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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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.

Product selection

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.

Product selection

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."

Product selection

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.

Product selection

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.

18 Sep
Blog

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Plus Review: Awesome Tablet For Video

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 plus review

"Once you watch videos on the Galaxy Tab S7 Plus tablet, you don't want to go back to anything else."

  • Amazing screen for video

  • Very powerful

  • Long battery life

  • S pen pen included

  • No wireless charging

  • Android still doesn't do very well on tablets

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Plus is a terrible trailblazer for bad habits. Look away now when trying to cut down your TV time as you will want to see a lot more after you buy. It doesn't matter what you want to see as pretty much everything looks and sounds amazing.

However, super video quality is just one reason to buy an expensive tablet and compete against the best high-priced tablet right now, the 2020 iPad Pro, there is much more that needs to be done. Because of this, I start the same way I did my iPad Pro review by writing this review on the Galaxy S7 Plus.

Hardware and design

The Galaxy Tab S7 Plus is huge and has a 12.4-inch screen. With the keyboard accessories attached, it's the size of a laptop and much larger than the 11.9-inch iPad Pro with the Magic keyboard we tested. It is a widescreen tablet with an aspect ratio of 16:10, so it is considerably wider in landscape mode. It's a device that always feels happier in landscape mode than it does in portrait mode. In practice this means that it is much better to watch movies horizontally than to browse books vertically or to read while lying in bed.

At just 5.7mm, it's very thin and the angular edges give it a modern and stylish look. The weight of 575 grams (1.27 pounds) is manageable and evenly distributed across the tablet so that it does not become unwieldy or tiresome. If the Galaxy Tab S7 Plus is used exclusively as a tablet, it makes more sense, as it becomes uncomfortable with the keyboard cover attached.

When you hold it in portrait orientation, the volume rocker and power button are on the right side, top and bottom are speakers and a USB-C port. It doesn't have a 3.5mm headphone jack. On the back, a black stripe extends under the camera module, which hides a magnetized holder for the S Pen, which serves as a wireless charging point for the device. It's a neat solution, but it prevents the tablet from laying flat on your back when you attach it. But kudos to Samsung for including the S Pen in the box.

I like the Galaxy Tab S7 Plus. It looks ultra-modern, the brushed metal case is classy and high quality, the screen bezels are slim, and everything is beautifully built as you'd expect. Tablets don't have to turn heads with their design, but they do need to look stylish and modern on a coffee table or when pulled out of the pocket, and the Galaxy Tab S7 Plus delivers it with ease.

Screen and video

The 12.4-inch Super AMOLED screen has a resolution of 2800 x 1752, a dynamic refresh rate of 120 Hz, HDR10 + support and, to absolutely no surprise, is insane. There is life, vibrancy, color and detail everywhere, and the high refresh rate makes it very easy on your eyes.

In the media, the Tab S7 Plus excels, and the resolution allows you to watch videos at 1440p, which I miss a lot when watching videos on the iPad Pro. I've found that I've been using Samsung's Video Enhancer mode for brightness and color more on the tablet than on the Note 20 Ultra because it really makes videos disappear from the screen.

This is how the carfection test of the Porsche 911 Targa looks fabulous. Such razor-sharp whites, eye-catching greens and with a resolution of 1440p also breathtaking levels of detail. The already atomic colors in Red Velvet's monster video are enhanced, and the amazing graphics look practically beyond the world at 1440p.

It almost didn't matter what I saw on the Galaxy Tab S7 Plus, it's a great viewing experience. The Grand Tour on Amazon Prime? Dreamy. Paranormal Lockdown with its monochrome, loud night vision shots? Crisp and atmospheric. Even a relatively low-resolution episode of Wheeler Dealers from 2018 looked fine, despite not benefiting at all from the Video Enhancer mode.

Four speakers on the edge of the tablet ensure an impressive, surprisingly centered sound. Tuned by Samsung's own audio experts AKG, the vocals and speech are clear and defined, but the sound lacks deep bass. This is a minor point of contention, however, and the Galaxy Tab S7 Plus's ability as a video entertainment device is top-notch.

Other media? I found the tablet a bit too big for reading e-books lying down – it's like putting a small TV in bed – but good for more visual media like comics. After watching my regular rotation of videos on the Galaxy Tab S7 Plus, I no longer wanted to watch them on my laptop or iPad. It really is that good.

software

Samsung's OneUI 2.5 installs alongside Android 10 and is very similar to the software found on the latest phones. This means that it is colorful with big icons, a very recognizable design, and a neat settings menu. The usual Android functions – for example a dark mode, gestures and the notification shadow – are all available and work quickly and reliably.

Problems arise with app support, as many (daring most) Android apps don't scale very well on a tablet screen and others don't work very well with the Tab S7 Plus keyboard or multi-windowing support. Twitter, Pocket Casts, Amazon, Google Drive, Strava, and so many other popular apps look terrifyingly bad in the landscape. They either enlarge the content dramatically to fit the screen, or slide it to one side with an unused blank surface next to it. Some apps even force you into portrait mode, which is incredibly frustrating.

The keyboard accessory trackpad is not fully supported by major productivity apps like Google Docs. For example, double-clicking text to highlight words does not work. In some cases, it's better to just reach up and touch what you need. With this full-featured keyboard and trackpad, you can get by with more web-based workflows. If you want to do all of your work on the tablet, it helps to be in the Microsoft ecosystem. It syncs Samsung Notes with OneNote and Outlook, for example, and the Outlook app actually looks pretty good here. Since I use a Mac with Pages and sometimes Apple's Notes app, the iPad fits my workflow better.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 plus review screenshot 20200917 165011 Twitter

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 plus review screenshot 20200917 164843 Twitter

Multitasking is strong and offers the ability to run three apps at the same time. Everything looks simple thanks to the power of the tablet. Chrome and Gmail work very well even when YouTube is running in a small pop-up window. If you're running an app in full screen mode, you can drag a multitasking app launcher to a tab on the right edge of the screen with the click of a mouse and drag out the app you want. It can be dragged to the left or right for a 50/50 split, or floated in the middle to make it a pop-up window. However, not every app supports split view or popup. So it is a bit of trial and error until you remember who can do what.

The 50/50 split view fixes many of the app scaling issues and brings them into the phone-like aspect ratio that you would expect. You can also drag the handle between the apps to resize them to whatever compromise you want. On such a large screen, you can easily do a 70/30 split and have a smaller tablet-sized app alongside a phone-sized app without feeling cramped.

