Following the demise of smartphone-based headsets like Samsung's Gear VR and Google’s Daydream, virtual reality headsets have generally fallen into two camps: lightweight standalone systems like the Quest 2 and more sophisticated PC-based systems like the Vive Pro 2 and Valve Index.

But with the new Quest Pro, Meta is trying to combine the best things about both types of headsets into a powerful, but still very comfortable, self-contained unit. In fact, Meta believes so strongly in its next headset that prior to a demo session for press, Meta Product Management Lead Rupa Rao described the Quest Pro as “the beginning of an evolution in VR. It’s going to be our first multi-functional immersive computing platform that will enable the metaverse.” And after getting the chance to try it out myself, I can definitely see where that confidence is coming from.

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Compared to the Quest 2, the Quest Pro is packing some major hardware upgrades including an all-new design, 10 sensors (both inward and outward facing) and completely revamped optics. The Quest Pro is also the first device to feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2+ chip along with 12GB of RAM, 256GB of storage and a 90Hz refresh rate, which Meta says delivers 50 percent better performance than the Quest 2.

But to me, one of the best things about the Quest 2 is how comfortable it is. Due to its increased horsepower, it needs a way bigger battery. But instead of cramming a big power pack up front and making the whole headset unbalanced, Meta used a curved cell that’s integrated into the Quest Pro’s headband. Putting on the headset is also dead simple, as it sits on your head more like a visor and less like a helmet. This design allows you to peek at meatspace using your peripheral vision, which was an intentional choice by Meta: One of the company’s goals was to create something that lets you interact in both VR and IRL simultaneously. That said, if you want total immersion, there are side-mounted blinders that come in the box, in addition to optional full light blockers (though you’ll have to pay an extra $50 for those).

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Adjusting the fit is also super straightforward. There’s a dial in back to tighten the headband. And for IPD interpupillary distance), you can move each eyecup left or right individually as needed. When it comes to optics, while the Quest Pro isn’t quite as light as the Quest 2, Meta switched to new pancake optics that are 40-percent thinner than traditional fresnel lenses to reduce the thickness of the headset.

Meanwhile, with a per-eye resolution of 1800 x 1920, the Quest Pro has a higher pixel density than the Valve Index (1440 x 1600 per eye) and the Quest 2, though it still can’t match stuff like the Vive Pro 2 (2448 × 2448 per eye). But even without a super high pixels per inch figure, visuals look great. Meta has managed to almost completely eliminate the screen door effect on a headset that doesn’t need to be tethered to a PC. It’s a great balance of resolution and high-fidelity graphics, with a battery that lasts between 60 and 90 minutes on a charge. And for those who want even longer VR sessions, you can also power the Quest Pro using the headset’s included charging cable.

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The Quest Pro’s 10 sensors are split between five exterior cams and five inward facing ones. The outward-facing sensors serve two main purposes: they support full-color passthrough (the beta version of this on the Quest 2 is only black-and-white) so you can easily see the world around you from inside the headset. This makes it easier to switch between VR and meatspace without getting disorientated. And because Meta’s passthrough looks pretty sharp, it’s easy to see relatively small objects like keys on a keyboard (though not necessarily the letters printed on them).

But more importantly, the exterior cameras support what Meta calls scene understanding, which is part of the company’s presence platform. Scene understanding allows the Quest Pro’s exterior sensors to detect objects in the real world like walls, desks, tables, etc. While it might seem simple, this has a huge impact. For example, after I used the Painting VR app to create my very own Bob Ross, I was able to hang the painting on a wall in the room, so that anyone else who visited the space could see it too.

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But it’s not just paintings either, because scene understanding allows the headset to do stuff like place a whiteboard on a wall for virtual work collaboration and even recognize stuff like a keyboard, so you can have multiple virtual screens set up in Meta’s Horizon Workrooms office app while still being able to bang away on physical keys. Really, scene understanding feels like a critical piece of Meta’s attempt to integrate VR with the real world, and because it's built into the company’s presence platform, developers can also easily use related APIs to support the tech in their apps.

Meanwhile, the Quest Pro’s inward-facing sensors are there to track your eye and facial movements. This supports stuff like foveated rendering, which allows the headset to provide sharp visuals where you're looking, while dialing down performance on graphics in your peripheral vision, which helps reduce the overall processing load. But honestly, while I know it might sound creepy, the eye and facial tracking make such a big impact when interacting with people in VR.

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During my first demo of the Quest Pro in Horizon Workrooms, I had another representative from Meta showing various features, and one of the first things I noticed was that being able to read facial expressions and accurate head and eye movements just made conversation feel a lot more natural. Instead of having to remember to respond to every question with a verbal “Yes,” I could simply nod my head, and the other person would know to move on. This removes a lot of the awkwardness of interacting with people in a virtual space, which is often cited as a big barrier to VR adoption.

