Latest news with #Geekbench6
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Samsung Project Moohan Headset Specs Revealed In Benchmark Test
Samsung Project Moohan headset A benchmark result published online appears to have revealed as-yet unannounced core specs of the upcoming Samsung Project Moohan headset. It will be the first to show off the Android XR platform. Geekbench 6 is a great tool for comparing the power of mobile hardware, but by default any results are automatically uploaded to the platform's online database. This has happened to Samsung's upcoming SM-i610, revealed to be Samsung's Project Moohan headset months ago. Abishek Yadav highlighted the Geekbench entry on X, which reveals the headset on test has 16GB RAM and CPU specs that match those of the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2. That includes six performance-driven CPU cores and an Adreno 740 graphics chipset. This chipset is one generation on from the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor used in the Meta Quest 3, but they both use an Adreno 740 series CPU. In Geekbench 6's test run, the device scored 2453 points overall, which is only roughly comparable with a flagship phone many years old. However, the graphics processor is the more important metric here, and the headset lacks the additional efficiency cores found in phones — an architecture style Geekbench 6 is really designed to test. The Adreno 740, meanwhile, is used in the punchy Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. And a phone with one of those SoCs might score somewhere in the ballpark of 9000 points in Geekbench 6. It's also worth noting VR headsets often will not score well in Geekbench 6, likely influenced by the additional overheads of the interface, compared to a plain Android phone. It may still be worth comparing the 2453 points of Project Moohan with the Meta Quest 3, which scores around 1500-1600 points in most test runs. Some listed on Geekbench's database are far higher, though, with scores above 2000 points. The Geekbench listing also suggests Project Moohan runs Android 14, suggesting this is the kernel used in the first version of Android XR. It's behind the latest phones, which run Android 15, while Android 16 was unveiled earlier this month. Android XR is Google's new interface for mixed and augmented reality, the showing off of which is a primary reason for Samsung's Project Moohan to even exist. A handful of journalists and influencers have already had the opportunity to try out the Project Moohan headset first-hand. The Verge's Victoria Song says it's 'much lighter and more comfortable to wear' than the Apple Vision Pro, while noting the experience of actually using it feels quite similar to that of Apple's headset. TechRadar's Jacob Krol says the headset is 'clearly a bit less premium' than Apple Vision Pro, but with that comes significantly reduced weight. He also highlights the tight integration with Google Gemini, which is core component of Android XR. Two important questions remain unanswered. Samsung has not announced when Project Moohan is out beyond that it's planned for 2025 still, or revealed how much it will cost.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Yahoo
Are Snapdragon X Elite chips that much better on battery power than AMD and Intel? I tested them all to find out.
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Advertising claims are often something to take with a grain of salt, but we've decided Qualcomm's latest ads deserve a proper fact-check. Ever since AMD launched its Ryzen AI 300 "Strix Point" chips and Intel flew for the moon with the Core Ultra 200V Lunar Lake silicon last year, Qualcomm has been making bold claims about how much better their chips perform when on battery power compared to AMD and Intel's chipsets. Those claims are now the backbone of Qualcomm's latest ad campaign, which takes aim at both x86 chipmakers, but especially hones in on Intel. Unplugged performance is Qualcomm's last great claim to dominance in the Windows AI PC space, as Intel and AMD have closed the performance and battery life gaps with their recent chip launches. But does Qualcomm deserve to maintain that lead? Obviously, we had to take a look. Qualcomm's newest ads hone in on the idea that Intel and AMD are offering 55% to 70% performance when on battery power, while Qualcomm gives you the same level of performance whether the laptop is plugged in or on battery. We didn't have perfect comparison units on hand, but we did have a Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x with Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite (XIE-78-100), Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 with Intel Core Ultra 7 