29 Oct
Blog

Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania Review: It Won’t Make You Go Ape

GonGon rolls over a stage full of bananas.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania

RRP $ 40.00

"Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania is a welcome but imprecise remake that lacks detail."

advantages

  • High resolution graphics

  • Lots of customization options

  • New modes and ways to play

  • Classic soundtrack available as DLC

disadvantage

  • Stages without details

  • Shaky controls

  • Unforgettable story and soundtrack

  • Some weak party games

While 20 years have passed since the original Super Monkey Ball was released, the game remains true to its arcade roots. That coin-op influence is still felt in Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania, the franchise's newest installment.

Banana Mania is an "extended" HD remake for PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X / S. It brings together all of the courses from the first three games in the series: Super Monkey Ball, Super Monkey Ball 2, and Super Monkey Ball Deluxe, the last of which was just a compilation of the first two games, effectively making Banana Mania a compilation of a compilation. The game was developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku, a Sega-affiliated development team with strong ties to Amusement Visions (the developer of the original game) and published by Sega.

I went to Banana Mania and I was expecting the best. Super Monkey Ball was a staple of my childhood: spending long hours huddled around the TV with my younger sister, handing the controller back and forth as we tried to torment our way through the expert level. We yelled at each other as we blew our monkeys up in Monkey Race and pushed each other off the stage in Monkey Fight. We both played the original game so many times that at this point it was mostly muscle memory. In stark contrast, I mostly played Banana Mania alone, curled up on my sofa, trying to figure out each phase for myself.

While the game is undeniably Monkey Ball, it felt like Monkey Ball through a filter: warped and just different enough to get me off my game. It's more of a chore than a fun flashback.

The main attraction

Banana Mania draws its narrative and many of its stages from the Super Monkey Ball Deluxe story mode. The friendly monkeys AiAi, MeeMee, GonGon and Baby just want to enjoy some bananas, but the nefarious Dr. Bad-Boon steals them all and sends the monkeys on a journey through the world of the game to get their yellow fruits back. The story plays a much smaller role than in Deluxe; There is no dialogue and very little actual story content. It's more of a disgustingly cute loose thread that connects the game's themed worlds. After seeing the first short cutscenes, I wanted to skip them and just get on with the stages. Narrative is not really a strong (or necessary) part of Monkey Ball. The complete courses of Monkey Balls 1 and 2 are also considered part of the main game and are referred to as "Challenges".

AiAi tries to avoid a rotten banana in Dark Banana Mode.

The gameplay retains the arcade-like, point-oriented feel of the original titles while doing a few tweaks to ensure Banana Mania doesn't look like it was ripped out of an arcade cabinet. I no longer had to worry about using up my entire life or losing my points after falling off a stage too many times, which made things easier. The stages range from frustratingly satisfying to simply frustrating: nothing compares to that Dark Souls-like feeling when you finally make it through a difficult period, but most of the time you just want to spam the new helper mode or use points to skip stages. The game aims to remove many of the frustrations that come with getting stuck at a certain stage, but make no mistake, Banana Mania is just as tough as the other games in the series.

It doesn't feel improved, just different.

Even so, the harshness often feels unfair. Much of Deluxe's ​​time-based level design won't hold up in 2021, and the new levels are tricky rather than challenging. The controls feel both too stiff and too sensitive, and fighting the camera was often more difficult than actually completing a level. The challenge courses of Monkey Balls 1 and 2 feel mostly the same, but the physics and movement potential are just so different that my GameCube muscle memory has failed. It doesn't feel improved, just different.

Side shows

The game includes a variety of "party games" from the history of the series. These mini-games range from the more traditional ones like Monkey Bowling and Monkey Soccer to the more unusual ones like Monkey Dogfight and Monkey Boat. The quality of the games also ranges from pretty good to terrible. Monkey billiards is a lot of fun and the A.I. is strong enough to keep you going. It also includes a new user interface that will help you aim your shot better than ever. Monkey Baseball, a simplified form of baseball very similar to the Toy Field mode in Super Mario Baseball, is also fun once you master the stiff controls.

The game includes a variety of "party games" from the history of the series. The quality of these mini-games ranges from pretty good to terrible.

On the other hand, Monkey Boat is terrible. Despite HD and 4K upscaling, the water textures retain the transparency of the GameCube era and the courses are boring in both graphics and gameplay. Monkey Target takes away all of the fun of the original by skewing the controls to the point where it is almost impossible to land on the targets, which above all makes it a frustrating exercise. Most of the other games are just … fine. Many of them now contain archaic, meter-based mechanics for determining strength that feel antiquated in the era of motion control.

Sonic stands triumphantly next to some rings in the Storm world.

