All posts by Jeremy Say

Computers, Consumer Electronics, Reviews

Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI Review: The 240Hz OLED Gaming Laptop

October 3, 2025 Jeremy Say Leave a comment

This Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI Review focuses on the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI (PHN16S-71-907F), which is a beast with a single mission: to crush demanding games on one of the most beautiful screens money can buy. If you’re looking for a stationary powerhouse, this is a phenomenal deal. If you need something for campus life, office use, or productivity on the go, read closely—you’re buying a desktop in a backpack so constant charging will be an issue.

Technical Specifications

Intel® Core™ Ultra 9 275HX processor
32GB Dual-channel DDR5 RAM (Max 64GB)
1TB PCIe NVMe Gen 4 SSD
NVIDIA® GeForce RTX 5070Ti 12GB GDDR7
16″ 240Hz WQXGA (2560×1600), 16:10 Aspect Ratio DCI-P3 100%, OLED Display
Interface/Ports: • 1 x HDMI 2.1 • 2 x Usb Type-C (1x Thunderbolt 4, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps) • 3x USB Type-A (2x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1) • 1x Ethernet • 1x microSD card reader • 1x combo audio jack • 1x dc power in

Raw Power Meets Jaw-Dropping Display

The core experience of this laptop is undeniably premium. It packs serious hardware, including the latest Intel® Core™ Ultra 9 275HX processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX™ 5070Ti GPU. This combination delivers excellent frame rates that easily handles any current modern titles like Doom: The Dark Ages and Deathloop, putting it firmly in the high-performance tier. However, Acer has seemed to limit how much power goes the CPU and GPU as compared to similar spec hardware from other gaming laptops. With a thin chassis design for the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI, they probably didn’t have a choice compared to their beefy cousins.

Acer has paired the thin design with a 16-inch WQXGA (2560 x 1600) OLED display. With deep, true blacks and perfect color accuracy (100% DCI-P3), visuals pop like crazy. Great for gaming or for content creation. Best of all, it hits a blistering 240Hz refresh rate, ensuring motion is silky smooth no matter what you do.

The big catch? That stellar screen comes with two issues. First, it’s a reflective, glossy panel, meaning you’ll struggle with glare in bright rooms or when the screen is showcasing dark scenes. Second, the refresh rate is hard-locked to 240Hz. There’s no way to turn it down, which should dramatically increase battery drain during light use.

The Trade-Off: Noise and Life Support

Acer included powerful thermal management (5th Gen AeroBlade 3D fans and liquid metal grease), which does a great job of keeping the core components cool under pressure. However, to achieve that sustained performance, the fans can get LOUD. When you engage Turbo mode, this laptop sounds like a miniature jet engine preparing for takeoff—headphones are a must for a better gaming experience.

This machine is on the thin side for a gaming laptop and weighs 2.3kg. You will also notice its desk footprint being a bit larger as it has some extra real estate in the trunk. This becomes more noticeable especially when lugging around that big power brick and figuring out where that goes. It is roughly the size of two large smartphones stacked together and much heavier.

As for battery life, here’s the harsh truth: it’s minimal like nearly all gaming laptops. Expect only 3 to 5 hours of light use. If you try to open any demanding game off the plug, the laptop throttles so drastically that it stutters and becomes unusable on any modern AAA titles. This has also happened on some indie games, but this may be due to the games not being optimized.

This is a machine that is designed to be plugged in, a true portable desktop essentially tethered to a power socket. There is no current way around this as PredatorSense essentially forces you to be plugged in if you want to use the GPU for any demanding task.

Quality of Life & Final Details

Connectivity Wins

Acer Predator Helios Neo 16s AI Back Ports

Acer Predator Helios Neo 16s AI Left Ports

The port selections are excellent and well-managed, with charging and major display outputs tucked out of the way on the back. You get HDMI 2.1, a mix of fast USB-A and USB-C ports (including Thunderbolt 4), and an Ethernet jack. No dongle farm needed here.

Keyboard & Touchpad

Acer Predator Helios Neo 16s AI keyboard

The keyboard is responsive with a comfortable full-size layout with numpad and a customizable 4-zone RGB backlight. The major nuisance is the oversized Copilot key next to the arrow keys, which is too easy to hit accidentally. Touchpad is alright but we experience some freezing or lag issues while playing some rogue-like card games. Works normally during normal work tasks.

Audio

Like most gaming laptops, the built-in speakers lack bass, reinforcing the need for headphones for that truly immersive experience. Average and useable.

The Little Things

Acer Predator Helios Neo 16s AI fingerprints

The chassis—a mix of a slick aluminum lid and sturdy plastic—is unfortunately a fingerprint magnet. And heed this warning: you must turn off the ridiculously loud boot-up sound in the BIOS (spam F2), or you will scare everyone in your vicinity. Oh, and the Predator logo is also RGB, a nice touch.

The Odd Note

We observed an odd issue specifically with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Despite our best efforts to update all drivers and play with the settings, this game alone showed stuttering issues. We believe the problem stems from a firmware or software issue that Acer has not yet addressed. A quick search online confirmed that other gamers had similar issues with the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16s AI. This remains a notable point for potential buyers

The Final Verdict

The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI delivers massive performance but feels limited. On paper it is very good value for money, but in person experiences may vary by usage. The screen is gorgeous to play on and most of the time gaming is a blast. Just plan to use the power brick 90% of the time.

You can purchase one for yourself at Acer’s website.

For something more balanced you can use on the go constantly, there are better options out there.

Computers, Reviews, Writer's Choice

Best Mid-Range Gaming Laptop? Reviewing the Lenovo Legion 5i 15IAX10 Gen 10

September 26, 2025 Jeremy Say Leave a comment

We review the Lenovo Legion 5i 15IAX10 as a gaming laptop and daily carry.

Now let’s be real, you’re not just buying a gaming laptop; you’re investing in a whole vibe. You need a single device that can handle everything from grinding through a high-stakes game to binge-watching on a study break. The Lenovo Legion 5i 15IAX10 understood the assignment. It’s the laptop that screams, “I’m serious about my performance, and I don’t look like some UFO just landed.”

