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Master & Dynamic MH40 Wireless (2nd Gen) review

Master & Dynamic has gained a reputation for its headphones’ design, and its latest product, the second-generation MH40 Wireless, is certainly no exception.

The headphones employ the signature mix of metal and leather found in the wired MH40 which arrived all the way back in 2014.

A wireless version arrived in 2019 and now an updated wireless model makes its debut, boasting improvements in audio quality, battery life, and other areas.

I’ve long been a fan of the Master & Dynamic brand, taking care to keep its products in tip-top shape and using them for truly enjoying music. I don’t use them all of the time, but when I do, it’s truly a treat.

Let’s take a look at the new MH40 and compare it to its predecessor. Is it worth spending $100 more for the 2023 edition?

Design

The over-ear headphones feature aluminum construction and a coated canvas-wrapped headband color-matched to removable lambskin leather ear pads. With all of those high-end materials, the MH40 weighs 280 grams, but it still feels lightweight and comfortable and it looks every bit like you’d expect. There’s something timeless and “cool” in the design and I’m glad to see Master & Dynamic doesn’t change things up.

The cushiony ear pads keep you from feeling the outer rim of the ear cups. Like others in the brand’s lineup, these are soft to the touch, comforting, and comfortable — even in longer listening sessions.

The on-board controls reside on the right ear cup, with a three-button array positioned near the headband hinge, giving you controls for calls, music, voice assistant, and volume.

Mobile App

The M&D Connect app is the companion software for the MH40. Here, battery level is the most prominently displayed item, along with a note to advise if the headphones are up to date in regards to the firmware.

The app’s sound menu provides four different EQ presets: Bass Boost, Bass Cut, Podcast, and Audiophile – along with the option to enable Sidetone for phone calls. This feature basically lets you to hear your own voice in your headphones when you’re on the phone.

While the Sidetone feature is useful, it can only be activated within the app, which is sort of wonky. You’ll need to access the menu before making a call. I’d love to see the mobile app let me customize the buttons on the MH40; I can imagine some who would prefer to activate Sidetone instead of using their voice assistant. The controls menu lets you customize the device name, shut-off timer, and even trigger a factory reset.

I’m glad to see the M&D Connect app evolving and look forward to seeing new features added over time. I might suggest the ability to create a custom equalizer setting or perhaps an audio test that lets new users better balance the sound based on the individual. As we age our ears don’t always hear the same from right to left and certain frequencies are more difficult to pick up.

Sound

The MH40 headphones are equipped with enhanced 40mm titanium drivers that deliver an even more impressive audio performance than their predecessors. While the original version was already outstanding, this new model provides a noticeable improvement to an already excellent set of headphones.

The sound quality is deliberately designed to be warm and pleasing, with a perfect balance across all frequencies. The bass is deep and gratifying, the mids are rich and prominent, and the highs are not overly sharp. The overall result is a remarkably cohesive sound that creates a delightful listening experience, regardless of the music genre.

Master & Dynamic headphones are my favorite option for those times when I want to immerse myself in Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here as they seem to pick every little nuance. Moreover, they really show off that warm and soothing sound, rich bass, and crisp reedy saxophone found on Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Pts. 1-5).

The headphones feature up-to-date codec support, including AAC, SBC, and aptX Adaptive, which means you can stream audio at a high quality of up to 24-bit/96kHz. This is higher than the standard CD quality, which has a bitrate of 44.1kHz. I’ve loved working my way through my favorite albums with the second-gen MH40 headphones.

Battery

The MH40 headphones by Master & Dynamic now offer a longer battery life of up to 30 hours, compared to the first wireless version which had 18 hours of battery life. While this is fantastic, it’s worth pointing out that this is not as long as some models that have Active Noise Cancellation (ANC).

The headphones have a quick-charge feature that provides up to six hours of use after only 15 minutes of charging. Most users will be able to get a full week or more of usage without worrying about charging.

The headphones also come with a 1.5-meter audio cable if you want to go wired, as well as a carrying case that’s the same premium quality as the headphones themselves.

What Else?

Tthe MH40 have Bluetooth Multipoint, which allows you to connect to two devices simultaneously and switch between them easily.

ANC is something that many people find very useful for blocking out background noise but it won’t matter much if you’re primarily using the headphones in quieter environments. That is to say these are not your headphones for mowing the grass or working out at the gym.

