22 Sep
Blog

Nokia 8.3 Review: A PureView Camera in all but Name

Nokia 8 3 rating 83 back

"A wonderful camera and long-lasting battery make the Nokia 8.3 desirable, and the Android One software updates and 5G make it a safe future purchase."

  • Excellent main and ultra-wide cameras

  • Big, attractive screen

  • Android One software

  • Long battery life

  • No water resistance

  • Screen with a refresh rate of 60 Hz

  • Weak zoom and macro photos

There was a time when Nokia ruled the phone camera world, but Huawei, Apple, and Samsung have all come along and have been better known for amazing cameras ever since. However, with the Nokia 8.3, it has made some significant strides with the help of longtime partner Zeiss, to the point where I think the phone has earned the famous PureView name traditionally used for its top performing camera-centric phones.

What's even better is that the phone is less than $ 1,000 and still comes with the technology you'll need for the future, as well as guaranteed software updates for a few years to come. The Nokia 8.3 is one of the best competitively priced phones in 2020.

design

You know what you're doing with the latest Nokia designs, as they tend to follow a similar trend: a top-center-mounted camera module, a chin bezel under the screen, and colors inspired by Nordic roots. The Nokia 8.3 doesn't scream for its looks, doesn't surprise you with eye-catching folding screens, and doesn't put much emphasis on keeping the weight or thickness of the hardware down. The 8.3 is therefore a modern Nokia phone through and through.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

It weighs 220 grams, is 8.9 mm thick and 78.5 mm wide, making it a hefty piece of a phone in the hand at least when compared to the OnePlus 8 and iPhone 11. The side-mounted fingerprint sensor is ergonomically a good choice, prevents you from juggling a heavy phone while locating a sensor in the display, and it's accurate and responsive. The color Polar Night is deep blue, almost black in places, until you bring it into the light when azure stripes catch your eye. It's classy and stylish and prevents the otherwise normal phone from getting boring.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Bad parts? I really don't like the Nokia logo on the lower bezel. I don't like the Google Assistant hardware button because I accidentally hit the stupid thing. Thanks to the flat screen and glossy back, the phone glides over most surfaces as if on wheels. Even so, it feels a little pointless in the design of the Nokia 8.3 if it is definitely not ugly and the workmanship and materials used are excellent.

camera

Here's what you need to know: The Nokia 8.3's camera is brilliant. No restriction is required either. It would be a brilliant smartphone camera if it were on the back of a phone that also costs a lot more. It bears the name PureView on the spec sheet, but it really deserves to have it in the official name as its talents are readily available and it consistently takes great photos in most conditions, unlike the often disappointing Nokia 9 PureView from Early last year.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

It has a 64-megapixel main sensor, a 12-megapixel sensor with an ultra-wide-angle lens, and a pair of 2-megapixel sensors for depth and macro tasks. It's not that impressive on paper, but the results are breathtaking. Photos are saturated with rich colors and filled with razor-sharp details. They cause an emotional blow. By that I mean, nothing gets too saturated or over enhanced, which allows the photo to speak for itself without, however, losing the visual pop necessary to make images instantly shareable.

HMD Global's ongoing partnership with Zeiss is undoubtedly having an impact on performance, and the success here reminds me of how Huawei and Leica really came together to produce the superb Huawei P10. It is also easy to use. You have a wide angle and a standard view as well as a night mode and that's all you should be bothered with. Selfies are great especially when you use the Zeiss fine-tuned filter modes that give your photos a really cool look. Although they are software controlled, the bokeh mode offers good edge detection.

Is it perfect? ​​No, but the disadvantages don't outweigh the positives. There's no zoom, the 2MP macro mode is junk, and the camera often struggles with focus when taking close-ups. Annoyingly, the app stays in portrait mode if you return to the app after closing instead of going back to the default photo mode by default, and sometimes there was unattractive halo and lens flare.

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Dig deeper and night mode will be very effective provided it's not very dark. It shows a lot more texture and detail, just like the night mode used to do on Huawei phones like the P20 Pro. The portrait mode improved with Zeiss creates a very strong bokeh effect. However, this can be adjusted after you take the photo. There is also a manual pro video mode editing suite that can add anamorphic lens effects to your videos. When you record your video and expect it to happen later, it can look effective. If you don't, it just looks artificial.

The Nokia 8.3 has the ease of use of the Google Pixel 4a for shooting and recording, and takes photos that will make you want to get creative and experiment with it more.

screen

It is a 6.81 inch IPS LCD screen with a 20: 9 aspect ratio and Nokia PureDisplay technology on the front of the phone. PureDisplay enables HDR always on, adaptive brightness, and improved color accuracy and sharpness. I found the adaptive brightness to be poor though, especially when the brightness was turned down in bright sunlight so I couldn't see the screen at all.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Watching videos is wonderful, with some enhanced colors and contrasts with the PureDisplay on or a more natural palette that is closer to how the iPhone 11 Pro looks when the device is off. The individual loudspeaker is acceptable, but not enthusiastic about its sound. If you want, there is a 3.5 mm headphone jack on the case for wired headphones.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

While the screen is colorful and pretty, it lacks a refresh rate of 90 Hz or higher, which is highly expected at this price point. I notice this immediately after coming from a device with a higher refresh rate – scrolling just isn't that smooth on the Nokia – but obviously if you haven't had the feature before, the switch obviously won't be that annoying. However, it's a feature that's available on several competing phones and almost all of the flagship phones. It improves the display and reduces fatigue so that it is overlooked here.

Performance and software

The Snapdragon 765G processor from Qualcomm controls the Nokia 8.3 with 6 GB or 8 GB of RAM and 64 GB or 128 GB of internal memory, depending on the model. There's also a MicroSD card slot to add to that number.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The Nokia 5.3 has 5G, although I don't live in an area with coverage so I couldn't test this feature. To get a little more technical, the Nokia 8.3 supports more 5G bands than any other 5G phone currently available, and supports 5G systems from NSA (not standalone) and SA (standalone). So, with 5G becoming more widespread, the phone can easily connect to the network. The 4G reception is strong and the call quality is really excellent. Oddly enough, on video calls, you can't turn the volume below a certain point, making it impossible to mute the sound completely.

Here are the benchmark results:

3DMark Sling Shot Extreme: 3.006 (volcano)

Geekbench 5: 1,523 multi-core / 559 single core

Compared to the LG Velvet, the OnePlus Nord and the Motorola Edge, which have the same processor, the Nokia improves the 3DMark value, but it cannot keep up with the Geekbench 5 value either. It cannot match the results obtained by the OnePlus 8, which has a Snapdragon 856 processor and more RAM. However, it's fun to play and I didn't experience any performance issues or excessive heat while playing Asphalt 9: Legends.

Another triumph with the Nokia 8.3 is the use of Google's Android One software. It's essentially the same experience as on a Pixel phone, with a clean, crisp, logical, and consistent design, and solid reliability when it comes to running apps and getting your daily chores done. It takes some tweaking to make it better, from the adaptive brightness to the oddly inconsistent volume control, but otherwise it allows for a comfortable, stress-free mobile life.

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nokia 8 3 review 83 notifications "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn9.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/nokia-83-notifications-640x640.jpg "srcset = "https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Yes, I said life, because a big plus here is that Android One will have major system updates for the next two years and security updates for the next three years, all of which will arrive on time. You shouldn't have to think about software updates when choosing a phone, but these are very important. HMD Global's decision to use Android One means you don't have to worry.

Battery and security

A fingerprint sensor is built into the power button on the side of the phone. For me as a right-hander it is ergonomically comfortable and has also proven to be accurate and largely reliable. The phone is powered by a massive 4,500 mAh battery, and over the course of my first few days it easily turned out to have the guts to last two full days of moderate to heavy use. There is an 18W charging block in the box, but the phone does not support wireless charging.

Price and availability

The Nokia 8.3 pre-order date is September 22nd in the UK and Europe. It will ship from October 8th. It will be shipped to the US in the near future. It costs £ 499 in the UK and € 599 in Europe. There are no official US pricing at the time of writing, but the UK price is converted to $ 640. The phone is available on the Nokia website.

Our opinion

Thanks to its great camera, the Nokia 8.3 stands alongside several budget smartphone hits at competitive prices like the Pixel 4a (or most importantly the upcoming Pixel 4a 5G), while the long battery life and clean software make life easier now and in the future. With the addition of 5G, something continued to grow. This is what we expect from Nokia: A durable smartphone with a great camera that is not characterized by its design, but emphasizes value, workmanship and general suitability for everyday use.