The Bottom Line TL;DR

The Lenovo Legion 5i 15IAX10 is a fantastic choice for anyone who wants serious gaming power, portability, and value for money as a mid-range gaming laptop. The OLED screen is genuinely worth the hype and build quality is great. Just make sure you’re always near a charger if you’re gonna game hard, and you’ll be golden.

Ready to level up? Check out the Lenovo Legion 5 15IAX10 and other Legion laptops at Lenovo’s official site.

The Deets

Performance

First off, let’s talk power. The Lenovo Legion 5i 15IAX10 is powered by the latest Intel® Core™ HX processors, and this is where it gets real. With dedicated Performance and Efficiency Cores, you’re getting maximum performance that’s all about full-throttle, high-FPS gaming. We’re talking a smooth, lag-free experience whether you’re in the middle of a high-stakes clutch or multitasking with a million tabs open or other tasks in the background. The Intel® Performance Hybrid Architecture with additional e-cores also means your gaming, streaming, and content creation are all getting a serious upgrade. Game hard and create harder.

The only potential catch is that while the CPUs (Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 255HX or Ultra 9 275HX Processor) are top-tier, the GPUs might not be without some tweaking. The NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5060 and 5070 Laptop GPUs both have a cap of 8GB of GDDR7 VRAM. For most current games at 1080p, this is totally fine. However, some gamers are concerned that for future AAA titles with maxed-out settings, especially at the screen’s native WQXGA (2560×1600) resolution, 8GB could become a bottleneck. The good news is that NVIDIA’s AI solutions, like DLSS, can be a great workaround to boost FPS without sacrificing too much graphical quality. It’s a powerful tool to ensure you can keep playing new releases smoothly. If you want a NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5070 Ti Laptop GPU 12GB GDDR7 you will have to look at the Legion Pro series.

As for upgradeability, the laptop has some room for upgrades. The Lenovo Legion 5i 15IAX10 has 2 memory slots for RAM and 2 M.2 SSD slots.

Aesthetics

The design itself has a great vibe. It’s got that clean, stealthy minimalist aesthetic that looks just as good in a coffee shop, office, or a lecture hall as it does on your gaming desk. With just enough customizable RGB (an optional upgrade) on the keyboard, it has that gaming feel without being a giant beacon of attention.

It’s also relatively thin and light for a gaming laptop, coming in at about 1.9kg with a sleek black aluminum lid. The plastic bottom and interior are rigid and well-built and fits the aesthetics.

The only design issue is the power button’s light, which to our knowledge can’t be turned off at time of the review. You could always put a piece of black electrical tape over it or buy a sticker, but for a laptop with such a clean design, it seems like a poor design choice for those who want to watch a movie in the dark without a bright light staring back at them.

Gaming

One of the stars of the show is the 165Hz OLED display. The 100% DCI-P3 color gamut means you’re getting amazing, vibrant colors and true blacks, which is a major flex for both gaming and content creation. Just like most gaming laptops, the screen is a bit reflective, but it’s a worthy trade-off for the incredible clarity.

What’s probably the greatest thing is that Lenovo made a baller choice to not throttle the GPU’s power in this model. Even at full power, the laptop isn’t any noisier than most other similarly spec’d gaming laptops and doesn’t run much hotter. Just remember you will be tethered to a power point and have to lug a rather large power brick if you want to game at max performance.

Otherwise playing games like Deathloop and Clair Obscur : Expedition 33 was a blast and had smooth FPS. The only real issue that showed up was when trying to get Doom: The Dark Ages to work . Quite some time was spent experimenting with the settings in game and NVIDIA’s DLSS due to VRAM issues. The game is a hog for VRAM but eventually was reined in and perfectly playable with the tweaks.

Daily Use & Portability

As a daily driver, the Lenovo Legion 5i 15IAX10 is solid for a 15″ gaming laptop. The 16:10 aspect ratio on the screen gives you more vertical space for documents and browsing, which is a lifesaver. It has a ton of ports, including Thunderbolt 4 for fast transfers and a physical webcam privacy switch, which is a huge plus for privacy. However, the biggest catch for daily use is the battery.

With a high-power hardware, you’ll be lucky to get 4-6 hours of light use with optimization. For gaming or heavy tasks, you’re going to be tethered to a power outlet. Think of it’s a portable desktop. For a digital nomad, you’ll definitely want to carry a smaller GaN charger for lighter tasks to ease the weight. The dedicated 245w slim charger adds about 0.8kg to your bag.

The laptop also charges pretty quickly, going from 0% to 70% in about 30 minutes, or a full charge in around 80 minutes. This is a nice feature to have when you’re on a tight schedule.

Other things to note is that there is no biometrics sensor. So you are relying on passwords and pins for logging in. The stereo sound is decent, but you’ll probably want headphones for an immersive experience.

Is It Worth It?

Heck ya! The Lenovo Legion 5i 15IAX10 hits the sweet spot for a mid-range gaming laptop. It gives you great performance, a killer screen, and a clean aesthetic for the money. You’re getting top-tier specs and smart features that feel like they belong on a much more expensive machine. If you’re looking for a versatile, powerful, and understated laptop that won’t break the bank, the Legion 5i is a fantastic choice that provides amazing value.

Ready to level up? Check out the Lenovo Legion 5 15IAX10 and other Legion laptops at Lenovo’s official site.

Reviews, Writer's Choice

Lenovo Yoga Book 9i (2024) Review -Making Dual Screen Laptops Viable

January 22, 2025 Jeremy Say Leave a comment

Lenovo’s Yoga Book 9i 13’ (2024, Gen 9 – 13IMU9) is a great dual OLED touch screen OLED laptop for entertainment, productivity and light content creation. With a unique design that is practical and sleek, this is a great laptop opens different possibilities you can’t get from traditional work laptops.