There’s a flight adapter included in the box which makes it convenient to listen to content when flying on an airplane. It’s not something that everyone needs, but it’s helpful to have and speaks to that $100 price delta from the first generation.

Parting Thoughts

The Master & Dynamic second-generation MH40 Wireless offers great sound quality and design. However, compared to similarly priced alternatives, the headphones lack features such as noise-canceling and wireless charging. Despite that, the MH40 Wireless is an excellent option for those looking for a stylish and comfortable pair of headphones that deliver great audio quality.

I used to be skeptical to the concept of spending more than a few hundred dollars on a pair of headphones but my opinion changed with time. I can speak from experience and say that Master & Dynamic’s products stand the test of time. Its products are a case of “getting what you pay for” and some of that definitely comes from the build quality and design.

If you’re shopping on price, comparing bullet points, and looking for the “most” you can get for your money, there are headphones that will beat the new MH40 and its $400 sticker.

On paper and in practice, the second generation bests its predecessor in a few key areas. Battery life is boosted, you get a newer version of Bluetooth, added codec support, mobile app support, and a flight adapter. Then you also get a souped-up 40mm driver that tweaks your experience for the better. Oh, and they’re available in five colors instead of three.

I have no reservations in recommending the MH40 Wireless 2nd Gen to anyone who will listen. This goes double for people who value craftsmanship and design.

Hands On: LDNIO chargers for phones and other devices

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In today’s fast-paced world, our mobile phones have become an essential part of our lives. Whether it’s for work, entertainment, or staying connected with loved ones, we rely heavily on our phones to keep us connected and productive throughout the day.

But, as many of you know first hand, while our phones become more powerful and feature-rich, they also require more energy to keep them charged and running smoothly. This is where a reliable and efficient phone charger comes in.

Here, we will be taking a look at a relatively new and unknown brand, LDNIO, and two of its products. First we’ll check out the 65W Super Fast Charger, followed by the 120W 4-Port Charger.

LDNIO 65W Super Fast Charging Plug Charger

The LDNIO 65W GaN Super Fast Charger A3511Q is a compact and lightweight charger that uses GaN (Gallium Nitride) technology, which is known for its high efficiency and low heat generation compared to traditional silicon-based chargers. The charger has a total output power of 65W, with two USB-A ports and one USB-C port that support fast charging for compatible devices.

The charger is compatible with a wide range of devices, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, and gaming consoles. It also features built-in safety mechanisms such as over-voltage protection, over-current protection, and short-circuit protection, which can help prevent damage to your devices.

Opt for the Type-C port alone and you’ll get 65W output; the other two deliver 18W on their own. Paired with one of the other ports, the Type-C port can still deliver 45W of power.

If you are looking for a powerful and efficient charger that can fast charge multiple devices simultaneously, the LDNIO 65W GaN Super Fast Charger could be a good option to consider. It’s portable, efficient, and powerful — all the things we care about in chargers like this.

LDNIO 120W 4-Port USB-C Charger

The LDNIO 120W 4-Port USB-C Charger is a high-powered desktop charger with four ports – two USB-C and two USB-A. It uses GaN III technology to provide fast charging for multiple devices at the same time. The charger has a maximum power output of 120W, which is enough to charge most laptops, including the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, as well as Chromebooks, tablets and smartphones.

The charger is equipped with advanced safety features to protect your devices from overcharging, overheating, and short circuits. The compact and portable design makes it convenient to carry around; the cable can be removed and packed up easily.

When using all four ports at once, the USB-C port on the left gives you 65W of charging prowess while the one on the right offers up a still-awesome 20W. The USB-A ports each deliver 18W.

Dropping to two or three plugs at once allows for more powerful per-port charging and using just one at a time really opens things up. Indeed, the Type-C ports can deliver up to 100W when they’re the only ones used.

Overall, the LDNIO 120W USB-C Charger is a high-quality and versatile charging solution for those who need to charge multiple devices quickly and efficiently.

Parting Thoughts

I wasn’t familiar with the LDNIO brand prior to checking these products out. After spending a few weeks using them around the office I feel comfortable recommending these two and think it’s a safe bet to suggest others, too.

Purchase Yours

You can learn more about LDNIO and its products at the manufacturer’s website where it has a fairly robust portfolio of accessories. Alternatively, you can also head to Amazon and purchase them. The 65W Super Fast Charging Plug Charger is currently available for about $30 while the 120W 4-Port USB-C Charger runs about $70.

