As promised we would be back with more from JBL and here it is so we will be kept busy over the coming weeks with the latest from JBL and of course we look forward to testing these new products and soon we will have a real full hands on review of all the new products and do not forget the Quantum stream mic and the JBL reflect aero earbuds we just unboxed.
When we checked out these at the Dublin launch we were impressed at the new products and to start off the list their new headphones was on the top of my list and these I look forward to the most but but of course they all get the same treatment and we will have a full hands on review soon so check them out below and these come with True Adaptive Noise Cancelling JBL Pro Sound, hi-res certified and 4-mic Technology for Accurate and clear voice calls and comes with a nice travel case with goodies inside..
Next is the Quantum TWS earbuds which are intended for the gamer but realistically anyone can use these, again a small stemmed earbud with nice silver accents and matt black finish and comes with an adapter to keep the latency issues at bay aka dual source which is a neat addition to the package. Also featured is JBL Quantum SURROUND and a Low latency wireless connection Fast Pair.
Finally we have the JBL Tune Flex that come in a cool flat backed case with UBC charging and also inside we have a small case for the tips alone which is cool and not seen before and these are for the bass lovers so stay tune for more on these in the coming weeks and any questions you have you can ask on all our social handles and of course Youtube where we hang out quite a bit. The Tune flex come with JBL Pure Bass Sound , Active Noise Cancelling with Smart Ambient and 4 mics for perfect calls so a bit of an all rounder here.
Looking for a neat new accessory for your iPhone with Magsafe well check out this latest accessory from CLCKR which is a neat idea that enables you to take full use of Magsafe with or without a case also allowing you to charge charge your device and use it to consume media both vertically and horizontally and to finish that off you can also use it as an extra way to hold your device on the go and this again like CLCKR products in the past allows you to leave your device on your locker or PC at home or in the office working.
Images with and without case
With caseNo caseWith caseNo case
Designed with a strong 3500G magnet to attach directly to an iPhone 12/13 MagSafe compatible case, the CLCKR MagSafe stand and grip transforms the device into a multi-faceted, easy-viewing hub of information and entertainment. With the CLCKR stand, the device can be used in portrait, landscape and angled conference call modes, ideal for video chats, reading recipes and watching a favourite show. The grip allows the user to hold on to the device while on the go. And for MagSafe charging, simply slide CLCKR off the back. The product is available for £29.99.
The Poly Sync 20 is slim and portable, IP64 dust and water resistant,conference speakerwith up to 20 hours of battery life This has clear buttons on the outside and a programmable button which can be set to a favorite function. The box is bland in terms of the brown basics with limited information on the packaging.
Battery:
Battery Type: Lithium-ion
Battery Capacity: 3200 mAH
Talk time: up to 20 hours
Charge Time: 4 hours
Controls and lights
Setup:
The setup can be used similar to a swiss army knife with multiple options. This can be used as 3 options of bluetooth , dongle, or cable connection. The setup is made easier as included with a non removable USB cable to be plugged into a USB charger to charge or connect as required. Alternative used via bluetooth to a phone or Laptop. Or via the supplied usb dongle. Each option connection to a phone or windows laptop seamlessly worked as expected. The setup works with voice control for Siri, Google Assistant, Cortana Press
Compatibility
Slight niggle:
The kit comes with a USB dongle with a pouch inside the carry case, the dongle could fall out over time and would prefer to see a zip / fastener to prevent the loss on the USB dongle.
Audio:
When used as a Loudspeaker, for your day to day music the frequency response of the Poly Sync 20 is 80 Hz to 20 kHz, the low end on the frequency spectrum between 20Hz to 80Hz is ideal for music but lacking on this unit .
To give a comparison Amazon Alexa has a frequency range of 30Hz to 24kHz while it does not have the features on this multi unit kit . Overall the lower frequency is only observed by an avid music fan, but not pronounced on its primary use of a conference speaker / mic kit .
Overall
The unit is a multipurpose speaker, conference unit which as expected from the Poly brand ( Previously Plantronics) has great audio and ease of use in connection. This unit came with minimum fuss in terms of accessories , carry case, USB dongle , carry strap with a hardwired USB cable resulting in a universal kit option for hybrid use in any environment . The features in terms of MS teams approved, various colours, red on mute , green in use or light bar to view the volume level is practical in any meeting. The kit has been used in noisy environments with industrial machinery in the background and again the background was suppressed ensuring the conversations and accents were heard no matter where sitting in the room. The portable option to fit into a Laptop bag and carrier around gave additional convenience in the use of this speaker. This is a kit which is highly recommended in terms of ease of use, portability , multipurpose options , from a known quality brand, hard to fault this kit.
