Latest Review: Sony VAIO Z Flip Review

Whenever Sony releases a new VAIO laptop, we pay close attention, and typically with good reason. The company is well-known for creating high-end laptops that are typically well-designed and especially pleasing to the eye. Does their newest line, the Sony VAIO Z, live up to the Sony name?

Well check out our full review on the Sony VAIO Z Flip

Price: $2,379
Availability: Yes

What we Like
Gorgeous design
Incredibly lightweight
Ultra-fast CPU

What We Did Not
Wonky plug design
Uncomfortable to hold in tablet mode

Sony VAIO Z Flip Specifications

• Processor:    Intel Core i7-6567U, 3.30GHz
• RAM:          16GB
• Storage Space:       512GB SSD
• Display Size:      13.3"
• Touchscreen:     YES
• Graphics Card:    Intel Iris Graphics 540 4GB Mem
• Battery Life:    11 hr and 15 min
• Display Resolution:    2560x1440
• Price:      $2,379.00

Design

When it comes to business class laptops, one of the most important elements when owning one is its design. After all, what's the point of having a high-end laptop when not connected to produce the aura in it?

Fortunately, the Sony VAIO Z flip oozes style with its sleek design. It is sure an impressive laptop to behold, especially when it is opened and the keys are illuminated. The back of the screen sports a minimalist design that has a small logo at the bottom (which I will also note that the VAIO brand has a well-designed logo). It has a slim design, and as a whole package, the VAIO is an impressive-looking business laptop.

Software

While exterior design is important, it is also important to have a great operating system and software to help you get the job done.

With the VAIO Z, there is no bloatware or annoying pre-installed programs that you are forced to use. Instead, you get a clean install of Windows 10 64-bit operating system.

With all the software that Sony makes, you would expect them to prepackage their programs to force feed them to you. Fortunately, that is not the case with the VAIO Z, and you are given a blank canvas to create your own masterful suite of software.

Hardware

As far as what's under the hood, the VAIO Z does sports impressive specs, including a best-in-class 6th generation Intel Core i7-6567U (4MB Cache, 3.30GHz out of the box). It also comes with 16GB1866MHz LPDDR3 RAM and a 512GB PCIe SSD zippy. The laptop comes with a stylus that is perfect for notes and other applications.

The keyboard has a great feel to it, and it has a smudge-free design. It is also impressive-looking as I mentioned above, especially when illuminated. Even with the laptop small size, the keyboard never feels cramped, and typing is comfortable.

The trackpad does not feel grainy like some trackpads can sometimes, and it has a pretty decent size with access to approximately 1/3 of the space at the bottom of the ultrabook.

It comes with a SuperSpeed ​​USB 3.0 port with charger, another SuperSpeed ​​USB 3.0 without charge, an HDMI port and a port for headphones and microphone.

Possibly its most disappointing aspect, however, is the awfully-designed AC plug that is used with it. Instead of a reliable connection that moves with you, the laptop’s plug frequently moves out of place and disconnects at the slightest movement. It is not a good fit as AC plugs should be, and you can literally wiggle the plug into the port rather easily.

Performance

It would be hard to knock on the performance of the VAIO Z, as it is surprisingly powerful for its size.

In our Geekbench 3 tests, it scored 3,549 for single-core and 7513 for multi-core, both of which are impressive numbers

Battery

VAIO Z's battery life is impressive for the specs that you get. The battery lasts for 9 hours and 30 minutes on a full charge and a moderate use, and 11 hours at completely idle. That means the VAIO Z is ideal for business and to take to work, as you will not have to worry about lugging around the plug with it.

Display

The VAIO Z has an impressive sharp display thanks to WQHD technology that enhances visual experience with sharper lines, vivid colors and rich detail. Videos were crisp and popped off the screen nicely.

Of course, it also has a touchscreen and you'll soon find yourself using the screen to surf the web and scroll instead of clicking with a mouse. Thanks to our extensive use of smartphones, using the screen to navigate feels natural, and it is a function that would be missed if you ever downgrade to a non-touchscreen laptop.

Conclusion

There is no denying that the Sony Vaio Z is drop dead sexy, and that gives a high-end business look. And, it's definitely a powerhouse ultrabook that can get the job done.

It is incredibly light, and it has a nice design to the screen. The fact that it has a well-lit keyboard also earns some bonus points.

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Latest: LG G5 Review

Read our review of the LG G5 Android smartphone to everything you need to know to learn.

The smartphone market was somewhat taken aback this year by the new flagship of LG, the LG G5, which is quite a departure from what we've known to the series to be. That's not always a bad thing; Change can be good. But often the question arises: Is this the right direction? And that is certainly the case with the G5.