Entering multiscreen mode is more tedious than multitasking activation in iOS, but I like the little icon that appears on the screen when you gently exit a pop-up and are ready to bring it back to front when required. It's great for playing YouTube in the background and still accessing it quickly when needed.

If you want a more focused work mode, there's Samsung DeX, which turns the tablet into a laptop environment with a familiar desktop layout, customizable windows, and a distinctly Windows 10-like design. The performance is great too without slowing down multiple apps running. Despite warnings, the tablet may get warm, but I didn't notice it. However, you need a really good keyboard and trackpad to take advantage of DeX.

I couldn't be satisfied with working on the Galaxy Tab S7 Plus. At least not for long periods of time, and I'd only go for the iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard if I thought my tasks were going to take more than 30 minutes. Most of this is due to apps that don't perform very well and keyboard issues, which I'll talk about below.

camera

It is a dual-lens camera on the back of the tablet with a 13MP main lens with a f / 2.0 aperture and an ultra wide-angle lens with 5MP f / 2.2. This is a tablet. So don't expect camera performance to be the same as the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra or even phones that cost half the price like the Pixel 4a. The photos taken are acceptable, but cannot handle shadows or low-light conditions well, tend to be oversaturated, and indoor photos may lack detail. However, it doesn't matter how often the camera is used for anything beyond the basics.

The selfie camera is 8 MP and performs well on video calls. Plus, the Live Focus portrait mode took decent bokeh-style photos. Placing it above the screen in landscape mode works well for zoom conferencing and video calls with friends because the angle is more natural than when the lens is placed on the side bezel. Overall, the camera does a good job for a tablet.

Performance, safety and battery

The Galaxy Tab S7 Plus has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus chip and either 6 or 8 GB of RAM, depending on whether you buy the basic version with 128 GB or the more powerful model with 256 GB or 512 GB.

Here are the benchmark tests:

3DMark Sling Shot Extreme: 6343 (volcano)

Geekbench 5: 961 single core / 2758 multi core

These are above the results of the Galaxy Tab S6, but slightly below the Asus ROG Phone 3, which also uses the Snapdragon 865 Plus chip. Playing on the tablet is great in terms of performance, but the size of the tablet means the case will dig into your palms after a short while, and I never wanted to play for hours. This is where the tablet's Xbox Gaming Pass feature comes in, which allows you to pair an Xbox controller and use the tablet as a screen. Given the stunning looks of the Tab S7 Plus screen, it can be a powerful gaming tablet, but only if you're willing to spend on the Xbox Pass and controller if you don't already have one.

An optical fingerprint sensor in the display is the most important biometric security measure, but not reliable enough. Almost every time I use it, it takes two or three times for the tablet to potentially unlock. The size of the tablet makes it quite difficult to aim the selfie camera when trying to use face unlock, which adds further delays. Accessing the Galaxy Tab S7 Plus is frustrating, and most of the time I had to use my PIN number to unlock it because the biometric methods failed. Interestingly, the smaller Tab S7 uses a side-mounted capacitive fingerprint sensor instead.

It's a massive 10,090 mAh battery that powers the Galaxy Tab S7 Plus. With medium to heavy use, it lasts two days. This includes light work, hours of video, some reading, and some games. The included 15W charger takes at least two hours to go from around 5% to full, and unfortunately there is no wireless charging, a feature I liked on the Huawei MatePad Pro. It is compatible with a 45W charger for faster charging. However, you have to buy one from Samsung.

Bookcover keyboard and S Pen

The so-called "book cover keyboard" is an optional accessory for the Galaxy Tab S7 Plus. So should you pick her up? First, let's talk about the good things. The book cover area attaches to the back of the tablet with magnets, remains very secure and has a very versatile pull-out stand and convenient compartment to keep the S Pen pen securely while charging. The hinge holds at every angle and perfectly matches the brilliant media capabilities of the Galaxy Tab S7 Plus.

The keyboard also locks into place with magnets, but is separate from the book cover. Key travel is judged well, and the keys are well spaced for touch input, and the trackpad is a decent size. If you're just typing at one desk or table at a time, that's fine. If you want to type with the tablet on your lap, it is no good at all. The keyboard area is too floppy because it is attached to the tablet with some cloth rather than a hard hinge. And while the bookcover's angled stand is set so that the screen is facing you, the entire setup is just too big unless your thighs are about 3 feet long.

In that respect, it doesn't compare to the surprisingly compact 11.9-inch iPad Pro and Magic keyboard. The trackpad also isn't very responsive and can get confused easily if your finger is still on it when you click. I also found the buttons and trackpad quite loud. So not good? It's about what I expect from the average tablet keyboard case. It's great for brief flashes of light sitting at a desk or table, but not for pronouncing thousands of words in a variety of environments. The two-piece design is a winner, however, as you can remove the keyboard and still retain the ability to prop the tablet.

If you only want to use the Tab S7 Plus for media consumption, the $ 80 book cover is a good buy as it comes in a slightly different configuration with a screen cover if you don't receive the keyboard. However, at a whopping $ 230, the Bookcover Keyboard is a tough sell. That puts the entire package north of $ 1,000, right in the range of high-end laptops, without a keyboard experience that matches the laptop.

The S Pen comes with the tablet and does not need to be purchased separately. It works the same as the S Pen does on the Galaxy Note series phones, and connects to Bluetooth for a variety of functions, including activating the shutter button in the camera. The S Pen is mostly great. The menu is easy to use, the response time of 9 milliseconds makes typing on the screen very pleasant and the note taking system is really useful.

However, some features are difficult to activate. Writing screen-off memos requires a precise combination of pressing the S Pen button and tapping the screen. The fact that the S Pen has to be placed on its flat edge in order to properly attach to the back of the tablet and charge is annoying. That said, the palm rejection is top notch, and I could put my hand on the screen and still write with ease, which makes it suitable for artists too.

Price and availability

The Wi-Fi Galaxy Tab S7 Plus can now be pre-ordered from Samsung and Amazon. Shipping begins September 18th and starts at $ 850 or £ 799. If you want 5G, pay $ 1,050, or £ 999, and only get by with the 128GB model. The keyboard bookcover is priced at $ 115 when pre-ordered, but has a normal retail price of $ 230. The book cover alone costs $ 80.

Our opinion

If you are worried about video, gaming, online shopping or other fun activities while viewing the Galaxy Tab S7 Plus, just put your money down and enjoy the great giant Samsung tablet. The book cover is worth the extra, but the keyboard implies that you might want to do some work and that, despite its size and high price, isn't really its forte.

