everything you’re looking for a phone with AI
you’re looking for. features, great cameras, brilliant
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 73
BUYING GUIDE
gaming performance, superb battery outright will usually give you the best
life, a folding screen or simply value for Û>Õi]LÕÌÜi>««ÀiV>Ìiw>ViÃÌ i
money, there’s something here that will real world don’t always accommodate
appeal to you. such big one-off purchases. If you can,
you’ll obviously need a SIM card and
$7;+0)#&8+%' plan, as well as the phone.
When choosing a phone you should
consider these things: build quality Should I buy an iPhone or
and design, display, performance, Android phone?
cameras, battery life, software and There’s more than one mobile operating
value for money. system, but really only two worth talking
iiÀ>Þëi>}]>y>}à « about: Android and iOS.
phone in 2024 will start at around The vast majority of phones today
£700 but can cost over £1,000 in some run Android – Android 14 being the
cases. On contract, you’re looking at latest publicly-released version. Apple’s
between £30 and £50-per-month on iOS platform, currently on iOS 17,
average in the UK but you can spend may have a lower market share but
a lot more if you want an expensive developers almost always release their
phone and lots of mobile data. >««Ã"-wÀÃÌ°ƂÃ>ÀiÃÕÌvÌ Ã
It’s worth noting that while this approach, it has one of the best app
list highlights the best smartphones ÃÌÀiÃÞÕV>w`°
available right now, that
doesn’t explicitly mean
y>}Ã «ÃiÛiÌ Õ}
they do feature heavily
here). There are entries
that cross over with our
mid-range and budget
phone round-ups too,
but earn their place here
based on the capabilities
and quality on offer in
relation to their price.
Buying a phone iÛi«iÀÃ>ÃÌ>Ü>ÞÃÀii>ÃiÌ iÀ>««Ã"-wÀÃÌ°
74 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
If you have an Android phone or into a lengthy contract. If you want a
iPhone and want to move to a phone new handset at any time, you can buy
running the other OS (operating one without having to up-purchase your
system), it’s fairly easy to transfer way out of said contract or commit to
your contacts and other select data another two years.
from one to the other. What you can’t Just be sure to make certain the
move are paid-for apps and certain phone you’re getting is not locked to a
app data (like WhatsApp backups), so certain network.
keep this in mind if you’re considering
a change of platform – and research Which SIM or mobile plan
>ÞëiVwVVViÀÃÞÕ>Þ >Ûi UJQWNF|+IGV!
about the process. One other thing to consider is the size
and shape of the SIM required for your
Should I buy an unlocked phone? phone. Make sure you get a nano-SIM if
An unlocked phone is one that is not a nano-SIM is what your phone requires.
tied to any particular mobile network For the record, every phone in this
operator. Buying ‘unlocked’ usually list takes a nano-SIM.
means buying the phone outright But for most people, it’s best to stick
without a SIM card or contract attached. with a physical SIM card for now. Most
The most important point is that an networks send you a SIM card in three
unlocked phone is almost always a different sizes, so you can just pop out
better deal than buying a phone on the one you need.
contract – if you can afford it. If you’re looking for a SIM-free or
The only real exception to this is unlocked phone, you probably already
Apple’s iPhones – because of their have a SIM card you’d like to use.
traditional popularity, operators often {ViVÌÛÌÞÃÃÌwivÀÃÌ
subsidise the cost of buying an iPhone people. But if you want 5G, make sure
in order to lock you into a lucrative both the phone and the SIM support it.
long-term deal.
Generally speaking, if you can 1. BEST OVERALL
afford the upfront cost of the handset, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
you will pay less over the life of your Price: £1,099 from fave.co/4anzgAH
phone by buying unlocked. Pros: Seven years of updates; excellent,
More importantly, you are not locked versatile cameras; very good battery life;
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 75
BUYING GUIDE
clever AI features; built-in S Pen stylus any smartphone, but they’re not far
Cons: Expensive; big and bulky; off, offering impressive versatility
charging still only 45 watts across four lenses.
Samsung’s One UI software is
The Galaxy S24 Ultra is the best intuitive and relatively easy to use,
smartphone you can buy, so it should and the company’s new AI features
come as no surprise to see it top are genuinely useful. Throw in a class-
this list. It’s arguably the ultimate leading seven years of updates and
smartphone, packing almost every you’ve got yourself a superb phone.
premium feature you can expect Aside from the imposing design and
into one huge device. However, the relatively slow charging, the price tag is
gorgeous 6.8-inch display and built-in S the main thing that counts against the
Pen stylus are certainly worth it. S24 Ultra. But if you can afford it, you
Other highlights include sublime won’t be disappointed.
performance from an overclocked
ÛiÀÃvÌ iy>}Ã «->«`À>} 2. BEST FOR MOST PEOPLE
8 Gen 3 chipset and strong battery Google Pixel 8 Pro
life from the 5,000mAh cell. The Price: £959 from fave.co/3Kc8d0p
cameras might not be the best on Pros: Premium build; top-tier cameras;
excellent software features;
seven years of updates
Cons: Average battery life; slow
charging; big and heavy
The Pixel 8 Pro is the best
smartphone you can buy right
now. A combination of premium
hardware and advanced
software make it easy to
recommend.
