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Showing posts with the label harry.padoan@futurenet.com (Harry Padoan)

I’m slowly being converted into a cuff-style open earbuds fanatic, thanks to this top effort from Soundcore

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Anker Soundcore AeroClip: review If you’re the athletic type or maybe just a regular gym goer, the Anker Soundcore AeroClip could be the perfect set of open earbuds for you. These clip-on buds have the basics down: solid sound, a secure and comfortable fit plus nifty companion app functionality. And although they’re not perfect, their more-than-fair price of $129.99 / £129.99 (about AU$210) makes them an option well worth considering. Generally, my problem with open-ear headphones and open earbuds is that they don’t offer a proper seal and let in a lot of ambient sound. That means you’ll hear all sorts, from squawking gulls to wailing children. As you can imagine, that can make it difficult to indulge in a high-quality listening experience. But after putting my anti-open-ear bias to one side, I discovered that the Anker Soundcore AeroClip pleasantly surprised me in a number of ways – especially in terms of their audio performance. From the off, I was met with clean, impressively im...

I tested out this robot that can charge your phone in mere minutes and it’s a triumph

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UGreen Nexode RG 65W review If the joy of getting back up to 100% charge isn’t enough for you, then you simply have to check out the UGreen Nexode RG 65W. This cheerful charging robot will get your laptop, phone or tablet back to fighting fit with a smile, thanks to its LED display and accompanying emoticons. And this charger will get not one, not two, but three devices back to 100% in no time. That’s because it has three ports: two USB-C and one USB-A. You can get up to 65W in single-port mode, 45W and up to 20W (using USB-C Port 2) in duo mode and 45W plus 7.5W in the remaining slots when tri-port charging. In terms of actual performance, this model does very nicely too. I tried charging my Samsung Galaxy S24 FE alongside the Soundcore Space One Pro and Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 speaker. Despite using all three ports, the UGreen Nexode RG 65W ensured my phone – which has a 4,700mAh battery – hit full charge from 0% in just under 80 minutes. That’s the sort of speeds you’d expect...

I tested LG’s new earbuds fine-tuned by will.i.am and a lack of style was the last thing I expected

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LG xboom Buds: two-minute review Enter the LG xboom Buds, a pair of wireless earbuds fine-tuned by the man who spins his chair around on UK primetime TV… and produces a few hit songs now and then too: will.i.am. LG and will.i.am’s combined effort looks to supply “supreme sound”, effective ANC and unique style factor. And for the price of $99 / £119, that sounds like a pretty sweet deal. Sure, the LG xboom Buds aren’t the cheapest on the market, but they're hardly priced in the premium cost bracket. Having said that, these earbuds don’t quite hit the dizzying heights we’ve seen from a handful of previous efforts, with good but not great sound and disappointing design. Let’s start by tackling sound – the thing that matters most for us in our hunt for the best earbuds . Out of the box, you’re going to be struck by decent, deep and impactful bass output, ramped-up treble and fairly clean mids. I’d argue that the treble is overly forward on occasion, and can get a little grating at ...

I tested these 1More headphones and I’m convinced they’re some of the best cheap cans money can buy

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1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51: two-minute review The 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 are a pair of budget-friendly over-ear headphones that set out to do it all. They aim to serve up adept audio, noise-crushing ANC and an eye-catching design – all for less than $100 / £100. I must confess, that’s quite the tall task, and I did have my reservations at first. But after two weeks of testing, I’m pleased to report that these 1More cans do all of those things… and more. Before we really drill into things, let’s take a glance at the 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51’s headline info. These headphones come in with a modest list price of $89 / £99 / AU$130 and offer ANC and transparency mode, LDAC for ‘hi-res’ Bluetooth streaming and up to 100 hours – yes 100 hours – of battery life. Let’s zoom in on the area that matters most – sound. Now, you’re not going to get audio quality that competes with the more premium options in our guide to the best headphones , nor indeed the more aspirational models in our best nois...

I tried this small wall charger from Belkin and it was super-useful, albeit a little underpowered

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Belkin BoostCharge Pro GaN Dual Wall Charger 45W review OK, let me take a deep breath… the Belkin BoostCharge Pro GaN Dual Wall Charger 45W… whew… is a two-port model that can get your phone and a second device back to life in no time. That is if they’re not too power hungry. This model supports 45W single-port charging, or up to 25W via Port 1 and 20W through Port 2 in double-charge mode. That’s enough to activate fast charging on devices like the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, which I personally own, but won’t be enough to charge more demanding alternatives – like the Honor Magic V3 or modern MacBook models, for instance – at their maximum allowed wattage. But if that 45W is going to be enough for you, then you’ll likely be satisfied by performance here. I tried charging the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE alongside the Anker Soundcore Space One Pro and my phone got back to 100% from 0% in less than 80 minutes – very impressive. That’s the sort of speeds I’d expect from the best iPhone chargers...

I tested this understated yet convenient Apple Watch strap for a week – here’s why you should buy it now

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Apple Sport Band review The Apple Sport Band is a basic, albeit high-quality Apple Watch strap that’s ready for all activity, whether that be a stroll in the park or a run around the block. At $49 / £49, it’s not the cheapest Apple Watch band in the world, but its price is very much in-line with other official first-party accessories, like the Sport Loop, for instance. This band is made of fluoroelastomer – ideal for sports due to its inherently sweat and waterproof nature. When I went on walks and did a home workout, I never found that the band was irritating on my skin or accrued any kind of damage. On top of that, it’s super comfortable for everyday use. Even fastening the band on is quick and easy – just poke the aluminum pin through one of the strap’s holes and you’re good to go. That combination of comfort and convenience is a must-have for all of the best Apple Watch bands . Something I would have liked to see, though, is a few more holes in the strap for fitness activity. ...

I tested this cheap triple-port charger from Belkin and it’s perfectly sized for any nook and cranny

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Belkin BoostCharge 3-Port USB-C Wall Charger with PPS 67W review If you’ve ever wished you could charge multiple devices simultaneously, the Belkin BoostCharge 3-Port USB-C Wall Charger with PPS 67W (I know, quite the name) is a practical solution. This charger packs in three USB-C ports, a maximum output of 67W and Programmable Power Supply (PPS) tech, which adjusts the model’s power automatically to fit the needs of your devices, enabling an “optimum” charge. That’s a pretty comprehensive package, especially given this model has a fairly moderate list price of $44.99 / £39.99 /AU$89.95. Some may still want access to a USB-A port, but fear not, there are alternatives – see the ‘Also consider’ section for more. But can it keep up with some of the best iPhone chargers and best Android phone chargers when it comes to performance? Well, in my experience, yes. I tried charging the Samsung Galaxy 24 FE alongside the Anker Soundcore Space One Pro and LG Tone Free T90S and was please...