Category: Unboxings

First Look – Skullcandy Smokin Buds and Skullcandy Rail earbuds

Not long ago Skullcandy announced some cool new earbuds to their portfolio and they were the Skullcandy Smokin and Skullcandy Rail earbuds and we have a pair of each in to test over the next few week, Affordable in price the latest on offer again has all the features you need to go about your day whilst listening to your music and more.

The Skullcandy Smokin buds are the cheapest on offer and when I say cheap I have tested other models before and they sounded great for the price so there is not much to complain about here. The environmentally-conscious earbuds are made with 50% certified recycled plastics. Smokin Buds are equipped with a comfortable and ergonomic design, which guarantees ideal fit, appearance, and noise isolation, all wrapped up in a sleek package.

We will have a review soon so if you have any questions feel free to ask in the interim.

Features

Smokin’ Buds True Wireless Earbuds – £29.99 MSRP 

  • Up to 20 Hours of Battery Life + Rapid Charge – Listen longer with 8 hours of battery life in the earbuds and 12 hours in the charging case + With Rapid Charge, 10 minutes of charge equals 2 hours of playtime
  • IPX4 Sweat and Water Resistant – Go on any adventure without missing a beat ● Skullcandy Supreme Sound® – Unique audio-tuning process enables users to maximize the depth and detail of each sound. Premium audio quality features drivers that have been selected and expertly tuned
  • Music, Movie & Podcast EQ Modes – Delivers best audio quality for music, movies or podcasts ● Noise Isolating Fit – Ergonomic, ovalized design provides all-day comfort and a noise-isolating fit
  • Call and Media Controls via Capacitive Touch – Control volume, calls, EQ modes and activate your devices local Assistant with a tap on either earbud.
  • Microphone in Each Earbud – Allows use of either bud solo without losing the ability to take calls
  • Auto On/Connect – Enjoy automatic turn on and pairing with the last device used ● True Wireless via Bluetooth® 5.2 – Bluetooth® technology offering efficiency improvements and faster pairing
Skullcandy Smokin Buds and Skullcandy Rail earbuds – techbuzzireland

Skullcandy Rail.

These are the more feature packed earbuds and come in an ANC model two so you have choice, either way with the Skull IQ smart feature which if you have not tested is great you can find out how this works by looking back at our reviews and see how easy it makes life for the user. Again a small pair of earbuds with a small stem which I prefer these will sit nicely in your ears and allow you to get on with your day again with features packed in to make life easier, you also have multipoint pairing here which I also love to see and you get personal sound by Mimi.

Full reviews of both will be here soon and a hands on look at what to expect so check out the unboxing below for now and see what you get in the packages.

Additional details surrounding Rail ANC and Rail True Wireless Earbuds include:

Rail ANC True Wireless Earbuds – £99.99 MSRP 

  • Up to 38 Hours of Battery Life (ANC off) + Rapid Charge and Wireless Charging – Listen longer with 10 hours of battery life in the earbuds and 28 hours in the charging case ● IP55 Sweat, Water and Dust Resistant – Go on any adventure without missing a beat ● Adjustable 4-Mic Active Noise Canceling – Actively monitors the surrounding environment to filter out external noise, maintaining a crisp audio quality
  • Skull-iQ Smart Feature Technology® – Issue simple, hands-free voice commands to turn on and adjust Stay-Aware Mode, activate device assistant, launch Spotify Tap, Take Photo and more ● Over-the-Air Updates – Earbuds become smarter over time when new upgradable features are released via the Skull-iQ App
  • Multipoint Pairing – Seamlessly pair to two devices at once, regardless of platform or manufacturer
  • Personal Sound by Mimi® – Tune your audio experience to your unique hearing ability by taking a real-time audio test to create a Personal Sound Profile for optimized audio levels ● Built-In Tile™ Finding Technology – If earbuds is misplaced, simply “ring” it from the Tile app ● Clear Voice Smart Mic – Experience a reduction in background noise to ensure calls are crystal clear
  • Preset & Custom EQ Modes – Adjust your EQ or create your own custom EQ modes
  • Customizable Button Functions – Personalize your earbuds by customizing your controls via Skull-iQ app
  • True Wireless via Bluetooth® 5.2 – The latest in Bluetooth® technology offering efficiency improvements and faster pairing capabilities

