28 Jan
Blog

Jabra Elite 7 Pro Review: Perfect True Wireless Earbuds

Man wearing Jabra Elite 7 Pro.

Jabra Elite 7 Pro

MSRP $200.00

“These Elite 7 Pro get everything right and don’t cost a fortune.”

Pros

  • Super comfortable
  • Great sound quality
  • Excellent call quality
  • Very good ANC and transparency
  • Good battery life
  • Wireless charging
  • Tons of customization options
  • Excellent water/dust protection

How do you improve on an awesome set of true wireless earbuds? That’s the question that faced Jabra as it contemplated the design for its new $200 Elite 7 Pro, the successor to its excellent Elite 75t, which proved to be some of the best true wireless earbuds you could buy when they debuted in 2019. The answer, it seems, is to double down on what the Elite 75t got right, and then fill in the missing gaps. Did that formula work out? You bet it did. Let’s take a look.

Design

Jabra Elite 7 Pro.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The Elite 7 Pro are a natural evolution of Jabra’s true wireless designs. They’re just as rounded and ergonomically shaped as the Elite 75t, yet smaller and lighter. When compared to Jabra’s flagship Elite 85t, the 7 Pro are downright tiny. The multifunction buttons now have a teardrop shape and occupy the entire outer surface of the earbuds, making them impossible to miss. The new design also affords much better water protection, with an IP57 rating (the Elite 75t were IP55), making them effectively waterproof.

The Elite 7 Pro are the most comfortable noise-canceling true wireless earbuds you can buy right now.

But the most noticeable change has to be the charging case. Jabra has abandoned its distinctive, upright design with its flip-top lid for a more conventional clamshell shape. It’s ever so slightly larger now, but it also has wireless charging built-in, something you needed to pay extra for in the past.

It might also be the first charging case that puts its charging port on the front instead of the rear. Though not as pretty, it’s eminently more practical.

The lid isn’t quite as easy to open because of its curved sides, but that’s a minor critique of what is otherwise an excellent design. The earbuds snap in and out of their charging sockets with ease — something that has long been one of Jabra’s strengths.

Comfort, controls, and connections

Jabra Elite 7 Pro seen next to Jabra Elite 75t.Jabra Elite 7 Pro (left) and Elite 75t. Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Let’s just get this out of the way: The Elite 7 Pro are the most comfortable noise-canceling true wireless earbuds you can buy right now. The Elite 75t were already mighty comfortable, but Jabra has managed to refine that shape so that they feel even better. The company says it also reengineered the material of the eartips, which probably contributes to their excellent fit. Maybe it’s just the particular shape of my ears, but the Elite 7 Pro feel like they were custom-made for me — I could happily wear them for hours at a time without pain or fatigue. Not sure if you chose the right size of eartips? You can run a fit test within the Sound+ app to find out.

The Elite 7 Pro are the most customizable earbuds I’ve ever tested.

Jabra targets the Elite 7 Active at those who want a set of earbuds for high-intensity activities, and you could totally get away with using the Elite 7 Pro for all but the heaviest of workouts — once in my ears, they didn’t budge at all.

Jabra Elite 7 Pro seen next to Jabra Elite 85t and Elite 75t.Jabra Elite 85t (left), Elite 7 Pro (middle), and Elite 75t. Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The controls remain the best in the business: Big, easy-to-press physical buttons that offer an unmistakable tactile click when you use them. With single-, double-, and triple-click gestures, plus one for press-and-hold, you can control everything from calls to playback to active noise cancellation (ANC). If you don’t like Jabra’s default control scheme, you can change it within the Jabra Sound+ app, with almost unlimited freedom to pick and choose what each gesture does. In fact, the Elite 7 Pro are the most customizable earbuds I’ve ever tested. If you can think of a function, I guarantee there’s a section in the Sound+ app that lets you modify it.

You can trigger your phone’s built-in voice assistant, or you can configure the Elite 7 Pro to work with Amazon Alexa. With in-ear detection, you can choose to autopause and play your music when you remove or reinsert one of the earbuds.

With Bluetooth 5.2, the Elite 7 Pro are easy to pair and they can stay reliably connected up to 50 feet away (a little less indoors). You can also use the earbuds independently.

They’re pleasure to listen to, no matter your chosen music genre.

When I initially reviewed the Elite 7 Pro in October 2021, it suffered from just one flaw: It lacked Bluetooth Multipoint for connecting to two devices simultaneously. As of January 27, 2022, that has been rectified via a firmware update, removing my only real criticism of these earbuds.

Sound quality

Man wearing Jabra Elite 7 Pro.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The Elite 75t possessed enormously powerful bass for such small earbuds, so much so that the low end had a tendency to trample on the midranges. You needed to jump into the EQ settings to rein it in. The Elite Active 75t was milder in the bass department but arguably not as clear. The Elite 7 Pro manages to be the best of both worlds, with a deeply resonant low end that is much better controlled.

A track like Billie Eilish’s Bad Guy, where the opening vocals are essentially whispers that float above a thumping bass line, is an ideal test — if the EQ isn’t just right, the tiny nuances in Eilish’s voice are lost under the pressure of the constant beat. The Elite 7 Pro handle it like a champ, not only giving the low end the power it deserves, but also keeping it where it belongs so that Eilish’s shiver-inducing whispers can be heard with excellent clarity.

Jabra’s call quality has always been good, but I was blown away by the Elite 7 Pro.

You can tweak EQ manually or use Jabra’s small selection of presets in the Sound+ app, but I doubt you’ll need to. The factory EQ is so well-balanced for all kinds of music, I didn’t feel the need to change it at all. You can also choose to use the MySound feature in the Sound+ app, which will attempt to personalize the EQ according to your specific hearing profile. I didn’t find it improved things for me, so I kept it turned off, but it doesn’t hurt to try.

Flipping back and forth between the Elite 7 Pro and Jabra’s more expensive Elite 85t proved to be an incredibly tricky comparison. It felt like I could hear a little more detail from the 85t, but you’d literally need to do a side-by-side comparison like I did to notice.

Either way, the Elite 7 Pro are a pleasure to listen to, no matter your chosen genre.

Noise cancellation and transparency

The Elite 85t were Jabra’s first earbuds to offer a hybrid ANC system (the Elite 75t and Active 75t were given ANC with a firmware upgrade, but those buds don’t use the combination of feed-forward and feedback mics that the 85t has). The Elite 7 Pro are better at canceling unwanted sounds than the 85t, but their transparency mode isn’t quite as crystal clear.

I think this is due to the 85t’s semi-open architecture, which lets in a small amount of outside air. That openness simultaneously makes it easier to hear outside sounds and harder to cancel them. The Elite 7 Pro are fully closed, which gives them the noise-canceling edge. The Sound+ app lets you fine-tune the ANC performance, but much like the MySound feature, I didn’t notice a big difference.

The Elite 7 Pro can’t quite keep up with the reigning champs of ANC and transparency — the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds — or the AirPods Pro, but considering their lower price, that’s not surprising and, honestly, the difference isn’t huge.

Flipping between the two modes is almost instant: Whether you want quiet or conversation, one press on the left earbud is all you need.

Call quality

For the Elite 7 Pro, Jabra has used what it calls MultiSensor Voice technology, which aims to provide better voice pickup through bone conduction-sensing mics. It’s not hype. Jabra’s call quality has always been good, but I was blown away by how much better the Elite 7 Pro are at calls than Jabra’s previous buds. I stood in a parking lot on a windy day, with an active construction site just a few yards away, and yet almost none of that was audible during my tests. A small amount of compression worked its way in there during the loudest moments, but in general, it was superb. And in a relatively quiet spot, it was impeccable.

With Jabra’s adjustable sidetone feature, you can let in as much of your voice as you want, and there’s even a microphone-mute feature you can engage while on a call — something that even pricey earbuds like the Sony WF-1000XM4 and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds don’t offer.

All of this makes the Elite 7 Pro an ideal choice for those who like to talk.

Battery life

Jabra Elite 7 Pro charging case seen next to Jabra Elite 75t charging case.Jabra Elite 7 Pro wirelessly charging case (left) and Jabra Elite 75t charging case. Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Jabra claims you’ll get up to eight hours per charge on the Elite 7 Pro earbuds with ANC on, and the key here is the “up to” part. I played music continuously on them with ANC on and volume set at 50%, and while the left earbud made it the full eight hours, the right earbud only managed 7.5 hours. Given that the right earbud was the first to connect and thus the “primary” earbud, this makes sense — it has to do more work. A fast charge of five minutes will buy you an extra hour of use if you’re in a pinch.

With the charging case included, you should be able to get 30 hours of total playtime, and likely a good bit more if you keep ANC and transparency turned off. The numbers aren’t at the top end of what true wireless earbuds can do, but they’re more than sufficient for daily use and all but the longest of travel plans.

Extras

In addition to the wealth of capabilities I’ve described above, this review wouldn’t be complete unless I mentioned some of the lesser-known features that Jabra throws in, like Find My earbuds, adjustable auto-power off timing, and your choice of voice guidance, tone guidance, or none at all. You can choose if you want to cycle through ANC, transparency, and off modes when activating the mode switch, or you can choose any two of those modes. There’s a separate EQ setting just for phone calls. In-ear detection can be used to automatically answer phone calls or mute the mics. And finally, the Sound+ app offers a series of “soundscapes,” some of which are designed to mask external sounds, while others are meant to be more relaxing or meditative.

What’s in the box?

Jabra Elite 7 Pro box contents.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Jabra is getting better and better at making sustainable product boxes. The Elite 7 Pro comes in an attractive, yet fully recyclable cardboard box, with only one small plastic blister pack for the extra eartips. Inside, you’ll find the earbuds, their charging case, a USB-A to USB-C charging cable, and three sizes of eartip (mediums are installed by default).

Our take

I’ve tried and failed to find something about the Jabra Elite 7 Pro that I don’t like. At this price, nothing beats them. And while better ANC, transparency, and sound quality are available, for most folks, it simply won’t be worth the extra investment to get them.

Is there a better alternative?

No. Jabra has priced the Elite 7 Pro low enough that they obliterate any other set of earbuds that cost around $150 to $200. Your only real options are to spend more on models like the Sony WF-1000XM4, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, or the Master & Dynamic MW08.

How long will they last?

I’m still rocking a set of two-year-old Elite 75t, and while they don’t get constant daily use, they’re still in outstanding shape. I expect the Elite 7 Pro to last for many years. With their IP57 protection, not much will affect them (short of actual immersion in water — don’t do that), and Jabra is so confident in that rating it will extend its normal one-year water and dust warranty to two years if you register your earbuds in the Sound+ app.

