Lenovo IFA Launch Highlights Include 16-Inch X1 Fold, T1 Glasses

Lenovo IFA Launch Highlights Include 16-Inch X1 Fold, T1 Glasses

What's happening

Lenovo is announcing its new products for the second half of 2022 and early 2023 at the IFA show in Germany.

Why it matters

The announcements include an update to Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Fold, a well-thought-out update to its previous generation. Folding laptops are still in early days, and Lenovo's shows a potential direction they may go.

Lenovo's announcements for IFA 2022 offer a few notable enhancements to existing product lines, highlighted by an overhauled and larger 16-inch version of its Thinkpad X1 Fold, a consumer-focused version of its T1 Glasses "wearable display," the company's first 16-inch Chromebook and an interesting take on a monitor stand with a phone perch for its refreshed ThinkVision line. Lenovo's also refreshed its P11 Android tablets.

ThinkPad X1 Fold

The company made a lot of changes to the Fold based on its experiences with the previous generation -- and don't think that unchanged product name won't get confusing. For example, the bigger screen gives the device more flexibility to operate in multiple ways -- such as a landscape or portrait-orientation laptop, book or tablet -- with webcams on two sides. Lenovo fixed the gaping hinge (which was similar to that of the Microsoft Surface Book) to remove the gap as well. It also uses a new recycled woven fabric for the back cover. That experience becomes clear when you compare it to Asus' recently launched first-gen ZenBook Fold OLED.

The Thinkpad X1 Fold will ship in November starting at $2,499.

• 2.8 pounds (1.3kg)
• 16-inch (tablet), 12-inch (clamshell), 2,560x2,024-pixel OLED display with a 4:3 aspect ratio, 600 nits brightness
• 12th-gen U series Core i5 and i7 vPro CPUs
• Up to 32GB LPDDR5
• Up to 1TB SSD
• 3x USB-C (2x Thunderbolt 4), NanoSIM slot, optional 5G
• Options: Bluetooth keyboard with TrackPoint and haptic touchpad, Wacom AES-compatible stylus

Lenovo's Glasses T1

Josh Goldman/CNET

Lenovo Glasses T1

The Glasses T1 are for perching a bigger display on your face or hiding the content on your screen from shoulder surfers. It's a nice idea, but a lot hangs on the implementation -- such as how easy it is to fit your prescription in it -- and price. We won't really know here, at least until 2023; it will ship first in China by the end of this year, then follow "in other select markets" next year. Pricing won't be announced until they're ready to ship. The Glasses T1 also work with iPhones.

• Micro OLED screens
• Compatibility: Windows, Android, MacOS devices with USB-C connections; iPhone with Lenovo HDMI-to-glasses adapter and Apple Lightning digital AV adapter (both extra cost)
• Swappable nose clips
• Adjustable arms
• Supports prescription lenses (via bundled snap in frame)

Lenovo IdeaPad 5i Chromebook

Josh Goldman/CNET

IdeaPad 5i Chromebook  

Lenovo supplements its 14-inch IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook with a bigger 16-inch clamshell model that offers the option of a higher-end QHD display than the smaller Flex. It's slated to ship in Europe starting in September for 549 euros; US pricing and availability will be announced later, but that price is equal to about $550.

• Display options: 16:10 aspect ratio displays, either 120Hz QHD with 350 nits brightness and 100% sRGB coverage or 60Hz FHD  with 300 nits brightness and 45% NTSC coverage (which is really small)
• Up to 512GB storage
• Up to 8GB LPDDR4X RAM
• Up to Core i3-1215U CPU
• Up to 12 hour battery
• Weight starts at 4.1 pounds (1.9kg)
• MicroSD slot, 2x USB-A, 2x USB-C, 1x combo audio
• Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5

The Lenovo Tab P11 (left) and Tab P11 Pro (right), 2nd gen.

Josh Goldman/CNET

Lenovo Tab P11 (2nd Gen), Lenovo Tab P11 Pro (2nd Gen)

These are updated models in Lenovo's Tab P11 Android tablet line, a mainstream Tab 11 and high-end Tab P11 Pro (second-gen), with faster processors, newer versions of Android and, in the case of the Pro, a better screen. The Pro is is expected to ship in September starting at $400; the Tab P11 (second-gen) will ship beginning in January starting at $250.

Tab P11

• 11.5-inch, 2,000x1,200-pixel 120Hz LCD screen with 400 nits brightness
• 1.2 pounds (520g)
• Options: Lenovo Precision Pen 2 (in 2023), keyboard, folio case
• MediaTek Helio G99 CPU
• Android 12L
• Up to 6GB RAM plus 128GB storage
• Quad speakers, dual mics
• 7,700-mAH battery
• Either LTE with Wi-Fi 5 or Wi-Fi 6E connectivity
• USB-C, 3.5mm headphone jack

Tab P11 Pro

• Android 12
• 11.2-inch, 2,560x1,536-pixel 120Hz OLED screen with 600 nits peak brightness and 100% P3 color gamut, Dolby Vision and HDR10 Plus support
• 1.1 pounds (480g)
• Quad speakers
• MediaTek Kompanio 1300T CPU
• Up to 14 hours battery (8,000 mAh)
• Keyboard included
• options: Lenovo Precision Pen 3, folio case
• Wi-Fi 6
• USB-C with DisplayPort support

The new ThinkVision stand's base has a notch for propping up your phone.