Buy – Skullcandy Rail   Buy the Skullcandy Smokin Buds

Unboxing Video

 

Creative Outlier Free Pro+ and Outlier Free+ First Look

Last year Creative launched their first bone conduction headphones and they seemed popular from what I read and by our views on them both and these are what is on the menu these days alongside Air conduction headphones which there is a difference. Again we have two pairs for two target markets here and a new pair for the younger teens will be dropping next month which is an interesting move.

Today we take a first look at the latest on offer and show you what you get for your money and from initial testing again it seems like another two pairs of very robust headphones for the music lover and the fitness fan. Check out the video below for more and if you have any questions feel free to ask while we test them out.

For Creative Outlier Free+, users can choose between the classic yet stylish dark slate grey and matte black combination or make a striking statement with the lively dark slate grey and lime green fusion. The Creative Outlier Free Pro+, on the other hand, is available in midnight blue and matte black or midnight blue and fiery orange combinations. With these additional color options, users can now match their headphones to their personal style.

Designed for an active lifestyle, these bone conduction headphones are built to withstand the elements. The Creative Outlier Free+ has an IPX5 water-resistant rating, while the Creative Outlier Free Pro+ has an IPX8 waterproof rating and a built-in 8 GB memory, allowing users to experience absolute audio playback freedom while running, cycling, and even swimming. Together with seamless Bluetooth® 5.3 connectivity and an extended battery life of up to 10 hours, these headphones are the perfect companions, delivering impressive audio performance in any environment.

Pricing and Availability

Creative Outlier Free+ is priced at £89.99 and is available at Creative.com. For more information, visit creative.com/OutlierFreePlus

Creative Outlier Free Pro+ is priced at £119.99 and is available at Creative.com. For more information, visit creative.com/OutlierFreeProPlus

Unboxing and first look

ASUS Unveils the Mighty New Zenfone 10. First look and walkthrough

ASUS today announced the mighty new Zenfone 10, the latest generation of this iconic hand-sized 5.9″ smartphone that redefines expectations for compact smartphones.

Zenfone 10 heralds a new era where compact means powerful, and small is the new big. It’s powered by the flagship Snapdragon® 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform, along with the latest LPDDR5X memory and UFS 4.0 ROM technologies for the ultimate performance. But amazingly, battery life has been increased by almost 13%,1 with no change in battery capacity. Convenient Qi-compatible wireless charging has also been added.

The advanced 144 Hz3 AMOLED display on Zenfone 10 delivers ultra vivid colors in any conditions, and visuals are enhanced even further in collaboration with leading visual-processing company Pixelworks®.

The camera system on Zenfone 10 has been seriously upgraded, incorporating the latest 6-Axis Hybrid Gimbal Stabilizer 2.0 and new algorithms for rock-steady videos. To usher in the next generation of mobile video, there’s also a new Adaptive EIS electronic image stabilization system, along with OZO Audio-powered 3D surround-sound recording capabilities. Selfie capabilities have also been massively enhanced, with a 32 MP front camera featuring an RGBW sensor and large 1.4 μm pixels for outstanding low-light image capture.

We’ve also given Zenfone 10 even more intelligence, leveraging advanced AI features to elevate the user experience to new heights. From advanced UI tweaks to intelligent camera features, Zenfone 10 adapts to the user’s needs and preferences, and helps make every interaction intuitive and effortless.

The stylish Zenfone 10 is available in a choice of five refreshing colors, including three new shades, and all inspired by the harmonizing colors of the cosmos. It’s also built with sustainability in mind, incorporating eco-friendly bio-based polycarbonate materials and an increased proportion of recyclable packaging.

