The Edifier TWS6 are the latest on offer from the company and a nice slim sleek pair of true wireless at that, these come with extra wing tips for the sport minded individual and I would suggest using those for a stable comfortable fit,you can wear them without but overall using the wings is a better road to travel, The controls are minimal here though work well with the touch sensitive area given the size these come in at compared to others from the company as you will see in the video below. Everyone has a feature set they prefer so I am basing this review on how I like my sound which is bass driven.
The lack of being able to skip tracks is an odd one to leave out here yet alone volume control but they do a good job with sound but not their best when I say that they are more bright compared to the deeper bass tone I usually expect from edifier but overall they do a good job with good balance and direction and no lag latency so ideal for music,movies and more.
The case comes with wireless charging which is not often seen at this price point and come with USB-C charging too which is nice and they have a decent battery life and are IPX5 water, sweat and dust resistance so ideal for the sports minded as mentioned above. The charge case has a gloss finish and is a fingerprint magnet and will get marked easy however offering wireless charging and protecting the earbuds I would let them off here. See the video below for more and images..
Built-in Knowles balanced armature drivers feature, reacting to weak signals, enriching each sound and producing exceptional sound quality. 98dB sensitivity.
Bluetooth 5.0 with Qualcomm aptX audio and Laser Direct Structuring antenna offering fast transmission and ultra-low latency.
Up to 32 Hours of Playback; with one charge providing eight hours of battery life and the slimline, wireless case providing three additional charges. USB Type-C charging also available.
IPX5 water, sweat and dust resistance, perfect for intense workouts and sport activity.
Lightweight, ergonomic design including a variety of earplugs and wings to ensure a comfortable fit.
Edifier kindly sent us this product to review and did not compensate us nor influence my findings,they are seeing this review the same time as you.
The Jabra Evolve 2 85 are a hybrid pair of headphones that can be used both in the office and home or even out for a stroll, If you are coming from a pair of 85h you are going to get the same experience as before only this time these are equipped towards the office user or indeed those who work from home which is a new trend that has recently went on fast forward. These headphones are UC certified which means if you have the UC variant (there is several options available) you are good to go with the likes of Microsoft teams which again has seen a huge spike in use.
Build quality is great and quite similar to the older 85h which still today serve me well and when it comes to controls everything is laid out simple on these headphones which helps, There is multiple features on board here which I think sets these apart from other offerings out there. One is ANC you need this in your life especially in an open space working are for less distraction and keeping you focused on the call at hand,not only that when listening to music this is a winner and I do not need to tell you anymore on that from using the 85h the same applies again.
Comfort is another thing here to note they again can be worn for long periods of time and are really comfortable these are not heavy headphones nor clamp onto your head and after wearing these for multiple hours over several days they did not sweat nor feel annoying like some headphones can.
The busy light is probably my favourite, Pet hate of mine if I am on a call and people come up to me when I am clearly on the phone talking this light is clearly visible to let people know that you are busy and steer clear of me if you come near me with these lights active you are asking for trouble.
The mic is retractable so it hides when not in use,these headphones can be used in both home,office or outdoors and for many out there these are a perfect answer to solve two problems and save money in the long run the mic is on the right though and some have said why not on the left or make it removable,again this is an industry standard yet I see the point and perhaps all manufacturers can look at this going forward..
The headphones come with ten mic technology and calls are great, I am not one to use teams or zoom much but I do use these platforms and they shine here as they do with music due to the 40mm speakers, Battery life is excellent here and something to note too,if you are a heavy ANC user it will obviously drain the life quicker but overall on par with the 37 hours slated, you also can get 8 hours charge in just 15 minutes which is impressive and it will take 2.5 hours to fully charge.
Check out the video for more below.
The great folks at Jabra sent us these to review with no copy approval or compensation paid and are seeing this the same time as you..