Is there a better alternative?

The midrange smartphone market is one of the most diverse and competitive, so there are many alternatives that need to be considered. The $ 599 LG Velvet is more attractive, but the camera is inconsistent, while the $ 500 Motorola Edge also looks good, but the software doesn't update anywhere near as long as the 8.3. The OnePlus Nord is an option for anyone in the UK, where it costs just £ 379 and delivers much of what makes the Nokia 8.3 successful, including the great screen and performance.

The better alternatives are the $ 349 Google Pixel 4a, which has the same perks as the Nokia 8.3 at a cheaper price point and just misses out on 5G – although the larger Pixel 4a 5G, announced on Sept. 30, will fix the problem will that. Or spend $ 699 on the OnePlus 8 with its prettier design, good software, 5G, and more powerful processor.

How long it will take?

It will take 3 years or more depending on your requirements. The software updates are crucial for longevity, as is the broad 5G support. However, the phone is not waterproof or rugged so you need to be careful with it. This is unfortunate as LG manages to give the Velvet both IP68 and military toughness for a similar price.

Should you buy one?

Yes. The competition is fierce, but if a solid camera, good software, and minimalist hardware are more important than a high refresh rate screen, the Nokia 8.3 is a good buy.

Editor's recommendations




21 Sep
Blog

Simple Tips to Transform Your Back

A big, thick, well-developed back can lift a physique from good to great. Unfortunately, the muscles of the back are the toughest most lifters have to develop.

This struggle is partly due to the tendency to train the mirror muscles, but it is also heavily influenced by poor exercise selection and repetition execution.

The back is a large area of ​​muscle mass made up of several different muscles that are capable of other actions. The complexity of fully training the back is illustrated by the wide range of machines and attachments.

The grip you choose, and then the intent of the movement with which you initiate a repetition, will largely determine the quality of the stimulus you generate. In order to get results from your training, you need to create the appropriate incentive to achieve the adjustment you want. A significant stimulus combined with adequate rest is what you need to build muscle and strength.

Stimulus + recovery = adjustment

Creating an effective stimulus is important in growing your back. What is less obvious is that the effectiveness of your back training can essentially have an impact on the rest of your muscle groups as well.

As I mentioned earlier, the back is a huge area to exercise in. If your repetitions and sets aren't stimulating efficiently, you will need to do more sets to get an effective workout.

Exercise your back

Effective back workouts could be achieved in as little as six sets, but poor execution and choice of exercises could mean that double the number is enough to get muscle building stimulus. That is twice as much as with the same effect, which is completely inefficient.

It is very exhausting to do twice as many sets for the back. This fatigue affects your overall systemic recovery capacity. The body has only one tolerance for so much exercise per week. If you have to work your back twice as much, it will drain your reserves for other muscle groups.

The total number of sets you can edit per week will be affected. If the back takes up twice as much space in your program as it should, it means something else is suffering. For example, maybe your biceps workout needs to drop.

In short, we want to maximize training efficiency wherever possible. Being efficient opens up a larger window of time to allocate resources to other muscle groups and gradually increase the overall training volume. Because exercise volume has a dose-response relationship with muscle gain, the potential to do more over time is a handy tool to have in your toolbox.

Key takeaway: More effective back training makes your back grow faster and also makes it easier for other muscle groups to grow better.

Paying attention to your grip choices and the way you do your reps can greatly optimize your back training. A few basic anatomies will help you make the smartest choices for grip position and arm travel.

As a rule of thumb, a neutral or supinated grip is better suited to training the lats on rows and pulldowns. One of the actions of the lats is to stretch your shoulder. You can perform this action more effectively if you are in a neutral or slightly outwardly turned position.

Train your lats

When aiming at the lats, use handles that allow a neutral or slightly outward hand position. Examples are broad (ish) neutral or supinated lat pulldowns and rows. Grip widths of shoulder width or just outside are just right for this. The lats are attached to the upper arm. Hence, it is the upper arm path that we care about, not how far your hands move.

When you are exercising a muscle, you want to go from fully elongated to shortened while maintaining tension throughout the area. Take the origin and introduction of the muscle (each end where the muscle is attached to the bone) as far apart as you can actively control, then try to bring those two points as close as possible.

To do this effectively for your lats::

  • Start the lift phase of a pull-down or lat-focused row by moving your upper arm down.
  • Don't perform by pulling your biceps.
  • Think of your hands as hooks.
  • The lats are attached to the upper arm, not behind the elbow.
  • Focusing on bending the elbow shifts the focus to the biceps.

This mistake in technique can turn an excellent lat exercise into a crappy biceps exercise.

Remember, the goal here is to train the lats so you need to initiate with them and keep the tension on them. By taking a neutral or semi-supinated grip and starting the lift phase by moving your upper arm down and towards your hip, you can dramatically increase the activation and tension of the lats.

The arc of your arm path on a lat pulldown should be almost like doing a lat sweater to maximize this effect.

Exercise your upper back

The upper back:

When it comes to upper back training, we want to focus more on shoulder blade movement. The upper back muscles all act directly on the scapular (shoulder blades). To train them effectively, we would like to see movement in this area.

This movement is best achieved with a strong grip (palms down) and higher arm travel. Exercise these muscles over their entire area by thinking about doing a full stretch forward into an elongated position. Then start by moving your elbows back and trying to pull your shoulder blades back and together at maximum contraction.

Imagine trying a reverse hug and trying to touch your elbows behind you (this won't happen unless you suffered a terrible injury) but that is the general movement and arm path that You should pursue.

Links to a bigger, stronger, V-shaped back

Lats = neutral or supinated grip and initiate by pulling the upper arm down and then towards the hips.

Upper back = pronounced grip and rowing with elbows up and out to start and end the repetition by trying to push your elbows together as far behind you as possible.

21 Sep
Blog

Audeze LCD-1 Headphones Review: Studio-Grade Comfort

audeze lcd 1 review studio monitors headphones 5

"The Audeze LCD-1 has a beautifully wide soundstage and excellent clarity in a comfortable design."

  • Excellent clarity and attention to detail

  • Broad soundstage

  • Very convenient

  • Expensive

  • Questionable structure

There is a special place in my heart for open studio headphones. I come from a production background, so when editing, I always look for the purest sound reproduction to make sure my finished product is buttoned up.

So headphones like the $ 400 Audeze LCD 1 reference monitors really hit the right emotional notes for me. I know open-backs have some drawbacks, but I can't help but focus on them: I like the sound signature they generally offer.

So let's answer this important question: how does the Audeze LCD-1 stack up compared to others on the market?

What's in the box

Audeze provided the LCD-1 with simple packaging. It's not full of pomp and circumstance like Apple products. Although the box is very nice and wrapped in a simple Audeze case, the headphones themselves come folded in the hard carrying case provided.

This is very useful from a security point of view. If I want to use this case to secure the headphones when I travel, it should be of good quality to adequately protect them when shipping to me.

audeze lcd 1 review studio monitors headphones "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn2.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/audeze-lcd-1-studio-monitors- headphones -review-1-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAJaron Schneider / Digital Trends

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Because of this, I'd expect them to require minimal molded cardboard insert so they don't roll around, but Audeze uses foam instead. While you can probably recycle the rest of the packaging, that foam needs to be removed and discarded first. It's not the most sustainable solution.

Aside from the carrying case, the headphones come with a 2-meter, 3.5-mm to 3.5-mm double cable wrapped in nylon and a 6.35-mm-3.5 mm converter. The only indication on the cable is that it is very long which can be uncomfortable for some people.

design

The Audeze LCD-1 look good despite their plastic construction. I'm more of a fan of how V-Moda constructed the M-200 monitors with lots of metal parts, but if you go for plastic, Audeze picked one that at least feels good to the touch.

Open ear headphones are more fragile than other headphones because they have many open and exposed parts. So it's no wonder that the LCD-1 is at the more fragile end of the spectrum. They don't feel like they are falling apart in my hands, but I will be very gentle with them. I wouldn't want to drop it.

Jaron Schneider / Digital Trends

The LCD-1 feels good on your head. They're snug, without too much pressure, and light, but not to the extent that they feel cheap. The headband is especially nice as it rests very gently on the crown of my head so that I don't feel it when I wear it.

