Qualcomm’s reputation was dealt a blow these past few weeks. Back in mid-May, the company had to deal with the news that Google is rebuilding Wear OS with a new partner — Samsung. Just yesterday, Google confirmed its upcoming Pixel 6 series will ship with the company’s own silicon rather than Qualcomm’s. After news of Google’s partnership with Samsung broke, Qualcomm later confirmed it still plans to make new wearable chips. Immediately after Google’s Pixel 6 announcement, the company issued a statement stating it “will continue to work closely with Google on existing and future products based on Snapdragon platforms.” While Qualcomm hasn’t elaborated any further on its future plans, we’ve spotted code for a new Qualcomm-made Wear OS chipset that could end up being the Snapdragon Wear 5100.
Last week, Qualcomm uploaded new code to its Code Aurora Forum with the build ID “LAW.UM.2.0-00700-SW5100.0” and code-name “monaco.” “LAW” stands for “Linux Android Wear” (Android Wear was the previous name for Wear OS), while “UM” possibly stands for “Unified Modem.” We speculate that “SW5100” is short for the marketing name of this platform, which could be the Snapdragon Wear 5100.
Digging into the code, we discovered that the platform is currently being developed on top of Linux kernel 5.4, but there’s conflicting information about what Android version the platform is based on. The CAF releases page lists the version as Android 11, but the shipping API level in a config file is listed as “29” which is Android 10. If the platform is actually Android 11-based, we still don’t know if it has any of the changes introduced in the big Wear OS 3 update. Smartwatches running Qualcomm’s existing Snapdragon Wear 4100 platform will get the Wear OS 3 update, though, so we see no reason why this platform won’t as well if it is indeed the Snapdragon Wear 5100.
By analyzing the commit history and board configuration files, we’ve determined that the “monaco” chipset is based on Qualcomm’s existing “bengal” platform. “Bengal” is the code-name for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 662 and 460 platforms, two 11nm chipsets with four ARM Cortex-A73 and four Cortex-A53 cores. “Monaco”, though, appears to have a quad-core CPU with ARM Cortex-A73 cores, a slight upgrade over the quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 configuration of the Snapdragon Wear 4100.
We don’t have any more details to share about this new wearable platform, but we did spot an interesting reference to “Atherton” wearables in the code. This code-name could refer to reference devices powered by this new platform, or it could be something else entirely. We’ve asked Qualcomm to comment on this story and will update this article if we hear back.
Featured image: Mobvoi’s TicWatch Pro 3 GPS powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100 chip
CrossOver is one of the most popular ways to run Windows applications on other operating systems. It’s based on the open-source Wine project (CrossOver’s developers are some of the most significant contributors to Wine’s codebase), but with easier installation for hundreds of applications and games. CodeWeavers has now released CrossOver version 21, with some helpful improvements included for all three operating systems.
CrossOver 21 is based on Wine 6.0, first released in January, which includes a new Vulkan backend for Direct3D, DirectShow and Media Foundation support, and an updated text console. CrossOver also now includes Wine Mono by default, which is the open-source implementation of Microsoft’s .NET Framework.
CrossOver on Linux (Credit: CodeWeavers)
Besides everything present in Wine 6.0, the new update has a few improvements for Mac. Dark mode is now supported, and Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 DualSense controllers work with Bluetooth on macOS Big Sur 11.3. On Linux, various login and multi-monitor issues have been fixed with Office 365, and CrossOver now has faster startup times on Chrome OS.
CrossOver’s main selling point (yes, it’s paid software) is that it adds an easy-to-use interface on top of Wine, with pre-configured installers and settings for hundreds of popular applications and games. It’s similar in that respect to Lutris or PlayOnLinux/PlayOnMac, but with actual customer support.
CrossOver 21 is available to purchase from the CodeWeavers website. If you’re buying a new license, CodeWeavers has a 30% off promotion until August 17 — just enter code CX3021 at checkout.
Google has dropped the Google Pixel 6 on us and a lot of its details already, even if it won’t be releasing until much later in the year. We know most of its specifications, and the company has even confirmed what it looks like. Now, we’ve managed to get the latest Google Pixel 6 wallpapers, and we have them available for you to download.