Is there a better alternative?

The 2020 iPad Pro was the main competitor of the Galaxy Tab S7 Plus and a better alternative until the 2020 iPad Air arrived with the new Apple A14 Bionic processor and compatibility with the Magic Keyboard. It costs $ 599, which is $ 200 less than the $ 799 iPad Pro. There are major differences between the two, but both share the same great iOS 14 software and app selection.

Another thing to note is the smaller $ 650 Galaxy Tab S7. It's cheaper but doesn't have the S7 Plus' AMOLED screen, but an LCD. The bigger question is, do you have to spend that much on a tablet in the first place? The new 8th generation iPad costs $ 329 and has everything that the more expensive models can do, but with fewer high-tech features. For most, simply hooking up with a phone and laptop is probably more than enough.

How long it will take?

Age. The Galaxy Tab S7 Plus offers the same performance as a top smartphone without the same requirements being placed on it. Therefore it will last for many years. When you take it out into the world, note that it doesn't have a rugged body or any form of water resistance. You can also buy the 5G version of the Galaxy Tab S7 Plus if you envision your future usage changing.

Should you buy it?

Yes. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Plus is a fantastic media-focused tablet. All you have to do is settle for the starting price of $ 850 and pay an additional $ 115 (or $ 230 if you buy from MSRP) for a keyboard.

Editor's recommendations




18 Sep
Blog

Edifier TWS NB2 Earbuds Review: Best in class

edifier tws nb2 earbuds review 1

"The Edifier TWS NB2 looks great, sounds great, and is full of value."

  • Incredible value

  • Great sound quality

  • Solid ANC performance

  • Great battery life

  • Nervous, appealing design

  • Responsive touch controls

  • No charge indicator on the housing

  • No wireless charging

  • Medium call quality

Updated on 09/17/2020 by Jaron Schneider: Edifier significantly reduced the price of the TWS NB2 earphones shortly after their availability in the USA. This changed our rating, including our final score.

We did not expect that Edifier would bring out the successor to the very good TWS NB earphones so quickly. We recently reviewed the first iteration and found that the $ 120 price tag (which recently dropped to $ 70, which makes it even more valuable) is pretty nice with minor complaints like mediocre battery life, bulky design, and uninspired behavior App.

And while I can't say that much has changed with the app, Edifier has been listening clearly when it comes to the buds themselves. With an all-new design, improved active noise cancellation, longer battery life, and even more features, while the price has been cut to $ 100, it's clear Edifier was listening to critics.

The Edifier TWS NB2 earbuds have everything they want, making it clear that you shouldn't be spending more than $ 100 on a pair of excellent earbuds.

What's in the box

Edifier packed the TWS NB2 earbuds with very little fanfare. My box was even damaged a bit with the main cover sleeve unfortunately stuck to the inner box in such a way that I had to destroy it to get inside the packaging (so I can't share box pictures with them).

In this main box, the buds sit wrapped in foam, with three additional eartip sizes, a USB-C charging cable, a neat little drawstring bag, and a tiny (really tiny) instruction manual above it in a narrow insert. It's simple and effective, but not particularly sustainable (this type of foam is neither recyclable nor compostable).

Jaron Schneider / Digital Trends

The total number of the four earbud sizes also turns out to be below average, and personally I haven't found a supplied tip that fits me exactly. In contrast, Buds like the Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro come with a total of nine eartip sizes, and almost every JLab set comes with at least six. It's a minor complaint, but since it's all cheap silicon, we'd like to see better here from Edifier.

design

I want to point out that it would have been okay if Edifier had decided to change the name of these buds to something other than the NB line, as these buds don't look like their predecessors. The case is completely different, as is the shape of the buds themselves.

Jaron Schneider / Digital Trends

Edifier did not repeat the original design. They blew it up and started over. I have to especially applaud the success here, considering how quickly this second generation hit the market – it was less than a year ago.

I know the "golf tee" look isn't popular with everyone, but it serves a purpose. Call quality improves due to the better position of the microphones and gives the buds more room for a bigger battery. And if you go for the golf tee, I think Edifier did it to make them look chic.

I can't stress enough how great the Edifier design is here.

I cannot emphasize enough how great Edifier's design is here. They took their original bulky, boring design and spiced it up with a whole new aggressive look that I totally like. What Edifier has done is nothing very revolutionary, but small changes to popular design choices that just showcase the entire product nicely.

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The case is pretty as expected with its rounded polygon shape, flip-up lid, and magnetic charge points that keep the buds in place. But Edifier gave the solid package a nice finishing touch with a faux leather exterior that is comfortable to the touch. Even the completely unnecessary cord pocket feels good. It's not your typical nylon, but a high quality woven canvas material.

Annoyingly, there is no way of telling how much battery life is left in the buds or in the case without using the app (more on that later in the app), but even then the app only shows the charge level in the buds. There's a little LED on the back next to the charging port that flashes at me, but I don't know what they're trying to tell me. There's another little LED in the case, but as far as I can tell it just tells me the buds are locked into place and charging. The lack of an easy way to determine the remaining battery life of the case seems like a huge oversight to me.

The original case of the NB earbuds has a series of LEDs that indicate the remaining charge in the case. Why this wasn't carried over to the new set is confusing.

properties

Edifier's original TWS-NBs were rather easy to use, but brought active noise cancellation into the very affordable price range of $ 120. With the TWS NB2s, Edifier added a huge list of new features and brought the price down to $ 100, an almost unheard-of combination of a company's actions.

First, let's talk about active noise cancellation. The ANC in the original buds was fine but relied entirely on feed-forward technology, which means the buds analyzed and muffled outside noise but couldn't tell how good they were with it. In the NB2s, Edifier added a second pair of microphones to the earbuds so they could better respond to noise by hearing what was still coming through. This is known as hybrid ANC and is common on high-end earphones, which generally cost twice what Edifier charges.

Jaron Schneider / Digital Trends

The result is noise cancellation that has been vastly improved over the original and competes very well with other hybrid ANC systems, but still doesn't match the sheer soundproofing power of the big boys like the Sony WF-1000XM3, the Technics TWS, AZ70s, Apple AirPods Pro or Sennheiser Momentum 2s. But all four of these buds cost at least twice as much as the Edifier NB2 earbuds, and as such, the quality of the ANC on offer for the price makes them leaders in their class.

