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The Oppo Reno 10x Zoom boasts flagship internals, an attractive design and a killer camera setup, but does it pose enough of a threat to more established global players like Samsung, Apple and Huawei?

The Oppo Reno 10x Zoom has been a long time coming, with the company first teasing a smartphone zoom camera concept back during Mobile World Congress 2017. The company showcased a follow-up technology demo one year later which appeared to be part of a nearly complete (but at the time still-unnamed) Reno test device.

• Read our full, in-depth Huawei P30 Pro review

The finished article looks to bring some interesting design and hardware elements to the table beyond its titular camera feature; not to mention a new build of the company’s own software and improved Oppo staples like updated VOOC fast-charging technology.

Oppo Reno 10x Zoom – Camera

As the Oppo Reno 10x Zoom name suggests suggests, the headline feature here is the phone’s zoom-savvy camera, which is actually part of a triple module arrangement, comprised of the increasingly-popular 48-megapixel sensor that the likes of the Honor View 20 and Xiaomi Mi 9 use, a 13-megapixel telephoto sensor and an 8-megapixel ultra-wide angle sensor.

Diving deeper, the 48-megapixel IMX586 features OIS (optical image stabilisation), a half inch sensor size, an f/1.7 aperture, 26mm focal length, 0.8µm pixels and supports pixel-binning to condense four-times the amount of image data into a more refined final 12-megapixel image. All that image data also plays a part in helping resolve fine detail when zooming in on things.

Speaking of zooming, the 13-megapixel telephoto sensor sits along the phone’s body, rather than pointing straight out. A unique D-cut periscopic lens rotates its line of sight through 90-degrees. It’s this that helps grant the phone its long-distance vision without adding any significant thickness or a Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom/K Zoom-style motorised lens onto the back.

• These are the Best camera phones

Similarly to its most like-minded rival, the Huawei P30 Pro, the sensor is capable of lossless optical zoom and works in tandem with the phone’s main sensor at higher magnification levels to retain as much detail as possible. The sensor sports an f/3.0 aperture and, like the primary camera, OIS too.

Last but not least is the 8-megapixel f/2.2 ultra-wide angle lens, which features a short 16mm focal length – one of the two boundaries Oppo uses to define the phone’s 10x zoom capabilities (as it can shoot between 16mm and 160mm at full 20x ‘hybrid’ zoom), there’s no OIS here, however.

Tech specs out of the way, in actual use the raw image quality that the Reno 10x Zoom captures is encouraging. Having done a cursory side-by-side test with the P30 Pro, the Reno appears to make better use of available light (albeit at the expense of fine detail and sharpness), which holds promise should the company’s algorithmic efforts work as well as intended too.

One of the phone’s most distinct physical features is its ‘pivot rising camera’ – a wedge-shaped segment of the phone’s top edge that rises up by way of a motor to reveal the phone’s 16-megapixel f/2.0 front-facing camera. It’s here that you’ll also find twin LED flashes – a soft front-facing flash and one meant for use when trying to illuminate shots via the main camera on the back.

Oppo Reno 10x Zoom – Performance and Software

If you opened up the Reno 10x Zoom, there’d be no doubting its flagship credentials. Head-turning camera array aside, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset and up to 8GB of RAM are a sign of good things to come, based on the experiences the team here at Trusted has already encountered from similarly-specced smartphones.

I wasn’t yet able to benchmark the phone, nor test more intensive tasks like gaming and the like but a cursory swipe around showed no noticeable issues with the way the 10x Zoom handles.

The Android 9.0-based user experience has been overlaid with a reworked version of Oppo’s own ColorOS, dubbed ColorOS 6. Aside from the aforementioned algorithmic camera talents, it packs in a number of technologies under the ‘HyperBoost 2.0’ moniker, designed to reduce app load times, system speed and latency when gaming.

Related: Best Phone 2019

Gamers should also take note of this phone’s robust cooling system too, which makes use of a copper heat pipe, cooling gel and layered graphite to dissipate heat more efficiently than your average phone.

Oppo Reno 5G

There’s also the matter of connectivity, which by default includes support for Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac and up to 4G+ mobile browsing speeds (depending on your region). If that still isn’t enough to cut the mustard, those willing to pay a premium can live on the bleeding edge by picking up a 5G variant of the 10x Zoom complete with Qualcomm’s X50 5G modem onboard, a.k.a the Oppo Reno 5G.

Beyond the improved data speeds, Qualcomm and Oppo are hoping that the Reno can serve as a flagbearer for 5G in 2019, mainly through demonstrating the benefits of the technology on compatible networks by supporting experiences such as virtual or augmented reality streaming and multiplayer gaming, anywhere.

Related: What is 5G?

The Reno line was originally teased in partnership with Swisscom, primarily as a result of the phone’s 5G credentials and the newly-implemented 5G infrastructure in the region but the likes of EE in the UK have also confirmed support for the Reno 5G when the phone launches on British shores too.

Oppo Reno 10x Zoom – Battery

To supplement the demands of that high-end chipset (and 5G, where applicable), the Reno 10x Zoom is equipped with a huge 4065mAh integrated battery. That figure alone should instil confidence out the gate, not just because it’s paired to the phone’s Full HD+ display resolution and use of AMOLED technology.

In addition to AI-driven power management, the 10x Zoom also comes complete with Oppo’s signature VOOC fast-charging technology. While still rated at the same wattage as its predecessor, version 3.0 of Oppo’s VOOC technology addresses the trickle charging state that takes place on a device when trying to fill the last few ounces of its battery’s charge.

