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A dedicated AI chip is squandered on Huawei’s Mate 10 Pro
Let's face it: The AI hype train isn't going away, and soon all our devices will be run by artificial intelligence. While Apple's answer to the AI takeover is to just call its new A11 processor "Bionic," Huawei has taken a more concrete approach. The company embedded a neural processing unit (NPU) on its Kirin 970 chip, which it claims can run AI tasks faster and with less power than others. The newly launched Mate 10 Pro is the first phone to use the Kirin 970, and it's meant to demonstrate the wonders of deeply embedded AI. So far though, it's a capable, well-designed phone that has yet to fully explore what a dedicated NPU can do.
Sony’s latest Xperia is a terrific slow-mo shooter, with caveats
At long last, Sony has made a seriously compelling flagship. Not only is the Xperia XZ Premium the best-looking handset the company has made in years, but it also boasts a high-end camera capable of extreme slow-mo video recording. It's also one of the first phones to use the Snapdragon 835 chipset, which supports Gigabit LTE speeds where available. Plus, it has a sumptuous 5.5-inch 4K display that is HDR-ready. That's a whole lot of reasons to check out the phone, but is it worth splurging $800 on? Well, that depends on your needs.
Huawei's Watch 2 can last for weeks without its smarts
I'm a firm believer in the usefulness of smartwatches, but even I can't deny that the product category is struggling. Despite Apple joining the fray with its first Watch two years ago, wearables still haven't taken off with mainstream consumers. Google's latest update to its wrist-based OS just started trickling out to the public, and it brings new features that make smartwatches more functional. Even then, there are problems with these devices' battery life and design. It is in such a challenging time that we are introduced to Huawei's Watch 2. It's the company's new Android Wear 2.0 device, and it already faces competition from LG, ZTE, Fossil and Tag Heuer. Fortunately for Huawei, the Watch 2 stands out thanks to its impressively long-lasting battery, comfortable design and reasonable price.
Tag Heuer's 'modular' smartwatch isn't actually modular
Webster's dictionary may define "modular" as "constructed with standardized units," but in tech, that buzzword has a slightly different meaning. A modular device usually has swappable components that bring additional functionality. But Tag Heuer is going with the original definition of the word for its latest high-end Android Wear smartwatch. The Connected Modular 45 is the follow-up to the company's surprisingly successful debut smartwatch that came out last year. The company's sophomore offering is a highly customizable device that lets you swap out the "smart" module for a mechanical timepiece, turning it into just another analog luxury watch with a multi-thousand-dollar price tag. You can change other components of the watch, too. Starting at $1,600, the Tag Heuer Connected Modular 45 is a refinement of the original and, like its predecessor, will appeal to only very select group of people.
Huawei finally has a phone worthy of the Leica brand
From super-slow-mo cameras and bezel-less displays to banking on the power of nostalgia, smartphone makers have tried almost every trick they can to stand out. Huawei's latest strategy is to partner with color authority Pantone to come up with a variety of eye-catching hues for its latest flagship. The Huawei P10 (and the slightly larger P10 Plus) will be available in a slew of colors and finishes. But while that's nice for people looking to personalize their phones, it's not particularly useful.
A week with Fujifilm's GFX 50S medium-format mirrorless camera
Fujifilm surprised the camera world last year with the introduction of the GFX 50S, its first medium-format mirrorless. The shooter, which is now available for $6,500 body only, packs a large 51.4-megapixel CMOS sensor (43.8 x 32.9mm) in a DSLR-like frame that only weighs 1.6lbs (740g). If you've ever used a Fuji before, its ergonomics should be familiar, thanks in large part to the company's trademark physical dials and generally premium build. What powers the GFX 50S is the latest X-Processor Pro, the same imaging chip found on Fujifilm's flagship X-Pro2 and X-T2 cameras.
