PC Magazine 12.2020

CONTENTS

DECEMBER 2020

COVER STORY

BEST PRODUCTS OF
2020

These are the top 100 reviewed tech
products of the year—and they
make great gifts!

FEATURES

CAN THIS AI HELP
SMOKERS QUIT?

Cessation of addictive
substances isn’t easy. Could a
virtual human help?

WHAT’S NEW NOW

IS CONTACT TRACING
DOOMED IN THE US?

Can Americans look past a
distrust of big tech and the
government to make contact
tracing in the US effective?.

2020’S MOST COMMON
PASSWORDS ARE
LAUGHABLY INSECURE

Despite years of warnings,
people are still using “password”
as a password.

BOSTON DYNAMICS’
SPOT ROBODOG FINDS
WORK ON A BP OIL RIG

It will master such tasks as
reading gauges, finding
corrosion, mapping the facility,
and sniffing out methane.

THE WHY AXIS

Here’s what we’ve been
watching on Netflix this year.

REVIEWS Microsoft Xbox Series X

CONSUMER Apple Mac mini
ELECTRONICS Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (for PC)

Microsoft Xbox
Series X

Peloton Bike+

Apple iPhone 12
mini

HARDWARE

Apple Mac mini
(M1, Late 2020)

SteelSeries Rival
3 Wireless Gaming
Mouse

SOFTWARE
& APPS

ProofHub

Assassin’s Creed
Valhalla (for PC)

COMMENTARY There’s one
thing about
CAROL MANGIS these boxes that
not even the
First Word greatest game in
the world can fix.
READER INPUT
—Jordan Minor
MATTHEW BUZZI

Iris Xe Max: 5 Things You Need
to Know About Intel’s First
Discrete GPUw

JORDAN MINOR

Next-Gen Game Consoles Are
Hideous, Except Xbox Series S

TIPS & HOW TOS

TIPS EVERY APPLE
WATCH OWNER
SHOULD KNOW

A handy guide, whether you
just ordered the Series 6 or
have owned an Apple
smartwatch for years.

VIRTUAL MOVIE
NIGHT: HOW TO
WATCH NETFLIX
WITH FRIENDS USING
TELEPARTY

You could get everyone on
Zoom and press play at the
same time, but there’s an
easier way

PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION I SUBSCRIBE I DECEMBER 2020

FIRST WORD

CAROL MANGIS

As this year draws to a close (and thank
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once again taken stock of all the products
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Products products we’re showcasing for you. Our analysts
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for 2020 slow them down; we’ve reviewed almost 2,000
products thus far in 2020, from laptops and
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across in 2020? We’d love to know what worked
well for you, especially for those who are working
remotely. Drop me an email and let me know!

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the PC Magazine Digital Edition, we are reaching
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you would like to see that we’re not yet delivering
to you. To that end, we’ve created a quick survey
that we hope many of you will take. It’s a quick
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the results, you may see some changes in our
virtual pages in the coming months.

[email protected]

PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION I SUBSCRIBE I DECEMBER 2020

WHAT’S NEW NOW Photo credit: Photo By Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

NEWS STORY

Is Contact Tracing Doomed in
the US? BY CHRISTOPHER SMITH

Healthcare workers and state and local governments are on the front
lines of the coronavirus pandemic, which has seen a resurgence around
the globe as we head into the winter months. But as the CDC notes,
contact tracing is key to slowing the disease’s spread. Can Americans look past a
distrust of big tech and the government to make contact tracing in the US
H̆HFWLYH"
Public perception is a major hurdle. A June survey from Avira found that 71
percent of Americans had no plans to download contact-tracing apps. “Of those
who said they would not use the apps, the main reason was concerns that the
technology won’t protect people’s digital privacy,” the company found.
More people distrust the government than big tech, however: “32% said they
would trust technology by Google/Apple to keep their data secure and private.
Just 14% said the same for contact tracing apps provided directly from the
government,” according to Avira.

At the moment, government health agencies are Google and
working together with technology companies. Google Apple updated
and Apple updated their mobile operating systems
earlier this year to support contact-tracing apps from a their mobile
user’s local health authority. Those who opt in will operating
receive push alerts if they come into contact with
anyone who is later diagnosed with COVID-19, but systems earlier
details are anonymized, and the onus is on the patient this year to
to self-report their coronavirus diagnosis. Data is stored support
on the device itself, not on Google or Apple servers, and contact-
people can opt out at any time.
tracing apps.
To get things fully under control, we’ll need contact-
tracing participation rates up to 80 percent, according 23
to data from Oxford University. While every little bit
helps, stopping COVID-19 in its tracks will require more
than uptake at the margins.

“For example, we estimate that in Washington state, a
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system could reduce infections by 15% and deaths by
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Medicine and Google Research said in September. But
Professor Christophe Fraser, co–lead author, tells the
BBC that to stop the outbreak completely, 56% of the
UK population would have to use the app, which is “a
very ambitious target.”

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contact-tracing app. Created by startup Twenty, Healthy
Together debuted in April and saw uptake of around
2%. But misinformation means contact tracing is going
slowly, even as cases explode, The Salt Lake Tribune
reports. Adoption stood at about 5% in October.

“We’re battling misinformation and politicization of
these issues, but there’s also just the kind of inherent

problem of having a very large, diverse, heterogeneous country with a staggered
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Caroline Buckee, an associate professor of epidemiology at Harvard University,
said on a September episode of the Ask a Harvard Professor podcast.

In New York, which was hit hard at the outset of the pandemic, 740,000 people
have downloaded the state’s contact-tracing app, COVID Alert NY, as of Oct. 1,
according to Jonah Bruno, Director of Communications at NYS Department
of Health.

“We understand how important privacy is to building public trust. The COVID
Alert NY app was built with privacy and data security central to the design. All
user data is anonymous, the app does not track your location, and explicit user
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COVID Alert NY are helpful tools to strengthen contact tracing programs and
stop the spread of COVID-19,” Bruno says. “We continue to work with
community partners across the state to raise awareness and encourage all New
Yorkers over the age of 18 to download COVID Alert NY to protect themselves,
their friends, families and neighbors.”

