Tech for teenagers shouldn’t come at a cost

Any parent or guardian will tell you that raising children is expensive. Aside from the living costs, the biggest expense would have to be education and all the accessories that help enhance the learning experience. While computers have been present in schools for decades, laptops play a greater role in high school. But how do you choose the right laptop that’s best suited for your teenager’s needs?

Don’t get pressured to jump on the brand-wagon

Many teens are easily influenced by name brands, and technology is no different. They don’t care about specifications, they just want the brands that “everyone else has”. It’s easy to give in to your teenager’s insistence but try not to get hung up on any pre-conceived brand preferences. As easy as it is to just buy the “popular” brand, parents often end up buying a device that doesn’t perform well in the education environment.

Good deals for under $999

At a minimum, the right laptop needs to switch easily between home and high school. You want a versatile machine that makes it easier to take notes, complete homework, submit assignments, browse the web, connect with friends and stream videos on a full HD screen. Weight, responsiveness, storage space and battery power are the features you should be looking at. 

As it will be carried around between classrooms, and bundled in backpacks with heavy schoolbooks, having a lightweight laptop is recommended. There are good thin laptop options under the $999 mark that are lightweight, including the Satellite Pro C40-H and C50-H.

Dynabook’s SatellitePro C40-H is a great fit for the school bag and priced at $999

Features you should look for in these devices include a fast core processor to ensure the machine is responsive. The processor carries out tasks or moves data as needed, so it’s important. You’ll find some laptops in this price range that come with a 10th Gen Intel® Core processor, which is good. 

Having 16GB of random access memory (RAM) will help open applications faster and run the many different software programs that allow students to create, access or present their work. Newer generations of laptops, released in the past two years, can also come with the option of an additional 512GB of storage space, which is needed to help store the many documents and creative presentations that now form part of a high school curriculum. 

Long-lasting battery power is also a must – especially with students easily forgetting cables in classrooms or at home. You’ll want something that has a lasting battery power of at least 8 hours – to cover the school day and any after-school study away from home. For those times when your teen needs to recharge its laptop in a hurry, do consider whether the machine is fast charging as this will help add reduce stress during such times.

Extras for under $1,200

If you’re looking for a laptop with features equipped for the future and more for the high school seniors, then you can still get these for under $1,200. The basics such as storage, weight, speed and battery power still count, of course. However, if your teenager is immersed in dedicated STEM subjects that have a greater focus on coding, graphic design, film creation or computer design, then you may wish to consider some extras. 

You can expect laptops in a higher price bracket to have more power and come with extra or more enhanced features. The latest release Satellite Pro C40-J and C50-J feature an 11th Gen Intel® Core processor, the new Windows 11 operating system and a faster drive.

The Dynabook Satellite Pro C50-J (left) and C40-J (right) have more powerful features suited to high school seniors

Additional benefits include a range of connectivity capabilities, enabling users to stay connected and productive wherever they might be. This not only includes Wi-Fi or Bluetooth but the ability to attach a wide range of accessories. It is now possible to have a thin portable laptop, plus set up a study desk with a monitor, keyboard, mouse and a printer without the bulk of a desktop PC. 

A multi-functional USB Type-C® port allows charge, display, connectivity and data transfer with two additional USB Type-A ports, a full-size HDMI® port (which allows your laptop to transmit compressed or uncompressed audio and visual data), and a Gigabit-LAN port (which, when connected, enables faster data transfer when needed in certain high data scenarios, such as gaming or connecting to another server). A microSD card slot accommodates additional storage needs, such as storing computer animation, computer games or short films. 

Dynabook laptops have great connectivity for attaching external screens, keyboards, mice and more

The current trend towards hybrid working means you’ll find high-definition webcams, stereo speakers and an in-built Cortana-enabled microphone. A mic/headphone slot or Bluetooth connectivity will allow your teenager to plug in or pair wireless headphones when needed.

Secure and private

With data security a major concern, newer laptops offer more than the simple user and admin password logins. Just like your smartphone, laptops allow you to sign-in via an optional fingerprint scanner and have firmware that encrypts information stored on the device to reduce the risk of data tampering. 