The Quest Pro’s face and eye-tracking goes further than that too though, because in addition to making avatars look more lifelike, it can also be used in games for stuff like motion capture or animating alien creatures using your own movements. Developers can even adjust some basic sliders to create more exaggerated effects. And once again, because eye and face tracking is built into Meta’s presence platform, the development tools are easy to access.

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Aside from the headset, Meta also completely redesigned the Quest Pro’s controllers, which as a nice bonus will be backward compatible with the Quest 2. The new controllers have sensors built in, rather than relying on headset cameras to track their movements, which means you don’t need the big loops used on the Quest 2’s joysticks. But once again, those sensors also support much more precise hand and finger tracking. And it kind of just works. Using the Quest Pro’s controllers to paint and grab virtual objects felt incredibly intuitive. There was even a demo that let me play games like Jenga and Operation. And because the controllers felt so responsive, the tension was very palpable when I tried to remove blocks without knocking the whole tower down.

Over the course of about two hours of demos in seven or eight different apps, I came away thoroughly impressed. The Quest Pro might be the most comfortable VR headset I’ve ever used, particularly on a self-contained system with graphics this good. Getting in and out of the headset wasn’t that much more difficult than putting on a hat and putting my hands through the safety straps on the controllers, just like you would with a Wiimote or Nintendo Switch Joy-Con. And it’s important to remember that all of this is coming from a standalone headset, which means you don’t need to worry about wires or tethering it to a nearby and (probably expensive) PC with a discrete GPU.

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That said, I still have a couple of small quibbles with the Quest Pro. I think its controllers really need better hand straps like those attached to the Valve Index’s joysticks, so you can more easily switch between using buttons and finger gestures without worrying about dropping them. And then there’s its price: $1,500. Given all the tech inside, I don’t think that cost is unjustified. But at the same time, that’s five times the price of a Quest 2, so it’s going to take a lot more justification to pony up that much money for a headset that’s still sort of in search of a purpose, at least for the general consumer. And let’s not forget, Meta remains very much in the process of building out a cohesive virtual world that people will want to visit. Especially in light of recent reports that even many of the company’s employees have been avoiding using Horizon Worlds due to bugs and issues with quality control.

But it really feels like Meta has addressed all the big hardware concerns. Face and eye-tracking unlock more natural conversations in VR. More precise hand and finger tracking make it easier to interact with virtual objects. And with a lightweight and very comfortable standalone headset that delivers better visuals than most of the tethered alternatives out there (aside from super expensive enterprise options like Varjo’s VR-3 and the like), the whole kit is super easy to use. The headset even comes with a wireless charging dock, which despite being a bit fiddly, makes it easy to store and have the headset ready to use whenever you need it.

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After using the Quest Pro, I feel like this is the headset Meta really needs to provide a high-quality VR experience for building out apps and environments. Now I still don’t know if this is enough to convince people to work and live in VR, but when it comes to enabling the Metaverse, the Quest Pro seems like the big building block for making that happen

Pre-orders for the Quest Pro go live today, with official sales beginning on October 25th.

Google's latest streaming dongle is so similar to the previous one that when I first opened it up, I experienced a little deja vu. The new Chromecast with Google TV still has a puckish oval design, it comes packaged with an identical remote and even the OS powering everything is (largely) unchanged. The only major difference (at least on the outside) is updated packaging that features a label that says "HD." So instead of supporting 4K displays, this new more affordable Chromecast is aimed squarely at people looking to stream shows and movies on 1080p screens. And from where I'm sitting, that's just fine, because while it's limited to HD content, this thing delivers essentially the same great watching experience that we loved on the original.

The basics

I'm not going to bore you with the typical design section, because the Chromecast with Google TV (HD) is incredibly straightforward and almost a carbon copy of its predecessor. There's the Chromecast itself which plugs directly into your TV via HDMI, a separate remote with a built-in mic and Google Assistant button for voice controls and a power adapter with a USB cable that you can use in case your TV can't supply enough juice using only HDMI.

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Setup is incredibly straightforward too. Thanks to an update in Android 12 for TV (which comes pre-installed), there's a new sign-on process that works by using your phone to scan a QR code in the Google Home app. This cuts out the tedium of having to enter your credentials, connect to WiFi and so on. Though, if you'd like to do things manually, that's still an option too.

Once the Chromecast is up and running, you can log into your favorite streaming apps as normal and then dive into some of the more advanced settings like HDMI CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) which allows the Chromecast to do stuff like automatically turn on when you fire up your TV. You can also use Google's controller pairing setting to program the Chromecast's remote to mirror important functions like adjusting the volume or switching inputs. That means if you're like me and you have a relatively simple setup, you might even be able to stash your TV's remote in a drawer and rely completely on the Chromecast, which is a great way to cut down on clutter.

