28 Jul
Blog

Mobvoi TicWatch C2 Plus Review: Powered Up, Ready For 2020

mobvoi ticwatch c2 plus rating wrist front

"A simple but essential performance upgrade makes the TicWatch C2 Plus an affordable, attractive smartwatch."

  • Durable, attractive design

  • Two straps included

  • Swimproof

  • No automatic brightness

  • Outdated processor

Do not worry. They didn't accidentally stumble into a time slot and ended up in 2018. This is really a review of a brand new Mobvoi TicWatch C2 model, although it looks identical to the C2 released more than 18 months ago. It is the TicWatch C2 Plus, and although it looks the same on the outside, there is a significant change inside – a RAM increase to 1 GB.

Is this enough to recommend buying a smartwatch that is otherwise quite old? If we only talk about performance, the answer is a resounding yes. However, we have to go deeper.

design

Place the C2 Plus next to the C2 and they are identical. It has a glass fiber housing and a stainless steel bezel, either made of the onyx shown here, platinum or rose gold.

The onyx and platinum models have a case size of 42.8 mm and a 20 mm bracelet, while the rose gold version comes with a finer, shorter 18 mm bracelet. Otherwise, the dimensions appear to be the same. The 20mm strap is quite short. Adjusted to my 6.5 inch wrist, there were only four holes left on the strap.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

What is welcome is a selection of straps in the box. You can use the quick release pins to put on a leather strap for the evening and a silicone strap to exercise. The silicone version was my preference. It is soft, easy to grip and does not get too hot, although the closure is a bit sharp at the edges. The leather version is deep blue, very stiff and, annoyingly, the watch rarely stayed in the top center of my wrist. With the silicone strap, the TicWatch C2 Plus weighs 58 grams.

Pages 10 and 20 have two buttons on the side of the case. At the top is the app menu button, and at the bottom it is configured to access Mobvoi's TicHealth feature. However, it can be changed to another app that may be more relevant to you. Press the buttons and you will immediately notice a lot of play before it clicks into place. If this is the case, the click will be accompanied by a hollow sound. Don't expect it to feel particularly high quality. The feeling of more expensive smartwatches like the Moto 360 surpasses this.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

I like the design. The 1.3-inch screen is just right, the depth of 12 mm is not intrusive, and the simple two-button look works in both casual and sporty situations, especially if you choose the more stealthy Onyx model. The bezel is angled to make wiping comfortable. This is a good thing because neither of the two buttons can be turned to make navigation easier. While it's tempting to complain that Mobvoi isn't updating the design for the new Plus model, it's certainly the best looking watch the company has made. No change was necessary.

Screen and software

The 1.3-inch AMOLED screen on the front of the C2 Plus is larger than many current smartwatches, including the 1.2-inch Moto 360, but corresponds to Fossil's Gen 5 smartwatch. The resolution is 390 x 390 pixels, which corresponds to the Moto 360. If you look closely, there is a slight difference in text sharpness.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Outside, you need to set the brightness correctly, but be careful when doing this. This shortens battery life. There is also no automatic brightness function that allows you to resume control when you go back inside. I'm ready to forgive the mediocre pixel density of the screens, but the lack of auto brightness is a pain.

Google's WearOS is the same as other similar smartwatches. The aging platform is navigated using swipe and tap. Swipe right to see the helpful Google Assistant screen and swipe up to see all of your notifications. Notifications are collected in a long list and the vast majority have interactive elements, e.g. For example, replying to messages or muting calls. WearOS runs smoothly on the C2 Pro and responds quickly enough so that it doesn't become frustrating.

mobvoi ticwatch c2 plus review revolution face "class =" m-carousel - picture dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn2.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/ticwatch-c2-plus-revolution-face- 640x640 .jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAATicWatch C2 Plus Revolution dial Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

mobvoi ticwatch c2 plus review gentleman face "class =" m-carousel - picture dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn3.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/ticwatch-c2-plus-gentleman-face- 640x640 .jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAATicWatch C2 Plus Gentleman dial Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

mobvoi ticwatch c2 plus review classic black face "class =" m carousel - picture dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn4.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/ticwatch-c2-plus-classic-black - face-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAAABATicWatch C2 Plus Classic face Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

mobvoi ticwatch c2 plus review assistant "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn5.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/ticwatch-c2-plus-assistant-640x640.jpg "srcset = "https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Google Assistant on the TicWatch C2 Plus Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

WearOS is still experiencing some speed issues and setting up takes too long. However, it is reliable in everyday use and can be used on the C2 Plus. I still find notification notifications annoying because the watch keeps delivering them until I clear the list. I've used the watch that is connected to various Android phones, and while WearOS works with iOS, you'll miss out on various features, including full message support.

Fitness tracking

Mobvoi installs some of its own fitness apps – TicHealth, TicExercise and TicPulse – that replicate the features provided by Google Fit. The watch prompts you to use TicHealth, agree to lengthy terms of use, allow location and data access, and install an app on your phone. There, the TicHealth app collects fitness data from your watch and delivers ads for other Mobvoi products.

Google Fit on the TicWatch C2 Plus Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

TicHealth tracks your exercises and includes defined plans for walking, running, training and swimming. Oddly enough, the watch asks if you want to follow the swim, and if you answer yes, it adds a shortcut called Pool Swim to the app menu that leads directly to the TicExercise app. TicPulse corresponds to Google's fit heart rate. It measures your heart rate, stores the data and can be set up so that measured values ​​are automatically recorded during the day. The watch has an IP68 water resistance, so it can be immersed up to 1 meter and more.

I have found no reason to use TicHealth through Google Fit. You don't have to, but to switch, you have to close multiple notifications before the message is received. The heart rate sensor largely agrees with the results of my Apple Watch, although I've found that it can drastically overestimate a start before it calms down a few minutes after a workout.

Overall, the C2 Plus is a good fitness tracking smartwatch due to its silicone wristband, less elegant design and good fitness functions.

Battery and power

Yes, increasing RAM to 1 GB makes a big difference to the performance of the C2 Plus. It handles animated watch faces better and is easier to switch between screens and apps. Google Maps is fast and the watch is generally a more pleasant and user-friendly companion.

Although the C2 Plus has more RAM, the old Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor is still used, and this neglects many of the advantages of the Snapdragon Wear 3100. This includes a longer battery life.

Calls cannot be taken on the C2 Plus and there is no speaker for the Google Assistant. Fortunately, the C2 Plus has NFC and supports Google Pay.

TicWatch C2 Plus with the silicone strap Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The battery has a capacity of 400 mAh and in typical daily use (approx. 8 a.m. to midnight), in which a single workout is recorded, it ends with approx. 30% remaining time. This means that you are unlikely to make it through a full second day even if you turn off the watch overnight. The charging process takes approximately one hour and 15 minutes.

Price and availability

The Mobvoi TicWatch C2 Plus costs $ 210 or £ 190 and can be purchased directly from Mobvoi. It is now available.

Our opinion

The Mobvoi TicWatch C2 Plus shows that the company did most things right with the C2 the first time. Therefore, only a small update was required to make it desirable in 2020. I like the attractive but understated design, the solid fitness tracking references and that doesn't cost a fortune.

Is there a better alternative?

Let's start with the big one. If you have an iPhone, buy an Apple Watch as this is the best smart watch available. The software, build quality, features and performance are far better than any WearOS smartwatch. It costs more than $ 400, but it's worth it, and you are welcome to buy a cheaper Series 4 Apple Watch without feeling like you are losing a lot against the latest Series 5 model.

The price of the TicWatch C2 Plus is very cheap. You'll have to spend $ 299 to get the Moto 360 or Fossil Gen 5 smartwatch, though both have the newer Snapdragon 3100 platform and are technically superior to the C2 Plus. We recommend the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 for $ 280 as a great alternative to a WearOS smartwatch because the software is better.

How long it will take?

The TicWatch C2 Plus is made of glass fiber and stainless steel, so it should prove to be robust enough for everyday use. It also has IP68 protection and can be used when swimming. The design has already proven to be permanent as Mobvoi has not changed it from the original and it will look fresh for a few more years.

Even with 1 GB of RAM, the presence of the Snapdragon 2100 processor makes the TicWatch C2 Plus "old" in that it has been technically replaced. This can affect the watch's ability to run future versions of WearOS, and it certainly prevents you from getting the latest features from the newer Snapdragon 3100 processor.

It's not the end of the world, especially at this price, but something to keep in mind if your purchase decision doesn't depend on value.

Should you buy it

Yes. Forget that it doesn't contain the latest processor technology. The TicWatch C2 Plus offers everything you could want from a smartwatch at a good price.

Editor's recommendations




27 Jul
Blog

5 Kettlebell Exercises That Don’t Swing

Kettlebells are basically giant metal balls with a handle. They go back to Eastern Europe, the word girya (kettlebell) actually occurs in a Russian disciple around 1704 (1). In fact, the popularity of kettlebells in the West is largely attributed to Russian emigrant Valery Fedorenko, a world champion in kettlebell sport (Girevoy Sport), and Pavel Tsatsouline, a former sports training instructor and master of the sport of Soviet specialists, the Hardstyle Russian Kettlebell Certification ( RKC) and now heads StrongFirst.

The extent of kettlebell's popularity is more of a 21st century phenomenon, thanks in part to the popularity of its use in CrossFit and the many cases that it is used by online trainers on social media, but it still remains a niche activity. This may be due to the technical difficulty of performing kettlebell movements correctly, in particular the mastery of the 6 kettlebell basics: swinging, swinging in, cleaning, getting up Turkish, snapping and pressing.