Top 5 Android apps that help you control your habits

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Editor Note: This post is done in collaboration with GamStop and should not be considered an editorial endorsement

It is universally believed that the key to a happy, healthy, and long life is building good habits and breaking bad habits. Especially after the pandemic, where 62% of people are still trying to come out of bad habits formed during the pandemic. But building new habits is not as easy as it sounds, and breaking an age-old habit is near impossible for some people. 

However, the most effective way to build new habits is to track them and set reminders for them, and an app specially built for that purpose can be the most convenient solution. Smartphones can remind users the case have something some tasks left that day, and this gradually helps build the necessary habits.

Criteria For a Good Habit Tracker

There are a plethora of habit trackers scattered across the internet, but every good habit tracker has to have a few features like:

  • It should create a visual cue that can remind the user of a certain task at hand
  • It should motivate with texts or stickers the progress the users are making
  • The app has to give an incentive not to break the steak
  • It should make the user feel satisfied to record their success at the moment

Keeping these parameters in mind, let’s get into overviewing some of the most popular and effective mobile applications for habit management.

Apps That Can Help You Control and Develop Your Habits

The following list of applications is not exhaustive — perhaps, it would be physically impossible to mention on a single page all the apps worth trying out. However, we believe that the list below will come in handy as a reference point if you decide to start managing your habits with the help of mobile technologies.

Goalify

Goalify is another app that can help increase consistency on certain things. It’s a smart app that can be used quickly, easily, and effectively record to any number of goals or other tasks that the user would like to accomplish. Its versatility allows you to use it as one of the gaming control apps, a habit tracker, a progress meter, or in other ways suitable for you. 

Goalify provides dynamic reminders, helpful tips, and even custom push notifications. Not only that, users are even offered useful information on their goal performance and detailed advice on how to improve themselves. It even allows sharing progress which not only inspires others to form better habits but also gives the users something to take pride in.

Streaks

The Streaks app is a habit tracker in the form of a to-do list that helps the user form good habits. Every day the user completes a task, their streak is extended. The tasks can be anything from waking up and making the bed to walking a dog. Working on something every day helps people form new habits. As long as they don’t break the chain, their streak will keep increasing or it will be reset to zero days. This would motivate users not to lose focus and keep doing the tasks to get the streaks going.

GamStop

GamStop is a habit tracker that is kind of different from the other trackers featured in the list but it is no less useful. It is essentially a free, independent self-exclusion scheme for people who have gambling addiction or other related problem habits. 

If gamblers register their details with GamStop, they get to choose how long they want to be banned from these gambling and gaming sites. While subscribed to GamStop, they would not be able to log on to gambling websites, and thus this would automatically help them break their addiction or bad habit of excessive gambling and thus help the users detox. Even though you can find a casino with no GamStop, this is still an effective method to keep problem gambling under control.

Habitica

Habitica is a very unique and free habit tracker with RPG features built in. As a user completes their tasks for the day, they also build up the stats for a character in the game. This character can then join parties, go on quests, and even get new gear. Thus this type of motivation is always useful in building habits. Unless statistics, buffs, and other data overwhelm or distract a user, it is a very interesting habit tracker.

However, even without the RPG, the gamification of Habitica can still be unique and captivating. Especially because in case of failure to do a task, the character might lose some of its abilities or gears, and this would motivate people not to ignore the tasks. 

HabitBull

HabitBull’s habit tracker app uses a simple but powerful UI, so a whole month’s progress can be seen at a glance. Thus it is super easy to track the day the user broke a habit in that month. More importantly, their app has graphs and charts showing visual data on how the user performed with their habits and what success percentage they were able to achieve as opposed to their desired goals. All of this data is even transformable into CSV format, which gives the users the ability to analyze them themselves.

Conclusion

If people desire to make certain lifestyle changes by changing a habit, they might need some extra help. Among all the popular Android blockers, habit trackers take a special place in this regard. It is a modern and convenient way of building much-needed good habits. These habits can help them overcome addiction and even suppress certain less-harmful bad habits like lethargy, smoking, and drinking. 

Thus, enabling the users to become much more efficient and confident in their lives. Thus in this way, they can gain positivity and motivation from these tasks. These trackers make the user feel a sense of achievement when they complete tasks and thus continue to push them till they do not need to be reminded anymore.

