The audio wizards at Nocs Design have once again whipped up an impressive piece of tech in the Nocs NS1100 AIR. This sleek, discreet pair of earbuds delivers next-level sound quality for a stunning listening…
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As much as we want things to go back to normal as soon as possible, the pandemic rages on. Although some restrictions have been lifted, our daily commute still exposes us to possible transmissions. Therefore, working from home is not going away anytime soon. To help you get a leg up during video conferences, here’s Opal’s C1.
Let’s face it, laptops and desktop computers still lag behind smartphones or tablets when it comes to camera resolution. This is probably why most people prefer to use these instead of their workstations at home. With the C1, Opal levels the playing field with 4K-resolution support.
This feature is rarely found even on high-end notebooks, let alone leading computer peripheral brands. Except for the iPad Pro and latest iPhones, Apple only equips its MacBooks with 720p front-facing cameras. Why settle for mediocre when you can enjoy top-notch image quality with a sleek and compact webcam?
The C1 measures 1.97” x 3.07” x 1.81” (H x W x D) with the mount and 1.49” x 3.07” x 0.94” without it. It packs a ƒ1.8, six-element, glass-lens which outperforms other webcams when it comes to low-light visibility. Opal equips it with a 7.8-mm 4K Sony sensor to blow the competition out of the water.
Not only does it deliver crisp and vibrant images, but the MicMesh technology also captures great audio too. Opal uses an array of beamforming microphones and intelligent noise cancelation for crystal clear communication. The C1 also boasts premium craftsmanship with aerospace-grade aluminum in a classy matte finish.
Images courtesy of Opal
After being hailed as the best bang for your buck manufacturer for its “flagship killer” smartphones since it debuted in 2014, OnePlus seems to have lost its identity over the years. These days, Xiaomi sub-brands Redmi and Poco appear to have taken the lead. Not about to throw in the towel, the company releases the Buds Pro.
With most modern handsets shipping without the 3.5 mm headphone port, Bluetooth is becoming the technology of choice. Apple’s push for wireless audio seems to have taken hold. This is evident as its rivals scramble to market their own true-wireless earbuds. The Buds Pro is OnePlus’ range-topping answer to the AirPods Pro.
The Cupertino-based tech group’s influence is clear as the Buds Pro sports stems. Some of us are not big fans of this design since it looks like regular earphones with the wires cut off. Nonetheless, these are considerably shorter than others out there.
Smart Adaptive Noise Cancellation technology makes your tunes even more immersive. It actively blocks out unwanted sound up to 40 dB, Furthermore, it automatically adjusts according to the ambient audio around you. Calls remain crystal clear thanks to the microphones calibrated to filter out wind and more.
The OnePlus Buds Pro features 11-mm dynamic drivers for outstanding acoustics. IP55 ingress protection, make it suitable for indoor and outdoor workouts. Warp Charge technology and wireless charging give you versatility and 38 hours of battery life with the charging case.
Tech industry pundits agree that OnePlus’ popularity has waned over the years. Moreover, the introduction of its Nord catalog confused a lot of longtime users. Anyway, even though Oppo now controls most of its operations, the badge might stick around for a while. The Buds Pro tells us it’s not over yet.
Images courtesy of OnePlus
Picture this. It’s the weekend and you wake up with plans to just spend the day relaxing. You have movies in mind, online games to play with friends, or maybe fire up the grill for some barbecue. Unfortunately, you suddenly remember that lawn needs to be mowed. Bummer, right? Not if you have the Navimow from Segway.
Unless, you’ve been living under a rock, the brand is no longer just dealing with two-wheel mobility solutions. Instead, we have been seeing cool creations such as go-karts, cloud-controlled kick scooters, roller skates, and side-by-sides, to name a few. Thus, the Navimow is another welcome surprise.
Robot lawnmowers are not exactly new, but most of the ones available right now have bothersome limitations. Owners normally need to dig and set up a perimeter, so the machine does not go astray. Next thing you know, it could already be on a neighbor’s lawn or on the street.
Segway, on the other hand, equips the automated tool with multiple sensors. With the Navimow app, users can outline a virtual boundary. It uses Extra Fusion Locating System to tackle sophisticated terrain layouts. Moreover, the system automatically alerts you along with its location to prevent theft.
Using advanced algorithms with the help of its cutting-edge positioning system, it determines the most efficient mowing pattern. This means the Navimow never passes the same area twice. At only 54 dBA, you can even take a nap outside while it works away. Finally, the IPX6 construction makes it easy to clean and withstand sudden showers.
Images courtesy of Segway
Sonos is gearing up to increase to price of many of its newest speakers, soundbars and audio components. As first reported by The Verge‘s Chris Welch, Sonos is set to raise the price of the Roam, One, One SL, Arc, Five, Sub and the Amp — all by 10 percent. Sonos confirmed to Gear Patrol that these price hikes will go into effect this Sunday (September 12).
So if you were thinking about buying one, you might want to act fast to save a few bucks.
Arc
Now: $799
9/12: $899 (+$100)
The Arc is Sonos’s flagship soundbar that supports Dolby Atmos. It is getting the biggest price increase of any Sonos speaker.
Five
Now: $499
9/12: $549 (+$50)
The Five is the biggest and best-sounding standalone speaker that Sonos makes. It also has a line-in connection so you can hook up directly to a turntable. It’s getting a $50 price increase.
One SL
Now: $179
9/12: $199 (+$20)
The One SL is Sonos’s entry-level wireless speaker that can’t be integrated a smart voice assistant. It’s getting a $20 price increase.
One
Now: $199
9/12: $219 (+$20)
The One is Sonos’s entry-level smart speaker that can be integrated with your choice of voice assistant, either Alexa or Google Assistant. It’s getting a $20 price increase.
Roam
Now: $169
9/12: $179 (+$10)
The Roam is a small portable Bluetooth speaker that can also be connected to Wi-Fi and integrated into a larger Sonos multi-room setup. It’s getting a $10 price increase.
Sub
Now: $699
9/12: $749 (+$50)
The Sub is Sonos’s third-generation wireless subwoofer. It’s getting a $50 price increase.
Amp
Now: $649
9/12: $699 (+$50)
The Amp is a wireless amplifier that’s capable of driving larger passive speakers, distributing 125 watts per channel. It’s getting a $50 price bump.
The biggest price increase is set to affect the Arc, the company’s flagship Dolby Atmos soundbar, which is set to jump up $100 — the biggest price hike of any Sonos product. The Arc has been selling for $799 since its release in spring 2020, but that’s set to rise to $899.
Both the Amp and the Sub are getting $50 price increases. The wireless amplifier is going from $649 to $699, while the wireless subwoofer is going from $699 to $749.
The One SL and One, the company’s newest entry-level wireless speakers, are both set to get $20 price increases. Previously $179. the One SL is going to cost $199. And the One going to cost $219 (previously $199).
The Roam, Sonos’s small portable speaker that was announced this past Spring, is getting a $10 price bump, going from $169 to $179.
The Move, Port and Boost are not getting price increases. There’s no mention of the Beam, the company’s entry-level soundbar, getting a price bump either.
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At one point in our lives, we guys develop this obsession with heavy machinery. There’s just something so cool about seeing these behemoths going around and tackling challenging tasks. Given the sizes of these things, workers should always be careful around them. Therefore, Doosan Infracore proposes a cutting-edge solution they call the CONCEPT-X.
The South Korean company’s futuristic project is the recipient of the 2021 iF World Design Gold award. This recognition means that the equipment manufacturer is one to something remarkable here. What its proposal hopes to do to minimize the likelihood of workplace injuries.
This is where CONCEPT-X steps in to automate everything. Statistics show that even with safety measures in place and even in proper gear, injuries can still happen. As such, Doosan Infracore proposes an ambitious system that employs drones that fly over construction sites.
These then create 3D maps of the area and relay the data to the control center aptly dubbed the X-CENTER. The CONCEPT-X fleet features an excavator, ADT (adjective dump truck), and awheel loader. All of these are remotely monitored in real-time by drones and controlled by a proprietary program.
According to the Doosan Infracore, since there are no human operators, the machines can work continuously. This allows construction projects to be finished earlier than conventional methods. Also, a failure prediction algorithm should reduce maintenance costs.
From a design perspective, renders of the heavy equipment show sleek aesthetics. The CONCEPT-X fleet looks like something the guys over at Tesla might cook up. Perhaps this is what the construction industry envisions. A future wherein artificial intelligence and robotics are handling high-risk operations with minimal human intervention.
Images courtesy of Doosan Infracore
Many entrepreneurs and creators have come up with an idea – should I create an app for my smartphone? Today, when there are so many means and opportunities for this, this idea does not come as a surprise.
According to forecasts by the website Statista, in 2022, consumers in the Americas will spend more than $ 34 billion on mobile apps via app stores.
This article will describe seven ideas for applications that have not yet been implemented but are still relevant!
To create a mobile app for your business or start a career in mobile app development, you need to have the appropriate knowledge or hire a custom software development team. Then it is worth choosing the leading development platform. These can be Android, iOS, Windows, Symbian, and Blackberry RIM. But keep in mind that Android and iOS dominate the mobile industry.
Situations wherein you need your smartphone for work but the battery is almost empty happens quite often. It would be great if there was an application that can use the capabilities of another phone to do this task.
What if you have the right and ability to remove your phone number from contacts on another phone? It would be really useful and a popular tool in the mobile application market.
People love apps that collect statistics and performance for the day/month/year. To grow and succeed, we need to analyze ourselves well and engage in introspection. What if there was an application that records the details of what we have learned and achieved daily. This application can be beneficial to ambitious professionals who want to take control of their daily activities.
