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mercredi 20 octobre 2021

MacBook Pro 16 vs Lenovo ThinkPad P1: What’s the best 16-inch laptop?

With Apple recently launching the brand-new MacBook Pro 2021 models, they’re set to become one of the most powerful and best Macs you can buy today. Featuring the new Apple M1 Pro and M1 Max, the new MacBook Pro 16-inch is a beastly machine that crushes just about any Windows ultrabook and even many professional laptops. But can it be better than a mobile workstation? We’re comparing the MacBook Pro 16-inch to the Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 4 to see how the two stack up.

These are two very powerful laptops, and they have the same screen size, too. But they’re radically different in most other ways, so let’s take a closer look at why you might prefer one over the other. We’ll start with the specs.

MacBook Pro 16-inch vs Lenovo ThinkPad P1: Specs

MacBook Pro 16 Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 4
Processor
  • Apple M1 Pro (unknown clock speed, 10-core)
  • Apple M1 Max (unknown clock speed, 10-core)
  • Intel Core i7-11800H (up to 4.6GHz, 8-core)
  • Intel Core i7-11850H (up to 4.8GHz, 8-core)
  • Intel Core i9-11950H (up to 5GHz, 8-core)
  • Intel Xeon W-11855M (up to 4.9GHz, 6-core)
Graphics
  • 16-core GPU (M1 Pro)
  • 24-core GPU (M1 Max)
  • 32-core GPU (M1 Max)
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Max-Q 8GB GDDR6
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Max-Q 16GB GDDR6
  • NVIDIA T1200 4GB
  • NVIDIA RTX A2000 4GB
  • NVIDIA RTX A3000 6GB
  • NVIDIA RTX A4000 8GB
  • NVIDIA RTX A5000 16GB
RAM
  • 16GB (M1 Pro only)
  • 32GB
  • 64GB (M1 Max only)
  • 16GB
  • 32GB
  • 64GB
Storage
  • 512GB
  • 1TB
  • 2TB
  • 4TB
  • 8TB
  • 512GB
  • 1TB
Display
  • 16.2 inch, 3456 x 2234 resolution, Wide Color (P3), True Tone, 120Hz, 1000 nits
  • 16-inch Quad HD+ (2560 x 1600) IPS, 100% sRGB, 400 nits
  • 16-inch Ultra HD+ (3840 x 2400) IPS, 100% Adobe RGB, HDR400, 600 nits
  • 16-inch Ultra HD+ (3840 x 2400) IPS, touch, 100% Adobe RGB, HDR400, 600 nits
Audio
  • Six-speaker stereo sound with force canceling woofers, Dolby Atmos
  • Dual 2W stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos
Webcam
  • 1080p front-facing webcam
  • 1080p webcam
Biometric security
  • Touch ID on power button
  • Fingerprint reader in power button
  • Optional: Windows Hello IR camera
Battery
  • 99.8Wh, up to 21 hours of Apple TV movie playback
  • 90Wh battery, up to 10.9 hours (MobileMark 2018)
Ports
  • 3 Thunderbolt 4 ports
  • HDMI
  • MagSafe 3 charging port
  • SD card reader
  • 3.5mm headphone jack
  • 2 Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type-C) ports
  • 3 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports
  • HDMI 2.1
  • SD card reader
  • 3.5mm headphone jack
Connectivity
  • Wi-Fi 6 + Bluetooth 5.0
  • Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX210 (2×2), Bluetooth 5.2
Colors
  • Silver
  • Space Grey
  • Black, optional carbon fiber weave on lid
Size (WxDxH) 14.01 x 9.77 x 0.66 in (355.7 x 248.1 x 16.8 mm) 14.15 x 9.99 x 0.7 in (359.5 x 253.8 x 17.7 mm)
Weight
  • Starting at 4.7lbs
  • Starting at 3.99lbs
Starting price $2,499.99  $1,859.99 (varies)

Windows vs macOS

The first big thing to note with these two laptops is the operating system, and that’s not really new at all. The differences between Windows and macOS are well known, and you likely already have a preference. macOS is currently up to version 12, called macOS Monterey, and it’s often considered the more accessible operating system for beginners. It also has a reputation among content creators, with software like Final Cut Pro being exclusive to macOS.

On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkPad P1 comes with Windows 10, with a free upgrade path to Windows 11. Windows has its own set of advantages, namely the fact that it’s much more widespread, and thus a lot of apps only exist for Windows, or are released for Windows first. It’s generally easier to find all kinds of apps for Windows compared to macOS. Windows also tends to give you some more freedom to mess with more advanced settings if you’re a power user. Regardless, both operating systems have their strengths and weaknesses, and frankly, you probably already know what you prefer.

MacBook Pro 16-inch vs ThinkPad P1: Performance

Moving on to performance, this is one of the areas Apple highlighted the most with the new MacBook Pro. The MacBook Pro 16-inch comes with either an Apple M1 Pro or Apple M1 Max, both of which are very powerful processors with an integrated CPU and GPU. Because these are completely new chips, we don’t have any real-world performance measurements for them just yet, but we do have Apple’s claims, and they are very impressive.

On the CPU side of things, the Apple M1 Pro and M1 Max are the same. Apple compared the CPU performance to that of an Intel Core i7-11800H, and claimed that it can achieve 1.7 times higher performance for the same power level, and on top of that, it can achieve the same level of performance while using 70% less power. Now, you can get the Lenovo ThinkPad P1 with up to an Intel Core i9-11950H, and that’s naturally faster than the Core i7, but based on the benchmarks, it’s not 1.7 times faster, so the Apple M1 Pro and Max likely still come out on top.

Apple M1 Pro and M1 Max CPU performance compared to Intel-based PCs Apple M1 Max GPU performance compared to GeForce RTX 3080 in Razer Blade 15 Advanced

As for the GPU, it seems that Apple may win again at the top end. The Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 4 comes with up to an NVIDIA RTX A5000 Max-Q GPU with 16GB of video memory, which is similar in performance to a GeForce RTX 3080 Max-Q. Apple compares the 32-core GPU in the Apple M1 Max to a GeForce RTX 3080 laptop GPU inside the Razer Blade 15 Advanced, which has 105W of power. Apple claims it can achieve a similar level of performance to this GPU while using 40% less power. And it’s worth noting that the Max-Q variants of these GPUs will likely perform worse since they’re designed for smaller laptops with less efficient thermal designs. As such, at the high-end, Apple seems to have Lenovo beat.

