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Want to see the new Samsung Galaxy Note 9 unveiled? Click here to watch!

Alexandra Arici
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The biggest smartphone announcement of the summer is here! Samsung is finally ready to unveil the Galaxy Note 9 flagship during an Unpacked event in New York.

The press conference starts on 11 am EDT, local New York time. Now if you’re curious about the Galaxy Note 9, you should know you can easily tune in and watch the live stream on YouTube.

Or you can keep an eye on one of this websites:

With all the recent leaks and rumors surrounding the device, the Galaxy Note 9 is hardly a mystery. Samsung will most likely confirm what we already know during the event.

The Galaxy Note 9 takes form

The Galaxy Note 9 will borrow most of its specs from the Galaxy S9 Plus and boast a similar size. The upcoming phablet is expected to sport a 6.38-inch screen, which is slightly bigger than the 6.22-inch panel on the Galaxy S9+.

As for the rest of the device, current rumors peg the Note 9 as having a Snapdragon 845 and a standard 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. Samsung touted the Galaxy Note 9 as being “1TB ready” with expandable memory in a recently leaked video by showing 512GB microSD card going in the phone.

As per a reliable Samsung leaker, the phone should also land with a pretty big 4,000 mAh battery under the hood. By comparison, the Galaxy S9 Plus relies on a 3,500 mAh one.

Other highlights of this year’s Note model include an upgraded S Pen experience and Bixby 2.0, which will be introduced during the event.

The company just released the Galaxy Tab S4 tablet last week and has just announced it is hosting a press conference for IFA 2018 on August 30. It seems like it’s a very busy summer for the Korean tech giant who is also rumored to have a new smartwatch up its sleeve.

Will we see it go live in Berlin or in a few days? We’ll just have to wait and see. Don’t forget to tune in to watch the Unpacked event.

Unreal Mobile now offers an $8/month hotspot plan

Alexandra Arici
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Unreal Mobile this week announced a new Wi-Fi hotspot device and a dedicated plan for it. It’s hard to imagine being without an Internet connection today and the MVNO wants to help you stay connected at all times.

The hotspot device costs $20 and for the first year of service, you’ll be required to pay $8 per month. This will ensure you’ll be able to get a Wi-Fi connection wherever you are.

The $8 package includes 2GB of 4G LTE data and unlimited 2G services. After the first year passes, the price will increase to $10/month. The Wi-Fi hotspot can be used to connect up to eight devices at a time including smartphones, laptops, or even smart TVs. Interested parties need to act fast, as supplies are limited.

Need more data? Unreal Mobile has your back

Unreal Mobile is also offering a few other options. For $20 you can get 3GB of LTE, while $30 will buy you 5GB. Last but not least, you have the option to get 10GB of LTE in exchange for $50.

Unreal Mobile is a new name in the industry, so you might not be familiar with it.  The MNVO made a debut back in May by FreedomPop another mobile virtual network operator.

Unreal launched ahead of the proposed T-Mobile and Sprint merger with the intention of offering customers more than affordable rate plans.

So what’s the difference between FreedomPop and its spawn, Unreal Mobile? Well, the former is in direct competition with prepaid carriers such as Boost Mobile and Cricket and offers Voice-over-IP (VoIP) services. As for Unreal, it wants to be a full-service product capable of competing with the likes of T-Mobile and Sprint. Speaking of which, Unreal Mobile relies on Sprint’s network.

Unreal Mobile went live in June 2018 with $10 unlimited mobile plans that include a series of premium features like built-in VPN security feature, ad blocker and free data roll over.

Gemini Rue review: a game that really knows how to weave a story

Alexandra Arici
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Do you happen to be nostalgic about old computer games? Well, the immense app database that is the Google Play Store harbors a few titles that mimic the pixelated graphics of the games of old. Among them is Gemini Rue, a game that was almost single-handedly developed by UCLA undergraduate Josh Nuernberger, who is also known for the La Croix Pan.