Edifier also added a proximity sensor that pauses the music when you take a bud out of your ear and picks it up again when you put it back. It works fine.

The quality of the ANC on offer for the price makes them leaders in their class.

The small physical buttons on the original NBs have been replaced with two touch sensors on each bud, and overall they're … okay. You can't control the volume or map them to your own specifications, but they work just fine. All controls require at least a double tap. This is a design option to prevent accidental tapping. However, some of the touch functions require a long tap that actually doesn't take that long, and I accidentally launched Game Mode and accidentally turned ANC on and off by just recording it. However, you can change the sensitivity of these features, which I also did and this problem has stopped appearing.

As I just mentioned, there is a "Game Mode" included which Edifier claims has extremely low latency so that you can react faster to the action on the screen. I don't play much with bluetooth and these earbuds won't change that: it just reduces the latency to 80 milliseconds, not nearly fast enough for fast-paced action.

For what it's worth, I didn't experience any latency while watching videos in regular listening mode, including videos from video game situations. Whether or not this feature is enabled, the buds here are solid.

Jaron Schneider / Digital Trends

All of these features come at a cost, however: the NB2 lose their predecessor's IPX4 water / dust resistance instead of a much less weatherproof IP54. These are not sealed against dust and only protect against light splash water, instead of the originals being completely submersible. Even so, IPX4 is perfectly acceptable for most earbuds, and the Edifier TWS NB2 are no exception.

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edifier tws nb2 earbuds review 11 "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn5.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/edifier-tws-nb2-earbuds-review-11 - 640x640.jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAJaron Schneider / Digital Trends

Edifier has an app that can be used with the NB2s, and it's … fine. You can use it to control little things like the sensitivity of the touch controls (ANC) and see the battery life remaining in each bud. It looks good but has very little function. I really wish it was possible to make EQ adjustments. This app was a complaint in the original NB rating and remains inconspicuous here to this day.

Battery life

The NB2 improves from the 5-hour playback time of the originals with active ANC to 8 hours per charge. In our tests, they actually took a little longer with the ANC active, around 8.5 hours. That's very good, almost double what the AirPods Pro offer, and is the equivalent of $ 230 for the Sony WF-100XM3 (though Sony's ANC is better).

With the ANC off, the original NBs were able to play for 11 hours before needing to be charged. Unfortunately, the NB2s are only designed for a service life of 9 hours. I got them to run for about 9.5 hours in my tests, but that's still not the previous mark.

The noise isolation is very good and it is likely that you do not need ANC to be active. 9.5 hours is still very impressive. It's just strange to see a regression here. Still, let's be clear that the battery performance here is very impressive and well above average.

You can charge an additional 18 hours when ANC is on and an additional 23 hours when the charging case is off.

Unfortunately, Edifier didn't say anything about a quick charge feature for these buds. However, you can fully charge them in just over an hour.

Audio quality

Edifier did a very good job with their original NBs when it came to sound quality and I'm happy to report that this is still the case with the NB2s. These have a surprising amount of bass. You won't chatter your teeth, but you can absolutely hear and appreciate those lows.

Overall, the sound quality is warm and accessible. They don't sound as good as the Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro, the Jabra Elite 75t, or the Sony WF-1000XM3 (three of our regular favorites for sound quality), but I prefer the sound quality over the Apple AirPods Pro. However, the TWS TB2 are cheaper than all four of these earbuds, with most of them well spaced. These are a great many of the best sounding buds you can get for the price.

I am pleased to report that the mix remains balanced across the volume range. Either at a low whisper or at maximum volume, the earphones never let one of the areas overwhelm another.

When I had a review, the soundstage is a bit tight. The highs don't get too much (which many who are sensitive to high highs will actually appreciate), and the lows are largely included too. However, the mids are well represented. Together, it's more like listening to a band at a house party than watching them perform at the Shoreline Amphitheater.

Again, the sound signature is different between NB and NB2 as Edifier blows up their original design instead of that design. Not remarkable, but you can tell. These feel like a completely different set of earphones, not a successor.

Call quality

As mentioned earlier, the golf tee shape of these buds tends to affect call quality. Unfortunately, this wasn't the case with the Edifier TWS NB2 earphones. They sound good, but the longer you speak, the longer you speak, the more distant and difficult they make your voice.

You can hear the other end of the line very clearly, but they didn't work as well as I'd hoped the voice would do. They are serviceable but not nearly class leading.

While the Edifier NB2s have an ambient mode that allows you to hear your own voice during a call, I wish it was a little better. You can hear outside noise, but the volume isn't as loud as I would like it to be.

Our opinion

Edifier fixed almost every complaint we had with the original TWS NB earbuds and went further to add more features and improved battery life. The thing is, we seem to have gotten these improvements at the cost of others.

The Edifier TWS NB2s are a bit of a head scratch in this way. The company seemed to have chosen to start over on this second generation rather than repeating the previous design. But maybe they threw the baby out with the bath water because the benefits we received are less potent thanks to the functions we lost. We have touch controls, a better design, longer battery life with the ANC active, a better ANC, and a smaller case, but they cost no charge indicator in this case, mediocre call quality, and poorer battery life with no ANC active (albeit) still above average ).

Instead of giving us a product, we can clearly say that it replaces the original. Instead, we have two products that still give us a reason to recommend one another depending on the application. Edifier doesn't just compete with the other great options with the TWS NB2 earbuds. They're also competing with their own, older product.

Are there any better alternatives?

A great alternative to the Edifier TWS NB2 earbuds is the Edifier TWS NB2 earbuds at $ 100, the price of which has dropped to $ 70. However, they have different functions. So if you want longer battery life without ANC, consider getting the original NBs. If you're into pretty much anything else, the NB2's are your best bet.

I think the best alternative at this point is the $ 99 JLab Epic Air ANC Buds, which have tons of features (if only with good ANC performance) and great sound control through their app.

How long will they last?

I'm impressed with the build quality of the NB2 and expect it to last until the lithium-ion battery degrades. Edifier also includes a 1 year limited warranty.

Should you buy it?

Yes. They sound great, they look a lot better, and they have added some features that I like. They are the best ANC you can get for the price too.

Editor's recommendations




18 Sep
Blog

The Pelvis When You Run, Viewed From a Whole-Body Perspective

What position should the pelvis be in when running? It's a question that you probably haven't thought about much, unless you're a runner with a performance goal or an injury.

There are many popular blogs and youtube videos on the subject that argue that the basin should be in a neutral position. I even found a popular post that says that to maintain pelvic position, the glutes should be lightly tensed while a person is running.

