Printing has taken a little bit of a backseat in recent years as we move to a more digitalised norm. However, that doesn’t mean that we don’t need good printers especially when it comes to preserving memories in pictures or even printing that larger-than-life dungeon map for your D&D session. Even in home offices, printers still play a relatively crucial role in operations.
Canon’s PIXMA TS7770 is an all-in-one printer designed for home users and small offices. For this model, Canon was focusing on delivering high-quality prints with versatile functionality; the perfect combination for home offices and even crafters. Canon is looking to strike the perfect balance of affordability, ease of use, and performance
So, the big question is, does the Canon PIXMA TS7770 hit all the marks Canon sets for it and is it worth looking at if you’re looking for a printer? In this review, we’ll dive into its features, build quality, print quality, speed, and compatibility across platforms, while paying special attention to its print quality, speed, and multi-platform integration to answer this.
Design & Build Quality
The unit of the Canon PIXMA TS7770 that we got in for review was a white version of the printer. It looks sleek and chic, perfect for a minimalist setup. The printer itself isn’t too big measuring in at 35cm in length, 37cm in width and 17cm in height. It should be able to seamlessly blend into any workspace setup. The minimal design also hides its many physical features including a paper tray and a scanner bed.
The Canon PIXMA TS7770 boasts a sturdy build that feels durable despite its compact size. The printer’s build materials are a tad bit plasticy. However, Canon has made some choices that make it feel slightly more premium. With an overall design that emphasizes practicality, the PIXMA TS7770 has a finish that would need some maintenance in the long run. It has a textured mattified finish which will undoubtedly catch dust. It’s the unit we had that came with a white finish. We hope that the finish doesn’t hasten the yellowing of the printer itself.
Accessing the ink cartridges and clearing paper jams is straightforward. This is thanks to the design of the compact printer. Aside from the paper trays, the internals are relatively easy to access by opening a single panel. We have to give it to them, this is a pretty well-thought-out layout.
The control interface is also very well thought out. The interface can be raised away from the printer. This makes the items being displayed easy to read and interact with. While the control panel is not fully touchscreen, it features a clear and responsive LCD display. The display comes alongside tactile buttons that also allow you to interact with the printer. This hybrid approach makes the learning curve to use the printer shorter and strikes a balance between usability with durability.
Features
A printer is not just a printer anymore. We’ve become accustomed to printers coming with scanners and even software features that make them compelling additions to our setup. The Canon PIXMA TS7770 isn’t shying away from packing it in with the features. It comes equipped with a host of features that make it a solid contender in the all-in-one printer market.
Of course, being a printer designed for home offices and even small and medium enterprises, the TS7770 is an all-in-one. It prints, scans and can even act as a photocopier if needed. If you really need it, it can even do faxing with the proper software setup. With how minimalist we’ve become over the years, running cables can be quite the hassle, this printer addresses that issue with wireless connectivity. It supports both WiFi and Bluetooth.
You don’t even have to be on your laptop to print – which is a big plus. Canon’s PRINT app allows you to print and even customise your print from your smartphone or tablet. This has become an expectation at this point when it comes to printers. However, Canon’s PRINT app has one of the easiest and most intuitive interfaces available now. Printing is as simple as sharing the document or picture with the app or navigating to the document with the file manager through the app. Even printing photos is pretty easy. You can even change the size and orientation of the print in the app. This also includes borderless printing options for more creative printing including borders and the like. You can even print directly from cloud storage services like Google Drive and Dropbox.
The printer also comes with multiple paper trays. This is both a boon and a curse when it comes to printing. We had a few issues with printing cause of this. The printer should prioritize its main feeder on most prints. However, we had times when it would pull from the secondary paper tray – which wasn’t loaded. There isn’t a simple way to adjust priorities when it comes to paper sources. That aside, the multiple trays are what allows the printer to be able to do duplex printing which is important for small businesses looking to keep up with their ESG pledges.
Print Quality & Speed
The print quality of the Canon PIXMA TS7770 is pretty sharp for an inkjet printer. Canon touts it as a high-performance printer, and we can comfortably say that it does live up to that moniker. The printer was able to handle a high load of print tasks and also print in an acceptable amount of time.
Let’s get into the nitty-gritty of it. The PIXMA TS7770 is an Inkjet printer, so compared to other printers in its price point, it’s neither the fastest nor is it the slowest. That said, if you’re looking to do monochrome printing, you may be better off looking at laser printers that print at much faster speeds. Be that as it may, the PIXMA TS7770 was able to print about 15 pages a minute in black and white and about 10 pages in colour during our time with it. That comes up to about 4 seconds a page for monochrome prints and about 6 seconds for colour – which isn’t too bad. However, when it came to photo printing, it was a whole different ballgame. A standard 4R size of 4×6 inches took only about 20 seconds to print. Of course, this doesn’t include the time needed for the ink to dry after which added about a minute or two depending on the colours and details of the print.
Speaking of, the prints that came out of the TS7770 were pretty spot on. When it came to text, the edges of the characters printed were crisp, even at smaller font sizes. The quality of text printing didn’t visibly deteriorate even on economy or draft mode.
When it came to colour printing, the printer was able to pull off some pretty detailed prints. During our time with the printer, we printed out some maps for D&D sessions. With the varied colours and illustrations, we could see that print quality was generally very good. It was able to handle high-resolution prints fairly easily and was able to reproduce illustrated colours with high accuracy. Lower-resolution prints were acceptable. Of course, the amount of detail depended heavily on the resolution of the source. There was also little to no visual banding; that is – until you ran low on ink. Overall, with illustrations, it did pretty well. This rang true even when it came to photo prints. The resulting photos were sharp and had high colour accuracy. However, if there was one issue I had with the printer it would be that photos or glossy prints tended to smear very readily and you needed to be careful handling it. This was also the same with glossy sticker paper.
Total Cost of Ownership and Other Features
The Canon PIXMA TS7770 isn’t just a printer. It comes with a scanner as well. This scanner is capable of 8- and 16-bit scans. This means that you’ll be able to scan documents and photos with a lot of detail and colour depth. This is true for both colour and monochrome scans. The scanner also allows it to act as a photocopy machine.
The printer’s built-in LED screen comes with a simple interface for its key features. You can copy, scan and print with a touch of the screen. Of course, if you’re connected wirelessly, prints can be sent without needing to interact physically with the printer. It’s also relatively silent when printing, scanning or copying.
Let’s talk about the cost of ownership – the Canon PIXMA TS7770 has a recommended retail price (RRP) of RM1,200 at the time of writing. However, we’ve seen some outlets selling the printer at RM1,580. The printer needs a colour ink cartridge and a black ink cartridge to print. The colour cartridge has an RRP of RM137, while the black has an RRP of RM95. Each of the cartridges lasts for about 180 pages only. So assuming you print 300 pages a month for both colour and black, you’ll be spending RM232 on ink alone every month excluding the cost of the printer itself. This is a tad high in our opinion given the options with ink tanks available in the market. That said, if you want detailed photo prints and even something that can be used for crafts, you may still want to consider the PIXMA TS7770 simply because of the added benefits of the high resolution.
A Complete Offering for Casual Users or Small and Medium Businesses Looking for A High-Performance Printer that Does It All
The Canon PIXMA TS7770 is a jack of all trades when it comes to printers. That said, users who require high-quality graphical or photo prints should be looking at this printer as a solid option. However, if budget is a big consideration, you may be better off looking at some of Canon’s other offerings as the cost of ownership can add up.
All in all, it’s a solid option for those looking for a printer that delivers convenience, features, compatibility and print quality.
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)
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.
Honor continues to solidify its position in the mid-range smartphone segment, consistently offering devices that balance innovation and practicality. The Honor X9c embodies this approach with a focus on durability and everyday usability. This model is distinguished by its reinforced curved OLED display, designed to withstand the rigors of daily use, while also boasting an array of features aimed at delivering a reliable and versatile user experience.
In this review, we’ll explore the Honor X9c in detail, evaluating its performance, design, and feature set to determine if it delivers on its promise of affordability without compromise. Most importantly, we’ll address the question that matters most: “Does the Honor X9c offer the right mix of value, durability, and features to earn your hard-earned money?”
Design
The Honor X9c presents a design that is both visually appealing and practical, achieving a balance that caters to a broad spectrum of users. Its design elements emphasize elegance, durability, and usability, making it a noteworthy addition to modern smartphones.
Aesthetically, the Honor X9c demonstrates a refined approach. The curved edges of the display flow seamlessly into its frame, providing a sleek and cohesive appearance. This curvature not only enhances the phone’s visual profile but also improves its grip, contributing to a comfortable handling experience. The metallic finish, reminiscent of titanium, adds a sophisticated and polished touch, reflecting the brand’s commitment to premium design. These elements are complemented by a minimalist rear camera module encased within a circular bezel, which adds a unique and distinctive character to the device without appearing overly ornate.
In terms of durability, the Honor X9c has made notable strides. Its build incorporates enhanced resistance against drops, water, and scratches, ensuring that the phone can withstand everyday wear and tear. The materials used, such as robust glass and metallic accents, are chosen with both resilience and aesthetics in mind. This combination provides a reassuringly sturdy feel without sacrificing the phone’s slim and lightweight profile, measuring 7.98mm in thickness and weighing just 189g.
Material selection further underscores the phone’s focus on durability and tactile appeal. The smooth metallic frame and glass surfaces are not only visually appealing but also ergonomically designed to sit comfortably in hand. The attention to ergonomics is evident in its balanced weight distribution, which minimizes fatigue during prolonged usage.
The Honor X9c delivers a design that is ergonomic, reliable, and visually distinctive. Its curved display and metallic finish enhance both aesthetics and usability, while its lightweight and slim profile ensure ease of handling. The durability features mark a clear improvement, addressing common concerns for smartphone users. However, as with any design, concessions exist. While the curved edges add visual allure, they may compromise screen protection compared to flat displays. Overall, the Honor X9c’s design stands out for its thoughtful integration of elegance and robustness, setting it apart in its segment.
A Focus on Durability
The Honor X9c is engineered with durability as a central design pillar, ensuring it withstands the demands of everyday life while retaining its sleek appearance. The blend of material selection and structural innovations underscores its commitment to resilience.
One key element of the Honor X9c’s durability is its fortified glass construction. The front and back are crafted using advanced glass technologies designed to resist scratches and withstand minor impacts. This makes the phone better equipped to handle accidental drops or contact with abrasive surfaces, an area where many smartphones fall short. The curved edges of the glass, while primarily aesthetic, are also built to distribute force more evenly in case of accidental drops, reducing the likelihood of cracks. However, it’s worth noting that curved displays can sometimes be more vulnerable than flat ones due to their extended surface area, though Honor has implemented measures to reinforce this.
The phone’s frame is another testament to its durability. Made from a robust metallic alloy, the frame offers structural integrity while maintaining a lightweight form. This alloy strikes a fine balance between rigidity and flexibility, helping the device absorb shock during accidental falls. The metallic finish is treated with a coating that resists corrosion and wear, ensuring the phone maintains its polished appearance over time.
In addition to its material choices, the Honor X9c includes features aimed at protecting the device from external elements. Its design incorporates water resistance, which shields the internal components from accidental splashes or exposure to moisture. While it may not be fully waterproof, this added protection provides peace of mind for users who encounter unpredictable environmental conditions.
Furthermore, Honor has taken steps to enhance the device’s resistance to thermal stress. The materials used in the construction are carefully chosen to withstand temperature fluctuations, reducing the risks of warping or internal damage in extreme climates. This is particularly advantageous for users living in regions with varying weather conditions.