Edifier have been another one of my favorite brands here and they deliver a range of audio products at affordable prices which is great for all, they have all ends of the market covered and even with entry level products they do not skimp on quality especially with their earbuds as these come in at the under 50 euro range and it is not their first either and once again they execute this.
Build Design and fit
These are a simplistic pair of earbuds that look clean and fit well and robust and comes in two colours, the charge case is small and compact too and will fit in any pocket and they are stylish
Controls and features
OK so here is where you are missing some bits however remember the cost, they have no volume control auto play and pause and do not work individually, skip and reverse tracks is here your voice assistant and call control and these all work fine with the large area to tap to make the command you wish and they work both sides too and overall a great experience.
Sound
They sound good being honest and anyone who picks them up will be happy, there is some bass present here and loud volume too and overall a genuine great audio experience with highs lows and mids fine too and no distortion at max volume either, no lag latency noticed either from my ususal test loop.
Edifier X3 TO-U series techbuzzireland
Conclusion
These are an easy recommendation here for anyone even for a gift this christmas, they sound good and look good and execute what is real value for money for what they cost and the audio experience is great.
Main Features:
Qualcomm aptX audio decoding delivers highly defined sound tuned by a professional acoustic team.
Bluetooth V5.0provides a better signal transmission for minimal interruptions.
Lower power consumption for 6 hours playback time and extra 18 hours with charge case.
Easy operation by touch control.
Ergonomic, compact design with IPX5 rating for comfort and long periods of wear.
One-Step Pairing for a faster connection.
The X3 To-U is available from Amazon at £39.99 in Pink or Blue
Recently here we reviewed the companies other earbuds the W1 true wireless which are a really nice affordable pair of earbuds which also look well but the latest on offer the GT7 came in for testing so how did they do over the last while is the question people want answered..
Design Build and Fit
These are a familiar shaped pair of earbuds with a small enough stem and have that airpod look for those who want it, they are light finished in matt white and fit really well and they will not fall out of the ears, as always the right tips matter when using earbuds to get the best seal and these have no problems there.
Controls
The controls work really well here as you will see in the video review below, there is some features missing here but it is not a huge deal, we have no volume control no auto play/pause and no reverse track but the rest is there, voice assistant, play and pause, skip tracks and call control.
Haylou GT7 earbuds techbuzzireland
Sound
These are for the bass lover, there is no app or EQ here however out of the box they are quite good and again better than I had anticipated they are loud and punchy well balanced and do not have any distortion at max volume there is no lag latency either,highs lows and mids are good and overall a really good listening experience we also have got AI noise cancelling for calls here and to top things off we have got low latency mode for gaming.
Conclusion
These are a really nice pair of earbuds that deliver on sound with some extra bass they are a clean looking pair of earbuds too and look well and not stansoutish looking and overall you cant complain even if some features have been omitted..
Need to up the game in your home with some better sound well the Creative Stage 360 soundbar is one to look out for if you want better home entertainment, not only that this can be used for gaming and also connecting bluetooth devices too and more so if you are having friends over and want to pump out the tunes it is no problem.
The design and build is much the same as the previous model but only better when it comes to the sound element with many settings to pick from to get the exact fine tuning you need and this can be done via the remote control or there is some options via the keys placed on top of the soundbar itself, the subwoofer just plugs in beside it and then you can place where it suits you best.
With the integration of Dolby Atmos technology, the Creative Stage 360 allows users to enjoy three-dimensional, cinema-like audio with realistic surround and height reproduction by simply playing any supported Dolby Atmos content from popular streaming platforms such as Netflix, Apple TV+, Disney+, HBO Max, Prime Video and many more. The latest soundbar also boasts all-new, custom-tuned racetrack drivers along with a dedicated long-throw subwoofer as well as a total peak power of up to 240W to deliver a stronger audio punch with every beat.
Adding to that, this soundbar is optimized for both near-field and far-field listening – regardless of whether it is placed in the living room or at the desktop, users can easily switch between either setting with the newly-designed IR remote control.
