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CNET
4 days ago
- CNET
I Tested the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE and Had Mixed Feelings (Until I Saw the Sale Price)
CNET's expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise. 7.5 / 10 SCORE Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE $700 at Amazon $700 at Walmart Pros The same software experience as the Z Flip 7 Smaller cover screen is still functional Cameras the same as the Flip 6 and Flip 7 Cons Fingerprint and dust magnet May run warm Battery life gets through a day, but not much more Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE 7.5/10 CNET Score $700 at Amazon I've spent a few weeks testing Samsung's $900 Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, and while I'd love to say it's just a slightly less powerful version of last year's Z Flip 6 and a less-expensive alternative to the $1,100 Galaxy Z Flip 7, there are moments when the phone feels a little too cheap for its price. That's not to say the Flip 7 FE is bad, because the phone does use the same body as last year's Flip 6. This means it has the same 3.4-inch cover screen that is easy for me to tap out quick texts or glance at map directions, along with the same cameras that are powerful enough to use in dark and bright settings. Its ability to fold in half makes it easy to use the phone as a tripod for my photos, or to prop up on my desk to play YouTube videos. It's even able to use the same phone cases as the Galaxy Z Flip 6. But you'll likely find that a case is necessary in order to truly enjoy using the Z Flip 7 FE. That's partly because of the phone's oleophobic coating is a fingerprint magnet -- at least on the black review sample I tested. Its hinge easily accumulates skin oil and pocket lint on the outside which is something I find to be more common on phones that cost $300, not $900. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE in its flex position. Joe Maldonado/CNET I also found the phone to run a little warm. My initial review unit ran warm enough during a 40-minute video call with light web browsing that the phone displayed a message that I could no longer do both at the same time, as the phone was now too hot. Samsung provided me a second review unit which did not get as warm under similar use. But if you're someone who gets particularly sensitive to noticing when your phone gets warm, having a case should help. But putting those design-related issues aside, the Flip 7 FE makes a lot of smart choices to be Samsung's first flip phone priced under $1,000. The FE uses Samsung's Exynos 2400 processor, which is capable of handling apps and Galaxy AI features, but is slower than the Qualcomm chip in the Flip 6. Even though the $700 Motorola Razr is cheaper and has several fun design choices, I can see how Samsung might justify its $900 price, thanks to the Flip 7 FE's superior software experience and photography. And recent sales are closing that price gap: at the time of this writing, the Flip 7 FE costs $700 for its 128GB model and $760 for 256GB. Both models are normally $200 more, and the Flip 7 FE offered for $700 then becomes a much easier recommendation over the Razr when you consider all of the software support Samsung offers. The Flip 7 FE also get's Samsung's Now Brief for highlighting your schedule and other essential information like the weather all in one place. Joe Maldonado/CNET My experience with the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE While I'm not crazy about the Z Flip 7 FE's need to be in a case to guard against fingerprints, I have to admit that the phone remains quite fun to use. The Flip 7 FE's cameras (a 50-megapixel wide, 12-megapixel ultrawide and 10-megapixel selfie camera) and the ability to use the phone as its own tripod are certainly the main reasons to consider this phone. I brought the Flip 7 FE to Utopia Bagels, and despite not having a telephoto lens, my 1x and 2x shots taken on the wide-angle camera of a sausage, egg and cheese bagel with red onion and tomatoes are filled with detail. A sausage, egg and cheese bagel taken at 1x zoom on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE. Mike Sorrentino/CNET On the 2x shot in particular, you get the cheese drip, the dimples of the bread inside the bagel and noticeable color separation between the sausage patty and the red onion slices. Taken on the Z Flip 7 FE's wide angle lens at 2x zoom. Mike Sorrentino/CNET And like with other flip-style Android phones, it's easy to make use of the main camera for selfies by having the phone prop itself up like a stand, and then making a hand gesture that activates a camera timer. This works with both the rear camera and the front-facing camera