Finally, the design includes subtle reinforcements, such as strengthened corners and well-sealed ports, which collectively contribute to the phone’s durability without compromising its aesthetic appeal. These design choices reflect Honor’s effort to create a device that is both stylish and rugged.
Hardware
Honor brings durable and capable hardware to the midrange smartphone segment with the Honor X9c. Designed to balance functionality with affordability, the device incorporates key features typically seen in higher-tier models. Its hardware aims to meet practical user needs while offering reliable performance at a competitive price point.
GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO A2DP Bluetooth 5.1, LE,
OTG Support USB 2.0 (Type-C)
NFC
Camera
REAR: Dual Sensor:108-megapixel (Wide)
f/1.8, 1/1.67″
Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF)
Optical Image Stabilization (OIS)
5-megapixel (Ultrawide)
f/2.2
LED Flash
HDR
Panorama
4K Video recording (30fps) 1080p Video recording (30fps)
FRONT: 16-Megapixel (Wide)
f/2.5
1080p (30fps)
Sensor
Accelerometer Ultrasound Proximity Sensor Fingerprint (Optical, under display) Gyroscope Compass
Miscellaneous
Dual SIM
Retail Price (Malaysia)
MYR1,499 (256GB + 12GB) MYR1,699 (512GB + 12GB)
Retail Price (EU)
EUR€429 (256GB + 12GB)
EUR€469 (512GB + 12GB)
User Interface
The Honor X9c’s interface, powered by MagicOS 8.0, significantly influences the overall user experience by emphasising both functionality and adaptability. Its gesture-based navigation enhances the usability of the phone, offering a seamless and modern method of interacting with the device. While this may require some adjustment for those unfamiliar with gestures, its integration into the interface makes navigation more efficient once mastered.
The AI-powered Magic Capsule and privacy tools, such as the AI Eraser, streamline daily interactions and provide added security. For users who value efficiency and data protection, these features enhance the experience by addressing practical needs. However, the effectiveness of AI predictions may vary, influencing the degree to which they improve usability for different users.
Features like one-handed mode and multitasking capabilities address usability challenges associated with the phone’s large screen. These additions cater to diverse user scenarios, such as operating the phone in constrained settings or managing multiple apps simultaneously. They not only improve convenience but also ensure that the phone can adapt to various usage patterns.
Customization options and eye comfort settings further contribute to the phone’s user-centric design. By allowing users to personalize the interface and reduce strain during prolonged use, these features promote a sense of control and long-term comfort, enhancing the overall experience.
The interface of the Honor X9c has a positive impact on user experience and usability by offering a well-rounded combination of innovative tools and practical features. While the adaptability of certain elements depends on user preferences and learning curves, the interface as a whole aligns with modern expectations, making the Honor X9c both functional and user-friendly. This thoughtful integration of features makes it appealing to a wide range of users, from multitaskers and professionals to privacy-conscious individuals and those seeking customization in their devices.
Performance
The Honor 200 Pro is no slouch when it comes to specifications. However, hardware specifications are only part of the equation. What’s more important is the interplay of software and hardware which is more obvious in the performance overall. Let’s be honest, hardware-wise, the Honor 200 Pro isn’t the pinnacle we’re looking for. However, it’d be foolish of us to write it off just based on that.
Multitasking & Productivity
The Honor X9c, operating on MagicOS 8, presents a balanced approach to multitasking performance, leveraging both its hardware and software to create a capable and responsive user experience. Its combination of processing power, memory configuration, and software features enables effective management of multiple tasks, making it suitable for users with diverse multitasking requirements.
At the heart of the Honor X9c’s multitasking capability is the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor, a mid-range chipset known for balancing performance and energy efficiency. The processor provides sufficient power for running multiple applications simultaneously, ensuring smooth transitions between tasks and minimizing delays during operation. While it is not a flagship chipset, it is well-optimized for daily multitasking activities, supporting a reliable and consistent performance.
The phone’s memory configuration further enhances its multitasking potential. It features 12GB of physical RAM, supplemented by an additional 12GB of virtual RAM. This effectively expands the memory pool to a combined 24GB, enabling the device to handle demanding applications and maintain multiple processes in the background without significant slowdowns. For instance, users can switch between resource-heavy apps, such as video editing tools and web browsers, without experiencing lag or app closures.
MagicOS 8 plays a critical role in complementing the hardware with multitasking features. The split-screen mode allows users to run two applications side by side, which is particularly useful for productivity tasks like researching while drafting documents or managing a calendar alongside communication apps. Additionally, floating windows offer the flexibility to keep a compact app window active over other tasks, enabling quick interactions such as replying to messages or referencing information.
In terms of user experience, the combination of hardware and software makes multitasking on the Honor X9c intuitive and efficient. The device maintains responsiveness even with multiple apps running, providing a seamless workflow for users. However, during prolonged periods of intensive multitasking or when operating several resource-heavy applications simultaneously, the phone may exhibit a slight increase in temperature. While this thermal buildup remains within acceptable limits and does not severely impact performance, users engaging in high-demand activities should be aware of this tendency.
The Honor X9c with MagicOS 8 offers a well-rounded multitasking experience, supported by a capable processor, generous memory allocation, and practical software enhancements. The integration of features like split-screen mode and floating windows significantly improves usability, catering to professionals, multitaskers, and productivity-focused users. While minor thermal increases may occur during extended heavy usage, the overall performance remains reliable and consistent, delivering a positive and functional experience for those who prioritize multitasking on their smartphones.
Call Quality & Connectivity
The Honor X9c provides a comprehensive range of connectivity features, focusing on call quality, Wi-Fi performance, and mobile network capabilities, including 5G. While its hardware is well-suited for maintaining connectivity, network conditions in Malaysia influenced some aspects of its performance.
The Honor X9c delivers reliable call quality with clear audio during voice calls. Its microphone system effectively reduces background noise, maintaining intelligibility even in louder environments. Additionally, the earpiece provides consistent audio clarity at varying volumes, ensuring calls remain comfortable and clear. However, the overall call performance, as with most smartphones, is dependent on the stability of the network, which may vary based on location and carrier.
The device supports Wi-Fi standards 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, allowing it to connect to both 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks. This dual-band functionality provides users with flexibility, offering better range on 2.4GHz and faster speeds on 5GHz networks. The phone demonstrates strong Wi-Fi performance in close to moderate proximity to routers, making it suitable for most home and office environments. However, as expected, performance diminishes in areas with physical barriers or interference, which are common challenges faced by most devices.
The Honor X9c supports 5G connectivity, enabling fast data speeds on compatible networks. In Malaysia, however, 5G performance proved inconsistent. While the phone performed well in areas with strong 5G signals, delivering fast download and upload speeds ideal for activities like streaming and video calls, connectivity was spotty in some regions. This is likely attributable to the current state of 5G coverage and infrastructure in Malaysia rather than a limitation of the phone itself. When outside 5G coverage, the Honor X9c transitions to 4G LTE networks, where it maintains reliable speeds for standard browsing and messaging.
The device also features Bluetooth 5.1, enabling stable wireless connections with peripherals such as headphones and wearables. Additionally, NFC support facilitates contactless payments and quick pairing with compatible devices. These features enhance the versatility of the phone’s connectivity.
The Honor X9c performs well in terms of connectivity, with reliable call quality, stable Wi-Fi performance, and robust support for 5G. The device’s dual-band Wi-Fi ensures compatibility and solid performance for most use cases, while its mobile network capabilities shine in areas with established 5G infrastructure. However, spotty 5G connectivity in Malaysia highlights the dependency of performance on local network quality and coverage. Despite this limitation, the phone remains a solid choice for users seeking versatile and dependable connectivity features in their daily activities.
Gaming
The Honor X9c provides a balanced gaming experience, with performance reflective of its hardware capabilities and pricing strategy. While it caters well to casual gamers and handles various titles effectively, the limitations in performance highlight a trade-off made to achieve its competitive price point.
During testing, Diablo Immortal demonstrated adequate but constrained performance on the Honor X9c. On max settings, the game struggles during high-intensity scenes, such as when multiple monsters swarm the player, resulting in noticeable lag that disrupts gameplay fluidity. To achieve smoother performance, settings need to be adjusted to medium, with Anti Aliasing disabled and shadows and reflections simplified. These changes improve responsiveness and allow the game to run more smoothly, though they come at the expense of visual fidelity.
Other titles, including Asphalt 8, Pokémon UNITE, and Marvel SNAP, performed significantly better. These games ran with minimal to no issues, maintaining consistent frame rates and responsive controls. However, games like Pokémon UNITE and Asphalt 8, which demand greater graphical power, also pushed the phone’s hardware, causing it to become noticeably warm during extended sessions.
The Honor X9c relies on software optimizations and basic hardware cooling mechanisms to manage thermal performance. During prolonged gaming sessions, especially with graphically demanding titles like Diablo Immortal, Asphalt 8, and Pokémon UNITE, the phone becomes very warm. While the device does not overheat to critical levels, the increase in temperature affects user comfort during handheld play. The thermal management system is adequate for light to moderate gaming but less effective during heavy use, reflecting the limitations of its hardware setup.
The Honor X9c delivers an acceptable gaming experience, with performance and thermal management reflective of the price-conscious design choices. While casual games like Marvel SNAP perform seamlessly, more demanding titles such as Diablo Immortal require reduced settings to run without issues. The phone’s hardware, including its processor and cooling system, faces challenges during prolonged sessions with high-performance games, leading to increased warmth. These compromises highlight the trade-offs made to maintain an affordable price point, positioning the Honor X9c as a suitable option for users seeking versatility rather than high-end gaming performance. For those prioritizing consistent gameplay without thermal concerns, the Honor X9c is best suited for light to moderate gaming scenarios.
Battery Life
The Honor X9c offers commendable battery performance, with its high-capacity 6,600mAh silicon-carbon battery providing sufficient longevity to meet diverse user needs. The phone balances strong battery life with rapid charging capabilities, making it suitable for both regular and intensive use.
With regular usage, including tasks such as web browsing, social media, and video streaming, the Honor X9c delivers an average battery life of approximately 10 to 13 hours on a single charge. For gaming sessions, which demand higher power consumption, the battery lasts around 4 hours before requiring a recharge. In standby mode, the phone maintains exceptional energy efficiency, lasting close to 20 hours, making it reliable for users who rely on infrequent but consistent access throughout the day. These figures underscore the device’s capacity to handle varied use cases, from casual to more demanding scenarios.
The inclusion of silicon-carbon technology enhances the battery’s energy density and retention, allowing for consistent performance across different usage patterns. This technology ensures that the device maintains a stable charge duration over time, even with prolonged use.
The Honor X9c supports 66W fast charging, which significantly reduces downtime. In practical terms, the device can reach approximately 50% charge in 20 minutes and a full charge in just under an hour, depending on usage conditions. This quick-charging feature adds convenience for users with dynamic schedules, ensuring the phone can be rapidly recharged during breaks. Additionally, the phone’s charging system manages heat effectively, maintaining safe and stable temperatures during the charging process.
The Honor X9c strikes a balance between battery longevity and efficient charging, making it well-suited for daily use. With 10 to 13 hours of active use, around 4 hours for gaming, and up to 20 hours on standby, the device offers versatility across different usage patterns. The addition of fast charging enhances its practicality, particularly for users who need their device ready in minimal time. While high power-demand activities like gaming shorten battery life, the overall performance remains consistent and dependable, highlighting the Honor X9c’s capacity to meet diverse user needs effectively.
Display
The Honor X9c features a 6.78-inch AMOLED display that delivers a balanced combination of colour reproduction, brightness, and responsiveness. Its display is designed to provide a practical and visually appealing experience for various types of use, from general browsing to media consumption and gaming.