I have countless phone accessories here in the house some of which still to be reviewed but this one tops the list including some of the reviews I have done before due to several factors, It has a top notch build quality and it has something missing from many phone holders as such which is the ability to manoeuvre. Yes others do have the ability to do so but this has ball joints both ends,it is not made from plastic not does it have expandable grips or dials to tighten or loosen the gadget to get that right fix not will it break in a few weeks use,even days as some have done.
It is made with 7000 series aluminium and Neodymium magnets which are at both ends and boy they are strong and have a great grip,this can be used anywhere you have a flat surface, You get extra tags and 3M stickers in the box so you can place them wherever suits and use it in more than your home you can use in your car,the back garden in the shower if you are one of those,use it for selfies or videos,put it over or beside your cooker or even place it beside your laptop or pc if you have a set up at home where it works it is that portable.
What I like best is the pivot movement both ends which makes it simple to set at any angle so it suits everyone and one fixed its not going to budge once placed,it is best to let the magnet settle for a day or so for ultimate grip and the more of these you have the better you can move it around the house and bring it into your car too, I have just bought two new vehicles and it will be a welcome accessory replacing the window mount because they do not last are too messy and clunky and you just need to rest your mobile on the magnet with no hassle at all and it has not fallen off yet having tested for a few days. See their own video here and check out ours below.
Click to enlarge
Tech Specs:
Powerful Neodymlum magnets on both ends
Height 3,25in Diameter 1,5in
Made of 7075 Aluminum
Two Articulated base
Rubber padding top avoid scratches
100 Degrees Pivoting Movement
Weight 5oz
WIPLABS sent us this product to review and no copy approval given nor influence and are seeing this the same time as you..
Recently we reviewed two of the companies range of powerbanks that suit all pockets and needs,this model again offers needs for those who want a bit more, this can charge 4 mobiles at once making it the ideal travel accessory and we will be attending some tech events later this year pending how turns out and will be packing all of them.
This model is the bigger of the three and a has a hidden LED battery level meter under the cover which looks nice,this does not have a torch but offers three USB -A inputs x 4 one of which is fast charge and dual USB-C input and Micro USB so there the three options at hands and of course it will charge iPhones.
Features…
【23800mAh PD 18W Power Bank】This 23800mAh high capacity pd power bank can charge the iPhone 11 almost 5 times, the iPhone 11 Pro 4.8 times or iPhone 11 Pro Max 4.4 times, and the charging speed is 4 times faster than the other traditional battery pack.
🔥 【Accurate LED Power Digital Display】The usb power bank built-in advanced smart digital display technology, power display accuracy is up to 100% which ensures you know the remaining power clearly and never missing recharging in time.
🔥 【Charges 4 Devices Simultaneously】The slim portable charger supports four types of output ports, you can charge 4 devices simultaneously, share the power and fun with your friends, makes the charging much more efficient.
🔥 【Type-C and Micro USB Dual Input】The quick charge power bank offers two types of input ports, you can use any one of them to get your power pack recharged, and all of them provided with 18W quick charge which help you recharging the phone charger more faster.
🔥 【Smart E 3.0 Technology & Safety Priority】Built-in iSmart technology and intelligent chip-set, support multi-protection system to protect the pd power bank against over-current, over-voltage and short circuit, extend the service life of your phone.
Charmast send this to us to review with no compensation paid nor influence or copy approval and they are seeing this the same time as you.
The Jam Audio Exec are an affordable pair of TWS earbuds with the common stem on board which suits some people, Some folk dislike the stem approach but I do not really mind once they sound good,the stems are getting shorter having said that since the inception of the overpriced airpods and there is real value to be had these days buying true wireless and these are pair that fit right in.
These come in a circular puc style case which is nice and it can open either side by the swivel lid on top,these are a touch based approach too which is an issue for some as they prefer a button just like the ATHLETE but they are easy to adopt to and you will be able to execute your controls in no time.
