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Punkt MP02 phone review

Andrew Allen
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Punkt MP02 phone review

As we continue to evolve the mobile computing market, we also spread our personal information to more and more accessible avenues. Whether it’s Google, Amazon, Apple, or any of the other major tech players, our data is the currency we trade for most services. Punkt has come to the market with devices like the MP02 phone to challenge this paradigm.

The Movement

It’s rare that a new device comes our way that completely perplexes me. The Punkt is part throwback and part unplugged 4G, if that makes sense. The fully 4G-connected device is consciously limited to just messaging, basic calendars, and phone calls. It’s an interesting movement that Punkt sees users that want to take a step back from the connected web.

The idea is that you shift your daily interactions to very focused and deliberate conversations. This means you have your close circle of friends and family that text or call you on a regular basis and all other noise makers are on the outside looking in.

Punkt sees the MP02 as your primary communication device that can be augmented by other devices like a laptop or tablet. You only stay consistently plugged into the primary discussions via messages and phone calls, but you can still call on the 4G connection to access the wider web when needed on the secondary units.

To utilize this vision the Punkt MP02 is running a BlackBerry-hardened version of Android — Android 8.1 to be exact with the proprietary Apostrophy OS found on the device. The functionality is very security focused and you won’t find any of your favorite apps here.

Design

The Punkt is constructed of glass-fiber reinforced plastic with an angled almost wedged design. The phone isn’t much larger than a Roku remote but has a great feel in the hand. The balance is something you can tell Punkt’s lead designer Jasper Morrison really focused on getting right.

The majority of the front of the MP02 are the keys, another throwback. Not only are tactile keys present, but it’s also all just numerical keys short of dedicated navigation buttons on the left side. That’s right you, don’t get a QWERTY keyboard. Just 0-9 baby!

Atop the keyboard is a 2-inch black and white screen. The tech is a transflective LCD that reminds me of an e-ink. It’s easy on the eyes and should take minimal battery life. The screen seems tiny in today’s market, but again, it’s about focused communication only so it works.

There are two speakers on the Punkt MP02. There’s a dedicated earphone grille at the top for taking traditional calls and a larger speakerphone array on the back of the phone. Both are adequate for what you’d expect for the respective usage cases.

Finally, at the bottom of the MP02 is a single USB-C charging port. This is another reminder that while this is somewhat of a throwback, Punkt includes very updated technology. Having this over a proprietary or older port to save money is a huge plus to just using any USB-C standard charging cable when needed.

Daily usage

This is where I really struggled with the Punkt MP02. There is something freeing about not having your normal smartphone tropes and having connected apps constantly pinging you during the day. Being able to unplug and strip the experience down for just communication is refreshing. Having only access to calls, texts, and calendars is a unique take back to possibly a better time in mobile.

Calls and text work as expected as well. I saw zero issues using traditional text messages and phone calls while using the Punkt MP02. Pick your contact and then text away or make a quick call much like you would on any other device… with a few caveats we’ll cover in a few seconds.

The Pigeon platform is built off the existing Signal protocol and is a great, hardened way to keep on-device communications encrypted. It also means that the Punk MP02 leverages the WiFi and LTE connections to make these calls and texts.

This sounds great, but it comes with hiccups. For one, the Pigeon can perform normal SMS, but you can’t utilize group chats without the other people using Signal. No MMS-style group chats are available without individual responses to each contact.

The same is true for WiFi calling. You can’t complete calls outside the cellular connection unless the other user is on Signal. I really wish the company would enable this as it would make my next complaint a little less of an issue.

The phone doesn’t support the 71 megahertz band or Verizon here in America. This is a pretty big blow to two of the three major carriers in the States. The 71 band is T-Mobile’s main band to use in rural areas, and I found that the MP02 simply doesn’t recognize any Verizon SIM. Traditional WiFi calling would go a long way to help those that could mitigate this while on a home or office network.

Otherwise, I have three more knocks to the Punkt MP02 in general use. One, the interface isn’t great. It’s almost too minimalistic and not very intuitive to me. For instance, there’s no easy way to manipulate the volume. Most actions also take multiple clicks of the up and down arrows to accomplish. Answering a text takes three clicks: down, click, click. Even the “shortcuts” button for messages and contacts only works from the main home screen.

Next, you can’t sync contacts without manually downloading CSV files to the device. I know this is a pattern of the security focus, and a conscious choice, but it just seems like a miss for me. Modern smartphone syncing makes this so easy and I’d bet many younger users have never done this via CSV on any device.

And that brings me to the last gripe. I think this phone might be a non-starter for anyone under 30 years of age. Many of the interactions found on the Punkt MP02 are heavily influenced by devices that were no longer available after say the 2010s. By this point in mobile history, you had one of three devices: still holding a BlackBerry or you’d adopted either Android of iOS.

Picking up the Punkt is like a time capsule in a way. T9 actions for texting are a completely foreign concept. Downloading a physical file to upload your contacts is as well. It’s almost a contradiction in a way as I do think the current generation would be interested in the Punkt ethos.