The streaming experience

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When it comes to finding something to watch, things couldn't be simpler. There's a dedicated row across that top that makes it easy to find shows, movies, apps and purchased content, along with a Live tab that works with a handful of streaming TV services (YouTube TV, Pluto TV, Sling TV, Philo), so you can jump into currently airing program straight from the main home screen.

Naturally, as this model is focused on 1080p content, you won't get support for 4K videos. But even with the HD model's relatively lightweight specs (just 1.5GB of RAM with an Amlogic S805X2 chip), performance felt very similar to what you get on the original Chromecast with Google TV. Upon startup, there's often a bit of lag as the dongle loads the OS and pulls down art for content recommendations. And if you pay attention, you might also notice some small hitches when you switch between apps or settings really quickly. But generally, things are smooth, especially during playback, which is when it really matters.

The other notable feature you won't get on this new cheaper Chromecast is support for Dolby Vision. That said, this omission doesn't feel like a huge deal as a lot of 1080p TVs (particularly older ones) can't handle that anyway. At least there’s still support for HDR10.

Other new additions in Android 12 for TV

As the first device to feature Android 12 for TV pre-installed, the new Chromecast includes a number of handy quality-of-life improvements that will eventually make their way to other Google TV devices. These include the ability to adjust the text scaling (from 85 percent up to 130 percent), options for matching your content's framerate (which is set to auto by default) and some additional surround sound controls. And just like Android 12 on phones, you'll also get a little pop-up when the Chromecast activates its mic, so there's no confusion about when it's listening to you.

Wrap-up

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With the Chromecast with Google TV (HD), it's clear the company didn't try to do too much. And that's totally OK, because the original blueprint works fine. It’s just tailored for 1080p screens here. You get the same great UI, a nifty compact remote that covers all the basics, and more than good enough performance — all for just $30. So if you've got an aging set or secondary display that could benefit from a modern streaming TV OS (and haven't already invested in another streaming platforms), the Chromecast with Google TV (HD) is the watch buddy you need.

Last year Google made a big change to its phone line with the introduction of its custom-designed Tensor chip. By focusing on increased AI and machine learning performance, the company was able to create more advanced apps and features for its handsets without needing help from the cloud. And now with the launch of the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro alongside the Tensor G2, it feels like Google is deepening the marriage between its hardware and software.

On the outside, Google is using a similar template to what we got with the Pixel 6 with a couple of notable tweaks. On the Pixel 7, you get a screen made from Gorilla Glass Victus, while in back, there’s an even more pronounced camera bar that now extends seamlessly from the phone’s frame across the width of the device. This should provide some added durability while still allowing the device to lie flat (well, mostly) on a table.

Similar to last year, the finishes of the two phones vary slightly between models, with the Pixel 7 getting a brushed aluminum look while Pixel 7 Pro gets a shiny, polished chassis. That said, while the Pixel 7 Pro’s design is supposed to feel a bit more premium than its cheaper sibling, I actually kind of prefer the matte look on the standard Pixel 7. And for what it’s worth, I think the Pixel 7 has slightly more fun colors as well, with options including snow, obsidian and lemongrass, compared to the slightly more sedate snow, obsidian and hazel paint jobs on the 7 Pro. And while I’m sure I’m not the first person to notice this, I still can’t shake the feeling that the back of the Pixel 7 looks like a character from Among Us. So depending on your tastes, the Pixel 7’s design could be very hit or miss, but I’m enjoying it so far.

One notable change for the Pixel 7 specifically is that with a 6.3-inch 90Hz OLED screen, it’s actually a tiny bit smaller than the outgoing Pixel 6, which feels like a small win for compact phone fans. It’s not so much that it feels like a huge difference compared to the previous model, but it might be just enough to make the device feel a bit nimbler, especially if you don’t have huge hands.

As for the Pixel 7 Pro, Google opted for a 6.7-inch 120Hz display. However, I must say it’s kind of hard to tell the difference in refresh rates even when you’re holding them side-by-side. And while it doesn’t show up on a spec sheet, the Pixel 7 Pro’s glass is 20 percent flatter, so there’s a bit less distortion around the edges of the screen. Both phones get the same 10.8MP front-facing camera, though it still has a fixed focusing system, which is a relatively minor inconvenience compared to the true autofocus system on the iPhone 14’s selfie shooter.

Around back, Google is using a familiar 50MP main cam alongside a 12MP ultra-wide shooter. But when it comes to photography, perhaps the biggest camera upgrade is the new 48MP 5x telephoto zoom on the Pixel 7 Pro. Not only is it longer than the Pixel 6 Pro’s 4x lens, Google also redesigned the way the camera pushes in to capture more detailed images throughout the phone’s entire range.