inside the screen. In both of my photos, the focus is on my face, and, as expected, there are slightly fewer details available in the food for the photo taken with the interior screen's 10-megapixel camera. Enlarge Image Self-taken photo with the 50-megapixel wide angle camera on the Z Flip 7 FE. Mike Sorrentino/CNET Enlarge Image Self-taken photo with the 10-megapixel front-facing camera that's positioned on the interior display. Mike Sorrentino/CNET The Flip 7 FE can also capture video at 4K resolution and 60 frames per second, matching the Flip 7. Oddly, you're limited to shooting at 1,080p from the main camera when the phone is folded into a stand. Similar to the Motorola Razr, you can also fold the phone into a "camcorder" mode to use the top half of the internal screen like a viewfinder. Recycling the Flip 6's design means that apps that were optimized for that device readily work here. I use the Transit app for subway directions, and it's easy for me to navigate the 3.4-inch display and type in my destination, as well as scroll through those directions. A smaller edition of Samsung's Now Bar -- a shortcut of active apps that's similar to the iPhone's Dynamic Island -- gives me fast access to my music and podcasts while I look at those directions, and I especially enjoy treating the cover screen like a mini-music player a la the MP3 players of the 2000s. But if you do use cameras extensively, be prepared to recharge the phone more often than you'd expect. The 4,000-mAh battery is the same as what's on the Flip 6, and in my use, it just barely got through a day of use (albeit the weekend when I use my phone the most). My battery life fared better on office days, where heavier use was limited to morning and evening, but I typically ended with 10% to 30%, making an overnight charge necessary. This was also noticed in CNET's battery tests, where the Z Flip 7 FE drained faster than the Z Flip 7 and Motorola's Razr (2025) and Razr Ultra in our 45-minute endurance test and the 3-hour YouTube streaming test. In the 45-minute test, the Flip 7 FE performs equal to the Flip 6. In our 30-minute wired charging test, the phone's 25-watt charging speed brought the battery up from 0% to 45% in 30 minutes. The Flip 7 FE also supports 15-watt Qi wireless charging. Samsung's flip is more powerful, but Motorola's has personality The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE and Motorola Razr (2025). Joe Maldonado/CNET/PCMag Because Samsung's Flip 7 FE costs $200 more than the $700 Motorola Razr when the former isn't discounted, it's important for Samsung's phone to earn that premium. And on a software level, it unequivocally does. The Flip 7 FE's operating system -- running the brand new Android 16 and debuting Samsung's One UI 8 overlay -- looks great, and Samsung plans to update the phone with software and security updates for seven years. This is a far cry from the three-year update cycle (and four-year security upgrades) of the Razr. The Razr doesn't yet have Android 16, but will eventually get the update. In benchmark testing for the CPU (Geekbench 6), the Flip 7 FE performed better than the Razr (2025) but worse than the Flip 6 and Flip 7. And in a benchmark test for graphics (3DMark), it did better than the Razr (2025), and almost identical to the Flip 7. Geekbench v.6.0 Motorola Razr (2025) 1,069 2,995 Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE 1,575 5,408 Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 2,237 6,777 Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 2,216 7,338 Single-core Multicore Note: Longer bars indicate better performance 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Motorola Razr (2025) 1,023 Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE 3,979 Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 4,290 Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 3,945 Note: Longer bars indicate better performance The Flip 7 FE's ability to tackle low-light photography is also easily better than what Motorola provides with the Razr. I took both phones to CNET's TV lab -- which is a very dark space -- and the Samsung phone was able to light it up despite there being very little available light. Meanwhile, the Razr photo looks borderline unusable. Taken on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE. Mike Sorrentino/CNET Taken on the Motorola Razr (2025). Mike Sorrentino/CNET The Razr has a slightly larger 3.6-inch cover screen, but I found both phones to be equally functional. In some cases, despite having a smaller screen, the Z Flip 7 FE would show more information. For instance, with Mozilla Firefox loaded on each, the Z Flip 7 FE chooses to zoom out a little bit on this comparison of CNET's homepage. The CNET