Google’s Tensor G3 chip
is key, enabling both great
performance and a range
1.
of advanced photography
76 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
is a better choice if you’re looking
for something more compact.
3. $'56%#/'4#5
Xiaomi 14 Ultra
Price: £1,299 from
fave.co/45YUFQ8
Pros: Incredible photography;
stunning vegan leather design;
gorgeous curved screen; Flawless
performance; 90-watt wast
charging
Cons: Expensive, with
2.
Photography; kit sold separately;
mixed HyperOS software
features. Alongside excellent camera
hardware, it’s the best point-and-shoot 8>½Ãy>}à «Ã >ÛiÌ>iiÝViiÌ
phone camera for still images. photos for a few years now, but the 14
While a 213g phone with a large Ultra takes things to the next level.
6.7-inch display won’t be for everyone, ̽ÃÌ iwÀÃÌÃ>ÀÌ« iÌ >ÌV>
the high-resolution 120Hz OLED genuinely replace a DSLR for most
screen here is a joy to use. With people, such is the quality and
slick Android 14 software and an versatility of the system on offer. It
incredible seven years
of updates, the Pixel 8
Pro is the smartphone
to beat in 2023.
However, that
doesn’t mean it’s the
best for everyone. The
combination of average
battery life and slow
charging is frustrating,
3.
while the regular Pixel 8
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 77
BUYING GUIDE
includes four 50Mp rear lenses and a Xiaomi 14 is nearly as good when it
ÎÓ «ÃiwiV>iÀ>]>vÜ V Ì>i comes to photography.
superb photos in any environment.
And while expensive, the optional 4. BEST iPHONE
Photography Kit accessory makes the Best iPhone
experience even closer to a real camera. Price: £899 from fave.co/3Wdz1UW
With a gorgeous design, stunning Pros: Excellent cameras; superb display;
display, great performance and solid USB-C port
battery life supported by 90-watt Cons: Slow charging; missing Pro Max
fast charging, the 14 Ultra is one 5x optical zoom
vÌ iviÜ« iÃÌ >ÌÕÃÌwiÃÌÃ
sky-high price tag. However, that The iPhone 15 Pro has a collection of
also makes it unaffordable for many small changes that, when combined,
people, while the HyperOS software Ài«ÀiÃiÌ>Ã}wV>ÌÕ«}À>`i°
experience still isn’t great. A new titanium build is durable but
Those two factors prevent it noticeable lighter, and there’s also a
from being higher in this list, but new customisable Action Button to
if photography is your top priority, replace the mute switch. Apple’s A17
this is the phone to buy. Pro chipset is the most capable on any
If you’d rather something smartphone, and delivers truly stellar
more affordable, then the regular performance, while the introduction of
USB-C is undoubtedly a step
forward.
The 6.1-inch display is
relatively compact by modern
phone standards, but it
ÃiÝViiÌ>`LiiwÌÃ
from the 120Hz refresh rate.
Battery life is generally solid,
though you’ll still have to
put up with slow charging
speeds.
But despite the missing
4.
5x optical zoom on the
78 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
the decidedly affordable
Pixel 7a.
This mid-range still
«>VÃ>y>}Ã «µÕ>ÌÞ
Tensor G2 chipset for
solid performance, along
with a familiar design.
But it’s a slightly smaller
phone, and made from
plastic rather than glass.
There are downside, of
course. The camera specs
5.
aren’t quite the same,
though it still impresses.
telephoto lens, the all-round camera You’ll also get slower charging and only
experience is superb. Many apps now a 90Hz refresh rate on the display rather
support the genuinely useful Dynamic Ì >£ÓäâÌ iy>}à «Ã°
Island, and iOS 17 is just as slick and If you can live with those downsides
intuitive as ever. though, this is an excellent option
For most people, the iPhone 15 for the price. Shots from the main
Pro is the sweet spot in Apple’s 2023 V>iÀ>>ÀiÌ iLiÃÌÞÕ½w`>Þ
smartphone range. mid-range phone. However, it’s worth
noting that a successor in the Pixel 8a
5. BEST VALUE PHONE might not be far away.
Google Pixel 7a
Price: £449 from fave.co/4dLEmK8 6. GREAT ALL-ROUNDER
Pros: Phenomenal camera for the price; OnePlus 12
excellent Google software; strong Price: £849 from fave.co/42k0INn
performance; water-resistant Pros: Elegant, distinctive design; stellar
Cons: Slow charging; wireless charging screen; fast wired and wireless charging;
is unreliable; only 90Hz display great main and telephoto cameras
Cons: ƂÛiÀ>}iÜ`i>}i>`Ãiwi
If you can’t afford the Pixel 8 or 8 Pro, cameras; more expensive than OnePlus
then Google has another option for you: 11; limited water resistance
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 79
BUYING GUIDE
/ i"i*ÕãÓÃÃ}wV>ÌÞÀi OnePlus’s OxygenOS skin (now over
expensive than the OnePlus 11, Android 14) is still excellent, though
meaning it no longer takes the title of the commitment to four OS updates
LiÃÌÛ>Õiy>}Ã «° >`wÛiÞi>ÀÃvÃiVÕÀÌÞ«>ÌV iÃÃ>
However, it still undercuts most step down from the best of Google and
y>}à «Ã«ÀVi]ÞiÌ`iÛiÀà Samsung (both seven).
