The 2020 Nissan Sentra is a must-see car if you are shopping for an affordable four-door car in 2020. With a new engine, new style, and a more comfortable ride it’s going to catch your eye. Inside, you’ll find all the latest technology, loads of driver-assist features, and a significant amount of value.

This is a compact car that starts under $20,000 and is $25,325 as tested in the SR trim level with Premium features and Premium paint. The design of the 2020 Sentra makes this look like a more expensive car, and the designers did an excellent job bringing the sporty front end into the body of the car, which helps it share the style with the larger Maxima.

While the driving dynamics aren’t as sporty as you can find on some competing compact cars, the 2020 Sentra is an amazing option that you need to check out if you are shopping in this segment.

The 2020 Nissan Sentra earns a Gotta Be Mobile Editor’s Choice Award for the excellent mix of style, technology, driver convenience features, and overall value. Here’s more on why the 2020 Nissan Sentra captured our attention.

2020 Nissan Sentra Interior & Design

The 2020 Sentra interior looks great and we love the accent stitching.

The 2020 Sentra interior is more modern and luxurious than the outgoing model. While this is not a luxury car, the interior is punching above its weight class.

Contrast stitching on the seats, the leather-wrapped steering wheel, and shifter elevate the interior style of the Sentra. Even though this is a compact car, there is a lot of room in the front for the driver and passenger. The interior offers a very modern vibe and style. Small touches throughout the cabin add up, including the flat bottom of the steering wheel, the accent stitching, and light in the USB area.

The flowing lines of the dash combine with the circular upscale looking vents to elevate the interior style significantly. The seats are comfortable, though they are not the zero gravity seats that you will find in some Nissan models. With the premium package, the driver seat is a 6-way power adjustable seat with 2-way lumbar support, and both front seats and the steering wheel are heated.

The new Sentra design is eye catching.

In the backseat, there is room for two adults, but there is limited headroom so taller passengers will feel a bit cramped even though there is enough legroom. The same styling carries over to the back seat. There is a fold-down armrest in the middle and storage cubbies on both doors. Nisan includes a Rear Door Alert, which will signal to remind you that you may have left someone or something in the back seat. The trunk is large enough for several sets of golf clubs or a full-on grocery run.

The exterior of the Nissan Sentra is especially eye-catching in the two-tone Monarch Orange paint job with a black roof. There’s no reason an affordable car needs to be bland. We spoke with Marcus Quach, Senior Designer at Nissan Design America, about the Sentra and he shared that a lot of care went into laying out the surfaces on the Sentra so that they connect seamlessly and balance with the V-Motion grille.

2020 Nissan Sentra Tech & Safety

The 2020 Nissan Sentra is packed with tech options including an easy to see screen and infotainment system that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. With these options, you can easily use your phone for navigation, music, calls, and texts as well as for voice control using Siri or Google Assistant. The base system is useful, but ultimately most buyers will want to plug in and use one of these options. There is a 7-inch touch screen on the S, but if you choose the SV or the SR trim level you get a larger 8-inch display that adds in support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Combined with the addition of push-button start and the Intelligent Key as well as other upgrades, it is worth the cost to jump up to the SV trim.

The 2020 Nissan Sentra SV and SR include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 2020 Sentra SR Premium that we tested includes several smart upgrades that we like including LED headlights, a power sliding moonroof, an 8-speaker Bose system, and an intelligent around-view monitor. We came away impressed with the Bose system, which excelled for podcasts and audiobooks as well as rocking out to our favorite music. Call quality over the built-in microphone and speaker system was good while using Bluetooth or plugged in with Apple CarPlay.

Connectivity is good with USB C and standard USB as well as a 12V outlet up front, and there is one USB port in the back seat.

Nissan packs in a lot of driver convenience features on the Sentra. Blind Spot Monitoring is standard, as is Intelligent Forward Collision Warning, Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Warning, Rear Automatic Braking, Rear Sonar, a backup camera, and High Beam Assist. This is an impressive set of features on a base model.

On the SV and higher trim level, you get Intelligent Cruise control, which works very well. Intelligent Cruise lets you set your desired speed, then choose how much space to keep in between you and the car in front of you. From there, the car will automatically slow or speed up to keep you with the flow of traffic. It is great for longer trips, and one of our favorite car features. The Premium package adds in a 360 view system that makes getting into and out of tight spots easier.

Driving the 2020 Nissan Sentra

The 2020 Sentra handles nicely and offers a comfortable ride.

The new engine in the Sentra offers more power and the continuously variable transmission (CVT) is better than others that we’ve driven, but it’s not quick and doesn’t match up to the sporty looks. There is no longer a manual option, so you’ll end up with the 2.0L engine and the CVT. This is not a bad combination if you are just looking to get around town, take road trips, and enjoy a cruise.

It’s not super quick, but thanks to good handling and nice steering setup, the Sentra is fun on country roads or on a winding journey. The engine and transmission are underwhelming when you mash on the gas, especially when you are going from a full stop up to highway speeds. The suspension does a good job of handling imperfect roads and even soaking up mid-size potholes.

The fuel economy is rated at 29 mpg city, 39 mpg highway and 33 mpg combined. This is in line with the numbers we saw while testing a pre-production version of the Sentra in early 2020.

2020 Nissan Sentra Review is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

The Roborock H6 vacuum is a Dyson alternative that’s incredibly easy to use, offers long battery life, great suction and a plethora of attachments. After weeks of testing and comparing to a Dyson version, it’s clear that Roborock’s robot vacuum tech is a winner as a standalone vacuum.

