As of today, INNOCN is relatively unknown brand to many. Perhaps, for gamers and artists in the “known” the INNCON brand resonates but for most, it’s seemingly another random monitor manufacturer who just might be able to pull an Insignia or Vizio level of brand cache with products such as the INNOCN 27G1S.

OnMSFT got a review sample of the INNOCN 27GS1 which boasts both HDR and G-SYNC out of the box at QHD 1440P resolution and a 240Hz refresh rate panel for around $469.

The Lenovo T16 series was created to address a core need of the business audience.  The first generation of the T16 Lenovo accomplished those basic needs with a thin, light boardroom-ready laptop with a 16:10 screen, an array of Thunderbolt 4 ports, and a built-in smart card reader, all packed into a thin and light design.

Specifications and Design

Being local to one of Lenovo’s main offices I was introduced to the ThinkPad lineup in the late 1990s when given a tour of the local assembly line.  I was impressed with the build quality then and even more so more than twenty years later. The build quality caught my attention when I pulled the T16 from its packaging.  Lenovo uses an aluminum top and a Polyphenylene sulfide bottom.  These materials help create a design that’s just 0.81 inches thick and weighs just 3.9 pounds.

Lenovo took the build quality one step further and tested the laptop against 12 military-grade certification methods and over 20 procedures.  When reviewing the T16 I made it my daily driver, in a typical workday it traveled, it was taken in and out of different bags, used on various surfaces and after two months of heavy use no scratches or scuffs were made.  If your travel bag has room for the 16-inch screen the T16 should be a joy to take along for any workday.  Being this thin and light doesn’t come without some drawbacks which we will discuss later in the review.  You can see the specifications table below for all the available configuration options.

Product	ThinkPad T16 Gen 1
OS	Up to Windows 11 Pro 64 or Linux
Processor	Up to Core i7-1280P 14(6 P-Core + 8 E-Core), P-core 1.8GHz/ E-Core 1.3GHz
Graphics	Up to NVIDIA GeForce MX550 2GB GDDR6
Memory	Up to 48GB (16GB soldered + 32GB SO-DIMM) DDR4-3200
Display	16” WUXGA 16:10 (1920×1200), Anti-glare, 45% NTSC, 300 nits 16” WUXGA 16:10 (1920×1200), Anti-glare, 45% NTSC, 300 nits, Touch 16” WUXGA 16:10 (1920×1200), Anti-glare, 100% sRGB, 400 nits, Low power, Eyesafe Certified 16” WUXGA 16:10 (1920×1200), Anti-glare, 100% sRGB, 500 nits, ThinkPad Privacy Guard, Touch 16” WQXGA 16:10 (2560×1600), Anti-glare, 100%sRGB, 400 nits, Eyesafe Certified
Storage	One drive, up to 2TB M.2 2280 SSD
WLAN	Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX211 + Bluetooth 5.1
Ports	(1) USB 3.2 Gen 1 (1) USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Always On) (2) Thunderbolt 4/ USB4 40Gbps (support data transfer, Power Delivery 3.0, and DisplayPort 1.4) (1) HDMI, up to 4K/60Hz (1) Ethernet (RJ-45) (1) Headphone/microphone combo jack (3.5mm) Optional Ports: (1) Smart Card Reader (1) Nano-SIM card slot (WWAN support models)
Camera	Up to FHD 1080p + IR Camera with ThinkPad Webcam Privacy Shutter
Keyboard	6-row, spill-resistant, numeric keypad, backlit, optional LED backlight
Navigation	TrackPoint® pointing device and mylar surface multi-touch touchpad (67.6mm x 115mm/ 2.67 x 4.53 inches)
Audio	2 x 2W Stereo speakers, Dolby® Audio
Security	Discrete TPM 2.0, TCG certified, Optional Touch style fingerprint reader in power button (match-on-chip), BIOS Security- Power-on password, supervisor password, system management password, NVMe password, USB FIDO device integration, Firmware Resiliency 3.0
Battery	Up to 86Wh, Supports Rapid Charge (up to 80% in 1 hr) with 135W AC adapter
Mechanical	Starting at 361.9 x 255.5 x 20.5mm (14.25 x 10.06 x 0.81 inches) Starting at 1.769kg (3.9 lbs)
Color/Materials	Storm Grey: Aluminum top, PPS bottom / Thunder Black: PC + 20%CF + 50% GF top, PPS bottom

Experience and Performance

When thinking about the user experience with the T16 we must consider the ideal customer.  The ideal buyer would be a small business or corporation that would likely be buying multiple units.  The look and feel in this scenario has less of an impact than being able to get the job done comfortably for the user. In our testing, this is where the T16 shined its brightest.  Opening the lid, immediately seeing the smile-shaped keys, with the red TrackPoint input system in the middle offers something familiar if you’re a long-time Lenovo user, if not the purpose of the TrackPoint can be a bit confusing, it’s not for everyone.  The ample-sized, easy-click diving board-style trackpad will likely be what most users choose for input.  One thing about the keyboard deck that was a bit disappointing is the fingerprint magnet.  So, if appearance during business interactions matters to you.  Make sure you pack your cleaning cloth.

Once you’ve opened the lid and it’s time to tap the power button and get to work, you’re going to notice something right away, near silence. Lenovo really managed to tune the fan curves down on the T-16, but that doesn’t come without some drawbacks we’ll get to in a minute.  Our model came equipped with the Intel Core-I7 1240P CPU.  The 12^th generation Intel chip is what I like to call a “short sprinter” chip, it’s good for quick office tasks, compiling some code perhaps, but quickly hits its thermal limits with longer tasks under load such as simple 1080P video edits, while the fans did ramp up a bit if you are attempting some multitasking during the render process, you’d certainly see some slowdowns.

While slowdowns are typical when doing any rendering on a machine that doesn’t have a dedicated GPU, I bring this up for a specific reason.  While with most machines’ light multitasking, and rendering is certainly possible, you would observe screen flicker or a moment of the screen turning off and back on.  This would happen using the laptop screen or an external screen.  The T16 would return to normal operations when the intensive task was over. I attributed this to hitting the thermal limits of the machine.  While this doesn’t ruin the experience of using the T16, it is something prospective buyers should keep in mind.

Wrapping it Up

This is the first generation of the T16 lineup, and as expected nothing is perfect the first time.  However, Lenovo did get a lot right in this first generation. The T16 is a lightweight business machine with a 16:10 screen and ample connectivity with multiple Thunderbolt 4 ports. The 135-watt USB-C charger is a little large for a backpack but you can get 80 percent charge in just one hour, so it’s a good tradeoff when zipping between meetings or traveling.  With the proper expectations going in the first-generation T16 is a solid start opening for this lineup.  The entry-level spec of the T-16 starts just below $1200.

