Jabra Elite 3 Review: All Of The Basics On A Budget

Jabra Elite 3 true wireless earbuds.

Jabra Elite 3 review: all the basics on a budget

RRP $ 80.00

"Jabra's Elite 3 are a good selection of basic buds that want us to have a few more features."

advantages

  • Super comfortable fit

  • Excellent controls

  • Excellent call quality

disadvantage

  • Fewer functions than the competition

  • No AAC codec support

For years, Jabra's elite family of true wireless earbuds has been some of the best you can buy. But they were never particularly affordable, with regular prices often starting at $ 180. So to think of a set of Jabra earbuds that keep the brand's reputation for great sound, great fit, and great features at well under $ 100 is very appealing. That's the premise behind the new $ 80 Jabra Elite 3.

The price is certainly right, but has Jabra ditched too many of the Elite's signature features to achieve such cost savings? Let's check them out.

What's in the box?

Jabra Elite 3 true wireless earbuds included.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Jabra has done an exemplary job reducing its product packaging, and the Elite 3 are further proof that you don't need to use plastic or foam to protect your product. The cardboard is 100% recyclable and the only touch of plastic (which is also made from the easily recyclable PET variety) is the small protective cover for the two optional earbuds. (You get a total of three sizes.) Inside you will find the Elite 3 earbuds, their charging case, a short USB-A to USB-C charging cable and a printed warranty brochure.

draft

Jabra Elite 3 true wireless earbuds alongside the Jabra Elite 75t.Jabra Elite 3 (left) and Jabra Elite 75t. Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

If it isn't broken, the saying goes, don't fix it. And Jabra has clearly followed this cliché with the Elite 3. The design of the earbuds is very similar to the Elite 75t and Elite 85t in that they maintain the ultra-comfortable ergonomics of these more expensive earbuds. But the Elite 3 also improves on these designs by increasing the size of the physical multi-function buttons and tilting the scale at a slightly lighter weight.

The charging case is also a near-perfect carbon copy of the 75t, albeit a bit shorter, and places the LED display on the front instead of the back. Jabra introduced this on the 85t and it's great to see it's been kept on the Elite 3.

They fit my ears perfectly – almost as if they were made just for me.

The case lid is easy to open and close, with a small notch in the hinge arm to keep it open when removing or reinserting the earbuds. There's no way an earbud can accidentally come off once in the case – a strong set of magnets conveniently grips the earbuds as they get close to their charging jacks, holding them firmly in place. Thanks to the shape of the buds, despite the power of the magnets, they're surprisingly easy to remove.

Jabra has also given the Elite 3 the same IP55 water and dust resistance as the Elite 75t, which should protect them from damage as long as you don't immerse them in water.

Comfort, controls and connections

Jabra Elite 3 true wireless earbuds.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Jabra's earbuds have always been some of the most comfortable you can buy, and the Elite 3 continues that tradition. They fit my ears perfectly – almost as if they were made just for me. There were no pressure points and they remained securely in place after insertion. Thanks to their small size and light weight, they are hardly noticeable. You shouldn't have a problem using them on your walks, runs, or other activities.

The Elite 3's buttons are Jabra's best yet.

Jabra's physical button controls are also some of the best in the true wireless world, and the Elite 3's buttons are the company's best yet. Since they occupy the entire outer surface of the bud, it's impossible to miss, and their precise click response means you'll get that tactile feedback every time you press it.

The click patterns (single, double, triple and click-and-hold) give you access to playback, call management, track skip, volume and voice assistant, as well as a one-click function to activate transparency mode (which Jabra calls HearThrough). ). I like the patterns Jabra chose for these controls and that you can use both earbuds solo if you want. But what I miss is the MyControls option that is available on the Elite 75t and 85t Buds, which gives you the ability to reassign which key clicks do those actions.

Another feature that is missing in Action is the automatic pause. Jabra's more expensive headphones use in-ear detection to pause and resume sound when you remove or reinsert them, but the Elite 3 lacks that capability.

Pairing the Elite 3 is a breeze. especially if you are an Android user thanks to the integration of Google's Fast Pair technology. After connecting, the bluetooth signal stayed strong and stable. I was able to put 30 feet of space between the buds and my phone before I noticed a disconnection.