The younger tech users are becoming more and more aware of the digital data they sacrifice and searching for new ways to circumvent those hooks to big techs like Google and Apple. However, I think the learning curve to using the MP02 may be too much of a hurdle over options like de-Googled alternatives like Copperhead or CalyxOS. These custom ROMs offer some similar security measures without sacrificing the hardware or app stores they expect to have on modern phones.

Battery life

With the slimmed-down OS onboard the Punkt, it’s no surprise battery life has been great. I was able to easily get multiple days out of general usage. Standby should last at least a week. If you are only placing the occasional sub-thirty minute call and texting I could easily see you getting a 3-4 day endurance time on the MP02.

Conclusion

Again, I’m torn on the Punkt MP02. It’s always refreshing to see a company take the idea of merging great design into a secure communication device. We expend our data in numerous ways online and taking back that to an extent can be compelling. Re-establish more one-to-one communication with our loved ones is also a noble offering. I just don’t know if this is worth it for the masses though.

I personally found that I felt too handicapped by the MP02 to use it as my daily driver. And maybe that’s the balance. I could see a world where users could have this as a secondary phone for vacationing or date nights. You can simplify your interactions by throwing your SIM in the Punkt and know that only truly important contacts can get in touch.

At $379 it still might be a hard sell, but I hope the company continues its path. Punkt has teased some more versatile phones that may offer a more complete alternative to traditional smartphones. I’m encouraged by that thought and look forward to what Punkt releases next.

If you are interested in the Punkt MP02 you can purchase the phone direct from the company’s storefront below. It’s available in both Black or Light Blue variants.

Purchase the Punkt MP02

TECNO Pioneers Premium Foldables Market with the Launch of PHANTOM V Fold

Abhinav Fating
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Tecno unveiled its first-ever Techno Phantom V Fold smartphone at the MWC 2023. With this smartphone brand makes its emphatic entrance into the foldable smartphone market.

Tecno joins the foldable revolution

Looking back at the time specifically 2 to 3 years ago, Samsung was the only brand that stands alone when it comes to foldable smartphones. Samsung created a major impact in the foldable segment with its latest signature Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 (review) and Galaxy Z Fold 4 series. But now the table starts turning, and every brand (Xiaomi, OPPO, Vivo, and others) trying to get into the foldable market, and that’s not bad either. It’s great to see competition between brands, in offering innovative and beautifully designed foldable smartphones. Most recently, OPPO unveiled its foldable smartphones in the market- OPPO Find N and OPPO Find N2 Flip.

TECNO Pioneers Premium Foldables Market with the Launch of PHANTOM V Fold

Tecno brand is mostly known for its budget range smartphone but its sub-brand called Phantom is rocking with its latest flagship smartphone offering such as Phantom X2 and X2 Pro. And the Phantom V Fold is the first foldable smartphone by the brand that offers a premium smartphone experience through exceptional performance and superior technologies. Let’s see what Tecno packs in its foldable smartphone.

The Phantom V Fold will first launch in India at a price of $1,099 for the 12/256GB storage variant. It’s the first most affordable fold smartphone on the market today. And there is a higher 512GB storage version also available which costs $1,222.

Tecno Phantom V Fold- Beyond the Extraordinary

Tecno presents a great rival to foldable smartphones, the brand promises a premium foldable device experience with flagship features and powerful systems.

TECNO Pioneers Premium Foldables Market with the Launch of PHANTOM V Fold

The Phantom V Fold sports a stunning 7.85-inch 2K (2296x2000px resolution) 120Hz LTPO display (its quite bigger than Galaxy Z Fold 4’s display) with an optimal 8:7 aspect raion when unfolded. When closed, The phone reveals an outstanding 6.42-inch micro curved design 2550×1080 px resolution120Hz display with a 21:9 aspect ratio for a classic single-screen flagship smartphone experience.

Tecno Phantom V Fold uses a brand’s self-developed aerospace-grade drop-shaped hinge and that means you should see a smooth articulation. The Phantom V Fold has a nearly invisible screen crease and for durability, Tecno says, the hinge should last 200,000 folds.

TECNO Pioneers Premium Foldables Market with the Launch of PHANTOM V Fold

Speaking about the chipset, the Tecno Phantom V Fold is powered by MediaTek’s latest Dimensity 9000+ chipset based on 4nm architecture under the hood, which is the same processor found on the OPPO Find N2 Flip smartphone. It packs 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 512GB of UFS3.1 internal storage. The foldable runs on Andriod 13 based on Tecno’s developed highly customized and optimized- HiOS13 Fold.

The Phantom V Fold features a triple rear camera setup with a 50MP main camera sensor, a 50MP 2x zoom camera, and a 13MP ultrawide shooter. There’s a 32MP selfie camera on the cover screen and 16MP on the inner screen.

Besides the powerful processor, Phantom V Fold houses a 5,000mAh battery with 45W fast wired charging. Tecno claims that the smartphone charges 40% in just 15 minutes and fully charges in just 55 minutes.

