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mercredi 1 septembre 2021

Best laptops for video editing: Acer ConceptD, Dell XPS, and more

Nowadays, there are a lot of fantastic laptops out there, and choosing one can be difficult. Having more choice is usually better and it means that even if you’re looking for a specific type of laptop, you have options. For example, if you’re a content creator, we’ve already rounded up some of the best laptops you can buy. In this article, we’re focusing specifically on video content, and the best laptops you can get for video editing.

Video editing is already a fairly specific workload, so there are a few things that are going to be common across all the laptops here. Editing video requires both a powerful CPU and GPU, and a good amount of RAM too. Video projects can also be huge, so a decent amount of storage is required as well. With that being said, there are still many laptops to choose from that meet these requirements. Not only that, each of them have strengths and weaknesses compared to the others.

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Best convertible: Acer ConceptD 7 Ezel

Acer ConceptD 7 Ezel

Convertible laptops are awesome, and the Acer ConceptD 7 Ezel is a very interesting approach to this form factor. It looks like a normal laptop, but the screen rotates on a separate hinge so you can use it in a few different ways. It doesn’t rotate 360 degrees around the keyboard, but instead, you can fold it down over the keyboard, or even use it in a way that leaves your trackpad accessible. It’s also easy to rotate the display around to share something with someone across the table, for example.

The Acer ConceptD 7 Ezel is a very powerful laptop, featuring an Intel Core i7-10750H processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD for storage. That Intel processor is still a very powerful and high-end unit, though it’s not the latest available out there yet. Acer plans to update the ConceptD 7 Ezel with 11th-generation Tiger Lake processors soon, and it might make sense to wait for those.

On top of that, this laptop also comes with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 GPU. Again, this is still very powerful hardware, and it will do a fantastic job for video rendering and anything else you might need. Still, newer models will likely feature NVIDIA’s RTX 30 series graphics cards with even more power. It may make sense to wait if you can, but if you need a new laptop right now, this is still a phenomenal choice.

That’s only exacerbated by the display, which not only supports touch but Wacom AES active pens. You also get 100% Adobe RGB coverage, a Delta E of less than 2, and an incredibly sharp 4K display. Be it video or other media editing, everything will look fantastic on this laptop’s display, and you can be sure the final product will look how you intended it to. Every display is validated by PANTONE, too.

The Acer ConceptD 7 also features a backlit keyboard with an amber-colored glow, and top-firing speakers right above that. For connectivity, you get two Thunderbolt ports, two USB Type-A ports, HDMI, DisplayPort, Ethernet, SD card reader, and a headphone jack. You can easily connect what you need to your setup this way.

With all of this on offer, the ConceptD 7 Ezel is a bit pricy, but it’s well worth the money if you have use for all of its features. You can step down to the ConceptD 3 Ezel if you don’t need the 4K display and you’re fine with a GeForce GTX 1650 GPU to save some money.

    Acer ConceptD 7 Ezel
    The Acer ConceptD 7 Ezel is a powerful and unique-looking convertible laptop that's great for all kinds of content creation, including video editing. With high-end Intel CPUs, NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics, and a 4K display, there isn't much more you could ask for.

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Best video editing laptop with an OLED display: Dell XPS 15

Dell XPS 15

The Dell XPS lineup has long been known for offering fantastic laptops in compact packages. While that applies to the entire lineup, the Dell XPS 15 is extra special. It comes with an incredible 3.5K (3456 x 2160) OLED display, which is going to look stunning no matter what you do on it. Since it’s OLED, you get pure blacks and vivid colors with a 100,000:1 contrast ratio. Plus, it covers 100% of the DCI-P3 color space. It’s also a touchscreen, which you might find more intuitive to use in some cases. You also get tiny bezels all around, which helps the screen feel that much bigger. A downside to this is the tiny webcam doesn’t produce great-looking images, so if you’re planning to hold video meetings, you’re going to want an external webcam.

This is a powerful laptop too. Despite its compact design, it comes with 11th-generation Intel Core H-series processors, up to Core i9-11900H. That gives you 8 cores and 16 threads with clock speeds up to 4.9GHz. If that’s not enough, you can configure it with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti, with 4GB of memory and 45W of power. That’s impressive considering the compact design of this laptop. You get up to 64GB of RAM and 4TB of SSD storage, so you won’t be short on power or space for your projects.

Design-wise, the Dell XPS 13 is also unique in that it offers a couple of different options. You can get it with a silver exterior and black carbon fiber interior for a more unique look, or opt for the frost exterior and white interior made from woven glass fiber composite. The keyboard deck also features a large trackpad and four top-firing speakers flanking the keyboard for a great sound experience.

