Trending November 2023 # Harber London Slim Leather Macbook Sleeve Review # Suggested December 2023 # Top 15 Popular

You are reading the article Harber London Slim Leather Macbook Sleeve Review updated in November 2023 on the website Moimoishop.com. We hope that the information we have shared is helpful to you. If you find the content interesting and meaningful, please share it with your friends and continue to follow and support us for the latest updates. Suggested December 2023 Harber London Slim Leather Macbook Sleeve Review

About Harber London slim leather MacBook sleeve:

The sleeve is a premium product crafted using full-grain leather and has a wool felt lining on the inside. It offers a snug fit and decent protection to your MacBook. Moreover, you also get the customization option to add text or image to your sleeve. If you’re planning to buy it, use the code IGEEKS22 for a 15% discount, exclusively for our readers!

Apple MacBooks are a work of art. Especially since Apple’s shift to their homegrown SoC’s, MacBooks are hands down one of the best laptops available. With such a sleek and elegant design, it surely needs extra protection, which is what Harber London’s leather MacBook sleeve offers.

Yes, the protection is minimal, but something is better than nothing. Also, leather screams premium. And, pulling your MacBook out of a Full Grain leather sleeve while sitting in a café feels better, trust me. Now, let’s figure out if you should get one of these Harber London MacBook leather sleeves.

Design and build

For those not well versed with leather, Genuine Leather sounds like the best quality of leather there is. But that is far from the truth, and Full Grain is the best quality of leather found in nature. And the Harber London slim leather MacBook sleeve is made out of Full Grain leather handcrafted by experts in Spain.

Harber London claims that the sleeve fits like a glove, and I agree. However, it’s both a boon and a bane (more on that later). The outer layers are Full Grain leather sheets stitched together. And you have wool felt lining inside, conducive to a snug fit.

I’d still pick microfiber padding over the wool felt lining any day. And that is because there’s a low chance that microfiber will leave scratches on the surface of my MacBook. No, the wool felt lining isn’t bad; it’s just that microfiber is a more tried and tested product.

The stitching on the sleeve is uniform and the thread used is also of a similar shade. I have no complaints regarding the stitches, except for a stitch going around the sides on each side of the sleeve. This one stitch breaks the uniformity of the design, and it just feels out of place.

The Harber London logo is perfectly engraved and placed at the bottom center. You can even customize the sleeve by adding some text or image for around $8-9. Can’t deny it’s a great addition to a sleeve!

Utility and Protection

When buying a product, I believe and look for products that prioritize function over form and not the other way around. A sleeve is not ideally the best accessory to protect your MacBook, but for what it’s worth, the Harber London sleeve does a decent job. I expect little drop protection from a sleeve, and the only protection expected is from accidental spills or minor drops.

Further, both the leather sheets are not the same. The one on the upper side is softer than the one at the bottom. It is a result of the lower layer having an extra padding layer between the leather and wool felt lining.

As I already mentioned, the fit is snug, which assures me that my MacBook won’t fall out of it. However, inserting and removing my MacBook is a hassle I don’t particularly enjoy.

Also, you cannot charge your MacBook while in the sleeve, a compromise not everyone wants to make. And the case is so tight and slim that carrying anything other than a MacBook in the sleeve is impossible.

Should you get the Harber London leather sleeve?

iGeekometer

Design

90%

Build

92%

Protection

70%

Value for money

93%

The Harber London slim leather MacBook sleeve is available in the price range of $90 to $100, depending on the size of your MacBook. You can also get a 15% discount using the coupon code: IGEEKS22. Now, is it a value-for-money product at this price point? Yes, that would be my objective answer.

Let me explain why. Firstly, Full Grain leather is comparatively expensive. The patina it develops over time makes the product age gracefully. I love leather products as they look and feel better with time. Nonetheless, the Harber London sleeve demands a premium price tag but, in exchange, does offer a premium product too.

Pros

Made from Full Grain leather

Option to customize with text or image

Robust build quality

Snug fit

Cons

Microfiber padding on the inside would be better

Feels too tight

Can’t carry extra accessories

Price: £79

Buy now

Author Profile

Darryl

Consumer Technology and Motorcycles are the two things that excite Darryl the most. Why? Because Tech helps better people’s lives, and solving people’s problems related to tech is something he enjoys. And what about bikes, you ask? Well, drop a gear and disappear.

You're reading Harber London Slim Leather Macbook Sleeve Review

Review: Studio Credence Leather & Felt Book

While I may be known for my addiction to all things anodised aluminum, I also have a love of natural materials, wood and leather especially. My MacBook Pro and MacBook Air both travel in BookBook leather cases (reviewed here by Jordan), so when Studio Credence announced a book-style case for the iPad, I decided to take a look.

First impressions

Studio Credence is clearly going for a bit of a rustic look. The packaging is undyed cardboard, with the case itself in a muslin-type drawstring bag. Open this, and what you have inside is a very similar approach to the BookBook range …

From the front or spine, it does look very convincingly like an old-worlde book. From the sides, however, the open style gives the game away.

The leather isn’t as soft to the touch as BookBook cases, but it feels like like decent quality leather with neat stitching, and the red felt lining looks good as a contrast. Overall, this has the look and feel of a high quality product made to last.

In use

My iPad Air slipped easily into the sleeve compartment, with a leather tap to fold behind it. With that in place, the iPad was held securely even when I shook the case with the open slot at the bottom.

All three open sides are well thought out, allowing access to headphone socket, power switch, rotation-lock switch and volume buttons. The case does, however, partly block the speakers.

In practice, there was plenty of volume for listening to a video, but it wouldn’t be ideal for listening to music.

There’s also a rear cutout for the camera.

In one of those small but appreciated touches, there’s a small magnet embedded in the case so there’s a slight bit of resistance as you lift the front cover – just enough to keep it secure, but not annoying the way a press-stud would be.

