22 Jan
Blog

Wyze Scale S review: Highly functional and affordable

The Wyze Scale S provides numerous health metrics at every weigh-in.

Wyze Scale S review: Highly functional and affordable

RRP $18.99

"The Wyze Smart Scale S offers a full range of health-related metrics at an affordable price."

benefits

  • Payable

  • Easy to use and set up

  • Tracks a variety of health information

  • Allows multiple user profiles

disadvantage

  • Only works with a few third-party applications

  • Does not always record measurements

It's January and that means thousands of people are trying again to reach their goal weight. It also means that Libra isn't always your friend. After a strict diet, waking up before dawn to go for a run, and all the other steps you take to shed those pounds, you step on the scale hoping you've shed a few numbers.

The problem is that exercising isn't just about weight loss — you're building muscle at the same time, and muscle weighs a lot more than fat. Did you know that a bodybuilder can technically be "overweight" despite being in better physical shape than 90% of other people?

The Wyze Scale S provides numerous health metrics at every weigh-in.

The Wyze Scale S can help you more accurately measure your actual body composition, not just your weight. I tried it for a couple of weeks.

More than just a scale

As with most smart scales, the Wyze Scale S requires you to stand barefoot on its four sensor points. It takes several seconds before you get a display that not only shows you your weight, but also your body mass index (BMI) and muscle mass. This is the standard tariff for most smart scales, but the Wyze Scale S takes it a step further with a lot more information, including:

  • body fat
  • muscle mass
  • body water
  • lean body mass
  • bone mass
  • protein
  • visceral fat
  • BMR
  • metabolic age

The scale provides an incredibly detailed breakdown of key readings about your body. But while this information is useful, it's also not entirely accurate. These measurements are all estimates based on algorithms. You would need an actual medical device to give you accurate readings of this information, but the Wyze Scale S can give you a rough idea of ​​your current fitness level.

Every time you step on the scale, your numbers are automatically recorded in the app (assuming your phone is within Bluetooth range). The app creates a graph of your weight history over time.

You would need an actual medical device to give you accurate readings of this information, but the Wyze Scale S can give you a rough idea of ​​your current fitness level.

When you select body fat, muscle mass, or another metric, it explains what each term means and also shows your own measurements on a color-coded chart. It shows where you are on the chart using terms like average, below average, or above average, which is helpful when you're not exactly sure what the numbers mean or what a healthy range is.

The features don't just stop at the scale, however. The app itself also includes some useful tools – like the ability to measure your heart rate. The way it does that is kind of interesting too. You will be prompted to cover your phone's rear camera with one finger and then cup the phone with your other hand so that the light reflects towards your finger.

The Wyze Scale S companion app automatically tracks your weight every time you step on the scale.

Your phone's camera measures the pulsation under your skin and is fairly accurate. I tested it with a high-end fitness tracker at the same time and got the same result. If you want to quickly check your heart rate during a workout (and the old method of pinching your fingers to your neck and counting just doesn't work for you), the Wyze app can pull through in a snap.

However, in my opinion the best feature is the pet/kid mode. Have you ever wondered how much your pet weighs? This mode allows you to step on the scale empty-handed, then step on the scale with your pet and calculate the difference in weight, giving you an accurate measurement for your pet (or child).

Spoilers: My chunky cat weighed 14.9 pounds and strongly refused to be weighed.

If you want to quickly check your heart rate during a workout, the Wyze app can come through in no time.

The main problem I've encountered with smart scales is that they tend to focus on a single user. The Wyze Scale S allows you to have more than a single user and track each one's measurements separately. You can also set up a guest measurement if someone wants to weigh themselves without affecting your tracking.

setup and installation

Setting up and working with the Wyze Scale S was as easy as pulling it out of the box and connecting it via the app. The only real requirement is that you place the scale on a hard surface. Carpet interferes with the sensors, so you'll need to place it on tile or hardwood for it to work properly.

I have found that weight measurements are not recorded correctly if your phone is too far from the scale. If I left my phone in the living room and stepped on the scale in the bathroom (about 25 feet away), it didn't record the measurement on the app.

There are a few additional options available to you in the app. For example, you can set a specific weight goal to work towards. This will appear every time you open the app. You can also choose to display weight in imperial or metric units, and you can authorize Wyze to work with third-party apps like Apple Health and Fitbit. Those are the only two options I've found, which is a bit disappointing – I'd have liked to see the inclusion of other big fitness trackers like Garmin.