Should you buy them?

Yes. They’re an absolutely killer set of true wireless earbuds.

Editors’ Recommendations



17 Dec
Blog

Shure Aonic Free Review: True Wireless Studio Monitors

Shure Aonic Free True Wireless Earbuds.

Shure Aonic Free Trial: True Wireless Studio Monitors

RRP $ 199.00

"Big in size, comfort and precision are these buds for critical hearing."

benefits

  • Clear, precise and detailed sound

  • Very convenient

  • Very good transparency mode

  • Easy to use, customizable controls

  • Great EQ settings

  • Good call quality

disadvantage

  • Big buds, big charging case

  • No ANC or auto pause

  • No wireless charging

  • No watertightness

Shure is no stranger to high-performance audio. The company's in-ear monitors (IEMs) and microphones have been the first choice of musicians and audio professionals for decades. But when it comes to the true wireless earphone market, Shure has only just stepped into the ring with its $ 199 Shure Aonic Free. Was it worth the wait? And how do these new buds compare to products from more established brands like Sony, Jabra and Apple? Let's check them out.

A larger set of buds

Shure Aonic Free True Wireless Earbuds.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Let's talk to the elephant in the room: The Shure Aonic Free are big. They use a very similar design to Sony's previous flagship, the WF-1000XM3, which places the electronics, battery, and other goodies in a diamond-shaped gondola that sits fairly prominently outside your ear.

Shure's design is even bigger than Sony's, making the Aonic Free one of the biggest buds we've ever tested. Fortunately, these nacelles look pretty sleek, with a relatively thin profile and a satin gunmetal finish that gives the plastic a high quality, sophisticated look. If you really want to get noticed, they are also available in red. But despite their size, they are also remarkably light and in fact weigh a gram less than the Sony XM3.

There's a lot of precision and detail, especially in the mids and higher frequencies.

And while there's no denying that these buds are really big, the design has two distinct advantages. First, with all of the bowels of the buds outside of your ear, the part that actually fits in your ear is tiny and extremely comfortable. Shure uses memory foam earplugs instead of silicone, which increases comfort by reducing pressure points.

Not everyone loves the sometimes squishy feel of memory foam, but I'm a huge fan. Once inserted, the fit is very secure, but it won't withstand vigorous activity, as well as buds designed for this purpose. Expect to need regular readjustments as you walk. In fact, you might want to avoid using the Aonic Free for exercise: they are some of the only earbuds on the market that do not offer official protection from water in relation to an IPX rating.

Second, the large outer gondolas make pressing the multifunction button located on the top edge very easy. Accidental presses are almost completely eliminated, and you probably won't accidentally remove an earbud while using these buttons.

The Aonic Free comes with an equally large charging case to match the large buds. It absolutely dwarfs the tiny package of the AirPods Pro case, and I doubt a lot of people will think of it as pocket money. It also lacks wireless charging, which is an unfortunate shortcoming at this price point. Nevertheless, it is robustly built, the lid can be easily opened and closed using a large study hinge and the Aonic Free is really easy to plug in and out of the charging sockets.

I like the sound

Man with Shure Aonic Free True Wireless Earbuds.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

In keeping with Shure's reputation for stage and studio equipment, the Aonic Free has a neutral and very clear sound signature. There's a lot of precision and detail, especially in the mids and higher frequencies. A track like Dire Straits ’Six Blade Knife and Mark Knopfler's unmistakable Stratocaster work becomes a haptic experience – you can almost feel the strings under his experienced hand.

The bass reproduction is strictly controlled, is only displayed when necessary and never overwhelms the other frequencies. Such a conservative approach to bass can make the Aonic Free sound cold when you're used to headphones or earphones like the Sony WF-1000XM3 or XM4.

Shure Play app screenshot for iOS.This is how things sound right out of the box. But the Shure Play Companion app can completely change the personality of the Aonic Free with its EQ adjustments. Shure gives you seven presets to play with, including Bass Boost, Bass Cut, Vocal Boost, and Loudness, but if you really want to get the most out of the Aonic Free, you need to try the manual EQ option. Here you will find a graphic EQ that can be adjusted more precisely than I have ever seen it before. You get four control points on a frequency spectrum from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. Each of them can be raised +/- 10 dB in 0.5 dB steps, and you can even adjust their bandwidth from 0.2 octaves to 4 octaves in 0.1 octave steps.

If all of this is Greek to you, suffice it to say that this is an unmatched level of EQ control for a set of true wireless earbuds, and those who love to mess around with the sonic weeds will love it.

It's worth noting that the Aonic Free doesn't generate as much volume as a percentage of some other well-respected earbuds. In other words, at 50% volume on my iPhone, the Aonic Free were significantly quieter than the Jabra Elite 7 Pro or the Technics EAH-AZ60. I don't see this as a problem – they can still get really loud – but you may find that you have to run these earbuds at a higher setting than you are used to.

It's also worth noting for Android users that Aonic Free supports the aptX codec, which can be helpful in situations where audio delay (latency) is an issue.

Total control

Shure Aonic Free True Wireless Earbuds.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The Aonic Free do not have Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), but thanks to these foam earplugs they are excellent at blocking outside noise passively. There have been a couple of times when I felt like ANC was blocking a bit more, but not many. What they have is a very good transparency mode that you can set in the Shure Play app to let in little or a lot of the noise around you. In fact, at the maximum setting, it amplifies some of these sounds, so some careful adjustment is required.

I love that Shure has built in a feature called PausePlus that allows you to automatically turn on transparency mode when you pause your music. With too many earbuds, you'll have to pause first and then switch to transparency, which can be annoying when someone tries to talk to you.

Shure Play app screenshot for iOS.

Shure Play app screenshot for iOS.

The Shure Play app also gives you complete control over the multi-function buttons. You can assign up to three different commands per earbud, including play / pause, skip forward / backward, transparency on / off and access to the voice assistant. In addition, you can choose whether you want to control the volume with a fourth gesture. It's a bit awkward, admittedly – you have to press and then long press – but it's a handy option nonetheless. The only thing Shure left out is wear sensors, which can automatically pause if you remove one or both of the earbuds – another surprise considering how many other earbuds come standard with them at this price point.

Your phone call options include muting the microphone and switching between two calls, both of which are rare features. You can also use each earbud independently for music and calls.

Avoid the wind

Shure Aonic Free True Wireless Earbuds.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Call quality on the Aonic Free can be excellent, but you need to avoid windy or very noisy situations. The microphone does a great job of capturing the full tone and resonance of your voice, with little to no distortion, but struggles to maintain that quality under adverse conditions. They're definitely not the earbuds you'd want to use on the phone while you bike through heavy traffic, but they will work admirably on Zoom calls or anywhere you find relatively calm conditions.

Speaking of Zoom calls, the Aonic Free are the first headphones I've come across that can automatically turn on a red LED light when you're on the phone to let others know that just because you're not speaking, you aren't yet to be interrupted. It's a look back at the early days of Bluetooth, but I think it's brilliant – all true wireless earbuds should have a similar option.

More performance please

Shure Aonic Free True Wireless Earbuds.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Shure claims that the Aonic Free can last for around seven hours on a single charge, and as far as I can tell, that's correct when you're listening at 50% volume. But as mentioned above, because these Buds run quieter than other models, you'll likely hear at 60% or more, which will reduce battery life a bit.

I agree – six to seven hours is still enough for most people. But what I can't understand, given their huge charging case, is why you can only charge the earbuds twice for a total of 21 hours of playtime? If the Aonic Free were really small – say, AirPods Pro small – I'd happily accept that (although even the AirPods Pro have a longer total time of up to 24 hours), but the Aonic Free have no such excuse.

Our opinion

Although the Aonic Free are larger than most true wireless earbuds, they are very comfortable and offer exceptionally clear and detailed sound. For the discerning listener, this may be worth the price of admission, but given the many features that are lacking at the price, most people will likely be happier with other models.

Are there any better alternatives?

When it comes to sheer clarity, attention to detail, and EQ control – that so-called studio sound – you will hardly find a better set of true wireless earbuds, even if you are spending well over the price of $ 199 on Aonic Free. But considering how many features Shure has left out, here are two options worth considering:

$ 200 Jabra Elite 7 Pro: At the same price as the Aonic Free, the Elite 7 Pro has it all: Great sound, great ANC, great transparency, tons of customization options, long battery life, wireless charging, and an IP57 rating that makes it effectively waterproof. Oh, and they're much smaller too. Audio purists will still prefer the incredibly precise sound of the Aonic Free, but I also think the Elite 7 Pro sounds pretty good.

230 $ Technology EAH-AZ60: For a slightly larger investment, the AZ60 offers fabulous ANC and sound quality that rivals the Aonic Free, but with a slightly warmer standard signature that will appeal to people who don't love the sometimes overly accurate Shure sound. The Technics also have Sony's LDAC codec for wireless hi-res audio and Bluetooth multipoint to connect two devices to your earbuds at the same time.

How long will they last?

Given their total lack of water protection, this very much depends on how careful you are with the Aonic Free. The build quality seems to be excellent, however, and Shure backs it with a two-year warranty, which is unusual in this product category. That might be a good sign that they'll be better off in the long run, but like all true wireless earbuds, it's likely that decreasing battery life is what is keeping them from still being in your audio arsenal 10 years from now.

Should you buy it?

Yes, but only if you're looking for what Aonic Free has to offer – a highly detailed, precise, and customizable sound with very few other bells and whistles. For everyone else, you can find better options for the same price or less.

Editor's recommendations



06 Nov
Blog

TCL Roku TV Alto R1 Wireless Soundbar Review: It’s So Easy

TCL Roku TV Alto R1 wireless soundbar

TCL Roku TV Alto R1 Wireless Soundba

RRP $ 179.00

"Roku and TCL are teaming up to make the sound of your Roku TV a simple plug-and-play experience."

advantages

  • Easy setup with just one cable

  • No additional remote controls required

  • Good audio quality

  • The voice enhancement and volume control features are nice

disadvantage

  • No Dolby Atmos

  • Only works with Roku-enabled TVs

  • No audio input connectors

When building a home theater, one of the first things you can do after choosing a TV is adding a sound system. One of the easiest ways to do this is to buy one of the best sound bars out there. Let's face it, the built-in speakers in TVs won't fill the space and will help you immerse yourself in your favorite movies. Roku knows this and is committed to enhancing your audio experience while keeping setup simple. At CES 2021 in January, Roku announced a partnership with TCL to launch a wireless soundbar for Roku-enabled TVs.

The new Alt R1 is the result.

