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Jireno CUBE4 review

Luke Gaul
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If you’re in the market for a digital projector in 2022, you’ve got quite a bit to choose from. There are plenty of brands in the space and when it comes to price, there seems to be somewhat of a race to the bottom.

Hong Kong-based Jireno, after finding success with its CUBE4 crowdfunding campaign, now offers its portable projector to consumers for just $290. For another ten bucks, however, you can pick up a travel case to keep things nice and tidy.

The CUBE4 measures around 7.5″ x 7.5″ x 5″, or approximately the size of a personal lunch cooler. The dark grey aluminum housing has a smooth finish and modern aesthetic; it’s accented by an orange strap for carrying. At about five pounds, it has the weight and general portability I expected to see.

The Jireno CUBE4 comes with 16GB of built-in storage, for downloading and storing apps and files. The projector provides input options from USB Type-A, USB Type-C, and HDMI. These are great as they let users play video files or movies locally, without connecting to the internet.

Preloaded with Android TV, it streams content from a whole array of media sources such as Hulu, YouTube, HBO Max, and more. You can also connect via Bluetooth and use the CUBE4 as a wireless speaker.

I found things to be very easy to set up; it’s more or less a process of connecting to Wi-Fi and adding your Google credentials. It takes just a few minutes and the remote control makes it fairly intuitive and hassle-free, too.

The Jireno CUBE4 offers a 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution with decoding support for 4K videos. That is to say it can take a 4K source and project it in full HD.

Screen size ranges from as small as 30-inches to as large as 200-inches which allows intimate and a party experiences. In my testing the images look incredible up to around 70-inches and then very good until you get to about 120-inches. Above that and I found it began to get a touch diluted.

Although the Jireno CUBE4 is billed as a portable projector, it does not feature a built-in or rechargeable battery. Unfortunately while it can go anywhere you want, you’ll need a power source such as an outlet or portable generator.

The Jireno CUBE4 houses a pair of 5-watt speakers with a total output of 10W. Jireno says its specialized diaphragms provide better resonation, with deeper bass and clearer treble. In my testing I found the speakers to be crisp and loud with enough oomph to fill a medium-sized room.

Sitting in the back yard, I did not have any issues with watching movies with my family. To be clear, I would recommend sitting closer to the unit if watching with a group of people and relying solely on the internal speaker. Otherwise, if your party is larger, or if you plan to “go big” you’ll want to use an external source. Similarly, spreading out on the deck might lead to a few missed lines.

There is a 3.5mm headphone jack or speaker plug if you’d like to plug in your own external sound. I enjoyed wearing earbuds and playing video games on a large screen of around 10 feet on my patio.

The lamp is rated at around 40,000 hours of playback which averages out to 22 years if you use it for about five hours per day. In other words, you shouldn’t have to worry about replacing it.

Equally impressive, the image is quite bright at its 500 ANSI lumens. You’re not running off of battery, remember, so you can dial this up as high as you need. White walls, sheets and projector screens look amazing with rich color spectrum.

Using the projector in lower lighting conditions or daylight won’t produce the same quality picture but it’s passable. The CUBE4, like most other portable projectors, work much better in darker environments or the cover of night.

Conclusion

I really like the size, overall quality, and ease of use for the Jireno CUBE4. I would love it if it had an internal power source. As it is, it works well in your living room, back yard, and patio. Were it also to work on the beach or in a parking lot it would be simply amazing.

Once I figured out what the power limitations were I came to appreciate the overall package. And, given it’s just $290, it’s an affordable alternative to TVs with a bit of added flexibility.

You can learn more about the CUBE4 at Jireno’s website where it’s available to purchase on its own. For ten dollars more ($300) you can snag a travel case; a $420 “Deluxe Bundle” option also tosses in a small mount and a projector screen up to 84-inches.

How To Make Instagram Content That Helps You Promote Your Online Profile

AndroidGuys
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Producing unique and captivating Instagram content seems more crucially essential if you would like to scale your brand using Instagram.

Not only is the Instagram market more competitive, but many consumers are hyper-aware of what they enjoy and resent on their app feed.

In addition, the Instagram algorithm makes it so much more difficult for businesses to break out of their shell. 

In this article, we tell you how to engage with Instagram to gain more followers and look more professional.

Developing A Plan For Content Creation

The high demand and supply of content imply you could use a planned approach in place to prepare, photograph, customize, and upload excellent quality Instagram material.

As you develop your Instagram action plan, there are some considerations to keep in mind:

Decide on a theme 

The theme of your Instagram has to do with what the general look of your content is, or in other words, your aesthetic. 

