Thursday, March 28, 2024

Reviews

TableTopics review

TableTopics is a conversation starter game that contains a collection of thought-provoking questions designed to stimulate discussion and encourage people to share their perspectives and experiences. The game consists of a set of 135 question cards, each of which contains a different prompt. Players take turns drawing a card from the deck and answering the question on the card. The questions are designed to be fun and lighthearted, and they can be enjoyed by people of all ages and backgrounds.Read on to learn more or check out the podcast (also embedded below) to see what we thought of the TableTopics.Noteworthy FeaturesAvailable in tabletop and travel optionsPlenty of fun and interesting genres for a variety of scenariosOpen-ended questions get people talking; no wrong answerPerfect icebreaker for meeting friends, work gatherings, and more135 cards in a hard plastic boxGalleryListen to the EpisodeThoughts and ConclusionOne of the most difficult aspects of meeting new people or gathering in groups is figuring out the right topics. Which people are interested in sports, or movies, or a particular hobby? Tabletopics makes things simple with open-ended questions that will get people chatting in no time.The best part is that there’s no wrong answer. Jump in wherever you feel comfortable, or add on to someone else’s discussion with your own anecdotes or answer.An easy way to get things going in a meeting or group setting, we can imagine a topic or two being used to introduce yourself to others. Or, open things up and let people break out into smaller chats.With quite a selection of topics to consider, pack is better than the next. These are perfect to put on a coffee table for when guest stop over and you’re looking for a lively conversation.The toughest decision you’ll make is figuring out which box you want.You can learn more about the TableTopics and/or purchase yours for about $25.

Podcast: Amber X

Check out episode 408 of the AndroidGuys Podcast where we discuss the Amber X.About the Amber XThe Amber X is a personal data storage device that provides a secure and easy-to-use way to store and access your data. Designed as a personal cloud, it lets users automatically backup files across mobile and desktop clients, and allows for sharing with others.Listen below using the embedded player or click here to check out the episode using your favorite media player.