While laptop details will form a major part of your purchase research, you may wish to think about whether post-sales service support is available for those unexpected accidents. Likewise, what other accessories might you need? We recommend a second AC adaptor and a good protective case, however you may also need additional docks or external storage. 

We’re lucky that technology has innovated and this innovation is still affordable. Investing in the right type of laptop will be an investment in a tool to help your teenager’s high school learning experience. So, when you’re next asked to buy a brand over the best laptop suited to learning, you should weigh school needs against device types and features. 

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OPPO Find X5 takes on Nightography challenge with MariSilicon X

Relying on its own silicon in the OPPO Find X5, OPPO’s night photography credentials are out to rival the Android flagships.

Unveiled ahead of Mobile World Congress, the Find X5 series is the first to take advantage of OPPO’s MariSilicon X dedicated imaging Neural Processing Unit. Based on a 6-nm production process, the MariSilicon X is powerful enough to process RAW images in real time, as well as capture video in Night Video AI mode at 4K resolution with live preview.

Building on this, the handset packs three lenses – a 50MP main camera, accompanied by 50MP ultrawide and 13MP telephoto lenses. On the front is a 32MP selfie camera supporting Hasselblad camera modes, as part of a new three-year partnership with the legendary camera manufacturer. The “Natural Colour Calibration” initiative aims to offer more natural colours and a more refined imaging experience.

To make the most of this, the OPPO Find X5 features a 6.7-inch WQHD+ (2960×1440 resolution) 120 Hz adaptive AMOLED display. The phone features a 10-bit full-path colour management system, from capture to storage and display.

The OPPO Find X5 is built on a Snapdragon 888 power plant, while the Find X5 Pro steps up to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. The Pro also features a world-first mobile 5-axis Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) system.

Flash charging

With support for enhanced 80W SUPERVOOC flash-charging technology, the Find X5 Pro can be charged from close to empty to 50 per cent in just 12 minutes. With 50W AIRVOOC, it charges up to 100 per cent wirelessly in just 47 minutes.

At Mobile World Congress 2022, OPPO announced two breakthroughs in high-speed flash charging: 150W SUPERVOOC with Battery Health Engine (BHE) and 240W SUPERVOOC. The latter can charge a 4,500mAh battery from 1% to 100% in around 9 minutes.

BHE is powered by OPPO’s customised battery management chip and includes two key technologies: Smart Battery Health Algorithm and Battery Healing Technology. Together, they improve battery health, safety and performance by optimising the hardware and software.

OPPO has integrated BHE within the 150W SUPERVOOC flash charge technology, allowing the battery to maintain 80% of its original capacity after as many as 1,600 charge cycles – double the current industry standard.

BHE will be incorporated into most mid-to-high-end OPPO and OnePlus phones in the future. The 150W SUPERVOOC flash charge standard with BHE will debut on a OnePlus smartphone in the second quarter of this year.

More news about OPPO on GadgetGuy.

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Logitech G413 SE Mechanical Gaming Keyboard: the bare essentials (review)

6.8

With a minimalist design which wouldn’t look out of place on a business desk, the Logitech G413 SE Mechanical Gaming Keyboard sacrifices a lot in the pursuit of simplicity.

Despite the expense, many people who spend their days, or nights, in front of a computer swear by mechanical keyboards. Rather than relying on a thin membrane of sensors under the keys, a mechanical keyboard dedicates a physical switch to each key. 

The result is a keyboard that’s thicker, heavier, louder and more expensive, harking back to the look and feel of an old clickety typewriter keyboard. Even so, it’s a price that people are prepared to pay for a more robust keyboard at their fingertips.

Mechanical keyboards last a lot longer, but their real appeal is the extra precision which comes from physical switches and keys with greater “travel” – meaning they depress further before registering a keystroke. This reduces the chances of accidental keystrokes, while reliance on physical switches allows the keyboard to register more simultaneous keystrokes.

That precision really comes in handy when playing games which rely heavily on the keyboard and split-second timing. It also appeals to wordsmiths who type quickly and appreciate the satisfying feel of physical switches and greater key travel.

The Logitech G413 SE Mechanical Gaming Keyboard is designed to appeal to gamers and wordsmiths on a budget but, even at this price, its bare-bones design sacrifices too many advanced features. 