A theme is a graphic depiction of who you are and is an expansion of your organization.

For example, if you have a theme that uses mainly white and green colors, you should avoid using other colors as it might confuse your followers.

You can consider hiring a professional photographer to give your feed a more sleek and professional look.

Plan a diverse content range

All Instagram uploads don’t have to be about happenings, merchandise, or promotions. The audience is bound to grow bored of the continuous pitching.

Select specific content topics which are relevant to your brand. Then put ideas on your Instagram schedule, including various materials and formats during the day or week.

Some examples are:

  • Testimonials
  • Informative or educational posts
  • Behind the scenes
  • Inspirational quotes
  • Interactive posts

Focus On Captions

The caption allows you to express your unique brand identity via language. 

The knowledge you disclose in the description allows viewers to learn more about you. It aids in the building of relationships, which is crucial in persuading somebody to join you and maybe buy a product.

Brand voice is one essential component of any promotional plan. Incorporating the company image into the caption allows users to learn about the company and its goals.

How to make stories on Instagram more exciting

An Instagram story template can be made more fun and creative by using the Mojo app. It allows you to pick an already designed template from the app and customize it according to your wishes. 

There’s no need to waste time doing heavy labor on photo editing apps to create flawless Instagram stories. The Mojo app allows you to save it directly to the phone and edit them later if needed.

The themes provided by the app include Typography, Digital, Shop, Storytelling, Cinema, and Fashion.

Inside all of the above themes, you can find sub-themes. You can construct your own theme starting from scratch on a blank template.

With the paid subscription, you can also change the aspect ratio. The edits that usually take hours to do can be finished within minutes with the help of Mojo.

The Key-Takeaways

Consider the above tips when you produce media for your profile. You’ll gradually but steadily expand your Instagram following as you adopt the most competent practices for content creation. It will be precisely the sort of Instagram success that will last in the long run. Keep on publishing high-quality content.

Anker MagGo 633 charger review

Andrew Allen
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As we covered in another Anker MagGo review recently, the new accessory branding to the Anker portfolio holds some truly compelling devices. The MagSafe compatible devices add unique charging solutions currently exclusively to Apple’s handsets. Anker was kind enough to allow me time with the Anker MagGo 633 home charger and I can say it’s a solid option.

**Editorial Note: This is an ongoing series we like to call iOS Interruptions. Here the AndroidGuys team will cover new products revolving around the Apple ecosystem.**

Design

The Anker MagGo 633 charger’s design is really threefold. The charger is a desktop MagSafe charger, a portable MagSafe power pack, and an AirPods charger. This is combined in a clever power pack that docks into the stand. The AirPod wireless charging is then integrated into the base.

The thoughtful execution of this entire setup is really nice. The MagGo 633 looks great, does multiple functions, and has a solid construction. Anker nailed the design here in my opinion.

Daily performance

The Anker MagGo 633 has become my go-to charger combination for my iPhone. It easily transitions from a home and travel charger with almost no effort. The base has an outstanding balance when you use it at home. When docked, the MagGo 633 connects via pogo pins to create a traditional wired setup.

Once you connect your iPhone via the magnets, the Anker MagGo 633 can charge your device with 7.5-Watts of power. Also thanks to those magnets, you don’t have to properly align this to get the power transfer correct every time. It just lines up seamlessly as the two magnetic rings pull it down. No more fumbling to make sure you have it just right in the middle of the night.

When you need to make sure you have power on the go, the battery pack simply slides out of the rest of the base station. This makes the charger a MagSafe-powered portable bank. All you have to do is “snap” the 633 to the back of your phone and basically forget about it. The charger is now wireless along for the ride keeping your iPhone fully fueled.

While off the dock, the Anker MagGo 633 has 5000mAh of stored charging. This should get the average iPhone around 17 hours of portable power. Same as the dock, the magnetic rings make sure you have it correctly positioned with no fuss.

Let’s not forget about the AirPod charger. As mentioned, the base of the MagGo 633 doubles as a wireless charger for the earbuds. Set down the AirPods in a compatible wireless charging case and you are done. Come back in the morning and have fully recharged AirPods.

Conclusion

The Anker MagGo 633 is a great addition to the Anker lineup for MagSafe phones. Not only does it check the box of MagSafe, but the combination of additional functionality also makes it even better. From the nightstand to the airport, the MagGo 633 covers your charging needs.

The final honorable mentions are the colorways and price of the MagGo 633. You can get the charging dock in three colors: Dolomite White, Interstellar Gray, and Misty Blue. The full retail price of each is $120 via the Anker website or Amazon.

