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




16 Sep
Blog

Super Mario 3D All-Stars Review: A Tour of Gaming History

Super mario 3d all stars rating switch supermario3dallstars smg screen 10

"3D All-Stars preserves gaming classics like in a complete package."

  • Super Mario Galaxy is superb

  • Feels authentic to the original releases

  • A ton of Mario gameplay for $ 60

  • More accessible than original hardware

  • Super Mario 64 feels its age

  • Some cumbersome control changes

As someone who had never played Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine or Super Mario Galaxy, I couldn't have been more excited when Nintendo announced Super Mario 3D All-Stars, a collection of the three titles for Nintendo Switch. When I finally played them, I understood how someone could revere a game like Super Mario 64 as something revolutionary in 1996.

Unfortunately, Nintendo decided to keep 64 and Sunshine as they were at the time, to the detriment of experiencing them today, where both titles would have been improved with better controls in more modern 3D Mario games. That being said, you could have told me that Super Mario Galaxy is a brand new game and I would have believed you what it is ultimately worth to acquire this collection.

A product of its time

One of the biggest questions after the Super Mario 3D All-Stars announcement was, "Where's Super Mario Galaxy 2?" For me, playing the collection answers that question; It's not so much about the games themselves, but how they are developed. The progress and differences between the three titles are dramatic. With the release of this game for the Italian plumber's 35th anniversary, 3D All-Stars feels like an intentional showcase of these improvements. Galaxy 2 would have watered down that intention as it is more of a fine-tuning of its direct predecessor's gameplay than a galactic leap forward for the series.

Super mario 64Provided by Nintendo

When I booted up to Super Mario 64, I was impressed by what the game did for a 24 year old title and how much DNA the latest 3D entry, Super Mario Odyssey, had kept. It's no wonder that Super Mario 64, with its hidden layers and non-linear structure, blew players away as I went back to childhood and thought of the content-based experiences that made up the bulk of gaming back then.

My amazement at the game was hampered by the outdated controls. His archaic camera, combined with the fact that Mario plays like a luscious slab of butter floating around the world, made for a sometimes insane experience. Lately the only games that made me want to slam my controller on the table in frustration have been the Dark Souls variety. I did not expect this impulse to be awakened in this game.

No wonder Super Mario 64 blew people away with its hidden layers and nonlinear structure.

Switching from 64 to Sunshine was like a shipwreck, but I found a buoyant and spacious piece of wood that carried me towards land on a distant horizon. What this game does with its mechanics over its predecessor is largely an improvement, in shocking places for a game that wasn't released until six years later. The camera is easier to maneuver and Mario feels like he is working on his shoes with more grip.

The focused tropical theme, which many gamers have mocked for repetitive level design over the years, has a mostly positive impact on the game, although there is occasional over-design that feels a bit aimless and is more of an example: " Look how complex we can level up now! “I found delight in the divisive FLUDD, which is at the center of gameplay, as it has enough of a unique hook and multitude of uses to warrant its implementation.

Super Mario sunshineProvided by Nintendo

Super Mario Galaxy is the land on the far horizon where I washed ashore, and to my amazement, it's a lush and lush island that makes me in vain. While this may not be news to some, it has exceeded my already high expectations to find Galaxy not just my favorite 3D Mario to date, but one of my favorite games of all time.

The flaws of 64 and Sunshine are simply absent here, with razor-sharp level design, pinpoint gameplay, and amazingly unique gravity mechanics that effectively evolve as the game progresses. Where I meandered through portions of the first two titles, I moved through Galaxy as if I were orbiting the sun, gracefully tossed over the game and unable to break free from gravity. To me the inclusion alone is worth the $ 60 price tag, with 64 and Sunshine as a bonus, and I would easily spend another $ 60 on a Galaxy 2 port, and it seems the exclusion is a calculated step from Nintendo was.

Some things change, most stay the same

My love for Galaxy is easily marred by my chaotic feelings towards Sunshine and 64. While I was playing the 64 and GameCube titles, my partner said something about the effect, "They were the only games I had, so I learned to love them." Speaking to other gamers who grew up with these games in their life, it seems that the feeling is for the most part a common one.

Fans who repeat these games and have seen them front to back over and over again will comfortably nestle into their nostalgia and make up for their shortcomings by knowing exactly how to effectively move through them. As mentioned above, the intent of the package is to keep the games unchanged. It doesn't remove the feeling that ruling out reworked mechanics was an incredibly missed opportunity to turn these games into something someone actually wants to play today.

I found Galaxy not only to be my favorite 3D Mario to date, but one of my all-time favorite games that exceeded my already high expectations.

64 is just the original game with a high definition gloss. The lack of widescreen that is offered to Port of Sunshine exacerbates the camera problems as what is not visible outside of the player's field of view is the cause of the most deaths. To make matters worse, textures sometimes appear right in front of the character, creating confusion about where to go or what to do until you're just inches away. Also, the game is missing some of the additions, including additional levels and collectibles that came with the Nintendo DS remake. It's as easy as remastering.

Super Mario 64 comparisonLeft 3D All-Stars, right original

The 16: 9 aspect ratio in Sunshine works wonders for the game, and its HD makeover brings it visually much closer to Galaxy than 64. Unfortunately, one of the things that gave the FLUDD mechanic a bit of charm on the GameCube was the analog triggers on this one Systems. So the player can determine the water pressure of the device. Such functionality is not available on either Joy-Cons or the Switch Pro controller, which means that the FLUDD is set to either zero or 100% functionality.

The game bypasses this missing feature, as certain levels relied on this mechanic in GameCube, in that the ZR trigger allowed Mario to move while splashing even though he couldn't aim. The R-bumper then forces Mario to stand in place, but allows him to aim the FLUDD. As someone who has never played the game before, I'm not sure how drastically this is changing, although given the online reading of fans' interest in how the port handles this mechanic, it could be a disappointment to them .

Galaxy is the title that has required the least refresher. Its visual bump made it almost identical in quality to the 2017 Super Mario Odyssey. As a Wii title, motion controls were an integral part of that experience, and nothing about that port has changed. The Switch Pro controller's accelerometer and gyroscope provide the functionality of the Wiimote's IR blaster. However, while I was playing it was obvious that it would have been optimal to actually have a device pointed at the screen. Tapping the R-bumper re-centers the star pointer, but it still feels less intuitive.

Super Mario GalaxyProvided by Nintendo

How is this motion functionality handled in handheld mode? Touch controls, which is by far the worst way to play the game. For those who don't know, the motion controls are designed to collect stars as you make your way through the level and shoot at enemies and interactive objects. Trying to do all of this with touch controls frequently while moving Mario with the thumb stick is not optimal and makes the TV experience of the game by far the preferred style of play.

The changes to 64 and Sunshine seem like the bare minimum of what could be done to bring them into the modern age. It is clear that these small changes were an attempt to petrify them in their original form, but that only makes their shortcomings more apparent. However, Galaxy is a near-perfect game, the age of which cannot be felt, as it was already ahead of its time and outperforms most new 3D platformer to this day.

Our opinion

For those whose favorite playlist includes the three titles in this collection, you will likely be over the moon to find you can play them all anytime on your TV or on the go. Those who missed these entries in game history will likely have a hard time adapting to their controls, but will find the wonder and joy of playing Super Mario Galaxy.

Is there a better alternative?

Super Mario Odyssey is another great 3D Mario with modern controls specially designed for the Switch. A port of Super Mario 3D World, originally released on Wii U to get rave reviews, will also hit the hybrid console in February 2021.

How long it will take?

A straightforward run of each game takes around a dozen hours of gameplay, but 100% completion, showing each secret level and collecting all of the hidden items, will likely double that, resulting in a package with easily over 60 hours of gameplay.

Should you buy it?

Yes. Super Mario 3D All-Stars are almost as must-have as Breath of the Wild and Mario Kart 8, if only for the strength of Super Mario Galaxy. On top of that, the game will only be available until March 31, 2021, and its value as a collector's item is quite high.

Editor's recommendations




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




13 Sep
Blog

Panasonic HomeHawk Window Review: See The Color of The Night

The homehawk window was mounted in a window

Panasonic HomeHawk window

"The Homehawk window offers amazing color night vision without the need for a headlight."

  • Easy to install

  • Easy to move

  • Slim profile

  • Amazing color night vision

  • Motion tracking in recorded videos

  • The app is terrible

  • Night shots are grainy

  • Videos are stuck on the memory card

There is no shortage of security cameras on the market today. I've seen a lot of them. If a camera surprises me, I notice it. The Panasonic Homehawk Window is one such camera, and it's a three year project.