The Wyze Scale S has a reflective surface that captures footprint.

You can export your health metrics to your email for a specific week, month, year or any other time period. If you keep records or use the measurements for medical purposes, this can be useful information for your doctor.

Our opinion

The Wyze Scale S strikes an excellent balance between affordability and functionality. It even has an athlete mode for those who train more than 10 hours a week for more accurate tracking. It's one of the best smart scales I've worked with and has become my favorite way of measuring myself.

Is there a better alternative?

For the price, the Wyze Scale S is hard to beat. At around $20, you won't find a more functional scale. If you want more functionality with a far greater selection of fitness apps, Withings Body+ offers 100+ different apps and integrations for $100.

How long it will take?

This is a scale, so it gets a bit abused. Between kicks, accidental kicks and bumps against the wall, you can expect the Wyze Scale S to take a little damage here and there – but it's well made and comes with a one-year warranty from date of purchase. I expect it will last for many years with proper care.

should you buy it

Yes, without a doubt. If you're looking for a smart scale to help you track your fitness goals, you can't go wrong at this price point.

Editor's Recommendations



20 Jul
Blog

What is Functional Strength Training

What is strength Doesn't it define strength like science or weightlifting, but strength in everyday life?

How is strength defined and who defines it?? Kinesiologists examine muscles and have various ways of measuring muscle contraction, length, tension, and strength.

Therefore, kinesiologists typically measure strength using these primary factors and neglect individual fluctuations in strength as a subjective concept. Whether or not you can lift X pounds overhead is meaningless in the overall definition of functional strength.

Functional strength is the force that guides us through life and daily survival.

Continue reading

19 Jul
Blog

What is Functional Strength Training

What is strength Doesn't it define strength like science or weightlifting, but strength in everyday life?

How is strength defined and who defines it?? Kinesiologists examine muscles and have various ways of measuring muscle contraction, length, tension, and strength. Therefore, kinesiologists typically measure strength using these primary factors and neglect individual fluctuations in strength as a subjective concept.

Continue reading

03 Feb
Blog

Health, Fitness and the Tao of Functional Bodybuilding

There's a reason functional bodybuilding (FBB) has become an overactive buzzword in the fitness industry these days: it combines traditional strength training with a practical training method that gets you moving better – more functional. This contributes significantly to the long-term improvement in health and fitness.

Learn functional bodybuilding

Functional bodybuilding, which focuses on quality of movement rather than intensity, allows us to incorporate bodybuilding principles into functional strength training.

This helps create a great foundation for strength and efficient movement, designed to take into account each individual's skills and goals in a way that promotes health and longevity.

Hence, it is useful not only for top athletes, but also for people who just want to be healthy and functional but are not interested in being a bodybuilder.

A functional bodybuilding foundation

I mentioned the importance of understanding the principles of bodybuilding and energy system training. Let's talk about these principles, starting with traditional bodybuilders.

Bodybuilders are known for their ability to increase muscle mass (also known as hypertrophy). This is not just about lifting heavy weights, but understanding how to manipulate repetitions, sets, pace, and rest times, as well as mastering concepts like time under tension – that is, how long a muscle or muscles are under tension during a given one Sentence.

The optimal time under tension for hypertrophy to occur is around 40 seconds.

That sounds simple enough – 5 squats at 3311 = 40 seconds of tension. Just peazy – it's not that easy.

It is also incredibly important to consider the person's skills and training age, i.e. how long they have been training. For this reason, an individual assessment with a coach is key to the process if you are a coach or if you are a client looking for a program or coach. You may want to try the Systematic Approach Assessment Guide for Trainers.

Health, Fitness, and the Tao of Functional Bodybuilding - Fitness, Health, Energy Systems, Functional Strength, Functional Training, Functional Bodybuilding, Fitness Assessment

That being said, here are four basic principles to keep in mind when planning to start or create an FBB program for a client:

  1. Compound Moves First: Compound exercises like squats or bench presses should be done at the beginning of a workout, while isolation exercises like biceps curl or leg extensions should be done later in the workout.
  2. Track the contractions per muscle group in a given session: ideally, the number of exercises per body part should be between two and four per session. If not, technology and recreation are likely to suffer.
  3. Note the intended contraction: it depends on which movements are right for you (or whether, as a coach, you know your clients' abilities and limitations). Don't be fooled by sexy movements. If they are not in your position, they will not help you.
  4. Quality over intensity: It's that simple. This does not mean that there cannot be intensity. It just has to be an appropriate intensity that matches the ability and strength of the individual. Simplicity over complexity. Quality over intensity.

