24 Sep
Blog

Acer ConceptD 7 Ezel Review: Unique Laptop Only For Creators

acer conceptd 7 ezel review 01 2

"The ConceptD 7 Ezel is fast and furious and can morph into any form factor a creative professional needs."

  • Innovative and extremely useful design

  • Class-leading performance

  • Solid build quality despite the complexity

  • Great input options

  • Very good advertisement

  • Very big and heavy

  • Expensive

OK creatives, get ready to feel warm and fuzzy: Acer made a laptop just for you. And when I say that, I'm not exaggerating – the Acer ConceptD 7 Ezel is not all made up of fast components, so editing large photos and 4K videos takes less time, and it isn't just equipped with a display that is wide and promises accurate colors. No, the ConceptD 7 Ezel literally bends backwards to transform itself into exactly the laptop you need.

It's also a hell of a investment, costing $ 4,000 for my review unit, which features an eight-generation Intel Core i7-10875H CPU with eight cores, 32GB of RAM, and 2TB of storage over two 1TB solid-state -Drive in RAID 0 is equipped with a Pantone-certified 4K IPS display and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 2080 Super Max-Q GPU.

That's a lot of computers for a lot of money – is it worth the price?

design

Where should I start? After reviewing nearly 100 laptops for digital trends, I can't remember reviewing one with so many distinctive design elements. Even the Acer ConceptD 9, another laptop I tested with a focus on developers, doesn't quite fit the ConceptD 7 Ezel due to its complexity.

Let's start with the form factor. We use the term “2-in-1” to describe 360-degree convertibles like the HP Specter x360 13, and that could be a misnomer. Such laptops don't just convert from clamshells to tablets. In between there are two other modes – tent and media. If we were completely accurate, we would call them 4-in-1.

According to this logic, the ConceptD 7 Ezel is a 6-in-1 device with six different modes that its hinge combination can apply. There's the usual clamshell mode, a float mode that allows the display to be positioned closer or farther away from the user, a stand mode that allows easy writing and drawing at a comfortable angle, a sharing mode that allows collaboration , a display mode for viewing media or inverting content and showing it to others, and a pad mode that serves as a (very bulky) tablet.

Aside from the tablet mode, these are all interesting and potentially comfortable positions for using the device. This is especially true if you are an artist who has always dreamed of getting your work done right on the screen with a pen in hand.

The ConceptD 7 Ezel has six different modes that its hinge combination can apply.

These modes are activated by a hinge in the center of the display that allows it to pivot along the lid and extend halfway up the back of the display. Opening the display takes getting used to – you have to reach down on it, otherwise the display can turn awkwardly. The hinges all work well together to keep the panel exactly where you want it. Overall, it's a fine piece of tech that creates really useful modes for different creative and collaborative needs.

The chassis is made of a magnesium-aluminum alloy and is available in one color – white. But it's not just painted on. Rather, Acer developed a ceramic coating using a micro-arc oxidation process (MAO) which, according to the expert's guideline, creates “an ultra-hard crystalline ceramic structure with a unique tactile feel”. It's not just about looking pretty, however. The ceramic coating also promises to resist corrosion and oxidation. Overall, it is a robust construction.

Speaking of aesthetics, the simple white color works for me. And apart from the uniqueness of the folding assembly, there isn't a lot of decoration or ornament around it. It's a very understated design. You could say it's a classic case of function over form. It's by no means an unattractive laptop – call it "utilitarian" instead. It looks like it's there to do a job and not to get noticed.

However, I wouldn't call it elegant as this is a large laptop. The bezels are thin on the side of the display, but relatively large at the top, and below is a massive chin. Acer hasn't even tried to match the modern trend for tiny bezels. Hence, the ConceptD 7 Ezel is larger in width and depth than a laptop like the Dell XPS 15 (although it may not be as much as you might suspect) which shouldn't come as a surprise. The Acer is also very thick, at 0.89 inches at its thinnest point and 1.13 inches at its thickest point. Compare that to the XPS 15's 0.71-inch.

Finally, the ConceptD 7 Ezel weighs 5.6 pounds compared to the Dell at 4.5 pounds. This is not a machine that you will toss in your backpack and casually carry to the local coffee shop. Instead, move them from workspace to workspace and keep them there for a while.

Extra weight is inevitable with this type of design. When you buy it, you are compromising portability in exchanging for a unique hinge and form factor. So better plan not to use it just as a clamshell laptop.

