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mardi 31 août 2021

Microsoft is booting ineligible Windows 11 PCs out of the Windows Insider Program

When Microsoft originally announced Windows 11, it was quickly discovered that Microsoft had made some drastic changes to the system requirements. Most importantly, there are some strict requirements on which CPUs are supported by the new OS. When it came down to testing in the Windows Insider Program, however, the Redmond firm wasn’t quite as strict.

Here’s how it worked. If you were in the Dev channel prior to the announcement, you’d be allowed to stay up until Windows 11 comes out. Once it’s out, you have to roll back to Windows 10 or you’ll be in an unsupported state, assuming your PC is ineligible (obviously, if your PC is eligible, you’re good to go). For Beta channel Insiders, they were kicked off of the Beta channel and placed into Release Preview for Windows 10 21H2 testing.

Now, Microsoft has started kicking unsupported PCs out of the Dev channel of the Windows Insider Program. If you’re in the Dev channel and your CPU isn’t on the supported list, you’ll likely find that you have to go back to Windows 10 in order to keep receiving updates.

The transition to the new system requirements hasn’t been an entirely smooth one, but there’s a good reason that things are the way they are. Windows 10 versions 20H2, 21H1, and 21H2 are all enablement packages that build on top of version 2004. But since the spring of 2020, Microsoft has still been releasing prerelease builds in the Dev channel, with none of those features actually shipping in Windows 10. Those prerelease builds eventually became Windows 11.

That means that when Microsoft decided on the new system requirements, it had to think of a solution for all of the Windows Insiders that wouldn’t qualify for Windows 11, but were already running prerelease builds. After all, you can’t deliver an OTA update from build 20xxx to build 19xxx. The general rule is that if the build number goes down, you have to do a factory reset.

Because of this, the Redmond company decided to let Insiders on the Dev channel tag along for Windows 11 testing. Obviously, those users were used for telemetry. When Microsoft said it would consider Intel seventh-gen and AMD Zen processors for Windows 11 support, it got to look at data from all of the Insiders that were still able to run Windows 11. That’s how the firm came up with stats saying that supported PCs had a 99.8% crash-free experience, while unsupported PCs has 52% more crashes (which really only means that it’s a 99.7% crash-free experience).

But now, that run of testing has come to an end. It’s never fun when you have to reset your PC, but that’s the risk of the Insider Program.

The post Microsoft is booting ineligible Windows 11 PCs out of the Windows Insider Program appeared first on xda-developers.



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Microsoft releases Windows 10 build 19044.1202 to the Release Preview channel

Today, Microsoft is releasing another cumulative update for Windows 10 users in the Release Preview channel of the Insider Program. The update is KB5005101, and you’ll get it whether you’re on Windows 10 version 21H1 or version 21H2. That means that the build number will end up being 19043.1202 or 19044.1202, respectively.

It comes with just one fix:

  • We fixed an issue that causes the Windows Update settings page to stop responding after you download an optional update.

If you’re on the Release Preview ring, it’s actually not possible to enroll in Windows 10 version 21H2 testing. This is something that’s reserved for Insiders that were on the Beta channel and didn’t meet the minimum requirements for Windows 11. They got booted and pushed to Release Preview. And for some reason, those are the only people allowed to test Windows 10 version 21H2.

Presumably, at some point, Microsoft will open up 21H2 testing to everyone that wants it. The company gets weird about the Release Preview ring though. It was testing new 20H2 updates up until June, even though 21H1 had been in production for months. That’s right; you could have a newer version of Windows 10 in production than you could in the Release Preview ring. Actually, that will probably happen again when 21H2 ships later on this year.

Windows 10 version 21H2 will be coming later this year, and frankly, Microsoft isn’t talking too much about it. The big focus is on Windows 11, and that’s no surprise. There aren’t any major new features in 21H2 either. It’s just an enablement package that lights up a few things and bumps up the build number.

Microsoft will probably continue to do that too. For those that either don’t want or don’t meet the requirements for Windows 11, Windows 10 is going to be supported until 2025. The Redmond firm hasn’t confirmed whether it’s going to continue to deliver Windows 10 feature updates over the next four years, or if it will just provide cumulative updates over that period.

The post Microsoft releases Windows 10 build 19044.1202 to the Release Preview channel appeared first on xda-developers.



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Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 vs Apple AirPods Pro: Which ANC TWS earbuds should you buy?