We managed to trick the Google Wallpapers app to show us the Google Pixel 6 wallpapers by spoofing the build props from the Google Pixel 6. In essence, we made our device look like a Google Pixel 6, and the Google Wallpapers app then allowed us to view all of them and download and set them as if we were using a real device.
The wallpapers above are in a compressed format, and if you want to download them and use them on your device, you can follow the link below. Note that the resolution of these wallpapers is not representative of the Pixel 6 or the Pixel 6 Pro, as we extracted them from our own device. It’s also worth pointing out that a lot of these wallpapers are focused on the hole punch at the top center.
These wallpapers are all very different from previous Pixel wallpapers, which goes hand in hand with the rest of what we know about the Pixel 6 series. The Pixel 6 series has a pretty unique design, with a large rectangular camera bump across the back. It will feature the company’s “Google Tensor” chipset and an under-display fingerprint scanner.
The Pixel 6 Pro will also have a 6.7-inch Quad HD+ resolution curved display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The sides have “shiny, polished aluminum rails” and the wide-angle sensor “takes in 150 percent more light.” Meanwhile, the regular Pixel 6 has a smaller 6.4-inch Full HD+ resolution flat display with a 90Hz refresh rate. The sides have “matte-finished rails” and not aluminum ones.
You can download the Google Pixel 6 wallpapers below.
After launching the 24-inch iMac with the Apple M1 chipset earlier this year, Apple finally made the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID available separately today. This new Magic Keyboard allows you to sign into your Mac desktop more easily, so it was always weird that you couldn’t buy it on its own. However, it’s not all good news. Touch ID on the new Magic Keyboard won’t work if you have an Intel-based Mac. It’s designed exclusively for devices with Apple Silicon, so your options are pretty limited.
Let’s rewind a little bit. Apple introduced its in-house processors, called Apple Silicon, at WWDC 2020, and the first devices with them released later that year. The MacBook Air, MacBook Pro 13-inch, and Mac mini were the debut devices, featuring the Apple M1. Then, this spring, the company also launched the iPad Pro and 24-inch iMac with the same processor. This 24-inch iMac introduced the new Magic Keyboard with Touch ID, and that was the only way you can get it until now.
The thing about the Apple M1 chipset is that they feature something called the secure enclave. This is a security device built into the chipset, and it’s required for Touch ID to work – at least with external devices like the new Magic Keyboard. Touch ID was built into some Intel-based MacBooks, but that doesn’t apply here.
But the aforementioned Macs are the only ones running on Apple Silicon right now, and Apple is still selling a lot of Macs with Intel processors. Namely, the 27-inch iMac and the Mac Pro are still listed on the company’s website with Intel processors. Plus, other high-end devices may still be in use, like the 2017 iMac Pro. The new Magic Keyboard with Touch ID is the only form of biometric authentication you can use with a Mac, but if you wanted to add it to your multi-thousand-dollar Intel Mac, you can’t. You still have to type in your password. And yes, the keyboard itself does work, but Touch ID won’t.
Being limited to Apple Silicon right now means you can only use Touch ID with the MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and the 24-inch iMac. But three of those devices already come with keyboards and Touch ID. To be fair, Touch ID is optional on the iMac, but if you didn’t get it with your model, you’re probably not in a rush to get it right now.
That’s not to say this is a worthless launch, though. The Mac mini is a desktop PC after all, and it doesn’t come with any kind of keyboard. If you have one or are planning to get it, you can now have it with Touch ID. Of course, as long as you buy the Apple M1-powered version; Apple still has the Intel version available, too. If you’re interested in buying a Mac mini, you can do so using the link below. The Magic Keyboard with Touch ID can be found here.
The latest Mac mini comes with the Apple M1 chipset, which delivers much faster performance across the board. It comes with 8GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage.
Apple launched the 24-inch iMac earlier this year, and with it came a handful of new peripherals. It came with a new charger, plus a new color-matched mouse, trackpad, and keyboard. The Magic Keyboard got another substantial update, though: the addition of Touch ID. The problem is you couldn’t buy that new Magic Keyboard unless you were buying the 24-inch iMac. Now, that’s changing, as Apple has now made the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID available on its online store.
