Tag: #review

Tech Review – VOLTME Revo 140W PD3.1 GaN Charger

If you are on the lookout for a new charger that can do it all this is what you need in your travel bag right now and one thing is for sure it will be in mine, for those who have more than one device this is an ideal piece of kit to have at your disposal as not only does it charge phones, tablets, smartwatches and earbuds etc it can charge a laptop where your average home spare phone USB charger for example will not and only recently it happened to me when I forgot the mains charger for one of my laptops it would only trickle charge it more or less keeping it as is which is no means helpful.

This charger after testing is ideal but you do need the correct cables to get the maximum effect however even testing on smartphones it gave over double the speed you would get with your plug that you rarely see now and they have been on average 5-10w this is better and faster and it still maintains the power on all devices.

It is also useful for other charging gadgets you may have at home with having three ports the top two being USB-C you can charge certain smartwatches on the go the bottom port will of course work once your puc styled plug in is the right way around and again you will see what I mean in the video below.

Overall this is a must have for those who travel, those who have more than one device and those who want their devices charged in a hurry..

Highlights:
1. CES 2023 Innovation Award Winner
2. 20% smaller than Apple 140W charger
3. Foldable Plug&Compact design
4. Powered by 3rd Generation GaN Power IC
5. One charger for all your needs (Wide Compatibility)
6 Support PD 3.1 & QC 5.0 & PPS charging protocols
7. V-Dynamic HelixDuo Power distribution

 

Full features list

  • Multiple USB C Charger: VOLTME Revo 140 with three ports can support almost all fast charging technologies. With the multiple USB power adapter, it can charge 3 devices simultaneously, powered by 3rd generation GaN Power IC and the latest PD 3.1 & QC 5.0 & PPS charging protocols, it provides smaller size and higher power. It can also charge two laptops simultaneously at 65w or one laptop at 140w (28v 5a).
  • PPS charging protocol: 140W usb c mains charger with PPS standard, ensures that the power supply can dynamically adjust the output voltage and current according to the state of the smartphone. Regularly, every 10 minutes, all these parameters will change to adapt to the needs of the battery in order to optimise its charge. Basically, this technology guarantees efficient charging.
  • Ultimate charging with Fast Charge: Fast and efficient charging with this dual-port plug with USB-C and USB-A input. Charges MacBook Pro 16″ to 56% in 30 minutes. USB-C charger perfect for home, office and travel: 20% smaller than a standard 140W charger and with 3 ports to charge 3 devices simultaneously.
  • One charger for all: Charge your laptop, tablet, phone or smartwatch in one compact and powerful charger. It has built-in safeguards to protect devices from surges, overloads and short circuits. It also has CE, RoHS and FCC safety certifications, making it a very durable, reliable and totally safe charger.
  • GaN III technology and compact design: Equipped with a GaN III chip, this new version is even smaller, more efficient and dissipates heat better. It incorporates a gallium nitride (GaN) charging method, which has the advantages of greater energy efficiency and heat dissipation in much smaller chargers. There is also an LED that lights up when the charger is switched on.

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Video Review

Tech Review – Jabra Evolve2 buds

The Jabra Evolve2 buds are the ideal partner to have if you work from home or in the office and use more than one device and if you are into meetings which is more common than ever these days these earbuds is what you need and if you like your music too well then these solve all these problems in one go and the thing is they are portable and can be brought anywhere and it is a super simple set-up with the dongle to switch between two devices which for me is key and a multipoint connection is for me something that is a must and again for those who work in either closed or open office space environments.

The design of the earbuds is familiar with their current range and for me is fine they work well and fit perfectly with the right tips and again this is something I always point out when using earbuds to get the best out of them and these also come with the MyFit option to ensure you have them set up at optimum levels which will benefit you in the end so do not skip the process, you can if you life however you will not get the full performance they offer if not, it only takes a few minutes and is worth it, trust me.

The App

The app as always is excellent although this time around it has being tailored towards the use of teams we have covered the app multiple times here on site but we do take a look in more detail in the video review below.. As expected the app is full of features and allows you take control of what you want and need with a nice UI and it is simple to navigate.