Acefast Crystal (2) T8 Earbuds review

Wireless earbuds are improved and evolved more over the years, not only in terms of hardware-wise but also design-wise too. Brands are offering more attractive looks and great sound hardware inside the earbuds which is way better than the typical black and white earbuds. Acefast is an emerging brand in the TWS market and its newly launched Acefast Crystal (2) T8 wireless earbuds are simply awesome, come with an eye-catchy transparent design, and six luminous color options which catch our attention. Acefast sent us Crystal (2) T8 earbuds for review, let’s see how it performs in our test.  I have been using the Acefast Crystal (2) earbuds for about one week now. The earbuds look good and sound even better but some must-have features aren’t there such as ANC. Acefast Crystal (2) T8 Earbuds SpecsThe Acefast Crystal (2) T8 offers crystal clear sound with high-definition bass.Battery Life – 7 hours (earbuds only), 30 hours (earbuds with case)Brand – ACEFASTWeight – Earbuds – 11g, Case – 47gNoise Cancellation – NoConnectivity – Bluetooth 5.3 + EDRIP rating – IPX4 (Earbuds and charging case)Charging – USB-CProsBeautiful light effectsFast and reliable Bluetooth connectivityAverage audio performanceENC for call noise reduction30+ hours of long-lasting batteryConsNo ANCNo Multi-Point and Fast Pair supportTouch controls are not very responsiveAcefast Crystal (2) T8 earbuds: Price and Availability Acefast Crystal (2) T8 earbuds retail at $99 but are currently available for $69.99. The earbuds are available for purchase via Acefast’s official website.Design and Build Quality: Flashy and sleekThe Acefast Crystal (2) T8 earbuds have a very unique design, unlike other earbuds in the market. The earbuds have an eye-grabber transparent design, you can see the circuits present inside the case and earbuds, which look great. Acefast may be inspired by Nothing’s Ear 1 (see our review) which also offers a transparent design but in comparison to Nothing, the Crystal T8’s charging case is more transparent. Acefast Crystal (2) T8 earbuds have a digital battery indicator with mesmerizing breathing light on top of the case which shows the battery percentage of the case and just above it, there are separate battery bars for each bud that show the battery status of the buds. The charging case shows the battery percentages in digits from 99 onwards and the “OK” word means the battery is fully charged (100%). In the market, you can see most of the earbuds come with a flip design which is quite a hassle to take out the earbuds from the case but the Acefast Crystal T8 earbuds are attached via magnets to the sides of the case which is fast accessible, and more convenient. It has a Type-C port at the bottom for charging.Speaking about the build quality, the case is made of hard plastic material which is sturdy and offers a good feel in hand. The earbuds have a solid build, during the unboxing time the earbud fell from my hand accidentally but there were no scratches or damages. The buds offer great in-ear fits thanks to the curved ergonomic design which offers a tight grip enough to not fall out during a workout, walking, or other activities. In my case, I haven’t experienced the bud fall-out problem. Just use a proper silicone tip size, as per your ears and you never face this fallout problem. The weight of each earbud is 11g though it doesn’t feel heavy in the ear while using even after continuous 3 to 4 hours of use. The case is compact, weighs just 47 grams and easily slides into your jeans pocket. Though there are no physical buttons on the case; it offers touch controls via earbuds.Acefast offered six attractive color options for the Crystal (2) T8 earbuds- Purple, Black, Pink, Blue, Green, and White. All six options come with the same transparent design and a small LED light with their respective colors. Talking about my unboxing experience which is pretty good, the design of the box is quite flashy. You can see the texts all around the box. Acefast offers a bunch of accessories with Crystal (2) T8 earbuds, usually most manufacturers don’t provide even the big players in the TWS market such as Sony, Apple, OnePlus, and many more.Here’s everything you’ll get in the boxThe Acefast Crystal (2) T8 earbudsType C charging cableEar tips (Extra small, small, medium, and large)Silicon Protective case with a rubber string User ManualHardware: Some must-have features are missingAcefast Crystal (2) T8 earbuds lack some must-have features which at least you expect in $99 earbuds. Talking about the features, each earbud packs in a 10mm driver with an aluminum moving coil and a 6mm dome tweeter which helps to deliver an immersive sound experience. The earbuds use the latest Bluetooth v5.3 + Enhance Data Rate (EDR) with support for AAC and SBC audio codecs though you wouldn’t get Hi-Res audio support. Dual microphones are embedded with each earbud, so call quality was great for me at least in my testing and there is ENC support that ensures noise reduction during calls. Unfortunately, the earbuds don’t support Active Noise Cancellation. You get an IPX4 waterproof grade for both earbuds and the case. This means the case and earbuds can withstand splashes of water for a short period of time. The earbuds boast a Laser Direct Structuring (LDS) antenna design that offers stable signals and strong