con Ofertas del Cyber Monday A medida que llegan a su fin, las computadoras portátiles para juegos están volando de los estantes a precios increíbles. El MSI A15 Thin de 15 pulgadas es un gran ejemplo porque puedes conseguirlo en las próximas horas por sólo 15 dólares. $ 939,99 (antes $ 1199,99) en Newegg.
Aquí hay mucho valor por menos de $ 1,000, incluida una pantalla IPS fluida de 144 Hz, la GPU para computadora portátil RTX 4060 de Nvidia, un procesador Ryzen 9 8945HS, 16 GB de RAM DDR5 y un SSD de 1 TB. ¡No dejes pasar esta oferta del Cyber Monday, consigue una nueva computadora portátil para juegos a un excelente precio!
Las mejores ofertas de portátiles para juegos MSI de hoy
La MSI A15 Thin es una excelente computadora portátil que puede guardar en una bolsa o mochila para computadora portátil y llevarla a la casa de un amigo o de viaje de vacaciones. Es liviano, pesa solo 4,10 libras (1,86 kg) y es tan elegante como puede serlo con un exterior completamente negro, y la relación rendimiento-precio definitivamente se inclina a su favor durante esta oferta del Cyber Monday.
La cuestión es que solo te quedan unas horas para conseguirlo a este precio: $ 939,99, originalmente $ 1199,99. Si está buscando un regalo de computadora portátil para juegos para las fiestas, ¡esta es su oportunidad!
Si desea revisar sus otras opciones primero, visite nuestro sitio web Guía de ofertas de portátiles Cyber Monday. ¡Pero date prisa porque el tiempo corre para estas rebajas de última hora!
Para obtener una versión más asequible y con especificaciones más bajas del MSI Thin A15 AI, pruébalo MSI GF63 Delgado mirar.
Encontrar una computadora portátil para juegos potente con un presupuesto limitado puede ser difícil, pero es posible. Si su objetivo es una potente computadora portátil para juegos de menos de 100.000 rupias, MSI tiene excelentes opciones que no lo decepcionarán. Repasemos lo que caracteriza a una buena computadora portátil para juegos y echemos un vistazo más de cerca a tres excelentes opciones impulsadas por IA: Cyborg 15 AI, Thin 15 AI y Katana A15 AI.
Qué buscar en una computadora portátil para juegos
Antes de sumergirse en las computadoras portátiles, es esencial saber qué características realmente importan:
Procesador: Este es el cerebro de tu computadora portátil. Un buen procesador garantiza que todo funcione sin problemas, ya sea que estés jugando o realizando múltiples tareas.
Tarjeta gráfica: Para los juegos, la GPU es crucial. Maneja todos los aspectos visuales de los juegos, desde texturas hasta sombras.
RAM: Más RAM significa que su computadora portátil puede manejar más tareas a la vez, lo cual es especialmente útil para jugar.
almacenamiento: Un SSD es más rápido que un disco duro tradicional, lo que significa tiempos de carga más rápidos para tus juegos.
una oferta: La alta frecuencia de actualización y la buena resolución hacen que tus juegos se vean mejor y se ejecuten sin problemas.
Sistema de refrigeración: Los juegos generan calor. Un buen sistema de refrigeración es fundamental para mantener tu portátil funcionando al máximo rendimiento.
Capacidades de inteligencia artificial: Hoy en día, las potentes computadoras portátiles para juegos también incluyen funciones impulsadas por inteligencia artificial que mejoran el rendimiento, mejoran los gráficos y administran el hardware y el software de manera más eficiente. Desde sistemas de refrigeración inteligentes hasta efectos visuales mejorados por IA y ajuste automático del sistema, estas soluciones de IA pueden marcar una gran diferencia en la calidad de los juegos.
Ahora que hemos cubierto los conceptos básicos, echemos un vistazo a lo que MSI tiene para ofrecer con estas tres computadoras portátiles.
MSI Cyborg 15 AI: dispositivo de juego futurista
El MSI Cyborg 15 AI combina un diseño sofisticado con un rendimiento potente. Cuenta con un procesador Intel Core Ultra 7, que incluye la última unidad de procesamiento neuronal de Intel para optimizaciones impulsadas por IA. Esta tecnología impulsada por IA mejora el rendimiento de su computadora portátil, ya sea que esté jugando, trabajando o transmitiendo en línea. La GPU NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 ofrece gráficos de primer nivel, compatibles con DLSS 3.5 y Ray Tracing con tecnología de IA, lo que mejora la calidad de la imagen y los elementos visuales del juego.