So let's focus on 5 kettlebell exercises that should be fairly easy to master, can be quite challenging, and are great moves in your exercise toolkit. In some places, carpets, kettlebells and flat screens are among the great shopping spree of the pandemic. We may continue to see an increase in demand for kettlebell that will survive the pandemic as more and more people choose to exercise alone and at home.

Kettlebell halo

Kettlebell deadlifts

Clean and press the kettlebell

Kettlebell Biceps Triceps Extension

Kettlebell sumo deadlift

References

1. Meigh, N.J., Keogh, J.W.L., Schram, B. & Hing, W.A. (2019). Kettlebell training in clinical practice: a scoping review. BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation, 11 (1), 19.

27 Jul
Blog

Wyze Cam Outdoor Review: A Security Camera For Your Vacation

Wyze Cam Outdoor featured image

"No other outdoor camera can keep up with the versatility of the Wyze Cam Outdoor."

  • Solid construction

  • Excellent battery life

  • Local memory

  • Affordable price

  • Works offline

  • App has some quirks

  • Inconsistent video quality

  • Weak speaker

Wyze has certainly been busy since the Wyze Cam v2 was released in 2018, redefining the entry-level surveillance camera segment. It was an absolute home run, partly because of its incredibly low cost and rich features. After the company established itself, ambitious plans eventually led to other fertile smart home devices – most recently Wyze Lock and Wyze Scale.

In a further step to diversify the portfolio within the smart home, the Wyze Cam Outdoor wants to achieve the same success outside the home as a surveillance camera for the outside area. In fact, it has many of the same features as previous Wyze cameras, so you can expect tons of features at a low cost. They say that wisdom comes with age. I will find out here if this is the case.

Same identity, but more versatile

What made the original Wyze Cam unforgettable was its cube-shaped design, which the Wyze Cam Outdoor really follows – even though it is bigger and has a lot more power. This is to be expected as it has to withstand the rigors of nature. Put it next to its indoor sibling, and it's obvious that the Wyze Cam Outdoor is stronger.

Wyze Cam outdoor profile viewJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

Although it is made entirely of plastic, it is solidly built and robust. Thanks to the plastic base, which is attached to the camera via magnets, there is a little articulation. Fortunately, it's not easy to take apart, and although it sits enthroned along an edge or window, it comes with the necessary mounting screws to attach it to walls or ceilings. Due to its protection class IP65, it can be operated in a temperature range from minus 4 to 120 degrees Celsius – it is also waterproof.

It is solidly built and robust.

Overall, it retains the same design identity that Wyze is known for, and as an outdoor surveillance camera, it's a refreshing shot. Honestly, it's an unusual design among outdoor cameras, but it's worth noting that it's not just an outdoor camera. It is something that you can use in the house or even while traveling and on vacation. This versatility comes in handy when you change your mind about the location of your camera or when your needs change.

App hiccups

For this test, I had to use a beta version of the Wyze app for Android and iOS. This is important to note as I hope that some of the app experience issues will be fixed later with future software updates.

The setup process includes not only the camera, but also the base station, which can only be connected to a router via a wired Ethernet connection. Since my Xfinity router has two additional Ethernet ports, it would be helpful if the Wyze Cam Outdoor could connect directly to my Wi-Fi network. Instead, the base station is needed – mainly to reduce the congestion of my home's WiFi network.

In addition, it is better to manage connectivity if you want to add more cameras later. There is a microSD slot in the base station that enables local storage. This is an incentive that goes beyond the usual cloud storage option.

The app has a simple layout. However, it would often get stuck when connecting to the live stream view. So I just restart the app to fix the problem. As a surveillance camera, this is fairly easy because there is no distinction between what is detected and there are no custom detection zones that can be used to reduce notifications. There are options for creating timelapse clips as well as scheduled recordings.

The more fascinating part of the Wyze Cam Outdoor is the travel mode, with which you can effectively record videos offline. No internet connection is required, but a microSD card inserted in the camera is required to save clips. However, the limitation is that it did not automatically detect motion and did not automatically record clips. So don't expect to drop them anywhere in the forest and pray that Sasquatch will catch them walking by. I can record clips in three ways: manually via the app, schedule a recording, or schedule a time-lapse.

Wyze announces that it can record video when the PIR motion sensor is triggered, but Wyze is still working on this feature and promises that it will be available for the official app version. It is a fascinating function because it opens up a world of possibilities, e.g. For example, to keep an eye on your belongings on vacation, to keep them in your brand new car, to see who is roaming the neighborhood, or even for hunters who want to monitor their traps.

Areas of opportunity

The Wyze Cam Outdoor records videos with a resolution of 1080p and a frame rate of 20 frames per second, which drops to 10 fps for night videos. This is choppy and the low frame rate is clearly visible when watching clips. Choppy performance isn't the most disruptive part of Wyze Cam Outdoor's performance – it's the consistency of its quality.

With a 1 / 2.7-inch sensor and a lens with a 1: 2.5 aperture, the technical data of the camera are by no means up to date. It is strange that the quality can vary widely. Sometimes it looks sharp, but sometimes artifact elements and pixelation become glaring problems. The corners also tend to show this distinctive fish-eye look, which makes things appear more stretched than what they actually appear. Night vision looks surprisingly good and covers a range of up to 25 feet. In my case, it could see some deer crossing the path of the camera at night.

The other blatant part of the Wyze Cam Outdoor is that it is largely hampered by a narrow 110-degree field of view. This is much narrower than some of its established contemporaries – like the 160-degree field of view with the Arlo Pro 3. For an outdoor camera, I would prefer to have a wider field of view to cover as much space as possible outside. Finally, the internal speaker enables bidirectional communication, but it's too weak, crisp, and difficult to see.

Surprisingly good longevity

When packing two 2,600 mAh batteries, I was impressed with how well it lasts. During the first five days that it was used exclusively as a surveillance camera, the battery dropped to 95%. This is a comforting level considering that it is rated for more than three to six months of normal use, which Wyze classifies as 10 to 20 event videos a day.

Wyze Cam Outdoor in handJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

However, I have found that the battery drains faster in travel mode. It could be because it is sending its own Wi-Fi network for local access, but it just seemed to be using up the battery faster.

Our opinion

Very few outdoor surveillance cameras fly below $ 100. When the Wyze Cam Outdoor reaches $ 50 for the outdoor starter bundle, it's a serious statement to her competitors. Expanding the system is also easy, as additional cameras cost $ 40 each.

It may not be perfect and there are a few bugs that need to be fixed, but its versatility makes it hard to miss – it goes beyond a mere outdoor camera. It is an indoor and outdoor security camera and something to take with you on your trips.

How long it will take?

The all-plastic construction is surprisingly good and robust, so I am confident that it will withstand the outdoors. A one-year limited warranty to cover defects is provided.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes and no. If you look for other cameras, you will find that nobody else can touch the price. In addition, there is rarely an outdoor camera that can work offline independently.

The leading providers continue to include Arlo Pro 3 and Google Nest Cam IQ Outdoor, both of which offer a wider field of view, exceptional video quality and advanced detection capabilities. On the other hand, they are not cheap!

Should you buy it

Yes. There is room for improvement, but a low price and excellent versatility make the Wyze Cam Outdoor a solid choice.

Editor's recommendations




27 Jul
Blog

OnePlus Nord Review: Some Good Old-Fashioned Value

oneplus nord valuation shirt

"The OnePlus Nord has the right features and technologies to make the phone durable at a value-based price."

  • Acceptable price

  • Future-proof with 5G

  • Good battery life

  • Reliable, easy-to-use software

  • Camera needs to be improved

  • Some connectivity errors

OnePlus has always been incredibly valuable, but it got lost last year when prices for its most sought-after devices went up. Today's OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro are solid phones, but the price is equivalent to that of the competition.

The latest version of the company, OnePlus Nord, seems to be a return to the company's roots. It is a strong midrange phone that looks attractive and offers some high-end features. That's the value we want to see, but does it make the North a worthy purchase?

design

It's good that there is a large OnePlus logo on the back of the North, as the phone has a design similar to several other smartphones, from the Huawei P30 Pro to the Xiaomi Mi 9.

In other words, the north is not immediately recognizable. It's a proven look, but far from unique. The Gray Onyx version in the attached photos is reserved but attractive, while the Emerald Blue model is a real eye-catcher.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Gorilla Glass covers both the front and back with a plastic frame between the two. However, it doesn't look or feel like plastic, and its use adds to its light weight of 184 grams. You shouldn't worry about the plastic frame feeling cheap, but the phone's metal keys lack the OnePlus 8's positive premium promotion of metal and glass.

OnePlus has a brand notification slider that allows you to quickly change the mode from silent to ringing or vibrating. The edited texture makes it easy to use. All buttons are well positioned, provided you are using the phone with your right hand. The phone's 73mm width and 8.2mm thickness make it easy to grip and hold. It's about the size of a Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The phone doesn't have a "wow, that's a OnePlus Nord" design, but the ergonomics are just right and it looks and feels like phones that cost a lot more. Only when you pick up the Nord and a phone like the Galaxy S20 or OnePlus 8 do the differences become clear – mainly in terms of the additional weight and the feeling that a metal case is carved out of slate.