However, at the end of the day, both of these are very powerful laptops, and you won’t be begging for more performance either way. What might be worth taking into account is the battery life. Apple’s in-house chips are notably power-efficient, and based on the claims above, it seems that’s true here as well. Apple promises up to 21 hours of video playback on a charge with the 16-inch MacBook Pro, or 14 hours of wireless web browsing. Lenovo claims up to 10.9 hours based on the MobileMark 2018 test, but powerful Intel-based laptops like this rarely last that long in real-life scenarios.

The MacBook Pro has up to 64GB of unified memory, which can be accessed by both the GPU and CPU.

Moving on to RAM, the MacBook Pro comes with up to 64GB of unified memory, and the Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 4 can also be configured with up to 64GB of RAM. A big difference here is that Apple’s unified memory is accessible to both the CPU and GPU, so you get an extremely large amount of video memory to work with compared to any Windows-based laptop. On the other hand, it’s impossible to upgrade the memory later down the line on the MacBook Pro, while the Lenovo ThinkPad P1 is more easily upgradeable.

As for storage, the MacBook Pro can be configured with up to 8TB of storage out of the box, while the Lenovo ThinkPad P1 is only available with up to 1TB. However, the ThinkPad P1 has two M.2 slots, meaning you can upgrade the SSD to also have up to 8TB of storage if you need it. It’s probably cheaper than buying that upgrade from the OEM, too.

Display: Liquid Retina XDR comes to the MacBook Pro

In terms of the display, the MacBook Pro 16 and the Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 4 have a similar starting point, seeing as they’re both 16-inch panels in the 16:10 aspect ratio, albeit the MacBook Pro is ever so slightly larger at 16.2 inches.

Lenovo ThinkPad P1 display

Lenovo ThinkPad P1

As for quality, both laptops deliver in different ways. The Lenovo ThinkPad P1 has a couple of different configurations. The base model is a Quad HD+ (2560 x 1600) display, and it covers 100% of sRGB. However, you can upgrade to the more impressive Ultra HD+ (3840 x 2400) panel, which gets you 100% coverage of Adobe RGB, DisplayHDR 400 support, and 600 nits of brightness. That’s much better, and the 100% Adobe RGB coverage makes it ideal for color-sensitive work. You can also add touch support to it, which Apple still refuses to do for its laptops.

However, the MacBook Pro has a stellar display in its own right. The 16.2-inch panel comes in a resolution of 3456 x 2234, which is just slightly below 4K resolution. But what’s most impressive about it is that it’s a mini-LED panel, which gives it benefits similar to that of an OLED display. It’s got a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, and it can handle 1000 nits of sustained full-screen brightness or up to 1600 nits of peak brightness. Because it uses mini-LED, it has numerous dimming zones, which allows black pixels to be turned off almost entirely. Another impressive thing about it is that it has a 120Hz refresh rate, what Apple calls Pro Motion, and it can dynamically adjust that refresh rate to save battery when needed.

MacBook Pro 16-inch display with Final Cut Pro running

MacBook Pro 16-inch

One glaring flaw of the MacBook Pro, however, is the notch. Yes, the MacBook Pro has a notch to house the webcam, similar to how the iPhone still has a notch, too. This is so the MacBook Pro can now have a 1080p webcam, which is a welcome upgrade, but the ThinkPad P1 also has a 1080p webcam, and it houses it in the bezel above the display instead. Of course, that does mean you have a larger bezel, but it’s probably less jarring to most users than having a large cutout on the screen.

Apple has been using a powerful six-speaker setup on the 16-inch MacBook Pro for a while, and it’s even better in the new model.

As for sound, that’s one area where the MacBook Pro is going to be much better. Apple has been using a powerful six-speaker setup on the 16-inch MacBook Pro for a while, and it’s even better in this model. Compared to the dual stereo speakers of the ThinkPad P1, it’s going to sound much better and louder.

Design and connectivity: The new MacBook Pro has proper ports

Both being professional laptops, the design of the MacBook Pro and the Lenovo THinkPad P1 are both fairly tame. The MacBook Pro comes in Silver or Space Grey color options, the same colors we’re used to by now. The ThinkPad P1 comes in black, but if you choose the Ultra HD+ display, you get a carbon fiber pattern on the lid that helps it stand out a little bit more.

Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Carbon Fiber weave lid

Despite its efficient processor, the MacBook Pro 16-inch is surprisingly not that portable compared to the Lenovo ThinkPad P1. It is smaller in just about every dimension – it’s not as wide, tall, or deep, but its starting weight of 4.7lbs is well above the 3.99lbs of the ThinkPad P1, and you’re likely going to feel that if you’re planning on carrying the laptop around for a few hours. To be fair, the ThinkPad P1 can probably get a bit heavier depending on the CPU and GPU configurations, but it’s a stark difference to start with.

To make up for that, the new MacBook Pro finally brings back proper ports instead of forcing everyone to use Thunderbolt docks. You still get three Thunderbolt 4 ports and a headphone jack, but there’s now also HDMI, an SD card reader, and MagSafe charging is back, too.  This magnetic charger design should help prevent your laptop from falling over if you trip on the charging cable, for example. There’s still no USB Type-A, however.

An image highlighting the ports on the new MacBook Pros

Meanwhile, the Lenovo ThinkPad P1 has two Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB Type-A ports, HDMI, an SD card reader, a headphone jack, and a proprietary charging port. USB Type-A ensures compatibility with a lot of peripherals that still use this port to connect, which might be important to some users. Otherwise, the two laptops are fairly similar.

As for security, both laptops come with fingerprint readers built into the power button to make logging in easier. However, the ThinkPad P1 also gives you the option for Windows Hello facial recognition if you’d like an even more convenient way to sign in.

One big area where the ThinkPad P1 has an advantage over the MacBook Pro 16 is support for cellular connectivity, at least on paper. None of the configurations currently available in the United States support cellular, but Lenovo does tout it as an optional feature.

Bottom line

It’s fair to say that, overall, the MacBook Pro 16-inch is better than the Lenovo ThinkPad P1. It has a faster chipset, and if you need the most performance, you’re likely better off with it. Most notably, it’s a very efficient chip, so you’re also very likely to get way better battery life out of the MacBook Pro. Plus, it has a fantastic mini-LED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, and that’s standard for every configuration. And to round things out, it has a solid supply of ports, after many years where the MacBook Pro tried to force everyone to use Thunderbolt instead.

A front-facing image of Apple's new MacBook Pro

The Lenovo ThinkPad P1 still has some advantages, though. It’s lighter to begin with, and you get the option for an Ultra HD+ display that covers 100% of Adobe RGB, which is ideal for creative work. Plus, you get touch support in some models, which is something Apple still refuses to add to the MacBook lineup. And if you’re still using a lot of USB Type-A peripherals, the ThinkPad P1 has those ports built-in.

