Tag: #review

Tech Review – PowerCube, the ultimate 4-in-1 EDC charging solution

There is many charging solutions on the market today in all shapes and size which is welcome and there is something to suit everyone’s needs and we all have different needs and there is no denying that one, over the years I have tried and tested many of these in all shapes and size and they all do the same thing but over the years things have have changed with more options being built into one unit and with the tech changing you can implement several products into on now and this is what this product does.

Small and portable which is what we want for at home and mostly for travel purposes the PowerCube is the ultimate 4-in-1 charging solution according to the company, this is in short a hybrid charging device that features a 5,000mAh battery pack, a 20W charger, a built-in charging cable and a foldable phone stand.

This little palm sized gadget is versatile and can do more than charge your phone and we have been testing in out for the last few weeks so let’s take a look at what we are getting here and check the video review below.

 

What does PowerCube do then.

Doubles as A 20W Wall Charger

It also has a built-in AC wall plug (US plug) to give you flexibility when outside without having to bring additional cables and an adapter. If your smartphone needs more than a quick top-up, or the battery itself is dead, simply fold out the AC pins, and plug them into any standard outlet to begin charging. You will not need to face the wall or be tied by the wall socket when chilling at home or travelling with your phone. With pass-through charging you can charge PowerCube and your devices at the same time. It will automatically prioritize powering your devices from a power outlet before charging itself.

 

The integrated Lightning cable supports up to 20W Power Delivery fast charging. Your iPhone battery can be recharged from 0-50% in only 30 minutes.

The built-in USB-C cable delivers a maximum power output of 22.5W for Samsung, Google, and other compatible Android smartphones and tablets. It can even provide emergency power for low-powered laptops like MacBook Air 13″, Surface Go, Chromebook, Samsung Galaxy Book 2 etc.

Foldable Kickstand to Securely Hold Your Phone

Another interesting feature that sets it aside from other power banks, is its foldable kickstand, which allows for hands-free viewing while charging.

Charge Two Devices Simultaneously

PowerCube is also equipped with a USB-C port on the bottom with a rating of 5V / 2.1A that can be used as input and output. It is a capable mobile companion in its own right — both its USB-C port and  integrated cable are capable of delivering 20W of battery power to your device, or 23W total if both ports are used simultaneously. It means you can charge two devices at the same time and share power with your friend.

Safe & Reliable Charging

The product is built with superior safety features, including battery overcharge protection, overcurrent protection, output overvoltage protection, temperature control, short circuit protection, etc.

 

Smallest，Lightest but Most Powerful

Combining wall charger, power bank, kickstand together, PowerCube is still one of the lightest and most compact power banks that you can buy. Having such fast charging speeds is quite unusual for such compact power banks.

PowerCube is remarkably portable – measuring up at a minuscule 4.2 inches(106mm) on its longest side and 1.5 inches (38mm) in width, making it perfect for stashing in your purse, pocket or makeup bag.

It weighs just 173g (6.1 ounces), about 30% lighter than a similar conventional 5000mAh power bank.  This is the type of power bank you’ll even forget you have until the moment you actually need it.

Travel-friendly Pin Converters For Any Country

We provide this travel adapter bundle (including EU plug, UK plug and AU plug) as an add on. They are easy to carry with you in your luggage without issue. Easily convert UK/EU/AU plug to the US plug of PowerCube, you can get juiced up across borders.

Get on Kickstarter

Video Review

Tech Review – HAYLOU S35 ANC headphones

The Haylou S35 are an affordable colourful pair of headphones that stand out in a crowd and for me this is fine amongst the sea of Black or White headphones we will always see and flashy colourful models are far and few between. They might look a bit on the toyish side for some and that is fine as kids can wear them if you don’t fancy wearing yourself but they come in a range of colours.

Before you get started you will need to update the firmware as when first testing there was a constant disconnection error and the update fixed it which was great to see out of the gate. Build quality is mostly plastic but robust with no creeks when twisting the headset, there is no carry case in the box as the headphones do fold up which would have been nice but it is not a dealbreaker at this price to be fair.

Comfort is great or long periods of use it must be said and for me important, the pads sink right onto the ears and the headband nice and plush and after a few minutes you will forget the are there. We have a typical ratchet extension each side which stays in place.

All the controls are on one side which I like and the buttons are raised enough not to get confused which button is which with these which is fine.There is no auto play or pause here which is not a big deal you have access to your voice assistant play and pause skip and reverse tracks volume up and down, all the requirements really and of course call controls and all work well.

