Category: #Reviews

Review – The Sony Xperia XZ3 by Liam Burke #Sony #XperiaXZ3 #XZ3

Liam Burke is a regular Sony contributor reviewer here and today he shares his thoughts on the all new Sony Xperia XZ3

Design:-

Sony has kept its current design in the new Xperia XZ3 and even though its slightly longer they have reduced the weight by 5g and thickness of the phone 1.2mm from the previous Xperia XZ2 it feels lighter and very balanced in the hand.   

As the rear of the phone is made from Corning Gorilla Glass5 it can feel a bit slippery in the hand so a case would be recommended. A case also makes finding the rear finger print sensor easier as I found its position is a bit too low. The beveled edges on the rear of the phone make it look very premium.

Sony has still kept its camera to a single 19 Mega Pixel camera sensor also on the rear is the NFC sensor, the camera led flash, laser auto-focus sensor and an infrared color sensor.                                As with other Sony Xperia’s it has a dedicated camera button on the side of the phone, along with the power button and volume rocker. A handy feature is that the sim-card and micro sd tray can be pulled out without the need for a pin or special tool.

On the front there are the two front facing speakers, USB-C port but no headphone jack as is the norm these days. The Xperia XZ3 is rated for IP65/68 so its water-resistant and dust-proof, so no need to worry if it gets wet.

 

Screen:-

Now onto the screen which is the biggest improvement over the Xperia XZ2 where Sony have moved from LED to OLED. The screen is a 6 inch Quad HD+ pOLED (1440 x 2880 pixels) High Dynamic Range (HDR) with 18:9 aspect ratio.                                                                                                  The screen is brilliant its so bright and vibrant it gives excellent colour reproduction even in sunny conditions I found it very easy to view all the details on the screen. Sony have really done a great job here bringing their tech from their Bravia TVs onto this phone, watching streaming content like Netflix you do get to see every detail.

Again Sony has plenty of options in the Display settings so you can get the most of out that OLED Screen with options Night Light which tints your screen amber making it easier to look at your screen in dark conditions.

Sony have also included a nifty feature called Side Sense which uses sensors at the side of the screen to bring up a menu of your most used apps and Settings, I found this quiet a useful feature as you didn’t need to swipe back into the main menu to goto your apps.

As the screen is OLED there is plenty of options in the settings that you can select, you can choose to have it always on or configure when you want the screen to turn on i.e. only activate the screen when the phone is lifted so you can see the time and notifications that you have.

Audio :-

The Xperia XZ3 has plenty of Sony’s Audio tech like Hi-Res Audio,LDAC, DSEE HX, ClearAudio+ and “S-Force Front Surround Sound” speakers. Again it has Sonys “Dynamic Vibration System” which gives you something of a vibration rumble feedback on sound, something I found more handy when playing games instead of watching movies or listening to music.

As there is no headphone jack you will need to use the included adapter if you want to use your wired headphones or instead use USB-C wired headphones.The front facing Stereo speakers I found to have quiet a punch and didn’t distort the audio even at high volumes.

 

Camera:-

Sony have stuck with the same 19Mp Motion Eye single-lens camera that was on the Xperia XZ2, but they have improved the camera app with some nice features like having an icon for the previously used mode on the bottom of the screen. The integration with Google Lens is a good feature I found copying text from documents to be quiet a handy feature.

The default camera AI mode does a good job changing the settings for your picture automatically, so you don’t need to modify white balance and ISO etc.

There are other modes like Panorama and AR effect where you can add virtual animations to your photos like Dinosaurs or Superheros it’s a nice gimmick. The Smart launch feature which detects when you lift up the phone horizontally and opens the photo app, I found it hit and miss and I was quicker opening the app via the dedicated camera button on the side of the phone.

To help you get the perfect selfie Sony have bumped up the front camera to 13 Mp and have  added a new Portrait Selfie Mode where you have options like Slender Face, Skin Brightness, Soft skin and Bokeh which blurs the background. Even in lowlight conditions I found the selfie pictures aren’t too grainy.