On its surface, the HomeHawk window is a surveillance camera mounted on the window. Not a big surprise. Cameras like the Logitech Circle 2 have been doing this for years. The standout feature of the Homehawk window is its night vision capabilities. The 150 degree camera has a proprietary sensor that delivers color night vision at just 0.2 lux. This is really impressive, so I wanted to find out how they did it.

exceed limits

HomeHawk engineers had to overcome two major obstacles to deliver a window-mounted camera with night vision capabilities. The first was to design the case so that the sensor is protected from reflections inside the house. Most exterior windows are double panes, so there is a pane of glass on the inside and one on the outside with an air cushion in between. It's easy to block reflections inside, but the outside is more problematic. The 16: 9 aspect ratio of the camera body matches the ratio of the sensor, so the body blocks most of the reflection.

The second problem occurs in the form of color night vision. The Arlo Pro 3 has colored night vision, but only because of the built-in floodlights. Most cameras use an infrared light and a sensor to provide a black and white image. The problem with IR with window-mounted cameras is that the glass causes a lot of glare in the image, which interferes with night vision. HomeHawk engineers have consulted with other departments at Panasonic, namely Lumix engineers and Panasonic's professional security department, to find out how to overcome this obstacle. The result was a proprietary, highly sensitive, high dynamic range CMOS sensor.

Night mode like with smartphones

The result is astonishingly good. The easiest way to describe it is to compare it to something like Night Sight on a Pixel phone. The difference is that Night Sight uses a series of long exposures made with A.I. to deliver a brightly lit scene. The HomeHawk delivers this with real-time video. If that sounds wild, it's because it is.

You can see three pictures below. The first is taken with a Pixel 4a with the night vision device turned on. It took about 30 seconds to get this shot, which is why it looks like a strange panda monster with a ponytail for its face. The second is recorded with an LG V60 with night mode turned on. It's less great. The third is a still image from the HomeHawk window. The fact is that even at 4 a.m. the picture is always so bright that no loss of detail occurs during the day either.

  • 1.
    Pixel 4a (night vision)
  • 2.
    LG V60 (night mode)
  • 3.
    HomeHawk window

The video is not perfect. At night the resolution is quite low and pixelated. You can still see enough detail to identify people, especially when they're close enough to the camera to actually pose a threat to your home. During the day that's no problem at all. The video is crisp and clear.

I would also like to see Panasonic do something about the fish-eye effect. A camera like the Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro has a wider field of view with a less pronounced fish-eye look. Overall, though, it's a pretty good compromise considering how good night vision is.

The easiest way to describe it is to compare it to something like Night Sight on a Pixel phone.

The HomeHawk window comes with the camera itself and includes detailed assembly instructions for temporary and permanent fixtures, power cords and hooks for cable management. Thoroughly clean your window. To attach the camera to your window, remove the film from the suction mount, place it firmly against the window and pull the lever to activate the suction. That's it. Plug in the cable, insert a microSD card (up to 32GB) if you want to record, then attach the back plate.

The camera is firmly in place after assembly. An LED on the back indicates that the power is on and glows red while recording is in progress. There is a fan in the camera that can be heard when you are near the camera, but it is not distracting. That covers the hardware.

A disorganized app

Unfortunately I have to tell you something about the app now. It's not great, but there are some highlights. You have a lot of control over when your camera records an event, be it motion, people only, or 24/7 recording. When you record new footage, old footage is discarded. According to Panasonic, you will get around 10 days of footage with 32GB of storage.

However, it is difficult to tell the camera when to record automatically. The first time you enter the app, you'll see a "Basic" icon at the top that doesn't tell you what it is. I ignored it for the first few days. I accidentally tapped it once and suddenly I was able to configure which mode the camera should go into, which in turn defines what is being recorded. As you can imagine, this was a turning point.

On the surface, it's a good idea to have presets that determine when the camera records video. However, the user interface is not at all intuitive. I came across this literally by accident. However, automatic recording of events is essential as that is all the camera will do. It can be set to record 24/7, but that's also hidden behind that button that I didn't know was a button.

Keep local

The Home Hawk does not have a personal or other cloud storage subscription. What you get on the memory card, you get, and that's fine. However, there is no way to move a video to your phone. You can take snapshots that will be saved in your photo album. However, videos remain on the memory card. This is a very basic function and it seems like a missed opportunity.

Navigating between pages in the app is slow and often results in a loading animation. The app also has some organizational problems. For example, you can access camera settings using several different paths. Overall, the app is honestly just a weird experience that seems to be thrown together at the last minute.

HomeHawk Windows from the side.

The app has a few highlights, however. You can stream live footage from the camera. that is easily accessible. And you can access the live stream and recordings through the app when you are not at home to catch up on things. The videos you have recorded can be organized by the hour they were recorded. You can filter your recordings by motion, person or manual recordings. As the footage plays, the app will show you what has moved by drawing a blue box around it. This is smart and will let you know what to look out for.

There are tons of other software features, including a network strength indicator, which I found a nice touch. A common occurrence is that you place a camera and only later discover that the WiFi coverage is not good enough. You can also set limits and sensitivity for motion detection. Finally, the HomeHawk window integrates with the Google Assistant and Alexa, which is always a win in my book.

Our opinion

Overall, this is an impressive first attempt at creating a window-filling camera with really good night vision. Panasonic has to do with the app and the resolution of the camera at night, but I don't think that colored night vision is a party trick. I see it as a halo feature that other manufacturers should honestly strive for. At $ 150, the camera is on the lower end of the mid-range price range. This is very bad.

Is there a better alternative?

Are there better cameras? For sure. The Ring Spotlight Cam gives a much better picture at night, but this color video requires a spotlight. Overall, the industry seems to have decided that a spotlight or black and white is good enough for the night, and I can't say I totally disagree. In addition, both work in total darkness. If you are good at these solutions, there are a variety of good alternatives.

How long it will take?

The camera comes with short and long term assembly instructions. The app also contains a maintenance notification that can be sent to your phone to reset the camera from time to time. The housing is made of plastic, so it's not the most durable camera on the market, but it feels sturdy. The camera comes with a one-year guarantee.

Should you buy it?

Yes. Overall, this is a decent camera. It's not the only one attached to a window, nor is it the only one with colored night vision. But it's the only option that offers both. The ease of installation and portability make this camera a very nice low profile camera to fit behind the blinds. It's easy to maintain and it's in your home so you don't have to worry about the elements, external power sources, or charging batteries.

Editor's recommendations




12 Sep
Blog

Acer XZ272U Review: Perfect Mainstream Gaming Monitor

acer nitro xz272u review dsc01590

"Acer's XZ272U gaming monitor strikes a great balance between price and performance."

  • Excellent gaming performance

  • Good contrast

  • Surprisingly accurate in color

  • Curved, but not too much

  • competitive prices

  • Lack of processing quality

  • Easy lubrication with time lapse

  • Inconspicuous color scale

I'm someone who usually dives into the high-end segment, and Acer caught my attention when they announced a 27-inch curved gaming monitor with a 165Hz refresh rate. Not because of its spec sheet, but because of its price: could the Nitro XZ272U, with an MSRP of $ 330 but often selling around the $ 300 mark, be worthy of our list of the best gaming monitors?

That's not a lot of money in the world of gaming monitors, and while it's not exactly pocket money either, Acer's numbers promise a solid gaming experience. So we're going to find out how well it works.

There's always a catch with specs like this at this price point. But with this nitro gaming monitor, there's nothing like a deal breaker here – as long as you know what you're signing up for.

design

Starting with the design of the monitor, when you unpack the Acer XZ272U, you will be pleasantly surprised. The monitor isn't heavy and clearly built to a cheaper standard, but Acer scores a ton of brownie points with the display stand.

It has a simple round, swiveling base on which you attach a red, anodized aluminum neck that has height and tilt adjustments, giving you complete range of motion.

There are some red accents on the back of the monitor, but there are no sticky design elements on the front other than the subtle red accents on the stand. If you ask me, these are among the better looking gaming monitors you can buy for this budget, and it won't look out of place on the family computer either.

The curve is rated 1500R, and this is what it looks like: it's subtle, but it helps you get a little more immersed into the game without overdoing it so that it's just gaming-appropriate.

If you want to use it for both gaming and work, this is a great dual purpose monitor.