When you are tired of the main story and party games, you can spend a little time decorating your monkey and trying out new modes. The game features a large number of playable characters from Sega history, including Sonic and Tails, Kazyma Kiryu from Yakuza, and Beat from Jet Set Radio. There are a variety of costumes and ball styles that can be purchased with points earned through the main game and party games. The shop also sells unique stages that come with different modes that do everything from reversing the starting point and destination area of ​​the stages to converting the normally scoring bananas into items to avoid.

Banana Mania is pretty generous with its points: I was able to buy pretty much anything I wanted in the store simply by playing a couple of the main story worlds and each of the party games once. The costumes are cute and I like to customize my monkey.

The devil is in the details

In many places the game has made a conscious decision to optimize or adapt details from the original Monkey Ballgames, especially when it comes to the sound. While some of the sound effects are nostalgic, others have been removed altogether – why doesn't there make a sound when your monkey's ball is moving extremely fast? The speaker's voice is also a bit annoying, but it has never been Monkey Ball's forte. (Why is "foul" pronounced like "foal" in Monkey Baseball ?!) One thing that was the show's strong point was totally botched here: the music. Banana Mania's soundtrack is absolutely memorable and pales in comparison to the funky grooves of the original Super Monkey Ball. Do yourself a favor and get the Original Soundtrack DLC for $ 5.

One thing that was the show's strong point was totally botched here: the music.

You'd think that in an HD remake it would make sense to upgrade the original game's environments to at least the standard of today's Switch games, but the environments look the same as in the original game, only sharper. In many cases this means that part of my screen has been taken up by a huge HD area of ​​relative nothing. I would have loved to see more details, or at least some upgrades, to the 20 year old Super Monkey Ball worlds of Monkey Mall and Desert, but they look essentially the same, and that's not a great thing.

Baby is floating through a plane.

Our opinion

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania should include everything fans love about the series: skill-based difficulty, great music, fun mini-games, and excellent replayability with a good group of friends by your side. Unfortunately, this collection feels like a hasty remake that throws the precise controls and stellar music of the original tracks overboard. The charm and fun gameplay of the original games are still there, but this remake doesn't feel like a huge improvement over the classics.

How long it will take?

Super Monkey Ball games are infinitely repeatable and Banana Mania is no exception. The game features online leaderboards and time leaderboards, which means that players who really want to get the best of times will have plenty to do. Those who are less competitive are better off sticking to local multiplayer of party games.

Is there an alternative?

If you're looking for newer levels, Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz is available for Nintendo Switch. If you want to experience the original stages in all their arcade glory, check your local retro game store for a copy of Super Monkey Ball or Super Monkey Ball 2.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. If you're new to the series and want to try it out (or don't own a GameCube or Wii), Banana Mania is worth a try, if only to experience the original stages and music. But if you've never been curious, this imperfect remake of the series isn't going to sell you.

Editor's recommendations



29 Sep
Blog

Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania Won’t Make You Go Ape

GonGon rolls over a stage full of bananas.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania

RRP $ 40.00

"Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania is a welcome but imprecise remake that lacks detail."

advantages

  • High resolution graphics

  • Lots of customization options

  • New modes and ways to play

  • Classic soundtrack available as DLC

disadvantage

  • Stages without details

  • Shaky controls

  • Unforgettable story and soundtrack

  • Some weak party games

While 20 years have passed since the original Super Monkey Ball was released, the game remains true to its arcade roots. That coin-op influence is still felt in Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania, the franchise's newest installment.

Banana Mania is an "extended" HD remake for PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X / S. It brings together all of the courses from the first three games in the series: Super Monkey Ball, Super Monkey Ball 2, and Super Monkey Ball Deluxe, the last of which was just a compilation of the first two games, effectively making Banana Mania a compilation of a compilation. The game was developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku, a Sega-affiliated development team with strong ties to Amusement Visions (the developer of the original game) and published by Sega.

I went to Banana Mania and I was expecting the best. Super Monkey Ball was a staple of my childhood: spending long hours huddled around the TV with my younger sister, handing the controller back and forth as we tried to torment our way through the expert level. We yelled at each other as we blew our monkeys up in Monkey Race and pushed each other off the stage in Monkey Fight. We both played the original game so many times that at this point it was mostly muscle memory. In stark contrast, I mostly played Banana Mania alone, curled up on my sofa, trying to figure out each phase for myself.

While the game is undeniably Monkey Ball, it felt like Monkey Ball through a filter: warped and just different enough to get me off my game. It's more of a chore than a fun flashback.