Similar to before, from 1x to 2x, the 7 Pro uses the 50-MP main sensor to take short-distance shots, and then crops as needed. But from 2x to 5x, the phone fuses images from both the main and telephoto lenses to create a more detailed composite. Then between 5x and 10x switches completely over to the zoom cam, with Google using pixel binning to reduce total resolution down from 12MP. And then above 10x, the phone uses full-res crops from the telephoto cam before the phone hits its full 30x magnification. I know this is all extremely techy, but the end result is a much smoother zoom experience across and more detailed shots that look better than anything I’ve seen from practically any other phone. That said, I’m going to want to do some more testing before I make any final judgments.

Some of the new camera software also looks impressive. There’s a Cinematic Blur feature for video that adds a soft bokeh to the background of your clips while still supporting full 10-bit color with HDR. And from what I’ve seen so far, it looks great, as if you’ve been using a much more expensive camera. And for more general use, Google says it has upgraded the Pixel 7’s image stabilization and noise correction as well.

Meanwhile for photos, Google says the Tensor G2 helps improve the Pixel’s Face Unblur tool and speeds Night Sight processing by up to 2x. There’s also a new Photo Unblur feature that can sharpen pics regardless of when it was taken or what camera they came from. Google says all the processing for Photo Unblur is done locally on the phone and, in a brief demo, some of the results were so good they were kind of hard to believe.

But that’s the best and worst thing about Pixels, because now that their hardware and software are so intertwined, it’s difficult to really get a sense of how they perform after only a brief hands-on. And that’s before we talk about other more niche features like faster menus for Direct My Call and the ability to transcribe audio messages into text, which I hear is popular in Europe, but less so in the US. Both the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro felt snappy and the phones’ high refresh rate displays made switching between apps feel super smooth. That said, it’s still up to Google to avoid any bugs or issues with future software updates like we experienced on the Pixel 6.

So for now, what I will say is that I’m definitely digging the Pixel 7’s tweaked design. Cinematic Blur makes videos look great and, as someone who loves telephoto lenses, I can’t wait to see what I can do with the 7 Pro’s new 5x zoom. And perhaps best of all, with the standard Pixel 7 retaining the $599 starting price (or $699 on Verizon for one with mmWave 5G), upgrading to Google’s latest flagship costs less than its competitors.

Follow all of the news from Google's Pixel 7 event right here!

After being teased back at I/O 2022, today Google announced the new Pixel 7 starting at just $599 featuring a refreshed design, a Tensor G2 chip and a bunch of new photo and video enhancements.

Available in three colors (snow, obsidian and lemongrass), the new Pixel 7 sports a familiar design including a big camera bar in back, a Corning Gorilla Glass Victus in front and the same IP 68 water resistance we got on last year's devices. That said, for 2022, Google has made a few tweaks including merging the camera bar with the frame of the phone for increased durability. On top of that, while the Pixel 7 Pro will get slightly more premium-feeling polished metal sides, the Pixel 7 gets a less shiny matte aluminum finish.

Google

Interestingly, another notable design change is that with a 6.3-inch 2400 x 1080 OLED display, the standard Pixel 7 is actually a tiny bit smaller than the outgoing 6.4-inch Pixel 6. 

On the inside, the Pixel 7 will be powered by the new Tensor G2 chip, which helps support a number of new machine learning and software features.By leveraging the Tensor G2's next-gen TPU, Google says low-light image processing using Night Sight is two times faster compared to the previous generation. The Tensor G2 chip also supports an improved Face Unblur function in the Pixel 7's camera, while also unlocking a new Photo Unblur feature that allows the phone to sharpen photos (including previously taken pics or images captured by other devices) — all using local processing only.

As for its cameras, the Pixel 7 gets two shooters in back: a 50MP main lens and a 12MP ultra-wide with a 114-degree field of view. 

Elsewhere, one interesting new feature is the expansion of the Pixel's Direct my Call Feature, which provides a handy touch menu for navigating those annoying automated voice messages you often run into when calling a big business. Previously, the issue with Direct my Call was that the phone needed to hear all the different options before being able to create a text-based menu on your screen. But now, by caching responses from the top 1,000 businesses (US only for now), the Pixel 7 can provide a menu right away, saving you time and frustration.

Finally, in a somewhat unusual move, alongside its new flagship phones, Google previewed some of the new software arriving in the next Pixel feature drop, which is slated for release sometime in December. In a big upgrade for anyone who uses the Pixel Recorder app, Google is adding automatic speaker labels will to audio transcripts.

