15 Apr
Blog

DJI Air 2S Review: Superb Results Without the Work

DJI Air 2S in front

"When quality and performance are paramount, there is nothing like the DJI Air 2S."

  • Takes sharp pictures

  • Strong details from the 5.4K video

  • Pro level clips with mastershots

  • Fun and Safe to Fly

  • The camera can sometimes search for focus

One leisurely activity that kept me sane during last year's lockdown was flying the DJI Mavic Air 2. It had everything you'd expect from a drone, whether you were a first-time flyer or a seasoned pilot. Now, however, it looks like DJI is removing a page from Apple's playbook by releasing an updated version of its drone a year after it was released.

I had very few concerns about the Mavic Air 2 when I tried it out last year. He was near perfect in every way. Step into the DJI Air 2S, a slightly upgraded version that stands out most of all for the upgraded camera sensor it brings with it for the ride, which clearly brings it closer to Mavic Pro territory – the company's premier consumer drones. How much better is it getting? Read on to find out.

Bigger 1-inch sensor is no joke

In the camera world, one way to improve performance is to introduce a larger sensor. That's exactly what DJI brings to the Air 2S, and it's without question the drone's most notable new quality. The new 20-megapixel 1-inch sensor with 2.4 μm pixels is no joke and improves the half-inch sensor of its predecessor. With the larger sensor on board, more light can be drawn in to reveal more details – especially in the shadows, where noise is traditionally most evident.

John Velasco / Digital Trends

Photos from the camera are crisp and sharp, which is what you'd expect from a larger sensor. Taking pictures around sunset time has proven difficult at times as small sensors (like the one in the DJI Mini 2) aren't designed for low light, but that's not a problem here. In fact, I've used my photo editing software to enhance the shadows on some of my sunset shots – and I'm happy to announce that there is no significant evidence of noise.

Of course, the best results are achieved when it is sunny. However, what makes the DJI Air 2S helpful is that it can definitely capture stunning photos without having to edit them later. There is still a "SMART" photo mode, which essentially functions as the drone's HDR mode. It takes a picture and automatically adjusts the shadows and highlights to bring out the best details, so you get a high quality shot the first time.

The quality meets your expectations: it is excellent.

There are some new additions to the video page that are pushing the threshold in a direction that will add even more usefulness to the creators in the post. In addition to your traditional 4K recording at 60 frames per second (fps), the DJI Air 2S up the ante by offering 5.4K recording at up to 30 fps. Of course, this offers a few useful tricks – like the ability to use the digital zoom 6x when recording in 1080p or to trim the post-pans for pans and zooms.

dji air 2s evaluation image example 1 of 4John Velasco / Digital Trends

dji air 2s review image sample 2 of 4John Velasco / Digital Trends

dji air 2s evaluation image example 3 of 4John Velasco / Digital Trends

dji air 2s evaluation picture example 4 ofJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

The quality meets your expectations: it is excellent. There is a lot of detail, colors have a subtle tone of saturation, and there is reasonable dynamic range to bring out details in highlights and shadows that are otherwise lost. However, I've found that the camera tends to seek out focus at times. Therefore, it may sometimes be necessary to switch to manual mode. What was missing from my test was an option for HDR video mode, which I happily used with the Mavic Air 2. I'm assuming this is a future update, but what that would mean is a properly exposed video that looks great at first.

Moving to a larger sensor is exactly what this iterative update needs to stand out in the DJI lineup. The problem presented here, however, is that the Air 2S is diminishing the Mavic Pro line's reputation as a professional drone.

Fly even safer

Whether you are just starting out or a seasoned professional with numerous flying lessons, the DJI Air 2S is even safer to fly than its predecessor. The most notable feature here is the addition of upward-facing sensors on the drone itself, complementing the other three (forward, backward, and downward) that are in place to make the flight safer overall. The new upward-facing sensors are useful when using the drone's improved APAS 4.0 technology to avoid obstacles in its flight path. This can best be seen when using the new ActiveTrack 4.0 tracking function, which allows the drone to intelligently track a subject / object while avoiding obstacles.

John Velasco / Digital Trends

Thanks to these new safety features, you get great footage, especially because you can control the Air 2S to follow a subject without worrying about it hitting anything. Now I've tried this with someone walking very quietly through a field, safely navigating around poles and signs.

In my years as a drone pilot, I've never really encountered a close call. First off, the DJI Air 2S is greeted with the same OcuSync 3.0 technology introduced with the recent DJI FPV drone. That said, the drone's video feed feed now extends 12 km – an increase over the Mavic Air 2's range of 10 km. In one case, however, the transmission was briefly interrupted, so I just had to restart the app. However, after a firmware update, the video feed was no longer interrupted.

A beginner can look like a pro with the Air 2S.

During another test flight, one of my worst fears about flying a drone came up. Somehow the connection between the remote control and the drone was broken and the drone hovered high in the air for about a minute. In my panic, I tried restarting the app hoping it would connect, but it didn't. Fortunately, the Air 2S's safety protocol was introduced, with the drone automatically flying near the maximum altitude of 400 feet and then returning home on its own. Eventually it landed all by itself and locked, averting the crisis. This experience is exactly the proof why it is one of the safest drones to fly.

Pro creation without being a professional

Through years of flying, I have had the experience of taking breathtaking photos and videos, all of which were achieved with manual operation. What is special about the DJI Air 2S, however, is that, similar to the other drones in its portfolio, you don't have to be a professional to get high quality footage. Thanks to the various Quickshot modes, all you have to do is select your subject in the frame and the drone will do the rest. All previous Quickshot modes are available again, e.g. B. Circle, Dronie and Asteroid, with which the Air 2S flies away from a subject and then captures a tiny planet.

John Velasco / Digital Trends

The latest addition is MasterShots, a new mode that uses some of DJI's popular Quickshot modes and automatically creates professionally composed clips – all with no physical interaction controlling the drone. Once you have selected your subject / location, the DJI Air 2S automatically sets predefined flight paths to record all the clips you need. The end result is a short clip that looks like a professional who piloted and edited the video. This new automation shows exactly why the Air 2S can make a beginner look like a pro.

Minimal compromise

Unsurprisingly, DJI recycled the design of its popular drone, so there aren't any major differences between the Air 2S and the Mavic Air 2. It still folds up to make travel easier, but what's even better is the fact that it uses the same batteries as the Mavic Air 2. For anyone upgrading, it's nice to know they're getting their old ones Batteries can continue to use.

John Velasco / Digital Trends

Speaking of batteries: The total flight time with the DJI Air 2S has been reduced to 31 minutes – compared to 34 minutes with the Mavic Air 2. To be honest, this is not a problem, but the compromise was made to take into account the larger camera sensor and the slightly heavier weight of the Drone weighing 595 grams. In sport mode, it can still reach a top speed of around 42.5 miles per hour (mph).

Our opinion

Who knows if this will be the trend for DJI, but the Air 2S has all the improvements to make it a meaningful upgrade over the Mavic Air 2. Prices for the Air 2S start at $ 999, but I recommend paying the extra cash to get the $ 1,299 Fly More Combo version that comes with ND filters, a carry case, two extra batteries, and supplied with a multi charger.

The DJI Air 2S is still proving to be the best all-round drone. From its crisp video performance to all of its security features, it's the drone to beat. Beginners will enjoy how easy it is to produce high quality footage with minimal interaction, while seasoned professionals will enjoy the improved performance of its larger sensor.

Should you upgrade?

This is difficult to answer. DJI will continue to sell this Mavic Air 2 so besides the Air 2S, the difference between the two is only $ 100. There are certainly good reasons the Air 2S is the superior drone, but it's still difficult to justify another purchase for existing Mavic Air 2 owners. If image quality is paramount, the upgrade is clearly worth it. If you don't mind editing footage, you can still get stunning photos and videos with the Mavic Air 2.

On the other hand, if you think about a DJI Mini For example, there is no comparison as the extra money you would spend buying the DJI Air 2S is justified by the difference between day and night in terms of performance, quality and safety.

How long it will take?

The DJI Air 2S is solidly built all around and has a one-year limited warranty that covers defects. Additionally, you can purchase DJI Care Refresh's extended warranty for the Air 2S, which covers it for accidental damage. Taking into account the cost of the drone, it's worth purchasing it.

Is there a better alternative?

Usually the next logical alternative is something in the DJI Mavic Pro series – like the Mavic 2 Pro. That's not the case, as the DJI Air 2S's new upgrades place it in exactly the same category as the flagship in the company's portfolio.

Should you buy it?

Yes, you won't find a better drone for the money. All upgrades make it a standout model in the world of drones by balancing performance, safety features, ease of use and price.

Editor's recommendations




12 Mar
Blog

Roborock H6 Adapt Review: Clean Air Meets Clean Home

Customize roborock h6 rating

Roborock H6 cordless vacuum cleaner

"The unbelievable suction power of the Roborock H6 Adapt soaks everything up and at the same time keeps the air clean."

  • Light, with strong suction

  • Quiet, except in the highest suction mode

  • Five-stage air filtration to improve air quality

  • Numerous accessories make cleaning easier everywhere

  • Shorter battery life in high-performance mode

  • It takes four hours to fully charge

Robotic vacuums offer a consistent level of clean and unmatched convenience, but there are certain tasks they just can't do – cleaning the stairs, for example. Robotic vacuums are also not particularly suitable for on-site cleaning.