Energy system training

One of the ideas behind FBB is to offer strength training without compromising aerobic capacity. This mainly depends on understanding the energy system training i.e. the anaerobic alactic, anaerobic milky and aerobic systems.

Two important and often overlooked concepts are:

  • Get the rest time right: The most important part of rest and recovery time depends on the individual and what they can recover from. This applies to both the rest time during interval training and recovery from one session to the next.
  • Avoid Disturbance: When doing aerobic work (or programming), consider the types of movements you (or your client) will be doing in resistance / FBB training the next day. For example, if you do a lot of hinges the next day, you may avoid high volume rowing intervals on your energy system's training day, as this is a similar movement pattern. Typically, keep these movement patterns at least a day apart.

Key Factor: Whether you are someone looking to start a bodybuilding program that works or a coach looking to design one, the most important thing is that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to a program.

For optimal effectiveness, a great functional bodybuilding program must take into account an individual's skills, priorities, training age, and goals. This concept is at the heart of OPEX training and the basis of their new functional bodybuilding guide.

Choosing the Right Functional Bodybuilding Program

Take a look on the old internet and you will find tons of functional bodybuilding or FBB programs for sale. And like most products and services, not all are created equal.

Take a look on the old internet and you will find tons of functional bodybuilding or FBB programs for sale. And like most products and services, not all are created equal.

I believe that a great functional bodybuilding program produces results and requires understanding the main principles of not only bodybuilding but also the training of the energy system.

Read OPEX's free introductory eBook on Programming Functional Bodybuilding Workouts.

02 Feb
Blog

Health, Fitness and the Tao of Functional Bodybuilding

There's a reason functional bodybuilding (FBB) has become an overactive buzzword in the fitness industry these days: it combines traditional strength training with a practical training method that gets you moving better – more functional. This contributes significantly to the long-term improvement in health and fitness.

Learn functional bodybuilding

Functional bodybuilding, which focuses on quality of movement rather than intensity, allows us to incorporate bodybuilding principles into functional strength training.

This helps create a great foundation for strength and efficient movement, designed to take into account each individual's skills and goals in a way that promotes health and longevity.

Hence, it is useful not only for top athletes, but also for people who just want to be healthy and functional but are not interested in being a bodybuilder.

A functional bodybuilding foundation

I mentioned the importance of understanding the principles of bodybuilding and energy system training. Let's talk about these principles, starting with traditional bodybuilders.

Bodybuilders are known for their ability to increase muscle mass (also known as hypertrophy). This is not just about lifting heavy weights, but understanding how to manipulate repetitions, sets, pace, and rest times, as well as mastering concepts like time under tension – that is, how long a muscle or muscles are under tension during a given one Sentence.

The optimal time under tension for hypertrophy to occur is around 40 seconds.

That sounds simple enough – 5 squats at 3311 = 40 seconds of tension. Just peazy – it's not that easy.

It is also incredibly important to consider the person's skills and training age, i.e. how long they have been training. For this reason, an individual assessment with a coach is key to the process if you are a coach or if you are a client looking for a program or coach. You may want to try the Systematic Approach Assessment Guide for Trainers.

Health, Fitness, and the Tao of Functional Bodybuilding - Fitness, Health, Energy Systems, Functional Strength, Functional Training, Functional Bodybuilding, Fitness Assessment

That being said, here are four basic principles to keep in mind when planning to start or create an FBB program for a client:

  1. Compound Moves First: Compound exercises like squats or bench presses should be done at the beginning of a workout, while isolation exercises like biceps curl or leg extensions should be done later in the workout.
  2. Track the contractions per muscle group in a given session: ideally, the number of exercises per body part should be between two and four per session. If not, technology and recreation are likely to suffer.
  3. Note the intended contraction: it depends on which movements are right for you (or whether, as a coach, you know your clients' abilities and limitations). Don't be fooled by sexy movements. If they are not in your position, they will not help you.
  4. Quality over intensity: It's that simple. This does not mean that there cannot be intensity. It just has to be an appropriate intensity that matches the ability and strength of the individual. Simplicity over complexity. Quality over intensity.

Energy system training

One of the ideas behind FBB is to offer strength training without compromising aerobic capacity. This mainly depends on understanding the energy system training i.e. the anaerobic alactic, anaerobic milky and aerobic systems.