Josh Goldman/CNET

Legion, ThinkVision monitors

Lenovo usually saves its more interesting monitor launches for CES, so it's unsurprising that these feel like somewhat rote updates. There's a new 32-inch Legion 4K, 144Hz gaming monitor, as well as its commercial ThinkVision models in sizes from 24 to 34 inches. However, Lenovo has also introduced a new stand in the latter, which has a clever notch that you can slide your phone into to prop it upright. The ThinkVisions are all expected to ship in January.

• Legion Y32p-30 gaming monitor, 32 inches, ships in December and starts at $750 
• ThinkVision T32p-30, 32 inches, 4K, $899 
• ThinkVision T34w-30, 34-inch curved, WQHD, $849 
• ThinkVision S25e-30, 25 inches, FHD, $179
• ThinkVision T32h-30, 32 inches, QHD, $549
• ThinkVision T24i-30, 24 inches, FHD, $299

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Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro (14-inch) review: Premium laptop at a midrange price

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro (14-inch) review: Premium laptop at a midrange price

Lenovo's IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro gets better the more you use it. Frankly, when I first unboxed it I found the laptop to be pretty unremarkable. It's Lenovo's first laptop to ship with Windows 11 but otherwise, it doesn't really have any big attention-grabbing features. The 14-inch laptop is thin, light and has a full metal chassis -- premium but it doesn't stand out. There's no big performance story: It's respectable but not extraordinary (though battery life is long at nearly 12 hours). Of course, there's nothing wrong with just being all-around good. 

But after using the Slim 7i Pro for a little while and putting a few of its somewhat hidden features to work, the little laptop's value is clearer. With this laptop, you're getting the experience of a higher-end model -- the look, feel and upscale features -- but at a more affordable price (even if that price isn't exactly low). 

Like

• Higher-end design, features at a more affordable price
• Multiple voice assistant options

Don't Like

• Cluttered with pitches for optional services, software
• No physical webcam shutter

Starting at around $1,000 , the Slim 7i Pro is not cheap but it does offer components and features you'd normally pay a few hundred dollars more to get. The configuration I tested sells for $1,200 at Costco and is maxed out with an 11th-gen Core i7 processor, 16GB of memory and a 1TB SSD. It also has a bright, beautiful 2.8K-resolution touchscreen with a 90Hz refresh rate. A similar configuration of the Slim 7i Pro in the UK sells for £999 and AU$1,599 in Australia.

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro (14-inch)

Price as reviewed	$1,200
Display size/resolution	14-inch 2880 x 1800 touch display
CPU	3.3GHz Intel Core i7-11370H
Memory	16GB 4267MHz LPDDR4X (soldered)
Graphics	128MB Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Ports	USB 4.0/Thunderbolt 4 Type-C (x2), USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, combo headphone jack
Storage	1TB PCIe SSD
Networking	802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), Bluetooth 5.1
Operating system	Windows 11 Home (21H1)

What's so Pro about it   

Putting Pro in the name of a laptop model means different things to different people. In this case, it seems that it means moving a notch up from the regular IdeaPad Slim 7 in almost every way. The Slim 7i Pro (the letter i is for the Intel processor) has better components, a higher-quality display and some future-proofing tech, as well as some features to improve your work experience. Plus, the laptop is pretty sharp and won't look out of place in a business meeting. 

Both of the Slim 7i Pro's USB-C ports are on the left side. 

Josh Goldman/CNET

The 14-inch display, for instance, covers 100% sRGB, 80% P3, 78% Adobe RGB and 74% NTSC color gamuts. It hits a brightness of 400 nits. All good things for work, entertainment and basic content creation. The taller 16:10 ratio gives you more vertical room for work, too. And the 90Hz refresh rate smooths out the look of video and games. 

With two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports on the left side, you're covered for everything from charging and high-speed data transfers to connecting multiple external monitors. It would be nice if they were split between the left and right sides for greater flexibility, though. Wireless is ready for the future as well with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1. 

Above the display, there's a serviceable 720p webcam paired with an IR camera and dual far-field microphones. The IR camera is for signing in with facial recognition. But what's even more interesting is the laptop has presence detection, a feature found on ThinkPad business laptops. 

The Slim 7i Pro's cameras can automatically lock and unlock the laptop.

Josh Goldman/CNET

If you walk away from the laptop, it will automatically lock itself down. When you return, the Slim 7i Pro senses your presence and starts looking for your face to unlock it instantly. The feature can even be used to pause video playing on your display when you leave and resume when you return when using certain players like VLC. 

What Lenovo did remove is the sliding physical shutter for the webcam to help with privacy. That's a step back, but you can use Lenovo's Vantage software toolbar to quickly kill the webcam and mic, as well as change fan and system control modes, adjust battery and charging performance and even turn on and off the keyboard backlight. You can also do some of these things and much more with your voice. 

The keyboard and touchpad are both excellent.

Josh Goldman/CNET

The laptop is preinstalled with Lenovo Voice, which lets you control the laptop and change settings with voice commands. There's a long list of options from controlling screen brightness and volume to opening the calculator app to disabling the webcam. It also has translation and voice-to-text features. And if you want to use your voice for more, the laptop is preinstalled with Amazon Alexa services and Microsoft Cortana. This is why those dual far-field mics are nice to have, along with better conference calls. 

