Gadget Explained - Reviews Gadgets Electronics Tech

Jabra Elite 7 Pro Review ANC Buds For Work Calls And Gym Workouts
Tuesday, October 04, 2022

UAG iPhone 14 Pro Max Phone Cases Review Civilian & Pathfinder MagSafe
Friday, September 30, 2022

The iPhone 14 Pro Max is Apple's newest flagship iPhone model that finally delivers "almost" all of the features (e.g. always-on display, swipe-to-wake) iPhone users have been asking for! Such a beautifully crafted master piece needs a beautifully crafted phone case to protect it.

UAG Civilian Case For iPhone 14 Pro Max

The UAG Civilian cases pictured are the MagSafe version (blue) and non-MagSafe (black), which feature impact resistant bumpers and internal cushioning via two layers of shock absorbing material designed to dissipate the force throughout the entire case to reduce the vibration forces created when the phone case impacts a hard surface.

The UAG Civilian phone case without MagSafe is a slightly cheaper because it has no built-in MagSafe magnet; whereas the MagSafe Civilian version has a built-in MagSafe magnet so, it is able to lock onto a MagSafe charger for charging - unlike the older UAG Civilian case for iPhone 13 Pro Max.

The non-MagSafe Civilian case has no MagSafe magnet but, it supports wireless charging. Both Civilian versions (MagSafe and non-MagSafe) have an angled slot to easily access the toggle mute switch. They also have raised bump buttons with slit.

The MagSafe Civilian case back panel integrates a middle hump that allows you to spin the case on a desk. The non-MagSafe Civilian case is flatter - no hump. The non-MagSafe (black) Civilian case weighs 58 grams and feels more rugged than the MagSafe blue Civilian case, which weighs 42 grams.

In terms of construction and materials, the MagSafe blue Civilian case has rubber reinforcements on the top side, bottom side and corners. The raised screen bezel and outer side rim of the case are also rubber. The honeycomb internal panel is made of hard plastic.

The black Civilian case is made of thicker materials. It has thicker reinforcements on the corners, top, bottom and sides. The black and orange honeycomb inner panels are made of rubber.

Potential deal breakers

Slit button design can allow dust ingress
Plastic back panel can easily scratch
Only compatible with iPhone 14 Pro Max - not compatible with the iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro and regular iPhone 14

Selling points for Civilian Series

Available as a MagSafe and Non-MagSafe version
4 colorways
MagSafe charging compatible
Discreet protection
Oversized tactile buttons
Traction side grips
Raised screen bezel
Lanyard mounting points on bottom corners
Raised screen bezel
Limited Lifetime warranty
Above MIL-STD drop rating protection - 20 ft (6 meters)
Matching speaker/port cutouts

UAG Pathfinder Case For iPhone 14 Pro Max

UAG's new Pathfinder cases for the iPhone 14 Pro Max also come with a MagSafe option (black case) and without MagSafe (green). The backside of the Pathfinder case (non-MagSafe and MagSafe) is flat but, due to the height of the rear bezel protection for the rear cameras, the backside of the iPhone 14 Pro Max Pathfinder case is wonky (not flat), causing the phone case to rock on the desk. This is only an issue if you like using the phone on a desk when writing.

The non-MagSafe green Pathfinder case weighs 44 grams and, it is made with green plastic and black rubber materials. The green plastic internal panel is reinforced with black honeycomb textured rubber. The backside panel is mostly plastic with reinforced rubber accents on the corners.

The black Pathfinder case has a rubber raised screen bezel and side edges, while the backpanel and internal panel are plastic. The MagSafe black Pathfinder case weighs 45 grams.

Potential deal breakers

Available only in 1 colorway
Plastic back panel can easily scratch
The edge side of the case is not entirely rubberized
Slit buttons can cause dust ingress
Lower drop protection than the Civilian Series - 18 ft. Drop Protection (5.5 meters)

Selling points for Pathfinder Series

Raised bezel protection for rear cameras
Available as a MagSafe and Non-MagSafe version
Reinforced corner protection
Lanyard mounting points on bottom corners
Matching speaker/port cutouts
Available in 8 colors

UAG link to Civilian Non-MagSafe iPhone 14 Pro Max case / amazon buy link
UAG link to Civilian MagSafe iPhone 14 Pro Max case / amazon buy link
UAG link to Pathfinder MagSafe iPhone 14 Pro Max case / amazon buy link
UAG link to Pathfinder Non-MagSafe iPhone 14 Pro Max case / amazon buy link

Soundcore Sport X10 Review ANC Workout Buds With Rotating Ear Hooks
Thursday, September 29, 2022

Get a secure fit to workout with Soundcore's new Sport X10 - a set of sports earbuds with rotating ear hooks for maximum comfort!

The Sport X10 hook earbuds come with the same flip up charging case design as the Space A40 with the exception of the X10 case lid, which has a tinted semi transparent finish to it. The bath-style docking area makes taking the earbuds out of the case a lot easier. Dimensions of the Sport X10 case are 7cm long, 4.5cm wide and 3cm high and 40 grams in weight. The earbuds weigh 7 grams each.