Professor Michelle Mello, a health law scholar for Stanford University suggests
letting communities take the lead. “I think we’d be in a better place if folks could
come together and create a public charter on how they want to run these apps in
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There’s been a lot of good thinking, but it’s thinking by elites,” she says.

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Professor Buckee notes, “Traditional contact tracing is quite intrusive. You learn
everything about where that person’s been. You take names and phone
numbers, that’s the whole point of it. And so, I think some of these apps are still
really in the trial phase.”

PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION I SUBSCRIBE I DECEMBER 2020

WHAT’S NEW NOW Photo credit: Vitalii Vodolazskyi/shutterstock.com

NEWS STORY

2020’s Most Common
Passwords Are Laughably
Insecure BY SHERIN SHIBU

Chances are that if a password is easy for you to remember, a hacker can
easily crack it. And despite years (and years) of tech companies warning
consumers to use hard-to-crack passwords, plus two-factor
authentication, people are still using laughably insecure codes.
Of NordPass’ 200 most used passwords for 2020, the top three are 123456,
123456789, and picture1. Next on the list is just “password,” but various
number combinations, as well as qwerty, abc123, and Million2 also make the
list. You should also avoid iloveyou, omgpop, ashley, chatbooks, princess,
sunshine, dragon, and pokemon as passwords.

NordPass worked with a third-party provider to evaluate a database containing
275,699,516 passwords. Of those, only 122,894,788, or 44%, were unique. The
others were repeats of common, easy-to-remember passwords that leave users
highly vulnerable to online threats. Only 78 out of 200 of the most used-
passwords this year were new.

If your password is among the top 200, NordPass cybersecurity expert Chad
Hammond encourages you to change it immediately. “Most of these passwords
can be hacked in less than a second,” says Hammond. “Also, they have already
been exposed in previous data breaches. For example, the most popular
password, “123456,” has been breached 23,597,311 times.”

So what can you do to strengthen your security? Use complex passwords and
store them in a password manager; some are free. Keeper, LastPass, and
Dashlane are PCMag Editors’ Choice password managers. You should also use
two-factor authentication where available.

Here are the top 20 most common passwords for 2020.

• 123456 • 1234567
• 123456789 • qwerty
• picture1 • abc123
• password • Million2
• 12345678 • 000000
• 111111 • 1234
• 123123 • iloveyou
• 12345 • aaron431
• 1234567890 • Password1
• senha • qqww1122

PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION I SUBSCRIBE I DECEMBER 2020

WHAT’S NEW NOW

ROBOTICS

Boston Dynamics’ Spot
Robodog Finds Work on a
BP Oil Rig BY STEPHANIE MLOT

Boston Dynamics’ four-legged canine-inspired Spot is by no means an old
dog, but that doesn’t mean it can’t learn new tricks. The 55-pound robot,
unveiled in 2016, has boarded BP’s Mad Dog oil rig in the Gulf of
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Earlier this year, BP announced its objective to reach net-zero emissions by
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achieve that goal is to deploy robots, which can navigate hazardous situations in
ways humans can’t (or shouldn’t).

“Several hours a day, several operators will walk the Four legs, an
facility; read gauges; listen for noise that doesn’t sound attached arm,
right; look out at the horizon for anomalies, boats that and a remote-
may not be caught on radar; look for sheens,” BP facility controlled body
technology manager Adam Ballard explained. “What allow the droid
we’re doing with Spot is really trying to replicate that to trot around,
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climb stairs,
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body allow the droid to trot around, climb stairs, open
doors, pick up objects, and even dance. In September even dance.
2019, Boston Dynamics began leasing Spot to select
enterprises on a trial basis; by June 2020, the robotics
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$74,500.

I see robots as being the eyes, ears, nose, and other
senses at our sites,” Ballard said. “It’s about being able
to use sensors to have that real-time understanding,
and to get the context of the facility … while minimizing
the exposure of people to these potentially dangerous
environments.”

Unlike a human, who has a limited capacity for
collecting data, remote-controlled Spot can pan, tilt,
zoom, and “really understand the entire area in real
conditions, real time,” Ballard added.

The robot will live and work on the rig for at least three
months, allowing crew members to acclimatize and
hopefully see Spot “less like a toy and more like a tool,”
Ballard said. This trial also gives BP time to practice
being robot parents, learning how to tune the droid to
various operations and determine its best uses.

PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION I SUBSCRIBE I DECEMBER 2020

Matthew Buzz COMMENTARY

Iris Xe Max: 5 Things You
Need to Know About Intel’s

First Discrete GPU

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[email protected]

PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION I SUBSCRIBE I DECEMBER 2020

Jordan Mino COMMENTARY

Next-Gen Game Consoles
Are Hideous, Except the
Xbox Series S

After a truly strange year, game-related or PCMag Software
otherwise, the next generation of video analyst Jordan Minor
game consoles is here. They’re no longer was senior editor for
hypothetical concepts: You can actually buy a Geek.com and a
PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X. Although I PCMag intern before
recommend you read our reviews before dropping that. He has written
$500 on either of these bad boys, console-launch for Kotaku, The A.V.
reviews have only so much value. Consoles Club, and Cards
succeed or fail based on the strength of the game Against Humanity.
libraries, and those libraries grow with time.

But there’s one thing about these boxes that not
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the exception of the humble Xbox Series S, next-
gen consoles are super ugly.

KEEP IT SIMPLE

I’ve stewed on this take since the PS5’s full reveal,
but I wanted to wait until I got my hands on some
KDUGZDUH EHIRUH PDNLQJ D ¿QDO MXGJPHQW 0\
¿DQFpH DQG , QHUYRXVO\ ZDLWHG IRU ZKLFKHYHU
next-gen behemoth I would need to cram into our
apartment for work purposes. The Nintendo
Switch sits nicely at the edge of our TV stand, but
even my original Xbox One takes up more space
than I like. From the beginning, I’ve resented how
big and dumb that brick is, despite playing some
very good games on it. I feared this generation
would be more of the same.