Ports on the Dell XPS 15 are both limited and extremely versatile. You have two Thunderbolt 4 ports, meaning you can connect dozens of peripherals, including external displays, with a Thunderbolt dock. However, that’s just it — you’re probably going to need a Thunderbolt dock. Aside from Thunderbolt, you only have one more USB Type-C port (USB 3.2 Gen 2) and an SD card reader. You don’t get USB Type-A ports or even HDMI, although an adapter is included that adds both of these.

    Dell XPS 15
    The Dell XPS 15 is a compact, but powerful laptop, and a rare example of a laptop with an OLED display. Offering strong contrast and deep blacks, on top of high-end performance, this is a phenomenal laptop for video editing and media consumption alike.

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Best 14-inch laptop for video editing: Razer Blade 14

Razer Blade 14 angled view on green background

Razer’s first AMD-powered laptop made quite a splash, and it’s no surprise. This 14 inch laptop packs a lot of power, starting with an AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX, an 8-core, 16-thread beast capable of reaching up to 4.6GHz clock speeds. It comes with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 GPU with 8GB of memory and up to 100W of power, which is incredible for this small form factor. Whether you’re gaming or editing video, the Razer Blade 14 will most certainly breeze through any task you might need to do. You also get 16GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage, and the latter can be upgraded later if you need more.

The display is impressive, too. It comes in at Quad HD resolution — the sweet spot for a laptop this size — and with a 165Hz refresh rate, you can get super smooth gaming out of it, too. Of course, the display also supports AMD FreeSync Premium, and it covers 100% of DCI-P3 so it’s also great for video editing. The display specs aren’t the absolute best out there, but they’re a great balance that gives you some headroom to get better performance without overheating.

It wouldn’t be a Razer laptop without RGB lighting, and the Razer Blade 14 makes great use of it. Each of the keys is individually backlit through the label, which gives you personalization without being obnoxious. That’s the only lighting you’ll see anywhere on the laptop too, so you can just easily use it in your home or take it to the office without any weird looks.  Flanking the keyboard, you get top-firing speakers for sound.

For ports, you get two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports with DisplayPort and power delivery, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, HDMI 2.1, and a headphone jack. Because it’s an AMD laptop, you don’t get support for Thunderbolt, but standard USB connections are already fairly versatile.

Considering its specs, size, and weight, the Razer Blade 14 is still reasonably priced at $2,799 for its top-tier configuration. You can step down to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 GPU for $2,199 if you prefer that. Either way, you’ll have plenty of power for video editing and gaming whenever you need it.

    Razer Blade 14
    Razer's first AMD-powered laptop is a 14 inch beast, featuring an AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX and high-end NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics. It comes in a design that weighs under 4lbs, making it quite portable for a device this powerful.

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Best 15-inch laptop for video editing: Alienware m15 R6

Dell Alienware m15 R6

If you’re looking for a laptop that can handle gaming and video editing alike, the Dell Alienware m15 is a fantastic choice. This is an extremely powerful laptop, starting with an Intel Core i7-11800H, an 8-core, 16-thread CPU that can boost up to 4.6GHz. Backing that up, there’s an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 GPU with 8GB of memory, capable of using up to 125W of power. That makes this one of the most powerful laptops you can find already, but you also get 32GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD to store games and video projects alike.

For gaming aficionados, the Alienware m15 R6 comes with up to a 360Hz Full HD display, giving you the smoothest possible experience. If you value resolution more, you can also get it with a Quad HD 240Hz panel, although that requires stepping down to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 GPU. Either way, you’re getting NVIDIA G-Sync support for variable refresh rates, ensuring games look as smooth as possible, even when the frame rate varies. While the display has generally small bezels, it can still fit in a Windows Hello webcam to make logging in easier.

Design-wise, the Alienware m15 R6 is meant to appeal to flashier gamers, featuring plenty of RGB lighting. The keyboard is backlit through the primary labels on each key, and the Alienware logo on the back also has a customizable backlight. The biggest backlit area is a ring around the ventilation area on the back, offering customizable animated effects. The laptop also uses honeycomb-shaped patterns in various places, including the top-firing speakers above the keyboard. Starting at 5.34lbs, this isn’t a light laptop, but that’s not too surprising considering the power inside.

Rounding things out with ports, we have one Thunderbolt 4 port on the back of the laptop, along with a USB 3.2 Gen 1 port, HDMI 2.1, and a charger port. On the sides, you get two more USB Type-A ports, gigabit Ethernet, and a combo audio jack. Having ports on the back can make some connections easier, plus it frees up some space for peripherals like mice on the side of the laptop.

    Alienware m15 R6
    The Dell Alienware m15 R6 is a powerful laptop for gaming and video editing. It has Intel's latest 11th-generation processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics, capable of powering the high-refresh display offered.