Additionally, similar to what you get on the new Pixel Buds Pro, the company is also planning to provide a Clear Calling feature designed to help reduce potentially distracting background sounds. Lastly, in a big upgrade to privacy and security, Google will also give all Pixel 7 owners access to a free VPN via Google One that's good for the life of the device.

This story is developing, please refresh for updates...

Follow all of the news from Google's Pixel 7 event right here!

Every year Apple has a surprise or two in store for its device lineup, and for 2022 one of those twists is the iPhone 14 Plus. That's because instead of continuing to make a mini version of the basic iPhone, Apple has finally created a more affordable big-screen option starting at $899 for anyone who doesn't need or want to shell out for a $1,099 iPhone 14 Pro Max.

That said, we've already taken a big look at the vanilla iPhone 14. So in lieu of rehashing what is essentially the same phone but with a bigger display, this review is going to focus on the most important components along with what's different on this year's new Plus model.

The basics

Packing a 6.7-inch OLED screen with a 2778 x 1284 resolution, the iPhone 14 Plus is the same size as the Pro Max, but with a much lighter body (203 grams vs 240 grams). In fact, due to things like its triple rear cameras and heavy stainless steel frame, the iPhone 14 Pro actually weighs a tiny bit more (206 grams) than the 14 Plus, despite having a significantly smaller screen.

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The iPhone 14 Plus has the same basic features as the standard iPhone 14. You get a more playful selection of colors (blue, purple, midnight, starlight and red) than the Pro line, but lose out on some more sophisticated tech such as Apple's Dynamic Island, the new A16 Bionic chip or a dedicated telephoto camera. Instead, you get an A15 Bionic processor (the same as last year's models), just two rear cameras (including the 12MP main sensor from the iPhone 13 Pro), and a new 12MP TrueDepth selfie cam in front.

The phone still feels premium though, and has more than enough performance to handle anything you can throw at it. And as another perk for all the butterfingered folk out there, the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus have a new mid-frame that makes it easier to replace front and back glass panels in the event of an accident.

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Just don't try to carry over the physical SIM card from your previous phone, because like the rest of the iPhone 14 line, the Plus only works with eSIMs. This change shouldn't be a huge deal because Apple has supported eSIMs on its phone for years. But for those who haven't made the switch, just remember to save time to contact your carrier in order to convert your physical card into a virtual one.

Display

The most obvious advantage of the iPhone 14 Plus’ increased dimensions is its ability to fit a bigger screen, and over the course of about a week, using it has been a delight. When displaying HDR content, Apple says peak brightness can go as high as 1,200 nits. Meanwhile, using a light meter, I found that our review unit actually exceeded its claimed typical brightness of 800 nits, hitting just shy of 825 nits. And because it's an OLED panel, you get superb contrast and bright colors.

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Honestly, every now and then I find myself pleasantly surprised that a phone with a screen this big and vibrant is as light as it is. That weight reduction makes it just a little bit easier to hold than the Pro Max or similar big-screen phones while watching movies. The one downside to that is because the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus still feature 60Hz panels, display aficionados may more easily notice that fast action or UI animations don't look quite as smooth as they might on an iPhone or iPad with a 120Hz ProMotion screen.

Battery life

The other big upgrade on the iPhone 14 Plus over the standard model is battery life, which is simply awesome. A lot of device makers talk about making handsets that can last multiple days, but in my experience, the iPhone 14 Plus is one of the few that actually delivers. Even with me going through standard setup, running a slate of benchmarks, watching a handful of YouTube videos and plowing through a bunch of levels in Ustwo's charming tactics game Desta, I still finished the day with more than 45 percent juice left. That meant even with moderate use, I didn't have to worry about recharging until going to sleep the following night.

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And while I'm primarily an Android user, I also want to commend the excellent standby times you get with iPhones. Typically I'm used to phones losing between three and five percent battery overnight, but on the iPhone 14 Plus, I'm looking at one, maybe two percent. I know that doesn't sound like a ton, but it really goes to show how efficient Apple's handsets are. And in our standard video rundown test, the iPhone 14 Plus lasted a whopping 21 hours and 17 minutes, which is the second longest time we've seen from any phone this year, only behind the OnePlus 10T's mark of 22:59.

Cameras

Unlike the Pro line, the iPhone 14 Plus only gets two rear cameras: a 12MP primary shooter and a 12MP ultra-wide with a 120-degree field of view. In daytime shots, the iPhone captured rich, punchy colors and lots of detail that doesn't leave much room for critique. However, if I'm really nitpicking, I did notice that when compared to the Pixel 6 Pro, the iPhone 14 Plus occasionally overexposed some shots, which resulted in slightly more washed-out colors and a bit less dynamic range.