256V, and HP ZBook Ultra G1a with AMD Ryzen AI Max+ Pro 395. These chips aren't great comparisons. The Snapdragon X Elite XIE-78 is a somewhat under-clocked 12-core, 3.4GHz CPU. The Intel Core Ultra 7 256V is a mid-range 8-core, 4.8GHz CPU. And AMD's Ryzen AI Max+ Pro 395 is a 16-core, 5.1GHz workstation chip. But I'm not really cross-comparing them here. Instead I'm more interested in seeing how much of a drop there is in these chips when on battery compared to on AC power. What I found early on in testing is that the Windows power setting made a massive difference in performance on each chip when operating on battery power. So I tested each laptop when plugged in, when on battery power at the best performance setting, and on battery power using the balanced profile. Click here to view chart data in table format Qualcomm's 45% and 30% claims against Intel and AMD on battery life are somewhat substantiated, at least when we're talking about single-core performance and the "Balanced" power profile. Using the "Best Performance" profile, Intel's chips barely take a performance dip across Geekbench 6, Cinebench R23, Handbrake 4K to 1080p video encoding, and 3DMark. And that's something neither Qualcomm nor AMD can really say. The Snapdragon X Elite takes a multicore performance hit in Geekbench 6 when on battery at "Best Performance," as does AMD's Ryzen AI Max+ chipset. In fact, Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite also takes a performance hit on battery life in the "Balanced" mode in every test we ran except for Geekbench 6 single-core. While maintaining single-core performance even at lower power is worth bragging about, it isn't a wholistic picture of a laptop's performance. Most things you do on a computer these days is a multicore workload. So maybe you don't want to just take Qualcomm at their word, since single-core performance isn't the whole story. But, as I've previously ranted about, you don't need a Geekbench 6 multicore score of 15,000 for web browsing or email management. Sure, we all like to see better benchmarks over time. It means computing is getting easier and faster than ever. But it's not the ultimate deciding factor on whether or not you should buy a certain laptop. Obviously, this is not a complete picture of any of these chips. We only had three laptops on hand to test, by different manufacturers. We only had one variation of all three chips, and our AMD laptop was very much a different category of computer than either the Intel-powered Dell or Qualcomm-powered Lenovo. Our testing is also designed to be a stress-test for silicon. Geekbench 6 and Cinebench are rigorous CPU benchmarks. 3DMark is designed to benchmarking gaming PCs, running at high settings. So naturally, after half a day of benchmarking, these "all day battery" laptops were drained down to critical capacity. Basically no Windows laptop won't see some kind of performance drop when you're using it unplugged. However, most of that performance gap isn't noticeable most of the time. Chances are, you aren't doing video encoding tasks when on battery life. You're editing documents, looking at spreadsheets, browsing the web, reading your emails, watching videos, or hopping on zoom calls. While some of those activities will drain your battery, none of them is really going to stress a modern CPU or GPU to extremes. So you won't really be operating a laptop at 55% capacity just by taking it off the charger to run to a meeting or when killing time at the airport. Unless you decide to stress-test your Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x during your daily commute. Personally, I think there are bigger considerations to make when buying a laptop. Data security, price, and app support tend to be bigger issues for most people than something like single-thread performance on battery life (in one specific power profile). Qualcomm's Computex event is all about AI. Is that a mistake? I've found the best new laptop for designers, and it's a Lenovo Legion 9i Memorial Day sales 2025: What to expect from retailers this year
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Yahoo
The HP ZBook Ultra outperforms the MacBook Pro in key areas, but it comes at a price