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Thin and light 15-inch laptop: Lenovo Legion Slim 7

Front view of Lenovo Legion Slim 7

Carrying around a laptop like the Alienware m15 is going to take a toll on your back, so you can still find a powerful laptop with a much more manageable weight. The Lenovo Legion Slim 7 is exactly that, and it doesn’t skimp out on much. It comes with up to an AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX processor, which already makes it an incredibly powerful laptop with its 8 cores and 16 threads running up to 4.6GHz. It also includes NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics, and up to an RTX 3060 with 100W of power. In terms of power, this is like a larger Razer Blade 14.

The display is pretty good, too. You can get it with a Full HD 165Hz display if you’re more into gaming, or go for the 4K 60Hz panel if you value video editing more. If you opt for the 4K panel, you also get HDR 400 support, Dolby Vision, and 500 nits of brightness, making the display easily visible under bright lights.

The Lenovo Legion Slim 7 also has one of the most interesting keyboards on this list, for a couple of reasons. It has full-sized arrow keys, and they’re lowered to ensure you don’t hit other keys accidentally. It’s also the only laptop on this list with a number pad, which you may or may not find useful. The keyboard is also backlit (with optional RGB), and that light comes through the labels on the keys as well as the translucent edges.

Design-wise, the Lenovo Legion Slim 7 weighs 4.2lbs and it’s fairly thin considering everything it offers. In terms of ports, you get two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports (with power delivery and DisplayPort) on the right, two USB 3.2 Type-A ports with the same data speeds on the back, an SD card reader, and a combo audio jack. There’s no Thunderbolt support here because this is an AMD-powered laptop.

Starting at $1,499, this is one of the more reasonably-priced laptops on this list. The model with a 4K display and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti can be found below, but you can also configure your own on Lenovo’s website. You can always read our review if you’d like to know more about what this laptop can do.

    Lenovo Legion Slim 7
    The Lenovo Legion Slim 7 is one of the thinnest and lightest you can find for video editing, especially considering it's a 15 inch laptop. It's packed with an AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX and NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics, along with a 4K display that's great for work.

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Best 17-inch laptop for video editing: Dell XPS 17

dell xps 17 9710 on blue background

We’ve already given the spotlight to the Dell XPS 15 on this list, but the XPS 17 has a lot of its own merits, too. The most notable of those is performance. The Dell XPS 17 is available with up to an Intel Core i9-11980HK, an 8-core, 16-thread CPU capable of boosting up to 5GHz. You can also configure it with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 capable of drawing 70W of power, an extremely powerful combination for video editing and even some gaming. Additionally, up to 64GB of RAM and 4TB of storage make this a laptop that can handle almost anything you throw at it.

The 17 inch display on this laptop is also excellent for productivity. It comes in the 16:10 aspect ratio, giving you more vertical space to work with. Those extra specs can give you more room for reading or for managing the timeline on a video project. And if you’re editing video, the 4K panel option can also help with that. This panel covers 100% of the Adobe RGB color space and 94% of DCI-P3, making it great for content consumption and creation alike. Plus, the increased pixel density means everything will look sharper and UI elements can become smaller, freeing up screen real estate.

Despite its larger size, the Dell XPS 17 is very similar on the inside compared to its smaller sibling. The keyboard is flanked by large speaker grills that hide the four stereo speakers giving you a great audio experience. Below that, a very large trackpad makes this a fantastic laptop to work on, even without a traditional mouse.

Ports are somewhat limiting here though, with the Dell XPS 17 relying almost exclusively on Thunderbolt. Four Thunderbolt 4 ports, two on each side, handle all the peripherals you may want to connect, including displays and external storage. A USB Type-C to Type-A and HDMI adapter is included in the box if you need those connections. Aside from that, the laptop only has an SD card reader and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

You can buy the Dell XPS 17 with an Intel Core i7-11800H, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD, as well as the 4K UHD+ display option, using the link below. This version also comes with Windows 10 Pro instead of the Home edition. Otherwise, you can configure your own XPS 17 on Dell’s website.

    Dell XPS 17
    The Dell XPS 17 is a powerful but compact 17 inch laptop. Featuring 11th-generation Intel Core processor, NVIDIA RTX graphics, and a 4K display, this is a fantastic laptop for video editing and productivity.

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Best AMD laptop for gaming: HP OMEN 15

HP OMEN 15z

Video editing requires a powerful laptop, but a powerful laptop doesn’t have to be limited to video editing. The latest HP OMEN 15 offers a stellar combination of specs at a compelling price, making it great for a college student who wants to do some gaming on the side. For starters, you get an AMD Ryzen 7 5800H CPU, with 8 cores and 16 threads to handle just about anything you might need. That’s backed up by an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 with 8GB of memory, making this an extremely compelling product for the $1,549 starting price. The base configuration includes 8GB of dual-channel RAM and 512GB of SSD storage, but you can double both of those with individual upgrades.