everything most people are looking for But overall, the OnePlus 12 is a
in a smartphone. superb smartphone that’s easy to
Performance from the Snapdragon recommend. If you’re looking for a
8 Gen 3 chipset is superb, while the foldable, consider the OnePlus Open
120Hz AMOLED screen delivers a instead.
top-tier viewing experience. Even the
main and telephoto cameras, a slight 7. BEST VALUE IPHONE
weakness of some earlier OnePlus iPhone 15
phones, are now among the best Price: £699 from fave.co/3WfEw5t
around. However, the wide angle and Pros: Versatile USB-C; useful Dynamic
ÃiwiV>iÀ>ÃVÕ`ÃÌLi«ÀÛi`° Island; great performance; good value
Battery life is strong, and it’s nice for money
to see the 100-watt fast charging Cons: Display only 60Hz; slow charging
is now combined with fast 50-watt
wireless charging. There are two upgrades that make
the regular iPhone 15
instantly better than
2022’s iPhone 14. The
introduction of USB-C
makes the device more
versatile, allowing you to
easily connect a range of
different accessories.
And then there’s the
Dynamic Island, the
pill-shaped cut-out used
to display a variety of
6.
useful information – it was
80 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
7 iÞÕÌ vy«
phones released in
2023, Samsung’s Galaxy
Z Flip 5 is probably the
wÀÃÌiÌ >ÌViÃ
to mind. But while it is
worth considering, the
Motorola Razr 40 Ultra
(known as the Razr+ in
some markets) is a better
choice for most people.
The 3.6-inch, 144Hz
7.
outer screen is the main
reason for this. Not only
previously exclusive to Pro models. The ÃÌÃ}wV>ÌÞ>À}iÀÌ >ÀÛ>Ã]ÞÕ
iPhone 15 is very similar in other areas, can run any app you like on it. The
but that’s usually not a bad thing. The 6.9-inch, 165Hz internal display is
A16 Bionic chip delivers small boosts just as impressive, with a crease that’s
Ì«iÀvÀ>Vi>`«ÜiÀivwViVÞ] barely noticeable. Despite two screens
with the latter helping deliver solid and a hinge, the Razr 40 Ultra feels
batter life. With slick iOS software and impressively durable, and you also
a premium build, it’s the best value
iPhone 15 model you can buy. But if
a higher refresh rate display or fast
charging are important to you, you’ll
be better off elsewhere.
8. BEST FOLDABLE PHONE
Motorola Razr 40 Ultra/Razr+
Price: £649 from fave.co/3XWrICf
Pros: Great outer display; IP52 water
resistance rating; good battery life
Cons: Older chipset; not the best
8.
cameras
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 81
BUYING GUIDE
get an IP52 rating for water and dust ->ÃÕ}ýÌ>>LÕÌy>}à «« iÃ
resistance. Throw in solid battery life and foldables – the company also makes
and a premium design, and you’ve got some very good budget handsets. And
yourself a great foldable. the £179 Galaxy A15 5G is the best
However, it’s not without evidence of this.
compromise. The Snapdragon 8+ Gen While not quite S24-level, the design
1 chipset is now two generations out is certainly inspired by Samsung’s
of date, while the cameras are a step y>}Ã «Ã]>`ÌÃ>ÃÌ>Ã}`°
down from the absolute best Android The 5,000mAh battery also delivers
has to offer. But neither should be excellent battery life, despite featuring a
dealbreakers for most people. decent 90Hz OLED display.
The A15 5G doesn’t have a world-
9. BEST BUDGET class camera system by any means, but
Samsung Galaxy A15 5G the 50Mp main rear lens is surprisingly
Price: £179 from fave.co/3wCLqrG good for such a cheap phone.
Pros: Sleek design; solid main camera; One UI is also a big reason to buy
excellent battery life; smooth 90Hz the Galaxy A15 5G over non-Samsung
display rivals – it’s slick and intuitive. And three
Cons: Slow performance; no IP water years of Android OS updates is plenty
resistance rating; relatively slow for most people.
charging Performance isn’t amazing, there’s
vwV>Ü>ÌiÀÀ`ÕÃÌÀiÃÃÌ>Vi>`
charging is limited to 25 watts, but
these are compromises worth making
when you’re spending so little and
getting such a lot.
If you don’t need 5G, the Galaxy A15
4G is also available for £169.
10. SUPERB ALL-ROUNDER
Samsung Galaxy S24+
Price: £1,099 from fave.co/4bo3lRU
Pros: Excellent display; strong
9.
performance; useful AI features;
82 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
Besides slow charging
and a still-premium price
tag, there’s very little to
dislike here.
10.
incredible battery life; seven years of
updates
Cons: No S Pen support; mo microSD
support; still quite expensive
For many people, the S24+ is the sweet
spot in Samsung’s Galaxy S24 range.