Jordan Mino Fortunately, fate decided that I would receive an @jordanwminor
;ER[ 6HULHV 6 0LFURVRIW¶V EXGJHW DQG VSDFH
friendly next-gen gaming alternative to the full-
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acceptable choice. The unassuming box delighted
us with its cute and compact design. The striking
white color scheme with its evocative circular
black fan looks like a console Ikea might have
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VLWV RQ WRS RI P\ ;ER[ 2QH ZKHUH WKH :LL 8 XVHG
to rest years ago. So far, games don’t look
drastically better, and I’m sticking with my Elite
Series 2 controller rather than the new model.
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and Tekken 7, thanks to the SSD.

The sleek design comes with drawbacks. There’s
no disc drive, so while the console plays all my old
digital Xbox One games, I’m still using that Xbox
One as a Blu-ray player. The limited internal
storage means I need to rely on a tiny yet pricey
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Series S may hamstring my ability to play later
AAA games to their fullest potential on my 4K TV.
Still, when it comes to physical aesthetics, the
Xbox Series S knocks it out of the park.

OUTSIDE THE BOX

Aesthetics matter. How attractive a console looks
may not be as important as how attractive its
games look, but it still shouldn’t be a complete
afterthought. These are expensive machines
meant to be displayed prominently in your home
for years and years, a home you may share with
other people who care more about timeless decor
than the newest Call of Duty. Even if these
consoles do eventually get redesigned (and

Jordan Mino history tells us they will), it’s not too much to ask This is the
that they look appealing from day one. most literal
example of the
$W ZRUVW WKH ;ER[ 6HULHV ; LV MXVW ERULQJ 2XU name ‘Xbox,’ as
review says this is the most literal example of the the console
QDPH ³;ER[ ´ DV WKH FRQVROH LWVHOI UHDOO\ LV MXVW D itself really is
big black box. The most intriguing thing about it
LVQ¶W DQ\ SDUWLFXODU SDUW RI WKH GHVLJQ EXW MXVW LWV just a big
VKHHU VL]H DW E\ E\ LQFKHV +:' (YHU black box.
since the Xbox 360 disaster, I appreciate that
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needed for proper ventilation. But going back to
the original Xbox and its Duke controller, the
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things that are too dang big, and the Series X
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made a real refrigerator shaped like a Series X,
and from the right perspective, you can hardly tell
LW¶V D GL̆HUHQW SURGXFW

POINTS FOR ORIGINALITY?
The Xbox Series X may be an imposing monolith,
but its chassis looks positively conservative next
to the PlayStation 5, the real culprit when it
comes to next-gen consoles so ugly that its
appearance is a deal-breaker. I want to say
upfront that I do appreciate Sony for trying
something unique here. Funky cases may be the
only tangible thing left separating consoles from
bland gaming PCs. How many classic consoles
can you recognize from their iconic silhouettes
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nifty handle.

Between its unwieldy size (16 by 4 by 10 inches)
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I’ve seen it compared to everything from popped

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HURWLF GHYLFHV 7KH VWDQG \RX PXVW XQVFUHZ DQG UHDWWDFK EHIRUH ÀLSSLQJ
from vertical to horizontal and the rounded, stack-proof surfaces are the
same kind of arrogant bordering on antagonistic design we saw with the
original, George Foreman Grill PS3. Don’t dare put anything on top of
this box! Bow before your king and its obnoxious footprint.

Again, games remain the most important thing. Sony’s PS5 launch titles
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QH[W JHQ ¿UVW SDUW\ H[FOXVLYHV DQG HYHQ 6SLGHU 0DQ JRW D 36 UHOHDVH
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And at least the DualSense controller seems neat. But don’t try to
convince anyone the PS5’s appearance is one of its strengths. And it was,
somehow, originally going to be bigger?

EYE OF THE BEHOLDER
1RUPDOO\ QRQH RI WKHVH VXEMHFWLYH LQGXVWULDO GHVLJQ DQQR\DQFHV ZRXOG
bother me so much. I’m not Jony Ive. Like I said, weird-looking
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something so indulgent about how huge and hideous these next-gen
consoles are—next-gen consoles that are already indulgent purchases
that many may not have the privilege to purchase in the middle of a
pandemic. I look at the PS5, and it says to me that Sony doesn’t care
DERXW DVNLQJ PH WR MDP LWV SRLQWHG ÀDSV LQVLGH P\ FUDPSHG PHGLD
center, ridiculous no matter how you lay it, because what else am I going
to do? Not buy it?

[email protected]

PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION I SUBSCRIBE I DECEMBER 2020

REVIEWS

CONSUMER ELECTRONICS

Microsoft Xbox Series X:
An Impressive Console

T he newest Xboxes are here, packing plenty of power into boxier frames
than ever. Microsoft’s entries into the latest console generation are the
Xbox Series X, reviewed here, and the Xbox Series S ($299). The Series
X stands at the top of the ladder in terms of power and features, with 4K, HDR
graphics, impressive performance, and incredibly fast load times thanks to its
Zen 2 CPU, RDNA 2 GPU, and SSD storage. It costs $200 more than the Series
S, but the extra power and optical drive are well worth it. The Xbox Series X is
an excellent game system and stands alongside the Sony PlayStation 5 as the
most powerful console for playing games on your TV, earning our Editors’
Choice award.