Two important and often overlooked concepts are:

  • Get the rest time right: The most important part of rest and recovery time depends on the individual and what they can recover from. This applies to both the rest time during interval training and recovery from one session to the next.
  • Avoid Disturbance: When doing aerobic work (or programming), consider the types of movements you (or your client) will be doing in resistance / FBB training the next day. For example, if you do a lot of hinges the next day, you may avoid high volume rowing intervals on your energy system's training day, as this is a similar movement pattern. Typically, keep these movement patterns at least a day apart.

Key Factor: Whether you are someone looking to start a bodybuilding program that works or a coach looking to design one, the most important thing is that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to a program.

For optimal effectiveness, a great functional bodybuilding program must take into account an individual's skills, priorities, training age, and goals. This concept is at the heart of OPEX training and the basis of their new functional bodybuilding guide.

Choosing the Right Functional Bodybuilding Program

Take a look on the old internet and you will find tons of functional bodybuilding or FBB programs for sale. And like most products and services, not all are created equal.

Take a look on the old internet and you will find tons of functional bodybuilding or FBB programs for sale. And like most products and services, not all are created equal.

I believe that a great functional bodybuilding program produces results and requires understanding the main principles of not only bodybuilding but also the training of the energy system.

Read OPEX's free introductory eBook on Programming Functional Bodybuilding Workouts.

14 Sep
Blog

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 5G Review: Fully Functional Foldable

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 5G

"The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 is the best foldable device you can buy right now."

  • The foldable screen opens up new possibilities

  • Excellent hardware quality

  • Soothing hinge and screen durability

  • Very good triple camera

  • Top-end specs and core features

  • Difficult and awkward to operate with one hand

  • Many apps are not optimized for leaflets

  • Much more expensive than most phones

Foldable devices will play a role in the future of smartphones. Even if they seem expensive, fragile, and compromised right now, they won't be forever. Just the evolution of quality from the first Galaxy Fold, which got off to a terrible start, to the quality of the Galaxy Z Fold 2 shows that the industry is on the right track.

However, you are not buying a foldable phone, especially a $ 2,000 phone, as it is part of an advancement of new technology. You buy it based on what it does for you and what it offers beyond what you get from a regular smartphone. Here's everything the Galaxy Z Fold 2 brings to the table to justify its sky-high price tag.

Hardware, design and ads

The new Galaxy Z Fold 2 follows the same concept as its predecessor: a device the size of a mini tablet that is halved by a large hinge, with a folding screen on the inside and an additional "cover display" on the outside. However, it is no exaggeration to say that Samsung has touched the implementation of this concept for this generation in every way. And it's all for the better.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2

Samsung knows how to make high-end phones that look and feel like they're worth the money, and that carries over to this huge device. The two-tone matte glass and shiny metal pieces add some flair to the Z Fold 2, and while I like it (you'll never be able to hide this phone anyway), black is an option too. The execution is flawless. Every angle is perfect, every gap is consistent, and all the details are spot on.

The redesigned hinge is most responsible for the Z Fold 2's rugged feel. It is no longer loose or thin at any point in its operation, as it sticks at every angle, e.g. B. a laptop screen or a Microsoft Surface stand. You can adjust the screen angle to whatever you want and it just stays there – but it retains a satisfactory lock when opened flat. With the screen open, you can hold the phone in one hand, shake it around, hold it vertically or upside down and it will not move.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2

It's also relatively easy to return it to a folded position with one hand – as long as you comfortably press your thumb on the screen. It closes with a solid, satisfying "click" while the bezels snap together with magnets. Regardless of whether you open or close, hardly a sound can be heard. Of course, if you hold your ear to the screen, you'll notice the various layers unfold and the little dusty bristles in the hinge, but this is an almost silent operation.

Samsung has revised the hardware design and brought both displays to a new level.

Even if Samsung had kept the exterior design identical to that of its predecessor, I would still welcome the improved display. The cover display used to be weirdly small, but like any other smartphone, it is now 6.2 inches and has small frames. Major changes have been made inside. The 7.6-inch foldable panel is now surrounded by 25% smaller bezels and a simple pinhole camera instead of the huge notch with multiple cameras before. The edges of the bezel aren't raised nearly as much, and you hardly notice them even if you're using the Android 10's gesture navigation system.