While you miss out on the S Pen support
and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (in the UK; US
models still get it), it’s still a fantastic
phone in its own right.
They Exynos 2400-powered
model we tested still offers very good
performance, especially when combined
with that high-quality 6.7-inch display
and premium design. The cameras are
good and battery life is excellent.
Other key features from the S24 Ultra
do make it here, including the useful
AI features, and superb seven years of
software updates.
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 83
FEATURE
Windows’ Copilot+ AI
features feel like early
demos at best
At launch – and without Recall – there’s just not much here to get the
blood pumping. CHRIS HOFFMAN reports
M
icrosoft, Qualcomm, and their But, while the hardware for AI tasks
PC-manufacturing partners is ready in these laptops, the actual
are seriously hyping Copilot+ features built into Windows aren’t
PCs. They’d have you believe that these making full use of it.
‘next-generation AI laptops’ are packed We’re in a weird position. We’re
with AI smarts and useful features. excited about these laptops because
84 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
Ì iÞ½ÀiÌ iwÀÃÌÃiÀÕÃÞ
impressive Windows on Arm
laptops. We’re excited about
long battery life with snappy
performance. And we’re
excited that next-generation
Intel Lunar Lake hardware is
looking like a huge leap for
traditional x86 laptops.
But we’re not excited about
all these at-launch AI features
being pushed by marketing
campaigns. Snapdragon X
Elite-powered PCs might be You can no longer tell Copilot to “turn on Dark Mode”.
intriguing, but if you’re excited
about an immediate AI upgrade to your ÀÕvyiÀÕÃiÌ iiÜÌi}À>Ìi`
Windows experience, you’re going to neural processing unit (NPU) hardware
be disappointed. Here’s why. to do anything at all.
In fact, the situation is much more
%12+.16 2%!/14'.+-' dire than that. These machines ship
%12+.162% with a new Copilot app experience –
The name ‘Copilot+ PC’ conjures to it’s no longer a sidebar, but rather a
mind a kind of PC with extra features À>y>Ì}`iÃÌ«Ü`Ü°/ >̽Ã
relating to Microsoft’s Copilot AI wi° ÕÌ]>Ã/7>ÀÀiÌi`vÀ/ i
chatbot. After all, ‘Copilot Pro’ is a paid Verge, the new Copilot app experience
subscription that upgrades the Copilot is a step back. You can’t tell it to “turn
chatbot experience. on Dark Mode” or “empty the Recycle
That’s not the case at all. A Bin” anymore.
Copilot+ PC offers no extra Copilot Microsoft may eventually improve
upgrades. You get a Copilot key on the Windows integration in this new
Ì iiÞL>À`]Ü V wÀÃÌ}iiÀ>Ì Copilot app. And, even if not, this new
‘AI laptops’ with Intel Meteor Lake Copilot experience will eventually come
hardware have been offering for many to all Windows 11 PCs. But, at launch,
months now. That’s it. Copilot doesn’t Copilot is surprisingly less powerful on
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 85
FEATURE
a Copilot+ PC than it is on a standard • Paint has a Cocreator tool that
Windows 11 PC. can generate an image as you draw,
It also doesn’t have those fancy `vÞ}ÌÌwÌÞÕÀ`À>Ü}°
GPT-4o features that Microsoft showed • Photos has a Restyle tool that will
off, where it can see your screen and iÌÞÕÕÃi}iiÀ>ÌÛiƂ>Ã>¼wÌiÀ½
talk you through Minecraft gameplay, for your image. For example, taking a
for example. Those features will arrive photo and making it look like it was a
at some point in the future – but when watercolour painting.
they do, they won’t need Copilot+ PC • Photos also has an Image Generator
hardware. That impressive demo will feature that generates images to match
work on all Windows 11 PCs. your text prompts.
AI IMAGE GENERATION NEEDS Here’s the thing: While these tools all
#/+%4151(6#%%1706#0& use the NPU inside a Copilot+ PC, none
+06'40'6%100'%6+10 vÌ iÜÀvyi°/ iÞÀiµÕÀi>
A Copilot+ PC has some extra AI image Microsoft account and an active internet
generation tools integrated into various connection to work. Why? To check your
apps throughout Windows: images for ‘AI safety’ before showing
them to you.
Without getting
into whether that’s
necessary or not,
one thing is clear:
There’s no point to
running these tools
on your computer’s
hardware if they
also require a
cloud service
to function. You
might as well use
a cloud-based AI
image generation
You’ll need a Microsoft account to use the AI image generation tools tool running in
86 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
a powerful data centre
somewhere. You’ll get
better, more realistic
results.