In the video mode you get the usual options on how you can tweak your settings, enabling Steadyshot did a good job at keeping the video smooth even when your moving around.   

The Xperia XZ3 can record in 4K HDR the videos recorded with these settings recorded detail compared to videos recorded in HD mode. It also supports Full HD slow motion video recording at 960fps, I found it took a bit of practice to get these slow motion shots at the right time, I found it easier to use the Slow motion mode which records in 120fps and edit the video afterwards.

Battery:-

The battery capacity in the Xperia XZ3 is 3300mAh it also supports Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 (compatible charger supplied in the box) and Qi Wireless charging.

Sony also have their own tweaks to the battery that they call Stamina Mode which disables some background processes to make your battery last longer.

There is also a Battery Care feature which learns your battery charging patterns and for example if you charge your phone every night, it would slowly charge the battery during the night up to 90% then the hour before your wake up it fully charges the phone up to 100%. In my tests I was getting nearly 2 days of usage from a full charge.

 

Performance:-

The Xperia XZ3 runs Android Pie 9.0 out of the box, Sony has its own lightly skinned version of Android. I found the user experience very snappy as it has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor running with 4GB of RAM and 64 internal storage.                                                

I noticed that downloading and uploading over Wi-Fi seems faster on the phone.If you have a Playstation 4 and you install the PS4 Remote Play app on the Xperia XZ3 then you can connect to your PS4 if the phone and PS4 are connected to the same network.

Full Specs:-

https://www.sonymobile.com/ie/products/phones/xperia-xz3/

Available to buy:-  Three Billpay from €79 https://www.three.ie/online/voice/contract/sony-xperia-xz3/?src=p

Three Prepay €579 https://www.three.ie/online/voice/prepay/sony-xperia-xz3/?src=p

Three also have a limited time offer of a Free pair of Sony SBH90C High Res Audio earphones worth €189.99 when you buy online (While stocks last.)

And will be coming to Eir soon. From Sony Direct https://estore.sonymobile.com/ie/sony-xperia-xz3-liquid-black-uk-ie-312305/

Featured image by Jim O Brien at the Christmas Tech Showcase from Sony

Review – Urbanista Chigaco Sport headphones. #urbanista #headphones #review

Urbanista have officially launched their new headphones called the “Chigaco Sport” and we have been testing these out for a bit now and I am impressed with the product as a whole as expected from Urbanista. These also come in a range of colours to boot so you have choice.  Packaged as expected you will see below in the unboxing they are well presented off the bat as all their other products we have tested over the last two years.

We are proud to introduce Chicago – a collaboration of refined sound and elegant lightweight design, the Chicago is your perfect sidekick thanks to its custom design and specialized GoFit tips that gives you a secure fit and improved experience with your active lifestyle.

The Chicago Sports are ideal for those who like bass.fitness and comfort along with style. The headphones come with specialised tips called GO FIT TIPS which gives you additional comfort and audio on the move and if you like bass you are covered here too. Talking is also an option on the go here as the come with an in built mic and inline control panel to make life easy when on the move and the buttons are easy to navigate blindly and the inline control panel has rubber texture for additional grip and tactile buttons which let you know you hit the right spot.

Charging the headphones is a little different to the norm which is typically plug-in a cable. Not this time though as they come with a bluetooth clip on piece which connects to your PC/Laptop and I like this approach you are also not limited to using your Laptop to charge as you can use a standard wall plug which will be faster charging too.

Sound overall is pretty good and I was happy with the music reproduction through highs,lows and mids so for the average user or users more sound wise the will be pleased overall with them coming in at the price they do. You also get a carry bag included in the package which is really a nice touch and becoming the trend these days so this will keep them protected when not in use. As for battery life the times are in line with manufacturers claims so for the average commuter they will see you through a day however if you have a longer day it would be best to top up each night.