Such an application would be invaluable for those who like to read books. Let’s say you take a snapshot of a book in a store, and the app instantly provides feedback about it or recommendations for similar books. Data can be obtained from Goodreads, Amazon, and other similar platforms. Forbes writes that the creators of the Bookclubz app wanted to connect thousands of book clubs around the world and create their app.
Another application idea that could save you the pain and frustration of going to cinemas. With one touch in this application, people who are already in the cinema can indicate if there are no seats at a particular time, tickets are sold out, or long queues. The same app should be able to report projection issues, sticky floors, or incredible air conditioning.
These days, people want to know everything about the food they are eating. It’s good if there is an application that counts calories and considers allergens and the composition of the product you’re about to consume.
The well-known truth about time is that it equals money. You can turn this concept into an application that allows users to manage time and set working hours for a fixed income. The idea is a time management calculator that will help a generation schedule work and earn the necessary money to set future goals.
In the world of a vast number of possibilities and ideas, you are limited only by your imagination and resources. Choose the concept that is closest to you and hire a reliable development team. For example, those in https://mlsdev.com/services/mobile-app-development and get your unique and in-demand app in no time.
Author’s bio: Anastasiia Lastovetska is a technology writer at MLSDev, a software development company that builds web & mobile app solutions from scratch. She researches the area of technology to create great content about app development, UX/UI design, tech & business consulting.
Power out? Not a problem when you have a backup generator to keep you company. We’re talking about the SuperBase Pro Power Station, which can run most household appliances and more. It is even portable so you can take it out on your next outdoor adventure and make use of its solar compatible features.
This backup energy works both indoors and outdoors and even off-grid. It boasts 2,000W of AC output and 4,000W surge capability. It can run your microwave, coffee maker, washing machine, TV, and more. Its massive power can charge DSLRs, gaming consoles, laptops, and more at the same time. You can even use it on heavy-duty machines or power tools that need up to 3,000W using its AmpUp feature.
Best of all is its UPS system, which lets you connect the SuperBase Pro Power Station to your home’s outlet. This automatically turns on the machine during an outage for an uninterrupted power supply. This generator even recharges fast: it gets to 80 percent in an hour via solar or AC plug. For a faster recharge, you can use both to get you to 2,400W of charging power.
Given its solar power compatibility, this means you can take this machine with you on the move. It is great camping gear and even comes with a retractable telescopic handle and wheels for easy carry. It’s even built for the outdoors with its rugged, shock-resistant outer shell and reinforced interior.
The SuperBase Pro Power Station packs an amazing six AC outputs, four USB-C ports, one car output, and three DC ports. It even comes with a built-in LED display and offers wireless operation using a compatible mobile app.
Images courtesy of Zendure
The flip phone is the nostalgic. There’s no getting around it. I remember getting my first one in high-school — it was an LG U8110 — losing it while running away from a broken-up house party, and then begging my parents to get me a new one shortly there afterwards. Thankfully they acquiesced after a few weeks. Those are the memories people don’t forget.
Of course, most of us haven’t had a flip phone for over a decade. And those old flip phones were simple. You could call, text, play snake and that’s about it. Today’s foldable smartphones are quite a bit different. Most are big screens that fold into even bigger screens. Samsung’s newest Galaxy Z Fold3 is a prime example of this. You can use it as smartphone, then a tablet, then a smartphone again. And at $1,800, it costs twice as much as most flagship smartphones.
Samsung’s “Flip” line is entirely different. It’s not trying to be a tablet, ever. It’s a smartphone that feels on par with Samsung’s other flagship Galaxy smartphones, but it folds into a compact shape so that it can fit into your pocket (or purse). And you don’t have to worry about scratching its screen.
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip3 is an iteration of the previous Galaxy Z Flip 5G, with improvements in a few key ways. It has squared off edges, an improved hinge mechanism and a display with a 120Hz refresh rate (so it flies when scrolling through Twitter feeds). It has a camera system that’s almost flagship quality. It has a bigger and way more useful cover screen. But most significantly, Samsung dropped the price by $500 — you pick up the new Galaxy Z Flip3 for just shy of $1,000.
After using the Galaxy Z Flip3 for the last two weeks, the best thing I can say about it is that feels like flagship Samsung smartphone. It’s beautifully designed; has a bright and huge OLED display (albeit one that has a noticeable crease where the fold is); and takes pretty darn good photos. The difference is it can also fold in half.
It’s a neat trick that makes the smartphone feel nostalgic, but doesn’t really compromise anything. The Galaxy Z Flip3 doesn’t feel cheap. It doesn’t creek or making any weird noises when you open or close it. And the clamp is almost too strong — opening the clamshell is almost always a two-hand endeavor.
The biggest difference for me is the “cover screen” — the little screen on the outside of Galaxy Z Flip3 when closed — as it’s much bigger and actually usable. The cover screen of the first Galaxy Flip was more of a scrolling ticker (the thing that shows sports scores on the bottom of you TV) that told you time and showed things like calls and push notifications, but you had to open up the smartphone to do anything meaningful.
That’s completely changed with the Galaxy Z Flip3. Its cover screen is way bigger and you can actually do things with it. You can see what song is playing (like from Spotify) and quickly change it. You can double tap the power button and turn it into a viewfinder for your selfie photos and videos. And you can check out the weather or start a timer. All without opening up your smartphone. Don’t get me wrong, you can’t do a ton of things, but it makes the Galaxy Z Flip3 way more convenient.
At the end of my two weeks with the Galaxy Z Flip3, I can say that it truly feels like a Samsung flagship smartphone. It doesn’t have a triple camera system. Nor does it work with a stylus. But it can fold in half, which is novel and nostalgic in a wonderful way, and it’s not egregiously expensive.
That said, it’s still a Samsung smartphone, so don’t expect your iPhone friends to welcome your green bubbles with open arms. But if you have an Android and you’re in the market for a foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Z Flip3 feels like the perfect match for most people.
Samsung
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When rumors of Microsoft’s next-generation push began circulating, gamers were curious to learn about its launch titles. Originally slated to come out for the Xbox One, industry insiders hinted that Halo Infinite would release alongside the Xbox Series X instead. Here we are close to a year since the console came out and a limited-edition model is about to drop.
Whenever select AAA titles are announced, the manufacturer might back it up with a marketing gimmick. If you held off from a launch day purchase, the Xbox Series X Halo Infinite limited edition bundle seems like the best time to jump right in.
There’s no better way to celebrate 20 awesome years of blasting aliens as Master Chief. The long-running franchise has its ups and downs, but the latest installment is sure to blow you away. The Xbox Series X Halo Infinite limited edition packs more than just visual elements.
Nevertheless, you can’t deny that the theme they went with looks stunning. The outer shell of the console boasts bespoke graphics of stars as seen from the surface of Zeta Halo. Then there’s the custom paneling and a blue vent up top which draws inspiration from Cortana.
Meanwhile, the Xbox wireless controller that ships with the Xbox Series X Halo Infinite limited edition boasts a similar theme minus the stars. An optional Series 2 Xbox Elite wireless controller will be available for purchase as well and showcases a badass design based on Master Chief.
Microsoft already announced that the multiplayer aspect of the upcoming shooter will be free-to-play. Those who purchase the Xbox Series X Halo Infinite limited edition also get a copy of the game. We can’t wait to see what Sony comes up with for their first limited edition PS5.
Images courtesy of Microsoft
Electronics and moisture do not mix, that is why manufacturers strive to endow their products with reliable ingress protection. Luckily, over the years we have seen improvements in waterproofing and impact protection technology. Aside from our smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches, the latest portable storage platforms are more durable the ever. If you need one, the LAMBOGO seems promising.
The LAMBOGO may not be the first one of the gates, but it packs more features than others we’ve talked about before. Digital nomads will love what this product promises to bring to the table. The manufacturer is offering multiple capacities: 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB, and 8 TB as the highest.
Read/write speeds are crucial when dealing with large file sizes. The LAMBOGO uses an NVMe M.2 2280 PCIe 4 SSD with up to 2400 MB/s wired and 900 MB/s wireless. You read that right, it supports wireless connectivity which is handy for folks on the go.
Plug in an SD card or a USB flash drive and access your files over the air. Prolonged usage can lead to heat build. As such, it touts an internal cooling fan to keep the temperature in check. The 5,000 mAh battery is enough for 8 hours and can even charge your other devices.
The 4.57” x 2.76” x 1.06” rugged housing is available in black, orange, and blue. It can withstand shock, sand, dust, and moisture. As of this writing, its Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign is just 12 days away from ending. So far, 154 backers have pledged close to $67,000 to put the LAMBOGO 647% over its goal.
Images courtesy of LAMBOTECH
Vinyl is booming. After being nearly extinct in the early 2000s, its popularly has skyrocketed over the last 10-odd ears (at the same time as music streaming, oddly). People are captivated by its slow analog experience — placing the record, dropping the stylus — and hearing its warm nostalgic sound.
The good news is that because vinyl has made such a defiant comeback, it’s spurred a resurgence of the other necessary components to play vinyl. Audio companies are making new turntables, phono preamps, amplifiers and speakers — all of a range of price points — so it’s pretty easy to build a basic turntable system. You don’t need to refurbish some vintage gear (although you still can if you want to).
A turntable system is comprised of four primary components: the turntable, the phono preamp, the amplifier and the speakers. It can get a little complicated nowadays because a lot of these components are combined together, such as a turntable with a built-in phono preamp or a speaker with a built-in amplifier (which is any powered or active speaker), but it the bottom line is that you need these four components to work.
• Turntable: The turntable and the speakers are the two most important components. The turntable — specifically its stylus — is the thing that makes contact with the record and picks up the signal. It then produces a phono output signal.
• Phono Preamp: The phono preamp takes the phono output signal and converts it into a “line level” or an “AUX” signal. It also equalizes the signal — staying true to the RIAA playback equalization curve — so that it sounds as true to the original recording as possible.
