Photo editing has never been more popular, with influencers, content creators, and businesses all harnessing the ubiquitous tech to create and enhance images and assets.
If you need to make alterations to your photos, whether it’s touching them up, creating a digital montage, or anything in between, the best photo editor out there is undoubtedly the industry-standard Adobe Photoshop. But such power comes requires a Creative Cloud subscription that may not chime with the budget you’re working towards.
ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate 2023: Pricing & plans
The interface may look complex, but it’s well organized (Image credit: ACDSee)
Affordable whether you purchase the software outright or subscribe to it
Not only will you find Photo Studio Ultimate’s price more affordable, you’re also given two options.
The photo editing software can be yours outright, for the one-off price of $150 / £132 / $239AUD. This includes a year of free updates and technical support.
Of course, as you’d expect these days, a subscription option is also available. This not only covers Photo Studio, but also includes Gemstone Photo Editor, Video Converter Pro, Photo Studio for Mac, and Luxea Video Editor.
You’ll get free updates and upgrades as long as your subscription remains active, you’ll be allowed to share these apps with up to five users per product, get 100GB of cloud storage, and have access to tutorials and workshops. All this for only $9 / £8 / $15AUD per month or $89 / £79 / $142AUD per year.
Pricing & plans: 4/5
ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate 2023: AI tools
AI Actions let you perform complex alterations with the click of a button (Image credit: ACDSee)
AI can produce great results, but as expected the output depends on the quality of the image
The latest version of Photo Studio Ultimate brings numerous new features to an already impressive photo editing app. We can’t cover all of them here, but those that grabbed our attention the most were based on machine learning algorithms, or AI.
Take ‘AI Actions’ for instance. These can be accessed via the Edit section, in a panel that also contains the Histogram and Color parameters. These are tools designed to speed up your workflow. You can actually perform the same actions manually, especially if you know your way around the software, but if you lack the skills or the time, these allow you to make complex changes with just a click of a button.
You’ll find Actions to isolate specific elements in your photo, enabling you to blur the background, or desaturate it (or both). You’re able to select the subject, or even the sky. We tried to make things trickier for the AI, by using a photo of a cloudy sky over a grey sea, but it was clever enough to know the difference and made the right selection. Impressive.
Perform virtual plastic surgery right on your desktop (Image credit: ACDSee)
Another new computer-assisted tool is AI Face Edit. This one you’ll find in the Filter sidebar, left of the interface. Obviously, you need a face to work with (sorry pet lovers: it has to be a human face - Photo Studio Ultimate didn’t understand that a dog or a cat have faces). Select the tool and after a few seconds analyzing the image, you’re then offered a series of parameters which you can modify, such as the face width, cheekbones, eye size, and even the direction in which the eyes look.
But that’s not all. You can edit the points the AI generated with which you’re able to make those changes. Altering the points is as easy as dragging and dropping, helping improve the output even further.
As for the results, well, they will actually greatly depend on the quality of the source image, although we must say, performing virtual plastic surgery, as it were, both looked great, and was somewhat disturbing at the same time. After all, when does a photo turn into a digital construct? But putting this ethical dilemma aside, AI Face Edit works surprisingly well.
AI tools: 4/5
ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate 2023: Photo stitching
The panoramic tool works, but some glitches can crop up (Image credit: ACDSee)
A clever idea, but doesn’t appear to have any editing options
Who doesn’t love panoramic views? Being able to compose a shot that is much wider than your camera’s lens would allow is a fun thing to do. It’s easy to take the shots one at a time, but the tricky part is stitching them all together to create an expansive canvas.
As we’re sure you know, smartphones can do all that for you straight out of the box, but these little lenses lack the depth and quality of dedicated DSLR cameras, so a stitching tool is most welcome when working with images taken from ‘proper’ cameras.
Photo Studio Ultimate 2023 makes this as simple as you could imagine: select your photos, click on Process > Panorama, wait a few seconds, and you’re done - or rather, the software is done.
We couldn't, however, find any way to edit the output. We did locate options to alter the file format, and select where to save the resulting image, but what if there’s an issue with the merge? It seems you’re stuck with it. We’ve tried it a few times, and most of the results were nigh on perfect, but we did encounter some bad outcomes too, mostly if there happens to be an object in the foreground.
Photo stitching: 3/5
ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate 2023: New tools
Ten new color presets have been introduced (Image credit: ACDSee)
Lots of welcomed improvements and new capabilities across the board
Photo Studio Ultimate 2023’s new features aren’t just about clever AI. It also introduces some new color presets, for instance. You’ll find five in ‘Food’ and another five in ‘Vintage’. Presets are a great way to make color changes quickly and, often, effectively. As their titles suggest, the first five are aimed at making your food stand out, while the next five are there to give your photo that ‘old-style’ feel.
Of interest is the new Shape Selection tool. Once selected it now behaves like a similar tool you’ll find in Photoshop: keep on clicking around an object to create your selection and move the points to refine it. You can add curvatures to create a more precise round marquee. It’s a very good tool, well implemented.
Photo Studio Ultimate is a versatile photo editing app, and the latest additions make this affordable software better than ever. Like the company's video editing software, this photo editor is a hidden gem worth trying.
New tools: 4/5
ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate 2023: Scorecard
Pricing & plans
Affordable subscriptions and lifetime licenses
4
AI tools
Excellent AI implemnentation
4
Photo stitching
Good idea, with limits
3
New tools
Plenty of new and updated tools for photo editors
4
Should I buy?
The new polygonal selection tool is very easy to use (Image credit: ACDSee)
No matter what brand it’s under, though, there’s lots to like about Passportal. It’s a powerful yet intuitive program aimed at high-end business users, and it comes with a selection of impressive features to make business password management fast and straightforward.
We’ve dug deep to see if Passportal should be added to your organization’s IT portfolio – and we’ve explored our other favorite business password managers here.
N-Able Passportal: Plans and pricing
Unfortunately, N-Able doesn’t openly advertise the prices of its Passportal password management software. It’s available as a stand-alone product or as part of a larger N-Able and SolarWinds software packages, but you will have to contact the sales team to get a custom quote.
However, a free trial is available on request, so you can test the program before committing to a purchase. What’s more, online reports suggest that prices start from a relatively affordable $18 / £18 / AUD$25 per user, per month.
N-Able Passportal: Interface and performance
N-Able Passportal is backed by an impressive range of features that put it up there with the best business password management software on the market.
For one, all users will have access to highly functional browser extensions. These are available for Chrome, Firefox, and various other popular browsers, and they provide impressive password management tools at the click of a button.
Passportal also comes with a highly secure password generator. It enables you to create custom passwords when required and can even be set to change multiple passwords at once.
