Oppo’s Enco lineup of true wireless earphones has been a relatively quiet success for the company, and has received largely positive feedback from the community, including myself. While the premium Enco X2 headset is among the best that you can guy for around Rs. 10,000 or so, the Enco Air series is a bit more of a hit-or-miss situation. While the regular ‘Air’ variants haven’t quite matched up to the hype, the ‘Pro’ headsets have generally been good picks when it comes to features and performance for the price.

Following up on the somewhat ordinary Oppo Enco Air 3 (which was launched in early 2023) is the Oppo Enco Air 3 Pro. The successor to the Enco Air 2 Pro is considerably more expensive at Rs. 4,999, but promises big improvements in the specifications sheet and performance to make up for the increase in pricing, including advanced Bluetooth codec support and bamboo-fibre diaphragms for the drivers. Is this enough to help the Enco Air 3 Pro retain Oppo’s perceptional leadership of the budget true wireless segment in India? Find out in this review.

The case of the Oppo Enco Air 3 Pro has a USB Type-C port for charging

Oppo Enco Air 3 Pro design and features

We don’t often see massive design changes in generational updates when it comes to true wireless earphones, and that’s indeed the case with the Oppo Enco Air 3 Pro. Apart from minor changes, the Enco Air 3 Pro largely resembles the Enco Air 2 Pro to the point where it’s hard to tell the two apart. The newer earphones are available in a new green colour option which isn’t available on the Enco Air 2 Pro, though.

The earpieces of the Oppo Enco Air 3 Pro have a stem design with rounded out sides all around, and distinct ‘L’ and ‘R’ indicators cut into the earpieces for easy visibility. Unlike the basic Enco Air earphones which have an outer-ear fit and no ANC, the Enco Air ‘Pro’ lineup features a proper in-canal fit, which allows for effective active noise cancellation. The earphones are light and comfortable, and come with a charging cable and three pairs of silicone ear tips of different sizes in the box.

As before the controls are touch sensitive, with lightly indicated areas near the top of each earpiece stem. It’s less than ideal, because the small size of the touch area makes it easy to make mistakes. You can set various gestures to control various functions of playback, noise cancellation, voice assistant, and volume, with different gestures capable of being mapped to different functions.

It’s a reasonably detailed set with plenty of room for customisation, but given the propensity for touch miscues, you might want to keep it a bit simple and deactivate certain gestures such as single-tap entirely. While I’m not entirely against touch controls, the zone definitely needs to be bigger than what’s on the Oppo Enco Air 3 Pro earphones.

Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro True Wireless Earphones Review

The Oppo Enco Air 3 Pro earphones are IP55 rated for dust and water resistance, so you’ll be able to use them for workouts safely, and even in somewhat wet conditions such as light rain. The charging case of the headset has the Oppo logo at the front, an indicator light just below the logo, the USB Type-C port for charging at the bottom, and no pairing button.

You can put the headset into pairing mode with a long-touch gesture on both earpieces at the same time. Additional features on the Oppo Enco Air 3 Pro include support for Google Fast Pair, app-based features such as Oppo Alive Audio (virtualised Spatial surround sound) and Golden Sound (customised frequency compensation based on the specific hearing of each user).

Oppo Enco Air 3 Pro app and specifications

The Oppo Enco Air 3 Pro expectedly features app and feature customisation support, but how it appears and is accessed depends on the device you’re using. If you’re on a supported OnePlus or Oppo smartphone, you’ll see the ‘app’ appearing in the Bluetooth settings of the phone, making for easy access that visually matches the user interface completely. If you’re using other devices, the HeyMelody app offers access to the full feature set on both iOS and Android.

oppo enco air 3 pro review app Oppo

On some OnePlus and Oppo smartphones, app features for the Oppo Enco Air 3 Pro appear within the Bluetooth settings menu

Within the app and settings, it’s possible to access various features and customisation options such as equaliser presets, ANC levels and personalisation, enable multi-point connectivity for up to two devices, locate the earbuds with a loud noise, and conduct a fit test. You can also go through the process and enable or disable Oppo Alive Audio (spatial surround sound virtualisation) and Golden Sound (tailored sound profile based on your specific hearing characteristics).

Best Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) Headphones and Earphones in India

Multi-point connectivity worked well on an iPhone and Android device simultaneously. Bluetooth codec selection maxed out on both devices and pleasantly allowed LDAC support on the Android smartphone, unlike on many other similar headsets which limit the codec to AAC when connecting two devices simultaneously. Connectivity was stable on the whole even with this enabled.

Notably, the Oppo Enco Air 3 Pro uses a bamboo fibre diaphragm for the drivers, unlike the typically metal diaphragms used on most earphones. The headset has 12.4mm dynamic drivers, a frequency response range of 20-40,000Hz, and a sensitivity rating of 107dB. For connectivity, the earphones use Bluetooth 5.3, with support for the SBC, AAC, and LDAC Bluetooth codecs.

Oppo Enco Air 3 Pro performance and battery life

While Oppo’s budget lineup has typically been device agnostic in terms of performance, the Enco Air 3 Pro takes a big step in setting itself up as made for certain devices. Support for the LDAC Bluetooth codec is fairly wide across Android devices, and this ensures a considerably different sound quality experience when using the earphones with an Android smartphone. Although the sound isn’t bad with the AAC codec (on iOS), there’s an audible difference here.

Understanding Bluetooth Codecs on Wireless Headphones and Earphones

The Oppo Enco Air 3 Pro’s bamboo fibre drivers are touted as a major factor in improving the sound quality on the earphones, but I didn’t really perceive this as being the reason for the improvement in performance. Sound quality with the AAC codec and software enhancements switched off seemed largely on par with what I’ve heard on similarly-priced true wireless headsets.