An all-metal build is new territory for the Korean manufacturer. Despite that, and for better or worse, SC refuses to let to let the removable battery. Yes, this is the only metal built smartphone that allows the user to change batteries and go from 0 to 100% in a few seconds, via a smart eject state slot design. Let's look at our LG G5 review as this new approach hits the nail on the head, or as LG has to take it back to the drawing board.

Overview

Price: $624
Availability: Yes
Model: G5

WHY IT IS A TOP PICK: Unique design with metallic eject-able battery and wide angle camera.

What we liked:
LG's persistence to maintain a removable battery, despite the move to premium
Camera user has flexibility between standard or wide angle lenses
Final design opens doors to smart accessory add-ons

What we don't:
A 0.2 "smaller screen in almost the same phone form-factor as the G4
Although metal-built, the surface does not feel premium like it should.
LG user interface (UI) is fast, but has questionable changes (i.e., the removal of the drawer app)

LG G5 Specification

• Display: 5.3" IPS LCD, QHD (2560x1440 pixels)
• Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 (quad-core, 2.15 GHz)
• Memory: 4GB of RAM
• Storage: 32GB internal and up to 200GB microSD expansion
• Rear Camera: 16MP (f/1.8) and 8MP (f/2.4, wide angle), OIS, laser AF
• Front Camera: 8MP, f/2.0
• Battery: 2,800 mAh (removable)
• Software: Android 6.0.1 with UX 5.0 user interface
• Colors: Silver, Titan, Gold, Pink
• Price: $624

Design

LG entirely new design includes the G5 in metal, with a smooth matte finish.

The LG G5's design / build is nothing like its predecessor, whatsoever. This is definitely what we call an overhaul. The drive behind this change was the initiative of the industry premium smartphone materials. LG has a place as the cream of the crop, and it could no longer allow competitors seem to have the upper hand.

The G5’s uni-body metal design is pretty basic. The back cover looks like just a sheet of metal, with no interruption (aside from the camera modules and fingerprint scanner). Typically on metal builds, there are plastic antenna lines that cut through. Not so here. What LG has done instead is ran the antennas how they pleased, then covered it all with a uniform metallic paint primer finish (matte).

That approach makes for a nice, clean look, but it impugns on the premium feel. In my opinion, it doesn’t feel too far from plastic, which kind of defeats the purpose. However, it does feel sturdier and more rigid than last year’s G4.

The rounded sides make for a secure grip and clean look. The front glass slightly slopes at the top into the frame.

The sides are also tidy. They’re rounded and wrap around to the front glass very cleanly. I quite enjoyed the phone’s handling; your fingers wrap around the rounded sides for a nice grip. However, where the back cover and sides meet could’ve been machined a bit more smoothly. The edge is hard and a little sharp to the touch, but at least it gives off a sleek shine.

The top of the phone is fairly bare, except for the 

3.5mm headphone jack, IR blaster, and microphone.             The bottom holds the single speaker and brand new USB                                                                                                                   Type-C port. The module is ejected by the button on the side. 

When you move your eyes towards the bottom of the phone, you’ll notice a peculiar seam. It’s not present because of design laziness, this is where the bottom can pull apart from the chassis. There’s a covert button on the left side of the phone, towards the bottom, that releases the module.

When you press the eject button, the module             You must pull firmly to detach the battery from disengages and the battery slides out.              the module. To reinstall, line up the two arrows.

The core purpose behind this feature is to maintain battery swappability, but there’s more than meets the eye here. It opens the doors to add-ons that can expand the G5’s functionality. Our friends at Verizon were kind enough to send us one of these modules – the Cam Plus.

The Cam Plus module is one of the add-ons that you can buy right now.

It works simply by swapping the battery into the module and sliding it back in the phone’s slot. In particular, the Cam Plus adds physical camera controls to the G5’s camera experience. It includes a zoom wheel and shutter button. What’s more, it has it’s own battery pack, that boosts the total battery capacity to 4,000 mAh (from the phone’s stock 2800 mAh) battery. If you often use your phone for pics/videos, you’ll love this accessory.

From left to right, the Cam Plus module includes a                 The Cam Plus module adds a little bull on the bottom, partly record button, shutter button (two-stage for                  because it adds extra battery capacity.

focus), wheel zoom, and on/off switch.

On another module, LG partnered with Bang & Olufsen (high-end audio manufacturer) to make a HiFi 32-bit DAC (digital-to-analog converter) add-on, for higher quality tunes on headphones. But unfortunately, this one hasn’t made its way state-side yet.

