callmeageeth
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- First ReviewJune 23, 2014
- Last ReviewOctober 12, 2026
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- First AnswerOctober 20, 2014
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DESLOC V150 Plus is a self-charging solar smart lock built for secure, low-maintenance front door access. Designed around solar-powered convenience, it helps reduce battery anxiety while keeping a 10,000mAh backup lithium battery and Type-C emergency power port available for extra peace of mind. V150 Plus combines 3D face recognition with liveness detection, a curved surface fingerprint sensor and smart app control for flexible keyless entry. The lock is designed to recognize users quickly and securely, while offering multiple access options for family members, guests and daily routines. A magnetic smart door sensor provides real-time door status, instant alerts and auto-lock on close, helping users confirm whether the door is properly secured. Built with IP65 weather resistance and BHMA Grade 3 durability, V150 Plus is made for everyday residential use across changing weather conditions. Its modern black finish and advanced biometric access make it a strong hero product for consumers looking for a smart lock that combines security, convenience and long battery life.
Terrific lock with peace of mind
Customer Rating
5.0
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I have to say, so far, this is one of the best smart home devices I’ve used. There are many smart locks out there, with August being one of the first to the market. That’s the device I was replacing with the Desloc. My old August lock was fine, it looked good, and when it worked, it worked well. But it required 4 AA batteries and a wireless adapter plugged in nearby. I can’t tell you how many times it would die on me (the batteries needed to be replaced every few months) and without a notification. And the Wi-Fi connection was spotty. Frankly, it was unreliable (others might have a different experience). While I haven’t had this lock long enough to truly test out the battery functions, it’s performance thus far has been superb and if I can get at least a few more months usage without charging/changing batteries, I’ll be extremely happy.
IN THE BOX
I’ll get to it in a moment, but the installation was an absolute breeze, in large part to the packaging itself. The box is smartly designed with everything labeled. You’ll find little boxes with labels such as “battery” “accessories” “deadbolt and keys.” This smart design choice just makes it so much easier when putting everything together.
I’ll get to it in a moment, but the installation was an absolute breeze, in large part to the packaging itself. The box is smartly designed with everything labeled. You’ll find little boxes with labels such as “battery” “accessories” “deadbolt and keys.” This smart design choice just makes it so much easier when putting everything together.
But included is everything you possibly need - with a few little replacement parts. There’s the lock (which comes in two pieces if your unfamiliar), the battery, deadbolt, striker, a set of keys, and all the screws you need.
INSTALLATION
The physical installation process was dead simple (this assumes you’re replacing a lock or otherwise have doors with predrilled holes, which most do). I unscrewed my old lock - leaving only the strikeplate from my old lock. Following the instructions I easily installed the deadbolt, affixing it with the included screws, and then placing the lock on the door. A few screws later, and plugging in the cord to connect the front to the back, it was firmly attached to my door. Then you simply affix the magnetic guide to the door frame (which the lock uses to tell if the door is open or not).
The physical installation process was dead simple (this assumes you’re replacing a lock or otherwise have doors with predrilled holes, which most do). I unscrewed my old lock - leaving only the strikeplate from my old lock. Following the instructions I easily installed the deadbolt, affixing it with the included screws, and then placing the lock on the door. A few screws later, and plugging in the cord to connect the front to the back, it was firmly attached to my door. Then you simply affix the magnetic guide to the door frame (which the lock uses to tell if the door is open or not).
The only minor complaint was when I got to the point of putting the battery in, I was finally told in the instructions to fully charge it before using it. To make sure it was full charged, I let it charge overnight.
APP SETUP
I downloaded the Desloc app without issue. The setup process there was pretty simple. Once the battery was charged and installed, I was able to locate the lock within the app on my phone via Bluetooth. I then connected it to the Wi-Fi. At this point, I tested the auto-locking feature, basically making sure the deadbolt opened and closed without issue (in some older doors, like mine, overtime the alignment can be off). Once it was connected to my network, I added it to Google Home without any issues (and assigned it a room so I could use voice commands). Next was setting up the fingerprint and face scanner.
I downloaded the Desloc app without issue. The setup process there was pretty simple. Once the battery was charged and installed, I was able to locate the lock within the app on my phone via Bluetooth. I then connected it to the Wi-Fi. At this point, I tested the auto-locking feature, basically making sure the deadbolt opened and closed without issue (in some older doors, like mine, overtime the alignment can be off). Once it was connected to my network, I added it to Google Home without any issues (and assigned it a room so I could use voice commands). Next was setting up the fingerprint and face scanner.
This too, was very simple. You click on the “assign access” button which is where you’ll see all authorized users. Setting up a fingerprint is the same process as I’m sure most people have performed with older iPhones that had touch ID - you lift your finger up and down multiple times. Once that’s confirmed, you simply save the “fingerprint” under the authorized user and you’re good to go. It does ask you if you want to add a 3D face scan. You do not need to bend down and put your face at eye level (although I did, it seemed natural to do so given the height!); it will scan your face while standing tall. Rinse and repeat for all authorized users.
I should add that granting access to people can be done in two ways; 1) always (where that person can always unlock the door); and 2) schedule. For the latter, you can pick times of day and days of the week to permit certain people in your house (I’m imagining a cleaning lady).
DAILY USE
We don’t access our house through the front door very often, but we found the door to be super responsive and accurate with fingerprints when we tested it. It recognizes fingerprints in less than a second. The 3D face scanner, however, was a little more hit and miss. I presumably unlocks when you get close enough for the door. It worked for some of my family but not all. But we’ve had zero issues with the fingerprint scanner so we typically just use that.
We don’t access our house through the front door very often, but we found the door to be super responsive and accurate with fingerprints when we tested it. It recognizes fingerprints in less than a second. The 3D face scanner, however, was a little more hit and miss. I presumably unlocks when you get close enough for the door. It worked for some of my family but not all. But we’ve had zero issues with the fingerprint scanner so we typically just use that.
The notifications are nice - knowing when the door is unlocked and locked - and isn’t overbearing. You can set the lock to lock itself out and even initiate an alarm after so many failed attempts. Which is a nice feature. And like other smart locks, it will tell you when the door is left ajar.
CONCLUSION
I wouldn’t call it a budget lock, but it’s on the lower end in the market pricewise, but packs a lot of cool features like fingerprint and 3D face scanning. But the real boon here is the solar panel that helps keep the lock charged - eliminating fears that your lock will die and not be able to operate without a key. And so far, it’s been extremely accurate and reliable with the notifications, unlike my previous lock. It just works.
I wouldn’t call it a budget lock, but it’s on the lower end in the market pricewise, but packs a lot of cool features like fingerprint and 3D face scanning. But the real boon here is the solar panel that helps keep the lock charged - eliminating fears that your lock will die and not be able to operate without a key. And so far, it’s been extremely accurate and reliable with the notifications, unlike my previous lock. It just works.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Energizer MagSafe wireless car charging dash mount provides wireless fast charging at up to 15W for your device. A Dash, Vent, and Windshield mount are included in the box to cover all placement needs. Works with all MagSafe and magnetic iPhones and Androids with compatible magnetic cases. The magnet provides a secure attachment and prevents any risk of slipping or accidental detachment, ensuring an uninterrupted and efficient wireless charging experience. Place your phone horizontally or vertically on the mount based on your preference. Charging will also work with both horizontal and vertical placement. An integrated LED light indicator provides a quick and convenient glance at the charging status. With Energizer's PowerSafe Management, your devices are protected against short circuits, overcurrent, overcharging, and overdischarging, ensuring a safe and reliable charging solution. USB-C charging cable included. CAR CHARGER NOT INCLUDED.
Budget friendly wireless charger
Customer Rating
4.0
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I’m still driving a car without Apple Carplay/Android Auto, so I need a place to put it on my dash when using navigation. I used to have a clamp, which was fine, but it required me to manually plug in a wired charging cable. Not a big deal, but it would be nice to just have my phone start charging once it’s on my mount. I’m rocking a Pixel 10 Pro which has magnets. Most iPhone users will have them, but Android is a little scattershot. If you have magnets and desire charging your phone while mounted on your dash/windshield, this is a good product to go with - especially given its price point.
IN THE BOX
Conveniently, you get a wide range of ways to mount the charger to your car. It includes a vent clip, a dash mount (adhesive backing that sticks to your dash), and a suction cupped arm that can attach to the inside of your windshield. You obviously get the magnet and a USB-C cable. Not included, probably to keep the price down, is a car charger adapter. You’ll need to make sure you pick one up that has a USB-C cable/port. I did find the included USB-C cable a little short, I would have appreciated a longer cable (I like to hide the cable in the dash and route it to the charging port).