A BIG, BLACK BOX Microsoft Xbox
The Xbox Series X’s name is perhaps more apt than any
other entry in the Xbox line to date. Simply put, it’s a Series X
big, black block that features sharp, right-angle corners
and measures 12 by 6 by 6 inches (HWD). The sides are PROS Impressive 4K,
smooth, black plastic, with the top featuring a grid-like HDR graphics.
grille hiding green highlights that evoke the original Smooth performance.
Xbox’s design. The front of the system holds a slot- Incredibly fast load
loading optical drive that’s vertical when the console is times, thanks to SSD.
upright, along with a USB port, a controller pairing Strong backward
button, an eject button, and a power button. compatibility,
including accessories.
The back houses two USB ports, an HDMI output, an
Ethernet port, a power cable connector, and a slot for CONS You still won’t
expanding storage. The HDMI input from the Xbox One get 4K/60 in many
is missing, which means you can’t use the system as a games. Incomplete
pass-through for your cable or satellite box. backward
compatibility list for
In addition to standing upright, the Xbox Series X can original Xbox and
also rest horizontally on its side. It still needs at least six Xbox 360 games.
LQFKHV RI FOHDUDQFH LQ WKLV SRVLWLRQ VR ¿QGLQJ HQRXJK
space in your media center may be tough. BOTTOM LINE The
Xbox Series X is
Microsoft’s most
powerful game
system yet, with
native 4K graphics
and an SSD for
blazing-fast load
times.

A NEW(ISH) CONTROLLER
The new Xbox Wireless Controller included with the Xbox Series X isn’t much
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QHDUO\ LGHQWLFDO WR WKH ROG RQH DV LW IHDWXUHV WKH VDPH FXUYHG SUR¿OH SURPLQHQW
grips, and matte plastic shell. Now a Capture button sits between the Menu and
View buttons, below the glowing Guide button in the gamepad’s center. This
lets you take screenshots and video clips with just a button press, as on the
PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch.

The direction pad is also new. It now has an octagonal direction plate with stark
indentations replacing the plus-shaped pad on the previous controller. Aside
from these changes, the gamepad has a USB-C port for wired use and charging
(if you use rechargeable batteries; the controller uses two standard AAs) instead
of micro USB, but that’s about it. This is pretty much the same controller as
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THE POWER WITHIN
Inside the console is a Custom AMD Zen 2 CPU that features eight cores clocked
at 3.87GHz. There’s also a custom RDNA 2 GPU that contains 52 cores at
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system also features 16GB of GDDR6 RAM and, perhaps most notably, a 1TB
solid state drive (SSD). The Xbox Series X can output video at up to 4K
resolution, with support for high dynamic range (HDR) games and video,
including Dolby Vision.

The extra power is a big upgrade from the Xbox One X (which features an
8-core Jaguar CPU at 2.3GHz and a 40-core GCN GPU at 1.172GHz for 6
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game-loading speeds. It’s also a noticeable upgrade from the Xbox Series S,
which features a 40-core CPU clocked at 3.6GHz and a 20-core GPU at
*+] IRU RQO\ WHUDÀRSV

In addition to the 1TB of internal storage, you can add 1TB by plugging a
Seagate Storage Expansion Card into the back of the system or by connecting a
USB hard drive or SSD over USB 3.1 (though the internal SSD and storage card
would both likely be much faster across the board). Finally, the Series X
features a slot-loading Ultra HD Blu-ray drive that can play game discs and
Ultra HD Blu-ray discs with 4K video content on them (along with
1080p-capable Blu-ray discs and 480p-capable DVDs). The Series S lacks an
optical drive.

USER INTERFACE
The Series X interface is nearly identical to the menu system currently used on
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the Xbox One’s launch). The home screen features a large row of tiles showing
currently open and most recently used games and apps. Below this main row
sits a My Games & Apps tile that brings up your full software library, with a few
broad content recommendations next to it. The suggestions include games you
can play or friends on your buddy list who recently scored achievements.

Scrolling down takes you to a series of horizontally organized tabs, each with its
RZQ VFUHHQ ¿OOLQJ WLOHV IHDWXULQJ PRUH FRQWHQW VXJJHVWLRQV 7KHUH DUH DOVR
categorical selections for games and media you might already have. The tabs
include Game Pass, Store, Entertainment, Events, Community, and Pins. Game
Pass, Store, and Entertainment are self-explanatory. Events shows currently
running events for online games. Community shows recently shared
screenshots and clips, along with Xbox Live clubs based around games and
genres. Pins shows any pinned games or apps you want to keep easily accessible
(pinned software can also be found simply by pressing the Guide button and
selecting My Games & Apps, which brings up your pins with an additional menu
item to browse your entire library).

Speaking of which, the Guide button opens the Xbox Guide menu at any point,
whether you’re in a game or not. This is a quick-access menu with multiple tabs
for common activities and settings. The Guide initially shows your most recent
games and apps, with options to go to the home screen or access your library.
Scrolling right to the other tabs shows which of your friends are online, lets you
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for capturing screenshots and video clips. Finally, the tab on the far right
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contains the Settings menu.

BACKWARD COMPATIBILITY
The Xbox Series X’s backward compatibility is strong but hardly complete. The
system can play every game from the Xbox One aside, from games that require
Kinect, plus hundreds of Xbox 360 and original Xbox games.

The system can’t play every title from the two and three generations before it,
though. I tried playing my Xbox 360 copy of Sneak King, and got a message that
the game isn’t playable, with a recommendation to check xbox.com/
BackCompat to see the full list of backward-compatible games. In addition to
games, the Series X supports last-generation accessories (minus Kinect).

GAMING PERFORMANCE I played a few
The Xbox Series X/S generation isn’t getting any optimized
exclusive games yet, per se. Microsoft has been
DGDPDQW DERXW LWV ¿UVW SDUW\ UHOHDVHV EHLQJ FRPSDWLEOH games on the
with both the Xbox Series X/S generation and the Xbox Xbox Series X,
One for the foreseeable future (with the games coming
to PC via the Xbox desktop app). Third-party games are including
cross-platform for the time being. Yakuza: Like a
Dragon and Dirt
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JDPHV RQ WKH ;ER[ 6HULHV ; 6²RQ WKH FRQWUDU\ DQ\ 5. They both
game that’s “optimized for Xbox Series X/S” has been looked excellent.
developed to take full advantage of the new systems’
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faster loading times thanks to the SSD. Most optimized
games feature Smart Delivery, which means your copy
applies to both Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S, and the
best version for the game will be installed on your
system. Some titles, including Call of Duty: Black Ops
Cold War and Control Ultimate Edition, are dual-
generation games, meaning there are separate versions
for the Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S systems. Check
Microsoft’s list of optimized games (or the game box, if
you’re buying a physical copy) to see how it works with
the new system.