As the system administrator, you can create clear user permissions that specify who within your organization is allowed to access what passwords. This is done through a folder system, where different passwords are stored in different folders. Then, you can simply set access permissions to these folders. What’s more, if someone feels like they need to use a password that they don’t have permission for, they can simply request access via their dashboard.
If you take care of password management for clients, you can rebrand the Passportal interface with your own logo and branding. This allows you to provide high-quality, secure password management services under your own business name.
The Passportal user interface is neat and intuitive. Menu buttons across the top of the screen allow you to view notifications, access your saved passwords, and review management history. You can also search for various passwords or access credentials, add new login details, or edit existing entries.
As the system administrator, you will also be able to manage access permissions and users via the menu on the left of the screen. Ordinary users will only have access to the My Vault and Company Vault portals, which are used to store and manage personal and company credentials respectively.
N-Able Passportal: Security
Like all the best password managers, SolarWinds Passportal is backed by a selection of powerful security features. For one, it uses secure, cloud-based hosting through the Amazon Web Services platform. This highly redundant and scalable system ensures you always have access to your passwords and other credentials.
All data is backed up with a point-in-time recovery system to secure servers. With this system, your information can be restored to any point in the past three months. The entire Passportal system is proactively monitored for vulnerabilities and security breaches, and any threats deemed serious are dealt with on a priority basis.
N-Able Passportal: Support
Various support services are on offer to help you familiarize yourself with Passportal. All subscribers will be able to contact the customer support team via live chat, ticket submission, and phone. Before you subscribe, you will only have access to phone support, which is still quite impressive.
What’s more, various self-help resources help you get started with the program. The SolarWinds/N-Able Customer Success Center contains tutorials, how-to guides, and comprehensive documentation. In addition, the company’s YouTube channel has some great videos outlining the functionality and setup procedures for Passportal.
N-Able Passportal: The competition
Dashlane is one of Passportal’s main competitors. With extremely secure password management solutions, AES 256-bit encryption, and a powerful central management console, it’s a great choice for those looking for a highly functional and reliable program. And it comes in at a competitively price per user.
Another great option is LastPass, which is backed by advanced administrative controls and multi-factor authentication. Business plans start at $4 / $4 / AUD$6 per user, per month, making it a highly affordable choice.
N-Able Passportal: Final verdict
N-ABle Passportal is one of the most powerful password management programs we’ve used. It has a number of advanced features, supports administrative control of large teams, and boasts powerful security integrations.
On top of this, Passportal comes with great customer support, an intuitive user interface, and the power of the rest of the N-Able and SolarWinds ecosystem (if required).
The bottom line: If you’re looking for a high-quality, reliable password management solution for your business, we’d highly recommend looking closer at N-Able Passportal.
LogMeOnce is, without a doubt, one of the best password managers we’ve seen. Most password managers offer the same core features, from autofill to secure password generation, but LogMeOnce goes beyond other apps thanks to its impressive range of advanced abilities.
Sign up to LogMeOnce and you’ll be able to use QR code logins, facial recognition, and cloud storage encryption, and security comes from military-standard encryption and security options along a wide range of multi-factor options.
With a free version and a range of plans at decent prices, LogMeOnce might seem too good to be true – so we’ve tested this software to deliver the real verdict.
LogMeOnce: Plans and pricing
There are three LogMeOnce business plans on offer, with prices ranging from $3 / £3 / AUD$5 user/month to $7 / £7 / AUD$10 user/month. All plans come with a 14-day free trial and you don’t need to use a credit or debit card to give it a go.
The cheapest Team & Business plan includes a range of advanced features such as a dedicated vault for each user, a centralized admin panel, unlimited device access, and secure sharing tools.
The Enterprise plan includes everything in the Team & Business plan, 1GB of encrypted storage, priority technical support, and a real-time administrative dashboard.
Finally, the Identity and Password Manager plan adds a selection of tools, including MFA authentication, IP address restriction, device whitelisting, dark web monitoring, and leaked password monitoring.
There are also four personal/family plans that start at the free tier, and end at the Family plan that is still an affordable $4.99/ £5 / AUD$8 per month for a family of up to six.
(Image credit: LogMeOnce)
LogMeOnce: Setup
Setting up your LogMeOnce account is extremely straightforward and shouldn’t take more than a minute or two. Simply select the plan you want and follow the prompts to install the relevant browser extension. Browser support is good, with extensions available for Chrome, Firefox and Edge. Still, you’ll find better support for more niche browsers elsewhere.
Install the extension and download another small app and you’ll be ready to go – and then you’re able to access LogMeOnce’s main web interface.
Login details and other information can be manually added or imported from an existing password manager. A detailed quick-start guide is available to guide you through the entire process.
LogMeOnce: Interface and performance
It’s a well-designed bit of software. The main dashboard offers quick access to your passwords, secure notes and wallet, secure file storage and dark web monitoring. You’ll also find quick links for your security evaluation and two-factor authentication settings.
The right-hand side has your Daily Journal, which summarizes your current password situation – a smooth feature that allows you to instantly see which areas need attention. There’s also the Identity Scorecard, which presents a quick security evaluation.
Head into different sections and at the bottom of the screen you’ll get a dock that opens more configuration options. Anyone who’s used a PC or Mac will be familiar with the setup – it works like a taskbar.
On top of this, the browser extension is very impressive. It includes quick links to all your saved websites, and logging in is as simple as clicking on the icon for the site you want to access. The mobile apps are equally powerful, and they performed very well on every device we tested them on.
(Image credit: LogMeOnce)
LogMeOnce: Security
Like all good password managers, LogMeOnce is backed by powerful security features. This includes AES-256 bit encryption compliant with NIST guidelines and communication to the LogMeOnce server via SSL/TSL encrypted tunnel communication. In fact, it goes one step further than most of its competitors, with a range of patented and copyrighted tools to further protect your sensitive information.
Along with encryption and master password access, LogMeOnce also comes with PasswordLess login, powerful two-factor authentication (2FA), and anti-theft tools. Custom security solutions are also available for business users with highly sensitive data.
There are loads of multi-factor authentication options available here. You’ve got biometrics, PIN codes, secure devices and even the option to login with a selfie. Beyond that, you can also turn a USB drive into an authentication token.
Elsewhere, LogMeOnce has options to wipe devices in emergencies, remind you to reset passwords after specified amounts of time, secure browsing and document storage and secure backup modules. Users also benefit from secure sharing options and auto-login single sign-on settings.
LogMeOnce: Support
LogMeOnce has a range of customer support and self-help options to draw on if you run into trouble. The main website features a neat chatbot that will guide you to articles or help you submit a support ticket. Tickets can also be logged directly from your management dashboard or the online portal. The one thing missing? Phone support.