You also get a very nice display to start with — a Full HD 144Hz panel already gives you a very smooth gaming experience, and it’s sharp enough, too. That won’t really push the hardware inside this laptop though, so you can always opt for the Quad HD 165Hz panel, for an even crisper image and slightly smoother visuals in games.

The HP OMEN 15 has a somewhat subdued design for a gaming laptop, and the flashiest part about it is probably the OMEN logo on the back. The keyboard uses a white backlight by default, though you can upgrade to 4-zone RGB lighting if you enjoy the extra flair.

In terms of ports, you get one USB (3.2 Gen 1) Type-C, three USB Type-A ports at the same speeds, HDMI 2.1, Mini DisplayPort, Ethernet, and a combo audio jack, in addition to a custom power adapter plug.

This laptop doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles, but that might be a good thing. It focuses on nailing the basics, and it does it pretty well, offering fantastic specs for its $1,549. You can configure your own using the link below.

    HP OMEN 15
    The HP OMEN 15 may not be the flashiest laptop, but on the inside, it has all the power you could want from a gaming and video editing rig. With a Ryzen 7 5800H processor and NVIDIA RTX graphics, it's a compelling offering for its price.

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Best for business: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme angled view on beige couch

What if, in addition to powerful video editing capabilities, you also need business and security features? Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4 might be the answer to your problems. First off, it comes with 11th-generation Intel Core i7 processors, including the vPro version of it. This variant of the Intel Core i7 has some additional performance and extra security features, making it ideal for business. You can add up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 GPU with 8GB of memory, so you’re not sacrificing power to get those extra security features. You also get 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of SSD storage. Lenovo actually touts up to an Intel Core i9, 64GB of RAM, and 4TB of storage, but these options don’t seem to be available to buy yet.

That’s not all, though. The default configuration on this laptop comes with a 16 inch, Quad HD+ (2560 x 1600) IPS display. That’s not only super-sharp already, it’s in the 16:10 aspect ratio, which is fantastic for productivity. One could argue Quad HD is the sweet spot for resolution on a laptop since it offers a good balance of battery life and sharpness. But if you absolutely need more resolution, you can even go up to an Ultra HD+ (3840 x 2400) display with Dolby Vision and HDR 400 support. This model also includes a 600 nit display, great for visibility under bright lights.

But there are even more business goodies here. You get the classic ThinkPad design, meaning there’s a little nub and duplicate trackpad buttons for mouse control. There’s a fingerprint reader built into the power button, plus an optional IR camera for Windows Hello. Some models will offer optional 5G support, allowing you to stay connected on the go. Again, these models don’t seem to be available yet, but they should show up eventually.

You also get a handful of ports for connectivity — two Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB (3.2 Gen 1) Type-A ports, HDMI 2.1, an SD card reader, and a headphone jack. All of that comes in a package starting at just under 4lbs, making this an extremely impressive machine.

You can check out the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme using the link below. A few configuration options are already available, but more of them will become available over time.

    Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme
    The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 4 is a very powerful business laptop featuring high-end specs in the classic ThinkPad design. It comes with Intel Core H-series vPro processors and NVIDIA RTX graphics, and it also includes features like a fingerprint reader, optional IR camera, and a super sharp display.

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Best all-in-one: HP Envy All-in-One 32HP Envy All-in-One 32

Alright, this isn’t really a laptop, but the concept of a desktop with a built-in display is still worth considering. With most of these laptops, you’re not going to stay away from an outlet for very long anyway, so this might be the right solution for you.

The HP Envy All-in-One is a powerful machine, packing up to a desktop-level Intel Core i9-10900 processor. That’s not the latest hardware available, but with 10 cores and 20 threads, you really won’t be lacking in power. Plus, you can add up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super with Max-Q design, giving you all the power you could need for video rendering or gaming. Plus, you get up to 32GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage (you can get a 2TB HDD, but you really shouldn’t).

The display is also great on this PC, being a 31.5 inch IPS panel with a whopping 4K resolution. It’s also got 600 nits of brightness and HDR 600 support, so viewing and creating content on this display should be great. Likewise, the built-in soundbar should give you a very good experience as well, with multiple speakers offering rich stereo sound tuned by Bang & Olufsen.

The HP Envy All-in-One is also hiding some goodies you might not notice immediately. There’s a 5MP pop-up camera hiding above the display, complete with support for Windows Hello facial recognition. You can bring it up when you need it, and rest assured your privacy is protected when you don’t need it. Another neat feature is wireless charging available on the computer’s base. You can put your phone down on it, and it will charge wirelessly (if it supports wireless charging).