The Roborock H6 is $449 and it is a great companion to a robot vacuum. It’s great for quick cleanup and for getting behind things, deep cleaning and other cleaning tasks. We’ve used it on hardwood, carpet, to clean the coils on the back of a refrigerator and to clean the car.

The Roborock H6 earns a Gotta Be Mobile Editor’s Choice Award for ease of use, cleaning capability and offering incredible value. You can buy the Roborock H6 at Amazon starting in Q2.

Install and Setup

The Roborock H6 mounts to the wall easily and keeps all your attachments at hand.

Installing the H6 is easy, it comes with a wall mount that you attach with two screws. This allows you to charge the vacuum by sliding it into the mount. There are also spots to store all the included attachments. The mount is a handy way to charge and keep everything ready to go when you need the other accessories. You can also just plug the H6 into the charger if you can’t attach a mount to your wall.

Setting up the vacuum takes a few minutes, just snap together the parts you plan to use most and then hang the accessories on the mount. Our unit shipped with a small charge, but plan on charging before you use it.

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Using the Roborock H6

The Roborock H6 is light and easy to use on the floor, ceiling, your car or behind appliances.

The Roborock H6 is easy to use with three speeds to handle the surface and mess that needs cleaning. We like that the H6 stays on with an optional lock-on setting, so you don’t have to keep holding during longer cleaning sessions. Switching speeds is as simple as pressing a button on the top of the unit. A small display shows suction, and the battery life left and alerts.

Another feature that is handy is the carpet boost. Most of our home is hardwood, but there are a few carpets around the house. When the Roborock H6 is on carpet the speed of the rollers increases to clean pick up more and clean better. We like that you don’t need to manually switch between hardwood and carpet. The H6 itself is a pretty quiet vacuum.

The unit is very lightweight, so it’s good for normal vacuuming and excellent for the other areas you need a vacuum. We found it very easy to use on cleaning corners of the ceiling, getting behind doors and larger items around the house.

After removing the long tube, it is easy to attach the various cleaning tools directly to the Roborock H6 or to attach with a flex tube to get into hard to reach places. The H6 includes;

• Floor Brush
• Carpet Brush
• Dusting Brush
• Motorized Mini Brush
• Crevice Tool
• Flex Tube

Using the attachments directly on the H6 or with the Flex tube works great for cleaning a car, vacuuming furniture or getting into tight spots. With the wall mount, we always know where the tools are, and switching between them is incredibly easy.

We’re impressed with the suction, cleaning power and ease of use. It’s a nice companion to the Romorock S5 Max robot mop and vacuum. The robot vacuum handles the basics of sweeping and mopping while the H6 is perfect for all the other needs in your house. They are a great pair that cuts down on the amount of time we need to actively spend cleaning.

Roborock H6 Battery Life

Easily see how much battery life is left.

The Roborock H6 battery life is rated at up to 90 minutes in eco mode and 10 minutes at max. So far this is more than enough to clean the house, especially with a robot vacuum handling most of the floor throughout the week. Even as a standalone, in the medium setting it’s easy to finish the house without worrying about battery life.

The max mode is perfect for big messes that you need to clean up quickly, and the middle setting is great for everyday use.

Cleaning the Roborock H6

Emptying the H6 is simple, just hold it over a trash bin, pop the container open and empty it. To deep clean, you can take most of it apart and wash the individual parts. This includes the dustbin and both front and rear filters. While it’s not something you’ll do every day, it is a handy way to keep the filters and H6 working like new.

Roborock H6 Review is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

The Epson Home Cinema 5050UB is an update to the 5040UB with important changes including better support for 4K, HDR and better support for gaming with the Xbox One X. I tested out the 5050UB with the Xbox One X and the Apple TV 4K and am very impressed with the quality and the features.

Installation is super easy thanks to the lens shift that can easily put the image on the screen even if you are mounting or setting the projector somewhere that you can’t get the perfect placement.

The Epson 5050UB is a great projector.

This lens shift powers one of my favorite features. Using the lens memory option I can create a setting for gaming that is as big as my screen supports, but when I switch to watching a movie or show that normally shows black bars, I can press memory 2 and zoom to fill my screen for a more immersive experience. Since the lens positions are saved, it’s easy to jump back and forth with no tweaking as I go between gaming or watching TV.

The Epson 5050UB is an amazing home theater projector that fixes all the issues I had with the previous model and delivers a great image at an excellent value, which is why it earns a Gotta Be Mobile Editor’s Choice Award.

The Epson 5050UB retails for $2,999, but it is often on sale for $2,699 at Best Buy, B&H Photo and Amazon. You can also get the 5050UBe, which includes a wireless HDMI transmitter for $300 more. This easily sends your video signals to the projector without running cables.

You get a standard two-year warranty and two years of rapid replacement, so if something does go wrong, you’ll have a new model in your hands and in your theater fast.

Epson 5050UB Image Quality

The Epson 5050 UB image quality is excellent for streaming in 4K.

The Epson 5050UB is brighter than the 5040 by 100 lumens and it features better HDR support, as well as full 18 Gbps, support over HDMI, which means that you can easily connect devices like the Xbox One X, Apple TV 4K, Amazon Fire TV 4K and other sources without worrying about compatibility.

I am impressed with the blacks as well as the vivid colors that the 5050UB is capable of. I primarily stream most of my content on the Apple TV or Xbox One X from Netflix and Amazon.

While catching up on The Expanse, binging through new Apple TV+ series and The Mandalorian on Disney+ I enjoyed the quality of the video. During the opening sequence of 6 Underground, the projector did an impressive job with the bright green Alfa Romeo Guila Quadrifoglio chase sequence that is full of action and explosions. It also does a great job with dark scenes in The Mandalorian and the Expanse.