These are two powerful laptops with plenty of connectivity options and great displays, and both will give you a great experience.

At the end of the day, the biggest factor in choosing one over the other is probably the operating system. Both of these are very powerful laptops with solid connectivity and great displays. While they’re different, and you can certainly argue the MacBook Pro is technically better, you’re going to get a great experience either way. An exception to that might be the battery life, as that’s likely going to be much better on the MacBook Pro, and that matters a lot if you’re buying a laptop.

Regardless of what you choose, you can buy either one of these laptops using the links below. If you choose the MacBook Pro, be sure to check out our list of the best MacBook Pro cases to keep your new laptop safe.

    MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021)
    The MacBook Pro is a powerful laptop with Apple's M1 Max chipset, and it can be as powerful as high-end Windows laptops while using less power.
    Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 4
    The Lenovo ThinkPad P1 is a powerful mobile workstation with high-end Intel Core processors and NVIDIA RTX graphics.

The post MacBook Pro 16 vs Lenovo ThinkPad P1: What’s the best 16-inch laptop? appeared first on xda-developers.



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Windows 11 build 22483 rolls out to the Dev channel with a few more fixes

After dropping a bombshell with the surprise launch of Android apps for Windows Insiders enrolled in the Beta channel, Microsoft is now rolling out its weekly build of Windows 11 to Insiders in the Dev channel. This week, we’re getting build 22483, and just like most builds we’ve getting, this one is all about fixes and minor improvements.

The most notable change in Windows 11 build 22483 is that now you can right-click the Recommended and More buttons in the Start menu to refresh the list of items shown there. This can be useful if you’ve just downloaded or saved a file and it hasn’t shown up yet. There’s a new celebratory badge in the Feedback Hub app if you’ve been a Windows Insider since the program began in 2014, celebrating the 7th anniversary of the program.

Aside from that, it’s all about fixes. While Android app support is now rolling out, it’s exclusively available in the Beta channel, which seems to be a bit of odd decision, considering the Dev channel is usually meant to test features before anyone else. Microsoft says it wants to test that features with the version of Windows 11 that’s already available to the general public, probably because the feature will also roll out to the general public before the next major feature update which is still one year away.

If you want to see everything that’s been fixed, you can check out the list below:

Fixes and improvements in Windows 11 build 22483

[Search]

  • Fixed an issue that was causing Search to appear black and not display any content below the search box.

[Settings]

  • Searching for “display” will now return Display Settings.

[Other]

  • Trying to access the Linux entry for WSL in File Explorer’s navigation pane should no longer pop up an error saying “wsl.localhost is unavailable, insufficient resources exist” on ARM64 PCs.
  • Fixed an issue that was causing cellular data to not work on certain devices in recent Dev Channel builds.
  • Addressed an issue with NTFS when the USN journal was enabled, where it was doing extra unnecessary action with each write, impacting I/O performance.
  • Made some small improvements to keyboard navigation and screen reader usage of Performance Monitor.
  • Webview2 processes should now be properly grouped with the application using it in Task Manager’s Processes tab.
  • Fixed an issue that was causing the Publisher column in Task Manager to not retrieve publisher names.

As usual, the build also comes with a list of known issues, which may impact your experience. Of course, that’s to be expected with pre-release software. Here’s the full list of issues:

Known issues in Windows 11 build 22483

[General]

  • Users updating from Builds 22000.xxx, or earlier, to newer Dev Channel builds using the latest Dev Channel ISO, may receive the following warning message: The build you are trying to install is Flight Signed. To continue installing, enable flight signing. If you receive this message, press the Enable button, reboot the PC, and retry the update.
  • Some users may experience their screen and sleep timeouts being reduced. We’re investigating the potential impact that shorter screen and sleep timeouts could have on energy consumption.
  • We’re investigating reports from Insiders that the Processes tab in Task Manager is blank sometimes.
  • We’re working on a fix for an issue causing some devices to bugcheck with SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCPTION when updating, starting with the previous build. If hit this issue previously, try rebooting and re-trying the update.
  • We’re investigating reports from Insiders that Xbox Game Pass games are failing to install with error 0x00000001.

[Start]

  • In some cases, you might be unable to enter text when using Search from Start or the Taskbar. If you experience the issue, press WIN + R on the keyboard to launch the Run dialog box, then close it.

[Taskbar]

  • The Taskbar will sometimes flicker when switching input methods.
  • We’re working on the fix for an issue causing tooltips to appear in an unexpected location after hovering over the Taskbar corner.

[Search]

  • After clicking the Search icon on the Taskbar, the Search panel may not open. If this occurs, restart the “Windows Explorer” process, and open the search panel again.

[Quick Settings]

  • We’re investigating reports from Insiders that the volume and brightness sliders aren’t displaying properly in Quick Settings.

As a reminder, the Dev channel of the Windows Insider Program is generally testing future updates to Windows 11 that are still far from being finalized. With the initial version of Windows 11 just being released, the next major update is still one year away, which means there’s plenty of time for new features and changes to be added. We have a tracker for every Windows 11 feature that’s available in preview, which we’ll update as new features roll out.

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Get a 4K Roku Ultra for $69 today ($31 off), or a Roku Streambar for $99 ($31 off)

Roku is one of the oldest names in the streaming box world, and the company is still pumping out new devices and software updates at a steady pace. Roku released a few new products only a few months ago, including a super-cheap Roku Express 4K+ and the Roku Streambar Pro, the latter of which doubles as a soundbar for your TV. Now you can get the Roku Ultra and the regular Roku Streambar for $69 ($31 off) and $99 ($31 off), respectively.

The Roku Ultra is the company’s highest-end streaming box, with a few features you won’t find on most other competing products. Besides all the usual streaming stick features, there are full-size USB and Ethernet ports on the back, so you can easily watch media from your hard drive of totally legally downloaded content or give your Roku a reliable wired internet connection. The voice remote also has an integrated headphone jack for easy private listening.

    Roku Streambar
    This is a Roku streaming stick and TV soundbar in one package. It's on sale for $99, $31 below the usual price.
    Roku Ultra (2020)
    This is one of Roku's best streaming players, with lots of ports and a headphone jack on the remote.

Meanwhile, the Roku Streambar is a soundbar and streaming stick rolled into one package. It has the standard voice remote you’ll find on most Roku products, with integrated TV power and volume controls. The Streambar can either be mounted to your wall, or it can sit on a stand in front of/below your TV.