As a result of a more efficient algorithm, Oppo has effectively doubled the charging speed during the last stage of battery replenishment, meaning more power, quicker, without sacrificing safety (and apparently, long-term battery health).

Oppo Reno 10x Zoom – Design

It should be clear that Oppo has fit a heck of a lot into the Reno 10x Zoom but the company should also be commended for the package in which it’s wrapped all this technology too. A metal frame comes sandwiched by rounded Gorilla Glass 5.0 on the back and lightly-pillowed Gorilla Glass 6.0 across the phone’s expansive 6.6-inch display.

The finish is pleasing too, with either a Jet Black or Ocean Green (see image below) colourway on offer, both of which employ a mix of shiny and textured glass that play with the light in interesting ways.

As far as flagship handsets are concerned, the phone looks thicker than the status quo and feels heavier than most comparable devices (based on intuition rather than having such competitors to hand, it should be said). Despite this, I really enjoyed studying the fit and finish of the 10x Zoom.

The body could best be described as a ‘glass tank’, and while the mechanised pop-up camera negates any chance of water resistance, the phone looks premium and feels extremely well put-together.

The company was quick to try and ease concerns about the pop-up mechanism’s reliability by stating that it’s guaranteed to operate as intended for at least five years; based on the premise of the camera being raised on average 100 times a day.

There’s also something called ‘free-fall detection’ onboard, so that should the phone slip from your grasp while the front-facing camera is out, it’ll quickly retract before impact to mitigate any real damage to the mechanism or camera hardware inside.

Zero camera bump is another bonus, with the phone boasting a perfectly flat back… almost. While such cleanliness is refreshing, the phone does feature what Oppo calls its ‘O-dot’ – a small ceramic bead set into the rear that raises the phone when on flat surfaces that would otherwise scratch up the main camera arrangement up. Smart.

Oppo Reno 10x Zoom – Screen

The whole reason for the phone’s unusual pop-up camera mechanism becomes clear when you realise the screen is completely devoid of a notch or hole-punch camera and terminates impressively close to the edges of the phone’s body.

With bezels that measure just 1.35mm on either side and a chin of just 3.5mm, the large 19.5:9 aspect ratio Full HD+ AMOLED display dominates the phone’s front, with a 93.1 percent screen-to-body ratio. The technology at play grants great colours and perfectly deep blacks, while testing HDR content also yielded pleasing results.

Oppo has implemented a few extra features into the screen to score it extra brownie points too. For starters, there’s an optical in-display fingerprint sensor, which the company says is twice as fast as first-generation iterations of the technology.

Next, there’s an improved (and certified) blue light filter that’s supposedly doubly effective, while (although untested) Oppo claims the screen also adheres to the full DCI-P3 colour space – something we’ll test for ourselves come full review time.

Oppo Reno 10x Zoom – Price and Availability

During the phone’s launch event in Zurich, the company revealed that the Reno 10x Zoom will be launching in early June with a starting price of €799 (for the 6GB RAM/128GB storage model), while, oddly enough, the similarly-specced Oppo Reno 5G would beat it to the punch, with a May launch date and an €899 price tag (in compatible markets).

No UK pricing is confirmed but a dedicated UK launch event is expected to take place on or around May 20.

The post Oppo Reno 10x Zoom: Hands on with the P30 Pro rival appeared first on Trusted Reviews.

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It’s the little moments that really make The Division 2 pop for me.

Sure, all the joy of cover-based combat is present and correct, pulling off killer flanks is compelling, and the palpable squee of excitement as a new gun drops and it’s just perfect for your loadout.

Instead, I’m talking about the moments of quality that mark this out as a series contender for the best loot and shoot blaster on the market, despite a series of niggling flaws. You’ll encounter moments of beauty as you stomp through the overgrown Washington D.C., or moments so well designed you almost forget you’re in an online multiplayer RPG.

For a certain type of player, i.e. fans of tactical shooters, or anyone after a more grounded feel than is offered up by stablemates Destiny and Anthem, The Division 2 also offers a solid, and mostly plausible, contemporary setting to run around in. This is paired up with cover-based combat that is frequently challenging but offers several rewarding ways to engage with enemies.

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Strip away all of the progression and MMO systems that are weaved around the game, and The Division 2 is a highly competent third-person shooter, the likes of which are rarely made anymore. The systems can feel a little technical: tossing grenades feels like a clinical operation, and several of the new abilities need too much hand holding for my tastes, but generally, The Division 2 is a great time.

Getting around the first game’s bullet sponge problem, here many enemies will be clad in solid armour and shrug off small arms fire until you can blow through it. This is done visually, and you can clearly see the areas that have had their armour stripped away, letting you know where to shoot them. Make contact, and enemies bleed numbers, letting you know quite how much damage you’ve done.

If there’s one problem with The Division 2’s combat, it’s the addition of charging enemies, who try to get in close and deliver a savage close combat attack. As a tactical problem, this works well. Cover is king in The Division 2, so anyone that comes to upend that is great. However, the way you lock to cover means that actually evading their attacks is quite fiddly, and it can be incredibly frustrating to be beat down as you flail between cover desperately.

Each of the four factions in The Division 2 will assault you with different tactics. The Hyenas are raiders, hitting hard using improvised weaponry and guerilla tactics. The True Sons are alt-right goons, using military weapons, tactics and training to try and flush you out. Rounding out the original three factions are the Outcasts, religious zealots who have a thing for fire and suicidal assaults.