We go through all the motions in the video review below, you get decent battery life in these too over the ATHLETE version which is ideal for commuters and so on and of course you get more juice from the case provided which fits in any pocket. Sound is good in general as a whole and pretty much the same as the ATHLETE version with a nice bass tone and decent highs,lows and mids for the price they come in at, if it is your first pair of TWS you will not be disappointed with no lag latency noticed during my testing either.
PRODUCT FEATURES
8+ hours of playtime, 32+ hours total with charging case
Dual microphones for background noise reduction and call clarity
IPX4 rating for sweat-proof and weather-resistant design
Intelligent tap touch controls
Micro USB charging
Three size ear tips (S, M, L)
Bluetooth® 5.0
SKU: HX-EP625
RRP £69.99
Jam Audio sent us this to review there was no compensation and have had no influence or copy approval.
Apple recently launched the iPhone SE and One Plus Nord which are affordable phones to give a nice twist to the market, I have been saying it a while now there is no need for 1000 euro phones and the pixel 4a is a new device to throw a spanner in the works for Android and iOS smartphones falling into that price category. I have been using the device for two days and so far impressed.
Having used pixel devices as main device since they came to fruition this years model model will certainly be following that trend given it is a smaller device for my liking it will take a day or two to adjust but I typically carry two mobile phones with me all times which is a pain but it is what it is. The Pixel 4a has a small footprint yet almost bezelless top and chin this time with its sides too, The device goes on sale for €389 which really puts it up to Apple and chinese manufacturers especially One Plus which we see nothing but praise for oddly enough I have yet to test one to give my honest opinion on the device.
Image taken with pixel 4a portrait mode
The device comes with a squared camera hump on the back like and not a silly array of camera lenses which for me now is getting silly looking as to whom has the most on the rear of their smartphone,having said that some look well and some look stupid. Google have a clean simple design here which for me is fine and keeping the design language the same as before.
This is not a review as you cant really review a phone in two days and i will have a better summarized review in a week or two but for the last two days of use it has been impressive with speed and in particular its camera as expected,given I am a power user the battery life is again going to be the main talk coming in at 3140 mAh which is considered small in today’s world but given the size of the phone it is to be expected. The device learns from your usage over time however and we will see how this pans out with more usage which again is another reason for not being able to give a real conclusion of the device like any other over a two day use period. See our video and image sample HERE
The camera set up is a 12.2 dual pixel E+OIS with 7X zoom 77 degrees fov and the front camera is 8mp fixed focus with an 84 degree fov. The screen ratio is 5.81 inch 19.5.9 aspect ratio with a 443 ppi count 1080×430 always on display on an OLED display. You get 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage which is a real sweet spot and a Qualcomm snapdragon 730G processor and you get an 18W fast charger in the box and no earbuds or case.. Again we have stereo speakers which I love and overall so far the device has performed well and no issues as yet but as mentioned will have more later as I will put my main sim on board.
So far I have loaded most of my apps on the device connected to smartwatches a dashcam several security cameras, since covid I have been using many more apps than I usually would so it means more loading on the device and all is well but check out the video below for more samples. Any questions hit us up in the meantime. For now once again In short the pixel 4a is a cohesive device that gives great results with the camera giving you the best point and shoot results almost every time.
10 things to know about Pixel 4a
1
The helpful Google phone at a helpful price
Meet Pixel 4a, the helpful Google phone at a helpful price. It comes packed with the things that you want most in a phone. You can take great photos, even if the lighting isn’t right. It can even capture the Milky Way.1 (Yes, that Milky Way.) It has an Adaptive Battery that lasts up to 24 hours. And with the new Google Assistant, you get the help that you need, fast. Pixel 4a comes with all this and more, for a lot less than you’d expect.
2
Beautifully designed. From the inside, out.
Your apps will look great on Pixel 4a’s 5.8″ bezel-less, OLED display. It goes from edge to edge so that you can fully immerse yourself in your videos and apps. The front-facing camera is embedded within the display (take a look at the new wallpaper collection called ‘For fun’). Plus, it has a 3.5 mm headphone jack, 128 GB of storage4 and 6 GB of RAM.