Currently, these are the only two modules we know about, which poses the concern: How useful will this feature be? Of course, new concepts need to start somewhere, and LG has opened the design up to third-party manufacturers. We just don’t know how many will take them up on it, or when more modules will come out.

Performance

Like its flagship competitors, the G5 also packs Qualcomm’s latest and greatest chipset, the Snapdragon 820. It’s a sure bet that any phone powered by this beast will be blistering fast, and the G5 is no exception. The software’s response is super snappy across the board. You can multitask and push visuals all you want, the G5 plows through tasks and asks for more.

I’m not sure if it’s fast processing or software refinement (or both), but the software is much smoother than LG’s previous phones. It’s almost as fluid as stock Android, which deserves an applaud. Samsung newest flagships are also powered by Qualcomm’s latest, but they still bear the occasional stutter/hiccup.

The Snapdragon 820 is Qualcomm’s latest top-end chipset (quad-core).

The performance of the fingerprint scanner was also well done. It also serves as the power button, but you don’t need to press it before it scans. Just lay your finger on it and the phone will turn on and unlock. Alternatively, you can double tap to wake or sleep the phone.

LG rear-mounted power button doubles up as a fingerprint scanner. The volume rocker has now been moved to the side (whereas previous iterations had it on the back as well).

External audio is once again powered by a mono, bottom-firing speaker. It can keep up with any other smartphones that follow suit (Galaxy, iPhone, etc.), but can’t hold a candle to front-facing speakers. Also on the bottom, I’d like to point out that LG keeps up with the times and incorporates the latest USB Type-C standard. So you’re able to insert the connector any which way, and it also packs Quick Charge 3.0 (about 40% more efficient than QC 2.0). This one-ups the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 Edge, which still have microUSB and QC 2.0.

Display

Despite rumors of LG adopting AMOLED technology for the G5’s screen, we instead have an IPS LCD panel once again. But don’t fret, it’s a fine display. Colors are more vibrant than before and there’s great contrast. The G5 continues to use a QHD resolution, so images are still super sharp. But some folks may be bothered that LG dropped the screen size from 5.5″ in the last two flagships to 5.3″.

The G5’s IPS LCD display is slightly smaller than before (at 5.3″) but is more brilliant than ever.

My biggest gripe is the brightness. The flagship arena puts up stiff competition these days, so you really need to be on your game. The max brightness on the G5 falls short in my opinion; I’m often left wishing it would go about 25% brighter. It can be a struggle to see the screen outdoors. I have a Galaxy S7 Edge on-hand and its screen wipes the floors with the G5 in this respect.

In a max brightness comparison between the Galaxy S7 Edge (left) and LG G5 (right), Samsung is the clear winner.

Camera

LG magic slot is not the only unique feature on the G5. If you haven’t noticed, there’s something interesting on the back – dual cameras.

The G5 packs two different lenses, with a standard 75 deg viewing angle (left) and wide 135 deg (right).

No, 3D recording isn’t making a comeback. The purpose here is to give the user flexibility over the field of view. One of the cameras is at a standard angle and the other is much wider. This does come as an expense to megapixel count, though. The standard module is 16MP while the wide-angle is 8MP.

Battery

LG had to drop the battery’s capacity slightly to execute the new design. We’re looking at a 2,800 mAh battery versus 3,000 mAh on the G4 last year. It’s never good when battery capacity has to drop (battery life one of the most important factors in smartphones), but the G5 manages. Unless you’re a hardcore user, you should get through a day before having to run to an outlet. The battery life does lean dangerously to that borderline, though.

My testing consisted of typical apps, like Chrome, Google Maps, email, Twitter, Pandora, camera, and Feedly, between T-Mobile’s network and WiFi. I was pretty satisfied by LG’s minimal standby drain, this is mainly what kept the phone lasting.

One could justify the smaller battery with the swappability feature, but I imagine that some folks may just prefer a large battery instead.

Software

As expected, we’re looking at the latest version of Android, 6.0.1 (Marshmallow). Albeit, LG likes to throw on top its own custom UI. It’s dubbed “UX” and the G5 brings it up to version 5.0.

Compared to UX 4.0, we have some streamlined aesthetics and simplified functions. I feel like the experience is refined and much more unified than before. For instance, you’ll see the same minimalistic styling in the drop-down notification panel as in the Settings menu.

There are also more fluid animations/transitions throughout; it really makes for a pleasant experience, which rivals stock Android quite nicely. This sentiment is also attributed to the super responsive software. Actions work quickly, smoothly, and without stutter.