For anyone not privileged enough to make a living podcasting, streaming or making ASMR content, there can be gulf between the quality of recording equipment and an upfront investment necessary to get a career off the ground. Fortunately since the pandemic the emerging “affordable” market for microphones continues to produce viable alternatives such as the FIFINE AmpliGame A8Plus.

Odd naming convention aside, the A8Plus is a fun alternative to the likes of Blue Yeti, Audio-Technica and even some Sennheiser options as it offers focused cardioid, omni, and bi-directional recordings, a no-fuss setup, and an RGB lit ambience for under $50.

Look and Feel

The A8Plus looks sleek in its matte black appearance but can feel a bit chintzy next to metallic tanks such as a Blue Yeti, Shure, or Rode microphones. Fortunately, the plasticy feel works in the A8Plus’ favor for users who tend to be a bit more mobile with their recording set ups. The weight of the A8Plus is rather light and the overall surface area it takes up is relatively small as well, so users can toss it into a backpack and barely notice it is there, or plop it on desk, coffee table, kitchen counter top, set of books or dinner tray and not have to worry about their recording area feeling cramped.

Furthermore, when the A8Plus is mounted and in view of any camera its slimmer profile of the mic makes way for a fuller view of the content creator for greater interaction with viewers.

FIFINE also do a great job of packaging all the amenities necessary to get great out-of-the-box recording, such as the Suspension Shock Mount and Detachable Pop Filter being included with the purchase. Both attachments to the A8Plus come in the same matte black as the microphone and are preassembled for easy-to-use first experience for customers.

Perhaps the biggest physical selling point of the A8Plus is the RGB lighting feature which allows users to either choose or cycle through 7 color profiles. While most mics may offer a few accented lighting features around the power button, microphone status indicator or connecting port areas, the body of the A8Plus lights up entirely in vivid soft neon lighting.

Another bit of consideration FIFINE took in assembling the A8Plus is giving the microphone capacitive directional and mute buttons to help deafen any additional pops or sounds that might get picked during a recording when interacting with the device. The directional capacitive button does feel like it takes second to react to touch, so be patient or you might find yourself in an annoying selection loop for minutes when trying to change where your mic is picking up sound, the same goes for the button.

Performance

Looks aside, the sound of the A8Plus is great. It does not pack as much bass in its unfiltered recordings as I prefer but out of the box it does a good job of deadening frequencies below 200Hz to prevent the pickup of excess movements around the microphone, as well as softening the sibilance in speech. The harsh “S” test proved a piece of cake for the A8Plus, saving me from any post-production editing necessary to flatten out the peaks when s-sounding words were picked up.

The A8Plus also did well with “plosen” test where “P” pronunciations, when not properly flattened, can blow out the sound for audiences listening with headphones. Typically, I run to my hard-limiter and Equalization settings in Adobe Audition once I’m done recording a session with a standard Blue Yeti microphone and I found myself not having to bother with those settings with the A8Plus.

For gamers, the A8Plus does pick up keyboard clicks, but tends to do a good job of muting controller-based noise. While keyboard clicks are picked up from the back of the microphone when its place around 5 to 6 inches away from the desk, voices are pronounced and clearer than the background noise.

When testing the off-axis mic pick up, the left and right side of the microphone do an excellent job of noise rejection when voices are picked up dead on, but when attempting to record from the top of the microphone can sound muddled, be aware of mic placement before recording.

Summary

With a few pre-recording tweaks in any recording software the A8Plus can pass for a $300 plus microphone as far as audio output. Out of the box it’s great for conferencing meetings and podcasting. For streaming games and more audience interactions, noise rejection, directional audio pickup and pop filter often exceed the performance of similarly priced microphones.

The only shortcomings of the A8Plus that I can nitpick about are the length of the USB-C cord, the sensitivity of the capacity buttons, where the color change button is too sensitive while the directional control almost feels timed, and lastly that FIFINE should include more mounting accessory options. While the A8Plus does offer a passable desktop stand, FIFINE might do better with providing several mounting elbows instead. However, I get that straight out of the box, customers can plug-and-play right away.

For less than $50, most recording enthusiasts would be hard pressed to find a better deal to start their next hobby or career.

The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 G1 is marketed as a mobile workstation, and the 2.9kg/ 6.5lbs laptop definitely stretches that notion, but offers a modern design with enough performance to almost negate its bulky portability.

Look and feel

Red piping.

The first thing that will stand out to most users will mostly likely be the red piping that adorns the back venting grill of the Lenovo P16 G1 which gives this new enterprise workstation a gamer-like look and feel. Lenovo typically adds a few splashes of red to their ThinkPad devices be it a red nipple cursor, red light hidden within the logo or other subtle implementations, and with the P16 G1 the red piping on the back adds yet another area where Lenovo is looking to expand its accenting.

The other noticeable design change to the P16 last year was a new slate grey color finish that livens up the device from its previous matte black option. The “Storm Grey” still comes with the traditional velvety coating of most ThinkPad lineups but because of the color choice, fingerprint grease is much harder to detect from normal use.

Lenovo also rounded the back and bottom corners of the P16 G1 last year making it nicer to hold in the hand when picking it up to transport.

Despite feeling like a tank in hand, the P16 does use a fiber glass plastic to coat the magnesium frame of the P16 to reduce what weight it can.

Lenovo has thinned out the bezels that surround its new display as well as encased the area in a magnesium roll cage for additional stability and rigidity over the previous P15 and P17 models.

Lenovo continues to equip its laptops with a manual shutter on its FHD IR camera paired with a standard microphone array for decent in-a-pinch video conferencing situations.

As for the functional design of the laptop, the P16 unfortunately brings over similar venting issues as with many performance PCs which grate the bottom of the laptop to help push out excess air. Despite a bit of lift from the rubber bumpers on the bottom the air and head being expelled from the laptop doesn’t always feel efficient or pleasant when using the workstation on anything other than a desk. Admittedly, the tank like build of the P16 also doesn’t inspire a lot of mobility use for the average customer.

As far as ports go, the P16 has the full suite of connectivity to offer with USB-C thunderbolt, USB-A, smart card, nano Sim, (relatively slow) SD card reader, full HDMI and headphone/mic combo. The only port to get cut between previous models and the latest device is the ethernet port, which could be an issue for a few customers who regularly look to have secure wired connections when doing onsite work for outside partners or businesses.

Lastly, the P16 offers up to four different screen options, all with bumped up specs that support Dolby Vision and Adobe calibrations. OnMSFT.com was given the OLED model with boosted brightness and HDR support.