Both of these were on sale a few months ago at the same prices, so if you missed out on that discount, now’s your chance. I’ve used a few Roku players over the years, and they’ve always been simpler to use and faster than its competitors from Google, Apple, and Amazon. However, they aren’t perfect — Roku has been embroiled in a few battles with app availability, including YouTube TV and HBO. Roku players also aren’t as easily moddable as something running Fire OS or Android/Google TV.

Disclaimer: The author of this article owns stock in Roku. This does not impact the opinions stated here.

The post Get a 4K Roku Ultra for $69 today ($31 off), or a Roku Streambar for $99 ($31 off) appeared first on xda-developers.



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Microsoft Surface Go 3 review: It’s sneaky decent

Microsoft announced a bunch of new hardware to coincide with its Windows 11 launch. The Surface Laptop Studio and the Surface Pro 8 were the hero devices, but then there’s the Surface Go 3. The Surface Go 3 doesn’t come with a new 120Hz display, and in fact, it doesn’t even support the haptic feedback in the new Slim Pen 2. With this product, it’s very much a spec bump in an ecosystem of redesigned products.

That’s not a totally bad thing; it just makes the Surface Go 3 the least exciting of the new products, a fact that even Microsoft wasn’t shy with being up-front about. The spec bump is actually a pretty good one, and the product did get a semi-redesign in its last iteration. This is also meant to be the budget product in the Surface lineup, so if it doesn’t get all of the bells and whistles right away, it’s not super surprising.

Navigate this review:

Surface Go 3 Specs

CPU Dual-core Intel Pentium Gold 6500Y processor
Dual-core 10th Gen Intel Core i3-10100Y processor
Graphics UHD Graphics 615
Display
  • Screen: 10.5” PixelSense Display
  • Resolution: 1920 x 1280 (220 PPI)
  • Aspect ratio: 3:2
  • Touch: 10-point multi-touch
  • Contrast ratio: 1500:1
  • Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Chassis 9.65” x 6.9” x 0.33” (245 mm x 175 mm x 8.3 mm), 1.2 lb (544 g)
Memory 4GB or 8GB LPDDR3
Storage
  • eMMC drive: 64 GB
  • SSD drive: 128 GB
Security
  • Enterprise-grade protection with Windows Hello face sign-in
  • Firmware TPM
Sensors
  • Ambient light sensor
  • Accelerometer
  • Gyroscope
  • Magnetometer
Keyboard Surface Go Signature Type Cover
Surface Go Type Cover
Pen Microsoft Pen Protocol (MPP)
Battery
  • Battery Capacity Nominal (WH) 28.0
  • Battery Capacity Min (WH) 26.8
Ports
  • 1 x USB-C
  • 3.5 mm headphone jack
  • 1 x Surface Connect port
  • Surface Type Cover Port
  • MicroSDXC Card Reader
Cameras, video, and audio
  • Windows Hello face authentication camera (front-facing)
  • 5.0MP front-facing camera with 1080p HD video
  • 8.0MP rear-facing auto-focus camera with 1080p HD video
  • Enhanced dual far-field Studio Mics
  • 2W stereo speakers with Dolby Audio
Connectivity
  • Wi-Fi 6: IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax compatible
  • Bluetooth Wireless 5.0 technology
Material Magnesium
Color Platinum
OS Windows 11 Home in S mode
Price $399.99 / $549.99 / $629.99

There are three models, priced at $399.99, $549.99, and $629.99. The entry-level model includes an Intel Pentium Gold 6500Y, 4GB RAM, and 64GB eMMC storage. That’s not the one you want, as it’s just low on RAM and offers slower storage. The mid-tier one has the same Pentium Gold, but with 8GB RAM and a 128GB SSD. Then, the highest-end one has a Core i3, 8GB RAM, and a 128GB SSD. That Core i3 model is the one that Microsoft sent me for review, so whatever take you get out of this, it’s not a review for the Pentium Gold model. Unlike other laptops that I often review, I can’t speak to other configs of this as it has hardware that I’ve never used. There’s no baseline for me. Alternatively, if I’m using something with a Core i7, I have a good idea of what a Core i5 configuration would be like.

I will tell you that you shouldn’t spend money on a Windows PC with 4GB of RAM or 64GB of eMMC storage, let alone both. I look at the $549.99 model as the bare minimum for the product, and keep in mind that you’ll still need to buy the keyboard and pen, so your total is probably going to be over $800 with sales tax and such.

Design: Traditional Surface design

I feel like we’re moving into the third era of Surface design. The first included products like the Surface RT, Surface Pro, Surface 2, and Surface Pro 2. While they were made of magnesium, they were only available in black (except for the Surface 2), they had a completely different Surface Connect port, and they used a different pen technology. The Surface Pro 3 started the second era, including products like the Surface Book and Surface Go. We’re starting to see a new era that began with the Surface Pro X, as Microsoft moves toward more aluminum products.

Rear angled view of Surface Go 3

The Surface Go 3 remains in that second era of Surface design. Unlike the larger Pro member of the family, it’s still made out of magnesium, coming in the traditional Platinum color. The Surface Pen still magnetically attaches to the side, and that pen still requires a AAAA battery.

Close up of Surface Go 3 microSD card slot

It has a kickstand that comes back, and it has the chrome-colored Microsoft logo stamped right in the middle of it. Underneath that kickstand, you’ll find the microSD expansion slot, something that’s also being removed in newer Surface devices.

Side view of Surface Go 3

The Surface Go 3 is the thinnest and lightest for its price point.

The ports haven’t changed at all. It’s got a USB Type-C port, a Surface Connect port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. There’s no Thunderbolt here, which we do see in the Surface Laptop Studio and Surface Pro 8, but it’s not surprising given the $399 starting price point. I will say that it would be nice to have a second USB port here. It’s just that sometimes, I’d love to have the charger attached along with something else, like a mouse or USB storage.

And no, I don’t use the included Surface Connect charger. Seriously, it’s so disappointing that the Surface Connect port is still on the new generation of Surfaces. Life is so much easier if you can just use the same USB Type-C charger for everything.

Side view of Surface Go 3

Here’s something that’s super important when it comes to the design though. This thing weighs in at a third of an inch thick and 1.2 pounds. That’s something that simply doesn’t exist elsewhere at this price point. Sure, you really should take a step over the base model here, but for something that’s meant to be taken on the go (that’s why Go is in the name), very little gets the job done better. It’s not for photo and video editing; it’s meant for portability.

Display: An improvement over the original model

The Surface Go 3 has a 10.5-inch 1,920×1,280 display and it’s actually a half-inch bigger than the original Surface Go. This was an improvement that was in the Surface Go 2, and that half-inch makes a big difference. By fitting the bigger display in the same chassis, the bezels are smaller and the product just feels more modern.