The main attraction

Banana Mania draws its narrative and many of its stages from the Super Monkey Ball Deluxe story mode. The friendly monkeys AiAi, MeeMee, GonGon and Baby just want to enjoy some bananas, but the nefarious Dr. Bad-Boon steals them all and sends the monkeys on a journey through the world of the game to get their yellow fruits back. The story plays a much smaller role than in Deluxe; There is no dialogue and very little actual story content. It's more of a disgustingly cute loose thread that connects the game's themed worlds. After seeing the first short cutscenes, I wanted to skip them and just get on with the stages. Narrative is not really a strong (or necessary) part of Monkey Ball. The complete courses of Monkey Balls 1 and 2 are also considered part of the main game and are referred to as "Challenges".

AiAi tries to avoid a rotten banana in Dark Banana Mode.

The gameplay retains the arcade-like, point-oriented feel of the original titles while doing a few tweaks to ensure Banana Mania doesn't look like it was ripped out of an arcade cabinet. I no longer had to worry about using up my entire life or losing my points after falling off a stage too many times, which made things easier. The stages range from frustratingly satisfying to simply frustrating: nothing compares to that Dark Souls-like feeling when you finally make it through a difficult period, but most of the time you just want to spam the new helper mode or use points to skip stages. The game aims to remove many of the frustrations that come with getting stuck at a certain stage, but make no mistake, Banana Mania is just as tough as the other games in the series.

It doesn't feel improved, just different.

Even so, the harshness often feels unfair. Much of Deluxe's ​​time-based level design won't hold up in 2021, and the new levels are tricky rather than challenging. The controls feel both too stiff and too sensitive, and fighting the camera was often more difficult than actually completing a level. The challenge courses of Monkey Balls 1 and 2 feel mostly the same, but the physics and movement potential are just so different that my GameCube muscle memory has failed. It doesn't feel improved, just different.

Side shows

The game includes a variety of "party games" from the history of the series. These mini-games range from the more traditional ones like Monkey Bowling and Monkey Soccer to the more unusual ones like Monkey Dogfight and Monkey Boat. The quality of the games also ranges from pretty good to terrible. Monkey billiards is a lot of fun and the A.I. is strong enough to keep you going. It also includes a new user interface that will help you aim your shot better than ever. Monkey Baseball, a simplified form of baseball very similar to the Toy Field mode in Super Mario Baseball, is also fun once you master the stiff controls.

The game includes a variety of "party games" from the history of the series. The quality of these mini-games ranges from pretty good to terrible.

On the other hand, Monkey Boat is terrible. Despite HD and 4K upscaling, the water textures retain the transparency of the GameCube era and the courses are boring in both graphics and gameplay. Monkey Target takes away all of the fun of the original by skewing the controls to the point where it is almost impossible to land on the targets, which above all makes it a frustrating exercise. Most of the other games are just … fine. Many of them now contain archaic, meter-based mechanics for determining strength that feel antiquated in the era of motion control.

Sonic stands triumphantly next to some rings in the Storm world.

When you are tired of the main story and party games, you can spend a little time decorating your monkey and trying out new modes. The game features a large number of playable characters from Sega history, including Sonic and Tails, Kazyma Kiryu from Yakuza, and Beat from Jet Set Radio. There are a variety of costumes and ball styles that can be purchased with points earned through the main game and party games. The shop also sells unique stages that come with different modes that do everything from reversing the starting point and destination area of ​​the stages to converting the normally scoring bananas into items to avoid.

Banana Mania is pretty generous with its points: I was able to buy pretty much anything I wanted in the store simply by playing a couple of the main story worlds and each of the party games once. The costumes are cute and I like to customize my monkey.

The devil is in the details

In many places the game has made a conscious decision to optimize or adapt details from the original Monkey Ballgames, especially when it comes to the sound. While some of the sound effects are nostalgic, others have been removed altogether – why doesn't there make a sound when your monkey's ball is moving extremely fast? The speaker's voice is also a bit annoying, but it has never been Monkey Ball's forte. (Why is "foul" pronounced like "foal" in Monkey Baseball ?!) One thing that was the show's strong point was totally botched here: the music. Banana Mania's soundtrack is absolutely memorable and pales in comparison to the funky grooves of the original Super Monkey Ball. Do yourself a favor and get the Original Soundtrack DLC for $ 5.

One thing that was the show's strong point was totally botched here: the music.

You'd think that in an HD remake it would make sense to upgrade the original game's environments to at least the standard of today's Switch games, but the environments look the same as in the original game, only sharper. In many cases this means that part of my screen has been taken up by a huge HD area of ​​relative nothing. I would have loved to see more details, or at least some upgrades, to the 20 year old Super Monkey Ball worlds of Monkey Mall and Desert, but they look essentially the same, and that's not a great thing.

Baby is floating through a plane.