The introduction
of these new tools
has muddied the AI
experience on Windows
11. All of the above tools
sit alongside other AI
image generation tools Ûi >«ÌÃV>ÜÜÀvyi°
that do use Microsoft’s
cloud servers. For example, the Image On a Copilot+ PC, Live Captions
Creator in Microsoft Paint uses the gets a little more powerful: it can now
cloud, while the Image Creator in ÜÀiÌÀiÞvyiÕi VÀÃv̽Ã
Photos uses your PC’s local hardware. AI image generation tools) and it can
On a Copilot+ PC, Windows contains now translate speech from 44 different
a confusing mishmash of AI features that languages to English.
may or may not use the PC’s hardware That’s a nice upgrade that some
and may or may not use Microsoft’s «i«iÜw`ÛiÀÞÛ>Õ>Li° ÕÌvÞÕ
cloud services. don’t already use Live Captions, or if
you do and you wish you had real-time
.+8'%#26+105)#+0551/' ÌÀ>Ã>ÌÀvyiÃÕ««ÀÌ]ÜÕ`Ì >Ì
64+%-5$76#.4'#&;4705 be enough reason to warrant buying a
10#..9+0&1952%5 new Copilot+ PC? Likely not.
On any Windows 11 PC, you can open
the Live Captions app from your Start WINDOWS STUDIO
menu to get AI-powered captions '(('%65|#4'(+0'$76
for speech. It uses Microsoft’s cloud 016|/7%*+50'9
servers to generate live captions in Microsoft has been talking up Windows
real time from any audio – audio in a Studio Effects as one of the big AI
Û`iwi]>Õ`>iiiÌ}] features for Copilot+ PCs. These are
or even audio being picked up by your real-time webcam effects that use the
PC’s microphone. computer’s NPU to change how your
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 87
FEATURE
Do I really look ‘illustrated’
in the screenshot left? A little
bit! Is that worth buying a
Copilot+ PC for? Well, I don’t
know about that…
4'%#..917.&*#8'
BEEN THE BIG FEATURE
Recall will take screenshots
of your PC’s display every
wÛiÃiV`Ã]VÀi>Ìi>L}
database of your PC activity,
and then let you search
Windows Studio Effects illustrated effect example. through it with plain language
queries – just like when you
webcam looks in any app. I like them, talk to an AI chatbot.
really. You can enable fake eye contact Unlike the Copilot AI chatbot or AI
or blur your background in any app, for image generation features, it will work
example. And, because it uses the NPU, iÌÀiÞvyi°/ >̽ÃÜ >Ì VÀÃvÌ
̽Ã>«ÜiÀivwViÌÜ>ÞÌ`ÜiLV> said when it announced Recall.
effects. You won’t be wasting CPU or It’s clear why Microsoft made such
GPU power in an online meeting. a big deal about Windows Recall when
However, this isn’t exactly new. it announced Copilot+ PCs. Without
Windows Studio Effects is the one AI Recall, there’s a distinct lack of a
feature that functioned out of the box centrepiece AI feature that really sells
wÀÃÌ}iiÀ>̼Ƃ>«Ì«Ã½ÜÌ Ìi these PCs. Instead, it’s just a collection
Meteor Lake hardware. You don’t need of little tech demos that shows off what
a Copilot+ PC for them. the NPU can do.
There are some extra effects: you can But when Microsoft faced serious
use effects like ‘Animated’, ‘Illustrated’, blowback regarding privacy and security
and ‘Watercolour’ to change how you concerns over Recall, it decided to
look on your webcam in real time. It’s pull Recall before launch and spend
>Vi`i>]LÕÌw`Ì iivviVÌÃÌLi a few more months working on it
very subtle. before release. Ultimately, this means
88 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
none of the included ‘AI’ software very impressed with the battery life
featured in Copilot+ PCs at launch is and snappy performance so far. I wish
particularly exciting. Microsoft and Qualcomm were talking
more about that than AI with this debut
9+6*%12+.16 ;17o4' Snapdragon X Elite laptops.
BUYING INTO A PROMISE
I’m calling these features ‘tech demos’
for a reason. They feel like they exist to
demonstrate the power of the neural
processing unit and the Windows
Copilot Runtime that Microsoft is
offering to developers.
The vision of a Copilot+ PC isn’t
that Windows will totally transform
itself. The vision is that third-party
application developers will leverage
this hardware to add AI features into
their own applications.
It’s early days, for sure. If you’re
excited about a Copilot+ PC because
of the AI features, I recommend
you slow down before buying one
because you may be disappointed,
especially without Recall.
I always recommend buying
hardware for what it can do today,
not based on what it might do in the
future. (Already this year, buyers of
wÀÃÌ}iiÀ>ÌƂ* Ã}ÌLÕÀi`vÀ
buying into a vision too early.)
But if you’re mainly excited about
the battery life and performance
promises of Copilot+ PCs? That may
be a good reason to buy one! I’ve been
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 89
FEATURE
Credit: Getty Images/Andrii Atanov
Is your SSD about to
die? 9 warning signs
you shouldn’t ignore
An SSD that’s at the end of its life can present all kinds of weird signs and
symptoms. JON MARTINDALE reports
I
n 2024, just about all modern your desktops and laptops for utmost
computers use SSDs as their primary performance.
data storage format (except for Sadly, SSDs don’t last forever. Sure,
maybe budget Chromebooks). Maybe their performance and durability have
you’ve done research to get the best improved over the years, but even
SSDs worth your money, equipping the ones with impressive terabytes
90 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
written (TBW) ratings
and long warranties
still die eventually.
You’ll know it’s coming
before it happens, too.