After you finish the main game, the Black Tusk appear. These feel a lot like some sort of well-equipped mercenary outfit, and as soon as you finish the main storyline these guys appear a lot. They invade previous missions, assault your captured strongholds and generally get in the way. In terms of tactics, they are the only people on the ground in Washington D.C. to have better technology than the player, and in addition to vicious firepower they’ll hunt you down with drones and even armoured robot hounds, similar to real-world Boston Dynamics robot the SpotMini, except with an autocannon strapped to its back.

The Division 2 has a bit of a cliche problem. The story is forgettable tripe about a clandestine military force called the Strategic Homeland Division, or The Division for short, full of sleeper agents ready to rise up, arm themselves and kick ass to help first responders and the U.S. government restore order in the event of a crisis.

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In the previous game, set in New York midway through the Green Flu crisis that has destroyed America, this made sense. New York was a city on the brink, down but not completely out. The politics of blasting through low-rate thugs and looters was all over the place, but at least it made sense.

Cut to Washington, D.C., six months later. The government has largely collapsed, law and order has eroded. Yet, you’re still running around blasting ‘the bad guys’ while helping ‘the good guys’ to establish settlements. I found myself frequently asking myself why, and what sort of authority you had. This won’t bother many people, but it’s played completely straight here and makes very little actual sense.

The story is nonsense, but the pro-gun ‘Only a man with a gun can save society’ message is politically a little grim. You’re not shooting looters anymore, as was the case with the original game, but only because they’ve adopted the name Hyenas instead.

There’s enough technobabble in here about EMP devices, weird S.H.D. technology or the S.H.D. network you spend a lot of the game trying to get online to keep fans of Tom Clancy’s particular brand of technological military fetishism happy, but if you stop too think too hard about any of it, it falls apart.

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This is a shame, because Washington D.C., the fictionalised overgrown city that serves as the game’s open world, is an incredible achievement. Wandering the city is engaging due to the dense cityscape itself, which uses verticality and some smart detailing in combination with the remarkable agility the game bestows on characters to open up plenty of flanking routes but also shortcuts for ducking around the city, too.

Several months after the epidemic, the city is overgrown, and no one has bothered to clean up the Christmas mess, meaning presents, tinsel and even a few wintry animals are hidden in the middle of the humid summer.

When it works, it’s almost like starring in a shootout from Michael Mann action thriller Heat, with detritus flying as you and three friends bound from cover to cover, covering each other and flanking as you try to survive waves of enemies.

This feeling doesn’t move as you duck into The Division’s campaign. The missions, the parts that you’ll run through again and again, are smartly designed and visually a treat. An early mission in the View Point Museum is full of military iconography, with video screens pumping out the sort of MAGA baiting nonsense that you would expect from a bunch of paramilitary warlords making the most of the end of the world, and indeed, the True Sons are here to be shot amongst the vivid lighting and iconography. Later, you’ll visit the space museum and fight through a diorama of Mars, or help a VIP escape from an atrium by laying down covering fire as an attack helicopter saws a hole in the roof with heavy calibre weaponry.

I played the original The Division, and the missions on offer here in the sequel are a real step up. It feels like the team has been supported more and given the time they need to really put thought and effort into the game, and this shines through in the missions. Again, the end-game for these games focuses on re-running these missions again and again, so the news that they are actually fun (and that they’re visually a bit more interesting than snow and office buildings) is welcome.

The structure is still weak as you’re often shooting your way up or through a building toward a final confrontation with a named enemy. But you often won’t begrudge the time you’ve spent. A randomised weather system can make all the difference to each playthrough, as an outside sniping section can turn into a close-range slaughter in the fog, enemies rushing out at you from feet away without any forewarning. It adds to the atmosphere, but it’s also engaging

What I can’t comment on yet is the endgame, which is why the review is still marked as in-progress. Myself and several other Trusted Reviews staffers have now finished the game and reached max level. When this happens, the Black Tusk kick in the door and the game seems to start fresh with the PMC faction running around undoing all of your hard work. They’ve also “invaded” several missions, although I’ve yet to get a chance to run through these.

Reaching Level 30 does give you a few perks straight out of the gate though as you’re given access to specialisations, tech trees which allow you to choose what sort of class you wish to play as, in addition to giving you access to powerful weaponry like a crossbow with explosive bolts. Again, I haven’t seen the big effect this has, but it sure is fun to hit an enemy with an explosive-tipped crossbow bolt and watch as they explode a group of their friends.

The class system also offers a bit more diversity, as the perk and gear system in the game up until that stage is the same for every character, with every mod and perk accessible by everyone. As a result, characters can feel homogenous, and this specialisation talent offers a bit of extra flair. There are three in the game at launch: demolitionist, sharpshooter and survivalist. You can easily switch between the three and each of them have their own independent levels, represented by points you can invest into skills. As a result, you don’t need to level up separate characters as you can quickly switch between specialisms and loadouts.

The game’s Dark Zone and Conflict, both PvP areas, suffer from many of the problems of the first game. Here, shotguns rule supreme, and there’s a distinct player vs player meta feel that means players down to brawl will walk all over those who are just mopping up the AI.

I quickly bounced out of Conflict, and I’m not sure if I’d go back again. However, the Dark Zone is crucial for progress and has its own upgrade web letting you gain levels, perks and worth-the-risk loot drops to keep you coming back. Luckily, if any one player steps too far out of line, a DZ-wide manhunt will start, calling active agents from across the map to bring the bad guys to lead-based justice.