It's a bit of a disappointment that they don't sound better than the competition.

The Android-only features don't stop there. You can also use Amazon Alexa instead of the Google Assistant, and with Jabra, Android users can swap voice assistant controls for double-tap access to Spotify. Use this option and your Spotify songs will start playing right away.

Unfortunately, Jabra decided to drop one of its signature features with the Elite 3: unlike other Jabra earbuds and headphones, you cannot connect the Elite 3 to more than one device (such as a smartphone and a computer) at the same time. It's a super-handy feature, especially for people who regularly switch between voice calls and video calls.

Sound quality

Man with Jabra Elite 3 true wireless earbuds.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

For the occasional listening, the Elite 3 are good performers. The factory sound signature is balanced, preferring neither highs nor lows, and there is decent detail and separation of the mids. It's the kind of vibe that works well with almost every genre of music, from hip-hop to classical, though it's not really stellar in any of them.

The bass response is satisfactory, although I think it doesn't quite live up to Jabra's "strong bass" promise. It's definitely strong enough to let you feel the beat – my test track, Billie Eilish’s Bad Guy, had a lot of oomph – but if really big bass is your passion, then you should look elsewhere.

However, when comparing the Elite 3 to other earphones in this price range – like the Soundcore Life P3, Wyze Buds Pro, and Earfun Air Pro and Air Pro 2 – the Elites definitely feel like they're lacking some energy.

Jabra's set-up feels almost conservative compared to these other models, with a not-so-clear high-end and a relatively narrow soundstage. It's not dramatic, but considering how many features Jabra left out to bring these Buds to their $ 80 price point, it's a bit of a disappointment that they don't sound any better than the competition.

Thinking this might be the result of the Elite 3's lack of AAC Bluetooth codec support, I switched from my iPhone 11 to a Google Pixel 5 to try out the Qualcomm aptX codec. Warmth and detail have improved slightly, but the clarity in the highs, especially with female vocals, has remained mellow.

Jabra gives you several EQ presets to play with in the Sound + app – like Bass Boost, Treble Boost, and Energize – but none of them added as much to the overall quality as I hoped. And right now there is no way to create your own custom EQ (Jabra says this will come with a firmware update).

Battery life

Jabra Elite 3 true wireless earbud charging case.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Jabra claims the Elite 3 can get you 7 hours on a charge. If anything, that number could be more conservative. With HearThrough turned off and the volume set to 50%, I ended up with 7.5 hours before the batteries ran out.

A quick charge option adds an extra hour to your listening time with just 10 minutes of charging, and the case holds three full charges for a total of 28 hours before you need to find a USB charger.

Transparency mode

Jabra's HearThrough mode has always been one of my favorite features in the Elite series. They do an excellent job at passive noise isolation so it is really valuable to direct the outside world for conversation or just general awareness. Turning HearThrough on and off is almost instantaneous, and the Elite 3 won't bother you with verbal feedback like other earbuds – instead of a message like “HearThrough On,” you'll get a quick and discreet tone to let you know that mode has itself changed.

The quality of transparency isn't quite as good as Apple's AirPods Pro or Jabra's Elite 85t – your own voice still sounds a bit muffled – but it's fine for most external noises.

Call quality

Jabra Elite 3 true wireless earbuds.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Achieving good call quality with a set of real wireless earbuds can be a big challenge. Even buds that cost more than three times what Jabra charges for the Elite 3 – like the Klipsch T5 II ANC for $ 299 – can end up producing less than great results.

And yet the Elite 3 are great for making calls. Not only do they excellently block out background noise, they also deliver excellent speech reproduction. There's none of the usual wobble or compression noises that plague these devices, and when you're in a quiet area, your callers will be treated to a comfortably warm tonality that may even sound better than the microphone built into your phone.

When sidetone is on, you can hear yourself more clearly when you speak. All of this makes the Elite 3 a great accessory for those who make a lot of voice calls.

What is missing?

At this price point, it might not be reasonable to expect a brand like Jabra to offer all of the features of their high-end models, but there's no denying that the competition does just that. the Soundcore Life P3, Earfun Air Pro 2, and Wyze Buds Pro all cost $ 80 or less and include features like wireless charging and active noise cancellation (ANC). The Earfun and Wyze models also have an automatic pause.