This new soundbar is designed to work seamlessly with Roku TVs and is virtually effortless to set up. Where more home theater sound systems as a bare minimum require connecting a cable to your TV – the only cable needed to set up the Alto R1 is the one that supplies power. Part of the special sauce that makes this minimalist approach possible is Roku's proprietary Wi-Fi audio streaming technology. What sounds good in theory, how does it look in reality? Follow me and I will answer exactly that question.

Can it really be that simple?

The back and connections of a TCL Roku TV Alto R1 Wireless Soundbar.Chris Wedel / Digital Trends

Unpacking the Alto R1 Soundbar only includes the 31.5-inch speaker, wall-mounting hardware, papers, and a power cord. No additional cables are included as none are required as the only connector on the soundbar is for the power cable.

My skepticism grew when I began to think that pairing the soundbar with the TV couldn't be that easy. So I turned on my 65-inch TCL Roku TV and plugged the Alto R1 into the wall socket. To pair the soundbar with the TV, press and hold the Home button on your Roku remote for 5 seconds, select Set Up Devices, then select Wireless Soundbar. After that, the TV and Alto R1 recognized each other and the soundbar processed an over-the-air software update.

Adding the soundbar to my Roku TV couldn't have been easier. There is no need to manage additional cables or remote controls. The TV will automatically know the Alto R1 is paired, and if the volume is adjusted using the Roku remote, the changes will be made through the soundbar rather than the built-in TV speakers. I use a Caavo Control Center to manage my home theater and after making a few adjustments, I controlled the volume for the newly paired soundbar.

Features and sound quality

TCL Roku TV with an Alto R1 wireless soundbar.Chris Wedel / Digital Trends

In use, the Alto R1 is just as straightforward as the setup. It's a two-channel, 120-watt soundbar that is entirely controlled by the Roku remote and your TV. However, that is not a problem. If you just want to enhance the sound of your Roku TV or use it to play music from your phone via bluetooth, this soundbar can do it for you.

While you won't find fancy features like Dolby Atmos and virtual surround sound in options like the Sonos Beam (Gen 2), The Alto R1 has a couple of tricks like the ability to bring the dialogue of everything you see more into focus and automatically lower the volume of the commercials. There is also a bass boost feature and volume control options within the sound settings that can be accessed by pressing the star button on the Roku remote.

In addition to the skepticism I had about the simplicity of setting up the Alto R1, there were doubts about the audio quality and how in sync it would be with the content on the screen. Since the soundbar is completely wirelessly connected to my TV, I expected a delay in what I saw on the screen and when I would hear it. To my delight, I didn't notice it in the least.

Roku remote control. Chris Wedel / Digital Trends

Roku uses Wi-Fi instead of Bluetooth to handle connectivity, which greatly reduces latency and increases information capacity. I've seen 4K HDR movies, live soccer matches, and regular TV programs, and it all worked wonderfully. Of course, even with bass boost enabled, the Alto R1 won't compete with a dedicated subwoofer setup, but it won't try either.

I have a relatively large rectangular living room, so it's difficult to fill it with balanced audio. The sound setup I usually use is a Vizio soundbar with two wireless satellite speakers and a wireless subwoofer – and it works. When I first started using the Alto R1, I lowered my expectations for a full-fledged audio experience. But surprisingly, the wireless soundbar did a good job.

The sound was crisp and the voice enhancement features did a good job. There was no difference between day and night, but there was enough improvement when it was on that I can safely say it was worth it. The soundbar is designed for TVs 43 inches and larger, and I think in most situations the Alto R1 will make most users pretty happy.

Our opinion

TCL Roku TV Alto R1 soundbar under a television on a media stand. Chris Wedel / Digital Trends

I'd love to say that the Alto R1 is a great choice for anyone who just wants better sound for their home theater and doesn't want to mess with a lot of setup – and I almost can. I almost say because it's only true if you have a Roku TV. Now, you don't have to have the absolute best Roku TV, but you do need a TV with a Roku built in. So if you're using one of the many great Roku streaming devices that you plug into your TV, you won't be able to use the Alto R1.

Roku and TCL had a clear focus on what the Alto R1 would be good at – straightforward set-up process and ease of use. For those two points, the two companies did a fantastic job with this product. Moving from out-of-the-box to using the soundboard couldn't be much easier. The Alto R1 does not advertise cutting edge features or even those that are becoming commonplace among other products such as Dolby Atmos and virtual surround sound. By including options like these, the other by-product would be an increase in cost, and at $ 180 it's hard to argue what the Alto R1 brings to the living room.

Is there a better alternative?

There are many soundbars out there that offer a full feature set, but are overpriced. However, if you're willing to pay a little more but don't want too much more, then the Yamaha YAS-209 tops our list of the best sound bars under $ 500 at around $ 350. This soundbar not only offers a wider soundstage with support for DTS Virtual: X, a virtual 3D surround sound profile, but also brings a quiet rumble to your favorite programs thanks to a separate subwoofer. It won't be quite as easy to set up as the Alto R1, and it will cost you a few dollars more, but the Yamaha YAS-209 offers a more immersive home theater audio experience.

How long it will take?

TCL and Roku have both been in the home audio and video scene for a while and bring that experience to the Alto R1 soundbar. Both companies have also done a great job supporting their respective products, and thanks to the Alto R1's Wi-Fi connectivity, the soundbar can receive OTA software updates to ensure it has a long life.

Should you buy it?

Yes, if you're someone who wants to be engulfed by what you see from every angle, this is not the soundbar for you. While the Alto R1 does a solid job of producing good audio with virtually zero latency, it's not a surround sound device. This is because it is limited to 2 channels and does not have the ability to replicate 360 ​​degree audio. However, if your goal is to improve the sound well beyond what your TV has built in, aren't spending a lot of money on it, and have a Roku-enabled TV, then the Alto R1 is worth considering.

Editor's recommendations



09 Oct
Blog

SimpliSafe Wireless Outdoor Camera Review

The Simplisafe outdoor camera mounted on the outside.

SimpliSafe wireless outdoor camera

RRP $ 170.00

"The SimpliSafe outdoor surveillance camera is a long-awaited, but slightly flawed addition to the product range."

advantages

  • Great video quality

  • Impressive display in night mode

  • Responsive motion detection with activity zone adjustments

  • Support from Alexa and Google Assistant

disadvantage

  • Unreliable live view and buggy app

  • No standalone options (starter kit required)

  • Expensive if all you want is a camera

Smart outdoor security requires multiple levels of ingenuity and protection, as Mother Nature, UV rays, and other suburban and urban variables are forces that indoor technology just doesn't (for the most part) have to deal with. Fortunately, many smart brands are beyond that and offer bespoke home security products in the form of cameras, floodlights and video doorbells for your garden, patio or outdoor area.

SimpliSafe, a leader in the smart security market, has long offered a variety of home security technologies that encompass almost every element of a comprehensive surveillance system, from cameras and smoke detectors to temperature and glass break sensors. One area in which the company lagged (a little) behind the competition was in outdoor products – but no more.

The new SimpliSafe wireless surveillance camera for outdoors is the company's first dedicated outdoor offering, a relatively small camera that we were happy to test.

Unpack and set up

If you're looking for an outdoor camera that you can buy cheaply, pair it with your WiFi, download an app and get started right away, the SimpliSafe way may not be for you. To use the SimpliSafe wireless outdoor camera, you need to buy one of the SimpliSafe starter kits. Know that even the simplest starter kit (with the add-on for the outdoor camera) costs around $ 250. Compared to competing outdoor cameras like the Nest Cam ($ 180) and the Ring Spotlight Camera ($ 199), if SimpliSafe is the brand of your choice, you'll invest a little more from the start.

The Simplisafe outdoor camera mounted on the outside.

For my setup, I decided on the bare essentials – a base station, a keyboard and the wireless outdoor camera. Activating my system and getting it online was quick and painless. All you really have to do is download the SimpliSafe app and follow the on-screen instructions to configure a system for the first time.

Once your base station is live, adding the outdoor camera is easy too. Just tap the hamburger drop-down menu in the top left corner of the home screen, select Set up your camera, and follow the on-screen instructions. A wise word is that you should allow a reasonable amount of time to actually charge the battery of your outdoor camera (SimpliSafe recommends five hours for a full juice charge).

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From an aesthetic point of view, I love the look and feel of the outdoor camera. If you keep it simple, you can tell that it is a sturdy piece of hardware. The outdoor camera is an IP 65 certified device that withstands heavy rain, snow and wind and offers comprehensive protection against dirt, debris and insects. You don't have to worry about the temperature either, as the outdoor camera can withstand temperatures as low as -20 degrees Celsius and temperatures as high as 113 degrees Fahrenheit.

The 140 degree lens offers an impressive view.

Visually, the cream-colored housing and black lens housing blend in pretty well with most outdoor decorations. During the installation and assembly of my grandmother's Blink outdoor camera, sayings filled up as I kept trying to snap the camera housing into the bracket lock. So you can imagine how much I loved SimpliSafe's super simple magnetized mount. Just two screws in the vinyl siding and you can put the camera on.

Quality and performance

The wireless outdoor camera handles up to full 1080p recordings and live views, with options to scale down to 720p or 480p (both of which put less strain on your internet connection). Real-time recordings and event clips look great. The images I experienced were bright and clear, with super-accurate colors and contrasts – I suspect that's because of the camera's built-in HDR support.

The Simplisafe Outdoor Cam live view (during the day).

The 140-degree lens also offers an impressive view. From the porch of my apartment on the second floor, the camera captured a near-perfect wide-angle view of the entire parking lot and the building across the street – with little to no pixelation. When a person came into view, the camera followed their every move with minimal delay.

While the camera lens lacks an optical zoom, you get an 8x digital push-in to snap into place distant people or objects. To use this function, all you have to do is start the live view of the camera, tap and drag on the image with two fingers. The results are useful, but not surprising. Similar to the zoomed-in quality you can get from a simple point-and-shoot camera, pixelation and distortion appear pretty quickly, but key shapes and colors remain intact.

The Simplisafe Outdoor Cam with activated digital zoom.Full 8x digital zoom with the outside camera.

Such a feature may not help authorities too far in figuring out what a distant culprit looks like, but it is still useful for identifying the make and model of a car parked across the street, for example.