Mighty On Hand: compact and powerful

Until today, smartphone users have had to choose between compact or powerful, but the mighty Zenfone 10 changes everything.

It’s designed for effortless one-handed operation, is powered by the flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform, and includes high-performance LPDDR5X 8533 Mbps RAM and USF 4.0 ROM technology, so users now don’t need to compromise when choosing a phone that fits in the palm of their hand. And with its Snapdragon Elite Gaming features, Zenfone 10 offers true mobile gaming capabilities and smooth multitasking to rise to every challenge.

The advanced 144Hz AMOLED display on Zenfone 10 offers incredible Delta E <1 color accuracy and ultra-smooth scrolling, along with wide 151.9% sRGB and cinema-grade 112% DCI-P3 color gamuts for ultra vivid colors in any conditions. Collaboration with leading visual-processing company Pixelworks takes the excellent visuals even further with world-beating color accuracy.

Zenfone 10 is seriously stylish too, with three new cosmos-inspired colors — Aurora Green, Eclipse Red and Comet White — joining the ever-popular Starry Blue and Midnight Black.

We love our planet, and so does Zenfone 10. Its eco-friendly bio-based polycarbonate back cover5 reduces our use of petrochemicals and helps in our mission to minimize our carbon footprint. The packaging’s more recyclable too, using recycled paper and soy-based inks.

Stability, on hand: 6-Axis Hybrid Gimbal Stabilizer 2.0

The second-generation 6-Axis Hybrid Gimbal Stabilizer 2.0 in the 50 MP rear camera keeps videos even more blur-free and shake-free, even when the camera is moving. This innovative gimbal OIS monitors Zenfone 10’s every movement, in every direction, and uses that information to adjust the whole camera module in real time. It can compensate for shifts of up to +/- 3 °, so it can help smooth out even the wildest action, without optical distortion or ‘ghosting’. Combined with the ultrafast autofocus technology — which focuses quickly and reacts smoothly to changes — and hardware anti-shake EIS algorithms, Zenfone 10 delivers super-smooth, professional-looking action shots, whatever the subject.

Adding to 6-Axis Hybrid Gimbal Stabilizer 2.0’s superior anti-shake capabilities is its new Adaptive EIS technology. This uses the built-in gyro to detect movement, allowing dynamic adjustments to the size of the field of view to keep videos rock-steady at all times.

OZO Audio technology gives users the choice of eliminating wind noise for crystal-clear outdoor recordings, or capturing immersive, high-fidelity 3D Surround spatial audio.

The photography experience has been further improved with the ability to access the Light Trail mode and Quick Shot functions even when the phone’s screen is turned off. Quick Shot is a new feature that allows users to capture a photo instantly with a double-press of the volume key.

Selfies, on hand: 32 MP front camera with RGBW sensor

The upgraded 32 MP front camera on Zenfone 10 now features an RGBW sensor with large 1.4 μm pixels, giving the camera exceptional low-light performance. White pixels are added to the traditional RGB pixels, improving the overall image quality when capturing images in a dim environment. The advanced night scene algorithms help to deliver night-vision-grade selfies. When taking selfies at night or indoors with Zenfone 10, the foreground subjects have a natural skin tone, clear contours, and well-defined light and shadows. The background lighting and detail is also fully preserved.

Other camera modes have also been enhanced. Portrait mode has been upgraded with more flexible zoom options, and Light Trail mode now lets users capture professional-grade photos handheld, with no need for a tripod.

Endurance, on hand: Up to 2X battery life, new charging options

Using power-efficient CPU and components, we’ve improved Zenfone 10’s battery life by up to 12.9%, even though it has the same 4300 mAh battery capacity as its predecessor.

We’ve also added a new 30 W HyperCharge capability for maximum charging performance, and for convenience Zenfone 10 now also supports wireless charging via any Qi-compatible wireless charger.