Screen and audio

Gorilla Glass 5 includes a 6.44-inch fluid AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 90 Hz, a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels and a screen with an aspect ratio of 20: 9 and HRD10 + support. This is an excellent screen for a phone at this price. It is a flat screen that appeals to as many people as it bothers, but is less likely to slip out of the hand. Some will find it better for games too.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Regarding Carfection's McLaren 600LT Spider test video on YouTube, the north screen has trouble viewing details in some of the darker areas, but has a nice color palette by default for the vivid screen. If you want to deal with the settings, you can activate the sRGB and Display P3 options, although the differences are minimal.

The sound is reproduced through a single speaker facing downwards. It's loud without being distorted, and although the bass is obviously missing, it's well tuned and never gets hard. There is no 3.5mm headphone jack, but like other OnePlus phones, the Nord supports both AptX and AptX HD. Assuming you have compatible headphones, you can hear high-definition audio via the Bluetooth connection from Nord.

Bluetooth music played via Spotify with a Bowers & Wilkins PX headphone offers a lot of volume and depth. The entire multimedia experience of the north is excellent considering the price.

camera

The main camera is a Sony IMX586 with 48 megapixels and an aperture of 1: 1.75 as well as optical and electronic image stabilization. Next to it are an ultra-wide camera with 8 megapixels, a depth sensor with 5 megapixels and a macro sensor with 2 megapixels. This is what you'll find in the OnePlus 8. On the front is a selfie camera with two lenses, which consists of a 32-megapixel main sensor and an 8-megapixel wide-angle sensor.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Although the camera is similar to the OnePlus 8, it's not that good. It often underexposes pictures and cannot use HDR as effectively, which leads to loss of detail in difficult lighting conditions when both the wide-angle and standard lenses are used. The macro lens is of poor quality and rarely focuses well, which makes it largely unusable. Nightscape doesn't do it much better and often leads to noise or creates a monotonous photo.

I had to edit almost all of the photos I took with the North before I pass them on because they just didn't "burst" as I wanted them to. Overcast sky became oppressive and unnatural, and photos on sunny days had no dynamic range. However, I like the new filters by photographer Hannes Becker.

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Selfies in portrait mode have a strong, rather unnatural bokeh effect with only average edge detection. This problem still occurs when using portrait mode on the rear camera.

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OnePlus has shown significant improvements with the OnePlus 8 Pro camera, but has taken a step back with the Nord camera. It's not terrible at all, but it's not as good as I expected. There are better cameras on other phones, even at this price.

Performance and software

The Snapdragon 765G processor from Qualcomm with 8 GB / 128 GB or 12 GB / 256 GB RAM and storage space is located in OnePlus Nord. I checked the 12 GB version. It also offers 5G support if you live in an area where the service is available. Here are some benchmark test results:

3DMark Sling Shot Extreme: 2,985 (volcano)

Geekbench 5: 1,900 multi-core / 603 single core

It is the same chip as in the LG Velvet and Motorola Moto Edge. The North beats both in the game-oriented 3DMark test, but is largely similar in Geekbench 5. The performance is good. When switching between apps or from full-screen video to normal state, there is a slight hesitation, but not to the point where the phone feels slow. It is probably software related too and will be fixed in a future update. However, this makes me wonder if the 8GB / 128GB model might feel a little underwhelmed.

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While playing Real Racing 3, Sky Wings, and Dariusburst, no performance issues were found as you would expect from the game-oriented G version of the Snapdragon 765, and the phone didn't get hot even after long sessions. Onboard is the OnePlus Fnatic game mode, which minimizes distractions and optimizes the processor.

OnePlus & # 39; OxygenOS is one of the best Android versions available. It is fast, smooth and not filled with senseless functions or stylistic flourishes. It does the job it was made for and I have had no reliability issues.

I still like Zen mode, which gives you a 20-minute break by muting calls and notifications, and restricting app access. The Google News and Assistant popup window is helpful, there are some nice animated wallpapers, the gesture control works fine and it looks and feels silky smooth. OnePlus says it worked on the fluidity of OxygenOS and it shows.

Battery, connectivity and security

The 4,415mAh battery lasts approximately two days before needing to be charged, based on approximately three hours of daily screen time when primarily connected to Wi-Fi.

Behind the scenes of the north, an interesting technology works that helps protect the battery life by charging it intelligently and gradually over night. It will charge approximately 80% and then wait until you normally get up to add the final charge. This avoids problems keeping the battery fully charged for an extended period of time, which can reduce long-term capacity.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

It comes with Warp Charge 30T, OnePlus' proprietary quick charger. It is wired only in the north and goes from zero to 70% in 30 minutes and then goes back to full in just over an hour. The phone is secured with a built-in fingerprint sensor that works very reliably. The speed was so high that I was happy to use it without having to resort to unlocking it.

I had some Wi-Fi problems with my OnePlus Nord. I noticed that the connection sometimes got stuck and did not switch to cellular. The problem was only solved by switching the WLAN on and off. The range also seems to be shorter than with many other cell phones. I have reported the problem to OnePlus and am sending bug reports when the problem occurs, which fortunately is rarely the case. Calls were fine. I don't have a 5G near me, so I couldn't test performance.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

A few days before the verification embargo expired, OnePlus provided the North with a software update to help resolve Wi-Fi connectivity issues and improve the camera. I will update this review if anything changes.

Price, guarantee and availability

The OnePlus Nord costs £ 379, which translates to around $ 480 when you buy the 8GB / 128GB model. The 12GB / 256GB version I've tested here costs £ 469 or about $ 593. The North is not officially available in the United States. It will be available in the OnePlus online store on August 4, in addition to the John Lewis retail stores, Amazon and the Three network.

OnePlus does not intend to sell the US North outside of a promised but very limited beta program, but says it will manufacture a US-focused phone at reasonable prices in the future.

Our opinion

OnePlus has increased the value of the North in an old-fashioned way, increased the life of the phone and focused on the essentials in everyday life instead of eye-catching gadgets. You get reliable software, a great screen, long battery life, fast charging, 5G and software updates for several years.

These are core features that cheap phones often shun in favor of sensational camera specs that can disappoint in the real world, and a fancy design. These aren't good reasons to buy a phone at this price, but the OnePlus Nord offers just the right value.

Is there a better alternative?

The space for smartphones under $ 500 or less than £ 500 is pretty full. The $ 400 Google Pixel 3a hasn't been replaced yet, but it's still a good buy if you find one, or you can buy the cute Apple iPhone SE 2020 for $ 400. It's cute because it's small, but the build and materials are superior to the Nords, and iOS is superbly designed and easy to use. It's also worth checking out the $ 500 Poco F2 Pro or the $ 400 Samsung Galaxy A51.

These phones are highly competitive, so it is difficult to generally recommend them to any buyer. The North is the best choice if you value performance and display quality and are not particularly interested in photography.

You pay a little more for the $ 600 LG Velvet and the $ 500 Moto Edge, but both are good phones with more attractive designs and better cameras. If you can expand the budget a bit, consider the OnePlus 8 for $ 700, which has a more classy design and better camera, or the iPhone 11 for $ 700 with its great software, camera, and performance .

How long it will take?

While the OnePlus 8 Pro has received an IP rating, you should not expect an IP rating in the north. The phone is not waterproof, but can be used in the rain. The body is made of glass and can break if you drop it. It is therefore best to use a suitcase. OnePlus offers a range of sleeves for the North, some with the signature sandpaper surface for extra grip.

OnePlus promises two years of Android updates and three years of security updates. This is an excellent engagement that increases the long-term prospects of the north, especially with 5G on board. Combine this with battery saving technology, and the North lasts for several years, and that's great for such a cheap phone.

Should you buy one?

Yes. The Nord is a budget phone that you can buy without worrying that it will need to be replaced next year.

Editor's recommendations




27 Jul
Blog

Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream Review

Hello to New Age skin care, while brands and beauty gurus are constantly supporting creams that change your skin online, it has become the most difficult task to find a cream that suits your face. With over 9000 reviews on the Sephora website, Drunk Elephant Protini wins the award for the most-rated moisturizer for the Sephora app. Is this product worth your money?

Let's find out …

I'm usually not a fan of strong moisturizers since most of them are oily and are not suitable for acne-prone skin types like mine. Last year I had enough of an aggressive peel hoping to regain a natural glow and the result was excessively dry skin. At that moment I decided to change my skin care and get products that would help me to balance my skin and make it look healthy again.

The first thing that impressed me was the packaging that helps control the portion, and it's also very hygienic to apply with such a wise applicator.

Here's the deal with this polypeptide moisturizer: it's a moisturizer where the star is the peptide complex that supports the skin's natural self-renewal process. The formula contains pygmy water lily stem cell extract, which acts as an excellent source of antioxidants. The formula also contains soybean folic acid ferment extract, which helps maintain youthful, elastic skin. You should use this in the morning and evening with your other skin care products.

Let’s talk about peptide,

When it comes to improving the skin, the only solution is to get peptides from skin care products. However, it is important to consider the formulation of the product: the stability of its ingredients and its ability to penetrate the skin barrier. Finding the right product type can also go a long way. For example, choose products that are not easy to wash off the skin, such as: B. a moisturizer.

The polypeptide moisturizer for drunken elephant protini is one of the first choice when it comes to a product with polypeptide. In my experience, the skin feels hydrated all day. What sets it apart from other moisturizers is its brand new protein technology, which helps make the skin stronger.

More good news:

When I use this product regularly, I also notice that my acne spots and pores are less pronounced and the dryness in my skin has disappeared. Basically, this stuff helps with all my complexion problems.