homepage loaded on both the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE (left) and the Motorola Razr, both running in the Mozilla Firefox browser. Mike Sorrentino/CNET The Motorola Razr lets you run any Android app on the cover screen by default, but doing so on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 FE requires downloading Samsung's Good Lock app. To use apps on the cover screen, you need to first install Samsung's Good Lock. Joe Maldonado/CNET/PCMag Both phones have access to their respective Galaxy AI and Moto AI feature suites for generative AI and adopt different tactics. Galaxy AI mostly focuses on translation, transcription and photo editing features like Generative Edit for removing objects. Moto AI blends multiple services together, including using Perplexity for contextual service, Meta's Llama AI for summarizing notifications and Motorola's own features that are focused on photo processing. But it's still early days for most AI features like these, and I wouldn't say one is necessarily better than the other as of yet. But whereas the Galaxy provides better photography and software support, the Razr just looks aesthetically better. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE comes only in a black-and-white finish that easily picks up fingerprints, dirt and lint. The Razr ships in four colors with varying materials. My Motorola Razr (2025) review unit came in Pantone Spring Bud green and has a leather-like back that doesn't pick up fingerprints. Apps like YouTube are optimized to put the video on the top half of the display when folded. Joe Maldonado/CNET/PCMag Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE: Bottom line Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE is a good phone that's worth the premium over the $700 Motorola Razr, but its $900 price feels awkward. By being so similar to the Flip 6 in design but having a slightly slower processor, it's quite possible that a better overall value could be a discounted Flip 6 in the event you find last year's model for a similar $900 price. If the Flip 7 FE itself is discounted into the $700 range, like we are currently seeing at Amazon, then choosing Samsung over Motorola is absolutely the move. But without the sales, the Flip 7 FE could be a good upgrade for someone who prefers Samsung phones, is curious about getting a flip-style phone and wants a more compact handset with decent cameras. Most people looking for an affordable flip phone, however, should either consider saving more money by going with Motorola's $700 Razr (2025), or spring upward for the $1,000 Razr Plus or $1,100 Flip 7. All of these alternatives start with double the storage of the Flip 7 FE with 256GB of space, and have larger cover displays. You could also consider buying a Galaxy Z Flip 6 with 256GB of storage, which can be found (at time of publishing) for $899 on Amazon. That gets you a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and more RAM. In his review for the Flip 6, CNET's Patrick Holland noted that the phone got warm occasionally but didn't have any overheating issues. It's likely because it had a vapor chamber cooling system. It's unclear if the Flip 7 FE has the same cooling system. Now Playing: Ultra Thin: First Look at the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 02:45 How we test phones Every phone tested by CNET's reviews team was actually used in the real world. We test a phone's features, play games and take photos. We examine the display to see if it's bright, sharp and vibrant. We analyze the design and build to see how it is to hold and whether it has an IP-rating for water resistance. We push the processor's performance to the extremes using standardized benchmark tools like GeekBench and 3DMark, along with our own anecdotal observations navigating the interface, recording high-resolution videos and playing graphically intense games at high refresh rates. All the cameras are tested in a variety of conditions, from bright sunlight to dark indoor scenes. We try out special features like night mode and portrait mode and compare our findings against similarly priced competing phones. We also check out the battery life by using it daily as well as running a series of battery drain tests. We consider additional useful features like support for 5G, satellite connectivity, fingerprint and face sensors, stylus support, fast charging speeds and foldable displays, among others, that can be useful. We balance all of this against the price to give you the verdict on whether that phone, whatever its price, actually represents good value. While these tests may not always be reflected in CNET's initial review, we conduct follow-up and long-term testing in most circumstances.