Our opinion

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania should include everything fans love about the series: skill-based difficulty, great music, fun mini-games, and excellent replayability with a good group of friends by your side. Unfortunately, this collection feels like a hasty remake that throws the precise controls and stellar music of the original tracks overboard. The charm and fun gameplay of the original games are still there, but this remake doesn't feel like a huge improvement over the classics.

How long it will take?

Super Monkey Ball games are infinitely repeatable and Banana Mania is no exception. The game features online leaderboards and time leaderboards, which means that players who really want to get the best of times will have plenty to do. Those who are less competitive are better off sticking to local multiplayer of party games.

Is there an alternative?

If you're looking for newer levels, Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz is available for Nintendo Switch. If you want to experience the original stages in all their arcade glory, check your local retro game store for a copy of Super Monkey Ball or Super Monkey Ball 2.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. If you're new to the series and want to try it out (or don't own a GameCube or Wii), Banana Mania is worth a try, if only to experience the original stages and music. But if you've never been curious, this imperfect remake of the series isn't going to sell you.

Editor's recommendations



05 Aug
Blog

Oura Ring Review: You Won’t Want to Take it Off

The Oura ring on a finger, seen from behind.

Oura Ring Review: Smart Jewelry That You Won't Want To Take Off Again

RRP $ 399.00

"The Oura ring is a stylish piece of jewelry for tracking sleep and basic daily activities made from high quality materials that is easy to wear and charge."

advantages

  • Light and comfortable to wear

  • Detailed, informative sleep tracking

  • Long battery life by simply charging

  • Stylish, with a choice of finishes

  • Well designed app

disadvantage

  • Limited activity tracking

  • Expensive compared to other fitness wearables

I've never got on so well with rings. In the end, I always took them off and stowed them away safely, either because they got annoying or it was just a matter of time before I took them off and forgot where I put them. When asked if I would like to review the Oura ring, the same concerns crossed my mind, but this chic piece of jewelry was too tempting to stop by.

It's a fascinating piece of wearable technology. Small and relatively inconspicuous, it doesn't take up valuable wrist space that I could fill with the watch of my choice. In terms of functionality, however, it's pretty light and also more expensive than many far more feature-rich smartwatches and fitness bands. After trying the Oura ring, did it stay on my finger?

design

The Oura ring has been in my possession for a month and I still wear it every day. For a jewelry-based piece of wearable technology that I never really got started with, this comes as a surprise, and proof that the Oura ring is a lot "stickier" than I expected. However, the decision to buy an Oura ring is a little more complicated than just buying a smartwatch because it is not a universal product.

The Oura ring from the side on a finger.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Knowing your ring size will help you in the beginning, but Oura will send you a set of pacifier rings in different sizes to try on before you buy. I found two sizes that fit and the recommendation is to buy the largest that will fit. I did that and the end product is never too tight, even with hot hands, doesn't really sweat and actually fits on my index finger and thumb when I feel like a change.

I opted for the Heritage Oura ring with a flat top in a stealth finish versus the balance version, which instead tapers to a point. It's made of titanium with a PVD coating and is very light at around 5 grams, and the matte color here isn't as noticeable as the silver or gold alternatives. The choice of design and workmanship makes the Oura ring unisex, which is very welcome. Its lightness would make it disappear on your finger if it weren't for the 2.55 mm thickness of the tape itself. I wear it on my middle finger and can feel it on both sides of my fingers. It's not uncomfortable, but you always know it's there.

The Oura ring.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

This makes it noticeable along with the ring's width of 7.9mm. Whichever design or finish you choose, the Oura ring is easy to spot and will likely dominate all of the other more delicate rings on your fingers. I've worn it day and night for the past month. That is, when I'm working, washing dishes, gardening, and most other chores. He doesn't care about water, the finish is scratch-free and ugly streaks are quickly wiped away. I also had no issues with it on my skin, aided by Oura with a non-allergenic, non-metallic liner on the inside of the ring.

Obviously I haven't lost it yet, but sometimes I forget to put it back on, which results in me looking for it when I realize it's not on my finger. I would love to see some sort of "Find my Oura Ring" feature, but I understand that this is difficult to implement due to the lack of sound or vibration on the ring itself.

The Oura ring on a finger, seen from above.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

How has the Oura developed overall as a mostly non-ring bearer? It wasn't a problem. It's much less annoying than a watch overnight, and if it's a little uncomfortable with hot hands, it only needs to be removed for a few seconds to make my finger feel better. The downsides come with size as it bumps into things, you can feel it when you grab something, and I found it best to take it off to wash the car in case it was at risk of scratching the body.

That being said, the Oura ring has become a part of my hand and I doubt I'll take it off even after I finish my review. Am I satisfied with my choice of finish? Yes, but now that I'm used to wearing it, I almost wish I had chosen the glossy black version for a bit more visual appeal. When buying the Oura ring, do not proceed like buying a tech device, but rather as a piece of jewelry, is my advice.