3
Rich photos at a modest price.
Get incredible photos without paying a ridiculous price. The Pixel 4a camera has your favourite features, such as Live HDR+, dual exposure controls, Night Sight with astrophotography, social share, portrait mode and Super Res Zoom.
4
Goes from breakfast to bed.
Pixel 4a’s battery lasts up to 24 hours. It adapts to the way that you use your favourite apps, and reduces power to the ones that you rarely use. So you can swipe and stream to your heart’s content. In addition, the fast-charging battery is designed to get you back to the things that you love quickly.
5
A little help with your daily tasks.
Let your Pixel help out with the little things so that you can do more of what you love. It has the new Google Assistant to help you to control your phone, send texts and even search within apps. It also has the exclusive Recorder app, which automatically transcribes speech and lets you search across your audio recordings.
6
Rest assured.
Get the peace of mind that comes from knowing that your phone is working to keep you and your belongings safe. Pixel 4a is protected by the Titan M security chip and receives guaranteed updates for at least three years.
7
The best of Android accessibility on Pixel
You can find the best of Android accessibility features on Pixel, developed together with the disability community. And now, Live Caption on Pixel has gotten even better and works on phone calls too. Plus, Pixel has all the other Android accessibility features that you know and love, such as Voice Access, Live Transcribe and more.
8
Comes with the best of Google.
With Pixel, you get the best of Google services to try out. This includes
YouTube Premium trial for three months, Google One for three months and Google Play Pass for three months. Plus, unlimited photo and video storage in high quality with Google Photos.
9
Your Pixel just got more helpful.
Your Pixel gets a periodic boost of helpfulness and security with feature drops. They’re automatic software updates that send new features, tricks and apps to your phone, making it better and more helpful as time goes on. Everything happens over the air, so you get the new-phone feeling without needing to get a new phone.
10
Enhance the Pixel experience.
Get compatible Pixel 4a accessories from Google or choose from over 20 Made for Google brands offering 75+ compatible accessories. Add some colour with Pixel 4a fabric cases, with a soft outer fabric made from over 70% recycled material. The machine-washable fabric is soft to the touch and stays stylish over time. Google Pixel Buds bring you brilliant sound, clear calls and hands-free help from the Google Assistant. Accessories provide personalisation, audio, power and more to your phone.
The Smile Jamaica Wireless 2 are the latest on offer from the company that has the environment in mind which is a good thing and not only that you do no shed features due to materials used nor quality either. We have checked out several of the brands earbuds and recently the REDEMPTION ANC which are a fantastic pair of earbuds if you fancy spending some more for a tradional pair of truw wireless without the cables,these do have a cable but still deliver with everthing you would expect from a pair with none, they look great and stand out with the colour scheme too and I am a fan of this.
When it comes to functions they are all present which again is great,many earbuds that come with inline controls lack in this department but not here, we go through the process in the video review below on what you get. Overal the sound is great,crisp and clear with their signature bass tone too,there is no app but it is not needed, There was no lag latency either noted during my testing period and overall the sound is quite good and better than expected for the price commanded here. If you are in the market for this kind of true wireless these should be on the list .
PRODUCT FEATURES
Materials:FSC certified wood and recyclable aluminium
9-hour battery life with USB-C quick charge technology (15 minutes = 2 hours playtime)
IPX4 rating for sweat-proof and weather-resistant design.
Microphone with 3-button control offers remote functionality for calls and music
Tangle-resistant, durable braided cable made of 99% post-consumer plastic fibres.
Bluetooth® 5.0
Two size ear gels (S, M)
Available in three colourways; Copper, Signature Black and Rasta
SKU: EM-JE113
RRP: £29.99
Smile Jamaica Wireless 2 are available now on www.thehouseofmarley.co.uk, Amazon, HMV and select retailers nationwide.