Right out of the box there are handy image modes to switch between to get the look you want without a professional calibration. You can always dive deeper into the options, but I was impressed with the quality from the moment I started watching.

Gaming on the Epson 5050UB

The Epson 5050UB works great with the Xbox One X for gaming in 4K at 60 FPS.

This is an impressive gaming projector with very little input lag for a projector. I couldn’t appreciate a difference in input lag while playing a variety of online and single-player games. If you’re not playing at a professional level, this projector is going to be more then fast enough to keep up with you.

Gaming on a massive screen is an entirely different experience and in games like Spider-Man or even when playing Madden 20, it feels very immersive. I play a lot of PUBG, and my performance remained the same on this projector compared to on a TV or a monitor.

Thanks to the new HDMI ports, compared to the 5040UB, the projector handles 4K/60 content with ease.

Is the Epson Home Cinema 5050UB Worth It?

Upgraded HDMI ports make connecting your favorite devices easier.

The Epson Home Cinema 5050UB is an excellent projector for your home theater. I love the motorized lens with built-in lens shift that allows you to worry less about the placement. Even with the projector slightly to the side and higher than our display, I was able to adjust the lens in seconds using the backlit remote to get the perfect fit on my 110″ Elite Screens screen. I ended up ceiling mounting the projector, but you could also easily set it on a table or a shelf.  With the lens memory, I am able to quickly switch between using the full screen for games and movies.

This solves the issues I had with the 5040UB and at the price, it offers incredible access to a massive screen in your home theater. If you’re looking for a new projector, Epson checks all the boxes with the 5050UB. For gaming or entertainment, this is an excellent upgrade for your media room.

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Epson Home Cinema 5050UB Review: 4K Projector for Gaming & Entertaining is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

The Vizio 5.1.4 Dolby Atmos soundbar is the most affordable way to add Dolby Atmos to your living room or game room while still getting impressive sound and a super simple setup. This Vizio SB36514-G6 soundbar is $699, and it includes all the speakers that you need to get up and running.

It’s way easier to set up than a dedicated Dolby Atmos setup with a receiver and it’s half the price of what you’ll spend on many Atmos setups. As an added bonus, you don’t need to cut holes in your ceiling or run a lot of wires. This makes it especially tempting to install in a living room if you want more than a standard soundbar.

The appeal of Dolby Atmos is the sensation of sound coming from above and immersing you into the movie more. With up-firing speakers in the soundbar and in the satellites, Vizio accomplishes this nicely and it really is close to what you’ll find with many systems that cost well over $1,000. This system includes 10 channels, but they are in the soundbar, a subwoofer and two satellite speakers, so it fits nicely into almost any room.

The Vizio 5.1.4 Dolby Atmos soundbar earns a Gotta Be Mobile Editor’s Choice for the great sound and amazing value it delivers.

Whether you are gaming, binging on Netflix, watching movies or just catching up on must-see TV, the Vizio 5.1.4 Dolby Atmos soundbar is an excellent upgrade to your viewing experience. I tested the Vizio SB36514-G6 with the Vizio M Series Quantum TV and with a BenQ projector and loved the sound quality. I’ve also tested a dedicated Atmos sound system from Focal and use a multi-speaker Atmos setup as well.

Impressive Sound

The Vizio 5.1.4 Dolby Atmos soundbar is a 36-inch soundbar with subwoofer and two satellite speakers.

This is the 36-inch model of the Vizio 5.1.4 Dolby Atmos soundbar, and it’s arguably the best value at the price. I came away impressed with the sound quality on the SB36514-G6 when connected to my Apple TV or Xbox One X.

With Atmos content, the system does an amazing job of immersing you in a movie with distinct overhead noises that match up nicely to what’s happening on screen. While there is some sound engineering happening to place the effects and noises, the system sounds natural and in line with what I get from speakers mounted in my ceiling. You can use the included remote to fine-tune the height adjustment, bass, and surround.

The subwoofer provides a good low end, even with the smaller 6-inch woofer, but it would be nice to see a slightly larger or more fine-tuned performance. While it gets the job done I missed the low end I’ve experienced with other Atmos setups.

When playing Atmos content from Netflix or a 4K Blu-Ray the soundscape is great, and even when you’re playing a game or watching content that isn’t encoded with Atmos you get a great sound. It’s easy to hear dialogue and explosions and battles in movies are crisp.

You can also use this to listen to music easily thanks to the built-in Chromcast that makes streaming Spotify direct to the soundbar as simple as choosing it in the App.

Design, Setup & Inputs

Setup is easy since the rear speakers plug into the subwoofer.

With black cloth and silver accents, the Vizio 5.1.4 Dolby Atmos soundbar looks modern and easily fits into the decor of most game rooms or living rooms. It’s a clean design that carries over to the subwoofer and satellite speakers. The soundbar is about 2.5 inches tall, which is perfect in my game room, but a little too tall to sit in front of an older Samsung TV in our living room. Check your TV clearance before you buy.

The remote is very simple with small buttons and a small screen to show you what your options are and to show you the inputs as well as make adjustments. It’s an OK remote, and once you set up the system, you can simply use your TV’s remote to control many of the features.

Setting up the system is easy thanks to the built-in WiFi and the Smartcast app. The subwoofer is wireless, but you need to connect it to power. From there, you connect the two satellite speakers to the subwoofer, where they get sound and power. This can limit the installation to a small degree, but I found that it worked perfectly for my setup. Yes, you can find wireless speakers, but they still need a power connection, and I prefer this connection method. Plus, Vizio’s included cables are pretty long. You can mount the satellites or set them on an end table as I did.