The Sport X10 hook earbuds are made of hard plastic (body+front panel) with soft siliconized rubber around, including the flexible ear hooks. The nozzle body and swivel hinge are made of red anodized aluminum, while the controls are physical push buttons (no touch controls).

The physical buttons respond well and have a silent actuation but feel a little mushy. On the side of the earbud, there is a metal grille mesh containing an external microphone for ANC, transparency mode and noise cancelling calls.

As far as battery performance, the Sport X10 case takes 2 hours to charge, while the earbuds take 1.5 hours to charge from 0% to 100%. With ANC ON and 60% volume, you can achieve 6 hours of playback (and 8 hours with ANC OFF). The Sport X10 case holds up to 31 hours (ANC OFF) and 23 hours (ANC ON).

The on-board button supports 3 gesture controls: single press, double press and long press, giving you three controls per earbud + calls (answer/end/reject). Controls to choose from include play/pause, volume up, volume down, skip forward, skip backward, ambient sound modes (Normal mode, ANC mode and transparency mode).

There is button remapping available for the double press and long press via the Soundcore app. You can switch the order of the ambient sound modes and select only two options if you don't want all three.

Connection is straightforward, triggering automatic bluetooth pairing when the lid is open. You can switch between earbuds for mono or stereo listening and keep the second earbud inside the case without losing connection (as long as you don't close the lid). Closing the lid powers off the earbuds automatically, taking 4 seconds to re-connect again.

The Sport X10 hook earbuds are also supported by the Soundcore app, which gives you access to 20 preset sound modes, bass boost mode and custom mode to create your own sound signature using the app's built-in 8-band graphic EQ. The Sport X10 drivers have a V shaped sound tuning with clear bass heavy performance and good treble out of the box.

The bass (and sound) can be further tweaked via the app. Speaking of noise, the earbud ANC works well at blocking ambient noises but not quite the same during calls. For casual calls, the mic work well in quite and busy places as long as you don't mind noise leaking into your call.

Potential deal breakers

Bulkier than regular buds - an inherent drawback of all ear hook designs
Uses physical buttons - no touch controls
ANC does not work in mono mode
The Soundcore app does not show battery level for the charging case
Limited button remapping - you can only disable the single press functionality and the single press gesture control cannot be remapped
The buttons are responsive but non-clicky so, they don't feel very tactile
The active noise cancellation is not adjustable like on Space A40 buds and Space Q45 headphones
4 second bluetooth re-connection, which is a bit long delay compared to some earbuds which re connect instantaneously from power off.
No quick charge support
Case does not support wireless charging
No multipoint connection
No on-ear detection
No voice assistant function
They pick up quite a bit of background noise - mic quality is comparable to the Liberty 3 Pro
Same price point as the Space A40 but the X10 app is not as feature rich

Selling points for the Sport X10

IPX7 waterproof resistance
Reassuring earhook fit
Built-in reset button to restore the earbuds to factory settings
Equipped with active noise cancelling - not all hook earbuds have ANC
Backed by the trusted Anker brand
Sleak bud design for workouts
Nature sounds built-in to the Soundcore app
Physical buttons prevents accidental touches.
Perfect for drowning clanking weight noises at the gym
Compact earhook design
Comfortable for a workout session (~2 hours) before ear fatigue kicks in
ANC and transparency modes can be disabled
They stick out of the ears, which is a good safety feature for sport earbuds
Spring loaded charging case lid
The earbuds remain connected whilst in the case with the lid open
Supports SBC and AAC
Battery level for each bud via the Soundcore app
Top mounted on-board button allows you to pinch the bud with the index and thumb and prevent the earbud from jamming your ear canal
Available in 3 colorways

Accessories included with the Sport X10 earbuds are thick bore silicone tips (5 sets) with thin flange and branded charging cable. You can buy the Soundcore Sport X10 from amazon.

Questyle M15 Review USB Dac Amplifier For Smartphones
Wednesday, September 28, 2022

Soundcore Space A40 Review ANC Buds With Game Mode And LDAC
Tuesday, September 27, 2022

UAG BTGF Trucker Hat + Ration Hip Pack Review
Friday, September 23, 2022

Putting celebrity acceptance aside, the classic trucker hat and hip pack have always been in style because they are too darn useful and practical to ever fade into the background!

The trucker hat and hip pack, seen pictured, are the BTGF Trucker Hat and Ration Hip Pack by Urban Armor Gear (UAG). The BTGF Trucker Hat is actually a collab between UAG (phone case manufacturer) and Yupoong (fashion sports brand), making the BTGF Trucker Hat a special edition.

The BTGF Trucker Hat is a 6 panel snapback that features a sandwich bill (a.k.a. peak or visor), 2 eyelets (for ventilation), top button and 6 mesh panels stitched together to form the crown. The side and back mesh panels are plastic (polyester), while the front panels are made of buckram fabric (stiff cotton cloth). The UAG BTGF Trucker Hat uses a plastic adjustable snapback closure and no front panel foam, making the BTGF Trucker Hat more of a hybrid baseball cap snapback with mesh panels.