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. HP's ZBook Ultra is a hyper-portable mobile workstation that immediately feels like a competitor to Apple's MacBook Pro lineup. Not only is it a light and thin workstation, but it's also got a new, innovative chipset under the chassis. AMD's Ryzen AI Max chipset is an ambitious project for x86 CPU architecture and something of a gamble. While we did have a blast with the gaming-centered version on the Asus ROG Flow Z13, I've been waiting to get my hands on this chip in the HP ZBook Ultra since CES back in January. The Ryzen AI Max+ Pro 395 chip in the ZBook Ultra 14 G1a offers fantastic all-around performance, solid Radeon 8060s GPU power, and more memory than I know what to do with. The ZBook also features a vivid display, a slim, portable design, powerful audio, and a professional port array. A steep price tag, lackluster battery life, and a grainy webcam hold it back, but they aren't shocking for a 14-inch workstation laptop. Does the MacBook Pro 14 finally have competition in the form of the HP ZBook Ultra 14 G1a? Is it powerful enough to land a spot on our best workstations list? Let's take a look. Price: $2,599 starting, $4,049 as reviewed CPU: AMD Ryzen AI Max+ Pro 395 GPU: AMD Radeon 8060S integrated graphics RAM: 128GB Storage: 2TB SSD Display: 14-inch, 2880 x 1800, Touch OLED Battery (HH:MM): 6:46 Dimensions: 12.29 x 8.45 x 0.71 inches Weight: 3.4 pounds Click to view full benchmark test results HP ZBook Ultra 14 G1a Geekbench 6 Single-core (Higher is better) 2,837 Geekbench 6 Multicore (Higher is better) 17,721 Handbrake conversion (Lower is better) 02:34 25GB File Transfer Test (Lower is better) 20 25GB File Transfer Test (SSD speed) 1,342 Blackmagic Disk Speed Test: Read (Higher is better) 4,468.0 Blackmagic Disk Speed Test: Write (HIgher is better) 4276.1 SPECWorkstation 3.1: Blender (1060p, Higher is better) DNR SPECWorkstation 3.1: FSI (1060p, Higher is better) 6.5 PugetBench Photoshop (Higher is better) 10,186 Heat (Degrees Fahrenheit) 99.6 Battery life (Higher is better) 06:45 Display brightness (Higher is better) 368 sRGB color gamut (Higher is better) 197.6% DCI-P3 color gamut (Higher is better) 139.9% Color accuracy (Lower is better) 0.31 3DMark Fire Strike (Higher is better) 23,459 3DMark Time Spy (Higher is better) 10,114 3DMark Steel Nomad (Higher is better) 1,992.00 SPECWorkstation 3.1: maya-05 (1060p, Higher is better) 3.68 SPECWorkstation 3.1: energy-02 (1060p, Higher is better) 14.86 PugetBench Premiere Pro (Higher is better) 7,223 Borderlands 3 (1080p, fps) 97.19 Shadow of the Tomb Raider (1080p, fps) 81 Sid Meier's Civilization VI: Gathering Storm (1080p, fps) 168.62 No workstation is cheap, and if you hoped the ZBook Ultra might be an exception to that rule, you'll be disappointed. The base configuration of HP's ZBook Ultra 15 G1a costs $2,599 and gets you the powerful combination of the Ryzen AI Max Pro 385 CPU with Radeon 8060S integrated graphics, 32GB of memory, 512GB of SSD storage, and a 14-inch, 1920 x 1200, IPS display. You can upgrade to the Ryzen AI Max Pro 390 chipset with a 1TB SSD and a 14-inch, 2880 x 1800, OLED touchscreen for an additional $350. Upgrading the Ryzen AI Max Pro 390 model to 64GB of RAM for an additional $300 brings the total to $3,249. Upgrading to the Ryzen AI Max+ Pro 395 model costs $5,660 and comes with 64GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a 14-inch, 2880 x 1800, OLED display. Upgrading the RAM to 64GB and storage to 2TB brings the total to $6,290. The top-end configuration of the ZBook Ultra with the Ryzen AI Max+ Pro 395, Radeon 8060S integrated graphics, 128GB of RAM, 4TB of SSD storage, and 14-inch, 2880 x 1800, OLED display costs a total of $8,250. However, our review spec is perhaps the best value for the ZBook Ultra. For $4,049, you get the Ryzen AI Max+ Pro 395 CPU, Radeon 8060S integrated graphics, 128GB of RAM, 2TB of SSD storage, and the 14-inch, 2880 x 1800, OLED touchscreen. This gives you the most use of the unified memory, with additional storage space, an upgraded CPU, and an OLED display. While none of these configurations are cheap, they're not too steep compared to the average workstation price. However, it does start higher than other portable content creation laptops like the Apple MacBook Pro 14 ($1,599 starting price) or Asus ProArt PX13 ($1,699). It is worth noting that upgrades on the MacBook Pro, in particular, are expensive, to match our recommended ZBook Ultra configuration, it would be $5,099. Most ZBook workstations aren't laptops you'd want in your lap for long. HP hasn't changed much of the ZBook aesthetic for the ZBook Ultra 15 G1a. It has a Meteorite Silver magnesium alloy chassis with a minimalist chrome HP logo on the top cover and a sleek keyboard deck with a centered touchpad. The ZBook Ultra does have slim bezels on the display, with a slight increase in bezel size along the top to fit the webcam. The hinges are nice and sturdy, with an almost 180-degree rotation in case you need to use the ZBook on your lap and tilt the display back for better ergonomics. Most ZBook workstations aren't laptops you'd want in your lap for long. Even the slim ZBook Studio can feel a bit hefty after some