LogMeOnce: The competition
Although LogMeOnce is one of the best password management programs we’ve used, there are a couple of powerful alternatives worth considering. For example, LastPass has long been a leading password management program backed by very advanced features. It includes secure multi-factor authentication, has over 1200 pre-integrated apps, and comes with a selection of advanced administration controls for IT managers and other tech professionals. Additionally, pricing is quite comparable.
LogMeOnce: Final verdict
LogMeOnce is up there with the absolute best password management programs we’ve used. It’s extremely affordable, comes with advanced tools designed for business users, and is backed by a range of powerful features.
On top of this, it’s easy to set up, has a very tidy user interface, and is compatible with a wide range of web browsers, devices, and operating systems. Also, security tools and customer support resources are comprehensive with an extensive library of articles and even videos. Ultimately, we’d recommend LogMeOnce for anyone who’s looking for a powerful, versatile password management solution backed by advanced features.
On the outside, this machine is almost identical to the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13, with the main difference being that this model is constructed from reclaimed magnesium and finished in black.
There are some external differences, especially in respect of the touchpad, but these are minor compared with the radical alterations hidden inside.
While the Z13 used an AMD Ryzen processor, and Lenovo makes similar designs that use 12th Gen Intel platforms, the X13s uses neither of these options.
At the heart of this machine is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 Compute Platform, silicon based on the ARM technology that is popular in phones and tablets.
This is an eight-core CPU clocked at up to 3GHz, and here it runs an ARM version of Windows 11 Pro.
Not being x86 compliant, this version of Windows relies on emulation to run Windows apps. According to Microsoft, “Windows on Arm runs native Arm apps, as well as many unmodified x86 & x64 apps, but for the best performance and battery life, apps should be built to be Arm-native wherever possible.”
Therefore the devil of this detail is in the word ‘many’. Because in our tests, some older x64 applications didn’t run, although sometimes this was down to the lack of GPU technology, not the processor.
For those running native compiled ARM Windows applications, the performance is comparable with a low-end AMD or Intel processor, and the battery life of the x13s is extensive.
Lenovo quotes an implausibly long 28 hours of standard use and 49.5 hours of video playback from the modest 49.5Whr battery.
Therefore what the X13s delivers is a slightly compromised system that will deliver extended battery life if you are willing to work with its platform limitations.
It also, for reasons that only Lenovo understand, only comes with USB-C ports and not the Type-A that most people still use for connecting external drives, mice and keyboards.
The ThinkPad X13s is a long way from the rather sad ARM-based Surface machines that Microsoft once offered, but it’s still not a PC in the purest sense, and those wanting to play games or run CAD should steer clear of it.
It’s also on the expensive end of the price range for ARM-based machines.
Lenovo ThinkPad X13s: Price and availability
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
How much does it cost? From $994.95 / £1,479.99/ AU$ 1,795.59
When is it out? It is available now
Where can you get it? You can get it directly from Lenovo in all regions
Lenovo ThinkPad X13s Specs
Here is the Lenovo ThinkPad X13s configuration sent to TechRadar for review:
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 SC8280XP Processor Graphics: Qualcomm Adreno 690 RAM: 16GB LPDDR4x (Soldered) Screen: 13.3" WUXGA (1920 x 1200) IPS Storage: 256 GB SSD PCIe Ports: 2x USB Type-C, Headphone/mic combo Connectivity: Qualcomm Wi-Fi 6E WCN6855 2x2 AX; Bluetooth 5.1, X55 5G Sub6 Modem-RF System Camera: 5MP RGB with webcam privacy e-shutter OS: Windows 11 Pro for ARM Weight: 1.06kg Size: 13.4mm x 298.7mm x 206.4mm (W x D x H) Battery: 49.5Wh 4-cell Lithium-ion Battery with 65W AC Adaptor
Again we see a vast discrepancy between what US customers pay for the entry-level ThinkPad X13s and the price European and Australian customers might experience.
However, the US first rung SKU has 8 GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, whereas the only UK and Australian SKUs have 16GB and 256GB of SSD space.
That doesn’t make up for the price difference, but to get 16GB of RAM in the USA requires buying a model that costs at least $1,301.40, making the cost closer to other regions.
The top US SKU is priced at $1,571.40, comes with 16GB of RAM and 1TB SSD, and a Qualcomm Snapdragon X55 5G Sub 6 WWAN module. UK and Australian customers don’t have an option for WWAN yet, but we expect Lenovo to add an SKU with this feature.
Customers should note that the RAM in these machines is soldered in place, so buying an 8GB or 16GB model and then upgrading it to 32GB isn’t possible, unfortunately.
Value: 4 / 5
Lenovo ThinkPad X13s: Design
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
Magnesium construction
Lacks privacy camera cover
1920 x 1200 screen
Essentially the same shape and almost the same size, but slightly lighter than the Z13. This casing is anodised black magnesium and looks very business-like. The underside feels like plastic, but security labels obstructed us from unscrewing it to find out for certain.
This finish doesn’t attract fingerprints like some of the ThinkPad coatings, thankfully.
Opening the case, compared to the Z13, the X13s has a narrower keyboard providing space down the sides for two Dolby Audio spec speakers.
This keyboard looks like it was borrowed from one of the cheaper Lenovo laptops and not the higher-specification designs. This reviewer found it squishy and not ideal for the highest-speed typing, but it's workable for less demanding typists, and it is spillage resistant.
Whereas other ThinkPads have a dedicated key for the fingerprint scanner, on the X13s, the power button does double duty for scanning fingers.
Whereas on other Z and X series ThinkPad designs, greater resolutions are available, on the X13s are three screen options, and they are all 1920 x 1200 resolution.
Our review hardware sported the basic IPS with an antiglare coating and a brightness of 300nits. Options exist for a touch version of this screen and an enhanced low-power panel that is marginally brighter at 400 nits and is also Eyesafe certified.
The screen is sharp and well-saturated, and the coating avoids the sorts of reflections that can make a laptop difficult to use in daylight.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
Above the screen is a 5MP RGB webcam with a privacy e-shutter. Not sure we really get why an e-shutter is a better choice than a physical one. A physical obstruction can’t be circumvented merely by inserting a key press into the input buffer. But that’s what it has.
As with the display, Lenovo has options for alternatives to this camera that offer IR functionality needed to operate Windows Hello or other identification security protocols.
The one slightly controversial feature that it shares with the Z13 is that the only USB ports are USB-C, and one of them is required for charging.
The hint, if you didn’t get it, is that a USB-C hub or docking station is required for those wanting to use more than one peripheral with their X13s.
Design: 4 / 5
Lenovo ThinkPad X13s: Features
Fanless
Soldered memory
Dual 2242 M.2 Ports
With Apple showing how reworked ARM technology can work in the personal computer space with the M1 hardware, now PC makers are considering the same evolution.