Samsung has built an ecosystem around its products similar to what Apple has done over the years. When you buy a Samsung phone, you can also buy the Galaxy Watch 4 along with it to track your workouts and the Galaxy Buds 2 for your audio needs. Similarly, when you buy an iPhone, you can pick up the Apple Watch and a pair of AirPods Pro. If you’re looking to get a pair of wireless earbuds, you can take a look at our list of the best TWS earphones out there or if you’re particularly confused between the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 and the AirPods Pro, we’ll help you decide which one is best for you.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 vs Apple AirPods Pro Specs

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 vs Apple AirPods Pro: Specifications

Specification Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Apple AirPods Pro
Dimensions & Weight
  • Earbuds: 17×20.9×21.1mm
  • Case: 50×50.2×27.8mm
  • Weight: 5g Earbuds, 41.2g Case
  • Earbuds: 24×30.9×21.8mm
  • Case: 60.6×45.2×21.7mm
  • Weight: 5.4g Earbuds, 45.6g Case
ANC
  • 3 levels of ambient sound control
  • Transparent mode
  • Machine Learning solutions to cut-off sound
  • Single ANC mode
  • Transparency mode
Connectivity Bluetooth 5.2 Bluetooth 5.0
Battery & Charging
  • Buds – 61mAh
  • Case – 472mAh
  • 20 hours playback time with case
  • USB-C Port
  • Qi Wireless charging
  • 5 hours
  • The case contains 6 additional charges
  • Lightning port
  • Qi wireless charging
IP Rating IPX2 IPX4
Colors White, Olive, Graphite, Lavender White
Price $149 $249

Build and Design

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 in olive green

Let’s first talk about the cases of both earbuds. The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 have a rectangular case, and the AirPods Pro have a slightly more rounded case with a lid that’s easier to open with one hand. Both cases are made of plastic and have a white exterior. The internal compartment inside the Galaxy Buds 2 is based on the color you pick.

Apple AirPods Pro on a stack of magazines.

The AirPods Pro is slightly more pocketable due to the design but neither of the two earbuds are bulky and can easily be carried around in your pocket.

AirPods Pro control from the stems

Moving to the earbuds themselves, there’s a distinct change in how both earbuds look. The AirPods Pro has an elongated stem while the Galaxy Buds 2 has a stem-less design. Both earbuds are of the in-ear type and include silicone ear tips. Looks are always subjective so there’s no definite winner. Pick the one you personally like.

Sound Quality and ANC

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 and Galaxy Watch 4 with magnifying glass in background

The Galaxy Buds 2 are extremely similar to the more premium Galaxy Buds Pro in terms of sound quality, and the Galaxy Buds Pro is one of our top recommendations for a pair of TWS earbuds. The sound signature leans slightly towards the bass-heavy side but it’s something most people will like. The AirPods Pro, on the other hand, has a very balanced sound signature. Both earbuds have support for ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) that improves your listening experience.

The ANC on the AirPods Pro is slightly more effective than the one on the Galaxy Buds 2. Even during calls, the AirPods Pro cancels out more background noise when compared to the Galaxy Buds 2. If you’re going to be traveling on a plane, the AirPods Pro will surely give you a quieter experience. Both earphones also have a transparency mode that can be used to amplify external sounds.

Additional Features and Battery Life

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 in all four colors

Both sets of earbuds have support for custom gestures. The Galaxy Buds 2 have touch controls whereas the AirPods Pro have a stem that’s pressure-sensitive. You can skip tracks, toggle ANC, and customize gestures to your liking on both earbuds. The AirPods Pro has one additional feature here and that’s the ability to auto-pause music when you remove the earbuds from your ears. The Galaxy Buds 2 misses out on this feature. Both earphones can be worn to the gym or while working without any issues.

While both sets of earbuds can be paired to any smartphone, the AirPods Pro works best when paired with an iOS device. You can’t change the controls or update the firmware of your AirPods Pro without an iPhone. The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 also works best with an Android device, more so a Samsung phone. You can however use the AirPods Pro with minimal functionality with an Android device and similarly, the Galaxy Buds 2 with iOS.

Man sitting library common area with Galaxy Buds 2 in his ears and the earbuds case open in his hands

In terms of battery life, both the Galaxy Buds 2 and the AirPods Pro are similar when it comes to the battery on the earbuds themselves. Both offer a playback time of about five hours with ANC turned on. The AirPods Pro’s battery life is slightly better when you include the case as well. The Galaxy Buds 2 can be charged up to four times with the case whereas the AirPods Pro can be charged up to six times. Both cases have support for Qi Wireless Charging.