The Oppo Enco Air 3 Pro has bamboo fibre diaphragms for the drivers, along with support for the LDAC Bluetooth codec

Instead, it all comes down to the software implementations, in my opinion; LDAC Bluetooth codec support and the Golden Sound customised profile seemed to make a more notable difference in improving the sound quality, as compared to the competition. Indeed, there aren’t too many options with LDAC support at under Rs. 5,000, so the Oppo Enco Air 3 Pro stands out in this regard.

Oppo Enco Air 3 True Wireless Earphones Review

Coming to the sound quality and performance itself, the Oppo Enco Air 3 Pro uses its software tricks and codec support to deliver a reasonably balanced and detailed sound that is admittedly rare in the budget space for true wireless earphones. Competing products typically use a reasonable level of tuning alone to make a compelling pitch (heavy bass and the like), making Oppo’s approach a bit more unique.

The detail levels come as a result of the obviously superior bandwidth handling capabilities of the advanced Bluetooth codec, combined with a rather good soundstage that provides a decent amount of spatial virtualisation. Listening to Dua Lipa’s Dance the Night with the LDAC Bluetooth codec in operation, the sound felt spacious and enjoyable, never pushing too hard even at high volumes. Instead, the sound was encouraging, almost as if it was getting me to try and pick out the elements.

The Oppo Enco Air 3 Pro is IP55 rated for dust and water resistance

This cheerful disco-inspired track from Barbie sounded neither too aggressive, nor to forward, instead striking the right balance between drive and comfort. The lows didn’t hit too hard, but this was only a good thing in a segment that is dominated by earphones that come with typically punchy and attacking bass.

Much of this detail is helped along by the Golden Sound enhancement, which conducts a listening test to tailor the sound for specific hearing characteristics of the wearer. Once completed, the sound changes a bit with the profile enabled; it sounded a fair bit more luxurious and open-feeling when enabled, and I usually kept it on after that.

Switching up to the slower but more hard-hitting Am I Dreaming by Metro Boomin’ from the Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse soundtrack, the Oppo Enco Air 3 Pro was able to adapt and deliver a bit more rumble when needed. However, it also highlighted the very audible U-shaped sonic signature, with the mid-range considerably lower in response than the lows and highs.

Speaking of the highs, the Oppo Enco Air 3 Pro seems to push these frequencies a bit too much. I didn’t tend to notice it much at low volumes, but the sharpness was a bit tiresome at high volume levels. This largely depends on what you’re listening to — Dance the Night revealed this, while Am I Dreaming didn’t quite sound as harsh because of the track’s nature.

Active noise cancellation on the Oppo Enco Air 3 Pro is fairly basic, and suitable primarily for indoor use to cancel out basic household sounds and make listening just a bit easier. It’s helped along by reasonably effective noise isolation through the in-canal fit, and customisable ANC modes also help in optimising the performance for specific settings. I found the mild mode to be the most balanced and effective indoors; the other modes didn’t particularly help in noisy outdoor scenarios.

Call quality is decent indoors and satisfactory outdoors, but I didn’t find the voice and microphone quality good enough to want to use the Oppo Enco Air 3 Pro for very long calls or online meetings.

Battery life is acceptable enough for a headset in this price segment; I got around 4 hours of listening on the earpieces and a little over three charges from the case, when using ANC and the LDAC Bluetooth codec, with the volume at around the 50-60 percent level. This translated to a total run time of around 17-18 hours of listening per charge cycle — not exceptional, but not too bad either.

Verdict

Oppo is among the best in the budget true wireless segment right now, and the Oppo Enco Air 3 Pro largely lives up to the reputation created by the brand’s wide range of affordable TWS products. That said, at Rs. 4,999, it’s a fair bit more expensive than earlier products in this segment, and only just about classifies as a budget product based on reasonable definitions and price segmentation. The performance and features on offer do justify the pricing, so it’s worth a recommendation.

While you do get a fair bit more on the Oppo Enco Air 3 Pro than what competing products offer for the price, I wouldn’t go as far as to call it revolutionary or exceptional. Nonetheless, it’s easily my pick for the best pair of true wireless earphones for Rs. 5,000, although I’d be more inclined to suggest options such as the Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro and OnePlus Nord Buds 2, which offer a bit more bang for your buck.

The post Oppo Enco Air 3 Pro Review: Same, but Different (In the Right Ways) appeared first on Review Products.

Realme has only released two tablet computers since its 2018 debut. The Realme Pad 2, the company’s second tablet, has some performance and aesthetic upgrades over its predecessor. It also includes cellular connectivity, distinguishing it as a unique product in the sub-Rs—20,000 tablet market, dominated by inexpensive tablets deficient in this capability. Faster charging and a display with a 120Hz refresh rate are also included. More significantly, the software has been optimized for a wide-screen experience, and the base model also includes 6GB of RAM. But to produce a tablet at such a low cost, did Realme make any compromises? Can it genuinely outperform the recently released Redmi Pad in terms of value? Let’s investigate.

Indian Realme Pad 2 cost

The Realme Pad 2’s base model costs Rs. 19,999 in India and comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The most expensive model costs Rs. 22,999 and has 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Since LTE connectivity is an essential feature on both models, the older model’s more excellent price is more than justified, especially considering the additional improvements it provides.

Realme Pad 2’s look

There are two finishes for the tablet: Inspiration Green and Imagination Grey. As one can see, Realme is aiming both of these products at young consumers. The unit we received for evaluation in a brilliant green color looks pretty appealing, even though I found its design and material selection somewhat reminiscent of Oppo’s Pad Air.

The Realme Pad 2 has a chassis with a polycarbonate insert that occupies about a quarter of the back surface and a metal frame with flat sides. The considerable camera module is attached to one end of the plastic band, which spans the whole top half of the gadget (when held horizontally) and includes the frame.