Specs 

  • Bluetooth: 4.1
  • Speaker size: φ10.0mm
  • Sensitivity: 99dB+/-3dB
  • Impedance: 32Ω ± 15%
  • Frequency range: 20Hz~20KHz
  • Hands-free with microphone and volume control
  • Stand-by time: 15 days
  • Play time: around 7h
  • Charging: Micro USB, about 1h charging time
  • Compatible with Android, iOS and Windows
  • Weight: 23g (without packaging)
  • Weight including packaging: 78g/pcs
  • Package size: 200x200x85mm
  • Packaging size: 100x31x121mm

BUY HERE 

 

Review – @GEAR4 ‏ Piccadilly case for the Google Pixel 3XL #Pixel3XL #GEAR4

Gear 4 have sent us their latest case for the Google Pixel 3 XL which is the Piccadilly case in Black. The case itself has a transparent back which allows users to enjoy the natural colour of their device and it also has a Black trim around the entire case which looks well.

Gear 4 use D30 technology in their cases and you are sure to be protected with theses cases no matter what. The case also gives you some additional grip and also allows wireless charging so you do not have to remove the case and something a few people have been asking is about the squeeze factor to launch the assistant.. Yes that works fine too. Check out the video below for more.

GEAR 4 PICCADILLY

  • Clear PC case with Colour Match D3O® inside
  • Slim fitting, elegant and stylish
  • Scratch protected with UV coating
  • Easy access to all ports
  • Wireless charging compatible

Review – Sudio TVÅ headphones and check out the great deal on offer. #headphones

The Sudio TVÅ headphones are a cheap and cheerful purchase which comes in several colours and we have the “Sand” version which is really nice. Presentation once again with this package is great and adds to the value and considering the cost of these is already at the lower end of the scale.

The Två earphones are stylish,sleek and simple they do not stick out like some other earphones we have tried here and some people like this, they want simple and these fit the bill. The most important thing here is sound though and do they deliver on the price you will pay..

Overall they are good, Sudio is a brand that brings quality sound at a budget price but you may ask about the compromise here. There is none really these are simple in ears lightweight and deliver on the sound aspect too reproducing all highs lows and mids fine and as I expected them to do  and frequency response was fine on some instances having the max volume set they did get somewhat distorted but most headphones suffer that depending on source.OK they wont blow your mind away like more expensive earphones but they do a good job for the price you pay and there is no need to worry about connectivity either due to them being wired.

Sudio have a great new deal going on right now and you can also grab 4 sets of coasters free with your purchase to top that off you get a further 15% discount using the code techbuzzireland

The “Coasters Campaign” – is a set of 4 modern and distinctive Swedish design heatproof cork based coasters for your favourite beverage of choice.  They are made with the finest types of rock material to protect wood and glass surfaces, absorb liquids, prevent the sliding of cups, making it the most suitable gift for homes, offices, corporate gifts, and more.

BUY HERE 

 

Review – August Hands Free bluetooth beanie. #tech #bluetooth #August

With the winter months here its set to get cold but you can disregard those silly weather reports we see from some of the media and take each day as it comes. But what has tech got to do with that? Last year we reviewed a similar product which effectively is a hat with built-in headphones and a simple control panel and we have a new one in today from August who sell a huge range of tech products.

The unit itself is a trendy current looking hat which has tech built-in and kept simple and works simply via Bluetooth and the sound is actually better than expected for such. You can remove the speakers to clean machine wash the hat too which is great. The bluetooth controls are simple to use and akin to most standard bluetooth products today..

Style and Tech combine, your wise choice for winter
Keep your head and tunes warm this winter with the new August Bluetooth Hat. The EPA30 allows you to listen to your music without having to wear additional headphones. This original stereo headset brings you great sound quality, style and comfort.

Remote control for Music, Volume and Calls
A remote control panel on the right earpiece allows you to skip back and forth through your playlist, answer and hang up calls without having to use your phone.