Thinkware have multiple dashcams on offer but somewhat different, If memory serves me they only have on model with a screen on the rear which most people are typically use to seeing this F200 does not have a screen and the question people have asked before and again is how do you work them and set them up with nothing to guide you. Fair questions and I find it a tad annoying but when you see how it works via the app you will be fine. The next thing here is installation which out of the box the unit must be hardwired so this will cost you if you cant do it yourself so something to keep in mind. Again people have asked why cant i just plug it into my lighter socket and again fair question and I tend to agree but we are moving on with the times.
Having a hardwired dashcam has more benefits too depending on the model for recording purposes and if parked and so on with detection whilst away from your vehicle, Also they have an app and PC viewer which works really well to but I just use the app myself unless I need something more specific,the app could do with thumbnailed images too but overall works well and we go through that later in the video.
PC VIEWER
The intuitive and simple-to-use interface of THINKWARE DASH CAM allows you an easy and convenient viewing of your recorded videos. Through PC or Mac viewer, you can playback and download recorded videos along with your route history and speed record. You can also change the dash cam settings, format the memory card, or install updates with just a few clicks on the viewer.
Setting up was not a problem either only took a minute or two once wired up and then download the app and follow the simple instructions and away you go,I did notice some disconnections quite often though but this seemed to stop after a few days and reconnecting is easy it is like connecting to a wifi network and job done and best to keep location on too..
THE APP
1 / 11
You might be wondering if the dashcam does anything when you have it connected but dont worry it does and works really well, You get audible notices when you start your motor or when you turn it off and if there is any incidents again the dashcam tells you through the small speaker at the back. Trust me it works I was a bit weary myself but having tested for some time now I am more than happy with how it works and not only that it is small and slender and does not look out of place in your window,in fact you would miss it if you weren’t looking for it.
Overall the footage is good be it in the day or night and you will need to toggle the settings for sensitivity as going over ramps etc will trigger the camera and you get a beep each time,the app could be improved some more but if you are familiar with such apps you will probably like me not bother with the desktop option but it is handy to have too, Another thing to note is nothing got corrupted on my SD card that comes with it which is a nice move as many leave the SD card out, Two weeks in an my card has not been corrupted I do find this happening sometimes with other brands.. Thinkware uses Anti-File Corruption Technology.
You can also buy optional extras to enhance your experience too at a cost but if you want a wire and play option check this one out.
The Jabra Evolve2 65 came in the standard colours with their marketing giving clear details of the features of the earphones. The packaging as with the product looks professional with the packing also defined as crafted with 100% recyclable material. The internal packing was set up as a quick user guide on the features of the individual buttons.
The headset is made of ultra-soft foam cushion covered in colour-matched silicone, ear cushion soft audio foam covered in colour-matched leatherette, with an aluminium slider arm. The headset connects to multiple devices wirelessly simultaneous, e.g. laptop and phone,
Contents:
Headset,
Desk stand
Jabra Link 380 BT adapter, 1.2m/3.9ft
USB-C to USB-A cable,
soft pouch for the headset (not for the stand)
Warranty and warning (safety leaflets)
Weight – Stereo 176.4g/6.22ozThe weight is important in terms of wearing for hours, which is comfortable.
Key features
Noise-isolating design for ideal concentration: Keeps external sounds out for better work collaboration and listening experience in any environment
Long battery life and improved busy light: Keep interruptions to a minimum with up to 37 hours of battery life – the integrated red LED light shows ongoing conversations
Be heard and understood, wherever you are: 3 microphones, an enhanced digital chipset and the boom arm offer you the best possible audio quality
This Evolve2 65 headset is MS Teams-certified with a dedicated Teams button and meets MS Teams open office requirements
Warranty 2-year warranty
The plug-and-play experience includes these benefits:
Automatic selection as the default audio device.
A dedicated Microsoft Teams button to Notifications of Microsoft Teams LED flashes purple when. Microsoft Teams meeting ready to join. Microsoft Teams missed call. …
Voice prompt when the user is wearing the headset.