Review: PuroPro Hybrid ANC Headphones (Podcast)

Scott Webster
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Review: PuroPro Hybrid ANC Headphones (Podcast)

Up for review today are a pair of wireless headphones from Puro Sound Labs. Dubbed the PuroPro Hybrid ANC Headphones, they’re in a pretty competitive market. How do they fare? Read on to learn more or to listen to the podcast where we discuss them.

What are the PuroPro Hybrid ANC Headphones?

The PuroPro Hybrid ANC Headphones, priced $150, are a comfortable pair of headphones with leather ear cushions and headband. Offered in three colors, they offer a long-lasting battery, Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), and volume limiting.

Notable Features

  • Two levels of ANC (15db/32db) using five mics
  • Volume limiting to 85db for 8hrs/95db for 50 minutes
  • 32 hours playtime, 28 hours with ANC
  • Leather ear cushions and headband
  • 40mm dynamic drivers
  • Three colors (Black, Rose Gold, Orange)
  • $150

Gallery

Listen to the Episode

Thoughts and Conclusion

The PuroPro Hybrid ANC Headphones are very comfortable to wear, even for longer listening sessions. And thanks to the generous battery, we don’t have to worry about those sessions being cut short. We’re charging these up maybe once a week, at the most, and getting through days and days of podcasts and playlists.

The volume limiting feature is pretty helpful, even if it’s hard to admit to ourselves. Sure, we like to crank things up and really dive into music, but if we’re smart, we keep things in line. Capping volume levels at 85 decibels is plenty loud for our needs, especially if we’re offsetting things with active noise cancellation.

The black is a little boring, but headphones aren’t usually about the fashion. With that said, you may be interested in checking out the other colors if only because the two-tone looks sharp.

Where to Buy the PuroPro Hybrid ANC Headphones

You can learn more about the PuroPro and purchase them at the manufacturer’s website where they are currently priced about $149.

A Unique Ride of the Urtopia Chord E-Bike

AndroidGuys
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A Unique Ride of the Urtopia Chord E-Bike

If you’ve been looking for a smart, stylish and superior ride experience – look no further! I recently had the opportunity to test out one of the newest bikes on the market: an elegantly designed machine that offers a great combination of comfort, performance, smart features and luxury. Right away when I saw it, I knew this was something special. Its sleek design caught my eye. The glossy white and intricate details made it stand apart from other models in its class. Its features, advantages and purpose-I concluded that this bike is truly unlike any other found on the market today; making it well worth every penny spent!

I was super excited when I got the chance to test-ride the Urtopia Chord e-bike. With a combination of comfort, luxury, and purposeful features all rolled into one package, I had a lot to love about this bike!

Unique design that will turn heads, unparalleled elegance and style

The Urtopia Chord e-bike is truly a sight to behold. Its sleek, white design catches the eye with its intricate details and glossy finish. When I first took the elegant bike out of the box, I was quickly enthralled by its smooth lines and glossy paint – something akin to a piano accompanied by classical music. What’s more, while this aluminum bike had no visible weld traces, the attention to detail with its design was incomparable. After talking to their team, they revealed that they used a car grade man-craft called “liquid forging” to make such detailed design like at the joint point between the seat tube and top tube possible. I was deeply impressed by how much effort was put into making this ebike unique compared to all the others out there! Riding this ebike makes me feel so confident due to its impressive craftsmanship.

Smart technology for safety and convenience 

I would call it is the smartest ebike on the market. It features a revolutionary handlebar called the ‘smartbar’ where all the clever functions are contained. 4G connectivity powered by an embedded SIM card, GPS, gyroscope technology , microphone, speaker and fingerprint reader. It even has Bluetooth capabilities built in so you can access multiple smart functions seamlessly! The possibilities with this bike are endless and you’re sure to benefit from superb safety and convenience as you ride.

I absolutely love the safety features that come included. The fingerprint activation prevents any unauthorized use of the bike, and the alarm function ensures I’m notified if anyone touches my bike. With the GPS tracking feature, I’m always able to know where my bike is at any moment – which has definitely made me feel more secure since it’s almost impossible for it to get truly lost. 

Beyond this, I love the navigation display. It can show arrows on its matrix screen for directions and even has a built-in speaker so it will announce turns like you would usually find in a navigation app. Plus, there’s haptic feedback on the handlebars when you turn so you don’t ever miss an intended path! After testing it out myself, I can honestly say that this combination of features is incredibly useful and makes riding much more enjoyable as while being able to take in the sights without major distractions.

Top Features at a Glance

  • Elegant design in black and white color options
  • Smart tech includes over-the-air (OTA) updates for firmware
  • Anti-theft
  • GPS and eSIM with navigation through Google Maps in the mobile app
  • AI voice control
  • Tracking of calories, mileage, weather, power, and more
  • Integrated Bluetooth speaker
  • Projected lights and red position light
  • Removable battery
  • 8-Speed Shimano rear derailleur
  • Top speed of 20mph
  • Up to 75 miles on a charge

This bike doesn’t just feature voice control, ride data recording, Bluetooth music and a shareable riding route on the Urtopia app but it also has an integrated stvzo front light AND even comes with a game mode. But that’s not all – there are even more surprises to discover. 

