Thursday, March 28, 2024

Reviews

Phiaton 900 Legacy ANC Headphones Review

Recently, our friends over at Phiaton sent out some of their audio products for us to check out, one of which is the Phiaton 900 Legacy over-ear headphones with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). Below are my impressions after using them for the past few weeks.FeaturesThe Phiaton 900 Legacy’s defining design characteristic is the carbon fiber accents on the ear cups. This is the first time I’ve seen this on a pair of headphones and it certainly makes them stand out in a crowd.Besides the unique look, the right ear cup features touch controls that allow you to control volume and playback of music with a swipe of your finger. Swipe up or down for volume, forwards or backward to skip tracks, and tapping will play or pause music.Touch controls aren’t always my favorite, but these worked fairly well. Although, I did pause music from time to time when I was trying to adjust the volume or skip tracks. In addition to the swipe controls, the Phiaton 900 Legacy includes only two buttons on the left ear cup, one for power and the other toggles ANC or transparency mode.ComfortThe memory foam ear pads are a little shallow on the Phiaton 900 Legacy but they still provided plenty of space for my ears. I did feel the inside brush lightly against my ears but not enough for it to be an issue. The padding along the top was also sufficient given how lightweight the Phiaton 900 Legacy is, and overall, they were comfortable to wear for hours at a time.Sound qualityThe Phiaton 900 Legacy uses the aptX HD codec for a 24-bit connection with a transfer rate of 576 Kbits. This provides a high-quality connection with more throughput than AAC or aptX Adaptive, and more bits is always an advantage for audio quality. The only drawback being that it could introduce a little lag if you plan to wear them while gaming.My first thought after firing up the Phiaton 900 Legacy headphones was, the bass is strong with these my friends. That’s not a bad thing though, and the bass isn’t overpowering or distorted. Thankfully, the highs and midrange are still present for full-bodied sound, just know that the Phiaton 900 Legacy skew toward being bass-forward.Personally, I prefer a little extra in the low-end when I listen to music, so that’s not a problem for me. However, if you’re not a fan of bass then you’ll want to look elsewhere. Especially because there’s no app with an equalizer to tweak the sound signature to your liking. That’s one of the biggest downsides of the Phiaton 900 Legacy considering the $250 price tag.ANCIt used to be that you needed to buy Sony or Bose if you wanted good or decent active noise cancellation. These days, many other brands have closed the gap. While Sony and Bose may still reign as ANC kings, you can now get good results from other brands.I’m happy to say that the Phiaton 900 Legacy offer great active noise cancellation performance for the price. These will be perfect for helping to drown out all of the neighbor’s mowers as lawn-cutting season has just begun.Plus, there’s also a transparency mode that can be activated with the touch controls to allow for quick conversations without the need to remove the headphones.Battery lifeOne of the areas the Phiaton 900 Legacy excels is its battery life. They are rated for 43 hours and that estimate stands up to my testing. I was very impressed by how long these headphones last, they just keep going and going.Furthermore, with fast charging you can get up to a little over 4 hours of playback time with only a 10-minute charge, or you can even use them wired via the 3.5mm headphone jack.Final thoughtsThe Phiaton 900 Legacy are a good pair of headphones for the price. The sound quality is admirable, albeit a little bass-heavy, the ANC works well, and they offer fantastic battery life. While they may come up a little short in some areas—notably the lack of an app with an equalizer—the Phiaton 900 Legacy still provides a decent value at $250 or less. Especially, if you can’t afford the latest offerings from Sony or Bose.Buy from Amazon Buy from Phiaton

The Razer Edge 5G can’t compete with what’s in your pocket

If you have a smartphone, the Edge doesn't bring anything new to the table.