But I'm more surprised at the lack of app-based features that the Jabra usually has, like sleep mode (which allows you to turn off the earbuds after a preset time), soundscape (a collection of sounds like rain, ocean waves, songbirds, etc. .), the ability to see how much battery life is left in the charging case, and the ability to automatically mute your audio when HearThrough mode is selected.

Our opinion

With the Elite 3, Jabra shows its strengths with first-class design, comfort and fit, controls and call quality. But given what the competition is offering for the same price or less, they're not quite as easy to recommend as the company's more expensive models.

Is there a better alternative?

In terms of call quality and convenience, I don't think you will find a better set of earbuds at any cost, but given the lack of advanced features on the Elite 3, these models should definitely be considered:

  • Soundcore Life P3: Better sound quality, ANC, customizable controls, customizable EQ, longer battery life, wireless charging, low latency gaming mode and Find My Earbuds.
  • Wyze Buds Pro: Better sound quality, ANC, Amazon Alexa compatibility, auto-pause and wireless charging.
  • Earfun Air 2 Pro: Better sound quality, ANC, longer battery life, wireless charging and automatic pause.

How long will they last?

Jabra products are very well made and use high quality materials. With an IP55 protection class against water and dust, the Elite 3 should prove to be quite robust, and Jabra supports this water / dust protection with a two-year guarantee that gives you great security.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. You might not throw it off the beaten track in terms of features, but they do Elite 3 are still a great set of true wireless earbuds that are especially good for those who are struggling to find a comfortable seat and / or make a lot of calls.

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Oral Health: 4 Dental Care Basics

Consistent care is required to maintain healthy teeth and a beautiful smile. Even if everyone around you is telling you that you have beautiful teeth, it is still important to take proper precautions to avoid complications such as tooth decay and gum disease.

Oral health means more than cavities as it relates to your overall health as well. In addition, if left unchecked, oral health issues can lead to pain, tooth loss, and lower self-confidence. By the time you're reading this article, you probably already know the importance of maintaining healthy teeth and gums.

These basics of dental care will help you reduce the time you spend at the dentist and make your appointments more enjoyable. It also saves you time and money on costly procedures.

What causes tooth decay?

You may not like the sound of it, but your mouth is a thriving ecosystem with large communities of bacteria that feed on the sugars in the foods and drinks you consume. The main purpose of brushing your teeth is to remove plaque, which is the biofilm made from these bacteria that builds up on the surface of your teeth along the gumline and below the gumline.

The bacteria that form this plaque release acids that eat away at the protective enamel and lead to cavities. These acids also irritate the gums, making them red, tender, and prone to bleeding. This can also lead to gum disease. The gums pull away from the teeth and form pockets. These pockets can fill with bacteria and become infected. If left untreated, gum disease can lead to bone and tissue loss. Your teeth may come off or need to be removed.

If you don't remove this plaque regularly, over time it will mix with minerals from your saliva, harden, and become tartar. You can't remove tartar just by brushing. At most, you can floss it off a little, but you will have to go to a dentist to have it professionally removed. If you've noticed tartar on the back of your teeth or along the gums, find a dentist near you and make an appointment. For example, you can simply google the dentist in Blackburn and read the reviews.

Don't go to bed before brushing your teeth

You have most likely been told to brush your teeth after every meal. You don't have to do it right away, but if you can, try within 30 to 60 minutes of eating. And while ideally after every meal, twice a day may be enough as long as you don't eat a lot of starchy and sugary foods.

It is especially important that you brush your teeth before bed so you can remove the plaque that has built up over the course of the day rather than several hours to multiply and produce the harmful acids mentioned earlier . You should also keep in mind that saliva production decreases during the night, which allows the bacteria to multiply better.

Use the correct brush technique

The way you brush your teeth is just as important as the frequency. So don't rush. It should take about two or three minutes.

You want to apply a pea-sized swab of fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride is a mineral made of fluorine and prevents cavities. Use a soft-bristled manual toothbrush or an electric toothbrush to avoid damaging your gums while brushing your teeth.

Place your toothbrush against the gumline at a 45-degree angle. This makes it easier for the bristles to reach the plaque between your teeth. Move the toothbrush in a circular motion. Don't press too hard, as this will change the angle of the bristles, making the brush movement less effective and potentially damaging your gums.