The display looks great. Of course, it's a Samsung display. The colors are saturated, the brightness is excellent even outdoors and there are no deviations when viewed at an angle. It even runs at a refresh rate of 120Hz, just like the S20 series, so the movement is buttery smooth. With the flexible display levels, the clarity is not on par with the glass covers of the iPhone 11 Pro Max or the Samsung Note 20 Ultra. That slight visual change aside, this display is indistinguishable from the best in the business – it's only twice that size and randomly folds in half. No compromise here.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2

Let's talk about the crease. It is there and yes you will notice. Sometimes. This is most noticeable on a screen with low brightness and on a white or light background. Even so, after a few days I noticed that my eyes were ignoring it. And since you mostly use the phone in portrait orientation – the display has a very wide aspect ratio anyway – rarely touch or swipe the crease.

However, most people are more concerned about the shelf life. I only used the Z Fold 2 for this test for two weeks. So I can't say how well it will hold up over time. But I'm pretty confident, especially since we've now seen people use the original crease (well, the revised original crease) for a year with little deterioration. This new model has the Samsung display "UTG" or Ultra Thin Glass for the display and is much more resistant to scratches and bumps. There's also a pre-installed screen protector made from the typical thin flexible plastic that I'm not a huge fan of, but it's another layer of protection.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2

The crease will definitely change its shape a little, and over months of folding it will absorb some aberrations. And yes, if you dig your fingernail into the screen or drop it while it's open, it will look worse for wear and tear. However, most of the phones get damaged in the latter scenario. The biggest advantage of the Z Fold 2 is that the foldable screen is closed and cannot be compromised when you are not using it. With a large foldable phone like this one, there are user-friendliness concerns, but for me they don't relate to the durability of the screen and the hinge.

With a big foldable phone

Samsung has made strides to make this hardware as slim and compact as current technology allows. However, it is still a giant compared to single non-collapsible screens. That starts with a weight of 282 grams, which is about 25% heavier than an iPhone 11 Pro Max and 35% heavier than a Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. It's nearly 17mm thick, roughly twice that of a typical phone (as expected).

It adds up to a cumbersome device. It's big and heavy, and you never forget that – neither in your hand nor in your pocket. The phone is nowhere near so small that I can use it as a music source for my headphones in any kind of bag or holder. It's not waterproof either, so I wouldn't take the risk anyway.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 5G

The weight is most noticeable when it is closed. This is how you will use it a lot. Fortunately, the new, larger cover display is big enough to get most of your chores done, and gives you full access to a typical lock screen, notifications, a home screen, and all of your apps. The screen is a bit narrow which can make typing awkward (this can be fixed with a swipe keyboard), but the main problem is getting to the top of this very tall screen while balancing out a beefy and thick phone.

The other problem you will encounter is app compatibility. Some apps just don't scale to full screen because they're so big. This is more annoying than a real usability problem, but it's there. Most of these buggy apps are the same ones that will inevitably have to be restarted if you open the phone while it is running. This is an odd odd thing about resizing Android apps (or not).

You don't use the outside display more than necessary, however, as you can open up the Z Fold 2 and get the gorgeous control panel instead. The use cases are all easy to understand. It starts with just getting more of everything. More map area, more webpage before scrolling, more photos in larger size, more of each message in a list, more book before turning the page, and so on. This is great because you never feel cramped on the Z Fold 2 – there is always enough space to do what you want.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 5G

However, that again requires the apps that you play ball with. Many apps, including all apps from Google and Microsoft, make good use of this additional real estate when run in full screen mode. You get an additional appropriately sized panel or user interface controls, which gives you more content and less chrome. Other apps are just bad. Twitter, Seamless, Venmo, Strava, Telegram, Lyft, American Express, the list goes on. All of them just stretch out the UI and no longer offer you any content or viewing space as they were not designed for large screens. Instagram is notoriously bad at filling the screen, and now Samsung has just packed it with pillars to make it at least reasonably usable. (It's still bad.)

Samsung also uses the stiff hinge to prop the phone at an angle in "flex mode," which triggers a different user interface in a handful of apps – YouTube, Google Duo, Camera, and a few others. it's not very useful. Why cut the screen in half? I only used it for video calls when I didn't want to hold the phone or for photos where I used it as a de facto tripod.

Most of the time, you're running a single app on the Z Fold 2 and it feels clunky and like a waste of space. You really need to find and stick to the handful of apps that make good use of that space. Of course, you can also run apps side by side, which greatly improves the experience. It's instantly intuitive and extremely useful. Run Twitter while messaging, check the status of an order while viewing your credit card charge, and do a Wikipedia search while watching a YouTube video. Check your calendar while reading an email.