The AMOLED technology ensures accurate and vivid colours, with high contrast ratios and deep blacks. This makes the display well-suited for viewing photos, videos, and other media, as well as tasks where precise colour representation is important. Colours appear consistent and natural, providing a satisfactory visual experience.
The display achieves a peak brightness of 1,200 nits, which helps maintain visibility in outdoor conditions and under direct sunlight. Text and visuals remain legible in most scenarios, though glare and reflection may still affect visibility in particularly bright environments. These results are consistent with expectations for displays in this category.
The 120Hz refresh rate enhances the fluidity of the user interface, contributing to smoother scrolling, animations, and transitions. This higher refresh rate is beneficial for activities such as gaming and watching fast-paced video content. Users have the option to reduce the refresh rate to conserve battery life, providing additional flexibility based on their preferences.
The Honor X9c’s AMOLED display offers a good balance of features, including accurate color reproduction, sufficient brightness for outdoor use, and a high refresh rate for smoother performance. While some visibility challenges may arise under strong glare, the display performs well overall, meeting expectations for usability and quality. It provides a versatile viewing experience suitable for a variety of tasks and environments.
Cameras
The Honor X9c features a versatile camera system tailored for everyday photography, with components designed to deliver solid results across different scenarios. While the setup offers advantages, it also demonstrates limitations that users should consider.
The rear camera system centres around a 108MP primary sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS). Under optimal lighting conditions, the primary camera captures detailed and vibrant images, ensuring clarity and strong colour reproduction. However, the images often lack the depth and bokeh effect that users have come to expect from modern smartphone cameras. This absence can leave compositions appearing flat compared to competitors in the same segment.
In low-light environments, the main camera’s performance declines significantly. Despite the presence of OIS, photos captured in dim settings often appear blurry and struggle with noise. This limits its usability for nighttime photography or indoor scenes with poor lighting, where clarity and sharpness are essential.
The camera system also includes a 5MP ultrawide lens, which is designed for capturing broader scenes. While it adds flexibility to the setup, its lower resolution compared to the primary sensor impacts image detail and sharpness, particularly in demanding scenarios. The ultrawide lens performs best in well-lit conditions, as low-light performance introduces noticeable grain and reduced detail.
A notable omission is a dedicated telephoto lens, limiting the system’s optical zoom capabilities. The reliance on digital zoom can result in reduced image quality when focusing on distant subjects, which may not meet the needs of users seeking robust zoom functionality.
The front-facing camera is equipped with a 16MP sensor, providing good performance for selfies and video calls under adequate lighting conditions. It produces natural colours and decent sharpness, making it suitable for casual use. However, like the main camera, its performance deteriorates in low-light settings, where noise and loss of detail become prominent challenges.
The primary strengths of the Honor X9c’s camera system include its 108MP sensor, which excels at capturing detailed images in bright conditions, and the flexibility provided by the ultrawide lens. The front camera is adequate for typical usage, such as selfies and virtual meetings. Features like OIS improve stabilization in photos and videos, but cannot fully compensate for the performance gaps in low-light scenarios.
On the downside, the camera system’s low-light performance remains a weakness, especially with blurred and noisy images from the main sensor. The lack of depth and bokeh in photos affects aesthetic appeal, and the absence of a telephoto lens limits zooming capabilities. These shortcomings may impact users seeking a more comprehensive smartphone photography experience.
The Honor X9c’s camera system delivers good performance in well-lit conditions, particularly with its 108MP primary sensor, while offering versatility through its ultrawide lens and front camera. However, low-light performance leaves images blurry and introduces noise, highlighting areas for improvement. The lack of depth and bokeh in photos and limited zoom functionality further emphasize compromises in the system. For casual users prioritizing daytime photography, the Honor X9c is a dependable option, but advanced users seeking standout performance across all scenarios may find the system less satisfying.
Durability takes centre stage, supported by middling specifications, but it could be the difference users are looking for
The Honor X9c excels with its reinforced curved OLED screen, which boasts enhanced durability, offering resistance to drops and scratches—a feature that sets it apart in its class. Combined with its Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor, 120Hz AMOLED display, 108MP main camera, and 6,600mAh silicon-carbon battery, the device provides reliable performance across multitasking, gaming, connectivity, and everyday use. While it does have some limitations, such as spotty 5G connectivity in certain regions, low-light camera performance, and warmth during extended gaming sessions, these compromises align with its price point, ensuring it remains an affordable and practical choice.
The Honor X9c is well-suited for users seeking a smartphone that emphasizes durability, versatility, and dependable performance. It not only addresses key expectations in its category but also provides added reassurance with its robust build, making it a reliable companion for daily life, even in challenging environments.
Dell’s Latitude lineup has been one of the foremost laptop lineups when it comes to business and productivity. It has steadily grown from a chunky, business-oriented laptop into a more sleek, refined laptop with productivity features that broaden its appeal beyond just the business market. The Dell Latitude 7350 Laptop builds on this legacy and brings meaningful updates and features to the Latitude lineup. Of course, being a Latitude 7000 series, it’s also pushing the boundaries a little bit with some of the more premium features from Dell’s flagship XPS laptops.
That said, does slim, sleek and light make a difference? Or does the Dell Latitude 7350 laptop rest on Dell’s laurels? We’re giving you the full breakdown with our in-depth review.
Design
The Dell Latitude 7350 gets a lot of its design cues from the Dell XPS. Its slim form factor and overall design hearken back to the design language of the XPS – albeit a little bit more on the thicker side of things. That said, the adapted design language makes the Latitude look and feel more premium. Dell has also opted to make the Latitude 7350 more petite than its competition with some of the slimmest bezels I’ve seen on a laptop. The build of the laptop isn’t flat either, it’s got a slight taper towards the top lip of the laptop lid. The same lip has a discreet, physical shutter for the camera to prevent digital prying eyes.
The design of the laptop allows it to hold all the relevant ports you’d need while keeping the profile slim and relatively seamless. The slight taper also makes the laptop feel more ergonomic when using it on the go. However, the hallmark of the way the laptop is designed is definitely the placement of the keyboard and trackpad – especially the latter since it’s also larger than the competition. It allows you to avoid weird angles when using the touchpad.
Dell’s decision to use magnesium for the body of the Latitude 7350 makes the device feel premium and adds a layer of durability that is very welcomed for a device you’ll be carrying with you on the go. Not to forget, the laptop is super lightweight or as Dell puts it “Ultralight”. It weighs just a hair under 1kg – coming in at a mere 0.99kg. The lightweight is very welcomed when running around as it also means it’s easy to carry around. I also found myself double and triple checking my bag for the laptop cause I’m too used to a heavier weight.
Hardware
The Dell Latitude 7350 is a laptop built for productivity. Its specifications live up to this to the “T”. In fact, the hardware it comes with seems run-of-the-mill, but Dell’s thoughtful AI integration is what sets it apart.
13.3” IPS FHD+ (1920 x 1200) resolution 16:10 aspect ratio anti-glare screen 250nits brightness
Memory
16GB LPDDR5x 256GB PCIe NVMe Gen 4.0 SSD
Networking and Connections
Intel WiFi 7 2×2 Bluetooth 5.4 2 Thunderbolt 4 & DisplayPort (USB-C) 1 USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A 1 HDMI 2.1 1 MicroSD card reader 1 Audio Combo Jack
Battery
57Wh lithium-polymer battery Up to 8.3 hours of battery life 65W Type-C power adapter
Operating System
Windows 10 Home 64-bit
Miscellaneous
FHD IR camera Backlit Keyboard Stereo Speakers Microphone DisplayPort over USB-C Thunderbolt 4
Features
When it comes to features, the Dell Latitude 7350 hallmark is definitely its weight, but it also comes with another bevvy of features that make it stand out from the crowd. Aside from its magnesium build, Dell has incorporated a multitude of AI-imbued features that leverage the NPU in the Intel Core Ultra processor and also fortify your Dell Latitude 7350 making it more secure and having better performance all with the click of a button.
Thoughtful AI Features Create Secure Work
Like many other Dell laptops, the Latitude 7350 Ultralight is imbued with features that Dell has built in-house. These features leverage Dell’s know-how and the AI capabilities of the processor to bring features that help elevate the user experience and ensure that sensitive data isn’t compromised. Most of these features come with Dell Optimizer which is a piece of software that is available in most of the Dell laptops.
The Dell Optimizer software allows you to optimize the laptop so that it runs at its best. The Dell optimizer helps optimize the system based on your usage behaviour and also optimizes the laptop’s audio so you can get the best out of the laptop. It even monitors the health of your battery ensuring you get the most out of it and optimises battery usage according to your usage.
Aside from that, the best feature in Dell Optimizer has to be the Onlooker detection and Walk Away lock. As the name suggests, Onlooker Detection uses the camera of the Latitude to detect onlookers. When it does, it blurs out the screen preventing prying eyes from reading what’s on screen. This feature is a real boon especially when you’re working in places like cafes or even in public spaces like hospital waiting rooms. It’s so sensitive that even when it comes to showing someone the screen you need to make sure it’s not over your shoulder cause it will blur the screen. I loved it when I was doing work in a public forum in a hotel. However, the same feature can be a little bit unnerving when it says you have an onlooker when you’re alone in a hotel room. Walk Away Lock does exactly that, it locks your computer when you walk away from it preventing anyone from accessing your work and data. It’s also almost instantaneous taking less than 10 seconds to lock Windows as I walked away from the PC.
Collaboration TouchPad & Keyboard
Dell introduced the Collaboration Touchpad with the Latitude 9330 back in 2022. The touchpad has become something of a standard on Dell laptops now; the Dell Latitude 7350 is following suit. The Collaboration TouchPad brings the most used functionalities in commonly used collaborative applications like Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Slack particularly when it comes to video calls. The Collaboration TouchPad gives you buttons for turning on your webcam, sharing your screen, viewing the chat and muting your microphone which comes in handy when using apps like Zoom. The Collaborative Touchpad gives you a visual indication of whether you’re muted as well – a very welcomed feature that helps prevent awkward situations.
Aside from that, the touchpad itself is larger than normal laptops. This comes in really handy when you’re working on the go. You’ll be able to use the touchpad without straining your wrist too much. This came in especially useful when using the laptop in an aeroplane and even on the train during a commute. The added touchpad real estate meant easier manoeuvring even in tight spaces.
The keyboard on the Dell Latitude 7350 is also one of its best features. It has a really nice feel when using it. There’s just enough travel so that using it doesn’t feel mushy and it’s got less feedback making it significantly more comfortable to use over prolonged periods. The keys are also wide enough that my fat, pudgy fingers don’t end up pressing more than one key at a time. It’s also worth noting that the speaker grills on either side also made it more comfortable as my fingers weren’t hanging off the sides and resting on the grills.
Performance
When it comes to performance, the Dell Latitude isn’t a slouch. It performs relatively well all things considered. It could handle day-to-day tasks without batting an eye. Simple word processing and small Excel sheets were a breeze. Even larger Excel sheets and heavier PowerPoint presentations were handled really well. That said, the performance of the laptop did take a little bit of a dip when it came to handling Google Chrome with about 8 tabs open. This was exacerbated by using programs like Rambox.
The performance of the laptop was really strained when it came to doing creative work. Light photo editing and simple visual design were still manageable but when it came to doing heavier tasks like video editing, the laptop would struggle especially with apps like Adobe Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve. Lighter apps like CapCut didn’t have as hard a time as Adobe and DaVinci but still, it’s a little bit of a task for the laptop.