If holding it as you would a book, you need to open it from the back to unfold it. The iPad sleeve hinges, and there are three ridged areas in the felt to allow a good choice of viewing angles.

This is very convenient for watching movies, and works well enough for web-browsing, but personally I’d remove it from the case for any more intensive use. This is really the only weakness: with the iPad in the sleeve, you can’t neatly tuck the open cover behind it for handheld use. If you use your iPad in a case while standing on a train or metro service, this wouldn’t be a good choice.

iPhone sleeves

The company also makes a range of iPad and iPhone sleeves. This didn’t seem to justify a review of its own – how much can you say about a simple phone sleeve? – but I did also try it out.

This is not a full wallet replacement. Until companies finally catch on to the electronic age and give us Passbook entries instead of slivers of plastic, we’ll be stuck with carrying around pocketfuls of the things.

There are times, however, when carrying both a wallet and a phone is a bit of a pain. I may need only one card and a bill or two, and I have to say I think one of Studio Credence’s iPhone sleeves may just fit the bill. The phone goes in the main sleeve, and there’s just room for one (or at a push, two) credit card in the pocket on one side, while a bill or three goes in the pocket on the rear.

The whole thing is pretty neat, and slips easily into a jacket or jeans pocket. Although the phone is a tight fit, the felt interior means there’s no need to worry about scratching it.

I won’t be using it on a daily basis (I don’t generally use any iPhone case), but I can see me using it for a nice evening out – when I don’t want to spoil the lines of my jacket with a full-sized wallet – and for cycle rides where I won’t need most of my cards.

Conclusions

Different case designs have different uses. Doing a lot of typing? You want a keyboard case. Hand-holding your iPad on a metro or train? You’ll want something where the front cover folds flat behind it.

But if you use your iPad mainly for movies and light browsing, and you mostly have it sitting on a desk or on your lap, this is well worth a look. On your lap, the leather has enough friction that it sits securely, with no tendency to slip off. On a desk, it’s perfect. You also wouldn’t hesitate to pull it out in the most important of meetings: it looks the part.

Finally, as a travel case, it gives excellent protection to the iPad. I’d happily put this into either a day bag or overnight bag with lots of other bits & pieces and be confident that it was well-protected all-round from both scratches and impacts.

The only catch is the price: at $99, it’s not cheap. But I subscribe to the notion of buying the right thing once, and I do think the quality is such that this would last for years to come.

The phone sleeve? $38. To be honest, as neat as it is, for something with more felt than leather, I think that’s rather harder to justify.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Lenovo Yoga Slim 9I (Gen 7) Review: Simply Golden

Pros

Stunning, golden design

Clear and bright OLED screen

Decent performance

Cons

Underwhelming everyday battery life

No USB-A or HDMI ports

Shallow key travel

Our Verdict

The Yoga Slim 9i from Lenovo has a design that stands out from the crowd and impressive performance across a variety of tasks. However, the battery life is a bit of a let down.

Unlike most of Lenovo’s Yoga laptops, Slim 9i (Gen 7) isn’t a 2-in-1 device. However, it is a premium computer with a striking design that performs as good as it looks.

With a dazzling display, capable Intel processor and some impressive speakers, this laptop is just as good for work as it is for play – especially if you work in the creative industries. But is it worth the hefty price tag?

Design & build

Oatmeal finish

No USB-A or HDMI ports

Weighs 1.37kg

The best thing about this 14in laptop is its premium look and feel, which is up there with some of the best in the business.

What Lenovo dubs as an ‘Oatmeal’ colour is an unusual yet extremely aesthetically pleasing finish. The outer shell is made from glossy white glass with a very simple Lenovo logo on the side, whilst the keyboard and chassis all come in a shiny champagne shade. Amongst a sea of basic black and silver laptops, the Yoga Slim 9i makes a true statement, although there are no alternative colour options.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

The laptop is 14.9mm thick, so it can slip inside a backpack or duffle bag and still give you plenty of room. At 1.37kg it isn’t the lightest on the market, but still doesn’t feel hefty when carrying around. Despite not being a convertible, the 9i has a wide 180-degree radius and lives up to its Yoga name by feeling both flexible and strong.

There are three USB-C ports (all of which support Thunderbolt 4 for fast data transfer), plus a 3.5mm headphone jack and physical privacy shutter for the webcam. There’s also a side-mounted power button, but no HDMI or USB-A ports.

Lenovo does supply an adaptor in the box, but it only includes one HDMI port, one USB-A port and an old-school VGA port – so if you have two devices that connect via USB-A, you’ll need to fork out for an extra adaptor.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

The integrated fan does a good job at keeping the device cool during daily tasks such as web browsing, and is for the most part whisper quiet. That said, under more strenuous activity like gaming, it does get noticeably louder.

The box also includes a fabric wallet that matches the shade of the laptop, allowing you to protect it whilst taking it on the go. However, it’s not quite large enough to fit both the laptop and the charger comfortably.

Keyboard, trackpad & webcam

Lots of keyboard shortcuts available

Key travel feels quite shallow

Odd stutter from the trackpad

Keys on the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i have a curved, wide shape with responsive fireback. The key travel is on the shallow side, which may be a bug bear if you type aggressively. However, they are quite quiet. The keyboard can either have the backlight set to always on, automatic or off, with two levels of brightness available.

Many shortcut keys are included on this device, with the spacebar doubling up as a backlight key, and the F keys also acting as controls for the altering the sound and brightness, extending the displays, turning on airplane mode and more. There are quite a lot of shortcuts to get used to, but overall, I found them to be practical additions.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

The trackpad takes up a good amount of space. I had a couple of occasions where it stuttered when booting the laptop up, but these were far and few between.