8.0/10

PROS	CONS
✅Dual Screen Design ✅2.8K OLED Touch Displays ✅Pre-bundled Accessories ✅Great Audio ✅Sleek, near premium and light design ✅Great performance for most general tasks	❌7 Hour battery life ❌Apps open under the keyboard ❌Pricing ❌Unusual form factor might not be for everyone ❌Minimal port options

Specifications

The Yoga Book 9i (2024) comes with a Core Ultra CPU, up to 32GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage space. Base model have 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.

LENOVO YOGA BOOK 9i (2024)	As tested
Processor (clock)	Intel Core Ultra 7 155U Processor (E-cores up to 3.80 GHz P-cores up to 4.80 GHz)
GPU	Integrated Graphics
Display	2x 13.3″ 2.8K (2880 x 1800), OLED, Glare, Touch, HDR 500, 100%DCI-P3, 400 nits, 60Hz, Narrow Bezel, Glass
Memory	32GB LPDDR5X-7467MHz (Soldered)
Storage	1TB SSD M.2 2242 PCIe Gen4 TLC
Networking	Wi-Fi 6E 2×2 AX & Bluetooth® 5.1 or above
Ports	3x USB C/Thunderbolt 4
Battery	4 Cell Li-Polymer 80Wh with up to 7 hours of battery 65W Type-C power adapter
Dimensions	299.1mm x 203.6mm x 15.95mm 1.34kg
Miscellaneous	5MP RGB+IR with Dual Array Microphone Quad 2W speakers, Dolby Atmos

Design and Build Quality

The Yoga Book 9i (2024) comes in a beautiful “Tidal Teal” using a rounded all aluminium sturdy chassis. Paired with a remarkably study 360 degree hinge and speaker system, this laptop just feels premium.

It is also this hinge that allows the Yoga Book 9i (2024) to shows off the stunning dual OLED 2.8k Touch Displays in multiple configurations to suit your needs.

With the purchase of Yoga Book 9i (2024), the laptop comes pre-bundled with a bunch of essential accessories. In the box, you will find a mouse, magnetic keyboard, stylus pen, and folio case/stand that shares the same colour, aesthetic and build quality as the laptop. The magnetic keyboard snap on to the bottom screen and can be used on the top or bottom part for different effects. One allows the use of a digital touchpad, another gives you a mini display.

The keyboard is designed to be stored in the folio case which also comes with a pen loop for the stylus pen. This makes for carrying around the extras a bit easier and less bulky overall. The only main concern at the moment is the availability of spare keyboards and folio stand which are pretty integral to the Yoga Book 9i (2024) and how it is used. Purchasing extras or replacements may be difficult as they not available on the Lenovo’s retail website.

One big letdown for build quality is a small plastic power button that has seemingly recessed into the frame. The power button felt mushy with no spring back or tactility and was difficult to press. This, however, could just be an issue with our specific review unit.

Performance

Sporting an Intel Ultra7 155U processor with integrated graphics, the Yoga Book 9i (2024) is more than powerful enough for any general productivity, entertainment, presentations, and light content creation uses. So, for any multitaskers and split screen power users, you will enjoy the productivity boost this laptop can provide.

The only big issue we can see overall is the lack of battery life in our benchmark testing. We were only able to achieved four and a half hours for watching movies via a streaming platform.

Daily Usage

The Yoga Book 9i (2024) checks many boxes as a daily laptop but with some caveats. From a hardware perspective, the laptop is more than powerful enough for general productivity or entertainment use. I would go as far as saying it excels for watching movies in particular. This is due in part to the Dolby Atmos speaker in the hinge. Hands down one of the best speakers in laptops we have heard for its form factor.

Coming to the obvious highlight of the Yoga Book 9i (2024), the dual screens for working. As someone who is used to working with two or more screens at a time, this laptop is a game changer. No longer does one have to lug a second screen around or faff about setting it up. The only caveat is that you now need to bring a keyboard, mouse, and stand which is luckily quite slim. The peripherals overall will add roughly 0.5kg to carry weight. The laptop alone is 1.3kg.

I will say that I was skeptical at first about the stand holding up the two screens. Luckily I was proven wrong. The stand is both easy and fast to setup and securely holds the Yoga Book 9i. Even with its higher center of gravity in top and bottom folio mode it never felt like it will fall.

One interesting use case was using the Yoga Book 9i (2024) as a form of a portable Dungeon Master (DM) screen for Dungeons & Dragons (DnD). Having one screen for referencing monsters and the other for note taking proved to be invaluable. This is an obvious use case for the Yoga Book 9i, but the tent mode proved even more useful.

Tent mode allowed DM able to show images of monsters and settings to the players or show initiative orders to the players while the DM notes from the players. This allow us to save space on the table while provide information that the people at the table need.

Now to the issues which plagued us during our time with the Lenovo Yoga 9i (2024). The software that is supposed to help you use the computers two screens together needs improvement. The UI has glitched from time to time were the digital keyboard or touchpad starts to become unresponsive or loses it backgrounds.

There is also the issue of apps launching underneath the digital or mechanical keyboard in clamshell normal laptop mode.

Speaking of the digital keyboard, it basically sucks. It is usable but is uncomfortable to use long term and not the most responsive. It is quite difficult to get use to typing quickly on the digital keyboard, and mostly it is for the best to resort to using the include magnetic keyboard that Lenovo provided.

Another quirk is when windows apps are seeking permissions, the digital touchpad will disappear.

The biggest gripe though would be that the battery life is on the lower side with roughly getting about 5 – 7 hours before needing to recharge in a normal day to day usage.

Final Thoughts

Lenovo Yoga Book 9i (2024) is a great buy that we can recommend for those who are always in need of a dual screen laptop on the go for general productivity, entertainment, small presentations, and light content creation. The only thing we can say is that if you are not willing to carry around the extra peripherals and accessories, need something for video editing or heavy tasks, gaming, or on a budget, you might want to look elsewhere.