Aside from the Lenovo Vantage and Lenovo Voice apps, there's surprisingly little preinstalled bloatware on the laptop, but be prepared to get partner software pitches anyway. Yes, Vantage is where you'll find all the controls for turning on and off the extra features on the Slim 7i Pro, but it's also the company's avenue for pitching you on various partner services. Things like SurfEasy VPN, McAfee Live Safe, DashLane password manager and Lenovo's own Smart Performance service for $30 a year, which scans your PC and fixes any issues it finds. This is also where you'll get offers for extended warranties for the laptop and battery. It's annoying but I suppose it's better than having all of it preinstalled. 

A headphone jack, USB-A port and power button are on the right side.

Josh Goldman/CNET

At the end of the day, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro's charm is that it's a really good clamshell laptop for people who need just that. it looks good, if a little bland. It has an excellent display and the components are top-notch for its class. Plus the Thunderbolt 4 and Wi-Fi 6 mean there's some future proofing for connections. Add in the fun extras like presence detection and voice commands, especially nice if you're a heavy Alexa user already and you've got a premium laptop experience at a more midrange price. 

Geekbench 5 (multicore)

Microsoft Surface Laptop 4

HP Pavilion Aero 13 (13-be0097nr)

Dell XPS 13 OLED (9310)

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro

Note:

Longer bars indicate better performance

Cinebench R23 CPU (multicore)

HP Pavilion Aero 13 (13-be0097nr)

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro

Dell XPS 13 OLED (9310)

Note:

Longer bars indicate better performance

PCMark 10 Pro Edition

HP Pavilion Aero 13 (13-be0097nr)

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro

Dell XPS 13 OLED (9310)

Microsoft Surface Laptop 4

Note:

Longer bars indicate better performance

Streaming video playback battery drain test (minutes)

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro

Microsoft Surface Laptop 4

HP Pavilion Aero 13 (13-be0097nr)

Dell XPS 13 OLED (9310)

Note:

Longer bars indicate better performance

System Configurations

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro	Microsoft Windows 11 Home (64-bit); 3.3GHz Intel Core i7-11370H; 16GB 4.27GHz LPDDR4X; 128MB Intel Iris Xe; 1TB SSD
HP Pavilion Aero 13 (13-be0097nr)	Microsoft Windows 10 Home (64-bit); 1.9GHz AMD Ryzen 7 5800U; 16GB DDR4 SDRAM 3.2GHz; 512MB AMD Radeon; 512GB SSD
Framework Laptop	Microsoft Windows 10 Pro (64-bit); 3GHz Intel Core i7-1185G7; 32GB DDR4 SDRAM 3.2GHz; 128MB Intel Iris Xe; 512GB SSD
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4	Microsoft Windows 10 Home (64-bit); 2GHz AMD Ryzen 7 4980U; 16GB DDR4 SDRAM 4.27GHz; 512MB AMD Radeon Vega 8; 512GB SSD
Razer Book 13	Microsoft Windows 10 Home (64-bit); 2.8GHz Intel Core i7-1155G7; 16GB DDR4 SDRAM 4.27GHz; 128MB Intel Iris Xe; 256GB SSD
Dell XPS 13 OLED (9310)	Microsoft Windows 10 Pro (64-bit); 3GHz Intel Core i7-1185G7; 16GB DDR4 SDRAM 4.27GHz; 128MB Intel Iris Xe; 512GB SSD

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Origin PC Evo17-S (2022) Review: Big Gaming Performance in a Thin 17-Inch Laptop

Origin PC Evo17-S (2022) Review: Big Gaming Performance in a Thin 17-Inch Laptop

Origin PC's Evo-17-S gaming laptop puts the blazing performance of top-end components in a slim, stealthy body, assembled with the personal touch of a custom PC builder. The 17.3-inch laptop is remarkably compact and light at 4.9 pounds (2.2 kilograms) and yet churns out impressive frame rates. 

The Evo17-S is compact for a 17.3-inch laptop.

Josh Goldman/CNET

Like the company's gaming desktop builds, you get more control over what goes into the Evo17-S than you would with any of the bigger-name brands. You can even choose what goes on the outside, too. And you get more personal service and support. There are a few opportunities for improvement, but overall the Evo17-S is a big-screen gaming laptop to shortlist, especially if you're after something that's more tailored to your wants.

Like

• Impressive performance
• Many configuration options
• Stellar service, support

Don't Like

• Noticeable display backlight bleed
• No per-key RGB keyboard lighting

Choice is yours

For the Evo17-S, Origin offers just a few combos of a display, Intel processor and Nvidia graphics processor. The starting configuration, currently priced at $2,416 (£2,203, AU$3,823) pairs a 144Hz 17.3-inch 1080p display, an Intel Core i7-12700H and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti. For $500 more, you can bump the graphics up to an RTX 3080 Ti or, for $800 more, you get the 3080 Ti with a Core i9-12900H CPU and a 240Hz 1440p display with 100% sRGB color space. 