Performance

The performance of the ThinkPad P16 is CPU heavy despite having a dedicated Nvidia RTX A2000 GPU placed inside. The 12th Gen Intel Core processor placed inside punches above its weight in most benchmarking and in less GPU intensive programs. The core distribution involving 24 threads hyperthreading in the HX55 series does a great job of keeping processes in memory state snappy and responsive at most times.

When comparing the P16 to similarly built workstations, the P16 outperforms the Dell Precision 7670 regularly in tasks as well as ThinkPad X1 Extreme, if customers were looking to stay within brands. As with most workstations, the P16 performs best when connected to a power supply and can lose up to 20% of its performance when unplugged, along with battery life.

When switching over to GPU intensive tasks such as virtualization, simulations, machine learning, video editing or engineering, the onboard Nvidia RTX A2000 performs at entry-levels, putting it nicely.

Perhaps, due to hyper-caution implemented with the Lenovo Vantage OS modulating software, the GPU ceiling performs at a much lower ceiling and executes cycles much slower than current on-the-shelves devices. The GPU in the P16 isn’t bad per say, but when considering the improved thermals in the P16 and large enough chassis, it’s a shame Lenovo doesn’t seem bothered to squeeze more performance out of its GPU choice.

Summary

In real world usage however, the P16 typically runs circles around my data processing-heavy workload. Even Office 365, with its ever-increasing GPU dependence, outperformed other slimmer laptops I’ve tested.

Thanks in part to the ECC SSD onboard switching between cold apps and recent ones was smooth, there wasn’t a time that CPU-led processes ever bottlenecked, and for the most part, GPU tasks performed admirably.

However, the choice of an Nvidia RTZ A2000 seems to be a compromise I can’t figure out. Perhaps it has to do with the wattage choice and power consumption architecture or pricing but the A2000 is already a somewhat problematic GPU and to stuff it into a portable workstation such as the P16 remains a headscratcher.

For all other computer related tasks, the P16 is good. Watching videos on the new OLED screen was a pleasure and gaming non-4K content was also a decent experience as long as the titles were developed relatively recently.

At best, the P16 becomes the new large screen-sweet spot for mobile workstations for Lenovo as it handles data processing like a champ, however, at worst, an employee’s computational may become capped to specific tasks depsite easy access to memory expansion. Moving from exporting macro-heavy Excel reports and analysis to experimenting with virtualization or machine learning models will require two devices instead of the one P16.

Microsoft’s Surface Pro 9 could be easily mistaken for the Pro 8 when the company’s flagship computer adopted a refined aesthetic with the Surface Pro X back in 2019. Since 2019, Microsoft has made a few tweaks to the Surface Pro line, such as omitting the audio jack, updating the panels refresh rate, adding USB-C ports, and adding upgradable memory options, but the biggest change came when the company consolidated its branding and marketing efforts last year.

Instead of forging forward with both a separate ARM-based Pro X line and an Intel-powered Pro line, the company combined the two lines under a unified design and name creating the Surface Pro 9. Customers can purchase either an Intel or ARM based version of the Surface Pro 9, and both come with different feature sets and their own set of compromises.

OnMSFT got its hands on the Intel based model for this review.