Smartphone Overheating and Battery Draining Fast: Possible Causes and Fixes

AndroidGuys
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It is absolutely normal for a smartphone to heat up and get slightly warm sometimes. This can be the result of excessive charging, too many applications running in the background, or general system overwork.

However, when you notice your phone starts to overheat from the slightest of usage – like when you make a call – you should know something is wrong somewhere.

In this post, we’re going to be looking at the common reasons smartphones (Android and iPhone) overheat. We’ll also be looking at the reasons behind fast draining batteries. Because, apparently, when smartphones overheat, their battery life tends to suffer, too.

Of course, both cases can be easily handled and rectified by a service centre near me. But before you walk into a repairer’s shop, we believe you should at least have an idea of what’s wrong with your device. That way, you can prevent future overheating or battery damage.

When does a phone overheat?

A smartphone may overheat under any of the following conditions:

  • When used to play games (especially graphically-intensives ones)
  • While charging
  • When you use the camera for long periods
  • When you keep the screen brightness at the highest level for long periods
  • And so many others

Common Reasons Mobile Phones Overheat

1. Intensive Usage:

Just like how our heads ache when we work for too long, a smartphone is bound to overheat when worked for long periods. Intensive mobile phone usage means the processor gets to run for long hours, and this generates a lot of heat.

If you’ve been observant, you will notice your phone suddenly gets toasty when you run certain apps or do certain things for long on it. This is telling you that you’ve subjected the processor to overload, and now it’s dissipating heat on your phone’s body.

2. Malware from software update

We are all guilty of running different apps on our mobile phones. App is life, so I can’t really fault anyone for that.

However, you have to know that some of these apps sometimes come with buggy files, especially during updates. This is particularly true of those apps you get from untrusted sources.

When you have a buggy app update on your phone, it can cause the app to be stuck in an endless cycle, causing unnecessary processor overwork. Besides this, buggy app updates may also lead to excessive memory consumption. This, too, may cause excessive heating of a phone.

Please note that malware from app updates is a very serious issue – one you cannot joke with. Besides overheating, it can lead to the leak of your financial and personal information.

That is why we advise users to quickly find a proficient mobile phone technician on the Nicelocal.com site once they discover their phone is overheating. A phone repair technician can help you figure out whether there is malware disrupting your phone’s activities.

3. Charging when the ambient temperatures are high

A mobile phone can overheat when you charge it in a hot environment. For example, under direct sunlight, in the summer heat, or in a room that’s generally hot.

If you live in tropical areas like Africa or Asia, where the weather gets hot all year round, you may experience this more often. Also, people who live in temperate regions like Canada, the US, and some parts of Europe can experience this on hot summer days.

Charging your phone while being kept on your car’s dashboard for too long can also cause overheating. This is particularly true for cars without a functioning air conditioning system.

4. Unfavorable charging conditions

If you’re the type that charges your phone with a pouch on or you use your phone while it’s charging, it’s more than certain the phone will overheat.

5. Charging with a bad or incompatible cable or charger

I’m willing to bet you’re one of those people that quickly pick up their friend’s charger anytime they can’t find theirs. Well, I’m sorry to break it to you, but that may be the reason your phone is overheating.

Every mobile phone has a specific charging power output designated to it. Charging with a charger or cable whose wattage is outside the allowable range for a phone can cause the phone to start heating up.

Reasons Your Phone Battery Is Draining Fast

1. Increased brightness

Running your phone on maximum screen brightness is a recipe for a fast-draining battery. If you want to stop your phone battery from going from 60 to 30 in a short while, try to dim the screen brightness.

What’s more? Switching from light mode to dark mode can also save you some battery life.

2. Background apps

When you allow apps like VPN, Calendar, Video players, anti-virus, and so on to run in the background, you leave room for your battery to drain fast.

Remember, the phone’s processor is what’s responsible for running apps. So, even though you aren’t operating these apps on the main screen, the fact they’re running in the background gives the processor more work to do. And the more work a processor completes, the faster the battery drains.

3. Overheating

Whether during its charging phase or while in use, avoid situations that cause your phone to overheat. This is because your battery drains much faster when the phone gets too hot. The reason for this is that heatwaves impair a battery’s ability to stay cool. And when a battery can’t stay cool, it becomes impossible to hold on to the energy it’s drawn.

Phone overheating and battery draining fast even though you aren’t doing anything

Unfortunately, we’ve seen situations where phones suddenly overheat without doing any heavy task. In most cases, this overheating is usually accompanied by a fast-draining battery.