Connectivity is another strength. On the left you will find a USB-A 3.1 port, two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 3, and a 3.5 mm audio jack. On the right you will find a Gigabit Ethernet port, an HDMI 2.0 port with HDCP support and a DisplayPort 1.4 connection. Finally, there is a full-size SD card reader on the leading edge. The wireless connection is provided via Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0.

performance

Acer sent me the top-end version of the ConceptD 7 Ezel (outside of the Pro models with Xeon CPUs and Quadro GPUs, which are also available through reseller channels). It has an eight-core Core i7-10875H CPU and a Super Max-Q GeForce GTX 2080 GPU. And as you can imagine, it's fast enough.

Looking at Geekbench 5, the Concept 7 Ezel achieved 1,301 points in the single-core test and 7,949 points in the multi-core test. That matched the Dell XPS 17 almost exactly and narrowly knocked out the XPS 15, which both use the same CPU. This puts the ConceptD 7 Ezel at the top of this CPU class.

Next, let's look at our handbrake test, which converts a 420MB video to H.265. The ConceptD 7 Ezel finished the test in just under two minutes, lost just under five seconds against the XPS 17 and beat the XPS 15 by eight seconds. This is a CPU-intensive test. Hence, it is not surprising that these laptops are so close together.

In Cinebench 20, the story was a little different. The ConceptD 7 Ezel achieved 463 points in the single-core test and 3,845 points in the multi-core test. This is the third fastest score we've seen on a laptop. Only the Dell G5 SE with an AMD Ryzen 7 4800H and the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 with a Core i9-10980HK beat it – and not by much.

I then ran our test, which best mimics real-world conditions, and used Premiere Pro to render a two-minute 4K video. The ConceptD 7 Ezel finished the project in two minutes and 57 seconds, the fastest we've ever seen. The XPS 17 was done in three minutes and 38 seconds and the XPS 15 in four minutes and 50 seconds. The GTX 2080 Super Max-Q clearly makes a huge difference in demanding tasks where the GPU is used. At least with this configuration, the ConceptD 7 Ezel is one of the fastest creative workstations that is not a workstation.

The chassis gets very, very warm. In fact, it gets really hot sometimes.

Next we should talk about the thermal design. These types of components require adequate cooling if they are to perform well, especially if the laptop does not melt in the process. Acer has developed a bespoke solution with two 4th generation AeroBlade 3D fans (the fan edges are serrated to maximize airflow) and three heat pipes.

Of course, the unique design of the ConceptD 7 Ezel should also support this performance through better cooling. The main hinge provides some support to the floor for better airflow. The idea is that the ConceptD 7 Ezel doesn't get too loud when it's working at top speed – Acer advertises 40 decibels. Even when I work hard, the laptop never gets particularly loud – I wouldn't use it in a library as Acer suggests, but I wouldn't be embarrassed to use it in a typical office space.

However, the chassis gets very, very warm. In fact, it gets really hot sometimes. I measured over 125 degrees Fahrenheit directly above the keyboard and over 140 degrees Fahrenheit on the bottom of the case below the display. The heat above doesn't detract from the ease of use – the keyboard and deck stay cool enough – but you don't want to put this laptop on your lap while squeezing the CPU and GPU. Acer has managed to make it relatively quiet, but that seems to come at the expense of generating some serious heat.

Gaming performance

I'll mention gaming as the ConceptD 7 Ezel is of course quite well equipped to run today's demanding titles with high resolutions and graphical detail. And if you buy one, chances are you'll be tempted to play some games between work sessions. However, I can't imagine a lot of people will buy this laptop with games on their mind – mostly because the screen refresh rate is set to 60Hz.

If you make a game, you will be pretty happy with the results. According to 3DMark, the ConceptD 7 Ezel competes well with gaming laptops with the same GPU, scoring 7,273 points in Time Spy, compared to the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 with 7,605 and the MSI GS66 Stealth with 7,493. Note that the ConceptD 7 Ezel uses Nvidia's studio drivers, which are aimed at creative uses, rather than the Game Ready drivers that come with most laptops. Therefore, it aims more at stability in creative applications than at pure game speed.