Audeze said they designed the memory foam cups to be extremely comfortable so they could hold long listening sessions, and they manage to do that to a certain extent. After a few hours I felt them squeeze a little near my temple, to the point where I had to take a short break.

But the focus is on short because this tiredness passed quickly and I was soon able to put it on again and listen for a few more hours. They aren't the most comfortable headphones I've ever worn – that goes to the Montblanc MB01s – but they're still great.

The Audeze LCD-1 looks pretty good despite the mostly plastic construction.

I found that I could increase my listening time by turning the cups slightly to shift the pressure if I didn't want to take them off completely, which was lovely. Each cup can rotate a little inward, towards the back of the head, and completely sideways as you rotate it outward. That said, if you want to take them off and place them on your collarbone, that's where the hard plastic backs of the headphones rest instead of the cups. I would prefer it the other way around, but I really only wear these in my studio so I only wear them around my neck for a very limited time when my wife has something to say to me.

properties

Open, wired studio monitors do one thing and only one thing: they play music. Good guys do it exceptionally well.

The Audeze LCD-1 fits that description perfectly, but there are a few small advantages to be aware of.

The headphones are smart enough to tell which end of the double 3.5mm cable is plugged into which headphones on the left or right.

The detachable 3.5mm to 3.5mm twin cable can be detached if you want to store it away. The headphones are intelligent enough to automatically recognize which end of the 3.5 mm double cable is connected to which headphones on the left or right. If you can't get something like this wrong, this is an added bonus. It's even nicer when you only have one cord to worry about, like the V-Moda M-200, but it's nice that the cord can even be removed unlike the Grado Hemp headphones.

Jaron Schneider / Digital Trends

The headphones can be folded up for on the go. This is useful when you don't want to keep these where you listen to music. For recording artists or sound engineers, this may mean in a different studio depending on the week. They are packed quite small and fit nicely in the supplied carrying case. There is even a small sleeve in the top lid of the case to hold the cable.

The LCD-1 is compatible with balanced audio, but it is not easy. Audeze does not manufacture the required cable and no cable is commercially available. However, Audeze offers the pinout specification so that it can be made to measure by third parties. That's a lot of trouble.

Sound quality

Let's get one right out of the gate. Studio monitors are tuned for a balanced EQ, which means you shouldn't expect crystalline highs or chattering lows. The idea here is that what you hear is flat, neutral, and produced straight out of the studio. Studio monitors are intended for audio engineers and video editors who want to hear exactly how something sounds without additional sound profiles.

The thing is, as listeners on headphones like the Sony WH-1000XM4s, we have a good mix of sound profiles, usually with more juice to the bass and an overall warmer, more accessible sound. For most casual listeners, you probably don't want studio monitors like the Audeze LCD-1.

However, if you like the general sound of neutral audio, you will love these cans.

Jaron Schneider / Digital Trends

I'm not going to go so far as to say that I think the LCD-1 is perfectly neutral – I think they have a bit more lows than monitors usually do – but they are close and great for picking out critical details.

The main advantage of the open-back design is that these headphones have incredible sound reproduction – music sounds like it came from a large, perfectly designed studio.

When tracks are vocal focused like in Photographs by Professor Green, Rag & # 39; n & # 39; Bone Man, it sounds like you're being directed straight to the soundboard in the recording studio. In Brenden James & # 39; The Sun Will Rise, it's like I'm right there in the room. I can see every detail in his voice and the piano is beautifully rendered which supports him.

That added emphasis on the lows means that I'm presented with a slightly warmer rendition of Mumford and Sons' If I Say, which I have to admit I really loved. The singing in Didos Hurricanes also benefits from these beautiful lows.

These headphones have incredible sound reproduction – music sounds like it was coming from a large, perfectly designed studio.

The sound produced by the LCD-1 is more accessible to the average ear than other studio monitors without sacrificing the details audiophiles look for. They do all of this while being more restrained in the highs than the Grado hemp headphones (no almost sore highs), but more robust in the lows than the M-200 (more strictly neutral).

Although the design means the soundstage is open compared to closed designs, these don't isolate the sound well for you or anyone around you. This music in particular bursts the pages with a considerable volume. So if you want to use these in a shared room, all you need to know is that everyone around you can hear what you are hearing as clearly as possible. My wife works in the next room and can clearly hear the words to the songs that I hear from this distance.

Jaron Schneider / Digital Trends

For the same reason, these headphones degrade the perceived quality in louder environments because they cannot block out noise.

That's the price you pay for the outstanding soundstage of open-backs. For one thing, I am ready to make this sacrifice.

Our opinion

The Audeze LCD-1s are very good studio monitors, but they are expensive considering the construction – they're made mostly of plastic, which can raise concerns about durability – and the ability to get some balanced audio support.

But if you plan on leaving these in your home studio and aren't worried about them, they are really excellent monitors that just have a bit more juice in the lows to make music more enjoyable without losing detail. They also have a wonderfully wide soundstage, a hallmark of high quality open-back cans.

Jaron Schneider / Digital Trends

Are there any better alternatives?

I would say if having that superb surgical detail and real neutral profile is more important to you, the cheaper V-MODA M-200s are a better choice, with a more rugged construction and out-of-the-box support for balanced audio. However, if you like a little more lows and want to enjoy a wider soundstage, the LCD-1 is a better choice.

Also great are the open-design Sennheiser HD600s, regularly available for just $ 350.

How long will they last?

If you don't handle these too roughly, they will last until the plastic crumbles. The last time I checked it wasn't for at least several human lives. Audeze covers the drivers for three years and the rest of the parts for one year from the date of purchase, which is way above average support.

Should you buy it?

Yes. The Audeze LCD-1 studio monitors offer a wide soundstage, beautiful details and just a pinch more low pressure than other monitors, which makes listening a pleasure. They are not for everyone, but they might be for you.

Editor's recommendations




21 Sep
Blog

Returning to Your Sport From a Break Is Daunting, But Doable

As athletes, we were all excluded from injury and then made it easy for us to get back into our sport. But what if you weren't hurt? What if you took a break and it maybe lasted a couple of years?

As competitive athletes, it is difficult for us to take it easy. Comparing the glory days and your skills plays a role in every workout. The frustration, the pain, the feeling of staring at your eyes when you gasp or run instead of running. All the time you're screaming in your head

"Y.You don't know what i did "or,

"I'm better than I look now." Maybe it's just me, but

"Don't even let me start carrying the weight gain around!"

My dear friend Kathey has a saying (and doesn't quote me): "I'm grateful and lucky enough to be able to do the sport I love" or something close to it.

As someone waiting for a knee replacement and unable to walk, I would love to be this lucky. This upcoming operation was the beginning of the derailment of my triathlon training. Why should I keep training in one sport when I can only participate two-thirds of the time?

It wasn't until a few years later that swim / bike events became increasingly popular and reached even larger events. By this point, I was already out of swimming shape and doing other sports and loving it, which made it easier to move on and not dwell on what was missing in my athletic life.

Return to your sport after a break

You've decided to end your chlorine-free strips of skin and evenly tanned quads, but where in the world do you start? It's such a daunting task. But remember, you can only eat an elephant one bite at a time.

For now, leave the Garmin at home. Yeah, I said it, so get over it. It would be helpful if you did this for a month or two to get back into a rhythm of exercise and get enough recovery time.

Please just go slowly and don't kick your ass because you've let go of everything and have to start over. It's time to release the pressure and enjoy the feeling of movement.

I'd taken a few years to make a million lame excuses that I didn't think would ever happen. I've moved a lot and my new town is full of miles of trails that scream for some cyclocross adventures.

It's hard to find words to describe the feeling of riding a bike again. The best part was the novelty of a different type of ride and the lack of experience and feelings associated with an old bike. It kind of made the low miles I drove seem okay. It gave me forgiveness for not going 60 miles out of the gate.

Time to put the excuses aside, my friend, and get it. We are in it together and I will be your responsibility partner. Take your time, don't rush and be consistent. Now is the time to capitalize on the pandemic and lack of racing to start training. Fall in love with the sport again.

21 Sep
Blog

Skullcandy Sesh Evo Review: No More Lost Wireless Earbuds

Skullcandy Sesh Evo

"With convenient tile tracking, these sporty earbuds can justify their $ 60 price tag."

  • Inexpensive

  • Handy tile tracking

  • Multiple colors

  • Bad call quality

  • Mediocre battery life

Skullcandy has done an admirable job of providing affordable and stylish true wireless earbuds for those who refuse to pay the Apple premium – or just want something different from those ubiquitous white earbuds.