If you ever experience this, know that one of two things has occurred.

1) There’s Half-Sorting in the circuit board of the phone

Half-Sorting implies that certain components around the battery connector have gone bad. These components can be an SMD capacitor, SMD resistor, or SMD diode.

You need a phone repair technician to help you fix this problem because it involves removing the faulty component from the PCB and then replacing it with a new one.

2) There’s Full-Sorting in the circuit board

When an overheated phone goes into Full-Sorting, it normally goes off completely. In that case, no matter how hard you try, the phone won’t Turn On.

Full-Sorting means that the phone’s IC has gone bad and needs replacement.

Final Words

As you’ve seen, a number of things can be responsible for a phone heating up or battery draining fast.

If you are unsure what’s causing your phone to overheat or its battery to drain fast, please contact a phone repair person quickly. You can use the Nicelocal.com site to find the nearest repair shops to you.

Anker MagGo 613 car charger review

Andrew Allen
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Welcome to the first edition of iOS Interruptions. Anker was nice enough to be our first partner with this new review series. The company sent me over several new devices, but today we’ll be covering the MagGo 613 car charger.

**Editorial Note: This is an ongoing series we like to call iOS Interruptions. Here the AndroidGuys team will cover new products revolving around the Apple ecosystem.**

Design

As with many MagSafe compatible devices, the MagGo 613 looks more like a mount than a traditional charger. And that’s because it is. With the magnetic connection, it essentially is both a charger and mount combination.

The business end of the MagGo 613 is a round, magnetic disk with a soft-touch coating. The disk pivots and then can be locked into place with a ball-and-socket mechanism that can be tightened once you find the correct orientation.

To the bottom of the MagGo disk is a cord that is then hidden in the arm and base of the unit leading to the USB-C power port. The base has great suction and adhesive combination on the very bottom. This allows for an awesome secure setup once you have it in the location you prefer in your automobile.

If you have a material that might give you trouble, Anker also includes a 3M mounting disk that can act as a smooth adapter for the mount. I personally, didn’t need this in my car, but it’s a nice touch to have this included.

The last thing in the box is the car charger adapter and cable. This works with a traditional cigarette lighter port in your vehicle. Anker also made sure your passenger has power too, as the adapter includes both a USB-C and USB-A output.

Performance

I have to say one of my favorite parts of the current iOS ecosystem is the MagSafe accessories. The MagGo 613 fits right into this market and doesn’t disappoint. Let’s start with the magnet itself.

The first-party magnet from Apple’s MagSafe is nice, the Anker MagGo 613 takes it up a notch. The strength of the connection is noticeably stronger. I’m sure this is intentional with the functionality meant to be in a moving car and is a welcome feature.

The Anker MagGo 613 is not just for mounting, however. It’s also to help keep your iPhone charged while commuting. Anker doesn’t miss the mark here either. With the included car charging adapter, you get a max of 7.5-Watts of induction power.

As previously mentioned, the disk and the arm of the mount can be adjusted to get the most ideal charging positioning. The arm allows for up to 134-degrees which makes it easy to find that sweet spot in your car. The disk then swivels on the ball joint to create the angle you need for your phone to sit.

Speaking of the disk, Anker even considered a night road trip and considered that lighting might be an issue when using the MagGo 613. The inside ring of the charger has an ambient LED to help illuminate the area to make sure you can successfully charge regardless of the time of the day.

Conclusion

I’ve had zero issues or complaints while using the Anker MagGo 613 car charger. If this is the standard for third-party MagSafe accessories, then I’m sold. This has been the perfect solution to combine charging and mounting the iPhone in my vehicle.

The last thing to consider is cost. The Anker MagGo 613 is $80 retail. If you are in the market for something like this that’s MagSafe compatible, then hit the links below to snag this great charger from Anker.

Tronsmart Trip portable speaker review

Andrew Allen
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Tronsmart has a knack for making quality mobile accessories for those not concerned with the top-tier nametag on the box. This includes battery packs, earbuds, and portable audio. The latest is the Tronsmart Trip portable speaker.

We’ve spent the last two weeks with this power-packed little speaker and came away impressed.

Design

The Tronsmart Trip is a small brick-shaped speaker with a nice carrying loop on one end. The sizing is hard to get a handle on in the promotional photos but it’s about the proportion of a box of cream cheese. It’s an odd comparison but apt.

The entire front is flanked by a giant Tronsmart branding. If there’s one thing I don’t care about the overall fit and finish it’s this element. It’s too in your face and distracts from the rest o the design.