The BTGF Trucker Hat features a sweatband made of softer cotton fabric with a plastic snapback closure that features 9 adjustable notches for a snug or loser fit. The BTGF Trucker Hat features a Yupoong brand sticker on on the bill and a Yupoong engraving on the backside of the snap closure. The UAG logo has been embroidered (sewn) on to the front panel with lovely fiery orange stitching and features UAG's slogan ("Built To Go Further 2012"). Interesting enough, the "established 2012" year was also the year that Ford released their "Go Further" brand message.

Another fun fact about the trucker hat is that it was used by truck drivers, ranchers and farmers to advertise their suppliers for free.Trucker caps are cooler (literary) than baseball caps, which are made entirely of non-mesh fabric. The mesh panels makes the UAG BTGF Trucker Hat more breathable to use in a hot day or whilst exercising (e.g. running, gym, hiking, etc). Another noticeable difference between the trucker Hat and baseball cap is the fit.

The UAG BTGF Trucker Hat has a broader front panel that makes the fit more comfortable and looser than the typical narrow front panel of a baseball cap. Thanks to the mesh panels, the UAG BTGF Trucker Hat is also more lightweight (70 grams) to wear than a baseball cap, which typically weighs 100 grams.

Potential deal breakers

Not as rugged and durable as a baseball cap
Has no foam which is a classic trademark of a trucker hat
Single plastic snap closure not as durable as the fabric snap buckle closure of a lot of baseball caps
Features an itchy style clothing tag on the sweatband. It's really itchy but some people find them a real nuisance.
Limited colors - available only in black and army colorways

Selling points for the BTGF Trucker Hat

Utilitarian look and feel
Celeb appeal makes the BTGF Trucker Hat more appealing to fashionistas
Can be used just like a baseball cap to keep sun and rain away from eyes
Flexible visor (peak) lets you mould it into a triangle, round shape or square, depending on the fashion statement you're after
Can be worn sideways or backwards for an urban hip hop look
Looks like a trucker hat, feels like a baseball cap
Universal fit of adjustable closure
Helps you hide a bad hair day
Feels like it will last a long time

The second item on this review is the UAG Ration Hip Pack - a dual purpose carry bag solution that doubles as a modern cross-body bag and good old fashioned waist bag. There is no naming convention regarding waist bag. In fact, there is about a dozen or so names people use to refer to it such as fanny pack, waist wallet, belt bag, belly bag, chaos pouch, buffalo pouch, hip sack, butt pack and moon bag.

The UAG Ration Hip Pack outershell is made of thick (840D) polyester fabric material and lined with thinner blue liner fabric. On the front section of the Ration Hip Pack integrates a double layered webbing strap with a passthrough daisy chain design for hooking things externally. A UAG fabric tag sewn in the centre of it.

The main waist strap is made of slightly thicker webbing material and cannot be detached. It is tethered to the sides of the Ration Hip Pack via a single-step ladderlock. The waist strap integrates a large plastic fastening buckle (KnickKnack branded), as well as an adjustable ladderlock to manage the length around the waist. Fully retracted, the waist strap measures 57cm long. Fully extended, it measures 100cm (1 meter long). The UAG Ration Hip Pack has two external pockets and one internal back facing open pocket with a fabric fly over, which neatly conceals the pocket. It is non-zippered but the fly works well at keeping the items from falling out of it.

The external pockets are both zippered and feature fabric cord pull tabs and hidden teeth, which offers some water resistance but not a lot since the zippers are not waterproof. The front facing external pocket has a narrow opening and opens up via a single metal slider. The pocket measures 15cm high and 12cm long with an outward depth of 5cm.

The top loading external pocket is the roomiest with the largest volume capacity. It has a wide horseshoe style opening via dual metal sliders, which run side to side half way down. The dimensions of the top external pocket are 24cm long, 15cm high and 11cm deep (outward).

The UAG Ration Hip Pack weighs 230 grams - about the same as a smartphone - and has compact external dimensions (34cm long x 17cm high x 3cm thick), making it very easy to transport inside another bag.

Potential deal breakers

No zippered pocket on back panel
Non-removable waist strap
Non-pvc coated zippers for waterproofing
The outershell fabric has no DWR treatment for water resistance
Generic no-name zippers
Seen as unfashionable, dorky

Selling points for the Ration Hip Pack

2-in-1 solution - can be worn around the waist or across the chest like cross-body sling bag
Light colored liner brightens the interior, making it easier to find your gear.
Useful front facing daisy chain provides additional external storage
Internal secret pocket
More convent to access your things (with both hands) than a backpack
Straps to the waist or across the chest closer to body than a backpack
Does not stick out like a backpack
Utilitarian appeal of practicality
Perfect for travel and festivals
Nice hip pack for MTB (mountain biking) and gravel
Useful when wearing tight clothing (e.g. cycling shorts/jersey)
Better way to keep your EDC (everyday carry) together than in trouser pockets
1 year limited warranty

You can buy the BTGF Trucker Hat and buy the Ration Hip Pack from Urban Armor Gear website.

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