The webcam is located above the display in the centre, within a bezel which protrudes from the top slightly. It is 1080p in quality and is combined with an infra-red sensor for Windows Hello face unlock, plus dual microphones to help improve video calls. There is also a privacy shutter button on the keyboard for your piece of mind.

I found face recognition to work quite well. It can have have trouble recognising you if you’re wearing glasses, so I’d recommend improving recognition with a second scan via Settings. However, No fingerprint reader is included.

Screen & speakers

2.8K touchscreen OLED display

Display picks up marks

Impressive audio

The Yoga Slim 9i has a 2.8K (2880×1800) OLED display with a 16:10 aspect ratio. This results in a clear and bright screen where colours pop and shine – even with the brightness turned down.

Viewing angles are great on this device, though it can suffer from some glare if you’re using it near a window, or outdoors under bright sunlight.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

When measuring the screen with a Spyder Elite, the Yoga Slim 9i achieved 100% sRGB, 95% AdobeRGB, 100% DCI-P3 coverage and a maximum brightness of 392 nits. For an OLED display, that AdobeRGB score is particularly impressive – meaning that not only does this device look good, but it is also a viable option for creators and designers.

The maximum refresh rate on the 9i is 90Hz. The laptop automatically defaults to 60Hz, so you’ll need to head into the display settings if you want to alter this. This will be a welcome addition for those who enjoy a bit of casual gaming or just smoother scrolling, but it will hit battery life slightly.

The display is touchscreen compatible. Whilst I found this to be quick and responsive to gestures, swipes and presses, the screen does pick up fingerprints and marks very easily – you’ll have to maintain upkeep on this device to keep it smudge free.

The audio hardware on the Yoga Slim 9i is impressive. The laptop comes with four speakers, with sound by Bowers & Wilkins and Dolby Atmos support. Altogether, this results in colourful, loud audio with punchy bass levels. It’s a joy for watching Netflix, playing games and listening to music on.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Specs & performance

The Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i features an Intel Core i7 processor from the latest (at time of writing) 12th-gen range, alongside 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. You can create custom configurations on the Lenovo website, and in other markets such as the US, the laptop comes with higher RAM and storage options.

The specific chip used in this model is the Core i7-1280P. Part of the Alder Lake-P series, this chip delivers a balance between efficiency and performance into a slim and light laptop. It also features integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics, but there’s no option for a discrete GPU.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Day-to-day performance is solid, quick and responsive. I’ve used this device for numerous tasks at once, editing photos, taking video calls and even some light gaming, and it was able to do it all without a hitch.

Under our benchmarking tests, you can see that the Yoga Slim 9i manages to keep pace with other laptops of a similar price from the likes of Huawei and LG.

Battery & charging

Not the best battery life

65W charging via USB-C

Fast speeds helps juice the laptop quickly

Under our continuous video loop battery test, the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i achieved 8 hours and 37 minutes. However, the real world battery life doesn’t always match up to these levels. I was able to make it around four hours with the best performance enabled, using multiple applications and listening to music throughout the day.

Of course, there are things you can do to conserve the battery. Lenovo’s own Vantage software lets you choose battery saver or adaptive performance modes, rather than extreme performance. You can also turn on conservation mode in the quick settings bar to protect the battery long term.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

The laptop comes with 65W charger, which can be used with any of the three USB-C ports. Lenovo includes rapid charge feature (this must be enabled in Lenovo Vantage), which the company claims can give the device up to two hours’ worth of use in just 15 minutes.

With this enabled, I was able to juice the laptop to 39% from flat in 30 minutes, which is not quite as fast as what we’ve seen from rival devices.

Software & features

Windows 11 Home

Some software bloat

The Yoga 9i ships with Windows 11 Home, so you get all the Microsoft programs included and lots of popular apps such as WhatsApp, Disney+ and Xbox included on the device as standard.

This laptop comes with a free 30-day trial of McAfee LiveSafe, and a month of Microsoft 365 for full access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint and more.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

There are some preinstalled Lenovo apps such as Lenovo Vantage for information on your device, Lenovo Hotkeys for finding keyboard shortcuts and Lenovo Voice for controlling your PC via voice commands.

Lenovo is not quite the worst offender for bloatware, but for some these apps may get on your nerves – especially when the notifications pop up when you least want them (don’t make this writer’s mistake of not turning them off and having annoying pings during a Zoom call).

Lenovo includes a one year PremiumCare warranty with purchase – you can read up on the warranty on the Lenovo website.

Price & availability

In the UK, the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i starts from £1,499 – though you can add additional configurations such as a 4K screen and more storage for an additional cost. At the time of writing, Lenovo has some Black Friday offers available.

US readers can only get this laptop with a 4K screen and double the amount of RAM, which means that the starting price is a tad more expensive at $2,070. However, the processor and design remain the same.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

For the performance and design, this price falls largely in line with what is on offer from competitors. The main let-down is battery life – so if that is a concern, it’s worth looking at either the Huawei MateBook 14s or even the Apple MacBook Air (M1) if you’re happy to let go of the Windows experience. Neither of these are the latest model anymore, meaning there should be some useful discounts.

You can also read up on Tech Advisor’s picks of the best laptops overall.

Verdict

The Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i has a gorgeous, unique design and pairs it with competitive performance that is suited both for work and for leisure, especially with its powerful speakers and bright, high-quality screen.

The sub-standard battery life may be an annoyance to some, as will the lack of physical ports for people who connect multiple devices at once. The touchscreen is also prone to picking up fingerprint marks.

Nonetheless, this is overall a great all-round device from Lenovo, and one to consider if you’re looking to make an investment in your next laptop.