Conveniently, you get a wide range of ways to mount the charger to your car. It includes a vent clip, a dash mount (adhesive backing that sticks to your dash), and a suction cupped arm that can attach to the inside of your windshield. You obviously get the magnet and a USB-C cable. Not included, probably to keep the price down, is a car charger adapter. You’ll need to make sure you pick one up that has a USB-C cable/port. I did find the included USB-C cable a little short, I would have appreciated a longer cable (I like to hide the cable in the dash and route it to the charging port).
DISCUSSION OF FEATURES
This delivers 15W fast charging via magnet. This is the Qi2 standard. There are some wireless chargers pushing even faster charging at 25W but I find the 15W to be sufficient. For me, I’m not trying to fast charge my phone, I primarily want to keep the battery from draining while having GPS open and the screen on. It does a good job of that.
This delivers 15W fast charging via magnet. This is the Qi2 standard. There are some wireless chargers pushing even faster charging at 25W but I find the 15W to be sufficient. For me, I’m not trying to fast charge my phone, I primarily want to keep the battery from draining while having GPS open and the screen on. It does a good job of that.
The magnet is pretty powerful. I was not concerned in the least about my phone falling off in the least. Marketing on the box of the device claims it can hold 6 iPhones (not sure how to verify that). In any event, it was not an issue.
I like how the magnet itself is plug and play, meaning there’s not a power cable soldered into it, so you can use your own, longer cable if you’d like.
What it doesn’t have, is a fan to cool your device. Using other similar chargers, I found my device cooling down and not charging well because of heat (I had mine attached to the windshield. Now this was the hot summer months. What I found with this other charger, it would keep my battery at the same level when I put it on but it wouldn’t charge it anymore.
So, with the Energizer, I was interested in the vent mount, whereby my vents would be blowing cold air onto my phone to keep it cool and allow it to charge. I first clipped it onto my vent, which was dead simple. And for a few days it worked great, I had my phone to the right side of the wheel (I used my vent near the center console of my Honda Pilot). However, my audio started acting finicky. My audio was turning on and off. Come to realize, the magnet was interfering with my radio. Once I moved the magnet, my radio acted normal. This interference issue might only cause problems with certain cars (I really have no idea) and while it wasn’t a dealbreaker by any means, I found it annoying. I moved my vent clip to the left side of the steering wheel but the USB-C cable didn’t quite reach my charger. I wanted to avoid windshield mounting (for the reasons I explained above) and attaching it to my dash would cause problems with interference (the only flat part of my dash is immediately above my radio). But once I put a longer cable in, I was able to keep my phone hooked to my left vent, cooled by the A/C, and charging appropriately without any interference. I don’t think the magnetic interference is something attributable to this particular device, I imagine it’s a problem that applies to all magnetic chargers. Just something to consider when making your purchase.
CONCLUSION
This is a convenient magnetic charger at a great price with various mounting options. You will need to get a car charger adapter if you don’t have one, and you will need to keep in mind placement of the device depending on your car and the prospect of interference.
This is a convenient magnetic charger at a great price with various mounting options. You will need to get a car charger adapter if you don’t have one, and you will need to keep in mind placement of the device depending on your car and the prospect of interference.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Lightweight, comfortable, and available in versatile colors to match your style, the WH-CH530 wireless headphones are made for everyday listening. With up to 55 hours of battery life and AI noise reduction for clearer calls, they~re ready for work, commutes, and everything in between.
Sony Audio Quality at Budget Price
Customer Rating
4.0
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While the XM line of headphones are top tier, they carry an exorbitant price. The CH350 is a budget friendly pair of headphones that has terrific sound that will satisfy most everyone’s needs. Not to mention the fun colors you can get.
IN THE BOX
Sony does a pretty good job of minimal packaging. You get the headphones and that’s it. Part of me wishes it came with a cable, but let’s be honest, at this point we should all have lots of charging cables.
Sony does a pretty good job of minimal packaging. You get the headphones and that’s it. Part of me wishes it came with a cable, but let’s be honest, at this point we should all have lots of charging cables.
SETUP
I use a Google Pixel phone. I’m confident the setup is similar for iPhones and other Android devices; but it was dead simple as most every Bluetooth headphones/earbuds.. I turn it on, and my phone instantly connects. Of course, it asks me to download the Sony Connect app (which I already had). But it’s not necessary. It just gives you a little more control (see below about the app).
I use a Google Pixel phone. I’m confident the setup is similar for iPhones and other Android devices; but it was dead simple as most every Bluetooth headphones/earbuds.. I turn it on, and my phone instantly connects. Of course, it asks me to download the Sony Connect app (which I already had). But it’s not necessary. It just gives you a little more control (see below about the app).
DESIGN
Admittedly, the headphones feel “cheap.” They’re made of plastic and are ridiculously light. There’s cushions on the headband as well as the ear cups. They don’t go around your ear, but rest on them. There’s three tactile buttons on the right ear cup - a big plus as they’re easy to locate with your fingers. There’s obviously a USB-C charging port on the right ear cup as well. There’s convenient lettering in the inside of the ear cup so you know which way to wear them. Not truly necessary - you know the ear cup with the buttons goes on the right, but a nice touch.I love the colors, they bring a little character and charm to otherwise blah black colored headphones. Mine was the mint green which I really like. The headphones, while small, do not fold up. I didn’t find that to be too big of an issue, but I’m always worried about stuffing them in a bag -simply because they feel cheap. The earcups themselves rotate and flex to provide some type of contour fit to your head.
Admittedly, the headphones feel “cheap.” They’re made of plastic and are ridiculously light. There’s cushions on the headband as well as the ear cups. They don’t go around your ear, but rest on them. There’s three tactile buttons on the right ear cup - a big plus as they’re easy to locate with your fingers. There’s obviously a USB-C charging port on the right ear cup as well. There’s convenient lettering in the inside of the ear cup so you know which way to wear them. Not truly necessary - you know the ear cup with the buttons goes on the right, but a nice touch.I love the colors, they bring a little character and charm to otherwise blah black colored headphones. Mine was the mint green which I really like. The headphones, while small, do not fold up. I didn’t find that to be too big of an issue, but I’m always worried about stuffing them in a bag -simply because they feel cheap. The earcups themselves rotate and flex to provide some type of contour fit to your head.
COMFORT
Oddly, I find these comfortable to wear - in other words, I don’t really feel them or have fatigue - but when I take them off, my ears feel a tad sore. See, these earcups sit on your ears and don’t cover them in their entirety. I’m used to ear buds and/or large noise cancelling headphones where the earcups wrap around my ears in their entirety. For pure comfort, I prefer over the ear and/or earbuds.
Oddly, I find these comfortable to wear - in other words, I don’t really feel them or have fatigue - but when I take them off, my ears feel a tad sore. See, these earcups sit on your ears and don’t cover them in their entirety. I’m used to ear buds and/or large noise cancelling headphones where the earcups wrap around my ears in their entirety. For pure comfort, I prefer over the ear and/or earbuds.
SOUND QUALITY
First, these do not have active noise cancellation. In most headphones with ANC you can turn it on and off. Not here. It relies on seal. So long as they’re sitting on my ears, I really can’t hear much. Granted, I’m not wearing them out in a busy/noisy city. But testing them around my house, I couldn’t hear people talking to me - I could hear a little voice, but couldn’t make out the words. In my office, it blocks most noise out, and I can barely notice my mechanical, clicky keyboard. The sound quality is superb and the reason I would recommend these. Of course this is somewhat dependent on the person and is subjective, but for the casual user, you’ll find these to be really good. It has a nice amount of bass with clean vocals. There’s a lot of details when listening to rock bands and classical music (which I listen to when working) sounds crystal clear.
First, these do not have active noise cancellation. In most headphones with ANC you can turn it on and off. Not here. It relies on seal. So long as they’re sitting on my ears, I really can’t hear much. Granted, I’m not wearing them out in a busy/noisy city. But testing them around my house, I couldn’t hear people talking to me - I could hear a little voice, but couldn’t make out the words. In my office, it blocks most noise out, and I can barely notice my mechanical, clicky keyboard. The sound quality is superb and the reason I would recommend these. Of course this is somewhat dependent on the person and is subjective, but for the casual user, you’ll find these to be really good. It has a nice amount of bass with clean vocals. There’s a lot of details when listening to rock bands and classical music (which I listen to when working) sounds crystal clear.