With the integration of Dolby Atmos technology, the Creative Stage 360 allows users to enjoy three-dimensional, cinema-like audio with realistic surround and height reproduction by simply playing any supported Dolby Atmos content from popular streaming platforms such as Netflix, Apple TV+, Disney+, HBO Max, Prime Video and many more. The latest soundbar also boasts all-new, custom-tuned racetrack drivers along with a dedicated long-throw subwoofer as well as a total peak power of up to 240W to deliver a stronger audio punch with every beat.
Adding to that, this soundbar is optimized for both near-field and far-field listening – regardless of whether it is placed in the living room or at the desktop, users can easily switch between either setting with the newly-designed IR remote control.
Check out the video below for an unboxing and sound test where you can see what the Stage 360 offers and from where I sit and having tested it does an excellent job and gives you am more immersive feel to watching films and more and turning the volume up to the max.
The Apollo Q10 are the latest headphones on offer from Tronsmart and come in at an affordable price, these cans are over ears and very comfortable to wear even long term and are light in comparison to other offerings out there. Tronsmart have been delivering great value tech for the consumer and this is no different here.
Build and design.
They are mostly plastic like most headphones to be fair but they are robust all round and they have a simple clean look not trying to be bigger than they are the headband is comfortable and overall a lightweight pair of cans that will be ideal for any listening experience the cups are soft and nestle nicely on the ears.
Controls
This is the good thing with the headphones as it is gestures rather than buttons and they work really well, on the right cup you have the Tronsmart logo and behind this is the gesture area for making your commands with simple swipes up/down left and right etc, we go through this in the video review below. There is an MFB button on the headset which one might confuse it for a power on/off but this gives you access to your voice assistant only. The power on/off button and USB-C port are hidden underneath the arm of the headphones which is a strange placement but they are there but even for me it took me a minute to find them.
Sound
Sound is great and better than one might expect also you have access to the Tronsmart app which gives you additional options with an EQ that is notably different in their standard setup you can also customise your own EQ setting highs lows and mids are clear and there is good bass here especially with the EQ and loud volume too, for music gaming films and more they pass the test for a really great experience for anyone who invests in them.
Tronsmart Apollo Q10 techbuzzireland
ANC and Mics
ANC works well here and will block out most if not all the outside world I recently seen the dumbest tech quote from a “tech journalist” who likes to also lash out stock image reviews with little context saying bloggers waffle on about ANC and who would use it then goes on to say who would use it, ANC is a feature most people want to block the outside world and be immersed in their music or whatever they might be doing with their headphones or earbuds and it is a feature that I would not live without and on these headphones it works well,there is 5 mics on this headset and two mic ports on top of the headphones.
Battery
Battery life is great with a max of 100 hours you will get less with ANC and high volume use which is the standard for me but overall a good battery life with a 10 minute charge giving you three hours of use which is nice.
Conclusion
Overall these are a worthy pair of headphones for their price and deliver on the audio experince if you are on a budget and need new headphones you perhaps should check these out.
The Fairphone 4 is the latest phone on offer from the company and the big difference here between this phone and others is the ability to repair the device yourself and called a modular device, alone this also sparks another conversation which is the right to repair in which we are now seeing things happen whereby it will allow customers to repair their phones themselves or replace parts and this is where Fairphone stand out from the crowd here and not only recently either, the company have been doing this 7 years.. Fairphone are also known for sustainability too using 14 key materials from sustainable and fairer sources
Design and build
The phone itself is a pretty standard build and on the bigger side with a 6.3inch screen and a thickness of 10.5mm which is thicker than most however it feels solid in the hand and sturdy even though the back cover is plastic and removable which is a rare thing these days it but here is how you access the parts.. It has bezels all round with a slight teardrop up top which may annoy some folk but when you have bezels all round you get the full use of the screen estate and being a bigger phone it makes sense as for many it would be a two handed device but having said that it is a comfortable phone to hold with rounded edges and no sharp corners.
There is no headphone jack present here and on the right side is where all the action is with the volume toggles and power/on/off key which doubles as a fingerprint sensor, there is no tap to wake here or face unlock so you will be using this touch key to access the phone which some folk have complained about in the unboxing video below which has garnered much comments and thoughts on the phone.
On the bottom of the device you have a speaker and USB-C port and a mic so overall it is a clean to the point phone in my opinion though lacking in some other features at this pricepoint.