In real word gaming, the ConceptD 7 Ezel achieved 60 frames per second (fps) at 1080p and ultra-high graphics in Assassin's Creed Odyssey, compared to the Asus at 55 fps (frames per second) and the MSI at 56 fps. In 4K, the ConceptD 7 Ezel only managed 29 fps compared to the Asus with 31 fps. In Civilization VI, the ConceptD 7 Ezel achieved 133 fps at 1080p and ultra graphics and 73 fps at 4K. The Asus was at 121 fps and 70 fps, respectively.

In Fortnite, the ConceptD 7 Ezel ran at 119 fps in 1080p and Epic graphics and 45 fps in 4K, compared to the Asus at 91 fps in 1080p (we didn't run the game in 4K on this computer).

display

Aside from performance, little is more important for creative people than display quality. You need a wide color gamut and high accuracy to achieve the usual high brightness and contrast that are important to all laptop users. Acer equipped the ConceptD 7 Ezel with a 15-inch 4K display. It is an IPS panel with an anti-glare structure that promises 100% AdobeRGB coverage and Pantone verification. How has it developed according to my colorimeter?

The first Acer device that was sent to me had a very poor factory calibration and the results were not nice. However, Acer immediately sent me another unit and the results were much better. The ConceptD 7 Ezel's display isn't the best we've seen on creative laptops, but it's damn close.

The color gamut is only slightly limited compared to the XPS 15, which achieved 100% for both AdobeRGB and sRGB. In comparison, the ConceptD 7 Ezel managed 95% of AdobeRGB and 99% of sRGB. Again, these aren't the best results we've seen, but they are in a reasonable range for a creative laptop. The color accuracy was very good at 0.87 compared to the XPS 15 at 0.65 – anything below 1.0 cannot be seen by the human eye and is considered excellent.

The brightness was good at 356 nits above our 300 NIT threshold and benefited from the anti-glare plate, while the contrast barely missed our preferred 1000: 1 ratio at 960: 1. Here, too, the XPS 15 was better with 442 nits and a contrast of 1480: 1. Finally, gamma at 2.2 was perfect.

Subjectively, the display was a pleasure during my tests. The pictures looked natural and the video was spot on – I had no complaints. The ConceptD 7 Ezel's display is good enough not to spoil the rest of the experience, even if I wish the color gamut was a bit wider.

Keyboard and touchpad

The ConceptD 7 Ezel's keyboard is a pretty normal island keyboard with well-spaced keys that are a bit small. The mechanism is almost sharp enough, with just a little bit of looseness that compromises precision a little. Travel is reasonable and overall I enjoyed typing on this keyboard. It doesn't match Apple's Magic Keyboard or HP's Specter version, but it's better than most. I'm not a fan of the amber backlight turned on and off, however – the color makes reading difficult for my eyes.

The touchpad is small thanks to a large opening above the keyboard that crushes everything. It's a Microsoft Precision touchpad with precise multitouch gestures that work well. Acer added some padding to make the buttons click comfortably and quietly, but I wish they were bigger.

The display is of course touch-sensitive and very precise. A Wacom EMR pen with 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity is located in a dock on the lower right edge of the display. The matte glass display is etched to make writing feel more natural, and the EMR pen doesn't require a power supply to function.

I'd say it's an excellent solution – I'm sure artists will love the performance – but it's pretty small. I understand the desire to use a dock to make sure the stylus isn't lost, but Acer should have found a way to make a full version. I am not an artist so I cannot testify whether the size is a disadvantage, but I suspect that it might be the case for some.

Windows 10 Hello support is provided by a fingerprint reader integrated into the power button on the left side of the laptop. It worked well, signed me up quickly and accurately, and won't make a fuss.

Battery life

You don't expect long battery life from this beast, do you? No? That's good because you don't understand. And that despite the 84 watt-hour battery that is hidden inside.

At the same time, I'll find that this isn't the worst battery life in our database. It's certainly better than most gaming laptops, for example, and roughly on par with the other Creator-oriented laptops we tested. It took three hours on our most demanding Basemark web benchmark test, and that's not terrible. The Dell XPS 15 only lasted 11 minutes and the XPS 17 11 minutes less in this test.

In practice this means that you can expect the ConceptD 7 Ezel to be used for around three hours if you are doing demanding work. Perhaps this is enough for a short stay in a coffee house. However, the Power Brick is quite large, so it is not comfortable to carry around.