All antennas required for radio transmission are conveniently concealed beneath the insert. Although noticeable, the camera bump does not protrude very far and does not cause the tablet to wiggle when placed on a flat surface.

Due to the basic design approach, there are no joints or antenna gaps. Thus, it feels rather premium and relatively compact (7.2mm). The four-speaker grilles’ perforations, which likewise seem understated and understated, are another feature I appreciated. Realme’s software interface blends beautifully with the enormous 11.5-inch LCD screen’s thin bezel all around and rounded corner cuts.

The Realme Pad 2 lacks additional accessories, just like the previous version. It’s still being determined why the Pad doesn’t even sell a simple kickstand folio cover, but this does suggest that the company only intends for its tablet to be used as a media consumption tool. I always had to hold the tablet at an angle to watch the content or navigate via its interface because there wasn’t an available case or stand. With a weight of 518g, holding this tablet at the necessary angle gets tiresome, especially when viewing movies or television.

Software and specifications for the Realme Pad 2

For some time, various low-cost devices have been using the 6nm MediaTek Helio G99 SoC, which powers the Realme Pad 2. The Redmi Pad, which is this device’s main rival, is also on the list of gadgets. Wi-Fi AC, Bluetooth 5.2, support for several LTE bands, and the typical satellite global positioning systems are among the communication technologies.

To plug in headphones, there is no headphone jack available. However, you receive a SIM card tray with slots for a SIM and a microSD card that can hold up to 1TB of data. The tablet’s 8,360mAh battery may be topped with the included 33W charger.

I was also taken aback that there was no secure biometric authentication on a tablet priced less than Rs. 20,000. Like the previous version, the Realme Pad 2 lacks a fingerprint reader, making 2D face unlock the only way to access the tablet without entering a passcode. While this isn’t a safe way to open a personal device, it did function well in all but complete darkness.

Three apps can be displayed at once on the Realme Pad 2.

The software interface of the Realme Pad is an enhancement over the earlier model. It is not a ‘light’ or simplified version of the conventional Realme UI interface that can be found on its entry-level devices, including the prior design.

The brand-new Realme Pad 2 receives the complete treatment with all the customization options one would anticipate from its smartphones and a few more. This features a bottom dock that displays recently launched and pinned apps running in the background. Although this dock isn’t available anywhere in the interface or can be called up over third-party programs, its utility is restricted to the home screen.

The Realme Pad 2 included just one preinstalled third-party program (Facebook), which can be removed, in contrast to most other Realme devices and tablets in this price range.

This tablet-optimized version of Realme UI has full touchpad functionality (under Additional Settings) with full support for gestures one would do on a standard trackpad despite no officially authorized peripherals. There are also the standard features, such as the ability to run two apps in split-screen mode while another app is launched in a pop-up window, allowing for the simultaneous display of three apps.

Realme Pad 2 functionality

This tablet allows for effective multitasking. I ran five Chrome tabs concurrently while the YouTube app was split-screening clips side by side. The system handles opening a floating window while executing all of this fine, with some slowness when drawing lengthy web pages.

I liked the aspect ratio of this large display regardless of the tablet’s software performance, which was suitable for a cheap tablet. It is excellent for content consumption and has enough space to run two split-screen apps simultaneously.

Because Realme includes Widevine L1 support, I could stream and watch full-HD video content on this tablet. Although the display loses contrast at an angle, outdoor visibility is decent. Given its size and quality, the show isn’t the clearest on the market, and its MEMC high-refresh-rate system occasionally exhibits noticeable choppiness when scrolling or switching between videos and apps.

When it came to benchmarks, the tablet delivered results that were comparable to low-cost smartphones at this price point. The Realme Pad 2 got 726 and 1,975 issues in the single-core and multi-core tests of Geekbench, respectively, and 4,29,907 points in AnTuTu. In the Manhattan 3.1, T-Rex, and Car Chase test suites of GFXBench, the tablet achieved graphical frame rates of 25, 55, and 15 frames per second, respectively.

Among its rivals, the Realme Pad 2’s display is the largest but could be better.

Although the MediaTek Helio G99 is not a performance powerhouse, it is adequate for daily tasks. Despite boasting a 120Hz refresh rate display, this tablet is better suited for casual gaming than graphics-intensive games. I tried Asphalt 9: Legends, and it played perfectly well, with some little frame skipping and stuttering on the basic settings.

The sound was better than the previous model’s more straightforward dual speaker configuration, which was what I liked about the gaming and video viewing experience. The sound is unquestionably louder and more immersive than the previous generation. Additionally, the tablet supports Dolby Atmos.

A 5-megapixel back camera and an 8-megapixel front camera are both featured on the Realme Pad 2. As predicted, the primary shooter provides essential image quality with below-average detail but closer to natural colors. Even in full daylight, the textures were mainly flat. Thus, you are better off using any smartphone camera offered at this price bracket.

The front-facing camera’s selfies have bland surfaces and trim detail. This camera is better suited for video calling because it handles backdrop exposure well when recording video, which is helpful when making video calls.

A 5-megapixel primary camera is featured on the Realme Pad 2.

For a low-cost tablet, the battery life is quite good. The Realme Pad 2 completed the typical battery loop video test at 26 hours and 13 minutes. It can easily last two days with intensive use and three days with light use, which is suitable for a compact tablet, with or without a SIM card inside.

Because it now has LTE coverage, it is also a dependable road warrior that can offer continuous entertainment (for OTT apps) or connectivity (for video conversations, etc.) while moving. Its larger battery will also last significantly longer than any smartphone in your pocket.

Regarding charging, the tablet received a 33 percent charge in 30 minutes, a 62 percent charge in an hour, and a full charge in 1 hour and 36 minutes, which is decent for a tablet.

Verdict

Overall, the form and functionality of the Realme Pad 2 are identical to those of the first version. It works best when used only as a media consumption tool. Realme should have released a keyboard adapter with the tablet to use it as a portable workstation. It also cannot be used to scribble on because it does not support styluses.