The latest offering is the $ 60 Sesh Evo – one step from his $ 50 Sesh – a no-nonsense set of true wireless earbuds aimed at the tricky middle ground where people want just the right combination of features and price.

Thanks to an ongoing partnership with Tile, they have a feature that no other brand of true radio buds can claim: the ability to track and find them in case you misplace them.

Is it enough to tell the Sesh Evo apart from an Amazon-sized tsunami with $ 60 earbuds?

Let's look at them.

What's in the box?

Skullcandy Sesh EvoSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Skullcandy's packaging needs to be improved from a sustainability perspective. In the outer cardboard box there is a black plastic shell with black foam padding. Even if the plastic on the roadside were easy to recycle, the foam would have to be removed and discarded first.

When you sit in the shelf, you'll find the Sesh Evo buds (equipped with the middle earbuds) and their charging case. A resealable polybag contains a 9-inch USB-C charging cable, two additional sizes for earbuds and a small printed quick guide.

design

Skullcandy Sesh Evo "class =" m-Karussell - Bild dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn2.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/skullcandy-sesh-evo-00012-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Skullcandy Sesh Evo "class =" m-Karussell - Bild dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn3.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/skullcandy-sesh-evo-00008-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Skullcandy Sesh Evo "class =" m-Karussell - Bild dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn4.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/skullcandy-sesh-evo-00011-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The Sesh Evo is available in four colors: black, red, light blue and light green. This is a refreshing change from the usual white or black options most companies offer.

A satin-like plastic is used for both the earbuds and the charging case – it's practically the same finish you find on all true non-Apple-made wireless earbuds.

Several seams are visible on the earphone cups. Even so, they have an IP55 rating for dust and water resistance, which is more than enough to cope with the most strenuous training sessions – and far more protection than Apple's AirPods. or Samsung Galaxy Buds.

The earbuds have an asymmetrical oval shape with a discreet skull logo on a rubber membrane outer surface that you press to trigger physical button controls.

An LED on the sides of the earbuds will glow red when they are in the charging case to let you know they are properly seated and charging. You will also be informed when the buds are in pairing mode.

The charging case isn't the largest I've seen, but its wide, box-like shape makes it awkward to plug in. If you have a handbag, backpack, or other bag, at least it will be easy to find.

The hinged lid is easy to open and can be closed tightly thanks to a strong magnet. The charging sockets themselves also have very good magnetic contacts. However, you need to make sure that the red charge indicator is on. Especially when using the larger earplugs, the Sesh Evo does not always fit perfectly without help.

You can find the USB-C charging port on the back, while a small button on the front can briefly trigger the four-LED charge indicator to see how much juice is left in the case.

Overall, the Sesh Evo are well designed and functional true wireless earbuds.

Convenience, control and connections

Skullcandy Sesh EvoSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

I found the Sesh Evo to be average for a set of true wireless in-ear headphones in terms of fit and comfort. If you've used in-ear earphones before and found them to be comfortable to wear for a few hours, the Sesh Evo doesn't present any suitable challenges.

Activating the buttons requires adequate pressure, which is not ideal.

The three sizes of earbuds are below average, and while this will likely give most people the range they need for a good seal, it can feel like the worst place to cut costs for the particularly sensitive or small ear canals. We would like to see at least four earplug options available from each manufacturer in the future.

As with most in-ear designs, some amount of twist is required. You are supposed to sit in your ear with the skull logo upright – if the models on the Skullcandy website indicate it.

For me, the most comfortable position was a slightly sloping angle.

As soon as they were wedged in my ear canal, they sat very securely – I didn't need any additional ear fins or other supports at all.

Using the controls on the earbuds was a little less satisfactory, however. Regular readers of Digital Trends know that I prefer physical buttons over touch-based controls on real wireless earbuds, and the Sesh Evo are physical. It's good. However, they do require adequate pressure to activate, which is not so ideal.

The button mechanism sits under a membrane that protects it from dust and water, but also makes it difficult to press. After some trial and error, I found that the easiest way to use them was to press a finger against the diaphragm and then press a little harder until the mechanism triggered. It is similar to the system where the camera is pressed halfway to focus.

It still has all of the benefits of physical buttons (no accidental triggering and a noticeable click for feedback). However, if you do a lot of these printing operations, you are likely to get sore over time.

On the positive side, the control scheme is very intuitive and covers all important aspects: increase / decrease volume, play / pause, skip tracks forwards / backwards, answer / end a call and access to voice assistants (Siri / Google Assistant).

You can also use the buds to turn the buds on or off regardless of their charging case.

The Sesh Evo use Bluetooth 5.0, which has proven very reliable for both pairing and overall connection quality. You can pair the Buds with multiple devices, but only one device can be paired at a time.

The quick charge function is excellent: 10 minutes of socket time gives back two hours of gaming time.

It is also possible to use the earphones individually. Note, however, that some controls like volume up / down and track skipping forward / back depend on using two earbuds.

Battery life

Skullcandy Sesh EvoSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The battery life of the Sesh Evo is a bit disappointing by today's standards. They have five hours of play time between trips back to the charging case, which is on the lower end of the spectrum. In the meantime, three full charges are carried out in the charging case for a total of 20 hours – some hours less than expected.

The good news is that the quick charge feature is great. 10 minutes of socket time returns two hours of gaming time.

So while you can find plenty of other models that offer longer battery life, the Sesh Evo will still last you a full day unless you use it for more than five hours at a time.

Sound quality

Skullcandy Sesh EvoSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Within its price range, the Sesh Evo offers an acceptable sound performance. They won't blow you away, but they won't let you down either, especially if you're not expecting audiophile quality.

The most important thing is to get a good seal with the earplugs available. Without this, the earbuds sound downright terrible – both hollow and thin.

It's harder than it seems. I found that what initially felt very good wasn't enough when I started playing music. A bit of extra twisting and turning until you find the right angle is likely to be required.

You'll know you've got it right when you hear bass that feels full rather than hollow. Keep trying until you get there.

The overall frequency response is decent – you get the lows, mids, and highs at a sufficient level that it feels like nothing is missing. However, the separation between these frequencies is not as clearly defined as it is with some of the best performers at this price point.

They also lack a bit of liveliness, especially when it comes to the vocals. If your taste is towards hard rock, punk or metal, these genres can overcome this limitation by sheer force alone. But music that requires a skilful touch like jazz, folk, or classical is not going to reach its full potential.

Accessing the Sesh Evo's built-in three-mode EQ (music, movie, podcast) can help liven up the highs – especially in podcast mode – but only at the cost of losing some of the low-end bass .

Are you looking for a training companion or something that makes commuting a little less painful? The Sesh Evo are more than suitable. But for a more loyal music partner, I would check out the $ 79 Earfun Air, which you can usually find for around $ 50.

Tile tracking

Skullcandy Sesh Evo tiles appSkullcandy has started rolling out tile-based object tracking for several of its wireless headphones, including the Crusher Evo and now the Sesh Evo.

While I'm not that convinced that a large number of cans like the Crushers will benefit from this feature, true wireless earbuds like the Sesh Evo are perfect candidates.

Even when stowed in their charging case, they're small enough to get lost between sofa cushions or accidentally sit on a restaurant table. Just trying to remember where you last set them up in your own house could prove to be challenging.

The tile functionality works fine. As soon as you have registered the Sesh Evo with the Tile app – a quick and painless process – you can use the "Search" button on the app to trigger a high-pitched whistle from the earphones, which gets louder the longer it runs.

Better still, as long as the left earbud still has some battery power (it keeps the tile connection), you can trigger the position sound, regardless of whether the earbuds are on or off, are in their charging case or lying around alone.

The tile functionality works fine.

As long as you're not in a particularly noisy environment, you should be able to hear the distinctive whistle from up to 20 feet away – possibly more if the buds aren't in their case.

The tiling feature can't guarantee that your lost earbuds will always come back to you, but it does significantly increase the chances.

Call quality

Call quality on the Sesh Evo is all about what you can expect from a set of inexpensive earbuds. You can certainly use them to make and receive calls, but you need to speak very clearly and perhaps a little louder than you would like to make sure your voice is heard.

Skullcandy Sesh EvoSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

You'll likely speak louder anyway as there is no transparency / ambient mode that lets you route your voice into the earbuds to break the eardrum seal on the silicone tips.

Even then, you regularly drown out nearby noises like traffic – especially heavy traffic or noisy commercial vehicles – making it difficult for your callers to hear you.