Specs
	Surface Pro 8	Surface Pro 9
Processor	Quad-core 11th Gen Intel® Core i5-1135G7 Processor Quad-core 11th Gen Intel® Core i7-1185G7 Processor i5 and i7 options with storage 256GB and above built on the Intel® Evo platform	Surface Pro 9: 12th Gen Intel® Core i5-1235U processor 12th Gen Intel® Core i7-1255U processor Options with storage 256 GB and above built on the Intel® Evo platformSurface Pro 9 with 5G: Microsoft SQ® 3 processor Neural Processing Unit (NPU)
Operating System	Windows 10 Home in S mode² Microsoft 365 Family 30-day trial	Windows 11 Home Preloaded Microsoft 365 Apps5 Microsoft 365 Family 1- month trial6 Preloaded Xbox App Xbox Game Pass Ultimate 1-month trial7
Display	Screen: 13” PixelSense Flow Display Resolution: 2880 x 1920 (267 PPI) Up to 120Hz refresh rate (60Hz default) Aspect ratio: 3:2 Adaptive Color Touch: 10-point multi-touch GPU Ink Acceleration Dolby Vision® support3	Surface Pro 9 (Intel/Wifi): Screen: 13” PixelSense Flow Display Resolution: 2880 X 1920 (267 PPI) Color profile: sRGB and Vivid Refresh rate up to 120Hz (Dynamic refresh rate supported) Aspect ratio: 3:2 Contrast ratio: 1200:1 Adaptive Color Auto Color Management supported Touch: 10-point multi-touch Dolby Vision IQ support17 Gorilla® Glass 5Surface Pro 9 (SQ® 3/5G): Screen: 13” PixelSense Flow Display Resolution: 2880 X 1920 (267 PPI) Color profile: sRGB and Vivid Dynamic refresh rate up to 120Hz Aspect ratio: 3:2 Contrast ratio: 1200:1 Adaptive Color Touch: 10-point multi-touch Gorilla® Glass 5
Storage	Removable solid-state drive (SSD) options: 128GB or 256GB 512GB or 1TB	Surface Pro 9: 8GB, 16GB, 32GB (LPDDR5 RAM) Surface Pro 9 with 5G: 8GB or 16GB LPDDR4x RAM Surface Pro 9 (Intel/Wifi): Removable7 drive (SSD) options: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB Surface Pro 9 (SQ® 3/5G): Removable7 drive (SSD) options: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
Graphics	Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics (i5, i7)	Surface Pro 9: Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics Surface Pro 9 with 5G: Microsoft SQ® 3 Adreno 8CX Gen 3
Camera, Video & Audio	Windows Hello face authentication camera (front-facing) 5.0MP front-facing camera with 1080p full HD video 10.0MP rear-facing autofocus camera with 1080p HD and 4k video Dual far-field Studio Mics 2W stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos®	Surface Pro 9 (Intel/Wifi): Windows Hello face authentication camera (front-facing) Front-facing camera with 1080p full HD video 10.0MP rear-facing autofocus camera with 1080p HD and 4k videoSurface Pro 9 (SQ® 3/5G): Windows Hello face authentication camera (front-facing) Front-facing camera with 1080p full HD video 10.0 MP rear-facing autofocus camera with 1080p HD and 4k video Windows Studio Effects with Eye Contact, Portrait Background Blur and Automatic Framing Surface Pro 9 (Intel/Wifi): Windows Hello face authentication camera (front-facing) Front-facing camera with 1080p full HD video 10.0MP rear-facing autofocus camera with 1080p HD and 4k videoSurface Pro 9 (SQ® 3/5G): Windows Hello face authentication camera (front-facing) Front-facing camera with 1080p full HD video 10.0 MP rear-facing autofocus camera with 1080p HD and 4k video Windows Studio Effects with Eye Contact, Portrait Background Blur and Automatic Framing
Memory	8GB, 16GB, 32GB (LPDDR4x RAM)	Surface Pro 9: 8GB, 16GB, 32GB (LPDDR5 RAM) Surface Pro 9 with 5G: 8GB or 16GB LPDDR4x RAM Surface Pro 9 (Intel/Wifi): Removable7 drive (SSD) options: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB Surface Pro 9 (SQ® 3/5G): Removable7 drive (SSD) options: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
Dimensions	11.3 in x 8.2 in x 0.37 in (287mm x 208mm x 9.3mm)	Surface Pro 9 (Intel/Wifi): Length: 11.3”(287 mm) Width: 8.2” (209 mm) Height: 0.37” (9.3 mm) Surface Pro 9 (SQ® 3/5G): Length: 11.3” (287 mm) Width: 8.2” (209 mm) Height: 0.37” (9.3 mm)
Security	Firmware TPM chip for enterprise-grade security and BitLocker support Enterprise-grade protection with Windows Hello face sign-in	Surface Pro 9 (Intel/Wifi): Firmware TPM 2.0 is a security processor that is designed to give you peace of mind Windows Hello face sign-inSurface Pro 9 (SQ® 3/5G): Enhanced security with Microsoft Pluton Windows Hello face sign-in
Weight	891 g (1.96lb)	Surface Pro 9 (Intel/Wifi): Weight1: 1.94 lb (879 g) Surface Pro 9 (SQ® 3/5G): Weight1: 1.95 lb (883 g) (mmWave)
Color	Casing: Signature anodized aluminum Colors: Graphite, Platinum4	Surface Pro 9 (Intel/Wifi): Casing: Aluminum Colors:13 Sapphire, Forest, Platinum, GraphiteSurface Pro 9 (SQ® 3/5G): Casing: Aluminum Colors:13 Platinum
Ports/Slots	2 x USB-C® with USB 4.0/Thunderbolt 4 3.5mm headphone jack 1 x Surface Connect port Surface Type Cover port Compatible with Surface Dial off-screen interaction*	Surface Pro 9 (Intel/Wifi): 2 x USB-C® with USB 4.0/ Thunderbolt 4 1 x Surface Connect port 1 x Surface Type Cover portSurface Pro 9 (SQ® 3/5G): 2 x USB-C® 3.2 1 x Surface Connect port Surface Keyboard port 1 x nano SIM
Battery	Battery Capacity Nominal (WH) 51.5Wh Battery Capacity Min (WH) 50.2Wh Up to 16 hours of typical device usage	Surface Pro 9 (Intel/Wifi): Up to 15.5 hours of typical device usage Surface Pro 9 (SQ®3/5G): Up to 19 hours of typical device usage Surface Pro 9 (Intel/Wifi): Battery Capacity Nominal (WH) 47.7 Wh Battery Capacity Min (WH) 46.5 WhSurface Pro 9 (SQ® 3/5G): Battery Capacity Nominal (WH) 47.7 Wh Battery Capacity Min (WH) 46.5Wh
What’s in the box	Surface Pro 8 Power Supply Quick Start Guide Safety and warranty documents	Surface Pro 9 (Intel/Wifi): Surface Pro 9 (Intel/Wifi) Power supply Quick Start Guide Safety and warranty documentsSurface Pro 9 (SQ® 3/5G): Surface Pro 9 (SQ® 3/5G) Power supply Quick Start Guide Safety and warranty documents SIM Card access tool

Look and Feel

The Surface Pro 9 looks eerily similar to the Surface Pro 8. as it maintains the recently upgraded rounded body type from the previous generation. The screen tech in the Pro 9 is roughly equivelent to the Pro which covers the same color gamut, level of power efficiency and resolution as last year’s model. While Microsoft may have played it conservative with the Surface Pro 9’s display panel for this model to balance resolution versus power consumption, there are a couple of tweaks the company could have made to improve upon the screen that would have added convenience for the customer while maintaining its battery life such as oleophobic coating and the use of anti-glare screen layer.

Once again, the Surace Pro 9 keeps a relatively glossy panel for its 13-inch screen, which becomes a detriment for customers who use their devices outside of the soft luminescent glow of office lights. Presumably, Microsoft keeps the glossy panel as a staple to help highlight its LCD’s “PixelSense Flow”

Whatever the case, the Surface Pro 9’s screen is every bit as remarkable as the Pro 8’s as it maintains deep blacks very well, contrasting HRD color from an LCD-power display. I tend to put matte screen protectors on my Pro devices for better pen grip when writing and as a thin layer of protection, and even with that applied, the display on the Pro 9 remains stunning.

Microsoft took some liberties with the Pro 9 from the Pro is with the rearranging of buttons on the device. The Pro 9 now has its power and volume buttons sitting flushed atop of the device in the same area as opposed to Pro 8 which splits them down both sides of the device. The new placement of the buttons reduces the likelyhood of accidental power and volume presses when holding the PC in horizontal tablet mode.

In addition, the 2 USB-C Thunderbolt ports are now aligned to the right of the device instead of the left which could take some getting used to depending on how a customer’s home or work docking setup is arranged. As Apple brings back the SD card reader for its MacBook lineup, Microsoft moves away from having any variation of the port on its Surface Pro devices. Fortunately, most dongles and docking stations are maintaining the port and single cord solution via the Thunderbolt ports will still get the job done.

Few reviewers still talk about the hinges on the Surface Pro’s as they have been a well-earned staple on the device and the Surface Pro 9 maintains that standard. The Pro 9’s rigidity when flexed at any position is modest but notable convenience, especially when attempting some close-knee lap work.

The last few notable things to mention about the Surface Pro 9 is the weight of the device, which feels ever-so lighter than last year’s model. The weight change may only become perceptible when holding the device for more than a couple of minutes at a time.

The keyboard and trackpad are the same as last year’s models with the Slim Pen 2 support maintaining its over 4K pressure sensitivity mark. Ideally, Microsoft will work out a solution that will bring over its haptic technology to create a single solid attachment which could offer a much larger surface area in the future. One can hope.