The Realme Pad 2 improves upon the shortcomings of its predecessor and achieves something of an all-rounder status by adding a high-refresh-rate display, an upgraded processor, and cellular connectivity to its feature list. Finding something comparable on the market at Rs. 19,999 can be challenging. Its nearest rivals are the Redmi Pad (Review) and the Oppo Pad Air (Review), which are slightly less expensive but feature smaller displays, batteries, and no cellular connectivity.

The post Realme Pad 2 Review: A Stylish Upgrade That Covers the Basics appeared first on Review Products.

Smartphone brands entering the accessories space is not a new thing, and many such as Xiaomi, Oppo, OnePlus, Samsung, and Apple have established product ranges in the true wireless audio segment. The latest to give it a shot is Poco, which operates in India as a sub-brand of Xiaomi, and has been a noteworthy player in the mid-range smartphone segment. The company’s first audio product is firmly an entry-level offering.

Priced at Rs. 1,199 in India, the Poco Pods true wireless earphones isn’t too complex or feature-rich, but they don’t cost a lot either. This headset is as basic as it gets, but perhaps that’s exactly what some might need. Find out if the Poco Pods is indeed worth the price, and if it’s the best affordable true wireless headset you can buy right now.

The Poco Pods have a proper in-canal fit with good noise isolation, and a decently-sized charging case

Poco Pods design, features, and specifications

The Poco Pods headset has what I consider a very generic look and feel (it looks a lot like the Redmi Buds 4 Active), but this isn’t a bad thing. The earpieces are light and fairly durable, with a proper in-canal fit and stem design. The headset is available in a single black-and-yellow colour option — Poco’s signature colour scheme. If that wasn’t enough, the large Poco logo on the front of the all-black charging case sufficiently makes the point.

The earpieces have touch-sensitive areas for controls, but the lack of app support on the Poco Pods means that the controls are fixed and non-customisable. A double-tap gesture will let you answer calls or play and pause music, while a triple tap on either side cancel the call or skip to the next track. You can’t skip to the previous track from the earphones; you’ll need the paired smartphone to do that.

A long press on both earpieces simultaneously will activate or disable the low-latency mode. There are a couple of other gestures meant to put the headset into forced pairing mode or factory reset the Poco Pods, but you can simply put the earphones into pairing mode by disconnecting all other connected and paired devices. On the whole, the system functions are fairly easy and uncomplicated, as you’d expect from a true wireless headset which doesn’t have app support.

The charging case has a small indicator light at the bottom, alongside the USB Type-C charging port. The fit on the earpieces is decent, and the Poco Pods come with environmental noise cancellation, which promises better performance on calls. The sales package includes a total of three pairs of silicone ear tips of different sizes, but no charging cable is included in the box.

As mentioned earlier, there is no app support on the Poco Pods, but I wouldn’t go as far as to call this a drawback on a headset in this price range. Fortunately, you do get the basics such as USB Type-C charging, as well as the benefits of features such as environmental noise cancellation and 60ms low-latency for use when gaming.

The Poco Pods is available in just a single colour for now; black and yellow

The Poco Pods headset has 12mm dynamic drivers, and uses Bluetooth 5.3 for connectivity, with support for only the SBC Bluetooth codec — a disappointing spec even at this price. Usefully, either earpiece can be used individually if you like, with the other securely stored in the charging case and not affecting stable connectivity for the earpiece in operation.

Poco Pods performance and battery life

I tend to keep my expectations tempered when it comes to affordable true wireless earphones; you’re paying almost entirely for the form factor here, and saving on paying premiums for the ‘fluff’, so to speak. The Poco Pods largely deliver that straightforward true wireless experience, but the sound quality is perhaps not as good as it could have been, even considering the affordable pricing.

Detailed tuning might be too much to expect here, but the crux of the Poco Pods’ shortcomings can be pinned on its codec limitations. The SBC codec doesn’t quite allow enough bandwidth for the earphones to work with, and this can be heard in the sound quality. It sounds unrefined at times, although it doesn’t reach a point of being unpleasant even at high volumes. It’s listenable considering the price, and useful if you just need earphones to help you tune out your surroundings.

The earpieces of the Poco Pods are light and comfortable, with non-customisable touch controls

 Starting with David Guetta’s Stay (Don’t Go Away), the sound initially sounded alright when the track itself wasn’t pushing too hard, but as the attack picked up, the Poco Pods started to sound a bit muffled. I wouldn’t go as far as to call it muddy or too harsh, and the sound might even appeal to those who enjoy hearing a bit more from the bass frequencies.

Certain genres and types of tracks are admittedly better suited to this kind of tuning and sound, with many of Croatia Squad’s distinctly beat-driven tracks sounding rather enjoyable on the Poco Pods. The progressive and rather straightforward attack of Make Your Move by Croatia Squad was perhaps the best example of how a niche (or genre, in this case) can be found to bring the best out of even affordable wireless earphones. The lack of detail in the track was evident, but matters less with certain tracks and genres such as this.

Call quality is acceptable and workable enough for both indoor and outdoor use; microphone performance is decent in quiet rooms, but suffered a bit outdoors despite the presence of ENC. Low-latency mode didn’t seem to make much of a difference in audio latency on basic mobile games.

Battery life is decent on the Poco Pods, with the earphones running for around five hours on a single charge of the earpieces, and the charging case offering over three full additional charges, for a total run time of around 22-23 hours per charge cycle, which is a bit lower than the claimed time of 30 hours. This is somewhat expected given the lack of features and codec support, but users will obviously find this good enough for practical all-day listening.