LG has toned down some of its features, such as the exclusion of the multi-window function and even the removal of the app drawer (a controversial move that didn’t sit too well with users – LG is said to be adding it back in a software update). But some important ones did come back, like the ability edit the bottom navigation keys or the awesome manual camera controls. A newcomer is the Always-On display feature. It keeps a portion of the display lit when on standby to show you information like the time, date, and notifications.

Final Thoughts

The LG G5 holds its own in today’s tough flagship arena. The hardware doesn’t provide the most refined package, but LG knows how to catch our eye. While premature, that modular capability is a really cool concept, and we hope that other phone makers follow suit. The wide-angle camera is another standout and thoughtful feature. We can’t wait to see where LG goes from here.

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Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge Review - This is What You've Been Waiting For

Read about the pros and cons in our Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge review

In 2016, Samsung made more than one update its Galaxy S line than an overhaul. Infact, from the surface, customers will be hard to say that nothing has changed. But once you dive into the details, there are some valuable improvements.

This is especially true of S7 Edge, which now boasts a phablet-sized display and a much larger battery. Now is the perfect Android smartphone? We will see in our Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge review.

OVERVIEW

Price: $792
Available: Yes
Model: Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge

What we liked:
Bright and vibrant S-AMOLED curved display is a sight to see.
Dual autofocus pixel camera is lightning fast and impressive, even in low light.
Samsung reintroduce expansion of microSD and IP68 water/dust proofing into the Galaxy S line.

What we didn't:
Glass design makes the Galaxy S7 Edge one of the "MORE" fragile smartphone out there.
Samsung TouchWiz UI(User Interface) still malfunctioning the software experience.

Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge Specifications

• Display: 5.5" Super-AMOLED QHD (2560x1440)
• Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 (quad-core, 2.15 GHz)
• Memory: 4GB of RAM
• Storage: 32GB/64GB internal and up to 200GB microSD expansion
• Rear Camera: 12MP Dual Pixel, f/1.7 aperture, 1.4µm pixels
• Front Camera: 5MP, f/1.7 aperture
• Battery: 3,600 mAh (non-removeable)
• Software: Android 6.0.1 with TouchWiz user interface
• Colors: Black, White, Silver, Gold (depending the market)
• Price: $792

Design

The S7 Edge carries Samsung’s same unique dual-curved screen concept.

Samsung launched its fancy dual-edge curved screen concept last year on the Galaxy S6 Edge, and it it seems to be a good investment, because this year we are back with the familiar S7 edge look. As for the design, little has changed, but it is not necessarily a bad thing. Samsung combination of glass panels and metal frame still makes for one of the most sexiest smartphones out there. :)

However, this time, the Edge got a sizable display increase, to 5.5″ (compared to its predecessor’s 5.1″ screen). For some reason Samsung thought this move was fitting on the S7 Edge but not on its sibling, the non-curved Galaxy S7, which still remains at 5.1″.

The front and back panels are still Gorilla Glass 4 protected. The unit for this review is Silver Titanium (new this year), and it has this mirror-like shine.

Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge Silver Titanium

That said, Samsung's design still leaves fingerprints. You will also need to be very careful on the surface you keep the device. Although Gorilla Glass 4 is resistant to scratches, but still it can happen. The glass also makes the phone slippery (and certainly you do not want to a device made from glass). The sloping edges don't help this fact because they reduce the grip of the hand. It is highly recommended to use the phone with a case to avoid stories that touch.

Two subtle but notable design changes from last year are a curved back (on the sides, like on the Galaxy Note 5) and a more-flush camera module.

Samsung new camera sensor is thinner and less noticeable.

The soft curves makes it possible for the phone to rest nicely in your hand, and the infamous camera hump is now a thing of the past. Physical button placement has not changed. We still have metal volume buttons on the left and the power button on the right side. The size of the Home button on the front was slightly increased (for better fingerprint recognition and usability). Capacitive Back and Recent App buttons continue to light up around the Home button (and stay hidden while not in use).

The fingerprint scanner/Home button is slightly larger but capacitive buttons are unchanged.

The bottom of the phone is also unchanged. We still have a bottom, mono speaker and 3.5mm headphone jack. A notable mention is that Samsung forewent the newest USB Type-C standard for charging/data and keeps on with the tried and true microUSB port. The competition have moved on, so this may be a concern to those who like to be on the cutting edge.

The SIM tray is still top-mounted, but now has a extra slot for a microSD card.

The S7 Edge still has a micro USB port and bottom-mounted speaker and headphone jack.

The top is mostly bare, save for antenna lines, a microphone, and SIM tray. Thankfully, Samsung listened to customers and reintroduced microSD expansion (added as a slot on the SIM tray). Not only that, but water/dust resistance is also back (debuted on the Galaxy S5 but taken away on the S6). The entire phone is sealed up tightly with an IP68 rating (can theoretically survive up to 5 feet of water for up to 30 minutes).