Specifications

ASUS Zenfone 10

  • Processor Qualcomm® Snapdragon® 8 Gen 2, Octa-Core, 3.2GHz
  • GPU Qualcomm® Adreno™ 740
  • UI Android™ 13 with new Zen UI
  • Display 5.92″ 20.4:9 (2400 x 1080) 144 Hz (only available in games) 800 nits outdoor readable brightness 1,100 nits peak brightness Avg Delta-E < 1
  • Dimensions 68.1 x 146.5 x 9.4 mm
  • Weight 172 g
  • Battery 4,300 mAh (typical)、Wired 30 W HyperCharge、Wireless 15 W Qi-certified charging
  • Memory Up to 16 GB LPDDR5X RAM
  • Storage Up to 512 GB UFS4.0 ROM
  • Sensors Accelerator, E-Compass, Proximity, Ambient light sensor, Side fingerprint sensor, Gyro (Support ARCore), Hall Sensor
  • Wireless Technology Integrated 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, WiFi 7: 802.11 be/ax/ac/b/g/n, (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz + 6 GHz), 2×2 MIMO, 2 Antenna, WiFi-Direct Bluetooth® 5.3 (Bluetooth Profile: HFP + A2DP + AVRCP + HID + PAN + OPP Additional Bluetooth audio codec: LDAC + aptX + aptX HD + aptX Adaptive+AAC)
  • GPS GNSS support GPS (L1/L5), Glonass (L1), Galileo (E1/E5a), BeiDou (B1/B2a), QZSS (L1/L5) and NavIC (L5).
  • I/O Ports USB 2.0 Type-C®, supports QC4.0/PD 3.0 Charging3.5 mm Audio Jack – Head phone
  • Camera Front Cam: 32 MP, RGBW, pixel binning technology. Rear Cam: 50 MP (Main camera Sony® IMX766) 13 MP (120° ultrawide-angle lens)
  • Voice Wakeup Yes
  • Speaker Receiver (as top speaker) 10 x 12 5-magnet Speaker 11 x 15 External Smart Amplifier x 2
  • Splash, Water, and Dust
  • Resistant IP65 / IP68
  • NFC Supported
  • Color Aurora Green, Midnight Black, Comet White, Eclipse Red, Starry Blue

 

AVAILABILITY & PRICING

ASUS Zenfone 10 will be available for pre-order from June 29th to July 31st in United Kingdom from ASUS official online store. Please contact your local ASUS representative for further information. – ASUS Official Site Link: https://www.asus.com/uk/mobile-handhelds/phones/zenfone/zenfone-10/

 

Full review now live here

UK – Pre-order Offer: 29th June – 31st July

  • Zenfone 10 16G/512G: Save £70 (free memory and storage upgrade!) -> £749.99
  • Zenfone 10 8G/256G: Save £50 -> £699.99

UK – Standard Price (all colours available)

  • Zenfone 10 16G/512G: £819.99
  • Zenfone 10 8G/256G: £749.99

UNBOXING AND WALKTHROUGH 

First Look – C300 4K Action Camera from SJCAM

With the Summer here we like to take photos and videos to capture those special moments, now I have never been one to carry a standalone camera but only use my phone but this new kit could change that due to its size and stop me heavily relying on my smartphones for all forms of image and video capture which my phones be used for on a daily basis for my tech reviews.

This is small light and portable and comes with stacks of use case scenarios and accessories to get the most out of it which is super cool and can be seen in the unboxing below there is something here for everyone and not only that there is a wide spectrum of settings too which adds some flavour to the pocket sized gadget.

Standard Recording

4K (3840*2160) 30FPS
2K (2560*1440) 60/30FPS
1080P 120/60/30FPS
720P 120/60/30FPS

Photo Resolution 20MP, 16MP, 14MP, 12MP, 10MP, 8MP, 5MP, 3MP, 2MP

Check out the package below and if you have any questions while we test it out feel free to let us know in the comments

Features 

  • 1.3″ touch screen (front)+1.3″ touch screen (rear)
  • 4K 30FPS
  • 6-Axis Gyro Stabilization
  • 30M waterproof with case
  • Continuous shooting, Timed shooting, Quick shooting, Interval shooting

BUY

Unboxing Video

First Look and hands on with the new Instax Square SQ40 camera from Fujifilm

Just announced the all new Instax Square SQ40 camera from Fujifilm has dropped in for review and we take a hands on first look at the latest on offer today, this camera is by no means small however these cameras are popular and will fly off the shelves and we love their retro look and finish which is also solid, there is also a new camera film launched to coincide with the launch of the camera and we will of course be testing both these out during our testing over the coming week or two.