Atop the speaker is dedicated hardware buttons for the majority of your normal interactions. This includes power, Bluetooth, play/pause, and volume controls. Each is raised from the rest of the speaker and covered in a soft rubber coating.

The bottom of the speaker is void of much other than four rubber feet. These may not look like much, but they offer stability and slip protection. This comes in handy on level surfaces, but really shines on uneven ones like say the hood of your car while on a run to the beach.

The right side of the Tronsmart Trip speaker houses the only inputs found on the device. This features only two ports. One is for USB-C charging and the other is for 3.5mm auxiliary audio.

Sound

The Trip speaker is surprisingly robust in output for its size. It’s not in the realm of Boss soundbars or anything, but it holds its own for something that can be tossed in a gym bag or purse.

Highs and mids are really good. They can be somewhat distorted when you crank the volume all the way up, but most speakers have that problem. Bass is also decent. You get a good punch from the pint-sized Trip.

The Trip speaker has Tronsmart’s True Wireless tech onboard as well. This allows you to sync two or more capable Tronsmart speakers together for true studio audio. This would make for a nice portable audio setup with two Trips on an outdoor patio or porch setting.

Battery

The battery life is excellent. Tronsmart rates the Trip at 20 hours of playback per charge and 50% volume; I’ve found this very accurate. You and your friends can easily enjoy audio on the go while adventuring.

When you do need to top it off, it’s always a plus to see the most modern standard like USB-C available. The Tronsmart Trip doesn’t offer fast charge unfortunately. The USB-C is only set to 5V output and takes about three hours to fully charge the Trip speaker.

Conclusion

Tronsmart has a very capable, and portable, audio option with the Trip speaker. It’s well designed, compact, and produces surprisingly good audio. Pair that all together and it’s a great portable speaker to put on your party list.

But how much does it cost you say? That’s even better. The Tronsmart Trip will set you back less than $30. Yep. Right now it’s on sale for $26 on Aliexpress. So what are you waiting for? Add this to your tech bag using the link below.

Purchase the Tronsmart Trip speaker

This AI recognition app is the next big thing in the retail industry

AndroidGuys
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In the highly competitive F&B industry, brands do many activations and execute various strategies that help them to increase sales. Some of these creative solutions go on to become game-changers because of their ability to solve a larger problem existing in the industry. Effective shelf space analysis is one such solution. 

The F&B industry faces many challenges when it comes to ensuring store efficiency. While Planogram management provides a viable solution, distributors and convenience retailers working in the small to midsize business space do not have a dedicated budget to onboard exclusive technology partners or hire 3rd party service providers to do the job. That said, we cannot underestimate the benefits of using a planogram to manage sales and increase market share. 

A data-driven Planogram strategy and compliance help brands stay relevant and visible at all times across multiple outlets and stores where their products are being sold. Planogram compliance refers to the in-store execution of a specific design laid out by your Planogram that helps them to maximize their shelf space and make sure they never run out of stock at any store. Not just this, the valuable data compiled in the process of using a planogram allows brands to work on insights about each product and how their display works in the eyes of the end consumer. Unfortunately, having the convenience and capability to map each product to its exact shelf or display location had always been a luxury that most retail stores could not afford. 

ShelfSet has emerged to be a turnkey tool to eliminate this gap in the F&B industry. Powered by AI, the app stands out as the primary tracking, analysis, and reporting software for small to midsize business owners. ShelfSet has emerged to be one of the most preferred apps for mom-and-pop groceries, convenience stores, and family-owned beverage distributors looking to maximize revenue. Available on iOS and Google Play Store, the mobile application is extremely user-friendly and adds incredible value to improve product marketing and supply by harnessing powerful data analytics capabilities for its users. 

Here’s why ShelfSet is the perfect Planogram solution for growing businesses: 

Eliminates manual data entry & ensures Planogram compliance 

Beverage distributors are constrained to do manual audits only once in a while because of the time and effort that goes into the process. This becomes a big problem as the distributor never gets a real-time update in case a specific brand’s product is out of stock. It also gives a chance to the consumer to select another brand because of lack of availability. Additionally, manual data entry and reporting are prone to human error. 

Solving this problem once and for all, ShelfSet’s AI image recognition planogram solution enables beverage distributors to maximize revenue. The mobile app eliminates human error and the amount of time spent auditing stores, improving operational efficiency for beverage distributors in real-time. Beverage distributors can quickly perform a shelf space analysis to measure the productivity of products. In a real-world application, it works tremendously for a distributor who has paid a retailer for shelf space or has a contract with a brand to fulfill some obligation related to particular numbers and figures. 