Indoor calls are reasonable, but overall, I wouldn't rely on these earbuds for mission critical business calls.

Our opinion

The Sesh Evo offer a good true wireless experience for the price, but their unique and convenient tile tracking feature helps them (literally) stand out from the crowd.

Is there a better alternative?

Skullcandy found a sweet spot in terms of the price of the Sesh Evo – there aren't a lot of true wireless earbuds out there at this exact price, and those close to each other certainly don't have the Sesh Evo's tile chase.

If you like the design of the Sesh Evo and don't mind foregoing tile tracking and battery life, this is the normal one Skullcandy Sesh are now $ 50 or less.

The Earfun Free are also $ 50 or less and offer slightly better sound and wireless charging.

For a much better sound and only a few dollars more, the Earfun Air are an excellent alternative.

How long will they last?

Skullcandy products are generally quite durable and the Sesh Evo looks great. The protection class IP55 and a healthy two-year guarantee from Skullcandy ensure safety in any case.

It's also worth noting that Skullcandy's Fearless Use Promise allows you to purchase replacement earbuds at a discounted price in case you should ever lose or damage one or both.

Should you buy it?

Yes. For $ 60, the Sesh Evo offers a good mix of features and performance.

Editor's recommendations




20 Sep
Blog

Returning to Your Sport From a Break Is Daunting, But Doable

As athletes, we were all excluded from injury and then made it easy for us to get back into our sport. But what if you weren't hurt? What if you took a break and it maybe lasted a couple of years?

As competitive athletes, it is difficult for us to take it easy. Comparing the glory days and your skills plays a role in every workout. The frustration, the pain, the feeling of staring at your eyes when you gasp or run instead of running. All the time you're screaming in your head

"Y.You don't know what i did "or,

"I'm better than I look now." Maybe it's just me, but

"Don't even let me start carrying the weight gain around!"

My dear friend Kathey has a saying (and doesn't quote me): "I'm grateful and lucky enough to be able to do the sport I love" or something close to it.

As someone waiting for a knee replacement and unable to walk, I would love to be this lucky. This upcoming operation was the beginning of the derailment of my triathlon training. Why should I keep training in one sport when I can only participate two-thirds of the time?

It wasn't until a few years later that swim / bike events became increasingly popular and reached even larger events. By this point, I was already out of swimming shape and doing other sports and loving it, which made it easier to move on and not dwell on what was missing in my athletic life.

Return to your sport after a break

You've decided to end your chlorine-free strips of skin and evenly tanned quads, but where in the world do you start? It's such a daunting task. But remember, you can only eat an elephant one bite at a time.

For now, leave the Garmin at home. Yeah, I said it, so get over it. It would be helpful if you did this for a month or two to get back into a rhythm of exercise and get enough recovery time.

Please just go slowly and don't kick your ass because you've let go of everything and have to start over. It's time to release the pressure and enjoy the feeling of movement.

I'd taken a few years to make a million lame excuses that I didn't think would ever happen. I've moved a lot and my new town is full of miles of trails that scream for some cyclocross adventures.

It's hard to find words to describe the feeling of riding a bike again. The best part was the novelty of a different type of ride and the lack of experience and feelings associated with an old bike. It kind of made the low miles I drove seem okay. It gave me forgiveness for not going 60 miles out of the gate.

Time to put the excuses aside, my friend, and get it. We are in it together and I will be your responsibility partner. Take your time, don't rush and be consistent. Now is the time to capitalize on the pandemic and lack of racing to start training. Fall in love with the sport again.

20 Sep
Blog

Tribit StormBox Micro Review: River-Tested, Ears-Approved

Tribit StormBox Micro speaker

"The StormBox Micro is durable, sounds great, and is remarkably affordable."

  • IP67 weather resistance

  • Exceptional Bluetooth range

  • Good sound quality

  • Lightweight, portable design

  • Boring aesthetics

  • Battery could be better

A number of events happened in near perfect sequencing: One weekend, I rediscovered my love of river swimming, a relaxing, socially remote activity that is considered one of the most enjoyable activities on a warm summer Sunday afternoon. The main missing ingredient was good, easy-to-hear music. I had bluetooth speakers but none that I would safely take near the water.

When my editor announced over the next week that I'd be editing the Tribit StormBox Micro portable bluetooth speaker for $ 50, I couldn't wait to get started.

Out of the box

The packaging, like the speaker itself, is quite small. Accordingly, the contents of the packaging are minimal; There is the StormBox Micro, a USB-C charging cable and a quick guide. That's essentially it, and frankly, that's all you really need.

StormBox MicroNick Woodard / Digital Trends

The setup process is almost non-existent. Simply turn on the speaker using the button on the side of the Micro, hold the Bluetooth button next to it for two seconds and the Micro will go into pairing mode. From there, you'll know the exercise: find the speaker in your device's bluetooth settings, connect and enjoy your music.

I put the micro at one end of my back yard and walked as far as my property would allow, and the micro kept pumping out music without interference.

The StormBox Micro is equipped with Bluetooth 5 technology, and Tribit claims it supports a range of 100 feet. While I can't confirm this exact number, I can say the range is impressive. I put the micro at one end of my back yard and walked as far as my property would allow, and the micro kept pumping out music without interference.

design

Stop it if I've said this before, but the StormBox Micro is small. The square speaker is 3.87 "by 3.87" and about 1.4 ". It weighs around 10 ounces, which is harder to understand, heavier than your standard smartphone, but no bulkier than a crowded wallet. In other words, the dimensions of the Micro call for portability.

StormBox MicroNick Woodard / Digital Trends

The aesthetics of the Micro aren't great. In fact, I'd say it's downright boring, with a fluted mesh cover on top and the Tribit logo sitting right in the middle. Even so, I'd also say that aesthetics shouldn't be an issue for most of the people interested in this speaker. You should focus more on its durability, and the Micro feels like it can take a beating. And from my experience it can. I dropped it as I crossed a steep bank on the way to the river, but I was able to retrieve it, dust it off, and keep jamming like nothing had happened.

There are three controls on the top of the speaker: volume up, down and a multifunction button. The volume buttons do exactly what you think, and the multi-function button can pause and skip tracks, activate your smart assistant, or navigate phone calls. Yes, you can answer, decline, and switch between two different phone calls with this $ 50 bluetooth speaker.

The Micro also has a tear-resistant strap that, according to Tribit, can be used to attach the speaker to your bike or backpack. It's a bit small to be universal, but it's flexible and I looped it through a strap on my hiking backpack with no problem. To be clear, I didn't use the micro while hiking. Please don't be the person who blows up Cardi B while hiking.

properties

For most people, this will be the most important part of this review. The fact is, you can buy an unlimited number of bluetooth speakers, many of which will give you pleasantly decent sound for a similar price. However, if you're looking for something that can handle the elements and take on the constant influence of an outdoor lifestyle for hours on end, the options are dramatically limited.

StormBox MicroNick Woodard / Digital Trends

The StormBox Micro has IP67 weather resistance that protects it from dust and immersion in up to a meter of water. To test the limits of this speaker, I took the Micro out on the river with a few friends. It was on a rope at the edge of our raft and kept absorbing water as we paddled away from rocks and sharp sticks. I stopped dropping the Micro underwater because of concerns about both the buoyancy of the speaker and the depth of the river, but it got thoroughly soaked and didn't miss a beat during our swim.

You'll want the USB-C charging cable ready for a multi-day camping trip, but the Micro has just the right amount of juice for a full day of fun.

The Micro also has a claimed eight hours of battery life, which is reasonable for a speaker of this size. The micro provided us with constant music for two consecutive swimming rides and the subsequent barbecue. You'll want the USB-C charging cable ready for a multi-day camping trip, but the Micro has just the right amount of juice for a full day of fun.

Audio quality

I'm not going to tell you that the Micro is capable of things that are physically unlikely for a speaker of its size. If you're looking for a larger than life sound, try the Ultimate Ears Hyperboom. If you're looking for more high-fidelity sound with the same weather resistance, try the Marshall Emberton or even the Sonos Move.

StormBox MicroNick Woodard / Digital Trends

If you're looking for a pocket-sized speaker that plays louder (and clearer) than seems possible for something this small, you've come to the right place. The Micro delivers decent bass, especially for its size, despite not rattling your raft. It sounds pretty clear and doesn't distort at high volumes. Speaking of high volume, this may not be the speaker of choice for a high octane house party. But did we meet some Beastie Boys or Zac Brown Band every time we passed spectators on the bank of the river? You bet we made your bluetooth.