Gemini Rue is a 2D point-and-click adventure set in a sci-fi/dark universe. The graphics are intentionally out of sync with today’s more intense high-action games, so that the story becomes the focal point of the experience.

Storyline

So as not to give you any spoilers, I will try to keep things minimal when talking about the storyline. Gemini Rue is about an amnesiac patient called Delta Six who wakes up in some sort of facility. Here people are “re-educated” before they get to go back into the world. At the same time, the story is also about former assassin Azriel Odin. This character is searching for his missing brother in a world controlled by a militia called the Boryokudan.

What I loved about the game is that it doesn’t reveal the whole story from the get-go. At first, you have no real idea what’s really going on, and as the events slowly unfold you become even more curious. You begin to ask questions such as How does this universe work? Are there multiple worlds? Why is Delta-Six locked up? It’s this looming mystery that kept me from abandoning the game at various stages in the experience.

Throughout the game, the two stories will alternate and you’ll either be helping Delta Six hatch up a plan to escape. Or you’ll be uncovering clues with Azriel Odin.

Impressions

But while the storyline is quite stellar, I can’t really say the same for the gaming experience. Playing it on an Android phone, even one with a big screen was definitely not very rewarding.

The pixelated graphics make it quite difficult to notice small details/objects, like the log blocking the door in Azriel’s friend Matthius Howard’s hotel room.You can interact with objects either by touching or kicking them, so you have to pay attention at all times.

I also tend to have a short attention span, so the lengthy dialogue scenes weren’t my favorite part. Sure, you can speed through them. But you’ll most likely miss essential information which you”ll need to solve the puzzles and quests at some point.

You’ll also have to be careful how you choose your answers while interacting with the various characters in the game. This act has consequences in the sense that you might be prevented to complete a quest unless you offer the satisfying answers.

Be prepared to die…multiple times

Another thing I didn’t particularly enjoy were the really awful combat scenes. At least in the mobile version of the game, the system doesn’t work too well. Azriel and Delta six both know how to fire a gun. Yet in Gemini Rue that’s not an easy-to-accomplish task. The biggest problem with the system is that firing the gun is slow.

It’s also quite difficult to watch both a meter and a moving enemy while switching between the two states (shooting mode and re-charging mode). As a result, you end up dying multiple times before finally moving to the next scene. Fortunately, there’s an autosave option, so you won’t have to start from scratch if you perish.

On the bright side, the developer of the game obviously understood the importance of sound in a game such as Gemini Rue. The soundtrack created by composer Nathan Allen Pinard is truly excellent and really helps amplify the dark mood enveloping this dystopian universe. The dialogue is also quite clever and amusing, while the puzzles are intuitive.

As low-resolution and low-fi as it is, Gemini Rue uses these qualities to create a gloomy and intense atmosphere that perfectly complements the story.

Conclusion

It’s quite spectacular how Josh Nuernberger managed to do almost everything in Gemini Rue by himself including writing, animation, and programming. While the game might have its flaws (at least on mobile, I haven’t played the PC game), its well-crafted story was more than enough to make me want to stick around until the end.

Gemini Rue is available to download in the Play Store for $4.99.

Red Hydrogen One phone official release delayed with early access for developers

Jason England
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Some bad news good news here for all you Red fans hoping to try out their Hydrogen One phone with the holographic display. The bad news is, it won’t be as soon as you had hoped because of more delays. The good news is the Red Hydrogen One has an official release date of October 9th for pre-orders and November 2nd for carrier models.

Beginning November 2nd AT&T, Verizon, and Telcel in Mexico will offer the Aluminum Red Hydrogen One in Black and Shadow for $1295. The Titanium models will only become available in 2019 and in very limited quantities.

The delay this time is due to a part needing to be retooled and recertified forcing the launch dates to be pushed back. Hopefully, barring any other problems that might pop up there won’t be any more hold-ups. However, they make no promises and Red hopes you will be patient with them as they try to put out the best possible product.