Haylou S35 ANC headphones – techbuzzireland

The app offers some more in the sound department and overall these are bass driven for me which again is fine as I like bass, you can change the sound signature in the app as you can see below and also we go over the app in the video review below so you get to see how things work, for me overall the sound is pretty good considering the price and consistent, on some song songs maxed out with volume there was a small bit of distortion however again I like my music loud and just had to turn it down a notch and all was fine. One thing to note there is a big difference in the EQ settings unlike other headphones or earbuds I have tested, you can choose between default, bass, rock and soft and then check out the soundmarket for even more. Highs lows and mids are great and a clean listening experience is to be found overall and great for gaming movies and of course your music.

The App

 

Conclusion

Overall these are a decent set o cans to be fair and sound great with decent battery life and app support which is now becoming the norm at this price point and if you are on a budget perhaps you should give them a look, check out the video review below and the links to purchase.

Overview of the headphones

Specifications

Product name: Haylou $35 ANC Over-ear Noise Cancellation Headphones
Bluetooth version: Bluetooth 5.2
Communication range: about 10 meters (without any obstacles)
Headphone charging time: about 2.5 hours
Headphone battery life: ANC off, about 60 hours/ANC on, about 40 hours
Battery type: polymer lithium battery
Battery capacity: 600mAh
Audio codec: SBC/AAC
Supported protocol A2DP/AVRCP/HFP

Use the discount code below  – S35ANC

BUY On Ali express

Video Review

Tech Review – Soundpeats Air4

The Soundpeats Air4 is one of many new earbuds on offer at affordable prices from the company and there is also the Air4 lite which we will have our next review on so both very similar sets or earbuds and look identical, today we are here to discuss the Air4 version which we have been testing some time now.

Presentation again is standard with the earbuds and familiar packaging keeping the brand identifiable as expected and overall a simple but to the point presentation with all the manuals and cables required in the box, you may notice an eartip compartment in the box but this is just due to standard packaging which is fine as these earbuds do not require tips to fit they are a standard fir with stems and the stems being on the smaller side which for me is better.

The case is finished in matt black looks well and is very clean with a fliptop lid a pairing /reset button and gold accents to match the earbuds which all ties in well with one another. The case is small and pebble like and will fit in any pocket and is not finished in gloss which is great so no fingerprints.

The style is quite nice and looks well and very simple but sleek and fit well in my ears though these being a fixed and finished product they might not suit some peoples ears but for me all good here. They are comfortable to wear for long periods of time and I had no issues with discomfort doing so during my testing.

On setting up you should dio the adaptive EQ test this is to get the best results for you and only you and is a common feature seen today on earbuds and headphones.

 

The App

The app as seen above is a familiar offering yet simple to use with an easy UI to navigate, all the features are here as expected bar reverse track, you can play and pause, higher and lower volume activate your voice assistant and call management you do have again a full suite of EQ settings which is great and with soundpeats you do hear a difference between them all unlike other apps with EQs built in, tried and tested on many of soundpeats earbuds this app is good. Again we have a gamers mode we have ANC here and triple mics with noise cancelling making for decent calls and less of the outside world.

Soundpeats Air4 – techbuzzireland

 

Overall again we have an affordable pair of earbuds here offering plenty for their price with decent sound and overall a decent package which soundpeats is now known for saving you money and getting value for money over other overhyped earbuds out there in which some do  not even offer an EQ app to help you customize your earbuds. Check the video review below for more.

 

Features

    • Snapdragon Sound with aptX Lossless
    • 13mm Dynamic Driver for Immersive Sound
    • Adaptive ANC Tech& Triple Mics Noise-Cancellation
    • 88ms Low Latency Game Mode
    • Total 26 Hrs Playtime& App Control
    • BT5.3 for Stable Multipoint Connection

BUY

Video Review

Tech Review – SOUNDPEATS Air4 Lite

The SOUNDPEATS Air4 Lite is a wireless earbud with a sleek and modern design. The earbuds have touch controls that allow you to play/pause music, skip tracks, and answer/end calls.  The earbuds are made of plastic, but they feel sturdy and well-built weighing in at 20 grams. The charging case is also made of plastic and has a matte finish. The charging case changes colour related to the battery from Green, yellow, or red or the indicator flashes slowly when charging.