How remote employee tracking can benefit a workplace and its drawbacks

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With remote work comes the concerns of remote work related stress. How do you know whether your employees are beneficial to your company or simply taking advantage of a stable salary without putting in the work or hours? Fortunately, there are modern solutions for those headaches in the form of remote tracking software and tools. Remote tracking is the process of monitoring and recording employee activities within an organization. It is a vital tool for employers to ensure that their employees are working efficiently and effectively. Employee tracking can be done through various methods such as time tracking software, GPS tracking, and monitoring software.

The importance of employee tracking cannot be overstated and while one of the most obvious uses of a remote tracking system gives employees the ability to monitor their employees productivity and hitting their KPIs, there are some more subtle benefits.

Nipping problems in the bud

Data is invaluable and there’s a reason why big data had a big impact on current markets. Industries have been investing in A.I analytics to help make head and tail of big data because it could identify potential problems or alert users of upcoming trends. Employers can use remote tracking for more or less the same things. For instance, if an employee is consistently falling behind in their work, employers would be able to catch this trend and address the issue promptly instead of allowing it to affect the business. 

Remote tracking can be a good motivator

Remote work relies heavily on the accountability of every individual, but when they know that their activities are being monitored, they naturally become more focused on their work. It flips a switch in their minds that they cannot procrastinate, becoming a good motivator as well as ensuring a transparent work environment so that both employees and employers can be comfortable in the organization without the pressure of having to report or monitor constantly, which can strain their working relationship. 

Despite its benefits, employee tracking also has its drawbacks which don’t just affect the ones being monitored.

Excuse me, are you invading my privacy?

Aside from the obvious violation of privacy that employees may feel, employers may potentially abuse the data that they have which can cause discrimination or infringe on their rights. That’s why it’s doubly important to enforce transparency on the employer’s side and ensure that employees know exactly how they are monitored, what the data is used for, and that employers do not mislead them. 

Can it be time-consuming and costly?

There may be ongoing costs that employees have to fork out on a monthly basis for maintenance and support but with so much software on the market, employers can simply search for the one that suits their needs and budget. Another concern is that it can sometimes be time consuming to train staff on how to use the program, but with a comprehensive onboarding program, it should take the task off your hands and can even become a test of competency for the new employee. 

It is clear that there are both benefits and drawbacks to using remote tracking software, though the pros outweigh the cons. There are some ways to bypass these cons simply by employing some common sense and maintaining integrity.

Review: Kensington MD120U4 USB4 Portable Docking Station

The MD120U4 USB4 Portable Docking Station is a portable dock with a pair of HDMI ports, a pair of USB-A ports, and an Ethernet port. With support for up to 100W power pass-through charging, it lets users plug their laptop into the dock to charge it up at the same time.

Read on to learn more or check out the podcast (also embedded below) to see what we thought of the Kensington MD120U4 USB4 Portable Docking Station.

Noteworthy Features

  • Two HDMI ports (up to 8K @ 60Hz refresh rate on single monitor/ 4K @ 120Hz on dual monitors)
  • Up to 100W Power Pass-through
  • Two USB-A 3.2 Gen2 ports
  • Up to 40Gbps upstream speed
  • Three-year warranty

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Listen to the Episode

Thoughts and Conclusion

The MD120U4 USB4 Portable Docking Station is a great solution for hybrid workers who value flexibility and productivity on the go. It’s light and small, packing up easily, and takes up very little space on a desk.

We appreciate being able to plug in a pair of monitors and a keyboard and mouse into a laptop, turning it into a desktop computer-like setup at the office. Moreover, it tucks into a bag nicely, with cable storage clips, opening the door to ports and accessories on a device that otherwise doesn’t have them.

One of the downsides to these slim and modern laptops is that they tend to lose USB-A ports or don’t have plugs for an external monitor. Thanks to products like this we can plug in traditional accessories like printers, scanners, and microphones.

If you’re the kind who likes to travel light but set up a more involved workstation for photo, video, or audio editing, you surely know how great it is to have multiple screens. This Kensington accessory is a smart way to future-proof and expand your laptop’s capabilities. And if you’re among the millions of Samsung phone owners with DeX support, you’ll be excited to know that this works well for that as well.

You can learn more about the Kensington MD120U4 USB4 Portable Docking Station and/or purchase yours for about $150.

Podcast: Govee LED Strip Light M1

Check out episode 396 of the AndroidGuys Podcast where we discuss the Govee LED Strip Light M1.