Sensors and app

The Oura Ring is primarily a sleep tracker that only provides basic insights into your daily activities. If you want to keep an overview of your health and all of your workouts in detail, then you should also use a smartwatch or a fitness band. I wore it paired with an iPhone 12 Pro and the app is pulling data from Apple Health (or Google Fit with an Android phone). This means that if your training is tracked with an Apple Watch, this data will be taken into account.

The sensors of the Oura ring.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Wear it all day and the ring will record steps, calories, and activity time. It also helps the sensors monitor your baselines. It understands movement and in the app you can add a tag to any workout it shows during the day, it also records steps and displays them in the app. I've found that it tends to overestimate the step count when compared to a smartwatch. It doesn't offer real-time heart rate monitoring, the ability to track a workout, or blood oxygen measurement, and it doesn't offer features like contactless payment.

You don't have to do anything at night, just go to sleep as usual. It uses a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor to read your heart rate and breathing, a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) sensor to read your body temperature, and an accelerometer to monitor movement. All the data is collected and compiled in Oura's app, and since the ring is not displayed, you will need to open it to see your stats.

The sensors of the Oura ring.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Sleep is broken down into efficiency, rest, sleep stages, latency, and timing. It reports the length of your sleep, your heart rate, and heart rate variability (HRV) and creates ongoing detailed trends based on all of these. Each section is given a rating and it's clear when something is wrong with the graph lines changing from blue to orange. Tap on any of these sections to learn more about what they mean.

Tracking and accuracy

You will receive a sleep and readiness score every day after the app has rated your activity and sleep. The readiness score shows how “ready” you are for the day, while the sleep score shows how restful and restful your night was. The main screen of the app is focused on these stats and you can easily ignore the rest of the stats and just look at these two and get a good idea of ​​your overall health every day.

I found the data from the Oura ring and its trends to be very interesting, and there is a decent amount of advice available, although it is mostly based on readiness rather than correcting sleep problems. For example, I like when I suggest that I take a break from too much activity when I've been busy and haven't had enough sleep. It seems obvious, but the reassurance is nice. But you are more on your own when you sleep, simply because correcting sleep problems is not easy.

What about the accuracy? I also use a Withings Sleep Analyzer under the mattress and the two always track my heart rate and record my deep sleep, but the Oura ring keeps saying I'm not getting enough REM sleep, while the Withings usually shows that i get twice the amount of REM sleep than the oura ring. The advice the Oura ring gives on this is too general to be helpful, especially since I am already doing what it suggests, but this applies to most sleep trackers.

I find the dates of the Oura ring and its trends very interesting

I like the way the Oura always understands when I wake up early in the morning and don't get up straight away, which the Withings are still recording when I sleep. This makes the overall statistics more accurate. However, the Oura ring sometimes thinks I wake up at night when I definitely don't. Finally, I cherish the memories of relaxing a few hours before bed, something based on your personal timing trends. It sounds like a mixed bag here, but it isn't. The data is presented in an appealing and logical way, the trending reporting is comprehensive, the connection and synchronization were absolutely solid, and the help it offers is largely informative and helpful.

Battery and charging

You place the Oura ring on its own little charging pedestal, which is designed so that the sensors snap it into place and make sure it doesn't slip and charge.

The Oura ring on its charging station.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The battery is good for a week before it is close to zero, but the recommendation is to keep the battery between about 40% and 80% charged. I've found that putting the ring on the charger every other day or so while showering and getting ready in the morning works really well. This will charge it without interrupting its use.

Price and availability

You can buy the Oura ring from Oura's own online shop. The Stealth Heritage model shown here is $ 399, as is the gold version, but the black or silver models are $ 299. The Balance model is available in black or silver for $ 299. The ring size set can be ordered for free, and we recommend that you do so.

Our opinion

As a technical masterpiece, the Oura ring is extremely impressive. It wasn't long ago that such a small, perfectly shaped portable device with a battery that lasts a week would have been impossible, let alone so reliably and polished to produce. It's not entirely inconspicuous on my finger, but it's not far away and the cool design makes me happy to wear it all the time. The Oura ring is a success as wearable technical jewelry.

I found the deep sleep and simple activity tracking data interesting, informative, and a good insight into my habits. The slight lack of actionable advice is forgivable, and it's still much more than basic fitness bands offer. Either my Withings Sleep Analyzer or the Oura Ring are wrong about my REM sleep, which isn't really a black mark on the Oura and instead makes me question the reliability of the data from sleep trackers in general.