Contents

  •         Air4 Lite Earbuds
  •         Charging Cable
  •         Charging Case
  •         User Manual

 

The App is standard  in terms of downloading While annoying on the setup it requests where you purchase your hardware from, e.g. Amazon or other

The wording on this screen could change to I hear tones, ( as no voices are used in the tests )

The SOUNDPEATS  App via the Play Store has over 100 K downloads while has a score of 1.8 out of 5 from 5.46K reviews, This low score is expected due to the limited functionality of the app rather than technical issues as having used the app for a few weeks, no technical bugs were seen. While the asking where the unit was purchased can be perceived as intrusive.

Soundpeats Air4 Lite earbuds – techbuzzireland

Controls

The earphones have the standard Control as would be expected, by tapping the multifunction button or either the left or right ear.

  •         Play/Pause
  •         Answer/End Call
  •         Volume Down
  •         Volume Up
  •         Skip to the Next Track
  •         Activate Voice Assistant

Warranty 1-year warranty

Conclusion:

The SOUNDPEATS Air4 Lite is a wireless earbud that offers high-resolution audio at an affordable price, the case is modern with a decent battery life and response time. The charging case is light and comfortable to hold. The supplied USB-C charging cable is a bonus ensuring only 1 cable would be required if travelling with an Android phone. The earphone’s frequency response range is reputable with the noise-cancelling mic a bonus.

On the practical side a niggle in terms of removing the earphones from the case and having to turn the earphones to fit into your ear, this motion while awkward can also result in the volume button being accidentally pressed. The case while reliable is made of a plastic with a matte finish with finger marks observed on the case after use.

Overall the SOUNDPEATS Air4 Lite is a great option without breaking the bank by getting high-resolution audio and, a sleek design, The audio quality in terms of listening to music and noise cancelling noise-cancellation during calls is respectable for the value of the product.

BUY

Video Review 

Tech Review – Olixar Leather-Style Brown Case – For Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5

Fancy sprucing up your Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 well this case might just be it, Olixar have a range of cases now available and we chose the Brown leather styled case this time around and it does give you a more premium look to your shiny new phone.

All ports are accessible as expected and the case does really look well on the phone, the sides however do not add much grip and could have been finished off better but the rear and front of the case look good and has some more grip on the case, you can also still use wireless charging and there is no issue with access to the keys either.

The camera area is also protected well here on this but there is no built in film on the front as mentioned on their site unless they mean it is underneath the leather but the front main screen is still exposed in this instance but there is plenty of room to place your device face down, when the device is open here is a small lip around the phone and gives you some protection if you want to have your phone face down.

Overall it is a nice job here and there is also a Black version.

Key Features

  • High-quality, tactile leather-style material
  • Glass tempered film front cover
  • Raised edges for screen and camera protection
  • Military Grade protection
  • Easily access all ports, controls & connectors

Video Review

Tech Review – TOZO OpenReal Air Conduction Headphones

Bone conduction headphones are popular now but now we are seeing AIR conduction headphones which is a different take on the technology used and for the better, having tested countless pairs of bone conduction headphones AIR conduction are far and few between but we have tried a few pairs over the last while, TOZO is a new brand to us and we recently tested their Golden X1 earbuds which are fantastic with a great app and we recommend you try them out and give this brand a look in the near future if not already.

The TOZO OpenReal Air are another pair or headphones that are closer to wearing earbuds than you think same as bone conducting but better, You still get all the features required with controls and so on but on these type of headphones it is actually much simpler. Yes we have an app this time around for these too which is not common and again kept simple.

The design is simple yet robust and sleek you will forget you are wearing these after a few mins and they are comfortable and don’t bounce on your head if jogging or training, a question that is asked alot on such headphones. As you are aware they do not go into your ears but sit on the outside of them and delivering decent audio too which you might not expect but they do work really well and they also have an IPX7 rating for those who are more sporty or use outdoors.

Now when it comes to sound they are loud enough with 16.2mm dynamic drivers, not as loud as earbuds or headphones but loud enough also they do not seem to leak like bone conduction headphones so if someone is sitting beside you on the train or bus you need not worry. Battery life is decent too with around 14 hours per charge less when used full volume and EQ setting dependent.

The controls are simple to use being both on the right earbud and the small control buttons which are very small for me with big fingers it must be said but they work and work fine, you also have the charge port there which of course is a two pin proprietary charger which will hopefully be gone by the end of this year but for now it is the norm like most smartwatches.

The app gives you more control allowing you to pick from custom EQ settings or make your own and the thing is here there is a notable difference between the EQ sounds compared to even recent earbuds tested where you would not notice much of a change between your bass and trebles etc, you can hear the difference with these which is good.