Logitech G413 SE Mechanical Gaming Keyboard details

Australian website	here
Price	$149.95 RRP
Warranty	2 years
Other	You can read other GadgetGuy Logitech news and reviews here

First impressions

Your first impressions of the Logitech G413 SE Mechanical Gaming Keyboard will depend on how familiar you are with mechanical keyboards and how important the keyboard is to your computing experience.

The minimalist design ensures that the keyboard doesn’t take up too much space on your desktop. Gaming keyboards are typically flashy PC bling, but this has an elegant black-brushed aluminium-magnesium alloy design with understated white backlit keys.

The backlit keys are handy for typing or gaming in the dark, while the matte finish ensures you don’t get glare from overhead lights in a brightly lit room. The PBT plastic keycaps add to the premium build, feeling nicer to the touch than cheaper ABS plastic.

The keyboard’s low profile design has a slight forward tilt, which you can increase with fold-out legs. There’s no wrist rest, which will disappoint some avid typists.

If you haven’t used a mechanical keyboard before, it can take some getting used to. At first it will slow you down but, with time, many people find a mechanical keyboard improves their typing speed and accuracy. It’s more of a tactile and engaging typing experience which can appeal to writers.

While the size of the keyboard is standard, the Logitech G413 SE’s actual keys are a little narrower than your typical membrane keyboard. You also need to press the keys further (actuation distance) and more firmly (actuation force), although still not as much as with some mechanical keyboards.

Likewise, there’s a loud clickety-clack compared to a membrane keyboard – which might disturb others in the middle of the night – but it’s not the loudest mechanical keyboard around. 

It’s important to note there are two models, this full-sized $149.95 Logitech G413 SE and a smaller $129.95 G413 TKL SE which lacks the dedicated number pad on the right.

Indivdual physical keyswitches make for a more robust, tactile and precise keyboard.

Logitech G413 SE Mechanical Gaming Keyboard specs

Length	435 mm
Width	127 mm
Height	36.3 mm
Weight	780 g
Keys	104
Keycaps	Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT)
Switches	Mechanical
Actuation distance	1.9 mm
Actuation force	50 g
Total travel distance	4.0 mm
Cable length	1.8 m
Connection	USB 2.0

Features

While the Logitech G413 SE Mechanical Gaming Keyboard gets the fundamentals right, it falls short when it comes to many of the features you’d expect from even an entry-level gaming keyboard.

The major disappointment for gamers is that the keyboard doesn’t work with the Logitech G Hub desktop software for accessing advanced features. Because there are no advanced features.

The biggest shortcoming is that you can’t create custom macros and assign them to the function keys, for executing complex moves with a single key press. This will be an instant deal-breaker for some gamers, especially when you consider it was a key feature of the original Logitech G413 keyboard (which you can still find online for less than this new model).

Thanks to 6-key rollover anti-ghosting, the G413 SE can accurately register up to six simultaneous key presses for executing special moves. It’s a step down from the original G413’s 26-key rollover anti-ghosting.

Likewise, the G413 SE loses the G413’s “Game Mode” (FN + F8) which disables the Windows key, so you can’t accidentally press it when playing games. Once again, a potential deal-breaker, especially when you consider the Logitech G software lets you disable any key on the original G413 when Game Mode is enabled.

Backlighting limitations 

While the new G413 SE features backlit keys, the colours of the keys aren’t changeble or programmable. For example, you can’t make the W, A, S and D keys red so they’re easy to see when playing first-person shooters.

To be fair, the original G413 lacked this, but it is pretty standard when it comes to backlit gaming keyboards. The original G413 compensated by including a keycap puller and a set of 12 “raised” caps to replace the default caps used in the WASD area, but no such like with the G413 SE.

Apart from adjusting the brightness of the keys, the G413 SE only offers two lighting options and they’re both pointless novelties. With the first option, keys shine brighter than the rest as they’re pressed. With the second, the brightness of the keys constantly fluctuates randomly.

Even if you’re not a gamer, you might be frustrated that the Logitech G413 SE lacks dedicated multimedia keys, a wrist rest and a USB port for connecting other desktop devices.