One of my favorite functions of the outdoor camera is the ability to choose between two different night vision experiences. Standard is the default setting (better battery life) and displays images up to 9 m away in black and white. Then there's Spotlight (harder on the battery), a mode that balances the camera's built-in spotlight and HDR to display a colored night view up to 10 feet away.

simplisafe wireless outdoor camera assessment spotlight view 1

simplisafe wireless outdoor camera rating night vision standard 1

Battery life

As mentioned earlier, allow around five hours to fully charge the outdoor camera battery for the first time. Depending on which settings you have on your Outdoor camera, SimpliSafe promises between three and six months of battery life before a charge is required.

software

The SimpliSafe app (for iOS and Android devices) is a feature-rich controller for your entire SimpliSafe suite and a great (but not perfect) way to access, control, and customize your outdoor camera. We've already covered the finer details of the app, so for this review we'll just focus on what it brings to the camera experience.

When you start the app, a static image from each of your SimpliSafe camera feeds will be displayed on the home screen. Tapping the Watch Live icon will take you to a real-time view of what your camera is seeing. In live mode, you can pull out to digitally zoom, start two-way audio chat, and record video clips. Once you are done recording, you can save the clip to your phone or share it with others via SMS or certain social media platforms. There's also a button to jump to the timeline that takes you to the log of the app's motion-triggered event clips.

Various app settings for the Simplisafe outdoor camera.

The motion event log can also be accessed from the home screen (just tap the timeline in the bottom right). Each recording has its own drop-down box that tells you when the event was recorded and how long it lasted, along with the option to play the video. If you have started recordings yourself via the “Watch Live” screen, these will also be logged here (referred to as “User Recordings”).

Tapping the gear icon in the top right corner of the home screen will take you to the camera settings. Here you can, for example, change the name of your camera, adjust the image quality, choose between night vision modes, switch microphone, audio and sirens on and off and much more.

Another field that has some customization options is motion detection. Tapping this option takes you to a separate motion detection menu where you can set the motion sensitivity and choose whether you want the camera to detect people only or all movement (a handy setting for busy housing developments like my own). Then there's my favorite add-on – a gridded Activity Zone adjuster that lets you choose which areas the camera shouldn't pay attention to.

power

One big and annoying problem I had with the app was getting one of the most basic commands to work at all – starting live view. After I tapped Watch Live, my SimpliSafe app often started buffering like it did on dial-up days. After about 30 seconds (or more) this would result in a “camera disconnected” message. I would then have to try restarting the live view or restarting the app from scratch. On average, I had to try to launch live view at least three times before it actually worked.

To troubleshoot, I even unplugged the base station and moved it to several new points in my living room, which didn't help.

Pricing and Subscriptions

Whether you want to experience the full range of SimpliSafe surveillance functions or just want your camera (s) to be able to record videos, a SimpliSafe subscription is required. There are two memberships to choose from, without a contract and can be canceled at any time for both levels.

Camera Recordings Only – Unlimited HD recordings and real-time recordings for up to five SimpliSafe cameras for 33 cents / day (about $ 10 / month).

The basic price for a Simplisafe system with an outdoor camera.

The second stage, the interactive professional surveillance around the clock, includes police, fire brigade and ambulance around the clock, integrated cellular data support, water and temperature monitoring as well as unlimited recordings and real-time recordings for up to 10 Simplisafe cameras. It costs 83 cents / day (about $ 25 / month).

Our opinion

If you're looking for a standalone outdoor camera that you can clamp on a bracket, couple to your network and access via a mobile app, the SimpliSafe wireless outdoor camera does most of these things well – except that it's system inclusive.

If you already own a SimpliSafe system and want an outdoor add-on or are building a new intelligent security suite, the wireless outdoor camera is one component that you will likely want to add. Yes, there can be problems every now and then, and some of the touted features (like 8x digital zoom) aren't as good as you'd think, but it's a solid outdoor proposition in terms of overall quality and performance.

How long it will take?

Due to the weather resistance and temperature protection, we doubt that you will experience much of element-controlled hardware errors with the SimpliSafe wireless outdoor camera. For errors that creep in, the company offers a three-year warranty on all of its devices.

Is there a better alternative?

In terms of image quality and reliability, the Arlo Pro 4 is one of our current outdoor camera favorites, offering a 160-degree lens, lots of customization options, and advanced surveillance plans. For a budget-friendly stand-alone option, there is also the Wyze Cam Outdoor – with an IP-65 bite-sized housing with Alexa and Google Assistant support and a practical time-lapse function.

Should you buy it?

If you are a SimpliSafe fan, then yes. The wireless SimpliSafe outdoor camera is a good addition to a complete SimpliSafe system and offers a few eyes (and ears) for the world outside your walls and windows.

Editor's recommendations



03 Oct
Blog

SteelSeries Prime Mini Wireless Review: When Less Isn’t More

Steelseries Prime Mini Wireless Test 2

SteelSeries Prime Mini Wireless

RRP $ 130.00

"The $ 130 SteelSeries Prime Mini Wireless feels a step below other eSport mice."

advantages

  • Robust and ergonomic design

  • Crunchy optical magnetic switches

  • Long battery life

  • Super light

disadvantage

  • Large USB-C dongle without memory

  • Expensive

  • Too small for most hand sizes

You don't normally think of high-end esport mice in a portable form, but that's exactly what the SteelSeries Prime Mini is. It takes the lightweight ergonomic design of the Prime Wireless and cuts it up to create a gaming mouse that is not only smaller but also lighter.

SteelSeries did not leave out any features to achieve a slim shape. The Mini still features the same sensor, optical magnetic switches, and buttons as its full-size counterpart. However, with both mice for the same price, the Prime Mini feels like a downgrade for most hand sizes.

Not to mention how it rivals the best gaming mice. Despite being a high-end esports mouse with a spec sheet to match, the Prime Mini doesn't reach the same heights as its competitors. However, the design and switches are second to none, which can be worthwhile if you take the full-size model off.

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The SteelSeries Prime Mini and dongle on a blue background.

There aren't many mini gaming mice out there, and the SteelSeries Prime Mini doesn't change that, despite its name. It's only slightly smaller than the full-size Prime, shaving 1.7mm in height, 1.7mm in width, and most importantly 5mm in length. It also reduces the weight from 80 grams to 73 grams, which is light, but not as light as the Logitech G Pro X Superlight at 63 grams.

Although smaller than the SteelSeries Prime, the Mini is no smaller than many wireless esport mice. The Logitech G Pro Wireless is shorter and thinner, and the Razer Viper Ultimate is shorter and thinner than both.

The difference is the length at which the Prime Mini shaves about 5mm from mice of similar caliber. The change in height never bothered me, but the length and width did. Even with smaller hands, it never felt like I had enough to hold onto the palm grip as the back end of my palm slipped off the mouse and onto my desk. The narrower width also meant that I dragged my little finger along.

I really missed the extra length and width of the Prime Mini.

The claw grip was much more comfortable, which is the case with most smaller gaming mice.

Still, I can appreciate the design. The Prime Mini feels like the Corsair Saber Pro Wireless with a more aggressive slant. The right side of the mouse protrudes from the back, and the left side has a fairly deep indentation for your thumb.

I love the design and the way the mouse feels – it comes with sturdy plastic that doesn't feel hollow like the Razer Viper Ultimate, and it felt almost too snug in the palm of my hand. I just wish I could have experienced the design in its proper form. I really missed the extra length and width of the Prime Mini, which ruined one of probably my otherwise favorite gaming mice.

Sensor and buttons

SteelSeries says the Prime Mini comes with "crispy clicks," and those are the crispest clicks I've ever had. Each time you press it, you hear a loud, satisfying crack, thanks to the Prestige OM optical magnetic switches under the hood. The Razer Basilisk V3 also has optical switches, but they don't feel as crisp as the Prime Mini.

Since the switches are optical, they are not subject to any debounce delay like mechanical switches.

This is my favorite aspect of the Prime Mini. The switches are as satisfactory as possible, and because they are optical they do not suffer from debounce delay like mechanical switches. SteelSeries also rates 100 million click life and doubles the 50 million click life on most high-end gaming switches.

The SteelSeries Prime Mini sensor.

In addition to the left and right click, the Prime Mini has forward and backward thumb buttons as well as a DPI button to toggle through the five customizable presets. The DPI button is on the bottom of the mouse, which is annoying but useful. This is an esports mouse, and you don't want to poke your DPI around in the heat of the moment.

The switches are the star of the show, while the sensor takes a back seat. The mouse comes with the SteelSeries TrueMove Air 18K DPI sensor that you can adjust in 100 DPI increments. At $ 130, that's behind the curve. The Logitech G Pro X Superlight has a 25K DPI sensor and the Corsair M65 RGB Ultra Wireless has a 26K DPI sensor. The Corsair mouse also has a query rate of 2,000 Hz while the Prime Mini is fixed at 1,000 Hz.

It's accurate and fast, but not as much as the competition.

Connectivity and battery life

The Prime Mini is equipped with Quantum 2.0 wireless technology, which, according to SteelSeries, "offers performance that feels like wired". While I'm far from an esports gamer, wireless connectivity was never an issue in Destiny 2 raids or my recent New World addiction.

SteelSeries claims 100 hours of battery life, likely due to just one RGB lighting strip around the scroll wheel. After using the mouse for almost a week, I only knocked off about a third, giving you plenty of time between charges. The mouse also supports fast charging via the USB-C port.

However, Quantum is your only option. Despite a trend towards Bluetooth and low-latency wireless connectivity in mice like the Logitech G604, the Prime Mini only comes with the SteelSeries wireless connectivity. That's not a big deal, but I always like having bluetooth as an option for using the mouse with my home theater setup.

SteelSeries Prime Mini with the dongle removed.

The wifi is solid, but I can't wrap my head around the wifi dongle. It uses USB-C instead of USB-A. Most motherboards only have a single USB-C port, and only the latest cases have a USB-C port upfront. I have much better things to use for my USB-C ports than a wireless mouse dongle.

Worse, it's a big dongle. It's about an inch long if you ignore the connector, which is about a quarter of an inch for Corsair and Razer dongles and a third of an inch for Logitech models. The Prime Mini is ready for travel because of its small and light design, but the dongle has nowhere to be kept attached to the mouse like any other high-end wireless gaming mice.

SteelSeries includes an adapter so that you can connect it to your machine using USB-A. That just doesn't feel like the best solution. I would have much preferred a USB-A dongle to keep under my mouse rather than a clunky USB-C dongle just waiting to break while plugged into my laptop.

Gaming performance

I have some issues with the Prime Mini, but there's no denying that it's a solid gaming mouse. There's tactile feedback on every mouse, but I felt it on the Prime Mini. Every shot in Destiny 2 or my endless deathloop runs felt like it was important, and the Prestige OM switches add a sense of depth to every click.