The sound

OK well what more would you expect from Jabra then? They sound great from all aspects of use be it connected to PC or phone and the same applies for using teams on both, there was some lag latency noted at first but an updated chimed through during testing and seems to have fixed it, like any other pair of Jabra earbuds I have used the I was confident these would not disappoint and that they did not given they are geared for Teams and UC platforms. In short these Evolve2 buds are a one stop shop for those who want to still enjoy their music and spend much of their day on Teams calls with no issues at all noted and drop outs during my testing.

The only thing noted was the ANC is not up to par at this price-point however these are a more targeted pair of earbuds towards the office if you will rather than a whole music experience but they overall as mentioned still are a one stop shop for those who are in the environments and you have a nice widget you can use on your phone to swap between modes also giving you the stats at hand for reference.

Key features of the Evolve2 Buds: 

  • Certified for Microsoft Teams and leading UC platforms – for enhanced collaboration experience 
  • MultiSensor Voice technology – ensures professional call performance by using multiple mics and Jabra algorithms to block out noise 
  • Plug-and-play USB adapter for enhanced connectivity – 20 metre/65 feet range allows users the freedom to move around their work environment 
  • Advanced Multipoint connection – connect to two devices at one time 
  • Adjustable Active Noise Cancellation – filters out background noise allowing for increased focus 
  • HearThrough and single earbud use – allows the user to hear surrounding sounds through the earbuds whilst wearing them 
  • Increased battery life – with 33 hours of battery, including the case and wireless charging 
  • Ultra-discreet design – for ultimate comfort and a professional look  

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Video review

Tech Review – Skullcandy Dime 2 Doritos edition

The Skullcandy Dime 2 are one of the latest new products that are in a collab and this collaboration is with Doritos and whilst they might look and feel the same as the Dime we last reviewed there is some differences here but other than that they sound identical to the Dime and look identical apart from the UV reactive light which I have no lamp to test but you can see how they work with their own video, there is a difference between glow in the dark and UV reactive light for those who do no know.

There is no access to their app this time around which I found odd when they have Tile built in which is hand being such a small earbud but they have the rest of the features you would come to expect from Skullcandy. They fit well and block out plenty of the outside world and stand out even being so small with the colour.

You again have the basics when it comes to controls on the earbuds albeit small and if you have big fingers you may struggle a bit until you get your muscle memory in order,  you can skip and reverse tracks, play and pause music and change the volume which is enough for most people and you can control calls.. There is one button on each earbud that controls the lot keeping it simple.

Overall these are an inexpensive pair or earbuds rejuvenated but sound good and give more than enough and great value for money, check out the video review below for a full hands on.

 

Skullcandy x Doritos Limited-Edition Dime 2 True Wireless Earbuds – £39.99

  • UV-Reactive Glow Graphics

  • Built-In Tile Finding Technology

  • 12 Hours Total Battery Life

  • Microphone, Call, Track & Volume Controls

  • Auto Connect

  • IPX4 Sweat & Water Resistant

  • Micro-USB charging case with snap lid and integrated lanyard

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Video Review

Tech Review – DIKTOYOU Men’s Smartwatch

The smartwatch is today for some seen as an expensive companion device which is true to one extent but over the years they have come down in price and more brands to sell them alongside their smartphones, For example I have my original Moto 360 which was my first smartwatch and now I have the Apple Watch Series 7, Pixel Watch A Galaxy watch 4 and several other cheaper brands that all cost less than 100 euro which this one does but this one has features none of those sub 100 euro watches have and even more expensive watches and two stand out features is a speaker to take calls and a voice assistant and also has GPS tracking.

OK so the thing here is this is a generic watch we have seen before and the software to go with it but it is kept simple and everyone wants something different and that is life, it may have some restrictions as to what you can do overall however for the price it a seriously decent watch to get you started of you do not own a smartwatch and do not want a convoluted mess of submenus or set-up this is one watch you should look at and in fact we have done several similar styled watches here before which you can find in the search option.

We go through the set-up the app and all that good stuff in the video review below so you will see what this entails in comparison to other watches out there today, most people today opt for fitness trackers and these are cheaper etc but do not offer the full suite expected on a fully fledged smartwatch and this watch is kind of offering both here which is a good thing.

The watch is a solid build with an IP67 rating and comes with two straps it is not a cheap plastic watch which is often the case at this price point too and stellar battery life it does lots of fitness activities has a huge selection of predefined watchfaces and measures the most important health features and is pretty accurate after comparing to other smartwatches I own.