Of course, being a gamer, I had to use a laptop for the task. It could handle simple older games like Final Fantasy VIII (not remastered), Torchlight and Bastion. I’ll give this a slight caveat just to say that when I say it can handle the game, this doesn’t mean the settings are maxed out. Most of them are in middling or lower settings. It should be abundantly clear that newer games like Diablo III, Baldur’s Gate 3 and the like were an uphill climb for the laptop. Newer games struggle even on the lowest settings. This is clearly a limitation of the Intel Integrated graphics that come with the Core Ultra processor.
Display
It’s a pity though that the Integrated Graphics of the processor is a bottleneck for gaming because the display on the Dell Latitude 7350 is one of the best when it comes to colour reproduction and clarity. The FHD+ resolution seemed to be just high enough for the laptop’s 13.3-inch display. However, it wouldn’t have hurt to have a little bit more resolution – although there would be a point of diminishing returns with the small display.
That said, the display allowed me to do colour grading, video editing, and other graphically intensive work smoothly and accurately. It also shines when it comes to consuming content. The colour depth and colour reproduction allow you to see details in the blacks and darker regions of the content in your videos making it more immersive. This is also complemented by the laptop’s surprisingly good speakers that are able to provide immersive sound with a wide sound stage.
A Laptop for Productivity On-The-Go With Meaningful AI Additions Held Back By a subpar Graphics Processor
All in all, the Dell Latitude 7350 is nearly the perfect productivity package held back by Intel’s Integrated Graphics. We’re not saying this to nitpick. The mere fact that the laptop struggles with games that are over a decade old should indicate that there is a lot of work to be done when it comes to integrated graphics cores. That aside, the Dell Latitude 7350 is built for the rigours of productivity on the go with the integration of thoughtful AI features that allow you to ensure your data is secure even when you’re out and about. The ergonomics of the keyboard and also the build quality of the laptop are small touches that make all the difference when it comes to design and functionality. The display and speakers also make the laptop perfect if you need to unwind. It’s truly a near-perfect package with one big caveat especially if you’re working with graphics and extremely large data sets.
The modern world has created a lifestyle that necessitates we live at a fast pace; everything demands our attention and things get left by the wayside when they’re not dealt with immediately. One of the many things that usually get left by the wayside is maintaining our living surroundings. However, with modern technology, tasks that used to take hours to complete can now be done in a matter of minutes including cleaning.
One such tech is the Xiaomi Truclean W10 Ultra Wet Dry Vacuum. While its name is a mouthful it’s built to make sure that you have two fewer chores to worry about on your plate. However, it enters a market that is being flooded by “new age” cleaning technologies like the wet-dry vacuum, the robot vacuum, steam mops, and more. Does it deliver on its promise to deliver a simplified cleaning experience as well as all the benefits of having a clean home? We’re breaking down the whole experience for you in this in-depth review.
Design
When it comes to buying cleaning technologies nowadays, the design plays an increasingly important role as many of today’s offerings aren’t built to be stowed away instead, they are built to be part of the décor. The Xiaomi Truclean W10 Ultra Wet Dry Vacuum is no different, but the company’s designers have made it so the vacuum is able to be integrated seamlessly into any décor.
The Xiaomi Truclean W10 Ultra Wet Dry Vacuum comes in two parts – the vacuum itself and the base station. Let’s break down the overall design first. The two parts are designed in a very complementary way – in fact, it’s so flawlessly designed that I wouldn’t be surprised if you thought it was a single unit. The vacuum unit itself is designed with minimal removable parts. The only actual removable parts are the waste container, roller, and handle. The handle becomes a permanent part of the vacuum after the initial installation. Other parts of the unit are all within the single seamless body of the Truclean W10 Ultra. If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll realize I haven’t mentioned a clean water container. Well, that’s part of the base station. Yes, this vacuum fills itself up.
The base station is very minimally designed for the amount of functions it has. It is a single unit like the vacuum, it comes with a removable clean water container that’s removable. The rest of the unit isn’t. It stays as one unit. There is a container to store your additional roller and a cleaning brush to clean the waste container. This container also comes with a single button to heat dry the items inside which helps eliminate odors. Speaking of, the base station itself also comes with a heating system that allows it to both heat water and dry the roller of the vacuum unit. The removable water container can fill up the vacuum about 2.5 times before needing to be refilled. It also has an LED indicator that will glow white when there is enough water in the tank, yellow when you’re running low, and red when you’re out of water.
Overall, the minimalist aesthetic of the W10 Ultra makes it a very unintrusive addition to any home aesthetically. This is true even if the unit isn’t relegated to being in the kitchen or dining area. If it needs to be in one of the main entertaining areas of the home, the minimalist aesthetic allows it to blend into the room without taking away from your space’s aesthetics.
Specifications
Weight
Approx 5.4kg
Voltage
21.6V
Power
200W
Charging Voltage
26.0V
Dimensions
250×250×1100mm
Water Resistance Rating
IPX4
Base Station/Dock Input
2.6V 0.9A
Base Station/Dock Output
2.6V 0.9A
Price (RM)
3,599
Cleaning for ANY Situation Except CarPets
The Xiaomi TruClean W10 Ultra is designed for cleaning on hard surfaces – carpets may not be the best idea when it comes to this vacuum. However, it would be remiss to not emphasize that this is a WET and DRY vacuum. Simply put, it’s meant for marble, hardwood, and laminate flooring. It’s also one of those vacuums that allow you to do a single pass to clean spills in a pinch.
So, let’s get to cleaning. The W10 Ultra is built for convenience. It cleans pretty well. Having used it for daily cleaning of my personal spaces for over a month, the unit does make life easier and cleaner. The rollers can take up dirt efficiently – this includes large debris and items like cotton buds. While I wouldn’t recommend having large items like cotton buds be picked up by the vacuum regularly, it’s nice to know it doesn’t just push them into harder-to-reach corners like other similar products.
You may think that using the unit will be tedious cause of the weight – I mean it weighs roughly the same as a bag of rice! – but thanks to the motorized wheels of the unit, the weight is not an issue. I would say that I was hardly pushing the W10 Pro around. Instead, it was like guiding a self-moving trolley – effortless. This also made cleaning seem to pass faster than usual. I found myself cleaning the same amount of space in about 60% of the time and ending up doing more than 1 pass regularly.
In addition to this, the Xiaomi Truclean W10 Ultra also supports heated cleaning which can be turned on with the mode change button. It does this by heating the water up to about 80°C. This is done by emptying the clean water from the clean water container and heating it in the base station as it’s filled into the vacuum unit. The increased temperature helps remove more stubborn stains. Of course, it doesn’t work as well as steam but it does help remove stains and residue more efficiently.
Another big plus with the W10 Ultra during my time reviewing it was the fact that it almost never got tangled with hair or even on rugs. While it did pull the rug into the roller, it didn’t continuously pull it in and instead, it stopped allowing me to pull it out without much hassle. The vacuum is also very flexible, it can lay nearly completely flat on the ground allowing you to clean under furniture with ease. However, it does have a drawback of being able to clean for a maximum of about 40 minutes on a single charge.
Designed with Hygiene in Mind
The Xiaomi Truclean W10 Ultra is one of the only vacuums that I’ve seen in recent times with a design that is very focused on hygiene. Many other similar vacuums don’t go through the lengths Xiaomi does with this one to ensure that the unit is hygienic and easy to maintain. It’s not only the big items or features but there is also thought into the small details.
The biggest example I can give of this is the design of the waste container for the W10 Ultra. It’s one of the only that separates the debris from the water. This is done with a sieve-like design in the inner chamber of the container. The compartments remain separated even when the waste water is at maximum. This simple design cue made it so the water didn’t stink even after a day or two of being in the waste container. Although, I’d still recommend emptying it regularly.
The next feature that lends itself to this is the roller brush cleaning which can be done after every use. This is done by pressing the self-cleaning button when it’s docked. This will then run clean water through the roller brush getting rid of most of the debris and dirt. The self-cleaning cycle ends with the base station using heated air to dry the roller brush. The dirty water is channeled into the waste compartment.
In addition to this, you have a side compartment that you can use to store your cleaning brush and an additional roller brush. You’ll be able to wash your roller brush place it inside this container and run a drying cycle to ensure that things stay hygienic and odour-free. The brush that comes with the W10 Ultra also helps you clean and reach the nooks and crannies of the device that would otherwise be a pain to clean. After cleaning, the brush can also be placed in the same bucket to be dried.
It Speaks!
One of the more hilarious features of the vacuum comes in the form of it – the vacuum – speaking. To be honest, I was so amused by this that I burst out laughing when it first did this. I mean it was speaking in Mandarin to me! But after changing the language – which you can do with a press of a recessed button on the back – I was able to understand it better in English. There was a total of about 5 languages that it was able to speak including English and Mandarin. These voice prompts are pretty useful especially when it comes to keeping the unit clean and functioning. It will prompt you to empty the waste container when you’re done cleaning and at the end of its self-cleaning cycle. It also notifies you if your vacuum isn’t docked properly in the base unit.
These voice prompts work together with the W10 Ultra’s 3-inch display which allows you to track the mode you’re using and the charge remaining in the vacuum. Even this is designed aesthetically to show you the information. The battery life is indicated by a green circle around the display which changes to yellow and red depending on the amount of charge remaining. The center of the display shows the mode and the temperature of the water being used. All of this just makes using the vacuum that much easier and intuitive.
A Simple, Elegant, and Intuitive Package That not only Helps Clean but Stays Hygienically Clean by Design
The Xiaomi TruClean W10 Ultra is a dream for people who want a simple, elegant piece of technology that helps them maintain their spaces. Despite a few drawbacks like battery life, Xiaomi has designed the vacuum to be aesthetically pleasing and functional in every sense of the word. It’s easy to maintain, easy to clean, and remains hygienic by design. There are no two ways about it, at RM3,599 it’s one of the better choices for wet-dry vacuums on the market thanks to the thought that has been put into it from the get-go to make sure it’s clean both literally and aesthetically.
As Foldable smartphones become more mainstream, we see brands push to stand out from the crowd with everything but the kitchen sink. Large cover displays, even larger cover displays, interactive cover screens, and even fully interactive home screens built for flip phones. Each one seems to be “better” than the rest.
So how’s Samsung looking to separate itself from the pack? Well, it seems like this year, it’s all about Galaxy AI. Samsung’s approach to integrating generative AI experiences is what stands out, but is that enough to justify the increased price point? We’re looking to answer that with our in-depth review of the Galaxy Z Flip6.
Design
Samsung’s latest approach to flip phones isn’t turning its tried and true form factor on its head in any way. In fact, the company is doubling down on the design cues it introduced with the Z Flip5 and is using them to bring even more software features that make the experience more refined. Let’s start off with the cover screen – the surface we’re sure you’ll be interacting with the most. It’s the same design as last year’s Flip5, with the same folder-esque design that allows a sneak peek into your smartphone. However, Samsung has brought some, more thoughtful experiences to the cover screen allowing you to access more with one screen and reduce swiping between panels. We’ll cover this more extensively in the software portion of the review.
The biggest difference you may notice from the get-go is the slimmer form factor of the Galaxy Flip6. While there’s no change in the actual measurements, Samsung’s new design approach has definitely given the appearance of the phone itself being slimmer and easier to manoeuvre in one hand. There’s more traction when you grip the phone and it feels – somehow – more ergonomic. This is largely due to the more angular design of the phone overall; something we saw even with the Galaxy S24 series earlier this year.
That said, the best improvement comes in the improvements that come with the hinge. While outwardly there doesn’t seem to be much in terms of visual updates. Samsung has updated the hinge mechanism to be more efficient and have a simpler design. This has translated into a phone that is a lot lighter than its predecessor. Not only that, the crease which has become the one pain point in any foldable smartphone is less apparent even after prolonged use over 2-3 weeks. While it is visible at some angles, there is less of a palpable dip where the crease is.