The Vizio soundbar features one HDMI input and one HDMI output that is ARC, allowing it to connect and essentially control your TV’s power and take over the sound so that you get a seamless experience. The single HDMI is limiting to an extent, but you can connect devices to the TV directly and then the HDMI ARC connection brings the sound to the soundbar. Just make sure you have enough 4K HDMI ports on your TV. There is also an ethernet port, optical audio in and 3.5mm in. You can use the Google Assistant to control the soundbar.

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Vizio 5.1.4 Dolby Atmos Soundbar Review: Incredible Sound, Amazing Price is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

The Polk Audio Atrium 5 outdoor speakers are an excellent way to bring the party to your backyard with a permanent installation so you aren’t always looking for the Bluetooth speaker and making sure it’s charged.

The Atrium 5 speakers are easy to install, fit into a backyard setting very well and with smart receivers or an Echo Input, it’s easy to make these smart speakers.

These speakers are well made, ready to handle the elements that come from a permanent outdoor installation. Polk offers the Atrium speakers in a range of sizes, and the Atrium 5 use 5-inch drivers and 3/4-inch tweeters.

For the overall value, great sound and build quality, the Polk Audio Atrium 5 speakers earn a Gotta Be Mobile Editor’s Choice Award.

The Atrium 5 speakers are $299.95 at Amazon, Crutchfield, Polk and B&H Photo. They are on sale at Amazon for almost half off right now.

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Polk Audio Atrium 5 Design

The Polk Atrium 5 is available in white and black, I tested the black version which looks great next to the white soffit and light brown siding on my house.

Rounded edges and a nice mix of plastic and a tight grille dominate the design. You can mount the Atrium 5 speakers horizontal or vertical and the mount allows for easy adjustment once in place.

The Polk Atrium 5 speakers look good.

There is a PowerPort bass vent that helps you feel the bass more when you are on your deck or in your yard.

On the back of the speaker are two-wire clamps that do a good job keeping the speaker wires in place. I did not attempt to use banana clips, I simply put the wire in and tightened these down so that I didn’t have to worry about them coming loose.

The speakers are ready for all kinds of weather. They are water-resistant, able to handle salt-fog and heavy rain as well as extreme temperature. During my time with the speakers, they survived torrential downpours, temperatures above 100 degrees and are no worse for the wear. They are also UV resistant and look the same as when I installed them earlier this summer.

Polk Audio Atrium 5 Sound

The Polk Audio Atrium 5 outdoor speakers sound great and depending on the volume, fill my deck or my backyard with music without distorting.

There is a good amount of bass coming from the two speakers, which I hear and feel more on the deck which is close to the speakers. Even when I’m out in the yard there is still enough low end to keep music sounding good.

This installation makes it easy to keep the sound focused on the deck with a hot tub at night or to fill the yard.

While I installed the speakers somewhat close to each other to keep the sound manageable late at night on the deck, I can still hear the music in the far corner of the yard. The speakers are easy to swivel so if I need to, I can aim one speaker to the side more to open up the soundstage.

Your amplifier will be part of this equation. I’m pleased with the performance of a 2-channel Stereo amplifier I purchased on Amazon and then linked to an Echo Input. In my experience you will hear these speakers inside your house with the volume up.

I may adjust the setup in the near future so that I can easily plug in from the back yard if I want to put a TV show or football game over the speakers.

Polk Audio Atrium 5 Install

The Polk Audio Atrium 5 speakers are easy to install, but you will need to bring your own screws to attach to your house or whatever you plan to secure them to. I used four screws I had around the house and was able to attach the mounts through my siding to the wood securely in a matter of minutes.

The wires are easy to connect and they stay put.

Once the mount was in place, I put the speaker into it, adjusted the angle and screwed it in tight. The speaker remained in place and sturdy after heavy rain, strong winds and multiple weeks of testing. I mounted the brackets vertically so that I could more easily control the sound going into my next-door neighbors’ yards. You can also mount them horizontally and angle them down so the music doesn’t travel as far away to neighbors behind you.

If you aren’t replacing speakers, the biggest challenge will be running speaker wire. If you do it yourself, you’ll need to run the speaker wire out to the speaker, which can be challenging depending on your attic access. This took me a while to accomplish, but it’s not difficult and it’s the same for any speaker like this.

Since these are passive speakers, I ran wall rated speaker wire to a small amplifier in my garage and I attached an Echo input to it. This allows me to control the content and the volume of the Atrium 5 speakers easily while I am in my backyard. I highly recommend this type of setup, over trying to run a headphone jack for line into the backyard.

Prepare to crawl in your attic when you install these, unless you are very lucky.

With the Echo Input, I can listen to Spotify, Audible audiobooks and a variety of other apps with on phone control or by using voice control from in the garage. I’m still tempted to re-route the wires to my Onkyo AVR-X1300W so that I can use AirPlay, but this was easier to install.

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Polk Audio Atrium 5 Review: Impressive Outdoor Speakers is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

The Vizio M Series Quantum delivers great picture quality, with deep blacks and accurate, vibrant colors that look great when upscaling HD shows and when viewing 4K HDR content. With Google Cast and AirPlay 2 built-in, this is a Smart TV that’s ready to go right out of the box.

The Vizio M Series Quantum (M558-G1) is an excellent value.

The Vizio M558-G1 is a good value at $799, but it’s an even better value at the sub $600 sale price that it is routinely sold for at Amazon and Best Buy. This is incredibly cheaper than what you’ll pay for a Samsung QLED TV, and for many buyers, it could be a perfect fit.