The only other mentions for look and feel of the Pro 9 when compared to the Pro 8 or any other 2-in-1 maybe the color pallet options for this model that include a new Saphire blue and Forest green which helps any Surface Pro 9 owner stand out from older model owners in a crowd. Yes, there are now crowds of Surface Pro users out and about.

Performance

It should be noted that in most day-to-day usage for anyone who traffics in data processing or writing, the performance between the Surface Pro 8 and 9 is negligible, however, with that said for power users and benchmark junkies, Intel’s 12th Gen chips offer a noticeable increase in performance but at the detriment of heat and fan noise for the Surface Pro 9.

While Microsoft has yet to incorporate a dedicated GPU architecture into the slim profile of the Surface Pro 9, its partnership with Intel this year does a decent job of counter balancing that omission with raw CPU performance with the Pro 9 coming in second to the Asus ROG Flow Z13 in both single core and multi-core threaded testing. When testing it against the MacBook Air architecture, the Pro 9 beats it, but does so with less power efficiency.

Unfortunately, when the Pro 9 is unplugged, some of that CPU performance gain takes about a 5 percent hit due to the 45/30-watt ceiling in place by the device to keep it cool enough to handle in hand and on a lap, but on the upside, that 5 percent hit is still miles ahead of the Pro 8, Dell XPS 13 2-in-1, ThinkPad X12 and slightly ahead of an M2 powered MacBook Air.

Where the Surface Pro 9 takes a significant dip in direct GPU usage is where the Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 does a modest job of keeping heavily GPU reliant windows and activities stable but sinks about 70 percent of that stability when on battery power. Activities such as rendering video, 3D, graphic design or heavy photo processing can all get bogged down on the Surface Pro 9 when on battery, if the device can keep it juice long enough.

Now there are some workarounds that include using web-based clients for video editing, photo manipulation, 3D and graphic design such as Canva, Flixier, Clipchamp, Frame.io and more. Again, the Surface Pro 9’s CPU can power out video editing if users are using Adobe Premiere at 1/2 or a 1/4 of resolution, but when it comes time to render edits over 10 minutes at 1080p resolution, they should factor in a brisk walking break.

I’m not going to delve into gaming as the last 10 years have proven Microsoft isn’t interested in the Surface Pro lineup being capable of console or PC level gaming. The Pro 9 served me well when paired with xCloud gaming, and the convenience of being able to tote the slim convertible around is sorely understated in reviews. While on a cruise, I was able to wrap up Halo Infinite and Hi-Fi Rush, both in and out of my cabin.

Summary

In real world use, the less than 2lb computer is great. While reviewers cover the minutia of the Surface Pro 9, at the end of the day, it still remains the gold standard of 2-in-1’s. While there are other 2-in-1’s cropping up that offer better specs in some areas, or more appealing price differentials, the Surface Pro 9 continues to deliver one of the nicest overall convertible packages.

While the new aesthetic is a relatively young design, I would hope that Microsoft improves up some of the chassis underlying tech such as reintroducing an SD card reader, upgrading the hardware and software (Windows 11) display tech for more optimized battery consumption, adding haptic feedback to its separately sold keyboard, and overhauling the camera array in both software and hardware.

Until then, the Surface Pro 9 stands as the best refinement of the lineup since Microsoft jumped from the 10.6-inch chunky Pro and Pro 2 design to the thinner 12-inch Surface Pro 3. After a decade, Microsoft has gotten about as close as Intel will let them in actualizing their vision for a portable PC experience, the question that remains is what’s coming in the next 10 years?

The Dell Premier Collaboration Keyboard and Rechargeable mouse iterate on last year’s models, the Dell Premiere Multi-Device Wireless Keyboard and Mouse in some nifty new ways that should set the standard for keyboard use going forward.

Look and Feel

The Dell’s Premier Collaboration Keyboard (KB900) and Rechargeable Mouse (MS900) look similar to their cousins the Premier Multi-Device Wireless Keyboard and Mouse (KM7321W). The keyboards adopt a minimalist approach to lines and angles on leveraging a wedge-like design that automatically props the device up to a 20-degree angle for a more comfortable typing experience out of the box.

There are some padded tilt legs that can be flicked out from either corner of the keyboard as well as middle pad to keep the keyboard rigid during typing. Despite having some rounded angles on all four corners of the keyboard, the edges still feel rough and sharp when managing the device in hand.

The KB900 opts for a darker grey than the previous model which made use of lighter two-tone gray color scheme. Graphite grey is my personal favorite as it seemingly can be paired with a variety of desktop color arrangements. Both the mouse and keyboard make use of the darker grey color colors to their advantage of attractive set pieces without being detractive.

Aside from the red and white LED panel that sets above the direction keys, the other notable thing about KB900 is its weight, at 25.68oz or 1.60lbs, KB900 comes with a hefty but solid feel. There is little to no flex with the keyboard and keys feel rigid and secure to the frame.

The typing experience on the KB900 is similar to its predecessor, with heigh key travel, despite its low-profile appearance. The scissor key technology even distributes a keypress across the entire key unlike similar low-profile keyboards that can wobble and indent on pressure.

Lastly, the KB900 comes in a few inches shorter all around than the KM7321W for any concerned about diminishing desktop space.

As for the Rechargeable Mouse, it’s much lighter than it appears at 0.29lbs. While the mouse may feel hollow, its construction is resoundingly solid. Thumb indent and button placement fell very ergonomically conscious. Both the horizontal and vertical scroll wheels have interval bumps that help make scrolling on a device feel very precise and intentional

Dell also aligned the connecting input switcher right behind the top scroll wheel, presumably to help facilitate hot swapping between devices. The rubber padding at the bottom helps the mouse’s grip and reduces the number of times a user may over target when interacting with content.

Performance

I tend to measure most of my typing experiences against the Microsoft Designer Keyboards which offer a great balance between key travel and low-profile design. With that being said, the KB900 nails both while also offering a level of customization and added conveniences the Microsoft Designer Keyboard does not. Among the additional conveniences for the KB900 is the touch-enabled LED conference buttons that flicker on when a Zoom call is initiated.

The LED lights have consistently lit up during each Zoom call I tested them with, often times being more reliable than the Zoom call itself. Unfortunately, the light panel above the direction keys doesn’t support any other conferencing platform even for universal commands such as mute, video on and off, or share screen. Aside from the keyboard’s standout feature being locked to a single conferencing platform, the rest of the device is stellar. The key-noise on the keyboard is relatively quiet, I have not had any issues with connecting or reconnecting to multiple devices, and the backlighting is pretty clear in the dark.

The other thing the KB9000 offers is a dedicated app that allows users to quickly customize hotkeys, lighting, and connectivity.