Fitbit's new sleep-tracking feature works well (most of the time)
It is a truth universally acknowledged that getting enough quality sleep is important for your well-being. The growth in the number of devices offering sleep-tracking features in recent years shows that companies are catching on. But sleep is a difficult metric to measure and understand, and most trackers these days can tell only when you've been asleep and awake. Fitbit's latest wearable goes one step further than the competition, incorporating your heart-rate data into its algorithms to estimate what sleep state you're in. The $150 Alta HR improves on the original, with a new heart rate monitor that constantly keeps tabs on your pulse. A software update that arrives on the Fitbit app today provides deeper analysis of how you're sleeping. The new feature sounds potentially helpful, but after a few days with the new Alta, I don't know if I can trust that it's accurate. I also wish it were more consistent and easier to understand.
The Analogue Nt Mini wants to be the last NES you'll ever buy
Trying to play an NES cartridge on Nintendo's original, 30-year-old hardware can be an exercise in frustration. The console's ancient composite cables offer terrible image quality on modern televisions, and getting games to actually run is a ballet of reseating, jostling and, of course, blowing on game cartridges. Nintendo's own NES Classic Edition and the Wii U and 3DS virtual consoles offer refuge for the casual gamer's nostalgic yearnings, but collectors looking for an authentic, cartridge-based retro gaming experience have long suffered under the dark shadow of compromise. Is it better to play on the original, but unreliable, hardware, or an NES clone plagued with compatibility issues? With the Analogue Nt Mini, you may not have to tolerate either -- but at $449, Analogue's compromise-free Nintendo doesn't come cheap.
Microsoft's Surface Ergonomic Keyboard makes typing a pleasure
If you spend most of your days typing at a desk, it's worth looking into an ergonomic keyboard. The traditional flat QWERTY keyboard design wasn't designed with comfort in mind, and really, why should you be forced to live with an input interface originally designed for typewriters in the 1870s? Microsoft has been at the forefront of the ergonomic arena for the past few decades with its "Natural" keyboards, which split the QWERTY layout into two halves to make typing easier on your hands and wrists. And with its new wireless Surface Ergonomic Keyboard, Microsoft has delivered its best model yet.
The best baby monitor is a simple night-vision camera
As a tech reporter, I've been pitched a whole host of smart baby monitors recently. That's partly because I work here, and also because I have easy access to an infant with whom I can test out such gadgets. Nanit, Cloudtot, Neebo, Owlet and Knit (to name a few) all claim that they can soothe the brows of novice parents like myself. But the more time I've spent with Project Nursery's 5-inch HD Video Baby Monitor, the less I want the extra bells and whistles. They're nice, for sure, but they aren't essential to the fairly simple practice of parenting.
Raden's connected carry-on is sleek and smart, but cramped
I don't think there's anything more crucial to a frequent traveler's arsenal than a reliable carry-on, but does it need to be smart too? A cottage industry of connected luggage makers seems to think so. While some companies have focused on packing their bags with components, a startup called Raden is trying to take a more measured approach. That's where its A22 connected carry-on comes in: It's a fascinating attempt at melding technological convenience with the simplicity of high-end luggage. So what exactly does $295 get you?
Roli Blocks are fun for music making but need some fine-tuning
I've played instruments for most of my life, but as I've gotten older I've had less time for jamming with bands. That's led me to consider dabbling in electronic instruments that would let me make my own compositions without needing to wrangle other musicians. Of course, both hardware and software can add up fast. (I've wanted Teenage Engineering's OP-1 for years, but just can't bring myself to drop $850 on it.) That's why Roli's new modular Blocks system caught my eye. The $180 Lightpad controller is both affordable and versatile, distilling a lot of the touch-sensitive technology found in Roli's larger Seaboard into a super-compact gadget. Your iOS device does all the heavy lifting while the Lightpad lets you perform in some unique ways. And, the modular nature of the Blocks system lets you get in at an affordable price while expanding your setup down the line.