Performance

The Snapdragon 820 powers the Galaxy S7 in the U.S.

Simply said, the Galaxy S7 Edge is a powerhouse. Under the hood lies the latest and greatest from Qualcomm, the quad-core Snapdragon 820. This is paired with the boosted Adreno 530 graphics chip and 4GB of RAM. Suffice to say, the software is super responsive and always seems to ask for more.

App launching is snappy and user interface (UI) navigation is satisfyingly smooth. It’s not 100% fluid, though. Occasionally, a hiccup/stutter shows up, but it’s very minimal. And we would attribute that to Samsung’s heavy UI rather than the chipset.

Last year, the S6 Edge was available in up to 128GB of internal storage. However, this time you’ll only see U.S. carriers carry the lower memory 32GB variant (a 64GB version of the S7 Edge exists in other markets). But this is because you can now tack on up to a 200GB microSD card.

Display
Samsung’s Super-AMOLED displays are a sight to behold. It can be said (arguably) that these panels substantially surpass competitor’s displays, and I believe it. The colors are vivid, images are sharp, and the panel can get super bright. I have no issue whatsoever with outdoor visibility.

The dual-curved edges add another dimension to the viewing experience.
The curved screen on the sides amplifies the screen’s eye-candy. It’s certainly subtle, and many should question if it’s worth it (the Edge variant runs about $100 more), but it does add an extra dimension to images. It looks like content falls off the edges, similar to an infinity pool.

However, this neat feature still bears the same ergonomic issue from last year. When handling the phone, your fingers get very close to touching the display, and many times does by accident.

While the curved edges are cool, they still make for accidental touches.

A new feature this year is an Always-On display. Several phone manufacturers now offer this feature, so we’re glad that Samsung has joined the club. Always-On displays information on the screen while the phone is on standby (the time, date, battery level, missed calls/messages).

Camera

The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge camera performance is all-around quick and the software offers loads of shooting modes.

The S7 Edge’s camera is another standout feature. Samsung didn’t have to, but made substantial improvements (at a slight cost of megapixels, now at 12MP). The sensor is brand new, and is thinner, has larger pixels, and even faster auto-focus (AF). The lens’ aperture is larger, at f/1.7, and the pixel size is 1.4µm. This means that low-light performance is stellar. Additionally, Samsung introduced a focusing system dubbed Dual Pixel. In short, each of the sensor’s pixels are split in half and can assist in focusing. This makes AF lightning quick; you can barely see it happen.

Samsung’s camera interface remains largely unchanged. You'll get Auto HDR, camera effects/filters, and a bunch of shooting modes. One change is that the native aspect ratio is now 4:3.

Shooting modes in Samsung’s camera interface

Battery

A battery that consistently lasts over a day.

Battery life was a common complaint with the Galaxy S6 line last year. Because the S7 Edge is now larger, there’s more room for more capacity. But I don’t think anyone was expecting this much: 3,600mAh. This should be plenty for even hardcore users. I would call myself a moderate-to-heavy user and consistently get a day and half worth.

My usage consists of common apps, like Chrome, Maps, Camera, Google+, Twitter, YouTube, Google Play Music, and Feedly, and panel brightness averaging about 75%. Idle battery drain is about what I’d expect, you’ll lose a few percentages overnight.

If you’re in a bind, Samsung includes two tiers of power saving modes. It’s also worth mentioning that the S7 Edge is wireless-charging capable. Many flagships have given this feature up (even Google’s Nexus 6P), because of the move to metal builds.

Software

Notifications drop-down and quick settings layout.    Home Screen of the latest TouchWiz UI.

Samsung’s UI, TouchWiz, is aesthetically unchanged from last year. You’ll still see bubbly icons and colorful accents all throughout. But with a new phone of course comes the newest version of Android. In this case, it’s Android 6.0.1 (aka “Marshmallow”). This means that you’ll get some of Google’s latest features, like a new permissions system and Now on Tap.

Multi Window can split the screen between two select apps.

You do get a sense of refinement to TouchWiz. UI navigation is fluid, and stuttering is very minimal compared to last year’s experience. Scrolling in the Recent Apps carousel or within an app is a touch smoother on the pure Android Nexus 6P, but the S7 Edge is not far off.

TouchWiz does offer several benefits to the Android experience. One glaring feature is Multi Window support – something stock Android has yet to incorporate. There is also a theming engine that gives the allow freedom to drastically alter the look of the UI.

Additionally, because this is an Edge variant, Samsung created a quick shortcut panel that you access from swiping on the edge. The options are more expansive than before. Aside from favorite apps/contacts, you can also include news, stocks, sports scores, calendar events, and weather information in the panel.