This power consumption is low enough that the X13s doesn’t require a fan to stay cool, making it entirely silent when running.
Even being ARM-based, this is a powerful CPU. If this has a weakness, the Adreno GPU isn’t at the same level as those generally found on an x86 machine when asked to generate 3D images or compute calculations.
There are other issues to do with running a version of Windows that isn’t x86/64, but we’ll get to those implications in good time.
Essentially, if you ignore the x86 elephant in this room, this is a reasonably specified computer that is highly efficient with power.
However, as appears to now be a thing with Lenovo laptops, the memory is soldered to the mainboard making memory upgrades impossible.
The left hand USB-C port of the two is allocated for charging(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
If you are prepared to remove the seal sticker and unscrew the underside, this still won't allow you to change whatever RAM it had when purchased.
What can be adjusted by ignoring the sticker is the NVMe storage, as by default only one of the NVMe M.2 slots is occupied in most SKUs from the factory.
The snag to this remarkably helpful option is that these M.2 slots are 2242 spec, not the typical 2280 that desktop systems and game consoles use.
While modules of this size are generally available, they tend to offer a maximum of 1TB of storage and do not deliver the full performance of the PCIe 4.0 interface.
Should larger capacities become available, and with NAND density increasing, that seems likely, this machine is well placed for cloning the system to a bigger drive. Although, we didn’t test any of the typical cloning tools to see if they would run on this Windows release.
Features: 4 / 5
Lenovo ThinkPad X13s: Performance
A logo reveals the Ryzen power inside(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
Overall, we’d judge the X13s as being suitable for light-duty office work, assuming the applications work either natively or in emulation mode, but it has a dramatic advantage when it comes to battery life.
When we got to the testing stage, we ran headlong into the practical limitations of Windows 11 Pro for ARM. In short, it won’t run some applications. These issues exist because the software does something in x64 code that isn’t emulated or because the Adreno 690 GPU wasn’t designed to be a PC graphics sub-system and doesn’t support the required features.
Under 3DMark Wild Life wouldn’t run, the GeekBench Compute test didn’t have the required hardware, and none of our PCMark 10 tools would function.
When the tests did run, the numbers they returned were equivalent to our expectations for a very low-specification PC, with the possible exception of the CrystalDiskMark scores.
At its best, the X13s was about 60% of the power of the AMD Ryzen 5 in the Z13 or half the speed of the Intel Core i7-1260P in the X1 Carbon.
That’s on par with lacklustre 11th Gen Intel hardware, but it represents a major improvement over the 8CX Gen 2 version of this Snapdragon series.
The camera has an electronic means to disable, but not a physical one(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
Where it suffered the most in comparison was in graphical tests and heavy processing problems like CineBench23. There is only offered a third or less of the processing power of a true x64 processor.
The lack of OpenCL hints that this machine won’t be a wonderful choice for occasional gaming or graphically intensive tasks.
One curiosity was the SSD speed, which on initial testing, looked acceptable for a PCIe 3.0 NVMe slot. Though, according to Lenovo specifications, and those for the SSST Model CL4 used in this machine, the port and the drive are PCIe 4.0 compliant. What we can only conclude is that the space on this M.2 2242 drive is insufficient space is available for the number of NAND modules needed to reach PCIe 4.0 bandwidth levels, even if the M.2 port might support that level of performance.
A security label stopped us from going inside to explore using an alternative SSD, but we are aware that getting access to the M.2 ports requires removing part of the cooling system.
Because this system is fanless, the internal cooling is extensive and not putting it back in contact with the hot parts of this hardware would be a major issue.
Performance: 3 / 5
Lenovo ThinkPad X13s: Battery
28 hours quoted
19 hours or more in testing
While using emulation to run x86 and x64 applications, this machine was never going to win many performance races, but the Snapdragon ARM architecture was built from an ancestry where power efficiency had top priority.
The quoted 28 hours of runtime sounds like something of a stretch, and under our testing, we never got anywhere near that level.
As PCMark 10 battery test won’t work, we resorted to other means to test the machine for long periods of time using web surfing and video playback.
In a balanced mode with the level of brightness needed to watch videos, it still managed nearly 16 hours, which is very good. And turning the brightness down to 120 nits, as per the PCMark 10 battery test requirements, and using power efficiency settings extended that running time to closer to 20 hours.
I’m sure that by turning off various power-consuming features, it might be possible to get even longer and get through a third working day without a recharge.
While the battery life is wonderful, it is worth considering that with a faster system, it might take less time to do some intense computing tasks, reducing the need for such long battery life. But if the tasks are less demanding, this machine can keep going where others would be exhausted.
Battery: 5 / 5
Apple’s transition to M1 wasn’t without a few hiccups, and shifting the Windows PC from its x86 roots is likely to be even more challenging.
That’s evident in the ThinkPad X13s, as while it runs very well with applications compiled for ARM-based Windows, it is more of a challenge to get legacy tools to work, and if they do function, they might not run very efficiently.
Therefore, this machine is ideal for those that run only recompiled applications and not legacy tools.
This machine also has a list of problems that have nothing to do with the Snapdragon processor, namely M.2 2242 drives, dual USB-C ports and soldered RAM modules.
But the biggest issue here is the price, which seems excessive.
When you consider that even the cheapest X13s is more expensive than the Apple iPad Pro, with the M2 processor and 512GB of storage, then that price is probably too high.
Lenovo ThinkPad X13s: Report card
Value
Expensive for a relatively low-powered machine.
3 / 5
Design
The magnesium construction is classy, and the X13s is generally well-made.
4 / 5
Features
Dual USB ports assume a docking station, but all the classic signature ThinkPad features are here.
4 / 5
Performance
The Snapdragon processor is all about efficiency, and this shows in the limp benchmark scores.
3 / 5
Battery
Incredible battery life, but then that’s expected with a 7W processor.
5/ 5
Total
Good for general office tasks but not suited to more demanding jobs.
Alongside its brand-new smartwatches, the Fitbit Sense 2 and Fitbit Versa 4, Fitbit has launched an improved an improved version of its Inspire fitness tracker, the Inspire 3 which, if previous Inspire models are any guide, is set to take its place as one of the best fitness trackers.
The Fitbit Inspire 3 comes with a revamped design featuring a wider and longer main unit and a better-fitting silicone band. And while it features a color AMOLED display – a first for the Inspire range – it boasts the same impressive battery life battery life, even if you’re using the always-on display the tracker will last for around 10 days.
It also keeps all the features that made the Fitbit Inspire 2 a success. Like its predecessors, the Inspire 3 is easy to get used to and easy to use, and presents your health and fitness stats in a simple and useful manner.