Connections and controls

If you need a display with tons of ports, the back of the Acer XZ272U isn't as covered as Dell's 27-inch USB-C monitor, although you've probably seen it already. You'll want to use the monitor's DisplayPort input, but it also has two HDMI inputs, a headphone output, and a power connector – and that's it. There is neither USB-C nor a USB hub or other fancy extras here, but at this price they are not to be expected anyway.

The OSD is also incredibly simple, but it has everything you need. Operation is via a direction node in the lower right corner of the display, which first calls up a quick menu with brightness, input and color modes. If you go to the full menu, you will find a section titled "Image" where you can adjust the settings for Brightness, Contrast, HDR and Sharpness. The Color submenu provides more precise adjustments to get the right colors, including gamma and temperature controls.

There is also a game submenu where you can enable FreeSync, set overdrive mode, access an update rate counter, and enable a virtual target point.

One thing to keep in mind with the OSD is that it can be very slow to respond to input and the Directional node is not particularly inviting to use. It's shaky, dirty, and provides buttery feedback at best as you go through the motions. However, it is unlikely that you will spend much time in the OSD. Hence, it's likely that this doesn't really matter anyway.

picture quality

Acer has equipped the XZ272U with a QHD VA panel, which means that it has a resolution of 2560 x 1440. Thanks to VA technology, the static contrast ratio is given as 3000: 1. Acer does not provide any numbers for color coverage. So let's see how the display fares in our tests.

Our sample achieved 95% coverage of standard sRGB storage space and 72% of AdobeRGB. These are not spectacular numbers, but if all you have chances is it doesn't matter to you anyway. Of course, if you're looking for a monitor that's good for gaming and color-critical work, you'll want to look elsewhere, but then you'll also need a bigger budget. In terms of color accuracy, however, Acer seems to be doing something right, with the XZ272U reporting a Delta-E of 1.23. It may not have a wide gamut of color, but it accurately reproduces what it can display.

The XZ272U also failed to meet the promised contrast values, although only a few VA monitors ever achieve the promised 3000: 1. In this regard, the XZ272U actually did quite well, achieving a contrast of 1870: 1 at 100% brightness and 2000: 1 at 75% brightness, which we don't have to write down often.

The XZ272U did quite well, achieving a contrast of 2000: 1 at 75% brightness

However, the display doesn't get very bright. Our highest brightness is 287.5 nits. The full brightness may be a bit disappointing in brightly lit rooms, but if you play in a dark room at night I found the 75% brightness display to be the most comfortable where it happens to have the best contrast ratio.

After calibrating, I managed to get 1 percent more AdobeRGB coverage out of the display, but the accuracy was actually a little worse with a Delta-E of 1.27 instead of 1.23. So it can be said with certainty that the calibration of the XZ272U brings at least little benefit in the case of our sample.

When it comes to HDR performance, the Acer XZ272U has a DisplayHDR 400 certificate, which doesn't really mean a lot. There is no form of local dimming, and since DisplayHDR 400 is the lowest level of certification I would see it this way: The Acer XZ272U can interpret HDR signals, but it doesn't give you a true HDR experience.

In summary, it can be said that the panel does not have the most sparkling colors, but is sharp, deep black, consistent and surprisingly accurate in the colors displayed.

Gaming performance

When it comes to gaming, Acer touts a refresh rate of 165 Hz and response times of 4 ms, which means a solid gaming experience, but nothing earth-shaking. The standard for gaming displays these days is 144 Hz, so Acer jumps over it by a hair. However, we are entering a time when 240 Hz displays are emerging, and a handful of manufacturers have just launched 360 Hz displays alongside the launch of the Nvidia RTX 3000, though the vast majority of gamers will benefit from nothing above 144 Hz will be anyway.

VA panels deliver vivid colors and deep blacks

My experience is reflected in it. The 165Hz refresh rate was a dream to play with, be it slow single player titles or nervous multiplayer games like Destiny 2. The QHD resolution isn't overly demanding for your system. So if you have an up-to-date graphics card and want to cut the settings down, it is very doable to get smooth frame rates without spending a lot of money. FreeSync works as it should without stuttering, tearing, or flickering. The latter can often occur on VA panel monitors.

The XZ272U does not have a real G-Sync module, but it does support G-Sync via the Adaptive-Sync standard. While it doesn't appear on Nvidia's list of supported G-Sync monitors (yet), the technology works all well.

As mentioned earlier, this monitor has a VA panel that we find a catch on: VA smear. As much as VA panels deliver vivid colors and deep blacks, smearing is a common phenomenon with VA monitors as the color is sometimes slow to change. Visible smearing occurs on fast-moving objects, especially when changing from light to dark colors.

For example, if you move your mouse across the screen on a dark background, it will leave a short trail – or in games, if you turn around quickly, it will present itself as a kind of slight motion blur. It's a very soft blur because the refresh rate is high, but still a blur.

However, it is not something that you should immediately take at face value and pass this monitor on. Smudging is minimal and unless you are very competitive in your games, it is unlikely to be bothered, if you even notice it. You can see the effect in the Blurbusters test above. The upper alien moved at 165 Hz, the middle one with half and the lower one with half. Of course, the top alien produced the smoothest image, but you can see the light is dying out and the image was certainly not as sharp as the Samsung G7's.

A monitor like the Samsung G7 (either its 27-inch or 32-inch variant) offers crisp moving images with less smudging, but you'll have to more than double your budget to get your hands on one of these, which is easy is not the case. For most people, it's not worth it.

After all, the strength of the VA panel lies in the color rendering and contrast ratio, and the deep black and the somewhat vivid colors make games very entertaining.

Our opinion

If you're looking for a gaming monitor that will likely meet most of your needs, the Acer XZ272U is worth considering. It may not be the absolute fastest on the market, but it's fast enough for the vast majority of gamers, and at $ 300 it's easy to forgive the monitor's shortcomings, largely due to cheaper build quality and a visible light due to smudging (if you can even see it), a nondescript suite of ports, and a slow user interface.

But you won't be spending a lot of time in the UI anyway. With its 1500R curve, the XZ272U is suitable for both games and office work. So, if you need a dual-purpose monitor for games and writing papers, this is the one for you.

Are there alternatives?

Absolutely, the $ 300 gaming monitor segment doesn't lack competition. The Gigabyte G27Q has an IPS panel with greater color coverage, but you'll sacrifice the curve and deep black. For little extra money, you can get the same Acer monitor, but in a 32-inch format for more immersion. If you want to spend a little less, you can consider Asus' TUF Gaming VG27VH1B as it has a lower resolution and will therefore also be less demanding on your graphics card. Similarly, Acer also sells the 27-inch Predator Z1, which is available at a similar price but drops the resolution to Full HD and has a refresh rate of 144 Hz. Currently it is also a 4 year old model.

If you double your budget, you can get the 1000R Curved G7 from Samsung. However, despite its unmatched performance in games, this monitor has shortcomings that can make you feel salty when you spend as much as it costs.

Overall, I feel that Acer's XZ272U strikes a balance between price and performance that is likely to please the largest audience.

How long it will take?

Unless you get a lemon, we expect the Acer XZ272U to last as long as any monitor today should: at least five years, and Acer protects your purchase for a three-year warranty.

Should I buy it?

Yes. If you need a monitor for gaming and general office work, the Acer XZ272U is likely to keep you happy for years.

Editor's recommendations




12 Sep
Blog

Canon EOS Rebel T8i Review: There’s Nothing to See Here

Product photo of Canon EOS Rebel T8i looking through the viewfinder

"Small changes bring the T8i towards the enthusiast, but it remains a high-profile DSLR in a mirrorless world."

  • Great auto focus with live view

  • 4K video is available

  • AF-ON button, rear dial

  • 800-round battery

  • 4K is cropped, only 24p

  • Not a high frame rate 1080p

  • Small, dark viewfinder

In 2017, I reviewed the Canon EOS Rebel T8i's predecessor, the Rebel T7i, and found that this is a refreshing exception to the rule that entry-level DSLRs aren't exciting. An "EOS 80D in disguise," as I called it, referred to Canon's upscale DSLR that won Digital Trend's Editor's Choice Award the previous year.

Unfortunately, the magic of the T7i has gone from the T8i. While Canon's latest entry-level camera adds some enthusiastic updates, its upscale counterpart is now the EOS 90D – and a camouflaged 90D the T8i isn't.

Instead of going for the 32-megapixel sensor on the 90D, Canon stuck to the 24-megapixel sensor on the T7i. While the 90D jumped 4 frames per second (fps) compared to the 80D – from 7 to 11 fps – the T8i only achieved 0.5 fps more than the T7i and was 7.5.