time, but the ZBook Ultra is designed to be a completely portable powerhouse machine, and its chassis design is small and lightweight to match. The ZBook Ultra measures just 12.29 x 8.45 x 0.71 inches and weighs just 3.4 pounds. While this is pretty light and portable compared to most powerful workstation laptops, it is a bit closer in dimensions to more mobile creator devices like: Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 2024): 12.3 x 8.7 x 0.61 inches, 3.4 pounds Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7: 13.95 x 9.49 x 0.67 inches, 4.3 pounds Asus ProArt PX13: 11.74 x 8.26 x 0.62 inches, 3.04 pounds Apple MacBook Pro (M4 Pro, 2024): 14 x 9.7 x 0.66 inches, 4.7 pounds Image 1 of 2 Image 2 of 2 As a mobile workstation, the ZBook Ultra comes with a full port array to connect all of your devices: 2x USB 4 Type-C (40Gbps, Power Delivery, DisplayPort 2.1) 1x USB Type-C (10Gbps, Power Delivery, DisplayPort 2.1) 1x USB Type-A (10Gbps) 1x HDMI 2.1 1x Audio combo 1x Security lock slot The ZBook Ultra offers the majority of ports you could want with multiple DisplayPort 2.1 USB-C connections, additional USB Type-C and Type-A ports, and an HDMI port. The only major workstation port missing is an SD card reader, so if you need a quick-access SD slot, you may want to snag one of the best laptop docking stations or USB-C hubs. The Achilles' heel of most Windows workstations is battery life. The Achilles' heel of most Windows workstations is battery life. And the HP ZBook Ultra is no exception. While it doesn't have a discrete graphics card, its Ryzen AI Max+ Pro 395 chipset is still a bit of a power hog. I easily got through half of my workday, with 15-20 Chrome tabs and Photoshop running, without needing to find an outlet, but I did have to plug the ZBook into its charger around my lunch break. It's not awful for a powerful workstation laptop, but it's not touching MacBook Pros, which offer over 18 hours of battery life. On the Laptop Mag web surfing battery test, the HP ZBook Ultra 14 G1a lasted 6 hours and 46 minutes. It's not much worse compared to most workstation laptops, but when compared to its hyper-portable competition, the ZBook Ultra does fall short against the ProArt PX13 and ThinkPad P1 Gen 7. Click to view chart data in table format HP ZBook Ultra 14 G1a Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4, 2024) Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 Asus ProArt PX13 Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M4 Pro, 2024) Battery life (Higher is better) 06:45 18:32 17:24 09:28 20:46 The ZBook Ultra features HP Wolf Pro Security, a TPM 2.0 embedded security chip, and a nano security lock slot, so it has plenty of hardware and software security. The ZBook also features an IR webcam for Windows Hello secure sign-in, and a fingerprint reader on the power button. HP has run the ZBook Ultra through all 21 durability tests to meet the MIL-STD-810H standard, including exposure to extreme high and low temperatures, dust, humidity, and high altitude. So the ZBook Ultra can follow you on location to The numbers don't lie; this display is fantastic. More than other laptops, workstations require a high level of color accuracy in their displays. After all, if you're using the ZBook Ultra for design work, you need to know the color you see on your display is what will be seen by customers. The glossy 14-inch, 2880 x 1800, OLED touchscreen display on our ZBook Ultra model is absolutely what you'd expect from a ZBook laptop. Pulling up photos of a recent trip to put the ZBook through its editing paces, I was taken back by just how well the OLED touchscreen captured the vivid, bright colors of the Walt Disney World parks, even at night. From the cyberpunk blue lights of the new Tron Lightcycle Run coaster to the terracotta pink of the Tower of Terror, I've rarely been more nostalgic for a family Disney trip than when editing my vacation photos on the ZBook Ultra. In our lab testing, the ZBook's display covered 139% of the DCI-P3 color gamut with an accuracy of 0.31 (lower is better) and had a max SDR brightness of 368 nits, with a peak HDR brightness of 575 nits. The numbers don't lie; this display is fantastic. Click to view chart data in table format. HP ZBook Ultra 14 G1a Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4, 2024) Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 Asus ProArt PX13 Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M4 Pro, 2024) Display brightness (Higher is better) 368 557 386 350 565 sRGB color gamut (Higher is better) 197.6% 113.3% 111.0% 113.1% 115.0% DCI-P3 color gamut (Higher is better) 139.9% 80.2% 78.6% 80.1% 81.4% Color accuracy (Lower is better) 0.31 0.19 0.29 0.22 0.27 The ZBook