Sound quality on phone calls is a little worse. When making calls, everything sounds good on my end, but the other person said my sound was a little muted.
BATTERY LIFE
The battery life is pretty solid. It’s rated for 50 hours. I’ve been using mine primarily at the office for the past week and the battery is still at 90%. It has a quick charge feature whereby a few minutes’ charge gets you about 1.5 hours of battery which is convenient.
The battery life is pretty solid. It’s rated for 50 hours. I’ve been using mine primarily at the office for the past week and the battery is still at 90%. It has a quick charge feature whereby a few minutes’ charge gets you about 1.5 hours of battery which is convenient.
SONY CONNECT APP
The app isn’t necessary and it’s light on features. About the only thing you can do is adjust the EQ - which some people like others may not care. The only gripe I had with the app is that it kept telling me there was a firmware update but I could not figure out how to install it. I wasn’t sure if it was a bug or not. But the headset works fine, firmware update or not.
The app isn’t necessary and it’s light on features. About the only thing you can do is adjust the EQ - which some people like others may not care. The only gripe I had with the app is that it kept telling me there was a firmware update but I could not figure out how to install it. I wasn’t sure if it was a bug or not. But the headset works fine, firmware update or not.
CONCLUSION
These headphones are a terrific budget option. It has a few limitations which are understandable given the price range; including the inability to fold, there’s no wired connection (which I would prefer to use on my PS Portal and Switch 2), can be uncomfortable to some over long periods. But the sound quality more than makes up for it.
These headphones are a terrific budget option. It has a few limitations which are understandable given the price range; including the inability to fold, there’s no wired connection (which I would prefer to use on my PS Portal and Switch 2), can be uncomfortable to some over long periods. But the sound quality more than makes up for it.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Introducing the GameSir G8 SE, a lightweight addition to the G8 series that maintains the high standards gamers expect. With a low-latency wired connection and GameSir~s anti stick-drift Hall Effect sticks, the G8 SE delivers precise, reliable control. Lightweight in design yet uncompromising in quality, it~s the ideal choice for seamless mobile gaming.
Console feel, budget price, growing pains
Customer Rating
4.0
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I’m a big gamer, but have been late to the party with mobile gaming. Reason being, touchscreen controls (outside of simple touch friendly games). I need a controller. The Gamesir G8 SE is the budget conscious model compared to the G8. It tackles the biggest gripe I have with mobile gaming, giving you a console control - with Xbox ergonomics - to play games on the go with a device (phone) that everyone already has.
When you pair it with Xbox Game Pass, it turns your phone into a legitimate console. But not everything was smooth sailing - from lag and connection speeds (not necessarily because of the controller) and difficulties integrating with mobile games (i.e. Call of Duty mobile doesn’t natively support USB-C controllers).
WHAT’S IN THE BOX
The packaging is lean, you’ll get the controller (no additional sticks or caps) and a user manual. You’ll also have a few extra rubber bumpers for your phone. Best I can tell, they’re the same thickness - they’re just there if yours wear out. On the one hand, I like the simplicity, but some might prefer swappable faceplates or thumb caps which are included in other versions of Gamesir controllers.
The packaging is lean, you’ll get the controller (no additional sticks or caps) and a user manual. You’ll also have a few extra rubber bumpers for your phone. Best I can tell, they’re the same thickness - they’re just there if yours wear out. On the one hand, I like the simplicity, but some might prefer swappable faceplates or thumb caps which are included in other versions of Gamesir controllers.
DESIGN AND BUILD QUALITY
In terms of the design, I like it. It’s a full sized controller. It’s not bulky to carry around - for what it is - and if it were any smaller, I would defeat the purpose. It’s a solid build that feels rigid with no creaking or flexing. It feels extremely light, almost cheap feeling, but again, it’s sturdy. And I like that it weighs what feels like, next to nothing.
In terms of the design, I like it. It’s a full sized controller. It’s not bulky to carry around - for what it is - and if it were any smaller, I would defeat the purpose. It’s a solid build that feels rigid with no creaking or flexing. It feels extremely light, almost cheap feeling, but again, it’s sturdy. And I like that it weighs what feels like, next to nothing.
The USB-C connector pivots which is a huge benefit. It doesn’t force you to put your phone in an awkward angle as the connector moves with the angle you put your phone in. And it pivots smoothly. There are nice rubber bumpers on both sides where you insert your phone to keep it protected. Note that leaving a case on your phone could cause problems, but I was able to make my case on my Pixel 10 Pro XL work, but it was finicky at times.
It has two programmable back buttons, but no way to physically lock them to present accidental presses. But you could deactivate them in the app.
It does include a USB-C pass through charger and 3.5 mm headphone jack on the bottom. I use bluetooth headphones, but very much appreciate the pass through charger.
PERFORMANCE AND CLOUD STREAMING
The joysticks and buttons themselves are awesome. The joy sticks utilize hall effect sensors which almost eliminates stick drift and gives you smooth and accurate responses. The triggers offer full analog travel (think throttling the gas on a racing game) to give you more precision. And because it connects directly with your phone, there’s no latency.
The joysticks and buttons themselves are awesome. The joy sticks utilize hall effect sensors which almost eliminates stick drift and gives you smooth and accurate responses. The triggers offer full analog travel (think throttling the gas on a racing game) to give you more precision. And because it connects directly with your phone, there’s no latency.
It really shines with Xbox streaming simply because the controller is mapped as an Xbox controller.
USABILITY QUIRKS AND REAL WORLD FRUSTRATIONS
While the physical controller is great, navigating mobile gaming ecosystems - at least to the uninitiated - is a pain.
While the physical controller is great, navigating mobile gaming ecosystems - at least to the uninitiated - is a pain.
The controller isn’t necessarily plug and play. It supports multiple operating modes - signaled by the colors around the home button on the controller. If your phone doesn’t recognize the inputs you’ll have to hold a specific button combination to change it. Something that required me to use the manual for, or look it up online.
Not all games have native USB-C controller support. Call of Duty Mobile is the big one. It only recognizes Bluetooth controllers. While there are supposedly fixes or work arounds, it’s a pain it doesn’t just work. You could use the app to map touch screen controls to the button, but that’s a pain (more on the app in a moment).
Large cases can be a problem given that it creates space between the USB-C connector and the phone’s port. Mine works most of the time, but sometimes it doesn’t. To remove your case each time is, and would be, a pain. Large camera bumps could cause some issues, but my Pixel 10 Pro XL was fine - the sliding mechanism on the back actually leaves a little room for camera bumps. I’m not sure what phones might have bigger camera bumps than mine, but something to consider.
The Gamesir app. I’ll be honest, I don’t like it. It’s buggy. I was using the controller, but the app still wouldn’t recognize. I couldn’t even check to see if there was a firmware update. The screen just froze. Sometimes I could get into changing the buttons - or frankly, just exploring what all I could do - but it wouldn’t always work. While I could still play games, it was a frustrating experience because I wasn’t able to use the app to better understand how to use the controller to its full potential.
Finally, just a note about mobile gaming. This might be user error, internet connectivity, or my phone, but it was just a hassle to get playing at times. And your mileage will vary depending on what games you have, what streaming services you pay for, and what you’re willing to pay for. I’m lucky, have access to Netflix games and Xbox. I was able to mostly get up and running with those games (outside of a few crashes with the Netflix games). But unless I had a really good internet connection, some of the Xbox games - namely FPS - were to laggy to play. Not the controller but the app/connection. This made for an all around frustrating experience. It’s tough to say that’s the controller’s fault; it’s more of a criticism of mobile gaming in general when you’re relying on streaming. But when you can download a game and play it from your phone and get the controller to respond/work, it’s a pretty great gaming experience. There were just a lot of bumps to get there.
CONCLUSION
If you are a hardcore mobile gamer (who doesn’t yet have a controller) or you’re willing to invest the time to get the controller settings to match a particular app (i.e. not just simple plug and play) then this is a great controller at a great price. The hardware itself is great, but be prepared for some bumps in using it along the way given the fractious nature of mobile games and their respective platforms.