Just make sure you buy the Vizio M8, which is the model I tested. The M8 models feature more local dimming zones and are brighter than the Vizio M7. The M7 offers the same smart features, resolution, and inputs.

The Vizio M Series Quantum earns a Gotta Be Mobile Editor’s Choice Award for delivering insane value with great picture quality at a price anyone can afford, smart home controls with Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant support and the ability to use AirPlay 2 an Google Cast.

To test the Vizio M Series Quantum I put it to the test watching 4K Blu-Ray movies and playing games on the Xbox One X as well as watching movies on an Apple TV 4K.

Thanks to the improved SmartCast 3 Smart TV features, it’s easy to play content from your phone, an Oculus Quest or to watch your favorite iTunes and App content from your iPhone.

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Vizio M Series Quantum Design

The Vizio M Series Quantum design is good and it’s not too thick.

The Vizio M Series design is minimal like I see with most 4K TVs. Slim bezels on the top and sides and a slightly thicker bezel on the bottom edge. There are thin stand legs that look nice and offer a stable base. You will need a wide table for this TV as the legs are at the far edges of the TV. The overall build quality is good, and it is easy to get the TV out of the box without damaging anything.

You can also easily wall-mount it, as I’ve done. The thickness is middle of the line, and it mounts to the wall easily without sticking out too much. Even when wall mounted it is easy to access the inputs.

All inputs are on the right-hand side of the TV with inputs to the side and to the bottom. The power cord is on the left side. There is no built-in cable management, so you will need to invest in some cable management.

The inputs are easy to access even when wall mounted a shown here.

You get four HDMI ports, all of which are HDMI 2.0. One of these is an HDMI ARC port that you can use to connect to a soundbar. There is no HDMI 2.1 support or eARC support, but that’s not a major issue at this price point.

The remote is easy to use and capable, but it’s not backlit and it’s not easy to use in the dark. While it’s not as simple as the TCL Roku remote or as fancy as Samsung’s remote, it does include number buttons to easily go direct to a channel, which will appeal to users who still watch Live TV with cable. You can also use the Vizio app on your phone to control the TV.

Vizio M Series Quantum Image Quality

Image quality is good, especially for the price and you get support for HDR with Dolby Vision HDR 10 and HLG.

The Vizio M Series Quantum imager quality is great. The 2019 M Series Quantum delivers great blacks, very good colors and the local dimming performance is good. The TV is 4K and supports HDR10, Dolby Vision and HLG.

I primarily use this TV in a game room where I have full control over the lighting. The deep blacks really impress when watching with the lights low, but the picture is also good while watching sports or a movie with a group and more lights on in the room.

I tested the 55-inch M8 series that includes 90 local dimming zones and 600 nits peak brightness. The M7 series only offers 16 local dimming zones. The more local dimming zones, the better. This allows the TV to keep a bright area bright while achieving greater contrast with dark areas of the screen.

The brightness of this model is good, and it is bright enough to use in a well-lit room. I found the HDR performance very good for the price. If you want to see HDR really pop, consider upgrading to the P Series Quantum.

This TV doesn’t offer great wide-angle viewing, so if you need a TV that can handle a super wide seating area then you will want to keep shopping. It’s good enough for our game room setup or our living room, but we don’t have seating at any extreme angles.

Vizio M Series Quantum Smart Features

The Vizio M Series Quantum includes SmartCast 3.0, which is an upgraded smart TV experience from what previous models shipped with.

It isn’t the fastest smart TV software, but it is relatively easy to use and it comes with all the apps that we want on our smart TV. This includes Hulu, CMS All Access, Netflix, YouTube many cable channel apps, sports apps and more. There’s a good chance that you won’t need to hook up anything extra if you just want smart TV features and streaming. The streaming supports 4K and Dolby Atmos.

This software also supports AirPlay 2 and HomeKit. This makes it easy to watch movies from apps on your iPhone or iPad, share photos and you can even control your TV with Siri.

Easily AirPlay or Cast content to your TV.

Google Cast is also built-in allowing you to stream a variety of apps on iPhone or Android wirelessly.

In addition to Siri, you can use Alexa or Google Assistant to control your TV. The options allow you to play a specific show or movie, show photos from your account, turn the volume up or down and turn the TV on and off.

WatchFree is a free streaming service built into the Vizio SmartCast 3 software. With this service, you can tap into over 150 free channels. These include movies, news, sports and lifestyle programs. The range is impressive for a free service and while it isn’t replacing cable for me, it may be just the bonus you need in addition to a service like Hulu + Live TV.

Gaming on the Vizio M Series Quantum

Thanks to low input lag the M Series Quantum is great for gaming.

The Vizio M Series Quantum is great for gaming thanks to a low input lag. The performance is good with HD and with 4K HDR gaming, making this an excellent option for gamers.

You can enable Game Low Latency and also turn on Black Frame Insertion with the Clear Action setting to get a clearer image while gaming.

The Vizio M Series works as a computer monitor thanks to the low input lag and you don’t need to change settings other than to set the Picture Mode to Computer and turn on Full UHD color.

With the 55-inch I am able to sit a little closer to the TV on a gaming chair and really get into the game.

Vizio M Series Quantum Sound Quality

The Vizio M Series Quantum sound quality is better than I expect on a TV, but you’ll really want to hook this up to a soundbar or dedicated sound system. I’m testing it alongside the Vizio 5.2.4 Dolby Atmos soundbar which is an impressive boost to sound.

When I play games, I normally use gaming headphones for better positional sound in games.