Consumer Electronics, Reviews

HP Smart Tank 580 All-In-One Review

March 20, 2024 Jeremy Say Leave a comment

8/10

HP Smart Tank 580

While many are going paperless for a lot of things, it is still extremely convenient and useful to have a printer and scanner on hand. The HP Smart Tank 580 is one such All In One (AIO) that is easy to recommend as a purchase for the home office, home users, and students. With its ink tank system, refills are cheaper and much more economical compared to toner and cartridges. Adding the ability to connect to Wi-Fi and an easy setup, this is a great printer for your basic needs.

Pros

Low cost-per-print
No fuss ink refilling
Produces good detailed photos
Produces good quality black-and-white documents
Decent connectivity options
Easy to install
Easy to use app

Cons

Only supports manual duplex printing
No adjustable expendable scanner flatbed hinge
Lack of ethernet connectivity
Small access for maintenance

Specs

A4 Color Inkjet All-in-One Printer
Low cost-per-page at just 0.004 cent (color) & 0.004 cent (black)
Ink Tank system
Print, Scan, Copy and Mobile Fax
Print speed up to 12 ppm (black) and 5 ppm (color)
USB, Wi-Fi
Apple AirPrint™, Bluetooth, Google Cloud Print™, HP ePrint, Mopria™, Print Anywhere, USB, Wireless (Wi-Fi®)
Up to 6000 color or 6,000 black pages included
HP Thermal Inkjet
Max Input 100 sheets
Duty Cycle (Monthly, A4) Up to 3,000 pages
Recommended Monthly Page Volume 400 to 800
Dimensions Without Stand (W X D X H) 434.66 x 361.53 x 157.26 mm
Maximum Dimensions (W X D X H) 434.66 x 580.65x 259.37 mm
Minimum Dimensions (W X D X H) 17.11 x 14.23 x 6.19 in
Dimensions With Trays Up (W X D X H) 434.66 x 361.53 x 157.26 mm
Weight 5.03 KG

What’s in the Box

#techenttv unboxes the #HP #SmartTank580 All In One Printer

Design

The HP Smart Tank 580 is a reasonably well built machine that has a sturdy body and looks clean. Coming in at (WxDxH) 43.4 x 58.0 x 25.9 cm when fully unpacked, this AIO printer can take up a sizable space on your desk. So there might be some planning involved with many components that unfold or expand.

Also, it is a shame that the printer’s output swinging tray seems fragile and easy to break in an otherwise well build printer.

The display and menu buttons are the Smart Tank 580 is on the small side and doesn’t give much information. The HP Smart app is the easiest and main way to interact with the printer for maintenance.

The transparent housing of each ink tank reservoir on the front ensures easy, quick monitoring for when you need to get refills. It also comes with an integrated ink sensor to warn you as well if you forget to look.

Maintenance and Consumables

Like most inkjets printers, there is some fair amount of maintenance for these printers. Printheads can clog and you may need to run printhead cleaning or an ink purge to get it print well again. Nothing really new on that front, just standard issues you would have with any inkjet printer.

The tanks are quite a good size on the HP Smart Tank 580 and you shouldn’t be having to refill them often. You are looking at up to 6,000 colour or black and white documents per refill.

Even when you have to refill, it is super easy and cheap with their ink refill bottles. Also, is essentially mess free with their spill-free refill experience.

The same, however, can’t be said for the printer heads. With only one small access to the printer’s guts, anyone with big hands or short fingers may have trouble installing/maintaining/replacing the printer heads or fixing paper jams. This is where having the scanner bed being able to lift would have been a great feature to have for easier maintenance.

Print heads should be about RM40 to replace and ink bottles would be RM34 for the black and RM31 per colour.

Scanner

The HP Smart Tank 580 comes with a basic flatbed scanner that can scan 8.5 x 11 inches and A4 size. It has no adjustable flatbed hinge and no Automatic Document Feeder (ADF). So if you want to scan a book or multi page documents, you will struggle with the process. Otherwise, it works well for what it is and will allow you to make copies and scans relatively easily. Also, the copy ID card function is also quite nice to have.

Mobile App & Connectivity

HP has one of the most comprehensive and easy-to-use apps to control and send prints to the printer. This is also how you will be troubleshooting and maintenance the HP Smart Tank 580.

This printer is easy to connect to your Wi-Fi network allowing easy of printing and scanning. Any devices that are connected by Wi-Fi will be able to easily access the printer. Sadly, there are no ethernet capabilities and may have trouble if more than 3 people try using the printer at the same time. There is also an ability to connect via USB as well.

Printing

Printing black and white documents, the printer performs well and at a good speed of about 12 pages per minute (PPM). The colour printing, however, is on the slower side, especially for any large images. You are looking at an average of 4-5 PPM for mixed image and text documents. For those full A4 size coloured prints, it will take almost a minute to print. This is pretty standard for more budget friendly printers and is still a good speed for daily use on the small scale.

The print qualities overall are quite good and detailed, but we notice some small loss of colour variability. This will make some images feel ever so slightly muted as shown on the top print vs the bottom. Though if not comparing anything side by side, the prints are of good quality and are great for the price.

Now, for making multiple copies of the same document, the buttons could be a bit fiddly to get the number you want. The user needs to keep pressing the copy button or hold until you get to your desired number and let go.

Also, the printer is relatively quiet, but will shake a less than sturdy table. So make sure the table is heavy and sturdy enough to compensate for the printhead moving back and forth.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the HP Smart Tank 580 is a solid choice for home offices or budget-minded users. The print quality is good for everyday tasks, and the large ink reservoirs with spill-free refills keep printing costs down and easy. However, those who need a machine for heavy-duty photo printing or frequent multi-page document scanning might be better served looking elsewhere. Consider the trade-offs between affordability, ease of use, and features before deciding if the HP Smart Tank 580 is the right fit for you.