About the Govee LED Strip Light M1

The Govee LED Strip Light M1 is a smart LED strip light that can be controlled through a mobile app or a voice assistant. It is designed to provide colorful and dynamic lighting effects for home or office decor, parties, or mood lighting.

Listen below using the embedded player or click here to check out the episode using your favorite media player.

Samsung unveils the latest A-series smartphones: Galaxy A54 and Galaxy A34

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The South Korean tech giant Samsung recently unveiled its most premium flagship Galaxy S23 series smartphones. Now the brand is focusing on its midrange series smartphones. Samsung introduced two new smartphones in the A series- Samsung Galaxy A54 and Galaxy A34. Successor to the Galaxy A53 and Galaxy A33 comes with more improved and upgraded features. 

Speaking about design both smartphones have the same flagship design as the S23 smartphone- premium and attractive. The Galaxy A54 has a punch-hole cut-out front camera while the Galaxy A34 boasts a water drop notch. Both devices house a triple rear camera setup and a small LED flash placed next right to the camera setup. 

Let’s take a look at the detailed specifications and pricing of the Galaxy A54 and A34 smartphones. 

Samsung Galaxy A54 Specifications

It’s quite surprising, Samsung chooses its in-house Exynos chipset for the Samsung Galaxy A54. The Galaxy A54 5G smartphone is equipped with an Exynos 1380 processor paired with a Mali-G68 MP5 GPU, up to 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of internal storage. The smartphone runs on Android 13 based on OneUI 5.1. 

Samsung unveils the latest A-series smartphones: Galaxy A54 and Galaxy A34

You get big real estate on the Galaxy A54 5G which is ideal for gaming, binge-watching, and web surfing. The smartphone has a 6.4-inch FHD+ sAMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 1000 nits of peak brightness. The device features a triple rear camera setup at the back with a 50MP primary sensor joined by 12MP ultrawide shooter and a 5MP depth sensor. There is a 32MP punch-hole selfie camera for capturing stunning selfies and video chats.

The Galaxy A54 is backed by a 5,000mAh battery with support of 25W fast charging support. The rest of the highlights of the Galaxy A54 include an IP67 rating water and dust resistance, an In-display fingerprint sensor, and speaker grills tuned with Dolby Atmos.

Samsung Galaxy A54 5G comes in two variant options- the base 8/128GB variant cost €489 while the 8/256GB model is priced at €539. The smartphone comes in three awesome color options including Lime, Violet, and Graphite. Both the latest Galaxy A54 and Galaxy A34 smartphones will be up for sale this March.

Samsung Galaxy A34 Specifications

Samsung unveils the latest A-series smartphones: Galaxy A54 and Galaxy A34

The Galaxy A34 smartphone sports a 6.6-inch FHD+ sAMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 1000 nits of peak brightness. In terms of optics, The device has a triple rear camera setup at the back with a 48MP primary sensor joined by 8MP ultrawide shooter and a 5MP depth sensor. There is a 13MP punch-hole selfie camera for capturing stunning selfies and video chats.

Under the hood, the Galaxy A34 5G smartphone is equipped with a MediaTek Dimensity 1080 processor paired with a Mali-G68 MC4 GPU, up to 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of internal storage. The smartphone boots Andriod 13 based on OneUI 5.1 out of the box. 

Samsung unveils the latest A-series smartphones: Galaxy A54 and Galaxy A34

The Galaxy A34 houses a 5,000mAh battery with support of 25W fast charging support. Other features of the Galaxy A34 include an In-display fingerprint sensor, stereo speaker grills tuned with Dolby Atmos, an IP67 rating water and dust resistance,

Samsung Galaxy A34 5G comes in two variant options- the base 6/128GB variant cost €389 while the 8/256GB model is priced at €459. The smartphone will be available in three awesome color options including Lime, Silver, and Graphite.  

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Google Play Games: Unlock seamless gameplay across mobile and PC

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If you’re one of those who love to play their favorite mobile games on PC, Google Play Games on PC has been created for your enjoyment. You can engross yourself in gaming, confident of the same type of security and stability you expect from Google Play.

At the present time, this program is available in 13 countries but subject to game availability and PC compatibility. If you don’t see it on your PC, you may need to wait a bit to get yours on your PC.

Advantage for Developers and users on Google Play Games

According to the Director, Google Play Game Arjun Dayal, the company has a catalog of top-tier games and over 10 billion monthly sessions on mobile. These users are welcoming the development with enthusiasm because they find that Google Play Games come with high-quality, high performance emulation and cross-screen gameplay.

