Samsung Galaxy Fold, Google Pixel 4, OnePlus 7T, Apple Watch Series 5, and more: Reviews round-up

We thoroughly enjoyed the Fold experience. It is pretty incredible for a first-generation device that offers technology not yet seen in any other device. However, at $2,000 it still isn't a phone that everyone should buy, but everyone should at least see it to appreciate what Samsung has done and where the future of smartphones may go.

For more see: Samsung Galaxy Fold review: Most innovative phone of 2019 nears Holy Grail of One Device

LG has taken a different approach to adding screen area to a handset. A second screen does make for a bulkier, heavier handset, and it challenges the battery, but these trade-offs are to be expected. 5G support will give this phone a degree of future proofing. Five cameras (two front, three back) deliver good enough photos, but there's nothing exceptional on offer here. 

For more see: LG V50 ThinQ 5G review: A dual-display 5G flagship

While Samsung's Galaxy Fold is pushing technology forward, LG offers up an affordable two-screen device that is better for productivity than the Fold. The flexibility to use the LG G8X as a standard Android phone with one screen is a benefit, too. If you want a phone that can stand up to the elements, brings an interesting experience with a second display, and doesn't break the bank, then you should seriously consider the LG G8X ThinQ.

For more see: LG G8X ThinQ Dual Screen review: For $700, better productivity than the Galaxy Fold

The performance, quick updates, gorgeous design elements, decent battery life, and more make devices like the OnePlus 7T a solid smartphone to get work done. Battery life has been solid, but there is also fast charging with the included Warp Charge 30T charger. At $599 it is hard to complain about this phone.

For more see: OnePlus 7T review: The best smartphone value of 2019

If you have a Pixel 3, we wouldn't recommend getting a Pixel 4. If you're happy with the Pixel 3's battery life and performance, there's little reason to upgrade. The camera features are neat, but not worth the upgrade alone. On paper, the Pixel 4 XL reads like the perfect Android phone. In the real world, it's a mixture of surprises and disappointment.

For more see: Google Pixel 4 XL review: A perfectly disappointing phone

While wireless charging and fast charging is offered, this still cannot justify less battery life and it's an unacceptable trade-off for the enterprise. Google Pixel phones are known for regular firmware updates, but for businesses this may actually be a deterrent. The camera on the Pixel 4 is excellent, but you can get very similar photos with the new iPhone 11 series, the Galaxy Note 10, and Galaxy S10 as well. 

For more see: Google Pixel 4 review: Solid camera, but poor battery and cellular performance kill it for business

Don't think of this as a successor to the Pixelbook and view it as a new addition to the Google lineup. This model is designed to fill the laptop-only mode and come in at the lowest starting price of a Google-branded Chromebook. The Pixelbook Go is a very well constructed and designed Chromebook that focuses on helping you work efficiently and enjoy media on the go.

For more see: Pixelbook Go review: Google's laptop is designed to please

For first-time Apple Watch buyers, do you buy the $199 Apple Watch Series 3 or the $399 Apple Watch Series 5? After two weeks of testing, the Series 5 feels like what the Apple Watch should have been from the start. In addition to the always-on display, you're getting a bigger screen, fall detection, and Apple's ECG app for detecting irregular heart rhythms.

For more see: Apple Watch Series 5 review: This is the watch I've been waiting for

By expanding the capabilities of the iPad through hardware and software improvements, including enterprise additions, the standard iPad is just as capable as the iPad Pro and it's a fraction of the price. For the average user who wants a streamlined computing experience, at home or work, the new iPad is an affordable option that will surely get the job done.

For more see: Apple iPad (2019) review: Apple's entry-level tablet is boosted by iPadOS, enterprise improvements

The Xperia 1 is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 855 chipset, which delivers good benchmarks: three-pass average Geekbench 5 scores of 745 (single core) and 2849 (multi-core). The Xperia 5 runs on Android 9 rather than the newer Android 10. The handset's 3,140mAh battery is a bit under-specified, but still managed to deliver more than a day's use in the real world.

For more see: Sony Xperia 5, hands on: A compact, wide-screen flagship-class handset

The Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro is a flagship-class handset with a great screen, good battery life, dual SIM support, an in-screen fingerprint reader and a 3.5mm headset jack. The triple rear camera setup is very capable, and while the pop-out selfie camera's mechanism might not appeal to everybody, there's nothing wrong with its photo quality. 

For more see: Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro review: An affordable flagship-class, large-screen handset

The Fairphone 3 is a handset that's designed to be taken apart and repaired by its owner. Fairphone's aim to produce a handset based on ethically sourced materials and properly paid workers is laudable. But buyers will have to accept compromises beyond those of build and styling: anyone looking at purchases of equal monetary value - €450/£400 - will immediately see the difference in specification.

For more see: Fairphone 3, hands on: Ethically sourced and user-repairable

The ThinkPad X1 Yoga 4th Gen is solidly built with the usual Lenovo look and feel. We felt the combination of high-resolution 4K screen and 4-speaker system on our review unit are ideal for work presentations and after-hours relaxation, the stylus with an on-device housing is a bonus, and there are plenty of security features too. But beware of the 4K screen as it's a battery drainer.

For more see: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga (4th Gen) review: Sleeker and lighter, but still excellent

HP's EliteBook x360 830 G6 isn't the lightest 13.3-inch laptop around, but it's among the most solidly built. The many security features are compelling. Battery life is impressive, too. On the downsides, viewing angles are poor and the stylus suffers from an awkward tethering system. Also, the speakers could be better, and there's no privacy cover for the webcam.

For more see: HP EliteBook x360 830 G6 review: Compact and solid, with good security and battery life

Amazon's Kindle Oasis is a high-end e-reader that's now on its third edition. The Oasis is a lovely product both to hold and to read with. It delivers a premium experience in this respect, and has the edge over Kobo's Forma, primarily because of the aluminium back and excellent page-turn buttons. But a headset jack and a USB-C charge connector would be welcome, and could have been achieved without impacting case size, design or usability.

For more see: Amazon Kindle Oasis 2019, long-term test: A few features short of perfection

The Libra H2O is a new 7-inch e-book reader from Kobo, which at £149.99 (inc. VAT; or $169.99) sits below the company's flagship 8-inch, £239.99 (or $249.99) Kobo Forma. Reading was a pleasurable experience on the Libra H2O, with the Kobo UI rather less cluttered and easier to navigate than the Kindle's. The big deal-maker for Kobo is that its e-readers support library loans -- if your library uses OverDrive. 

For more see: Kobo Libra H2O, hands on: An affordable but capable alternative to flagship e-readers