Ultra's keyboard is crisp, with a springy activation feel. HP opted for the Premium keyboard on the ZBook Ultra, and it's a choice that's paid off. The ZBook Ultra's keyboard is crisp, with a springy activation feel. On the advanced typing test, I averaged a typing speed of words per minute (WPM), which is just shy of the 88 WPM I maintain on the MacBook Pro 14. The HP Premium keyboard is also mounted underneath the keyboard deck, making it easier to swap out for repair or IT recycling to a different region. While not necessary on more consumer-focused devices, it's a valuable option on a professional workstation, as most of these laptops will be used for at least 4 years. The large glass touchpad on the ZBook Ultra is also a delight, sporting multigesture support and a silky feel. The touchpad is clickable through about 90% of the area, with only the top edge being unclickable. I didn't notice the difference while using the ZBook until I looked for it. Not only can they fill a room, but the speakers have a high degree of audio clarity HP has loaded four integrated stereo speakers with tuning by PolyStudio into the ZBook Ultra, and those top-firing speakers pack an impressive amount of power. Not only can they fill a room, but the speakers have a high degree of audio clarity, even at full volume. I could differentiate between the screaming guitars and melodic synth of Sleep Token's 'The Summoning' at high and medium volumes. The PolyStudio audio offered serious fidelity from the rich, driving bass to Vessel's soaring vocals. The ZBook Ultra's audio can handle web calls and video or audio editing sessions. However, if you spend a lot of time editing in the field or office, we'd recommend a set of the best headphones so you don't need to worry about background noise getting in the way. Even editing multi-layered projects for my work at Laptop Mag was a breeze. The ZBook Ultra 14 G1a features AMD's most ambitious mobile chipset, the Ryzen AI Max series, specifically the Ryzen AI Max+ Pro 395. This massive APU is supported by 128GB of unified memory and a speedy SSD. I used the ZBook Ultra to edit some of my recent vacation photos, and even unplugged, the ZBook Ultra could handle my usual edits without issue. Even editing multi-layered projects for my work at Laptop Mag was a breeze. In our performance testing, the ZBook Ultra's Ryzen AI Max+ Pro chipset outperformed the MacBook Pro 14's M4, the ThinkPad P1 Gen 7's Intel's Core Ultra 7 165H, and the ProArt PX13's Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 processors in Geekbench 6 multicore performance by up to 36%. Only the MacBook Pro 16's M4 Pro outpaced the ZBook Ultra. The ZBook does get a bit hot under strain, with its hottest point measuring 99.6 degrees Fahrenheit above the F4 key after streaming a 4K video for at least 15 minutes. While not the hottest laptop temperature we've ever measured, it can get toasty on your fingertips. Thankfully, the rest of the laptop stays a bit cooler, with the area between the G and H keys hitting 95.5 degrees and the underside measuring 92.3 degrees. Click to view chart data in table format. HP ZBook Ultra 14 G1a Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4, 2024) Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 Asus ProArt PX13 Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M4 Pro, 2024) Geekbench 6 Single-core (Higher is better) 2,837 3,807 2,424 2,847 3,910 Geekbench 6 Multicore (Higher is better) 17,721 15,114 12,974 15,203 22,822 Handbrake conversion (Lower is better) 02:34 4:27 4:22 3:36 2:38 25GB File Transfer Test (Lower is better) 20 12.97 16.96 25GB File Transfer Test (SSD speed) 1,342 2,071 1,583 Blackmagic Disk Speed Test: Read (Higher is better) 4,468.0 2,900.1 4,713.4 3,586.2 5,353.7 Blackmagic Disk Speed Test: Write (HIgher is better) 4276.1 3,318.6 4,154.9 3,345.6 6,640.5 SPECWorkstation 3.1: Blender (1060p, Higher is better) DNR 2.11 SPECWorkstation 3.1: FSI (1060p, Higher is better) 6.5 3.44 PugetBench Photoshop (Higher is better) 10,186 10,542 7,948 12,292 Heat (Degrees Fahrenheit) 99.6 84.5 88.0 95.5 90.5 if you want to use the ZBook Ultra as your daily driver, it can keep up with some light gaming. The HP ZBook Ultra 14 G1a is a thin, light, and ultraportable workstation. Not a gaming laptop. Workstation laptops do feature powerful GPUs, but they historically perform poorly in gaming compared to high-powered gaming laptops because workstation GPUs are designed for precision rather than raw power. While I am a self-professed MMO hermit who will play Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail on any platform capable of running it, even I hesitate to game on a workstation. However, the ZBook Ultra is a competitor