Lastly, when it comes to design, I, personally am in love with the new colour offerings from Samsung. The new more muted pastel colours are definitely more aesthetic and fitting for the Flip line which has become Samsung’s “express yourself” foldable. My personal favourite at the time of writing is the Blue and Mint. However, the crafted black is a close second to these. The introduction of the more masculine “Crafted Black” is also a plus for the Z Flip6.
Hardware
Samsung isn’t just showing some change in the design aesthetics of the Z Flip6, it’s also bringing some much-needed updates to the Flip’s hardware giving it more versatility and power under the hood. These improvements don’t necessarily revolutionize the user experience much, but some of them do impact the features and the user experience.
Samsung’s One UI interface has unified the user experience across devices – more or less. The near-homogenous experience is not a bad thing as users coming from a standard smartphone have less of a hurdle adapting to the new smartphone. However, the unified UI appearance also hides the many improvements that Samsung has made on a software level when it comes to One UI.
Let’s start off with the accessibility upgrades that come with One UI 6.1.1 – this also applies to Samsung flagships like the S24 series. The notification shade of One UI 6.1.1 is more useful. The screen brightness slider is also equipped with quick toggles for dark mode and eye comfort when you open the full notification shade. On top of that, Samsung has updated the design to be cleaner and less cluttered overall. The quick toggles are stored within their own space. This has been made a little further from surrounding items and in a different shade for better visual separation. It also makes sure you know exactly how many quick toggles you have and allows you sort it the way you like it.
Aside from this, Samsung has been hard at work improving foldable device experiences when it comes to its UX. This started with Samsung’s version of Android 12L which optimised Android itself for better large screen experiences. With the Flip6, Samsung perfects these optimisations even more with new modes and ways to use the smartphone.
Of course, like all Flip devices in the past, you’re able to use the smartphone semi-folded with the lower screen becoming a touchpad in FlexMode. However, Samsung has made this feature even more useful when it comes to the camera app. For people like me who have shaky hands, you’ll be able to have a little better control with a more camcorder-like interface when you have the Flip6 semi-open. This will hopefully give you more stability but it also gives you easier access to all your camera settings easily when shooting.
In addition to this, One UI on the cover screen comes with a whole slew of new optimizations that allow you to make the Z Flip6 truly yours. The extensive customizability starts with the screen saver where you’ll be able to choose from a vast selection of wallpapers and set it up the way you want it. This also plays into Samsung’s Flipsuit cases which bring a new level of interactivity when it comes to personalization. That said, the biggest change is the useful addition of multiple widgets into one screen – something we’ll go into further detail in the multitasking section.
Performance
The performance of Samsung’s Flip series is now truly on par with Samsung’s other flagships in all aspects aside from the camera. This also includes the introduction of features that extend the user experience and tweaks that make the smartphone more efficient when it comes to battery life while squeezing every ounce of performance from the hardware.
Multitasking & Productivity
Multitasking and productivity have become a mainstay in any version of One UI. However, there haven’t been many features that have made the Flip a multitasking device until now – this is particularly true when it comes to the improvements on the cover display.
The interface on the cover display comes with a new mode which allows you to set up multiple widgets on a single tile. This has been one of the most impactful features of the Flip6. You’ll be able to set up to four compatible widgets on a cover screen tile. This allows you to get all of the information you need from things like Samsung Health at one go or set up a screen with quick widgets to use apps like recorder. This came in clutch for me on multiple occasions when I was doing interviews – it made things quick and efficient, to say the least.
In addition to this, the Galaxy Z Flip6 comes with the usual split-screen features that we’re used to seeing in any smartphone. This allows you to use two apps simultaneously when needed. Need more? The popup window will allow you one additional window. That said, these run-of-the-mill productivity features are just par for the course of any smartphone at this point.
Call Quality & Connectivity
The Flip6 has crisp call quality and a bevvy of connectivity options including 5G as we would expect from an industry leader like Samsung. The Z Flip6 that we got for review isn’t the usual one for the Malaysian market with dual SIM capabilities. However, you could use the eSIM capabilities of the smartphone to get the same result.
Being a flagship device, it comes as no surprise that the Z Flip6 comes with all the bells and whistles that you’d expect when it comes to connectivity. As mentioned, it comes with 5G support which gives you access to blazing fast speeds where available. In addition to this, you have WiFi 6e support (yes, tech enthusiasts it only has WiFi 6e and not WiFi 7; maybe next year?). This should give you enough speed over WiFi to download apps in the blink of an eye – aside from games, those may take several blinks. It also comes with Bluetooth 5.3 and LE support which is audio devices.
Speaking of audio devices, Bluetooth performance on the Flip6 is pretty good. You can high fidelity audio thanks to AptX and it translates when you use a good set of headphones like the Sony WH-1000XM5 and HiFi audio streaming apps like TIDAL. There are hardly any signal drops or packet losses and the audio stream is still stable across 1 or 2 rooms.
Gaming
Gaming on the Galaxy Z Flip6 is a mixed bag. Don’t get me wrong – the phone performs well – but my focus on making sure I don’t do irreversible damage to it detracts from the gaming experience.
Let’s be straight – there’s no two ways about it. The Flip6 has the insides to perform swimmingly when it comes to games. I mean, I did test it with games like Solo Levelling and Diablo Immortal. These games played well with literally no problems when it came to rendering and fluidity. That said, it did get a bit warm which is to be expected. Even on high-speed games like Need For Speed and Asphalt 8 there was little to no visual aberrations. In fact, on racing games, the phone felt cooler which is to be expected as games like Solo Levelling and Diablo Immortal have many items on the screen at once.
However, the gaming experience for me is affected by my own concerns about the hinge and damaging it. While the hinge is markedly improved from the Flip5, I still can’t get the feeling that if I’m a little too rough with the phone it will affect the hinge – especially since I’m holding it horizontally where it’s most vulnerable. It’s also worth noting that this isn’t a concern exclusively with Z Flip6, as long as the hinge is vulnerable – it’s a concern. Ironically, the same hinge on the Fold6 doesn’t feel as vulnerable when you’re gaming on it. To be fair, this is not something that I would hold against the Flip6.
Battery Life
Battery life is where I would say the biggest improvements come for the Flip6 hardware. It’s gotten a small bump to 5,000mAh but this has translated to pretty significant improvements when it comes to user experience. In synthetic benchmarks, the battery life improvement was only about an hour or 2 at most which is insignificant.
However, when I was using the phone daily this translated to me needing to charge the phone every 1 and a half days. That’s right – 1.5 days – and I’m not talking about working hours. I literally charged the phone every other day. This was with me synching 7 email accounts excluding Gmail and using Instagram and other social media apps continually.
This is huge for people who work on the go as it also means you’re not screwed if you forget to charge your phone. What’s more with quick charging on the smartphone, it is easy to get 10-20% when commuting if you need the top-up.
Galaxy AI
I had to carve out a special section for Galaxy AI in this review simply because that seems to be the push that’s becoming mainstream. We all know Galaxy AI by now with the Galaxy S24 series pushing it and also the emphasis Samsung has placed on it in its promotional items. So, I thought it’d be best to see how these features affected my day to day with the Flip6.
The biggest Galaxy AI feature that I found myself using is the Object Eraser tool. I used this to remove a lot of unwanted items from my pictures to varying degrees of success. This was a welcomed tool when you have to get images for clients or even if something ruined your perfect shot for Social media. That said, other image tools like Sketch to image and even Portrait Studio are welcomed features but I didn’t find myself using them on a daily basis. They’re definitely fun but I didn’t find myself using them too often.
Samsung’s Galaxy AI also has a transcribe feature that came in handy. I found myself using it a lot to transcribe interview recordings. However, Galaxy AI was very hit or miss with the Malaysian accent. Hopefully, this improves with time. That said, Galaxy AI’s other translation features definitely came in handy. Things like live translate will definitely see a lot of use if you deal with people overseas a lot. I only found myself using it to translate WhatsApp chats with my friends from overseas to get my message across more easily in their languages.
Aside from that, Galaxy AI didn’t’ really impact my day-to-day use of the phone. However, that seems to be the place where Generative AI is when it comes to daily interactions and usage now. We’re still in the early days and I expect that these features will become more useful as we progress.
Display
The display of the Galaxy Z Flip6 is one we’re used to seeing in Samsung flagships – a flexible Dynamic AMOLED 2X. The Flip6 comes with an FHD+ resolution with a 120Hz refresh rate. The display itself is a lot more robust and capable of vivid colours and deep blacks. However, like other AMOLED panels, the panel tends to oversaturate some colours like reds and oranges when pumped up to vivid settings. However, in its natural tone mode, it feels a little washed out. These are, however, issues that can be addressed through software updates later on. Samsung’s inclusion of a 120Hz refresh rate is also a plus which brings buttery smooth and fluid animations and a little bit of an edge when it comes to games like PUBG Mobile.
The only thing that takes some getting used to when it comes to the display on the Flip5 is the aspect ratio. With most phones coming with a 16:9 aspect ratio, the 22:9 aspect ratio will seem a little weird at first. You will notice black bars on videos that you usually wouldn’t have any. However, these issues will take a backseat as you continue to use the device.
The FlexWindow or Cover display is the hallmark of this smartphone. The Super AMOLED panel in the FlexWindow does its job pretty well. It delivers high-quality images with good colour reproduction. You wont even realise that it only has a 60Hz refresh rate. However, I don’t think Samsung was prepared for users like me who end up using this display more than the main display. But for all the functions that are possible on the screen, it excels at delivering a near-perfect experience.
Cameras
The Galaxy Z Flip6 continues to come with a dual sensor setup when it comes to its main cameras. However, this year, the Flip6 comes with a larger 50-megapixel main sensor. This is a huge improvement when it comes to the number of megapixels in the main sensor, however, the impact isn’t as apparent when it comes to actual pictures. The main sensor is complemented with a 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor that brings some versatility when it comes to shooting with the smartphone.
That said, the Galaxy Z Flip6’s overall performance when it comes to the camera isn’t bad by any means. It just falls short of what we expect from Samsung after seeing its prowess with the Galaxy S24 series. Where the Z Fold6 seems to be elevated to parity with the S24, the Flip6 is relegated to an awkward space that falls in between a Galaxy A series smartphone and Samsung’s flagships.
Let me break this down a little bit, the Galaxy Z Flip6 takes good, detailed pictures with one big caveat it needs to have the right lighting conditions. It struggles when it comes to less than ideal situations but it doesn’t fall flat. Take for instance one of the pictures in the carousel below – it was taken against a spotlight in the setup of the area we were in and the details are washed out. This was the same in low lighting. Mind you, this was taken with the front camera setup a 50MP + 12MP setup. That said, I can’t come down too hard on the Flip6 for this as it can be addressed with software updates.
However, aside from that, the main camera setup performs very well. Even indoors with downlights, the camera was able to produce good, detailed pictures. It helps that the algorithm in the camera seems to be able to uplift the final product without losing too much detail. The colours of the pictures are also pretty vibrant. The pictures look lively and the colours pop.
The 10-megapixel front-facing camera on the Flip6 was essentially relegated to video calls. While I did end up using it once or twice for selfies, I found myself defaulting to the Cover Screen to get a good, high-quality selfie with the main camera. Samsung’s new autoframe feature adds to this conundrum. I doubt I’m alone when it comes to this. It’s simply more convenient and produces a better picture.