• Amplifier: The amplifier takes the weak signal from the phono preamp and amplifies and readies it for the speakers. Without the amplifier you wouldn’t be able to play (or, more accurately, hear) music. Today, the standalone amplifier (aka a power amplifier) is nearly an extinct component because powered speakers (combines amp and speaker), receivers (amp with a radio) and integrated amplifiers (combines amp and phono preamp) have all become so popular.
• Speakers: The speakers the amplified signal and split it up (using its crossover circuitry). The high-end frequencies get sent to the tweeter, and the low-end frequencies get sent to the mid-range and bass driver. If the speaker has an extra, dedicated driver from midrange, that’s where those frequencies get sent. The speakers are probably the most important component because they’re what you actually hear.
There are a multitude of ways to build out your turntable system. It’s no secret that the more separate components your turntable system has, the better it’s likely to sound; it prevents them interfering with each other components’ jobs. However, having more components comes with its share of problems. Each individual component needs its own space. It adds more complexity because there are more moving parts. And the total cost is typically higher because you’re paying for more individual components.
That said, you can build a starter turntable system any way you want and still keep the price relatively down. We’ve assembled three turntable systems in three different ways, and they all cost around the same price —all are under $1,000.
If you have Sonos speakers in your house and you want to add a turntable to the mix, your best option is to get a Five. It’s has a line-in connection so you can connect it directly your turntable (so long as it has a built-in preamp). You can then group it with your other Sonos speakers and play vinyl throughout your home. In this current setup, we have a powered speaker (so speaker and amp) and a great entry-level turntable with an integrated preamp (so turnable and preamp). The Roam is just an option bonus.
Sonos Five
$499
The Five is the biggest and best-sounding standalone speaker that Sonos makes. It also be connected directly to a turntable via its line-in port.
Sonos Roam (Optional)
$169
The Roam is a portable speaker with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. You can group with the Five and then listen to your vinyl throughout your house.
The advantage of having a turntable without built-in phono preamp is that it gives you more options to customize your sound. Most built-in preamps aren’t that great and, because they’re close to the turntable’s other components. they’re more susceptible to vibrations and distortions. And an external preamp can make your system sound better for not that much — you can get a great external phono preamp for between $60 and $200. Add that to a powered speaker system that delivers true stereo sound … and you’re cooking.
This system combines an excellent mid-level turntable, one of the best budget integrated amps (so amp and phono preamp) and a great pair of passive bookshelf speakers. It’s a relatively affordable system, but it also leaves a lot of room for future upgrades. If you want to a nicer turntable or bigger and better bookshelf speakers in a few years time, this setup gives you that flexibility.
U-Turn Orbit Plus
$309
The Orbit Plus is U-Turn’s excellent mid-range turntable with a modern design (transparent platter and exposed belt drive). It’s available in five different colors.
With Apple still leading the pack and Samsung revisiting Google’s Wear OS, the smartwatch market shaking up this 2021. Meanwhile, Fitbit trudges along and remains the go-to option for those who lead an active lifestyle. If you’re eager to check out why, the Charge 5 seems like a good start.
If it’s a full-size wearable they’re talking about, the brand is also catering to this category. As for the Charge 5, it’s part of Fitbit’s lineup of fitness trackers. Most devices that are sold as such, normally pack basic functionalities that tell users their step count, heart rate, sleep quality, and more.
The Charge 5 may look like an entry-level offering, but its spec sheet says otherwise. These days, amid the ongoing COViD-19 pandemic, blood oxygen is crucial. Moreover, the manufacture is going even further by enabling ECG functionality. This gives wearers a readout of their heart health.
Receive alerts when your heart rate falls below or goes beyond thresholds. Users can check the data Alongside other metrics to get an overview of their overall wellness. Fitbit throws in a 6-month Premium membership for the most comprehensive fitness experience.
For people who prefer outdoor workouts, the built-in GPS on the Charge 5 provides real-time pace and distance. No need to rely on your smartphone for location tracking on your runs, hikes, or rides. Furthermore, never miss your notifications such as emails, text, calendar, calls, and more.
The always-on AMOLED display remains legible even under bright sunlight. The body is crafted out of stainless steel for durability and comes with interchangeable straps. A full charge should last up to seven days. Finally, the Fitbit Charge 5 is available in three colors: Lunar White/Gold, Steel Blue/Platinum, and Black/Graphite.
Images courtesy of Fitbit
In the fall of 2016, Apple released its original AirPods. And while they weren’t the first, they were a breakout hit. Since then, the true wireless earbud market has turned into a feeding frenzy. And now, there’s a new class of competitors.
Five years on, Apple is still the apex predator with a leading share of the market, but that hasn’t deterred competitors from churning out new wireless earbuds. And for good reason: The number of true wireless earbuds sold is expected to more than triple from 2019 to 2022.
While Apple is reportedly on the cusp of third-generation AirPods, pretty much every major player (including Sony, Bose, Jabra, Beats, Google and Amazon) has also released second-, third- and even fourth-generation versions of their own wireless earbuds. And they’ve gotten very good.
Now, this past month, the latest generation of heavy-hitters has landed in the form of Sony’s WF-1000XM4, successor to the buds that tackled noise-canceling before Apple got around to it, and the new Jaybird Vista 2, the best headphones for running, full stop.
There’s more variety than ever before. You can buy wireless earbuds for less than $30, like the JLab Go Air, or for as much as $400, like the Bowers & Wilkins PI7. If you need rugged wireless earbuds for working out, buy a pair with a high IP rating like the Jaybird Vista 2 or Jabra Elite Active 75t. Or if you want the noise-cancellation, get the Sony WF-1000XM4 or Bose QuietComfort Buds. Or if can’t find wireless earbuds that fit your ears, get the UE Fits which literally custom-mold to give you that perfect fit.
Most of the newest wireless earbuds are also decked out with modern features like wireless charging and the ability to pair to multiple devices at once. Even active noise-cancellation has become a pretty common feature in true wireless earbuds — and you don’t have to spend over the odds to get it. You can buy wireless earbuds with active noise-cancellation for less than $100, like the Wyze Buds Pro or the Nothing Ear (1), which would have been unheard of just a few years ago.
Google Pixel Buds A-Series
$99
The Pixel Buds A-Series look, fit, feel and sound like Google’s $179 Pixel Buds. The reason the they’re almost half as expensive is that Google cut out some of their more premium features.
Cambridge Audio Melomania 1+
$99
Cambridge Audio’s 2021-released Melomania 1+ lack premium features (like ANC), but they are the best sounding wireless earbuds you can buy for under $100.
Nothing Ear (1)
$99
The Nothing Ear (1) combine a translucent design with premium features like active noise-cancellation and wireless charging. All for less than $100.
Up to this point wireless earbuds have been hamstrung by the fact that they require a Bluetooth connection to work, which unfortunately can’t play lossless-quality audio — you need to stream over Wi-Fi or have a wired connection to be able to stream the large amount of data high-quality audio requires. But manufacturers of wireless earbuds are finding ways around this little hurdle.
The latest Sony wireless earbuds, the Sony WF-1000XM4, are one such example. They are one of the first wireless earbuds to be able to stream LDAC audio files, which is Sony’s proprietary audio codec (available on most Android smartphones, but not on iPhones unfortunately). This enables them to stream higher-quality audio (with bitrates of between 600 kbps and 900 kbps, rather than the 256 kbps of MP3 and AAC audio files) than most other wireless earbuds. It’s still nowhere near true lossless or CD-quality audio, which has bit rate of 1,411 kbps, but it’s a step in the right direction.
Bowers and Wilkins is doing something novel, too. Its newest wireless earbuds, the Bowers & Wilkins PI7, support Qualcomm’s aptX Adaptive audio technology, an audio codec that lets you stream high bitrate and low latency audio files over Bluetooth (with bitrates up to 420 kbps). But again, you’re out of luck if you’re an iPhone user because no iPhone supports aptX Adaptive. In fact, most popular Android smartphones don’t support it either.
Sony WF-1000XM4
$278
The Sony WF-1000XM4 have been redesigned them so they sound more vibrant and have better noise-cancellation than the WH-1000XM3.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7
$399
The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have active noise-cancellation and support for wireless charging. They also are capable of playing high-resolution audio files up to 24-bit/48 kHz.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds
$279
The QuietComfort Earbuds are the best wireless earbuds that Bose makes and deliver superb sound and active noise-cancellation.
Other wireless earbud manufacturers are leaning into audio quality in a different way — Apple being the biggest example. Instead of trying to stream higher bitrate streams over Bluetooth, Apple is leveraging immersive sound technologies, like Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio. It figures that many people are using their wireless earbuds and smartphones to stream movies and shows, and this these immersive technologies improve the audio quality of AirPods and AirPods Pro for that specific experience.
Of course, improved audio quality still feels like a luxury in wireless earbuds. The vast majority of people can’t really hear the difference between a low-bitrate and higher-bitrate stream; for example, if you change the audio quality of your default tracks on Spotify from 160 kbps (Normal) to 320 kbps (High) in settings, you’re probably not going to be able to tell the difference if you’re listening on AirPods.
For most people. the fact that they can buy a pair of wireless earbuds from a reputable manufacturer — not a knockoff pair of AirPods from Amazon) — and know it will work and sound pretty great, that’s a testament to how far wireless earbuds have come.
Apple AirPods (2nd-Gen)
$159 $119
Apple’s AirPods have its new H1 processing chip, so they a longer battery life and better mics than the first-gen AirPods. They also support “Hey Siri” voice commands.
Beats Studio Buds
$150
The Studio Buds are the Beats’s first noise-canceling wireless earbuds. They lack Apple’s special H1 chip, but can still fast pair to iPhones and Android smartphones.