When a robotic vacuum cleaner is struggling, a cordless stick vacuum cleaner can do the job. Thanks to a number of vacuum cleaners that have appeared on the market in recent years, users have a wide range of choices. Now Roborock has added another option with the H6 Adapt, a Red Dot 2020 winner for its design.

The Roborock H6 Adapt combines five-step air purification with powerful cleaning and a lightweight design to provide a product that is not only easy to use, but can also improve air quality while keeping the house clean.

Small, light and powerful

The Roborock H6 Adapt is possibly the lightest stick vacuum cleaner I've ever used. The main body is only three pounds and the attachments barely weigh anything. It easily clears up dirt and doubles as a duster to keep the tops of the closet clean or to suck cobwebs out of the corners.

Since no stand is required, the H6 Adapt is the perfect vacuum for small spaces. You can just plug it in for charging, although it includes a wall mount that can charge the vacuum while doubling as an accessory rack. This is also a necessary addition as the H6 Adapt comes with a number of different accessories.

The main accessory is the baton, a 30-inch extension that fits any other accessory. The Adjust H6 There's also a larger carpet brush for vacuuming the floor, a motorized mini brush that's perfect for stairs, and a dust brush.

It also comes with a splitting tool for vacuuming tight corners and a flexible tube for accessing hard-to-reach areas. With all of these accessories, the H6 Adapt can clean a wide variety of different areas. You can use it to vacuum at the kitchen table, vacuum up flour in the kitchen and tidy up the car after a long drive.

Max Mode feels like it's vacuuming the paint off a car.

The battery is rated for up to 90 minutes of continuous suction power, although this will vary in actual use. The type of accessory and the cleaning mode you choose can have a significant impact, especially if you choose Max mode. This mode increases the suction power to the maximum possible level, but shortens the battery life considerably. That said, when you need to thoroughly clean an area, Max Mode feels like he's vacuuming the paint off a car.

Powerful suction meets air purification

Many people find stick vacuums less hygienic, and this is sometimes the case. In many vacuum cleaners, dirt particles can escape from the container, resulting in poorer air quality than at the beginning. This is not the case with the Roborock H6 Adapt.

As someone who is very allergic to cats but still owns one, the furniture in my house is vacuumed regularly. A couch is less relaxing when you sit on it and break out into beehives. Some vacuum cleaners only cause an allergic reaction by vacuuming cat hair, but the H6 Adapt does not.

I sneezed less, especially when using the higher power modes.

It holds the hair in its dust container and can remove up to 99.99% of all allergens less than 3 microns in size when cleaned. Roborock lists cat dander, along with dust mites, mold, pollen, dog dander, and other pollutants, as one of the particles it removes.

While I'm usually skeptical of air purification claims until they can be proven, the H6 Adapt has shown how effective it is. I've sneezed less, especially when I've used the more powerful modes for cleaning cat hair from furniture.

An LED display provides all the information you need

The H6 Adapt has an LED display on the handle that gives you information at a glance. Three main points are displayed: whether the vacuum is locked or unlocked, the remaining battery life and the current suction mode.

Knowing how much battery life is left is fantastic. It is shown as both a percentage and a specific time. You can see up to the second how much longer the battery lasts before you have to stop and recharge. This amount varies greatly depending on the mode. With a remaining battery life of 49%, the Eco mode (the lowest suction mode) offers a lifetime of just over 41 minutes, while the standard suction mode offers just over 21 minutes and the maximum suction mode only offers a lifetime of just over 21 minutes five minutes.

There is a button at the end of the handle that allows you to switch between suction modes as needed, as well as a button on the side that locks the vacuum. That way you can let go of the trigger and it will keep working. Goodbye, aching fingers!

After a minute of inactivity, the screen will automatically turn off to save battery life. It takes approximately four hours to fully charge the battery after you wear it out. So if you have a large house and want to vacuum the entire area, it is a good idea to get a spare battery.

Simple dirt disposal

All stick vacuums work roughly the same way, with a release latch to open and empty the dust bin. Too often this latch is at the bottom of the dust bin – in other words, when you open it, dust and grime shower on your hand.

The Roborock H6 Adapt provides a simple solution for this. There is a switch just below the trigger that opens the dust container. Hold the vacuum over the trash can and press the switch to toss the contents of the trash can into the trash can. The top of the vacuum opens to allow access to the filter in case it ever needs to be replaced. The entire vacuum has a modular structure so that parts can be exchanged without any problems.

Our opinion

The Roborock H6 Adapt is a great option that allows for thorough cleaning while addressing household air quality issues. Its light weight makes it a great solution for those who may not be able to lift heavy weights. The $ 450 price tag is steep, but the H6 Adapt is cheaper than some of its competitors like the Samsung Jet 90 ($ 649) or the $ 600 Dyson V11.

How long it will take?

The Roborock H6 Adapt is made of hard plastic. This durable material makes it lighter than the competition, but that doesn't mean it's weak. The vacuum feels strong, so I expect it to last for years, especially with proper maintenance. Should something go wrong, Roborock offers a one-year guarantee from the date of purchase.

Is there a better alternative?

If you're looking for a comparable suction device at a cheaper price, consider the Tineco Pure ONE S11 for $ 300. A few bells and whistles are missing, but the job is done for less. On the other hand, the Dyson V11 Torque Drive is top notch when it comes to raw cleaning power. While you are paying more, your carpets are clean.

Should you buy it?

Yes. Air filtration improves the quality of the air in your home by ensuring that dirt and allergens stay tightly trapped in the vacuum.

Editor's recommendations




25 Feb
Blog

AIR SQUATS: BENEFITS, PROCEDURE, AND MORE

Air squats, as the name suggests, are similar to squats. There is a slight difference between the common squat and the air squat, however. You can use different types of equipment to increase weight during squats. However, the squats are entirely based on your body weight. Hence, they are also known as body weight squats.

These squats are done by everyone, but are more commonly used as informal exercise programs, e.g. B. CrossFit and other exercise routines. Because they are used in formal education, they are beneficial to your health.

Benefits of squats:

There are a number of benefits to doing squats. Some of them are listed below:

● Beginner version of squats:

It is best if you treat squats as a beginner version of weighted squats. Since all you have to do is lift your body weight, it's a lot easier than carrying some weights. So, you can use the squats as a start and then gradually switch to the weighted squats.

● Increases the balance in your body:

The air squat can help you balance your body better because it requires balance when sitting and standing.

● Builds stronger muscles:

The squats tend to touch the thighs, quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes. So, they help build stronger muscles.

● Engages your core:

In addition to targeting your lower body, the air squats engage your core and help you get abs.

How to do squats?

Knowing how to do a particular exercise is very important because you don't know that it can cause injury. So, as an extension of this theory, you should also know how to do squats. The following is how to do the squat correctly without injuring yourself:

  1. Stand straight with your feet shoulder width apart.
  2. You can either keep your hands by the side or stretch them out in front or sides, or you can fold them in front of you. The choice is yours as the hands are not part of this exercise. Just make sure they don't restrict movement in any way.
  3. Squat down until your thighs are parallel to the floor or until you feel like sitting in a chair.
  4. You should feel a slight stretch in your quadriceps muscle.
  5. Stay there for 30 seconds, then return to your starting position.
  6. Do these squats as often as possible. Try to do at least ten reps, then keep increasing the reps and sets.

Important tips:

Here are some key tips to keep in mind while doing this exercise:

  1. Your knees shouldn't go over your toes.
  2. Instead of dropping your shoulders forward, keep your shoulders straight and away from your ears.
  3. Your upper body shouldn't move as this exercise only applies to the lower body. So keep your upper body straight and even.
  4. It is imperative that your back be straight. This is important because many people do not focus on their back, which results in a rounding of the back. This can cause back pain.
  5. Look right in front of you. This is how you can keep your neck straight.
  6. Your lumbar curve should be maintained throughout the squat.
  7. In the squat, the hips go a little below the knees.
  8. Always keep your heels on the ground. This will help you maintain stability and balance well.
22 Jan
Blog

Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro Review: Affordably Awesome

Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro

Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro

"Great sound quality and tons of features make these ANC Buds great value for money."

  • Very convenient

  • Very good sound quality

  • Effective ANC

  • Customizable sound and controls

  • Some functions still require phone access

  • So-so call quality

Much to the surprise of seasoned audio reviewers, Anker Soundcore has evolved from the depths of the Amazon brand basement into a manufacturer of great sounding wireless headphones, bluetooth speakers, and true wireless earbuds. In 2020, Digital Trends reviewed the $ 110 worth of Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro, praising the wide soundstage and overall sound quality, despite some concerns about the overall design of the buds.

Now Soundcore is back with nothing less than its sights on dethroning Apple's AirPods Pro for $ 249 at $ 130 Liberty Air 2 Pro, the company's first true wireless earbuds to offer active noise cancellation (ANC). Can Soundcore deliver the same functionality as Apple for almost $ 120 less? Let's take a look.

What's in the box?

Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 ProSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Anker Soundcore continues to use way too much packaging for its true wireless earbuds. The Liberty Air 2 Pro comes in a glossy, book-style, printed box with the lid closed by magnets. Inside there is a lot of plastic and foam that surrounds the important parts: the earphones, the charging case, a USB-C charging cable, and some documentation. But as much as I dislike all of this unnecessary material, I have to give Soundcore props for nine sets of silicone earplugs. A good fit is critical to comfort, sound quality and noise cancellation. Having a variety of earbud sizes is key to a good fit.

design

Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 ProSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The Liberty Air 2 Pro, which comes in four colors (black, blue, pink, and white), certainly looks a bit similar to the AirPods Pro. This is mainly due to the elongated stem sticking down from your ear. But they are even more similar to Earfun's $ 80 Air Pro and the $ 100 Edifier TWS NB2. All three use an ergonomically shaped main body that sits in your outer ear, a silicone-tipped horn that goes into your ear canal, and a pronounced stem.