Surface Go 3 tablet against tree

At 220ppi, it’s actually got a higher pixel density than you’d find on the Surface Laptop Studio. I really do like the display on the product, even if Microsoft does refuse to give up its overly-glossy screens that can be hard to use in direct sunlight.

Surface Go 3 display test

The Surface Go 3 screen feels like something you'd find on a premium PC.

It’s a pretty solid screen too, supporting 100% sRGB, 71% NTSC, 77% Adobe RGB, and 78% P3. That’s another thing that’s particularly impressive for the price point. When you get down to around $400, you start seeing screens with poor viewing angles and color distortion like we saw from the Samsung Galaxy Book Go. While the Surface Go 3 display isn’t perfect, it certainly feels like something you’d find on a premium display.

Surface Go 3 display test

Interestingly, the contrast ratio in my testing didn’t quite make it to the 1,500:1 that’s on the spec sheet, although I couldn’t notice any difference with my naked eye. Brightness maxed out at 421.3 nits.

Close up of Surface Go 3 webcam

Let’s talk about the webcam for a second. The Surface Go 3, like its predecessors, uses a 5MP webcam that can record 1080p 30fps video. While working from home is a concept that has seen a boom in the last year and a half, many laptops are still shipping with 720p webcams, a real shame.

But this isn’t just a tablet with a 5MP webcam. It’s a tablet with a 5MP webcam that starts at $400, something that you’re really not going to find elsewhere. I haven’t always praised Microsoft’s hardware. However, this company should be praised for using FHD webcams since 2014 (not in the Surface Laptop, oddly). The funny thing is that before everyone started working from home 18 months ago, no one cared about webcam quality, which is why we saw so many laptops with cameras under displays, and even some hidden in keyboards and such. 18 months later, companies are still scrambling to rework products with better webcams, but companies like Microsoft haven’t had to do that.

Keyboard: The Surface Go 3 keyboard feels solid, but small

The Surface Go Type Cover hasn’t changed since the original model, and it uses a different connector from the Surface Pro. This is notable, because for Surface Pro 1 – 7+, Surface RT, and Surface 2, they all used the same connector. The Surface 3 got a different one, the Surface Go series has its own, and there’s a new one for the Surface Pro 8 and Surface Pro X.

Top down view of Surface Go 3 keyboard

I actually quite like the keyboard. The keys feel sturdier than they do on the latest Surface Pro keyboards, and it’s comfortable to type on. What you do need to know is that this is not a full-size keyboard. Given the small size of the product, there’s only so big the keys can be. As long as you can get used to it, it’s quite pleasant for an attachable keyboard on a tablet.

Microsoft hasn’t changed up its colors at all, so it comes in colors like Platinum, Poppy Red, Ice Blue, and Black. The Redmond firm sent Ice Blue with my review unit. It’s worth noting that if you get Black, you won’t get Alcantara fabric coating it, which actually saves you about $30.

The Precision touchpad is fine, and it’s way better than what you’d find on the new Surface Pro Keyboard. The pain point with the Surface Pro is that no matter how lightly you press it, it makes a loud clicking noise. It’s actually a strange thing, since it wasn’t present in previous designs of the product. So, since the Surface Go hasn’t been redesigned, that annoying touchpad isn’t an issue.

Performance: 10th-gen Intel CPUs, up to a Core i3

I was a bit taken aback by how up front Microsoft was about the Surface Go 3 just being a spec bump. It’s not something that you see often, and I appreciate it. The product uses either a Core i3-10100Y, or in the base model, a Pentium Gold 6500Y. This replaces the Core i3-8100Y and Pentium Gold 4425Y in the Surface Go 2, and the Pentium Gold 4415Y in the original model.

There haven’t been any crazy impressive jumps here. Frankly, the biggest change was introducing the Core i3 model with the Surface Go 2, as the Pentium Gold in the original one was virtually unusable. But still, even with the new 10th-gen chips, these are 14nm processors from the Amber Lake family, and built using the same architecture that Intel had used for years before it moved to 10nm.

Angled view of Surface Go 3 from above

With any product in this entry-level price point, there’s a weird mix of compromises. As I mentioned, there’s a lot with the Surface Go 3 that’s unique at this price, mainly that it’s ultra-portable. The compromise is that the two least expensive models have a Pentium Gold, and when you go beyond that, you’re still stuck with a Core i3. Then you have a product like the Surface Laptop Go. The Surface Laptop Go comes with a Core i5 in all configurations, but it makes compromises elsewhere, such as with its lower-resolution screen.

Ultimately, I think the Surface Go 3 has to fill a niche for you. This is absolutely not something that you’ll plan on editing photos on. Not only can’t these Y-series chips handle that properly, but the screen is too small. That’s just not who this machine is meant for.

Instead, it’s aimed at people who want a Windows tablet that they can take on the go, the iPad Air of Windows, if you will. The hardware is great for productivity, as long as you’re not going split-screen, as it gets cramped. But as a writer, the full-screen writing experience is immersive on the smaller display.

Let’s also talk about Windows 11 on this thing. The new OS comes with all-new improvements for tablets, such as swipe gestures that are already familiar from Precision touchpads. It makes the device a lot easier to use without the keyboard attached. It’s a pretty cool little device for apps like OneNote and Microsoft Whiteboard.

For benchmarks, I used PCMark 10, 3DMark, Geekbench, and Cinebench.

Surface Go 3
Core i3-10100Y
Surface Go
Pentium Gold 4415Y
Surface Laptop Go
Core i5-1035G1
PCMark 10 2,631 1,755 3,139
3DMark: Time Spy 392 205 409
Geekbench 926 / 1,786 401 / 909 1,180 / 3,430
Cinebench 620 / 1,220 321 / 632 1,060 / 2,581

As far as battery life goes, I got between three and five hours of usage on recommended power settings. I don’t always find that screen brightness makes as much of a difference as this, but I got just over three hours on average on 100% brightness, and then just under five hours at 50% brightness. Keep in mind that the Surface Go 3 does have a fairly small battery at 28Wh.

Conclusion: Should you buy the Surface Go 3?

Microsoft is at a point where it has a Surface for everyone. If you want a tablet with a pen, there’s the Surface Pro. For a laptop, there’s the Surface Laptop; however, if you need more power than you’d get from an ultrabook, there’s the Surface Laptop Studio. If you’re on a budget, there are entry levels of both with the Surface Go and Surface Laptop Go.