If you are a hardcore mobile gamer (who doesn’t yet have a controller) or you’re willing to invest the time to get the controller settings to match a particular app (i.e. not just simple plug and play) then this is a great controller at a great price. The hardware itself is great, but be prepared for some bumps in using it along the way given the fractious nature of mobile games and their respective platforms.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The ROG Zephyrus G16 features a premium aluminum CNC-machined chassis that delivers exceptional durability in a slim 0.7" profile and a lightweight 4.30 lbs build. Powered by the latest Intel Core Ultra 9 386H processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop GPU, the Zephyrus G16 delivers the performance needed to play games, create content, and multitask. The 16" OLED ROG Nebula Display HDR brings gaming experience to life with a 240Hz refresh rate, ultra-fast 0.2ms response time, 1100 nits peak brightness in HDR, and VESA DisplayHDR TrueBlack 1000 for deeper contrast and richer colors. Dolby Atmos audio with dual woofers delivers immersive sound, while ROG Intelligent Cooling~paired with an upgraded exhaust vent design~improves airflow to help sustain performance during intense gaming sessions.
A near perfect gaming machine
Customer Rating
5.0
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I’ve owned many laptops and gaming desktops over the year, and this year’s ASUS ROG G16 absolutely hits it out of the park. The specs are incredible, the design (which is always subjective) is on point, and it’s relatively thin and light given what’s on the inside. Honestly, there’s little to complain about - outside the price. The biggest knock for all gaming devices nowadays, is the price. But if you are in the market and have the budget, you really can’t beat this laptop.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX
Inside you’ll find the laptop itself - neatly wrapped in plastic - as well as the 240W power adapter. The laptop is remarkably thin (relatively speaking) but the charging brick is a beast (not quite Xbox 360 huge, but pretty bulky). That’s it.
Inside you’ll find the laptop itself - neatly wrapped in plastic - as well as the 240W power adapter. The laptop is remarkably thin (relatively speaking) but the charging brick is a beast (not quite Xbox 360 huge, but pretty bulky). That’s it.
DESIGN AND BUILD QUALITY
First, a few comments on the design and build quality. With this laptop, Asus has moved away from aggressive gaming designs, opting instead to use an aluminum chassis that fits into the office as easily as it does a gaming setup.
First, a few comments on the design and build quality. With this laptop, Asus has moved away from aggressive gaming designs, opting instead to use an aluminum chassis that fits into the office as easily as it does a gaming setup.
It’s only 0.70 inches thick and 4.3 pounds. The laptop has virtually no flex. When you rest your hands on it and/or are typing, there’s no bend whatsoever. It just feels outright sturdy. The matte finish does a pretty decent job at hiding fingerprints and oily palms, but they will still show up (but they’re easy to wipe off).
The back of the lid has what Asus calls, “slash lighting.” It’s a diagonal LED slash that you can customize (or turn off) with subtle lighting effects. As it’s on the back of the lid, you really can’t see it when using the laptop, so it’s really for the benefit of those around you.
The keyboard has plenty of space with large keys and a generous - and very responsive - touchpad. I found the typing experience to be quite enjoyable and the touchpad was an absolute pleasure given how responsive it was. Part of me wishes Asus would have included a full number keypad, but that would mess up the symmetry of the keyboard and take up space for one of my favorite features - the sound.
I normally play games with headsets, but when I tried out the speakers on this laptop (I was playing the new Halo Campaign Evolved), I was floored by the 6 speaker setup. Obviously it by no means touches true surround sound, but for a laptop, man did it get close, offering rich bass and clear dialogue.
The OLED display is an absolute work of art - it’s the centerpiece of the laptop. It has the inky blacks you expect of OLED screens, 500 nits peak HDR brightness, and a 0.2 ms pixel response time. Games, photos, and text alike are all razor sharp with zero motion blur or smearing.
UPGRADEABILITY
I do want to mention upgradeability. The RAM is nonupgradeable, so whatever you get when you buy the device, that’s what you’re stuck with. Obviously I would recommend going for the 32 GB of DDR5 RAM if you can swing it. There are two full size M.2 PCIe Gen 4x4 SSD slots. One is reserved for the drive that comes with the device, but it’s nice to know you can easily expand your storage (something that wasn’t possible on older ROG devices). The WiFi 7 card is on a standard M.2 slot and is user replaceable, but I can’t imagine a scenario where anyone would want to do that anytime soon.
I do want to mention upgradeability. The RAM is nonupgradeable, so whatever you get when you buy the device, that’s what you’re stuck with. Obviously I would recommend going for the 32 GB of DDR5 RAM if you can swing it. There are two full size M.2 PCIe Gen 4x4 SSD slots. One is reserved for the drive that comes with the device, but it’s nice to know you can easily expand your storage (something that wasn’t possible on older ROG devices). The WiFi 7 card is on a standard M.2 slot and is user replaceable, but I can’t imagine a scenario where anyone would want to do that anytime soon.
PERFORMANCE
This baby is rocking an Intel Core Ultra 9 386H with NVIDIA RTX 5070Ti laptop GPU. It has a generous amount (12GB of VRAM). And back to the monitor, it has 240Hz G-Sync panel to deliver fluid animation and eliminate screen tearing.
This baby is rocking an Intel Core Ultra 9 386H with NVIDIA RTX 5070Ti laptop GPU. It has a generous amount (12GB of VRAM). And back to the monitor, it has 240Hz G-Sync panel to deliver fluid animation and eliminate screen tearing.
The VRAM is helpful in getting rid of bottlenecks in some AAA games on higher graphical settings. I was able to play Cyberpunk 2077, Halo Campaign Evolved, and Wolfenstein at native 1600p with ultra settings and DLSS frame regeneration and consistently hitting over 75+ FPS.
Frankly, it’s a beast in the gaming department. The high refresh rate on the OLED panel is just a treat and eliminates virtually all input lag.
This laptop gets hot under stress - as you’d expect - but does a decent job of dissipating heat. It utilizes a vapor chamber colling plate and three fans to keep it cool. The area above the number row does get hot (near the hinge) and the fans do get pretty loud in turbo mode, I never felt any discomfort on the palm rest or using the WASD letters for movement.
As a day-to-day work laptop - the Intel Ultra 9 handles everything you could throw at it. My work mostly consists of drafting documents, reviewing emails, looking at images, but I was also able to edit videos without any issues. And when putting the laptop in Silent mode (i.e. when not gaming) the system became virtually silent and cool to the touch.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Asus comes with Armoury Crate software which is the program you can use to control the GPU operating modes, fan curves, and Slash lighting patterns. But it’s a resource hog with numerous background services. I’d recommend G-Helper, a lightweight open source alternative that controls all the things you’d want (power limits, screen refresh, lighting, etc.) without the extra background bloat.
Asus comes with Armoury Crate software which is the program you can use to control the GPU operating modes, fan curves, and Slash lighting patterns. But it’s a resource hog with numerous background services. I’d recommend G-Helper, a lightweight open source alternative that controls all the things you’d want (power limits, screen refresh, lighting, etc.) without the extra background bloat.
Asus does include OLED care utilities to help prevent screen burn in - which is a nice touch - which is pixel shift, screen saver dimming and taskbar transparency tools. These settings are found within the Armoury Crate app.
In terms of battery life, it’s a Windows gaming laptop, so one cannot expect it to last as long as others. When switching to Eco Mode on battery (which turns off the GPU completely) and turning down the screen refresh rate, I think you can expect 7-9 hours of basic computing needs including media consumption. For fun, I played Halo on battery and after 20 minutes, I lost 25% of the battery. So don’t expect to be gaming on battery too long. Finally, the full 240W brick is pretty much necessary for gaming, know that you the laptop supports 100W USB-C power delivery which allows you to leave the charging brick behind when you just need the laptop for general use.
CONCLUSION
Gaming has become expensive recently. This laptop is no exception, but if you’re in the market, it really delivers in all aspects, from its sleek design, power, and features. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to game or even edit videos on a laptop.
Gaming has become expensive recently. This laptop is no exception, but if you’re in the market, it really delivers in all aspects, from its sleek design, power, and features. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to game or even edit videos on a laptop.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Experience the speed, precision, and control of the Razer Huntsman V3 HE Magnetic Mini 65% 8KHz, a compact esports keyboard built for cleaner, faster execution. Powered by Razer~ Hall Effect Magnetic Switches, it delivers incredible precision with Rapid Trigger for lightning-fast repeated inputs, adjustable actuation from 0.1~4.0 mm, and a 100-million keystroke lifespan for lasting competitive performance. Execute every input with greater confidence through advanced controls made for competitive play. Razer~ Snap Flex lets you trigger precise actions on key release for tighter control and faster response, while Razer~ Snap Tap prioritizes the latest input between two selected keys for near-instant directional changes. With Dynamic Keystroke, assign up to 4 actions to a single keystroke and cancel instantly to adapt on the fly. Stay ahead of every play with true 8000 Hz HyperPolling, delivering a polling rate 8 times faster than the industry standard for near-zero latency response. Its compact 65% form factor gives you more room to maneuver your mouse while remaining easy to position and tournament-ready. Finished with textured doubleshot PBT keycaps, a durable 5052 aluminum alloy top case, and hybrid onboard storage for up to 6 profiles, this keyboard is built to perform wherever competition takes you.