anti-interference. Acefast doesn’t offer any smartphone app for creating custom audio profiles or managing equalizers or receiving firmware updates. There is no Fast pair (for faster connectivity on Android devices) and multi-point paring (for connecting two devices simultaneously) support in the Acefast Crystal (2) T8 earbuds. Perhaps ironically, the earbuds don’t have in-ear or wear detection (which resumes and pauses the media playback) that feature usually found in any budget earbuds today. There are no physical buttons on the case itself, so you can’t check the battery status of the case or earbuds whenever you want, at least you need to put the earbuds in the case every time. The earbuds have touch control options that are easy to use, a single tap for volume up/down, a double tap to pause the media playback, and a triple tap to change the track. Sadly, you can’t customize the controls, which is a bummer, and they are not very responsive at least for me, and take a bit of time to register touches. (Yes, I do agree the touch controls are easy and more convenient to use but I’m not a fan of touch controls because it never works perfectly for me, may it’s just my problem).Performance and Sound Quality: Good Sound and minor lagsActivating the earbuds is very easy just put out the earbuds from the case, and they turn on automatically and connects even faster thanks to the Bluetooth v5.3 connectivity. In my testing, the Acefast Crystal (2) T8 earbud’s performance is good providing crystal clear and loud audio but there’s a catch, the earbud sounds too bassy which I usually like in most scenarios but in some cases, I don’t. The mids and lows are just average while the highs are decent. The bass doesn’t overpower the vocals, it’s well separated from it.  The earbuds lack Active Noise Cancellation which affects the overall music-listening experience but the quality of sound did come out pretty decent. The T8 performed well during an hour-long call with my friend, providing crystal-clear audio and no connectivity issues. For those who love rocking music, pop tracks, and Full of base songs these earbuds will be a good choice because Acefast focused on lower bass frequencies which offer a deep and powerful listening experience. During my testing, I haven’t faced any connectivity issues. There were no lags or dropouts when testing on an Android, tablet, iPhone, or laptop. Yes, it has one drawback- the earbuds can only connect to a sole device at a time because of the lack of a multi-point feature but thanks to its fastest connectivity options, the buds are automatically in the pairing mode as soon as you removed it from the charging case. Apart from the music, I also did some gaming with these earbuds. Though it’s not pure gaming earbuds, so you can’t expect a top-notch performance. While playing PUBG Mobile, observed a very noticeable lag which definitely ruined my gaming experience. The earbuds do have a luxurious look and attractive breathing light which gives truly gamer vibes. These earbuds are not built for competitive gaming but it is good enough for casual games.  Battery Life: Lasts up to 30 HoursBattery life is one of the important factors in any earbuds, the better the battery backup, the better the experience. Acefast Crystal (2) T8 earbuds are claimed to offer up to 7 hours of battery life at 70% volume on a single charge while the case lasts up to 30 hours. The charging case houses a 480mAh battery (which can charge the earbuds 4 times) while there is a 45mAH battery in each earbud. The earbuds have fast charging support with just 10 mins of charge it offers up to 2 hours of playback time.  During my testing period, I found the earbuds offered me 6.5 hours of playback time on a single charge which is great and nearly equal to what Acefast claims it. But one thing that impresses me a lot which is, I was playing with these earbuds for around a week, and I didn’t even charge the case once. The earbuds don’t have wireless charging support and they can be charged via USB Type C, and The case takes up to 90 minutes to fully charge.VerdictAcefast Crystal (2) T8 wireless earbuds are indeed good for music and casual gaming and offer deep, crystal-clear sound quality with extra bass. The earbuds have a unique transparent design which makes it one of the best-looking earbuds on the market and mesmerizing breathing LED light embossed in them which also shows how much juice is remaining on the charging case (In the form of digits) as well as the left and right earbuds too. The overall sound quality is just average and you wouldn’t get Active Noise Cancellation and any high-bitrate codec support, only the AAC and SBC codecs. Battery performance is great, the earbuds deliver a long 30 hours of playback time on a single charge. If you are a casual user, then these earbuds definitely offer up to 2 weeks of playback time for sure. That said, there are many brands out there (Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 2, Sony’s WF-C500) which offer the basic features such as ANC, better codec support, wear detection, and Fast Pair support. The Crystal T8 lacks these and is priced too high at $100. If you are getting around 30 to 40% discount during purchasing the T8 then and only then we can recommend it. Otherwise there are a bunch of options in the market you can go with it which offer far superior features. 