Generates Shelf Planogram automatically

Shelf space analysis automatically updates records in the route accounting software. Additionally, it maps the shelf space and fixtures to stores seamlessly. Retailers and distributors can use this technology to view the whole picture store-by-store or brand-by-brand to make better-informed decisions and plan region-wise inventory accordingly. 

Helps in quick Planogram resetting and displaying merchant- salesman agreement in real-time 

A planogram reset refers to a situation where a retailer wants to implement a new Planogram design layout. Executing this with immediate effect involves a large-scale restructuring of the store layout and can also include stocking new products or restocking existing products in a new way. With ShelfSet, store owners can quickly do a feasibility check and activate Planogram reset according to the requirements of the brand. Additionally, the app also integrates and displays the merchant-salesman agreement to avoid any kind of miscommunication. 

Closing Lines 

ShelfSet’s automated and AI-driven solutions make shelf space analysis as easy as taking a photo. Made by beverage distributors for beverage distributors, ShelfSet has emerged to be the go-to app for primary tracking, analysis, and real-time reporting of shelf space and POS display to get valuable insights into retail management. Small beverage manufacturers and retail store owners have largely benefited from ShelfSet’s AI-powered image recognition as it enables them to monitor retail on-shelf availability instantly and take immediate actions to optimize their operational efficiency accordingly. Interestingly, the innovative and cost-friendly solution by ShelfSet is not just limited to SMBs operating in the F&B industry. It can be scaled and customized to fit the needs of the largest manufacturers across industries. 

REDMAGIC 7 review

Scott Webster
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0

I don’t race cars for a living but I can certainly appreciate horsepower, engine tuning, and sports car aesthetics. Likewise, I am not a hardcore mobile gamer but that doesn’t mean I can’t admire a phone that’s built with high-end gaming in mind.

Nubia has thrown another quarter in the console for its REDMAGIC line, continuing in its quest to create the ultimate in mobile gaming. With two models to choose from here in 2022, the 7 and 7 Pro, I have been able to test out the former.

Given that my smartphone needs are pretty much fulfilled with any mid-range or better device, sometimes I can only value something for what it puts forth on paper. At a certain point there is just going to be so much memory and performance that I won’t truly recognize things in the real world.

Would the REDMAGIC 7 be a case of me just not fully appreciating the handset at large or might there be a different reason for me to consider the phone for my own needs? As it turns out, there’s an awful lot to like about the device even for casual types.

Design

There’s no mistaking the REDMAGIC line for any other brand of phone. While they are different from year to year, they carry over hallmarks and telltale signature designs. The REDMAGIC 7 is no exception.

This is is a gorgeous phone with a truly unique design and color combination. It’s offered in three colors (Obsidian, Pulsar, and Supernova) which are more or less black, iridescent purple and blue, and semi-transparent.

My review unit was the Supernova which is more or less a combination of black and silver with a few transparent spots. It’s very fun to look at and is unlike anything else on the market. The last thing you want to do is hide or obscure this interesting look with a case; fortunately, REDMAGIC provides a clear protective case so you can show off that thing off.

Similar to other gaming phones, the REDMAGIC 7 has a couple of shoulder triggers for games as well as a headphone jack and turbo fan for cooling. The port is great for those who have a preferred pair of gaming headphones or earbuds. As for the fan, that automatically turns on to keep the phone cool during game sessions.

You won’t see it, but there’s a handful of things keeping the phone cool and optimized. There’s air cooling, liquid cooling, a VC heat sink, an insulation heat pad, and other methods at work.

The phone also comes with a protective case that makes for an even grippier experience that helps when gaming. It doesn’t add too much bulk and I think it certainly helps to make it feel more natural.

Software

The REDMAGIC 7 runs Nubia’s custom Red Magic OS (v5) which is based on Android 12. While there’s been no hard commitment on any updates, I suspect it will pick up Android 13 later this year.

I’ve seen reports from others that find the software to be buggy but I’ve not found that to be the case. I might term it as inconsistent. It doesn’t feel like it’s cohesively designed from top to bottom. Between settings, notifications, and the launcher in general, it takes a bit of time to figure out where the guardrails are and how things operate.

As someone who prefers a “stock” Android or Pixel experience, it was a bit frustrating at first. Taking photos, for instance, produced results with a watermark in them. You can go into the settings and change this, but I’d rather it be an opt-in option. I’m not trying to advertise any companies with my photos.