It's the only case design I've tried that can be effortlessly opened and closed with one hand.

Whether or not you like this AirPods-inspired shape is a matter of personal preference, but I think they look pretty good.

What I like most about the Liberty Air 2 Pro's design is the wireless charging case. It's light and relatively compact – albeit nowhere near as small as the AirPods Pro – and has the same sliding lid mechanism as the Liberty 2 Pro. It's the only case design I've tried that can be effortlessly opened and closed with one hand.

The earbuds snap into their charging sockets easily and precisely, and can just as easily be removed – which isn't always the case.

I can't say if the sliding lid is as sturdy as a traditional hinge in the long term, but it immediately feels very sturdy, which is a good sign.

Convenience, control and connections

Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 ProSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The Liberty Air 2 Pro are very comfortable. I was able to find an earbud size (thanks to the wide choice) that provided a very good seal, which also helped the earbuds sit securely. I've found that stem-style earbuds feel less ear-filling than stem-less designs. This also applies to the Liberty Air 2 Pro.

Soundcore includes a small feedback tone for taps – this should be standard on all touch-based earphones.

However, the stems of these earbuds are longer than those of the AirPods Pro, and to me this meant they made contact with the side of my face. While this wasn't a comfort issue in and of itself, it meant that the act of speaking gradually loosened the fit so I had to adjust it more often.

The Liberty Air 2 Pro uses touch sensors on both earbuds to control key functions. I prefer physical buttons, but I found the sensors were sensitive enough and almost always detected my tapping. I really appreciate that Soundcore includes a little feedback tone to let you know when these taps have been successfully detected – this should be standard practice for all touch-based earphones.

You can customize how the touch controls work using the Soundcore app. However, you need to prioritize which functions are most important as only four commands can be assigned. Double tap and long press control volume, play / pause, track forward / backward, access to voice assistant and ANC mode. However, there aren't enough gestures to use all of them. Fortunately, you can assign one of these options to control switching between ANC and transparency modes without going through the third (normal) mode without ANC, as so many other earbuds require.

Thanks to the built-in wear sensors, the music will automatically pause and resume when you remove and replace an earbud. That worked perfectly.

The Bluetooth connection was also very reliable as both the initial pairing and subsequent repairs went smoothly. Switching from one earbud to both (and vice versa) was also very reliable.

Sound quality

The Liberty Air 2 Pro sounds really good. They offer strong bass response, a well-balanced midrange, and highs that are clear and never sizzling. What's impressive is that the bass isn't just a boom – tracks like Hans Zimmer's Time show both warmth and subtlety while also offering the deep resonance you need to appreciate the complexity in the lower range. Better still, this low end doesn't trample the chant. Billie Eilish's Bad Guy, a song that is a torture chamber for a headphone's ability to separate lows and highs, comes into its own beautifully, with Eilish's whispering ASMR-like tickle while the persistent booming bass beat remains anchored to the floor.

The Soundcore app allows you to tweak the EQ using a variety of genre-based presets and save your own custom EQ settings. The app also offers you the option of activating the HearID hearing profile system, which can be used to compensate for any frequency losses. I didn't find it improved my sound enjoyment so I left it off.

The Liberty Air 2 Pro doesn't just block outside noise.

The Liberty Air 2 Pro have a richer and more punchy sound than the AirPods Pro, but they don't display the same extremely expansive soundstage as the Liberty 2 Pro. Even so, I think most people will really enjoy the Liberty Air 2 Pro sound.

Modes for noise reduction and transparency

Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 ProSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The Liberty Air 2 Pro's ANC performance is solid. The most intrusive noises outdoors, such as traffic and construction, were effectively canceled out so I could hear podcast voices without having to turn up the volume. Unlike some cheaper ANC earbuds, there's a noticeable difference between ANC on and ANC off, which shows that the Liberty Air 2 Pro can do more than just block outside noise.

In the Soundcore app, you can activate four different ANC modes: Transport, Indoor, Outdoor or Custom – each with its own focus on different frequencies. The transparency setting has two modes: fully transparent and vocal mode.

I like the choices this gives you, but I have a feeling that most people will just choose transport and full transparency as these are the most noticeable differences.

The fully transparent mode lets in a good amount of sound, but isn't quite as clear as on more expensive ANC earbuds like the Jabra Elite 75t or 85t or the AirPods Pro.

When listening to music, the Liberty Air 2 Pro's ANC goes well with the AirPods Pro, but when the music is turned off, you'll find that the Liberty Air 2 Pro has a noticeable noise, unlike the AirPods Pro, which produces almost noticeable noise Noise shows an eerie cone of silence.

Battery life

Soundcore has a battery life of six hours when using ANC and seven hours when the device is switched off. The charging case brings these numbers to 21 or 26 hours. I didn't fully run the Liberty Air 2 Pro during these cycles, but after each listening session I checked the Soundcore app's battery gauge and found these claims to be spot on.

Those numbers are okay, but not exceptional. The AirPods Pro might not last as long on a single charge (4.5 hours with ANC), but their case extends that time to almost 24 hours.

The quick charge is fine, with 15 minutes in the case of an extension of the game time by three hours.

Call quality

The call quality on the Liberty Air 2 Pro is a mixed bag. The noise cancellation of the six microphones is impressive. Passing cars and even noisy trucks were almost completely undetected, and wind noise – often a challenge for earphones – was handled perfectly. However, that same noise cancellation also tends to muffle your voice, especially when those other noises are around.

You can still make your voice heard, but it's rarely a crystal clear experience for your callers.

It's great when you can hear yourself on a call while in transparency mode. However, unlike the AirPods Pro, you need to turn on transparency before you make or receive a call. Once you make a call, you cannot switch.

Our opinion

The Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro offers a really compelling alternative to AirPods Pro at a cheaper price.

Is there a better alternative?

If you are looking for a great set of noise canceling true wireless earbuds, the Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro is hard to beat at this price point. The two closest models are the $ 80 Earfun Air Pro and the $ 100 edifier TWS NB2.

I think the Liberty Air 2 Pro has better sound quality and ANC than these two models, and the Soundcore app has a ton of customization options for sound, controls, and ANC. They also offer wireless charging, which neither the Earfun nor the Edifier have. That means they have a slightly better battery life and the Earfun Air Pro has a bit more water resistance (IPX5 versus IPX4 for the Liberty Air 2 Pro). I think the Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro definitely justify their higher price.

How long will they last?

The Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro comes with an 18-month warranty and lifetime technical support that is above the industry average. They appear to be very well built, so I'm assuming at this price point they can be used just as well as many similar models. The sliding lid on the charging case could be a weak point over time, but so far I haven't seen any complaints about the Liberty 2 Pro using an identical design.

Should you buy it?

Yes. The Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro offers great sound and a very good ANC at a price that is far below that of many comparable products.

Editor's recommendations




03 Jan
Blog

Apple MacBook Air M1 Review: Fast, Fanless, and Fantastic

Macbook Air M1

"The MacBook Air M1 finally delivers on the promise of a small laptop with no performance restrictions."

  • Apple's M1 blows Intel around

  • Phenomenal battery life

  • Excellent keyboard and touchpad

  • Very solid build quality

  • Just good looking

  • Supports an external display only

Apple was never afraid to break with the past, even if the transition might be painful. For example, when it found the floppy disk was out of date, it dropped it and went all-in USB. The same thing happened with Motorola CPUs, which were dropped for Intel when the PowerPC could no longer keep up. Now it's that time again, this time the MacBook Air, the MacBook Pro 13 and the Mac mini will be equipped with their own ARM-based silicon and Intel will be left behind.

For some MacBook fans, this could be a scary proposition because how well could the Apple M1 work if ARM's only showcase to date has been the very overwhelming initiative of Windows 10 on ARM? If you've read our MacBook Pro 13 M1 review, you already know the answer to that question. At least on this machine there is nothing to be afraid of. I put the MacBook Air M1 through its paces to see if the fanless version of Apple's initiative works too.

For this review, I got the entry-level MacBook Air M1 for $ 1,000 with just 8GB of RAM, a 256GB solid-state drive, and a 7-core GPU. There's another version that gives you 512GB of storage and an 8-core GPU for $ 1,250. My experience didn't even include the maximum 16GB of RAM that can be configured for a few hundred more dollars. Was I disappointed or did Apple pull a rabbit out of my hat?

performance

OK, I know it's not fair to imply that the Apple M1 is doing some kind of magic trick. After all, it is an eight-core CPU with four high-performance cores and four more that come into play for smaller tasks and a sip of electricity. It's just that it's an ARM-based technology that has pushed Intel's core CPUs into the background in terms of perceived performance for some time now. If the MacBook Air performs well, it's no magic. Rather, it is an impressive new technology that promises wonderful things to the MacBook range.

Macbook Air M1Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

There's no reason to keep you going: the MacBook Air M1 surprised me in a good way with its performance. And that's not just a comparison with the current Intel MacBook Air, which uses a 9-watt version of the Intel Core i3 and i5 CPUs that lag behind their 15-watt Windows 10 equivalents. No, the MacBook Air with the 10-watt Apple M1 is using the latest 12 to 28-watt Tiger Lake processors from Intel (this time, Intel gives a range rather than a static value) and in many cases gives them a good old value-fashionable beating.