From there you choose the RAM -- 16GB, 32GB or 64GB of Corsair Vengeance DDR5 -- and up to two, 2TB PCIe NVMe solid-state drives. This is where Origin stands out from the competition. While gaming laptops from others might let you pick the amount of storage you get, they don't offer a selection of brands, sizes and speeds to meet your needs and budget. Plus, with more laptops being made with the RAM soldered onboard, it's nice to have the option to add more down the road. 

This laptop is expensive, going over $4,000 fully loaded. But other gaming laptops similarly configured from Alienware and Razer are equally pricey. 

Origin PC Evo17-S (2022)

Price as reviewed	$3,545
Display size/resolution	17.3-inch 2,560x1,440 240Hz display
CPU	2.9GHz Intel Core i9-12900H
Memory	32GB 4,800MHz DDR5
Graphics	16GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti graphics
Storage	1TB NVMe PCIe Gen 4 SSD
Networking	802.11ax Wi-Fi 6, 2.5Gb Ethernet, Bluetooth 5.0
Operating system	Microsoft Windows 11 Home
Ports	USB-C Thunderbolt 4, USB 3.2 Gen 1 (x3), HDMI 2.1, DC-in, audio in, mic out

Origin also provides free labor on RAM and storage upgrades if you send in the laptop. In addition to its stellar reputation for hands-on support, Origin also offers a wider array of configuration options in its system-building tool, so you should be able to hit your dream specs pretty closely from the start. This includes parts from its parent company, Corsair. Parts are covered with a one-year replacement warranty and buyers get 24/7 US-based tech support.

The Evo17-S might be thin but its performance is big.

Josh Goldman/CNET

Performance that doesn't disappoint

With a top-notch processor and high-end graphics chip, it's not a surprise the Evo17-S can hit some high frame rates even on newer demanding games. Whether you want to have a more immersive gaming experience with the 1440p-resolution display and details set to high or drop the resolution and detail settings to really use the display's 240Hz refresh rate, the component combination in my review system can handle it. (Our benchmark test results are at the end of this review.)

The one minor performance ding would be the Corsair MP600 Pro SSD that was in my system that was slightly slower than WD and Samsung drives in other gaming laptops we've tested recently. It's unlikely to be a performance difference you'd notice in use, but it might be worth paying a little extra for the Samsung 970 Evo Plus or 980 Pro SSDs if you want the best speeds. 

The flat keycaps might look nice but they're not the best for gaming.

Josh Goldman/CNET

Predictably, a laptop this thin and powerful does get hot when you're gaming or doing anything else demanding. The fans do get loud but keep both the left and right sides of the laptop cool for your hands. The only place it gets hot on top is in the middle from above the keyboard down to the top of the touchpad.

Remarkably, battery life is pretty good. Gaming should still be done when it's plugged in. But if you want to kick back and stream some video or get some office work done away from an outlet, you can. On our streaming video test, it lasted 5 hours, 38 minutes. Some power management and reducing the screen brightness below 50% will stretch the battery time further. 

The display is nice, too

The base model of the Evo17-S has a 144Hz 1080p display. I can't speak to the quality of that display, unfortunately, but the higher-end 1440p 240Hz screen in my review laptop was quite good. Bright with good color and contrast, the display covered 96% sRGB, 68% NTSC and 73% AdobeRGB and P3 color spaces and its brightness at 100% measured 420 nits. 

At its highest brightness, though, I did notice backlight bleed at the corners in dark game scenes, especially at the bottom of the panel. This is not uncommon and not a deal-breaker for me, however, it might be for some potential buyers. 

The laptop's Control Center app gives you quick access to important settings. 

Josh Goldman/CNET

I have a few more minor criticisms. For instance, the lack of per-key RGB backlighting on the keyboard -- a feature you'd find on other gaming laptops at this price. The keyboard does have RGB lights, but you can only set them to solid colors or a handful of different patterns. (There's a light bar at the front edge of the laptop as well.) I'm not a fan of the flat keycaps, but that's personal preference and in general, the keyboard's feel and layout are just fine. 

Also, the speakers are loud but they sound thin. There are separate audio-out and mic-in jacks on the right side, though, so get yourself some speakers or a headset to plug in instead. Similarly, the built-in webcam is 1080p, which does give you more detail than the 720p webcams that were once standard. Even in good lighting, though, there's visible image noise so you may still want to use a discrete webcam. With plenty of ports on the left, right and rear of the laptop, you can connect multiple displays and accessories. 

The Evo17-S is black but you can pay for a lid treatment to add a custom look. 

Josh Goldman/CNET

It's worth mentioning, too, that although the sturdy laptop comes in a stealthy black with a metal lid, soft-touch keyboard deck and a plastic bottom, you can opt to have Origin apply one of 11 prints to the lid for an additional $65. I like the all-black look, though, and makes it more office-friendly. 

Regardless of what you choose, you're still getting a nice-looking thin-and-light design packed with as much performance as you want to pay for and the personal service and support of a custom PC builder.

How we test computers

The review process for laptops, desktops, tablets and other computer-like devices consists of two parts: performance testing under controlled conditions in the CNET Labs and extensive hands-on use by our expert reviewers. This includes evaluating a device's aesthetics, ergonomics and features. A final review verdict is a combination of both those objective and subjective judgments. 

The list of benchmarking software we use changes over time as the devices we test evolve. The most important core tests we're currently running on every compatible computer include: Primate Labs Geekbench 5, Cinebench R23, PCMark 10 and 3DMark Fire Strike Ultra. 