Check out the video below for more and see how the speaker sounds the calls sound and how it works in general as it is a better view of what this offers for the price. For me it is a great watch to get started and overall a great watch to use and the only place it lacks is on replying on the watch itself but as for the rest it is fine, notifications come through they are a simple line of text and not detailed like more expensive watches but still gives you control at a glance whether or not you need to pick up your phone and one thing for me with smartwatches is they do keep you off your phone and today that is probably a good thing as we spend to much time on them.

The App 

Click to enlarge, app was tested on both Android and iOS and consistent with results and in comparison to other similar watches we have reviewed on statistics, check the video review for more.

 

Features 

  • Smartwatch makes calls: the smartwatch men’s calls with one click adopts BLE5.0 version, faster and more stable connection, the smart watch has a built-in microphone and a speaker, AI voice control and with high-quality ACC speakers, the sound is rich and delicate and the high definition sound quality can be used for answering calls or playing music. You can call your contacts with one click and read your messages easily
  • HD touchscreen fitness tracker: Diktoyou sports watches for men have a TFT colour screen with a circular diameter of 1.32 inches and an ultra HD resolution of 360 x 360, the image quality is more sensitive and clear and the touch becomes more accurate. Pedometer watch men and women are almost compatible with Samsung, iPhone, Huawei and other mobile phones, as long as the mobile phone system iOS 9.0/Android. 5.1 or is higher.
  • Personalised dials and 19 sports: men’s fitness watch includes more than 100 dials to choose from and can even be set as a dial with a custom photo. You can switch the corresponding dial according to different scenes, and the men’s watch is also equipped with two types of straps: silicone and leather. Men’s smart watch contains 19 popular sports: walking, running, mountaineering, cycling, basketball, badminton, football, elliptical trainer, etc. You can easily find your favourite sport
  • Heart rate and health monitoring: fitness watch can monitor your heart rate and blood oxygen saturation in real time to give you the best advice for your training. Automatically record sleep status, digitise your physical condition and adjust preparations directly. The men’s heart rate monitor also contains movement reminders and drinking water reminders to take care of your own health and that of your loved ones in real time
  • Quick charging and customer service: men’s smart watch quick charging takes only two hours to fully charge, equipped with a 300 mAh battery with large capacity, which can last 7-10 days with normal use and 20-30 days in standby mode. The new men’s smart watch is more functional: Bluetooth calls, voice control, 19 sports modes, music playback, breathing training and more. If there is a problem with your watch, please contact us as soon as possible and we will offer a solution within 12 hours.

Get a discount in the link below using the code – 9C4IH4D4

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Video Review

Tech Review – Yeslamp Evo Adjustable LED Desk Lamp

Looking for a new lamp for the home or office well look no further than this latest product we have been checking out and it ticks all the boxes for me and will for many others with the features on board this lamp called the Yeslamp EVO which has LED lights and 6 axis points and not only that it has also got an external charging port which is really useful to charge things in front on you whilst not taking up any extra plug sockets in your home.

This is a typical lamp you might be familiar with but what wins for me is the ability to adjust it more than others we have tried here and how simple it is to set up and not only that you have an alarm clock the time and you have a hygrometer built in so you can get all these and the time right in front of your face all the time which makes it extra handy in more ways than one.

This simply claps on the side like most laps you would see and like what we have reviewed here before and there is no technical skills required to have this completely set up in less than 5 minutes.

Even more beneficial is eye protection here compared to other lights you may be familiar with which is important and becoming a talking point of late which is solved by using special LED beads designed with a Color Rendering Index (CRI) that is above 95, featuring a spectrum that is close to the natural daylight. This provides an eye-friendly source of light that helps you see, read, work, and create better with minimum eye effort—while it also restores the authentic color of any object you’re working with.

 

Yeslamp has been pursuing the core goal of healthy lighting since its inception, and we strive to make our LED lighting products emit light closer to the natural light of the day to better protect the health of our eyesight and that of our families. Yeslamp Evo is designed based on our years of research on the needs of users. It adopts the latest natural spectrum lighting technology. The light is very close to the natural light of the day, which can better protect the health of our eyesight and better restore the color of objects.