Before we get into the numbers, let's get something straight. The Apple M1-based computers run the fastest with software written for the M1 architecture. This makes sense and includes all of Apple's software plus a few other applications and utilities. If it wasn't written for the M1, it runs through Apple's Rosetta 2 emulation layer. That means, of course, that it won't be as fast as native software. And sometimes, especially with software that requires hardware drivers, an application may not run at all.

Take Geekbench 5, for example, which runs natively on the M1. The fanless MacBook Air M1 performed slightly better than the fan-filled MacBook Pro 13 M1. We're talking 1,727 versus 1,707 in single-core mode and 7,585 versus 7,337 in multi-core mode, but it's still noteworthy that the less expensive and theoretically slower MacBook Air M1 was faster than the Pro. And with their four cores and eight threads, both machines achieved a significantly higher score than the currently fastest Tiger Lake laptops. The MSI Prestige 14 Evo, for example, has the fastest Tiger Lake CPU you can buy, the Core i7-1185G7, scoring just 1,593 and 5,904 points, respectively. Even the 45 watt Core i7-10850H with six cores in the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 couldn't keep up with the M1 and only managed 1,299 and 6,372.

Worried Apple would force you to give up performance on its transition? Do not be so.

Next, let's look at Cinebench R23, another benchmark app written for the M1. Here the MacBook Air M1 couldn't beat the MacBook Pro 13 M1, but it was in close proximity. And it came almost close to the Lenovo Yoga 9i with its 6-core Core i7-10750H in high-performance mode that cranks up the fans. Notably, the MacBook Air M1 was completely silent (no fans, duh) and barely got warm – I was able to comfortably hold it on my lap while it ran the test. I said before that it wasn't magic, but maybe I'm wrong.

I also did our handbrake test which encodes a 420MB file in two iterations in H.265. The first used Handbrake 1.3.1 which runs in emulation mode and the second used Handbrake 1.4.0 Beta which was written for the M1. In the first case, the MacBook Air M1 took about 4.5 minutes to complete the test. This is roughly the time it would take for laptops with the 10th generation Intel Core i5. In the latter case, the MacBook Air M1 completed the test in 2.8 minutes. This is comparable to 45-watt Intel laptops with six cores and Handbrake 1.3.1 and just eight seconds behind the MacBook Pro 13 M1 with the native version. Again, the laptop barely warmed up. These results provide an insight into the effects of a native on the M1 on an application.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, I ran some other tests in Adobe Premiere Pro (which is not yet optimized for the M1) using the PugetBench benchmark. MacBooks have been the go-to choice for many creatives in the past, but this has never been the game of the MacBook Air. Due to severe performance limitations on the Intel version, running one of Adobe's Creative Suites was a challenge. But the M1 changes all of that, even with the $ 999 MacBook Air.

The MacBook Air M1 competed heavily with the more powerful CPUs from Intel and made mince of the Tiger Lake laptops from Intel. I also ran a Premiere Pro encoding test that produced a 2GB 4K video and the MacBook Air M1 running in emulation was about 40 seconds faster than a Tiger Lake laptop.

Most impressive was that this level of performance ran through the emulation. Imagine how quickly Premiere Pro (and Photoshop, Lightroom, etc) will work if it's native in the M1. Getting that kind of performance on a laptop this thin, light, and fanless is a transforming moment for creative professionals who might want to carry around a smaller machine but don't want to compromise on performance. For the first time ever, you can get some serious creative work on a MacBook Air – and that's a big deal.

In practice, I've noticed some minor slowdowns in legacy applications like Microsoft Office (Microsoft released native versions right after the test report finished). This is especially true for the start: Office apps are only faster on Intel computers than on the MacBook Air M1. But the difference isn't so big that it bothered me, and if I didn't check the laptop, I probably wouldn't even notice. Of course, Mac OS itself and every application optimized for the M1 was incredibly fast.

What about games? I didn't run all of the gaming tests on the MacBook Air M1. This is supposed to be a productivity laptop, not a slot machine, after all. Fortnite ran at around 33 frames per second (fps), however, with a resolution of 1,680 x 1,050 and high graphics that are playable and faster than the Intel Iris Xe graphics from Tiger Lake. In Civilization VI, the MacBook Air achieved 51 fps with the same resolution and medium graphics and sank to 32 fps with ultra graphics. Again, this outperforms Intel Iris Xe laptops and competes with integrated low-end graphics such as the Nvidia GeForce MX350.

This completely silent, fanless laptop is a better slot machine than the equivalent Intel laptops, which you would never have expected from a MacBook Air. Note that I tested the seven-core GPU model. For $ 250 more, you can get an eight-core GPU model that will be … well … one core faster. This version also includes 512 GB of storage space.

Macbook Air M1Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Finally, I mentioned that not all applications will run on the MacBook Air M1, although I don't have many examples to give. The decisive factor was the software for my older colorimeter, which did not require the necessary drivers for the MacBook.

But most of the other apps I tried also ran in emulation and were as fast as I would get with at least a mid-range Intel laptop. There were outliers like the Epic Games Launcher, which was just as sluggish on the MacBook Air M1 as it was on the MacBook Pro 13 M1, but there were few.

Battery life

Performance is just one area in which the Apple M1 promises serious progress. The battery life is different – after all, it is essentially an ARM chip that is designed to be efficient. How efficient can a laptop be when it offers the same performance as CPUs that are purely designed for performance? Let's find out.

Macbook Air M1Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

First, I ran our standard web benchmark, which runs through a number of popular websites. This is the yardstick we use to emulate productivity longevity, and it works pretty well. The MacBook Air passed the 15.5-hour test, one of the longest results we've seen. The Lenovo Flex 5G with its own ARM processor – the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx – lasted about 50 minutes longer, but there is a catch. The Lenovo had a Full HD display (1,920 x 1,080), while the MacBook Air M1 has a Retina display with a resolution of 2,560 x 1,600. That's a huge perk for Apple – give it a Full HD display (not what you want) and we'd expect a few more hours of it.

Next, I ran our video benchmark, which runs through a Full HD Avengers trailer until the laptop shuts down. The MacBook Air M1 lasted 18.5 hours. Again, this isn't as long as some of the longest-lasting laptops we've tested, but it's by far the longest-lasting device with a high-resolution display. The Lenovo Flex 5G was stronger again with almost 28 hours, but it also benefited from its lower resolution display.

We usually use the Basemark web benchmark test to see how long a laptop with its CPU and GPU will last under heavy load. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to complete the test on the MacBook Air M1 so I won't be able to report on its longevity if you press it hard. However, given the M1's inherent efficiency, we expect that the MacBook Air M1 will allow you to spend a lot of time, even if you ask a lot of it.

design

Macbook Air M1Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The design of the MacBook Air M1 is unchanged from the Intel version. Literally. That said, it's the same wedge of machined aluminum that feels like an alchemical amalgamation of glass and metal. It is completely stable, without twisting, bending or bending. Apple is doing a few things right, and designing and manufacturing laptops that exude rugged elegance is one of them. You can choose from three colors – space gray, gold, and silver – and they all look beautiful.

It's also a very thin and light laptop that is 0.6 inches and 2.8 pounds. Windows 10 laptops like the Dell XPS 13 and HP Specter x360 13 have caught up and are either thinner and lighter or close to it, so the MacBook Air generally no longer maintains its superiority in that regard. And the MacBook Air M1 isn't as small in width and depth as some of its 13-inch rivals, either, as it still has the same relatively large bezels it struggles with. When you add a display with a 16:10 aspect ratio, you'll find that the MacBook Air M1 doesn't fit into the same tiny silhouette as some others.

Really, these are nits because the differences between these sizes are tiny. Perhaps the MacBook Air M1 would look a little more modern with smaller bezels, but it's not like you'll struggle to find room for it in your backpack.

Macbook Air M1Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Connectivity remains a weak point in the MacBook Air M1. You get two Thunderbolt 3 ports and a 3.5mm audio jack. That's it. There isn't even an SD card reader to get your photos and videos. Get ready to buy some dongles, and a Thunderbolt 3 dock would be a good idea. Note, however, that the M1 does not support external GPU cases.

The M1 version only supports a single external display, either via the Thunderbolt 3 ports or via a dock. The reasons are deeply technical and based on the M1 architecture. However, if you need more than one external display, the M1 version is not for you. Compare this to the typical Windows 10 laptop or Intel-based MacBook, which can support numerous displays of different resolutions. Even laptops in the same $ 1,000 price bracket can typically support more than one external display if they have a Thunderbolt 3 port, multiple USB-C ports, or even an HDMI port (hey, remember these?).

Display and speaker

Macbook Air M1Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Like the design, Apple kept the same display for the MacBook Air M1. It's a 2,560 x 1,600 IPS display that looks great. It's not in the same class as the MacBook Pro, but you still get good performance enough for everyone but the most demanding creative professionals.

The brightness was 389 nits, which is enough for a laptop with average productivity but not up to Apple's high-end standards. The color gamut is slightly wider than average at 100% sRGB and 79% AdobeRGB – most premium Windows 10 laptops are 98% sRGB and 73% AdobeRGB. These aren't that big of a difference, but if you're looking to edit photos and videos, you'll appreciate the extra percentage points. The accuracy is particularly good at 1.39, with 1.0 or less indistinguishable to the human eye and the quality standard and the contrast ratio of 1130: 1 is above average (we want to see at least 1000: 1, and so the MacBook Air M1 crosses our threshold here).