It is this dual app that makes the Z Fold 2 shine and really justifies its size. You can set up pairs of apps (or groups of three if you really want to) to start automatically together with the press of a button. If you already have a full screen app open, you can always drag a second, third, or floating app with a small handle on the side of the screen. About 90% of my apps ran side by side – not perfect, but close.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 5G

If you don't open the Z Fold 2 regularly and use multiple apps at the same time, then you really are missing the point of this phone. You don't pay that much and bother with this great device just to use the cover display or a single app inside. You need to use its features.

Samsung offers the Z Fold 2 more than enough power to run three apps at the same time. You don't have to think for a moment that the phone has a Snapdragon 865+, 12GB of RAM, or 5GB – it all works like any high-end phone should and will do for years to come. However, you will appreciate the 256GB of storage as well as the useful features like stereo speakers, fast charging, fast wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging. There are no compromises in terms of technical data and functions compared to non-foldable telephones, which is currently not a matter of course for foldable telephones.

Unless you regularly use multiple apps at the same time, then you really lack the point of this phone.

Battery life is almost the same as leading single monitors, but how long it lasts depends a lot on how you use them. With a lot of main screen use and multitasking, you can chew through the 4,500mAh battery (like the Note 20 Ultra) before you know it. It's not surprising that allowing yourself to watch videos more often and keep two apps running all the time will drain your resources. In my typical use, where I put what I normally do on the bigger screen, I lasted a full day on 10 to 20% battery life.

Cameras

In contrast to the Microsoft Surface Duo, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 fortunately does not have any major compromises when it comes to the camera. You get a triumvirate of cameras loosely based on the Galaxy S20: the same 12 megapixel main camera with OIS (optical image stabilization) is combined with two smaller 12MP sensors for zoom and ultrawide applications.

It's a little disappointing that this $ 2,000 phone doesn't include a copy of the Galaxy S20 + (or Note 20 Ultra) camera setup. But where things matter most, the main camera, you get an identical experience. These photos speak for themselves folks: this is a really good camera.

Just like Samsung's 2020 flagships, the Z Fold 2 takes expressive, colorful, and engaging photos. I've never taken a really bad shot, and the camera is completely reliable and consistent every time I hit the power button twice to start it. There tends to be too much saturation and sometimes the sky can be blown out or strong halos around objects, but these are minor issues.

The zoom camera is a bit of a let down as it is a smaller sensor and there is no OIS in the main camera (and in the zoom camera on the Galaxy S20). You can easily see that zoom shots are softer than the main camera even if the resolution is only 2x, and in low light conditions the software switches back completely to the main sensor. This zoom camera dates back to the Galaxy S10 series and today's midrange phones, and that's not a good thing to see at this price point. The ultrawide camera absolutely does the job, even if it's not exactly the same as that of the S20 and Note 20 series.

Regardless of the camera chosen, shooting with a huge viewfinder with the screen open is even better than a typical phone.

Perhaps the biggest camera win of all is for selfies. You can flip the Z-fold 2 over and use the rear camera as a selfie shooter with the cover display as the viewfinder. Whether you want a high quality main camera shot or an ultrawide shot for a group of friends (or a backdrop for yourself), that typical front camera will blow away – especially in low light.

Our opinion

The Galaxy Z Fold 2 is a huge evolution of the original. The hardware is perfectly made and exudes quality, while the functionality of the screens and the hinge has been dramatically improved. All of this without compromising the core smartphone experience – you get good cameras and most of the nice-to-have features of a regular phone.

The downsides are ease of use, size, and price. The Z Fold 2 is huge, which makes it difficult to operate with one hand at times – and if you don't use that large display all the time, it's a chore to carry this massive device around with you. At the same time, many of the software experiences when you have this screen open leave much to be desired. And then there is the price. At $ 2,000, you need a lot of cash to spend twice as much money as a typical high-end phone, but not twice as many functions or features.

This is an amazing technological feat, but it still requires understanding that you are buying a collapsible smartphone that is on the cutting edge of innovation. That means there is compromise, and that's not what most people want (or need).

Is there a better alternative?

There really isn't a direct alternative to the Galaxy Z Fold 2. Some will say the Microsoft Surface Duo is a loose competitor, but really offers a different experience with its separate displays – and ultimately the Surface Duo falls far short of the mark in terms of smartphone functionality and usability.

Elsewhere in the foldable space you have a choice Samsung's own Galaxy Z Flip or the upcoming Motorola Razr, both of which offer completely different experiences. Realistically, your choice is: Are you doing this? Buy a Galaxy Z Fold 2or spend top dollars on a "traditional" high-end phone like this Galaxy Note 20 Ultra or upcoming iPhone 12 Pro Max? It's a personal choice.