You'll also want to clean the inside of your lower and upper front teeth by angling the toothbrush and brushing in small circles with the bristles on top. Plaque has a very soft consistency so you don't have to scrub it away. These gentle movements are more than enough.

Don't forget to clean your tongue as well, as this will help remove some bacteria and freshen your breath. Again, use gentle motions and don't scrub.

Since the toothbrush bristles wear out and are less effective, you'll need to replace them every three or four months.

Flossing is just as important as brushing

Even with the best brushing technique, your toothbrush cannot reach the plaque in the narrow spaces between your teeth. Therefore, you need to floss at least once a day before bed.

To use floss properly, you should break off about 18 inches of floss. Wrap most of this around the middle finger of one hand and a little around the middle finger of the other hand so you can stretch a small section of an inch in between. This is the section you will use for flossing. As you move from one field to another, unwind the floss you used on one middle finger and fresh floss on the other.

As you slide the floss between your teeth, press it up with your index finger while making a rubbing motion. Don't press it too hard or it will snap against your gums and injure them. After sliding the floss up to your gum line, curve it against a C-shaped tooth. Now all you have to do is rub the side of that tooth with an up and down motion.

If you find flossing difficult, there are some alternatives like water silk.

Go to the dentist regularly

You should go to the dentist every six months. This gives you the opportunity to professionally clean your teeth and remove tartar that may have built up on the gumline to help prevent gum disease. Also, your dentist can check for cavities or other problems before they get more serious.

You should also make an appointment if:

  1. You have noticed an unusual sensitivity to heat and cold
  2. Your gums seem to be peeling away from your teeth
  3. Your gums bleed when you brush your teeth
  4. The gums are red, puffy, and tender
  5. It hurts when you chew
  6. You have persistent bad breath

Dell S2721QS Review: 4K Basics At A Great Price

Dell S2721QS

"The S2721QS from Dell is a simple, no-frills 4K monitor with excellent build quality and an excellent warranty."

  • Excellent workmanship

  • 3 year advance guarantee

  • Clear 4K picture

  • Accurate colors

  • Inconspicuous connectivity

  • Basic equipment

  • Not a lot of bandwidth for photo editors

Dell's 27-inch USB-C monitor is a good buy at around $ 400 – but what if you don't care about USB-C and want a sharper image? For this audience, Dell developed the S2721QS, which offers a 4K IPS panel and simple connectivity for practically the same price. In fact, it's currently reduced to just $ 340, making it one of the more budget-friendly 4K monitors out there. But is it good enough to make our list of best monitors?

design

The Dell S2721QS comes in a large, slim white box. As you unpack, you will be greeted as usual with one of Dell's excellent stands. This has a slightly different design than the P- and U-series monitors, with the back of the foot rounded and the sides angled inward. It's also lighter in color and the neck has a more slender profile than before.

The height, tilt, and rotation settings in portrait mode are valued by home office users as they enable healthy posture

You lose the swivel function on the stand, but that's not a huge loss at the price, and you keep the great height adjustment, tilt and rotation to portrait – the most important options. As the monitor is designed for use in the (home) office, these adjustments are particularly appreciated as they help you maintain a healthy posture.

The rest of the display is inconspicuous. Boring, but not bad. The back of the monitor is made of durable white plastic, which makes the monitor look like a giant piece of chiclet chewing gum. It looks professional, has slim bezels on the top and sides of the display, and fits in most homes and offices.

However, if you're looking for something a bit more stylish, then you must check out Dell's ultra-thin S2719DC instead.

Connections and controls

At that price, of course, concessions have to be made, and those are additional features. The Dell S2721QS is a monitor and little more. It has two HDMI inputs and a DisplayPort connection. You won't find any USB-C connectivity here, nor a built-in USB hub or any other luxury. The only extra is the inclusion of built-in speakers. They're nondescript and sound thin, but they make a sound loud enough to be heard. So this is a win.

The OSD in the Dell S2721QS offers a fair number of options for a monitor of this type, but some are missing. The OSD is unusually pixelated for a 4K monitor. It has brightness and contrast controls, PiP settings (picture-in-picture), RGB color adjustments, sharpness, response time settings and much more. What is missing? We found that there is no way to adjust the white point temperature, which by default deviates a little towards the cold side. This adjustment is common even with monitors at this price.