It tracks your heart rate 24/7, and uses this information, combined with your sleep data, to provide an analysis of your Daily Readiness and Stress Management. It’ll also remind you to get up and walk around for a bit if you haven’t done so in a while, and if you’re having a stressful day you can also try and relax with the 2-minute guided breathing feature.
New to the Inspire 3 is Sp02 monitoring, which tracks oxygen levels in your blood and can alert you if your BO dips below a certain threshold, such as 90%, potentially a warning sign of hypoxia, and can aid in sleep and recovery tracking. Most full fitness smartwatches carry this sensor, so it's nice to see it make its way to the slender Inspire range at last.
Fitbit might not have revolutionized this device from a smart features point of view, but the new design and color display bring real improvements to the user experience.
Fitbit Inspire 3 review: Price and availability
Fitbit Inspire 3 is available to purchase now for $99.95 / £84.99 / AU$177. It comes with two bands and a charging cable in the box, as well as a six-month subscription to Fitbit Premium. The Inspire 2, on the other hand, used to have a one-year subscription, but the Inspire 3 has cut this in line with the rest of Fitbit's devices. If you're planning to continue using Premium, this is a real blow - you're $45/£40/AU$75 worse off than you would have been with the older tracker.
The Premium subscription gets you some extra features, including a Daily Readiness Score, a Sleep Profile, and lots of workouts to access through the Fitbit app.
The unit itself is only available in black, but you can choose between black, lilac, and morning glow for the band colors, which also come in two sizes: small and large.
Fitbit Inspire 3 review: Design and screen
First Inspire model with a color display
Sleek and lightweight design
Scrolling is a little awkward sometimes
The design of the Fitbit Inspire 3 isn’t much different from the Inspire 2, with a slightly wider and longer main unit and a similarly shaped, although slightly redesigned, silicone band. It retains the sleek and light look and feel of its predecessor, and like that device it’s very comfortable on the wrist, and easy to use for most activities. The silicone grips your skin to just the right degree to avoid uncomfortable movements while exercising, although it might pull a few hairs if you fasten it quite tight – which is recommended for the most accurate heart rate readings.
The Fitbit Inspire 3 is the first Inspire to get a color display, and it’s an impressive addition considering that it in our testing it didn't appear to affect the battery life. The display is very bright, and features an always-on display mode that lets you check the time and your step count without waking the device.
Its lightweight and small size also make for seamless integration with your exercise and day-to-day routines. I found that, for example, while swimming, it almost felt like I wasn’t wearing a watch at all compared to when I wore my Garmin. This is a big plus for a wearable, especially for those who aren’t used to wearing a tracking device while exercising – and particularly in the pool, where some might feel a little intimidated going in with a watch for the first time.
The main unit is slightly wider than the Inspire 2, but that makes no difference to its lightweight nature - the Inspire 2 weighs 8g while Inspire 3 is 17g, which is still ridiculously light. Some will probably still find that it’s a little small for scrolling through the various options or reading post-exercise data, although you can of course also see your data in the Fitbit app on your phone, where everything is laid out clearly and intuitively.
As on the Inspire 2, two haptic buttons on each side of the main unit can be used to wake the device and bring up the home screen with the time. This is very handy, because unless you have the ‘auto wake’ option turned on the Fitbit’s display won’t wake automatically when you raise your wrist (to avoid interrupting your sleep during the night with its high brightness).
Design score: 4/5
(Image credit: Andrea Gaini)
Fitbit Inspire 3 review: Features
Few new features compared to the Inspire 2
There’s a new SpO2 sensor to monitor oxygen in the blood
Sleep tracking de-stigmatizes not getting your eight hours every night
The Fitbit Inspire 3 comes with a comprehensive portfolio of health-tracking features for the price, and new to the Inspire 3 is SpO2 monitoring, which measures the quantity of oxygen in your blood. While athletes and fitness enthusiasts have been using SpO2 readings as a measure of BO dips, potentially a warning sign of hypoxia, and aiding in sleep and recovery tracking. for a few years now, this particular health metric became more widely known during the Covid-19 pandemic, as it was a key indicator of how well a patient was recovering from the illness.
The Inspire 3’s heart rate monitoring 24/7 proved reasonably accurate in our testing, and this data feeds into lots of other features of the device, such as calorie count and exercise zones (cardio and fat-burning, for example). In April 2022 Fitbit added irregular heart rhythm notifications to the Inspire 2, and the Inspire 3 also has this potentially life-saving feature.
It also offers Fitbit’s full suite of useful, and easy to use, sleep- and stress-tracking features. You’ll need a Fitbit Premium subscription to take full advantage of the Sleep Profile data and Daily Readiness scores, but were definitely the data I took the most advantage of and offered genuinely valuable insights into my wellbeing.
The sleep tracker breaks down your night’s sleep into awake time, REM, light, and deep sleep, and gives you a Sleep Score based on how much time you spent in each of these sleep phases.
As someone who struggles with sleep anxiety, I found the data especially useful, and a reassuring counter to the orthodoxy that anything less than eight hours sleep isn’t enough. For example, my sleep times during my testing period were always around six hours a night, which conventional wisdom would suggest is not enough. However, my average Sleep Score in the Fitbit app was always around 70/100, and tagged as ‘Fair’.
I think this is a clever way to look at sleep, as it helps you focus more on how you can maximize your sleep quality in the hours of sleep you’re getting, rather than simply trying to go to bed earlier when you’re not tired in a bid to hit that magic eight-hour number, and then becoming stressed when you can’t sleep.
The Inspire 3 tracks the usual range of sports and activities, including walking, running, cycling, swimming, treadmill running, and general workouts such as HIIT sessions. There’s also a pretty extensive list of 21 other activities that you upload, including tennis, golf, weights, and martial arts.
(Image credit: Andrea Gaini)
When you track an activity, Inspire 3 will log basic data such as time, calories burnt, pace, and heart rate zones to help analyze the intensity of your workouts. The tracking features are very easy to use, and it’s also easy to interpret the data, making the Inspire 3 a great asset for someone who’s recently taken up exercise and needs help keeping track of their progress.
The Fitbit Inspire 3 can also track physical activity even when you haven’t initiated tracking. So for example, if I cycled into work one morning, it would quickly detect that I was cycling and log the activity in the exercise tab.
As a tracker, the Inspire 3 provides plenty of feedback to encourage you to exercise more, and make lasting improvements to your lifestyle. It doesn’t rely on guilt trips to change your habits, but simply on recognizing patterns in your sleep, activity and exercise behaviour that you may not be aware of. By looking at it all laid out on a graph, it's easier to understand what needs to change.