Built-in Mic for Hands free calling
Thanks to the microphone, you will be able to keep running and exercising knowing that any incoming calls can be answered without having to pick up your phone. The mic can also be used with VOiP services like Skype and AOL giving you a hands free headset for internet calling or PC gaming.

Over 2 hours battery life
A quick charge of only 45 minutes via its Micro USB connection provides over 2 hours of playback.

Wool hat with a twist
The high quality wool of the EPA30 provide the warm you need, don’t stop running this winter!

  • Bluetooth Hat – Keep warm while listening to music from smartphones and tablets
    Audio, Volume and Call control Buttons – Answer calls & control your music
    Built-in Microphone – Stay connected to your phone with hands free calling
    Internal Li Ion Battery – Rechargeable battery gives over 2 hours between charges
    Quality wool – Warm your ears with your coolest tunes.

BUY HERE

Review – @speckproducts Stay clear and Grip case for the Google Pixel 3XL. #Pixel3XL #Speck

The Google Pixel 3XL is not a cheap device by any means and its one of the topcis at hand right now about its cost alongside the notch but we will discuss all this in our review soon. Point in case here is you will need protection for the phone and it is worth the extra spend to do this buy picking up some kind of case for the device. We have already reviewed the Official Fabric cases for the 3XL but today we check out the Speck Clear case and Speck  Grip case.  The grip case would be my favourite case out of the two but that is just me.

We have being using speck cases for some time now and they live up to their claims and a worthy investment to keep your phone protected. Check out the video review below and if you have any questions feel free to ask below or on our social channels and we will leave links to purchase a range of cases from Speck so go check them out.  Stay tuned for more case reviews coming this week.

Go check out the range of cases from Speck for the Google Pixel 3XL and many other devices HERE 

 

Review – The Motorola G6. It will be tough to find better for the money. #MotoG6

I have been using the Moto G6 some time now and this is one phone I can say straight off is an excellent device for the money and would have no issue reccomending it to anyone. It has been on of my daily drivers some time now and I also use it for video footage on my You Tube channel and in this regard it does great and also takes great images to boot.

Build quality is also excellent here all over and it feels solid in the hand and is at that sweet spot for phone size but this varies per person. Two security factors here built in are face unlock and also fingerprint scanner which both work well. In fact this device has not crashed on me once since I started using it and thats saying something.

NFC is built in here too which is a welcome feature for payments here in Ireland many phones lack this feature. Also there is a built in radio which again is something many phones leave out due to other services and apps now available and all you need to do to activate that is insert headphones.

The G6 has good sounding speakers too in general and again they are sampled in other videos I have posted online so good sound is to be had there. The screen is a bit darker than other devices but overall good viewing pleasure is there for consuming media. You get a full HD display with a 5.7 inch screen with bezels that are not too much in the way despite bezzeless being the new go to feature these days.

Multitasking on this phone is also swift and with having multiple apps open at any given time switching between them was no issue and little or no lag to be found running apps like WordPress You Tube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and emails and so on which is my typical daily usage here and all worked smoothly. For gaming its also strong and even with some heavy titles it brezzed through them. Given I am not much of a gamer on mobile I do mess around with them from time to time or just something to do whilst waiting so I would not store many on the device anyway.

Specs –  Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 – 4GB, 64GB, microSD – 5.7 inches IPS LCD, 1080 x 2160  – 424 ppi Rear Camera: 12.0 + 5.0 MP – Front Camera: 8.0MP – Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n –  Wi-Fi Direct – hotspot – Bluetooth 4.2 – 3000 mAh battery – Android 8.0 out of box.

PROS -USB-C -NFC – Gorrila Glass – 3.5mm headphone jack -Biometrics – No Notch

CONS – No wireless charging – Not waterproof.

Given the trend of 1000 euro smartphones is continuing to grow I think it will not be long before that trend buckles as phones costing half or less are now hitting the streets and provide more than enough without the need to fork out on such. This phone is certainly one of them a if you are on a budget this is the one to look at first.