Similarly, the way it handles the app drawer was aggravating out of the box. You can turn on the traditional drawer and more quickly locate apps, and I recommend doing so, especially if you plan to use your phone for things other than gaming.

To its credit, everything feels built to cater to users who want to get into games and spend the majority of their time there. The Game Space gives users control over so many aspects of the device in the way of performance and tuning. I found it inviting to tinker with options and customize the experience.

There are plenty of widgets and shortcuts to sprinkle on your home screen, some of which are there by default. If you like to keep an eye on stats and performance, you’ll appreciate them. As for me, I removed them and rearranged the layout because it felt cluttered.

Performance

The REDMAGIC 7 is perhaps the most capable phone I’ve touched in years. It’s packed top to bottom with high-end hardware, tuned for gaming, and handles every task I’ve thrown at it. In looking at AnTuTu Benchmarks I see that it ranks at the top of the list of today’s Android phones.

Using the shoulder buttons is nice and helpful during games. In fact, the more games I encountered with button compatibility, the more I found myself thinking that mobile gaming might be something I could get into over time.

The 6.8-inch display is big and beautiful and a real treat to use. It has an incredible image, high refresh rate (up to 165Hz), high touch sampling rate (up to 720Hz), and 2,400 x 1,080 resolution. That is to say it doesn’t just look good for graphic-intensive games, but Netflix and video streaming, too.

Scrolling through the timeline on social media is silky smooth and the display registers taps as effectively as any other phones I’ve used. To be sure, you’ll want to toggle the refresh rate down to 60Hz or 90Hz for basic tasks and texting. It’s not necessary to go higher and it helps with the battery, too.

The turbo fan kicks on when you plug in the charger, ensuring things don’t ever get too warm. If you’ve used a recent flagship phone, you know that sometimes charging a phone while playing on it can cause it to get fairly hot.

Between the graphics, the high-resolution screen and refresh rate, and top-tier processor you’ll find that gaming sessions can really eat into the battery. To that end, I might have liked seeing a 5,000mAh power source. Many mid-range phones, and some entry-level models are higher than the REDMAGIC 7’s 4,500mAh battery.

To its credit, the 65W charging speed is very quick, taking it from nearly depleted to more than half full in just under fifteen minutes. You should be able to get from 0% to 100% in around a half hour if you’re just plugging in and leaving it unattended.

There’s no wireless charging capability here, but I’m still torn on whether I want or need that feature. Besides, you cannot charge it wirelessly and play games at the same time.

Given that the phone leans heavily in the direction of gaming, I did not have high expectations for the camera. The main rear shooter is a 64-megapixel camera which creates decent shots. It’s more than passable, and if you do a little post-capture processing, you’ll get great results worthy of social media and timelines.

The dynamic range was generally rather impressive but the exposure was sometimes too high. That said, a quick pass through Snapseed or another photo editor cleaned things up.

The 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera and a 2-megapixel macro sensor are okay but don’t seem to grab the same level of detail. Even in decent lighting the macro camera was more miss than hit. Fortunately, these are modes that I don’t use very often.

Conclusion

I really like the REDMAGIC 7 as a whole, even though I’m not its target user. Performance-wise it’s as good as anything I’ve tested in recent months.

I am not fond of the operating system and interface, especially out of the box, but some of that can be remedied in the settings. With that in mind, I can see how gamers might dig the “get in, game, and get out” way it feels.

As a general phone user, I appreciate the big screen with all of its bells and whistles. I’m also a fan of super-fast charging and headphone jacks. I wouldn’t recommend this one for its camera experience, but otherwise it’s top-tier hardware at a mid-range price.

If you’re a hardcore mobile gamer, or considering leveling up in the space, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more well-rounded device.

Learn more about the REDMAGIC 7 and other models at the phone maker’s website. You can purchase the handset in three colors and configurations. Obsidian ($629) comes with 12GB RAM and 128GB storage; Pulsar ($729) has 16GB RAM with 256GB storage; Supernova ($799) boasts 18GB RAM and 256GB storage.

Jabees Serenity Bluetooth Sleep Mask review

Connor Fricke
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The Serenity Bluetooth sleep mask from Jabees is a 2-in-1 product. It serves as your nighttime over-the-face sleep mask and, at the same time, provides you with comforting music from your phone.

The Serenity mask offers a comfortable design that will block out 100% of the light in your environment without providing unnecessary pressure on your face and head.