In terms of productivity work, our best test is our web browser test, which goes through a number of relatively busy websites. Here, the ConceptD 7 Ezel only managed six hours, an hour less than the XPS 15 and 20 minutes less than the XPS 17. So it's unlikely that you'll be working a full day, even if you're just using Office and surfing the net. In our video test, which ran through a 1080p trailer, the ConceptD 7 Ezel took a little over 10 hours. That's not a bad score for a machine like this, and it promises hours of Netflix bingeing.

Our opinion

The ConceptD 7 Ezel is in a class of its own. There is no other consumer laptop designed and built specifically for one type of user – creative professionals. Even professional workstations, which are also designed for such users, are not as tailor-made for developers. The ConceptD 7 Ezel's design is just as good for its obvious purpose, and Acer deserves praise for getting so much right.

Usually such specific machines tend to compromise in other areas. Apart from its size, which is forgivable in view of its flexibility and performance, the ConceptD 7 Ezel does not require any sensible compromises. Yes, it's expensive in my test configuration, but you can also go for $ 2,500 for a version with a Core i7-10750H, 16GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, the same great 4K display, and a GeForce RTX 2060 GPU output. This is on par with the general price range of the Dell XPS 15, XPS 17, and MacBook Pro 16, and none of them work anywhere near as well for developers.

Are there any better alternatives?

I just said you can get a Dell XPS 15, XPS 17, or Razer Blade Pro 17 for about the same money (at the same stadium, at least) or a MacBook Pro 16-inch for a little more. These will be fast too, and the XPS 17 in particular will likely match the performance of the ConceptD 7 Ezel in its entry-level version.

However, none of these laptops have a hinge like the ConceptD 7 Ezel. Nobody scales to the same level of performance as the ConceptD 7 Ezel.

You can also take a look at the Acer ConceptD 9. It's bigger and a little less flexible, but also quite powerful. It also has a display that can transform into different form factors and supports a high quality active pen.

How long it will take?

The ConceptD 7 Ezel is well built and it appears that the various hinges will withstand considerable use for years. The components are sure to keep your workflow buzzing. However, the one-year warranty seems too short for such a complex design.

Should you buy it?

Yes. If you are a creative professional and you are serious about your job, this is a laptop that you must seriously consider. The substantial investment pays off more flexibly than you know how to do.

Editor's recommendations




19 Aug
Blog

Know Calm Headphones Review: Not Unique, But Still Solid

Do you know quiet headphones

"The quiet isn't as different as it wanted to be, but they're still solid headphones."

  • Welcoming design

  • Good battery life

  • Clear, tasty sound

  • Effective active noise cancellation

  • Inconsistent touch controls

  • Special features are not noticeable

Know hit the portable sound scene with an unusual focus: these are not just headphones for music, as the company will tell you, but above all they are meant to be tools for knowledge, with functions and a long-term design, listening, podcasts and Can record audiobooks.

Standing out from a group of high quality headphones is a bold strategy, and it only pays off if Know can back up your claims with a high quality pair of cans. With the $ 250 (ear?) Value of active noise canceling headphones, we're going to answer this question: are these new headphones worth it?

Out of the box

If you regularly open as many product packages as I do, it becomes a bit monotonous. With headphones, there is a carrying case or pouch, a charging cable, possibly a 3.5mm extension cable, and definitely an excessive amount of reading material. If you've seen one, you've seen them all.

At least that's what I thought.

Do you know quiet headphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

It's a refreshing sight to come across packaging like Know Calm's. Yes, all of these standard accessories are included, but they're wrapped in the box with a sense of creativity that I haven't seen that much with headphones on company. Plus, for some reason, Know includes both a notepad and a work of art in the mix, making it almost closer to a goodie bag than a collection of operating tools. I'm not saying every business should follow this out-of-the-box packaging style, but I'm saying this piqued my curiosity before I even turned on my pair of Calm cans.

When I turned them on, a very casual, non-robotic female voice let me know that the headphones had automatically entered pairing mode. After I found it and connected it to my phone, the same nonchalant voice told me that my device had been paired in the same tone a baker used on a quiet downtown morning to announce my order of donuts was ready. In other words, it's the calming presence you'd expect from headphones with this namesake.

The Know Calm are like most of the other headphones I've tried in that they have built-in Bluetooth 5 technology. At this point I expect them to be free of pairing issues and full range. Both sounded true again, and the quiet survived the endeavor in my back yard and back without getting out.

design

I usually don't talk about the tote bag first, but I'll make an exception here. The case for the Calm is more like a duvet for a luxury bed than a protective cover for headphones, and I mean that in a good way. The case is soft yet durable, with an outside pocket that I would assume could easily hold any cables you might need to bring with you. With a buckle on the back of the case for attaching to backpacks or luggage as a bonus, this really seemed like one of the better soft tote bags for headphones I've seen so far.