I played a few optimized games on the Xbox Series X,
including Yakuza: Like a Dragon and Dirt 5. They both
look excellent, with vibrant, HDR pictures in native 4K
resolution. Yakuza’s urban open worlds are lovingly
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and Shinjuku, and facial animations look as lifelike as
ever (while still stylized and consistent with the Yakuza
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H̆HFWV ZLWK SOHQW\ RI SDUWLFOHV DQG OLJKWV <DNX]D¶V
action is a solid 30 frames per second, lacking
noticeable frame dips.

Dirt 5, on the other hand, is more photorealistic, with many textures and
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accumulates on the back of the vehicles with a lifelike amount of dust and dirt,
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maintains a consistent, smooth 60 frames per second.

While Dirt 5 seems to hit 60fps, Yakuza appears to run at half that, and it’s
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Even with this newest console generation, processing power can only go so far,
and the more complicated or detailed a game is in its textures, animations, and
H̆HFWV WKH KDUGHU LW LV WR JHW D YHU\ VPRRWK IUDPH UDWH 6RPH JDPHV ZLOO WUDGH
frame rate for details, while others might use dynamic scaling to render at a
lower resolution to maintain a higher frame rate. You might even get a choice
between compromises, if a given title features a menu option that lets you
prioritize performance or detail. Still, both Yakuza and Dirt 5 look excellent on
the Xbox Series X.

Games load very quickly, thanks to the SSD. Jumping into saved Yakuza games
seldom took more than 6 to 10 seconds, and Dirt 5’s races loaded in even less
time. If you want to expand your storage while maintaining those fast load
times, you can add an extra 1TB (920GB usable) of storage by plugging a $219
Seagate Storage Expansion Card into the back of the system. It’s much more
expensive than a standard 1TB SSD, but the proprietary connection means
blazing transfer speeds that rival an internal installation. The Xbox Series X/S
also accepts USB 3.1 storage.

This is a solid performance jump from the Xbox One, including the Xbox One
X. Games optimized for the Xbox Series X/S can have native 4K rendering as
the default (generally; dynamic scaling is always an option for performance),
ZLWK ORWV RI YLVXDO H̆HFWV LQFOXGLQJ UD\WUDFLQJ 7KH 66' DOVR PHDQV PXFK IDVWHU
load times, especially for games optimized to take advantage of the speed. It
isn’t a mind-blowing jump in graphics like the 8- to 16-bit jump or the 2D to 3D
jump, but it’s a solid pump in processing power that feels like replacing your
gaming PC for a newer, faster one (at a fraction of the price, and without the PC
functions, of course).

WELCOME TO THE NEW GENERATION
The Xbox Series X is an impressive console, loaded with power and speed to run
WKH ODWHVW JDPHV :LWKRXW QHZ KLJK SUR¿OH H[FOXVLYH WLWOHV IRU LW WKH V\VWHP
doesn’t quite make the case the PlayStation 5 does with its handful of PS5-only
titles, but that point will become moot as more Xbox games (Halo, Gears,
Forza) show up with far better graphics and performance than on their Xbox
One equivalents.

While the Xbox Series S is just over half the price of the X, it’s a worse value. To
save $200, you lose the optical drive and half the storage space (a particularly
big problem if you can’t use disc-based games), and it has much, much less
SURFHVVLQJ SRZHU WKDQ WKH ; :KLOH WKH ;ER[ 6HULHV ; LV VLJQL¿FDQWO\ PRUH
expensive, it’s a much better buy for everything you get.

Ultimately, the Series X stands alongside the PlayStation 5 as an equal
contender, which means that, as always, you must examine the available games
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remarkable consoles, though the Xbox Series X has better backward
compatibility, while the PS5 has a few more haptic feedback tricks in its new
DualSense gamepad, as well as more exclusives to tempt you at launch. But if
you prefer the games you can play on the Series X, rest assured that it’s well
worthy of our Editors’ Choice award.

WILL GREENWALD

PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION I SUBSCRIBE I DECEMBER 2020

REVIEWS

CONSUMER ELECTRONICS

Peloton Bike+: A
Compelling Upgrade

I wasn’t looking to join a cult, but with the Bike+, Peloton has me drinking
the Kool-Aid. The Bike+ builds upon its predecessor with a new digitized
Auto Follow resistance system that automatically adjusts to match your
instructor’s cues during on-demand classes, so you can focus on your output
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combined with an upgraded sound system, allows for a more immersive at-
home cycling experience than ever—one that will leave you dripping in sweat
and, occasionally, tears. That, plus a rotating touch screen and Apple GymKit
integration for easy Apple Watch pairing, make the Bike+ a compelling
upgrade from the six-year-old original and one of the best pieces of smart
home gym equipment you can buy, earning our Editors’ Choice award.

PRICE AND SETUP Peloton Bike+
The Peloton Bike+ Basics package costs $2,495, or $64
per month for 39 months with no interest. It includes PROS Auto Follow
the bike, a 12-month limited parts-and-labor warranty, allows automatic
delivery, and assembly. For $200 more, the Bike+ resistance
Essentials package adds a pair of clip-in cycling shoes, a adjustments. Screen
set of bike weights, and a reversible workout mat. The rotates for a good
$2,795 Bike+ Works package includes a 72-by-36-inch viewing angle during
(HW) bike mat and a set of resistance bands. And the mat-based workouts.
$2,945 Bike+ Family package includes everything Impressive speaker
previously mentioned plus an extra pair of shoes, yoga system. Offers easy
blocks, a yoga strap, and two water bottles. The Bike+ is pairing with Apple
one of the most expensive indoor stationary bikes on Watch. Excellent
the market, topped only by the new SoulCycle Variis, delivery and setup
which starts at $2,500 plus a $40 monthly experience.
membership.
CONS Expensive.
When it launched the Bike+, Peloton lowered the price Long delivery lead
of the original model to $1,895 (from $2,245). US time.
Peloton Bike owners can get a $700 credit toward the
Bike+ when they trade in the original model in working BOTTOM LINE With a
condition (though you can probably get more for it on rotating screen and a
WKH VHFRQGKDQG PDUNHW 3HORWRQ R̆HUV D GD\ KRPH new Auto Follow
trial program, so you can use it for a month and get a feature for automatic
IXOO UHIXQG LI \RX¶UH QRW VDWLV¿HG resistance
adjustments, the
Peloton Bike+ is a
compelling upgrade
over its predecessor,
and the best smart
indoor cycling bike
you can buy.