Styr's system of health gadgets exists to sell you supplements
I'm the kind of guy who can always stand to lose a few pounds. The Styr Lab regimen seemed like a great way to do so. When I first saw it at TechCrunch's Disrupt event in San Francisco last September, I was genuinely excited to give the fitness-tracking system a try. After three months using the regimen, however, I find myself just as pudgy and unmotivated as I was beforehand. Maybe even more so.
M&D's wireless MW50 headphones aren't perfect, but they sound great
Master & Dynamic has dabbled in wireless sound before, but big cans like the MW60s aren't always the most convenient to lug around. People's needs change when it's time to pack up our gear and venture out into the world, and that's why the company recently released a new set of wireless headphones: the on-ear MW50s. At $449, they're currently the least expensive wireless option in Master & Dynamic's lineup, but that's still pretty dear for a pair of wireless headphones. That said, their blend of performance and style might be worth it for some of you.
Sony's new PlayStation headset is premium in name alone
There's no shortage of gaming headsets on the market, and in an effort to distinguish themselves, manufacturers are turning to gimmicks to stand out from the competition. Sony, for example, has several PlayStation-branded pairs, and now it's adding another to the mix, in hopes that 3D audio will be enough to earn your $150. After spending some time with the new PlayStation Platinum Wireless Headset, though, I'm not sure it deserves its asking price.
Yi Technology's next action camera promises to capture 4K at 60fps
Action cameras get more impressive with each generation, but 4K support has always been a bit shaky. So far, the best cameras on the market have only been able to shoot in UHD footage at 15-30 fps, forcing users to step down to 2.7K resolutions for a smoother experience. Next month, that could change: Xiaomi-backed GoPro competitor Yi has just announced that it will reveal a new action cam at CES 2017 that can shoot 4K video at 60 frames per second.
Epson's new scanner resurrected my childhood memories
My mother likes to post old scanned photos of me on Facebook. Baby me in a clown costume. Toddler me looking grumpy, having just woken up from a nap. My brother and me looking like tiny British royals on Easter Sunday. These photos are embarrassing but not necessarily for obvious reasons. I don't mind people knowing I was a child. What I do mind is that the scans aren't good: Many are crooked, badly cropped or discolored. They don't look nice, and with at least 25 years of my life captured on film, neither my mother nor I have the time to scan the entire collection, let alone fix each picture to make it presentable for public consumption. That is, until we got our hands on Epson's $650 FastFoto FF-640, which can scan one photo per second. Spoiler alert: We were done with my mom's archive in under three hours.
Roland's System-8 keyboard is all the synths you want in one case
There's a reason professional keyboards and synths are filled with dials, buttons and levers. When a musician is getting ready for the next song, it's quicker to turn a knob than sift through multiple submenus via the onboard computer. Roland's System-8 synth has such a display, but nearly everything you need is at your fingertips, and that's great.
Do you really need a pair of smart headphones?
Muzik CEO Jason Hardi started his headphone company back in 2013 to, as he puts it, "connect the world." But even though he's been showing off versions of the hardware throughout the years -- and even received a small investment from Twitter earlier this year -- it's never actually made it to market. Until a couple of months ago. That's when Hardi and co. finally unveiled the Muzik One, which launched alongside a partnership with Spotify. What's the big deal? Well, the One is a pair of "connected" headphones that lets you share whatever you're listening to on the social media platform of your choice with just a tap of a button. Sharing music has never been so easy. Whether or not that's worth $300, however, is less clear.
Jabra's Sport Coach headphones count my reps so I don't have to
Whenever I go to the gym, I immediately plug in my headphones. Last year, I graduated to wireless headphones, and while I'm happy with my current Bluetooth buds (more on those later), I was intrigued by Jabra's latest refresh of its Sports Coach series, which promises to gauge and coach not only your running (I don't do that), but also cross-training style bodyweight and dumbbell-based exercises, counting reps using built-in movement sensors so that you can concentrate on your form -- and then crank out even more.