That's not the reason to buy this mouse, but it's a nice bonus given the mouse's overall gaming performance. The sensor may lag behind the competition, but it's still fast enough to keep up with nervous shooters like Valorant and swipe the screen to activate a skill in Final Fantasy XIV.

The Prime Mini is small, robust and light.

However, size proved to be an issue once more. I wanted to switch back to my tried and true Razer Viper Ultimate while gaming, just so I had a little more sagging. The Prime Wireless and Prime Mini Wireless are the same price from SteelSeries, and I would recommend sticking to the full-size model for most hand sizes.

To play, I could imagine using the Prime Mini Wireless while traveling. It's small, sturdy, and lightweight, which makes it a great high-end travel companion for gaming. As already mentioned, however, the large dongle and the lack of storage space for it dampen the travel experience.

Our opinion

The SteelSeries Prime Mini Wireless is a high quality gaming mouse with unfortunate design choices. The shape is remarkably comfortable, but too small, and the optical magnetic switches are excellent, but they are paired with a sensor that lags behind the competition. It's not a bad mouse, but it's not the best – and at $ 130, being the best is important.

Are there alternatives?

The SteelSeries Prime Mini cuts the length of most competing mice by about 5mm, so there aren't many direct alternatives.

If you don't mind a little extra length, it can measure up to the Corsair Saber Pro Wireless, Logitech G Pro X Superlight, and Razer Viper Ultimate.

How long it will take?

The Prestige optical magnetic switches are designed for 100 million clicks. Assuming 10,000 clicks per day, that's just over 27 years before the mouse wears out. Basically, it'll last until you decide to upgrade.

Should you buy it?

No. The full size Prime Wireless will be more convenient for most people and is a decent option for $ 130. The only exception are those with small hands. There aren't many small high-end gaming mice out there. The closest competitor is that Logitech G305, this is cheaper, but also heavier and with lower specifications. Otherwise, get the full version.

Editor's recommendations



26 Sep
Blog

Corsair M65 RGB Ultra Wireless Review: An Icon Goes Wireless

A side view of the Corsair M65 wireless mouse.

Corsair M65 RGB Ultra Wireless in the test: An FPS symbol becomes wireless

RRP $ 130.00

"The Corsair M65 RGB Ultra is the latest gaming technology in an iconic design."

advantages

  • Blunt, comfortable design

  • Optical mouse switches

  • Tilt gestures

  • 26K DPI sensor

disadvantage

  • Expensive compared to the wired version

  • Much heavier than other high-end mice

Corsair's M65 is an FPS (first person shooter) icon in the world of gaming mice. After seven years and several iterations, Corsair has shown that the M65 design is going nowhere. However, the M65 RGB Ultra Wireless is something new. It's the first time the design is wireless, and at a price that the range has never seen before.

While the M65 was never a budget option, the first wireless variant pushes the price down to almost double the wired version and eventually pushes the mouse over the $ 100 mark.

Still, the M65's comfortable design and tunable weight system make it a great choice for the serious FPS player.

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M65 Ultra Wireless on pink background.

Corsair has made a few versions of the M65 since its introduction in 2014. And the design has mostly stayed the same. It's a large, stocky mouse with a pronounced bump on its back that's perfect for palm and claw gripping. I use the palm grip and the M65 Ultra Wireless gives me just enough to hold on to.

Like previous versions, this one is equipped with an aluminum frame that gives the mouse a feeling of weight. In contrast to the previous Elite version, the M65 Ultra Wireless has a surface structured on both sides, similar to Corsair's Dark Pro RGB. I love the addition as it just adds a touch of grip to an otherwise matte design.

Even if 18 grams doesn't sound like a lot, it makes a big difference.

Just like its wired counterpart, the M65 Ultra Wireless comes with six removable weights. They are divided into three sections so you can choose to have internal weight, external weight, both, or neither. In addition to shifting weight from 110 grams to 128 grams, the weights are also distributed to adjust the center of gravity.

Even if 18 grams doesn't sound like a lot, it makes a big difference. The M65 Ultra Wireless is a heavy mouse to begin with, especially with all of the weights. There's a lot of scope for customization here, as long as you like a heavy mouse (something like the Razer Orochi V2 is better if you have a lighter variant).

Corsair M65 Ultra Wireless Weights.

The weight of the M65 Ultra Wireless also makes it feel like a unit. If you've used any of the last few iterations of the M65 you already know what I'm talking about. This is a beefy mouse that can withstand the pressure, unlike many ultra-light esport mice that feel like they'll fly away if you don't hold them tight enough.

Still, it's important to realize that weight isn't for everyone. Although the M65 has an adjustable weight, it's still heavy, just like the Logitech G502 Hero with its detachable weights. The M65 Ultra Wireless is also 13 grams heavier than the wired M65 Elite (although it's five grams lighter than the M65 Pro).

Sensor and buttons

The M65 Ultra Wireless comes with eight programmable buttons, which for me is perfect. It's a few more buttons than the Corsair Saber Pro Wireless, but still fewer than an MMO giant like the Logitech G600. In addition to left and right click, you have access to the forward and backward thumb buttons, up and down DPI adjustment, and the thumb sniper button, iconic for the M65 range.

Corsair M65 Ultra Wireless Sniper Button.

For left and right click, Corsair uses Omron's optical switches, as opposed to the mechanical switches you'll find on most mice (including the M65 Pro and M65 Elite). There are many details as to why optical switches are better than mechanical, but it comes down to the delay. Basically, a mechanical switch has a small “debounce delay” between being pressed and reaching its reset point.

Optical switches do not have this problem. They use light instead of a physical switch, which avoids debounce delays. All in all, the delay is so small that most people will never notice it. However, optical switches are technically faster. So if you need a health checkup who actually killed you from someone in Valorant, the M65 Ultra Wireless has one.

It's the feel of the optical switch that got me hung up. There are few mice with optical switches – namely the SteelSeries Prime and the Razer Basilisk V3 – so I'd recommend trying one of these in the store before picking up the M65 Ultra Wireless. It's not a bad feeling, but optical switches don't provide the same click as a mechanical switch – it's almost like there's a damper.

In addition to a switch upgrade, the M65 Ultra Wireless comes with a sensor upgrade. It features the 26K DPI Marksman sensor, just like the Corsair Saber Pro Wireless. That's even above the 25.6K DPI sensor on the Logitech G Pro X. As with the optical switches, a higher DPI sensor is technically more accurate, even if it's not relevant to most people.

Corsair M65 Ultra wireless sensor.

The query rate of 2,000 Hz is relevant. The change from 1,000 Hz – typical for wireless gaming mice – to 2,000 Hz reduces the response time to 0.5 ms. From the buttons to the sensor to the polling rate, the M65 Ultra Wireless is designed to give you even the smallest edge.

Connectivity and battery life

Like the Corsair Saber Pro Wireless, the M65 Ultra Wireless also features Bluetooth and Corsair's wireless slipstream technology. You can switch between them at the bottom of the mouse, which I did a lot when switching to a home theater setup with the M65 and my Logitech G915 TKL.

The M65 Ultra Wireless is exactly what I'm looking for in a wireless gaming mouse.

Without lighting, Corsair claims up to 120 hours of battery life when using Bluetooth (90 hours when using Slipstream). After 15 minutes, however, the mouse automatically sleeps, so you can use the M65 for weeks without charging. Compared to my Razer Viper Ultimate, I haven't felt the loading error nearly as often. And when I did, the USB-C port for charging meant I was rarely without a replacement cable.

The M65 Ultra Wireless is exactly what I'm looking for in a wireless gaming mouse. The quick switching between 2.4 GHz wireless and Bluetooth makes the mouse versatile for different setups and the battery lasts long enough to never feel like a problem. USB-C is a big win too, unlike mice like the Razer Viper Ultimate, which stuck with a micro-USB port.

software

Corsair's iCue software is one reason to choose the M65 Ultra Wireless. As with Logitech's G Hub and Razer's Chroma, iCue lets you customize RGB lighting and change key assignments, including assigning absurd macro functions to each of the keys. Once you have everything set up, you can save your DPI, lighting and macro profile on the mouse for use without iCue.

Corsair's iCue is an integral part of the M65 Ultra Wireless.

There's not much in terms of lighting as the M65 Ultra Wireless has a single zone for the logo on the back. However, iCue gives you access to custom lighting effects like rain or a temperature sensor. I have a penchant for static lighting in my rig, which iCue divides into a separate, simplified section.

The most fascinating part of iCue with the M65 Ultra Wireless is the gyroscope. The six-axis gyroscope enables the configuration of the lift detection, but also opens up the possibility of gestures. The M65 Ultra Wireless includes forward, backward, left and right tilt gestures that you can assign to any key or macro like a normal key.

Gestures in the Corsair iCue software.

And to my surprise, it works. I can't imagine ever using the tilt feature – immediately after setting it up, I accidentally frenzied the mouse after turning it upside down – but it works. There are also some uses for it such as For example, using Alt + Tab to scroll through windows or assign a key like PrintScreen that you might otherwise have to look for.

Corsair's iCue is an integral part of the M65 Ultra Wireless. It goes well beyond buttons and lighting, and gives you access to unique features like gestures and important settings, such as: B. when the mouse goes to sleep.

Our opinion

The Corsair M65 Ultra Wireless targets two other mice directly – the Logitech G Pro and the Razer Viper Ultimate. The Viper Ultimate is about $ 20 more expensive, while the M65 and G Pro are both $ 130. In terms of performance, there isn't much of a difference between these three mice, so it comes down to features and preferences.

The Corsair mouse has a number of advantages in this regard. The optical switches are faster, it contains a massive battery and comes with USB-C for charging. I also love the design and feel of the M65, though a lot of it depends on your hand size and the way you hold your mouse.

I would have liked a slightly cheaper price – around $ 110 like the Saber Pro Wireless – but the M65 still feels a step ahead of the competition.

Are there alternatives?

Yes, several. For high-end wireless FPS mice, the Razer Viper Ultimate, Logitech G Pro X Superlight, and Corsair Saber Pro Wireless are all options.

You can save a lot with a wire too. Corsair's wired M65 is $ 60 cheaper, and there are options like the SteelSeries Rival 3 for around $ 30.

How long it will take?

Omron optical switches do not have the same 50 million click lifespan as mechanical switches. Most optical switches, however, last longer than mechanical ones. The M65 Ultra Wireless should last 15 years or more, long gone when you're likely to want to switch to something new.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. The M65 Ultra Wireless is an excellent wireless gaming mouse. It has the same premium features as similar mice like the Razer Viper Ultimate and the Logitech G Pro X Superlight. However, you can save a lot with inexpensive wireless options like the Logitech G305 or the wired version.