Apple AirPods Pro
$249 $189
The AirPods Pro are Apple’s premium pair of wireless earbuds with active noise-cancellation. They also support immersive sound technologies, like spatial audio and Dolby Atmos.
It’s a little ironic that Apple has finally introduced lossless audio tracks to Apple Music, but very few of its audio products can actually play it. AirPods, AirPods Pro and all of Beats wireless earbuds can’t play them. Neither can AirPods Max, even when using its wired connection. The HomePod and the HomePod mini the only exceptions.
So for as far as wireless buds have come, the old school approach still reigns supreme. If you wan’t to play lossless tracks at 16-bit/44.1 kHz or more, a solid pair of wired cans, and even an external DAC/amp are still essential equipment. Will it always be this way? Maybe not. But even as the definition of hi-fi evolves, some things stay the same.
Music lovers purchased more than 17 million new records in 2018, making vinyl the only physical music format to experience growth in the era of digital streaming; CD sales fell another 40-percent in 2018 and it is not impossible that record and CD sales will pass one another like ships in the night by 2020. There are more companies manufacturing turntables in 2019 than CD players, a reality that is not lost on companies who manufacture phono cartridges.
Denon DL-103
$299
The DL-103 is still one of the best and most popular popular phono cartridges every produced. It requires a moving coil phono stage with 60dB or more of gain, but when set up properly it reproduces music with a level of fidelity that few can touch.
Hana SL
$750
The Hana SL is one of those rare, affordable high-end moving coil cartridges that works well on a wide range of turntable arms. If you have the deep pockets, this cartridge will show you just how good vinyl can really sound.
Nagaoka MP-110
$149
The Nagaoka MP-110 is our best budget pick. It tracks pristine and worn out grooves with authority, and is compatible with a wide range of moving magnet phono stages.
Japan, Denmark, and New York produce the vast majority of phono cartridges mounted to the millions of headshells in operation around the globe, with companies like Ortofon, Audio-Technica, Grado Labs, and Denon operating at full capacity just to keep up with demand.
Phono cartridges are not all the same. The construction of a moving magnet cartridge differs from that of a moving coil, as does the material used in the cantilever, and the quality of the diamond used in the stylus. High-end cartridges are hand-assembled and often sold in much smaller quantities which figures into the final price.
The cost to re-tip a really high-end phono cartridge can be prohibitive considering the number of hours that you may get if you listen to a lot of records on a regular basis. A $500 cartridge, however, is likely to last a long time if you properly clean it and the re-tip cost is likely to be less than $70. But is there a real perceptible difference between a $99 moving magnet cartridge from Ortofon and a $750 high-output moving coil from Dynavector? We think so.
Here are a few important guidelines to maximize your purchase.
• Rule #1: Do not spend more on the cartridge than the table.
• Rule #2: A better turntable with the right arm will maximize sound quality with even an inexpensive moving magnet cartridge like a Grado Labs Blue V2 — versus a $750 Dynavector on an entry-level turntable.
• Rule #3: Proper set-up of your cartridge is more important than what you spend.
• Rule #4: Clean your records and your stylus. Nothing ruins a stylus faster than dirty records.
• Rule #5: A high-output moving magnet or moving coil cartridge (anything above 2.5mV) requires between 35-45dB of gain from your phono pre-amplifier as opposed to 55-65dB of gain from your phono pre-amplifier for a low-output moving coil cartridge.
• Rule #6: Moving magnet cartridges tend to sound warmer or more lush than their moving coil counterparts, but the tradeoff is a reduction in overall resolution and detail retrieval.
Denon
Originally designed by Denon in 1962 for professional broadcast use, the venerable DL-103 survives as one of the most popular phono cartridges every produced. A long-standing audiophile favorite, the DL-103 has been copied and modified by more than a few third-party manufacturers including Zu Audio who offer their own version of the cartridge. The DL-103 is a low-output moving coil (0.3mV) design that sounds better in a higher mass tonearm; opening the door to used Denon, Fidelity Research, and Jelco tonearms or much more expensive tonearms from Shindo Labs, or Schick Audio. If you love jazz, there may not be a better affordable cartridge than the DL-103; provided that you are using a moving coil phono stage with 60dB or more of gain and adjustable load settings. The DL-103 is not a simple plug-and-play cartridge but when properly set-up, reproduces music with a level of vitality that few can touch.
An alternate choice: Ortofon 2M Bronze High Output Moving Magnet ($440)
Nagaoka
Nagaoka may not be a Japanese brand that’s as well known as Denon, or Audio-Technica, but they have made some of the best tracking, and musical sounding cartridges to come out of Asia for almost 70 years. Visit any hi-fi shop in Tokyo, Singapore, or Hong Kong and their MP-series of high-output MM cartridges will be well represented. Vinyl lovers in North America have to look a lot harder which is a pity because they offer a genuine alternative to the entry-level products from Ortofon and Grado Labs; the MP-110 tracks pristine and worn out grooves with authority, sounds open and detailed across the frequency spectrum, and sounds great on a U-Turn Orbit, restored Thorens, or Rega Planar-series turntable. The MP-110 outputs a healthy 5mV making it compatible with a wide range of moving magnet phono stages.
An alternate choice: Grado Labs Prestige Blue V2 ($125)
Hana
Audiophiles with deep pockets have had a love affair with expensive Japanese phono cartridges for many decades; entry-level models from brands such as Koetsu, Miyajima, and Ikeda, start well above $2,000. Having listened to a number of these cartridges on very high-end turntables, there is no question that some of them offer something unique; but they are also not something one who listens to vinyl on a daily basis would sensibly consider. Hana is a relatively new brand, but its parent company has been an original equipment manufacturer for a number of Japanese cartridge brands for many years. Their decision to enter the marketplace with their own cartridges was a welcome one and the results so far have been exemplary. The low-output SL (0.5mV) utilizes a Shibata stylus and it is one of those rare affordable high-end moving coil cartridges that works well on many arms and one that brings its “Mifune” to every record you play. It requires a few records before it loses some hardness on top, but once it settles in, you’ll discover just how good vinyl can really sound.
An alternate choice: Dynavector 10×5 MK II ($750)
For those with desktop workstations or gaming rigs, multi-display setups are as popular as ever. On the other hand, some of us are stuck with laptops, which can be a bummer when you need the extra screens space productivity. Sure, if you don’t mind lugging an extra monitor around, then it’s a feasible solution. Another would be to invest in more portable alternatives. However, we think Mobile Pixels is on to something here with the DUEX Plus.
Programmers, content creators, instructors, students, and gamers will love what it brings to the table. It also addresses one key issue that most portable monitors fail to consider, which is convenience. We’ll go into more detail regarding that in a bit, but buyers should know that the DUEX Plus is designed for notebooks around 13 inches and up.
You can probably use it with smaller models such as 2-in-1s or detachables, but we believe Mobile Pixels engineered this gadget with bigger clamshell laptops in mind. The DUEX Plus is likewise compatible with Windows, macOS, and Android devices that natively support desktop mode out of the box. Moreover, it uses a hybrid signal input via USB-C and even includes an adapter for USB-A.
You’re probably wondering what we meant about convenience here. Mobile Pixels want the experience to be as seamless as possible. Thus, you have multiple ways to use the DUEX Plus and we can hardly think of anything that could match it. By default, the assembly sticks to the lid of your laptop with the help of adhesives. It uses a mounting system that relies on strong magnetic pucks to hold the portable monitor in place.
With a firm tug, the 13.3-inch display slides out of its frame and turns into your secondary screen. Easily swap it to the left or right and use the swivel to adjust the angle. It even flips all the way back which is useful for presentations. Another would be to take it off the magnets and position it vertically on any surface as the swivel firmly holds it in place.
The integrated auto-rotation sensor should take care of the rest. For a horizontal orientation separate from your laptop, Mobile Pixel offers an optional Origami Kickstand. Another cool feature of the DUEX Plus is its native compatibility with the Nintendo Switch to play on a bigger screen on the go. Then there’s the ability to turn a compatible Android smartphone into a fully functional desktop computer.
Take note that a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse is needed to maximize the aforementioned functionality. Furthermore, USB-C pass-through charging technology keeps your batteries in peak condition. Mobile Pixels manufactures the DUEX Plus out of ABS plastic and aluminum for lightweight durability.
The DUEX Plus is an awesome and intuitive solution for people who want the versatility of a secondary display in a handy package. The sleek form factor of the portable monitor will fit in most standard laptop sleeves or bags which is great. It’s a perfect add-on for digital nomads who need to regularly pack up to travel.
Meanwhile, students will benefit from the extra screen space to have more windows open when they study. As for creative professionals, the DUEX Plus can let them tackle their tasks while on the field. Overall, there are hardly any downsides here. As such, we look forward to what Mobile Pixels has in store for a future version of this platform.
The summer is drawing to a close. Here are all the most important releases from August that you should know about as we head into the fall.
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The JBL L52 Classic are the company’s newest vintage-inspired bookshelf speakers. They’re effectively a smaller and cheaper version of the company’s $2,500 L82 Classic, which were released last year. They have the same walnut wood veneer enclosure and striking foam grille (available in black, blue or orange), only the L52 Classic will be small enough to actually fit on your bookshelf. They’ll go on sale sometime this fall.
Price: $1,000
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Google announced an entirely new line of Nest smart home cameras this week. There are four new models to choose from — a Nest Cam ($99) for indoors use, a battery-powered Nest Cam ($180) that can be used inside or outside, and the Nest Cam with floodlight ($280) — that are replacing the company’s older Nest IQ cameras. Each of these new cameras has a similar-yet-slightly-softer design and is more feature-packed than their predecessors. They’re slightly more affordable, too.
Additionally, Google announced a new battery-powered video doorbell to replace the Nest Hello. It’s called the Nest Doorbell ($180). Like the new speakers, the new video doorbell has been upgraded with improved features like better face, animal and object recognition.