Do you know headphone caseNick Woodard / Digital Trends

The Calm are available in black, sage or plum gray. The ear cups and headband are so inviting and comfortable on your head that I was able to listen consistently for almost a full day without feeling any fatigue that less-friendly headphones could produce. And, I think, on the inside of the left and right cups reads “Left Ear” and “Right Ear”, in contrast to the traditional L or R. We mostly talk about small unimportant details here, but it's something that doesn't go unnoticed should stay. Every step of the way, Know seems to make a conscious effort to stand out from others. So far it works.

Every step of the way, Know seems to make a conscious effort to stand out from others. So far it works.

I don't really like the controls on the Know Calm though. Outside of the power / pairing button and the noise canceling button, which both work as intended, most of the controls for the Calm are done via touch controls on the right auricle. To be fair, some of the commands worked fine, e.g. B. swiping back and forth to switch tracks and I think these controls are altogether usable. But it was certainly annoying dealing with inconsistent responses to trying to pause a track or turn the volume down. It might be that my fingers aren't well suited for the calm touch sensors, but it was irritating in both cases. In comparison, the Razer Opus has buttons for each of these commands. Personally, this was far easier to operate than hoping your touch would be interpreted correctly.

properties

Know takes up to 24 hours of playback with a full battery charge, which is sufficient for this price range. This is better than the Microsoft Surface Headphones 2, whose price is exactly the same and which are on a par with the cheaper Razer Opus. There are inexpensive cans like the JLab Audio Studio ANC that have better battery life, but you lose many other benefits along the way. Even so, 24 hours seems fair for the Know Calm at this price.

Do you know quiet headphones

The Calm can be charged using a Qi-certified wireless charger. This is not included, but you can use the included USB-C charging cable. In either case, according to Know, you can play for three hours on the charger after five minutes. Again, this is better than the Surface Headphones 2, as is the Beats Solo3 Wireless, and can potentially compete with the Sony WH-1000XM4, which gives you five hours of playback time after a 10 minute charge.

Know partially compensates for the irritating control problem with compatibility with Siri for Apple users and Google Assistant for Android fans. I can just say "Hey, Google" and quietly execute any commands I might have had minor issues with using the touch controls. I still think the touch controls should be tweaked to be as easy to use as possible, but the ability to get my smart assistant to carry out my bids fills the gap well enough for now.

The Calm is also equipped with a sensor that automatically pauses and plays when you take it off and put it back on. I caught them resuming playback while they were around my neck a few more times, but for the most part this was a useful addition to those headphones that worked just fine.

Audio quality

Know has a fascinating technology called "Mindshine Technology". Basically, this feature processes audio to mimic how your ears naturally process the sound. According to Know, there is no need to adjust the ears to a simultaneous wave pattern, but rather the sound is reflected around your head to create the effect of you hearing it as you might hear it from an external source.

Do you know quiet headphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

It's not easy for me to see the weight of this technology when I compare the sound quality of the Calm to similar headphones. With some selections it seems more tangible, with others it's hard to distinguish. The truth is, it may not really matter: no matter how much that technology goes into the sound quality of the Calm or not, these headphones sound really good.

I would put these headphones next to comparable alternatives like the Razer Opus in terms of sound. The Calm are remarkably clear and provide a great sense of stereo separation when playing songs like The Doobie Brothers' Listen to the Music. Part of Know & # 39; s pitch, of course, is that the Calm headphones are designed to do more than just listen to music. As an avid podcast listener, I can attest that they sound great for hearing the spoken word. Especially at a time when podcast interviews are conducted over Zoom calls and audio quality is degraded, I was able to listen to my weekly dose of Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend and Crime Junkies with incredibly clear sound.

The calm are remarkably clear, with a good sense of stereo separation.

I don't think the Calm is the budget alternative to the Sony WH-1000XM4 when it comes to sound, although most headphones at this price point are understandably difficult to compete with, and as they are much cheaper she probably shouldn't. That said, I think the Calm offer solid audio quality for what they cost, and I don't think anyone will be disappointed with how these headphones sound.