A more detailed description of each benchmark and how we use it can be found in our How We Test Computers page. 

Geekbench 5 (multicore)

Acer Predator Triton 500 SE (2022)

Lenovo Legion 5i Pro

Razer Blade 15 (2022)

Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58

Note:

Longer bars indicate better performance

Cinebench R23 CPU (multicore)

Lenovo Legion 5i Pro

Acer Predator Triton 500 SE (2022)

Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58

Razer Blade 15 (2022)

Note:

Longer bars indicate better performance

PCMark 10 Pro Edition

Acer Predator Triton 500 SE (2022)

Razer Blade 15 (2022)

Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58

Note:

Longer bars indicate better performance

Online Streaming Battery Drain Test (in minutes)

Acer Predator Triton 500 SE (2022)

Note:

Longer bars indicate better performance

3DMark Wild Life Extreme

Lenovo Legion 5i Pro

Acer Predator Triton 500 SE (2022)

Razer Blade 15 (2022)

Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58

Note:

Longer bars indicate better performance

Guardians of the Galaxy (High @1920 x 1080)

Acer Predator Triton 500 SE (2022)

Razer Blade 15 (2022)

Note:

Longer bars indicate better performance

Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Highest @ 1920 x 1080)

Acer Predator Triton 500 SE (2022)

Note:

Longer bars indicate better performance

System Configurations

Origin PC Evo17-S	Microsoft Windows 11 Home; 2.9GHz Intel Core i9-12900H; 32GB DDR5 4,800MHz; 16GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080Ti; 1TB SSD
Acer Predator Triton 500 SE (2022)	Microsoft Windows 11 Home; 2.9GHz Intel Core i9-12900H; 16GB DDR5 4,800MHz; 16GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080Ti; 1TB SSD
Razer Blade 15 (2022)	Microsoft Windows 11 Home; 2.4GHz Intel Core i7-12800H; 16GB DDR5 4,800MH; 8GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070Ti; 1TB SSD
Alienware x15 R2	Microsoft Windows 11 Home; 2.3GHz Intel Core i7-12700H; 32GB DDR5 6,400MHz; 8GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti; 512GB SSD
Lenovo Legion 5i Pro	Microsoft Windows 11 Home; 2.3GHz Intel Core i7-12700H; 16GB DDR5 6,400MHz; 8GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti; 512GB SSD
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58	Microsoft Windows 11 Home; 2.5GHz Intel Core i5-12500H; 16GB DDR4 3,200MHz; 6GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060; 512GB SSD

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• Origin Pc Review 2020
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Motorola Moto X Pure Edition (unlocked) review: Customization champ, but middle-of-the-pack phablet overall

Motorola Moto X Pure Edition (unlocked) review: Customization champ, but middle-of-the-pack phablet overall

I like the Moto X Pure Edition (or Style as its globally known), but I was honestly ready to love it. For one thing, it's an unlocked phone available directly from Motorola at a reasonable price, and it's designed to work on all of the major US wireless carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon and Sprint) -- that's a big step up from most unlocked phones that only work on the first two in that list. Likewise, the international Moto X Style should work on all the carriers in whichever territory it's sold -- and many countries will also get the stepdown Moto X Play phone, which is not currently slated for a US release.

In addition, this 5.7-inch follow-up to 2014's Motorola Moto X also promises the same customization options, like choosing between different trim colors and the material of the backing, that made me buy that model as my personal device. And in this sea of lookalike phones, this is a distinct advantage that the Moto X Pure Edition has over its rivals.

But instead, I was disappointed. Its larger design (up from 5.2 inches) feels far too cumbersome for smaller hands like mine. Battery life was unexceptional, its camera wasn't massively impressive and aside from a few minor tweaks, Motorola's Moto services don't feature anything substantially new.

When you compare it to a top-tier large-screen device like the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 , its drawbacks become even more obvious. And if you consider the current diverse landscape of unlocked handsets with the OnePlus 2 and ZTE Axon Pro , Motorola's phone doesn't quite come out on top. Though the Moto X was one of our favorite budget flagships last year, the same can't be said for the Moto X Pure Edition.

Availability

In the US, the handset starts at $400 unlocked ($100 less than last year's starting price). The price will increase, however, depending on storage capacity and certain design options.

In the UK the Style, as it's known, starts at £399 for 32GB of storage, with 64GB setting you back £434.

In Australia the Style is exclusive to Vodafone and only available on contract. It's available on both the AU$80 and AU$100 plans, for AU$3 of monthly handset repayments. That's a total cost over 24 months of AU$1,992 and AU$2,472 respectively.

Design and build

• 5.7-inch display with 2,560x1,440-pixel (2K) resolution
• 6.1 by 3 by 0.4 inches (154 by 76 by 11.1mm)
• 6.3 ounces (179 grams)

Compared to the 2014 Moto X , Motorola increased the Moto X Pure Edition's display by half an inch, bumping up the device's overall footprint. Though it isn't as big as the Google Nexus 6 (which was manufactured by Motorola before Google sold it off to Lenovo), the size jump still makes it notably bigger than the previous 5.2-inch Moto X . That means -- for some -- it won't fit in your front pockets easily and you can't maneuver it with one hand comfortably. I passed it around for several opinions, and even tall people with large hands noted problems reaching for the notifications shade with their thumbs.