The Oura ring is a success as wearable technical jewelry

Perhaps the biggest hurdle for me to wholeheartedly recommend the Oura ring is that it is expensive for a really companion device. For a complete picture of your health and true fitness tracking, you must also wear a smartwatch or fitness band. When Huawei's excellent TruSleep system is available on the feature-rich Honor Band 6, which costs around $ 50, the $ 399 Oura ring suddenly looks like a hard sale.

But that's the wrong way to think about the Oura ring. It's a high-tech gem with the benefit of sleep and movement tracking, and not a top fitness tracker that happens to look like a ring. The technology it offers is excellent and the app is very well designed so you will never feel like it is missing, but you need to be aware of its limitations.

Interesting to me is that before wearing the Oura ring I probably wouldn't have bothered about it that much, but after a month I got used to seeing and feeling it, appreciate the insights it gives and have become pretty much attached to it. I plan to keep wearing it, and like all the best wearables – high tech or otherwise – it's a decision based on both how it looks and feels and what it actually does.

Is there a better alternative?

Smart jewelry is still a small niche, and there are very few real alternatives to the Oura ring that are widely available. The smart jewelry from Bellabeat, such as the Bellabeat Leaf, can be worn as a bracelet, necklace or on clothing and is significantly cheaper. However, the design is not unisex. Otherwise, most smart rings focus on contactless payment and not much else.

If you want more fitness and activity tracking capabilities, the better alternative is a smartwatch or fitness band. Almost all of them offer greater functionality and include sleep tracking, and if your budget is $ 400, the choices are huge. We recommend the Apple Watch Series 6 for iPhone owners and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 for Android smartphone owners or the Fitbit Charge 4 or Honor Band 6 if you are only interested in a fitness band.

How long it will take?

If you don't lose it, the Oura ring should last for years. The decisive factor will be the battery, which is obviously very small and, if it wears out, quickly only offers a short service life. However, this is unlikely to happen for a few years and Oura offers a two year warranty on its rings.

Should you buy one?

Yes. If you remember that it is a fancy piece of jewelry rather than a full fitness tracker, then not only will you enjoy wearing it, but you will also benefit from its sleep-related insights.

Editor's recommendations



03 Jan
Blog

Eufy RoboVac G30 Review: Won’t Break the Bank

Eufy robot on the floor

Eufy RoboVac G30 Hybrid Review: This robotic vacuum cleaner isn't going to break the bank

"This is a cute little robotic vacuum cleaner that you can use to keep your home clean without cleaning your wallet first."

  • App informs you when parts need to be serviced

  • Manual remote control for easy cleaning

  • Very comprehensive app

  • Inexpensive for a 2-in-1

  • Questionable brush durability

  • The wiping is a little weak

Finding a good robot vacuum is not difficult. It's harder to find a good one that won't break the bank. Eufy is trying to solve this second problem with its RoboVac G30 Hybrid. I have been testing this robot vacuum for two weeks and am very impressed with what the vacuum offers. It has good suction, a very comprehensive app and talks to you.

The $ 379 Eufy RoboVac G30 Hybrid, which our daughter named "Mando" because it looks a bit like Mandalorian armor, definitely does the job as efficiently as possible. This is demonstrated by the exact back and forth pattern it follows across the floor. I can appreciate this simplicity. The Bissell Spinwave follows its own algorithms that defy logic. Not this one.

Set everything up

The Eufy Spin brush may not last long

The setup is similar to most robot vacuum cleaners. Find a place free of obstacles, put down the charging mat and lock the charging stand. As with other robotic vacuum cleaners, you should leave plenty of space on both sides. I didn't and like other vacuum cleaners it worked just fine. The vacuum cleaner can clean my 172 square foot family room / office in about 34 minutes.

On the bottom is a single three-pronged spin brush that sweeps dirt into the path of the vacuum. Due to my two weeks of use, I am concerned about the longevity of the spin brush. My office has low-pile carpets and the brush looks a bit disturbed. The Eufy Home app, which we will get into in more detail later, has a useful feature that reminds you when to clean or replace various components. According to the app, I have to replace my side brush within 247 hours. I am not optimistic that it will take that long.

The vacuum hardware itself is very attractive and unobtrusive. The top is made of very shiny plastic with a neat pinstripe pattern. At just 2.85 inches high, the vacuum fits easily under my couch and the step plates in my kitchen. There is a single sided sweeper on the right and a trash can on the back. The vacuum cleaner also includes an attachable mop accessory that falls under the garbage can.

Wiping is too short

The wiping function is just fine. The attachment under the garbage can doesn't have much space for water, but it covered my kitchen well. In contrast to the Bissell Spinwave, however, the mop head does not move and does not move. It just pulls itself behind the vacuum. The mop is also designed for water only, which is similar to most robotic vacuum cleaners, but again different from the Spinwave, which actually comes with wiping agent in the box. The smaller mop head keeps the original trash can in place. So if you have a dusty, dirty floor, you can run the vacuum as usual and pick up the same amount of dirt. But honestly, I probably won't be using the mopping function anymore because you need more than just water on a high-traffic floor like a kitchen.