The cutest part of the Micro's sonic capability for me is the ability to pair with another Micro to create a stereo soundstage. This stereo mode – or party mode as Tribit calls it – is activated after you hold down both Bluetooth buttons on your Micro at the same time for five seconds. The result greatly improves the audio mentioned above, doubling the volume and bass capabilities. After all, that's how music should be listened to, and I think such a setup would be far more ideal for a hangout in the back yard or weekend camping by the lake. The only downside is that it will only cost you twice as much.

To my surprise, it's actually pretty decent for phone calls when you need this feature. The mic on the mic isn't great, but I wouldn't expect it anyway. In short, this is not a speakerphone for answering calls, but you can do it effectively when needed. That is more than we can say for the Marshall Emberton.

Our opinion

The StormBox Micro does not sell itself. It appears to know what type of consumer it is intended for and it checks all the boxes required. It's durable, it sounds good, and it's remarkably affordable for what it offers.

Are there any better alternatives?

The $ 100 UE Wonderboom has a better battery life of 10 hours, but worse weather resistance (IPX7). Same goes for the $ 100 JBL Flip 4, which has a 12 hour battery life and an IPX7 rating. Does more battery but less protection justify doubling the cost of the Micro? I would say it all depends on what you are using your bluetooth speaker for. The new river bum in me would choose better resistance to the elements.

How long it will take?

Tribit offers an 18-month replacement guarantee, a 30-day money-back guarantee and lifetime support for the product. In combination with an IP67 weather resistance, the StormBox Micro doesn't seem to fail anytime soon.

Should you buy it?

Yes. There are bluetooth speakers with better sound and improved battery packs, but for a $ 50 package that offers great weather resistance, good sound, and convenient portability, the StormBox Micro is impressive value for money.

Editor's recommendations




19 Sep
Blog

Instant Pod Review: A Simple Way To Start Your Mornings

Instant Pod

Instant Pod coffee and espresso machine

"Nothing is easier, more user-friendly and space-saving than the Instant Pod."

  • Space saving design

  • Bride quick coffee

  • Minimal maintenance

  • Large water tank

  • No way to dispense more water

The small appliance manufacturer Instant Brands, which is known for its exquisite line of instant pots, conquers the market for slow cookers and pressure cookers and branches into the world of coffee preparation. The Instant Pod comes at an irresistible price point of $ 119 and looks extremely enticing as a 2-in-1 system. He can prepare both coffee and espresso in one user-friendly machine. With this combination, other popular brewers are sure to run for their money.

Easy to use

I might not be a coffee snob, but coffee is the first thing I have on my list every morning before I start work. With that in mind, I prefer something that is quick and easy and doesn't need a lot of tidying up afterwards. You know what? The Instant Pod is the kind of machine I need to get started because brewing a cup of joe is so easy and straightforward.

Instant Pod dispenses coffeeJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

Whether you prefer coffee or espresso, it has you covered because it can brew both. When you open the top lid, two compartments become visible, one for coffee over one of your favorite K-cup trays and the other for espresso over the spherical capsules from Nespresso. Whatever you prefer, you slide it in, close the lid, put your mug / mug in the appropriate place, and then choose a drink size. You have three options for coffee: eight, ten or twelve ounces. For espresso fillings, you also have three to choose from: two, four, or six ounces. That's it!

In less than a few minutes, you'll have a fresh cup of coffee or espresso to wake you up – and there's little to do! Sure, a few drops may splash inexplicably, but you can remove the plate from the base and rinse it off quickly. Thanks to its simplicity and ease of use, you can still be half awake and make a cup of coffee with ease.

Great taste

Coffee snobs will argue over what is the best brewing method to get the richest and boldest taste of your coffee, but the K-cup I brewed came out exactly how I like it. There is no harsh or bitter taste. Despite the injection of hot water into the plastic cup, the result is no different from any other Keurigs I've used in the past – and that goes for reusable K-cups with their own grind, too.

Instant Pod Review holds cuoJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

If you prefer espresso drinks, the Instant Pod does the job with almost any of the original Nespresso capsules. It should be noted, however, that it will not accept Vertuo capsules (due to the slightly more elongated shape). The only missing option with the Instant Pod is the ability to manually dispense hot water. If you just want to add a little more water to dilute the drink, there is no option here for that.

The design saves space

Compared to the first Keurig single-cup coffee mug I used, the Instant Pod is space-saving with its slim design, although it is a bit deep in terms of front-to-back measurement. Even so, the all-plastic construction feels solid and includes a pull-out tray for this espresso brew. In addition, used Nespresso capsules are disposed of in a compartment inside the machine so that you do not have to take them out after each infusion.

It's a low maintenance machine that I love.

If you're the kind of person who drinks a cup of coffee every day, the Instant Pot is more than enough to get you through a work week. This is because there is a 68-ounce water tank in the back of the coffee maker that can be removed for quick and easy refills and cleaning. Like I said, it's a low-maintenance machine that I love.

Our opinion

One-cup coffee drinkers will absolutely fall in love with the Instant Pot, even more so if it can brew either coffee or espresso. The price is accordingly $ 119, making it an easy investment that will keep you powered up in the morning.

How long it will take?

While it's mostly made of plastic, there's little to worry about as it will remain stationary wherever you place it. If you are worried about something going wrong, such as For example, the touch-sensitive control panel comes with a one-year limited warranty that covers manufacturing defects.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes, but you won't find the same space-saving design, ease of use, and minimal cleanup that the Instant Pod offers. Other combo machines that can be used to brew coffee and espresso are also expensive, costing easily over $ 200. They are also more traditional breweries, which can be more complicated to operate.

Should you buy it?

Absolutely. You get the best of both worlds without having to spend a fortune.

Editor's recommendations




19 Sep
Blog

Tranya T10 earbuds review: Cheap, But Crystal Clear

tranya t10 earbuds review 5

"Tranya joins the house keepers making surprisingly good earphones at affordable prices."

  • Excellent sound quality, especially in highs

  • Excellent call quality

  • Wireless charging

  • Great battery life

  • Cheap feeling, slippery plastic

  • Bulky design

  • Badly fitting earplugs

Tranya is one of those companies that has virtually no brand awareness but produces a range of affordable audio products. You know, any of those Amazon-based companies that are clearly using pictures with their earbuds that photoshops stuck in models' ears? But can you blame a company for being budget conscious when they make full-featured products for under $ 100?

Not me, especially if you're getting value for money. Do the Tranya T10s deliver?

What's in the box?

Tranya's packaging is simple yet elegant. It's a nice package for budget earphones. The full cardboard box (except for the plastic wrap that seals it) contains an instruction manual, a USB-A to USB-C charging cable, two additional earbuds and the buds themselves, which are in an extruded plastic tub.

This plastic tub is glued to the cardboard so the average consumer won't bother to separate it. Since the plastic is almost certainly not recyclable, this packaging is not particularly sustainable overall.

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tranya t10 earbuds review 2 "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn3.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/tranya-t10-earbuds-review-2-640x640. jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Jaron Schneider / Digital Trends

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The instruction manual that came with the buds is rich in information which was a nice surprise. I've seen quite a few user guides lately that at first glance seem bulky and full of information until you open them only to find that they just contain the same basic warnings and warranty information in 50 languages. This contains both written and pictorial explanations of all functions of the buds and their use. It made commissioning with the T10s quick and easy.

Some drawbacks? The charging cable is weirdly short. At this point, it is likely that there will be a longer cord sitting around the house somewhere. However, if you are forced to use this cable, I am sorry, but it will be uncomfortable. Also, Tranya only includes two extra sizes of ear tips, which is below average (more on this below).

Build quality

Due to the short cord and lack of earplugs, the overall build quality of the Tranya T10 is the weakest point of the earbuds. The case feels light and thin, although it offers solid battery life (more on that later). It and the buds themselves are made of a lightweight, shiny plastic that just feels very cheap.

That's not to say they're cheap or thin, they just feel that way. I'm sure they are just as sturdy as any earbud. They will break if you step on them or throw them against a wall, but in daily use I don't think they're particularly prone to damage.

The buds feel slippery thanks to their shiny plastic. If you take a moment and look at the buds, you will see a line where two pieces of plastic have been molded together. It's such little things that lead to a general feeling of general disapproval with the build.