Surface Go 3 on black table

The product has to fit into your niche; you should never try to make your niche fit the product. For example, you need a new computer and you’ve decided you’re going to spend around $750 (including tax, accessories, extended warranty, etc.). There are a lot of options out there, and the Surface Go 3 is one of them assuming you’re buying the pen and keyboard. Now you have to ask yourself some questions. Are you looking for a traditional laptop or a tablet? Which compromises are you willing to make in order to get the features that you care about?

It’s easy to love the Surface Go 3, as long as you’re looking for a lightweight 10.5-inch tablet running Windows. If you’re looking for a cheap laptop, you really should be looking elsewhere.

    Surface Go 3
    The Surface Go 3 is Microsoft's entry-level Windows tablet

      Features:

      Pros:

      Cons:

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MacBook Pro 16 vs Razer Blade 15: Which one should you get?

Apple recently unveiled the latest MacBook Pro models to be refreshed with Apple Silicon, the company’s in-house processor family. This is one of Apple’s best Macs, so it’s big news for a lot of users. The new MacBook Pro laptops come with the new M1 Pro and M1 Max chipsets along with several other improvements. This is also the first time we saw the 16-inch MacBook Pro switch to Apple Silicon, and the first time it has received a major refresh in about two years. Because of that, it’s worth comparing Apple’s latest to its Windows competitors. In this article, we’re pitting the new MacBook Pro 16-inch versus the Razer Blade 15.

These are two powerful laptops, undoubtedly, but there are major differences between the two, and that can’t be understated. With Apple transitioning to its own processors, comparing it to Intel-based models is a bit trickier. Not only are the CPUs different, but the MacBook Pro also has whole new GPUs that aren’t the same as the NVIDIA or AMD offerings you find on Windows laptops. Let’s take a closer look, starting with the raw specs.

MacBook Pro 16 vs Razer Blade 15: Specs

MacBook Pro 16 Razer Blade 15
Processor
  • Apple M1 Pro (unknown clock speed, 10-core)
  • Apple M1 Max (unknown clock speed, 10-core)
  • Intel Core i7-11800H (up to 4.6GHz, 8-core)
  • Intel Core i9-11900H (up to 4.9GHz, 8-core)
Graphics
  • 16-core GPU (M1 Pro)
  • 24-core GPU (M1 Max)
  • 32-core GPU (M1 Max)
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6GB GDDR6
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 8GB GDDR6
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 8GB/16GB GDDR6
RAM
  • 16GB (M1 Pro only)
  • 32GB
  • 64GB (M1 Max only)
  • 16GB
  • 32GB
Storage
  • 512GB
  • 1TB
  • 2TB
  • 4TB
  • 8TB
  • 512GB
  • 1TB
Display
  • 16.2 inch, 3456 x 2234 resolution, Wide Color (P3), True Tone, 120Hz
  • Base model:
    • Full HD (1920 x 1080), 144Hz, 100% sRGB
    • Quad HD (2560 x 1440), 165Hz, 100% DCI-P3
  • Advanced model:
    • Full HD (1920 x 1080), 360Hz, 100% sRGB
    • Quad HD (2560 x 1440), 240Hz, 100% DCI-P3
    • Ultra HD (3840 x 2160) AMOLED, 60Hz, 100% DCI-P3, HDR, touch
Audio
  • Six-speaker stereo sound with force canceling woofers, Dolby Atmos
  • Dual stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos(base model), THX Spatial Audio (Advanced model)
Webcam
  • 1080p front-facing webcam
  • 720p webcam (Base model)
  • 1080p webcam (Advanced model)
Biometric security
  • Touch ID on power button
  • Windows Hello IR camera (Advanced model)
Battery
  • 99.8Wh
  • 65Wh battery (Base model)
  • 80Wh (Advanced model)
Ports
  • 3 Thunderbolt 4 ports
  • HDMI
  • MagSafe 3 charging port
  • SD card reader
  • 3.5mm headphone jack
  • 2 Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type-C) ports
  • 3 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports
  • HDMI 2.1
  • SD card reader
  • 3.5mm headphone jack
Connectivity
  • Wi-Fi 6 + Bluetooth 5.0
  • Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX210 (2×2), Bluetooth 5.2
Colors
  • Silver
  • Space Grey
  • Black
Size (WxDxH) 14.01 x 9.77 x 0.66 in (355.7 x 248.1 x 16.8 mm)
  • Base model: 13.98 x 9.25 x 0.78 in (355 x 235 x 19.9 mm)
  • Advanced model: 13.98 x 9.25 x 0.62 in (355 x 235 x 15.8 mm)
Weight
  • 4.7lbs (M1 Pro)
  • 4.8lbs (M1 Max)
  • Base model: 4.6 lbs (2.09 kg)
  • Advanced model: 4.4lbs (2.01kg)
Starting price $2,499.99  $1,799.99

The operating system

The first big difference between these two laptops is, of course, the operating system, and that’s something most people will be aware of by now. The MacBook Pro runs macOS, specifically macOS Monterey. macOS is arguably more limiting in some ways because a lot of Windows apps don’t have counterparts on Mac, specifically games. However, some popular software is exclusive to macOS, including Final Cut Pro, a video editing tool that’s very highly regarded among Mac users.

On the other hand, the Razer Blade 15 runs Windows 10 out of the box, with a free upgrade to Windows 11 already available. Windows is more widely compatible with a lot of software, but some may consider it harder to learn compared to macOS. Conversely, it may give you more options to dive deep into more advanced settings.

MacBook Pro 16 vs Razer Blade 15: Performance

With the basic specs out of the way, let’s dive into the details, starting with performance. It’s not easy to make a clear comparison at this time because since Apple uses its own processors, we can’t verify its claims about the performance on the MacBook Pro 16-inch. However, we can take a look at its claims for the M1 Pro and M1 Max.

During its presentation, Apple actually compared the M1 Pro and M1 Max directly to the Intel Core i7-11800H, which is inside the Razer Blade 15. Apple touts 1.7x times the performance of Intel’s processor at the same power level, and it uses less power to get there. In fact, for the same level of performance, Apple claims its processor uses 70% less power. While we can’t validate Apple’s claims yet, we do know about the original Apple M1. Based on data from GeekBench, even the original Apple M1 already beat the Intel Core i7-11800H in single-core performance, and in multi-core scenarios, it wasn’t far behind. For reference, the Apple M1 obtained multi-core scores in the 7,400 range, while the Intel rival averages around 8,015. Considering the major upgrade compared to the M1, it seems believable that it’s much more powerful than that. Of course, the Razer Blade 15 also has a Core i9 model, which is faster than the Core i7, but not 1.7 times faster.