In fact, all of the new Apple accessories are now available on the Apple Store. You can get the Magic Keyboard without Touch ID, with Touch ID, or with both Touch ID and a numeric keypad. Plus, the new Magic Trackpad and Magic Mouse are also available for purchase. There’s a big caveat, though: all of these accessories can only be bought in the silver color option. All the colors made to match the 24-inch iMac are still not available, so if you want to add a splash of color to your setup, you’ll have to look elsewhere.
Being able to buy the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID could still be big news though because that’s the only form of biometric authentication available on a Mac desktop. However, Touch ID on the Magic Keyboard only works with Apple Silicon Macs, so there are really only two desktops you can use it with – the 24-inch iMac and the latest Mac mini. It’s certainly nice to have the option, but if you were hoping to add Touch ID to your Intel-based Mac, you’re out of luck.
This will mostly be good news if you bought the Mac mini. If you have the 24-inch iMac, you could already have gotten the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID, so it’s not super likely you’re looking to buy it now. But seeing as the Mac mini doesn’t come with a keyboard, this could help complement your setup now. Plus, at least the silver color matches the Mac mini, which doesn’t have all the fancy color options of the iMac anyway.
When you think of Chromebooks, creative professionals aren’t the first demographic that comes to mind. From the very beginning, Chrome OS acquired a bad reputation for lacking productivity apps. The good news is that Chrome OS has come a long way since its inception. There are numerous ways you can now do light video editing on your Chromebook. Android apps and web apps both work well for a quick edit. If you want to get more serious, you can also leverage Linux apps to get more serious work done.
Let’s take a look at the best video editing solutions on a Chromebook.
Android apps and web apps
For the majority of users, Android apps and web apps are your best bet for video editing on your Chromebook. To be sure, most users want to do a few quick edits on personal videos. Both Android and web apps offer a simple way to do this on Chrome OS. Web apps are perhaps the simplest of all, living entirely in the Chrome browser.
If you want to use the Android apps discussed below, make sure you check out our full guide to using Android apps on Chrome OS first. Most modern Chromebooks can run Android apps, so if you bought your device recently you should be good to go.
WeVideo web app
WeVideo is cloud-based, so you can make videos anywhere, anytime — even on the go. With WeVideo Jumpstart, there’s zero upload wait time, which means you can create at the speed of inspiration. Don’t have a powerful computer? No problem. WeVideo does all the heavy lifting in the cloud for you no matter what device you’re using.
Not only is WeVideo great for video editing on your Chromebook, it works seamlessly across Macs, PCs, and iOS and Android mobile devices. Whether you prefer to make videos on your computer, tablet or mobile phone, WeVideo makes it a breeze. The plans are also incredibly affordable, with education and business discounts available.
With Premiere Rush, powerful tools let you quickly create videos that look and sound professional, just how you want. Share to your favorite social sites right from the app and work across devices. Use it for free as long as you want with unlimited exports — or upgrade to access all premium features and hundreds of soundtracks, sound effects, loops, animated titles, overlays, and graphics.
You can arrange video, audio, graphics, and photos with drag and drop. Trim and crop videos, flip and mirror video clips, and add images, stickers and overlays to video clips. Adjust video speed with speed controls and enhance color with intuitive presets and customization tools. If you’re already in the Adobe ecosystem, this is a great solution on Chrome OS.
It’s worth mentioning that some Chromebooks will not be compatible with Adobe Rush. This seems to be a compatibility issue that Adobe is working on with Google at the moment.
Whether you’re creating cinematic-style movies, videos of your latest adventure or combining clips to share exciting, memorable moments, PowerDirector is the perfect app for video editing on a Chromebook. Some of the pro features include:
Trim, splice and rotate videos with simple taps.
Control brightness, color and saturation with precision.
Apply jaw-dropping effects and transitions with drag & drop.
Combine pictures and video in one clip using the multi-timeline.
Add text or animated titles to your video in seconds.
Add voiceovers recorded on your mobile device a built-in editor.
The paid subscription is a bit expensive, but for the number of features you get, it’s worth it. If you want to do a lot of video editing for different social platforms, this is an excellent choice.