Overall for me this is an ideal lamp to use at home or in the office and for zoom and teams calls etc as it is more adjustable than other offerings out there and simple to use with extra features not seen and this is a one stop shop solution keeping your desk tidy too and having the light shine on exactly where you need it to.

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Video Review

Tech Review – ESR iPhone 14 Pro cases Classic Hybrid and Kickstand with HaloLock

Not picked up the iphone 14 Pro yet due to the hype of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra well here is some new cases to check out from ESR and also stay tuned to see more from them very soon for your iPhone 14 pro but the company also does not just cater for iPhone users and of course cater for Samsung.

Today we check out two cases from the company which are simple and effective and do a super job keeping your phone out of harms way and not only this they look good and give you addition gripping power too.

ESR Classic Hybrid Magnetic Case with HaloLock

This is a simple and effective case with HaloLock, clean all round and transparent which allows you to see your device in its natural colour which many people like this case also has anti yellowing which transparent cases have been known to suffer from but not the case here, the buttons work really well with good travel and also all ports accessible and not only that you can still wirelessly charge your phone without having to remove the case it is a win win.

  • Stronger Magnetic Lock: powerful built-in magnets with 1,500 g of holding force enable faster, easier place-and-go wireless charging and a secure lock on any HaloLock or MagSafe accessory
  • Compatibility: only compatible with iPhone 14 Pro; full functionality maintained via precise speaker and port cutouts and easy-press buttons
  • Military-Grade Drop Protection: rigorously tested to ensure total protection on all sides, with specially designed Air-Guard corners that absorb shock so your phone doesn’t have to
  • Screen and Camera Protection: raised screen edges and Camera Guard lens frame provide enhanced scratch protection where it really counts
  • Stay Original: scratch-resistant, crystal-clear acrylic back lets you show off your iPhone 14 Pro’s true style in stunning clarity that lasts

ESR Classic Kickstand Case with HaloLock

This case is more or less the same as the one above however with an additional kickstand thrown in and high quality which enable the user to use the phone for media consumption without having to remove the case to do so which is real handy and common today with case manufacturers not only that you again get additional grip here with a raised front and you can place the device down either on its face or rear without the the camera lens or screen damaged. There is air guard on the corners which give extra protection if dropped and the phone can be used in several ways to consume media on the go or at home, it is a must have case at an affordable price which will save you an expensive bill if you drop the iPhone 14.

 

  • Stronger Magnetic Lock: powerful built-in magnets with 1,500 g of holding force ensure a secure lock on any HaloLock or MagSafe accessory
  • Adjustable Camera Guard Kickstand: fully adjustable between 0 and 85° to ensure the perfect angle for catching up on your favorite shows
  • Built to Last: robust and durable zinc-alloy construction ensures stand stays looking like new while hinge is lab tested to retain its strength after more than 3,000 uses
  • Military-Grade Drop Protection: Air-Guard corners, scratch-resistant acrylic back, and raised edges combine to keep your phone protected from drops, bumps, and scratches

Video review

Tech Review – ZHIYUN FIVERAY M40 Pocket fill light

Looking for a small pocketable light for the house or travel look no further than one the latest products from ZHIYUN which is the FIVERAY M40 pocket fill light is all you will need, this can be anywhere be it at home in the office or like me who stays in hotels quite often and does reviews there where the lighting in general is terrible in rooms most of the time with dim lights to give you some kind of brightness which to be fair I understand.

This is well built and robust and simple to use to which makes even more a product that should be on your radar if you are in the market for such, there is a port to charge via USB-C and this is covered by a swivel type cover that also protects the two wheels to control the brightness and colour temperature and there is 4 LED lights on one side to give you a status of the charge.

This is about the size of an old styled camera and looks like one in some instances and has fans all round to let the heat out and you can see the vents throughout the product and has a nice bit of heft to it too but again will fit in a pocket or travel tech bag which is what I tend to use not taking up much space. As I do travel a lot I keep things to a minimal and this certainly will be a perfect edition to my bag now filling a void that was always an issue but not only that this makes any working space super bright and you can control it to your needs without the need for additional stands and so on and this also can be mounted on a tripod or existing bar or light stand that suits. Check out the video below for more.