Before making any blanket statements about what the pelvis should and shouldn't do while you run, it can be helpful to understand the basic anatomy of the area.

The basic anatomy of the pelvic area

Your pelvis is a bowl-shaped structure that consists of two halves. Each half of the pelvis is made up of three bones: the ilium, the ischium, and the pubic bone.

  • The ilium is the wing-shaped structure on the side, the crest of which you can feel in the front – it is commonly referred to as the hip bone, although it is a pelvic bone.
  • The ischium is the base of the pelvis, and the sciatic tuberosity, a part of the ischium that protrudes and serves as the attachment point for several muscles, is commonly referred to as sedentary bone.
  • The shame is the bone at the front of your torso under your belly button. The point at which these three bones meet is the acetabulum, also known as the hip joint. The femur (thigh bone) is inserted into the acetabulum. 1 Many muscles cross the hip joint and control movement on both the femur and the pelvis.

The sacrum attaches to the pelvis at the sacroiliac joint, and the tailbone or tail bone encompasses the posterior pelvis.

Do you remember how the basin is in two halves? There are also two sacroiliac joints, one on each side because you have two ilias. The SI joint is stable and dislocations of the SI joint are extremely rare. 2

At the front, the two halves of the pelvis meet at the pubic symphysis, an interesting joint that is separated by a fibrocartilaginous disk between the two bones. It is designed to allow low levels of translation and rotation. Since the pelvis is shaped like a closed ring, movement in the pubic hair means movement in the SI joint.

The pelvis when running from a full-body perspective - fitness, fitness, pelvis, running, biomechanics, hip extension, functional movement, mind-body connection, pelvic floor, step, internal rotation, gluteal muscles, motor skills, lumbar spine, femur, Si joint

The position of the pelvis when running

The position of the pelvis is determined by several factors, including the position of the legs and torso. The body's joints do not work in isolation. They work in an integrated way.

When you run, many things happen that allow you to transfer force to your body as you move forward. The rotation occurs in the pelvis, which is offset by the rotation in the thorax (the part of the torso where the ribs are located). 3

This movement helps you keep your center of gravity above your support base as you move from leg to leg and move forward in space.

Think about it for a second. The pelvis rotates as you run, which means it has to move multidimensionally. If it stayed quiet while running, it would change the way you ran the run.

Try this::

  • Get into a standing position. Walk down your hallway Feel your knees naturally bend and straighten as you walk.
  • Now keep your knees straight as you move forward. Does it feel different? What has changed?
  • Now bend your knees a little and keep them bent When you go forward, never straighten it. How does it feel differently?

When you change the way the knee joint is integrated with movement, you change the distribution of the load on the leg. Each situation led to different stress patterns and different movements in the pelvis.

The same would happen if you tried to keep the pool still as you walked down your hallway. Your gait would change to accommodate the stiffness through the center of your body.

The pelvis when running from a full-body perspective - fitness, fitness, pelvis, running, biomechanics, hip extension, functional movement, mind-body connection, pelvic floor, step, internal rotation, gluteal muscles, motor skills, lumbar spine, femur, Si joint

How much should the pelvis move when you run?

Now that you understand that the pelvis moves when you run, the next logical question is: How much should the pelvis move when you run? And what does the incline of the anterior pelvis have to do with it?

Think back to the bowl shape of the pool. When the pelvis tilts forward, this is known as anterior pelvic tilt. It turns out; The pelvis makes an interesting oscillating motion as you run that creates a spring-like mechanism throughout the leg

It also turns out that during the walk, the pelvis naturally moves through both the anterior and posterior pelvic slopes, coordinated with the hip movement

"But wait," you may be thinking, "I've learned that if I don't have a good hip extension, I have more anterior pelvic slope."

Maybe. But maybe not. Static hip extension tests (think you're on your side with someone moving your leg to see how much it is moving) don't correlate with the ability of the pelvis and hip to coordinate efficiently while running

A more important indicator of how well the pelvis and hips can coordinate is the ability of the ribs and pelvis to work synergistically together. This ability is not related to the inclination of the anterior pelvis, but to both motor skills and basic strength.

A note on lumbar lengthening

When running, the lumbar spine moves naturally and coordinates the movement of the pelvis. As you run downhill, the movement of the lumbar spine increases, possibly to dissipate the additional ground reaction forces that occur when walking downhill. 6

In addition, there are differences in the extent of natural loin curve between individuals and between the sexes. (Women tend to have a more significant lumbar curve than men, possibly to aid in the shift in center of mass that occurs during pregnancy.) 7

This curvature means that visually, if you look at someone and see their back arching, they may not have a weak core or may have problems with anterior pelvic tilt. It could just be their structure, and that structure could help them run well if they can let the upper and lower body work together.

The synergy between ribs and pelvis

I mentioned this a few paragraphs ago, but perhaps the precise determination of efficient pelvic and spinal mechanics while walking is the relationship between the ribs and the pelvis.

When the ribs become separated from the torso because they are flared up and forward, it is almost as if the force that is being distributed from the legs to the spine has stopped. If the ribs are not anchored to anything, it will change the movement of the pelvis as it propels you forward.

This means that if you feel that your running mechanics are inefficient, or if you seem to have to work harder than you think like you are, the problem may not be having to activate your glutes or abs while running should move forward in space.

The problem may be that you need to create a stronger connection between the top and bottom of the torso to find vertical compression and maintain vertical compression as you move forward in space.

Perhaps this would make you more efficient, make your gait smoother and result in less wasted energy.

On the next run, imagine the ribs and pelvis connected to each other in the front and back. Check if you can keep this connection while it is running. If you can't find the connection at first, that's fine.

Try tapping the bottom of the ribs in front and the top of the pelvis. Imagine these points gently moving closer together.

Now tap the lower ribs at the back and back at the top of the pelvis. Imagine these points gently coming together. Occasionally think about the dots you typed while running. As the connections become clearer, you will feel your ability to shift the connection between these areas increase.

The pelvis is supposed to transfer the force from the lower body to the upper body– If you hold on to it, your ability to do it well is still limited.

Finding ease in your running stride is multifaceted and should be viewed from a full body perspective. This ease also enables you to run for many years to come.

References

1. Lewis C.L., Laudicina N.M., Khuu A. & Loverro K.L., "The Human Pelvis: Variation in Structure and Function During Walking". The anatomical record. 300 (4), 633- 642. Pub. 15th March 2017.