Here are some key
warning signs that your
SSD is at the end of its
life and what you can do
about it – if you can do
1.
anything at all.
(+4566*+0)5(+456 4'#&|6*+5 vÞÕ`½Ìw`>Þ«ÀLiÃÜÌ
If you have even the slightest suspicion your CPU or RAM, and you’ve updated
Ì >ÌÞÕÀ-- } ÌLi`Þ}]Ì iwÀÃÌ all your drivers and Windows updates,
thing you should do – even before and if you can’t pinpoint the issue
wà }Ì iÀiÃÌvÌ Ã>ÀÌViqÃ} elsewhere, then there’s a chance these
and back up your important data right random crashes are caused by an SSD
now. Yes, it’s possible to recover data that’s going bad.
from dead SSDs. But it’s not always Keep reading for more warning
easy, it’s never guaranteed, it will take a signs that may help corroborate
lot of time, and it can cost you a hefty whether the issue is due to your SSD
chunk of change. Don’t risk losing your or something else.
ÛÌ>ÜÀÃwiÃ]« ÌÃ]Û`iÃ]}>i
saves, and so on. Backups are worth it. 2. ;1742%(''.5
5.19'4|6*#0757#.
1. ;1742%(4''<'5 -- ÃÃÜ`Ü>ÃÌ iÞwÕ«ÜÌ
14|%4#5*'5 data, but they also slow down over
System freezes, crashes, random time due to memory cells wearing out.
reboots, and blue screen errors. These While modern SSDs use a
can all be symptoms of all sorts of technique called wear levelling to
problems with your PC, which means make sure the write/erase cycles are
they can also be signs that there’s spread across the SSD cells as evenly
something wrong with your SSD. as possible, some cells will inevitably
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 91
FEATURE
wear out faster than others. As that corrupted and unreadable’ error. This
happens, performance across the drive iÀÀÀ>ÞLiÌiÀÌÌiÌ>ÌwÀÃÌ]LÕÌ
can diminish because the controller has if it keeps happening – especially with
to work harder and harder to manage Ì iÃ>iwiÃqÞÕ>Þ >Ûi>`Þ}
the data, causing slowdowns when SSD on your hands. In the meantime,
write/erase commands are performed. run chkdsk to see if Windows can repair
New SSDs also come with additional drive errors. Sometimes it could be all
‘overprovision’ space that can be ÞÕii`ÌwÝÌ iÃÃÕi°
used to maintain performance and
capacity as cells wear out. However, 4. YOU GET FILE SYSTEM
as this overprovisioned space is used REPAIR ERRORS
up and those cells in turn wear down, vÞÕ}iÌ>ëiVwVLÕiÃVÀiiv
the overall drive’s performance will `i>Ì Ã>Þ}Ì >ÌÌ iwiÃÞÃÌiii`Ã
again suffer. If your SSD’s performance a repair, that’s a sign that major data
ÌÃÀiViÌ]ÌÀÞÛ}L}wiÃvv corruption has occurred within Windows
to another drive and see if that helps. wiÃÌ iÃiÛiÃ>`Ì iÞii`wÝ}°
Maybe freeing up some space – Sometimes this data corruption can
especially if your SSD is near capacity – be caused by software, but if it happens
is all you need to reclaim speed. ÕÌ«iÌiÃ>`ÉÀÌ iwi`>>}i
But if your SSD is far from full and is particularly bad, then it’s likely to be
performance is noticeably slower, there’s caused by a failing SSD.
a good chance it’s dying. While death 9Õ} ÌLi>LiÌwÝÌ ÃÜÌ
likely isn’t imminent, it may not have Windows’ own repair service (which will
that much life left. automatically start when Windows fails
to boot properly after an error like this),
3. YOUR FILES ARE but it’s a clear sign that your drive could
+0#%%'55+$.'14%144726'& be in trouble and, at the very least,
If an active memory cell degrades to the warrants further investigation.
point of being completely inaccessible,
̽ëÃÃLivÀÌ iwiÃÌ i`ÀÛiÌ 5. ;175''$#&$.1%-5+0
become corrupted or inaccessible. EVENT VIEWER
For example, when you try to access If you’re worried that recent crashes,
ViÀÌ>wiÃÞÕÀ-- ]7`ÜÃ blue screens, or falling performance
>Þ}ÛiÞÕ>¼/ iwiÀ`ÀiVÌÀÞÃ might be caused by a failing SSD, you
92 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
might be able to use the
Windows Event Viewer to see
what may be behind them.
Check the Windows
Event Viewer to see if the
reasons for recent crashes
have anything to do with
your SSD. You want to
particularly look out for any
hint of ‘bad blocks’, as that’s
>ÃÕÀiwÀiÃ}Ì >ÌÞÕÀ--
6.
is struggling and may need
replacing soon.