Specs

Windows 11 Home

14in 2880×1880 OLED touchscreen, Up to 90Hz

Intel Core i7-1280P processor

Intel Iris Xe Graphics

16GB RAM

512GB SSD storage

1080p webcam

3x USB-C ports (adaptor included for HDMI/USB-A)

Headphone jack

Webcam privacy shutter button

Wi-Fi 6E

Bluetooth 5.2

Quad speakers

Dual microphones

75Wh battery

65W charger

14.9x315x214.4mm

1.37kg

Oatmeal colour

Apple Macbook Pro (2023) Review: The Customer Is Always Right

Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M1 Pro): starts at $1,999 / £1,899 / €2,249 / Rs. 1,94,900

Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M1 Max): starts at $2,899 / £2,799 / €3,209 / Rs. 2,79,900

Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, M1 Pro): starts at $2,499 / £2, 399 / €2,749 / Rs. 2,39,900

Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, M1 Max): starts at $3,099 / £2,999 / €3,439 / Rs. 2,99,900

The M1 Pro is for everyone that doesn’t already know they need the M1 Max.

The rest of the updates in the MacBook Pro (2023) are equally as significant: an updated adaptive 120Hz display, an upgraded 1080p webcam, improved speakers with spatial audio, and some of the best battery life you can find on a really powerful laptop. On top of all that, MagSafe makes a welcome return, as do the SD card slot, HDMI port, and physical function keys.

The MacBook Pro (2023) was released in October 2023, and is available via Apple’s website, Amazon, and from select retailers including Best Buy, Walmart, B&H, and Adorama. All models are available in Silver or Space Gray. The 13-inch MacBook Pro, powered by the new M2 chip, appeared in mid-June 2023 but is really just a 2023-era MacBook Pro with a new chip. If you keep your eyes peeled you can often find deals offering several hundreds of dollars off the MSRP.

What’s changed in MacBook Pro design?

Kris Carlon / Android Authority

The 2023 MacBook Pro feels a lot like the 2023 MacBook Pro I’ve just come from but with updated specs. I’ve been using the latter laptop for years, lovingly referring to it as the Last Great MacBook Pro. It was the line in the sand I wasn’t willing to cross until Apple backtracked on half a decade’s worth of bad laptop decisions.

I’m used to having ports so have never bought a dongle, I never experienced the much-maligned Touch Bar or butterfly keyboard, and am simply switching from one MagSafe power cable to another. In tech, going backward is almost never a good idea, but in the MacBook’s case, it is. Apple took the Last Great MacBook Pro and… made it again.

The MacBook Pro (2023) has almost the exact same footprint and weight as the 2023 model — not to mention basically the same ports — but it comes with a one-inch larger display and slightly edgier chassis. It’s definitely bigger and heavier than more recent MacBook Pros but not by a huge degree.

I’ll talk about the display a little later, but the other main changes to MacBook Pro design are the reintroduction of physical function keys and the abandonment of the Touch Bar. Whether you liked the Touch Bar or not, it is no longer an option on the 2023 MacBook Pros (it is still present on the 2023 M2 13-inch MacBook Pro, however).

The SD card slot, MagSafe, and HDMI port make a triumphant return. Physical function keys are back and the Touch Bar is gone.

The rest of the keyboard is also great. The scissor-switch keys have a solid 1mm of travel and are housed in a black anodized aluminum tray. Over time I’ve noticed the tray gets pretty grubby looking, accumulating lots of visible dust and fluff, and the keys get shiny, requiring regular cleaning. The Touch ID sensor integrated into the power button is super fast and reliable and the Force Touch trackpad is enormous, responsive, and accurate. The built-in Mac trackpad is one of the main things I miss whenever I temporarily switch back to a Windows laptop.

The new MacBook Pro has large feet on the bottom of the chassis, presumably to increase airflow for regulating thermals. I never noticed heat being a problem, as it often was on my old MacBook. The laptop still gets warm under load but never uncomfortably enough to not want it on my lap. Having used the MacBook Pro through summer heat up to 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celcius), I feel comfortable saying ambient heat won’t impact performance for my use cases. I’ve still only rarely heard the fans after seven months of daily use.

The only branding on the new laptop is a debossed “MacBook Pro” on the bottom and a shiny Apple logo on the lid that doesn’t light up. One could argue that Apple is leaning into the notch-as-identifier, as the words “MacBook Pro” no longer appear under the screen. If you’re not into the idea of broadcasting your notched laptop to the world, you can hide the notch by making apps fullscreen (see image below) or using an app like Forehead. Dark mode and a dark wallpaper also do a nifty job of camouflaging it.

SDXC card slot

HDMI 2.0 slot

3.5mm headphone port

3x Thunderbolt 4 ports

MagSafe 3 with USB-C PD 3.1

14-inch (M1 Pro): 8-core CPU+14-core GPU; 10-core CPU+14-core GPU; 10-core CPU+16-core GPU

14-inch (M1 Max): 10-core CPU+24-core GPU; 10-core CPU+32-core GPU

16-inch (M1 Pro): 10-core CPU+16-core GPU

16-inch (M1 Max): 10-core CPU+24-core GPU; 10-core CPU+32-core GPU

All versions include a 16-core Neural Engine.

On paper, the M1 Pro and M1 Max CPUs are, according to Apple, 70% faster than the original M1. The M1 Pro GPU, however, is twice as fast as the M1, and the M1 Max GPU is four times faster than the M1. Some things depend on your particular workflow, but the performance gains from the M1 are truly massive, especially where GPU-heavy tasks are concerned. The new M2 chip offers better single-core performance than the M1 Pro but the M1 Pro still wins on multi-core and more GPU-intensive tasks.

It is extremely hard to slow a MacBook Pro (2023) down with anything but extreme use cases.

I know my workflow wouldn’t put a dent in a maxed-out M1 Max. That’s why I opted for a more sedate M1 Pro with 32GB of RAM. I don’t edit 8K video, I don’t mix multiple hi-res livestreams, I don’t compile vast quantities of code, render 3D animation, or create visual effects for a living. But let’s be real, neither do most people that buy MacBook Pros.