UNBOXING AND WALKTHROUGH THE FAIRPHONE 4
Under the hood
Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G, Fairphone OS based on Android 11, 6 GB/GB ram options, Storage comes at 128/256GB with micro sd card expansion, IP54 rated, Screen, 6.3in FHD+ LCD (410ppi) and cameras are a dual affair 48MP rear, 25MP selfie camera which is looks like many other offerings out there however there is a corner sliced off and no where near a bump like the others, there is a slight rock on a flat surface but only if you touch the far upper left hand side of the phone.
The cameras
OK they are not going to win awards here however this is not what the company wants to do either but give a fair price phone that just about does everything and they do this overall, the camera specs is what many people like and is the b all and end all of a phone which is polarising for me, I like a phone that gets the job done, I use an iPhone 13 Pro and Galaxy Z flip 3 as faily drivers but could use this phone too should I need too I am lucky to have access to many phones on the market and my current daily drivers change all the time and for the last while I have been using another smartphone alongside this and again the same applies, it is a cheaper handset and like I have said before the need to spend over a grand on a phone is long gone.
The camera performs better in the day and at times I have noticed shutter lag and again it is not the only phone to have seen this happen, once in bright well lit areas it will do well some images felt a bit washed or overexposed and you can tinker with image editors to get a better result, at night well its not great and I hate to say things like that but it is the case here and again the same is said about another device I am testing and it is part and parcel of phones priced similarly but it has to be said some more expensive phones can be worse off here, the video below will let you see and make your own call here anyway but it does a decent enough job but more so in good lighting conditions.
IMAGE AND VIDEO SAMPLES
Performance
It performs pretty well there was some lag here and there on multitasking and scrolling but overall done fine for the tasks I use and I am a power user with any phone I use and test battery was decent easily getting me through a day no problem the 3,905 mAh battery is replaceable and can be charged to 50% in 30 minutes (with minimum 20W charger) two days was a push given I work with two phones normally but when testing just over a day was average using this phone as the main device for my work social media and more.
Conclusion
The phone is not out to set any records and the company has a different approach than others but want to get a message across and save the planet whilst doing so and this is a good move and more should be doing it, e-waste is a huge problem and we are all guilty of it but they other main key thing is here is the option to repair the phone yourself. Look here for the price at the parts and see for yourself. To top things off you get 5G speed which requires a 5G sim but that is something I would stay away from for another year at least in Ireland,plus you get the additional 5-year warranty.
The Super EQ Q2 Pro earbuds are the latest on offer from the company and are a solid purchase after my testing over some weeks, these have a slightly larger profile than the average ear so may not suit all however they are a solid fit and more so for those with larger ears.
Build and design
These are built well and solid and made from plastic with a step effect from the top down they are similar to others out there in shape and size but the effect from the top down makes them stand out and they look nice in fairness with the gold band around the touch area of the earbud which is great by the way for executing controls
Sound
These are really good on the bass side of things and are considered bass heavy in my book which for some is what they want to hear, they are loud and punchy fine with highs lows and mids and overall gave me a great listening experince overall and cant really complain, even on maxed out volume there was no distortion either no lag latency and loud and feeling centre they do a great job even though there is no app for them at present.
These can be also used individually which is another plus and will extend battery life if you are one to use earbuds in this fashion be it for work or driving for example.
Call are fine too work really well and clear both ends on my testing period..
Modes
You have transparency mode here which is what we are now seeing drop into the cheaper earbuds before this was ANC and the transparency mode worked quite well even in a busy environment.
Super EQ Q2 techbuzzireland
Features
Hybrid active noise canceling technology) SuperEQ Wireless Earbuds come with a professional feed-forward and feedback active noise canceling function to reduce ambient noise up to
33dB filter out noise by 90% It’s never been easier to completely immerse yourself in sound, taking the bustle out of travel and commuting • Transparency model You may still need to pay attention to external sounds when you wear true wireless earbuds on an airplane, subway, bus, or in the office. Just switch to
Transparency Mode. It lets the outside sound in and allows you to talk to people nearby without taking off the earphones.
One step Pairing Simply open the charging case and turn on the Bluetooth to build a connection. Q2 Pro wireless earbuds support Single Bud Listening. Listen via either the left or right earbud without having to worry about fiddly connections and complicated setup.
Calls with excellent clarity Thanks to the CVC 8.0 technology, which is short for “Clear Voice Capture, wireless earphones pick up your voice with incredible accuracy. Calls sound crisp, clear, and free of unwanted noise
Charge on the go Pro wireless earbuds can last for over 8 hours of playtime from a single charge and 28 extra hours in the compact charging case Fits travel everywhere and ensure the music is playing throughout all-day.