Active noise cancellation

In addition to Mindshine technology, Know has another technology that I hadn't heard of before. It's called Hush Active Noise Cancellation and, according to Know, it is the first ANC technology that treats "noises in the medium to high frequency range as well as in the low frequency range that conventional ANC headphones deal with".

Do you know quiet headphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

I can't say this is the first technology to put both ends of the frequency range in its crosshairs, but what I can say is this: After testing the quiet in various environments, these headphones have above average, effective active noise cancellation. I'm not exactly able to take a flight during the world's current climate, so I didn't get a chance to see the quiet respond to aircraft engine drones or other low frequencies, but rather with socially distant steps in the park and on busy roads These headphones have proven themselves very well when it comes to blocking out neighboring conversations and unwanted traffic noise.

T.These headphones have proven to be very effective when it comes to blocking out neighboring calls and unwanted traffic noise.

There are three settings available with this active noise canceling button: low, high and off. Plus, you can put your hand over the right ear cup to add outside noise when you need to speak to a passer-by quickly, pretty much the feature we see in the Sony XM4s. It's a bit of a cumbersome gesture, but it works well and rounds off an effective ensemble with active noise cancellation. It's not up to Sony standards to be sure, but who is it these days?

Our opinion

With his Calm headphones, Know made targeted decisions with various details and design aspects to make his cans stand out from the crowd. Functionally, there is nothing that completely blows competitors out of the water, so I cannot say that they are successful in this endeavor. But the Calm are solid headphones for the price, and they should be treated as such.

Are there any better alternatives?

For just listening to music, I could go for the Razer Opus as it offers similar features for $ 50 less. However, if you regularly listen to more than music, I would prefer the clarity of the calm. Or, you could spend an additional $ 100 and buy the best headphones available today, the Sony WH-1000XM4.

How long will they last?

Know has a one-year limited warranty and a 45-day guarantee that you will love these headphones or your money back. The company is confident these headphones will work for the foreseeable future, and I see no reason to doubt it.

Should you buy it?

Yes. Unpacking the Know Calm headphones gave me hope that these would be different from anything else I tested. While testing dampened the reality of this idea, it nonetheless proved that these headphones have solid features and audio quality. If you have $ 250 to spend, you won't be sorry if you choose the quiet.

Editor's recommendations




06 Apr
Blog

Shure AONIC 215 Review: Solid Sound in a Unique Package

Shure AONIC 215 headphones

"The Shure AONIC 215 are comfortable and have a soft sound, but only a few functions."

  • Clear, balanced sound

  • Comfortable, light design

  • Exceptional call quality

  • No volume or track controls

  • No active noise cancellation

If Shure's mission with his Aonic 215 headphones was to create something strikingly different from the popular rivals in his field … well, mission accomplished. The audio company's new $ 279 real wireless buds stand out from the crowd. This is evident in everything they find from their design and fit to the package they are delivered in. But is that a good thing?

I wish I could bluntly answer yes or no and storm the gates with an explanation of how much better or worse these headphones are due to their comparable uniqueness. But it's just not that easy with the Aonic 215.

Out of the box

I wouldn't go so far as to call it the industry standard, but there is some perception regarding the package in which a set of earphones comes in. Usually, but not always, it's small and square.

Shure AONIC 215 packagingNick Woodard / Digital Trends

Enter the Aonic 215 headphones, which come in a large, circular package, as if they were going to set the tone immediately. Lifting the lid reveals the headphones, which rest on a foam bed and whose charging case sits in the middle of the pair. Also included: a micro-USB-C charging cable, a selection of replacement earplugs (I replaced the foam tips supplied with the buds for a pair of smaller soft-flex tips) and a quick guide. circular in line with a growing trend here.

The Bluetooth pairing process was the only segment of the initial setup that reflected other earbuds. The Aonic 215 should automatically switch to pairing mode when switched on and should be easy to find in your phone's Bluetooth settings. If it doesn't, Shure includes a manual option to connect. I didn't need it to pair it with my smartphone, but it was nice to know that it is available as a failover.

design

The over-the-ear style of the Aonic 215 means that the headphones have a larger footprint than, for example, the Samsung Galaxy Buds +. However, they are pleasantly light and comfortable, at least after you have played around briefly to attach the stems of the buds behind your ear.

Shure AONIC 215 headphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

The part of the headphones that actually sits in your ear – which to me was a teal blue, but is available in black, white, or clear variations – is so understated that you might forget that they were there, if not for the rest the headphones stick to the ears.