Rounding things out, you get plenty of ports, including one Thunderbolt 3 port (40Gbps), a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, HDMI in and out, and Ethernet ports on the back. Plus, an extra USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port and a combo audio jack on the side for anything you want to plug in quickly. This all comes in a sleek and modern design that will look great on any desk. You also get a matching keyboard and mouse so you’re ready to go right out of the box.

    HP Envy All-in-One 32
    The HP Envy All-in-One 32 is a powerful compact PC that has a lot to offer. Featuring high-end Intel Core processors and NVIDIA RTX 20 series graphics, it can handle all the video editing tasks you can throw at it, and some gaming too.

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These are some of the best laptops (and one desktop) you can buy if you’re doing a lot of video editing on your PC. They’re all PCs running Windows 10, but they’ll get Windows 11 once the update is available. With all of these options, you’ll surely be able to find something that suits your personal preference.

Personally speaking, I would always want a convertible, and the Acer ConceptD 7 Ezel is an extremely interesting concept for this form factor. But you don’t have to abide by the same rules, and all the options on this list are fantastic.

The post Best laptops for video editing: Acer ConceptD, Dell XPS, and more appeared first on xda-developers.



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Today only: Get the OnePlus Buds Pro with a OnePlus 9/9 Pro for $180-220 off

OnePlus regularly discounts its phones and accessories, but usually not by too much. Today marks the first day that the OnePlus Buds Pro are available to purchase, and to celebrate the occasion, OnePlus is bundling them with its phones at lower prices. The best prices are live for today only, but the sale event will technically continue throughout the whole month of September.

For today only (September 1st), the OnePlus 9 Pro and OnePlus Buds Pro are available in a bundle for $999, a savings of $220 compared to buying them separately at the original prices. For context, the OnePlus 9 Pro has been almost constantly on sale for $1,000 over the past several months, so you’re essentially getting the earbuds at no extra cost. You can also get the OnePlus 9 and Buds Pro together for $799, a savings of $180 from the MSRP. The phone alone has hovered around $680 recently, so as with the other bundle, it mostly amounts to receiving the earbuds for free.

    OnePlus Bundles
    OnePlus is offering bundle deals on the OnePlus Buds Pro when paired with an OP9 or OP9 Pro. The best discounts are availabel for September 1 only.

After September 1st, the bundles will go up in price. The OnePlus 9 Pro and Buds Pro will be priced at $1,099 ($120 off), and the OnePlus 9 and Buds Pro together will be $799 ($80 off). The bundles really aren’t deals at that point, unless you were already going to buy a OnePlus phone, and can’t buy one today for whatever reason.

We recently reviewed the OnePlus Buds Pro, and found them to be great wireless earbuds for the usual price, though the software is a bit complicated at the moment. If you need a refresher on the phones, check out our OnePlus 9 Pro review and OnePlus 9 camera review.

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Google could launch custom CPUs for Chromebooks in 2023

Google recently teased that its upcoming Pixel 6 and 6 Pro will feature a custom-made CPU called Google Tensor. This will be the first time the company designs its own processors and moves away from Qualcomm. But the plans apparently don’t stop there, as Google is also readying custom CPUs to power Chrome OS-based laptops and tablets. According to a report by Nikkei Asia, we could see Chromebooks launch with custom Google CPUs as early as 2023.

The idea that Google is working on in-house processors for Chromebooks isn’t completely new. Back in April, initial reports came out about Google building custom CPUs for phones, tablets, and laptops. Sure enough, we saw part of that materialize when Google teased the Pixel 6 family a couple of weeks ago. If that’s any indication, there was already a good chance we’d see custom Google CPUs for Chromebooks at some point, too.

According to Nikkei‘s sources, Google’s transition to custom CPUs for laptops and tablets was inspired by Apple, which began a similar transition last year. After using Intel CPUs for over a decade, the Cupertino company began switching to Apple Silicon, starting with the Apple M1 that’s now inside the MacBook Air, the iPad Pro, the 24-inch Mac, and more. Devices with this new processor have proved successful, so Google wants to try something similar.

Much like Apple Silicon, Google’s custom processors will be based on technology from Arm, thanks to the company’s fairly open licensing scheme. Arm-based processors power pretty much every smartphone out there, and now, some PCs, too.

Custom processors like these are desirable for differentiation. For example, with the Pixel 6, Google’s Tensor processor is specifically designed to handle computational photography even better with AI processing, as well as things like HDR video. Plus, it’s also improving voice recognition, real-time translation, and more. The company can build a chipset that’s more tailored to the needs of their devices, which (hopefully) means more compelling products.

Of course, we have yet to see just how well the transition to custom CPUs turns out for Google, be it on Chromebooks or phones. We still don’t know everything about the Pixel 6, not even a release date we can look forward to. That will be the first time we can judge Google’s ability to design chips that offer a better experience on its devices. Then we’ll have to wait a while longer to see if they can do the same for laptops.