Editor's recommendations



16 Sep
Blog

Corsair Sabre RGB Pro Wireless Review: Competitive Mouse

Corsair Saber Pro Wireless on a black background.

Corsair Saber RGB Pro Wireless Review: Competitive Mouse, Competitive Price

RRP $ 110.00

"The Corsair Saber RGB Pro Wireless offers all the functions of the best wireless eSport mice, only for less money."

advantages

  • 2,000 Hz polling rate

  • Flexible iCue software

  • Comfortable design with palm grip

  • Only 79 grams

  • Two wireless modes

disadvantage

  • Limited extra buttons

  • One RGB zone only

In the world of esports mice, it's usually hard to get excited about another barebone mouse – especially if it's an update to an existing model. This is the Corsair Saber RGB Pro Wireless. It's almost identical to the $ 60 Saber RGB Pro, just no cables and at almost twice the price.

Even so, it's cheaper than the competition and comes with specs to look forward to.

You can buy a great wireless gaming mouse like the Logitech G305 for less than half the price, yes. But with an updated sensor, two wireless modes, and software that goes beyond RGB lighting, the Corsair Saber RGB Pro Wireless is a great gaming mouse that beats the competition.

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Corsair Saber Pro Wireless on a black background.

The Saber Pro Wireless is part of Corsair's Champion Series, a line of products designed in collaboration with eSports athletes for optimal performance. In terms of dimensions, it is identical to the available Saber Pro, only with the wire cut off. However, the wireless model is only a hair heavier – 79 grams versus 74 grams.

It's not ambidextrous like the Logitech G Pro, which is the direct competitor of the Saber Pro Wireless. Instead, the top shell is offset to the left for a right-handed design and protrudes about 10mm further out at the front. A high center gives you a lot of support in relation to the palm grip. The claw grip works too, although I prefer something smaller like the Razer Viper Ultimate because I don't have the biggest hands.

The Saber Pro Wireless doesn't need looks given its price.

Because of its looks, the Saber Pro Wireless is not going to win any awards. It's a black mouse with an RGB Corsair logo on the back (which you can customize via iCue). It's even less noticeable than the wired Saber Pro. The wireless model lacks lighting around the scroll wheel and does not display the DPI scale on the side of the mouse.

Still, given its price, the Saber Pro Wireless doesn't need any looks. It's $ 20 cheaper than the Logitech Pro and $ 50 cheaper than the Razer Viper Ultimate. There are cheaper wireless mice like the Steelseries Rival 3, but nothing with specs that rival the Saber Pro Wireless.

Sensor and buttons

The Saber Pro Wireless features Corsair's Marksman 26K DPI sensor, which you can adjust in iCue in 1 DPI increments. According to Corsair, the mouse has a tracking resolution of 650 IPS and you can set a query rate of up to 2,000 Hz. This rate corresponds to a response time of 0.5 ms in wired mode, and Corsair claims "wireless transmission under 1 ms" with its slipstream technology.

Corsair Saber Pro Wireless with the scroll wheel.

Compared to the wired Saber Pro, the polling rate appears to be a downgrade. The wired model supports a polling rate of up to 8000 Hz. However, each step above 1000 Hz divides a millisecond. So the higher you go, the less return you will get. And 2,000 Hz is fast enough, so this spec is less of a downgrade than it might seem.

No one should reasonably be using a 26K DPI mouse, but the Saber Pro Wireless allows you to. Wireless gaming mice like the Razer Orochi V2 score with 18K DPI. For higher demands, you'll need to turn to Logitech's flagship options with its 25K Hero sensor like the Logitech Pro X Superlight.

I used the Saber Pro Wireless as my only mouse for about a week – and I still use it. As someone who spends at least a couple of hours every night in Destiny 2, the Saber Pro Wireless could keep up. I switched to my Razer Viper Ultimate and an older Corsair M65 with no noticeable difference out of shape.

Corsair says the Saber Pro Wireless has seven programmable buttons, even though I only counted six (and six only show up in iCue). In addition to left, right and middle mouse clicks, you have a DPI setting button in the middle and thumb buttons for forward and backward on the left. You can reassign any of the buttons in iCue, as well as assign macros or functions to them.

No one should reasonably be using a 26K DPI mouse, but the Saber Pro Wireless allows you to.

The left and right click buttons use Omron switches that are rated for 50 million clicks. They're also Corsair's Quickstrike buttons, which means there is no gap between the switch and the button. Honestly, I can't tell any difference from other high-end gaming mice, so this seems to be mostly marketing fluff. Omron switches, however, are nice to have and to be expected for a mouse of this class.

Connectivity and battery life

According to Corsair's pricing, wireless is worth about $ 50 more on the Saber Pro Wireless. And it is. The slipstream wireless tech held up perfectly in a nervous shooter like Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, as well as a slower action game like Resident Evil Village. When switching between wired and wireless, I could never tell the difference.

Slipstream isn't all you have access to, however. The Saber Pro Wireless also works with Bluetooth 4.2, and you can switch between the two with a toggle on the mouse button. As someone who likes to use PC peripherals on my Nvidia Shield, the Saber Pro is a perfect match for the Bluetooth-enabled Logitech G915 TKL keyboard.

Corsair says the Saber Pro can last up to 90 hours on one charge, which is a lot longer than it sounds like. I immediately started using the Saber Pro without charging it. Even then, the mouse lasted a full week before it needed to be charged, and it warned me via a little red LED on top before it ran out.

The wireless dongle for the Corsair Saber Pro Wireless.

The battery life is 90 hours in Bluetooth mode without lighting. If you want to use slipstream, that drops to 60 hours. Even so, I never had battery life issues even when using Slipstream with the lights on. By default, the mouse goes to sleep after 15 minutes, so you can save some juice while you're away.

Once the battery is empty, you can connect the included USB-C cable for charging while you continue to use the mouse. I've got used to this on my Razer Viper Ultimate, so I'm glad Corsair added a wired mode as well. The charging port is sunk slightly to handle the bulk of the cable, although I would have liked Corsair to have moved it a little further back. The included cable protrudes about half an inch in wired mode.

software

Bundled software is usually an afterthought, but iCue, on the other hand, is a reason to get the Saber Pro Wireless. Corsair has kept adding to this software and is now better than ever. Lighting is the least interesting part of the software, at least for the Saber Pro Wireless.

As mentioned earlier, you can rebind any of the six buttons. In addition to keystrokes, mouse functions and special language keys, you can also use macros. I used the built-in macro recorder to create a 591 step macro and it worked. The recorder even records delays so that you can execute complex input strings at the push of a button.

The macro recorder in Corsair's iCue software.

There are a variety of options in iCue. Switching between languages ​​on the keyboard, starting apps with one key and programming complex macros are all possible – and they are also easy to set up in iCue.

You can divide the DPI in iCue into five profiles that are saved on the mouse. Once you've set these, you can use the mouse on all computers without iCue installed. Along with the DPI settings, you can organize lighting and button mappings into three built-in profiles that travel with the mouse.

There is also a lot going on in the settings. You can turn off DPI adjustment, which is useful for avoiding gaming mishaps, and you can adjust the time after the mouse falls asleep. As is typical for iCue, you can also calibrate the sensor to your surface and pair the mouse again if it gets disconnected. Out of the box, the mouse worked for me straight away, even without iCue installed.

Corsair has gone deep instead of far with iCue. Logitech's G-Hub is useful, if not nearly as deep as iCue, and Razer has several apps that focus on overall PC performance, not customizing peripherals. Simply put, iCue is packed with functionality for peripheral devices while maintaining accessibility.

Our opinion

The Corsair Saber RGB Pro Wireless is not for everyone. You can save a lot of money on mice like the Rival 3 that have lower specs but still hold up for the average gamer.

However, if you are a serious esports gamer, you will love the Corsair Saber RGB Pro Wireless. With an insanely high DPI sensor, long battery life, and a price that beats other top peripheral brands, it's a simple mouse for competitive gamers.

Are there alternatives?

Yes sir. The Razer Viper Ultimate and Logitech Pro are both excellent ambidextrous mice, but they're a bit more expensive.

The Steelseries Rival 3 is a much cheaper alternative, although it doesn't have such a nice sensor.

How long it will take?

The Omron switches on the Corsair Saber Pro Wireless are rated for 50 million clicks. If you clicked 10,000 a day – which is unlikely – it would last just under 14 years. Realistically, you can use Saber Pro Wireless for over 15 years.

Should you buy it?

Yes, if you're looking for a high quality wireless mouse that covers the basics. However, it depends on the type of games you are playing. Something like the Razer Naga is better suited for MMOs with its extra buttons, while the Corsair M65 has a blunt design that is easier to use in shooters.

Editor's recommendations



19 Aug
Blog

Corsair HS80 RGB Wireless Review: All a Gaming Headset Needs

Corsair HS80 cover

Corsair HS80 gaming headset

RRP $ 149.00

"The Corsair HS80 hits the nail on the head with less is more approach and offers great comfort, great sound and effortless control."

advantages

  • Intuitive controls

  • Great sound quality

  • Oh so comfortable

  • Wireless connection with PC and Playstation

  • RGB

With so much choice on the market, buying a new gaming headset isn't easy. If you suffer from decision-making paralysis, it's easy to go for something top-notch, like Corsair's Virtuoso RGB Wireless XT, that is not only good-looking but also packed with features. The problem? It comes at a high price and it's still not perfect. This is where something like Corsair's new HS80 RGB Wireless comes into play.

At first I wasn't very enthusiastic about the HS80. It's not top notch, it's just mid-range, so it isn't full of features and doesn't offer the most luxurious of materials. But in some ways that's its best quality, which may make it one of my new favorite gaming headsets.

Design and functions

Corsair HS80 headbandNiels Broekhuijsen / Digital Trends

With the HS80, Corsair didn't focus on making the most beautiful headset. Rather, the focus here is on comfort. It uses a headband-like fit on the top that molds perfectly to your skull, making it one of the more comfortable headsets I've tested. The ear cups have fabric on top of the foam, which in turn is not the most luxurious of materials.

But it offers plenty of depth for wider ears, and the headset has an asymmetrical design to accommodate your earlobe. As a result, the HS80 doesn't feel like an expensive headset, but it is sleek and smooth in fit. This is a headset that you could wear for hours and this headband makes it more comfortable than a classic design headset like the Razer Blackshark V2 Pro.