Samsung Galaxy A54 review: buy it, and make your life more colorful

The Galaxy A54 is colorful in more ways than one, and in our extensive review, we find out if it's the phone to buy — or if it's worth spending a little extra.

Lenovo Slim 7 14 review: a fast and affordable thin and light laptop

The Lenovo Slim 7 14 packs a lot of power into a thin and light chassis, at a price that's close to midrange.

Asus ROG Swift OLED (PG27AQDM) review: OLED meets brightness

The Asus ROG Swift PG27AQDM delivers excellent features and the best brightness we've seen out of an OLED.

Govee Envisual TV Backlight T2 review

The Govee Enbrighten TV Backlight T2 is a smart LED strip designed to enhance your TV viewing experience by adding ambient backlighting to your TV screen.Read on to learn more or check out the podcast (also embedded below) to see what we thought of the Govee Envisual TV Backlight T2.Noteworthy FeaturesThe Govee Enbrighten TV Backlight T2 offers a wide range of colors and brightness levels, allowing you to adjust the backlight to match your mood or the ambiance of the room.The T2 is easy to install and comes with a strong adhesive tape that allows you to attach the LED strip to the back of your TV or monitor.The T2 can sync with the beat of your music or the sound effects of your movies and TV shows, creating a dynamic and immersive viewing experience.You can control the T2 using the Govee app, which is available for both iOS and Android devices. The app offers a range of customization options, including color, brightness, and special effects.The T2 is compatible with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, allowing you to control the backlight using voice commands.GalleryListen to the EpisodeThoughts and ConclusionThe LED strip is easy to install and can be attached to the back of your TV with adhesive tape. Once installed, it can be controlled using a remote control or through the Govee Home app, which is available on both iOS and Android.The Enbrighten TV Backlight T2 uses RGB LED lights, which can display over 16 million colors, and can also be set to different lighting modes, including dynamic, static, and custom modes. The LED strip also features a built-in microphone, which allows the lights to react to the sound coming from your TV. This means that the lights can change color and brightness based on the volume and frequency of the sound.The Enbrighten TV Backlight T2 is compatible with voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, allowing you to control the lights using your voice. The LED strip also features a timer function, which can be used to turn the lights on and off at specific times.The Govee Enbrighten TV Backlight T2 is a great product for anyone looking to add some extra ambiance to their TV viewing experience. It’s easy to install, can be controlled using a remote or app, and features a range of different lighting modes and colors to choose from.You can learn more about the Govee Envisual TV Backlight T2 and/or purchase yours for about $140.

Google Pixel Buds Pro review: Great Android, even better for Pixel

Google threw everything at the wall, and most of it stuck.

Anker announces limited edition Transformers Nebula Capsule 3 Laser

We recently reviewed the great new projector from Anker’s Nebula sub-brand Nebula. The Capsule 3 Laser is an amazingly small, portable option for those wanting a projector that you can throw in a bag. Now, the company is launching a limited edition Transformers variant of this device.You get the same stellar performance and laser projection from the standard Capsule 3 Laser. However, this limited run adds a striking new paint job. This features Optimus Prime from the Transformers series in a metallic red color scheme. I’ve yet to see this in person, but I can’t help but think of how this would really pop in comparison to the matte black regular Capsule 3 Laser.Anker did a similar run of the previous generation Capsule with a Star Wars variant and coming back with another legendary character series is a nice touch. The Nebula Capsule 3 Laser already has a quirky design and leaning into that robotic footprint with Transformers is another spot-on collaboration in my mind.This collectible special edition of the Transformer Nebula will only be available for 500 projectors. That makes this a pretty hot commodity and helps soften the $900 price tag. A $200 premium for something you know only 499 other people will ever own makes this compelling. And if you act right now, you can clip a copy at Nebula’s landing page and Amazon to get $120 off the price at checkout.So, what do you think about this Transformers variant? Is this extra coat of nerd paint worth it? Are you going to buy one?Purchase the Nebula Capsule 3 Laser Transformers Edition from NebulaPurchase the Nebula Capsule 3 Laser Transformers Edition from Amazon

Podcast: Twinkly Flex

Check out episode 393 of the AndroidGuys Podcast where we discuss the Twinkly Flex.About the Twinkly FlexThe Twinkly Flex is a flexible LED tube that can be shaped and bent in seemingly endless ways. Available in 2m and 3m lengths, it offers users innumerable colors and effects, making any environment look classy, cool, or cutting-edge. It is configured and controlled by mobile app but it can be added to your smart home and is compatible with your preferred digital assistant.Listen below using the embedded player or click here to check out the episode using your favorite media player.

GameSir G7 Controller review

The GameSir G7 is a wired controller design for and licensed by Microsft Xbox, however it can also work with Windows 10/11, too. Customization comes in a number of manners including swappable faceplates and software that lets users define actions, map buttons, and more.Read on to learn more or check out the podcast (also embedded below) to see what we thought of the GameSir G7 Controller.Noteworthy FeaturesOfficially licensed by XboxCustomizable, swappable faceplatesGameSir Nexus software allows for customization, mapping, and more3.5mm headphone jackMicrophone mute button3m braided cableGalleryListen to the EpisodeThoughts and ConclusionThe GameSir G7 controller is a nice, if not more affordable, alternative to some of the other wired options available for Xbox, especially those with official licensing.We like the various customization features including the extra faceplate that comes in the box. There’s plenty of control over how the buttons work, their respective modes, and we always appreciate when there are extra buttons to configure.Also helpful is the ability to create user profiles. This is handy when you split time with your gaming accessories and don’t want to spend time re-mapping everything.Response rates are very good and from everything we can see and feel, this operates as good, if not better, than official controllers we’ve used.You can learn more about the GameSir G7 Controller and/or purchase yours for about $45.