Sale Alert! OtterBox offering 25% off on everything sitewide

Premium protective products manufacturer for smartphones and tablets Otter is celebrating its 25th Anniversary. The OtterBox was founded in 1998 and now the company has grown to become a global innovator in protective products. OtterBox is seven times honoree on the 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in the US and the firm was also named one of ‘America’s Most Promising Companies’ by Forbes Magazine. OtterBox is celebrating its 25th anniversary with 25% off everything sitewide now through 18 May 2023. OtterBox is one of the famous names in the Industry when it comes to protective products for tech gadgets. OtterBox offering straight 25% off on every case which suits your style. The company offers a stylish, eye catchy, array of sleek, premium-quality cases that are designed to withstand the rough and tumble of your everyday. OtterBox’s screen protection glass offers great protection from accidental falls and scratches. Along with the protective products, you can also avail of a hefty discount on OtterBox’s innovative power accessories that keep your devices charged up and your day on track. The offer is valid till 18 May 2023. What, are you still reading go hurry up and grab your deal now.

Motorola’s Razr 2023 launching on June 1, Officially Confirmed

After lots of rumors and anticipations, Motorola has finally confirmed that the brand’s upcoming next-gen Razr 2023 foldable smartphone will be released on June 1. The company shares a teaser video of the upcoming Razr smartphone and the teaser video shows the two device silhouettes means we will get to see two new flagship flip smartphones in the upcoming Razr series- most probably Razr 40 Ultra and Razr 40. Flip the script. June 1. pic.twitter.com/gOhSmzhGzL— motorola (@Moto) May 16, 2023Lots of rumors of the Razr 40 Ultra smartphone are buzzing around the market suggests, the upcoming Razr 40 Ultra will feature a 6.9-inch FHD+ folding OLED display with 120/144Hz refresh rate and it will offer a 3.5-inch OLED cover screen. The flip smartphone will be powered by Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor paired with 12GB RAM and 512GB internal storage. For optics, the phone will feature a dual rear camera setup at the back- a 12MP main camera joined by a 13MP ultrawide shooter. The smartphone will house a 3,640mAh battery with support for 33W fast charging support. According to the rumors, the Razr 40 Ultra is expected to retail at €1,299 in the European market.

Motorola Moto G Stylus (2023) review: More stylus than substance

Getting a stylus on the cheap comes at a cost.