El MSI AI Engine en el Cyborg 15 AI ajusta automáticamente la configuración del sistema según los escenarios de uso, optimizando el rendimiento, la refrigeración y la eficiencia energética. El avanzado sistema de refrigeración de la computadora portátil, con diseño CPU-GPU Share-Pipe, garantiza la gestión del calor más eficaz durante sesiones de juego intensas.
Estéticamente, los paneles transparentes que rodean el chasis permiten a la Cyborg 15 AI vislumbrar su apariencia mejorada electrónicamente, lo que la hace destacar entre las computadoras portátiles para juegos. La pantalla HD de 15,6 pulgadas con una frecuencia de actualización de 144 Hz ofrece imágenes nítidas y fluidas. Además, está disponible la plataforma MSI AI Artist, que permite crear imágenes impulsadas por IA en la GPU RTX 4050, lo que la convierte en una herramienta versátil para tareas creativas.
MSI Thin 15: Diseño elegante con funciones avanzadas de IA
El MSI Thin 15 está diseñado para jugadores que valoran el estilo y el rendimiento. Está impulsado por un procesador Intel Core i7 de 13.ª generación que, combinado con la GPU NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050, garantiza experiencias de juego de primer nivel. Las GPU de la serie RTX 40 incluyen funciones impulsadas por IA como DLSS 3.5 y Ray Tracing, que ofrecen una calidad visual mejorada y una jugabilidad fluida.
El MSI Thin 15 AI Engine ajusta dinámicamente la configuración de rendimiento según la tarea en cuestión, garantizando que su computadora portátil funcione de manera eficiente ya sea que esté jugando, trabajando o transmitiendo contenido. El sistema de refrigeración AI mantiene la computadora portátil funcionando sin problemas, incluso durante un uso prolongado.
Con un diseño delgado y liviano de 21,7 mm, el Thin 15 es portátil y potente. La pantalla HD de 15,6 pulgadas con frecuencia de actualización de 144 Hz garantiza imágenes vibrantes y fluidas. Para aquellos a quienes les encanta ser creativos, la función MSI AI Artist brinda poderosas capacidades de creación de imágenes, lo que la convierte en una excelente opción para los jugadores que también profundizan en el trabajo creativo.
MSI Katana A15 AI: Diseñado para sobresalir en juegos impulsados por IA
MSI Katana A15 AI está especialmente diseñado para jugadores que exigen el máximo rendimiento. Cuenta con un procesador AMD Ryzen serie 8045HS, con tecnología de IA integrada que optimiza diversas tareas para una mejor eficiencia. La GPU NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 ofrece un rendimiento gráfico excepcional, con tecnología DLSS 3.5 y AI Ray Tracing, lo que garantiza que tus juegos se vean y se reproduzcan mejor que nunca.
El MSI AI Engine en el Katana A15 AI gestiona de forma inteligente el rendimiento del sistema, adaptándose a diferentes escenarios de usuario, como juegos o creación de contenido. Esto, combinado con soluciones de refrigeración impulsadas por IA, como el diseño CPU-GPU Share-Pipe, garantiza que la computadora portátil se mantenga fresca y funcione de manera óptima incluso bajo cargas pesadas.
La pantalla Full HD de 15,6 pulgadas con una frecuencia de actualización de 144 Hz ofrece una experiencia visual fluida, mientras que el teclado retroiluminado RGB de 4 zonas permite la personalización para adaptarse a su estilo de juego. Además, la plataforma MSI AI Artist permite la creación de imágenes impulsada por IA, lo que convierte al Katana A15 AI en un excelente dispositivo no solo para juegos sino también para proyectos creativos.
Pensamientos finales
Elegir la computadora portátil para juegos adecuada es esencial si deseas la mejor experiencia. MSI Cyborg 15 AI, Thin 15 AI y Katana A15 AI son dispositivos potentes y cada uno ofrece algo diferente.
El Cyborg 15 AI es ideal para quienes aprecian el diseño futurista combinado con funciones de inteligencia artificial de vanguardia. Es una computadora portátil que no solo funciona bien, sino que también luce como debería, lo que la convierte en una excelente opción para los jugadores que desean destacar.
Si la portabilidad y el estilo están en lo más alto de su lista, Thin 15 AI ofrece un diseño elegante y liviano sin sacrificar el rendimiento. Es perfecto para jugadores que necesitan moverse con frecuencia pero que aún desean un dispositivo confiable que pueda manejar los últimos juegos.