2. Wong M., Sinkler M.A. & Keil J., "Anatomy, abdomen and pelvis, sacroiliac joint". StatPearls Publishing (Internet) January 2020. Treasure Island (FL).

3. Preece S.J., Mason D. & Bramah C.A., “Coordinated Movement of the Spine and Pelvis While Running,” University of Salford Manchester, Online, Nov. 20, 2015. Elsevier. Human Movement Science. Vol 45, Feb 2016, pp. 110-118.

4. Otani T., Hashimoto K., Yahara M., Miyamae S., Isomichi T., Hanawa S., Sakaguchi M., Kawakami Y., Lim Ho. & Takanishi A., “Use of human pelvic rotation for the running robot. “Limits in Robotics and AI. July 8, 2015.

5. Anthony Schache, Peter D. Blanch, and Anna T. Murphy. "Ratio of the incline of the anterior pelvis while running to clinical and kinematic measurements of hip extension." British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2000: 34: 4: 279-283.

6. Levine D., Colston M.A., Whittle M.W., Pharo E.C., and Marcellin-Little D.J., "Sagittal lumbar spine position when standing, walking, and running at various inclines." Journal of Athletic Training, 2007: 42 (1): 29-34.

7. Hay O., Dar G., Abbas J., Stein D., May H., Masharawi Y., Peled N. and Hershkovitz I., "The lordosis of the lumbar spine in men and women, revised." PLoS One, 10 (8), e0133685. August 24, 2015.

18 Sep
Blog

Motorola One 5G Review: Best Bought With a Carrier Discount

Motorola One 5G

"The Motorola One 5G offers a huge display, helpful software and excellent battery life."

  • Huge 90Hz display

  • Exceptional battery life

  • Excellent software with nice features

  • Strong specs aside from 4 GB of RAM

  • Good main and macro cameras

  • Just a guaranteed software update

  • Sub-par ultra-wide front and rear cameras

  • Shiny plastic body that is prone to fingerprints

As high-end phones keep getting more expensive, well above $ 1,000, we've thankfully seen new value phones in the $ 400-700 range that offer an exceptional experience at a reasonable price. Motorola has always offered this type of offering with its Moto G line, albeit at a lower price, and has now begun moving up to this mid-range price with the Motorola One line.

The Motorola One 5G is the latest offering and a solid package for under $ 500 from AT&T and Verizon. Here's why you should consider this for your next phone.

Hardware, design and display

Motorola knows that big screens and big batteries sell phones if you're trying to get value for money. The One 5G is huge and has a 6.7-inch display. But it's interesting because it's incredibly large, with an aspect ratio of 21: 9, and not wide. Even with noticeably large bezels, it's narrower than the largest phones out there, like the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra – though it's actually taller than the Note.

Motorola One 5G

The extra high aspect ratio is great for seeing more of your Twitter feed, email inbox, or Instagram page, but it makes it really difficult to reach the top of the screen for the many apps that have buttons and Surface elements are still at the top. That's hook 22. The phone isn't big enough to carry a load in your pocket, but it can be awkward to get up with one hand. And I say that as a big person with big hands. My friend found the size of the phone absolutely weird.

The side-mounted fingerprint sensor built into the power button is also so high that you can't comfortably rest your thumb on it with the corner of the phone in the palm of your hand. This is a strange decision. And the volume rocker is even higher. These are definitely usability hurdles.

A big screen is great to look at, but difficult to work with – even if you have big hands.

The display itself is great for the money. It is very bright and colorful, completely usable in sunlight and has a refresh rate of 90 Hz, which makes movement pleasantly fluid. Colors get a little washed out at maximum brightness and darker off-axis, but those are minor issues with a phone under $ 500. If you are not used to the highest quality Samsung, Apple or OnePlus phone displays, you don't know what you are missing.

Motorola One 5G

For less than $ 500, don't expect a next-level design or material. And you don't get them in the Motorola One 5G. This is a shiny plastic phone. It looks pretty good, especially when the light hits the shimmering dot pattern and throws off rainbow reflections. But it feels as slippery as it looks, and it will never be fingerprint-free. The plastic feels thick and sturdy and I'm sure it will withstand drops and bumps for years. But it is prone to small scratches. It only took a few days for them to be strewn on my back.

Software, performance and battery life

Motorola has a good reputation as a software. It's great because it's 95% typical Android, no different from what Google has on their own phones, but with a little Motorola flair that makes the software more helpful and useful without adding weight or getting in the way. Motorola gestures are a treat. Make a chopping motion and the flashlight will come on. Flip the phone twice to launch the camera, turn the phone face down so as not to disturb it, and pick up the phone while it is ringing to silence it. It all works in a delightful way.

Motorola One 5G

The side-mounted fingerprint sensor also serves as a key combination. Gently double-tap it to open a context menu where you can open apps or tasks of your choice. These can be regular apps or certain functions in apps, e.g. For example, you can navigate directly home on Google Maps, write a tweet on Twitter, or create a reminder in Google Calendar.

The problem with the software is not what it is today, but what it will be in the future. Motorola only commits to one major software update which is Android 11 due to the unfortunate launch timing, not the Android 12 version from 2021. That means you will get a software update very soon and only in the future still sporadic small security updates. If you are interested in developing new features, this is not the phone for you.

Motorola One 5G

Since this is an AT&T branded phone, I need to take a moment to relieve the network operator of reloading this phone with an amount of bloatware that is offensive to the customer. In addition to the usual branded apps like AT&T Cloud and AT&T Smart Wi-Fi, you get numerous subpoenas like 1-800-Flowers, AMC-Theater, Bubble Island 2, DC Universe, NBA, Pet Rescue Saga, etc. A total of 25 additional apps are installed. Each one is rubbish and shouldn't be pre-installed on any phone. And I disabled every possible prompt during (and after!) Setup to install more. Stop it, AT&T.

The data sheet selects all the boxes except for the weak 4 GB RAM.

Luckily, you can work with 128GB of storage which I only used 35GB of after installing all of my usual apps and downloading loads of media. Motorola has a pretty tight suite of software (outside of that AT&T bloat) so there's plenty of room for your own data.

Elsewhere on the spec sheet, the Snapdragon 765 processor is a good price at this price point considering it can power devices up to $ 1,000 in some cases. This "midrange" chip is more than capable of handling anything you throw at it and has plenty of headroom that you can use for a few years. I can't say the same about the phone's 4GB of RAM, which feels stingy in 2020. I haven't come across excessive cases of apps killing in the background, but I know that 4GB is the bare minimum for running modern mobile games. Who knows how well this will do over time, even though the processor is more than capable.