Computers, Reviews, Writer's Choice

HP Pavilion Plus 14 AMD 7840U Review

February 23, 2024 Jeremy Say Leave a comment

8.5/10

HP Pavilion Plus 14 AMD 7840U (EY0027AU_01)

Pros

• Wonderful OLED Screen

• All metal chassis

• Light and Thin

• 1440p IR webcam with built in privacy shutter

• Affordable and great value buy when on sale

• Great general performance

Cons

• Speaker Design

• No Thunderbolt 4 support

• No SD or microSD card slot

• RAM is not upgradeable

The HP Pavilion Plus 14 (2023) AMD 7840U is a noteworthy mid-range laptop with integrated 780M graphics. The laptop includes a gorgeous 14” OLED 2.8k 120hz HDR display. This means watching the latest shows, movies, and anime is a blast.

A light and thin laptop, portability is quite good and should last you most of the day. With a 68Wh battery pack paired with an efficient Ryzen 7 U-series chip, expect 6-8 hours of mixed usage.

Great for general work (typing and browsing), photo editing, casual video editing, light to moderate gaming, traveling, and watching videos, the HP Pavilion Plus 14 AMD 7840U doesn’t breaking the bank. Perfect for those who move about a lot for work and students, especially when on sale.

HP Pavilion Plus 14 Laptop PC Trio Hero 1

Comes in multiples colours: EY0027AU moonlight blue, EY0028AU tranquil pink, and EY0029AU natural silver

Specifications of Reviewed Unit

Price at time of review	RM3,699 (Lazada Techmall)
CPU	3.3GHz AMD Ryzen 7 7840U (8 cores)
Graphics	AMD Radeon 780M
Screen	14 inch 16:10 2880 x 1800 pixel OLED HDR 120Hz
Memory	16GB LPDDR5 6400 Mhz (onboard)
Storage	512GB SSD
Network	Wi-Fi 6E / Bluetooth 5.3
Inputs/Connectivity	2 USB Type-C 10Gbps signaling rate (USB Power Delivery, DisplayPort 1.4, HP Sleep and Charge); 1 USB Type-A 10Gbps signaling rate; 1 USB Type-A 5Gbps signaling rate; 1 headphone/microphone combo; 1 HDMI 2.1
Operating System	Windows 11
Battery	68Wh cell with 65W Type-C power adapter
Dimensions	31.39 x 22.71 x 1.75 cm (front) – 1.88 cm (hinge back) / 12.36 x 8.94 x 0.69 in (front) – 0.74 in (hinge back)
Weight	1.4 kg (3.09lbs)

General Usage

HP Pavilion Plus 14 AMD 7840U 65w power adaptor type-C

Coming in at 1.4kg and under 2cm thickness, the HP Pavilion Plus 14 AMD 7 7840U, is a good thin and light laptop that fits the ultraportable category of laptops. The included 65W power adapter is relatively small and lightweight and is easy to carry. Though it should be noted that you could get away from leaving the power adaptor at home. Easily you should be getting a good 6-8 hours of general continuous usage with simple power management.

One thing to note about battery life, the OLED display is able to handle HDR content and has a refresh rate of 120Hz which can drain the battery when on full brightness of 400 nits. By default HDR doesn’t turn on if on the laptop battery and only turns on when plugged in. With HDR turned on, all screen settings on max, and while streaming hi-res video, battery life was about 5 hours. As for when trying to conserve power, we achieve 10+ hours. We are sure we can push more, but few want an overglorified type writer.

Design & Connectivity

HP Pavilion Plus 14 AMD 7840U right side ports

HP Pavilion Plus 14 AMD 7840U left side ports

Coming to charging the laptop, the laptop has two USB Type-C ports for charging on the right side. Now we believe it would have been nice if HP had design the laptop with a Type-C port on each side. This would have been easier and convenient charging, but it is a relatively small nitpick. Luckily there is support for battery fast charge. This means the laptop can charge 50% in 30 minutes when the laptop is completely shut down. So no tether unless you are doing long gaming or binge watching sessions. Generally it took 2 to 2 and a half hours to charge the laptop fully when in light use.

Coming to the all metal chassis design, it is pleasant and sleek. We do wish there was a slight recess for easier one handed lid opening. The overall build quality is pretty solid, with good hinges. There was noted ability to flex for the screen lid, but nothing drastic or out of the ordinary. Some minor flex on the base of the laptop while using the keyboard. Nothing most would generally notice in daily usage.

The most notable thing about the connectivity is that the HP Pavilion Plus 14 AMD 7840U lacks thunderbolt 4 (40Gbps signaling rate) certification. This is something generally inherent of AMD laptops. The laptop comes with 2 USB Type-C 10Gbp (USB Power Delivery, DisplayPort 1.4, HP Sleep and Charge), 1 USB Type-A 10Gbps, 1 USB Type-A 5Gbps, 1 headphone/microphone combo, and 1 HDMI 2.1 port. If thunderbolt 4 is a must, do look at the Intel variants with i7-1355U or i5-1335U from HP.

Work Usage

With the Radeon 780M, the HP Pavilion Plus 14 can handle most general media creation and light editing tasks. It will also edges out the comparable Intel variants of the HP Pavilion Plus 14 models.

As for using the laptop included generously large touchpad and keyboard, we found it pleasant. Sadly there is special features and is pretty basic overall. There is no numpad for number entry but does come with dedicated page up and down buttons. The overall typing experience is nice but a bit basic, it gets the job done without any fuss.

HP Pavilion Plus 14 AMD 7840U Webcam closed

HP Pavilion Plus 14 AMD 7840U webcam mid way

Another huge plus point that makes the HP Pavilion Plus 14 a great laptop for work is its 5-megapixel 1440p video resolution webcam. It comes an with IR sensor (facial recognition login) and built-in physical privacy shutter. So not only will your web video calls/conferences be a better experience, but you can also ensure no one can see you when you don’t want them to. Additionally there are function keys on the keyboard to mute your microphone and sound. Both have a small led indicator light to easily see if they are on/off.

Multimedia Usage

For consuming media, this laptop does fantastically well with their gorgeous 2.8K 120HZ OLED display with HDR and 400 nits peak brightness. This basically translates to great vibrant colours, deep blacks and a pretty bright screen for your viewing pleasure. Clearly the star feature of this laptop, watching movies and tv shows is a super enjoyable experience. This does of course come at the expense of battery life. At full tilt streaming movies on max settings you should get about 5 hours out of the HP Pavilion Plus 14 AMD 7 7840U.