Para aquellos que priorizan la potencia bruta y la capacidad de afrontar cualquier desafío de juego, la Katana A15 AI está diseñada para cumplir con esos requisitos. Con su potente procesador y capacidades gráficas de vanguardia, está listo para cualquier cosa que le eches, lo que lo convierte en una opción sólida para los jugadores incondicionales.
En última instancia, cualquiera que sea el modelo que elija, estará eligiendo una computadora portátil diseñada para brindar una experiencia de juego de primer nivel. Estas opciones de MSI están diseñadas para ofrecer un alto rendimiento, lo que garantiza que pueda jugar a los últimos juegos sin problemas, todo ello con un presupuesto de menos de Rs 1 lakh.
May 10, 1999: The third-generation PowerBook G3 comes in 20% slimmer and 2 pounds lighter than its predecessor, but most people remember the laptop for its “bronze” keyboard. Although it doesn’t get a new name to distinguish it from previous laptops in the lineup, fans call it “Lombard” after Apple’s internal code name (or simply the “PowerBook G3 Bronze Keyboard”).
Improving the PowerBook G3 formula
The PowerBook G3, launched on this day in 1999, is not my favorite of the laptop line. (That would be the following year’s “Pismo” PowerBook, which still stands as one of Apple’s all-time best laptops.) Still, the Lombard model proved very popular in its day.
As the (actual) name suggests, it boasted Apple’s zippy PowerPC 750 (G3) processor. Running at either 333 or 400 MHz, the Lombard clocked in higher than its predecessors. However, Apple reduced the L2 cache, which meant that sometimes the laptop ran a bit more slowly.
Nobody could quibble about the laptop’s battery life, though, because Apple improved it significantly over previous models. The PowerBook G3 Lombard could run for five hours on a single charge. Plus, owners could add a second battery by switching out the optical drive in the expansion bay. That doubled battery life to a whopping 10 hours.
The translucent keyboard that gave the laptop its common name was made of bronze-tinted plastic rather than metal. A DVD drive came as an optional extra for the 333 MHz model, or as standard on all 400 MHz versions.
PowerBook G3 Lombard finally brings USB ports
The Lombard introduced USB ports to the PowerBook, although the laptop retained SCSI support for what turned out to be the last time. It dropped Apple Desktop Bus support altogether and ditched one of the PC Card slots, leaving just one.
Over the lifespan of the PowerBook G3, Apple phased out ADB and SCSI in favor of USB and the company’s Emmy Award-winning FireWire interface. Those changes made the Lombard a truly transitional laptop.
The PowerBook G3 Lombard offered 64MB of RAM, a 4GB hard drive, ATI Rage LT Pro graphics with 8MB of SDRAM, and a 14.1-inch TFT active-matrix color display. It required Mac OS 8.6 or later, but could run any Apple operating system up to OS X 10.3.9.
1999: A great year for Apple
The PowerBook G3 Lombard scored another home run for Apple. It came the year after Cupertino returned to profitability, as onlookers waited for the company to trip up.
In the end, 1999 proved a seminal year for the company. The ultra-popular iMac G3 rolled out in new colors, Apple released Mac OS 9, and the world got a glimpse of OS X for the first time.
While the new ultra-connected iBook became the most important player in Apple’s laptop lineup later that year, the PowerBook G3 Lombard certainly didn’t let the team down by any measure. The $2,499 laptop packed specs far ahead of what the competition offered at the time.
Did you own this particular PowerBook G3 laptop? Leave your comments below.
The new 11- and 13-inch iPad Pro models that Apple just introduced may be completely redesigned from the outside in, but they still feel a lot like their predecessors. That’s not a bad thing, as the old iPad Pro design was outstanding. But there’s no doubt Apple is flexing its hardware engineering muscles with these new tablets, not just with the M4 chip inside.
Both tablets are noticeably thinner and lighter than the ones they replace, something I didn’t really think was possible before. It’s frankly a little absurd to see such a thin and light device with such an advanced display and powerful processor. It still feels like the prior iPad Pro, just in a more refined package. My big question is around durability, something Apple mentioned during its keynote — I’d be a little worried about bending these iPads, but hopefully this is something Apple rigorously tested for. But it has had issues with thin products bending before (albeit a long time ago).