Motorola One 5G

Motorola continues to focus on battery life and even says the One 5G can be charged for two days. I wouldn't go as far as everyone uses their phone differently, but this is a great battery for sure. After all, 5,000 mAh is a ton of capacity, and with these simple specs and software features, it can easily cope with even the toughest days and there's a lot left over. You might only plug it in at night like everyone does with every phone.

Cameras

The Motorola One has a familiar setup with a 48-megapixel main camera that uses 4-to-1-pixel binning to output 12-megapixel photos for greater light sensitivity. There is also 8MP to spice it up. Ultra-wide-angle camera with a 118-degree field of view as well as a dedicated 5-megapixel macro camera and a 2-megapixel camera for collecting depth information. It's busy and it's quite a sight on the back of the phone.

The main camera is good and easily produces photos worth sharing on social media with no changes. There's a simple color profile, and with HDR enabled it doesn't go overboard. Most of the time there is plenty of clarity and sharpness, but if you shoot towards the sky or hard light you can get soft edges and blown out highlights. The situation is different in poor lighting conditions: without OIS, this camera has no chance. The "Night" mode gives a basic impression of Google Night Sight, making the entire scene bright in daylight and dramatically improving sharpness and colors. But it's still not great. The camera works well in auto mode in mixed lighting or indoors.

However, the ultra-wide camera completely misses the mark. Yes, you get that great wide angle perspective, but every photo is incredibly soft, washed out, and generally just not easy on the eye. It's fine for a shot here and there, but there's such a big drop off from the main camera that it's a disappointment.

I expected the macro camera to be bad and was seriously surprised. This thing is good and super fun to take pictures with. In addition, 5MP offers sufficient resolution and actually has autofocus. You get a lot of details and the minimum focal length is extremely short. The ring light is over the top most of the time, but luckily the camera doesn't need it to get crisp and clear shots. I'm not sure how often people get interested in taking macro photos and maybe the money would have been better spent on a good ultra-wide camera, but I'm glad it's good as it's included.

motorola one 5g review img 20200916 111956507

motorola one 5g review img 20200916 111952371 hdr

The dual selfie cameras follow the same script as the rear cameras: the main camera with 16 MP is good, the one with 8 MP ultra-wide is not. If you can stretch your arm far enough to stay beyond the set focal length, the main camera will give you a balanced and relatively sharp photo. Par for the course. But the ultra-wide footage, which is supposed to keep you from going this far to get more landscapes or people into the frame, instead frustrates you by being washed out and soft all over – not great. Hold on to the main camera.

Our opinion

Motorola's take on the affordable midrange 5G phone segment is good, and the company continues to prove that you don't have to spend a lot of money to get a solid smartphone with many of the latest features and great software. For less than $ 500, you can get a good software experience with well-designed additions, although this is easily dented by AT & T's exceptional bloatware (and Verizon won't be much better).

The performance is great and everything looks fine on this large 90Hz display. The quality of the main camera is okay for the segment, and the additional macro shooter is fun. Plus, you can do everything without worrying about running out of battery before the end of the day.

The only real downside is the hardware, both in size and quality. The Motorola One 5G is just too big for a lot of people to be comfortably one-handed use, even though it's well suited to showing you more content in apps without scrolling. And the hardware just feels cheap from top to bottom. But of course there must be shortcomings and compromises at this price.

Is there a better alternative?

The Motorola One 5G is competitively priced, but at the same time is only available from AT&T and Verizon, which slightly limits its market. If you're looking for a phone to use on T-Mobile or prefer to buy it unlocked, there are good options.

The biggest competitor has yet to be officially announced, but it will soon be: Google's Pixel 4a 5G will be released on September 30th. All indications are that this larger version of the Pixel 4a with 5G connectivity will also be under $ 500. At this price point, I'd recommend the Pixel 4a 5G over the Motorola One 5G as it has a dramatically better camera and Google software that includes three years of guaranteed updates. If you aren't into 5G or have a big phone, the $ 350 base Pixel 4a is an incredible value.

In terms of phones that you can buy right now, Motorola actually has a competitor: the Motorola Edge. It's regularly reduced to $ 500, has 5G, and is much better overall in terms of specs and hardware as the MSRP is actually $ 700.

How long it will take?

There is no doubt that Motorola phones are rugged. With this thick plastic case, I'm not worried that the Motorola One 5G will last a few years from a hardware standpoint. The only question is the software.

Motorola guarantees an important software update, in this case Android 11, which unfortunately was released at the same time as this phone. This means that in the future you will only receive a few security-relevant software updates that Motorola cannot handle particularly well. The Motorola One 5G's software may leave you feeling left behind long before the hardware fails.

Should you buy it?

Yes. If you work at AT&T or Verizon and want a big 5G phone under $ 500, the Motorola One 5G is an excellent choice. Especially since airlines are expected to offer big incentives, with discounts on financing plans that could bring the price below $ 400 or even $ 300 in some cases. At this price point, this phone really stands out. However, if you're ready to buy (and put on sale) with the Motorola Edge or wait a few weeks with the Pixel 4a 5G, other options are yours.

Editor's recommendations




18 Sep
Blog

Yamaha SR-B20A Review: Still Good, But Less Of A Value

Yamaha B20a soundbar

"With the older YAS-109, the SR-B20A is difficult to sell in this price range."

  • Easy setup

  • Slim design

  • Great sound for movies and TV

  • Missing functions of older models

  • Average sound quality for music

The new affordable soundbar SR-B20A from Yamaha is a special product offering. According to Yamaha, this is a bar that builds on the success of the low-cost YAS line – and in some ways does just that. The B20A has a refreshing, slim design and maintains the coveted entry-level price.

While the most similar to the older YAS-108, the price of the $ 200 SR-B20A is similar to that of the YAS-109. Is it worth investing in the latest model from Yamaha as the older model is still available, often at a cheaper price than the B20A? Or is the company not only fighting against its own product offerings, but also against the entire budget soundbar landscape?

design

The design of the B20A has not changed significantly from the YAS-108 or YAS-109, at least not in its shape. In fact, the dimensions are nearly identical between the three, the main difference being that the older YAS-109 weighs about half a pound more.