Which earphones should you buy?

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 in all four colors

Depending on what phone you use, the choice is simple. If you use an iPhone and are already in the Apple ecosystem, the AirPods Pro makes complete sense. If you have a Mac, an iPad, and an Apple Watch along with your iPhone, you can experience seamless connectivity between the devices. You also get Spatial audio support with the AirPods Pro when used with an iPhone.

If you have an Android device, getting the AirPods Pro doesn’t really make a lot of sense since you won’t be able to use them to their full potential. Plus, they are also a bit on the expensive side, and you can get equivalent and even better options for Android. The Galaxy Buds 2 should be your pick if you’re an Android user and moreso if you have a Samsung phone.

    Samsung Galaxy Buds 2
    The Galaxy Buds 2 is Samsung's latest pair of TWS earphones with ANC.

The AirPods Pro were launched for $249 but are now selling for about $179 which is just $30 more than the Galaxy Buds 2. At that price, they’re absolutely worth it, but you still have to deal with some ripples from the ecosystem lock-in.

    Apple AirPods Pro
    If you're into the Apple ecosystem, you just can't go wrong with the AirPods Pro for your audio needs.

If you’re picking up a pair of the Galaxy Buds 2, make sure you protect them with a good case.

The post Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 vs Apple AirPods Pro: Which ANC TWS earbuds should you buy? appeared first on xda-developers.



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Jabra’s new Elite 3 and Elite 7 wireless earbuds offer ANC and better voice calls

If you’re looking to buy a pair of true wireless earbuds, there’s no shortage of options on the market. Most TWS earbuds have few unique features, so purchase decisions often come down to one or more key features, the pricing, and the brand behind the product. Danish brand Jabra has one of the audio product lineups, and the company today unveiled three new wireless earbuds in its Jabra Elite range: the Jabra Elite 3, Jabra Elite 7 Active, and Jabra Elite 7 Pro.

All of these earbuds are controlled through Jabra’s MySound+ app, available on Google Play and the Apple App Store, and can be paired to both Android and iOS devices. All three products support Google Fast Pair, instant Alexa activation, and one-touch Spotify playback on Android. The earbuds also support activating Siri on iOS and Google Assistant on Android.

In terms of design, these earbuds feature silicone ear tips and an oval-shaped case with a USB-C charging port, though the case and earbuds come in different colors depending on the model.

Jabra Elite 3

The Jabra Elite 3 is the most affordable out of the trio, retailing for only $79. These earbuds have 6mm speakers, 4 microphones, access to Jabra’s music equalizer, support for Qualcomm’s aptX codec, 7 hours of battery life (28 total hours including the charging case), fast charging (10 minutes of charging gives 1 hour of playback), HearThrough awareness, active noise cancellation, IP55 rating. The Elite 3 comes in 4 colors — Lilac, Light Beige, Dark Grey, and Navy — and goes on sale tomorrow, September 1st, through Best Buy and Amazon.

Jabra Elite 3 earbuds in different colored cases Jabra Elite 3 earbud outside of black case

    Jabra Elite 3

    The Jabra Elite 3 are entry-level true wireless earbuds with an advertised 7 hours of battery life and ANC, retailing for $79.

Jabra Elite 7 Series

The new Jabra Elite 7 Pro and Active are more premium offerings from the company, and their price reflects that. The Elite 7 Active retails for $179, while the Elite 7 Pro retails for $199. Both products offer adjustable active noise cancellation, 9 hours of battery life (35 hours total including the charging case), fast charging (5 minutes of charging yields 1.2 hours of playback), 4 microphones, 6mm speakers, and 11 levels of sound modes (including HearThrough.)

The Elite 7 Pro feature Jabra’s new MultiSensor Voice for improved call clarity in noisy environments. This tech takes advantage of the two VPU bone conduction sensors and the 4 microphones in the Jabra Elite 7 Pro to filter wind noise and transmit your voice via jawbone vibrations.

The Elite 7 Active, on the other hand, come with Jabra’s ShakeGrip coating, a liquid silicone rubber ear tip, and a wing free design to ensure the earbuds never fall out of your ears while you’re working out. They don’t have bone conduction sensors, but they do still filter wind from calls thanks to a mesh over the microphones.

