Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3, Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 9310, and more: ZDNet's reviews roundup

Samsung sent along the S21 Ultra with the best specs, 16GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage, so this beast has been able to handle everything we've thrown at it so far. The S21 Ultra 5G gets just about everything right and is gorgeous.

For more see: Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G review: Samsung's best S series for $200 less than last year's model

The Tab Active 3 is an affordable tablet that is optimised for the mobile workforce. It doesn't have high capacity RAM, but we have yet to see it stumble with any task thrown at it. It has external storage capacity and the ability to extend its functionality with POGO pins, too. 

For more see: Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3 review: Sleek, durable tablet for frontline workers

Dell has added 11th-generation Intel processors and Thunderbolt 4 to the XPS 13 2-in-1's solid chassis and superb 360-degree rotating screen. However, this is not a particularly lightweight 13-inch 2-in-1 and it's short on ports and connectors, while battery life is disappointing -- at least with a Core i7 processor and power-hungry 4K screen. Then there's the keyboard action, which might be the most problematic issue.

For more see: Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 9310 (2020) review: An excellent, but not perfect, convertible ultraportable

The ZenBook 14 UX435EG is well made and has an up-to-date, high-end configuration. The keyboard is noisy but very comfortable to use, the 14-inch IPS screen is excellent and all-day battery life should be no problem for knowledge workers. The ScreenPad may be an acquired taste, but you won't know if it suits you until you spend some time with it.

For more see: Asus ZenBook 14 UX435EG review: ScreenPad-equipped ultraportable gets updated hardware

Although it doesn't use the latest 11th-generation Intel processors and doesn't offer discrete graphics, there's much else that pleases. If you're looking for a 13.3-inch convertible laptop with plenty of features and all-day battery life, the EliteBook x360 1030 G7 is worth shortlisting.

For more see: HP EliteBook x360 1030 G7 review: A top-quality 13-inch 2-in-1 ultraportable

The Redmi Note 9T is a very nice phone. With a MediaTek processor, a lower-resolution display, and huge battery capacity, it should easily get through a day or two with heavy usage. Added features include an IR blaster, 3.5mm audio jack, USB-C port, and capable triple camera system.

For more see: Redmi Note 9T first take: MediaTek processor, 5,000mAh battery, and 5G

The reMarkable 2 E Ink tablet is an excellent device for basic note-taking. A backlight is a must-have addition for the next version, as is support for exporting to more formats and identification of in situ graphics during text conversion. The price also needs to come down considerably.

For more see: reMarkable 2 E-Ink tablet review: Superb for on-screen writing, but key features are still missing

This is anything but a retro microphone. It has built-in smarts, onboard storage, and a battery that helps it serve as a completely portable microphone. Or, if you'd rather, you can use it as a USB microphone to improve the quality of your personal podcast or video calls.

For more see: Tula Mic review: A portable and powerful tool for video conferencing or podcasting

At £459/$519.99, the 1.92TB model isn't cheap, but this hardware is a way to get better performance out of a NAS that you've got maxed out on capacity to serve multiple users. If this kind of cache will improve productivity, the high price tag will be worth it. 

For more see: Seagate IronWolf 510 SSD, hands on: An enterprise-class cache to speed up your NAS

Panasonic's PressIT Wireless Presentation System does its job – replacing HDMI cable connections to meeting room monitors or projectors with wireless links – with minimal fuss and good attention to detail, although it's a shame there's no iOS app available. 

For more see: Panasonic PressIT Wireless Presentation System review: Push-button wireless screen sharing

The Orbi 4G LTE (LBR20) takes a two-pronged approach, supporting both wired networking via Ethernet and 4G LTE mobile broadband. You can use the mobile broadband connection by itself or as a backup option.

For more see: Netgear Orbi 4G LTE (LBR20), hands-on: A versatile router with mesh Wi-Fi, mobile broadband and wired connectivity