With the buttons below, the OSD is always within reach, although in practice you rarely, if ever, have to get involved.

picture quality

Since Dell's S2721QS doesn't score high on features, you can see how the image quality affects it.

With a 4K IPS panel (3840 x 2160 pixels), it offers an incredibly sharp picture, especially when you consider that it gives you that resolution at a diagonal size of only 27 inches. You'll have to rely heavily on Windows screen scaling, which doesn't work too well, but that's not the monitor's fault (macOS image scaling works better). 4K video, pictures, and general usage look extremely sharp, but older programs may look small or blurry. Even so, you'll only find a sharper image on Apple's 27-inch iMac 5K or a 24-inch 4K monitor.

Dell's numbers indicate a brightness of 350 nits and a static contrast ratio of 1300: 1. Our tests showed that the monitor is capable of exceeding these brightness levels and hitting almost 400 nits, in contrast, at 790: 1, it's a bit disappointing. After calibration, it improved to 940: 1.

Since the S2721QS from Dell offers 4K resolution on a 27-inch panel, the image is extremely sharp

Dell claims 99% coverage of sRGB storage space, which is what you should expect from most midrange monitors. Our tests confirmed this number, and we also measured 76% AdobeRGB coverage and 82% of DCI-P3 storage space. If you only use this monitor for internet browsing and basic office tasks, it will work just fine.

You need to look for a full color gamut monitor like the Acer ConceptD CM2 if you need anything for color grading in photography and video editing, or you risk cropping – a phenomenon where colors may appear correct to you when you are at the end of your monitor's gamut, but look more intense on someone else's display or in print.

Gaming performance

Why is there a segment here for gaming performance? This is not sold as a gaming monitor. However, Dell has equipped the S2721QS with Adaptive Sync technology, which is based on AMD's Freesync, and in our tests we also confirmed G-Sync support for Nvidia cards.

The 60Hz refresh rate won't make you the most competitive player on the online battlefields, but adaptive sync will take care of the tearing and some stuttering. Of course, the 4K resolution means you'll need a ton of GPU grunt to get anywhere near the 60Hz refresh rate. Due to the adaptive synchronization, frame rates between 30 and 60 frames per second should still appear fluid thanks to uniform image stimulation. In other words, you'll have a clearer and more consistent experience than without FreeSync or G-Sync support.

Of course, for a more playful monitor, check out 144Hz displays like the Razer Raptor 27. Note, however, that you will likely have to sacrifice resolution to get a higher refresh rate, as most monitors offer 1440p or 1080p resolution at around 60Hz. This Dell can be useful for gamers who prefer extreme image quality over high frame rates, as it delivers a razor-sharp and attractive image.

Our opinion

If you are looking for a solid 4K monitor at an affordable price, the Dell S2721QS is probably the one for you. Apart from the sharpness, it is not outstanding in any area, but more than sufficient for everyday use. It delivers a clean, crisp image with no major imperfections to distract you.

This monitor also has great build quality with a solid range of ergonomic options. Think of this as Dell's entry-level option for a 4K monitor while maintaining great materials quality and warranty and you are on the right track.

Are there alternatives?

Absolutely. If you're not interested in the elaborate stand or material quality, LG offers a 27-inch 4K IPS monitor with similar specs for significantly less. LG also has the 27BL85U, which comes similarly outfitted with an equally impressive stand for roughly the same price, and this one includes USB-C. If you're looking for something in this format and resolution, but with a wider color gamut for photo work, the Dell U2720Q may be better for you, albeit at a higher price.

How long it will take?

The Dell S2721QS should have a lifespan of at least five years, of which Dell covers three years with an advance replacement warranty. This means that in the event of a disaster, the company will send you a new (refurbished) monitor first and then let you return the old one after you are set up.

Should I buy it?

Yes. If you want a simple, no-frills 4K display, you can't go wrong with the Dell S2721QS.

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Eufy Security Indoor Cam 2K Review: Covering The Basics

Eufy Security Indoor Cam 2K on the table

Eufy Security Indoor Cam 2K

"Eufy's Indoor Cam 2K delivers impressively sharp video quality."

