Apple 13-inch MacBook Pro, Dell Latitude 7400, Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus, and more: Reviews round-up

You can argue about Apple's use of the term 'entry-level' for a laptop that has a starting price of £1299/$1299, but this new 13-inch model is certainly better value for money than its Touch Bar-less predecessor. It provides a major increase in performance. And, with strong battery life and lightweight design, it's certainly an attractive option.

For more see: Apple 13-inch MacBook Pro (2019): A welcome update for the most affordable MacBook Pro

Dell has done well here - the silicon is fine, the exterior metal finish is nice, it has enough battery to make a full day, and there are ports aplenty. The pricing is OK, at the time of writing, and while the screen is serviceable at best, as a business laptop it is likely to have an external display used with it that will lessen the disappointment. If you are a business that uses Dells already, this is the laptop to demand from your IT department.

For more see: Dell Latitude 7400 2-in-1: A shiny business laptop with a few tricks

We think it's clear that this is the most capable smartphone available today with lots of appeal to the enterprise user. As amazing as the Note 10 Plus is, it's not an automatic purchase for Note 9 users. If you have a Note 8 or earlier version of the Note then you should probably take advantage of the trade-in deals to secure a Note 10 Plus. 

For more see: Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus review: Best business phone improves in speed and S Pen capability

The Galaxy A50 offers a lot of what the flagship Samsung phones offer at a fraction of the price. Some may think the plastic phone feels cheap, but I find it to be more than adequate for a $350 phone. The Samsung Exynos processor worked well during testing and the A50 camera is very capable, and helps you take decent shots that are more than adequate for sharing with family and friends.

For more see: Samsung Galaxy A50 on Xfinity Mobile review: Affordable powerful Android phone with attractive cellular options

There is something to be said for trying to combine good security features, solid productivity capability, neat design styling, decent audio and a strong display. That might appeal to business users who want great consumer features. However, improvements could be made to display brightness and keyboard quality, while facial recognition, a touch screen, full screen rotation and mobile broadband support would all be welcome.

For more see: Lenovo ThinkBook 13s review: A capable all-rounder

The ZenBook 14 UX434FL is worth serious consideration if you're looking for a capable, lightweight yet robust 14-inch laptop. The ScreenPad - which is a secondary touchscreen doubling up on the trackpad - may or may not appeal, but don't let that distract you from the rest of what's on offer here.

For more see: Asus ZenBook 14 UX434FL review: A solid ultraportable, with added ScreenPadxxx

This 5G model delivers similar performance its 4G sibling and doesn't appear to compromise too much on battery life. It's still early days for 5G networks, but, geopolitical considerations aside, the Mate 20 X 5G looks like a good choice of handset at the moment, despite costing £200 more than its 4G sister.

For more see: Huawei Mate 20 X 5G, hands on: Smaller battery, faster charging, bigger price tag

A Huawei P30 Pro with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage will cost you £899, and while Oppo's Reno 10x Zoom can't quite match the P30 on photography, it gets pretty close, offering excellent value for money at £700 for the 8GB/256GB model. Performance and battery life are good, and the industrial design is both eye-catching and robust.

For more see: Oppo Reno 10x Zoom review: An affordable alternative to leading flagship smartphones

It's very satisfying to end a call by flipping the top down. The flip form factor is also great for calls, as it places the headset speaker and the mic in the perfect location. However, the hinge is not as strong as it should be and we're a bit worried about the long-term durability of this phone.

For more see: Alcatel GO Flip V hands-on: Good call quality, average battery, and basic build

The new Polar Ignite is for more casual athletes who are looking for active coaching to guide different workout options based on advanced sleep tracking and recovery. We like what Polar has done with the software in FitSpark and Nightly Recharge (when it works), but the hardware needs some work.

For more see: Polar Ignite review: Active coaching based on readiness, slim and sleek with a frustrating display

For under $300, the Pocketalk will give you the confidence you need when traveling, and you do not speak the language. The device comes with a two-year data plan on Amazon, so you do not even need any Wi-Fi to use it. Small enough for your pocket, you do not ever need to worry about asking for directions again. 

For more see: Pocketalk translator hands-on: 74 languages at the touch of a button

The Akaso V50 Pro action camera promises a lot from its tiny form factor - and we liked this camera. It was a bit fiddly to configure, and the batteries took a long time to charge up fully, but image quality was good. This set-it-and-forget-it camera will certainly suit most of your outdoor needs. 

For more see: Akaso V50 Pro action camera hands-on: Perfect for above and underwater action

The Anker Nebula Capsule II works well for casting handset content for work presentations, and delivers watchable entertainment content too. The speaker is boomy, bassy and loud. It's relatively expensive, though, and battery life could be better. We'd like to be able to do some binge-watching without having to find the mains, for example.

For more see: Anker Nebula Capsule II, hands on: A portable 720p mini-projector with integrated speaker

Electric bikes are a fun method of commuting to work and there are some affordable options. After a month with the CrossCurrent X, we think it's clear that Juiced Bikes offers a complete commuter experience at less than $2,500.

For more see: Juiced Bikes CrossCurrent X electric bike review: The complete commuter experience