Photo by Nathan Ingraham / Engadget
After the impressive physical specifications, the next thing you can’t miss is the OLED screen. Technically, it’s a “Tandem OLED” screen, a display layer that is thinner than the one in the old iPad Pro which helped Apple achieve the wild thinness here. In Apple’s extremely bright demo area, the iPad Pro screen showed its quality — everything was extremely clear, blacks were pitch-black and colors really popped. After looking at the iPad Air display, it was obvious how much better these screens are. The viewing angles were particularly impressive to me, as images on the screen remained sharp, bright and clear no matter how I positioned the tablet.
I also got a chance to check out the Apple Pencil Pro, which looks and feels nearly identical to the second-generation Apple Pencil revealed way back in 2018. That’s OK, as the form factor is fine with me. It still connects to the side of the iPad Pro to charge and pair; all of its new tricks are under the hood. Squeezing the Pencil gives you a little burst of haptic feedback and pulls up a pane for selecting what brush you want to use in the FreeForm app demo I tried. But that action is customizable by third-party developers so the squeeze can do whatever is appropriate for the app you’re using. The gyroscope, meanwhile, lets you spin the Pencil as you draw to change angles of your brush on the fly.
Photo by Nathan Ingraham / Engadget
Unfortunately, we didn’t get to try the new Magic Keyboard Apple is producing for the iPad Pro, but Apple says it’s thinner and lighter than the old model. That older one will still be available for the iPad Air.
Between the display, the M4 processor and the new dimensions of the iPad Pro, this feels like a major update for Apple’s best tablet, with a price to match. Both the 11- and 13-inch iPad Pro are $200 more than their predecessors: the 11-inch model starts at $999, while the 13-inch is a whopping $1,299. But hey, at least storage now starts at 256GB! That pricing firmly puts these iPads out of reach for normal humans, and that’s OK — most people will be more than happy with a tablet like the iPad Air. If you want this wildly impressive screen, though, you’re going to pay for it.
You can also read my first impressions of the new M2-powered iPad Air right here.
Photo by Nathan Ingraham / Engadget
Follow all of the news live from Apple’s ‘Let Loose’ event right here.
Imagine a 13-inch iPad Pro that’s a quarter pound lighter than the last model, thinner than any gadget Apple‘s made before, and packing a completely new display technology, with Apple Silicon that is newer than brand new. Now open your eyes: That’s the Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (2024).
Apple took a huge swing with the latest Apple iPad Pro, bringing the most significant update in 7 years to both the 13-inch and 11-inch models. Much of what I’ll say about the stunning iPad Pro 13-inch applies to its smaller, 11-inch sibling, though there is one significant difference: the larger iPad Pro is even thinner than the smaller one: 5.1mm versus 5.3mm.
I didn’t get to spend much time using both iPad Pro tablets, though the iPad Pro 13-inch got the lion’s share, perhaps because I couldn’t stop marveling at its thinness and lightness.
More than just looks
(Image credit: Future)
I don’t think you can overstate the leap Apple took here with the iPad Pro line. Sure, it still has that signature recycled aluminum enclosure, but along with squeezing every last bit of air and space out of the tablet, Apple stuffed in a never-before-seen bit of Apple Silicon: M4.
To hear Apple tell it, this 9-core CPU (10 cores if you buy the 1TB or 2TB model), 10-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Processor SoC was necessary to support something I know I’ve never seen before: a Tandem OLED display. As the name implies, this is two complete OLED panels sandwiched together to make one whole. It would’ve been impossible to power that display with any other piece of Apple Silicon: Not even the relatively new M3 could do it.
(Image credit: Future)
Why two OLED displays? For the light. OLEDs are incredibly thin and efficient, but not bright enough. Two panels sandwiched together change that equation. It also means that Apple’s achieved some impressive contrast and brightness numbers. The iPad Pro boasts a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio, 1,000 nits brightness for SDR content, and 1,600 nits for HDR.
Those thin OLED panels (the previous display was mini-LED) are also how Apple was able to achieve the remarkable 5.1mm thickness on the iPad Pro 13-inch. It’s unclear if the new M4 SoC played any part in the tablet’s slim profile.
Apple is somewhat unique in the tech world in its ability to shepherd every stage of development and integration when building a new product. When the design team shows the chip team the wildly thin enclosure it has in mind, instead of heads exploding, Apple knows it has enough full-stack control to make it happen.
Pricing and availability
Apple announced its new iPad Pro 13-inch (2024) alongside an 11-inch model and two new iPad Air tablets (13-inch and 11-inch) on May 7, 2024. The iPad Pro 13-inch starts at $1,299 / £1,299 / $2,199 (the 11-inch starts at $999 / £999 / AU$1,699). It’s available in Silver and Black. Storage levels range from 256GB up to 2TB. You can order with WiFi-only or buy a more expensive Wi-Fi plus Cellular model. Preorders started on May 7. Shipping starts May 15.