  • Excellent 2K video footage

  • Inexpensive

  • Local storage option

  • Easy setup

  • Boring design

  • Weak internal speaker

Inexpensive cameras usually have a less than excellent reputation. But now and then someone comes and surprises us. One example is the Wyze Cam V2, which offers exceptional functions at a very low price.

We recently put Eufy's latest offering, the Indoor Cam 2K Pan and Tilt, through its paces and were amazed at what a $ 50 surveillance camera could offer. Now it's time for another affordable camera – the Eufy Security Indoor Cam 2K. It has all the functions of its sibling, minus the pan and tilt function. And it's only $ 40.

2K material that won't disappoint you

By far the best thing about the Eufy Security Indoor Cam 2K is the razor-sharp 2K video material that has a resolution of 2304 x 1296 pixels. The quality looks the same as in the pan-and-tilt version. This is not a big surprise as the same 1 / 2.7-inch sensor with a 125-degree field of view is used.

Eufy Security Indoor Cam 2K camera close-upJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

Details are plentiful, while colors tend to get a little saturated. Overall, the footage is impressive, but the dynamic range could be better as the highlights tend to be overblown compared to the scene's neutral exposure. Impressively, there is no major deterioration even with night vision material. It's good to keep details, even in almost pitch-black conditions.

Not much to see

Eufy didn't think much about its design. The Security Indoor Cam 2K is made entirely of plastic and is lightweight and is supplied with power via a micro USB connection. The camera's square box is located on the top of the base so that it can be adjusted for the ideal view. It does the job, but there's nothing noticeable about the design.

It's good to keep details, even in almost pitch-black conditions.

Since it is a static camera, you have to be strategic when placing it, as the field of view is 125 degrees narrower than most other cameras. Corners are ideal and offer the best vantage point to cover rooms. It comes with a mounting plate with which it can be attached to a wall. However, you should still be careful (or bring an extension cable), as the power cord is only about 3 m long.

A basic surveillance camera

As is to be expected in view of the price, it is a basic surveillance camera. It marks all the markings in what you want to include so that a simple setup is done in no time and nothing more.

Once you've downloaded the Eufy Security app, you'll find controls for motion zones, notifications, and motion detection. It does a great job of detecting people and pets that appear as a notification with a small screenshot. You can set the sensitivity so that you are not bombarded every time something is discovered.

The choice is always a good thing, which is why I appreciate that the Eufy Security Indoor Cam offers 2K cloud and local storage options. If you choose the former, you get a free 30-day trial of Eufy's cloud storage, saving you up to 14 days of recordings. You will then see $ 2.99 per month for a single camera or $ 29.99 for an annual subscription.

Eufy Security Indoor Cam 2k Rating 7 out of 8

Eufy Security Indoor Cam 2k Rating 8 by

Whenever the camera is accessed for a live view, the camera's LED status indicator lights up blue.

The built-in speaker isn't particularly loud. So don't rely on the siren's alarm to scare someone away. However, your pets may be scared at first when the camera detects them and shouts, "Hey, what are you doing there?"

It is possible to switch off the camera in the app and effectively switch off the camera and microphone. If you're worried that Big Brother is watching, you can rest easy. However, Eufy is still missing two-factor authentication, and that's a privacy issue.

Our opinion

If you can exceed the additional $ 10, choose Eufy's other camera – the Eufy Security Indoor Cam 2K Pan and Tilt. I think Pan and Tilt's heading feature is worth the extra $ 10. Nevertheless, the Indoor Cam 2K works just as well as its siblings, and you can save yourself a Hamilton if you absolutely do not need the pan / tilt function.

How long it will take?

This should hold better than the rotating model because there are fewer moving parts. In the event of a malfunction, Eufy grants a 1-year limited warranty for defects.

Is there a better alternative?

As mentioned earlier, the Eufy Security Indoor Cam 2K Pan & Tilt is the better buy at $ 50. You pay a little more, but you get this 360-degree coverage – and more security in terms of privacy because the camera is not visible. Alternatively, the Wyze Cam V2 remains the benchmark to beat due to its outstanding cost of $ 20.

Should you buy it

Yes. The price is affordable and the image quality of the camera is impressive.

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