Product photo of Canon EOS Rebel T8i, front sideDaven Mathies / Digital Trends

The pragmatist in me says who cares? After all, those specs are perfectly fine for a mid-range camera, and the 90D's extra megapixels don't make an important difference in the real world anyway. While this is all true, the T8i doesn't have much going for it. There's little reason for T7i owners to upgrade. In the three years since this camera was released, DSLRs have become less desirable as mirrorless cameras keep getting better and dominate the market. I suppose the T8i is perfectly fine if you want a compact DSLR, but it really doesn't help keep such a camera around.

The T8i retails for $ 749 for the body only or with the 18-55mm f / 4-5.6 kit lens for $ 899 (tested) and kicks off some strong mirrorless cameras like that Sony A6100. That leaves the T8i in an unfortunate position. It is an OK camera that will give you great results. However, given better alternatives, this is hardly recommended.

Enthusiastic design changes

From most angles, the Canon Rebel T8i looks identical to the T7i. I like the big, simple mode dial and the power button that also toggles the movie mode. The auto focus mode and ISO buttons right next to your index finger are great too.

Product photo of Canon EOS Rebel T8i taken out of the camera bag.Daven Mathies / Digital Trends

You will find the only SD card slot on the right and all of the connectivity ports on the left, including mini HDMI (bleh), USB, remote control and microphone. Frustratingly, the camera still uses a micro USB Type-B connector instead of USB-C, which has been the standard for a few years.

A dial has been added around the four-way button cluster that gives a Rebel dual dial controls for the first time since the 2015 T6.

But things get more interesting at the back. A dial has been added around the four-way button cluster that gives a Rebel dual dial controls for the first time since the 2015 T6. This allows the aperture to be changed directly without using a modifier button, a feature that is important for photographers who like to take pictures in manual mode. Since the dial also handles exposure compensation, the exposure compensation button has been removed from the T7i.

Product photo of Canon EOS Rebel T8i, back with hidden screen "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn5.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/canon-eos-rebel -t8i -review-dm-5-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;Daven Mathies / Digital Trends

Product photo of Canon EOS Rebel T8i, top "class =" m-Karussell - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn3.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/canon-eos-rebel-t8i- review- dm-9-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAADaven Mathies / Digital Trends

Product photo of Canon EOS Rebel T8i, left side "class =" m-Karussell - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn4.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/canon-eos-rebel-t8i -review -dm-8-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAAADaven Mathies / Digital Trends

Product photo of Canon EOS Rebel T8i, back with screen revealed "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn2.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/canon-eos-rebel -t8i -review-dm-6-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;Daven Mathies / Digital Trends

Canon also added an AF ON button for backspace auto focus, a shooting technique preferred by many enthusiasts and professionals. It almost seems out of place on a camera aimed at beginners, but I suppose it's a nice feature that gives the T8i a little more room to grow compared to previous models.

Battery life has been slightly improved to 800 shots with the same LP-E17 battery. In practice, you should be able to get a lot more than that (I took almost 2,000 photos on a single charge in my T7i test, so there shouldn't be any any way the T8i should perform worse).

Canon EOS Rebel T8i product photo in handDaven Mathies / Digital Trends

Otherwise, the T8i is in every way the rebel you know and love (or hate). It has a lightweight plastic casing that is not weatherproof, the optical viewfinder is just as uncomfortably small and still only shows 95% of the frame, and the LCD screen is the same at 3 inches and 1.04 million pixels is a touchscreen that is full articulated.

Video is hardly 4K

The few remaining upgrades to the T8i involve filming, starting with the jump to 4K resolution. In 2020, 4K is basically a requirement for all but the most basic cameras, and Canon hasn't done much with it here other than checking the box on the datasheet. For most uses, sticking to 1080p is better. With the T8i, you get 4K / 24p – and that's it.

As a cameraman, I appreciate the 24p option – personally, I rarely use anything else – but most casual shooters would probably prefer 30p for home videos and the like. Does the T8i simply lack the computing power for these additional six frames per second? Maybe. But at a time when our phones can easily record 4K / 30, it feels strange when a dedicated camera can't.

It's confusing that Canon continues to only enforce one frame rate in its cameras at 4K. Previous bodies only gave the option for 30p, and now the T8i only gives the option for 24p. It is frustrating.

Product photo of the Canon EOS Rebel T8i in selfie mode.Daven Mathies / Digital Trends

Switching to 4K also clips the sensor significantly, which isn't particularly good considering it's already an APS-C camera. It's especially frustrating when trying to log with the T8i because the 18-55mm kit lens won't get you a wide enough shot. I don't think a vlog-style shoot has to be in 4K, but the mode just feels like an afterthought.

The problems don't end there. While 4K produces significantly more detailed footage than 1080, the rolling shutter distortion (or “jello cam”) is much worse. This is compounded by the fact that the image is being cropped, which means that the optical stabilization of the lens is less effective. You can activate the additional electronic image stabilization, but this cuts off the footage even more.

1080p video image recording from Canon EOS Rebel T8i "class =" m-Karussell - Bild dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn2.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/canon-eos-rebel-t8i- 1080p- video-frame-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAAAFull HD 1080p, lens at 18mm.

4K video frame grab from Canon EOS Rebel T8i shows the effect of cropped 4K "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn3.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/ canon- eos-rebel-t8i-4k-video-frame-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP // / yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Cropped 4K, lens at 18mm.

And while you might think that the move to 4K has opened up processing space at lower resolutions, you are wrong. Just like the T7i, the T8i still achieves 60 fps in Full HD 1080p. This feels more like an artificial than a technical limitation. I don't want to knock too hard on Canon here as I think the camera still lives up to most people's expectations for this price point, but even the cheaper Fujifilm X-T200 can record 4K / 30p and 1080 / 120p.

The T8i has another trick: vertical video. Yes, you can now record vertical videos in the camera. Impressive. Finally. This is not a separate mode. The camera simply detects when you hold it in a vertical orientation and then rotates the video file automatically. This is nothing more than manually rotating the video while editing, but I suppose it could be a useful feature for the busy influencer who doesn't even have a second to post-production.

The T8i has another trick: vertical video. Yes, you can now record vertical videos in the camera.

What is strange is that while recording a vertical video, none of the information overlays realigns to display them upright. When you play the video on the camera, the clip continues to display horizontally. Neither during recording nor during playback will there be any indication that the camera recorded vertical video correctly. Only when you transfer the file to your computer or phone will it appear vertically.

Not a rebel anymore

For a camera line with such a bold name, the Canon Rebel has grown tired and old. The Rebel T8i is no longer a brave, risky, adventurous outsider and has lost its youthful vigor. Now it's hard to remember the "good old days" instead of trying to keep up with the times.

And that's fine. All is well. The 24MP sensor is fine. A burst rate of 7.5 fps is fine. The 45-point viewfinder autofocus system is perfectly fine. Canon's dual-pixel autofocus in live view is even better than okay – capturing sharp video is a breeze. (Of course, there is still a huge disconnect between a DSLR's performance through the viewfinder and live view, and it can be a frustrating experience for new photographers.)

There is nothing wrong with the T8i itself. It's functional enough and the image quality is basically as good as you'd expect from the APS-C format, as long as your goal is nothing more than winning the DPReview test card. I also really appreciate the control improvements.

The T8i is perfectly fine … but it really doesn't do anything to prove the case that such a camera still deserves to exist.

But it's just so boring. Canon hasn't really updated the Rebel’s core DSLR component – the optical viewfinder – since the original Digital Rebel. There has always been room for improvement there, and given Canon's new focus on professional mirrorless cameras, it doesn't seem important to maintain this imbalance between the low- and high-end DSLRs, the latter of which offer larger ones. brighter viewfinder with full coverage. If you want to keep making DSLRs in 2020 and beyond, the actual DSLR parts should be as good as possible, even on entry-level models.

Our opinion

When it comes to that, the Canon EOS Rebel T8i is still the best Rebel – but only. The new controls are worth improving, but the half-hearted 4K video mode isn't enough to keep the camera up to date. This is a T7i with minor modifications and after three years that is not enough.

If you really want a DSLR and your budget is under $ 1,000, the T8i is the best option – but nothing interesting. The small, relatively dark optical viewfinder doesn't offer the true DSLR experience, and you can find better specs on comparable, smaller mirrorless cameras. The T8i has better battery life than the mirrorless, but that's about it.

Is there a better alternative?

Certainly. You can cover your eyes, throw a rock, and hit a mirrorless camera in the $ 700 to $ 1,000 price range that outperforms the T8i in just about every category. I would check out the Sony A6100, Fujifilm X-T200, and Fujifilm X-T30, the last of which increases the price over $ 1,000 if you add a lens but is a much more powerful camera.