This is a good, solid vacuum cleaner that will clean your floors and carpets well.

The vacuum also comes with magnetic strips that you can use to block areas where you don't want the robot to travel. That's not really ideal. My office is carpeted and I really don't want to put tape over the carpet. In general, putting tape on the floor to cordon off certain areas is a thorn in the side. I prefer to put a board over the threshold to my son's room as I can just slide it away later.

The vacuum has a speaker and gives verval warnings and status updates which is very nice. Some vacuums use a series of beeps to alert you to problems. A vacuum speaking to you removes any doubts about what is wrong. It's a nice touch.

software

The app for the vacuum is just as nice. Since I mentioned above, I'll start with the fact that the app will notify you when it's time to swap out components or order new parts. In addition to the side brush, you will be informed about the roller brush, the filter, the sensors and the rubber strip. That is a core function. Robotic vacuums run on their own, so it's harder to tell when something isn't working as it should. In all honesty, all robotic vacuums should have this built into their apps.

You can also schedule cleans, adjust the suction and voice settings, and even use your phone as a remote control to get the vacuum where you want it. It can also do spot cleaning and show you the layout that the vacuum created for itself. This isn't particularly useful data, but it's fun to look at.

Our opinion

This is a really solid buy at $ 379. It's one of the cheapest robotic vacuums out there, and it has a wide variety of features that are usually offered at higher prices. The vacuum cleaner does a good job on my office carpet and a slightly better job on the tile floor of my kitchen. Overall, I have no complaints about how it does its job. I just want a better option for locking certain areas.

Is there a better alternative?

A better alternative is hard to imagine at this price. High-quality models of robotic vacuum cleaners such as the Roomba s9 + have self-emptying trash cans. For a little extra cash, you can opt for something like the Roborock S5, which also comes with wiping accessories and has more advanced sensors.

Will it take?

The build-up of the total vacuum is fixed. I ask the app's estimate of how long the side brushes will last, but that's about the only question mark I have when it comes to durability. Side brushes are $ 10 for a pack of 4, so I'm not too worried about that. Eufy robotic vacuum cleaners come with a 12-month guarantee and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Should I buy it?

Yes. This is a good solid vacuum cleaner that will clean your floors and carpets well. I like the voice and remote capabilities, and maintenance reminders in the app are perfect for me. Now all we need is one in green so we can call it Grogu.

Editor's recommendations




23 Jul
Blog

Grado Hemp Headphones Review: An Audio High You Won’t Forget

Grado Labs Hemp Headphones Rating 1

Hemp headphones from Grado Labs

"It's hard to imagine that headphones look better or sound better."

  • Amazingly detailed sound

  • Precise and clear compensation

  • Nice wood design

  • Comfortable for long listening sessions

  • Strong quality control

  • Some rough surfaces

  • Open design limits usability

  • Restrained bass reproduction

Grado Labs made headlines with its affordable hemp headphones for $ 420. When John Grado explained to me why hemp is an excellent material for making headphones, I was curious to hear the results for myself.

Now that I have done it, I am beginning to understand the complex tone of coziness and seriousness that I heard from Grado during this interview. Hemp may seem like a gimmick, but the performance of these cans is no joke.

No frills, classic design

There is not much to consider with the functions of the Grado Hemp headphones. They are refreshingly simple. Plug them in and they work. The hemp headphones come in a discreet white box with a letter from the Grado family.

These open-ended wired monitors consist of only two parts – the headphones themselves and a 3.5mm to 6.35mm adapter, which I immediately detached from the end of the cable and placed in a drawer because I didn't have any Playing the electric guitar or not recording in the studio.

After using over-ears with a single cable that ran from one side for years, it initially felt strange to put on the hemp headphones. They throw you back to a time when cables were king and every headset needed them.

Jaron Schneider / Digital Trends

Speaking of cables, the cables are particularly thick with the hemp headphones. Compared to my Sony MDR-7506 studio monitors, they are about twice the size and not wrapped. If I don't wind the cable, I won't get it nearly as much as my MDRs, but the cable is incredibly long.

I understand why Grado contains so much wire, but there is a lot of cable to find a place and it usually ends up in my lap. Plus, the added cable has a certain weight, and although it's not that much of a nuisance, I've definitely noticed it compared to other wired headphones.

The ear cups are simple. Nowadays, you generally see some kind of leather or leather-like material wrapped around memory foam, but Grado chooses a material that they have chosen specifically because it works with the drivers to produce sound. In this case it is a simple, classic foam. It feels a little rough, but the headphones breathe well and are good for long listening sessions, provided you don't move them a lot.