With Over The Air (OTA) updates, this amazing bike can stay updated with any new functions released in the future. Thanks to its modular design, you can easily do a hardware update. Simply touch a button or replace a box to upgrade your bike’s hardware and make sure it remains at the cutting edge of technology. Unbelievable, right? With this smartest ebike by Urotpia, you could enjoy years of hassle-free cycling and total peace of mind for the future.

Superior quality and comfort while riding 

let’s talk about the light weight of this bike. It weighs in at a light 21kg and I can tell you that it rides like a dream. The light weight makes it incredibly easy to control as it responds quickly to every turn; it’s almost effortless to ride! And due to its light weight, my range has been greatly extended. All in all, this light weight bike is perfect for those who desire superior quality and comfort while riding. 

Riding the Chord around town is a truly superior experience. The comfortable upright riding position combined with a 250 W rear hub motor and torque sensor complemented by an 8-speed Shimano transmission and hydraulic disc brakes made for an incredible experience. The best part of my time with this ebike was that there was absolutely no delay or lag when it came to acceleration, coordinating with the assistance seamlessly. I’m also pleased to report that braking power was more than sufficient too – when I reached 50% battery, I had already ridden 54 km! Taking such details into consideration, I would estimate that one single charge could get me up to 100 km in optimal conditions. All in all, this smartest ebike certainly lives up to its promise of delivering superior quality and comfort while riding.

Riding the ebike that has a gear ratio range between 1.5 and 4.5 truly opened my eyes to what is possible. It has plenty of power for slow city rides, but also enough for me to hit 40km/hr during an enthusiastic ride. The cadency was surprisingly accommodating as well, so with the electric assistance I can have calm days out or get more vigorous exercise from it too, which is great! It really does feel like a hooligan dressed in a suit – beneath the good looks lies a bike ready for the most feral rides. Its versatility is extremely attractive and it easily became one of my favorite point.

Affordable price tag

Overall, the Urotpia Chord has blown me away with its incredible capabilities and craftsmanship. I can confidently say that it’s one of the lightest, smartest and most efficient ebike on the market right now, When it comes to electric bicycles, the Urtopia Chord stands out from the crowd. Not only is this smart ebike sleek and stylish, but it also has an array of features that make it an attractive option for anyone looking for a reliable form of transportation. This bike is far ahead of its time. 

What’s more, the Urtopia Chord comes with a surprisingly affordable price tag when you consider all that it offers. This makes it an excellent choice for those who want a smart ebike that won’t break the bank!

Early Bird Savings

As we often find with the launch of hot new products, there are savings to be had for early adopters. The same is the case here with the Urtopia Chord. Head to the ebike’s website and you’ll find it available it two versions (High Step and Step Through) in both black and white options. Moreover, you’ll save as part of the Early Bird promotional rate.

Motorola MH7603 review

Scott Webster
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Motorola MH7603 review

If you’re struggling with spotty Wi-Fi coverage in your home, it might be time to look into upgrading to a whole-home solution.

The Motorola MH7603 Mesh Wi-Fi 6 system ($239) is a great option for medium to large homes, and it’s super easy to set up and manage with its three-piece mesh system.

With features like strong parental controls and anti-malware software, it’s definitely worth considering for parents or those looking to help oversee their aging parents and their networks.

While it’s a solid performer for its price, the MH7603 is a case of “you get what you pay for” in that you may wish to spend a little more money for added features.

The MH7603 is a comprehensive system that offers up to 5,000 square feet of coverage, with 2,000 square feet for the router and 1,500 square feet for each node, making it ideal for larger homes. If you have a smaller home, we recommend starting with a single router node for $119.99 and add more nodes if they’re needed.

All three nodes in the system are low-profile and identical in design. They have a sleek white finish, stand at 2.6-inches tall and 5-inches wide, and they come with two internal antennas. Size-wise you’ll need about as much space as a typical cereal bowl or three-wick candle.

The top of each node features the brand’s iconic Motorola “M” logo, while the front has a small LED indicator. The LED light glows solid white when the system is working properly and connected; a solid amber light indicates a weak connection between a node and the main router. If the LED light blinks slowly in blue, the system is in pairing mode, and should you see it blinking rapidly in blue, it’s probably undergoing a firmware update.

The MH7603 offers a gigabit WAN/LAN port and a gigabit LAN port. As a node (extender), both of these ports can be used as LAN ports or for wired backhaul, providing plenty of options. Link aggregation is not supported, however, so you won’t be able to combine the ports for multi-gigabit speeds. On the back panel, in addition to the LAN ports, you’ll find a USB-C port used exclusively for power, and a reset button.