Some more good news is if you are willing to beta test for them you can get your hands on an early developer model called Houdini starting August 31st. In order to get your hands on the ever elusive Houdini, there are some conditions. These include having a pre-order already in place, agreeing to their terms, and anyone affiliated with a competing company is automatically disqualified.

Their terms are reasonable for those of you familiar with pre-release products. These terms include:

  • No dissembling of the Hydrogen One
  • No posting of bad photos taken with the Hydrogen One
  • No talking bad about the Hydrogen One until after the official release date in November
  • You must update the phone weekly
  • You have to give them feedback through their app about bugs and how to improve the phone

While they do limit you from talking bad about the phone Red has no issue if you want to post good things about it online or photos of the actual phone. If you break any of these rules they can and will brick your phone remotely.

Some of the other drawbacks of being in the Houdini program are that it only comes in the Black Aluminum option. You’ll also be giving up your pre-order Red Hydrogen One and they are on a first come first serve basis. If you’re still interested in signing up then you better email Red quickly.

Only time will tell if Red can hit these new release dates, but it is a good sign that developer models are scheduled to go out soon. As always Red states if you are unsatisfied for any reason you are free to cancel your pre-order. If not then strap in cause you’ve only got a couple more months before they start shipping, hopefully.

Back to school tech guide 2018

Jason England
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August has come and before you know it you’ll be back in class trying to keep your eyes open. Before you hit the books you’re going to need to stock up on all the essentials. To assist we’ve put together a list of some great tech to help you get the most out of your studying or the breaks in between.

Chromebooks

ASUS Chromebook C202SA-YS01

Chromebooks are perfect for students because of their lightweight design, long battery life, and more affordable price. The ASUS C202SA makes a great companion for your little one. Powered by an Intel N3060 and 2GB of RAM it’s not the fastest machine out there. However, what it lacks in power it makes up for with a rugged design. With rubber bumpers along the edges and water resistance, it is built to stand up to the abuse of your younger ones without breaking the bank starting at $149.

Buy from Amazon

Samsung Chromebook Pro

Are you looking for something a little faster and more feature packed? That’s where the Samsung Chromebook Pro comes in. Using a 12.3-inch high-resolution touchscreen with an included pen you can use it as a laptop or tablet replacement. It is powered by an Intel M3 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 32GB of memory with a microSD card slot for expansion. This Chromebook steps it up with more power, a quality build, and still comes in at only $580.

Buy from Amazon Samsung Chromebook Plus Review

Phones

Moto G6

A smartphone is one piece of essential tech that everyone needs. The good news is these days you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg for a decent phone. The Moto G6 is the perfect example of this with a starting price of $235.

For that low price, you get a Snapdragon 450, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage expandable with a microSD card, 5.7-inch full HD screen, dual rear cameras, 3000mAh battery, fingerprint scanner, and Android Oreo. While it is a little underpowered it is jam-packed with features for this price.

Buy from Amazon

OnePlus 6

If you’re looking to spend a little more, for almost double the price you’ll end up with a OnePlus 6 packed with top of the line specs. For the bargain price of $529 you get a Snapdragon 845, 6GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, 6.28-inch HD screen, dual camera, and a 3300mAh battery.

Buy from OnePlus OnePlus Review

Tablets

Fire HD 10 Tablet

The Fire HD 10 tablet from Amazon is one of your best options if you’re looking to save some money. For the $149 price tag, it’s not packing a lot of power but it’s durable and works fine for streaming videos. At first, it is a little limited with only the Amazon app store and 32GB of storage. However, there are ways to load the Play Store and the microSD card slot allows you to expand the storage.

Buy from Amazon

Huawei MediaPad M5 8.4

The Huawei MediaPad M5 8.4-inch is a more compact premium tablet. Coming in at a little over double the price of the Fire HD 10 at $313, it packs a high-resolution screen, metal build, and way more power. Due to the size, it is easy to take on the go making it perfect for playing games, watching movies, or even getting in a little school work here and there.