In terms of a direct DSLR competitor, the Nikon D5600 is the closest thing. It's now under $ 600 for the body only, but the T8i has the better specs.

How long it will take?

Despite the plastic construction, Rebel cameras have no problem surviving for years. But the T8i comes onto the stage already surpassed by competitors, which means the technology that powers it is far from it, even if it doesn't break.

Should you buy it?

No. I can only recommend buying the T8i to people who really know this is what they want and what they need. This may include owners of pre-T7i rebels who are casual photographers and don't want to learn a new camera, or just those who have a tendency towards mirrorless. Most novice photographers and first-time camera buyers are more comfortable with a mirrorless camera.

Editor's recommendations




11 Sep
Blog

Reolink E1 Zoom Review: A Zoom Camera That Lacks Focus

Relink E1 enlarge table

"The Reolink E1 Zoom does not offer the image quality that its zoom function implies."

  • Zoom provides more details

  • Excellent night vision performance

  • Slow zooming and focusing

  • Can't auto track

  • Weak internal microphone

Over the past few months, we've seen a steady stream of smart security cameras that can be articulated to provide 360-degree coverage. They're certainly useful, as the Eufy Security Indoor Cam 2K Pan & Tilt showed us – and it's still the camera to beat right now.

The Reolink E1 Zoom wants to dethrone it. The Reolink has a similar articulation camera with a special feature that you don't see too often in an indoor camera: a zoom lens. It's a rare extra, but is it a useful addition to a smart home security camera?

Full coverage with a helpful zoom

The Reolink E1 Zoom has a 5 megapixel Super HD camera with night vision, two-way audio, dual-band WiFi and a 3x optical zoom. At its widest, it covers a horizontal field of view of 98 degrees, which is much narrower than its contemporaries. Ring's indoor camera, for example, has a wide field of view of 140 degrees. This is usually a problem for other cameras, but the E1 zoom can pan on its base to cover 355 degrees horizontally.

The main feature of the Reolink E1 zoom is the 3x optical zoom.

Moving the camera gives users a degree of flexibility to look around a room. However, this is a manual process. Unlike the Eufy Indoor Cam 2K Pan and Tilt, the E1 Zoom stays stationary so it doesn't automatically move to track movement, people or pets.

However, the 3x optical zoom has the added benefit of sharper details rather than just relying on a digital zoom. The difference is noticeable as some details can be better seen with the optical zoom. On the other hand, zooming is often slow and delayed, as is focusing.

Relink E1 enlarge tableJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

This is a problem compounded by the fact that everything has to be operated manually. It would have been far more useful if the E1 zoom could rotate, zoom, and focus on its own every time it detects motion.

Video performance

This camera records video at 2560 x 1920 resolution and the resulting quality is average at best. A clear video is produced with sufficient lighting. However, the highlights often suffer from overexposure and washout. Incorrect exposure can obscure details, which is never a good quality on a security camera.

However, night vision works well enough and can easily illuminate the full range of my living room of 25 feet (rated for a range of 40 feet). Even when it is completely dark, the black and white night vision material is crisp and clear.

The black and white night vision material is crisp and clear.

The internal speaker is powerful and at times a bit harsh and shrill tone. Unfortunately, the internal microphone does a terrible job of recording audio and makes talking to one another a chore. If you speak in a normal tone about 10 feet away, it will be difficult for the person using the camera to see the conversation.

Much management required

The Reolink E1 Zoom seems like a competent paper security camera, but it lacks the advanced security and tracking features of its peers, such as B. Person recognition or automatic tracking. You can create motion zones and adjust the sensitivity of motion detection, but there is still a lot of management involved.

Notifications are received through the app and triggered events are arranged in the app in a linear timeline view. After you've set the motion sensitivity to the medium setting, the Reolink E1 zoom picks up almost every movement in its view. And you know what? It becomes a little redundant every time your cat or dog casually strolls by in the background.

If you prefer continuous recording, you will need to use a microSD card to store the footage or one of Reolink's NVRs (Network Video Recorders). There is an option to subscribe to Reolink's cloud storage service, which is free for the basic plan and covers 7 days of video log (1 GB cloud storage) for one camera. If you need more, the standard plan starts at $ 3.49 per month and includes 30 days of video log (30 GB cloud storage) for up to five cameras.

You can create motion zones and adjust the sensitivity of motion detection, but a lot of management is required.

The Reolink E1 Zoom could be a fantastic security camera, but frequent triggers and its inability to tell potential threats from false ones make it less useful for protecting your home. And finally, there isn't that much privacy focus either, as there is no 2-factor authentication with the app login and there is no privacy mode at all to disable the camera.

Our opinion

There is potential in this camera, but it lacks the smart features and performance that other smart surveillance cameras offer. The $ 72 price tag is tempting, but we've seen better cameras for roughly the same price.

How long it will take?

Compared to other cameras, the Reolink E1 Zoom is bulky. The all-plastic construction makes it feel brittle and hollow, so we're not too sure it will hold up after a nasty fall. If you are concerned about defects, we have a 2 year limited warranty.

Is there a better alternative?

You bet. The Eufy Security Indoor 2K Pan and Tilt remains the better buy because of its automatic tracking, impressive video quality, people detection, and lower cost of $ 52.

Should you buy it?

No, there are better options at a lower price.

Editor's recommendations




11 Sep
Blog

Sennheiser CX 400BT review: Great Sound, But Not Much Else

Sennheiser CX 400BT True Wireless

Sennheiser CX 400BT True Wireless

"The sound is incredible, but the cost for a lower price is a number of missing features."

  • Excellent sound quality

  • Responsive and customizable controls

  • Highly adjustable onboard EQ

  • It lacks features for the money

  • Possible problems with fit and comfort

Sennheiser is known for top-notch sound, and both the Momentum True Wireless and its sequel, the Momentum 2 True Wireless, scored very good results on sound quality when reviewed.

But when you add that excellent sound, it comes at a pretty steep price – you'll pay $ 300 for these earbuds. This of course eliminates a lot of potential buyers.

So the challenge for Sennheiser was to create a range of true wireless earbuds that cost less without sacrificing the main reason they bought them: high quality sound.

The answer to this challenge is the $ 200 True Wireless CX 400BT.

Their price point is definitely more palatable, but do their overall features and performance make them a worthwhile investment considering how many other excellent earbuds are available for the same or similar buck?

Let's take a look.

What's in the box?

Sennheiser CX 400BT True WirelessSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The CX 400BT's relatively simple cardboard box contains the earbuds, their charging case, a set of four sizes of silicone earbuds (large, medium, small, and extra small), a short USB-C charging cable, and some printed paper documentation.

All of the packaging is highly recyclable except for the black foam inner padding that is glued to the inside of the box.

design

Sennheiser CX 400BT True WirelessSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Big and box-shaped are the words that best describe both the CX 400BT and its charging case.

While Sennheiser has tried to downsize these earbuds by giving them a rounded rectangle shape (the word "squircle" comes to mind), the fact that they are large cannot be hidden.

To be fair, while they stand out more than Apple's AirPods or AirPods Pro, they're not as gigantic as Soundcore's Liberty 2 Pro or Sony's WF-1000XM3 or the WF-SP800N.

The size of the CX 400BT has one advantage: the earphones can be pulled out of the charging sockets relatively easily, despite the strong magnets that prevent them from falling out. They're also a little easier to put in your ears.

The shiny outer surface of the earphones with the stylized Senn logo from Sennheiser serves as a touch control.

There are tiny LED indicator lights on the inside of the earbuds. They will show you the performance and / or pairing status of the earbuds. Solid red means power on, blinking blue / red means pairing mode, and blinking green / red means the earbuds are paired.

The small LED on the charging case near the hinge shows the battery status of both the case and the earphones in different colors (depending on whether the earphones are docked or not). This can be a little confusing.

The lid of the charging case is well built and has a wide hinge that can snap into place between the open and closed positions. A strong magnet keeps the lid firmly closed, but is easy to open.

Unfortunately there is no wireless charging option, just USB-C.

Comfort, fit and control

The CX 400BT are comfortable to wear, but have one caveat: To get the best sound quality from true wireless in-ear earbuds (used with silicone earbuds), you need to bring the tips deep enough into your ear canals to to create a really good seal.

This equation has two parts: you need to find the right size of the ear tip and be able to physically get that silicone tip all the way into your canal.