Verdict

The Poco Pods true wireless headset delivers largely what you expect from a headset in this price range — nothing more, and nothing less. The earphones are basic, but reasonably well set up for the kind of music that most budget buyers might want to listen to. Don’t expect too much detail, and use these for casual listening, particularly when out and about thanks to the decent passive noise isolation. Battery life is decent as well.

There is plenty of competition in this price segment, but Poco’s first effort in the true wireless audio space is a commendable effort. Perhaps the only real drawback is the lack of support for the AAC Bluetooth codec, but all things considered this is a worthwhile pair of earphones if you have a very tight budget.

The post Poco Pods True Wireless Earphones Review: Inexpensive and Easy Going appeared first on Review Products.

Noise, an Indian personal audio brand, is one of the top brands in its market, mainly because of its affordable prices and capacity to offer features that aren’t frequently found on low-cost goods. It’s a clever strategy that Noise has employed to solidify its position in some of the most well-liked and quickly evolving gadget categories, such as headphones and smartwatches. The most recent product follows this recipe for success by providing a feature generally seen on more expensive goods for less than Rs. 2,000.

The Noise Buds Venus genuine wireless headphones with active noise cancellation are priced at Rs. 1,899, making the once-expensive feature much more widely available. The Noise Buds Venus are among the most cost-effective true wireless earphones with ANC available right now, and they offer many benefits. Does this mean the Venus is the most incredible wireless headset you can get right now for less than Rs. 2,000? Learn more from this review.

Water resistance for the Noise Buds Venus earpieces is rated at IPX5.

Design, characteristics, and specifications of Noise Buds Venus

Most true wireless earphones on the market today have a very generic appearance. However, the Noise Buds Venus has a distinctive appearance that aligns with the brand’s artistic philosophy. The earpieces offer an intriguing mix of shiny and matte surfaces that complement the charging case’s design. The earbuds stand out compared to most of those in this price range, which often have an expensive appearance.

The Noise Buds Venus’ earpieces have touch-sensitive controls and an in-canal fit that guarantees effective noise isolation to support active noise cancellation. Although bulky and protruding, they weigh only 3.5g apiece and don’t seem particularly cumbersome when worn. Even with the standard, medium-sized ear tips, I found the fit comfortable, but additional pairs — a total of three — are included in the box for some fitting customization. A USB Type-A to Type-C charging cable and an instruction booklet are also included in the package, which you’ll need to get used to the controls.

trangely, no accompanying app supports the Noise Buds Venus’ more expensive capabilities, including active noise reduction and low-latency gaming mode. Environmental noise cancellation is also available, and the headset’s quad-microphone technology enables voice communications, ANC, and ENC.

Given the lack of app compatibility, the Noise Buds Venus controls are pretty straightforward and cannot be modified. Still, you may control all of these features directly from the earpieces themselves, for which you will require the instruction manual. The controls are simple enough to understand and rely on different combinations of taps to control everything, including playback, volume, ANC, and gaming mode. Eventually, you’ll become accustomed to them.

The Noise Buds Venus’ charging case is the perfect size—neither too big nor too small—and features a USB Type-C connection at the bottom and an indication light next to the company name. It is convenient enough to provide a reasonable amount of additional charges to the earpieces and supports fast charging. More on that later. It will fit conveniently in your pocket. The headset comes in four color options: black, brown, green, and ivory. In my opinion, all of these alternatives look good.

A USB Type-C port is located on the Noise Buds Venus charging case.

The Noise Buds Venus’ technical specs include 10mm dynamic speakers, Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity, and SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs support. The earpieces’ water resistance rating is IPX5, meaning they can easily withstand small water splashes and sweat. Additionally, voice help is supported by calling the built-in voice assistant on the associated smartphone.

Battery life and performance of Noise Buds Venus

The Noise Buds Venus are true wireless headphones with active noise cancellation for less than Rs. 2,000, which is already a very astounding claim. However, it is even better that they perform pretty well. The earphones have been adjusted quite well for the budget, but some of it is also supported by technically sound specifications, including compatibility with the AAC Bluetooth codec and Bluetooth 5.3.

Good tuning is already half the battle won for the Noise Buds Venus, considering that most inexpensive wireless earphones tend to fall short here. I was taken aback by the straightforward and uncomplicated sound, maintaining a solid balance between nailing the sonic character and allowing for a reasonable amount of detail.

Friendly Fires’ “Paris (Aeroplane Remix)” sounded great when played moderately because it had just the proper amount of low-end assault and high-end shimmer. It pleasantly engaging listening experience that let me concentrate on the music without abrupt outside disturbances. Budget wireless earphones serve that purpose, and the Noise Buds Venus accomplishes this without exerting excessive effort.

Fortunately, there is no ‘target zone’ for volume where the Noise Buds Venus functions at its finest, and volume variations don’t influence the sound quality more than you’d expect. This was helpful since it allowed me to adjust the volume of the music I listened to based on how I felt or how calm the environment was. However, a book of 60 percent was generally sufficient for indoor listening, and I would increase it to about 70 percent for outdoor listening.

Review of the Venus noise buds Noise

Although the Noise Buds Venus lacks an app and offers active noise reduction, this is not a significant issue because all features can be accessed through the earpieces.

If necessary, the Noise Buds Venus can be pretty loud. However, I could hear some grit after the volume reached 90%. You won’t need to go that loud in everyday use because the Noise Buds Venus mainly keeps up with contemporary genres at even modest volumes. The Noise Buds Venus struggled a little with voice calls in noisy locations, but call quality is sufficient for most usage cases.

Indian market’s top active Noise-canceling (ANC) headphones and earphones

Given the high price of earbuds, active noise cancellation on the Noise Buds Venus is relatively simple and only slightly reduces ambient Noise, failing to cancel it out entirely. With ANC enabled, even basic indoor noises like a ceiling fan’s whirling could still be heard, while outdoor sounds were even less affected.