KineMaster makes video editing fun on your phone, tablet, or Chromebook. The software makes it easy to edit videos with lots of powerful tools, downloadable content, and much more. Some key features include:
Download and re-edit projects from the Get Projects menu (NEW!)
Import and export project files (NEW!)
Tools to cut, splice, and crop your videos.
Combine and edit videos, images, stickers, special effects, text, and more.
Add music, voiceovers, sound effects, and voice changers.
KineMaster is completely free to use, but you can unlock even more with a KineMaster Premium subscription. A subscription removes the KineMaster watermark and offers an ad-free experience. Learn more by tapping the crown button on the main screen in the app.
YouTube Studio video editor
YouTube Studio is the official Google app for managing your YouTube channel. The primary purpose of this app is to engage with your audience, check video stats, and manage other channel features. However, you can also do some basic editing in the YouTube Studio web platform.
It’s certainly nothing fancy, but you can trim videos, splice clips, and do basic audio editing within YouTube Studio. If you’re a small up-and-coming YouTuber and want to get started with editing videos in a basic way, this is a good option to start out.
Magisto’s smart online video editor is the fastest way to turn your everyday videos and photos into inspired video stories and the easiest way to share them everywhere. It’s not actually magic, its Magisto. This is a great option if you know nothing about video editing, but need to create professional videos for work or business.
When you upload videos and pictures to Magisto, their artificial intelligence engines get to work analyzing the footage. Their algorithms take a virtual look at all of the video and photographs you uploaded for your video and breaks down analysis on three levels – visual analysis, audio analysis and storytelling.
Magisto has both a web app and Android app, so it a two-for-one deal. Both the web app and Android app work equally well on Chrome OS, choose the one you prefer.
Linux apps
If you need a more powerful video editor, Linux apps are the way to go. There are only two Linux apps I would recommend for video editing on Chrome OS at the moment. Kdenlive is the more full-featured app, but it runs a bit slower in the Chrome OS Linux container. On the other hand, Shotcut lacks a few key features but runs very smoothly on my Chromebook.
Installing Linux apps requires a bit of command-line knowledge. If you aren’t familiar with using Terminal commands for Linux, see my complete guide to Linux apps on Chrome OS for an introduction first.
Kdenlive
Download using:
sudo apt-get install kdenlive -y
Video editing is a big deal these days. Millions of people upload videos to YouTube, Twitch, and Tiktok every hour. If you’re serious about video editing, moving to Chrome OS can be a bit scary. Thankfully, Kdenlive is a nice video editing program for Linux that can run on your Chromebook.
Those of you who are used to running Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere Pro will pick up the intuitive interface in no time. It’s worth noting that while Kdenlive does run well on Chrome OS, you’ll need a fairly powerful Chromebook to take full advantage of this app.
Shotcut
Shotcut runs incredibly smooth on Chrome OS and packs a lot of features. The software has multiple dockable and undockable panels, including detailed media properties, recent files with search, playlist with thumbnail view, filter panel, history view, encoding panel, jobs queue, and melted server and playlist. It also supports drag-n-drop of assets from file manager.
Installation for Shotcut is a bit trickier than Kdenlive. The easiest method is to use the Linux App Image. Next, open the Terminal and run the command:
chmod +x ./shotcut-linux-x86_64-210321.AppImage
Followed by the command:
./shotcut-linux-x86_64-210321.AppImage
Here, you need to replace ‘shotcut-linux-x86_64-210321.AppImage’ with the current file name for the latest version you’ve downloaded. This process basically makes the AppImage executable and then runs the executable file. Overall, Shotcut is my favorite app for more intense video editing on Chrome OS.
Those are our picks for the best video editors available on Chromebooks today. If you need basic editing capability, check out one of the popular Android or web apps. For those that need robust editing for professional videos, use Kdenlive or Shotcut via Linux on your Chromebook.
One of the things I find interesting about Intel’s Tiger Lake UP4 processors is that not only are they very good, but they also allow the form factor to shrink down to a certain point that was previously only enabled by an ARM chipset. The Dell Latitude 7320 Detachable is the fourth PC I’ve come across to use these new CPUs, and it delivers. If you want to put it in simple terms, it’s like a Surface Pro X but with an Intel processor.