I found that the sheer size of the CX 400BT prevented me from achieving this comfortably. It was doable, but I had to apply quite a bit of pressure while twisting the earbuds into position.

This had a real impact on my ability to wear them for more than an hour before I felt tired.

This problem is exacerbated by the very defined groove that runs around the body of the earbuds. It has surprisingly sharp edges that I became aware of when moving and pushing the buds around to get a good seal.

The controls on the CX 400BT are possibly the best touch controls I've ever used.

Sennheiser CX 400BT True Wireless AppSennheiser Smart Control App Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Given that Digital Trends rep Nick Woodard didn't have this problem with the Sennheiser Momentum 2 True Wireless (with a nearly identical ear profile), I can only assume that this isn't a problem for everyone, but it does worth thinking about whether you have small ears or have experienced this problem with other models.

Out of curiosity, I tried the earbuds with a set of Comply Foam tips that came with a different set of buds and they helped tremendously. So there are options if you're willing to go the extra mile and buy third-party earplugs.

The controls on the CX 400BT are possibly the best touch controls I've ever used. I'm not a fan of touch controls because they are so difficult to achieve with a consistent response. Sometimes the taps register, sometimes not. Physical buttons are far more predictable.

However, the touch controls of the CX are exceptional and keep responding. I particularly liked the fact that a subtle confirmation tone is generated when registering a faucet. This is a great way to tell if the faucet worked or not.

The existing typing scheme is easy to remember and gives you control over volume, answering / ending / dropping calls, skipping forward / backward and access to voice assistants (Siri / Google Assistant). If you don't like how it works, you can use the Sennheiser Smart Control app to assign any function to any tapping sequence on one of the earphones – something that all real wireless earphones should offer.

Speaking of the Smart Control app: The CX 400BT does not have to be used (without it, it is paired with your device). However, I strongly recommend using it anyway. Not only can you use it to configure the controls, but you can also access the earphones' built-in equalizer and quickly switch between previously paired devices.

This is not the same as Bluetooth Multipoint, which allows two devices to be paired at the same time, but it is the next best thing.

Battery life

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Sennheiser CX 400BT True Wireless "class =" m-Karussell - Bild dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn3.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/sennheiser-cx-400bt-true-wireless-00006- 640x640 .jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAASennheiser CX 400BT True Wireless (above) and Jabra Elite 75t Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

There seems to be a question about whether the CX 400BT should get 6.5 or 7 hours of battery life when fully charged. The box says 6.5, but the Sennheiser website says 7.

I set it to 75% and ran it on a radio stream. Seven hours later they were still on the road, so I'm confident the seven-hour claim is realistic.

In both cases, however, the average for true wireless earbuds is currently in the lower range. The $ 150 AirPods and $ 230 AirPods Pro get you just a little over five hours. Jabra's $ 200 Elite Active 75t gets 7.5 hours. The $ 200 Sony WF-SP800N can deliver up to 13 hours with active noise cancellation turned off, and the RHA TrueConnect 2 can last 9.5 hours. Samsung's Galaxy Buds + are only $ 150 but can run for 11 hours.

The loading case is of greater importance. It can only add your playtime to a total of 20 hours, making the CX one of the shortest earbuds with total duration at any cost. Since the charging case isn't exactly small, I'm not sure why Sennheiser wasn't able to provide a little more portable power.

The quick charge option is a bit better than the competition: with 15 minutes you get an hour. This corresponds to that of the Jabra Elite Active 75t, but is not as fast as the AirPods and AirPods Pro, which can also do this for only five minutes. Meanwhile, the Sonys will get you almost 90 minutes on a 10 minute charge.

Sound quality

Sennheiser CX 400BT True WirelessSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Do you remember how focused I was on getting a good fit? It's not just about comfort.

It's good that I tried these comply foam tips. From the moment I used it, I was in a sonic ecstasy.

With the factory-shipped earbuds, I began to doubt Sennheiser's claim that the CX 400BT uses the exact same drivers and equalizer technologies as the top-rated Momentum 2. What I heard was not close to the praises of Digital Trends writer Nick Woodard: “I heard some pretty powerful earbuds, but that's just a completely different experience. The sound pulls you into the music and devours you as you record notes and instruments that competitors simply don't have. "

It's good that I tried these comply foam tips. From the moment I used it, I was in a sonic ecstasy.

Sure enough, the CX 400BT can rival the best of true wireless earbuds from head to toe, and when paired with an aptX-enabled sound source, they're very hard to beat.

Stereo imaging, precision, depth and breadth of the soundstage – all are superb. Bass, midrange and treble are treated first-class, with everyone being allowed to shine without stepping on the other's feet.

This type of sound quality arguably helps all genres to perform at their best, but you'll really appreciate it when tracks require fidelity across a range of frequencies. Little Something, a duet by Sting and Melody Gardot – a song I just discovered about Tidal – is a perfect example. It features two singers who are supported by a rich mix of acoustic guitar, bass, drums and synth. But the musicians all apply a subtlety to their playing that a lesser set of earphones would attenuate or mask. With the CX, you can appreciate every detail.

If you're not crazy about the factory EQ, the Smart Control app lets you tweak it using one of two equalizer formats. Regardless of your choice, the changes you make will be saved onboard the earbuds, so you can enjoy the results regardless of the music source or the device you are using for playback.

Call quality

The CX 400BT are supposedly optimized for voice calls, but I've found that they generally do no better than many of the less expensive models I've tested.

The lack of a listening mode proved frustrating.

Voice quality was good when conditions were calm, but as is the case with so many true wireless earbuds, they struggled when other sounds vied for attention.

Cars going by, building noises in the distance, helicopters – each of these noises had a tendency to push the speaker's voice around. At no point did this prevent the speaker from being understood, but it was quite distracting at times.

These Comply Foam earbuds, which created such a wonderful seal on sound quality, also blocked a good chunk of my own voice on calls. The lack of a listening mode proved frustrating.

I would say the CX 400BT is perfectly adequate for the occasional call, but quieter locations should be preferred for something longer than a brief "I'm late for our meeting" message.

What is missing?

Given that Sennheiser managed to give the CX 400BT True Wireless the same sound quality as earphones, which cost $ 100 more, corners had to be cut elsewhere.

There's no wear sensor that can automatically pause music when you remove an earbud. There is no active noise cancellation (ANC). There's no sneak-in mode for introducing outside noise when you need to have a conversation, and there's no IPX rating for water or dust resistance.

And we've already talked about the CX's overwhelming overall battery life.

Our opinion

The Sennheiser CX 400BT offers great sound for its price of $ 200. If they had just a few more bells and whistles, we'd be in wireless earbud heaven.

Is there a better alternative?

I don't think another set of real wireless earbuds for $ 200 will get you better sound quality, but you can get close to that. The Jabra Elite Active 75t and Sony WF-SP800N both cost $ 200. While they may not quite match the CX 400BT's sonic purity, they outperform all other features like comfort and fit, audibility, battery life and ANC (in the case of the Sonys) and water resistance.

How long will they last?

With no official protection from water, you may need to be extra careful with the CX 400BT, but it (and its charging case) are very well built and should last for many years. Sennheiser grants a two-year guarantee on them, which is twice as long as with some other brands.

Should you buy it?

It's a tough call. If getting the absolute best sound quality for your money is your number one priority, and you can make peace with the CX 400BT's extensive list of missing features and potential customization issues, then I recommend it. But I would take a close look at the many strong competitors at this price point before buying them.

Editor's recommendations




11 Sep
Blog

Montblanc MB01 Headphones Review: Luxurious Sound and Style

montblanc mb01 headphones review 11

Montblanc MB01 headphones

"Great sound with the luxurious headphone experience you didn't know you wanted."

  • Beautiful design

  • Very convenient

  • Warm, accessible sound

  • Capable of powerful bass

  • Excellent call quality

  • Small, fiddly buttons

  • Below average battery life

  • Mediocre functional performance

  • Expensive

Montblanc isn't a brand I associate with audio equipment – it's best known for fountain pens and high-end watches. It wasn't until I looked at the product range that I realized that the company was expanding beyond these two main pillars. Hence, the set of luxury headphones is not as far off the base as I thought.

Montblanc didn't just hit her name on a pair of over-ears. You developed it with Audezes founder Alex Rosson. For those in the audio industry, this is a strong name that comes with some serious expectations. With him at the forefront of design and the staggering $ 595 price tag, I had extremely high expectations for the Montblanc MB01 Active Noise Canceling Headphones.

Let's see if they got hit.