Jabra Elite 7 Pro earbuds in different colored cases Jabra Elite 7 Pro earbuds out of black case

The Jabra Elite 7 Active and Pro will be available starting October 1st, costing $179 and $199 respectively. The Active comes in a single greenish color, while the Pro comes in Gold Beige and Black.

The post Jabra’s new Elite 3 and Elite 7 wireless earbuds offer ANC and better voice calls appeared first on xda-developers.



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The Galaxy Book Fold may be Samsung’s first laptop with a foldable display

Samsung has been making waves in the past few weeks thanks to its foldable phones, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and Z Fold 3. However, while the company has been making foldable phones for a couple of years, it’s never made a laptop with a foldable display. That could be set to change, as references to a Samsung Galaxy Book Fold device have been spotted online.

The information comes from well-known leakster Ice Universe on Twitter, who shared a screenshot with the name of the device. It’s called the Galaxy Book Fold 17, suggesting it sports a 17-inch display. The font used in the image is similar to what’s found throughout Samsung’s website, but there doesn’t seem to be a public page with this text.

However, this does throw us back to May of this year, when Samsung Display teased a device exactly like this. During the SID Display Week 2021 event, the company showed off a number of form factors enabled by OLED displays. That included, you guessed it, a 17-inch foldable laptop. You can see that video below, with the 17-inch laptop concept showing up at around the 52-second mark. 17 inches would be the size when the display is unfolded, and it could be folded into two smaller displays.

Samsung has also teased other innovative concepts with OLED displays, like an under-display camera for laptops. That was first teased all the way back in January, but we ended up seeing that technology first on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3.

While laptops with foldable displays are rare, this isn’t the first one we’ve ever seen, since Lenovo has attempted this with the ThinkPad X1 Fold. That device was plagued by middling performance, courtesy of the Intel Lakefield chipset inside. Lakefield was Intel’s attempt at having powerful cores and efficient cores in the same package, but it didn’t work out in the best way. However, the upcoming Intel Alder Lake processors seem to be a significantly better take on that concept, so hopefully we’ll see more and better devices with this form factor.

Unfortunately, we don’t have much else to go off of. We’ll have to wait and see if and when Samsung announces the Galaxy Book Fold. The company has been making some great Windows laptops like the Galaxy Book Go and Book Pro, so it would be interesting to see more innovative devices as well.

The post The Galaxy Book Fold may be Samsung’s first laptop with a foldable display appeared first on xda-developers.



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Today only: Wi-Fi routers and extenders from Netgear are up to 26% off

The rise in working from home has led many of us to realize our Wi-Fi networks are terrible. There’s inevitably one room where the signal is too weak, or the whole network slows to a crawl when someone starts up Netflix. Thankfully, Netgear has discounted some of its routers and extenders in a one-day sale on Amazon, making today a great time to upgrade your Wi-Fi.

First up is the Netgear AX1800, which is built for homes up to 1,500 sq. ft. with full support for Wi-Fi 6. It’s currently priced at $74.99 right now, a decent savings from the usual price of $90-100. The router is a decent option for smaller homes, especially for under $100, but support for the newer Wi-Fi 6E standard is missing.

    Netgear R6700AX Router

    This Wi-Fi 6 router is an excellent option for smaller homes, where mesh systems aren't really needed.
    Netgear Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR500

    This router has a powerful gaming-focused interface and more LAN connectors, but it doesn't support Wi-Fi 5.
    Netgear WiFi 6 Mesh Range Extender (EAX15)

    This can help extend the range of your existing Wi-Fi network, with full support for Wi-Fi 6.

The other router on sale is the Nighthawk Pro XR500, which delivers faster speeds than the above-mentioned AX1800, and also has a more customizable dashboard. The sale price is $159.99, and the router usually goes for around $190-200. Even though this model has fast speeds on paper, it can’t broadcast a Wi-Fi 6 network, so you might have connectivity problems if you have many other Wi-Fi signals around you (e.g. you live in an apartment complex).

Finally, Netgear is selling its Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Range Extender for $89.99, down from the usual price of $129.99. This is mostly intended to be used with existing Wi-Fi 6 networks, but it will work with just about any router or network. It’s dual-band, not tri-band, so speeds will be lower than a signal coming from your primary router — but that doesn’t matter too much if your router can’t reach a certain area in the first place.