The only two real things that might mar your viewing experience are the reflective glossy screen and downward facing speakers. This is one laptop you can’t put on your lap or in bright lights. You will get muffled sounds and reflective glare easily. This is a laptop best used on a hard surface/table indoors.

Sound overall is good for a mid range laptop and has good volume but lacks bass. Another issue is that while using the laptops keyboard we were able to feel the speakers vibrate and dampen if we put any weight onto the laptop bottom chassis.

Gaming

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As for gaming, the laptop will allow you to play most casual games and older titles without issues. I mean we don’t expect hardcore gamers to buy this laptop, but for integrated graphics, the Radeon 780M is probably the best at the moment. If you must, you can still play the newer graphically intensive games on the lowest settings at 1080P and get a respectful 20-30 fps.

Overall games like Hades will be a blast to play on the HP Pavilion Plus 14 AMD 7 7840U with a controller. With the OLED screen the colours really pop and the laptop has no problem playing the game smoothly. While playing Borderlands 3 we also noted that you definitely can’t use your native screen resolution.

As a side note on heat, we notice significant uncomfortable heating on the right side of the laptop keyboard when under high loads. Luckily for most gamers who need to use the laptop, the left side of the keyboard is unaffected. Using the WASD keys shouldn’t be a problem, just that it is still a laptop keyboard.

Benchmarks

*We are currently standardizing our benchmarking process into two parts. We test both in a controlled setting and via our hands-on experience through daily normal usage. For laptops, we use benchmarking software while plugged in and at max performance settings. We are currently using PCMark 10, PCMark 10 Extended, Time Spy, Wild Life Extreme, Cinebench 2024, and Borderlands 3.

In all the controlled testing, the HP Pavilion Plus 14 AMD 7 7840U shows great performance as a laptop for general productivity, photo editing, video conference calls, and light video editing. With an average score of 6457 in PCMark10 and 5615 in PCMark10 Extended.

Now in the gaming department, it is totally understandable that the 780M performance is lacking for a laptop. Though as an integrated graphics processor, its performance is top tier. The 780M is essentially the Ryzen Z1 Extreme found in ROG Ally and Legion Go, gaming handhelds running Windows OS.

Note that the Borderlands 3 benchmarking was run at the laptops native screen resolution of 2.8K

Final Thoughts

Overall the HP Pavilion Plus 14 AMD 7 7840U is a great light and thin laptop that has great overall productivity performance. Not a feature rich or gimmicky laptops, but a solid one that gets the job done well. The great OLED screen add much to the experience of this laptop. A highly recommend laptop to keep an eye on, especially when it goes on sale.

News

Weirdly Interesting Tech From CES 2024

January 17, 2024 Jeremy Say Leave a comment

Rabbit R1

A standalone AI device, Rabbit R1 is a nifty small device that will interact with any apps to aid you in your tasks. Think of it as a sort of universal remote mixed with an assistant. You should be able to train it to use any app or have it follow a list of programmable commands depending on the task you want it to learn. Imagine using macros for any daily digital task. An added benefit is that they use their own large action model. This means you won’t have to wait for developers to support the R1.

Hollo AI

If you ever wanted a digital twin, this might be the solution for you. Hollo AI uses some selfies and voice memos via a phone app to create your digital twin assistant. This twin is powered with chatGPT and can be used as a way to engage with users 24/7. This will be a potential perfect way for creators, celebrities and businesses to monetize their online interactive presence and support.

Foldable/Rollable OLED displays from Samsung

Samsung releases a great number of innovative foldable displays that will surely have multiple applications. They have released a bi-directional folding OLED screen, as well as showcasing rollable flex and sliding flex hybrid OLED screens. That means we can soon hold screens that fold 180 degrees in both directions and one that can roll onto itself.

Samsung Ballie

AI 컴패니언 ‘볼리(Ballie)’ 공개! 볼리가 만들어 줄 영화같은 일상 [CES2024]

This is probably the closest we are going to get for now to a commercial BB-8 droid. Ballie is a smart home AI assistant that can greet and follow you around like a puppy as it helps you with tasks. Not only can it help control your Smart Home, it comes with its own projector to help you out on conference calls, pulling out that recipe or be a personal training.

Shift Robotics Moonwalkers X

Moonwalkers X are a new iteration on the robotic walking aid to increase your speed and ease of travel. Lighter and easier to use than their last iteration, the Moonwalkers X will let you glide with every step. Essentially Heelys for adults, these might make sense for those who have to walk a lot on the job. We shall see if it becomes something we see occasionally, like scooters and segways.

Flappie AI cat door

AI technology powers the Flappie AI cat door to stop your furkid from bringing you dead presents. With a 90% accuracy currently, this cat door will help lower your cat from bringing their prey into the house. No more waking up to dead animals in your bed.

Lotus Smart Home Ring Controller

The Lotus ring is an infrared transmitter with tactile discrete buttons to help control compatible smart home products. Having such a small remote literally at your fingertips can also be beneficial for those with limited mobility for controlling a smart home setup that should be easy to install.

Seer Grills Perfecta

A smart oven marketed as a grill, the Seer Grills Perfecta will not only cook your food quickly but also near perfectly. Cooking at almost 540 degrees celsius or 1000 Fahrenheit, a thick steak will cook in under 2 minutes with no flipping required. With AI automation and feedback controls, you can fine tune the Perfecta to your liking.

Razer’s Project Esther

A HD haptic gaming chair cushion pad, Razer’s Project Esther will be adding depth to one’s gaming experience. With 16 haptic actuators with ultra-low latency, an easy plug-and-play solution, and compatibility with most gaming chairs, this iteration of Razer’s attempt into haptics looks promising.

iYU Spa Massage

For those who want a “hands-free” message, the IYU Spa Massage is a robotic massage arm and bed that uses AI to massage you. Developed by French company Capsix Robotics, they aim to bring a personalized masseur that can scan your body and adapt to your needs and preferences.