Out of the box

Montblanc is a luxury lifestyle brand. A significant part of the appeal of its products will come from this experience, and that will be an undertone for much of this review.

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Similar to opening a new Apple product, removing the MB01s is a pleasant affair at first. The box is made of heavy, sturdy cardboard. The headphones are located in an extruded plastic tub lined with a soft fabric and covered with foam under a cardboard insert. It's full of pomp and circumstance.

As beautiful as the packaging is, it is not sustainable. Much of the packaging is not universally recyclable or compostable, which we disapprove of.

Jaron Schneider / Digital Trends

The MB01s come with an elegant soft case, a USB-A to USB-C charging cable, a 3.5 mm socket to USB-C for listening to music and an airplane audio adapter. Although the travel case is good for a soft suitcase, I wish Montblanc had brought a hard suitcase instead. For such expensive headphones, I would have liked a bag in which I felt better protected.

I also love that the airplane connector adapter is included, but I would have preferred a 3.5mm bluetooth adapter instead, considering that airplanes these days often use a new entertainment console that doesn't require this two-pin adapter is. And keeping these headphones wireless as often as possible seems like a better choice overall – especially given their price point.

Radiate luxury

It is clear that Montblanc has spared no expense in terms of construction and materials. The headbands and ear cups are made from the softest, supple leather I've ever touched, and almost every other visible part is made from metal. Despite all the metal and leather, the headphones are surprisingly light both in the hand and when carried.

These headphones are eye-catching in the simple, elegant style of a classic car or a properly fitting suit. They ask for attention with their gently flowing lines and bright chrome surfaces. I even like how the cups attach to the headband via a single contoured metal bracket that breaks the traditional half-circle bracket found on pretty much every other headset. The design matches the price.

The outside of the cups is a kind of rubber that is easy to hold in your hand. While it's not a material I usually associate with high quality, I have to admit that it looks and feels great. The pause / play / skip / skip back button, which Montblanc calls the multifunction button, is located on the right ear cup and pressing this button is extremely satisfying. It's just the right size, with just the right tactile feedback that makes it easy to use quickly but difficult to hit by mistake. The response time is also immediate.

It is clear that someone who wanted these headphones to work fantastic is responsible for the design.

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You didn't get everything right, however. While the left auricle has no buttons, the right cup houses them all and it gets a bit crowded. The top button brings up the Google Assistant (and Google Assistant only), which goes through the three active noise-canceling options below that, including the volume control, and finally the power button is located below, above the charging indicators and the USB. C port.

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The volume buttons are too small for me to use effectively. I reach behind the pinna to use it and run my finger over all the buttons to make sure I'm touching the right one. The power switch, which also functions as a Bluetooth pair button, is also strangely small and made of plastic – in contrast to the others, which have a metal cap. This tiny button can be hard to hold if you're not looking at it, and I have small hands.

Overall, these buttons feel a bit of an afterthought compared to the multifunction button, but that's probably because the latter's implementation is so perfect that it can be difficult for anything else to measure up.

These are some of the most comfortable headphones I've ever worn.

The metal-chrome finish I mentioned earlier can be easily stained by fingerprints. So you should have a microfiber cloth on hand (Montblanc, oddly enough, didn't include one) to shine it regularly.

When I go back to that soft leather and wear these headphones, my high expectations are met: they feel fabulous. While I wouldn't recommend exercising in these as I don't want to risk damaging the leather or surfaces, I'm sure you could if you were so inclined. These will not fall off easily.

These are some of the most comfortable headphones I've ever worn. I have often forgotten I was wearing them so I could just enjoy my music and focus on my work. Compared to the Sony WH-1000XM4, the MB01 generates significantly less wear and tear.

The ear cups of the Montblanc MB01 are noticeably softer than those of the WH-1000XM4, which are by no means uncomfortable headphones. When I have the perfect fit for the XM4, it will have a looser headband. Over time, these slide off a bit and press the headband onto my crown, which I notice and find uncomfortable – most of the weight of the XM4 is held in one place on top of my head.

In contrast, the MB01s have a tighter grip on the sides of my head. I know the headband is there, but I don't feel it. I think this can be attributed to the fact that the pressure on the MB01s is well balanced and they stay attached to the sides of my head without putting too much pressure on my crown. The headband is also well padded and cushions my head very well.

Functions in the middle of the road

The Montblanc MB01s offer three main functions outside of audio playback: Active Noise Cancellation, Smart Play / Pause and Google Assistant support. The MB01s only support Google Assistant. So, if you're a fan of Apple Siri or Amazon Alexa, you're out of luck. For me it is a waste to assign a whole button to a smart assistant like Montblanc did here since I don't use one. However, if you are particularly attached to yours and it is not Google, this can be a huge disappointment.

Active noise cancellation is supported by the solid passive noise isolation of the MB01. However, the active noise cancellation feature is just fine.

Many high-end headphones can detect when you take them off and automatically pause them (or automatically play music when you put them on). This is a feature I'm used to in earphones and that was recently added to the Sony WH-1000XM4. Unfortunately, the MB01 version of this feature is disappointingly inconsistent and frustratingly unintelligent. Montblanc ships the MB01s with this feature as standard, and that was probably a smart idea. Often the music was not interrupted when I took off the headphones, but when I put them back on. It got so frustrating that I turned it off again.

Active noise cancellation is supported by the solid passive noise isolation of the MB01. However, the active noise cancellation feature is just fine. When playing music, you definitely won't notice any interloping noises as the interior volume and noise cancellation work well together. But alone I could still clearly hear my air conditioning next to me or the dump truck pulling over on the next street. It's good enough for most, but doesn't match the industry-leading performance of the Sony WH-1000XM4 or the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700.

Ambient sound mode is a decent experience, although the isolation the cups provide will make your voice sound a bit muffled when you are on the phone. However, you can hear everything around you clearly without it sounding artificially amplified.

The battery life is 20 hours with the ANC switched on. The MB01s have a fast charge which gives you 3 hours of listening time after 10 minutes of charging. As for the quick charge features, this is again mediocre – but it's better than nothing.

At the start, the Montblanc MB01 had no app support, but from the beginning of September 2020 they received it together with a firmware update. I was really excited about the app that allows you to set a custom EQ. It's not a perfect app and it's still a bit buggy, but I'm glad it's available. You can't adjust the amount of noise cancellation, but you can't set the EQ to the default setting I recommend.

Jaron Schneider / Digital Trends

Sound quality

Out of the box, I found that these headphones can sound amazing. The sound profile of the MB01s is warm, accessible and pleasant, but a bit weak in the lows. It got better with app support: increasing those lows had an immediate impact on how good the MB01s sound.

The standard audio profile is very mediocre. This narrow audio profile gives music a pleasant, warm sound that is easy to hear. The bass won't overwhelm your senses with too much boom, and those higher frequencies will never pull your heart at a painfully high pitch. It's comfortable enough, but not emotionally stimulating.

The MB01s ensure a fantastic listening experience.

When you hit the bass they sound a lot richer, but the highs get out of control when you change the equalizer. If you barely move the EQ up, the sound will be too sharp. In the end, I just adjusted the lows and left the highs at near default values. This mix was my favorite.

Taylor Swift's entire folklore album sounds very good through the MB01s, albeit a little narrower than other sources I've heard. Hans Zimmer's No Time for Caution comes through powerful and booming with the bass turned up and reflects the first time I heard it in the theater. With the bass raised, I can feel the headphones rumble on the side of my head as the air moves. As a bass player, I loved that.

The soundstage is a bit small and they are not very detailed, but the MB01s make for a fantastic listening experience.

Our opinion

If I had the MB01s, Sony WH-1000XM4s, and Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 on the table and told I could only get one, I have to admit that I would probably grab the Montblanc MB01s. For me, I can see myself traveling with these headphones on and never taking them off for a full 15 hour day. They don't sound quite as good as the XM4s (but are close), and they don't suppress noise nearly as well as the Bose, but they are so darn pleasant to use that I get interested in them day in and day out and day trip.

Is there a better alternative?

If your budget for over-ear headphones is $ 600, the world is your oyster. The Sony WH-1000XM4 are the industry standard for sound quality, while the Bose Heaphones 700 are the best for noise cancellation. Both are available much cheaper. However, if you are particularly impressed with the design and comfort of the Montblanc MB01, you may have a harder time finding something that suits your needs.

How long will they last?

As I have hopefully made clear, these are very well built. Not only are they sturdy, they are also made of excellent materials. The ear cups are also interchangeable, which extends their lifespan. You should easily expect several years of use.

Should you buy it?