Under the hood, the system is powered by a 1.5GHz quad-core CPU, 256MB of DDR3 RAM, and 128MB of flash memory. It’s a dual-band AX1800 system, offering maximum (theoretical) data rates of up to 574Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and up to 1,200Mbps on the 5GHz band.

The system supports most Wi-Fi 6 technologies, including 1024 QAM, direct-to-client beamforming, 2×2 MU-MIMO data streaming, and OFDMA transmissions. However, it’s worth noting that it does not support WPA3 encryption or 160MHz channels, two features that are typically found in midrange and high-end Wi-Fi 6 mesh systems. Should these be important to you, you’ll have to look elsewhere or consider spending a little more.

Rather than offering a web management console, the MH7603 relies on the motosync mobile app for managing the system, for better or worse. We come from an era where logging into a website or desktop client helped us to oversee networks, drives, and other systems so sometimes that’s missed. The user-friendly app presents a Network screen with icons for each node, as well as an icon that shows the number of connected devices.

Tapping on the router icon allows you to view which devices are currently connected to it and gives you the option to reboot the node. When you tap on a satellite node, you can see its current and past signal strength and bandwidth usage. Additionally, you can run an internet upload and download speed test, view which clients are connected to the node, and see which channel it’s using for backhaul.

The Top Data Use panel provides hourly, daily, and weekly bandwidth usage data for each client device and user profile. Looking to find out who is using all of your bandwidth or data? This makes it pretty easy and intuitive to figure out.

The Connection panel displays the results of your most recent speed test and informs you if your network is optimized for activities like gaming, 4K video streaming, web browsing, and music playback.

The Profiles button directs you to a screen where you can create individual user profiles, assign devices to each profile, set access schedules and time limits, apply filters, and review usage reports for each profile.

Parents will appreciate being able to lump of all of their child’s devices into one profile, giving them hard cut-off times or apply filters for content. It’s also nice to go in and simply freeze things for the time being.

The Settings (gear) button takes you to a screen where you can configure web filtering, add new users and nodes, set the time zone, and configure Port Forwarding and internet connection settings.

Setting up the MH7603 Mesh Wi-Fi 6 system is a pretty simple affair, and is like other mesh systems. To start, you’ll need to download the motosync mobile app and create an account. Then, simply tap “Set Up a New Device” on the Get Started screen and use your phone to scan the QR code on the router node.

Follow the app’s instructions to unplug your modem, connect the router node to the modem with the included LAN cable, and power up both devices.

After selecting “Set Up a New Device,” I scanned the QR code on the base of the router node and followed the instructions to connect it to my modem and power both devices. Once the LED began flashing blue, I confirmed the connection and waited for a firmware update.

Then I added the extenders by scanning the QR code on one of the nodes and following the onscreen instructions to pair it with the router node. After repeating the process for the second node, I optimized my Wi-Fi settings and completed the installation.

The MH7603 router and satellite node delivered a generally strong combined (2.4GHz and 5GHz) wireless signals to all corners of our test house, and, for the most part, equally to each floor.

Having previously used other mesh systems I’ve become familiar with certain troublesome pockets in the home, one in the basement and the other on the second floor. The Motorola system worked as well as others, generally speaking, but did seem to require some trial and error with physical placement.

It was almost as if these devices needed more space between them and that things weren’t stronger by being closer in proximity. A little searching online told me that this is not entirely uncommon; it also speaks to the strength of a single unit. I found connections were as strong, if not stronger, when I removed one of the satellite pieces.

Similarly, I noticed that speeds and connection were much more consistent when using the main router. Tablets, TV’s and other devices connected to an extender would sometimes be much slower or seem to drop entirely. I suspect it might be due to overlapping placement, but I wish it would default to grabbing the main unit over any satellites.

At one point I removed one of the extenders and things were less troublesome. Perhaps my home is just not big enough to merit this three-piece system.

The Motorola MH7603 Mesh Wi-Fi 6 system may not offer top-notch performance, but it provides decent throughput speeds and wide signal coverage for medium-sized homes. Its easy installation process and motosync mobile app enable parents to assign parental controls, monitor user activity, and apply filters to prevent access to specific websites.

While it may not offer multi-gig and USB connectivity these features are not typical in mesh systems within this price range. However, the addition of WPA3 encryption and 160MHz channel capability would be beneficial.

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Wireless Keyboard review

Connor Fricke
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The SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL is a high-tech, high-budget keyboard with some awesome and unique features that have revolutionized the gaming industry since its release.

It arrived back in 2019 as a tenkeyless counterpart to its sister, the Apex Pro, and is still highly competitive with other top dogs in the gaming industry.

While wireless mechanical keyboards aren’t super common in gaming, I think the Apex Pro TKL has undoubtedly claimed its rightful spot within the realm, thanks to a couple of tricks that this keyboard has up its sleeve, and now it’s back in 2023, freshly revamped for consumers.