For the price you pay here these are one of it not the best air conduction headphones I have tried to date and look forward to seeing this improve even more over time.

Features

  • Open-Ear Design
  • Air Conduction Technology & Ergonomic Design
  • Clear Calls with Dual-Mic ENC & Bluetooth 5.3
  • 16.2mm Dynamic Drivers
  • Up to 14 Hours Playtime & Fast Charging
  • Support TOZO APP

BUY

Video Review

 

Tech Review – XtremeSkins White Marble skin for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5

Skins for your phone are a thing like cases and covers and something I do not dabble to much in but we ordered some for the Galaxy Z Flip 5 to try out and of course some cases, the prices on these vary in price and also location is a factor with taxes and customs and this one cost 20 sterling in total from the UK as I was looking around to see what is on offer the price including shipping does not warrant a purchase in my book you may as well just get a case locally like the OtterBox thin shield case for example.

Maybe I picked the wrong skin up but this one in particular offers no additional grip nor has it any side skins for the phone or cover for the fold area which is kinda lame however it does look nice on the phone and again to be fair to them they have a big selection and some with textures that will give you a better grip, I you drop your phone with a skin on it will be a hit and miss on this one on how it lands and with the sides and flip mechanism not protected I think I would rather take a chance and still leave the case on which I can say makes no difference and the would be the safer option, I would like to go caseless but with this skin on I will not and will keep searching for other options.

To be fair though they have lots of nice skins on their site and worth a look so check them out and we may just revisit XtremeSkins and pick something else this time. They are simple to install by the way so that is one good thing to take out of it and if you have never done these skins before the company has instructions which I completely ignored and still got it done. It will stop your device from getting scratched on the rear and front which overall is not a bad thing.

 

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 skin details

• These skins ONLY fit the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
• Covers the top and bottom
• Precision cut-outs for the lenses, sensors and flash
• Our vinyls can be re-lifted, repositioned and stretched with a hair dryer
• We use high quality glue that does no harm to your phone and doesn’t leave any residual glue after removal
• Back of the vinyl comes with air release, making it easy to wrap and refuse air bubbles
• Protects your phone from scuffs, scratches, UV rays, dirt, grease and surface water
• Alcohol wipes are included to ensure perfect adhesion to your Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5

Video Review

Tech Review – PSB M4U 8 MKII Headphones in Espresso Brown

Way back in 2018 and longer than I had thought in the unboxing video which I said three years ago, we checked out the PSB Speakers M4U-8 headphones and to me they were something else back then in 2018 and yeah my review was short but were  only starting out back then after covering Nokia only tech for years and have turned up the game since, Yes 2018 and a pair of headphones I miss, To this day certain brands are applauded every year and is now getting boring and after testing or trying most of these myself.

OK they look the same which is no harm and if something aint broke dont fix it is what they say the cans are comfortable to wear for hours on end even for gaming and movies which is what I have done here whilst reviewing, the headband and cups are super soft and comfortable as before only this time in a new colour which is Espresso Brown and I love it, it is not to often you seen brown headphones.

The controls are all on one side and again I like this it is my personal preference and the size of the controls again something I like which makes it super easy to execute commands every time and again all features are present with call control voice assistant skip and reverse tracks and volume up and down and of course play and pause is all preset and again demonstrated in the video review below.

Personalised Sound with Audiodo™

Using breakthrough technology and a non-replicable set of algorithms, Audiodo Personal Sound™ calibrates the headphones to adjust to the unique hearing of every listener, revealing the “True to Nature” sound signature which PSB Speakers is known for. Through a quick and easy hearing assessment, Audiodo Personal Sound™ maps out a precise and thorough understanding of the listeners hearing, calculates what changes need to be made based on personal sound perception and hearing abilities, and creates a unique profile for every user. All customisation options, including Audiodo Personal Sound™ profiles, are accessed through the PSB Headphones app, a full-featured app that regularly keeps the headphones up-to-date with the latest firmware updates and codes.

Controls on the PSB Speakers M4U 8 MKll

Feature and Comfort Rich

Enhanced battery life, aptX™ HD Bluetooth, the latest active noise cancelling technologies and more highlight the M4U 8 MKII listening experience, while PSB’s immersive RoomFeel™ technology delivers the clear, natural sound of a live performance and stunning musicality overall. To ensure fatigue-free listening over long periods, the two-way adjustable ear pads are gyro-suspended for optimal ergonomics and supreme comfort. Soft foam ear pads, an adjustable, expandable headband and a lightweight design provide a customised, unrestrained fit so that nothing stands between users and what they want to listen to. Whether for work or play, the M4U 8 MKII headphones bring comfortable and noise-free extended listening to any hi-fi lover on-the-go.