The S7 Edge packs more edge functionality, but still nothing that you couldn’t do without.

Galaxy S7 Edge Review Final Words

At first glance, it may not seem like the S7 Edge is a worthy upgrade, but we found a different story in our experience. Small phone lovers may not like the size increase, but we feel it was a benefit. The phone’s handling is improved (more material to grip onto) and we now have a considerable battery. Put this together with a brillant S-AMOLED display and an amazingly fast, high quality camera, and you have yourself a winner.

Some may still not prefer the TouchWiz UI, and I can sympathize with that. But fortunately, it’s not as bad as before. Also, the curved edges and slippery glass back don’t make for the most ergonomic phone design. Our recommendation is to slap on a case and you’re set.

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Update: Dell Chromebook 13 Review

Learn the pros and cons of this Chromebook by reading our Dell Chromebook 13 review.

Dell Chromebook 13 is different from any other Chromebook we've seen before, with a professional style and set of features that put it in the top tier of performance when it comes to Chrome OS.

But will the high cost and heavy weight be too much for the average Chromebook customer? Read on the Dell Chromebook 13 review to discover and learn why it is best Chromebooks in 2016.

OVERVIEW

Price: $458.85 on Amazon
Available: Now

What we liked
Spectacular design from all angles
The keyboard and trackpad are durable and sensitive
Crazy battery life.

What we Don't Like
The price may be too high for some consumers

Dell Chromebook 13 Specifications

• Processor: Intel Core i3-5005u
• RAM: 4GB DDR3
• Display Type: IPS LED
• Display Resolution: 1920x1080
• Storage: 16GB solid state flash memory
• WiFi: 802.11ac
• Bluetooth: 4.0
• Keyboard: Standard
• Battery: 11 hours 13 minutes
• Price: $458.85

Design

Many of the same design options that made XPS 13 great have been returned to Dell Chromebook 13.

The sides and top of the case are coated with a material that I can only refer to a "rubberized aluminum", which does not make sense as a concept, but worth it in practice. It gives the whole machine a grippy, polished, professional feel unlike anything I’ve seen on a laptop before, Chromebook or otherwise. A lone black-on-gray “Dell” logo sits in the middle of the case on the top, with a small “Chrome” badge sitting in the standard top-left corner configuration.

The design of the Chromebook 13 is one of its most outstanding traits

The Dell Chromebook 13 never comes off as cheap or poorly thought out; every element is included for a purpose and the sum of the whole is an unmatched tactile response that just feels right in the hand.

The attention to detail that was paid to the outside of the Chromebook 13 extends inside as well, with a solid keyboard and trackpad that felt eerily similar to what we tested on the XPS 13. So similar in fact, I would almost wager a guess that the team who designed the XPS also had a hand in this laptop, especially given what it looks like from the bottom.

There’s so much polish and precision here at times you almost forget you’re actually using a Chromebook, which are notorious for barely including more than a few panels of flimsy plastic to hold the whole thing together. This was a device that was made with intent and purpose, and the result is undoubtedly the best looking (and feeling) Chromebook we’ve tested to date.

Software

One of the biggest reasons some people prefer Chromebooks over Windows laptops is that when you open them up you know exactly what you’re going to get, without anything else annoyingly tacked on as an extra.

In this department, the Dell Chromebook 13 is no different than every other Chromebook out there. It comes with a standard version of the Chrome web browser, as well as locally installed versions of its productivity apps: Drive, Sheets, Docs, and Slides.

If you want apps you can install them yourself by visiting the Chrome OS store, but as we’ve stressed in previous reviews, 90% of these software programs aren’t much more than glorified links to external webpages that you could set as bookmarks and they’d do the same job.

Hardware

The Dell Chromebook 13 version we tested came with an Intel i3-5005U, 4GB of DDR3 RAM, a 16GB SSD drive and a 13.3″ 1920 x 1080 screen. On the left side there was one USB 3.0 port, one HDMI out, one headphone jack and a mini SD card slot for expanded storage options. The right side had a singular USB 2.0 slot and a port to lock down your laptop in case someone tries to swipe it off your desk.

The Dell Chromebook 13 has just enough ports to pass the grade
The included speakers are tucked neatly underneath the body of the laptop, although I wasn’t a huge fan of the choice. Supposedly angling the speakers toward the surface the laptop is sitting on produces a richer tone than if they were facing upward only, but either way they were still distant and lacked any substantial bass. If possible, I went with headphones whenever I could just to avoid the oversaturation of treble these speakers put out.