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Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 vs Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra: To fold or not to fold, that is the question

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 3 is now official, and if you’re planning to upgrade to a new Samsung phone, you’ve got some decisions to make. If you want the best, there’s actually a lot to choose from, including the brand-new Galaxy Z Fold 3, Galaxy Z Flip 3, and Galaxy S21 Ultra. As you can probably guess, each one has its own unique advantages. As is always the case with consumer technology, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution.

When you’re looking at the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 vs the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, there are two main priorities you need to consider.

  • Do you want a phone that folds into something more compact?
  • Do you want the latest and greatest smartphone camera technology?

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 and S21 Ultra Specs

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 vs Galaxy S21 Ultra: Specifications

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
CPU 5nm 64-bit Octa-Core Processor (2.84GHz + 2.4GHz + 1.8GHz) 5nm 64-bit Octa-Core Processor (2.8GHz + 2.4GHz + 1.8GHz)
Body Folded: 72.2×86.4×17.1mm
Unfolded: 72.2x166x6.9mm
Weight: 183g
165.1×75.6×8.9mm
Weight: 227g
Display Main screen: 6.7-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display (22:9)
Infinity Flex Display 2,640×1,080, 425ppi, 120Hz adaptive refresh rate
Cover screen: 1.9-inch Super AMOLED Display 260×512, 302ppi
6.8-inch Quad HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X
Infinity-O Display (3,200×1,440), 515ppi, 120Hz refresh rate
Camera 12MP f/1.8 wide (OIS, Dual Pixel AF) + 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide
Front: 10MP f/2.4
108MP f/1.8 wide (1/1.33in, PDAF, OIS) + 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide (Super Speed Dual Pixel AF) + 10MP f/2.4 3x telephoto (Dual Pixel AF) + 10MP f/4.9 10x telephoto (Dual Pixel AF)
Front: 40MP f/2.2
Memory 8GB RAM, 128GB/256GB UFS 3.1 storage 16GB RAM (LPDDR5) with 512GB internal storage
12GB RAM (LPDDR5) with 256GB internal storage
12GB RAM (LPDDR5) with 128GB internal storage
Battery 3,300mAh dual battery 5,000mAh
Network LTE: Enhanced 4X4 MIMO, 7CA, LAA, LTE Cat. 20
5G: Non-Standalone (NSA), Standalone (SA), Sub6 / mmWave
Water Resistance IPX8 IP68
Sensors Capacitive fingerprint sensor (side), Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro sensor, Geomagnetic sensor, Hall sensor (analog), Proximity sensor, Light sensor Ultrasonic Fingerprint sensor, Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro sensor, Geomagnetic sensor, Hall sensor, Proximity sensor, Ambient Light sensor
OS Android 11
Colors Cream, Green, Lavender, Phantom Black, Gray, White, Pink Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Titanium, Phantom Navy, Phantom Brown
Price Starts at $999.99 Starts at $1,199.99

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 vs Galaxy S21 Ultra: Design and Display

With the Galaxy Z Flip 3, the key-value indicator is you can fold it in half, making it more compact. Indeed, that’s the whole point of the device. With the original Galaxy Fold, the idea was to take a regular phone-sized device and unfold it into something larger. With the Galaxy Z Flip, you’d take a similarly-sized device and fold it down to something smaller.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra on table next to partially folded Galaxy Z Flip 3

The main screen hasn’t changed on the Galaxy Z Flip 3, but the external screen has, and it’s bigger. The external screen is now 1.9 inches instead of 1.1 inches, maintaining a similar 302ppi pixel density. This is for a quick view of the time, notifications, and so on.

The main screen is 6.7 inches with a 2,640 x 1,080 resolution, giving it a very tall 22:9 aspect ratio. The screen on the Galaxy S21 Ultra is actually much bigger, coming in at 6.8 inches with a 20:9 aspect ratio. Remember, screen sizes are measured diagonally, and as the aspect ratio gets closer to being square, the more surface area there is with the same diagonal size. A difference of 0.1 inches is more than it sounds like in this case.

It’s also got a higher resolution, coming in at 3,200 x 1,440, although they both offer 120Hz refresh rates. The pixel density on the S21 Ultra is 515ppi, compared to 425ppi on the Galaxy Z Flip 3.

When looking at the screen in this comparison, the Galaxy S21 Ultra is the better one. That’s as it should be too. When you stick to an industry standard that’s been used for 15 years — meaning a rectangular device — it’s easy to make the rest of it the best possible. On the other hand, the Galaxy Z Flip has a form factor that might win you over.