Design and Display
As far as I’m concerned, it’s no longer possible to talk about the iPad Pro design without addressing what is now, in my early opinion, one of the most beautiful tablet displays on the market.
At a glance, you’d be forgiven for mistaking the new iPad Pro 13-inch (2024) for the 2022 model. It has those same flat planes, recycled aluminum body, and Apple logo on the back; but as I drew closer to the new slab, I did a double-take. This is one impossibly thin device.
At 5.1mm it looks thin enough to … er … bend. But when I picked up the 11.09in. x 8.48in. device, it felt rigid – sturdy even. And, oh my God, how is this thing so light?
I’ve held more than a few iPad Pro 12.9-inch tablets (and dropped and broke one in my time) and the 1.5 lbs always felt hefty. Not this iPad Pro, though. It’s somehow just 1.28 pounds – almost a quarter pound lighter than the last model (despite, screenwise, being slightly larger).
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(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
At this thickness and weight, the iPad is flirting with e ink tablet territory. It’s not much thicker and heavier than a Remarkable 2 (and obviously far more powerful).
On one short edge are a pair of speaker grills and the USB-C (Thunderbolt) port. There’s also a microphone along the same long edge as the volume up and down buttons. The top edge has the power/sleep button, a mic port, and the other two speakers, for four-speaker stereo output that I did not get to try out.
There are other smaller but important design changes like one less camera in the array on the back, as well as the welcome addition of a so-called Truetone flash. As I predicted (or at least hoped), the FaceTime camera shifted from the short portrait side to the landscape position – a change that necessitated reengineering the Apple Pencil magnetic charging system. Sadly, Apple did not add wireless charging to any of its new iPads.
(Image credit: Future)
The other thing that struck me as I approached the new iPad Pro was the screen. Apple told us all about the Ultra Retina XDR display (no more adjectives, Apple, please) and its innovative Tandem OLED technology. I can’t recall any other device delivering not one but two sandwiched OLED panels. Apple lines them up so that one pixel is behind the other, essentially doubling the illumination power. Still, seeing it in person I was struck by the sharpness (264ppi) and vibrancy. The colors in a field of flowers were astonishing, likely due to the Wide Color (P3) gamut, but it felt like more than that.
At one point I saw an anemone on a sea of black and noticed how there was almost zero bloom between the sea creature and the background, which made it look as if the sea creature was floating in space. I wanted to reach out and touch it. I have not seen such inky blacks since the heyday of classic plasma TVs.
(Image credit: Future)
Specular highlights, where tiny bits of light peak through the darkness, are shockingly bright. Apple claims a 1,000 nits brightest on SDR and 1,600 nits brightness on the Ultra Retina XDR display, and I have no reason yet to dispute it.
This is also the first iPad where you can specify a Nano-texture display glass option (1TB and 2TB storage options, only). For an extra $100, it adds a subtle texture that effectively beats back strong reflections. It’s a useful feature for pros working in harsh light, but I would not recommend it for someone who wants to watch movies in all their glory on the iPad Pro.
I mention the Tandem OLED display in context of the design, by the way, because Apple could not have produced such a thin tablet without it. That display is also responsible, in part, for the introduction of the new piece of Apple Silicon: the M4.
Performance: M4 inside
(Image credit: Future)
Built on the 3-nanometer architecture of the still-fresh M3, Apple’s new M4 pumps up the CPU cores to 9 cores (you can get 10 cores with the 1TB and 2TB models) and matches the 10-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine. Even so, this is not the same silicon.
Inside are processes built specifically to handle the grunt work of managing two OLED panels and making them look like one whole. It’s just another instance of Apple building its silicon to support its hardware products, and not the other way around.
Apple didn’t show us any new on-board generative AI tricks or a new LLM-powered Siri, but it is touting the M4’s 38 trillion operations per second.
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(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
What I saw through a series of demos and playing around a bit with the iPad Pro 13-inch is a powerful system that can handle everything. It can edit four 4K Pro-Res video streams at once in the new Final Cut Pro 2. It can re-render 3D objects on the fly without a pause for regeneration. It managed four video feeds at once, with real-time reflections in an action game, without breaking a sweat.
In the animation app, Procreate Dreams, we edited a 140-scene, 200-layer animation in seconds. My favorite part was using the Apple Pencil Pro to drag objects across a playing animation to create an animation for that object. This is typically difficult animation work that the iPad Pro and its M4 chip have turned into child’s play.