Business, News

Unity Software layoffs 1,800 or 25% of their staff in “reset”

January 11, 2024 Jeremy Say Leave a comment

Unity Software Inc., a big player in video game engine software, has hit the reset button and is laying off 25% of their workforce (1,800 jobs). This news comes as part of the new interim CEO Jim Whitehurst, former CEO of Redhat, plans for a company restructuring or “reset”. Whitehurst has taken over the helm of Unity from then CEO John Reiccitiello, who has since retired and left the board in October 2023 after a massive backlash last year because of new “runtime fee” structures.

TLDR for the new pricing structure is that for every new install for a game using Unity, there will be a charge if the game reaches a certain revenue threshold. This angered game developers as this policy came out of nowhere and also worked retroactively. This would be extremely damaging to games that have the free to play model like ‘Pokemon Go’ or ‘Hearthstone’. Eventually Unity had to walk back its changes for damage control, but it may not be enough as developers plan to move on to other platforms.

Unity under Whitehurst seems to have a lot of restructuring planned as they have already terminated an agreement with special effects house Weta Digital, founded by director Peter Jackson. This has already cost 275 jobs on top of the 600 previously trimmed in May 2023. Hopefully, all this trimming, restructuring and refocusing on their core, the Unity Editor and Runtime, and Monetizations Solutions workouts. We will have to wait and see as Whitehurst plans unfold for Unity. So far, shares for Unity have jumped up approximately 40% since the announced reset by Whitehurst.

Gaming

5 Demos to check out on PC/Steam Jan 2024

January 5, 2024 Jeremy Say Leave a comment

As we move into 2024, what better way than to start the first weekend with some new games.

For those who want to save on some cash after the festive sales, exploring demos on steam is the perfect solution. Besides, this is a perfect way to try out new games and different genres to see if the vibes match.

In this article we will be listing 5 entertaining and diverse game demos on steam that you should check out. If we miss any great demos on Steam do feel free to write in the comments below.

Backpack Battles

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Prepare to fight off other players in this Tetris style fantasy inventory management autobattler game. Similar in mechanics to Backpack Hero, you will be buying items and strategically place them in your back to fight other real players to climb the ladder. With different styles of plays and heroes, this demo is constantly being tweaked and updated. A nice little strategy game to fill up your weekend.

Bopl Battle

Recently released Nov, 2023, Bopl is a fun couch/online battler similarish to Smash Bros. Have fun with changing the environment you can manipulate to literally crush your foes. Choose to attach rockets to fly islands away or set things on fire. The choices are many and they are all yours as you find new combos to use with or against your friends. There are no bots so bring a friend to play, Bopl supports up to 4 players.

Bread & Fred

Released earlier last year in May, 2023, Bread & Fred is a cute co-op platformer game. Playing as two penguins, your goal is to help navigate them up the top of the snowy summit. You will be timing your jumps and swinging each other across gaps hoping not to fall down the mountain. This game is great for playing with your significant partner or potential partner as the New Year starts off.

If you don’t have anyone to play with, there is a single player mode available. You get to play with Jeff, a pet rock. Only issue is you can’t blame Jeff if you fall, this climb is all on you.

dotAGE

Released recently in Oct, 2023, dotAGE is a fun survival roguelite turn based city builder. For those who love board games and resource management, this game should be right up your alley. Take on the role of the villager elder as you navigate and plan around Doom and Prophecies of the Apocalypse to save your village. As a bonus this works well on Steam Deck and has an active single developer happy to fix bugs in this game of passion 9 years into the making.

TEKKEN 8

Releasing soon on 26 Jan, 2024, TEKKEN 8 will soon be fighting it out with Street Fighter 6 for the attention of all fighter game players. In the demo you will be able to test out Story Mode, Arcade Quest, Super Ghost Battle, Player vs. Player, Player vs CPU, and Gallery Mode. You will have access to 3 stages, Urban Square (Evening), Yakushima, and Sanctum while playing with popular characters Paul Phoenix, Jin Kazama, Lazuya Mishima, and Nina Williams. Also there has been talks on the web that is might be possible to unlock the other characters to try out on the PC version of the demo.

Entertainment, Feature, Lifestyle

10 Movies To Watch Before 2023 Ends

December 30, 2023 Jeremy Say Leave a comment

Now that we are nearing the end of 2023, we wanted to compile a quick movie list for you to binge on the weekend. Here are some unique movies we think everyone should check out on Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, and Amazon Prime.

1. They Cloned Tyrone

They Cloned Tyrone | Official Trailer | Netflix

Platform: Netflix

Initial release: June 14, 2023

The Online Response:

Rotten Tomatoes (Critic Consensus)	95%
Rotten Tomatoes (Audience Score)	100%
IMDB	6.6/10
Metacritic	74%
Google	91%

A clever sci-fi mystery led by the talented John Boyega, Jamie Foxx, and Teyonah Parris will see an unlikely trio stumble upon a government conspiracy. Filled with absurdist humour and satire, this inventive movie is worth a look.

2. Rebel Moon Part One – A Child of Fire

Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire | Official Trailer | Netflix

Platform: Netflix

Initial release: December 15, 2023

The Online Response:

Rotten Tomatoes (Critic Consensus)	25%
Rotten Tomatoes (Audience Score)	63%
IMDB	5.7/10
Metacritic	32%
Google	91%

If you love Zack Snyder’s works, especially the director’s cut of Justice League, you will enjoy this sci-fi space opera that is already getting an extended cut and a part two. Explore Zack Snyder’s fictional universe where a power hungry militaristic empire picks the wrong farming colony to terrorize and one villager who has decided enough is enough.