Nevertheless, even at low volumes, it makes music easier to listen to, so it’s not entirely without use. Consider ANC on this a bonus rather than a USP of the Noise Buds Venus, as it falls short of the performance level you obtain with even the comparably priced Oppo Enco Air 3 Pro.

For the price, the Noise Buds Venus has a respectable battery life. With ANC activated and the volume set to 60%, the earphones lasted about 5 hours per charge, and the charging case gave them an extra four charges. With mixed-use, you may still reach the amount of listening time I could obtain during testing, which amounted to about 25 hours every charge cycle. The casing supports quick charging; a 10-minute charge is expected to provide roughly 2 hours of listening time.

Verdict

Budget-friendly active noise cancellation True wireless headsets are typically quite simple, particularly for entry-level products. This is true even of the Noise Buds Venus, which offers a very rudimentary ANC experience that only improves the entire experience a little but is still great. The Venus is a decent set of earphones for the price, except for one minor drawback—the absence of an app.

The post Noise Buds Venus ANC Earphones: A Quick Review appeared first on Review Products.

In terms of personal audio, true wireless earphones might be all the rage right now, but the traditional neckband form factor is still widely used. With its legendary Bullets Wireless collection of earbuds having dominated the industry just as Bluetooth was reaching a degree of affordability and practicality, OnePlus is, without a doubt, one of the most significant brands in this market. Interestingly, OnePlus recently introduced the Bullets Wireless Z2 ANC in India and remains one of the few big proponents of the neckband form factor.

The OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z2 ANC, which retails for Rs. 2,299, offers a traditional and well-known design with the added convenience of active noise canceling; this is a modest improvement over the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z2. Can this headset and the form factor become more relevant with the addition of ANC? Or should you invest in truly wireless earbuds? Learn more from this review.

Features of the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z2 ANC design

The OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z2 ANC, as the name suggests, is just the Bullets Wireless Z2 with the addition of active noise cancellation. Therefore, most of the neckband-style wireless headset’s design has stayed the same. If you select the black color option, it will be difficult to tell if this differs from the earlier OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z2. Interestingly, the ANC variant offers a green hue option that the non-ANC variant does not.

Indian market’s top active noise canceling (ANC) headphones and earphones

The OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z2 ANC has a flexible neckband, small cords attaching to the earpieces, and controls on the collar itself, just like most neckband wireless earphones available today. The magnetic switch on the earpieces manages power; separating their turns on the headset while connecting them shuts it off. Due to how simple it is to separate the earpieces, this is once again prone to unintentional switches, with the headset frequently going on unexpectedly.

The buttons on the neckband, which are all on the left module, are used to easily switch between two paired devices, control playback, switch between ANC and transparency modes, and control volume. The charging USB Type-C port is located on the left module’s underside, while the right side is empty, aside from the OnePlus logo. The OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z2 ANC is IP55 rated for dust and water resistance, just like its predecessor.

As previously stated, the addition of active noise cancellation, which is supposed to provide up to 45dB of noise reduction, is the only significant modification to the feature list of the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z2 ANC.

Other back features include:

• Automatic low-latency mode activation.
• Rapid switching between two linked source devices.
• Support for Google Fast Pair on supported devices.

Controls for the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z2 Anc Review

There are two customizable buttons on the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z2 ANC and volume controls.

Specifications and the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z2 ANC app

Finding app support on neckband earphones is uncommon but not unheard of, and the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z2 ANC does. The HeyMelody app for Android supports the headset. When the headset is paired and connected, these settings are accessible through the system Bluetooth settings on a compatible OnePlus or Oppo smartphone.

Although the actual controls and customizations are reasonably simple, they provide access to the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z2 ANC’s essential features. The approximate charge level, transparency and active noise cancellation modes, rudimentary customization of the two customizable buttons, and equalizer settings are all included. Four equalization settings are available for quick access, but advanced users can design their equalizer modes to suit their listening preferences.

The main features of the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z2 ANC remain essentially the same; the headset has 12.4mm dynamic speakers with a frequency response range of 20-20,000Hz and a sensitivity rating of 112dB. The headset supports the SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs and uses Bluetooth 5.2 for connectivity (an upgrade from Bluetooth 5 on the non-ANC model).

Review of the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z2 App

The app-based capabilities are accessible through Bluetooth settings on specific OnePlus and Oppo phones.

The battery life and performance of the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z2 ANC

The OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z2 ANC and its non-ANC predecessor share more than identical design and technical details; the sound is comparable. With the natural, flat equalizer option, you get a definite bass-heavy audio tuning, though you can adjust the EQ if you’d like.

I used a OnePlus 9 Pro and an Apple iPhone 13 Pro with the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z2 ANC for my review. The headset used the AAC codec on both smartphones because advanced Bluetooth codecs were unavailable, and there was no audible difference between the two source devices. The sole difference between the two platforms was that app settings could only be accessed on the OnePlus smartphone.

Review of the Oneplus Bullets Wireless Z2 Anc logo2. OnePlus

The appearance of the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z2 ANC resembles the earlier non-ANC model.

Like previously, the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z2 ANC can provide volume levels that considerably exceed most wireless headphones with neckbands. You can still reach loud enough listening levels at even the 50% volume barrier, even if you’re unlikely to push it to high grades for your hearing. You should increase it to about 70 percent in exceptionally noisy circumstances, but anything higher than that is unnecessary and dangerous.

The audibly powerful bass can be either a good or a bad one, depending on the music you usually listen to. For instance, the Bullets Wireless Z2 ANC did a fantastic job of faithfully recreating an EDM concert’s auditory signature and big subwoofer-style vibe with Croatia Squad’s quick beats and swift attack across most of their tunes.