Appearance and comfort

As mentioned earlier, the inclusion of just two extra earbuds is below average and makes it difficult to find a comfortable fit for the T10. I have particularly small ear canals, so even the small size was too big for me to have a snug yet comfortable fit. Your mileage will vary, but we would have preferred if more sizes were included here.

Jaron Schneider / Digital Trends

Overall, they qualify as “good” in terms of comfort. I've never had the moment where I forgot to wear them – I was always very aware that I had buds – but I managed to overcome the slight discomfort of having earplugs that were a little too big for my ears and just enjoying the music for a couple hours. I'm finally fed up with it, my ear canals are too tired to wear them any longer but you, too, might be different.

The buds are very light, which means that even though they have the Frankenstein monster's neck stud design, they don't feel like they're popping out of my ears. However, I will say that they are not the most attractive buds. They do the job, but the Soundpeats Truengine SE might be a better choice if you're looking for an inexpensive pair of buds that won't attract too much attention.

properties

The Tranya T10 doesn't offer any special features, especially for the price. These include wireless charging, aptX compatibility, IPX7 weather protection and touch controls. The buds can be charged via USB-C, but they are also compatible with wireless charging, a feature we don't see even on buds, which are many times more expensive. The case has four LEDs on the front that indicate the charging status. This is a useful visual representation.

If your phone supports this (sorry iPhone users) the T10s will be compatible with aptX which means it will have higher quality audio streams, especially from sources like Tidal. I'll explain what this means for quality below, but it's great to see this support come in affordable buds like this one.

The Tranya T10 doesn't offer any special features for the price and includes wireless charging, aptX compatibility, IPX7 weather protection and touch controls.

These buds are sealed to the IPX7 specification, which means they have some protection from water but not dust. That's not to say you should let these run under the sink, although a gentle submerge in water no deeper than 1 meter for no more than 30 minutes should be fine. The above instruction manual shows the buds that are used in swimming. I do not recommend this.

Not only are you going to spend a hell of a time holding them in your ear as water rushes past them, since they don't have over-ear hooks or even tiny wings to keep them in place. IPX7 only protects one object from submersion and the pressure of the water flowing against them likely causes them to give way faster than if they just sat in the water.

Jaron Schneider / Digital Trends

The touch controls have what Tranya calls accidental pressure protection, so none of the controls can be activated with a single quick touch. Play / pause is a single tap, skipping songs is a triple tap, and changing the volume is a double tap. If it were up to me I would have swapped the last two and made the volume a triple tap and skipping a double tap. Not very intuitive, but you can learn them easily enough.

Audio quality

I have to say, the Tranya T10s make up for their lackluster build quality, which I can only call great sound quality. These little buds sound amazing when plugged into an aptX compatible device (like an Android phone).

You won't get a chattering bass with these, but it's strong and good enough to please buyers in the under $ 100 market.

If you use the AAC codec that you get with an iPhone, you will get audio quality that is “good enough”. The mids and highs are there, with the vocals sounding particularly crystal clear. The lows are there, but not strong or detailed. In many songs, they can sound hollow and unbalanced, resulting in a slightly less enjoyable rendering of your favorite song. Still good, but you heard better.

My jaw dropped … I was hit by rich, relatively balanced, warm music with a surprising soundstage

However, switch to a device that can take advantage of the Qualcomm chip in those buds and be amazed. They're remarkably balanced for the price. My jaw actually dropped when I switched to my Android phone when I was hit by rich, relatively balanced, warm music with a surprising soundstage. It won't compete with buds like the Jabra Elite 75t or the Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro, but these buds are twice as expensive and cost more than the Tranya T10, and for the money, they beat their weight bracket well.

The acoustic version of Somebody by Dagny demonstrated the excellent voice reproduction of the T10, with the mids and highs beautifully rendered. When the piano comes in, these lows join the party and bring a well-rounded experience. I was shocked how strong the bass line came through in You! from Lany. It had a considerable reverberation and put a big smile on my face. Other tracks with strong lows were equally impressive.

Nonetheless, the more nuanced bass in No Time for Caution by Hans Zimmer is decently projected, but a little muddy than I would like. The T10s struggle when tasked with reproducing details at these lows. Even so, the sound quality produced for $ 70 is strikingly good.

Jaron Schneider / Digital Trends

Battery life

The Tranya T10 are rated for 8 hours per charge, plus three extra charges, and I can confirm this in my tests. Without an app, it's hard to get an accurate picture of how much life is left either in your buds or in your case (even though you have LED indicators on the case), but you should get a lot of life out of it between charges. I certainly had no problem keeping this going all day.

The T10s also support a quick charge function. 10 minutes in that case gives you an hour of playtime. It's not nearly the best, but at least it's there.

Call quality

Tranya markets the T10 with "crystal clear calls" on the box, and I always doubt that claim, especially with earbuds.

I'm surprised again because these buds offer the best voice quality of any personal audio device I've tested at any price. I usually call my mom, who is very sensitive to noise, and let her give me her opinion. She said she could only recommend two other devices that make me sound better: the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live and the Montblanc MB01 headphones. One of these is $ 170 and the other is $ 595. She liked the call quality of the Tranya T10 so much that I had to buy my father a pair.

These buds offer the best voice quality of any personal audio device I've tested at any price

This is as bright for a call quality check as I can imagine, and on my ends the voices sound super clear too. I had no problem having long conversations with these buds and my only wish was to have a passthrough mode so I can hear my own voice a bit better. The noise isolation is pretty good on these – not the best as the Liberty 2 Pro are currently my top pick for noise isolation only, but still good – so it can be annoying to hear the sound of my voice coming out of my head.

When you get over it, you'll love this one for making calls (and the ones you talk to too).

Our opinion

For $ 70, the Tranya T10 earbuds offer great value. They offer exactly what earphones should do – they offer great sound – but they also offer a number of additional bonus features that make them convince. I'm not particularly keen on the build quality, design, or physical customization options, but when you're making buds this cheap you have to cut costs somewhere.

Here's the thing, though: their regular price sets them up against the excellent Soundcore SpiritX buds, and that's where I lean towards the SpiritX. However, we saw the Tranya T10s drop to just $ 37 on Amazon as two active sales work together, making them one of the leading providers of features and sound quality at this price point. If you see these for sale, they are absolutely worth checking out.

Are there any better alternatives?

The Soundcore Spirit X2 are going to be the better buds for workout and sound quality, though at $ 80 they are slightly more expensive if the T10 are offered at full price. For $ 40, the Soundpeats Truengine SE has a better design and good sound quality, but it lacks the wireless charging and calling quality of the Tranya T10. For even less money, the JLab Go Air might not sound too good, but it's better for training and only costs $ 30.

However, if the Tranya are discounted below $ 40 it will be hard to beat what they offer.

How long will they last?

Tranya offers a one-year limited warranty (which can be extended to 15 months if you register the earbuds within two weeks of receipt) and a 30-day money-back guarantee for any reason. While I'm not a huge fan of the build quality, they'll be fine for everyday use for at least a couple of years. However, lithium batteries deteriorate over time. Therefore, expect battery life to decrease with age.

Should you buy it?

Yes, especially when you can snap them up at a discount. The Tranya T10 are worth the full $ 70 thanks to great sound, great call quality, and loads of bonus features. However, when they are almost halfway ready to be picked up, they are a breeze.

Editor's recommendations




19 Sep
Blog

Face Masks 101: Benefits, Types And How Often You Should Use One

There is nothing like a face mask to improve your skin care routine. In addition to being a treat, the right mask can treat key skin problems and conditions, from dryness and dehydration to large pores and acne. Read on to learn how often to use a face mask and choose the right one for your unique complexion.

Advantages of masking

A face mask, like a serum or moisturizer, is a skin conditioner. It delivers highly concentrated active ingredients, vitamins and nutrients to the skin to improve its overall health. The difference: face masks are occlusive – they create a physical barrier that locks in beneficial ingredients and allows them to absorb more efficiently.

Face masks are designed to be used intermittently to give your skin an instant boost. Depending on what your skin needs, there is a mask that can do one (or a combination) of the following:

  • Hydrate and moisturize dry skin
  • Refine large pores
  • Improve the skin structure
  • Absorb excess oil and dirt
  • Clogging clogged pores
  • Minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
  • Increase the elasticity
  • Enhance the appearance of breakouts
  • Lighten dark spots

Types of face masks

With so many options, how do you choose the right face mask for you? Here's What You Need to Know About Each Type.