When budgeting for the Bike+, note that it requires a $39-monthly Peloton All-
Access membership, which gives you access to live and on-demand workout
classes, performance tracking, and the ability to set up an unlimited number of
SUR¿OHV 7KH $OO $FFHVV PHPEHUVKLS R̆HUV D YDULHW\ RI ÀRRU EDVHG ZRUNRXWV WR
supplement your cycling sessions, including barre, bootcamp, HIIT cardio,
meditation, outdoor running, running, strength training, stretching, and yoga.

At the time of this writing, Peloton says Bike+ delivery times may exceed 10
weeks. The good news is that once you place your order, Peloton will give you
free access to its app until the bike arrives, so you can take bodyweight strength,
outdoor running, and yoga classes on your phone or tablet.

, ZDLWHG DERXW ¿YH ZHHNV IRU P\ UHYLHZ XQLW WR DUULYH DQG WKH %LNH GHOLYHU\
process couldn’t have been better. A representative from Peloton’s third-party
logistics partner called me a couple of days ahead of time to schedule a delivery
window. On the day of the appointment, the technicians arrived on time
(wearing masks), carried the bike into my house, placed it in my preferred
location, plugged it in, made sure it turned on, and walked me through the
setup process. They stood by as I connected the bike to my Wi-Fi network and
created an account, then a technician showed me how to rotate the screen (you
have to make sure it’s fully erect and not tilted before you can rotate it from side
to side), adjust the bike to my proportions, navigate the software interface, and
hang my shoes on the bike rack to dry when not in use.

$V VRPHRQH ZKR UHYLHZV VPDUW ¿WQHVV PDFKLQHV IRU D OLYLQJ ,¶YH KDG D ORW RI
them delivered to my home, and Peloton’s delivery experience was the best yet.
The technicians went above and beyond to make sure the bike was fully set up
and also that I knew how to use it.

The Bike+ has a 23.8-inch touch screen (up from the 21.5-inch screen on the
original) connected to a 360-degree swiveling mount. This means you can not
only tilt the screen up and down for a good view when cycling, but you can also
rotate it 180 degrees left and right, which comes in handy when you’re doing
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WR VLGH VR LW¶V GL̇FXOW WR DGMXVW WKH YLHZLQJ DQJOH IRU ÀRRU EDVHG ZRUNRXWV

Another major upgrade is a new digitally controlled resistance-brake system.
This allows for the Auto Follow feature, which automatically adjusts your
resistance to match the instructor’s cues. The original Peloton Bike has a
mechanical resistance system you control manually with a knob. The Bike+ also
features a resistance knob, but with Auto Follow enabled, you don’t have to
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demand classes, not live ones. Rival iFit-connected stationary bikes from
NordicTrack and its sister brand Proform can also automatically control your
resistance to match the trainer’s intensity.

The Bike+ boasts an upgraded sound system featuring a front-facing high-
¿GHOLW\ FKDQQHO VWHUHR VRXQGEDU ZLWK WZR IURQW IDFLQJ WZHHWHUV DQG WZR
rear-facing woofers. Peloton says the new system delivers “360-degree sound”
for a much more immersive music experience. It also features Apple’s GymKit
technology, which lets you easily pair it with an Apple Watch to share metrics
between devices.

Other than that, the Bike+ looks and works just like its predecessor, with a
black-and-red design, a welded steel frame with an adjustable seat and
handlebars, two water-bottle holders, and a rack behind the seat that holds a set
of three-pound dumbbells and your shoes when they’re not in use.

The Peleton Bike+ measures 59 by 22 by 59 inches (LWH). It weighs 140
pounds and has wheels on the front that allow you to move it around fairly
easily. It’s recommended for riders from 4 feet 11 inches to 6 feet 5 inches and
up to 297 pounds.

Inside, the Bike+ packs a 2.5GHz Qualcomm QCS605 processor, 4GB of RAM,
2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi, ANT+ wireless, Bluetooth 5.0, and 100Mbps
Ethernet. It has a 3.5mm audio jack on the handlebar, so you can plug in wired
headphones, and an 8-megapixel front-facing camera (with a privacy slider) for
video chatting with friends during workouts. To video chat with someone, you
must both follow each other and be taking the same class at the same time.

Like its predecessor, the Bike+ features Delta-compatible aluminum pedals
meant for use with clip-in cycling shoes. You can use it with Peloton’s own
cycling shoes or any pair with Delta cleats.

0DQ\ RWKHU VPDUW VWDWLRQDU\ ELNHV LQFOXGLQJ WKH %RZÀH[ 9HOR&RUH WKH (FKHORQ
EX5S, and the MYX Fitness, feature SPD-compatible pedals with adjustable toe
cages, so they can be used with clip-ins or regular athletic sneakers. It’s possible
to attach toe cages to your Bike+ pedals, but you have to buy them separately.