Compact and Responsive
Customer Rating
4.0
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Razer is essentially a household brand at this point, with its iconic triple snake logo. There brand has been built on gaming hardware, especially for competition.
The new buzz word amongst gaming - most notably in controllers - is the use of hall effect switches. Hall effect switches are magnetic vs. magnetic switches. In keyboards, hall effect magnetic switches can track the exact height of the key and how much it’s traveled compared to the traditional key that just activates after it gets to a fixed point. This Razer Huntsman keyboard brings magnetic hall effect switches, paired with an extremely fast polling rate. And all in a compact design. While some might miss the full keyboard layout with the dedicated number pad, this keyboard opted for the 65% layout approach meaning it has the QWERTY keyboard along with full arrows and a vertical row of navigation buttons (INS, DEL PG UP and PG DN). So it remains compact for gaming - and for those who prefer a minimalist layout or have cramped space - while still serving as a good keyboard for traditional computer work.
DESIGN
As stated, and as you can see in the picture, the keyboard is very compact. It’s built with brushed aluminum and there is absolutely no flex in the keyboard. It just doesn’t move. It has dual stage feet to give you a total of three angles. The keys are resistant to oils, and fingerprint shine and are intended not to wear over time. Frankly, I think the keyboard looks really classy, even with the backlighting.
As stated, and as you can see in the picture, the keyboard is very compact. It’s built with brushed aluminum and there is absolutely no flex in the keyboard. It just doesn’t move. It has dual stage feet to give you a total of three angles. The keys are resistant to oils, and fingerprint shine and are intended not to wear over time. Frankly, I think the keyboard looks really classy, even with the backlighting.
GAMING PERFORMANCE
This keyboard, using the hall effect switches, allows you to adjust the point at which the key registers within a fraction. This means that when using the keys to move your character on screen (while gaming) you stop moving the instant your finger starts to relax off the button. Same for triggering a response like moving, your character begins moving the instant the key starts to register. This results in quick reflexes that can give you the edge in multiplayer games.
This keyboard, using the hall effect switches, allows you to adjust the point at which the key registers within a fraction. This means that when using the keys to move your character on screen (while gaming) you stop moving the instant your finger starts to relax off the button. Same for triggering a response like moving, your character begins moving the instant the key starts to register. This results in quick reflexes that can give you the edge in multiplayer games.
Now, you don’t always want this type of actuation. If you’re typing an email or the like, you don’t necessarily want that much sensitivity as you might be prone to accidentally hitting a key by mistake (resting your hand on the keyboard). But you can swap profiles quickly using keyboard shortcuts or through the Razer Synapse app. The default setting sets the actuation at 2 MM while the FPS profile is much lower - allowing for those quick, lightning fast movements.
The 8000K hyperpolling is a terrific feature, but admittedly, not one the average gamer (like myself) will truly appreciate. It’s intended to be paired with a high refresh rate gaming display with no delays at all between a key press and the on-screen frame update. I can’t say that this is something I can notice in my gaming - which does consist of multiplayer FPS - but I’d like to think it makes a difference. It’s truly a feature intended for high stakes competitive gaming.
DAILY DRIVING
I’m on a computer all day and the typing experience matters to me. I admittedly prefer keyboards with a number keypad, this keyboard ended up on my desk due to wanting more room. And while it was a little bit of an adjustment, I almost prefer it now.
I’m on a computer all day and the typing experience matters to me. I admittedly prefer keyboards with a number keypad, this keyboard ended up on my desk due to wanting more room. And while it was a little bit of an adjustment, I almost prefer it now.
In terms of the sound, I really enjoy the “clack” of keyboards, but some can be annoying to people around you. This keyboard has sound dampening foam that absorbs some sound but it delivers a satisfying “clack” that I enjoy.
SOFTWARE AND LIGHTING
I have a general disdain for downloading apps, both on my phone and computer that take up precious resources. Razer’s software - to me - is just that. I have it on my computer to control the few Razer peripherals I own, which doesn’t irk me so much since it does control more than one device. For me, though, I find the Razer Synapse software a bit overwhelming. On the one hand, I appreciate the ability to tweak things, but it’s a lot. For those that really enjoy or want to tweak every setting they certainly can. But this is where you’d go to tune the actuation settings (how far the key travels before it registers), calibrate your keyboard, save profiles, and even adjust the lighting.
I have a general disdain for downloading apps, both on my phone and computer that take up precious resources. Razer’s software - to me - is just that. I have it on my computer to control the few Razer peripherals I own, which doesn’t irk me so much since it does control more than one device. For me, though, I find the Razer Synapse software a bit overwhelming. On the one hand, I appreciate the ability to tweak things, but it’s a lot. For those that really enjoy or want to tweak every setting they certainly can. But this is where you’d go to tune the actuation settings (how far the key travels before it registers), calibrate your keyboard, save profiles, and even adjust the lighting.
However, most functions can be done on the fly on the keyboard itself because the profiles are stored on the keyboard. You can cycle through the profiles (the one for default is where I keep it when not gaming) and there’s one for FPS for example. There are of course others and you can create your own in Synapse.
To adjust the lighting, you’ll have to also download the Razer Chroma software. There you can adjust the lighting. Again, I didn’t download it as I use the keyboard shortcuts to cycle through the colors, which is enough for me. But know that there are infinite possibilities. Chroma will also allow you to integrate colors into other games and gear. The lighting is crisp insomuch as the lights really shine through the keys and highlight the characters.
CONCLUSION
This keyboard strikes a decent balance on size - being compact while full size characters. It truly excels in offering ultra fast polling and hall effect switches, although that might be a bit much for casual gamers as it’s intended for those seeking a real competitive edge. It’s also extremely well built and is extremely durable. Its primary downside is not being wireless (although the USB cable is plenty long) and it does demand a high price. And its loud noise might be too much for some who prefer a more quiet keyboard. All in all, if you’re remotely serious about PC gaming, and can afford the premium price, it should be high on your list.
This keyboard strikes a decent balance on size - being compact while full size characters. It truly excels in offering ultra fast polling and hall effect switches, although that might be a bit much for casual gamers as it’s intended for those seeking a real competitive edge. It’s also extremely well built and is extremely durable. Its primary downside is not being wireless (although the USB cable is plenty long) and it does demand a high price. And its loud noise might be too much for some who prefer a more quiet keyboard. All in all, if you’re remotely serious about PC gaming, and can afford the premium price, it should be high on your list.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Shark Vertex Pet Powered Lift-Away upright vacuum combines advanced cleaning technology and the convenience of Powered Lift-Away with powerful suction to clean your whole home. Shark~s DuoClean PowerFins HairPro nozzle grips and captures more dirt, debris, and hair for powerful pickup of all types of debris. Large piles, fine dust, short hair, and long hair are no match for DuoClean PowerFins HairPro. To clean above-floor areas, just lift off the detachable pod to vacuum stairs, furniture, windowsills, and more. With Lift-Away, you can transform your upright vacuum into a stick vac for easy cleaning under furniture and above the floor. Odor Neutralizer Technology guards against bad odors inside your vacuum, while Anti-Allergen Complete Seal with HEPA filtration traps and seals dust, dander, and allergens inside the vacuum, keeping them out of the air you breathe. LED headlights on the nozzle reveal hidden debris and pet hair as you clean, so you won't miss a spot. This powerful Shark upright vacuum is perfect for homes with pets. It comes with specialized cleaning tools, including the Pet Crevice Tool, Pet Multi-Tool, and the Pet Power Brush, designed to eliminate pet messes and handle tough cleaning challenges all around your home.
Power, precision and portability
Customer Rating
5.0
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The Shark Performance Powered Lift-Away Vacuum is my new favorite vacuum and is easily one of the best designed vacuums on the market. It blends the heavy duty suction of a plug in upright vacuum with the flexibility of a portable canister. Whether vacuuming thick carpet or vacuuming of corners on hard surfaces, it consistently delivers a hassle-free clean.