Front displays of Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra and Galaxy Z Flip 3

Let’s talk about the design too though, because the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 is lighter, and when opened, it’s thinner. It comes in at 183g, which is 44g lighter than the Galaxy S21 Ultra. The fact it’s lighter fits in with the idea of it being more compact. It’s just easier to carry around. While the Galaxy S21 Ultra has held its ground as one of the best smartphones on the market, it must be considered that it’s fairly big, bulky, and heavy. Most people find that impractical for daily, prolonged use.

The Galaxy Z Flip is 17.1mm thick when folded, however, while the Galaxy S21 Ultra is 8.9mm. Keep in mind the dimensions of the Z Fold 3 are 72.2 x 86.4mm when it’s folded, while the dimensions of the Galaxy S21 Ultra are 165.1 x 75.6mm. That means if you have smaller pockets or bags that you carry a device in, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 is the way to go.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 vs Galaxy S21 Ultra: Camera

All of the Samsung Galaxy S21 series was pretty great, but one thing made the Galaxy S21 Ultra really stand out from the pack, and indeed the rest of the market. I’m talking about the camera. The hardware on the Galaxy S21 Ultra camera is some of the best around, and no, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 doesn’t even come close.

But before we look at specs, let’s keep in mind it’s not supposed to come close. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra camera is what I’d call an enthusiast camera. It’s for people that want the best of the best, and you don’t need to come close to it in order to have a phenomenal camera experience.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra next to Galaxy Z Flip 3, showing the back

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra has a 108MP f/1.8 1/1.33-inch main sensor. That’s about as good as it gets. The larger sensor means it lets in a lot of light for great low-light performance. On top of that, the 108MP resolution uses 9:1 pixel binning for even better low-light performance in a 12MP image.

That’s not all though, because it has both a 3x and a 10x telephoto lens. Think of it this way. If you have a single lens on your camera, it can see a specific field of view, and that field of view is divided into a specific amount of pixels. If you digitally zoom in with that lens, the effect — aside from some software tricks — is essentially the same as if you took the picture without zooming at all, and you simply cropped it.

With dedicated zoom lenses, you’re pretty much using something that has a smaller field of view, but a similar resolution. This allows for lossless zoom at those ranges. There are other issues this presents, such as the telephoto lens not working as well in low light, since it’s smaller by definition, but there are software tricks for that too.

With a 3x zoom and a 10x zoom lens, this opens up a lot of possibilities, the least of which is 10x lossless zoom. But those lenses can work together to do some cool things. Of course, the higher you go, the more loss you’ll see. The camera actually goes up to 100x, although you probably wouldn’t want to use it like that.

Now that we’ve talked about the capabilities of the Galaxy S21 Ultra, let’s talk about the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3. It’s just got two 12MP sensors, the main one of which also has an f/1.8 aperture. It’s a fine camera, although way more mainstream. In fact, even compared to high-end cameras, there’s still no telephoto lens. If you’re looking for a camera that will get the job done for social media and family photos, this will do that very well. But there’s not as much overhead room to play here, as the bells and whistles from the Ultra are missing here.

Finally, they both have 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide sensors, which seem to be the same across the board.

Conclusion: Which one should you get?

Like I said earlier, both of these are great phones in their own way. There’s no simple, one-size-fits-all solution where I can say one is better than the other. But we’re back to where we started. Are you looking for a screen that can fold, or are you looking for the latest and greatest in smartphone camera technology?

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra next to Galaxy Z Flip 3, showing the back

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 is all about having a compact device. If you’re looking for something that won’t take up a lot of space in your pocket, look no further. In fact, if you’re not looking for that compact form factor, you’d probably be better off with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3. It also comes in prettier colors, including Cream, Green, Lavender, Phantom Black, Gray, White, and Pink, so it’s more fun. The main colors of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra are Phantom Black and Phantom Silver, although there are some exclusive colors if you buy directly from Samsung.com.

    Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3
    The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 takes the flip phone form factor and takes it to the next level.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is really what you’d get if you want the top-end camera. If you want the traditional form factor without needing this camera, you can go for something like an S21 or an S21+.

    Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
    The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is known for its camera chops, but it has it all.

As far as performance goes, both of these devices are the same. Pricing is technically a bit higher on the Galaxy S21 Ultra, but you can usually find deals that mark it down to about the same as the Galaxy Z Flip 3.

In other words, it’s all pretty simple. You just have to break it down to which of the two key-value indicators you want.

If you decide on a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3, you can find the best deals here, or you can pick up a case here.

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Nintendo Switch Online may be adding Game Boy games

There’s a rumor in the gaming industry that Nintendo may soon bring another of its extensive libraries to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers — specifically, the libraries of the Game Boy and the Game Boy Color. There’s a chance this could be a gateway to bring other Nintendo gameplay libraries to the Switch… at least, so one hopes.