This week I spoke to the mirror in my bathroom. “Sephora reviewers are right !!! "I mean, there are so many things in life to be happy about, but finding a skin moisturizer that finally delivers is definitely the top three.

Questions and answers :

Q. Does it improve skin texture?
I personally noticed that it smoothed my skin texture.

Question: How well does this penetrate the skin?
It feels heavy when you apply it to your skin, but it does so in the end.

Q. Does it feel greasy?
Nah.

Q. Will it cause irritation?
Every skin is different, but I never had any irritation after using it.

Question: Does this balance the skin tone?
In any case, I noticed more uniformity in my skin tone.

My skin

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26 Jul
Blog

MSI GS66 Stealth Review: Thin and Light Gaming Laptop

msi gs66 stealth review 05

"The MSI GS66 Stealth offers excellent gaming performance and a slim profile at an affordable price."

  • Great gaming performance

  • Ultra-fast refresh rate of 300 Hz

  • Good keyboard and touchpad

  • Pleasant surface temperatures

  • The screen is a little dark

  • Questionable build quality

The Razer Blade has always had a serious competitor. It's not Alienware, Predator, or ROG. These brands all make great gaming laptops themselves, but none that want to do exactly what the Blade does.

Razer's most direct rival comes from a smaller company (at least here in the United States). I'm talking about the MSI GS66 Stealth. It has a similar size, almost identical specifications, and most importantly, the same minimalist design principles. There are no protruding angles or stereotypical clichés here.

MSI has further developed its approach to overcoming the Razer Blade, and its latest model, the GS66 Stealth, appears to meet all the criteria. Did it hit the Razer Blade in its own game?

design

MSI GS66 stealth review

There is a fine line between simple and boring. Brands like Razer or Apple can spice up their look with a little elegance. The MSI GS66 Stealth tries to do the same subtle trick. It avoids the bombastic style of other gaming laptops, but isn't quite as sophisticated as laptops like the Razer Blade. Even some ROG Zephyrus laptops look more uniform.

It is not a bad looking laptop. It's just a little bit boring.

MSI even took the design back from last year's GS65 Stealth and removed the golden highlights that played the racing stripe theme. Outside the RGB keyboard, it is now colorless and corresponds to the black aluminum standard housing. Unfortunately, there are still vents on the sides and top of the keyboard deck, stickers on the palm rests, and large hinges. It is not a bad looking laptop. It's just a little bit boring.

Fortunately, MSI has fixed some build quality issues. Earlier models were equally thin and light, but felt flexible and cheap. It's no longer a flexible piece of plastic, although the lid still feels a bit shaky. Even when closed, the lid of my device can close flat due to its curvature.

For a laptop that's only 4.6 pounds and 0.71 inches thick, that's important. It's still not as well built as the similarly sized Razer Blade that remains the king in this department.

Keyboard and touchpad

MSI GS66 stealth review

The keyboard and touchpad fit this topic. It is a large, comfortable keyboard with a set of springy keys that are suitable for both typing and playing.

However, there are quirks in the keyboard layout. The function key is only on the right side, probably in close proximity to the full-size arrow keys, which also serve as controls for volume and screen brightness. Oddly enough, however, it's only half the size of a normal key. This is a bad decision for a commonly used key.

I was really surprised by the quality of the touchpad.

The keyboard has RGB backlighting, which is required for gaming laptops these days. You can customize the keys, resulting in fun designs that are all provided by Steelseries. However, the backlight is not as bright and even as with the Razer Blade.

The touchpad is wider than in previous models. In contrast to the larger MSI GS75 Stealth, this does not disturb your palms when typing. However, due to the large vents above the keyboard, it is shorter than I know it. The good news is that the touchpad is well tracked and the click mechanism is quiet and precise. The quality surprised me.

The MSI GS66 Stealth contains a 720p webcam above the display and an IR camera for Windows Hello face recognition.

Ports

MSI GS66 stealth review

The MSI GS66 Stealth offers numerous options for port connections. On the left side you get USB-A, HDMI, Thunderbolt 3 and a power connector.

On the right side, the GS66 Stealth offers two additional USB-A ports, an additional USB-C port, an Ethernet socket and a headphone socket. That's all you need to connect multiple accessories, output to an external monitor, and even hard-wire your internet connection.

The lack of a full-size SD card slot is a failure for creatives who may want to use this laptop as a photo or video editing device. The slot has made a comeback on the new Razer Blade and Dell XPS 15. With the MSI GS66 Stealth you have to use a dongle.

The positioning of these ports is a bit annoying. Due to the side ventilation slots, the openings were pressed down towards the palm rests. As it turns out, your mouse is usually right there.

The MSI GS66 Stealth supports the latest Wi-Fi 6 connectivity via Intel and Bluetooth 5.1

Gaming performance

MSI GS66 stealth review

Like the Predator Triton 500 or the Razer Blade, the MSI GS66 Stealth not only has an Nvidia RTX 2080 Super Max-Q graphics card, but also a screen with a refresh rate of 300 Hz. The combination of the two means a strong GPU Performance and a screen that never limits the number of visible frames per second. The MSI model also offers screens with refresh rates of 240 Hz or 144 Hz when combined with slower GPUs like the RTX 2070 Super or the RTX 2060.

However, my decorated test device was a top performer. Take Battlefield V for example. The MSI GS66 Stealth processes the game at 97 frames per second (FPS) with settings at Ultra and 133 frames per second at medium. It's neck and neck with the Razer Blade here, surpassing it by 11 fps even in the medium settings.

The GS66 Stealth plays Fortnite wonderfully smoothly and makes optimal use of its 300 Hz screen.

The Razer Blade, Predator Triton 500 and MSI GS66 Stealth were also in a dead heat in Assassin's Creed Odyssey. The MSI GS66 Stealth played at 56 fps, just a few frames behind its two competitors.

The GS66 Stealth plays blows again and plays Fortnite wonderfully smoothly, making better use of its 300 Hz screen. It reached a whopping 121 fps with Epic settings, again 11 fps ahead of the Razer Blade.

And in case you are wondering, there are some titles that can actually take advantage of the extra headroom for the frame rate that the 300 Hz screen offers. The Rocket League, for example, can easily play up to 250 fps.

All of these games were played with the system's native 1080p resolution, although you will likely get adequate frame rates even when connected to an external 1440p gaming monitor.

Performance in content creation

As with the Razer Blade, many people will be tempted to use the MSI GS66 Stealth not just for gaming – thanks to its portability and its nondescript design.

MSI offers processor options up to the Intel Core i9-10980HK, but my device came with the Core i7-10875H. This is the first choice for high-end gaming laptops with eight cores and 16 threads. This also makes it a strong laptop for content creation, especially in applications that can use the powerful discrete GPU.

MSI GS66 stealth review

The GS66 Stealth scores better than the Razer Blade in Geekbench 5, but they're equally good at real-life professors. For CPU-bound applications like Handbrake it binds the Razer Blade and loses to the Dell XPS 15. Of course laptops like the Dell G5 SE with AMD Ryzen 4000 or Dell XPS 17 blow it out of the water.

A better example is the popular video editing application Adobe Premiere Pro. The MSI GS66 Stealth rendered a 4K two-minute clip for ProRes 422 in just seven minutes and 20 seconds. This is almost the same performance as the Razer Blade. Thanks to their more powerful GPUs, both laptops beat the Dell XPS 15 by around 16%. However, none of them is comparable to the powerful Dell XPS 17.

MSI pumps up all RTX Super models with 32 GB RAM and at least 512 GB SSD. You can also choose a downgraded 16 GB RAM, RTX 2060 and a 6-core Core i7-10750H.

The system does a solid job and keeps the surface temperatures cool even when playing. That's a problem I had with the Razer Blade, which stays warm even when surfing the web lightly. The cooling is better regulated here, which leads to more pleasant surface temperatures. The disadvantages are of course the additional ventilation slots and the fan noise. The fans always turn even when idle.

display

MSI GS66 stealth review

The matte 1080p screen is great for gaming thanks to its response time of 3 milliseconds and refresh rate of 300 Hz. Playing is fast and smooth.

It can only be serviced for other activities. The screen is initially a maximum of 262 nits. That's 15% less than the Razer Blade and below the 300-nit level that I expect from premium laptops. The matte finish helps mitigate reflections, but I would have preferred a brighter screen here.

Fortunately, it's a well-calibrated screen with accurate colors. The color gamut is not as large as many creatives would like it to be, but it corresponds to the 1080p Razer Blade in this regard. MSI offers a 4K panel, which can be more attractive for non-gaming tasks.

The speakers are disappointing. They are pointing up, although MSI has decided to put them on the palm rest again, which remains a strange choice. In any case, they are confused and have no bass.

Battery life

MSI GS66 stealth review

The MSI GS66 Stealth is step by step in several areas, but not ahead of many of its competitors. An exception to this rule is the battery life, where it is preferred. However, I don't think it can compete with non-gaming laptops.

It still only manages about five and 40 minutes on a single charge – and with little stress when surfing the Internet. You can't work away from the wall for too long without worrying about battery life. The Dell XPS 15 lasts a few hours longer in the same test despite its 4K display on a single charge.

Nevertheless, the MSI GS66 Stealth lasts 40 minutes longer than the Razer Blade and hours longer than G-Sync laptops like the Predator Triton 500th hour size.