Battery, Charging
The unit came with a Desk stand charger USB A which can be plugged in a standard USB charger or direct to a Laptop. The headset has 2 gold contacts for the desk stand, alternatively, a USB C charging lead ( as supplied with most modern Android phones ) can be used. A full charge can provide 37 hours of battery life in 90 minutes. A fast charge of 15 minutes can provide 8 hours of battery life. While the Desk stand charger is ideal to store and charge the headset, this is an item not used as on the few occasions when the battery was getting low ( as advised on the phone app ) connecting to a power brick with a standard USB C charger cable meant the headset did not need to be removed from its primary purpose. The battery life of 37 hours is great with the option to shut down if not used within the app functionality.
Setup:
On the Jabra Evolve2 65, slide and hold (3 seconds) the on/Off/Pairing switch in the “Pairing” position until the LED flashes blue and the Jabra Evolve2 65 announces pairing mode. On your Android device, go to Apps, Settings, Connections, Bluetooth. Ensure Bluetooth is turned On.Your Android device will automatically search for available devices. When the name of your product appears on-screen, tap it to start pairing. When pairing is complete, your Jabra Evolve2 65 is ready to use with your mobile device. If you need to pair a second device, or if the initial pairing fails, restart the pairing process from the beginning.
LED colours and behaviours.
App
Download the Jabra Sound + app for the phone as the setup in the standard for android,
Laptop / PC
The Jabra Link Bluetooth adapter can be plugged directly into the USB port as Jabra device is pre-paired in the box. The Jabra Link Bluetooth adapter supports plug-and-play functionality, without needing to install separate software drivers on the computer.
Teams calls
The Evolve2 models that are certified for Microsoft Teams support Microsoft Teams as a plug-and-play experience. The plug-and-play experience includes these benefits:
Automatic selection as the default audio device.
A dedicated Microsoft Teams button to:
Notifications of Microsoft Teams LED flashes purple when
Microsoft Teams meeting ready to join
Microsoft Teams missed call
Microsoft Teams voicemails
Microsoft Teams LED flashes green with an incoming Microsoft Teams call
Invocations
Answering incoming Microsoft Teams calls
Opening the meeting “pre-join” screen
Open missed calls screen
Open Microsoft Teams voicemail screen
Bring up Microsoft Teams client from the background
Voice prompt when the user is wearing the headset
Niggles
Slight niggles were noticed on the boom mic which can be obtrusive when not in use listening to music, the boom mic cannot be disconnected or removed. On receipt of 2 calls e.g. from a laptop teams call and mobile call, the answering can be confusing in terms of the buttons to press, this takes practice to become familiar with the buttons like any other new product I guess.Most modern products as such are the same be it on one side or the other and no removable or detachable.
Overall:
The Jabra Evolve2 65 is quality in the physical feel of the headset, the software is tried and tested from previous models and works well. The core function of making and receiving calls via your phone or Laptop worked easily, The added featured of mute, physically moving the mic to mute or unmute, other standard features we typically expect worked well. It is also a viable product for personal music but Jabra excell here in other areas with the 85HEvolve 2 85 which Jim is testing right now and so far has been more than impressed with these as a hybrid answer or their latest True Wireless the elite active 75t which is tough to beat, with Jabra products they both suit our needs in the environments we both work in which sees different scenarios and some similar and Jabra products fit the bill perfectly and fulfil our needs and more when it comes to quality and features.
The software provides options for bass depth and clear treble for music, the office functionality in terms of Microsoft Teams and the consistency in call quality and connection provides a seamless experience. The Jabra does the simple thing right, connection to multiple devices simultaneously, provided clear call quality and audio experience, another quality product from a quality company, A pearl of audio communication experience.
The Jabra Evolve2 65 was supplied to us by Jabra with no preview or copy approval and no compensation was provided. You see our reviews the same time the brands we work with do. Additional text and unboxing video by Jim O Brien.