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Meanwhile in low light, the iPhone 14 Plus almost matched the performance of Google's Night Sight mode on the Pixel 6 Pro, capturing bright images with good detail. In one shot at night of Grogu (aka baby Yoda), the iPhone 14 Plus captured a lovely golden glow from nearby lights. Unfortunately, that effect was somewhat exaggerated as evidenced by the Pixel 6 Pro's image, which looks more balanced while also featuring slightly sharper details on Grogu's robe and the plants in back.

I think the biggest upgrade to the iPhone 14 Plus' general photo experience, though, is the Photonic Engine. Low light photo processing is up to two and a half times faster, which means there's less waiting around between shots, and more importantly, there's also a smaller chance you’ll miss out on capturing that magic moment.

Apple's improved camera experience carries over to the iPhone 14's 12MP front-facing camera as well. That's because thanks to the addition of a true autofocus system (instead of a fixed focus distance like on a lot of other phones), you can take sharper selfies with way less effort. And for someone like me who doesn't have a tried-and-tested selfie-taking posture like our resident selfie queen Cherlynn Low does, this makes it a lot easier to grab a decent looking shot when I do.

Wrap-up

Now I know that the addition of a slightly larger basic iPhone to the line is far from a game changer. But, the introduction of the iPhone 14 Plus really fleshes out the lineup. Previously, if you wanted an iPhone with a big screen, you had no choice but to shell out for the Pro Max model, which costs over $1,000. But with the 14 Plus, you can get the same size screen without having to pay for fancy features you might not want or need. As a bonus, its thermal management is even better than the standard model, so you almost never have to worry about getting sweaty hands.

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I'm still a little bummed that it seems like the Mini line had to die to make way for the Plus, because then the iPhone family would have a truly great range of sizes and prices. I should also point out that Google offers a similarly sized screen and a dedicated telephoto lens for the same price in the Pixel 6 Pro (and soon, the Pixel 7 Pro, probably). But I know asking longtime Apple users to switch OSes is pointless. So for all the iPhone fans who just want a familiar device with a bigger screen and outstanding battery life, well then you're in luck because the 14 Plus is your new champion.

It's only natural that a person's tastes and preferences change over time. So after years of thirsting for big, beefy gaming laptops with shiny lights, I've started gravitating towards more understated all-rounders that don't scream "Look at me." And for the last few generations, MSI's Stealth 15M line has been one of the best at balancing good performance with a discreet appearance. But unfortunately, it feels like MSI is coasting with the 2022 model. While there aren't a ton of major flaws, things like the Stealth's display, battery life and audio just aren't quite as nice as I would've liked.

Design

For a gaming notebook, the Stealth 15M is about as incognito as it gets. It's got a simple, somewhat boxy build with a matte black finish (which is a bit of a fingerprint magnet, by the way). The only visual flair, at least on the outside, is MSI's dragon logo, which gets a new holographic treatment for 2022.

Then you open it up and you get MSI's lovely Spectrum backlit keyboard, a big speaker grill that runs the width of the deck and a smallish touchpad. Along its sides MSI includes a good selection of ports including four USB 3.2 ports (two Type-A and two Type-C, one of which supports DisplayPort), a full-size HDMI 2.1 connector and a combo headphone/mic jack. And with a weight of just under four pounds (3.96 lbs), the Stealth is actually a touch lighter than a lot of other 15-inch gaming laptops (and some 14-inch systems too).

Display, sound and webcam

On paper, the Stealth 15M's screen looks like a perfect match for its specs. It's a 15.6-inch IPS panel with a 144Hz refresh rate. It even has a matte finish to help prevent distracting reflections. The issue is that because it has somewhat dull colors and a tested brightness of around 250 nits, movies and games look kind of lifeless. Sure, if you like gaming in darker environments, it's not a big deal. But its mediocre light output also means that in sunny rooms, it can be difficult to read text, especially if you're someone who prefers dark mode apps.

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As for audio, the Stealth features dual two-watt speakers that can get pretty loud, though they are lacking a bit of bass. Don't get me wrong, they’re perfectly fine, I was just hoping for a little more considering the size of its grille. And then perched above the display is a 720p webcam which is serviceable but it doesn't deliver the kind of quality you'd want for live streaming. It's more so you can show your face during Zoom meetings, and that's about it.

But once again, while nothing is egregiously bad, I feel like MSI is doing the bare minimum here. Its speakers are just ok, its webcam doesn't even capture full HD and that big chin below the display makes the whole laptop look sort of dated.

Performance

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When it comes to performance the Stealth has plenty of oomph thanks to an Intel Core i7-1280P CPU and an NVIDIA RTX 3060 GPU. Our review unit even comes with a 1TB SSD and 32GB of RAM, the latter of which is arguably overkill given the rest of the system's specs. However, you'll want to make sure you figure out where the Stealth's fan speed settings are in the MSI Center app, because when this thing spins up, you're in for more than just a subtle whoosh.