GadgetGuy’s take

The Logitech G413 SE Mechanical Gaming Keyboard lays the foundations for a great keyboard, but it abandons too many features which should be standard for a keyboard of this calibre, in this price range.

Stripping out features compared to its predecessor, in order to force you to buy a more expensive model, harks back to Logitech’s frustrating Harmony universal remote strategy which put many long-term fans offside.

Whether you’re a gamer or a wordsmith chasing the benefits of a mechanical keyboard, you’ll find alternatives with better advanced features to meet your needs.

Would I buy it?

No, I’d either shop around for the original Logitech G413 or I’d look at alternative options.

Logitech G413 SE Mechanical Gaming Keyboard: the bare essentials (review)

While it's a solid foundation, the Logitech G413 SE Mechanical Gaming Keyboard lacks the features to impress serious gamers or typists.

Features

5

Value for money

6

Performance

9

Ease of use

7

Design

7

Positives

Mechanical keyswitches

Compact, elegant design

PBT plastic keycaps

Negatives

No programmable backlighting

No Game Mode which disables keys

No USB port

6.8

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Are QR codes bad?

QR codes are having a bit of a moment, and it seems not a week goes by without a new one becoming part of everyday routines. While standing at the self-checkout recently, scanning my groceries, I noticed something that hadn’t been there before. Prominently displayed on the EFTPOS terminal was a QR code and the prompt “Use this QR to Pay”. So impulsively I scanned it with the camera on my iPhone. To my surprise, FaceID popped up. As I was wearing a mask, it didn’t recognise me (an Apple update has fixed this problem), so I entered my passcode then, hey presto, ApplePay launched and payment was immediate.

While loading my shopping into the car, I started to reflect on how blithely I scanned that QR code, despite having no idea what was going to happen. Of course, as it was an EFTPOS terminal, I was confident it would be safe, but what if it wasn’t? This QR code had the ability to instantly launch ApplePay, and if it can do that, what else could these codes do? 

Uses for QR codes

Our most common experiences with QR codes have been for things like check-in apps, setting up two-factor authentication, logging in to a streaming service, or for loyalty programs. Although they have been around for almost 30 years, QR codes are only just beginning to be widely used, spurred on by the need for contact tracing during COVID pandemic.

QR codes are now rapidly converting traditional business interactions, such as doing your grocery shopping or ordering a meal, into fast, convenient, and contactless digital ones. At my local pub, for instance, we no longer have to queue or wait to order meals. We just scan the QR code taped to the table and, voila, the menu instantly opens on our smartphones. We can pay for meals and drinks separately, and they always arrive super-promptly. We don’t have to get the attention of wait staff, remember everyone’s drink order at the bar, or figure out how to split the bill.

Contrary to what you may have heard, when you scan a regular QR code it doesn’t capture any of your personal data. Which is reassuring, because QR codes are everywhere.

Advertisers, governments, businesses, and any organisation or individual with a message to communicate can place their QR codes in public spaces where they can be scanned easily by potential customers, directing them to websites where they can purchase or find information almost instantly. It’s a much faster and more effective way of capturing attention than providing a website address or phone number that needs to be remembered or written down.

But QR codes aren’t all good news.

QR code scams

By now, most will be familiar with the dangers of internet browsing and have at some stage received persistent and annoying email or SMS messages that contain a link to a dangerous website. Well, QR codes are a new delivery method for these types of bad actors.

In Russia, for example, a phishing scam used randomly placed QR codes to automatically send a text message from the smartphone scanning it. Seems harmless, except it wasn’t any ordinary text message. It went to a premium number that billed a $6 charge to the smartphone owner.

In another example, parking meters on the streets of Austin Texas were compromised by malicious QR Codes. These meters used QR codes that, when scanned, launched a web page that allowed you to pay for your parking space with your smartphone. Things went bad when a label with a malicious QR code was stuck over the meter’s existing QR code. The malicious code took the user to a website that mimicked the official meter payment system, netting the scammers a nice windfall. The con was only uncovered once motorists started receiving fines for not paying the parking fees. 

It is clear that, for some crooks and scammers, it can be very easy to take advantage of people’s trust in a frequently used and seemingly secure method of payment.