Everything is available for preorder right now.
Price: $99 — $280
Klipsch
The Klipsch T5 II ANC are the company’s newest wireless earbuds and they share a similar look, feel and name to their 2019-released predecessors, the T5 II. The new models add active noise-cancellation (as the name gives away), but Klispch also gave these new buds a couple other improvements, including wireless charging, hands-free gesture controls, better overall sound quality (thanks to a redesigned driver) and the ability to tweak the EQ settings via a companion app. They are available to purchase right now.
Price: $299
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If your Xbox (Series X, Series S and One) is your family’s primary streaming device, you might want to invest in a remote other than a gaming controller — it’s definitely easier for non-gamers to use. That’s where 8BitDo’s newest remotes come in. They’re officially license to work with Xbox as each remote has a dedicated Home button to wake your Xbox. 8BitDo offers a “short” and “long” models, the latter of which costs $5 more and comes with an additional number pad. Both remotes are available for preorder now.
Price: $20 —$25
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The JBL L75ms has similar retro vibes to the company’s also-just-announced L52 Classic, but it’s a much more modern system. It’s actually a five-channel powered speaker system — two tweeters, two woofers and a midrange driver — that’s capable of streaming high-resolution audio (up to 32-bit/192kHz). It’s also extremely versatile. You can connect to your TV (via HDMI ARC) or your turntable (thanks to its built-in phono preamp). It also supports a range of streaming options, including AirPlay 2, Chromecast or Bluetooth. It’ll go on sale sometime this fall.
Price: $1,500
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HP revealed its 2021 lineup of X-Series gaming monitors this week — and there are seven of them. They range in includes 27-inch and 34-inch gaming monitors that have flat and curved screens, screen resolutions that are either 1080p or 1440p, and come in prices ranging from $260 to $460. Each monitor has the same number of ports, support for the VESA mounts (which can be lowered or raised) and a panel with the same peak brightness.
Price: $260 — $260
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The interesting thing about Logitech’s newest wireless earbuds, the Zone True Wireless, is that they were designed with a specific type of people in mind: somebody who spends a lot of time on video conferences. They are the first wireless earbuds that certified to be used with Google Meet, Microsoft Teams and Zoom, which basically means that have certain features that work well with all three platforms. For instance, there’s a dedicated button for muting yourself. The earbuds also come with a USB receiver (just like most of the company’s wireless mice), which promises better connectivity. And each earbud has three-mic array for tip-top sound quality.
The Zone True Wireless are available for preorder now and will ship sometime this fall.
Price: $299
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The Galaxy Z Fold3 is the third-generation of its Samsung’s smaller foldable smartphone, and despite looking very similar to its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Fold2, it’s better in a couple key ways. It’s more durable with an IPX8 water-resistant rating). It works with the S Pen2, making it the first foldable smartphone that works with a stylus. It’s more powerful and has an improved camera system. Also, Samsung made it a little more affordable than previous models. The Galaxy Z Fold3 starts at $1,800 and is available for preorder now.
Price: $1,800+
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The other foldable smartphone that Samsung announced, the Galaxy Z Flip3, is the one you’re more likely to buy. This is because it starts at under $1,000, putting it in line with other flagship smartphones. In addition to making it more affordable, Samsung has give the Galaxy Z Flip a larger cover screen (the screen you see when it’s folded), a better camera and a more durable design; it now has an IPX8 rating, like the Z Fold3. It starts at $1,000 and is available for preorder now.
Price: $1,000+
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Satechi’s newest USB-C accessory adds ports to your M1 Mac in a pretty clever way: a clamp. It attaches to the base of the display, right near its rear-port array, and adds six ports — USB-A (3x), USB-C (1x) and SD and Micro SD card readers — while also elevating off of your desk. The other neat thing is that Satechi is making the Clamp Hub in silver and blue so that it will match the colorful M1 Mac. (If you have an M1 Mac with one of the other five colors, you’re out of luck for now.)
Price: $55
Twelve South
The PlugBug Slim is a 20-watt USB-C wall adapter that’s capable of fast-charging any iPhone. The neat thing about is that is thin and vertical design, so that it can fit in tighter spaces (like outlets right next to furniture). It’s the ideal companion to the Apple’s MagSafe Charger, which requires a USB-C adapter, and it also can work with the HomePod mini.
Price: $25
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Kodak makes a variety of different portable projectors, the latest one being the Luma 400. The new model has a variety of connections (including HDMI, USB and Bluetooth) so you can easily use it with your smartphone, laptop or video game console. It has a built-in Android operating system so you can also stream shows and movies from the likes of Netflix or Amazon Video straight from the projector (so long as there’s a Wi-Fi connection or you’ve downloaded the shows ahead of time). And it can produce up to a 150-inch screen.
Price: $450
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Samsung announced two new smartwatches this week, both of which are redesigned to look small, slim and sleek — similar to the Galaxy Watch Active 2. There’s the Galaxy Watch4 and the Galaxy Watch4 Classic, and they are the first smartwatches to run the new Wear OS that’s designed by both Samsung and Google. The big difference between the two smartwatch is that the “Classic” model is slightly larger and more premium, plus it has a wonderful rotating bezel. The Galaxy Watch4 and Galaxy Watch4 Classic are available for pre-order right now.
Price: $250+ (Watch4); $350+ (Watch4 Classic)
Samsung
The Galaxy Buds2 are Samsung’s newest wireless earbuds, joining the Galaxy Buds Pro and the Galaxy Buds Live (the bean-shaped ones) in the company’s lineup, and they deliver active-noise-canceling and wireless charging at a pretty affordable price: $150. Samsung also redesigned the Buds2 so that they are smaller, lighter and (potentially) more comfortable to wear. You can expect these new earbuds to fall short of the Buds Pro in terms of sound quality, noise-canceling and water-resistance, but the Buds2 might be go-to wireless earbuds for people with a Samsung smartphone who are shopping on a little bit of a budget. They’re available for preorder now.
Price: $150
Q Acoustics
Q Acoustics announced a wireless music system consisting of two bookshelf-sized powered speakers. The all-new M20 isn’t as big or as expensive as the company’s recent Q Active 200 speakers, but it does carry over some similar features, such as Point to Point (P2P) cabinet bracing technology and support for high-resolution audio (up to 24bit/192kHz). Maybe most importantly, it houses both wireless (via Bluetooth 5.0)and analog connections (via optical and minijack) so you can easily stream music or connect it directly to your TV or turntable. There’s no built-in Wi-Fi or HDMI connection.
Price: $599
Jabra
Jabra announced a different kind of wireless earbuds. The Enhance Plus look like traditional wireless earbuds, but they are designed to help people with hearing loss; there’s a companion app that allows you to tweak settings like noise reduction and ambient sounds. The Enhance Plus are not as permanent, powerful or expensive as traditional hearing aids, so they are more of an entry-level option. The other cool thing is that, if you want, use can use them as traditional wireless earbuds to stream music or answer calls. They will be available later this year
Price: TBD
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Devialet didn’t announce a new speaker. Rather, it announced a new finish for one of its existing speakers. The Phantom II (previously named the Phantom Reactor), which is essentially a smaller and more affordable version of the company’s flagship Phantom I (previously named the Phantom Premier), is now be available in a sage green finish; it was previously only available in either white or black. Devialet is only making 1,000 of these sage green speakers and they cost $1,600 a pop, which is $200 more than the same speaker in either white or black. It’s also worth noting that Devialet makes the Phantom II in two models, 95dB and 98dB, and the sage green model will only available in the more powerful 98dB model.
Price: $1,600
Dell
Dell announced its first portable monitor designed to work with your USB-C laptop. The 14-inch monitor (C1422H) has a 1080p display, slim bezels and weighs less than two pounds. It also just looks like the perfect companion to your laptop. There are two USB-C ports, both of which can transmit power and video, and the monitor supports passthrough power so you can change your laptop through the monitor when connected to power. When not connected to a power source, the monitor will draw power from your laptop. (The Verge has more on the story, below.)
Price: $350
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Microsoft announced a wired version of the Xbox Wireless Headset headset that it released several months ago. The Xbox Stereo Headset looks basically identically its wired counterpart, but it requires you to connect it directly to your Xbox controller (old school style). The good news is that it costs $60, which is $40 bucks cheaper than its wireless brethren.
Price: $60
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Audio-Technica’s just announced ATH-M50xBT2 wireless headphones are a new and improved version of its 3-year-old ATH-M50x. The new cans have faster USB-C charging and add support for Alexa voice commands. Most importantly, they now support multi-point pairing over Bluetooth, so you can connect them to your smartphone and computer and it’ll automatically switch between sources depending on which device you’re listening to. Other than that, they look and sound just like their predecessor.
Price: $199
Fitbit
Fitbit finally announced its newest and much-leaked fitness tracker, the Charge 5, and (as anticipated) it has a much-changed design from previous “Charge” wearables. It has a larger, brighter and more colorful display; it’s actually the first Charge that can actually show colors. It has a thinner and a more rounded look. It also has an always-on display, but if turned on it will cut the Charge 5’s “up to seven day” battery life to just two days. The other potential downside is that it’s $30 more expensive than the Charge 4 at launch. That said, it’s still about half as expensive as the latest Apple Watch. It’s available for preorder now.
Price: $180
Bowers & Wilkins
Bowers & Wilkins has updated its flagship 800 Series Diamond range of loudspeakers. The fourth generation series — aka “D4” — have a new cabinet design, a new suspension system, and a redesigned housing for the tweeter, all of which are meant to further eliminate distortions and deliver a lifelike and unrivaled sound. Like with the previous D3 line, the D4 line consists of seven speakers (two standmounted, three floorstanding and two center channels) that range from $5,500 to $35,000. These are serious audiophile speakers.