If you have the coin, yes. They sound pleasant and offer a level of comfort that I have never found in any other headphones. Other headphones offer better functionality and value, but the Montblanc MB01 is a wonderful luxury alternative.

Editor's recommendations




11 Sep
Blog

Marshall Emberton Review: Tiny, Stylish Stereo Powerhouse

Marshall Emberton

"Iconic design meets superior sound in a highly portable Bluetooth speaker."

  • 20 hour battery

  • Warm and rich stereo sound

  • Iconic design

  • 360 degree sound pattern

  • IPX7 waterproof

  • Expensive

  • No aux line-in

  • No speakerphone

  • Stereo or multi-speaker pair not possible

There are so many Bluetooth speakers out there now that one speaker can hardly be distinguished from another. Digital Trends had to take a step back to review each new model. There is simply not enough time to complete this gigantic task.

However, we always keep our eyes peeled for Bluetooth speakers that manage to stand out from the crowd.

Marshall's new $ 150 Emberton is certainly apt, if perhaps not a good one: It's much more expensive than similarly featured portable speakers.

Can Marshall Justify the Price of the Emberton? Let's take a look.

What's in the box?

Marshall EmbertonSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The Marshall Emberton comes in a simple cardboard box. With the exception of a tiny piece of polyethylene film to protect the speaker, the packaging (and the paper documentation included) can be easily recycled.

Inside is the speaker and a four-foot USB-C charging cable – which is longer than most.

design

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Marshall Emberton "class =" m-Karussell - Bild dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn3.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/marshall-emberton-00004-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https: / /www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Marshall Emberton "class =" m-Karussell - Bild dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn4.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/marshall-emberton-00007-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https: / /www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Marshall designs all Bluetooth speakers to look like miniature versions of the famous British guitar amplifiers that bear the distinctive Marshall logo, and the Emberton is no exception.

Despite the fact that the Emberton Marshalls is the smallest speaker to date, the company managed his proportions perfectly.

Whether on a dormitory bookshelf, a kitchen counter, or a patio table, this speaker offers miles of authentic rock & # 39; n & # 39; roll style.

With its silver diamond grille speaker grille and heavy, black rubberized housing, the Emberton looks like it has a guitar input jack somewhere (unfortunately not).

What it has is a single gold colored control panel, an LED power meter, and a bluetooth pairing button. A USB-C charging port on the right is the only input. It is used exclusively for power supply and not for playback.

The back isn't a cladding at all – it's another speaker grille. This is your first clue that the Emberton doesn't quite match most of the other bluetooth speakers you can find on Amazon.

At 24.6 ounces, it has quite a bit of weight despite its small size. That's probably a result of the battery Marshall used, but it also gives the Emberton a feel of real substance.

I like this, although you can comfortably carry it in one hand, it doesn't look or feel like a toy either.

The Emberton focuses effortlessly on its mission and is effortless to set up and use.

One small criticism: like many other ultraportable speakers, the Emberton could have benefited from a carry handle or strap. I realize this would have taken some of the amp-inspired look away from it, but sometimes function has to take shape.

Controls, connections and ease of use

Marshall Emberton "class =" m-Karussell - Bild dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn5.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/marshall-emberton-00009-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https: / /www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Marshall Emberton "class =" m-Karussell - Bild dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn6.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/marshall-emberton-00011-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https: / /www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The Emberton, much like its massive big brother, the Tufton, does one thing and only one thing: you can connect a single Bluetooth source like a phone or tablet and play your favorite music.

Your other devices won't charge, it won't work as a speakerphone, you can't talk to Siri or Google Assistant, and you can't connect a non-Bluetooth device like an older iPod through an AUX input.

Yes, these would all be useful things, but once you focus on your mission, the Emberton is effortless to set up and use.

A long press on the large control panel turns on the speaker. If the bluetooth pairing mode doesn't go into immediately (which you can tell by the flashing red light above the bluetooth button), a long press on the bluetooth button will get you there.

Simply select the Emberton from the available Bluetooth devices on the control panel of your phone and off you go.

From there, open the music app of your choice (or a video app) and start playing.

The Emberton control panel takes on all important functions: play / pause, skip tracks forwards / backwards and increase / decrease volume. Like a well-designed game controller, the pad's action is smooth, effortless, and tactile, with a quiet but noticeable click for each command.

I wish it had two functions: multi-speaker pairing for stereo through two speakers … and bluetooth multipoint.

The 10-segment LED power meter gives a quick and yet very precise overview of how much juice is left. This is very important to me over other systems that use voice feedback or force you to consult your phone.

As much as I don't mind that Emberton focuses on just being a great bluetooth speaker, I wish it had two functions: multi-speaker pairing for stereo through two speakers (or just multiple speakers) and bluetooth Multipoint You can pair two Bluetooth sources at the same time.

JBL has been offering its products with multiple speakers for some time. This is a great way to upgrade the capabilities of such a portable speaker at low cost.

robustness

The Marshall Emberton is IPX7 rated, which means you can do pretty much anything you want to do with water exposure, including full immersion, as long as you don't push it too deep below the surface.

But the X in IPX7 means it's not designed for dust and dirt. As much as the Emberton may be an ideal poolside buddy, I don't recommend it for the beach or anywhere else where it could be exposed to a lot of small particles.

Marshall doesn't claim the Emberton's ability to survive a drop, but judging by its thick rubber skin and protected corners, I appreciate that it can handle minor mishaps with ease – and maybe even some major ones.

Battery life

Marshall EmbertonJBL Flip 5 (above) and Marshall Emberton Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Most portable Bluetooth speakers have a battery life of between 10 and 12 hours. To achieve significantly more, you'll need to spend at least $ 150 – which is no coincidence that the Emberton is paid for.

How can I suggest that the tiny, battery-powered Marshall Emberton deliver room-filling sound? Because it is so.

It can run for 20 hours on a full charge, and get another five hours on a 20 minute quick charge.

To put that in perspective, the popular $ 120 JBL Flip 5, which is similar in size, shape and features to the Emberton, can only last 12 hours – also with The $ 100 SRS-XB23 from Sony and the $ 150 Ultimate Ears Boom 3.

Sound quality

Marshall EmbertonSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

We use the term “room-filling sound” fairly liberally when we talk about speakers. When it comes to a product like the Sonos One, the Bose Smart Speaker 500 or the Pantheone I, this term applies in spades. So how can I suggest that the relatively small, battery-operated Marshall Emberton should provide room-filling sound?

Because it is so.

Thanks to its stereo drivers, each driven by a special 10 watt amplifier for a total of 20 watts of power, the Emberton can produce a really surprising amount of sound.

But it's not just loud – it's big. Place the Emberton in the front of your listening room and it creates an admirable balance between lows, mids and highs. This is something that other portable bluetooth speakers struggle with, especially at higher volume levels.

The JBL Flip 5 can get louder than the Emberton, but when it approaches its maximum setting, bass and treble march away from each other, leaving the midrange in a barren desert.

In contrast, the Emberton can maintain sound quality much better without distorting or becoming painfully sharp. At the same time, this little black box gets a real feeling of warmth – another area where portable speakers usually fall short.

The stereo separation isn't perfect – there's about four inches or less between the drivers, after all – but it's pretty decent. Much more notable is the ability to distribute sound evenly in a room.

The best way to appreciate this is to sit the Emberton in the middle of a room, or better yet, in the middle of a patio. With its double grille openings, it delivers almost a 360-degree sound field and practically guarantees that there isn't a bad seat in the room (or in the backyard).

Our opinion

While $ 150 is the most expensive for a highly compact Bluetooth speaker like the Emberton, it delivers the goods when it comes to sound quality and battery life, and it's difficult to evaluate Marshall's iconic guitar amp style.

Is there a better alternative?

I haven't found a $ 150 portable speaker that matches the Emberton's unique combination of style and sound, but for the same price Ultimate Ears Boom 3 is definitely worth a look. It doesn't work in stereo and its battery only lasts 15 hours, but its 360 speaker design sounds great, it's beach-grade with dust resistance, and it can be put into party mode to play with the other Ultimate Ears Bluetooth speakers synchronize.

How long it will take?

Zounds Industries – the company that licenses the Marshall name for consumer audio products – gives the Emberton a one-year warranty, which is standard on this type of device. Given the good construction of the Emberton, you will likely benefit from it for many years, even if the built-in battery gradually loses its full 20 hour life.

Should you buy it?

Yes. Despite some limitations, the Marshall Emberton is a great sounding and good looking portable bluetooth speaker with exceptional battery life.

Editor's recommendations




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