Malicious QR codes

Apart from phishing scams, a QR code can contain malicious data in the form of a website address that can execute some nasty code. The destination it directs you to could run JavaScript that exploits software vulnerabilities on the device you are using. Since a device typically provides information to the website or the application associated with the data, like when you scan a code to check-in and it opens the government app, a lot more information than you think can be unwittingly passed directly from your device.

Malicious QR codes read by a permissive reader can put a computer or smartphone’s user’s security and privacy at risk. Known as “attagging”, short for “attack tagging” these QR codes are simple to generate (there are plenty of websites that can do this for you) and easy to disguise. On a smartphone, the permissions of the reader app, not the permissions of the user’s web browser, may be used to execute malicious code. It’s then possible for it to enable the microphone, camera and GPS on your device, then stream and store those feeds to a remote server. 

The feeds can can be analysed for sensitive data such as passwords, files, contacts and transactions, and email, SMS or IM messages sent as part of a botnet. They can corrupt privacy settings, steal your identity, and even contain malicious logic themselves such as JavaScript or a virus. All these actions can occur in the background while the user sees only the app opening a seemingly harmless web page.

What can you do?

We started this article with the question “Are QR codes bad?”, and in the same way that spam text or email messages can contain malicious links, QR codes sure can be. For the security of your personal information and the safety of your device, you should adopt the same cautious approach to QR codes as you probably already take to suspicious messages. If it doesn’t look legitimate or you don’t know or trust the source, don’t scan it.

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Logitech G435 LIGHTSPEED wireless gaming headset: maximum comfort (review)

8.4

Super lightweight and comfortable, with some sacrifice on sound quality, the Logitech G435 LIGHTSPEED wireless gaming headset is handy for both work and play.

Earbuds have their place but, if you care about sound quality, there comes a time when you’re ready to step up to the more immersive sound of over-the ear headphones – or perhaps a “headset” with a built-in microphone.

The trade-off for improved sound is that headsets can be bulky, heavy and uncomfortable to wear for extended periods. That’s obviously a problem if you spend your days on video calls and/or your evenings playing games for hours at a time.

Enter the Logitech G435 LIGHTSPEED: a wireless gaming headset which won’t weigh you down.

Review: Logitech G435 LIGHTSPEED wireless gaming headset

Australian website	here
Price	$199.95 RRP
Warranty	2 years
Other	You can read other GadgetGuy Logitech news and reviews here

While some of the colour options are aimed at youngsters, the Logitech G435 LIGHTSPEED wireless gaming headset could be a good fit for anyone.

First impressions

At 165 grams, the Logitech G435 LIGHTSPEED is an amazingly lightweight and comfortable headset. Easily adjustable sliding arms for each cup make it simple to get a good fit on your head.

Along with a lightweight design, the headset also features very soft and comfortable ear pads made from memory foam. They’re large enough that they’ll probably sit around your ears, rather than on them.

They don’t clamp uncomfortably tight on your head, but they still stay securely in place without squashing the arms of your glasses into the side of your head. The headband lacks padding, but it’s not a problem when the headset is so light. 

The memory foam ear pads breathe, so they don’t get too warm and stuffy, but they still bleed a surprising amount of sound – also partly due to the plastic design. This could annoy the person next to you.

Unlike most gaming headsets, they don’t feature a microphone arm. Instead, the headset has dual beamforming microphones built into the cups.

While they’re designed for gamers, the Black and Off-White models aren’t so ostentatious that you couldn’t wear them on a work call. They don’t have LED lights like some high-end gaming headsets.

Logitech G435 LIGHTSPEED wireless gaming headset specs

Weight	165 grams
Drivers	40 mm
Impedance	45 Ohms
Frequency	Response 20 – 20,000 Hz
Connectivity	Bluetooth
	USB dongle: Windows 10 or later, macOS X 10.14 or later, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Microphone	Dual embedded beamforming
Audio formats	Dolby Atmos, Tempest 3D AudioTech, Windows Sonic Spatial Sound
Charging	USB-C
Battery life	18 hours
Colours	Black & Neon Yellow, Blue & Raspberry and Off-White & Lilac

Features

It’s easy to get up and running thanks to the supplied USB 2.4GHz wireless dongle, offering low-latency audio when connected to your computer or a PlayStation 4/5.