Where we’re leaving it, I’ve put 100 hours into the Division 2. The single player campaign is finished, and I’m making good progress on the endgame, which features a lot of unique Black Tusk missions, repurposing the same maps you adventured through the first time, but with different layouts and different story beats. There’s a lot here, and I feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface, but this is the way that MMO games work.

I can say for sure: The Division 2 is worth the price of admission. Get a few friends, cowboy up and enjoy the ride.

Verdict

The Division 2 is an excellent shared-world shooter and a how-to guide for big franchises looking to make a sequel.

The post The Division 2 Review appeared first on Trusted Reviews.

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What is the Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One?

The T.Flight Hotas One (“Hotas” stands for hands-on throttle and stick) is an entry-level joystick and throttle for flight sims that’s compatible with both Xbox and PC. The price is super-competitive, so don’t expect luxury features or a wealth of buttons.

The T.Flight Hotas One – Design and features

There are 15 buttons on the stick and throttle. The stick has a four and eight-way hat, as well as three buttons on the base and a twist action. The throttle has six buttons on the handle, and a rocker switch (more on this later). On the base you’ll find three more buttons.

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Each button has its name (X, Y, and so on) but is numbered, too, which is extremely handy when you’re remapping them and unsure what particular button is set-up as.

The T.Flight can be operated as a single unit or two separate ones, depending on the space available to you and personal preference. The bases join together and are secured using two screws. An Allen key is tucked away in the base of the joystick to adjust the screws.

The cable connecting the two bases winds up in the base of the throttle, so it doesn’t get in the way if you push the two bases together.

The resistance on the joystick can be adjusted using a dial on the base. The throttle’s resistance is set, but it does have a subtle notch to let you know where the midpoint of its action is. This is useful when you want to dead stop and not fly into reverse.

Sadly, neither base has an easy way to mount it to any surface, but I suspect this is because the T.Flight Hotas One isn’t aimed at the build-a-special-cockpit market. It’s a starting point  – and for that it’s good.

Ergonomics are generally decent, apart from the positioning of the Y button. It sits much further back from the other buttons, so you have to lift your hand to get at it or attempt to press it with the base of your thumb.

T.Flight Hotas One in Elite

The T.Flight Hotas One is designed to be played with Elite. So how does it work? Short answer, pretty well considering the limited buttons. The single hat switch controls the power to systems, but in combination with other buttons (X, Y, A, B), it lets you do far more advanced stuff.

On the throttle handle the rocker switch and two other buttons let you strafe side to side in combat, which is essential. Especially if you’re as bad at parking your spaceship as I am. The throttle goes from thrusting forward, to dead stop, to all engines in reverse.

Afterburner is mapped to B, and if you hold it down it does more, such as lowering the landing gear. Having those two controls (explode forward with no way to slow for a few seconds or lower your landing gear) close to each other isn’t great, but that’s a problem with the default Elite mapping, rather than joystick. You can of course re-map everything.

The controls are light, especially the stick (you can change this), but it feels pleasingly precise. If you’re coming to this stick from the standard Xbox controller, you’ll adaptquickly and definitely enjoy the game more. On the PC, everything works almost instantly.

Why buy the T.Flight Hotas One?

If you’re tempted by a Hotas setup, but don’t want to spend a fortune, this joystick is a great way to try out flight-sim controls. The button setup isn’t daunting, but you may find yourself hankering after a few more eventually. That’s when you should investigate Saitek’s X52 or the Thrustmaster T16000m. Or, if you’re feeling flush, Thrustmaster Hotas Warthog.

Verdict

Essentially, this is a weirdly shaped Xbox controller for playing flight sims, and for that the Hotas One does well. It’s a good way to try out Hotas for less than the cost of a set of Joy-Cons for the Switch. But if you’re buying it just for use with the Xbox, check to see your game is supported first.

The post Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One Review appeared first on Trusted Reviews.

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Updated: we’ve finally had a chance to play with the Samsung Galaxy Fold ahead of its impending May 3 UK release date. Here’s everything we thought, including price and features.

Update: Samsung Galaxy Fold delayed

A week before the Samsung Galaxy Fold was supposed to launch the Korean company has officially delayed the brand’s first foldable phone.

This all stemmed from issues with review units and specifically problems with the display. We’ve got a full in-depth look at the Galaxy Fold problems and we’ll be updating that if any more issues arise.

Samsung has said it will announce a new release date for the Fold in the ‘coming weeks’.

Below you’ll find our initial impressions of the device after playing with the phone for a couple of hours.

Samsung Galaxy Fold hands on

A few months have passed since the Galaxy Fold was announced alongside the Galaxy S10 and a week before the Huawei Mate X, kicking off the foldable phone future in the process.

• Read our Samsung Galaxy S10 review

Samsung Galaxy Fold Design and Screen – What’s it like to use?

I spent about an hour playing with the Galaxy Fold during a Samsung briefing event in London and while I don’t think it does everything right, it has certainly got me excited about the uses foldable phones can offer – even if this does feel like a true first-gen product. We should point out we did not have long enough to confirm reports of breaking screens ourselves.

The first thing you’ll notice is how well built it is (ironically). The folding motion is smooth and clicks into place; it feels thoroughly satisfying and I couldn’t help but just sit there folding and unfolding it multiple times, staring at how unique a flexible display looks. How well it lasts over time, of course, should be of concern, especially when the price is within touching distance of £2000/$2000, but Samsung seemed confident, proclaiming that the Fold is a device that’s built to last.