CNET
13-07-2025
- CNET
HP OmniBook X Flip 14 Review: Midrange 2-in-1 Offers Style and Value
CNET's expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise. 8.0 / 10 SCORE HP OmniBook X Flip 14 $1,150 at HP Pros Stylish and sturdy all-metal design 3K OLED display is awesome, especially for the price Included pen is of high quality Cons Battery life isn't great Display doesn't have variable refresh rate You might not like typing on the latticeless keyboard (but I did) HP OmniBook X Flip 14 8.0/10 CNET Score $1,150 at HP The HP OmniBook X Flip 14 is an eminently configurable convertible laptop. Prefer Intel chips? Not a problem. Favor AMD? You can get those, too. Want to keep the price to a minimum? You can spend as little as $550. Willing to pay more for an OLED display? You can nab a sweet-looking, 3K-resolution OLED panel for only an additional $100. My test system features a number of upgrades, including the OLED display, and still costs a reasonable $1,150 at its sale price, direct from HP. That's a great price for a two-in-one with an OLED surrounded by a stylish and sturdy design. The 3K OLED panel doesn't do any favors for battery life, but it supplies the regular OLED goodies of incredible contrast with effectively zero-nit black levels and vibrant colors that pop. And the 3K resolution keeps things looking extra crisp, while the 120Hz refresh rate delivers smooth movement. The battery should still get you through all but the longest of days on a single charge, so that's a trade-off I'd be willing to make. The OmniBook X Flip 14 can't match the stunning looks of the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14, but it doesn't have to when it costs hundreds less than HP's premium two-in-one offering. For most people, the midrange OmniBook X Flip 14 is the better buy. HP OmniBook X Flip 14 Price as reviewed $1,150 Display size/resolution 14-inch 2,880x1,800 OLED CPU AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 Memory 32GB LPDDR5-7500 Graphics AMD Radeon 860M Storage 1TB SSD Ports USB4, USB-C 10Gbps, 2x USB-A 10Gbps, HDMI 2.1, combo audio Networking Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 Operating system Windows 11 Home 24H2 Weight 3.1 lbs (1.4 kg) The HP OmniBook X Flip 14 offers wide-ranging configuration options. There are both Intel and AMD models, two display options, up to 32GB of RAM and up to 2TB of storage. You can customize a system on HP's site, and you'll also find a number of fixed configurations available at Best Buy and other retailers. The lowest-cost model I found while working on this review was an AMD-based system discounted to $550 at Best Buy. On HP's site, the same base model was discounted to $730 for a system with an AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 CPU, 16GB of RAM, AMD Radeon 840M graphics, a 512GB SSD and a 14-inch IPS display with a 1,920-by-1,200-pixel resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate. My test system features upgrades that raise the price to $1,150: a Ryzen AI 7 350 CPU, 32GB of RAM, AMD Radeon 860M graphics, a 1TB SSD and the 3K (2,880-by-1,800-pixel) OLED display. It also includes a $10 upgrade from Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 to Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. The same HP OmniBook X Flip 14 configuration as my test model costs £1,380 in the UK. I could find only Intel-based models in Australia, starting at AU$2,999. Matt Elliott/CNET HP OmniBook X Flip 14 performance Our loaded OmniBook X Flip 14 with its Ryzen AI 7 350 CPU and ample 32GB of RAM proved plenty fast in lab testing. It showed excellent multicore and single-core performance and outpaced the pricier OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 on the Geekbench 6, Cinebench 2024 and PCMark 10 tests, with the exception of the single-core Geekbench 6 test. It also produced a strong result on the Procyon AI Computer Vision benchmark that measures integer math proficiency for AI workloads, but it was less impressive on the 3DMark Steel Nomad test, where its Radeon 860M graphics weren't up to the level of laptops with an integrated Intel 140V GPU. Its weakest result was on our battery life test, though. It managed to eke out just over 9 hours on our YouTube streaming battery drain test, which might be enough to get you through most workdays but is only a fraction of the battery life you can expect from other laptops and two-in-ones. The relatively small three-cell, 59-watt-hour battery