A Feature-Packed Product

My first impression of the keyboard before I got my hands on it was one word: overkill. Of course, depending on what you’re looking for in a keyboard, that word can have a lot of different connotations. Allow me to clarify.

If you’re looking for a keyboard that will be the last keyboard you ever have to buy, this one can definitely fill that void. If you want to level up your game to the absolute max, you’re in the right place. If you want a keyboard that has tons of top-of-the-line features with excellent build quality, look no further.

In my mind, SteelSeries didn’t cut any corners, and the Apex Pro TKL is a great high-end keyboard that is absolutely packed with features, aesthetics, and durability, making it a worthy purchase for many people.

Look & Feel

So, let’s start with the basics. The aesthetics of the keyboard are great. I personally love the tenkeyless design and really appreciate the extra space that this particular layout leaves for my mouse. 

The font of the keycaps is pretty basic, but large and easy to read. Though most buyers may not consider it, I think a good font can be important, and SteelSeries opted to keep it simple and neat. 

The RGB backlighting that is so commonplace on gaming keyboards today is present here of course, and there are several different multicolor light modes that are programmed into the keyboards “profiles”. I didn’t have much preference for many of the default styles, but luckily SteelSeries’ website directed me to their support software that allows for customizable key-by-key programming of the RGB backlighting.

In addition, the OLED display in the corner of the keyboard looks super cool and adds a futuristic touch to the overall design that I really enjoy, aside from its useful functionality.

The wrist pad magnetizes to the base of the keyboard for easy attachment and removal, and the outer surface is silicon-like, but smooth and with a reduced friction coefficient, making it extremely comfortable for long periods of play-time. The SteelSeries logo in the center is subtle but definitely adds to the looks.

The metal top plate and base plate are made of an aluminum that SteelSeries claims to be “identical to the aluminum used in jets providing enhanced rigidity and structural stability.” I find the finish of the keyboard to be very sleek, and the build quality feels amazing thanks to this construction.

Omnipoint 2.0 Adjustable Switches

Now for one of the most important things that many consider when shopping for a keyboard: the switches. Of course, the Apex Pro TKL is a mechanical keyboard, so the switches have a fairly long travel distance for full actuation. However, the SteelSeries innovation is ever-present on this product with their Omnipoint 2.0 switches.

The keyboard employs “state-of-the-art magnetic sensors” which give you the ultimate responsiveness and speed that you want in just about any keyboard. On top of that, the switches allow you to decide the actuation distance required for a registered keypress, and even permit the use of 2-in-1 use. A half press can be used to walk in game, while a full press of the same key is a sprint.

You can use the built in OLED smart display to set the minimum switch travel in your profile. This way you can easily adjust your keyboard to fit your style. Some gamers may have a preference for preciseness, or perhaps you may wish to require more deliberation in each keystroke.

Regardless, the switches on this keyboard sound and feel great. They are loud and “clacky” like most mechanical keyboards, and these particular switches have a pretty linear response, which means resistance doesn’t increase or decrease as you press down further. The wireless connection was fast enough that I experienced no noticeable input lag while using it, and SteelSeries seems to take a lot of pride in the actuation and response time with these switches in general.

Other Thoughts

Overall, the Apex Pro TKL does everything right, and I think it has no reason not to at its current price point. There are a few other things that I think are important to mention, but maybe aren’t central to the keyboard’s personality. 

The OLED display is pretty high tech, though I think it’s unnecessary for the overall experience of the user. It adds to the design for sure, but it’s not terribly easy to use, and I found myself fiddling with it for a while to understand how to work it, only to find that it only does a couple things such as control the actuation depth of the switches. It allows you to store a couple of different settings profiles, which is really nice for serious gamers, but not ideal for the average user as it may add further confusion. 

One thing that many people will likely find super important for their experience with the keyboard is the Bluetooth connection. First off, the keyboard can connect using integrated Bluetooth 5.0 capabilities, or a USB-C dongle that you can plug into your computer or laptop so if you don’t have built-in Bluetooth, not to worry! I’m not sure why they went with USB-C here over regular USB-A as I feel the former is still less common, but hey, that’s innovation.

One thing that I personally find important in an all-purpose keyboard is the included Bluetooth profile switching, that allows you to quickly swap your connection between up to 3 paired devices. If you’re a user of multiple devices, this keyboard is perfect, thanks to this feature and its compatibility with Xbox, PC, Mac, and PlayStation.

Thanks to this, I can switch between typing to my Xbox, laptop, and PC with the press of a button. In general, the connection is fast with little to no lag, pairing was extremely easy, and the keyboard exits sleep mode and reconnects to the device about as fast as you could expect from a wireless keyboard.

Battery life doesn’t seem to be anything special, as I had to charge it after about one week, but that was with pretty regular use, as I’ve used it for much more than gaming in my time with it so far. I don’t have any complaints about it either way, due to the use that I put it through, and I’d be curious to see the amount of power that the OLED display draws on its own.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Apex Pro TKL is a highly recommendable high-budget keyboard for anyone who loves mechanical keyboards. The look and feel are absolutely top notch, and I really appreciate high build-quality in just about any tech products these days.