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX Review

As a long-time fan of Bang & Olufsen products, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the brand’s latest true wireless ANC earbuds, the Beoplay EX. After spending the past few weeks with them, I’m happy to report these live up to the Danish brand’s reputation for high-end headphones, and a big thanks to B&O for sending these out for review.DesignBang & Olufsen has always put an emphasis on design and sound quality with its audio products, a legacy that continues with the Beoplay EX. From the moment you first touch the aluminum case it’s obvious that the Beoplay EX is a premium product. There’s no plastic here, only an aluminum shell with a rubberized bottom to allow for wireless charging.Once inside of the case, B&O does make use of plastic for the earbuds in an effort to make them lightweight and durable. Although, there is a touch of luxury by utilizing glass on the buds for the touch-sensitive controls. Furthermore, the earbuds have an IP57 waterproof rating allowing them to stand up to a little rain and sweat.ComfortWithout a doubt, the Beoplay EX are the most comfortable earbuds I’ve used in years. I have smaller ear canals that most brands overlook and require me to resort to third-party ear tips just to get a comfortable fit.Not so with the Beoplay EX, where I was pleasantly surprised to find that the smallest ear tips fit perfectly. I’m not exaggerating when I say it’s been years since that has happened—and not only did it make the Beoplay EX comfortable to wear for hours—but it also improved the active noise cancellation as well.User experienceThe comfortable fit and precise touch controls go a long way towards making the Beoplay EX pleasant to use, but that’s not all they have to offer. There’s also a wear sensor that automatically pauses music if you remove a bud from your ears and beam forming mics for clearer calls. I suspect placing the mics at the end of the stems helped a lot here by getting them closer to your mouth. Whatever it is, I received positive feedback over the quality when making calls.Plus, B&O also has a great app that provides you with a convenient way to toggle ANC or transparency mode on or off, as well as a way to check the battery level of the buds and case or adjust the equalizer.Sound qualityThe Beoplay EX utilizes Qualcomm’s latest aptX Adaptive audio technology for transferring audio from your phone to the earbuds. It can reach bit rates nearly as high as aptX HD but still far lower than high res codecs such as LDAC. The real benefit of aptX Adaptive is that it can dynamically change the bit rate to reduce latency that often results in audio lag when watching videos or playing games. This also makes it better for battery life than higher bit-rate codecs. While I would have really liked to have seen LDAC as an option at this price point, aptX Adaptive is a good compromise given its benefits.Bang & Olufsen has a reputation for premium sound quality which is well deserved. I’ve been a fan of B&O’s products for years now and the Beoplay EX is the latest to impress me with its warm, clean, and balanced signature sound.Out of the box, the Beoplay EX has an open sound stage with full-bodied bass that round off the highs for a mellow sound that makes it easy to listen to for hours without fatigue. I found there was plenty of separation in tracks, however, I prefer a little more brightness than the default tuning provides.Fortunately, the Bang & Olufsen app provides a unique equalizer that allows you to tweak the sound to your liking. I call it unique because it’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen before, and while it’s effective, audiophiles may not be a fan because it’s difficult to make accurate changes and requires some guesswork when adjusting.Overall, I think most music fans will be more than pleased with the audio quality from the Beoplay EX earbuds, unless you prefer a bright crisp sound signature.ANCThe active noise cancellation on the Beoplay EX works wonderfully. I wouldn’t say they reach the levels of Sony or Bose, but they get very close. Of course, some of this is probably aided by the fantastic fit, as the comfortable ear tips go a long way toward passively blocking noise.Either way, you won’t have any complaints about the noise cancellation capabilities of the Beoplay EX earbuds, as it nearly matches what you’d get from the leaders in this category.Additionally, the Beoplay EX also offers a transparency mode to make it easy to have a quick conversation without removing the buds, and there are settings to reduce wind noise for all of you runners and cyclists out there.Battery lifeThe Beoplay EX earbuds are rated for up to six hours with ANC enabled or eight hours with ANC disabled. Along with the charging case, that adds up to 20 hours total with ANC or 28 hours without ANC.In my usage, I was seeing a little over five hours with ANC enabled and that was a little disappointing. There are earbuds out there with much more listening time that cost far less. Regardless, besides some battery anxiety and charging more frequently than I’d like, the Beoplay EX will last long enough for most people unless you’re on a long flight.Thankfully, the buds can be used independently if you’re making a lot of calls and want to split time between them to extend the battery life.Final thoughtsThere’s a lot to love about the Beoplay EX earbuds. Between the high-end wireless charging case, rich sound quality, adaptive noise cancellation, and fully featured app—there’s not much more to ask for. The only caveats are that the battery life is a little lacking if you want to use ANC regularly and the $400 price tag. Otherwise, the Beoplay EX is a premium pair of true wireless ANC earbuds with a price to match.Buy from Amazon Buy from Bang & Olufsen

Mophie Powerstation (2023) review

The mophie PowerStation (2023) is a portable external battery designed to charge mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, and other USB-powered devices. It has a capacity of 10,000mAh, which means it can charge most smartphones several times before needing to be recharged itself.Read on to learn what we thought of the mophie Powerstation (2023).Noteworthy Features10,000mAh internal batteryUp to 15W combined outputUSB Type-C port offers 20W PD fast chargingLED indicator lightsTwo-year warrantyGalleryThoughts and ConclusionThe PowerStation (2023) features a pair of USB-A ports and a USB-C port with Power Delivery (PD) technology, which allows for faster charging of compatible devices. If you use both USB-A ports and the USB-C port simultaneously, the Powerstation can deliver a combined output of up to 15 watts.Generally speaking, the battery has a slim design and light weight that makes it easy to carry around with you on the go. Barely bigger than a phone, it goes into a pocket, purse, backpack, or bag without issue.The unit has a compact design and a durable finish that helps protect it from everyday wear and tear. It also comes with a USB-C cable for charging the PowerStation 2023 itself and a user manual.The mophie PowerStation (2023) is a convenient and practical solution for keeping your devices charged while you’re on the move. And like other products from the brand, it comes with LED indicator lights and a two-year warranty.I really dig the small size and portability of this charger and appreciate that I can charge up to three devices at once. I can see myself tossing this in a bag for long days away or late nights when no power outlets are available. The same goes for a weekend getaway, day at the beach, hiking, or other activity that might find me taking pictures or playing games.You can learn more about the Mophie Powerstation (2023) and/or purchase yours for about $50.