We got our hands on a black variant with a walnut wood backing and silver trim.

Josh Miller/CNET

But putting aside the size, it's still an attractive, quality built handset. Its curved backing conforms to your palm and the screen's glass panel smoothly curves down the side edges. The control buttons are narrow, and the ridges on the power/sleep button makes it easier to identify by touch. And Motorola's metal M-dimple on the back of the previous generation has now shrunken in size and sits in an elegant metal strip that runs between it and the camera lens.

Keep in mind that unlike its cheaper Moto G counterpart that came out this year, the phone is not submersible underwater. It is water repellent though, so you won't have to worry about a few water droplets here and there.

The Moto X Pure Edition also has dual front speakers -- as in both speakers will output audio for music and movies (though only the bottom grille will output phone calls on speaker), resulting in a louder and fuller experience. This is different from last year's, which only used one stereo speaker for media, and the other served as the in-ear speaker for calls.

Most importantly, Motorola continues its legacy to enable users to customize the look of the device. You can start with either a black or white base color, choose the accent colors (as in, the color of the speaker grilles on the front and the metal strip on the back), and the color of the back, which also comes in different materials: plastic, wood, bamboo and leather.

Some may argue that the ability to customize the handsets is trivial. But when the mobile market is saturated with so many phones that look the same, having a say over how yours looks (without the use of a case), is one of the few ways to have it stand out and make it truly yours. That matters to people, and it's a need that Motorola has tapped into well.

Other different design options for the Moto X Pure Edition.

Motorola

As for device's display, it's bigger as I mentioned before. It also has a sharp 1,440p resolution and it's maximum brightness level is bright enough to view comfortably outdoors in sunlight. Likewise, the minimum brightness level is also extremely dim, which is useful for avoiding eye-strain when viewing your handset in the dark.

The screen has a wide viewing angle and is responsive to the touch. I had no problems reading text and playing games, and streaming YouTube videos and watching the HD movie "Gravity" looked smooth and crisp. There's also a new setting under Display where you can choose between two color modes: normal or vibrant. Under normal mode, colors are already bright and vivid. But with the latter, hues are more saturated and richer.

Software and features

• Google Android 5.1.1 Lollipop OS
• Minimal Motorola software
• Useful gesture controls

Despite its name, the Moto X Pure Edition isn't exactly the "purest" Android device, at least not compared to the Google's own Nexus family (understandably) and Play Edition handsets (though the latter has ceased all production since January). Don't be too disappointed, though -- if you want an untouched Android experience, Motorola's Moto line comes pretty close.

First, because you can get it unlocked, you won't get any carrier bloatware and branding. Instead, you'll get the usual set of Google apps such as the Chrome Web browser, Gmail, YouTube and more. Second, while you won't have a manufacturer user interface overlaid on top of the phone in the same way TouchWiz and Sense skins Samsung and HTC devices, respectively, Motorola still included some useful features under its Moto app.

These features are accessible under a single Moto app, which has Moto Assist, Actions, Voice and Display. Assist adjusts your Moto X Pure Edition settings depending on where you are or what you're doing. If you've scheduled a meeting into Google Calendar, for example, the device can switch to vibrate right and reply to any missed calls with a predetermined message.

Motorola's suite of software features (left), including Moto Voice commands (right).

Lynn La/CNET

Actions is all about gesture controls: Twist your wrist with the phone in your hand to launch the camera or chop your hand in the air to turn on and off the flash to use as a flashlight.

Motorola's voice input, called Voice, works similarly to Google Now, so if you've used that feature before, you have a good idea of what to do here. It works with both built-in and third-party apps and you can set an alarm, navigate to a destination with Maps, look up a song title that's playing at the moment, begin a Twitter post and more.

Display shows any missed notifications you have, even while the device is sleeping, with a wave gesture. The current time and any missed notifications will pop up in white. You can preview a missed notification by longpressing its app icon, or press-and-swipe to launch it directly from the screen.

Because it offers a nearly vanilla Android experience, you won't get any carrier bloatware.

Josh Miller/CNET

Two other apps, Moto Connect and Migrate, round up the last of the handset's Motorola software. Connect manages all peripheral Motorola gadgets you may have like the Moto 360 smartwatch or a pair of its wireless headphones. Migrate helps you port over your contacts, apps and other files from a previous phone onto your new Moto X Pure Edition.

For the most part, Motorola's software works well. I am a fan of Moto Display, which doesn't sound like much, but it saves you from having to press the power button throughout the day to see any missed notifications. And while it isn't a new feature, flicking the device to fire up the camera is convenient and saves a lot of time.

The handset is, however, loaded with your standard line of Google apps.

Josh Miller/CNET

I did run into some issues, however. For one thing, you'll need the latest version of the Moto app to update your status on Facebook hands-free through Moto Voice. Otherwise, the handset will reply that it can't connect to "the cloud" after you dictate a post. And while you can dictate Facebook posts and text messages, you can't do the same on Twitter. Voice just activates a small Twitter window so you can begin posting, but you'll need to type out the actual message.

It's also unclear what requires you to say your PIN when you use Voice commands while the phone is locked. For example, posting to Facebook prompts a PIN confirmation, but sending a text doesn't. The chopping gesture to activate the flash also doesn't feel natural or work as smoothly, and half the time I'm afraid I'll end up chucking my device across the room.