IN THE BOX
Inside the box you’ll get the vacuum unit; duster crevice device; pet multi-tool/upholstery attachment; self cleaning pet power brush; odor cartridge; and the owner’s manual.
Inside the box you’ll get the vacuum unit; duster crevice device; pet multi-tool/upholstery attachment; self cleaning pet power brush; odor cartridge; and the owner’s manual.
Putting it together was a breeze. Not only is it easy to figure it out on your own, Shark smartly puts the instructions on the box as you open it to walk you through it.
DESIGN
Shark really prioritized ergonomics. At the push of a button, the canister lifts off the floor nozzle wand while keeping power supplied directly to the canister. This allows you to carry the canister (which is relatively light) while holding the wand. You can hold the handheld wand to get under things (or I like it to vacuum carpeted steps). You can even remove the canister and keep the handle on the floor nozzle to get underneath smaller spaces - that the canister would otherwise block.
Shark really prioritized ergonomics. At the push of a button, the canister lifts off the floor nozzle wand while keeping power supplied directly to the canister. This allows you to carry the canister (which is relatively light) while holding the wand. You can hold the handheld wand to get under things (or I like it to vacuum carpeted steps). You can even remove the canister and keep the handle on the floor nozzle to get underneath smaller spaces - that the canister would otherwise block.
The brushroll is self cleaning. It has special technology that continuously removes wrapped hair as you vacuum. I haven’t had the vacuum long enough to truly test this out, but so far, it’s remained clean with nothing wrapped around the brushroll.
It has anti-allergen complete seal so it trusts virtually all dust, dander and airborne particles inside the vacuum rather than releasing them back into your living space. This is a big deal as it’s one of the big knocks on canister dustbins. Most of the time, you have to use bags to get this type of filtration (and bags are still better if you have serious allergies - which this vacuum does not utilize).
It has bright lights integrated on the floor nozzle. This might not sound like a big deal, but I was pleasantly surprised as it highlights dust, especially on hard surfaces so you can see what your vacuuming.
And the controls on the handle are simple and straightforward to use. There’s the power button, and a slider to control whether you are on bare floor, low carpets, or thick carpets. Other vacuums have similar features, but you’re required to bend down to the floor nozzle to make those adjustments.
PERFORMANCE AND USAGE
In day-to-today cleaning, this vacuum shines primarily because of its usefulness. One device can vacuum for all scenarios. Whether you’re vacuuming dirts out of the corners of baseboards, or heavy area rugs, or vacuuming carpeted stairs, you can easily and quickly move from scenario-to-scenario to quickly vacuum up all areas of your living space. I was impressed with its ability to pick up dirt and dropped crumbs on the baseboards. It picks things up on a single pass without scattering dirt. I find the vacuum easy to maneuver and use. I had to push a little harder on one of our thick area rugs, but this particular rug causes problems for all sorts of vacuums. But what impressed me the most vs. our battery operated cordless vacuum was getting more dirt and debris out of the rug on a single pass.
In day-to-today cleaning, this vacuum shines primarily because of its usefulness. One device can vacuum for all scenarios. Whether you’re vacuuming dirts out of the corners of baseboards, or heavy area rugs, or vacuuming carpeted stairs, you can easily and quickly move from scenario-to-scenario to quickly vacuum up all areas of your living space. I was impressed with its ability to pick up dirt and dropped crumbs on the baseboards. It picks things up on a single pass without scattering dirt. I find the vacuum easy to maneuver and use. I had to push a little harder on one of our thick area rugs, but this particular rug causes problems for all sorts of vacuums. But what impressed me the most vs. our battery operated cordless vacuum was getting more dirt and debris out of the rug on a single pass.
I do want to add that while I like the odor neutralizer cartridge (it does leave a nice scent) it’s not something I intend on buying more of. But you might feel differently. My point is, it does actually work in leaving a subtle clean scent.
CONCLUSION
While not the cheapest vacuum and not even the cheapest Shark model, I think this is an excellent value proposition for its versatility and performance. It’s bigger than stick vacuums that you might use for small areas or quick jobs, it can handle quick jobs easily and be there for when you need more power. One vacuum to rule them all so to speak. It’s earned its keep and I’m glad to have it in my household.
While not the cheapest vacuum and not even the cheapest Shark model, I think this is an excellent value proposition for its versatility and performance. It’s bigger than stick vacuums that you might use for small areas or quick jobs, it can handle quick jobs easily and be there for when you need more power. One vacuum to rule them all so to speak. It’s earned its keep and I’m glad to have it in my household.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Sit back, relax and enjoy family movie night with the Vankyo L570RB projector. The Vankyo Leisure 570RB wireless smart mini projector with built-in Roku TV delivers a full HD 1080P picture up to 200". Featuring 280 lumens and a 1000:1 contrast ratio for vivid color and a sharp image. Enhanced features include keystone adjustment, eliminating the need for manual tweaks during use and ensuring optimal display quality. Featuring Dolby Audio surround sound and dual 5W speakers for an immersive viewing experience. With built-in Roku TV, you can stream all your favorite content, including Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video and more. A 100" screen is included.
Terrific budget projector that is fun
Customer Rating
4.0
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Projectors can be expensive and difficult to setup. And then there’s an issue of quality. This Vankyo projector is a great balance of all these concerns and is worthy of consideration, especially for family movie nights. It has a good price point, native 1080p resolution and official integration with Roku.
IN THE BOX
In the box you will find the projector itself, a power cord (that’s decently long), HDMI cable, user manual, and a 100 inch portable projection screen (it’s folded fabric that has hooks) along with some adhesive hooks.
In the box you will find the projector itself, a power cord (that’s decently long), HDMI cable, user manual, and a 100 inch portable projection screen (it’s folded fabric that has hooks) along with some adhesive hooks.
DESIGN
The projector has a clean aesthetic, all white, with curved corners and pressure sensitive illuminated control buttons on top. (although I always use the remote).
The projector has a clean aesthetic, all white, with curved corners and pressure sensitive illuminated control buttons on top. (although I always use the remote).
The projector has sensors to help with auto-focus and keystone correction. That means whenever you move it (or bump into it) it instantly squares and sharpens the image without you having to turn any dials. A great feature when you’re moving it around on the go looking for the best setup.
The projector is small enough to carry around in a bag for travel. And it’s light enough to be setup on almost anything. It does have a standard tripod mount (great idea) so you can place it on a tripod to get the correct height. There’s also an adjustable leg that unscrews at the bottom when it’s placed on hard surface to point it upwards.
The fan, however, is a little loud. While it doesn’t overpower movies or shows (when using the internal speaker) it does produce a noticeable hum - that you do eventually get used to and forget about.
There’s also no lens cover. There is a cap, but its made of rubber with no locking mechanism and I think it falls out easily. Not a reason not to get it by any means, but something to keep in mind when traveling.
SETUP
It’s pretty easy and highly intuitive. The only difference is whether you already have a Roku account or not. I did not, but creating an account was super easy. If you have one, you can simply log in. The WiFi connection was also easy to setup and plenty fast. Once connected and logged into Roku, you can sign directly into your video streaming app of choice.
It’s pretty easy and highly intuitive. The only difference is whether you already have a Roku account or not. I did not, but creating an account was super easy. If you have one, you can simply log in. The WiFi connection was also easy to setup and plenty fast. Once connected and logged into Roku, you can sign directly into your video streaming app of choice.
Of course, you could bypass that and plug in your own streaming device into the HDMI port. You can of course plug in a gaming system if you’d like. This route simply treats your projector as a monitor, but to me, that defeats the purpose of having a simple all-in-one device. Unless you’re gaming which using the HDMI is your only real option.
PERFORMANCE - PICTURE AND SOUND QUALITY
While there’s certainly some limitations to this projector, at this price point, however, I believe the features are pretty good.
It displays in native 1080p, which is heads and shoulders above other budget projectors at 720p. It really is a tangible difference. Text is legible and crisp and so is the image. The brightness is rated at 200-280 lumens. So while it us usable in a dimly lit room with some ambient light, don’t even consider using it in a bright room. But in a dark room, or outside when it’s dark, it really shines.
The size of the image ranges from 40 inches to 120 inches. The manual says 80 inches is the sweet spot (which is odd since it comes with a 100 inch screen). The digital zoom feature allows you to shrink the image size (a little bit) to fit your wall/screen without having to move the unit - although there are some limitations.