of the MacBook Pro 14, and I like to play games on my Mac. So I eventually convinced myself to download and run FFXIV on the ZBook Ultra, not that it took too much effort. I didn't expect the ZBook Ultra to play as well as a dedicated gaming laptop, but it maintained a smooth 55 to 60 frames per second on the Standard (Laptop) preset at 1800p. So, if you want to use the ZBook Ultra as your daily driver, it can keep up with some light gaming. Click to view chart data in table format. HP ZBook Ultra 14 G1a Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4, 2024) Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 Asus ProArt PX13 Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M4 Pro, 2024) 3DMark Fire Strike (Higher is better) 23,459 19,607 18,634 3DMark Time Spy (Higher is better) 10,114 8,505 7,861 3DMark Steel Nomad (Higher is better) 1,992.00 1,783 1,654 SPECWorkstation 3.1: maya-05 (1060p, Higher is better) 3.68 3.49 SPECWorkstation 3.1: energy-02 (1060p, Higher is better) 14.86 9.94 PugetBench Premiere Pro (Higher is better) 7,223 4,618 7,178 7,074 8,888 Borderlands 3 (1080p, fps) 97.19 23.03 69.02 62.22 42.80 Shadow of the Tomb Raider (1080p, fps) 81 36 78 72 79 Sid Meier's Civilization VI: Gathering Storm (1080p, fps) 168.62 53.548 152.765 115.736 98.357 The HP ZBook Ultra features an AMD Ryzen AI chipset, which means it has a 50 TOPS NPU onboard, which gets you access to the entire Copilot+ suite of applications like CoCreate, LiveCaptions, and Recall, in addition to advanced Windows Studio Effects and the full version of Microsoft's Copilot AI assistant. As an AMD laptop, the ZBook Ultra also has access to AMD's AI-optimized software, which includes Amuse, Topaz Labs, Camo Studio, and Arkrunr. The ZBook Ultra sports a 5MP IR camera, which is ideal for Windows Hello secure sign-in and not so great for virtual meetings. The feed is a bit grainy with some color distortion, which casts a persistent pink layer over my face. It's perfectly serviceable for the occasional Zoom call, but if you want to use the ZBook Ultra as your daily work laptop, you may want to invest in one of our best webcams to handle your virtual meetings rather than use the onboard camera. The ZBook Ultra ships with Windows 11 Pro, which includes standard Microsoft applications like Copilot, Microsoft 365, OneDrive, Windows Media Player, and Microsoft Teams. The ZBook Ultra has some pre-installed AMD software, like AMD Bug Report Tool and AMD Install Manager. HP also pre-loaded proprietary software, such as HP Audio Control, Connection Optimizer, Insights, Sure Recover, Poly Camera Pro, and HP Support Assistant. There are more than 15 different HP and Poly programs pre-installed on the ZBook Ultra, which is a bit much. Thankfully, the programs don't take up much space on the SSD. HP offers a three-year limited warranty with the HP ZBook Ultra. But if you need the full breadth of the Windows ecosystem, the HP ZBook Ultra 14 G1a is a worthy contender. If you're OS agnostic like I tend to be, you want a portable, powerful, efficient workstation to meet your day-to-day requirements and make sure you don't miss a beat when working or creating in your off time. The HP ZBook Ultra 14 G1a comes very close to eclipsing my MacBook Pro in terms of portability and beats the base MacBook Pro's CPU power, but it comes at the cost of battery life and a higher price. The base configuration of the ZBook Ultra costs $2,599, which is a bit steep for the average consumer. And it doesn't get the full leverage of the Ryzen AI Max Pro chipset's unified memory. If you need the ultimate combination of affordability, power, and battery life, the MacBook Pro 14 (M4, 2024) is still the way to go, especially if you don't need to run Windows to access all of your applications. But if you need the full breadth of the Windows ecosystem, the HP ZBook Ultra 14 G1a is a worthy contender. Unlike the Asus ProArt PX13, the ZBook Ultra is more powerful than the base M4 chipset, offers more GPU power for data analysis and video editing, and has a much better display. While the ProArt PX13 is the cheaper option, the ZBook Ultra gets you far more power. It's got your back if you've got funds.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Yahoo
M3 Ultra vs. M4 Max: Which is better? Benchmarks can't tell either