While Fitbit has built on the impressive Inspire 2 with the addition of a color display, and a minor redesign, it hasn’t added much in the way of features, which is a bit of a shame. However, given that the Inspire 2 was already a very capable device, it’s perhaps a case of evolution rather than revolution.
Features score: 3/5
Fitbit Inspire 3 review: Battery life
Very similar to the Fitbit Inspire 2
Always-on display disturbs battery life very little
There’s no appreciable difference in the battery life of the Inspire 3 compared to its predecessor, despite the addition of the always-on display mode, which in theory should consume more battery life.
We tested the battery life of the Fitbit Inspire 3 in both the always-on display and auto-wake mode. We’re impressed that Fitbit has managed to keep the battery life the same as previous models, at around 10 day, even when in always-on mode. It’s possible that Fitbit has implemented battery optimizations elsewhere to compensate for the effect of the always-on display.
In auto-wake mode the Fitbit doesn’t have any problem going even longer than 10 days. The auto-wake mode isn’t very accurate though – it’s technically supposed to activate the screen when you bring your wrist up to your eye line, but we found that we often had to manually wake the device.
While 10-14-day battery life is perfectly respectable for a wearable, other trackers at a similar price point and offering similar features do better – and the Xiaomi Band 5 can comfortably go for 14 days and more on a full charge, even without the potential cost of a monthly premium subscription, and it costs almost half the price of the Inspire 3.
The T3 Fit stands out as one of our best hair dryer favorites as a result of its light and compact design. And, in fact, it’s just one model in a range of stylish hair tools from US-based company, T3. Starting out in 2003 as a “part tech start-up, part beauty venture”, T3 currently sells a wide range of hair gadgets and technologies that have been mindfully designed to enhance your hair-styling experience. Choose from hair dryers, flat irons, curling irons and other useful and coveted styling tools.
The T3 Fit compact hair dryer arrived in February 2021, and while it isn’t the most recent launch, it remains a popular choice for those in the know as a result of its lightweight yet powerful design. T3 has since launched the equally stylish-looking T3 Afar in January 2022, which is even lighter in weight and comes with a stowaway folding handle that makes it perfect for travel. Meanwhile, the T3 AireLuxe is the latest hair dryer from T3, launching back in April 2022; it champions 15 heat and speed settings to make it ideal for every hair type.
The T3 Fit is designed to be 30% smaller and 20% lighter than a full-size T3 hair dryer, while remaining powerful in performance. On board the T3 Fit is all the impressive technology you’d expect from a standard hair dryer. It features IonAir technology for the delivery of a wide, ion-infused airstream for drying hair gently and quickly. Plus, its Ion Generator saturates the airflow with negative ions to achieve a smooth and shiny finish; we noticed just how well this works on frizzy hair. While the control buttons aren’t the smoothest to operate and feel a little clumsy design-wise, we enjoyed using the T3 Fit because of its comfortable handle, quiet operation, balanced airflow and lightweight design. In short, we think it’s best suited to those who want the power of a standard hair dryer in a more compact form.
T3 Fit price and availability
List price: $119.99 / £130
At the time of writing, T3 hair dryers and styling tools can be bought online in the US and UK, with the T3 Fit model costing US $119.99/£130.
We feel this is a fair price for a hair dryer that delivers all the functionality of a full-size hair dryer, but in a more compact form. Also, in terms of style, T3’s products look and feels premium, with the brand offering all of its best-selling hair dryers at reasonable sub-$221/£200 prices. In comparison, you can expect to pay around $210/£189 for the popular GHD Helios, and from $354/£320 for the Dyson Supersonic.
Price & availability score: 5
T3 Fit design
Lightweight at 400g
Compact form makes it great for travel
Easy-to-navigate controls
The T3 Fit’s design looks and feels luxurious, with the hair dryer arriving neatly presented in a white box. Inside the box you’ll find it sits alongside a single concentrator nozzle, and if you’ve opted to buy it with its compatible diffuser, this will come in a separate box. There’s also a great range of accessories you can choose from in the T3 range, including a smooth paddle brush, clip kit and absorbent luxe turban towel.
(Image credit: Future)
We like the streamlined styling of the T3, which is finished in a shiny gloss white with rose gold accents. It’s also available in an attractive graphite finish, should you prefer. While it feels nice to hold and compact in hand, its shiny surface makes it slightly slippery to hold when styling with waxy hands. Unlike some hair dryers whose controls are flush with the handle, the T3 Fit controls jut out slightly. Although this makes it not as streamlined in style as some well-known hair dryers we’ve tried, it does make the T3 Fit easy to control.
(Image credit: Future)
The most enticing features of the T3 Fit design are its size and weight, which makes it instantly attractive for those who’d like a hair dryer for taking on their travels, or are simply short on storage space at home. It’s 20% lighter and 30% smaller than the full-size T3 AireLuxe, for example, yet it comes with equally impressive technology to style hair with impressive results.
At 400kg, the T3 Fit proves a great tool for those with long or dense hair that takes time to dry; it will limit any arm ache you might suffer with extended use – something hair stylists will tell you is a big bug bear.
Note that the T3 Fit’s head is shorter and chunkier than the sleeker, full-size T3 AirLuxe hairdryer; in fact, the T3 Fit is surprisingly similar in size to the Dyson Supersonic. However, while it’s lighter than the Dyson Supersonic, which comes in at 660g, the T3 Fit isn’t the lightest hair dryer on the market. For a full-size hair dryer of lighter weight, check out the Parlux Digitalyon Light Air Ionizer.
(Image credit: Future)
Setting up the T3 Fit for use was simply a matter of plugging it in and we were good to go. Its long 9ft cord enabled us to move around freely, while the hair dryer’s controls are conveniently positioned on the handle and click securely when pressed, with no possibility of accidentally knocking the settings while in use. The concentrator nozzle proved a little fiddly to attach to the head of the hair dryer at first, but once we’d discovered how it fixes in place, through the alignment of arrows, we were able to interchange between the concentrator nozzle and the diffuser attachment with ease.
Design score: 4.5/5
T3 Fit performance
Gentle, yet powerful, airstream
Ion generator to encourage a smooth and shiny finish
Great for blowouts
The great thing about the T3 Fit is that while it’s small in size, it has all the power and performance you’d expect of a standard-size model. At 1600 watts, and with two speed settings and three heat settings, it has been designed to tackle a range of hair types – from poker straight to hair with Type 4 curl patterns – through delivery of a steady and gentle airstream.
It’s the hair dryer’s Ion Generator that saturates airflow with negative ions to help reduce frizz and encourage shine, while IonAir technology ensures hair is dried at speed yet gently. Having used the T3 Fit, we could definitely feel the benefits of its built-in technology compared to rival brands, which can often feel too fast and too hot.