Then there are the controls of the HS80, or rather the lack of them. On the left ear cup, you'll find a power button and volume control, and that's it. The right earpiece is completely free of controls. What is clearly missing is a microphone mute button, but it's fine: just flip the microphone up to mute it and down to unmute it. It also has a bell that lets you know what it's doing, and the light on the end turns red in the up position, although that doesn't help that much with a microphone like this as it's out of sight. This means fewer buttons than most headsets, and simply flipping the microphone up is much more intuitive than fumbling for the mute button like you do with the SteelSeries Arctis 7 or Logitech G Pro X wireless headsets.

The simplicity of the controls on the HS80 makes it one of the most intuitive gaming headsets out there.

It charges through a standard USB-C port with up to 20 hours of battery life, which is roughly industry standard – expect to charge the HS80 once or twice a week. Connectivity is via a USB dongle, which is connected to PCs and laptops together with PlayStation 4 and PS5 units.

Corsair HS80 sideNiels Broekhuijsen / Digital Trends

But this simplicity is what makes the HS80 so great – many multi-function headsets have too many controls, and fiddling around to find the right ones can be a hassle. This is one that you just turn on, change the volume, and flip the microphone up and down to mute it – it's that simple.

Sound quality and games

Typically, wireless gaming headsets don't have the best sound quality due to limitations in the wireless protocol – the dongle prioritized the audio stream based on latency rather than quality, causing some compression loss along the way. The HS80 is no exception, but all in all, its sound profile is actually very pleasing.

Corsair HS80 auricleNiels Broekhuijsen / Digital Trends

Let me explain: if you listen to quiet music, you won't notice anything wrong. In fact, you'll enjoy the sound of the HS80 thanks to its superb 50mm drivers. But when the music is busy you will hear some compression loss. But it's a headset to play with, and in-game you're generally too busy to pay attention to those losses – and if not – it's likely a relaxed scene playing quieter sounds that don't suffer from those losses anyway.

Pleather ear cups may look better, but the HS80's foam ear cups improve its sound profile.

The HS80 comes with the same 50mm drivers as the much more expensive Virtuoso XT Wireless RGB, so they sound just as good in terms of frequency response and sound signature. In fact, they sound better – I prefer the sound of the HS80 over the more expensive headset.

I suspect this has something to do with the foam pads instead of synthetic leather and the shape of the ear cups – the softer materials lead to a warmer and fuller sound without sacrificing details at the top.

The HS80 also comes with Dolby Atmos support, which you can activate through Corsair's iCue software. While it paints a slightly better 3D picture of the sound around you, I'm generally not a huge fan of these sound-modifying algorithms – yes, they expand the soundstage and make sounds look like they're further away with more "position". “But the reduction in intimacy leaves a flatter sound that is subjectively less detailed. I just leave it out – sound engines in games today are pretty good anyway, especially a game like Insurgency Sandstorm.

Our opinion

After a solid week with the Corsair HS80, I can confidently say that it is one of the best gaming headsets available today. It might not be the fanciest, but it's super comfortable, has a great sound, and is intuitive to use – isn't that all you expect from a headset? There is no reason to pay more for features that interfere with the primary purpose of hearing.

Are there alternatives?

At $ 149, there's quite a bit of competition for the HS80. The main competitors are the Razer Blackshark V2 Pro and the SteelSeries Arctis 7, both of which are available at the same, if not slightly higher, prices.

But they don't offer more features, making the HS80 a compelling mid-tier option.

How long it will take?

It is reasonable to expect the HS80 to last about three years under most circumstances, or slightly longer with mild use.

Should I buy it?

Yes, the Corsair HS80 is a brilliant gaming headset that meets all the right criteria and not much more. The HS80 offers a simple, straightforward, effective and comfortable design and is an easy recommendation.

Editor's recommendations



12 Aug
Blog

Razer Hammerhead True Wireless Review: RGB and ANC for Less

Razer Hammerhead battery compartment opened.

Razer Hammerhead True Wireless Review: RGB and ANC for less

RRP $ 130.00

"The new Hammerhead True Wireless brings an RGB light show to your ears along with pretty effective ANC."

advantages

  • Comfortable fit and improved design

  • Solid passive and active noise cancellation

  • Eye-catching RGB lighting

disadvantage

  • Buggy beta software and tricky touch controls

Razer used to be a bigger name in the gaming world than it was in the audio world, but after several generations of audio products have been released, it's safe to say that it is no longer the case. The latest in Razer's audio lineup, the Razer Hammerhead True Wireless Earbuds are the second generation of Razer's true wireless earbuds for gamers.

They bear quite a resemblance to the first generation Hammerhead True Wireless, but have several significant design refinements, eye-catching Razer Chroma RGB lighting, and solid active noise cancellation (ANC) and audio capabilities. However, the software was still in beta when I tested, and there were some issues with tricky controls, so my rating will likely change after I've had more time with the final software version.

Razer Hammerhead with RGB lighting.Ajay Kumar / Digital Trends

Design and fit

The most immediate and obvious comparison for the Razer Hammerhead True Wireless is that with the AirPods Pro. Available in gloss black, they come with angled earbuds attached to a stem, in-ear silicone earbuds, and a pill box-sized charging case that charges with USB-C. The box came with three different sizes of silicone earbuds, but the standard pair worked perfectly for my ears.

The fit is snug without feeling uncomfortable when worn for long periods of time. At only 53 g, the earphones are barely noticeable when you wear them. This was not the case with the previous generation, which was half-eared and did not go directly into the ear canal. The in-ear design also improves passive noise isolation, which works well for enhancing active noise cancellation.

A light show in your ears

However, this is all pretty standard that you'll find on other true wireless earbuds, including Razer's own Hammerhead True Wireless Pro. The big feature here is Razer Chroma RGB, Razer's full-color lighting ecosystem that it uses for all of its gaming devices and peripherals. After all, how do you know that there is something for gamers without RGB?

On the back of both earbuds you can see the Razer logo illuminated with RGB lighting. The lights are on by default in breathing mode, but you can adjust brightness and modes using the Razer Chroma app. One of the more interesting modes is Audio Meter, which reacts to the music being played to provide a light show to the people around you. It's a noticeable feature that is sure to get some glances in the elevator and grocery store.

Razer hammerhead held in the palm of the hand.Ajay Kumar / Digital Trends

Apart from the aesthetic effect, I can also see it as useful for night joggers. Razer says it has worked on optimizing Chroma so that it doesn't drain battery life excessively and that it will last longer than the first generation hammerheads.

Software and battery

Both the Razer Audio and Razer Chrome companion apps I tested were still in beta and required sideloading on my Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra so I won't really be able to evaluate their capabilities until they reach consumers Version is available. The first time you used the app, it was slow to connect to the earbuds each time and the tweaks were a chore, but hopefully this will change with the final release. With that in mind, the Razer Audio app offers the key customizations that most people look for in true wireless earbuds.

You get customizable EQ controls and a number of preprogrammed profiles including Amplified, Default, Enhanced Bass, Enhanced Clarity and Vocal. As a metalhead, I particularly enjoyed using enhanced bass for music and enhanced clarity for podcasts and audio books.

Razer Hammerhead paired in app.Ajay Kumar / Digital Trends

ANC can be turned on to block out most of the background noise, set to ambient mode so you can hear some background noise (which is helpful when commuting or needing to talk to someone), or turned off entirely if you want to save battery.

The controls of the Hammerhead True are all touch sensitive and can be assigned different tapping gestures for play / pause, skipping tracks, voice assistants, controlling ANC modes and more. The touch controls were a bit fussy, and I never got used to adjusting the volume, which required a double tap and hold. It almost never worked properly on the first try, and often stopped my music or skipped my track instead. It might take some practice, but I would have preferred to remap the double tap to do something else, even if it meant the loss of the volume feature.

According to Razer, the earbuds should last four hours with RGB and ANC on and 16 hours with charging out of the case. With both off, they estimate 6.5 hours for the earbuds and 26 hours for the case. I have to spend more time with the earbuds to know for sure, but my testing with RGB and ANC and volume at a moderate 20-30% easily took at least four hours, if not longer.

Sound quality and features

The Hammerhead True Wireless have Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity, 10 mm drivers and a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz. In practice, this results in solid sound quality with balanced lows, mids, and highs. The default audio profile is crisp and balanced, and the EQ can be adjusted to your preferences if you like more punchy bass or crisper vocals. I particularly enjoyed Enhanced Bass listening to Sabaton and Iron Maiden, while Mike Duncan's Revolutions podcast benefited from Enhanced Clarity. Watching Netflix shows sounded perfect in the default settings.

The standard audio profile is clear and balanced

As a gamer, I used the gaming mode, which reduces the audio latency to 60 ms, but at the expense of audio compression and the shortening of the regular Bluetooth range from 33 feet to around 2 feet. This isn't a big deal unless you're using the Hammerhead True Wireless with your console or gaming PC and sitting some distance from the source device. I've only used it with my phone and laptop so it haven't encountered any range issues.

Razer Hammerhead battery compartment opened.Ajay Kumar / Digital Trends

I used gaming mode to play Genshin Impact, Assassin's Creed Rebels, and Asphalt 9 Nitro on my phone. On Asphalt 9, I heard the biggest impact of the reduced audio latency – there was no noticeable delay between my car burning and the tires screeching.

Overall, I found the sound profile to be cheap in terms of detail and soundstage compared to the Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro I normally use, although it can't compete with higher-end true wireless earbuds or over-ear Bluetooth headphones.

Active noise cancellation

The other big standout feature here is Feedforward ANC, which means that the earbuds have two microphones that pick up noise and cancel it out with counter-noise. Feedforward isn't as good as the True Wireless Pro's hybrid ANC, which has microphones both inside and outside, but when combined with the passive noise cancellation, it comes pretty close. It was definitely better than the ANC on the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live that don't form a physical seal with your ears.

Razer Hammerhead with ANC options.Ajay Kumar / Digital Trends

I left ANC on for most of the time and found it very effective at blocking out most of the background noise, including the rumble of my window air conditioner, the sound of my fan, and the general hustle and bustle of the subway. I also had no problem hearing audio over the sound of my rowing machine while exercising. However, it doesn't match the ANC capabilities of the Sony WF-1000XM4 or AirPods Pro, which can hide a wider range of sounds more consistently, and you may notice a slight background noise when no audio is playing.

Price and availability

At $ 130, the Razer Hammerhead True Wireless sits in the middle of Razer's audio lineup and proves to be less expensive than the $ 200 True Wireless Pro but higher than the $ 100 first-generation True Wireless. They will be available in the Razer Store on August 11th.

Our opinion

Despite some software quirks and tricky controls, the Razer Hammerhead True Wireless are a compelling pair of true wireless earbuds – the audio quality is solid, the RGB lighting makes for a fun and stylish look, and ANC is good enough for commuting to work or exercising .