The Galaxy Z Flip6 Gets More Substance with Productivity-focused Features and Galaxy AI but Isn’t Indomitable Yet
The Galaxy Z Flip6 is a great update to the lineup. It brings a lot of meaningful, sought-after improvements. Galaxy AI brings a lot more substance to a phone that was once thought to be very superficial. The same can be said about the updated specifications and supercharged performance optimisations. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting the Flip6 to gain my vote as a productivity device but it certainly has changed my tone after using it. I’ve never disliked the lineup but it never was a consideration for an upgrade. However, with the new trajectory that the Flip6, it’s definitely is becoming a big contender.
However, the Z Flip still falls in that weird in-between space of being a flagship by price but a little less when it comes to performance. I feel like Samsung is a step away from truly making the Z Flip a “wow’ device that we’ve come to crave from the brand. That said, if you’re looking for a fashionable upgrade to your smartphone with a good amount of features – you should consider the Galaxy Z Flip6. It’s also why the Z Flip6 is being awarded a Writer’s Choice Award from techENT.
Honor has been carving out an impressive niche for itself as a company in the midrange with a unique stable of offerings that bring a variety of features. Their N series smartphones are taking a big step into becoming a photography hero for the mid-range with the company’s partnership with Harcourt. The new smartphone series promises a whole lot for a price point that doesn’t break the bank (much).
In this review, we’re going to break down the Honor 200 Pro and look at if the new features, design and price point make Honor’s Pro midrange offering a compelling price point. However, we’re looking to answer one big question: “Is the Honor 200 Pro worth your hard-earned money?”
Design
It’s very clear that Honor has no intention of being unassuming when it comes to the Honor 200 Pro. The company is taking a big leap when it comes to the specifications and it’s shouting it with a stunning outer design.
The Honor 200 Pro features a well-designed physical build that balances modern aesthetics with practical functionality. Measuring 8.2mm in thickness and weighing 199 grams, it is slim and lightweight enough for easy handling while maintaining a durable feel. Its rounded corners further contribute to user comfort during extended use.
The rear panel is crafted with a matte finish that resists fingerprints and smudges. Its texture provides a secure grip, while the dual-tone gradient design—most notably in the Ocean Cyan variant—adds a distinct visual element. The pill-shaped camera module, positioned at the upper left, slightly protrudes from the surface, which can cause the device to wobble slightly on flat surfaces. However, this design choice integrates well with the overall look.
The front is dominated by a 6.78-inch OLED display, featuring curved edges that blend seamlessly into the metallic frame. With minimal bezels, the display maximizes screen space for a clean, modern appearance. A pill-shaped cutout for the selfie camera is discreetly positioned at the top of the screen, maintaining an uninterrupted viewing experience.
The metallic frame houses the power button and volume rocker on the right side for easy access. At the bottom, the USB Type-C port, microphone, SIM tray, and speaker grille are neatly arranged. The top includes a secondary microphone, an IR blaster, and another speaker grille, supporting stereo sound functionality.
While the device emphasizes style and usability, it does have some considerations regarding durability. It does not feature reinforced glass such as Gorilla Glass, which could make it more susceptible to scratches or damage. However, it comes with a pre-applied screen protector and has an IP65 rating for resistance to dust and water splashes.
Hardware
Honor is really working on changing expectations when it comes to midrange smartphones with the Honor 200 Pro. The smartphone comes packed with specifications that we’ve seen even in higher-end flagship smartphones but at a price point that is just a fraction of what we’ve come to expect for flagship smartphones.
Panorama4K Video recording (30fps) 1080p Video recording (30/60fps)Gyro-electronic image stabilization (gyro-EIS)
10-bit Video
FRONT: 50-Megapixel (Wide)f/2.1
2-Megapixel (Depth)f/2.4
HDR
4K (30fps)
1080p (30/60fps)Gyro-EIS
Sensor
Accelerometer Ultrasound Proximity Sensor Fingerprint (Optical, under display) Gyroscope Compass
Miscellaneous
Dual SIM
Retail Price (Malaysia)
MYR2,699 (512B + 12GB) MYR1,899 (256GB + 12GB)
Retail Price (EU)
EUR€799.90 (512GB + 12GB)
EUR€699.90 (256GB + 12GB)
User Interface
The Honor 200 launches with Magic OS8 based on Android 14. This OS is packed with features that are changing the user experience significantly. Of course, some of these features are coming from the Magic6 series – particularly all the AI features.
Honor’s take on Android 14 is still very much influenced by the aesthetics of iOS. However, this year, it seems like Honor has begun to develop a more unique design language. The icons are a blend of realistic and anamorphic which gives it a unique feel. However, the rest of the interface is designed to be very flat. This is easily remedied with Honor’s approach to personalisation which allows you to customise nearly everything including the icon design. It also gives the phone a whole level of personalisation that isn’t present in a lot of mid-range phones available in the market.
Honor has also improved the animations in MagicOS making the animations feel more fluid and app launches seem snappier. That said, I feel that the new version of MagicOS is only a step toward Honor finding its footing in creating a UI that is uniquely Honor’s. It’s a welcome injection of brand identity into Android that has been sorely lacking before this and the Magic6 series.
Honor’s biggest change to the MagicOS is still the inclusion of many features that help improve usability and interconnectivity between apps. This comes in addition to AI features that are more prevalent in the camera. However, these features feel a little bit clunky in their execution, particularly the Magic Portal. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a whole new way of interacting between apps but it has a learning curve that isn’t helped by its initial tutorial. You end up stumbling upon the feature most of the time. I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt though. I can see users getting used to the long press and drag with repeated usage.
Performance
The Honor 200 Pro is no slouch when it comes to specifications. However, hardware specifications are only part of the equation. What’s more important is the interplay of software and hardware which is more obvious in the performance overall. Let’s be honest, hardware-wise, the Honor 200 Pro isn’t the pinnacle we’re looking for. However, it’d be foolish of us to write it off just based on that.
Multitasking & Productivity
Let’s start with the most important performance feature we all need nowadays – multitasking. The Honor 200 Pro isn’t shy to flex its 12GB of RAM here. It took a lot to make this phone slow down. Seriously, even when it did, you have extended RAM that gives you an additional 12GB of RAM by taking from your internal memory.
When it comes to multitasking, the smartphone comes with the standard features we expect from Android smartphones., However, some of the features come with a flair that is uniquely Honor. First up, we have split-screen multitasking which you can launch with a 2-finger swipe up or a knuckle gesture. Getting apps into this mode is a little bit of a learning curve given that it’s not as intuitive as some other Android-based UIs. However, It should give Honor props for optimising the software to a level where there is very little lag when you’re launching the second app and even when you’re working between apps.
In addition to this, the Honor 200 Pro comes with a floating window feature that essentially allows you to have 3 apps running simultaneously. While it’s not a three-way split-screen, the feature allows you to be more productive with the phone with a third, less accessible window. It also allows you to keep apps in an active state in the background.
The Magic Capsule is also making a comeback on the Honor 200 Pro. This feature takes a leaf out of the iPhone and brings a new level of optimization to the MagicOS interface. It brings a little bit more functionality to what is essentially dead space in the interface. It brings notifications front and center and at the fingertips of the user. It also allows users to access quick actions in supported apps and even lets users know what apps may be actively running in the background.
Call Quality & Connectivity
Being a mid-range phone, I expected to have some concessions in hardware that would affect call quality. However, the Honor 200 Pro pleasantly surprised me with pretty good call audio. The tone was warm, crisp and clear.
It’s also got all the bells and whistles when it comes to connectivity. Like many phones now, the Honor 200 Pro has 5G connectivity which should serve you well when it comes to connectivity. The higher speeds – which were gotten thanks to YTL communication’s Yes 5G – did come in handy when downloading big files off emails and also streaming my shows off Amazon Prime and Netflix. Support for WiFi 6 also came in clutch with streaming.
Honor does bring its WiFi+ feature to the smartphone. This feature ensures that you have constant internet connectivity between WiFi and mobile connectivity. It will also enable you to seamlessly connect between WiFi and mobile based on your location.
There were minor hiccups with connectivity – particularly with WiFi 6 and 5G. With the former, it had issues maintaining a connection with my WiFi 6 router. However, the issue was resolved after an update for the OS itself. The 5G connectivity problems seem to be stemming from the network itself. I had more stable data connectivity on 4G LTE. Of course, data speeds were not as impressive but a more stable connection does provide a better overall experience. However, since the 5G issues were verified to not be connected to the phone, it didn’t factor into our overall rating.
Overall, when it comes to call quality and connectivity, the Honor 200 Pro delivers an experience that we’ve come to expect from Honor devices. Comparatively, the performance puts it slightly ahead of its competition. It gets the basics right and delivers important value-added features that make it more seamless for users.
Gaming
Gaming on the Honor 200 Pro is a pretty smooth ride, with just a few bumps along the way during more intense sessions. We tested it with games like Genshin Impact, Asphalt 9: Legends, Pokémon UNITE, and Diablo Immortal, and for the most part, it held up really well—no major surprises for a phone in this class.
Now, with Genshin Impact, things got a little tricky at max settings. The phone started to warm up quite a bit, and the frame rate took a hit, making the game feel less playable. But as soon as we dialled the settings down, it was a whole new story—smooth gameplay with no big issues. The Honor 200 Pro’s cooling system did a decent job keeping the heat in check, though after a couple of hours, it did get warmer. That said, it was impressive that it stayed comfortable for such a long stretch before heating up noticeably.
Moving on to Diablo Immortal—this game really pushed the Honor 200 Pro to its limits, especially when dealing with huge mobs of enemies. Imagine 80 to 95 monsters on screen at once, plus some flashy AoE attacks, and yeah, the phone started to stutter and lag a bit. But honestly, even high-end phones struggle with that kind of workload. The good news is that the lag didn’t last long, and the phone bounced back quickly once the action calmed down.
For less demanding games like Pokémon UNITE and Asphalt 9: Legends, the Honor 200 Pro handled them like a pro—no hiccups at all, just smooth and enjoyable gameplay throughout. Thanks to the upgraded Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chip, this phone has the power to tackle a range of games without breaking a sweat.
All in all, if you’re into gaming on the Honor 200 Pro, you’re in for a good time. It can handle most games pretty well, and even when it’s pushed hard, it holds its own with only minor hiccups. Perfect for casual and mid-level gamers who want a solid device without spending a fortune.
Battery Life
The Honor 200 Pro offers impressive battery performance, thanks to its upgraded Silicon Carbon substrate, which enhances both longevity and durability. During testing, the device consistently delivered a minimum of 30 hours on a single charge with mixed usage. This often extended to two full days before requiring a recharge, even with regular activities such as photography, emails, messaging, and calls.
For gaming, the smartphone provided approximately 4 hours of continuous gameplay on a full charge, while video playback lasted around 8 hours. Even when the battery reached 15%, enabling the battery-saver mode allowed for an additional 2 to 2.5 hours of use, depending on the activity. On standby mode, with minimal screen time and no mobile connectivity, the phone exceeded four days of battery life.
Overall, the Honor 200 Pro upholds its reputation for excellent battery efficiency, ensuring dependable performance for a variety of usage scenarios. Whether engaging in demanding tasks or routine daily activities, the device minimizes the need for frequent recharging, offering reliable battery life across different use cases.
Display
The Honor 200 Pro’s display is definitely one of its standout features, offering a mix of quality and functionality that’s hard to ignore. It’s a 6.78-inch OLED screen with a 1.5K resolution (2700 x 1224 pixels), which means visuals are crisp, detailed, and perfect for everything from scrolling social media to watching high-definition videos. The vibrant colors and deep blacks really make the content pop, giving it a premium feel.
One feature that stands out is the 120Hz refresh rate. It makes everything from swiping through apps to playing games feel smooth and responsive. Combined with HDR10 support, you’re looking at great contrast and more lifelike visuals, especially when you’re watching HDR-compatible content. Whether you’re gaming or streaming, the display has you covered.