As for the mouse, MS900, lighter weight profile makes it easy to use for extended periods of time. The rubber padding at the bottom can pose an issue for users who want to use the mouse on a variety of surfaces, with or without a decent mousepad. Another thing of note is the scroll wheel in the middle of the MS900 can be finicky out of the box, it’s recommended users visit either the Microsoft Windows Settings page or download and explore the Dell Peripheral Manager to set the feel of their keyboard to their liking.

Summary

The KB900 isn’t for everyone, especially if you do little conferencing within Zoom, but it as standalone keyboard, it does set a bar for spec inclusion. Going forward, all keyboards should move more modern and consistent charging protocols, support connectivity to more than a single PC or device, offer customization through apps or webapp platforms, all while still providing a quiet and enjoyable typing and surfing experience.

Microsoft’s newest docking solution seems to have found the sweet spot between functionality and aesthetics. We’ve come a long way from the lock in place Surface Pro 3 and 4 docking station which propped Microsoft’s flagship tablet computer erect in a single functional use position, and while relatively minimalistic, it wasn’t portable or transferable for most users.

Microsoft has since reiterated on the design to bring users the Surface Dock and Surface Dock 2 which maintained an industry-like appearance of cord connected brick of ports that included several modern USB connectors, HDMI, mini-display port, ethernet, and audio jacks.

Microsoft’s latest dock now adds an audio component as its newest upgrade and does so while undercutting its most well-known competitor in a very niche sector.

Look and Feel

The Audio Dock is spiritually reminiscent of a Google Nest speaker as its wrapped in woven fabric, presumably to enhance the audio output experience. While it’s roughly the same size as a Google Nest audio speaker when positioned horizontally, the Audio Dock does away with the home decor facade and only comes in a single matte black color scheme emphasizing desktop utility over environmental ambience.

The Audio Dock may not win any awards for complementing aesthetic decor, it does match the Microsoft color branding of other desktop accessory efforts that include Modern Keyboards, Arc mice, Modern Webcams, Presenter+, Modern headsets and even Xbox controllers.

The design of the Audio Dock builds on Microsoft’s previous efforts with the Microsoft Modern USB-C speaker by kicking everything up several notches. Where the Modern USB-C speaker emphasized portability with its sleek design, the Audio Dock increases the speaker bay by 2/3 the size which adds considerable weight to the docking station by comparison.

However, when comparing it to Microsoft’s previous docking station, the Surface Dock 2, the Audio Dock feels only a bit heavier surprisingly. Perhaps, the reduction in port selections between the two may contribute to the relative weight comparison as the Surface Dock 2 offers four USB-C, 2 USB-A, and ether net port and an audio jack as its connectors while the Audio Dock only provides connections for 2 USB-C, 1 USB-A, and an HDMI 2.0 slot with support for up to 4K at 60Hz.

Perhaps in an effort to assist in cable management and minimalist aesthetics, all ports and connections are tucked away at the back of the Audio Dock.

The Audio Dock also does away with the proprietary Surface connector and opts for a more ubiquitous USB-C connector that can power devices at up to 60W while allowing it much more utility for a wider user base than its predecessor. The USB-Connector can also be tucked away into a compartment underneath the dock itself for further tidiness and portability when necessary.

Performance

Identical to the Surface USB-C speaker, the Audio Dock comes with a dedicated tactile Teams button, speaker button, play and volume controls located at the top of the device and while the dock does a decent job of getting loud, it is a bit light in the bass department. The mids and highs are clear and crips, and it’s evident the speaker excels at vocal reproduction particularly designed for podcast and conferences with audio. Don’t get me wrong, music playback is good but it’s not on par with more dedicated speaker solutions.

The Audio Dock also serves as a mic that does a great job of picking up most audio while simultaneously surprising other background elements. The Audio Dock won’t replace a dedicated mic, but for the times when a headset may be charging, or you want to free your ears from hours of headset use, this dock slots in well.

Microsoft continues to extend utility of its devices through the Modern Accessories software hub and users can make a few tweaks to the audio output from there such as prompt volume and audio settings for Teams communication.

The other product in this niche sector the Audio Dock competes with is the Logi Dock which offers a plethora of ports and connectivity selections that include display, HDMI, 2 USB-A, Bluetooth pairing, four USB-C slots and a Kensington lock. However, the audio and mic quality of the device still feels a step down from the Audio Dock.

For those familiar with switching audio inputs, using the Audio Dock is relatively straightforward and easy. For anyone who lives in a Team world, the Audio Dock becomes as second nature as pressing any audio controls on a dedicated keyboard.

Summary

While the Logi Dock does offer more ports and dedicated webcam control option, it’s also $150 dollars more than the Microsoft Audio Dock while delivering a less than stellar comparative audio experience. The design of the two devices are very similar and take up relatively the same space both on a desk and underneath with their dedicated power bricks, but the Audio Dock has the added advantage of being tuned for video conferencing, especially with Teams.

At the end of the day, more docking solutions should incorporate audio and save users from having yet another input to manage via Bluetooth, wired or through Wi-Fi. The convenience of a port station with audio alone would sell the product category while bringing competition to actual audio experiences that could net users similar sounds akin to more dedicated speakers such as Bose, JBL, and Sony.

Best Android Emulators for Windows 10/11

1. MEmu Play

MEmu Play is a free Android emulator for Windows 10 that allows you to run Android apps and games on your computer. It is a relatively lightweight emulator and is designed to run smoothly on most modern Windows computers.

One of the key features of MEmu Play is its support for a wide range of hardware configurations. It is able to run on both Intel and AMD processors, and can even be used on low-end computers with integrated graphics.

This makes it a good option for those who don’t have a powerful gaming computer but still want to play Android games on their PC.

In addition to its hardware support, MEmu Play also offers a number of other useful features. It allows you to customize the resolution and aspect ratio of the virtual device, as well as the density of the pixels. This can be useful for optimizing the performance of the emulator on larger monitors.

MEmu Play also includes a number of pre-installed apps and games, making it easy to get started with the emulator. It also offers the ability to import apps and games from your phone or tablet, allowing you to easily transfer your favorite apps and games to your computer by drag and drop.

2. LDPlayer

LDPlayer has impressed us on a variety of fronts with its wide range of features. It runs on Android 9.0 Pie with support for the latest apps and games. Connect a gamepad and play your favorite games without a keyboard or mouse.

Installing an Android app is easy as you can simply drag and drop APK files into the emulator. There is also an APK button to manually browse the files and install them.

Search Play store directly from the search bar at the top of the home screen after logging into a Google account. If you don’t want to do that, then there is LD Store by the emulator which has thousands of apps and games, even the ones available on Play Store.