Apple M1 Pro and M1 Max CPU performance compared to Intel-based PCs Apple M1 Max GPU performance compared to GeForce RTX 3080 in Razer Blade 15 Advanced

Then there’s the matter of the GPU, and again, we have to look closely at Apple’s words here. The Company says the Apple M1 Max with a 32-core GPU offers performance “comparable” to a high-end compact laptop. If you read the fingerprint, this actually refers specifically to the Razer Blade 15 Advanced with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080. Based on Apple’s graph, the M1 Max can reach a similar, and even slightly higher, level of power while using 40% less power. That is very impressive, and it means the MacBook Pro wins in this department too.

All of those claims also mean that the MacBook Pro 16-inch is going to have way better battery life than the Razer Blade 15. Apple touts up to 21 hours of battery life, and while Razer doesn’t offer its own metrics, you can take the above power consumption comparisons as a sign that it won’t last nearly as long on a charge.

The MacBok Pro has up to 64GB of unified memory, which is accssible to the GPU, compared to the 16GB of GPU memory you can get in the GeForce RTX 3080.

Aside from that, RAM and storage are also wins for the MacBook Pro 16-inch. It can be configured with up to 64GB of unified memory, while the Razer Blade 15 only comes with up to 32GB. The thing to note here is that the MacBook Pro’s memory is built into the processor, and it’s accessible to both the CPU and GPU. That means the MacBook Pro has way more GPU memory than any Windows laptop, but it also means the RAM can’t be replaced or upgraded. The Razer Blade 15 uses slotted memory you can upgrade later on. The MacBook Pro also comes with up to 8TB of storage out of the box, while the Razer Blade 15 only comes with 1TB, though you have a free M.2 slot and you can replace the included SSD to expand further.

 

MacBook Pro 16 vs Razer Blade 15: Display

As you’d probably expect from Razer, the Blade 15 is meant to be a gaming laptop, so in terms of the display, it’s better in some ways. In fact, the Razer Blade 15 definitely gives you many more options to choose what’s just right for you. It’s a 15.6-inch panel with a 16:9 aspect ratio but it has lots of different configurations.

Razer Blade 15

The Base model comes with either a Full HD (1920 x 1080) 144Hz panel or a Quad HD (2560 x 1440) 165Hz version, but the Advanced model offers some crazier options – Full HD 360Hz for extremely fast response times, Quad HD at 240HZ for super-smooth gaming with better visual fidelity, or a 4K (3840 x 2160) OLED panel if you’re more of a content creator. That last option is an absolutely stunning display, with super high contrast ratios, true blacks, and vivid colors. Plus, it’s incredibly sharp.

Meanwhile. the MacBook Pro doesn’t give you any configuration options, but the one panel you get is absolutely fantastic. Apple is using a 16.2-inch display with a resolution of 3456 x 2234 in its typical 16:10 aspect ratio. That taller screen is ideal for productivity, and at this resolution, it’s also as sharp as you could want it to be.

The MacBook Pro has a mini-LED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and nearly 4K resolution.

But that’s not all because this is a Liquid Retina XDR display. It uses mini-LED technology to offer similar benefits to OLED, though not exactly on the same level. With mini-LED, not every pixel is individually backlit, but there are numerous dimming zones that make it possible to render black areas of the screen completely black. Additionally, this is a ProMotion display with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. so it’s also going to be very smooth, even if it’s on the level of high-end gaming displays.

A problem with the MacBook Pro 16-inch is that it has a notch in the display. In fairness to Apple, the notch makes way for a 1080p webcam and a larger sensor, so you’re bound to get great-looking images from it, but the Razer Blade 15 Advanced model also has a 1080p webcam without the need for a notch.

MacBook Pro 16-inch display with Final Cut Pro running

In short, the Razer Blade 15 definitely offers more options, and better ones for gaming, too. But the MacBook Pro includes a fantastic all-around display that’s sharp, vibrant, and smooth, and you get a great experience across the board, potentially excluding the notch for the webcam.

As for sound, the MacBook Pro continues to deliver one of the best experiences you can get on any laptop. It’s using a six-speaker setup for stereo sound, and Apple says it has improved both the woofers and tweeters for stronger bass and clearer highs. Meanwhile, the Razer Blade 15 uses a two-speaker stereo setup, which is likely going to be fine, but not as powerful as the MacBook Pro. Both laptops support Dolby Atmos, though.

Design and ports: The MacBook is Pro again

Now, in terms of design, these two laptops aren’t radically different from each other. The MacBook Pro comes in two color options, being Silver and Space Grey, which aren’t all too distinct, but at least they’ll fit nicely in any office space. The Razer Blade 15 only comes in black, and it’s a bit more flashy thanks to the backlit green Razer logo on the lid and an RGB backlit keyboard (with per-key lighting on the Advanced model). Neither laptop is particularly unique-looking, however.

And in terms of dimensions, the two laptops aren’t too far off from each other, either. The MacBook Pro is slightly wider and taller thanks to its larger display, but it’s slightly thinner than most variants of the Blade 15. However, it’s still heavier than the Razer Blade 15, likely due to those larger dimensions. Neither of these laptops is extremely portable, but they’re not too heavy to carry around every now and then, either.

Ports would have been an easy win for the Razer Blade 15 with previous MacBook Pro models, but this year, Apple brought back a lot of requested ports. The MacBook Pro 16-inch has three Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI, an SD card reader, a MagSafe charging port, and a headphone jack. That means you can connect a ton of peripherals much more easily out of the box, and the Thunderbolt 4 ports can now drive up to four external displays, too. It’s also worth mentioning the return of MagSafe, a magnetic charging port that helps prevent your laptop from falling to the ground if you trip on its cable.

Apple has brought back MagSafe, HDMI, and an SD card reader to the MacBook Pro. However, there’s no USB Type-A, which the Razer Blade has.

The Razer Blade 15 also has a solid variety, with two Thunderbolt 4 ports, three USB Type-A ports, HDMI, a headphone jack, an SD card reader, and a proprietary charging port. The big advantage of the Razer Blade 15 here is the inclusion of USB Type-A, which many peripherals still use, but overall, both of these offer a solid selection of ports.

The bottom line

At the end of the day, which of these laptops is better? It’s hard to deny the MacBook Pro’s technical prowess. Based on Apple’s comparisons, the Apple M1 Pro and M1 Max are incredibly powerful chipsets, and the M1 Max specifically has a faster CPU and GPU compared to the Razer Blade 15, while using a lot less power. You have to admire that it’s both powerful and power-efficient, giving you great battery life by comparison, too.