The bottom line is that you are going to love this display and you probably won't have many complaints. If you're a creative professional and need the widest color gamut, go for the Pro line. You can choose the MacBook Pro 13 M1, get the same performance, nearly the same battery life, and enjoy a higher quality display.

Macbook Air M1Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Another area where the MacBook Air M1 can't quite keep up with its Pro siblings is audio quality. The speakers are very nice, don't get me wrong. They are clear and bright, with excellent mids and highs and a hint of bass. There is no distortion at the maximum volume – the only problem is that the maximum is not very loud. So you're good at listening for yourself, but if you want to share with a crowd, you'll need external speakers. And when you want to rock, prepare to pull out your favorite headphones.

Keyboard and touchpad

The MacBook Air M1 features the new Magic Keyboard, which Apple designed to replace the unfortunate butterfly keyboard on previous models. And it's a damn good keyboard, maybe my favorite of all the laptops I've used and the only one that surpasses the excellent version that HP has added to its Specter range.

The keycaps are a nice size and there is enough travel that you don't feel like you are typing on a block of wood (I'm talking to you here, butterfly keyboard). Best of all, the switches are top notch, with superb precision and perfect ground action that lets you know you've pressed a button. I can type faster on this keyboard than any other, and I hate to give up on it when I switch to a Windows 10 computer.

Macbook Air M1Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The touchpad is also superior due to its haptic nature. It's bigger than most of the touchpads you'll find on 13-inch laptops, it's buttery smooth, and once you get used to the haptic aspect you probably have more control than most touchpads. Windows 10 touchpads have gotten a lot better over the years, but still haven't caught up.

Finally, use the Touch ID sensor embedded in the power button to sign in without a password. This works fine. It's comparable to Microsoft's Windows Hello technology, though you won't find facial recognition in the MacBook line-up yet. I missed this while using the MacBook Air M1, although I end up preferring to use a fingerprint reader.

Our opinion

We said the 2020 Intel MacBook Air is "a respectable choice for Mac fans on a budget". I'm going to change that here for the MacBook Air M1: it's a respectable choice for any MacBook fan looking for a smaller device that is perfectly quiet, charges forever, and is almost as fast as the MacBook Pro 13 M1. Not only will you save money anymore – you get a laptop that will blow your mind with its performance (especially since more apps have been developed for the M1) while being extremely thin and light.

However, there are some limitations. You can't get more than 16GB of RAM (neither with the Intel version) and are limited to just one external display.

Are there alternatives?

The same competition that applied to the Intel MacBook Air also applies here. Only you will find that in many cases they are slower and don't last as long on one charge. The Dell XPS 13 is the obvious choice that you can get for $ 980 with a Core i3-1115G4 CPU and the same amount of RAM and storage – but the MacBook Air M1 will blast it out of the water. Configure the XPS 13 with its fastest CPU and you will find that it is still slower than the MacBook in many applications.

The HP Specter x360 13 gives you the option of a better OLED display and the flexibility of a 2-in-1 for a few hundred more, depending on your configuration. But here, too, the MacBook Air M1 is the faster laptop.

Finally, the MacBook Pro 13 M1 is for anyone looking for the fastest M1 machine available (although the difference isn't nearly as big as you can imagine). The display gets better and the speakers will blow your mind. You'll also be spending at least $ 300 more.

How long it will take?

The MacBook Air M1 should have a lifespan of at least five years as Apple keeps its laptops up to date. Certainly the machine itself will last forever because of the build quality, and you'll love the support from Apple (if not the industry-standard 1-year warranty). And the MacBook Air M1 is getting faster and faster as more software is optimized for the M1 CPU.

Should you buy it?

Yes. The MacBook Air M1 isn't just for MacBook fans looking for something smaller. It is intended for any laptop buyer who is happy to move to Mac OS and wants to participate in the real future of ARM-based computing.

Editor's recommendations




05 Nov
Blog

Apple iPad Air (2020) Review: The iPad Pro for Everyone Else

iPad Air 4

“The iPad Air 4 is the iPad Pro for the masses. It's perfectly located to deliver an exceptional tablet experience without stepping into the territory of high-end laptop prices. "

  • Excellent hardware design

  • Strong battery life and USB-C

  • Wonderful display

  • Pro-level performance

  • Magic keyboard support

  • Fast fingerprint sensor

  • Base 64 GB memory

  • Expensive upsell to 256 GB

At first glance, the new iPad Air (4th generation) looks like a perfect Goldilocks iPad. Compared to the basic iPad, it offers dramatically better specifications, a completely new design, a much better display and twice as much basic memory. At the same time, it's $ 200 cheaper than the 11-inch iPad Pro, but it looks and feels almost identical. For all practical purposes, it delivers the same core experience, including support for Apple Pencil 2 and Magic Keyboard.

Is the new $ 599 iPad Air the tablet? In fact, it is perhaps the best value you can get in an iPad today.

Hardware, design and display

Apple has done an exceptional job with the design of the latest iPad pros, so I'm not the least bit annoyed that the iPad Air is a copy. The metal case is perfectly flat on the back – apart from the unevenness of the camera – and bumps up against flat sides. It just feels fresh and modern compared to the old curvy style – especially now that it matches the design of the iPhone 12. It's also available in a wider range of colors that are far more playful than any previous iPad. While most people prefer a dull color like my Space Gray model, you can go bright if you want to express your personality a little. (The iPad Pro is initially in gray and silver.)

iPad Air 4Andrew Martonik / Digital Trends

It is reasonable to think that design is difficult for you, but it is not. The transitions from back to side are nice and smooth, and the corners have a large radius. So it's very convenient whether you support it with just one hand or hold it in landscape orientation with two. And with its extremely light 1 pound weight evenly distributed, it definitely deserves its nickname "Air".

Since face recognition is missing in the Pro, a Touch ID fingerprint sensor is integrated in the power switch. It's well positioned to use with your right index finger when holding it vertically and your left index finger when holding it horizontally. And the initial setup process makes it clear that you need to teach it both ways. After this quick tutorial, the sensor was quick and accurate. While it might not be as seamless as Face ID, it is a perfectly usable method of authentication – and it no longer requires a large screen bezel embedded in the home button.

iPad Air 4Andrew Martonik / Digital Trends

The 10.9 inch display is just wonderful. There's just enough bezel for easy thumb grabbing when needed, but it's not so big that it feels chunky. It's not the same display as the iPad Pro, but to most people it looks like it could be. It has the same pixel density, extremely low reflectivity, wide color gamut, and True Tone color matching. It's not that bright technically, but I've never had any problems seeing the screen indoors or outdoors. The fact that it is a laminated display and has incredibly low reflectivity means that you can easily use it even in direct sunlight.

The hardware is perfect and the display is just wonderful.

The only flaw, if you could call it that, that I found is a bit of a white-pink color shift when viewing the screen a little off-axis, which really only comes into play when someone sitting next to you does too tablet looks at the screen. You can also point out that this display only has a refresh rate of 60Hz, not the dynamic 120Hz pro motion of the iPad Pro. If you're used to an iPad Pro, you'll find that if you're used to a different iPad, you'll never complain because iPadOS is so fluid that it really helps make up the difference.

Another pro-level feature of the Air is its speakers. You get an equal-sized pair of speakers that are split on the sides (in landscape mode) for balanced sound that can get incredibly loud. The placement makes it nearly impossible to block out all of the sound, and the 50/50 split makes it much more immersive for video watching.

Whether it was just an easy way out or a stroke of genius, making the iPad Air compatible with existing iPad Pro keyboard accessories is a huge benefit. That means the existing $ 179 keyboard folio (which, by the way, is nicer than the one for the basic iPad) and the absurdly expensive, but absolutely amazing $ 299 Magic Keyboard work with the air. If the Air had a specific design, it would likely just get stuck with a folio and not get its own version of the Magic keyboard.

The iPad Air almost requires a keyboard – and that will get you at least $ 170.

I picked a regular folio with my Air because I think it's absurd to spend $ 300 on a keyboard for a $ 600 iPad. But I can easily make the argument that you can justify this high price tag by saving $ 200 if you can't get the iPad Pro. And if you want to use iPad Air for a semblance of work or computer-like tasks, you absolutely need a keyboard. The keyboard folio definitely does the job and I can type on it very quickly, but I wish one of the two angles was shallower. It also has the same problem as all keyboard iPads (without the Magic Keyboard) in that it can be a bit shaky when you actually use it on your lap. This is just part of trying to turn an iPad into a laptop-level productivity machine.

Another slightly cumbersome part of this horizontal first-time use is the front-facing camera, which is on the left side when docked to the keyboard. The 7 mega-pixel sensor is fine and does the job for video calling at 1080p resolution. However, if you put it on the left so it looks like you're not paying attention, it always feels weird compared to a laptop.

Software, features and battery life

We all know the details of iPadOS 14 at this point. Coming from another iPad will make you feel at home in the air. With that big screen and added power, you'll want to refresh your knowledge of the myriad of multitasking gestures on iPadOS. Without knowing how to open split view and pan around to manage multiple windows, or use the gestures to quickly switch apps and pull up the dock without going home, you're missing out on the power of this computer. While iPadOS continues to struggle with convergence, there is no real benefit to learning all of its features. Once you do, you'll be amazed at how much you can do.

iPad Air 4Andrew Martonik / Digital Trends Andrew Martonik / Digital Trends

You can certainly achieve a lot in the air thanks to the A14 Bionic chip shared with the iPhone 12. It is technically faster for single-core performance than the A12Z in the iPad Pro, but also technically a bit behind for multi-core performance. Regardless, you wouldn't know the difference – the iPad Air flies through any task. You really only run into a limitation when using an intense graphical app and scrolling through Slide Over apps – but that's just a subtle delay. This is likely because the Air only has 4GB of RAM (storage) and the 6GB of the iPad Pro.