If you are a professional with heavy GPU needs, however, the new MacBook Pro still has you covered. It is extremely hard to slow a 2023 MacBook Pro down with anything but extreme use cases. It’s no overstatement to say the new MacBook Pro is the first viable desktop replacement for many serious professionals.

For anyone not described above, the M1 Pro will still knock your socks off. I’ve spent years working to the constant whir of my MacBook Pro fans but no matter what I did on the new MacBook Pro I almost never heard them. I know there are fans in there but I’m yet to hear them except when exporting hi-res video files. If you want to see just how much you need to throw at a 2023 MacBook Pro to slow them down, there are some great torture tests on YouTube.

Display

16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR

Adaptive 24-120Hz ProMotion

3,456 x 2,234 pixels, 254 ppi

1,000,000:1 contrast ratio

The Liquid Retina XDR (Extreme Dynamic Range) display is an almost-4K IPS-like LCD backlit with mini-LED that’s really good. Contrast ratios are excellent, colors are vibrant, and it’s locally dimmable. If you like HDR content, viewing it on your laptop is now a really satisfying possibility, and I didn’t see any significant blooming.

The XDR display covers 99% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and sRGB. It only covers 94% of Adobe RGB, however, which will be of note to photographers. Color calibration is excellent and there are a bunch of preset color profiles to choose from.

Adaptive 24-120Hz is a blessing for future-proofing your laptop and being able to lock it to specific refresh rates — ideal for editing video — is a nice touch. 120Hz is mostly limited to Catalyst apps right now but Safari support has also been confirmed. As with all 120Hz displays, it seems unnecessary until you actually use it.

Kris Carlon / Android Authority

With peak brightness of 1,600 nits and 1,000 nits sustained performance, HDR content looks great. Even at its non-HDR brightness of just over 500 nits, there’s no trouble with outdoor visibility. The screen itself is quite matte, so reflections are minimized (not so with the keyboard, which is horrendously shiny and reflective under overhead cafe lighting). The mini-LED backlight and high contrast ratio also mean HDR content looks great outdoors. As with most MacBooks, the edges of the screen get very fingerprinty so you’ll either be cleaning it a lot or learning new laptop-handling skills to keep it looking nice.

I ended up not even noticing the notch after a few days.

The notch is admittedly less than ideal but with the dark theme on and a dark wallpaper, I ended up not even noticing it after a few days. The only time I originally even noticed it was when it obscured something in my status bar. Long story short: at launch, status icons (or “menu bar extras” as Apple calls them) would appear under the notch while app menu items would avoid it. This was an embarrassing oversight for launch software. Apple later fixed the issue in macOS 12.1.

Webcam and audio

1080p FaceTime webcam

6-speaker system with spatial audio

The MacBook Pro webcam finally got an update this year, from the dated 720p potato cam to a much more acceptable 1080p FaceTime camera. Quality is generally good but it’s nothing exceptional for a lockdown world, just what you’d expect from a built-in webcam in this day and age. Compared to my Logitech 920 it has a wider field of view and is a bit brighter, with what looks to be a slight skin smoothing effect.

Battery

Li-Po battery: 100W/8,694mAh (16-inch model); 70W/6,068mAh (14-inch model)

MagSafe fast charging: 140W (16-inch model); 96W/67W (14-inch model)

USB-C charging (at slower speeds)

With the 10-core M1 Pro I was easily getting 10-12 hours of screen-on time with brightness at around 50%.

Standby battery drain is normally about 2% per day and you can get a 50% charge in 30 minutes with the bundled 140W charger. This is incredibly convenient considering how many hours 50% battery will get you. From 10% battery to 100% only takes an hour and a half. That’s only on the MagSafe port though; you can charge via any of the USB-C ports but only the MagSafe port is USB-C Power Delivery 3.1 compliant.

My typical workflow includes writing, watching videos, editing, web browsing, and using a ton of cloud-based apps like Lightroom and Photoshop. The MacBook Pro (2023) handled all of this without breaking a sweat. Beyond uninterrupted performance, I knew I could get a whole day’s worth of work done without worrying about power outlets.

Anything else?

Kris Carlon / Android Authority

Native apps: If you’re not sure which apps are running natively and which are run through Rosetta 2, just check the Activity Monitor, which has a column called Kind. It’ll either show Apple or Intel. If you have any weird performance issues this might help you identify the cause.

Memory bandwidth: If you need high bandwidth memory make sure you spring for the M1 Max, as that chip offers double what the M1 Pro does (400GB/s vs 200GB/s). For me, it’s not a huge issue but it could be for you.

External monitors: I ran two 4K external monitors on the M1 Pro MacBook Pro without a hitch. The M1 Pro can actually run two 6K monitors at 60Hz. The M1 Max can handle three 6K monitors and one 4K monitor, all at 60Hz. That’s sick.

Bundled chargers: The 16-inch MacBook Pro comes with the 140W charging brick in the box. The base model 14-inch MacBook Pro comes with a 67W charger. If you want to enjoy its maximum 96W charging, you’ll have to pay $20 extra at the checkout. If you don’t, it’ll cost you $79 to pick up the 96W charger later.

M2 Pro Macbook Pro One Month Review: A Mobile Powerhouse

The 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro saw a major redesign with the M1 varieties, but far fewer changes with the upgrade to M2. Still, these machines have seen some changes from the previous generation, including most notably that processor upgrade, to make the M2 Pro MacBook Pro worth considering. Here’s everything you need to know.

14″ MacBook Pro one month review [Video]

M2 MacBook Pro Specs

Before I go into my thoughts on the laptop, I want to get the specs out of the way so I can focus on the user experience. The 14” MacBook Pro starts off with the M2 Pro chip, with a 10-core CPU and a 16-core GPU. It can be configured up to the M2 Max chip with a 12 core cpu and 38-core GPU. On the RAM and storage side of things, it starts with 16 GB of ram – configurable up to 96GB – and ranges from 512GB of storage up to 8TB. The larger 16-inch version of the laptop has all those same configuration options, with the M2 Pro chip starting off with a 19-core GPU, but a higher starting price of $2,499 compared to the 14-inch versions $1999 starting price. The Pro laptops are available in either silver or space gray, and this time around the color of the MagSafe cable is matched to the laptop.