The App

The app is excellent with two parts to it you could say and you need to once again complete a hearing test which is common these days and it is for your benefit in the end and my god the audio on these is as before superb, this is in the audiowizard side of the app where you can switch moods and cinema is the best one here for me but overall they all sound good and you can also custom tune the bass and treble here which will be welcome to anyone who uses them, the front end of the app is a bit on the lame side however there is again many options to control them, some of the options can be tuned on the controls too on the headphones, there could have been more presets here but there is enough to keep you going and fine tune yourself in the end and you have room feel,better dialogue, more detailed and tighter bass so in here you can tune to your personal taste.

 

 

Overall It has to be said the company have done it again with a superb pair of headphones with a new color that I like, you are getting super comfortable headphones loud volume and many other features thrown in, there is no lag latency they work great on calls and if you are watching a movie or gaming you are center stage here and will not be dissapointed one bit.

Key Features of the M4U 8 MKII

Bluetooth HD wireless connection with aptX™ HD and Qualcomm® cVc™ technology
Separate Active Noise Cancelling (ANC), Active, and Passive Modes
All-digital ANC with digital MEMS microphones decreases audio conversion error
PSB’s latest RoomFeel™ technology with greater detail and better imaging
Personal Sound by Audiodo™ through the PSB Headphones app
Access additional features, settings, and over-the-air updates using the PSB Headphones app
NFC pairing for supported devices
Over-ear, amplified, closed back design
Physical controls for volume, playback, and mode selection
Unique dual 3.5mm input connections (left or right side)
Tangle-free cords for analogue wired and USB-C connection
1/4” stereo and dual-input flight adapters
Runs on included rechargeable battery power
Up to 25 hrs battery playtime in Active Mode
Gyro-suspended ear pads
Carry case and easy folding for travel and storage

Buy

Video Review

 

Tech Review – Creative Outlier Free+ and Outlier Free Pro+

Bone conduction headphones have surged in popularity over the last two years and we know that due to the numerous models we have tested and stay tuned for more by the way which are in the review process and for the most these are simple products to use and set up and again for the most there is no app to content with so they are a connect to your phone device and away you go, some however offer more and then you have Air conduction headphones.

Creative however is not new to the scene here nor is the brand and known for delivering excellent audio products be it speakers headphones or earbuds and this is their second time around now with these bone conducting headphones and there is an improvement on last years models and that being in the sound department.

I am speaking about the two products in one review because they are almost identical and the pro offering extra on board storage and a better IP rating other than that the sound for me was identical the controls are identical and the audio profiles are also identical so is the looks apart from the colour choice.

The build quality is great as before and these are super robust they could be flung about the place and still work they can be twisted and tortured and they still work so they are built to last.

Some folk find these neckband type headphones annoying and the questions I always get asked is does the band bounce up and down and how do they sound same two questions all the time oddly enough they never ask about battery life or any other factors.

The neckband sits nicely on your neck to begin with and stays there even in the gym once you have these sat on your ears correct there will be no issue now you might get the odd bounce on the neck if you push it but for the most they are grand and comfortable the only difference is they don’t do in your ears and that is a transition you can only decide if it is for you and it is not as bad as some might be lead to believe.

Controls are simple to use on these guys and both identical you cet three small raised buttons that are tactile and work well to do all the things you need to do so which is volume control skip and reverse tracks play and pause control calls and activate your voice assistant so you have all the controls required however there is no app here.. You have a mfb or better known as a multifunction button which you press 4 times yes 4 times to change the latency, now I say 4 times however there is some earbuds I recently tested that went up to 5 times to do something which is a bit of a joke to be honest.

How do they sound then, well they will and bone conducting headphones will never be as good as headphones or earbuds however the sound quality is getting better as the technology improves over time and for me it has from what I have tested to date and these have vastly improved over their previous models and you have to take into account these are aimed at the sporty person but anyone can wear them which I often do asides from testing.

These both have some bass in there pretty decent sound overall for the technology in play here and deliver a good audio experience whilst being able to hear what is going on around you which is important, not as good as in ear earbuds or headphones but overall you can’t complain when using this technology but it is getting better.

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

Video Review