It has two 5W speakers with Dolby Atmos support. Don’t expect to be blown away with surround sound, but in an average size room the sound is surprisingly loud. It has enough sound that you won’t absolutely need a soundbar or other speaker, but you can run an AUX cable to other speakers depending on your needs and the equipment you have available.
MISCELLANEOUS
I like how they included a screen, even though it’s basically a white sheet. It has metal holes to affix it to the wall, etc. and even comes with hooks. I didn’t use the adhesive hooks because I don’t have a place in my house where I would permanently want it. But it’s nice for those that might. At 100 inches, the sheet is a little difficult to deal with while traveling (unless you have equipment to hold it).
I like how they included a screen, even though it’s basically a white sheet. It has metal holes to affix it to the wall, etc. and even comes with hooks. I didn’t use the adhesive hooks because I don’t have a place in my house where I would permanently want it. But it’s nice for those that might. At 100 inches, the sheet is a little difficult to deal with while traveling (unless you have equipment to hold it).
The keystone feature while nice,.isn’t perfect. But know that you can manually tweak it in the settings when you’re at an odd angle.
Using a tripid was a great way to get the correct height without balancing it on books to get it high enough to reach the screen. I really enjoy that feature.
One other downside is that there’s no battery. While one can’t expect to have a battery powered projector at this price point, it does create logistical hurdles when watching outdoors or traveling. Just something to keep in mind.
CONCLUSION
At this price point, you get a pretty good package. Built in streamer that doesn’t require any additional equipment, and the automatic keystone and focusing features are great as well as the built in speakers. While I didn’t personally use the screen, I’m always happy when companies give you those extras as I’m sure someone will be able to take advantage of it.
At this price point, you get a pretty good package. Built in streamer that doesn’t require any additional equipment, and the automatic keystone and focusing features are great as well as the built in speakers. While I didn’t personally use the screen, I’m always happy when companies give you those extras as I’m sure someone will be able to take advantage of it.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The ASUS VM501MHC delivers dependable everyday performance in a small 15L tower design built for productivity, multitasking, and home entertainment. Powered by an AMD Ryzen 5 processor and high-speed DDR5 memory, it handles daily workflows smoothly while keeping your workspace clean and efficient. Fast PCIe Gen 4 SSD storage helps applications load quickly, while Wi-Fi 6 connectivity ensures stable online performance for work, streaming, and video calls. An advanced thermal design keeps the system cool and quiet under pressure, and versatile connectivity makes it easy to connect displays, peripherals, and accessories. Complete with a wired keyboard and mouse, the VM501MHC is designed to provide reliable performance, expandability, and convenience for modern users.
Quick, Stylish, Daily PC
Customer Rating
5.0
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If you are looking for a non-gaming PC that is reliable, quick and great at multitasking, look no further than this Ryzen 5 ASUS mini tower. It’s a nice looking machine that looks tasteful and elegant (i.e. no bright lights - although I do like those). However, it comes with some performance trade-offs and limits to upgradeabiliity.
IN THE BOX
You get the PC, a power cable, and a basic (i.e. replace immediately) keyboard and mouse. No video cables, no monitor. The keyboard and mouse are fine to get it setup and running, but is not something I would use on a daily basis - I’m kind of a keyboard and mouse snob.
You get the PC, a power cable, and a basic (i.e. replace immediately) keyboard and mouse. No video cables, no monitor. The keyboard and mouse are fine to get it setup and running, but is not something I would use on a daily basis - I’m kind of a keyboard and mouse snob.
SETUP
I always like mentioning setup, even though as a Windows PC, it’s a pretty standard affair. It’s like every other Windows PC setup. It takes about an hour when you factor in the updates and logging in, etc. But I ran into no issues. I was up and running relatively quickly and I really liked the one-click registration process through ASUS (I’m not sure why I do it, I’ve never had to call support or anything, but it makes me feel good in case I need to).
I always like mentioning setup, even though as a Windows PC, it’s a pretty standard affair. It’s like every other Windows PC setup. It takes about an hour when you factor in the updates and logging in, etc. But I ran into no issues. I was up and running relatively quickly and I really liked the one-click registration process through ASUS (I’m not sure why I do it, I’ve never had to call support or anything, but it makes me feel good in case I need to).
DESIGN AND AESTHETICS
The tower is somewhat bland, it’s more of a dark brown color, but there’s a fake wood grain on the front that gives it a contemporary modern look. I find it attractive while understated. In the front you get a headphone jack, two USB-A ports (the rectangle kind) and USB-C. On the back it has 3 additional USB ports, Gigabit ethernet, 7.1 channel audio jacks, and a HDMI 2.1b port and DisplayPort 1.4.
The tower is somewhat bland, it’s more of a dark brown color, but there’s a fake wood grain on the front that gives it a contemporary modern look. I find it attractive while understated. In the front you get a headphone jack, two USB-A ports (the rectangle kind) and USB-C. On the back it has 3 additional USB ports, Gigabit ethernet, 7.1 channel audio jacks, and a HDMI 2.1b port and DisplayPort 1.4.
It runs really quiet, I don’t know the decibels, but you can’t hear it and it’s designed that way. It’s not distracting in any way.
SPEED AND PERFORMANCE
It’s powered by an AMD Ryzen 5 processor and 16GB of DDR5 RAM. It feels really quick for everyday tasks. Booting up or waking it up from sleep is extremely quick. You can easily run dozens of browser tabs, stream videos, and manage your workspace tools simultaneously without any sacrifice to its performance.
It’s powered by an AMD Ryzen 5 processor and 16GB of DDR5 RAM. It feels really quick for everyday tasks. Booting up or waking it up from sleep is extremely quick. You can easily run dozens of browser tabs, stream videos, and manage your workspace tools simultaneously without any sacrifice to its performance.
Using it as a home office computer designed to handle basic tasks, it’s more than adequate. We use it as a family computer for everyone to have access and it switches profiles, loads programs, etc. extremely fast. The performance in that regard is superb.
GAMING PERFORMANCE
This is where this computer lags, and that’s honestly by design. But if you’re like me, and your kids might use it for some gaming, it’s important to know its limitations. It has an integrated Radeon 740M graphics chip. It handles light titles, like Minecraft, Roblox or casual games without any problems at 1080p (we are using a 1080p monitor with it). I downloaded a few other games, like Bioshock Infinite and Lego Builder’s Journey. Bioshock crashed, I couldn’t get it to open, while I could play Builder’s Journey at the lowest graphics settings pretty seamlessly. Point being, your mileage will vary, but you will most certainly have to lower the graphics settings (pretty low) to be able to get smooth performance.
This is where this computer lags, and that’s honestly by design. But if you’re like me, and your kids might use it for some gaming, it’s important to know its limitations. It has an integrated Radeon 740M graphics chip. It handles light titles, like Minecraft, Roblox or casual games without any problems at 1080p (we are using a 1080p monitor with it). I downloaded a few other games, like Bioshock Infinite and Lego Builder’s Journey. Bioshock crashed, I couldn’t get it to open, while I could play Builder’s Journey at the lowest graphics settings pretty seamlessly. Point being, your mileage will vary, but you will most certainly have to lower the graphics settings (pretty low) to be able to get smooth performance.
The same rationale will apply to video editing. While I did not install any video editing software like Adobe, please know that there will be extreme limitations to anything requiring a lot of GPU power.
UPGRADEABILITY
It comes with a standard 500GB in the form of M.2 storage. The SSD is extremely quick (see the boot times mentioned above). It’s plenty of storage for most people, but you might need additional storage. Luckily, there’s an additional M.2 slot in the motherboard. You can also install a standard 3.5 inch HDD as there’s enough space in the chassis for it.
It comes with a standard 500GB in the form of M.2 storage. The SSD is extremely quick (see the boot times mentioned above). It’s plenty of storage for most people, but you might need additional storage. Luckily, there’s an additional M.2 slot in the motherboard. You can also install a standard 3.5 inch HDD as there’s enough space in the chassis for it.
Taking off the cover is easy and doesn’t require any tools. When you open it, you’ll find a LOT of open space. This helps with cooling and sound. But the only things I would recommend upgrading would be the storage space (swapping out the included 500 GB M.2 or adding a second). You can also swap out the RAM sticks (assuming you get new ones at a decent price) as the system can handle up to 64 GB of DDR5 RAM.
While the motherboard does feature a standard PCI expansion slot for dedicated GPUs, I don’t believe this PC was intended for that purpose. The power supply is very modest at only 180W, so any GPU would need to be low powered or you’d have to swap that out. Plus, while there is space in the chassis for a GPU, technically, I would imagine it would get pretty hot and potentially overheat the unit.