and the high-resolution OLED display are the wrong combination if you're looking for a long-lasting laptop. The OmniBook Ultra 14 Flip features the same OLED display and ran for more than 3.5 hours longer on the same test, in large part because it has a larger four-cell, 64-watt-hour battery. The OmniBook Ultra's Core Ultra 7 258V is also more efficient than the OmniBook X's Ryzen AI 7 350. The Intel chip runs between 8 and 37 watts, and the AMD chip is configurable between 15 and 54 watts and was set to 28 watts on my test system. Matt Elliott/CNET Stylish, sturdy and latticeless The OmniBook X Flip 14 looks and feels more upscale than its price. That's true for the $1,150 system I tested and doubly true for the lower-end models that cost less than $1,000. The all-metal chassis feels sturdy and is fairly light at just 3.1 pounds. The OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 weighs a little less at just under 3 pounds, but Lenovo's midrange Yoga 7 14 Gen 9 is appreciably heavier at 3.6 pounds. Matt Elliott/CNET The chassis is a beige-ish silver color that I like, although I wish the plain gray keyboard were a better color match for the rest of the laptop. The most interesting aspect of the design is the keyboard, and not because of its contrasting gray color. It has a latticeless design, where there are no gaps between the keys. In general, I prefer a more traditional keyboard layout with some space surrounding each key to help prevent me from accidentally hitting the edge of another key. In the case of the OmniBook X Flip 14, however, I don't mind the latticeless design. I didn't have any more typos than usual, and I really liked the snappy response of the keys. The keyboard feels lively. My biggest complaint is the shortened Tab key -- that one took some getting used to before I stopped hitting the neighboring Q key by mistake. Matt Elliott/CNET I also liked the latticeless design when I flipped the display around into tablet mode. It has a more consistent surface behind the display than a regular chiclet-style keyboard, which is more uneven with gaps between the keys. One area where you're forced to sacrifice in moving down from the OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 to the OmniBook X Flip 14 is the touch pad. With the Ultra, you get a haptic touch pad that offers a consistent and customizable click response across its entire surface. With the OmniBook X Flip 14's mechanical touch pad, you get the typical experience of clicks becoming firmer as you move toward its top edge. Overall, it's perfectly serviceable for a mechanical touch pad -- clicks don't feel or sound clacky, and they offer the right amount of travel while being quiet when pressed. It's just not as nice as the haptic touch pad you get when you move up to the Ultra. Matt Elliott/CNET You do get the same OLED display with the OmniBook X Flip 14 as the Ultra. The baseline display is a basic 1,920-by-1,200-pixel IPS display, but for only $100, you can upgrade to the 3K OLED display you get with the OmniBook Ultra Flip 14. That's a great price for a great display. The contrast is stellar, with effectively zero-nit black levels and bright whites. The 2,880-by-1,800-pixel resolution results in incredibly crisp text and images, and the 120Hz refresh rate means scrolling through web pages looks smooth. The refresh rate isn't variable, however, so you need to choose to run it at 120Hz, which drains the battery faster, or at 48Hz, which will help extend battery life but makes movement a bit choppier. Color performance was great, as it is with almost every OLED display I've tested. My Spyder X Elite colorimeter measured the color gamut coverage at 100% of the sRGB and P3 spaces and 94% of AdobeRGB. I also measured a peak brightness of 397 nits, which is plenty bright for an OLED that has such deep black levels and excellent contrast. The display supports pen input, and HP includes a pen with a nice weight and thickness to make writing and sketching feel natural. The pen is rechargeable via a concealed USB-C port and includes two extra tips of varying hardness and softness. Matt Elliott/CNET Last thing on the display: It's held in place by a pair of firm-but-not-too-firm hinges. No matter the angle of the display or two-in-one mode -- laptop, tablet, tent or presentation -- the display glides smoothly and stays firmly rooted in place. Two other areas where the OmniBook X Flip 14 can't match the Ultra are the speakers and webcam. You