BUY

Argos

Review – Alcatel 3 smartphone.. Ideal for newcomers or first smartphone. #Alcatel #Tech

I have been using the Alcatel 3 for a few weeks now and for the money you can’t really go wrong for the most part anyway but with biometrics on board via fingerprint scanner and faceunlock seeing these technologies at this price-point is a good thing as we all know you get the same heading the other direction at €1000 worth phones.

Build quality is fine considering the price its got a nice blue sheen on the back acting like a mirror if you will but its made with plastic which mimics glass backed devices but you have to cut corners somewhere along the line to get some features. One area where you wont be blown away is the RAM which is the lower end of the norm and for heavy users you can pass this device on for sure.

IMAGE GALLERY

Even loading up image folders you will notice the lag and with some games too but will handle the average pastime game no problem at all. Image quality is actually not bad but bright conditions are required and they are generally good as you can see below and the same applies to video shooting both available resolutions.  In short in the dark move on but most smartphones struggle in these conditions and for a 99 euro phone to the same is expected.

This phone is really ideal for first timers to Android or teenagers as its cheap and does more or less anything higher prices do but really if you are using for just browsing emails and social you will be fine it gets you buy and does not cost the earth to get the feel for Android and then you can move up in price and get some more like the ALCATEL 3V we reviewed a while ago.  You can buy the Alcatel 3 on eir for 99 euros pay as you go and the 3V is available on Tesco Mobile for €159.99

VIDEO REVIEW

 

Review -The RevoNext QT3 quad driver headphones. #tech #headphones

The latest pair of earphones we have checked out are something different. The looks and style and the boldness of them. Given the chunky size they are not heavy but look different and stand out from the norm which is what I like, However they lack features being plug-ins but still deliver decent enough sound being wired which is what many people still want today despite the headphone jack being omitted from many smartphones today.

1.QUAD DRIVERS – Include double balanced armatures and double dynamic drivers.

2.AUDIOPHILE HEADPHONES – Better balance of 3 frequencies,crisp high note and deep low notes,bring you a new kind of auditory sense.

3.ERGONOMIC FIT – streamlined aluminum sound chamber with perfected ergonomics ensures exceptional comfort and noise isolation.

4.COMPATIBLE MODEL – The cable use 3.5MM 0.78mm 2 pin Detachable Cable.100% fits Android,also fits iPhone 6/6S Samsung S6 S5 Note 4 Nexus and other Smart Phones.

5.CONTENTS – Quad Driver In-Ear Headphones • 3 sets of silicone ear tips • 1 3.5MM 0.78mm 2 pin Detachable Cable • 1 User Manual.

These are not your typical designed headphones which breaks from the industry standard and really stand out but when it comes to sound this is what people want to know.. Overall they sound good but not mindblowing either and fit relatively comfortable in the ear. The one thing I found was the buds where on the thin side but you can swap these out with other ones if you have them lying around,

The packaging is well presented too which for me is a good start on any product no matter who the manufacturer is. Their design is similar to older models such as the QT2 which are an older model which you can still buy today. For sound buffs or audiophiles you will not jump on these if you had a choice in front of you however most average people would not trained to tell the difference between these and other headphones around the pricepoint but there is better out there.

Bass is pretty decent and most genres play well at all volumes but they lack a real thump. Noise isolation is also an issue depending on the environment and this is due to how they sit in your ears and the thin buds provided but everyone’s ears are different. Overall most people would be happy with a random purchase and not looking for real true sound reproduction.

One final thing is the cable provided I don’t like it all and it seems flimsy and this can be replaced and it is easily tangled but comes that way when removed from box and will take a bit to get the kinks unraveled. Would I recommend them?? I would if you are not fussy about design which I like in these and if you are not expecting high quality sound. As I have tried and tested over 100 pairs of such I would personally pass on them as a soul purchase but for the average Joe they will do the job and not bad for the price. However I do like the look of them.

BUY HERE