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HP Chromebook x2 11 vs Lenovo Chromebook Duet: Battle of the Chrome OS tablets

HP recently unveiled the new Chromebook x2 11, available from Best Buy and HP’s own website later this month. The Chromebook x2 11 is the first new Chrome OS tablet we’ve seen in quite some time. It looks like a compelling product, but it’s always a good idea to consider all available options. On the other hand, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet is quite a bit more affordable. In this comparison, we’ll take a look at how these Chrome OS tablets differ and which one you should buy today.

HP Chromebook x2 11 vs Lenovo Chromebook Duet: Specifications

Specification HP Chromebook x2 11 Lenovo Chromebook Duet
Dimensions & Weight
  • 9.94″ x 6.96″ x 0.3″
  • 2.57 lbs
  • 9.44″ x 6.29″ x 0.29″ (tablet only)
  • 0.99lbs (tablet only)
Display
  • 11″ 2160 x 1440 (Full HD+)
  • IPS LED
  • Touchscreen
  • 10.1″ FHD (1920 x 1200) IPS
  • 400 nits
  • Touchscreen
Processor
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Compute Platform
  • 8 core
  • Qualcomm Adreno 618 GPU
  • MediaTek Helio P60T Processor (2.00 GHz, 8 Cores, 8 Threads)
  • Integrated ARM G72 MP3 800GHz
RAM & Storage
  • 8GB RAM
  • 64GB eMMc storage
  • 4GB LPDDR4X on board
  • Up t0 128GB eMMc
Battery & Charging
  • 2-cell
  • Lithium-Ion
  • Up to 10 hours
  • Estimated based on lower brightness settings
Security
  • H1 Secure Microcontroller
  • Fingerprint scanner
  • Titan C Security Chip
Front camera
  • 5MP camera
  • 2 MP fixed-focus with LED indicator
World-facing camera
  • HP Wide Vision 8MP camera
  • 8 MP auto-focus
Port(s)
  • 2 SuperSpeed USB Type-C 5Gbps
  • 3.5mm headphone jack
  • microSD card reader
  • 1x USB-C (Gen 2)
  • 5-point pogo pins
Audio
  • Audio by Bang & Olufsen with dual speakers
  • Built-in microphone
  • 2 x Dolby Audi0 speakers
  • Smart amp
Connectivity
  • Atheros 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2×2) Wi-Fi
  • Bluetooth 5.0
  • 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, MIMO, 2×2, 2.4GHz/5GHz dual band
  • Bluetooth 4.2
Software Chrome OS Chrome OS
Other Features
  • Detachable keyboard
  • USI pen support
  • Starts at $599
  • Detachable keyboard
  • Pen included in select models
  • Starts at $219

HP Chromebook x2 11 vs Lenovo Chromebook Duet: Design and display

Starting off with design and build, these tablets are similar in a number of ways. First, the HP Chromebook x2 11 and Lenovo Chromebook Duet are both true detachable devices. This is something to take note of, especially since the keyboards can add some bulk on convertibles when used in tablet mode. Both tablets have similar weights, if you don’t include the detachable keyboard when measuring the HP Chromebook x2 11. The Duet is a bit lighter when both keyboard cases are attached.

Lenovo Chromebook Duet on orange background

One thing to mention here is we don’t know if HP is including the Chromebook x2 11’s keyboard in their weight calculation. This would mean the true weight of the device as a tablet could be a bit different than what’s shown in the specs sheet. This is something we’ll test and update when we review the HP Chromebook x2 11 ourselves. The nice thing is HP includes the detachable keyboard in the base price of the HP Chromebook x2 11.

The HP Chromebook x2 11 is made from an aluminum alloy. On the other hand, Lenovo Chromebook Duets have an attractive, albeit mostly plastic build.  Sliding on the keyboard case, you get a fabric texture for grip when carrying around the Duet. There’s no doubt the HP Chromebook x2 11 is the more premium device, but the Lenovo Duet looks nice enough.

Both of these tablets also support pen input. The HP Chromebook x2 11 and Lenovo Chromebook Duet both support the USI pen standard. HP actually includes the USI pen with the Chromebook x2 11, which attaches to the tablet magnetically. The USI pen for the Duet is included with certain models, otherwise you can buy it separately or as a third-party option from Amazon.

HP Chromebook x2 11 on light blue background

One key difference worth noting is the lack of biometric security on the Duet. This is somewhat expected at the $329 price point, but still a bit disappointing. The HP Chromebook x2 11 thankfully does feature a fingerprint scanner. This is refreshing to see as many high-end Chromebooks leave off biometric security options that improve user experience.