THE BIKE+ INTERFACE
The Bike+ interface is well-organized and intuitive, with tabs on the bottom for
Home, Programs, Classes, Schedule, Challenges, and More. In the Home tab,
you can quickly access new classes from your favorite instructors or browse
upcoming live classes, recommended classes, the most popular classes on the
platform at the moment, top strength workouts, challenges, recommended
training programs, recommended music artists, and featured hashtags. Click on
a recommended artist to browse classes featuring their music. You can also click
on a featured hashtag (such as #PeloFoodies, #Pelograndpas, or
%ODFN*LUO0DJLF WR DGG LW WR \RXU SUR¿OH VR \RX FDQ FRQQHFW ZLWK RWKHU
members who share similar interests. In Home, you can also see which classes
your friends on the platform have recently taken.

From the Programs screen, you can browse training programs and class
collections such as Discover Your Power Zones, Mastering the Basics: Cycling,
Welcome to Peloton Yoga, and more.

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RUJDQL]HG LQWR WKH IROORZLQJ FDWHJRULHV F\FOLQJ ÀRRU VWUHQJWK VWUHWFKLQJ \RJD
cardio, and meditation. There are thousands of classes to choose from, with
PRUH DGGHG UHJXODUO\ <RX FDQ ¿OWHU WKHP E\ LQVWUXFWRU OHQJWK PXVLF JHQUH
type, subtitle options, and whether the class incorporates free weights.
$GGLWLRQDO ¿OWHULQJ RSWLRQV OHW \RX VHH MXVW WKH QHZ WUHQGLQJ SRSXODU WRS
rated, easiest, or hardest workouts.

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steady stream of live classes throughout the day, so there’s a good chance you’ll
¿QG RQH ZKHQ \RX ZDQW WR ZRUN RXW <RX FDQ ¿OWHU WKHP E\ LQVWUXFWRU OHQJWK
and class type.

From the Challenges screen, you can view active, upcoming, and completed
challenges. You can, for instance, earn a virtual goal medal by working out at
least 15 days a month. When you click on a challenge, you can see any friends
who are participating and their progress.

In More are two additional cycling options: Just Ride and Scenic Ride. Just
Ride lets you work out at your own pace without an instructor. In Scenic
Ride, you can browse unguided outdoor virtual rides through Redwood State
Park, the French Alps, Tuscany, and other picturesque locations in the US
and abroad.

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There, Peloton keeps a record of your workout history, stats, achievements, and
saved music. You can click into each workout session to view all your stats,
including your average and total output, distance, and active and total calories
burned, as well as your average cadence, resistance, and speed. It also shows
graphs of your heart rate (if you have a heart rate monitor connected), output,
cadence, resistance, and speed throughout the workout.

On the lower-right side of the interface is an icon with three dots. Here, you can
access a list of Peloton instructors to view their bio and classes, search for
Peloton members by their usernames, connect your Peloton account to
)DFHERRN WR ¿QG IULHQGV H[SORUH WDJV \RX FDQ DGG WR \RXU SUR¿OH DQG DFFHVV
SUR¿OH DQG GHYLFH VHWWLQJV $QG WKH 3HORWRQ VHFWLRQ KDV YLGHRV VKRZLQJ KRZ
to adjust your seat depth, seat height, handlebars, and how to clip in and out
with cycling shoes. Within Peloton 101 are also several videos going over proper
bike form. If you’re new to indoor cycling, be sure to check out these primers.

Next to the three-dot icon on the bottom of the interface is a newspaper icon,
which brings up a social feed showing your friends’ recent activity. If one of
your friends took a class that looks interesting, you can play it right from the
social feed.

Finally, in the top-right corner of the interface is a Settings menu where you can
connect to Wi-Fi, adjust volume and screen brightness, connect a Bluetooth
device or heart rate monitor, cast your screen to another device, and access
device settings.

The addition of Apple’s GymKit technology makes connecting an Apple Watch
to the Bike+ very easy. After you select a workout, simply hold your Apple
:DWFK QH[W WR WKH 3HORWRQ ORJR RQ WKH ELNH¶V VFUHHQ $ QRWL¿FDWLRQ DSSHDUV RQ
your watch asking if you want to connect it to the bike; press OK, then start the
workout and your watch will immediately begin tracking it.

During the workout, you’ll be able to see your heart rate from the Apple Watch
on the Bike+ screen. When the workout ends, the Apple Watch automatically
stops tracking it. Before starting a workout, you also have the option to connect
a Bluetooth audio device (I had no problem connecting my Apple AirPods) or a
GL̆HUHQW KHDUW UDWH PRQLWRULQJ GHYLFH

WORKING OUT WITH THE BIKE+
During a Peloton cycling class, there are three main stats to look at on the
screen: your cadence (how fast you’re pedaling, measured in rotations per
PLQXWH RU 530V UHVLVWDQFH \RXU OHYHO RI GL̇FXOW\ RQ D VFDOH RI WR
percent), and output (how much power you’re exerting, measured in watts).

The screen also shows your average and best cadence, resistance, and output for
the ride, as well as your speed, distance, calories burned, and total output (how
much work you’ve done over the whole ride so far, measured in kilojoules, or
KJs). Peloton ranks the leaderboard, located on the right side of the screen, by
total output. This gets a little bit complicated, but Peloton calculates your total
output by multiplying your average output by the number of seconds in the ride,
then dividing that by 1,000. “If you average 100 watts in a 2,700-second ride
(45 minutes), your total output will be 270 KJ,” the company explains. You can
increase your output—and climb the leaderboard—by increasing your cadence
or resistance or both.

During cycling workouts, the instructors often tell you to try to stay within a
certain cadence and resistance range. The screen shows the target range as
recommended by the instructor, next to which you’ll see a small lock icon; tap
that to engage Auto Follow. Doing so locks your resistance within the
recommended target range, so you don’t have to adjust it manually, a new
feature not available on the original Peloton Bike.

When you’re in a live class, the leaderboard shows everyone currently taking it
with you. During on-demand classes, the leaderboard shows everyone who has
previously taken that class. You can click on anyone on the leaderboard to
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WKH SHRSOH \RX IROORZ SHRSOH ZLWK D FHUWDLQ WDJ LQ WKHLU SUR¿OH RU SHRSOH E\
gender or age group.