The M4 looks every bit as powerful, if not more so, than the M3-class chip on a MacBook Air, and it might approach the power of an M3 Max on a MacBook Pro.
Based on what I saw, the iPad Pro 13-inch running an M4 chip looks ready to rumble at work, for content consumption, for creators, and for gaming. I’m not surprised, since I’ve yet to come across a disappointing piece of Apple Silicon.
The M4 is supposedly as efficient a chip as its predecessors but Apple did do some work to manage heat dissipation, including somehow squeezing graphite sheets into the iPad and, in what might be a first, using the Apple logo as a heatsink: it now has some heat-managing copper in it.
Accessories
iPad Pro 13-inch with the new Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard (Image credit: Future)
It’s hard to talk about the new iPad Pro 13-inch (or really any of the new iPads, for that matter) without mentioning the new Apple Pencil Pro. The $129 implement looks familiar but has a host of new features, including barrel roll, squeeze-ability, and haptics. The new pencil works on all the new iPads launched today, and I did get a chance to try it on the iPad Pro.
If you’ve never drawn on an iPad of any size, I can tell you it’s a pleasure. I’ve been using various iPads and Apple Pencils with Procreate for years. It’s a tremendous drawing tool. The iPad offers palm rejection and the Pencil has long had tilt and pressure sensitivity. New features and an expansive and lightweight tablet create an even better experience.
(Image credit: Future)
First, there’s barrel roll, which essentially adds a gyroscopic sensor so that the Apple Pencil Pro can recognize when you roll it this way or that. On the new iPad Pro, I could see the virtual nub of the pencil change from a vertical to wide orientation. Imagine using a draftsman’s pencil and rolling the tip from horizontal to flat.
Second, the Pencil also added a squeeze function, which let me squeeze the pencil to access a variety of drawing features (app developers can easily customize the actions enabled through a squeeze) in apps like FreeForm. The Apple’s Pencil Pro’s new features and the M4 chip appear to make a formidable combination.
I watched a demo where the Pencil Pro was used to deform Procreate images with liquify, showing how it could be used to quickly create artistic effects that would normally take hours to accomplish.
In my own drawing attempts, I found the pen and tablet a fluid combo.
Cameras
(Image credit: Future)
Thickness and weight aren’t the only things Apple subtracted here. The iPad Pro 13-inch no longer has an ultra-wide camera. Instead, there’s now just a 12MP wide-angle camera that supports up to 4K, 60fps video (also 4K 40fps Pro-Res). The LIDAR camera is still there to assist in focusing and also helps capture 3D scans (I saw the results of one and began to realize how this iPad Pro might change the home design industry).
There’s also now a True Tone flash, a nice addition for the surprising number of people who like to use a large iPad Pro for photography.
I did not get to try this camera, so I can’t yet offer an assessment of its capabilities.
Perhaps the most significant imaging change, though is in the TrueDepth Camera module, which has shifted from the portrait edge to the wider landscape one. This is a very welcome design update since most people are conducting their iPad Pro video and FaceTime calls in landscape mode. I tried this camera out and it appeared to work fine; the 1080p video was as sharp and clear as I remember. You can also use that TrueDepth module for FaceID, but I did not have time to register my face and test that.
Connectivity and Battery
The iPad Pro 13-inch supports 5G wireless and eSim. It also supports Bluetooth 5.3 and WiFi 6e, but notably not WiFi 7, a weird omission for such a forward-leaning product.
Inside is a 38.99-watt-hour battery, which Apple claims will last 10 hours on a charge. Obviously, I could not test these claims in my limited hands on.
Early verdict
It’s been a long time since Apple delivered true iPad excitment. Even as a fan of the tablet and its Pencil accessory, I saw mostly utility and little romance in the iPad. Today, though, something shifted.
It’s not just the M4 chip, though putting Apple’s latest silicon in an iPad remained a surprising choice. It’s the combination of that chip, the incredible Tandem OLED display, and a design that is just a few millimeters away from paper thinness.
This is the kind of design, display, and performance that can, when put together, quite easily pry $1,299 from your hands.
I have yet to test the product but my early assessment is that the iPad Pro (2024) is a contender for the top of our list of best tablets.
Baseus Blade 2 Ultra-Thin Laptop Power Bank is loaded with great features, including two USB-C ports, 12,000 mAh of capacity, a max of 65W output and a built-in status display.
But what sets it part from the pack is its design. It’s slim enough to go easily into bags designed for MacBook and iPad. And it’s relatively lightweight, too.