Throughout most of the machine, not much has changed from the previous generation. When the M1 chips first arrived for the MacBook Pro the device saw a major redesign to strike a better balance of form an function, and that balance thankfully continues here.

Content Consumption – 14″ MacBook Pro Audio

The 14” MacBook Pro has a six speaker array with force-cancelling woofers, and they sound excellent. It has much better bass than the MacBook Air, and the proper speaker grates and ports provide good stereo separation to make for a surprisingly good music listening experience. Apple also talks about the Dolby Atmos and spatialized audio support with the speakers, but the laptops built in speakers definitely don’t compare to the directionality and immersion you can get from a true surround setup. If you want good spatial audio with the laptop, you’re better off using the HDMI out to get multichannel audio or using AirPods. With modern AirPods, the 14” MacBook pro supports not just spatialized audio, but also head tracked spatialize audio. This lets the direction the sound is coming from seem to stay in place even as you turn your head. It can be cool, especially with movies, where sound is such an important part of the storytelling experience.

I can understand why some people like to have spatialized audio enabled, but for me the extra processing done to emulate a surround sound experience doesn’t lead to a sound that I prefer, and I even find the head-tracked audio a bit jarring; things like FaceTime using spatialized audio definitely seem more annoying than helpful for me. Thankfully, it’s pretty easy either disable headtracking or just disable spatialized audio altogether when you have your AirPods connected. I certainly won’t complain about extra features being available for those who want them, even if I won’t find myself using them, cause your experience using spatialized audio with AirPods could be different!

Display

Continuing with the media consumption experience, you have the screen. It may not be a 4k or 8k panel, but in a laptop of this size that resolution isn’t necessary anyway. The screen on the 14″ MacBook Pro is 3024 by 1964 pixels, for a total of 254 pixels per inch. That is a plenty high enough pixel density for a screen of this size, but it is just a 14” screen. If you’re in a dorm room and intend to use your laptop as one of your only content consumption devices, skipping out on a TV, stepping up to the larger 16” MacBook Pro could be worth it. To feel immersed in a movie like you would at a theater you have to be pretty close the the screen – but you could find that worth the trade-offs, as the screen on the MacBook Pro is very good.

HDR

Its a MiniLED type display, so unlike the more typical LCD’s which have a backlight that illuminates the whole screen at once, it has thousands of tiny LED’s that can illuminate different sections of the screen different amounts. This lets brighter elements on screen get extra bright – up to 1600 nits with HDR content – while allowing dark elements on screen to be darker. The whole screen Max HDR brightness is 1000nits, and with SDR content it’ll top out at 500.

ProMotion

Additionally, the MacBook Pro has the variable refresh rate technology Apple refers to as ProMotion, so the built in display supports refresh rates up to 120Hz to offer a smoother experience when using the machine. It also allows the refresh rate to match that of the content you’re watching. Normally, if your watching 24fps content like movies on a 60Hz panel without variable refresh rate, it has to display one frame twice and the next frame three times in order to fit the 24 frames per second into the 60Hz of the screen. The uneven amount of time each frame is displayed will result in judder. With this display, it can just run at 48Hz so that each frame is displayed for an identical amount of time. This difference isn’t something most people will notice, but if you’re particularly susceptible to noticing it, the reduction in judder on the MacBooks display is nice to have. All in all, the MacBook Pro is an excellent content consumption device. The screen looks great and the speakers sound great, with the biggest downside just being the size of the display – but it’s what you’d expect from a laptop and it has excellent portability, so it can hardly be considered a drawback.

Creative workflows

Now, while most people consume content – being a professional focused laptop – plenty of people choose to upgrade to the MacBook Pro to produce content, so how does it hold up there? Pretty well! I’ve been doing all my video editing on the MacBook Pro, and it has done an excellent job. With Apple’s M2 Pro chip inside, and a fantastic media engine that supports hardware acceleration for H264, H265, ProRes, and ProRes RAW, whatever media type you’re working with, the laptop will handle it incredibly well. Even on the base spec, with a 512GB SSD and 16GB of ram, I haven’t had any major slowdowns. Only twice so far have I actually heard the fan ramp up to keep the chip cool while under a heavy load – and I work in Premiere, so people working with Apple’s own Final Cut Pro may have better optimization and an even smoother experience due to that close integration.

Now, when editing video or photos, color accuracy is pretty important. While by no means is the built-in display a reference monitor, it’s plenty accurate video and photo work, with different profiles depending on the colorspace you’re working in. In addition to the display modes for XDR and standard Apple displays, you have BT.709, sRGB, PC-DCI and more. If you’re really worried about color accuracy, you can grab a calibration tool to adjust your built in display and any external displays to match.

The M2 Pro MacBook Pro also supports two external displays simultaneously. You can output 8K 60Hz or 4K 240Hz from the HDMI port, or connect two 6K 60Hz displays from the Thunderbolt ports. If you choose to upgrade to the M2 Max chip you can output to three displays at once for an even more impressive multi-monitor setup. I’m a big proponent to the value of multiple monitors, so the native support for more displays, as well as the improved HDMI 2.1 port for higher resolutions and faster refresh rates, is really valuable for me. Similarly, the power of the laptop and its excellent screen will make it a good fit for photo editing in Photoshop or Lightroom, even working with high-megapixel raw photos.