Alternatively, you can pair the headset via Bluetooth to a computer, smartphone or tablet. It supports advanced audio formats like Dolby Atmos, Tempest 3D AudioTech and Windows Sonic Spatial Sound, used for multimedia and games.

You’ll find easy-to-reach power and volume controls on the back of the left cup, but unfortunately no playback controls for playing and pausing music or answering calls.

There’s also a microphone mute button, which doubles as a way to quickly switch between the USB dongle and Bluetooth – making it easy to jump between your computer and your phone.

You’ll also find a USB-C port for charging, with a USB-C to USB-A cable in the box but no AC adapter. The headset offers 18-hour playback, which is impressive considering its lightweight design which doesn’t leave much room for the built-in battery.

There’s no way to check the exact battery level, but you can get a rough indication by pressing the power button. An LED shows green if the power is above 30 per cent and red if it’s below. Under 15 per cent and the red light flashes, plus you’ll hear the occasional beep through the headset to let you know it’s time to recharge.  

Thankfully you can continue using the headset when you’re charging via USB. Keep in mind, it can’t play audio via USB and there’s no connector for a 3.5 mm analogue audio cable. So you can’t connect to an Xbox.

The G435 is also Logitech’s most sustainable gaming wireless headset. It’s certified “CarbonNeutral”, which means Logitech finances high-quality certified carbon offsets to reduce the carbon impact of the product to zero. The plastic parts include a minimum of 22 per cent post-consumer recycled content, while paper packaging comes from Forest Stewardship Council-certified forests.

All of the buttons are in easy reach behind your left ear.

Quality

While they’re not cheap at $199.95, that’s still at the low-end when it comes to gaming headphones. They’re only mid-range at best when it comes to sound quality.

Logitech G435 LIGHTSPEED wireless gaming headset holds its own when it comes to everyday listening, but audiophiles will be underwhelmed when listening to their favourite music. The sound is a tad flat and lacks some low-end punch, which you’ll notice more when watching action movies or playing explody games.

Keep in mind there’s no noise-cancelling, so you’ll still hear the world around you. The plastic design and lightweight foam doesn’t help when it comes to muffling ambient noise. 

The microphone quality is more disappointing. The beamforming does a reasonable job of turning down background noise, but not eliminating it.

The bigger issue is that, even in a quiet environment, your voice sounds slightly muffled and distant to people on the other end – as if you were talking to them on speakerphone. You can still be understood, but it’s not fantastic.

You might think this is the inevitable trade-off for forgoing a microphone arm in favour of microphones up near your ears, but it doesn’t have to be that way. For example. the Apple AirPods Pro earbuds produce significantly better voice quality, with less background noise, even though they also rely on microphones up near your ears.

The sound quality of your voice may or may not be a problem when using the headset for gaming and work calls, depending on how much time you spend talking as opposed to listening. It also depends on how discerning other people on the call are when it comes to your audio quality.

GadgetGuy’s take

As wireless gaming headphones go, the Logitech G435 LIGHTSPEED is reasonably priced, but the comfortable, lightweight design is the major selling point here. I was particularly interested in testing them because my son has always struggled to find comfortable over-the ear headphones. He can wear these for hours at a time without any trouble, which is really impressive – if you’re in the same boat, this might be the headset you’ve been looking for.

The headset’s ability to easily switch between the low-latency USB dongle and Bluetooth is also impressive at this price point. Even so, if you’re more concerned about audio quality than design or wireless flexibility, you might find better options elsewhere. 

Would I buy it?

Yes, if comfort was my primary concern.

Logitech G435 LIGHTSPEED wireless gaming headset: maximum comfort (review)

If comfort is your primary concern, then the Logitech G435 LIGHTSPEED wireless gaming headset could be a perfect fit.

Features

8

Value for money

8

Performance

7

Ease of use

9

Design

10

Positives

Lightweight

Comfortable

Bluetooth and low-latency 2.4GHz

Negatives

Average sound

No playback controls

Slightly muffled and distant microphone

8.4

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Australia ranks 7th globally for mobile download speeds

Australia’s mobile download speeds have leapt 50 per cent since the launch of 5G in 2019, seeing it rank 7th in Opensignal’s global survey.