get just a pair of stereo speakers with the X as opposed to the quad speakers in the Ultra. The audio output is predictably thin and lackluster. Similarly, the 5-megapixel webcam can't match the crispness of the Ultra's 9-megapixel cam but still produces a sharp-enough image for Zoom calls and the like. Of the two, I'm more bummed about the underwhelming speakers than the slightly grainier image I got with the OmniBook X Flip 14's webcam. The webcam does have an IR camera that you can use with Windows Hello for facial-recognition logins. That's the only biometric feature because the OmniBook X Flip 14 lacks a fingerprint reader. Is the HP OmniBook X Flip 14 worth buying? The option to upgrade to a 3K, 120Hz OLED display, even one without a variable refresh rate, gives the OmniBook X Flip 14 something that Lenovo's excellent midrange two-in-one, the Yoga 7 14 Gen 9, lacks. Lenovo offers an OLED upgrade for the Yoga 7 14 Gen 9, but it doesn't come with a bump in resolution. And the OmniBook X Flip 14 is a half-pound lighter, making it a better travel companion and easier to operate in tablet mode. The lackluster battery life is a bit of a disappointment, but that's part of the trade-off for getting such an awesome, high-res OLED display. You'll get longer battery life with the Yoga 7 14 Gen 9 or Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1, but you'll be starting at a lower-resolution display. I'd rather take the OLED, even if it means I'll need to pack the power adapter for longer excursions with the OmniBook X Flip 14. Hide our expert take Photo Gallery 1/1 How we test computers Photo Gallery 1/1 The review process for laptops, desktops, tablets and other computerlike devices consists of two parts: performance testing under controlled conditions in the CNET Labs and extensive hands-on use by our expert reviewers. This includes evaluating a device's aesthetics, ergonomics and features. A final review verdict is a combination of both objective and subjective judgments. The list of benchmarking software we use changes over time as the devices we test evolve. The most important core tests we're currently running on every compatible computer include Primate Labs Geekbench 6, Cinebench R23, PCMark 10 and 3DMark Fire Strike Ultra. A more detailed description of each benchmark and how we use it can be found on our How We Test Computers page. Hide our expert take Geekbench 6 CPU (multi-core) Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M4 2025 15049 HP OmniBook X 14 13428 HP OmniBook X Flip 14 12747 HP Pavilion Plus 14 11646 Lenovo Yoga 7 14 Gen 9 11212 Acer Swift 14 AI (SF14-51T-75AF) 10918 Asus Zenbook A14 (UX3407) 10632 Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 (DR04255) 10554 HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 10543 Note: Longer bars indicate better performance Geekbench 6 CPU (single-core) Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M4 2025 3818 HP OmniBook X Flip 14 2823 Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 (DR04255) 2792 Acer Swift 14 AI (SF14-51T-75AF) 2701 HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 2643 Lenovo Yoga 7 14 Gen 9 2444 HP OmniBook X 14 2370 HP Pavilion Plus 14 2267 Asus Zenbook A14 (UX3407) 2114 Note: Longer bars indicate better performance Cinebench 2024 CPU (multi-core) Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M4 2025 824 HP OmniBook X 14 809 Lenovo Yoga 7 14 Gen 9 751 HP Pavilion Plus 14 643 HP OmniBook X Flip 14 636 Acer Swift 14 AI (SF14-51T-75AF) 610 Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 (DR04255) 537 Asus Zenbook A14 (UX3407) 535 HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 520 Note: Longer bars indicate better performance Cinebench 2024 CPU (single-core) Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M4 2025 169 Acer Swift 14 AI (SF14-51T-75AF) 121 HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 121 HP OmniBook X Flip 14 114 Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 (DR04255) 111 HP OmniBook X 14 100 Lenovo Yoga 7 14 Gen 9 99 HP Pavilion Plus 14 98 Asus Zenbook A14 (UX3407) 96 Note: Longer bars indicate better performance PCMark 10 Pro Edition HP OmniBook X Flip 14 7199 Lenovo Yoga 7 14 Gen 9 6867 Acer Swift 14 AI 6811 Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 Gen 9 6772 HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 6684 Asus Zenbook S 14 6684 Note: Longer bars indicate better performance 3DMark Steel Nomad Acer Swift 14 AI (SF14-51T-75AF) 