Performance

Given its specs, it wasn’t a surprise to see the Chromebook 13 perform as smoothly as it did. Thanks to its Core i3 processor, we were able to run multiple WebGL Chrome Experiments at the same time with minimal slowdown.

There was some noticeable jagged scrolling and pauses between switching tabs once you loaded up past the 25 tab mark, but these were also pretty resource-intensive tasks including two flash games and about a dozen videos between three services spread throughout.

This is more than enough for anyone who’s concerned about being able to multitask on the Chromebook 13, but in case it’s not Dell also has a higher end model equipped with 8GB of RAM instead of four.

Battery

This is another area where the Dell Chromebook 13 knocks the ball straight out of the park. In our testing which involved light browsing activities such as watching YouTube and performing various tests (WebGL included), we were able to squeeze 11 hours and 13 minutes of usage out of the laptop before it finally died out.

This is better than both the Toshiba Chromebook 2 by a number of hours, and should be plenty for anyone who expects they’ll be taking long trips without a lot of time to sit down and plug in between stops.

Display

The Dell Chromebook 13’s 13.3″ 1920 x 1080 FHD IPS LED screen was serviceable, and looked just as good during Netflix as it did aimlessly browsing the web.

The display won’t be winning any major awards, but it’s fine for what you need during daily browsing

Of course, this wouldn’t be a Chromebook review without the mention of the Toshiba Chromebook 2’s screen, which continues to not only be a beacon for Chromebooks, but a standard that all cheaper laptops should aspire to from here on out. The Dell didn’t look as good as the Toshiba, but then again few laptops do.

Conclusion

While most Chromebooks are made with the intention of catering to the widest audience possible, the Dell Chromebook 13 has its sights set squarely on the modern, savvy business professional.

Everything from its design to its performance and stellar battery life say this is a laptop that’s made for the road, and will work no matter what you need it to do in a pinch. It’s not the best purely for media thanks to a lackluster screen and mediocre speakers, but what it lacks in movie-watching features it more than makes up for in polish and class.

The Dell Chromebook 13 is expensive for Chromebooks, but it also feels like it’s worth every penny each time you open it up. For that it earns our respect, and fills out yet another category in Google’s rapidly evolving lineup of Chrome OS machines.

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Update: Huawei Nexus 6P Review

Google Nexus program is still going strong and still win the heart of lovers of Android . It's always a surprise in which the manufacturer Google chooses every year , and the last Nexus is no exception. The Chinese phone manufacturer Huawei has been selected to build the Nexus 6P. The new name is certainly interesting; It is based on Nexus 6 manufactured by Motorola previous years, but adds a: "P" to represent "Premium".

Nexus Review, Nexus reviews
AN OVERVIEW

Model: Nexus 6P
Availability: Yes
Price: $499 on Google Store

Nexus 6P Specifications

Display                    5.7" AMOLED QHD (2560x1440)
Chipset                    Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 (octa-core)
Memory                  3GB of RAM
Storage                    32GB/64GB/128GB, no microSD expansion
Rear Camera          12.3MP, f/2.0 aperture, 1.55µm pixels
Front Camera        8MP, f/2.4 aperture
Battery                    3,450 mAh (non-removeable)
Software                 Android 6.0.1 (Marshmallow)
Colors                     Aluminum, Graphite, Frost, Gold
Price                       $499

Design
There is no way to avoid the fact that the Nexus 6P is a great phone. The 5.7 sized display alone implies that, although the upper and lower bezel extends beyond that to even taller, however, it is not in vain. The Nexus 6P features something that many phone don't - dual front-facing speakers. This makes watching videos much better because the sound is directed towards you, and creates a stereo effect.

The front is completely a glass panel, but as you turn the device, you'll get an eyeful of metal. Quite metal structure is a result of Google's premium initiative. Huawei has already had an advantage over the process of metal processing, so it was not a problem for the company to meet Google's requirements.

On the sides, the edges are aligned by nice, shiny chamfers. The finish on the back is very smooth and feels good in the hand. However, it is also a bit slippery. Our model of graphite, but also comes in matt gold, aluminum (silver) and Frost (white).

At the top, you will not be able to stop to notice an unusual choice for design. A glass strip contains the camera module and various sensors that won't work through metal. The section has a slight hump to it, but it’s fortunately not invasive and doesn’t impede on handling. The visor look may just not appeal to everyone.

Just below the circular fingerprint scanner, which is also surrounded by a nice-looking chamfer. Then under that, a subtle, horizontal “Nexus” logo is painted within the finish.

The power button and volume rocker are on the right side of the phone. They are not the firmest buttons, so you might have some accidental presses, but they have a good tactile click them. Fingerprint scanner can ignore the power button to turn on the phone, but you still need to turn it off. Unfortunately, there is no application-tap-to-after double / sleep.