In Shadows of the Tomb Raider at 1920 x 1080 and highest settings, the Stealth averaged 106 fps, which is just a tiny bit better than the 102 fps we got from the similarly-sized Alienware x14. Meanwhile, in Metro Exodus, the Stealth tied the Alienware's performance, with both machines hitting 55 fps at full HD and ultra settings. So not exactly face-melting horsepower, but still more than enough to play modern AAA titles with plenty of graphical bells and whistles enabled.

Keyboard and touchpad

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One thing I really like about the Stealth 15M is its Spectrum keyboard. Not only do the keys have a soft, cushy press, they let just the right amount of light to leak out the sides, adding a little razzle dazzle without searing your retinas. And of course, you can turn everything off if you want to go fully undercover. Below that you get a touchpad that measures just four inches wide and two and half inches tall, which can feel a bit cramped at times. That said, having an undersized touchpad isn't as big of a deal as it might be on a more mainstream notebook. Most gamers will probably carry an external mouse since touchpads really aren’t ideal for gaming.

Battery life

Perhaps the biggest weakness of the Stealth 15M is its battery life. It comes with a 53.8Whr power cell, which feels frustratingly small compared to the Alienware x14, whose battery is 50 percent larger at 80Whr, despite both systems being about the same size. That results in some pretty disappointing longevity, with the Stealth lasting just four hours and 15 minutes on our local video rundown test versus 9:45 for the x14 and 5:42 for the more powerful Razer Blade 15.

Wrap-up

Sam Rutherford/Engadget

After using the Stealth 15M for a while, I'm not really mad, I'm just disappointed. I love the general design and aesthetic and the Stealth delivers a great balance of performance and portability. In a lot of ways it feels like a more grown-up take on thin-and-light gaming laptop.

The issue is that it almost feels like MSI has neglected the Stealth line. Compared to previous years, the main upgrades for 2022 are a refreshed CPU and GPU along with a new badge on its lid. That's not nothing, but I know MSI can do better and I'm really hoping to see the Stealth get a full redesign sometime soon.

Ultimately, assuming you can stomach the short battery life, the value of the Stealth 15M hinges a lot on its price. I've seen this thing listed as high as $1,700 from retailers like Walmart, which is simply too much. At that point, you're much better off going for a notebook with a slightly smaller screen like the Alienware X14 and getting very similar performance, or opting for Asus' Zephyrous G14 while also saving a couple hundred bucks in the process. But if you can nab the Stealth for under $1,400, a lot of the system's trade-offs become a lot more palatable. I just wish this version of the Stealth felt more like James Bond and less like Agent Cody Banks.

While new gadgets tend to dominate Amazon's annual Devices and Services Event, the company still has a few upgrades planned for its ubiquitous digital assistant. So here are all the fresh features and skills Amazon is planning to add to Alexa. 

For people trying to shop for a new outfit, the Echo Show is getting an AI-based skill that allows it to more easily search for clothes using a customer's references or specific characteristics. For example, Amazon says you can ask things like "Alexa, show me the one-shoulder top." Amazon explained the skill was created using the Alexa Teacher Model, which was trained using images and captions sourced from the company's product database. 

In the car, Alexa is also getting a new Roadside Assistance feature that will connect you with an agent in case you need do something like calling a tow truck or get help changing a flat tire. On top of that, BMW is expanding its partnership with Amazon, with BMW announcing plans to build its next-generation voice assistant using the Alexa Custom Assistant solution. BMW's goal is to support more natural language controls that are easy to use while driving. 

Alexa is also getting integration with the new Halo Rise, allowing it to do things like automatically turn off your lights when you get in bed or play your favorite song to help you wake up in the morning. Amazon will also be adding the Fire TV experience to the Echo Show 15, so users will be able to watch all their favorite shows or purchased content on a smaller screen. There's also a new Alexa Voice Remote Pro for Fire TVs, that allows you to more easily switch between various inputs, control routines and use your voice to find the remote if you lose it thanks to the controller's built-in speaker. 

Meanwhile for Disney fans, Amazon is adding a new "Hey Disney" command that gives anyone with a Kids+ subscription access to immersive entertainment experiences featuring big-name Disney characters. 

Follow all of the news from Amazon's event right here!

Volvo has introduced a number of important safety features in its vehicles throughout the years including the first three-point seatbelt back in 1959. But now the company has developed something a bit more techy with what it's calling the world's first interior radar system for cars. 