The Razer Blade beat the MSI in our lightest battery test, in which a local video clip is repeated until the laptop dies. The blade lasted seven hours and 22 minutes, an hour longer than the MSI GS66 Stealth.

However, the battery life of gaming laptops is increasing, and this is the new crop of AMD Ryzen 4000 gaming laptops. The GPU is not as powerful, but the ROG Zephyrus G14 is only a few centimeters behind the MSI GS66 Stealth when surfing the Internet and has taken a whopping 10 hours in video looping.

Our opinion

The MSI GS66 Stealth faces a tough battle. The sophistication of the Razer Blade is lacking, and it's not as affordable as the Acer Predator Triton 500. However, its benefits don't go unnoticed. The cooling is impressive and the gaming performance is fantastic.

It's not twice as good as the Razer Blade for work, but as an ultra-portable gaming laptop, the MSI GS66 Stealth is an argument in itself.

Are there alternatives?

The Razer Blade offers excellent build quality, a better display and a classier look. However, it is a few hundred dollars more expensive.

The Predator Triton 500 isn't as elegant as the MSI GS66 Stealth, but it's a little cheaper and even has a G-Sync screen.

If you're considering the cheaper Nvidia RTX 2060 version of the MSI GS66 Stealth, the ROG Zephyrus G14 is a great alternative.

How long it will take?

The MSI GS66 Stealth should last four to five years as long as you take care of it. The build quality can be somewhat sensitive in places. So be careful with the lid.

MSI provides a standard one-year warranty on all laptops.

Should you buy it

Yes. If the Razer Blade is a bit too expensive and you still want an elegant gaming laptop, the MSI GS66 Stealth is a good option.

Editor's recommendations




25 Jul
Blog

The 12-Week Workout Designed to Amplify Fat Loss

If you want to improve muscle definition and accelerate your way to washboard abdominal musclesThen use this fat-loss-specific, three-phase, muscle-preserving training system. Everyone is wondering what to do after the COVID lockout.

Tom MacCormick has put together a great article that describes how you can make profits again. This inspired me to put together this special piece for the guys out there who just want to drop this unwanted COVID-19 fat gain.

Now that more and more gyms are reopening, many guys want to get back in shape quickly.

This simple, effective methodology increases energy consumption session by session and leaves you in a sweat pool – You can expect to be done in less than 45 minutesprovided you do proper physical preparation before starting.

The goal is to increase energy consumption over timeand that starts with the efficiency of mobilizing and using energy via the mitochondria. It shows that increasing muscle / strength endurance quality shows the more positive effects by increasing mitochondrial density. 1

The more mitochondria we have in our cells, the faster we can lose fat and improve muscle development. People who participate in this type of training increase the total content of GLUT-4 transporters in the trained muscle. This means that there is an increased maximum capacity for glucose transport in the trained muscle. 2

This increase in mitochondria is the reason why phase 1 should prepare you for the successive training phases.

During each phase, the intensity and density increase in each primary exercise and phase.

the main goal

The goal of any fat loss-specific programming is to increase the amount of work (density) that is done in each successive training phase.

This is a great workout that is used in most phases of my new client's initial fat loss. From the start, my clients' programs have been designed to increase energy delivery by manipulating multiple variables to complement the efficiency of energy production and fat mobilization.

In every fat loss program, we need to address three key components:

  1. Increase the intensity and quality of lifting.
  2. Increase the training volume in every training phase.
  3. Increase the density of training for each successive phase.

Phase 1 – weeks 1-4

The lower / upper superset

Phase 1 – How it works

By switching between a lower and an upper body movement, we can do more work while one muscle is resting and another is working. This constant shift of the muscles:

  • Pays more attention to the body
  • Increases energy consumption
  • Equivalent to burning more calories

Exercises like deadlifts, bench presses, squats can be useful, but are not necessary. As we know, there will be an improvement in the first 2-3 weeks of a new training program from a neuromuscular adjustment point of view before substantial muscle growth can occur

It is therefore important to choose movement patterns that you can use to make progressScore them from the first phase so that you can make even greater progress in the successive phases.

If you don't feel well, don't squat. If you're not comfortable with deadlifts, don't lift. It's easy; You want a result. Do not do things that could prevent you from achieving this result.

Phase 1 – directions

Carry out each training (A&B) twice a week. Exercise series A and B follow the Superset format, while the C series contains three exercises that act as finishers. You complete the required number of sets for the A series before moving on to the B series and then the C series of exercises.

There is also a smaller rest period between each superset. This is simply the time it should take to prepare for the next exercise in the sequence. Stay true to the rest times and get your work done.

Phase 1 – training plan, weeks 1-4

  • Monday – Training A.
  • Tuesday – Training B.
  • Wednesday – Active recovery
  • Thursday – Training A.
  • Friday – Training B.
  • weekend – Active recovery / rest

Phase 1 – Training A.

Complete each series of letters in a superset (one at a time). Once you have completed the second exercise, start your rest period.

The 12-week training to increase fat loss - training, weight lifting, fitness, training, weight loss, fat loss, squats, deadlifts, abdominal muscles, bench press

Phase 1 – Training B.

Complete each series of letters in a superset (one at a time). Once you have completed the second exercise, start your rest period.

Courtesy of The Physique Coach

Phase 2 – weeks 5-8

The lower / upper superset step loading method

Phase 2 – How it works

After the same suit as phase 1, phase 2 changes with a slight adjustment between a movement of the lower body and the upper body. The adjustment shifts the intensity of the weight that is raised during the primary exercises, as well as an increase in workload.

The step loading method is simple; With each set, you decrease the number of repetitions and increase the weight (intensity) to call these high-threshold motor units. While it is important to lift hard, the goal is not to lift as hard as possible or to come very close to failure on the first set of exercises.

As the groups of eight advance, look at how shortly before the failure you use a 2-RIR approach for these sets. This just means that you are using a weight that allows you to do the reps of 8 but still have two reps in the tank.

The exercises in this phase continue with the same exercise style as in the previous phase, with some angles or types of equipment used being slightly different.

Phase 2 – directions

Carry out each training (A, B, C) in sequence. Double each week and keep spinning as you will see below. Exercise series A and B follow the Superset format, while the C series contains three exercises that act as finishers. You will complete the A series before proceeding with the B series and then with the C series.

There is also a smaller rest period between each superset. This is simply the time it should take to prepare for the next exercise in the sequence. Stay true to the rest times and get your work done.

The step-load method is therefore used in the A-series Make sure you join in and increase the intensity after hiring.

Phase 2 – training plan, weeks 5-8

Week 5

  • Monday – Training A.
  • Tuesday – Training B.
  • Wednesdayy – Active recovery
  • Thursday – Training C.
  • Friday – Training A.
  • weekend – Active recovery / rest

Week 6

  • Monday – Training B.
  • Tuesday – Training C.
  • Wednesday – Active recovery
  • Thursday – Training A.
  • Friday – Training B.
  • weekend – Active recovery / rest

Week 7

  • Monday – Training C.
  • Tuesday – Training A.
  • Wednesday – Active recovery
  • Thursday – Training B.
  • Friday – Training C.
  • weekend – Active recovery / rest

Week 8

  • Monday – Training A.
  • Tuesday – Training B.
  • Wednesday – Active recovery
  • Thursday – Training C.
  • Friday – Training A.
  • weekend – Active recovery / rest

Phase 2 – Training A.

Complete each series of letters in a superset (one at a time). Once you have completed the second exercise, start your rest period. The goal is to improve the recruitment of high threshold motor units week by week by increasing the intensity of the weight used.

Courtesy of The Physique Coach

Phase 2 – Training B.

Complete each series of letters in a superset (one at a time). Once you have completed the second exercise, start your rest period. The goal is to improve the recruitment of high threshold motor units week by week by increasing the intensity of the weight used.

Courtesy of The Physique Coach

Phase 2 – Training C.

Complete each series of letters in a superset (one at a time). Once you have completed the second exercise, start your rest period. The goal is to improve the recruitment of high threshold motor units week by week by increasing the intensity of the weight used.

Courtesy of The Physique Coach

Phase 3 – weeks 9-12

6-12-25 Body Comp method

Phase 3 – How it works

Three exercises are used for each muscle group, which are divided as a tri-set into the following format:

  1. Rib cage and back
  2. legs
  3. Shoulder and arms

The goal of this phase is to use it at the peak of our fat loss efforts and increase the density of each session, accumulate a ton of lactic acid and cell swelling.

This does not mean that you only chase the pump each time you exercise. It is important to adjust the number of repetitions to the weight being lifted to maintain an intensity level, especially during the first exercise with six repetitions.

Pay attention to the pace used in each exercise as this also determines the training response we are looking for:

  • Maintain the intensity.
  • Keep up the pace.
  • Keep the tension up.
  • Don't leave anything in the tank.

Tip:: Try not to reduce the working weight used in this phase. If you feel tired on some days, just use the rest technique for five seconds and do the required number of repetitions to finish the set.

The great thing about this phase is that you can follow the standard rotation of the workouts and then choose the second session of your choice.

  • Do you want to work on your chest and back or do you want to improve those delts and arms?
  • The goal is to complete all three workouts and add the 4th workout of your choice.

I'll outline the three different scenarios in which the focus can be different.