Android updates with AI at the heart

Google introduced its new products and features at the Google I/O 2023 event. The tech giant introduced, from new mobile hardware to AI enhancements to search and productivity tools at the Google Developer Conference. To take the Android phone experience next level Google announced more personalized features powered by Google’s advances in generative AI technology. With these latest AI-powered personalized features you have more freedom to customize your smartphone’s lock screen, wallpaper, and much more. Have a look at these new features. Be more professional with the Magic ComposeGoogle’s new Magic Compose feature in the Messages by Google can help you to make conversations more interesting with AI generative suggestions. Based on the context of your conversions the Magic Compose feature offers great suggestions and also transforms what you write into different styles which makes the messages more professional and concise. Google will roll out this feature in beta in the summer. More freedom to customize the entire phone screenGoogle introduced Android 14 at the Google I/O 2023 keynote. Android 14 brings more customization to the lock screen. You can now customize your lock screen with new shortcuts and new clock designs which lit up your phone’s lock screen. Google is also offering more ways to make your smartphone’s wallpaper more attractive and eye catchy with an emoji wallpaper and cinematic wallpaper. A cinematic wallpaper transforms your favorite pictures into stunning and eye-grabbling 3D images whereas the emoji wallpaper lets you customize your phone using your favorite emoji combinations, colors, and patterns.  No worries, if you don’t have a perfect photo to use for the wallpaper on your smartphone, Google’s AI Generative Wallpaper will create a unique wallpaper for you, and the Material You (which was introduced two years ago) based on the wallpaper you have selected will automatically match the color palette of your Android system. Look more cool on the social mediaSocial media is a great way to share your experiences, memories, and big life moments with friends, family, and loved ones. Google brings the Night Mode, 10-bit HDR video, and Ultra HDR in Android 14 support for social media apps like Instagram which helps you to take and view photos and videos with crisp shadows, and bright and attractive colors.  Source

HUAWEI FreeBuds 5 review: Bold and comfortable open-fit earbuds

Superior comfort at the cost of effective noise canceling.

Mophie Powerstation XL (2023) review

The mophie PowerStation XL (2023) is a portable external battery designed to charge mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops. It has a large capacity of 20,000mAh, which means it can charge most smartphones several times before needing to be recharged itself.Read on to learn what we thought of the Mophie Powerstation XL (2023).Noteworthy FeaturesCharge up to three devices at onceLED battery indicator20W USB-C PD fast charge port20,000mAh batteryTwo-year warrantyGalleryThoughts and ConclusionThe PowerStation XL 2023 features a USB-C port with Power Delivery (PD) technology, which allows for faster charging of compatible devices. It also has two USB-A ports, so you can charge multiple devices at once.The device has a sleek and compact design that makes it easy to carry around with you on the go. It also comes with a USB-C-to-A cable for charging the PowerStation XL 2023 itself. It’s really portable and rather lightweight so I can imagine tossing this in a backpack or commuter bag without second thought.There are three ports to charge from on the battery, two of which are USB-A and one being a USB-C. If both USB-A ports and the USB-C port are utilized at the same time, the powerstation XL can deliver a combined output of up to 15 watts. Otherwise, the USB-C port can pump out 20W PD fast charge on its own.Like other mophie products, this one has four LED indicator lights to help get a feel for how of the 20,000mAh battery remains. Additionally, it also comes with the brand’s hallmark two-year warranty, too.The mophie PowerStation XL 2023 is a convenient and practical solution for keeping your devices charged while you’re on the move. If your day often requires you to travel to and from locations or work in remote spots, you’ll appreciate the power and performance in this unit.You can learn more about the Mophie Powerstation XL (2023) and/or purchase yours for about $60.