Yamaha B20a remote controlNick Woodard / Digital Trends

The B20A has softened the slightly sharper edges of the YAS models and is wrapped in a more durable, more noticeable fabric. I liked it very much. My significant other can vouch for my audible reaction to the unpacking of the B20A and the fact that I held the seemingly sparkling soundbar in my hand for a moment to admire it, just as the father proudly looked at his coveted lamp in A Christmas Story .

I held the seemingly sparkling soundbar in my hand for a moment to admire it, just as the father in A Christmas Story proudly looked at his precious lamp.

Yamaha has simplified the top control panel of the soundbar and added larger LEDs for better visibility. While I didn't have a YAS internal soundbar to compare the differences, I'll say it was easy to see the indicators on the bar in a darkened living room without the LEDs interfering with the viewing experience.

The SR-B20A is still an all-in-one setup, following the example of the YAS-108 and YAS-109 by excluding an external subwoofer. Yamaha said it improved the design of the bar's built-in woofers, of which there are two, but we'll cross that bridge when we talk about sound quality. In addition, the SR-B20A has an easy-to-use remote control – and offers a remote control app – that is largely unchanged from previous models.

configuration

Part of Yamaha's marketing pitch with the B20A (and the more compact C20A) focuses on the soundbar's ability to effortlessly go beyond the living room. The idea was to provide a soundbar that was easy to set up and use in a wide variety of applications, and I think it nailed the simplicity of initial setup. The bar only requires power and a connection to an audio source, and while I think any soundbar should come with an included HDMI cable at this point, the included optical audio cable will be fine for most situations.

Yamaha B20A soundbarNick Woodard / Digital Trends

After you've freed the plastic pull-tab protecting the battery from the remote, there's not much left to do to prepare for B20A playback. One of the few benefits of a bar without Wi-Fi connectivity is the ability to jump right into the experience without first connecting the soundbar to your internet and downloading a firmware update. The B20A illustrates this. It's not exactly a compromise I'd like to make, but for those who don't need a soundbar connected, it means extra work.

links

When it comes to connectivity options, the B20A falls short when compared to its YAS elders. Both the YAS-108 and YAS-109 have a corresponding HDMI input and output as well as a digital optical input and an analog audio option. Oddly enough, the B20A took away one of the HDMI ports and added a second digital optical input instead.

Yamaha B20A soundbarNick Woodard / Digital Trends

I know what the justification for that choice is, and frankly there is a part of me that understands it. The step corresponds to the mantra “Beyond the living room” as well as optimized simplicity. Yamaha wants to make the plug and play process easier no matter where you use the B20A in the house. In theory, most users only need that single HDMI-ARC port to seamlessly connect their TV and soundbar. I get that. I just can't think of a situation where two different optical inputs would be more useful to the average person than two HDMIs. I'm sure there is, but I suspect it is rare.

In addition, as already mentioned, the B20A lacks Wi-Fi capability. I don't think this is a must have in $ 200 soundbars (yet) so I can't face the B20A too hard. However, the YAS-109 has WiFi and is currently still available on the Yamaha website at a discounted price of $ 180. When you add that the YAS-109 has Amazon Alexa built in, you wonder what you gain by buying a newer product for roughly the same cost.

When you add that the YAS-109 has Amazon Alexa built in, you wonder what you gain by buying a newer product for roughly the same cost.

To be as fair as possible to the B20A, it supports Bluetooth Multipoint and supports Amazon Alexa via Bluetooth and a separate Echo speaker like a Dot (or in my case a Flex). While useful and intuitive for a Bluetooth connection, problems can still arise. If the input of the soundbar is changed to HDMI, the Bluetooth connection between the Echo device will be broken and the sound will reset to the point. As a result, with all of these features already on board, as is the case with the YAS-109, the overall experience can't be beat. After spending a long time with the Alexa-enabled Samsung HW-Q800T, I preferred this integrated connection by far.

Sound quality

When we tested the YAS-109, we hailed it as one of the "Most High-Performance, Affordable Soundbars for Overall Fidelity." We found the soft mid-range, the clear high-end and the effective bass reproduction for a soundbar without a separate subwoofer.

Yamaha B20A soundbarNick Woodard / Digital Trends

Based on the time I've spent with the SR-B20A, I think this bar is very similar to this performance, at least when it comes to watching movies and TV. I was particularly impressed with the low level this bar could produce without a real subwoofer. It won't shake picture frames or rattle windows, but it compliments the rest of the soundstage well. If you're looking for a more pronounced low end, the bar has a subwoofer output so an active woofer can be added to the mix.

The remote's four main listening modes all had different sound profiles, although I focused on the movie mode for most of my content as it sounded the most natural to my ears. More notable were the bar's Clear Voice and DTS Virtual: X technologies, both of which have dedicated buttons on the remote control. Clear Voice was especially helpful in amplifying lower decibel dialogues like Tom Segura's voice on the YMH podcast. Meanwhile, DTS Virtual: X expanded the soundstage, adding depth to some bone-breaking scenes when films like Brawl were shown in Cell Block 99. It's not the same experience as physical surround sound and height channels, but I thought the sound processing would have had an overall positive impact on the content I watched, and I kept it for most of the time.

Playing music was a different experience for me. I don't think it was bad per se, but I think the listening experience was a bit hollow. The standard mode sounded more authentic than stereo in my view, but didn't help erase a generally less impactful sound across multiple musical genres. It may be due to the lack of supported audio formats – the YAS-109 supports WAV, FLAC and AAC formats, among others. Anyway, I've enjoyed music significantly more with bars like the Polk Audio Signa S3 or the Vizio V-Series, although it's important to note that each costs around $ 50 more.

Our opinion

While the Yamaha SR-B20A has tweaked its design, it ultimately retained the affordability and overall sound quality that made the YAS-109 a success. With the older bar still available and offering better features at a similar price point, the B20A is becoming a tough best seller in this price range.

Are there any better alternatives?

It's no longer a secret that the YAS-109, which retails for $ 220 but is available for $ 180 on the Amazon or Yamaha websites, offers better value. If you're looking to spend a few dollars more, the $ 250 Polk Audio Signa S3 is a better option for music, and the $ 250 Vizio V-Series replaces the Yamaha virtual surround experience with physical drivers.

How long it will take?

All technology is out of date at some point, but I don't think basic connections like HDMI or optical audio will go anywhere anytime soon. For a budget option, the B20A should hold on to its relatively versatile compatibility for a while.

Should you buy it?

Only if you want to get the latest soundbar Yamaha has available. The SR-B20A sounds great for movies and TV, and it looks pretty good too. However, this is not the value of the older version, especially if that version is still available.

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