Price: $5,500 — $35,000
Audio-Technica
The ATH-S220BT is Audio-Technica’s newest pair of budget wireless headphones — they cost just $59. Yet despite their affordable price, the ATH-S220BT have a bunch of convenient features (including multipoint pointing and USB-C charging), a long 60-hour battery life and a design that, well, feels distinctly Audio-Technica. They’re available in several different colorways.
Price: $59
One Plus
OnePlus’s latest wireless earbuds, the Buds Pro, deliver a lot of premium features —including active noise-cancellation and super-fast charging (thanks to the company’s proprietary Warp Charge technology) — at the relatively affordable price of $150. You’ll probably want to have a OnePlus to pair them with, however, as these earbuds will pair quickly and have some other exclusive features, like a low-latency mode for gaming.
Price: $150
V-Moda
V-Moda announced a new boom microphone for its headphones (but it can be used with any pair of wireless headphones that have a 3.5mm jack). The BoomPro X is essentially an upgraded version of its previous BoomPro. It has improved internals, but the real reason why you’d want to get it: a colorful mic cover. That’s right, you can finally get a colorful mic cover to match the colorful “shields” on V-Moda’s headphones. Just like you wanted.
Price: $45
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There are two main reasons why you’d buy an external hard drive. First, your laptop or desktop is running out storage space; it’s a common problem, especially if your computer is several years old. Or secondly, if you want to backup your various digital files (photos, videos, music) so that if something happens to your computer (maybe it breaks or gets stolen), you don’t lose everything. Maybe it’s a combination of both.
You might be thinking, why would anybody invest in an external hard drive when you could just use a cheap cloud-based service, like 1Drive or iCloud? Well, there are a number of reasons.
First, an external hard drive is a one-time fee and while it’ll be a more expensive upfront cost, it will less expensive in the long run — those monthly subscription fees add up.
Secondly, there’s security. With cloud services you hand over all responsibility for your photos, documents and other data to that storage provider; with an external hard drive, you’re in the driver’s seat.
Finally, there’s speed. Even if you have a really fast internet connection, the transfer speeds with cloud services can’t compete with today’s external hard drives. Plus, they often come with a bandwidth cap.
Sure, external hard drives need more desk space and they’re less portable, but knowing the things you need are secure — that’s priceless. (Note: if you’re looking for a portable hard drive, which are smaller, cheaper and more rugged, check out the Western Digital’s My Passport or SanDisk’s Extreme Portable SSD.)
Seagate
Capacity: 4TB, 6TB, 8TB, 12TB, 14TB
Price: $130 — $520
Connectivity: USB-A (3.0)
Compatibility: Mac and Windows
The newer version of Seagate’s dependable Backup Plus ($100), the Seagate Backup Plus Hub adds an extra USB 3.0 port — that’s two in total, so it doesn’t completely steal one of your computer’s previous ports — and it now rests on its side. It comes with companion software that makes managing your stored files super easy. And it’s small and compact (about the size of a book), so it won’t take up too much desk space.
Capacity: 1TB, 2TB
Price: $130+
Connectivity: USB-A (3.0)
For backup applications, all you really need is a ton of storage. But when it comes to gaming, speed is also a concern. Through extensive research, the experts at Digital Foundry have found that Samsung’s portable SSD offers the best performance for PS5 owners, but at a bit of a premium price. If you’re looking for a balance that will give you more storage but less speed, the Seagate Portable is a more economical option.
Lacie
Capacity: 4TB, 8TB, 16TB, 28TB
Price: $350 — $1,000+
Connectivity: USB-A (3.0) and USB-C
Compatibility: Mac and Windows
Lacie’s 2big Raid is a robust external hard drive that was designed with creative professionals (specifically photographers, videographers and YouTube creators) in mind. It’s available in a number of high capacity configurations, boasts super-fast transfer speeds (up to 440MB/s) and built-in cooling system (fan), and it comes with one-month free trial of Adobe’s Creative Cloud. Additionally, it has a large blue status light makes it one of the most conspicuous hard drives you can buy. The only real downsides are that it’s rather large and expensive.
Lacie
Capacity: 4TB, 6GB, 8TB, 10TB, 14TB
Price: $185 — $350+
Connectivity: USB-A (3.0) and USB-C
Compatibility: Mac and Windows
The Lacie d2 Professional is another external hard drive that was designed for photographers and other creative professionals. It’s smaller and more affordable than the company’s 2big Raid (above), and actually works very similarly. The downside is that it’s not quite as much of a beast — it lacks the same transfer speeds and built-in cooling system. That said, for people who don’t need (or want) a hard drive that’s as big and “pro-grade” as the 2big Raid, this is the next best thing.
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Everyone, hands up if you’ve ever been in a road accident. Okay, keep those hands up if it was your fault. None of you? Really? We’re sorry, we’re sure you’re all excellent or at least pretty good drivers, but we find that hard to believe. If only there was a device that could determine whether or not you’re telling the truth. Well, there is…car dash cams.
You might remember these from the ten-thousand or so bizarre videos from all over the world that always seem to capture the very worst moments of someone’s life. While that’s (mostly) very amusing, the car dash cam’s actual purpose is supposed to provide unarguable evidence in the event of a crash, accident, or traffic violation.
This provides the owner with protection when challenged over the truth – as long as it’s not their fault.
This is great news for the careful and responsible drivers among us. Meanwhile, it could be an issue for the less talented drivers among us. That’s right, we know who you are!
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If you’re tired of being blamed for accidents that weren’t your fault, however, car dash cams will help you out. Heck, you could even exert some revenge on those who’ve wronged you by following them all day to capture proof of their depravity.
That said, buckle up and join us to check out the best car dash cams on the market today.
The Rexing car dash cam is designed to blend in seamlessly with the car to keep your focus squarely on the road, as well as ensure that it doesn’t look too obvious for other drivers. This model offers plenty of features to get excited about.
One of them is the full HD recording, which ensures crystal-clear images both day and night. Furthermore, the 170-degree lens achieves an incredibly wide angle, which manages to get nearly every inch of the road.
For increased protection and driver safety, there’s also accident auto-detection.
This will activate long before you’ve even realized something is up. This should offer a minor alert to allow you the ability to avoid possible accidents before they happen. Of course, this should allow everyone to make it to their destination with very few issues.
Now, isn’t that what we all want from car dash cams? We think so.
Pros:
Cons:
Garmin is a major leader for the technology you’ll use in or for your vehicle. It comes as a shock to no one that they made excellent car dash cams too. The video quality is better than most normal cameras, which is saying a lot. Filming at a remarkable 1440p, you’ll never be straining to see the content in videos again.
This will make you the best eye-witness on the road.
Also included are exceptionally accurate lane departure and collision warning systems. This is sure to save you and others from potential crashes during the busiest times of the day. Furthermore, voice-recognition software means the whole camera is entirely hands-free.
This allows you to switch it on and off with simple voice commands. Don’t focus on pictures on a screen, focus on the road and let the camera do the hard work for you.
Pros:
Cons:
The Lukas HD car dash cams come with a provided 16GB of internal storage. Included is an array of awesome and incredibly useful driving features you’ll absolutely love. With 1080p HD video, the footage is exceptional and clearly capable of getting every detail.
Meanwhile, the powerful auto exposure feature means that regardless of the weather conditions, you’ll always have perfectly viewable images.
There are also four different recording modes that can be adapted to suit your preference on how you want to record something. These modes include continuous recording and motion detection. This will surely come in handy when the car is parked overnight, at the game, or out to dinner.
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With motion-activated sensors and extreme temperature resistance, the Anker Roav Dash Cam is a superb product. It is able to withstand all elements, situations, and conditions. It isn’t just designed for your annual adventure across Antarctica sadly.
We know, “technology,” right?
The camera delivers more than enough features to keep you and your car protected no matter where you drive it.
Its Nighthawk Vision means that you’ll receive awesome, clear videos during the darkest of nights. Meanwhile, the built-in WiFi smartphone transfer means it’s never been easier to view your videos. This will be filmed in expansive panoramic views to capture as much as possible.
Anker gets it done with several other products, but their car dash cams are absolutely stunning.
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Offering nearly 360-degrees of coverage, the Vantrue N2 ProDual Dash Cam is an awesome choice for anyone. Especially those who wish to get home safe or like to capture crazy people on the road.
This camera provides you with both road camera and interior camera viewership.
This ensures you capture as much as possible so you are always able to back up any claims. We have to agree with the late Billy Mays who once said, “wait, there’s more!”
These car dash cams are also equipped with a 24-hour parking mode. This will detect motion should someone or something get a little too close. Meanwhile, the G-Sensor and looping mechanism ensure that you can set it and never worry if it’s recording. It surely will be.
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Garmin is back again, this time with the Dash Cam 35 model. This car dash cam provides accurate forward-collision warnings and G-Sensor incident detection. This guarantees constant vigilance on the road and protects your footage as soon as something happens.
Along with this, you’ll also have a dash cam player. This allows for clear playback of anything that does happen, without having to upload it to another device.
There’s also a red light and speed camera warning system. However, you do need to pay extra for this privilege. It fits comfortably above the rearview mirror and the suction cup is very reliable, even on the most uneven roads or during heatwaves.
Be sure you’re aware that there are no audio recording capabilities. This is good and bad. While you won’t be recorded as you belt out your favorite tunes, it also won’t record audio in the case of an incident during a traffic stop.
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With a 32GB internal memory, you can record hours of road trips. Even if it’s just to and from the office (although we recommend you get out more, dude). Overall, the Transcend Drive Pro allows you to do exactly that.
You can drive like a pro without being concerned it won’t work or back you up in the case of an accident.