Once you are done installing a game, its time to play it on your monitor which is four to six times larger than an average phone display. LDPlayer supports 2K, 4K and even QUHD with a refresh rate of 144 FPS, which would be ideal for gaming monitors.

3. Bluestack

If you ever tried Android emulation then you would be familiar with this emulator. BlueStacks has become synonymous with running Android apps and games on Windows PC.

Map your keys for different games and create profiles so they don’t overlap. You even use the mouse to assign multiple actions in the game. Gaming mice can have the advantage here with multiple buttons.

BlueStacks allows up to 4K resolution on your PC. Make sure your graphic processing unit is capable of handling the high resolution. The default graphics renderer here is OpenGL which can be changed to DirectX.

Just like web browsers, you can work across different tabs in this Android emulator. You don’t need to open the app switch view and shuffle through multiple apps.

4. Noxplayer

Now we have one of the fastest Android emulators for Windows 11 and 10. Nox player is incredibly easy to install with a one-click setup without any ads or bloatware coming bundled with the app.

Nox supports root so you can customize it for your preference. It supports several dozen phone profiles so that you can emulate the hardware and run different Android apps/games.

One of the things that stands out for Nox is its app center. Search for a game or app and you can know if it is supported before installing the emulator.

And when you are playing a game, Nox lets you lock the mouse pointer to stay inside the emulator window. This comes in handy when playing shooter games or where the pointer is required for controlling the character.

5. GameLoop

Gameloop is an Android emulator for Windows 10 which developed by Tencent, the gaming company which created PUBG Mobile. It is specifically designed for gaming, and is commonly used to play Android games on PC.

One of the main features of Gameloop is its high performance. It is optimized for gaming, and is able to run games smoothly with minimal lag and high frame rates. along with that, This Android gaming emulator includes a number of features that are useful for gaming, such as the ability to customize control settings and the option to record gameplay.

Not everyone owns a gaming computer so Gameloop has an acceleration mode. It reduces lag problems in gaming. This comes along with a dedicated screen recording feature with high-quality recordings for content creators.

Lenovo returns with a mostly unchanged sequel to the ThinkPad X1 Nano with its Gen release. For those familiar with the Gen 1 version of this ThinkPad X1 variant should remember the relative performance limits due to the smaller chassis. 15W i7-1160G7 X1 Nano Gen 1 models were prime examples of performance ceilings that were highlighted by aggressive throttling because of the limited cooling surface area and in 2022 Lenovo has learned some lessons but hasn’t mastered them all.

This time around, Lenovo is stuffing a 28W Core i7-1280P vPro processor into the Gen 2 version and the net result is a more powerful laptop that seems to still struggle from performance throttling.

Specs
ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2
Processor	Up to Intel 12thGen Corei7-1280P
Operating System	Up to Windows 10 Pro or Linux
Display	13.0″, 2K (2160×1350), IPS, 450 nits, Anti-glare, 16:10, 100% sRGB, Touch optional
Storage	Up to 1TB M.2 2242 SSD
Graphics	In`
	p to IR + FHD 1080p MIPI with Privacy Shutter & Computer Vision
Memory	Up to 32GB LPDDR5-5200
Dimensions	Touch: 293.3 x 208.1 x 14.8 mm (11.55 x 8.19 x 0.58 inches), 991.5 g (2.19lb)Non-Touch: 293.2 x 208.0 x 14.4 mm (11.54 x 8.19 x 0.57 inches), 966.5 g (2.13lb)
Audio	Dolby Atmos Speaker System certification (2W x 2 woofers and 1W x 2 tweeters) Four array microphones, 360° far-field, Dolby Voice
Weight	991.5g (2.19lb) – Touch 966.5g (2.13lb) – Non-Touch
Color	Black or Carbon Fiber Weave
Ports/Slots	1 x USB-A (USB 3.2 Gen 14)2 x USB-C (Thunderbolt 4.0 / PD /DisplayPort / USB 4.0)1 x HDMI 2.01 x Full-size SD Card Reader (UHS-1(104) PCIe Gen 1)1 x USB-A (USB 3.2 Gen 1)1 x Audio Combo Jack1 x Power Button
Battery	49.5 Wh, Rapid Charge (up to 80% in 1 hour)
What’s in the box	6-row, spill-resistant, multimedia Fn keys, LED backlight Glass surface multi-touch touchpad56 x 110mm (2.20 x 4.33”), TrackPoint

Look and Feel

The X1 Nano Gen 2 looks and feels practically identical to its predecessor with a similarly sleek matte black profile but this year’s model swaps the aging 16:9 display aspect ratio for the more modern 16:10 panel that offers up a bit more screen real estate in this limited form factor. This time around X1 Nano Gen 2 users are greeted with a 2,160 by 1,350-pixel IPS panel with a 450-nit brightness output and 1000:1 contrast ratio.

Similar to last year’s model, the sRGB isn’t well calibrated but can be with a little TLC from the owner which should help with darker color display on the taller display.

Another change Lenovo went with under the hood was with a new web cam that improves on the previous 720p offering from last year. In 2022, Nano Gen 2 owners get a new 1080p webcam that offers more clarity but muted color tones, and just like last year, there is IR support for Windows Hello bio authentication.

The last noticeable feature upgrade to the Nano Gen 2 comes in the form of a 5G LTE support with a new LTE 5G Cat 20 module, as well as Intel’s AX211 for Wi-Fi 6E support.

As for the rest of the body on the Nano Gen 2, the laptop remains a fingerprint magnet and hosts the same limited port selection as last year with 2 USB-C ports with support for Thunderbolt 4 and an audio jack on the left side of the device and cooling vents and a Kinsington lock along the right side.

The typing and mouse experience will feel familiar to former ThinkPad users with the same level of comfortable key travel and click depression at the corners of the glass trackpad.

Performance

Perhaps the biggest change with the X1 Nano Gen is the inclusion of the latest from Intel. Last year’s model was held back by per wattage concerns due to the form factor presumably but that is no longer the case in 2022.

The Intel 12th Gen Core i7-1280P processor boasts a roughly 80 percent gain in benchmark performance test ran but that performance is limited to short burst followed by heavy throttling of the CPU. On paper the comparisons to last year performance are overwhelming in favor of the Gen 2 model of the Nano X1 but when it comes to real world usage, the device ran a bit hotter than last year’s model when running similar workflows, the Gen 2 was also louder dispensing heat through fans and chewed through battery at almost the same clip.

While the battery life on last year’s Nano X1 was about the middle of the road by modern ultra-book standards, the fact that nothing seemed to improve year over year highlights the struggles Microsoft and Intel are having when optimizing their hardware for 12th Gen processors.