871 HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 803 HP Pavilion Plus 14 640 HP OmniBook X 14 488 HP OmniBook X Flip 14 456 Lenovo Yoga 7 14 Gen 9 435 Asus Zenbook A14 (UX3407) 235 Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 (DR04255) 220 Note: Longer bars indicate better performance Procyon AI Computer Vision (integer) HP OmniBook X Flip 14 (AMD Ryzen AI NPU, AMD Ryzen AI) 1790 Asus Zenbook A14 (Hexagon NPU, SNPE) 1758 HP OmniBook X 14 (Hexagon NPU, SNPE) 1749 Acer Swift 14 AI (Intel AI Boost NPU, OpenVINO) 1736 Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 (AMD Ryzen AI NPU, AMD Ryzen AI) 1766 HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 (Intel AI Boost NPU, OpenVINO) 1670 HP Pavilion Plus 14 (Intel AI Boost NPU, OpenVINO) 577 Note: Longer bars indicate better performance Online streaming battery drain test HP OmniBook X 14 25 hr, 12 min Asus Zenbook A14 (UX3407) 24 hr, 7 min Acer Swift 14 AI (SF14-51T-75AF) 22 hr, 13 min Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M4 2025 15 hr, 50 min Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 (DR04255) 14 hr, 55 min Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7440 13 hr, 27 min HP Pavilion Plus 14 13 hr, 21 min HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 12 hr, 38 min Lenovo Yoga 7 14 Gen 9 12 hr, 19 min HP OmniBook X Flip 14 9 hr, 1 min Note: Longer bars indicate better performance
CNET
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CNET
What to Stream on TV This Weekend: 'Deep Cover,' 'Echo Valley' and 'Call Her Alex'
Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement What to Stream on TV This Weekend: 'Deep Cover,' 'Echo Valley' and 'Call Her Alex' Don't miss the latest on Apple TV Plus, Hulu and other streaming services. Here's what you should binge this weekend.
CNET
10-05-2025
- CNET
GHome K10PRO Smart Fingerprint Doorknob Review: Unique But Awkward
CNET's expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise. 6.5 / 10 SCORE GHome Smart K10Pro Door Lock $43 at Pros Easy, quick installation Hanging bag for charging with power bank Fingerprint, keypad and bypass key unlock methods More affordable than smart deadbolts Great for securing interior doors Cons No removable battery Charging port on the exterior knob Using the bypass key is awkward Bulky handles GHome Smart K10Pro Door Lock 6.5/10/10 CNET Score $43 at Describe the image that pops into your head when I say "smart lock." It's likely a smart deadbolt like the Yale Assure Lock 2, CNET's current pick for the best smart lock. Or maybe a retrofit model like the August Wi-Fi? Regardless, there's a good chance you weren't thinking of a doorknob. Because smart doorknobs can be used in many cases where a deadbolt cannot, I wondered why they seem so much rarer. Ultimately, I believe that a smart doorknob is a little too niche compared to general demand for a front door lock. But I wanted to find out more. That's why I installed a (rather cheap) GHome smart doorknob that still comes with all the bells and whistles: mobile app, touchscreen keypad, fingerprint sensor and a physical bypass key. Here's how it holds up, where it falls short and why smart deadbolts still have their advantages. Getting to know the GHome Smart K10PRO Installation was easy -- it took about 15 minutes to swap my old hardware for the new lock. The only tool I needed was a Philips head screwdriver. John Carlsen/CNET I've seen a few smart lever locks from companies like Kwikset, Schlage and Yale so I wanted to try a smart doorknob to see why those brands don't make models with versatile knobs. I settled on the GHome Smart K10PRO Fingerprint Door Lock, which costs about $50. One of the things that drew me to this lock was the choice of a black or silver finish. (I wanted a brass finish to match the other knobs in my home but none of the options I found had a touchscreen keypad.) You can save about $10 by choosing a model without a keypad. Still, having multiple unlock methods is always a good idea. As I opened the box, I couldn't help but notice the sheer size of the doorknob. While the interior knob was a reasonable 2 1/4 inches, the exterior knob sports a massive diameter of 2 1/2 inches. For comparison, that's half an inch larger than the 2-inch doorknobs in my home. I realize that doesn't sound very big but that's an extra 3 inches of circumference. It feels very bulky in hand, which also makes it more difficult to rotate than a traditional doorknob. Despite