This is due to the built-in G-Sensor that’ll protect any recordings upon a crash, as well as snapshot features to capture the clearest images possible. For your convenience, these car dash cams also have access to the exclusive DrivePro520 application.
This means you can download and stream all your adventures, then identify when that idiot pulled out in front of you without warning.
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The perfect camera to give you the edge over other drivers on the road, this Z-Edge Z4 Dash Cam comes with 2K video capabilities. It truly is an awesome camera that will hang nice and discreetly from your windshield. It’s also packed full of useful features that make it more than a simple camera.
This includes collision detection, 150-degree wide angles, and parking monitor motion sensors. All of this combines to give you some of the best protection available from the sea of car dash cams. The Z-Edge also comes at an excellent price when compared with other cameras and ensures (essentially) endless hours of recording.
Just remember to overwrite existing footage. Otherwise, you may run out. That endless thing isn’t exactly infinite apparently.
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If you’re looking for the most complete coverage you can possibly find, the KDLinks super wide front and rear dash cam is the product for you. With 290-degrees of filming capability, it uses a 2-lens system that makes sure to capture every single detail.
Meanwhile, the superior F1.6 six-glass lenses provide night vision capability unseen anywhere else in the world.
Along with this, these car dash cams also come with emergency lock buttons to protect footage. This also comes with an auto-switch to turn the dash cam on as soon as you turn on the ignition. This ensures that you’ll always be protected even on those days where your brain hasn’t caught up to your body yet.
With so much high-quality coverage, the KDLinks DX2 is the answer to getting every angle you need. Plus, it could lower those insurance premiums a bit.
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The THINKWARE F800 PRO may very well offer the car dash cams that are perfect for the thinking man. It contains both front and rear filming capabilities, but this is just the tip of the filming iceberg. It’s designed to offer you the utmost coverage and protection from both sides of the road.
It also provides incredibly crisp night time footage that will keep your car alert even when you’re not driving it.
The THINKWARE makes this possible with its reliable motion sensors that activate whenever someone walks too close. As for the performance on the road, there’s advanced driver assistance.
This will recognize when hazards are present and let you know before it’s too late.
Meanwhile, you can also keep an eye on everything from afar by using the mobile viewer. Sure it’s on the expensive side, but for those of you who are truly “in love” their cars, money isn’t an object.
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The Transcend 16GB is a high-capacity piece of tech that’ll ensure you won’t have any mysteries during your drive-time. Coming with a 16GB microSD card, you’ll have more driving footage than Top Gear and maybe even more entertaining shots too.
The camera comes with a free app and WiFi connectivity. This makes it easier than ever to view, stream, and share your footage with the world.
Well, at least the relevant authorities.
With a 160-degree angle lens, you can ensure you’ll get greater coverage than you thought possible. Meanwhile, the G-Sensor is more sensitive than other cameras and will have your back in the event an accident with emergency recording.
Unfortunately, these car dash cams don’t come with parking mode or GPS. However, for a budget product, there’s still a lot to give you peace of mind while driving.
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The PAPAGO Car Dash Camera boasts incredible HD recording footage that ensures you’ll capture every little thing possible. Along with top quality images, there’s 64GB microSD support that’ll capture hours of video. Plus, all of this can be viewed with the complementary app.
Unfortunately, this app is only compatible with Android, for now at least. However, if you’ve embraced Android over Apple, then this is perfect. You also get two different mounts to suit you and your car, which is pretty cool. It also comes with a Driver Assist feature that goes that extra mile to keep you protected and keep that insurance low.
If you’re looking for good car dash cams that more than provides what you need at a reasonable price, the PAPAGO is a tremendous option.
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If compact is your style, then the YI Compact Dash Cam might feel like it’s been designed especially for you. One of the cheapest products on our list, it still boasts a range of great features that feel like it should cost much more.
These features include high-quality day footage and even good footage for nighttime recordings.
Despite its size, it’s also very sturdy and should withstand knocks or tumbles with ease. On the software side, the app is relatively straightforward to use. It also provides the opportunity to look back on exactly what happened in any situation you run into.
For those in warmer areas, the built-in cooling system will keep it protected against the sun. However, there have been some instances of melting, so be careful.
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Our final choice for the best car dash cams is the APEMAN Full HD Dash Cam. It lives up to its name with high-quality video footage that allows for seamless video recording. It even does this during the day and night, both with clear results.
While the camera doesn’t technically have night vision, it still offers F1.8 exposure that’s ideal for low-light situations.
These car dash cams also come with a built-in G-Sensor that recognizes exactly when a crash occurs and locks the footage for your protection. Meanwhile, the 170-degree wide angle lens captures the majority of the road, so even the most inconspicuous happenings are recorded.
Our only real issue is that you can only mount up to a 32GB microSD card. This is a good amount, but we’d like it if there was potential for just a little bit more storage. Otherwise, feel free to go ape-man, over the APEMAN
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We see you’ve decided to purchase a dash cam. Congratulations, from now on you’ll never need to worry about the back and forth uncertainty of ‘He said, She said.’ Plus, you’ll never need to feel concerned about how safe your car is and you’ll also pick up a couple of hilarious videos along the way.
Before you settle on which car dash cam is the best one for you, there’s a couple of things you’ll need to consider first. This will help you out by making sure you don’t get taken for a ride.
In the 21st century, everything is high definition, perhaps too high definition sometimes. Whatever car dash cam you choose to buy, you can rely on it having a satisfactory image resolution. However, there’s still a range of different image qualities that you’ll notice when it comes to car dash cams.
The most common to run across is 720p, 1080p, and 1440p.
You may not know what this means, which is totally cool, few do. These same things can be seen in computers and televisions too. That said, what does 1080p, for example, actually mean? The “P” in the example stands for “progressive.”
You may see 720i as well, where the “I” stands for “integrated.”
Both are the same type of thing, it’s simply the way pixels are laid out. In the P version of things, pixels are up and down. Meaning from the top of an image to the bottom, pixels are formed. This gives an HD, defined image or video that you might see a movie in.
Meanwhile, the I version has pixels that go from side to side. This offers a crisp, sharp image or video. The P version is often better at these things which is why it’s used for car dash cams.
The higher the resolution is, the more likely the video will catch the smallest of details.
Car dash cams with looping capabilities allow you to avoid the need for switching the camera on or off. The reason for this is due to the loop allowing the camera to automatically turn on. It’ll begin recording as soon as you switch your car on thanks to hardwiring.
If you’re somebody whose memory isn’t as great as you’d like, this is essential. Even if you have a great memory, it could be insanely useful. Plus, it’ll be another thing you won’t have to worry about.
Cameras with great night vision will save you a lot of stress if an accident occurs in low-light conditions. Night driving is in some ways safer due to there being fewer cars on the road, but this is not 100% true at times. It’s also a time where people feel perfectly happy to not only hit but also run.
Hey, think about it, it’s dark, nobody saw!
Unfortunately for them, if you have a dash cam when you’re involved in a nighttime collision, they can’t truly get away. Some cameras have better night vision recording than others, however. That means you need to be sure to find one that provides as clear an image as possible once the sun goes down.
Finding and purchasing a car dash cam with G-sensor capabilities is essential for protecting your footage. It’ll help keep it perfectly fine in the event of a crash or collision without it getting overwritten by the newer footage. Cameras with G-Sensor technology will automatically switch off when they recognize the car’s ignition has been turned off.
It will then ‘lock’ the footage to ensure that is doesn’t disappear into the ether.
Sometimes there’s a lot going on while your driving, but you’re a good driver, right? It may not matter. Clearly, you can’t be expected to do this successfully all the time sadly. In fact, you might not notice something until it’s too late.
To prevent this, the car dash cams come with collision and pull-out alerts.
This recognizes potential disaster before it happens.
Not only will you have some proof after an accident, but you’ll also be able to prevent accidents altogether. This pretty much makes you a superhero. Who needs the Batmobile anyway?
Worried about your car at when you’ve parked it? Maybe there’s been a spate of vandalism around the neighborhood recently? You’re not going to sit up all night waiting to catch the perp, after all, you shouldn’t have to.
Why do all the work when your dash cam can act as a lookout for you?
Parking mode operates using motion sensors, so you don’t need to worry about wasting the battery overnight. If someone comes within range of the car, the camera will switch on. This is sure to catch crooks and idiot kids and hopefully makes sure they don’t cause any more damage.
You might also get the occasional curious critter, but we can live with that.
Finding a car dash cam with both front and rear camera functionality ensures you get the widest range of protection possible. You can drive wherever you please without fear of possible accidents they are not caught on camera. Clearly, the best cameras can give you this.
However, it can be a bit more expensive…so you need to think before you buy.
Do you need a rear cam? We’d say it could sure offer more protection in the event an accident occurs…especially in the back of the vehicle you happen to drive. However, the normal car dash cams can do a lot for you too. That said, this will just depend on how much you’re willing to spend.
Most car dash cams will have a built-in memory function that’ll record and subsequently save any footage that’s captured during your drives. However, what will you do once you run out of space? By using high definition video, you’ll be treated to excellent and clear footage that will identify culprits without a shadow of a doubt.
The problem is that this awesome quality also means a lot of storage space is used up. Those files can get pretty large. Cameras with high-capacity storage will be a great asset to you, without a doubt. You may also want one that can install a microSD card for even more space.
This will save you the hassle of deleting footage all the time, without much time in-between.
Car dash cams are tremendous for most. The reason is mostly due to what they provide the average, every day, driver. Think about it this way, your protection and how people believe your story could hinge on these things. Car dash cams have gotten police officers out of hot water as well as fired.
That is some major power to hold.
Imagine too if you’re a young black man in America. Traffic stops are routine for them, as well as Hispanic men (even if you do nothing wrong). Most tend to go well, but at times things can get really bad.
Car dash cams can be maneuvered to get the entire ordeal on tape if something goes bad.