Buy from Amazon

Audio

JBL Link 10

If you’re looking for a speaker for your room, dorm room, or on the go the JBL Link 10 has you covered. It has everything a student could need with its small size, water-resistant design, Google Assistant support, and great sound. Even better it will only set you back $100 for the time being.

Buy from JBL

Beoplay P2

The Beoplay P2 proves that good things can come in small packages. With sound that is louder with more bass than you could imagine, this little speaker impresses. It is one of my favorite speakers and you won’t have to sacrifice sound quality for size. It is a little more expensive starting at $152 but for quality sound that fits in the palm of your hand, you can’t beat it.

Buy from Amazon

JBL Clip 3

Sometimes you need something a little smaller but you still want plenty of volume. That’s where the JBL Clip 3 comes in with its compact size and convenient clip design. It’s easy to carry with you anywhere you go and water resistant so you won’t have to worry if it gets wet. You’ll miss out on the higher quality sound found in the previous two speakers but it has plenty of volume. With up to 10 hours of battery life, it will get you through the day and can be had for $60.

Buy from Amazon

Bose QuietComfort 35 II

When you’re a student, especially in college it can get noisy. Sometimes you just need to put on your headphones and block everything out. For those times you’ll want the best noise canceling headphones on the market and that means the Bose QuietComfort 35 II. These are the update to the very popular Bose QuietComfort 35 I but with the series II you get Google Assistant built in. Unfortunately, they won’t come cheap starting at $350.

Buy from Amazon

Anker Soundcore Spirit

The Anker Soundcore Spirit comes in at a much more affordable price point of $40. However, you won’t get the noise canceling features or sound quality offered by Bose. Regardless, these Bluetooth headphones help you cut the cord for a lower price and come with SweatGuard protection. Very helpful if you’re looking to hit the gym and keep off that freshman fifteen.

Buy from Amazon

Accessories

Anker PowerCore AC 22,000

Your all in one charging machine! The Anker PowerCore AC will charge anything and everything from your phone, tablet, and even your laptop. With a built-in AC plug and USB ports, you can carry this around and keep all of your gadgets powered up.

With 22,000 mAh worth of power, it can fully charge a 2016 Macbook or charge any phone or tablet several times over. All that power and options don’t come cheap though, the Anker PowerCore AC will set you back $150.

Buy from Amazon

Anker PowerCore 10,000

The Anker PowerCore 10,000 offers less than half of the power of the previous but at a much more affordable $30 price tag. It also won’t be able to charge your laptop, but if you’re just looking for a little extra charge for your phone or tablet this has you covered.

Buy from Amazon

Three-way charging cable

Between all these new and old gadgets you’re bound to have a variety of different ports. This three-way cable combines micro USB, USB-C, and Lightning connectors all into one convenient cable. No longer will you have to swap cables or search for the right one. This can be picked up for under $8 on Amazon.

Buy from Amazon

MicroSD Card

 

Several of the products here include a microSD card slot and adding a card is a cheap convenient way to add storage to your device. Most times you can double or triple your storage for under $50. A 64 GB or 128 GB card both offer a nice bump in storage and won’t hit your wallet too hard.

64GB Sandisk 128GB Sandisk

Backpack

Solo Duane Hybrid Bag

Now that you have all your new gear, you’re going to need a way to carry it around. This stylish Duane Solo Laptop Hybrid bag lets you do this anyway you choose with several carrying options. Whether you prefer a backpack, messenger bag, or briefcase you get all three with this one bag. What’s even better is it can be had only $31 dollars.

Buy from Amazon

New leaked images of Pixel 3 XL reveal USB-C headphones in box (Update: Video unboxing!)