• Read our Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus review
• Read our Samsung Galaxy S10e review

The Galaxy Fold packs two screens: a 4.6-inch, HD+ Super AMOLED outer display with a 21:9 aspect ratio, and a 7.3-inch, QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED inner “Infinity Flex” display with a 4.2:3 aspect ratio. The Fold opens up like a book, and when closed it essentially looks like two phones stuck together. It feels like it too, and you’ll notice it’s much bulkier in a pocket than pretty much any other flagship phone.

We’ve finally folded the Samsung Galaxy Fold! @SamsungUK pic.twitter.com/JwQwY9MJqm

— Trusted Reviews (@trustedreviews) April 15, 2019

Holding the Fold when it’s closed isn’t what I was expecting at all. The small outer screen is tiny by today’s standards and it has a comically large top and chin. Thing is, it’s so narrow and easy to hold I can see this being used solely for checking the odd message, taking a call and keeping an eye on your route. Almost every other action will likely be done with the phone open. This clearly isn’t the ideal look Samsung is going for, though, and really feels like a sacrifice that had to be made for this first-generation product.

The near-square display is most comparable to an iPad Mini – broken only be a very annoying notch towards the right side – and anything you’re looking at on the front screen mirrors to the larger panel when you open the phone up. If you’ve got Google Maps open and you unfold the device then it instantly switches the big screen without any fuss or lag.

The 4:3 aspect ratio isn’t ideal for video, however, it’s great for browsing and reading. Samsung’s tweaked its multitasking software heavily here and as a result you can keep three windows open at once. As an example, I had a web page taking up half the panel, a YouTube video boxed out in the lower right and a notepad nestled in at the top.

The idea that I can unfurl the Fold when I am sitting on the train or bus without getting another device out is arguably the one killer reason for foldable as a class of device. I’d say Samsung wants the Fold to replace both a tablet and phone and in some ways it works. The problem is that the biggest sacrifice feels like the phone part.

One slight issue with the display, and I am not yet sure whether or not this will be obvious in normal use, is the very visible fold line down the middle. Look at the screen directly and you’ll likely miss it; a glance from an off-axis angle and the crease left by the fold line becomes very obvious.

• Read our Huawei P30 Pro review

The hype surrounding the Fold felt like it dipped as soon as Huawei launched the equally foldable Mate X. The Mate X’s single screen folds outwards, as opposed to two external and internal screens on the Fold, and the whole way it fits together feels so much more complete than the Fold as a result. I could see myself jumping straight into using the Mate X, while I think they’ll be some major adjustments needed to help with the Fold feel familiar.

• Read our Huawei Mate X review: hands on

Samsung Galaxy Fold − Specs, camera and features

The Galaxy Fold might be all about the design and the completely different form-factor but that’s not to say this isn’t going to stand out as one of the most specced-out smartphones of 2019.

Inside you’ll find a Snapdragon 855 chipset across all regions and a whopping 12GB of RAM, as well as 512GB of internal storage. That large amount of RAM is needed to ensure multiple windows can be kept open without running into any issues.

There’s not one but two batteries − one on each half − that will work in tandem. Samsung says the Fold’s total battery capacity is 4380mAh which feels a little on the small side if I’m being honest. There’s a seriously large amount of phone here that needs powering and if the Fold has the same endurance issues as the Galaxy S10, then getting through a whole day without additional charge time might be an issue. Again, first-gen products tend to have obvious issues and battery life could very well be one here.

The Galaxy Fold can be used to wirelessly charge another device via Wireless PowerShare. AKG-tuned speakers are on board, too, as well as UFS 3.0 support. There’s no microSD card slot, however, and the fingerprint scanner is a physical unit on the side rather than the in-display variety. Having disliked the ultrasonic sensor on the S10 and enjoying the side-mounted one on the S10e this feels like more of an upgrade than a sacrifice.

You’ll find six cameras dotted about the Fold. On the rear there’s a 16-megapixel, f/2.2 ultra-wide camera, a 12-megapixel wide-angle camera and a 12-megapixel telephoto sensor; on the inside is a 10-megapixel f/2.2 camera and an 8-megapixel f/1.9 RGB depth camera; on the front sits a 10-megapixel f/2.2 sensor.

Optically things are mostly the same as the S10 and one would assume the pictures will look pretty similar too.

Samsung Galaxy Fold – Price and release date

The Galaxy Fold was originally supposed to be released on April 26 in the US and May 3 in the UK. This is no longer the case as Samsung has delayed release. We’ll update this page when we know more about a new release date.

Samsung will throw in the new Galaxy Buds and a Kevlar case as freebies to Fold buyers.

The post Samsung Galaxy Fold appeared first on Trusted Reviews.

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Updated: Still a great choice for £140

What is the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti?

The Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti is the card that perhaps best represents the progress that Nvidia has made with its Pascal architecture this year. A supremely efficient yet Full HD-capable card for under £150 represents incredible value and will slot nicely into pretty much any system that needs an affordable gaming performance boost.

While it might not have the outright power of the more exciting GTX cards released in 2016, its bang-for-buck ratio is undeniable.

Updated: Since our original review, Nvidia has launched the GTX 1660 Ti. While it’s approximately £100 more expensive, the price jump is justified with the graphics card being optimised for modern gaming as well as battle royale titles such as Fortnite and Apex Legends. If you’ve got the extra money, Trusted Reviews recommends going for the GTX 1660 Ti, but the GTX 1050 Ti remains a fine choice at its current price of around £140.