3. Leo

Platform: Netflix

Initial release: November 17, 2023

The Online Response:

Rotten Tomatoes (Critic Consensus)	82%
Rotten Tomatoes (Audience Score)	92%
IMDB	7.0/10
Metacritic	65%
Google	78%

It is an Adam Sandler movie, enough said! All jokes aside, this animated musical comedy is a fun idea about a classroom pet who wants freedom before he dies but ends up saving his class from a horrible substitute teacher. I think we all had one of those, shudders.

4. The Creator

Platform: Disney+ Hotstar

Initial release: September 29, 2023

The Online Response:

Rotten Tomatoes (Critic Consensus)	66%
Rotten Tomatoes (Audience Score)	76%
IMDB	6.8/10
Metacritic	63%
Google	78%

Many in the real world believe AI will take over the world and here is a movie that might show us what it would be like. This science fiction action flick will have you immersed in its spectacular visuals and solid writing. Directed by Gareth Edwards, the same director of the amazing Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, prepare for a story that doesn’t play it safe and feels refreshingly exhilarating.

5. Guardians of Galaxy Vol. 3

Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 | New Trailer

Platform: Disney+ Hotstar

Initial release: May 4, 2023

The Online Response:

Rotten Tomatoes (Critic Consensus)	82%
Rotten Tomatoes (Audience Score)	94%
IMDB	7.9/10
Metacritic	64%
Google	89%

Hands down the best of the MCU: Phase Five releases currently, this tear-jerker of a movie explores Rocket’s past. If you do not shed any tears or at least feel teary-eyed during this movie, you sir are either robots without an emotional chip or one of those “professional critics”.

6. Flamin’ Hot

FLAMIN' HOT | Official Trailer | Searchlight Pictures

Platform: Disney+ Hotstar

Initial release: May 4, 2023

The Online Response:

Rotten Tomatoes (Critic Consensus)	69%
Rotten Tomatoes (Audience Score)	88%
IMDB	6.9/10
Metacritic	58%
Google	86%

A fun comedy-drama to balance against all the sci-fi movies on this list, Flamin’ Hot is one of those based on true story movies. Which generally is code for not historically accurate at all but still a super fun watch. Follow Richard Montañez’s retelling of how he as a janitor became an Executive who invented Flamin’ Hot Cheetos.

7. Air

AIR - Official Trailer - Warner Bros. UK & Ireland

Platform: Amazon Prime Video

Initial release: April 5, 2023

The Online Response:

Rotten Tomatoes (Critic Consensus)	93%
Rotten Tomatoes (Audience Score)	98%
IMDB	7.4/10
Metacritic	73%
Google	87%

Batman, Ben Affleck, directs a biographical sports drama about how Sonny Vaccaro, Nike, and Micheal Jordan revolutionized the world of sports and contemporary culture. With a phenomenal casting for a movie about a business negotiation, that has no real right to be this fascinating, it is a clear slam dunk to watch.

8. Suzume

Platform: Amazon Prime Video

Initial release: November 11, 2022

The Online Response:

Rotten Tomatoes (Critic Consensus)	96%
Rotten Tomatoes (Audience Score)	98%
IMDB	7.7/10
MyAnimeList.net	8.3/10
Google	96%

If you love Makoto Shinkai’s previous works, Your Name and Weathering with You, you will surely not have missed this movie. For those who haven’t heard of any of these, Suzume tells the riveting and beautiful story of a 17-year-old high school girl and a young stranger who must team up to prevent a series of catastrophes from happening around Japan. A must-watch for any anime fan.

9. Merry Little Batman

Merry Little Batman – Official Trailer | Prime Video

Platform: Amazon Prime Video

Initial release: December 8, 2023

The Online Response:

Rotten Tomatoes (Critic Consensus)	96%
Rotten Tomatoes (Audience Score)	75%
IMDB	6.4/10
Metacritic	74%
Google	48%

An animated superhero film, Merry Little Batman will have us follow Damian as he takes on Joker’s plot to ruin Christmas in Gotham. A campy fun adventure, this movie will show viewers a nice fresh take on Damian that might make you like him.

Honourable Mention: The Boy and the Heron (君たちはどう生きるか)

THE BOY AND THE HERON | Official English Trailer

Platform: In Cinemas Now

Initial release: July 14, 2023

The Online Response:

Rotten Tomatoes (Critic Consensus)	96%
Rotten Tomatoes (Audience Score)	89%
IMDB	7.7/10
Metacritic	91%
Google	88%

Hayao Miyazaki is back at it again with another anime that will take you on a roller coaster of emotions. This time the film centres around a young boy, Mahito, who struggles to fit into a new town after his mother passes. However, he comes across a talking heron that tells him that she still lives. Follow Mahito on his quest to find his mother. This emotional journey might just give you the best closure to an eventful 2023.

Technical Specifications

Raw Power Meets Jaw-Dropping Display

The Trade-Off: Noise and Life Support

Quality of Life & Final Details

Connectivity Wins

Keyboard & Touchpad

Audio

The Little Things

The Final Verdict

The Bottom Line TL;DR

The Deets

Performance

Aesthetics

Gaming

Daily Use & Portability

Is It Worth It?

8.0/10

Specifications

Design and Build Quality

Performance

Daily Usage

Final Thoughts

Pros

Cons

Specs

What’s in the Box

Design

Maintenance and Consumables

Scanner

Mobile App & Connectivity

Printing

Conclusion

Pros

Cons

Specifications of Reviewed Unit

General Usage

Design & Connectivity

Work Usage

Multimedia Usage

Gaming

Benchmarks

Final Thoughts

Rabbit R1

Hollo AI

Foldable/Rollable OLED displays from Samsung

Samsung Ballie

Shift Robotics Moonwalkers X

Flappie AI cat door

Lotus Smart Home Ring Controller

Seer Grills Perfecta

Razer’s Project Esther

iYU Spa Massage

1. They Cloned Tyrone

2. Rebel Moon Part One – A Child of Fire

3. Leo

4. The Creator

5. Guardians of Galaxy Vol. 3

6. Flamin’ Hot

7. Air

8. Suzume

9. Merry Little Batman

Honourable Mention: The Boy and the Heron (君たちはどう生きるか)

Tech Your Way