Instructors choose the tunes for each workout, so everyone listens to the same
music. Peloton classes are often sequenced to go with the music; when the
chorus comes on, for instance, the instructor might tell you to pick up the pace
to match the beat. Instructors often give shout-outs to riders on the
leaderboard, celebrating milestones such as someone’s hundredth ride.

On the left side of the screen during on-demand classes is a small music note
icon; tap it to see the title and the artists of the song that’s playing (this info will
DOVR EULHÀ\ SRS RQ VFUHHQ HYHU\ WLPH D QHZ VRQJ FRPHV RQ <RX FDQ FRQQHFW
the Bike+ with Apple Music or Spotify to easily save songs you hear during
workouts. When you hear a track you like, press the heart icon next to the song
name, and it will be added to a playlist called “My Peloton Music” on your
connected streaming accounts. During a class, you can adjust the volume using
physical buttons on the right side of the screen.

A progress bar at the top of the screen shows how much time has elapsed and
remains in the workout. Something that may annoy you about Peloton is that
you can’t pause workouts, but this is intentional. Peloton says the lack of a
pause button helps “ensure that you work as hard as you would in a live indoor
cycling class.”

If you need to leave a class early, tap the exit button on the top left side of the
screen. When you exit early, you can delete the class from your workout history.

MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE BIKE+
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EHVLGH LW IRU ÀRRU EDVHG FODVVHV 7KH %LNH LV VWXUG\ HYHQ RQ FDUSHW ORRNV VOHHN
and is more comfortable than any other smart stationary bike I’ve tried. I
mostly use the Bike+ for cycling workouts, but I’ve tried several of the strength-
training and yoga classes. The swiveling mount makes it easy to adjust the
VFUHHQ IRU ZRUNRXWV R̆ WKH ELNH WKRXJK WKH KDQGOHEDUV PLJKW SDUWLDOO\ REVWUXFW
your view.

After receiving my test unit, I was initially intimidated by the shoe situation.
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in shoes. Peloton sent me a pair to use with the Bike+, but you have to attach
the cleats yourself, and that seemed like a lot of work. An instruction manual
that comes with the shoes explains how to attach, adjust, and tighten the cleats
and clip in and out of the pedals. You use an included Allen wrench to partially
tighten the bolts, adjust the cleat so it sits directly under the ball of your foot,
then tighten it all the way. That part was easy, and even a little fun.

Learning to clip in and out, however, has been a process. I watched the videos in
3HORWRQ H[SODLQLQJ KRZ WR GR LW EXW LW GH¿QLWHO\ WDNHV VRPH WULDO DQG HUURU
After testing the Bike+ for around three weeks, I can now clip in fairly easily
each time. Clipping out is still a bit of an issue, but it’s getting simpler. To clip
out, you have to forcefully kick your heel away from the bike. It helps to push
down on the resistance knob to stop the pedals when clipping out.

,¶OO DGPLW WKDW , KDWHG WKH FOLS LQV WKH ¿UVW WLPH , WULHG WKHP EXW DIWHU
completing a bunch of rides with them, they’ve grown on me. With my feet
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especially helpful when I’m trying to go fast while standing up, as they make it
easier to pull, not just push, on the pedals, and it’s that pulling action that helps
me go faster. I like that you can hang your shoes on the back of the bike; this
keeps everything nice and tidy.

I now see why Peloton has a cult-like following of millions. The instructors are
excellent; their words of encouragement are often so inspiring that I’m moved
to tears. The classes are well planned and produced, and there’s plenty of
variety. Cody Rigsby is my favorite instructor; he sings and dances in the saddle,
tells stories about his life, gives life advice, and generally cracks me up.

One of my favorite Bike+ workouts was a 30-minute Intervals & Arms Ride with
Cody, during which we alternated pushes on the bike with free-weight
segments. You can store a set of weights on the back of the bike for easy access
during workouts.

Another favorite is The Jess King Experience, a 30-minute ride that feels more
like a party than a workout, complete with a live DJ and costume changes. I
took that class live, alongside more than 7,000 other riders, and enjoyed every
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In testing, the Auto Follow feature has worked perfectly during on-demand
cycling sessions. I wish it were also available during live workouts, because it
really elevates the experience for me. During a cycling workout, the target
resistance range changes often. You normally have to listen for the instructor’s
cues and manually adjust your resistance every time to keep up. Sometimes, I
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the knob, and Auto Follow lets me do that.

COMPARISONS AND CONCLUSIONS
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heart-pumping classes, inspirational instructors, and competitive leaderboards.
The Bike+ builds on its predecessor with a new Auto Follow feature for
automatic resistance adjustments, an upgraded sound system for a more
immersive listening experience, a rotating touch screen that allows for a better
YLHZLQJ DQJOH ZKHQ GRLQJ ZRUNRXWV R̆ WKH ELNH DQG $SSOH *\P.LW LQWHJUDWLRQ
for one-tap Apple Watch pairing. With these notable upgrades, it easily earns
our Editors’ Choice award.
Choosing between the original model and the Bike+? We recommend the latter,
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VLJQL¿FDQWO\ HOHYDWH WKH H[SHULHQFH DQG WKH URWDWLQJ VFUHHQ LV HVVHQWLDO IRU ÀRRU
based workouts if you don’t have enough room for a workout mat behind the
bike. That said, the original model gives you access to thousands of on-demand
classes and live workouts throughout the day for $600 less, making it a solid
option. And if that’s still beyond your budget, we highly recommend the MYX
)LWQHVV ELNH RXU (GLWRUV¶ &KRLFH IRU D̆RUGDEOH VPDUW VWDWLRQDU\ ELNHV ,W GRHVQ¶W
feature live classes or leaderboards, but it starts at $1,199 and keeps you
engaged, with a focus on personalized heart rate zone training.

ANGELA MOSCARITOLO

PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION I SUBSCRIBE I DECEMBER 2020

REVIEWS

CONSUMER ELECTRONICS

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iPhone 12, the
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the iPhone 12 Pro
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