But perhaps the most disappointing thing is that compared to its predecessor, the Moto X Pure Edition doesn't offer anything substantial in terms of new software. A small amount of tweaks have been made, but overall, nothing substantial has been added. In some ways that's understandable since Motorola is purposely staying as close to the pure Android experience as one can get. But it's still a bit of a letdown to know that your new handset carries the same bag of tricks as it did last year.

Cameras and video

• 21-megapixel rear-facing camera
• 5-megapixel front-facing camera
• Can record 4K (rear) and 1,080p (front) video
• Night mode shooting and wide-angle front-facing camera has its own flash

The native camera app isn't loaded with tons of editing features, but both cameras do have HDR (high dynamic range) shooting, a touch-focus module where you can adjust the exposure as well, a digital zoom, a timer and geotagging. They also have a flash (yes, even the front-facing camera so you can brighten up your selfies) and a new shooting mode called "night mode" for low-light environments. Photos can be taken in either the wide 16:9 aspect ratio or the more squarish 4:3.

As for video, both front and rear cameras can record 1,080p HD footage and slow-mo videos in 720p (a change from the predecessor's better 1,080p slow-mo capabilities). While shooting video, you can also take pictures and pause recording.

The rear camera in particular can also take panoramic photos and scan QR codes and bar codes to look up via Google or copy onto the clipboard. And on top of already shooting 1,080p video, it can also record ultra-HD 4K video, which -- at 3,840x2,160p -- offers four times the resolution of 1,080p. That's state of the art -- albeit of dubious value, however.

Say cheese! The front-facing camera comes with its own flash. Josh Miller/CNET

In this well-lit indoor photo, objects are still clear and easy to make out, and lighting is evenly exposed. Lynn La/CNET

As for picture quality, photos looked decent, and the camera does well for everyday informal shots. Though they didn't manage to blow me away, it's still adequate enough to post online or print out a small photo.

Pictures taken outdoors or in amply-lit indoor environments looked great: colors were accurate, objects were clear with defined outlines and you can still see a lot of details retained at full resolution. There were a few times when the phone took a couple of tries to focus on an object up close, but eventually it'd lock on and snap a clear picture. Photos taken in low-light environments didn't fare as well, which is a common occurrence in smartphone photography. Though night mode improved exposure somewhat, I still saw a noticeable amount of digital noise, graininess and muted colors.

Because the front-facing camera has a wide-angle lens, my photos captured more content and space into the frame. As such, however, do expect to get some elongated angles near the corners of your pictures. For more information on camera quality, click the photos below to view them at their full resolution.

Video quality was solid. Nearby and distant audio was picked up well without any noticeable noise distortion, and both moving and still objects looked smooth and sharp. There was no discernible lag between my moving of the camera and what I saw in the viewfinder, and the camera was able to swiftly shift focus and exposure as I moved it around.

Night mode brightened up this dimly lit bar a tad -- but the photo is still not so great.

Lynn La/CNET

In our standard studio shot, these items look clear and defined, and the flash didn't leave any harsh reflections against the background.

Lynn La/CNET

This photo taken on a sunny day shows true-to-life colors and images that are sharp and in focus.

Lynn La/CNET

Though the stems and leaves on the right are clear, the right pomegranate gets blurry around the edges.

Lynn La/CNET

With its wide-angle front-facing camera, you can capture more content with your selfies (or groupies if you have friends).

Lynn La/CNET

Hardware performance

• 1.8GHz 6-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808
• 600MHz Adreno 418 graphics processing unit
• 16GB, 32GB or 64GB of internal storage with up to 128GB of expandable memory
• 3GB of RAM
• 3,000mAh nonremovable battery

Though the Moto X Pure Edition's processor has a lower clock speed than its predecessor (from 2.5 to 1.8GHz), its Snapdragon 808 processor still operates swiftly and smoothly. For one thing, the CPU is no slacker (it's the same one featured in the LG G4 ) and the RAM has been bumped up to 3GB. In general, I didn't notice any stuttering issues or lag while executing a number of everyday tasks like calling up the app drawer, opening the camera and switching between apps. Images for graphics-intensive games like Riptide GP 2 and Kill Shot were rendered fast and smooth, and the overall gaming experience was solid. It took about 37 seconds to power off and restart the device and 1.38 seconds to launch the camera.

Also, unlike the previous two versions of the Moto X, Motorola added a MicroSD card slot that can hold up to 128GB of extra memory -- giving you more breathing room for your photos and files.

But while the handset provides plenty of power to satisfy your daily smartphone needs, its benchmark scores falls behind its competitors. That's not surprising since the Galaxy Note 5 belongs to a more premium caliber, and both the OnePlus 2 and the ZTE Axon Pro sport the 8-core Snapdragon 810 processor. In that sense, the Moto X Pure Edition performed well for itself, but aside from having the second-highest single-core Geekbench 3 result among the latter two, it altogether fell a bit short of the other devices.