If these ‘bad block’ references are your drive is in ‘Good’ condition, then
occurring for your main boot drive, you should have nothing to worry about.
or a drive that contains important Note: In the above image, my main
`>Ì>iÜÀwiÃ]Ì i}iÌÌ ivv SSD is ‘Good’ but its temperature
the drive ASAP before performing a isn’t. That doesn’t mean it’s going to
drive health check. fail on me, but it’s something I should
consider addressing to improve the
6. YOUR SSD HAS A POOR drive’s longevity.
*'#.6*5%14'
One of the clearest signs that your SSD 7. ;17%#0o694+6'616*'
might be dying is that it gets a poor SSD ANYMORE
health score in drive health check apps, If a drive goes read-only, it’s on its way
like CrystalDiskInfo. Apps like this will out. You might bump into this issue
assess your drive and give it a health when trying to install a program or
rating. For more modern drives, you ÛiwiÃÌÌ i-- °vÌÀivÕÃiÃÌ
may even get a health percentage, do it, if you get some kind of error that
which represents how much life that stops you from writing data, or if you’re
particular drive has remaining. told that the drive is in read-only mode,
What’s an acceptable drive health good chance the drive is about to die.
percentage? Well, that’s sort of up to SSDs do this as a protective
you. But if the health check app says measure, affording you a little bit of
SEPTEMBER 2024 • TECH ADVISOR 93
FEATURE
extra time to get your data backed data you can. Even if the drive starts
up immediately. When this happens, working again, there’s a good chance
you should remove the SSD from your this second wind is just temporary.
PC and put it in an enclosure of some
kind – effectively making it an external
SSD – so that it isn’t being read from
constantly by the system.
8. WINDOWS FAILS
TO BOOT PROPERLY
If Windows won’t boot from an SSD,
that drive may well be about to die. It’s
possible that there’s some kind of issue
ÜÌ 7`ÜÃwiÃÀ>ÞLi>`ÀÛiÀ
VyVÌ]LÕÌvÞÕÃÕëiVÌÞÕÀ--
may be to blame, it’s time to back up
whatever data you can from it.
Treat the SSD as dying and act fast
to make sure your data is backed up
and safe before it’s too late.
9. YOUR SSD IS NO LONGER
4'%1)0+<'&
If you can’t see the drive in Windows
(or worse, the BIOS), then the drive
may already be dead. If it’s a brand-new
drive, it could just be that you need
to initialize it or add a partition – but
if it’s an older drive that’s suddenly
disappeared, it’s not a good sign.
You could try putting the SSD in an
enclosure and seeing if it’ll show up
when connected to another PC. If that
works, you should back up whatever
94 TECH ADVISOR • SEPTEMBER 2024
INSIDE: 10 MOST IMPORTANT LAPTOPS OF ALL TIME
AUGUST 2024
ALIENWARE X16 R2
PREMIUM GAMING LAPTOP WITH LOTS OF POLISH
COMPUTEX 2024:
EVERYTHING YOU
NEED TO KNOW
You might also like
- Bicycling Australia - September-October 2024No ratings yetBicycling Australia - September-October 202484 pages
- MCA Microsoft 365 Certified Associate Modern Desktop Administrator Complete Study Guide with 900 Practice Test Questions: Exam MD-100 and Exam MD-101From EverandMCA Microsoft 365 Certified Associate Modern Desktop Administrator Complete Study Guide with 900 Practice Test Questions: Exam MD-100 and Exam MD-101No ratings yet
- Evaluation of Some Android Emulators and Installation of Android OS on Virtualbox and VMwareFrom EverandEvaluation of Some Android Emulators and Installation of Android OS on Virtualbox and VMwareNo ratings yet
- Windows Operating System: Windows Operating System (OS) Installation, Basic Windows OS Operations, Disk Defragment, Disk Partitioning, Windows OS Upgrade, System Restore, and Disk FormattingFrom EverandWindows Operating System: Windows Operating System (OS) Installation, Basic Windows OS Operations, Disk Defragment, Disk Partitioning, Windows OS Upgrade, System Restore, and Disk FormattingNo ratings yet
- How To Password Protect A Folder in Windows 10 - Laptop MagNo ratings yetHow To Password Protect A Folder in Windows 10 - Laptop Mag1 page
- BDM. Online Security For Beginners 11ed 2022No ratings yetBDM. Online Security For Beginners 11ed 202298 pages
- Go H*ck Yourself: A Simple Introduction to Cyber Attacks and DefenseFrom EverandGo H*ck Yourself: A Simple Introduction to Cyber Attacks and DefenseNo ratings yet
- Getting Started With MacBook Air (2020 Model): A Guide For New MacOS UsersFrom EverandGetting Started With MacBook Air (2020 Model): A Guide For New MacOS UsersNo ratings yet
- Coding Basics with Microsoft Visual Studio: A Step-by-Step Guide to Microsoft Cloud ServicesFrom EverandCoding Basics with Microsoft Visual Studio: A Step-by-Step Guide to Microsoft Cloud ServicesNo ratings yet
- Activity 1.1.2 Password Protection & Authentication - Cybersecurity-2No ratings yetActivity 1.1.2 Password Protection & Authentication - Cybersecurity-234 pages