Jason England
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Update (10:15 AM): We’re now getting a hands-on video unboxing of the Pixel 3 XL. This comes to us via Reddit. As many commenters point out, the big notch we’ve seen in previously leaked photos appears to be large and in charge at the top of the device. We also see a pretty hefty chin too, leaving us to wonder why exactly we’re getting a notch and a chin.

What do you think of the Pixel 3 XL? Hit the comment section and let us know.

Original post: The leaks keep coming as we await the release of the new Pixel 3 XL phone from Google. This time we get another view of the phone along with what’s inside of the box, which includes a pair of USB-C headphones. The design of the headphones borrows heavily from the Pixel Buds which launched last year with the same overall shape and ear loops.

It’s possible the Pixel 2 phones were supposed to launch with headphones last year but it got scrapped. That would have made a lot more sense considering it was the first year they dropped the headphone jack, but better late than never I suppose.

After the subpar reviews of the Pixel Buds last year hopefully these headphones will sound better. However, bundled headphones rarely have the best sound quality. Without requiring a tricky charging case, they’ll at least escape criticism for that.

With the lack of USB-C headphones in the market, something would be better than nothing. Especially when you drop so much money on a new phone and all you get is a dongle.

Along with the USB-C headphones, we also get some more looks at the Pixel 3 XL in Clearly White and its obnoxiously large notch. Personally, I’m not a fan of notches and to make matters worse they still have a bezel on the bottom chin. Without offering a bezel-free screen it really negates any benefit you’d gain from having a notch to begin with.

These photos come from a Russian tech blogger on his Telegram channel. Considering we’re not seeing anything new in the photos of the Pixel 3 XL itself, it does confirm what we’ve already seen and adds validity to the photos of the headphones.

In screenshots, we get further confirmation that this is the Pixel 3 XL along with some of the same specs we’ve seen leaked previously. Such as a Qualcomm processor with 8 cores that is most likely the Snapdragon 845, 4GB of RAM, an Andreno 630 GPU, and it is running Android 9 Pie.

Just when we thought there was nothing new to learn about the upcoming Pixel 3 XL we get this gem. It’s not much, but for those of you looking to buy or upgrade I’m sure you’ll be happy to know you won’t have to keep up with a dongle, or have to track down a pair of USB-C headphones.

OnePlus offers special OnePlus 6 bundles to celebrate Back to School

Alexandra Arici
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The start of the new school year is drawing inexorably close. With this in mind, tech companies have already started to announce their own back-to-school sales.

For example, OnePlus has its own promotion going on. The company is currently offering a Full Survival Kit for which it’s asking students to pay $529 instead of $583. This includes:

  • OnePlus 6 Mirror Black with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage
  • OnePlus Bullets V2
  • Fast Charge Cable (100 cm)
  • Fast Charge Power Adapter

Keep in mind one thing: the free accessories will not come with a standard warranty.

OnePlus: Score an A+ in flagships today

That’s not the only choice you have. OnePlus also offers the Tough & Smooth Bundle for $579.00 (discounted from $603.95), which includes

  • OnePlus 6 Mirror Black with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage
  • Karbon or Sandstone Case

If you’re a student, this seems like a great time to buy the OnePlus 6. The device is among the best flagships of this year.

It comes packing a 6.28-inch display with a 2280 x 1080 resolution and 19:9 aspect ratio. It’s powered by a Snapdragon 845 processor and features an improved dual-camera on the back. The OnePlus 6 is going to be among the first phones to get the new Android Pie update, which just became available a few days ago.

For those of you own an older OnePlus (the 5 or 5T) and don’t want to upgrade to the latest version, the company also offers a few discounts on related accessories.

The biggest one cuts 50% off OnePlus 5 Protect Yo Self Bundle which includes a Protective Case and a 3D Tempered Glass Screen Protector. You can get it for only $19.95 instead of $39.90.

Now, if you’re a student with a valid ID card, you might want to register for the Student Beans program. Verify your student identity with Student Beans in order to get up to a 10% discount on any order.