Apple is playing a big game with the multi-camera array and LiDAR sensor on the iPad Pro, but for most people, the simple 12-megapixel single camera in the air is more than enough for the occasional snapshot. Despite the hope that the high-end cameras and depth sensing would make the iPad Pro a revolutionary AR device for gaming and interior design, it just isn't. The vast majority of people will be happy that the Air has a smaller camera curvature and the price is lower.

The only spec that actually holds the iPad Air back is its storage, which is a meager 64GB in the base model. And there's only one upgrade option: 256GB for an additional $ 150. An upsell to more storage that is 25% off the base price is really tough, especially when you look at the easy storage upgrade for something like the iPhone 12, which is only $ 50 from 64GB to 128GB.

That being said, after two weeks I'm only using 22GB of my 64GB model, but maybe I'm not the heaviest iPad user as it is a secondary device to my MacBook Pro. However, if you want to use an iPad Air like most professionals would, loading huge "Pro" apps and loads of media content, that storage can quickly go away. Alternatively, you could really lean into iCloud – that $ 150 upsell fee could cover a 200GB storage plan for more than four years.

There's more than enough power here, and battery life continues to be a strong part of the iPad.

The main advantage of using an iPad over a similarly priced laptop is the battery. IPad Air can easily handle the heaviest workday, with more than 6 hours of on time and no battery degradation measures, and there's still plenty of battery left over. Simple tasks like streaming videos or surfing barely touch the battery, and iPadOS continues to be fantastic at using very little power when not in active use. Given that very few users use the Air as their sole computing device, there is no doubt that it can be part of your device usage every day and is chargeable for several days.

And gosh – I'm way too excited about this, but I don't care – the iPad Air now charges via USB-C! Yes, now I can charge my Air with the exact same cable and charger that I use with my MacBook and Android phones. Yes, I have an iPhone, so there are Lightning cables, but my apartment is littered with USB-C cables of all lengths and types, and charging my iPad is a breeze. It also has the nudge effect of being able to charge phones from the iPad, which is really nice in a pinch.

For your high price of $ 599, you also get a 20-watt USB-C charging brick in the box, as well as a nice (albeit short) USB-C cable. But I doubt I'll ever touch her.

Our opinion

The basic iPad is a tablet that you buy as a device – something you need, but you're not excited about. The new iPad Air is a tablet that you buy as a desirable tool – you want it and will strive to get the most of its features when it arrives. And it has to chop to deal with a whole lot of what you're going to throw at it.

The hardware is superb, as is the display, and nothing about the design or the feel in your hands makes you think for a second that you saved $ 200 on an iPad Pro. Apple has perfectly tailored the parts of the iPad Pro that most people don't care about and kept everything else that makes it great, including support for Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard. Pair it with a keyboard and learn about the quirks of iPadOS, and you can even turn it into a pretty powerful laptop replacement – as long as you know the limitations in the software, well beyond the ultra-capacitive specs.

The only downside for the air is the pricing if you don't need a keyboard and want to push the limits of the A14 Bionic. If this is just a tablet for media consumption and the casual browsing, then $ 599 is a steep price and you will lose the extra features of this hardware for you. But just knowing that you can do a lot more could be enough to spend the money and get this best all-around iPad model.

Are there any better alternatives?

There are only two alternatives to the iPad Air, and only one is a reasonable comparison. You can spend $ 429 on an 8th generation iPad with 128GB of storage, but honestly it's not a real competitor. The base iPad is a fine tablet for a lot of uses, but it's not in the same league in terms of performance or display quality and by no means exudes the feeling of being high-end in the manner of the iPad Air and doing Pro. It's also not compatible with Apple Pencil 2 or Magic Keyboard.

The real decision here is between the iPad Air and 11-inch iPad Pro starting at $ 799. For this money you get 128 GB of storage space as well as Face ID, a 120 Hz ProMotion display and additional cameras. Otherwise, the experience isn't that much different at the core functions and basics of what most people use the iPad for. Just like buying an iPhone 12 Pro or MacBook Pro, you're spending quite a bit more to get that last bit of extra power, performance, and features over the base model.

How long it will take?

One of the great advantages of purchasing an iPad of any tier is the great long term software support it provides. Expect iPad Air to get five more versions of iPadOS if you want to hang on to it that long. And even better, the iPad Air's incredibly powerful A14 chipset will keep these future iPadOS versions running smoothly.

Should you buy it?

Yes. If you've got your eye on an iPad Pro but don't want to spend that much money, the iPad Air is a great place to land. You'll get the most of your experience with an 11-inch iPad Pro, but you'll save a considerable amount of money.

Editor's recommendations




03 Oct
Blog

The Coway Airmega 150 is a Shoe Box-Sized Air Purifier

Everyone wants cleaner air, but the problem is that most air purifiers are big. Too large. If you live in a small apartment with limited space, you don't want a large machine to take up a lot of space. Coway hopes to solve this with the Coway Airmega 150, a compact smart air purifier that's about the size of a shoebox.

The new Coway Airmega 150 was developed for smaller spaces, but does not trade efficiency for compactness. The device uses a Green True HEPA multi-stage filter and removes 99.97% of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns. This traps in dust, pollen, and smoke, making it a fantastic choice for the fall and winter seasons when allergies flare up and many people have fires on their homes.

The sensor on the Airmega 150 shows you the air quality at a glance, and the LEDs on the machine change their colors to reflect the air quality in real time. The Airmega 150 has three different speed settings that allow you to control both the volume and the speed at which the air is cleaned.

The control panel on top of the Airmega 150 lets you control whether the light is on or off, toggle between automatic mode and fan speeds, and let you know when the filter needs to be replaced. Speaking of filters, it contains an easy-to-remove, washable pre-filter that extends the life of your filter with regular cleaning.

The Airmega 150 is 13.4 x 6.5 x 18.5 inches, making it compact enough to fit in almost any room. It is designed for rooms with a size of up to 214 square meters. While it may not be the best option for purifying the air in your living room, it is the perfect choice for most bedrooms (and some studio apartments).

Customers can also choose between several color options: sage green, pigeon white and soon peony pink. Who said practical gadgets can't be stylish?

The Coway Airmega 150 is available now on the Coway website for $ 190 in Sage Green and Dove White. With the fall allergy season in full swing, this is the perfect time to invest in an air purifier to improve the air quality in your home.

Editor's recommendations




30 Sep
Blog

NASA Announces Breakthrough in Search for ISS Air Leak

The search for an air leak aboard the International Space Station should be almost over.

NASA announced on Tuesday September 30th that it had successfully isolated the location of the leak in the main work area of ​​the Russian Zvezda service module. More work is in progress to find the exact location so it can be finally repaired.

The space agency was concerned to point out that the leak, first discovered 12 months ago, posed no risk to the three astronauts on board the ISS or to the integrity of the space station itself. However, a recent spike in the leak rate prompted NASA and its Russian counterpart Roscosmos to make more concerted efforts to track down the root cause of the problem.

The work, which has been on two weekends over the past five weeks, involved sending the ISS's current residents – Chris Cassidy of NASA and Ivan Vagner of Roscosmos and Anatoly Ivanishin – to isolate themselves in a specific section of the outpost with it Specialists on the ground could perform pressure tests throughout the station.

Both attempts failed to find the cause of the leak, most likely because the safe room the astronauts waited in during the pressurization tests is exactly where the leak has now been identified – the Zvezda service module.

The groundbreaking discovery came late Monday after ground controllers believed the air leak was suddenly getting bigger, although it turned out to be not. The incident prompted air traffic controllers to wake the three astronauts and ask them to conduct urgent searches using ultrasonic leak detectors. At that point the leak was attributed to the Russian module.

"Throughout the night, US and Russian specialists took pressure measurements to try to isolate the source of the leak," NASA said in a report on the incident. "By analyzing the soil of the modules tested overnight, the leak was isolated from the main work area of ​​the Zvezda service module."

Once the controls were completed, the crew reopened the hatches between the US and Russian segments and resumed regular activities.

With October being a busy month for cargo and crew arrivals, NASA and Roscosmos specialists are hoping to finally fix the air leak in the coming days.

Editor's recommendations




23 Sep
Blog

JLab Epic Air Sport ANC Review: Most Valuable Workout Buds

JLab Audio Epic Air Sport ANC

JLab Audio Epic Air Sport ANC

"The Epic Air Sport ANC is a game changer for workout earphones."

  • Easy setup

  • Stable, comfortable form of training

  • Excellent battery life

  • IP66 weather resistance

  • Good, customizable sound

  • Average call quality

  • Mediocre ANC

Okay JLab, now you just show.

A few days ago, we released our red-hot review of the JLab Audio Epic Air ANC, which is possibly the best value for true wireless earbuds available today. At least they were because JLab's fitness alternative to its stellar new lifestyle buds is here, and the $ 100 Epic Air Sport ANC may have set an already sky-high bar even higher.

What's in the box

Like most of the products I've tested from the JLab family, the Epic Air Sport ANC is incredibly easy to package. In addition to the charging case, in which the earphones themselves are kept, there are five additional pairs of earplugs and a quick guide, which is neatly stowed in an integrated case in the box. In particular, no charging cable is included as it is already included in the charging case itself.