It comes with a USB-C charging cable as well as three different size ear tips as well as a user’s manual. It’s really quite a simple product, and if you’re looking for methods to improve your sleep, you may be headed in the right direction with the Serenity sleep mask. With a retail price of only $39.99 on both Amazon and the Jabees website, it’s definitely worth a shot.

First Impression

The sleep mask is made of soft memory foam, plush suede and canvas-like material. It really does a fantastic job of making it feel like it isn’t even there while you’re getting that important rest.

The tech part of the mask is very bare-bones so that you can remove the electronics to wash the mask. There’s a couple of pockets within the mask where Jabees has hidden the main component/battery pack of the headphones as well as the wires to the earbuds themselves.

With a charge and a single flip of a switch on the battery pack, the Serenity sleep mask is instantly ready to pair with your device.

The earbuds are very small with silicon tips so that you don’t have to worry about the discomfort of sleeping with headphones. If you’ve experienced this, you know how much of a pain it can be.

The Serenity is very large, so when it wraps around your head it also partially covers your ears with the memory foam padding. This is welcome additional comfort for the side-sleepers out there.

With such a simple design, I did worry about the quality of audio from the Serenity mask. I imagined it would be hard to pack anything too powerful into a design like this. Regardless, it seems Jabees has included some nice features, including playback control buttons on the front of the mask, up to 11 hours of playback time, and a Multipoint Bluetooth 5.0 connection. This last detail allows you to pair with two devices at a time so you can take turns sharing the mask with your spouse.

Comfort

There is no doubt that the sleep mask is comfortable. No matter what side of your head you lay on the pillow, it’s not going to be bothersome.

At times it can be a little bit warm, especially if you aren’t getting much airflow around you, but that’s honestly my only complaint as far as comfortability goes.

The mask has a unique contoured design on the inside which relieves the pressure on your eyes and the Velcro strap makes it pretty simple to set the mask to whatever size you want for the perfect fit.

Noticeably, the mask is pretty lightweight for what it is and the inside material is gentle on your skin while aiding in keeping your head cool while you sleep.

With extremely small earbuds and a design that wraps over your ears, there were no problems when laying on my side with the earbuds in. It never felt that there was any added pressure and I never woke up with an earache.

I toss and turn significantly in my sleep, so most nights I woke up with the mask completely removed or the earbuds pulled out of my ears. If you need the mask to stay on while you’re asleep and until you wake up then it may be necessary to adjust the Velcro strap a bit tighter.

Sound Quality

I must say I was quite surprised by the quality of the audio produced by the 6mm drivers of the Serenity’s earbuds. It’s not going to blow you away with its bass, so don’t expect too much there. But keeping in mind that it’s only $40, I think the audio is as clear and as smooth as you could ask for.

Quite honestly, I don’t feel the need for the most breathtaking music experience out of this product; however, Jabees totally delivers some impressive tone quality and depth.

Thus far, in the first few weeks, the Bluetooth connection has remained solid. I never have to worry about my listening experience being disrupted by connection interference.

As far as I’m concerned, if you just want to get a solid nap in with some relaxing music to guide you there, the Serenity has everything you’ll need.

You can learn more about the Serenity sleep mask through Jabee’s website where it’s available to purchase. You can also find it at Amazon, too, for about $40.

TCL offers up economical Stylus 5G for T-Mobile and Metro

Scott Webster
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TCL on Thursday introduced its latest low-cost smartphone, the Stylus 5G. As one would rightly assume from its name, it comes with a built-in stylus for note-taking and other functions.

Powered by Android 12, the TCL Stylus 5G plays mainly in the sandbox that is entry-level phones. It features a large 6.8-inch display with a 2460 x 1080 resolution with a 4,000mAh battery that should be good for all-day usage, plus some.

A quad-camera system is comprised of a 50-megapixel main shooter, 5-megapixel super-wide, 2-megapixel macro, and 2-megapixel depth sensor. Around front you’ll find a 13-megapixel camera.

As for performance, the TCL Stylus 5G runs a MediaTek Dimensity 700 processor with 4GB RAM. Storage is listed at 128GB and a microSD expansion card slot allows for up to 2TB of extra space.

Other notable hardware details include face unlocking, a side-mounted fingerprint reader, 5G support, NFC, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and 18W fast charging capability.

The main draw here, of course, is the stylus. The Stylus 5G comes with Nebo, handwriting recognition software for taking notes. Additionally, the stylus can also be used for screen magnification, drawing on images, storing e-signatures, mark up screen shots, and recordings.

Availability

The TCL Stylus 5G is available now from T-Mobile and and its prepaid brand, Metro, for $258 and $269, respectively.

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