I mean that. It’s got the narrow side bezels with a larger top bezel that includes a webcam and an IR camera. It’s also got an attachable keyboard that has a built-in pen garage. It’s the best of both worlds, because unlike with the Surface Pro X, there are no compatibility issues when you get an Intel machine.
I didn’t install Windows 11 on this machine, even though Windows 11 is far superior to Windows 10 on Windows tablets. As it stands right now, I’m not installing a beta OS on review hardware while I’m reviewing it.
13.0” 3:2 FHD+ (1920 x 1280) Touch, 500 nits
Super Low Power and ComfortView Plus – Low Blue Light; Corning Gorilla Glass DX Touch;
Active Pen Support
Memory
16GB LPDDR4X SDRAM 4266MHz (on board)
Storage
SSD-M.2-2230-256GB-PCIe/NVMe Class 35
Multimedia
Universal Audio jack
Front facing 5 MP 1080p @30fps camera
Optional HD IR camera with Proximity Sensor
World facing 8 MP 1080P at 30fps, no flash
Windows Hello 4.0 supported with IR camera
Microsoft Skype for Business Certified
2 x Stereo Speaker with MaxxAudio Pro
2 x Dual array microphones
Ports
(2) Thunderbolt 4
Battery
2-Cell, 40 WH Polymer , ExpressCharge 2.0,
ExpressCharge Boost & Long Life Cycle capable
Input
Dell Latitude 7320 Detachable Single Pointing Spill
Resistant Backlit Travel Keyboard (optional, sold separately)
10-Finger Touch Display
Mircosoft Precision Clickpad
Latitude 7320 Detachable Stylus Pen (optional, sold separately)
Material
Aluminum
OS
Windows 10 Pro
Price
$2,189
Design: It’s the best of both worlds
If you’re thinking about getting a Windows tablet, there’s no doubt you’ve checked out Microsoft’s Surface offerings. Both the Surface Pro 7 and the Surface Pro X have drawbacks, but the Dell Latitude 7320 Detachable is the best of both worlds. It’s got a sleek aluminum design and it weighs in at 1.7 pounds (the same as a Surface Pro 7 or Surface Pro X). It’s also got the kickstand that’s so common on Windows tablets, as these are very much designed to double as laptops.
There are some key differences. Let’s start with the ports, because this is super important. The Dell Latitude 7320 Detachable has two Thunderbolt 4 ports, one on each side. In fact, those are the only two ports on here, so there are two USB Type-C ports like the Surface Pro X, but there’s no USB Type-A port like you’d find on the Surface Pro 7.
The Dell Latitude 7320 Detachable offers the best of the Surface Pro 7 and Surface Pro X rolled into one
But one thing you won’t find on any Surface device is Thunderbolt. Indeed, this adds a significant value proposition to the device. One Thunderbolt 4 port can power up to two 4K monitors or one 8K monitor. Another thing you can do is plug in an external GPU, turning this little tablet into a powerful gaming rig. You can’t do that on a Surface.
On the left side at the top, you’ll find the volume rocker, and on top, there’s a power button.
One thing I really like is the brushed aluminum design. It stands out from the pack. Being that the Surface Pro is pretty much the standard for Windows tablets, and the only product line that has continuously existed since the Windows 8 era, that platinum magnesium we’re used to can get old. Lenovo has its black ThinkPad tablets, but for once, a silver aluminum PC is the one that stands apart from the pack.
Also on the back of this device, there’s a fingerprint sensor. It’s an interesting choice, as it could have been put in the power button or something, or it could have been omitted entirely in favor of the included IR camera. It’s fine though. I’m all for giving people options in how they use their PC.
There’s also an 8MP world-facing camera, which is really cool. For a device like this, it’s worth thinking about the use case. It’s a business laptop that could be used in the field, and workers might have to take pictures of things, scan codes, and so on.
Display: It has a 13-inch 3:2 display
If a 13-inch 3:2 display with narrow bezels and a thicker top bezel sounds familiar, it’s because that’s exactly what you’ll find on Microsoft’s Surface Pro X. The Surface Pro 7, on the other hand, has a 12.3-inch screen with big, thick bezels. That’s why I keep coming back to how the Dell Latitude 7320 Detachable is the best of both worlds, adding in Thunderbolt on top of that to spice it up a bit.