Phase 3 – training plan, weeks 9-12

Week 9

  • Monday – Chest, back
  • Tuesday – Legs
  • Wednesday – Active recovery
  • Thursday – Chest, back
  • Friday – shoulders, arms
  • weekend – Active recovery / rest

Week 10

  • Monday – Legs
  • Tuesday – Chest, back
  • Wednesday – Active recovery
  • Thursday – Legs
  • Friday – shoulders, arms
  • weekend – Active recovery / rest

Week 11

  • Monday – Chest, back
  • Tuesday – shoulders, arms
  • Wednesday – Active recovery
  • Thursday – Legs
  • Friday – shoulders, arms
  • weekend – Active recovery / rest

Week 12

  • Monday – Chest, back
  • Tuesday – Legs
  • Wednesday – Active recovery
  • Thursday – Chest, back
  • Friday – shoulders, arms
  • weekend – Active recovery / rest

Phase 3 – chest and back

Courtesy of The Physique Coach

Phase 3 – legs

Courtesy of The Physique Coach

Phase 3 – shoulders and arms

Courtesy of The Physique Coach

Strategic nutrition

We all know that no matter what exercise method you use, the bottom line is how you organized your food intake. While it's mostly about the training system itself, there is a special diet periodization that works incredibly well with this approach.

For those who want a little more information on how nutrition can affect your physique and performance, I also gave some in-depth background information on exercise nutrition in this article.

Otherwise, just follow the guidelines below.

Phase 1 – nutritional goals, weeks 1-4

In phase 1, you want to take a low-carb approach. These first four weeks are intended to help improve insulin sensitivity, glucose transport and mitochondrial density.

Although there are several ways to classify a low-mod carbohydrate approach, I'll keep it simple and base it on a percentage of total food intake.

  • protein – 35%
  • carbohydrates – 20%
  • Fats – 45%

For example, an 80 kg man with a TDEE of 2,200 kcal would be hired as follows:

  • protein – 0.35 x 2,200 = 770 kcal divided by 4 = 192 g
  • carbohydrates – 0.2 x 2,200 = 440 kcal divided by 4 = 110 g
  • Fats – 0.45 x 2,200 = 990 kcal divided by 9 = 110 g

Phase 2 – Nutrition Goals, Week 5-8

Phase 2 will be a decrease in fats and an increase in carbohydrates to further improve insulin sensitivity and glucose transport by appropriating the increase around our workout. This also serves to condition the absorption of glucose and amino into the muscle cells while increasing performance.

  • protein – 35%
  • carbohydrates – 30%
  • Fats – 35%

Let us assume that after 2,200 kcal of food from the 80 kg man he removed 200 kcal for phase 2:

  • protein – 0.35 x 2,000 = 700 divided by 4 = 175 g
  • carbohydrates – 0.35 x 2,000 = 700 divided by 4 = 175 g
  • Fats – 0.30 x 2,000 = 600 divided by 9 = 67 g

Over the past four weeks, we'll be following the same trend as in phase two, with a reduction in fats but a percentage increase in both protein and carbohydrates.

Phase 3 – Nutrition Goals, Week 9-12

If he continues with the 80 kg man and assumes that he will drop another 200 kcal, his nutritional goals would be the third phase:

  1. protein – 0.4 x 1,800 = 720 divided by 4 = 180 g
  2. carbohydrates – 0.4 x 1,800 = 720 divided by 4 = 180 g
  3. Fats – 0.2 x 1.800 = 360 divided by 9 = 40 g

This last phase culminates in the scope and density of the planned training sessions. Due to the high volume, the Timing of carbohydrates around your workout will be crucial. The insulin sensitivity, the glucose transport and the distribution of the nutrients have been prepared for this, so you can expect some crazy pumps.

References::

  1. Tanaka, H., Swensen, T. "Influence of strength training on endurance performance." Sport Med. 25, 191-200 (1998).

  2. Tiidus, Peter M & Houston, Michael E., 1941-2008. (Author.) & Tupling, A. Russell, 1970- (Author.) "Biochemistry Primer for Exercise Science (4th edition)." Human Kinetics, Champaign, Ill, 2012.

  3. Toshio Moritani et al. "Neuromuscular adjustments in the acquisition of muscle strength, strength and motor tasks." Journal of Biomechanics, V. 26, Supplement 1, 1993, p. 95-107.

24 Jul
Blog

Eve Cam Review: Marred By Performance Issues

Eve Cam in the kitchen

"Keep going. You can find much better HomeKit-enabled cameras."

  • Easy setup

  • Low price (for a homekit camera)

  • Bad capture frame rate

  • Disappointing video quality

  • Weak speaker

  • Favorable construction

HomeKit is slowly putting together a decent range of home security cameras for Apple's smart home ecosystem. With iOS 14 offering new features, the future looks promising.

We checked the Logitech Circle View not too long ago and now we have another HomeKit offer – the Eve Cam. There are some similarities between the two of what can be expected from cameras that support HomeKit, but it saves a bit of the price.

Simplified setup

I can't stress the simplicity of setting up a surveillance camera for HomeKit enough, but the Eve Cam is once again proof. It is not technically necessary to download an app, although it can be installed using the Eve app for iOS, which ultimately only opens the home app. From here, simply scan the QR code on the Eve Cam with an iPhone XS – and that's it. Easy enough? You bet! The advantage of HomeKit is that I wasn't forced to register a new account or set up passwords as everything is managed through my iCloud account.

However, I had the annoying problem that I was initially unable to connect to the Eve Cam after moving it to another room. I tried several times to manually reset the camera, but my iPhone XS simply couldn't recognize it.

After several more attempts, it somehow recognized it, but the same problem reappeared when I tried to move it again. After repeating it several times, it miraculously connected, after which I noticed a firmware update notification.

Fortunately, this may have resolved my reconnection problems since the Eve Cam has since been able to reconnect when I unplug it.

Flattering design

Although the price is slightly lower than that of the equally competent Logitech Circle View, the Eve Cam has an unflattering design. For starters, the all-plastic design makes it feel brittle and cheap. It lacks the essential feel of Logitech Circle View, which has a metal base and a matte exterior.

The Eve Cam has a somewhat flattering design.

Indoor placement is critical due to the 150 degree field of view. It's average if you compare it to some of its contemporaries, but it follows the 180-degree field of view that you get with Logitech Circle View. It is best to place it in corners for the best possible coverage.

As soon as it falls onto a surface, the sticky coat under its base ensures that it stays in place. If you want to attach it to a wall or ceiling, it comes with the required bracket and a 7.2 foot power cord. The base is also magnetic, providing additional flexibility in choosing the facility.

Below average performance

The Eve Cam records videos with a resolution of 1080p and 24 frames per second. While the resolution is expected from a camera in this range, the frame rate is very disappointing as 30 FPS seems to be the norm. As a result, the footage does not look smooth. You can still spot a scene, but with a competition of at least 30 frames per second, the lackluster frame rate of the Eve Cam is a noticeable disadvantage.

The video quality isn't worth writing at home either, mainly due to the poor dynamic range, subdued colors and soft details. This is a more serious problem than the frame rate.

If there is a lot of contrasting light in the frame, the highlights are often blown out to achieve a more neutral exposure in the rest of the shot. It's usually not that difficult to spot faces, but finer details often appear soft. You will find it difficult to see fine details in clothing, and objects in the distance can be very difficult to identify.

Eve cam close-upJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

Night vision does most of the job. Visibility is an average of about 20 feet indoors. That should be more than enough for most average-sized houses, but again, the performance of the Eve Cam is disappointing – mostly due to the soft graphics that make it difficult to see details.

Finally, the internal speaker can be used for bidirectional navigation, but it won't scare intruders. It is crisp, weak and difficult to recognize voices in it. You are more likely to confuse thieves than to scare them.

Data protection at its core thanks to HomeKit

As a HomeKit-enabled surveillance camera, all concerns regarding data protection are eliminated. In fact, all cameras supported by HomeKit offer the same data protection functions. This includes encrypted videos stored in iCloud, LEDs on the camera that show the status of the Eve Cam, the ability to electronically disable the camera based on my iPhone's GPS location, and more.

Our opinion

The Eve Cam has all the basic ingredients to make it a decent HomeKit-enabled surveillance camera. However, the disappointing picture quality, the low video frame rate and the mediocre design make them well behind the rest of the package.

How long it will take?

The all-plastic construction makes it light but brittle. It may not hold as well as other cameras. It comes with a 1-year limited warranty that covers defects, though this is standard in the industry.

Is there a better alternative?

The Logitech Circle View is a solid HomeKit-enabled camera that offers the same features, but has significantly better performance and a more stable design. The best thing is that picking it up on the Eve Cam doesn't cost you much more.

Do you have a limited budget? In this case, the Eufy Indoor Cam 2K Pan & Tilt is the ultimate indoor camera, as it is available at an affordable price of $ 50 and offers 360 degrees of view with its pan-and-tilt function.

Should you buy it

No, just no.

Editor's recommendations




24 Jul
Blog

The 12-Week Workout Designed to Amplify Fat Loss

If you want to improve muscle definition and accelerate your way to washboard abdominal musclesThen use this fat-loss-specific, three-phase, muscle-preserving training system. Everyone is wondering what to do after the COVID lockout.

Tom MacCormick has put together a great article that describes how you can make profits again. This inspired me to put together this special piece for the guys out there who just want to drop this unwanted COVID-19 fat gain.

Now that more and more gyms are reopening, many guys want to get back in shape quickly.

This simple, effective methodology increases energy consumption session by session and leaves you in a sweat pool – You can expect to be done in less than 45 minutesprovided you do proper physical preparation before starting.