JLab Audio Epic Air Sport ANCNick Woodard / Digital Trends

It was easy to set up as most modern day wireless earbuds have proven. There are plastic stickers on each earbud that must be removed before use. From there, all you have to do is hold down the touchpad on each bud for three seconds to go into Bluetooth pairing mode. Then you need to find them through your mobile device settings and connect. Granted, it's a step or two more than the simplest earbud, but it's still a quick process to start listening with your new buds.

With Bluetooth 5 technology, I experienced exceptional connectivity and range with the Epic Air Sport ANC. I routinely left my phone in part of my house and roamed my living space freely to do chores without a single slip or breakdown.

design

It's hard to find a design that just works. And the Epic Air Sport ANC's ear hook style works. It is widely considered to be the less popular design compared to the simple eartip style of traditional real radio buds like the Epic Air ANC, and it adds weight (10 grams per bud compared to the Epic Air's 8). But once you put these hooks around your ears, they'll stay in place. More than a week of extensive cardio workouts and workouts in the gym showed this. They may be less attractive, but they are of the superior design when keeping the buds in place is of the utmost importance, as is the case with training.

JLab Audio Epic Air Sport ANCNick Woodard / Digital Trends

The included earplugs create a solid seal in your ear. Like colleague at Digital Trends, Simon Cohen, I recommend the Cloud Foam tips because they feel soft and comfortable in my ears. They're not for everyone, of course, which is why there are five more pairs to choose from, but the Cloud Foam works best for me and does an excellent job of passively blocking out the sound.

The touch controls on each earbud are based on a multitouch system, and I've certainly had a lot of complaints in the past with poorly executed touch controls. While there have been a small handful of instances where the Epic Air Sport ANC didn't detect the correct number of taps, for the most part they responded impressively. These controls allow you to manage everything including volume, lane change, smart assistant activation, equalizer settings, active noise cancellation levels, and phone call controls. For $ 100, that's pretty much a pair of earbud controls – and they're all effective.

By the way, there isn't much to write about the charging case. It is larger than, for example, the cases for the Apple AirPods or Google Pixel Buds 2, which are generally regarded as perfectly insertable earphone cases. The Epic Air Sport ANC fits well in my pocket, but leaves significantly less space for a wallet or keys. These aren't usually things that you carry around to the gym or while running, so I wouldn't really call that a problem.

properties

The value of the Epic Air Sport ANC is firmly anchored in its functions. Almost everything these buds offer exceeds the limits of what we have previously thought possible in this price range. In all honesty, if we are judging things by trait alone, it's not fair that other buds have to try to assert themselves when the Epic Air Sport ANC are so good for this cheap one.

JLab Audio Epic Air Sport ANCNick Woodard / Digital Trends

First: Battery life: The Epic Air Sport ANC is designed for a battery life of 15 hours per charge without ANC and an additional life of 55 hours (!) In the charging case. When the ANC is activated, the playback time is reduced to 11 hours. They also have a quick charge feature that gives you an hour of playback after 15 minutes. In comparison, the Epic Air ANC has eight hours with the ANC on and twelve hours with the ANC off. The $ 200 Sony WF-SP800N is the only other bud that can compete in this category, but even those buds not only offer nine hours of ANC playback and 13 hours of regular listening – and double the price.

It's not fair for other pals to have to try and compete when the Epic Air Sport ANC are so good for so cheap.

The Epic Air Sport ANC has an IP66 weather resistance rating that gives you complete protection from dust and strong water jets. There are workout buds with better ratings, like the IP67 rating from Urbanista Athens for $ 120 or the IP68 rating from Anker Soundcore Spirit X2 for $ 80. But none of those buds can match the Epic Air Sport ANC's epic combination of battery life and weather resistance.

A far less miraculous, but still valued, feature is the Epic Air Sport ANC's wear detection sensor, which automatically pauses a trace when a bud is removed from your ear and resumes that trace the moment you put the bud back in. I deeply despise completely losing minutes of podcasts to earbuds that lack this feature. So believe me when I say I am personally delighted, these come with such a practical benefit.

Audio quality

I'm in the minority here, but I'm more excited about the way the Epic Air Sport ANC's sound can be customized than its initial audio quality. Don't get me wrong, the Epic Air Sport ANC sounds great right away and most people don't have to mess around with sound adjustments at all to get something that works well for them. But for those of us who can't help but craft, JLab has given us all the tools we could possibly need.

JLab Audio Epic Air Sport ANCNick Woodard / Digital Trends

The Buds touch controls allow you to switch between three preset EQs: Balanced, Bass Boost and JLab Signature Sound. Their tastes may vary, but I tended to use Bass Boost on my weightlifting playlists to get the most out of saturated low-end songs like Childish Gambinos 3005 or Kris Kross & # 39; Jump. Whenever I went for a walk with the dogs or ran in the afternoons, I chose the signature sound as it offered a less dynamic but more balanced profile that suited music outside the iron pumping genre.

Even if you don't like the standard sound of the Epic Air Sport ANC, if you play around with the settings long enough, you can likely get a cheap sound.

JLab goes a few steps further with the JLab Air ANC app, giving you the ability to dig straight into the frequency domain and fine-tune things to your liking. That, plus a movie mode option that allows dialog to be synchronized while watching clips on your mobile device, make these buds suitable for a wide variety of listening situations. Even if you don't like the standard sound of the Epic Air Sport ANC, if you play around with the settings long enough, you can likely get a cheap sound.

Disappointingly, the call quality is average on these fitness buds. The Epic Air Sport ANC has one microphone to remove ambient noise and another to pick up your own voice clearly. It's hard to tell which is the bottleneck, but my voice was blocked when making phone calls in louder environments. They were good for evenings at the emotional gym or quiet morning walks in the park, but on a sidewalk near a busy street it was an entirely different experience.

Noise cancellation

Something tells me that the glitch I dealt with during a call may have something to do with the active noise cancellation in the Epic Air Sport ANC, or frankly, poor execution. If there's an Achilles' heel hiding in the Epic Air Sport ANC, this is it. While we didn't expect a good ANC at all in this price range – at least not until the Edifier TWS NB2 hit the market – we still expect a better one when a company advertises it as a feature.

JLab Audio Epic Air Sport ANCNick Woodard / Digital Trends

As I mentioned earlier, the Epic Air Sport ANC creates a tight seal in your ear, resulting in high quality passive noise cancellation. However, if you do choose to enable active noise cancellation, it is truthfully difficult to tell a significant difference. In fact, listening to a podcast at low volume one morning, I could still clearly hear my cat chewing on her breakfast across the room, even after turning on ANC.

You can use the app to adjust the noise cancellation levels. I recommend turning ANC to the maximum setting to get the most out of what is an average best but mostly mediocre feature. On the flip side, the Epic Air Sport ANC's environmentally conscious setting has some powerful features that almost terrified me when I first turned it on while on an exercise bike at the gym. In contrast to the ANC levels, I would recommend reducing the ambient noise level just a little.

The Epic Air Sport ANC's industry-leading battery life at an affordable price should be enough for most athletes.

Our opinion

Average call quality and noise cancellation won't stop what is otherwise a game changer, not just for workout earbuds but for the true wireless earbud genre in general. Earhooks might not be the "in" look, but the Epic Air Sport ANC's industry-leading battery life at an affordable price should be enough to delight most athletes.

Are there any better alternatives?

The $ 120 Urbanista Athens was one of my new favorite workout pairs, but the Epic Air Sport ANC has a better battery and similar weather protection for $ 20 less. The Anker Soundcore Spirit X2 is probably the best new comparison to the Epic Air Sport ANC, as it also offers impressive features for just $ 80. But the latest from JLab surpasses the Spirit X2 in many ways for not much more.

How long will they last?

The Epic Air Sport ANC has a two year warranty and excellent protection against the irreconcilable elements of nature. I would try to avoid deep sea diving with these, but other than that, I don't think you should have any major concerns that the Epic Air Sport ANC is going to be out of service anytime soon.

Should you buy it?

Yes. The earhooks, mediocre call quality, and average noise cancellation will put some off, but don't let what an overall standout audio product distract you. The Epic Air Sport ANC is next to the Epic Air ANC a revolutionary earphone from JLab. Trust me when you say this, you don't want to miss out on the latest and greatest from one of the emerging brands in the real wireless world.

Editor's recommendations




17 Sep
Blog

JLab Epic Air ANC Review: Exceptional True Wireless Value

JLab Epic Air ANC

"The ANC won't wow you, but these buds are still insane value at just $ 99."

  • Amazing price

  • Customizable controls and EQ

  • Huge battery life

  • Wireless charging

  • Excellent ambient sound mode

  • So-so ANC

  • Bad call quality

JLab has made wireless headphones and true wireless earbuds in the past that offer a great mix of performance and features at shockingly low prices. The $ 29 Go Air and $ 149 Epic Air Sport are both good examples.

But both were clearly just warm-up exercises for what JLab has now brought out: the $ 99 Epic Air ANC, a set of noise-canceling true wireless earbuds with a feature set that seems to go on forever.

Has JLab finally promised too much and delivered too little, or is the Epic Air ANC setting a new benchmark for value? Note: you are amazing.

Let's see what all the fuss is about.

What's in the box?

JLab Epic Air ANCSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

JLabs crates have always been incredibly flimsy, cheap looking affairs. And while this may not score corporate points with shoppers looking at a range of competitive products on a retail shelf, I think it's great.