 

The palm-sized ZHIYUN M40 360° fill light epitomises simplicity and utility. Based on the attitude-control algorithm applied on gimbals, DynaVort technology enables better heat dispersion, allows for smaller fans, and therefore, a compact device without compromising on its 40W power. Products of a similar size currently only give 5-13W of power. Weighing only 320g, it fits neatly in pockets, looks stylish and is the ultra portable illumination companion for videographers, whether amateur or professional.

Features

  • 【Tiny but Professional】With a palm size and only 320g that fits well in pockets and looks chic on your desk, providing 360° fill light with 40W peak illuminance.
  • 【14000 Lux, Ultra-Bright】Embedded with 176 LED chips that bring an incredible peak illuminance of 14000 lux, M40 rivals the key light provided by bigger equipment.
  • 【Dual Wheels Design】Precise dimming of color temperature and brightness is available via two separate wheels. Offer adjustable dual color temperature ranging from 2700 to 6200k that enables power output peaks at 40W with no strobes.
  • 【Simplified Setup】The adjustable stand of M40 extends possibilities for various occasions, while two 1/4″ screw holes allow the M40 to be mounted on a tripod or light stand.
  • 【Adaptive Charging Technology】M40 supports a 50W PD fast charge protocol that allows real-time charging.

Overall this is a powerful simple to use effective product which is now part of one of my home set-ups..

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Video Review

Tech Review – Creative Zen Air earbuds

The Creative Zen Air earbuds are the latest on offer from the brand and pack more than expected for the price which is great for the consumer and this is now becoming a common trend in the the earbuds and headphones department and of course welcome news and we have been testing these for a while now and it is time to take a look and see what you get for your money.

First up these come in a neat case that comes with wireless charging not seen at this price and you get around 18 hours in total with the case which is decent considering their size, they fit well too giving a good seal leaving a great audio experience all round and you have access to the SXFI app to which changes the game here if you have not already experienced what this app can provide which we have discussed any times here.

The earbuds come with 10 mm Neodymium drivers, which packs a punch and we go through the app in the video review below and all the features on board and how to control the earbuds which is a simple process and they work really well as a whole and nothing complicated here. You do get ANC on board which is decent and of course for those who want to hear their surroundings you get ambient mode.

You also get Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity and a certified IPX4 sweatproof rating here so these are for everyone be in the indoor person or sports and certainly those who commute on a daily basis, there is no sound leakage or lag latency either and make quite the pair of earbuds that are cost effective and certainly should be on your list if you are hunting for a new pair.

Creative Zen Air will support upcoming SXFI READY devices (e.g. smart TVs, PCs and mobile devices) that come built-in with the award-winning Super X-Fi Spatial Holography technology that allows users to enjoy SXFI Spatial Holography that recreates a multi-speaker system soundstage within the headphones. Users can download the SXFI App to preview this technology on local content on their phones.

Pricing and Availability

Creative Zen Air is priced at £39.99 and is available at Creative.com.

For more information, visit creative.com/ZenAir

Video review

 

Tech review – Mobfree SuperCharge – Worlds first 3-in-1 dual-sided wireless watch charger for Pixel Watch Apple watch and Samsung

If you are one to own more than one smartwatch and from more than one brand this latest product is what you need in your life right now and is affordable and not only that it is portable and USB-C, there is many offerings around that charge watches as a standalone product but this one does all watches without the pin connectors and having tested it here on several of my own smartwatches it is an ideal piece of kit to have and you should have as you will be aware it is costly to replace the charger that comes with your watch.

This product is launching beside a US based product which is a 9 in 1 SuperDock which you can see in the link below but we are here to talk about this pocket sized little smartwatch charger which is super cool and does more than it says on the tin after our testing.

This can charge most Samsung watches and Apple watches and also the Google Pixel watch and not only that is does also charge my years old moto 360 smartwatch which is pretty old by today’s standards but it still works and I still love it and wear it from time to time but now I wear either my Google Pixel Watch Apple watch or Samsung smartwatch and it works on all of them which is great and as we know battery life on these is not the best in the world but with this little gadget you can plug it in anywhere and even a power brick and charge all your watches and it also charge the Apple Airpods Pro 2 which we do not have here.

Check out the video below for more and of course check out their kickstarter page

Video Review