Set to debut on its upcoming flagship EX90 electric SUV, Volvo's new radar system is designed to monitor both the cabin and trunk of a vehicle in order to prevent the car from being locked while anyone is still inside. The idea is to guard against situations where pets or children may be inadvertently trapped inside a car on a hot day, with the car surfacing reminders if it recognizes that there are still occupants inside when being locked. Additionally, the car's climate control can also be set to stay on if a passenger is detected, further lowering the risk of heatstroke. 

While the thought of leaving a pet or child inside a car on a hot day is unimaginable to most people, it can happen to anyone. In its press release, Volvo cited statistics from the US where more than 900 children have tragically died due to hyperthermia since 1998. 

Volvo's senior technical specialist for injury prevention Lotta Jakobsson says “No one chooses to be distracted or tired, but we know it can happen. We’re all human and distraction is a fact of life. With the help of cutting edge technology, we’ll support you when you’re not at your best and help you avoid leaving family members or pets behind by accident.”

In order to cover as much of the inside of the EX90 as possible, Volvo says it will use multiple radars positioned in the car's overhead console, roof-mounted reading lamps and in the trunk that can detect "sub-millimeter" movements. Unfortunately, we won't get a more detailed idea of how Volvo's new interior radar system really works until the EX90 is officially revealed on November 9th. But given that the new feature will come standard on the company's forthcoming EV (where allowed by regulation), we're hoping to see similar systems become basic equipment on more cars and makes in the future. 

Anyone who has been taking advantage of Amazon's liberal return policy regarding e-books could soon be in for a shock. That's because following discussions with the Authors Guild, Amazon has agreed to block automatic returns on digital books that are more than 10 percent read. 

Currently, the problem for authors on Amazon is that customers can return e-books online anytime within seven days of purchase no matter how much content has been consumed. That means if you can you read a book in less than a week, you can simply return it when you're done for free, resulting in a loss of profits for the author. 

However, under the new policy which is scheduled to go into effect sometime before the end of the year, Amazon will begin blocking automatic returns on e-books that are more than 10 read, which will then need to be reviewed by a representative to ensure that the return is genuine. The Authors Guild says the goal is to create a deterrent for people who abuse Amazon's current policy and to prevent people from treating Amazon's e-book marketplace as an ersatz library. 

Issues with Amazon's e-book return policy date back more than a decade, but had recently come under fire again after lifehacks about the company's guidelines began circulating online. And according to NPR, in some cases, abuse of the company's return policy even resulted in some authors having negative earnings balances, which typically happened when customers returned an e-book after the creator had been paid out by Amazon.

Thankfully, after concerns were raised by both the Authors Guild and the Society of Authors in the UK earlier this year, it seems Amazon has finally decided to update its policy, with the Authors Guild posting a statement thanking the company for "taking good faith action" against returns abuse. 

We've already written about the convenience of Yale's smart locks. But now after five years on the market, Yale is updating its flagship product with a brand new design, a wider range of connectivity options and even more styles to suit your home.

Priced between $160 to $260, the new Assure Lock 2 will be available in four main variations: two touchscreen models (both with and without a key cylinder) and two keypad models (one keyed and one key-free). By default all models with include Bluetooth connectivity, though you can also upgrade to a version with built-in WiFi. But perhaps most importantly, because users will be able to buy and install add-on modules that enable additional wireless connectivity, it's easy to upgrade your lock post-purchase. Additionally, Yale says the Assure Lock 2 will be one of the first Matter-compatible smart locks on the market when it releases its Matter add-on module sometime later this fall (after the Matter spec officially goes live).

Yale

Alongside a wide range of connectivity options, Yale also says WiFi models will no longer require the use of a dedicated Connect Bridge, which should help streamline installation. And as for the lock itself, the company claims that the Assure Lock 2 is 30 percent smaller than its predecessor while still being compatible with most standard door sizes used in the US and Canada. Meanwhile, to ensure the lock blends in better with your door, customers will be able to choose from three different finishes including black suede, oil rubbed bronze and satin nickel. And as before, on models without a physical key cylinder, if your lock runs out of juice, you can still unlock the door by tapping a 9-volt battery to the contacts on the bottom of the device's housing. 

Once installed (which Yale says can be done using only a standard screwdriver), users can enable a number of security functions ranging from voice controls (via Google Assistant, Alexa and Siri), two-factor authentication and even the ability to unlock your door by using biometric verification on your phone. Other standard features include auto lock and unlocking, virtual keys/entry codes for shared access and more. 

So while we haven't had the chance to test out Assure Lock 2 just yet, it really seems like Yale has covered all the bases with its new flagship smart lock. The Assure Lock 2 is available today starting at $160 for the key-free Bluetooth/Apple HomeKit model, with WiFi models starting a bit higher at $240. Sometime later this year, there will also be a version that supports Z-Wave out of the box starting at $190, with additional modules (including the upcoming Matter add-on) slated to cost $80 each.