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Vizio M Series Quantum (2019) Review is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

The Brydge Pro keyboard for the 2018 iPad Pro is the best iPad Pro keyboard that you can buy. I’ve been testing this keyboard for several months alongside the competition from Logitech, Zagg and Apple. After extensive testing, the Brydge keyboard for the 2018 iPad Pro is the best that you can buy. Here’s why, and what I learned from using it.

This new Brydge Pro keyboard is better to type on than my MacBook Pro keyboard, and it’s held up to the busy typing days I’ve subjected it to over the last few months with no wear or tear. The Brydge is backlit, easy to use on a lap or a table and the key travel is vastly better than the official Apple iPad Pro keyboard that is more expensive.

The Brydge Pro keyboard earns a Gotta Be Mobile Editor’s Choice Award for the performance, features, value and overall boost to mobile productivity that it delivers.

You can buy the Brydge Pro keyboard for $149 or the 11-inch iPad Pro and $169 for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro direct from Brydge, at Amazon, Verizon and other retailers.

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Brydge Pro Performance

The excellent backlit keyboard enables iPad Pro productivity where Apple’s Smart Keyboard doesn’t dare tread.

Typing on the Brydge Pro is a delight thanks to full size keys with a soft touch finish on each key cap. There is a lot of travel, making it easy to type for long periods without the fatigue that comes from typing on a glass screen of the iPad or on the Smart Keyboard Folio that Apple sells.

In addition to the full set of keys and a number row, there is also a row of function keys that you can use to control media playback, brightness, lock the iPad and pull up the on screen keyboard if you need it. Key placement is excellent with plenty of room between keys. I love the arrow key placement, which is vastly better than what Apple’s switched to for the MacBook Pro keyboards.

I use the iPad Pro in the car and while mobile on a variety of desks, tables and surfaces, so I need a keyboard that I can reliably use in the dark and on random surfaces. With the backlit keys it is easy to remain productive on the iPad Pro while riding in the car. The design of the keyboard is vastly better for using on a lap than Apple’s official option. It sits on or even slightly between legs for better mobile productivity. The hinge makes it easy to get the right viewing angle on any surface. There are three brightness options for the backlit keys, so you can pick the best option for your situation.

While typing you can still access the suggestions from the iOS, soon to be iPadOS, keyboard on the screen and it is easy to reach out and touch one of those if you do want it. The keyboard button that pulls up the on screen keyboard makes it easy to quickly add an emoji.

The Brydge Pro is the reason I can leave my MacBook Pro at home on some trips and still be productive.

Brydge Pro Design

The Brydge Pro makes me productive anywhere I go.

The Brydge Pro keyboard is made of aluminum and it is very solid, but not too heavy to impact portability. Once you figure out how to align the iPad Pro and the keyboard it is easy to install and remove from the Brydge Pro.

The hinge is part of the secret sauce that makes this keyboard so special. You can use it in a standard keyboard mode with an angle that is perfect for working on a lap, on an airline tray table or on a desk. It’s the only easy way I can work on a flight, and it’s proven itself multiple times over.

When I want to take a break from writing or working, I simply pull the iPad out, swivel it around and put it back in to use the keyboard as a stand for playing games or watching movies. The angle is handy for use in bed, at a coffee shop or on a plane. You can also fold it closed in this position for a tablet mode. This is handy while on the go, but if I want to use just the iPad Pro at home I simply remove it from the Brydge Pro.

Sturdy build quality and great hinges complete the experience.

On the bottom of the keyboard are four rubber feet, like you’ll find on most laptops. These keep the Brydge Pro in place on a table while you are typing. Two rubber nubs prevent the iPad Pro screen from touching the keys or the keyboard when you close it.

The edge of the keyboard near the iPad Pro screen is curved so that you can quickly reach up and tap on a word suggestion or swipe to go home or switch apps. You don’t lose any functionality when you install the Brydge Pro, you only gain productivity.

When you close the combo, the iPad Pro goes to sleep and so does the keyboard. Open it up and both the keyboard and iPad Pro wake up. Hit enter to unlock the iPad Pro and you’re ready to go. It’s as seamless as opening your MacBook Pro while you’re wearing an Apple Watch.

Every Brydge Pro includes a leather cover that protects the back of your iPad Pro while you are using the case. This attaches with magnets and stays put nicely, but is also easy enough to remove. I use a skin on my iPad Pro and it still easily fits into the hinges, so I don’t use the leather cover very often.

Brydge Pro Battery & Connectivity

Charge over USB C, when you need to, which isn’t often thanks to 12 month battery life.

The Brydge Pro battery life is rated at 12 months, and after 3 months of regular use it’s still going with no need for a charge. It’s currently at 83%, which is impressive given the amount of time I’ve used it. The keyboard charges with USB C, so if you do run low, just plug it in with the iPad Pro charger and you are good to go.

You can connect the Brydge Pro to your iPad with Bluetooth or with a hardwired USB C connection if you prefer. This wired connection works, but it’s not something I routinely use.

Apple Pencil 2

> 1 / 11

While you can use the iPad Pro without the Apple Pencil, it's an essential accessory. This is a must-have tool for taking notes, drawing and it's a great way to edit photos, draw and perform fine-tuned touch needs on the iPad Pro.  You can't use the Apple Pencil from the older iPad Pro, and you cannot use this one with the older iPad Pro, so it's an even more essential tool if you use the Apple Pencil already.  This is way better than a standard stylus that you may have used a long time ago. It pairs to the iPad Pro and feels more like writing or drawing on paper than old styluses did.  The new Apple Pencil 2 allows you to wireless charge it on the edge of the iPad Pro and it stays there when you aren't using it.  Buy the Apple Pencil 2 for $119.