Australians enjoyed 55.1 Mbps average user mobile download speeds in Q4 2021, according to Opensignal’s “5G impact on the global mobile network experience” report. Speeds have increased 1.5-fold since Q1 2019, before the launch of Australian 5G services.

Opensignal examines the real-world impact that 5G has had on the mobile experience. The report analysed 100 global markets, including those with and without 5G services, to understand the difference that 5G has made to date. The first commercial 5G networks launched in April 2019 in the U.S. and South Korea. 

National average speeds have broken the 100 Mbps barrier for the first time, with South Korea recording average download speeds of 129.7 Mbps at the end of 2021 – up from 52.4 Mbps at the start of 2019 before the arrival of 5G. 

Global 5G download speeds. Source: Opensignal

Markets where 5G arrived later – such as Malaysia, New Zealand and the Czech Republic – or where new wireless spectrum capacity for exclusive 5G usage is in short supply – such as Singapore – have fallen down the download speed rankings. While those markets with ample new 5G spectrum have risen, notably Finland, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, the UK and the UAE.

At peak hours, Australians have seen a modest improvement in average download speed. The country ranks 9th in the world, with speeds rising from 27.2 Mbps in 2018 to 37 Mbps in 2021 at the slowest hour of the day. 

For Games Experience, Australia ranked joint 16th with a score of 74.2 on a 100-point scale, which is significantly ahead of its nearest neighbour New Zealand. By comparison, New Zealand ranked joint 32nd, with a score of 67.3.

South Korea now tops global Games Experience with 88.5, up from 10th place at the start of 2020.

More news about 5G on GadgetGuy.

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HTC Vive Pro 2 – the ultimate consumer VR experience? (review)

7.6

HTC’s original Vive headset was a groundbreaking product that helped shape virtual reality as we know it today. But a lot has changed in five years. Facebook, now known as Meta, is dominating the VR market with the budget friendly Quest 2. This offers an engaging library of VR content, all without the need for wires or a PC. 

Coupled with its ability to serve double duty as a PC VR headset over a wire or wirelessly, Quest 2 has quickly become a popular option for PC VR users too. It accounts for more than 46 percent of the Steam VR user base. 

HTC’s latest stab at the PC VR market, the Vive Pro 2, has upped the stakes bringing some best in class displays and powerful built-in audio. But it also comes with some outdated controllers and an eye-watering price tag that should give even the most ardent VR fans some pause. 

The HTC Vive Pro 2 looks identical to its predecessor, with the main upgrade being the higher resolution display and optics

Design and comfort 

Other than a new black and purple colour scheme, the Vive Pro 2 is identical in appearance to the HTC Vive Pro, which isn’t a bad thing given how comfortable the original was. The head harness features a wide velcro strap on the top as well as a heavy padded back with a dial for tightening. The three point harness system balances the weight of the headset perfectly, making it comfortable to wear for long play sessions, while also being quick to get in and out of. 

The pair of on-ear headphones sound good but aren’t as detailed or loud as the near-field speakers found on HP Reverb G2 or the Valve Index. 

Setup can be a bit messy but that shouldn’t come as a surprise to PC VR diehards. It requires the installation of two SteamVR base stations that need to be mounted near ceiling height in opposite corners of the room as well as the running of USB and DisplayPort cables to a separate breakout box. Each of the base stations and the breakout box requires AC power as well. 

The headset is on the heavy side but is wonderfully balanced thanks to a three point harness system

Tracking tech

In return for the inconvenient setup process, you get the best possible tracking. This means that no matter where your head or the controllers move to within the playspace the tracking will remain precise and accurate. 

The Vive Pro 2 is also fully compatible with all SteamVR and Vive accessories such as the Wireless Adapter Pack that lets you use the headset with a wireless connection to your PC instead of a physical cable, and the Facial Tracker that reads facial expressions. 

Unfortunately, the full kit of the Vive Pro 2 includes the very same wand controllers that came with the original HTC Vive in 2016. They’re not nearly as ergonomic as the Oculus Touch controllers and feel archaic to use especially after experiencing the sublime Valve Index controllers bundled with the Index headset. 