This rumor was first mentioned on the “Nate the Hate” podcast by insider “NateDrake.” Up to now, Nintendo has reserved the Switch Online library of free games for NES and SNES titles. However, in 2019, a dataminer called OatmealDome discovered that there are four emulators referenced in the Nintendo Switch Online app, codenamed “Kachikachi, Canoe, Hiyoko and Count.” Kachikachi and Canoe are the names of the emulators that were used in the NES Classic and SNES Classic mini consoles.

Hiyoko and Count, assuming they exist, have yet to be accounted for. There’s a chance one or both of them could be Game Boy/Game Boy Color emulators that will bring the Game Boy titles to the Nintendo Switch. Sources supposedly confirmed these upcoming games to Nintendo Life, lending credence to the rumor. Game Boy games that could be coming to Nintendo Switch Online include the likes of Kirby’s Dream Land, Metroid II, and any of the Wario Land titles. There are lots of games for both the Game Boy and the Game Boy Color that have yet to be launched on Nintendo’s latest console.

Assuming that only one of the emulators was used to emulate Game Boy titles, that means that the other could be used for other purposes. One console that fans have been crying out for games from is the Nintendo 64. For some reason, Nintendo seems reluctant to revisit that part of its history so far. Given that there are several excellent games that made their original appearance on the N64, adding them would be a huge boon to Nintendo Switch Online. There’s also a chance that Nintendo could come out with other Classic miniature consoles if it wanted to bolster its holiday sales.

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Apple Watch Series 7 will bring a new design, and that could cause a delay

Apple is reportedly facing production delays with the next-gen Apple Watch. According to Nikkie Asia, the company is dealing with quality issues with the Apple Watch Series 7 as it features a new design that has added various complexities. A report from Bloomberg corroborates this claim and further adds that Apple Watch Series 7 manufacturers are also experiencing delays due to supply constraints.

Recent leaks suggest that Apple will unveil the new iPhone 13 lineup, the Apple Watch Series 7, and a new version of the AirPods later this month. While the company hasn’t shared any official details so far, leaked renders reveal that the Apple Watch Series 7 will feature a new design with flat edges, upgraded screen technology (via Bloomberg), a faster processor, and various new health and fitness features. If that’s the case, the next-gen Apple Watch will be a significant upgrade over its predecessor.

One of the people with direct knowledge of the production delays told Nikkie Asia that all “assemblers are facing similar problems reaching satisfactory production performance based on the current industrial designs.” “Apple and its suppliers are working around the clock trying to solve the issues, but currently it is hard to tell when the mass production could begin,” another person added.

Although the production delays probably won’t affect Apple’s plans to unveil the next-gen smartwatch at the upcoming launch event, the company might have to postpone the launch date by a couple of weeks. We’ll make sure to let you know in case we learn more about the situation.

For more information about the new features we expect to see on the Apple Watch Series 7, check out our WatchOS 8 coverage.

Featured image: Apple Watch Series 7 leaked render (Courtesy: Jon Prosser)

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Galaxy Buds Pro update brings some features from the Galaxy Buds 2

Samsung recently rolled out a new software update to its newly released Galaxy Buds 2 that added two new Active Noise Cancellation features, the double-tap gesture, and fixed some bugs and improved stability. Now the company is rolling out a new update to the Galaxy Buds Pro that brings along some of the Galaxy Buds 2 features.

The latest Galaxy Buds Pro update adds a slew of new features including Ambient sound support during calls, noise controls features, and the ability to customize the Ambient sound.

The new update adds the following features:

  • “Ambient sound” is now available during calls as well.
  • Added a “Noise controls” feature.
  • Added a “Noise controls with one earbud” feature.
  • Added a “Customize ambient sound” feature.

The Ambient Sound mode is a feature on the Galaxy Buds Pro that lets you hear surrounding voices and sounds while listening to music. It also has a Detect conversations feature that makes it easier to hear nearby conversations without having to take off your earbuds. With the latest update, you’ll be able to turn on Ambient sound during calls as well. Furthermore, you can now enable ANC on either one bud or both — similar to the Galaxy Buds 2 — and can also customize Ambient Sound.

The Galaxy Buds Pro are the best earbuds that aren’t an AirPods clone

To install the new firmware on your Galaxy Buds Pro, you’ll need to update the Galaxy Buds Plugin, a component of the Galaxy Wearable app. After updating the Galaxy Buds plugin, put the earbuds into the case and keep the lid open. Now on your phone, open the Galaxy Wearable app and tap earbuds software update, tap download and install and then update. Wait for the update process to be finished. Once the update is finished, the earbuds will automatically reconnect to your phone.

Galaxy Buds Pro Plugin (Free, Google Play) →

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