> 1 / 11

Brydge Pro Review: The Best iPad Pro Keyboard You Can Buy is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

The BenQ PD2720U is a 27-inch 4K HDR monitor with Thunderbolt 3 that connects to your Mac with a single cable to charge and connect to accessories. The display is amazing to look at all day, putting my previous monitor to shame and removing the need for a separate Thunderbolt 3 dock. The screen is 100% RGBs and covers 96% P3 color space with the IPS panel.

The BenQ PD2720U is a great display with an impressive array of features for creative professionals.

This 27-inch 4K display is perfect for the MacBook Pro and is a huge help for editing photos and videos as well as working in my home office thanks to the ability to quickly switch between three display modes using the included puck. While you’d need to dive into the settings to toggle color profiles on most displays, the BenQ PD2720U lets you change with the push of a button on your desk. This can also control other options as well as the volume of connected speakers.

You can even use the controls as a built-in KVM to switch between two computers using the display with the same mouse and keyboard. This is very handy for jumping between tasks and you control it with the easy to use puck.

The BenQ PD2720U earns a Gotta Be Mobile Editor’s Choice Award for the astounding quality, excellent features and the value it offers at the price. There are tons of benefits for professionals, and you get a full set of ports to connect peripherals, plus it includes eye-friendly features.

You can buy the BenQ PD2720U Designer Monitor with Thunderbolt 3 for $1,099.99 at Amazon, B&H Photo and direct from BenQ.

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Display Performance

The BenQ PD2720U is a monitor for professionals with accurate colors, a matte finish, and an impressive overall display quality. I tested this monitor with a 15-inch MacBook Pro to edit photos and videos for the Gotta Be Mobile YouTube channel and found the multiple color modes very useful. While I am not professionally color grading for broadcast, I do like being able to quickly toggle into sRGB to check colors and then easily toggle back into a brighter mode when I am writing.

The display quality is excellent.

There are a lot of additional options that you can choose including low blue light modes for multimedia, web surfing, office, and reading which are handy to use when working late at night. These are the options I used most and the performance in each was great. There is also a handy HDR mode when watching HDR content.

BenQ also adds in several modes for specific tasks. The CAD/CAM mode enhances the details and contrast to make working in popular CAD apps easier. There is a Darkroom mode that works great in low light rooms and an Animation mode that amps up the brightness of dark areas on the screen so that it is easy to see details. The monitor includes a factory calibration report.

Switch to the best mode quickly and enjoy factory calibrated color accuracy.

The monitor offers a 60 hz refresh rate which is low compared to some gaming monitors, but it fits this creative monitor perfectly. The monitor features flicker-free technology so that it won’t flicker at the super-fast rate that a normal LCD does. After putting in long days with this monitor I have less eye fatigue than with my budget widescreen Samsung monitor that is several years old.

Features

In addition to the great display, this monitor is all about the features. It uses a Thunderbolt 3 connection so that you only need to plug one cord into your MacBook Pro. The included cord is a little short for my setup, but it works well if you plan to close your MacBook Pro and place it closer to the monitor. This connection charges your MacBook Pro or other laptops at 65W.

The display takes the place of a Thunderbolt 3 dock.

With this single connection, my laptop connects to external drives, a voice-over microphone, external speakers, other accessories and to another monitor. There are 2 HDMI ports, 1 DisplayPort, 2 USB out and 1 USP in as well as two Thunderbolt 3 ports. This takes the place of an expensive Thunderbolt 3 dock in my setup. My current favorite dock is $300, so once you factor that in you’re essentially paying $800 for this monitor. I do wish there was a built-in SD card reader or at least an easily accessible USB port to plug an adapter into on the bottom edge, but when it comes to plugging in media I just use an adapter plugged right into my MacBook Pro. You get all the cables you need to connect included with the monitor. n

Another handy feature is the ability to toggle between two computers using the same monitor, keyboard, and mouse. There is a KVM switch built-into the BenQ DesignVue monitor so I can toggle between my MacBook Pro and a Windows computer. This works easily and removes the need for a dedicated KVM.

The built-in speakers aren’t amazing, but if you are using this to work on video, you’ll want to use headphones or studio monitors anyway. One thing you need to be aware of on a Mac is that once you choose the monitor as your audio output, you cannot use the volume controls on your MacBook Pro keyboard. Thankfully the Hotkey Puck G2 lets me turn a dial to control the volume.

Quickly change modes with the included HotKey Puck G2.

This handy accessory comes with the monitor and it’s the easiest way to toggle between settings. There are three hotkeys that you can use to change between your favorite modes, a KVM toggle, and a back button. This puck also lets you control all of the on-screen menu and monitor options without reaching behind to use the joystick and buttons. This is a feature I wish every monitor came with.

Design and Quality

The design is professional and sturdy.

The BenQ PD2720U DesignVue monitor design is understated professional with slim bezels on three sides. This will fit into any home office or office space and look good. It comes with a huge steel base that is incredibly sturdy. This base and the connection to the monitor remove all of the wobbles when I type on my standing desk. The base of the stand is very wide and features a small BenQ logo on the front left.

This stand lets you move the monitor down to 3.5 inches off the desk or just over 8.5-inches above the desk. There is a wide range of rotation, so you can quickly share a screen with someone else or angle two or three of these in an ultimate setup. BenQ makes it easy to change into portrait mode with a quick rotation and the base is still sturdy.

The heavy, large base stays in place and gives the monitor firm footing.

There is a cover for the ports and a small hook on the back of the monitor so you can keep your setup clean without a hassle. If you plan to rotate your monitor often just make sure you keep all the cords on one side of the monitor stand.