Palm’s comeback smartphone to be called Pepito?

Alexandra Arici
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Back in March, we reported that TCL revealed it has plans to revive the once iconic phone maker Palm this year.

Well, it seems that a new Palm smartphone is indeed in the pipeline. In recent days a new Palm device was spotted at the FCC and Wi-Fi Alliance. What’s more, the device also appeared in the Bluetooth SIG database revealing it might be called Pepito. It’s unclear at this point whether this is simply a codename or the final name for the device.

The FCC and Wi-Fi Alliance listings have revealed the model number for the phone, which is PVG100. Very little is known about the device at this point, but the FCC label on the back of the handset clearly shows the “designed by Palm in San Francisco” branding.

Palm Pepito might get unveiled at IFA 2018

The Wi-Fi Alliance filing also shows that the phone won’t support 5GHz Wi-Fi, but rather 2.4GHz. This suggests Pepito could be a budget affair and not a flagship. As most premium handsets these days tend to come with support for 5GHz. The same certification confirms that Palm’s upcoming device will run Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box.

As for the Bluetooth SIG listing, it reveals Palm’s comeback device will offer support for Bluetooth 4.2.

So when can we expect Palm’s new device to make an appearance? Well given that IFA 2018 is coming at the end of the month, we might get to see it then. We previously heard the phone will be sold through Verizon.

In case you don’t recall, TLC – the same company that gave BlackBerry a new life – acquired the Palm brand back in 2011. In August of last year, TCL’s marketing manager Stefan Streit confirmed that the company has plans to bring Palm back in 2018. With only a few months left in the year, we’ll have to assume the new Palm smartphone is coming soon.

HOT TAKE: Android Pie (Podcast #17)

Matt Adams
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A new version of Android is out! Matt, Donovan, and Andrew sit down to discuss what’s inside, what they love, and the future of notches! Plus, there’s some more about where we feel Android is going and the future of Android skins. Tune in to hear the conversation and leave your comments on this post with what you think!

Android Pie coverage

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JBL Xtreme 2 review: Plenty of power for your summer and more

Jason England
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The JBL Xtreme 2 is the follow up to the initial JBL Xtreme speaker that sits in between the JBL Flip and JBL Boombox series of Bluetooth speakers.

The JBL Xtreme 2 is for consumers who want something more powerful than the JBL Flip speaker but not quite as large or expensive as the JBL Boombox. JBL was kind enough to provide us with one for review, so keep reading to see how it stands up and if it’s the right speaker to rock your summer.

Don’t Miss

Design

The JBL Xtreme 2 does not differ in design from most other JBL Bluetooth speakers. It uses a cylindrical body covered in a fabric with visible bass radiators on the sides. I have the Midnight Black version for review but it also available in Ocean Blue and Forest Green.

There are two rubber feet on the bottom in order to keep it upright but they are a little on the narrow side. I found they didn’t always keep the speaker from rolling over on uneven surfaces. However, if you’re only placing it on a table or flat ground then this shouldn’t be an issue.

For this being JBL’s middle of the road speaker it is still quite large and heavy weighing in at a little over 5lbs. There is no comfortable way to carry this speaker with one hand, so it’s a good thing it comes with a carrying strap. The strap is high quality and connects to the speaker via two metal loops.

JBL Xtreme 2

While the strap makes carrying the JBL Xtreme 2 more convenient, unfortunately, it lacks sufficient padding and rubber to prevent slipping. Due to this fatigue sets in much quicker on your shoulder and you often feel like the speaker is going to slip and fall. If there were any doubt that this is a party speaker then the included bottle cap opener on the strap should put that to rest. All in all, it works but it is not exactly perfect.

JBL Xtreme 2Controls

Along the top are buttons for Bluetooth pairing, volume down, power, Connect+, volume up, and play/pause. All the buttons are responsive and work well with the play/pause button also allowing you to skip tracks when pressed twice. There is no way to go back to the previous track though.