As for the displays, the HP Chromebook x2 11 is the clear winner here. With a higher resolution FHD+ panel the Chromebook x2 11 looks much sharper, though both tablets offer sufficient brightness. At the end of the day, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet is simply outmatched in this category.

HP Chromebook x2 11 vs Lenovo Chromebook Duet: Keyboard and pen support

With the Lenovo Chromebook Duet, the detachable keyboard is included in the price with all models. The HP Chromebook x2 11 includes both the detachable keyboard as well as the magnetically attached USI pen. With the Duet, certain models include the USI pen, while others do not. This means the price difference between these two tablets can actually be a little less if you need the pen support anyway.

HP Chromebook x2 11 in two orientations

When it comes to keyboard quality, much is still unknown about the HP Chromebook x2 11. The initial reviews of the Lenovo Chromebook Duet keyboard were mixed. Many reviewers found the keyboard to be a bit small and cramped — if you have large hands, that might not be ideal. The Chromebook x2 11 keyboard layout looks nice, but we can’t say for sure how good it is until we test it out.

HP Chromebook x2 11 vs Lenovo Chromebook Duet: Performance and battery

If you’re looking for the performance winner on paper, that’s the HP Chromebook x2 11 quite handily. Although we don’t know much about real-world performance just yet, the newer Snapdragon 7c in HP’s tablet will handily outscore the MediaTek processor inside the CM3 in benchmarks.

lenovo chromebook

The Lenovo Chromebook Duet is quite underpowered with the MediaTek Helio P60T inside. You can get by for basic web browsing and light productivity, but any serious multi-tasking will be quite difficult. If you want to do any type of gaming or run powerful Linux apps, the Duet is not the right Chrome tablet for you. It seems likely the HP Chromebook x2 11 will take the crown in overall performance on paper and in practice, something we can and will test in our review.

In theory, both devices get similar battery ratings from their respective OEMs. The Duet reviews indicate the Lenovo tablet gets about 10 hours of real world use, with over 12 hours if you’re only browsing the web. This is fairly common to see and we would typically expect similar battery life from the HP Chromebook x2 11. One thing that might improve battery life however, is the Snapdragon 7c processor inside the Chromebook x2 11. If HP optimized the tablet to take advantage of the 7c’s capabilities, we could see significantly improved battery life.

HP Chromebook x2 11 vs Lenovo Chromebook Duet: Cameras and audio

Over the course of the last 18 months, video calling rose to prominence thanks to the ongoing pandemic. Most Chromebooks still have mediocre 720p webcams and don’t feature a rear camera at all.

Camera quality is an outstanding feature on the HP Chromebook x2 11 and the Lenovo Chromebook Duet. HP and Lenovo feature FHD or FHD+ resolution cameras on both the front and back. The HP Chromebook x2 11 features a 5 MP front camera and 8MP wide-vision rear camera. As for the Duet, it comes with an 8 MP rear camera and 2MP front camera for video calls.

In the age of Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet, these cameras are a big deal. Fortunately, both of these Chrome OS tablets are up to the task when it comes to video calling.

The HP Chromebook x2 11 has dual speakers tuned by Bang and Olufsen, so this tablet should perform admirably when it comes to audio. Speakers on the Lenovo Chromebook Duet are also quite impressive, with a dual setup as well. It’s quite impressive what Lenovo accomplished on the Duet in terms of audio for such a low price.

Conclusion

This is a really tough one to call. While the HP Chromebook x2 11 has a premium build and comes with some high-end features, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet offers lots of value for under $250. If you plan to do a lot of Android gaming or need to type for longer periods of time, it’s probably a good idea to go with the HP Chromebook x2 11.

The Duet is a great option if you just want to consume media and handle the occasional productivity task, for a much lower price. Either way, the Lenovo Chromebook was definitively one of the best Chromebooks of 2020. The HP Chromebook x2 11 looks poised to be one of the best Chromebooks of 2021.

    HP Chromebook x2 11
    The HP Chromebook x2 11 combines the power of Chrome OS with the portability of a traditional tablet. You can work anywhere thanks to the optional 4G LTE capability. This is the new top of the line Chrome OS tablet experience.
    Lenovo Chromebook Duet
    The Lenovo Chromebook Duet is one of the best detachable Chromebooks you can buy today, and what's more, you're not going to need to break the bank to pick one up.

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