Related: Best graphics card deals

Our original review from October 2016, Michael Passingham, continues:

Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti – Specs and Technology

The model on test here is MSI’s Afterburner edition. Rival card manufacturers will all use roughly the same form factor, creating single-slot, PCI-Express-powered cards that will fit into compact and low-cost builds. Perhaps more importantly,  the 1050 Ti is also pitched perfectly at gamers who are using a desktop PC with no graphics card at all. As long as there’s room in the case and a PCI-E slot on the motherboard, you’re good to go.

The 1050 Ti chip is based on Nvidia’s Pascal GPU design, a recipe that’s already created a potent 2016 lineup for Nvidia that includes the GTX 1080, 1070 and 1060. It’s the first card in Nvidia’s 2016 range that doesn’t support VR gameplay; you’ll need the GTX 1060 to do this.

You get 768 CUDA cores alongside a base clock speed of 1,290MHz and a maximum boost clock of 1,392MHz. There’s a full 4GB of GDDR5 memoryrunning at 7,000MHz and a 128-bit memory bus.

The GTX 1050 Ti uses the same GP107 chip as the base-level GTX 1050, but the two are configured differently. The 1050 has fewer CUDA cores, but they’re tuned to a higher clock speed. The 1050 is also limited to 2GB of memory and comes in at £115. Update: I’ve now reviewed the GTX 1050, so click through to take a look at my review.

The 1050 Ti  has a maximum thermal design power (TDP) of 75W; there won’t be room for any extra, because there’s no PCI-E power connector on the card drawing power from the PSU. All the power the GTX 1050 Ti requires can be drawn directly from the PCI-E slot.

Related: Best Graphics Cards

In the current GPU landscape, the 1050 Ti is set a long way apart from key rival AMD, both in terms of pricing and expected performance.

It’s between £30 and £40 less expensive than a base model AMD Radeon RX 470, which can be as cheap as £164.99 – if you snag a special offer. It’s between £30 and £40 more expensive than the RX 460, which is targeted firmly at twitchy, lower-end games such as Overwatch and DoTA played at Full HD resolution. I’ve yet to conduct a full review of the RX 460, but on the following page I’ve included preliminary benchmarks for comparison.

The 1050 Ti sits by itself in the market and is best viewed as the budget option for AAA games played at Full HD. Whether or not you’ll be able to max out your graphics settings depends on how low you like your frame rates, but there’s no game on the market right now that the 1050 Ti won’t cater for.

On the rear of the card on review you get a single HDMI, DisplayPort and DVI connector.

 

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What is the Poké Ball Plus?

Launching alongside Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu and Let’s Go, Eevee, the Poké Ball Plus is a peripheral designed to tug at your childhood heartstrings. It’s like Nintendo and Game Freak jumped inside their games and came away with a real life Poke Ball for us to use. Despite the wholesome whimsy we associate with it, the device isn’t without its flaws.

You can play the Nintendo Switch RPG in its entirety with the Poké Ball Plus, holding it in one hand while using the agile thumbstick and inconsistent motion controls. However, it can be finicky to use in some areas, making it easier to play in handheld mode for the most seamless experience.

That being said, is this fancy peripheral worth the rather steep asking price, or should you stick with the Switch’s standard control methods?

Related: Best Nintendo Switch Games

Poké Ball Plus Controls – How does it play?

Designed with both young and old players in mind, the Poké Ball Plus can feel rather small in some hands, my own included. However, even after several hours of play it never resulted in irritable cramp or similar problems. The controller thumbstick is located in the middle, also acts as the A Button for selecting commands and navigating menus with a light click.

It’s really intuitive and easy to understand, complimented further by how sturdy the entire device feels in the hand. A larger, somewhat more obvious input is featured on its top, acts as your B Button. Finally, giving the controller a shake equates to pressing the Y Button used to immediately get Pikachu or Eevee’s attention while roaming Kanto.

Buy now: Poké Ball Plus for just £39.99 at Very.co.uk – Lowest Price Yet

I was worried that the motion input would be finicky and unreliable, but it worked pretty much every time I used it, although I did look a bit silly shaking a plastic ball in my hand while on the train. Sadly, other uses of motion control aren’t nearly as a painless, and are oftentimes frustrating.

While you’ll rarely need to move the Poké Ball Plus around to aim your balls while catching creatures, you will need to use a Wii-style pointer to stroke, play with and get along with your Pikachu/Eevee. The controls are very imprecise at times, and feel far too sensitive to ever be satisfying. The touch-screen method in portable mode is the best alternative, especially since this is such a key part of Let’s Go.

One major negative here is the distinct lack of a home or capture button. This makes it difficult to take screenshots of your adventure without having another joy-con nearby, which is what I resorted to during my playthrough. It’s an unfortunate compromise, although having the small ball littered with buttons would be equally unpleasant.

Related: Upcoming Nintendo Switch Games

Poké Ball Plus Audio – How does it sound?

Obviously, you aren’t getting amazing audio out of such a little thing, but the audio it does emit is lovingly nostalgic. Every time you catch a Pokémon its classic sound effect will emit from the ball, indicating it’s been caught and now belongs to you. In contrast, if they manage to escape you’ll be met with a harsh response from the Poké Ball Plus.