I tested the Baseus Blade 2 with my gear. Here’s how well the accessory lived up to its promise.
March 25 only: Baseus is offering $30 off the regular cost. But the deal ends TODAY.
Baseus Blade 2 Ultra-Thin Laptop Power Bank review
Whenever I travel or just work remotely, I bring an external battery for my laptop. Whether I’m working or watching video, I don’t want to take even a chance of running out of juice. And I’ve learned through painful experience I can’t depend on finding a power socket when I need one.
I wish I didn’t have to because these power banks were always so bulky. I put my iPad Pro with a Magic Keyboard Case in a small messenger bag, and adding an external battery with enough juice to make a real difference feels like adding a brick.
But that’s not what the Baseus Blade 2 feels like. Rather than the usual blocky shape, it’s wide and thin — like a notebook.
But there’s room for not just the necessities like two USB-C ports, but a useful and cool status display screen.
Thinner is better in a portable power bank
Thin is in … in your laptop bag. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
If it isn’t obvious already, the reason I love Baseus’ newest power bank is its 6.4-inch by 5.2-inch by 0.4-inch design. For comparison, my previous favorite is almost three times that thick.
To be clear, Blade 2 doesn’t actually take up less room than other high-capacity power banks. But its slim shape makes it fit better in bags designed to hold notebooks.
Also, the weight comes in at 0.75 pounds. That’s not feather light, but it’s low enough that I don’t really feel it in my gear bag.
Just the right ports
Two USB-C ports are ready for your MacBook, iPad or iPhone. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
We are finally, finally putting the USB-A port behind us. You’ll find on one edge of Blade 2 a pair of USB-C ports, just the number you need to charge up your MacBook and iPhone at the same time.
And that seems to be Baseus’ plan because one of these ports can deliver 40W while the second tops out at 25 W. Or the accessory can deliver up to 65W to one device if only its first USB-C port is used.
Either port can be used to recharge the power bank itself at up to 60W. Some rival external batteries support charging through only one of their USB-C ports.
And a status screen, too
Something else that helps Baseus Blade 2 stand out from the pack is a small screen that displays exactly how much of a charge remains and how much power is flowing to each device. It’s a premium feature, and one I very much appreciate. I like to be sure my gear is really getting charged, and how quickly.
Beyond that, the notebook power bank makes predictions about how soon it will run out of power, or how long it will take to recharge. My testing shows these are somewhat accurate, but can’t take into account the fact that the batteries in Apple devices take in less power as they approach 100%.
Activate the screen with a button on one edge of the accessory.
Good performance from the laptop power bank
Blade 2 can keep a couple of Apple gadgets going for many hours. Photo: Baseus
Baseus Blade 2 Ultra-Thin Laptop Power Bank holds 12,000mAh. To be fair, many other premium external batteries hold 20,000mAh or more, which helps make this one thinner.
But it nevertheless holds enough power to be quite useful. Battery sizes vary between Apple devices, of course, but I tested it with my usual computers.
Blade 2 raised the battery level in my iPad Pro by 85%, almost doubling the useful time. The tablet was charging at approximately 35W, the most it can take.
As for my iPhone 15 Plus, Baseus’ power bank was able to raise the battery level 150% over successive charging cycles. That’s enough for a whole weekend of use.
I actually got the opportunity to use the charging accessory on an overnight trip. When I woke up the second day, the iPad battery was at a little under 50% while the iPhone battery was about two-thirds empty. I plugged them into Baseus’ product and 45 minutes later they both had roughly 90% charges while the Blade 2 had given all the power it could. That’s a nice result for an accessory this portable.
When I got home, recharging it took roughly an hour using my best wall charger, which was sending over 50W.
Baseus promises that the battery is good for 20,000 recharging cycles.
Baseus Blade 2 Ultra-Thin 65W Laptop Power Bank final thoughts
The Blade 2 is super-thin for portability. Photo: Baseus
This product should be a wake-up call to makers of other laptop power banks: thin is in. A slender accessory fits in the cases we use for our notebook computers far better than a blocky one does.
Baseus went for 12,000mAh, which is of mid-range size. But there’s still enough to add hours of use to a MacBook. Or days of use to an iPhone. And dual USB-C ports are just right.
The price is decent for a premium power bank from a reputable company.
★★★★★
I really couldn’t find any negatives in the product, and I always look for downsides.