Developers who join the Google Play Games on PC will find the advantage of increasing user reach, engagement, and ROI. They can now build high-quality games across Google surfaces.

Google makes cross-platform game playing easier

At the just concluded Google for Games Developer Summit, it was explained that the company will continue to make the platform easier for all stakeholders. It is necessary to keep things simple, while the team improves the onboard process for Google Play Games on PC.

See Also: Google Play Games now supports avatars and unique usernames

What are some of the updates?

Google Play Games on PC is expanding to more regions of the world and including more games that are popular among billions of gamers worldwide. It will soon get to Japan and other countries in Europe in 2023.

For users, they can use this new release checklist to verify that they have completed all necessary steps before submitting a build to ensure a quick approval process.

This program is necessitated by the huge push for large-screen devices in the gaming world. Large-screen devices include desktops, laptops, tablets, and foldables.

Minecraft Bedrock Edition arrives on Chromebook

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Chromebook users can now enjoy Minecraft on their device. The early access version of Minecraft known as Bedrock Edition is now active on Chromebook as from March 15 2023. This means the game is now more accessible to more people worldwide.

Features of Minecraft Bedrock Edition

It offers cross-device play with friends and acquaintances, access to Minecraft Marketplace, and users are able to play on Realms. However, this doesn’t mean that Chromebook users will have access to the full version yet. This means some games and actions will be unavailable until the full version for Chromebook launches.

Without the update, users will be able cross-play – share a camel ride with someone, leave cryptic notes hanging signs, or even go on a group hunt for sniffer eggs. There’ll be other fun things to accomplish as well.

This Bedrock Edition will allow the gamer to meet new mobs, nab new blocks, and go in search of new biomes.

See Also: Minecraft PE adds cross-platform mulitplayer, the Nether, and more

In case you don’t see Minecraft on your Chromebook

It means your device is not compatible. Not everyone with a Chromebook will be able to enjoy the Bedrock Edition yet, but when the full version arrives, all users will. The date for the full version launch is not known yet. So, we just keep our fingers crossed. Once the full version arrives, it will be available on Google Play Store.

The Minecraft team promises that bugs will not be allowed on the early access version. According to the team, “they will check every creeper hisses, every glow-berry glows, and that every snow-topped mountain can spawn a screaming goat.”

Even if there are some bugs, users are encouraged to let the team know about it so the situation can be dealt with. The team claims that your bug reports will greatly aid in the refining of the game’s performance. Furthermore, these are necessary part of the testing process.

Check out if your Chromebook is included in the early access launch. Visit this page.

Review: Morphée Zen

The Morphée Zen is a portable device designed for helping users to relax and de-stress. With no displays or screens to distract, it’s as simple as plugging in headphones and choosing from 72 different sessions spanning six themes. The internal battery is good for up to 90 minutes per charge with sessions ranging from two to five minutes each.

Read on to learn more or check out the podcast (also embedded below) to see what we thought of the Morphée Zen.

Noteworthy Features

  • Includes 72 sessions over six themes (Deep Relaxation, Immersive Journeys, Dynamic Relaxation, Sounds of Nature, Relaxing Music, Chrono Zen)
  • Male and female voices
  • Sessions range from two to five minutes
  • Battery life up to 90 minutes
  • Two-year warranty

Gallery

Listen to the Episode

Thoughts and Conclusion

The Morphée Zen is a very convenient device that’s easy to use and comfortable in hand. With a shape that calls to mind a river rock or pebble, there are no screens to distract. It’s intuitive and practical with only a handful of symbols to press.

Sessions range from two to five minutes in length with voiceovers from both male and female guides. Listen to music, sounds of nature, or take a guided journey and you’ll be chilled out in no time.

Battery life is decent at 90 minutes which shakes out to 18-45 sessions per charge. In other words, you may be charging this up maybe once or twice a month, if that much.

The Morphée Zen is small enough to travel anywhere and it fits into a pocket or purse without hassle. The soft edges and slightly irregular shape help lend to portability.

Given how easy it is to get distracted by using apps on our phones, it’s sometimes difficult to “unplug” and just immerse ourselves in a meditation. That’s not a problem here as you’re just figuring out which sort of session to enjoy without any screens stealing away our attention.

You can learn more about the Morphée Zen and/or purchase yours for about $80.