Using the T3 to dry long, wavy hair that’s prone to frizz with even the slightest hint of outdoor humidity, we were impressed at how quickly it dried the hair – inside five minutes. We felt the benefits of the steady airflow of this hairdryer at both speed settings and on all three heat settings. In fact, even when we used the T3 Fit at its top settings, the hair dryer never became too hot nor did it blast out air too powerfully. The result was smoother hair that was less fluffy in texture than it is when dried with other well-known hair dryers.
We used a large round brush to blow out our hair, too, and liked that it made hair feel thick and weighty, with a good bounce and shine. The results on shorter styles were equally impressive, with the T3 taking under three minutes to completely dry a head of shorter hair.
Note that while the hair dryer didn’t ever become too hot, nor was the cool shot all that cold; we were expecting a much cooler blast of air than it delivered. In addition, we noticed that when the cool shot was pressed, while it did reduce the power and heat of the hairdryer, it took a little longer than we’d like to get cooler.
Thankfully, the T3 Fit is reasonably quiet in operation. We used a decibel meter app to measure noise levels, with it coming in at 85dB on its highest setting and 77dB on its lowest setting. To put this into context, we’ve previously tried far noisier hair dryers that emit around 90dB of noise. Since the T3 Fit doesn’t become too hot nor too loud, it’s a good option for use on children’s hair as well, making it a good buy for all the family.
Performance score: 4.5/5
A comparison of compact hairdryers, from left to right: Parlux, T3 Fit and Dyson Supersonic(Image credit: Future)
T3 score card
Attribute
Notes
Score
Price and availability
Good value for a beautifully designed hair dryer offering a premium feel and useful heat and speed settings for a range of hair types.
5/5
Design
Lightweight and compact in size, the T3 feels balanced in the hand and comfortable to use over an extended period. The 9ft professional-length cord makes it easy to move around while you style, while the concentrator nozzle directs the airflow for sleek and stylish results.
4.5/5
Performance
Surprisingly quiet and delivering a well-balanced airstream with Ion technology to lock in moisture, the T3 Fit was a joy to use. We’d have liked a “cooler” cool shot, but we think the choice of heat and speed settings were ideal for the task in hand.
Managing multiple firewalls, overviewing network activity, and making sense of a tremendous quantity of traffic logs is only possible if you have security management software like ManageEngine Firewall Analyzer to streamline the entire process.
It's a configuration management tool that helps network administrators understand how the network resources are used. Moreover, it enables them to collect, archive, and analyze security device logs and convert that data to detailed reports. The software is highly accessible and supports integration with open-source and commercial technologies of other manufacturers such as Check Point, Cisco, Juniper, Fortinet, Huawei, Palo Alto, and more.
The company behind the FW was founded in 1996 under the name AdventNet as a network management business. Today, ManageEngine offers more than 60 enterprise IT management tools for managing networks, servers, applications, service desks, Active Directory, security, desktops, and mobile devices.
Visiting ManageEngine FW's official website offered us a lot of useful information about their product, which has a very beautiful design and gives a clear overview of all the necessary info.
Additionally, you can follow them on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram to learn more about their services and news updates.
You can choose the annual subscription or perpetual option for all the payment plans listed, with varying price tags. The prices depend on the choice of payment plan and the number of devices you need to be secured. For Standard and Professional editions, the number of devices ranges from one to 50, while the Enterprise edition supports from 20 to 500 devices.
You also have the option to buy add-ons or "User Packs" if you need to add additional users for network administration. The supported payment methods include all major credit/debit cards: Visa, Mastercard, and American Express.
Alternatively, you can opt for a 30-day free trial version of the product, or you can directly test out a live demo of the system on the company's website.
(Image credit: ManageEngine)
Features and Functionality
The FW runs on Windows and Linux operating systems (OS), supporting Windows Servers 2008 - 2022, and SQL 2008 to 2019.
(Image credit: ManageEngine)
This management tool encompasses a wide range of features and services, and depending on the payment plan, we are sure it will satisfy your needs. Understandably, the Standard edition offers fewer services than the other two editions but keeps the core services such as traffic monitoring, bandwidth reports, threat, spam, attack reports, firewall device audit reports, etc.
Richer editions offer policy overview and optimization services, rule analysis and cleanup, regulatory compliance, security audit reports, real-time change notification, etc.
The Integrated Compliance Management module enables compliance auditing where users can supply evidence of live firewall compliance with required standards such as ISO, PCI-DSS, NERC-CIP, SANS, and NIST.
ManageEngine Firewall Analyzer, once set up, enables you to manage multiple firewalls, devices, and users. At the same time, it runs in the background and logs the activity of all network inbound and outbound traffic. This positively impacts the company's efficiency since it reduces workload and frees engineers and system administrators for other tasks.
Compared to some competitors, the FW needs to improve in the aspect of automated policy orchestration. Also, it sometimes has a hard time detecting new devices, a handy feature for less experienced users.
Interface and ease of use
To get started with ManageEngine Firewall Analyzer, first, go to the official website and click on the "Download" button in the upper right corner, choose the OS you are using, and follow the step-by-step guide.
After you have downloaded the latest stable release, installing the FW on Windows is as simple as installing any other self-installer application, double-clicking the file, and running the installation. During the installation process, you will have to configure the web server port and register for technical support by providing contact information (Name, Email, ID, etc.).
By default, the FW analyzer comes bundled with the PostgreSQL database, but it also supports the MS SQL databases. The installation process on Linux differs only because you don't have to configure the databases during installation.
The configuration process can be challenging, and if you are not familiar with the process, you could be lost even before you start. The key is to come prepared with information about your firewall, such as SNMP, Admin Firewall access, and also IP addresses.
We emphasize checking out a detailed installation and set-up guide on the official website.
Once the application is configured and ready to use, the user interface (UI) is simple and has plenty of detailed graphs to keep you engaged with a logical dashboard layout. Since the application gathers huge quantities of information, more than you will ever need in one report, being able to generate custom reports and break them down into manageable pieces is a huge plus.
(Image credit: ManageEngine)
Customer support
(Image credit: ManageEngine)
Considering ManageEngine FW is a paid service aimed at enterprise-level businesses, customer support service is well-rounded and rich with options.
The support service is available 24/7 (Premium support) and can be contacted directly by chat, phone, or email. Additionally, you can also submit a ticket from the official website. It is important to note that there are two options for customer support: “Classic” and “Premium” support options.
The premium option is purchased additionally and offers 24/7 phone support, online training, a single point of contact, and acknowledgment of support requests of three hours compared to eight with the “Classic” support option.
(Image credit: ManageEngine)
A detailed installation and set-up guide with a comprehensive FAQ section can be found on the official website.