The MacBook Pro also has a fantastic well-rounded display that does just about everything very well. It’s sharp, bright, it offers high contrast levels with mini-LED, and it runs at up to 120Hz.

MacBook Pro 16 running Xcode

But none of that is to say that the Razer Blade 15 is slow or bad in any way. The Intel processors and NVIDIA graphics inside this laptop are still very powerful, and unless you’re running very demanding workloads, you won’t really have a reason to complain. Arguably, the biggest drawback of the Razer Blade 15 is its battery life, which has traditionally been a weak point of powerful Intel-based laptops.

The Razer Blade 15 also gives you a few different options for the display, and all of them are great for different kinds of users. It’s clearly geared towards gamers, and because of that, you have very high refresh rate options, in addition to a 4K OLED variant for creators.

No matter which one you choose, you’ll be getting a very powerful laptop that can handle just about anything you can throw at it.

And that brings us to the price. The most expensive model of the Razer Blade 15, with an Intel Core i9, GeForce RTX 3080, 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a 4K OLED display, costs $3,399.99. The MacBook Pro is slightly more expensive for a similar configuration – an M1 Max chipset along with the same RAM and storage costs $3,499. However, if you want to max it out with all the specs we’ve mentioned, it can go as high as $6,099.

No matter which one you choose, you’ll be getting a very powerful laptop that can handle just about anything you can throw at it. You can’t really go wrong with either one, and we’d say the decision will most likely come down to battery life and the operating system you already may prefer.

You can buy your preferred laptop using the links below. If you choose the MacBook Pro and you want to protect it, check out the best cases you can buy for it right now.

    MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021)
    The MacBook Pro is an powerful laptop with Apple's M1 Max chipset, rivalling high-end Windows laptops with much lower power consumption.
    Razer Blade 15
    The Razer Blade 15 is a powerful Windows laptop with versions aimed at content creators and gamers alike.

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Android apps are now available on Windows 11 in the Beta channel

After documentation for the Windows Subsystem for Android was spotted on Microsoft’s website earlier today, the company has now officially announced that Android apps are now available on Windows 11 if you’re a Windows Insider. Oddly enough, you’ll need to be enrolled in the Beta channel, not the Dev channel, in order to access the initial preview for Android apps on Windows 11. Microsoft says it wants to test this feature first on versions of Windows 11 that are already available to the public, suggesting that the feature will arrive separately from a typical feature update when it does roll out to the general public.

If you want to try out Android apps on Windows 11, you’re going to need a few system requirements in addition to the base requirements for Windows 11. According to the Windows 11 feature requirements posted by Microsoft, you’ll need a PC with at least 8GB of RAM, an SSD drive, and 8th-generation Intel Core i3, AMD Ryzen 3000, or Qualcomm Snapdragon 8c processor or higher. These aren’t basic requirements for running Windows 11, but you’ll need to meet them for Android apps.

Another requirement, at least for now, is that your PC’s region is set to the United States, and to access the Amazon Appstore, you’ll also need to US-based Amazon account.

Aside from that, all you need to have virtualization enabled in your PC’s BIOS/UEFI, and be part of the Windows Insider Beta channel. Microsoft’s blog post is supposed to include a link to begin setting up Android app support, but it’s not actually live yet.

Kindle app for Android running on Windows 11

Once you install the Amazon Appstore from the Microsoft Store, you’ll automatically get the Windows Subsystem for Android, which is what allows these apps to run. Initially, only 50 apps from the Amazon Appstore will be available, including games like Lords Mobile, the Kindle app, and children’s content with apps like Khan Academy Kids. More apps will be available over the coming months, though. Microsoft isn’t saying whether you can install Android apps from outside the Store just yet.

The launch does come with some known issues, such as the Microsoft Store not showing ratings for Amazon Appstore apps and performance variations when running multiple apps at the same time. Here’s the full list of known issues:

Known issues with Android apps on Windows 11

[Microsoft Store]

  • The Microsoft Store does not display review ratings for Amazon Appstore apps.

[Amazon Appstore]

  • If you are experiencing Amazon App Store sign in problems turn your Ad Blocker off.
  • Accessibility options are not yet enabled when using the Amazon Appstore.

[Windows Subsystem for Android]

  • Network access issues on Cellular LTE on ARM64.
  • May see display visual artifacts on certain applications on ARM64.
  • Performance may vary when running multiple concurrent Apps.
  • There are known camera issues on certain apps.
  • Apps coming out of modern standby will encounter issues.

If you’re in the Dev channel of the Windows Insider program, you’ll have to wait a bit longer to get access to Android apps. Microsoft says it plans to bring the feature to those users “down the road” but not today.

Android apps were initially expected to launch alongside Windows 11, but a full launch has been delayed indefinitely. We’re currently expecting sometime in 2022, but we’ll have to wait and see how the test period goes.

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Google Assistant’s Quick Phrases debut on the Pixel 6 series

Yesterday, Google finally unveiled the Pixel 6 series. Google’s latest Pixel lineup feature a brand new design, in-house Tensor SoC, upgraded camera hardware, and run Android 12 out-of-the-box. Besides the new hardware, the latest Pixel phones also come with a few exclusive software features, and one of them is Quick Phrases for Google Assistant.

We know Google has been working on Quick Phrases for a while now. We first uncovered the evidence of the feature back in June through an APK teardown of the Google app. But little did we know at the time that it would debut on the Pixel 6 series.

Quick Phrases (via 9to5Google) let you ditch the Hey Google hotword for everyday voice interactions. Instead of saying Hey Google first and then uttering the command, the Pixel 6 users can just say “stop” to end a timer, “snooze” to turn off an alarm, and “answer/decline” to pick up or end an incoming call. There are only a handful of Quick Phrases available at launch, but we know Google is working on a wide range of phrases spanning various categories, which will likely be added later.

Aside from Quick Phrases, the Pixel 6 also debuts a revamped At a Glance home/lock screen widget that can now show information from your calendar, your boarding pass on the day of your flight, your workout stats, and so on.

Revamped At a Glance widget on the Pixel 6

    Google Pixel 6
    The Google Pixel 6 comes with many exclusive software features including Quick Phrases for Google Assistant and a revamped At a Glance widget.

For now, both Quick Phrases and the revamped At a Glance widget remain exclusive to the Pixel 6. We don’t know when they will make it to existing Pixel phones and other Android phones.

The Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are available for pre-order now, with official sales kicking off from October 28. The regular Pixel 6 starts at $599, while the base Pro model is priced at $899. If you’re planning on getting one, be sure to check out the best deals on the Pixel 6 series and our best cases roundup.

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