All of the ports on the JBL Xtreme 2 are hidden under a compartment on the back. The compartment is a little difficult to pry open and this is most likely to aid in the IPX7 waterproofing. That’s right, the JBL Xtreme 2 is waterproof making it perfect for hanging by the pool, the lake, or even the beach. Regardless, it still would have been nice if the compartment was easier to open.

Included under the door are a 3.5mm jack, a power port, USB port, and micro USB port for service only. Having a dedicated power port was a little disappointing because it requires a special charger you must use over using a more common micro USB charger.

To be fair, the JBL Xtreme 2 houses a rather large 10,000mAh battery and the dedicated port provides a way to charge faster. Thanks to this large battery the full-sized USB port can be used to charge your phone or tablet. This is a great feature that really comes in handy when you’re on the go with your speaker. Although, I’d much rather see JBL include a USB-C port for faster charging as well as power output for charging.

Bluetooth

The JBL Xtreme 2 is using Bluetooth v4.2 and has exceptional range when outdoors without any obstacles. I was able to get nearly 50ft. away with a steady connection and able to hear music. However, I noticed some interruptions in the music after reaching 30ft with some obstacles in between. This is similar to most other Bluetooth speakers I’ve used in the past though.

App

There is a JBL Connect app for Android and iOS that is used for updating the firmware and adds some new tricks to JBL speakers such as the JBL Xtreme 2. In my case, I found the Xtreme 2 needed a firmware upgrade immediately to version 1.6.0. Anyone out there purchasing one might want to check after setting it up.

The app also allows you to control the audio feedback sounds, speakerphone functions, and includes instructions for the Connect+ feature. I was able to use Connect+ with two other JBL speakers without using the app though. The JBL Connect app itself is mainly only useful for updating the firmware and switching the purpose of the play/pause button to activate your voice assistant.

Unfortunately, a feature you would expect to be present such as an equalizer is nowhere to be found. Personally, I enjoy the way the speaker itself is tuned, but this would be a welcomed addition to JBL’s app and make it more useful and win over more users.

Sound

Sound quality is one of the most important factors when it comes to a Bluetooth speaker. What good is a speaker after all if it doesn’t provide your ears with quality sound? Thankfully, the Xtreme 2 delivers first-rate sound, utilizing two 2.75-inch woofers for the low end and two 20mm tweeters to handle the treble.

Using this combination supplies your ears with a nice range of sound incorporating pounding full bass while not overpowering the high notes and vocals in songs. The nice balance between the treble and bass helped with instrument separation and preventing instruments from getting lost or becoming muddy.

JBL Xtreme 2

My only complaint in regards to the sound quality is when the volume is at its highest levels. When approaching 80% volume and above the high end overwhelms the bass making it almost disappear. Fortunately, with a speaker this loud I found myself rarely turning it up over 50% preventing this from being much of an issue.

Battery

Battery life on the JBL Xtreme 2 is rated for 15 hours to get you through a full day. In my experience, the speaker was even better than it claimed. After listening to the speaker for approximately 14 hours over a weeks time, it reports the battery is only half drained from a single charge. Obviously, this will all depend largely on what volume you listen to the speaker at and I’ve used it mostly between 20 and 50 percent.

Conclusion

JBL has delivered a durable waterproof speaker capable of big sound with the Xtreme 2. Between the sound quality, battery life, and extra features you can’t really go wrong with it. However, it’s also a bit on the pricey side starting at $300 and most likely out of many people’s price range. If you’re looking for something more affordable you might opt for JBL’s smaller Flip 4 currently priced at $85 on Amazon.

The Flip 4 trades in the more powerful bass and louder sound for a more budget-friendly portable speaker that still sounds good in its own right. Still, I’m certain there are others out there wanting something even larger and louder than the JBL Xtreme 2. For them, I say give the JBL Boombox a try. It is the larger, louder, longer lasting of the trio but will also cost you more at $441.

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