Brightness isn’t an issue here either. With a peak brightness of up to 4,000 nits, the screen remains clear even in bright outdoor conditions, making it reliable for everyday use, no matter where you are. Its curved edges not only add to the sleek design but also make the display more immersive, creating a seamless blend into the phone’s frame.
What’s also worth mentioning is the 3840Hz adaptive PWM dimming. It’s designed to reduce flicker and make the display easier on the eyes, which is especially helpful if you spend a lot of time on your phone. It’s a thoughtful addition that’s geared toward user comfort during prolonged use.
That said, the display doesn’t include features like Gorilla Glass for added protection, so you might want to be careful to avoid scratches or damage. Even so, the overall experience the screen provides easily outweighs this minor drawback.
In short, the Honor 200 Pro’s display hits the right notes. Whether it’s for vibrant visuals, smooth performance, or eye-friendly features, this display delivers a solid experience that complements the rest of the device. It’s a great fit for both entertainment and everyday tasks.
Cameras
The Honor 200 Pro’s camera system is a compelling feature that blends advanced hardware with impactful software enhancements, including notable AI integrations. The partnership with Le Studio Harcourt adds another layer of refinement, particularly in portrait photography, making the system a standout in its price category. While it delivers in many areas, there are still aspects that could be improved.
The Honor 200 Pro features a versatile triple-camera setup: a 50MP main sensor, a 50MP telephoto lens, and a 12MP ultra-wide camera that doubles as a macro lens. The main camera is equipped with an f/1.9 aperture and a large 1/1.3-inch sensor, producing sharp, vibrant images with strong dynamic range. Its portrait mode particularly excels, thanks to the collaboration with Le Studio Harcourt. This partnership enhances the AI-powered portrait mode, delivering studio-like results with smooth bokeh effects, accurate skin tones, and well-balanced lighting. Portrait shots feel polished and professional, catering to users who value high-quality photography.
AI integration plays a significant role in optimizing the camera system’s performance. Scene recognition ensures the camera automatically adjusts settings based on the subject, allowing users to effortlessly capture ideal shots. For instance, it can distinguish between landscapes, food, or portraits, tweaking brightness, saturation, and focus accordingly. The AI-powered bokeh and focus adjustments are especially helpful in portraits, enabling users to fine-tune these effects even after the photo is taken, providing greater creative control.
Low-light photography also benefits from AI optimization. The system intelligently enhances brightness and reduces noise, resulting in clearer images with more vivid colours. This feature is particularly noticeable in night portraits, where the Honor 200 Pro combines AI processing with its hardware to achieve impressive results. However, the ultra-wide camera struggles in low-light situations, producing softer images compared to the main sensor.
The telephoto lens, offering 2.5x optical zoom, adds versatility to the system. It allows for detailed shots from a distance, although image quality decreases with digital zoom beyond this range. The ultra-wide camera is capable of capturing expansive scenes and doubles as a macro lens for close-up shots. While its performance in good lighting conditions is solid, low-light scenarios reveal some shortcomings, with less detail and softness creeping into the results.
On the video side, the Honor 200 Pro supports 4K recording with gyro-EIS, ensuring stable and smooth footage. AI integration further enhances video quality by optimizing stabilization and colour balance. While the video capabilities are reliable and effective for casual use and social media content creation, they lack some of the more advanced options found on certain similarly priced devices, such as additional frame rates or cinematic features.
While the Honor 200 Pro’s camera system has clear strengths, it’s not without limitations. The ultra-wide lens’ performance in low-light environments falls behind the main sensor. Similarly, the telephoto lens struggles with maintaining sharpness at higher zoom levels. Some users might also notice the absence of advanced features like a periscope zoom lens or more versatile video modes, which are offered by certain competitors in this price range.
The Honor 200 Pro’s camera system strikes a good balance between hardware and software, providing a versatile and user-friendly experience. Its collaboration with Le Studio Harcourt elevates portrait photography, and the AI-driven features add meaningful enhancements to image quality and ease of use. While there are areas that could be improved, such as low-light ultra-wide performance and telephoto zoom, the overall package is impressive for a device in this segment. For users who value refined portraits, strong main camera performance, and helpful AI optimizations, the Honor 200 Pro delivers a well-rounded and capable camera system..
Harcourt Makes a Compelling Honor 200 Pro with All the Bells and Whistles that Make the Smartphone One You Should Consider
The Honor 200 Pro is no less than a badge of honour for the brand. It offers an impressive package, elevated by its collaboration with Harcourt Studio (Le Studio Harcourt). This partnership significantly enhances the photography experience, enabling the hardware to perform exceptionally well. With near-flagship-level internals, an upgraded camera system, and a fresh approach to the midrange category, the Honor 200 Pro stands out as one of the best value-for-money options currently available. It addresses the common shortcomings of midrange smartphones while redefining expectations for a device in its class.
A cinematic experience has become more important in recent years as more and more people are looking to spend less at theatres. With the ready availability of several streaming services, this has become easier to achieve. However, with other factors becoming easier, the main factor – the television itself – has become even more complex. Consumers are faced with choices ranging the gamut of technology and prices. It wouldn’t be surprising to be utterly lost with the choices. Do you buy something that is cheaper or do you buy something more expensive?
We’re taking a deep dive into one of the more affordable options available in the market – the Hisense U6K PRO ULED TV. It’s a smart TV that brings Google TV into the home opening up doors when it comes to apps. But, is it really worth investing in it? We’re breaking down the experience of owning a Hisense U6K Pro and putting the TV to the test to find out.
Design
The trend nowadays is to have a large, thin, nearly bezel-less TV. One that can blend seamlessly into your living room and appear to be part of the décor. The Hisense U6K Pro checks most of the boxes off when it comes to these criteria. It’s a near bezel-less display and it appears to be thin. It’s also got two available sizes: 55- and 65-inch to fit your home environment.
However, the TV is a bottom heavy. It’s a large screen with a little bit of a thicc bottom. It’s a bit on the heavier side so don’t try to set this up on your own. Being bottom-heavy isn’t all bad, the added weight near the base and the stand gives it a little bit more stability when it comes to putting it on a console. This also means that your toddler or cat isn’t going to be able to topple the TV over as easily. The stand that comes with the U6K Pro adds some more stability thanks to its T-shaped design. This design also means that you’ll need a little more room on your console when you put it there. It’s about 35cm in depth for your console with about 200cm in length to fit the TV comfortably. You also have the added option to mount the U6K Pro on the wall using a VESA mount.
Once you’ve set up the TV in your preferred setup, the U6K Pro looks stunning. Its bezels are hardly noticeable and it feels like the TV itself is a picture upright. The footprint of the TV for a, now standard, 55- or 65-inch TV is actually on the slimmer side of things. Even with the stand, it can easily fit on a standard TV console.
You’ll appreciate some of the thickness of the base when it comes to audio quality. The base holds most of – if not all of – the tech in the Hisense U6K Pro. This also means that it has tweeters that are on the larger side of things for a TV of its price and size. The benefits of this are pretty obvious when you’re watching things like Blood of Zeus on Netflix where the sound design is immersive and plays a crucial role in the storytelling. We’ll go into more detail when we go into the sound section of the review.
Overall, the design of the TV is pretty standard flair. However, Hisense has made some changes that make setting up the TV less of an issue. It also brings some added benefits thanks to the technology that Hisense is able to fit in with the design.
Features
Specifications
Size(s)
55-inch 65-inch
Resolution
Ultra HD (3840×2160 pixels)
Smart TV OS
Google TV
Input(s)
1x RF-Radio Frequency 1x AV Input 2x USB-A 1x Optical/SPDIF 1x Earphone Jack 3x HDMI 2.0
Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.0 WiFi 5 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac) Ethernet (RJ 45)
Audio System
Stereo speakers
Audio Output
10W
Audio Enhancements
Dolby Digital Dolby Atmos
Misc
Apple AirPlay Miracast Anyview Cast DLNA
Price (RM)
3,999 (55-inch) 4,999 (65-inch)
Google TV
The Hisense U6K Pro features Google TV – the latest iteration of Android TV. This opens up the smart TV’s app offerings significantly. It also means that it comes with a whole bunch of features built-in that simplify things like screen sharing. However, there is a question on what Hisense update policy is when it comes to software. Throughout our time with the TV which was about 3 weeks, we didn’t get any notifications of security updates or OS updates. However, it’s worth noting that, unlike Android on smartphones, Google TV doesn’t have a strict update schedule.
Having the Google Play Store on the TV opens up the U6K Pro to a treasure trove of apps. Even apps that don’t natively come on the TV like Disney+ and Tubi TV can be downloaded from the store which is now a tab called “Shop” in the interface. Speaking of, the Google TV interface has gotten a lot more intuitive since its debut as Android TV. The apps that you interact with most are front and centre. You also have options to highlight “streams” from apps. These “streams” allow you to keep up with releases or shows that you’re watching on apps like YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and more.
Hisense implementation of Google TV on the U6K Pro is pretty smooth. The interface has little to no lag when interacting with the remote that came with the TV. The added benefit of running on Google TV is the fact that the TV can play nice with Google Home. This allows you to be able to control the TV from your smartphone through the Google Home app. It also allows you to use the Google Assistant to turn on the TV. That said, you will need to enable certain features like Wake on LAN or Wake on WLAN to fully leverage the feature.
Google TV also brings along with it Chromecast functionality. This will allow you to project to the TV using your smartphone and laptop. It’s pretty straightforward with Android phones but will require you to use Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge if you want to cast from your laptop. Apple users will be able to do the same with the TV’s HomeKit compatibility.
Hi-View Engine, AI Picture and Game Mode Plus
The Hisense ULED U6K Pro comes with the company’s own AI-powered chip – the Hi-View Engine. This chip allows the TV to process scenes frame by frame; analysing and optimizing the viewing experience to fit the scene dynamically. This is supposed to ensure that you have the best viewing experience across a wide range of content types. However, in the time we had with the U6K Pro, there were some quirks when it came to how this functioned. It was able to adapt and optimise with movies, series and cinematic content. This delivered a pretty respectable viewing experience with the brights, darks and vignettes of the scenes. The details were clear if not a little muddled by post-processing. That said, when it came to animations and animated content, particularly 2D animated content, the TV defaulted to high contrasts and brightness which resulted in some colours – particularly yellows and reds being overblown. This required a simple fix in changing the display mode to the most comfortable for your viewing.
AI Picture allows it to be able to adapt to the colours and contrast that best suit the scenes. Using this mode actually yielded better results than just relying on the Hi-View Engine processing. This mode was able to get the tuning for animated content pretty quickly and the result was pretty impressive. However, I found myself mostly adjusting the calibration to my own custom settings that I preferred.
Of course, the AI optimisation and modes don’t just end there. The U6K Pro also comes with dedicated modes for Gaming and Sports. Both take full advantage of the 60Hz refresh rate of the panel. Both modes deliver pretty decent performance with some hiccups when it comes to snappy scenes or scenarios. This is mostly due to the lower 60Hz refresh rate that limits the optimisations that can be done – particularly with gaming as most gamers prefer a higher 120Hz for most games. That said, with consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S, most games cap out at 60Hz although more modern games are beginning to take advantage of 4K resolution at 120Hz.
ULED Local Dimming & Adaptive Light Sensing
The Hisense U6K Pro is trying to address common issues with the modern TV in modern living spaces. One of which comes as more and more homes are open and allow natural light to come in. This poses a challenge for most TVs, particularly in the U6K Pro’s price range. Mostly, this is caused by glare that occurs due to direct sunlight or even from LED beam lights. Hisense is trying to address this with Adaptive light sensing that automatically turns the TV’s ULED panel to its max 500+ nits peak brightness to combat the glare. This sensor, while becoming increasingly mainstream in newer TVs is still a hit or miss in most TV sets; this includes well-known brands. It’s also worth noting that the finish on the panel while not totally matted also reduces glare. This particular feature was pretty good during our review. There was little glare from our fluorescent lights.