How long it will take?

I'm not particularly concerned about the long-term durability of the Z Fold 2's hinge and display. Samsung clearly put a lot of work into fixing early hardware bugs, and even last year's Fold has proven to be quite durable over time. Samsung also offers good warranty protection and screen replacement if necessary. The Z Fold 2 also receives at least two major software upgrades and regular security patches that keep it going for about as long as someone actually uses the phone.

Should you buy it?

Yes. People will make fun of the $ 2,000 price tag for the Z Fold 2, and rightly so. However, if you are ready to part with that huge sum of money on the latest technology, then you are probably also interested in being an early adopter of foldable phones. The Z Fold 2 is currently the best foldable one on the (small) market.

However, if you do buy it, please do not fund the phone for more than four years as Samsung suggests on its website.

Editor's recommendations




14 Aug
Blog

Avantree Aria Pro Review: Functional, Affordable Headphones

Avantree Aria Pro headphones

"The Aria Pro has hit a sweet spot in terms of features and price, and is doing well as work-oriented headphones."

  • Flexible design

  • Decent active noise cancellation

  • Good codec support

  • Average battery life

  • Niche best use case

Avantree sails in uncharted waters with its Aria Pro wireless headphones. There just aren't a lot of headphone manufacturers willing to hover between budget models from brands like JLab Audio and more highly regarded cans from Sony and others.

By that definition, the $ 100 Aria Pro could be considered an ambitious headphone, with active noise cancellation and great codec support, aimed at stealing fans of products above and below them. Of course, it's how well Avantree's new cans – which the company doesn't specifically say are office lifestyle-focused but certainly based on the features they offer – live up to that definition that determines how they do cut off . I am here to find out.

Out of the box

The Aria Pro are delivered in simple packaging: a white box with headphones in the carrying case. The headphones and case come with a couple of accessories, including a detachable boom microphone, 3.5mm audio cable, micro-USB charging cable, and the usual documentation. The most notable part here is the boom microphone which gives these headphones an immediate advantage in workplace situations. I'll get back to that in a moment.

Avantree Aria Pro headphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

Turning on the headphones is as easy as flipping the power switch on the bottom of the right ear cup, which will automatically put the Aria Pro into Bluetooth pairing mode. The rest of the connection process is standard and after testing these headphones, the Aria Pro reconnected seamlessly every time it was turned on.

With modern headphones and earbuds, I expect to be able to move around my house or backyard for some quick chores while also having a strong connection to my phone which is on the charger. The Aria Pro and its Bluetooth 5 technology passed this test with flying colors, as do most newer hearing aids.

design

Especially for $ 100 headphones, I found the Aria Pro to be reliably built cans. They lack the elegance of more expensive models like the Razer Opus, but they are comfortable, flexible headphones. Even after considering a few nuances, if you can get these two design feats at this price, it's a win in my book.

Avantree Aria Pro headphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

The Aria Pro are equipped with what Avantree calls “protein leather” ear pads, and I admittedly had cups with a better feel over my ears. However, these offer good wearing comfort for longer periods of time. They swivel 90 degrees so the headphones lie flat on your collarbone and have a reasonable range of motion for tilting back and forth. The headband is a little sharper than you might want in some areas, but they feel durable to the touch, despite being fully adjustable. That's all to say that these headphones should fit most people and be reasonably comfortable using them.

These headphones should work well and feel reasonably comfortable for most people.

At the bottom of each Aria Pro mug is a small army of buttons, inputs, and switches. You have your power switch, volume control and track control, plus the USB port on the right cup and your ANC switch, call control, microphone control and the auxiliary port on the left. There are quite a few buttons available to you, but after a day or two I got used to the Aria Pro's complex control panel. I had some problems with phone calls that first day because I hadn't read the part of the setup guide on how to unmute the boom microphone when plugged in. Take this as a warning as it is a little embarrassing to leave your local dog daycare hanging out because they can't hear you frantically fiddling with your headphones trying to get your audio to work on the other end.

properties

The Aria Pro seems to land in an odd middle ground when it comes to features. On the one hand, they have some features that are more advanced than more expensive alternatives. On the other hand, cheaper headphones outperform them in a few other categories. In the end, of course, it comes down to what's most important to you, but it's worth figuring out where these cans position themselves in the competition.