Performance

Nexus reviews:
The powerful Snapdragon 810 octa-core chips with the latest version of Android (marshmallow) is simply an awesome matching. I urge you to find a more fluid and seamless experience on any other Android smartphone. There’s no stutter that I can tell, and scrolling within the Chrome browser or within an app just flies.

Storage-wise, 6P is available in 32GB, 64GB or 128GB of internal storage variants. Google is against expansion of microSD, so you will need to choose wisely. Fortunately, the operating system does not take up as much space as other phones with heavy software since the Nexus is a pure Android experience.

It's great to have two speakers that pull in the right direction (towards you). Even though the quality will not blow out (there is a lack of low-end), the sound can be very high and is integrated in higher amounts.

Display

Huawei uses the current samsung AMOLED panel for the Nexus 6P display. This is a good thing, because Samsung is without doubt the best smartphone when it comes to display. The resolution also coincides with QHD (2560 x 1440 pixels) of the tendency of gems today. So, pop colors and images are clear and sharp.

I won’t say that the screen quite matches the brilliance of the Galaxy Note5 (and definitely, the more recent Galaxy S7 lineup). There’s a slight tint to the overall color and the screen doesn’t get as bright as on Samsung phones. It also means that the external visibility is not so good. But in the grand scheme of things, this is a good example, and most people should be satisfied.

Camera

The camera performance of Nexus phones have not historically been great. Therefore, on the Nexus 6P, Google made it a focus to bring the sensor up to speed with the rest of the competition. That effort was realized as not just numerous pixels, but large ones. The 12.3MP sensor boasts 1.55µm (larger than the Galaxy S7‘s camera) sized pixels (the typical size is around 1.12µm). The benefit of larger pixels is that more light can be captured by the sensor, countering those tough low-light situations.

I would say that the mission was accomplished for the most part. The 6P’s camera can pick up light where there barely is some, and maintain a composed image (as opposed to a grainy one). In normal conditions, the image quality is also great. Sharpness is where you’d expect from 12.3MP. The color reproduction aims towards natural/realistic (rather than vibrant, like on Samsung’s cameras). However, in dynamic range situation, dark areas seemed a bit too dark to me. Auto-focusing was also hit or miss in my experience. It sometimes didn’t focus correctly and gave me a blurry image.

Battery

Despite the Nexus 6P’s thinness, it’s no slouch in the battery department. There’s a considerable 3,450 mAh battery stuffed in there. That means that it should generally have no problem getting you through the day, and probably with some to spare.

My usage varied between T-Mobile’s network and WiFi, using common apps like Chrome, Maps, Camera, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google Play Music, Feedly, and Messenger. I was satisfied that the battery drain was pretty consistent, and even more so that the phone barely sipped battery on idle. Google’s latest software utilized Doze, a strong power saving feature when the phone is idle over a long period. This helps the overall battery life significantly.

Software

Probably the biggest selling point about the Nexus program is the pure, stock Android experience. Android manufacturers typically take Google’s software and modify it to make it their own, but the Nexus 6P is exactly how Google intended its mobile software to be. In this case, the most recent build to come from the software giant is Android 6.0.1 (aka, Marshmallow).

On the Nexus 6P, Marshmallow is as buttery smooth as you’ve ever seen the Material Design user interface (UI) run. When you get to this level of fluidity, you understand Google’s goal with the flashy animations and transitions when navigating through the UI.

There’s a satisfaction that you get as actions seamlessly invoke an extra dimension. Elements slide or pop into view, and apps smoothly expand as they fill the entire screen. Swiping and scrolling is super quick to respond and seems effortless.

Huawei Nexus 6P

The layout of the UI is pretty simplistic. Google places the Google Now panel on the far left. Dropping down the top pull-down of course shows notifications, but pull it down again and you get your quick settings. The app drawer scrolls vertically and shows the most recently accessed apps on the top. The Recent Apps carousel is unchanged from before; you scroll through the list and swipe away any apps you wish to close.

Final Words
I think many would agree with me that the Nexus 6P progresses the Nexus line very well. Huawei has proven to be a major manufacturer of choice, offering quality metal accumulation and reasonable prices. The 6P camera performance is better than its predecessor, and can now stand up with the flagship competition. There is also a strong battery, despite the slim profile.

No one can claim the benefit of the software that Nexus phones provide. You will have a smooth Android experience and be the first to receive updates. However, Nexus phones are only sold through the google online store. This means you will not be able to check out the phone in a store before you buy it or get a payment plan from a carrier.

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