First impressions of the new camera is solid and simple to use as is all cameras from the company and this runs on two batteries so no cables required which is a nice bonus these days as there is just too many lying around. The camera itself is not that heavy either and you get a neck strap to keep secure, there is a flash of course a viewfinder and that twisting lens which I love and you can see the camera in action and how it works by twisting the lens and this also gives you you two shooting modes. And yes guys we can take selfies with it.. Think back to the Instax Mini 40 for a similar camera

Check out the hands on unboxing below and feel free to ask any questions, as far as a point and shoot goes you cant ask for anything easier and then to have an actual photo in your hand.

Key SQ40 features include:

Automatic Exposure function

The SQ40’s Automatic Exposure function automatically senses the level of ambient light when the shutter button is pressed, optimizing the shutter speed and flash output according to the scene. It allows even novice INSTAX instant camera users to take photos that are automatically adjusted regardless of interior or exterior conditions, producing high-quality photos on-the-spot.

Selfie Mode for quicker and easier selfies

Users can activate the Selfie Mode, perfect for taking selfies and close-up shots, by simply twisting the lens after powering the SQ40 on. Using this mode to take amazing selfies and close-ups is incredibly easy and convenient.

New Film Variety Introduced:

Also accompanying the launch of SQ40 is Fujifilm’s launch of the new INSTAX SQUARE “Sunset” variety of instant film. The design of this new square format instant film is inspired by the gentle gradation of the colors in the sky during a sunset. As with all INSTAX SQUARE instant film varieties, Sunset will be available in a single pack with 10 exposures.

Pricing and Availability:

Fujifilm’s INSTAX SQUARE SQ40 instant camera will be available at Fujifilm stockist’s nationwide at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price EUR 150.00 (incl. VAT) and is expected to be available for purchase on 29th June 2023. For more product information, visit www.instax.ie/cameras/square-sq40/

INSTAX SQUARE Sunset instant film is also expected to be available on 29th June 2023 at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of EUR 11.00 (incl. VAT) per pack (10 sheets). For more information about this new INSTAX SQUARE instant film variety, visit www.instax.ie/film/#film-selector.

Unboxing Video

First Look – The Creative Sound Blaster Katana SE soundbar

The Creative Sound Blaster Katana has dropped in for review and we are excited as always with their products and having tested many of their soundbars in the past they have lived up to the hype and have served me well over the years and we look forward to the latest on offer from the company to see what you get for your hard earned cash.

Again packed with features and some RGB love this is bound to sound good too which we will soon find out here on techbuzz and on YouTube so we take a quick first look at what this product looks like and show you all the features outline, of course a full hand on review will be in soon as always with some sound demos and so on and if you have any questions feel free to ask and we answer all questions and dont leave you with stock image review which lack context.

The Sound Blaster Katana SE offers a seamless yet powerful audio solution for users looking to take their audio game up a notch. Fitted with 0.75″ fabric dome tweeters that help to produce cleaner and more refined highs and upgraded dual up-firing 3″ mid-bass drivers that deliver full-sounding bass, this latest soundbar surpasses expectations to deliver an impressive audio experience that belies its size. Like its predecessor, the Sound Blaster Katana SE is also a certified Dolby Audio decoder, which allows users to easily recreate the cinematic audio experience within the comfort of their own homes.

BUY 

Unboxing video

First Look – EDIFIER W820NB Plus ANC headphones

Edifier have just launched some new cans and this comes quick on the heels of the recent headphones from the company we review called the WH950NB which you can see the review of here and these headphones are excellent as expected from the brand who is consistent on delivering great audio products.