As someone who relies more on data processing than content creation, the new burst of performance from the 12the Gen processor is very appreciated and nominal gains in GPU performance from the Iris Xe graphics on board is also a nice additive.

However, on those rare occasions when I did need to dip into the Adobe suite or use programs such as DaVinci Resolve the laptop kept up for the most part, until multiple layers or edits were added and reviewed constantly. In the scenarios where I needed a bit more GPU performance was when the device would begin to peak in heat output, so be aware of doing any creative work outside of a well-ventilated desk setup.

As for the battery performance, the Gen 2 model gets a similar 5 hours of heavy workflow completed as its predecessor and can be extended to about 8.5 when used sparingly for content consumption and light data processing or email triaging.

Summary

Lenovo brings back all of the greatest hits and unfortunately, similar flubs from last year’s Gen 1 model of the X1 Nano, so if you’re looking to upgrade, you may be in the market for a slightly bigger X1 variant such as the X1 Carbon Gen 10 or X13 Gen 3 which will offer more sustained boosted performance and an additional HDMI port.

However, for those who value a lighter backpack, work satchel, messenger bag or just handheld as they skip from classroom to classroom or office to conference room the Gen 2 is still a solid option with only a handful of ‘power-hungry professional’ drawbacks.

CZUR is pivoting, in a big way into the content creation sector with its newest book and document scanner, and the Fancy Pro is an excellent first step.

Customarily, CZUR is better known for its professional document scanner technologies that help transfer analog to digital for enterprise. In the off chance you happen to have a CZUR scanner model that’s being used outside of the traditional business set of use cases, these scanners have also been known to be great at restoration efforts to retain old images, journals, notes, letters and more.

However, with the CZUR Fancy Pro, we’re witnessing the company expand its core competency of document scanning while also delivering a tool to help customers create more than copies of data.

With the CZUR Fancy Pro incorporating a 12-megapixel webcam that can produce up to 330 DPI resolute images or videos and an adjustable height and transformable arm, customers can now use the Pro in five modes that include online teaching, video meetings, live streaming, traditional scanner as well as a traditional document camera.

Look and Feel

The CZUR is an ultra-lightweight product akin to a desk lap for some. The base of the Fancy Pro is small but heavy enough to make sure the camera on top doesn’t topple the entire scanner over. The rest of the body feels like it’s made of aluminum or some other lightweight metallic material, but the entire package feels sturdy and well built.

The height and positioning knobs as well as the camera-button ring are accented in an off-white or Champaigne color that really pops against the understated black framing. When fully extended, the Fancy Pro stands roughly 2ft tall but with its uniformly constructed body it can be easily transported or find a nestled home on most desks.

A top the webcam and light are the manual controls (which are digitally mimicked in the app for Windows) are tactile and stiff.

Out the box the CZUR comes assembled, so no fumbling with Allen wrenches or constructing manuals. In addition to its user-friendly out-of-box experience, downloading the necessary software to pair the Fany Pro’s webcam to a PC or Mac was also relatively easy and painless. I would have preferred a USB-A prompt like other devices receive when first trying to connect Windows to let me know that the Pro is functional but not working.

The tiny paper manual that accompanies the packaging was straightforward and helped in directing me to the software download page to get the camera software necessary to begin using the camera on Fancy Pro.

Performance

The Fancy Pro is a self-contained unit that is powered via a USB connection to either a dock or computer and lacks any form of wireless connectivity. While some might view the lack of an independent power source and wireless connectivity as negatives, I see them as pluses. The power design of the Fancy Pro means there is one less electronic device I need to remember to charge or pack batteries for as well worry about Wi-Fi or Bluetooth drop out while in the middle of scanning or streaming video content. However, I do understand the convenience factor incorporating wireless connectivity and discrete battery options offer.

Fortunately, the downloadable Fancy Pro management software is straightforward (albeit slightly dated looking) and intuitive to use. Users can control all aspects of the Fancy Pro from export formats to manual focus by using the accompanying software for the Fancy Pro.

The patented CZUR curve-flattening algorithm is onboard for the Fancy Pro which helps map and fill in curve gaps when scanning items such as books and magazines to present a more seamless image capture. Curve detection on the CZUR has been slightly improved on the Fancy Pro and has smoothed out copies previous generations have traditionally struggled with.

Other tricks implored here by CZUR’s Fancy Pro include tilt adjustment, auto-cropping, scan when page is turned detection, hole-punch filling, bar code and QR code recognition, damaged page repair, adjust by text direction, multi target paging, watermarking, and PDF batching.

The professional grade camera on the Fancy Pro can easily scan images in under 2 seconds and the adjustable arm allows customers to scan A3 or 11 by 17-inch images or documents and capture them at up to 330dpi. The downloadable software for the Fancy Pro connects to several PC platforms to enable quick sharing of scan documents to services such as Office 365, Teams, Adobe, and more.

There is also a mobile app for the Fancy Pro to help manage content on the go.

As far as its pivot to content creation, the webcam portion of the Fancy Pro utilizes CZUR’s Visualizer technology to present 4K level video capture combined with onboard mics for audio. There webcam itself can rotate 90-degrees for better social media formatted streams and videos.

The camera is a great utility for anyone needing to present without having to fumble with their main conference camera, or for anyone looking to get into streaming content such as makeup, design, music or cooking tutorials, unboxings and product reviews, or simply hand modeling.

When using the camera paired with the CZUR Video Presentation software, I was able to create videos that made use of content masking, multi-camera picture-in-picture recordings as well as snagging photos from video conference calls and providing real-time annotations with friends as we brainstormed podcasting ideas.

After a month of review, I haven’t had any issues with CZUR Fancy Pro. Due to is wired connectivity, it’s been a seamless plug and play experience each time and even through various Windows Insider builds where drivers and cached app data gets mixed up or goes missing, the Fancy Pro has reconnected to my Surface Laptop Studio every time.

Summary

I have very few notes for the Fancy Pro as it delivers on each of its stated goals. It’s not quite a DSLR and rig replacement for more professional streamers or YouTube content creators, but for anyone with a small office who is looking into saving money while getting started as a content creator, this scanner is a great option. Not only are the added video features easy to use but at the end of the day, the Fancy Pro is still an exceptional scanner which makes office work such as same day signature delivery, document management, file restoration, and digitizing effortless.

The Fancy Pro is the seventh successful scanner from CZUR and is set to launch on Indiegogo on October 26th with crowdfunding efforts scheduled to end November 26, 2022. I would suggest trying to get a Fancy Pro while they remain relatively inexpensive.