Pricing
Baseus Blade 2 Ultra-Thin 65W Laptop Power Bank goes for $99. But today only, March 25, get $30 off by using code 30OFFBLADE from either:
If you prefer a laptop power bank with many of the same premium features but much more storage capacity, I recommend the HyperJuice 245W USB-C Battery Pack. It’s not as thin but holds a whopping 27,000mAh. My review gives the details.
Baseus rolled out its new Blade 2 Ultra-Thin 65W Laptop Power Bank on Monday. The thin portable power bank keeps MacBooks and other devices going.
The 65-watt, 12000mAh power bank includes a charge information display, intelligent app control and can charge up to two devices at once.
This post contains affiliate links. Cult of Mac may earn a commission when you use our links to buy items.
Baseus Blade 2 Ultra-Thin 65W Laptop Power Bank
The new Baseus Blade 2 smart power bank is super-slim for portability, so you can bring it with you and keep your MacBook going. It comes with intelligent features like a charging status screen and a control app. And it can power up two devices at once.
Baseus described the bank, showcased at CES 2024, this way:
The Blade2 Ultra-Thin Laptop Power Bank stands out with its impressively flat design, weighing approximately 11 ounces. Its sleek dimensions of approximately 0.4 inch thickness, and just 0.3 inch at its thinnest point, make it effortlessly portable, easily slipping into computer bags without occupying much space. This convenient new portable power bank from Baseus provides recharging capabilities anywhere, without the hassle.
Despite the thin portable power bank’s compact profile, its 12000mAh Polymer Lithium battery packs a lot of power. It uses EV-grade Silicon Carbon Anode battery technology. It boasts 20,000 recharging cycles for long-lasting performance, according to Baseus.
Custom digital display and Intelligent Control App
A display tells you the bank’s charging status and an app helps you control the device. Photo: Baseus
The device features 65W fast charging output for laptops and other devices. And its PD60W self-charging input shows up on a custom digital display interface powered by BDIP digital power technology.
Baseus Intelligent Control App enables real-time monitoring, personalized settings and charging insights on the go, Baseus said.
“For maximum convenience and versatility, users can take advantage of superior charging for all their devices with the dual C-port setup that allows them to charge two devices at the same time,” the company said. “Using BPS2.0 intelligent power distribution technology, the 45W and 20W Type-C ports provides complete peace of mind knowing that all their devices can be fully charged and ready to go at a moment’s notice.”
Universally compatible, the thin portable power bank works with more than 1,000 devices and supports PD, SCP, QC, FCP, AFC, and many other fast-charging protocols for a variety of devices.
The power bank comes equipped with up to eight different safety protocols in place. They include short circuit, over-discharge, temperature, over-charge, over-power, restore, over-current and over-voltage protection, Baseus said.
You can buy the Baseus Blad e2 Ultra-Thin 65W Laptop Power Bank at Baseus or Amazon for $99.9. But a promotion running until March 25 discounts it to $69.99. Just check the box on Amazon to use code 30OFFBLADE.
This ultra-slim 65-watt power bank offers fast charging with app control with LED charging status display. The 12000mAh portable charger works with MacBooks, iPhone 15/14 Series, Samsung, iPad, Switch, Steam Deck and more.
Amazon has announced the Amazon WorkSpace Thin Client, a new compact computer that is designed to access cloud-based virtual desktops, and it will retail for $195 in the USA, the device is based on the Amazon Fire TV Cube.
The new Workspaces Thin Client is designed for use in customer services, technical support, health care and many more business, you can see more details aboutg the devcie below.
At first glance, it may look like a Fire TV Cube, but the new Amazon WorkSpaces Thin Client is not for spending time watching Thursday Night Football or bingeing Invincible. As the name suggests, it’s intended for enterprise workers to reduce an employer’s technology costs and provide enhanced security.
For a significant portion of the workforce, some form of remote and hybrid work is here to stay, particularly in industries such as customer service, technical support, and health care. Enabling people to work in this way, securely and at the scale large enterprises require, poses real challenges. Employees need quick, reliable access to a variety of business applications and data—regardless of where they are working. Enter the Amazon WorkSpaces Thin Client.
You can find out more information about the new Amazon WorkSpace Client over at the Amazon website at the link below,it will be available in the USA for $195.
Source Amazon
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May 10, 1999: The third-generation PowerBook G3 comes in 20% slimmer and 2 pounds lighter than its predecessor, but most people remember the laptop for its “bronze” keyboard. Although it doesn’t get a new name to distinguish it from previous laptops in the lineup, fans call it “Lombard” after Apple’s internal code name (or simply the “PowerBook G3 Bronze Keyboard”).