It’s obvious that a lot of development and time at SteelSeries went into designing the Apex Pro TKL with its plethora of features and elegant display of high-end technology. In the end, the experience you will have with this keyboard is what you make of it, and I think it can be a great option for anyone who wants a durable, good-looking keyboard for all purposes.

iLive White Noise Machine with Night Light review

Patrick Baker
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iLive White Noise Machine with Night Light review

I recently got a new mini Bernedoodle puppy and he is cute and fun and adorable… except when he is whining in his crate. Unfortunately, this dude is the lightest sleeper I have ever shared a room with. If I wake up at 2:30am to reach for a drink of water, this dog is up and will cry until 3:00am. If he’s taking an afternoon nap in his crate and the TV is too loud, I’m bound to hear his cries through the walls.

A great solution to this problem, as I have found, is using white noise. If I put on a white noise podcast he will nap for hours without interruption. However, putting on a podcast involves leaving my phone or laptop in his room during the only time when I’m not worried about keeping an eye on him.

Naturally, the iLive White Noise Machine with Night Light seemed like the perfect gadget to try. This machine is a standalone white noise emitter that plugs into the wall. It’s just slightly taller than a 3rd generation Amazon Echo Dot, and has a ring that emits a soft light.

Everything on the device is customizable with 25 different sounds to choose from, 10 different light colors, and 5 different timing options. With the iLive White Noise Machine on my bedside table, I hoped to put an end to the incessant cacophony coming from the bed of my 10-week-old, too-cute-to-do-any-wrong pup.

Sound Quality

The first thing I wanted to see when I turned on the iLive White Noise Machine was that it would be loud enough to drown out any other sounds that may disturb my dog. I was very pleased to hear that this device can get plenty loud. It’s not just loud though. I would be happy to use it as quiet background noise while reading a novel, or as defense against my noisy neighbor’s late night jam sessions.

The quality of sound coming from the speaker is nothing special, but I didn’t expect it to be. Background noise is not usually intended to be focused on. It gets worse above a certain threshold of volume, but unless you’re worried about counting the splashes of each individual raindrop on the pond at 80 decibels, it will probably serve you well.

Night Light

While the night light feature was not my draw to this product, I did find some use for it. My little puppy does go to sleep before I do, and leaving the night light on was a great way to be able to find my way to my own bed in the dark without using the flashlight on my phone.

The warmer colors are very soothing, and I could them being used during meditation. The night light is also dimmable, so you can set it to the brightness of your choosing. In terms of brightness, I would say that it doesn’t fill up the whole 200 square feet of my bedroom, but keeps one corner pretty well lit.

Customization

Likely my favorite part of the iLive White Noise Machine is the number of customizable features. I loved being able to change the type of white noise I listened to from static to rainfall to piano music.

The machine also allows the user to set the timer for the white noise to a predetermined number of hours or continuous. These features along with volume, brightness, and light color, really allow each user to customize their space however they want. (Also I should mention that it is possible to have both a light with no noise, and noise with no light).

Ease of Use

I have a hard time thinking about how this product could be any easier to use. It is very straightforward, and I don’t think I even looked at the instructions once. It plugs in, then the buttons are very intuitive. I suppose if there was one thing that I had to complain about it would be that you do have to scroll through all 25 sounds in a list going back and forth, but I think that’s rather picky.

Overall

As a standalone white noise machine, the iLive White Noise Machine with Night Light completely met all my expectations. This little device does quite a good job of controlling the ambiance of a small, personal area. It has become a habit to use every time I go to bed, and my puppy sleeps better too.

ACEFAST unveils Crystal (2) T8 Earbuds

Abhinav Fating
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ACEFAST unveils Crystal (2) T8 Earbuds

ACEFAST is an emerging brand in the wireless earbuds market and is quite known for its futuristic design earbuds with great aesthetics. ACEFAST unveiled its latest Crystal (2) T8 earbuds globally. ACEFAST’s Crystal T8 earbuds come with a small, compact, and futuristic design factor which is so enticing. The latest TWS sports a crystal clear transparent design (you can literally see circuits in it) and it has an LED light under the case. 

The T8 earbuds come in six different color options include- White, Black, Purple, Blue, Pink, and Green. Have a look at the detailed specifications, pricing, and availability of Crystal (2) Earbuds T8.

ACEFAST Crystal (2) T8 earbuds come with 10mm sound drivers with stereo sound which offers crisp and crystal clear sound. The earbuds have SBC and ACC audio codecs support, sadly you won’t get Hi-Res audio support in it. The buds are equipped with BES 2600 IHC Bluetooth chip. The case is made up of silicon material and has a sturdy build quality and it weighs just 47 grams. 

The earbuds have the latest Bluetooth v5.3 support with Enhanced Data Rate (EDR) transmission. There is a 3d embossed display on the case that shows battery percentage and other details. The T8 wireless earbuds house an LDS innovative Antenna design that ensures a stable signal transmission and improved anti-interference. 