- Exploring Windows 10 May 2020 Edition: The Illustrated, Practical Guide to Using Microsoft WindowsFrom EverandExploring Windows 10 May 2020 Edition: The Illustrated, Practical Guide to Using Microsoft WindowsNo ratings yet
- MacBook Air (2020 Model) For Seniors: Getting Started With Your First MacFrom EverandMacBook Air (2020 Model) For Seniors: Getting Started With Your First MacNo ratings yet
- Kodi User Manual: Watch Unlimited Movies & TV shows for free on Your PC, Mac or Android DevicesFrom EverandKodi User Manual: Watch Unlimited Movies & TV shows for free on Your PC, Mac or Android DevicesNo ratings yet
- Exploring Windows 11 - 2024 Edition: The Illustrated, Practical Guide to Using Microsoft WindowsFrom EverandExploring Windows 11 - 2024 Edition: The Illustrated, Practical Guide to Using Microsoft WindowsNo ratings yet
- What Your Password Policy Should Be 1741285422No ratings yetWhat Your Password Policy Should Be 17412854226 pages
- Visual Studio Code: End-to-End Editing and Debugging Tools for Web DevelopersFrom EverandVisual Studio Code: End-to-End Editing and Debugging Tools for Web DevelopersNo ratings yet
- How to Setup a Windows PC: A Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up and Configuring a New Computer: Location Independent Series, #4From EverandHow to Setup a Windows PC: A Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up and Configuring a New Computer: Location Independent Series, #4No ratings yet
- Microsoft Intune Cookbook: Over 75 recipes for configuring, managing, and automating your identities, apps, and endpoint devicesFrom EverandMicrosoft Intune Cookbook: Over 75 recipes for configuring, managing, and automating your identities, apps, and endpoint devicesNo ratings yet
- 27 Windows 11 Tips and Tricks You Need To KnowNo ratings yet27 Windows 11 Tips and Tricks You Need To Know18 pages
- 5 Windows 11 Settings Worth Changing Immediately - PCWorldNo ratings yet5 Windows 11 Settings Worth Changing Immediately - PCWorld10 pages
- 7W10 - DG - Session 7 - User Accounts V3No ratings yet7W10 - DG - Session 7 - User Accounts V328 pages
- Security and Privacy in the Internet of Things: & Dark-web InvestigationFrom EverandSecurity and Privacy in the Internet of Things: & Dark-web InvestigationNo ratings yet
- The Ultimate Windows 10 Guide: Tips & Tricks to Save Time & Use Windows 10 Like a ProFrom EverandThe Ultimate Windows 10 Guide: Tips & Tricks to Save Time & Use Windows 10 Like a ProNo ratings yet
- Cuadernillo Sistemas Lgti Videojuegos - Inglés I - Ii - Uai - 2023No ratings yetCuadernillo Sistemas Lgti Videojuegos - Inglés I - Ii - Uai - 202330 pages
- Istoria Filosofiei - Inventarea Lumii ModerneNo ratings yetIstoria Filosofiei - Inventarea Lumii Moderne150 pages
- Karl May - Sub Stapanirea Otomana 1. Prin Desert Si Harem (Ibuc - Info)No ratings yetKarl May - Sub Stapanirea Otomana 1. Prin Desert Si Harem (Ibuc - Info)377 pages
- Discover 100 M SPC-Provisional OCTOBER 2013 PDFNo ratings yetDiscover 100 M SPC-Provisional OCTOBER 2013 PDF72 pages
- Nancy Deihl - The Hidden History of American Fashion - Rediscovering 20th-Century Women Designers-Bloomsbury Academic (2018)100% (3)Nancy Deihl - The Hidden History of American Fashion - Rediscovering 20th-Century Women Designers-Bloomsbury Academic (2018)270 pages
- English 10 Quarter 1 Lesson 1 Textual AidsNo ratings yetEnglish 10 Quarter 1 Lesson 1 Textual Aids31 pages
- ChatGPT_MyLearning on Grammar and Parsing Algorithm in Compiler ConstructionNo ratings yetChatGPT_MyLearning on Grammar and Parsing Algorithm in Compiler Construction119 pages
- 12725/siddaganga Exp Second Sitting (2S)No ratings yet12725/siddaganga Exp Second Sitting (2S)3 pages
- Humaniora: A Cultural Dimension of American-Indonesian "Fast Food Diplomacy"No ratings yetHumaniora: A Cultural Dimension of American-Indonesian "Fast Food Diplomacy"9 pages
- A Presentation On Fading in Wireless Communications100% (4)A Presentation On Fading in Wireless Communications6 pages
- II Semester English Model QP - Solved TIENo ratings yetII Semester English Model QP - Solved TIE10 pages
- Routledge Encyclopedia of Translation Studies - (PG 337 - 347)No ratings yetRoutledge Encyclopedia of Translation Studies - (PG 337 - 347)11 pages
- Ray Kolonay 1 Computational AeroelasticityNo ratings yetRay Kolonay 1 Computational Aeroelasticity56 pages
- Information System Audit Using Framework Cobit 4.1 On PT Klikfix Asia InternationalNo ratings yetInformation System Audit Using Framework Cobit 4.1 On PT Klikfix Asia International6 pages
- Bài Tập Theo Từng Unit Unit 11: Our Greener World Có Đáp ÁnNo ratings yetBài Tập Theo Từng Unit Unit 11: Our Greener World Có Đáp Án8 pages