Vivo X Fold 2 officially arriving on 20th April in China alongside with Vivo X Flip and Pad 2

Vivo officially teases the first look of the Vivo X Fold 2 foldable smartphone a week ago and now the firm confirmed that the Vivo X Fold 2, Vivo X Flip, and Vivo Pad 2 are launching on April 20 in China. Although the teaser doesn’t reveal any specifications of the foldable. Hung Tao the VP of Vivo said that the event in China will be all about big screens and flagship performance.  The teaser reveals the design of the upcoming Vivo X Fold 2 foldable smartphone. Vivo’s upcoming X fold 2 will launch with a red color option, only the red color shown in the teaser. The Chinese tech content creator posted an unboxing video on Weibo which reveals the full glory of the Vivo X Fold 2 foldable smartphone. The firm bringing the successor to the Vivo X Fold and Vivo X Fold Plus which was launched last year in China.The X Fold 2 has a big cover screen, the size of the cover screen is unknown and it has a big circular camera module at the back in which a triple rear camera setup integrated with an LED flash. The smartphone’s camera is tuned with Zeiss optics.There is a punch hole cutout at the top center of the screen and it has a curved display. Compared to the other foldable such as Galaxy Z Fold 5 and oppo Find N2, the upcoming Vivo X Fold 2 will be a light foldable smartphone on the market said Huang Tuo, the vice president of products at Vivo.Furthermore, the Vivo X Fold 2 foldable was recently spotted on the AnTuTu. The listings revealed that the X Fold 2 will be equipped with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. It will ship with 12 GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage.  In terms of software, it will boot Android 13-based Origin OS (only for the Chinese market) out of the box.Other rumored specifications of the Vivo X Fold 2 include an 8-inch 2k E6 AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, an In-display ultrasonic sensor on both screens, and a 4800mAh battery with the support of 120W fast charging. For optics, the foldable will likely feature a 50MP Sony IMX866 primary camera with OIS support paired with 12MP ultrawide shooter and 12MP telephoto lens.Alongside the X Fold 2, Vivo is also launching the Pad 2 and X Flip smartphone at the same launch event. Rumors suggest the upcoming Vivo X Flip will be powered by Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset and feature a 32MP punch-hole selfie camera. It will feature a 50MP Sony IMX866 main camera tuned with Zeiss and OIS support. Moreover, the Vivo’s Pad 2 is expected to feature a 12.4-inch LCD panel and will be equipped with MediaTek Dimensity 9000 processor under the hood. The tablet is likely to have a 10,000mAh massive battery. There is no word on whether the phone will in launch outside China. Well, for now, we have a first look and Chian launch timeframe but in the upcoming days, Vivo will reveal more about the Vivo X Fold 2 smartphone. According to reports, Vivo might be limited to all these devices only to Chinese markets but it will be a big surprise for us if they will make an international debut. Source

Podcast: Tribit AquaEase Shower Bluetooth Speaker

Check out episode 421 of the AndroidGuys Podcast where we discuss the Tribit AquaEase Shower Bluetooth Speaker.About the Tribit AquaEase Shower Bluetooth SpeakerThe Tribit AquaEase Shower Bluetooth Speaker is a compact and waterproof speaker designed to be used in the shower or any other wet environment. It uses Bluetooth 5.0 technology to wirelessly connect to your smartphone or other Bluetooth-enabled device, allowing you to stream music or take phone calls hands-free while you’re in the shower or bath.Listen below using the embedded player or click here to check out the episode using your favorite media player.

Asus ROG Phone 7 Ultimate review: gaming phone royalty with some hidden talents

The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate pulls in all of Asus's gaming expertise, and excels in a few other areas too, as we found out in our review.

ASUS ROG Phone 7 review: The competitive edge

Looks may be familiar, but cutting-edge performance is enough to lease the ROG series another life.