the size, I like the GHome Smart K10PRO's overall aesthetic, which hides the USB-C charging port and physical keyhole on the bottom of the exterior knob. John Carlsen Before installing the lock, you should charge it for a couple of hours. GHome Smart's website lists an estimated battery life of 8 to 12 months so you shouldn't need to charge it very often. I didn't see any drop in the battery charge during my test. Unfortunately, this brings me to my first major gripe with the GHome Smart K10PRO: The battery isn't removable. Whenever you need to charge this doorknob, you need a power bank. While I love that there's a cloth bag for hanging a power bank from the knob during charging, it's not as practical for exterior doors as it is for an interior bedroom or dorm room door. Consider using a cheap power bank if you want to charge it outdoors because the lock's internal 400mAh battery doesn't need anything fancy. After installing the smart doorknob, I downloaded the Gosund app for setup -- Gosund rebranded as GHome Smart in February 2025 but the app name is still the same -- which took only a few minutes. How it handles The K10PRO's fingerprint sensor is fast and responsive. John Carlsen/CNET Aside from my previous observation about the size of the exterior knob, the GHome Smart K10PRO is a pleasant experience. Programming my fingerprint in the app took less than a minute and the lock responds quickly when my thumb touches the sensor. It's more convenient than other fingerprint smart locks I've used, as you don't need to reach for a separate sensor when opening the door. The touchscreen is more awkward because a typical doorknob is lower than a deadbolt. I find myself leaning back for a clear view of the keypad, which lacks the large buttons of competing lever locks like Yale Assure 2. Still, having a keypad is a huge bonus because I can quickly create custom codes for family members, scheduled codes for friends and temporary access for visitors. While I appreciate having a bypass key, the keyhole's placement on the bottom of the knob means you can't see where the key goes in. John Carlsen/CNET Using the key took a few attempts to figure out how to access this unlock method without crouching down to see the keyhole. The trick is to hold the key vertically with its teeth facing to the right. As for the app controls, they're functional but basic. You can unlock it if you're in Bluetooth range, add users and mute the built-in speaker, although there's no option for adjusting how quickly the lock relocks after someone comes in. It's always five seconds. There's also no auto-unlock option. For remote unlocking and smart home integration, you need the GHome Smart Tuya Bluetooth Gateway, which costs about $26. This isn't a terrible price but it eats into smaller budgets. Don't expect deep settings options in the Gosund app. John Carlsen/CNET You can turn the dial on the interior knob to activate different locking modes. Normal Mode enables the fingerprint sensor for all users with a five-second auto-lock. Passage Mode unlocks the K10PRO and turns off the smart features. Privacy mode disables the fingerprint sensor for everyone but the Admin, which is great for parents needing to access a room without the children getting in. Who should consider a smart fingerprint door knob? You can switch modes using the dial on the interior side of the smart door knob. John Carlsen/CNET You definitely don't need a fingerprint primary doorknob if you already have a smart deadbolt. Having to unlock two smart locks to open a door is asking for trouble in more ways than one. Likewise, if you have a budget of $150 or more, a lever lock from Yale or Schlage will be a better option for a front door, especially because you can replace the battery. But you might consider a GHome Smart K10PRO Fingerprint Door Lock if you live in a shared home and want to secure your private room from roommates without carrying a key. (Maybe check with your property manager or resident assistant first.) Or you could manage access for an office, pantry, workshop, bedroom or other area you don't want kids or guests getting into. Last, it could be excellent for vacation rentals -- like giving temporary access to guests or preventing them from entering restricted areas, especially if you're only renting out a single room. The K10PRO is a reasonable value for $50 but you'll want to make sure your door has room for the big knob and that you're okay with painful charging options.