Since the Vive Pro 2 uses SteamVR base stations, you could always swap them out for the Index controllers, which Valve sells separately but that’s another $500 cost on top of an already expensive headset. 

The included controllers are large, clunky and lack analogue sticks for movement. The placement of the grip buttons on the sides are also a recipe for accidental presses

Display and performance 

The biggest drawcard of the Vive Pro 2 is the 5K resolution display, which works out to be 2,488 x 2,488 pixels to each eye, with a field of view of 120 degrees and a refresh rate up to 120Hz. On paper, it’s the sharpest and widest display to grace a consumer VR headset to date but in practice there are a few notable caveats. 

Firstly, the advertised 120 degree field of view is horizontal only. It comes at the cost of the vertical field of view, which is noticeably narrower than most of its rivals. I also found I couldn’t get my eyes close enough to the lens using the built-in distance adjustment to benefit from the wider field of view. 

The other issue is that the display has a noticeably smaller sweet spot than the competition. As such, the edge clarity isn’t great and the whole screen will get blurry if the headset moves even the slightest during gameplay. 

Also, don’t be fooled by HTC’s minimum PC requirements – a low end GPU like an RTX 2060 simply isn’t going to cut it. To get the most out of the Vive Pro 2, you’ll need to make sure you have a seriously powerful PC. 

My desktop rig packs an RTX 3080 GPU and an AMD Ryzen 5900x CPU, and even with those high end components, I was struggling to run AAA VR games like Half Life Alyx and Star Wars Squadrons at the Vive Pro’s maximum resolution and refresh rate. Unless you own an absurdly powerful PC or plan to stick with less graphically demanding titles, you’d be better off with a less demanding VR headset. 

These issues aside, games like Half Life Alyx look fantastic with the higher resolution revealing a level of fine detail in environments and character models that I couldn’t see previously. Even games that you’ve played for hundreds of hours will look new and fresh, with added detail not previously noticeable.  

Similarly, using desktop PC mode in VR was more enjoyable with the sharper resolution making text easier to read.

Price and competition

The HTC Vive Pro 2 comes in two packages – a headset-only offer and a full kit bundle that adds two base stations and a pair of outdated Vive wand controllers. The basic option costs $1,299 while the full kit costs a whopping $2,198.  The Vive Pro 2 does at least support the older versions of the base stations so if you’re coming across from another Steam VR headset such as the original HTC Vive, then you can just buy the headset and save some money.

The Vive Pro 2’s closest competitor is the Valve Index which comes in at $1,899 for the full kit and includes the far superior Index controllers or $999 for the headset alone. However, availability of the Valve Index is severely limited, particularly in Australia where the sole retailer, EB Games, has paused sales since September of last year. 

The HP Reverb G2, which was developed in partnership with Valve, is a $999 headset that offers almost the same clarity as the HTC Vive Pro 2 and also sports the same off-ear headphones as the Valve Index. However, the tracking performance of the included controllers pales in comparison and they can’t be switched out for SteamVR based controllers, making it tough to recommend. 

The full kit comes with the two base stations and controllers

GadgetGuy’s take

If you’re coming from an older PC VR headset such as the original HTC Vive, then the $1,299 cost for upgrading the headset alone would be a worthwhile investment. 

Similarly, for budding VR enthusiasts who have the funds and a very powerful rig, my recommendation would be to buy the headset-only model and use the money you saved to buy the Valve Index controllers and base stations separately. The pairing of the highest visual fidelity headset with the best VR controllers would give the best possible consumer VR experience.

However, for the rest of us who don’t have a substantial amount of money to invest in a VR setup, the HTC Vive Pro 2 is simply a bridge too far.

HTC Vive Pro 2

The HTC Vive Pro 2 has best in class displays and powerful built-in audio but it also brings some outdated controllers and an eye watering price tag that should give even the most ardent VR fans some pause.

Features

8.5

Value for money

6.5

Performance

8.5

Ease of use

7

Design

7.5

Positives

5K resolution display makes VR experiences more immersive

Comfortable design

Best in class positional tracking

Works with older base stations

Ecosystem of compelling accessories

Negatives

Involved setup and installation

Outdated included controllers that hinder the experience

Narrow vertical field of view

Small visual sweet spot

Expensive

7.6

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