The screen is actually quite good, although it comes in with 1920×1280 resolution. It’s not that I found it lacking or anything. In fact, it’s probably better on battery life than the 2,880 x 1,920 screen on its competitor, making up for the efficiency lost by not using an ARM chipset. Of course, it has pen support as well, and the pen is hidden in the pen garage in the keyboard.
The screen supports 100% sRGB, 80% NTSC, 84% Adobe RGB, and 87% P3, so like I said, it’s pretty good.
In that bigger top bezel, you’ll find a 5MP front-facing camera, an IR camera, and some other sensors. First of all, like the entire Latitude 7000 lineup, the webcam records 1080p video, which is awesome. It’s wild how many laptops are still using 720p cameras, and Dell seems to have been the only company with the foresight to have FHD webcams before the pandemic ever happened. While Dell has FHD webcams on a fairly broad range of business laptops, competitors HP and Lenovo have only released one or two premium models with decent cameras, while the rest have had HD webcams.
It’s not a great market right now, and it puts Dell in a really good position for the business market, considering how many people are still working from home and how long that might last.
Let’s also talk about those additional sensors in the top bezel. Dell has an app called Dell Optimizer, and it’s got several near features. One is called ExpressSign-in. It detects when you’re sitting in front of the PC. When you sit down, it wakes the PC. The IR camera lights up for facial recognition, and the device logs you in, all without you ever having to touch it. The opposite works too. It can lock the PC when you walk away after a predetermined amount of time. It’s both a convenience and a security feature.
Audio quality is pretty solid for a tablet. The dual Waves speakers are located on the sides, and they’re great for conference calls and such. Music also sounds good, if you’re the type to listen at your desk.
Keyboard: The attachable keyboard and pen garage
By now, it might seem a bit old that I keep comparing the Dell Latitude 7320 Detachable to the Surface Pro X, but seriously, so many aspects of these are identical. That’s by design too. The Surface is almost reference design hardware, which is why we’ve seen it cloned so many times.
As you can see, it has the attachable keyboard style that was invented by the Surface brand. But moreover, it’s got the pen garage with a slimmer, flatter pen. This is a big difference than pens that we’ve seen in previous products, where you had to use AAAA batteries to power them. With this pen, it charges while it’s in the garage.
Having a pen stored internally that's always charged is a game-changer for tablet users.
There are two pins that connect to the pen, so it’s not charged wirelessly like the Slim Pen with the Surface Pro X. As you can see from the image above, there are pins on both sides, so you can insert the pen whichever way you’d like. Magnets then hold the pen in place, so if you try to place it upside down, it flips over.
Other than that, the keyboard is pretty standard for a product like this. That’s a good thing. Out of all of the new form factors that we’ve seen since the Windows 8 era began nearly a decade ago, this is the one that took off. You can say it’s not for you, but you can’t say it’s not for anyone.
The pen garage is a great innovation on that design though. Battery-powered pens have always been a pain. AAAA batteries aren’t exactly rare, but they’re also not found in your local drugstore. Pen loops get in the way, and magnetically attached pens fall off. Having a pen stored internally that’s always charged is a game-changer for tablet users.
Performance and battery life: It uses Intel Tiger Lake UP4
The Latitude 7320 Detachable that Dell sent me includes an Intel Core i7-1180G7, 16GB RAM, and 256GB of storage. The CPU is from the Tiger Lake UP4 family, and it’s only the fourth machine I’ve seen that uses that family of CPUs. The first three were from Lenovo. In fact, I was so impressed with Tiger Lake UP4 that after I reviewed devices like the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano and ThinkPad X1 Titanium, I conducted interviews with both Intel and Lenovo about it, and proceeded to write over 9,000 words about it. That was a passion project, because I was just so impressed with these CPUs.
Here’s why. Tiger Lake UP4 is the successor to the Y-series, which was originally known as Core M. If you’ve heard anything about Y-series or Core M, it wasn’t anything good. These processors were designed for fanless devices, and frankly, they weren’t very good.