M2 Pro MacBook Pro Benchmarks Geekbench CPU & compute

Running a Geekbench 6 compute benchmark through the Metal API, it gets 73,287, while running it through OpenCL it gets a score of 43,209. The scores may not beat out all the other CPUs and GPUs out there, but as with all things, it’s a balance. Apple’s ARM-based processor has a low power consumption and excellent efficiency leading to excellent battery life.

Blender & Cinebench rendering

Finally, running Cinebench R23, running a multi-core test, the 14” MacBook Pro with the M2 Pro chip received an 11,723, and in a single core test it got a 1,631 – not reaching the scores of Xeons and Threadrippers, but beating out the Core i5-11600KF and Ryzen 5 5600X.

SSD speed General usage

As I said before, the laptop carried over the design from the previous generation. When the 2023 MacBook Pro came out, it switched from a design-focused wedge shape to a slightly more boxy shape that I think strikes a better balance between performance and style. The efficiency improvements from Apple silicon allow the 14″ MacBook Pro to last me all day on battery life, such that I don’t think about bringing a charger when I’m leaving the house. The 16” version will last even longer, but whether I was on a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, any of the Apple’s laptops with their own silicon last long enough on battery.

Ports

The wider sides let Apple bring back some ports they previously removed, and this generation saw some improvements to those. On the left side, we’ve got the MagSafe 3 connector for charging up, two Thunderbolt ports, and a headphone jack with support for high impedance headphones. Over on the right side of the machine there’s a full size SD card slot, another Thunderbolt port, and an HDMI 2.1 port. As I touched on previously, this upgrade to HDMI 2.1 brings higher resolutions and refresh rates, supporting up to 8K 60Hz or 4k at 240hz. While there are certainly other laptops that have more to offer in terms of ports, this is the first time in more than five years that I’ve had a laptop with an HDMI port and an SD card slot built it, and I’m so glad to have them back. It seems minor, but its one more adapter I would have to keep track of.

Camera and microphone

One negative from the identical design is the continued existence of a large notch for the 1080P FaceTime camera. The MacBook Pro still hasn’t gained FaceID or other features to help justify the large cutout, but one you start really using the machine you basically forget its there. The top bar helps hide it and the slightly taller aspect ratio prevents content from being covered by it.

As far as the camera goes, an average person definitely won’t run into any issues with it – it’s perfectly adequate for video meetings or FaceTime calls. Still, opting to use a separate webcam or using your iPhone’s camera through continuity camera will be a big step up in quality. The microphone on the laptop, however, is pretty outstanding. Apple refers to the three-mic array as studio quality, and uses directional beam forming to get good, clear audio from the user while blocking out other nearby sounds. I’ve been impressed with the microphone – it really does have a studio-type sound to it, blocking out pretty much any of the room tone.

Keyboard

The keyboard continues what you’d expect from a MacBook keyboard. There isn’t too much travel distance, and a mechanical keyboard can certainly offer a more tactile experience, but as with so many things, there’s a lot of personal choice in what makes a good keyboard. I like the typing experience on the MacBook Pro, and it’s certainly much better than the butterfly keyboards Apple phased out a few years ago. I also quite like the styling of the black background behind the keys, rather than bare metal. And finally, the Touch ID built into the keyboard is very handy to unlock the computer, if for whatever reason I’m not wearing my Apple Watch.

Gaming

I was going to try to talk about gaming here, but there really isn’t too much to talk about. It isn’t the power of the MacBook Pro holding it back, but the operating system.

You can play Minecraft, League of Legends, and other games, but there is just no way to see Mac as a gaming machine until more modern triple A games start supporting MacOS. If you want to play some retro games you can always emulate the system, and older games could work if you’re playing through a virtual windows machine using software like parallels, but Macs just don’t compare with Windows machines or consoles for the time being. For now, your best bet will be using a game streaming service like Xbox Cloud Gaming or Nvidia’s GeForce NOW to play your favorite games.

9to5Mac’s Take

While I’ve stayed pretty focused on the 14″ M2 MacBook Pro here, of course it doesn’t exist in a bubble. The MacBook Air, while it’s less powerful and has less connectivity, is still a great laptop – and packs a great punch for its size. At its base price, it’s also $800 less expensive. If you think that could be a good option for you, check out my comparison video. The previous generation MacBook Pro could also be a great option, especially if you’re willing to go with a used laptop from somewhere like eBay, the M1 Pro or M1 Max MacBook Pro could be a fantastic value – outperforming the more modern M2 MacBook Air – in the same form factor as the current MacBook Pro.

But the 14″ M2 Pro MacBook Pro is the right laptop for me. It’s a powerful and portable machine with a very efficient processor and GPU to keep it running all day, whether I’m at home or on the go. I’ve truly enjoyed using the laptop over the past month and am pleased to continue using it.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Best Iphone X Leather Cases

A premium leather case is generally on the hit list of many iPhone X users. The quality that separates leather suits from the rest is rich craftsmanship. They may not look glamorous or eye-catching, but the professional touch they add to the smartphone is unmatched. Do you have a fancy for a classic cover? Take a peek at these top iPhone X leather cases to give your all-new smartphone an adorable look!

1. Case Mate Tough ID

Crafted out of genuine leather, Case-Mate Tough ID intended to be a protective case for your iPhone. It’s capable of providing 10 feet drop protection. The rugged textured finish offers enhanced grip which prevents slip.

You can securely store a card on the back. With the precise cutouts for camera, ports, and buttons, it fits snuggly on the device. Metallic buttons offer better feedback and are easy to press.

2. bellroy – Slim Leather Case

This leather case is specially made for those, who believe in impulse buying. For such shoppers, window-shopping quickly turns to serious shopping. And they immediately need a credit/debit card at hand. This case allows you to keep your primary card in a slot on the back. With a gentle push of your thumb, you can access your card fast and make payments.

Any bulky wallet case would have tested your patience while you are fumbling for your credit cards. Once your shopping is done, you can insert your card back into the slot with the equal ease.