Bottomline, you could upgrade the storage and RAM now or down the road, but don’t expect to add a GPU - if that’s your plan, I’d look at other options.
CONCLUSION
If you’re looking for an elegant machine with snappy performance for everyday tasks such as work, web browsing, media consumption, look no further than this ASUS mini tower. It runs really quiet with upgradeable storage and RAM. But don’t treat it as a blank canvas to really push its capabilities beyond its intended use case of everyday type computing needs.
If you’re looking for an elegant machine with snappy performance for everyday tasks such as work, web browsing, media consumption, look no further than this ASUS mini tower. It runs really quiet with upgradeable storage and RAM. But don’t treat it as a blank canvas to really push its capabilities beyond its intended use case of everyday type computing needs.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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BlueParrott Pro B350 is a lightweight, comfort-first Bluetooth~ headset engineered for clear calls and easy communication throughout long, multi-stop driving days. Its industry-leading AI voice isolation microphones deliver 98% noise cancellation, while passive noise reduction in the earcup ensures clear calls on busy roads and around the vehicle. An ultra-light design with a soft ear cushion and T-bar pad reduces pressure for all-day comfort, plus up to 40 hours of talk time without interruption, Bluetooth~ connectivity and an extended, reliable wireless range help drivers stay connected in and out of the truck allowing you to leave your phone in the vehicle while dropping off orders or taking a break~ideal for long-haul truckers, food delivery drivers, regional drivers, ride-share drivers, farmers, landscapers, RV drivers, off-road enthusiasts, or anyone on the move. With simple voice control to answer and reject calls and the customizable BlueParrott Button~ for one-touch Push-to-Talk or mute, the Pro B350 enables quick, distraction-free communication that keeps attention on the road. Rugged IP54-rated protection ensures dependable performance for everyday driving conditions.
Ultimate Office Headset
Customer Rating
5.0
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This is made and designed for truckers; but I’m not a trucker. I do, however, spend quite a bit of my time on the phone and on Zoom calls in the office. I prefer headsets so as to not permit anyone to overhear my conversations.
After spending some time with this headset, it’s a big upgrade for an office or remote work environment.
This headset uses AI voice isolation. It’s not just meant for the standard background noise; this is designed to eliminate the loud sounds of semi-trucks. In the office setting, it completely negates office chatter - or someone walking into my room, heavy keyboard clacking (I use a loud mechanical keyboard), or the inevitable leaf blowers that always appear outside whenever you’re on an important call. I’ve had people comment about how quiet the background noise is on their end, and how crystal clear my voice comes through.
The battery life is incredible with 40 hours of continuous talk time (heaven help you if you’re ever on a call that long). The point is, it keeps on going. You can easily get through entire days of calls without worrying about the headset dying mid-sentence. I typically charge it at the end of the week and it gets me through the entire following week without battery issues.
It does connect to an app on your phone. It’s pretty basic - not a bad thing - where you can update the firmware and customize the “Parrott Button” (the Parrott button is a large button on the side). This is a great feature, whereby you can program this button to fit your workflow. Mine was mapped to instantly mute. But you can also map it to open up an app or call someone.
The Bluetooth range is pretty nice. Whether I’m linked to my computer or phone (the former is used for Zoom calls), I’m able to pace around the room, go to the kitchen down the hall and even a little further, without skipping a beat. While most of us keep our phones on us at all times, it’s nice to be able to roam a little bit without fear of disconnection - especially if you’re linked to a computer.
In terms of design, it’s pretty utilitarian. It’s obviously bigger than ear buds, but smaller than other microphone headsets you might use. But it’s extremely light using a padded T-bar headband. The ear cup is soft cushioned (there’s another ear cushion that’s made of foam in the box) and is really comfortable. It doesn’t go over my entire ear, but it doesn’t pinch my ears or otherwise feel uncomfortable. Note that since I’m not a trucker, I’m not wearing those for hours on end; I put it on and take it off after each call. But I feel pretty confident saying that it would be comfortable to wear for hours on end. You kind of forget you’re wearing it even for short durations.
While it looks more heavy duty than a pair of discrete earbuds, when your business relies on flawless communication, form follows function. You don’t need to be an over the road trucker to appreciate the quality of this hardware and the sophistication of the noise isolation. I highly recommend it for any desk professional.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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GoPro - Karma Quadcopter with HERO5 Black - Black/White
Take aerial shots with this GoPro Karma drone. Its Karma Stabilizer lets the included HERO5 Black action camera capture shake-free videos, while the Karma Grip provides reliable stabilization for handheld and mounted filming. The game-style controller with an integrated touch display makes Karma easy and fun to fly.Fly Responsibly:Before takeoff, update all software and firmware, and read the instructions thoroughly.See the FAA website for registration requirements and information about flying a drone safely: https://www.faa.gov/uas/getting_started/. Additional state or local requirements may apply. Check your local jurisdiction. The following websites may help you make informed decisions about flying your drone: www.knowbeforeyoufly.org and www.modelaircraft.org.
Just curious what the flight time experience has been like. Says 20 minutes with no payload; however, is the camera considered "payload"? Is it 20 minutes WITH the camera? Also, how close to 20 minutes is the "actual" flight time?
Given that the camera is required to fly I wouldn't think that the camera is considered payload. I've never tried to fly with any payload mostly because I haven't needed to and it doesn't seem equipped to hold anything (you would have to use some ingenuity to attach something to it). I can speak as to how long it flies without any payload but obviously with the camera. And in my use, it's been between 18-19 minutes of flight time. The very first time I flew it, it landed itself due to low battery around the 18 minutes mark, even though on the handheld controller, the screen said there was 2 minutes of flight time left. I haven't flown it enough while taking video/stills to determine how much that drains the battery. Hope that helps.
9 years, 7 months ago
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Posted by:
callmeageeth
Sony - PlayStation VR Launch Bundle
Sony PlayStation VR Launch Bundle:Immerse yourself in a virtual-reality gaming world with this Sony PlayStation VR bundle. Experience body-responsive gaming with the two PlayStation Move motion controllers. The built-in camera lets you take clear photos, and the stereo headphones provide rich sound. Challenge your gaming ability with the VR Worlds game included with this Sony PlayStation VR bundle.
Is the camera of this bundle the latest one? The ps4 camera? Or the ps3 camera?
Yes, the bundle comes with the newest model camera. The packaging and promotions for the PSVR actually show the older model (which as I understand, will still work). This camera is completely different than the PS3 version.
9 years, 11 months ago
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Posted by:
callmeageeth
Google - Pixel 4G LTE with 32GB Memory Cell Phone (Verizon)
Bring the power of Google directly to your fingertips with the Google Pixel. A large 32GB of storage keep data secure, while unlimited cloud storage transfers data as needed, and it's completely automatic. The large 5-inch screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 4 to ensure the Google Pixel remains scratch-free.
It is an unlocked phone, so I assume it is compatible with SIM card from other countries - is that correct?
I can't confirrm that it will work sims from other countries (depends on bandwidths) but I can absolutely confirm that putting a T-Mobile sim into this phone will work. Sorry couldn't give you a better answer!
9 years, 11 months ago
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Posted by:
callmeageeth
GoPro - Dual Battery Charger - Black
Charge 2 GoPro lithium-ion batteries simultaneously with this GoPro AHBBP-301 charger that reliably draws power from select USB chargers, USB-enabled computers or GoPro wall or vehicle chargers (not included), so you can keep your camera ready for use.
Does this have the cable to connect charger to computer? Is there a cord that connects camera directly to computer or wall charger for charging? I think we lost ours.
It comes with a mini-USB cable which you can plug into your computer (I wouldn't recommend because of slow charging) and a wall charger. The same mini-USB cable plugs directly into the camera itself
10 years, 1 month ago
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Posted by:
callmeageeth
SANDISK - Ultra PLUS 128GB microSDXC UHS-I Memory Card
Expand the storage of your compatible device with this SanDisk Ultra PLUS microSDXC memory card that features a 128GB capacity to hold your photos and videos and a Class 10 rating to ensure speedy data transfer. The rugged design resists damage.
compatibility
I have a Dell Venue 8 Pro.Would this work with it for storage?also is it compatible with android devices?...thank you
Double check your specific Android device. Most newer devices accept it, I believe this card was intended for Android devices, but again, I know some devices only accept up to 64 GB card
12 years ago
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Posted by:
callmeageeth
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Louisville, KY