I do not recommend exchanging them, although you can. I switched it to the "more typical" leather foam as a test, and the audio quality dropped dramatically. Grado knows what it does when it selects materials.

The details

The outstanding feature of the hemp headphones is of course the hemp. Because of the way they had to mix it to make the material work like normal wood, the grain of each headset appears unique. The two-tone circular wooden swirls are beautiful from afar and up close. The ear cups attract your eyes and keep them there.

Jaron Schneider / Digital Trends

This is good because other parts of the headset are not quite as sophisticated. The joints that connect the hemp and maple earphones to the headband are made of plastic and are not completely smooth. If you've ever designed a model that requires you to pull the parts out of a plastic sheet, you know what I mean when I say that there are edges and slight bumps that you can feel when you run your finger over them .

Jaron Schneider / Digital Trends

In addition, the mesh that separates the driver from your ear is somewhat frayed and imperfect.

Jaron Schneider / Digital Trends

In short, it looks like this headset was assembled by hand. What it was. I can't blame them too much for that, but since the hemp headphones cost $ 420, I should mention that most of that cost doesn't apply to some of the non-audio parts.

That doesn't mean they're overpriced. No, they are worth every penny.

An incomparable listening experience

I've always been a headphone junkie, so I have a lot of experience of how music sounds from a variety of sources. Despite this experience, I wasn't prepared for what the hemp headphones sounded like.

I sat motionless for about 15 minutes when I let Tidal play a series of songs based on an artist I like (The Decemberists, for those who are wondering). While it was run by artists I didn't know and tracks I had never heard, it didn't matter. I feel with these Grado headphones.

I heard the nuances of the vocals, the melody, every single instrument and the nice mix of everyone who came together. The reproduction is both different and mixed. It's a beautiful audio paradox that I'm still trying to turn my head around.

But I can hear everything and it almost brought me to tears. I heard not only with my ears, but also with my heart.

I feel with these Grado headphones.

With the Grado I have the feeling that at a concert I pressed my ear to each Soundstage speaker at the same time, but without being limited to my unique physical existence (and blowing out my hearing). I played drums in a band and this music makes me feel like I'm back on the top of the stage.

Jaron Schneider / Digital Trends

Speaking of volume, these can be loud. Given the fact that the hemp headphones really produce excellent audio, it can be tempting to really increase this volume, which seems to improve in quality when I press it up. Keep in mind that if you press it too loudly for too long, you can really damage your hearing.

I think the best way to describe how the sound sounds is in one word: balance. I claim that music in highs, mids or lows shouldn't be too strong. Sure, booming bass may sound good, but too much bass overwhelms other frequencies and hides too much of the nuance of the music. These hemp headphones are like studio monitors on steroids because they are superbly balanced, offer neutral reproduction and at the same time offer a really outstanding clarity. My Sony MDR-7506 monitors are also balanced, but don't offer the level of detail that the hemp headphones offer.

If you turn my arm, I admit that the Grado's bass isn't quite as strong as I would like it to be, but it could also be because most people are used to overblowing the bass. To be completely honest, I prefer the detail and precision that can be found here.

I think the best way to describe how the sound sounds is in one word: balance.

The hemp headphones have an open style that is praised for their sound quality but not for their sound isolation. To enjoy them to the fullest, you need a quiet room in which you can be alone with your music. Open backs also tend to let out as much sound as they let in. Therefore, they are not suitable for an office environment (not that this will be a big problem in 2020).

Our opinion

The swirling hemp looks beautiful and its implementation in headphones from Grado sounds so good here that it makes your heart beat faster. This is a masterful combination of visual and auditory beauty. The details of the build are not perfect, but it doesn't matter. You will find it hard to find this type of music experience anywhere else, and almost certainly not at a lower price.

Is there a better alternative?

"Better" is subjective here, but there are alternatives. The V-Moda M200 Studio reference monitors are a little cheaper and offer a similar EQ experience, but they don't offer the same expansive sound that we praise Grado for. For much less, the Sony MDR-7506 studio monitors offer the same neutral sound, albeit an overall flatter audio expression in comparison. They honestly don't consider a candle to be audio for hemp headphones, but they are the industry standard, so this has some weight.

How long will they last?

Grado offers a one-year warranty on the hemp headphones, which is pretty standard. Open-back headphones are inherently more fragile than their closed-back brothers. Therefore, treat them with caution. If you do this, they should take a long time.

Should you buy them

Yes. The Grado hemp headphones are absolutely worth the price just for their sound reproduction, and you get the added benefit of a unique hemp wood pattern.

Editor's recommendations