Apple surprised us with its announcement of the new Mac Studio this week, and confused us with its chip choices — the M4 Max and the M3 Ultra. It's hard enough to tell which chip is more powerful just from their names, but according to early benchmarks, it's also hard to tell from their CPU performance. While the M3 Ultra does come out on top (just as Apple claims), the difference doesn't appear to be as significant as promised. On a Geekbench 6 test posted by Vadim Yuryev, the M3 Ultra Mac Studio scored 3221 in single-core and 27749 in multi-core — and just to be clear, these are very big numbers. Yuryev calls it the 'world's fastest production CPU.' However, benchmarks for the M4 Max are not far behind at 3921 in single-core and 25647 in multi-core. This means the individual cores on the M4 Max are actually faster, and the M3 Ultra only wins in multi-core performance by 8%. For comparison, Apple says that the M3 Ultra 'delivers nearly 2x faster performance than M4 Max in workloads that take advantage of high CPU and GPU core counts.' That claim is not in line with what we're seeing from these first benchmarks — though we will start to see different results as more people get their hands on the M3 Ultra for testing. The M4 Max's superior single-core performance isn't a huge surprise — the M4 family of chips is based on second-generation 3 nanometer architecture, which is more efficient than the first-gen tech in the M3 chips. The tests will also start to look very different once GPUs are thrown into the mix, largely because the M4 Max can only go up to a 40-core GPU while the M3 Ultra is available with 80 cores. However future benchmarks turn out, these CPU numbers should be useful for potential buyers who aren't interested in GPU-heavy use cases since it means they can buy the M4 Max configuration without losing out on performance. If you're wondering about where the M4 Ultra is, some sources did expect to see it in the Mac Studio — but just because it's not here, doesn't mean it's not coming. We may still get an M4 Ultra in the Mac Pro which is rumored to be on its way in the second half of this year.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Yahoo
The best tablets for 2025
Tablets have become the all-purpose gap-fillers of the gadgets world. If you're on a plane and you want something portable but slightly bigger than your phone for reading comics or watching movies, there's nothing better. Alternatively, if you want a shared device for the living room to control smart home stuff, do a bit of shopping or doomscrolling (it's ok, we're not judging), having a slim little slate that lives on your coffee table is super convenient. And if you want something sleek to carry around for work or school, tablets can totally replace laptops now, said, one change we've made to this guide for 2025 is adjusting some of the categories, because let's be honest: If you're an Android person, no amount of browbeating is going to convince you to switch ecosystems and buy an iPad. The same goes for all the Apple people or Windows die-hards out there. And that's more than OK. So instead of crowning a best overall, we're simply recommending the most powerful and best tablets for each OS, alongside some additional picks for other use cases. Important things to consider before buying a tablet What size screen do I need? Best tablets for 2025 How we test tablets Other tablets we tested Tablet FAQs Tablet accessories Before you start looking at specific devices, the number one thing you should do is figure out what you plan to use your new tablet for. That's because if all you need is something to keep a kid busy, buying a brand new iPad Pro doesn't make a ton of sense. On the flip side, if you want to use a tablet for video editing or drawing, you'll need to take things like performance and stylus support more seriously. You'll also want to think about stuff like how often you plan on traveling with the device and if it's more for productivity, or for less demanding stuff like browsing the web or streaming shows. There's also an important trade-off to consider when it comes to battery life as well. Larger devices tend to have longer runtimes, though an increase in size may make it less portable. Figuring out the best screen size for you will also be related to the kind of work (or play) you intend to do. Larger displays make it much easier to view two apps side by side, and big screens also deliver a more immersive movie viewing experience. But at the same time, the larger the tablet, the less likely you're going to want to move it around. That means you're not only going to want to take stock of your workspace (i.e., if you have a desk or instead plan to work from a couch or even your bed), but you're also going to want to think about how the device will fit into your everyday routine or commute (if you have one). When evaluating different tablets, there are a few important things we look for above all else: solid performance, a good screen and long battery life. For performance, we run a handful of synthetic tests like Geekbench 6, while also performing a number of hands-on, real-world