It’s not integral to the gaming experience in Pokémon Let’s Go, but it does serve to increase immersion is a way that is incredibly charming, particular for fans of older RPG entries. If you’re a newcomer, many of the great parts of Pokémon GO are also present in the Poké Ball Plus such the different colour lights surround the thumbstick. Successfully catch a Pokemon and it’ll flash a friendly yellow, while a failure results in a violent red flash. 

Why buy the Poké Ball Plus?

The Poké Ball Plus is a great bit of kit, and arguably essential for hardcore Pokémon fans eager to grow their collection. But, it isn’t required for Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu and Eevee, and thus it’s difficult to wholeheartedly recommend at the £49.99 price point.

That being said, it remains an excellent way to experience Pokémon: Let’s Go if you’re willing to make the investment, and certainly something we’re happy to have on our gaming shelves.

Verdict

An essential for hardcore Pokémon fans.

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Samsung Galaxy A80 is the brand’s slightly riskier take on the Galaxy S10. It’s one of the most ‘different’ Samsung phones we’ve seen in a long time and could be an interesting look what see flagships looking like in the future.

However, it seems that’s far from the case and during Milan Design Week the Korean company unveiled a host of new A Series devices, headlined by the seriously interesting Samsung Galaxy A80.

If you thought the Galaxy S10 played it somewhat safe with its iterative design then you might be interested in the A80, as it’s far more of a risk-taker.

• Read our Samsung Galaxy S10 review
• Read our Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus review

The A80 is Samsung’s first truly all-screen phone. There’s no pill-shaped Infinity-O cutout, no notch and practically no bezel. Instead, Samsung has combined the slide up mechanism we saw on the Oppo Find X with a clever rotating camera system to make a phone that should be an absolute must-have for selfie lovers.

Instead of having a camera on the front and the back, the A80 just has sensors on its rear. There’s a main f/2.0 48-megapixel camera paired with both an 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera and a 3D ToF (time of flight) sensor for gauging depth. The killer trick is that the whole camera module can rotate, letting you take the same pictures, whether you’re capturing yourself or something in front of you.

It’s a clever, almost futuristic trick that ensures your selfies don’t suffer due to lesser camera components on the front. Of course, I haven’t had a long enough time with the A80 to properly judge how well the camera performs but there are a lot of megapixels to play with here.

Ridding the phone completely of a notch gives an uninterrupted view of your content and the Super AMOLED display here looks great. It measures a whopping 6.7-inches – matching the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G – and packs in FHD+ resolution. That resolution might not be the highest but Samsung’s OLEDs remains vividly bright and seriously colourful.

An obvious issue does appear though and I’ve had this concern with all slider phones so far: durability. I can’t imagine this coping well with a drop on a hard surface and once the sliding mechanism fails, the phone will likely become unusable. Long-term use also raises the question of how well the mechanism will last 2/3 years down the line.

Even with the seriously slim bezel, a 6.7-inch phone is never going to be on the small side. The A80 is a big phone, made even bigger by the protruding slider mechanism. It’s heavy too, and slightly uncomfortable to grip without properly holding on with two hands.

Related: Best Samsung phones

Samsung’s A Series tends to sit below the flagship S Series and while that remains the case here the A80 still packs plenty of oomph. There’s an octa-core processor – likely one of Samsung’s own Exynos chipsets – paired with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. You’ve got an embedded fingerprint scanner inside the display too, however, Samsung reps weren’t able to confirm whether this was the same unit as the one in the S10.

Keeping the phone (hopefully) running all day is a 3700mAh battery – that’s larger than both the S10 and S10 Plus – along with 25W fast charging via the USB-C port. Fast charging is always nice and this is actually faster than you’ll find on the S10.

So far, so good. However, the A80 does fall short in a couple of areas. There’s no microSD expandable storage, for example, and Samsung has finally ditched the 3.5mm headphone jack. It also seems that a move to a sliding body has forfeited any sort of IP rating for water resistance.

After playing with the A80 for little over an hour it seems like Samsung is using it as a testing ground for new features it might eventually deem worthy enough of gracing its flagship line with. The rotating camera is a cool idea and including things like Super Fast charging and a ToF sensor makes me think that they were odd omissions on the S10, especially as that is meant to be the brand’s hero device.

There’s no confirmed pricing yet, but expect to see the phone available on May 29.

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There’s a moment in every action game where everything just clicks. In Devil May Cry 5, my fumbling button presses suddenly transformed into extraordinary combos that saw enemies thrust into the air before eating a gauntlet of bullets from my demonic revolver. As all of this happens, the game punches up a grade on the screen, and the accompanying guitar riff shows that, in this moment, I’m badass incarnate.

It can take a while, as Hideaki Itsuno’s latest entry in the Devil May Cry hack ‘n’ slash series requires you to memorise and chain together different skills for maximum style. But once you’re on solid footing, it’s immensely satisfying watching hordes of demons dissolve into viscera in front of you – only for them to beat you to pulp once you surpass Devil Hunter difficulty.

Whatever your cup of tea, Capcom has brought Devil May Cry back into the limelight with an excellent new instalment. The goofy, juvenile escapades of Dante and friends have proven themselves timeless, even if underworld threatens to overthrow them a few times along the way.

Related: Best PS4 Games

For the newcomers amongst you, Devil May Cry 5 does expect you to be familiar with a wide range of characters and the series’ past mythology, but that isn’t to say it’s hard to follow. It’s a simple tale of good and evil battling it out, and the ‘History of DMC’ option in the main menu does an exquisite job of helping potential newcomers get up to speed.