Furthermore, You get ENC call noise reduction with dual microphones in each earbud offering a smooth calling experience in noisy environments. Sadly, the brand doesn’t offer Active Noise cancellation (ANC) in the earbuds. It has a very limited set of features which means you won’t get multi-device pairing support and even it has no smartphone app for getting firmware updates or customizing audio profiles. 

The earbuds are backed by a 45mAh battery and the case houses a 480mAh battery. The ACEFAST Crystal (2) T8 wireless earbuds offer up to 7 hours of music playback time and up to 4 hours of call time. And the charging case offers up to 30 hours of battery life. The buds have fast charging support, ACEFAST claims that the earbuds offer up to 2 hours of battery life with just 10 min of charging and the case takes up to 1.5 hours to fully charge. Moreover, T8 wireless earbuds are water resistant, and ACEFAST rates it IPX4. 

The earbuds also support fingertip gestures which means you can control the music library, volume, voice assistant, and call answer/reject directly from earbuds. Even you can reset the entire buds settings via gestures. 

The ACEFAST Crystal (2) T8 wireless earbuds are priced at $69.99 and are now available for purchase through ACEFAST MALL and Amazon. 

Treblab launches new HD-Force Speaker with massive discount

Andrew Allen
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Treblab has been making great mobile accessories for years now. While it may not be a brand that stands out for recognition, the quality of these devices is very good. The company has a new wireless speaker, the HD-Force, launching this week. And we have an amazing discount code.

The HD-Force portable speaker looks great and also has a ton of features that make it compelling.

  • Impeccable HD sound – Explore a world of rich, loud, and dynamic sound with 60W (50W RMS) stereo speakers. The wireless speakers with Bluetooth pump out deep, balanced bass.
  • Grab and go audio – Head off on an adventure with HD-Force outdoor speakers that last up to 25 hours on a single charge. Equipped with a 10400 mAh Power Bank to charge phones, watches, and more. Plus – a built-in mic to receive calls on the speaker.
  • Seamless pairing – Effortlessly connect any smartphone, tablet, PC, TV, or another smart device to Treblab’s portable speaker Bluetooth wireless. Also works with microSD / TF cards.
  • IPX6 Waterproof And Shockproof – Traverse through rugged terrains with an HD-Force waterproof Bluetooth speaker that offers top-quality surround sound. Includes a signal range of up to 100 feet.
  • LED Show and TWS Pairing Modes: Get the party started with 5 LED modes and TWS speaker pairing. Set the mood with your favorite color, then pair it with an additional powerful blue tooth speaker. 1-Year Warranty

Snag it over the next few days with our HDFORCENOW discount code and you’ll save $50 on the Amazon link below. This brings the full retail from $139.97 down to $90.97 at checkout.

Purchase the Treblab HD-Force portable speaker on Amazon

Coupon Code: HDFORCENOW

Review: iLive Truly Wire-Free Earbuds with Active Noise Canceling (Podcast)

Luke Gaul
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Review: iLive Truly Wire-Free Earbuds with Active Noise Canceling (Podcast)

If you’re in the market for a pair of wireless earbuds, you’ll find there are seemingly endless options to choose from. What’s your budget? What are your needs? Do you have a particular feature in mind? There are plenty of places to jump off to find the pair for you.

Up for review here are the iLive Truly Wire-Free Earbuds with Active Noise Canceling (ANC). Priced about $80 they are an entry-level pair of earbuds. How do they fare in our testing? Check out the review and podcast below to see what we thought.

What is the iLive Truly Wire-Free Earbuds with Active Noise Canceling?

The iLive Truly Wire-Free Earbuds with ANC are a great pair of wireless earbuds for a user who doesn’t have high demands. That’s not to suggest they’re cheap or lacking, though as there are plenty of features present.

Noteworthy Features

  • Six hours battery life at 50% with ANC off
  • Sweatproof
  • Active Noise Cancellation
  • Comes with three sets of eartips
  • Works with Google Assistant and Siri

Gallery

Thoughts and Conclusion

We were pleasantly surprised by the sound and feature set of these earbuds. While they don’t have a premium build or overly lush audio experience, they tick most of the boxes that most users care about.

You typically have to spend more money to get access to your digital assistant so we’re happy to see Google and Siri support. The sweatproof design and six hour battery makes these a great solution for someone who needs earbuds for the gym or summer run.

The earbuds and carrying case are extremely light in weight and the shape is comfortable in pockets. The black is a little bit boring so we suggest checking these out in the indigo option.

These aren’t a great pair of earbuds but they’re not a bad one, either. If you can find them on sale ($50 or less), you’ll be getting a decent value for your money.

Where to buy the iLive Truly Wire-Free Earbuds with Active Noise Canceling

You can pick up a pair of the iLive earbuds at the manufacturer’s website where they currently list for about $80. Alternatively, you’ll find them at Amazon for $50 today.

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