On the other side, when I listened to Dua Lipa’s song Dance The Night, the snappy bass slightly dominated the song’s vocals and melodies. The OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z2 ANC has a certain amount of intensity to its sound profile that I found difficult to move away from, at least while listening to the correct music. Of course, you can adjust the equalizer settings to turn things down a notch if you want. Over time, it would get tiresome to listen to, but it was part of the fun for me.

The OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z2 ANC has active noise cancellation, which functions admirably for a headset with a suggested retail price of about Rs. 2,000. Most low-pitched background noises, both inside and outside, were effectively muffled, leaving just a faint hum for some sounds, including the spinning of a ceiling fan and the sporadic sound of a light breeze.

A magnetic switch that controls power frequently accidentally turns on the headset.

Given that ANC has been introduced as a feature, the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z2 ANC’s battery life is exceptional for a neckband-style wireless headset. With ANC enabled and the medium-level volume, I could use the earbuds for about 18 hours on a single charge. Fast charging makes it possible to fully recharge the 220mAh battery in as little as 15 minutes, a feature the competition still needs to catch up to OnePlus.

Verdict

The neckband wireless earbuds market is now primarily confined to the more affordable price range, a shadow of what it once was. In exchange for giving up the convenience of genuine wireless networking, there are still worthwhile options to consider. You get more excellent performance in terms of solid hardware and functionality. The OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z2 ANC isn’t in any way fundamentally new or groundbreaking, but it accomplishes enough to be helpful for the price.

The OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z2 ANC does an excellent job with most things, including effective active noise cancellation. Still, the strong bass is hit or miss, depending on the type of music you listen to, and the magnetic power switch is particularly prone to being accidentally turned on. You can purchase the non-ANC variant for a little less, but paying a little more money and obtaining the ANC variant is worthwhile.

The post OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z2 ANC Review: Staying Relevant appeared first on Review Products.

For the iPhone 12 series of smartphones, Apple released its own MagSafe Battery Pack. While it functioned well as a MagSafe charger, most user reviews on the Internet indicate that it lacked the power even to charge a regular-sized iPhone. Although Apple has stopped selling its MagSafe Battery Pack attachment, many independent companies have tried to offer better substitutes; some have been successful, while others have fallen short.

When not in use, a little pouch in the box protects the Daily Objects Surge from scratches.

I was interested when a locally owned accessory company like Daily Objects chose to try it. The product was created by the brand rather than being made in India. The Surge MagSafe power bank has wired and wireless charging options and a 10,000mAh capacity. Let’s investigate further to see if this MagSafe wireless battery pack is up to the task.

Daily Items Design and specs for the Surge Magnetic MagSafe Wireless Battery Pack

The Surge Magnetic MagSafe Wireless Battery Pack has a professional appearance, and a lot of effort went into its design. Although its body comprises ABS plastic, the matte surface and ability to repel fingerprints throughout this review prevent it from seeming cheap.

A USB Type-C port and an orange button are located close to the top on opposite sides. A straightforward LED display between these two displays the charge level and features a green indicator to indicate whether the battery pack is fast-charging a device. The orange button primarily activates the rear panel-mounted display, which shows the battery’s charge (or discharge) status. The display is concealed beneath the rear panel and invisible when no devices are charged.

When slapped onto an iPhone compatible with MagSafe, the magnets provide a tight grip that is difficult to remove.

A stylish aluminum kickstand that wraps around the rear of the Surge power bank folds outward enough to make the iPhone’s screen viewable when the device is put vertically on the battery pack. The iPhone can also be put horizontally while charging for watching films or using the new Standby mode (coming with iOS 17).

The MagSafe magnets are perfectly aligned. The battery pack had a firm grip and adhered to the two iPhones like a sponge when I tested it on an iPhone 14 Plus and an iPhone 14 Pro. Once installed, there is very little possibility that the charger will unintentionally come loose from the phone, whether in your pocket or a bag. Once mounted, a fair amount of force is required to remove the charger from the iPhone, and I enjoyed that.

When attached to an iPhone 14 Pro, its width is equal to the phone’s, but its height is about an inch less. This is due to the MagSafe magnets’ positioning being closer to the charger’s top edge, which keeps the phone hovering above the charger’s bottom edge. When attached to an iPhone 14 Plus, the phone completely encloses the device on all sides, sitting 2 inches taller at the top and leaving no room at the bottom.

Regular-sized iPhone and- or Max-sized iPhone models use distinct attachment positions.

With a weight of 209g, the charger is equal in weight to the iPhone 14 Pro or the iPhone 14 Plus. It does look big when put onto the iPhone 14 Pro, but given the greater overall size of the 14 Plus, it felt small. The charger is small enough to squeeze comfortably into my regular-fit jeans pocket, but not any slim-fit jeans.

Performance of the DailyObjects Surge Magnetic MagSafe Wireless Battery Pack

I mostly tested the Daily Objects Surge with an iPhone 14 Pro with a 3,200mAh battery and an iPhone 14 Plus with a much bigger 4,323mAh battery because it was made with iPhones (with MagSafe capabilities) in mind. According to Daily Objects, the wireless battery pack can charge an iPhone at a maximum of 15W wirelessly or at a maximum of 18W using a cable.

The wireless charging certification aspect is the main reason things don’t function as promised. It can only charge at 7.5W because it is a “MagSafe Compatible” certified device, as opposed to other “Made for MagSafe” certified items that can charge at 15W. You can only charge at Qi-compatible speeds whether you are drawing power from the battery pack or from a wall outlet while using the charger normally. This also implies that the standard wired Apple MagSafe charger can charge devices faster at 15W. However, it still requires a 20W charging adaptor to function.

When not in use, the charge status indicator display is hidden.

 The Daily Objects Surge can also charge two devices simultaneously. Still, since its total output is just 20W, I would only suggest using it to charge an accessory rather than another smartphone because doing so would slow down the charging.