The W820NB Plus are very affordable with some great specs on board such as LDAC and Hi-Res audio which we of course will put to the test here at techbuzz and will of course have a full hands on review, Today we unbox and tour the W820NB and put them up side by side with the WH950NB plus so if you have any questions feel free to fire over and questions you might have.

Features of the WH820NB plus include

  • Hi-Res Audio standard for a rich listening experience
  • Active noise cancellation technology isolates unwanted noise
  • Ambient sound mode allows you to hear environmental sounds such as traffic or flight announcements
  • Built-in microphone with DNN (deep neural network) noise cancellation for clear phone calls
  • Large driver with titanium diaphragm delivers crystal-clear sound
  • Low latency for game mode gives players an immersive gaming experience
  • Up to 49 hours continuous playback
  • Lightweight headset assures comfortable fit

BUY 

Unboxing video

First Look – Soundcore Liberty 4, earbuds with heart rate tracking and spatial audio

The Liberty Soundcore range have been a favourite with me over the years and the Liberty 3 pro are one of the best earbuds of 2021 and even still highly regarded today for me and today we have the all new Liberty 4 in for review. These earbuds have a lot of claims made here which I really look forward to finding out and no doubt they will be interesting to see and they also come packed with great specs too and not only this these have heart rate tracking built in and 360 spatial audio which sounds really cool.

We will be testing these out over the coming weeks and will have a full review soon as we always do with a hands on look and also a look at their app which is also neat, if you have any questions feel free to comment and we answer all questions and give you a real hands on look rather than stock images in our final review of all our products.

Features

  • Crisp, clear sound via ACAA™️ 3.0 Coaxial Acoustic System
  • 360° immersive spatial audio with music and movie modes
  • CloudComfort™️ ear tips for long-lasting comfort
  • All-new heart rate sensor with soundcore app
  • HearID personalized active noise cancelling
  • 9/28 hours of playtime for all-day listening

BUY

Unboxing

First Look – TOZO Golden X1 earbuds, custom designed for Hi-Fi enthusiasts

TOZO is a new brand to techbuzz and they have kindly sent us their latest product to hit the market  their flagship earbuds Golden X1 custom designed for Hi-Fi enthusiasts and we are excited to check these out as we do cover the biggest range of earbuds in Ireland and we like to test out new brands and yes there is more to come and sitting on our desk, today though we take a first look at the TOZO X1 and see what is on offer before we go test them out so if you have any questions feel free to ask as usual and check out the unboxing below and have a quick look at the features on offer so stay tuned for a full hands on review soon.

TOZO Golden X1 flagship earbuds

Features

Compact Structure & Exclusive Heavy Configuration

  • 12mm diameter hybrid drivers and balanced Knowles armature driver

  • LDAC HD audio decoding technology authorized by Sony
  • Hi-Res Wireless certification by JAS (Japanese Audio Association) supporting users with a 12Hz to 44.1 kHz wide frequency range
  • ANC and ENC noise cancellation functions, 6 built-in microphones designed with ENC noise cancellation

First OrigX Audio Golden Curve Presents Perfect Quality

  • HI-FI digital, material, and cavity acoustic technology compensates for the frequency lost when the sound passes through the ear canal curve, keeping the sound that reaches the eardrum closest to reality Perfected Ergonomic Design

Perfected Ergonomic Design

  • Matches the curvature of the human ear and fits the pinna, the soft silicone earplugs use a three-dimensional angle positioning to achieve the best in-ear effect
  • Breaks through the traditional shape and has a 45° inclined angle

Minimalist Appearance & Detail Design with High Quality

  • Digital display in the charging case to show the state of charge of LR earbuds
  • Charging case space capsule design under the background of the meta-universe era
  • The waistline of earbuds is like a swell of muscle to present the explosive power of deep bass, which is also smaller than ordinary earbuds
  • Supporting Two Devices Together & Innovative Wireless Charging

BUY

Unboxing Video