Are there any better alternatives?

If price doesn't matter, that will $ 249 Apple AirPods Pro provide more seamless connectivity for iOS users with Apple's H1 chip and superior noise cancellation. Sony is also the leader in noise cancellation, and the $ 280 WF-1000XM4 are packed with features and support codecs like LDAC. The recently announced Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 offer comparable ANC, IPX7 water resistance, and even better battery life for $ 150 if you're ready to wait for them to hit stores on August 27th.

Anker's Soundcore brand has plenty of inexpensive true wireless earbuds for the budget-conscious, including the Liberty Neo for $ 70, the Life P3 for $ 80, the Liberty Air 2 Pro for $ 130, and many more, though these are yours do not offer the same audio quality or noise cancellation.

How long it will take?

The Razer Hammerhead True Wireless supports IPX4 water resistance, which is supposed to protect it from splashes and sweat so you can use it while exercising. I also accidentally dropped them a couple of times and they survived without physical harm. They also come with Bluetooth 5.2, which was just launched in January 2020, so you should be future proof for a few years. The earbuds also come with a two-year limited warranty.

Should you buy it?

Yes. With the caveat that the software I tested was still in beta, you won't be disappointed with the sound quality, noise cancellation, or flashy RGB lighting of the Razer Hammerhead True Wireless.

Editor's recommendations



23 Jul
Blog

Sennheiser CX True Wireless Review: Budget Audiophile Buds

Sennheiser CX True Wireless Earphones.

Sennheiser CX True Wireless

RRP $ 130.00

"They offer the best sound you can find in an affordable set of earbuds."

advantages

  • Excellent sound quality

  • Customizable EQ

  • Precise and customizable controls

  • Sidetone for telephone calls

  • Good battery life

disadvantage

  • No in-ear sensors

  • No transparency mode

  • Could be difficult to get a secure fit

True wireless earbuds have always been a dilemma. Unlike their wired cousins, wireless earbuds require a variety of components such as batteries, charging cases, bluetooth radios, amplifiers, etc. All of these drive up costs and make it difficult to deliver high quality sound at affordable prices. Sennheiser – a brand with an enviable reputation for great sound – is experimenting with the line between quality and affordability.

Its first recording was the $ 200 CX 400BT it launched in 2020, a set of true wireless earbuds that did deliver sound but missed a lot of the features we'd expect at this price point. Sennheiser's second act is the $ 130 CX True Wireless. Are these buds achieving that magical balance between price and performance? We put them to the test to find out.

What's in the box?

Scope of delivery of the Sennheiser CX True Wireless earphones.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Sennheiser is one of a growing list of companies that have made their packaging highly recyclable. The box of the CX True Wireless consists of plain printed cardboard and even the small packaging that protects the included earplugs is paper-based. You won't find a hint of plastic or foam anywhere. Inside you will find the earphones, their charging case, earbuds in four sizes, a short USB-A to USB-C charging cable and some paper documentation.

design

Sennheiser CX True Wireless earphones next to the Sennheiser CX 400BT True Wireless earphones.Sennheiser CX 400BT (left) and CX True Wireless Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Visually, the CX True Wireless can hardly be distinguished from the CX 400BT. Both the charging case and the earphones have identical proportions. On closer inspection, there are small differences: the CX True Wireless have a more subtle branding that some will no doubt prefer, and their charging case has removed the dedicated pairing button from the case of the CX 400BT. The touch controls now use a matte plastic surface instead of a glossy surface.

If you pull one off this review, here it is: The CX True Wireless are a sound bargain.

The earbuds stay a bit bulky and won't win any awards for style. But the rounded box shape makes it easier than many other earbuds to insert into your ears without accidentally triggering a control path – it also makes it easy to remove and reinsert in their charging case.

One thing that has changed from the CX 400BT is the addition of an IPX4 rating for water resistance. This means that the CX True Wireless is on par with other earphones such as the AirPods Pro. They won't survive a swim in the pool, but now you can at least take them to the gym, on the track, or wherever you sweat without worrying about your earplugs.

Comfort, controls and connections

Unfortunately, since the CX True Wireless inherited its size and shape from the CX 400BT, they also inherited the fit of these earbuds, meaning they may not be comfortable. In order to get a really comfortable and secure fit, I have set myself a set Comply foam earplugs – the same ones I ended up using on the CX 400BT to deal with the same situation.

Sennheiser is still one of the few companies that really understands what is important when it comes to touch control.

To be fair, the silicone earbuds that Sennheiser included with the CX True Wireless are likely to work for a lot of people and I would never say they are uncomfortable. But they definitely don't fit as securely as foam, nor do they seal your ear canals as effectively. If you run into the same thing, just buy some comply tips from Amazon for a few dollars – you'll thank me for that.

The touch controls on the CX are excellent. Sennheiser is still one of the few companies that really understands what is important when it comes to touch control. The control surfaces are large and clear – it's effortless to get consistently accurate taps. As a bonus, a subtle tone confirms that you typed correctly.

You can adjust these controls with the Sennheiser Smart Control app. Single, double and triple taps can all be assigned to the function you want, and you can choose a different function for each earbud – handy when you want to use the earbuds independently (which you can do for both music and calls). You get everything you need: play / pause, skip tracks forwards / backwards, trigger your voice assistant and increase / decrease the volume. The only feature that can't be changed is the volume, which the long tap gesture requires when you want to use it.

Pairing with iPhones or Android devices is easy, even if the CX doesn't come with Google's Fast Pair – a few taps and you're done. If you're on an iPhone, you're limited to the good but lossy AAC codec, while Android users can enjoy the slightly higher quality aptX codec. But regardless of your source device, you can't hike very far. The CX has one of the shortest wireless signals I've ever tested – they started to dissipate when I placed just 6 meters between me and my phone. If you have your phone with you, this shouldn't be a problem. But if you want to leave your phone in a pocket or locker, be ready to stay around.

Sound quality

Sennheiser CX True Wireless earphones next to the charging case.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

With the included silicone earbuds, I found the CX True Wireless a bit anemic for the bass, but that was a purely fit function. After I swapped them for the foam tips, the sound improved dramatically. If you pull one off this review, here it is: The CX True Wireless are a sound bargain. They deliver impressively detailed and precise performance that comes incredibly close to earbuds from Sony, Bose, JBL, and Master & Dynamic, which can cost anywhere from $ 250 to $ 350.

The soundstage is wide and deep, and purists will like that Sennheiser's factory EQ settings give you a flat / neutral signature. But I usually find neutral EQ sounds boring at my preferred volume levels, so I love that the Smart Control app gives you two ways to visualize and change the emphasis of lows, mids, and highs, and create presets when You can find a setting that you like. You can clearly energize the lows and highs without losing details in the mids.

I've spent quite a bit of time switching from one genre to another, and whether it was jazz, pop, metal or hip-hop, the CX True Wireless did them wonderfully. If you've never really listened to decent earbuds, the CX will also bring you one of my favorite experiences: hearing a detail on one of your favorite tracks that you've never heard before, or rendering it to make a smile on your face.

When conditions are relatively calm, your voice will be nice and clear, with very little compression or wobble.

One track that certainly did this for me is Melanie Martinez ’High School Sweethearts. After a minute, Martinez goes from her breathy and F-bomb-laden intro to the main part of the track, and at this point you can hear someone writing on a blackboard. The CX places this unmistakable scratchy sound behind Martinez's voice so precisely, as if you could look over her shoulder and see the person writing. It gave me goosebumps.

Battery life

Sennheiser CX True Wireless earphones next to the charging case.Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The CX 400BT promised seven hours of battery life per charge, with a total of 20 hours including the charging case – acceptable, but hardly worth mentioning, especially for earphones without Active Noise Canceling (ANC). But the CX True Wireless are a step up, with nine hours on a full charge and a total of 27 hours on the case.

With a quick charge of 15 minutes you get an extra hour of playtime. This puts the CX True Wireless on par with some of the best earbuds in terms of endurance – a welcome improvement.

Call quality

Making calls with the CX True Wireless is about average for True Wireless earbuds. When the outside conditions are relatively calm and there is no wind, your voice will be nice and clear, with very little compression or wobble. This must be the “voice-optimized sound” that Sennheiser refers to in its description of the earphones.

However, this does not apply to times when wind or loud noises are nearby. At these times, the microphones struggle to keep your voice consistently clear. Since so few earbuds do this excellently, I can hardly blame Sennheiser for anything, but remember: These are earbuds for making phone calls at the desk or when waiting for the flight – not for jogging, cycling or walking near heavy traffic.

These were also my observations when testing the CX 400BT, but here the CX True Wireless improves its more expensive predecessor once again: The CX True Wireless has an adjustable sidetone, which means that you can hear your own voice much more clearly when making calls. It works really well, but I found it difficult to adjust the amount of sidetone during a call.

Something missing?

The CX True Wireless really hit a sweet spot in terms of price and sound performance, and even managed to deliver really good battery life, but there are still some features you may be missing. There is no listening mode (transparency), which is surprising given the eavesdropping feature – these two often go hand in hand.

There are no in-ear sensors that can automatically pause your music when you pull out an earbud. Given the lack of transparency mode, this is what you will often do when you want to talk to someone in real life.

The charging case lacks wireless charging – maybe a minor annoyance, but it's becoming standard on many earbuds that cost less than the CX.

ANC does not exist either, but that is a feature that Sennheiser will do without at this price.

Our opinion

For people who love high-end sound quality but don't have the money to indulge in the best of true wireless earbuds, the CX True Wireless are a great buy. As long as you can forego a few features like the transparency mode and are willing to buy third-party earbuds if the sound or fit doesn't work for you, I think you'll be really happy.

Is there a better alternative?

There are tons of great True Wireless earbuds available anywhere between $ 100 and $ 130 that can outperform the CX True Wireless in terms of features. The Second generation Amazon Echo Buds come to mind as well as that Soundcore Life P3, and the Jabra Elite 75t. But none of these can beat the CX in terms of sheer sound quality.

Ironically, Sennheiser now apparently has that CX 400BT to just $ 100 – it just might be the best alternative. Same great sound, but with a shorter battery life, no water protection and no audible tone for calls. If you're willing to give these up for a $ 30 savings, you're cheating!

How long will they last?

While hard to predict, the CX True Wireless looks better than many other True Wireless earbuds. The fit and workmanship are excellent and Sennheiser supports them with a two-year guarantee, which speaks volumes for the company's confidence in its product. The industry standard is only one year. With IPX4 protection and a good starter battery capacity, they should last you for years to come.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. The CX True Wireless solves the problem of getting great sound on a budget.

Editor's recommendations



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