3. Alto

Alto offers some of the best iPhone X leather cases. They are made of high-grade leather and feature excellent workmanship. Snap-on design allows them to wrap around flawlessly on the device.

With the smooth leather texture, these covers provide a comfy grip. The PC casing bestows them additional strength to endure drops. Micro-fiber interior empowers them to keep scratch away, while precise cutouts make it more convenient to access camera, buttons, and port.

4. FLY HAWK

Sporting modish design, FLY HAWK looks really elegant. The synthetic leather structure may look delicate, but it’s strong enough to fight out the challenge of minor impact and scratch.

Picture-perfect cutouts enable it to fit flawlessly on the iPhone. Courtesy of the snap on design, it’s easy to install and remove. Covered buttons have tactile feedback, making it easier to press. Besides, this thin case is available in six color variants: black, brown, blue, gray, khaki and red.

5. bellroy – Phone Case [3 Cards]

Bellroy has shattered the myth that a wallet case has to have a folio. This leather case, which doubles as a wallet case, has a discreet cardholder to store your plastic money. The cardholder is protected by a magnetic closure; thus, your credit/debit cards are guarded against falls or drops.

Although it is a wallet case, it flaunts a slim profile. This is because Bellroy has a team of qualified engineers. Woven fabrics provide durability and lightweight performance.

6. Poetic Nubuck

If you have a liking for the slim design, Poetic Nubuck would easily catch your eyes. This sleek case is carved out of soft TPU and PU leather. With the smooth exterior, it offers improved grip.

7. SHIELDON

SHIELDON is one of the popular iPhone leather case makers in the world. This genuine leather folio is exclusively made for iPhone X. SHIELDON has used genuine cowhide leather to make this premium case. Although iPhone X and Xs have similar dimensions, SHIELDON does not recommend users to use this case for the latter.

SHIELDON has chosen cowhide for its quality, strength, character, and grain. The leather adds style and natural feel to this case. Along with leather, SHIELDON has used durable TPU to keep the edges shockproof.

8. Gulee

Gulee offers lightweight iPhone case that flaunts slim and luxurious profile. The case is made of leather and TPU – both materials make it beautiful, simple, and natural. Supporting wireless charging, this one-piece soft case is eco-friendly.

For protection, Gulee keeps raised edges and installs shock-absorption corners. Your iPhone X is nicely protected against shock, drops, scratches etc. Precisely cut out openings allow you to access your phone’s essential features quickly.

9. FLY HAWK

FLY HAWK is one of the slimmest wallet cases in the market. It’s beautifully crafted with the PU leather. Being ultra-lightweight and compact, it looks impressive on the iPhone.

This wallet case features three card slots and a pocket for carrying dollar bills. The soft exterior feels really cozy in the palm with the better grip.

For all being so thin, it can keep scratch at bay. Above all, you have four color options to pick from black, brown, khaki and red.

10. OtterBox STRADA SERIES

This leather case from OtterBox STRADA SERIES is premium. It’s carved out of genuine leather. It features a strong frame to absorb shock. Due mainly to the double layers of construction, it offers certified drop protection to your smartphone. There is also a vertical cardholder slot to let you keep ID and card.

The pocket-friendly design allows it to slip in and out of the pocket easily. That aside, it comes in multiple colors and comes with the lifetime warranty.

11. bellroy – Bumper Leather Case

When simplicity becomes a style, people surely notice this subtle transformation. Bellroy leather case for iPhone X showcases this makeover in style. And the accessory has quickly become a rage among fashionista. Super slim profile of this case tells everything. It is the most elegant case available on the market today.

But what makes this case so beautiful? Well, Bellroy has taken the pain of sourcing the premium hides tanned under environmental protocols rated by Leather Working Group. To add strength, Bellroy has used a flexible polymer that protects your phone against bumps and scratches.

12. KAVAJ

If you prefer trendy design, KAVAJ can be a good pick. The combination of genuine cowhide leather and PC has strengthened the construction. It’s fully capable of dispersing impact and absorbing shock.

It has a couple of slots on the back to let you keep card and cash. Perfect cutouts ensure you have quick access to all the functions of your device. Plus, KAVAJ leather case comes in two colors: black and cognac brown.

13. SUTENI

What about going for a retro book design? This wallet case from SUTENI is created to look truly vintage. Created with the high-grade leather, it features hard shell to endure impact.

There are three card pockets to let you securely keep your valuables. It also turns into a stand to let you boost your media viewing experience. Furthermore, this leather case comes in four colors options.

14. LOHASIC

Luxury has adopted the shape of a smartphone case. Lohasic has crafted this luxurious iPhone X case from soft PU leather. The premium handmade case doesn’t have any stitch on it. Check the gold electroplated frame around the rear camera and buttons.

The case is as light as a feather as Lohasic has maintained a slim profile by removing bulk. The flexible and soft body allows you to carry your phone everywhere without adding any weight.

15. X-Level

Taken from X-Level’s Vintage Series, this iPhone X leather case is ultra-slim and yet protective. This case looks like Apple’s own leather case for iPhone X. The case is so slim that you will feel nothing on your smartphone.

The excellent grip is the trademark of this leather case. The soft touch is what makes this case stands apart from others. Experience a smooth and silky feeling in your hands.

Your pick?

Which one of these leather cases have you chosen for your iPhone X? Let us know its name and the qualities you have liked in it?

You may also want to have a look at:

Author Profile

Dhvanesh

The founder of iGeeksBlog, Dhvanesh, is an Apple aficionado, who cannot stand even a slight innuendo about Apple products. He dons the cap of editor-in-chief to make sure that articles match the quality standard before they are published.

Update the detailed information about Harber London Slim Leather Macbook Sleeve Review on the Moimoishop.com website. We hope the article's content will meet your needs, and we will regularly update the information to provide you with the fastest and most accurate information. Have a great day!