Taking place after the events of Devil May Cry 4, Dante and Nero find themselves working alongside newcomer V to battle a mysterious villain named Urizen. Red Grave City has become a nesting ground for demonic creatures who feed on human blood, unfortunately putting the entire populace on the menu.

After being bludgeoned to a pulp in the opening minutes, Dante is left trapped while Nero must retreat and lick his wounds. Without his trusty demon arm, Nero must make do with a mechanical Devil Breaker appendage designed by his BFF Nico. The Devil Breakers are Nero’s defining mechanics. One transforms into a flaming sword while another attachment freezes time, providing a window to whale on baddies with no consequence. Switching between the mixture in your inventory is a thrill, providing every encounter with a layer of nuance.

A heavy strike from an enemy will cause most Devil Breakers to, well, break on impact. Or, you can opt to explode them yourself with a press of the shoulder button to deal massive damage. It’s all about deftly avoiding incoming attacks and finding the perfect moment to strike, building up style ranks as you do. Don’t worry, new arms are easy to come across. Nero feels amazing to play, and could easily carry an entire game himself, except you’ve got two more to play with.

Dante, the franchise poster child, plays exactly like he did back in 2005 with Devil May Cry 3. Wielding his trusty sword Rebellion and twin firearms Ebony and Ivory, Dante is also capable of special skills across four unique categories: Swordmaster, Gunslinger, Royal Guard and Trickster.

Related: Best Xbox One Games

Of course, the devilish demon slayer has a few new tricks up his leather sleeves. Later stages see him wielding elemental nunchucks and a supernatural motorcycle that can be split into two at any moment to clobber foes.

Such versatility made Dante my personal favourite, switching between weapons instantly to splice together some otherworldly combos. Oh, and where can we buy Nero and Dante’s coats? They’re bloody fabulous.

Now we move onto V, a newcomer to the series who loves himself some gothic literature and My Chemical Romance cosplay. To be blunt, he’s the weaker link in Devil May Cry 5, but is a curious achievement in ambition when it comes to pushing out the boat of tropes the genre is known for.

Instead of getting up close and personal with the competition, V stands back and commands a trio of shadowy beasts to do his bidding. These come in the form of a Griffin, Panther and a bulking nightmare that drops down from the sky with a score of explosions. In essence, they’re treated like living, breathing weapons you command on a whim.

You’ll need to mediate your aggression, as consistently throwing your comrades into the fray will lead them to death, meaning you’ll need to hang around their corpses until they respawn. This can take a few seconds, leaving V’s vulnerable form open to attack from all angles.

Related: Best Nintendo Switch Games

Juggling offense and defense is enjoyable, but at times it feels like your wild arsenal fumbles about aimlessly instead of attacking the threats you highlight. It’s nothing major, but ruins the buttery smooth flow Nero and Dante offer in abundance. With V, you can hammer buttons and hope for the best, nullifying a lot of the charm on lower difficulties.

Despite a few niggling issues, V is still a welcome slice of variety in Devil May Cry 5. Having to re-analyse situations you previously thought mastered with new techniques is exciting, as is hanging back and watching as you command a platoon of demonic forces. He also plays a vital plot in the narrative, which is an exciting race against time across Red Grave City.

Clearly based on London, Red Grave City is a dank, industrial metropolis that has been overtaken by Urizen and his army of blood-thirsty demons. The opening levels have you sprinting through fictional parallels of Piccadilly Circus and London Bridge before descending into Red Grave Underground to battle through abandoned metro tunnels which are crawling with hostile threats.

Sadly, the pacing of Devil May Cry 5 means you don’t spend nearly enough time getting to know Red Grave City. Instead, you’ll be navigating organic towers that Urizen calls home, a H.R Giger-esque mixture of living, breathing walls and claustrophobic corridors. They grow repetitive before the end as I was begging for a bit of fresh air, or just a few more minutes to take in the streets of Red Grave.

Related: The Last of Us 2

You’d think working through countless red gates, dispatching all the enemies in sight and moving on would grow old, but Devil May Cry 5 felt so wonderful to play that any repetition fatigue was banished to the back of my mind. Every new battle is a golden opportunity to grow, encouraging experimentation with newly acquired skills from the robust upgrade system.

Stages are short enough that I’m already well into my second playthrough, realising the full potential of each character that went previously unseen. It feels like everything really comes alive in Devil May Cry 5 after the credits have rolled, encouraging you to dive into the chaos and never look back. Ample collectables that revel in creativity only made the package more appealing.

You’ll also discover a handful of secret missions which require you to complete specific objectives. These are fun excursions with worthwhile rewards, and prove to be shockingly hard to find amidst the game’s levels. Seriously, you’ll need to stop and stare for a few minutes to discover some of the later secrets.

Like me, you’ll likely be tempted to smash that new game button seconds after the credits roll, but that doesn’t mean I was entirely satisfied with the overall plot. It muddles character motivations yet concludes in a positively grin-inducing way, but feels too brief, too shallow, and too intent on paving the way for expansions and sequels instead of tying up loose ends for a satisfying conclusion.

Verdict

Much like Resident Evil 7 before it, Devil May Cry 5 carves out an exciting future for the franchise with new locations and characters that don’t just drag Capcom’s hack ‘n’ slasher into the modern generation, but carve out a spot at the head of the table, too.

Devil May Cry 5 isn’t perfect, but Hideaki Itsuno’s latest effort builds on what came before it while staying true to everything I love about Dante and friends. Consider my Devil Trigger thoroughly pulled.

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