The goal is to increase energy consumption over timeand that starts with the efficiency of mobilizing and using energy via the mitochondria. It shows that increasing muscle / strength endurance quality shows the more positive effects by increasing mitochondrial density. 1

The more mitochondria we have in our cells, the faster we can lose fat and improve muscle development. People who participate in this type of training increase the total content of GLUT-4 transporters in the trained muscle. This means that there is an increased maximum capacity for glucose transport in the trained muscle. 2

This increase in mitochondria is the reason why phase 1 should prepare you for the successive training phases.

During each phase, the intensity and density increase in each primary exercise and phase.

the main goal

The goal of any fat loss-specific programming is to increase the amount of work (density) that is done in each successive training phase.

This is a great workout that is used in most phases of my new client's initial fat loss. From the start, my clients' programs have been designed to increase energy delivery by manipulating multiple variables to complement the efficiency of energy production and fat mobilization.

In every fat loss program, we need to address three key components:

  1. Increase the intensity and quality of lifting.
  2. Increase the training volume in every training phase.
  3. Increase the density of training for each successive phase.

Phase 1 – weeks 1-4

The lower / upper superset

Phase 1 – How it works

By switching between a lower and an upper body movement, we can do more work while one muscle is resting and another is working. This constant shift of the muscles:

  • Pays more attention to the body
  • Increases energy consumption
  • Equivalent to burning more calories

Exercises like deadlifts, bench presses, squats can be useful, but are not necessary. As we know, there will be an improvement in the first 2-3 weeks of a new training program from a neuromuscular adjustment point of view before substantial muscle growth can occur

It is therefore important to choose movement patterns that you can use to make progressScore them from the first phase so that you can make even greater progress in the successive phases.

If you don't feel well, don't squat. If you're not comfortable with deadlifts, don't lift. It's easy; You want a result. Do not do things that could prevent you from achieving this result.

Phase 1 – directions

Carry out each training (A&B) twice a week. Exercise series A and B follow the Superset format, while the C series contains three exercises that act as finishers. You complete the required number of sets for the A series before moving on to the B series and then the C series of exercises.

There is also a smaller rest period between each superset. This is simply the time it should take to prepare for the next exercise in the sequence. Stay true to the rest times and get your work done.

Phase 1 – training plan, weeks 1-4

  • Monday – Training A.
  • Tuesday – Training B.
  • Wednesday – Active recovery
  • Thursday – Training A.
  • Friday – Training B.
  • weekend – Active recovery / rest

Phase 1 – Training A.

Complete each series of letters in a superset (one at a time). Once you have completed the second exercise, start your rest period.

The 12-week training to increase fat loss - training, weight lifting, fitness, training, weight loss, fat loss, squats, deadlifts, abdominal muscles, bench press

Phase 1 – Training B.

Complete each series of letters in a superset (one at a time). Once you have completed the second exercise, start your rest period.

Courtesy of The Physique Coach

Phase 2 – weeks 5-8

The lower / upper superset step loading method

Phase 2 – How it works

After the same suit as phase 1, phase 2 changes with a slight adjustment between a movement of the lower body and the upper body. The adjustment shifts the intensity of the weight that is raised during the primary exercises, as well as an increase in workload.

The step loading method is simple; With each set, you decrease the number of repetitions and increase the weight (intensity) to call these high-threshold motor units. While it is important to lift hard, the goal is not to lift as hard as possible or to come very close to failure on the first set of exercises.

As the groups of eight advance, look at how shortly before the failure you use a 2-RIR approach for these sets. This just means that you are using a weight that allows you to do the reps of 8 but still have two reps in the tank.

The exercises in this phase continue with the same exercise style as in the previous phase, with some angles or types of equipment used being slightly different.

Phase 2 – directions

Carry out each training (A, B, C) in sequence. Double each week and keep spinning as you will see below. Exercise series A and B follow the Superset format, while the C series contains three exercises that act as finishers. You will complete the A series before proceeding with the B series and then with the C series.

There is also a smaller rest period between each superset. This is simply the time it should take to prepare for the next exercise in the sequence. Stay true to the rest times and get your work done.

The step-load method is therefore used in the A-series Make sure you join in and increase the intensity after hiring.

Phase 2 – training plan, weeks 5-8

Week 5

  • Monday – Training A.
  • Tuesday – Training B.
  • Wednesdayy – Active recovery
  • Thursday – Training C.
  • Friday – Training A.
  • weekend – Active recovery / rest

Week 6

  • Monday – Training B.
  • Tuesday – Training C.
  • Wednesday – Active recovery
  • Thursday – Training A.
  • Friday – Training B.
  • weekend – Active recovery / rest

Week 7

  • Monday – Training C.
  • Tuesday – Training A.
  • Wednesday – Active recovery
  • Thursday – Training B.
  • Friday – Training C.
  • weekend – Active recovery / rest

Week 8

  • Monday – Training A.
  • Tuesday – Training B.
  • Wednesday – Active recovery
  • Thursday – Training C.
  • Friday – Training A.
  • weekend – Active recovery / rest

Phase 2 – Training A.

Complete each series of letters in a superset (one at a time). Once you have completed the second exercise, start your rest period. The goal is to improve the recruitment of high threshold motor units week by week by increasing the intensity of the weight used.

Courtesy of The Physique Coach

Phase 2 – Training B.

Complete each series of letters in a superset (one at a time). Once you have completed the second exercise, start your rest period. The goal is to improve the recruitment of high threshold motor units week by week by increasing the intensity of the weight used.

Courtesy of The Physique Coach

Phase 2 – Training C.

Complete each series of letters in a superset (one at a time). Once you have completed the second exercise, start your rest period. The goal is to improve the recruitment of high threshold motor units week by week by increasing the intensity of the weight used.

Courtesy of The Physique Coach

Phase 3 – weeks 9-12

6-12-25 Body Comp method

Phase 3 – How it works

Three exercises are used for each muscle group, which are divided as a tri-set into the following format:

  1. Rib cage and back
  2. legs
  3. Shoulder and arms

The goal of this phase is to use it at the peak of our fat loss efforts and increase the density of each session, accumulate a ton of lactic acid and cell swelling.

This does not mean that you only chase the pump each time you exercise. It is important to adjust the number of repetitions to the weight being lifted to maintain an intensity level, especially during the first exercise with six repetitions.

Pay attention to the pace used in each exercise as this also determines the training response we are looking for:

  • Maintain the intensity.
  • Keep up the pace.
  • Keep the tension up.
  • Don't leave anything in the tank.

Tip:: Try not to reduce the working weight used in this phase. If you feel tired on some days, just use the rest technique for five seconds and do the required number of repetitions to finish the set.

The great thing about this phase is that you can follow the standard rotation of the workouts and then choose the second session of your choice.

  • Do you want to work on your chest and back or do you want to improve those delts and arms?
  • The goal is to complete all three workouts and add the 4th workout of your choice.

I'll outline the three different scenarios in which the focus can be different.

Phase 3 – training plan, weeks 9-12

Week 9

  • Monday – Chest, back
  • Tuesday – Legs
  • Wednesday – Active recovery
  • Thursday – Chest, back
  • Friday – shoulders, arms
  • weekend – Active recovery / rest

Week 10

  • Monday – Legs
  • Tuesday – Chest, back
  • Wednesday – Active recovery
  • Thursday – Legs
  • Friday – shoulders, arms
  • weekend – Active recovery / rest

Week 11

  • Monday – Chest, back
  • Tuesday – shoulders, arms
  • Wednesday – Active recovery
  • Thursday – Legs
  • Friday – shoulders, arms
  • weekend – Active recovery / rest

Week 12

  • Monday – Chest, back
  • Tuesday – Legs
  • Wednesday – Active recovery
  • Thursday – Chest, back
  • Friday – shoulders, arms
  • weekend – Active recovery / rest

Phase 3 – chest and back

Courtesy of The Physique Coach

Phase 3 – legs

Courtesy of The Physique Coach

Phase 3 – shoulders and arms

Courtesy of The Physique Coach

Strategic nutrition

We all know that no matter what exercise method you use, the bottom line is how you organized your food intake. While it's mostly about the training system itself, there is a special diet periodization that works incredibly well with this approach.

For those who want a little more information on how nutrition can affect your physique and performance, I also gave some in-depth background information on exercise nutrition in this article.

Otherwise, just follow the guidelines below.

Phase 1 – nutritional goals, weeks 1-4

In phase 1, you want to take a low-carb approach. These first four weeks are intended to help improve insulin sensitivity, glucose transport and mitochondrial density.

Although there are several ways to classify a low-mod carbohydrate approach, I'll keep it simple and base it on a percentage of total food intake.

  • protein – 35%
  • carbohydrates – 20%
  • Fats – 45%

For example, an 80 kg man with a TDEE of 2,200 kcal would be hired as follows:

  • protein – 0.35 x 2,200 = 770 kcal divided by 4 = 192 g
  • carbohydrates – 0.2 x 2,200 = 440 kcal divided by 4 = 110 g
  • Fats – 0.45 x 2,200 = 990 kcal divided by 9 = 110 g

Phase 2 – Nutrition Goals, Week 5-8

Phase 2 will be a decrease in fats and an increase in carbohydrates to further improve insulin sensitivity and glucose transport by appropriating the increase around our workout. This also serves to condition the absorption of glucose and amino into the muscle cells while increasing performance.