Competition
If you are looking for a similar firewall management tool like ManageEngine but with more emphasis on enterprise-level features and automated change management options, check out AlgoSec. It offers similar services as ManageEngine but is somewhat more complex to implement.
Another competent alternative to ManageEngine is the FireMoon suite which offers complete control of network security to users from a centralized location. It records log history, including firewall rules, rule documentation, and rule certification details. Depending on the payment plan, this could also be a pricer option for your security management tool.
While Fortinet FortiGate Cloud is far from a less desired solution than ManageEngine, it has some limitations. Although the product includes all the core firewall functions, such as anti-malware, web filtering, threat protection, threat incursion prevention, flood detection, and scalable segmentation, it is best suited for small to mid-sized businesses.
Final verdict
ManageEngine Firewall Analyzer is a complete network management tool suited for managing multiple firewalls from a single point and, thus, ideal for large organizations. Moreover, it helps harmonize security policies and rules and controls traffic while automating workflows.
However, configuration complexity and the price tag limit the value for small organizations with limited resources.
The Lo & Sons Rowledge bag is one of our favorite every day bags. It’s one of the most stylish and chic backpacks we’ve ever laid eyes on, both in its simple yet elegant exterior and the interior which is lined with jacquard in a beautiful hummingbird print.
It’s an incredibly practical bag as well, as the exterior is full of storage pockets and made of a wicking material that resists even the worst of storms, while the interior is cushioned to protect your precious laptops and other devices.
There are two mesh pockets on the inside, which can be used for holding water bottles or an umbrella and there’s also a dedicated back sleeve that can hold a smaller laptop or device. The main pocket can hold about two other laptops up to 15-inches, though it can be a tight squeeze. This bag, unlike the Lo & Sons O.G. 2 overnight travel bag, is meant for a smaller workload though it still fits in a solid amount of things.
There are two versions: a small size that’s $465 and a large size priced at $485. It’s an expensive bag indeed and the price only increases if you’re in any region outside the US and are forced to import one.
Its performance fully reflects the high standards of quality and pricing that the Lo & Sons brand name is known for. Not only is this bag gorgeous but it’s capable of taking a substantial beating without showing any signs of wear and tear. The exterior shows no signs of scratching or fraying at the seams, while the interior stays completely pristine and rip-free even when consistently stuffed full day after day.
Simply put, if you're looking for one of the best backpacks around and you're willing to spend the money to get it, the Lo & Sons Rowledge should definitely be on your shortlist.
Lo & Sons Rowledge: Price and availability
(Image credit: Future)
It's very expensive
Not available outside the US
The Lo & Sons Rowledge comes in two sizes, small and large, with the former costing $465 (around £400 / AU$720) and the latter priced at $485 (around £420 / AU$750).
The pricing reflects the high-quality and long-lasting build of the bag, though it would be difficult for many people to afford it. Not to mention that the brand is only available in the US, meaning that those in other regions would need to find a way to import it and incur additional costs.
Despite that, the Lo & Sons Rowledge is an excellent bag that’s more than worth the price if you can afford it. And honestly, it makes for a great investment, as it outlasts any cheap bags by a wide margin, meaning that you won’t have to repurchase a new bag every few months or even years.
Value: 4.5 / 5
Lo & Sons Rowledge: Design and features
(Image credit: Future)
Tons of pockets
Weatherproofed exterior
Cushioned jacquard-lined interior
Lo & Sons Rowledge Key Specs
Here are the specs for the Lo & Sons Rowledge we received for review:
Key Features: Both briefcase and backpack wear, dedicated laptop sleeve, water-resistant nylon, leather handles and trim, interior jacquard lining Dimensions: Small- 6" x 10.75" x 16", Large - 6.75" x 11.5" x 16.5" (L x W x H) Weight: Small - 2.9lbs, Large - 3.2lbs
This is an impeccably designed backpack, with a simple yet refined look and the zippers acting as accents to enhance the sleek black material. It reflects the premium brand name without being too garish, including the lovely hummingbird-printed lavender jacquard material on the inside. Normally a backpack summons images of something more rustic and sporty, but the Lo & Sons Rowledge is sophisticated enough to be in any office environment.
And sophistication isn’t the only aspect of its design either, as everything about it is meant for more practical use. For instance, the outer material is made of weatherproof nylon and the zippers are made to prevent leakage into the back itself even when it's open. The internal jacquard material is cushioned to protect laptops and other vulnerable devices from harm.
Not to mention the number of pockets this backpack has, with two adjustable outside ones on either side, two mesh pockets on the inside, a front pocket, a back outside pocket, a small pocket at the top, a dedicated section in the back for smaller laptops, and space for larger laptops as well as other items. While it’s smaller and can’t fit very large gaming laptops like the O.G. 2 overnight bag can, it still fits in a solid amount for being an everyday bag.
Design: 5 / 5
Lo & Sons Rowledge: Performance
(Image credit: Future)
Protects any devices inside it from harm
Remains in pristine condition even after a beating
We put the Lo & Sons Rowledge through its paces to see how much punishment it could take through daily use and the answer is: a lot. The exterior is made of weatherproof material, so the heaviest rain storms won’t easily penetrate it, leaving the inside completely dry and safe from harm. This includes all the extra pockets that can be fully zipped up, and even the partially open outside side pockets provide a surprising amount of protection. And even through months of hard use, the material looks just as pristine as the first day we received it.
The inside is cushioned well and slamming the bag down on a table or hard floor protects any laptops stored inside. The dedicated inside back slot is ideal for smaller laptops and keeps it protected from other items in the main pocket that might spill over. Even after months of overstuffing the bag with devices and other items, there’s been no signs of ripping or tearing.
There are two ways to hold the bag, either as a briefcase with short handles or as a backpack with shoulder straps. Either method works great as the handle material is made of leather and therefore quite durable. And the long straps are extremely durable as well, able to take plenty of punishment without ripping like most cheaper bag straps would after a few months.
Performance: 5 / 5
Should you buy a Lo & Sons Rowledge?
(Image credit: Future)
Buy it if...
Don't buy if...
Also consider
Lo & Sons O.G. 2: Report Card
Value
Despite the high price tag, this bag is so surable and chic that it will last you a very long time, making it a great investment.
4.5 / 5
Design
From the material to the elegant hardware and jacquard interior, everything about this bag is gorgeous.
5 / 5
Performance
Even after stuffing this backpack full of laptops and other tech for months, it looks as good as the day we got it and the weatherproofing is superb.
5 / 5
Total (Average)
While expensive, the Rowledge is still one of the finest backpacks that we have ever tested and will look not just appropriate but chic no matter where you are.
4.84 / 5
First reviewed November 2022
How We Test
We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.