Avantree Aria Pro headphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

According to Avantree, the Aria Pro can play for up to 15 hours with active noise cancellation and up to 24 hours without activation. That's a good range until you find that the JLab Audio Studio ANC offers 28 hours of playback with ANC and 34 hours without. The JLab was $ 40 less than the Aria Pro, so its battery life is comparatively well below its value.

The Aria Pro has an impressive list of supported audio codecs for its price range, including aptX, aptX HD and SBC. That probably gives them a head start over products like the Sony WH-CH710N, which support SBC and AAC codecs, but have no aptX functions. Once again, it depends on your specific situation and which codecs are a better fit for you, but having that $ 100 support is without a doubt a solid selling point for the Aria Pro.

The Aria Pro has an impressive list of supported audio codecs for its price range, including aptX, aptX HD and SBC.

Finally, the Aria Pro supports Bluetooth with multipoint connectivity, so you can pair your headphones with your phone and a work laptop at the same time. It might not sound like the most groundbreaking feature, but the ability to place a call and then seamlessly go back to the content you've been watching on your laptop is a helpful feature that you should have in two office-oriented doses. In comparison, it took Sony until the newly released WH-1000XM4 to add this feature to its flagship headphones. You can get the same in the Aria Pro for $ 250 less. They just miss everything else that makes the XM4 amazing.

Audio quality

Once again, the Aria Pro lands between competitions. Before I wrap it up, here's a quick summary: The Aria Pro sounds better than budget cans like the JLab Audio Studio ANC, but it doesn't offer options like the Razer Opus and Sony WH-CH710N.

Avantree Aria Pro headphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

That's not necessarily a bad thing for the Aria Pro, as they are half the price of Sony and Opus. It's forgivable that they lack the clarity of these high-end headphones, and it's understandable that they don't perform quite as well at either end of the frequency range. It's not a disappointment that you don't get remarkable fidelity for $ 100, but these headphones sound good, and they should sound just as good given their focus.

Call quality is now a somewhat capricious sub-category. With the boom microphone attached, the conversation was clear on both ends. When I took off the boom mic and leaned on the smaller mic on the headset itself and then went for a walk, conversations with the same people were easily infiltrated by my surroundings. They could still hear me, but they could also hear everything else, including the steps I was taking. I understand these headphones were more geared towards an office or professional setting, and I think they will serve that purpose well with the boom mic attached, but be careful as you step into the busy sounds of the world, submit your calls to the exact same sounds.

Active noise cancellation

I've described the JLab Audio Studio ANC's active noise cancellation as a "no-frills feature" and would probably use a similar description for the Aria Pro – with one caveat. Just like with these JLab headphones, the ANC in the Aria Pro is an on or off option without the ability to adjust the noise cancellation. The Aria Pro, however, do a significantly better job.

Avantree Aria Pro headphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

I wouldn't call this a surprise, as more expensive headphones should traditionally be able to better implement a feature like ANC. The Aria Pro has a much more pronounced effect on attenuating ambient noise and removing the harsher outside noise that would otherwise enter a quiet work area. They have a slight white noise effect and neither do they when bumped into noisy situations like walking on a busy street. But for use in an office, in my opinion, these headphones are excellent, especially at their low price.

For better ANC capabilities, you'll have to expect something more essential like the Razer Opus or the top of the line Sony WH-1000XM4. The Aria Pro is pale in comparison to any of them. But as you can imagine, you will be paying a lot more to achieve this level of quality.

Our opinion

Avantree made a pair of work-conscious headphones in the Aria Pro that have the features needed to succeed in that role and just enough features to make them a suitable set of commuter cans – whenever the commuting back to an actual one Becomes part of society. However, their functions are best used in a work environment that puts them in that niche position. You can venture outside of this space, but your results may vary.

Are there any better alternatives?

Save money with the JLab Studio ANC for $ 60. It offers better battery life, but poorer audio quality and active noise cancellation. Or you can double up and get something like the $ 199 Razer Opus, which for $ 100 upgrades the Aria Pro in most regions – you'll only spend twice as much on the privilege.

How long will they last?

The Aria Pro is backed by a one year warranty with the option to use an additional 12 months when you register your headphones. In addition to the durable build quality, this should give you the confidence to wear these every day without fear of them stalling.

Should you buy it?

Yes. The Avantree Aria Pro are only average in some areas. But when you look at the bigger picture, they pretty much offer a lot for a pretty affordable price. If I had to spend $ 100 on headphones both to increase productivity and enjoy a podcast after work, this would be my shortlist.

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