  • protein – 35%
  • carbohydrates – 30%
  • Fats – 35%

Let us assume that after 2,200 kcal of food from the 80 kg man he removed 200 kcal for phase 2:

  • protein – 0.35 x 2,000 = 700 divided by 4 = 175 g
  • carbohydrates – 0.35 x 2,000 = 700 divided by 4 = 175 g
  • Fats – 0.30 x 2,000 = 600 divided by 9 = 67 g

Over the past four weeks, we'll be following the same trend as in phase two, with a reduction in fats but a percentage increase in both protein and carbohydrates.

Phase 3 – Nutrition Goals, Week 9-12

If he continues with the 80 kg man and assumes that he will drop another 200 kcal, his nutritional goals would be the third phase:

  1. protein – 0.4 x 1,800 = 720 divided by 4 = 180 g
  2. carbohydrates – 0.4 x 1,800 = 720 divided by 4 = 180 g
  3. Fats – 0.2 x 1.800 = 360 divided by 9 = 40 g

This last phase culminates in the scope and density of the planned training sessions. Due to the high volume, the Timing of carbohydrates around your workout will be crucial. The insulin sensitivity, the glucose transport and the distribution of the nutrients have been prepared for this, so you can expect some crazy pumps.

References::

  1. Tanaka, H., Swensen, T. "Influence of strength training on endurance performance." Sport Med. 25, 191-200 (1998).

  2. Tiidus, Peter M & Houston, Michael E., 1941-2008. (Author.) & Tupling, A. Russell, 1970- (Author.) "Biochemistry Primer for Exercise Science (4th edition)." Human Kinetics, Champaign, Ill, 2012.

  3. Toshio Moritani et al. "Neuromuscular adjustments in the acquisition of muscle strength, strength and motor tasks." Journal of Biomechanics, V. 26, Supplement 1, 1993, p. 95-107.

24 Jul
Blog

RHA TrueConnect 2 Review: Comfortable, With A Big Battery

RHA TrueConnect 2

"The RHA TrueConnect 2 offers excellent battery life for comfortable radio buds."

  • IP55 weather resistance

  • 9.5 hours of playback

  • Comfortable design

  • Good sound quality

  • Limited codec support

  • The call quality needs to be improved

It is not easy to be RHA TrueConnect 2. Not only are you expected to outperform your own ancestor in the outstanding first generation TrueConnect, you must now achieve an impact in a class of real wireless earbuds that has become exponentially more competitive almost overnight.

Objectively speaking, RHA has improved its original earbuds with its new TrueConnect 2 for $ 150 by doubling the battery life of the buds and increasing water resistance. But are these unique real wireless champions so advanced that they can maintain their status in a packed field of great earphones? That is the question of the hour for RHA.

Out of the box

Especially with real wireless earbuds, it is standard to keep the packaging simple. True to this tradition, there are no surprises with the TrueConnect 2. The packaging contains the earphones and their charging case, a USB-C charging cable and several pairs of stainless steel earplugs.

RHA TrueConnect 2 caseNick Woodard / Digital Trends

With TrueConnect 2, no app can be downloaded. So you just have to get a mobile device with Bluetooth functionality up and running. These buds have a Bluetooth 5 connection. After over a week with these buds, I still didn't have a single connection problem. If you're looking for buds that work just like Apple's AirPods, these are the ones for you.

design

There's not much to say about the design of the TrueConnect 2 here, which hasn't been said about the first generation RHA buds yet. Both pairs are almost identical in design, probably because there was nothing broken on the original blueprint that was to be repaired.

RHA TrueConnect 2 caseNick Woodard / Digital Trends

Back in these second-generation TrueConnects is the golf tee structure popular with AirPods, as well as the same matte black finish that the originals were clad with (there is also a dark blue option). We said it in the first review and it is just too good not to repeat it. These are Darth Vader's AirPods, although I suspect that he already had all of the noise cancellation required in this helmet.

They're slightly heavier than the AirPods (6 grams compared to Apple's 4), and the case weighs an impressive 79 grams compared to the smaller 40-gram AirPods case. However, the TrueConnect 2 is as well built and unique as the original, mainly because there is really no physical difference between the two.

What is different are the controls in this pair. The first generation each had a button that required multiple presses to activate each command. With the second generation TrueConnect buds, RHA has integrated capacitive touch controls to make the use of the buds considerably easier. I will agree that it is better – to a certain extent. The touch controls are a bit too sensitive, which caused me to accidentally pause podcasts and music repeatedly when I tried to adjust them in my ear.

Speaking of adjustments, the TrueConnect 2 fit is reasonably secure for more intense activities, although full disclosure was fairly warm during my time testing these buds, so the runs I usually take with new earbuds were much shorter. They have held up well for these routes, but I cannot say how well they would stay in place for the world's long distance enthusiasts. No matter how long you have these buds, they are comfortable thanks to the soft foam tips included in the set.

properties

The RHA TrueConnect 2 has some new features as well as some remnants of the originals that still offer solid benefits. The problem, however, is that these functions are often insufficient to distinguish these buds from the multitude of new competitors that perform the same functions.

RHA TrueConnect 2Nick Woodard / Digital Trends

RHA has almost doubled the battery life compared to the first TrueConnect buds and equipped the new version with 9.5 hours of playback and 44 hours of total battery life with the supplied case. These numbers slightly outperformed the Apple AirPods and would have been considered groundbreaking statistics if, for example, these buds came out a few months earlier. The Samsung Galaxy Buds + and the Sony WF-SP800N both hit the RHA and have better playback times (11 and 13 hours respectively). Although I haven't even unpacked the USB-C charging cable because it took so long, 9.5 hours don't have the same shine as at the beginning of this year.

The water resistance has also been improved in the new TrueConnect 2 with a degree of protection IP55 compared to the IPX5 of the first generation. The new review offers the TrueConnect 2 protection against dust and is not only waterproof, so these earphones are more than suitable for training. Sony's WF-SP800N has the same resistance, but costs $ 50 more. The Jabra Elite Active 75t are fully waterproof with IP57 protection, but again cost $ 50 more than the TrueConnect 2.

The TrueConnect 2 is also compatible with voice assistants such as Google Assistant, Apple's Siri or Amazon Alexa. However, if you want buds specifically for this functionality, Google Pixel Buds 2, Apple AirPods or Amazon Echo Buds are better alternatives.

Apart from these three features, the TrueConnect 2 offers only a few functions. For example, you don't have active noise cancellation. Competitors like the AirPods or Pixel Buds don't do that either, but an increasing number of competitors are adding ANC on a budget (I can think of the Edifier TWS NB as well as the Panasonic RZ-S500Ws), and RHA could have taken a step up the apples and glasses of the world by working in an effective noise cancellation. It looks like his absence is hard to ignore here.

Audio quality

RHA says it "refined" the TrueConnect 2's sound signature, but the truth is that these buds probably don't sound much different than the originals of the average ear. But that's a good thing, because both pairs sound damn good.

RHA TrueConnect 2Nick Woodard / Digital Trends

The authoritative bass of the first generation made the transition to TrueConnect 2 well and showed controlled low-end in songs like One More Night by Maroon 5 or Lizzo & # 39; s Truth Hurts. Bass isn't everything, and thankfully, the dynamic 6mm drivers at the heart of these buds seem to be able to handle all the frequencies that get in their way. The Faces & # 39; Ooh La La has always been one of my favorite test tracks as I know exactly how these opening chords should sound, and I'm happy to report that TrueConnect 2 did them justice.

I am disappointed that RHA has discontinued aptX support, which is what we were looking for in the originals. The TrueConnect 2 offers SBC support, but is otherwise incredibly limited in terms of audio codec availability. Still, I would be confident that these buds can compete with most other competitors in their price range, from the AirPods to Google's Pixel Buds to the Samsung Galaxy Buds +, with the quality difference in this vicinity being almost entirely subjective. The TrueConnect 2 doesn't touch our benchmark buds in terms of audio quality, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2, but we didn't expect it for half the cost anyway.

The TrueConnect 2 has a dual microphone setup that, according to the RHA, is supposed to focus on your voice and remove background noise at the same time to improve call quality. In my experience, RHA has done it reasonably right. My voice was exceptionally clear on calls with these buds, but in several cases the other end of the call received all background feedback. Walking down a busy street with a wood chipper growling in the distance is not a pleasant experience for the person you are talking to.

Our opinion

The RHA TrueConnect 2 used a pair of very good real wireless earbuds as a base and improved them in some key areas. Although TrueConnect 2 has taken a solid step forward, it seems like all the other three have made it. Still, sound quality and features can be difficult to balance compared to price. While we were looking for more here, it is difficult to criticize RHA for the end product because the cost is relatively low.

Are there any better alternatives?

For an additional $ 50, the Sony WF-SP800N for $ 200 could be a very compelling option due to its better battery life, comparable weather resistance, and excellent active noise cancellation. If you're looking for buds that are friendlier to a particular operating system, you won't lose much quality if you look at the $ 199 Apple AirPods or $ 179 Google Pixel Buds 2, though the TrueConnect 2 both outperforms battery life.

How long will they last?

The TrueConnect 2 comes with a three-year warranty, which is by far one of the best guarantees I've seen for real wireless earbuds. RHA stands by their buds, which should give you some level of certainty as to how long they will last.

Should you buy them

Yes. Although many competing buds have gained ground on RHA, the TrueConnect 2 are a solid pair of buds just like their predecessors. You might fall into a sea of ​​similar earphones in the not too distant future, but at the moment these are some of the better buds you can find in this price range.

Editor's recommendations




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