OPPO unveils OPPO F23 5G smartphone with Snapdragon 695 chipset

OPPO has officially launched the latest 5G mid–range smartphone in the F series- the OPPO F23 5G in Indian markets. The F23 comes with decent features at decent pricing but compared to the predecessor, the smartphone hasn’t got any major upgrades in terms of processor and camera. The notable improvement is OPPO added 67W fast charging support. Have a look at the detailed specifications and pricing of the OPPO F23 5G smartphone. OPPO F23 5G retails at ₹24,999 for the 8GB + 256GB variant and comes in Bold Gold and Cool Black color options. The smartphone is now available for pre-order via Amazon and OPPO.com and it will be up for sale starting from May 18th. OPPO F23 5G smartphone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 processor (the same processor we saw in the F21 Pro, F21s Pro 5G smartphone) paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage and it also has up to 8GB virtual RAM support. One thing OPPO did it very well is the brand promised to offer 4 years of major OS updates and 5 years of security patch updates.  In terms of lenses, the smartphone features a triple rear camera setup at the back- a 64MP primary camera joined by a 2MP portrait lens and 2MP macro lens and it has a 32MP selfie camera for capturing video chats and selfies. The smartphone is backed by a 5,000mAh battery (which is up from 4.500mAh) with a 67W (up from 33W) fast charging support. OPPO F23 5G sports a 6.72-inch FHD+ LTPS LCD panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, 680 nits of peak brightness, and a 240Hz touch sampling rate. The device boots Android 13 based on ColorOS 13.1 out of the box.

Meet Vivo’s new S17e smartphone

Vivo has expanded its S series portfolio with the launch of the Vivo S17e smartphone. The S17e phone is now official in China and regarding its global availability, Vivo usually launches the S series smartphones in the global markets under the V series. So we can expect Vivo S17e will come as a Vivo V29 series. The Vivo S17e smartphone starts at CNY 2,099 (~$301) and comes in three beautiful color options- Sunny Blue, Sand Gold, and Midnight Black. The smartphone is now up for pre-order and sale will start from May 20 via Vivo’s official website in China. Vivo S17e flaunts a 6.78-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a 300Hz touch sampling rate, up to 1300 nits of peak brightness, and a 120Hz refresh rate. You’ll get a 64MP primary camera lens with OIS support and 2MP macro unit. There’s a 16MP front camera for selfies and video chats. Under the hood, the smartphone is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7200 chipset paired with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. Vivo S17e houses a 4,600mAh battery with 66W fast charging support. The device boots Android 13 based on OriginOS 3 out of the box. 

Ring Battery Doorbell Plus review: Enhanced doorbell for Alexa smart homes

Though like a lot of Ring products, you'll only get the most out of it with a subscription.

Nanoleaf’s new Essentials lights are great, but reveal Matter’s shortcomings

Future versions of Matter could make a huge difference.