Benchmark test comparison

Motorola Moto X Pure Edition 19,725 1,271 3,528 Samsung Galaxy Note 5 24,589 1,488 4,939 OnePlus 2 22,645 1,142 4,461 ZTE Axon Pro 25,742 868 3,958

• 3DMark Ice Storm (unlimited)
• Geekbench 3 (single-core)
• Geekbench 3 (multi-core)

Note: Longer bars indicate better performance

Call quality and data speeds

• GSM/GPRS/EDGE: (850/900/1800/1900 MHz)
• CDMA: (800/850/1900MHz)
• UMTS/HSPA+: (850/900/1700(AWS)/1900/2100MHz)
• LTE B1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/17/25/26/38/41
• Wi-Fi 802.11 a/g/b/n/ac + MIMO
• Wi-Fi 802.11 a/g/b/n/ac + MIMO

For US customers, Motorola's handset is unique because it works for carriers that operate on either GSM or CDMA technology. Meaning, for example, the phone can make calls and surf the Internet on AT&T and T-Mobile's network (which uses the GSM standard) and do the same on Verizon and Sprint (which uses CDMA). This isn't a huge deal if you don't plan on leaving your carrier, but for those switching from a GSM to CDMA carrier or vice versa, or already have two devices on these different platforms, know that you can use the same Moto X no matter what network you go with.

Motorola Moto X Pure Edition average data speeds

4G LTE download rate	11.7Mbps
4G LTE upload rate	15.82Mbps
CNET mobile site load	4 seconds
CNET desktop site load	4 seconds
Temple Run 2 app download (44.52MB)	34 seconds
"Gravity" movie download (1.7GB)	24 minutes and 31 seconds

As for call quality, I tested the unlocked handset using AT&T's cellular network. Call quality was great. Volume range was appropriate (with the maximum volume being satisfyingly loud), my calling partner was clear and easy to understand and I didn't pick up any extraneous buzzing or static. Audio speaker was also reliable. As I mentioned before, speaker calls only comes out from the bottom grille, but that's still enough to hear my partner well, even when I was outdoors nearby noisy traffic. Likewise, I was told that I sounded good too, and when I stepped outdoors, my partner did not pick up any background sounds from the surrounding environment.

The phone's fast-charging Turbo Charger.

Josh Miller/CNET

Data speeds on AT&T's 4G LTE network were fast. According to Ookla's speed test, it had an average download rate of 11.7Mbps and upload rate of 15.82Mbps. It took about 4 seconds to load each of CNET's mobile and desktop site and 34 seconds to download and install the 44.52MB game Temple Run 2. One attempt to download the 1.7GB, high-definition movie "Gravity" took 24 minutes and 31 seconds.

Battery Life

With heavy usage, the Motorola X Pure Edition's non-removable battery can deplete quickly. After spending a workday surfing the Web, downloading apps and making calls, I hit 30 percent by late afternoon. To last the rest of the evening, I had to plug in the device for a charge.

During our battery drain test for continuous video playback, the handset lasted an average of 8 hours and 46 minutes. Although last year's Moto X had a smaller screen, its lower-capacity 2,300mAh battery lasted over 10 hours. And compared to its rivals, the OnePlus 2's 3,300mAh battery lasted 9 hours and 46 minutes (though we weren't very impressed with that performance either), and the Axon Pro's 3,000mAh battery lasted shorter at 8 hours and 8 minutes (again, not the best from all parties). I you want to know what does impress us, the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 -- while admittedly a higher-tiered phone and expensive than all these devices -- lasted a whopping 15 hours of continuous playback on its 3,000mAh battery.

Motorola's handset, however, does come with a 25-watt Turbo Power charger, which promises to juice up your battery quickly. It does, in fact, charge the phone in a jiffy. When completely drained, it took only about an hour and 15 minutes to charge to 100 percent. And if you need to charge in a pinch, shutting it off and plugging it in for 10 minutes will gain about 20 percent battery life.

Conclusion

The Motorola Moto X Pure Edition is a great device for specific users. Google Android fans who can't wait until late September for the next Nexus reveal will enjoy the handset's nearly unsullied Android experience. The $400 phone bucks the current trend by offering external storage, and loops in support for the world's most prevalent network technologies -- CDMA and GSM -- so it should work with almost every carrier.

And with its numerous choices of color accents, engravings and materials, having a Moto X Pure Edition means having a device that reflects your own style. Heavily consider this handset if that's an important asset for you.

If it's not, however, there are lots of viable alternatives. If money isn't an issue, the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is the reigning Android supersize phone: It's powerful, stylish and has a long-lasting battery.

The Moto X Pure Edition is witnessing a far more competitive landscape for unlocked handsets than its predecessor.

Josh Miller/CNET

In addition, the mobile landscape for unlocked phones has changed a lot since last year's Moto X came out. They are getting more powerful at a lower cost.

For US customers, the $500 ZTE Axon Pro costs $100 more but has a 8-core Snapdragon 810 processor, 4GB of RAM and tons of native camera features. Globally, you can try and nab the OnePlus 2 . Due to its limited availability it can be hard to get, but if you do, it starts at the very competitive price of $330 (£215 or AU$450, converted). It's also equipped with the 810 CPU and if you're keen on wood backings like the ones that come with the Moto Xs, the OnePlus 2 has that as well.

All in all, the Moto X Pure Edition is a reliable and quality-built device, but if you have the previous model, don't feel like you're missing out on anything. The competition is fierce these days, and while the Moto X may be partially to blame for setting my expectations too high, the X Pure Edition just doesn't deliver that winning combination of style, power and value that I've come to expect.

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