use cases such as editing photos and playing games. And with tablets often serving as hybrid devices, we also consider how easy it is to multitask and switch quickly between various apps. The more responsive a device feels, the better. Because a tablet's display is such a critical component, we also view a wide range of content to gauge things like brightness, color gamut and dynamic range. It's important to take into account the difference between various panel types like OLED, which typically produce richer colors and excellent contrast but may not be as bright as a mini LED display. Recently, refresh rate has become an increasingly important spec as 90Hz and 120Hz screens can make scrolling smoother and graphics appear sharper in games. We also consider a tablet's design (including things like size, weight and water resistance), its connectivity (WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC, 5G, et cetera) and special features like stylus support or the ability to serve as a secondary display. That's because, while tablets were often viewed as content consumption devices in the past, higher-end devices like the Surface Pro and iPad Pro are more than capable of replacing a laptop for a lot of people. Finally, we test battery life by running our standard local video rundown test, which involves playing a single video on a loop from 100 percent until it runs out of juice. Ideally, a tablet should be able to last an entire working day, but longer runtimes are always welcome. Apple updated the iPad mini for 2024 with some under-the-hood changes including a new processor and additional RAM to help support Apple Intelligence features. While the iPad mini is one of the best iPads you can buy, its small size makes it a bit niche. Only if you prefer your tablet be the size of an ereader should you consider this one. The Google Pixel Tablet excels as a smart display rather than a simple tablet. As the latter, it's unexciting, but when paired with its speaker/charging dock, it becomes much more useful. It could be a good option for those that already live within the Google ecosystem and use the Google Assistant often, or those who like the idea of a tablet that can be docked and used as a smart display as well. The solid OnePlus Pad is let down by Android because there aren't many Android apps designed to be used on a large display like this model's 11.6-inch panel. Otherwise, the hardware is well-designed, its companion stylus is comfortable to use and it has an excellent battery life. The best brand for tablets is really the brand you feel most comfortable with. We recommend taking stock of the gadgets you already have — do you live in the Apple ecosystem already? An iPad might be best for you then. Do you have a Samsung phone? If so, a Galaxy Tab will likely be the most convenient choice. There is no one "best brand" for tablets; you'll find good options made by companies including Apple, Google, Samsung, Microsoft and Amazon. It's possible for a tablet to replace a laptop, but you'll need a few accessories to truly make the experience as close as possible to that of a traditional notebook. A keyboard is a must, be it a keyboard case or a Bluetooth accessory that you keep with you. Some keyboard cases, like apple's Magic Keyboard for the iPad, have a built-in trackpad, which will be more ergonomic than tapping on your tablet's screen for input. Additionally, you could go one step further and use a wireless mouse that connects via Bluetooth to your tablet. If you're primarily looking for a tablet to replace your laptop, consider buying a 2-in-1 laptop since those systems typically consist of high-powered tablets that are designed to work well with (and without) keyboards. Finally, you'll want to consider any add-ons or accessories you're planning to use, which can range from detachable keyboards to things like external mics or a stylus. The good news is that many of the best tablets nowadays offer some kind of keyboard accessory, which allows the device to function more like a 2-in-1 instead of simply being a content consumption device. Some tablets also feature things like microSD card slots that support expandable storage, or optional 4G or 5G connectivity, which can be a real boon to frequent travelers. And if you're planning to use the tablet mainly for work, you might want to grab a USB hub for connecting all your favorite peripherals so your devices don't have to fight for the charger. February 2025: Updated to include clarification around our top picks and new buying advice. October 2024: We updated this list to include information on the new iPad mini 7. June 2024: We updated our top picks to include the Microsoft Surface Pro Copilot+ edition.