Intel 10th-gen was split between the 10nm Ice Lake and the 14nm Amber Lake Refresh. Ice Lake Y looked good, with a higher TDP, it was finally quad-core, and it has Intel’s new Iris Plus Graphics. But it never shipped in Windows PCs. Tiger Lake UP4 is when we finally got a proper refresh, so it’s a big difference.
The Core i7-1180G7 is a quad-core CPU, and it comes with Intel’s Iris Xe graphics. I’ve reviewed a number of Y-series machines and even in the latest generations, I wouldn’t dream of trying to use something like Adobe Photoshop or Premiere Pro. Now, with Tiger Lake UP4, you’d barely even know the difference. Sure, it’s not quite as powerful as the UP3 processors like the Core i7-1185G7, but for productivity, this is a fantastic chip. Combined with 16GB RAM, it’s a dream.
As far as battery life goes, I got around five hours of real-world usage at 50% brightness and the power slider at one notch above battery saver. Given the 40WHr battery is pretty common for a device like this, I actually think that’s pretty decent. If it was a full-blown laptop with a larger battery, it would do better.
For benchmarks, I used PCMark 8, PCMark 10, Geekbench, and Cinebench.
Latitude 7320 Detachable
Core i7-1180G7
Latitude 7320
Core i7-1185G7
ThinkPad X12 Detachable
Core i5-1130G7
HP Spectre x360 13
Core i7-1065G7
PCMark 8: Home
3,710
4,478
3,967
3,243
PCMark 8: Creative
4,236
4,655
4,338
3,818
PCMark 8: Work
3,261
4,099
3,798
3,034
PCMark 10
4,470
4,743
4,286
4,147
Geekbench
1,488 / 4,939
1,540 / 5,181
1,299 / 4,446
1,227 / 3,502
Cinebench
1,148 / 3,195
1,230 / 4,428
1,147 / 2,860
1,073 / 3,200
In the table above, you can see how the score compares to the Latitude 7320 clamshell, which uses a UP3 processor. While Tiger Lake UP3 is clearly more powerful, as it should be, we can see that Tiger Lake UP4 is still more powerful than 10th-gen ‘Ice Lake U’.
Conclusion: Should you buy the Dell Latitude 7320 Detachable?
As far as Windows tablets go, let’s just say that the form factor isn’t for everyone. But while we haven’t seen many of them in the past few years, businesses want them. The bottom line is if you do want a Windows tablet, the Dell Latitude 7320 Detachable is the best one on the market.
The Dell Latitude 7320 Detachable is the best Windows tablet on the market.
It’s got three main competitors — the Surface Pro 7+, the Surface Pro X, and the Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable. The ThinkPad X12 Detachable is aimed more at the mainstream market, with a smaller screen and only one Thunderbolt 4 port. And as I’ve said throughout this review, the Latitude really combines the best of Microsoft’s Intel- and ARM-powered Surface PCs. It’s got the 13-inch screen, narrow bezels, and pen garage that you’d fine on a Surface Pro X, but it’s also got an Intel processor.
It’s also got Thunderbolt 4, something that puts it above the competition in Microsoft’s products. This opens up the product to possibilities that simply aren’t there on a Surface, such as plugging in an external GPU. You can take this tablet in the field, and then dock it when you get back to the office, making it incredibly versatile.
There are two key things missing from the product. One is 5G, and to be fair, each of the three competitors I listed only offer 4G like the Latitude 7320 Detachable. However, both Lenovo and HP are prioritizing 5G in their mainstream business PCs now, while Dell is keeping it to the premium Latitude 9000 series. The other key omission is something you’d find on both the Surface Pro 7+ and Surface Pro X — removable storage. It’s great for business PCs, as you can actually pull sensitive information out of it if the machine has to be serviced, or destroy it when it’s time to recycle the device.
Those are pretty minor complaints, admittedly. This is one of those products it’s just hard to knock. It’s got a great screen, and the processors inside of the Latitude 7320 Detachable make me excited about the future of thin and light laptops. The pen garage is smart, solving several pain points with the way we’ve been carrying pens for years now.
But like I’ve said above, if you’re looking for a Windows tablet, this is the one to get. Unless you really need removable storage (government institutions and other institutions that handle sensitive data), the Dell Latitude 7320 Detachable is the best tablet for anyone that wants one.