It’s your word against the officer’s word, which means your word is useless without proof. However, this tape you happen to have will help exponentially prove he or she was in the wrong. Heck, even the presence of one will help. This is useful for a number of other instances too, so let’s go over them.
Many of us have suffered an accident, been on the wrong end of a fender bender, or encountered some douchebag who thinks he owns the road. However, if we had a car dash cam, we could have had an excellent way to prove that we were, in fact, in the right.
Memories might be pretty clear, but there’s no substitute for video evidence. It’s an eyewitness that doesn’t blink, so take advantage while you can.
Even if we have a good idea of where our vehicle is, we may still worry if it’s safe. It could be the area you’ve parked in, it could be the place on the road, it could just be that you’re very protective. Maybe too protective perhaps? With a car dash cam, any fears will be (mostly) alleviated.
The dash cam won’t necessarily save your car from damage when you leave it parked somewhere. However, it will help you identify who was responsible. This will help the local law enforcement hunt them down, then you’ll finally get the justice you deserved all along.
The unfortunate truth is that some drivers will go out of their way to cause collisions, accidents, and other inconveniences. They will then try to make it look as if you were at fault for their mistake. How horrible, right?
With car dash cams, you can become a hero of the road.
Well, you’ll be your own superhero. You won’t be a Batman or Green Arrow out there or anything…this is only a dash cam. However, you’ll help you avoid dealing with people who try to make you look at fault. These frauds need to be stopped and you can do just that.
Well, it still is a camera, but the dash cam is so much more. It can act as a parking assistant, provide collision alerts, and parking protection. Furthermore, most cameras will also have GPS capabilities. This will not only pinpoint exactly where an accident occurs but will also show your speed.
This will allow you to make sure you never go over the speed limit. We know you will, but at least you’ll have an idea of the speed limit in areas you are not familiar with.
That GPS thing is pretty handy, for sure.
Car dash cams are mostly associated with covering you or somebody else in the event of an accident. However, you can also use them to record your road trips! Seriously, you can.
This is pretty awesome if you ask us.
If you like packing up your stuff, jumping in the car and saying goodbye to the city for a couple of days, the dash cam will be there. It’ll catch everything so you can watch how things went when you’re done. You can check out the gorgeous scenery and marvels of nature you came across.
Heck, you can even put together in a travel video as a memento that won’t go anywhere.
We’ve all seen those hilarious/interesting videos captured by the sheer luck of a driver having a dash cam. If you haven’t seen them, trust us, you’re sorely missing out. While entertainment was not the intended purpose of car dash cams, you can have endless hours of weird and wonderful examples.
You can come across some of the strangest goings on in everyday society, especially when people don’t think they’re being watched. Just remember not to use these powers for evil. That’s not cool, dude.
It really should be easy to set up car dash cams. However, that is not exactly the case regardless of how good it would be. There are certain rules regarding placement and other issues that you really need to pay attention to.
Not doing so could result in footage not working well or even become useless in court under certain situations.
Heck, you could even be breaking the law! To avoid your jail time, we wanted to make sure we made you aware of key things you need to know about. Check this out.
Dash cam mounting isn’t as simple as the everyday hands-free mount you’ve used with your smartphone for years. Instead, it must be placed behind the rear-view mirror. This allows the image to be perfectly centered and it captures the widest angle of the road.
This includes both lanes, as well as any signs that you pass along the way.
‘But what about the cables?’ you lament while ignoring everything we’ve just said. Well, hold on a second. Car dash cam wires are long enough to reach a power source. This ensures there’ll be no issues with connectivity.
Car dash cams come with either a suction-mount or one that employs double-sided tape. Both work well, but the suction cup is much more reliable than the double-sided tape version. This is mostly due to it being easy to reset and start over if you put it somewhere wrong.
It can also go from vehicle to vehicle without much issue.
Remember, with every incorrect mounting with double-sided tape, you’ll lose precious adhesiveness. That could result in your camera tumbling from its perch, probably just before an accident occurs. With that being said, we’d advise the suction version.
Your car dash cam will come with the aforementioned wires that’ll connect to ports within your car. This will more than likely be the cigarette lighter port. However, you can elect to hardwire your camera, which will connect it to the main electronics of the car.
There are a few benefits from this, including having the wires hidden. It can also turn on whenever you switch on the ignition so you’ll never forget. Most car dash cams can be hardwired, but you can’t do it yourself. This means you’ll need to employ a professional to make sure it’s done correctly.
That said, it’s an extra expense you may or may not want.
Car dash cams were mostly designed to help you in the event of collisions. However, you need to be careful about whether or not you’re using them in a legal way. Remember, laws are a bit annoying but we must follow them. We know, we thought they just handed out chocolate bars too.
Why can’t we just take them, right?
That said, we put together a guide on a few nations and their laws regarding car dash cams to help you out a bit. Take a look.
In the United States, car dash cams themselves are not technically illegal. However, in the majority of states, windshield obstruction is, in fact, illegal. As long as you’re not impeding your own view of the road, then you should be okay.
We’d suggest getting in touch with a lawyer, police officer, or local DMV just to be on the safe side.
There’s also the issue of data protection, which would inhibit the privacy of anyone traveling in your car. A solution to this, though, is to either turn off the audio recording or simply inform them that they’re being recorded. Some states do not have any laws on recording someone.
This is the same for video and audio recording, as there are not as many specifics.
In many states, only one side has to know of a recording. That means, since you’re the one side, you’re good. Not every state is the same, so call up local police stations or a DMV to see what they suggest.
However, you truly want to tell someone even if you don’t have to. Proper ethics, of course.
There are no laws about installing a car dash cam of any kind in the country of Canada. In fact, recording your journeys on the road is perfectly fine as they are considered public areas. This means you’re not intruding on anyone else’s privacy.
However, if the camera is not mounted correctly, you could suffer similar charges to those in the United States.
Obviously, you don’t want to operate one while driving, as this is very illegal in Canada as it is in America. This falls under the same type of charge as using cell phones while driving. It may be a bit minor, but too many can add up.
Car dash cams are perfectly legal in the United Kingdom, throughout every single area. However, if it is mounted incorrectly, you could face fines from local police who see this.
You could even have any footage you’ve recorded deemed inadmissible in a courtroom setting.
If you work for a ride-sharing company like Lyft or Uber or even just as a taxi driver, then you need to inform the passenger that they’re being recorded. This is technically needed in both Canada and the United States in states or provinces that have such rules.
In case you’re planning a trans-continental trip, we should mention that you’re prohibited from having a car dash cam at all. This includes countries such as Switzerland, but could also apply elsewhere in the world.
Before going anywhere, do your research and save yourself the hassle.
Most of the time, taking car dash cams overseas or to nations close by would be weird. After all, there are a lot of rules on rental cars and most airports won’t let you take stuff like this on a plane. That said, avoid assuming it’s okay. You honestly don’t need it in many nations.
Simply use a normal camera if you’re worried things might get bad somewhere.
With so many car dash cams on the market it can be a challenge to choose one that’s right for you. However, you know your driving, know your area, and know which is the best for your needs. When it comes to car dash cams, it doesn’t need to be the best, the brightest, the fanciest.
Instead, it needs to be something that you trust will keep you protected in the event of a collision.
The thing about car dash cams is that they’re not just there to place the correct blame. In fact, they’re also there to keep you honest too. It’d be great if everybody drove like they had a car dash cam, but we all know that’s not the case.
Instead, it’s up to people just like you to do your bit in keeping yourself and others in check.
We’re all prone to the odd bout of road rage every now and again. However, with proper car dash cams, perhaps things will be a little different. Why not shift into a different gear and take it a little bit easier?
It would make the road a much more peaceful place to be.
You may be thinking, “Why would I want a media remote for my Xbox when I already have a Xbox controller? Plus, I already have too many remotes.”
The truth is that you likely don’t need a media remote if you use your Xbox exclusively for gaming. But if you use your Xbox as streaming box (for watching apps like Netflix or HBO Max) or playing Blu-rays — a media remote can be a godsend.
The main benefit of a media remote is that it makes it easier to navigate streaming apps on your Xbox for non-gamers. We all know how clunky the controller’s joysticks and D-Pad can be and, if you live with your parents or maybe a spouse, they’d probably prefer a more traditional remote. Lastly, it prevents you from having to drain the battery life of your controller.
Microsoft does make its own media remote for Xbox. It’s good and affordable, but it’s also been around for quite some time. The nice thing is there are number of third-party makers who also media remotes for Xbox that work great, look a little different and are still very affordable.
PDP
Released in 2020, the PDP GamingRemote Control is an IR-based remote that was specifically designed to work with Xbox (One, Series X and Series S) consoles. It has a simple controls that include A, B, X and Y buttons (just like a controller), which gamers will appreciate. Also, it has motion-action backlit keys, which will help you use the remote in a dark room. It runs on two AAA batteries.
Microsoft
The Xbox One Media Remote has been around for years. It has nice backlit keys and simple controls. It works via an IR blaster (not Bluetooth), meaning you need to direct line of sight to your Xbox for controls to work. It requires two AAA batteries and yes, it’ll work with the new Xbox Series X and Series S consoles, as well as older Xbox Ones.
8Bitdo
8BitDo is best known for making new wireless gaming controllers that look like the retro controllers of old, but now they’ve released two officially licensed media remotes for Xbox. This “Short Edition” version has the same kind of Home button that’s on the latest Xbox consoles, and pressing it instantly wakes your Xbox. It has A, B, X and Y buttons just like a controller, and quick buttons for playback.
8Bitdo
The “Long Edition” version is exactly the same as the company’s “Short Edition” remote (above), but it’s longer, includes a number pad and comes in black instead of white. It’s also $5 more expensive. Other than that, it has great wake button and intuitive backlit buttons.
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