No products found.

BenQ PD2720U Review: The Ultimate 4K Mac Monitor for Creators is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 is an amazing Bluetooth speaker that is portable, packs in impressive sound and it floats so it’s your perfect pool companion.

If you love to take your music to the beach, pool, shower or just where you’ll get muddy, the Wonderboom 2 can handle it all thanks to an IP67 rating that makes it waterproof and dustproof.

After a torture test with my cousins listening to Old Town Road on repeat all afternoon at the pool, the Wonderboom 2 is as good as new and it was loud and clear for the whole afternoon thanks to 360-degree sound and up to 13 hours of battery life.

The Wonderboom 2 is an amazing value at $99, earning a Gotta Be Mobile Editor’s Choice Award for the overall sound quality and the useful features that it packs in at the price.

You can buy the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 direct for $99.99 and at Amazon or Best Buy for $79.99.

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 Sound

The sound is very good and there is an outdoor mode if you need a little extra boost.

Ultimate Ears upgraded the sound on the Wonderboom 2 to deliver more volume with a new Outdoor Boost mode that amps up the volume without distorting. This is a small speaker, but it easily filled the backyard area around a pool.

The sound is deep and there is a surprising amount of bass in this little package. You can even connect two of these in stereo mode to upgrade your sound. I was impressed with the performance over an array of genres at the pool party. At home, I use the Wonderboom 2 in our sunroom to listen to EDM or to listen to audiobooks, but it does just as well with Rap or Metal.

Push this button to turn on outdoor mode.

The Wonderboom 2 connects over Bluetooth, but it is not a speakerphone. At the price, this isn’t something I miss in the Wonderboom 2, but if you want to use your Bluetooth speaker as a speakerphone, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 Design

The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 design is top-notch. The knit fabric material looks great and has held up well to dirt and water over weeks of testing. It’s easy to grip with the fabric material and it’s sized perfectly for carrying around in your hand or by the little hang loop.

The Wonderboom 2 size is just reight and the design is great.

Bright volume buttons and the hang loop offer accent colors. The speaker is IP67 rated for water and dust. It floats in the pool and even after repeated dunking by my cousins it sounds like new. It’s also rated to survive drops up to 5 feet. The speaker comes with a two-year warranty.

On the top there is a power button, Bluetooth pairing button, and a play, pause and skip button that you can also use to enter the stereo mode. On the bottom is a single button to turn on the Outdoor mode that boosts the volume.

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 Battery Life

The Wonderboom 2 battery life lasts all day long.

The Wonderboom 2 battery life is rated at 13 hours and that matches up well with our testing. After a full day of use at the pool, there was more than enough power to get me through a morning of work the next day.

The speaker charges with Micro USB, which is covered to keep water out. There is no USB C, which Ultimate Ears explained is to help keep the cost down.

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If you need bigger sound or a custom speaker, check out the Ultimate Ears myBOOM 3.

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 Review is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

The Lutron Aurora is an awesome Hue light switch.

The Lutron Aurora is a smart light switch for Phillips Hue lights that you’ve been waiting for. If you own Hue lights, you need the Aurora in your life. This handy little gadget snaps onto your light switch and turns it into a smart switch that can turn your Hue lights on and off as well as dim them.

This solves the biggest issue with Hue lights for most people. If you have Hue lights someone in your house has inevitably turned off the switch, which means no smart controls from your phone. Yes, you can put a switch blocker on, the switch, but that’s not elegant and it doesn’t add physical controls that guests and other people in your house need.

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For the ease of use, smart controls and for solving a major problem with Hue lights the Lutron Aurora Smart Bulb Dimmer Switch earns a Gotta Be Mobile Editor’s Choice award.

The Lutron Aurora Smart Dimmer looks and works just like a normal dimmer knob, so guests and family members that simply put up with your smart lights can easily use it.

You can buy a cheaper Hue dimmer switch, but that option only works when the light switch is turned on, and it doesn’t look in place next to other lights. The familiar knob design matches perfectly in with traditional lever or paddle switches.

Installing the Lutron Aurora takes about a minute. The back clamps onto the light switch, locking it in the on position and then the knob snaps on. From there the Hue app connects it to your bridge and you can tell the app which room it controls.

I installed this in my basement, where I have 7 Hue lights and a Hue Light strip. The Aurora controls all of those lights, letting anyone quickly turn the lights on, off and dim them.

The system is powered by a small CR2032 battery that Lutron says will last around three years. When the battery is drained, you can replace it.

This small part keeps your switch on, and the knob attaches to it.

This switch is genius in its simplicity. I’ve installed Lutron smart switches in many rooms of my house because they allow anyone to control the lights while still offering voice control and app control. The downside to using smart switches is that you miss out on the Hue colors, which are perfect in a basement media room. With the Lutron Aurora Smart Dimmer, I get the best of both worlds.

Right now the Aurora only comes in white, but we should see other colors at some point. This worked out well since all my faceplates are already white, but you may need to replace your faceplate to match the color. Switching a faceplate takes seconds and doesn’t require touching any wires.

The only other catch is that this only controls Hue lights. It is rated to control Zigbee 3.0 certified lights, but for now, Hue is the only real option.

The Lutron Aurora Smart Dimmer Switch is $39.99, which is expensive for a single switch. That said, it is an easy DIY install that works directly with Hue lights in a better manner than the Hue Dimmer. I’d love to see this at $29.99 and a two pack for $50, but even at the current price, it’s worth it if you have a room full of Hue lights that you need to add physical controls to.

Lutron Aurora Review: The Hue Light Switch You Need in Your Life is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.