The Surge battery pack wirelessly charged the iPhone 14 Pro in 2 hours and 21 minutes, reaching a 26 percent charge in 30 minutes. The battery pack could only support a top-up charge after the initial charge because it only had 40% of its original 10,000mAh capacity.

The battery pack could only charge the iPhone 14 Plus 16 percent and finished the charge in 3 hours and 26 minutes, which is rather slow. Only 22 percent remained once the charging was finished.

Even iPhones may be mounted horizontally on it to watch videos or use the new Standby Mode in iOS 17.

On both iPhones, wired charging produced superior results. In just 30 minutes, the Surge battery pack charged 61 percent and finished the process in 1 hour and 53 minutes. I could use the battery pack for another full charge because there was less waste when charging through cable. The battery pack managed to charge an iPhone 14 Plus to 49 percent capacity in 30 minutes while being plugged in, and it finished the charge in 2 hours and 2 minutes with 36 percent capacity remaining. I could use it for an additional day or so when put onto the back of my iPhone 14 Pro.

Verdict

It’s all about simplicity with the Daily Objects Surge Magnetic MagSafe Wireless Battery Pack. This tiny portable charger is better suited for smaller or standard-sized iPhones rather than the Pro Max or Plus models, but it can be twice as helpful when plugged in.

Although wireless charging speeds aren’t terrible, convenience is the key here. Keep the Surge attached to your iPhone; it will remain fully charged until it runs out of power. And if you dislike carrying a lot of wires, especially if you have an older model iPhone that uses a lightning cable, this is an easy method to keep your phone charged while at work or elsewhere.

Price: 5,999 rupees

Pros

• Compact and luxuriously styled
• The utilization of a fold-out kickstand
• Display of charging status
• faster charging through a cable
• Magnets provide a secure grip.

Cons

• Only offers one complete charge for Plus/Max models.

The post Magnetic MagSafe Battery Pack Review: All About Convenience appeared first on Review Products.

Introduction:

The kitchen, a hub of domesticity, flourishes with the aid of adept gadgets that bestow culinary excellence. Amongst time-efficient apparatus and ingenious contrivances, an array of kitchen gadgets awaits, poised to elevate your gastronomic exploits. In this compendium, we unveil the zenith of kitchen gadgetry – the top 10 culinary aides, hailed for their acclamation and elevated ratings. These devices, paragons of pragmatism and convenience, infuse zest into your culinary journey. Traverse further to unearth the paragon of kitchen tools, a symphony of practicality deserving a spot in your gastronomic arsenal.

Instant Pot – Culinary Chameleon:

Review: The Instant Pot, a culinary chameleon amalgamating pressure cooking, slow cooking, and more, boasts convenience, swiftness, and versatile programmability.

Rating: 9.5/10

Price: Commencing at $79.99

Air Fryer – Gustatory Harmony:

Review: The air fryer orchestrates a healthier, crisped harmony via hot air circulation, supplanting traditional deep frying with culinary efficiency, facile cleaning, and optimal performance.

Rating: 9.4/10

Price: Commencing at $79.99

KitchenAid Stand Mixer – Baking Virtuoso:

Review: The KitchenAid Stand Mixer, a culinary virtuoso, streamlines baking and cooking endeavors through its potency, attachments, and performance par excellence.

Rating: 9.3/10

Price: Commencing at $279.99

Food Processor – Gastronomic Alchemist:

Review: The food processor metamorphoses ingredients through chopping, slicing, and kneading, its motor potency, capacity, and ease of cleaning amalgamating into culinary alchemy.

Rating: 9.2/10

Price: Commencing at $49.99

Blender – Liquid Maestro:

Review: The high-performance blender, a liquid maestro, conjures smoothies, soups, and sauces, its motor potency, blade caliber, and versatility conjuring gustatory masterpieces.

Rating: 9.1/10

Price: Commencing at $79.99

Spiralizer – Veggie Virtuoso:

Review: The spiralizer, a veggie virtuoso, sculpts wholesome zoodles and ribbons, its blade spectrum, stability, and usability engendering artistic and healthful creations.

Rating: 9.0/10

Price: Commencing at $19.99

Sous Vide Cooker – Precision Pinnacle:

Review: The sous vide cooker epitomizes precision with temperature accuracy, suiting meat, fish, and vegetable perfectionists through its intuitive use and adept temperature control.

Rating: 8.9/10

Price: Commencing at $99.99

Electric Kettle – Aqua Alchemist:

Review: The electric kettle, an aqua alchemist, transforms water into boiling liquid gold with capacity, celerity, and safety tenets seamlessly harmonized.

Rating: 8.8/10

Price: Commencing at $19.99

Handheld Immersion Blender – Culinary Composer:

Review: The handheld immersion blender, a culinary composer, serenades soups, sauces, and smoothies with its dexterity, motor prowess, and facile cleaning, orchestrating harmonious pot-bound symphonies.

Rating: 8.7/10

Price: Commencing at $29.99

Digital Kitchen Scale – Gastronomic Architect:

Review: The digital kitchen scale, a gastronomic architect, lays the foundation for precise culinary concoctions with its weighing precision, capacity, and user-friendly design.

Rating: 8.6/10

Price: Commencing at $14.99

Conclusion:

Elevate your culinary realm with the zenith of kitchen gadgetry, the top 10 culinary stalwarts elucidated above. These devices emerge triumphant with laudable reviews, ratings, and value-for-money prowess. From the versatile Instant Pot to the steadfast KitchenAid Stand Mixer, each gadget, a custodian of convenience and performance, metamorphoses your culinary voyage. Embrace these companions of culinary prowess, steering your cooking toward elevated culinary altitudes. Indulge in the gratification of gastronomy and unfurl a realm of epicurean marvels. The gastronomic horizon beckons – embrace it with gusto.

The post Top 10 Kitchen Gadgets: Reviews, Ratings, Prices & More appeared first on Review Products.