I love it because it's made entirely from easily recyclable paper and cardboard. The only plastic you'll find are two tiny removable stickers over the earbuds charging contacts. The rest is as guilt free as it gets.

In this box you will find the Epic Air ANC earbuds in the charging case, an easy-to-read and very well illustrated quick start guide and the included five additional earbuds (the earbuds come with the medium size installed).

design

JLab's true wireless earbuds come in three general shapes: the simple earbud-only design of the Go Air, the sport-oriented earhook design of the Epic Air Sport, and the AirPod-like earbud-plus-stem design of the Air Executive.

Workout addicts are insured: With an IP55 rating, these earphones can survive very little.

The Epic Air ANC uses the same design as the Air Executive. They are so similar that you may not even be able to tell them apart by looking closely.

The Epic Air ANC are a bit bulkier than Apple's AirPods or AirPods Pro, for example, but they're still remarkably light and don't look as massive as many of the top earbuds we tested like Sony's WF-SP800N or Sennheiser CX 400BT True Wireless .

With the touch controls on the outside you have full access to all the most frequently used functions. With a wear sensor on the inside, you can automatically pause your music when you remove an earbud – if you want.

Workout addicts are insured: With an IP55 rating, these earphones can survive very little.

The charging case is bulkier and less pluggable than many others on the market, but it makes up for its extra bulk by offering a built-in USB charging cable – a brilliant feature for those who often forget to bring cables when traveling. Better still, if the cable is ever damaged, the case can also be charged wirelessly.

Synthetic leather has a double function both as the outer surface of the housing and as a hinge for the lid. It's unusual and clever, but it does mean the lid moves a little even when it's closed, which reduces the overall feeling of quality.

Even so, the lid magnet and earbud docking magnets are strong enough to keep everything in place, which is really all that matters.

A three-LED display on the top shows the charging status of the case and the charging status of the earphones.

The Epic Air ANC may not win beauty pageants, but functionally they are very well designed.

Convenience, control and connections

JLab Epic Air ANCSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

If you've ever worn earphones in your ear and found them comfortable, you will likely like the fit of the Epic Air ANC.

If you don't, JLab should add five different sizes and styles of silicone earbuds, plus an additional pair of Cloud Foam earbuds to get them just right no matter your ear shape.

The quality of the seal is always important with in-ear earphones as it determines how good they sound. However, this is especially important with ANC earphones. Having a variety of earplugs to choose from definitely makes it easier to get a good seal.

Personally, I recommend the cloud foams. Memory foam earplugs don't last as long as silicone and not everyone likes the squishy feel they create in your ear, but they are super comfortable and make for a great, no-pressure seal.

Once you've found the best size and type of earbuds, the Epic Air ANC should fit just right and feel just the same. I found them to be more comfortable than some earbuds that cost more than double, which just goes to show that money can't always give you a good fit.

I don't like touch controls on earbuds because they tend to trigger when you don't want them to do something, or more often not respond properly (or not at all) when you need to.

JLab Epic Air ANC AppThe Epic Air ANC's touch controls largely avoided this trap, but there were still instances where I had problems. Some taps were not recognized and a double tap was sometimes only registered as a single tap. I would still prefer a really good set of physical buttons, like those on the Jabra Elite 75t, but as far as touch controls go, the Epic Air ANCs are perfectly serviceable.

While I'm not a fan of Touch Control, I'm really impressed that JLab's free Air ANC app for iOS and Android lets you customize the functionality of each earbud for each tap combination. With three tap combinations per earphone, this can cover almost anything you could want. The commands available are: play / pause (answer / end), skip tracks forward / backward, volume up / down, access to voice assistant, EQ mode and ANC mode (on, off, be aware).

The only thing to keep in mind is that if you are only using one earbud, then you need to make sure that the earbud controls have the following features – a great option for phone calls or when you need to be more aware of your surroundings and settings, that they need. There's no point in increasing the volume with a single tap on the left earbud when you need the right earbud to turn it down again.

The wear sensors worked like a charm and quickly paused and resumed music when you removed or inserted the earbuds. The app allows you to turn the feature off if you don't find it helpful.

Bluetooth pairing is easy and quick – just remove the earbuds from the case and select them from your Bluetooth system menu. The connection quality was very reliable, but in some cases – especially after a long pause with no music playing – the left earbud stopped responding. Quickly plugging both buds into the charging case and pulling them out again was a reliable way to get things back to normal.

The simultaneous pairing of devices (a.k.a. Bluetooth Multipoint) would be nice, but an unusual function even with more expensive earphones.

Battery life

True wireless earbuds have seen their battery life improve massively over the past 12 months, and the Epic Air ANC is near the top of that range.

With up to 48 hours without ANC, they'll be ashamed of all other true wireless earbuds.

JLab claims to be 8 hours with the ANC on and 12 hours off – just an hour less than the reigning champion, Sony's WF-SP800N.

Even more impressive is the charging case, which offers space for three full charges. This means at least 32 hours total time, but up to 48 hours with the ANC switched off. That puts all other true wireless earbuds to shame. Even the Sony WF-SP800N only offers a single charge for a maximum time of 26 hours.

Get an extra hour of gaming time with a 15 minute quick charge.

In reality, JLab's numbers are pretty much spot on. I left them on continuously with the ANC off and after 12 hours they were still on the go.

Sound quality

JLab Epic Air ANCSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

For its price, I think the Epic Air ANC sounds very good. You don't get the pristine sound quality of the Sony WF-1000XM3 or the Sennheiser CX 400BT, but these earbuds cost more than double what you pay for the Epic Air ANC.

When it comes to deep bass and crisp highs – the two areas that people notice the most – these earbuds don't disappoint.

I'm willing to bet that unless you already own a much more expensive earbud, you'll be amazed by the sound of the Epic Air ANC.

They offer very good frequency separation and when it comes to deep bass and crisp highs – the two areas that people notice the most – these earbuds don't disappoint. The bass response is full, but not overwhelming, and the highs, while not crystalline, are well defined. The midrange drivers are neither shiny nor lackluster and manage to make themselves heard even if they aren't quite the stars of the show.

And while they may not have perfect levels of detail or an extremely wide soundstage, they are surprisingly balanced for listening to a wide variety of genres.

As with virtually all of the earbuds and headphones I have tested, you will need a decent source to get the most out of these earbuds. I found a huge difference between listening to my personal collection of AAC format tracks on Apple Music and CD quality lossless offerings from Tidal or Qobuz.

More importantly, the JLab Air ANC app lets you tweak the EQ as you like. The equalizer has discrete levels for 10 frequency bands and you can save four presets with your favorite mixes.

JLab includes a "movie mode" which is designed to reduce the audio delay compared to the usual "music mode" so that the on-screen dialog matches what you are hearing. My iPhone 11's Bluetooth connection may already have very little latency, but I saw practically no difference whether or not the movie mode was activated. Both modes provided great synchronization when streaming Netflix and Disney + movies.

Noise cancellation

It is difficult to get a feel for the effectiveness of the Epic Air ANC's noise cancellation.

Whether you use the standard silicone earbuds or the cloud foams, the seal they offer is pretty good. This means that very little outside noise can get into your ear.

But even with strong passive noise isolation, ANC should show a noticeable decrease in some external noises. Unfortunately, this was not the case.

Switching between ANC off and on resulted in only the slightest decrease in lower frequencies. Even then, I could only tell when no music was playing.

JLab's Air ANC app lets you adjust the level of noise cancellation – a welcome feature – but maximizing the setting didn't do much to improve performance. They're certainly not AirPods Pro killers in terms of noise cancellation.

On the upside, the Be Aware mode that lets in sounds is excellent and the app-based customization gives you good control over how much sound is let in.

Call quality

The Epic Air ANC call quality is not an area of ​​strength. It's not a feature that true wireless earbuds are great at even on some very expensive models, but these earbuds are particularly weak.

External noises such as cars, lawn mowers, leaf blowers, and even a light breeze created strong aural competition for my voice and sometimes drowned it out completely.

It looks a lot better indoors, but even then your voice will suffer from shake.

On the other hand, the Be Aware mode makes making phone calls very convenient from the wearer's point of view, allowing you to hear your own voice with absolute clarity.

Our opinion

No matter how you look at them, the JLab Epic Air ANC are epic value at just $ 99. The ANC may not be spectacular, but with great sound isolation thanks to a variety of earplugs, it just doesn't matter. What can you not love with very good sound quality, enormous battery life and countless practical additional functions?

Is there a better alternative?

For $ 99 you might find true wireless earbuds with ANC and decent sound, but I'm not sure if there are earbuds at this price point that also have 12 hours of battery life, IP55 protection, wireless charging, fully customizable controls, and EQ offer a wear sensor.

You can spend less and get fewer features, like the extremely affordable Truengine SE Soundpeats for $ 40, or you can spend more and get slightly better sound quality with the Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro for $ 150, but nothing beats that Epic Air ANC for total value.

How long will they last?

The build quality of the Epic Air ANC seems to be on par for earphones in their price range. With an IP55 degree of protection and a very generous two-year guarantee from JLab, however, they should have a very long service life. The beauty of starting with batteries that last 12 hours is that even if they eventually drop to 50% capacity, they outperform a lot of brand new earbuds.

Should you buy it?

Yes. In the Epic Air ANC, JLab has developed a feature-rich and comfortable set of earbuds that offer an incredible price-performance ratio.

Editor's recommendations




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