Say ‘Hello’ to seamless smart home integration with Homey Bridge

The Homey Bridge is a powerful and versatile device that allows you to control all of your smart home devices from a single app. Whether you’re looking to increase your home security or simply streamline your daily routine, the Homey Bridge has something to offer.One of the key benefits of the Homey Bridge ($69) is its ability to integrate with a wide range of smart home devices. This means that no matter what kind of smart home products you currently own or plan to buy in the future, the Homey Bridge can likely work with them. From smart locks and security cameras to smart thermostats and lighting, the Homey Bridge can control it all. And if you’re cobbling together a system that employs a variety of brands or protocols, you’ll be just fine.One of the most notable features of the Homey Bridge is its powerful automation capabilities. With the Homey app, you can create custom rules and routines that automate many aspects of your home. For example, you could set up a routine that turns off all of the lights and locks the doors when you leave the house, or a rule that automatically turns on your lights when you arrive home.Another great feature of the Homey Bridge is its built-in voice control. With support for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, you can use voice commands to control your smart home devices, even if you don’t have a smart speaker or display.The Homey Bridge supports a wide range of protocols and standards, making it compatible with many smart home devices. Some of the protocols and standards it supports include:Zigbee: Zigbee is a low-power wireless communication protocol used for home automation. It allows devices to communicate with each other and with a central hub, like the Homey Bridge.Z-Wave: Z-Wave is another wireless protocol for home automation, similar to Zigbee. It operates on a different frequency band and has a longer range than Zigbee.BluetoothWi-FiInfraredThese protocols and standards are widely used in the smart home industry, so the Homey Bridge’s support for them makes it a versatile and powerful hub for controlling a wide range of smart home devices.In terms of security, the Homey Bridge also has a lot to offer. With support for a wide range of smart home security devices, including cameras, sensors, and smart locks, you can keep your home secure and monitor activity from anywhere.As to how many devices one can connect or integrate with the Homey Bridge, well that’s up to the user. A free account allows for up to five devices. To help get a feel for the much bigger picture, however, the Homey Bridge comes with three free months of Homey Premium. This opens the door to unlimited devices, insight, and more.One of the key benefits of Homey Premium is the ability to create an unlimited number of flows — automated sequences of actions triggered by specific events or conditions. Using Homey Premium, it’s possible to create complex flows with multiple actions and conditions, giving you a whole new way of dealing with your smart home. It also provides users with access to an expanded selection of apps and devices.Homey Premium provides a range of benefits and features that are designed to enhance the functionality and convenience of the Homey ecosystem. That is to say, it’s a great product to have if you’re building out a smart home one or two devices at a time. The Homey Bridge is a great choice for anyone looking to streamline their smart home experience and take control of their devices. With its wide range of compatibility, powerful automation capabilities, and built-in voice control, it’s a must-have for any serious smart home enthusiast. Whether you’re looking to increase your home security or simply make your daily routine more efficient, the Homey Bridge is worth considering, especially at just $69.

Mophie Powerstation Pro AC (2023) review

The mophie Powerstation Pro AC (2023) is a portable power bank designed to charge your devices on-the-go. It features a high-capacity 27,000mAh rechargeable battery, which can charge multiple devices at once, including laptops, smartphones, tablets, and other USB and/or AC-powered devices.Read on to learn more or [check out the podcast]() (also embedded below) to see what we thought of the Mophie Powerstation Pro AC.Noteworthy FeaturesUp to 100W output via ACUp to 140W shared output using multiple ports27,000mAh internal batteryTwo-year warrantyLED battery level indicatorMade from up to 50% post consumer recycled plasticGalleryThoughts and ConclusionOne of the standout features of the Powerstation Pro AC is its ability to provide AC power, allowing you to charge devices that require a wall outlet. The power bank features an AC outlet that can deliver up to 100 watts of power, which is sufficient to power small laptops, cameras, and other AC-powered devices.In addition to the AC outlet, the Powerstation Pro AC also features two USB-C ports and a USB-A port, allowing you to charge multiple devices simultaneously. The USB-A port supports fast charging up to 20W while the USB-C ports provide up to 60W and 20W PD for each, respectively.The Powerstation Pro AC isn’t designed specifically for outdoor or rugged use, but it does appear to have a fairly strong build to it. Additionally, the built-in wrist strip makes it easy to carry around and less prone to take a spill when outside.The mophie Powerstation Pro AC is a versatile and durable portable power bank that can keep your devices charged and powered on-the-go. Given that so many of our gadgets use these three port types, this one is a terrific all-in-one device for long weekends on the go or extremely busy days working remotely and on the road.You can learn more about the Mophie Powerstation Pro AC and/or purchase yours for about $200.