Eminence Organics Snow Mushroom & Reishi Masque

cream

Think of the texture of a rich moisturizer – this is the best way to describe the feel of a cream-based mask. These face masks work wonderfully at adding moisture and nutrients to the skin and keeping it plump and hydrated. Eminence Organics International educator Brian Goodwin Let's reveal a secret of skin care: “An insider tip is that most of our cream-based masks can be used as a leave-on treatment.” Cream-based masks such as our Snow Mushroom & Reishi Masque or our Bamboo Age Corrective Masque are ideal to replenish and smooth dry, dehydrated, or aging skin overnight.

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Snow Mushroom & Reishi Masque

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Bamboo time corrective mask

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Eminence Organics Citrus & Kale Potent C + E Mask

gel

Gel masks, on the other hand, have the consistency of jam or jelly. With their light texture, they're an excellent choice for normal to oily skin types. Many gel masks contain astringent ingredients like raspberries and blackberries that will minimize the oil and narrow pores. Others are formulated with soothing and moisturizing ingredients like stone harvest and honey that replenish dry and dehydrated skin.

Whichever choice you make, this skin care tip from Brian can help improve your results: apply your favorite gel-based mask (our pick is the Citrus & Kale Potent C + E Masque) before showering to enable active treatment in the shower.

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Potent C + E mask for citrus fruits and kale

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Eminence Organics Acne Advanced Clarifying Masque

Clay

It's not a secret Clay is a miracle worker for acne prone skin. With its absorbent, exfoliating, and astringent properties, clay fights the root causes of acne and treats lingering symptoms such as excess oil and inflammation. Pro tip: did you know that a clay mask can act as a spot treatment? Eminence Organics Lead Skin Care Trainer Natalie Pergar recommends using the Acne Advanced Clarifying Masque for treating bumpy and clogged skin: "It's got a nice and creamy texture and you literally need a little … just hit those little spots and let them dry."

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Acne Advanced Clarifying Masque

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Eminence Organics Rose Hip and Corn Peeling Mask

peeling

Exfoliating masks are designed to remove dead skin cells and improve your skin's natural turnover process. This type of face mask can take the form of a scrub that uses alpha hydroxy or beta hydroxy acids to break up dead skin cells and remove them from the surface of the skin. Or finely ground particles like the corn flour in our rose hip and corn peeling mask are used to gently buff and buff your complexion.

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Rose hip and corn peeling mask

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Eminence Organics Eight Green Phyto Mask (Hot)

Heat

Heat masks contain active spices like paprika and cinnamon that warm the skin. These masks work immediately: they cause a tingling sensation and with some masks the skin can turn bright red. The immediate effects last 20 to 60 minutes before a healthy, rosy glow is visible. Just as increased energy is a benefit of exercise, invigorating your complexion is a great workout for your skin.

Note that these masks are not for everyone: if you have sensitive skin, it is better to choose a cream-based or gel-based mask that will not make your symptoms worse.

In particular, our Eight Greens Phyto Masque – Hot was called Winner of the Allure Best Of Beauty Award 2020, within the Clean Beauty category. With our signature hot paprika and a formulation rich in phytoestrogens and antioxidants, this mask brings your skin back to a youthful glow.

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Eight green phyto-mask – hot

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In addition, our turmeric energy treatment is designed to awaken dull, tired skin. It consists of turmeric, citrine gemstones and zeolite. You simply add water and turn your treatment into a fluffy, energetic mousse.

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Turmeric energizing treatment

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How Often Should You Use a Face Mask?

How Often Should You Use a Face Mask After Learning the Basics? We recommend adding a face mask to your face mask Skin care once or twice a week. Masking should be done after cleansing, toning and applying a facial essence. These steps remove impurities and excess oil, add a base layer of moisture, and prepare your skin to better take advantage of your face mask.

When you're done, follow these tips to properly apply a face mask:

Using a face mask infographic

1. Apply mask evenly

It may be tempting to put on an inch thick layer of product, but more is not necessarily better. A quarter-size amount is enough to get the right results. Natalie recommends applying this amount evenly in a "pantyhose-thin" layer over the entire face. Pro tip: use Facial Massage Techniques To Enhance The Benefits Of This Part Of Your Routine!

Remember that Eminence Organics face masks contain concentrated amounts of beneficial vitamins and nutrients. We recommend adding two to three drops of water to your product and warming it between your hands before massaging it into your face – especially if the product is gel based. This allows for more slippage, easier application and (bonus!) Less product waste.

2. Remember to include your neck and décolleté

This quarter-size amount is just enough to include your neck and décolleté as well. Due to their environmental pollution, these areas take on visible signs of age much earlier than the face – and are easily forgotten in skin care. Pay special attention to these areas by including them in your face mask application.

3. Leave on for 5-10 minutes

Most masks can be left on for 10 to 15 minutes, but the duration can vary from mask to mask. Some face masks work quickly and can be removed after a short time. others can be used overnight to deeply moisturize your skin while you sleep. We always recommend reading the instructions for using your particular product so that you know exactly when to remove it.

4. Carefully remove with a damp cloth

Don't undo the benefits of your face mask by aggressively scrubbing it off. Instead, be sensitive about your complexion. Use lukewarm water to gently remove the mask from your face. When choosing a washcloth, make sure it is clean and has soft fibers that will not irritate your skin.

See this video for a step-by-step guide on how to apply a face mask:

(embed) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXxWN3X0Fsk (/ embed)

How to combine your face masks

Now for the fun part. One of our preferred masking methods is mixologies, which overlay and mix a variety of treatments. Here are some tips and tricks to cocktails your favorite Eminence Organics face masks:

Layering

When overlaying masks, one mask is applied and another is placed directly over it. The trick with this technique is to choose two complementary face masks. Placing face-to-face masks (such as a clay mask over a moisture mask) negates their benefits (the clay mask absorbs all of the moisture from the moisture mask below). Instead, look for products with ingredients that work together to optimize your results.

Eminence Organics rosehip and corn peeling mask and lime stimulating mask

Eminence Organics Product Support Officer Alicia Hawthorne recommends applying the lime-stimulating mask over our rose hip and corn peeling mask: “This combination is ideal for blocked skin! And the rose hip and corn peeling mask contains zinc, which minimizes the intensity of the heat you feel from the lime-stimulating mask. "

Mix

Some face masks complement each other so well that you can mix them together. Simply combine a quarter-size amount of each mask with two to three drops of water and mix them between your hands. For this technique, it is best to choose masks of the same consistency (for example, gel with gel or cream with cream).

Eminence Organics Bamboo Time Correction Mask and Snow Mushroom and Reishi Mask

Alicia and Brian both suggest mixing that up Bamboo Age Corrective Masque and Snow Mushroom & Reishi Mushroom Masque. This mixture is particularly beneficial for ultra-dry skin types as the Bamboo Age Corrective Masque improves the moisturizing properties of the Snow Mushroom & Reishi Mushroom Masque with deeply moisturizing coconut, nutmeg and argan oils. Bonus: You get the additional benefit of our natural retinol alternative.

Multi-masking

With multiple masking, different masks are applied to specific areas of your face at the same time. This way, you can tackle multiple skin problems at once. For example, if you have combination skin, you can choose an oil control mask that soaks up excess oil from your T-zone, along with a moisturizer that deeply hydrates dry cheeks.

Our Balancing Masque Duo is designed for multiple masking. One side of the split vessel contains a Charcoal T-Zone Purifier that removes contaminants, controls oil and refines large pores. The other side includes a grapefruit cheek treatment that replenishes moisture and minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

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Balancing Masque Duo

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One after the other

You can also apply two face masks in a row. Simply apply one mask first, remove it, and then immediately apply the second mask. For this technique, it's best to follow your first mask one that offers additional benefits.

Eminence Organics Eight green phyto mask (hot) and arnica mask for calm skin

Our pick: try a flavorful treat like that Eight green phyto masks – hot, which makes your face appear radiant and tingling, followed by the calming feeling of our arnica mask for calm skin.

The best face mask for your skin type

If you prefer to use one mask at a time, it is important to choose the right face mask for your skin type and skin problems. Here are our suggestions for every skin type to keep your wheels turning:

And for certain skin problems and conditions:

Do you have favorite mask mixologies? We'd love to hear them! Let us know in the comments below and join the conversation on social media.

This post was originally published in September 2019 and has been updated for accuracy and completeness.

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