That brings me to the hot button problem here. The design of over-the-ear earphones is somewhat polarizing. Some people love them, others can't stand them. I had always considered myself connected to the latter because most of the ones I used were heavy and my ears felt cramped. The Aonic 215 are just the opposite.

Her style also suits a lifestyle on the go. I haven't seen a single shift when I walked through the park while jogging, while traditional earphones haven't stayed in place more than a handful of times.

The case is the outlier in terms of design. Most earbuds have taken on a compact, pills-like look for their charging cases, but the Aonic 215 is in a circular case that's closer to the size of a wallet. It's by no means an uncomfortable size, but not as pocket-friendly as other models available.

characteristics

Compared to other earphones in (and below) their price range, it's hard to overlook how little the Aonic 215 has in the functional department. To be clear, the features they have are solid. But it's 2020. For almost $ 300, it's a mistake to omit coveted capabilities like active noise cancellation.

Shure AONIC 215 headphone caseNick Woodard / Digital Trends

According to Shure, the Aonic215 is equipped with sound-insulating technology that blocks up to 37 dB of noise, as well as an environmental mode that introduces noise from your surroundings. In my experience, both worked well. However, active noise cancellation in products such as the Sony WF-1000XM3 and the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 is superior.

The Aonic 215 is said to last up to eight hours on a single charge, with three additional charges built into its carrying case. These specifications were checked during testing during my time. But unfortunately for Shure, the bar was raised. When the Samsung Galaxy Buds + can last up to 11 hours at a half price, I wanted more. Especially a pair without ANC, which shortens playback times, as is the case with both Sony and Sennheiser.

I had no connection problems thanks to the Bluetooth 5 technology built into Aonic 215, except a few times when my phone was connected to the headphones but did not play any media through them. However, I am using an older phone in a Google Pixel 2, so it may be more Google than Shure to blame.

My biggest problem with the functionality of the Aonic 215 is a very basic function. Or rather, it should have been. The buttons on the bottom of each headphone work well for what they are designed for. It takes a lot of pressure, but you can play and pause music effectively, answer and end calls, turn ambient mode on or off, or activate your voice assistant. What you can't do, which frankly confuses me about the price, is adjusting the volume or switching between tracks. They are two very simple commands that you won't really miss until you are forced to jog through an entire pit bull soundtrack.

Audio quality

Shure AONIC 215 headphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

Shure has been in the audio business for almost a century and has a product line that ranges from budget options to price tags that only an audiophile can love – this is a company with a proven track record of producing great sounds, from microphones to headphones .

After listening extensively with the Aonic 215, I can say with certainty that these headphones do justice to the family tree of their brand. They are remarkably clear and some of the more balanced buds I've dealt with. Testing with a variety of genres was a lot of headache to the point where I looped songs like "Red Hot Chili Peppers" Under the Bridge just because it sounded so crisp.

In my view, these are not well equipped for a good low-end. They are useful, but for songs like Brothers Osborne's rum, where a low note is the backbone of the entire track, I found that the bass is not as critical as I am used to. The equalizer in the associated ShurePlus Play app helped, but was not a miracle worker.

The call quality was exceptional, although for some reason some conversations only had audio in my right bud. It is by no means a deal breaker, but it was a remarkable quirk.

Do these sound better than the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2? In a word, no. Is that a fair comparison? Usually it shouldn't be, but that's the type of weight class the Aonic 215 fights in thanks to its cost. Do they sound better than cheaper alternatives like the Galaxy Buds +? Absolutely, although I'm not sure if the average listener can say that it sounds twice as good.

Our opinion

With the Aonic 215, Shure has produced a pair of comfortable, soft-sounding headphones that are easy to grip and carry. Given what competitors with similar prices have to offer, they dropped the ball in the feature section.

Are there any better alternatives?

Yes. The Sony WF-100XM3 are regularly retailed for $ 229. Although they are a bit older, they offer better functions. The same goes for the $ 299 Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2, and they're our pick for the best-sounding real wireless earbuds. If you already want to spend money at the Shure headphones at the baseball stadium, it's worth spending the extra $ 20 on the Sennheiser.

How long will they last?

Shure is not approaching the 100-year mark by making products with a short shelf life. Expect these headphones to be durable and ready for the long haul.

Should you buy them

Only if you are specifically looking for over-the-ear headphones with great sound. Otherwise there are better buds, often at much better prices.

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