Hisense’s ULED technology is also on display with the U6K Pro. This technology allows the TV to individually dim pixels. This creates deeper blacks and whiter whites when it comes to the picture. This technology paired with the Hi-View Engine and AI picture produced very respectable picture quality in the U6K Pro. That said, some people may be looking for additional HDMI ports particularly if you have cable TV like Unifi TV or ASTRO and multiple consoles as the U6K Pro only comes with 3 HDMI 2.0 ports.
Picture & Sound Quality
The Hisense ULED U6K Pro comes with a 4K UHD resolution. That gives it a resolution of 3840×2160 pixels which is the standard. The ULED panel allows for local dimming resulting in deeper blacks and whiter whites. This, also known as Quantum Dot technology, allows the panel to individually turn off pixels that create deeper blacks. It’s also able to accurately reproduce colours and provide a viewing experience that is close to the content creator’s vision. With HDR10+ Adaptive it’s also able to highlight details and reproduce low-light scenes with detail.
While the Hisense panel did perform well when it came to colour reproduction and depth, the TV did have some issues when it came to picture quality. The panel itself produced some visual blooming particularly when it came to the edges of the panel. This was particularly obvious in low-light scenes or even when displaying a clear white scene. While it didn’t take too much away from the visual immersion, it can be distracting. It is common to see this blooming in LED-based technologies and more so in LCD panels. However, it would improve the picture quality if this could be reduced or done away with altogether. Aside from this, the colour reproduction of the panel was pretty spot on. It didn’t blow out or overcompensate for contrast and brightness. Overall, the picture quality of the Hisense U6K Pro ULED TV is not too bad.
The sound performance of the Hisense ULED U6K Pro was acceptable. It was able to produce sufficiently deep bases and high highs. However, the 10W stereo speakers did struggle when pushed to the max. That said, there shouldn’t be a situation where you’re maxing out your TV speakers as they were able to produce very immersive ambient sounds and even lift the dialogue audio when needed. During our review period, we rarely went beyond 25 for volume. Overall, the sound was pretty acceptable although, if you have the budget for it, a sound bar would take your audio experience to the next level.
A well Rounded Experience with Some Room for Improvement
The Hisense ULED U6K Pro TV is one of the more affordable when it comes to smart TVs running Google TV. It’s feature-rich with a robust app ecosystem which is well supported by 3rd party developers. It’s well-rounded with good picture quality, acceptable sound quality and some of the best technologies available in the market at the moment. However, it does have a few areas where it can improve.
That said, with prices starting at RM2,999, the Hisense ULED U6K Pro is one of the most affordable on the market. Aside from a few small hiccups, it’s built from durable materials. It’s also got sufficient ports for the everyday user although more wouldn’t hurt. It’s an affordable option for those looking to start off on the right foot when it comes to their entertainment setup.
We’re generating more data than ever before thanks to a growing technologically savvy culture. The smartphone is one such gadget that has allowed us all to easily create content. It doesn’t matter what you’re doing for a living, having any gadget means you’re creating data. This can be in the form of home videos, pictures and even voice notes or presentations. It’s gotten to a point where our smartphones and tablets now come with a minimum of 128GB of storage and we’ve signed up for at least one cloud storage provider with at least 1TB of storage space. At the same time, we’re becoming even more aware of the need to keep our data secure. In addition, more and more cloud storage providers are charging a premium for higher tiers of storage. With all of these confounding factors, what can we do?
That’s where Synology’s Disk Stations come into play. The company has made a name for itself with its server solutions. Now, the company is looking at providing a turnkey solution for regular Joes and Janes like you and me when it comes to storage. These Disk Stations are versatile storage solutions that come with expandability, flexibility and security that a lot of us need when it comes to keeping our memories, work and data safe and accessible.
We’ll be giving you a rundown and review of the Synology DS224+, one of the most basic offerings that Synology has. Is it worth investing in the system? Can you use reliably like Google Drive, OneDrive or Dropbox? These are the questions that we are looking to answer with our in-depth review of the Synology DS224+.
What is a NAS?
Like Julie Andrews once sang, “Let’s start at the very beginning”. The Synology DS224+ is a NAS system. Techies and Enthusiasts would be very familiar with the term. But what is a NAS? A NAS or N-A-S stands for Network Attached Storage. Essentially, it’s one or more hard disks that are attached to a network that allows multiple people to access data remotely. This means you can access your data from any device on the same local network or even the internet if you allow it. There are a lot of ways to do this, but some methods are complicated and tedious.
The Synology DS224+ and other Synology Disk Station products make this easier with Synology’s proprietary software and platform. The Disk Stations come with at least 2 disk bays that allow you to have about 40TB of storage. The Disk Station Manager (DSM) allows you to customize how you use your NAS. It can be remote storage, a mail server and even a regular server for your website if you so desire.
In a nutshell, a NAS is data storage attached to the internet. This allows you to use it in a variety of ways including as remote storage.
Setting Up the Synology DS224+
Setting up the Synology DS224+ is a pretty simple process. You have to first set up the hardware and then the software. Synology has made this very straightforward with its apps and website.
Hardware
Hardware is pretty simple to set up. When you buy a Synology Disk Station like the DS224+, you will get casing for the NAS and hard disks. In our case, we have the DS224+ which supports two hard disks. We were provided a bundle with two 4TB hard disks. The Synology DS224+ is a complete system. Essentially, it’s a very basic computer with a processor, RAM and storage.
2GB built-in Max 6GB (additional user-accessible slot)
Storage
2 Drive Bays (potential max 40TB memory capacity at the time of writing) Compatible with: 3.5-inch SATA HDD 2.5-inch SATA SSD
Ports
2x RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet LAN Port 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1
Assembly is straightforward. You’ll need to remove the disk caddies from within the DS224+ and place the hard disks in them. Synology provides a simple snapping mechanism which removes the need for screws and tools. All you have to do is snap on the hard disks into the caddies. If you want it to be more secure, you can use the screws provided. In our case, we didn’t do this. The DS224+ also comes with a spare slot for added RAM if you want to provide it with more RAM. We added an extra 4GB of RAM to our setup as we’d have more than 2 people accessing the system. The extra RAM would give us a little more bandwidth when it comes to downloading and uploading later on.
Once you’ve set up the Synology DS224+, you’ll need to get it hooked up to both power and the Internet. Hooking it up to the internet is very straightforward. In the box, Synology provides two ethernet cables which can attach to the DS224+, you need to plug these in and then plug it into two ethernet slots at the back of your home router. Generally, your router should come with 4 ports, so you should have enough. If you don’t you may need to get a simple network switch to do this. Once you hook it up to the internet, it’s time to set up the software.
Software
You can set up the software of the Synology DS224+ in two ways: through your web browser or the DS Finder app. Both are similar processes, but the app is a little simpler. The DS Finder App is available in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
If you’re using your browser, you’ll need to access the URL https://finds.synology.com which will search your network for any Disk Station products. Using the app is as simple as opening the app and letting it do the same. Once the DS224+ is found, it will automatically set up the Disk Station Manager (DSM) software. It’s generally a step-by-step guide on both.
Once you’ve set up your DSM environment, you’ll need to set up your admin and user credentials. This will include setting up user groups and permissions for each group. This will allow you to share files and folders easier later on. This includes setting up private environments and folders for each user if you want to. Once this is done, your DS224+ is ready to go.
In the DSM environment, you’ll be able to install packages that will introduce the features that you want in the DS224+. For us, this was the Synology Drive Server package, the File Station Package, the Active Insight Package, the Advanced Media Extensions package and the Synology Application Manager package. Once these are installed, you’ll be able to access the DSM from anywhere with a phone or browser. If you’re using a browser, you’ll need to access https://quickconnect.to/ and put in the relevant credentials. Otherwise, you can use one of Synology’s many apps.
Apps, Apps and MORE APPS? WHY SO MANY?
Speaking of many apps, this has to be my one pet peeve with Synology’s Disk Station system. The number of apps available is just too many. There are more than 10 apps available from Synology for the Disk Station system. Although a number of them are specialized apps for specific functions of the Disk Station, I seriously think that Synology should either phase out or streamline the apps they have for the Disk Station system.
Throughout the setup process, you’ll be using the DS Finder App. Once you’re done with that you can simply uninstall it. You will need the Synology Secure Sign-In app to sign in with the authenticator once you set up your DS224+. If you’re using it as shared storage, you have either the DS Files app or the Synology Drive app. There’s also the DS audio, DS photos, DS Video and Synology Photos apps.
As is pretty obvious from the list of apps, several apps have overlapping functions. It’s not only confusing for users, but it also feels unnecessary. It would make sense for Synology to merge a lot of these apps into a single app. Aside from the specialized apps like Bee Storage, a lot of the apps are repetitive. A single, unified app would help streamline and simplify the user experience of the Disk Station system immensely.
Using the Synology DS224+ as Remote Storage
For our review, we decided to use the Synology DS224+ primarily as shared storage. We were working off the DS224+ uploading and downloading files continuously. Primarily, we were uploading and downloading large media files for our videos and pictures for our articles on the drives.
The Synology DS224+ was able to handle the continuous uploading and downloading that we did. It was also very consistent when it came to upload and download speed. Of course, this also depends on the speed of the internet connection where the NAS is. Our office has a 100Mbps connection. This allowed us to upload files of about 100MB in a matter of minutes. Downloads were even faster. However, we have to note that in Malaysia we were working off 5G and 4G LTE networks at any time. On the local network, the Synology DS224+ can be mapped as a network drive making it easier to drag and drop files more seamlessly.
We were also able to stream videos off the drive very seamlessly. The experience with the Synology Drive app on both mobile and desktop is very streamlined. The app allows you to upload and synchronize folders seamlessly with the DS224+. In fact, connections were more stable on the apps than when using the browser. I was able to upload a 400GB folder to the drive without much hassle. However, when using the browser, it kept timing out and resulting in failed uploads.
It’s worth noting that the Synology DS224+ can be used for more than just remote storage. The system can support running websites, mail servers and even Git repositories. Fundamentally, the Disk Stations can work as a local server for anything you need to run. As long as there is a package that supports the functionality, you’ll be able to set it up. However, regular Joes and Janes like us will mostly be using it to back up pictures, videos and even files. It would also be remiss of us if we did not highlight that you will need to replace the hard disks every so often to ensure that your Disk Station remains in working order.
Overall, the performance of the Synology DS224+ was very stable and reliable as a shared remote drive. It also allowed us to store and streamline our work process, making it easier to get things done.
A Beginner’s NAS Built for Simplicity & Functionality with the Potential to Do More Than Just Remote Storage
Synology DS224+ is one of the simplest and most accessible NAS systems available currently. It’s simple to set up with a small, manageable learning curve when it comes to usage. What’s more, it’s a secure and private server that is easily accessible through mobile apps or a browser. The DS224+ is also very versatile with the many functions it can perform. Coming in at about RM3,000 for a setup with 8TB of space, it’s also one of the more affordable options available.
The only drawback of the experience of the Synology DS224+ is the deluge of apps you will need to make your way through to figure out which you will be using. It also suffers a handicap compared to other subscription-based cloud storage due to the reliance on the speed of your internet. However, that isn’t a make-or-break issue considering we have broadband speeds of up to 2Gbps in Malaysia.
Overall, the DS224+ is a powerful and affordable NAS solution for those looking for a simple and reliable way to manage their digital life.
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
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.
